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China's Zaozhuang showcases culture and tourism in Sydney

14:10, July 03, 2024 By Jue Wang ( People's Daily Online

The city of Zaozhuang, located in east China's Shandong Province, showcased its cultural and tourism offerings to an Australian audience at a promotional event in Sydney on June 24.

The "China, an Opportunity - Meet Zaozhuang" event, hosted by the Zaozhuang Municipal Government and organized by People's Daily Online Australia and the China Cultural Centre in Sydney, attracted 80 participants, including government officials and representatives from the cultural and tourism sectors.

Wang Shuyu, cultural counselor of the Consulate-General of China in Sydney, speaks during China's Zaozhuang culture and tourism promotion event in Sydney, June 24, 2024. (Photo/Ji He)

Wang Shuyu, cultural counselor of the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, thanked the Zaozhuang delegation, saying, "The Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney will strengthen communication and exchanges with Australian tourism authorities and the industry, providing necessary services and assistance to Australians traveling to China."

Chen Yongsheng, head of the publicity department of Zaozhuang, speaks during China's Zaozhuang culture and tourism promotion event in Sydney, June 24, 2024. (Photo/Ji He)

Chen Yongsheng, head of the publicity department of Zaozhuang, highlighted the city's excellent environment, strategic location, diverse industries, and rich history. He invited Australians to visit Zaozhuang, emphasizing the locals' hospitality and the great opportunities for investment and business.

Liu Dong, director of the China Cultural Centre and China National Tourist Office in Sydney, speaks during China's Zaozhuang culture and tourism promotion event in Sydney, June 24, 2024. (Photo/Ji He)

Liu Dong, director of the China Cultural Centre and China National Tourist Office in Sydney, encouraged more Australians to visit China, highlighting Australia's inclusion in China's visa-free entry program.

Australian producer Greg Grainger expressed interest in creating travel shows about Zaozhuang to boost awareness among Australians.

Greg Grainger, producer of Grainger TV, speaks during China's Zaozhuang culture and tourism promotion event in Sydney, June 24, 2024. (Photo/Ji He)

The Zaozhuang delegation gifted a traditional Luban lock puzzle, invented 2,500 years ago, to the China Cultural Centre in Sydney for long-term display, showcasing Chinese culture to Australians.

Guests at the promotion event enjoyed the Zaozhuang promotional video "Meet the Future in Zaozhuang" and various performances, including the Chinese song "Da Yu," the Peking Opera "Mu Guiying Takes Command," the Hanfu runway show "Pomegranate Silk Road," and the Shandong Yangge Dance "Feng Shu Yu Yi."

A Peking Opera performance of "Mu Guiying Takes Command" captivates the audience. (Photo/Ji He)

The event also featured photo exhibitions titled "Meet Zaozhuang" and "Taierzhuang Ancient Town." These exhibitions displayed intangible cultural heritage items such as Sui Dynasty celadon, ancient Xue buttons, Tengzhou woodblock prints, and paper cuttings, highlighting Zaozhuang's rich cultural legacy.

The Hanfu runway show "Pomegranate Silk Road" showcases traditional Chinese attire. (Photo/Ji He)

The Shandong Yangge dance "Feng Shu Yu Yi" enlivens the atmosphere. (Photo/Ji He)

Exhibits of Sui Dynasty celadon highlight ancient craftsmanship. (Photo/Ji He)

Displays of ancient Xue buttons, Tengzhou woodblock prints, and paper cuttings showcase the cultural heritage of Zaozhuang. (Photo/Ji He)

A performance of the Chinese song "Da Yu." (Photo/Ji He)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
About eight months after Iran-backed Houthi rebels began seriously disrupting maritime traffic in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, June recorded the highest number of missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels this year and the second-largest since December. As instability in the Middle East intensifies, Houthi rebels have sunk one commercial vessel in recent weeks and have introduced kamikaze drone boats to their arsenal.

Despite efforts of the US, British, and European navies sailing in the critical maritime chokepoint, attempting to ensure freedom of navigation, the Houthis managed to conduct 16 confirmed attacks on commercial vessels in June, according to Bloomberg, citing new data from naval forces operating in the Middle East.

The surge in attacks is alarming, considering President Biden's Operation Prosperity Guardian, launched at the start of this year to ensure freedom of navigation, has been without success in neutralizing threats and restoring security for commercial shipping. Instead, the consequence of failure has been emerging supply chain snarls and supply shocks, resulting in soaring containerized shipping rates.

"The Houthis have proven to be quite the formidable force. This is a nonstate actor that fields a larger arsenal and is really able to give a headache to the Western coalition," said Sebastian Bruns, a naval expert at the Center for Maritime Strategy and Security and the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University in Germany, who was quoted by Foreign Policy.

Bruns said, "This is as high-end as it gets for now, and when navies are having a problem with sustainment at this level, it is really worrisome."

So, eight months on, the disruption to the critical shipping lane is getting a lot worse as rebels have expanded their use of uncrewed service vessels to attack commercial vessels. These are much harder to track than anti-ship missiles.

And the Houthis aren't the only problem.

A European naval commander told Bloomberg that criminal groups have reinvigorated piracy networks off the Somalia coast.

Pirates "think there is a window of opportunity due to the Houthis' presence," with increased maritime traffic along Somalia's coast due to commercial vessels re-reouting from the Red Sea to Cape of Good Hope, said Vice Admiral Ignacio Villanueva, who commands a European Union operation tasked with curbing piracy, adding, "They are really trying to stretch the Western, international operations' limits and capabilities."

The world is dangerously ablaze as Biden's foreign policy decisions backfire. Even before Biden, the world was fracturing into a multipolar state, one full of conflict. Now, Biden faces calls from within his own party to step down amidst speculation over his cognitive decline. This is not a great look for America.

By Zerohedge.com
Australias east coast could see shortages of natural gas as early as in 2027 unless more supply is made available soon, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a report on Thursday, adding another warning about the domestic market of one of the worlds biggest LNG exporters.

Long-term solutions to gas market shortfalls will require a range of policy and market responses, ACCC said in its interim Gas Inquiry report, as carried by Bloomberg.

Amongst these, there is an urgent need to develop new sources of gas production and supply, the watchdog added.

Unless new supply is made available to the populous east coast of Australia, gas shortages could emerge in 2027, a year earlier than ACCCs previous forecast from December 2023 that a shortfall could hit eastern Australia in 2028.

The revised date is due to lower forecast supply due to delays in anticipated regulatory approvals for new projects and problems with legacy gas fields, ACCC said.

To prevent shortages, Australia may have to redirect supplies earmarked for the spot market to consumers in the east coast, the watchdog said.

ACCC issued today the latest official warning of a possible shortage on Australias east coast.

The Australian energy regulator, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), said last month that Australias east coast could face imminent natural gas shortages due to supply outages and higher gas-fired power demand amid cold weather and unusually low wind generation.

In May, the industry group Australian Energy Producers said that Australia could face a natural gas shortage later this decade without action to boost domestic supply.

Australias energy producers and utilities are also calling on the government to support the existing natural gas-powered generation as a smooth market mechanism to move to growing shares of renewables in the electricity system. Australia has been closing coal-fired power generation and raising solar and wind power, but without enough baseload generation, it risks power shortfalls and blackouts, industry officials have warned.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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China has included a Tesla model for the first time in its list of cars the government and party can use as a service car, according to Chinese media.

Teslas Model Y can now be purchased by government, party, and public organizations in the new batches of new energy vehicle (NEV) procurement, official Chinese media outlet the paper reports.

The provincial government of the Jiangsu province in eastern China has already published 56 batches of NEV procurements for use as service cars. Apart from Teslas Model Y manufactured in the Shanghai factory, the provincial government would be procuring vehicles from Volvo, majority owned by Chinas Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and from 54 other batches, all of which were for Chinese electric vehicles and hybrids.

Until recently, Teslas vehicles were banned from Chinese government and military compounds over concerns about data collection and security.

Back in 2021, China banned personnel from parking Teslas at military compounds, as well as the use of Tesla by people working at state agencies and sensitive industries, due to concerns that sensors and built-in cameras in Teslas could collect sensitive data about China.

These restrictions have been dropped after Tesla won in April an endorsement from a major Chinese carmakers association, which said that Teslas Model 3 and Model Y cars were compliant with data-security regulations.

China has been a very important market for Tesla, which built in Shanghai its first Gigafactory outside the United States, to level the playing field on the competitive Chinese EV market with electric cars made in China.

Elon Musk visited China on an unannounced trip in late April and made progress on Teslas efforts to rollout the Full Self-Driving (FSD) software and discuss the data-transfer permissions.

Tesla has also reportedly reached an agreement with Chinas Baidu to use the Chinese tech giants mapping license for data collection on Chinas public roads, sources with knowledge of the plans told Reuters. The deal could be a step forward for Tesla rolling out FSD in China.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Energy will remain expensive in the European Union even under a best-case net-zero scenario, the blocs business association, BusinessEurope, has warned.

According to a study by the association, electricity prices in the European Union would be at least 50% higher than the same prices in the United States and China by 2050 under a best-case scenario.

In a scenario where the transition to net zero is delayed beyond 2050, BusinessEurope has estimated electricity costs in the bloc could surge to three times the prices in China or the United States, Bloomberg reported, citing the associations study.

The reasons for the price surge, BusinessEurope said, were demand growth and what the Bloomberg report called inherent disadvantages.

This will put European companies at a serious competitive disadvantage with these key competitors, which is why we need urgent action at EU level, Markus Beyrer, director general for BusinessEurope, told the publication. Securing energy at competitive prices will be central to preserving Europes industrial base.

This is essentially what the inherent disadvantages come down to: lack of affordable energy to power industries and economic growth. Unlike the U.S., Europe is overwhelmingly reliant on energy imports and the riskiness of that reliance, especially with regard to foreign policy, became painfully clear back in 2022 when the EUs sanction barrage against Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine led to retaliation in the form of reduced gas flows.

Since then, despite 24 sanction packages approved by Brussels, Europe continues importing Russian natural gasand oil, indirectlywith Russia even overtaking the United States as biggest exporter of gas to the bloc in May.

The energy transition promise is for affordable and reliable energy but sceptics have repeatedly noted that satisfying both of these conditions with wind and solar, even with the help of batteries is physically impossible.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Following months of delays, Nigerias upstream regulator has approved oil asset sales of Eni and Equinor to local firms as international majors look to divest Nigerian operations.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has approved the proposed sale of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd (NAOC Ltd), Enis wholly-owned subsidiary focusing on onshore oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, as well as power generation, to Oando PLC. The regulator has also given the green light to Equinor to sell its Nigerian business to Project Odinmim, NUPRC chief executive Gbenga Komolafe said at an industry event in Nigeria.

However, the oil regulator has yet to approve divestment deals that U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil and UK-based giant Shell have proposed.

Earlier this year, ExxonMobil, Shell, Eni, and Equinor were waiting for government clearance for their sales of oil assets. The lengthy approval process was frustrating both buyers and sellers who said that the slow progress continued to hamper the rebound in Nigerias oil production. The buyers and Nigerias domestic oil producers expect the approvals to give clarity to the companies and revive oil production in the country.

ExxonMobil intends to sell its shallow water business in Nigeria to Seplat, the biggest Nigerian energy company by market value, in a $ 1.3 billion deal, which has yet to be approved by the regulator.

NUPRCs Komolafe said that significant progress was made in the process to approve Exxons deal, while the regulator is currently reviewing the proposed Shell divestment.

Shell said earlier this year that it would exit Nigerias onshore oil and gas industry but would remain a major investor in the countrys energy sector through its deepwater and Integrated Gas businesses.

Shell has struggled with its onshore business in Nigeria for years and has had its fair share of troubles there, including several lawsuits over oil spills from local communities.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Having amassed huge profits over the past two years, oil trading giants are on a buying spree to acquire refineries that the biggest international oil and gas producers are divesting as part of strategic portfolio realignment.

The traders see an opportunity to end up with a plant that can run a slew of different crude oils, Kurt Chapman, a board member of trader Levmet and former head of crude at Mercuria Energy Group, told Bloomberg.

Commodity traders thus gain direct access to a refinery to which they can send part of the crude they sell and become larger players on the crude options and futures market to hedge their exposure to physical crude oil, according to Bloomberg.

In recent months, the largest independent oil trading houses have acquired several refineries from Big Oil worldwide in consortia with other companies.

The largest independent oil trader, Vitol Group, last year signed a deal to buy 35% of the Saras refinery in Italy after reaching a deal with members of the Moratti family.

Vitol has also bid for the parent company of refiner Citgo Petroleum in the ongoing court-appointed auction, Bloomberg reported in June, citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

Another major trader, Trafigura, said in April that Rhone Energies, its consortium with Entara LLC, has entered into exclusive negotiations to buy the Fos-sur-Mer refinery and the Toulouse and Villette de Vienne terminals from ExxonMobils local unit Esso.

The refinery will continue to be an important contributor to energy security in the region and would benefit from Trafiguras global trading and logistics network, said Ben Luckock, Global Head of Oil for Trafigura.

Glencore also made the list of the biggest oil traders buying refineries from Big Oil. In May, Shell reached an agreement to sell its refining and chemicals assets in Singapore to CAPGC Pte. Ltd., a joint venture company between Chandra Asri Capital Pte. Ltd. and Glencore Asian Holdings Pte. Ltd.

The commodity trading industry currently has the means to reinvest strategically in long-term deals and strategic decisions, according to consultancy Oliver Wyman. One winner move for reinvesting the profit windfalls could be to invest in assets, which gives traders greater optionality and influence over the commodities they trade, Oliver Wyman said in a report earlier this year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Aramco is considering a takeover bid for Australian energy major Santos, Bloomberg has reported, citing unnamed sources, who also said the UAEs Adnoc was also studying an offer for the company.

The bids were a demonstration of Middle Eastern energy companies interest in expanding their natural gas business internationally, the report said. This would make Santos quite the popular acquisition target after local rival Woodside tried to take over the company earlier this year.

News of a tie-up between the two Australian energy majors first emerged in December when the two confirmed reports they were discussing a merger. It followed two megadeals closed by Exxon and Chevron in the U.S. in previous weeks.

Talks broke through by February, however, as Woodside investors worried the company would need to pay a hefty premium on Santos shares. "We continue to be disciplined in our approach to mergers and acquisitions and capital management to create and deliver value for shareholders," Woodside chief executive Meg ONeill said in a statement at the time.

Reuters noted in a report on the news that Santos had a market cap of some $16.63 billion as of Wednesday, which rose after the news of the possible bids broke earlier today.

The reason Santos is so popular among potential buyers is its LNG business, including the Darwin LNG and Gladstone LNG projects in Australia, and the PNG LNG project in Papua New Guinea.

"I think Santos is an attractively priced company with a handful of great assets, but despite this, I find it hard to imagine a would-be buyer flagging its interest prior to making an offer," Simon Mawhinney, managing director of Allan Gray, told Reuters.

Aramco recently entered the LNG game by inking a non-binding agreement to buy a 25% stake in Sempra Energys Port Arthur LNG project. Separately, it signed a deal to buy LNG from NextDEcades Rio Grande LNG facility on a long-term basis.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil exports from the United States to Europe declined in June, hitting the lowest in two years.

This is according to data from Kpler that Reuters cited in a report, also saying that the average daily last month stood at 1.45 million barrels, which was 14% below average daily export levels in May and a 27% decline from June 2023.

The report pointed to the narrowing gap between Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate, which makes the latter costlier for buyers. WTI is currently trading at around $83 per barrel, while Brent crude is changing hands at close to $87 per barrel.

Whats more, WTI was last year included in the composition of the Brent crude benchmark, affecting the overall price and tying it tighter to the price of the U.S. benchmark.

Overall U.S. exports of crude oil also declined last month, going down from 4.21 million barrels daily in May to 3.94 million barrels daily.

Meanwhile, Reuters last month reported that the U.S. benchmark has become the dominant member of the Brent crude composition because of surging shale oil exports from the United States. According to data from S&P Global Platts, WTI Midland is setting the price of dated Brent more than 50% of the time.

The change in the price-setting dynamics for the global benchmark came on the back of record U.S. crude exports at the end of 2023 when the daily average reached 2.94 million barrels, per Kpler data again. Half of that, or 1.71 million barrels daily, went to Europe.

The recent decline comes mostly because of freight costs. Given WTIs dominant role in the price-setting process for dated Brent, with a narrowing gap between the benchmarks, buyers would look to save money somewhere, and that somewhere is typically shipping costs, opting for crude coming from a closer location than the U.S.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said over one million new cases of curable s*xually transmitted infections (STIs) are being reported daily among people aged 15 to 49 years.

A new data released by the UN health agency on Thursday said more than 376 million new cases are reported annually of four infections  chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis.

Published online by the Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, the research shows that among men and women aged 1549 years, there were 127 million new cases of chlamydia in 2016, 87 million of gonorrhoea, 6.3 million of syphilis and 156 million of trichomoniasis.

These four diseases, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis, are potential outcomes of sex. Because there are limited ways to prevent them, the rates of infection remain very high worldwide.

Executive Director for Universal Health Coverage and the Life-Course at WHO, Peter Salama, said there is a concerning lack of progress in stopping the spread of sexually transmitted infections worldwide.

He said the statistics are a wake-up call for a concerted effort to ensure everyone, everywhere can access the services they need to prevent and treat these debilitating diseases.

STIs have a profound impact on the health of adults and children worldwide. If untreated, they can lead to serious and chronic health effects that include neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of HIV. They are also associated with significant levels of stigma and domestic violence.

According to WHO, Syphilis alone caused an estimated 200, 000 stillbirths and newborn deaths in 2016, making it one of the leading causes of baby loss globally.

STIs remain an endemic health threat

STIs spread predominantly through unprotected sex, including vaginal, anal and oral sex. Someincluding chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphiliscan also be transmitted during pregnancy and childbirth, or, in the case of syphilis, through contact with infected blood or blood products, and injecting drug use.

Since the last published WHO data in 2012, the UN health agency said there has been no substantive decline in either the rates of new or existing infections.

On average, approximately one in 25 people globally have at least one of these STIs, according to the latest figures, with some experiencing multiple infections at the same time.

Early detection

STIs are preventable through safe sexual practices, including correct and consistent condom use and sexual health education. The disease is treatable and curable.

Timely and affordable testing and treatment are crucial for reducing the burden of STIs globally.

People who are sexually active should also be encouraged to get screened for STIs. WHO also recommends that pregnant women should be systematically screened for syphilis as well as HIV.

Challenges

All bacterial STIs can be treated and cured with widely available medications.

However, WHO said the recent shortages in the global supply of benzathine penicillin has made it more difficult to treat syphilis.

Also, the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is affecting the treatment of many of the diseases. AMR is the ability of a microorganism (like bacteria, viruses, and some parasites) to stop an antimicrobial (an agent that kills microorganisms or stops their growth such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials) from working against it. This is because of the misuse of antibiotics, use of non-prescribed antibiotics and not finishing the dosage.

The agency also lamented the rapidly increasing antimicrobial resistance to gonorrhoea treatments.

This is also a growing health threat and may lead eventually to the disease being impossible to treat. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, infections persist and may spread to others. it said

Expanding access to prevention, testing and treatment

To reduce the global burden of the disease, WHO said countries and health partners should improve on researches to strengthen prevention, improve quality of care, develop point-of-care diagnostics and new treatments, and generate investment in vaccine development.

WHO said more data was available from women than men to generate these global estimates, and STI prevalence data remains sparse for men globally.

The international health agency advocated for improved national and global surveillance to ensure the availability of reliable information on the extent of the STI burden worldwide.

***




Bayelsa state governor, Douye Diri

The Bayelsa State Government has extended the sit-at-home order for an additional two weeks.

Governor Douye Diri said this during an enlarged meeting with members of the states COVID-19 Task Force and security agencies at the Government House, Yenagoa, according to a report by Punch.

Diri, who is the chairman of the task force, however, approved a slight adjustment to the lockdown to allow Christians to celebrate Easter.

The governor, in a statement by his acting Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the COVID-19 preventive measures would be reviewed every two weeks until stability was established.

Diri added that, as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company and its joint venture partners had chosen Bayelsa as the site for the establishment of the COVID-19 health facility for the South-South zone.

Diri directed the Ministry of Lands to make land available for the project and announced the approval of another N98m for the procurement of foodstuffs as palliatives to Bayelsans.

The governor also highlighted donations made by some corporate organisations, including the United Bank for Africa (N28.5m), Niger Delta Development Commission (N100m), Sterling Bank (N100m) and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (300 bags of rice).
In a controversy arising in part from the Chicago Bears property tax dispute in Arlington Heights, a former worker at the Cook County tax appeal board has filed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that he was fired for refusing to take part in political infighting.

Frank Calabrese was an assessment analyst and director of communications for Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele. In his federal suit, he claims that Steele fired him after he refused her orders over the Bears appeal, and after he took part in an investigation of her by the Cook County Office of the Independent Inspector General.

The Bears purchased the property in 2023 with the intention of building a stadium, though the team has more recently been eyeing a lakefront site adjacent to their current home at Soldier Field.

Steele said she could not comment on specifics of litigation over a personnel matter, but flatly denied the allegations.

Its completely false, she said. There are so many falsehoods in that lawsuit, I cant even begin to pick it apart.

Steele said she told her staff to cooperate with the investigation and maintained she had done nothing wrong.

In January, the suit stated, Steele asked Calabrese to write a memo to the full County Board summarizing submitted appraisals relating to the Bears appeal of the tax valuation of the former Arlington Park racecourse.

The team bought the property for $197 million, and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi valued the site at $192 million.

Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas said Steele prematurely released the boards valuation of the property before it was finalized. She said Cardenas and Commissioner Larry Rogers, Jr., changed their minds after reaching an agreement. Ultimately, the Board of Review valued the property at $125 million, which the Bears are appealing to the state.

Since the appeal was still pending at the time, and the Board of Review has quasi-judicial powers, Calabrese believed soliciting advice from the County Board was inappropriate, and talked to the Board of Reviews general counsel about it.

The lawsuit alleges that Steele also instructed Calabrese to campaign against Cardenas and Rogers, Jr. in the March primary. Calabrese maintained that every time he consulted the general counsel and human resources department about Steeles behavior, he faced retaliation from Steele and her chief of staff, Dan Balanoff, who was also named as a defendant, along with the Board of Review.

After Calabrese was interviewed by the inspector generals office in April, and wouldnt disclose specifics to Steele, the suit states, he was terminated less than a month later.

Commissioner Steeles actions regarding the Chicago Bears tax appeal appeared to prioritize her own political profile and vanity over adherence to Board of Review protocols, Calabrese said. After I raised concerns, retaliation followed swiftly.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory damages for lost wages and emotional distress, and to prevent the board from filling his position.
Ghanas Foreign Minister, Ms. Shirley A. Botchwey, has made an impassioned case for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to an audience of hundreds of business leaders in Namibia, and two southern African Presidents and members of their cabinets.



Speaking as a special guest at the opening of the Sixth Swakopmund International Trade Expo (SWAiTEX) Ms. Botchwey said: It is our responsibility as leaders in government, industry, finance, SMEs, startups, regulation and civil society to harness our collective resources and capabilities towards an efficient market in trade and services, job creation, and prosperity for all Africans.



The event in Swakopmund, 360km west of the capital, Windhoek, was attended by Presidents Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia, and Mogkweetsi Masisi of Botswana whose delegation included his Vice President Slumber Tsogwane and, in his own words, half of my cabinet because we want to trade; we want to do serious business.

"The African Continental Free Trade Area is the beacon of hope for Africa's economic resurgence, Ms. Botchwey said, quoting the South African AfCFTA Secretary-General, Wamkele Mene, and adding: We agree wholeheartedly.



Resplendent in an African-print attire and hand-woven kente shawl over her shoulders, Ms. Botchwey, a former deputy trade minister, said Africans must make African products our preferred products, while building partnerships regionally and across the continent to service the common market.



As a free trade area, connecting 1.3 billion people across 55 countries, with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.4 trillion, she said the AfCFTA, which is headquartered in Ghana, promises immense new markets, accelerated industrialization and fresh investment opportunities.



The theme for the expo is "Efficient Connectivity and Resource Beneficiation for Sustainable Growth in Africa.







Ms. Botchwey acknowledged that African economies were currently facing challenging headwinds, including cascading impacts on debt, energy, food security, cost of living, unemployment and climate crises.



However, she pointed out that the transformative potential of the AfCFTA shows that we can overcome our challenges and build resilient economies.



She said Ghana was pleased that creative initiatives were being introduced to expedite trading under the AfCFTA, including payments settlements.



She commended Namibia for recently joining an AfCFTA-Guided Trade Initiative with Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Cameroon. This affirms your commitment and political will for meaningful trade within the African continent, Ms. Botchwey told President Mbumba who assumed office in February following the death of President Hage Geingob



The Guided Trade Initiative was established in 2022 as an interim measure to begin trade among interested parties, once they have met the minimum threshold for trading under the AfCFTA. It is designed to test the Agreements capacity to function as envisaged, and indentify and fix imperfections.



A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed in April 2023 between the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board to facilitate investment and trade flows between the two countries, under the umbrella of the AfCFTA.



Ms. Botchwey, a candidate for Commonwealth Secretary-Genereal, has made trade and investment a major plank of her vision. Namibia, Botswana and Ghana are among Africas 21 Commonwealth countries. There are 56 of them altogether.



She said developing countries with overlapping memberships in multilateral institutions must work together consciously and strategically to change their marginalized status in global trade and governance.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

Featured Video
The Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda, on behalf of government, has thanked God for the safety of Ghanaian pilgrims as they begin their journey back home after a successful Hajj this year.



Ghana's official contingent to this year's pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was about 4000 and in the midst of hundreds of reported deaths attributed to excessive heat, the Hajj Board Chairman is excited the contingent returns home safely.



The first set of Ghanaian pilgrims left Jeddah for Tamale on Wednesday July 3, and the second group is scheduled to leave Jeddah Thursday afternoon, July 4, to Tamale.



Chairman Ben Abdallah Banda accompanied by some members of the Hajj Board saw off the departing pilgrims at the airport in Jeddah to complete their departure formalities.



As the excited pilgrims awaited their flight, the Chairman and the Board members interacted with them and shared in their glory, thanking God and praying for their safe journey.



We thank the Almighty Allah for a successful Hajj and we wish you all a safe return back home, the Hajj Board Chairman said.



According to the flight schedule, there will be five flights to Tamale and with two already processed, the last flight to Tamale is scheduled for Saturday, July 6 , the same day Accra's first flight will start.



Accra is expected to have 4 flights and the last one is scheduled for Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

Featured Video
Director General of National Lottery Authority (NLA) and Akuapem North Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Sammi Awuku and the NLAs Good Causes Foundation has commission an ultra-modern toilet facility for Aburi Girls Senior High School.



The project which was initiated by Madam Amma Fimpomaa, National Coordinator of Good Causes Foundation of the NLA who is also an old student of Aburi Girls, comprises a 12-seater toilet, 2-seater toilet for teachers, changing room and 2 borehole water facilities to improve sanitation and hygiene in the school.



Speaking at an inauguration ceremony to hand over the project to the school, Hon. Sammi Awuku entreated the authorities and students to maintain environmental best practices to prevent outbreak of diseases.



This facility that we have established today falls under two of the pillars of Good Cause Foundation which is supporting an educational facility and health-related matter.



Touching on the activities of the Foundation, Hon. Awuku said it is the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the NLA, explaining that the provision of the project is in line with the Authoritys objective of giving back to Ghanaians as its existence and sustenance over the years is as a result of the support and patronage of their products and services by the general public.



He announced the Authority had already constructed and inaugurated over 16 toilet facilities, provided boreholes to some communities and supported the vulnerable such as widows and physically challenged persons in the country.



According to Hon. Awuku, the school authority wouldnt have a problem with maintenance because where your school is situated comes face to face with the weather so if you are not good in maintaining your facility, these pillars would not have been there.



He commended the schools management, the old student association, teaching and non-teaching staff for maintaining the high educational standards aside their academic excellence.



He was optimistic that the facility will be a testament of supporting education in the country.



He also called on the old students to continue to do more although they are doing their best for the school and encouraged the students to be disciplined and take their studies seriously.



He wished the final year students best of luck in the exams.



Mr Frank Boadu, Akuapem North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) thanked the NLA Good Cause Foundation for this gesture and appealed to other institutions to emulate them.



He urged the school to maintain the facility to serve generations.



The school prefect on behalf of Aburi Girls SHS also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Hon. Sammi Awuku and the NLA and promised to take good care of the facility.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has asked for a stronger partnership between mineral-producing African countries and their counterparts in the West to enhance the sustainable exploitation of mineral resources.



He said such partnerships must hinge on leveraging modern technologies and innovation to unlock the continents wealth in a mutually beneficial manner.



The Damongo Member of Parliament (MP) stressed that in an era when mineral-producing countries were transitioning from the outmoded practice of dig and ship, there was the need to prioritise the new method anchored on value addition and local participation.



Mr Jinapor stated this in his keynote address at this years Mining on Top Africa Conference in Paris, France, yesterday. The conference is a prestigious event that brings together ministers from various African countries and prominent industry stakeholders for a two-day summit focused on fostering partnerships between European and African nations for the sustainable exploration and development of mineral resources.



Sustainable development

Mr Jinapor said it was regrettable that although Africa was endowed with abundant mineral resources such as gold, bauxite, manganese and iron, the approach to the exploitation of those mineral resources had been done in a dig and export manner.



He said that approach had denied the continent the optimal benefits that would have been derived from building the value chain of the industry. The minister said the time had come for mineral-producing African countries to have their pound of flesh in the mining sector by building a relationship that guaranteed mutual benefit for both the Western world and Africa.



The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework to address climate change, resource depletion and socioeconomic inequalities which threaten the well-being of our global community. Mutually beneficial mining partnerships between Europe and Africa are crucial to meeting these 2030 goals, he said.



He added that through mutually beneficial partnerships, African countries and their counterparts in the West could tackle environmental degradation, social conflicts and economic inequalities while promoting efficiency and safety at the mine.



Our Economic Partnership Agreements must, therefore, be designed not only to foster trade and investment but (to) promote value addition to the minerals we mine, create job opportunities for economic growth and tackle poverty, he said.



Green minerals

Mr Jinapor also observed that in the context of the global climate crisis, it was important to implement environmentally friendly policies and interventions to protect investors and ensure sustainable exploitation of the minerals resources in Africa.



The participants



Our aim is to ensure the retention of the full value chain of these critical minerals in the country, to the extent possible. Already, we have established through a public-private partnership, a 400-kilogramme capacity gold refinery, to refine the gold we produce, he said.



The minister also said the government was using the green minerals policy to promote local content and local participation across the value chain of the countrys green minerals  from exploration, through mining to downstream production.



Climate change

Mr Jinapor urged countries to live up to the tenets of the Paris Agreement which enjoined the nations to commit resources to the fight against climate change.



We must, therefore, use this opportunity to renew our commitment to tackling climate change through measures such as the green energy transition, which mining plays a central role in its implementation, he said.



He further stressed the need for the transition to be fair, just, inclusive, and carry everyone along, saying that was the only way to promote sustainability in the exploitation and use of natural resource endowments.



Collaboration

An expert from the Department of Critical Metals in France, Benjamin Gallezot, stressed that sustainability and value addition in mineral exploration were pressing issues that required immediate attention.



He expressed optimism, however, that the partnership between African countries and Europe would enable Africa to add significant value to its mineral resources. Mr Gallezot said it was important for African countries to prioritise energy transition while aligning with the Paris Agreement.



He added that stronger collaboration between Africa and Europe would be crucial in harnessing mineral resources to drive sustainable development and mitigate climate change.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The CIR Summit is one designed to bring together high-profile individuals and professionals to create and implement actionable plans aimed at improving the quality of life in a specific country.

The summit focuses on collaboration and strategic planning to address key issues and drive positive change.



Leading representatives of key organizations, professionals and industry captains are set to convene for the groundbreaking CIR Summit at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) in Accra, Ghana, on the 27th of September 2024.



The summit, themed Partnering to Resolve Flooding and Reducing the Housing Deficit seeks to draw leaders, stakeholders and government agencies from across the country to tackle two of the countrys most pressing challenges on the issues of housing and flooding.



Flooding, an annual natural and artificial real estate phenomenon, and the lack of affordable housing are interconnected issues with devastating consequencesplaguing our development as a nation.

The quest to build a resilient future requires a comprehensive and strategic plan for resolving societal challenges and must involve the main players collaborating to tackle the issues.



This CIR Summit, which is geared towards providing solutions,aims to break down silos and create a collaborative environment where innovative solutions can be developed.

This will feature a panel discussion, targeted keynote speakers such as the Minister for Works and Housing, Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Minister for Roads and Highways, C.E.O of State Housing Company, Mayor of Accra and other dignitaries.

There will also be breakout sessions focused on Flood mitigation strategies; where experts will share best practices for flood prevention, including infrastructure solutions, improved drainage systems and resilient building design among others.



Sustainable Housing Development: where discussions will explore ways to develop and increase the supply of affordable flood-resistant housing while promoting sustainable practices.



Public-Private Partnerships: the joint effort of the government and private institutions in exploring opportunities to financing and implementing solutions.



Alongside the summit session, there will be an exhibition to showcase innovative solutions from leading companies and organizations.

Attendees can explore flood mitigation technologies, sustainable building materials, prefabricated housing models and other exciting activities on the day.

























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National Organiser for the ruling New Patriotic party (NPP), Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has described Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the best education minister, in the annals of the country's political history.



To him, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempehs work ethics is matchless, and his selection as the Presidential running mate for the New Patriotic Party is a bold step taken by the flag bearer and leader of the party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.



Touting his credentials in an interview on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, Nana B stated that Dr Opoku Prempeh's ingenuity led to the succesful implementation of the government's flagship programme, the Free Senior High School policy.



He said, Matthew Opoku Prempeh does not joke with his duties, and for me, I know a lot of people agree with me. Wherever you place him to serve, he does it with excellence and precision. And from independence till date, I can say that the best education minister ever is Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. He is the best ever.



The controversies surrounding the Free SHS were enormous. The doubts were from all angles including the opposition NDC, who had introduced progressively free education just to throw dust in the eyes of Ghanaians. The Free SHS had become a flagship programme which requires an individual with a very strong heart to execute.



Nana B further added that though Dr Bawumia was spoilt for choice, it was clear Napo - as Dr. Opoku Prempeh is affectionately called - would be the obvious choice.



There were so many eligible persons whose names came up as possible running mates... but he was able to settle on the most qualified person for the job ..... The vice President had to take a strong position to make a broader consultation and consideration before deciding on Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, he revealed.









Watch Video Below





Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The ruling New Patriotic Partys National Executive Council is set to decide on the choice of a running mate of the flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, today, July 4, 2024.



The meeting which is expected to be held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra is expected to see Dr. Bawumia, defending his choice of running mate to the National Executive Council and the National Council of the NPP.



In an interview on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' morning show, the National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, stated that, the choice made by the vice president is the best of the choices amongst the options that were available to him [Dr. Bawumia]



Nana B explained that, the tenets of the NPPs constitution demanded that, the Vice President presents his choice of running mate to the National Executive Council for the final commiseration to be made before the big announcement is made.



Nana B said, In our partys constitution, Article 13 is quite clear that whoever the nominee is, whoever you intend to present as a running mate, you must do so in consultation with the National Council. So he [Bawumia] is presenting before the National Council the MP for Manhyia South and Minister for Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh [as his running mate].



The Manyhia South MPs nomination has sparked mixed reactions both within and outside the party. While others are praising the choice, there has also been vehement opposition against the choice.



Meanwhile, the majority leader of Ghanas Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has warned against any slanderous comment against the Manhyia South MP as it may have a dire consequence on the political fortunes of the party.

Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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Kenyan President William Ruto has instructed his ministers and lawmakers to live within their means, ordering the withdrawal of their recent pay rise amid public outrage and nationwide protests.



Hussein Mohammed, the spokesperson for the Kenya State House, disclosed this on Wednesday, July amidst criticisms following reports of the pay rise for ministers and lawmakers.''



The President has emphasised that now more than ever, the Executive and all arms of government must live within their means, Mr Mohammed said, adding that Mr Ruto has instructed a review of salaries for his ministers and lawmakers.



It was reported on Tuesday, July 2, that Mr Rutos ministers and Kenyan members of parliament received a pay rise effective July 1.

According to local media, the pay rise for Mr Rutos cabinet members and lawmakers coincided with nationwide protests that have resulted in over 39 deaths and hundreds of injuries.



Previously, each cabinet secretary who earned Ksh. 957,000 will now earn Ksh. 990,000 plus allowances, and each of the 51 principal secretaries who earned Ksh. 792,519 will now earn Ksh. 819,844.



The salaries of the speakers of the National Assembly and Senate increased from Ksh. 1,185,327 to Ksh. 1,208,362, while salaries of members of parliament increased from Ksh. 725,502 to Ksh. 739,600.



Although deliberations on salary increments for Mr Rutos cabinet members and lawmakers occurred months ago, their implementation coincided with deadly protests against a tax hike.



However, Mr Ruto has now been forced to announce the suspension of the pay rise for his ministers and lawmakers for the time being.









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Right Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Ghanas Parliament has stated that no one has any business, including the court, to consider a bill that the President has not yet assented to.



During a parliamentary sitting on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, Mr. Bagbin stated that the habit of writs being served him on issues being discussed in parliament should not be encouraged.



According to him, the above mentioned actions do not make the work of Parliament very effective.



Mr. Speaker averred that when it comes to lawmaking, until all the processes in parliament are exhausted, there is no business for anybody including a court to consider because the Constitution, as the enabling legislation, takes care of all the challenges pertaining to a particular bill.



He said, Until it is a law, it is assented to by the President, judiciary has no jurisdiction to try to find into it."



Alban Bagbin further stated that, this is noteworthy, we have to take this seriously or else our legislative authority is being taken away from us by other agencies and arms of government, that should be resisted by this house, or else your being here is of no consequence."



The law is very clear on this and so until a bill is assented to by the President nobody has any business to take that process that is being considered by the House to the court. I dont want to preempt the judgment of the Supreme Court in this matter but I have given notice because on daily basis I am being served with writs as party on matters that are being considered by the House, that is why I am compelled to say this.



The Speakers assertion comes in the wake of the Supreme Court hearing on the interlocutory injunction placed on the passage of the Anti-Gay Bill. The interlocutory injunction was applied by researcher, Dr. Amanda Odoi and journalist and legal practitioner, Richard Dela Sky, which prays the court to prevent the bill from being sent to the President for him to assent to.



Richard Dela Sky is seeking eight reliefs, which includes an order declaring that the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108(a) (ii) of the Constitution by allowing Parliament to pass the bill, which imposes a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.



Dr. Amanda Odoi also raises concerns about specific provisions within the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill which is unconstitutional.



Dr. Amanda Odoi seeks a restraining order to prevent the Speaker, the Attorney-General, and the Clerk of Parliament from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for him to assent his authority.





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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The National Identification Authority (NIA) Division of the Public Services Workers Union, Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana, has petitioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Prof. Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah from office as the Executive Secretary of the NIA.



In a petition dated July 1, the division stated that this request reflects a Divisional Council decision, endorsed by nearly the entire staff of the NIA, calling for Prof. Attafuahs removal.



The petition was signed by 920 staff members of the authority.



The staff and unions decision to petition your high office for the removal of Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah is grounded on unfair labour practices contrary to the labour laws and Human Resource Manual and Policy Framework for Ghana Public Services, violations of SSNIT law, poor corporate governance structure, selective and administrative injustice in the recruitment, placement and promotion of staff and lack of innovative ideas to manage the administration of the authority, it stated.



The division expressed concerns that Prof Attafuahs continued tenure could lead to further harm and reputational damage to the authority.



His staff have absolutely lost trust in his administration and can no longer work with him in confidence. These coupled with infractions in the labour laws and SSNIT Acts are enough justifications for his immediate removal from the office without further delays, it stated.



The division believes that Prof Attafuahs dismissal would restore staff confidence and improve the authoritys reputation.



We believe his removal from the office would restore confidence among the working staff and reignite the reputation of the authority, it said.

Source: citinewsroom









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A survey has indicated that nominating former First Lady Michelle Obama as the official presidential candidate by the Democratic party will be the best choice to beat Donald Trump.



The party members are losing hope in Biden amid his health challenges and disappointing debate. They feel their problems may be solved if they convince the former first lady and offer an official nomination to her.



A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday found Michelle, 60, trouncing Trump, 78, by 11 percentage points, 50% to 39%, among registered voters.



The other matchups show Biden even with Trump at 40% each, while the 45th president defeats Vice President Kamala Harris by a single percentage point (43%-42%).



The 45th president also would triumph over a slate of Democratic governors potentially in line to replace Biden, including Californias Gavin Newsom, Michigans Gretchen Whitmer, Kentuckys Andy Beshear, and Illinois J.B. Pritzker.



While her husband Barack publicly came to Bidens defense following his debate flop against Trump last week, Michelle Obama has been keeping her distance throughout the re-election cycle.



Michelle, who enjoys favorable opinion among voters, according to the Reuters/Ipsos survey, maintained close ties to Hunter Bidens ex-wife Kathleen Buhle during the Obama administration and is reportedly steamed about her friend being exiled by the first family.



She also explicitly declined to back Biden, 81, when asked about the presidents re-election campaign during a 2022 interview.



Barack Obama has appeared at fundraisers for Biden throughout the 2024 election cycle, most recently to help him offstage July 15 after a huge haul from Hollywood donors who watched ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel interview the pair at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.



Unless he steps down voluntarily, Biden will almost certainly be the Democratic nominee in 2024.



On Wednesday, the 81-year-old reassured his campaign staff of his intentions to stay in the race but reportedly griped to a close ally that he may be finished if his polling numbers continue to fall amid subsequent public appearances.



According to the Reuters/Ipsos poll, more than half (56%) of Americans say Biden should drop out, while 46% say Trump should suspend his campaign.



The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted July 1-2 and surveyed 1,070 US adults, 892 of whom were registered voters.



The margins of error were plus or minus 3.2 percentage points for all respondents and 3.5 percentage points for registered voters who responded.













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The National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Council of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) will meet today, 4 July, with the partys flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to discuss his choice of running mate for the upcoming 7 December general elections.



Dr Bawumia is expected to justify his selection of Energy Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, as the best fit for the role.



Meanwhile, the host of Joy FMs Super Morning Show, Kojo Yankson, has criticised the suitability of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's running mate for the 2024 elections.



During the latest edition of The Couch show on the Joy News Channel, Yankson indicating that Dr. Bawumia is his own man, and therefore didnt have NAPO foisted on him, expressed the view that the Energy Minister lacks the necessary qualifications for the position. He described that decision as very bad, and that it will invariably cause the Vice Presidents doom.



He who the gods want to kill, they first make mad. The Vice President is his own man. He chose NAPO himself, even against the advice of his supposed puppet master, the President. This is a bad choice, and it will invariably cause his doom.



He also mentioned that the minute NAPO is announced as the NPPs Vice Presidential Candidate, the party is one comment away from defeat



We have to understand that, the minute that NAPO is mentioned as the Vice Presidential Candidate, the NPP is one comment away from losing the election. On any given day, one disrespectful comment away from losing the election. One ethnocentric comment away from losing the election. One misguided ignorant comment away from losing the election. Because they have chosen NAPO



Describing NAPO as someone with a bad reputation for being arrogant and making misguided utterances, he continued,



NAPO is the kind of personality who will dirty even Mother Teresas hands. Because every time he is talking, you are scared. Every time he opens his mouth, youre worried about who he is going to offend. Because he has absolutely no sense of awareness of who he is in the grand scheme of things. He thinks he is the hero of all of our stories, and that we just wake up in the morning with the yearning desire to hear what nugget of wisdom will fall out of his mouth today. Thats who he thinks he is in our lives. Only a person with such a god complex, such a misguided god complex, will do and say the things he does and says, even to school children and the people of Keta.



Describing NAPO further, he said the Energy Minister cannot even control himself as he is arrogant to the core, and that Ghanaians will always be in that expectant mood of waiting to see how NAPO will screw the NPP campaign. He goes on to state that, Ghana may wake up one day to another Rawlings-Arkaah episode in the event the NPP wins power with this pair.



It is uncontrollable. He cannot be a person in control of his utterances. Im sorry, this is a decision which is basically car-crash TV. From now on, we are all just going to be waking up and switching on the TV to see how is NAPO going to screw the NPP today. From now to the election this is what we are going to do. If by some god of Donald Trump, these people end up winning, and NAPO becomes our Vice President, Arkaah na Rawlings mpo nfa neho

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The National Executive Council (NEC) of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has concertedly approved Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the 2024 general elections.



The National Council endorsed the decision on Thursday after earlier meetings with the National Executive Council, and the National Steering Committee of the party.



Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South in the Ashanti Region and former Education Minister and currently the Energy Minister.



The party highlighted that Dr Opoku Prempeh meets all the criteria for the running mate position, which led to his unanimous approval.



PROFILE OF NAPO



Matthew Opoku Prempeh (born 23 May 1968) is a Ghanaian medical doctor and politician. He is a member of the New Patriotic Party and a Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. He is a former Minister of Education. He is popularly known as NAPO. He is currently the Minister of Energy.



Early life and education



Matthew Opoku Prempeh was born on 23 May 1968 in Ashanti New Town, a suburb of Kumasi, and hails from Pakyi No. 2 in the Ashanti Region.



He started his basic education at KNUST Primary and continued to Prempeh College in Kumasi, Ashanti Region of Ghana, for his middle school education.



He studied Human Biology and Medicine at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and completed his MB CHB in 1994. He continued with post-graduate studies in MSc. Clinical Epidemiology at the Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences in 1998 and at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he studied Leadership and Government(certificate course). In 2002, he pursued postgraduate training in surgery in the UK (MRCS).



Career



Prior to entering parliament, Prempeh served as CEO of Keyedmap Security Services Limited from 2004 to 2009. He is also a medical doctor and served as a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2003.



Politics



Member of parliament

As a Ghanaian parliamentarian, he represents Manhyia South in Kumasi, formerly representing Manhyia. He was first elected to parliament in 2008 and is a member of the New Patriotic Party. In 2016, he was re-elected with 35,958 votes, or 87.17% of the votes cast in the district. He was a member of the health committee and the appointments committee. Prempeh contested the 2020 general election as a parliamentary candidate for the Manhyia South constituency under the banner of the New Patriotic Party and won by a large margin.



Minister of Education



He was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo on 10th January 2017 to serve as Minister for Education. He served in that role for 4 years until 6 January 2021 when the tenure of the president and his ministers ended.



In May 2017, President Nana Akufo-Addo named Prempeh as one of the nineteen ministers who would form his cabinet. The names of the 19 ministers were submitted to the Parliament of Ghana and announced by the former Speaker of the House, Mike Ocquaye. As a Cabinet minister, Prempeh was part of the inner circle of the president and was to aid in key decision-making activities in the country.



Prempeh also contributed to the educational sector of Ghana as a Minister of Education, such as improving the infrastructure,promoting vocational and technical education (TVET), and leading the government's flagship programme FREE SHS.



Minister of Energy



In 2021, the President of Ghana, Nana Akuffo-Addo, after being re-elected as President, named Dr. Mattew Opoku Prempeh as Minister of Energy. He had previously served as the Minister of Education for President Nana Akufo-Addo's first term.



Committees

Prempeh is a member of the Defense and Interior Committee and also of the Appointments Committee.



In May 2021, the University of Education Winneba conferred on him an Honorary Doctorate Degree.



In July 2021, the University of Professional Studies also awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.



As a member of the Parliament of Ghana, he represents Manhyia South in Kumasi, formerly representing Manhyia.



The University of Cape Coast is the latest institution to recognize Dr. Prempehs contributions to the development of Ghana and his immense service to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.



In May 2022, a group by the name of Friends of NAPO presented some educational materials to schools in the Manhyia South Constituency to mark his 54th birthday.



Prempeh College named a dormitory block after him on 17 June 2023.



Election 2024



Ahead of the 2024 General Elections, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was the incumbent Vice President of Ghana and elected Flag bearer to contest for Presidency on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party, presented Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his preferred choice of running mate, subject to clearance from the party hierachy.









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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Dr. Gideon Boako has asserted that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has found an ideal running mate in Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.



He believes that the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South will complete the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s ticket for the 2024 elections perfectly.



According to Dr. Boako, Dr. Opoku Prempeh will effectively balance Dr. Bawumia's weaknesses and vice versa.



In an interview with JoyNews on Thursday, July 4, Dr. Boako encouraged Ghanaians to be patient and consider the strengths of the ticket.



He emphasised that both Dr. Opoku Prempeh and Dr. Bawumia are determined achievers, making them an ideal team to lead the country forward.



It is only God who is infallible. Dr Bawumia may have his shortfalls and weaknesses and Napois also comes in with his strengths and weaknesses. That is why we do SWOT analysis and I can tell you that Napo is the perfect complement to Dr Bawumia.



The National Council of the New Patriotic Party has endorsed the decision by the flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to pick Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh as his running mate for the upcoming elections.



The National Council endorsed the decision on Thursday after earlier meetings with the National Executive Council, and the National Steering Committee of the party.



Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and former Education Minister.



His selection is seen as a strategic move by Bawumia to consolidate support within the party and across the country, especially in the Ashanti region.

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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Ghanaian influencer Mona Faiz Montrage, popularly known as Hajia4Real, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for her role in a series of romance frauds that defrauded over 40 victims, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.



United States (US) District Judge J. Paul Oetken handed down the sentence on June 28, 2024, following Montrage's guilty plea on February 21, 2024, to conspiracy to receive stolen money.



US Attorney Damian Williams highlighted the severity of Montrage's actions, stating, "Mona Faiz Montrage knowingly received illegal funds from older Americans who were victims of romance scams and now faces serious consequences for her actions."



The court revealed that from at least 2013 to 2019, Montrage was part of a West Africa-based criminal enterprise that targeted vulnerable, elderly individuals in the U.S. with romance scams.



The scammers deceived their victims through emails, text messages, and social media, creating fake romantic relationships to gain trust and eventually coerce them into transferring money under false pretenses.



Montrage, known for her influential Instagram profile "Hajia4Reall" which once boasted approximately 3.4 million followers, received money from around 40 victims.



The fraudulent schemes included fabricated stories about transporting gold, resolving fake FBI investigations, and assisting a fake U.S. Army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan. The bank accounts Montrage controlled amassed over $2 million in fraudulent funds.



In addition to her prison term, Montrage, 32, of Accra, Ghana, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $216,475 and pay $1,387,458 in restitution.



U.S. Attorney Williams praised the efforts of the FBI in bringing Montrage to justice, underscoring the commitment to pursue fraudsters who target Americans.



The case was prosecuted by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit of the US Attorneys Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead leading the prosecution.

Source: graphiconline.com









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One of the most enduring myths and misconceptions about Independence Day is that the Declaration of Independence was approved and signed on July 4, 1776. In fact, the Second Continental Congress voted to approve the resolution to legally separate from Great Britain on July 2, two days earlier. The approved Declaration of Independence was first printed on July 4, so that's the date on the document.

The final "engrossed" Declaration of Independence wasn't finished for weeks, and the delegates didn't sign it until Aug. 2, 1776. Even then, not all delegates were in attendance, so some signed later. But what about that famous John Trumbull painting of all the delegates signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4? That patriotic scene, printed on the back of the $2 bill, took place on June 28, 1776, when the Founding Fathers presented the first rough draft of the document to the Second Continental Congress.

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" " John Turnbull's "Signing of the Declaration" painting shows Thomas Jefferson and the drafting committee presenting the document to John Hancock. This was actually on June 28, 1776. Culture Club/Getty Images

John Adams was so excited about the revolutionary events of July 2, 1776, that the very next day he wrote his wife Abigail that their "Day of Deliverance" from Britain "ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

Miffed by the switch to July 4, Adams would reportedly turn down Fourth of July party invitations.
This undated photo shows a late 10th-early 11th century bronze Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, which was repatriated to Cambodia from the United States. Fourteen looted Cambodian artifacts have been repatriated from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) in New York, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said in a press statement on Wednesday. (Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts/Handout via Xinhua)

Fourteen looted Cambodian artifacts have been repatriated from the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET) in New York, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said in a press statement on Wednesday.



The cultural treasures arrived at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, the statement said, adding that this historic homecoming of these national treasures came after several years of negotiations.

The repatriation includes the extraordinary stone sculpture of a 10th century sandstone-made female goddess Uma from the ancient royal capital of Koh Ker. In 2021, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts successfully located her foot at Koh Ker temple complex, and based on testimony from former looters, determined that the body of the sculpture was stolen in 1997.

"At last, the Uma can be reunified to achieve its full magnificence as one complete statue," the statement said.

Another exceptionally rare and expertly crafted statue is a late 10th-early 11th century bronze Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, designated by the MET as "Seated in Royal Ease", the statement said, adding that the sculpture was sold to the MET by Douglas A.J. Latchford in 1992, whom the MET itself described as a nefarious dealer.

Moreover, a significant returned artifact is a 10th century bronze head of the deity Avalokiteshvara, which the ministry highly anticipates finally being reunited with its matching torso, currently on display at the National Museum of Cambodia, the statement said.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said the return of these national treasures, held by the MET, was of utmost importance not only for Cambodia, but for all of humankind.

"We have many more treasures at the MET which we also hope will be returned to Cambodia," she said. "We are thrilled that a number of private collectors and museums have reached out to us in recent months, and we expect many more significant returns in the future."

Sackona said this repatriation showed once again Cambodia's continuing commitment to finding and bringing back national cultural treasures lost during past decades of civil war.

"These returns contribute to the reconciliation and healing of the Cambodian people, who endured decades of civil war," she said.
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SpaceCAL 3D printer on VSS Unity, awaiting launch on June 8, 2024. Credit: Virgin Galactic

Imagine a crew of astronauts headed to Mars. About 140 million miles away from Earth, they discover their spacecraft has a cracked O-ring. But instead of relying on a dwindling cache of spare parts, what if they could simply fabricate any part they needed on demand?

A team of Berkeley researchers, led by Ph.D. student Taylor Waddell, may have taken a giant leap toward making this option a reality. On June 8, they sent their 3D printing technology to space for the first time as part of the Virgin Galactic 07 mission.

Their next-generation microgravity printerdubbed SpaceCALspent 140 seconds in suborbital space while aboard the VSS Unity space plane. In that short time span, it autonomously printed and post-processed a total of four test parts, including space shuttles and benchy figurines from a liquid plastic called PEGDA.

"SpaceCAL performed well under microgravity conditions in past tests aboard parabolic flights, but it still had something to prove," said Waddell. "This latest mission ... allowed us to validate the readiness of this 3D printing technology for space travel."

He added, "We hope that someday it may be used to manufacture everything from parts and tools for spacecraft to new contact lenses and dental crowns for crew members."

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, has evolved considerably since it was first patented in the 1980s. Hayden Taylor, associate professor of mechanical engineering, led a team of UC Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers that invented Computed Axial Lithography (CAL) technology in 2017.

This new type of additive manufacturing, which uses light to shape solid objects out of a viscous liquid, expanded the range of printable geometries and significantly increased the speed at which 3D parts could be printed. And it functioned well in microgravity conditions, opening the door to applications related to space exploration.

CAL technology is also what brought Waddell to Berkeley to pursue his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering. As an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Pathways Engineer at NASA, Waddell became captivated by 3D printingfrom its seemingly magical ability to transform an idea into a physical form, to its affordability and accessibility.

Upon learning about CAL, he reached out to Taylor and soon found himself at Berkeley. There, he spent countless hours in Taylor's lab, working with other student researchers on new ways to leverage this technology for the greater good.

Reaching new heights

CAL stands apart from other 3D printing technologies because of its incredible speedcreating parts in as little as 20 secondsand efficiency. By enabling astronauts to print parts quickly in an emergency and on demand, CAL potentially eliminates the need to bring thousands of spare parts on long-duration space missions.

"You can reduce that upmass, make these missions go faster and reduce risk by bringing manufacturing technologies with you," said Waddell.

In addition, CAL's unique ability to print well in microgravity conditions allows engineers to explore the limits of 3D printing from space.

"With CAL, we were able to demonstratefirst on those zero-G[ravity] missions and now on this spaceflightthat we can print parts in microgravity that are not possible on Earth," said Waddell.

To date, CAL has shown that it can successfully print with more than 60 different materials on Earth, such as silicons, glass composites and biomaterials. According to Waddell, this versatility could come in handy for both the cabin and the crew.

"So, with the cabin, if your spacecraft is breaking down, you can print O-rings or mechanical mounts or even tools," he said. "But CAL is also capable of repairing the crew. We can print dental replacements, skin grafts or lenses, or things personalized in emergency medicine for astronauts, which is very important in these missions, too."

Someday, CAL may be used to print even more sophisticated parts, such as human organs. LLNL has received a grant from NASA to test this technology on the International Space Station.

"They're going to basically do bioprinting on the Space Station," said Waddell. "And the long, long-term goal is to print organs up in space with CAL, then bring them back down to Earth."

Next, Waddell and his colleagues hope to begin work with NASA on developing and validating a single object that could support crew health and wellness, like a dental crown for an astronaut or a surgical wound closure tool.

"These experiments are really focused on pushing technology for the betterment of everyone," said Waddell. "Even though it's for space, there are always tons of ways it can benefit people back here on Earth."

It's also the type of technology that the Berkeley Space Center envisions being developed at its new 36-acre campus currently under development. The Berkeley Space Center will be a home for innovation and entrepreneurship, bringing together technologies developed by NASA and UC Berkeley, and commercialized through private industry.

"Imagine a place where private companies can take inventions like those created by Taylor Waddell and make it possible for these important discoveries to break out of the lab and into the public realm," said Darek DeFreece, a regent emeritus of the University of California and the head of UC Berkeley's efforts to develop the Berkeley Space Center. "We were cheering as we watched the historic Virgin Galactic 07 flight."

A collaborative effort

In many ways, the June 8 space mission was a culmination of years of research by all the students in Hayden Taylor's nanoscale manufacturing lab. Together, they are pushing the boundaries of a relatively new technology to see what is possible.

"This project is built on a team of many, many people," said Waddell, including student researchers Dillon Balk, Skyler Chan, Sean Chu, Brian Chung, Ameera Elgonemy, Jacob Gottesman, Anthony Moody, Jake Nickel, Dylan Potter, Austin Portinause, Anusri Sreenath and Audrey Young.

He also credits his advisor for providing critical support and the opportunity to take an active role in the evolution of CAL technology.

"Hayden is one of the best PIs out there. He gives me the responsibility to choose where I want to push this research," said Waddell. "With his last three SpaceCAL missions, he lets me lead them, from deciding who to hire and what we want to research to planning the whole trip. He really lets me be where I'm most passionate and use him as the resource to make that happen."

Virgin Galactic played a pivotal role in taking this project to the next level. "The team at Virgin Galactic helped us each step of the way, especially during the week preparing for the rocket launch," said Waddell.

"There were a lot of excellent engineers and passionate people who wanted to make sure that we were successful."
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A sunset is seen through smoke from wildfires in Brazil's Pantanal June 28, 2024.

A riverside community in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands narrowly escaped raging wildfires last month, but some say the record-setting blazesstill burning nearbyare compounding threats to their way of life.

"The river was the only thing separating us from the flames. On the other side, the fire devastated everything," said Virginia Paes, a local leader in the Baia Negra Environmental Protection Area (APA), where 28 families live.

Four years ago, similar fires blazed through the 5,400-hectare (13,300-acre) preserve along the Paraguay River, in southwest Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state.

"We were just trying to recover from the 2020 fire, which devastated our Pantanal. We had not fully recovered and now we are facing this again," Paes, a volunteer firefighter and president of the APA's Association of Women Producers, told AFP.

Though homes and lives were spared, the 53-year-old said, dense smoke from the fires made breathing and daily routines difficult.

This year's fires set January-June records in the Pantanal, a massive area of tropical wetlands that is home to millions of caimans, parrots, giant otters and the world's highest density of jaguars.

The Baia Negra APA, just outside the border city of Corumba and neighboring Ladario, is the first created in the biodiversity-rich Pantanal allowing for sustainable resource exploitation.

The population there lives off fishing, craft-making, and a robust eco-tourism industry, among other jobs.

A Yacare caiman is seen near Corumba, Brazil, June 25, 2024.

'Guardians' under threat

According to the Corumba social assistance office and the NGO Ecoa, in 2020, 651 families lived in the riverside city and Ladario.

These "traditional communities of the Pantanal are the true guardians of the ecosystems they manage," said Andre Luiz Siqueira, Director of Programs and Projects at the NGO Ecoa.

"They are the ones that suffer the most impacts from the fires," he warned.

"I am concerned that in a few years we could have climate displaced people in the biome."

On the shore of Bracinho Island, which was burned in fires last month, three fishermen try their luck.

According to them, fishing has become more difficult due to fires poisoning the fish and make the activity difficult.

A heavy drought, which scientists say has exacerbated this year's fires, has also dropped the water-level in the river.

"Everything disappeared: the fish, the bait," 33-year-old Marcelo Henrique told AFP.

He said he used to live off fishing, but has now taken a job in a steel mill in Ladario.

A pair of Jaribu storks near Corumba, in Brazil's Pantanal tropical wetlands, June 28, 2024.

"The bays dried up... Before there were 30, 40 boats circulating here. Now you barely see any."

Evening curfew

In his cabin off the MS 428 state highway, Renato Andrade remembers better days when hunting and fishing were abundantand threats from jaguars more rare.

The 52-year-old told AFP that after the 2020 fire, capybarasthe natural prey of jaguarsbecame "scarce."

"Before, there was no talk of jaguar attacks nearby. Now, I hear roars around the house. I can't have dogs, we've lost count of how many were eaten by jaguars," he said.

Fearing for his own life, he said he has changed his daily routine.

"At night, now you have to stay inside the house. After 6:30 pm, no one wants to be outside" over fears of attacks.

He said he has also stopped fishing alone at night, like he used to do.

"I can't or I will end up a jaguar's dinner."

 2024 AFP
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The crew members from SpaceXs 2021 Inspiration4 mission. SpaceX, CC BY-NC

Only about 600 people have ever traveled to space. The vast majority of astronauts over the past six decades have been middle-aged men on short-duration missions of fewer than 20 days.

Today, with private, commercial and multinational spaceflight providers and flyers entering the market, we are witnessing a new era of human spaceflight. Missions have ranged from minutes, hours and days to months.

As humanity looks ahead to returning to the moon over the coming decade, space exploration missions will be much longer, with many more space travelers and even space tourists. This also means that a wider diversity of people will experience the extreme environment of spacemore women and people of different ethnicities, ages and health status.

Since people respond differently to the unique stressors and exposures of space, researchers in space health, like me, seek to better understand the human health effects of spaceflight. With such information, we can figure out how to help astronauts stay healthy both while they're in space and once they return to Earth.

As part of the historic NASA Twins Study, in 2019, my colleagues and I published groundbreaking research on how one year on board the International Space Station affects the human body.

I am a radiation cancer biologist in Colorado State University's Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences. I've spent the past few years continuing to build on that earlier research in a series of papers recently published across the portfolio of Nature journals.

These papers are part of the Space Omics and Medical Atlas package of manuscripts, data, protocols and repositories that represent the largest collection ever assembled for aerospace medicine and space biology. Over 100 institutions from 25 countries contributed to the coordinated release of a wide range of spaceflight data.

The NASA Twins Study

NASA's Twins Study seized on a unique research opportunity.

NASA selected astronaut Scott Kelly for the agency's first one-year mission, during which he spent a year on board the International Space Station from 2015 into 2016. Over the same time period, his identical twin brother, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and current U.S. senator representing Arizona, remained on Earth.

My team and I examined blood samples collected from the twin in space and his genetically matched twin back on Earth before, during and after spaceflight. We found that Scott's telomeresthe protective caps at the ends of chromosomes, much like the plastic tip that keeps a shoelace from frayinglengthened, quite unexpectedly, during his year in space.

When Scott returned to Earth, however, his telomeres quickly shortened. Over the following months, his telomeres recovered but were still shorter after his journey than they had been before he went to space.

As you get older, your telomeres shorten because of a variety of factors, including stress. The length of your telomeres can serve as a biological indicator of your risk for developing age-related conditions such as dementia, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

In a separate study, my team studied a cohort of 10 astronauts on six-month missions on board the International Space Station. We also had a control group of age- and sex-matched participants who stayed on the ground.

We measured telomere length before, during and after spaceflight and again found that telomeres were longer during spaceflight and then shortened upon return to Earth. Overall, the astronauts had many more short telomeres after spaceflight than they had before.

One of the other Twins Study investigators, Christopher Mason, and I conducted another telomere studythis time with twin high-altitude mountain climbersa somewhat similar extreme environment on Earth.

We found that while climbing Mount Everest, the climbers' telomeres were longer, and after they descended, their telomeres shortened. Their twins who remained at low altitude didn't experience the same changes in telomere length. These results indicate that it's not the space station's microgravity that led to the telomere length changes we observed in the astronautsother culprits, such as increased radiation exposure, are more likely.

Civilians in space

In our latest study, we studied telomeres from the crew on board SpaceX's 2021 Inspiration4 mission. This mission had the first all-civilian crew, whose ages spanned four decades. All of the crew members' telomeres lengthened during the mission, and three of the four astronauts also exhibited telomere shortening once they were back on Earth.

What's particularly interesting about these findings is that the Inspiration4 mission lasted only three days. So, not only do scientists now have consistent and reproducible data on telomeres' response to spaceflight, but we also know it happens quickly. These results suggest that even short trips, like a weekend getaway to space, will be associated with changes in telomere length.

Scientists still don't totally understand the health impacts of such changes in telomere length. We'll need more research to figure out how both long and short telomeres might affect an astronaut's long-term health.

Telomeric RNA

In another paper, we showed that the Inspiration4 crewas well as Scott Kelly and the high-altitude mountain climbersexhibited increased levels of telomeric RNA, termed TERRA.

Telomeres consist of lots of repetitive DNA sequences. These are transcribed into TERRA, which contributes to telomere structure and helps them do their job.

Together with laboratory studies, these findings tell us that telomeres are being damaged during spaceflight. While there is still a lot we don't know, we do know that telomeres are especially sensitive to oxidative stress. So, the chronic oxidative damage that astronauts experience when exposed to space radiation around the clock likely contributes to the telomeric responses we observe.

We also wrote a review article with a more futuristic perspective of how better understanding telomeres and aging might begin to inform the ability of humans to not only survive long-duration space travel but also to thrive and even colonize other planets. Doing so would require humans to reproduce in space and future generations to grow up in space. We don't know if that's even possibleyet.

Plant telomeres in space

My colleagues and I contributed other work to the Space Omics and Medical Atlas package, as well, including a paper published in Nature Communications. The study team, led by Texas A&M biologist Dorothy Shippen and Ohio University biologist Sarah Wyatt, found that, unlike people, plants flown in space did not have longer telomeres during their time on board the International Space Station.

The plants did, however, ramp up their production of telomerase, the enzyme that helps maintain telomere length.

As anyone who's seen "The Martian" knows, plants will play an essential role in long-term human survival in space. This finding suggests that plants are perhaps more naturally suited to withstand the stressors of space than humans.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study of curriculum reading material at the University of Glasgow finds that 94% of recommended tropical ecology authors are white, and that 80% of authors are affiliated with universities outside of the tropics. Dr. Stewart White, Senior Lecturer at the School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow, UK, intends to change that.

"Tropical rainforest research was long the preserve of rich white men and the resulting literature was the same," says Dr. White. "This historical bias in tropical research and publication is still reflected in reading lists and recommended sources in higher education."

Dr. White and his team compiled data on the genders, ethnicities, countries of origin and institutional affiliations for authors on the University's tropical ecology subject recommended reading list. As well as published papers, data was sourced from institutional websites, LinkedIn and personal websites.

The results of the study show that 94% of the authors were from non-BAME backgrounds, nearly 79% of authors were male, and 80% of the authors were from universities or institutions in the global North and not from the tropics.

"Our results were sadly not surprising, with the vast majority of the 340 authors categorized as male and white," says Dr. White. "Institutional affiliation and country of origin were similarly heavily biased towards North America and Europe, with a significant minority of South American institutions and Brazilian authors represented, and Asia and Africa were hugely under-represented."

Dr. White would like to make changes in the curriculum to widen the scope of recommended authors and allow for greater representation of local research.

"I am currently working to update the reading list for the tropical ecology option and looking to replace existing recommendations with more recent papers covering similar research, but written by local scientists affiliated with institutions based in the tropics," he says.

Dr. White would also like to implement discussion sessions and tutorials to discuss this issue directly with students.

Dr. White hopes that this research will help to set the record straight on the current publication bias within higher education. "Ecology research is not just for people from rich countries that have access to resources, equipment and prestige academic journals," he says. "There is huge potential to use the knowledge, intelligence and interest of people in the tropics to conduct research and to spread knowledge at all levels of education."

This research is being presented at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Conference in Prague from 25 July 2024.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The presence of active fishing boats in local harbors is a boon for Danish tourism, according to a research study from the University of Copenhagen. Indeed, the value of Denmark's commercial fishery shouldn't just be measured by its catch, but by its amenity value and the indirect income it nets local communities as well. The researchers believe that their study calls for a fine-tuning of legislation with regards to who is allowed to own fishing quotas.

They wake long before the sun's glow yawns across the horizon. And as their vessels' waves lap at the harbor wall, they return with fresh seafood to be sold at the quayside or from the harbor's fish auction by fast-talking, impossible to decipher auctioneers.

It may seem like a relic of a bygone era, when the world was more authentic and seemingly far less complexwhen fish came from the cold sea and not from the supermarket cold counter. Fishing is not just about production; it is also a cultural experience.

A study, in Marine Policy, that looks statistically at the correlation between fishing boats and hotel guests around Denmark has now demonstrated this in black and white. The conclusion is clear: active fisheries benefit local tourism.

"Our results demonstrate a clear positive correlation between the presence of fishing boats in local harbors and the number of local hotel guests. To a significant degree, tourism is positively affected by having active fishing vessels landing in local seaports," says Max Nielsen from the Department of Food and Resource Economics, who is one of the study's authors.

Specifically, the study shows that when an extra fishing vessel arrives in port, overnight stays in the area also increase by an average of 1.1%, corresponding to roughly ninety extra nights in the area.

Furthermore, the effect of fishing boats is greater when permanently based in a given harbor. When an extra boat is added that belongs to a harbor in a certain postcode, overnight stays in the same postcode increase by 1.4%, or about 110 overnight stays, according to the study's results.

The study also points out that general fishing activity, not vessel size, is what contributes most in attracting visitors. The researchers excluded the very largest vessels from the data by sorting them out on the basis of catch types, but the study shows that the effect applies to medium-sized vessels.

"Small cutters that sell fresh fish directly to tourists contribute to an authentic experience, while industrial trawlers feed a different kind of fascination. However, it is reasonable to believe that there may be interesting differences in these effects depending on the types of fishing vessels present. We hope that future studies will be able to shed more light on this," says study co-author Rasmus Nielsen.

The research was carried out against a backdrop of decline in Europe's fisheries sector. As one of four studies in the Nordic countries, the study is part of a report supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, which has been tasked with highlighting possible connections between fishing and tourism in Scandinavia

Fishing quota system: A success with room for improvement

Based on the study, the researchers believe that there is reason for slight adjustments to Danish fishing quota legislation.

"With an adjustment of the rules, one could imagine a small seaport, in which there is a tourism sector and some eateries, that the town's co-op association joins forces to finance a few fishing quotas. This would allow for fishing and the sustenance of harbor life, while contributing positively to the tourism sector. This could be of great benefit to small communities and their economies, as well as for the economy created by the Danish fishery as a whole," says Max Nielsen.

Torup Strand in North Jutland is one example of how joint quota ownership can strengthen small-scale fishing and preserve local economies. But these initiatives face a legal hurdle that requires fishing quotas to be owned by fishermen.

"It makes sense to rethink this aspect of fisheries policy with a focus on including stakeholders other than traditional commercial fishermen. The current practice, whereby only fishermen can own quotas, limits the potential of fishing for small coastal communities and for the economy as a whole," says Nielsen.

However, the researchers emphasize that the Danish fishing quota system has generally proved successful. It has created a more sustainable fishing sector with regards to fish stocks, climate and even for the marine environment. And in particular, for the industry's own economic sustainability.

"The quotas have been good for the economic welfare of society and the fishing sector. Prior to the quota system, there were just too many fishermen going after far too few fish. Investments in boats and equipment were risky and there were many bankruptcies. The quotas have regulated the number of fishing vessels to a profitable level because they can be resold all while ensuring that the sea's resources are fully utilized," says Max Nielsen.

At the same time, this has been done within established limits that have been professionally assessed as sustainable for fish stocks, and with fewer boats, resulting in reduced CO 2 emissions.

"Our results don't suggest any major upheaval. On the contrary, adjusting the rules for fishing to benefit small local communities by opening up joint ownership of a fishing quota by non-commercial fishermen can strengthen local tourism and be a good idea," says Rasmus Nielsen.

More information: Max Nielsen et al, Does fishery activity affect local tourism? Evidence from Denmark, Marine Policy (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2024.106051 Journal information: Marine Policy
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A lifeguard is seen ahead of the potential arrival of Hurricane Beryl in Cancun, Mexico on July 3, 2024.

Hurricane Beryl powered towards Mexico and the Cayman Islands early Thursday, threatening strong winds and a storm surge after battering Jamaica's southern coast.

Beryl weakened to a Category 3 storm overnight, sustaining winds of 125 miles (200 kilometers) an hour, but is forecast to be "at or near major hurricane intensity" while it passes by the Caymans, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

"Strong winds, dangerous storm surge and damaging winds" were expected across the Cayman Islands overnight, the NHC said early Thursday.

The storm has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, killing at least seven people and bringing with it flash floods and mudslides as it moves towards Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

The storm is the first since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July.

Mexican officials have scrambled to prepare, with the NHC warning Beryl will remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.

"We will have intense rains and wind gusts" from Thursday, Civil Protection national coordinator Laura Velazquez said, announcing the deployment of hundreds of military personnel, marines and electricity workers in anticipation of damage.

High waves crash along the beach in Kingston, Jamaica, before the arrival of Hurricane Beryl on July 3, 2024 Beryl churned towards Jamaica on July 3, with forecasters warning of potentially deadly winds and storm surge, after at least seven people were killed and widespread destruction was reported across the southeastern Caribbean. The powerful hurricane, which is rare so early in the Atlantic season, was expected to pass over Jamaica around midday as a "life-threatening" Category 4 storm, meteorologists said.

The government has prepared 112 shelters with a capacity for around 20,000 people and suspended school in the state of Quintana Roo, where Beryl will likely hit.

In Jamaica, more than 400,000 people were without power, according to the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing a public service company.

Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness had declared a curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm across the island of 2.8 million and urged Jamaicans to comply with evacuation orders.

Desmon Brown, manager of the National Stadium in Kingston, said his staff had scrambled to be ready.

"We've taped up our windows, covered our equipmentincluding computers, printers and that sort of thing. Apart from that, it's mainly concrete so there's not much we can do," Brown told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

'No communication'

Beryl has already left a trail of death with at least three people killed in Grenada, where the storm made landfall Monday, as well as one in St Vincent and the Grenadines and three in Venezuela.

Graphic explaining the formation of hurricanes.

Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, said that it would take a "herculean effort" to rebuild after the substantial destruction and that "90-odd percent of the houses were blown away" on Union Island.

"Most of the country doesn't have electricity, and more than half without water at the moment," he said.

Grenada's Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said the island of Carriacou, which was struck by the eye of the storm, has been all but cut off, with houses, telecommunications and fuel facilities there flattened.

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.

In St Vincent and the Grenadines, one person on the island of Bequia was reported dead from the storm, while a man died in Venezuela's northeastern coastal state of Sucre when he was swept away by a flooded river, officials there said.

Hurricane Beryl is seen on July 3, 2024 as it approaches Jamaica in a satellite image obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Map showing the path forecast of Hurricane Beryl, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) at 0600 GMT on July 2.

Climate change

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.

Warm ocean temperatures are key for hurricanes, and North Atlantic waters are currently between two and five degrees Fahrenheit (1-3 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

UN climate chief Simon Stiell, who has family on the island of Carriacou, 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, reporting that his parents' property was damaged.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Nearly 20 years ago, the U.S. Congress approved funding to implement the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program across the country. SRTS promotes safe and accessible active transportation, like walking or biking, for students to school through infrastructure improvements, safety education, safety enforcement and incentives.

Despite the demonstrated physical and mental health benefits of active transportation to childrenand advantages granted to school districts and local neighborhoods by the programmany economically disadvantaged communities do not implement it. Researchers from Penn State's Department of Kinesiology have now learned why that might be and has proposed solutions to mitigate such barriers.

The researchers previously identified barriers these populations face, such as lack of personnel, financial means and education in grant writing and the implementation process.

To better understand these barriers and to develop strategies to mitigate the challenges and promote active transportation within these communities, the researchers interviewed 13 SRTS state representatives and coordinators from across the country.

Led by Lucas Elliott, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology in 2019 and a doctorate in kinesiology in 2022, and Melissa Bopp, professor of kinesiology and professor in charge of the undergraduate program in kinesiology, the researchers published their findings and recommendations in the Journal of Transport & Health.

"Programs like Safe Routes to School are successful in increasing the number of children who walk and bike to school safely, but program representatives noticed that many disadvantaged neighborhoods were not utilizing this program," said Elliott, who also received his master of public health in community and behavioral health from the Penn State College of Medicine and his doctorate in psychology of behavior from Penn State.

"We wanted to better understand why underrepresented communities were not applying to this program and what strategies the SRTS program could use to help facilitate their participation."

The researchers found that there are several factors contributing to the persistence of each barrierincluding that many simply do not know about the program.

"One key finding is the lack of awareness of the Safe Routes to School program," Bopp said. "These schools don't know this resource is available to them, or they don't understand how it can benefit their students and communities. Those who do lack the support and resources to write the grant proposals necessary to apply for the program."

This program relies on schools to develop and write grant proposals that outline the problems that prevent safe access for students to travel to school via walking or biking, the funding and resources needed to resolve these issues, and the proposed strategy to implement the program.

Higher-income communities are more likely to have volunteers or personnel with skills in grant writing or be able to hire consultants to write the grant proposals, but many disadvantaged communities lack the resources to do the same.

One way to mitigate this barrier, the researchers suggested, would be for SRTS to proactively reach out to schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods rather than to wait for the schools to apply for a grant.

The researchers also recommended changing the way that SRTS programs are funded as a way to improve access to biking and walking to school for all children. How these programs are currently funded relies heavily on each individual state's legislation and political priorities, so program implementation can vary widely between states.

"Establishing a funding and resource baseline for these programs, whether that is through federal policies or another method, would give these leaders and coordinators equal footing to assist disadvantaged communities," Bopp said.

The researchers pointed to untapped resources to further reduce barriers.

Many members of disadvantaged communities often work multiple jobs or live in single family households, which prevents them from being able to offer their time as volunteers. High school students and members of different organizations may have community service requirements that could be used to help ease the burden on the others in the neighborhood.

Public health officials and consultants could also help mitigate challenges, according to the researchers. They suggested that such individuals could leverage their experience and help SRTS program leaders and coordinators better understand how to reach disadvantaged communities to make their programs successful and sustainable.

"Many program leaders and coordinators noted that they lack the expertise or experience necessary to know how to better reach these schools," Bopp said. "Their backgrounds are primarily rooted in engineering, so they have the knowledge to bolster the supporting infrastructure of SRTS programs but lack the experience to apply the same attention to the educational and outreach aspects of the programs."

SRTS coordinators should also consider developing partnerships with other government agencies and external community organizations to support and expand the reach of the program, the researchers said.

Government agencies and community organizations that provide services to disadvantaged communities have established connections with them and may provide opportunities to promote SRTS programs and the benefits of walking and biking to school for children's health.

"Programs like the Safe Routes to School program have the potential to help children create life-long habits that benefit their overall health while also providing them with the education and infrastructure to do so," Elliott said.

"Making these programs more accessible and equitable for disadvantaged communities will allow more children and community members to utilize alternative transportation options and develop healthy habits."

More information: Lucas D. Elliott et al, Barriers and strategies to implementing safe routes to school programs within disadvantaged communities: Interviews with state-level representatives, Journal of Transport & Health (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.jth.2024.101800
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Michigan State University combined terahertz laser light, shown as a red wavy arrow, with a scanning tunneling microscope, or STM, tip  the dark pyramid shape exchanging a red electron with a sample shown with a blue surface. Credit: Eve Ammerman

One of the challenges of cramming smarter and more powerful electronics into ever-shrinking devices is developing the tools and techniques to analyze the materials that make them up with increasingly intimate precision.

Physicists at Michigan State University have taken a long-awaited step on that front with an approach that combines high-resolution microscopy with ultrafast lasers.

The technique, described in the journal Nature Photonics, enables researchers to spot misfit atoms in semiconductors with unparalleled precision. Semiconductor physics labels these atoms as "defects," which sounds negative, but they're usually added to materials on purpose and are critically important to the performance of semiconductors in today'sand tomorrow'sdevices.

"This is particularly relevant for components with nanoscale structures," said Tyler Cocker, the Jerry Cowen Endowed Chair in Experimental Physics and leader of the new study.

That includes things like computer chips, which routinely make use of semiconductors with nanoscale features. And researchers are working to take nanoscale architecture to an extreme by engineering materials that are a single atom thick.

"These nanoscopic materials are the future of semiconductors," said Cocker, who also leads the Ultrafast Terahertz Nanoscopy Laboratory in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at MSU. "When you have nanoscale electronics, it's really important to make sure that electrons can move the way you want them to."

Defects play a big part in that electron motion, which is why scientists like Cocker are keen to learn precisely where they are located and how they behave. Cocker's peers have been excited to learn that his team's new technique will let them easily obtain that information.

"One of my colleagues said, 'I hope you went out and celebrated,'" Cocker said.

Vedran Jelic, who spearheaded the project as a postdoctoral researcher in Cocker's group and is now with the National Research Council Canada, is the new report's first author. The research team also included doctoral students Stefanie Adams, Eve Ammerman and Mohamed Hassan, as well as undergraduate researcher Kaedon Cleland-Host.

Cocker added that the technique is straightforward to implement with the right equipment and his team is already applying it to atomically thin materials like graphene nanoribbons.

"We've got a number of open projects where we're using the technique with more materials and more exotic materials," Cocker said. "We're basically folding it into everything we do and using it as a standard technique."

Doctoral students Mohamed Hassan and Stefanie Adams inspect an optics table to tune the laser light used in the Michigan State University team's new technique. Credit: Matt Davenport/MSU College of Natural Science

A light (almost) touch

There are already tools, notably scanning tunneling microscopes or STMs, that can help scientists spot single-atom defects.

Unlike the microscopes many folks would recognize from high school science classes, STMs don't use lenses and light bulbs to magnify objects. Rather, STMs scan a sample's surface using an atomically sharp tip, almost like the stylus on a record player.

But the STM tip doesn't touch the sample's surface, it just gets close enough so that electrons can jump, or tunnel, between the tip and the sample.

STMs record how many electrons jump and where they jump from, along with other information, to provide atomic scale information about samples (thus, why Cocker's lab refers to this as nanoscopy instead of microscopy).

But STM data alone isn't always sufficient to clearly resolve defects within a sample, especially in gallium arsenide, an important semiconductor material that's found in radar systems, high-efficiency solar cells and modern telecommunication devices.

For their latest publication, Cocker and his team focused on gallium arsenide samples that were intentionally infused with silicon defect atoms to tune how electrons move through the semiconductor.

"The silicon atom basically looks like a deep pothole to the electrons," Cocker said.

Although theorists have been studying this type of defect for decades, experimentalists have not been able to detect these single atoms directly, until now. Cocker and his team's new technique still uses an STM, but the researchers also shine laser pulses right at the STM's tip.

Tyler Cocker (left), the Jerry Cowen Endowed Chair in Experimental Physics at Michigan State University, along with doctoral students Stefanie Adams and Mohamed Hassan in the Ultrafast Terahertz Nanoscopy Laboratory. Credit: Matt Davenport/MSU College of Natural Science

These pulses consist of light waves with terahertz frequencies, meaning they jiggle up and down a trillion times per second. Recently, theorists had shown this is the same frequency that silicon atom defects should jiggle back and forth with inside a gallium arsenide sample.

By coupling STM and terahertz light, the MSU team created a probe that has an unparalleled sensitivity for the defects.

When the STM tip came to a silicon defect on the gallium arsenide's surface, a sudden, intense signal appeared in the team's measurement data. When the researchers moved the tip an atom away from the defect, the signal disappeared.

"Here was this defect that people have been hunting for over forty years, and we could see it ringing like a bell," Cocker said.

"At first, it was hard to believe because it's so distinct," he continued. "We had to measure it in every which way to be certain that this was real."

Once they were convinced the signal was real, however, it was easy to explain thanks to the years of theory work devoted to the subject.

"When you discover something like this, it's really helpful when there is already decades of theoretical research thoroughly characterizing it," said Jelic, who, along with Cocker, is also a corresponding author on the new paper.

Although Cocker's lab is at the forefront of this field, there are groups around the world currently combining STMs and terahertz light. There are also a variety of other materials that could benefit from this technique for applications beyond detecting defects.

Now that his team has shared its approach with the community, Cocker is excited to see what other discoveries await.
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Findings published in a new paper in the British Journal of Educational Studies challenge the idea that academically selective schools are necessary for clever pupils to achieve good outcomes.

Selective schools are government-funded schools that enroll only the highest performing students. Pupils take a standardized entrance exam, from which the best-scoring are enrolled.

Some argue that selective schools are necessary for bright pupils to reach their full academic potential. Selective schools can outperform or perform just as well as elite schools in final year exams, but without the high fees charged to parents. Hence, selective schools can offer a means for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds to receive a first-class education.

However, others argue that selective schools disproportionately benefit high-socioeconomic children whose parents can afford private tutoring to prepare them for the entrance exams.

"Studies show that parents wish to enroll their children into selective schools, because they believe it will increase the chances of their children getting into a prestigious university, and securing a well-paid and high-status job," says Melissa Tham, a research fellow at the Mitchell Institute at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.

To find out whether there are benefits associated with selective schools, Tham and her colleagues Shuyan Huo, and Andrew Wade tracked almost 3,000 pupils from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), a nationally representative survey program that follows young Australians over an 11-year period. The survey started when respondents were aged 15 in 2009.

As expected, the selective schools featured in the study had a higher proportion of academically high-achieving students, as measured by mathematics and reading scores.

However, at ages 19 and 25 there was little difference between the educational and employment outcomes of children who attended selective schools versus non-selective schools. For example, the study found that while 81% of selective school students went on to secure a job or university place at 19 compared to 77.6% of pupils from non-selective schools, this difference disappeared when the students were matched on key characteristics, including socioeconomic background, gender, and geographical location.

At age 25, all outcomes between selective and non-selective school students were not significant, except general life satisfaction. Attending a selective school increased a student's general life satisfaction score by just 0.19 points. Meanwhile, students who attended non-selective schools were just as likely to go on to study at university or secure a job as their peers who attended selective schools.

"These very modest findings indicate that attending an academically selective school does not appear to pay off in large benefits for individuals," says Andrew Wade, co-author of the study. "We argue that academically selective schools in the government sector therefore contradict the principles of inclusive and equitable education which underpin Australia's school system."

According to the authors, the findings suggest that more research is needed to determine whether selective schools offer any benefit to academically able students.

"Rather than tweak some aspects of the enrollment processes, we see greater value in conducting a thorough and critical examination of fully and partially selective schools, and scaling back selectivity if the supposed benefits are not found," says Huo.

More information: Does School Academic Selectivity Pay Off? The Education, Employment and Life Satisfaction Outcomes of Australian Students, British Journal of Educational Studies (2024). DOI: 10.1080/00071005.2024.2365189
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Since the early 1970s, there has been a worldwide promise to support women in achieving positions of authority in U.S. corporations. However, the business world has not necessarily met that promise.

Cindy Schipani, professor of business law at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, explores some of the limiting factors and opportunities for improvement in her recent research. The research is published in the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law.

In "Women in Power: Clearing Pathways for Women to Rise to Positions of Organizational Leadership," Schipani and her co-authors explore numerous benefits of including women in leadership roles in business and government.

Despite the rich literature showing the overwhelming positives of inclusionary practices for women in leadership roles, as of 2021, fewer than five countries have achieved significant gender inclusion in executive leadership roles.

So, how can businesses, policymakers and industry leaders remediate this lack of representation? Schipani discusses some of the key findings of her study.

Your research explores the effect of legislative, organizational and individual initiatives. What are some of the unique features that position these three groups to effect change?

The legislative initiatives are the most effective. When companies have a legal requirement, they comply.

We see this in Europe, where various countries have mandated a certain percentage of women on boards. In the United States, there has been some movement toward regulation. For example, a legislative initiative in California, which, in the first phase, required one woman on each board of California companies, was highly effective.

The law, however, was challenged and found unconstitutional by a court. The case is on appeal, so time will tell if the California legislation will withstand constitutional scrutiny.

On the other hand, business organizations can be immediately proactive in seeking to increase gender diversity on boards. They can search for qualified candidates more broadly rather than simply through traditional networks, which have been historically composed of mostly white males.

The individual initiatives we mention in the paper are promoted by prominent women. These initiatives give exposure to the issues. In some cases, they also include training and mentoring programs, which are very helpful.

Were there any initiatives that surprised you in their efficacyor lack thereof?

I was surprised with how successful the California legislative initiative was, at least while the law was in full force and effect. Companies without women on their boards added women.

It's particularly interesting that not a single company challenged the law. Instead, a taxpayer brought the lawsuit. It will be interesting to see what the California appeals court decides.

Your study shows the many benefits of women's participation in business leadership. What were some of the most impactful benefits?

I think some of the most impactful benefits are bringing diverse viewpoints to the table, thus improving decision-making. This aids the company by essentially providing more data. This is not to say there is a single "woman's viewpoint." Of course there is not.

However, based on professional and life experiences, diverse board members can offer different perspectives than might be considered by a nondiverse board. Research has also suggested that having women in leadership signals an open-mindedness on the part of the company, which may in part explain some of the correlated financial benefits.

The study explores several success stories of companies that have implemented initiatives to support women's rise to leadership positions. Were there any linking factors you found across these companies?

The one factor that stands out in the corporate success stories supporting women's rise to leadership is access to mentors. The companies we studied generally had a mentoring program.

Mentoring can be effective in training women for leadership roles and in opening doors to new career opportunities. For example, mentors may suggest their mentees for high-profile assignments. Not only would the mentees benefit from the assignments, but they would also benefit from the mentors' reflected power.

You and your colleagues lay out a potential roadmap for companies to be more inclusive and supportive. What should a company do to start the journey?

I think one of the first things is to take stock of where they are currently with respect to inclusivity. As management gurus have told us, what gets measured gets managed. Companies could then set goals and provide incentives to managers to meet them. Mentoring could go a long way toward helping to achieve those goals.

Are there exciting opportunities for future research on the subject?

We need to figure out how to get closer to parity with respect to gender inclusivity at leadership levels. Then, there is pay equity, which is still a stubborn issue. More research is needed on the root causes of unconscious bias and ways to eradicate it.

In prior research, my co-authors and I hypothesized that mentoring of junior men by senior women may be a possible way to counteract unconscious bias. Research is needed to see if that could work in practice and to search for other solutions.

Unfortunately, the glass ceiling is still alive and well.

More information: Cindy A. Schipani et al, Women in Power: Clearing Pathways for Women to Rise to Positions of Organizational Leadership, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Business Law (2024). DOI: 10.58112/jbl.26-1.3
From pits and broken artifacts, heritage professionals are attempting to piece together the life of people living about 7,000 years ago in what is now Shenyang in Liaoning province.

Covering an area of 178,000 square meters, the Xinle Site is a Neolithic settlement dating back over 7,000 years. More than 3,000 artifacts and 40 house foundations have been found at the site during the course of six archaeological digs.

The Xinle Site Museum, founded in the mid-1980s, will be upgraded into an archaeological ruins park to continue to demonstrate the significance of the site, according to Zeng Yang, director of the museum.

"About 7,000 years ago, the Xinle people lived on a platform situated to the north of the ancient Hunhe River," Zeng says. "They engaged in various activities, such as digging holes, building thatched cottages, crafting stone tools and creating pottery vessels, and devoted themselves to the development of the area and to creating splendid Xinle Culture with their wisdom and labor."

According to Zeng, most of China's archaeological site museums focus on sites within a time span of 5,000 years and often have intact artifacts, complete moats and well-preserved city layouts. Few are as old as Xinle, which contains a plethora of mysteries waiting to be solved.

The site has also turned up its own wonders, among them a carbonized wooden pole with a bird's head carving and exquisite double-faced carvings on the body from 7 millennia ago.

"This is one of the earliest carved wooden artifacts ever found in China," Zeng says. "Wooden artifacts are hard to preserve, and it has survived because it was carbonized in a fire. It's really amazing that ancient people were able to make the same exquisite carvings on both sides of the sculpture without the use of modern tools."

Unfortunately, the artifact broke into three parts when it was unearthed, but it remains a precious object, and has been inferred to be the scepter of a tribal leader.

Another important discovery was artifacts in the shape of balls, earrings and bubbles, which were made of jet, a type of a compact velvet-black coal that takes a good polish and is often used for jewelry. Scientific analysis shows that it came from coalfields in the west of Fushun, Liaoning, which is known as the "capital of coal" due to its long history of mining.

Since the site used to be by the ancient Hunhe River, and Fushun is located on the upper reaches of the river, archaeologists estimate that the jet possibly traveled from what is now Fushun to Xinle along the river, or came to Xinle through the exchange of goods.

Tourists to the museum can visit the sites where artifacts were unearthed, and re-creations of clan meetings, the killing of prey and the making of stone tools.

Duan Chengjiao, head of the museum's tour guide team, highlights Xinle pottery vessels. "From many of the vessels on exhibit, visitors can see that people from 7,000 years ago already possessed skillful craftsmanship," Duan says.

Recently, the museum has been building new storehouses to protect artifacts and cabinets to display them. Temperature and humidity in the new storehouses and cabinets can be adjusted for better protection.

Educational activities have been organized to promote public understanding of the site. These include summer camps for children, during which they can visit the museum, try on re-creations of ancient clothing, observe insects and the night sky, and sleep in tents, while they learn about history and nature.

In the future, the Xinle archaeological park will expand to include exhibition venues, an educational center, and interactive spaces where visitors can experience archaeological excavations for themselves. These areas will showcase the daily lives of the Xinle people, highlighting daily activities such as fishing, hunting, and gathering fruit.

"The park will offer a wider range of functional areas to cater to diverse interests, providing opportunities for both learning and leisure," Zeng says.
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Pseudomonas aeruginosaan environmental bacteria that can cause devastating multidrug-resistant infections, particularly in people with underlying lung conditionsevolved rapidly and then spread globally over the last 200 years, probably driven by changes in human behavior, a new study has found.

The work appears in the journal Science.

P. aeruginosa is responsible for over 500,000 deaths per year around the world, of which over 300,000 are associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). People with conditions such as COPD (smoking-related lung damage), cystic fibrosis (CF), and non-CF bronchiectasis are particularly susceptible.

How P. aeruginosa evolved from an environmental organism into a specialized human pathogen was not previously known. To investigate this, an international team led by scientists at the University of Cambridge examined DNA data from almost 10,000 samples taken from infected individuals, animals, and environments around the world.

By mapping the data, the team was able to create phylogenetic trees"family trees"that show how the bacteria from the samples are related to each other. Remarkably, they found that almost seven in ten infections are caused by just 21 genetic clones, or "branches" of the family tree that have rapidly evolved (by acquiring new genes from neighboring bacteria) and then spread globally over the last 200 years.

This spread occurred most likely as a result of people beginning to live in densely-populated areas, where air pollution made our lungs more susceptible to infection and where there were more opportunities for infections to spread.

These epidemic clones have an intrinsic preference for infecting particular types of patients, with some favoring CF patients and other non-CF individuals. It turns out that the bacteria can exploit a previously unknown immune defect in people with CF, allowing them to survive within macrophages. Macrophages are cells that "eat" invading organisms, breaking them down and preventing the infection from spreading. But a previously-unknown flaw in the immune systems of CF patients means that once the macrophage swallows P. aeruginosa, it is unable to get rid of it.

Having infected the lungs, these bacteria then evolve in different ways to become even more specialized for a particular lung environment. The result is that certain clones can be transmitted within CF patients and other clones within non-CF patients, but almost never between CF and non-CF patient groups.

Professor Andres Floto, Director of the UK Cystic Fibrosis Innovation Hub at the University of Cambridge and Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and senior author of the study said, "Our research on Pseudomonas has taught us new things about the biology of cystic fibrosis and revealed important ways we might be able to improve immunity against invading bacteria in this and potentially other conditions.

"From a clinical perspective, this study has revealed important information about Pseudomonas. The focus has always been on how easily this infection can spread between CF patients, but we've shown that it can spread with worrying ease between other patients, too. This has very important consequences for infection control in hospitals, where it's not uncommon for an infected individual to be on an open ward with someone potentially very vulnerable.

"We are incredibly lucky at Royal Papworth Hospital where we have single rooms and have developed and evaluated a new air-handling system to reduce the amount of airborne bacteria and protect all patients."

Dr. Aaron Weimann from the Victor Phillip Dahdaleh Heart & Lung Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, and first author on the study, said, "It's remarkable to see the speed with which these bacteria evolve and can become epidemic and how they can specialize for a particular lung environment. We really need systematic, pro-active screening of all at risk patient groups to detect and hopefully prevent the emergence of more epidemic clones."

More information: Aaron Weimann et al, Evolution and host-specific adaptation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi0908. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adi0908 Journal information: Science
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From podcasts to shorts, the topic of serial killers is likely to receive a significant amount of attention on social media sites. But what is it about this subject that captures the imagination of millions?

Edith Cowan University (ECU) Senior Lecturer Dr. Laura Glitsos and Professor Mark Deuze from the University of Amsterdam, said that despite obvious pitfalls, social media offer people the opportunity to reclaim conversations away from traditional media outlets such as newspapers and television, while engaging around the phenomenon of serial killers provides them an avenue to discover their own humanity.

"In social media settings, like Reddit or YouTube, anyone can interact within that space. The gatekeeping function from the traditional outlets is removed, giving anyone with a device the opportunity to take part in the narrative, to help form the conversation.

"One of the most interesting things that have come from this research is that people really want to be able to express and participate in a community that doesn't leave its humanity behind, and that takes a stand against encroaching feelings around uncanniness, which is represented, as we argue in our research, by the serial killer phenomenon," said Dr. Glitsos.

In her latest research, Dr. Glitsos noted that commentators on social media posts that revolve around the topic of serial killers, often attempt to bring back a sense of humanity and connection to the topic, offering not a glorification of the crimes committed, but rather commiserating with those that have been impacted by these events.

The study, "Serial killers and the production of the uncanny in digital participatory culture," was published in New Media & Society.

The archetype of serial killers serves a social function at an individual level, said Dr. Glitsos, with people engaging with the idea and mythology of the serial killer to work through different emotions and experiences that they have about the world more generally.

"You can think about the way that contemporary life can feel so connected, yet so detached at the same time. And it is really fascinating and allegorical that we can take that 'dehumanizing' experience and explore it using the serial killer as a narrative.

"Serial killing as a topic in popular media appears so prevalent, which is a paradox because it is such an awful thing. But as individuals in the world, we are constantly trying to understand our place in it, and the serial killer becomes a totem of this paradox.

"They are at once both human and inhumane, which is a little bit similar to living in this contemporary landscape where we engage with things like artificial intelligence, which seems so human, but is obviously not."

Dr. Glitsos noted that there was a distinct difference in the way that users from different social media platforms approached the topic of serial killers.

"Social media platforms that are visual in nature, like TikTok, are often short, and therefore can give less information and less depth to the story, whereas Reddit has less virality because a post will not necessarily have a visual component to go with it, but what it does have is really long and intricate explorations.

"Social media platforms also have different guidelines when posting about these topics, with communities like Reddit actually self-regulating when it comes to this topic. A lot of work goes into making sure that serial killers aren't glorified in some of these communities.

"So even though people are engaging with the topic of serial killers more, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are celebretising these people. I think what it actually means is that people are working through complex ideas more as a social process."

Dr. Glitsos noted that statistically, most of us will never interact with a serial killer "face-to-face."

"Our entire relationship with this character is therefore mediated, from the way newspapers reported on Jack The Ripper and television news covered Charles Manson, to today's endless retelling of serial killer stories in Netflix documentaries.

"The serial killer, time and time again, proves to be an enigmatic figure, particularly produced by the mass media of its time, available for us to act out and cope with our anxieties about what it is to be human, yet also reproducing us as inhuman cogs of the machine of mass society, industry, and culture."

More information: Laura Glitsos et al, Serial killers and the production of the uncanny in digital participatory culture, New Media & Society (2024). DOI: 10.1177/14614448241253764 Journal information: New Media & Society
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In Wapusk National Park, Dr. Doug Clark (Ph.D.) kneels in front of a polar bear den, May 2023. These majestic bears, such as this one photographed by Clark's remote cameras in 2021, have dens more than 100 kilometers further north than were previously documented Credit: Russell Turner, Parks Canada, Doug Clark

Dr. Doug Clark (Ph.D.) has crawled into many polar bear dens as a graduate student and in a former job as a park warden.

So many, in fact, that when Clark and his group of researchers identified a large number of previously undocumented dens north of Churchill, Man.,more than 100 kilometers further north than any other documented polar bear denshe knew they belonged to polar bears.

"We knew these were polar bear dens for a couple of reasons. One, they were in peat deposits ... but more to the point, we found polar bear hair," Clark said.

USask has a long tradition of excellence in polar bear research, and Clark said finding these new dens was positive for both researchers and for polar bear populations. The discovery was published in a paper in Arctic Science.

"To me, it's cause for excitement," he said. "There is a lot of legitimate concern about this specific population of polar bears in western Hudson Bay."

The discovery of the dens was completely by chance. Clark, an associate professor in USask's School of Environment and Sustainability (SENS) and the acting executive director of the school, was in northern Manitoba as part of a research project tracking grizzly bear expansion in the area.

He said they identified what appeared to be a series of polar bear dens during a helicopter flight, which they were able to then confirm along the Caribou River and Seal River.

"Polar bears have a bigger bag of tricks than we usually give them credit for," he said. "Even though figuring out what's going on is complicated, seeing polar bears do something like this, whether we've overlooked it or whether it's new or not, they're doing something that wethe conventional scientific narrativedid not expect."

Polar bears in this population's main denning area120 km south of these newly-described denswill travel an average of 50 to 80 kilometers inland to build dens in permafrost-underlain river and lake banks. As Clark puts it, pregnant polar bears and female polar bears with cubs will travel so far at least in part to avoid males, because large males will eat cubs.

While these dens may have been new to the researchers, they weren't new to the community. Clark said upon their return many Churchill residents confirmed they'd seen the tracks of polar bears with cubs in spring, heading out to the sea ice from inland along those rivers.

Thanks to this insight from community members, the researchers believe that some of these dens were maternity dens where females would go to give birth. Other dens may simply have been used temporarily for keeping cool during the area's brief but hot summers.

Clark said it's not yet clear how long the newly identified dens had been there for. Some dens further south have been dated as older than 250 years.

"This is important regardless of whether the dens are new or not. If they're new then something's changing, but if they're not, then there may be a chunk of this population of bears that have been overlooked in studies so far," Clark said.

Many of these "new" dens are located within an Indigenous Protected Area monitored by the Seal River Watershed Alliance (SRWA). Stephanie Thorassie, the executive director of the SRWA, said the connections between researchers and communities play an important role.

"We are excited by the information the science community is finding. At the end of the day, these partnerships with our communities help to reaffirm the knowledge our land users have been talking about, and this feels good to us," Thorassie said. "We look forward to continuing these partnerships pairing science with our knowledge to get the best understandings of our traditional lands and home."

Clark said the next steps will be to work with colleagues in the alliance to determine the best approach for figuring out how many of these dens are used, how regularly, and by which bears.

"What I'm hoping is that our work to figure out what's going on and better understand polar bear denning up in that area can be done with community guidance and leadership," he said. "I'm really proud of the set of collaborations and relationships that have gone into this research."

More information: Douglas Andrew Clark et al, Polar bear dens on the Seal and Caribou Rivers, Manitoba, Arctic Science (2024). DOI: 10.1139/as-2024-0013
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:

An out-of-control fire in northern California has promoted warnings for thousands of people to flee.

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States in the grip of a "record-breaking and dangerous" heat wave that was complicating firefighting efforts.

More than 3,500 acres (1,400 hectares) of grass and woodland have been consumed since Tuesday when a blaze erupted just outside Oroville.

The town, near the state capital of Sacramento, is just 23 miles (38 kilometers) from Paradise, a community that was razed in 2018 by the deadliest fire in California history, which claimed the lives of 85 people.

Garrett Sjolund, fire chief of Butte County, said the area was under a so-called "red flag warning."

"The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we've experienced the last two summers," he told reporters.

"The fuels are very dense. Brush is dry, and as you can see, any wind will move a fire out very quickly."

Over 25,000 people in the area were under orders to evacuate on Wednesday, local NBC affiliate KCRA reported.

Fireworks

Climate scientists say the western US is undergoing a decades-long aridification as weather patterns change, at least in part because of human-caused global warming.

California suffered around 20 years of drought, but the last two years were relatively mild, with near-record amounts of rain that filled reservoirs and sparked furious growth in forests and grasslands.

Firefighters were tackling the blaze from the air and from the ground.

However, 2024 is shaping up to be a hot and dry year, and that flora is rapidly drying out, creating plenty of fuel for the wildfires that are a normal part of the ecosystem's natural cycle.

The conditions have left officials warning of potentially devastating blazes waiting to happen, especially if people are careless or negligent with fireworks over the upcoming July 4th Independence Day holiday.

"We've had four fires within the last couple of weeks. This is a bad fire season," said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea.

"The last thing we need is somebody who's purchased fireworks from a local fire stand going out and doing something stupid. Don't be an idiot."

On Wednesday, around 1,400 firefighters were attacking the flames on the ground with heavy machinery and by air with planes and helicopters, dumping red fire suppressant.

Sjolund said that equipment and personnel were arriving from other jurisdictions to reinforce operations.

A handful of people, including some firefighters, have reportedly been injured, though none of them seriously.

AFP journalists have seen buildings and vehicles destroyed in the fire.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County, a move intended to free up resources and help the battle against the blaze.

"We are using every available tool to tackle this fire and will continue to work closely with our local and federal partners to support impacted communities," he said.

"As we head into some of the most challenging months of wildfire season, the state is better prepared than ever to protect at-risk communities with new tools, technology and resources."

Some property has been damaged in the blaze.

'Record-breaking'

The National Weather Service (NWS) said the area was expected to see punishingly high temperatures over the coming days, with the mercury touching 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) in some spots.

The oppressive heat is part of a system that is set to affect almost half of the country's population, including over the July 4 holiday weekend.

"Record-breaking and dangerous heat is forecast to make this Fourth of July week a scorcher across much of the West and from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic," the NWS said Wednesday.

"Nearly 150 million residents are currently under heat-related watches, warnings, and advisories throughout 21 states as of this afternoon."

Forecasters said the heat would roll in off the West Coast and take hold of central California before spreading further as the week progresses, including into Oregon and Washington to the north.

"Dozens of record highs are possible, expressing the rarity of this early-July heat wave," the NWS said.

Extreme weather events are becoming increasingly common as our planet warms, largely due to humanity's unchecked burning of fossil fuels since the start of the Industrial Revolution.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Rishi Sunak, the British prime minister, recently spoke of feeling hurt and angry at racist comments made about him during the UK election campaign. Anyone who's experienced racist or other discriminatory language is likely to know what this is like.

But is it more than just an emotional feeling? Research suggests that although words are abstract they really can cause a reaction similar to physical hurt. In fact, pain is intimately linked to language.

A 2022 study from the Netherlands described short verbal insults as lexical "mini-slaps in the face". The team measured physical reactions to short insults such as "Paula is a liar" using two techniques. One was electroencephalography, which records electrical signals from the brain through sensors on the scalp, and the other was skin conductance, which is a measure of changes in sweat production.

The team found clear, measured reactions to the insults across different parts of the brain. It is difficult to compare results directly with neural responses to physical pain, but the authors suggest the result could be seen as comparable to a slap in the face.

That's because the response occurred rapidly and then faded. In fact, the longevity of the reaction was no longer than the measured response to compliments. The researchers were cautious to point out that their results were based on insults in a lab setting, without much context, so they could be very different from the experience of being insulted in everyday life.

It may be tempting to think the idea of a slap is just a metaphor. But metaphors shape how we think. They have real power which affects us every day. Put simply, a metaphor is where the language of a simpler real-world experience is used to describe something more abstract.

A very clear example of the real-world effect is when Donald Trump compared COVID to influenza. A survey of US citizens then showed that people who associated it more strongly with the flu were less likely to take precautions such as social distancing.

There are many others well known links between language and pain. Numerous studies have shown that a person can hold their hand in iced water significantly longer by shouting out "fuck" when compared with made up new swear words such as "fouch" or "twizpipe". In one such study the team found that even when participants repeated the made-up words it had no effect on the person's threshold for pain.

The authors concluded that, unlike made-up words, swearing is something that is learned during childhood, and associated with a lot of emotion. That the fake words provided no pain relief at all suggests that the effect of swearing isn't down to the sound of the word, or as a potentially amusing distraction. Instead it is the rich emotional connections of the language that can help relieveor increasepain.

Language and identity

The racist aspect of an insult connects to deeply held feelings of who we are and our identity as a member of a certain ethnic group. So it's interesting to ponder whether racist insults in our own language hurt more than insults in a foreign language.

There is in fact some evidence supporting thisthough not directly on insults. One a team of researchers looked at language and pain in 80 bilingual participants (English and Spanish) in Miami.

In the study, the researchers applied the same level of pain-inducing heat to their participant's arm. They then investigated whether the pain felt different depending on whether the participants were speaking English or Spanish while discussing the experiment and applying heat.

They discovered that the participants felt the most pain and produced a larger physical response when the participants were speaking the language they most strongly identified with. The potential influence of our identity could be a strong factor that is yet to be fully explored in studies of racist insults.

Finally, it is important to consider the real-world effects of verbal abuse. This type of abuse can occur between friends, colleagues, family memberspractically any type of relationship we haveand that may make it even worse.

People may be afraid of their abuser, feel that they are always having to walk on eggshells or feel threatened by someone. As potential impacts can include anxiety, a decrease in self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is clear potential for serious harm as a result of verbal abuse.

We may remember being taught "sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me" as small children. With the potential feeling of a slap in the face, damage to our sense of identity and an increased risk of anxiety and even PTSD, racist abuse is likely even more damaging than many of us imagine.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
HUDSON FALLS  Two local residents were recently arrested by Hudson Falls Police in an assault case which involved a knife and a blowtorch.

Ayssa L. Johnson, 38, of Warrensburg and Richard Smith, 39, of Glens Falls, will appear in Washington County Court next month in relation to an alleged assault case.

The Hudson Falls Police Department announced the pairs May arrest in a press release Tuesday. They were charged with first-degree unlawful imprisonment, a class E felony, and first-degree assault, a class B felony.

The police department reported that Smith and Johnson were arrested following a dispute at a Willow Street address.

The victim reported that while inside the residence, Smith grabbed her and held her against the wall, a statement from the Hudson Falls Police Department read. Johnson heated up a knife using a blowtorch and pressed it against the victims face.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in Washington County Court in this case August 9. Smith is scheduled to appear in court August 16 on these charges.

According to court records, Smith is also scheduled to appear in Washington County court on August 28 in a separate case where he was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance stemming from an August 2023 arrest.
Exports continue to be a crucial driver for China to achieve its economic growth targets this year, said Tang Yao, an associate professor of applied economics at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management.

Although China's "new trio"  electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products  have recently performed well internationally, sustaining high growth rates may be challenging due to the sluggish global market and rising trade protectionism, according to the professor.

"After unprecedented rapid development, the relationship between China's economy and the world's needs rebalancing," Tang noted.

Tang used the manufacturing sector as an example, which he referred to as the foundation of a modern industrial system. China's share of global manufacturing value added rose from 8.6% in 2004 to 30.7% in 2022, an increase of 22.1%. In contrast, the G7 countries' share fell from 57.2% in 2004 to 35.8% in 2020, the latest year available in the OECD's database. The share of manufacturing value added in countries outside China and the G7 has remained largely unchanged.

"The majority of the share lost by the G7 has basically shifted to China," Tang pointed out.

Tang highlighted several challenges currently facing China's foreign trade environment. These include trade restrictions under the pretense of environmental protection, such as the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism; trade restrictions using national security as an excuse; unfounded accusations from the US and EU about China's so-called "overcapacity"; and expanded trade investigations and embargoes by the US, such as the Section 301 investigation into China's shipbuilding industry and actions against TikTok.

In response to increasing trade protectionism, Tang believes Chinese manufacturing should both "go global" and "move up," which means accelerating outbound direct investment in the manufacturing sector and advancing the industrial and value chains to overcome the relative downstream and disadvantaged positions of some industries in the international division of labor.

Tang suggested that some mid- and downstream production processes, which are sensitive to factor prices and need to be close to consumer markets, could be relocated abroad to reduce domestic manufacturing value added. Meanwhile, upgrading traditional industries, actively developing emerging industries and planning future industries will help manufacturing move up the value chain and industrial chain.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China's share of global manufacturing value added should be maintained at 28% to 30%," Tang foreshadowed.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Nell Brocks said she was surprised when a Cedar Rapids police investigator contacted her to say he was working on the unsolved death of her father who was shot in the head in 1999 outside a southeast side home.

I was 20 years old when it happened, Brocks said.

Brocks mother, Brenna Griffith, said her ex-husband, Willie Junior Brocks, 49, had just been released from prison about six months before the fatal shooting on Nov. 27, 1999.

Both women believe someone saw the shooting, but that person may be afraid to come forward.

They both now have hope because Investigator Matt Denlinger and retired investigators J.D. Smith and Ken Washburn, who are the Cedar Rapids departments Cold Case Unit, are actively pursuing leads to resolve the 25-year-old homicide.

Brocks family, along two other families  one from Cedar Rapids and Vinton and another from Bremer County  were at a news conference Tuesday at the Cedar Rapids Police Department where Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird made a visit to speak about her offices new statewide cold case unit. The unit was first announced last month in Polk County.

Shawna Hunziker, of Vinton, and her mother, Teresa Walton, of Cedar Rapids, shared a letter with Bird about what happened to their loved one, Josh Wellman, 35, on Nov. 12, 2015, when he went missing in Cedar Rapids.

In the letter, Hunziker, Joshs sister, said she saw him for the last time that day and quickly lost hope after realizing the police department was struggling to find answers for us. Years went by with only questions. His body was never found and nobody has been arrested.

Then in 2019, Denlinger and the other cold case investigators contacted them and said they were reopening his case, Hunziker said. Since that time, they have had continuous communication with the investigators who have been open to collaborating with us as we have provided them with ideas and information to help us find Josh.

Cold cases can easily be forgotten and swept under the rug, Hunziker said. Matt and his team have made it very clear that the Cedar Rapids Police Department will not forget about our family or Josh.

She hopes the new statewide unit will provide the same level of support to other families that they have received from the Cedar Rapids Police Cold Case Unit.

The other family in attendance was that of Julie Ann Benning, who was 18 when she went missing after going to work in Waverly on Nov. 28, 1975. She remained missing until March 18, 1976, when a Butler County road maintenance worker found her naked body in a ditch along a road, about a mile from Shell Rock.

She had an injury to her throat area and the cause of death was homicide, according to an autopsy. No arrest has been made in her death.

Iowa has more than 400 cold cases

Steve Ponsetto, a retired Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent, who is leading the statewide cold case unit, said this unit wont be replacing any one of the other agencies that have their own units, such as Cedar Rapids.

He and Bird said they hope the statewide unit will provide a fresh set of eyes to the more than 400 cold cases across the state and that it will help focus efforts and give departments the needed resources to pursue any unsolved homicides, missing person with suspicious circumstances or unidentified human remains cases.

Bird, during the Tuesday news conference, said there is at least one cold case in nearly all of Iowas 99 counties. The funding the legislature approved  $536,000  just started July 1, she noted. The office is in the process of hiring three investigators for the unit.

Several law enforcement agencies and departments were represented at the news conference, including the Johnson and Linn county sheriffs offices; Cedar Rapids and Waterloo police departments; Linn County Attorneys Office; FBI; and Iowa State Patrol.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief David Dostal said this was a monumental step forward for the state to partner with law enforcement departments to provide them the resources to pursue these cases, especially the smaller ones that dont have the staff and time to devote to cold cases.

Dostal said Cedar Rapids started its cold case unit in 2010, and when Denlinger joined in 2016, he started pushing to work on more cases. The investigators have solved four cold cases:

Michelle Martinko, 18, killed in 1979, solved in 2018 with the arrest and conviction of Jerry Burns.

Dennis First, 64, killed in 2007, which led to the arrest this year of Curtis Padgett and his conviction in May.

Brian Schappert, 22, killed in 1989, solved in 2019. Two suspects were identified through new witness interviews and criminal history records, but both suspects had died.

Maureen Brubaker-Farley, 17, killed in 1971, solved in 2021 after comparing DNA from the crime scene with DNA collected from a suspects adult child. It was determined George Smith killed her, but he died in 2013.

After the news conference, Denlinger said he is hoping to be a resource to the statewide unit and help them with advice or share lessons he has learned along the way.

He said the Cedar Rapids department has been able to provide its cold case unit with the necessary support, resources and technology to work on these cases, but the smaller departments dont have those advantages, so he hopes the statewide unit will be able to fill that void.
What is the use of voluminous debates about the voting pattern of Bangladesh-origin Muslims in favour of a particular political party, which was observed in the last national elections across Assam, and an increase in their aggressions over the original inhabitants despite enjoying development benefits (including housing, sanitation, electricity, etc facilities) from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments in New Delhi and Dispur? How long will the people of Assam participate in such discourses as it would result in almost nothing on the ground? Is it not the time to go for a pragmatic action and so demand by one and all for a correct National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam with the base year of 1951? The pertinent issue came to the public domain as the Patriotic People's Front Assam (PPFA, a forum of nationalist citizens based in northeast Bharat) insisted on ending such public discussions as early as possible and argued that the people should not continue killing time with the same old topic of East Pakistani-Bangladeshi migrants. Expressing distress over the development, the forum urged both the Central and State governments to take practical initiatives to identify the illegal migrants in Assam and deport them to their original places. Even if that is not possible (for any reason at this moment), the illegal migrants still need to be identified (with the basis of national cut-off year) and then proportionately distributed across the country, asserted the forum





Assam Accord, signed after six years long historic agitation in 1985, admitted to accept all Bangladesh-origin nationals, who entered the State on or before 21 March 1971. The argument was that prior to that year the land was known as East Pakistan and anybody who came from the Islamic republic couldnot be sent to a new nation (Bangladesh) as Dhaka would never accept them. So it was primarily a problem of the Union government, but the entire burden was imposed on Assam to accept hundreds of thousands of East Pakistani nationals. Question arises here, what prevented the agitating leaders to request the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (who was present on the occasion) to endorse the accord by signing along with the bureaucrats and agitators. Once it was done, it would have been mandatory to debate on the accord in Lok Sabha and probably a fair deal would have been achieved for the native populace of Assam. Moreover, a demand could have been raised to shift a large portion of those East Pakistani turned Indian citizens to other parts of Bharat (following a proportional theory). Assam could have happily accepted its share (maybe one hundred thousand Bangladeshis) and proceed on the path of all round development and steady progress.








By Tajul Islam





Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's bold declaration of war against corruption in Bangladesh marks a significant turning point in the nation's ongoing struggle to eradicate systemic corruption. With corruption deeply entrenched in both the public and private sectors, it has been a formidable challenge, undermining the country's economic backbone and tarnishing the development achievements of the ruling Awami League over the past fifteen years. This comprehensive anti-corruption initiative, launched at a critical juncture, aims to restore the nation's integrity and bolster its global image.





The historical context of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's fight against corruption can be traced back to her previous tenure. In 2009, after the Awami League came to power, she fearlessly declared war against terrorism, successfully curbing the menace of terrorism and militancy that threatened the nation. This time, her focus has shifted to corruption, a different but equally destructive adversary. Standing firm in the National Parliament, she announced that no one involved in corruption, regardless of their power or position, would be spared. Her strong words resonate with the common people's expectations, raising hopes that the country will finally be liberated from the pervasive influence of corruption.





The issue of corruption was prominently featured in the Awami League's election manifesto before the January 7, 2024, elections. Sheikh Hasina promised an impartial anti-corruption campaign, free from party affiliations, and now, she is making good on that promise. Her stern warnings against corruption, delivered in the National Parliament, underscore her commitment to this cause.





During her closing speech at the National Parliament session on June 29, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphatically declared, "We have started an operation against corruption; no one can survive. Whoever is involved in corruption, we will not let go." She reiterated that the party does not forget its election manifesto and is committed to fulfilling its promises made to the nation. This message is crucial for the citizens, instilling confidence that the government is serious about tackling corruption.





The government's stringent measures against corruption have sparked hope among the general public for the establishment of good governance. This renewed optimism follows recent media revelations about the illegal wealth acquired by some powerful, high-ranking government officials. The swift and decisive actions taken by the government are being appreciated both domestically and internationally. These actions send a clear message that corruption at any level will not be tolerated.





One notable example of the government's strict stance on corruption involves recent scandals involving high-ranking officials like revenue officer Matiur Rahman, cow mafia Sadeeq Agro, revenue officer Kazi Abu Mohammad Faisal, Matiur's first wife Raipura Upazila chairman Laila Kaniz Lucky, and former police IG Benazir Ahmed. The government's decisive actions against these individuals have garnered widespread praise. However, experts caution that the problem is far more extensive, with hundreds of corrupt individuals across the public and private sectors having amassed vast fortunes and smuggled millions of BDT abroad. These ill-gotten gains have been used to acquire luxurious properties and businesses in countries such as Dubai, Canada, Australia, the USA, and the UK, with some even purchasing foreign citizenship.





To effectively combat this widespread corruption, it is essential to compile a comprehensive list of corrupt individuals under the supervision of relevant organizations. The media can play a pivotal role in exposing these individuals, shining a light on their illicit activities. Additionally, the government must curb administrative and political actions that protect identified corrupt persons.





Looking to neighboring India, where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been conducting swift raids to apprehend corrupt individuals, Bangladesh can adopt similar measures. Raids should be conducted on the residences of corrupt individuals and their associates. This task should not be entrusted solely to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Instead, intelligence agencies or the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) should be given responsibility, or a combined operation involving all concerned departments should be organized.





Several media reports suggest that corrupt individuals have hidden enormous amounts of BDT in their homes and secret warehouses. In the current economic recession, it is imperative to locate and seize these hidden assets. Additionally, a measure similar to India's demonetization of high-denomination currency notes could be considered to flush out black money. Such actions would make hidden wealth a liability for the corrupt, turning their ill-gotten gains into a burden.





Urgent and coordinated efforts under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister are essential to eradicate corruption. A combined operation involving all relevant departments can help present Bangladesh as Bangabandhu's 'Sonar Bangla' to the world by maintaining the country's ongoing development momentum through the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy against corruption. This would position Bangladesh as a global role model in the fight against corruption, including in the Western world.





Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's declaration is not just a political stance but a necessary action to ensure that the progress made by Bangladesh over the past decades is not undone by the malignancy of corruption. The people of Bangladesh are looking to their leader with hope, expecting a cleaner, more transparent governance that will pave the way for sustained growth and development. This comprehensive anti-corruption drive is a crucial step towards restoring faith in the government, promoting economic stability, and enhancing the nation's reputation on the global stage. By tackling corruption head-on, Sheikh Hasina is laying the groundwork for a brighter, more prosperous future for Bangladesh.









Author's bio: Tajul Islam, a senior journalist and Special Correspondent of Weekly Blitz writes on a broad-range of issues in local and international media. Follow him on X @tajulraj1
Kathmandu, Nepal, July 4, 2024: The National Cooperative Bank Limited (NCBL) Chairman KB Upreti has been arrested on charge of embezzling money of cooperative depositors.








CANCUN, Mexico (AP)  Stung by past failures to prepare for hurricanes, the Mexican government on Wednesday began evacuating even sea turtle eggs from beaches ahead of Hurricane Beryl.





While Beryl remains far offshore in the Caribbean near Jamaica, it is expected to hit somewhere south of Cancun by late Thursday or early Friday.





Given that Mexico did so little to warn or evacuate residents of the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco during Hurricane Otis in October, this time around officials are being extra cautious, digging up recently laid sea turtle eggs for fear they could be washed away by the storm surge.





Government employees kept the carey sea turtle eggs covered with sand in dozens of coolers while transferring them to safer spots.





In other areas, they used sand-bag barriers to create safe corrals to protect turtles nests against the expected strong waves.





Biologist Graciela Tiburcio, one of Mexicos foremost sea turtle experts, said it was an extreme measure that might cause some excess failure to hatch among the turtle eggs.





Look, it's not the best thing to do, but we are facing an emergency in which if they don't take them out, they all could be lost, said Tiburcio, who was not involved in the effort.





Several species of sea turtles come ashore in and around Cancun to lay their eggs in the sand, where hatchlings will emerge a few weeks later and crawl into the sea. Normally, people are told not to disturb the nests, because the sand keeps them at the ideal temperature for hatching.





Moreover, sea turtles are believed to use the natural light on the beaches to orient themselves, and in many cases, return to the same spot themselves after they become adults.





But Beryl's waves and storm surge could simply sweep them out to sea, where they couldn't hatch.





In a normal situation this would not be right, because this will surely cause mortality, said Tiburcio. There will be a lower rate of hatched eggs, that is the reality. But it's also a reality that if the nests are left there, they'll all be lost."





The Cancun municipal environment department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on where the turtle eggs were being taken for safekeeping. But in a social media post, the office said it had dug up over 10,000 eggs from around 93 nests.





Carey turtles, like all sea turtles, are protected species in Mexico and removing their eggs  which were once widely eaten  is prohibited.





It's not just turtles: Further south in the Caribbean coast, in the fishing village of Punta Allen, soldiers, police and marines were strongly pressing the 700 inhabitants to completely evacuate their homes.





Punta Allen is located on a narrow spit of land south of the resort of Tulum.





One resident of Punta Allen who asked to remain anonymous said many residents, about half the population, were resisting the calls to evacuate.





They're asking everyone to get out of Punta Allen ... but people don't want to leave, she said. They don't have any money and they don't want to leave their possessions.





Moreover, the woman said, the government offers free transportation out, but doesn't give people rides back once the hurricane has passed.





Many in Mexico have long distrusted the government's disaster preparedness efforts, because officials often don't enforce zoning and safety rules, and do little before the storms.




China hopes that the EU will work with it in the same direction and show sincerity in advancing the consultation concerning the EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The consultation should be based on facts and rules and should result in a solution that is acceptable for both sides as soon as possible, MOC spokesperson He Yadong said at a press briefing.

"So far, China and the EU have held multiple rounds of consultation at the technical level. There is still a four-month window before a final decision is made," He said.

China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs. China believes that economic and trade frictions must be properly handled through dialogue and consultation, He said.

The ministry's update on this matter came after the two sides agreed to start consultation following talks between Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis via a video link on June 22.

Last month, the European Commission unveiled plans to impose provisional tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs. The move, widely criticized as protectionist, unveiled additional duty rates ranging from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent for Chinese EV makers despite widespread market concerns and China's objections.

China has noticed that governments of some EU member states and major automobile companies have repeatedly voiced opposition to the EU's anti-subsidy measures against Chinese EVs, the MOC spokesperson said.

"China hopes that the EU will listen to the voices within the bloc, carry out negotiations with China rationally and pragmatically, and avoid countervailing measures that harm the mutually beneficial cooperation and shared growth of Chinese and European auto industries," He said.

On Wednesday, the German Association of the Automotive Industry said the planned tariffs against China-made EVs would be counterproductive for Europe's climate goals and harmful to its industry and consumers.

The association has warned that Western car manufacturers in China would also be affected by the tariffs initiated by the EU, in some cases even worse than Chinese companies.




Guwahati: Expressing distress over the recent debates about the voting pattern of Bangladesh-origin Muslims in favour of a particular political party in General Elections 2024 and a steady increase in aggressions over the original inhabitants despite enjoying development benefits (including housing, sanitation, electricity, etc facilities) from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments in New Delhi and Dispur, the Patriotic People's Front Assam (PPFA) insisted on ending such unfortunate discourse once for all by initiating a correct National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam with the base year of 1951.





The forum of nationalist citizens based in northeast India, wants to end this kind of public discussions as early as possible. People of Assam should not continue killing time with the same old topic of East Pakistani-Bangladeshi migrants in this part of Bharat. Both the Central and State governments should take pragmatic initiative to identify the illegal migrants in the State and deport them to their original places. If, at all, that is not possible for any reason at this moment, the illegal migrants must be identified first (with the basis of 1951 cut-off year) and proportionately distribute them across the country, asserted the PPFA.





The forum also reminded that the Assam NRC is yet to be endorsed by the Registrar General of India (RGI) and hence there are ample scopes for a complete re-verification with the due legal process. The NRC draft is also alleged to include a large number of foreigners' names (thanks to the technical mismanagement engineered by former NRC State coordinator Prateek Hajela and his associates) and the updating process was full of irregularities and corruption. Needless to mention that the Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) detected financial irregularities to the tune of over Rs 260 crores during the process and also fixed responsibility on Hajela and Wipro limited.




TOKYO (AP)  In a landmark decision, Japans Supreme Court ordered the government Wednesday to pay suitable compensation to about a dozen victims who were forcibly sterilized under a now-defunct Eugenics Protection Law that was designed to eliminate offspring of people with disabilities.





An estimated 25,000 people were sterilized between the 1950s and 1970s without consent to prevent the birth of poor-quality descendants" under the law, described by plaintiffs lawyers as the biggest human rights violation in the post-war era" in Japan.





The court said the 1948 eugenics law was unconstitutional and rejected the governments claim that the 20-year statute of limitations should prevent it from paying restitution.





Wednesdays decision involved 11 of the 39 plaintiffs who fought at five lower courts across Japan to get their case heard by the country's top court. Cases involving the other litigants are still pending.





The plaintiffs, a number of them in wheelchairs, held up signs saying thank you and victory outside the court after the ruling. I couldnt be happier and I could have never done this alone, said an 81-year-old plaintiff in Tokyo who uses the pseudonym Saburo Kita.





Kita said he was sterilized in 1957 at age of 14 when he lived in an orphanage. He told his wife his long-buried secret just before she died several years ago, adding that he regretted their inability to have children because of him.





Judge Saburo Tokura ruled that sterilization surgeries were performed with no rational reasons and in clear discrimination against the plaintiffs because of their disability, according to court documents released by their lawyers. The court also said the procedure severely violated their dignity, adding that the continuous discrimination and severe violation of human rights for 48 years at the hands of the government was a very serious matter.





In 2019, in response to several lower court rulings holding it accountable, the government offered one-time redress money of 3.2 million yen ($19,800) to each plaintiff. However, the Supreme Court declared Wednesday the compensation was insufficient.





Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed sincere regret and heartfelt apology to the victims and said he hoped to meet the plaintiffs to apologize in person. Kishida said the government will consider a new compensation scheme.





The eugenics protection law has created a society that considers people with disabilities as inferior people. We call on the society to further promote effort toward eliminating prejudice and discrimination in response to the ruling, said plaintiffs lawyers Koji Niizato and Takehiko Nishimura said in a statement.





About 10,000 leprosy patients were also among those who were sterilized while being confined in isolated institutions. In 1996, the leprosy prevention law was abolished, allowing them to be part of society. The government has offered them compensation and an apology for its forced isolation policy.





In addition to the forced sterilizations at the time, more than 8,000 others were sterilized with consent, though likely under pressure, while nearly 60,000 women had abortions because of hereditary illnesses.




Cancun tourists head home as state enters orange alert and evacuations begin

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  More than 30,000 tourists have left Quintana Roo ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Beryl. The state is officially on a medium danger level or orange alert as the storm nears, however, that alert is expected to change as the day wears on and Beryl approaches.

Initially the change to orange was for Tulum, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar, Othon P. Blanco and Jose Maria Morelos, but as the minutes passed the validity became for the entire entity, Governor Mara Lezama reported.

Approximately 350,000 tourists remain in the state. Some who did not want to leave simply relocated to northern areas where the storms affects are likely to be less.

Lezama says during the storm, water and power will remain on. The Potable Water and Sewerage Commission (CAPA) will continue to supply water. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) has announced that it will not cut off power and is ready to address any damage that may occur in the distribution network, she said Wednesday night.

Evacuations of residents are well under way, particularly in the south, where Beryl is expected to make landfall. Temporary emergency shelters have been set up for both residents and pets.

Pet shelters have been set up in hurricane areas in the south.

Governor Lezama announced the suspension of operations at the Tulum International Airport starting noon Thursday July 4 until noon Sunday July 7.

She also announced police are monitoring evacuated areas for looters. On Wednesday evening, the evacuation of low-lying areas in the south began. Residents from Xcalak, south of Mahahual, to Punta Allen south of Tulum were evacuated and moved into temporary shelters.

Free towing services continue to be available for residents with storm damaged vehicles and for vehicles who have lost their plates.

Mayor of Othon P. Blanco, Yensunni Martinez Hernandez, said residents of coastal towns are more exposed to the strong winds and intense rains expected. She said crews are working tirelessly to clear streets and unclog drains

We are working 24/7 and have deployed more than 200 storm operation elements who working tirelessly in the 123 critical points. We have dedicated ourselves to the cleaning of more than 2,800 absorption wells, sewers and storm drains.

Military assist in evacuating residents from the southern coastal areas. Photo: July 3, 2024.

We are also in Mahahual clearing out debris and removing all objects that could be dangerous with the winds and to evacuate to a shelter in Bacalar, she said.

As of Thursday morning, Hurricane Beryl was positioned less than 800 kilometers away from the coast of Quintana Roo. It is expected to make landfall around 2:00 a.m. Friday as a Category 1 near the small fishing village of Punta Allen, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of the town of Tulum.
Costa Maya residents report local businesses for major price gouging

Costa Maya, Q.R.  The price for a piece of wood has increased by at least 30 percent in three days. But that depends where you go. In other areas, a piece of wood has increased by as much as 500 percent.

Residents in the states south have requested the intervention of Profeco (Federal Consumer Protection Agency) due to the unfair price hikes for necessities before the arrival of Beryl.

On Tuesday, prices for boards ranged from 160 to 230 pesos depending on the thickness and length. A piece of plywood ranged from 470 pesos for 6 millimeters thickness, 690 pesos for 12 millimeters and between 750 and 900 pesos for 18 millimeters.

Those prices have since increased even more as the storm nears and the demand continues. The 18 mm sheets of plywood are now selling for as much as 1,500 pesos. If youre lucky.

Chetumal resident Luis Hugo Uicab Caamal said he bought two sheets of plywood at the start of the hurricane announcements for 250 pesos each. When his family returned the next day for more, those same sheets were 1,500 pesos.

Yesterday we bought two sheets of plywood for 250 pesos each, but today when we came back for more they were selling it to us for 1,500 pesos. The slightly thicker boards, which a couple of days ago cost 500 pesos, are now being sold for almost 3,000 pesos each, he said.

The high demand for gas is seen here as Cozumel residents rush to fill up before the storm. Photo: July 3, 2024.

Uicab Caamal said he has stood in line and heard people try to negotiate pieces and prices, but in the end most give in and pay the inflated costs. He said it is likely many people will be in debt because of it, using credit cards to pay for the wood they need.

Many Chetumal residents try to negotiate prices for the wood they need to protect windows.

They tell us that it is the law of supply and demand. Unfortunately, there is no Profeco staff available to defend us, he said.

Residents have filed complaints saying government officials with Profeco (Procuraduria Federal del Consumidor) are not carrying out inspections to monitor prices.

Grocery store shelves around the state are bare from hurricane shopping.

They are leaving us to our own devices. Unfortunately, there are people who can afford to pay this abuse and we are trying to talk to them so that they dont do it and so that prices dont go up, said Chetumal resident Juanita Gonzalez.

Long lines for gasoline form at a Cancun Pemex as the demand for consumer products continues across the state.

While the demand for other consumer products such as gas and food has also skyrocketed, it has been lumber shops with the most price hiked complaints.

Luis Villegas Jimenez, another homeowner in need of wood, agreed to pay 2,500 pesos for three sheets of plywood. He acknowledged that he accepted the inflated prices rather than be left without home protection.

A bakery in Cancun is left with empty shelves as residents stock up.

I have to look after my home and my family. We are facing a natural phenomenon that could cause catastrophe damage and the rule is clear: save yourself if you can and let everyone else look after themselves, he said.

Amir Padilla Espadas, President of the National Chamber of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Canaco) of Chetumal, condemned the ongoing price gouging. He called it sad that some businesses are taking advantage of the hurricane, especially since most people are worn out from nearly a month of flooding.

Amir Padilla Espadas, head of Camara Nacional de Comercio, Servicios y Turismo Chetumal

Padilla Espadas has also requested intervention from Profeco to apply the law and continue with monitoring since Canaco (Camara Nacional de Comercio, Servicios y Turismo) are not able to apply fines.

Many people in the south have been forced to overpay for wood to protect glass windows and doors.

If Profeco requires us to be there as witnesses, we will be there to ensure visits are made within the framework of the law, he said.

He said Canaco will always promote fair trade, so if there are business looking to increase their profits by taking advantage of the contingency, the necessary measures will be taken.

He says as a Chamber they are inviting merchants to be empathetic with the population, we are doing awareness-raising work, he said.
Central to the abolitionist movement was the belief that the principles of American independence are, and have always been, principles for all humanity.

In academia and culture alike, it has become fashionable to dismiss the principles associated with American independence as shortsighted at best and intentionally exclusionary at worst. Neither Jefferson nor most of the founders intended to abolish slavery, wrote Nikole Hannah-Jones in the New York Times Magazine debut of the 1619 Project in August 2019. The American experiment, it is often suggested, was designed exclusively to preserve the status of white, Southern planters.

Hannah-Jones is far from the first person to have thought this. In fact, she was 165 years late to the conversation.

The early American abolitionists wrestled with the idea of the Constitution as a document that allowed slavery to proliferate. In time, however, the abolition movement largely came to a consensus that the principles of American independence are, and have always been, principles for all humanity.

It was an especially hot day in Framingham, Massachusetts, on July 4, 1854. The crowd that had gathered for an Anti-Slavery Independence Day rally was sweating profusely. The oppressive heat didnt deter the turnout, however. The Liberator reported that people had gathered in almost unprecedented numbers with great unanimity and enthusiasm.

Earlier that spring, the abolition movement had suffered its latest defeat. The recently passed Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, allowing for slaverys expansion into the northern territories. Among the outraged was the fiery William Lloyd Garrison, who rose to speak during the Independence Day rally.

Today, we are called to celebrate the seventy-eighth anniversary of American Independence, Garrison observed to an animated audience. In what spirit? With what purpose? To what end? As the speech went on, the crowd watched in astonishment as Garrison worked himself into a frenzy, declaring that the presence of American slavery had contaminated the noble cause of independence.

At the crescendo of his speech, Garrison picked up a copy of the Constitution and declared that the document was the parent of all other atrocitiesa covenant with death, and an agreement with hell. The crowd then watched, to the offense of some and the glee of others, as Garrison torched the document without a second thought. As flames engulfed the parchment, he proclaimed to the crowd: So perish all compromises with tyranny!

By this point, Garrison had long embraced the belief that the Constitution was a pro-slavery document responsible for slaverys growing influence over the United Statesa view that has persisted well into the 21st century. But much to his frustration, this was not a perspective shared by all his abolitionist colleagues.

Just over a year before the controversial Framingham rally, Garrison arrived at a Christian Anti-Slavery convention in Cincinnati to offer what was recorded as a series of peculiar resolutions. Suggesting that abolitionists should completely divorce themselves from union with slaveholders, politically and religiously, he faced considerable pushback from his own mentor, Rev. John Rankin.

Rankin, well respected in abolitionist circles before the Civil War, was often dubbed the father of abolition by his peers. Indeed, Garrison himself considered Rankin to be his anti-slavery father. He credited Rankins Letters on American Slavery for pushing him to embrace the abolitionist cause in the first place. So when Rankin sparred with his pupil over the anti-slavery or pro-slavery nature of the Constitution, it weighed heavily on Garrison.

Rankin wasnt alone in his opposition to Garrisons moral absolutism. Throughout the 1850s, Garrison increasingly found himself in the minority among his colleagues: abolitionists were beginning to embrace the Founders and the Constitution as their greatest weapon in the fight against slavery.

When the Senate was debating the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, then-Senator Salmon P. Chase of Ohio invoked the Founders (specifically Jefferson) in his opposition to the bill. The American Revolution was waged not to vindicate privileges, but rights; not the rights of any part or class of the people, but the rights of all men the rights of human nature. Furthermore, he argued, Jeffersons influence on the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which prohibited slavery from the territory, proved that the declaration of 1776 was not an empty profession, but a true faith.

It was this true faith that Chase argued was the intended nature of the United States. The Northwest Territory represented a glimpse of the anti-slavery society they envisioned America would one day become.

To drive his point home, Chase offered the following hypothetical scenario: If a stranger from some foreign land should ask me for the monument of Jefferson  I would ask him to accompany me beyond the Alleghanies, into the midst of the broad Northwest. This, Chase claimed, was his true legacy. His memorial is over all our western land.

Chase wasnt the only one in the Senate who wielded the spirit of 76 in his crusade against slavery. His Massachusetts ally, Senator Charles Sumner, rose in May 1852 with a resolution to repeal the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. In a speech that quickly spread across the country, he expressed his belief that, according to the true spirit of the Constitution, and according to the sentiments of the [founding] fathers, freedom, and not slavery, is national; while SLAVERY, and not freedom, is sectional. Freedom, in other words, was declared the rule under the American system, and slavery the exception.

Sumners Freedom National; Slavery Sectional speech embraced decades of anti-slavery principles that men like Rankin went through great trouble to advance. Unlike Garrisons moral absolutism, which served only to alienate his fellow abolitionists, the founding spirit of independence invoked by Sumner, Chase, and others tied the anti-slavery cause to the American ethos.

Among those persuaded by this spirit was none other than Garrisons own pupil Frederick Douglass. Born into slavery circa February 1818, Douglass made a legendary escape from bondage in 1838. Garrison took Douglass under his wing in 1841, after hearing the story of his life under slavery during an anti-slavery meeting in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

At first, Douglass was happy to embrace Garrisonian abolitionist doctrine. But, always an independent thinker, Douglass mind had undergone a radical change by the 1850s in relation to the anti-slavery nature of the Constitution and the American founding. After patiently investigated both sides of the matter, Douglass rejected the view of the pro-slavery Constitution.

This intellectual transformation is most prominently articulated in one of his most notable speechesWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?

Speaking at an Independence Day meeting of the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society on July 5, 1852, Douglass forced his audience to confront Americas ugly contradiction. To the slave, he argues, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity.

In stark contrast to Garrisons Independence Day speech two years later, however, Douglass looked to the founding as the solution, not the root of the problem. Their statesmanship looked beyond the passing moment, and stretched away in strength into the distant future. They seized upon eternal principles, and set a glorious example in their defence. Mark them!

America indeed had failed to live up to those eternal principles, but Americans had the tools to fix this mistake. As it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? Or is it in the temple? It is neither.

Like a doctor after diagnosing his patient, Frederick Douglass prescribed America a cure. He challenged his audience to embrace the eternal principles of the founding in their fight against slavery. He and many of his abolitionist colleagues came to understand that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were the key in winning this fight. Its critical that we keep this in mind while reflecting on the legacy of independence.
FERRUM  Friends of Ferrum Parks proposal to construct a small housing development and park on more than 80 acres of Franklin County owned property was met with a substantial roadblock last week. The organization was given just 60 days to come up with the funds to purchase the property or lose out on the deal.

The 60-day deadline came as a shock to Friends of Ferrum Park who have been in negotiations with Franklin County since March to purchase the property located just off Virginia 40 and adjacent to Ferrum College.

We are incredibly disappointed, said Rebecca Saunders, executive director of the Friends of Ferrum Park board.

Franklin County has asked Friends of Ferrum Park to come up with $250,000 to purchase the property which consists of an 82.67 acre lot and an adjacent 1.5 acre lot. The amount was based on current assessments for the property.

Franklin County purchased the property in 1996 with plans for an industrial park that were never realized. It remained untouched until 2019 when the Franklin County Board of Supervisors began looking into unused county-owned property.

Last year the county began soliciting requests for development proposals for the property. Friends of Ferrum Park was one of only two proposals submitted.

The Friends of Ferrum Park proposal includes plans for 20 duplex homes constructed over two phases. The homes would be constructed along West Franklin Drive that provides access into the property. Plans also include a pavilion, dog park, playground and more than two miles of trails that would connect to existing trails on the Ferrum College campus.

So far, the group has raised $15,000 toward the purchase of the property through multiple fundraisers. Saunders said they need $50,000 in order to secure a loan for the $250,000 price set by the county.

Franklin County has also asked for a non-refundable good faith deposit of $10,000.

Every time we have an event we pull in $5,000, Saunders said.

Much of those funds have come from the Ferrum community has been overwhelmingly supportive since plans for the project were first announced. Saunders said many people expressed interest in a new park in a part of the county that usually doesnt get many amenities.

Kathy Champney, secretary for the Friends of Ferrum Park board, said they are confident they can secure the rest of the funds  they only need more time. They would like to see a deadline extended to October instead of the current 60 days.

Its frustrating the county has put up more barriers, Champney said.

Champney questioned if the Friends of Ferrum Parks all female board could be part of the reason for the recent barriers. She said they have felt as though they have been treated differently throughout the negotiation process.

Its a general feeling that we are not competent, Saunders said of working with the county.

The organization has a clear goal for the property and has done extensive research into grants available for the project. Saunders said they could apply to multiple grants to provide substantial funding once they have purchased the property.

Champney and Saunders are concerned the county no longer supports their proposal for the property after supervisors agreed to go into negotiations in March. They have been provided with no clear answers as to why support from the county has soured.

When contacted about the recent deadline, Franklin County Administrator Chris Whitlow said he cannot comment on ongoing property negotiations.

They believe the county may be looking to end negotiations with them and find another developer who would be willing to construct more than 20 duplex homes planned in the Friend of Ferrum Park proposal. An engineering consulting firm hired by the county said as many as 453 dwellings could fit on the 82.67 acre property during a presentation in October.

Saunders pointed out a market area analysis summery done in 2021 as part of an appraisal on the Ferrum property. The analysis noted that while there is significant demand of both rental units and sale units in Franklin County, the current demand within Ferrum does not seem nearly as high as compared to northern portions of the county closer to the Roanoke Valley.

In a recent Facebook post by Friend of Ferrum Park, the group also suggested one of the supervisors may want to end the negotiations to allow a friend the opportunity to clear cut the wooded property. Neither Champney or Saunders would say which supervisor they were suggesting in the post.

Despite a timeline that gives them just a few weeks to raise the funds, Friends of Ferrum Park has not been discouraged. They have several upcoming fundraisers planned as well a GoFundMe page.

Every time we get a wall put in front of us we are going to find a way to climb over, Champney said.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged efforts to promote the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector and boost the development of enterprises that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to produce unique and novel products, aiming to modernize the industrial system.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a production workshop operated by an industrial automation solutions provider, and learns about the company's R&D related to industrial robot components and other products, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 2, 2024. Li made a research trip to the city of Suzhou from Tuesday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip to the city of Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, that began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday.

As part of his trip, Li visited production workshops operated by an industrial automation solutions provider in Suzhou, where he learned about the company's R&D related to industrial robot components and other products.

Highlighting the need for more advanced, more intelligent and greener development in the manufacturing sector, Li called for efforts to encourage enterprises to integrate into national strategies and gain development opportunities through sci-tech innovation.

During a visit to an AI company, Li was briefed on its R&D related to AI software and chips, learned about its solutions for the auto and home appliances sectors, and experienced large language model (LLM) technologies first-hand.

The rapid rise of LLMs has brought transformative change to R&D and manufacturing methods, he said, urging efforts to leverage China's advantages in market size, diverse demand and rich application scenarios to promote the deep integration of AI and the real economy.

The premier also presided over a symposium during the research trip, where he noted that the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry is a key task to boost China's strength in manufacturing. He called for work to harness the power of AI, as well as efforts to accelerate core technology breakthroughs and the construction of digital infrastructure.

"Little giant" firms -- novel elites among China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are engaged in manufacturing, specialize in a niche market and boast cutting-edge technologies -- play a key role in facilitating the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, and in nurturing new, quality productive forces, he said.

Li encouraged these firms to strengthen their innovation and develop a global perspective for further development.

Governments at all levels should increase policy support and create a favorable environment to enable more SMEs to stand out from the crowd, he said.
Female-led rural enterprise will help Europe achieve its environmental goals, according to an EU-funded expert.

Dr. Maura Farrell grew up surrounded by strong women who played a key role in shaping her ideas about women in farming and rural life. Both of her grandmothers farmed their whole lives and had as much a connection to the land and farming as her grandfathers.

In rural business, Farrell cites the example of her mother-in-law as a particular inspiration. A woman widowed with four small children, she continued to run a feed and fertiliser business in a small rural town in Ireland at a time when this was not considered the norm for women.

Her strength of character and business acumen served her well through the years, in facing an employee strike, driving lorries to sell potatoes and battles on an annual basis with prices of wool, feed and fertiliser. Women such as these not only shaped Farrell's thinking in this area, they also laid the groundwork for rural women of today.

Farrell is an associate professor in the school of Geography, Archaeology and Irish Studies at the University of Galway in Ireland. Her research focuses on the impact of social, cultural and economic change on rural inhabitants, particularly women. Farrell says that although things have improved dramatically for women in farming and in many rural areas across the EU, they still face many obstacles and challenges.

She coordinates a multi-country project called FLIARA which has received funding from the EU to create a European-wide rural innovation network that supports women in shaping a sustainable rural future. The project, which has partners in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, runs for three years until the end of 2025.

Rural innovation

They are one of a handful of EU-funded research teams that are looking more closely at the role European women play in rural development and in farming, and how to better support and encourage their active participation as innovation leaders.

In the majority of European countries, the agricultural sector is dominated by men. Only around 30% of European farms are run by women, and female voices are a small minority in most agricultural associations.

There is an air of change in Europe's rural areas, however, and women are increasingly getting more involved in managerial roles in farming and the development of innovative rural businesses. They are also active in building and strengthening rural communities.

The EU is encouraging this general trend which can only help Europe achieve the ambitious goals set out in the European Green Deal. A cleaner, more eco-friendly and sustainable farming sector is a central part of this, as are strong and flourishing rural communities.

Farrell talked to Horizon Magazine about how women can take an active part in driving innovation in agriculture and rural life, and the important role they have to play in helping build a greener, more sustainable future.

What challenges do women in rural areas in Europe face?

Women living in rural areas across the EU face additional challenges to their urban counterparts when attempting to establish a new business or innovative initiative. For a start, they have to deal with a lack of basic services and facilities generally available in urban areas, such as childcare, a strong public transport network and reliable broadband connection. There is also more limited access to training and education.

In addition, access to financing for establishing a business within a rural context can be very difficult, with many financial institutions reluctant to fund women in business.

What can be done to help women overcome these hurdles?

We need to encourage greater acceptance of and support for rural women as entrepreneurs and businesswomen. A certain level of "rural proofing" is needed across different levels of national governance to ensure an improvement in rural services and facilities.

We could also do with greater, more targeted support for women attempting to establish a business, such as easier access to training and financial assistance.

How can more attention be brought to women's role here?

Increasing the visibility of female-led innovation in rural areas is hugely important as it helps to change the narrative around women's role in farming, as well as in rural entrepreneurship and business.

There are already many very successful female farmers and rural entrepreneurs across Europe, but in order to encourage more womenespecially younger womento engage in these areas, it is important for them to have good role models and examples of success. One of our goals in FLIARA is to help showcase female leaders in innovation, influence policy, and create a new and more positive narrative around women in farming and in rural areas.

What does female-led innovation here mean concretely?

We are thinking about new ideas, products, services or processes that help to bring about positive change. Women have a role to play as leaders or drivers of such change, which can range from farm diversification to a variety of on- or off-farm businesses, as well as novel or innovative farm practices.

Innovation could also be community basedthrough the creation of new community groupsand have economic, social and cultural impact.

FLIARA has built a Europe-wide network of 200 female innovators, including 20 "ambassadors" who are travelling around Europe to talk with groups of female farmers and provide inspiration and share best practices.

What is already being done to support female-led agriculture?

Since 2023, for the first time in the history of the EU, its Common Agricultural Policy strategy refers explicitly to gender equality and the need to increase the participation of women in farming and rural life.

Although only two countriesIreland and Spainhave so far proposed direct measures to support women in farming, several other EU countries have included broader rural development policies that encourage greater participation of women.

Does the position of women vary among EU countries?

There is huge diversity across Europe in the roles that women play in agriculture and rural life. For example, in Lithuania and Latvia, nearly half of all farms are managed by women.

In total contrast, in Malta, Denmark and the Netherlands, under 10% of women are farm managers. In the majority of EU countries, men tend to be the main landowners.

How do women contribute to more eco-friendly farming?

If we want to achieve the goals set out in the European Green Deal, we need everyone to participateboth men and women.

Women, however, are increasingly showing a strong commitment to building a sustainable, environment-friendly society, and can play a key role in developing new, more sustainable ways of doing things. We need to help them to fulfil their potential in this area.

What particular strengths do women bring to this area?

Women tend to have a strong awareness of environmental issues and are increasingly viewed as important drivers of sustainable farming practices. Additionally, their natural creativity and problem-solving abilities mean that they excel in diversification.

They are often key players in agritourism, craft industries and artisan food production, for example, and demonstrate strong entrepreneurial and business skills. Changing rural society needs this kind of innovation to overcome the potential challenges ahead.

Research in this article was funded by the EU's Horizon Programme. The views of the interviewees don't necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.

More info

This article was originally published in Horizon the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.

Provided by Horizon: The EU Research & Innovation Magazine
NORTH SIOUX CITY -- McCook Lake residents frustrated with a lack of information, in some cases misinformation, about recovering from destructive flooding sought answers Wednesday from the North Sioux City Council.

An overflow crowd filled the council's chambers for a special meeting in which some residents challenged council members to do more to help McCook Lake and area residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed in the June 23-24 flood.

Some wanted answers, others offered suggestions and a few vented frustrations.

"Who has gotten out there in their muck boots? Who has gotten their hands dirty? I can't believe some of you can sit up there without tears in your eyes," one woman said from the crowd.

Councilman Gary Bogenrief said each council member has been involved with recovery in some way, whether it's viewing damage in person or staying at city hall to answer phone calls.

"We've been working constantly since this has happened. We hear you, and we're going to do everything we can to make it better," he said.

Flood damage was extensive to homes along the lake's Northshore Drive and Penrose Drive. Portions of the streets and utility lines were washed away and sinkholes remain. Several homes have been red-tagged as unsafe and unfit for occupation. In some cases, houses still resting over foundations scoured by flood waters remain unstable, and their owners have not been permitted to enter them. Other homes along the lake had several feet of water inside but remain structurally sound.

Residents asked who's responsible for the cost of replacing soil that was washed away and for demolition of homes damaged beyond repair. Others wanted to know if the city would just buy their property.

"What is going to happen to the property later? Is there any chance of buying us out? Please consider these things and what these people are going through before you allow these things to happen," said Amy McDonald, whose Northshore Drive home was damaged.

The city hopes to get answers to many of those same questions. Mayor Patti Teel jotted notes as each resident spoke and said she speaks twice daily with local and state officials.

"Every question you guys asked tonight, I'm going to ask back," Teel said.

In some cases, Teel said, the city is unable to take action because it must wait for Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance or approval.

"We can't make any decisions until they get here," she said.

FEMA representatives are expected to arrive in North Sioux City the week of July 15. Teel said as many as 300 homeowners could apply for FEMA assistance.

Heavy rainfall during a three-day period across Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota filled the Big Sioux River and its tributaries, and all that water began converging on North Sioux City by June 22, when state and local emergency officials first met at Dakota Dunes. According to time lines released by Gov. Kristi Noem's office, the National Weather Service was projecting the Big Sioux River would crest at 38.4 feet, less than a foot above the record of 37.7 feet.

The next morning, an emergency operations center was opened in North Sioux City, and state officials implored the city to enact its flood mitigation plan authorizing construction of an emergency levee across Interstate 29 at the McCook Lake exit. At 11 a.m., the council held an emergency meeting and approved the levee, which was designed to protect North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes by diverting water through a waterway and into McCook Lake.

By that time, forecasts had changed, and the Big Sioux was expected to crest at 42.2 feet, but not until the next day. Within hours, the forecast changed to a 42.3-foot crest that evening.

I-29 was closed at 6 p.m., and at that time, members of a number of agencies were rescuing McCook Lake residents from the rising flood waters. The river crested at 10:30 p.m. at 44.98 feet, 7.28 feet above the previous record. River gauge readings showed that in 11 hours on June 23, the river rose nearly 10 feet, peaking 2.77 feet higher and 12 hours earlier than forecast.

The mitigation plan has come under criticism by many McCook Lake residents, some of whom said their homes were sacrificed for North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes.

Flood models from the South Dakota Flood Information System showed the McCook Lake area would have flooded with or without the emergency levee in place across I-29.

"The city tried to make the best decision they could to protect as much homes and families as they possibly could," Noem said at a Tuesday news conference.

The plan was to dump the water into McCook Lake, and it did, a Northshore Drive resident who lost his home said to the council. Money saved by preventing flooding in the rest of the city would be well spent helping lake residents rebuild or relocate.

"All I'm asking for is compensation and let me walk away," he said. "For all the money that did get saved, all these houses along Northshore Drive, I just want fair compensation for them."

Teel said the city intends to look into other alert systems to replace or upgrade a system that didn't send out evacuation alerts until 8:21 p.m. the night of the flooding, nearly three hours after some residents were seeing water entering their homes or neighborhood.

Meanwhile, city and utility crews continue the task of restoring electricity, gas, water and sewer service to homes around the lake and building temporary streets and roads into the damaged areas.

Lake resident Dennis Johnson said the recovery process will likely get worse before it gets better, and he encouraged the council to invite lake residents to take part in discussions and sit on committees that will shape the response and future flood mitigation and property development plans.

"We've got to be thinking ahead to keep this from ever happening again," Johnson said. "I think we need to rebuild this community, not to the condition it was the day before the flood, but make it better."
Im not on Twitter (are you really going to make me call it X?) anymore because I have shit to do, but periodically I like to check my mentions. The latest tweet I received came from a fellow Canadian (according to their user bio) irked by a recent piece I wrote about Hillary Clinton: For a CND looking in you have some tough opinions and protected tweets  How about participating in a real democracy in the lower 50?

Good point! As a Canadian with permanent residence in New York, I often find myself in the role of outsider, trying to make sense of whatever you lot are doing down here. College? As expensive as possible. Deductible? A wordand conceptthat never should have come into common parlance. Taxes? Higher than in Ontario, and yet with even fewer services provided. Treading on me? Dont.

This year will be my fifth Fourth of July on record. I never participate in the festivitiesbecause the beauty of America is that you have the freedom to shit all over it, even on its birthdaybut I have developed one annual tradition of sorts. Every July 4, I ask myself the same question: Why didnt anyone wish me a happy Canada Day?

Yes, it may surprise you to learn that every year, Canada Day is July 1, a few days before the Fourth of July. But it always goes unacknowledged by every American I meet. My choice to live in the United States is precisely that: a choice. But it forces me to recognize an unalienable fact, which is that you guys are annoying. America does nearly everything worse, noisier, and, broadly speaking, more. What stings the mosteven more than the American crime that is cheese in a can or the way you make a meal out of the word pastais that you forget that we exist at all. This Fourth of July, after another Canada Day has floated on by with nary a hint of recognition, I demand penance. I demand self-flagellation. Be Canadian for once and just feel bad!

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Americas Independence Day is perpetually under harsh criticism; after all, it celebrates a nation that remains divided, in debt, with racial inequity a load-bearing pillar of national life. But did you know that on July 1, Canadians also have fireworks, police drones, cookouts, arguments with our conservative family members over how dangerous right-wing politicians actually are, street fairs, little flags to wave around, and a convenient mass amnesia over the fact that our country was full of Indigenous people before we gave them smallpox? Were just not as flashy about it as Americans are. You think you invented being jingoistic about a holiday predicated on colonialism and the attempted eradication of people who were there first? Please! Weve been doing that since John Cabot ruined Newfoundland in the 1490s. This shameful history is so bad that, in 2022, my alma mater had to rename itself after all those murdered Indigenous children were found buried under a school the previous year; turns out my university was named after the guy who helped develop the residential school system in Canada.

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Im not asking for much. Just some acknowledgment that the United States doesnt have a monopoly on being a crumbling society built on the foundations of genocide and oppression. Maybe throw in some ketchup chips at your Fourth of July cookout. Learn how to make a Caesar (delicious) instead of a Bloody Mary (salad juice). A little something to remind me of how much living here is like being back home. Its just funny we have so much in common, without even really trying at all.

I will give you this, though: You guys make a nice hot dog. Love the hot dog culture down here. You get that dog in me, and Im Googling the words to The Star-Spangled Banner and rooting for those gallantly streaming ramparts. Everyone has their price.
This Fourth of July, in parades across the country, youll likely see Uncle Sam and Lady Liberty together, smiling, waving, maybe holding hands. Their jaunty appearance as Americas Odd Couple is as predictable as the parades antique cars and marching bands. In fact, the idea of them as a twosome dates back more than a century to when Uncle Sam and (a fairly fierce looking) Lady Liberty first teamed up to sell war bonds and boost enlistment in World War I, and later World War II.

But dont believe their cheery handholding. Though Uncle Sam was officially recognized as a national symbol in 1950, and Liberty as a national monument in 1924, the truth is that they have always been on opposite sides of the most contentious issues in America, beginning even before the Statue of Libertys inauguration in 1886. The job of personified national symbols is to promote a unified citizenry, a task cartoonist Thomas Nast attempted to accomplish in his very first drawing of Uncle Sam in 1869, a sentimental multicultural fantasy he called Uncle Sams Thanksgiving Dinner. Instead, Sam and Liberty routinely mirror our divisions. The United States is the only country that has two such diametrically opposed personified national symbols. In 2022, this looks like a warning.

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Both Sam and Liberty are oldshell turn 136 this year, and hes 210and most people in the US dont know their full histories, but they each have a coherent biography, initiated by editorial cartoonists like Nast and carried forward by their successors, as well as advertisers, illustrators and photographers. Though there are outlier characterizations of both Sam and Liberty, media has generally depicted their incompatiblity in our countrys areas of deepest conflictimmigration, race and religion.

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Samsaid to be named after Sam Wilson, a merchant from Troy, New York who supplied the troops with meat during the War of 1812has long been represented as a militaristic religious bigot, a nativist, a racist, and an imperialist. In the period between the end of the Civil War and the start of World War I, the consensus among the most well-known editorial cartoonists was that Sam was a nativist who opposed entry for all immigrants who were not Northern Europeansnamely, the Chinese, Japanese, Italians and other southern European immigrants, Eastern European Jews, particularly those fleeing the pogroms of Russia, and Roman Catholics, especially the Irish.

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Sam is our second male national symbol. For the first half of the 19th century, he was overshadowed by Brother Jonathan, a carryover from the original colonies. Some say Jonathans namesake was Connecticut Gov. John Trumbull, who supported the Revolution and was supposedly called Brother Jonathan by George Washington. Alternately, Brother Jonathan was a derogatory name for Puritans dating back to the English Civil War (1642-1651), which was later extended to colonial Puritans by the British. As a figure, Brother Jonathan was an enterprising, if crafty, businessman. During the 1840s, however he became increasingly associated with the Know-Nothing Party, made up of native-born Protestants who felt threatened by the waves of German and Irish immigrants arriving. These immigrants growing presence ignited nativist bigotry in general, and antipathy to Roman Catholics in particular, as you can see in a political cartoon by Nathaniel Currier (of Currier and Ives) that also shows how much Brother Jonathan sometimes resembled Uncle Sam.

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By the late 1850s, because he had been claimed by the Know-Nothings for their own, Brother Jonathan was no longer a viable national symbol. As Jonathan gradually receded, Sam became more prominent, mostly acting as his brothers surrogate in opposing immigration, starting with the Chinese.

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Meanwhile, after the Civil War, Lady Liberty was first conceived of as a celebratory symbol of slaverys end, by Frenchman Edouard De Laboulaye, an expert on the US Constitution and an abolitionist. Some years later, Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design her statue. By 1886, with Jim Crow laws in place, Libertys original commitments were less popular. Instead, she was introduced to the American public as a gift from France and a symbol of Franco-American friendship. What remained of the original conception by the time she was installed in New York harbor was a broken shackle at her feeta symbol of emancipation, mostly hidden by her gown. By 1901, Liberty was little more than a green elephant, a failed lighthouse in disrepair.

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The Statue of Liberty had her own female predecessor in Columbia, said to have first been personified as a symbol of America at the start of the American Revolution by the Black American poet Phillis Wheatley, in To His Excellency, General Washington. Sometimes Columbia is depicted as a maternal figure with long flowing hair, as protective of immigrants as Sam was abusive, and explicitly sympathetic to Black Americans during the Civil War. Alternately, Columbia is depicted as a symbol of liberty, identifiable by her red, white and blue garments and her headgear, known as a Phrygian cap, a symbol of liberty worn by freed slaves in the Roman Empire and carried forward to the French Revolution. Either way, Columbia as a symbol lasted into the 20th century, but faded away as the Statue of Liberty gained symbolic power.

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In the 20th century, both Sam and Liberty acquired language. For Sam, it was the famous I Want You World War I recruitment poster. As for Liberty, she got a voice of her own in 1903 when Georgina Schuyler, a politically progressive descendant of Alexander Hamilton, had a bronze plaque hung in Libertys pedestal inscribed with The New Colossus, the now-famous sonnet written by her late friend, Emma Lazarus. This was a massive rebranding, countering Sams nativism, and naming her The Mother of Exiles, speaking up to defend huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

It took Liberty a few decades to fully consolidate her new identity as a protector of immigrants, initially reinforced via illustration or photograph. However, according to historian Roger A. Fischer, Libertys new identity solidified fairly quickly. Rarely was she treated irreverently and rarely (but not never) positioned on the wrong side of an issue like immigration. In 1924, Columbia Pictures presented Columbia as its logo. In 1926, she was provided with a torch in her raised right hand, explicitly merging her with Lady Liberty, and establishing her once and for all as a pop culture icon.

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As we become more polarized, Liberty and Samour archetypal mother and fatherdo, too. These days, Sam has been explicitly embraced by 21st century Know-Nothings, most notably the Proud Boys, five of whose leaders have now been indicted for seditious conspiracy in relationship to the events of January 6. Other right-wing fans of Uncle Sams include state and local Republicans, for instance, Arizona Republicans who recently used his iconic I Want You poster with Donald Trumps face insertedto recruit poll watchers.

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Happily, whether by design or zeitgeist, the evidence seems to be that within the federal government, Uncle Sam is currently under-employed. Since the end of World War II, he hasnt been given much of anything to do in the way of official business. The last postage stamp to show his face was issued in 1998. Since then, all weve seen of him is his hat. In 2017, in a promising impulse, the government issued a postage stamp, Uncle Sams Hat, that attempted to merge the symbol of Sam with the idea of ethnic diversity. Sams hat also appears at the website, Sam.gov, where those doing business with the federal government can register.

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As a representation of most of us, Lady Liberty has fared much better, in recent years, than Uncle Sam. As the symbol for a racially diverse nation, Liberty has the advantage of being just slightly ambiguousnot identifiable by her ethnicity, or time or place of birth. Even the circulating rumors about her origins enhance her multicultural popularity, one being that the original model for the Statue was Black. (A 2000 report neither confirms nor denies this assertion about the model, while finding no existing evidence that Bartholdi intended the Statue to be a black woman.) Libertys explicit or implicit association with certain political groupslike NARAL or New York State (which used her image in PSAs advocating vaccines and mask wearing)will taint her as a symbol in some parts of the country, but the values shes associated withnot only the right to abortion and the use of Covid vaccines and masking, but also gun controlhave wider public support than those of Uncle Sam. The death of George Floyd prompted a few dozen editorial cartoonists to connect his dying wordsI cant breatheto Liberty, most keeping her in charactermaternal and protective.

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National symbols arent something we can formally retire; theyre deep in the culture, and can only fade away, like Brother Jonathan or Columbia, as peoples values change. But this Fourth of July, if Sam and Liberty march by, hand-in-hand, at my parade, I know who Im rooting for. Hey hey. Ho ho. Uncle Sam has got to go.
Castles rise, fall, and become no more than a bump in the ground.

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In this postcard from the 1920s, we can see the village of Vysny Slavkov surrounded by the Levocske vrchy hills near Spissky hrad (Spis Castle) in eastern Slovakia. The image is a good illustration of how Slovakia  and not only around Vysny Slavkov  likely once looked completely different compared to today.

For example at the site called Sihot, between this village and the municipality of Polanovce, the Church of the Transfiguration has stood since the end of the 16th century. Remains were uncovered by archaeologists during research in 2014.

Experts were surprised by one wooden column in the otherwise brick-and-stone church. This is a rarity in the modern-era of mortar sacral buildings. Ruins of the church stood as late as the mid 20th century, when they were broken down and used to construct a local agricultural cooperative.

Apart from the church, another village  Leletkov  of which there is no trace now, used to be set in the Slavkov area. And last but not least, military surveys from 1769 and 1821 show that there were also two ancient fortified settlements to the southeast of the village.

If someone could see a birds-eye view of Slavkov from 1,000 years ago, we would be rather surprised how it would differ from todays. We would see Romanesque churches which collapsed some time in the Middle Ages, innumerable predecessor castles  fortified settlements whose presence now is reflected only by obscure land protrusions here and there  as well as perished villages that later either merged with other settlements or vanished without any trace.

https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d167305.5732711501!2d20.705442440216725!3d49.06479130010003!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x473e5da7afb42917%3A0x7854679d6eeb131a!2s053%2073%20Vy%C5%A1n%C3%BD%20Slavkov!5e0!3m2!1sen!2ssk!4v1720014953701!5m2!1sen!2ssk

This article was originally published by The Slovak Spectator on March 16, 2015. It has been updated to be relevant today.
The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Cong going out for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu worked for about 6.5 hours to complete multiple tasks, with Li Guangsu remaining inside the space station.

With the assistance of the space station's robotic arm and researchers on Earth, they installed space debris protection devices for the pipelines, cables and key equipment outside the Tiangong space station, and conducted an extravehicular inspection.

Ye Guangfu and Li Cong, who were assigned the spacewalk duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

The trio have completed one third of their space journey and are scheduled to carry out a large amount of in-orbit scientific experiments and technological tests, the agency said.
Vanessa O'Brien's journey from a challenging childhood to success.

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Two Slovak women recently set new mountaineering records. On May 12, Lucia Janicova became the first Slovak woman to scale Everest. Then on May 21, her fellow countrywoman, Lenka Polackova, achieved the same feat, but in her case without the use of supplemental oxygen.

But while the pairs achievements are incredible, there has already been one woman with Slovak roots who made it to the peak of the worlds highest mountain.

English-American Vanessa OBrien, reached the top of Everest on May 19, 2012.

Vanessa OBriens Guinness World Records: the first woman to reach earths highest (Mt. Everest 8,848m) and lowest points (Challenger Deep 10,925m)

the fastest woman to climb the Seven Summits in 295 days

the first person to go nearest to and farthest from the earths core (Challenger Deep and the summit of Chimborazo.)

the first woman to complete the Four Poles Challenge

the oldest woman to reach the summit of K2 at 52 years old.

the first woman to complete the Explorers Extreme Trifecta

It was just one of a long list of milestones the financier, explorer, aquanaut, astronaut, author, public speaker and multiple Guinness World Record holder says she has managed to achieve, at least in part, because of her Slovak roots.

She credits her Slovak ancestors with some of the strength, endurance and abilities which have helped her set records. And that is why, she says, she is continually looking for information about them.

I want to know why I have been able to do the things I have done. Thats the nature versus nurture question, OBrien told The Slovak Spectator. The blonde, solidly-built woman, who turns 60 in December, visited Slovakia to launch the Slovak translation of her book To The Greatest Heights: Facing Danger, Finding Humility, and Climbing a Mountain of Truth.

Repeating history

The book opens with a scene of her searching for the remains of two mountaineers, a father and son, on the slopes of K2.

The worlds second-highest mountain, K2 is considered more difficult to climb than Everest. The pair died in 2013, three years prior to OBriens own second attempt to scale the peak.

She understood why it was so important to their surviving wife and mother that the remains were found because her own family had experience of tragic loss. Her grandmother lost her son  OBriens uncle - in WWII. Later, OBriens younger brother Ben died in an accident. He had gone for a swim when a speedboat with a bunch of young people came rushing towards him. He tried to sink and swim under the boat, but he was caught in the boats propeller. His body was found three days later.

In her book, OBrien recalls how this tragedy ruined what was already a troubled family. She says her parents were too young to raise a family when she was born in 1964, and life at home was marked by an atmosphere of drinking, shouting and fighting, throwing things around in a howling, uncontrolled whirlwind of rage.

Her parents moved out of the house straight after her brother died, leaving her, at the age of 16, to take care of herself. They divorced shortly afterwards.

My mother blamed her mother for spending her whole life worrying about the death of her son and not paying attention to her, she said. But she did the same thing to me. She never saw that history was repeating itself.

When OBrien was 18 years old, her father sold their family house in Michigan and she bought her own home in New York.

Real explorers

OBriens Slovak roots come from her mothers side. Her great- grandparents and grandparents emigrated from eastern Slovakia  they hailed from Kosice, Presov and Michalovce - to America in 1878.

She calls her great-grandparents and grandparents original explorers, saying they had the courage to take a risk and bear the short-term consequences of bad work conditions and separation from their families to build a better future for their descendants.

Im who I am because I received a lot of love from my Slovak grandparents. They nurtured curiosity, hope and faith in me. Along with a sense of humour, these have been some of my best survival tools, OBrien writes in the introduction to the Slovak version of the book.

Her familys story is similar to that of many 19th century immigrants to America. Her grandfather was a miner, who initially came alone to the U.S.A before returning with his wife and her mother.

They sacrificed a lot, but every following generation was better off, she said.

Growing up in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, she was close to her grandparents.

They taught me values and ethics, whats right and wrong, good and bad, she recalled.

Her mother never learnt Slovak, nor did Vanessa herself. But she can remember her grandparents taking her to a local Slovak church. Masses were held either in Slovak or Latin  and both were equally incomprehensible to her. But the church itself was important to her - just before it was pulled down, she took a piece of marble from its walls which she took with her around the world into every home she lived in.

Dont let others define who are you

In her book, OBrien also has a message for young people, especially girls, based on her own experiences from childhood.

I was sterilised before I even had sex for the first time, she discloses. She said her mother, who was terrified of teenage pregnancy, had told her since she was 12-years-old: dont get pregnant, dont have kids, dont waste your life.

It was her mother who arranged for OBrien to be sterilised. OBrien says that as she processed what had happened to her, there was some relief in knowing that she would be spared the same devastating losses her mother and grandmother had suffered, and she refused to let the fact that she would never have kids become something that would overwhelm her life.

I want people to know that if things happen to you when youre young, even something like this, or for girls in Africa who are circumcised, dont let these things define who you are, she said. Dont let it limit you.

OBrien said she had wanted to share what had happened to her so she could help other people.

A lot of girls today struggle with body issues, she said, adding that as a child she was fat and that, again arranged by her mother, she underwent breast reduction.

Financial career

OBrien obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from New York University School of Professional Studies and an Executive MBA in Finance from New York University Stern School of Business.

She went on to make a name for herself in the financial sector, which at the time was a completely male world, working as Director of Finance and Business Development for Morgan Stanley, Barclays Bank, and the Bank of America.

She was in London when the financial crisis hit in 2008. She lost her job, moved to Hong Kong, where her husband was working at the time, and for the first time in her life, she had nothing to do.

It was a state she found she could not endure for long.

During a meeting with friends over a few glasses of tequila, somebody joked that she should climb Everest.

Though she had enjoyed some sports, OBrien had never tried mountaineering.

At first I laughed and thought, what a ridiculous suggestion, she recalled. But the next day I couldnt stop thinking about it.

After months of training, precise planning, climbing (and sometimes failing) smaller peaks, she successfully scaled Everest in 2012.

It was not her first time on the mountain, though. Two years earlier she had gone, planning to reach the Camp 2 at 6,400 meters. Things didnt go quite as she expected, and she describes the experience as a major lesson to her and her ego.

Everest taught her that she could not copy and paste her skills and strategies for coping with challenges from her professional life when she was on the mountain.

We are taught to be in control, hired to take care of this organisation, and that we are the boss, she said. In nature, you are never the boss. Mother nature comes along and says you fool and knocks you down.

She said on Everest she had to let go of her ego.

It was hard to have the humility to listen and understand that I had to change, she said.

Climbing Everest drove her to do more - not only scaling other peaks, but setting records.

She became the fastest woman to climb the Seven Summits in 295 days, and the first person to get nearest to and farthest from the earths core - Challenger Deep and the summit of Chimborazo. She also became the first woman to complete the Four Poles Challenge.

K2 challenge

But it was K2 which really tested her and it was only on her third attempt in 2017 that she made it to the top, earning her the record for the oldest woman to reach the summit, at 52 years old.

At the time, she had been mountaineering for less than eight years.

The first year you have a lot of people supporting you, saying you can do this. The second year less people support you. The third year is very tough as all the cheerleaders are gone. But thats when you have the most experience, she said.

She also refused to call not managing to reach the summit a failure. One of the things I like to say is that you cant fail, unless you give up.

When people succeed where other people dont, usually theyre doing it for a reason greater than themselves. If you just do it for yourself, its not usually enough. Not in an environment like that. That environment is so cruel, so harsh and unforgiving, she said.

It was other women who inspired her to return again and again and finally reach K2s summit.

During her first unsuccessful attempt to climb K2 in 2015, she had the flag of UN Women with her to raise at the summit. When she went to return it to UN Women, the organisation gave it back to her and told her: no, youre the one.

They had more faith in me than I had in myself, she said, adding that the words made her want to climb K2 to send a signal to prove what women can achieve, no matter the challenges they face.

Film plans

OBrien says she still has lots more planned for the future. Apart from exploring other parts of our planet as well as participating in studies on climate change, she would also like to see her book made into a movie in the hope that it will reach a bigger audience and help people.

The most important message for me is that when you are stuck, you must take a step, she explained, adding that people sometimes do not know that they are strong enough to make the decision to take the next step in their lives.

Its about having self-belief and being confident that you can do whatever you set your mind to. With these things I did, I didnt have experience, but I never was afraid to try.
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Born in Irshava, a small town in the Transcarpathian region in western Ukraine, Taras Tsohla speaks Ukrainian, Russian, Rusyn, English and now Slovak as well as a little German.

The town, in which most citizens were Rusyns (east Slavs living in the Transcarpathian area covering parts of todays Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, ed.) in the past, used to be part of the first Czechoslovak republic from 1918 to 1938.

Taras has been studying international relations in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, for three and a half years. The 20-year-old arrived here before the war to do his bachelor's degree, to learn an extra language and to gain new experience. However, he is not returning to Ukraine for his master's degree. Taras has not been home since the outbreak of the war.

In the summer, he works in the United States. After the holidays, he will be a fifth-year student at Matej Bel University, at the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations.

The Carpathians, the Black Sea and borscht

Irshava is situated on the banks of the Irshavka River and is surrounded by the picturesque nature of the Carpathian Mountains. The town of 10,000 inhabitants has both a rich history and a strong cultural heritage, encompassing various ethnic groups including Ukrainians, Hungarians and Romanians.

The nearest larger town is Mukachevo. Due to the war, some people have left Irshava. Mostly internally displaced people are arriving.

It is the surrounding Carpathian Mountains, the Black Sea and borscht that Taras loves about his native Ukraine. However, what Taras likes the most are the people.

"I feel that these are my people, they are just like me, I feel good and comfortable among them," he says.

https://sk.frame.mapy.cz/s/kosuvodese

The day the war broke out

Two days before the invasion began, Taras had already been following the news closely. He found out about the full-scale invasion at noon on February 24, 2022. He had not slept the night before, so he got up later. His dormitory roommate told him what had happened.

"I immediately started reading everything that was going on, what happened that night and in the morning. I called my mom. She was stressed, she didn't know how to withdraw money from the ATM any more," he recalls of that day.

After lunch, he attended a lecture at the university. In the evening, there was a protest in front of the Russian Consulate General in Banska Bystrica.

"I took part," he says.

"I didn't expect it at all," he says of Russia's all-out war in Ukraine. "I thought it was going to be a small war."

He believed that it would only have happened in areas under the control of the Russian Federation, that is, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He never thought it would be total aggression.

The old Ukraine will not come back

After almost four years in Slovakia, how does Taras feel about Ukraine today?

"That's a good question," he says, reflecting.

He says that "his" Ukraine was the Ukraine of two years ago, before the war. Now the country has changed a lot. But he still feels that it is his home, he has family and friends there.

"But sometimes I ask myself, do I really still have friends there? A long time has passed, they have changed, I'm elsewhere, we don't see each other," he explains. "It's more likely that I have a romantic image of Ukraine in my head that I've memorised," he adds.

Ukraine as it was, according to Taras, will never return.

"When we look at cities in eastern Ukraine, like Bakhmut or Avdiivka, they are completely destroyed. There is nothing left, no one lives there, and there is no point in rebuilding them," he thinks.

According to him, it might take 20 or 30 years for Ukraine to recover and stabilise.

"I'm basing this on the fact that currently 30 percent of Ukraine is occupied, and no one knows how the situation might further develop," he adds.

Read also:

Read also: War on the mind and canvas: A Ukrainian family of painters finds a safe haven in Slovakia Read more

Father in Germany, mother at home

Taras's entire family stayed in Ukraine, except for his father who has worked in Germany for over seven years. According to him, Irshava is relatively safe. However, what complicates life for people are the power outages. There are days when they have no electricity at all, then it works for a week, then it goes out again. When that happens, there is no internet either, so the family cannot connect.

The Russians are systematically and on a daily basis destroying Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This affects the entire country, not just the cities where the fighting is taking place or those close to them. They also cut off electricity in the western part of the country to maintain the stability of the whole system.

When the electricity is working, Taras talks to his family every day. Four weeks ago, when still in Slovakia, they even visited him. His mother works as a manager at a gas station, and his sister, who is 13 years old, goes to school.

When the war broke out, Taras's father was very stressed, especially about his mother and sister. They went to Germany for several months. However, they eventually returned.

"We also have grandparents in Ukraine, and my sister experienced bullying at school in Germany, so they came back," he explains.

Plans for the near future

"I'll return from the USA, go to Prague for a semester on Erasmus, finish my studies in Banska Bystrica, and move to Bratislava to try to find a job there," Taras lists his plans.

The fact that half of Slovaks believe Russian narratives and hoaxes does not draw him away from working and living in Slovakia.

"The other half doesn't believe in them, and they are great people. I have a lot of smart Slovaks around me, and it's easy to function with them in a pro-Western, pro-European, pro-Ukrainian bubble," he thinks.

In Ukraine, he also applied to the best university, Taras Shevchenko University in Kyiv. He was accepted but chose Slovakia in the end.

"Because it's closer than Kyiv, for the additional language, and because of the opportunities  I gained more here than if I had studied there," he says.

As a student, he has already been to the European Parliament in Brussels for a human rights assembly, had an internship at the Globsec Forum Bratislava 2023, and also participates in Erasmus.

"I'm most drawn to human rights, working at some NGO or an embassy," he says.

Read also:

Read also: Is Soviet art only Russian? Ukrainian artists set the record straight on European art history Read more

Following Slovak politics

Taras also follows Slovak politics. He says that he understands why politicians use peace to attract voters.

"When you want to win elections, you do everything for it; it's not very fair, but I understand why politicians do it," he says.

The topic of peace in Slovakia is very popular and effective, because the war directly affects Slovak people as Ukraine's eastern neighbour, Taras says.

He used to try debating several times with people who believe Russian hoaxes.

"But I could not convince them, and now I don't waste my energy trying to prove something to them. I put the arguments on the table, and they responded with hoaxes and disinformation they read on Facebook," he explains.

Helping refugees is great. Supplying weapons? Less so

According to Taras, the assistance to refugees is set up very well in Slovakia and throughout the EU.

"When we talk about military assistance, I feel the opposite," he says.

Investing in the Ukrainian army is, according to him, Europe's investment in its own security.

"Ukrainian politicians and ministers assess it as insufficient, so it probably is," he says.

He explains this by saying that the EU does not want to escalate the conflict and does not want to become an active and direct part of it.

Taras studies in Banska Bystrica. (Source: Courtesy of T. T.)

Three or four more years

Taras spends at least an hour every day reading news about Ukraine. He mainly looks at Telegram, the most popular social network in Ukraine. As he says, at the beginning he thought that the war would last three or four days. "When the Russians left the northern regions, Kyiv and Chernihiv, I realised that it would be long. In my opinion, the war will last at least another three or four years; unfortunately, I don't see an end to it now," he says.

If the Russians were to get the eastern regions today, according to him, more aggression would come in a few years unless an internationally legally binding defence agreement is established to guarantee Ukraine's security. Taras adds that President Zelensky is making more controversial decisions today, but he does not question his legitimacy.

"We do not have another president, and we cannot elect one in this situation; there is no other alternative now," he adds.

He describes how even in Ukraine there are voices saying that there has been enough war or enough of President Zelensky. "Let's solve this somehow, let's build peace," meaning that the war has already cost too much money and human lives.

Go fight

When Taras came to Banska Bystrica, there were about 600 foreign students at the school. Today there are many more. Most of the newcomers are from Ukraine.

When he came to Slovakia, he felt welcomed.

"Now I also encounter unpleasant situations on the street; once an old man came up to me and my friends, saying why we aren't fighting on the front. 'Go fight,' he told us," describing situations he did not experience before the war.

"I think part of what is happening is related to the fact that in Slovakia, there aren't enough good economic opportunities for Slovaks or job opportunities if you are older," he says.

People are then more likely to believe that 100,000 Ukrainians came here to take benefits and steal their jobs. According to him, there is a lot of disinformation, and it has a strong influence on the thinking of Slovaks across the country.

While before the war you could mostly see Ukrainian students and workers in Banska Bystrica, now there are more Ukrainian mothers with children, Taras thinks.

No Slovak friends

Taras believes that the decision to go to Banska Bystrica was a good one.

However, he finds the city a bit small and does not think there are sufficient opportunities. Slovaks and Ukrainians are the two largest groups at the school where he studies.

"Today, I function in a Ukrainian bubble; in four years, I have not managed to make a Slovak friend," he says surprisingly. According to him, Slovaks are quite closed off, and it is hard to penetrate their circles. "I could not do it even with my classmates, as if they also have their own bubble."

This story was created with support from UNESCO under the Support for Ukrainian Refugees through Media program, funded by the Japanese government.

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Constitutional Court gives green light to majority of suspended reforms, boosting coalition's political edge.

President of the Constitutional Court, Ivan Fiacan, during a press briefing on the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the amendments to criminal laws on July 3, 2024 in Kosice, eastern Slovakia. (Source: TASR)

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On Wednesday evening the Constitutional Court upheld the ruling coalitions mid-March abolition of the Special Prosecutors Office, a body that had overseen the investigation of serious crimes and high-profile corruption, declaring no constitutional violation.

It does not disrupt the Slovak prosecution system or international obligations, as the agenda of the Special Prosecutors Office is taken over by other units under the General Prosecutors Office, the court said on July 3.

The court added that similar institutions to the Special Prosecutors Office exist in other countries, thereby refuting the coalitions claim.

The scrapping of the anti-corruption body, which had also handled the corruption cases of people linked to the ruling coalition of three parties (Smer, Hlas, Slovak National Party), was one of many changes to criminal laws passed by coalition MPs on February 8. The accused people, including PM Robert Ficos adviser Daniel Lindtner, helped write the amendments. Fico often claimed that the office, which was led by Ficos former political opponent Daniel Lipsic in the past few years, violated human rights, was unfixable, and attempted to destroy Smer. Fico repeatedly insulted the prosecutors working under Lipsic.

We will definitely file various criminal complaints and motions, as the criminal liability must be examined to determine whether these individuals have committed the crime of the abuse of power by a public official, Fico announced in March.

In the end, some top prosecutors decided to quit their jobs, while others are no longer working on serious crimes following the decision of controversial General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka.

For the adopted changes, which some experts and the European Commission have warned against, the opposition and President Zuzana Caputova turned to the Constitutional Court soon after the coalition passed the changes, and despite the coalitions attempt to prevent the Constitutional Court from having a say in the matter by delaying the publication of new changes in the collection of laws.

In late February, the court suspended extensive changes to the countrys criminal laws, including all the changes to the Penal Code and the Act on Criminal Liability of Legal Entities, as well as several changes to the Criminal Procedure Law. The court saw a danger in reducing penalties, shortening the statutes of limitations, as well as rewriting the criminal damage classification; but also in reopening previously approved plea bargains and using illegally obtained evidence in a criminal proceeding only in favour of the accused.

In February, at first, the PM seemed to be satisfied with the decision because the court did not suspend the section on the abolition of the Special Prosecutors Office. A few days later, Fico criticised the courts president Ivan Fiacan. Fico went on to opine that Fiacan should have been removed from his presiding post. One of the reasons, Fico argued, was the leak of information about the suspension of the changes effectiveness, for which Fiacan apologised.

If I had the power to remove the President of the Constitutional Court, I would remove him, Fico said.

The Constitutional Court announces its decision on July 3, 2024 (video)

video //www.youtube.com/embed/PLAvnZi-MS4

Adopted changes may help Smer people

On July 3, the court announced that the following changes were unconstitutional: the reopening of plea bargains approved before March 15 (the date when the new changes took effect, ed.), the use of illegally obtained evidence only to help the accused, as well as transitional provisions regarding the issue of asset forfeiture and the statutes of limitations in ongoing criminal cases, which are more favourable towards the accused.

Last year, the Constitutional Court ruled that the mandatory forfeiture of property is unconstitutional in some cases. However, in ongoing cases, oligarchs can still lose their property.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240703/no-exit-strategy-no-plan-israel-turns-its-eyes-on-jerusalem-as-gaza-strip-war-crumbles-1119235699.html

'No Exit Strategy, No Plan': Israel Turns Its Eyes on Jerusalem as Gaza Strip War Crumbles

'No Exit Strategy, No Plan': Israel Turns Its Eyes on Jerusalem as Gaza Strip War Crumbles

Sputnik International

Ecuadorian journalist and editor of The Cradle, Esteban Carrillo, joined The Backstory on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as Israels reported threats against Hezbollah.

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Palestinian health officials said on Tuesday that an Israeli strike killed at least nine people in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis just less than a day after the state ordered the evacuation of Palestinians from parts of that city. According to Sam Rose, the director of planning at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), about 250,000 people fled to a new off-limits area, and another 50,000 may also flee in the near future due to their proximity to the fighting.News of the Palestinians relocation is disheartening as many of the more than 1 million Palestinian civilians who fled the Israeli assault on Rafah had been sheltering in Khan Yunis and are once more being forcibly displaced, Sputniks Rachel Blevins noted.Ecuadorian journalist and editor of The Cradle, Esteban Carrillo, joined The Backstory on Tuesday to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, as well as Israels reported threats against Hezbollah. Carrillo suggested that there is no such thing as a safe zone in the Gaza Strip and that there hasnt been for the past nine months.Gaza, it's such a small place. It's about 360 km square. It's like a small US city, and nine months in it's being flattened, it's being destroyed. No services, no running water, no electricity, no heating during the winter. No cool air during the summer. And what are they doing? You know, what are they doing besides just killing loads of civilians? What is the Israeli army doing there? They are depleting their ammunition supplies. They are essentially running on fumes at this point, he added.What is the Israeli army doing in Gaza nine months into this genocide? How much longer is it going to take them to achieve their stated goal, right, which was to completely destroy Hamas. How many times are they going to announce that they disabled Hamas battalions, that they crippled Hamas, that they would destroy all Hamas fighters in specific cities only for two or three months down the line to have to go back in.Israel seems set to scale down their bombardment of Gaza, and turn their attention to the north with a possible war against Hezbollah on the horizon, Blevins reported. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that there have been no signs that Israel will lower their bombardment of the Gaza Strip.How can they slow down when the Pentagon sends weapons on an average of every four days? Bombs and shells and ammunition, and they are hitting Gaza with such ferocity that there's concerns that they are running out of shells, despite the fact that they keep getting replenished, Carrillo explained. So, the only plan here was, yes, to kill as many Palestinians as possible to make this trip uninhabitable.And I think Israeli leaders are kind of hoping that this is going to be the case for them, too, so that they continue on with their genocide and their ethnic cleansing campaign and without having to deal with so much pressure from the global stage, he added. And what makes it, what would make the Israelis stop and not come at us next or somebody else, that is, a proxy of a larger power, like the US.On June 18, the IDF reportedly approved and validated operational plans for an offensive in Lebanon. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Israel was very close to a decision to change the rules against Hezbollah and Lebanon and threatened to destroy the movement "in an all-out war" and "severely hit" Lebanon, Sputnik reported on Saturday. During the interview, Blevins suggested that Israel may want to escalate tensions with Lebanon as a way to distract the world stage from the humanitarian crises in Gaza.[Israel doesnt] know where Hezbollah is. Hezbollah also has a network of tunnels in the border. So it's the same situation that they would find themselves in Gaza. The only thing they could go for is for Lebanese infrastructure, and that would just unleash the wrath of not just Hezbollah, the Iraqi resistance that was already pledged to join this fight. The Yemenis would expand their operations. Even there, in Afghanistan, the Taliban has offered to send soldiers to fight Israel. And you have Iran who are saying if Israel expands the war on Lebanon, Hezbollah has our full support.You know, this genocidal state. So, of course, they're not gonna move. The Lebanese army is not, it's not, it cannot really defend Lebanon to the extent that Lebanon needs defending, right. Remember, Lebanon is a highly, highly, crisis-hit country, he added.Lebanon is a member of the Arab League. Lebanon is a country that has ties with the US, with the EU, there's a US embassy here, a UK embassy, a French embassy, he added. We're talking about a sovereign nation that has a resistance force that works as the only bulwark to protect its people and its interest against a state that seeks its destruction, right? So it's not really, it's very unlikely to happen.Shortly before the publication of this article, it was reported that an Israeli strike killed one of Hezbollahs top commanders in south Lebanon on Wednesday. The IDF said they killed Hezbollahs Mohammed Nasser, and claimed he was the commander of a unit responsible for firing from southwestern Lebanon into Israel, Reuters reported.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/artificial-light-across-coastlines-are-attracting-young-fish-and-their-predators-1119238223.html

Artificial Light Across Coastlines Are Attracting Young Fish, And Their Predators

Artificial Light Across Coastlines Are Attracting Young Fish, And Their Predators

Sputnik International

A new study has shown that artificial light at night (ALAN) across coastlines is acting as a predatory trap for young fish.

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A new study has shown that artificial light at night (ALAN) across coastlines is acting as a predatory trap for young fish.According to a satellite study conducted about a decade ago, nearly a quarter of the worlds coastline is artificially lit - although that amount could certainly be more now, explained Jules Schligler, the lead author of the study and a Ph.D. student at CRIOBE Laboratory (Centre de Recherches Insulaires et Observatoire de l'Environnement) in Moorea, French Polynesia.ALAN along the coast could belong to a range of human-caused activities including the use of electrical lights along roads, factories, residences and resorts near bodies of water."ALAN is everywhere and marine wildlife is not exempt from its effects," says Schligler. "A quarter of the world coastline is impacted and this level is increasing every year."For his test, Schligler focused on two dominant coral reef damselfish native to French Polynesia, the yellowtail dascyllus and the blue-green chromis. In testing 48 corals that were split into two treatments, Schligler found that light attracts fish larvae, and that their test sites that used artificial light recruited 2 - 3 times as many fish as naturally lit environments.We can only extrapolate to a certain point but our findings, and other tests we did on crab and shrimp, generally indicate that marine animals are attracted to artificial light, he said. Schligler also explained that while artificial light could appear to benefit predator fish, more research would be needed to prove that to be the case.It could be bad for their sleep, or they could eat too much, we dont yet know, he explained."To better understand fish stock replenishment and conservation, it is crucial to take into account as many factors as we can, such as the rarely considered effects of light pollution, he added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231003/uk-opens-marine-science-base-on-remote-pitcairn-islands-1113887169.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/czech-merc-from-nazi-carpathian-sich-battalion-ends-up-in-prague-court-1119242592.html

Czech Merc From Nazi 'Carpathian Sich' Battalion Ends Up in Prague Court

Czech Merc From Nazi 'Carpathian Sich' Battalion Ends Up in Prague Court

Sputnik International

The trial of 27-year-old Czech, Filip Siman, has begun in Prague. He stands accused of illegally serving in the Ukrainian army and looting during his service in Bucha and Irpen, located in the Kiev region, in the spring of 2022.

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The mercenary vigorously denies all charges against him. Information from the court is being reported by the local media. According to the prosecution, the Czech mercenary, Siman, is accused of pilfering Gucci glasses, a breathing mask from a destroyed An-225 'Mriya' (the world's largest transport aircraft), as well as stealing gold and silver bars, in addition to removing berets and rings from deceased soldiers. Additionally, Siman did not have permission from the Czech authorities to join a foreign army and take part in the ongoing hostilities. Any Czech citizen wishing to serve in another country's military must get official approval from the national authorities. The merc joined the Nazi battalion ' Carpathian Sich' in March 2022. He did not have any legal authorization from the Czech Republic allowing him to serve in a foreign army. Siman was arrested on suspicion of possible escape. He faces up to five years in prison for serving in a foreign army, with the potential for a longer sentence if the allegations of looting are substantiated. However, in court, he stated that his motive for joining 'Carpathian Sich' was not for personal enrichment. Siman asserts that he was influenced by politicians' promises of no repercussions or penalties for "volunteering in Ukrainian battalions when he joined the group.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240410/bodies-of-american-mercs-slain-in-ukraine-piling-up-at-us-cemeteries-1117840454.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/death-toll-from-israeli-strikes-on-gaza-strip-tops-38000---health-ministry-1119242992.html

Death Toll From Israeli Strikes on Gaza Strip Tops 38,000 - Health Ministry

Death Toll From Israeli Strikes on Gaza Strip Tops 38,000 - Health Ministry

Sputnik International

The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 38,011, with 87,445 people injured, the enclave's health ministry said on Thursday.

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"The number of victims of the Israeli aggression since last October 7 has reached 38,011, with 87,445 injured," the ministry said in a statement. In the past 24 hours, 58 dead and 179 injured were admitted to Gaza hospitals, the statement added.On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza, killing more than 1,100 Israelis - both military and civilians - and abducted some 240 others. Israel implemented a complete blockade of Gaza and started a bombing campaign and a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing the hostages.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/exclusive-bolivian-natural-resources-could-be-root-of-failed-coup--president-1119243112.html

Exclusive: Bolivian Natural Resources Could Be Root of Failed Coup  President

Exclusive: Bolivian Natural Resources Could Be Root of Failed Coup  President

Sputnik International

In an exclusive interview to Sputnik Mundo, Bolivian President Luis Arce elaborated on the potential cause of last weeks abortive coup d'etat in the country.

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A week after the failed coup attempt, Bolivian president spoke with a Sputnik correspondent at his official residence in La Paz and stressed that nation's natural resources were likely the reason of the attempt. He reflected on the events of recent days in the country and called on public organizations to remain vigilant to possible new attempts to overthrow the government.Arce said the forces behind those destabilizing acts are those interested in plundering Bolivias natural resources.As a result of clashes between Zuniga's troops and residents of La Paz in the central square, 14 people were injured. Following the events, police detained 21 people involved in the coup attempt.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240629/court-in-bolivia-orders-six-months-of-preventive-detention-for-rebel-generals---reports-1119174520.html

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Bolivian President Luis Arce on the failed coup Sputnik International Bolivian President Luis Arce on the failed coup. 2024-07-04T13:18+0000 true PT1M31S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/putin-and-xi-at-sco-summit-nato-war-summit-coming-to-dc-bbc-host-says-biden-should-murder-trump-1119235529.html

Putin and Xi at SCO Summit; NATO War Summit Coming to DC; BBC Host Says Biden Should Murder Trump

Putin and Xi at SCO Summit; NATO War Summit Coming to DC; BBC Host Says Biden Should Murder Trump

Sputnik International

Numerous world leaders have come together in Astana for the SCO Summit.

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Putin and Xi at SCO Summit; NATO War Summit Coming to DC; BBC Host Says Biden Should Murder Trump Sputnik International Numerous world leaders have come together in Astan for the SCO Summit.

Mark Sleboda, an international relations and security analyst, joins us to discuss President Joe Biden's wild speculations about Russia's foreign policy. Yawen Xu, Beijing-based CGTN radio journalist and international affairs commentator, joins us to discuss China's moves at the SCO Summit.Ann Wright, anti-war activist and former US Colonel, joins us to discuss the NATO summit in DC.George Koo, journalist, social activist, and international business consultant, joins us to discuss Chinese tech advancements and US militarization in the Pacific.Dr. David Oualaalou (WAH-LAH-LU), international geopolitical consultant, veteran, author, and host of the "Geopolitics in Conflict" show on YT, joins us to discuss a BBC host tweeting that President Joe Biden should murder Trump and US imperialism in the new world order.Misty Winston, radio host, free speech activist, and press freedom activist, joins us to discuss the Democrat's response to the Biden debate debacle and the latest SCOTUS decision.Jamarl Thomas, Co-host of Fault Lines, joins us to discuss internal Democratic tensions.Co-hosts Dr. Wilmer Leon and Garland Nixon join us to discuss the Venezuelan election.The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.comCatch us in the US at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/russias-cutting-edge-vityaz-air-defense-system-picks-off-12-himars-in-one-swoop-1119238814.html

Russia's Cutting-Edge Vityaz Air Defense System Picks Off 12 HIMARS In One Swoop

Russia's Cutting-Edge Vityaz Air Defense System Picks Off 12 HIMARS In One Swoop

Sputnik International

The S-350 "Vityaz" missile system in the special operation zone hit 12 HIMARS MLRS missiles at once, the commander of the anti-aircraft missile division of the the Battlegroup Yug told Sputnik.

2024-07-04T06:26+0000

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The S-350 "Vityaz" (Brave warrior) missile system in the special operation zone hit 12 HIMARS MLRS missiles at once, the commander of Battlegroup Yug's anti-aircraft missile division told Sputnik."Not long ago we worked on a large pack of HIMARS MLRS, there were about 12-16 targets, this system fared successfully, none of the targets (MLRS missiles) reached their point, and accordingly the complex had no difficulty both in detecting and picking off the pack," the commander said.According to the serviceman, the target was successfully acquired at a range of approximately 90 kilometers. The missile system then maintained a steady escort and ultimately hit the target at a distance of about 70 kilometers from the complex's location.The Vityaz missile system's superiority over other systems is easily demonstrated through a number of key advantages. These include its exceptional mobility and maneuverability, as well as its ability to navigate difficult terrain and withstand harsh weather conditions. This allows for a quicker setup along firing positions. Furthermore, the system is equipped with an autonomous power supply, eliminating the need for external sources of power.The Vityaz has effectively obliterated multiple targets, including ATACMS missiles, enemy UAVs, and even aircraft-type drones.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240425/russias-s-400-and-s-500-vs-us-made-patriot-and-thaad-baseline-comparison-1118089664.html

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A cross-Strait youth summit kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday, attended by about 600 people, including young people, from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

A performance is staged prior to the opening ceremony of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2024. A cross-Strait youth summit kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday, attended by about 600 people, including young people, from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

At the opening ceremony, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, called on the younger generations on both sides to become more proud, confident, and assured in their identity as Chinese.

Song urged them to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation, and actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation, and integration.

Young people should be fully aware of the opportunities brought to them by Chinese modernization and contribute their wisdom and strength to cross-Strait integration, said Xu Xiao, president of the All-China Youth Federation, at the same ceremony.

In a speech delivered via video link, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), urged young people across the Strait to engage in in-depth exchanges, learn from each other, and work together to create a bright future for the Chinese nation.

Young people, from Taiwan or the mainland, are all Chinese and should encourage and help each other in areas such as business and sci-tech development, working together for rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said Sean Lien, vice chairman of the KMT, at the ceremony.

The summit was jointly organized by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Education, the All-China Youth Federation, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government.

It consists of forums, an internship and job fair for youth from Taiwan, a lifestyle festival, and a night concert among other activities.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240704/us-weaponization-of-ukraine-against-russia-forced-moscow-to-act--analyst-1119238599.html

US Weaponization of Ukraine Against Russia Forced Moscow to Act  Analyst

US Weaponization of Ukraine Against Russia Forced Moscow to Act  Analyst

Sputnik International

The United States transformation of Kiev into an anti-Russian beachhead made conflict inevitable, says one expert.

2024-07-04T04:44+0000

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analysis

vladimir putin

mark sleboda

ray mcgovern

russia

ukraine

nato

cia

ukraine crisis

ukrainian crisis

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Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern rejected US President Joe Bidens claims that Russia is poised to invade Poland and the Baltics after the current conflict in Ukraine in an article posted to the website Consortium News.Spoiler Alert: Official Ukrainian sources confirm that Putin did stop in March 2022, wrote the ex intelligence official, after Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky agreed to forswear membership in NATO. The Russian president repeatedly attempted to maintain peace with Kiev both before and after 2022s special military operation, McGovern noted, only for negotiations to be sabotaged by the United States.This [conflict] is entirely being forced on Russia, because if they don't take Ukrainian territory now, it's not even a question, they are directly told we will pump Ukraine full of as many weapons as possible, he noted. We will bring it into NATO and the EU, and we will weaponize and turn it into a battle platform against Russia,  Russia is left with no alternative.Reporting in The New York Times earlier this year revealed the depth of the United States interference in Ukraine, where the US has encircled Russia with CIA bases since the consummation of the Maidain coup in 2014. The development is the culmination of NATOs attempts to expand towards Moscow after the end of the Cold War, first devouring Eastern Europe before finally attempting to establish itself directly on Russias border.Far from bringing an end to tensions between Moscow and Washington, the fall of the USSR only intensified them, Sleboda noted, as the West continued to expand its sphere of influence despite the end of the ideological threat posed by the former Soviet Union.You surround an adversary government by hook or crook, by hostile governments, right? You bring governments that are hostile to that government to power so that you politically, militarily and economically isolate them and increase the pressure to try to make them implode That's the geopolitical, zero-sum logic that the West and the US have been operating under since 1991, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.Sleboda noted the inherent contradiction in Western neoconservatives logic regarding Russia: after arguing that Ukraine must be brought into NATO to prevent an attack by Moscow, they now claim Russia is poised to launch an imminent attack on NATO member states regardless.The very same propagandists who are now suggesting that Putin could attack NATO are the same ones who said we have to bring the Kiev regime in Ukraine into NATO as fast as possible because Russia wont dara attack NATO, he noted. Now, the very same people are spinning their own argument on its head.

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The racing office at Running Aces has processed 16 nominations for the 2024 Dan Patch FFA Pace, which is the signature event of the summer at the Minnesota oval.

The action in this years Dan Patch will get underway with $20,000 USD elimination races on Sunday, July 21 and will culminate with the $50,000 USD final on Sunday, July 28.

Hezzz A Wise Sky (Jacob Cutting) captured last year's event by a head over Crooked Smile (Todd Warren) in a thrilling finish in 1:50.1 for owner Triple Zzz Stables and trainer John Filomeno. Both of those pacers have been nominated for this years edition.

Here is the complete list of 2024 nominees, in alphabetical order:

A Major Omen

American Dreamer

Buzzsaw Russ

Caviart Camden

Charlie May

Crooked Smile

Hezzz A Wise Sky

Macs Marvel

Motley Ray

Muskateer Hanover

No Lou Zing

PD The Big Easy

Speaking Volumes

Topville Rocknluck

Tuggin on My Heart

Ynotthishos

The 2024 Running Aces live racing season is in full swing, with action three nights a week on a Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday basis through mid-September. The final week of racing in 2024 will feature a Tuesday-Friday-Saturday schedule (September 17, 20 & 21).

(Running Aces)
Horse Racing New Brunswick will host its second live harness racing card at Connell Park on Saturday, July 6 with the first leg of the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes for three-year-old pacers headlining the day's action.

In the first $8,000 colt and gelding division, House Edge Hanover is the 4-5 morning line favourite with Mark Haig catch-driving the lightly raced Betting Line gelding from mid-field, post three. A winner of four of his five career starts, House Edge Hanover took a new lifetime mark of 1:55.4 last week in his season's debut at Charlottetown Driving Park for trainer Ron Matheson and owner Everette Hanson of Maugerville, N.B.

Coming off a career-best 1:57.2 victory in the Atlantic Sires Stakes at Truro Raceway last week, Resuscitate has been listed as the 8-5 morning line favourite from post three in the second $8,000 colt and gelding division. Todd Trites will retain the drive on the Stonebridge Terror gelding, who is trained by George Rennison and owned by Back To The Races Stable of Truro, N.S. A three-time winner, Resuscitate broke his maiden in a leg of the New Brunswick Breeders Stakes last year in 2:02.3 as a two-year-old.

In the $15,000 filly division, Littlestitious is the early 9-5 favourite and will start from post two with Trites picking up the catch-drive. The Bettors Delight filly earned her second career win this past Monday at the Woodstock track in 2:03.4 for trainer Wayne Watson and owner Jennifer Ritchie of Kingston, N.B.

Of note, a number of Quebec horsemen and women are shipping in for Saturday's card, including Hippodrome 3R's top driver Pascal Berube. With added horses from the other provinces in the Maritimes, the eight-race card includes some excellent overnight events.

Post time on Saturday is 1 p.m.

To view Saturday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodstock Raceway NB.

(Horse Racing New Brunswick & Standardbred Canada)
Property-based testing is a rare example of academic research that has made it to the mainstream in less than 30 years. Under the slogan dont write tests, generate them property-based testing has gained support from a diverse group of programming language communities. In fact, the Wikipedia page of the original property-basted testing Haskell library, QuickCheck, lists 57 reimplementations in other languages.

In this post Id like to survey the most popular property-based testing implementations and compare them with what used to be the state-of-the-art fifteen years ago (2009). As the title already gives away, most of the libraries do not offer their users the most advanced property-based testing features. In order to best explain whats missing and why I think we ended up in this situation, let me start by telling the brief history of property-based testing.

In Gothenburg, Swedens second most populated city, theres a university called Chalmers. At the computer science department of Chalmers there are several research groups, two of which are particularly relevant to our story  the Functional Programming group and Programming Logic group. Ill let you guess what the former groups main interest is. The latter groups mostly concerned with a branch of functional programming where the type system is sufficiently expressive that it allows for formal specifications of programs, sometimes called dependently typed programming or type theory. Agda is an example of a Haskell-like dependently typed programming language, that also happens to be mainly developed by the Programming Logic group. Given the overlap of interest and proximity, researchers at the department are sometimes part of both groups or at least visit each others research seminars from time to time.

John Hughes is a long-time member of the Functional Programming group, whos also well aware of the research on dependently typed programming going on in the Programming Logic group. One day in the late nineties, after having worked hard on finishing something important on time, John found himself having a week off. So, just for fun, he started experimenting with the idea of testing if a program respects a formal specification.

Typically in dependently typed programming you use the types to write the specification and then the program that implements that type is the formal proof that the program is correct. For example, lets say youve implemented a list sorting function, the specification typically then is that the output of the sorting function is ordered, i.e. for any index \(i\) in your output list the element at that index must be smaller or equal to the element at index \(i + 1\). Formally proving that a program is correct with respect to a specification is often as much work as writing the program in the first place, so merely testing it can often be a sweet spot where you get some confidence that the specification is correct, without having to do the proving work. For example in the sorting example you can simply generate a random input list and then compare the output of your sorting function with the one in the standard library (which is likely to be correct). As programs get more complicated the ratio of effort saved by merely testing, as opposed to proving, increases. In fact for bigger programs the effort involved in proving correctness is simply too high for it to be practical (this is an active area of research). Given all this, I hope that you can start to see why this idea excited John.

While John was working on this idea, Koen Claessen, another member of the Functional Programming group, stuck his head into Johns office and asked what he was doing. Koen got excited as well and came back the next day with his improved version of Johns code. There was some things that Koen hadnt thought about, so John iterated on his code and so it went back and forth for a week until the first implementation of property-based testing was written and not long afterwards they published the paper QuickCheck: A Lightweight Tool for Random Testing of Haskell Programs (ICFP 2000). I think its worth stressing the lightweight tool part from the papers title, the complete source code for the first version of the library is included in the appendix of the paper and its about 300 lines of code.

Haskell and dependently typed programming languages, like Agda, are pure functional programming languages, meaning that its possible at the type-level to distinguish whether a function has side-effects or not. Proofs about functions in Agda, and similar languages, are almost always only dealing with pure functions. Probably as a result of this, the first version of QuickCheck can only test pure functions. This shortcoming was rectified in the follow up paper Testing monadic code with QuickCheck (2002) by the same authors. Its an important extension as it allows us to reason about functions that use mutable state, file I/O and networking, etc. It also lays the foundation for being able to test concurrent programs, as we shall see below.

Around the same time as the second paper was published (2002), John was applying for a major grant at the Swedish Strategic Research Foundation. A part of the application process involved pitching in front of a panel of people from industry. Some person from Ericsson was on the panel and they were interested in QuickCheck. There was also a serial entrepreneur on the panel and she encouraged John to start a company, and the Ericsson person agreed to be a first customer, and so Quviq AB was founded in 2006 by John and Thomas Arts (perhaps somewhat surprisingly, Koen was never involved in the company).

The first project at Ericsson that Quviq helped out testing was written in Erlang. Unlike Haskell, Erlang is not a pure functional programming language and on top of that theres concurrency everywhere. So even the second, monadic, version of QuickCheck didnt turn out to be ergonomic enough for the job. This is what motivated the closed source Quviq QuickCheck version written in Erlang, first mentioned in the paper Testing telecoms software with Quviq QuickCheck (2006). The main features of the closed source version that, as we shall see, are still not found in many open source versions are:

Sequential stateful property-based testing using a state machine model; Parallel testing with race condition detection by reusing the sequential state machine model.

We shall describe how these features work in detail later. For now lets just note that stateful testing in its current form was first mentioned in QuickCheck testing for fun and profit (2007). This paper also mentions that it took John four iterations to get the stateful testing design right, so while the 2006 paper already does mention stateful testing its likely containing one of those earlier iteration of it.

While the 2007 paper also mentions parallel testing via traces and interleavings, its vague on details. Its only later in Finding Race Conditions in Erlang with QuickCheck and PULSE (ICFP 2009) that parallel testing is described in detail including a reference to Linearizability: a correctness condition for concurrent objects by Herlihy and Wing (1990) which is the main technique behind it.

Id like to stress that no Quviq QuickCheck library code is ever shared in any of these papers, they only contain the library APIs (which are public) and test examples implemented using said APIs.

After that most papers are experience reports of applying Quviq QuickCheck at different companies, e.g. Testing A Database for Race Conditions with QuickCheck (2011), Testing the hard stuff and staying sane (2014), Testing AUTOSAR software with QuickCheck (2015), Mysteries of Dropbox: Property-Based Testing of a Distributed Synchronization Service (2016).

Sometimes various minor extensions to stateful and parallel testings are needed in order to test some particular piece of software, e.g. C FFI bindings in the case of AUTOSAR or eventual consistency in the case of Dropbox, but by and large the stateful and parallel testing features remain the same.
At 15 years old, John Murray stood on the battlefield with his father, fighting a war that had divided his family. One uncle was fighting with them, while another battled against them.

In the end, young Johns side lost. He was to be tried for treason.

However, John didnt hang, he became Lord Dunmore, the last royal governor of Virginia, who would go on to find himself caught up in the Revolutionary War.

He was a hero until he wasnt, said Michael Henningsen, who loves to tell John Murrays story, one he discovered and began researching about a decade ago.

On Sunday, he portrayed Lord Dunmore and told much of his story at the Settlers Museum in Atkins.

Henningsen began the journey that would connect him with Lord Dunmore when he was 8 years old. His big brother began taking bagpipe lessons. Henningsen learned the drums. For more than 50 years now, hes been playing with bagpipe bands.

One day, Henningsens interests took him into the museum at the Abingdon Muster Grounds, where area men joined with Colonel William Campbell in September 1780 to head south and join other Patriot militia.

Off to the side in the museum, Henningsen saw a painting of a man wearing a kilt and tartan and Scottish weapons that, at the time noted on the portrait, had been outlawed.

How did he get away with that? Henningsen wondered.

That question opened nine years of study, Henningsen said Sunday. For the last two years, hes been telling Lord Dunmores story  from a battlefield in Scotland to serving in the House of Lords to becoming governor of New York and then Virginia and then the Bahamas, and spending his final years as a grandpa.

While serving in parliament in London, Lord Dunmore was keenly aware of the colonies in America and their circumstances. He voted down some of the taxes and laws that were being put in place to hold down the colonies.

Before long, he was asked to serve as the royal governor of New York, a position he greatly enjoyed. However, when Lord Botetourt suddenly died, Lord Dunmore was asked to take his place as Virginias governor. Dunmore was reluctant but once he arrived in Williamsburg and saw Virginias wealth and size, he was pleased.

His wife, Charlotte, and their 10 children joined him and all loved Virginia.

Lord Dunmore would even go fox hunting with his friend George Washington.

On the serious side, Lord Dunmore was worried about escalating violence between Native Americans and settlers. When Daniel Boones son and others in his party were killed and dismembered in an attack, Lord Dunmore believed he had to act to protect citizens.

He commanded that forts, including Fort Chiswell and Crab Orchard, be built to protect settlers.

In 1774, he called a militia, including William Campbell. They fought Dunmores War, which ended with Dunmore achieving a peace treaty with Shawnee chief Cornstalk.

In his portrayal, Henningsen reflected, Wed all had our fill of it [war].

Dunmore returned to Williamsburg as a hero and greeted a daughter born in his absence. They named her Virginia.

Just a few months later, everything changed.

Tensions were growing between the colony and Great Britain.

Dunmore was ordered to take the gunpowder from the public magazine in Williamsburg and put it on a British ship in the spring of 1775.

During the portrayal, Henningsen called Patrick Henry a failed barkeeper and a failed storekeeper, but a firebrand, who likely learned to speak with such passion at the Methodist camp meetings his sister, Madame Russell, took him to in todays Smyth County. Henningsen believes Henry even picked up much of the language he used against the British from returnees from Dunmores War some of who would go on to sign the Fincastle Resolutions, a precursor to the Declaration of Independence, and created and signed in todays Wythe County.

Dunmore went on to negotiate the purchase of gunpowder, but a torch had been lit.

Militias marched on Dunmores unguarded home. He and his family fled to a ship in the York River.

Dunmore declared, I fought for Virginians. By God, Ill fight against them.

Dunmore, Henningsen said, tried to govern for two years from a ship. He freed slaves and formed an Ethiopian regiment that supported Britain. His fleet shelled Norfolk in 1776. Later that year, he left for Britain.

In 1787, Lord Dunmore was named governor of the Bahamas. He would retire from that post and return to Britain to be with family and be a grandfather. He died in 1809.

In answer to his Henningsens question about his dress in the Abingdon portrait, the rules against Scottish dress were lifted for those in battle. Even the last drawing of Dunmore showed him in a kilt.

In 1996, Henningsen noted that the 11th Earl of Dunmore returned to Virginia and rescinded his charges against Patrick Henry.

Today, he said, Malcom Murray, the 12 Earl of Dunmore, lives in Tasmania and endorses Henningsens portrayal of his ancestor.

The 250th anniversary of Dunmores War will be marked Oct. 10, while January will bring the 250th anniversary of the writing of the Fincastle Resolutions. The resolutions were sent to the Continental Congress.

Henningsen described his work portraying Lord Dunmore and other historical figures as my retirement passion.

He is also the executive director of Corps Values Music Heritage (CVMH), an area non-profit organization that strives to bring history to life, primarily through music.
China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine boosts mutual understanding, affinity

People's Daily Online) 15:19, July 03, 2024

On a summer morning, Gulzhina, a Kazakhstani patient supported by her family, entered the China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, as soon as the center opened its doors.

She had learned about the facility through word of mouth and came for post-stroke rehabilitation.

While waiting outside the examination room, Gulzhina spoke with Li Honggang, the Chinese director of the center, inquiring about future development plans, the introduction of other Chinese medical treatments, and potential expansion to other Kazakh cities. Li warmly answered each query.

Ismail Daurov, a young Kazakh doctor who studied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for eight years at Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine in northwest China, performed massotherapy for the patient while explaining the functions of TCM therapies.

Daurov, who had volunteered to help Xi'an, the capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, fight the COVID-19 pandemic, remarked at the time, "I am a foreigner, but I am not an outsider," touching many Chinese internet users.

In another room marked "TCM Treatment Room (Children)," a 7-year-old boy named Magzhan with cerebral palsy received massage treatment from Jia Zhonglin, one of the center's first medical experts.

Magzhan slowly said, "Good morning!" in Chinese while gesturing with his hands. His grandmother gave a thumbs-up, exclaiming "excellent" when asked about the Chinese doctors. Magzhan's family, who don't live in Astana, have made over a dozen special trips to the center for treatment. The boy's speaking ability and limb flexibility have improved significantly since his first visit, according to his grandmother.

Since opening in May 2023, the center has received nearly 8,000 patient visits and conducted over 200 remote international consultations. More than 10 TCM doctors from China and Kazakhstan see about 60 patients daily at the center's outpatient clinic, Li said.

Friendship, which derives from close contact between peoples, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. Following in the footsteps of Zhang Qian, a Chinese diplomat from the Western Han Dynasty (202 B.C. - A.D. 25) who opened a trade route that later became the Silk Road, the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctors at the China-Kazakhstan Center for Traditional Medicine are serving as cultural envoys in the new era, promoting Belt and Road cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.

Jia noted that the local people's trust and expectations of TCM are the most heart-touching aspects of practicing medicine abroad.

"TCM follows a people-centered philosophy. It aims not just to cure the 'disease in the person' but to heal the 'person with the disease,'" he explained, adding that the most rewarding part of TCM's journey abroad is connecting hearts of the Chinese and Kazakhstani people.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
You are here: China

A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday said a Taiwan fishing boat has been seized by the coast guard of Fujian province for suspected illegal operations.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the boat, caught recently in waters near the city of Quanzhou, violated the summer fishing ban and engaged in prohibited trawling operations.

He said the seizure was a routine law enforcement aimed at maintaining the fishing order, preserving marine fishery resources and protecting the environment.

Relevant authorities will deal with the case in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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Bay Area tech layoffs jumped during the last three months and soared to their highest quarterly totals in over a year, an ominous sign the crucial sector's wrenching cutbacks have yet to run their course.

During the April-through-June period of this year, tech companies revealed plans to chop well over 7,000 jobs in the Bay Area, according to this news organization's compilation of official notices that employers sent to the state labor agency.

The 7,062 tech industry layoffs during the second quarter of 2024 represented the most job cuts for the industry in this region for a three-month segment since the January-through-March period of 2023, the review of the state WARN notices shows.

In the first quarter of 2023, tech companies disclosed plans to slash 10,154 jobs in the Bay Area, which was the worst three-month period since the tech industry began its current quest to jettison workers in a quest for efficiency and an improved bottom line.

The tech industry's layoffs have continued in recent days.

During the final two weeks of June alone, tech companies notified the state EDD of their respective decisions to cut more than 500 jobs, a review of recent layoff notices shows.

Here are the details of the latest layoffs in the tech industry, based on WARN notices sent to the state:



Lacework, a cloud and software security company, 180 job cuts in Mountain View.

Moxion Power, a green energy and battery firm, 101 layoffs in Richmond.

Planet Labs PBC, a global imaging tech company, 98 staff reductions in San Francisco.

Lockheed Martin Space, a satellite technology and defense contractor, 68 job cuts in Sunnyvale.

AT&T, a telecommunications titan, 56 layoffs in San Ramon.

Thought Stream, a software company doing business as Bluescape, 35 staff reductions in Redwood City.

All of the layoffs were described as permanent. The Thought Stream job cuts arose from the company's decision to close a Redwood City facility permanently.

In 2022, 2023, and the first half of 2024, tech companies have revealed plans to eliminate more than 44,900 jobs in the Bay Area, the analysis of the state Employment Development Department WARN notices shows.

The 44,900 tech layoffs in the Bay Area consist of about 10,300 job cuts in 2022, nearly 21,600 layoffs in 2023 and about 13,000 staffing reductions by the high-tech sector during the first half of 2024, according to the WARN letters on file with the state EDD.

2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A potential high-tech manufacturing facility worth $10 billion at Texas A&Ms RELLIS campus in Bryan could bring 1,800 jobs and over $31 million in annual city revenue a decade from now, according to the agenda for Tuesdays Bryan City Council meeting.

Both the Brazos County Commissioners Court and the Bryan City Council will consider approving a tax abatement agreement during separate meetings Tuesday that would pave the way for the project to come to the RELLIS campus. Bryan city staff recommended approval of the proposed tax abatement agreement.

City staff analysis states this presents an incredible economic development opportunity for the City of Bryan and adds this will be the epicenter for the regions high-technology ecosystem bringing together the private sector with the research and development capabilities of the Texas A&M University System.

The city council agenda was posted the same day that A&Ms Board of Regents approved an item during a special meeting to give A&M officials authorization to begin negotiating the terms of agreements and a ground lease for a manufacturing facility at the RELLIS campus.

The 2,000-acre, A&M-owned RELLIS campus is located at the intersection of Texas 21 and Texas 47 and has become a hub for academic, government and industry partners to collaborate in applied research for various initiatives. Since it was founded in 2016, the A&M System and state have invested over $1 billion in various initiatives.

A&M Chancellor John Sharp gave limited information on the proposed project last month and said he couldnt get into further details since he signed a non-disclosure agreement. Sharp, who announced his June 2025 retirement on Monday, offered no details after Wednesdays meeting. There is no firm timeline on an announcement regarding the possible manufacturing facility.

The proposed general tax abatement agreement terms are for 10 years. The abatement percentage is listed at 80% for the first five years and drops to 50% for the remaining five years. The guaranteed value of the tax abatement authorized begins at $100 million in Year 1 and increases to $10 billion by Year 7.

The city council agenda says the employment count of the project begins at 25 in Year 1 and grows to 1,000 by Year 6. An estimated 1,800 jobs are expected by Year 10.

The citys projected new ad valorem tax revenue based upon the guaranteed value referenced in the proposed agreement  after the annual abatement has been granted  shows city revenue will start at just $124,800 in Year 1, but grows to a sustained $31.2 million by Year 7. City staff said the Brazos Central Appraisal Districts current 2024 estimate of net taxable value for the city to be certified on or before July 25 is just north of $9.9 billion.

As an inducement for Bryan to enter into the tax abatement agreement, city staff said in the agenda that Americas Foundry Bryan shall make certain payments in lieu of taxes to the city in an amount equal to 5% of the aggregate amount of that years abated city taxes. City staff noted the revenues collected will be used for the enhancement of the quality of life of Bryan citizens, including infrastructure or programs for: parks, recreation and exercise; libraries; aesthetic enhancements to public spaces; public education; senior citizen services; youth services; and healthy lifestyles.

The city councils agenda says Bryan has followed the A&M Systems lead and has been engaged with Americas Foundry Bryan, LLC, to potentially establish high-tech manufacturing facilities located within RELLIS Reinvestment Zone No. 1. The project would be located on a 288-acre parcel on the RELLIS campus that was created as a reinvestment zone last month by the city council to allow for property tax breaks. Bryan city staff said the purpose of the designation was to attract a significant economic development project with the A&M System.

The scope of the project would include a minimum of around $5 billion worth of buildings and other property improvements along with a minimum of $5 billion in tangible personal property, including machinery and equipment, according to legal notices. The project would include housing one or more manufacturing plants, and other buildings and facilities that would support the operation of the plants.

Bryan city staff noted engagement with a prospect has been ongoing over the past year and involved officials from the A&M System, as well as the state and federal government.

A&Ms aspirations and announced plans in the semiconductor sector have led to speculation that the project could be related to semiconductors.

The Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation took a delegation of city leaders on a trip to Japan last month to discuss possible international business opportunities. Susan Davenport, president and CEO of the BVEDC, told The Eagle that five semiconductor companies were represented at meetings during their trip and many showed great interest in the work that was being conducted on the RELLIS campus.
You are here: China

An aerial drone photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows China's icebreaker Xuelong 2 berthing at the pier of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]

Two made-in-China polar icebreakers, Xuelong 2 and Jidi, opened for public viewing on Wednesday in Qingdao, a port city in east China's Shandong province.

Docked at the Qingdao International Sailing Center, the two ships will be open for public visits until Thursday noon, with an expected attendance of around 3,600 visitors.

The name "Jidi" means "polar region" in Chinese. Jidi is a domestically designed and manufactured new-generation research icebreaker, which was delivered on June 24.

Measuring 89.95 meters in length and 17.8 meters in width, the vessel has a total tonnage of 4,600 tonnes and can break through ice up to 1 meter thick.

Equipped with a wide range of marine survey equipment, Jidi is designed to perform comprehensive observation tasks, including analyzing sea ice, conducting 3D water body studies, carrying out geophysical surveys and atmosphere monitoring.

Visitors are pictured on China's icebreaker Xuelong 2 at the pier of Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province on July 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Xuelong 2, or "Snow Dragon," is China's first self-developed polar research icebreaker. It is also the world's first ship to use two-way ice-breaking technology, enabling it to break through ice while moving both forward and backward with the assistance of its bow and stern.

The ship participated in China's polar expedition for the first time in 2019 and completed the country's 40th Antarctic expedition in April this year.
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Israeli authorities have approved the appropriation of 12.7 square km of land in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest single appropriation in about three decades, an Israeli settlement monitor group said Wednesday.

Peace Now, an Israeli-based settlement watchdog, said in a statement that the Custodian of the State's Property in the Civil Administration, an Israeli body that approves construction in the West Bank, recently declared the seizure of this large land in the Jordan Valley.

According to the group, this is the largest area designated for appropriation since the Oslo Accords, a set of peace agreements signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993.

In 2024 alone, about 23.7 square km of the West Bank lands have been declared "State Lands" by Israel, reported Peace Now.

The declaration of "State Land" in the West Bank is a bureaucratic procedure used by the Israeli government to revoke Palestinian ownership rights to the declared lands, which would be leased exclusively to Israelis, for reshaping land use and building settlements.

Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and expanded settlements there ever since. The international community widely considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where the Palestinians wish to establish their future state, an obstacle to achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The move is likely to stoke further tensions in the region, which is already experiencing increasing violence following Israel's onslaught in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Hamas' attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year.
You are here: World

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People fetch water in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, on July 2, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said Wednesday that it has consulted with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators to end the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

"We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people," Hamas said in a press statement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel received Hamas's response from the mediators.

He confirmed that Israel will study the Hamas's response and will respond to it.

Israeli media reported that the new Hamas response was the best one given so far, saying it constitutes a basis for moving forward.

However, the outlets said that "some issues still need clarification, such as the (Israeli) presence in the Philadelphia axis (in Gaza) and the issue of prisoners."

A few days ago, Hamas said that it received a new offer from the United States to resume the indirect negotiation with Israel to reach a ceasefire deal.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message to Antonio Costa, congratulating him on election as president of the European Council.

In his message, Xi pointed out that China has always regarded Europe as an important pole in the multi-polar structure, attached great importance to the vital role of the European Union (EU) in global affairs, and been committed to developing the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said he highly values the development of China-EU relations, and stands ready to work with Costa to ensure that China and the EU remain firm as partners, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and political trust, build broad consensus, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, so as to achieve sound and steady development of China-EU relations and make new contributions to world peace and development.

Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang extended congratulations to Costa.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana on Thursday called on the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to ensure security in the face of real threat from the Cold War mentality.

Addressing the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, Xi also urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with a win-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.
A coordinated law enforcement operation codenamed MORPHEUS has felled close to 600 servers that were used by cybercriminal groups and were part of an attack infrastructure associated with the Cobalt Strike tool.

The crackdown targeted older, unlicensed versions of the Cobalt Strike red teaming framework between June 24 and 28, according to Europol.

Of the 690 IP addresses that were flagged to online service providers in 27 countries as associated with criminal activity, 590 are no longer accessible.

The joint operation, which commenced in 2021, was led by the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA) and involved authorities from Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and the U.S. Officials from Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Japan, and South Korea provided additional support.

Cobalt Strike is a popular adversary simulation and penetration testing tool developed by Fortra (formerly Help Systems), offering IT security experts a way to identify weaknesses in security operations and incident responses.

However, as previously observed by Google and Microsoft, cracked versions of the software have found their way into the hands of malicious actors, who have time-and-again abused it for post-exploitation purposes.

"Cobalt Strike is the Swiss army knife of cybercriminals and nation-state actors," Don Smith, vice president of threat intelligence at SecureWorks, said in a statement shared with The Hacker News.

"Cobalt Strike has long been the tool of choice for cyber criminals, including as a precursor to ransomware. It is also deployed by nation state actors, e.g., Russian and Chinese, to facilitate intrusions in cyber espionage campaigns. Used as a foothold, it has proven to be highly effective at providing the persistent back door to victims."

Data shared by Trellix shows that the U.S., India, Hong Kong, Spain, and Canada account for over 70% of the countries targeted by threat actors using Cobalt Strike. A majority of the Cobalt Strike infrastructure is hosted in China, the U.S., Hong Kong, Russia, and Singapore.

According to a recent report from Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, attacks involving the tool make use of a payload called Beacon, which uses text-based profiles called Malleable C2 to alter the characteristics of Beacon's web traffic in an attempt to avoid detection.

"Although Cobalt Strike is a legitimate piece of software, sadly cybercriminals have exploited its use for nefarious purposes," Paul Foster, director of threat leadership at the NCA, said in a statement.

"Illegal versions of it have helped lower the barrier of entry into cybercrime, making it easier for online criminals to unleash damaging ransomware and malware attacks with little or no technical expertise. Such attacks can cost companies millions in terms of losses and recovery."

The development comes as Spanish and Portuguese law enforcement have arrested 54 people for committing crimes against elderly citizens through vishing schemes by posing as bank employees and tricking them into parting with personal information under the guise of rectifying a problem with their accounts.

The details were then passed on to other members of the criminal network, who would visit the victims' homes unannounced and pressure them into giving away their credit cards, PIN codes, and bank details. Some instances also involved the theft of cash and jewelry.

The criminal scheme ultimately enabled the miscreants to take control of the targets' bank accounts or make unauthorized cash withdrawals from ATMs and other expensive purchases.

"Using a blend of fraudulent phone calls and social engineering, the criminals are responsible for 2,500,000 in losses," Europol said earlier this week.

"The funds were deposited into multiple Spanish and Portuguese accounts controlled by the fraudsters, from where they were funneled into an elaborate money laundering scheme. An extensive network of money mules overseen by specialist members of the organization was used to disguise the origin of the illicit funds."

The arrests also follow similar action undertaken by INTERPOL to dismantle human trafficking rings in several countries, including Laos, where several Vietnamese nationals were lured with promises of high-paying jobs, only to be coerced into creating fraudulent online accounts for financial scams.

"Victims worked 12-hour workdays, extended to 14 hours if they failed to recruit others, and had their documents confiscated," the agency said. "Families were extorted up to USD $10,000 to secure their return to Vietnam."

Last week, INTERPOL said it also seized $257 million worth of assets and froze 6,745 bank accounts following a global police operation spanning 61 countries that was conducted to disrupt online scam and organized crime networks.

The exercise, referred to as Operation First Light, targeted phishing, investment fraud, fake online shopping sites, romance, and impersonation scams. It led to the arrest of 3,950 suspects and identified 14,643 other possible suspects in all continents.
Chinese tech heavyweight eyes railway projects in Vietnam

By Hai Yen Thu, July 4, 2024 | 10:48 am GMT+7

Chinese tech major PCI-Suntek Technology is looking to engage in the development, equipment supply, and operation of railway projects in Vietnam, said its chairman and CEO, Liu Wei.

The executive extended his interest during a meeting with Vietnamese Transport Minister Nguyen Van Thang in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Vietnamese Transport Minister Nguyen Van Thang (left, in black) receives a PCI-Suntek Technology delegation (right) in Hanoi on July 3, 2024. Photo courtesy of Giao Thong (Transport) newspaper.

The firm said that Vietnam is currently facing issues in railway development and investment that China previously encountered, he said, touting Chinas advanced technologies in urban railway development.

Welcoming the proposal, Thang stressed that there is huge room for the firm and its Vietnamese counterparts to collaborate on railway development and operation.

Thang noted that Vietnam requires all investors and contractors to transfer technological expertise when they participate in local transport projects.

Vietnam aims to develop a rail network of 16 routes covering 4,802 kilometers by 2030, and 25 routes covering 6,354 km by 2050, the minister said.

The country is working on a plan to develop the North-South high-speed railway, with priority over the Hanoi-Vinh (central province of Nghe An) and the Ho Chi Minh City-Nha Trang town (central province of Khanh Hoa) sections.

In addition, a railway connecting Long Thanh Airport (Dong Nai province) to HCMCs Thu Thiem district and the Bien Hoa-Vung Tau railway are drawing attention from foreign investors.

Vietnam has been in talks with China for cooperation in three railways linking the two nations, with two connecting to Guangxi province and one to Yunnan province.

In the Vietnam-China joint declarations of 2022 and 2023, both sides agreed to cooperate in developing the 388-km Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway at an estimated cost of $11 billion.

Regarding metro development, Hanoi and HCMC are set to develop a total 14 urban metro lines by 2035.

Last month, during his trip to China, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received executives of Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co. Ltd., under Chinas state-owned CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC), and state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), which both expressed their interest in railway projects in Vietnam.

Also in June, Transport Minister Thang hosted Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, who stated that Japan is willing to share experiences and support Vietnam in developing transportation projects, including the North-South high-speed railway.

At a meeting with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul in July, PM Chinh requested the South Korean government to facilitate Vietnam to access a $2 billion loan through the Economic Development Promotion Fund, and to provide non-binding loan terms for the $2 billion Economic Development Cooperation Fund. These loans would help Vietnam develop strategic infrastructure, including the high-speed railway.
Vietnam stands to gain from Southeast Asia common visa: RMIT expert

By Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro Thu, July 4, 2024 | 7:30 pm GMT+7

A potential common visa agreement for Southeast Asia could significantly impact Vietnam's economy, tourism industry, and diplomatic relationships with other ASEAN countries, writes RMIT senior lecturer Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro.

RMIT senior lecturer Dr Nuno F. Ribeiro. Photo courtesy of RMIT.

The Southeast Asia common visa is an initiative proposed by Thailand that at present involves six ASEAN countries, namely Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It aims to streamline visa regulations and create a single visa for these countries.

This initiative is part of the broader trend of cooperation and integration within ASEAN, as outlined in the ASEAN Future Forum that took place in Hanoi in April 2024.

In its essence, the proposed common visa would allow a foreign national to visit all six countries with a single visa, allowing for mobility within these countries for the duration of the visa.

One of the key advantages for Vietnam from the implementation of this common visa is the potential boost to tourism. The agreement is expected to increase the number of international inbound tourists, especially from high-income, desirable long-haul markets such as Europe and North America, who may choose to visit Vietnam as part of their Southeast Asia travel plans.

This would lead to an increase in tourist receipts, benefitting the economy and the countrys balance of payments. Additionally, the common visa could create more employment opportunities and attract more foreign direct investment, contributing to the dynamism of Vietnam's tourism sector and overall economy.

The proposal spearheaded by Thailand has received overwhelming support from various stakeholders, including governments, businesses, tour operators, and academics. The World Economic Forum has been expressing its support for an ASEAN visa since 2016, highlighting the potential for further integration and increased overall power of ASEAN within the tourism global market.

A study conducted by the United Nations World Tourism Organization estimated that visa facilitation could lead to a significant increase in international tourist arrivals to ASEAN, as well as tourism receipts and job creation. This study predicted increases of 3% to 5.1% in international tourist arrivals, 2.8% to 4.7% in tourism receipts, and 1.6% to 3.1% in employment.

To adequately prepare for and capitalise on the opportunities presented by the common visa, Vietnam needs to take several steps. These include establishing bilateral and multilateral agreements with ASEAN countries and other nations. Vietnam has been particularly successful in its diplomatic efforts to boost tourism via bilateral agreements, as evidenced in a recent Australia Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI) report.

Vietnam and other participating countries should define legislative frameworks, address joint security and surveillance concerns, and ensure compatibility of visa policies. Participating countries must agree to common entry rules for third-country visitors and align their respective immigration policies affecting international visitors. They must also harmonise their technology and security infrastructures.

Should the adoption of a common visa become a reality, Vietnam should prepare for a potential large influx of international tourists. This means upgrading its infrastructure and transportation systems, with a focus on developing networks that connect different modes of transportation (intermodal) and the same mode of transportation (intramodal).

It also means revising immigration and cybersecurity procedures, and training and upskilling of human resources. This is in line with the recently approved plan on the tourism system for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045 for Vietnam.

While some issues need careful consideration before a common visa is implemented and the likelihood of this initiative materialising soon may be limited, there is a great deal of optimism among experts and policymakers about the initiative's potential.

An optimistic timeline for implementation could be two years, and a more realistic one is estimated at five years. Nonetheless, given the pace of progress and the importance of the tourism sector for Vietnam and Southeast Asia in general, things may move faster.

With strategic planning and collaboration with ASEAN members, Vietnam can position itself to reap the benefits of this proposed common visa initiative to boost its tourism industry and enhance its position as a top tourist destination in the region.
Yet another deferment for long-delayed $3 bln southern Vietnam coal-fired power plant

By Tri Duc Thu, July 4, 2024 | 5:09 pm GMT+7

Malaysia-invested $3 billion coal-fired Song Hau 2 thermal power plant in the Mekong Deltas Hau Giang province has had its opening deferred yet again.

Song Hau 2 Power Company Limited, investor of the long-delayed thermal power plant, has extended the issuance of a Note to Proceed (NTP) for the project to December 31 or earlier.

Malaysia-based Toyo Ink Group Berhad, parent company of Song Hau 2 Power Company Limited, filed notice of the delay with the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange Monday.

The delay in opening has been agreed upon by the investor and two project contractors  Malaysias Sunway Construction Sdn. Bhd. and Vietnams Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 2, it said.

Hau Giang province and Toyo Ink Behard signed an agreement to build the 2,120 MW project under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) format in December 2015.

The project missed its initial completion deadline of Q2/2022, partly due to the investors inability to meet its capital obligations.

Representatives of Toyo Ink Berhad and Song Hau 2 Power Company Ltd. ink an agreement with Eximbank Malaysia for a $980 million loa on, June 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Power Engineering Consulting Joint Stock Company 2.

Last month, the investor secured a $980 million loan from Eximbank Malaysia to develop the project. The financing will be used for the design, equipment purchase, construction and operation of the long-delayed thermal power plant located in Hau Giang's Chau Thanh district.

In a statement sent to the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) regarding concerns about the negative impacts of coal-fired power, Eximbank Malaysia said the plant would utilize ultra-supercritical (USC) technology.

USC technology is at the forefront of energy transition, meeting Vietnams energy transition plan to phase out less efficient traditional coal plants, it said.
An Orangeburg man is accused of shooting a Neeses man to death on Saturday.

Brad Jason Lowery of 901 Corona Drive is charged with murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a weapon by a person convicted of a violent felony.

Lowery was identified as a suspect based on footage from video surveillance cameras and witness statements, according to warrants from the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office.

The 37-year-old was taken into custody Wednesday.

The 45-year-old Neeses man was shot to death at about 1:30 a.m. on McMichael Street near Orangeburg.

Warrants accuse Lowery of using a handgun to shoot the man in the chest.

The Orangeburg County Coroners Office has not yet released the name of the person who was shot.

Lowery remains at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.

A circuit judge may consider setting his bond later.

If Lowery is convicted, he faces up to life in prison. Parole is not allowed for life sentences in South Carolina.
(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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Mastercard and LuLu Group have joined hands to foster sustainability, innovation and efficiency in payments across multiple markets.

Extending across six markets, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE and now Saudi Arabia, the partnership will see an integration of Mastercards expertise into Lulu Groups operations, advancing efficiencies, scale, and data-driven decision-making.

Projects that will benefit from the collaboration, include a variety of sustainability initiatives, co-branded credit card portfolios, and innovative technology enhancements.

Revamped features

The partnership will introduce revamped features and benefits, such as digital in-store transactions and more cashless experiences, as well as personalised rewards and generous cashback offers on spends at LuLu stores. Being piloted for the first time, LuLu will also deploy the Mastercard Next Gen Point of Interaction (POI) solution, allowing its consumers to make cardless payments at its self-checkout counters.

We are delighted to embark on this transformative journey with LuLu Group, a valued partner, who shares our vision for a more sustainable and inclusive future. Our partnership will enable us to enhance the Mastercard co-branded credit card experience and support LuLu in leveraging technology and innovation to boost their offerings, said Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President, Market Development, EEMEA, Mastercard.

The companies will continue to offer a portfolio of co-branded credit cards via partners including Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in the UAE, Bank Muscat in Oman, CrediMax in Bahrain, Doha Bank in Qatar, Emirates NBD in the UAE, and Gulf Bank in Kuwait. There are also plans for expanding into Saudi Arabia.

Being able to personalise our offerings to better suit our customers needs, is key for Lulu Groups growth and future ambitions. Our partnership with Mastercard enables us to do this, driving our business forward. It will also enhance the rewards and advantages we are able to offer via our co-branded credit card partner network across the region. As payments technology continues to offer new possibilities, we look forward to the next stage of our relationship with Mastercard, said Saifee Rupawala, CEO, LuLu Group International.

The two organisations have spent over a decade collaborating and innovating to meet the evolving needs of consumers in the region. In 2013, a first co-branded credit card was launched, which was later followed by other initiatives that strengthened relationships with various co-brand issuer partners.--TradeArabia News Service
Versatile International, the Middle Easts first fully integrated stone project management consultancy, has announced the establishment of a new company to manufacture lighting technologies in Saudi Arabia.

Asheil Versatile Lighting Technologies is an end-to-end lighting manufacturer that also provides consultancy and planning services for large scale lighting installations.

Asheil will serve destination-scale projects, including the Saudi giga-projects, and the local wholesale market. The companys operating model is designed to increase supply chain transparency, decrease risk and provide access to a comprehensive range of locally manufactured lighting products.

World-class lighting

Asheil aims to kindle a new lighting technology sector in Saudi Arabia and establish the kingdom as a producer of world-class lighting technologies, said Marco Fahd, Group Chairman and CEO of the Versatile Group and co-founder of Asheil.

Asheil combines the project governance expertise of Versatile International with the manufacturing capabilities of our partner, Haneco. The companys unique service offer is designed to address disparity in the market, insulate Saudi Arabia from global supply chain challenges, and support the Kingdoms signature development projects in delivering against Vision 2030.

In its first phase, Asheil is building a 5,000 sq m manufacturing facility in Sudair City for Industry and Businesses, 120 km northwest of Riyadh. Ultimately the company plans to have 20,000 sq m of factory space, manufacturing bespoke lighting installations tailored to the specific needs of Saudi Arabias biggest development projects.

Asheils component portfolio will feature more than 1,000 fully compatible lighting products, each backed by a comprehensive guarantee for maximum transparency and accountability.

LED lighting market

Saudi Arabias LED lighting market was valued at $923 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $1,858 million by 2030. The kingdom currently imports around SR5.25 billion ($1.4 billion) in lighting equipment per year, according to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity. Around 85% of imports come from China, amounting to 3.8% of the kingdoms total imports from China.

Saudi Arabia represents an enormous opportunity for lighting manufacturers willing to invest in the kingdoms future, said Fahd.

Asheils end-to-end lighting technology service, comprising consultancy and design planning, in-market manufacturing and service warranty to Saudi customers, will help large-scale projects develop and procure Made in Saudi lighting solutions with complete transparency and on-the-ground service.--TradeArabia News Service
Engel & Volkers Middle East, known for its residential and commercial real estate services in the premium segment, has announced the successful sale of the historic Franklin House, a prominent commercial property located in London's prestigious The Strand.

Franklin House, a family-owned asset for over 40 years, holds significant historical and architectural value. Its successful sale marks a notable achievement in London's real estate market, underscoring the enduring appeal and strategic importance of The Strand as a commercial hub.

The landmark transaction was completed in just 30 days, showcasing the extensive capabilities and global reach of the Engel & Volkers network, said a top official.

"The successful sale of Franklin House exemplifies our expertise in managing confidential transactions and highlights the effectiveness of our global presence," remarked Daniel Hadi, CEO at Engel & Volkers Middle East.

"It also reaffirms the companys commitment to delivering exceptional service and achieving remarkable results for its discerning clients," he stated.

Engel & Volkers is one of the worlds leading service companies specialized in the brokerage of premium residential property, commercial real estate, yachts and aircrafts.

The Strand is one of London's most iconic streets, celebrated for its central location and rich historical context.

Positioned between the City of London and the West End, it is home to key cultural, legal, and educational institutions, including Somerset House, the Royal Courts of Justice, and Kings College London. Its proximity to the River Thames and major transport hubs enhances its desirability for businesses and tourists alike.

The significant sale was handled by Pauline Leale, Private Office Advisor at Engel & Volkers Middle East. She specialises in high-end Dubai-based properties, but the successful sale of Franklin House clearly demonstrates her experience in helping clients with properties in other parts of the world.

"My task was to find a buyer interested in a redevelopment opportunity. I managed to list and sell the property within 30 days. I am thrilled to see what the new owner will develop and proud to have played a role in this significant transaction," said an excited Leale.

This achievement underscores the distinct service and skills provided by Engel & Volkers Private Office which specialises in premium services for affluent clients, offering bespoke real estate solutions through a strong and interconnected global network.

Leveraging this network allows Engel & Volkers to seamlessly connect prestigious properties with qualified buyers across 37 countries and five continents.-TradeArabia News Service
Radius Group, an international developer of class A warehouse and industrial real estate, has teamed up with Knight Frank Mena for launching its premier project, Radius City Logistics, in Dubai Investments Park 2 (DIP II). Knight Frank Mena will be its exclusive leasing and marketing consultant.

The partnership with Knight Frank Mena highlights a significant milestone in the region's industrial sector, with Radius securing a 5.2-hectare site.

Knight Frank Menas Industrial & Logistics team is facilitating the complete acquisition, development process and leasing upon completion for Radius, working together to ensure the project meets the highest standards available in the market today.

According to Knight Frank Mena's research, DIP is the second most sought after industrial rental location after Al Quoz in Dubai (based on highest rents psf), and there is very low supply of stock in the DIP area.

Radius City Logistics will be the first-class A speculative temperature-controlled facility in the UAE, developed to international, institutional standards.

This development positions Radius as the pioneer international developer undertaking such a project in the region, where other investors typically focus on income-generating assets or leased warehouses.

Key highlights of the Radius City Logistics project:

*International Standards: Introduces global standards being known for serving multinational corporations such as Decathlon, Kimberly Clark, Alibaba Group and John Deere, which will set a new standard for UAE logistics facilities.

*Unique Column Grid: The project features a 12x24m column grid standard for international quality warehouses, a first for speculatively built projects in the UAE, setting a new standard in the local market.

*Project Size: At 33,000 sq m, comparable to major developments like those for Noon and Amazon in Dubai South.

According to Radius, the facility will comprise four independent blocks with separate fitted-out entrance groups and office premises, suitable for multi-tenant or single-tenant use in a contiguous space.

The design includes optimal depth blocks of 72m for cross-dock operations, a clear height of 12m, and a column grid of 12x24m, ensuring efficient racking and storage ratios.

The building will be designed and certified to UAE sustainability and green development standards, it stated.

On its debut venture, Radius Founder & CEO David Simons said: "We are delighted to announce our first project in Dubai and to be strategically located in Dubai Investments Park. The location of the future facility is at the intersection of not only the traditional existing Dubai markets but also ideally located for the growth of Dubai through 2030."

Strategically located in DIP II, a mixed-use development spanning 2,300 hectares, Radius City Logistics benefits from excellent infrastructure, facilities, and accessibility.

The site is well-connected, with major roads such as Expo Road (E77) and federal highways E11, E311, and E611 in proximity. This prime location allows for convenient travel times: 15 minutes to Jebel Ali Sea Port, 25 minutes to Palm Jumeirah, and 40 minutes to Downtown Dubai.

"The Radius signature specification and quality will be a great addition to the logistics infrastructure in Dubai," he added.

Andrew Love, Regional Partner  Head of Capital Markets & Occupier/Landlord Strategy and Solutions, MENA said: "Having acquired this site for Radius, we are absolutely delighted to be retained as their exclusive leasing broker. This will be the largest speculatively built logistics project in DIP and will be highly sought after given the current real estate supply constraints, particularly within DIP."

Knight Frank Mena, stated Love, is proud to support Radius in setting a new benchmark for quality and innovation in Dubais industrial and logistics sector, enhancing our portfolio significantly.

"I am confident our market leading logistics leasing team, comprising of 8 highly experienced agents, will deliver a fantastic result," he added.

Construction is scheduled to begin next month, with commissioning and tenant access expected by August 2025. This will be the largest speculatively built in DIP after completion.-TradeArabia News Service
PG Real Estate, a part of the UAE-based Pure Gold Group, today (July 4) announced an ambitious plan to invest AED1 billion ($277 million) in transformative real estate developments.

The move comes following the successful completion and early delivery of its first project PG Upper House in June last year, promises to redefine luxury living and elevate urban landscapes to new heights.

This investment will be allocated towards a series of pioneering residential, commercial and mixed-use projects, strategically located in key metropolitan areas throughout the UAE, said the developer in its statement.

These developments are set to redefine luxury living and set new benchmarks in architectural excellence, sustainability and community engagement, it stated.

"As a boutique residential development firm focused on end-user satisfaction, PG Real Estate prioritizes timely delivery and exceeding our commitments. With this forward-thinking approach standing us in good stead, we are excited to continue this monumental journey of creating iconic residential landmarks that will shape the future of urban living in the UAE," remarked Karim Merchant, CEO of PG Real Estate.

"Our investment reflects our confidence in the vibrant real estate market of the UAE and our dedication to delivering unparalleled value to our clients and stakeholders," he stated.

According to him, the newest addition to the developers portfolio is PG Maison at Al Furjan, valued at AED150 million and promising contemporary chic living nestled in a prestigious commuter hub.

With only 80 exclusive units, each floor in the high-rise will host four residences, ensuring a serene and exclusive ambiance. Each luxurious two-bedroom apartment with study features ensuite bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens and versatile home offices, designed to elevate todays urban lifestyle whether its work, leisure, or relaxation, he explained.

Residents can look forward to resort-style living with a serene yoga studio, pools and rooftop padel courts, amidst panoramic vistas, he added.

Merchant said the groundbreaking developments are being planned at prime locations such as Meydan, Dubai Island and Al Furjan, with construction set to begin in the coming months.

As part of this expansion, PG Real Estate has also introduced a new vertical focusing on real estate advisory services. Additionally, they are currently developing an innovative F&B concept, reflecting a commitment to diversifying and enhancing their portfolio with cutting-edge ventures, he stated.

"These initiatives underscore our strategic vision to broaden our influence in the real estate sector while continually exploring new avenues for growth and innovation," he added.

Merchant said PG One Al Furjan, which was announced late last year, is on track for handover in December 2025. "This exciting residential building is notable for housing one of the citys largest infinity pools," he noted.

PG Real Estate, he stated, was committed to sustainability and innovation in every aspect of its projects.

"From smart building technologies to green spaces and community amenities, our developments will embody our vision for a sustainable future," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Middle Eastern carriers saw 15.3% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in May, according to the latest data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a report said.

The Middle EastEurope market performed particularly well with 33.8% annual growth, ahead of Middle East-Asia which grew by 18.6% year-on-year while May capacity increased 2.7% year-on-year, Times of Oman said, citing IATAs the May 2024 global air cargo markets report.

Asia-Pacific airlines saw 17.8% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in May. Demand on the Africa-Asia trade lane grew by 40.6% year-on-year, while the Europe-Asia, Within Asia and Middle East-Asia trade lanes rose by 20.4%, 19.2% and 18.6% respectively.

Capacity increased by 8.4% year-on-year.

North American carriers saw 8.7% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in May  the weakest among all regions. Demand on the Asia-North America trade lane grew by 12% year-on-year, while the North America-Europe route saw an increase of 8.9%, marking the largest demand growth for this route since mid-2022. May capacity increased by 2.5% year-on-year.

European carriers saw 17.2% year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in May. Intra-European air cargo rose by 25.6% compared to May 2023, the fifth month in a row of double-digit annual growth. EuropeMiddle East routes saw demand increase by 33.8 percent. May capacity increased 11.9% year-on-year.

"Air cargo demand moved sharply upwards in May across all regions. The sector benefited from trade growth, booming e-commerce and capacity constraints on maritime shipping. The outlook remains largely positive with purchasing managers showing expectations for future growth, IATA Director General said.

Some dampening, however, could come as the US imposes stricter conditions on e-commerce deliveries from China. Increased costs and transit times for shipments under $800 may deter US consumers and pose significant challenges for growth on the Asia-North America trade lane  the worlds biggest, said Willie Walsh."
DP World and Zhejiang Seaport Group have partnered to strengthen port logistics and shipping routes between Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in China.

This partnership will focus on attracting shipping companies to establish additional maritime routes between the two ports and encourage shipping lines to cooperate in the form of slot exchanges and vessel space purchase on the Dubai-Ningbo route, enhancing the level of connectivity and efficiency between the two maritime hubs.

The two entities will cooperate to promote the construction of green and low-carbon ports, establish an information sharing mechanism, and share experiences in the construction of green terminals, the use of shore power and the refuelling of green ships with environment-friendly fuels such as LNG and green methanol.

Expanding presence

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and Managing Director of DP World GCC, commented: This strategic collaboration aligns with our vision of expanding our presence in China and working with likeminded partners to strengthen trade routes and accelerate the green energy transition. China is the UAEs largest trading partner and we are committed to supporting the Belt and Road Initiative through this and other ventures.

The collaboration will promote low-carbon facilities in ports, expand the application of new energy, encourage ships to use clean fuels, and establish a green shipping corridor between Jebel Ali Port and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, contributing to the green transition of the shipping industry.

Tao ChengBo, Chairman of Zhejiang Seaport Group and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Group, said: Our partnership with DP World, will further strengthen Chinas position as a major player in global trade, creating extensive opportunities for Chinese businesses to access customers across the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa. The UAE is an important hub for Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.

The agreement will also explore the possibility of investment in logistic opportunities in Jebel Ali Free Zone and Zhejiang Free Trade Zone, and support automobile logistics by leveraging the advantages of Dubai as a regional transit hub and China as a major exporter of automotives to support Ro-Ro trade between Ningbo-Zhoushan Port and Jebel Ali in Dubai.--TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed a general agreement with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for a $3 billion green financing facility.

The deal comes following the signing of a Heads of Agreement (HOA) between Adnoc and JBIC in January this year and builds on their long-standing successful partnership.

This credit facility is part of JBICs Global action for Reconciling Economic growth and Environmental preservation (GREEN) lending programme and is partially supported by Japanese commercial banks, said a statement from Adnoc.

The deal was signed by Khaled Al Zaabi, Adnoc Group Chief Financial Officer and Kazuhiko Amakawa, Deputy Governor of JBIC, at the ministry's headquarters in Tokyo in the presence of Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Adnoc Managing Director and Group CEO; Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Ken Saito, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

Al Zaabi expressed delight at once again partnering with the Japanese bank on Adnocs first green funding to accelerate its decarbonisation and energy transition initiatives.

"Proceeds of this credit facility will enable Adnocs strategy to support a just, orderly and equitable global energy transition. The agreement also marks the next milestone in the long-standing strategic energy relationship between the UAE and Japan, and we look forward to further collaboration with JBIC as Adnoc delivers against its ambitious growth strategy," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Batelco, the leading telecom services company in Bahrain and a part of the Beyon Group, has signed an agreement with Grnata, a renowned real estate group, to provide smart solutions for its key residential development - Golden Gate Towers - located in Bahrain Bay.

Through this partnership, Batelco said it will implement the latest technology solutions for the Golden Gate towers, which are amongst the highest residential towers in Bahrain, to provide a high-end smart living experience for residents.

Key among the deliverables is the installation of a customised In-Building Solution (IBS) by Batelco, designed to strengthen wireless signal quality and coverage on even the highest floors.

This cutting-edge connectivity solution ensures superior connectivity throughout the towers. Additionally, advanced video surveillance (CCTV) systems will be deployed to heighten security measures, granting residents enhanced peace of mind, said the statement from Batelco.

Moreover, The Golden Gate towers will also be equipped with the latest technology systems to provide residents with remote control over their apartment.

This includes lighting, air conditioning, windows, curtains, and main door access. The system will be designed to be compatible with future advancements in home automation, ensuring the residents can benefit from any emerging smart home capabilities, it added.

The agreement was signed by Hassan Al Mushaima, Chairman of Grnata Real Estate Group, and Maitham Abdulla, Chief Executive Officer of Batelco at Beyons headquarters, in the presence of representatives from both companies.

Expressing dealight at the strategic partnership, Al Mushaima said: "Batelco's extensive expertise in smart and digital solutions will be invaluable in equipping the towers with best-in-class connectivity, automation, and intelligent building management solutions."

"We are excited to leverage Batelco's innovative capabilities to create a sophisticated and future-ready smart infrastructure for the Golden Gate Towers and provide our customers with the very best modern apartments in the market," he stated.

Abdulla said he was delighted to partner with Grnata to deliver apartments that match the evolving demands of modern-day living.

"We are confident that Batelcos solutions, designed for a contemporary lifestyle, will offer convenience and efficiency, elevating the overall living experience for the Golden Gate towers residents," he noted.

By integrating the latest smart home features and connectivity throughout the towers, we can provide residents with a lifestyle that is not only luxurious, but also highly convenient, efficient, and secure, said Abdulla.

Batelco, he stated, was eager to expand its presence within the real estate sector and redefine the standards of contemporary urban living.

"This partnership with Grnata marks the beginning of an exciting journey, and Batelco looks forward to future collaborations and projects, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
ECONOMIST Marla Dukharan has called for an independent and objective assessment of all countries worldwide to determine which ones are truly tax havens.

Dukharan stated that this approach would help combat the stigma often associated with the Caribbean region.
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The mother of the suspect in the double murder of Tara Geeta Ramsaroop and her infant daught
I am a resident of Princes Town, and I want to grab the attention of the Ministry of Educati
Early voting is officially open in Pima County.

With the 2024 primary just weeks away, all eyes are once again on Arizona, a critical swing state in the upcoming presidential election.

As of Monday, July 1, there were 619,445 active registered voters in Pima County according to Gabriella Cazares-Kelly, the county recorder.

That number includes 231,815 Democrats, 173,977 Republicans and 204,344 other or independent voters, she said.

Primary election day is scheduled for July 30, but all registered voters in Pima County are eligible for in-person early voting or emergency voting.

For all voters who are a member of a recognized political party and who have also signed up to receive a ballot by mail, they will automatically receive a ballot. Cazares-Kelly said. For independent or no party designated voters. They have to request the ballot because theyre eligible to participate, but we dont know which one they want, and theyre only eligible to request a Democratic or Republican ballot. The Green Party, Libertarian Party and no labeled party have closed primaries, so you cannot request any of those.

So far, Cazares-Kelly said they have sent out 332,000 early ballots.

For Tucsonans who are planning to vote early in the primary, there are a few different options for returning an early ballot.

You can do that with a self addressed envelope thats included in your packet. Thats perfectly safe, it goes through the United States Postal Service. We pick up directly from the USPS, and we take them to our ballot processing facility, Cazares-Kelly said. If people want to come in to any early voting site, they can also do that.

Voters can drop off their ballots in their signed affidavit envelopes at any Early Voting location, Ballot Drop-Off location, or Election Day Vote Center in Pima County, all thats required is valid identification.

For most people, thats a direct Arizona drivers license, Cazares-Kelly said.

The 17 early voting sites across the county will open in three phases as the primary date approaches, to accommodate early voters. Some voting sites opened Wednesday, with additional sites becoming operational July 15. All remaining sites will be available to voters starting July 22.

In-person Early Voting will be available Monday through Friday, through July 26, with slight deviations in hours based on location. A list of early voting sites and hours can be found online on the Pima County Recorders website.

All early voting sites will be closed Thursday, July 4.

Voters can also track their ballots through the recorders website.

We have a really cool ballot alert system where people can sign up to receive text alerts or email alerts directly to them, telling them what the process progress of their ballot is.

Voters who did not receive an early voting ballot, should make sure they are eligible to vote and that voter registration information is up to date.

If somebody is unsure whether or not they are signed up for the active early voting list, they can search on our website, Cazares-Kelly said.

For those who have requested early voting, but are unable to participate during the regular early voting period, in-person emergency voting is scheduled for Saturday, July 27, and Monday, July 29.

More information on voting, deadlines, and early ballots can be found on the Recorders website.
Tucson Democratic Rep. Raul M. Grijalva called Wednesday for President Joe Biden to leave the presidential race.

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 in an interview.

Referring to the president, he added: What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Grijalva became the second sitting Democrat in Congress to make that call, following Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas who did so on Tuesday. Biden failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies during last weeks debate, Doggett said.

The New York Times said Grijalva cited the precarious state of the presidents campaign.

Grijalva questioned whether Biden could beat former President Donald J. Trump and said Democrats needed to put up a fight, the Times reported, adding that he emphasized Biden is a good man and that he will support him if he stays in the race.

"But that decision should be based on the stakes of the race," Grijalva said, "describing the possibility of a second Trump presidency as 'very, very dangerous' and characterizing the former president as an 'anti-democratic, authoritarian despot,'" the newspaper reported.

The Biden campaign declined to comment on Grijalvas remarks, the Times said. Earlier Wednesday, the White House press secretary said the president was absolutely not considering withdrawing.

The Times noted that Grijalva, 76, and Doggett, 77, are close in age to 81-year-old Biden, "whose halting debate performance on Thursday reignited questions about his age and acuity."

Grijalva, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 2002 and is seeking a 12th term in this years election, announced in April that he has cancer and is undergoing treatment.

The other Democratic members of Congress from Arizona, a key battleground state in this year's presidential election, have stayed silent on the issue of Biden's continued candidacy as the party's nominee for president. Their offices did not immediately return requests for comment, The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday.
Friends and family gathered at Tucsons Saguaro National Park on the Fourth of July for a special naturalization ceremony to welcome 25 new Americans.

The 25 citizenship candidates Thursday represented 23 countries including Algeria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Conga, Egypt, Greece, India, Jamaica, South Korea, Lebanon, Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Philippines, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, United kingdom, and Vietnam.

What can possibly be more American than becoming an American citizen on July 4? Well, possibly becoming an American citizen on July 4 in a national park, said Scott Stonum, the parks superintendent.

The ceremony was presided over by U.S. District Magistrate Bruce Macdonald, who had a heartfelt message for the new citizens.

Im truly humbled and honored to be part of this special day with all of you. As this room so wonderfully demonstrates, we are a country of immigrants, Macdonald said. Our country is a better country today because of all of you.

For many of the new Americans, this day had been a long time in the making.

Xaioming Cheng and her husband Rick Hsu both came to the United States 15 years ago for grad school.

We traveled about the same journey to get here, for studying mostly, Cheng said.

Hsu came to the U.S. from Taiwan, and Cheng came from mainland China. For the last decade, they have been able to stay and make a life in the states through job and education visas. This year they both were gained citizenship after a long and complicated process.

Citizenship has taken us maybe five years since we got a green card, Hsu said.

Hsu said gaining his citizenship was like a release, and they both agreed that it was a relief to not have to consider how to stay in the country in the future.

To celebrate, they planned to watch the Independence Day fireworks in Tucson.

The ceremony was also an emotional experience for some participants.

Actually, I kind of teared up, said Barbara Giles, who has been living in the U.S. with her husband Barry Verezowsky since 2017.

Giles said her new citizenship will give them more freedom to visit the couples family and four children.

I think citizenship for Canadians just means even more freedom than we already have. Because now we can freely travel between the countries, Giles said. It just gives us that much more flexibility.

The ceremony held at the parks Red Hills Visitor Center was one of many naturalization ceremonies held Thursday across the country, according to Mark Gaston, a U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman.

Were doing ceremonies across the United States, and looking at maybe 10,500 people becoming new citizens, Gaston said.

Today, there is much to celebrate, Stonum said.

But most importantly, we celebrate, Americas newest citizens, on this Fourth of July.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

We voted for Laura Conover in 2020. We will be voting for Mike Jette in 2024.

Conover has caused an upheaval to the Pima County Attorneys Office, beginning from the time she took office in 2020 and continuing to this date. She has had an ever-changing cadre of management level staff. She has driven away nearly all of the experienced attorneys. The level of competence has declined dramatically. Both the criminal and civil divisions have become severely dysfunctional.

The criminal division has shrunk to around half the size it was before Conover took over and lacks experienced prosecutors to mentor and guide newly hired prosecutors. Felony cases have been delayed to the point of violating defendants and victims speedy trial rights. It has resulted in prosecutors inability to prevail at trial. They give away plea deals that fail to protect public safety. It has resulted in no prosecutors being assigned to Superior Courts Drug Court and Justice Courts Mental Health Court. There were over 100 highly trained victim advocate volunteers helping staff advocates provide coverage to crime victims 24/7 at crime scenes and in court. No more. The staff has shrunk, and there are precious few volunteers.

The civil division has had a massive turnover of key experienced personnel and there is now a lack of basic knowledge and capability to handle the types of civil legal issues and cases that arise in Pima County. The civil division is vitally important. It represents Pima County and the Board of Supervisors in all types of legal matters, including: auto accidents, election disputes, land use and environmental litigation, building code enforcement, Boards of Adjustment, property tax disputes, property acquisition and condemnation suits for transportation rights of way, health care contracts, mental health commitments, and more. The civil division needs a high degree of competency to provide legal representation in every aspect of the Countys activities. It no longer has it.

Conover has hired private law firms in an excessive number of civil cases that previously would have been handled in-house, costing the county unnecessary legal fees. A recent example is a zoning case decided recently by the Arizona Court of Appeals. Pima County was a co-defendant with two other defendants who were the actual responsible parties. The case was outsourced by Conover to a high-priced law firm that assigned three attorneys to represent the County. It was a case that could have easily been handled in house by a single civil deputy county attorney.

We have worked with four County Attorneys over the years: Dennis DeConcini, Rose Silver, Steve Neely and Barbara LaWall. Howard served in the Civil Division for seven years, and we have maintained a law office practice for 43 additional years through which we have handled various litigation matters for the County through engagement by the County Attorneys Office. While these County Attorneys policy platforms differed, all were capable and competent and managed the office well. Not so with Laura Conover.

We have researched Mike Jettes background, investigated and met with Jette and are convinced he has the broad experience, capability, temperament, intelligence and management capabilities to be the Pima County Attorney and rescue the now failing office.

Mikes education credentials are impeccable. His 17 years of experience have been as a prosecutor of crimes, including white collar crimes, and renders him highly experienced for criminal prosecutions. Mikes experience with the US Justice Department to establish prosecutorial divisions in Pakistan from the ground up gives him the needed administrative experience for the County Attorneys office. He understands that he must have highly qualified persons leading the civil division staffed to properly serve the County. Mike will promptly bring the office to again properly function.

Conover has had ample time to prove herself and failed. Lets fix that mistake and elect Mike Jette.
Let's go visit China's good neighbor Kazakhstan

People's Daily Online) 19:07, July 03, 2024

Bound together by mountains and rivers and common interests, China and Kazakhstan are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. For thousands of years, the two peoples have had amicable ties, jointly writing an epic of east-west interactions along the ancient Silk Road. In July this year, the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held in Astana, the capital city of Kazakhstan.

Follow the camera of People's Daily Online reporter to visit China's wonderful neighbor, the beautiful Kazakhstan!

(Web editor: Du Mingming, Wu Chengliang)
Jimmie Tramel Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow Jimmie Tramel 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

Grand Funk Railroad will perform Saturday, July 13 at Osage Casinos Skyline Event Center while on a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of their version of the song The Loco-Motion.

Written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, The Loco-Motion was a No. 1 hit for Little Eva (Kings babysitter) in 1962. It has been covered by many artists since, including Grand Funk Railroad, who took it to No. 1 in 1974, and Kylie Minogue, who took it to No. 3 in 1988.

Grand Funk Railroad surged to prominence as an album rock band. Was covering a 1960s dance song a gamble for the group? Lets start there in an interview with founding member Don Brewer.

We were in the studio with Todd Rundgren, Brewer said. We were working on our follow-up album to Were An American Band, which was a huge, huge success. We had two top 40 hits on that album. Were An American Band and Walk Like A Man. And we were in the studio working on Shinin On, which was the follow-up album.

We got all of our material done and we kind of looked around at each other and we need one more song, you know? It was one of those kind of things. Anybody got any ideas? We need one more song. So everybody just kind of put their thinking cap on, and it just came out. What about Grand Funk Railroad doing The Loco-Motion? It was just, like, a stupid idea. Its like, OK, lets try that. And everybody was young. We were having a great time. We were just throwing ideas around. And so we went into the studio and started working on this thing and it just took on a life of its own.

Was it a choice to have The Loco-Motion released as a single?

Once we finished it, it was like, thats the first single, right there. So there was just no doubt in anybodys mind. It wasnt even like lets see if anything else works and well throw it up and see what happen. It was like, this thing is great.

The challenge was you had to put your own spin on the song.

Todd Rundgren really helped us with that. He kind of approached it kind of like  I dont know if youre familiar with the Beach Boys doing Barbara Ann, but it sounds like a party going on in the studio. That was kind of the theme I think that Todd was trying to create. It sounded like we were having a party in the studio, just everybodys doing a brand new dance now with big hand claps, you know?

It must be a magic song. It was a hit for multiple artists.

You cant go wrong with a Carole King song.

Set the time period for me when Grand Funk Railroad first popped. Were British bands all the rage and you guys were an exception?

We were more of an exception as far as a Michigan band is concerned. We kind of had to go outside of Michigan. We were looked at like a local band that had been around for years as The Pack or Terry Knight and The Pack and all of these other bands that came before Grand Funk. We changed our name to Grand Funk, and in Michigan, it didnt mean anything. Everybody kind of said Thats just The Pack.

So we started going out of the state and doing pop festivals. We did the first Atlanta Pop Festival and the Texas International Pop Festival. We were this unknown band that all of a sudden made it on the scene and the audiences just loved us. I mean, we didnt even have a record out, so that really is kind of the way we came about. It didnt have anything to do with differentiating ourselves from British bands. It was just we were just this new hot band.

But you had to go out of town to be appreciated?

Which isnt unheard of. You know, you cant make it on your own in your own hometown.

That 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival took place on July 4, so the band was sort of born on the Fourth of July.

I remember it was hot. We had guys backstage saying Take these salt pills because itll help you sweat. Well, it just makes it worse. They kind of find that out later. It just makes it worse.

I read that you werent a paid act at that Atlanta Pop Festival. Wasnt it a deal where if you agree to play for free, you can be part of the festival?

That was it. It was a favor of a favor to a friend. They basically said If you can get your new band down here, well put them on as opening act, opening day, kind of a throwaway spot, and well just do you a favor. No pay. No nothing. Just get down here. So we hauled our equipment down there, got on stage, and boy, the audience just loved this new band. So they invited us back the next two days. They put us on at a better time slot on both of the following two days. That really kind of set us up to be somebody.

That festival appearance essentially gets you, though not immediately, a record deal?

It got us noticed. It got us more gigs. Right away, we started playing around the south. We did some of the old hippie ballroom kind of places, or a few places around the south and then moving on to the Texas International Pop Festival. Right after that, Capitol Records started taking notice because their scouts out in the field were going Hey, youve got to check out this new band.

I guess the thing that makes the explosion of popularity make sense is you guys must have really brought the goods in a live show?

Yeah, and I think the audience was just ready to see us. It was just putting two things together at the same time. The audience just really loved the way the band presented itself. In those days, it was just raw rock and roll. Its just us doing  we had actually taken material that we had been doing for a few years as The Pack, and we had reworked it. And it was original material, other than maybe Inside Looking Out, which was a cover of The Animals. But all of the other stuff was reworked Pack material for this power trio, and they didnt know the songs. This audience didnt know these songs, but they just loved the presentation.

And then every album you release from 1969 through 1974 goes gold or platinum right away.

Oh my gosh. It was pretty scary.

Why did you use the word scary?

Well, we just werent ready for it. We had been in bands and stuff around Michigan and we played a few things in New York and Pennsylvania, but it was nothing like having nationwide acceptance and all of a sudden, it was like, oh, this is a little scary. It was a little intimidating to have this kind of notoriety right out of the box.

Theres no class to prepare you for that.

Absolutely not, which is why we ended up with a manager that ripped us off because we had no idea how to deal with anything. It was just here, sign this piece of paper. OK, sure.

Your live album went double platinum, which says something else about your live shows.

We were really, always, I think, better live than we were in the studio, especially on those early albums  On Time and Grand Funk and Closer to Home. The recordings were good, but they werent great, because the recording techniques werent great back then. It was hard to go take a rock band into the studio and duplicate that sound from live. It was just very difficult. It was a lot easier to do it as the 80s came but, in the early 70s, it was hard to do, so we always came across better live.

It wasnt like there were bunches of hits on all those early albums that went gold and platinum. Fans appreciated your albums instead of singles.

That was because of FM underground radio. FM didnt become hit radio until about 1972. From 1969-70-71 and part of 72, it was FM underground, and the jocks were not told what to play. They could play anything they wanted. We were one of those bands that you could walk into a studio radio station and give the jock your album, and he would play it. We were kind of in that time when that was acceptable, and you didnt have to make two-minute or three-minute hits, either. You could play seven-minute songs on the radio. (Im Your Captain (Closer to Home) became a hit despite a duration of more than 10 minutes.) So we were very fortunate. We had to make that curve when FM became hit radio, and thats when we enlisted Todd Rundgren to help us make that change to being a hit format band and not an album band.

You wrote Were An American Band, which became Grand Funks first No. 1 song in 1973. What do you love about the song?

When I still hear it, it still sounds like a hit to me. The very first time I heard it on the radio, I went, Oh, my God, it sounds like a hit. It just has something to it that not very many other songs have.

Its a turn-up-the radio song.

Right from the get-go. Right from the cowbell.

Im sure you guys still want to bring the heat.

Oh yeah, absolutely. The show is great. Were having a great time. We do about 40 shows a year and were having a good year this year. We just want to keep the train rolling. ... We just want to invite everybody out to have a good time. We like to get over everybody up on their feet and smiling and having a good time.

The Tulsa World is where your story lives
The Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA) has written to the Ministry of Finance to voice its members' concern over the ministrys proposal to raise the special consumption tax on alcoholic drinks to up to 100 percent by 2030.

According to the association, the beverage sector has contributed significantly to the state budget, at nearly VND60 trillion (US$2.3 billion) per year, and created millions of jobs, both directly and indirectly.

However, the sector has repeatedly suffered hindrances given the COVID-19 pandemic, global military conflicts, and policies to limit alcoholic drinks since 2020.

This has led to an alarming plunge in local beverage firms output, revenue, and profit.

In particular, the beverage sectors inventories in 2023 surged 120 percent over 2022. Inventories in the second quarter of this year also skyrocketed nearly 128.9 percent.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance had earlier proposed imposing an excise tax rate of 80 percent on beer, wine, and spirits with alcohol by volume of at least 20 percent by 2026 and gradually increase the rate to 100 percent by 2030 from the current 65 percent.

For alcoholic drinks with alcohol by volume of less than 20 percent, the ministry sought a special consumption tax rate of 50 percent by 2026 and 70 percent by 2030, well above the current 35 percent.

According to the VBA, the proposal did not accurately represent the current state of the Vietnamese beverage market, as the local beer industry has experienced a significant drop in production and revenue, with some breweries shutting down.

As a case in point, Heineken Vietnam, the country's beer market leader with a 37.6 percent share, saw a double-digit decline in consumption in 2023, marking its first such decrease in decades.

Twenty-six breweries of Saigon Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Joint Stock Corporation, commonly known as Sabeco, which accounts for 34.4 percent of the market, in 20 localities have reported a drop in output, revenue, and profit since 2021.

They have been struggling as costs have soared 20-40 percent, while the selling prices of products remain unchanged.

Similarly, the Hanoi Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Joint Stock Corporation reported a nearly-30-percent drop in sales and a 10-percent reduction in budget compared to 2019. As a result, they have laid off a quarter of their workforce.

Meanwhile, Hanoi Liquor Joint Stock Company suffered losses for 27 consecutive quarters as of the end of last year, totaling VND457.7 billion ($17.9 million).

The VBA added that the excise tax hike proposal would encourage consumers to choose products with lower prices, those of unclear origin and poor quality, and even smuggled and fake products.

The tax hike would reduce the competitiveness of locally-made products, pave the way for the trade of smuggled products, and pose a high risk to consumers health.

As for soft drinks, the excise tax hike proposal is unfeasible to reduce the obesity rate as Vietnams soft drink consumption remains low compared with other countries in the world, according to the VBA.

As a result, the association suggested the maximum special consumption tax for alcoholic drinks should be 80 percent instead of 100 percent as proposed by the Ministry of Finance.

The ministry should also extend the road map to elevate the tax rate to stabilize the local market and facilitate enterprises adapting to the proposed hike.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his South Korean counterpart Han Duck Soo vowed to boost two-way trade to US$100 billion by 2025 at their meeting in Seoul on Tuesday, after which they witnessed the signing of nine cooperative agreements.

The meeting took place as part of PM Chinh and his spouse's four-day official visit to the Northeast Asian country starting on June 30 at the invitation of PM Han and his spouse.

The two leaders expressed their high appreciation for bilateral relations as well as the achievements each country has obtained in socio-economic development since the two sides upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.

Agreeing that economic matters make an important pillar in the bilateral cooperation, the host and guest affirmed the need to coordinate closely to complete the target of achieving $100 billion in trade next year and $150 billion by 2030 in a balanced and sustainable manner.

The two sides pledged to expedite necessary procedures to open their respective markets for Vietnamese pomelos and Korean melons within this year.

An overview of the meeting between the Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and its South Korean counterpart headed by Prime Minister Han Duck Soo in Seoul on July 2, 2024. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre

PM Chinh proposed that South Korea continue to open more doors for other commodities of Vietnams strength, such as processed foods, farm produce, aquatic products, and seasonal fruits.

He called on South Korean businesses to expand investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of LNG power, digital economy, green economy, circular economy, semiconductor chips, renewable energy, technology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, and build more research and development centers in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese leader pledged to strive for an open and transparent investment environment, ensuring favorable conditions for foreign investors, including those from South Korea, to operate securely and efficiently in Vietnam.

He added that he would facilitate the implementation of bilateral development cooperation projects at a scale of $52 million in 2024.

The Vietnamese leader suggested the host support the early opening of a Vietnamese Consulate General in Busan City this year and establish a Vietnamese Cultural Center in South Korea.

Chinh called on South Korea to simplify visa procedures and move toward visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens, contributing to beefing up tourism cooperation.

He suggested that South Korea increase scholarships for Vietnamese students and continue giving support to the Vietnamese community in the country.

PM Han said Vietnam is the top partner in development cooperation, the third-biggest trading partner, and the largest investment partner of South Korea in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Vietnam News Agency reported.

He added that Vietnam plays a crucial role in South Koreas foreign policy, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative.

The South Korean leader expressed his gratitude to PM Chinh for twice chairing dialogue sessions with South Korean enterprises to remove difficulties facing them and creating favorable conditions for them in their business and investment activities in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his South Korean counterpart Han Duck Soo embrace each other after their talks in Seoul on July 2, 2024. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre

Emphasizing the necessity of creating favorable investment conditions for sustainable trade and investment expansion, PM Han suggested enhancing cooperation to encourage South Korean firms to invest in building stable core mineral supply chains in Vietnam.

He called for strengthening cooperation in future industry and expanding startup cooperation between small and medium enterprises of the two countries.

The host pledged to help Vietnamese companies integrate deeper into South Korea-led supply chains in the Southeast Asian nation.

South Korea will prioritize supporting Vietnam in training human resources in the industrial sector through non-refundable development aid from the Korea International Cooperation Agency, PM Han said.

He pledged to further expand the scale of grant aid to areas such as public administration development, e-government, education, and research and development.

The Korean leader added that he would continue to increase quotas for admitting Vietnamese guest workers and support phase 2 of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology project.

Han thanked PM Chinh for his invitation to visit Vietnam and attend the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, which Vietnam will host in April 2025.

He affirmed that South Korea will support Vietnam in successfully organizing the event.

After the meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of nine cooperative agreements between the two countries ministries and other agencies, as well as schools in economy, trade, investment, development cooperation, startup ecosystems, education, competition, and consumer protection.

Prominent among them was a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on South Korea's non-refundable aid to Vietnam, signed between Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investment and South Koreas Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another MoU was inked by Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade and the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy on the formulation of an action plan to achieve the $150 billion two-way trade target in 2025.

Among the other seven cooperative agreements was an MoU between Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology and the South Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups on development cooperation and exchange of startup ecosystems.

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More stringent measures should be put in place to combat false or misleading content created by social media users, like Tiktokers and YouTubers, an official in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam suggested.

Nguyen Trung Nhan, chairman of the Can Tho chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, voiced his concern over misinformation running rampant online at a regular meeting of the municipal Peoples Council on Wednesday.

He argued that the existing control over TikTokers and YouTubers in the locale remains inadequate, with lots of local residents fearing that the distribution of false information or misleading content on social media platforms could pose cybersecurity risks and result in social unrest.

Nhan added that the number of cybercrimes is on the rise with more sophisticated and difficult-to-detect attacks.

He recommended the municipal Peoples Committee to intensify control over information featured on social media as well as individuals working as TikTokers and YouTubers, provide anti-cybercrime units with more advanced equipment, and launch more frequent campaigns to crack down on cybercrimes.

Aside from cybersecurity issues, Nhan said that citizens expressed their concerns over an ongoing lay-off wave and the growing number of businesses seeking to disband or cease operations.

While their salaries are still unchanged, the rising prices of fertilizers, pesticides, electricity, airfares, and other essential items have left a negative impact on workers, the unemployed, and those with unstable income.

The official proposed that the Can Tho Peoples Council and Peoples Committee take measures to call for more investment into hi-tech parks and promote the exports of local staple farm produce to spur the southern citys economic growth.

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The Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children in the namesake city on Wednesday reported successfully treating an eight-year-old boy with autoimmune encephalitis, a rare condition never documented in Vietnamese medical literature before.

The child patient, eight-year-old H.T.T. from neighboring Quang Nam Province, was admitted to the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children in a state of convulsions and coma, despite having a previously healthy history.

Two days before admission, he experienced symptoms of headache and nausea.

Following that, he experienced whole-body convulsions, followed by slow responsiveness, intermittent seizures, difficulty breathing, and eventually slipped into a coma.

T. received critical care at the pediatric emergency and intensive care unit, where he underwent mechanical ventilation, treatment for cerebral edema, and immediate specialist consultations to diagnose the cause of his condition.

Dr. Ha Quang Chau from the department said treating T. was challenging, given the sudden onset and unclear diagnosis.

Upon admission, T. also developed small blisters on his lower abdomen, which gradually increased in size and spread to his chest, lower abdomen, genitals, and limbs.

Suspecting a rare autoimmune condition related to blistering disorders, the pediatric emergency and intensive care unit, together with neurologists and dermatologists from Da Nang Dermatology and Venereology Hospital, promptly collaborated to diagnose T.s case.

They eventually identified it as autoimmune encephalitis associated with bullous pemphigoid disease.

Following the diagnosis, T. underwent intravenous Methylprednisolone immunotherapy, administered at a dosage of 30mg per kg per day for five days.

After more than two weeks of treatment, T. showed remarkable improvement from a deep coma with no reflexes and a poor prognosis to being able to communicate with his parents, breathe independently, and resume eating and walking without assistance.

The skin blisters healed, leaving no scars and showing no signs of recurrence.

Dr. Chau emphasized the importance for parents to seek medical attention promptly if their children exhibit symptoms such as fever and skin lesions like rashes or blisters, to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment and prevent complications.

Unprecedented in Vietnam

Dr. Tran Long Quan, deputy head of the pediatric emergency and intensive care unit at the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children, explained that bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune bullous skin disease found beneath the epidermis, typically affecting adults aged 60-80, although it can occur rarely in children.

According to medical literature, only four cases of autoimmune encephalitis associated with autoimmune bullous disease have been documented worldwide in the past two decades, primarily in adults and not previously reported in Vietnam.

Pemphigoid usually follows a benign and chronic course with intermittent recurrences, Dr. Quan noted.

However, autoimmune encephalitis related to autoimmune bullous disease, if not promptly diagnosed and treated, can lead to severe brain damage, potentially resulting in death or neurological complications.

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Traffic police in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam summoned two bus drivers for questioning after a video surfaced on social media showing them driving two buses to chase and hinder each other in an attempt to overtake on a section of National Highway 1 in the province, a traffic police officer told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday.

One of the two drivers was already suspended.

The case happened in Dien Chau District, Nghe An Province on Tuesday.

According to the video, the bus belonging to Dong Bac firm ran in front of another bus owned by Thach Thanh firm.

The Thach Thanh bus repeatedly signaled to overtake but the Dong Bac bus did not give way.

The situation lasted a distance of nearly one kilometer where the traffic was high, provoking outrage among commuters.

Police officers later found that the driver of the Dong Bac bus was Le Tuan H., a 31-year-old resident in Nghe An Province, and the driver of the Thach Thanh bus was Le Thanh T., 40, also from Nghe An.

Two buses chase after each other on a section of National Highway 1 in Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam.

At the police station, the bus drivers explained that their actions were spontaneous and driven by a scramble for passengers.

A local traffic police officer mentioned that they were completing procedures to handle the case.

The drivers may face fines of VND10-12 million (US$390-468) and have their drivers licenses revoked for two to four months each. A representative of Dong Bac company stated that the firm had suspended its driver and would impose strict penalties in accordance with its rules.

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An airplane from Taiwans EVA Airways crashed into a light pole at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while taxiing on Wednesday afternoon, leading to its left wing being dented.

A representative of the airport management board said on Thursday that the incident happened around 4:00 pm on Wednesday.

The Boeing 777 aircraft, set to fly from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, moved slowly onto the wrong taxiway and entered an apron, resulting in the crash.

The management board of the airport promptly worked with relevant units to address the incident.

Passengers on board the plane were safe after the collision, said the representative.

After the crash, the EVA Airways plane had its left wing dented. Photo: TIA

Founded in 1989, EVA Airways Corporation, a Taiwanese international airline headquartered in Taoyuan City, is an affiliate of shipping conglomerate Evergreen Group.

The airline operates passenger and cargo services to over 60 international destinations in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.

EVA Airways had previously opened direct air routes from Taipei to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

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Active thunder clouds caused intense rainfall in most parts of Ho Chi Minh City late on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in flooding, uprooting trees, and road traffic disruption across many streets.

Heavy downpours, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning, lashed the outlying district of Binh Chanh, District 11, District 6, Thu Duc City, and several inner-city locales, according to the southern weather station.

The heavy rains made life tough for commuters as they struggled to wade through heavily-flooded streets at rush hour.

In Binh Thanh District, a 300-meter section of Ung Van Khiem Street, a notorious flooding hotspot, was submerged.

The lower half of the two-lane road, stretching from the Ung Van Khiem - Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Intersection to the Ung Van Khiem - Nguyen Gia Tri Intersection, became almost impassable due to severe inundation.

In Thu Duc City, heavy flooding hit Quoc Huong Street, causing many vehicle to break down.

An employee of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company removes a stone from a clogged manhole on Quoc Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, July 3, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Powerful winds and torrential rains also resulted in a large tree in Binh Thanh Districts Thanh Da Peninsula being uprooted and falling into a nearby house.

By 6:30 pm the same day, rainwater had yet to recede along several roads in Thu Ducs Thao Dien Ward, a major expat enclave and a place where plenty of well-off Vietnamese are living.

Consequently, a host of motorcyclists had to wheel their broken-down vehicles through waterlogged streets.

A car breaks down on flood-hit Quoc Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, July 3, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Employees of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company were dispatched to the flooded road sections where they removed trash from clogged manholes to help rainwater drain quickly.

The southern weather agency said that rain will continue to batter a vast area of southern Vietnam from Wednesday evening through Friday night, with precipitation of 60-90mm.

Roads and alleys in the vicinity of Quoc Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City were submerged under water due to heavy rainfall on July 3, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

A motorcyclist travels through heavily-flooded Quoc Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, July 3, 2024. Photo: Chau Tuan / Tuoi Tre

An employee of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Drainage Company lifts a manhole cover to drain rainwater on waterlogged Ung Van Khiem Street, a flooding hotspot in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, July 3, 2024. Photo: Phuong Quyen / Tuoi Tre

An uprooted tree falls onto a house in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City due to strong winds and heavy rainfall, July 3, 2024. Photo: Le Phan / Tuoi Tre

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The Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing and Industrial Zones Authority has proposed developing 11 more industrial parks covering a total area of over 4,120 hectares of land, heard a press briefing in the city on Wednesday.

The dearth of land banks inside industrial parks has been a matter of concern in Ho Chi Minh City for years.

Nguyen Thanh Binh, head of HEPZAs planning and construction unit, said the city currently has some 5,900 hectares of land planned for industrial activities.

It is needed to expand the land banks for industrial development in the new era and maintain the citys leading role in sustainable economic development.

HEPZA has coordinated with local departments, agencies, and districts to identify land lots and transform ineffectively-exploited agricultural land into industrial land, Binh added.

According to Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, head of HEPZAs investment management unit, there is still available land in industrial parks, but attracting investment is challenging because of the small size of the land parcels.

Ho Chi Minh City is giving priority to green transition and digital transformation projects, while investors in these projects need large land plots to develop infrastructure, Ngoc noted.

Tran Viet Ha, deputy head of HEPZA, noted that new investment projects, including small FDI projects, in the first half of this year utilized only five hectares of land, significantly below the annual allocation of 100-150 hectares for such projects.

Ha added that the city aims to attract projects requiring large land banks, but local industrial parks currently do not meet this demand.

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In Vietnam, an increasing number of young adults are choosing their career paths based on guidance from fortune telling and numerology.

Currently, TikTok in Vietnam is flooded with clips promoting unconventional methods for career decision-making, such as choosing majors based on the four pillars of destiny (similar to Chinese Zodiac signs), numerology, tarot reading, and horoscopes.

These clips are highly appealing to viewers searching for career counseling on the short video-sharing platform, yet the reliability of the information they provide remains subject to scrutiny.

Viral clips

A clip titled 'Professions aligned with spiritual energy fields' posted by a TikTok account named HQN 00.00 has recently garnered nearly 45,000 likes and over 1,000 comments.

In the clip, the account owner shared personal experiences about discovering spirituality and realizing that their current profession was not a good fit.

They decided to quit their job and pursue a path in line with their numerology, which they found more fulfilling and comfortable, thereby improving their life.

The TikToker also emphasized choosing a career based on spiritual numbers to create positive outcomes.

In the comments section, many TikTok users sought advice, such as "Im considering opening a nail salon but unsure, can you help me calculate my main number?" and "What career path is suitable for someone with the number 7?"

Im a number 10 and I have a natural affinity for children, another user named H.A. confessed.

I enjoy teaching and playing with them.

Its not fulfilling working in an office; should I consider switching to kindergarten?

Another unconventional method of career counseling involves tarot reading, where TikTokers predict future career paths simply by selecting a card.

Some TikTokers also turn to more complicated techniques.

For instance, the account I.A.L. shared a video explaining career trends using what they call the Matrix of Destiny, garnering thousands of views.

Impacts

K.H., a 20-year-old studying in Thu Duc City of Ho Chi Minh City, shared that she frequently turns to TikTok for insights into her numerology and horoscope.

She has paid a few dollars for different private consultations to gain a better understanding of her career path.

These consulting sessions heavily influenced her decision to pursue her current field of study.

In the past, I was advised that my main number would align well with majors involving honesty, critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to handle pressure, K.H. recalled.

So, I chose to study law when I was torn between law and pedagogy."

Meanwhile, T.N., a 19-year-old studying journalism and communications at a university in Ho Chi Minh City for the past two years, mentioned that after consulting friends about horoscopes, they concluded that the journalism industry might not suit T.N. in the long term.

T.N. received advice suggesting a change of majors to a more suitable technical field, which has left them quite worried despite their current interest in the field of study they have already chosen.

Huynh Thanh Phu, principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School in Ho Chi Minh City, criticized numerology and tarot card fortune-telling as forms of superstition.

Currently, social media is inundated with negative spiritual information, Phu commented.

Overzealous viewers can be greatly impacted in terms of their health, spirit, and even their lives.

Students who neglect their education and instead rely on luck, divine powers, or supernatural aid are putting themselves at risk.

Dr. Huynh Ngoc Anh, head of the student affairs department at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, emphasized the importance of long-term career guidance.

Career guidance is a crucial journey that ensures individuals have a clear direction and make informed career choices, Anh explained.

While additional forms of consulting through social media provide young people with more accessible information in the digital age, its essential to critically assess and verify this information against multiple sources before making decisions."

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Rove beetles have resurged to trouble dwellers in residential quarters across Ho Chi Minh City, sparking public concerns.

Recently, Pham Ngoc Loan from District 8 took her son to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology in District 3 for treatment for inflammation caused by rove beetles.

Its been raining for the past few days, and theres been an influx of rove beetles into my house, Loan said.

Initially thinking nothing of it, my son killed them and slept on a mat spread on the floor.

By the next morning, he woke up to find blisters on his ears, swollen eyes, and pustules on his red, irritated face.

It turned out that after killing the rove beetles, my son didnt wash his hands and used cotton balls to plug his ears, leading to contact with the rove beetles secretions and resulting in the pustules.

"He frequently scratched his face during sleep, waking up with a rash all over.

Similarly, Yen Thu from Binh Thanh District recounted an incident where she felt something crawling on her neck while working at night.

Mistaking it for something harmless, she brushed it away with her hand.

Within minutes, her neck became hot, itchy, and started to burn.

Half a day later, blisters formed, causing extreme discomfort.

During the rainy season, the optimal temperature and humidity provide ideal conditions for rove beetles to reproduce, according to Dr. Pham Thi Uyen Nhi, deputy head of planning at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology.

Contact with their secretions can cause skin irritation and lead to the formation of blisters.

If not properly cared for or if scratched,

The condition can spread further if not properly cared for or when the patient scratches the lesion.

Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology has recorded an increase in cases of contact dermatitis caused by rove beetles, with 50-70 patients seeking examination daily, said Dr. Nhi.

Thanks to their early examination, most patients received prompt treatment from doctors, minimizing complications.

However, some cases were severe because patients used folk remedies or self-medicated incorrectly, leading to infections.

Moreover, unreliable diagnoses at other facilities misidentified the condition as shingles, exacerbating the disease.

Dr. Nhi advises that when experiencing contact dermatitis from rove beetles, patients should gently cleanse the affected area to remove their toxic secretions, avoiding rubbing or scratching to prevent spreading the irritation.

If blisters occur, seeking medical attention from a hospital or specialist is recommended.

Improper treatments like applying unknown substances can worsen the condition, leading to infections and further skin damage.

Potential complications include hypopigmentation, which unusually darkens or lightens the skin after inflammation.

Severe cases may result in concave or keloid scars.

Recommended preventive measures include using insect prevention nets in tree-rich areas and reducing indoor lighting to minimize rove beetle attraction.

Residents should also regularly clean areas where rove beetles may hide, such as door cracks and damp corners, maintain personal hygiene, and avoid leaving laundry outside to dry overnight.

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A 75-year-old reader shared his story with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper of bus drivers and attendants in Ho Chi Minh City discriminating against old people and students who are entitled to bus fare exemptions or reductions.

Hoang Long said the bus drivers and attendants showed no respect for him as they repeatedly ignored his requests to get off the buses.

At about 11:00 am on June 4, he caught a bus of route No. 3 on Nguyen Kiem Street in Go Vap District to travel to Phu Nhuan District, he recalled.

When the bus was traveling on Phan Dinh Phung Street in Phu Nhuan District, he pushed a button on the vehicle twice to signal the driver that he wanted to get off.

However, the driver did not stop the vehicle until it arrived at a bus stop on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 3.

The bus drivers behavior made him upset and feel that he was disrespected. He later thought that the driver might have forgot and did not do it on purpose.

However, he took buses on other routes several days later and faced the same fate again.

When getting on one of the buses, he told the driver that he would get off at the bus stop near the Military Hospital 175 in Go Vap District.

When the bus was meters from the bus stop, a girl helped him push the button but the driver passed the bus stop.

He just stopped to let him get off when another passenger shouted loudly, asking the bus driver to stop the vehicle.

He had to walk about 700 meters to the hospital.

At the time, he found that the bus drivers and attendants discriminated against those using services at no charge.

The reader reported that an attendant on a bus of route 152 created difficulties for students entitled to half-price bus fares.

"When my grandchild showed his student card, the attendant refused it and said that the card was invalid," the reader said.

Fully paying for bus tickets is not a problem, it is the attendants behavior.

Student cards are issued once a year, how can they expire? Long asked.

The city's policy of waiving fares for bus passengers aged 70 and older aims to encourage more people to use public transportation, as elderly passengers are often accompanied by their children or grandchildren.

However, Long reported that some bus drivers and attendants have deliberately caused difficulties for the elderly.

In some cases, they have refused to pick up older passengers or let them off at their requested stops.

He suggested regularly inspecting and supervising bus drivers and attendants and heavily punishing those intentionally inconveniencing passengers.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management Center of Public Transport stated on Wednesday that it bans discrimination against elderly passengers and children.

The center urges bus drivers and attendants to behave courteously and serve passengers well to help improve the quality of bus services in the southern metropolis.

In response to the readers complaints, the center has coordinated with the operator of bus route Nos. 3 and 4, instructing them to address the issue with their drivers and attendants to prevent similar incidents.

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Sleep influencers, a relatively recent addition to the live-streaming ecosystem and a growing global trend, are gaining traction in Vietnam and becoming a lifeline for some.

Every night at 11:00 pm, Phan Thi Ngoc Giau lowers the lights in her room in Hanoi, sits down, and turns on her camera.

Spread out on the desk in front of her and a shelf next to it are all manner of objects, from pens and books to paint brushes, plush toys, and snacks  plus, of course, the microphone.

For the next two or so hours, the 27-year-old woman will live-stream herself doing things that range from the mundane to the bizarre.

She might squeeze slime, apply make-up, drop eye drops, or spray water into a plastic bag to mimic the sound of rain falling outside.

Everything she does is designed to create sounds that trigger the tingles associated with the autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR).

In ASMR live streams, noisy interactions and loud talking are restrained to avoid startling viewers who are on the verge of sleep.

Occasionally, during these tranquil hours, Giau softly whispers to interact with her audience.

When some viewers send her digital gifts in the live sessions, she graciously expresses gratitude with a heart-shaped gesture.

Along with captivating sounds, Giaus live streams feature soothing music to enhance viewer relaxation.

Thousands of people tune in for Giaus calming live streams on TikTok every day.

Even first-time viewers of her live sessions often find themselves falling asleep to these unique sounds, sometimes dropping their phones on their faces in the process.

As the night progresses, viewers gradually dwindle around 1:00 am, with most drifting off to sleep while some linger until she bids them farewell.

A demanding, detrimental, moderate-paying job

Giaus seemingly simple actions require skills and hard work.

Regardless of the props used, all sounds must maintain a rhythm and moderate volume, avoiding exaggeration.

To create good and pleasing sounds, Ive studied various techniques from international sources and then experimented to find what works best, Giau said.

I adjust the sounds until they are good enough to go live.

Phung Minh Hau, a 29-year-old resident of Long Hai Town in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam, reacts during a live session. Photo: An Vi / Tuoi Tre

Among the sounds she creates are ocean waves crafted from modeling clay, sea breezes simulated with towels and brushes, and even the sound of ear cleaning, ingeniously made using plastic wrap and cotton buds.

Giau dedicates 30 minutes daily to learning English, essential for interacting with her foreign viewers.

This has helped the 27-year-old improve her English command.

Before going live, Giau often spends extra time putting on pretty make-up.

Few people know that behind her glamorous appearance online lies someone who struggles with insomnia due to the necessity of cleaning up after the live sessions, gathering all her tools, and completing her make-up removal routine, which may last until 3:00 am.

The woman said that this work has completely altered her daily routine.

While others are asleep, I have to stay awake, Giau said.

When others are waking up, Im going to bed.

On top of that, I often experience stomachaches from skipping meals and eating late.

Doing ASMR live streams as a sleep influencer brings Giaus primary source of income, thanks to donations from appreciative viewers, advertisements, and monetization through the platforms she uses.

But for those considering a career switch to this live-streaming field, experts warn it is not as lucrative as headlines might imply.

In fact, those making videos on TikTok are generally earning about four cents per 1,000 views, according to ABC News, and the platform also takes a cut of the digital gifts viewers give.

The people who are actually making a lot of money are in the vast minority, Edith Hill, an associate lecturer in the Center for Innovation in Learning and Teaching at Flinders University in Australia, told ABC News.

It also is the case in Vietnam.

For Vietnamese sleep influencers like Phung Minh Hau, a 29-year-old resident of Long Hai Town in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, who owns a TikTok account with approximately 780,000 followers, the monthly income averages more than VND10 million (US$393).

While this figure may not seem significant for many professions in Vietnam, it is a lifeline for Hau, who suffers from kidney failure and was previously unable to work.

Live-streaming as a sleep influencer now enables him to earn money regularly to finance his treatment and provide for his family.

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Casting is underway for a second season of Jeopardy Australia, hosted by Stephen Fry on Nine.

Filming by Whisper North takes place in the UK, but travel is only offered for Aussie expats within Europe.

To be eligible you must be aged at least 18, hold Australian citizenship and are currently living in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EU member state.

Filming will take place over a two week period at the end of Sept / beginning of October.

Closing date for entries is September 13th 2024.

You can apply here.
Surf documentary Make or Break is ending at two seasons.

The Apple TV+ series followed World Surf League elite champions Kelly Slater, Stephanie Gilmore, Gabriel Medina, Tyler Wright, Italo Ferreira and Tatiana Weston-Webb as they battled for the World Champion title.

The first season followed the 2021 competition, navigating as the league responds to the global pandemic, while exploring the surfing culture along with issues including diversity, mental health, and the physical impact of the sport.

Source: Deadline
L to R: Samantha Sealey, James Peyton (Bob the dog), John McAvoy,

Simon Steel, Sheridan Wright, Isabel Suckling, Eduardo Mesiti.

Meet the team behind such shows as Taronga: Whos Who In The Zoo?, Territory Cops, RPA and Teenage Boss.

Production company name?

McAvoy Media.

When was the company founded?

2014.

Where are you based and which states did you film in for 22 / 23 / 24 productions?

We are based in Sydney. In 22/23/24 we filmed in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia, and New Zealand.

How many full-time equivalent staff and how many does it expand to during production?

We have a core staff of 7. Each production employs an additional 20-30 people. With multiple productions running at a time, roughly one hundred or so people are working for MM.

What is your ownership model and who are key principals?

The company is 100% owned by John McAvoy, founder and CEO. Simon Steel is Head of Development and Samantha Sealey is Line Producer. Both highly respected, bringing with them a wealth of experience.

Describe the genres you specialise in for production?

Original premium factual and unscripted content is our wheelhouse. We love searching for stories that havent been told. Though we have also had some scripted projects in paid development.

What have been some of your notable credits and with which broadcasters / streamers?

Some notable credits include: Kings Cross ER: St Vincents Hospital  Logie award winner for Most Outstanding Factual Programme (Foxtel); Kalgoorlie Cops  ASTRA Award winner for Most Outstanding Reality Programme (Foxtel); Taronga: Whos Who In The Zoo  TBI Global Award Winner  Factual Programme of The Year (Nine/NatGeo Wild); Teenage Boss  Dual Logie nominee (ABC); Head Above Water (Amazon Prime Video); RPA: Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (Nine); Territory Cops (Ten); Say Yes To The Dress Australia (TLC, Discovery).

Whats coming up on your slate and how many projects are in active development?

Were constantly in discussion with broadcast and distribution partners with regards their programming needs and have roughly ten projects were excited about in active development. Were currently in production for Teenage Boss Series 3  hosted by the wonderful Emma Watkins, about to commence production of Taronga Series 6, and prepping for RPA Series 3. Weve also just started production on another original concept  based in Northern Australia  for Australian and International broadcast partners, to launch early 2025.

Do you receive unsolicited material, what are you looking for, how should people pitch projects?

Most of our content is original  generated by our internal development team. But we are absolutely open to receiving unsolicited material. Always keen to collaborate. We are looking for a mix of things. Original, noisy, and new points of access. Ideas that stick their head above the crowd. Big colourful characters that engage you and have international appeal. Ideas can be sent to: [email protected]

What change would you most like to see when it comes to commissions?

Its a simple message but vital for our industry. More Australian made content. Across the board.
Italy's newly appointed Minister of Tourism Santanche attends a swearing-in ceremony at the Quirinale Palace, in Rome

ROME (Reuters) - Milan prosecutors on Thursday requested a second trial of Italian Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche, accusing her of false accounting at a publishing group she used to own.

The case could embarrass Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has so far defended the embattled minister and party colleague against opposition calls for her resignation.

Going by the nickname "the pythoness", 63-year-old Santanche is one of the most visible members of Meloni's right-wing cabinet, known for her brash, outspoken style.

Prosecutors said in a statement they want to try Santanche and 16 others for falsification of financial statements at the Visibilia publishing and advertising group during 2016-2022.

Visibilia Editore and sister companies Visibilia S.R.L, which is under liquidation, and Visibilia Editrice should stand trial on the same charges, they added.

Press offices for Santanche and Visibilia did not respond to requests for comment. The minister previously denied any wrongdoing.

It will be up to a pre-trial judge to either accept the prosecutors' request or dismiss the case. No date for the hearing has yet been scheduled.

Milan prosecutors requested a first trial against the minister in May, over alleged benefit fraud at Visibilia during the COVID pandemic.

A hearing over that first request has been set for Oct. 9.

Santanche served as chair and CEO of Visibilia until November 2021 and remained a major shareholder in 2022, when she joined the government.

(Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Peter Graff)
WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland hopes to bring in border guards and police from Finland, Germany and Greece to help patrol its frontier with Belarus, a senior official said on Thursday, amid mounting concerns over migration pressures from the east into Europe.

"Preparations are underway and these are countries that are very experienced in border protection. Especially, for example, Greek experiences can be very useful," a senior government official told reporters.

In an emailed response to a Reuters query, Finland's border guard said on Friday that Poland had not asked for its help with patrolling of its border with Belarus.

The border between Poland and Belarus has become a flashpoint as Western officials accuse the government in Minsk of using migrants it brings from in from outside of Europe as "hybrid warfare".

The European Union's border agency, Frontex, says the number of people trying to cross into the EU alongside the bloc's eastern border has nearly doubled in the first five months of 2024, although the route remains relatively small compared to other ways into Europe.

Officials in Poland and Finland have warned in recent months that the number of people trying to cross via Belarus or Russia could rise significantly in the near term.

Greece is extending its fencing on its border with Turkey, while Finland seeks to close a new migrant route via Russia to Europe by deploying more border guard patrols, drones and electronic detectors and by building fences.

Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said in an interview with public television on Thursday that migrants coming through from Belarus might include people trained to attack Polish soldiers.

Warsaw's centrist government hopes to raise the issue at the upcoming NATO summit in Washington next week.

Earlier this week, 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.

(Reporting by Barbara ErlingEditing by Bill Berkrot and Tomasz Janowski)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian court on Thursday sentenced U.S. citizen Robert Romanov Woodland to 12-1/2 years in a maximum security penal colony after finding him guilty of attempting to sell drugs, Woodland's lawyer and Moscow prosecutors said.

Stanislav Kshevitsky, his lawyer, told Reuters that Woodland, who was detained in Russia in early January, had partially admitted his guilt.

Video footage released by the authorities showed a shaven-headed Woodland inside a glass courtroom cage listening intently, but with little emotion, as the verdict was read out.

Moscow's prosecutors office said in a statement that Woodland, acting as part of a large-scale criminal group, had transported about 50 grams of mephedrone, a kind of amphetamine, from a pick-up point outside Moscow and brought the drugs to an apartment in the city, where he packed them for further sale.

He was arrested as he was dropping the drugs into a safe cache, prosecutors said.

The 32-year-old is one of a growing list of Americans who have been detained in Russia amid the greatest breakdown in relations between the two powers in decades.

Washington has repeatedly warned all Americans to leave Russia immediately, citing the risk of wrongful detentions and harassment from Russian security services.

A spokesman for the U.S. embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Known to his friends as "Rob," Woodland was adopted from Russia in 1993 by American parents, he told a Russian newspaper in 2020.

Woodland, who appears to have both Russian and American passports, said he had returned to Russia to meet his biological mother. Their tearful reunion was broadcast on Russian state television.

A Facebook account in the name of Robert Woodland indicated that he had been working as an English teacher in Russia, and lived outside Moscow.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Maxim Rodionov and Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
FILE PHOTO: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico addresses the nation for the first time after the shooting, before the EU Parliamentary Election, in Bratislava

FILE PHOTO: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico addresses the nation for the first time after the shooting, before the EU Parliamentary Election, in Bratislava

(Reuters) - The man detained over the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will face prosecution on the charge of carrying out a terrorist attack, Slovakia's general prosecutor said on Thursday.

Fico is recovering after being shot four times at close range when he greeted supporters at a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova in mid-May. That left him needing hours of surgery.

A man identified by prosecutors as 71-year old Juraj C. was detained on the spot after the attack and charged with attempted premeditated murder.

"On the basis of the gathered evidence, the prosecuted act will be further legally qualified as the particularly serious crime of terrorist attack," General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka said on Facebook on Thursday, without providing further details.

The accused, if found guilty, could face life in prison under the new classification, according to Slovakia's criminal laws. Previously he had faced 25 years or life in prison.

The attack has highlighted the deep polarisation of politics in the central European country.

The detained man has, according to court documents, said he wanted to hurt the prime minister, but not kill him, because he disagreed with government policies including cancelling a special prosecutor's office and stopping state military aid to Ukraine.

(Reporting by Jason Hovet in Prague, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
TAY NINH  Tay Ninh Province is focusing on developing its agriculture to foster exports, especially with the issuance of codes for farming areas and packaging facilities.

Nguyen inh Xuan, Director of its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said local authorities are providing guidance and financial support for farmers to adopt good agricultural practices and control plant diseases.

To department has been closely monitoring quality and traceability to enable exports.

So far this year 27 farming area codes have been issued for 465 hetares of durian, mango and longan orchards, whose fruits are exported to China, Australia, the EU, New Zealand, South Korea, and the US.

Five of them have also been approved by the importing countries.

Tay Ninh has issued 59 farm codes covering more than 1,400ha of orchards, 24 of them approved.

Five packaging facilities have also received codes to ship products to China.

His department would monitor animal farms and abattoirs, to tighten epidemic control at the farming, transportation and slaughter stages to ensure food safety and adherence to good practices.

It will also inspect hygiene and certify slaughterhouses.

In the first half of the year the provinces agricultural production was stable.

Le Anh Tam, deputy director of the department, said the province has been focusing on transforming low-yield crops to more profitable ones.

It also has been rolling out supportive policies for agriculture, such as providing easy loans to grow green-skinned pomelos that meet VietGAP standards and helping co-operatives network and sell honeydew.

Tay Ninh is also focused on developing irrigation systems and water treatment to supply rural households.  VNS
HCM CITY  Several auditors at auditing firm Deloitte Vietnam have been suspended by the State Securities Commission (SSC) for dereliction of duty in the Saigon Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SCB) scam.

Four individuals, including a deputy general director, directly involved in auditing SCBs financial reports in 2018 and 2019, have been banned from auditing listed securities businesses for a period of six months.

According to the decision by the SSC, these auditors are forbidden from endorsing audit reports for public entities within the securities sector.

Deloitte Vietnam, a major auditing firm (along other two auditing firms EY and KMPG), was responsible for auditing SCB in recent years.

Despite their auditing work, discrepancies in SCBs financial reporting were discovered when the bank was placed under special control by the central bank at the end of 2022, revealing significant losses that had not been previously reported.

Minister of Finance Ho uc Phoc had acknowledged signs of misconduct by auditors from the three auditing companies involved in the SCB scandal.

More auditors from other two auditing firms are expected to be penalised if they were found guilty in the scam as ordered by a local court in HCM City.

The court had previously ordered an investigation into the roles of the three auditing firms that certified SCBs books, with penalties being recommended for them if they were found guilty.

As of February 29, Viet Nam has 221 auditing firms with over 2,300 auditors, according to the Finance Ministry.

Last year, the ministry imposed administrative violations on 21 auditing firms, with 17 auditors being suspended for neglecting their duties.

In a related issue, Truong My Lan, chairwoman of Van Thinh Phat group and a major stakeholder in SCB, was earlier this year sentenced to death for embezzling the banks funds over a decade.

Lan, 68, and her accomplices obtained over 2,500 loans from 2012 to 2022, resulting in losses of VN677 trillion for SCB.

The court identified Lan as the mastermind behind these organised crimes with irreversible consequences.

In addition, three top executives of SCB were also sentenced to life in prison for aiding Lan in her illicit activities at the bank.  VNS
HCM CITY  A collection of historical books for children and teenagers by Vietnamese writers have been distributed by the Kim ong Publishing House this week.

It includes nine books featuring Vietnamese history in different periods under the dynasties of inh, Ly, Tran and Le.

The books were collected and written by well-known authors such as Nghiem a Van, Ngo Van Phu and Vu Ngoc Tien.

Colour pictures by young artists of Kim ong Publishing House are also included.

Highlighted books include author Phus Co Lau Dung Nuoc (The Country), a work on historical events under the inh Dynasty.

The work highlights inh Bo Linh (924-979), the first Vietnamese emperor following the liberation of the country from the rule of the Chinese Southern Han Dynasty.

A founder of the inh Dynasty, he was a significant figure in the establishment of Vietnamese independence and political unity in the 10th century.

In 968, inh Bo Linh defeated the twelve lords and unified the country. He declared himself King and named the country ai Co Viet. This name remained throughout the inh Dynasty (968-980), Early Le Dynasty (980-1009) and the beginning of Ly Dynasty (1010-1225).

Another is Sung Ruou The (The Oath) by Van.

The work features General Ly Thuong Kiet, a prominent military leader and politician of ai Viet - the former name of Viet Nam in the 11th century.

In 1075, Ly Thuong Kiet led his soldiers north to fight a 40-day battle against the Song Dynasty of China and gained victory.

They planted spikes under the Nhu Nguyet riverbed and tricked their enemies into the trap. They were victorious, and ai Viet then completely defeated the invasion of the Song Dynastys army.

We hope our publication will promote the habit of reading among children and young people, a Kim ong representative said. We are working to provide more Vietnamese titles for readers this year.

Kim ong Publishing House, one of the country's leading printers, has more than 60 years in the industry.

In recent years, it has signed contracts with well-known authors, including young writers, to create books in literature, history and the arts targeting children and teenagers.

It has participated in book fairs and hosted forums and seminars attracting young writers this summer.  VNS
A NANG  The connection between the Vietnamese and French cinema was highlighted at a seminar held on Wednesday as part of the 2nd a Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF II), bringing together crowds of film experts from both countries.

Participants shared experiences from France, provided suggestions for the Vietnamese cinema industry, and discussed the influence of French documentary cinema on its Vietnamese peer, among others.

Vice Chairman of the a Nang Peoples Committee Tran Chi Cuong said France boasts a large and long-standing film industry. In the two countries' cultural exchange history, the cinema of France and that of Viet Nam share strong bonds.

The seminar provided a platform for Vietnamese artists and filmmakers to share and learn experiences in film production and distribution, special cinematic effects, and post-production. It also enabled participants to identify areas of cinematographic collaboration between the countries, he noted.

DANAFF II, opened in the central city of a Nang on Tuesday, is treating festival-goers to a series of screening, conferences, and award activities.

The highlight of DANAFF II, themed Bridging Asia, is a competition in the two categories of Asian and Vietnamese Film Awards. Notably, for the first time, the festival presented the cinema achievement award to an outstanding filmmaker.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse and entourage arrived in Ha Noi late Wednesday, concluding a successful official visit to the Republic of Korea from June 30-July 3 at the invitation of RoK PM Han Duck Soo and his spouse.

PM Chinh engaged in 34 activities during the visit, including talks and meetings with his counterpart, President Yoon Seok Yeol and Speaker of the National Assembly of RoK Woo Won Shik.

He attended and delivered a keynote speech at the Viet Nam-RoK business forum, the labour cooperation forum and the tourism promotion and cultural cooperation forum. He also joined meetings with executives of Korean economic organisations and intellectuals, and delivered a policy speech at the Seoul National University.

In addition, the Vietnamese PM had working sessions with executives of leading Korean firms such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG, POSCO, Daewoo E&C, GS Engineering & Construction, Celltrion, Hyosung, Lotte and Doosan Enerbility.

During the visit, more than 40 cooperation agreements were signed and exchanged, covering a wide range of fields, such as digital transformation, renewable energy, green transition, climate change, semiconductor, AI, science-technology, innovation, startup, finance, trade, investment, tourism, culture, education, human resources development and infrastructure.

The PM had a meeting with Korean friends, visited the Vietnamese Embassy, met with representatives from the Vietnamese community and called at a multicultural family.

The visit is successful in every aspect, marking a step further in implementing the guideline on external relations set by the 13th National Party Congress and Resolution 34-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committees Politburo, and in concretising the plan of actions to implement the Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs four-day official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) was a success, as seen in five aspects, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has told the media.

Firstly, the FM said, the visit produced many important outcomes, including the release of a joint statement with eight major contents highlighting the progress of the Viet Nam-RoK relationship since its upgrade to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022 and specific measures to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of politics-diplomacy, trade, investment, science-technology, culture, tourism, labour, people-to-people exchange and new collaboration areas.

Ministries, sectors and businesses of the two sides signed 40 cooperation agreements in digital transformation, renewable energy, green transition, climate change, the semiconductor industry, AI, collaboration among SMEs, culture and tourism, he said.

Secondly, the visit helped strengthen mutual political trust and reinforce the close personal relations between senior leaders of the two countries, stated the diplomat, adding that the leaders affirmed their determination to realise high-level agreements and make bilateral comprehensive partnership more substantive, effective and long lasting.

RoK leaders highlighted the similarities between the two countries in history and culture, along with economic and workforce characteristics, with nearly 300,000 Vietnamese nationals residing in the RoK and 200,000 Koreans in Viet Nam, along with 90,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families, as a favourable factor for the close bonds.

Korean leaders also affirmed that Viet Nam is a focus in RoKs foreign policy in the region, including the Indo-Pacific Strategy and the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI). PM Chinh reiterated Viet Nam's support for the RoK's development policies and goals, including the 'Global Pivotal State' policy.

The visit also yielded practical results in the fields of economy, trade and investment, contributing to implementing the action programme reached in June 2023, FM Son said.

Viet Nam and the RoK agreed that economy is one of the leading important pillars in their cooperation and concurred to deploy specific measures to reach the target of US$100 billion in two-way trade in 2025 and $150 billion in 2030. They vowed to finalise procedures to open their respective markets for Vietnamese pomelos and Korean melons this year.

RoK leaders affirmed that the RoK continues to consider Viet Nam a strategic partner in development cooperation, pledging to support Vietnamese firms in enhancing their capacity to engage more deeply in the production and supply chains of Korean firms. The two sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in building stable core mineral supply chains.

At the Viet Nam-RoK business forum and the seminar with leading economic groups of the RoK in energy and finance, PM Chinh witnessed the signing of 23 cooperation deals among businesses and localities of the two countries.

Korean firms praised Viet Nam's investment environment and expressed their great interest in investing in Viet Nam in the fields of supporting industries, digital transformation, the green economy, semiconductors, environmentally friendly energy, biotechnology, the 5G network and smart cities.

A fourth aspect of the visit was that the two sides have agreed to promote collaboration in human resources, culture and tourism. The RoK committed to assisting Viet Nam in training agricultural workers and providing favourable conditions for Vietnamese labourers to live and work in the country, the FM stated.

He noted that Viet Nam and the RoK concurred to bolster cultural, tourism and education cooperation towards the target of five million people engaging in people-to-people exchange. The RoK will support Viet Nam to launch a consulate general in Busan in 2024 and a Vietnamese cultural centre in the RoK, while helping Viet Nam promote the development of cultural industries. PM Chinh suggested that the RoK simplify visa procedures and moving towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens.

The final positive was that the PMs visit opened up many cooperation opportunities between the two sides across various areas such as innovation, high technology, renewable energy, digital transformation, green transformation, climate change response, semiconductors and AI.

The RoK agreed to consider setting up mechanisms on specific projects in semiconductor, AI and innovation human resources training and pledged to provide $30 million in four years for research and development projects and the second phase of the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST) project.

The RoK affirmed that it will support Viet Nam in organising the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in April 2025, FM Son said.

During the visit to the RoK from June 30 to July 3, PM Chinh engaged in 34 activities. He held talks with his counterpart Han Duck Soo, had meetings with President Yoon Suk Yeol and the Speaker of the RoKs National Assembly Woo Won Shik and he also delivered a speech on Vietnamese policy at Seoul National University in Seoul, while also meeting executives of a number of Korean firms.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man met on Thursday with delegations from the Womens Unions and female entrepreneurs of Laos and Cambodia, who were in the city to attend the Forum on Connectivity and Exchange for Female Entrepreneurs from the three countries.

Chairman Tran Thanh Man praised the Womens Unions of Laos and Cambodia for their leadership in womens movements, protection and promotion of womens rights, policy advisory roles and for contributions to gender equality training. He expressed pleasure at the strengthening traditional friendship among the three countries and their Womens Unions.

The Women's Unions of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia have actively engaged in exchange activities, notably signing and implementing the 2022-27 Cooperation Agreement, which addresses the aspirations of women in these countries. They have also coordinated cross-border cooperation activities to maintain peaceful, friendly and cooperative borders.

The Chairman commended the proactive initiatives of the Women's Unions in organising and participating in joint activities, such as forums and high-level delegation exchanges, including the Friendship Caravan (September 2017), the Viet Nam-Laos-Cambodia Womens Forum (September 2022) and the current Forum on Connectivity and Exchange for Female Entrepreneurs.

He highlighted Viet Nams commitment to gender equality and womens development, with the Party and State issuing numerous policies and laws in this area. He noted that in the 15th National Assembly, 30.26 per cent of deputies are women, all with university degrees or higher. Viet Nam has also seen an increase in women in senior leadership roles.

On April 9, 2024, the United Nations Economic and Social Council elected Viet Nam to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the 2025-27 term, reflecting international recognition of Viet Nams gender equality achievements.

Man welcomed the Viet Nam Womens Unions initiative in organising the Forum on Connectivity and Exchange for Female Entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance the role and connectivity of female entrepreneurs in developing a green economy. He proposed continued cooperation and exchange among the Womens Unions of the three countries thereby strengthening traditional friendships and comprehensive solidarity among Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.

Lao Women's Union President Ali Vungnobountham and Deputy President of the Cambodian Women's Union for Peace and Development Chau Bun Eng thanked Chairman Man for his time and expressed gratitude to the Viet Nam Womens Union for their participation in the forum. They provided updates on their activities and affirmed their commitment to enhancing professional capacity and operational effectiveness through continued cooperation with the Viet Nam Womens Union.  VNS
HA NOI  The Central Public Security Party Committee has been reviewing its work in the first six months of 2024 and launched tasks for the remainder of the year, as it moves towards modernisation of public security forces.

The conference on Thursday in Ha Noi, was chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, a member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee and Minister of Public Security.

At the conference, delegates discussed public security work and also offered opinions on the five-year report of implementing the Politburos Resolution No.48-NQ/TW issued on March 25, 2019; the report on the proposal to amend and supplement the Governments Decree No. 01/2018/N-CP issued on August 6, 2018 regulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organisational structure of the Ministry of Public Security and some other important contents.

In the first six months of 2024, the Central Public Security Party Committee effectively implemented Politburos Resolution No.12, promoting the construction of a diligent, strong, regular, elite and modern People's Public Security force, meeting the requirements and tasks in the modern era.

The committee proposed that the Politburo issue strategic guidelines on foreign affairs, international integration of public security and modernisation of the public security force by 2030.

They advised on the construction of seven law projects to be submitted to the 6th and 7th sessions of the National Assembly and the upcoming session. They also directed the preparation for the implementation of the law on forces participating in the protection of security and order at the grassroots level, effective from July 1.

Speaking at the conference, President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged and praised the outstanding achievements and results of the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security.

Regarding tasks ahead, President Lam requested that the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security effectively implement the Politburo's conclusions on the policy of allocating funds from the State's foreign exchange reserves to implement the project of modernising the material facilities of the People's Public Security force by 2030.

He reminded the public security force to ensure the successful implementation of the key tasks set out by the 13th Party Congress and Politburo Resolution No. 12 by 2025, with some forces advancing to modernity, creating a solid foundation for building a modern People's Public Security force by 2030.

The President also required the public security force to practically implement activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Viet Nam People's Public Security (August 19, 1945  August 19, 2025) and the 20th anniversary of the day all people protect national security movement (August 19, 2005  August 19, 2025).

Meanwhile, PM Chinh suggested that the Central Public Security Party Committee proactively grasp current situations and promptly advise the Party and the State to issue appropriate policies and solutions in response to global developments.

They should complete the legal system and participate in institutional building, effectively conduct crime and corruption prevention and fighting, and manage State security and order. Furthermore, they should promote the implementation of large projects assigned and strengthen international cooperation and foreign affairs of the public security force, he said.  VNS
HA NOI  President To Lam expressed his delight at the strong development of the Viet Nam-New Zealand strategic partnership over the past years while hosting a reception in Ha Noi on Thursday for newly-appointed New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam Caroline Beresford.

President Lam highlighted the significance of 2025 which marks the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 5th anniversary of the Viet Nam-New Zealand strategic partnership and is considered as an opportunity for the two nations to plan meaningful activities, including high-level visits, to solidify cooperation across all areas and propel the relationship to a new height.

Speaking highly of close collaboration in national defence-security and positive progress in bilateral economic and trade ties, he thanked New Zealand for supporting English language training and specialised training for Vietnamese officials at both central and local levels.

The President took this occasion to propose the New Zealand Government continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community studying, working and living in the country.

Beresford, for her part, also held that 2025 is a prime opportunity for New Zealand and Viet Nam to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral relationship.

She affirmed her commitment to work closely with the two countries ministries, agencies and sectors to foster coordination in promising areas with the hope of elevating the bilateral relationship to a new level with practical and effective outcomes in her term of office in Viet Nam.

The ambassador expressed her hope that Viet Nam, which is serving as the coordinator of ASEAN-New Zealand relations from July 2024 to July 2027, will contribute to solidifying ties between New Zealand and the Southeast Asian region.

President Lam underlined the importance of close bilateral coordination at multilateral forums, such as the United Nations and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He stressed that Viet Nam and New Zealand's common perspectives on global and regional issues provide a strong foundation to bolster joint efforts to build peaceful, stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.  VNS
HA NOI  President To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulatory messages to US President Joe Biden on the occasion of the USs 248th Independence Day on July 4.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man cabled messages of congratulations to President of the Senate Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson.

On the occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son extended congratulations to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi over casualties in the serious stampede in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh two days earlier.

The Consular Section of the Vietnamese Embassy in India reported on July 4 that to date, there is no information indicating any Vietnamese citizens were among the casualties.

The stampede, which occurred during a religious gathering of Hindu devotees, resulted in the deaths of at least 120 people.  VNS
HCM CITY  Many customers have been forced to visit their banks for help in updating biometric information online to authenticate money transfer transactions, however even then some still cannot complete the biometric update process.

On Tuesday customer T from HCM Citys District 5, went to the Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank) branch on Nguyen Trai Street seeking help to update biometric information on the banking app, as he could not do it at home.

Despite multiple attempts by a female bank employee to assist him, the app repeatedly reported that the biometric update process could not be completed.

As a result, the employee advised him to return another time or temporarily transfer amounts over VN10 million using the Sacombank mBanking app instead of the Sacombank Pay app.

According to T, in the preceding days, he also could not update his biometric information on the app of the Vietnam Maritime Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MSB) and had to visit the bank for assistance.

Needing to transfer over VN10 million, on the morning of July 2, Nguyen Huu Thuan, from Thu uc City, tried using the apps of Techcombank, ACB, Vietcombank, and HDBank, but all four banks reported errors, stating they could not scan his ID card, even though his iPhone has NFC functionality for information verification.

Later that day, Thuan took advantage of his lunch break to visit the Techcombank branch on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street in Binh Thanh District to have his information updated in person. Only after a bank employee directly scanned his citizen ID card using the banks reader, was Thuan able to complete the update and proceed with his transactions.

"My phone has NFC payment integration and works normally, but I don't understand why I can't update biometric information. Now I have to visit each bank one by one to get staff assistance," he said.

On the morning of Tuesday, many people visited the HDBank branch on Nguyen Cu Trinh Street in District 1 for assistance in updating their biometric information.

Le Nguyen Hung Cuong, a male employee, noted that many users with older phones, faulty devices or incorrect operations had to visit the bank for direct assistance.

Late in the afternoon, a branch of VietinBank in Thu uc City still saw a large number of customers updating their biometric information. According to a bank employee, on July 1 and the morning of July 2, an overload in the system prevented updates via the app due to the high number of users attempting to update their information.

According to Techcombank, as of July 1, over 1.4 million customers had successfully updated their biometric data on the Techcombank Mobile app, representing more than 80 per cent of customers who frequently conduct transactions exceeding VN10 million.

"We are intensifying communication efforts to encourage customers to proactively update their information via the app. Customers unable to do so can visit the nearest Techcombank branch or transaction office for support," a representative from the bank said.

Meanwhile, ACB reported that 500,000 customers had successfully completed facial recognition authentication through the ACB ONE digital banking app, enhancing account security and protecting high-value online transactions.

ACB's CEO, Tu Tien Phat, told the Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the new biometrics system effectively addresses security and account safety risks. With facial recognition, only the account owner can transfer money. Even if account information is leaked and criminals take control of the phone, they cannot transfer money without matching the facial authentication.

Nguyen Minh Tam, deputy CEO of Sacombank, said that most of Sacombank's customers have registered and successfully authenticated their biometric information for transactions over VN10 million per transaction, or VN20 million per day.

"We continue to notify customers to update their biometric information to ensure smooth online transactions, avoiding disruptions to daily life and work," Tam said.

He added that most customers can update their biometric information through the Sacombank Pay app.

"For specific cases, such as elderly customers or those without NFC-enabled devices, bringing their chip-embedded citizen ID to our transaction points will allow our staff to assist them," he said.  VNS
HA NOI  Selecting reputable and experienced contractors to provide world-class services at Long Thanh International Airport is a top priority, said Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on Thursday as he chaired a meeting of the projects working group.

Focusing on bidding and selecting contractors for the airports fourth component project, the working team stressed comprehensiveness in the airports design and operations, with the aim of it becoming a key regional transportation hub.

This component project includes cargo terminals, aviation logistics areas, aircraft maintenance areas, catering services and airline operations centres.

Deputy PM Ha said that the bidding packages should be reviewed and evaluated by international consultants with substantial knowledge about a world-class airports comprehensive technology, design and operations.

Investors must ensure coherence in planning to accommodate the needs of all airlines and Vietnamese contractors are encouraged.

Evaluation criteria will be applied accordingly to the projects operation stages, with the investors previous experiences in other international airports taken into account.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) has completed the bidding documents, as well as the appraisals for catering service bidding packages.

Bidding packages for other sub-projects on maintenance areas for aircraft and ground equipment, alongside airline operations centres, are ongoing and expected to be appraised and approved within this month.

The key challenge currently is to draft a hypothetical business plan to determine the investors contributions to the State budget once the airport goes into operation.

Emphasising the importance of the fourth component project in the ecosystem of Long Thanh International Airport, Deputy PM Ha said that Government leaders and the working group have issued multiple guidelines to the Ministry of Transport (MoT) and the CAAV to address the bottlenecks related to the bidding packages.

The MoT and CAAV must resolve the shortcomings in capacity and experience, coordinating with relevant ministries and departments to select reputable and capable units, completing the necessary paperwork and organising the bids.

At the meeting, the deputy PM also discussed mobilising the Airports Corporation of Viet Nam to participate in several bidding packages related to the aviation logistics area, cargo terminals and airport hotels.  VNS
EDP Renewables (EDPR), a development arm of Spanish giant EDP, is demonstrating ambition in pouring $1 billion into the renewable energy sector in Vietnam, according to its CEO for Asia-Pacific, Miguel Fonseca, who visited Vietnam in June.

EDPR has expanded in Vietnam through acquisition deals. In 2021, it purchased the 28-MW Trung Son solar plant in Khanh Hoa province from Chinas Trina Solar. In 2022, it strengthened its portfolio in Vietnam after the acquisition of two operating solar photovoltaic projects totalling 200MW in Ninh Thuan province. With that transaction, EDPR doubled its operational capacity in the country.

EDPR has a pan-regional presence across nine markets in Asia-Pacific, and has a target of 2.4GW of renewable installed capacity in the region by 2026.

Acquisitions prepare for energy wave, illustration photo

Vietnams dynamic industrial economy growth is driving 8 per cent compound annual growth rate for 2020-2030 in electricity demand. Vietnam is not only meeting its own increasing energy demands but also setting a benchmark for renewable energy adoption with its Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8) targeting half of renewables generation share by 2030, Fonseca wrote on his social media accounts.

Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan are two south-central provinces on the groups radar in particular. Khanh Hoa presents very good solar resources and we will continue to work with the province to enhance cooperation for new opportunities of investment, Fonseca said. Ninh Thuan still has significant potential for the development of renewable projects and we are working on a promising pipeline.

Meanwhile, Sembcorp Solar Vietnam, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Group, announced on June 19 that it had completed the acquisition of majority stakes in three subsidiaries of GELEX Group. The acquisitions add a total of 196MW of operational wind and solar assets to Sembcorps portfolio.

Sembcorp will also purchase 73 per cent of another GELEX subsidiary that possesses a 49MW hydropower asset. With regulatory approvals still pending, this transaction is anticipated to close in the second half of 2024.

Sembcorp is assisting in the decrease in carbon emissions, the advancement of environmental sustainability, and the expansion of clean energy sources by increasing its renewable capacity, company represenatives said. In the field of renewable energy, these investments also open doors for employment development, economic expansion, and technological advancement.

It is easy and convenient for foreign investors to enter the energy sector through purchasing shares of domestic private enterprises because the initial preparation of solar power and wind power projects takes a lot of time and effort due to consuming a lot of land, said Le Duong, counsel at Bizconsult Law Firm. Due to the overabundance of ongoing projects, which exceeds the governments intended ratio of renewables supply capacity to total energy capacity in Vietnam, the approval process for new projects is slowing down.

PwCs report on global merger and acquisition (M&A) trends in energy, utilities, and resources released early this year noted that these industries will be a bright spot for dealmaking activity in 2024 as the energy transition continues to attract investor interest.

With game-changing reforms such as Vietnams Law on Investment, the region has attracted the interest of foreign buyers. Southeast Asia has become an enticing destination for international players seeking expansion opportunities. As a result, Southeast Asia M&A activity is poised to remain strong, promising an exciting future as the region becomes a hub of dynamic business growth and innovation, said the report.

Locally invested firms such as Gia Lai Electricity JSC and Ha Do Group are also in the race to attain more projects through acquisition deals.

At its AGM last week, Gia Lai Electricity said it will promote M&A activities of energy projects and focus on completing the legality of wind power production projects combined with hydrogen production this year.

In the solar power segment, Gia Lai has six projects with a total capacity of more than 342MWp, and 34 rooftop solar power systems at 32MWp. The company also directly and indirectly owns 12 hydropower plants with a total capacity of 81MW, mainly concentrated in the Central Highlands region (93 per cent), and five wind power plants with a total capacity of 260MW.

To avoid major fluctuations in upcoming business results, our key task is to seek and develop new energy projects as well as M&As of effective energy projects to deploy construction investment, put into operation to ensure future revenue, said Tan Xuan Hien, chairman of Gia Lais board of management. In addition, the company continues to seek to expand relationships with units/organisations with financial capacity, experience, and expertise in renewable energy to cooperate in developing new projects.

At its own AGM, Ha Do Group leaders said that they are researching and implementing M&As of hydropower and wind power projects with complete legality and economic efficiency.

This year, the energy segment will still bring in the largest source of revenue for the group, the company said. Ha Do Group aims to have 1GW of electricity generation capacity by 2030. While the development of renewable energy projects is temporarily stopped, the group is still active in M&A hydroelectric projects to realise the goal.
The project aims to elevate Dat Bike's management capabilities and accelerate its development towards the goal of "greening" transportation and becoming one of the leading electric motorcycle manufacturers in Southeast Asia.

Representatives from FPT IS and Dat Bike at the signing ceremony for the SAP S/4HANA public cloud project

The SAP S/4HANA public cloud project is an enterprise resources planning (ERP) SaaS (software-as-a-service) solution that allows customers to operate the system on SAP's shared cloud platform, saving up to 50 per cent in costs and 99.7 per cent in operational time. The solution is also recognised in top rankings by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC and has become one of the leading operational management technology choices across various industries.

Choosing SAP S/4HANA in the public cloud model is relatively new for businesses in Vietnam. This solution was introduced to the Vietnamese market by SAP- the worlds leading provider of business software, and FPT IS in 2023, expected to set a new trend for flexible ERP investment for Vietnamese enterprises.

This project is considered a pioneering endeavour in enterprise management using the SAP S/4HANA public cloud solution within the electric motorcycle manufacturing and business sector, implemented by FPT IS in Vietnam.

At the signing ceremony, Pham Duc Nam Trung, CFO of Dat Bike said, "Dat Bike is on a growth acceleration journey with goals for production development and market expansion. We believe and expect that the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud project will enhance Dat Bike's business management efficiency by quickly applying international standard management processes. Secondly, it will support Dat Bike in upgrading management and reporting standards, allowing us to expand our market to other countries in the region and elevate the company's position internationally."

Dang Truong Thach, deputy CEO of FPT IS, added, The SAP public cloud project for Dat Bike is significant, marking the pioneering effort of an electric motorcycle enterprise in ERP implementation by FPT IS. As the highest-level partner of SAP, with specialised ERP deployment capabilities accumulated across various sectors, FPT IS is proud to understand management issues in each industry and is committed to partnering with Dat Bike to operate the system efficiently and intelligently, accelerating business growth."

"I believe this project will also inspire many other businesses to decisively invest in standardised management to accelerate business with the flexible, cost-optimised, and quickly deployable public cloud model.

Representatives from SAP Vietnam, Dat Bike, and FPT IS at the event

The launch of the SAP S/4HANA public cloud project between Dat Bike and FPT IS marks a significant milestone, promising sustainable value for both parties and the community. The project is expected to be a catalyst for Dat Bikes strong future development and open up new cooperation opportunities in technology and enterprise management with FPT IS.

Nguyen Hong Viet, general director of SAP Vietnam said, "We are very proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with Vietnamese businesses in the electric motorcycle manufacturing sector, indirectly contributing to environmental greening. With the challenge of completing massive workloads in a short time and a lean workforce, SAP believes that FPT IS, with its extensive project deployment experience, will bring the SAP S/4HANA public cloud solution to Dat Bike in the shortest time possible. By applying the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud solution, Dat Bike will have a world-standard technology foundation data system, aiming for quality and standardised operational management, helping the companys business develop efficiently and sustainably."

Founded in 2019, Dat Bike specialises in manufacturing electric motorcycles with the goal of transforming the motorcycle market from petrol to electric. Dat Bike aspires to become a leading Vietnamese electric motorcycle manufacturer in the Southeast Asian market, valued at $8 billion in Vietnam and $25 billion in the region.

Following the launch of the Quantum scooter line at the end of 2023, Dat Bike recorded a 10-fold increase in monthly sales compared to before. Additionally, the electric two-wheeler industry in Vietnam has consistently grown by over 30 per cent annually. With such rapid growth, Dat Bike requires a robust enterprise management technology platform to meet business demands and expand its market.

With a strategic vision for business and technology, and consulting from FPT IS, Dat Bike's leadership decided to invest in and choose the SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud solution. This decision enables Dat Bike to apply a globally standardised management platform, optimally deployed through cloud technology.

The project was agreed upon and executed within just three months. Given the company's comprehensive operations from production to sales distribution but with a small workforce, the digital transformation journey alongside rapid growth makes the implementation of SAP S/4HANA public cloud a significant milestone. It allows Dat Bike to maintain lean staffing while ensuring efficient operations and effective management.

Specifically, FPT IS will implement the solution for Dat Bike across multiple systems from production to distribution and sales on an enterprise-wide scale, both within Vietnam and Southeast Asia. The solution will encompass modules including sales, sourcing and procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, finance, integration to e-invoices, and quality management.

The application of SAP S/4HANA public cloud will enable Dat Bike to update real-time reports and produce financial statements that comply with both Vietnamese and international accounting standards, attracting both domestic and international partners. This is a crucial foundation for the company's rapid, synchronised, and sustainable development.

Gojek inks partnership with Dat Bike in Vietnam Gojek  an on-demand, multiservice mobile platform  and Dat Bike  one of the fastest growing electric vehicle startups in Southeast Asia  announced on May 18 that they will partner to pilot the use of electric motorbikes in Gojek's transportation, logistics, and food delivery network in Vietnam.

Dat Bike: continuously upgrading for greener transportation After four years in Vietnam, Dat Bike is still asserting its position as a Vietnamese brand in its homeland, continuing its goal of greening transportation and strengthening its connection with customers. Son Nguyen, CEO of Dat Bike, spoke with VIRs Bich Thuy about the importance of listening to customers in the product development process.
Nguyen Mai Duong, director of the Ministry of Science and Technologys Technology Development and Innovation Department, said at the Vietnam Energy Transition Forum 2024 last week in Hanoi that Vietnams electricity consumption in 2024 will increase by about 15 per cent.

Electricity demand will grow about 8-10 per cent per year in the coming years, Duong said. In addition to implementing synchronous solutions and optimising existing energy supply, transmission, distribution and use systems, investing and developing new solutions is also an urgent need for Vietnam.

The rapid increase in variable renewable sources requires greater flexibility in the electricity system and, in addition to traditional technologies, the power system needs to be invested in new tech to increase system flexibility, he added.

Innovation requires a diverse group of participants, including governments, researchers, investors, entrepreneurs, corporations, and civil society. These groups all contribute significantly to the generation of ideas for new or improved technologies, Duong said.

Fabian Hartjes, second secretary of Climate Diplomacy at the German Embassy to Vietnam, said that Germany was ranked fourth globally in installed capacity according to the International Renewable Energy Agency in 2023, although the sunshine hour index is modest compared to countries in Southeast Asia.

We highly appreciate the investment attraction environment in Vietnam and see business opportunities here. German businesses will increase investment here and are always ready to share renewable energy tech with Vietnam, Hartjes said. Innovative technologies have proven to be highly effective and have actively supported our energy transition as well as many other countries, and renewable forms of energy and efficiency will shape our new world.

The transition process requires cooperation from public and private agencies, and the opportunity for cooperation between Vietnam and Germany is huge, Hartjes added.

Experience shows that a successful transition requires four core elements: a competitive economy, an open market; supportive policies, and especially technology, according to Philipp Munzinger, director of the German Development Agencys Energy Support Programme.

The main trends in the current energy transition include economical and efficient, promoting the development of renewables in the electricity industry, green transportation, and green hydrogen, he said. The majority of new electricity capacity will come from solar and wind power, given the rising competitiveness of renewable energy prices and the costs associated with electricity generation.

Munzinger added that solar power production and storage is leading the renewable energy tech market with an increasingly expanding scale. This is bringing benefits for investors as well as contributing to energy security and grid stability. Therefore, solar power production and battery storage technology need policies to be developed, he said.

Technology also helps reduce the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources. The levelised cost of energy (LCOE) of solar power in Vietnam has decreased sharply, thanks to advances in technology and the growth of market size. Data from energy researcher BloombergNEF shows that the LCOE for a solar power plant is at $53-105 per MWh (according to actual prices in 2022), making this possibly the most important, cheapest, and competitive source of electricity generation in Vietnam.

Similar to wind power plants, the LCOE of wind power has also decreased significantly, at $65-154 per MWh. In particular, offshore wind power is becoming a high-potential field with increasingly reasonable costs and stable electricity production ability.

Wide participation can boost nations energy transition Vietnam is pushing ahead with the energy transition by involving synchronous solutions and joint contributions of society.

Renewable energy on the table for Vietnam Vietnam is considered a fertile ground for the renewable energy industry, according to the May 28-29 forum.
INSEE accompanied the Kien Giang Province Environmental Day

In early June 2024, INSEE Vietnam accompanied Kien Giang Environmental Day, organised by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Rach Gia People's Committee, Kien Giang Youth Union, and the International Organisation for Conservation of Nature in Vietnam.

Through this programme, INSEE sponsored many table plant pots, probiotics and Lepironia grass bags to spread good messages to local people about green lifestyle, raising people's awareness and responsibility for environmental protection.

As a company operating in the cement industry, INSEE understands the responsibility of businesses in balancing the interests of the company and community sustainability.

The company has integrated sustainability into its business chain. Practical results towards this goal will become easier when stakeholders and partners in INSEE's value chain join hands and work together. Therefore, the company recently coordinated with localities and partners to organise programmes for World Environment Day.

INSEE Hon Chong plant in Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province organised the programme "Waste Exchange" for local people

In addition, INSEE Hon Chong Cement Plant coordinated with the Department of Natural Resources, Environment in Kien Luong district and Duong Hoa People's Committee to organise the programme "Waste Exchange."

The programme attracted 500 gift exchanges from local people. The gifts were mainly necessities sponsored by INSEE with each exchange corresponding to the number of points set by the organisers.

At the end of the programme, INSEE collected 401kg of common household waste including plastic bottles, milk cartons, plastic bags, waste paper, cardboard and 105kg of electronic waste such as batteries, light bulbs, remotes, and electronic boards.

INSEE is not only a leader in greening the entire product portfolio, but also a pioneer in treating hazardous and non-hazardous waste for industries in Vietnam. The company co-process waste from industries, and from there, generate thermal energy to serve the company's production needs instead of using coal.

During more than 15 years of operation as a waste co-processing service, INSEE Ecocycle has co-processed more than 1.7 million tons of waste (instead of burying it - affecting the land and water environment) at the INSEE Hon Chong plant, thereby, indirectly reducing carbon emissions by more than 1.5 million tonnes.

INSEE Ecocycle and volunteers collected 183kg of waste through waste collection activities at customer factories

In the spirit of responding to World Environment Day, INSEE Ecocycle has accompanied customers to organise waste collection activities and training programmes to respond to chemical spills. Specifically, through waste collection activities at the factory, volunteers collected 183kg of waste and trained more than 200 employees through a training programme to respond to chemical spills, contributing to preserving a green - clean - and beautiful environment, protecting human health from negative impacts from spills during work.

With all the efforts that have been, are being and will be made towards the goal of environmental protection, INSEE hopes to raise people's awareness of classifying waste at source and the awareness of protecting the living environment because every small action will contribute to bringing great value to the community.

INSEE Vietnam focuses on social responsibility strategy As a long-term investor in Vietnam, the sustainable development of local communities is a consistent strategy of INSEE to actualise its Build for Life philosophy.

INSEE shows the way for 'green' Vietnamese concrete Continuing the success of INSEE i2i Talks - Session 1, INSEE Vietnam has embarked on a journey for a green future for the concrete industry, through its INSEE i2i Talks - Session 2, held on January 18.
The need for companies in Vietnam to start reporting their carbon inventory and participate in carbon credit exchanges has reached a critical juncture. Directive No.13/CT-TTg, which highlights the importance of handling credits to meet the Nationally Determined Contributions  commitments made by Vietnam to the UN to reduce emissions  is paired with the ongoing amendment of Decree No.06/2022/ND-CP to strengthen regulations to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

Lam Nguyen Hoang Thao, senior associate at Russin & Vecchi

Greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions include CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride. A GHG inventory is an assessment of the GHGs emitted by an organisation over a specific period. It involves identifying sources of emissions, calculating the emissions and reporting these findings.

Companies emitting 3,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually are now required to conduct GHG inventories. This mandate applies to key sectors such as thermal power plants, industrial facilities, freight transport companies, commercial buildings, solid waste treatment facilities, and large-scale livestock operations.

Over 1,900 facilities are subject to GHG inventory requirements, including those in industry and trade, transport, construction, and natural resources and environment sectors. These companies will face increasing pressure from Vietnams government, as well as investors, suppliers, and the public to manage their GHG emissions. Non-compliance risks legal penalties, reputational damage, and restricted access to financial resources. Being compliant requires assessing, quantifying, and reporting GHG emissions in alignment with international and domestic standards.

Decree 06, starting from 2023, mandated entities to submit operational data and related information for the GHG inventory by March 31 of the reporting year, covering the preceding year. Every two years from 2024 onwards, these entities must conduct entity-level GHG inventory and prepare a report. This report should be submitted to the provincial Peoples Committee for appraisal by March 31, starting from 2025, and the finalised report is to be submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) by December.

From 2026 to the end of 2030, the MoNRE will allocate GHG emission quotas and reserved-auctioned quota ratio. Companies that have not been allocated quotas shall develop plans to mitigate GHG emissions at the facility level in accordance with the sectoral emissions mitigation plan.

Companies allocated GHG emission quotas must implement measures to reduce emissions in accordance with their allocated quotas. One effective strategy includes participating in the carbon credit exchange market to offset emissions and meet regulatory requirements.

Carbon credit exchange

Looking ahead, Vietnam plans to establish a pilot carbon credit exchange market in 2025, with full operation expected by 2028.

A carbon credit exchange market comprises various components. Firstly, it includes products such as carbon funds, bonds, pledges, forwards/future contracts, and repurchases. Secondly, it involves trading services like carbon brokerage, asset management, and carbon information consulting. Lastly, the market participants encompass certification organisations, compliance entities, intermediaries, institutional and private investors, as well as organisations and individuals.

The framework includes several key components. Certification organisations such as Verras Verified Carbon Standards, Global Carbon Council Gold Standards, and the Global Certification Scheme play a crucial role. Related certification mechanisms include the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol and the Joint Crediting Mechanism.

Additionally, Carbon Credit Principles introduced in 2023 provide guidelines for carbon-crediting programmes such as Verras Verified Carbon Standard. These principles cover project strategies, credit origins and quantification, environmental and social impacts, the veracity of mitigation activities, and best practices for effective governance, credit tracking, transparency, and robust third-party validation and verification.

Regional examples highlight the growing importance of carbon credit initiatives. In Asia, Singapores AirCarbon Exchange has become a significant hub for credit trading, offering a marketplace for related assets and attracting regional and international participants. Similarly, in Australia, the Emissions Reduction Fund supports projects that reduce or avoid GHG emissions, demonstrating the potential for national frameworks to complement international standards.

Potential projects that can generate carbon credits for trading include those in the following areas: forestry and land use, renewable energy, energy efficiency and fuel switching, agriculture, waste disposal, transport, household devices, and chemical processes/industrial manufacturing.

The Carbon Exchange will oversee the auctioning, borrowing, and transferring of emission allowances, ensuring regulatory compliance and flexibility for companies. It will also validate and certify credits, maintaining market integrity and credibility through stringent standards and verification processes. From 2024, companies must initiate GHG inventories and begin planning emission reduction strategies tailored to their operational realities. By 2026, strict adherence to allocated emission quotas will be mandatory, alongside active participation in carbon credit trading on the exchange platform.

The validation process

Project certification in carbon markets involves two primary forms, the mandatory and voluntary markets, and the process unfolds through five essential stages. Firstly, the project planning stage begins with estimating the climate impact and assessing it against the standards set by a carbon credit certification organisation. Secondly, once the project is planned, the approval stage undergoes review by the certification organisation. This stage involves presenting the estimated climate impact and assessments made during the planning phase.

Thirdly, following approval, at the third-party validation stage, the certification organisation conducts an independent assessment. This typically includes a thorough site visit to verify the projects claims and data. Fourthly, upon successful validation, at the final review and approval stage, it receives certification and is issued with certified carbon credits. These credits can then be traded via a registry or used by the organisation to offset its own emissions.

Finally, post-certification, at the project monitoring stage, companies must implement the monitoring plan submitted during the planning stage. They regularly submit monitoring reports to the certification organisation. Additionally, periodic validations and verifications occur every five years to ensure ongoing compliance and the accuracy of the carbon credits. This structured approach ensures transparency, accountability, and credibility within the market. It supports global efforts to combat climate change by promoting verified emissions reductions and sustainable project practices.

Before entering the market, sellers must assess their strategies for generating carbon credits, ensuring they have robust plans in place. This includes evaluating their capability to forecast sales reliably and assessing whether their core product offerings are strong enough independently of credits.

Furthermore, supporting portfolio companies in developing comprehensive strategies is important. This involves identifying opportunities to expand market participation through carbon credit trading and suggesting enhancements to elevate the quality of renewable energy projects.

Additionally, market regulations, such as ensuring compliance with standards like Verra, must be diligently followed. Companies must mitigate the risk of greenwashing, where claims of environmental responsibility through carbon offsets may not align with actual contributions.

For buyers, due diligence in purchasing offsets is critical to verify the legitimacy and impact of projects associated with the credits. Robust oversight and adherence to transactional integrity are essential to prevent fraudulent activities, including issues like double counting and misrepresentation of carbon credits.

The roadmap set by Vietnams regulatory directives necessitates immediate action from enterprises to integrate carbon inventory practices and engage proactively in the credit exchange market. Engaging in the market provides companies with opportunities to trade verified emissions reductions. This generates additional revenue and improves their reputation as environmentally responsible entities. Accessing both local and international markets opens doors to new partnerships.

However, alongside these opportunities, companies must carefully assess the financial risks associated with carbon credit projects. Initial investments in emission reduction activities, such as renewable energy initiatives, require substantial capital and involve uncertainties in returns. Companies should conduct thorough financial analysis to ensure these investments align with their overall business strategies and risk tolerance.

Moreover, understanding legal issues in the market is critical. Potential risks include regulatory compliance, the risk of greenwashing accusations, due diligence in offset purchases, and fraud prevention. Following stringent standards and transparency in reporting and verification processes is essential for companies to maintain credibility and mitigate legal issues.

Vietnam capable of earning 200 million USD per year from carbon credit trade Vietnam is capable of selling some 40 million carbon credits for a revenue of 200 million USD annually, the Department of Forestry has calculated.

WB's 51.5-million-USD payment helping Vietnam reduce emissions Vietnam has received a 51.5-million-USD payment for verified emissions reductions (carbon credits) for reducing deforestation and forest degradation (commonly known as REDD+) and for enhancing carbon stored in forests through reforestation and afforestation.

Vietnam to strengthen carbon credit management Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged ministries to work with relevant agencies to reach deals with international partners to develop a carbon credit market, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, allocate emission quotas, and create green financial resources for Vietnam.
Samsung leaders welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) to the group's semiconductor cluster in Gyeonggi province. (Photo: VNA)

Seoul  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his entourage on July 3 visited Samsung's semiconductor cluster in Gyeonggi province as part of his official visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Samsung Vice Chairman and CEO Young Hyun Jun, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Samsung Electronics Park Hark-kyu and senior leaders of the group accompanied the Vietnamese PM in touring Samsung's largest semiconductor cluster in the world.

Chinh expressed his impression of the groups achievements in the field of high technology in general and semiconductors in particular.

Recognising Samsung's effective investment activities in the manufacturing industry and the production of electronic equipment and components in Vietnam for nearly 20 years, the PM affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Samsung to continue doing business in the country.

Stressing Vietnam's priority given to the semiconductor and AI industries in the coming time, Chinh said that Vietnam welcomes and encourages investors in those fields.

He said Vietnam will improve policies and institutions, high-quality human resources training, and infrastructure development to better serve investors.

On the afternoon of the same day, Chinh and his spouse visited the family of Jang Yeong Gak and Vu Thai Linh - a Vietnamese-Korean multicultural family in Osan city, Gyeonggi province.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse visit the family of Jang Yeong Gak and Vu Thai Linh - a Vietnamese-Korean multicultural family in Osan city, Gyeonggi province. (Photo: VNA)

During the visit to the family, Chinh said that Vietnamese people in the RoK, especially Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families, are bridges that foster relations between the two countries and two peoples, noting that the two countries have had up to 80,000 Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families.

On this occasion, Chinh called on overseas Vietnamese in the RoK and multicultural families to continue to preserve the cultural values of the two countries.

He hoped that they will keep contributing to promoting the image of Vietnam, the Vietnamese culture and people, and cultivating good Vietnam - RoK relations.

The send-off ceremony for PM Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse (Photo: VNA)

This is the last activity of the official visit to the RoK by PM Chinh and his spouse from June 30 to July 3 at the invitation of PM Han Duck-soo and his spouse. The Vietnamese PM, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation left Seoul to return Hanoi in the evening, wrapping up a successful visit.
BWs CIO, Gene King, spoke to over 200 attendees at Savillss Vietnam Industrial: Unlocking the future" event in Taipei, on June 27

Taiwan recognises the potential of the Vietnamese market, as evidenced by a remarkable fourfold increase in investment capital from 2022 to 2023, solidifying its position as a leading foreign investor in Vietnam.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in 2023, Taiwanese investment capital in Vietnam reached $2.2 billion, a fourfold increase compared to that in 2022. Cumulatively, Taiwan currently ranks fourth among 105 economies investing in Vietnam, with nearly 3,200 projects and a total registered capital exceeding $39.3 billion.

This surge in investment aligns with Taiwan's New Southbound Policy (NSP) deepening collaboration with Southeast Asian nations. Since its introduction in 2016, the NSP has significantly boosted cooperation with Southeast Asia, which has significantly benefited Vietnam, particularly its high-tech electronics sector.

Taiwanese investors have established a strong presence across Vietnam, spanning from the northern provinces to southern metropolis. Taiwanese tech heavyweights such as Foxconn, Wistron, Qisda, and Quanta have made substantial investments in Vietnam.

A survey by Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs shows that 17.7 per cent of Taiwan's traditional manufacturing enterprises and 15.04 per cent of IT and digital enterprises have expressed interest in investing in Vietnam, highlighting its attractiveness as the top destination.

Benefits from free trade agreements

Taiwans ever-growing appetite for Vietnam reflects its evolving industrial landscape and Vietnam's emergence as a competitive manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam offers a stable political administration, skilled workforce, and competitive labour costs, providing a favourable investment environment. In addition, Vietnam engages in multiple free trade agreements (FTAs) with major economies, offering unparalleled business access to global markets.

Many of Vietnams FTAs stipulate substantial tariff reductions or waivers on a wide range of trade items, helping Taiwanese businesses to reduce costs being competitive in the global market. For example, under the Korea-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, 24 tariff lines in the garments and textiles sector have been exempted, enabling Taiwanese textile businesses in Vietnam more competitiveness exporting to Korea.

Furthermore, these agreements have significantly expanded Vietnam's market access, opening doors to global markets for Vietnam made Taiwanese brands. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, for instance, provides access to markets like Canada, Mexico, and Peru, amassing a market pool of more than 140 million in population and a $13.8 trillion in total GDP.

Moreover, Vietnam's strong commitment to education, technology, and skills development has cultivated a high-quality talent pool, driving innovation and fostering businesses. Coupled with Vietnams gravity in the new global manufacturing landscape, the country stands as the top pick for supply chain diversification.

Technology investment wave

Vietnam is actively inviting Taiwanese investments in technology, electronics, semiconductors, science and innovation sectors.

These are also the realms in which Taiwanese businesses have strengths and are aligned with Vietnam's development policy and strategies to draw in foreign investment, said Tran Duy Dong, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, at the Vietnam-Taiwan (China) Business Forum 2024.

Bloomberg forecasts a bullish economic outlook for Vietnam, projecting a sustainable GDP growth reaching 6 per cent and 6.4 per cent, 2024 and 2025 respectively, with substantial investment growth from Electronics Manufacturing Service and ICT, in addition to traditional manufacturing sectors.

As Vietnam undergoes a pivotal shift from labour-intensive industries to skill/knowledge-intensive sectors, the government offers a suite of preferential policies to draw in more foreign investment, especially in the aforementioned industries. With proper navigations into the benefits, Taiwanese investors can enjoy these policies benefit to maximise incentives and minimise risks.

Gene King, chief investment officer of BW Industrial Development JSC, emphasised the critical importance of understanding the nuances of local business practices, legal frameworks, and investment processes. Local consultants can provide invaluable insights into trade restrictions, regulations, and taxation, while legal experts can offer guidance on incorporation and operation procedures.

According to King, site selection is paramount for establishing manufacturing. Proximity to major transportation gateways, also clusters in convergence of mature infrastructure and reasonable costs make a good start to assure long-term competitiveness.

"Amid the significant shift in supply chain demands, Vietnam's industrial property sector has been growing phenomenally and outperforming other real asset classes in the Asia Pacific region. Leveraging on the unparalleled scale of BW, we can maintain cost efficiency while our seasoned professionals being laser focus on proven development strategies, to execute and deliver projects promptly," he said. "Hence, BW is best positioned to meet with any strict deployment and production schedule from Taiwanese and global manufacturers in Vietnam. To facilitate clients Vietnam expansions, also to enhance BWs portfolio value in capital market."

The promising prospects of Vietnams economy are unlocking numerous compelling opportunities for investors. As a leading industrial real estate platform, BW provides tenants with facilities of high reliability and universality, combining with one-stop-shop servicesfrom business licensing and connectivity to machine installation consultations BW ensures a smooth and swift business setup experience in Vietnam.

BW now accommodates 18 tenants from Taiwan, including Jusda, Sable speaker solutions, FSP Group, and Alltop.

Investors from Taiwan keen on diversification Taiwanese investors, especially those operating in electronics and high-tech manufacturing, are increasingly paying attention to Vietnam, to relocate or diversify their supply chains.

Thailand's KBank offers $44 million loan to BW KBank, one of Thailand's leading banks, and BW Industrial Development Joint Stock Company, Vietnam's leading for-rent logistics and industrial platform, have announced a strategic financial partnership aimed at propelling the country's industrial and logistics sectors to new heights.
Traditional industrial parks (IPs) often include no access to centralised wastewater treatment, and are otherwise incompatible with the surrounding urban land uses. While the government approved a national policy of relocating IPs in 2009, until now, it has not implemented the policy due to economic reasons such as tenants having long land lease terms remaining and the additional expenses for leasing a new site.

The past 10 years have seen a growing focus on optimising IPs location and relocation decisions, reflecting the evolving needs of businesses, the dynamic nature of global manufacturing and supply chains, and the growing importance of sustainability.

This broader context of IPs market opportunities and constraints, the mission or function of an IP and corresponding mix of industries selected to accomplish that mission, may serve as an incentive for relocating an existing IP.

Some recent market trends influencing IP location include that global production networks and outsourcing are influencing relocation decisions, with some companies seeking lower-cost locations; industry-specific parks catering to specific sectors like pharmaceuticals or high-tech; development of smaller, strategically located parks within urban areas are catering to e-commerce and last-mile delivery needs; IP development strategies tailored to draw in specific segments; special economic zones offering tax breaks; and eco-IPs attracting environmentally conscious companies.

Timothy D. Van Epp, fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, and Mai Nguyen of the American Planning Associations International Division

Factors affecting IPs location

Why do many existing IPs seek new locations? Shortcomings of existing locations that drive IP relocations include outdated infrastructure, environmental regulations, changing production needs, or economic shifts in the existing location, and land use trends in the surrounding area. These negative factors of existing locations are then compared against the positive attributes of potential alternative locations, many relating to contemporary market realities.

Key factors include logistics and connectivity, with studies emphasising the increasing importance of access to transportation infrastructure (roads, railways, airports, ports) and efficient logistics networks for IPs to attract businesses.

Smart technologies are also critical, with research being conducted on how parks can provide infrastructure and support for digitalisation and integration of technologies like automation, sensor networks, data analytics, and smart grids to enhance and optimise operational efficiency and resource management within IPs. Studies analyse how automation might affect IP space requirements and workforce needs in the future.

Skilled workforce and innovation are also needed. The availability of a skilled workforce and proximity to research institutions are becoming crucial factors, fostering innovation and attracting technology-driven companies. The need for parks to adapt to changes in workforce skills and automation is a growing concern.

Sustainability is also high on the agenda. Whether an eco-IP is envisioned, environmental regulations and growing corporate social responsibility are driving IP planning towards minimising the ecological impact of its site location, as well as its construction and operation and incorporating renewable energy sources, utilising green infrastructure, and minimising waste and pollution.

The challenges associated with relocation  for the IP tenants and owner  clearly include cost implications, disruption to operations, and potential workforce displacement. However, there are broader concerns, for the neighbouring community and the city in general, that must be addressed to ensure a smooth transition and win-win outcomes for all stakeholders. Using the sustainability framework of prosperity, people, and planet, involves balancing the economic impact of IPs on job loss or creation, regional economic development, and attracting foreign investments on the one hand, with community concerns relating to displacement of neighbourhoods, environmental pollution, and infrastructure strain caused by IPs.

The pros and cons of IP relocations,

Decision-making tools

There are many tools available to support decision-making relative IP location and relocation, such as multi-criteria decision analysis. This approach helps decision-makers weigh various factors with different priorities, leading to more informed choices for park location and relocation. Methods consider a wide range of factors, including proximity to suppliers/markets, land availability and costs, infrastructure connections and costs, labour availability and costs, environmental and other regulatory requirements and costs.

There are also data-driven approaches using spatial analysis tools and advanced location modelling. Big data and spatial analysis tools are increasingly used to identify optimal locations and predict relocation impacts. Geographic information systems and spatial modelling techniques are used to analyse potential locations based on various spatial data sets, including land availability, infrastructure, labour costs, and environmental regulations.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment also play a key role. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments requirements do not include social assessment, but for site-specific analyses of IP relocation there would be advantages of applying international donor methods of social impact assessment. Management systems for addressing environmental, health and safety, and social concerns also offer time-tested methods for achieving performance objectives for cities, IP owners, and tenants.

Involving communities, workers, and environmental groups in the decision-making process is important for creating win-win outcomes for all parties affected and interested in a relocation decision.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has partnered with international donors such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the SECO Corporation of Switzerland in establishing frameworks and policies, including stakeholder engagement methods, in creating eco-IPs throughout Vietnam.

Stakeholder engagement in those development processes has emphasised state management agencies at all levels of government and relevant members of the private sector and local community. Methods utilised have included training courses, workshops, communication and exchange programmes to familiarise stakeholders with the positive experiences and benefits of eco-IP development, including its industrial symbiosis and circular economy attributes, in Vietnam and internationally.

Urban planning for IP relocation

Whether locating a new IP of any kind, or relocating an existing IP, there is a common need and challenge for not only stakeholder engagement but for comprehensive urban planning. And this applies to both the location of the existing IP and to the new location.

Firstly, what happens to a city neighbourhood or district when an existing IP leaves the area? Is there a loss of jobs or other economic loss due to lost demand for local goods and services that would not be replaced by the newly relocated IP? What can the buildings and land left behind be used for? Can some of the buildings be adaptively reused? Is there contamination by hazardous chemicals in the buildings, soil, surface water or groundwater that needs to be cleaned up before they can be productively used again?

These concerns will often reveal themselves in uniquely local ways, so that a one size fits all solution will not likely be effective for all relocating IPs. Local factors influencing the nature and extent of these issues include the type of IP and corresponding mix of industrial tenants, the economic conditions and economic development needs of the vicinity, the existing surrounding land uses and population, existing community concerns, and the potential and specific plans for improved social, economic and environmental conditions.

Relocating an entire IP is equivalent to relocating an entire urban land use. Such an endeavour necessitates engaging a wide range of city government, business and citizen stakeholders, as well as the IP owners and tenants, in a comprehensive urban planning process addressing and connecting both the existing and new IP locations.

This planning process should explore the opportunities and use the tools described above. In doing so, the process should strive for win-win solutions for all parties involved. While enforcing existing environmental standards and regulations at the existing IP location is a minimum approach to improving the situation, it is only a suboptimal solution.

Alternatively, regardless of what new type of IP may be preferred, there is no reason why it cannot be overlain with at least some elements of the eco-IP approach, and in so doing be able to leverage the now well-established frameworks and policies for developing such parks. Combining the eco-IP approach with a package of government incentives for relocation and/or financing through a public-private partnership may make the difference in IP relocation decision-making.

The fourth Vietnam Industrial Property Forum (VIPF 2024) organised by Vietnam Investment Review, under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Investment and coordinated with the Vietnam Industrial Real Estate Association, will take place at Mai House Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday, July 30. Themed Going Green for New Investment Waves, the forum will focus on assessing the growth prospects of Vietnams industrial property market and the development trends of specialised industrial real estate products. It will also address legal issues related to building standards for eco-industrial parks, converting existing parks to eco-parks, and green development according to ESG standards to attract new types of projects, especially high-tech and large-scale projects funded by global conglomerates. In the framework of this years forum, the Organising Board will implement a selection program themed VIPF Green Future Awards. The selection is to encourage and honour investors with strategies to develop eco-industrial parks, as well as secondary investors renting land in industrial parks with green development strategies, using clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, smart management of water resources and resources in the ecosystem, and contributing to promoting sustainable development trends. The deadline for receiving registration dossiers is July 10. For more information on the forum and the award, please visit : vipf.vir.com.vn

Outdated IPs must be dealt with The Vietnamese government has started to move industrial parks that do not meet set conditions to outside central areas. Alex Crane, managing director for Knight Frank, shares his recommendations for advancing this process.

Industrial parks increase supply of high-quality ready-built factories The strong development of the industrial real estate market has promoted the ready-built factory segment in the eyes of international and domestic manufacturers.
Prime Ministers Pham Minh Chinh and Han Duck Soo witnessed the signing of the MoU between the MoST and MSS.

The MoST stated that the MoU comprises 10 key clauses covering fundamental principles and objectives, areas of cooperation, forms of cooperation, financial regulations, information confidentiality, intellectual property rights, dispute resolution, amendments, implementation, effectiveness, and termination notification.

The MoU aims to facilitate training, presentations, and guidance to promote young talent in technology, startups, and innovation. It also includes exchanging information on methodologies, case studies, research materials, publications, and teaching resources related to these fields.

Additionally, the two parties will collaborate to promote K-Tech (a software training programme) to exchange and train human resources within the innovative startup ecosystem.

Furthermore, the MoU outlines cooperation in exchanging entrepreneurs, researchers, lecturers, students, and experts between the two countries' startup ecosystems.

It also plans to organise bilateral technology and innovation events, support job and business integration within the startup ecosystem, and establish infrastructure and investment support to connect innovation centres aiding startups.

During the working visit, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat visited and held discussions at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). The discussions focused on the future cooperation priorities between Vietnam and KIST, including the implementation of the first and second phases of the Technical Assistance Bridging Project for the Vietnam-Korea Institute of Science and Technology (VKIST), scheduled for 2024-2026.

Other cooperative activities include enhancing VKISTs operational efficiency, selecting Korean experts for advisory positions at VKIST and the MoST, and implementing directives from PM Chinh's recent discussions with Korean experts in the semiconductor and AI sectors.

Both sides agreed to promote specific research cooperation activities, aiming to elevate VKIST to a regionally significant research institute, as envisioned by both governments. Minister Dat also visited several advanced KIST laboratories, including those focusing on semiconductors.

In recent collaborations with South Korea on innovative startups, the MoST has intensified its cooperation with international partners, especially South Korea, in training, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and open innovation.

Within the framework of cooperation with MSS, the MoST has proposed the effective implementation of the MoU to support human resource training, particularly through the K-Tech College programme, to identify and train young Vietnamese talents for participation in Korean startups.

The MoST has requested MSS to share experiences and provide training to enhance the capabilities of MoSTs management personnel and local Science and Technology Departments in innovation, startup management, and incubator operations. Additionally, support is sought to develop and implement an incubation programme, similar to South Korea's successful TIPS programme.

Further proposals include transferring completed training programmes and curricula on entrepreneurship, innovation, commercialisation, and fundraising to the Market Development and Science and Technology Enterprises Department and its training partners for widespread implementation in Vietnam.

The establishment of K-Startup centres is also proposed to develop national innovation startup centres in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang, with programmes designed to facilitate Vietnamese startups market exploration in South Korea and vice versa.
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 and a member of the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors, 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.

Director of Grinnell Farm to Table food hub Tommy Hexter 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.

Ethanol production

According to data from the Iowa Farm Bureau, about 50%-70% of Iowas corn production is used to make ethanol compared to the national average of about 35%-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, said Giselle Bruskewitz, senior program director at Iowa Valley RC&D.

Iowa Farmers Union President 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.
https://t.me/medvedev_telegramE/10

On July 4, Americans are going to celebrate. On this very day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence formally separating the US from Great Britain was accepted. The usual set of events is planned, accompanied by barbeque smoke, colourful fireworks, and pompously dull speeches.

Today in America they speak quieter and far less about that very Civil War that lasted from 1861 till 1865, even though it is an outstanding event in history, and its outcomes are quite important for an average person overseas.

Why? One of the reasons is that gloomy parallels with today become more obvious, including the premonition of civil war. It is enough to watch their recent film, Civil War.

However, there are other very unpleasant associations.

It has become clear to many that the experience of long-term confrontation between the Union and the slave-owning Confederacygreatly resembles the Ukrainian conflict.

In terms of industrial potential and human resources, the difference between the North and the South was comparable to that betweentodays Russia and the f. Ukraine. And with that, the ideals of the adversaries greatly differed. For the North, it was equality, liberty, same law for all, while the South propagated inhumane, inveterate racism. The foreign bastards  same as today, England and France  brazenly intervened, wishing for the South to win. They supported slave-owners then in the same way they support nazi Kiev today, together with the present-day US.

The parallels are more than obvious  and all the more unpleasant for the left-liberal establishment that runs the US mass-media. In American press, the President of Russia is sometimes even likened to Abraham Lincoln. Take, for example, this telling headline: Vladimir Lincoln Invaded Ukraine to Preserve the Cohesion of the Union.

For Washington, there are many unpleasant allusions within the political and diplomatic aspects of the special military operation and the Civil War of the 19th century, including its outcomes.

As is well known, Lincoln, the Republican president, eventually won the war; unlike their demented leader, Bidens Democratic party comrades havent completely lost their memory. They know that Lincolns victory became part of world history; his name is revered in Europe, Latin America and Africa for real accomplishments, and absolutely not because his portrait adorns banknotes. Yet, the White House buffoons of today, like some mediocre Blinken, as well as the sullen elderly of the Senate, would not even dream of that.

The senseless and impotent propaganda of the White House of today is also desperately looking for an epiphany in history books. They bring in the narrative that Ukraine is kinda acting like Britain in 1940-41. They proclaimthe little man with red, shifty eyes wearing a shabby khaki T-shirt the new Churchill. They demand that an old geezer with his mouth half-open, who can hardly stand upright became the new Roosevelt, probably hinting that the future US president would likely rule from a wheelchair due to poor health. However, the demented old man is no FDR; which is why the public winces in disbelief.

America is a country with short history however hurtful this might be for Americans  but there are some bright pages in it. One of them is precisely the Civil War, which marked victory over slavery. This is the angle for overseas public to look at what is happening here: in essence, a civil war among the same people, in which the majority are forced to defend their independence with weapons,fighting against the new nazis who are once again supported by corrupt Europe and American military industrial complex.

And just like in the 19th century, the outcome of this war should be the unification of our country. The revival of Great Russia!

Medvedev

P.S. Hey you, Americans! To paraphrase that Trump of yours, Make Russia Great Again!

WtR
I talked about they would call for nuking Russia

Well, they did in the French News

The West is extremely degenerate and psychologically devoid of morals

WtR
One school division in Manitoba is banning cell phones from the classroom.

Late last month, the Hanover School Division announced that it is implementing a cell phone-free learning environment at all K-8 schools beginning in September.

Exceptions will be made for students with medical needs and other extenuating circumstances.

The division says this new policy comes following a successful pilot project at Stonybrook Middle School. It notes the change is aimed at creating a culture of attentiveness, active participation, and respectful interaction among students and teachers.

Students in Grades 9-12 will continue to follow school-specific expectations on cell phone use. High school teachers can allow or restrict the use of cell phones in their classrooms.

The division notes that it has no immediate plans to implement the cell phone ban at its high schools. However, based on the effectiveness of the policy at K-8 schools, it will consider adjustments at the high school level.
I recently reached what Plato called the threshold of old age. Im 61  not old, yet no longer young. The adolescent of senescence. It is an uncomfortable state. I began to cast about for role models. I did not find any. We have plenty of exemplars for pretending not to age, but precious few for actually, well, aging.



Then I stumbled across Benjamin Franklin and ended up writing a book about him, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founders Formula for a Long and Useful Life. He is the model for aging well that I was looking for. The last third of his long life (he lived to be 84) was by far the most interesting, and the first two-thirds were downright fascinating. It was during his closing act that he accomplished the most and changed the most. It was when he became an American rebel, when he charmed the French into supporting the American cause, which helped win the Revolutionary War, and when he signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. It was also when Franklin was at his happiest and most fulfilled. The man aged well.

Members only

Franklin loved systems, and though he never created one explicitly for aging well, I think he would approve of this list, an homage to this remarkable man on July Fourth, culled from his words and his life.

1. Be grateful for the health you have.

Franklin suffered from his share of health problems: gout and kidney stones, to name just two. He did take steps to alleviate his maladies. He consulted with physician friends and invented medical devices such as bifocals and the flexible catheter. Yet he rarely whined or complained. He treated his body with kindness and gratitude. As he wrote in 1790, some three weeks before his death, I do not repine at my malady, though a severe one, when I consider  how many more horrible evils the human body is subject to; and what a long life of health I have been blessed with, free from them all.

In Franklin's eyes, old age was not a failure. It was the natural outcome of a life lived fully. People that will live a long life and drink to the bottom of the cup [must] expect to meet with some of the dregs, he said.
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"Good neighbors are better than close relatives," Kazakh lawyer Gulnur Nurkeyeva has described the relations between China and Kazakhstan as "good neighbors" given the fruitful cooperation results that have been achieved over the past decade. #GLOBALink
Adrian Mendonza has joined Rediffusion as a senior national creative resource. He will oversee creatives for the agencys North India operations. He will be based in Delhi.



Mendonza was most recently lead Creative with RK Swamy BBDO on the Mercedes-Benz brand for five years, and will now work on the BMW India account. Earlier, he was National Creative Director with Dentsu Marcom. He has also worked extensively with Rediffusion, Mudra and Contract Advertising.



His over thirty years in the industry have been spent working on brands like Taj Group Of Hotels, Tata Motors, Phillips Audio & Lighting Systems, Colgate, Airtel, Hindustan Petroleum, Citibank, Indian Oil, Maruti Suzuki, Daikin Air Conditioners , to name a few.

More recently he has been associated with Tata Trusts, Tata Power, TV News18, Raymond Apparel, FedEx, Honda Cars , Mumbai Police and Symphony Industrial Coolers.



Over the years he has won awards at the Ad Club, CAG and A&M Awards, including Campaign of the Year and the A&M Copywriter of the Year. Internationally, he has won at the Cannes Ad Festival, Asia Pacific Awards, New York Festival and London International Ad Festivals.



Welcoming Adrian Mendonza to Rediffusion, Chairman Dr. Sandeep Goyal said, Adrian is one of the best copywriters I have worked with - our association goes back almost 30 years now. He has the expertise of a master wordsmith. Plus strategic understanding that is deep and insightful. Adrian has worked at Rediffusion before. It is good to have him on the team again.

Rediffusion is a powerhouse of great creative ideas. I am delighted to be back and look forward to some cutting edge work on our brands, adds Adrian Mendonza.

Also Read,Rediffusion crafts a new narrative for Liebherr
The Indian advertising and filmmaking industry is experiencing a dynamic transformation, fueled by technological advancements, the rise of digital content, and the ever-evolving preferences of a diverse audience. With the proliferation of OTT platforms and digital media, creators and production houses face both opportunities and challenges in delivering content that resonates across different demographics and cultures. The emphasis on authenticity, emotional connection, and innovative storytelling has become paramount as brands seek to engage viewers in meaningful ways. Amidst this landscape, companies like Chrome Pictures have carved a niche by consistently producing high-quality, impactful content that aligns with both client expectations and creative vision.

In an exclusive interview with Adgully, Hemant Bhandari, Director, Producer, Co-founder, Chrome Pictures, delves into the companys notable achievements and the strategies that underpin its success. Reflecting on a bustling fiscal year 2023-24, Bhandari highlights significant financial milestones, creative ventures, and market expansions that marked this period. He also offers a sneak peek into upcoming projects, shares insights into his creative process, and discusses how advancements in technology like AI and VR are shaping his approach to directing. Additionally, Bhandari addresses the challenges in the Indian advertising industry, the importance of fostering authentic performances from non-actors, and Chrome Pictures strategies to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

How did Chrome Pictures perform business-wise in the fiscal year 2023-24? Could you discuss any significant financial milestones, new business ventures, or market expansions that took place during this period?

Reflecting on 2023-24, it was undeniably a standout period for us, both creatively and financially. With numerous TV commercials under our belt, Minikin DGWorks our digital wing has also created some outstanding work. Along with that, we had two big releases with the production of Aleyas Trial Period, and Amits Maidaan, the year was marked by a flurry of activity and the creation of compelling content. It was indeed a bustling year filled with accomplishments, and financially, it brought us considerable satisfaction.

Could you share insights into your creative process when conceptualizing a TV commercial? How do you balance client expectations with your artistic vision?

As a director, my philosophy revolves around fostering a collaborative environment where creativity thrives. I believe in meticulously aligning with both the creative team and the brand to ensure a unified vision. Before even stepping into the Pre-Production Meeting (PPM), I make it a point to thoroughly dissect the brief, engaging in extensive discussions to ensure that everyone understands the nuances and expectations surrounding the films tonality. Every brand and script carries its own distinct voice, a language I prefer to preserve and amplify throughout the production process.

Take, for instance, my recent work with Quaker. In capturing the essence of their message, authenticity was paramount. We ventured into a village setting, carefully selecting actors who resonated with the script. Our aim was not only to craft a visually captivating piece but also to combine it with positivity and upliftment. It was imperative to depict India without glossing over its complexities, a balance we achieved by steering clear of negative portrayals as per the brands directive. Throughout my journey as a director, Ive learned to trust my instincts to guide the team towards fulfilling the films ultimate objectives. Its this delicate interplay that truly leads to impactful and resonant storytelling.

How have advancements in technology, such as AI and VR, influenced your approach to directing commercials and films? Could you provide examples of how you've integrated these technologies into your work?

I believe that emotions lie at the heart of every human experience, and no amount of technological advancement can replicate the depth and authenticity of human emotion. While AI and VR undoubtedly offer powerful capabilities to augment visuals and messages, they currently lack the innate human touch that resonates with audiences on a profound level. In my practice, I acknowledge the potential of AI and VR as valuable tools, particularly to aid storyboarding and accessing sounds not readily available locally and on other minor levels. However, I approach its use with a discerning eye, recognizing that AIs role should complement rather than overshadow the human touch of storytelling. While I have integrated AI into a select few projects to storyboard and enhance sound, I remain steadfast in my belief that the essence of filmmaking lies in capturing the raw, unfiltered emotions and narratives that define the human experience. Thus, while technology can undoubtedly serve as a valuable asset in our creative toolkit, it is the human connection and intuition that ultimately breathe life into our films.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in the Indian advertising industry today, and how do you navigate them to maintain Chrome Pictures top-tier status?

I view the influx of new talent and emerging production houses as a welcome challenge, one that energizes and enriches our industry. Embracing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches not only fosters a dynamic creative landscape, but also ensures continued growth and relevance. Rather than viewing this influx as a hurdle to navigate, I see it as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to excellence. At the core of our philosophy is the unwavering belief that the quality of our work should always take precedence. We prioritize delivering projects that not only meet but exceed expectations, allowing our work to resonate on its own merit.

While marketing and promotions undoubtedly play a role in amplifying reach, we foster the belief that the true impact of a project lies in the high quality and efforts we add to in our work. Ultimately, our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards and producing content that we are genuinely passionate about. By staying true to our vision and delivering exceptional work that resonates with both our audience and clients, we continue to carve our path forward in this ever-evolving landscape.

How do you manage to extract authentic performances from celebrities who might not be professional actors?

Working with non-actors has been a gratifying and enriching experience. I really enjoy working on projects with non-actors, be it Quaker, Samco, or EbixCash. Their innate authenticity and raw reactions infuse a unique quality in our films that resonates deeply with audiences. When directing non-actors, its of utmost importance to nurture a comfortable environment ensuring that the actors are at ease to enable them to fully be present and deliver genuine performances. Moreover, according to the scene requirement, I curate a setting that allows the actors to easily transition to their roles. Whether its crafting an atmosphere of emotional depth or fostering a light-hearted ambiance for comedic sequences, these tailored environments serve as catalysts for evoking authentic performances from non-actors.

The beauty of working with non-actors lies in capturing their unfiltered reactions, body language, and facial expressions, which adds a quirky sense of realism to our films. It is a subtle yet powerful technique that allows us to showcase their innate talent and bring forth performances that feel truly genuine and compelling to viewers.

How do you ensure to bring imagination into reality with diverse audiences across different demographics and cultures?

My journey, from childhood to the present, has been an exploration of human emotions. Through lifes experiences, Ive come to appreciate the fundamental simplicity and universality of human emotions. Whether its the warmth of connection, the joy of laughter, or the resonance of nostalgia, these emotions form the cornerstone of our shared experiences. In my approach to filmmaking, I like to maintain a deep sense of authenticity and simplicity in portraying emotions. Irrespective of the varying intensities from script to script, an understanding of the nuances of human emotion allows me to ensure a sense of relatability for the audience.

Could you elaborate on how you develop and refine your storytelling techniques to ensure they connect with audiences on a profound level?

In my practice of filmmaking, I leave no stone unturned in enhancing every facet of the production process, whether it's related to location scouting, art direction, casting, or costume design. Each element contributes to the overall visual impact on screen, and thus, attention to detail is paramount. Casting holds particular significance in my projects, as I firmly believe that the right actors breathe life into our narratives and elevate them to new heights. Furthermore, I place great emphasis on collaboration, surrounding myself with a team of skilled professionals who share my passion and dedication to the craft.

From the director of photography to the costume stylist, each member of the crew plays a pivotal role in translating my vision into reality. I seek out individuals who not only possess technical expertise but also possess the ability to understand and enrich the creative vision of the project. I collaborate with individuals who bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table, particularly young talent. Their energy, creativity, and enthusiasm inject new life into our projects, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where every voice is valued and heard.

Ultimately, my approach to filmmaking is rooted in the belief that the right team, composed of individuals who are not only highly skilled but also deeply passionate about their craft, is essential for bringing our collective vision to life.

With the rise of digital content and OTT platforms, how do you see the landscape of advertising and filmmaking evolving in the next five years? What strategies is Chrome Pictures adopting to stay ahead?

The increasing advertising landscape in India indeed presents a mountain of opportunities for creators and production houses alike. As the demand for products and services continues to grow, theres a sense of excitement surrounding the multitude of content opportunities that lie ahead. At Chrome Pictures, we pride ourselves on being a versatile and dynamic entity, catering to the diverse needs of our clients and audiences. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our unwavering dedication to producing impactful projects and films that resonate with viewers on a profound level. With a team of skilled directors, we continuously strive to push the boundaries of creativity and deliver films of the highest caliber.

Our foray into feature films and OTT platforms underscores our commitment to exploring new avenues and reaching audiences across various mediums. Our digital wing, Minikin DGWorks, is also at the forefront of innovation, spearheading groundbreaking projects that captivate audiences in new and exciting ways. While we may not view ourselves as being in a race to outpace the competition, we are steadfast in our pursuit of creating exceptional content that sets new standards within the industry. With a blend of passion, energy, and innovation, we remain committed to staying ahead of the curve and delivering content that resonates deeply with our audience, both now and in the future.

Having produced and directed over 5,000 ads, how do you ensure that each project maintains a high standard of quality without compromising on creativity?

In my experience, collaboration between the creative team and the brand is important. Each project possesses its distinct essence, and I always aim to capture its soul authentically. Upholding rigorous standards is non-negotiable. I like to produce work that not only meets, but exceeds expectations, work that I can genuinely take pride in sharing. Navigating brands toward our vision can present challenges, yet we consistently strive for solutions that benefit both the brand and the narrative. Take, for instance, the Quaker project; initially met with reservations, we meticulously crafted a narrative that celebrated the vibrancy of village life, ultimately delivering a portrayal that was both heartfelt and uplifting. Thorough discourse and unwavering dedication are the base of every successful project.

Could you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or initiatives youre excited about?

Taking a break is essential, and Im really looking forward to my upcoming vacation. Its been too long since Ive had a chance to unwind, and Im particularly excited to spend this time working on writing my feature film. Its a project Ive been eagerly awaiting to delve into, and Im gearing up for the journey ahead. While production may commence next year, the prospect of seeing the vision materialize is incredibly motivating.
Adgully has been turning the spotlight on the entrepreneurs who fought against all odds to bring their dreams to fruition in our special series  START-UP STARS. We at Adgully wholeheartedly support the Vocal for Local movement and have been featuring numerous local/ homegrown businesses, brands, and Apps in the country launched in the last few years.

In conversation with Adgully, Sanket S, Co-founder, Scandalous Foods, speaks about the origins of Scandalous Foods, capturing the significant white space in the post-meal impulse consumption of Indian sweets, challenges of standardizing sweet production, government initiatives, cloud kitchens, and much more.

What inspired you to start Scandalous Foods, and how did you identify the niche for post-meal impulse buying of Indian sweets?

Indians have a tradition of craving something sweet after meals, often saying, Kuch meetha ho jaye to cleanse their palate. This practice is deeply ingrained in Indian culture, making post-meal consumption of sweets a common custom. Recognizing this, we saw a significant white space in the post-meal impulse consumption of Indian sweets.

We identified the HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes) industry as the ideal channel to reach impulse post-meal buyers. While restaurants often sell ice cream due to its easy procurement and standardization, they typically avoid selling mithais because of issues with shelf life and appropriate packaging. Mithais are generally seen as a side-of-the-plate category, contributing around 4-6% to a restaurants top line. Therefore, restaurants are unlikely to hire skilled labour to make mithais, but are interested in selling them because these side categories offer higher margins, increase the average order value, and optimize their bottom line. This makes selling sweets more profitable, similar to how selling fries is more profitable than burgers and iced tea more profitable than pizza.

Could you elaborate on your current B2B operations and how you collaborate with restaurants and catering businesses?

Weve secured key accounts like Zeptocafe, EatFit, and Wow Momos, leveraging my extensive network in the food service industry of 14 years. My co-founding of the Tie Food Network further helped strengthen my connections within the industry. Our collaboration with these restaurants and catering businesses is built on providing high-quality, single-serve mithais that cater to their post-meal offerings, enhancing their dessert menu without adding operational complexity.

Looking ahead, were expanding our reach through distributors, enabling us to cater to smaller restaurants. Additionally, weve recently activated a dedicated sales team to further accelerate growth. Our B2B operations involve regular engagement with our partners to understand their needs and ensure seamless delivery of our products. We provide training and marketing support to help them effectively promote and sell our mithais, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship.

How does Scandalous Foods address the challenge of standardizing sweet production across diverse restaurant and catering environments in India?

For all restaurants and caterers, sweets are usually a side item, but once they become the centerpiece of the plate, they are the main course. As long as they can get sweets that are 8 out of 10, 9 out of 10, or 10 out of 10, they prefer standardized sweets over customized ones. Just like they do not bother about customizing Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or iced tea, this is exactly how it works.

The mithai market is majorly dominated by local heroes and is highly fragmented. Most businesses have focused on targeting celebrations in India, a trend that has been happening for generations. Many have not thought of scaling up and exploring other sales channels. Packaged mithais are targeting B2C, which is usually a planned purchase.

It wasnt difficult to create this product, but it was about spotting the opportunity to create a category within mithais focused on post-meal impulse buying and competing directly with chocolates.

A strong backend infrastructure is crucially lacking to support the HoReCa (Hotel/ Restaurant/ Cafe) industry, presenting immense potential for improvement in warehousing, cold chain logistics, and leveraging technology enablers. The food service industry in India is currently at an adolescent stage, where the importance of a robust backend is increasingly recognized. However, the absence of input credit from the government for the food service sector poses significant challenges. For example, a gulab jamun sold at Rs 20 costs Rs. 21 to produce, and when considering bulk sales, this discrepancy significantly impacts pricing and profitability. Addressing these backend inefficiencies could substantially enhance the industry's growth and sustainability.

Our USPs include preservative-free sweets with a remarkable 6-month shelf life, available in convenient single-serve sizes. We are an affordable sweet manufacturing business with competitive prices.

What are the specific pain points that you have identified in the restaurant industry regarding the sale of side-of-the-plate categories?

One of the primary pain points that we identified in the restaurant industry regarding the sale of side-of-the-plate categories, specifically mithais (Indian sweets), is the lack of availability and standardization. Restaurants typically sell ice cream as it is easy to procure and has a long shelf life. However, mithais, with their varied shelf lives and packaging requirements, are not as readily available, making them less appealing for restaurants to offer.

Additionally, the restaurant industry usually sees side-of-the-plate categories, like desserts, as contributing only 4-6% to their top line. This relatively low contribution means restaurants are not inclined to hire skilled labour specifically to make mithais. Yet, there is a significant opportunity here: these side-of-the-plate categories often offer higher margins and can boost the average order value, ultimately optimizing the bottom line. By providing standardized, well-packaged mithais, we aim to fill this gap, enabling restaurants to capitalize on the high-margin, post-meal impulse buying behaviour of their customers without the added operational burden.

You raised Rs 3 crore in your pre-seed round. How are you planning to utilize these funds to drive further growth and expansion?

We are utilizing these funds to drive innovation and enhance our operations. At our factory, we have introduced New Product Development (NPD) to experiment with new offerings. We have also upgraded our facility to support expansion into B2B exports and the B2C market with mithai cafes. Currently, our focus is on cloud kitchens and QSRs, but we plan to eventually launch our own B2C brand to further scale our business.

Why have you chosen to focus on cloud kitchens, and how do they fit into your overall business strategy?

At Scandalous Foods, we have identified a niche in the large yet unorganized mithai (sweets) market, particularly in the area of impulse buying post-meal. Noticing a gap in the market, we decided to focus on the HoReCa (Hotel/ Restaurant/ Cafe) segment as our primary channel. By selling sweets in a convenient single-serve format, we cater to the post-meal impulse buying trend, fitting seamlessly into our strategy to target this specific consumer behavior and meet the demands of the modern food service industry.

What are the government initiatives that you have benefited from or your sector benefited overall?

The government offers various initiatives, including CGT-MSE loans and food processing subsidies. While we havent yet leveraged these benefits, we look forward to collaborating with the government and utilizing these programs as Scandalous Foods scales.

What advice would you like to give young entrepreneurs in the food sector?

For food-sector entrepreneurs, the product is king. When building a QSR, cafe, or cloud kitchen, dont get sidetracked by technology  its an enabler, not the star. Your product will do the talking. Focus on building a strong brand that resonates with your customers.

Beyond traditional QSRs, the food service ecosystem offers a wealth of opportunities. You could explore food production (processing), logistics, warehousing, or first/ middle/ last-mile delivery. Even venturing into agriculture could be a strategic move. Patience, perseverance, and an eye on cash flows are very important for remaining in the food business.

What is your long-term vision for Scandalous Foods, and where do you see the company in the next five to ten years?

Scandalous Foods will always target affordable sweets in India. We want to be the Monginis of sweets.

Currently, we have a single-serve format. In the future, we will come up with mithai sachets, bars, cookies and waffles too.

Imagine a jalebi waffle, a moong dal halwa cookie, a motichoor sachet, a gajar halwa bar!

Scandalous Foods should be able to reach a revenue of about Rs 400 crore ARR in 5 years.

Also read:MIB makes self-declaration mandatory for food & health ads only
Amid fast-changing developments, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) has issued a new advisory, wherein submission of the self-declaration certificates has been limited to food and health ads. Moreover, advertisers in these two sectors need to upload annual SDCs instead of every ad released.

This has provided immense relief to the advertisers and ad agencies that have been struggling with the huge workload of filling up and uploading SDCs on the Broadcast Seva and Press Council of India portals, among other challenges.

However, there still are several grey areas as to what all will be included in the health and food sectors.

Addressing some of the pain points, a few companies are offering AI-powered solutions for empowering advertisers to meet the Self-Declaration Mandate (SDC) of the Supreme Court with ease via automated compliance monitoring. In this industry report, Adgully explores how advertisers and agencies are leveraging AI and automation to maintain compliance with the SDC mandate.

Speaking on how AI and automation are helping to ease agencies compliance with the SDC mandate,shared, We have been monitoring creative compliance from reputed brands across industries and geographies, way before the self-declaration mandate by the Supreme Court of India. The mandate of submitting a Self-declaration certificate (SDC) is to ensure that there is no misleading information. This mandate requires brands to check multiple creatives in a matter of minutes for various guidelines and automating the process requires advanced AI-ML tech that can identify images, emotions, texts, logos, symbols, etc. mFilterIt TickR, a creative compliance monitoring tool ensures that the checks for compliance get automated with AI-ML-driven tech. We simplify creative compliance, a task that takes days can be done swiftly with automated checks for adherence to various guidelines, including those set by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Surveyor General of India, brand-specific guidelines, and advertising platform best practices.

Discussing the AI offerings of Social Pill helping to streamline compliance with the self-declaration mandate, Neelesh Pednekar, Co-Founder & Head of Digital Media, Social Pill, said, The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting mandates that all advertisements from June 18, 2024, must include a self-declaration across outdoor, print, TV, and digital media. This requires a letter of authorization (LOA) from the client to confirm that all ad information is truthful and compliant with MIB's ethical guidelines. This presents a challenge for digital agencies producing numerous daily ads on platforms such as Google and Meta. The new regulations have significantly increased the workload for the industry, requiring detailed forms on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) portal, including ad descriptions, scripts, and other specific details. The dynamic nature of digital advertising makes this a daunting task.

He further added, Anticipating this challenge, we began working on a solution in the second week of May, following the Supreme Court directive on self-declaration for advertisers. Since this applies to all creatives and advertising, we thought, is there a way to simplify this to try and save time wherever it is possible? Recognizing the responsibility of advertising in influencing the public, Social Pill developed an AI-driven approach to streamline compliance. Our custom GPT tool, built on ChatGPT, reduces the time needed to submit self-declaration forms for ads from 10-15 minutes to about 3 minutes. The advertiser needs to upload the ad creative/image ad and this GPT will read the image and automatically generate the relevant fields for MIB Self Declaration. It is also compliant with both the press council as well as MIB. It not only helps fill in the details on the MIB portal, but also assists advertisers in self-declaring on the Press Council website. The GPT is open for brands as well as agencies. Anyone can access and upload images of their ads to the GPT tool at https://bit.ly/MIBSelfDeclarationGPT. We havent patented it yet, as it is more of a give-back to the industry. While we are working on multiple custom GPTs that we plan to patent, this GPT will always be free and accessible for everyone in the marketing and advertising industry. In terms of the stand of Social Pill, this tool will put us out there as one of the few AI-forward agencies. We have been using AI and custom GPTs for creatives, voiceovers, analytics, and targeting for almost 9 months now for almost all our clients. By leveraging AI technology, Social Pill aims to make compliance simpler and easier, reducing the burden on executives managing campaigns. This proactive approach aligns with our commitment to responsible advertising and efficient business practices.

Naresh Gupta, Founder & Managing Partner, Bang In The Middle, remarked, The AI tools can help you in creating the entries for SDC, so it does help in cutting down some work, so for media agencies who run many search copies in a day, this helps. However, the process of uploading and getting the ref number still requires actual work to complete. In our case, the clients are taking care of SDC, we are not doing it for any of our clients. There is a cost, and there is a cost even if the clients do it, it takes effort, machine time, internet bandwidth, there is no escaping the cost.

Joydeep Sen, Thinking Director, Speaking Mirror, pointed out, The Self-Declaration process often involves repetitive tasks like data gathering and document preparation. This is where AI and automation come into play. AI can automate data collection from various sources, eliminating the need for manual entry. Imagine a system that automatically retrieves information from your internal systems, financial records, and even government databases! This not only saves a significant amount of time but also minimizes the risk of errors that can occur during manual data entry. Furthermore, AI can automate the generation of Self-Declaration certificates (SDC). With AI-powered tools, you can leverage the collected data to generate pre-filled certificates with accurate and consistent information. This eliminates the need for manual document creation and ensures all necessary information is present, saving time and resources for your agency.

AI and automation can be a game-changer for agencies struggling with the SDC mandate. Imagine AI-powered tools that automatically review ad creatives  text, images, and videos  for compliance with advertising regulations. These tools can flag potential issues before submission, saving time and avoiding costly rejections. Additionally, automation can streamline the SDC creation and upload process itself. By automating data entry and certificate generation, agencies can submit SDCs quickly and efficiently, even for high-volume campaigns. This frees them up to focus on creative strategy and client service, noted Bhavik Mehta, CEO, Thinkin Birds Communications.

Rashi Ray, Director, Response India, too, said that AI and automation can make it much easier to comply with Self-Declaration mandates (SDC). It makes the advertising more responsible and advertisers more truthful, she added.

AI and automation have been game-changers for us at our creative agency when it comes to complying with the Self-Declaration mandate (SDC). These technologies streamline the process of generating and uploading certificates, making it quicker and more accurate. By automating tasks like content analysis and certificate creation, AI frees up our team to focus on creativity and strategic planning, rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks, said Ayush Wadhwa, Founder, OWLED Media.

Payal Nambiar, Founder and Director, B Square, noted, Agencies and advertisers are facing significant challenges in navigating the complex Self-Declaration of Compliance (SDC) mandate, particularly in the highly fragmented media landscape. However, the implementation of AI-based solutions is proving to be a game-changer in easing this process. AI-powered tools can drive efficiency and ease the SDC process by automating compliance checks. These tools leverage natural language processing and frame recognition to flag non-compliant text, images, and graphic elements in ad creatives. This proactive approach ensures creative and content compliance, addressing the concerns raised by advertisers. We have successfully deployed these AI-based solutions for multiple brands across various industry segments, including e-commerce, FMCG, banking, and electronics. Embracing AI and automation is the way forward for agencies and advertisers to navigate the complexities of the SDC mandate and maintain compliance without compromising creativity and innovation.

Dr Ravi Changle, Director - AI & Emerging Technology, Compunnel, said, The mandate requiring advertisers and advertising agencies to upload self-declaration certificates (SDCs) for every advertisement across different media channels has introduced significant compliance challenges. This mandate has resulted in a noticeable reduction in the volume of advertisements and raised concerns about client confidentiality. In response, the industry has started developing AI-based tools to streamline the SDC submission process.Advertisers face multiple challenges under the current system. First, the volume and frequency of SDC uploads are overwhelming, requiring multiple submissions daily. Second, the process of filling out and uploading these certificates is complex and user-unfriendly. Third, the official portals designated for SDC uploads are often slow and unreliable. Additionally, there are serious concerns regarding the security and confidentiality of client information. These challenges have led some advertisers to pause their activities, impacting innovation and creativity in the advertising sector.

The AI way

According to Amit Relan, Flagging off non-compliant text, image, and graphic elements of the creative with Natural Language Processing and Frame Recognition also drives efficiency. It checks creative Pre-Flight before publication, all brands have to do is upload creatives for an automated check with some key parameters, like platform, region, etc. Our AI- ML tech-driven tool will check and flag off any non-compliance on Regulatory Adherence. It helps performance Improvement, protects Brand Image, and ensures creative consistency & quality. Monitoring regulatory guidelines and best practices as per platforms & type of ads post-flight, live-campaign helps analyze the acceptance & adoption of your creatives once they are rolled out and examines how it affects the efficacy of both media and content. Understand what works like messaging, design, audience, etc. across different platforms for better and more insightful content creation. AI-driven automation makes the process of validation of creatives and submitting SDC swift, hassle-free, and more efficient.

Joydeep Sen highlighted some key ways in which AI can be leveraged for efficiency:

Leveraging AI for Efficiency

Option A: Utilizing AI for Streamlined Self-Declaration Many agencies have embraced AI to streamline their Self-Declaration processes. These AI-powered tools have resulted in significant benefits:

Increased Efficiency: Automating data collection, document generation, and uploads has significantly reduced the overall time and resources needed to complete Self-Declarations. This allows teams to shift their focus toward more strategic tasks that require human expertise.

Automating data collection, document generation, and uploads has significantly reduced the overall time and resources needed to complete Self-Declarations. This allows teams to shift their focus toward more strategic tasks that require human expertise. Enhanced Accuracy: AI minimizes human error in data entry and ensures consistent information across certificates. This leads to fewer errors and rejections, resulting in a smoother and faster Self-Declaration process (SDC).

AI minimizes human error in data entry and ensures consistent information across certificates. This leads to fewer errors and rejections, resulting in a smoother and faster Self-Declaration process (SDC). Cost Optimization: Streamlining the process reduces manual labor costs associated with data collection, document generation, and uploads. This translates to cost savings for the agency, allowing for potential reinvestment in other areas.

Option B: Exploring AI for Future Implementation

While some agencies have not yet adopted dedicated AI solutions, they recognize the potential for increased efficiency and accuracy. Exploring AI options allows them to prepare for future implementation and reap the benefits of a more streamlined Self-Declaration process.

Bhavik Mehta said, Keeping up with the ever-changing advertising landscape can be a challenge. But integrating AI for self-declaration certificates (SDCs) has been a lifesaver. Before AI, our team spent countless hours manually reviewing ad content for compliance, cross-checking regulations, and then meticulously filling out those darn SDCs. It was tedious, prone to errors, and frankly, ate into our creative time. Now, the process is night and day different with our new AI tool. The system scans our ad content  text, images, the whole package  and flags potential compliance issues. This allows us to address them upfront, saving us from costly rejections. Plus, the system automates a large chunk of the SDC creation itself. Data entry is a breeze, certificates are generated with minimal fuss, and uploads are a snap. This has freed up our team in a major way. We are no longer bogged down by paperwork, allowing us to focus on what we do best  crafting amazing content for ourclients. It's a win-win  we meet compliance requirements efficiently, and our clients benefit from our renewed creative energy.

So far, we have been using AI to improve elements in design, the way we may use Photoshop to improve an image. But we have not yet used it for SDC. It is still very new, said Rashi Ray.

Ayush Wadhwa pointed out, AI and automation represent a transformative opportunity for our creative agency when it comes to complying with the Self-Declaration mandate (SDC). By leveraging AI to automate the generation of certificates through advanced content analysis, we anticipate significant efficiency boosts. While we have yet to use AI, we are sure that this technology will ensure precision and compliance in our certificates, crucial for maintaining industry standards. With AI handling these tasks, our team will have more bandwidth to focus on creating innovative campaigns and delivering exceptional value to our clients.

AI and automation are revolutionizing the SDC process, making it more efficient and streamlined than ever before. Yes, we are using multiple AI platforms to fulfill the requirements of the self-declaration certificates and uploading them. Our experience with these cutting-edge technologies has helped us navigate the process with ease, increasing efficiency and reducing the time and effort required. By leveraging the power of AI, we can now generate the necessary documentation, gather the required information, and submit the SDC forms with unprecedented speed and accuracy. This not only saves our clients valuable time and resources but also ensures that the process is completed correctly the first time, minimizing the risk of errors or delays. Moreover, the integration of automation into the SDC workflow has eliminated the need for manual data entry, freeing up our team to focus on more strategic and value-added tasks. This has resulted in a significant improvement in our overall productivity and the quality of the services we provide, said Payal Nambiar.

Dr Ravi Changle shared, Compunnel AI offers a comprehensive solution that can be effectively used to fulfill the requirements of self-declaration certificates (SDCs) and streamline their uploading process. Our advanced AI solution is designed to address the specific challenges faced by agencies in this domain:

Automated Compliance : Our AI solution automates the entire SDC process  from data entry to submission. This automation ensures that all necessary information is accurately captured and submitted without manual intervention, significantly reducing the time and effort required from agency staff.

: Our AI solution automates the entire SDC process  from data entry to submission. This automation ensures that all necessary information is accurately captured and submitted without manual intervention, significantly reducing the time and effort required from agency staff. Efficiency and Speed : By leveraging machine learning algorithms, our Solution can handle high volumes of SDC submissions swiftly and accurately. This capability minimizes delays and ensures that compliance is maintained seamlessly, even during peak times.

: By leveraging machine learning algorithms, our Solution can handle high volumes of SDC submissions swiftly and accurately. This capability minimizes delays and ensures that compliance is maintained seamlessly, even during peak times. Error Reduction : Manual data entry is prone to errors, which can lead to non-compliance and potential penalties. Our AI solution mitigates this risk by validating the data in real-time and ensuring that all entries meet regulatory standards before submission.

: Manual data entry is prone to errors, which can lead to non-compliance and potential penalties. Our AI solution mitigates this risk by validating the data in real-time and ensuring that all entries meet regulatory standards before submission. Secure Data Handling : We prioritize data security and confidentiality. Our solution employs advanced encryption and secure access controls to protect client information. Additionally, blockchain technology is used to ensure the integrity and immutability of uploaded certificates.

: We prioritize data security and confidentiality. Our solution employs advanced encryption and secure access controls to protect client information. Additionally, blockchain technology is used to ensure the integrity and immutability of uploaded certificates. User-Friendly Interface : Our Solution features an intuitive user interface that simplifies the SDC submission process. Interactive training modules and real-time support via AI-driven chatbots and human experts help users navigate the system effortlessly.

: Our Solution features an intuitive user interface that simplifies the SDC submission process. Interactive training modules and real-time support via AI-driven chatbots and human experts help users navigate the system effortlessly. Scalability : Designed to scale with your agency's needs, our cloud-based solution ensures high availability and performance. Whether handling a few submissions or thousands, our platform maintains optimal efficiency.

: Designed to scale with your agency's needs, our cloud-based solution ensures high availability and performance. Whether handling a few submissions or thousands, our platform maintains optimal efficiency. Continuous Improvement: Feedback mechanisms within our Solution allow users to report issues and suggest improvements. This feedback is used to continuously update and refine our AI models, ensuring that the solution remains responsive to user needs and regulatory changes.

The cost involved in the automation process

Amit Relan pointed out, The automated process utilizes a credit-based system where compliance checks consume credits purchased by the brand. But the true value goes beyond the initial cost. It safeguards the wastage of marketing efforts and ad spending, along with covering various aspects of brand safety and reputation damage prevention. Reduced overall costs by automating brand protection tasks lead to significant efficiency gains. Manual processes require intensive efforts and are prone to human error. Automation minimizes these costs while ensuring consistent, accurate brand protection. Brand reputation is a valuable asset. Automated checks help prevent costly and time-consuming damage control efforts by catching issues early.

ChatGPT is available for free at https://bit.ly/MIBSelfDeclarationGPT. It is available to pro users and also 3.5 (free) users can use it, however with the restrictions of time/ prompts that ChatGPT has put on the free tier. It will always be free till it is on the ChatGPT store. At some point, if we build a custom integrated portal with the GPT to automate the entire MIB and Press Council SDC, we might put a small subscription to it. This however will not be for profit but only to offset the server and bandwidth costs, said Neelesh Pednekar.

According to Joydeep Sen, long-term gains outweigh initial costs. The cost of implementing AI for Self-Declaration processes can vary depending on several factors:

Complexity of the AI solution: More sophisticated tools with advanced features will carry a higher cost.

More sophisticated tools with advanced features will carry a higher cost. Subscription fees: Many AI solutions operate on a subscription model with monthly or annual fees.

Many AI solutions operate on a subscription model with monthly or annual fees. Internal modifications: Depending on existing infrastructure, integrating an AI solution might require additional IT costs. However, the long-term benefits of AI often outweigh the initial investment. Increased efficiency, reduced errors, and the ability to focus on more strategic work contribute to a positive return on investment. For many agencies, the moderate initial cost is justified by the significant long-term gains in terms of time, resources, and accuracy.

While AI for SDCs offers amazing efficiency, it is not without its costs, said Bhavik Mehta, adding, Theres the initial investment for the tool itself, and potentially additional training or integration fees if it doesn't mesh perfectly with our existing software. The good news is that these costs can be balanced by the benefits. With AI handling reviews and data entry, our team saves precious time, leading to cost savings in the long run. Fewer errors from automation also mean less rework and happier clients. Ultimately, it is about weighing the upfront investment against the potential for increased efficiency, reduced errors, and improved client service.

While Rashi Ray said, We understand that it can improve efficiency in SDCs, at the same time he was not able to comment accurately on how it may impact cost.

Ayush Wadhwa emphasized, We are excited about the potential of AI to revolutionize how we handle Self-Declaration certificates (SDC). Implementing AI promises to streamline our operations, enhance accuracy, and ensure seamless compliance with regulatory requirements. While there are initial setup costs and possibly ongoing maintenance expenses involved, the efficiency gains and improved outcomes justify these investments. This approach isnt just about saving resources; it is about elevating our capabilities and setting new standards for excellence in our industry.

Automation and AI are transforming the software development and deployment process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. The cost of the automated process is significantly lower compared to the traditional manual approach, allowing companies to allocate resources more effectively. AI-powered tools can handle repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and provide real-time insights, freeing up developers to focus on more strategic and innovative work. This increased efficiency translates to faster time-to-market, improved quality, and reduced operational expenses. By embracing AI and automation, organizations can optimize the software development and continuous deployment (SDC) lifecycle, gaining a competitive edge in today's fast-paced digital landscape. The future of software development lies in the seamless integration of human expertise and intelligent automation, said Payal Nambiar.

Dr Ravi Changle concluded by saying, The cost factors involved in implementing an automated process for compliance with the Self-Declaration mandate (SDC) can vary, but generally include several key components. Initially, there are costs for software licensing and subscriptions, which cover the purchase or ongoing fees for AI and automation software. Implementation and integration expenses can also be significant, including the cost of integrating AI tools into existing systems and customizing them to meet specific compliance requirements. Training and support are crucial for ensuring that staff can effectively use the new tools, adding another layer of cost for initial training and ongoing support services. Infrastructure and hardware upgrades may be necessary to support AI applications, especially if the solution is cloud-based, incurring additional cloud service fees. Effective data management, including storage and security, is essential to comply with relevant regulations, leading to further costs. Finally, professional services such as consulting, implementation audits, and optimization assessments can add to the overall expense. While these costs can be substantial upfront, the long-term benefits of increased efficiency, reduced manual labor, and improved compliance accuracy often justify the investment.

Also read: Madison Media elevates Vinay Hedge to CEO  Investments
News18 Kannada launches Kannada Nadi a groundbreaking news show dedicated to delivering timely and accurate news from rural Karnataka. The show premieres every night at 8.00 PM featuring authentic stories of Kannada-speaking rural communities, addressing the real concerns and issues affecting the daily lives of rural Kannadigas.

With dedication to accurate and timely news delivery, Kannada Nadi strives to be the go-to news source for rural Kannadigas. The show aims to amplify local voices and keep viewers informed about what matters most to them in their communities. The show will focus on providing accurate and extensive rural coverage, capturing stories from every village and town for a comprehensive view of rural Karnataka.

Kannada Nadi strives to be the most trusted news source for rural Kannadigas aiming to deliver accurate, timely, and relevant information in the region.

Tune in to News18 Kannada at 8 PM every night to stay connected to Kannada Nadi

Also read: News18 Lokmat presents 'Bheti Lagi Jiva': explore the Pandharpur Wari Yatra
KRBL Limited, renowned for its flagship India Gate Basmati Rice, the World's No. 1 Basmati Rice brand*, has announced the appointment of two key executives to its leadership team. Prabhakar Jha has joined as General Manager of Sales & Distribution, while Kamal Kant Kanaujia assumes the role of Deputy General Manager in the marketing team.

These strategic additions underscore KRBL's commitment to strengthen its market position and drive innovation within the food industry. Both Prabhakar Jha and Kamal Kant Kanaujia bring invaluable expertise that will augment the company's capabilities and steer its vision towards pioneering advancements in the market.

Prabhakar Jha, with an impressive 16-year career spanning Reckitt Benckiser, Abbott, and Emami, assumes responsibility for leading KRBL's Sales & Distribution efforts across East and West India, including Nepal. His expertise encompasses Sales Operations, Trade and Customer Marketing, GTM Initiatives, Distribution & Channel Management, Promotions and Launches, People Management, Strategic Planning, Business Analysis, and Budgeting.

Ayush Gupta, Business Head of Domestic Sales at KRBL Limited, emphasized the strategic significance of these appointments, stating, "Experienced professionals from the FMCG front bring not just knowledge but a vision for transformative growth. Their insights will undoubtedly push KRBL towards new heights, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, quality, and market expansion."

Excited about his new role, Mr. Jha commented, "Joining KRBLa company synonymous with quality in the rice industryis a tremendous opportunity. I look forward to leveraging my sales and distribution expertise to drive growth and excellence in every grain we deliver."

Kamal Kant Kanaujia, who brings over 17 years of FMCG marketing experience from Reliance Consumer Products Ltd. and Adani Wilmar Ltd., joins as Deputy General Manager in the marketing team. His deep understanding of brand marketing across diverse food categoriessuch as Rice, Edible Oils, and Spicespositions him perfectly to drive innovative marketing strategies and support India Gate in maintaining its industry leadership.

Mr. Kanaujia shared his enthusiasm, saying, "I am thrilled to join KRBL and eager to apply my extensive experience with leading food brands to spearhead innovative marketing initiatives. It's an honor to contribute to KRBL's journey and to fortify India Gate's position as an industry leader."

With these strategic appointments, KRBL reinforces its commitment to innovation, quality, and market expansion. The company is optimistic about achieving robust growth through continued domestic market expansion and enhanced global exports.

Also Read : Brand Visage Communications Secures The Digital Mandate for India Gate Foods, Europe Launch
China, Kazakhstan launch new connectivity projects to boost bilateral, regional cooperation

Xinhua) 08:04, July 04, 2024

In this combo photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly attend an opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian international transportation route via video link at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu, Zhai Jianlan)

ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- In a major step aimed at bolstering connectivity and cooperation, visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday attended the opening ceremonies of one transportation project and several cultural exchange facilities.

These projects, poised to enhance both bilateral and regional connectivity, highlight the two countries' commitment to strengthening ties, and evoke the region's illustrious history as a crossroads of trade and culture.

NEW ROAD TRANSPORT ROUTE FOR ENHANCED CONNECTIVITY

According to an estimation by the World Economic Forum, 90 percent of global traded goods are shipped by ocean. Land-locked countries, however, do not have the opportunities for this cheaper form of trade.

As the largest land-locked country in the world, Kazakhstan has transcended its geographical limitation through extensive development of its transportation network. A crucial aspect of this transformation into a "land-linked" country is its Belt and Road cooperation with China.

On Wednesday, the two heads of state presided over the opening ceremony of a road transport route to a Caspian Sea port via video link, bolstering Kazakhstan's efforts to improve its connectivity.

Though named "sea," the Caspian Sea is the world's larges inland body of water, surrounded by Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Over the past few years, Kazakhstan has been modernizing its ports, crucial components of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

The TITR begins at China's port of Lianyungang and runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and on to European countries. Gaidar Abdikerimov, secretary-general of the TITR International Association, noted that the route has become a vital artery for transporting goods from Southeast Asia and China to Europe.

Before the debut of Chinese trucks utilizing a road transport route to reach the Caspian Sea on Wednesday, China-Europe freight trains originating from China and crossing the Caspian Sea had already maintained seamless operations for two years.

Now, a comprehensive, multi-dimensional network integrating road, rail, air, and pipeline transportation has been established.

Noting that it was in Kazakhstan in September 2013 that Xi first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Abdikerimov said that "this strongly inspired us and we are a significant part of the BRI."

After more than a decade of development, the BRI has proven its feasibility and significantly impacted the development of the TITR, he said.

INCREASED CULTURAL EXCHANGE FACILITIES FOR BETTER TIES

In parallel with infrastructure developments, China and Kazakhstan on Wednesday enhanced "soft connectivity" through new cultural and educational projects.

Apart from attending the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Center in Astana and the Kazakh Culture Center in Beijing, the two heads of state also unveiled here the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).

Noting that Tokayev studied Chinese at BLCU from 1983 to 1984, BLCU's President Duan Peng called the Kazakh leader "a brand ambassador for Chinese language and culture education at BLCU."

Last October, when Tokayev visited his Chinese alma mater, he once again expressed his "sincere love for the Chinese people," said Duan, adding that it was during that visit, Tokayev endorsed the proposal to establish a branch of the university in Kazakhstan.

According to Duan, the Kazakhstan branch will welcome its first cohort of 100 students this September, and the new branch plans to expand to a capacity of 800 students over the next five years, serving the entire Central Asia region.

Interest in the new school has been high, with numerous inquiries pouring in. For these new students, who will be Tokayev's "new alumni," Duan had this message: "We look forward to your successful studies here, making good friends, learning the Chinese language and culture well, and becoming bridges for the exchange and mutual learning between civilizations."

Given the extensive shared border and the deepening partnership between China and Kazakhstan, particularly in transportation and logistics, there is a rapidly increasing demand in Kazakhstan for professionals proficient in Chinese, said Irsaliev Serik Aztaevich, president of Astana International University, where the BLCU Kazakhstan branch is located.

The new branch will focus on training high-level Kazakh-Chinese interpreters, with plans to expand its scope to train multilingual translators for the entire Central Asian region, he said, adding that Kazakhstan's demand for highly skilled professionals fluent in Chinese is growing swiftly.

Emphasizing that young people are the inheritors of China-Kazakhstan friendship from generation to generation, Xi, in his meeting with Tokayev on Wednesday, called for the two countries to give full play to the role of the culture centers and the Kazakhstan Branch of BLCU.

He urged these institutions to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen public support for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

Xi 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 (SCO).

"President Xi's visit to Astana for the SCO summit is of significant importance and influence, because it underscores China's commitment to regional cooperation," said Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Center.

"It (The visit) enhances diplomatic ties, promotes economic cooperation, and strengthens the unity and effectiveness of the SCO," she said.

"President Xi's presence at the summit highlights China's vision for a more interconnected and prosperous region," Shaimergenova concluded.

China's commitment to enhancing connectivity extends beyond its bilateral relations with Kazakhstan. Under the BRI, China is spearheading numerous infrastructure projects across Central Asia for win-win cooperation and common prosperity across the region.

A prime example is the agreement on constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, reached in early June. Once completed, this railway will significantly shorten the time required to transport Central Asian products to major global markets. It will also facilitate the integration of Central Asia into global industrial and supply chains, thereby boosting regional development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly unveil the nameplates of Astana China culture center, Beijing Kazakhstan culture center, and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University, at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. Experts and officials in the central Asian country strongly anticipate the efforts of both nations to strengthen bilateral relations on various fronts. They believe the upcoming visit has the potential to bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

FOSTERING PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Since establishing diplomatic relations more than 30 years ago, bilateral cooperation between China and Tajikistan has grown immensely. In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership during Rahmon's state visit to Beijing.

The Chinese leader last visited Tajikistan in 2019, and the Tajik president traveled to Beijing in 2023 for the China-Central Asia Summit and an official state visit.

Qanoatullo Saifulloev, deputy director of the state-run Khovar News Agency, said he believes the cooperation between China and Tajikistan is growing yearly.

"Our political, economic, social and cultural relations are rising. We are confident that they will continue to develop and serve the benefit of the two peoples," he said.

According to Saifulloev, the strategic partnership between the two countries was established mainly due to the efforts of the two leaders, and the personal friendship of the two leaders has a positive impact on the development of long-term bilateral relations.

He highlighted that China is currently the top investor in Tajikistan's economy, driving economic growth, creating more job opportunities, and promoting social and infrastructure development in the country.

"Chinese companies are actively working in our country, and our young people are learning Chinese," Saifulloev said, adding that the language barrier is slowly being broken down.

Abdurahim Juraev, a professor at the Tajik State University of Law, Business and Politics, said Tajikistan has shown a growing interest in the Chinese language in recent years.

"The Chinese language can now be studied in almost all universities in Tajikistan, including our own," he said, adding that there are already groups within the university where the vast majority of subjects are taught in Chinese.

Juraev also believes that the Chinese modernization experience provides economic and development insights that can benefit Tajikistan.

"I believe that the Chinese experience of modernization is significant ... it is different from the Western modernization, it is unique, and it preserves its own experience and traditions," he said.

And China's scientific achievements, which are widely acknowledged in Tajikistan, have potential applications in Tajikistan, he said, adding that joint events, scientific seminars, and round tables should be held between scientists from the two countries.

JOINING HANDS TO BUILD FUTURE

In recent years, Tajikistan and China have collaborated on designing and constructing new buildings for Tajikistan's parliament and government and other large infrastructure projects.

"In a short time since the beginning of our cooperation, many infrastructure projects have been put into operation," said Yusuf Akhmatbekzoda, deputy director of the Directorate for Construction of Government Facilities of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, highlighting the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, the Kulyab-Muminabad highway, as well as many other infrastructure projects that have been jointly built by the two sides.

"These two landmarks really make the city's architectural appearance stand out," he said. "They're one of the city's top attractions."

"These buildings will remain a symbol of the friendship between China and Tajikistan for future generations," he added.

According to Saifulloev, President Xi's visit will "give new impetus to bilateral contacts and bring relations between Tajikistan and China to a new level."

"We, as representatives of the media, along with our colleagues, are committed to actively strengthening our cooperation ... and covering more and more of our contacts, our achievements at the bilateral level," he said.

Akhmatbekzoda called the visit "promising," providing an opportunity for both sides to "discuss comprehensive bilateral relations in the fields of industry, energy, road construction, medicine, education and comprehensive good-neighborly relations."

The official believes that by fostering closer ties with China, Tajikistan can witness greater social and economic development.

Noting that Tajikistan and China have a long and trusting friendship, Juraev said the visit will further deepen the relations between the two countries.

He said Tajikistan can greatly benefit from its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. "As I understand, the philosophy behind this initiative is to foster mutually beneficial relations between China and other states, ensuring that all countries participating would benefit from this project."

Speaking of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, Juraev lauded the organization's role in strengthening global security.

The SCO provides an opportunity to collectively discuss regional and global issues, and each member country can make its contribution to these issues such as anti-terrorism and extremism, which are common concerns not only for the region but the whole world, Juraev noted. 
The chronicles of Britannia Industries were indelibly etched with a new chapter on the 2nd of July 2024. It was on this momentous day that the esteemed Urjit Patel, formerly of the Reserve Bank of India, was bestowed with a position on the companys board of directors. This momentous occasion was disseminated through an official filing with the BSE.

In a symphony of corporate governance, Dr. Urjit Patel and Sunil Siddharth Lalbhai were ushered into the esteemed ranks of the boardroom. The Nomination and Remuneration Committee, having meticulously conducted the selection process, presented their recommendations. These pronouncements were then enshrined by the Board of Directors at their bimonthly session.

A collective nod of approval was reserved for a later date. On Monday, 12th of August 2024, the companys annual general meeting will convene. It is at this gathering that the appointments in question will be ceremoniously acknowledged by the membership.
The Alabama State Department of Education experienced a data breach in June that may have compromised some student and employee data, officials announced Wednesday.

On June 17, information system staff interrupted and stopped an attack on the departments computer system before hackers could fully access the system or lock it, according to State Superintendent Eric Mackey. He said staff were able to restore all system data with backups, but there is a possibility that some data was compromised.

Officials have launched an ongoing criminal investigation and are working with federal and state law enforcement, the Alabama Attorney General, the Alabama Office of Information Technology and an independent anti-hacking expert to assess the scope of the attack.

Like others that have been hit, other public schools, agencies, hospitals and businesses, this has become unfortunately almost commonplace across our country where these foreign criminal syndicates attack American institutions like they attacked ours, Mackey said. And while this is disheartening and disappointing, we are not wanting to negotiate with foreign actors or extortionists, and weve made that very clear.

There were 1,619 publicly disclosed cyberattacks on schools between 2016 and 2022, according to the nonprofit K12 Security Information Exchange. The organization counted over a dozen malware or ransomware attacks in Alabama school districts during that time period.

Mackey said the department could not specify which data was breached in June, but encourages students and state and local education employees to be on alert. The state department does not collect direct deposit information, but may house Social Security numbers or other identifiable information.

To all parents and to all local and state education employees out there, they should monitor their credit and they should assume that theres a possibility that some of their data were compromised, Mackey said.

Teacher certification processing also slowed down, Mackey said, due to recent work on the departments servers. But all services are now back up and running.

Mackey said the department is taking additional measures to improve cybersecurity, but declined to go into detail about those protocols. He also declined to comment on any system vulnerabilities behind the attack.

Down the road, that may be something that can be shared, but again were following the lead of federal investigators, he said.

Updates on the data breach can be found at alabamaachieves.org/databreach and any questions or comments can be directed to databreach@alsde.edu.

The state departments website, alabamaachieves.org, will be down for a few hours starting at 5 p.m. July 3 for some previously scheduled updates.
Hurricane Beryl had 110 mph winds on Thursday afternoon as it continued to pull away from the Grand Cayman Islands.

Beryl battered Jamaica on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, but wind shear in the Caribbean was taking its toll on the storm, which on Thursday afternoon was a Category 2, according to the National Hurricane Center.

But Beryl will be around for a while and has two other potential landfalls in its future  and one will be very close to south Texas.

The hurricane center cautioned that Beryls long-range track was still uncertain. There remains uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend, forecasters said Thursday morning. Interests in eastern Mexico and southern Texas should monitor the progress of Beryl. Regardless of the exact track, rip currents could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.

As of 1 p.m. CDT Thursday, the center of Hurricane Beryl was located about 135 miles west of Grand Cayman and was tracking to the west-northwest at 18 mph.

Beryl had sustained winds of 110 mph, making it a Category 2 hurricane.

The hurricane center expects Beryl to keep on a path to the west or west-northwest, and it will continue to move away from the Cayman Islands and toward Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, where it could make landfall early Friday morning. The hurricane center expects Beryl to be weaker by then but still a hurricane.

Then Beryl could make it into the southern Gulf of Mexico by Friday night. Forecasters think it could restrengthen to a hurricane over the Gulf and make its final landfall in northern Mexico, very close to the border with Texas. That could happen late Sunday or early Monday morning, according to the hurricane centers official forecast track.

A hurricane warning was dropped for Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac on Thursday afternoon, but one remained in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel.

A hurricane watch is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Campeche.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City.

Beryl peaked as a Category 5 hurricane late Monday into Tuesday morning and had maximum winds of 165 mph. It made its first landfall on the small island of Carriacou on Monday with 150 mph winds, causing significant damage and killing at least six people.

Early reports suggest two others were killed by the storm as it passed by Jamaica.
People in Alabama know that Magnolia Springs is charming, welcoming and well worth a visit  especially for the gorgeous tunnel of trees on Oak Street.

The rest of the country is catching on, too, as evidenced by some recent kudos from Conde Nast Traveler. The magazine included Magnolia Springs in its list of The 28 Most Beautiful Towns in America. Although the list isnt ranked, the town in Baldwin County earned lavish praise from writer Caitlin Morton, who said:

Magnolia Springs is the epitome of Southern charm, with oak tree-lined streets, historical churches, and friendly locals. Located at the beginning of the Magnolia River, it also happens to be one of the only remaining towns in the U.S. that has mail delivered via riverboat. Book one of the five cozy rooms at Magnolia Springs Bed & Breakfast, which was built in 1897 and retains its original stained glass and woodwork.

The Magnolia Springs Bed & Breakfast adds to the charm of this small town in Baldwin County, Alabama.(AL.com file photo/Kate Mercer)

Magnolia Springs, with a population of about 1,000 people, is in good company on the list, which seeks to point travelers to tiny enclaves filled with friendly locals, walkable downtown areas lined with mom-and-pop cafes, quaint boutique hotels, and incredible views of some of the best landscapes in the U.S.

READ: Buy me a river: A look around this $4.79 million estate in Magnolia Springs

The coast-to-coast list includes famed scenic spots such as Taos, New Mexico; Bar Harbor, Maine; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Stowe, Vermont; Lake Placid, New York; Sedona, Arizona; Nantucket, Massachusetts; and more.

Magnolia Springs is the only Alabama town mentioned by Conde Nast Traveler, but the list also points to Southern spots such as Jekyll Island, Georgia; Marfa, Texas; St. Augustine, Florida; and Beaufort, South Carolina.

Magnolia Springs, which dates back to the 1800s, has earned praise in the past for its enduring appeal, including a spot on Architectural Digests 2022 list of The 55 Most Beautiful Small Towns in America. Southern Living, too, has said the historic town has almost too much charm to handle.

RELATED: 12 places to spend a beautiful day in Alabama
The United States of America celebrates the 248th return of the sun to the place it was when the Second Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. This years celebration occurs between a significant retrograde and a new moon, reflecting a sense of being in the thick of things, sorting through the complexities of democracy.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because you notice what people need before others see it (and maybe even before the needy one does), youll be in a position to speak to a problem while its small and easier to remedy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Off-beat invites, pitches and offers will be the best kind to agree to. They are a chance to create a memory. Its better to have a new and different experience than to do something comfortable but ultimately forgettable.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Dont drive yourself too hard or youll only rebel against yourself later. Finding the right-sized challenge will be your gift and your success secret.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your favorite people will be part of the fun. You take care of them, and they take care of you -- often at the same time. Youre a genius at steering interactions in a positive way and keeping the good vibes flowing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have strong intuition. Write down a prediction; its a gift to future-you. Tonight offers the chance to fix one small problem that will in turn fix or prevent many others in the days to come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There is art in the concept, but the concept is not the art until its executed. This is why it behooves you to get into construction mode as soon as possible. If you cant build it today, what small step can you make today with the intent to bring it to life?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Its possible to like someone and love them, too. Its also possible to love someone and not like them at all. The mind and heart have their own agenda. It will sync up nicely today, and this is nothing to take for granted. Celebrate!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Nothing about you needs to change, except maybe your location. When youre in the right spot, everything falls in line and makes sense. When youre not in the right spot, keep moving. Youre going to find it!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You dont have to spend a lot of money to get what you want, but you will have to spend some. Choose quick and keep working. Maybe you could save a few bucks by shopping around, but getting on with your life has a greater value.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Every emotion has something to teach you. Anger can motivate, jealousy can teach you your own values, frustration shows you your relationship to time and helps you understand where to set your expectations. Love opens up the world.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you share good news, you find out who your real supporters are. The ones who cannot immediately love and celebrate your success are probably not true supporters, but it doesnt mean they dont belong somewhere in the system.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may research, interview and investigate, all very helpful. But theres only one thing that will show you what is really up, and of course thats doing the thing. You may not (SET ITAL)feel(END ITAL) ready, but youre ready-ish, and thats ready enough.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (July 4). Youre focused on others and youll quest for the thriving of your people, community and world. Its fulfilling and youll make a difference over and over. In the process youll stumbled onto happiness more often than not. Other highlights: A proud funding, celebrating dear relationships and three items checked from the bucket list. Virgo and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 13, 2, 28 and 15.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Born on the same day as America, former first daughter Malia Obama is a loyal Cancer with Venus and Mars in Gemini, the sign of communication. Shes fast on her feet, a quick thinker and an excellent debater. Moon in Scorpio points to a rich inner life, and love of solitude and privacy, yet the spotlight has irresistible magnetism for someone with a natal Mercury in Leo.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.
Summer has been sizzling in Alabama, with recent temperatures as high as the upper 90s and the heat index expected to reach as high as 110 degrees.

These Jefferson County establishments wish their county health inspection scores could match the temperature.

Eight restaurants, gas stations, conveniences stores and food trucks scored 84 or below in their most recent inspection.

Scores under the 85 threshold trigger a reinspection within 60 days.

Among the infractions observed by county health inspectors were dead roaches, a swarm of gnats and a can opener soiled with black grime.

Here are those eight establishments with under an 85 score for June, in descending order:

Riverchase BP

3641 Lorna Rd., Hoover

Score: 84

Inspection date: June 14

Dead roaches were seen throughout the kitchen.

The sewage pump was missing a plug.

The hot and cold faucets at the three-compartment sink needed repairs.

King Buffet

7873 Crestwood Blvd., Birmingham

Score: 83

Inspection date: June 26

A can opener was soiled with black grime.

Food safety training was not provided for all food handlers.

Several foods were out of temperature.

La Conchita Bakery

3309 Lorna Rd., Hoover

Score: 82

Inspection date: June 3

Gnats were seen throughout the facility.

An accumulation of food debris was found on a can opener blade, a dough cutter and dirty dishes. Debris was also accumulating on shelving in the prep area.

Pastries at the checkout counter were uncovered.

An employee wearing gloves returned from outside the bakery with a dirty pan. They then put the pan in the sink and put blueberries on cake.

Zaxbys

1304 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills

Score: 82

Inspection date: June 5

There was an accumulation of food debris in floor drains throughout the facility, according to the inspector.

The walk-in freezer had an accumulation of ice while the tabletop fan had an accumulation of dust and grease.

An employee touched ready-to-eat chicken with their bare hands.

Food safety training was not provided for new employees.

Pollo Lucas

3305 Lorna Rd., Hoover

Score: 81

Inspection date: June 7

An employee took ready-to-eat tortillas off the grill with their bare hands before wrapping them in foil.

There was no designated person in charge at the time of the inspection and no one with proof of taking or completing a food safety training course.

Several foods were out of temperature.

Taqueria Juarez #2, Chefs Workshop

3439 Lorna Ln., Hoover

Score: 81

Inspection date: June 3

Food debris was found in the bottom and around gaskets of reach-in coolers and the low boy cooler.

Wastewater was leaking from air conditioning units on the ground.

A food thermometer was inoperable.

El Men Tacos

2445 1st Avenue S., Irondale

Score: 76

Inspection date: June 4

An accumulation of flies was observed on the food truck.

Rice and beans were out of temperature.

The truck lacked procedures for cleaning up vomit and diarrhea.

Food handler training was not provided.

Citgo Food Mart (3 Brothers Inc.)

4300 East Lake Blvd., Birmingham

Score: 68

Inspection date: June 26

The interior of the ice machine was soiled with residue and rust. Trash was seen under shelving in the walk-in cooler.

The interior of the make table was soiled with food debris.

The establishment did not provide employees with clean-up procedures when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.

There were broken and damaged floor tiles in the bathroom and back of the facility.

Motor oil, carburetor cleaner and an old bottle of cleaner were stored above tongs, a dicer and a hot plate.
Funeral plans have been announced for a Jefferson County firefighter who was killed in a motorcycle crash in Blount County.

Justin Phillip King, 23, died Tuesday night when his Harley-Davidson left U.S. 31 near Church Street and struck a utility pole.

King was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced dead on the scene.

King, who lived in Blount County, joined Hoover Fire in September 2023. He was both a firefighter and an EMT.

He also held part-time positions with the Center Point Fire District and the Warrior Fire Department.

With profound shock and deep sorrow, we must share the sudden and tragic news of the untimely passing of our friend, brother, and colleague, Center Point fire officials posted on Facebook.

Justin Phillip King, a 23-year-old firefighter in Hoover, Center Point and Warrior, was killed in July 2, 2024, motorcycle crash.(Contributed)

Justin and his brother, Austin, were not just members of our firefighter family, they were born into it, the post read. Growing up around Center Point Fire, they followed in the footsteps of their father, Jonathan King (JK), who retired in 2015, and became an integral part of our community at an early age.

During this difficult time, we ask that you keep Justins family in your thoughts and prayers, officials said. Your support and comfort will be greatly appreciated.

A GoFundMe has been started to help with Kings burial. He leaves behind his wife and their baby son.

Hes touched the lives of so many and its our turn to give back to his precious family, according to the fundraising site. Justin was an amazing husband to his wife, Hope, and the best father to sweet baby Colt.

Donations to the family can be made here.

Visitation for King will be held Saturday, July. 6, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Crossroads Baptist Church in Warrior. A 2 p.m. service will be held, followed by burial at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery in Trafford.
July 4th isnt just Americas birthday, its also a federal holiday.

The federal holiday marks the day in 1776 when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, signaling the official separation of the colonies from Great Britain amid the Revolutionary War.

Since that day, July 4, 1776 has been considered Americas birthday, making her 248 years old today.

According to the Library of Congress, Philadelphians marked the first anniversary of American independence with a celebration, but it wasnt until after the War of 1812 that July 4th celebrations spread across the new nation.

As a federal holiday, government offices are closed. And while not an official a governmental agency, the U.S. Post Office observes federal holidays meaning mail will not be delivered today. Post Offices are also closed.

Mail service will resume and post offices will reopen on Friday, July 5th.

Independence Day is the sixth postal holiday of the year, coming after New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday, Presidents Day, Memorial Day and Juneteenth National Independence Day.

The next federal holiday is Labor Day on Sept. 2, followed by Columbus Day on Oct. 14, Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 28 and Christmas Day on Dec. 25.
Twice a month, the city of Birminghams Design Review Committee convenes to discuss plans to make alterations to structures that fall within one of the citys many historic and commercial revitalization districts. This column summarizes actions by the DRC on June 12 and June 26, 2024 activity with projects grouped by type and location.

The June meetings saw the DRC considering changes to neighborhoods just east and southeast of downtown - Lakeview, Forest Park, and Avondale Park  as well as a substantial project in Five Points West.

Forest Park
Madison police are investigating the shooting death of an unidentified man on Wednesday in north Alabama.

Officers responded around 11:30 p.m. to a report of a shooting on Miller Boulevard near Old Madison Pike, police said, and found one man on the ground with possible gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to Huntsville Hospital by paramedics and eventually pronounced dead.

Madison police are investigating the shooting as a homicide. This appears to be an isolated incident and there is reason to believe the victim and offender were known to each other, police said in a statement.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact the Madison Police Department at 256-772-5658 or email tellmpd@madisonal.gov.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

* During talks with Tokayev, Xi said that China stands ready to jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future with the SCO member states including Kazakhstan.

* During his stay in Astana, Xi also held meetings with leaders of multiple countries, including SCO member states and dialogue partner, in a bid to promote bilateral relations as well as regional stability, prosperity and cooperation.

ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Kazakhstan, the first leg of his ongoing Central Asia trip, has yielded fruitful results, a testament to China's commitment to jointly building a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.

Xi also held respective meetings on Wednesday with several leaders of regional countries ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana. In these meetings, they vowed to promote high-quality cooperation, enhance connectivity and strengthen the alignment of development strategies, in a bid to bring more benefits to their peoples and the region.





NEW "GOLDEN 30 YEARS"

Xi arrived in Kazakhstan on Tuesday for a state visit and attendance at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.

On Wednesday, when meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana, Xi said that he is ready to work with Tokayev to jointly build a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and inject more positive energy to the development and stability of the region and beyond.

During their talks, Xi noted that last year Tokayev and him met twice in Xi'an and Beijing respectively, and made new arrangements and plans for the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, leading the "golden 30 years" of rapid development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witnessed the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media.

When jointly meeting the press with Tokayev, Xi said that China and Kazakhstan have set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date.

The two sides agreed to continuously deepen cooperation in such traditional areas as economy, trade, investment, production capacity, interconnectivity and energy, and jointly foster new growth points for cooperation in critical minerals, new energy, scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, digital economy and other fields, Xi said.

Xi said the Chinese side will hold China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025. The Chinese side has also decided to open the second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country, he said, adding that the two sides will expand cooperation in such fields as media, think tanks, as well as films and television, and encourage more sistership among provinces and cities of the two countries.

The two sides have pledged to continue working closely in international affairs and strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the SCO, the China-Central Asia mechanism as well as other multilateral frameworks, he said.

China supports Kazakhstan in joining BRICS cooperation mechanism, playing the role of a "middle power" on the international stage and making its due contribution to global governance, Xi said.

On the same day, in a major step aimed at bolstering connectivity and cooperation, Xi and Tokayev attended the opening ceremonies of one transportation project and several cultural exchange facilities.

The two heads of state presided over the opening ceremony of a road transport route to a Caspian Sea port via video link. Apart from attending the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Center in Astana and the Kazakh Culture Center in Beijing, the two heads of state also unveiled here the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).

These projects, poised to enhance both bilateral and regional connectivity, highlight the two countries' commitment to strengthening ties, and evoke the region's illustrious history as a crossroads of trade and culture.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witness the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media, following their talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)





BOOST REGIONAL COOPERATION

China will assume the rotating presidency of the SCO following Kazakhstan, Xi said Wednesday. During talks with Tokayev, Xi said that China stands ready to jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future with the SCO member states including Kazakhstan.

China last hosted the SCO summit in 2018 in Qingdao, a coastal city in China's eastern Shandong Province, where Xi proposed the building of an SCO community with a shared future.

During his stay in Astana, Xi also held meetings with leaders of multiple countries, including SCO member states and dialogue partner, in a bid to promote bilateral relations as well as regional stability, prosperity and cooperation.

When meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi urged both countries to continue to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and international strategic coordination. Facing an international situation fraught with turbulence and changes, China and Russia should keep upholding the original aspiration of lasting friendship, and sticking to the determination of benefiting the people, he said.

China and Russia, Xi said, should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability.

Putin vowed to fully support China's work of the rotating presidency of the SCO during the upcoming term and work with other member states to continuously enhance the international influence of the organization, safeguard regional peace and security, and promote the development of the international system in a more just and equitable direction.

For the ties with Uzbekistan, Xi said that China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations with the future of the country and the well-being of its people in mind, during his meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev earlier in the day.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with leaders attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

During Mirziyoyev's successful state visit to China in January, China and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point, Xi said, noting the development of bilateral relations have ushered in a new stage.

China firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security, and is always a trustworthy friend and partner of Uzbekistan, he added.

When meeting with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Xi urged both countries to explore new ways of thinking to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to make it continue to deepen and more effective, as well as to further expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity and expand cooperation on new quality productive forces.

China firmly supports Kyrgyzstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and in finding a development path suited to its national conditions, he added.

Kyrgyzstan-China relations have always been rock-solid, and there are no political differences or cooperation obstacles between the two countries, said Japarov, hoping the two sides will work together to promote the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and close multilateral communication and collaboration in the SCO and other platforms.

Also on Wednesday, Xi, together with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, announced the upgrade of bilateral relations to strategic partnership, which is a new positioning and a new starting point.

As good friends with sincerity and mutual trust, as well as good partners with equality and mutual benefit, China and Azerbaijan should jointly advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarity, and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote world peace, stability and development, he said.
An Alabama native who gave himself the nicknames Ocean and Wavy because of his love for the water drowned Sunday in Hawaii, leading his family to raise money to bring his body home to Mobile.

Octavian Sigler, 26, was born and raised in Alabama but was living in Hawaii when he drowned Sunday, according to his sister, LaTonya Sigler, who organized a GoFundMe for her brother.

A bystander found Octavian Sigler dead in the water off Honolulu, according to his sister.

He moved to Oahu in 2022, LaTonya Sigler told Hawaii News Now.

When he comes in the room, youre gonna feel his energy. He was so bubbly. He was just outgoing. He was so loving. Anyone that knew him would just say he was so sweet, she told the outlet.

He called himself Ocean and Wavy because he loved the water, she added. And thats just his personality.

Sigler created a GoFundMe so her brothers body could be sent to Mobile, where Octavian Sigler was born and raised, for a homegoing celebration.

The crowdfunding effort surpassed its goal of $10,000.
This is an opinion column.

Ive before shared my deep affinity for Frederick Douglass. Shared how I remain inspired and driven by the works and words of this gifted 19th century statesman, journalist, and orator. Inspired by his fearlessness. By his passion.

By his unrelenting challenge to this nation: To do better. To be better.

Every year at this time, I read what many believe to be the most vital anti-enslavement speech in our history. Douglass delivered it on July 5, 1852 - not on Independence Day. Yet it was unequivocally aimed at the nations annual celebration of freedom from British rule and pierced the great American hypocrisy of that time: celebrating the ideals of the founding fathers in a nation built on the evil of slavery.

Historians came to title the lecture: What to the slave is the Fourth of July?- the most famous line in the speech. Douglass did not call it that, though. He didnt call it anything.

He simply stood before an audience at Corinthian Hall in Rochester, New York, where he lived at the time, at an event commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and boldly declared: This Fourth of July is yours, not mine You may rejoice, I must mourn.

He opened, however, with a hopeful tone, lauding the founding fathers:

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men, too, great enough to give frame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men.

He also closed with uplifting thoughts:

I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. The arm of the Lord is not shortened, and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope.

In between the man born into enslavement held back nothing. He lambasted the institution and how it still poisoned white Americans against Blacks. Despite the hard truth that the white wealth of the nation was cultivated on the backs of Black men and women, Douglass stated that day, the nation had yet to embrace and respect him as a man.

For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting, and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold; that, while we are reading, writing and ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants and secretaries, having among us lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators and teachers; that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the Pacific, feeding sheep and cattle on the hill-side, living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives and children, and, above all, confessing and worshipping the Christians God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave, we are called upon to prove that we are men!

Of, if Douglass stood before us today. Im sure his tone would again dance between hopeful and harassing. He would admire for how far weve come in 172 years yet lament how far we still have to go.

And challenge us on where we are as vociferously and eloquently as he challenged where America was on that day.

Where we are is this: Staggering through days of division and discord towards a presidential election whose result could very well threaten the very democracy the founding fathers (even in their imperfection) built.

Now, etch Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayors words of dissent into your heart. This week, her conservative/activist/MAGA (as my friend JD Crowe appropriately asserts) colleagues unleashed a beast upon our nation.

Unless we the people say different.

What to a nation distressed and discordant, Douglass might ask us, is this Fourth of July? Should we rejoice or mourn?

Before firing up the grill this afternoon on this Independence Day, take a few minutes to read Douglass full speech here.

You will be moved. Or should be.

Roy S. Johnson is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame, an Edward R. Murrow Award winner, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary. His column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.










English News China makes huge progress in studies of lunar samples

Alwihda Info | Par People's Daily - 2 Juillet 2024



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.

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.



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 billion 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.



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.



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.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Prospering telemedicine a reflection of China's rapid internet development To make China-ASEAN cooperation more fruitful China sees prospering development of marine economy Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
This very week as we celebrate our nations Independence Day, hundreds of political prisoners are being denied their freedom in the United States of America. These citizens serving prison time for trumped-up (no pun intended) charges, mainly misdemeanors such as unlawful entry (although the Capitol Police held the doors open and encouraged entry) and trespassing, just received some encouraging news. Last weeks Supreme Court decision in Fischer vs. U.S. held that the most severe law cited in the January 6 prosecutions -- insurrection -- does not apply to riots or protests, which means the accusations of insurrection have been downgraded to mere trespassing.

As you enjoy the most expensive hotdogs and beer in the history of our Republic (thanks to Bidenomics!), dont forget the men and women who are locked up for the crime of exercising their First Amendment right to assemble and express their opinions at the January 6 rally.

Violent Antifa and BLM protestors destroyed buildings and set fires in Minneapolis, Portland, New York City, Kenosha, and Chicago with little to no consequences, while conservatives are being rounded up and imprisoned solely because of their political persuasion.

Then there is Peter Navarro, former Director of the White House Trade Council in the Trump administration, who has been in prison for four months because he asserted executive privilege and ignored a congressional subpoena, which is a misdemeanor. Peter is a 74-year-old man whom the FBI handcuffed and shackled as he attempted to board a flight. In America.

Even U.S. District Court judge Amit Mehta admitted, It is curious... at a minimum why the government treated Mr. Navarros arrest in the way it did. It is a federal crime, but it is not a violent crime.

Why wasnt Navarro allowed to walk into an FBI office, as most white-collar defendants are permitted to do?

It is a surprise to me that self-surrender was not offered, Judge Mehta said.

This blatant use of intimidation and humiliation by the Department of Justice in the case of a non-violent white-collar offense should concern every American.

This week Steve Bannon, former Special Counselor to President Trump and founder of Bannons War Room Podcast, reported to prison and will serve a four-month sentence for the same charge of asserting executive privilege and ignoring a congressional subpoena, which is, again, a misdemeanor.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Eric Holder faced zero consequences for ignoring a congressional subpoena and was never prosecuted. Attorney General Merrick Garland recently ignored a congressional subpoena. The Justice Department has declined to pursue a criminal case against AG Garland, just days after House Republicans voted to hold him in contempt for defying a congressional subpoena that asked him to produce audiotapes of President Biden. Two different standards of justice are on full display.

House Speaker Mike Johnson will supposedly make a motion in federal court to enforce the subpoena against Garland to obtain audio recordings of President Biden after the Justice Department declined to act on the Houses contempt referral. We shall see.

From Mike Davis, Article3Project.org:

Weve had Constitutional Executive Privilege for 250 years going back to George Washington, so presidents can get candid and confidential advice from their presidential advisors both inside of the white house and outside of the white house without fear that their advisors will get hauled before courts or Congress to reveal those discussions, and the whole point is if you dont keep it confidential, if you dont have that executive privilege, youre going to destroy the presidents ability to get good advice; youre going to destroy the presidency; youre going to destroy our country. There was a Constitutional Executive Privilege with both Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon. The Biden Justice Department eviscerated that to get Trump, and at the same time that they put Navarro in prison and theyre sending Bannon to prison now, they turned a blind eye to Hunter Biden, who did a drive-by political press conference at the capitol and ignored a congressional subpoena. They ignored, Merrick Garland ignored a congressional subpoena and said he had a get-out-of-jail-free card because he has Constitutional executive privilege, which is absolutely nonsense. Merrick Garland released the transcript of special counsel Rob Hurrs conversation with President Biden but hes refusing to release the tape. How can you release the transcript but not release the tape, so Garland is making a legally frivolous claim of executive privilege and refusing to cooperate with Congress, contempt of Congress, yet Garland is sending Navarro and Bannon to prison. There must be consequences to this. The House Republicans must hold Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress and send the House sergeant at arms to go get him and arrest him and put him in the capitol jail until Garland turns over those tapes.

So enjoy your fireworks, your barbecue, and your family. But remember those who are being politically persecuted, and pray that our Justice Department will be restored to a fair and impartial system under the 2025 Trump administration. If it is not, we will no longer be a free and independent nation.

As President Trump said, "They're not after me. They're after you. I'm just standing in the way."

Image: Spurekar
Ah, 1776  a time when the ruling aristocracy taxed Americans without their say, destroyed printing presses of those publishers demanding liberty, and jailed outspoken critics for treason. How things have changed  not! If there were one indispensable truth to be learned from Americas glorious Independence, it is this: governments do not give freedom; they take freedom away.

Any smooth-talking politician who pretends that government should be praised for the gifts it bestows upon the people is a smiling agent of the Crown fashioning new chains for citizens to wear. Laws, taxes, and regulations do not liberate human beings; they are the bricks and mortar trapping us inside ever-smaller cells.

Government is the destroyer of liberty. Bureaucracies do not light the flame of freedom; they snuff freedoms light out. People alone (separate from the organizing strictures of the State) secure their liberty by pushing back against and restraining the otherwise ever-growing oppression of power-hungry governments. Citizens hold the keys to their own prison cells. They must only find the courage to open up their doors and walk outside. This was true in 1776; it is no less true today.

What is remarkable about the period leading up to the American Revolution is how quickly public sentiment shifted. By and large, colonists saw themselves as loyal servants of the English Crown until, suddenly, they were not. They celebrated King George IIIs birthday each year. They formed militias to aid their king in wars against his European foes. As late as 1775, few Americans desired anything so radical as political Independence. The idea seemed far-fetched.

A year after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, half a year after the publication of Thomas Paines Common Sense, and a month after Richard Henry Lee of Virginia urged the Second Continental Congress to declare the United Colonies, free and independent States, Americans were well on their way to separating from the British Empire for good. Colonial delegates agreed to a Resolution for Independence on July 2, approved Thomas Jeffersons Declaration of Independence on July 4, began publishing the Declaration on July 6, and publicly read the Declaration in Philadelphias Independence Square on July 8. A year later, Philadelphia celebrated July 4 as an official Independence Day holiday with music, bonfires, parades, military processions, speeches, and fireworks. From loyal servants of the Crown to rebellious rabble-rousers who staged mock funerals for King George in the space of two years. Sometimes History comes at you fast.

Fifteen years earlier, American colonists had been fighting alongside British redcoats in the French and Indian War. Now they were conducting guerrilla warfare campaigns against English garrisons and seizing English vessels. America had no navy; young fishermen and sea merchants created one. America lacked well-trained, professional soldiers. Sharpshooting hunters with accurate long rifles had to suffice. America didnt have enough young men to bear alone the burden of fighting. Old veterans, patriotic young women, and dedicated wives became instrumental to the Revolutions success.

Samuel Whittemore, around eighty years old when the British marched on Lexington, is often credited as the oldest colonial combatant. His obituary recounts the remarkable mans heroics on April 19, 1775. If I can only be the instrument of killing one of my countrys foes I shall die in peace, he reportedly declared. Killing a redcoat with his rifle, taking out two more with his horse pistols, and drawing a sword to defend himself from advancing soldiers, Whittemore was shot in the face and bayonetted several times. We have killed the old rebel, the British allegedly exclaimed. About four hours after, his obituary records, Whittemore was found in a mangled situationbut providentialy none of the blades had penetrated so far as to destroy him; his hat and cloaths [sic] were shot through in many places, yet he survived to see the complete overthrow of his enemies, and his country enjoy all the blessings of peace and independence. Now thats an obituary! Amazingly, Captain Whittemore lived another eighteen years after being left for dead.

I like to think that men such as Samuel Whittemore scared the bejesus out of the British Regulars. The Crowns professional soldiers marched in formation and followed rules of gentlemanly conduct, and out of nowhere, some eighty-year-old madman was jumping out from behind a wall and firing on them without warning. Youre not playing by the rules, I bet they cried. What rules? Whittemore probably replied.

His story reminds me of that of Daniel Morgan, who formed a company of Virginia riflemen and marched six hundred miles to Boston in under three weeks in the summer of 75. During the French and Indian War, Morgan had been lashed five hundred times (yet miraculously survived) for punching an English officer in the face. He never forgot the lesson. In Massachusetts, he ordered his legendary snipers to take out British officers who believed they were well out of range. The British army was outraged. Morgan didnt care.

In his memoir, Private Yankee Doodle, Joseph Plumb Martin described the heroics of Mary Ludwig Hays at the Battle of Monmouth. When her husband went down in the fighting, Hays began loading cannon in his place. Martin described the scene: A cannon shot from the enemy passed directly between her legs without doing any other damage than carrying away all the lower part of her petticoat. Looking at it with apparent unconcern, she observed that it was lucky it did not pass a little higher, for in that case it might have carried away something else. Pennsylvania later rewarded her with a veterans pension.

Another woman, Deborah Sampson, disguised herself as a man and enlisted in the Continental Army as Robert Shurtleff. As part of a light infantry unit, she was involved in many skirmishes and got shot twice  and even removed one of the musket balls herself to avoid discovery. She was later honorably discharged, married a farmer, and received a military pension from the state of Massachusetts. Incredibly, Congress later granted her a federal military pension after the intervention of a rather famous friend  Paul Revere.

Never underestimate ordinary people determined to advance a cause. In the eighteenth century, the British redcoats were the preeminent fighting force in the world and represented the most powerful empire on the planet. Still, they could not best colonial irregulars who were willing to risk all for victory. Guns and bombs win battles. Hearts and minds win wars.

I look back at the feats of Deborah Sampson, Mary Hays, Daniel Morgan, and Samuel Whittemore and see a common attribute: they were men and women worth listening to. In my mind, there is no higher honor. We should all strive to conduct our lives in such a way that others might stop and listen to what we have to say. Those worth listening to tend to be people of principle, courage, conviction, and honor. During the American Revolution, our country was blessed with an extraordinary share of exceptional people.

Do not doubt that America is still blessed with an outsized share of heroes. Ive met many. Ive seen amazing people make tremendous sacrifices. I know many of you are heroes because Ive had the chance to read your comments and reflect upon your words. If we were ever facing hardship as our ancestors did nearly two hundred and fifty years ago, I would want you all in a foxhole with me.

This patriotic time of year always reminds me of someone who is gone but never forgotten  Lloyd Marcus III, who passed away nearly four years ago. A tireless defender of America who loved his country dearly, the Unhyphenated American was unquestionably a man worth listening to. In spirit, he will always be in our foxhole, too.

Happy Independence Day!

Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
How soon until the U.S. has an immigration processing station in every third world hellscape? With Democrats running the show, its only a matter of time.

Using State Department funds, the Joe Biden administration will now assist Panama in building up its deportation infrastructure. Thats the story, according to Camilo Montoya-Galvez at CBS News, who reported on a new bilateral agreement signed Monday between the Bidenites and the administration of the new Panamanian president, Jose Raul Mulino. From Montoya-Galvez:

Under the joint initiative, U.S. immigration officials will train and provide assistance to Panamanian authorities to help them carry out more deportations of migrants heading north. In recent years, Panama has reported record numbers of crossings along the roadless Darien jungle, including over half a million in 2023 alone. The Department of Homeland Security will be dispatching officials who have experience screening asylum claims and deporting migrants to Panama so they can assist their Panamanian counterparts on the ground. Using State Department funds, the U.S. will also help Panama build up its deportation infrastructure.

Never mind using State Department funds, aka American taxpayer dollars and debt, to build up the deportation infrastructure here where we need it as our nation crumbles under the disaster brought by Joe Bidens mass migration scheme, Bidens staff think the best course of action is, at least ostensibly, to assist Panama in processing all the migrants flowing through the Darien Gap.

Whats interesting though is that Montoya-Galvez reported that the DHS officials who are being dispatched to Panama arent just seasoned deportation officials, but include asylum officers who will assist their Panamanian counterparts in determining which migrants meet the eligibility criteria.

But...what comes after that? Well, Montoya-Galvez didnt say, but the obvious implication is that these asylum-criteria-eligible migrants will be permitted to continue on their journey north, presumably cruising right on through our ports of entry with their U.S. paperwork in hand. Its not like these migrants are seeking asylum in Panama, because Panama doesnt hand out debit cards loaded with thousands of dollars; host them in luxury hotels; provide food, medical care, and free school; or give them preferential treatment in the hiring process because they come without the tax burdens of social security and unemployment.

And how do I know that? Well heres this, from another outlet, reporting on the agreement news:

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.

Like Mulino said, the United States is the final destination for these migrants; Panama is just a thoroughfare. Offended that Biden is using your money to pay for flights to ship them straight in so that they dont have to deal with the hassle of walking, swimming, or wading across the southern border? Well, now hes using your dollars to set up de facto processing centers around the world, expediting our collapse.

Image from X.
There is an interesting debate about the origins of the expression, You can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Although often attributed to Abe Lincoln (and sometimes to P.T. Barnum), there appears to be no clear evidence Lincoln ever actually uttered those words and considerable evidence tracing the quote to earlier sources.

Whatever its origins, I must confess that the quote comes to mind when I see Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers smirk after he seems confident his latest pronouncement will fool at least some of the peopleas when he blames the influx of millions of illegal aliens across our southern border on Donald Trump. Indeed, I find Schumers smirk nearly as annoying as Kamala Harriss persistent cackling.

Image: Chuck Schumer grilling. (Deleted X tweet.)

Schumers latest effort to con the American people came in his denunciation of Mondays Supreme Court decision (Trump v. United States) that a presidents official acts are immune from criminal or civil prosecution as disgraceful. According to Schumer: [T]his 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. His colleague, Senator Richard Blumenthal, added that the Courts decision grants him [Trump] a legal armor that no other citizen enjoys.

One wonders whether either of these gentlemen has ever glanced into a mirror. Had they done so, they would have observed a citizen who enjoys a quite similar immunity from judicial prosecution for their official acts. As the website Congress.Com notes: Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution provides that for any Speech or Debate in either House, Senators and Representatives shall not be questioned in any other Place. The website explains:

[I]t is well established that the Clause serves to secure the independence of the federal legislature by providing Members of Congress and their aides with immunity from criminal prosecutions or civil suits that stem from acts taken within the legislative sphere. As succinctly described by the Court, the Clauses immunity from liability applies even though their conduct, if performed in other than legislative contexts, would in itself be unconstitutional or otherwise contrary to criminal or civil statutes. This general immunity principle forms the core of the protections afforded by the Clause.

If a senator stood up on the Senate floor andrather than proposing that the independence of the Supreme Court be undermined by packing it with additional memberssimply revealed the home addresses of those justices he disapproves of and urged that patriotic Americans burn down their homes to intimidate them, neither the Supreme Court nor the Department of Justice could take any legal action in response. The first remedy would be a possibility that the senator might be removed from office by impeachment, and if that failed at the next election, constituents would have the option of electing someone else. However, the senator would be immune from prosecution for what would otherwise be blatant federal felonies.

I do not know how the lower courts will come out when they apply this new judicial guidance to the specific cases now pending before them. But even a cursory examination of some of the recent cases brought against former President Trump reveals the very serious risk of lawfare prosecutions to undermine political opponents. There are nearly 100 U.S. Attorneys appointed by presidents from both political parties. Add to that the thousands of state and local prosecutorsnot to mention the vast numbers of angry voters who feel passionately against an incumbent president and thus might bring the most frivolous civil lawsuits to tie the president up in litigation for most of his or her waking hoursand Mondays decision makes eminent sense.

I am no fan of former President Trump. I have never voted for him. John McCain was my friend long before he ran for Senate, and the idea that anyone who bragged about sexually assaulting numerous women because they were powerful enough to get away with it would be elected even as a dog catcher still shocks me.

But when Senator Schumer asserts that the Courts quite reasonable decision is a sad day for our democracy, I cannot help but lament that his partisan attacks seeking to undermine the independent Judicial Branch may be an even greater threat to our democracy than anything Donald Trump has thus far done.

Prof. Turner holds both professional and academic doctorates from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he taught for more than three decades prior to his 2020 retirement. The views expressed are personal.
KHARTOUM, July 4 (Xinhua) -- At least 25 people drowned while fleeing the ongoing military clashes in the Sinnar State in central Sudan after their wooden boat capsized, local resistance committees announced on Thursday.

"As the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) entered the area, at least 25 citizens, most of them women and children, died in a boat sinking accident east of Abu Hujar city, between the Al-Dibaiba and Luni villages," the resistance committees in Sinnar said in a statement.

The victims included entire families from the Al-Dibaiba village, the statement added.

Over 55,400 people have fled Singa, the capital city of Sinnar state, since the clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary RSF expanded in June, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The Sudan conflict, which broke out in mid-April 2023, has led to at least 16,650 deaths, reported the OCHA in a June report.

Over 7.7 million people have been displaced internally within Sudan since the outbreak of the conflict, while about 2.2 million others have crossed borders into neighboring countries, according to the figures released on June 25 by the UN International Organization for Migration. 
For many Americans, July Fourth is a day off from work, complete with barbecues and fireworks. Sadly, though, for way too many Americans, its a day to go off the deep end about how evil America is in the grand scheme of things. Its therefore worth reminding ourselves this July Fourth whats unique about our country, both past and present.

America is a unique country in world history because it was not formed around historical geography (that is, ancient ties to a particular spot of land), tribalism, religion, or race. Instead, the country of America was formed around an idea.

The idea is that the government serves the people and not vice versa. The documents embodying this profound idea are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Thats it. Thats America, and the benefits flowing from those documents are freely available to all those who are legally here.

Image: Signing the Declaration of Independence by John Trumball. Public domain.

Both the documents and the ideas contained within them have their roots in English tradition and law and, indeed, sometimes go back even further to Anglo-Saxon, Roman, and Greek traditions and laws. However, in all those cases, the principles were thought to be tied inextricably to the people who developed and practiced them.

What makes America unique is that the Founders universalized those principles through the Declaration, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Theyre not just the rights of Englishmen or Romans; theyre the rights of all people.

I understand, of course, that for four score and seven years, certain parts of America denied those same universal rights to blacks and that we long had an uncomfortable history with Native Americans. (The latter understandably resented the settlers taking over their land and failed to understand that their small, and declining, numbers and pre-modern abilities precluded their prevailing in a war with the new American nation.)

However, heres the important thing and the thing that the left does not want anyone to know: Those failures lie with human natureand with changing values over timenot with the ideas themselves. The ideas are timeless and universal.

Or at least, for many generations, we Americans thought they were timeless. They were so obvious and wonderful, so tied to success, opportunity, merit, liberty, and all the things that people living before the 21st century took for granted, that it never occurred to us that, in fact, the ideas were ephemeral and could easily be destroyed.

For over one hundred years, the forces of totalitarianism have attacked the liberties that Americans take for granted. And when I say that, Im not talking about totalitarian attacks against liberty in foreign lands (Bolshevism, Naziism, Maoism, Islamism, etc.). Im talking about those at home who have attacked American values.

Open economic communism failed because Americans knew they could get a piece of the pie and, therefore, didnt want the government hoarding all the pieces and handing out the crumbs to preferred classes. Undeterred, American leftists immediately shifted to cultural Marxism. In the past few decades, cultural Marxists have coopted the news media, academia, K-12 education, Hollywood, many of our courts, and large parts of our state and federal governments.

By slowly and steadily taking over Americas institutions, leftists have done enormous damage to Americas principles. Theyve divided our people along tribal lines, defined by race and sexuality, and substituted favoritism and government control for merit and liberty.

Theres a reason Democrats love Biden despite his corruption, lies, and dementia: As Americas figurehead, he got things done. Hes destroyed our borders, weakened our national security, trashed our economy, exacerbated racial divisions, hyper-sexualized our children, and given aid and succor to foreign enemies (Iran, China) while abandoning our friends (most notably Israel and almost certainly Taiwan). No matter your beef with Trump at a personal level, he did none of that in his first term and wont in his second.

While its lovely to see the Democrats in disarray, it aint over til its over. If we wish to wrest this country out of leftist hands and restore a nation that is driven by the values our Founders articulate in the Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate today, as well as our Constitution and Bill of Rights, which we should celebrate every day, we must vote, we must (if we can) donate to candidates who will weaken the Democrats, and we must keep the faith.

Happy Fourth of July!
The British election is being held today, and Nigel Farages reform party seems to be on the verge of a historic victory. As in other parts of Europe, the citizens of the United Kingdom have tired of their elite policies that are turning their countries over to people from the Middle East and Africa, people who do not share the common peoples values and are breaking their systems.

England, like America, has labored for a long time under two political parties that are essentially identical. They rejoice under different names (Labour and Tory) and use different rhetoric, but theyre effectively identical in practice: Big government and unlimited immigration from countries that do not share British values.

For many years, the British have been shouldering the burden of those policies. However, theyre noticing that their systems, especially their beloved National Health Service, are breaking, and their social compact is tattered.

Vast swaths of England look like Pakistan:

A group of Muslims pray in the street in London & show who is boss. They respond to the imam's words with "Allah Akbar".



I assumed major civil strife was 20-30 years away, I'll change that to 10-20. The govt is too short termist & too cowardly to do anything of substance. pic.twitter.com/h5ExXIGzWp  David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) October 18, 2023

Everyone's favourite part of London, Green Street, Forest Gate, East London the home of Anjem Choudary. I even heard someone speak English.



That rubbish is going to attract the rats and mice., pic.twitter.com/kb1p1z34bc  David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20) April 10, 2024

It looks like Islamabad but it is London Upton Park, Green Street, where Muslim immigrants dominate and the presence of native English people is close to zero. pic.twitter.com/V9Fv2aqRhb  RadioGenoa (@RadioGenoa) April 10, 2024

Islam Conquers the United Kingdom



During a rally for Hamas outside Downing Street in London, Islamic soldiers stopped for Maghrib prayer...



Does the naive West even realize that the Maghrib prayer contains Surah Al-Fatiha, which is one of the most anti-Christian and pic.twitter.com/KY9oV5Pkr6  Amy Mek (@AmyMek) October 18, 2023

Birmingham Shareef.



This is crazy.



You're driving down the road and there in the horizon is ... a HUGE brand new masjid going to open this #Ramadan mA



So amazing to see Islam so visible... may Brit Muslims continue to be blessed to share Islam & live it with their neighbors. pic.twitter.com/JPrLWIADya  Hasib Noor -   (@hasibmn) February 24, 2019

Naturally, theres the virulent antisemitism that comes with a countrys Islamisization:

I would like to thank the London @metpoliceuk who I believe saved my life from certain death on Saturday, when I was attacked by the supporters of terrorist organisations such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic's IRGC. One of these pro-Palestinian protesters threatened pic.twitter.com/1FuOTUgUEY  Vahid Beheshti (@Vahid_Beheshti) October 16, 2023

Inspired by #Hamas, Britstanis in #London are calling for jihad against Jews. Worried about #Gaza? Keep a close watch on 'Londonistan.' British passport-holding radicals in local mosques are pushing not only for jihad against Jews and defending Hamas' attacks on Israeli children pic.twitter.com/YWcH3slJ5W  Amjad Taha   (@amjadt25) December 14, 2023

While ordinary Brits may have no great love for Jews or Israel, this type of thing goes too far.

In addition to taking over the streets, Islamists are also taking over British politics. As always, I distinguish between good people who are Muslim and people who are radical Islamists, seeking a total caliphate conquest, complete with the end of all liberty, including forced conversions and the subjugation and often murder of all non-Muslims.

The issue, of course, is values, and thats where Nigel Farages UK party comes into play. It currently appears that Reform UK, which is about ending unlimited immigration and restoring traditional British norms, is about to wipe out the Tories. In the short term, this is good for the Labour Party. However, as Paul Joseph Watson makes clear, the Tories are functionally indistinguishable from the Labour Party. They need to go:

Yes, Labour will win but it will be out very soon because its policies will be even more disastrous than the Torys policies have been. The government will fall, an election will be called, and, with luck, Reform UK will be there to pick up the pieces.

Of course, as Watson notes in his video, both the Labourites and the Tories are going all-out to attack Reform UK as the second coming of Hitler. However, what should be the death blow to that line of attack is the amazing speech that the Muslim tech millionaire, Zia Yusuf, gave at a rally for Reform UKa party hes substantially funded:

This is a Muslim man of Pakistani origin who is speaking up for core British values and against the unlimited immigration that is destroying his country economically and socially. Hes not speaking in terms of race. Hes talking about libertyand the fact that the British Uniparty (just like the American Uniparty) is anti-liberty.

Because England holds its election on a single day, requires voter ID, has paper ballots, and places limits on mail-in ballots, the election results will be known quickly, and they will be accurate. By tomorrow night, it wont matter whether Labour wins. What will matter is whether the venerable Tory party is deservedly wiped out and a new, liberty-oriented, English-values Reform UK party rises in its place.

Image: Nigel Farage at the Reform UK rally in Birmingham. YouTibe screen grab.
You are never, ever the good guy if you are for suffocating speech. Ever.

In order for what follows to make sense, we all need to stipulate this point. Especially when you are being told to reject the evidence of your own eyes and ears and believe the lies you are being told.

History has proven it true: if the people in power want to censor, punish, limit speech, they are always the bad guys. Always. There are simply no exceptions to this rule. In the 2,000 years of man being upright and organized into groups with a leader, however primitive, if the leader of the group wants to keep you from voicing an opinion, hes a bad guy. Full stop. Period. No exceptions. Free speech, like liberty writ large, is the souls right to breathe, as Henry Ward Beecher said.

So when I read in a July 1st Axios article that point four of Team Bidens survival strategy was to limit dissent that caught my notice.

The Axios passage reads:

Limit dissent. Biden allies helped orchestrate the supportive tweets by former Presidents Clinton and Obama. Those happened after furious back-channeling by allies. Truth is, that was the easy part.

I doubt many of us are surprised, but to see it so plainly, well, theyre not even hiding it anymore. We see it as plainly as we see Joe Bidens obvious physical and mental infirmities.

Limit dissent? From whom? Well, were reading from many sources that its a comprehensive Team Biden doctrine. Multiple legacy media sources are reporting: Jill Biden is shielding Joe Biden from anyone who might suggest he step aside. The Biden campaign is working the phones to keep Hill Democrats from saying anything about stepping aside publicly, even though many have said or implied exactly that privately. And the Biden White House? White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre hadnt had a briefing in weeks and it took the better part of one of those weeks post-debate to get her behind the podium, finally, a few days ago.

According to Axios, a massive political, PR and personal campaign is underway to reject calls for President Biden to drop his re-election race. Theyre unleashing the full power of the White House and top Democrats to resist the loud calls for him to give up the race.

The article even tells you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears and just believe the good stuff they are telling you, as they try mightily to limit the bad.

Thats the plan:

The bottom line: Biden's camp believes voters will give more weight to Biden's judgment and record than to his grandpa gait or fading debate dexterity. It's one of the greatest gambles in the history of politics. Once again, Biden's team is telling Democratic voters: You just have to believe.

You just have to believe? What? Your lying eyes? Your lying ears?

We are truly in Orwellian territory here. Not even figuratively. Literally. Team Bidens bottom line might as well have been plagiarized. (Its not like it would be the first time for Joe.)

From George Orwells book 1984:

The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.

I mean  Were over the rainbow here. Click your heels and get back to Kansas, America. Back where things are real, if youre not already there, because this?

This is Crazytown.

Image: Defense Visual Information Defense Service, via Picryl // public domain
The chattering class spends much time arguing over the Supreme Court ruling in Trump v. USA. The decision is clearly moderate, in which the Court chose to require the lower courts to do their job and define private and official actions performed by the president in any proceedings. The absurd argument by Justice Sotomayer that assassination would be protected misses any reasonable reading of the prerogatives of the president under Article II. But then the three dissenters were looking to convict Donald Trump and remove him from the presidential race. The majority was analyzing the issues for the future and recognizing the separation of powers.

Our founders created a four-part separation of powers. In the federal government, they created an Executive with broad powers, but not unchecked. The Legislative Branch was given the power to create laws, not the president or the Court. The Legislature can check the president through impeachment and conviction, through hearings to analyze executive actions, or through the power of the purse at the least. The Court was definitively given the power to check both through its rulings, affirmed by Marbury v. Madison. In this way, the Court could rule a law unconstitutional or an executive action beyond constitutionality.

The fourth check is contained in the power of the states under the Tenth Amendment. Further, the states are given constitutional rights to bring actions in the Supreme Court against the federal government and other states when conflicts arise. This sovereignty of states is the heart of federalism and is anathema to the socialist-left politicos. States rights was used by racists to limit voting rights of blacks and continue slavery. But because this power was abused to maintain political power in the past does not mean the arguments for it are never valid. The left, for instance, still argues for sanctuary cities and states for illegal migrants. The states have the right to make pollution laws more stringent than federal ones and have differing guns laws within the Second Amendment.

On Monday, following the Supreme Court ruling concerning presidential immunity, President Biden came forth to attack the. Do not waste your time arguing that he lied about the ruling. After all, this is his modus operandi on most thorny issues. But he revealed a serious problem when he mentioned that the Court had helped Trump, whom he decried and who he claimed should be prosecuted before the election.

It is remembered that several presidents have criticized the Court. Presidents Jackson, Truman, and Obama, in addition to Biden have had severe attacks when rulings were unfavorable. Even Franklin Roosevelt wanted to pack the Court. Joe Biden had claimed that he was neutral and uninvolved with the legal proceedings against Trump. His statement on Monday demonstrated his involvement from his mouth. Jack Smith was not approved under the constitutional Appointments Clause, so he operated under the power of the Justice Department. The 1978 law he cites lapsed in 1999, so he must be under the control of the attorney general. Now Biden has put his foot in his mouth by advocating legal procedures aimed at getting Trump.

Further, Joe Biden now understands that he cannot defeat Trump in a fair election. Thursdays debate confirmed any doubts that the undecided might have had, if they watched. Further, most polls show that alternative candidates do not defeat Trump. The battles that would ensue should he drop out will be reminiscent of the 1968 Chicago DNC. This is complicated by the legal issues required to change the ballots in many states. The party politicos are worried about the effects upon the down-ballot elections.

So Joe Biden gave a speech on Tuesday concerned with climate change. He was given another defeat on this issue related to states when a district court ruled that liquefied gas exports could continue despite the administrations restrictions. This means that Biden will not have carte blanche to enact his green agenda.

Therefore, Joe Biden will be campaigning against the Supreme Court. (The White House accidentally responded to this district judge as the SCOTUS, which response was removed later.) He will campaign against the existential threat of climate change to energize younger voters. It will fall short, as his efforts to forgive school loans for younger voters was put on hold by two other district court judges. But a replacement for Biden can happen only if he agrees, or the Twenty-Fifth Amendment is enacted. If that is the case, then it will occur at the last moment to minimize any scrutiny of the new candidate, especially if it is V.P. Kamala Harris.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
I have a book called 7 Leadership Lessons of the American Revolution by John Antal that has great leadership lessons as told through the actions of those courageous founding fathers.

It was not by the actions of any one individual, but by God working through all of them that America won her freedom. While the Committee of Five was drafting the Declaration of Independence, God was using hundreds of men to bring about His purposes for her freedom. While Samual Adams was using his passion and persuasive skills to fight for no taxation without representation, George Washington was leading a rag-tag band of militia dubbed the Continental Army. They would, of course, go on to hold off the most formidable fighting force in the world -- the British army.

The document whose anniversary we celebrate was the fruit of the collaboration by very gifted, yet very different men. Benjamin Franklin, the elder statesman, persuaded the 56 delegates that they needed to work together, and though many called him the least religious of the Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin was among those who suggested the delegates call on God to guide their steps.

John Adams suggested that a committee be formed to write up grievances to be shared with the crown and explain the case for independence. It was Thomas Jefferson, a divinely inspired writer, who was charged with creating the draft of the Declaration of Independence.

The Value of Freedom

The Founding Fathers were just people, like you and me, but their actions forged the first nation founded on the principle of liberty, where our rights come from God... not from our government. Where We the People have the ultimate authority, if we will just claim it!

The liberties we still cherish today were bought at a price. We still have the liberties as defined in the Declaration and our Constitution because of those who sacrificed to preserve our freedoms and defeat tyranny. That freedom means I can go to church and talk about my God without fear. It means I get to choose what I do with today, rather than someone else choosing it for me. It means that at the end of the day, I get to sit down with my family and focus on enjoying their company rather than fearing my government. It means that in a few short months, I can cast a ballot that will impact my nations future.

Freedom is certainly something to be celebrated. While you are enjoying your backyard BBQ with friends and family, or watching an exhilarating fireworks display, reflect on the words of Ronald Reagan at his Memorial Day speech in 1986. We must always remember, he said, that peace is a fragile thing that needs constant vigilance. The words from his inaugural address as governor of California also ring in my ears, Freedom is a fragile thing that is never more than one generation away from extinction.

Remember the power that your freedom gives you... and the responsibility that comes with it. You have a say in who gets to lead The Land of the Free. And it is only through diligent citizens upholding their duty of voting that freedom will be retained.

Fight for Your Freedom

To the men who founded this nation and to those who fought to preserve it, I am forever grateful. Thanks to them, I do not have to take up arms and fight. But to honor them, I must continue to fight for my country and my freedom in the best way I know how. Through prayerful and educated voting, I will strive to persevere in the freedoms that I so dearly enjoy on this day.

I would like to encourage you to ponder all the privileges that come with freedom. Thank God for them and enjoy them! And then, use your voice and your vote to fight for freedom.

Debbie Wuthnow is the president of iVoterGuide and a member of the Board of Directors of AFA Action. She joined iVoterGuide in 2011 as a data analyst and was named president in 2018. iVoterGuide is a one-stop resource for candidate ratings and election information. In 2024, iVoterGuide aims to educate over 12 million voters. Their expert researchers will give an in-depth analysis -- and overall rating -- for 13,000+ candidates nationwide. Additionally, iVoterGuide offers election dates, links to voter registration sites, polling locations, and other information needed to help Americans vote wisely and identify candidates on the ballot who share their values.

Image: Public Domain
The next 6 months may be the most dangerous of our lifetimes. As the likelihood of a Trump victory increases, so, unfortunately, does the potential for societal disruption.

As the US Borders and the fabric of civilized society have systematically eroded since FJB was installed as President, we have heard relatively little from the jackbooted Antifa and BLM stormtroopers who terrorized the country into silence for most of 2020 while our media and three-letter security overlords gaslighted and silenced us into accepting a Biden victory. That silence is ominous.

Of course, the Antifa and BLM crowds passivity may be because the DOJ took over from them by suppressing dissent through pressure on social media and frivolous arrests and prosecutions. The DOJ also made life generally miserable by co-opting sometimes fearful, sometimes gleeful, often high-tech businesses into de-banking, refusing to serve, and otherwise discriminating against opposing viewpoints.

Image by AI.

The spooks of the FBI and CIA understand that they may be in an existential struggle, so expect them to increase covert influence operations. Having been politicized and wokefied, the top echelon of the Armed Services also realizes that, due to their recent performancesincluding the utter failure in Afghanistan, jailing and discharging critics, forced vaccination or discharge of unwilling servicepeoplethey could be vulnerable, and even reasonably be accused and found guilty of treason.

By controlling the Deep State, the Dems still have many levers to pull in their quest to avoid a second Trump administration. They could, perhaps, seek a plausible excuse to defenestrate FJB if, in his stubborn, senile intransigence, he refuses to step aside. Not to put any ideas into the Deep States collective head, his physical frailty leaves openings for bad actors.

Unfortunately, and this is where things get scary, were in an increasingly dangerous situation for President Trump, too. If FJB continues to insist that he aint goin nowhere and, like Mr. Magoo, avoids all pitfalls, he could be the candidate right up until the election itself.

As FJB struggles with the angel of death (politically speaking, of course), Trump is a hurricane, swirling offshore, absorbing energy, and gaining strength. Even the BEST Democrat candidate would have to mount a flawless 4-month campaign from scratch.

Kamala, who is perhaps the worst democrat candidate, would be forced to campaign, which will require public speaking. And while she has been able to string together complete sentences, the electorate would be treated to her word salad rather than FJBs alphabet soup.

Might the Dems acquiesce to co-opting RFK Jr. as a last resort? Perhaps, believing him better than Trump, but RFK Jr. has one hell of an axe to grind with a former president and his party of deep-state socialists that not only refused to allow him to compete in their primary but wouldnt even give him Secret Service protection.

And if all else fails, will the CIA and FBI spooks, in desperation, go rogue and make a play on President Trumps life? Aside from the horror of all political assassinations, what would the ultimate consequences be from that?

I am not John Grisham. Im Jonathan Gault

Jonathan Gault is a pseudonym.
Anybody surprised to read that one of the two Venezuelans accused of raping and murdering 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray of Houston, is the son of a former Chavista official?

The Daily Mail's Germania Rodriguez Poleo reported the story:

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.

And she raised a son who was taught from birth to hate the United States and blame this country for all his own country's problems.

Those are Chavista values -- violence, America-hate, pretenses to victimhood, an entitlement mentality, and lawlessness.

He was taught that crime was a government prerogative, and likely at his social level to have been surrounded by Chavista thugs who drove around in motorcycles, firing guns at dissidents, both in the slums and well beyond the slums, at places like television stations. I know -- I saw them wheely-ing around in motorcycles in downtown Caracas like menacing vultures, and viewed the bullet holes on the walls of the Globovision station in the Chacao section of Caracas, which had been one of the nicer ones.

Whether he's guilty or not of all the crimes he's accused of will be determined in court, but what is known is that he is in the country illegally, and Joe Biden allowed him by policy to be here under catch-and-release as an "asylum-seeker" despite laws requiring that he be detained. Instead, he got an ankle bracelet to wear for 30 days, and after that got it removed as supposedly no threat to the country.

His buddy, the other thug he was apprehended with, got an ankle bracelet under the same circumstances and still had it on at the time of the murder. He promptly cut it off when he learned the police were looking for him, which demonstrated the uselessness of the devices even when they are put on.

But Rangel was supposedly no threat, and that's despite his background of Chavista officialdom, which Poleo (who is the daughter of a prominent Venezuelan dissident journalist oppressed by the regime) got easy word of from Venezuelan expats. The U.S. could have gotten this information as easily, but didn't.

The guy was asking for asylum with a mother who was so tight and outspoken about her support for the ruling party that she was granted an official position? And he had a lovey-dovey relationship with his mom as Poleo reported? You don't get asylum when you are supporting the party in power or part of the party in power, doesn't work that way. His asylum application should have been rejected on the spot and he should have been deported immediately.

Far from being a legitimate asylum-seeker, he was more like an oppressor oppressing other Venezuelans, close to the ruling party and the ruling party intertwined with Chavista motorcycle thugs and violence, including death-squad activity as such people would have been in his social circles. So killing someone would have been pretty ordinary to his 'culture.'

Yet his application was taken same as anyone else's with zero vetting and he was free to roam about the country.

What this highlights is that Venezuelan migrants in particular need to be sorted out. Some are genuinely legitimate asylum seekers fleeing persecution, and some are actual thugs in bed with the government persecuting dissidents. You don't let both kinds in. That country has been in a cold civil war for decades between Chavista and non-Chavista, with the Chavistas committing crime after crime. The entire Chavista government is said by U.S. officials to be a drug cartel, with all the violence that entails, so Joe Biden letting Venezuelans like Rangel into the country is pretty much the same as letting Mexican drug cartel members into the country, because the Venezuelan government of which his mom was a made-woman in, is that corrupt.

Chavista values of violence, mayhem, hatred for Americans, hatred for the vulnerable, and expectations of impunity are all present in this crime committed against this 12-year-old child. And Rangel grew up steeped in it.

Yet that's what Joe Biden is letting into the country, unvetted and with brazen entitlement and impunity.

While Rangel may be directly guilty of this hideous crime against a child, Joe Biden is indirectly guilty of letting people like this in, same as the legitimate asylum seekers. That's the last thing this country needs or deserves. U.S. Treasury officials have placed countless sanctions on Venezuela's elites for drug dealing, human rights violations, and corruption. Funny how it doesn't extend to Venezuelans crossing into the U.S. illegally who are one way or another linked to (and in debt to) that monstrous government.

Image: Texas mugshot, via Twitter // public domain
Business is war. Dont believe me? Then ask Ray Kroc. Ray was the kind of businessman that if he saw his competitors drowning, he would grab a hose and finish the job.



Ray Kroc used the weakness of the McDonald brothers to his own advantage, and now Macs Arches adorn every freeway exit in America.



But unfortunately for McDonalds, the founder is long gone, and woke morons occupy its C suite. And McDonalds isnt the only one.



In case you havent noticed, wokeness is weakness. Woke is riddled with crippling anxiety. Woke is a temper tantrum. Woke is immaturity. And judging by the sheer number of Im smarter than you glasses frames, woke is nearsighted as well.



If I were the CEO of American Airlines I would be sending women with babies out on United Airlines flights with pretend women flight attendants, for the express purpose of getting thrown off flights for misgendering thus creating bad woke visuals for United.



If I were the governor of Indiana I would insert moles into the Chicago Teachers Union to make all sorts of high-dollar ridiculous demands (like electric school buses) Then wait for dissatisfied Illinois taxpayers and businesses to populate my state.



If I owned a brewery, I would strongly encourage my competitors to put the picture of a man in a dress on their cans



If I were the RNC, I would strongly encourage the DNC to stick with the old demented dude who sniffs little girls hair. I would put up billboards with a big picture of the trans nonbinary luggage stealing pup handler forner assistant nuclear waste director that said You can be just like Sam if you Vote Democrat.



If I were in college today, I would make sure that I was the only one actually learning anything. I would trigger the woke every chance I got I would make sure my woke competitors were more concerned with going to a protest than going to class.



I would shame them for not being like Saint Greta of Klimatt and not going to the other side of the world to complain about not being in skool.



I would point out that they are privileged for staying in class while marginalized, indigenous fake women of color were being oppressed. I would make sure they spent their class time throwing tantrums if they did show up.



If I were a Christian cake decorator, I would agree to decorate their gay wedding cake with the grossest, most overly sweet, buttercream ever whipped on the driest, most tasteless cake ever baked (sorry, no refunds). Give me the chance to ruin your special day. I assure you, Im up to the task!



I once gained a management position in an unlikely place. Skinny men are very much the exception in Lane Bryants management. I got the position because my competitor was constantly playing victim, and constantly crying. Her crying was so frequent that the other girls found it annoying so Id encourage her tears.



And she ultimately cried me an additional $400 a week in my paycheck!



Its the art of war.



If your competition has crippling anxiety, make them anxious! If they are upset about institutional racism, make the think its everywhere! If they are overly concerned about the environment, make them more concerned shame them into walking everywhere, and eating only wheat grass.



If your job competition is out protesting, they wont be in job interviews you win!



If you live in Chicago and the teachers union is making stupid demands let them! Hell, encourage it! The laws of thermodynamics come into play they will burn out fast if encouraged to flame up too much.



The only way to get rid of a union in Illinois is to let it destroy itself. The CTU is doing that dont interrupt them. (But my taxes are going up. Yes, and so are everyone elses.)



Opportunities that are the result of self-induced weakness in the competition have historically been quite rare.



History would have been quite different if Napoleon had fallen to pieces because someone didnt use his pronouns, if the Spartan 300 hadnt been able to leave the house because of anxiety, or if Jesus disciples had decided that everything was racist.



Had John D. Rockefeller been woke, we never wouldve heard of Standard Oil. If Sam Walton had been fighting for a $20 per hour minimum wageno Walmarts would exist.



If you arent woke, woke is your golden opportunity! The woke are drowning themselves in self-pity be like Ray Kroc and grab a hose!

Image: AT via Magic Studio
VIENTIANE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Lao authorities have discussed preparations for the 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, which will take place in Lao capital Vientiane from July 21 to 27.

A preparatory meeting was held Wednesday and chaired by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao National Radio reported on Thursday.

During the meeting, participants were briefed about the progress made by sub-committees in preparation for the major regional events. The preparatory work covers accommodation for ministers and delegations from more than 34 countries, delegate vehicles, transport, communication and internet facilities, among others.

Speaking at the meeting, Saleumxay urged relevant authorities to continue their efforts in preparing for the upcoming regional events. 
Counting is getting under way in the General Election in Northern Ireland after voting closed with a number of constituency battles too close to call.

A total of 136 candidates are standing in the regions 18 constituencies.

Counting is taking place in three count centres  the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast, the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt and the South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon.

While there has been no official figures released on voter turnout in the region so far, several polling stations reported brisk business.

Northern Irelands political leaders cast their votes earlier on Thursday.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill voted in Coalisland in Co Tyrone, DUP leader Gavin Robinson and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long both cast ballots in their home constituency of east Belfast while UUP leader Doug Beattie and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood voted in Portadown and Londonderry respectively.

A voting booth at the Agape Centre polling station in south Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

All eyes will be on the race for the greatest number of seats, with the potential of Sinn Fein cementing its position as the largest party in Northern Ireland, having come out on top in the last Assembly and local council polls.

Such a result for the pro-Irish unity party would be bound to intensify the debate around the regions constitutional future.

Sinn Fein, which ran a relatively low-key campaign, could secure first place by retaining the seven seats it already holds, if the DUP drops down from the eight seats it won in 2019.

The two main parties traded relatively few hard blows during the last six weeks, reflective of the fact that relations between them have been fairly good in the five months since they resumed joint leadership of Stormonts restored devolved coalition government.

While most of the republican partys seats are safe bets, it will face the usual arm wrestle to hold off the challenge of unionists in the ever-close Fermanagh and South Tyrone race.

In that constituency, former Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen, who led nurses across the UK in strike action last year, is up against Ulster Unionist councillor Diana Armstrong.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill arrives to cast her vote at St Patricks Primary School in Coalisland (Niall Carson/PA)

Ms ONeill voted at St Patricks Primary School in Coalisland, Co Tyrone.

She briefly spoke with a Sinn Fein member in a makeshift mobile outside the polling station and then spent several minutes inside as she cast her vote.

Asked by photographers for a thumbs-up, she laughed and said: Will a smile do?

As she left the polling station, she shouted goodbye to local children and waved to voters.

The DUP is under pressure in a number of constituencies, most significantly in East Belfast where Mr Robinson is involved in a high-stakes contest with Alliance Party leader Ms Long.

Mr Robinsons elevation to the leadership of his party came after the DUP suffered a seismic shock when former leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson quit after he was charged with a range of historical sexual offences in March  charges he denies.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson and his wife Lindsay leave after casting their votes at Dundonald Elim Church in Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

Apart from the sudden departure of Donaldson from the political stage, the DUP has also been under fire from unionist rivals amid claims it oversold a Government package of measures on post-Brexit trading arrangements that the party used to justify the end of its two-year boycott on devolution at Stormont in January.

Defeat for Mr Robinson would be likely to raise questions about his fledgling leadership of the DUP, while a loss for Ms Long would prompt some to ask whether the Alliance Partys surge of recent years has begun to subside.

Mr Robinson greeted waiting media as he arrived at the Elim church polling station on Thursday morning.

Fresh and well youre looking, he said.

Leaving the polling station, the DUP leader said it was good to have voted before giving a thumbs-up to photographers.

The cross-community Alliance Party is walking a tightrope between having a really good night or a very disappointing one.

Alliance leader Naomi Long, her husband Michael and their dog Daisy outside the polling station at St Colmcilles Church (Liam McBurney/PA)

It is involved in three razor-edge fights where it is in serious contention for seats.

The party goes into the election with one seat, deputy leader Stephen Farrys in North Down.

Mr Farry has been involved in a tough battle to hold that seat while his party is also hoping that Ms Long prevails in East Belfast and Sorcha Eastwood defeats the DUP in Lagan Valley, in the seat vacated by long-standing MP Donaldson.

While three victories could be secured, three losses would sting heavily for a party that has been on the electoral march in recent years.

Alliance leader Ms Long brought her dog Daisy to the polling station at St Colmcilles parochial hall in east Belfast.

Asked if she felt confident, Ms Long told reporters: Im feeling relaxed, well see. Confidence is never a good thing, Im just relaxed.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie after voting at Seagoe Primary School in Portadown (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)

Along with her husband Michael, they had to shelter for several minutes inside the polling station before leaving due to the intensity of a sudden downpour outside.

The Ulster Unionists were without an MP in the last parliament and the party is convinced that South Antrim represents its best opportunity of a return to the green benches at Westminster.

Former UUP leader Robin Swann, whose profile soared when he led Northern Irelands fight against the Covid pandemic as Stormont health minister, is trying to win that seat from the DUPs Paul Girvan.

UUP leader Mr Beattie voted at Seagoe Primary School in Portadown.

He greeted waiting media and posed for photographs as he arrived at the polling station.

It is an important day, it is a day for the people to cast their votes, he said.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood arrives to vote at the Model Primary School in Londonderry (Niall Carson/PA)

We have run a good campaign.

Success for the SDLP would be the retention of the two seats held in the last parliament by its leader, Mr Eastwood, and deputy leader, Claire Hanna.

Both are tipped for victory  in Foyle and South Belfast and Mid Down respectively  albeit with the prospect of returning with reduced majorities.

Mr Eastwood did not speak to the media after voting at the Model Primary School in Derry but posed for selfies with supporters and exchanged a hug with party MLA Mark Durkan.

The TUV, which is an arch critic of the DUPs decision to drop its protest boycott on devolution, did not stand in the last election.

While its entry into the fray this time round is highly unlikely to deliver it any seats, the votes it could potentially take from DUP candidates could have major implications in some of the closest battleground seats.

However, the TUV campaign suffered a major blow last month when Reform UK leader Nigel Farage personally endorsed two DUP election candidates, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV in Northern Ireland.

That has led to a highly unusual situation in TUV leader Jim Allisters own North Antrim constituency, where he is running on a joint TUV-Reform UK platform, even though Mr Farage has personally backed the DUP candidate in that area, Ian Paisley.
The Electoral Commission has insisted polling day ran smoothly despite acknowledging some people were unable to vote due to the late arrival of postal votes.

The body that oversees elections said there is room to improve the experience for some and that it will be carrying out research in the coming weeks, including into those who applied to vote by post.

It follows criticism from Conservatives Kemi Badenoch and Kevin Hollinrake over people not receiving their ballots.

Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake has said that missing postal votes will be urgently investigated (James Manning/PA)

In a statement when the polls closed, the Electoral Commission said they will recommend improvements to the systems where necessary.

Asked for a number or estimate on how many had been unable to vote, the commission indicated it is not possible to collect a specific figure.

The commission also noted that while the overall campaign had been robust and vibrant, there was also unacceptable abuse and intimidation of candidates.

Vijay Rangarajan, commission chief executive, said: Today, tens of millions of people exercised their democratic right and had their say at the ballot box.

Overall, our initial assessment is that polling day ran smoothly and people were able to cast their votes securely. We continue to support administrators as they undertake counts tonight.

Millions of people were able to have their say, but we know there is room to improve the experience for some.

A record number of postal votes were successfully returned, but some couldnt vote both in the UK and abroad because of the late arrival of postal votes. There was a robust and vibrant campaign, but unacceptable abuse and intimidation of candidates.

We will collect evidence from people who participated in these elections as voters, candidates, campaigners and administrators, to better understand their experiences. We will recommend improvements to the systems where necessary.

Lots of questions on doorstep today about missing postal ballots in North West Essex and all the shenanigans this might entail. How could this happen!? they ask. Well its an interesting parallel given the polls yesterday..(1/4)   Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 4, 2024

The commission said there had been very high levels of public awareness on new rules around voter ID and thanked electoral administrators across the country for dedication and professionalism in delivering these well run polls.

Earlier this week, Mr Hollinrake  postal affairs minister  was said to be urgently investigating a failure to get ballot packs to people in some constituencies in time for polling day.

On Thursday, Ms Badenoch attacked the local council in her North West Essex seat for having potentially disenfranchised thousands of postal voters who had not received their ballots.

The Cabinet minister said up to 2,600 voters were affected by Uttlesford District Council forgetting to send them their postal votes.

Writing on X on polling day, Ms Badenoch said: Five years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out. People wanted Change. Instead, they got Change for the WORSE, electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.

The community is now saddled with a council leadership unable to carry out basic functions competently

Now theyve potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers.

On Thursday, the council said packs had been sent out by the end of last week and a majority of 2,688 postal votes had been successfully returned.

The exact number of ballots returned will be published by the council after the count in the interests of transparency, it said.

Kemi Badenoch is seen as a frontrunner in a potential bid to replace Rishi Sunak as leader of the Conservative Party (Lucy North/PA)

The councils chief executive, Peter Holt, had last week said he was mortified and apologised for the error.

He said the council had been delivering postal ballots by hand in a bid to resolve the matter, but warned a close result on election night could be challenged if a large proportion are not returned.

There is speculation this could thwart any bid by Ms Badenoch to stand in a Tory leadership contest.

If she wins her seat by a narrow margin, Labour could challenge the result and demand a re-run.

This could result in a by-election, with Ms Badenoch not considered an MP until its conclusion and therefore prevented from running in a Conservative Party leadership race.

Ms Badenoch is seen as a frontrunner to replace Rishi Sunak should he lead the Conservatives to defeat.

Having won a 27,594 majority in Saffron Walden in 2019, she is fighting for re-election in the redrawn North West Essex seat.
Ellen DeGeneres has quietly cancelled four scheduled dates on her stand-up comedy tour.

It is the first tour from the US comedian since she stepped down from The Ellen DeGeneres Show in May 2022 after allegations of a toxic workplace environment.

The 66-year-old previously apologised to staff after an internal review found deficiencies related to the shows day-to-day management, but denied this was the reason for her exit.

Several upcoming shows from Ellens Last StandUp tour have been cancelled (Michael Rozman/Warner Bros)

Several upcoming shows from Ellens Last StandUp tour in Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, and Chicago have been cancelled, with a notice from Ticketmasters website.

The note said: Unfortunately, the event organiser has had to cancel your event.

It is unclear why the dates on July 10, 21, 23 and August 11 have been cancelled, as other dates in the cities are going ahead as planned.

DeGeneres previously announced that she is set to return with her final TV comedy special, appearing to suggest it will feature her departure from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which she had hosted since 2003.

To answer the questions everyone is asking me  Yes, Im going to talk about it, she said on Instagram.

The special will mark her second for Netflix, following her 2018 special titled Relatable.

"Relatable" is on Netflix December 18th! Its gonna be more revealing than you think. @NetflixIsAJoke pic.twitter.com/9Ip2z7gtvT  Ellen DeGeneres (@EllenDeGeneres) December 14, 2018

DeGeneres rose to fame in March 1994 with her sitcom titled Ellen, in which she won widespread acclaim for her portrayal of a neurotic bookshop owner in her 30s.

The first episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show aired on September 8 2003, and she became known for her bubbly on-screen persona and be kind mantra, often taking part in lavish giveaways or acts of charity.

In November 2016 she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

In July 16 2020 BuzzFeed News published an article in which anonymous former employees alleged a toxic workplace on the show.

Weeks later, Warner Bros confirmed it was making staffing changes following an investigation into the claims and DeGeneres issued an apology to staff in an internal memo.

DeGeneres later addressed the allegations on her talk show, saying: I learned that things happened here that never should have happened. I take that very seriously and I want to say I am so sorry to the people that were affected.

In May 2021, DeGeneres announced her talk show would be ending after 19 years citing it is just not a challenge any more.

The final episode which aired a year later, featured guest appearances from Jennifer Aniston, Billie Eilish and Pink.

A representative for DeGeneres has been contacted for comment.
Security guard Gavin Plumb would have been able to carry out his plot against Holly Willoughby if he had found a likeminded person online which he thought he had done, a detective warned.

Plumb, 37, stood trial at Chelmsford Crown Court accused of a scheme to kidnap, rape and murder the former This Morning presenter.

He denied all charges but jurors found him guilty of soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement to kidnap.

Police body-worn video footage of the arrest of Gavin Plumb (Essex Police/PA)

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood of Essex Police said that Plumb thought he had found a likeminded person online, but it was actually a US undercover police officer using the alias David Nelson.

Mr Wood, who was the senior investigating officer in the case, said the UK force was contacted by the FBI and they were able to disrupt Plumbs plot.

But he warned that there isnt an undercover police officer online in every space, and there is a responsibility on all of us including social media companies to really regulate what goes on online.

He said local officers raided Plumbs flat in Harlow, Essex on October 4 last year where they discovered a whole array of evidence including chloroform, cable ties and handcuffs.

Asked what may have happened if Plumb was not disrupted, Mr Wood said: We have to think the worst.

His planning, his preparation, his intent was clear.

A bottle of chloroform, shown to Chelmsford Crown Court in the court case of Gavin Plumb (CPS/PA)

All I can say is were grateful to our law enforcement colleagues who saw a threat, shared the information really quickly with us and we were able to take action really swiftly to prevent anything happening not just to Holly Willoughby but to anybody else.

The detective said Plumb led a relatively isolated life.

The majority of his life was spent online and weve seen through his online presence, his conversations online in some really horrible online forums, that he spent a lot of time talking to people online, he said.

Ive got no doubt that his plans, if he found a likeminded person which he thought he had done with our American law enforcement colleague, he would have been able to carry out his plans.

He said that the undercover officer, using a fake identity, found Plumb in an online forum.

Mr Wood said the undercover officer had some conversations with (Plumb) and he was so fearful of what he was threatening to do that he deemed it necessary to contact UK law enforcement through the FBI immediately.

A photo of a kit possessed by Gavin Plumb, shown to jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court during his trial (CPS/PA)

Thats incredibly rare, said the detective.

We regularly share information with international law enforcement colleagues but for an officer to contact us and necessitate immediate action from us is incredibly, incredibly rare and shows how fearful he was of Gavin Plumb and what he might do.

He said that as soon as Essex Police received the information through the FBI, it deployed local officers in Harlow immediately to Plumbs address.

He was at home, Mr Wood said.

He was arrested immediately where we found a whole array of evidence at his address.

He was on the phone at the time to the undercover officer in America engaging in that conversation.

A photo of handcuffs, shown to jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court during Gavin Plumbs trial (CPS/PA)

When we searched his address we found a whole array of items that we think he was going to use to kidnap Holly Willoughby.

As soon as we arrested Gavin Plumb he told us he had a fascination with Holly Willoughby but we know it was far more than that.

At the address we found cable ties, we found handcuffs, we found chloroform.

All really unusual things to find at an address.

They all show us he was clearly intent on following through with his plan.

He said that colleagues from the Metropolitan Police spoke to Holly Willoughby and visited her on the night just to make her aware of what was happening and weve supported her throughout as we would support any victim of such a horrible crime.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Gavin Plumb (left) appearing at Chelmsford Magistrates Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Mr Wood added: I can only imagine what its like to be a victim of such a crime.

Asked about Plumbs defence in court, that his online conversations with the undercover officer had been fantasy, the detective said: Look at his previous convictions.

He continued: Hes tried to kidnap females on a train, real people, real women.

At (a shop) he tried to (falsely imprison) real women, real people.

Ive got no doubt hes a violent individual and this conviction keeps the wider public safe.

He said he thought it clear what Gavin Plumbs intentions were.

Youve seen in the evidence that he planned his attack, he researched his attack, he bought items to help achieve his aim and he tried to find likeminded people to carry out his crimes, said Mr Wood.

He was determined, Ive got no doubt, to carry out the crimes he was going to commit.

We were fortunate in this case that our law enforcement colleague was online in America but there isnt an undercover police officer online in every space.

Gavin Plumb was working in an overt chat forum, it was called Abduct Lovers, so its not covert.

Theres a responsibility on all of us including social media companies to really regulate what goes on online.
The author behind a series of James Bond books, looking at his teenage life, is among the winners of prestigious crime writing awards.

Anthony Horowitz, who wrote the Young Bond series, along with TV favourites Foyles War and Midsomer Murders, picked up the Dagger In The Library award at the Crime Writers Association (CWA) Dagger Awards.

The accolade is voted for by libraries and borrowers across the UK and Ireland who are asked to choose their favourite established writer.

The awards were presented by Imran Mahmood and Victoria Selman (CWA/PA)

The awards judging panel said Horowitz had surpassed himself in delivering both series and standalone novels.

A spokesperson for the CWA said: Renowned for Foyles War and Midsomer Murders on the screen, Anthonys books are triumphs too, the Alex Rider series, his James Bond and his Sherlock Holmes novels.

Now the author has surpassed himself with standalone mysteries and the endearing, inventive Hawthorne & Horowitz series.

The Gold Dagger, awarded to the best crime novel of the year, was won by Una Mannion for her second book, Tell Me What I Am.

Previous winners of the award have included Ian Rankin, John le Carre, Reginald Hill, and Ruth Rendell.

The judging panel said Mannions book was haunting and beautifully written, and that it expertly examines the boundaries of love, power and control and will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, which is given to the best thriller novel of the year, went to Jordan Harper for Everybody Knows.

Judges praised the book for being brilliantly constructed and fast-paced, and said it took readers into the heart of the darkness of Hollywood, guided by a sensationally atypical protagonist.

Maxim Jakubowski, chairman of the Daggers Committee, said he was pleased to see new writers picking up awards, despite a number of the genres big beasts releasing books this year.

He said: Yet another remarkable year of crime writing in which our impartial judges have uncovered a crop of wonderful books.

In a year in which many of our big beasts had new books, its refreshing to see so many new names and talents winning.

And a momentous occasion for independent publishers who have swooped on the majority of the awards and, in particular, Faber & Faber who have achieved a rare double of Gold and Steel Daggers.

Nicholas Shakespeare picked up the ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction for his book, Ian Fleming: The Complete Man, which was described as a panoramic biography of the creator of the most charismatic 20th-century hero.

Jo Callaghan won the ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger for debut novels, for her book Blink Of An Eye.

The Historical Dagger went to Jake Lamar for Vipers Dream, a book looking at the jazz scene of mid-century Harlem and the dangerous underbelly of its drug trade.

Judges praised his book for its skilled plotting and elegantly spare prose that they said created a pungent sense of the jazz age.

Lynda La Plante and James Lee Burke picked up the Diamond Dagger in early spring, which is awarded to an author whose crime-writing career has been marked by sustained excellence.

The awards were co-hosted by Sunday Times bestselling author of Truly Darkly Deeply, Victoria Selman, and bestselling author Imran Mahmood, whose debut novel You Dont Know Me was adapted by the BBC.

The CWA Daggers were established in 1955.
Christian leaders in Nigeria expressed shock and dismay at suicide attacks in Gwoza, Borno state on Saturday (June 29) that killed both Muslims and Christians.

We are concerned about the resurgence of suicide bombing in our country and the threat it poses to the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, said Archbishop Daniel Okoh, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in a statement issued on behalf of Nigerian Christian leaders on Wednesday (July 3). This senseless act of violence is a stark reminder of the evil that terrorism represents and the need for collective action to defeat it.

Beginning with a female suicide bombing at a wedding of a Muslim couple, at least two other suicide bombings at other locations followed, killing more than 30 people and wounding many more, said Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shetim.

The two subsequent bombings on Saturday (June 29) targeted a funeral and a hospital in Gwoza, close to the border with Cameroon. No one has taken responsibility for the bombings, though Islamic extremist group Boko Haram and the terrorist group with which a faction has aligned, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have long been active in the area and are suspected.

Muslim victims killed during the attacks on Saturday were moved immediately to the towns cemetery for burial, where the second female suicide bomber struck. Christians who were able to identify victims in the first blast took them and buried the bodies on Sunday (June 30).

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As Boko Haram and ISWAP are motivated by a radical Islamist ideology, they treat Muslims who do not profess their view as infidels and target them as they do Christians.

Boko Harams 15-year drive to impose sharia (Islamic law) throughout Nigeria originated in Borno state, displacing more than 2 million people and killing more than 40,000.

In Saturdays attacks, injuries reportedly included skull and limb fractures.

Okoh commended security agents for their efforts to contain terrorism.

We encourage them not to relent in their efforts, as every necessary intervention is welcome to prevent a relapse into the dark days of suicide attacks, he said. We must not let down our guards, as the situation could escalate and affect not only innocent lives but also worship centers and other large gatherings.

The president of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), the Rev. Amos Mohzo, is a native of Gwoza County. He told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News that he lost some church members and relatives in the attacks.

Pastor Mohzo called for the government to make concerted efforts to stop terrorists in Nigeria.

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.
A lorry driver has been jailed for three years after causing a motorway crash that killed four minibus passengers.

Dexter Augustus, 60, Jennifer Smith, 59, Abigael Muamba, 31, and Lisa Gardiner, 44, were killed after Ethan Burdett, 67, crashed his lorry into the back of the minibus between junctions 27 and 26 of the M25 near Waltham Abbey, Essex, on August 23 2021.

Burdett, of Ipswich, admitted four counts of causing death by careless driving at a previous court appearance.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that he was driving a truckload of flooring in the direction of Waltham Abbey from the A12 at Brentwood.

Gregory Wedge, prosecuting, said the minibus, driven by Jamal Hussain, was travelling just ahead of Burdetts lorry.

It was carrying 11 passengers from homeless hostel Branches, who had been on a day trip to Southend-on-Sea.

Lisa Gardiner, Dexter Augustus, both top, Jennifer Smith, bottom left, and Abigael Muamba were all killed in the crash (Essex Police/PA)

The passengers included nine residents and two members of staff.

Travelling in the same direction just ahead of the minibus was a silver Ford Mondeo driven by Leslie Woodward, who was travelling from Basildon to visit family in Loughton.

The court heard he brought his car to a stop due to queuing traffic, and the minibus stopped behind him.

Burdett failed to stop in time, crashing into the back of the minibus and causing it to hit the rear of the Mondeo.

The minibus was thrown forward, toppling over sideways and coming to a stop with its wheels off the ground, and the Mondeo was sent spinning 180 degrees, with its bonnet left underneath the roof of the minibus.

Mr Augustus, Ms Smith, and Ms Muamba were declared dead at the scene. Ms Gardiner suffered serious head injuries and died six days later.

Mr Hussain and three of his passengers, Peter Salmon, Mansour Balla and Sonnie Hutchins, were seriously injured.

Judge Christopher Morgan also disqualified Burdett from driving for 54 months, adding that he must do an extended driving test once his ban ends.

He said the crash will remain with the victims and their families for the rest of their lives.

Burdett wept in the dock as the victim impact statements were read out, but was expressionless as he was sentenced.

Mr Hutchins, who suffered injuries to his ribs, shoulder and neck, told the court in a victim impact statement that the incident has left him with nightmares.

I stayed in the minibus to help Jennifer Smith, a member of Branches staff, by brushing broken glass off her face and talking to her while waiting for medical assistance to arrive, he said.

All of this has impacted my sleep. I wake up from nightmares about the accident, especially when I am reminded of the accident.

Ms Muambas mother Berthine said her family were in total shock when the police told them of their daughters death.

We relied on Abigael for many things because in times of our weakness, she could support us either spiritually, emotionally, physically or financially, she said.

Her death shook the world and we are completely lost without her.

Burdetts phone was seized by police but showed no activity immediately before or at the time of the collision. Toxicology tests found no alcohol or drugs in his system.
A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting more than six years ago.

Michael Clarke, 34, of Luton, is charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the incident in April 2018.

Tanesha Melbourne-Blake was socialising with friends when she was gunned down from a silvery Vauxhall Meriva people carrier in Tottenham, north London.

She died at the scene and the car, with the registration KS56 NKG, was found burnt out in Barnet five days later.

Clarke, wearing a grey puffer jacket, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a brief hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Ms Melbourne-Blake was killed at about 9.35pm on April 2 2018 after a bullet struck her in the chest, prosecutor Prosecutor Shelina Khudurun told the court.

Marcus La-Croix, 36, of Hackney, who was charged with the same offences as Clarke, appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey for a bail application on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Ms Khudurun said there appeared to be no link between the victim and co-defendants.

Clarke was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Monday.
Traffic cameras

AI speed cameras which can spy inside cars are set to be rolled out nationwide to catch motorists using mobile phones at the wheel or failing to wear seatbelts.

New AI technology is enabling police not only to catch speeding drivers but also clampdown on motorists distracted by their phones even if they have them on their lap while at the wheel.

The move has raised privacy concerns while the AA has warned that AI cameras must not become a substitute for traffic officers stopping suspect motorists who might also be drink driving  an offence which would not be caught by simply snapping images.

At least a quarter of the 44 police forces in England, Wales and Scotland are already deploying cameras which can catch motorists using mobile phones at the wheel.

If caught, drivers holding a handheld device behind the wheel can face six penalty points and a 200 fine, increasing to 1,000 and a driving ban if taken to court.

AI software analyses images

Eleven police forces have deployed roadside cameras, developed by Acusensus, which capture images of vehicles as they pass. One is from a shallow angle to see a phone at the drivers ear, and a second taken from a steep angle detects the device if it is on their lap.

AI software analyses all the images and flags those where the driver is suspected of holding a mobile phone or not wearing a seatbelt. Encrypted violation packages are sent to police to decide whether to prosecute.

To counter privacy concerns, a police officer reviews anonymised pictures without any identifying features such as number plate, passengers or make of the vehicle. If it goes to prosecution, the images are then matched to the registration details.

The police forces taking part in the trial with National Highways are Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police, Sussex and Warwickshire.

An AI camera on the M20 in Kent

New hi-tech speed cameras which can catch motorists using mobile phones as well are also being deployed by police. The Vector-SR cameras, developed by Jenoptik, can track two-way traffic instead of just the left hand lane and use radar which means there is no need for road markings or sensors in the road.

Because they use infrared low light technology, they also do not flash at speeding drivers. This means drivers will not necessarily know if they have been fined. Pictures can also be checked and used to catch mobile phone users. It is understood the technology is being rolled out by Police Scotland.

A third brand of camera, developed by Redspeed International, uses 4D radar technology and high-resolution imaging to detect speeding vehicles, drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts and can link with DVLA to verify if a vehicle is insured and taxed.

Intrusive and creepy surveillance

Research by the Department for Transport suggests that 150,000 to 400,000 of the 50 million British drivers are still using handheld devices illegally while behind the wheel.

Jake Hurfurt, head of research and investigations at Big Brother Watch, a privacy campaign group, said: Unproven AI-powered video analytics should not be used to monitor and potentially criminalise drivers.

This kind of intrusive and creepy surveillance which treats every passer-by as a potential suspect is excessive and normalising it poses a threat to everyones privacy. People should be free to go about their lives without being analysed by faceless AI systems.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: Cameras that can do everything and anything are a good thing from a road safety perspective because it means there is less chance of getting away with dangerous driving.

However a camera can only record an incident in that moment in time but cannot intervene if that person might be speeding because they have been drink driving.

Matt Staton, National Highways head of national road-user safety, said: We know that distracted driving and not wearing seatbelts were key factors in a high number of incidents that resulted in people being killed or seriously injured.

Working with our police partners we want to reduce such dangerous driving and reduce the risks posed to both the drivers and other people. We believe that using technology like this will make people seriously consider their driving behaviour.
Tony and Cherie Blair on the last day of campaigning before the 2001 election, when Labour was returned with a 167-seat majority. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/EPA

As people cast their votes on Thursday, the opinion polls continue to predict that Keir Starmers Labour party will win the general election with one of the largest ever parliamentary majorities. Conversely, Rishi Sunaks Conservative party is projected to suffer one of its worst ever losses.

How does this prediction of a dramatic Labour win compare with other landslide victories in British history?

1832  Whig majority of 224 seats

The Whigs, who along with their allies were gradually coming to be referred to as Liberals, won an overall majority of 224 seats, with the Tories winning less than 29% of the vote.

The 1832 general election was the first held after the Reform Act, which had become law earlier that year. The new law gave the vote to more middle-class men  those who owned or could afford to rent property. Prior to the act, about one in 10 men had the vote; after the law was passed that figure doubled.

1906  Liberal majority of 143 seats

The 1906 general election has been called the Liberal landslide, as there was a 5.4% swing from the Conservative party to the Liberal party. The Liberals, led by the prime minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman, won just shy of half the popular vote.

The Conservatives lost more than half their seats, leaving the party with the lowest number of seats in its history. The party leader, Arthur Balfour, who had been prime minister until only weeks before the election, lost his own seat in Manchester East.

1924  Conservative majority of 209 seats

The Conservatives, led by Stanley Baldwin, won a huge majority after defeating the Labour prime minister Ramsay MacDonald in a vote of no confidence in parliament. The Liberals lost 118 seats, including that of the party leader, Herbert Henry Asquith.

The election marked the Liberals demotion to the third party in British politics, ending up with just 40 seats  behind Labour with 151 and the Tories with 412.

1931  National Government

The National Government, a three-party coalition formed two months after the collapse of the second Labour government, won 67% of the popular vote and 554 (90.1%) of 615 seats. Most of the coalition governments support came from the Conservative party, which won 470 seats. But it was led by MacDonald, who had led the previous minority Labour government, and also included some Liberal MPs.

Labour, which had expelled MacDonald for agreeing to be prime minister of the coalition, suffered its greatest ever defeat. It lost four-fifths of its seats, including that of the party leader, Arthur Henderson, ending up with just 52 MPs.

1945  Labour majority of 145 seats

Winning almost half of the popular vote, Labours postwar election victory marked a watershed in British history. The swing of 12 points to the party was unprecedented, and a shock for the Conservatives, led by Britains wartime leader Sir Winston Churchill, with the party suffering a net loss of 189 seats.

Clement Attlees Labour government won on a radical programme to rebuild Britain after the second world war, leading to the creation of the NHS and the welfare state. But Attlee was defeated six years later when Churchill won another term in office.

1983  Conservative majority of 144 seats

Margaret Thatchers decisive second election win followed Britains victory in the Falklands conflict in 1982, which significantly boosted her personal popularity. The Conservatives were also helped by division in the opposition, with the formation of the SDP-Liberal Alliance, and Labour running on an extremely leftwing manifesto, described as the longest suicide note in history. In terms of vote share, Labour only just came ahead of the Alliance  the partys worst election result since 1918.

1997  Labour majority of 179 seats

After 18 years in opposition, Labour swept into power under Tony Blair, trouncing John Majors Conservatives. Campaigning under the banner of New Labour, with Things Can Only Get Better by D:Ream as its theme song, the party won over voters with centrist policies. The Conservatives ended up with just 165 seats, their worst result since 1906.

Blair was also helped by a series of financial and sexual scandals in the Conservative party, and by the memory of the economic crisis of September 1992, when the pound was ejected from the European exchange rate mechanism on Black Wednesday.

2001  Labour majority of 167 seats

Blair was re-elected with another landslide victory, becoming the only Labour prime minister to serve two consecutive full terms in office. The party returned 412 MPs compared with 418 in the previous election. However, turnout dropped to 59%, the lowest since the right to vote was extended in 1918.
Joe Biden has been facing calls to give up the Democratic nomination after a disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump - Gerald Herbert/AP

Joe Biden has for the first time said that he is considering ending his presidential campaign, according to reports.

After days of criticism over his disastrous performance in last weeks debate against Donald Trump, the US president told allies he knows if he has two more events like that then he is in a different place, according to a report in The New York Times.

In his latest fundraising appeal email to supporters, however, Mr Biden repeated: Im running.

Folks, I know the past few days have been tough, read the email, quoted by CNN on Wednesday evening.

Im sure youre getting a lot of questions. Im sure many of you have questions as well. So, let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: Im running, the email says.

The Democratic governors of New York, Minnesota and Maryland, who were among the state leaders who met with Mr Biden on Wednesday, expressed confidence in him and said they had an honest discussion after his debate performance.

We were honest about the feedback that we were getting, Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters after the meeting at the White House.

We said that we would stand with him. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he believed Mr Biden was fit for office.

Earlier, Mr Biden had reportedly told campaign staff he would not be running again if he didnt believe with all my heart and soul that he could perform the job of President.

Mr Bidens White House team is hoping that he can recover his campaign with an energetic appearance at two rallies and in a television interview this weekend. He is also expected to host a July 4 holiday barbecue at the White House on Thursday.

It came as a new poll by Siena College found Mr Biden has dropped three points in a head-to-head race with Trump since before last Thursdays event, and is now six points behind.

Aides say that the 81-year-old leader is well aware of the political challenge he faces, but a spokesman described the claim he was considering giving up the Democratic nomination as absolutely false.

Another source told CNN the US President would consider dropping out if the polls are plummeting, the fundraising is drying up, and the interviews are going badly.

Democrats have been clamouring for Mr Biden to give up his campaign and speculation is mounting that he could be replaced by Kamala Harris, the vice-president.

The Republican Party has begun putting out attack adverts about Ms Harris, suggesting that she is an enabler in chief responsible for a White House cover-up of the poor state of her running mates health.

The pair met for lunch at the White House on Wednesday before appearing on an all-staff call with their team.

Mr Biden said on the call: I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out.

The leaked suggestions that Mr Biden is actively considering ending his campaign prompted speculation by some analysts that the White House is using the next few days as a test of Mr Bidens viability as the Democrat nominee.

Mr Biden stuttered, forgot his lines and, at one point, froze entirely during the CNN debate - EPN/Avalon

The campaign rallies in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, two key swing states, will be followed by an interview broadcast on ABC News on Sunday.

Aides reportedly hope that they will help Democrats to set aside concerns about his age and mental agility.

However, the calls for Mr Biden to reconsider his campaign continued yesterday, amid reports that some House Democrats are organising a letter calling for him to stand down.

Reed Hastings, a major Democratic Party donor and a co-founder of the streaming platform Netflix, on Wednesday joined those calling on Mr Biden to stand down.

Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, he was quoted as saying in an email to The New York Times.

Two Democrat congressmen, Lloyd Doggett and Raul Grijalva, have called on Mr Biden to make the decision to withdraw, while two other sitting Democrats have said they think he will lose the election to Trump.

If [Mr Biden] is the candidate, Im going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere, said Mr Grijalva, a Democrat representative from Arizona.

What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Karine Jean-Pierre, Mr Bidens spokesman, said he was absolutely not going to leave the race, describing last weeks debate as a bad night.

Mr Biden himself has said he practically fell asleep on the stage because of a busy schedule in the weeks that preceded the debate.

On Wednesday night, Mr Biden hosted Democratic governors, including several politicians touted as his possible replacement, at the White House for a meeting about the crisis.

A spokesman for Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, said he was attending the meeting to stand with the president.
Former Liberal party staffer Bruce Lehrmann will stand trial on two counts of rape, alleged to have occurred in his home town of Toowoomba. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

Bruce Lehrmann has been committed to stand trial on rape charges.

The 29-year-old faces two counts of rape, alleged to have occurred in Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, in October 2021.

A magistrate, Mark Howden, found sufficient grounds to commit the former Liberal party staffer to trial on Thursday, rejecting his argument that he had no case to answer, two and a half weeks after the complainant gave her evidence and was cross-examined in closed court.

In my view, when considering the evidence as a whole, it is sufficient at this stage for me to reach a conclusion that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, could return a verdict of guilty, Howden said.

The trial will be heard at the Toowoomba district court at a date to be set.

Before Howdens decision a packed courtroom heard facts agreed upon by Lehrmanns barrister, Andrew Hoare KC, and the prosecutor, Nicole Friedewald, relating to the night and morning following 9 October 2021.

It was agreed that Lehrmann and the complainant, who cannot legally be named, met at a strip club after both had been drinking alcohol and the complainant had taken cocaine. The pair went on to take cocaine together and, in the early hours of the morning, took a taxi to a Toowoomba home, occupied by a schoolmate of Lehrmann, where the pair engaged in consensual sex.

But the complainant claims she awoke to find Lehrmann on top of and penetrating her without a condom, despite her having insisted upon contraception during their earlier consensual encounter.

She alleges she pulled her body away and told him to stop what you are doing but that he instead climbed back on top of her saying, its OK, its OK, continuing the unwanted sex before ejaculating inside her.

I did not consent to him penetrating me, she would later tell police. I was not enthusiastically laying there. I was so in my head, I was in shock.

After messaging her friends about the alleged assault on 6 November, the complainant went to police 20 days later.

The court was told she made her formal complaint the day after seeing news coverage of the allegations by Brittany Higgins that Lehrmann raped her in parliament house and realising he was the same man who she knew only as Bruce who she alleges raped her the month prior in Toowoomba.

Friedewald told the court the complainant, as was not uncommon in cases of sexual assault, had taken some time to come to terms with what had happened to her, citing a message to her friend in which she said was starting to feel really shit and hadnt really processed what had happened or admitted it to herself.

I just feel so shameful, the complainant wrote to her friends. Who is going to believe me?

Hoare had argued that the length of time between the alleged rape and the formal complaint, coupled with opportunities to come forward earlier and the heavy consumption of alcohol and cocaine on the night, made the complainants account of events unreliable.

The barrister listed several instances after the alleged assault in which the complainant could have raised her allegations, including when buying the morning-after pill while Lehrmann waited in a car outside the pharmacy, and when seeing a GP for a WorkCover claim.

Hoare cited a message sent to a friend on the night of 10 October in which she wrote that during the previous evening she had had a bunch of fun with my friends.

My mate put on a really good show and we all got drunk after, she wrote.

He also cited a report by a forensic physician who had been asked to provide his general opinion on the effects of cocaine and alcohol on cognitive abilities and memory.

Hoare argued that even in the absence of memory the complainant is capable of consenting, but just not remembering, those circumstances surrounding the act, a proposition he said was supported by internal contradictors in statements made by the complaint.

It is submitted as a consequence of that, that when the complainant is using the term, I woke up, that is in fact a simile for, My next memory is this, and the explanation for that statement is the combination of alcohol and cocaine which effects how memories are in fact implanted, he said.

But the magistrate said he did not find the medical report particularly useful as the forensic physician was only asked for a general opinion of the combined impacts of cocaine and alcohol.

Howden then said that after taking all these matters into account he had formed the view that there was a prima facie case to be made against Lehrmann and that the reliability of the complainants evidence was a matter for an arbiter of fact, be it a judge sitting alone or a jury.

Addressing Lehrmann, who appeared via phone, Howden formally charged him with two counts of rape and asked if he had anything he wished to say in relation to the two charges.

Not at this time, thank you, your honour, Lehrmann said.
Fog shrouds Flemington Road in Melbourne on Thursday morning. Cold weather is forecast for coming days, the BoM says. Photograph: Diego Fedele/EPA

The frigid weather gripping parts of south-eastern Australia will linger into next week as a giant high pressure system dominates the region and nudges national records.

Melbournes overnight temperature dipped to 1.3C on Thursday after Wednesday mornings 1C reading, making it the coldest couple of days for the Victorian capital in two years, according to Yoska Hernandez, a Weatherzone meteorologist.

A number of sites in the Melbourne region dropped below 0C on Thursday morning. Viewbank near Heidelberg was at -1.6C just after 8am. Coldstream matched its name with a -1.5C reading just after midnight.

Increased cloud cover should stop the mercury sliding back to zero in the Victorian capital for the next couple of days. The chill is expected to return for Sunday morning, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting 1C for Melbournes city centre.

A large high pressure system over southern Australia is contributing to the midwinter cold. Preliminary readings by the bureau on Thursday morning had pressure readings reaching as high as 1,044.6 hectopascals for the Tasmanian town of Sheffield.

Sheffield, TAS is reporting a mean sea level pressure of 1044.4 hPa at present which, if it checks out, is the highest on record in Australia. pic.twitter.com/ThxgrHYyY9  Andrew Miskelly (@andrewmiskelly) July 4, 2024

If confirmed, that reading would set a record for mean sea level pressure, beating the 1,044.3hPa level recorded at Launceston on 7 June 1967.

Related: Melbourne shivers through coldest morning of year with temperatures of -1.5C in some suburbs

Sites nearby, though, did not record readings nearly as high.

A bureau spokesperson said that as of noon Aest, the highest mean sea-level pressure recorded so far under the current high pressure system was 1043.9 hPa at Ouse in Tasmania.

Any higher readings than this are currently being verified for quality assurance purposes, the spokesperson said.

The strong high pressure system was influenced by a split jet stream over Western Australia and large upper lows over South Australia and the Tasman Sea enhancing the subsidence into the high, she said. A large dome of very cold air was also working to strengthen the high, along with natural variability in global pressure patterns.

Hernandez said the forecasts indicated the high pressure system was in the 1,042Pa to 1,043hPa levels over Tasmania. The pressure could reach around 1,045hPa on Saturday morning, she said.

Current forecasts have the high pressure system over southern Australia reaching 1044hPa late on Friday night (Aest). (Via @bom_au) pic.twitter.com/YZnUGWm8fk  @phannam@mastodon.green (@p_hannam) July 4, 2024

Melbournes pressure reading reached about 1,040.8hPa on Thursday morning, not far from its record high of 1,041.2hPa. Weatherzone has predicted that Canberra and Sydney may also find their records for pressure under threat from the system.

By early-to-mid next week we expect the high pressure will weaken completely and move eastwards away from Australia, Hernandez said.

The cold weather has been particularly notable for part of Tasmania this week, with the mercury dropping to -13.5C overnight in Liawenee, a record low for the state in July, Weatherzone said.

Liawenee is enduring a phenomenal run of icy mornings this week.  Thursday morning's minimum of -13.5C was the 2nd lowest temperature ever recorded in Tasmania and the state's lowest on record for July. pic.twitter.com/5oairlLZbo  Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) July 4, 2024

The high pressure has also contributed to a week of showery weather up the east coast, including for Sydney. Each day until the middle of next week should have showers for the harbour city, with a trough for the west arriving to extend the wet, Hernandez said.

Along with the cool conditions, the high pressure has brought low wind levels for many regions, cutting electricity generation for that source and triggering more burning of gas for power.

Gas storage levels at Victorias main Iona site dropped 2.6 petajoules in the week of 17-23 June, a record reduction, the Australian Energy Market Operator said. Over a fortnight, Ionas storage lost 4.1PJ, dropping from 78% full to 60%.

An Aemo note sent to industry members said gas output from the Longford facility tapping Bass Strait gas had increased to help meet demand. Even so, Iona inventory decline needs to be less than [0.2PJ/day] on average (6PJ/month) to prevent deliverability risks before the end of August, indicating supply conditions could remain tight until the end of winter.

Some relief is on the way in the form of a series of cold fronts that will start to cross Victoria from the middle of next week, Hernandez said. With more wind generation, there should be less need to use gas-fired power stations.
Whos going to find out? People on the beach at Marbella on the Costa del Sol. Photograph: Interfoto Pressebildagentur/Alamy

Marbella city council has denied suggestions that anyone caught relieving themselves in the warm waters off one of the Costa del Sols best-known destinations could soon face a fine of up to 750 (635).

At the end of May, the council approved a series of initiatives designed to improve the quality of the citys famous beaches. Although the proposals also include sanctions for antisocial offences such as playing loud music or playing annoying ball games, the most eye-catching measure was the fine for those who carry out physiological evacuations (bowel movements and urination) in the sea or on the beach.

There was also bad news for repeat offenders: anyone caught getting caught short more than once in the space of a year could face a fine of up to 1,500.

The wording of the bylaw soon gave rise to bafflement, ridicule and ample media speculation.

When the Spanish TV programme Tiempo al tiempo sent a reporter to the beach to gauge public reaction, the proposal was met with incredulity.

Whos going to find out? asked one man, who confessed to peeing in the sea more than once. The jellyfish? Another beachgoer was equally bemused: Are there going to be police officers on the lookout? I just dont get it.

However, a spokesperson for the city council later clarified the proposals, saying they would not apply to open water.

The bylaw does not impose a sanction for peeing in the sea, they said in an email to the Guardian. It will not be applicable. The bylaw regulates possible antisocial infractions on the beach, just as any such acts are regulated in any public space such as on the citys streets.

Asked about the wording of the bylaw, the spokesperson said it referred to the fact that people might pee into the sea from the shore or from breakwaters.

Marbella is not the first Spanish city to resort to such measures. In 2004, Malaga introduced a 300 fine for physiological evacuation on the beach or in the sea, while a similar, 750 sanction came into effect two years ago in the Galician city of Vigo.

The measure elicited confusion and amusement in both Spain and neighbouring Portugal.

If youre heading there for your summer holidays, be careful where you urinate, warned Portuguese media at the time. Peeing in the sea or on the beach will result in a fine.
Police officers have been authorised to 'remove' a crocodile seen in Mango Creek - redbrickstock.com/Alamy

The body of a 12-year-old girl has been found in remote northern Australia, two days after she was attacked by a crocodile.

On Thursday, Northern Territory (NT) police confirmed human remains were found near to where the girl was last seen swimming at Nganmarriyanga, a small Aboriginal community 220 miles south-west of Darwin.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said confirmation of the death was devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search.

Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene, she told local media.

The girls body was found at Mango Creek, where she had been with family on Tuesday as they cooled off while the temperature climbed to over 30C. Earlier, reports emerged that a childs t-shirt had been recovered from the waterway.

It was particularly gruesome and a sad and devastating outcome, Sen Sergeant Gibson told the ABC.

Brent Potter, the NT Police Minister, said on Wednesday that officers had been authorised to remove a crocodile seen in the creek as they entered the recovery stage of the search.

Its a tragic incident for any parent or family member to lose a young child, and especially in the circumstances like that taken by a crocodile, Mr Potter told local media.

I know the search and rescue team are currently out there with members from the Wadeye police station and theyll continue to do that to find that croc.

He added: We live in a place where crocodiles occupy our water places. It is a tragic event.

Members of the public had called police about 5.30pm Tuesday, and searched the water themselves, before official rescue teams arrived with boats and helicopters.

A popular swimming hole for the 450 residents of Nganmarriyanga, the creek is considered safe during the dry season from May to October.

In the wet season, however, crocodiles can swim into nearby watering holes from the Daly River which is home to both freshwater and saltwater species.

The popular swimming hole for the residents of Nganmarriyanga is considered safe during the dry season from May to October - Heather Paul/Moment RF

Incident follows calls for a crocodile cull

Crocodile numbers have climbed to about 100,000 in the NT since Australia banned culling in the territory in 1971. Before then, the population had dropped to about 5,000.

Although the number of crocodiles has risen, experts have stressed that fatal attacks have remained rare as a result of local management and a ban on swimming during times of heavy rain.

In the NT, fatalities peaked in 2014 when four people were killed. Since then, there have been two fatal attacks, both in 2018.

Calls for a government cull were reignited last July when a two-metre-long saltwater crocodile attacked a man while he was swimming along with a dozen others in a popular water hole.

Following the attack on the 67-year-old man in Litchfield National Park, Natasha Fyles, NTs chief minister, said that she would be formally contacting the Commonwealth to raise the prospect of culling crocodiles.

I think its time for us to consider: Do we need to go back to culling considering the significant increase in the crocodile population, and the impact its [having], not just on our tourists and visitors, but also locals, Ms Fyles said at the time.

More than 3,000 crocodiles have been relocated or killed after being considered a threat to people in NT waterways since 2012, according to government data.

In February, authorities announced that they were working on a 10-year plan to manage crocodile populations.
Boris Johnson cast his vote this morning at Brightwell cum Sotwell Village Hall - TOM PILSTON

The campaigning was over, the debating done, and as the sun rose on polling day there was only one task left to candidates and their volunteers: get out the vote.

On a glorious July day, the Conservatives were hoping the weather might do them a favour by encouraging a high turnout and Boris Johnson was among the first to hammer home the message.

Im on my way to the polling station where Im going to cast my vote against the nightmare prospect of a Left-wing government, he said, filming himself walking along a tree-lined lane.

More Left-wing than any since the war, with more wokery, more illegal immigration, more pointless, powerless kow-towing to Brussels, and of course ever-higher taxation for you and your family under Keir Starmer and the Labour Party. Dont let it happen, vote Conservative today, get out and vote today, its a beautiful day.

Rishi Sunak was the first party leader out of the blocks, voting at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency before 8am.

Mr Sunak wore a polo Ralph Lauren wool quarter zip jumper to fend off the morning chill, while his wife Akshata Murty wore a 185 dress from Boden, the clothing catalogue of the middle classes.

In his own social media post, he appeared to be conceding defeat before many votes had even been cast. Vote Conservative to stop the Labour super-majority, which would mean higher taxes for a generation, he tweeted.

Sir Keir Starmer looked as though he was already dressed for a new job in Downing Street as he arrived at a polling station in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency in a charcoal suit, white shirt and red tie a little before 10am.

Fashion-watchers were quick to point out that Victoria, his wife, was wearing a more expensive dress than billionaires daughter Ms Murty  a bright orange cotton blend poplin dress by Jonathan Simkhai that costs 574.

There was good news for Sir Keir when The Sun newspaper, which has traditionally backed whichever party it thinks is going to win, came out in support of Labour.

Around the country people turned up in cars, tractors and on horseback to vote, while in Maidenhead Theresa May, the former prime minister, was greeted by Blitz, a border collie who has been a regular fixture at her local polling station since 2018.

Sir Keirs predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, expelled from the Labour Party by the current leader, voted in the Islington North constituency he has represented since 1983 and tweeted a picture of himself saying: Just voted for the independent candidateI heard hes alright.

Meanwhile Brendan Cox, the widower of the Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered by a far-Right extremist in 2016, tweeted a picture of his late wife with the simple message: Please vote.

It doesn't matter who you vote for. Just vote. And don't forget ID.  Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) July 4, 2024

One party leader who could not take advantage of the traditional photo opportunity at a polling station was Nigel Farage, who had already voted by post in Kent, being unable to register in his Clacton on Sea battleground in time for the election.

That didnt stop him making sure he got noticed, driving around the constituency in a military Land Rover with a Vote Reform placard. Cutting a dash in a blue blazer and sunglasses, he also paced the streets of Clacton enjoying a Mr Whippy ice cream.

The next party leader to vote was Sir Ed Davey, who left his wetsuit at home when he cast his ballot at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church with his wife Emily Gasson.

As for possible future leaders, Penny Mordaunt voted for herself in Portsmouth North after turning up in a car emblazoned with the legend: Vote Penny to save your pennies.

A few dozen miles up the A3, Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, was in a battle royal to avoid defeat in the newly-created seat of Godalming and Ash. Arriving at his local polling station in a Range Rover, he held both fists up in the air defiantly as he came out after casting his vote.

The controversy over missing ballot papers rumbled on throughout the day though, with Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, blaming her local council for disenfranchising up to 2,600 voters by forgetting to send them their ballot papers in North West Essex.

Kate Garraway, the Good Morning Britain presenter, revealed that she had not received a polling card for herself, though her local council had sent one to her husband Derek Draper, the former political strategist who died in January, almost four years after his body was ravaged by Covid-19.

In Somerset, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg had a welcome distraction from the possibility that he could lose his seat: he arrived to vote accompanied by his son Sixtus, who was celebrating his seventh birthday and had the badges and paper crown to prove it.

By 4.30pm the Tories were suddenly feeling more optimistic about their chances of avoiding a Labour landslide. An email to supporters reported that teams on the ground were seeing a higher turnout than expected, which means we could have a much better chance than polls have suggested and urging everyone to get out and vote.

Election days always provide moments of levity, and this one was no exception. There was Sandie Randle turning out to vote in Painswick, Glos, not with the traditional pet dog but with two alpacas called Dumbledore and Apollo. In Henley, rowing fans dressed in their blazers went to vote before heading off to the annual regatta.

But there were darker moments too. In east London, Palestinian flags were taken down outside several polling stations because of concerns about voter intimidation.

Several councils, including Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham councils said they had received reports of the flags flying on lamp posts. Some Labour candidates seeking re-election were being challenged by independents running on pro-Palestine tickets, and some voters complained that the flags were a form of intimidation.

One user of X, formerly Twitter, said: This isnt Gaza and people should go to the polling stations with British issues in mind.

According to the electoral commission, there should not be any campaign posters, banners or other advertising literature in polling stations, on the polling station buildings or on the land of the polling station, such as a car park.

However, the election watchdog said that flags are not considered campaign material meaning this is not a matter for electoral law.

Elsewhere, it was incompetence rather than intimidation that was causing concern. Voters at the Notre Dame Primary School polling station in Partick arrived to find posters put up by Glasgow city council that told them to rank candidates in order of preference, rather than putting an X next to one name.

The mistake was made because Holyrood elections use a single transferable vote system, and the council said no voters would be disenfranchised because their first preference would be used to determine their vote.
A tribal religion villager in India killed his 32-year-old niece with axe blows and stones last week, claiming she and her relatives had no right to ancestral farmland because they had become Christians, sources said.

Bindu Sodi of Toylanka village, Kotewarpara in Dantewada District, Chhattisgarh state had been the sole breadwinner for her mother, sister, younger brother, his wife and their 2-year-old child. The surviving relatives cannot return home due to death threats.

Two weeks before the killing, Bindu Sodis uncle, Chetu Sodi, and his son Kumma Sodi intruded onto land belonging to her younger brother, Bhima Sodi, sowing seeds on one-third of the parcel.

When Bhima Sodi submitted a complaint about the land takeover to Katekalyan police on the advice of the Christians pastor, Sudru Ram Telam, the station chief told him that he must go to the revenue department and the village registrar to resolve the issue, the pastor said.

The revenue department officer summoned Chetu Sodi, but he refused, Pastor Telam said. The officer then ordered the village registrar to visit Chetu Sodis house to check the claim and determine the rightful owner.

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Bindus younger sister, Aarti Mandavi, said that the registrar faced opposition from Chetu Sodi.

Uncle told the registrar that because we have all become Christians, we have no right over the ancestral property, and therefore he refused to sign the papers the registrar was carrying, said Mandavi, a Christian who had lived with Bindu the past year.

The revenue officer ordered a notice to be served to Chetu Sodi to go to the collectorate office or else face action for non-compliance, Mandavi said.

But it was all too late, said Pastor Telam, saying Chetu Sodi and his son went ahead and cultivated another portion of Bhima Sodis land. Bhima and the entire family were very disturbed at the way things were going. Bhima had no job; he took care of the farmland. They were not sure how long the revenue department proceedings would take.

On the evening of June 24, Bhima Sodi, his wife Tulsi, Bindu Sodi and her mother decided to cultivate the only portion of their land that was remaining before the uncle took it over as well, Pastor Telam said. Someone saw them working their land and informed Chetu Sodi, who quickly arrived with his son.

With her mobile phone, Bindu Sodi recorded her uncle picking up stones and charging at them. Bhima Sodi and his mother hastily drove away from the field on the tractor, while Bindu Sodi and Tulsi Sodi fled on foot.

While running, Bindu toppled over something and fell, Mandavi told Morning Star News. The mobile got thrown at a distance, and Tulsi turned and picked up the phone and approached to help Bindu, but the uncle and his son reached Bindu and began to assault her.

Tulsi Sodi ran to hand the phone to Bhima Sodi, who called police. The station chief, however, said that it was getting dark and that they would come only the next morning, Mandavi said.

Bhima called a Tribal Christian Forum, and their head in turn called the police station in-charge and insisted on them to go, explaining that the matter was serious, Pastor Telam said.

By the time police arrived with an ambulance, Mandavi said, the field was wet with Bindus blood.

Chetu Sodi and his son assaulted Bindu Sodi, striking her with stones and an axe besides beating and kicking her, witnesses said. He and his son left her half dead and began to go after Bhima Sodi and his mother, Mandavi said.

Bhima and mother hid themselves in someones house to save their lives, she said. When Uncle couldnt find them, they went back and once again started to assault Bindu until she was dead.

Mandavi said she was shocked at the brutality of the assault, which left Bindu Sodi with wounds on her face, head and neck.

Some parts of her flesh from the cheeks were missing, Mandavi said, sobbing. She was hit by the axe several times at several places, they smashed her face with stones and brutally assaulted her until she bled to death on the field.

Police sent her body for postmortem to Dantewada, where the family was also taken. The next day, police arrested Chetu Sodi. Officers arrested his son Kumma Sodi on June 29.

Police have registered First Information Report No. 30/2024 for murder (Section 302) and criminal acts by several persons with common intention (Section 34) against Chetu Sodi and Kumma Sodi.

A human rights activist in Delhi who requested anonymity said he called police on June 26 and learned about the FIR, but when he mentioned that there was opposition to Bindu Sodis Christian faith, the officer responded by saying that the accused and victim are from the same family and they had a dispute over the land.

Pastor Telam refuted the polices claim, saying if the motives were only a family land dispute, then why did the police not let us bury Bindu in the village? Why did they want to avoid any sectarian tension by allowing her a Christian burial inside the village? There is no dubiousness about the Christian persecution angle behind the murder.

Police Pressure

After the burial on June 26, Pastor Telam told Morning Star News that police pressured the family to bury Bindus body 19 miles from her native village.

Sadly, the police did not take a stand for us nor gave us police protection to conduct the burial in their homeland, said Pastor Telam. Bindus body was hastily transported from the mortuary to the burial place in Dantewada, and in no time the burial was conducted in the evening.

He added that officers threatened to arrest him for objecting to the polices refusal to honor the familys wishes for a burial in the village.

The police even threatened to put me in jail for four or five hours if I continued to encourage the family to demand the burial to be conducted in the village, he said. They said that I have poisoned the minds of the family members to conduct the burial in the village, and that is why the family is becoming stubborn about it.

Bhima Sodi and his family continuously receive death threats from the villagers, who had been united in their desire to protect Kumma Sodi from arrest, Mandavi said. Before Kumma Sodi was arrested, villagers had said he would kill another member of the family if officers pursued him, she said.

We are scared to go back, Mandavi said from the familys rented room nearly 20 miles outside the village. We will stay here for some days till the matter is settled.

Bindu Sodi was the only income-earning member of the family, said the pastor. Mandavi said her sister had taken over providing for the family after their fathers death and never married, because she had to feed so many members.

Bindu Sodi had taken a job as a teacher at the villages government-sponsored child and mother care center under the Integrated Child Development Scheme.

Shewas the first person from the Toylanka village to accept Christ, Pastor Telam said.

It is because of her evangelism that eight more families in that village came to Christ, he said. She was a great evangelist of our church.

India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power.

The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say.
The outspoken Western Australian senator Fatima Payman has quit the Labor party but will stay in the upper house as an independent in a major rupture with the Albanese government over Palestine.

Payman, who had already been indefinitely suspended from Labors federal parliamentary caucus after warning that she was prepared to cross the floor again, announced on Thursday she had resigned from the party.

In a press conference at Parliament House, Payman said she was deeply torn between the grassroots party members who were calling on her to hang in there and the caucus pressure to toe the party line.

Related: Former dissenting Labor MP backs Fatima Payman and says party needs to reconsider rules

Payman described the ongoing genocide in Gaza as a tragedy of unimaginable proportions that compelled everyone to act with a sense of urgency and moral clarity.

We have all seen the bloodied images of young children losing limbs, being amputated without anaesthetic, and starving as Israel continues its onslaught, livestreamed across the world, Payman said.

With a heavy heart but a clear conscience, I announce my resignation from the Australian Labor party. I have informed the prime minister that, effective immediately, I will sit on the crossbench to represent Western Australia.

Payman said it was the most difficult decision of her life and she felt she had been put in a very tough position.

She added that she had told the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and other colleagues multiple times that this is a matter I cannot compromise on.

Payman said she had attempted to raise concerns through internal party processes and in conversations with Albanese and senior ministers, but felt that decisions were already made by the time they came to caucus meetings for formal approval.

The 29-year-old was elected to the Senate in 2022 for a six-year term representing Western Australia.

There is no rule preventing an elected senator from quitting their party and staying on in the Senate, but Labor has insisted Payman is in the upper house only because she was an ALP candidate.

When asked whether she was going against the wishes of voters, Payman said the people of WA had entrusted her to represent their voice and she would continue serving them.

Payman signalled that her policy priorities included addressing housing, the cost of living and the climate crisis, the high incarceration rates of Indigenous peoples, and ending the imprisonment of children as young as 10.

The announcement followed confirmation on Tuesday that the Australian political strategist and so-called preference whisperer Glenn Druery was conducting informal conversations with Payman and Muslim community groups. Druery said, however, that there was no contract.

Payman said on Thursday she was not affiliated with the Muslim Vote group and had only met once with it.

I dont have any intentions of collaborating with them per se and I havent thought about it at this point, she said.

Payman used her first speech to the Senate in 2022 to describe how her family fled Taliban-ruled Afghanistan shortly after her birth: I stand before you tonight as a young woman, as a Western Australian, as a Muslim devout to her faith, proud of her heritage and grateful to this beautiful country.

Payman told reporters on Thursday: My family did not flee from a war-torn country to come here as refugees for me to remain silent when I see atrocities inflicted on innocent people.

In recent months, Payman has been increasingly outspoken in condemning Israels military operations in Gaza. She said in May: My conscience has been uneasy for far too long and I must call this out for what it is. This is a genocide and we need to stop pretending otherwise.

In the same statement in May, Payman used the politically charged phrase from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which she said asserted a desire for Palestinians to live in their homeland as free and equal citizens, neither dominating others nor being dominated over.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry condemned Paymans use of the phrase, saying it was an old Arab supremacist slogan calling for the destruction of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of its Jewish population.

Payman denied the claim of antisemitism and noted that the founding charter of Israels ruling Likud party stated between the sea and the Jordan river, there will only be Israeli sovereignty.

Related: Fatima Payman says she has been exiled by Labor following suspension from caucus

Since then, Payman has found herself increasingly at odds with her caucus colleagues. Writing for Al Jazeera on 17 June, Payman called on her own government to recognise Palestine as a state in a symbolic and bold rejection of Israels current bid to erase the Palestinian people.

That advocacy culminated in the Senate vote on 25 June when Payman crossed the floor to side with the Greens on a motion declaring an urgent need for the Senate to recognise the state of Palestine.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, had unsuccessfully sought to amend the motions wording to specify that recognition of Palestine could occur as part of a peace process in support of a two-state solution and a just and enduring peace.

Payman insisted on Thursday she had decided to cross the floor only at the time of that vote. She said she was reflecting the call in the Labor party platform for recognition of Palestine as an important priority of a Labor government.

She said recent weeks had been very difficult on a personal level, including receiving death threats and emails that were quite confronting, especially when it involves my family and saying all sorts of awful things.
France Le Pen

Two old democracies prepare for simultaneous upheavals  a historic first. France faces the more alarming prospect. We have few doubts about who will be governing us, and have some idea of what they intend. In France, the prospects are utterly uncertain as to people, policies and consequences.

How did it get to this? It has been a long, long time coming.

The French  forgive a stereotype  like things clear. President Macron said he called his shock election, the second round of which is on Sunday, to establish clarity. His people do not like muddling through and fudging. While the British constitution has evolved but never ended  not since 1688, at least  the French since 1789 have had three monarchies, two empires, five republics and 15 constitutions. In every case, the aim was to end turbulence and establish clear principles of government.

The pattern has been of fluctuation between liberty and order, democracy and authority. Liberty and democracy have often found expression in the streets, on the barricades, in turbulent parliaments overthrowing governments every few months, and (to their critics) in being incapable of dealing with crisis.

When enough people tired of disorder and uncertainty, the pendulum swung. Hence the two Napoleons, the restored Bourbons, and Marshal Petain in 1940, all backed by the army, the Church, the peasantry, and the well-off. When authority stumbled or was destroyed by foreign armies, democracy flooded back as the Second, Third and Fourth Republics.

The bedrock of French politics was, then, the unending struggle between liberty and order, which translated into Left and Right. The struggle was sometimes violent, always antagonistic, but also stable. A map of the Left (big cities, industrial areas, and the least Catholic regions) and the Right (Catholic rural areas in the west and south) lasted from the 1790s until the 1970s. The Communists and the Gaullists were then the big beasts.

De Gaulle was the last political giant, an ideal Right-wing saviour: a patriotic Catholic soldier, who in a semi-coup ended the chaos of the Fourth Republic, collapsing amid the Algerian War. With remarkable political judgment, he created a novel hybrid of Left and Right  an elected republican monarchy  aimed at ending the instability of what has been called the Franco-French war. Parliament, though downgraded, remained. The system adopted the Republican name (it was the Fifth) and liberal democratic values. It rested on the unique figure of de Gaulle, the great helmsman who, soaring above party squabbles, safeguarded the nations true destiny.

But even de Gaulle was in reality removed humiliatingly by riots and strikes, and in the following half-century the substitute de Gaulles were politicians of diminishing stature, as everywhere in the democratic world. Yet the vast powers of the presidency  so dangerous, thought one commentator, that it would be folly to put them even into the hands of a saint  made the system function.

But the solidly rooted forces that had structured political life started crumbling. Gaullism lost its charisma and became just another centre-Right force. Communism was abandoned by workers in rust-belt industries who started voting in the 1980s for the provocative old bruiser Jean-Marie Le Pen  especially where there was a large immigrant population.

Here, 40 years ago now, was the seedbed of Frances present predicament. Old Le Pen was irremediably tarnished by association with wartime collaboration and the Algerian war. For the young who vote for his daughter Marine, this is ancient history. Now it is she who is on course for the presidency in 2027.

Another straw in the wind was the negative referendum on the EU constitution in 2005: only the richer parts of the Paris region voted yes. Today these are the only areas thoroughly resistant to Marine Le Pen, whose Eurosceptic party (though a minority) led the poll almost everywhere else.

The final prop  of course  was kicked from under the system by Macron himself, who led a strange centrist-populist insurgency in 2017 which eviscerated the old parties. Now that Macron himself has alienated the country, France is left with two extremes and a hollow centre. Populism is sweeping much of the West: this is the particular version shaped by Frances history.

The Fifth Republic was meant to reassure a people always nervous about their own capacity for political turbulence that there was someone in charge. There no longer is.

There is a final barrier against Le Pen, which will probably hold for now. Frances turbulent history has bequeathed an ancient defence against extremism: two-round voting. Over many generations, Republicans have been willing to unite against the Right. We shall see how much this visceral instinct will impel conservative Macronists to vote in Sundays second round for extreme Left-wing candidates, and vice-versa.

In the first round, you vote for what you want; in the second, you vote against what you fear. On Sunday the French will show the world, and each other, what they fear most.

Robert Tombs is professor emeritus of French history at St Johns College, Cambridge
People protest against Marine Le Pens National Rally in Paris. Photograph: Yara Nardi/Reuters

After Marine Le Pens National Rally (RN) topped the first round of Frances snap general election, parties of the left and centre called for a front republicain (republican front) against the far right party and urged voters to faire barrage (block its advance).

The terms, and the practice, have existed in French politics for decades. But what is the republican front, when has it been deployed  and how well does it work?

What is the republican front?

The term is ill-defined and the strategy can take different forms, but in French politics the republican front describes a combined effort by several mainstream political parties and their voters to minimise the far rights chances of winning an election.

Related: Will France fall to the far right?  podcast

In the second round of presidential elections, and in other elections when only two finalists reach the run-off stage, parties that did not make it will ask their voters to support the mainstream candidate. Voters have tended  although in decreasing numbers  to comply.

When the far right is well-placed in a runoff for which three candidates have qualified, which can happen in all elections bar the presidential poll, the republican front is more concrete: third-placed candidates can agree to withdraw so as not to split the anti-RN vote.

Such agreements can be local or national, and once again rely on voters to make them work. Whatever their political preferences, they are invited to block a far-right victory by voting for whichever candidate is left standing against the far right party.

The republican front is so named because the RN is seen as anti-republican, on the grounds that its French-first plans for a national preference in jobs and benefits, and some of its anti-immigration proposals, run contrary to constitutional principles of equality.

When did the republican front first emerge?

Most historians date the first to 1955, during the Fourth Republic, when four centre-left and centre-right parties formed an electoral pact to beat the populist, anti-taxation, anti-modernisation, anti-parliamentarian UDCA of Pierre Poujade.

The term was first used by Jean-Jacques Servan-Schreiber, a journalist from lExpress magazine, then picked up by Le Monde. Fun fact: one of the more influential members of the defeated UCDA was a certain Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marines father.

How often has it been deployed since?

The republican front and the barrage have been deployed in differing forms in municipal, departmental, regional, parliamentary and presidential elections since the 1980s, as the vote share of RN  known then as the National Front (FN)  began to rise.

In the second round of departmental elections of 1985, for example, the Socialist party (PS) of the prime minister, Michel Rocard, called for a democratic pact, urging leftwing voters to block FN candidates by voting for the mainstream centre-right party.

The apogee of the republican front is widely considered to be the 2002 presidential elections, when, in a political earthquake, the NF leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, reached the second round at the expense of the Socialist party prime minister, Lionel Jospin.

Every party in the national assembly called on its voters to support the candidate of the centre-right UMP party, Jacques Chirac, who went on to win a second term in the Elysee palace with a score of 82%.

Has it always been successful?

The republican front has weakened steadily since 2002. In 2011 local elections, the rightwing president, Nicolas Sarkozy, urged his partys voters to choose neither FN, nor PS in the second round, because the Socialists had made local alliances with far-left parties.

In the run-off between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen for the 2017 presidential election, only two of the nine parties knocked out in the first round  the PS and the centre-right Les Republicains (LR)  formally called on their voters to back Macron.

In the second round of the 2022 presidential elections, a repeat of 2017, as RN continued to steadily increase its vote share at almost every ballot, two other far-right candidates, Eric Zemmour and Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, urged their voters to back Le Pen

The defeated centre-right, centre left, Green and Communist candidates all called on their voters to cast their ballots for Macron, but Jean-Luc Melenchon of the radical left Unbowed France (LFI) issued a subtly different appeal, urging his to vote against RN.

Macron won with 58%  a long way from Chiracs 82%. And in the ensuing parliamentary elections, the presidents camp resurrected Sarkozys neither  nor, refusing to tell its voters how to vote in run-offs between RN and the leftwing alliance that included LFI.

Will it work this time?

The RNs 33% first-round snap parliamentary election score drew instant calls for a republican front for Sundays second round and 221 candidates, including 83 from Macrons camp and 132 from the left-green NFP alliance, have stepped down from potential three-way runoffs.

However, while polls suggest this has significantly reduced RNs chances of an absolute majority in the assembly, the front continues to fracture.

Related: Frances hard left has been demonised  but its agenda is realistic, not radical | Julia Cage and Thomas Piketty

Compared with 2022, Melenchon was clear: NFP voters should cast their second round ballot for the non-RN candidate. However, Macron allies, including former prime minister Edouard Philippe, have said their camps voters should not back an NFP candidate from Melenchons LFI, and the centre-right LR has refused any recommendation, saying the far left is the real danger.

Meanwhile voters  particularly those on the left, who have now voted twice for Macron and centrist candidates to faire barrage against the far right  will once again be asked to hold their nose and cast their ballot for candidates whose policies they do not support, while centrists must vote NFP.

The front republicain may just hold this time, but it will not hold for ever.
The Meyzieu market on the outskirts of Lyon. Photograph: Alexandre Bagdassarian/The Guardian

At a market in Meyzieu, a small commune on the outskirts of Lyon, Kheira Vermorel eyed a box filled with potatoes, wondering if the sizeable spuds would be enough to soothe tensions at home.

For weeks  specifically since Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, plunged the country into shock snap elections  she and her husband had been at odds. Its been really hard, she said. Im worried it might lead to a divorce.

At the heart of their weeks-long dispute was the forthcoming ballot. Last election Vermorel, who moved to France from Algeria 35 years ago, voted for Macron. This time, however, she was convinced that it was time to give the political class a shake by casting her vote for the far-right, anti-immigrant National Rally (RN).

Politicians dont show up, they talk, they always promise things but nothing happens, said the 54-year-old. She waved off the widespread concerns about the partys policies that target Muslims, citing how she, a practising Muslim, had learned to balance her fate with Frances secularism.

Her French husband, however, was vehemently opposed to the partys hardline stance on immigrants. He tells me: If migrants are here, its because they dont have any other choice, she said, citing those who live on the streets. And he says if theyre in that situation, its because theyve lost everything.

Sundays first-round ballot, in which 9.4 million other French voters voted along the same lines as Vermorel, saw the far right emerge as the frontrunner, raising the temperature in an already high-stakes election. More than 200 candidates have since withdrawn from the race in an effort to build a united republican front capable of preventing the RN from taking power.

Whether it will succeed or not is unclear; only after this Sundays second, decisive ballot will France know for sure. In the meantime Vermorel had come to the market in the hope that whipping up a few of her husbands favourite dishes might quell some of the tension. As were not seeing eye to eye, I thought maybe if he eats better, hell remember that I cook well, she said, with a nervous laugh.

While the republican front strategy has long been a mainstay of French politics, and a poll on Wednesday suggested it may yet deprive Marine Le Pen of a majority, theres no guarantee this time around that the block on the far right will work. For it to do so, it will require centrist voters to back candidates from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), and leftwing voters to line up behind candidates from Macrons centrist alliance.

The choice we have is either black or white, said one 40-year-old who declined to give her name, citing her position as a public servant. And now were all talking about it. What should we do? Whats the least bad option? I think thats the real question.

Among the first candidates to withdraw from the race was Sarah Tanzilli, a member of parliament with Macrons Renaissance party since 2022 and centrist candidate in the constituency that includes Meyzieu. Earlier this week, even as the extent to which the presidents centrist alliance would employ tactical alliances to block the RN remained unclear, she was clear on what she had to do. It was the only decision possible, she said.

The ambiguity over whether Macrons centrist candidates would drop out had been owed partly to their messaging during the campaign, as Macron sought to argue that France was facing the risk of civil war if either of his extreme opponents won a majority.

Tanzilli was swift to note that there were still elements of France Unbowed, whose leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has faced accusations of antisemitism, that rattled her. The big difference is that there is no risk that France Unbowed will have an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

The same could not be said for the RN, she added. The far right stands for the opposite of liberty, equality and fraternity. So its extremely dangerous for our country, extremely dangerous for our ability to live together.

Tanzilli, whose familys roots stretch generations back to Armenia, pointed to the RNs promise to scrap nationality rights for children born and raised in France by foreign parents as an example. If these rights hadnt existed when my grandparents and great-grandparents arrived in France, I wouldnt be French.

On Wednesday, even as the centrist alliance said that 90% of its candidates had quit three-way races if they were in third place and had an RN candidate ahead of them, it remained to be seen whether centrist voters would fall into line, said Ikrame Saidi, one of a handful of volunteers crisscrossing the market in Meyzieu, handing out flyers for the local France Unbowed candidate. Victor Prandt trailed the RN in the first round by 10%.

Its complicated, said Saidi. Several people who voted for Macrons centrists tell us they dont want to vote for the New Popular Front.

Brian, 28 and a fellow volunteer, chimed in: Theyre telling us that they dont vote for extremes. So for them, theres an equals sign between what they consider the extreme left and the extreme right.

Many centrists argue the radical-left France Unbowed, which believes traditional parties no longer serve democracy, does not share republican values.

But Brian said he saw that depiction of the party as an extension of a strategy employed by Macron since 2017, discrediting those on the left while also relying on them as a bulwark against the far right. But theres no equivalence to be drawn between a party that proposes nothing but racism and parties that, even if they dont agree among themselves, have come up with a project to give people back their dignity and improve their lives.

As rain began to drizzle over the market in Mayzieu, several people said they werent planning on voting. It breaks my heart to see the bad guys, said Lahsene Hadbe, born in France to parents with Algerian roots, pointing to the RN. Theyre extremists, racists, fascists and I hate them.

But the sentiment wasnt enough to move him to cast a ballot in Sundays election; he said he had given up hope on electoral politics in the early 1990s. Nope, he said. With a laugh, he added: I would be ready to physically fight against them but not to vote against them. Its bizarre, no?

Others, such as Valerie Sodoyer, said she would be casting a blank vote so as not to have to make a choice. None of them suit me, she said.

Since arriving from Tunisia five decades ago, Saida Khlifi said she had steadily watched as the welfare state deteriorated, leaving herself and others struggling as the cost of living soared.

The situation had left her unenthused about the forthcoming election. Its neither here nor there, she said. I dont have any confidence in anyone.

Even so, she was determined to vote on Sunday. To say no to Le Pen, she said. She pointed to the partys origin as the National Front, whose racist, antisemitic and anti-Muslim views had long been seen as a danger to democracy.

The party had put forward few ideas, she said, and had instead targeted migrants who had worked and paid taxes their whole lives, such as herself. If already, with the others, were not living well, do you think that when the [RN] takes power, well be able to live better?
Joe Biden speaks during a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 28 June. Photograph: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Joe Biden has told a radio show he screwed up and made a mistake in last weeks debate against Donald Trump, but vowed to stay in the election race, even as a series of polls show him now trailing the ex-president by about six points.

In two interviews conducted Wednesday and aired Thursday with local radio stations in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where he will also hold events this weekend, the president urged voters to judge him on his time in the White House.

I had a bad night, Biden told Milwaukee radio host Earl Ingram. And the fact of the matter is that I screwed up. I made a mistake. Thats 90 minutes on stage  look at what Ive done in three and a half years.

Related: Trump calls Biden broken-down and claims he quit 2024 race in leaked video

To Ingrams largely Black audience, Biden pointed to achievements during his presidency that increased representation.

I picked a Black woman to be my vice-president. Ive appointed the first Black woman to be a supreme court justice, Biden said. Ive appointed more Black judges, more Black women judges, than every other president in American history combined.

Biden also attacked Trump for comments the former president made about Black workers during their TV debate a week ago, when Trump said migrant workers could be taking as many as 20m Black jobs.

Hes done terrible things in the community, and he has about as much interest and concern for Black, minority communities as the man on the moon does, Biden said.

The interviews are part of a blitz of public appearances over the next few days that the president himself reportedly told a key ally were critical for whether he could successfully make a case for his re-election to the public, following a debate performance in which he appeared at times to lose his train of thought or blank out entirely.

Although he secured the continuing support of Democratic governors in a meeting on Wednesday evening, the New York Times also cited two people in that meeting who said Biden admitted to the governors he had been feeling the effects of fatigue, needed to work less and get more sleep, and was aiming to reduce his number of engagements after 8pm. Hawaiis governor, Josh Green, is reported to have asked Biden about his health. Its just my brain, Biden said, in what some heard as a joke but at least one person found odd.

As well as the Wisconsin and Pennsylvania rallies, Biden will also give an another interview on Friday to ABC News, then to Good Morning America over the weekend.

Clips of the ABC interview were originally scheduled to be aired on Friday night in the news time slot, with the full interview in two parts on Sunday and Monday, but the network announced on Thursday that it would now run the interview in its entirety on Friday.

On Thursday, the White House told CNN that Biden had been examined by his doctor after the debate, during which he reportedly had a cold. The statement appeared to contradict the press secretary Karine Jean-Pierres assertion a day earlier that Biden had had no medical exams since his February physical.

The White House spokesman Andrew Bates told CNN the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well.

A gathering number of opinion polls conducted after the debate appear to show that his worrying performance, including an inability to successfully argue against Trumps stream of unchecked lies, has hurt Biden with voters.

According to a Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday, on Trump has opened a six-point lead nationally, at 48% to 42%, with 80% of respondents saying the president is too old to run for a second term  an increase of seven points since February.

It also found that Biden is viewed favorably by 34% of voters, and unfavorably by 63%. Less than 40% approved of his handling of the economy, immigration or his time in office overall.

Another poll, from the New York Times/Siena, released on Wednesday also showed a six-point advantage to Trump, up from three a week earlier. Among registered voters, Trump led by eight points.

According to the Journal poll, one-third of respondents, including 31% of independents  a key bloc of US voters on whom the election may turn  said the debate made them more likely to vote for Trump, while just 10% said Biden.

A similar percentage of Democrats and Republicans  roughly three-quarters  said they considered Biden too old to run. Two-thirds of Democrats said they would replace Biden with another candidate.

Meanwhile, a Fourth of July campaign message from the president also attacked the recent supreme court ruling that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for an acts deemed official, saying it paved the way for the presidency to become a de facto monarchy.

Our nation waged a war based on the revolutionary idea that everyday people ought to govern themselves, Biden said in the message, quoting the US constitutional principle that we will swear fealty to no king and that everyone is equal under the law  a founding principle that Biden said conservatives on the court have decided presidents are free to break.

Speculation has been intensifying about whether more elected Democrats will call for Biden to step aside: only two congressmen have so far done so. Potential replacement candidates, including Kamala Harris, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer and California governor Gavin Newsom, have strongly stated their support for Bidens re-election.

In a call to campaign workers on Wednesday, he is reported to have said: Im the nominee of the Democratic party. No ones pushing me out. Im not leaving. In a fundraising email after the call, Biden said: Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: Im running.

Trump had been running a roughly two-point lead in the polls earlier in the year, though his lead appeared to narrow and the candidates seemed to be running neck-and-neck before the debate.
Police said all three men were in a non-life-threatening condition - UKNIP

A knifeman remains at large after a triple stabbing in west London, police have said.

Officers were called to two areas of Feltham within six minutes on Thursday afternoon with three people found injured.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: On Thursday July 4 at 2.07pm police were called to Alcott Close in Feltham to reports of a stabbing.

On police arrival officers found a male with a stab injury. The suspect was no longer on scene. The male received medical treatment.

Six minutes later, police were called to Walsham Road to reports of a stabbing at the location.

On arrival, officers found two males with stab injuries. The suspect was no longer on scene.

The attacker remains at large and no arrests have been made yet, police said.

Two of the victims injuries were initially thought to be life-threatening but police later said all three men were in a non-life-threatening condition.

A Section 60 order, giving officers additional search powers, is in force in the area, Hounslow Police said on X, formerly Twitter.

It is understood the incident is currently not linked to terrorism and the Met police said there was no link to the general election or polling day activity.
Julian Sands in The Last Breath

There are two reasons why The Last Breath is unfortunately titled. This film, in which sharks chomp down on scuba divers in a resolutely low-budget fashion, will forever be confused with Last Breath, which is already, in fact, a pair of films  a 2019 British documentary about a terrifying diving accident, and an identically titled dramatisation of that story with Woody Harrelson, coming out next year.

The other, much more grave misfortune is that this straight-to-VOD effort contains the final appearance of Julian Sands, who died last year while hiking in California. But no racing to update obituaries will be needed, for the role, a stock one, adds little more than crumbs to Sandss portfolio. Hes in it for about ten scattered minutes as a grizzled diving veteran named Levi, with an accent that reverts, perhaps not quite all the way, to Sandss birthplace in Yorkshire.

At least his attire is delightful: hes in a red fishermans beanie, with an open-necked shirt and jaunty white neckerchief. Given the infamous tedium of water-based shoots, its to Sandss advantage that he has easily the least gruelling part, as the only character who doesnt spend 80 per cent of their screen time in full scuba gear underwater, exploring the recesses of a sunken battleship, the USS Charlotte, last seen off the waters of the British Virgin Islands in 1944.

College dropout Noah (Masters of the Airs Jack Parr) is the one who finds this wreck in the present day, and accepts a hefty fee from his frenemy Brett (Alexander Arnold) to lead the way down there with three other companions.

It takes an awfully long time for the sharks to show up, but the film doesnt do a bad job tightening claustrophobia and letting the oxygen levels in everyones tanks run down before the frenzy starts. Its a little like Sanctum, the surprisingly profitable 2011 cave-diving thriller, crossed with, say, Deep Blue Sea.

Faint praise, though, is the best that can be mustered. Sure, the idea of sustaining a hideous leg wound that needs underwater treatment is quite novel. And the cast  which include Kim Spearman as a compassionate medic  acquit themselves well in this sequence.

You can be absolutely certain, though, that the other three are chum in the water, particularly Brett, who is an arrogant tech-bro flashing his money around: a red rag to any self-respecting shark, of course. As director, Swedish journeyman Joachim Heden has made something competent, basic and profoundly unsurprising. If you come in merely desperate to know where Sands got his final paycheque, thats pretty weird  but here you are.

15 cert, 96 min. On VOD, DVD/Blu-ray from July 5
Half of all Tory voters  including a quarter of those who voted for the party last time  want the Conservatives wiped out entirely - Thomas Broom

For the last century, the Conservative Party has been defined by both its electoral successes  since 1906 it has been in power for some 77 years  and its chameleonic nature. It is ruthlessly successful, picking up and discarding policies and ideologies as required to stay in power. When it does lose, it inevitably returns, reinvented and renewed: the Terminator of British politics.

Those powers of recovery and reinvention are about to meet with their greatest test yet. The mood in the country is ugly; half of all voters  including a quarter of those who voted for it last time  want the Conservative Party wiped out entirely, taking home zero seats on polling day.

Barring a miracle, recovery in time for this election is now impossible. But recovery by 2029, or 2034, is still on the cards. By the time the exit poll is released just after 10pm tonight, the Conservative Party will have begun its internal civil war as the differing factions seek to remake the party in their image.

Which of these factions comes out on top  and whether the party survives the coming blow at all  depends to a great degree on how this election plays out. It is the personalities left with seats in Westminster who will shape the next iteration of the party.

Here we examine three potential scenarios suggested by the baseline prediction of recent polls, as well as their lower and upper estimations  a major defeat, a near total wipeout, and an unexpected success  to discover what could happen next.

It takes a while for the magnitude of the earthquake to sink in. As the votes are tallied and the results come in, it becomes clear that the Conservatives have suffered a stunning defeat. The party which has dominated British politics for a decade and more has suffered its worst loss in history, with hundreds of seats falling. The prime minister loses his own seat, along with several of his cabinet colleagues, and the Left-wing press is predictably ecstatic.

While this may indeed sum up the results on July 4, it is actually a description of the 1906 election, which to this day remains the worst ever result for the Conservative Party.

The echoes are startling. Keir Hardies Labour Party had achieved a triumph, one paper crowed at the time, with a huge swing and an even larger rise in the number of seats held. The Right, meanwhile, mourned its most devastating electoral loss to date. The Telegraph looked to the future, declaring that only a strong opposition would be able to keep in check the revolutionary elements of the new government, with its desire to reform the House of Lords, and speaking kindly of the ousted prime ministers attempt to keep his party together in very difficult circumstances.

Ultimately, however, that day belonged to Henry Campbell-Bannerman, and the Liberals. From the 402 seats held before the election, the Tories tumbled to just 156, while Hardies Labour Party rocketed from 2 to 29. It would take the outbreak of the First World War  and the forming of a national coalition government  to bring the Conservatives back to power.

Were todays Conservatives to suffer a fall of similar proportions in 10 days time, the rump party would be very different to the one we know today. All but a handful of the biggest names in parliament would probably lose their seats, including Priti Patel, Suella Braverman, and Liz Truss to the Right of the party, and James Cleverly, Rishi Sunak, and Jeremy Hunt to the centre and Left.

Naturally, projections suggesting individuals are likely to lose their seats does not mean that they are guaranteed to do so. On recent data theres a better than 50 per cent chance, for example, that one big name from each of the two camps stays.

Kemi Badenoch  the most prominent of the likely survivors  has been talked up as a potential leader almost by default. But even in this relatively favourable model, she still has a 49 per cent chance of losing her seat. A similar analysis applies to Claire Coutinho, Douglas Ross and Tom Tugendhat on the Left of the party, and Danny Kruger on the Right. Together with Badenoch, it would not be surprising if one or more of this grouping did end up ousted.

Who shapes the party?

Its a sobering thought that the direction of the future Conservative Party could owe as much to chance as to vision or political skill. But thats what is likely to happen in this scenario, with so few big beasts of the party surviving.

If Badenoch wins through, for example, and Patel and Braverman are out, she would likely win over the Right of the party, while facing relatively weak opposition from the Left, and go hunting for voters from Reform.

If, on the other hand, the Right finds itself represented by Liz Truss against Jeremy Hunt and Tom Tugendhat, we could see the Conservatives again base their strategy on appealing to the centre ground.

Wont the rest of the MPs matter? Not really. Using data produced by Survation and Chris Hanretty at Royal Holloway, we can roughly assign an indicative value of how far each Conservative MP leans to the economic Left or Right. In this major defeat scenario, the remaining Conservative MPs in Westminster appear no further to either side than they are today.

In other words, the direction the party takes will not be defined by how many MPs from each bloc are left standing; they most likely retain their current proportions. Instead, it is likely to be a matter of a tiny number of personalities at the top, in the inevitable leadership contest, with the winner shaping the party in his, or her, own image.

It is a common complaint among those who spend too much time following British politics that the results from different polling models are all over the place. But in case anyone at CCHQ was taking comfort from this, thinking predictions are too harsh, there is a sting in the tail: they might not be harsh enough.

For over the campaign the trend within estimates from the same pollsters is downwards.

Nigel Farage, pictured on Thursday during an interview with Nick Robinson, could be integral to the future of the Conservatives if the party is wiped out at the general election

YouGovs estimate for the number of Conservative seats went from 155 before the election was called to 140 afterwards, to 108 in the most recent data. Similarly, Survations pre-election figure of 98 seats has fallen to 72, and More in Commons from 180 to 155.

What happens if this downward trend continues until polling day? Comparisons are already being drawn with Canadas 1993 federal election, which saw the worst defeat for the ruling Progressive Conservative Party in history, reducing it to just two seats and effectively ending it as a political force.

What happens to the Conservatives if the continued aura of sleaze, self-inflicted wounds, and increasing enthusiasm for Nigel Farages Reform UK sees the party shed a percentage point or two in the polls to the parties most likely to damage them?

The answer is straightforward: the party goes from bruising defeat to wipeout. The Conservatives, currently favourite to win in 53 seats, would be favourite to win in just 15. They would likely win a few more that they are expected to lose (and of course lose some that they are expected to win), bringing their total to somewhere in the 20s  putting them firmly behind the Liberal Democrats as the third party in Westminster.

This, in turn, would have catastrophic consequences. The parliamentary party would be reduced to a veritable whore they? of MPs, lacking in big names and brand recognition with the public. Such recognition can be acquired  David Cameron was a relatively minor figure until he won the leadership contest in 2005  but requires a degree of prominence to do so. And as the third party, the Conservatives would be starved of airtime, and starved of money, too, with the short money awarded to the leader of the oppositions office now directed to the Lib Dems.

Who shapes the party?

Working out whether the remaining 20 or so MPs would be more to the Left or more to the Right is utterly pointless; there would be so few leadership candidates left that the most senior surviving figure could well take the contest by default.

It is a possibility that Douglas Ross, who recently stood down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives, could play a larger part in the party in the future if he wins a seat at Westminster - Jane Barlow/PA

In this event, that mantle could well pass to Douglas Ross, currently leader of the Scottish Tories. There is a very real chance that this outcome would have no leadership candidates left at all, and that the conversation would switch from working out what the Conservatives should become, to what should replace them.

Just as the Conservatives could underperform the polls, they could outperform them too. As polling day approaches, wavering voters could return home. There are still a sizable number of people answering voting intention surveys with dont know, many of whom voted Conservative in 2019.

If the party appears to have learned its lesson  accepting that it is on course for defeat, accepting that its actions alienated voters, and apparently sincere about avoiding a repeat of its mistakes such that a vote for the Conservatives is not taken as an endorsement of the policies that drove its voters away in the first place  then it might just be able to win some supporters back.

After all, there is no great enthusiasm for Keir Starmer or the Labour Party. Both have firmly negative approval ratings, and have done for well over a year. The problem, instead, is that Rishi Sunak and the Conservative Party are particularly despised, with the Prime Minister less popular today than Boris Johnson or Jeremy Corbyn at their respective lows.

If a vote for the Conservatives becomes a way to limit the size of the mandate handed to the Labour Party, then a wipeout could be avoided, particularly if there is a squeeze on the Reform vote, and polling turns out to have been unduly pessimistic.

Just as the uncertainty in modelling means it wouldnt be a shock to see the Conservatives win under 50 seats, it wouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility for them to win something closer to 200. Even a moderately sized swing could go quite a long way; if the Conservatives can scrabble up 3 percentage points in the last few weeks of the race, we could see another 30 or so seats drop into the favoured to win bucket, and a few more of the unfavourable races break their way too.

Who shapes the party?

This scenario requires the least exposition. Many of the biggest names in the party would retain their seats, and there is the intriguing prospect of Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt being forced to defend their joint record to an incandescent Suella Braverman.

If Jeremy Hunt and Rishi Sunak are re-elected, they could end up defending their record from a faction of the Right of the party, possibly led by Suella Braverman - Maria Unger/Reuters

In this scenario, a much more traditional leadership battle would ensure, with several candidates across the ideological spectrum of the party vying for the support of the fellow MPs and, ultimately, party members among the public.

Kemi Badenoch, Tom Tugendhat, Priti Patel, and Suella Braverman have all been touted as potential successors to Rishi Sunak, while James Cleverly has reportedly ruled himself out.

Grant Shapps, Penny Mordaunt, and Robert Jenrick have also been mentioned.

Tom Tugendhat, for his part, already appears to be making his case to be the moderate face of the Conservative Party. When he last made his pitch in 2022, Tugendhat pledged to retain the Rwanda policy, called for reversing a rise in national insurance, and emphasised his previous military service. The most recent ConservativeHome leadership poll of party members ranked him in fifth, behind Badenoch, Mordaunt, Braverman and Cleverly.

Badenoch, the leader in that poll, would be the favourite on the right of the party. She has said the right things on the culture wars, opposing gender ideology and critical race theory, and last year pushed Sunak to do whatever it takes to bring immigration down. The outstanding question is whether her record as a minister suggests she has the policy nouse required for the top job.

But perhaps the most important figures in the future of the parliamentary party are two men currently sitting outside of it.

The Kings across the water

Since Nigel Farage returned as the leader of Reform, the partys share of the vote has risen sharply. He appears to be having the time of his life, campaigning across the country and gleefully welcoming predictions of Conservative doom. What he intends to do with this newfound status, however, is less clear.

At various points in the last month, he has declared he wouldnt run for parliament, changed his mind, set out his ambition to be leader of the opposition and win the next election, said he would be happy to lead a merged Reform-Conservative party, and described his vision as being more like a takeover, saying he has no trust or love for the Conservatives.

If Farage were to win in Clacton, he could find himself facing a Conservative Party shorn of its most charismatic MPs, reduced to a rump of 20 seats. He could well then make an offer to merge the two parties. Some of those who might keep their seats  such as Mark Francois  have already said they would welcome him on the Right pew of the party. Others would be extremely hostile to the idea.

Should he be denied, he may get his wish for a Canada-style dissolution of the Conservatives, with some MPs breaking away to join Reform, some to the Liberal Democrats, and others standing as the last remnants of a broken party until they, too, are swept away. It is quite possible, too, that the Right wing vote would remain split between Reform and the Conservatives for another electoral cycle, as the two parties wrestle for the mantle of the Right, keeping Labour in office for longer, and prolonging the agonies of the Conservatives.

This is less likely in the major defeat scenario. Being reduced to 79 seats would be utterly catastrophic. The party would be the weakest it has ever been, and the recovery could still take a decade or more. But enough of the big names would retain their seats that Farage joining would be extremely unlikely; Priti Patel, Kemi Badenoch and others have all reportedly ruled his accession out, while Tom Tugendhat has previously stated his preference for real Conservatives like David Gauke and Dominic Grieve.

Suella Braverman has welcomed the idea of Nigel Farage joining the Conservatives, one of the most high-profile Tories to do so - Phil Noble/Reuters

Of the plausible leadership candidates, only Suella Braverman has welcomed the idea of Farage joining. Should she win through, he could be welcomed into the party. Otherwise, the battle will be between different wings of the Conservative party, as the combinations of remaining MPs begin to play the blame game.

The other wildcard in the post-election landscape is Boris Johnson. He currently shows no signs of wishing to return to the battleground, and there is little appetite for his return to the Commons among the general public. Conservative voters are split on the idea. But it would be an unwise man who ruled out entirely yet another attempt to grab the limelight.

The blame game

Regardless of who leads the Conservative Party, and which narrative they decide to promote, there are certain facts which are immutable. After 14 years in office, the Tories have accumulated significant battle damage.

There have been too many scandals  from the seemingly endless pestminster allegations to the current betting furore  and too many changes of leader for the party to present itself as the serious, disciplined force a government should be.

Equally, it no longer seems to know where or who its voters are. The 2019 coalition forged together by Boris Johnson was based around getting Brexit through parliament, and keeping Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street. Once the UK had left Europe, and Corbyn had left the Labour Party, both motivations left with them.

The Tories found themselves trying to hold together a coalition of socially conservative voters with Left-wing economic values and a taste for economic intervention alongside free market liberals. In trying to appeal to both, they ended up appealing to neither.

But perhaps more important than political positioning is the simple matter of competence. In 2019, after nine years of government, the Conservatives were still more trusted than any other party to handle immigration and asylum, promote economic prosperity, and maintain law and order. They now rank behind the Labour Party on all three.

If the Conservative Party is to successfully reinvent itself yet another time, its next leader will not only need to work out a convincing narrative; they will need to work out how it managed to drift so badly off target, and how they can avoid doing so again.
A brown XL bully

Another day another story of a small childs face and neck being ripped apart by a vicious dog. This time it was a six-year-old girl saved from the maws of a neighbours pitbull by her courageous older brother. I say older brother but he was just eight years of age. Harrowingly, he simply said afterwards: I didnt want her to die.

The family lives in the US state of Michigan. Not exactly a faraway place of which we know little, but distant enough for most people here in the UK to feel detached. But it was from those shores that the scourge of pitbulls and the even more lethal XL bullies came  and every attack should alarm us because the legislation passed by the outgoing government has proved utterly toothless in protecting us.

Since February 1 2024, it has been a criminal offence to own an unregistered XL bully dog. Those that are registered must be muzzled in public places. Environment Secretary Steve Barclay described the ban as an important measure to protect public safety.

Yet, as recently as May, a woman in her 50s was killed in east London after her own XL bullies attacked her. Both were registered  but what good did that do?

Three months earlier in Essex, 68-year-old grandmother Esther Martin died from catastrophic bite wounds while visiting her 11-year-old grandson. There were two XL bullies in the house along with six puppies; it is believed the adults launched themselves at her as she tried to stop two of the pups from fighting.

This happened, despite the fact it has been illegal to breed these dogs since December 31 2023. But clearly a market remains.

In Scotland, where the SNP dragged its feet about clamping down, an Edinburgh woman was hospitalised, as was a man from Lanarkshire when both were attacked by their own XL bullies. Elsewhere, north of the border, two of the animals were shot dead by armed police, such was the risk posed.

Rarely a day passes in east London when I dont see an XL bully walking on the street unmuzzled, as the owner swaggers alongside them.

Earlier this week, I was on the London Underground where a man had allowed his XL bully to sprawl across the floor, so other passengers had to step around it. A woman came on with a baby in a buggy and a toddler.

She had no choice but to stand a foot away from the creature, which raised itself up and sat there, panting. Every nerve ending in me screamed. I caught the eye of a woman opposite; it felt like someone had pulled the pin from a grenade and rolled it into the carriage. But what could we do?

These animals are lethal weapons; they dont growl a warning, they have an unstoppable and wholly unpredictable attack drive. But I had no idea what would happen if I called across to the owner, so I stayed shtoom.

I sat there feeling increasingly tense and impotent until I alighted. I presume nothing untoward happened or it would have been in all of the papers  and journalists like me would have scolded passengers like me for not making a stand before the creature literally decapitated the toddler or ripped a schoolgirl to shreds.

Legislation was brought in following the deaths of 23 people from 2020 to 2023. But the body count continues to rise and right now, XL bully owners are making a mockery of the law and shamelessly instilling fear wherever they go  what chance does an unarmed bobby on the beat have against a breed that has been bred  inbred  to clamp its jaws round its prey and not let go?

Intervention can be catastrophic. Last October in Sunderland, a 54-year-old dog owner was mauled to death while trying to save his puppy. Are we supposed to just stand by and let it happen?

Around half of all XL bullies in the UK can be traced back to a single inbred male from the US called Killer Kimbo. The result has been what one genetics expert calls a shallow gene pool of unstable fighting beasts.

Little wonder that almost half of all dog attack injures are caused by the breed, which constitute about one per cent of the UKs dog population  making them around 270 times more deadly than the average dog.

Back in 2021, 10-year-old Jack Lis went to a house in Caerphilly in South Wales to play but never returned home; he was slaughtered by a seven stone XL bully dog. His mother has repeatedly called for tighter and more effective legislation: Its mind blowing how it keeps happening. It should never have happened to Jack but why has nobody learned from this?

I wish I knew. Breed apologists invariably claim there are no bad dogs, just bad owners. Those who keep them insist they are harmless and loving; just last month Nicole Morey from Limerick in Ireland posted a TikTok of herself dancing with her XL Bully in her kitchen.

The voiceover said: This is my son and I dont give a f--- if you think he looks aggressive. Another video was captioned: But if one of us dies  I hope I die first.

Some time later Nicole turned 23 and went out for the evening; when she returned home her dog attacked and killed her.

I love dogs, Ive had dogs all my life but I wouldnt hesitate to completely ban the breed wholesale and have every last one of them put painlessly to sleep. I shudder to imagine how many more people need to die in the maw of a dangerous dog before our politicians feel the same.
The Bishop of Salisbury said the money would be given out to communities suffering from 'the legacy of horrifying cruelty' of the slave trade - Getty Images/Finnbarr Webster

Parishioners are withdrawing donations from local churches in protest against the Church of Englands 100 million slavery reparations fund, officials have warned.

Church officers have raised concerns that churchgoers have been put off donating to the Church of England following the establishment of the fund, which was announced in January 2023 to address past wrongs of slavery.

Luke Appleton, a churchwarden at Paignton Parish Church in Exeter, said there was anger among churchgoers over the Churchs commitment and that some members were writing the church out of their will as a result.

In a question submitted to the General Synod, the Churchs legislative body, Mr Appleton asked whether churches will be compensated for parishioners withdrawing donations as part of a backlash against the fund.

In response, bishops have moved to reassure congregations that none of the money they give to their local parish is being used for the fund.

The Bishop of Salisbury, speaking on behalf of the Church Commissioners  who handle more than 10 billion of assets for the Church of England, including the reparations fund  said that the money was coming from the churchs central investment fund and would be given out in grants to projects working with communities that are still suffering from the legacy of horrifying cruelty of the slave trade.

He added: We do not have any data about a material loss in giving due to the Church Commissioners work to address links to African chattel enslavement, although we have heard anecdotally that some givers may have chosen to withdraw their support.

Church is seen to divert money away from core purpose

The Church has produced a Myth-Buster resource, which it says counters misleading impressions about the reparations fund included in some media coverage.

Addressing concerns over reparations, Mr Appleton told The Telegraph: This is the issue I have been contacted about more than any other in the past year by faithful church members.

The line that comes back again and again is why should I give from my small pension to the church when they have 100 million misspend in this way

I suspect there is especially anger where churches are being told that they cant have a dedicated vicar or money to repair their historic and culturally significant buildings but the central Church is seen to divert such large sums away from its core purpose.

Questions regarding reparations will be discussed at the General Synod from Friday until Tuesday 9 July - Getty Images/Leon Neal

The announcement of the fund came after the Church Commissioners last year published a report into one of their main predecessors, Queen Annes Bounty.

The report said the Bounty had invested the rough equivalent of 440 million today in the slave trade, via the South Sea Company, between 1720 and 1740.

The term reparations has been used to refer to the fund, but the cash is not due to be given out as compensation to descendants of enslaved people.

Instead, the interest from the fund is due to be awarded to community projects working in black communities in Britain.

Most of the churchs investment has nothing to do with the slave trade

Campaigners have called for the money to be redirected to hard-pressed rural parishes to try to revive shrinking congregations. Nearly 300 parishes have closed in the past five years as the number of Anglican worshippers continues a long-term decline across England.

It has forced countryside churches to share priests with other parishes and left them increasingly reliant on lay volunteers and retired ministers to take services.

Some leading historians, however, have disputed the legitimacy of the research that led to the fund being established.

Robert Tombs, Emeritus professor of history at Cambridge, said: The church is proposing to pay a great deal of money in reparations for a crime that it probably did not commit out of profits that it did not make.

It is the undeniable fact that most of the churchs investment has nothing to do with the slave trade.

I think theyve got themselves into a very difficult position on a very sensitive subject, and I think it would be wise of them to say, we ought to get a second opinion on our original understanding of the situation.

The question will be discussed at the General Synod, which is meeting in York from Friday until Tuesday 9 July.
Evangelical Christians are mobilizing efforts to help people as the powerful hurricane Beryl pours its wrath across the Caribbean islands. At the time of publication, the category five "monster storm", now downgraded to a still impressive category four, was heading to the southern coastline of Jamaica from east to west, with thunderous rain and blustering wind due eastern St Thomas.

The Cayman Islands is also on the firing line after the tempest caused widespread damage on other islands across the region.

The Yucatan Peninsula, on the east coast of Mexico, has also received a hurricane watch warning, according to reports, and tropical storm winds are anticipated further south in Belize City, Belize.

Official figures initially reported seven known dead so far, with three people killed in Grenada, three in Venezuela and one person in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Christian Daily International has received first-hand reports from evangelical leaders in the regions and the churches' response to support those affected by the storm.

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Canouan, Union Island and Myreau, part of St. Vincent, have been totally decimated and residents evacuated to mainland St. Vincent. The hurricanes center also crossed over the small island of Carriacou, which forms part of Grenada with an estimated 150 mph wind.

We have reports of extensive storm surge, reports of extensive loss of roofs and damage to buildings and there is no electricity on any of the islands and communication is also difficult, Prime Minister Dickson Mitchell of St. Georges-Grenada told the Nation newspaper in Barbados on Tuesday.

Rev. Emerson Boyce, Secretary General of the Evangelical Association of the Caribbean (EAC), knew of two lives lost so far, among the 10,000 residents. Such fury caused a total wreck in about 30 minutes, he told Christian Daily International, adding: Help is on the way.

Grenada itself has also suffered significant damage, according to Boyce.

Details are a bit sketchy due to electricity failure  no internet connection, I am experiencing problems connecting with leaders and friends.

Boyce expressed deep concern at the effect of the hurricane over the Caribbean islands.

Through EACs National Alliances, I am mobilizing relief supplies for urgent dispatch to support the islands affected by Beryl. Also, in partnership with CREW [weather warning system], the Disaster Preparedness non-governmental organization (NGO) of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies is ready to respond to our neighbors.

Barbados escaped the worst of the hurricane, which passed about 90 miles south of the island. Even so, Barbados still suffered from tropical storm force winds.

The Fisheries Complex at Oistins has been destroyed, some 10 fishing vessels sunk, the jetty housing the fuel seriously damaged and the Port suffering a minor blow, said Boyce. The hurricane devastated the fishing industry, crucial to the islands food security, and caused coastal damage.

Several fishing vessels were either destroyed or sustained serious damage. To date, I have not heard of lives being lost. A damage assessment has begun and will probably take several days before that assessment is properly computed.

The Rev. Gerald Seale who lives in Christchurch, Barbados, also said the island with a population of 281,000 was spared the worst of the hurricane. Even so, Barbados suffered tropical storm force winds and he confirmed that government officials were assessing damage caused by the storm.

It will probably be several days before that assessment is properly quantified, Seale told Christian Daily International. Our churches are continuously helping members and non-members with groceries, paying utility bills for seniors, etc. This will be continued and ramped [up] where needed and possible.

Seale also confirmed the reports of damage to some of the other islands in the wake of the storm.

The tiny island of Carriacou just off Grenada had the center of Beryl cross the island carrying 150 mph sustained winds. It is expected that there will be catastrophic damage there. Im hearing there is significant damage in both Grenada and St. Vincent but I have no details at this time. Connecting with friends in these two islands is still very problematic.

Grenada with a population of 127,000 people has only suffered a major hurricane once before in 2004, according to St. Georges University on the island.
Nigel Farage was at a party held in his honour in Clacton, where he is standing to become an MP, when the exit poll was announced - Steve Finn

Nigel Farage declared that the revolt against the establishment is under way after the exit poll projected that Reform UK would win more than a dozen MPs.

The Reform leader said his party was on course to win more than six million votes in a major electoral breakthrough he described as almost unbelievable.

He made the remarks in response to early declarations, which showed Reform coming runner-up to Labour in Red Wall seats, beating the Tories into third.

In a social media video, Mr Farage said: The revolt against the establishment is under way. It means were going to win seats  many, many seats I think  right now across the country. This is going to be six million votes plus  this, folks, is huge.

The reform leaders s remarks came after the official exit poll predicted that Reform would win 13 seats. It means he is on course to become an MP for the first time  at the eighth attempt  winning in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

Reform made huge inroads in Sunderland South, the first constituency of the night to declare, leapfrogging the Tories to come second. Labour held the seat, represented by Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, with a majority of 7,100.

But the performance of Reform, which won 11,668 votes to Labours 18,847, suggested the party was on course for a strong showing nationwide.

Mr Farages party was also runner-up in Blyth and Ashington, the second seat to declare. Labour comfortably held the seat with 20,030 votes, with Reform on 10,857  ahead of the Conservatives on 6,121.

Both results indicated that Reform had won over large numbers of former Tory voters who had become disaffected with the party under Rishi Sunak.

It was also runner-up to Labour in five other North East seats that declared early  Sunderland Central, Washington and Gateshead South, Gateshead Central and Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, and Cramlington.

But it was a different picture in the South, where the party came third behind the Tories in Swindon South, the former seat of Sir Robert Buckland, which was won by Labour.

If Reform wins 13 seats it will give Mr Farages Right-wing party the bridgehead in Parliament that he was seeking as he looks to establish it as a force to rival the Tories.

The projected result suggests that it was successful in poaching many voters who backed the Tories last time under Boris Johnson. This time, the Tories under Rishi Sunak are set to win just 131 seats, their worst result since 1906.

But a Labour source said that, according to the partys internal data analysis, Reform would win fewer than 13 seats, telling The Telegraph: Our data is suggesting Reform will not win many of the seats the exit poll suggests. They will get less than 13 seats.

Mr Farage was the leader of the UK Independence Party in 2015 when it won a single seat  Clacton  despite securing 12.6 per cent of the national vote.

He was also in charge of the Brexit Party four years ago when it ended the 2019 election seatless after striking a non-aggression pact with the Tories to ensure that Mr Johnson beat Jeremy Corbyn.

Richard Tice, now the Reform chairman, began its general election campaign, unveiling the manifesto at a launch in central London. He announced policies including bringing net migration down to zero and big cuts to income, corporation and inheritance tax.

At that point the party was averaging around 10 per cent in the polls, meaning it was already on course to make a sizeable dent in Tory support. The real turning point in Reforms campaign came when, on June 3, Mr Farage announced that he was taking over the leadership and standing to be an MP.

Ten days after he returned to the fray the party overtook the Tories in opinion polls for the first time. A survey released by YouGov on Jun 13 put Reform on 19 per cent of the vote, one point ahead of the Conservatives.

Mr Farages return was seen as a disaster by senior Tories, all but ending the partys hopes of narrowing the gap with Labour. It came as a shock to Downing Street, where it had been thought that calling the snap election would help nullify the growing threat from Reform.

But as the Right-wing party was flying high, its campaign became dogged by revelations that some of its candidates had made offensive or racist comments. Reform was forced to withdraw its support from a slew of candidates in light of the claims.

As polling day approached, two Reform candidates defected to the Tories in another blow.

Georgie David, who was selected in West Ham and Beckton, east London, claimed the majority of Reforms candidates were racist, misogynistic and bigoted, following Liam Booth-Isherwoods decision to back the Tories in Erewash, Derbyshire.

Last month, Mr Farage gave a controversial interview to the BBC in which he claimed Nato and the West had provoked Russia into invading Ukraine. He defended the remarks after Mr Sunak said they play into Putins hands.
Sir Keir Starmer is set to become the new Prime Minister with just 36 per cent of the vote, according to early calculations - Reuters/Phil Noble

Sir Keir Starmer is on course to win a lower share of the vote than Jeremy Corbyn in a loveless landslide, projections suggest.

Calculations based on the exit poll suggest that Labour will secure just 36 per cent of the vote despite a projected 170-seat majority.

A senior Tory said that such an outcome could create a lot of tension over the future of Britains first-past-the-post electoral system.

Mr Corbyn, the former Labour leader, won 40 per cent of the vote when he led the party into the 2017 election, which he lost to Theresa Mays Conservative Party.

The exit poll has predicted that Sir Keir will win 410 seats in a landslide victory, with the Tories reduced to just 131 MPs in their worst ever result.

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, is projected to win 13 constituencies, while the Liberal Democrats are predicted to enjoy a resurgence with 61 seats.

But the expected margin of Labours victory in parliamentary seats may mask a poorer than expected performance in terms of vote share.

Projections based on the exit poll, carried out by Electoral Calculus for GB News, suggested that the party could end up on just 36.1 per cent of the vote.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are calculated to have secured 25.8 per cent, while Reform is put in third on 17.2 per cent, despite likely only winning a handful of seats.

In stark contrast, the Liberal Democrats, who are predicted to make huge inroads in Parliament, are only projected to have won 9.4 per cent of the vote.

Rory Stewart, a former Tory Cabinet minister, told Channel 4: Labour may well have got a staggering majority with quite a low percentage of the vote.

Reform may have ended up with quite a high percentage of the vote and a low number of seats. The Lib Dems might have got fewer votes and five times the number of seats.

When the result was described on the programme as a loveless landslide he said: I think its a big problem  36 per cent of the vote in historical terms has been nothing.

Nobody has won anything like this in history with 36 per cent of the vote. This is barely more than a third of the population voting for you.

Electoral geography led to big win despite low vote share

Sir Keirs projected share of the vote would be the lowest required to secure any parliamentary majority in recent times.

When Sir Tony Blair won his 179-seat majority against the Tories in 1997, he did so on the back of a 43.2 per cent share of the vote.

Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority with 43.6 per cent at the last election in 2019, while David Cameron required 36.9 per cent in 2015 to secure a 10-seat majority.

Luke Tryl, the UK director at pollster More in Common, said the projected vote shares indicated a desire for change but little confidence in anyone to deliver it.

He added that electoral geography had led to Labours big win in spite of its low vote share.

Asked about her partys projected low vote share, Dawn Butler, a Labour MP, told the BBC: I think what the discussion will be about will be proportional representation.

The public will be talking about proportional representation and whether we need to have a debate about it. Ive always said that we do need to have a debate about it.

The first-past-the-post system means that a relatively small number of votes spread out across the country can completely change the election result.

Pre-election analysis found that just 130,000 voters could have denied Labour its majority had they switched to the Tories.

Mr Corbyns former spokesman, Matt Zarb-Cousin, said: Labour is already peddling a narrative that this victory is down to a changed Labour Party.

The reality of course is Keir Starmer was holding the pass the parcel at the right time, when the Tories eventually imploded.

So theyve won by default, on a lower share of the vote than 2017.
From left: the Lib Dems Ed Davey, the Conservatives Rishi Sunak, Labours Keir Starmer, the Greens Carla Denyer and Reform leader Nigel Farage. Composite: EPA/Getty images/Reuters/The Guardian

The electoral asteroid is nearly upon us: Rishi Sunak presides over a government rejected by record numbers of voters in the polls. The Conservatives go into election day having lost more than half of their support, and polling more than 10 points below their worst ever previous result. No wonder that polls project a record swing to Labour, larger, by far, than in any previous postwar election.

Some projections have the Tories falling below 100 seats  an extinction-level event for Britains oldest and most electorally successful party. Thursday looks set to be a night of historic political drama: here are the key things to look out for as the night goes on.

1 The exit poll and the early running: were the polls right? Is the exit poll right?

The show begins at 10pm, when the polls close and the exit poll is published. This will give us a first sense of the scale of what is to come. If late swing or polling error is going to deliver a surprise, the exit poll is when we will first see it.

Discussion of exit poll projections will dominate the early hours as politicians and pundits await the first results, and some will be sure to cast doubt as to accuracy. Ignore them. While no method is perfect, the exit poll has an excellent recent track record and can be trusted to chart the broad contours of the night to come.

The next big moments will come about midnight, when the first seats declare. The very first is likely to be in Sunderland, which has made fast counts a speciality in recent contests. The key things to watch for is how the swing and result compare to exit poll projections, and how Reform UK is doing. Cramlington and Killingworth, another early reporting north-east seat, is worth watching, as its predecessor, Blyth Valley, was the first red wall seat taken by the Tories in 2019, and will be the first brick in a rebuilt red wall for Labour this time.

With polling suggesting weaker swings to Labour in the seats it already holds, the best early indicators will come from the trio of early-declaring Conservative seats. Swindon South is a classic swing seat, which Labour should take easily. Two others, Broxbourne, and Basildon and Billericay, provide sterner tests  each requires a swing of more than 20 points to take, substantially above the current polling averages. Losing either or both of these seats will be a bitter early blow for Conservatives and may be an early sign of a Labour landslide to come.

2 Red wall restoration? Will Labour recover seats lost to the Conservatives since 2015?

The fall of the red wall was a bitter blow for Labour in 2019, as seat after seat turned against the party they had backed for generations. Recovering the lost heartlands is not just a matter of sentiment  Labour cannot win a majority without a rebuilt red wall.

The early-to-declare red-wall seats are all near-certain to be Labour gains. But watch to see how high the majorities go when Leigh and Atherton, and then Darlington, declare earlier  this will give some hint about the scale of Labours recovery.

Recovering Bolsover, the seat for nearly 50 years of leftwing firebrand Dennis Skinner, will be a particular morale boost for Labour leftwingers. But it will be victories in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, and in Scunthorpe, that will suggest Labour is on course to fully sweep the red wall, as these are seats where the Conservatives have larger notional majorities to defend. A win later in Bassetlaw would be the icing on the cake, meaning Labour had recovered the seat that saw the largest swing against them in 2019.

The conclusion of the red wall story will come in Spen Valley after dawn. A win for Labour candidate Kim Leadbeater here will bring Keir Starmers recovery story full circle. It was Leadbeaters narrow victory in the Batley and Spen byelection that steadied the Starmer ship in summer 2021, after a bruising set of local and byelection defeats had called his leadership into question. Now a second victory for Leadbeater in Spen Valley could help to complete the leaders remarkable Labour comeback.

3 Tartan tides: Will Scotland fall to Labour too?

One of the underdiscussed subplots of this election is the huge SNP-to-Labour swing in Scottish polling. This is as large as the swing south of the border and, with the SNP vote evenly spread, dozens of SNP seats are now on a knife-edge. Hamilton and Clyde Valley, which should declare before 2am, provides the first real test. Labour needs an eight-point swing and could be in for a disappointing night in Scotland if they fall short. A Labour win in East Kilbride and Strathaven, where they need a 13-point swing, will suggest big gains to come, while a win in Dundee Central, reporting after 2am, would suggest a Scottish earthquake is coming  this is the SNPs safest seat.

Two Scottish subplots will develop later on. The first is the fate of seats contested between the Conservatives and the SNP. With both parties declining, but their opponents often weak and fragmented, these are hard seats to call. Some may end up as three-way or even four-way marginals, and surprise wins from third or even fourth place cant be ruled out. The Lib Dems provide the other Scottish subplot. They are only in direct contention in a handful of Scottish seats, but have deep roots in parts of Scotland and would also dearly like to avenge the 2019 defeat of Jo Swinson by recovering Mid Dunbartonshire, the successor to the former leaders East Dunbartonshire seat.

4 Will the blue wall fall to the Lib Dems?

This election is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Liberal Democrats. Political geography, long their worst enemy, is finally working in their favour, as they start in second place to a flailing government in dozens of seats. They stand also to benefit from a helpful Labour party with an unthreatening leader, which should make it easier to maximise tactical voting and to win over Tory moderates voters spooked by Corbyn but now reassured by Starmer.

The first signs of Lib Dem progress will come about 2am, when two seats at opposite ends of England, Harrogate and Knaresborough, and Torbay, report. Both had Lib Dem MPs during the New Labour years, and the Lib Dems will hope to recover both this week. Torbay  Brexity and bluer  is the tougher task.

We will learn if we are in for a more dramatic Lib Dem breakthrough after about 3am, when seats such as Stratford-on-Avon, Epsom and Ewell, and Witney report their results. These heartland seats have all reliably returned Tory MPs for a century or more  and all require big swings. Victory for the Lib Dems in David Camerons former seat of Witney would be a potent symbol of a possible revolt by home counties Tory stalwarts against the populist, Brexit-flavoured Conservatism of Camerons successors.

5 The Farage effect: where could Reform win outright and where will they tip the balance against the Tories?

The return of Nigel Farage has upended this campaign, with a Reform UK bounce further damaging grim Tory prospects. Yet Reforms support is too evenly spread, and the partys organisation too weak, for Farage to gain many seats outright. Reforms biggest impact will instead come through tipping the balance against the Conservatives in hundreds of seats.

We can see this by looking at how many seats Labour alone gains at different levels of swing and different levels of Conservative-to-Reform switching. At each level of swing, Labour can make 100 or more extra seat gains if we move from a low to high rate of Conservative-to-Reform switching.

The scale of the defeat will depend heavily on the share of Conservative voters who end up in the Reform column. Castle Point will give an early indication  the Conservatives start with a huge majority here, but Ukip topped 30% in this heavily leave-voting seat. If either Reform or Labour wins here, it will suggest a Reform surge and a Tory slump are coming in heavily leave-voting areas. Mansfield, Norfolk North and Great Yarmouth will provide three tests of the Reform effect. Strong Reform performances could help Labour win Mansfield and the Lib Dems win Norfolk North, and turn Great Yarmouth into a three-way marginal.

Reform wont win many seats but could win a few. Clacton is the likeliest gain, with polling suggesting Nigel Farage will finally win a Commons seat at the eighth attempt. Boston and Skegness, where Farages predecessor, Richard Tice, is standing, is another prospect, as is Ashfield, where Tory-to-Reform defector Lee Anderson faces a chaotic local dogfight with Labour and the popular independent council leader Jason Zadrozny. It is also worth watching how Reform do in Barnsley  the only place where the Brexit party came second in 2019.

6 Red and blue breakthroughs for the Greens?

While Reform will be the smaller party making the biggest waves in this contest, advances for the Greens could be a sign of disruptions to come. The Greens are targeting four seats. They are looking to hold off a Labour challenge in Brighton Pavilion, where the first Green MP, Caroline Lucas, is standing down, and defeat Labour in Bristol Central, where Green co-leader Carla Denyer is running against Labour shadow cabinet minister Thangam Debbonaire. The Greens are also targeting two deep-blue rural seats  Waveney Valley and North Herefordshire. Both constituency polls and MRP models suggest they are in with a strong chance in all four contests.

The Greens will also hope to build a platform for future success with strong second places in other seats where local support is strong. Keep an eye on results in the Isle of Wight, Sheffield and in central London and Manchester seats. None are likely to fall to the Greens, but second-place finishes could set them up as contenders in contests to come.

7 Trouble in Labours backyard?

Keir Starmer faces some tricky defences in Labours backyard, particularly in seats with large Muslim electorates or high-profile independents. George Galloway mobilised unrest over the Gaza conflict among Muslim voters to take Rochdale from Labour in a byelection earlier this spring. Labour will dearly hope to retake the seat from Galloway in the rematch. Labour is also fighting off challenges from Galloways Workers Party of Britain and Galloway-aligned independents in seats with large Muslim communities such as Birmingham Ladywood, where Akhmed Yakoob hopes to unseat Labour shadow cabinet minister Shabana Mahmood.

Then there is the messy contest in Leicester East, the seat with the largest Hindu electorate in Britain. Two former Labour MPs, Keith Vaz and Claudia Webbe, are standing against their former party, while Labour also faces a threat from resurgent local Conservatives, who made major gains in Leicester in 2023 local elections. This seat, along with two outer London seats  Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner and Harrow East  are worth watching to see if Rishi Sunaks rise as the first ever Hindu prime minister has accelerated a long-term drift towards the Conservatives among Hindu voters.

Finally, in Islington North, Labour faces a unique challenge, when Keir Starmers predecessor as Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, challenges his former party in the seat he represented for more than 40 years, mostly as a Labour MP.

8 Return of New Labour? Seats Blair won in 1997 that Starmer could win back

To what extent will Starmers win be a restoration of the 1997 Blair ascendancy? There are 199 seats which Blair would have won on current boundaries in 1997 and which Labour does not currently hold. If polling proves accurate, Starmer could regain 150 or more of these lost New Labour seats.

The first big test of Starmers recovery in middle England will come when Swindon North reports before 2am. The seat backed Blair three times and has swung heavily to the Tories since. Labour needs a 14-point swing to recover it.

Cannock Chase provides an even bigger test. This Staffordshire seat has proved to be one of the swingiest in the country, going from a 55% Labour vote in 1997 to a near 70% Conservative vote in 2019. If Labour wins here, it will suggest Keir Starmer has won back the hearts of middle England  or is at least benefiting from a total Tory rejection in Blairs old heartlands.

Keep an eye out later in the night for results from classic suburban and small town bellwethers such as Crawley, Romford, Dudley and Nuneaton. Blair won them all and if Starmer is going on to match his predecessor, so should he. Tamworth, which Labour lost after Blair and won back on a huge swing in a recent byelection, is another seat to watch.

9 Bigger than Blair? Seats Starmer could win which never backed New Labour

With Keir Starmer projected to achieve the largest swing in postwar history, Labour can set their sights higher than even the landslide victory of 1997, targeting seats which Blair never won but which demographic change, and exceptional polling, make winnable next week.

The first signs that Starmer may be advancing into uncharted territory will come between 2am and 3am, when North West Cambridgeshire and Aldershot declare. Neither has ever elected a Labour MP, and both require very large swings, but most MRP models now favour the opposition in both. Labour could also take the once true-blue seats of Blair-era Tory big beasts, including Ken Clarkes Rushcliffe and John Majors Huntingdon.

If Labour also manages to hold Mid Bedfordshire, which they took on a massive swing in a byelection, and gain places such as Isle of Wight West or Bexhill and Battle, which have never returned Labour MPs before, then we will probably be on course for a bigger than Blair majority as the Conservative retreat turns into a rout.

10 A new dawn has broken, has it not? How low could the Tories go?

The broad outlines of the electoral landscape will be clear well before dawn. While the scale and scope of a probable Labour victory settled, two questions will remain: how many Conservatives will survive? And who will be the big beasts of the outgoing government whose defeat will provide the Portillo moments of this election night?

If the swings in this election become very large, the fate of many Conservative MPs may turn on the ability of voters in very safe Tory seats to coalesce behind a single opponent in seats where the tactical voting signals are not clear.

A total Tory wipeout becomes plausible if Liberal Democrats can perform as well as Labour at very high levels of overall swing. But if  as is perhaps more likely  tactical voting rates are weaker in very safe Tory seats with split opposition, then dozens of Conservatives may survive even if their partys national vote collapses.

Portillo moments wont be hard to find next week. With a historically unprecedented swing expected, the list of high-profile MPs at risk is long. Defeat looks all but certain for former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and self-styled Brexit hardman Steve Baker, while losses for serial cabinet minister and leadership hopeful Grant Shapps or chancellor Jeremy Hunt will not come as a surprise  most pollsters project them to lose.

The true Portillo moment combines shock and gravity  a big beast felled unexpectedly in a seat thought to be safe, sending shockwaves through the party ranks. The loss of Hunt, a serving chancellor, would be a bitter blow but not a surprising one. Losses for Robert Jenrick (Newark) or Penny Mordaunt (Portsmouth North) would be more consequential, reshaping the leadership contest to come. Defeat for polarising GB News favourites such as Jacob Rees-Mogg (North East Somerset and Hanham) and Esther McVey (Tatton) will dismay the right and delight the left.

With unprecedented swings on the cards, there is even an outside chance that this election count could deliver the ultimate Portillo moment  the defeat of a current or former prime minister. Both Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have daunting majorities, but Sunak has felt vulnerable enough to send activists to his own seat, while the ever-unpopular Truss could underperform her own party if angry local voters mobilise against her. Sunaks seat is due to report first. If he manages to survive, then it may perhaps fall to Truss to symbolise the Conservatives election night with the same quality that defined her premiership: spectacular and unprecedented political failure.

Robert Ford is professor of political science at Manchester University and co-author of The British General Election of 2019
Postal voting has been disrupted for the general election - Mike Kemp/In Pictures

Postal ballots were delayed after postmen were told to prioritise parcels, voters have claimed.

As many as 120 constituencies have experienced delivery delays or problems as the postal voting system struggled to cope with rocketing demand.

Thousands of people found themselves unable to cast their votes on Thursday after postal votes were delayed in constituencies across the country.

Some voters said they had been told by their postmen that their ballots were delayed because sorting offices were making sure parcels were delivered first.

One couple said that they had not received their postal ballots in time to send them back before they went to France.

Sandra Javens and her husband Dave, who live in West Sussex, had applied to vote by post ahead of the start of their holiday on June 20. But they did not receive their ballots in time, and said that they havent been given a choice  and thats not right.

Mrs Javens said she was told by a postman that they were prioritising parcels at the moment, adding: When the postman came to the door, I asked: Have you not got anything for me? He said Im sorry madam, but they are prioritising parcels at the moment.

Jon Pinches, a director of MPS, a company that works with local authorities to print ballot papers and polling cards, said he was aware that parcel deliveries were being prioritised. He added that he had been told of staffing problems at delivery offices by postmen and Royal Mail workers.

Royal Mail denied parcels were being prioritised, and said there are no delays with either parcels or post in West Sussex.

A spokesman said: We have a specialist elections team that plans every aspect of the elections delivery programmes and works closely with local authorities to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

We have investigated concerns with the delivery of postal votes in Westbourne and can confirm that all postal votes we have received for the area have been delivered without delay.

In February, staff members told BBC Panorama that letters were left behind in sorting offices, with tracked items and parcels prioritised for delivery.

In 2023, Ofcom, the regulator, accepted Royal Mails assertion that it did not prioritise parcels, but still fined the postal service 5.6 million for missing targets. The postal service denied that it gives less priority to letters.

Voters had to apply for a postal vote by 5pm on June 19, and were advised to immediately return them.

Those who have not had time to send their ballots back by post are able to hand in their vote at polling stations or council offices in their constituency, although changes in the Elections Act 2022 mean they will have to fill in a form when they do so.

People who cannot travel to a polling station to cast their vote in person, or who have already gone on holiday, have effectively been disenfranchised by the chaos.

Across the UK, 21 per cent of people voted by post in the 2019 election. The number voting by post is expected to increase by more than a million this year, with more voters are away on summer holidays.

The Electoral Commission confirmed that the postal voting problems would form part of its post-election research.

There have been days of back and forth between party leaders, councils and Royal Mail over who is responsible for the postal vote chaos.

The Telegraph understands that the short timescale of the election, problems with printing ballots and delivery issues have all contributed to the delays.

Royal Mail has repeatedly denied that there are backlogs of postal ballots in sorting offices. Sources told The Telegraph that extra staff would be in depots on Thursday to ensure no postal votes were left ahead of the 10pm deadline for them to be returned.

North West Essex, where more than 2,600 ballots were delayed as the result of human error by the council, has experienced some of the most severe problems.

Last week, the council chief executive said he was mortified by the delays, and that council workers were hand-delivering ballots to get them to voters in time.

Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, said on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday that the Labour-led council had potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by forgetting to send them their ballot papers.
Samsung Electronics rose more than 3% overnight as it is set to post a 13-fold increase in second-quarter profit from a year earlier. (ZUMA Press, ZUMA Press, Inc.)

Samsung Electronics rose more than 3% overnight, as it is set to post a 13-fold increase in second-quarter profit from a year earlier. This comes as demand for artificial intelligence (AI) technology boosts a rebound in memory chip prices.

Operating profit for the world's biggest maker of memory chips, smartphones and TVs likely rose to 8.8tn won ($6.34bn) in the quarter ended 30 June. This is according to the average of an LSEG SmartEstimate from 27 analysts, weighted toward those who are more consistently accurate.

That amount would be Samsung's highest profit since the third quarter of 2022, compared with an operating profit of 670 billion won in the second quarter of last year.

Performance at the tech giant's key semiconductor division likely continued to improve its second consecutive quarterly profit, as memory chip prices keep rising from mid-2022 to end-2023, a trough that was caused by a weak post-pandemic demand for gadgets that use the chips.

Samsung is expected to compete with rival Apple (APPL) at the top end of the market when it launches its latest flagship foldable phones and mobile accessories, including a new ring for health monitoring, on 10 July in Paris.

Boeing (BA)

Boeing faces new perils if federal prosecutors revive a criminal charge against the aviation giant by the end of this week and the company decides to plead guilty.

A plea deal could get rejected by a judge. Big fines will have to be paid and, perhaps the biggest danger, is the effect that a conviction may have on Boeings already-battered bottom line.

Criminal convictions can foreclose or suspend a companys right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white-collar defence attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor.

Read more: Global Oil Outlook Faces Test as Softness in China Surfaces

Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer. It also happens to be the countrys largest exporter.

The matter could end up with an executive agency known as the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC), which holds power to discuss government-wide suspensions and debarments that can end or disrupt a companys business with the US government.

"The considerations are many, and they are weighty," Jauregui said. "I think the government contract work is probably an extremely important component for Boeing."

The German airline Lufthansa will consider raising its stake in Italy's ITA Airways to 90%, starting from early next year, it has been revealed.

In an interview published on Thursday, Carsten Spohr, the chief executive officer of the German carrier said: "For us, the option for the 90% starts in early 2025." He added that he would like the Italian government to retain a stake in ITA.

He was speaking after his company won EU antitrust approval to buy 41% of state-owned ITA for 325 million euros ($350m).

Read more: FTSE 100 LIVE: European stocks rise as Brits head for polling stations on election day

When Lufthansa agreed its 41% deal with Rome's authorities last year, it said it was looking to acquire full control of ITA "at a later date."

In a separate interview with Il Sole 24 Ore daily, ITA Chairman Antonino Turicchi said the closing of the deal for Lufthansa's initial investment would take place in November, adding that Lufthansa would have the possibility of raising its stake to 90% "one year after the closing."

Italian economy minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, said on Wednesday that his government wanted to maintain some oversight on ITA to protect national interests.

Bitcoin's value fell below $59,000 (46,286) on Thursday as multiple factors exacerbated selling pressure on the digital asset. Bitcoin traded down 3.9% over the 24 hours, changing hands for $58,770, as of the time of writing.

Other cryptocurrencies, ether (ETH-USD) and solana (SOL-USD) have fallen further, decreasing by 4.6% and 7.3% respectively. The global cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $2.28tn, a decrease of 4.1% over the past day, according to Coingecko data.

The recent bitcoin price drop has been exacerbated by a spike in long liquidations. Futures traders betting that the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies will increase in value have lost over $240m in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data.

Bitcoin futures saw more than $61m in long liquidations, while the cryptocurrency market as a whole recorded over $247m (193.66m) in long liquidations. A long liquidation occurs when an investor who holds a long position in a financial instrument, such as bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, is forced to sell that position.

This typically happens in leveraged trading, where the investor has borrowed funds to increase their position size and they can't meet margin requirements, resulting in the closure of the position to prevent further losses.

Watch: How does inflation affect interest rates?

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The Police Digital Service has an annual turnover of more than 70m. Photograph: Britpix/Alamy

Two senior leaders of the Police Digital Service (PDS) have been arrested on suspicion of fraud and bribery and suspended from their posts.

The company provides digital services for all of British law enforcement and has an annual turnover of more than 70m. It is owned by police and crime commissioners and funded by the Home Office and police forces.

The arrests were made by detectives from the City of London police.

Senior officials are scrambling to put in place temporary replacements amid uncertainty about whether and when the two senior leaders are expected to be able to return.

In a statement, temporary Det Supt James Halkett, of the City of London police, said: The City of London police are leading a criminal investigation into allegations made against two individuals employed by the company Police Digital Service. The suspects have been arrested for fraud, bribery and misconduct in a public office.

The suspects have been interviewed and bailed pending the ongoing police investigation.

The criminal investigation follows allegations made to the body representing police and crime commissioners and the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) earlier this year. Detectives had been studying the claims for several months before deciding to make arrests.

In its statement, PDS made no mention of the seniority of the people arrested, which has been confirmed to the Guardian by multiple sources. It read: PDS can confirm that two employees have been arrested on suspicion of fraud, bribery and misconduct in public office. They have been suspended from work pending the outcome of the police investigation, and an employee misconduct review is being conducted by an independent HR [human resources] consultancy.

Given the seriousness of the issues raised, a thorough review of PDS will be undertaken. The companys work continues unaffected. We are unable to comment further at this stage.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners said: The APCC and NPCC received information earlier this year regarding allegations of malpractice concerning individuals at the Police Digital Service. The information was passed to City of London police for review which subsequently led to a criminal investigation.

The APCC, NPCC and Home Office are supporting the PDS board to ensure the companys work continues unaffected.

In 2022-23, PDSs turnover was 74m and it made a profit of 2.4m. It runs cloud services for law enforcement as well as cybersecurity and IT support.

In its last annual report, the then policing minister, Chris Philp, gave it a vote of confidence and said: We are huge supporters of PDS at the Home Office. They are doing critical work on behalf of the policing community.

According to its website the PDS is the UK organisation responsible for coordinating, developing, delivering, and managing digital services and solutions that enable UK policing to safely harness technology to improve public safety. Funded by policing and the Home Office, PDS works with law enforcement organisations, private industry, charities, public bodies and government to deliver digital services and solutions with policing, for policing.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The Home Office is aware of serious allegations relating to the conduct of two individuals within the Police Digital Service. Given the gravity of these allegations, we are supportive of the steps being taken by the PDS and expect a thorough review will be undertaken.

Work is under way to ensure frontline services are not negatively impacted and that public funds are protected.
Broadcasters on television and radio have been limited to factual reporting, information about how to vote  and pictures of dogs at polling stations. Photograph: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The UKs political parties are on track to spend more than a million pounds on online adverts on Thursday, circumventing a media blackout rule that forces television and radio stations to stop their election coverage when polls open.

British parties have traditionally ceased top-level campaign activity when voting began as they had no way to get out their message out. This is because of a longstanding broadcasting rule, enforced by the media regulator Ofcom, that states: Discussion and analysis of election and referendum issues must finish when the poll opens.

The switch to online campaigning over the past two decades has increasingly made a mockery of this rule, with early indications suggesting political parties are viewing Thursday as an incredibly important campaign day for pushing their core messages to wavering voters.

Sam Jeffers of WhoTargetsMe, which has monitored election advertising in the UK for the last decade, said substantial funds had been released for Thursday. The parties are on track to spend a million pounds today on Meta and probably another 250,000 on Google, he said.

If these figures are correct, it could mean that more money is spent by political parties buying online political advertising on polling day than was spent online during the entire 2015 general election campaign.

Labour has bought adverts on the homepages of more than 50 websites, including the Suns, urging people to vote for change. The party is also continuing to run adverts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and the free version of Spotify, with the theme of reassuring people that it is safe to back the party.

The Conservatives are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds pushing localised Facebook adverts warning about the risks of a Labour supermajority, while Nigel Farage is campaigning for Reform UK by tweeting out policies and uploading TikToks of him having a pint of beer.

By comparison, broadcasters have been limited to factual reporting of politicians, including Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, posing in front of their local polling stations, along with information about how to vote.

This means that a voter who listens to podcasts and watches YouTube will feel the election is still being fought hard. But a voter who tunes in to the lunchtime television news or switches on the radio will get a different impression, with more analysis of the US presidential election than the UK contest.

Michael Crick, the former Channel 4 News political correspondent, said the ban on election day coverage was a relic from the dinosaur age of the 1950s, especially because a quarter of voters were likely to have already returned their ballot by post.

He said the rule should be abolished on the principle of media freedom, because it was a hangover from 70 years ago. It was the broadcasters who imposed the rules on themselves, because they were worried they would be accused of bias. Up until 1958 they could not even cover an election campaign, he said.

Because the rules were written before newspapers transitioned from print to the internet, there is also a two-tier system for online coverage which heavily restricts what can be put on broadcasters websites. While most news outlets, such as the Guardian, are free to run analysis and campaign coverage throughout polling day, the BBCs online offering is restricted to telling people how to vote  and sharing pictures of them voting with their dogs.

It remains illegal for any individual or news outlet, punishable by a maximum of six months imprisonment, to publish exit polls based on how people said they voted before the polls have closed.
The van was parked on Columbia Road, in the constituency of Bethnal Green and Stepney - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph

A van carrying a poster claiming that a vote for Labour is a vote for genocide has been seen in east London.

The van was parked on Columbia Road, in the constituency of Bethnal Green and Stepney, where Rushanara Ali is standing for Labour.

The electronic poster, seemingly referring to the war in Gaza, read: A vote for Labour is a vote for genocide. #GetRushanaraOut. In the top corner was a crossed-out Labour logo.

Video showed that a small crowd had gathered and a policeman was seen to be monitoring the van, which then drove off. It is not known who was behind the advert.

Bethnal Green and Stepney has a high percentage of Muslim voters. Ms Ali had a very large majority in Bethnal Green and Bow, its predecessor constituency. As well as the main parties, she is being challenged by a number of independents.

In 2005, Labours Oona King was defeated by George Galloway, who stood for the Respect party, in Bethnal Green and Bow.

Earlier this week, a complaint was made to police when a boat with pro-Reform UK slogans was left near Sir Keir Starmers home.
Northamptonshire knife attack

A police officer said I dont know if Ive been stabbed after a man attacked her with a Stanley knife.

Female officers repeatedly screamed put the knife down as Gordon Finnlayson lunged at them with a blade.

Extracts from body-worn video footage published by Northamptonshire Police show Finnlayson, 39, laughing and smiling as he slashes at one officer while calling her a b----.

One officer is seen telling her colleague after Finnlayson was subdued with the aid of Tasers: I dont know if Ive been stabbed, please check if Ive been stabbed.

Finnlayson, from Duncarnock Crescent, Glasgow, admitted trying to cause grievous bodily harm to two constables during the March 8 incident.

He was sentenced to six years in prison by Northampton Crown Court last week.

The court heard that he has 35 previous convictions, including seven assaults on police officers.

Northamptonshire Police said it had received a 999 call from colleagues in Scotland who had been told that a Scottish man working in Northampton had had his face slashed.

While two officers were searching a rented house in Northamptons Hazelwood Road, Finnlayson arrived carrying a Stanley knife in his hand.

Police told him to put his weapon down but he continued to approach them.

The force said its constables tried to disarm Finnlayson, but he knocked one to the floor and laughed as he tried to slash her with the knife.

Her colleague attempted to grab the knife but both officers were repeatedly struck and pushed to the ground, with one being thrown backwards out of the houses front door.

Both victims needed medical attention after the incident but neither was seriously injured.

Detective Inspector Nick Peters, of Northamptonshire Polices Criminal Investigation Department, said: These two officers showed incredible courage in the face of a violent and sustained attack by a man who was not only armed and much larger than them, but also appeared to be enjoying trying to seriously hurt them.

During the incident, Finnlayson seemed to be trying to isolate the officers from one another so he could continue his assault without distraction.

Without their determination and bravery in sticking together and protecting each other they could have been seriously or even fatally injured by him.

Police officers come to work not knowing what their shift will bring, and although they are trained and prepared to deal with violent incidents, this is the kind of job no one ever wants to face.
The pianist who joined Coldplay on stage during their headline set at Glastonbury has said she still has not recovered from the craziest weekend of my whole life.

Singer-songwriter Victoria Canal was invited by frontman Chris Martin to join the British band for a rendition of their hit Paradise, during the bands performance at Worthy Farm on Saturday night.

She told BBC Breakfast: Its just about now sinking in, days later. But Ive been watching it back over and over again. Its like a dream come true.

Coldplay headlined the Pyramid Stage for the fifth time on Saturday (Yui Mok/PA)

The 25-year-old has released a number of singles and EPs, but is yet to release a full-length album of her own, having been signed to Parlophone Records in 2022 after she was introduced to the label by Martin.

She was born in Munich without her right forearm due to amniotic band syndrome, but began to take classical piano lessons at the age of six, and quickly reached a high level of ability.

Canal said Martin, 47, first saw her music after she mocked up a Rolling Stone cover about her performing with the band as an April Fool, and they had kept in touch ever since.

She said: Hes a great guy and always looking out for me. So when this opportunity came up, he literally just FaceTimed me out of the blue. It was 1am where I was and he was in a different timezone and I was a little bit tipsy.

He was like: Do you know the song Paradise by Coldplay? And I was like: Yeah, and then he said: Would you like to play the piano part at Glastonbury? I said: Sure.

The next day I had to call my friend and be like: Was that a dream or did that actually happen?

Because Ive had that dream before, and then you wake up and youre so disappointed it wasnt real.

It was like the craziest weekend of my whole life.

Canal went on to reveal she had to do some homework in order to perfect the song, but said one of her party tricks at a bar she was working at had been to be able to play any Coldplay song.

She also revealed Michael J Fox, who played guitar with the band on the song Fix You during the performance, was staying in the same hotel.

The performer said the pair met before the festival, and went out to dinner along with her former college tutor, who works for the Back To The Future star.

Canal said: We were both really nervous leading up to the performance.

Hes such a hero, he has had such an incredible impact on artists around the world that started playing music because of him in Back To The Future, even Coldplay.

I was talking to him about what its like to be someone different, and to have a body thats different in public, and how everyone will always have something to say about that, and want to focus on that.

The pianist went on to say she cried over a headline which read one armed piano player onstage with Coldplay, and added she felt no matter what I do, no matter how hard I work at music, I seem to be defined by this one thing.

Canal said Fox told her he had been dealing with similar feelings for 40 years, and said the best thing she could do was do your thing and let them say what theyre going to say.

She added: It was so inspiring and impactful to meet him, and it really changed my life, actually.

Canal said her emotions were still pretty raw, adding: I literally have been dreaming about this my whole life, and said she had wanted to perform with the band since I was a little girl.

Canal will tour the UK in October.
The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) has issued a statement refuting claims by a Russian evangelical leader who told Christian Daily International that the country he loved is being attacked by the countries of the entire Western Christian world. They also deny a division between evangelicals in the East and the West, and outlined what they consider to be the only way to lasting peace.

In an interview published on Monday, July 1, Rev. Vitaly Vlasenko, a Baptist minister in Moscow and General Secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, spoke honestly about his struggles with the ongoing war and recurring feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

It is very difficult in this situation to be a faithful citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven and remain a decent citizen and patriot of your earthly Fatherland. It is very difficult to hear about the pain and see the suffering of people in a war zone and find the strength to maintain self-control not to go crazy, he said.

It is very difficult to speak words of consolation to the loved ones of the victims when everything is so ambiguous.

He then went on to speak about his desire to see a resolution of the conflict but bemoaned the prevalent language from the Western world, which seemed to include Christians, saying, It is very difficult when, instead of calls for peace and negotiations to end the war, you hear about the military defeat of your country on the battlefield.

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Are there really no sane people in the whole world who are capable of taking responsibility and finding a solution to this conflict? he asked.

He expressed appreciation for the Christians around the world who watch and spiritually care for us in Russia despite any political and cultural or any other disagreements, during this period of severe political confrontation with the world. Yet, he also lamented what he described as an apparent continuation of the Great Schism of 1054, which divided the Church into East and West.

Is it really that we, as evangelical Christians, cannot act as a united front, but stand on opposite sides of the political barricades? he asked.

However, in response to the interview in Christian Daily International, the EEA issued a press release today (July 4) countering these claims and specifying their own position on what they believe it takes to accomplish peace in Ukraine.

We do not acknowledge any division of evangelicals between East and West. Nor do we accept that Russia is being attacked by the countries of the entire Western Christian world. No country is attacking Russia, the statement said.

The EEA acknowledged Vlasenkos anguish at the pain and suffering caused by the war in Ukraine.

The evangelical body that represents national Evangelical Alliances in 35 European countries - including the Russia Evangelical Alliance - stated that his feelings are shared by many evangelicals in Russia. They also took note of Vlasenkos plea for the global community of evangelical Christians to do everything they can to stop the war.

However, in their response to his call, the EEA said the way for peace between Ukraine and Russia is simple.

Russia must withdraw completely from Ukrainian territory that it invaded in 2014 and also from the land that it took in 2022, the EEA said.



Russias invasions and occupation and devastation are illegal. Russia had no provocation to invade.

Ukraine as an autonomous state has the right to defend itself and choose its own future. There is nothing ambiguous about this war.

The EEA said it holds a weekly prayer meeting for both countries, in which participants pray for Gods shalom in both countries.

We love both and we certainly love our evangelical brothers and sisters in both lands. But many countries are united in seeking to defend Ukraine and to prepare defensively in case Russia decides to invade another nation.

We also pray weekly for peace with justice for Ukraine. Justice means Ukraine having its territory back and for Russia to pay fair reparations for the damage it has caused.

Reconciliation is needed but peace with justice and truth must come first. Vitaly is right that the suffering is immense and that we must do all that we can to stop the war and prevent military escalation.

So, we redouble our efforts to pray to see miraculous change in the situation which will bring about a just and lasting peace.
Voters are awaiting the exit poll which will indicate who has won the General Election as the final ballots are cast following weeks of campaigning by party leaders.

Polling stations across the UK opened at 7am, giving millions of voters the chance to decide if the Tory incumbent Rishi Sunak remains in the top job or the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer enters Downing Street.

Opinion polls suggest Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

The first indication of whether the pollsters were correct will come moments after the ballot closes at 10pm, when the exit poll is broadcast by the BBC, Sky and ITV.

Mr Sunak, who has insisted the results are not a foregone conclusion despite dire poll ratings for his party, voted in his Richmond constituency.

He waved at reporters as he and his wife Akshata Murty arrived hand-in-hand at the Kirby Sigston Village Hall, as he hopes to be returned to Parliament as the MP for Richmond and Northallerton.

On X, the Prime Minister repeated his plea to voters to stop the Labour supermajority.

Sir Keir was also joined by his wife, Victoria, as he visited a polling station in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrive to cast their vote in the 2024 General Election at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The Labour leader told his final rally in Redditch, Worcestershire, on Wednesday night to imagine a Britain moving forward together with a Labour government.

He added: Thats what we are fighting for, lets continue that fight.

If you want change, you have to vote for it.

As the bookies favourite to be the next prime minister, Sir Keir said he was pleased with Labours campaign and his party was ready for what comes next.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his wife Emily cast their votes at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church (Yui Mok/PA)

A victory for Sir Keir would see Labour return to power for the first time in 14 years.

Other party leaders have also cast their votes, with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his wife Emily visiting a polling station in Surbiton.

Its a beautiful day. I hope lots of people come out to vote, Sir Ed said as he left Surbiton Hill Methodist Church.

Scotlands First Minister John Swinney was joined by his son Matthew as he cast his ballot at Burrelton Village Hall, Perth and Kinross.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar cast his vote at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow, accompanied by his wife Furheen and son Aliyan.

Today, Britains future is on the ballot. pic.twitter.com/qJosPsz1bk  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 4, 2024

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, walked with supporters to a Bristol polling station to vote.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson shared a video of himself walking to a polling station and saying: Im going to cast my vote against the nightmare prospect of a left-wing government.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn posted a photo of himself outside a polling station on social media with the caption: Just voted for the independent candidate in Islington North.

Mr Corbyn is hoping to pull off a shock win in his London seat, which he won for Labour at every general election since 1983 until he was blocked from standing again for his old party.

The exit poll in each of the past few elections has produced a very accurate projection of the actual result.

Scotlands First Minister John Swinney attended Burreltown Village Hall polling station with his son Matthew (Jane Barlow/PA)

These take place at polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30pm.

It is the first General Election where voters will need to show photographic ID before they can receive their ballot paper following a law change in 2022.

In his last-ditch appeal to voters after touring the country since calling the election, Mr Sunak said Thursday represented a pivotal moment for the countrys future as he claimed Labour would wield their unchecked power to increase taxes should they secure a supermajority.

In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Mr Sunak said: This underdog will fight to the final whistle.

Ending a tour that was dominated by attention-grabbing stunts, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dems Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer was at Redland Park United Reformed Church in Bristol to cast her vote (Jonathan Brady/PA)

In a Harpenden stump speech, he said: Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.

North of the border, Scotlands First Minister Mr Swinney urged every single SNP voter to turn out on Thursday in what he said would be an incredibly close contest throughout the country.

An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39%, the partys lowest rating since the campaign began, 18 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21%, followed by Reform on 16%, the Lib Dems on 11% and the Greens on 6%.

The Tories are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41%, Conservatives 20%, Reform 16%, Lib Dems 11% and Greens 6%.

On May 22, the day Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the General Election, the seven-day averages stood at Labour 45%, Conservatives 23%, Reform 11%, Lib Dems 9% and Greens 6%.
A security guard has been found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb spoke online about how ambushing the star at her home was his ultimate fantasy and had purchased an abduction kit to help him carry out his plan.

Court artist drawing of Gavin Plumb (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Here is a timeline of events leading up to the 37-year-olds conviction:

 2006

August 14  Plumb attempts to kidnap an air hostess on a train by handing her a note telling her to get off at the next station or he will shoot you, myself and everyone else.

August 16  The defendant attempted to kidnap another air stewardess by pretending to be a police officer and asking her to get off at the next station with him.

He was later found with an imitation firearm, rope and various notes he had used or intended to use to try to get women off trains.

 2007

March 16  Plumb pleads guilty to two counts of attempted kidnap.

He was later sentenced to a prison term of 12 months, suspended for two years, with supervision and activity requirements.

 2008

December 11  The defendant attempts to falsely imprison two 16-year-old girls at a shop  tying one victims hands behind their back with rope and tape.

 2009

June 15  Plumb pleads guilty to two counts of false imprisonment.

He was later jailed for 32 months and served 16 months of the sentence in prison.

 2011

September 11  The defendant searches how to meet people who plan to kidnap celebs on Google.

 2021

December 28-29  Plumb engages in a highly sexualised discussion online with a man named Marc about a potential home invasion after identifying where Ms Willoughby lived.

 2022

February  The defendant tells Marc kidnapping Ms Willoughby has been his ultimate fantasy for way too long, before adding: Im now at the point that fantasy isnt enough anymore. I want the real thing.

June  Plumb shares an image of a dungeon type room where he wanted the TV presenter to be kept.

 2023

July 23  August 25  The defendant tells a man online named Alfie Noakes that the things he would do to Ms Willoughby would put me (on) death row.

August 23-25  Online discussions show Plumb told a man, who went by the name of Josh Green, of his plans for a night time home invasion at Ms Willoughbys home.

October 3  An undercover police officer with the Owatonna Police Department in the US state of Minnesota spots the defendant post a photo of Ms Willoughby on an online group called Abduct Lovers, and that he has a load of info on her.

Plumb sends the officer a video of his abduction kit, as well as an image of chloroform, and the officer shows the defendant a fake flight confirmation from the US to the UK to show him he was willing to be an accomplice in the plot.

October 4  Essex police informed by the FBI of a possible threat to Ms Willoughby.

Officers force entry into Plumbs home and arrest him on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap.
A senior Scottish Tory MSP has claimed his party could make gains in Scotland.

Speaking to journalists at the Perth election count on Thursday, Murdo Fraser said the exit poll was in two parts, with voters south of the border looking for a change, while those in Scotland were voting against the SNP.

The joint BBC/Sky/ITV poll suggested the Tories would drop to 131 seats, with Labour on course for a landslide with a 170-seat majority.

The SNP, however, were forecast to drop to just 10 seats  dropping from 48 in the 2019 election.

The exit poll clearly is in two parts, youve got the situation south of the border which very much is in line with polling, what we expected, said Mr Fraser.

Clearly people are casting a verdict on 14 years of Conservative government, five prime ministers, and the country was looking for a change.

The situation in Scotland, clearly, is a very different one because it looks like people are actually making up their minds how to vote based primarily on a verdict on 17 years of the SNP in government and clearly have not liked what they have seen from the SNP and theyre up for an even bigger change, potentially, in Scotland.

It does look like, on the basis of the exit poll, the Conservatives might not just be looking to hold the seats we have in Scotland but actually might make gains.
President Biden acknowledged his poor debate performance in a radio interview Thursday, saying he screwed up on the debate stage but reiterating that he is not ending his campaign and is committed to defeating former President Trump in November.

I had a bad night, he told Wisconsin radio host Earl Ingram in a prerecorded interview. I screwed up. I made a mistake. But I learned from my father, when you get knocked down, just get back up. And you know, were gonna win this election. Were gonna just beat Donald Trump as much as we did in 2020.

Bidens first debate performance raised alarms among some Democrats and supporters, with the president struggling to string ideas together or rebut Trumps many false statements. Some of the countrys leading media outlets, two House Democrats and others have since called for Biden to leave the presidential campaign and let a different Democrat take on Trump.

The president argued that voters shouldnt be put off by the debate, but instead look at his long record of accomplishments.

I didnt have a good debate. Thats 90 minutes on stage, he said. Look at what Ive done in 3 1/2 years.

Biden went on to highlight his work to lower prescription drug prices and expand health care for veterans, while also attacking Trump for his record on veterans issues and with the Black community. The president specifically hit Trump for referring to Black jobs during the debate, a comment that received widespread criticism from Black leaders.

You know what hes doing, its shameful, Biden said. Hes talking about Black jobs meaning only things Blacks can do, manual labor, menial labor. Thats what hes doing and thats how he looks at it. Name me something hes done to help the Black community, give people a shot like Ive gone with college and education and home-buying and a whole range of things.

This is a guy who questioned George Floyds humanity, led the birther movement against Barack Obama, Biden continued. Hes falsely accused the Central Park Five.

The president spent much of the interview focusing on the Black community, as some allies have shown concern that Biden could be losing the voting bloc. He made an explicit argument for the Black community to come out to vote for him this November.

The vote of the Black community matters intensely, Biden argued. Whos going to represent you except folks like me? And were not gonna be able to represent you if youre not showing up to vote. It matters.

Your voice has to be heard. Lots of close elections in the last couple of years, and every vote counts. Understand that, he continued. For far too long the Black community, Black Americans often love their country a hell of a lot more than their countrys loves them, loves them back in equal measure. Because folks like you turn out the vote in 2020, we have made remarkable progress.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 two actors starred on the ABC sitcom from 1986 to 1993

Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot in 1986

Perfect Strangers fans, it's time to do the Dance of Joy! Bronson Pinchot tells PEOPLE he and his former costar Mark Linn-Baker remain very, very close.

We text and call each other all the time. Mark, I mean, he's so embedded in my heart, says Pinchot. You talk about no time passing. When I get together with Mark, we're already laughing. Because we can read each other's minds. And I can't express to you how not an exaggeration that is.

Pinchot, 65, and Linn-Baker, 70, costarred on the ABC sitcom for eight seasons from 1986 to 1993. Pinchot played Balki Bartokomous, a heavily accented immigrant from the fictional island of Mypos whose distant cousin, the more uptight Larry Appleton (Linn-Baker), reluctantly let him move in at his Chicago apartment.

Much of the comedy on the series came from Balkis unbridled enthusiasm and wide-eyed optimism amid fish-out-of-water scenarios, as well as Balki and Larrys Odd Couple-esque dynamic.

Related: Beverly Hills Cops Bronson Pinchot Says Film Brought Overnight Fame and Death Threats: I Wasnt Ready (Exclusive)

The show was a hit, and Pinchot believes Perfect Strangers success was due to his eerie chemistry with Linn-Baker. Thats what made the show, says Pinchot, who earned an Emmy nomination for his performance.

Chris McPherson Bronson Pinchot on May 23 in L.A.

The kernel of our individual beings really was connected to those characters. Mark likes everything to be concrete, and I [dont], he says. But we adore each other. So I will compromise because I love him, and he will compromise and go to a crazy place because he loves me. And that was the essence of the show.

Related: Confessions from TGIF Stars: 'Family Matters, Full House' & More

We can read each other's minds," he says again. We did the Dance of Joy like that, referring to the little jig on the show Balki would initiate when he was happy about something. All they said in the script was, 'they do the Dance of Joy.' But he and I looked at each other and went, okay, and we did it.

Related: Michael J. Fox Reflects on Being Famous in the '80s: 'We Were Tougher ... You Had to Be Talented' (Exclusive)

Over the years, there has been talk in the industry about rebooting the series, according to Pinchot, whos skeptical a new version would work.

Every time someone talks about, Let's redo it with two Chia Pets, I'm like, Yeah, you can say the lines. I mean, you can say one's from a different country. That's not what the show was about. It was about something that you can't put your finger on, so good luck. You know? he adds.

Pinchot says he also remains close with Melanie Wilson, who played Larry's girlfriend (and then wife) Jennifer on the series.

Courtesy of Netflix Bronson Pinchot as Serge in 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F'

Pinchot is back with his other accented character, Serge, in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, reprising the role that first shot him to fame in the 1984 Eddie Murphy action comedy.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.

For more on Bronson Pinchot, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
The family of a police officer who died after responding to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots warned that the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision this week should frighten Americans.

The Supreme Court issued a landmark decision Monday that granted presidents broad legal protections, ruling that they have absolute immunity for core constitutional actions and implied immunity for official acts. The decision will have massive ramifications for special counsel Jack Smiths election interference case against Donald Trump, in which the former president faces multiple criminal charges over his actions in the lead-up to Jan. 6.

U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick suffered two strokes and died a day after the riots, during which he was assaulted and sprayed with a chemical irritant. His death has been connected to the attack by the Washington, D.C., medical examiner.

His brother, Craig Sicknick, argued in a letter reviewed by CBS News that the Supreme Courts ruling could have negative implications for the whole country.

The recent decision by the [Supreme Court] was appalling and should frighten every citizen of the United States, Sicknick wrote, adding that his family has been through hell due to the riots.

The courts of the United States are supposed to rule on punishment of people who broke the laws of our country, regardless of color, gender, wealth, political position, fame, and any other differences we may have as individuals, he wrote. We have learned once again that this concept is false with the very wealthy literally getting away with whatever they want.

Democrats have blasted the courts decision as potentially allowing a president to break the law without consequence. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the decision could embolden a corrupt executive to lash out against political opponents  even with violence  without being able to be held accountable.

Sicknick warned in the letter that the decision could mark a point of no return for the country.

It is possible the damage that has been done to our nation by Trump may heal and we might move forward towards a better, stronger nation, but it is also very possible that this decision has doomed The Great Experiment that was the United States of America, he wrote.

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Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) says the Biden campaign has been arrogant since a shaky debate performance by the president last week.

As much as I love Joe Biden, in those swing states, hes having a hard time, Peters said Wednesday in an interview with CBS 8 San Diego. We needed a boost from Thursday. We didnt get it. And the campaign has been very, I think, arrogant in their response.

Bidens first debate performance raised alarms among some Democrats and supporters, with the president struggling to string ideas together or rebut former President Trumps many false statements. Thats created increasing chatter about whether Biden should end his presidential campaign and let a different Democrat take on Trump.

Peters didnt go as far as to say he wants Biden off the ticket  as three other House Democrats already have  but said its an option that should be left open.

We want to know what [the Biden campaigns] plan is to win this election and turn these numbers around, he said. If they dont have a plan, then I think we have to move in a different direction.

Recent polls have shown Biden trailing Trump in most swing states. A June poll before the debate found Trump up 4 points over Biden in Arizona and Georgia, 3 points up in Wisconsin and Nevada, and 2 points up in Pennsylvania. In Michigan, Trump led by 1 point, and the pair were dead even in Minnesota.

A Wednesday poll from The New York Times, taken after the debate, found Trump had increased his lead nationally to 6 points.

The Biden campaign has strongly fought off any idea that Biden will leave the race. The president himself admitted in a radio interview Thursday that he screwed up in the debate, but reiterated that he will continue to run.

I had a bad night, he told the Wisconsin station. I screwed up. I made a mistake. But I learned from my father, when you get knocked down, just get back up. And you know, were gonna win this election. Were gonna just beat Donald Trump as much as we did in 2020.

Still, Peters says Biden needs to come up with a plan to compete in the swing states.

The point is to win the election. Its those seven to 10 states that this is going to be decided in, and Joe Bidens trailing, he said. We need a plan to win those states. And if Joe Bidens got that plan, I want to hear about it. ASAP.

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A more complete picture emerged Wednesday of the extensive damage wrought by Hurricane Beryl's trek across the Windward Islands, revealing destruction and at least seven deaths.

At least three islands report more than 90% of the homes and buildings either destroyed or severely damaged, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency reported Wednesday. All three are within the chain of Grenadine Islands, where Beryl roared into the Caribbean on the southern end of the Windwards, between St. Vincent and Grenada.

With 19 participating states across the Caribbean, the agency was helping coordinate disaster response on Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines even as it continued to track Beryls movements across Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Belize. The eye of Beryl, still a Category 4 storm, raked Jamaica's coast Wednesday afternoon and was expected to pass near the Cayman Islands Thursday morning, before making landfall in the Yucatan on Friday morning.

The damage estimates for the Windwards  where Beryl made landfall over Carriacou  are only "a very preliminary look," said Elizabeth Riley, the disaster management agency's executive director. Beryl struck the islands with sustained winds of 150 mph and higher gusts on Monday, and the National Hurricane Center had warned that winds could be up to 30% higher on the tops of hills and mountains.

The impacts to the Grenadine Islands are "quite significant," Riley said, leaving residents exposed and vulnerable. Even as recovery efforts began, a tropical wave brought rain and gusty winds Wednesday to the suffering residents.

Scattered debris and houses with missing roofs are seen in a drone photograph after Hurricane Beryl passed the island of Petite Martinique, Grenada on July 2, 2024.

Grenada prime minister discusses damage on Carriacou

In a briefing late Tuesday after spending more than two hours in a helicopter provided by the government of St. Lucia, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell described "total destruction" on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

"There's 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. Complete devastation and destruction of agriculture. Complete and total destruction of the natural environment."

Hurricane Beryl, a dangerous Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph, makes an initial landfall on Carriacou, one of the Grenadine Islands, just after 11 a.m. on July 1, 2024.

"There is literally no vegetation left anywhere on the island of Carriacou; the mangroves are totally destroyed, the boats and the marinas significantly damaged," he said. "There is almost complete destruction of the electrical grid system in Carriacou. The entire communication system is completely destroyed."

However, Mitchell added, he'd been heartened by the volunteers "showing true Grenadian spirit" by arriving from other less damaged areas in boats and fishing vessels to begin delivering relief supplies to those affected.

Hurricane Beryl's fearsome seas As Beryl tears through Caribbean, a drone sends back stunning footage

Beryl damage updates

The following are the preliminary assessments Riley listed:

Carriacou, Grenada

The total population of 6,081 has been affected, so shelter is "a significant consideration."

Majority of homes and buildings have been extensively damaged

Communications have been significantly compromised

Petite Martinique, Grenada

Estimated 80% of the houses and buildings extensively damaged or destroyed

900 people affected

Majority of the island is sheltering in place

Canouan, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

100% of the island's population (12,600) has been affected

An estimated 90% of the houses were damaged, either extensively or destroyed

Police station in Charlestown lost its roof

Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Full population of 3,000 was affected by extensive damage

Estimated 98% of buildings, including houses badly damaged or destroyed

Airport control tower destroyed, hospital roof destroyed

Power plant received significant damage

Government assisting people who wish to evacuate

Mayreau, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Total population of 300 people affected

90% of the housing stock and buildings have been damaged or destroyed

Palm Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Resort and desalination plant significantly damaged

Barbados

More than 40 homes with damage, a number expected to rise

Confirmed significant damage to the fishing sector

More than 200 boats damaged

Significant damage to the coastal infrastructure, particularly along the south coast

Partial road obstruction

St. Lucia

Significant damage on southern end

Trinidad and Tobago

Power outages

Water disruption on Tobago

Roadway blockages on both islands

Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

An estimated 10% of the homes and buildings suffered roof damage

Airport and runway are usable

Dominica

Minimal damages reported

Grenada

Mitchell, Grenada's prime minister, said the island's northernmost parish, Saint Patrick suffered significant damage. The parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint Mark and Saint John also suffered much more damage than the parishes of Saint George and Saint David.

"It is clear that agriculture has taken quite a battering. It is clear that many persons have lost their roofs," Mitchell said. "It is clear, in some instances, many people have lost their entire homes."

Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at dpulver@gannett.com or @dinahvp.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Damage reports by island from Hurricane Beryl: Devastation, havoc
More than two years after former teaching pastor Bruxy Cavey resigned from one of Canadas largest megachurches amid allegations of sexual misconduct, The Meeting House has temporarily paused operations because no insurance company wants to cover its abuse liability or employment practices liability insurance.



The historical incidents and allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse at The Meeting House continue to impact our church today in many ways, including how we are viewed by insurers, the Toronto area Anabaptist churchs transition board of overseers and network leadership team stated in a recent email to congregants.

They said that even though the church took significant steps to help prevent abuse and better protect staff, volunteers and congregants over the last few years, its current insurer still sees the church as a high-risk operation and will not renew its abuse liability and employment practices liability coverage.

Abuse Liability (AL) coverage, or our Employment Practices Liability (EPL) coverage. Our insurer is willing to renew all other types of insurance we require, excluding those two types of coverage, church officials said.

Since receiving this news, we have been working as quickly and as thoroughly as possible to source replacement insurance coverage. At this point, we are confident that we have engaged all available insurers in Canada  and some internationally  who work with churches.

Abuse liability insurance helps protect businesses and organizations when claims are made against their staff or volunteers for the abuse of people in their care, according to insurance broker Foxquilt.

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More specifically, Abuse Liability helps provide coverage for legal costs and the cost of damages. Without this coverage, a claim, and the financial costs around it could even close down your business, the firm said.

The Meeting House leaders said due to the inability to secure insurance coverage, the ministry will have no in-person meetings for the month of July, which they will use to continue discerning what form God is inviting us to take into the future as a network of churches, in partnership with our local leadership teams.

We know this will be yet another difficult challenge for us to face, and we grieve the need to pause ministry as a church. At the same time, we sense God at work in our midst in powerful ways and have tremendous hope in the process of surrendering and listening to the Spirits leading as we discern where He is leading us next, the ministry leaders said.

An independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct commissioned by The Meeting House in December 2021 concluded in March 2022 that Cavey abused his power.

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, Maggie John, the then chair of the churchs overseers board, said in a statement.

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.

Cavey was subsequently arrested and charged with sexual assault of a former parishioner. In June of that year, officials at The Meeting House would reveal that at least three more former pastors were involved collectively in at least 38 reports of sexual misconduct.



Originally published by The Christian Post
President Joe Biden is "all in" on his presidential campaign, according to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, one of more than 20 Democratic governors who met with the president Wednesday evening at the White House.

"I heard three words from the President - hes all in. And so am I. Joe Bidens had our back. Now its time to have his," Newsom said in a statement.

At the meeting, governors had hoped to hear candidly from Biden about the path forward for his reelection campaign and to get a sense of how he plans to speak about himself and his campaign to the American public. Leaving the meeting, New York's Kathy Hochul said the Democratic governors are behind Biden.

"And all of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher," she told reporters.

PHOTO: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, center, standing with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, left, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, right, talk with reporters following their meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 3, 2024. (Susan Walsh/AP)

MORE: Biden blames international travel for poor debate performance, says he nearly 'fell asleep on stage'

Hochul added that with former president Donald Trump in the Oval Office, the U.S. risks "descending back" into "monarchy and tyranny."

"We will stand with the president as he fights that force, that force being Donald Trump," she said.

Hochul was joined by Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Wes Moore of Maryland, who described the meeting as "candid."

Moore said the governors shared with the president the concerns they had heard from members of the public after Biden's poor debate performance.

"We know that as we're standing right here, we're behind," Moore later added. "But we also know that that path to be able to make sure that we can pull ahead in November is real, and it's going to take all of us in order to make it happen and to make it work, and we're grateful to hear the level of excitement and the focus that the president the vice president have about being victorious in November."

PHOTO: President Joe Biden speaks during a presidential debate with former President Donald Trump, June 27, 2024, in Atlanta. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

He added, "Come November, we've got a binary choice and the binary choice [is] between someone who [has] continually delivered for us and our states and the people of our states, and, frankly, someone whose vision for the future of this country is downright dangerous."

Walz, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, also expressed his support for the president.

"The governors have his back, and we're working together just to make very, very clear on that; a path to victory in November is the number one priority and that's the number one priority of the president," Walz said.

In the wake of Biden's much-criticized performance in Thursday's presidential debate a rising number of Democratic governors were calling for better communication, and in a twist, some of those who planned to attend had been talked about as possible replacements if Biden had decided to drop out.

ABC News previously confirmed that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Hochul, Walz, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, Moore and Delaware Gov. John Carney were among the governors set to attend in-person.

Others were expected virtually, including New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.

MORE: Could Democrats replace President Joe Biden as the party's nominee?

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers did not attend, although Evers has plans to appear with Biden at an event in Wisconsin on Friday.

A spokesperson for Evers wrote on X that the governor "didnt attend the meeting because hes focused on moving forward and winning Wisconsin."

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback says the governor looks forward to hitting the trail alongside Biden this Friday.

"He supports President Biden - his comments in support of the president over the last week speak for themselves, and he looks forward to campaigning with the President on Friday," Cudaback said.

Following Wednesday's meeting, the Biden campaign released a statement summarizing the discussions.

The Biden campaign said the president sought Democratic governors' "advice and expertice" as he doubled down on staying in the race to defeat Donald Trump in the fall.

"Tonight President Biden and Vice President Harris met with Democratic governors from across the country at the White House to discuss their continued partnership in this reelection campaign. The president reiterated his determination to defeat the existential threat of Donald Trump at the ballot box in November and sought the advice and expertise of Democratic governors," the campaign said in a statement.

"In addition to defeating Donald Trump, the meeting also focused on the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ballot to deliver more Democratic governors and more Democratic majorities in Congress and statehouses across the country," the statement continued. "All participants reiterated their shared commitment to do everything possible to make sure President Biden and Vice President Harris beat Donald Trump in November."

Wednesday's meeting comes after Democratic governors held a call on Monday to discuss Biden's debate performance, a national Democratic official familiar with the call confirmed to ABC News. The call was not out of concern over Biden's performance, but simply to "touch base" on the debate, multiple sources told ABC News.

Some governors have since framed it as a general meeting where they also spoke about the debate.

PHOTO: Andy Beshear, governor of Kentucky, speaks following a tour of the new Advanced Nano Products (ANP) battery facility in Elizabethtown, Ky., March 13, 2024. (Jon Cherry/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"Democratic governors are some of the President and Vice President's most proactive and vocal supporters because they've seen how the Biden-Harris Administration's accomplishments are directly benefiting their residents. The Biden/Harris team is in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including about yesterday's meeting," the Democratic official said in a statement.

PHOTO: Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker speaks during the WisDems 2024 State Conventionm June 8, 2024, in Milwaukee. (Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images )

MORE: Democratic donors torn as Biden campaign works to calm anxieties

-- ABC News Zohreen Shah, Isabella Murray and Brittany Shepherd contributed to this report.

Gov. Newsom: Joe Biden says he's 'all in' on presidential campaign at meeting of Democratic governors originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The modern new cabins opened on July 1 at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

Courtesy Walt Disney World Resorts The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness

Camping just got a major Disney makeover.

On July 1, The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort opened at the property's famous campground. An updated version of its existing log cabin-style accommodations, the new models features modern touches like floor-to-ceiling windows, vaulted ceilings and whimsical artwork. When the ongoing construction is complete, more than 350 new cabins will be available to book.

Fort Wilderness, which opened in 1971, has long been home to the most "natural" setting at Walt Disney World. With 750 acres of Florida pine and cypress, it provides a haven for both weary tourists and wildlife. Tent camping and RV hook-ups are also available.

But for those seeking a getaway that features the tranquility of nature and the comforts of home, the new cabins offer a full kitchen, a walk-in shower and plush queen and bunk beds. (In a nod to tent camping, the blankets on the bunk beds are sleeping-bag style.)

Courtesy Walt Disney World Resorts The kitchen in the Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness.

"I would say it is a bit of glamping," says Suzanne Szak, a senior interior designer with Walt Disney Imagineering. "The new cabins have a much more open, modern feel, much lighter and brighter. We still have touches of wood on the floor, the ceiling, the furniture of course. But it's a much more updated, modern palette. The windows bring a lot of natural light that connect guests to nature, which is something we really wanted to do."

Related: Patrick Mahomes Celebrates His Super Bowl Win at Disneyland, Plus More Celebs at Disney Parks!

Asked if there are any Disney Easter eggs in the decor, Szak says, "No hidden Mickeys  we're showcasing Chip and Dale here. You see them in the forefront in some of the artwork, and in other artwork they're a little bit more hidden. You also find them when you draw the drapes in the living room  they're almost running across the fence. So that's a fun, discoverable moment."

Courtesy Walt Disney World Resorts The bedroom at The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness.

Visitors looking for an in-person experience with Chip and Dale can find them at the campground's nightly campfire singalong, where guests can also take in a movie under the stars and roast s'mores. (Disney sells s'more kits complete with child-safe sticks  no pointy ends.)

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Other back-to-basics activities include fishing, kayaking, horseback riding and archery. These activities are priced separately from the accommodations, but it's free to visit the horses at the stables, where the pristine white ponies that pull Cinderella's carriage spend their off-duty hours.

Courtesy Walt Disney World Resorts The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness.

Dining options at the Fort Wilderness Campground include several fast-casual eateries, groceries at two "trading posts" and the famed Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, a dinner theater show that marked its 50th birthday on June 30.

With up to six people per cabin  plus pets!  the resort's multi-generational appeal has room for everyone, says Cesar Avila, senior manager of marketing and sales strategy for Disney Vacation Club. "You can bring grandparents along," he says. "I stayed in the cabins recently. I brought my parents, and I had my daughter and wife with me, and you can all spread out."

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The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort are the newest property in the Disney Vacation Club, a vacation ownership program. Visitors can purchase vacation points to stay at the new cabins or book at WaltDisneyWorld.com. Prices vary based on date and type of cabin, with the "original" cabins averaging $469/night.

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American Jesse Owens achievements at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin  he won four gold medals in the 100 meters, the 200m, the 4x100m relay and the long jump  made him a track and field great.

Those achievements came under the gaze of Adolf Hitler, who had initially planned for the Olympics held in Nazi Germany to showcase what he believed to be the racial superiority of White, so-called Aryan athletes, openly denigrating Black American participants as non-humans.

The image of Owens  one of 18 Black athletes on the US team  atop the podium and surrounded by individuals giving the Nazi salute has become part of Olympic lore.

Owens grandson Stuart Owen Rankin describes the track and field greats actions as a thumb in the eye to Hitler.

My grandfathers legacy continues to prosper. When people do find out and its not often that I discuss it outwardly, but people do eventually find out, for example, perhaps through watching interviews like this, their response is always positive, Rankin told CNNs Don Riddell.

Their response is one that fills me with pride. Again, their response speaks to my grandfathers accomplishments and the enduring quality of what he did in 36 and sort of the timelessness of those accomplishments.

Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. - Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A bond, a brotherhood, a connection

Another enduring memory from the 1936 Games was Owens connection with the German long-jumper Luz Long.

Owens and Long were seen as the two favorites to compete for the gold medal in the long jump at the Berlin Games.

The two men came from very different backgrounds. Owens was a Black American and Long was a White German living in Nazi Germany.

Given the circumstances of the 1936 Olympics, a level of hostility might have been expected between the long jumpers. In fact, the opposite was true.

According to Rankin, Owens said Long offered him advice on how to not overstep, which was an issue the US athlete was having in the long jump qualifying competition.

Following Longs advice, Owens said he put down a towel at a mark to help him perfect his run-up and in doing so, the American was able to successfully book his spot in the long-jump final. Owens went on to claim gold, while Long secured the silver.

It took a lot of courage for [Long] to befriend me in front of Hitler, Owens later said of his friendship with Long. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldnt be a plating on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Long at that moment.

Owens (right) and Long (left) talk ahead of the long jump at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. - Juergen Lindenburger/imageBROKER/Shutterstock

Rankin says the two became comrades, became allies, became friends by pushing themselves to greater heights.

What came from that was a bond, a brotherhood, a connection between two world class athletes on the highest stage of their particular event or sport.

Long was killed fighting for Nazi Germany in World War II, but the families of the Americn and German still remain in contact, bonded through their grandfathers friendship, according to Rankin.

Owens grandson recalls traveling to Munich for business and a colleague, upon finding out who his grandfather was, asked if he knew who Long was.

Once they had established that he did, Rankins colleague scrolled through his contacts list and found the name Julia Long, the German long jumpers granddaughter.

Through that connection, Rankin and Longs granddaughter met for dinner, an evening he describes as a very special meal, a very special conversation.

We both spoke to what it was like to be the grandchild of an Olympian, particularly an Olympian from those Games and particularly our respective grandfathers and only Julia could speak to what its like in a way thats similar to how I could speak to what its like, remembers Rankin.

And so, we of course bonded over that. We talked about our personal interests that are likely to have been influenced by our grandfathers, our interests in outdoors and physicality and sports. So it was, it was a very special time and a very special conversation and the connection continues on today.

Owens (right) competes in the 200m preliminary heats at the 1936 Olympic Games. - DHM/ullstein bild/Getty Images)

Strides

After the Berlin Games, widespread, institutionalized racism and segregation in the US meant Owens achievements werent fully appreciated when he returned home.

Although the then-22-year-old Owens did receive a New York ticker tape parade, he was forced to ride in a freight elevator to a reception in his honor at the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Although I wasnt invited to shake hands with Hitler, Owens said, I wasnt invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either.

Owens received a rapturous welcome back to the US after the 1936 Olympic Games. - AP

Owens also failed to attract the endorsements and sponsorship deals enjoyed by White athletes, and was reduced to running exhibition races against motorbikes and horses to make ends meet.

It was not until the 1950s, 20 years after his Berlin triumph, that he finally achieved a measure of financial security, opening a public relations firm and becoming a highly successful public speaker.

Owens later received the two highest civilian honors the US can bestow. In 1976, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Gerald Ford, and in 1990, a decade after his death from lung cancer, President George H.W. Bush presented his widow a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal.

In perhaps the most fitting memorial to his achievements, a street in Berlin was renamed in his honor in 1984.

Asked what the reception would be for Owens upon his return to the US had he achieved his feats in 2024, Rankin says his grandfather would recognize  almost immeasurable strides in progress in terms of race relations here within the United States.

However, Rankin added that there are still people, many people, people in power, people in positions of authority that hold onto that mindset of 1930s America.

And I think that it would not be lost on him, that we still have a long way to go when it comes to many peoples mindsets towards people who are different from them.

August 4th: An Olympic Odyssey is available to watch on-demand across Europe on Max and Discovery+.

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The remains of a 12-year-old girl have been found in Australia after an apparent crocodile attack. Police said the girl's remains were found in a river system near where she went missing two days earlier in the Northern Territory's Indigenous community of Palumpa, according to The Associated Press.

Northern Territory Police said Thursday that the injuries on the girl's body confirmed a crocodile attack, adding that her remains were found after an "extensive search effort."

"The recovery has been made. It was particularly gruesome and a sad, devasting outcome," Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said. "It was an extremely difficult, essentially 36 hours... For the family, it is the most devastating outcome possible for them. They are in a state of extreme shock and disbelief."

In a statement shared on the Facebook page for the Northern Territory's emergency services, Gibson said officers were providing support to the family and the local community.

Gibson was quoted by the AP a saying officials were still trying searching for the crocodile to trap the animal, as the territorial creatures often remain in and around the same area.

"We live in a place where crocodiles occupy our water places," Northern Territory Police Minister Brent Potter said, according to CBS News partner network BBC News. "It's just a reminder to stay out of the water as best we can."

According to the Northern Territory's tourism site, the region is home to the world's largest wild crocodile population, with more than 100,000 freshwater and saltwater predators. The latter can grow up to 20 feet long.

"The more common and more dangerous species is the saltwater crocodile," the tourism website says. "These 'salties' side along the coastline and waterways of the Territory. They have a taste for fish, but will eat just about anything including cows and buffaloes, wild boar, turtles, birds and crabs."

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BEIJING (Reuters) - Some foreign companies are considering moving Taiwanese employees out of China after Beijing said it could impose the death penalty on "diehard" Taiwan independence separatists, said four people familiar with the matter.

The new guidelines have caused some Taiwanese expatriates and foreign multinationals operating in China to scramble to assess their legal risks and exposure, said the people, who include a lawyer and two executives with direct knowledge of the discussions.

"Several companies have come to us to assess the risks to their personnel," said the lawyer, James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based partner at the Perkins Coie law firm. He declined to identify the companies or industries for confidentiality reasons.

"The companies are still concerned that there may be some grey areas such as whether a benign social media post or voting for a particular political party or candidate in Taiwan elections could be interpreted as engaging in pro-independence activities," Zimmerman said.

Reuters has previously consulted Perkins Coie on unrelated matters in China.

Some 177,000 Taiwanese were working in China as of 2022, according to the most recent Taiwan government survey. Taiwanese staff are employed by many multinationals in China, given their linguistic abilities and cultural familiarity with the country.

Many more work for the myriad Taiwanese firms that operate in China and have, by the Taiwan government's estimate, invested more than $200 billion since 1991, helping fuel China's growth to become the world's second-biggest economy.

Some foreign corporations operating in China have held meetings with employees on safety, said the two executives, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Another source, who was briefed on the matter, said some Taiwanese staff in China have received and accepted the option to leave the country.

'EXTREME MINORITY' SUBJECT TO DEATH PENALTY

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. He has denounced China's new guidelines.

The June 21 guidelines criminalise promoting Taiwan's entry to international organisations where statehood is a condition, having external official exchanges and suppressing parties, groups and people that promote "reunification".

Also illegal are "other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China" - phrasing that allows Beijing to interpret the rules broadly, according to legal experts.

Among "the ringleaders or those who have committed serious crimes", the guidelines say, "if the harm to the country and the people is particularly serious and the circumstances are particularly bad, they may be sentenced to death."

The regulations do not further specify who might be subject to the death penalty.

Asked for comment on how companies and Taiwanese employees are reacting to the guidelines, China's foreign ministry told Reuters in a statement: "Using criminal law measures to punish criminal separatist elements and uphold the country's core interests is a common practice for all countries.

"It needs to be emphasised that the relevant legislative document targets the extreme minority of diehard 'Taiwan independence' elements and their separatist activities, and does not implicate the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots," the ministry said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. Last week it said the vast majority of Taiwanese have nothing to worry about and can come "in high spirits".

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees relations with Beijing, told Reuters in a statement: "The government reminds Taiwanese businesspeople and Taiwanese employees in mainland China that they must pay more attention to their personal safety now. The risk is indeed increasing.'

Last week the council urged Taiwanese people to avoid all non-essential travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau as a result of the new regulations.

The council said last month that eight retired Taiwanese military and police officers had been detained in China over the previous year. Last year it warned that Taiwanese academics were being detained and interrogated upon entry to China, even if they were on formal exchange programmes.

'REVIEWING THE RISK DAILY'

One of the executives who spoke to Reuters - a senior official who works with Taiwan investors in China - said his phone lit up after China announced the new guidelines as people discussed what they could mean for their work.

He said the guidelines add to the uncertainty of doing business in China, coming on the heels of such measures as China's anti-espionage law and its national security law for Hong Kong.

The second executive, who works for a large multinational whose Taiwanese executives frequently go on business trips to China, said they had been having regular meetings with senior managers to assess the danger and whether to withdraw those working in the country.

"It's not yet gotten to the stage of deciding not to send them there, but we are reviewing the risk daily," the executive said.

Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, said the guidelines would force foreign companies to "either move their operations out entirely to keep Taiwanese talent or they stop hiring Taiwanese talent."

That would mean that "even fewer Taiwanese will be working or living in China, thereby making Beijing's attempts to win over their hearts and minds even harder," Sung said.

Beijing condemns Taiwan's Lai as a "separatist" and staged war games shortly after his May inauguration. Taiwan has complained of ramped up Chinese pressure since Lai won the election in January, including ongoing military actions, trade sanctions and coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands next to China.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed.

(This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of 'assess' in paragraph 23)

(Reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Antoni Slodkowski and William Mallard)
Boeing faces new perils if federal prosecutors revive a criminal charge against the aviation giant and the company decides to plead guilty, a process that was set to resolve by this weekend.

A plea deal could get rejected by a judge. Big fines will have to be paid. And perhaps the biggest danger is the effect that a conviction may have on Boeings already-battered bottom line.

Criminal convictions can foreclose or suspend a companys right to contract with the federal government and frustrate its ability to secure loans, according to Eddie Jauregui, a white collar defense attorney with Holland & Knight and former federal prosecutor.

Those consequences have particular meaning for Boeing, which counts the federal government as its largest customer. It also happens to be the countrys largest exporter.

A Boeing 737 Max jet, in 2020. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The matter could end up with an executive agency known as the Interagency Suspension and Debarment Committee (ISDC), which holds power to discuss government-wide suspensions and debarments that can end or disrupt a companys business with the US government.

"The considerations are many, and they are weighty," Jauregui said. "I think the government contract work is probably an extremely important component for Boeing."

The question that will be resolved by Sunday is whether Boeing's actions leading up to a January door plug blowout aboard an Alaska Airlines (ALK) Boeing 737 Max 9 cause top DOJ officials to officially revoke legal protections extended to Boeing in a January 2021 deferred prosecution agreement.

After investigations into two Max 737-8 crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, Boeing admitted that two of its former Max test pilots deceived the FAA about a flight control system called Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS.

Prosecutors agreed to table a charge alleging that Boeing conspired to defraud the federal government so long as Boeing spent three years designing, implementing and enforcing a compliance and ethics program for safer manufacturing and oversight practices.

But prosecutors told a judge in May that Boeing had violated that three-year agreement.

It now appears, according to multiple reports, that the DOJ will in fact bring a new criminal charge against Boeing but give the company the chance to plead guilty in exchange for some conditions.

If Boeing chooses not to plead guilty, the DOJ could take the company to trial, according to these reports.

The Chicago law firm that represents families of people killed in the Boeing 737 Max crashes said the families "would most certainly object" to what it called a "sweetheart plea deal" described to them during a two-hour call last Sunday with DOJ officials.

The deal included the imposition of a corporate monitor and a fine; the law firm said families would ask that a judge reject it.

By law, the maximum penalty for a conviction on the DOJs conspiracy charge is $487 million. Boeing, however, would receive credit against additional penalties based on penalties it has already agreed to pay.

The U.S. Justice Department seal, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Boeing and the DOJ would in fact need court approval to enter a plea deal.

If a deal were rejected, Boeing and the government could then go back to the drawing board to negotiate new terms, or the government could press forward with charges.

Matthieu Goddeyne, a former New York County Assistant District Attorney and federal white collar defense lawyer for Gunster, said a guilty plea from Boeing still leaves the Justice Department with the difficult task of enforcing the law while also trying to uphold victims rights and encourage safe aircraft manufacturing.

"I don't necessarily think that the government's job is to try and make Boeing fail, or try and put thousands of people out of work," Goddeyne said. "I think that their job is to try to do justice, to do right by the victims, and try and effectuate some change within the company."

Boeing didnt comment on whether it had been offered a plea deal. However, in May it said it believed it had complied with its obligations under the DOJs deferred prosecution agreement.

In the end company leaders may be forced to accept one of two bad choices: admit the company committed a felony, or risk criminal trial.

"It's never an easy decision for a company, especially one that is as tied with the United States government as Boeing, to make a decision to plead guilty," Jauregi said.

Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow Alexis on Twitter @alexiskweed.

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This week, MaXXXine rounds out the X trilogy, introducing a new mystery killer to the horror film franchise.

In the final film, aspiring movie star Maxine Minx (Mia Goth) runs around Hollywood after surviving a massacre six years prior in the first film, 2022s X. Shes joined by Kevin Bacon, Giancarlo Esposito, Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Lily Collins, Halsey, Michelle Monaghan and Bobby Cannavale in the end to the trilogy.

More from Variety

But, as the former adult film star explores 1980s Los Angeles, people around her start popping up dead left and right.

The culprit? According to the news outlets in the horror flick, its the Night Stalker. And while hes not mentioned by given name in the film, heres the story of the real life serial killer.

Who was the real Night Stalker?

Richard Ramirez, dubbed the Night Stalker by the media, was a serial killer, rapist and burglar who murdered at least 13 people in California in 1984 and 1985, the year MaXXXine is set in. Some outlets also called him the Walk-In Killer or the Valley Intruder.

Ramirez grew up in El Paso, Texas in an abusive household and was later influenced by his older cousin, a Vietnam War veteran who committed multiple war crimes in Vietnam. He showed Ramirez graphic Polaroid photos of women he had killed, which Ramirez later said fascinated him rather striking fear within him.

Ramirez started to use drugs and alcohol at a young age, and witnessed the same cousin shoot and kill his wife. He dropped out of high school around the same time.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1982, he began abusing drugs and committing crimes including theft and burglary. He committed his first known murder in June 1984, although in 2009 his DNA was found and linked to an earlier murder in San Francisco that he was never charged for.

Most of his crimes occurred in and Los Angeles and its suburbs, where he broke into homes and sexually assaulted and killed multiple women. Satanic symbols, most notably the pentagram, were often found at the crime scenes of his murders.

Ramirezs string of crimes came just a few years after another brutal string of murders had L.A.on edge in 1977 and 1978. The Hillside Strangler, later found out to be two people  cousins Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono Jr.  killed 10 women and girls within the five-month period, and the murderers left many of their victims bodies in the hills surrounding the city.

How was he caught?

Ramirez broke into the Mission Viego home of Inez Erickson and Bill Carns, both of who survived the attack. Erickson later gave a detailed description of Ramirez, and police found a car he had used in the robbery. They found a single fingerprint on the car, and released a mugshot of him on Aug. 29, 1985.

Two days later, Ramirez returned to L.A. from a trip he had taken to Arizona. He walked into a convenience store in East L.A., where he saw a picture of himself in a newspaper and fled. He tried to escape, but was chased down by multiple Boyle Heights residents after trying to steal a car. They beat him severely, and police later arrived and took Ramirez into custody.

How was he prosecuted?

After being arrested, Ramirez continued to reference his Satanism throughout his proceedings. He was convicted in September 1989 of 13 murders, among other crimes, and never showed remorse. He was then sentenced to death. After spending numerous years on death row at San Quentin State Prison, he died in 2013 from cancer.

What is his connection to MaXXXine?

Although Ramirez is never mentioned by his real name in the film, mysterious murders and Satanic symbols at the scene of the crimes are ever-present.

MaXXXine trailers name the Night Stalker as an imminent threat to L.A., with newscasters stating that the killer is terrorizing the city.

An unknown figure seems to be haunting Maxine throughout her rise to Hollywood stardom, but is it the true Night Stalker? Only time will tell.

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Since 1801, the White House has held Independence Day celebrations on its South Lawn. Activities have evolved over two centuries, including when former president James K. Polk first introduced fireworks to the event in 1845.

Todays presidential festivities look a little different compared to the first one held by former President Thomas Jefferson, where festivities included horse races and cock fights on the north grounds of the Presidents Park, according to the White House Historical Association.

Modern day celebrations include parades, concerts and cookouts on the White House lawn. From the administrations of former President George W. Bush to President Joe Biden, heres what Independence Day at the White House has looked like over the past twenty years.

U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the crowd at Ripley's Courthouse Square in Ripley, West Virginia on July 4, 2002

George W. Bush: 2001-2008

During his presidency, former President George W. Bush continued to hold long-held Fourth of July traditions at his White House celebrations, which featured cookouts and fireworks displays.

Like presidents before him, Bush attended a naturalization ceremony at Monticello in 2008, where more than 70 people from 30 countries were welcomed as new citizens. The former president also made visits to Independence Hall in Philadelphia in 2001 and West Virginia in 2002.

U.S. President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (L) wave from the South Portico to US veterans and their families, as well as White House staff, during an Independence Day barbecue on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 4, 2014

Barack Obama: 2009-2016

Former President Barack Obamas Independence Day celebrations were marked by star-studded concerts at the White House to honor military families and veterans.

Obamas 2015 White House Independence Day concert for military families featured a performance by musician Bruno Mars.

Bruno Mars (L) watches as First Lady Michelle Obama (C) and US President Barack Obama (R) make their way off stage after Obama spoke at an Independence Day celebration for military members and their families on the South Lawn of the White House in Washingtn, D.C. on July 4, 2015

In 2016, Obama wrapped up his final Independence Day in the White House by throwing a concert for military veterans and administrative staff with performances by Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monae.

Donald Trump: 2017-2020

Straying from cookouts and concerts on the White House South Lawn, former President Donald Trump held his first Salute to America, a day-long celebration featuring parades near the National Mall, flyovers with planes used in Air Force One, and a televised speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

In 2020, Trump held another Salute to America celebration where the White House hosted hundreds of people on the South Lawn for music and a fireworks display.

Joe Biden: 2021- 2023

U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden watch fireworks on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. on July 04, 2023

When he assumed office, Biden followed long-held traditions during White House Independence Day celebrations, hosting the The Presidents Own United States Marine Band, U.S. Army Band, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, U.S. Navy Band, and U.S. Air Force Band.

In 2021, when many COVID-19 stay-at-home mandates were starting to be lifted, the White House hosted more than 1,000 visitors on the White House South Lawn for a barbeque and fireworks.

Last Fourth of July, the President held a concert for military and veteran families with performances by Ne-Yo and Brothers Osborne.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: July 4th at the White House: A look at celebrations through the years
Nashville Pro-Life Rescuer's Sentenced: 0 - 6 Months Prison Time

Tennessee Sentences Confirm Washington D.C. Corruption



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

July 3, 2024



NASHVILLE, July 3, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, Paul Vaughn, father of 11 children, was sentenced for his involvement in a peaceful protest at Carafem, an abortion clinic in a suburb of Nashville, in March 2021. Vaughn was given no prison time. Instead, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest and three years of supervised probation, along with simple court costs of $125.



The Biden Administration's Department of Justice (DOJ) has been viciously attacking compassionate men and women across the country who have peacefully protested the murder of innocent children.



"The case involving Vaughn is one of the strongest examples of this federal abuse of power," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. On the morning of October 5, 2022, more than a year after the Nashville protest, the FBI raided Vaughn's Tennessee home while he was preparing to drive his children to school. Officers banged on his door with guns drawn, yelling and screaming, "Open up! FBI!" then pointing the guns directly at Vaughn when he opened the door  all while his children were walking across the yard toward the car.



Three more pro-life heroes involved in the same peaceful gathering were sentenced on Wednesday:

Coleman Boyd received six months house arrest and three years probation.



Dennis Green also received six months house arrest and three years probation.



Cal Zastrow received six months in federal prison, three years of probation (including six months of house arrest). He has several months to turn himself in because of other pending court dates.

Zastrow shouted "Worthy is the Lamb" as he received his sentence.



All the defendants initially faced the possibility of 10  years in federal prison and fines of up to $260,000 for charges of violating the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act and engaging in a "Conspiracy Against Rights."



"Again, those who commit to saving babies from death are willing to pay a heavy price," said Newman. "And every child is worth it. For these rescuers, their families, and pro-lifers across the country who have been praying for justice, today's sentences are a huge relief," said Newman. "These men and their families have already endured so much as a result of their heroic defense of innocent, human children."



The charges were identical to those filed by Biden's DOJ against other pro-lifers who received egregious prison sentences, ranging from just under two years to nearly five years, for peacefully protesting at the notorious late-term Washington Surgi-Clinic, in Washington D.C.



Newman added, "This stark contrast in sentencing reveals what we already knew, an incredible degree of corruption and abuse of the judicial system is present in our nation's capital."



These new sentences that exclude prison time were handed down in Nashville by federal judge, Aleta Trauger, while the unjust sentences of up to nearly five years in federal prison were imposed by Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a federal judge in Washington, D.C.



Also awaiting sentencing for the same Nashville protest are Chet Gallagher, Eva Edyl, Heather Idoni, Paul Place, Eva Zastrow, and James Zastrow. "Please continue to pray for justice for these compassionate men and women who decisively speak up for vulnerable, innocent children being led to the slaughter," Newman implored. "And remember to write to the rescuers currently incarcerated. Their contact information is available on our webpage, Prisoners of Christ."



Click HERE to view this release on the Operation Rescue website.



Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America.



Click here to support Operation Rescue.



SOURCE Operation Rescue



CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111;

Anne Reed, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-683-6790




Saks Fifth Avenue parent Hudson's Bay Company is acquiring Neiman Marcus for $2.65 billion, the privately-held upscale retailers said Thursday in a joint announcement.

The combined entity, to be called Saks Global, will have a combined $7 billion portfolio of retail real estate assets, HBC and Neiman said in a statement.

"We're thrilled to take this step in bringing together these iconic luxury names, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman," HBC CEO Richard Baker said in a statement. "This is an exciting time in luxury retail, with technological advancements creating new opportunities to redefine the customer experience, and we look forward to unlocking significant value for our customers, brand partners and employees."

The Wall Street Journal first reported the deal on Wednesday.

Rare move by Amazon

Amazon is facilitating the deal by taking a minority stake in Saks Global. The acquisition is being financed with $2 billion raised by HBC, and affiliates of Apollo Global Management are offering $1.5 billion in debt.

Pairing the luxury department store chains is not unexpected, retail analyst Neil Saunders of GlobalData said, noting that Saks and Neiman executives have explored joining for forces "for some time." But Amazon's involvement "adds a bit of spice" to the combination because it would give the online retailer a foothold in the luxury space.

"The real win here would be the ability of Amazon to streamline logistics and e-commerce, giving the new entity an advantage in a market where remote shopping has become more important to shoppers  especially younger ones, which both chains need to do more to attract."

The investment in Neiman Marcus is Amazon's first in a brick-and-mortar retailer since it acquired Whole Foods in 2017, according to Bloomberg News. Amazon declined to comment on the planned merger.

Among the country's oldest retailers

Herbert Marcus Sr., his sister, Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband A.L. Neiman opened the retailer's first store in Dallas, Texas, in 1907. The company was sold to department store operator Broadway-Hale in 1969, setting the stage for it to expand beyond Texas. Later, Neiman Marcus came under the ownership of the conglomerate Harcourt General, which also published textbooks and owned movie theaters.

In 1999, Harcourt General spun off Neiman Marcus stores and Bergdorf Goodman. Private equity firms TPG Capital and Warburg Pincus bought the company in 2005 for $5.1 billion.

Today, the retailer has 36 Neiman Marcus stores in the U.S., two Bergdorf Goodman stores and five Last Call outlets. The company declared bankruptcy in May of 2020, at the time becoming one of the highest-profile retailers to collapse as the COVID-19 pandemic was shuttering retailers across the U.S.; it emerged from court supervision roughly four months later after shedding billions in debt.

Saks, based in New York City, was founded in 1924 and operates 39 stores in the U.S. In early 2021, the retailer spun off its website into a separate company to capitalize on a surge in online shopping spurred by the pandemic.

Hudson Bay  which also runs the Canadian department store chain Hudson's Bay is known as HBC and has a history dating back to 1670, bought Saks in 2013 for $2.9 billion, including debt.

Both Saks and Neiman have struggled to boost growth in recent years. Although the enlarged company would have greater leverage in negotiating with brands, it would still likely struggle to compete with global luxury conglomerates such as Kering and LVMH, which could end up "creating an even bigger headache for Saks," Saunders said.

Marc Metrick, CEO of Saks' e-commerce business, will become chief executive of Saks Global. He told The Associated Press on Thursday during a phone interview that consumers are increasingly demanding more access to designer product, easier ways to shop and more personalized experiences.

"This type of combination was the next move to make in order to put Saks, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman where they need to be for the consumer, " he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Hurricane Beryl moves past Jamaica, bringing punishing winds and storm surge

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Peiris will work closely with the local UiPath community and his US and European peers. Additionally, he will continue to leverage technology through partners like conversational AI provider DRUID.

Dan Cooke, chief business officer at Roboyo Australia, said the Australian team had achieved double-digit revenue growth in the last year since Roboyo acquired low-code app services provider Procensol in 2022.

Ignasis appointment further cements our capabilities as a major UiPath technology evangelist and enabler in the region, he said. The synergy between Roboyos strategic approach and UiPaths powerful automation tools means that local businesses can achieve significant operational improvements and better overall outcomes.

Cooke noted that Roboyos RPA and process excellence capabilities position us as the right partner for Asia Pacific organisations to drive hyper-transformation while providing 247 support through our global and local managed services team.
With the Narendra Modi government having begun a fresh term last month, it is time for it to undertake a full-scale review of its policy towards the Peoples Republic of China. One only has to see the sordid happenings during its 2019-2024 second term. This included the Dragons unilateral push to Delhi to the precipice, to show who's the real boss of Asia, especially South Asia.

The unilateralism shown by the post-1949 Communist Party of China and its overlord, Chairman Mao Zedong, has now rubbed off on his successors. Little wonder then that what Mao did to India in 1950s and 1962, Xi Jinping did to India in 2019-2024 with vengeance. History repeated itself in its ugliest form to hit the 21st century successors of Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-1964).

Nehru, a liberal, had idealism and a vision, which regrettably led to his monumental China failure. It will be wrong, however, to look at Nehrus broad vision and policies only through the China prism, for he also had mega-successes which far outweigh the negativity. Just as non-violence was Mahatma Gandhis path-breaking means to end British rule, non-alignment and Panchsheel were Nehrus enduring contributions to the world of diplomacy. India still follows this path with great elan, as seen by the world in the 28-month ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. So far, India has done very well; thanks to inherited wisdom of the professional mandarins of South Block, who have kept the ship of state steady, even in a rocky ambience of deceptive Chinese hostility and Western diplomatic irritants and pressure.

In dealing with China, one has to be prepared for more deception. Remember Maos formula of one step backward and two steps forward when the situation so demands? Remember Deng Xiaopings prescription once China started interacting with the world of foreign barbarians from its claustrophobic Forbidden City: Hide your intent and bide your time? Secretiveness is in the DNA of Chinese diplomacy. That is what needs to be effectively countered by India today.

The inflexibly bellicose Han dictator must be tackled upfront. As China now faces a robust pushback from the West and East on trade, import, export and military hotspots, out of sheer exasperation Xi Jinping was forced to quote Nehrus 1954 Panchsheel (Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence) to influence the world, without of course giving Nehru due credit for coining those memorable words.

In India, two Chinese diplomats (the ambassador in Delhi and the consul-general in Kolkata) arrived in midst of the parliamentary election and straightway began a verbal charm-offensive to impress Indians and create a pro-China lobby. The idea was to put pressure on Indians -- to humble the enemy without a fight, through internal sabotage. The Chinese take their cue from Indias history, where battles were lost to foreigners, with internal lobbyists ensuring victory for external foes.

One need not go into the myriad ways in which China has inflicted damage on India. The question is how India should re-orient its entire policy spectrum in order to counter-balance Han aggression. The Hans psyche solely revolves around the Opium War (1839-1842) and subsequent events like the burning of Royal Summer Palace (1860), Boxer Revolt (1898), and suppression by the barbarians (foreigners) of the Son of Heaven (Emperor) living in the opulent Forbidden City of Beijing.

This revenge factor is deeply embedded in the psyche of 1.5 billion Chinese people. Let India not be bullied or get carried away by false hopes from outside and internal pressures mounted by Chinas lobbyists for their own private agenda, which may not necessarily benefit the 1.4 billion Indians.

Therefore, first insist on going back to Indias territorial status quo ante of April-May 2020. This is absolutely non-negotiable. Inviolability and sovereignty of territory comes first and foremost for any nation-state. Its good that Indias external affairs minister, at least, has been publicly harping on this for quite some time. Despite the parrot-like utterances of some of Chinas wolf-warrior diplomats, there can be no business as usual without a proper territorial resolution. Beijing is circulating a false narrative that India and China have more convergence than divergence. This is nothing more than a backdoor device to open the gates for hordes of Chinese people to enter India for "business", which will only benefit Beijing. New Delhi must not fall into this trap, otherwise the leaders of today will face the harsh judgment of history, even worse than Nehru in 1962.

India-China bilateral trade is in shambles. The $100 billion-plus deficit cant be wished away with a magic wand. The options are limited, and some hard decisions are needed. Its time to take action to prohibit through the commerce ministry the import of all non-essential goods from the Chinese, on which Indias traders are making humongous profits by selling in the domestic market at steep markups. Second, impose stiff tariffs on all Chinese imports. Then, impose non-tariff barriers as well.

The WTO today is hardly in a position to deal with disputes between the big boys. The United States imposed 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. The European Union followed, with a maximum 38.4 per cent import duty. The entire West is trying to protect their domestic industry from brutal Chinese assault through cheap products. Let India recognise the harsh reality that the days of rampant globalization may be past. The monopoly-like Chinese juggernaut has taken on the entire West, and India is bound to be Dragons next target.

The global pushback Beijing is facing is bad news for its economy. India must keep watch on the fast-unfolding scenario. Unfortunately, it has let itself become excessively dependent on cheap Chinese products and raw material. It's now heard that some Indian companies may collapse without imported Chinese managers running them. Truly bizarre! Have some people, in their over-enthusiasm to make money through any means, lost their mind? Can India be (mis)-guided by them?

Its time for South Block to crack the whip and ensure that the tentacles of the Chinese Dragon dont spread any further in this country. Just consider some facts. In a reply to a Parliament question in December 2022, the government had acknowledged that nearly 3,560 companies in India have Chinese directors and that 174 Chinese companies are registered in India. These need to be kept under close watch and acted upon, to ensure that Indias self-interest is not compromised in any way.
The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations and the China Labour Bulletin release a report that highlights the latest trends involving Chinese labour. The China Labour Bulletin has monitored labour actions across the country since 2011. In 2023, protests over non-payment of wages and factory closures jumped tenfold over the previous year. Several factors are at play, like higher labour costs, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the trade wars between China and the West.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  Chinese workers are paying the price of de-risking by Western countries caused by the growing economic competition with China. As a result, over the past year, Chinese workers have protested and struck for non-payments and plant closures, more so than in the past, this according to a recent report released by the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO)[*] and the China Labour Bulletin (CLB).

Titled Chain of consequences How Chinese workers pay for supply chain de-risking, the study looks at why factory workers  especially in the garment and technology sectors  have gone on strike.

It says that while no one can say that jobs or supply chains should never move; indeed, There is nothing inherently wrong with companies taking a closer look at their supply chain risks and taking appropriate mitigation measures, for example, by diversifying their sourcing practices, . . .] corporate de-risking cannot simply shift risk or harms onto the backs of workers.

For this reason, Brands and retailers need to be aware of their responsibilities and consider the risks to workers rights associated with the dynamics of shifting supply chains, including in China, and take additional steps to ensure that these decisions do not contribute to collective labour rights abuses.

According to the report, Chinese workers who have kept supply chains running in the apparel and electronics sectors for decades are now struggling to get paid or losing their jobs as orders are cut or factories close or relocate.

From being the "factory to the world", China has become, in recent years, a market to be kept at a distance due to several factors, including rising labour costs, tensions between China and the West, and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report notes that the anti-globalisation trend began with the economic crisis of 2008 and continued during the pandemic. Over the past 1015 years, manufacturers and retailers have been shifting some of their production from China to other parts of the world, it says.

This trend shows up in the data. In 2023, a survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, indicates that 75 per cent of European firms had reviewed their supply chain strategies within the previous two years, 24 per cent had plans to shift at least some sourcing from China, and 12 per cent had already begun the process.

This is true also for US companies and Taiwanese investments in China, especially in manufacturing. This reflects a shift in corporate priorities, with companies now placing a greater emphasis on supply chain resilience and risk mitigation, the report reads. However, in doing so, companies fail to consider the risks for workers.

Despite all the difficulties related to the Chinese context (where all unions must be affiliated with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, which represents the interests of the government and businesses rather than those of the workers), the CLB has been monitoring labour actions across the country since 2011.

Last year, worker protests increased tenfold compared to 2022, concentrated in export-oriented production regions along China's southeastern coast, most notably the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong; the Lower Yangtze Delta area around Shanghai; and the coastal province of Fujian.

In 68 per cent of cases, protests concerned unpaid wages, while in 41 per cent of cases workers protested following the closure or relocation of the factory where they worked.

Although many of the closures or relocations appear to have been linked to decisions by brands or intermediate buyers to change their sourcing practices and reduce their overall reliance on China as a manufacturing base, [. . .] the specific reasons for such decisions vary and are not always clear from outside.

Many Chinese workers also reported being fired after they were not paid for months.

The situation can be exacerbated by the cumulative effect of many buyers in a sector making sourcing changes at the same time.

In addition to the non-payment of wages, the study highlights two other violations of Chinese workers' rights, such as the failure to get fair notice of layoffs and the non-payment or reduced payment of compensation or severance pay to laid off workers.

In addition, If production slows because of lost orders, the loss of overtime or incentive pay can lead workers to resign voluntarily, reducing the total amount of severance pay the factory has to make, the report adds. This means that even when brands and other buyers claim to give factories ample notice of their intention to change their sourcing, this information may not always be reaching workers.

RED LANTERNS IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHINA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY THURSDAY? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.

[*] Dutch: Stichting Onderzoek Multinationale Ondernemingen.
by Mathias Hariyadi

In a sudden and surprise vote, the Ethics Committee voted to end the term of office of Hasyim Asy'ari accused of molesting an (Indonesian) woman operative in The Hague. A number of serious ethical issues were raised against him. In a controversial decision, he had authorised the outgoing president's son to run in the last election by forcing the age limit.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - In a surprise decision linked to a sex scandal, the Ethics Committee of the Board of the Indonesian Election Commission (Fkpp) yesterday voted to oust the head of the Election Commission (KPU) Hasyim Asy'ari with immediate effect.

He will have to relinquish his dual role as chairman and commission member of a body that is a source of great prestige and power, which was at the centre of controversy in the last election for having 'authorised' the controversial candidature of outgoing President Joko Widodo's son, Gibran Rakabuming, which was cleared by a rule voted 'ad hoc' to overcome the age limit obstacle.

The decision was taken by the DKPP following a series of internal verification protocols. According to the results of the investigation, Asy'ari allegedly committed sexual harassment of an Indonesian woman working in The Hague and contributed on the ground to the smooth running of the voting operations abroad for expatriates in the Netherlands and Europe last February.

A number of serious ethical problems have emerged against the now former head of the powerful commission, contained in file no. 90/PKE-DKPP/V/2024. He will therefore have to answer for 'sexual harassment of a Dutch election volunteer'.

Speaking on the matter, the head of the ethics section of the Justice Department, Heddy Lugito, explained that he had 'unanimously agreed to grant the complainant's request and to relieve [the defendant from office] for his misconduct'. Following the live streaming of the hearing from the KPU headquarters in downtown Jakarta, Asy'ari himself said he was 'relieved' after reading the Dkkp verdict, because 'I will be free from serious and crucial work for this nation'.

Analysts and experts emphasise that the Dkkp's decision to dismiss As'yari should elicit a swift response from the Indonesian administration, in particular from President Joko Widodo, the government and Parliament (Dpr Ri). Each authority will now be called upon to identify a new appointee suitable for the role and who will have to replace the sensitive vacancy.

This is an urgent and crucial matter as Indonesia prepares to hold its second nationwide general election to elect provincial governors, district heads and city mayors on 27 November 2024. The one-day general election to elect governors, district heads and mayors will involve 37 provinces and 508 districts/cities in the Indonesian archipelago. President Joko Widodo will finish his second presidential term on 20 October. Within the next two days, the head of state - who has benefited from the role and decisions of the former commission chief - is expected to issue an official letter legalising As'yari's dismissal.
by Joseph Masilamany

Card Sebastian Francis made the announcement on Monday. Born in 1899, Sybil was a Catholic nurse who cared for the poor. During the Second World War, she supported the resistance with her husband, enduring severe torture and dying from septicaemia in 1948. For the prelate, she has quietly inspired many of us with a life of faith and fearless deeds.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  Card Sebastian Francis, bishop of Penang, announced the opening of the cause of beatification for Sybil Kathigasu, a Catholic nurse and supporter of the resistance against Japan during World War II.

"I consulted the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Mgr Julian Leow, on the matter and the procedure has been assigned as postulator to the priest of the archdiocese, Fr Eugene Benedict," the cardinal said in a statement.

Today we celebrate the start of a journey to raise the sacred cause for the beatification of a daughter of the Malaysian Church, who quietly inspired many of us with a life of faith and fearless deeds. May we strive to follow in her footsteps as we pray for her impending sainthood.

Sybil Medan Daly was born on 3 September 1899, in Medan, Sumatra, then part of the Dutch East Indies. Fifth child (and only girl) of Joseph Daly, an Irish-Eurasian planter, and Beatrice Matilda Martin, a French-Eurasian midwife.

After studying obstetrics and nursing for three years, Sybil assisted her husband, Dr Abdon Clement Kathigesu, at a clinic in Papan, a small town near Ipoh, Perak State.

Together, the couple started a successful private practice, offering a free service to the poor who could not afford to pay for medical care.

But war was not long in coming with the first bombing of Ipoh in 1941 and the incursion of Japanese troops at the prosperous mining town.

Sybil had a vision in which God told her that she would have to endure many sacrifices in the days to come. Instead of becoming demoralised, the nurse hung a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a strategic place in the house, and began taking notes of every activity outside.

The Kathigesus supported the resistance by secretly providing medicines to Allied troops and sharing information. Thanks to Sybil's fluency in Cantonese, she could communicate with Chinese guerrillas fighting against the Japanese occupation.

She was eventually arrested together with her husband. The Kempeitai, Japan's military police, subjected her to terrible torture, but Sybil refused to reveal anything.

Holding her rosary tightly, praying aloud every night, and calling out the name of Jesus, she resisted even when she was dragged before her five-year-old daughter, Dawn, who was dangling from a tree with a fire burning underneath with the Japanese threatening to burn alive.

But it was Dawn who inspired her not to give in saying: "Be very brave, mummy. Don't tell. We will both die, and Jesus will wait for us in Heaven above.

After the war, Sybil was released from Batu Gajah prison on 6 September 1945 with very serious injuries, including a fractured spine.

The first thing she asked was to be taken by stretcher to the entrance of St Joseph church, where she dragged herself down the aisle in thanksgiving.

The Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army also freed her husband and children.

Sybil was taken for medical treatment to London where she wrote her autobiography, No Dram of Mercy.

In 1947 she was awarded the George Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace, for her bravery during the Japanese occupation, the only Malayan woman to receive the award.

Seven months later, on 12 June 1948, Sybil passed away at the age of 49 from septicaemia.

She was first buried in Lanark, Scotland, but the following year, her remains were brought back to Ipoh and buried in the Catholic cemetery at St Michael's Church on Brewster Road.[*]

Time Magazine called her the "Edith of Malaysia" in reference to the British nurse Edith Cavell, who treated soldiers on both sides without distinction during the First World War.

[*] Now now Jalan Sultan Idris Shah Road.
Xi says China ready to promote high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations

Xinhua) 08:08, July 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations with the future of the country and the well-being of its people in mind, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

During Mirziyoyev's successful state visit to China in January, China and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point, Xi said, noting the development of bilateral relations have ushered in a new stage.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi said, adding China is speeding up Chinese modernization, and Uzbekistan is also comprehensively advancing the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy.

The goal of both sides is very grand but also simple, which is to deliver a better life for their people, Xi said.

Noting that China firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security, Xi said China is always a trustworthy friend and partner of Uzbekistan.

He urged the two sides to further advance the Belt and Road cooperation, well implement the medium- and long-term cooperation plan on economy, trade and investment, speed up the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as well as cooperation in fields of photovoltaic, wind power and new energy vehicles, and continue to strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction and social governance.

China supports the expansion of exchanges between the two countries at the sub-national level, as well as exchanges in tourism, education and other fields, he said, noting China welcomes Uzbekistan's participation in the seventh China International Import Expo as the guest country of honor.

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to speed up the implementation of the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit held in the city of Xi'an, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and ensure that the SCO always develops in a direction that serves the common interests of all parties, Xi said.

For his part, Mirziyoyev said the two sides jointly announced in Beijing to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in January, which opened a new era of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Under the wise leadership of President Xi, China has successfully coped with various risks and challenges and made world-leading achievements in the fields of economy, science and technology, he said.

Mirziyoyev expressed his congratulations and wished the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee a complete success.

Uzbekistan firmly abides by the one-China principle and resolutely combats the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, he said.

Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to be each other's reliable friend and partner, continue to respect, understand and support each other, and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields to achieve more fruitful results, Mirziyoyev said.

He said Uzbekistan is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the China-Central Asia mechanism, the SCO, as well as other multilateral frameworks.

Uzbekistan is ready to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by Xi, Mirziyoyev said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
How Coffeyville, Home of the United States Space Force Hymn, Celebrates the 4th of July

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Don Biadog

Commander, CHC, USN (Ret.)

July 4, 2024





Coffeyville Journal (February 29, 2020). Use of Department of the Air Force imagery does not constitute product or organizational endorsement of any kind (click on image for higher resolution)



SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 4, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- As a 4th of July celebration, residents remember how their home town of Coffeyville, Kansas, a very special rural town, became the home of a very special hymn, 'Creator of the Universe' (The Space Force Hymn). And they would like to offer the public free downloads.



Here is a reprint from the February 29, 2020 edition of the Coffeyville Journal, vol. 132, no. 18. It tells the story of how this remarkable, rural, rough, mid-western town, internationally known for the Dalton Gang's raid on two banks in one day on October 5, 1892, became "Home of the United States Space Force Hymn."

On February 12, 2020, Rev. James F. Linzey, who served as a highly decorated Air Force Captain, felt led by Almighty God to write the Space Force Hymn. He set his pen to paper the next day. He had been working on the hymn on an old upright piano that was out of tune in the former Dalton Museum building in Coffeyville, Kansas, which he was cleaning. On February 20, 2020, he completed the hymn, what many believe to be his lasting legacy for the Department of the Air Force for which he served as an officer for 12 years. Coffeyville proudly serves as home of the United States Space Force Hymn, 'Creator of the Universe.'

To celebrate the 4th of July, Coffeyville residents would like to offer music directors, worship leaders, pastors, church members, and military members free downloads of the sheet music, recording, and video of the Space Force Hymn for worship services, patriotic events, or personal use.



Here are the links:



Sheet music download: CreatorOfTheUniverse.com

Audio download: https://we.tl/t-x1bul0RFOs

Video download: https://we.tl/t-4xkAz7jl2G

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrrgkHBfDqw



About Jim Linzey:

As a Southern Baptist Bible scholar, Jim Linzey is the general editor of the New Tyndale Version (NTV) Bible translation and the Spanish NTV, Nueva Version Tyndale (NTV).



Contact: Jim Linzey

MilitaryBibleAssociation@gmail.com

Phone: (760) 855-3905



Recommended websites:

Military Bible Association  MyMilitaryBible.com

New Tyndale Version (NTV)  NewTyndaleVersion.com

Spanish NTV  Nueva Version Tyndale (NTV)

Baptist Press  BaptistPress.com

Dalton Village & Museum  DaltonMuseum.com



SOURCE Don Biadog


Today's news: seven countries allowed to intervene in the genocide trial against Myanmar for its actions against the Rohingya. Japan eliminated the use of floppy disks. North Korea recalls its students living abroad for 'political indoctrination'.

CHINA - PHILIPPINES

Manila demanded 60 million pesos (equal to one million dollars)from Beijing as compensation for damage caused during a clash on 17 June in the South China Sea, military chief Romeo Brawner explained. Meanwhile, in a meeting on Tuesday, Chinese and Filipino diplomats agreed to ease tensions in the region, but also remained firm on their countries' claims to international waters.

MYANMAR

As the offensive by ethnic militias against Burma's coup junta continues in the Shan, several countries (Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Great Britain, the Maldives) have been allowed to intervene at the International Criminal Court by submitting their reports regarding the genocide case brought by The Gambia against Myanmar following the Burmese army's violence against the Rohingya minority in 2017.

JAPAN

The Japanese government has eliminated the use of floppy disks following a modernisation campaign that also calls for an end to the use of fax machines by the bureaucratic apparatus. In 2021, the Digitisation Agency under Digital Minister Taro Kono was set up because the pandemic had revealed the difficulties associated with paper filing and analogue technologies.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea issued a directive that students studying abroad should return home for 'political indoctrination' sessions to be held in Pyongyang by the end of the month, South Korea's Unification Ministry reported. "North Korea is gradually resuming measures that were interrupted due to the lockdown for covid-19," the ministry added. Since 2020, the sessions had in fact been discontinued.

INDIA

The social platform Koo, which had presented itself as an alternative to X (Twitter), announced the closure of its services due to lack of funding. Launched in 2020, Koo offered messaging in more than 10 Indian languages and had become popular in 2021, when Prime Minister Narendra Modia had asked Twitter to block the accounts of a number of opposition-linked personalities.

GEORGIA

In Georgia, a new political movement called 'Freedom Square', led by Levan Tsutskiridze, a representative of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy, active since 2012, was unveiled, declaring support for the 'Georgian Charter' proposed by President Salome Zurabisvili to overcome the oppositions in the country's political life.

RUSSIA

Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to draw up by September a strategy for the development of Prjazovje, the Russian-Ukrainian Azov plain from Taganrog to Mariupol, almost completely occupied by Russia, to be realised by 2040 through a financial and strategic 'synchronisation' with all federal structures.
by Nirmala Carvalho

A 'temporary' agreement came into force yesterday on the Feast of St Thomas, which had been indicated as an ultimatum by the Major Archbishop. On Sundays and feast days, at least one liturgy must be celebrated according to the unified rite decided by the Synod. But it will also be allowed to maintain the mode in which the celebrant is facing the people throughout the rite, as requested by the clergy and laity of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly

Kochi (AsiaNews) - Just as Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil had issued an ultimatum for July 3, the feast of the Apostle Thomas, the Syro-Malabar Church has finally reached a compromise on the issue of the rejection of the "unified" liturgy that has been dragging on for three years now in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.

At the mandate of the Synod, a restricted commission drew up an agreement on 1 July that made it possible to overcome the danger of schism that had been hovering over this very ancient Eastern Catholic Church due to the refusal of one of the 36 dioceses to adhere to the new mode of celebration of the Holy Qurbana, the Eucharistic rite, in which the celebrant must return to addressing the altar and not the faithful at the moment of consecration.

The agreement goes in the direction of communion, repeatedly indicated in his interventions on the matter by Pope Francis.

"The dispute over the liturgy has been temporarily resolved," Fr Kuriakose Mundadan, secretary of the presbyteral council of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, told AsiaNews.

"The agreement agreed upon by representatives of the priests and laity was discussed at length by a synod group with Archbishop Joseph Plampani, Apostolic Administrator Bosco Puthur, and Curia Bishop Sebastian Vaniapurackal.

The agreement," the prelate explained, "was conditional on the fact that every parish church in the archdiocese, starting on 3 July, would have to celebrate a single Mass in the synodal form every Sunday and on feast days, so that the parishes could continue to celebrate the Holy Qurban Mass addressing the people on all other days. The senior archbishop also agreed that any further changes would be made only after consultation with the canonical bodies of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly'.

The agreement also stipulates that the priestly ordination of the archdiocese's eight deacons, which has remained pending until now, will be carried out as soon as possible. In parishes where there are protests or clashes because of the manner of celebration, the parish priest has the right not to celebrate according to the synodal rite but must inform the archdiocesan apostolic administrator. The same applies to parishes where civil lawsuits are pending on the issue.

"Yesterday, many parishes in the archdiocese celebrated a Eucharistic liturgy in the synodal form," Fr. Mundadan reported, "although in many churches there were fewer participants. The first part of the agreement was therefore respected, now the other points will have to be implemented in the coming days'.

Even the Lay Movement for Transparency - one of the voices most vocal in its opposition to the synodal rite - accepted the terms of the agreement, albeit with a conditional positive opinion on how it would be implemented.

A key decision was not to involve the police and not to use force to implement the order to celebrate according to the unified rite. Canon law could, however, be invoked against priests who openly defy the conciliation measures.

'Considering the developments,' the Lay Movement for Transparency wrote in a note, 'it is hoped that peace will prevail in the archdiocese. Should the synod, however, make any move that violates the conciliation formula, we will withdraw from the agreement'.
Art historian Joan Kee has been appointed as the next director of New York University's Institute of Fine Arts. She will take on her new responsibilities on Monday, August 19.

Kee, who teaches art history at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, specializes in Asian and American modern and contemporary art. She graduated from Harvard Law School and the IFA with a Ph.D.

She will be in charge of one of the most prestigious graduate programs and research centers in the world for art history, archaeology, and art conservation as director of the Institute, housed in the landmarked Duke Mansion.

"In a field of wonderful candidates, Joan Kee distinguished herself through her remarkably expansive vision of art history and her ideas for productive, innovative, and interdisciplinary collaboration in art history across NYU," NYU President Linda G. Mills said.

She added that she was impressed by her ability to build bridges and support collaboration in art history across NYU, including with Arts and Science's Department of Art History, and her scholarly achievements, views on how the Institute can shape the next generation of art historians, especially her genuine love and appreciation for the IFA.

Kee's research focuses on art and digital media intersections, comparative diaspora studies, and the law. She has been acknowledged by the New Yorker and the Nation for igniting interest in Korean abstraction worldwide, specifically in the Tansaekhwa movement of the 1970s and 1980s.

Her book, 'Contemporary Korean Art: Tansaekhwa and the Urgency of Method (2013),' was shortlisted for the College Art Association's Charles Rufus Morey Book Award.

Her 2019 book 'Models of Integrity: Art and Law in Post Sixties America' is based on her legal profession and education, and major news media have sought her opinion on various legal, ethical, and artistic topics. The linkages between Black and Asian art are the subject of her most recent book, 'The Geometries of Afro Asia: Art beyond Solidarity,' which won the Robert Motherwell Book Award this year.

In a statement, Kee said it is a tremendous privilege to return to the IFA, a truly vigorous intergenerational art community that has opened up many vibrant worlds. She noted that it is still a privilege to join the IFA and that there are many exciting possibilities for collaboration and engagement with NYU, New York City, and the world.
4 July 2024 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan's successful political strategies have tightly integrated it into international alliances. Presently, Azerbaijan not only cultivates robust relationships with Europe and the United States but also strengthens ties with China, Russia, and other Central Asian nations.

Recent times have witnessed a notable increase in official reciprocal visits between Azerbaijan and China, significantly impacting the global economy.

The development of bilateral relations with China ranks among Azerbaijan's foremost foreign policy priorities. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on April 2, 1992, cooperation between the two countries has swiftly progressed to a strategic level.

Political, economic, capital, transportation, green energy, public diplomacy, and other fields are witnessing strengthened collaboration between Azerbaijan and China. Recently, relations between the two nations have reached new qualitative heights.

It is noteworthy that President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have established high-level friendship relations based on mutual trust and esteem. Xi Jinping was among the first heads of state to congratulate President Ilham Aliyev on his recent presidential election victory.

Significant importance is attached to the visits and meetings between the leaders of both countries. In April 2019, President Ilham Aliyev participated in the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. A meeting between the heads of state of Azerbaijan and China took place in Samarkand on September 15, 2022, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

The recent meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Astana during the SCO Summit is crucial for elevating bilateral relations to a strategic partnership level and identifying new development perspectives for cooperation.

Moreover, the adoption of the "Joint Declaration on Establishment of Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China" during the Astana SCO Summit on July 3 underscores the mutual commitment to expanding cooperation in political, economic, and cultural spheres amidst complex global and regional developments.

Azerbaijan and China will continue enhancing the role of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to strengthen mutual activities in trade, investment, and engineering projects.

The declaration aims to actively promote cooperation between Azerbaijan and China at a high level, focusing on advancing projects in transportation and communications, green energy, processing and production, infrastructure, the digital economy, agriculture, and other sectors.

Despite significant differences in economic scale, Azerbaijan and China possess substantial potential for enhancing cooperation in economic complementarity, industrialization, and investment. The declaration is expected to facilitate the full utilisation of the industrialization and investment cooperation mechanism between Azerbaijan and China, enhancing relations in planning and policy.

The declaration also actively promotes cooperation in priority sectors such as oil and gas production and processing, green energy, transportation infrastructure, information and telecommunications, the digital economy, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, etc., based on principles of market economy, yielding beneficial results for both nations.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan and China aim to boost bilateral trade volumes by optimising investment structures and easing market entry for goods.

Simultaneously, both countries actively participate in international exhibitions and forums. China supports Azerbaijan's thematic presentations and encourages its connection with trade centres, national pavilions in China, and Chinese e-commerce networks.

It is important to recall that in 2013, the People's Republic of China introduced the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, a strategic economic development plan aimed at enhancing infrastructure connectivity across Eurasian countries and fostering mutual relationships. Azerbaijan emerged as the first country in the Caucasus region to endorse this initiative, thereby assuming a pivotal role as a logistics hub, junction, and bridge in its implementation.

During President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to China in December 2015, the governments of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly promote the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Azerbaijan, as the sole member facilitating the "East-West" and "North-South" transportation corridors, offers opportunities for countries situated north and south to participate in this transformative project.

Under the auspices of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, Azerbaijan and Baku Port inaugurated the Alat town port in May 2018, equipped with state-of-the-art technological infrastructure and operational systems meeting contemporary standards. These advancements enable cargo owners to track their shipments' location and status online, contributing positively to trade facilitation within the project framework.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, providing the shortest rail connection between Europe and Asia, not only benefits Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye but also generates new economic prospects for countries throughout the Eurasian region.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan's proactive endorsement of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative underscores its strategic commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and fostering economic collaboration across Eurasia. By leveraging its position as a critical logistics centre and facilitating pivotal transportation corridors like the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Alat port, Azerbaijan not only strengthens its own infrastructure but also facilitates smoother trade flows and economic integration within the broader Eurasian context.

Moving forward, Azerbaijan's continued engagement in this initiative promises to yield sustained economic benefits, promoting regional stability and prosperity through enhanced connectivity and cooperation.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
4 July 2024 19:43 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The evolving global geopolitical landscape underscores the increasing responsibilities of international organisations in fostering peace, stability, economic development, and socio-political equilibrium. Among these institutions, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has gained prominence, assuming a pivotal role in both security and economic domains.

The SCO's stature has grown significantly in recent years, drawing heightened international attention. In 2015, Azerbaijan was granted partner status during the Council of Heads of SCO member states meeting, followed by the signing of a Memorandum in Beijing in 2016, officially designating Azerbaijan as a dialogue partner of the SCO. This acknowledgement underscores Azerbaijan's growing engagement and influence within the organisation.

President Ilham Aliyev's participation as an esteemed guest at the 2022 SCO Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, further highlights Azerbaijan's deepening involvement and strategic importance within the SCO framework.

A discussion with Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, an expert on China and Executive Director of the Centre for South & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad, in Azernews delved into the SCO's regional role and Azerbaijan's collaboration within the organisation. The expert also emphasised the significance of projects such as the North-South and East-West transport corridors, underscoring their integration into SCO cooperation efforts.

The international expert noted that Azerbaijan is the SCO's dialogue partner and now expects to receive observer status with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

"Serving as a pivotal connecting transit hub along the Middle Corridor, Azerbaijan plays a significant role in advancing regional integration processes. The SCO summit scheduled for 2024 in Astana is expected to provide further momentum towards Azerbaijan's goal of achieving observer status within the organisation," he added.

According to him, during recently held meetings in 2024 & 2023, both sides discussed the prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO.

Azerbaijan stressed that the country's cooperation with the SCO members contributed to Azerbaijan's active involvement in the organisation as well as conducting mutual dialogue. The government of Azerbaijan emphasised its commitment to working with the SCO on security matters and important infrastructure projects such as the East-West and North-South transport corridors, the expert said.

Moreover, Azerbaijan attaches great importance to its partnership with SCO, which has a special role in the Eurasian landscape. It also stressed the significance of exploring opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, including economics, trade, energy, investment, tourism, and ecology.

Historically, Azerbaijan achieved dialogue partner status within the SCO on July 10, 2015. A subsequent Memorandum signed in Beijing on March 14, 2016, marked a significant milestone.

Factually, Azerbaijan's membership in the SCO has opened up new opportunities for cooperation in such areas as strengthening regional security and stability, cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy, telecommunications, and agriculture, as well as the promotion of direct contacts between small and medium-sized businesses, interaction on legal and customs issues, etc.

The Pakistani pundit stressed that in this regard, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which is a part of the Middle Corridor, was built at the expense of Azerbaijan's investments and has a great role in the SCO's further drive for regional connectivity.

Moreover, Azerbaijan has a unique role in the growing trade and transit cargo transportation within the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) or Middle Corridor.

It seems that President Aliyevs participation in the Astana summit is significant, which will convey its commitments about the upcoming COP29 conference to be held in November 2024 in Baku.

During the bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin, President Ilham Aliyev noted progress in the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), the plans to modernise the infrastructure of the INSTC on the Azerbaijani territory, as well as the intention to implement new joint initiatives in the energy sector. Regional projects such as East-West and North-South corridors were also discussed, Dr Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan said.

Being a key transit hub, it is significant for the SCO member states to expand cooperation with Azerbaijan. It is investing billions of dollars in qualitative infrastructure development projects, including modern highways, expansion of port infrastructure, and modernization of railway lines, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars route. It is also independently creating the promising Zangazur route, a new value addition to the Middle Corridor.

Azerbaijans role is very significant in the transit of container block trains and will significantly reduce time. Critical analysis reveals that Azerbaijans strategic importance for the further expansion of SCO members is important because of the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthi since last year. Houthi drone and missile attacks have greatly reduced the movement of bulk carriers, container ships, and tankers in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and global carriers and forwarders are considering the short and safe trans-Caspian transit.

Additionally, cooperation with the SCO member states is also important for Azerbaijan to participate in investment projects, create joint production projects in the non-oil sector, develop renewable energy sources, etc.

The Expert said that according to official figures, Azerbaijan's trade turnover with SCO member states in 2022-2023 increased by 45.8 percent, exceeding US$9 billion, and reaching 17 percent of Azerbaijan's total trade turnover in the previous year. In turn, the SCO member states have invested over US$12 billion in the Azerbaijani economy, while the Azerbaijani investments in the economies of these countries amounted to US$3.2 billion.

Azerbaijan has investment cooperation with China, which currently ranks fourth among Azerbaijans foreign trade partners and second among importing countries. The Chinese companies intend to invest in localising the assembly of electric buses and batteries in Azerbaijan.

A project for the supply of liquefied natural gas to another leading SCO member state, Pakistan, was launched through the Azerbaijani SOCAR Trading Company. The bilateral Azerbaijani-Uzbek cooperation in the field of energy has also expanded. The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Uzbekistans Uzbekneftgaz company signed several agreements on joint participation in oil and gas projects. The partnership with another SCO member state, Kazakhstan, in the oil transit and an increase in the transshipment of non-oil cargo have greatly increased since last year, the expert concluded.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
4 July 2024 15:44 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the central banks of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, Azernews reports.

Chairman of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), Taleh Kazimov, mentioned this in a post on the 'X' social network.

"We were pleased to meet with the Chairman of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, Mamarizo Nurmuratov, during our business trip to Tajikistan. At the meeting, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation between our institutions. This includes expanding partnerships, exchanging experiences and information, and organising bilateral visits. We believe this MoU will greatly contribute to strengthening cooperation between our two central banks," he said.

The meeting with Chairman Mamarizo Nurmuratov was part of the delegation led by Chairman Taleh Kazimov to Dushanbe.

Information from the Central Bank indicates that the meeting discussed mutual interests, culminating in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Central Bank of Azerbaijan and the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The Memorandum aims to further strengthen and expand cooperation between the two central banks and develop the financial sector.

It is noteworthy that under the Memorandum of Understanding, there are plans to deepen partnerships in key areas, exchange experiences and information, and arrange reciprocal visits.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
4 July 2024 15:13 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif delivered Pakistans national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Astana today, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by the minister on his official "X" account.

Delivered Pakistans national statement at SCO Council of Heads of States meeting in Astana today. Reaffirmed Pakistans strong commitment to the SCO Charter & principles, conveyed our support for SCOs expansion & reform, called for collective action for socioeconomic pic.twitter.com/40JhputUPL  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 4, 2024

"Reaffirmed Pakistans strong commitment to the SCO Charter & principles, conveyed our support for the SCO's expansion & reform, called for collective action for socioeconomic development, enhanced connectivity, maintaining peace & security, combating terrorism, dealing with climate change, alleviating poverty, and above all, ensuring observance of principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination. Called for the resolution of long-standing disputes through UNSC resolutions. Strongly urged for peace in Gaza as well as peace & stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan looks forward to welcoming the SCO family at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad this October," he added.

Note that today, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit commenced in Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

During the SCO Heads of State Council meeting, the Astana Declaration and three statements by the heads of state, including initiatives on "World Unity for Just Peace, Harmony, and Development," and "Enhancing SCO," will be adopted.

The event is attended by the heads of state and government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkyie, and Turkmenistan, as well as SCO Secretary-General Cjan Min.

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4 July 2024 17:23 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Routes through Azerbaijan play a crucial role in enhancing transport capabilities within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) region.

Azernews reports that Oljas Beysembayev, an expert from Kazakhstan's Public Development Institute, highlighted this during the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Astana.

"This is the 24th meeting of heads of state in the SCO format. It's the first time we're seeing an 'SCO+' meeting, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the guest of honour, along with dignitaries from Arab and Turkish nations," Beysembayev noted.

He emphasised key areas discussed at the summit, including bolstering security trust, expanding trade and economic ties, and enhancing transport and logistics through corridors. He mentioned China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative and highlighted the significance of routes like the Trans-Caspian linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Beysembayev also pointed out the development of Northern and Southern routes, underscoring Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan's pivotal roles at their intersection.

"With Turkic and Arab countries showing keen interest, there's potential for the SCO's expansion. Belarus has already become a full member, paving the way for what could be a 'Shanghai Ten', transforming SCO from regional to transregional," Beysembayev concluded.

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4 July 2024 17:34 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan also plays an important role in the development of the North-South transportation corridor, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the SCO plus meeting in Astana, Azernews reports.

The railroad and highway infrastructure of the Azerbaijani segment of the North-South Corridor is ready and functioning successfully. Currently, we are working to expand it to the volumes of railway cargo of 15 and later, when needed, 30 million tons, annually, the head of state noted.

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4 July 2024 17:45 (UTC+04:00)

We will spare no effort in building bridges between developed and developing countries at the COP29 in Baku and strive towards reaching an accord that would take into account the legitimate interests of the developing nations, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the SCO plus meeting in Astana, Azernews reports.

Azerbaijans priorities also include support for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing existential threats due to the adverse effects of climate change. Azerbaijan has initiated the establishment of a special technical assistance fund to support the SIDS, the head of state mentioned.

We will continue our work with the SCO on the preparation for COP29  the worlds largest international conference, President Ilham Aliyev emphasised.

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4 July 2024 13:24 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Bulbul Vocal School, which carries the artistic traditions inherited by the founder of Azerbaijani professional vocal Murtuza Mammadov (Bulbul) has announced the admission of students for the new academic year, Azernews reports.

The vocal school accepts young talents between the ages of 10 and 35. Those who want to join Bulbul Vocal School must send their applications until July 20, 2024.The participants who passed the first stage will be interviewed on August 20-25.

Bulbul Vocal School, which was founded by Honored Artist Ramil Gasimov has been operating for a year now, where free vocal lessons are held for the first time in Azerbaijan.

For his rare musical gift, as a child he was nicknamed "Bulbul" (translated from Azerbaijani as nightingale), which became his stage name.

Bulbul spent his childhood and youth in Shusha; the atmosphere of this city, permeated with poetry and mugham, served as a fruitful basis for his work.

The strength of his talent and uniqueness lay in his wide range of voice, clear artistic diction, and high stage culture. Bulbul's repertoire was incredibly rich and rich.

Performing classical works in several languages, Bulbul paid great attention to the Azerbaijani language. He was also an outstanding teacher, passing on his experience and the secrets of art to talented youth. His creativity and activities had a great influence on the vocal art of the entire East, becoming an excellent example for our modern performers.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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4 July 2024 16:43 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

CineMastercard has represented Azerbaijan at the CineEurope International Exhibition, traditionally held in Barcelona, Spain, Azernews reports.

Representatives of the best Hollywood and European studios, who demonstrated the latest technologies and novelties of the film industry attended the CineEurope 2024 event.

Founded by Film Expo Group,CineEurope is an official event of the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC), an international trade association that provides film exhibitors and their national associations in 38 European territories.

The exhibition was attended by the director of the cinema chain (CinemaPlus LLC) CineMastercard, Murat Jamji, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Zaur Darabzadeh. They have signed contracts with the world's leading film studios to show films of the next new seasons.

Among these companies, there were such studios as Universal Pictures, Sony Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.

Representatives also got acquainted with the latest technologies designed for cinemas, and meetings were held with the heads of the companies that presented them.

During the exhibition, Murat Jamji and Zaur Darabzadeh discussed cinema development strategies, new technological trends, innovative solutions, and achievements.

They are also interested in introducing advanced technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) in cinemas, offering viewers a more exciting and interactive experience.

CineMastercard strives to present the best to its viewers, to show films in Azerbaijan to moviegoers that are released on the same day as in the whole world.

The cinema plans to continue to introduce innovations, striving to take a leading position in the global film industry and always offer its viewers the best. With a constantly developing approach to technologies and innovations, CineMastercard intends to strengthen its position as a leader in the Azerbaijani film industry.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

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4 July 2024 14:06 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

The "Media Month," organised by the Media Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MEDIA) and the "Regional Development" Public Union as part of the volunteering program has come to an end, Azernews reports.

At the end of "Media Month," an online meeting of volunteers was organised with Rashad Majid, Honoured Culture Worker of Azerbaijan, Editor-in-Chief of "525th Newspaper", Chairman of the Press Council on the "Zoom" platform.

At the meeting, Rashad Majid answered the questions of the volunteers about media literacy, the role of social media in our lives in modern times, the positive and negative aspects, the modern approach to the journalism profession, the comparative analysis of traditional and digital media, as well as the educational function of the media and other relevant topics.

It should be noted that trainings were organised in 11 cities and regions within the framework of "Media Month". The last trainings were "Basics of news preparation" by leading investigative journalist Elmin Bayramli in Baku, and "Information security, national security problems: yesterday, today, tomorrow" by Ilham Tumas, a journalist, screenwriter, director, and participant in the First Garabagh and Patriotic War was passed on the subject in Gazakh region.

Detailed opinions were exchanged on relevant topics in the ongoing trainings in the question-and-answer format.

The main goal of the project was to inculcate the trends in the new media environment, the necessary knowledge and skills related to media literacy, to increase the role of young people in ensuring information security in society, and at the same time to develop their critical thinking and analysis skills.

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Looted, stolen, found in a bus stop, Titian's early masterpiece, Rest on the Flight to Egypt, has just been auctioned for 17.5 million ($22.3 million).

The painting depicts Mary-who dominates the canvas-Jesus and Joseph sitting down to rest on their sudden flight to Egypt to escape Herod's sword. The work dates from around 1508, when Titian-real name, Tiziano Vecelli-was in his early 20s. As such, the canvas only measures about 2 feet wide-minuscule, compared to the master's later works.

: In the first decades of the 17th century, it was documented as being one of at least 15 Titians in the collection of the Venetian spice merchant, Bartolomeo della Nave. After his death, the painting was purchased by James Hamilton, 3rd Marquess and 1st Duke of Hamilton in 1638, and shipped to England. The Royalist Hamilton was executed in 1649, and his artworks were acquired by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, who, at the time, was assembling a massive art collection. The collection travelled with Leopold to Vienna, where it was housed in Belvedere Palace. In 1809, Napoleon invaded Austria, and the painting was one of many that he looted. After Waterloo, the painting went to Scottish landowner Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro, then after Munro's death, it went to Christie's for the first time, and was acquired by John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath, in 1878.

Shipped back to England, the painting was housed in the Thynnes' seat, Longleat house, where it saw its longest undisturbed period. This was put to an end in 1995, when it was stolen from Longleat's drawing room. After a seven-year hunt, it was discovered in a bus stop, stuffed in a shopping bag, by Charles Hill. Despite the meanness of its surroundings, and the fact that it was missing its frame, the painting was largely undamaged and returned to Longleat. It was there that it stayed until its recent sale at Christie's.
4 July 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Azerbaijan continues its relations with Kazakhstan, one of the main powers of the union of the Turkic states, within a framework of balanced and fair policies. The political relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have been strong and friendly since both countries gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union. These relations manifest primarily in ensuring regional stability and cooperation, exploiting and transporting energy resources, and collaborating in cultural and economic fields.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Kazakhstan to participate in the SCO Summit at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gives another reason for ever-expanding mutual relations between the two states and its strategic importance.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are members of many international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (Turkic Council), and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Within this framework, the two countries align their positions on many issues and cooperate closely.

In this regard, holding the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, cannot be considered an ordinary event. Tens of thousands of delegations and sixteen heads of state, including China, Turkiye, Pakistan, and Russia, have gathered at this summit, which has a unique role in organising a comprehensive dialogue on peace and security, and economic issues in the region.

Covering a vast geographical area in Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also one of the closest partners with Azerbaijan in the fields of oil and gas. Being rich in energy resources, both countries' cooperation in the energy sector, especially in oil and gas, significantly impacts the economic development of the region. Kazakhstan is particularly interested in projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline and is currently exploring opportunities to transport its energy resources to European markets through these pipelines.

Economic development and diversification are among the key development principles of both countries. Measures are being taken to reduce dependence on the oil and gas sector and to develop the economy in various fields.

The trade turnover and economic relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have been rapidly increasing in recent years. Both countries are taking steps towards mutual investments, the establishment of joint ventures, and the facilitation of trade. For instance, Azerbaijan imports grain, chemical products, and metal products from Kazakhstan, while Kazakhstan imports oil products and other industrial goods from Azerbaijan.

Cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are also developing. Joint cultural events, festivals, and exhibitions are held in this area. Both countries closely cooperate to preserve and promote the culture and heritage of Turkic-speaking peoples. Furthermore, there is cooperation in the field of education between the two countries. Students from both nations study at universities in the other country. Scientific research, academic exchanges, and joint scientific projects are also part of the cooperation between the two countries.

Both countries uphold the principle of maintaining independence and sovereignty. Respecting the territorial integrity of states and non-interference in internal affairs are accepted as important principles.

Ensuring regional stability and security is one of the priorities of the foreign policies of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. To this end, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan attach great importance to the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts and the fight against terrorism.

After the Azerbaijani army liberated Garabagh from a 30-year Armenian occupation in 2020, Kazakhstan was one of the countries that expressed its support for Azerbaijan, declaring its solidarity with the rightful cause of the country. Official Astana also plays an ideal mediator role in the expected peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It is no coincidence that the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia met in Almaty on May 10, and this meeting was considered a successful step towards peace. Alongside Turkiye, Kazakhstan provides the greatest support to Azerbaijan in the Turkic world.

The visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan today, within the framework of which a Shareholders' Agreement between the Azerbaijan Investment Holding and the Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund Joint Stock Company was signed, is another proof of the rapid development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

The political relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, based on their shared history and culture, are built on mutual respect and benefit. There is no doubt that these relations will continue to strengthen in the future, contributing to the development of both countries.

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4 July 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

The traditional friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and China have been developing progressively in recent years. Sincere friendship and cooperative relations between the leaders of Azerbaijan and China gave great impetus to the development of our interstate relations, and this meeting once again showed that Azerbaijan-China political relations are at the highest level in history.

According to Azernews, these views were included in the press release of the press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizade.

Reminding that China always supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan supports the "One China" policy, A. Hajizade noted: "During the meeting, the heads of state of Azerbaijan and China, based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, trust, mutual support, mutual benefit and cooperation, our states decided to raise relations between them to a qualitatively new level of strategic partnership and issued a Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership.

In addition, the "Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the development of Trans-Caspian International Transport Routes for the China-Europe Railway Express", as well as "Belt and Road between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China The Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Acceleration of the Formation of the Cooperation Plan on the Initiative" is evidence of the upward development of relations between the two countries. At the same time, the agreement between the MFAs on unilaterally exempting Chinese citizens from entry visas to the country and the reciprocity of this at the next stage will promote the growth of tourism and relations between our peoples.

The Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry emphasized that it is undeniable that the invitations of the leaders of the two countries to make mutual state visits to Azerbaijan and China will make an additional contribution to the development of relations.

"We are sure that the Azerbaijan-China strategic partnership will bring new dynamics to the work of increasing contacts, intensifying exchanges, and thus comprehensively deepening our cooperation, both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of regional and international organizations. At the same time, our strategic partnership will boost our cooperation in economy, trade, transport, investments, and many other areas to a new level, both quantitatively and qualitatively," A. Hajizadeh said.

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4 July 2024 10:27 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

As an honorary guest, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov participated in the solemn ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus and the Independence Day, Azernews reports.

Then, the Defense Minister watched the military parade held in Minsk with the participation of representatives of the Armed Forces of various countries and servicemen of Azerbaijan Army.

Afterwards, in Victory Square the leaders of the delegations laid flowers at the Victory Monument.

The next meeting of Council of Defense Ministers of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was held in the National Library of Belarus.

The meeting discussed the current state of military cooperation and issues ahead.

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4 July 2024 12:33 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

During his visit to Azerbaijan, Monsignor Pascal Yakavone, President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology of the Vatican City State, led a delegation of archaeologists and experts. According to Azernews, they met with Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See, highlighting reciprocal visits at various levels, including those of Pope John Paul II in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016, as well as visits by President Ilham Aliyev, First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, and the President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The significance of these bilateral relations and intercultural dialogue was stressed, noting that signed agreements contribute to expanding relations.

Discussions also underscored satisfaction with the activities of Azerbaijan's embassy to the Holy See, effective cooperation, and successful ongoing joint projects. It was reported that collaborative projects are progressing well. The restoration of several historically significant monuments in Vatican City by the Foundation was emphasized as contributing to deepening bilateral relations and preserving cultural heritage.

Monsignor Pascal Yakavone expressed gratitude to First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva for her contributions. Azerbaijan was commended for ensuring full religious freedom and conscience, facilitating activities of numerous religious communities, and allowing everyone to freely practice their religious rituals. Appreciation was also expressed for the restoration work on churches and temples, including Catholic churches, in the country.

Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, highlighted the Foundation's openness to new projects within the framework of cooperation with the Holy See. The importance of exchanging experiences in the restoration of historical and cultural monuments was also emphasized during the discussions.

Monsignor Pascal Yakavone mentioned that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been invited to the event related to the Holy Jubilee Year, coinciding with the next ceremony in 2025, held every 25 years at the Holy See.

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4 July 2024 11:06 (UTC+04:00)

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to US President Joseph Biden on the occasion of US Independence Day, Azernews reports.

The letter reads:

"Dear Mr. President,

It is on the occasion of the July 4th-Independence Day that on my behalf and behalf of the people of Azerbaijan, I am delighted to extend my sincere congratulations to you and, through you, the friendly people of the United States of America, and offer my best wishes.

Azerbaijan attaches particular significance to its relations with the United States. Our nations have closely cooperated in addressing complex regional challenges and matters such as combatting terrorism and international security. Our longstanding and productive collaboration in the energy sector is of special importance. We highly appreciate the United States unwavering support for the realization of Azerbaijan's energy strategy and the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, which plays a critical role in ensuring Europe's energy security.

I wish to reaffirm our readiness, to make joint efforts with the U.S. in all areas of mutual interest, particularly on climate change and the green energy transition, for the benefit of our peoples. The United States' support for the COP29, to be held in Baku this November, and the advancement of shared climate goals during the event, holds substantial significance. We are equally interested in expanding Azerbaijan-U.S. relations in humanitarian, cultural and tourism sectors, as well as in promoting inter-civilizational dialogue.

Azerbaijan advocates for an integrated and inclusive South Caucasus regional cooperation model based on new geopolitical realities and justice, free from any divisive lines. As the initiator of the five principles that constitute the core of the peace treaty with Armenia, Azerbaijan demonstrates enduring political will in advancing the peace agenda. We commend the United States commitment to supporting the normalization of relations with Armenia, ensuring lasting peace in the region, and facilitating the preparation of a peace treaty.

Today, there are promising prospects for diversifying our economic and trade relations, particularly for developing engagement in advanced technology, digital and green transition, agriculture, investments, aviation and other domains.

I believe that in line with the interests of our nations and for the prosperity of our peoples, as friends and partners, we will continue our joint efforts to ensure the successful continuation of close cooperation across various spheres between Azerbaijan and the United States.

I seize this pleasant opportunity, to wish you robust health and success and everlasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of the United States of America.

Sincerely

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 1 July 2024"

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4 July 2024 12:44 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived at the Palace of Independence to participate in the meeting held in the "SCO plus" format in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev welcomed President Ilham Aliyev.

Then, the participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit posed together for a group photo.

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4 July 2024 14:51 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov will pay a business visit to Azerbaijan on July 5-6, Azernews reports.

The head of the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, Muratbek Azimbakiyev, informed about this.

Note that Azerbaijan is a very important partner for Kyrgyzstan. This partnership covers many areas, and the foundation of these relations was laid by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and is being successfully developed by President Ilham Aliyev.

Besides, Kyrgyzstan is home to over 20,000 Azerbaijanis who live in mainly Talas, Bishkek, and Kara-Balta.

Moreover, as part of diplomatic relations between the two states, on May 16, 2007, the Embassy of Azerbaijan was opened in Kyrgyzstan.

Furthermore, the existence of similar history and culture between the two countries is another value that strengthens relations. Cultural relations between these nations are successfully developing.

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4 July 2024 19:00 (UTC+04:00)

During her visit to Azerbaijan, Tatyana Valovaya, Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva, met with Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, they discussed future cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the UN, focusing on joint projects within the framework of COP29.

Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) this year. The parties expressed confidence that this event will yield successful outcomes in addressing global environmental challenges, and fostering solidarity for a green, fair, inclusive, and sustainable world for humanity and our planet, marking a significant step towards achieving positive future results.

Subsequently, the guests visited the exhibitions at the Heydar Aliyev Centre.

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4 July 2024 22:00 (UTC+04:00)

By News Centre

Turkiye is actively engaged in resolving the crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia concerning Somaliland. Recently, the foreign ministers of both countries met with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan in Ankara and signed a memorandum of understanding to address the issue. Turkiye was acknowledged and thanked in the joint statement. The second round of talks is scheduled for September 2.

Turkiye assuming responsibility as a key mediator in international crises, has initiated diplomatic efforts to overcome the Somalia-Ethiopia crisis. During their recent visit to Turkiye, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia signed a joint memorandum expressing mutual commitment to resolving their differences. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted progress in discussions between Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and Somali Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Ahmed Muallim Fiqi, announcing the upcoming second round of talks on September 2. Fidan expressed satisfaction at Turkiye's facilitative role, citing deep-rooted relations and extensive cooperation with Ethiopia and Somalia.

Fidan emphasized Turkiye's dedication to peace, diplomacy, and goodwill, underscoring the parties' high trust in Turkiye and President Erdogan. He highlighted thorough discussions among delegations, acknowledging both sides' sensitivity to the issues.

Following Fidan's remarks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the "Joint Ankara Statement" detailing talks facilitated by Turkiye between Ethiopia and Somalia. According to the statement, the foreign ministers exchanged views on their differences in a sincere, friendly, and forward-looking manner, developing perspectives within a mutually acceptable framework. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful resolution and thanked Turkiye for its facilitation and constructive contributions.

According to diplomatic sources, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 1, granting Ethiopia rights over 20 kilometers of Somaliland's coastline for 50 years and access to Berbera Port. This move, including Ethiopia's recognition of Somaliland, triggered strong reactions from Somalia, escalating tensions. Ethiopian authorities later clarified that formal recognition of Somaliland was not currently under consideration. On May 8, President Erdogan received Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's special envoy Mulatu Teshome Wirtu and Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie, who delivered a letter from Prime Minister Ahmed requesting Turkiye's mediation between Somalia and Ethiopia.

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4 July 2024 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By News Centre

Estonia, which has ordered 100 YORUK 4X4 vehicles and expects delivery within a year, has become the 6th country and the 3rd NATO member to choose this vehicle. Estonian President Alar Karis praised Turkiye's extensive experience in modern warfare, highlighting its direct impact on the development of armored vehicles and military equipment. He emphasized Turkiye's role as a pioneer and exemplary model in the defense industry, stating:

"Turkiye is a role model with its innovative and skilled defense industry."

President Karis visited Nurol Makina, one of Turkiye's leading manufacturers of armored vehicles, accompanied by his delegation. They were welcomed by Presidential Defense Industry Vice President Mustafa Murat Seker, Nurol Holding Deputy Chairman of the Board Oguz Carmkl, Nurol Holding Board Member Gurol Carmkl, and Nurol Makina General Manager Engin Aykol. The visit included a tour of the facilities and an inspection of the YORUK 4X4 vehicles tailored for Estonia.

President Karis expressed confidence in Nurol Makina's ability to meet global defense needs with high-quality products and efficient delivery times, crucial amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.

Engin Aykol, General Manager of Nurol Makina, affirmed their pride in hosting the Estonian delegation. He emphasized Nurol Makina's global presence, supplying over 1700 vehicles to more than 20 countries, including NATO members, due to their exceptional performance and cost-effectiveness.

The contract between Nurol Makina and the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (ECDI), signed on October 18, 2023, marks the first export of the YORUK 4X4 Extended Wheelbase (NMS 4X4 EWB) configuration to Estonia. This version offers enhanced space and versatility to accommodate various operational needs, maintaining advanced armored protection.

Nurol Makina is set to deliver the YORUK 4X4 vehicles within a year, tailored to the specific requirements of the Estonian armed forces, equipped with mission-specific gear from Estonia's defense inventory.

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4 July 2024 14:27 (UTC+04:00)

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen has decided to leave the government after the snap parliamentary elections.

France 2 TV channel reports that the interior minister said that he does not intend to participate in the alliance of leftists and Macronists (supporters of French President Emmanuel Macron). He said that he prefers to act as a deputy to represent the interests of the people in his constituency.

41-year-old Jerald Darmanen, who has headed the Ministry of Internal Affairs since 2020, is the second minister to announce his resignation. Before that, a similar decision was made by 55-year-old Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who has been in charge of the government's economic bloc since 2017. At the same time, both Gerald Darmanen and Bruno Le Mer do not rule out their participation in the presidential elections in 2027. Thus, according to the French constitution, Emmanuel Macron cannot be elected to the post of head of state for a third term.

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4 July 2024 20:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China has ousted fishing vessels and patrol boats of Japan from the waters of the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku), which are the subject of a territorial dispute between the two countries, Azernews reports.

"The ships of the Chinese Coast Guard reacted in accordance with the law, took the necessary control measures, issued a warning and ousted the Japanese vessels," he is quoted as saying on the agency's website.

He noted that the Diaoyu, along with the neighbouring islands, are an integral territory of China. "We call on Japan to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters," Liu Dejun said.

He pointed out that the Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under the jurisdiction of China.

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4 July 2024 22:34 (UTC+04:00)

The United States plans to send 48 fifth-generation F-35A fighters to Japan over the next few years, Azernews reports.

According to him, 48 F-35A and 36 F-16 fighters will be deployed at the Misawa Air Force Base in Japan in the next few years. At the same time, they will replace the F-16 and F-15 deployed at the Misawa base, respectively.

"This step is aimed at increasing both the potential of the US Armed Forces and the joint deterrence and response capabilities of the two countries," the Secretary General said.

Prior to that, the Pentagon announced the relevant plans.

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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.
"Our English History"

"The Constitutional Convention of 1787 - A Miracle in Philadelphia"

"Our Founding Principles - The Beginning of the American 'Experiment' "

The first installment was a treatment of our English heritage before and after the American Revolution. In the second installment, "The Constitutional Convention of 1787 - A Miracle in Philadelphia," Mrs. Rufino dealt with one of her most knowledgeable subjects - the United States Constitution. Now we have the third installment, just before us, which is Mrs. Rufino's intellectual strength - the serendipitous zeitgeist, which provided the sturdy foundation to a birthed nation - the United States of America - that eventually became the model of hope for an entire world.There are many people who overlook the brilliance of the US Constitution. They argue that it is outdated and unfit to adequately govern such a modern nation as ours in the 21st century. And I might have believed these critics too if I had not been motivated enough to do my own reading, do my own research, and come to my own conclusions.My conclusion is that the Constitution is very much relevant today as it was back when it was drafted and when it was ratified by the States. Its principles and concepts are timeless and as long as man is prone to the same conduct, they will continue to be timeless and applicable to any nation who values individual liberty.We talk about strict construction of legal documents, which means that we look at the literal meaning of words in the historical text at the time the document was written. The purpose is to ascertain the intent of the drafters at the time the document was written by considering what the language they used meant at that time. But forget about just the words. The Constitution must not be looked at merely for what it says. The Constitution can only truly be appreciated for what it embraces. Our Founding Fathers, who were immensely well-read and intelligent men, recognized and embraced the most productive and fairest philosophies regarding freedom, representation, government, markets, and laws and sought to embody them in our Constitution. The particular drafting of the Constitution, therefore, addressed the need to embody each particular philosophy for our new nation. First and foremost, the Constitution was designed to put into practice the principles laid out in the Declaration of Independence. It was designed primarily to secure the individual's God-given, unalienable rights. After all, it was the Declaration of Independence which laid the principles which were to guide our independent nation and therefore represented our national values.The Constitution was intended to be timeless. It was intended to withstand the test of time and establish a government that would survive eternal (that is, as long as its people remained moral and ethical and of course, beholden to the Constitution). One of the biggest debates today, especially because of the condition we find ourselves in as a nation, is whether the Constitution is indeed timeless or was it just the starting place for those to "mold" as they deemed necessary. The answer to that is to use common sense. As we have repeatedly deviated from the Constitution, we have progressed further and further away from the positive ideals and productive values that made our country great. The biggest argument that liberal-minded people today make is that the Constitution is out-of-date, out-of-touch with the American people, and ineffective to meet our growing diversity and our evolving society. They argue that the Founders are outdated and that they have lost relevance. They say all these things because they believe that our Founding Fathers were products of their era and could not foresee the societal change that has evolved in this country. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Our Founders absolutely understood how the society would develop. The men who gave us the greatest nation on Earth weren't just a couple of guys who went to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 to hammer out the wording of a Constitution that would be binding on all the states. These men were visionaries. These men did their homework. They were deeply devoted to creating a nation that would stand the test of time. They wanted to come up with a foundation, a Constitution, that would not wither with the times. And so for that purpose, they studied all the failed regimes of history and they looked at all the constitutions and founding documents of other nations and studied the reasons why they were unable to last long. So, there is nothing that we've seen in our developing history that other nations haven't dealt with and nothing that our Founders weren't able to foresee and to deal with (to prevent) in our new Constitution. As Machiavelli wrote: "Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."In order to understand our Constitution and other founding documents, we Americans need to understand what issues concerned the individual states at the time of our founding. We need to understand the issues on the minds of the Framers in crafting our new nation and where they looked for guidance and vision and solutions. The states were concerned with their sovereign power and their reluctance to give any of it up. Most states also were concerned with their right to embrace their religious heritage. All states except for three wanted to make sure that our new nation, which proclaimed that "All Men are Created Equal" would be rid of the injustice that was slavery. In drafting a document that would bind all the states into a unified nation (a union of states), and do so harmoniously and to meet their legitimate expectations, the Founding Fathers had to address the following fundamental questions: How to divide the power up as between the States and the Government? How much power should the government have? How much will it need in order to be effective? What is the legal basis of our fundamental rights? Do our rights come from God or from the government? What is the proper foundation to protect human rights? How to make sure that fundamental freedom is not burdened by the government? How should the government be structured? How can power remain with the people and be checked from abuses? What is the proper system to represent the voice of the people? How should the individual states be represented in the government? Each of these issues is critical in understanding how our nation was created. Our national heritage stems from the decisions these men made in 1787 with respect to these issues.The goal of the Founders at the Convention of 1787 was to reach a consensus or general agreement on concepts and principles that the Constitution should embrace rather than compromise. They wanted to reach a consensus on what the Constitution should provide rather than compromise. So before they went into a voting session, they made sure that they thoroughly discussed and debated each issue. After almost 4 months of such debate, they were able to reach a general consensus on just about everything - except the issues of slavery, proportionate representation, and regulation of commerce. These three issues eventually needed to be resolved by compromise.The Founders honored their goal and resolved most issues by consensus rather than compromise. As "compromise" often reflects a tone of defeat and submission (it's been called a "lose-lose scenario since both sides lose something they hold as important), the strength of the Constitution is that its provisions eventually and predominantly arose out of consensus. The Constitution was the product of extreme patience on the part of our Founders as each used reason and logic to bring the minds of the delegates into agreement. They wanted to make sure that the absolute soundest principles and concepts were adopted for the type of free and fair nation they had envisioned. Not one of the Founding Fathers could have come up with the perfect Constitutional formula to create a stable nation representative of the people and protective of their rights by himself, and the delegates who attended the Constitutional Convention in 1787 knew this.Luckily, the Founders were remarkably well-read. The philosophies of great minds like Polybius (Greek political philosopher, mixed form of government and checks and balances), Cicero (philosopher, Natural Law), Thomas Hooker (Natural Law; also, he wrote Connecticut's state constitution, which was one of the modern world's first written constitutions and was a primary influence upon our own Constitution), Montesquieu (political philosopher, Separation of Powers), Sir Edward Coke (legal philosopher), Sir William Blackstone (Natural Law; Ten Commandments), John Locke (Natural law), Adam Smith (economic philosopher, Founder of Capitalism), and Jesus influenced the Founders profoundly. The Founders studied Polybius, whose written works provided a theoretical account of the development of society and government. Polybius saw the history of government as falling into a recurring cycle by which kingship inevitably gave way to successive stages of tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy, and anarchy, at which point a strong leader would emerge and establish himself as king, thus starting the cycle over again. The only hope of breaking the cycle, Polybius maintained, lay in a "mixed" form of government (mixed elements) and certainly not in a pure democracy. The Founders read Adam Smith's groundbreaking and insightful work "The Wealth of Nations," which was published in 1776, and which influenced their decision to embrace and implement capitalism as a means to distribute goods and services within our nation. The Founders also were well-read in the books of the Old Testament. Even though some Founders didn't subscribe to any Christian denomination, the teachings of Jesus and the works of the Old Testament were very held in high regard and with great respect by all. In fact, even though their backgrounds were widely diverse, the fundamental beliefs of the Founders were virtually identical.From their studies of history's failed regimes and their studies of productive philosophies, our Founders came up with a set of core principles that are absolutely vital to preserve the nation, to preserve the values on which the nation are based, and to prevent this country from going down the same destructive paths that other nations have gone down.Basically our founding principles can be summarized as follows: A free people living in a civil society, working in self-interested cooperatives, and a government operating within the limits of its authority, promote more prosperity, opportunity and happiness for more people than any alternative ever devised by man. (The 5000-Year Leap)1. God (the Creator) - Our nation is not a theocracy and is built on the right of the individual to worship freely or not. But nonetheless, our nation is founded on religious identity and principles. Our Founders understood there is a God. By acknowledging God and His role in the universe, our Founders were able to ground individual human liberties in the human connection to Him, and in that way secure them from the reaches of government. Try reading the Declaration of Independence without the references to God (Creator):"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -- That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. -- Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States...."To read the Declaration without the reference to God would be to acknowledge that individual rights have no legal foundation. "Endowed with certain unalienable rights...." Endowed by who? How are humans endowed? What is the foundation? If it is merely that they are endowed by circumstance of their birth, then the nexus is extremely weak. Birth connotes location and jurisdiction. Jurisdiction explains where the state has power over the individual. If individuals are simply "endowed with certain unalienable rights," the government can easily step in and say something like this: "Since you are born in the United States, the US government will dictate what rights you have." If individual rights come from the state, then the state can regulate them or take them away.In a letter to Thomas Jefferson dated June 28, 1813, John Adams wrote: "The general principles on which the (Founding) Fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God." In his autobiography, he wrote: "Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."Thomas Jefferson wrote: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."
Every successful experiment starts with a great hypothesis. A hypothesis is a testable answer to a scientific question; an educated guess. One can say that our great American experiment started with a profound hypothesis. That hypothesis held that liberty is most secure when it is recognized and accepted that human rights are endowed by the Creator - not by government - and are therefore inalienable; that governments are creations or creatures of the People, instituted primarily to secure their rights and to serve them as they seek to establish an ordered society; and that once government becomes destructive of its ends, the People have the natural and inherent right to alter or abolish it and establish another form of government in its place.Those who read the Declaration and think it stands merely for the notion thatare missing the bigger picture. They are missing out on perhaps the most revolutionary, the most profound, the most important political statement ever made. It is the document that has changed the world.And yet, in planning to declare independence from Great Britain, our Founders could not know that this document, in all its grandeur and espousing such profound and enlightened principles, would be the vehicle. Perhaps history put the right man in the right place at the right time, for the right purpose.Once hostilities broke out between the colonies and Great Britain, the colonies sought to use the opportunity to issue a simple declaration, stating that they regarded themselves as no longer a part of the British Empire but rather as free and independent States . Thomas Jefferson would give us much more than a simple declaration.On June 7, 1776, acting under the instruction of the Virginia Convention and particularly its presiding officer Edmund Pendleton (who had served as the President of the First Continental Congress), Richard Henry Lee on introduced a resolution in the Second Continental Congress proposing independence for the colonies. The Lee Resolution contained three very simple parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and "a plan for confederation."Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.That it is expedient forthwith to take the most effectual measures for forming foreign Alliances.That a plan of confederation be prepared and transmitted to the respective Colonies for their consideration and approbation.On June 11, the Second Continental Congress appointed three concurrent committees to address Lee's Resolution - one to draft a declaration of independence, a second to draw up a plan to form foreign alliances, and a third to plan a form of a confederation for the colonies. To draft the declaration, Congress named a five-member committee comprised of John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, Robert Livingston of New York, and Roger Sherman of Connecticut. Although Adams was deemed best qualified to write the draft, he urged Jefferson to write it. Jefferson had approached his friend Adams to confirm that he would be drafting the declaration. But Adams responded:When Jefferson asked why, Adams explained:[Adams was indeed unpopular; he had represented the British soldiers involved in the Boston MassacreThat very day, Jefferson would begin work on the Declaration of Independence . He moved into a small house -two blocks from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Continental Congress had been meeting - in order to write in seclusion. Because several members of the Congress wanted to seek instruction from their colonies before addressing such an extreme measure, the vote was deferred until July 2.On July 2, the Congress voted on independence. It adopted the Lee Resolution, which, as reproduced above, declared the individual states independent from Great Britain. "Resolved, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved." But the Congress decided it needed to draft a document explaining the move to the public ("The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world...") Such a draft had been proposed and submitted by the Committee of Five (written by Jefferson), and it took two days for the full Congress to agree on the edits. That is why we see the words "IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776," at the top of the Declaration, because that is the day the last version was approved and signed in Philadelphia, at Independence Hall.Once the final version was approved, the actual Declaration on Independence document that was signed on July 4 was sent to a printer named John Dunlap. About 200 copies of the Dunlap Broadside were printed and sent to the states, including to General George Washington.The document was not titled "Declaration of Independence" nor does the term appear anywhere in the document, yet that was clearly its intention. The declaration justified the independence of the colonies by first asserting their collective understanding of the relationship between the individual and government, as well as the purpose and limits of government, then listing the colonists' grievances against King George III (summing up with the line: "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people"), and finally asserting certain natural and legal rights, including the right of secession ("That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved").The Declaration of Independence was a transformative document. No longer would individuals have to petition or plead with government to respect their rights. Going forward, government would be established for the primary purpose of securing and enlarging their rights, guaranteeing that an ordered society would be possible while still allowing individuals to exercise the rights that they were born with; governments would no longer treat individuals like "subjects." They would not be subject to the good graces or generosity of a King or his wrath or insecurity. "Inalienable" would now characterize the rights that their forefathers, Englishmen, could only enjoy if the King allowed it.I love how exquisitely the Declaration of Independence explains how government is grounded in God's Law and Nature's Law and that it is always a creature of the people, for the people. For that reason, governments are always "temporary" in nature, enduring only as long as they protect and secure certain essential individual rights and as long as they serve productive ends. When a government ceases to serve either end, nature and Thomas Jefferson tell us that people have the right, the natural right (the right of self-determination, which is equally as "inalienable" as the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness") to alter or abolish it. And that is what the people of the American colonies, chose to do. The Declaration made the case for that decision, explaining that the "government" of Great Britain - the King and Parliament - had become destructive and abusive of their rights, which had been set forth in the great Magna Carta and solidified in the English Bill of Rights of 1689. As Jefferson made clear, because "the history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States," it was their natural right to sever political bonds with it, declare independence, to secede from Great Britain), and to establish a new government better suited to serve them and to respect and exemplify their ideals. The founding principles so brilliantly laid out in the Declaration form a foundation as strong as bedrock for our individual rights. If they are endowed by the Creator, who dare have the authority to take them away? Similarly, if they are natural rights, belonging to us at our birth, we don't lose them - just as we don't lose the ability of our bodies to reproduce and have children and just as a falling body will always be acted on by the force of gravity. Some things are simply absolutes. Nature dictates life since it is from nature that we exist. Jefferson grounded our rights in both God's Law and Nature's Law (some will argue that they are, in fact, one and the same), as the first paragraph of the Declaration makes clear: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them."If we only took the time to read this magnificent document, to study it, and to truly understand and appreciate every phrase that Jefferson included, we would have a far deeper sense of gratitude for our Founders and their inspired wisdom and foresight and a far deeper appreciation for what this country stands for (or "stood for"). Perhaps people might even realize that being an American is a far greater privilege that they had ever bothered to contemplate and that maybe, just maybe, such a privilege carries an obligation to conduct oneself in a respectful and dignified manner, always mindful of what he or she represents as a citizen and always ready to defend and exemplify the best that the country stands for. I love our Declaration of Independence, and to me, it is, and has always been, the most important of all founding documents - serving as our nation's moral compass and forever shining a light on the reasons and principles of our existence.Jefferson's profound hypothesis still stands. But has our experiment steered away from hypothesis so that the ultimate question can no longer be answered? That is the question. What does the future hold when we've loosened the moorings that once tied Liberty to the principles in the Declaration?
A new study suggests patients taking semaglutide  the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy  may be at higher risk of an eye condition that can cause blindness. However, study authors and experts told NBC News the findings only show an association, and that additional research is needed to confirm a causal link.

The study, published July 3 in JAMA Ophthalmology, found patients taking Ozempic and Wegovy were more likely to develop non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, known as NAION, a condition that restricts blood flow to the optic nerve and causes sudden vision loss.

Researchers from Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, both based in Boston, conducted a retrospective study using medical record data from a registry of patients who had no history of NAION and were seen by neuro-ophthalmologists at an academic institution between 2017 and 2023. They focused on a subset of about 1,700 patients who had diabetes, were overweight or had obesity, and compared outcomes after 36 months in those taking semaglutide and those who were not prescribed the drug.

Seventeen of the 200 diabetes patients taking semaglutide went on to develop NAION, a rate that was four times higher than those not taking it. In the obesity group, 20 of 361 patients taking the drug developed the condition, a rate that was seven times higher.

A Novo Nordisk spokesperson told the news outlet the study is not sufficient to establish a link between semaglutide and NAION and shared the following statement:

"Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk, and we take all reports about adverse events from the use of our medicines very seriously."

Anecdotally, some physicians say they've had patients taking semaglutide who developed the condition, though emphasize it's premature to conclude the blockbuster drugs cause NAION, especially because diabetes and related conditions are risk factors for it. A large, randomized controlled clinical trial is necessary to study a causal link, experts said.
IU Health's recent move to cut noncompete clauses from all contracts with practicing primary care providers on Dec. 15 is a decision that the Indianapolis-based health system believes will help not only remove healthcare barriers but improve patient outcomes.

"There is some nuance to deciphering what is primary care, and as we looked at the definition of primary care, we looked at it as those practicing general internal medicine, general pediatrics, family medicine, in the ambulatory, outpatient space," Kevin Gebke, MD, Senior VP of Community Medicine at IU Health, told Becker's.

It also comes on the heels of the Federal Trade Commission's vote to ban noncompete agreements in late April and additional restrictions from Indiana leaders last July regarding physician noncompetes.

Some of the state's restrictions include that noncompetes are no longer enforceable for primary care physicians and that they need to include a buyout option for physicians. New contracts must have a process to negotiate a buyout price, including a mediation process should the parties not be able to agree on a reasonable purchase price.

The restrictions also say that circumstances behind a physician's termination may make a noncompete unenforceable, like if a physician is fired "without cause", the physician terminates their employment "for cause," or if a physician's contract expires and both contractual obligations have been fulfilled by both the employer and physician. "Without cause" and "for cause" are not determined under the restrictions, which can leave room for physician interpretation to dispute if a termination was "for cause."

Dr. Gebke has been a practicing primary care physician at the health system for 24 years.

Along with the move to cut noncompete clauses from practicing primary care provider contracts, Dr. Gebke told Becker's that the health system is in the process of bringing its five medical groups into a new entity, the IU Health Medical Group.

The group will also be provided with new contracts that do not have noncompete clauses.

"At this point, we don't have a plan to eliminate noncompetes in other specialties, but we are going to continue to keep an eye towards the state legislature and see if there are other bills being introduced," Dr. Gebke said.

Calling it a value-based decision, Dr. Gebke said that the plan has universally received positive feedback, and that he does not believe the move will have an impact on patient choice or will implement challenges for primary care providers.

He also does not believe that the decision will have a negative financial impact on the health system.

"We don't anticipate having physicians leave because they have the opportunity to leave," he said. "When we do have departures and people leaving the organization, it is a significant investment to recruit people to come in and replace them, especially when we have a large panel that we're trying to care for. If anything, I think this will improve retention and reduce that cost of recruitment."

When asked if he believes other health systems might move in the direction of cutting noncompetes, Dr. Gebke said he would not be surprised if this continues to be a popular topic, especially as discussions continue about what relationships and commitments look like for physicians and their employing organizations.

"We want to make sure that we can protect the interests that are protectable while still valuing that employee-employer relationship that we have with our physicians."
The Biden administration sent a letter to hospitals July 2, reaffirming they have a "legal duty" under federal law to ensure all patients with emergency medical conditions are offered stabilizing treatment, including abortion when deemed necessary.

The letter follows a recent Supreme Court decision that ruled in favor of permitting emergency abortions in Idaho  for now. In the June 27 decision, the justices dismissed the question of whether the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act covers abortion when deemed necessary by physicians to protect the health of a pregnant woman, and ruled that abortions in emergency cases may resume in Idaho. The case now returns to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

"While this litigation continues in the lower courts, we write to you to reaffirm our view that EMTALA's protections remain in place  as they have for the last 40 years  and to share that CMS remains committed, to the fullest extent of the law, to ensuring compliance with EMTALA's protections," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, wrote in the letter.

In states with strict abortion bans, physicians and hospital administrators have expressed concern and confusion regarding under which circumstances abortions are permitted. The agencies addressed those concerns in the letter, aiming to offer some clarity:

"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. 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."

Three more EMTALA updates:

In May, CMS launched a web portal that allows patients to file EMTALA complaints directly with the federal government. Patient complaints were previously funneled through state health agencies first, with the new process aiming to expedite the federal government's ability to investigate complaints. In the July 2 letter to hospitals, CMS said it was launching a Spanish version of the web form.



In June, Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Health System issued a statement affirming its support for physicians who perform medically necessary abortions in emergent situations, saying it supports physician compliance with EMTALA. The Catholic nonprofit system operates 49 hospitals in Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and South Carolina.

"While the legislative environment is complex, our mission compels us to provide compassionate care for all," a health system spokesperson previously told Becker's. "In emergent patient care situations, when providers and medical teams prioritize patient care and follow hospital policies and medical standards of care in good faith, they can expect the support of Bon Secours Mercy Health."
A federal court in Texas has approved a preliminary injunction against the Federal Trade Commission's sweeping noncompete ban, which, if implemented, would have seismic effects on the healthcare industry and the U.S. economy more broadly.

The preliminary injunction prevents the rule from taking effect Sept. 4 while the court considers if the FTC has authority to issue the ban.

U.S. District Judge Ada Brown sided with tax preparation company Ryan LLC and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, both of which argued that the FTC lacks authority to implement rules defining unfair methods of competition.

Ms. Brown said in the July 3 ruling that the plaintiffs are "likely to succeed on the merits the FTC lacks statutory authority to promulgate the noncompete rule," which she described as "arbitrary and capricious."

The court will rule on the ultimate merits of the challenge by Aug. 30, but a review so far indicated the ban will be struck down, according to court documents obtained by Becker's.

The American Hospital Association previously voiced its opposition to the rule and pushed the FTC to limit the reach of its authority specifically for the healthcare industry. Pointing to hospitals registered under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code claiming tax-exempt status as nonprofits, the AHA argued that these entities are outside the FTC's jurisdiction  a claim the commission categorically refutes.

If implemented, the FTC rule would allow existing noncompetes for senior executives to remain in effect but would prohibit employers from entering into or attempt to enforce any new competes  even if they involve senior executives.

"The FTC stands by our clear authority, supported by statute and precedent, to issue this rule," Douglas Farrar, director of the FTC's office of public affairs, said in a statement provided to Becker's. "We will keep fighting to free hardworking Americans from unlawful noncompetes, which reduce innovation, inhibit economic growth, trap workers, and undermine Americans' economic liberty."
Da Vinci's Hotel in Londonderry is changing hands 23 years after it was founded by Garvan O'Doherty

One of Londonderrys most prominent hotels is changing hands for the first time in the 23 years since it opened, Belfast Telegraph can reveal.

Brothers Patrick and Edmund Simpson, who are from Donegal, are taking over Da Vincis Hotel on Culmore Road in Derry.

The venue has 64 hotel bedrooms and a number of self-contained apartments.

The hotel had been part of the Garvan ODoherty (GOD) Group, but the Belfast Telegraph understands it is now leaving the hotel business. Mr ODoherty, the groups sole director, declined to comment on the transaction.

The group also owns five off-licences in the north west under the Chill brand, and other properties in the city.

Da Vincis is the latest of a string of hotel assets for the Simpson brothers, the owners of Benedicts Hotel in Belfast and Brunswick Moviebowl, also in Derry.

The pair also own Lansdowne Hotel in north Belfast and were last year among a group of businesspeople who acquired Foyle Shopping Centre in Derry.

Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI and based in the north west, said Da Vincis was an important venue in Derry.

"Tourism has grown and continues to grow in the north west, and bigger ambitions remain, so it is significant. Its also a popular choice for locals and visitors.

Anna Doherty, chief executive of Derry Chamber, said: "We welcome the news that Da Vinci's Hotel will be staying in local hands.

"We know that Patrick and Edmund Simpson are very experienced within the hospitality sector and will bring steady hands to the hotel, which is so important to our local offering.

"The importance of retaining hotel rooms within Derry city cannot be overstated given how many events, festivals, and conferences the city plays host to throughout the year.

"Chamber would also like to wish the Garvan O'Doherty Group well with their future endeavours, as we are sure that they will continue to play a significant role in our local economy for years to come."

Colin Neill, chief executive of trade body Hospitality Ulster, said: Da Vincis is a well-known hotel in the area and its great to see that the Simpsons, who are good, experienced operators in the area, have taken it over.

Mr ODoherty announced plans for a whiskey distillery, shop and in Foyle Street and Shipquay Place in the city two years ago.

G3G HC Ltd is the group company behind the businessman's off-licence business, the hotel and a property rental and development business.

It reported turnover of 9.8m for 2022, up from 9.1m, and a pre-tax profit of 369,332, compared to a loss of 479,717 the year before. The group had 101 employees, and staff costs of just under 2m.

A business review published with the accounts for 2022 said: The director considers the results for the year and the position of the company at the year end to be satisfactory given the economic conditions and the continued recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The director will continue to seek every opportunity to increase profitable turnover.

"While the incoming year is likely to be very challenging both because of increased competition and the general economic climate, early results are satisfactory and the directors will continue to closely monitor current performance.
Presenter Cat Deeley has appeared on ITV breakfast programme This Morning wearing a dress featuring red roses on the day of the general election in the UK.

Cat (47), who is married to Co Down Late Late Show presenter Patrick Kielty, appeared in the 159 Mint Velvet dress on Thursday morning as voters headed to the polls.

It comes as TV programmes became politics free on the morning of the election on July 4 to give voters the chance to have their say free of outside influence.

But some This Morning viewers interpreted Cats attire as a show of support for Sir Keir Starmers Labour Party.

One social media user said: "Cat Deeley wearing a dress covered in red roses today". Another said: "Cat Deeley wearing that dress is no accident" while another said of her co-presenter Ben Shephards blue shirt: "Ben wearing that shirt is no accident.

Polling stations across the UK have now opened, with opinion polls suggesting Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

Party leaders have made their final appeals to voters after touring the country since the election was called.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday represents a "pivotal moment" for the country's future as he claimed Labour would "wield their unchecked power" to increase taxes should they secure a "supermajority".

Mr Sunak was joined by his wife, Akshata Murty, as they visited a polling station to vote on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK "cannot afford" five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can "begin a new chapter" under his party.

He said: "Britain's future is on the ballot."

Sir Keir was also cheered by activists as he spoke at a community centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, as his campaigning came to a close.

He said: "That's what we are fighting for, let's continue that fight.

"If you want change, you have to vote for it."

ITV has been contacted for a comment.
Threatening letters were sent to legal representatives of a man accused of murdering a teenage boy in Limavady and the judge who released him from custody, the High Court heard.
Historic residences role in American/UK/Irish relations brought to life and celebrated

From left: Aubrey Irwin, Laura McCorry, James Applegate and Elvenna Graham with two of the tours actors (Picture by Press Eye)

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens has launched an American History Tour to mark Independence Day in the US.

Visitors will be able to follow in the footsteps of key political figures as they use the royal residence as a backdrop to their discussions.

Hillsborough has hosted Presidents Eisenhower, (George W) Bush and Clinton in the past.

In 1771, founding father Benjamin Franklin visited the residence to meet the 1st Marquess of Downshire.

Celebrating the launch, Hillsborough Castles Laura McCorry, Tourism NIs Ellvena Graham and Tourism Irelands Aubrey Irwin hosted US consul general James Applegate.

Ms McCorry said: Hillsborough Castle is a place where history has been made and where the future continues to be shaped.

Meetings, conversations and decisions made within our walls have shaped the destinies and identities of both the US and Ireland for centuries.

Ms Graham said the role of emigrants from the north of Ireland in the lead-up and during the American Revolution was comparatively unknown.

She added: This tour will play an important role in sharing these stories with both local and international visitors.

Helen McGorman of Tourism Ireland said the tour also shines a light on the Great Famine and the part it played in mass emigration to the US during the 1800s.

At Tourism Ireland, we look forward to continued partnership with Hillsborough Castle as we reach out to overseas visitors, and in particular our US visitors, to inspire them to visit Hillsborough, she added.

Mr Applegate said Hillsborough was steeped in history, having played a pivotal role in some of the most important chapters of the regions past.

He added: Through this exciting project, local and international visitors will not only experience one of the most majestic stately homes on these islands, they will also better understand our deep, shared history.

I am grateful to the staff of Historic Royal Palaces for bringing this important story to life.

For more information and ticket bookings, visit www.hrp.org.uk
Protestant Action Force flags have been erected overnight at Elmgrove Primary School polling station in east Belfast. (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Paramilitary flags were erected outside a polling station in east Belfast just hours before the polls opened.

Protestant Action Force (PAF) flags were put up outside Elmgrove Primary School on the Beersbridge Road in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The PAF was a cover name used by loyalists, mainly the UVF, to avoid directly claiming responsibility for killings during the Troubles.

Watch: Paramilitary flags erected outside east Belfast polling station overnight

The name emerged in the 1970s, with the name reportedly particularly active between 1974 and 1975.

The group name is believed to have been used to claim the murders of at least 41 Catholics during the conflict.

Those using the name have claimed responsibility for a number of historic atrocities.

They are thought to be particularly linked to the Glenanne gang, who operated throughout parts of Co Armagh and Tyrone in the 1970s and who claimed responsibility for the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

More recently, men who hijacked and set fire to a Translink bus in Newtownards in 2021, claimed to be from the PAF.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson is hoping to hold on to his East Belfast Westminster seat but is facing a tough challenge from Alliance leader Naomi Long.

Mr Robinson, who has defeated Ms Long in the last three General Elections, is defending a 1,819 majority from 2019.

In a statement received at around 5pm, the PSNI said: Police are aware of the flags being flown in the vicinity of Elmwood Primary School and have engaged with staff at the polling station. We have not received any reports or complaints relating to these flags at this stage.
Time capsule buried a century ago unearthed on Belfast restaurant building site

Amelia Hall builders discover items at former Presbyterian Church premises

Watch: 100 year old time capsule discovered on site of new Belfast restaurant

Jessica Rice Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 07:10

A time capsule has been found during the building of a new Belfast city centre bar and restaurant  exactly 100 years after it was buried.
Republic of Ireland

Religious orders will not get off the hook over abuse again, Taoiseach pledges
Jim Wells: 'Last night was absolutely disastrous for the DUP'

A former DUP MLA has described the election as absolutely disastrous for the party.

Jim Wells was DUP MLA for South Down from 1998 to 2022.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: Last night was absolutely disastrous for the DUP, they lost three seats and very nearly lost four with Gregory Campbell only winning by 200 votes."

Mr Wells said the partys downfall is thanks to their reaction to issues around the protocol.

"They sold a document to the public that they knew didnt meet the seven tests so they could get back into Stormont and they knew they were being untruthful. Gavin Robinson had to admit that the party misled the public, he said.

Despite it being a disappointing election for the DUP, Mr Wells said he doesnt feel unionism is in danger.

The DUP have lost seats but unionism [itself] hasn't lost representation in Westminster, the North Antrim seat went to the TUV and then Alex Easton got the North Down seat from the Alliance which, in a way cancels out the Alliance victory in Lagan Valley, he said.

Mr Wells joined the TUV in 2024. He said he was surprised by how much of the unionist vote the TUV took from the DUP.

It goes to show you that if people are free to vote they will engage with other parties, he said.

When seats were safe unionist seats people moved away from the DUP but in seats where they were up against Alliance or Sinn Fein unionists stayed loyal to the DUP, he said.

Mr Wells admits he didnt expect TUV leader Jim Allister to steal Ian Paisley Jrs seat in North Antrim.

Ill be honest with you - I was really really surprised, someone messaged me at 4am to say Jim won, and I thought they were talking about Jim Shannon and I thought "well, thats hardly front page news" then I realised they were talking about Jim Allister.

I could not believe that. I think it was a surprise for everyone, I didnt predict it and I dont think anyone in the media predicted it, he said.

Mr Wells thinks Allister will excel as an MP. It is surprising, we didnt expect it but he thoroughly deserved the win, he can really make an impact for the people of North Antrim, he said.

He is one of the few politicians that have served as councillor, MLA, MP and on the European Council- there are few politicians that have done that and he truly deserves it, he said.

Mr Allister has been involved in politics in Northern Ireland since the 1970s. He stood for East Antrim in the 1973 Westminster election, narrowly losing out to Roy Beggs.

Jim actually lost by around 400 votes, which was really a knock to his confidence but to come back and take the seat from Paisley you have to admire his stamina and determination.

He will be a real loss in Stormont though, it is going to be hard to find a replacement for him there, Mr Wells said.
An early voter and four-legged friend in Belfast. Photo by Jonathan Porter/Press Eye

Voting is underway for the UK General Election 2024, and voters across Northern Ireland (plus their furry four-legged pals) have been heading out to the polling stations.
Use it wisely: NI parties deliver eve-of-poll voting pleas ahead of UK General Election

Voters go to the polls from 7am on Thursday morning

Party leaders Colum Eastwood (SDLP), Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Fein vice president), Doug Beattie (UUP), Jim Allister (TUV), Gavin Robinson (DUP) and Naomi Long (Alliance Party)

Liam Tunney Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 07:11







Northern Irelands political parties have made their final pleas to the electorate ahead of Thursdays UK General Election.
Scotlands first female Lord Advocate and chairwoman of the independent inquiry into the murder of Sarah Everard has been awarded an honorary doctorate.

Dame Elish Angiolini has been recognised by Edinburgh Napier University for her major contribution to the Scottish criminal justice system, the legal profession and to vulnerable victims across the United Kingdom.

The Glasgow-born lawyer has held a series of significant roles during her career.

After several years of working at the Crown Office, she became the first woman to be appointed as the regional procurator fiscal for Grampian and the Highlands and Islands, and then became the first non-political Solicitor General for Scotland.

She was appointed Lord Advocate  Scotlands most senior law officer  in 2006, remaining in the post after the following years election and stepping down in 2011.

Since then, she has overseen several notable public investigations, including into the cremation of babies at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh, complaint handling by Police Scotland and the inquiry into how off-duty police officer Wayne Couzens was able to murder Sarah Everard in 2021.

Commenting on her honorary doctorate, Dame Elish said: I am very grateful to Edinburgh Napier for this wonderful honour.

I have been fortunate to have had some very different but fulfilling roles over many years, and each has presented a range of fascinating challenges.

She was presented with her honorary doctorate during a graduation ceremony for students from Edinburgh Napier Universitys business school at the Usher Hall in the city on Thursday.

Presenting the degree, Professor Richard Whitecross, head of law at Edinburgh Napier University, said: Elishs legacy as Lord Advocate is noteworthy.

She balanced a respect for the strengths of the criminal justice system and its independence with a strong commitment to modernisation.

This award is in recognition of her major contribution to the Scottish criminal justice system, to the legal profession and to vulnerable victims across the United Kingdom.
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 (Peter Byrne/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.

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.

Largest majorities won by single parties at general elections since 1900 (PA Graphics)

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.
David Cameron, watched by his wife Samantha, addresses the nation from the steps of No 10 for the first time as prime minister (Chris Raeburn/PA)

Labours apparent impending victory in the General Election would bring down the curtain on 14 years of Conservative-led government at Westminster.

We look back at how the past decade-and-a-half unfolded.

 2010 to 2015: The coalition years

The general election of May 6 2010 brought to an end Labours run of three straight victories but failed to deliver the outright victory the Tories were hoping for.

With his party 20 seats short of an overall majority, the Conservative leader David Cameron made a big, open and comprehensive offer to the third-placed Liberal Democrats to work together in government.

After five days of intensive talks, Mr Cameron emerged to announce that the two parties had agreed to form the UKs first coalition government since the Second World War, with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg serving as deputy prime minister.

David Cameron and Nick Clegg hold their first joint press conference in the Downing Street garden (Christopher Furlong/PA)

The years that followed were dominated by the fallout from the 2008 global financial collapse which saw the Labour government of Gordon Brown pour tens of billions of pounds into bailing out the banks to prevent a complete implosion of the financial system.

In the course of the parliament, Mr Cameron and chancellor George Osborne slashed spending by around 100 billion in austerity cuts as they sought to rebuild the shattered public finances.

Despite the economic constraints, the government nevertheless pushed through major  and highly controversial  reforms to the NHS and benefits system, with the introduction of Universal Credit, while privatising Royal Mail.

In a surprise move, it introduced legislation to enable same-sex marriage, which had not been in the Tories general election manifesto and only passed with Labour support, with a majority of Conservative MPs either voting against it or abstaining.

In 2011, Mr Cameron announced that he was setting up the Leveson inquiry into press standards following claims that private detectives working for the News of the World had hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

Chancellor George Osborne and David Cameron slashed billions from public spending in austerity cuts (Joe Giddens/PA)

The prime minister, who had previously hired the papers former editor Andy Coulson as his director of communications, was among those called to give evidence, while Mr Coulson subsequently went to prison.

Overseas, he joined France in launching airstrikes against the forces of the Libyan dictator Colonel Gadaffi amid fears of a massacre of rebels who had risen up against his rule.

However, in 2013 he was forced to abandon plans for strikes against Syrias President Bashar Assad, in response to the use of chemical weapons against rebels there, after losing the vote on a Commons motion calling for military action.

After the SNP secured an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament in the election of 2011, Mr Cameron agreed to allow first minister Alex Salmond to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.

Although the result of the vote in September 2014 was a defeat for independence, it nevertheless ushered in almost a decade of SNP dominance of Scottish politics.

 2015 to 2017: The Brexit referendum

The 2015 general election saw the Tories unexpectedly returned with an outright majority while the Lib Dems paid the price for their support for the governments austerity policies with a near-wipeout to bring the coalition to an end.

Back in No 10, Mr Cameron set about wooing communist China, the worlds rising economic superpower, rolling out the red carpet for a state visit for President Xi Jinping  and even inviting him for a pint at his local.

However, the new parliament was dominated by Mr Camerons promise to hold an in-out referendum on Britains membership of the European Union in an attempt finally to put and end to years of Tory wrangling.

Boris Johnson led the official Vote Leave campaign bus in the Brexit referendum (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

His hopes of securing a vote to Remain suffered a major setback when outgoing London mayor Boris Johnson  then one of the most popular and most recognisable politicians in the country  agreed to front the Leave campaign.

Mr Cameron attempted to renegotiate the terms of Britains membership in an effort to boost support for staying in but was unable to secure the level of concessions he was hoping for  particularly on the free movement of labour.

When it came to the vote on June 23 2016, the result was a victory for Leave  by 52% to 48%. Within hours of the declaration, Mr Cameron emerged on the steps of No 10 to announce he was standing down.

Mr Johnson was widely expected to succeed him but his leadership bid was dramatically scuppered when his fellow Leave campaigner Michael Gove turned against him, declaring him unfit for office.

No 10 staff welcome new prime minister Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

It was home secretary Theresa May, a Remain supporter albeit a fairly lukewarm one, who emerged from the wreckage as the last candidate standing, entering No 10 as prime minister on July 13.

In an attempt to shore up her position with Tory Leavers, she appointed Mr Johnson as foreign secretary while David Davis was made Brexit secretary overseeing negotiations with the EU on the terms of Britains departure.

Following the election of Donald Trump as US president, she became the first foreign leader to fly to Washington to meet him, marking the start of what was to be an increasingly fractious relationship.

 2017 to 2019: Tories at war

Buoyed by an early bounce in opinion polls, in April 2017 Mrs May decided to call a snap general election in the hope of strengthening her hand in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations  both with Brussels and with her own MPs.

She proved, however, to be a poor campaigner, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was an unexpected hit with younger voters.

The result was the loss of the Tories Commons majority  with Mrs May forced to turn to Northern Irelands Democratic Unionists (DUP) to prop up her suddenly shaky-looking administration at Westminster.

The Brexit vote divided Parliament and the country (Jonathan Brady/PA)

What followed was an unprecedented period of parliamentary turmoil, with the Tories hopelessly divided between former Remainers who were pressing for a soft Brexit, and hardline Leavers demanding a clean break with the EU.

After a pre-dawn dash to Brussels, the prime minister finalised an agreement with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker but the deal  including the infamous Northern Ireland backstop  was denounced by hardliners as Brexit in name only.

Meanwhile, troubles were piling up elsewhere with the disclosure that her hostile environment policy had led to scores of legal immigrants from the so-called Windrush generation being wrongly stripped of their rights while she was criticised for her tone-deaf response to the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.

A cabinet meeting in Chequers intended to unite ministers behind her Brexit strategy, aimed at maximising UK access to EU markets, only brought further chaos when first Mr Davis and then Mr Johnson quit in protest.

With the mood in the party becoming increasingly rancorous, Mrs May survived a no confidence motion by rebellious Tory MPs but when she finally put her deal to a Commons vote in January 2019 she lost by 230 votes  the biggest government defeat in modern political history.

A tearful Theresa May announces her resignation on the steps of No 10 (Yui Mok/PA)

In the past it would have led to the fall of the government but with Tory MPs in no mood to vote for an election they knew they would lose, the Fixed Term Parliaments Act (FTPA)  passed under the coalition  meant she was simply left to limp on.

Two further votes and two further government defeats followed  albeit by smaller margins  but when an unlikely attempt to broker a deal with Labour collapsed she finally accepted she had run out of road and in May she emerged from No 10 to tearfully announce her resignation.

In the ensuing leadership contest, this time Mr Johnson emerged triumphant, easily beating Jeremy Hunt in the final run-off ballot of party members.

He straight away announced his intention to renegotiate the terms of Mrs Mays Brexit deal, eventually securing agreement with Irish premier Leo Varadkar to replace the backstop with a customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK  a measure that was to prove almost as contentious.

The Commons remained deadlocked with a block of pro-Remain Tory MPs firmly opposed to his plans. In an attempt to shut down debate Mr Johnson ordered an extended prorogation of parliament only for the Supreme Court to rule he had acted unlawfully.

The position at Westminster was however becoming increasing untenable as Mr Johnson withdrew the Tory whip from more than 20 rebels  including ex-chancellors Kenneth Clarke and Philip Hammond  for voting with the opposition.

Finally, in October 2019, after three unsuccessful attempts to secure the two thirds majority needed to call a general election under the FTPA, the Commons agreed to an emergency Bill dissolving parliament, with polling day set for December 12.

 2019 to 2021 Covid, scandal and chaos

Mr Johnson campaigned on the promise to get Brexit done combined with a commitment to level up those areas of the country which had been increasingly left behind in the preceding decade.

The result was a landslide, with an 80-seat majority for the Conservatives  the partys biggest win since the days of Margaret Thatcher  as a series of previously safe Labour red wall seats in the North and Midlands fell to the Tories.

Boris Johnson stormed to a general election landslide with a promise to get Brexit done (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

MPs returned to Westminster to rush through ratification of the Brexit withdrawal agreement before the Christmas break and at 11pm GMT on January 31 47 years of British membership of Europe came to an end.

But a new crisis was already looming with the emergence in the Chinese city of Wuhan of a terrifying new coronavirus infecting humans, designated Covid-19.

As the virus began its inexorable spread around the globe, Mr Johnson appeared slow to appreciate the threat, leaving health secretary Matt Hancock to chair a series of meetings of the Cobra civil contingencies committee.

On March 23, nearly two months after the first confirmed case in the UK, the prime minister ordered an unprecedented national lockdown, with people ordered to stay at home, bringing economic activity to a halt.

Boris Johnson receives his booster jab of the Covid-19 vaccine (Paul Edwards/PA)

At the same time, chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled an equally unprecedented furlough scheme for the state to pay the wages of millions of workers who would otherwise have been laid off.

The national mood of uncertainty was only heightened with the news that Mr Johnson had been admitted to intensive care after falling victim to the virus: for three days it appeared touch and go whether he would survive.

The government faced criticism for its at-times chaotic response to the crisis, with lockdowns lifted and then reimposed, a shambles over the acquisition of vital protective equipment for hospital staff and a confused test and trace programme.

However there were also plaudits for the speed with which it was able to role out a mass vaccination programme, once first inoculations became available.

By the time the outbreak subsided, at least 235,000 people in the UK had Covid recorded on their death certificate.

As the country gradually emerged from the pandemic, Mr Johnson found himself increasingly embroiled in scandal, including claims he had secretly arranged for Tory donors to pay for a lavish refurbishment of his Downing Street flat.

Health secretary Matt Hancock had to resign after CCTV footage was leaked to the press showing him cavorting in his office with his mistress in violation of social distancing guidelines.

Most damaging however was the emergence of reports of No 10 staff holding drinks parties  some attended by Mr Johnson himself  in apparent breach of the governments own lockdown regulations.

Boris Johnson raises a glass at a No 10 drinks do during the Covid lockdown (Sue Gray Report/Cabinet Office/PA)

The country was appalled at the increasingly lurid revelations  including a night of drunken revelry on the eve of the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh  while the prime minister was accused of lying to parliament as he insisted no rules had been broken.

Following an investigation by the Met Police, he was subsequently issued with a fixed penalty notice, along with Mr Sunak and dozens of No 10 staff, becoming the first British prime minister to be sanctioned for breaking the law while in office.

President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant the focus temporarily shifted away from domestic politics, with Mr Johnson at the forefront of rallying international support for the beleaguered government of Volodymyr Zelensky.

However when it emerged he had been warned about the conduct of deputy chief whip Chris Pincher  who was accused of indecently assaulting two men in the Carlton Club  before he appointed him to the post, it was a scandal too far.

Health secretary Sajid Javid and Mr Sunak resigned in quick succession, triggering an avalanche of further resignations  many by ministers who felt they had been sent out to lie on Mr Johnsons behalf.

The prime minister tried to hang on but it soon became clear the position was untenable and on July 7 he appeared on the steps of No 10 to announce he was quitting.

In the ensuing leadership contest it was foreign secretary Liz Truss who came out on top  beating Mr Sunak in the final ballot of activists, many of whom blamed him for bringing down Mr Johnson, who remained hugely popular among ordinary members.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng with Liz Truss at the Tory Party conference following his disastrous mini budget (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Within two days of the new prime minister taking office, politics as normal was suspended as the country entered 10 days of national mourning following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

When government business resumed Ms Truss was impatient to get on with delivering her keynote campaign promise of tax cuts to kick-start economic growth, even though she had not fully worked out how they would be paid for.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwartengs ensuing mini-budget  delivered without the Office for Budget Responsibility having had the chance to run the rule over his figures  was a disaster.

The pound plummeted as the markets took fright at the 45 billion package of unfunded tax cuts while the Bank of England had to step in to prevent pension funds collapsing.

Mr Kwarteng was summoned back early from a meeting of the IMF in Washington to be sacked by Ms Truss but it was too late to save her.

On October 20 she bowed to the inevitable and announced she as resigning, the fourth Conservative prime minister to do so in the space of a little over six years.

She had lasted just 49 days in office, making her the shortest-serving premier in British history.

A rain-drenched Rishi Sunak announces his decision to call a general election (Lucy North/PA)

There was no mood in the party for another extended leadership contest and after Mr Johnson decided against attempting an unlikely political comeback, Mr Sunak was elected unopposed.

He entered No 10 promising stability after the turmoil of the previous years, however that was not enough to turn around the Tories fortunes in the opinion polls.

Voters appeared in no mood to forgive after seeing living standards painfully squeezed, in part the legacy of Covid and the war in Ukraine, while the NHS struggled to recover from the pandemic.

Migration was also rising up the agenda once again, with many Tory MPs demanding tougher action to stop the small-boat crossings in the Channel as the plan to deport illegal entrants to Rwanda remained stuck in the courts.

In a final roll of the dice, a rain-soaked Prime Minister attempted to regain the initiative with the announcement that he was going for a July election, rather than wait to the autumn as had been generally expected.

After 14 years continuously in office, it was the beginning of the end for the Conservatives.
Speaking to journalists at the Perth election count on Thursday, Murdo Fraser said the exit poll was in two parts, with voters south of the border looking for a change, while those in Scotland were voting against the SNP.

The joint BBC/Sky/ITV poll suggested the Tories would drop to 131 seats, with Labour on course for a landslide with a 170-seat majority.

The SNP, however, were forecast to drop to just 10 seats  dropping from 48 in the 2019 election.

The exit poll clearly is in two parts, youve got the situation south of the border which very much is in line with polling, what we expected, said Mr Fraser.

Clearly people are casting a verdict on 14 years of Conservative government, five prime ministers, and the country was looking for a change.

The situation in Scotland, clearly, is a very different one because it looks like people are actually making up their minds how to vote based primarily on a verdict on 17 years of the SNP in government and clearly have not liked what they have seen from the SNP and theyre up for an even bigger change, potentially, in Scotland.

It does look like, on the basis of the exit poll, the Conservatives might not just be looking to hold the seats we have in Scotland but actually might make gains.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrive to cast their votes in the 2024 General Election (James Manning/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer is set to become the UKs next prime minister as voters chose a brighter future with Labour.

The party is forecast to win a landslide 170-seat majority, with the Tories reduced to their lowest number of MPs on record.

It means Rishi Sunaks term as Prime Minister looks set to end in electoral disaster, with Nigel Farages Reform UK establishing a foothold in Parliament and the Liberal Democrats forecast to make gains.

In the first result of the night, shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson held Houghton and Sunderland South, but Reform pushed the Conservatives into third place.

Ms Phillipson, who will now expect to be in Sir Keirs first Cabinet, said: Tonight the British people have spoken and if the exit poll this evening is again a guide to results across our country  as it so often is  then after 14 years the British people have chosen change.

Labours Bridget Phillipson said the country had voted for change (Owen Humphreys/PA)

They have chosen Labour and they have chosen the leadership of Keir Starmer. Today our country with its proud history has chosen a brighter future.

Reform also outperformed the Conservatives in Blyth and Ashington, which was also held by Labour.

The exit poll suggests Labour is on course for 410 seats, with the Tories reduced to 131.

The Liberal Democrats are forecast to win 61 seats, Reform UK on 13 and the Green Party two.

In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.

The poll for broadcasters involved more than 20,000 voters at 133 polling stations.

If the results follow the forecast it will mean a Labour prime minister in No 10 for the first time in 2010 and the Conservatives facing a possible civil war as the fight for the future direction of the party and the battle to potentially replace Mr Sunak gets under way.

Ballots are sorted at the Sports Training Village, University of Bath (Jonathan Brady/PA)

After 14 years in power it was always going to be a difficult election for the Conservatives, but the sometimes shambolic campaign  triggered at a time of Mr Sunaks choosing  has contributed to their partys likely defeat.

From the rain-drenched speech announcing the surprise July 4 poll, through the D-Day debacle as he left Normandy early to record a TV interview to confused campaign messaging about a Labour supermajority, Mr Sunak struggled to convince the electorate he was the right man to lead the country.

Going for a summer election rather than waiting until the autumn was always a gamble, and the Prime Minister was not helped by the scandal of Tory candidates and officials allegedly heading to the bookies armed with inside knowledge of the date.

Mr Sunak is expected to resign after leading his party to defeat, but many of the contenders jostling to replace him are nervously awaiting their own constituency results to see if their leadership dreams survive the night.

The likes of Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps, Steve Baker and Robert Jenrick all face battles to return to Parliament, while Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is predicted to lose.

A Liberal Democrat source said they were confident of defeating the Chancellor in the Godalming and Ash seat in Surrey.

Former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, security minister Tom Tugendhat and Health Secretary Victoria Atkins could survive to fight for the leadership.

A Tory source said: Its clear based on these results we will have lost some very good and hard-working candidates.

Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland was the first high-profile casualty as he lost to Labour in Swindon South.

He said politics was now at a crossroads: Do we value those who work to bring people together and who come into politics to do something rather than be someone, or do we shrug our shoulders and accept that politics is a mere circus, where people compete for attention by saying things that they either know to be untrue or which raise hopes and expectations in a way that further erodes trust?

(PA Graphics)

I know what side Im on, I know what choice I would make. I believe with sincere and fierce conviction that my party has to make the right choice too if we are to inspire a new generation with a real promise of a better future.

A lurch to the right after the election would be disastrous for the Conservatives, Sir Robert said.

Sir Robert told the BBC it would be a disastrous mistake and it would send us into the abyss, and gift Labour government for many years.

Northern Ireland minister Mr Baker, who had indicated he would run for the leadership if he survived but is forecast to lose his seat, said it was a pretty devastating night for the Conservative Party.

He told the BBC he expected Mr Sunak will now do what he believes is in the national interest.

Former Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said it is clearly a terrible night, suggesting voters had been put off by the revolving door in No 10 which saw Boris Johnson replaced first by Liz Truss and then by Mr Sunak.

Sir Jacob told the BBC there were issues with changing the leader, adding: Voters expect the prime minister they have chosen to remain the prime minister and for it to be the voters who decide when that person is changed.
A construction worker takes a large drink of flavored water while working under the sweltering afternoon sun June 6 on South San Saba Street in San Antonio. Temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees. The Biden administration proposed a rule this week that would require employers to develop a plan to prevent heat injuries and illnesses in workplaces and make sure their employees can access drinking water and get rest breaks. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

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 this week that aims to protect millions of workers from the risks of extreme 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.

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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.

HB2127 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.

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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. Its known as a silent killer because its effects 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 report.
The King hosted a state visit in June  an unprecedented move in the run up to a General Election (Jordan Pettitt/PA)

A glittering state banquet hosted by the King, the re-emergence of a princess, and the pomp and ceremony of the Order of the Garter procession were among the royal celebrations which went ahead despite the election.

When a rain-soaked Rishi Sunak announced his surprise summer vote on May 22, Buckingham Palace said the royal family would postpone appearances which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

A visit by the King to Crewe, due to take place two days later, which centred on a tour of a Bentley factory and a community centre supporting people struggling financially, was swiftly cancelled until further notice.

The Princess of Wales with the royal family on the Palace balcony after making her first official appearance since her cancer diagnosis (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Heir to the throne the Prince of Wales also pulled out of a day of previously unannounced engagements.

But big ceremonial events such Trooping the Colour, marking the Kings official birthday and featuring the Princess of Waless first official engagement since her cancer diagnosis, went ahead to the delight of royal fans.

Kate joined William and their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, on the Buckingham Palace balcony and in a candid message ahead of her appearance revealed she is making good progress, but is not out of the woods yet and has good days and bad days.

Kate and Louis arrive for the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade on June 15 (Yui Mok/PA)

The princess said she has a few more months of chemotherapy left, and is learning to be patient, especially with uncertainty.

The King, who has also been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer, and Queen forged ahead with their D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June.

Both appeared emotional at the poignant service in remembrance of the fallen.

The King and Queen appear emotional during the UK national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Ver-sur-Mer, Normandy, France (Gareth Fuller/PA)

But the commemorations turned into a major blunder for Mr Sunak, when he was heavily criticised for returning early and missing an international ceremony to record a television interview.

In late June, the King and Queen hosted the Japanese Emperor during his state visit to the UK.

Charles greeted Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, with a ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade and toasted the two nations friendship at a Buckingham Palace banquet, with the Kings speech referencing Japanese pop culture figures Hello Kitty and Pokemon.

The King with Emperor Naruhito (Kin Cheung/PA)

The Pokemon phrase, gotta catch em all, may resonate with my grandchildren, but for me it is, perhaps, aspirational, the King quipped.

The three-day state visit was the first time in living memory a foreign head of state has toured the UK as the nation prepared to go to the polls.

There was no occasion during Elizabeth IIs 70-year reign of an incoming state visit being staged in the timespan between the calling of a general election and polling day.

The finishing touches being applied to the tables in the Ballroom of Buckingham Palace before the state banquet (Aaron Chown/PA)

In 2017, a Spanish state visit by King Felipe VI was quickly rescheduled  following an agreement by the late Queen and King Felipe  because the date clashed with a snap election in the UK.

The Japanese state visit was adapted slightly to account for the election.

Missing was the visiting head of states usual trip to Downing Street and meetings with opposition leaders, and the sometime address to the Palace of Westminster.

But Prime Minister Mr Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer both attended the white tie banquet.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with his wife, Victoria, make their way along the East Gallery to attend the state banquet for Emperor Naruhito (Aaron Chown/PA)

Sir Keir, who is widely expected to be the next prime minister according to polling ahead of the election, was placed next to the Kings right-hand man, his private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, on the horseshoe shaped table in the Ballroom.

Other events in the run-up to polling day included the Order of the Garter ceremony.

The King and Queen joined the Garter Ladies and Knights in their velvet robes and plumed hats in procession to St Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, in celebration of the countrys oldest and most senior order of chivalry.

The King and Queen in their robes arrive to attend the annual Order of the Garter Service at St Georges Chapel (Aaron Chown/PA)

The royal family was also out in force for the racing at Royal Ascot in Berkshire.

And as election day neared, the King, Queen, the Prince of Wales and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh travelled to Edinburgh for a shortened Holyrood Week.

The annual trip to Scotland was condensed to just two days to give the King time to return to London to be ready to appoint a prime minister, with engagements designed with political sensitivity in light of the July 4 election.

Camilla and Edward, on the eve of polling day, were formally installed as members of Scotlands greatest order of chivalry, the Order of the Thistle, during a service at St Giles Cathedral attended by Charles, William and Sophie.

The King and Queen try a glass of whisky as they attend a celebration at Edinburgh Castle to mark the 900th Anniversary of the City of Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA)

Other events saw the King try a dram of Macallan single malt Scotch whisky as he attended a celebration at Edinburgh Castle to mark the 900th Anniversary of the City of Edinburgh.

The Sovereign Grant report  the annual rundown of royal finances  was also delayed because the accounts must be laid before Parliament, which was dissolved because of the election.

Meanwhile, there was a further health blow for the royal family when the Princess Royal was hospitalised for five nights on June 23.

Anne, 73, is convalescing at home after suffering concussion and minor head injuries when she was kicked or headbutted by a horse while out walking on her Gatcombe Park estate.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro has reportedly been incited for money laundering and criminal association, sources say. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Brazils federal police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association, sources say.

The charges are in connection with undeclared diamonds the far-right leader received from Saudi Arabia during his time in office, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations.

A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes.

Brazils Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the indictment.

Once it does, the countrys prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, will analyse the document and decide whether to file charges and force Mr Bolsonaro to stand trial.

The indictment dramatically raises the stakes in a series of investigations into the divisive former leader applauded by his opponents but denounced as political persecution by his supporters.

Mr Bolsonaro and his lawyers have denied any wrongdoing related to the case, as well as the slew of investigations facing the former president.

Those include allegedly ordering an aide to manipulate public health records to falsify his Covid-19 vaccination certificate, for which he was already indicted, as well as involvement in inciting an uprising in the capital Brasilia on January 8 2023, which sought to oust his successor from power.

Last year, Federal Police accused Mr Bolsonaro of attempting to sneak in diamond jewellery reportedly worth 3 million dollars (2.3 million) and selling two luxury watches.

Police said in August that Mr Bolsonaro received nearly 70,000 dollars (54,000) from the sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia.

Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than 1,000 dollars and, for any amount above that exemption, pay a tax equal to 50% of their value.

The jewellery would have been exempt from tax had it been a gift from Saudi Arabia to Brazil, but not Mr Bolsonaros to keep for himself. Rather, it would have been added to the presidential collection.

The investigation showed that one of Mr Bolsonaros top aides, Mauro Cid, sold a Rolex watch and a Patek Philippe watch to a store in the US in June 2022 for a total of 68,000 dollars (53,000)

They were gifted by Saudi Arabias government in 2019.

Cid later signed a plea bargain with authorities and confirmed it all.

Flavio Bolsonaro, the former presidents eldest son and a sitting senator, said on X after Thursdays indictment that persecution against his father was blatant and shameless.

Police indicted 10 others, including Cid and two of Mr Bolsonaros lawyers, Frederick Wassef and Fabio Wajngarten, according to one of the sources.

Wassef said in a statement that he did not have access to the final report of the investigation, and decried selective leaks to the press of an investigation that is supposed to be proceeding under seal.

Mr Bolsonaro retains staunch allegiance among his political base, as shown by an outpouring of support in February when an estimated 185,000 people clogged Sao Paulos main boulevard to protest what the former president calls political persecution.

His critics, particularly members of his rival President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvas political party, have cheered every advance of investigations and repeatedly called for his arrest.

Last year, Brazils top electoral court ruled that Mr Bolsonaro abused his presidential powers during his 2022 re-election bid, which rendered him ineligible for any elections until 2030.

The case focused on a meeting during which Mr Bolsonaro used government staffers, the state television channel and the presidential palace in Brasilia to tell foreign ambassadors that the countrys electronic voting system was rigged.

Mr Bolsonaro is expected to meet Argentinian President Javier Milei this weekend at a conservative conference in Balneario Camboriu, in Brazils south.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on July 8-9 and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin said.

The visit was first announced by Russian officials last month but the dates have not been previously disclosed.

Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trade partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

China and India have become key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the US and its allies that shut most Western markets for Russian exports.

India is a key purchaser of Russian oil (AP)

Under Mr Modis leadership, India has avoided condemning Russias action in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement.

His visit follows his re-election for a third straight term.

Mr Modi last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok.

He last travelled to Moscow in 2015.

Mr Putin last met Mr Modi in September 2022, at a summit of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in Uzbekistan.

In 2021, Mr Putin also travelled to New Delhi and held talks with the Indian leader.
Russian forces have targeted the strategically elevated town for months (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP)

The Ukrainian army has retreated from an area on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which was reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault.

Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle.

For months, Russian forces have focused on capturing Chasiv Yar, a town which occupies a strategic, elevated location.

Its fall would put nearby cities in jeopardy, compromise critical Ukrainian supply routes and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of seizing the entire Donetsk region.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the outskirts of the town (Russian defence ministry press service via AP)

The Ukrainian army retreated from a north-eastern area in the town of Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia ground forces formation, told The Associated Press.

Ukraines defensive positions in the town were destroyed, he said, adding that there was a threat of serious casualties if troops remained in the area and that Russia did not leave a single intact building.

Months of relentless Russian artillery strikes have devastated Chasiv Yar, with homes and municipal offices charred, and a town that once had a population of 12,000 has been left deserted.

The intensity of Russian strikes on Ukraines defensive line in the area of Chasiv Yar has increased over the last month, Mr Voloshyn said.

In the past week alone, he said Russia has carried out nearly 1,300 strikes, fired nearly 130 glide bombs and made 44 ground assaults.

Other Russian attacks in recent weeks have focused on capturing nearby settlements that would allow them to advance to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the biggest cities in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian leaders have said resources are stretched (Dnipro Regional Administration via AP)

Ukrainian commanders in the area say their resources remain stretched, largely due to a months-long gap in military assistance from the US which threw Ukraines military onto the defensive.

In June, members of the artillery brigade in Chasiv Yar reported that supplies of American ammunition had started to arrive.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the governor of the northern Chernihiv region, Viacheslav Chaus, said Russia launched 22 drones over Ukraine last night.

One hit an infrastructure facility in the northern Chernihiv region, leaving nearly 6,000 customers without electricity, he said.

The rest of the drones were shot down, according to the air forces morning update.

Russia is continually targeting Ukraines badly-damaged energy infrastructure, resulting in hours of rolling blackouts across the country.

Ukrainian officials have warned that the situation may worsen as winter approaches.
Naomi Long's decision is right for sex abuse victims and its right for the media, writes Belfast Telegraph editor Eoin Brannigan

Along with millions of other viewers, I watched The Reckoning last October. Steve Coogan played Jimmy Savile in the factual drama, which examined the former entertainers sex crimes using the chilling testimony of his victims.

I watched it in Belfast, yet the previous month legislation came into force in Northern Ireland which granted anonymity for life  and for 25 years after death  to people suspected of sexual offences who had not been charged.
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Before you make your grocery list for the cook-out youre planning, its important to take time and remember why and what youre actually celebrating on July 4th. Not only are you celebrating a nation you love and honor, youre recognizing that event with your loved ones.

No matter who you are or what life events are currently taking place, we have an inspirational prayer for your fourth of July. Prayer is an intimate way you can develop your relationship with your faith and the Lord. Prayers should be a representation of who you are and be cultivated based on your life experiences and the person you have become. To commemorate this joyous day of freedom and hope, weve compiled prayers for everyone.

Veteran

For the veteran from The Chaplain, the Reverend Edward L. R. Wilson, D.D. on July 2, 1969 during Senate prayer:

We thank Thee, O God that the freedom we celebrate in coming days is not an attainment, but an obtainment that it is thy precious gift to man as a part of his createdness. We thank thee for the daring of our forefathers in reclaiming their ancient rights. We thank thee, too, for the heroes valor, the patriots devotion, the prophets vision, and for all the blood and sweat and toil by which our freedom was purchased. As we commemorate our national independence accept again the declaration of our everlasting dependence upon thee. In all joy and thanksgiving enable us to remain a nation under God, and give us grace and goodness to minister to mankind in His name. Amen.

Youth

For our youth, the pledge of allegiance is a representation of their patriotism and how their contribution to society is part of our countrys melting pot. Its more important, than ever, that our youth understand and appreciate the freedom that they have and respect the idea of equality thats engrained in the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Millennial

For the millennial who wants desperately to preserve this countrys virtue, dignity and prosperity, the Freedom Prayer for Independence Day is for you. The prayer comes from the Book of Common Prayer from the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Lord God Almighty, in whose name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for the nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

For Pastors

Sometimes less truly is more. The simple words we can offer our listeners oftentimes can be the most impactful. Instead of writing out a lengthy sermon, identify the quality over the quantity.

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.  Joshua 1:7

Pastors and other worship leaders reveal the Holy Spirit to their members by reminding them how important their contribution, to the world, truly is  and how that impact can impact the lives of so many. The freedom we celebrate on the Fourth of July, is the power to be individuals and inspire others.

For the Philanthropist

The world needs more good citizens willing to offer up their time to improve the well-being for everyone. A philanthropist is always looking for ways they can impact others and reveal the glory of being an American citizen. Its crucial that we band together and identify our progression and continued success as a team effort with prayer.

Lord God, thank you for more than 200 years of freedom, protection, and blessing in America.

Help us not to forget the blessings and opportunity you give us each day.

Make us not forget the sacrifice of the many for all of us who live free today in our nation.

We pray for the safety of all of our military today.

We pray for our leaders from the mayors to the President that you would guide them to make wise and godly decision that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in godliness and honesty, as the Scripture says, (I Timothy 2:1-4).

Father, remind us to pray when we are tempted to complain.

Remind us to have faith.

Remind us to see our prayers as a tool of influence.

You are that influence. We pray for godly leaders and a godly influence in our homes, churches, institutions, businesses, and communities across our nation.

Most of all, we thank you for your presence and power for you are the source of all holiness, happiness, joy, and contentment. Amen.

For Every Christian

On March 6, 1776, General George Washington issued a decree. During this time, he called for a day of fasting and prayer because our country was beginning a long battle for independence. We, as Christians, must remember the good and bad  and allow the unseen blessings to be represented and thoroughly appreciated.

Set apartas a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation, to implore the Lord and Giver of all victory to pardon our manifold sins and wickedness, and that it would please Him to bless the Continental Arms with His divine favor and protection  all officers and soldiers are strictly enjoined to pay all due reverence and attention on that day to the sacred duties due to the Lord of hosts for His mercies already received and for those blessings which our holiness and uprightness of life can alone encourage us to hope through His mercy to obtain.

Prayers are more than words. They are the foundation for hope, faith, and our future. Reciting and memorizing powerful words of faith will help us establish and/or maintain a closer relationship with the Lord. Its important, during holidays like the Fourth of July, to recognize the impact the actual celebration has on our lives  and how we can grow as individuals and as a community.

Angela Guzman is a Writer at Large and a Huffington Post contributor.
Washington has given its territories permission to apply for PIF membership, but with the caveat they can't take foreign policy positions.

Guam residents calling for the decolonization and de-militarization of the island attend a People for Peace rally in Hagatna on August 14, 2017.

When residents of Guam celebrate Independence Day at one of the islands two major U.S. military bases on Thursday, the festivities will be tinged with irony.

The small U.S. territory is one of 17 remaining colonies around the globe. While Guamanians have American citizenship, they cannot elect the U.S. president and have only a single, non-voting representative in the U.S. Congress.

As a territory, Guam has no say in foreign policy either, restraining its ability to engage with Pacific island neighbors on regional concerns ranging from climate change to growing militarization.

But that could soon change. Last month, the U.S. State Department officially endorsed Guams application to upgrade its standing at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the regions peak diplomatic body.

Guam along with two other U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), currently hold observer status with PIF, but American Samoa and Guam have applied to join as non-voting associate members.

Washington had vetoed the territories ability to apply for member status since 2011. Permission now comes with the caveat that they cant take foreign policy positions.

On Monday, PIFs new secretary general, Baron Waqa, said the applications would be discussed in August at the forums 53rd leaders meeting in Tonga.

Im not in a position to anticipate [the result], Waqa said at a press conference at the PIF secretariat in the Fijian capital of Suva.

The prerogative is on the leaders to decide. This will be debated well enough to get a truthful outcome at the Tonga meeting.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) returns to the U.S. Naval Base in Guam, Aug. 19, 2021. [U.S. Navy/AP]

The forum, founded in 1971, comprises 18 members from across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Two French territories, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, are PIF members while also being on the United Nations decolonization list.

In June, at the Micronesian Islands Forum hosted by Guam, the leaders of Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia said they would support the U.S. territories bids to join PIF.

Pacific power

Guam, which lies about 1,600 miles (2,600 km) east of the Philippine capital Manila, has a population of slightly more than 150,000, according to the 2020 U.S. census.

The island hosts two U.S. military bases  Andersen Air Force Base in the north and Naval Base Guam in the south  and has an economy reliant on military investments and tourism.

The U.S. military holds about 25% of Guams land and stations thousands of troops on the island. Another 5,000 American marines will begin relocating from Japans Okinawa islands to Guam in December, as part of a 2006 agreement between Washington and Tokyo.

As geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China heats up in the Pacific, Guams significance in supporting American naval and air operations is growing. The U.S. military sees the island as an essential logistics center in the event of potential conflict over Taiwan or in the South China Sea.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend U.S. $11 billion to upgrade military infrastructure on the island to accommodate the increasing number of servicemen, with Japan covering U.S. $ 6 billion of the projected costs.

In addition, the U.S. has earmarked at least U.S. $1.5 billion to build an integrated missile defense system on the island.

While the U.S. military presence forms the backbone of the economy, it is a point of contention for many Chamorro, the indigenous people of Guam.

As long as our island remains a non-self-governing territory, our relationship with our administering power on matters of expanded militarization will always be based on consultation and not consent, Melvin Borja, executive director of the Guam Decolonization Commission, told the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization on June 10.

This is not an equitable arrangement, he added.

The arrangement put Guam at risk of attack from enemies of the U.S, as well as environmental and socio-cultural impacts caused by an increased military presence on the island, Borja said.

Guam is within range of Chinese and North Korean ballistic missiles.

Melvin Borja, executive director of the Guam Decolonization Commission, addresses the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization at its 4th plenary session in New York on June 10. [UNTV]

Stalled self-determination efforts

Guams push for self-determination has been decades in the making.

A non-binding plebiscite that asked Guamanians to choose between independence, statehood or free association with the U.S. was originally scheduled for 1991. But it has been on the backburner ever since due to conflict over voter eligibility.

In 2019, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a controversial local law that sought to limit the vote to native inhabitants of Guam. The court ruled that the racially discriminatory law was unconstitutional.

Despite the ruling, Guams Governor Lou Leon Guerrero is reluctant to open up the plebiscite to non-native voters and the ballot is yet to be scheduled.

With the status quo, the territory doesnt have the power to challenge its position in U.S. homeland defense. In the meantime, local leaders are compromising by seeking to leverage the federal spending that keeps the local economy afloat.

Our focus remains on finding a balance between adapting to the changing circumstances and safeguarding our people and assets, all while upholding the nations defense capabilities, Leon Guerrero said during a meeting with military officials last month.

Carlotta Leon Guerrero, the governors chief advisor for military and regional affairs, said Guam shares the same goals as PIF.

Guam, like every member of PIF, has fully endorsed the 17 UN Sustainability Goals and we are coordinating our compliance via the Guam Green Growth initiative, she said in a statement to BenarNews.

Carlotta Leon Guerrero said Guams contribution to combatting the consequences of climate change on local, regional and global levels can also serve as a useful template for other Pacific governments to replicate.

It shows our fellow Pacific leaders that the U.S. listens to Guam and works with us to advance our shared goal of taking a greater role in improving the lives and well-being of Pacific peoples, she said.
Official claims China Coast Guard personnel damaged Philippine boats, seized firearms in encounter near Second Thomas Shoal.

This frame grab from a handout video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office shows China Coast Guard personnel (center) appearing to wield bladed weapons during an incident off Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, June 17, 2024.

UPDATED at 7:25 a.m. ET on 2024-07-04

The Philippines military chief on Thursday demanded that China pay 60 million pesos (U.S. $1 million) in damages incurred during a violent confrontation between its coast guard and Filipino troops in the South China Sea last month.

China Coast Guard personnel, armed with pikes and machetes, punctured Philippine boats and seized firearms in the June 17 incident near Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin and called Renai Jiao by Beijing, Gen. Romeo Brawner claimed during in news conference in Manila.

One Filipino sailor lost a finger in the clash, the third such encounter this year in which Philippine personnel have been hurt on missions to rotate and resupply troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal.

I demanded the return of seven firearms that were taken by the Chinese coast guard, Brawner said. They destroyed our equipment and when we estimated the cost of the damage, its 60 million pesos.

The compensation does not include the cost of surgery for the Filipino soldier who lost a finger, said Brawner, who outlined his demand for compensation in a letter to Beijing.

Brawner made the comments after a command conference between military officials and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in which security challenges and threats facing the Southeast Asian nation were discussed.

Marcos called for de-escalation of tension with China in the South China Sea, the Philippine military chief said. However, rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre would continue, Brawner said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the incident occurred because Philippine ships violated her nations sovereignty.

The Philippine vessels were carrying out an illegal resupply mission which violated Chinas territorial waters and staging a provocation when stopped by China Coast Guard, who acted lawfully and rightfully to defend Chinas sovereignty. The Philippine side should face the consequences of its own action, she told reporters in Beijing on Thursday.

We urge the Philippines to stop the infringement activities and provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation.

On Tuesday, Manila and Beijing agreed to reduce hostilities without prejudice to their respective positions at a regular bilateral meeting.

China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes each year, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

In 2016, an international tribunal refuted the legal basis for nearly all of Chinas expansive maritime and territorial claims in the waterway. It said that Beijings insistence on holding historic rights to the waters were inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

Beijing has never recognized the 2016 arbitration or its outcome.

This story has been updated to include comments from a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman.
Pedestrians walk in downtown McAllen in October 2021. McAllen and other Rio Grande Valley cities are trying to rebrand the area as RioPlex to raise the Valleys profile. Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune Crystal Gonzalez of Casa Kevin, a home furnishings store in downtown Brownsville, installs a Christmas display as shoppers walk along East Elizabeth Street on a Friday afternoon in November 2021. Rio Grande Valley cities are trying to rebrand the area as RioPlex to raise the Valleys profile. Sam Owens /San Antonio Express-News The International Bridge is pictured in Matamoros, Tamaulipas state, Mexico, across the U.S.-Texas border from Brownsville. Rio Grande Valley cities such as Brownsville are trying to rebrand the area as RioPlex to raise the Valleys profile. LEXIE HARRISON-CRIPPS/AFP via Getty Images

McALLEN  Hoping to attract more investment into the region, elected officials and business leaders in the Rio Grande Valley are teaming with their Mexican counterparts in an effort to rebrand the area under a unified name: the RioPlex.

Hidalgo County officials announced the marketing strategy last month, aiming to highlight the regions assets: four seaports, seven airports, 13 international bridges, more than 100,000 university students and roughly 2.8 million to 3.5 million residents in the Valley and northern Tamaulipas.

We wanted to make sure that we identified ourselves in such a way that we could compete with anybody else in the world, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said.

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The effort came from the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force, an initiative launched last year to reduce the countys poverty rate by training and educating the workforce for living wage jobs. The task force includes a CEO group that gathered for a brainstorming session on how to make the region more attractive to outside investors.

Among the participating business leaders was Joaquin Spamer, founder of Commodities Integrated Logistics, an import and export company with warehouses in the Valley and Reynosa, Mexico.

ALSO READ: Alamo Angels opening chapter in the Rio Grande Valley

Spamer, who leads the CEO group, said cities on both sides of the border have focused on marketing themselves until now. Hidalgo County alone has 22 cities that have previously competed with each other to attract businesses.

Each one of them, by themselves, is not attractive, Spamer said. But when we put our efforts together and we market the region as a whole, then it becomes one of the most attractive places where you can do business.

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With respect to the goal of RioPlex, which is to maximize marketing efforts by presenting a united front to promote the region, the CEO group identified some challenges.

Cortez said they realized that the Rio Grande Valley isnt well-known internationally and that where it is known, people have a negative perception at least partly because of border and immigration issues.

When the Rio Grande Valley finds itself in the news, the subject is often immigration, particularly as Texas leaders cite an ongoing crisis at the border as the basis for efforts such as Operation Lone Star  the multibillion-dollar initiative launched by Gov. Greg Abbott in March 2021 that has led to the deployment of thousands of state troopers and National Guard members to patrol the border.

Through RioPlex, Spamer said the task force wants to enhance the regions positives and leave the negative to cable news.

We are an economic powerhouse, Spamer said. But the problem that we have is that every time that someone wants to talk about McAllen or Reynosa or Brownsville or any other city or any other area in the border, they only like to talk about the bad stuff, and thats what were trying to stay away from.

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But its not just immigration. Reports of cartel violence have also impacted business along the border.

The U.S. Department of State currently advises citizens against traveling to the state of Tamaulipas, which is just across the border from the Valley, citing crime and kidnapping.

The advisory prompted a company to nix plans to open manufacturing plants in McAllen and along the Mexican side of the border, Keith Patridge, president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corp., told city leaders in April.

The company went to Monterrey instead, Patridge said.

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RioPlex echoes the marketing campaign that rebranded the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area as the metroplex in the 1970s. For North Texas, it was a way to market the area as a large urban area without the big city prices.

For the Valley, the RioPlex branding will be part of a broader One Region, One Voice marketing campaign by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership, a nonprofit that encourages collaboration throughout the Valley for economic development.

During an economic summit at which Valley leaders committed to the One Region, One Voice platform, Abbott applauded the initiative.

The Texas of tomorrow is going to be built right here in the Rio Grande Valley, Abbott said.

Marketing materials about the region will highlight the areas successes, such as the arrival of a new cancer research center and the opening of a new pediatric hospital. Leaders hope to debunk the narrative that the area is dangerous by inviting legislators and potential investors to visit and see the area for themselves.

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Through local efforts, we will try to combat that negative perception of the Valley, said Daniel Silva, president and CEO of RGV Partnership. But that will take cooperation among officials from all the cities in the region, who will be called on to celebrate the successes of other cities on social media and other public channels.

Silva said the marketing campaign evolved to include northern Tamaulipas because the Valleys economy is very dependent on maquiladoras  Mexican manufacturing facilities with parent companies in the U.S.
The 2024 "Declare the Good News" convention of Jehovah's Witnesses will deliver a motivational program to comfort and encourage. The free event is open to the public and is expected to draw more than 5000 attendees to MVP Arena in Albany.
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Godai Sushi Inc., which does business as Godai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, filed for bankruptcy liquidation Monday. William "Goro" Pitchford Jr. is the chef and owner. Mike Sutter/Staff Godai Sushi Bar & Restaurant opened in 2005 on West Avenue in San Antonio. Mike Sutter/Staff Godai Sushi Bar & Restaurant was rated a Top 10 sushi restaurant in San Antonio by San Antonio Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter. Mike Sutter/Staff Godai Sushi Bar & Restaurant's owner has had tax troubles with the IRS, leading to this week's bankruptcy filing. Mike Sutter/Staff

The San Antonio company that has done business as Godai Sushi Bar & Restaurant has filed for bankruptcy liquidation after troubles with the Internal Revenue Service.

While Godai Sushi Inc.  which filed for Chapter 7 on Monday  will eventually cease to exist, the restaurant itself will continue operating but under a new corporate identity.

Its under a new name, a new company, but everything else should still be the same, said Martin Seidler, a San Antonio bankruptcy lawyer representing Godai.

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MORE TROUBLES: Ailing San Antonio restaurant chain Sushi Zushi seeks bankruptcy protection as owners feud

State corporate records show owner William Goro Pitchford Jr. formed Gosushi LLC on May 20. He also serves as the restaurants chef.

Godai Sushis bankruptcy filing came less than two weeks after another San Antonio sushi restaurant company  Sushi Zushi of Texas LLC  filed for bankruptcy reorganization as its owners were waging legal battles against each other.

Earlier this year, San Antonio Express-News restaurant critic Mike Sutter named Godai Sushi Bar the third best sushi bar in the city.

Pitchfords legacy reaches back to Teriyaki & More in 1998, then Goros Sushi in 2000, and finally Godai in 2005, Sutter wrote. Hes the one man paying respects to a Japanese grandmother celebrating a birthday, the one man orchestrating social media specials to pull in business, the one man cutting and forming fish into dozens of sushi incarnations in a homey restaurant that spans a wide swath of the Japanese culinary canon.

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It hasnt been easy for Pitchford, however. In 2017, he filed for personal bankruptcy reorganization, an odyssey that took nearly six years before the case was closed.

He paid off all of his creditors 100%, plus 5% interest, said Seidler, Pitchfords bankruptcy counsel in the case.

Seidler blamed the coronavirus pandemic and the ups-and-downs of the restaurant industry amid rising prices for Godai Sushi falling behind on income and payroll taxes.

Pitchford listed the IRS as his largest creditor, owed $93,000. He was unable to work out a payment plan with the agency, which led to the bankruptcy, Seidler said.

The bankruptcy filing avoids the seizure of the restaurant by the IRS, he said.

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The IRS gave him an ultimatum, Seidler added. They claimed they were going to shut him down. So we figured if theyre going to shut him down, (he) might as well as close down the old (company) and then set up a new company that doesnt have any debt so he can start paying them back individually.

The company reported less than $1,700 in assets and nearly $346,000 in liabilities.

It has little in the way of assets because the lease and various assets are held in Pitchfords name, Seidler said.
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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.


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Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc. Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc. Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc.

The new owner of the historic Villita Assembly Building downtown plans to renovate the circular structure  adding a restaurant, space for outdoor dining and better connecting it to the San Antonio River Walk.

MLSA Ventures, the San Antonio-based firm that acquired the building this year, is seeking conceptual approval for the designs from the citys Historic and Design Review Commission.

It hired Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc. to spearhead the work, which would involve building an outdoor terrace a level above the River Walk for a restaurant and patio and refashioning a plaza at the southeast corner of the property at 401 Villita St. as gathering space with beverages and a play area for children, according to designs submitted to the city.

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The firm would also lower a plaza on the northeast side of the building to the River Walk level, install windows to let in natural light, add a stairway from the building to the Arneson River Theater, repair and repaint interior walls, replace the roof and remove limestone walls along Villita Street. The flower pattern on the roof will be maintained.

Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc.

We feel that our proposed solution is on track to not only improve this stretch of the River Walk, but to become a vital re-energizer that will drive visitorship to La Villita, Adam Reed, vice president of Ford, Powell & Carson, wrote in the projects application to the city.

Architect ONeil Ford, the firms founder, designed the building, which opened in 1959 as a venue for CPS Energys meetings and exhibitions.

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Ford chose a circular shape so the building would mesh well with the smaller structures in La Villita Historic Village. Because it did not have corners, visitors would have the impression that the building is always receding away thus making it feel smaller in scale, Ford, Powell & Carson wrote in the application.

Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc.

The building has long hosted Fiestas A Night in Old San Antonio as well as proms, reunions, public meetings and other events.

In a letter included in MLSA Ventures design review application, members of the La Villita Tenants Association said the renovations pave the way for a sustainable and vibrant future for this treasured building.

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Renderings show planned renovations to the La Villita Assembly Building downtown. Ford, Powell & Carson Architects and Planners Inc.

San Antonio-based MLSA Ventures bought the 24,785-square-foot building in March from GrayStreet Partners, another local firm, for an undisclosed price. The building was among seven properties that CPS put on the market in 2019 to help pay for its $212 million headquarters on McCullough Avenue. GrayStreet bought the building last year for $5.3 million with plans to renovate it, and the firm put it up for sale less than six months later.
Xi urges China, Kyrgyzstan to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation

Xinhua) 08:10, July 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Kyrgyzstan should explore new ways of thinking to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to make it continue to deepen and more effective, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday.

Xi said the two sides should expand economic, trade and investment cooperation, enhance connectivity and expand cooperation on new quality productive forces.

Xi made the remarks in his talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

Xi said that the two leaders held fruitful talks in Xi'an last May and reached many consensuses on China-Kyrgyzstan relations and bilateral cooperation in various fields. Over the past year or so, these consensuses have been effectively implemented, and good news on China-Kyrgyzstan cooperation has been reported frequently.

Good neighbors wish each other well, Xi said, adding that China is happy to see a stable and developing Kyrgyzstan and will, as always, firmly support Kyrgyzstan in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and in finding a development path suited to its national conditions.

China is willing to deepen the synergy of development strategies with Kyrgyzstan, expand the sharing of experience in governance, promote all-round mutually beneficial cooperation and advance the building of a China-Kyrgyzstan community with a shared future, Xi noted.

The Chinese president said that China is willing to import more high-quality green agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan, support Chinese enterprises in investing and doing business in the Central Asian country, strengthen cooperation in areas such as new energy vehicles and cross-border e-commerce, and accelerate the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project.

Xi said that the two sides should give full play to the platforms such as the Chinese traditional medicine center in Kyrgyzstan, the Chinese Cultural Center and the Luban Workshop to nurture more successors of China-Kyrgyzstan friendly cooperation.

China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, continue to strengthen the China-Central Asia mechanism, and ensure that the SCO develops in the right direction that serves the common interests of all parties, he added.

For his part, Japarov said he still vividly remembers his visit to China in May last year, which opened up a new era in bilateral relations. At present, the political relations between Kyrgyzstan and China are developing at a high level, various departments of the two countries maintain close communication, sub-national exchanges and cooperation are booming, and bilateral trade and investment are growing steadily.

He said that in the face of global changes unseen in a century, Kyrgyzstan-China relations have always been rock-solid, and there are no political differences or cooperation obstacles between the two countries.

Japarov said Kyrgyzstan firmly adheres to the one-China principle, adding that Kyrgyzstan welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country, and will provide good business environment for Chinese enterprises. It is hoped that the two sides will work together to promote the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project and close multilateral communication and collaboration in the SCO and other platforms.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Liz Teitz covers environmental news and the Hill Country for the San Antonio Express-News. She writes about the San Antonio Water System, news in New Braunfels and Comal County and water issues around Central Texas. She can be reached at liz.teitz@express-news.net.

Liz joined the Express-News in June 2023. She has been a reporter for eight years, covering housing, government, education and other topics for the Ouray County Plaindealer, Hearst Connecticut Media Group and the Beaumont Enterprise. Liz grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Georgetown University.
An advert for Conor McGregor's Forged Irish Stout received a complaint over sexualised content, one of 18 upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority recently.

Eighteen advertisements across radio, print, online, social media, television, outdoor and direct mail were found to be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority Code on grounds related to a range of issues including misleading, substantiation, health and beauty, alcoholic drinks, environmental claims and promotional marketing.

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Forged Irish Stout Distribution received a complaint relating to an advert described as: "An advertisement in the form of an Instagram reel featured advertisers own social media. It depicted a group of female models wearing two-piece outfits  a crop top and high-leg hotpants  posing around a vehicle drinking pints of Forged Stout. The advertisement also featured a person dressed as a life-sized Forged Stout can."

The complainant said the advertisement contained sexualised content which made a link between alcohol and sexual relations/ performance, and the complaint was upheld.

There were two complaints against the site MoveHome.ie upheld.

One of the adverts claimed a house in the Glasnevin area was a 28-minute walk from Dublin city centre. Using the Spire on O'Connell Street as a reference point, the complainant said it was a 50-minute walk at minimum. The complaint was upheld.

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The other advert said a house was a three-bedroom property, but the complainant said the rooms did not meet the standard to be classed as bedrooms, this complaint was also upheld.

One complaint was upheld against the National Dairy Council for an advert with the following description: "A television advertisement featured a female rugby player speaking about Irish grass and dairy. The advertisement included a number of statements such as 'Rich green grass lies at the heart of our naturally nutritious, sustainably produced milk.'"

The authority said: "Three complaints were made against the advertisement. The complainants said it was misleading and greenwashing to claim milk is sustainably produced due to the impact of the dairy industry on the environment. The complainants said that Irish agriculture was the single biggest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland and caused the greatest amount of biodiversity loss due to the national herd and the use of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. They referred to the EU Joint Research Centres report from 2010 which stated that Ireland had the fourth highest CO2 emissions in the EU for milk production.

"Another complainant said that while dairy production in Ireland may be more sustainable than other countries, it was misleading to say its sustainable in Ireland given that the Climate Action Plan requires farming emissions to be reduced by 25 per cent."

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All three complaints were upheld.

Eir had a complaint upheld against it for misleading claims about prices for its monthly plans.
A man "with a myriad of problems, who brandished a knife as he confronted a Ukrainian couple and their child at their new home in Dublin, has been handed a nine-month sentence.

During the incident, Richard Bohan, 34, of Pimlico Cottages, Pimlico, D8, on February 19th, was "screaming at them to move out".

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He pleaded guilty to producing a knife with a three-inch blade capable of inflicting serious injury in a manner likely to intimidate another person on February 19th last in south Dublin.

Cloverhill District Court heard that Bohan observed the family, threw a bucket at them and was "screaming at them to move out".

Judge Alan Mitchell was told that during the incident, Bohan "produced a knife and started to wield that in front of the family".

However, a member of the public distracted him with a sweeping brush, which allowed the couple and their daughter, aged 8, to "retreat into the house".

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Gardai arrived and arrested Bohan under the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Victim impact statements

Victim impact statements were furnished to Judge Mitchell, who noted the child suffered panic attacks since the incident, but her parents cannot afford psychotherapy.

The judge noted the evidence that Bohan "screamed at them to move out". He remarked that they probably fled to Ireland because of the war in their country, and the victim was a young person who was now suffering.

The court heard Bohan had no previous convictions or warrant record and has been in custody on remand since the incident.

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Family members of the accused were present for the hearing.

Pleading for leniency, defence solicitor Matthew de Courcy had said his client suffered from psychiatric difficulties, and there was a report outlining that he had a borderline personality disorder and autism.

He said Bohan had "a myriad of problems; his memory of the incident is hazy, to say the least".

The defence acknowledged that the presence of a young child at the scene made the incident "particularly unsavoury".

However, the solicitor submitted that there were no racial undertones.

Judge Mitchell had ordered a probation report on Bohan to be furnished to the court and said that a suspended sentence would have to include a condition that the offender stay away from individuals or locations.

The final five months of the sentence were suspended on condition he keeps the peace, and it was backdated until February 19th when he went into custody.
A "Walter Mitty-type" character, who played an "important logistical role" in smuggling 8.4 million worth of cocaine to Ireland via an "open corridor" aerodrome in the midlands, has been jailed for 11 years.

Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers kept a Cessna single-engine aircraft, which flew from Dieppe in France, under surveillance when it landed at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Co Longford, on the evening of August 4, 2022.

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A short time later, they intercepted father of one Tim Gilchrist who was "caught red-handed" at the Lough Owel area in Co Westmeath, and recovered 120 kilogrammes of cocaine from his car.

Wearing a green T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, and runners, Tim Gilchrist (56), of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford, showed no reaction when the sentence was imposed.

The accused, who told gardai he was a company director with business interests in Uganda, pleaded guilty 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. Gilchrist also admitted unlawfully importing the cocaine in the light aircraft.

Prosecution evidence was heard on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned until Thursday, when Judge Keenan Johnson handed down an 11-and-a-half year sentence, with the final six months suspended.

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'Open corridor' airfields

He voiced concerns about "open corridor" airfields around the country and called for "significant upgrading" of security and 24-hour monitoring and checks.

The defence counsel described Gilchrist as a Walter Mitty-type character. However, gardai thought he gave a fanciful account to the investigation team about being under duress which could not be corroborated.

The judge noted the considerable degree of planning and Gilchrist's "active and important logistical role" and held the accused did it for financial gain.

The sentence was backdated to August 4th, 2020, when he went into custody.

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Judge Johnson set a headline of 16 years and six months but held the terms could be reduced due to the guilty plea, information heard in mitigation, and his lack of previous convictions.

The court heard Gilchrist, who used the Cessna for "leisure" flying, claimed he was under duress from two men who threatened him unless he followed their instructions.

However, GNDOCB Detective Sergeant Ciaran Cummins characterised Gilchrist's version of events as "fanciful".

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with prosecuting counsel John Hayden BL that the investigation arose from information received about a Cessna light aircraft used to bring controlled drugs into the jurisdiction.

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The GNDOCB set up an operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome.

The Cessna, carrying two men, landed at 5.25pm, and bags were removed from the aircraft.

Gilchrist was driving a 2009 registered 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 120 kilos of cocaine worth 8.4 million, the court was told.

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The officers arrested Gilchrist and questioned him at Ashbourne Garda station.

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, Detective Sergeant Cummins told the court.

Quoting his statement, Mr Hayden said 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 threatened 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 was given 4,000 to finance the trip.

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed that the investigation did not corroborate the series of events outlined by Gilchrist.

The flight took three-and-a-half hours, and there were no customs officers at the Dieppe aerodrome, where the plane only spent a short time.

The GNDOCB officer agreed with Judge Johnson that the procedures in Abbeyshrule were the same, and likewise, it was 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."

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 3rd, when he flew to France.

Analysis of the phone showed 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 Gilchrist's story was "fanciful" and that he had done "almost identical trips" before.

Gilchrist claimed he was helping the plane's pilot build up flying hours, and the court heard there had been six known flights.

Leisure flying

Gilchrist admitted he enjoyed leisure flying and tried to convince gardai 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.

The court heard he worked in Ireland for a highway maintenance firm from 2017 to 2020, after which he received 208 a week in illness benefit social welfare payments.

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that his client's guilty plea was valuable.

In a mitigation, 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.

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 a position to bring 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 was remorseful and ashamed. Gilchrist never applied for bail and had been in custody on remand since the date of his arrest.
Here are the stories making headlines this Thursday.

The Irish Times reports that surging corporation and income tax receipts have boosted the States financial position, handing the Government the means to deliver a giveaway budget before the next general election.

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Young people who care about climate change are still unwilling to give up flying regularly, according to a survey reported in the Irish Examiner.

The Irish Independent says calls are growing for Ireland to introduce a helicopter-led emergency medical service.

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The Irish Daily Mail, Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star have tributes to a mother and daughter who died in a crash in Co Mayo.

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Jeffrey Donaldson was sent for trial over alleged historical sex offences on the eve of the Westminster election, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

Today is election day in the UK and the story dominates the British front pages.

The Guardian reports that Keir Starmer has hailed a new age of hope for Britain as it heads to the ballot box.

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THE GUARDIAN: Starmer hails new age of hope as Britain votes in historic election #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/SsDHOYouWz  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 3, 2024

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The Daily Mirror and The Sun both call on Britons to vote in a new era of politics for the UK.

THE SUN: Time for a new manager #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/YORndDxBgi  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 3, 2024

The Times reports that Labour is on the precipice of winning the biggest majority since 1832.

The i splashes on Labours lead narrowing as the final predictions roll in for election day.

The Independent says the Tories are predicted to lose as many as 259 seats.

INDEPENDENT: Tories on 82 seats? No wonder theyve given up #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/yhXmnLrojl  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 3, 2024

Speaking of the polls, the Financial Times writes that the Conservatives are in for a bleak night on Thursday.

FT UK/ Tories braced for bleak night as polls put Labour on track for landslide win #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/r9mkRkRWaB  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 3, 2024

The Daily Star keeps it simple, with a toodle pip to the Tories.

The Metro keeps its front more down the centre, with a simple: The nation decides.

The Daily Mail comes with a warning for those preparing to vote Labour, with a headline that reads: Vote Farage, get them.

The Daily Telegraph splashes with a warning to wealthy homeowners, stating that a Labour government in power will likely see them endure a council tax raid.

 The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Homeowners face council tax raid under Labour' #TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletter https://t.co/JIMevXsl8s pic.twitter.com/JdfpKzB1uI  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 3, 2024

Lastly, the Daily Express makes a plea for the Conservatives, splashing with Vote Tory.
Polling stations across the UK have opened as voters have their say in the country's general election after weeks of campaigning.

Millions of people will cast their vote between 7am and 10pm, with opinion polls suggesting the opposition Labour Party is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

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It is the first election where voters in England, Scotland and Wales will need to show photographic ID before they can receive their ballot paper following a law change in 2022.

An exit poll, published shortly after 10pm on Thursday, will provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.

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These take place at polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30pm.

Party leaders have made their final appeals to voters after touring the country since the election was called.

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British prime minister Rishi Sunak said Thursday represents a pivotal moment for the countrys future as he claimed Labour would wield their unchecked power to increase taxes should they secure a supermajority.

Mr Sunak was joined by his wife, Akshata Murty, as they visited a polling station to vote on Thursday.

He said morning and waved at reporters as he entered Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton.

In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Mr Sunak said: This underdog will fight to the final whistle.

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Labour Party leader Keir Starmer making a speech during a visit to Redditch, Worcestershire (Jacob King/PA)

Mr Sunak called on Tory activists to continue campaigning, claiming they had urgent work to do to save the UK from a Labour government.

Labour leader Keir Starmer said the UK cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can begin a new chapter under his party.

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He said: Britains future is on the ballot.

Mr Starmer was also cheered by activists as he spoke at a community centre in Redditch, Worcestershire, as his campaigning came to a close.

He said: Thats what we are fighting for, lets continue that fight. If you want change, you have to vote for it.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, left, and deputy leader Daisy Cooper during a visit to Hammonds End Farm in Harpenden (James Manning/PA)

As the bookies favourite to be the next prime minister, Mr Starmer said he was pleased with Labours campaign and his party was ready for what comes next.

Ending a campaign that was dominated by headline-catching stunts, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey drove off in a pink Cadillac convertible with his deputy Daisy Cooper after his last election campaign stop.

The Lib Dem leader gave a stump speech at Hammonds End Farm in Harpenden to the tune of ABBAs Take A Chance On Me.

Mr Davey said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dems Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.

He added: Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.

North of the border, Scotlands First Minister has urged every single SNP voter to turn out on Thursday in what he said will be an incredibly close contest throughout the country.

Addressing supporters at a pre-election rally in Leith on Wednesday evening, John Swinney said the Conservatives were going to be heavily defeated by the Labour Party in England, but there were narrow margins between Labour and the SNP north of the border.

Mr Swinney was accompanied by his son Matthew as he cast his vote at Burrelton Village Hall, Perthshire, on Thursday morning.

John Swinney and his son Matthew arrive at Burreltown Village Hall as the First Minister cast his ballot (Jane Barlow/PA)

An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3rd puts Labour on 39 per cent, the partys lowest rating since the campaign began, 18 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21 per cent, followed by Reform on 16 per cent, the Lib Dems on 11 per cent and the Greens on 6 per cent.

The Tories are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26th being Labour 41 per cent, Conservatives 20 per cent, Reform 16 per cent, Lib Dems 11 per cent and Greens 6 per cent.

On May 22nd, the day Mr Sunak called the election, the seven-day averages stood at Labour 45 per cent, Conservatives 23 per cent, Reform 11 per cent, Lib Dems 9 per cent and Greens 6 per cent.
Hurricane Beryl has ripped off roofs in Jamaica, battered fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on two islands in St Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and Mexicos Caribbean coast.

At least nine people have died as a result of the storm so far.

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What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic weakened to a Category 2 by Thursday afternoon.



People lounge on the beach as the sun sets ahead of Hurricane Beryls expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (Fernando Llano/AP)

Jack Beven, senior hurricane specialist at the US Hurricane Centre, said: The biggest immediate threat now that the storm is moving away from the Cayman Islands is landfall in the Yucatan Peninsula (in Mexico).

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The storms centre was about 135 miles (215km) west of Grand Cayman island and 275 miles (445km) east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico. It had maximum sustained winds of 110mph (175kph) and was moving west-northwest at 18mph (about 30kph).

Beryls eye wall brushed by Jamaicas southern coast Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.





Hurricane #Beryl Advisory 23: Weather Deteriorating in the Cayman Islands With Strong Winds, Dangerous Storm Surge, and Damaging Waves Expected There Later This Morning. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ Advertisement  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 4, 2024

On Thursday morning in Kingston, telephone poles and trees were blocking the roadways.

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Authorities confirmed a young man died on Wednesday after he was swept into a storm drain while trying to retrieve a ball. A woman also died after a house collapsed on her.

Residents took advantage of a break in the rain to begin clearing debris.

On the island, 65% remained without electricity, along with a lack of water and limited telecommunications. Government officials were assessing the damage, but it was hampered by the lack of communication mainly in southern parishes that suffered the most damage.

A visit to the south-central parish of Clarendon saw residents attempting to mend damaged roofs and clear downed trees. Many roadways in the area remained partially blocked by downed electricity and telecommunication poles.

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Workers remove tree branches felled by Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica (Collin Reid/AP)

A man, armed with a machete as he and other residents attempted to clear debris, was grateful that the lives of him and his neighbours were spared.

I am just grateful for life although Beryl destroyed a lot of roofs and we dont have any water or light (electricity), he said, giving his name only as Seymour.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that weakening is forecast during the next day or two, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Mexicos popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surges.

In Playa del Carmen, most businesses were closed on Thursday and some were boarding up windows as tourists were jogging and some locals walked their dogs under sunny skies.

In Tulum, Mexicos Navy patrolled the streets telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storms arrival. Everything was scheduled to shut down by midday.



The hurricane is expected to arrive in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (AP)

The premier of the Cayman Islands, Juliana OConnor, thanked residents and visitors on Thursday for contributing to the collective calm ahead of Beryl by following storm protocols.

We have done everything possible that we could have done to face the various challenges ahead of us, she said.

The head of Mexicos civil defence agency, Laura Velazquez, said that Beryl is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it hits a relatively unpopulated stretch of Mexicos Caribbean coast south of Tulum early on Friday.

But once Beryl re-emerges into the Gulf of Mexico a day later, she said it is again expected to build to hurricane strength and could hit right around the Mexico-US border, at Matamoros.

That area was already soaked in June by Tropical Storm Alberto.



Fishing boats were jostled by the storm (AP)

Ms Velazquez said temporary storm shelters were being set up at schools and hotels in case they are needed.

She said efforts to evacuate a few highly exposed villages  like Punta Allen, which sits on a narrow spit of land south of Tulum  had been only partially successful.

The storm had already shown its destructive potential across a long swath of the southeastern Caribbean.

The worst perhaps came earlier in Beryls trajectory when it smacked two small islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Michelle Forbes, the St Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organisation, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said.



Several people have been killed as the storm passed (AP)

Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.
FILE - Cardi B arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Cardi B is facing a lawsuit filed in Texas by two artists who accuse the superstar rapper of using portions of one of their songs without permission in her recent single Enough (Miami).

According to a MySA report, the lawsuit alleges Cardi B used portions of a 2021 song called Greasy Frybread by Joshua Fraustro, also known as Sten Joddi, and Miguel Aguilar, also known as Kemikal956.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Fraustro is a Texas resident, and Aguilar lives in California.

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Fraustro is credited for performing, composition and lyrics on "Greasy Frybread," and Aguilar is credited as the producer and engineer. According to the lawsuit, the song was featured in the FX series "Reservation Dogs."

The suit alleges copyright infringement by the following defendants:

Cardi B

OG Parker

DJ Swanqo

Atlantic Records

Celebrity Booking Agency

Warner Music Group

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Fraustro and Aguilar claimed they suffered substantial damages, including financial loss and harm to their reputation and marketability.
The Israeli cabinet is to convene to discuss Hamas latest response to a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire in Gaza, amid a revival of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war.

Fighting, meanwhile, intensified between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah, with the militant group saying it had fired more than 200 rockets and exploding drones into northern Israel to avenge the killing of senior commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser in an Israeli air strike the day before.

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The relatively low-level conflict has raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East.

Hezbollah has said it will halt its attacks if there is a ceasefire between Hamas  a fellow Iran-backed ally  and Israel.



Israel regards the Lebanese group as a big threat (AP)

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The US has rallied world support behind a plan that would see the release of all of the scores of hostages still held by the militant group in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal last month, some of which the US said were unworkable, without providing specifics.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the original proposal was an Israeli one, but has raised doubts over whether it would end the war  a key Hamas demand.

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Hamas confirmed it had sent another response to Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, without providing details.

A US official said the Biden administration was examining the response, calling it constructive but saying more work needed to be done.





Too much of what's going wrong today stems from a failure of empathy & compassion. A binary 'you are either w/ or against me' mindset.



We must keep our faith in humankind, overcome reductive thinking & engage in genuine dialogue.



We must reject all attempts to dehumanize others pic.twitter.com/vHmx6e78b1 Advertisement  Volker Turk (@volker_turk) July 4, 2024

An Israeli official said Mr Netanyahu would convene a cabinet meeting to discuss the latest developments surrounding the negotiations. Israel would likely hold additional consultations before making a final decision on any amended proposal.

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As ceasefire talks appeared to be gaining new steam, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the war had climbed past 38,000.

Hamas political official Bassem Naim said that the group has neither accepted nor rejected the American proposal, and has responded with some ideas to bridge the gap between the two sides, without elaborating.

Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas top political leader, has shared suggestions with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials, the group said in a statement.

US officials have said the latest proposal has new language that was proposed to Egypt and Qatar on Saturday and addresses indirect negotiations that are set to commence during the first phase of the three-phase deal that US President Joe Biden laid out in a speech on May 31.



Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed (AP)

The first phase calls for a full and complete ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one.

Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all of the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers, during the second phase. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

The releases would not occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. The third phase would see the return of the remains of hostages.

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks.



Hezbollah commander Mohammad Naameh Nasser was killed by an Israeli air strike that hit his car in the southern costal town of Tyre (AP)

Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas will do the same, drawing out the talks and the initial ceasefire indefinitely without releasing the remaining captives.

In a lengthy television interview last month, Mr Netanyahu said that he was prepared to make a partial deal, but was committed to continuing the war after a pause in order to annihilate Hamas.

Later, speaking before Israels parliament, he said Israel remains committed to the deal outlined by Mr Biden.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 into southern Israel, attacking multiple army bases and farming communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

They abducted another 250 people. more than 100 of whom were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. Militants are still holding around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

Israel launched a major offensive in response to the October 7 attack that has killed more than 38,000, according to health officials in Gaza, who do not say how many were civilians or militants.

The war has caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million  often multiple times  caused widespread hunger and raised fears of famine.
Conservative candidate Kemi Badenoch has attacked the local council in her North West Essex seat for having potentially disenfranchised thousands of postal voters who have not received their ballots.

The British Cabinet minister said up to 2,600 voters were affected by Uttlesford District Council forgetting to send them their postal votes.

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Writing on X on polling day in the UK, Ms Badenoch said: Five years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out. People wanted Change. Instead, they got Change for the WORSE, electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.

5 years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out. People wanted Change.



Instead, they got Change for the WORSE, electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.



The community is now saddled with.(2/4)   Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) July 4, 2024 Advertisement

The community is now saddled with a council leadership unable to carry out basic functions competently

Now theyve potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers.

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The councils chief executive, Peter Holt, last week said he was mortified and apologised for the error.

He said the council was delivering postal ballots by hand in a bid to resolve the matter, but warned a close result on election night could be challenged if a large proportion are not returned.

There is speculation this could thwart any bid by Ms Badenoch to stand in a Tory leadership contest.

If she wins her seat by a narrow margin, Labour could challenge the result and demand a re-run.

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This could result in a by-election, with Ms Badenoch not considered an MP until its conclusion and therefore prevented from running in a Conservative Party leadership race.

Ms Badenoch is seen as a frontrunner to replace Rishi Sunak should he lead the Conservatives to defeat.

Having won a 27,594 majority in Saffron Walden in 2019, she is fighting for re-election in the redrawn North West Essex seat.
An Israeli official says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will dispatch negotiators to resume Gaza ceasefire talks.

Diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war in Gaza appear to be stirring back to life after a weeks-long hiatus.

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On Wednesday evening, the militant Hamas group said it gave mediators its latest response to a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire.

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A senior Biden administration official said the White House viewed the resumption of negotiations as a breakthrough that moves the process forward while cautioning that there is still much work to do.

Mr Netanyahu spoke earlier on Thursday with President Joe Biden.

Mr Netanyahus office said he told Mr Biden that Israel is committed to finish the war only after achieving all of its objectives  a reference to the twin war goals of rescuing hostages and destroying Hamas.

During the 30-minute call, Mr Biden made clear to Mr Netanyahu that its time to bring the deal to closure, said the administration official.

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Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed (AP)

The US has rallied world support behind a plan for a phased ceasefire that calls for the release of all of the scores of hostages still held by Hamas in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

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Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal last month, some of which the US said were unworkable, without providing specifics and talks ground to a halt.

After the US put forward a new version, Hamas said on Wednesday that it send a new response to Egypt and Qatar.

Hamas political official Bassem Naim said the group responded with some ideas to bridge the gap between the two sides, without elaborating.

A US official called the response constructive but said more work needed to be done.

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For his part, Mr Netanyahu has given conflicting stances  he has said Israel is committed to the proposal outlined by Mr Biden in a speech on May 31. But in a TV interview last month, he said he was only prepared to make a partial deal, and would continue the war after a pause.



Hamas says it has handed mediators its latest response to ceasefire proposals (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

At its core, the US proposal calls for a three-phase process.

The first phase calls for a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one.

Under the current proposal, the negotiations are meant to lead to a sustainable calm and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza  with the release of all remaining men, both civilians and soldiers, held captive by Hamas in return for an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners.

The third phase would see the return of the remains of hostages.



Gazas Health Ministry says that more than 38,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks.

Israeli officials have said they want the negotiations to lead to Hamas removal from power in Gaza  a provision not spelled out in the proposal.

They have also pushed for a time limit on negotiations to keep pressure on Hamas and prevent it from drawing out talks and the initial ceasefire.



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dispatched a team of negotiators to resume the ceasefire talks (Abir Sultan/AP)

Later, speaking before Israels parliament, he said Israel remains committed to the deal outlined by Mr Biden.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 into southern Israel, attacking multiple army bases and farming communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

They abducted another 250 people, more than 100 of whom were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. Militants are still holding around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

In its campaign in Gaza since the attack, Israel has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, who dont say how many were civilians or militants.

Israels bombardment, ground offensives and restrictions on Gaza have caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million  often multiple times  and caused widespread hunger, raising fears of famine.
Thursday is not a good night for the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon has said as the exit poll in the UK General Election suggests the party could drop to as few as 10 seats.

The BBC/ITV/Sky survey was published as polls closed at 10pm, predicting a 170 seat majority for Labour across the UK.

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Sir Keir Starmers partys success appears to have extended north of the border, with the SNP losing 38 seats compared with the 2019 election.

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Speaking on ITV, the ex-SNP leader reacted minutes after the exit poll suggested her party could lose 38 seats compared to the 2019 election.

This is not a good night for the SNP on these numbers, she said.

I think there will be a question about whether there was enough in the campaign to give out, effectively, a USP to the SNP in an election that was about getting the Tories out and replacing them with Labour.

She added: This is at the grimmer end of the expectations for the SNP if the exit poll is right and, from what Ive said earlier on, I expect it will be.

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This is seismic for Labour. Theres no getting away from that, its a massive achievement for Keir Starmer.

I think it will be interesting as the night progresses to see the extent this is driven by the Tory collapse as opposed to a Labour surge.

The first result in Scotland is expected to be Rutherglen, which could declare at 1am.

Speaking on ITV, the former Scottish first minister said she believed the results of the exit poll would turn out to be broadly right.

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While the partys campaign chief, Stewart Hosie, described the poll as stark but insisted it was just an exit poll.

In the next few hours, well see how accurate or otherwise it is, he told the PA news agency.

Asked what such a result could mean for the SNP, Mr Hosie said he was not concerned.

In 2005, I think we were down to five or six MPs and we went on to win the Holyrood election in 2007, he said.

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In 2010, I think we returned six and went on to win a majority in Holyrood in 2011.

So Im not worried about what this means for the SNP, but clearly if this result or something like it comes to pass, it tells us that the overriding motivation for almost everybody in this election was simply to get the Tories out and people appear to have decided that a vote for Labour is the way to do that.

Former first minister and Alba Party leader Alex Salmond said the SNPs potential collapse was not because of independence.

How could it be? The SNP did not even campaign on it, he said.

In reality, the support for independence is strong. It is the SNP who are weak. The independence case must now find new vehicles to move forward.
Nigel Farages Reform UK is set to win 13 seats, according to the exit poll in the UK General Election.

The party, which was only formed in 2018, currently only has one MP, Lee Anderson, who defected from the Conservatives.

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It would be the first time Reform have managed to secure an MP at the ballot box.

Mr Farage had earlier declined to say what number of MPs they would classify as a win, but 13 elected representatives is higher than predictions by most polls.

It has been said that Reforms wide but thin support would not help their success in a first-past-the-post system and Mr Farage has been vocal about the need for changes to the electoral system.
Donald Trump's campaign and some of his allies have launched a pre-emptive political strike on US vice president Kamala Harris, moving swiftly to try to discredit her amid talk among some of her fellow Democrats that she might replace president Joe Biden atop the party's 2024 presidential ticket.

On social media and in a flurry of statements over the past 48 hours, Mr Trump's campaign and his Republican allies appear to be laying the groundwork for an all-out assault on Ms Harris should the 81-year-old Biden decide to end his re-election bid following his feeble debate performance last week.

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While Mr Biden has insisted he is not quitting the race four months before the November 5th election, and Ms Harris has stood firmly behind him, the Trump campaign has little to lose by attacking the vice president now, so that if Ms Harris does emerge as the nominee, she might do so in a weakened state.

Republicans have regularly criticised Ms Harris, 59, during Mr Biden's term in office, but the attacks this week represented a sharp and seemingly coordinated escalation that appeared to be linked to increased talk about her possibly replacing Mr Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which oversees House Republican races, called her Mr Biden's "enabler in chief".

MAGA Inc., a fundraising super PAC supporting Mr Trump, meanwhile, released a statement calling her the "invasion czar". In March 2021, Mr Biden said Ms Harris would lead efforts with Mexico and Central American nations to address illegal immigration.

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US border

Republicans have since seized on that to accuse her of failing to stem the flow of millions of migrants crossing illegally into the United States, although she was never directly responsible for securing the southern border.

"Kamala Harris is incompetent. She's proven to be the weakest, worst vice president in history, and she has 100 per cent supported Joe Biden in every single disastrous policy that he has implemented over the last four years," said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign.

The Biden campaign pushed back against the escalating Republican criticism without addressing the question of whether the vice president is waiting in the wings.

"Vice President Harris is proud to be President Biden's running mate," said Rhyan Lake, a campaign spokesperson for Ms Harris. "No matter what false attacks Trump and his extreme allies make, she will continue to defend the Biden-Harris record and prosecute the case against Donald Trump."

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The swipes at Ms Harris by Mr Trump's camp were reminiscent of a similar tactic that the Republican Trump, president from 2017-2021, used to successfully undermine Ron DeSantis, his main Republican rival, before the Florida governor jumped into their party's 2024 election primary race last year.

Corey Lewandowski, a longtime Trump adviser, told Reuters Ms Harris was politically vulnerable given her role in addressing illegal immigration, among other issues that are part of extensive research the party has gathered on her record.

Trump's unusual silence

A former senior staffer in the Trump White House who is still in contact with the Trump campaign said the newfound emphasis on Ms Harris made sense.

"If Joe Biden stays on top of the ticket, given what we've seen, she takes on even more importance. But if he does step aside, she's the potential candidate. This is about defining her," the staffer said, pointing to her low approval ratings in public opinion polls.

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Despite her consistently low approval ratings, a Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this week showed Ms Harris to be as formidable an opponent to Mr Trump as Mr Biden. In a hypothetical match-up, Mr Trump led Ms Harris by a single percentage point, 43 per cent to 42 per cent.

The clamor by Mr Trump's allies is in stark contrast with the unusual silence from the normally voluble former president. Since Mr Biden's poor debate performance, Mr Trump has laid low, making few public appearances or public statements.

"This shows a maturation of the candidate himself. You can teach an old dog new tricks. He's showing increased discipline and message control," said a senior adviser to the Trump campaign familiar with internal discussions.

Attack ads

Even before the June 27th debate, the Trump campaign was beginning to turn its attention to Ms Harris, releasing an attack ad online that mocked her for repeating lines in her speeches.

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Ireland Biden needs strong public appearances to show deba... Read More

An online meme promoted by Republicans showed Ms Harris repeating the same phrase "unburdened by what has been" again and again in remarks.

Ms Harris' defenders say she has become more of a target because of her leading role in attacking Mr Trump over abortion rights and her vigorous defence of Biden on the campaign trail.

If Mr Biden were to exit the race before the Democratic National Convention in August, there is no guarantee Ms Harris would be the nominee. But as vice president, she likely would be first in line. She would benefit from Mr Biden's immense campaign war chest and likely see a large segment of Democrats rally around her in a bid to avoid a bitter intra-party battle.

And as the first Black vice president in US history, she provides a bridge to the party's most dependable voting bloc. Her background and relative youth would make for a sharp contrast with Mr Trump, 78.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have attended the summit of a security grouping created by Moscow and Beijing to counter Western alliances.

Mr Putin and Mr Xi joined the leaders of other countries that are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at its annual meeting in Kazakhstans capital, Astana.

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The grouping was established in 2001 by China, Russia and four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to promote regional security and economic cooperation.

It was later joined by India, Pakistan and Iran.



The leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikstan and Belarus joined the Chinese and Russian Presidents (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Russias western neighbour and ally, Belarus, also joined the SCO on Thursday.

Observer states and dialogue partners include Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Addressing the summit, Mr Putin emphasised the groups focus on ensuring security of its members and noted that the SCO will form a dedicated centre that will coordinate response to various security challenges.



Delegates heard that ties between Beijing and Moscow are enjoying their best-ever period (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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He added that the groups members will also endorse a special programme to fight separatism and extremism.

Mr Xi called on the SCO members to show solidarity in the face the real challenges of intervention and polarisation, according to a transcript of his speech by the official Xinhua news agency.

In the face of the real threat of the Cold War mentality, we have to safeguard the security bottom line, he added.

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Besides Mr Putin and Mr Xi, and summit host Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, attending Thursdays meeting are Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan, President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has sent his foreign minister. Indian media reports speculated the recently re-elected Modi was busy with the parliament session that began last week.



The summit is taking place in Astana (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

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Iran is still choosing a successor to President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May, with a run-off election on Friday. Acting President Mohammad Mokhbar will attend the summit.

During a meeting with the Russian leader on the side-lines of the summit, Mr Mokhber conveyed a message to Mr Putin from Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that deep and unchangeable relations between the two allies will remain strong irrespective of the election.

Mr Mokhber added that strong ties between Moscow and Tehran have changed the power equations in the world.

Other guests of the SCO include President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

Also present is UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Central Asia.



Mr Putin was joined by his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

For Mr Putin, the summit offered another venue to demonstrate the failure of Western efforts to isolate Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Putin mentioned his statement in June that the hostilities could end if Ukraine withdraws its troops from the four regions that Moscow annexed in 2022 and abandons its bid to join Nato. Kyiv and its allies have rejected the idea.

Mr Putin also thanked SCO members for their proposals for a peace settlement, adding that Moscow will take them into account.

Moscow has hailed a peace plan for Ukraine offered by China last year that was rejected by both Ukraine and the West for failing to call for Russia to leave occupied parts of Ukraine.

Mr Putin later told Russian reporters that he has noted claims by Donald Trump, the presumed Republican candidate in the US presidential election, that he can resolve the Ukraine crisis and said: We take this quite seriously.

However, he said he has no details about what Mr Trump might propose.



Vladimir Putin hailed the SCO as one of the key pillars of a fair, multipolar world order (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

At a meeting with Mr Xi on Wednesday, Mr Putin hailed the SCO as one of the key pillars of a fair, multipolar world order, and said ties between Moscow and Beijing are experiencing the best period in their history.

It marked their second meeting in as many months following Mr Putins visit to China, which underlined Beijings political support for Moscow amid Western sanctions and Chinas role as a top market for Russian oil and gas.

Russia also has relied on Beijing as a main source of high-tech imports to keep its military machine running.

The SCO helps China project its influence, especially across Central Asia and the Global South. Xi called for bridges of communication between countries last week and wants to further promote China as an alternative to the US and its allies.

For host Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian nations, the meeting is a way to further their cooperation with bigger, more powerful neighbours. Kazakhstan, for instance, frequently engages with both neighbouring Russia and China, while also pursuing links with the West.

In his opening remarks to the summit, Mr Tokayev hailed the SCO as one of the most authoritative and influential international structures.
Two hundred years ago it was possible to believe that all this economic activity was having no significant impact on our stocks of natural assets and their ecosystem services to us. Today, scientists tell us a very different story  and its much easier to see with our own eyes the damage weve done. As Henry puts it, the extraction of non-renewable natural resources for industry has depleted the stock of natural capital directly. But it has also had an indirect impact. Most obviously, the burning of fossil fuels has damaged the atmosphere, the total supply of water in all its forms, and the earths surface, in a set of complex processes we call climate change. But thats not our only contribution to the degradation of natural capital. Because the industrial rate of use of ecosystem services has exceeded natures capacity to regenerate for at least several centuries, the stock of natural capital has been depleted  just as machines used in production depreciate more rapidly if worked harder and not properly maintained. The depletion of natural capital over time reduces its capacity to supply ecosystem services that are critical to production. For example, soil fertility, the availability of well-watered farming land, and capacity of the atmosphere and the land to absorb the waste left by economic activity have all fallen over time.

A degraded biosphere [of land and air] affords less protection from fire, droughts, floods and storms, all of which are growing in incidence and severity because of human-induced atmospheric change, Henry says. Loading Wait, theres more. The depletion of natural capital also reduces environmental amenity  our enjoyment of being out in nature. It also imposes adverse cultural impacts on indigenous peoples. Economists are very aware that, to some extent, labour and physical capital can be substituted for each, one source of energy can be used to replace another, and resources can be used to produce machines that increase what we have available to consume. These are the reason some economists have dismissed the fear that we have, or could ever, approach the limits to [economic] growth.

But Henrys not convinced. None of this human ingenuity, nor [physical] capital accumulation, nor increasing work effort has, thus far, done anything to halt the rate at which the stock of natural capital is being depleted, he says. To the contrary, new technologies and more [physical] capital-intensive modes of production have accelerated its rate of depletion. And they have done little to reduce the dependence of industry upon the stock of natural capital. The worlds first global nature positive summit will be held in Sydney in October, hosted by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The distinguished American economist Robert Solow argued that for economic growth to be sustainable, the present generation has a moral obligation to conduct ourselves so that we leave to the future the option or the capacity to be as well-off as we are. But Henry responds that: The historical loss of natural capital denies us reason to believe that future generations will have the capacity to achieve our level of wellbeing. To put it another way, it would be irrational of us to suppose that we, in this generation, are custodians of sustainable development.

Wow. He goes on to argue that so much has been lost, and with such serious consequences, a consensus has emerged that we must now commit to nature repair. Have you heard of nature positive? It means halting and reversing nature loss, so that species and ecosystems start to recover. Henry says the nature positive position argues that for some time, perhaps generations, we must seek to restore environmental condition, understanding that without doing so, we cannot be confident that future generations will have the capacity to be as well-off. Wow. This is radical stuff. And its coming not from some Greens senator, but from a former Treasury secretary and former chair of the National Australia Bank.
Getting attention in the crowded fashion space used to require elaborate stunts  think Coperni spraying Bella Hadid in paint  or runways in exclusive and exotic locations. Now, the stunt de jour seems to be hitting the delete all key on a brands Instagram, and letting the speculation begin.

Last week, it was Australian brand Witcherys turn to hit the reboot button on its 54-year history, promising an edgier look under a new head designer, but with still the same dependability its customers have grown to love (but had fallen out of love with recently; more on that later).

Two designs from Witcherys new range, including a bubble skirt (right), which has drawn mixed reactions.

But after scrubbing its Instagram profile last weekend and teasing the new look, the brands intended soft launch didnt go entirely to plan.

So what was the brand aiming to do? Are the clothes any good? Why has there been a backlash? And what is with that controversial bubble skirt?
The Home Affairs and Attorney-Generals departments have launched a preliminary inquiry into Peter Dutton overseeing the failure to disclose a key report during a terrorist court case.

In early June, this masthead revealed a Victorian Supreme Court judge referred the non-disclosure of evidence, by department officials while Dutton was home affairs minister, to the national security legislation watchdog for inquiry.

Abdul Nacer Benbrika and Peter Dutton.

On June 19, Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Jake Blight released a statement that said the watchdog had passed on the referral because its remit only covered legislation.

[I]t has been agreed that the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-Generals Department will appoint an eminent person (such as a former judge) to undertake a preliminary inquiry to determine whether there should be a code of conduct or other process in relation to the non-disclosure of material by any officer in the Benbrika proceedings, Blight said.

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Today, the Australian Associated Press reported former Federal Court judge Alan Robertson has been appointed to undertake the inquiry.

Blights statement last month said the reviewer  appointed by the Attorney-Generals Department and Home Affairs to review the conduct of Home Affairs officials  would be independent.

In the last Coalition government, Duttons department oversaw the Australian Federal Police in 2020 when convicted terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrikas prison sentence was set to finish and the Commonwealth applied to extend it, arguing he was a risk to the community.

Benbrikas legal team did not have access to the report that poked holes in a key terrorist assessment tool underpinning the risk evaluation the court relied upon to keep the terrorist locked up. That report found the tool was as effective as flipping a coin.

The move drew scorn from Victorian Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth when the report came to light.

What happened in this case should never have happened, and should not be repeated, Justice Hollingworth said in her reasons to refer Dutton.

Abdul Nacer Benbrika leaving Barwon Prison, near Geelong, in December. Credit: Justin McManus

The justice branded the non-disclosure of various expert reports a serious interference with the administration of justice.

The buried report was kept from the Supreme Court to protect secret information criminals could take advantage of, an internal Home Affairs Department document revealed. Home Affairs said the report wasnt made public because it contained sensitive information in talking points prepared for a subsequent minister and released under freedom of information laws.

Benbrika, an Algerian grandfather who goes by the name Nacer, was convicted in 2009 of directing a terrorist organisation. A jury found him guilty of being the spiritual leader of a terror cell, with members in Melbourne and Sydney, that planned attacks on Australian soil.

His group discussed carrying out attacks because it wanted the Australian government to withdraw troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. No attacks were ever carried out.

Duttons office was contacted for comment.

AAP with David Estcourt
Fort Cavazos, located near Killeen in Central Texas, is the nations largest active-duty armored military post. Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Citing unconscionable conduct by military housing companies, arbitrators have awarded more than $10 million to a former Army sergeant and his family who were sickened by black mold in their on-base housing at Fort Cavazos in Central Texas.

A panel of arbitrators ordered the housing contractors to pay $10.3 million to compensate former Sgt. Jason Kiernan, his wife, Sarah Kiernan, and their three sons for economic damages, mental anguish and other expenses.

According to legal filings, the Kiernan family began experiencing health effects from mold in their home in early 2019, when Sarah was pregnant. Two months later, the couples infant son, Grant, had to be flown by Life Flight to a childrens hospital in Austin, where he was hospitalized for 20 days. Weeks later, the two older boys fell through a wall in the dwelling at Fort Cavazos (then known as Fort Hood), exposing black mold.

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We feel incredibly validated by the arbitration award, Sarah Kiernan told the Express-News. The panel acknowledged what we went through and awarded us money that will help us recover from our experience with Fort Hood Family Housing. We hope the award will further the cause of ensuring that all military families have safe on-base housing to live in.

She added, We do look forward to setting aside the recovery so that we can ensure our children have the resources needed to recover from their experiences and medical conditions that arose from our time in the house at Fort Hood.

The couples youngest son still suffers from breathing problems related to mold exposure, said Ryan Reed of San Antonio, one of the familys lawyers.

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In their interim ruling, the arbitrators said the defendants  Fort Hood Family Housing, FHFH Inc. and Lendlease US Public Partnerships  showed a lack of care or concern for families living in military housing. They said the evidence showed employees of Fort Hood Family Housing used numeric codes in company maintenance reports to hide references to mold.

The arbitration panel went on to say the companies withheld their knowledge of construction or design defects that contributed to mold growth in homes on the Army post, located near Killeen.

The overwhelming evidence revealed that respondents gave claimants a false sense of security that the home was properly repaired and was safe for them to occupy with families and infants, according to the panel, which also found false, misleading, deceptive, and unconscionable conduct by the companies and contempt and a lack of concern for the Kiernans.

The companies either could not be reached or did not return messages seeking comment.

The arbitrators said the Kiernans should receive $2,361,963.27 in economic damages, but they tripled the amount, bringing the total to $7,085,889.81. So-called treble damages are common in civil litigation and are meant to sanction willful or egregious misconduct and to deter others from similar behavior.

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The panel also awarded $974,081.75 in medical damages and ordered that amount, too, to be trebled, bringing the total to $2,922,245.25.

Pre-judgment interest on the amount owed came to $304,517.07. The family is also in line to collect post-judgment interest.

Attorneys fees and costs will be determined at a later date.

No person, and certainly no serving member of our countrys military or their loved ones, should ever be gaslighted by their landlord about a supposedly safe home which is, in fact, riddled with mold, water leaks and other unsafe conditions, said Robert Brzezinski of Guerra LLP, one of the familys lawyers.

Fort Hood, located about 160 miles northeast of San Antonio, is the nations largest active-duty armored military post.

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The Kiernans now live in New Hampshire. Jason left the Army and is now a stay-at-home dad. His wife is a nurse.

They initially filed suit in federal court, accusing the military housing companies of deceptive trade practices, negligence, breach of contract, breach of an implied warranty that the house was habitable, and other wrongdoing.

The case was moved to arbitration after a federal judge found that the lease agreements soldiers signed required that disputes be resolved through arbitration rather than in the courts.

The issue goes beyond Fort Cavazos. The Pentagon began to outsource its housing of troops in the 1990s, signing contracts with private companies for terms as long as 50 years. Five years ago, military families in Texas and other states complained about mold and maintenance problems in housing managed by the for-profit companies. One family said they had to leave their home at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph because raw sewage had pooled in a crawl space beneath the kitchen.

In a separate case, Army Lt. Col. Shane Vinales and his wife, Becky, accused housing contractors of failing to remove mold from a home they leased at Randolph and won a $91,654 judgment in federal court.

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The couple had sued AETC II Privatized Housing, AETC II Property Managers and Hunt ELP Ltd., which does business as Hunt Military Communities. Reed, who also is involved in the Vinales' case, said the defendants are a single entity, despite their different names. The suit accused the defendants of committing fraud and causing personal injury and engaging in deceptive trade practices. However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer limited the suit to breach of contract.

It is one of 16 suits over mold and other problems in rented housing at Randolph and Laughlin AFB in Del Rio. A complicating factor in the litigation is a dispute over what law applies to on-base housing. In the Randolph case, the magistrate judge ruled that pre-1952 Texas housing law governs, Reed said.

It basically said that a landlord owes no duty to a tenant unless its expressly in the lease, he said.
Senator Fatima Payman says it has been a rough month after receiving death threats.

During an interview with Sky News, Payman said she was still figuring out what her position as an independent would look like, and she is currently grieving a little.

Independent senator Fatima Payman sits alone in the Senate this afternoon. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Its been quite a challenging time for me to console the family, but at the same time ensure my staff and team were OK because, obviously, theyre on the phone line receiving all those calls and emails and mail, Payman said.

So its been  rough on the frontline.

For me, Im still figuring out what [being an independent] would look like. Obviously, Ive held onto Labor values for a very long time. So  you can say, Im grieving a little, understanding that, you know, this is going to have a huge impact on me and the way I conduct myself in this place.

Payman also said she would not be joining the Greens.
The spectacular implosion of Fatima Paymans short career as a Labor senator reached its logical conclusion on Thursday.

At five minutes past 2pm, as Anthony Albanese faced questions for the last time before the winter break, Payman called a press conference to explain why she was quitting the Labor Party and moving to the crossbench.

After a terrible week for the government in which its messages about income tax cuts and other cost-of-living relief measures had been overshadowed by the restless senator, the timing of her press conference announcing her defection ensured that Payman would again pull focus.

Payman has sought to inflict maximum political damage on the party she claims to love and she has succeeded brilliantly.
Senator Fatima Payman has become the Albanese governments first defection as she resigned from the party on the last day of parliament before the winter break, accusing the prime minister of pressuring her onto the crossbench where she will act as a high-profile critic of the governments stance on the war in Gaza.

In an impassioned press conference in Canberra, Payman wept as she declined to pledge her support for Labors legislative agenda on issues such as climate change or industrial relations, accusing Labor of not caring about the suffering of Palestinians.

I am torn, deeply torn. On one hand, I have the immense support of the rank-and-file members, unionists, the lifelong party volunteers, who are calling on me to hang in there and to make change happen internally. On the other hand, I am pressured to conform to caucus solidarity and toe the party line, she said.

I see no middle ground and my conscience leaves me no choice.
Growing and ageing populations

Population projections suggest the Indigenous population will continue to grow strongly in outer regional, remote, and very remote Australia (by more than 10% between 2021 and 2026). This growth is concentrated in older cohorts (from age 4549 years and older), indicating a rapidly ageing Indigenous population. This will impact the type of housing, infrastructure, and services needed in remote communities.
Over the same week last year, 1,428 homes were auctioned across the combined capitals. This marks only the second time since May that auction activity has fallen below 2,000.
We are concerned that the proposed acquisition would remove one of Stocklands closest and largest competitors in the supply of residential masterplanned community housing lots in four regions - the Illawarra, North West Perth, Ipswich, and Moreton Bay, ACCC Commissioner Liza Carver (pictured above) said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a presentation of a Haval F7 SUV produced at the Haval car plant located in Russian Tula region, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, June 5, 2019. (Photo: Maxim Shipenkov/Pool via Reuters)

At a critical juncture for global geopolitics, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are intensifying their push for greater regional cooperation and security within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Addressing the SCO's annual summit in Kazakhstan, Xi called on member states to resist "external interference" and consolidate unity amid what he described as real challenges of division and interference.

"We should work together to resist external interference ... and firmly grasp our own future and destiny, as well as regional peace and development, in our own hands," Xi was quoted as saying by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. The SCO, initially founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and promote border security, has evolved into a broader geopolitical counterweight to Western alliances, particularly those led by the United States.

This year's summit saw Belarus, a staunch ally of Russia, officially joining the SCO, following Iran's admission last year. The bloc's expansion is part of a strategic transformation driven by Beijing and Moscow to fortify their influence in Eurasia. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's absence from the event further underscores the perception of the SCO's growing anti-Western orientation.

Xi Jinping emphasized the need for the SCO to address internal differences peacefully, seek common ground, and resolve cooperation challenges. He warned against the "real threat of Cold War mentality" and called for the protection of the right to development against the "real risks of small yards with high fences," a veiled reference to U.S. strategies aimed at restricting key technologies from China. Xi also highlighted the importance of promoting scientific and technological innovation and maintaining stable industrial and supply chains.

On the sidelines of the summit, Xi and Putin held bilateral talks, where they celebrated the deepening alignment between China and Russia. Putin described the current state of Russia-China relations as "the best period in their history," positioning their cooperation as a stabilizing force on the international stage. "Russian-Chinese cooperation in global affairs serves as a main stabilizing factor on the international stage, and we continue to further enhance it," Putin told Xi.

The meeting between Xi and Putin marks their second face-to-face discussion in two months, following Putin's visit to Beijing in May. This interaction comes on the heels of a significant defense pact between Russia and North Korea, further complicating the geopolitical landscape. The close ties between China and Russia have drawn sharp criticism from the U.S. and Europe, especially since the two countries declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022, just weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

China has surpassed the European Union to become Russia's top trade partner, providing critical support to Russia's heavily sanctioned economy. Both nations have continued joint military exercises, including with Iran, showcasing their strategic alliance. The U.S. has accused China of supplying Russia with dual-use goods that bolster its military capabilities, allegations that Beijing denies.

In his remarks, Xi reiterated the importance of China and Russia upholding their "lasting friendship" amid global turbulence. He stressed the need for both countries to safeguard their "legitimate rights and interests" and uphold the basic norms governing international relations. "China and Russia should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference, and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability," Xi said, according to a readout from China's Foreign Ministry.

The SCO summit also saw calls for a new architecture of cooperation in Eurasia, with Putin advocating for an alternative to the Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models. He blamed the West for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and expressed Russia's readiness to negotiate, provided Kyiv and its allies accept Moscow's terms.

Putin highlighted the increasing use of national currencies in trade among SCO countries, proposing the creation of a new payment system within the group. This move aims to reduce dependency on the U.S. dollar, especially in light of Western sanctions that have isolated Russia from traditional payment systems like SWIFT.
A 34-year-old man was shot after confronting a man who was urinating in front of his West Side home. Dave Thompson - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

A 34-year-old man was shot in the arm after confronting a man who was urinating in front of his West Side home, police said.

San Antonio police responded to a shooting shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 5400 block of Zupan Lane.

According to police, the 34-year-old man was outside his home when he saw a man park and then begin urinating in front of his house.

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According to a preliminary police report, a confrontation ensued. The unidentified man shot the homeowner in the arm. He fled the scene shortly after in a car.
Finance ministry sources also said that the Budget would stick to the fiscal deficit projection of 5.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2024-25. Image: Shutterstock

The government in May reported a fiscal surplus of around Rs 1.6 trillion and revenue surplus of around Rs 2 trillion, thanks to more than double surplus transfer from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) over what was estimated for this head and dividend from Public Sector Banks (PSBs) together for 2024-25 in the interim Budget, robust tax revenues and capex compression.

At the outset, this showed that the government is in a comfortable position to retain or better fiscal deficit targets given in the interim Budget for 2024-25. Finance ministry sources also said that the Budget would stick to the fiscal deficit projection of 5.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2024-25 as was pegged in the interim Budget. They further said that the glide path, which entails narrowing the fiscal deficit further to 4.5 per cent of GDP during the next financial year, would also be retained. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp





ALSO READ: Budget Watch: Govt may announce new 5G initiatives, focus on R&D for 6G However, this path may not be as easy for the government to tread. This is so because the Modi government 3.0 is facing pulls and pressures from coalition partners for state-specific packages as well as within the party to address the vulnerable sections of the society some of whom shifted loyalties to the Opposition at the hustings.

The government has around Rs 1.09 trillion more from RBI transfer compared to slightly over Rs 1.02 trillion pegged from two heads cited above in the interim Budget for the current financial year. Dividends from PSBs are yet to come.

Tax revenues, net of devolution to the states, was only Rs 2,600 crore higher during 2023-24 than what was pegged in the revised estimates in the interim Budget. However, the first two-three months of tax collections showed that there could be a bit of upward revision in the Budget estimates for 2024-25 in the full Union Budget than what was pegged in the interim Budget.





ICRA Chief Economist Aditi Nayar anticipates an upside in tax and non-tax receipts of Rs. 1.2 trillion relative to the amount pencilled into the interim Budget estimates For FY25. Surplus transfer from RBI and dividend from PSBs form part of non-tax receipts. However, the government is expected to tweak the new tax regime for personal income tax which would hit the exchequer slightly.

"This could be split roughly equally, towards enhancing expenditures and compressing the fiscal deficit below the 5.1% of GDP that was pencilled in the Interim Budget for FY2025," she said.



Radhika Rao, executive director and senior economist at DBS Bank, says political compulsions are unlikely to derail the ongoing fiscal consolidation agenda.

"The revenue buffer leaves the door open for the government to improve on the interim Budget's target of 5.1 per cent of GDP by 10-20 basis points with the rest likely to be channelised towards social support schemes," she said.

If Nayar's calculations are taken into consideration, the government has a buffer of Rs 1.2 trillion to give away to the demand of financial packages for Bihar and Andhra, spending extra on vulnerable sections and Agniveer.





All these have to be contained within Rs 1.2 trillion or the government has to compress capex in the hope that private investments will revive. Although Andhra Pradesh and Bihar are demanding special category status, the government is averse to the idea since the category no longer exists. However, the government may prepare special financial packages for the two states and announce them in the Budget. Then, there are demands of increasing work days under MNREGA to 200 days from the existing 100 days and hiking wages under the scheme, increasing the number of years for Agniveer from the current four years for 75 per cent of the recruits and a one-time payment from the current Rs 11.71 lakh, increase in sum given to farmers under PM-Kisan from Rs 6,000 a year etc.

In fact, the government cut capex by 14.4 per cent at Rs 1.43 trillion in the first two months of 2024-25, probably due to operation of the model code of conduct during General Elections.

After the 2024 Lok Sabha results last month, an analyst at Moody's Ratings had said the narrower margin of victory for Modi's alliance will forestall reforms that could have potentially facilitated aggressive fiscal consolidation.

"It looks like the prospects for even more aggressive consolidation are not as bright as they were prior to the election results," Christian de Guzman, senior vice president, Sovereign Risk Group, had told Reuters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 240 seats, 32 short of the majority mark. However, the party-led National Democratic Alliance got 293 seats with Janata Dal (United) and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) pitching in crucial 28 seats.





ALSO READ: Budget Watch: From toys to footwear, new PLI schemes knocking on the door The fiscal deficit narrowed to 3 per cent of the Budget Estimates (BE) in the first two months against 12.5 per cent in April of the current financial year. Similarly, there was a surplus of 13.9 per cent of the deficit figure pegged at BE on the revenue account in the first two months against a deficit of 17.1 per cent in the first month of FY25.

The interim Budget pegged the fiscal deficit at Rs 16.85 trillion or 5.1 per cent of GDP during 2024-25 against Rs 17.35 trillion or 5.9 per cent of GDP projected in Revised Estimates (RE) for 2023-24. The government bettered the RE with a fiscal deficit narrowing to Rs 16.54 trillion or 5.6 per cent of GDP for 2023-24, thanks to robust tax collections.

Similarly, the interim Budget projected the revenue deficit to narrow to Rs 6.53 trillion or 2 per cent of GDP during the current financial year against Rs 8.40 trillion or 2.8 per cent of GDP pegged in RE for the previous financial year. Revenue deficit further narrowed to Rs 7.66 trillion or 2.6 per cent of GDP for FY24.

Revenue deficit means that the government has to take resort to debt to finance its current expenditure. As such, zero revenue deficit is considered ideal. Revenue surplus is even more desirable but May will prove to be an exception since the country has committed expenditure of salary, pensions, interest payments for debt under this head.
The tussle between the auditors and the management of Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) over the going concern status of the company shows that corporate governance systems are maturing in India unlike before, when the former were pulled up for not flagging these issues, a senior official told Business Standard. The auditors have doubted whether PPBL can continue as a going concern, given its operational challenges.

Going concern is an accounting term for a company that is financially stable enough to meet its obligations and continue its business for the foreseeable future. Certain expenses and assets may
Superintendent Milton Fields, shown last year, told Judson ISD trustees considering changes to the dress code June 25, If you ask the students, theyll say, Yeah, its unfair. School districts across San Antonio have refined their policies to keep up with changing tastes. Robin Jerstad

Stores will soon be inundated with back-to-school shoppers, but before families fill their carts and empty their wallets, they should check up on the dress codes their students must follow this fall.

Otherwise, they risk awkward phone calls from administrators and inconvenient trips to drop off a change of clothes at school.

Southside ISD's 2023-2024 policy doesnt allow makeup or fake nails until middle school and prohibits body piercings, tattoos and unnatural hair colors at all schools. Eugenio Marongiu/Getty Images/Cultura RF Students change class at Churchill High School on April 3, 2024. School districts across San Antonio have refined their dress codes to keep up with changing tastes. What they prohibit says something about what students want to wear. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio school systems have tweaked, refined and expanded policies spelling out how students are expected to look (or not) and what they are expected to wear (or not), responding partly to new fashion trends and partly to increased criticism of both the rules and their uneven enforcement.

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Judson Independent School District is the latest example, with trustees approving changes June 25 that appear sensitive to the criticism but that also offer principals greater flexibility to define a violation by expanding the category it covers.

The district used to explicitly prohibit hair bonnets and wave caps, often worn by Black students, but now generalizes the ban to include hair coverings designed for night wear or hair prep.

Similarly, a section that once banned hairstyles that are offensive in nature now says hair cannot be a distraction to the educational environment, which might be equally subjective but easier to explain.

The Judson ISD dress code forbids pajamas, bedroom slippers and bottoms that end above the mid-thigh. A new provision also bars students from wearing leggings or yoga pants unless another article of clothing covers their butts while sitting and standing.

Trustee Laura Stanford wondered if the district might end up with drastic differences in enforcement from campus to campus that would seem unfair.

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If you ask the students, theyll say, Yeah, its unfair, Superintendent Milton Fields responded. If you ask the principals, it has to be left up to their discretion.

Board member Monica Ryan shared the new dress code on Facebook, where, like almost everything else at Judson ISD, its pros and cons were soon hotly debated by an active community group.

Some opposed the very idea of dress codes because they disproportionately target girls and students of color. Others said Judson administrators have failed to enforce the previous local policy, leaving the districts campuses loaded with inappropriate attire.

The arguments are not unique to Judson ISD. Students and parents across the city have long challenged their school districts dress codes for what they claim are sexist and racist assumptions that impede student self-expression.

Student feedback led San Antonio ISD in 2021 to overturn its prohibition against wearing hoodies and jeans or dying their hair bright colors. A year later, the district removed the rest of the school uniform requirement of polo shirts and khakis it had introduced around the turn of the century.

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Today, the SAISD dress code is relatively lax. It makes a point of saying hairstyles associated with race or ethnicity such as braids, dreadlocks or Afros wont be restricted, and it requires staff to enforce the rules in ways that dont target students because of gender, size or body maturity.

But if leggings or yoga pants are no big deal at SAISD, they could send you to the principals office at neighboring school districts. Like Judson, North East ISD requires pants and leggings to have an item of clothing covering the students back to the length of their bottom, its dress code says.

Female students can be pulled from class and asked to change if they show up in halter tops, shirts that expose their backs or midriffs, or strapless or spaghetti-strapped tops cut low enough to expose breasts or cleavage. Tank top straps must be at least 2 inches wide. Shorts, dresses and skirts must be conservative and modest in appearance.

School districts can be implicit or explicit about the potential of clothing and personal grooming to distract other students and disrupt learning. The areas largest, Northside ISD, prohibits any clothes that are suggestive or indecent, including tank tops, muscle shirts, spaghetti straps, crop tops and tight-fitting pants.

Alamo Heights ISDs dress code is much shorter  and vaguer, built around a prohibition of any clothing or grooming that, in the principals judgment, may reasonably be expected to cause disruption, according to its 2024-2025 student handbook.

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Across town, Southside ISD has one of the more stringent policies. Adopted in 2022, it requires all students to wear black, red or white shirts to promote a sense of school identity and cohesion, its website says. The 2023-2024 version doesnt allow makeup or fake nails until middle school and prohibits body piercings, tattoos and unnatural hair colors at all schools.

The district has more descriptive standards for hairstyles and grooming, including that students may not wear hair curlers, rollers or picks in their hair, have sideburns longer than the bottom of their earlobe or shave parts of their eyebrows.

Facial hair must be neatly groomed, the handbook says, and wigs are out of the question unless theres a medical exception.

Shaven eyebrows and colorful hair are also a no-go at Somerset ISD, where students can wear only three earrings and one nose piercing, which cant be a hoop or ring. Tongue, facial and eyebrow piercings are not allowed.

Somerset is one of several local school districts that ban trench coats. So is Southwest ISD, whose student handbook acknowledges that dyed hair and piercings have become common in society but says administrators might deem extreme cases a classroom distraction.

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It also says, It is a distraction and against social norms to expose any area of the body from just below the collarbones down through the mid thighs.

Most of Edgewood ISDs elementary and middle schools require uniforms, but at other free-dress campuses, students cant expose their tattoos, wear contact lenses that alter the natural appearance of eyes or sport clothing items that identify a gang or a group not approved by the school, its handbook says.

Edgewood students are also prohibited from wearing clothing with emblems, text or pictures that are lewd, offensive, vulgar, obscene, satanic or imply a double meaning message.

Its the same deal at Fort Sam Houston ISD, where students must cover tattoos and ensure that clothing does not depict drugs, alcohol, gang affiliation, tobacco, weapons, nudity, death, violence, vulgar/obscene language or images or insults to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or ethnicity.
The Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) has requested the central bank to reconsider the membership guidelines for self-regulatory organisations (SROs) for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). The industry association wants the stipulation that 10 per cent of the membership be drawn from the base-layer of NBFCs to be narrowed only to firms that provide loans and have direct customer interface. Additionally, a clarification has been sought as to whether an NBFC can be a member of more than a single SRO.





FIDC has sought a meeting with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on these issues.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin introduced the latest version of the radar-evading stealth bomber in December 2022. A recent Facebook ad listed a 1998 model for sale for $2.9 million. The Air Force says the listing is bogus. Marcio Jose Sanchez, STF / Associated Press

A Facebook Marketplace ad offering an Air Force stealth bomber for sale for $2.9 million is a hoax, according to the Air Force.

The Facebook listing said a 1998 model of the B-2 Spirit, a high-tech, radar-evading bomber, was available for purchase in San Antonio for $2,899,999. The post, which was the subject of a recent Express-News story, said the seller had no title for the aircraft and that would-be buyers should not ask for a vehicle identification number or "ask too many questions."

Don't believe it, said Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman at the Pentagon. None of the nations stealth bombers is available for sale, she said.

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The Facebook Marketplace postings are false, she said. Private citizens may not purchase Air Force aircraft.

Gen. Ronald Fogleman, a former Air Force chief of staff, said there was no way a private seller could get ahold of a B-2.

There are no spare B-2s floating around anywhere, Fogleman said in an interview. Since the aircraft costs $3 billion to $4 billion per copy, selling one for less than $3 million doesnt make a whole lot of sense," he added.

The B-2 Spirit is a "multi-role" bomber that can be armed with both conventional and nuclear explosives. It's a "low-observable" craft that can evade enemy radar and penetrate air defenses more readily than conventional bombers. It's able to do that because of special materials and coatings that absorb rather than reflect radar signals, and because of the plane's shape: It's a flying wing, with no fuselage or tail.

"Many aspects of the low-observability process remain classified," according to an Air Force fact sheet.

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From the start of the B-2 program, the government has closely guarded the technology behind the plane's stealth capabilities. Components were purchased through front companies, military officials wore plainclothes when they visited the manufacturing site, a former Ford Motor Co. plant in southern California, and people working on the project were subjected to polygraph exam, the Washington Post reported in 1989.

Lead contractor Northrup Grumman delivered the first operational bomber in December 1993. The plane was first used in combat during the 1999 NATO bombing of Kosovo. It also flew combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Facebook Marketplace listing shows a photograph of a B-2 emerging from a hangar. The plane bears the marking "Spirit of Arizona."

That particular B-2 went into service in 1998 and was christened the Spirit of Arizona in a ceremony at Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson in March of that year. It was the 18th B-2 to come off the assembly line.

The Facebook ad lists the height, weight, wingspan and other specifications for the B-2, which are readily available from public sources.

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The Air Force has 19 B-2s in its fleet, of which 12 to 14 are available for combat at any given time, Air and Space Forces magazine reported in May.

Gen. Gregory Speedy Martin, a former commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and the Air Force Materiel Command, said it wasn't plausible that the government would ever allow a private seller to get their hands on such sensitive military technology.

The Air Force has a very tightly controlled effort to ensure that they dont give away any state secrets, if you will  any engineering, shape or materials being used, and the same would be true of avionics and self-defense systems, all the things these airplanes have, he said.

Air Force budget documents indicate the service plans to keep the B-2 in service through 2030 but not much beyond, Air and Space Forces reported. It is expected to be replaced by a next-generation stealth bomber, also made by Northrup Grumman, called the B21 Raider.
Two men in their 30s and a teen were shot early Thursday in a backyard on the Southeast Side. mbbirdy/Getty Images

Two men and a teenager were wounded early Thursday in a backyard shooting on the Southeast Side, according to San Antonio police.

Officers responded to a report of shots fired around 2:30 a.m. in the 1600 block of Steves Avenue. With officers on the scene, a shooting occurred in the backyard of the location.

Police say a 34-year-old man, another man in his 30s and a 17-year-old male suffered gunshot wounds. All three were taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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A San Antonio police sergeant at the scene said the two men were shot in the abdomen, shoulders and legs. The teenager was shot in the arm.

Officers detained four people in connection to the shooting, the sergeant said.

Police, who didn't identify the victims or detainees, said they dont know yet what led to the shooting. Their investigation is ongoing.
One of the paradoxes of Indias employment paradigm is that joblessness remains a challenge even as the countrys large potential employers complain of a labour shortage. Last week, Larsen & Toubro Chairman S N Subrahmanyan said the engineering giant was facing a manpower shortage of over 45,000 workers and engineers across its businesses. L&T is not an outlier in this respect. Across India, from steel manufacturers in the east to the textile hub of Tiruppur, companies are struggling to find skilled labour for such basic functions as machine operations, welders, fitters, drivers, technicians, carpenters, and plumbers. The
PlayStation Stars Outage Surpasses 2011 PSN Hack, Imminent Return Expected

Sony has announced that its PlayStation Stars loyalty program will be back "in phased regional rollouts" after being offline for nearly a month. The program, which started in September 2022 in Asia and later expanded worldwide, has been highly popular among PlayStation users. However, the sudden outage last month left many users puzzled. Sony has now stated that PlayStation Stars will return soon.

Read Also: Pepper Grinder to Hit Nintendo Switch Shelves with Physical Release

Popular Loyalty Program Goes Offline

PlayStation Stars allows users to earn rewards by completing various campaigns and activities, such as earning specific trophies or being one of the first to platinum a title. Although many rewards are cosmetic, users can also earn points to convert into PlayStation Wallet funds.

The unexpected downtime, lasting longer than the infamous 2011 PSN outage, caused significant concern among the PlayStation community. Despite the prolonged outage, Sony has not explained the reason for it. The official PlayStation Stars website now confirms that the loyalty program will resume shortly.

Global Rollout in Phases

Sony conveyed through the PlayStation Stars website that the service would return soon in phased regional rollouts, thanking users for their patience and expressing eagerness to welcome them back. However, the exact timeline for the global rollout remains unclear, though some users in Asia report the service is already back online.

Earlier this week, PlayStation Network experienced another brief outage affecting PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users. According to GameRant, the network went down at around 9:30 AM CT on July 1 but returned a few hours later. In a related incident, Xbox Live also experienced an outage, preventing users from playing online games or using discs. Both services are now back online, but neither Sony nor Microsoft has disclosed the causes of the disruptions

Related Article: Sony Quietly Drops 8K Label from PlayStation 5 Packaging


Nintendo President Addresses Generative AI Use in Game Development

In late June, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa addressed the use of generative AI in game development during an investor Q&A session. Despite other companies in the gaming industry embracing this technology, Furukawa stated that Nintendo has no plans to use generative AI to create new games due to copyright concerns.

Read Also: Final Fantasy 14 Rolls Out Graphics Update on Lodestone, Companion App

Nintendo's Stance on Generative AI

Furukawa acknowledged that while generative AI can enhance creativity, it poses significant intellectual property issues. He emphasized that Nintendo has a long history of creating unique gaming experiences without relying on such technology. The company remains open to technological advancements but aims to deliver value through its own distinctive methods.

Balancing Tradition and Technology

Nintendo has always prioritized protecting its intellectual property. Furukawa highlighted that the company's focus is on maintaining the quality of its successful brands rather than chasing the latest hardware trends. He pointed out that the Nintendo Switch, despite being around for seven years, continues to sell well because of this strategy.

In contrast, competitors like Electronic Arts, PlayStation, and Microsoft/Xbox have adopted generative AI in various aspects of their operations. Nvidia, known for its AI-enabled chips, has become one of America's most valuable companies due to its generative AI advancements.

The gaming industry's integration of AI has been marked by uncertainty and mixed results. While AI promises new features like NPC generation, it also raises concerns about human roles, such as voice acting, and has coincided with layoffs in the industry. Nintendo's cautious approach reflects its commitment to innovation while preserving its unique identity in the gaming world.

Related Article: Lollipop Chainsaw Remake Confirmed for Nintendo Switch Launch in September
Chinese premier urges digital transformation of manufacturing sector

Xinhua) 08:14, July 04, 2024

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is briefed on R&D related to AI software and chips during a visit to an AI company in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 2, 2024. Li made a research trip to the city of Suzhou from Tuesday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

NANJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged efforts to promote the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector and boost the development of enterprises that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to produce unique and novel products, aiming to modernize the industrial system.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a research trip to the city of Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, that began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday.

As part of his trip, Li visited production workshops operated by an industrial automation solutions provider in Suzhou, where he learned about the company's R&D related to industrial robot components and other products.

Highlighting the need for more advanced, more intelligent and greener development in the manufacturing sector, Li called for efforts to encourage enterprises to integrate into national strategies and gain development opportunities through sci-tech innovation.

During a visit to an AI company, Li was briefed on its R&D related to AI software and chips, learned about its solutions for the auto and home appliances sectors, and experienced large language model (LLM) technologies first-hand.

The rapid rise of LLMs has brought transformative change to R&D and manufacturing methods, he said, urging efforts to leverage China's advantages in market size, diverse demand and rich application scenarios to promote the deep integration of AI and the real economy.

The premier also presided over a symposium during the research trip, where he noted that the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry is a key task to boost China's strength in manufacturing. He called for work to harness the power of AI, as well as efforts to accelerate core technology breakthroughs and the construction of digital infrastructure.

"Little giant" firms -- novel elites among China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are engaged in manufacturing, specialize in a niche market and boast cutting-edge technologies -- play a key role in facilitating the digital transformation of the manufacturing sector, and in nurturing new, quality productive forces, he said.

Li encouraged these firms to strengthen their innovation and develop a global perspective for further development.

Governments at all levels should increase policy support and create a favorable environment to enable more SMEs to stand out from the crowd, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visits a production workshop operated by an industrial automation solutions provider, and learns about the company's R&D related to industrial robot components and other products, in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, July 2, 2024. Li made a research trip to the city of Suzhou from Tuesday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An Arizona man confessed during a police interrogation to shooting a man after an argument and then recruiting his brother to help destroy the body, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Brothers Jose and Roberto Lomeli were booked in the Maricopa County Jail over the weekend, nearly two months after 26-year-old Jose De Jesus Loeza was found dead.

Loeza's body was discovered in a car engulfed in flames on April 1. Medical examiners later determined that he died of a gunshot wound - prompting the city's homicide unit to take control of the case.

During a jailhouse interrogation, 40-year-old Jose confessed to pulling the trigger after an argument with Loeza. He was charged with second-degree murder, arson and abandoning a body. Thirty-five-year-old Robert was implicated in the case and charged with arson and abandoning a body, according to KTVK.

"One of [the Lomeli brothers] was responsible for the murder of the victim," said Sgt. Brian Bower, according to KTVK. "His brother was responsible for helping, hindering the investigation as well as causing the fire and helping with the arson aspect."

The incident is still under investigation. Police have not yet shared the suspects' connection to Loeza or what the alleged argument was regarding.

Neither of the brothers has entered a guilty or not guilty plea. Innocent people will sometimes give false confessions during police interrogation, particularly when under duress, according to the Innocence Project. The pair are expected to appear in court again later this week.
The long awaited ITMO Auction is ready to take buyer Registration via the worlds first and leading global Voluntary Carbon platform, Carbon Trade Exchange (CTX). Carbon market brokers, investors plus new players like family offices or funds can participate.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240703957790/en/

Malawi Vice President Honorable Michael Usi with Gold Standard CEO Margaret Kim at COP28 Dubai (Photo: Business Wire)

The Auction will commence on Tuesday 16th July to finish on Tuesday 23rd July2024, hosted at https://ctxglobal.com/auctions/. Auction starting price is $10 USD per credit, with minimum starting bid of only $250,000.

Featuring 1.5 million issued credits for sale, already escrowed in CTXs Gold Standard Registry account, triggers much needed climate finance, benefiting people across Malawi. ITMO prices are forecast by many exerts to be $100+ by 2030.

The Dual Certified project (Gold Standard and UNFCCC CDM) has Malawi Government Letter of Authorisation under Article 6 - Malawi support this Auction. We want the carbon market to boost the countrys economy, create jobs and real benefits in our towns and villages and so we look forward to a successful auction and hope this can be the first of many, says Malawis Vice President and Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Honourable Michael Usi.

Over 550,000 households benefit from this High Quality Gold Standard project which disseminates the Chitetezo Mbaula cleaner cook stove, designed, developed and produced in Malawi: tackling 7 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Stove reduces 46% in-home particles and carbon monoxide by 44%, and decreases firewood consumption by 40%, combating deforestation. By lowering emissions by 2 tCO 2 e annually per family  Carbon Credits can finance the project.

Final bid credits can be immediately transferred to any GS Registry account or held under escrow by CTX for future resale or cancellation  Voluntary or Nations or CORSIA.

Finding High Quality ITMOs since we launched the Auction concept at COP28, has been like digging for gold, says CTX CEO, Wayne Sharpe. We found the richest vein we could hope for, in our long-standing partners, Gold Standard, and a well-established CTX client. Putting funds into Cookstoves in Malawi ticks every box we ever created CTX for in the first place.

Gold Standard CEO, Margaret Kim added, Projects like this one, funded by the purchase of carbon credits, make a real difference to the planet and to peoples health and livelihoods.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240703957790/en/
One year after a woman was killed while riding in a convertible, Florida police are still trying to solve the mystery behind who shot her.

Destiny Bucknor, 19, lost her life to a single bullet shortly after 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale.

Bucknor was a passenger in a convertible Slingshot vehicle driven by an man, traveling westbound on Northwest Eighth Street, when an unidentified subject shot at them as they approached the 2900 block, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

The office's homicide detectives continue to look for the killer and are turning to the public for help identifying the suspect.

Anyone with information on the case is being urgently asked to come forward.

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward up to $5,000 for any information leading to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for the homicide of the 19-year-old.

The motive behind the crime remains unknown.
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Postal Code
Insurance The Insurance amount is calculated based the engine size/battery size of the car and also different for metro cities and other cities. It can also differ from dealer to dealer depending on the insurance provider & commissions.

Rs.11,28,251
Authorities are searching for a woman accused of fatally ramming her Los Angeles boyfriend with a pickup truck and leaving his dead body in the street.

Erika Zimmerman, 37, is wanted on a charge of murder in connection with the death of Louie Martin Cervantes, 46, according to the sheriff's department.

In April, the couple were believed to be involved in a domestic dispute in L.A. County, when Cervantes was struck and killed by a pickup truck allegedly driven by Zimmerman. It's unclear what led to the dispute.

Shortly after the incident, deputies announced a woman by the name of "Erika" was wanted for questioning.

On Monday, the LASD officially identified Zimmerman as the murder suspect in Cervantes' slaying.

Zimmerman is described as a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5-foot 3-inches tall and 140 lbs.

Anyone with information on Zimmerman's whereabouts is urged to contact LASD detectives at (323) 890-5500.
Into the Mortal World, a feature-length animated celebration of Chinese culture and mystical world-building hits mainland China on Friday, July 12.

A co-production between Winsing Animation, Bilibili, and Alibaba Pictures, the cg-animated epic is framed around a romance that bridges the mortal world and celestial world, a la Romeo and Juliet.

Into the Mortal World uses the traditional Chinese astronomical concept of the 28 mansion spirits as a quest for its star-crossed lovers, Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, to reunite on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, Qixi Festival.

While the film is rooted deeply in Chinese culture, Winsing is putting effort into exporting the film to international audiences. The film was showcased to international audiences last month at Annecy during a conference promoting animated production from Chinas Guangdong province, where Winsing is based. The company is best known for its prolific GG Bond tv and film franchise.

Winsing explained that the film is not merely an animated film [but] an invitation to discover the rich tapestry of Chinese traditions, culture, and folklore. As evidence of the films strong cultural elements, the producers cite how the characters wear Neo-Chinese attire (a contemporary reimagining of traditional Song Dynasty clothing), the landscapes being based on the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, and the incorporation of Chinese cuisine like milk tea and Sichuan hot pot into the story.

Into the Mortal World began as a group student film project completed in 2020 at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. After the student short (see below) became a success on the Bilibili platform, the feature film idea took off. Over 2,000 artists are said to have worked on the feature.

The feature is directed by Zhong Ding, an associate professor at the Guangzhou art school, who said in a statement: With its captivating storyline, breathtaking visuals, and profound symbolism, the film promises an unforgettable cinematic journey that will leave audiences with a deeper appreciation for the enduring beauty and wisdom of Chinese heritage.

Into the Mortal World will expand into Southeast Asia territories following its China debut. No American launch has been announced at this time.
Colombias cement shipments fall 11% in May

Muriel Bal By 04 July 2024

Cement dispatches in Colombia declined 10.9 per cent to 1.003Mt in May 2024 from 1.126Mt in May 2023, according to statistics agency DANE. Production was down 11.6 per cent YoY to 1.094Mt in May 2024 from 1.237Mt in the year-ago period.



The market contraction was larger in the bagged cement segment, where sales were down 12 per cent. Bulk deliveries fell by 8.8 per cent YoY. In terms of market segments, the retail sector reported a 9.2 per cent YoY decrease while construction companies and contractors reduced their off-take by 13.2 per cent YoY. Dispatches to ready-mix concrete companies slipped 9.1 per cent.



January-May 2024

In the first five months of 2024 cement consumption in Colombia declined six per cent YoY to 4.947Mt from 5.264Mt in the 5M23. Output from domestic cement plants decreased 5.5 per cent YoY to 5.452Mt in the 5M24 from 5.768.3Mt.



Bulk dispatches contracted by 5.1 per cent YoY in the 5M24 while bagged cement sales were down 3.6 per cent YoY. The retail sector reduced its off-take by 3.5 per cent YoY. Sales to ready-mix concrete companies slipped 5.1 per cent YoY while those to construction companies and contractors were down 10.5 per cent YoY.

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Billy Booth, the Nebraska man who shot seven Hispanic family members before taking his own life, had previous run-ins with the family prior to the incident.

Five weeks before the shooting, the Guatemalan family told authorities that Booth had tried to initiate a fight and "flipped them off."

One of the victims, Maria Garcia Sanchez, said she had told her son, who was being harassed by Booth, to stop engaging with him.

"The guy went over to tell him 'f--- you,' and that's when my son got mad, and he said, 'What do you want? Why do you talk to me like that?'" Sanchez revealed to NBC News.

Weeks later, it was the same son who rushed to call police after he found several of his family members bleeding and wounded following Booth's shoot-out.

On May 21, the family called police to report that Booth was calling them names but said no direct threat was made, according to the police department.

The officers took statements from family members but said they were "not interested in being involved in a legal dispute."

Booth had been previously involved in altercations with several of his white neighbors, as well as the Guatemalan family.

He told his Hispanic neighbors to "go back to their country" before shooting seven of them, four of whom are children, on June 28.

Dave Hansen, who lives next door to Booth, told the news outlet he did not believe the shooting was racially motivated.

"I don't care what the police say. I lived next to that guy for 10 years, and he wasn't racist," Hansen said.

Hansaen claims Booth often antagonized residents over decreasing property values and that he was "all over anyone who didn't take care of their yard," adding that "the last seven years were hell."

Booth shot four kids, between the ages of 3 and 10, at a house across the street from his residence on June 28.

Additionally, three adults between the ages of 22 and 43 suffered gunshot wounds as Booth unleashed a hail of gunfire on his unsuspecting neighbors.

The victims all suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Months after a pregnant 17-year-old teen was fatally stabbed in South Carolina, and a 62-year-old woman is charged with killing her.

Jaqueline Reid, 62, is charged with two counts of murder and was booked into the Barnwell County Detention Center on Monday. Police say she repeatedly stabbed the teen and her unborn child in early February.

The slain teen was identified as Maylashia Hogg, along with her unborn baby girl named Londyn Charity. She was reported missing on Valentine's Day, just days before she was due to deliver her daughter.

Her body was found days later in a ditch.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) was called in by the Barnwell Police Department on February 18 to investigate the death of a pregnant teen found earlier that day.

Maylashia's stepfather, Michael Sapp, described her as an outgoing and outspoken child who wasn't afraid to speak her mind.

"Recently, she has been only excited about having this baby," said Sapp. "That's what's been on her mind-having this baby."

Detectives found forensic evidence at Reid's home linking her to the crime, according to WJBF-TV.

Family members expressed their pain upon seeing Reid in court.

"She's heartless? I mean, if I took someone's life and saw how the family was affected by it, I would have to show some kind of concern. I say I'm sorry; I shouldn't have done it. But she's heartless-very heartless," said Judy Hogg, Maylashia's aunt.

State investigators say they pursued the case for months to arrest a suspect.

"No matter where you live, no matter where you're from, everybody in this state deserves an equal level of law enforcement services," SLED Chief Mark Keel said. "Every case is important, and every victim deserves justice."

Police did not release a motive for the killing and say the investigation is active and ongoing.
Pet owners revolt! It has recently been announced in a nationwide publication that a leading insurance company was dropping its coverage providing benefits to 100,000 family pets (dogs and cats). In a pass- the-buck position, the alleged number one company in America for ensuring Skip, Millie, Popcorn, Finn, Bubbles, Cooper, etc. is attempting to blame the poor old public service veterinarians and Mother Nature for cutting into the profits of its pet insurance business.

While $367 may seem a little steep for cleaning the teeth of a 10-20 pound Welsh Terrier, the same price appears more reasonable when you scrub the molars of a large German Shepherd (Commander), Rottweilers, Doberman Pinscher, Mastiffs, etc.

With a net income of close to $6 billion in 2023, the alleged top pet insurance company proudly reports that it's the largest protector of Fido (dog) and Lily (cat) in our country but more consideration of the family comforters should be given rather than the profit margin.

A highly accurate national polling service Nerd Wallet (like WalletHub) points out that only 24 percent of the dog/cat population are insured by their owners. While the statistic has not reached the mandatory Tennessee automobile liability category yet, the 2024 legislative campaigns are ongoing and this could become a top priority of the pet population voting bloc (at least in the Republican primary).

Pet owners who have received years of love and affection, cuddling, comfort and all of the amenities that come along with a wet kiss of affection to the face cannot be ignored. Does the voting public want a representative that protects the health benefits of its senior pets, allowing them to gracefully grow old in their twilight years and to pass on to Pet Paradise with dignity?

Take heed politico aspirants! In 2023 an estimated 65.1 million households in America owned at least one pooch, 46.5 million pussycats, and 11.1 million Charlie the Tuna descendants in our country. The Volunteer State ranks #21 in pet households in the USA with a pet ownership rate of 61.7 percent.

The federal and state laws against age discrimination may soon come into play to refute the profitable, giant conglomerates weak argument that age and prior claims histories are not factors in their cancellation of the first 100,000 insured companion policies.

(It has been reported that the magnitude of the political power and potential for a massive class action under the age discrimination has possibly caused the billboard, radio, television, and cable advertising attorneys to drop their tractor trailer solicitations and go for the pet mistreatment cases!)

----

If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact him at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
 The Lookout Mountain Conservancys (LMC) annual Lowcountry Shrimp Boil is not just a community celebration filled with music, dancing, and delicious foodit's a vital fundraiser supporting The Howard School Leadership Program. This years event, held on July 25th from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, will be particularly special for the new interns, marking their first opportunity to engage with the community while representing LMC.

As attendees enjoy a feast provided by Feed Table & Tavern, refreshing brews, and live music from the beloved local band Priscilla & Little Rickee, they will also meet The Howard School internsstudents who have dedicated themselves to personal growth and community engagement through LMCs innovative program.

Preparing for Success

LMCs Howard School Leadership Program offers high school students transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom. For many of these students, the program represents their first significant interaction with nature and their community in a positive and constructive way.

Robyn Carlton, CEO of LMC, explains the significance of the Shrimp Boil for the interns: This event isnt just about raising funds; its about giving these students a platform to shine. When the community sees these kids engaging confidently, it validates all the hard work theyve put in and shows the impact of our program.

Upon entering the program, many interns struggle with communication and self-confidence. To help prepare them for the Shrimp Boil, LMC has been organizing sessions on conversation skills, line dancing, and other activities. The Shrimp Boil is their chance to put these skills into practice and witness their personal growth in a real-world setting.

Vshae Moore, a second year intern and 2024 Howard School Graduate, shared some of her favorite memories from last year's event: "Last year was my first shrimp boil! I enjoyed taking a group on a tour and sharing my knowledge about the property. I could tell that the people there genuinely cared about the program and the conservancy  someone even came all the way from New York! My favorite part was definitely the dancing and having fun with everyone."

Community and Conservation

Since its inception, the Lowcountry Shrimp Boil has been a community favorite. Conceived by board member Sally Faulkner, the event was designed to stand out as a unique and enjoyable summer gathering. Carlton recalls the origins: It was just really trying to find when we could do something to establish ourselves and stand out. A shrimp boil in the hottest months of the year was perfect because it didn't compete with other events, and it became a tradition.

Over the years, the event has evolved but its core mission remains the same: fostering community connections and supporting the interns. Initially held at The Crash Pad off Main Street, the event moved to Lookout Mountain in 2019 to accommodate more guests and provide a better setting. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in 2020, LMC adapted with a drive-through event, ensuring that the tradition continued without interruption.

The Impact of the Interns

The Howard School Leadership Program provides students with intensive learning opportunities, using Lookout Mountain as an outdoor classroom. The program addresses academic, social, and leadership development needs, offering a comprehensive support system. For many students, this is the first time they have had regular, positive experiences in nature, which has been life-changing.

Ms. Carlton highlights the programs impact: Our interns not only gain knowledge and skills, but they also develop the confidence to interact with others and share their experiences. Its incredibly rewarding to see them guide guests at the Shrimp Boil, showcasing their knowledge and pride in their work.

Hector Domingo, a fifth-year intern and student at Chattanooga State Community College, shared his enthusiasm for the program and the event: Its so cool to meet the people in the community who care about our program. Its a great way to get groups to go out, learn about the people who have been here, and form bonds with the greater community. Plus, its a day where we can all have fun together and celebrate our hard work.

The program is funded by foundations, community organizations, and individual donors, with an annual cost of $12,500 per student. This funding covers equipment, supplies, food, mentoring, intern wages, and leadership training. The Shrimp Boil plays a crucial role in raising these necessary funds, ensuring the programs continued success and expansion.

Building a Brighter Future

Interns in The Howard School Leadership Program not only benefit from the educational aspects but also from the relationships they build with the community. Carlton emphasizes the organic nature of the programs success: We dont do a hard ask for donations; instead, we focus on showing the community the impact of their support. When people see the interns and talk to them, they understand the value of what were doing.

One of the most rewarding aspects of the Shrimp Boil is hearing feedback from guests about the interns. The best compliments are about our interns, Ms. Carlton said. Guests often tell us how knowledgeable, polite, and impressive the students are. Its a testament to the hard work and dedication these young people put into the program.

Looking Ahead

As LMC prepares for the 11th annual Lowcountry Shrimp Boil, the excitement is palpable. The event not only promises a night of fun and community but also a chance to celebrate the incredible achievements of The Howard School interns. With continued support from donors and the community, LMC and The Howard School Leadership Program are poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of many more students, helping them become the leaders of tomorrow.

* * *

maddi@lookoutmountainconservancy.org








10/10/2024

An investigation by special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has resulted in the indictment of a former Jasper police officer. On July 29, at the request of 12th Judicial ... more
A Chattanooga man, who earlier served time in a manslaughter case, is facing federal drug charges after a traffic stop in Loudon County.

Jermichael Tillery, 30, was stopped by a state trooper on I-75 on June 4. He told the trooper he had traveled from Chattanooga.

The vehicle he was driving was searched and was found to contain 3.5 pounds of meth, 1,950 units of fentanyl, 30 grams of marijuana, three units of oxycodone, and $4,039 in cash.

Tillery was driving a 2023 Volkswagen Jetta with California license plates. He said the vehicle was not his. He said he had borrowed it from a friend, but he did not give information about the friend.

He said he had been driving the vehicle 2-3 weeks and said it had been shipped to him by a friend who was the owner of an auto group. He said he had met the friend two weeks earlier.

It was found that the vehicle was registered to Xaviera King on May 31 in Tennessee. Tillery said Ms. King is his sister.

In 2016, Tillery was charged in a killing in which the victim was shot over 10 times. is out of prison and has been caught with several weapons following a police chase. One of the weapons that was just behind the driver's seat was an AR-15.

Tillery was charged in the murder of 27-year-old Cornelius Douglas at 1419 Carousel Road. He eventually entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter and got a three-year term. Prosecutors said an eyewitness had changed his story.

At the time of the murder charge, Tillery already had picked up charges of armed robbery, possessing a dangerous weapon, reckless endangerment, theft, evading arrest and drug possession.

In February 2020, officers responded to a report of shots fired at the Cross Creek Apartments. As they approached, officers spotted a black, newer model Jeep Wrangler going away from the apartments at a very high rate of speed.

The officers gave chase and the Jeep came to an abrupt stop on Webb Road. They saw a black male with a light complexion, a black top and short twisted dreads. The driver looked at one officer on his left, then looked at the officer on his right, then he took off at a high rate of speed.

Police were told that the vehicle ran through a yard on Arbor Drive and then turned onto the dead end Teakwood Drive, where the Jeep was abandoned. The driver got away on foot.

Police found a fully loaded Bersa 9mm handgun in the driver's seat. The loaded AR-15 was in the back driver's side floorboard near a bag with a box of 9mm ammunition, a box of .357 ammunition and two 7.62x39 rounds.

In the center console police found two small baggies of crack cocaine, pills, a scale and a glass jar that smelled strongly of marijuana.

In the rear of the vehicle was a backpack that held two gallon-size baggies of marijuana.
Prince Harry gave Meghan Markle such a memorable Fourth of July gift on their second date, the former 'Suits' star later mentioned it in her royal wedding reception speech.

The Fourth of July is special to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Why? Because the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had their second date on the holiday in 2016. Harry, whod arrived 30 minutes late to their first date one night earlier, came with gifts for Meghan.

After meeting at Soho Houses 76 Dean Street location in London, England, on July 3, 2016 (see the pair talk about it in the video below), Harry and Meghan returned one day later on July 4, 2016.

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry shared how, this time around, he arrived early with a sweet treat for Meghan to mark the American holiday.

This time I was already therewaiting. Smiling. Proud of myself, the now-39-year-old wrote (via Spare). [Meghan] walked in, wearing a pretty blue sundress with white pinstripes. She was aglow.

Harry continued, recalling how he presented Fourth of July cupcakes to his future wife. I stood and said: I bear gifts. A pink box. I held it forward. She shook it. Whats this? No, no, dont shake it! We both laughed.

Meghan then opened the box to reveal red, white and blue cupcakes, to be exact. In honour [sic] of Independence Day.

I said something about the Brits having a very different view of Independence Day from the Yanks, but, oh, well, Harry added, noting how Meghan had commented that the cupcakes looked amazing.

Harry and Meghans second date proved to be a big moment in their lives. It was then they planned a romantic trip to Botswana, which is where they later wanted to get married, and when they realized they wanted to try a long-distance relationship.

Meghan mentioned the Independence Day cupcakes in her royal wedding reception speech

In Netflixs Harry & Meghan docuseries, Meghan read a speech she gave at her and Harrys Frogmore House wedding reception after they were married at St. Georges Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018.

Calling it a modern fairytale, she told guests the story she wrote about how she and Harry met, which included the Fourth of July cupcakes.

They meet on July 3, 2016, in London, and they giggle endlessly, Meghan said. So the next day they have their second date, and he brings her cupcakes because its [the] Fourth of July.

A bittersweet celebration, he says. Ironic, really. Her countrys independence from his country, she continued. Yet, in this moment, they know they dont want to be independent of each other.

Harry and Meghan now celebrate the American holiday with Archie and Lili

The Fourth of July looks a little different these days for the couple. Since welcoming Prince Archie, 5, in 2019 and Princess Lilibet, 3, in 2021, Harry and Meghan have been spotted celebrating Independence Day as a family.

In 2022, the Sussex familyminus Lili made an appearance in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where they attended a parade over the holiday weekend (via Hello). Archie was seen in video footage captured by an onlooker wearing a red, white, and blue hat.

In a blink-and-miss-it Harry & Meghan scene, Archie can also be spotted holding an American flag while sitting on Meghans lap in the backseat of a car.

In 2023, Harry and Meghan stayed at home in Montecito, California. They celebrated by attending a local Fourth of July celebration where Harry was seen carrying Lili, who wore a festive red, white, and blue outfit.
The future of the endangered southern cassowary is at stake. Dubbed a living dinosaur, the flightless, prehistoric-looking bird is at risk of extinction. With its bright blue neck, tall brown helmet, deep growl, and claws as sharp as daggers, it closely resembles its dinosaur ancestors.

Southern cassowaries are only found in rainforests in Far North Queensland and Papua New Guinea. It is believed that less than 5,000 are still living in Australia.

In general, they are considered the most dangerous bird in the world to humans. They do not like it when humans get too close. One was even provoked into killing a man back in 2019.

The birds are now under threat of extinction due to habitat loss, attacks from dogs, and vehicle accidents, which are their number one cause of death.

The Australian government, in collaboration with Indigenous and conservation groups, has released a report outlining a detailed plan to help protect the species.

In recent years, large-scale housing developments have been pushing southern cassowaries out of their natural habitat. One of the recommendations that the plan makes is to expand the birds habitat by 50 percent by 2031.

The plan also suggests campaigns focused on educating dog owners about the dangers of attacks on cassowaries and more effective signage warning drivers about cassowaries in the area.

The last part of the plan includes conducting more surveys to figure out exactly how many cassowaries are left in the wild.

There are some doubts about the plans success. Jax Bergersen, a conservationist and member of the Cassowary Recovery Team, said, We can have all the good thoughts under the sun, and we can lobby governments and councils for various things that are going to be of benefit, but we dont have the strength as a group to make changes.

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On April 1, 2024, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced that they had identified the remains of a 20-year-old World War II soldier named Joseph C. Murphy, who died as a prisoner of a war camp in the Philippines.

Murphy was from Bogalusa, Louisiana. Before joining the U.S. Army, he had been working for an ice cream company.

In late 1942, he was serving as a private first class in the 31st Infantry Regiment in the Philippines when Japanese troops invaded the Bataan Peninsula.

After lots of intense fighting, American forces surrendered. As a result, thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were captured and brought to POW camps.

When U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the Japanese, it was reported that Murphy was among the prisoners.

They were subjected to the brutal 65-mile-long Bataan Death March across the Philippines and ended up at the infamous Cabanatuan POW camp #1 in the Nueva Ecija Province. During the war, more than 2,500 prisoners of war (POWs) perished in this camp.

At Cabanatuan, the prisoners, including Murphy, had to undergo poor conditions. There was not enough food or water, which led to starvation, malnutrition, and disease. When the camp was finally liberated in 1945, it was estimated that over 2,500 Americans had died.

According to historical records, Murphy died from malnutrition and dysentery just months after arriving at the camp. He was buried in Common Grave 713 in the Cabanatuan Camp Cemetery with other deceased individuals.

Murphy died on October 28, 1942. His family received a letter from U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, notifying them of his death.

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China is may be developing even deadlier kamikaze-style drones for Russia, according to United States allies.

Company officials in China, who wish to remain anonymous, discussed collaborating in 2023 to recreate Iran's Shahed drone and started developing and testing a version this year in preparation for shipment to Russia, according to Bloomberg.

The Chinese drones have yet to be used in Ukraine, they said.

Providing Russia with a Shahed-like drone would deepen Beijing's support for Moscow, despite US and ally warnings. While President Xi Jinping claims China is neutral in the Ukraine conflict, Western officials say China has aided Putin's forces.

US officials say China is holding back on supplying weapons and artillery, as this would escalate tensions and likely result in sanctions against the world's second-largest economy.

"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 Pengyu, the spokesman for China's embassy in the US, noted in a statement.

"We urge the relevant countries to immediately stop fueling the fight and inciting confrontation."

Since the war began, Russia has used thousands of Shahed drones against Ukraine and built a factory to mass-produce them. These Iranian drones are cheap to make but costly to defend against.

Russia relies heavily on countries like North Korea and Iran for supplies and on China for critical parts; however, there's major concern over China producing Shahed-like drones at a much higher rate than Iran or Russia.

Officials didn't name the drone being developed, but Chinese defense websites and media reports suggest it is a kamikaze drone called the Sunflower 200 that resembles the Iranian Shahed 136.

On Tuesday, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith told Bloomberg,

"China takes every effort, every chance it can get to argue that somehow it's a neutral player in this war in Ukraine, but in reality, the People's Republic of China (RPC) 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."

Smith added:

"Here inside NATO, we're 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."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said President Xi had given him his word at the G-7 summit that he would not provide Russia with weapons.
A family in Norway got more than what they bargained for after a search for a missing gold earring turned up some Viking-era artifacts.

The Aasviks live on Jomfruland, a small island on the southeast coast of Norway. They had ventured into their yard with a metal detector, and within moments, the machine picked up a signal near the base of a large tree behind their house.

When they dug down into the ground, expecting to uncover the modern piece of jewelry, they discovered two ancient relics insteadbrooches made from bronze and traces of gold, indicating that they were once gilded.

Vibeke Lia, the lead archaeologist from the Vestfold and Telemark County Municipality, determined that the brooches were from the ninth century.

They were likely part of a Viking burial for an aristocratic woman. Brooches were often found in the graves of Viking women.

One of the brooches was oval-shaped and used to pin shoulder straps to the front of Viking halter dresses.

The other was a circular dress brooch. Its design and decoration are associated with the early Viking town of Ribe, Denmark, since it matches the molds archaeologists have found that date back to sometime between 780 and 850 C.E. They were both engraved with intricate carvings of animals and geometric patterns.

The finds are significant for being the first evidence from the Viking Age, confirming that people were present on the island at that time.

Previously, historical records of Viking settlement only went as far back as the early Middle Ages and made no mention of people living on Jomfruland.

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Home News Calvin University ordered to examine dissent on LGBT issues

The Christian Reformed Church of North America has instructed Calvin University to examine dissent among faculty and staff on the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

At the CRC Synod 2024, held last month in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the denomination's leadership instructed the Board of Trustees at Calvin to define the differences in Calvins use of confessional difficulties in relation to the decisions of synod concerning gravamen.

A gravamen is an official statement that can be filed by church members and officials to address concerns about a specific part of the denomination's teaching that they believe goes against the Bible.

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In recent times, members of the Calvin faculty have openly expressed opposition to the CRCs official stance labeling homosexuality sinful and rejecting same-sex marriage.

The Synod also called on Calvin trustees to develop language and processes in alignment with those in the denomination in order to build trust in its relationships with CRC churches.

Some Calvin faculty, among them English professor Debra Rienstra, have expressed concern that the denomination is cracking down on healthy intellectual dissent within the CRC.

The CRC has provided many, many blessings and gifts in my life, said Rienstra in an interview with Religion News Service. But what happened last week is a new version of the CRC. I have never seen the complete shutting down of principled dissent like we saw this week.

In June 2022, at their annual synod, the CRC voted to identify its biblical stance on sexual ethics as having "confessional status," effectively solidifying its opposition to homosexuality. This meant that church discipline measures could apply to people who teach at church-owned schools, like Calvin.

Months later, the leadership of Calvin voted to allow faculty to publicly disagree with the denominations support for traditional marriage and other human sexuality issues.

A university spokesperson sent The Christian Post a statement at the time explaining that, despite allowing dissent, faculty still had to "adhere to the university's expectations for teaching and personal conduct that honor the church's position."

"The Calvin University community has been well served throughout its 150-year history by accommodating a range of faculty perspectives on specific doctrinal issues, while affirming and upholding the confessional standards of the Christian Reformed Church in North America," stated the university in 2022.

"The Board characterized its decision as respectful of the university's covenantal partnership with the CRCNA, consistent with confessional commitment, congruent with existing policies and procedures, supportive of academic freedom, and reflective of constructive engagement."
Home News German pharmacist sanctioned for not selling morning-after pill sees charges dropped

A German pharmacist engaged in a lengthy legal battle over his refusal to sell the morning-after pill at his pharmacy because of his religious beliefs has secured a victory even as concerns remain about the state of conscience protections in the country.

ADF International, a legal nonprofit specializing in religious freedom cases, released a statement Wednesday announcing that the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg had dismissed charges of breach of professional duty against pharmacist Andreas Kersten in an oral judgment issued June 26. The charges against Kersten, which date back to 2018, materialized when he refused to stock and sell the morning-after pill at the Undine Pharmacy that he owned and worked at.

As a result of the ruling, the Berlin Chamber of Pharmacists, which sought sanctions against Kersten will have to pay the legal fees associated with the litigation. While a lower court ruled in favor of Kersten in 2019, the Chamber of Pharmacists appealed the decision.

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Although the court determined that Kersten committed no wrongdoing because he cited a letter from the federal Ministry for Health that authorized pharmacists to engage in conscientious objection in such situations, ADF International and Kersten maintain that the ruling did not go far enough. According to ADF International, While ruling in favor of Kersten, the court failed to uphold the freedom of conscience of pharmacists in Berlin.

I am relieved that the court has rejected the sanction demanded against me by the Chamber of Pharmacists, said Kersten in response to the ruling. I became a pharmacist to promote health, even to save lives. I cannot reconcile selling the so-called morning-after pill with my conscience because of the potential to end a human life, however early.

Kersten maintained that even though I was acquitted, I am dismayed by the reasoning broadly rejecting our freedom of conscience.

He added, Now pharmacists could be forced to give up their beloved profession simply for staying true to their convictions.

ADF International Director of European Advocacy Felix Bollmann elaborated on the implications of the ruling, stating: After more than five years of legal uncertainty, it is now clear that Andreas Kersten did not culpably breach his professional duties. We welcome this finding. However, the reasoning behind the judgment is egregious. In the oral judgment, the court stated that pharmacists will have to choose between their convictions and their profession in the future, at least in Berlin.

Characterizing the court's reasoning as in direct contradiction to international law, Bollmann declared, Fundamental freedoms must be effectively guaranteed, not just on paper.

Lamenting that the courts reasoning contravenes freedom of conscience, Bollmann added, it is entirely inappropriate for the court to argue that someone must exit their profession for choosing to exercise their freedom of conscience  this is an argument the European Court of Human Rights rightly rejected years ago.

No one should be forced to take an action that clearly contradicts their conscience  especially when it comes to life and death. Any pharmacist or doctor who experiences coercion because of this is welcome to reach out to our team, he continued. Together we can defend freedom of conscience. A free state committed to basic human rights should never allow what amounts to a professional ban on the grounds of conscience.

A written judgment ruling in favor of Kersten in this particular case is expected in the near future.
Home News Illegal immigrant charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old girl was previously deported

A Guatemalan man who entered the United States illegally after he had previously been deported has been charged with the sexual battery of a 14-year-old girl.

Jose Chan, 24, was arrested last week by Floridas Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office, Fox 25 reported. Authorities arrested Chan and held him at the Okaloosa County Jail to be picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office said in a statement on Thursday that the incident involving the girl occurred at her house on Feb. 25, 2023. The girl told family members about the abuse and was subsequently taken to the HCA Destin-Fort Walton Beach Hospital.

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A medical examination of the victim showed a positive finding for sexual abuse, the statement read. Florida Department of Law Enforcement lab results also found evidence of the girls DNA on Chan, via buccal swabs obtained from the defendant.

The sheriffs office investigated and charged Chan with sexually assaulting the girl. According to the sheriffs office, the FBI helped confirm the mans identity due to his past deportation by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Feb. 9.

The alleged attack comes amid ongoing concerns about the Biden administration's border policies that have allowed tens of millions of people to enter the country illegally. Some illegal migrants have committed severe crimes against U.S. citizens, including sexual assaults and murders. During the CNN presidential debate last week, former President Donald Trump said many young women have been murdered by individuals President Joe Biden allowed to enter the country illegally.

We have a border thats the most dangerous place anywhere in the world, considered the most dangerous place anywhere in the world, and he opened it up, and these killers are coming into our country, and they are raping and killing women, and its a terrible thing, Trump said.

Concerns about illegal immigrants committing crimes received considerable media attention following the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley earlier this year. The suspect arrested in connection with her murder, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, entered the country illegally on Sept. 8, 2022, through El Paso, Texas. Ibarra was reportedly released into the country due to overcrowding at migrant detention centers.

Rileys body was discovered around the University of Georgia campus, and authorities later determined that she died from blunt force trauma. The young woman, a student at Augusta University, was murdered after she went for a jog on the University of Georgia campus.

Another case that generated media attention concerns the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was strangled to death by two illegal immigrants in Houston, Texas. According to a statement from ICE, the two suspects, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Pena, had previously been detained and released by U.S. Border Patrol just weeks before the child's murder.

"Martinez and Pena both entered the U.S. illegally without inspection, parole or admission by a U.S. immigration officer on an unknown date and at an unknown location," ICE stated. "On March 14, Martinez was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol near El Paso, Texas. That same day he was released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear. Pena was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 28 near El Paso. He was also released on an order of recognizance with a notice to appear the same day he was apprehended."

Last week, police in Texas apprehended 37-year-old Oved Bernardo Mendoza Argueta in connection to the murder of two Chick-fil-A employees who were shot and killed inside the restaurant in Irving, Texas. The suspect had been placed on an immigration detainer by ICE, meaning that the agency intended to assume custody of him.
Home News Independence Day: 7 important victories in the American Revolution

People across the United States are celebrating the nation's Independence Day, which marks the anniversary of when the 13 colonies declared their independence from the British Empire.

The demand for independence, however, was not enough, as American colonists had to fight the United Kingdom to gain autonomy from the powerful European nation.

While not an exhaustive list of victories on the part of the American rebels, the battles and sieges listed nevertheless showcase key moments in the struggle for independence.

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Here are seven important victories in the American Revolution. They include one of the opening skirmishes, a battle that guaranteed foreign intervention on behalf of the rebellion, and the siege that ended it all.
Home News Nurse investigated for abortion pill reversal treatments can challenge state law, court rules

Nurse practitioner Chelsea Mynyk may join a lawsuit challenging a Colorado law that bars healthcare providers from offering abortion pill reversal treatments after the state investigated her, a federal judge has ruled.

United States Magistrate Judge Susan Prose issued an order last Monday allowing Mynyk to intervene in the case Bella Health and Wellness v. Weiser, according to the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents the nurse.

Mynyk practices as a certified nurse midwife at Castle Rock Women's Health, which she operates. Her involvement in the lawsuit follows a preliminary injunction favoring Bella Health and Wellness, which challenged the same state law.

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The law restricts medical professionals from assisting women who regret initiating or may have been coerced to initiate a chemical abortion process by taking mifepristone.

Also known as RU-486, mifepristone is the first pill in the chemical abortion regimen. It is a synthetic steroid endocrine disruptor that blocks progesterone receptors in the uterus and starves the baby to death.

ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot argues in a statement that the abortion pill reversal treatment, which involves administering progesterone to counteract mifepristone, is an option that should remain available to patients.

"Colorado can't silence medical professionals and prevent them from saving lives," Theriot said. "Many women regret their abortions, and some choose to reverse the effects of the first abortion drug, often saving their baby's life. But Colorado's law wrongly denies women the freedom to make that choice. The state can't force women to follow through with an abortion when a safe alternative is available  one that Chelsea and the pro-life plaintiffs in this case can skillfully provide."

Proponents of abortion pill reversal argue it is a safe and effective means to reverse the effects of mifepristone, advocating for the patient's right to choose continuation of pregnancy after initial steps towards abortion. Critics, however, question the treatment's safety and scientific backing.

Last year, Colorado passed a law explicitly banning the procedure, prompting Bella Health and Wellness, represented by The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, to file a lawsuit against Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and other state entities, stating that the law infringed on their constitutional rights and religious freedoms.

The case saw a significant development when U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico granted a preliminary injunction that temporarily halted enforcement of the law against Bella Health and Wellness. However, this injunction did not extend to other providers like Mynyk, who seeks legal recourse to defend her practice and her patients' choices.

Mynyk's stake in the matter escalated when she received a notification from the Colorado State Board of Nursing about an investigation into her practice based on an anonymous complaint regarding her provision of abortion pill reversal.

The investigation reflects the practical implications of the law for individual healthcare providers. Mynyk argues that she feels "religiously compelled" to provide abortion pill reversal.

In her legal fight, Mynyk asserts that the Colorado law violates her First Amendment rights by restricting free speech and her Fourteenth Amendment rights by impeding due process and unlawfully limiting her ability to provide complete information and services to their patients.

The lawsuit coincides with national scrutiny over abortion policies, especially following the U.S. Supreme Court's consideration of challenges to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's regulations on mifepristone. Groups like the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists argue that loosening restrictions on abortion drugs compromises patient safety.

"According to the FDA's own label, roughly one in 25 women who use these drugs will require emergency medical attention for serious, even life-threatening, complications," AAPLOG stated. "The risks to women who take abortion drugs only increase without in-person screenings by medical professionals."
Home News PCUSA moves closer to requiring clergy candidates to answer questions about LGBT views

The Presbyterian Church (USA) is one step closer to requiring clergy candidates to be asked about their views on sexual orientation and gender identity, in a measure some believe will target theological conservatives.

Known as the Olympia Overture after the presbytery from which it came, the proposal was divided into two parts, both of which were passed by commissioners at the 226th General Assembly on Wednesday.

Also known as POL-01, the overture will next go to the presbyteries for ratification, with the two parts of the measure being presented separately to the regional bodies for consideration.

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The first part, which called for sexual orientation and gender identity to be added to the PCUSA Book of Orders antidiscrimination policy, was approved by a vote of 389-24.

The second part, which required that candidates for ordination be asked about their views on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, passed by a vote of 297-130.

During discussion on part two, Ruling Elder Dustin Wilsor of the Seattle Presbytery offered an amendment adding the phrase the Historic Principles of Church Order (F-3.01) to the list of required topics of questioning for candidates, in order to reaffirm a commitment to freedom of conscience. The amendment passed by a vote of 216 to 192.

In contrast to the first part of the overture, the proposal on what clergy candidates could be asked pertaining to LGBT inclusion garnered considerable debate, with many speaking for or against it.

Young Adult Advisory Delegate Chase White of the Utah Presbytery was among the critics, saying that while he supported the first part of the overture, the second part undermined the big tent of the PCUSA.

White denounced the idea of there being gatekeepers to the church, citing the past policies of the PCUSA when it used to prohibit the ordination of openly gay individuals.

I believe that this section of the overture threatens our witness to Christ, because it allows us once again to be gatekeepers, but now just to a different group of people that we have decided belong on the outside, White said. Everyone belongs inside, even those we disagree with.

Teaching Elder Benjamin Fitzgerald-Fye of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery defended the overture, saying that it was not punitive and doesnt ask anyone to do anything.

It doesnt stop anyone from doing anything, Fitzgerald-Fye added. We cannot have a conversation if we keep giving ourselves permission not to talk about things.

It is not nice to set aside the rights of others because it is uncomfortable to talk about it. It is not nice to exclude people knowingly, and then not have to talk about it. What this does is to ask us to begin having a conversation, so people know where we stand as leaders.

The overtures official rationale explained that the proposal came due to people being ordained in the Washington state-based Olympia Presbytery who had opinions that did not fully embrace the equal and affirmed status of LGBTQIA+ persons in the church.

Those conversations were difficult because the Book of Order does not include gender identity or sexual orientation in its list of protected classes, stated the official rationale.

These experiences reveal the need for denominational clarity concerning the churchs ministry to LGBTQIA+ individuals as full participants in all aspects of life in the church.

The official rationale also said that although it supported the freedom of councils of the church to make ordination decisions as guided by the Holy Spirit, the denomination still continues to find and confirm that the limits of each council of the church in their local option are conditioned by affirmations found in the Book of Order: sex, race, or any other prejudicial category.

In advance of General Assembly, around 150 clergy signed an open letter against the proposal, arguing that key portions of this overture threaten to undermine the theological diversity of PCUSA.

Specifically, the overtures proposed changes to G-2.0104b appear to introduce an ordination question that is deeply at odds with our core Reformed tenet of freedom of conscience, declared the open letter.

This amendment would immediately disqualify and exclude many faithful and dedicated Ruling Elders, Teaching Elders, and Deacons from serving due to their convictions. Moreover, it risks imposing a non-negotiable and rigid standard on an issue where faithful Christians hold differing views.
Home News Pro-life Christian dad of 11 escapes prison sentence for protesting abortion: 'Spiritual battle'

A devout Christian father of 11 children avoided prison time during his Tuesday sentencing for violating a federal law against blocking access to abortion clinics in Nashville, Tennessee.

Paul Vaughn was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger to three years of supervised release related to his January conviction by a federal jury on charges of violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and engaging in a conspiracy against rights in 2021.

In October 2022, Vaughn was one of originally 11 people indicted for blocking the entrance to the Carafem Health Center Clinic in the Nashville suburb of Mt. Juliet on March 15, 2021.

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Seven of the 11 defendants faced conspiracy charges under the FACE Act, while the remaining defendants were charged with misdemeanors that carried a punishment of up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine.

After being indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Oct. 3, 2022, the FBI arrested Vaughn in front of his family during an early morning raid at his home.

Vaughn has spoken about how his children have been afflicted with nightmares since the raid and said he would have been willing to "come down at any time" to speak with federal officials about his charges.

Trauger maintained during Vaughn's sentencing hearing on Tuesday that he and the others had been "imposing their religious beliefs on other people," though she conceded that their demonstration was non-violent and hurt no one, according to The Daily Wire.

The judge also acknowledged that Vaughn's actions were motivated by his deeply held religious beliefs and took into consideration the fact that he is a U.S. Navy veteran who commands the respect of those in his community.

Vaughn said he plans to appeal the verdict and glorified God for his sentence, framing it as a battle in a wider spiritual war.

We rejoice in Gods plans," Vaughn said in a statement. "Because this is at the heart a spiritual battle, we are thankful to have a strong advocate in the Thomas More Society. Not only are they experts at law, but they deeply understand the spiritual battle raging across our land."

"We must stand and fight for what is right, we cannot bow down to the lie," he said. "Laws have to be grounded in truth, they have to align with the ultimate lawgiver, who is Christ our Lord. The false narratives plaguing our nation will fall when we stand up to them."

Vaughn went on to characterize his prosecution as an "unlawful use of the law," and expressed hope that the Clinton-era FACE Act, which has been used to prosecute multiple pro-life protesters under the Biden administration, will be overturned.

Concerns about the constitutionality of the FACE Act have recently arisen in both houses of Congress, and legislation has been introduced to repeal it.

The nonprofit religious liberty law firm Thomas More Society, which helped to represent Vaughn, celebrated that he won't be in prison, but also expressed frustration that he is being punished at all.

We are pleased the judge has shown leniency to Paul at todays sentencing hearing, and I know Paul is incredibly thankful to be able to celebrate Independence Day with his family. But it remains the case that his conviction is a deep injustice," Thomas More Society senior counsel Steve Crampton said in a statement.

Crampton also noted the irony that Vaughn's hearing took place on July 2, the day the Continental Congress formally passed the resolution in 1776 declaring America's freedom.

"On the anniversary of our nations charter declaring such rights 'inalienable,' Paul Vaughn and his co-defendants stand convicted of defending the inalienable right to life," Crampton said. "The weaponized and evidence-free charges brought here by the Biden Department of Justice against peaceful pro-lifers should have never been filed."

More than 100 of Vaughn's supporters showed up outside the federal court before his sentencing on Tuesday to sing hymns and pray, according to The Daily Wire.

Eva Edl, an 88-year-old whose family escaped the communist rule of then-Yugoslavia, was also among those who was charged for the protest in Nashville.

In April, Edl told The Daily Signal that she is already resigned to the possibility that she will be imprisoned until the end of her life for her protests.

Edl further noted that the U.S. government is increasingly resembling the communist regime her family escaped.
Home News Robert Morris Ministries cancels future radio, television broadcasts after child sexual abuse scandal

Following allegations that came to light last month that Gateway Church founder Robert Morris sexually abused Cindy Clemishire over multiple years in the 1980s, beginning when she was 12, Pastor Robert Morris Ministries has now canceled all future radio and television broadcasts.

The elders of Gateway Church learned that Pastor Roberts moral failure from more than forty years ago involved a minor. We are heartbroken and grief-stricken for this woman who has carried this burden of abuse for decades, the Board of Elders of Gateway Church and the Overseers of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries said in a joint statement posted on the Robert Morris Ministries homepage Wednesday.

Pastor Roberts sin and his lack of transparency to the churchs elders and leadership has disqualified him from continuing in his role as senior pastor at Gateway Church and as leader of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries. As a result, all future radio and television broadcast ministry from Pastor Robert Morris Ministries has been canceled, the ministry leaders continued.

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The reaction from Pastor Robert Morris Ministries comes some two weeks after Texas-based Daystar Television Network, one of the largest Christian television networks in the world, also removed all programming featuring Morris following his June 18 resignation from Gateway Church over the allegations from Clemishire.

Clemishire, 54, reported last month that the megachurch founder began sexually abusing her on Dec. 25, 1982, when she was just 12 years old. She says the abuse continued for four-and-a-half years before he was found out. But he was later allowed to return to ministry.

When questioned about the allegations by The Christian Post, Morris only confessed to being involved in inappropriate sexual behavior with a young lady more than 35 years ago, and said he repented and was restored to ministry.

In March of 1987, this situation was brought to light, and it was confessed and repented of. I submitted myself to the Elders of Shady Grove Church and the young ladys father. They asked me to step out of ministry and receive counseling and freedom ministry, which I did. Since that time, I have walked in purity and accountability in this area, Morris said.

Clemishire insisted to CP, however, that she was no young lady when Morris abused her.

I was 12 years old. I was a little girl. A very innocent little girl. And he was brought into our home. He and his wife, Debbie, and their little boy, Josh, trusted and preached at the church that my dad helped start and then began grooming all of us to do this, which took me decades to wrap my brain around as an adult, she said.

It went on for many years. He says there was no sexual intercourse, but he did touch every part of my body and inserted his fingers into me, which I understand now is considered a form of rape by instrumentation. I was an innocent 12-year-old little girl who knew nothing about sexual behavior.

In their announcement of Morris' resignation on June 18, Gateway Church elders said they retained the law firm of Haynes & Boone, LLP, to "conduct an independent, thorough, and professional review of the report of past abuse to ensure we have a complete understanding of the events from 1982-1987."

Despite the removal of video and audio content from Morris for the website of Pastor Robert Morris Ministries, the staff said the broadcasts helped many people around the world for decades.

We are grateful for how God has used Gateway Church and Pastor Robert Morris Ministries to minister to so many people around the world for decades. Countless people have come to Christ, grown in their faith, and been ministered to in their time of need. We are truly humbled by what God has done through these ministries, they said in their statement.

Our prayer for you who have watched our television programs, listened to Worship & the Word on radio, and supported this ministry with your prayers and gifts can be found in Scripture. Numbers 6:2426: May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.
Home Opinion Christians conquering the Babylon of proud scientists?

The evening of the night that Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians, the prophet Daniel recorded that Belshazzar the king made a feast for a thousand of his lords. He was so proud that he commanded the gold and silver vessels be brought that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. And then he and his lords drank wine from them.

Similarly, non-Christian scientists are having a party these days boasting about the wonders of modern science. They attribute these wonders to their own powers and scoff at religion. For example, famous cosmologist Stephen Hawking once stated, There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win, because it works. Figuratively, they are getting drunk by drinking out of the goblets of Christianity. Thats because modern science was founded on a biblical worldview.

In particular, modern science developed from belief in: 1. a Creator Who is eternal, omnipresent and rational and therefore not capricious; 2. a Creator who made us in His own image and therefore we are capable of understanding His creation; and 3. our fallen nature inherited in Adam that therefore requires us to check scientific theories by peer review and observations.

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Many proud non-Christian scientists behave like Harvard geneticist Richard Lewontin, who wrote, we cannot allow a Divine Foot in the door. They protect themselves from God by living in something like Babylon. Their figurative Babylon is surrounded by the wall of biological evolution.

Unbelievers cleverly erected that wall to try to keep God out of their lives. For example, Richard Dawkins claimed that Darwinism made him an intellectually fulfilled atheist. Just as in Babylon at the time of Daniel, many people of God have been taken captive there also. They are theistic evolutionists.

How can one break down that wall? Why not just point out its many problems? While mainstream scientists are sure we got here by evolution, they have no idea of the supposed mechanisms for the origin of life or of sexual reproduction, for example.

Good. But outside the wall of biological evolution is a big moat, representing billions of years of cosmological and geological evolution. Because of that moat, one cannot get weapons close enough to the wall to do much damage. Even if one could cause some damage to the wall, the moat would still be in the way. For example, people arguing for Intelligent Design havent gotten very far. They argue against theistic evolution, but generally do not see the problem presented by billions of years.

Nevertheless, an astute observer would notice something similar to what the Medes and Persians noticed about ancient Babylon. The same river Euphrates that supplied water for the moat also flowed under the wall and through the city to supply the water needed for everyday life. According to Greek historian Herodotus, the Persian Cyrus the Great diverted some of the Euphrates River upstream of Babylon into side channels so that it was only about thigh high when it entered the city. Then at night his soldiers could enter the city through the river while Belshazzar and his lords were partying. Could one conquer the Babylon of proud scientists similarly? Surely biological evolution has no defense without billions of years.

One could divert billions of years by citing many physical evidences for a young earth (available, for example, at answersingenesis.org, icr.org, and creation.com) and by appeal to the Bible itself. For example, one can point out that the early accounts in Genesis are historical narrative, not poetry, and are clearly meant to be understood literally. In the grammatical context of Genesis 1, the Hebrew word yom also can only refer to an ordinary day. Almost all Hebrew scholars agree.

However, non-Christian scientists and philosophers have been shouting from the walls of their Babylon and demoralizing the armies of Christians outside. They have convinced most theologians and Christian intellectuals that the study of science must be separated from the Bible. That was the claim of 17th century philosopher Baruch Spinoza, who developed a type of pantheism that inspired Einstein, Hawking and modern humanists.

If Spinoza were right, only scientists could know the truth about the physical origins of the universe. As a result, theologians for the past 250 years have been inventing various schemes to make Genesis 1 conform to the speculations of non-Christian scientists. Those schemes have included the gap theory, the day age theory, the framework hypothesis, the Cosmic Temple idea, as well as literal days separated by hundreds of millions of years.

Correspondingly, theologians and intellectuals have generally ceased to attack speculations about billions of years. They also discourage other Christians from trying to mount such attacks. They sometimes cite Christians such as Augustine, Bacon and Galileo who cautioned in various ways against using the Bible as a source of scientific theories without checking them with observations. Nevertheless, all these Christians maintained the infallibility of revelation in the Bible concerning origins. On the other hand, speculations by non-Christian scientists about inherently unobservable origins use non-theistic presuppositions to interpret evidence left from the past.

Belief by Christians in long ages undermines the character of God. If the fossils were hundreds of millions of years old, then they were buried, not in the Flood of Noahs time, but before the Fall of Adam. Biblical genealogies only allow for thousands of years between then and now. So the disease, violence and death seen in the fossil record would have begun and continued under the direction of God. On the contrary, Genesis 1:31 states that Gods creation was very good at the beginning. And 1 Corinthians 15:26 states that death is an enemy, surely not part of Gods work of creation.

Let us divert the streams of billions of years and march with Gods help into Babylon to end the partying of proud scientists drinking the wine of evolution from stolen Christian goblets.
Police in Australia are frantically searching for a missing child who may have been dragged off by a crocodile in the country's Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Police were searching for the missing child on Wednesday near the remote community of Palumpa.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday police received reports of a missing 12-year-old girl who was last seen swimming at Mango Creek.

Initial reports stated she had been attacked by a crocodile and then went missing.

Community members and police immediately began searching for the girl.

A Search and Rescue team was later deployed into the area.

"Our thoughts are with the family and the community," Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said. "Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek via boat and we thank the community for their ongoing assistance."

Police Minister Brent Potter said is was no longer a rescue but the operation was now in the "recovery phase" the BBC reported.

"It's a tragic incident for any parent or family member to lose a young child," Potter said. "Especially in the circumstances like that, taken by a crocodile."
Home Opinion Democrats do not love Joe Biden

In a sense, Democrats dislike Joe Biden more than Republicans do. This shouldnt be hard to believe if you watched last week's debate.

During the debate, I joked that I was more coherent than Joe Biden when I used to speak in tongues.

Joe Biden could barely think or talk  and walk after the debate. He looked confused, frail, and unfit for any job right now, let alone the most crucial political job in the world: the president of the United States.

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It was so painful to watch. I was genuinely cringing whenever he would speak. It was so disastrous that some Democrats are saying Biden should step down so they can introduce a new candidate for the election in November.

But Joe Bidens performance in the debate isnt a new development. Over the last four years, the whole world  especially Democrats in the White House  have known about Bidens deteriorating health.

Hes consistently shown signs of advanced dementia throughout his presidency, a condition that appears to be worsening rapidly, especially since hes the president of the United States.

Joe Biden shouldnt be President  for Americas sake, for the worlds sake, and for his own sake.

Bidens presidency isnt just bad for all of us, its bad for his health. A man in his condition should be resting and being cared for in his own house. He shouldnt be working in the White House.

The Democrats know this. They know this re-election campaign and presidency isnt good for his health, but apparently  they dont care. They are willing to sacrifice his health in order to maintain their power.

After all, they sacrificed Bidens health to gain power in 2020, so why wouldnt they sacrifice his health again to maintain power four years later? Last nights debate, however, could apparently change their plans. But if they replace him it wont be because they are trying to protect his health, itll be because they are trying to protect their political future.

So the Democrats do not love Joe Biden, and worse, his family seemingly loves the benefits of his presidency more than himself. If they loved him as they should, they wouldnt have encouraged him to pursue the presidency.

But this shouldnt be surprising. People who do not love babies shouldnt be expected to love elderly people. Theres a reason people who support abortion also support euthanasia.

People who sacrifice pre-born babies for political power will also sacrifice elderly people for political power. Thats why Democrats elected Joe Biden as President.

Originally published at Slow to Write.
Christian sentenced to death under Pakistan's blasphemy law

An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on Saturday handed the death sentence to a Christian for allegedly sharing a "blasphemous" video on a social media platform despite lack of evidence, his attorney said.

Sahiwal District Anti-Terrorism Judge Ziaullah Khan delivered the sentence to 27-year-old Ehsaan (nickname "Shan") Masih under Section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which mandates the death sentence for blaspheming Muhammad, the prophet of Islam.

Masih's lawyer, Khurram Shahzad Maan, said Masih testified that he had categorically denied creating or posting any blasphemous content on social media.

"The police recovered Masih's phone from his house and sent it to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) for examination," Maan told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. "The PFSA report concluded that no blasphemous material was found on the accused's phone or TikTok account."

A police officer was the complainant against Masih, and all prosecution witnesses were also police officials, the attorney said.

"Despite there being no direct evidence against Masih, the court relied on the statements given by the prosecution witnesses and sentenced him to death, which is a gross miscarriage of justice," Maan said.

Masih was also sentenced to a 10-year jail term under Section 295-A, blaspheming Islam, and he was convicted him under Section 11 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and Section 7(1)(g) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, resulting in prison terms of seven years and five years respectively.

Sahiwal police arrested Masih on Aug. 19, 2023, accusing him of sharing on his TikTok account a video containing a letter that triggered Aug. 16 Jaranwala riots by Muslims furious over its alleged blasphemous content.

Maan said the First Information Report against Masih was initially registered under sections 295-A and 295-B (defiling the Quran) of the blasphemy statutes, along with sections related to electronic crimes and anti-terrorism.

"Section 295-C, which carries a mandatory death sentence for insulting Islam's prophet, Muhammad, was added later on the insistence of the prosecutor," he said. "Implicating Masih in 295-C is absurd, because he had not uttered or written anything derogatory against Prophet Muhammad; he was just accused of sharing the alleged blasphemous letter."

The attorney said the harsh verdict was unjustified because the matter was a clear case of "no evidence."

"The letter in question had been circulating on social media due to the Jaranwala incident, and it is a fact that Ehsaan Masih did not author it," he said. "Also, no one witnessed him uploading or sharing the controversial letter on his social media account."

The Organization for Legal Aid arranged for Maan to provide legal support to the impoverished Masih, who worked at a brick kiln.

"We are devastated by the verdict," Masih's elder brother, Yousaf Masih, told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News, "but we have faith in the Lord that He'll make a way for my brother's freedom. We are looking for a good lawyer to challenge the sentence in the Lahore High Court."

The family belongs to the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church in Sahiwal, he said.

Minorities Alliance Pakistan (MAP) President Advocate Akmal Bhatti said the verdict contained glaring loopholes.

"The prosecution failed to provide concrete evidence in support of the allegations, while all the witnesses were police officials," Bhatti said. "The witnesses have said on record that neither the video was created nor was it shared on the social media in their presence."

Even if Masih had shared the video without considering the consequences, at best he should have been charged under the PECA laws, Bhatti said.

"It's a fact that he has not said nor written anything insulting for Islam's prophet, nor committed any terrorism, so convicting him under these sections is uncalled for," Bhatti said.

The MAP chairman also criticized police for adding terrorism charges in blasphemy cases.

"This is being done mainly under the pressure of Islamist extremist groups to target minority communities, especially Christians," he said.

The superior judiciary must take notice of this harsh sentence as well as lacunas in the prosecution's case and accept Masih's appeal, he stressed.

National Council of Churches in Pakistan President Bishop Azad Marshall was also critical of the judgment.

"The video in question was circulating widely on the social media since Aug. 16, 2023, and was even present in the phones of several Muslims, including police officials," Marshall said. "Does it make all these people blasphemers? Absolutely not."

Marshall said the excessive sentence also vindicated Christians' concerns that justice could not be expected for blasphemy suspects from trial courts.

"In over 90 percent of blasphemy cases, the trial courts have convicted the accused even if there was no evidence against them," he said. "This is done due to fear and pressure of the religious groups. Our judges do not realize the agony the victims have to suffer for years in prison until the superior courts discharge the cases on grounds of weak evidence."

At the same time, the same courts are more than willing to grant bail to perpetrators of religiously-motivated violence, he said.

"In the Jaranwala cases, only a few are expected to go on trial, as a majority of those involved in attacking churches and homes of Christians have walked free on bail," he said. "This discrimination in dispensation of justice does not bode well for the country."

On Aug. 16, a mob attacked several Christian properties in Jaranwala, ransacked more than 20 churches and destroyed at least 100 houses following false accusations of blasphemy against two Christian brothers. The two brothers were later exonerated from blasphemy charges by the Anti-Terrorism Court in Faisalabad. Another Christian bearing personal enmity toward them had framed the brothers, according to police.

Officers registered 22 cases under the Pakistan Penal Code and anti-terrorism law and arrested more than 100 people for rioting in Jaranwala, but none have been convicted so far.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors' 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.

 2024 Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
Christians pray as Britain heads to the polls

Christians are praying for the nation as millions cast their vote in the UK general elections today.

Hundreds gathered in London and Edinburgh on Wednesday evening for Christian Concern's election prayer rallies a day before polling stations opened.

The Church of England and other Churches have issued special prayers for the occasion.

The Joint Public Issues Team, a partnership between the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church, has issued special prayers for the election and the days following:

Election Day Prayer

God of all power, on this election day be with us as we love, pray and vote. We pray for our country, for voters, for candidates and their teams, for election officials, and for a safe, free and fair process.

We pray that choices will be made with wisdom and actions will be guided by love. And as Jesus taught us, we pray that your kingdom will come and your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Amen

Post-Election Day Prayer

God of all nations,

We lift up to you our newly elected leaders and government officials. Grant them wisdom, integrity, and a spirit of service as they undertake their duties. May they be guided by a commitment to the common good, justice, and the welfare of all citizens.

May they govern with compassion, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility towards the most vulnerable and marginalised in our society.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

The general election takes place at a time of deep divisions over how the country should be run, from the economy and climate policy, to Brexit, gender identity, and assisted suicide.

Polling by Christian charity CARE in the run-up to election day found that most UK voters (76%) see the moral character of candidates as a "major factor in their suitability for political office".

Ross Hendry, CEO of CARE, commented: "People rightly expect their politicians to model integrity, accountability, and moral decency. When politicians do so, this leads to better outcomes, and aids societal flourishing

"The opposite is also true, and the various scandals of recent years have shown the dire consequences of politicians failing to live up to the high standards expected of them."

He added: "Christianity has shaped our society in profound ways over the centuries and provides the moral basis for our democratic way of life, justice system, and welfare state.

"We believe that upholding Christian values is vitally important if we are to realise a just and compassionate society in years to come, and we will be making the case to MPs."

Care Not Killing, a coalition opposed to the legalisation of assisted suicide, has expressed concerns that Thursday's results "could usher in devastating legal changes in Britain".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has promised to support legislation to legalise assisted suicide if he becomes Britain's next Prime Minister.

Care Not Killing said that legalisation of assisted suicide in England would "strengthen the hand" of MSPs supporting a similar change in Scotland with Liam McArthur's Assisted Dying for Terminall Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill.

"Proposals for medically assisted killing laws are also advancing in Jersey and the Isle of Man and either one could trigger a domino effect at Westminster," it said.

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) echoed these concerns as it urged people to vote pro-life.

"As you know, the threat of abortion being decriminalised was narrowly averted in the last Parliament but is almost certain to return in the new one," said Alithea Williams, SPUC's Public Policy Manager.

"We also expect a big push to legalise assisted suicide. It is therefore vital that pro-life people use their vote to elect pro-life MPs."
Tearfund 'deeply saddened' by death of two workers in Democratic Republic of Congo

Two aid workers with Christian development charity Tearfund have been killed in an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

They were attacked and killed while travelling in a convoy in Butembo, a major commercial centre in North Kivu, a province in the east of the country.

Tearfund said it was "deeply saddened" by the "tragic deaths" of the aid workers on Sunday, and that it was working to ensure the safety and security of its remaining staff in the country.

It called on political leaders in the DRC "to respect and protect aid workers, as mandated under international law, and to ensure their safety as they carry out their vital mission".

"Tearfund unequivocally condemns this horrific attack on humanitarian aid staff who were working selflessly to serve the people of the DRC," it said.

"Tearfund is a non-political aid agency providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable communities in the DRC. Our priority now is to provide support to the families of our deceased colleagues during this incredibly difficult time."

North Kivu has been blighted since 2021 by fighting between the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) and the M23 rebel group, triggering a major humanitarian crisis.

Last month the UN Joint Human Rights Office raised concerns about the displacement of civilians and the suspension of operations by some humanitarian organisations due to the ongoing insecurity.
Why did Putin visit a tiny Orthodox church in North Korea?

Earlier this month, Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in search of friends and influence. The visit set off alarm bells around the world, particularly in South Korea and Japan, where the danger of deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea is most acutely felt. The visit was a reminder that Putin's vision of the "Russian world" extends far beyond the Slavic lands of Eastern Europe.

One aspect of Putin's visit, however, flew under the radar.

When he was in North Korea, Putin stopped by the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, where divine offices were held in his honor. He is one of the few to worship there, as, predictably, very few locals do. It was a piece of political theater from the old Soviet days, with the complete cooperation of the Patriarch of Moscow.

Why do Putin and the Patriarch of Moscow care about this tiny congregation?

It might not make sense that anyone, particularly the Russian president and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, would care about a tiny congregation, locked inside an isolated Stalinist state. But to think this is to ignore the huge importance that the Russian Orthodox Church has as an instrument of Russian soft power around the world.

While many are dismayed at the Orthodox Patriarch Kirill's refusal to condemn nearly any aspect of Putin's political project, the truth is that this line of behavior from Kirill has been nothing short of inevitable since becoming primate in 2009. From the beginning, he and Putin forged an alliance that tied the ascendancy of the Russian state to its church and vice versa. The Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, founded before Patriarch Kirill's episcopacy, has now become part of this partnership.

To understand the importance of Putin's visit, it helps to learn a bit of history.

Orthodox Christianity in the Korean peninsula began in the last days of imperial Russia. In 1900, at the behest of the Russian state, a small group of clerics became the first Russian Orthodox missionaries to enter Korea.

For 20 years Russia nurtured a small Orthodox community in Korea. But following the Russian Revolution, the besieged Holy Synod of the Moscow Patriarchate terminated its support of the Orthodox Church of Korea. It is a testament to the faith of the small group of converts, whatever the initial reasons for seeking them out, that following the Holy Synod's decision, Orthodox Christians in Korea remained without any outside support or canonical structures through the entire brutal period of the Japanese occupation and the Korean War.

Then, in 1953, an army chaplain with the Greek forces sent to fight on the peninsula became aware of Korea's small Orthodox Christian community and offered to help reestablish a parish in Seoul. By the next year, the Metropolis of Korea was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.

No one questioned this status quo, until Kim Jong il, the second supreme leader of North Korea, visited Russia in 2002. Upon his return, he ordered the establishment of the Korean Orthodox Committee, the apparatus through which sanctioned religious bodies operate in North Korea. The next year four seminarians were sent to Moscow to study. In 2006, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity was consecrated, with members of the Russian church present.

For nearly 22 years, the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity, in Rangrang District in Pyongyang, has served as the country's only Orthodox church  and one of the few Christian churches in the country.

Meanwhile, in South Korea, the Metropolis of Korea had become a kind of success story of what Orthodox Christianity might look like outside its traditional lands. While the head of the church was an ethnic Greek, most of the clergy and the faithful were Koreans. Expat Greeks, Russians and Romanians worshipped together in a way that is largely out of reach in North America and Western Europe. And for the most part, Russia seemed content to allow the Patriarch of Constantinople to keep the south as it ran the strange church in the north.

That was until 2019, when the Patriarch of Constantinople granted independence to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. It is hard for those outside to understand fully the implications of what followed, as an incensed Patriarchate of Moscow now had plausible deniability to move into territories like South Korea, Africa and parts of Western Europe, where Constantinople had long held power. The Patriarchate of Moscow quickly established its own diocese in South Korea, threatening the unity of Orthodox Christianity in the peninsula.

Despite predictable protests, the Patriarchate of Moscow's decision to establish its own churches in South Korea was a geopolitical move, an action on behalf of the Russian state. Abroad the Putin-Kirill alliance is most visible through the Russian Orthodox Church's missionary efforts. Converts to Russian Orthodoxy are seen to be allies of the Russian state's agenda. South Korea, Asia's most Christian nation and a strategic Western ally, is too rich a prize to pass up.

And what about North Korea? Why did Putin visit the Church of the Life-Giving Trinity? The answer is as simple as the deal he has struck with Kirill. The presence of a Russian Orthodox Church in Pyongyang is meant to send a powerful message about Russia's sphere of influence. This influence is not just economic or martial, but cultural as well. For a man like Vladimir Putin, just as for his friend, Kirill, the mission is not just about power, but a particular kind of power  one that restores the perceived lost dignity of Russia. As Putin prayed in the wall of a church built by one of the world's last remaining Stalinist dictatorships, he was sending a message about how far and deep Russian influence can go. A message not just for the people of Russia or North Korea, but for the whole world.

 Religion News Service
Despite extensive efforts by US authorities to keep Nvidias most advanced generative AI chips out of China, there is a barely concealed network of buyers, sellers and couriers bypassing the Biden administrations restrictions, according to an investigative report published Tuesday in The Wall Street Journal.

More than 70 distributors are openly advertising online what they purport to be Nvidias restricted chips and the Journal got in direct contact with 25 of them. Many of the verified sellers said they have supplies amounting to dozens of the high-end Nvidia chips each month, the story reported. The flow of Nvidia chips is so steady that most of those sellers take preorders and promise delivery in weeks, the Journal found. Some also sold entire servers  costing upward of roughly $300,000  with each containing eight high-end Nvidia chips.

The WSJ said the system relies on various loopholes in the restrictions, such as filing incomplete paperwork that obscures the fact that the chips are not allowed for export, or that other countries are not enforcing the ban.
Aboneaza-te la rubricile dorite si primeste zilnic notificari pe email cu link-uri la articolele care au fost adaugate in ultimele 24 de ore. Notificarile vor fi expediate la adresa indicata mai jos. Daca doresti sa schimbi adresa - o poti modifica editand informatia de profil aici.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stood firm in front of reporters Wednesday, stating that President Biden will "absolutely not" drop out of the 2024 presidential race following his poor performance during the CNN debate with Donald Trump, which prompted some Democrats to demand he step aside.

Jean-Pierre made the statement while answering questions in front the White House press corps. When asked pointedly by a reporter if President Biden is considering stepping down, Sec. Jean-Pierre gave the equally pointed answer, 'absolutely not'.

"Given the groundswell of concern from fellow Democrats, from donors, from supporters", the reporter asked, "doesn't he owe it to the American public to reflect on whether he should step down?"

"He has had the opportunity to talk to supporters," Jean-Pierre responded, adding that the president has "talked about how he understands that [the debate] was not his best night and that it is fair for people to ask that question."

"He has the most historic record and administration in modern politics. That should matter and he wants to continue to do that work."

Democrats have been sounding the alarm calling for Biden to step down as the nominee in the 2024 Presidential race following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, which left many wondering about the President's mental acuity.

On Tuesday, a Texas congressman and a representative from Maine became the first elected Democrats to call for President Biden to abandon his reelection bid.

Rep. Lloyd Doggett 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."
Shutterstock

On the day this issue lands, the country will be choosing a new government. If the polls are to be believed, Keir Starmer will be moving his dads old toolmaking kit into number 10 in the next few days and forming a government. As I write, no vote has yet been cast but it has seemed likely there will be a change at the top ever since Rishi Sunak surprised the country and most of his party members by calling an early election. So, what is the new prime minister promising to do for civil society?

In its manifesto, Labour said it would partner with civil society on protecting the environment, creating stronger animal welfare and would seek advice from the sector on its plans for growth. So thats a few areas of charitable objectives covered. But there has been little talk about health services, medical research, international aid, poverty and homelessness. When the country is in the current state that it is, you cant cherry-pick which causes you want to help off their knees. All a bit vague; all a bit unconvincing.

As the Charity Finance Group said, although it might welcome the Labour Partys partnership pledges, we need more detail on how it plans to develop the relationship between the sector and the state.

The manifesto also says that the party would plan to return aid spending to 0.7% of gross national income. Gideon Rabinowitz, director of policy and advocacy at NGO umbrella body Bond, similarly said that he welcomed the commitment to restoring the UK aid budget, but concrete details and realistic timelines are essential to make this commitment meaningful.

Any incoming government should commit to urgently increasing the UK aid budget and target places where it is most needed, focusing on poverty alleviation in lower-income countries.

Like much of what the Labour leader has said over recent weeks, the pledges lack detail. Hes been treading on eggshells (or holding the tiller steady, depending on your political analysis) since the election was announced so as not to upset the polling trajectory. But now, assuming that he is the one taking control of the country and its spending, it is time for Starmer and his new ministers to put flesh on the bones of those commitments.

@stevejcotterill is the editor of Fundraising Magazine

Fundraising Magazine is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk. Find more information here and subscribe today! is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk.
By Adobe/ Monkey Business

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) has launched its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) Champions Mentoring Programme.

The programme intends to accelerate understanding of EDI concepts and applications, improve collaboration and innovation, enhance EDI confidence and knowledge and establish a culture of EDI accountability within volunteer groups, among other things.

The first intake will focus on five volunteer groups: Scotland, London & South East, West Midlands, Insight Special Interest Group (SIG) and Legacy SIG.

Mentors will look at purpose, allowing each individual mentee to ask questions and structure what they should focus on and prioritise throughout the rest of the programme.

The first half of the programme will be one-to-one sessions between each mentor and mentee.

After this, a further five EDI champions from across the wider CIOF volunteer network will be invited to join as additional mentees  with the aim to allow a wider pool of EDI champions to benefit from collaboration with their peers, take learnings and guidance to their volunteer groups and also benefit from the focused support, knowledge and experience of the mentors.

Everyone involved is fully committed to accountability

Monwara Ali, chair of the CIOF's EDI Committee, recently spoke to Fundraising Magazines editor Stephen Cotterill about tackling EDI issues internally and across the sector.

Alongside Ali, the other EDI champions are Pennylope Kapere, Giada Ciccozzi, Graham Drew and Matt Parkes.

Ali said: I am absolutely delighted that our EDI Champions Mentoring Programme has launched.

Everyone involved is fully committed to accountability, ownership and best practice when it comes to EDI and I am very much looking forward to working with our first intake of volunteer groups, and eventually all the EDI champions, to ensure EDI becomes an integrated part of everyday work going forwards.

Each of the initial five volunteer group mentees will have their own mentor who will work with them, utilising a combination of skills-based activities, and directive sessions with suggestions and examples of EDI approaches that have led to successful outcomes via non-judgmental support.

We hope that this programme of support will enable mentees to become more proactive and confident in taking action around EDI, as well as helping to maximise their own personal strengths, and accelerate their EDI development.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Someone in Ohio has a real reason to set off some fireworks for the Fourth of July.

A single Powerball ticket worth an estimated $138 million was sold in Ohio, according to the Powerball website. There was no information available early Thursday morning on exactly where the ticket was sold.

The numbers for the Wednesday, July 3, 2024, drawing are 2-26-33-55-57 Powerball 22 Power Play 2x. Three tickets matching the five white numbers without the Powerball or Power Play were sold, two in California and one in Pennsylvania, and are worth $1 million each.

Powerball draws on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot with a $2 ticket are 1 in 292,201,338.

The jackpot now reverts to $20 million for the drawing on Saturday, July 6.

This marks two years in a row that Powerball jackpot has been hit in Ohio. In April 2023, a Powerball ticket worth an estimated $253 million was sold at a GetGo in Macedonia in Summit County.
A 39-year-old New York woman is under arrest after allegedly beating a man to death on a Manhattan street over unpaid sex.

The NYPD confirms that Sabrina Charles faces murder, possession of stolen property and weapons possession charges.

The killing took place about 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Harlem, according to police.

Police found the man unconscious and unresponsive with trauma to his head and body.

EMS rushed him to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital but it was too late to save his life.

The woman reportedly beat him to death after he refused to pay for a sex act she performed on him.

Charles used a piece of wooden furniture to attack him, according to WPIX-TV.

The report claimed that the pair knew each other and were allegedly doing drugs before the incident.
Earlier this week, Mexican officials unearthed a grim discovery: 19 bodies were found in a dump truck on a remote dirt road.

Authorities believe the victims are linked to the escalating violence of a brutal trafficking war that is ravaging Mexico's poorest and southernmost state.

The men had all been shot dead, according to Mexico's Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.

Their bodies were found in and around the abandoned truck, and six were found with Guatemalan identification on them.

On Tuesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador described the loss of life as "lamentable" and blamed it on a conflict between two armed groups.

"What motivates this?" asked Lopez Obrador.

"The traffic of drugs and also the traffic of migrants, of people."

The Sinaloa Cartel and its major rival, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, have been long vying for control of valuable smuggling routes in Chiapas, which borders Guatemala.

It's unclear if the deceased were linked to the Jalisco cartel or if they were killed in a shootout or executed.

Mike Vigil, former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration's overseas operations, said,

"Unfortunately, Chiapas has been caught in the middle of this trafficking war for both drugs and migrants," adding that "smuggling migrants has now become a multibillion dollar business for the cartels."

The region, a crucial route for cocaine from South America and migrants from Central America heading to the US, has drawn criminal gangs to its jungle, mountains, and rivers, where much of the population is Indigenous, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"Violence has spread like a cancer in our state," reported the Chiapas-based Fray Bartolome de las Casas Center for Human Rights in April.

La Concordia, the Chiapas municipality where the bodies were found, has seen rapid waves of violence in recent months.

In the weeks before last month's elections in Chiapas, a wave of attacks on mayoral candidates and their teams left at least 16 people dead, including 28-year-old Lucero Esmeralda Lopez Maza, who was running for mayor in La Concordia.
Indian labor officials visited a Foxconn factory in the country's south this week and questioned executives about the company's hiring practices, Reuters reported.

Indian labor officials visited a Foxconn factory in the country's south this week and questioned executives about the company's hiring practices, an official said, after Reuters reported that the major Apple supplier has been rejecting married women from iPhone assembly jobs.

A five-member team of the federal government's regional labor department visited the Foxconn factory near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu state, on July 1 and spoke to company directors and human resources officials, A. Narasaiah, the regional labor commissioner, told Reuters by telephone on Wednesday.

Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Apple did not address questions from Reuters about the visit.

The inquiries come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government asked state officials and the office of the federal government's Regional Chief Labour Commissioner last week to provide detailed reports on the matter, following Reuters' investigation into hiring practices at the manufacturing facility.

"We are collecting information, and have asked the company to submit documents like company policies, recruitment policies" as well as evidence of compliance with labor laws and information on maternity and retirement benefits, Narasaiah said. "They told us they are not discriminating."

Narasaiah said Foxconn told the labor officials the factory employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women. Of these women, some 2,750, or about 8%, were married, he said, citing Foxconn's submission.

Foxconn did not break down the staffing figures into specific areas such as iPhone assembly, where Reuters reported the discrimination was taking place, Narasaiah said. He added that the labor inspectors interviewed 40 married women inside the plant, who raised no concerns about discrimination.

Narasaiah said he currently has no plan to question Foxconn's third-party hiring agents, who scout for candidates and bring them to the plant for interviews.

A Reuters investigation published last week found Foxconn systematically excluded married women from assembly jobs at its main Indian iPhone plant on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts. Foxconn HR sources and third-party hiring agents cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women.

The reporting also found that Taiwan-based Foxconn relaxes the practice of not hiring married women during high-production periods.
Xi says ready to join Tokayev for more substantive, dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with shared future

Xinhua) 08:18, July 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that he is ready to work with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to jointly build a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and inject more positive energy to the development and stability of the region and beyond.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana.

In their small-group talks, he noted that last year Tokayev and him met twice in Xi'an and Beijing respectively, and made new arrangements and plans for the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, leading the "golden 30 years" of rapid development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

The Chinese side has always viewed its relations with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective, and regards Kazakhstan as a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner for cooperation in Central Asia.

Xi said China's will and determination to maintain and grow bilateral relations stand firm, and will not be changed due to any single incident or transformations in the international situation.

China will always be a good neighbor and partner Kazakhstan can rely on and trust, he added.

The Chinese side, Xi also said, will continue to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in traditional energy such as natural gas, expand new energy cooperation including photovoltaic and wind power, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kazakhstan, and help Kazakhstan convert its resource advantages into development capabilities to achieve green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Tokayev said Xi's state visit to Kazakhstan is of historic significance to the development of Kazakhstan-China relations, hailing China as a friendly neighbor, close friend and important strategic partner of his country.

Based on solid good-neighborly friendship and firm mutual support, Kazakhstan-China relations have shown an unprecedented sound momentum of development, he said, noting that major achievements have been made in cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, minerals and other fields, which have benefited the two peoples and set a good example for state-to-state relations.

Kazakhstan is ready to work with China to further tap the potential of bilateral cooperation in energy, minerals, new energy and connectivity and push bilateral relations to a new height, he said.

The Kazakh side appreciates China's firm support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and will firmly abide by the one-China principle, resolutely fight against the "three forces" and safeguard the common security of the two countries, Tokayev added.

In their big-group talks, Xi said the friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan are rooted in the millennia-old ancient Silk Road, reinforced by 32 years of cooperation after the establishment of diplomatic relations, and have reached the high level of a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi reiterated that no matter how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in its commitment to the China-Kazakhstan friendship, in its resolve to advance cooperation across the board, in its determination to continue mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and in its confidence in both countries realizing their development goals.

China and Kazakhstan are both at a critical stage of development and revitalization, Xi said, calling on the two sides to enhance the alignment of their development strategies and exchanges of governance experience, and implement more mutually beneficial cooperation projects to boost the development of their respective countries.

The Chinese side is ready to work with Kazakhstan on boosting economic and trade cooperation, and set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date, he said.

He pledged that China will further expand imports of high-quality Kazakh goods and create new growth drivers for cooperation in e-commerce and digital economy, calling on the two sides to increase the scale of cooperation in production capacity investment, tap the potential of cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, and expand cooperation in electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and satellite communications.

China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to actively promote the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and build a multi-dimensional connectivity paradigm, Xi said.

He also said that China supports the holding of China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025, and has decided to open a second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country.

Noting that at the airport after arrival, he was moved to hear a group of Kazakh teenagers sing "Ode to the Motherland" in standard and fluent Chinese, Xi said young people are the inheritors of China-Kazakhstan friendship from generation to generation.

He urged the two countries to give full play to the role of the culture centers and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen public support for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China, Xi noted, will assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) following Kazakhstan, saying that the Chinese side stands ready to jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future with the SCO member states including Kazakhstan.

Xi noted that China supports Kazakhstan in hosting the second China-Central Asia Summit next year and is ready to work with relevant parties including Kazakhstan to make the China-Central Asia mechanism better and stronger, and to promote the China-Central Asia cooperation to achieve more new results.

China is willing to work closely with Kazakhstan within the framework of the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, practice genuine multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries, Xi added.

For Tokayev, he said Xi's visit to Kazakhstan once again proves that both sides attach great importance to and strongly hope for further enhancement of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Kazakhstan and China, he said, enjoy a solid friendship spanning thousands of years and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that in recent years in particular, bilateral ties have entered a new "golden era," with smooth progress in major cooperation projects and positive results in agriculture, green energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, contributing to the well-being of the two peoples.

Tokayev said his country is a reliable friend and partner of China, adding that it is an unswerving strategic priority for Kazakhstan to deepen friendly and strategic cooperation with China.

Speaking highly of China's diplomatic concept of peace, a series of global initiatives put forward by Xi and China's important contribution to promoting world peace and development, Tokayev said the Kazakh side is willing to work with China to promote the building of a Kazakhstan-China community with a shared future as well as a community with a shared future for mankind.

Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan looks forward to working with China to earnestly implement the important outcomes of Xi's visit, continuing to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, making every effort to achieve the goal of doubling bilateral trade, strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy and trade, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and electric vehicles, and advancing the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Kazakhstan welcomes the establishment of culture centers in their respective country and Luban Workshop, said Tokayev said. He called for ensuring the China tourism year in 2025 a success, so as to keep closer bilateral sub-national cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges in education, culture and other fields.

Kazakhstan will continue to actively participate in building the China-Central Asia mechanism, and closely coordinate with China within multilateral frameworks such as the SCO and the United Nations, Tokayev added.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witnessed the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media.

Prior to their meeting, Kazakh fighter jets painted the sky with colored smoke trails to welcome the Chinese president. A group of six jets, while flying over the presidential palace, left behind them colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag.

In this combo photo, six Kazakh fighter jets paint the sky with colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag, while flying over the Kazakh presidential palace to welcome visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua, Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inspect the guard of honor in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. Tokayev hosted a ceremony to welcome the Chinese president. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold small-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold big-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witness the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media, following their talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Owner Fernando Villegas, prepares an authentic horchata Mexican beverage for a customer Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer La Calle Tacos offers a variety of traditional Mexican street tacos, beverages and street foods Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Bernardo Ramos finishes up an order of street tacos Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Authentic Mexican luchador masks hang on the wall in the cantina next door to La Calle Tacos Wednesday July 3, 2024, in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A fully stocked bar is available next door in the cantina Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer La Calle Tacos offers a variety of traditional Mexican street tacos, beverages and street foods Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer La Calle Tacos offers a variety of traditional Mexican street beverages Wednesday July 3, 2024 at La Calle Tacos in downtown Houston. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

About two months ago, Fernando Villegas and his business partner, Ramon Soriano, gathered their marketing director, general managers and other key members of their team at La Calle Tacos and Cantina to make plans for this years Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1.

Meteorologists had warned that this year looked likely to be busy, perhaps historic, as a result of abnormally warm Atlantic waters. On Wednesday morning, their predictions were coming true, as Hurricane Beryl raged through the Caribbean, an ominously early Category 4 storm.

But as a steady stream of patrons entered the restaurant late Wednesday morning, Villegas said he wasnt particularly worried about the storms that might come this summer, thanks in part to the plans La Calle already has in place.

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The bar and cantina has been through several extreme weather events since its first location opened downtown at 909 Franklin in September 2016, Villegas explained. They managed to stay open during Harvey, for example, in August 2017 and through Winter Storm Uri in February 2021.

We have, almost, a policy  we never close. Unless we lose power, he said, adding that he and Soriano see this as a way to support the community as well as their employees. During the winter storm, we stayed open and gave out coffee for free.

The resiliency of small businesses is important for the communities in which they operate as well as for their owners, employees and customers, said Rebecca Davio, director of Texas States Institute for Government Innovation. Studies have found that a significant number of businesses forced to close in a disaster  as many as 40%, in some estimates  never reopen. And Texas has about 3.1 million businesses with fewer than 500 employees, according to the Small Business Administration, making up more than 99% of all enterprises in the state.

Thats an absolutely staggering number, Davio noted. It goes directly to the health of the communities.

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Helping small businesses plan ahead for disasters is a key goal of BeforeDuringAfter, a new web-based platform backed by a consortium of public and private entities including Texas State University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, insurance company Texas Mutual and Wells Fargo.

Its website  which features a low-key design and few of the complicated graphics that can eat up a cellphones battery life  seeks to corral information from various entities involved in disasters in Texas and aggregate localized alerts for businesses that sign up.

Theres a huge amount of information out there. Its an overwhelming amount of information, Davio said. Over the past two years, she explained, she worked with students to sort through thousands of official social media accounts in the states cities, and its 254 counties, so businesses could sign up for alerts specific to their areas.

In addition, the platform lays out roadmaps for steps small businesses should take before, during and after an extreme weather event, in order of priority.

First steps after a storm, for example: as soon as possible, ensure the safety of your employees, contact your insurance company and update your presence online. After that, perhaps within the first week, develop a cash flow forecast and reduce business expenses based on that forecast.

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Most Houstonians can point to spots they once enjoyed that were unable to recover from the damage sustained and losses incurred during extreme weather events. The Spaghetti Warehouse at 901 Commerce, for example, was forced to close after its historic building on Buffalo Bayou flooded badly during Harvey. It returned to Houston in 2018, in a new location on the Katy Freeway.

La Calle, just around the corner on Franklin Street, had been lucky in that case, Villegas said, steepling his fingers. The cantina sits on una montana  a mountain, at least by Houston standards  meaning that floodwaters never got into the space. And La Calle, which is now preparing to open its fourth location, has several policies that help it withstand temporary disruptions such as power outrages: the restaurant does not use freezers, for example, instead taking deliveries of fresh meat and produce several times a week.

But the most important lesson La Calle has learned, Villegas said, is to be prepared.

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From recent graduates to wealthy professionals, many Brits are considering moving abroad these days.

And the motivating force for many is clear: money.

Over half of British workers (52%) have considered leaving the United Kingdom for better working opportunities abroad, according to the British human resources website Employer News.

Others are in search of affordable housing and lower taxes, it said, citing research from London-based financial services company Prograd.

But contemplating moving abroad, and actually doing it, are very different things, especially for parents, who must consider if the grass is greener abroad  with the whole family in mind.

According to the expat insurance company Williams Russell, countries in the European Union are the best bet for Brits looking to leave the UK  with Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Spain and Finland topping the list.

But the United States  often referred to as Britain's "cousin"  comes in dead last in the ranking of 28 countries, dragged down by high childcare costs and long work hours.
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The European Union on Thursday confirmed its decision to hike tariffs on electric vehicles imported from China  with one automaker issuing fresh warnings that it may have to raise prices as a result. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, announced plans for such levies in June after concluding in an investigation that producers of battery EVs in China benefit from "unfair" subsidization. On Thursday, European regulators confirmed that these duties, which have been lightly tweaked to range from 17.4% to 37.6%, will come into effect on Friday. The levies will affect automakers from Chinese giant BYD to, potentially, European brands that make cars in China, and even U.S. giant Tesla , which has a factory in Shanghai.

The EU's decision comes at a time when Chinese automakers have been aggressively expanding into Europe with competitively priced offerings, posing a threat to the region's top automakers, many of which have lagged behind in EVs. The European Commission says these carmakers have benefitted from "unfair subsidisation." Automakers have already hit back at the tariffs. On Thursday, Chinese EV maker Nio said it is currently maintaining prices for its cars sold into Europe, but added that it "cannot be ruled out that prices may be adjusted at a later stage as a result of these tariffs being imposed." A spokesperson for another Chinese EV upstart, Xpeng said on Thursday that customers who are awaiting deliveries of cars, or those who place new orders before the tariffs take effect, will be "protected from any price increases." It did not comment on whether it would end up raising prices as a result of the levies. Geely declined to comment when contacted by CNBC. When the EU first announced the tariffs last month, Tesla said it will likely increase the Europe prices of its Model 3 vehicle. The EU has yet to say what specific level of tariffs Tesla will face, but noted last month that the U.S. automaker "may receive an individually calculated duty rate."

China-EU negotiations

The tariffs that take effect Friday are provisional and last for four months. In that time, EU member states must vote on so-called "definitive duties," which would last five years.

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Chinese and EU officials have held several rounds of meetings to discuss the tariffs, with Beijing in June criticizing the EU's imposition of tariffs as a "protectionist act." Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong said on Thursday that he hopes the two sides will "meet each other halfway, show sincerity, speed up the consultation process, and, on the basis of rules and reality, reach a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible."

Chinese EV maker committed to Europe
A little boy with his mother and grandmother, watch the sunset scenery at Beijing international airport. Zhang Peng | Lightrocket | Getty Images

China's population is shrinking, and the demographic shift will ultimately hurt its economy, shrink the labor force and put pressure on fiscal policy. "The working age population [in China] will fall so rapidly over the next decade, that the Chinese economy will need to deal with 1% drag in GDP growth per year for next 10 years," Darren Tay, head of Asia country risk at BMI Country Risk & Industry Analysis, told "Squawk Box Asia" in June, referring to estimates gathered by evaluating world population data released by the United Nations. "The fiscal strain as a result of ageing is immediate and concerning," the Economist Intelligence Unit has warned. "Economic growth hinges on productivity, capital accumulation and labour inputs. The negative effect of an adverse demographic landscape will manifest primarily through a shrinking workforce," according to the report published in January. Raising the retirement age is "one of the few viable options" to maintain long-term fiscal balance, the EIU said. "Our calculations suggest that if the retirement age is raised to 65 by 2035, the pension budget shortfall could be reduced by 20% and received net pension can be increased by 30%, suggesting relief of both government and household burden," according to the report. Birth rates are falling around the world as women choose to have children later, or not at all.

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Fertility rates have halved across OECD countries  some of the world's richest nations  falling from about 3.3 children per woman in 1960 to about 1.5 children per woman in 2022, according to the OECD, or Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. "This is significantly below the 'replacement level' of 2.1 children per woman needed to keep population constant in the absence of migration," according to the June report.

China's shrinking population

China's population is shrinking, and the demographic shift will ultimately hurt its economy, shrink the labor force and put pressure on fiscal policy. Laikwunfai | Istock | Getty Images

Fertility rate in the country is dropping more quickly than its regional peers like South Korea and Japan, Tianchen Xu, a senior economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), told CNBC. He said the three countries are disproportionately impacted by a rapidly aging population, largely due to improved standards of living, which have a "very strong inverse relationship with fertility rates." China, in particular, has been "growing at a very high rate for nearly three decades." and its economic expansion has been "rapid and extended," he added. The country's welfare system has also "lagged" and fiscal support for childbearing is "quite low by international comparison," according to Xu. Surging home prices are not helping. "The government has largely been incapable of managing the significant rising housing costs," according to Xu, who pointed out that as housing becomes increasingly costly, people may find it difficult to purchase homes and delay starting a family.

Falling birth rates

The rapid economic expansion seen in recent decades in developed nations has brought about rising income levels and the broadening of educational and career opportunities for women. These improved conditions have led to a greater opportunity cost for having children, Xu said. "In more developed societies, the tendency is that parents face a much higher cost of raising children, and that tends to be a deterrent to having [them]," said BMI's Tay. "The more developed an economy is, the more skills the actors in the economy have to have, and thus, the required investment in each [child] rises by that amount," he said.

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The work culture in Asia can also play a part. "Among the Asian countries, there's the entrenched mindset of working long hours," said Xu, which is "particularly an issue in China, South Korea... [and] other parts of East and Southeast Asia." "These countries are where the aggregate working hours are the longest in the world," and as a result, workers have less time to build a family, Xu told CNBC.

Shrinking workforce

A decline in fertility rate puts pressure on the economy and the society at large as the working population shrinks. "A country's birth rates will translate into its working age population growth, some two decades down the road," said Tay from Maybank.. Additionally, falling fertility rates can impact the ratio of elderly folks who need support from younger generations, which can put "excessive burdens on a country's health care and pension systems," Maybank's Tay told CNBC. Ultimately, the burden on younger generations will grow as they need to care not only for their own children, but for their elderly parents as well. This demographic shift in parts of Asia is a structural issue that will require "determined and holistic government effort," on both fiscal and monetary policy, she said.

China's policy shifts

In China, policymakers have been putting a big emphasis on "productivity growth," Xu told CNBC. "They have [seen] that there's a very big decline in the labor contribution to GDP, [which] cannot be mitigated via any sort of policy intervention in the short term," he said. "That's why they have been focusing on their productivity growth." The country has invested heavily into shifting to digital solutions and developing technologies such automation and advanced chips, said Xu, with the goal of making traditional industries more efficient, and overall, improving productivity. Looking ahead, Chinese policymakers are encouraged to do more about the labor environment. "That probably entails tighter enforcement of the labor law and promoting work-life balance," said Xu.

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U.S. President Joe Biden walks to deliver remarks after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's bid for immunity from federal prosecution for 2020 election subversion, at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 1, 2024. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters

President Joe Biden is facing an uprising from some his own party's wealthy donors, including an heiress to the Disney family fortune, who say they will no longer fund the Democratic Party until Biden drops out of the presidential race following his disastrous debate performance. Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Roy O. Disney, who co-founded The Walt Disney Co., told CNBC on Thursday that she plans to withhold donations to the party she has funded for years until Biden drops out. The president has said he has no plans to withdraw from the race, despite calls for him to do so. "I intend to stop any contributions to the party unless and until they replace Biden at the top of the ticket. This is realism, not disrespect. Biden is a good man and has served his country admirably, but the stakes are far too high," Abigail Disney said in a lengthy statement to CNBC. "If Biden does not step down the Democrats will lose. Of that I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire."

The Democratic Party at large has been in a state of panic since Biden struggled to perform in the debate against former President Donald Trump last week. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, called on Biden to drop out of the race, suggesting the debate performance proved to voters that the president is incapable of taking on Trump and unable to overcome his distance in the polls. A New York Times/Sienna College poll taken after the debate showed Biden behind Trump by 6 percentage points among likely voters. Representatives for the Biden campaign did not return requests for comment. Abigail Disney has been a longtime supporter of Democrats. She gave $50,000 to the Jane Fonda Climate political action committee in April, according to a Federal Election Commission filing. The PAC has given $35,000 to Democrats running for congressional seats, according to data from OpenSecrets. Disney gave $150,000 in 2014 to Planned Parenthood Votes, a PAC affiliated with the health care nonprofit, according to OpenSecrets. That PAC this election cycle has spent more than $400,000 supporting Democrats, including $26,000 for Biden. Disney pointed to Vice President Kamala Harris as a solid alternative to Biden, arguing she'd be able to defeat Trump. "We have an excellent Vice President. If Democrats would tolerate any of her perceived shortcomings even one tenth as much as they have tolerated Biden's (and let's not kid ourselves about where race and gender figure in that inequity) and if Democrats can find a way to stop quibbling and rally around her, we can win this election by a lot," Disney said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: Abigail Disney speaks at Firehouse DCTV's Cinema For Documentary Film Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on September 20, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images) Santiago Felipe | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden speak at the start of the meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) during the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, July 11, 2023. Paul Ellis | AP

The U.K. and U.S. have a lot in common  a shared language, history, democratic ideals and values. But when it comes to politics, us Brits do things very differently from our American friends. Those differences are plain to see as election campaigns ramp up in the U.K. and U.S., ahead of the British vote on July 4 and the U.S. ballot on Nov. 5. Of course, our political systems encompass different electoral procedures and processes, but there are other nuances to how the Brits and Americans do political races differently. Here are a handful of them:

1) Campaigns

By the time a presidential election takes place in the United States, the electorate will have already endured months of seemingly endless electioneering  with the entire election campaign process from candidacies and the campaign trail to the actual presidential election and inauguration taking up to two years. In the U.K., the time frame between a prime minister calling a general election to the actual vote is just six weeks. American readers might, very reasonably, read that and weep.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer boards his campaign 'battle bus' after holding a Q&A with students during a visit to Burton and South Derbyshire College in Burton-on-Trent, whilst campaigning for next month's General Election on July 4. Picture date: Thursday June 27, 2024. Stefan Rousseau - Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images

With such a tight window in which to win voters' support, the leaders of Britain's political parties dash about the U.K. on campaign "battle buses" as they try to visit as many constituencies as possible to persuade voters to elect the local party candidate as a member of Parliament (MP). The party that wins the most seats in the House of Commons (the British Parliament) usually forms the new government and its leader becomes prime minister. It sounds simple, and usually is, unless there's a "hung parliament" in which no political party wins a majority of seats. In that case, the largest party can either form a minority government or enter into a coalition government of two or more parties. Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at King's College London, told CNBC that there are many historical and structural differences between the countries when it comes to politics, and reasons why American campaigns are so much longer. "The hugeness of the election in the U.S. is a function of the massive amounts of money at play to some degree. You do have to have these long periods of fundraising alongside campaigning and we just have completely different rules and structures around that."

2) Election spending and ads

Money is certainly one of biggest differences between U.K. general elections and U.S. presidential elections. Stateside, billions of dollars can be fundraised and spent on campaign activities and political ads, far above that spent in the U.K. (after all, the parties in Britain only have six weeks in which to spend the money!). For a Brit, the money raised and spent by Republicans and Democrats during election campaigns is eye-watering. In April, the U.S. Federal Election Commission released data that showed that during the first 12 months of the 2024 election cycle (covering 2023), presidential candidates collected $374.9 million and disbursed $270.8 million, while political parties received $684.5 million and spent $595 million, and political action committees raised $3.7 billion and spent $3.1 billion, according to campaign finance reports filed with the commission. A number of political action committees, or PACs, raise money and make direct contributions to candidates' campaigns or parties. In the case of "super PACs," committees raise and spend an unlimited amount of money in support of their preferred candidates, often funding large-scale ad campaigns.

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during a campaign event in Philadelphia on June 22, 2024. Tom Brenner | Reuters

In the U.K., meanwhile, the Electoral Commission sets out strict rules on spending limits for political parties contesting the general election in Great Britain (made up of England, Wales and Scotland). In England, for example, the limit is whichever the greater is of 1,458,440 ($1,845,098) or 54,010 times the number of seats the party is contesting in each part of Britain. Parties can be fined, and often are, for breaching those limits. In the U.K., political advertising on TV and radio is not allowed, so U.K. voters are subjected to the somewhat quaint "party political broadcasts" during election campaigns. That's where parties are allocated broadcast slots, free of charge, on radio and TV channels in which they can set out their election pledges. The broadcasts are sporadic, however, and easy to miss, unlike the thousands of ads in the U.S.

3) 'We don't do God'

You will never hear a British politician  at least not a mainstream one  mentioning God in a political speech or campaign. Ever. Religion, in general, is kept separate from politics in the U.K., a multifaith country but also one in which religious belief is declining, particularly among younger generations. Just under half (49%) of Britons surveyed in 2022 said they believed in God  down from three-quarters (75%) in 1981, according to a study by King's College London published last year. While it's common to hear U.S. politicians proclaim "God bless America," jaws would drop in the U.K. if a British politician made such an expression of faith in a political speech. Political aides say the subject is better left alone.

Britain's then-Prime Minister Tony Blair (R) and his official spokesperson Alastair Campbell, leave the Inverness Royal Academy after meeting schoolchildren there, in 2001. Ben Curtis - Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty Images

Alastair Campbell, who served as the Labour Party's director of communications and strategy under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, reportedly interjected with the now famous phrase "we don't do God," when Blair, then a member of the Church of England, was asked about his faith while in power. On another occasion, Blair was reportedly keen on ending a speech with the phrase "God bless Britain" but later said he was advised against it, noting that "one of the civil servants said in a very po-faced way 'I just remind you prime minister, this is not America' in this very disapproving tone, so I gave up the idea." Blair converted to Catholicism on leaving office in 2007. An aversion to mixing politics and personal belief still runs deep in British public life, Dan Stevens, professor of politics at Exeter University, told CNBC, unlike in the U.S. "They're just a much more religious society than we are. The U.K., along with much of Western Europe, is just so secular it's just not even something worth talking about. Whereas in America, although it is secularizing, particularly among younger people ... there is still this need for political candidates, including people like Donald Trump, to espouse some kind of religion to earn the electorate's trust."

4) Age is just a number

U.K. voters have been hearing a lot in the press about how U.S. election debates have focused on incumbent President Joe Biden's age. Indeed, British politicians look like whippersnappers when compared with the 81-year-old president and 78-year-old Republican candidate Trump.

Democratic Party presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump speak during a presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024 in a combination photo. Brian Snyder | Reuters

Incumbent British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is a youngster in comparison, at a mere 44 years old while Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party and, polls suggest, the man likely to become the next prime minister, is "only" 61. "There are so much older candidates in the U.S.," the Policy Institute's Duffy told CNBC, describing it to a "gerontocracy trend" in which society is governed by old people. "It's very different from around the world where we're actually seeing a decline in the age of world leaders." In the U.S., the age of the candidates reflects the decades it takes to build "political capital and connections," Duffy said. With support for Biden shaken by his poor performance in a televised debate with Trump, it's that political capital and connections that appear to be keeping Biden's election campaign alive.

Another point of difference in British elections, and politics in general, is that "morality issues" are not prominent points of debate, dissent or divergence. Unlike the U.S., where the abortion debate, gun control and gay marriage are sources of contention, those debates are not hot topics in the U.K. where abortion is legal, gun ownership is rare and heavily restricted (critics would argue the U.K. has a knife crime problem instead), and gay marriage is (aside from among some members of the clergy) uncontested.

Attendees hold large Pride flag at the 2023 LA Pride Parade on June 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images) Rodin Eckenroth | Getty Images

Similarly, "identity politics" and "culture wars"  the umbrella term for conflicts between often opposed political groupings with different cultural values and beliefs  are not so prominent in the U.K. But the U.K. does have our "moments"  the topics of immigration, transgender rights, the U.K.'s relationship with the European Union (yes, Brexit is still "a thing" eight years after a referendum on EU membership) and assisted dying are hot topics where divisions are evident among the British press and public. Still, such issues are seen as "more of a personal rather than a party issue" in the U.K., according to John Curtice, a top U.K. polling expert who has studied British social attitudes extensively. "Moral issues of life and death are indeed taken out of our party politics, but other aspects of the argument between social liberals and social conservatives are not taken out, and it's become more important," he told CNBC.

6) 'Absurd' diversions

British political experts note that, unlike in the U.S., where broad political debates tend to remain the key focus, U.K. election campaigns can see more minor or fringe issues dominate the short election campaign. A betting scandal has erupted in Britain in recent weeks, for example, after several candidates for the Conservative Party, and a candidate for the opposing Labour Party, were found to have placed bets on the date of the general election before it was officially announced, and its outcome, leading to accusations of impropriety in public office. It's uncertain what amounts were staked, and those accused deny wrongdoing, though investigations have been launched by the U.K.'s gambling watchdog and the police.

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) meets with a British D-Day veteran during the UK Ministry of Defence and the Royal British Legion's commemorative ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the World War II "D-Day" Allied landings in Normandy, at the World War II British Normandy Memorial near the village of Ver-sur-Mer, which overlooks Gold Beach and Juno Beach in northwestern France, on June 6, 2024. Ludovic Marin | Afp | Getty Images
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Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, speaks during the company's annual general meeting in Tokyo on June 20, 2024. Kosuke Okahara | Bloomberg | Getty Images

SoftBank Group shares hit a record high on Thursday, just as the company's massive tech investment arm shows signs of recovery and its outspoken founder Masayoshi Son emerged back into the public spotlight to align the Japanese giant to a future in artificial intelligence. The firm has also been helped by the public market success of British chip designer Arm , in which Softbank has a majority stake. Shares of the Japanese giant closed at a record high of 11,190.00 Japanese yen on Thursday  a far cry from the dotcom crash of the early 2000s and a more recent downturn for the company during the tech market troubles of 2021 and 2022.

SoftBank's journey to the peak

Son founded SoftBank in 1981, back when the company distributed software. It went public in Japan in 1994, and, amid the internet boom, made a $2 million investment in Yahoo in the middle of that decade.

That started off the company's tech investments. The rise of the internet and of Yahoo pushed SoftBank's stock to a peak closing price of 10,111.1 yen on Feb. 18, 2000. Three days prior, the firm's shares had hit an intraday high of 11,000 yen. As internet stocks came crashing down, so too did SoftBank's share price, which at one point sank more than 90% below its dotcom peak. It wasn't until nearly 21 years later, on Feb. 16, 2021, that SoftBank exceeded its previous record-high close.

Vision Fund

The recent rise to a share price peak has been volatile since Son positioned SoftBank as a visionary pioneer with the 2017 launch of a massive technology investment arm  the Vision Fund. SoftBank made dozens of bets on tech companies across the world, some of which turned sour. Office sharing startup WeWork was perhaps among the highest-profile names. But some of SoftBank's investments in Chinese firms also took a hit after Beijing kicked off its crackdown on the domestic tech sector at the end of 2020. After lingering near then-record highs in March 2021, SoftBank's stock fell sharply, alongside other global tech stocks. The Vision Fund posted then-record financial losses in 2022. Son said that SoftBank would go into "defense" mode and be more conservative with its investments. He changed tack shortly after the Vision Fund posted a record $32 billion loss in 2023, saying that the company would now shift into "offense," because he was excited about the investment opportunities in AI.

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SoftBank's share price began a recovery from around May 2023, and the Japanese titan's Vision Fund more recently posted better financials amid broader tech stock recoveries. "Softbank Vision Fund had to write down various investments due to a combination of equity values declining and a tougher private financing environment. It looks like the write down cycle is mostly done, and there is a good chance that the IPO market will be more constructive going forward, especially for AI related investments," Oliver Matthew, head of Asian consumer research at CLSA, told CNBC by email.

Arm chip boost

Several analysts attributed SoftBank's recent share price bump of around 78% in the year to date to the IPO success of Arm, which it acquired in 2016. SoftBank owns roughly 90% of Arm even after the listing. Arm shares are up nearly 124% alone this year, as of the close on July 3. "SoftBank Group's investment strategy and focus has long included the development of an AI ecosystem portfolio, long before the LLM (large language model)-driven bull cycle in AI-related names over the last 18 months or so," Paul Golding, senior U.S. lifestyle and payments analyst at Macquarie U.S. equity research, told CNBC by email. "This vision, in our view, likely drove some of the investment decision in 2016 to acquire Arm, giving SoftBank Group direct exposure to semiconductor market dynamics and ownership of intellectual property around semiconductor design well ahead of broader progress in AI use-cases and platforms." SoftBank shares "have been benefitting from this vis-a-vis well-publicized" uses for Arm intellectual property, such as in the automotive industry or cloud data center, Golding added.

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Do investors believe the SoftBank story?

Over the years, investors have focused on whether SoftBank Group's valuation fairly reflects the assets it is invested in or holds. For example, SoftBank's valuation is around $101.5 billion. Arm's market capitalization is around $176 billion  meaning that SoftBank's 90% stake is equivalent to about $158 billion of that figure. That alone is significantly above SoftBank Group's overall valuation, without taking into account the company's other holdings and businesses, such as its telecommunications arm. Analysts cite this as a reason why SoftBank's share price does not reflect its fair value. Dan Baker, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said a lot of SoftBank's price appreciation comes down to Arm. "I'm not sure that investors are convinced by the SoftBank story again," Baker told CNBC by email, adding that this year's share gain is "primarily" because Arm stock has risen, while the Japanese yen has weakened. Baker said it is worth looking at the so-called sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) valuation, which ascribes value to the various parts of SoftBank's holdings to figure what the company is worth. Baker said the SOTP valuation remains just under 50% this year, meaning SoftBank's stock does not truly reflect the value of its various businesses and investments. "So I'm not sure that investors are 'buying the SoftBank story' but investors are certainly buying the ARM story," Baker said. Investors have also cheered the fact that SoftBank has sold practically all of its shares in Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant that Son backed in 2000. SoftBank has also likely been helped by a recent broader rise in Japanese stocks, with the Nikkei 225 Index up 22% this year alone as of Thursday.

Artificial super intelligence

But can Son's focus on AI boost SoftBank's value further and close the discount to its basket of assets? The SoftBank founder, who has been out of the public spotlight in the last year, recently spoke about his excitement over the future of AI and how SoftBank can be at the center of this technology with its investment in companies like Arm. Son last month laid out his vision for a world featuring what he dubbed as artificial super intelligence, or ASI, which would be 10,000 times smarter than humans. It comes at a time when investors are feverishly looking at how to play the AI boom, with the parabolic rise of Nvidia's stock price underscoring the excitement around the technology.

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An electric vehicle of the model Y is pictured during the start of the production at Tesla's "Gigafactory" on March 22, 2022 in Gruenheide, southeast of Berlin. - US electric car pioneer Tesla received the go-ahead for its "gigafactory" in Germany on March 4, 2022, paving the way for production to begin shortly after an approval process dogged by delays and setbacks. (Photo by Patrick Pleul / POOL / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK PLEUL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Tesla's better-than-expected deliveries report this week has been bad news for traders betting on a drop in the electric vehicle maker's stock.

With the shares rallying 17% in the two trading days since the second-quarter report, short sellers have lost an estimated $3.5 billion on a mark-to-market basis, according to data from S3 Partners.

It's been a painful few months for short sellers, as Tesla shares have soared 73% since bottoming for the year in April. After closing at $246.39 in shortened trading on Wednesday, the stock is a little more than $2 shy of wiping out its loss for the year.

Short interest in Tesla currently stands at 3.5% of float, or 97 million shares shorted, with a $22.4 billion notional value.

Tesla reported second-quarter deliveries on Tuesday of 443,956, topping Wall Street estimates of 439,000. Deliveries fell 4.8% from a year earlier, but the decline wasn't as steep as the 8.5% year-over-year drop in the first quarter.

While the deliveries report suggested demand for Tesla vehicles remains stronger than feared, it offered a limited view into company performance.

With its autos business mired in a sales decline due to an aging lineup, and stronger competition than ever, Tesla has for months been incentivizing EV purchases with discounts, low- or no-interest financing options and other perks.

In the second quarter, for example, Tesla slashed prices in Germany and Norway and offered zero-interest loan promos in China, even for its entry-level Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUVs. In the U.S., Tesla offered a three-year, 2% APR financing deal for buyers of its rear-wheel drive Model 3.

Meanwhile, Tesla's newest model, the angular steel Cybertruck, has gotten off to a slow start, with quality problems necessitating four voluntary recalls in the U.S. in less than a year.
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, campaigns ahead of the general election, in Redditch, UK, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

LONDON  Polling stations in the U.K. general election are set to close at 10 p.m. local time (5 p.m. ET), as the incumbent Conservative Party seeks to defy months of surveys that suggest it will suffer a historic defeat at the hands of the center-left Labour Party. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the vote six weeks ago, taking politicians and the public alike by surprise. Most had expected the election to take place later in the year, giving more time for the recent decline in inflation and anticipated reduction in interest rates to hit voters' wallets. A number of smaller parties are vying to win seats in the 650-member House of Commons, the U.K.'s lower house of parliament, including the Liberal Democrats, Greens, Scottish National Party, Plaid Cymru, the Democratic Unionist Party and Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Votes will be cast across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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Within the U.K. political system, a party increasing its share of the popular vote does not necessarily translate to winning more parliamentary seats  and it is all but guaranteed that either the Conservatives or Labour, led by Keir Starmer, will receive the reins of power. That could either be through winning an absolute majority or by forming a coalition government. Convention says the leader of the party with the most seats in the Commons becomes prime minister

Political surveys have for nearly two years pointed to a resounding Labour victory, even though the party will require a historic gain of nearly 13% in the national vote to win even a narrow parliamentary majority, according to Hannah Bunting, lecturer in quantitative British politics at the University of Exeter. That would be a bigger swing than the one achieved by Labour's Tony Blair over John Major in 1997. A strong Labour lead was reinforced in a major aggregate poll released by YouGov earlier this week.

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However, politicos and Labour itself caution that no outcome is guaranteed and that the polling can be inaccurate. More than 100 seats are considered very close to call, including those currently held by high-profile Conservatives, including Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt and Sunak himself. The Thursday ballot is the first U.K. general election since 2019, when then-Conservative leader Boris Johnson clinched the party's biggest majority win since 1987 over Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. That was on a platform promising to complete the "Brexit" process of leaving the European Union, which had become mired in a political gridlock.

Rishi Sunak, UK prime minister, campaigns at a Conservative Party general election campaign event at the National Army Museum in London, UK, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Johnson's administration was then marked by several public scandals, including the "Partygate" case in which senior politicians broke lockdown rules during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to his reluctant resignation in July 2022. He was succeeded by Liz Truss, who lasted just 44 days in office before resigning over the so-called mini-budget crisis, which rocked financial markets. Sunak, a former finance minister for the Conservative Party, has since overseen a period of relative political stability; but one in which the country has been grappling with a severe cost of living crisis and sluggish economic growth.

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Along with a huge vote for Labour and severe losses for the Conservatives, one of the major themes of the night so far has been the apparent gains by Reform UK.

It is forecast to win 13 seats and has significantly increased its vote share in early seats that have been declared.

The populist, right-wing party with a hardline stance on immigration was born out of the Brexit Party, which was founded by Nigel Farage and focused on calling for a "no-deal Brexit" between 2016 and 2021. After the completion of the Brexit process, it campaigned on issues such as opposition to Covid lockdowns.

The Brexit party did not win any seats in the 2019 general election.

Farage, who has served in the European Union parliament (on a pro-Brexit stance) but repeatedly failed to win a seat in the U.K. legislature, stepped down as party leader in March 2021. After previously stating he would not stand as an MP in 2024 in order to focus on supporting Donald Trump's U.S. presidential campaign, he reversed course in June and said he would both stand and resume his role as Reform UK leader.

Numerous analysts argued that the return of the well-known figure would boost the party at the expense of the Conservatives.

David Bull, co-deputy leader of Reform UK, told the BBC during overnight vote counting that pollsters had underestimated the party's support, as they had with the number of people who would back a Brexit vote.

"I think what you're seeing is actually the shy Reformers coming out in droves. We saw this with Brexit didn't we, the shy Brexiteers, so the pollsters were caught off-guard and once again they've been caught off guard," Bull said. "If that is true and we win 13 seats that is extraordinary."

A "shy" voter refers to someone who does not reveal in polls which way they will eventually vote.

 Jenni Reid
Labour leader Keir Starmer visits Burton and South Derbyshire College on June 27, 2024 in Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom. Cameron Smith | Getty Images News | Getty Images

LONDON  Britain elected its first Labour prime minister in 14 years, with a landslide victory for the opposition party during the July 4 elections. Keir Starmer takes the country's top job from Rishi Sunak with projections suggesting his left-of-center party could have a majority of around 170 seats. Starmer has had a rapid political ascent after entering the U.K. Parliament less than a decade ago. But many Britons still know little about the man who has positioned himself as the country's change candidate. CNBC takes a look at the U.K.'s new prime minister and his platform.

Human rights lawyer-turned-politician

Starmer was born in 1962 in London to a father who worked as a toolmaker and a mother who was a nurse. The 61-year-old has often referenced his modest beginnings as a point of connection with British voters and says his mother's lifelong battle with a severe illness gave him a deep gratitude for the National Health Service (NHS). Starmer was the first in his family to go to university, studying law at the University of Leeds. After postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, Starmer began working as a barrister  or British trial attorney  in 1987, taking on high-profile cases, including against Shell, McDonald's and former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's mine closures.

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Starmer also served as a human rights advisor during former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair's landmark Northern Ireland Good Friday Agreement. In 2008, a year after marrying his wife, Victoria, Starmer became director of public prosecutions, putting him at the head of the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service. Starmer was knighted in 2014 for his services to criminal justice and was elected to Parliament the following year, serving as immigration minister and Brexit minister for the opposition. In 2020, he was appointed Labour leader and instigated a major overhaul of the party after the resignation of Jeremy Corbyn, who led the faction to a record loss in the 2019 election.

In his 2024 election campaign, Starmer touted a "decade of national renewal" for the country following what Labour has described as years of spending cuts and falling living standards under the Tories. In the party's election manifesto, published last month, Starmer outlined spending measures to create a new publicly owned energy company, reduce NHS waiting times, build new homes and renationalize rail services.

Labour leader Keir Starmer gives a speech as he visits the Vale Inn on June 27, 2024 in Macclesfield, United Kingdom. Cameron Smith | Getty Images News | Getty Images

But he also positioned himself as staunchly pro-business, continuing his yearslong charm offensive on traditionally right-leaning voters with plans for "wealth creation" and a National Wealth Fund. "Economic growth and social justice must go hand in hand," Starmer said at the launch event of the manifesto. Labour has outlined five long-term missions if it comes to power: drive economic growth, invest in green energy, overhaul the NHS, create safer streets and deliver "opportunity" through a new skills agenda. To aid these goals, Starmer is planning a radical shake-up of government ministries, Labour officials told the Financial Times. Starmer, who voted for the Remain campaign not to depart the European Union in the U.K.'s 2016 EU referendum, has also pledged to improve the "botched" U.K.-EU deal, including in areas such as trade, research and security. However, he has insisted there is no case for Britain to rejoin the bloc.

Public image problem?

Despite his change agenda, Starmer is seen by many as an establishment figure, lacking the charisma of other politicians. A YouGov poll from earlier this year ranked him behind Reform's Nigel Farage in terms of public popularity  and his rating fell further among younger voters.

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Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center and its academic affiliate, Baylor College of Medicine, have agreed to pay a $15 million settlement after a whistleblower said doctors for years relied on unqualified medical residents to perform key aspects of risky heart surgeries, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Dr. Michael E. DeBakey became known as the father of modern cardiovascular surgery for the innovative procedures he pioneered while serving as president of Baylor College of Medicine.

The legendary heart surgeon also earned renown for another practice  he performed more than 60,000 surgeries during his career, often overseeing three or four operating rooms at once. That workload earned him the nickname The Texas Tornado.

Sixty years later, though, the institution that DeBakey led to prominence has come under scrutiny for its handling of so-called overlapping surgeries, where a surgeon is scheduled for more than one procedure at a time. The practice generally involves staggering the start times of each so the surgeon can be present for the key parts of the operations. But in a recently settled case, federal officials allege three surgeons left unqualified medical residents alone in operating rooms during critical moments of complex heart surgeries.

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The $15 million settlement that Baylor College of Medicine, Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center and physicians group Surgical Associates of Texas P.A. agreed to pay last week is the latest in a series of cases involving concurrent or overlapping surgeries in recent years. Federal officials have been cracking down on the practice after a 2015 report in the Boston Globe raised concerns that it might put some patients at risk. There have been at least four other settlements related to concurrent or overlapping surgeries in the past eight years, according to court documents.

Experts told the Chronicle that there are some instances where overlapping surgeries  which begin at different times  are acceptable because they allow surgeons to handle the most challenging part of an operation while leaving noncritical tasks to less-experienced colleagues. Its also common to have residents handle part of a surgery so long as theyre supervised and the patient is informed. However, experts said its improper to schedule concurrent surgeries where the critical parts of a procedure are happening simultaneously or allow unsupervised residents to perform that work.

There are rules, and youve got to follow the rules, said Dr. Edward Livingston, a surgeon and professor at the UCLA School of Medicine. The rules say that you have to be there for the critical part of the case.

Federal officials accused the three surgeons  Drs. Joseph Coselli, David Ott and Joseph Lamelas  of performing thousands of concurrent and overlapping surgeries from 2013 to 2020. Officials said the practice harmed patients and inflated the surgeons compensation because they fraudulently billed the government for the operations, according to court documents.

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Coselli continues to treat patients in his role as executive vice chair in the surgery department at Baylor, the medical school said last week. Ott retired in 2018, while Lamelas left the institution in 2019 for his current role as chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Ott previously denied wrongdoing in a statement to the Chronicle, while Coselli and Lamelas could not be reached for comment.

The charges of violating the false claims act and records laws were dismissed as part of the agreement, and none of the defendants was found guilty. Both Baylor and St. Luke's previously issued statements denying wrongdoing, stressing the claims were allegations and that no laws were violated and no patients were harmed. Surgical Associates of Texas P.A. could not be reached.

Livingston, a former chief of surgery, wrote about concurrent and overlapping surgeries in 2017 while he was deputy editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The article he co-authored with Stanford Law School professor Michelle Mello suggested some guidelines for overlapping surgeries, such as having a multidisciplinary team within a hospital define the critical portion of a surgery.

The article also noted there is general agreement that concurrent surgery is ethically unacceptable. In court documents from the Houston case, investigators included portions of operating room records that showed surgeons were scheduled to be in multiple operations that began at the same time.

STILL TREATING PATIENTS: After whistleblower allegations, Baylor surgeon continues to treat patients in leadership role

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It seems pretty evident, from what is presented in that (court) document, that the surgeon couldnt have been there for the critical part of the case because of the nature of the timing, Livingston said.

Another troubling aspect of the case, experts said, is federal officials allegation that patients were not informed their surgeon may be overseeing multiple procedures at once. Surgeons should have that discussion with patients, particularly if theyre setting an example for trainees, said George J. Annas, the director of the Center for Health Law, Ethics and Human Rights at the Boston University School of Public Health.

The last thing you want to be teaching young surgeons is how to withhold information from patients, Annas said.

When should a surgeon be in the operating room?

Court documents from the case illustrate how the federal government has begun to crack down on the practice of concurrent and overlapping surgeries since the 2015 expose in the Boston Globe.

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The Senate Finance Committee expressed alarm over the allegations of patient harm, surgical misconduct and improper billing practices. The committee investigated before issuing a report in 2016 that said health care providers that accept Medicare payments should develop a policy that prohibits concurrent surgeries and regulates overlapping surgeries.

The American College of Surgeons has also issued guidelines that say concurrent surgeries are inappropriate and that primary surgeons should be immediately available if they are needed during overlapping surgeries.

Overlapping surgeries are tricky to regulate, experts said. Sharona Hoffman, a professor of law and bioethics at Case Western Reserve University, said its difficult to define the critical portion of all surgeries because there are so many types of procedures.

Letting trainees perform noncritical tasks, like opening and closing incisions, also allows surgeons to treat more patients, Hoffman said.

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We have a lot of physician shortages, so you wouldnt necessarily want to force them to be in the room for parts that fellows or whoever can easily do, she said. You want to use highly skilled surgeons time efficiently.

However, physicians at teaching hospitals must follow certain guidelines when theyre submitting claims to Medicare. During a surgery, they must be present for all critical portions of the procedure and immediately available to furnish services for the duration of the operation, according to court records. Those strict requirements have led to a series of settlements in recent years.

In 2015, the Department of Justice announced an $840,000 settlement with the Medical College Wisconsin after federal officials said residents did not receive adequate supervision during neurosurgeries, according to court documents in the Houston case. In 2016, the DOJ announced a $2.5 million settlement with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for similar claims, according to court documents.

In 2016, Vanderbilt University Medical Center agreed to a $6.5 million settlement in a case focused on concurrent surgeries in which federal officials alleged the surgeons had minimal, if any, involvement in (the) procedures, according to court records.

TIMELINE: How Houston became home to the largest medical center in the world

Last year, UPMC agreed to an $8.5 million settlement in a case in which a surgeon was accused of regularly performing three complex cardiothoracic surgeries at the same time. The surgeon was also accused of failing to participate in key and crucial aspects of the surgeries and forcing patients to endure hours of unnecessary anesthesia, according to court records.

Physicians who submit claims to Medicare need to follow the guidelines, Livingston said, because documents like operating room schedules can be used as evidence against them.

The government has access to all kinds of stuff, he said. You need to be really careful that, if you're documenting that you're providing care for Medicare patient, that there isn't some other record somewhere that shows you werent there.

Regulating surgeries is complicated, experts say

While there is consensus that concurrent surgeries are improper, experts generally agree that overlapping surgeries are acceptable under the right circumstances.

Livingston said he does not believe the practice is all that common; its more likely to be seen at large hospitals like the ones in the Texas Medical Center. At those institutions, scheduling one surgery to begin at 7:30 a.m. and another to begin at 9 a.m. would allow a surgeon to handle more cases and thus treat more patients, he said.

Furthermore, a 2019 analysis in JAMA did not find an association between overlapping surgery and patient outcomes. However, the analysis acknowledged those studies had some limitations, such as the fact that surgeons may be more likely to schedule low-risk procedures as overlapping surgeries.

READ MORE: How a Houston spine surgeon returned to work after a bike accident left him paralyzed

I think the jury's out, to some extent, said Anna Mayo, assistant professor of organizational behavior at Carnegie Mellon University, who has studied surgical teams. We have some really good research that suggests overlapping surgeries are okay, and even that research acknowledges we need better data.

Ideally, experts said, hospitals or professional medical associations would create stricter definitions for the critical portions of procedures to clarify when a lead surgeon should be in the operating room. But Mayo said its difficult to develop policy without adequate data, while Hoffman said hospitals may be reluctant to put a policy in writing because it could be used in litigation.

Experts also said its common and accepted to allow residents to handle parts of a surgery so long as they are supervised during critical portions. Its important for residents to be given more responsibility over time so they are prepared to perform a procedure by themselves once they leave the teaching hospital, Livingston said.

Patients also need to be informed if a surgeon isnt going to be handling the entirety of a procedure, both through consent forms and a discussion, Annas said. Some surgeons just assume a patient knows a resident may take part in the procedure because theyre at a teaching hospital, he said.
A recent survey conducted by the PD Avengers in partnership with AbbVie has unveiled the extensive toll Parkinson's disease takes on sleep quality, affecting a staggering 96% of respondents worldwide.

The Surveying Late Evening Effects of Parkinson's (SLEEP) study, conducted from March to May 2024, gathered insights from over 1,500 participants across 27 countries, including both individuals with Parkinson's and their caregivers.

Among those surveyed, 80% were Parkinson's patients, while the remaining 20% were caregivers. The survey identified several prevalent sleep issues among patients:

More than half reported frequent awakenings (53%).

Half experienced insomnia (50%).

41% cited bradykinesia (slowness of movement) as a sleep challenge.

Rigidity or stiffness affected 38% of respondents.

Nocturia, the need to urinate frequently at night, also affected 38% of participants.

Movement difficulties during sleep were particularly pronounced, with 65% of patients finding it challenging to turn over in bed, a figure that rose to 84% in advanced stages of the disease, Parkinson's Europe reported. Gender differences were noted, with men more affected by nocturia and drooling, while women reported higher incidences of insomnia and joint stiffness.

The impact on caregivers was equally significant, with 88% reporting sleep disruptions due to their partner's Parkinson's. Emotional strain was noted by 40% of caregivers, and a third experienced sleep disturbances related to assisting with patient movement or medication.

Despite the profound impact on daily life, the survey highlighted notable gaps in healthcare engagement. Nearly one-third of patients reported no discussions with healthcare professionals about their sleep issues, and only 20% had received a formal diagnosis of a sleep disorder. In Europe, this diagnosis rate dropped to just 13%.

Larry Gifford, President of PD Avengers, emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges, stating, "The nighttime struggles of people with Parkinson's and their caregivers are a silent crisis that demands attention. It is not just about acknowledging these challenges but taking actionable steps to address them."

To address these issues, PD Avengers has proposed several recommendations:
This Fourth of July, we want you to celebrate America by visiting one of the nations most famous sites. We also want you to bring a shovel with you, so you can dig for treasure.

The digging part is, of course, completely illegal, so be prepared to fight off authorities using your shovel. Also, you wont actually find any treasure, but you might just find something else hidden there thats even more interesting.

5 The Lost Town at the Hoover Dam The huge bodies of water behind dams are generally artificially constructed. With Hoover Dam, that reservoir is Lake Mead, and when the country flooded the area to create Lake Mead in the 1930s, there happened to be a town in a way. Fortunately, it was a town full of Mormons, and Mormons are great at moving around, so it was a simple matter to pay them all to go elsewhere. Either way, we dammed the Colorado River and let the water rise 1,200 feet, and the town of St. Thomas was no more. Don't Miss You might have known nothing about this if you came to visit Lake Mead in 1940, or 1960, or 1980. But every so often, as the lakes water level dropped, the ruins of St. Thomas peeked out. And for the last three years, with the water really receding, bits of the town have become extremely visible. Observe: From our description above, perhaps you were picturing a few church steeples poking their way through the lakes surface. But Lake Mead has receded a lot, so there are spots that used to be a deep reservoir that now just look like an empty desert with a ghost town. Advertisement Of course, if youre not interested in old Mormon buildings, theres also the chance that youll stumble upon one of the several skeletons that have turned up as Lake Mead has dried up. No, there is no straightforward explanation for how those bodies got there, and investigations are still ongoing.

4 The Other Hollywood Sign The Hollywood Sign wasnt originally a landmark just designed to sit in the background as people walk through Hollywood. It originally served as a billboard advertising a housing development named Hollywoodland. It also wasnt the only billboard of its kind. At the same time as that sign advertised Hollywoodland, a second sign advertised another housing development called Hillside Homes of Happiness. Hillside Homes of Happiness would have been too long a message to erect in 30-foot-tall letters. So, the ad consisted of just the word Outpost, since the land around the development was known as Outpost Estate. Though these letters were a little shorter than the ones in the Hollywoodland sign, they were lit in red neon, so as to be even more visible. Advertisement But when World War II started, authorities figured these red letters would be an attractive bombing target. Of course, foreign bombers didnt end up attacking California, but people feared they might, so the Outpost sign was taken down and scrapped  or so everyone assumed. In 2002, a couple of hikers found wreckage from the sign still out there: Annie Wells/Los Angeles Times Its not lit up anymore, other than with tetanus. Maybe this should become an official monument, just like the Hollywood Sign, suggested some Hollywood residents. The City of Los Angeles had zero interest in this, but they also had zero interest in removing the wreckage, so the letters remain there today  for you to stub your toe on. Advertisement

3 The Brooklyn Bridges Fallout Shelter Advertisement Speaking of the precautions of yore, have you considered locking yourself away in a vault? If you live in a big city, a fallout shelter may be closer than you think. In 2006, workers tinkering on the Brooklyn Bridge found a vault full of provisions stockpiled by those fearing a nuclear strike. These supplies included drugs, blankets and 352,000 packets of crackers. CNN The crackers prevented starvation. The drugs prevented boredom. Heres where wed like to explain to you exactly when this vault was built and by whom. But we cant do that. There are no historical records of anyone making or provisioning a fallout shelter in the Brooklyn Bridge. Our only clues are the dates written on some of the items. A bunch of the boxes are stamped 1957. That was the year the Soviets launched Sputnik, so that was a time when plenty of people feared the end was nigh. A bunch of other boxes are stamped 1962. That was the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, which was also a time when plenty of people feared the end was nigh. But the end didnt come in either one of those years, and we trust that whoever stocked this vault lived a long and fulfilling life in which they got to eat plenty of stuff other than crackers. Advertisement

2 The Radioactive Hazard at the Grand Canyon Advertisement Some buried secrets are designed to protect you from radiation. Others are designed to blast you with radiation. In 2019, park officials at the Grand Canyon realized that the museum contained three 5-gallons buckets of uranium ore. The ore buckets had been sitting there next to a taxidermy exhibit for decades, and no one had realized what they were. Once someone did, OSHA personnel descended upon the museum in full HAZMAT gear to drag the stuff away. Advertisement National Parks Service Its a lot more exciting than measuring railings, or whatever else it is OSHA people normally do. The uraniums radiation wasnt so powerful that the whole museum had an elevated radiation level, but it was powerful enough that the area near the buckets did. It was enough that the park had to send out emails, saying, If you were in the Museum Collections Building (bldg 2C) between the year 2000 and June 18, 2018, you were exposed to uranium by OSHAs definition. That wouldnt mean youre contaminated, explained the email, just that there was uranium on the site and you were in its presence.  And by law we are supposed to tell you. Advertisement The real crime here isnt that countless visitors walked past radioactive buckets, but that the museum didnt know what it had. Maybe whoever left the buckets there originally should have put up a little placard, for educational purposes.
Who wouldnt want to lay claim to the mighty hamburger?

As one of the most iconic arrangements of foodstuffs in the modern world, it would be a high honor to say you were the person who invented it. And so, many have stepped forward to seize the crown. Unfortunately, due to the fact that theres so many contenders, exacerbated by the fact that beef between two slices of bread isnt a particularly outlandish thing to try, there is no clear originator. And barring some stunning new discovery of irrefutable hamburger evidence, it seems likely to stay that way.

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But again, none of that stopped any of the people or places below

5 Louis Lassen of Louis  Lunch amanderson2 Connecticut is all too happy to claim fame as the birthplace of the hamburger. The tale youll hear concerns one Louis Lassen, owner of Louis' Lunch in New Haven. Per legend, right at the turn of the century in 1900, a mysterious customer who was in search of something they could eat on the go  a common plot device in these food invention tales  was handed two pieces of toast with steak trimmings sandwiched between. Never mind the fact that there were plenty of previously existing items that could have been eaten on the go without having to invent a whole new food, the hamburger itself was already around. As recorded by the Washington Post, there were newspaper ads listing hamburgers by name years before Louis' supposed breakthrough.

4 Charlie Nagreen Nagreen was pretty confident about his claim, going for much of his life by the nickname Hamburger Charlie. According to him, he begat the burger in 1885 at the Seymour, Wisconsin summer fair. However, I have some bones to pick with Nagreens tale. First, he said he invented it by taking a meatball and sticking it in between two pieces of bread, which arguably, is not a burger at all. Functionally, yes, youre getting much of the same bits, but by admitting it was a meatball, you can only lay claim to the worlds first  and shortest  meatball sub. Now, could we argue ad nauseam about whether a hamburger is a squashed meatball? Of course, but thankfully, theres enough competing options that it doesnt need to come to that.

3 Frank and Charles Menches Kenneth C. Zirkel Another county fair, another claim of the hamburgers origination. This time, coming from the Menches brothers in, well, Hamburg, New York, which immediately gives it an air of legitimacy. The Menches version of the tale goes that their long-gone relatives were selling sausage sandwiches at the Hamburg fair, when they ran out of sausage. Obviously, this is a huge roadblock to creating more sausage sandwiches, and so, they reluctantly had to switch to what was available: ground beef. When asked for a name, they went the Usual Suspects route, looking up at the Hamburg sign and naming it the hamburger. Points against them: Their supposed recipe, which was ground beef mixed with brown sugar and coffee, sounds absolutely putrid, and I cant imagine it leading to any repeat customers, much less a culinary revolution.

2 Fletcher Davis Ill admit that this story has a couple details going for it. Its the popular telling in Texas, given that it takes place in that same state, in the city of Athens. Texas does, at least emotionally, feel like a good place for the hamburger to rear its head for the first time. Moreover, Fletcher Davis claimed timeline does get on the scene early enough to beat some other claimants, with the burgers invention being pegged to the late 1880s. Davis is even identified in some accounts as being the very vendor that brought the hamburger to the wider world via the 1904 Worlds Fair. Also, his recipe, unlike improvised steak or faux-sausage sandwiches, sounds spot-on, being served with mustard, onions and a pickle on the side.
Its that time of year when we all celebrate America  or Merica, if you will  by blowing up fireworks, wolfing down hot dogs and eventually passing out in our neighbors yard after drunkenly embarrassing our families.

But if you want to mark the occasion with a thematically-appropriate movie  and dont want to watch Mel Gibson stabbing a redcoat with Old Glory  theres always Team America: World Police.

When it first came out back in 2004, Trey Parker and Matt Stones all-marionette political satire wasnt hugely controversial  unless, of course, your name happened to be Sean Penn. In fact, the biggest Team America scandal involved the MPAAs censorship of a prolonged puppet sex scene.

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But Team America did end up getting pulled from theaters, albeit a decade after it was originally released, and mostly thanks to this guy:

In 2014, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldbergs The Interview, which famously parodied North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was the subject of a major international incident. Hackers leaked internal emails from Sony, the films distributor, and demanded that the company pull the movie of terrorism. They also invoked 9/11 in threats that urged audiences to stay away from a comedy starring the two dudes from Pineapple Express.

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The film was initially yanked out of circulation altogether, although this international incident somehow didnt stop Hustler from producing an Interview porn parody. Caught in the middle of all this was Team America: World Police. Following the initial cancellation of The Interview, several theaters decided to screen Team America in its place, presumably since it also portrayed a fictional American military conflict with North Korea, and featured an unflattering, willfully racially insensitive portrayal of Kim Jong Uns father, Kim Jong Il.

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But Paramount, the studio behind the comedy, took the rare step of pulling Team America from circulation as well, offering most theaters no explanation for their actions. So screenings in cities such as Dallas, Cleveland, New Orleans and Atlanta were all canceled.

Paramount provided no comment to media outlets either, but reportedly told one theater manager that the movie was out of service, as if it were a broken escalator, not a major motion picture.

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At the time, Gizmodo published a scathing editorial calling the studios decision to effectively ban Team America, more than a decade after it was released, a staggering act of cowardice, arguing that the Department of Homeland Security has found no credible threat.

The fresh controversy actually proved profitable for the studio, because after withholding Team America from theaters, DVD copies of the film reportedly sold out on Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Months later, when The Interview was finally released, copies of the movie were reportedly flown into North Korea via helium balloon, along with select clips of Team America.

Its unclear whether or not any DVD-filled balloons were ever sent to Michael Moores house.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
File: League City City Hall John DeLapp/Contributor

League City recently shared a reminder that as solicitor numbers increase during the summer months, homeowners and businesses should be aware of the citys rules for what is and is not allowed.

City spokesperson Sarah Osborne said the city typically sees more complaints during the summer.

(Companies) hire college students home on break so there are more solicitors going door to door, she said.

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In 2023, the city council updated its ordinance regarding solicitors to add some restrictions and requirements and reinforce the implementation of guidelines.

CONSTRUCTION IN HISTORIC DISTRICT: Work begins on road projects to enhance League City's historic district

Before council revised the ordinance, the city required solicitors to file for a permit and identification card from the police department.

Under the updated guidelines, solicitors are now required to complete and pass an online training course provided by the city before being granted a permit and are required to submit to a criminal background check before being permitted a permit. It also puts punishments on the company for having employees without permits.

In addition, the updated ordinance puts an emphasis on holding violators accountable, said League City Councilman Chad Tressler.

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We always had guidelines, but no enforcement mechanism for it, Tressler said.

Solicitors often ignored those guidelines, and no solicitor signs were often useless, he said.

A lot of them (solicitors) would claim ignorance of the rules, he said. (With the updated ordinance), if someone has a no soliciting sign and they are knocking on doors anyway, this just makes sure they know the rules, and when they violate the rules, there are penalties for it between fines and loss of permit.

The League City Police Department has issued 22 permits for the month of June and 60 permits for the year, according to spokesman Jose Ortega.

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Fines can range between $100 and $500, plus court costs.

League Citys guidelines on soliciting

Any person or company requesting a permit must complete and pass an online training course provided by the city before being granted a permit.

All individuals, businesses, organizations, or corporations with a permit will also be required to issue identification cards to anyone soliciting on their behalf.

Identification cards will be contingent upon a criminal background check, the completion of a required online training course and the passing of an exam.

For solicitors whose primary place of business is located within League City, the fee for a permit will be $100 and the identification card fee will be $50.

For solicitors whose primary place of business is outside city limits, the fee for a permit will be $200 and the identification card fee will be $50.

Solicitors cannot solicit after sunset or 7 p.m.

Solicitors are prohibited from entering a neighborhood with privately-owned streets, such as gated communities where signs are posted at all entrances indicating a prohibition against peddling and soliciting.

Identification cards must be worn on the outside of a solicitors clothes so that it is reasonably visible.

Homeowners are urged to ask to see a solicitors ID card. If they refuse to show it or say they dont need one, the solicitor should be asked to immediately leave the property.

If solicitors violate any of these guidelines, the city asked homeowners and businesses to call and the homeowner should report them by calling the LCPD non-emergency line at 281-332-2566.

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Exemptions to permit
Becoming an adult means realizing that Charles Grodin is a comedic genius, and not merely a cranky old sourpuss who hates adorable St. Bernards.

The late actor/comedian/writers knack for postmodern hijinks was evident in many of his late-night talk show appearances, such as when he brought his attorney with him to Late Night with David Letterman, out of concerns that the host had committed libel against him.

But the best example of Grodin turning a standard guest spot into a high-concept comedic bit occurred when he hosted Saturday Night Live for the first and only time.

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Grodins 1977 episode began with Gilda Radner, John Belushi and Garrett Morris behind the scenes, getting ready for the show, and complaining that this Chuck Grodin guy had missed most of the rehearsals. He doesnt smoke dope, hes just not one of us, Belushi argued.

When Grodin delivered his monologue shortly thereafter, still wearing his jacket, he professed that he had never actually seen Saturday Night Live before, didnt realize it was live and was sorry that he didnt get to rehearse too much. How can you come to New York and not see a couple of Broadway shows? he sheepishly asked the audience.

Grodin went on to purposefully torpedo every sketch he appeared in, calling cast members by their real names, struggling to read the cue cards and constantly questioning the sketches he was supposedly participating in. During the Killer Bees segment, he paused to comment on Belushis costume. Gilda, did you know they were going to be dressed like this? Im really thrown, Grodin deadpanned.

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He also performed a tone-deaf duet with Paul Simon while wearing an Art Garfunkel wig, only to have said wig confiscated by none other than Art Garfunkel.

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Even though Grodin casually admitted that the whole thing was just a joke in the final moments of the show, rumors have persisted over the years that Grodin was banned from SNL. As Mental Floss claimed, this was because he reportedly missed rehearsals and, when the show went live, he came across as unprepared and clumsy while stepping over the cast members lines and ad-libbing much of his dialogue.

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While this theory was seemingly validated by the fact that Grodin never hosted the show again, it sure didnt explain why SNL devoted the entire cold open that night to candid footage of the shows stars shit-talking the host. The whole thing was clearly a bit.

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As Grodin revealed to The A.V. Club in 2009, I just got the idea that that would be funny, that I didnt know it was live, that I had just come in from New York, and then I say, This is live? Per Grodin, the folks at SNL did offer him a follow-up invitation, but he turned them down. They asked me to do it again, but I chose not to, because I can do two things: I can learn a script, or I can improvise. But at SNL, theres no room for improv, and the script is constantly changing. I just didnt want to do it again, he confessed.

Grodins performance is, from what I can tell, the only time that a host has created an underlying meta joke throughout an entire episode of SNL  unless, of course, we find out that Steven Seagal is really an Andy Kaufman-esque performance artist.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
The great Martin Mull passed away recently, leaving behind a prodigious comedic legacy that included Fernwood 2 Night, Clue and that one scene in Jingle All the Way  not to mention his oddball discography and acclaimed fine art career. Most remembrances of Mull, though, singled out his work in Roseanne, where he played Roseanne Conners boss/frenemy Leon.

Less well-known is Mulls role in another Roseanne-produced project, 1992s The Jackie Thomas Show, a short-lived sitcom starring Tom Arnold as the unhinged star of a fictional sitcom.

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Mull played a network executive who once worked at NBC, where he tried to cancel Cheers before it became a hit. A bunch of slobs sitting around a bar, who knew? he asked in the pilot episode.

Created by Arnold and Roseanne (or Roseanne Arnold, as she was known at the time), the series featured guest stars that included Roseanne herself, as a crazed fan, and Chris Farley, as Arnolds younger brother.

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But it mainly focused on the show-within-a-shows stressed out writers, who are forced to contend with an egomaniacal stars wild temper and unreasonable demands. The first episode finds Jackie instructing the newest writer to kill off the shows teenage son character just because hes too popular.

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The Jackie Thomas Show only lasted for one season before it was canceled by ABC  okay, technically Arnold quit before the cancellation, but this was likely because he saw the handwriting on the wall and was trying to save face.

Whats most fascinating about The Jackie Thomas Show, in retrospect, is the fact that it feels like a confession of sorts, an attempt to turn the real-life drama that went on behind the scenes of Roseanne into a half-hour comedy.

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Roseanne, famously, wasnt kind to her writing staff, even assigning writers numbered T-shirts due to the Arnolds penchant for high writer turnover on the ABC series. An executive producer on the show claimed that this was merely to make everyone feel welcome and at home, but really it was so that Roseanne could fire them without learning names. At least she was spared that indignity when she was later fired off of Roseanne.

This didnt go unnoticed by people at the time, either. There was a lot of talk about how The Jackie Thomas Show paralleled the horror stories concerning the making of Roseanne.

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The Los Angeles Times noted that Arnolds new sitcom felt weirdly similar to the events seen in Feeding the Monster, a BBC documentary that captured the fraught production of Roseanne, in which the shows writers live in constant terror, their exhausting workweeks punctuated by Pepto-Bismol swigging and all-night writing sessions.

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The Times argued that the couple were completely aware of their reputation, which is why they could convert the backstage goings-on of the Roseanne show into the premise of The Jackie Thomas Show.

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Arnold claimed that Jackie Thomas was an attempt to fuse their real experiences running Roseanne with their public image. We wanted to take the show-business end of our lives and mix the public perception of us and the reality of us and put them into the show  the images of what people think maybe we did or what theyve read that we did, he explained in an interview.

In any case, the shows ratings were bad, and it didnt last. Although the Jackie Thomas character does live on thanks to one episode of Roseanne.

Weirdly, none of the characters were bothered by the fact that Jackie Thomas looked exactly like Dans buddy Arnie.

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter (if it still exists by the time youre reading this).
Sheletta Brundidge pictured with the interior locks that she said changed the way she approached parenting. Courtesy Sheletta Brundidge

Sheletta Brundidge has two pieces of advice for parents of children with special needs. The first is to invest in interior door locks  a move that has been life-changing for the mother of three children on the autism spectrum.

The second is a little less straight forward.

You have to leave Texas, Brundidge said. It breaks my heart but it's true. Early intervention is key, and you just dont have the time to sit around waiting for things to change here. Sure, you could stay and fight. But every moment you spend fighting is time lost that couldve been spent getting your kids the care they need.

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The author and autism activist is a native of Houston, but moved to Minnesota after authorities told her there was a 10-year wait for state-assisted care. This Saturday she will be returning to her community in Houstons Fifth Ward as part of a campaign to raise awareness about a locking mechanism that Brundidge said transformed her approach to parenting.

Interior combination locks, she said. Children with autism are prone to wandering. As a mother of three, that meant I didnt get a single moments peace. It got so bad I actually had to shower with the door open because I couldnt take my eyes off them for a second.

News of a 12-year-old Fulshear girl on the autism spectrum who recently drowned after leaving her familys home prompted Brundidge to share her success story with others. The idea gained steam, and she has since acquired more than 100 locks to give away to families in need.

Not one to limit herself to a simple giveaway, Brundidge said she will be hosting a full-scale event complete with face painting, balloon art and ice cream.

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The goal is to uplift the community in honor of the little girl who passed away, so I want as many families as possible to come out, she said. These locks changed my life, and I dont want anyone to lose a loved one because they didnt know they existed.

The event, which will take place at the YMCA at 705 Cavalcade St. in Houston, begins at 10 a.m. and is open to anyone interested in attending. While the original plan was to simply distribute locks, Brundidge now hopes the event will serve as a learning experience for all parents.

Parenting special needs children can present unique challenges

One of the biggest hurdles Brundidge had to overcome was judgment from other parents. Children on the autism spectrum present a unique set of challenges for parents that are made even more difficult for those already struggling financially, she said.

You have to parent like youre a secret service agent or something, Brundidge said. Even with cameras, even with alarms on the gates and doors  you cant be everywhere at once. You slip up and boom, theyre down the street. I remember being in church and it felt like right when I closed my eyes to pray Id see the Sunday school teacher chasing after my kids.

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The feeling of disapproval is easy to internalize, she said. After a while it became less about what others thought of her as a parent and more about the insecurities she felt as a result. Whether it was true or not, she said she ultimately felt like she was failing her children.

I was drinking a lot. I almost couldnt look myself in the mirror it got so bad, Brundidge said. And at the end of the day you really can only expect so much from other people. Theyre more than happy to help you out once or twice, but after it becomes a regular thing people just dont have the energy to care for their own families and yours.

Removing the risk of children wandering off can improve quality of life

Combination locks werent the answer to all of her problems, but Brundidge said they provided the foundation for her to care for her own needs as well as those of her family. While Minnesota offered her the resources she needed, taking advantage of those programs meant she needed to salvage some form of structure to make the most of them.

NO SUPPORT: HISD superintendent dissolves autism support team under special education restructuring plan

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Brundidge said the difference is night and day. The locks, which are equipped with safety mechanisms in the event of a fire or other emergency, allow her to sleep at night without worrying about her children wandering off into the cold Minnesota night.

Im still working on getting rid of some of the habits I developed before I knew about these locks. I have a tendency to leave the bathroom door open so I can keep an eye on the kids, she said.

Beyond her own mental health, Brundidge said the impact on her children has been immeasurable. In the time that has passed since she moved out of Texas and discovered the locks, she said her kids have shown marked improvements in their cognitive development tests.

The improvement was so dramatic that Brundidge said the results of a recent evaluation by a pediatrician at the University of Minnesotas Autism Center showed two of her children scored within the normal range for a healthy child.

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I think the locks rewired something in their brains, I really do, she said. Its like once they finally started spending less mental energy looking for ways to escape, those resources started going toward understanding their environment and the world around them.
Hana Ikramuddin is a Hearst Fellow in Connecticut. She spent the first part of her fellowship at the Houston Chronicle.

Raised in the Twin Cities, Hana majored in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

She has held internships with the Star Tribune, APM Reports and Sahan Journal. In her free time, she loves to cook, make chai and take care of her houseplants.
Whatever happened to the Loch Ness Monster? Until Lord Lucan went missing back in November 1974, the Loch Ness Monster commanded all the attention. The two now vie for top position, with the Yeti in third place.

Of course, Nessie, as he or she is known, never, strictly speaking, went missing as no one had seen it in the first place. It was not as though there was ever a time when it could be seen sunbathing on the shores of Loch Ness on a daily basis, or cruising along, waving to passers-by.

Nessies career didnt take off until the 1930s, when it became fashionable for those visiting Loch Ness to claim theyd seen the monster. Nowadays, 24-hour webcams on the shores of Loch Ness mean we can all say weve spotted it without even having to make the effort of actually go-ing there.

For such a standoffish creature, The Loch Ness Monster attracts obsessive stalkers, most notably a man called Ted Holiday, who spent most of the 1960s and 1970s trying to spot him.

Nessies career didnt take off until the 1930s, when it became fashionable for those visiting Loch Ness to claim theyd seen the monster, writes Graham Brown (pictured: Mystery creature in the Loch Ness)

Mr Holiday used to explain the lack of confirmed sightings by saying that Nessie had acute telepathic powers and so would appear only when sightseers were looking the wrong way or had forgotten their cameras.

Holiday tried a number of tricks to outwit Nessie. He would suddenly turn around, hoping to catch it on the hop, or announce at the top of his voice that he was going to go in one direction, before going in another. But none of these ruses proved successful.

This year, the same man has seen it twice, and all from the comfort of his own home. Back in April, Eoin OFaodhagain, 59, from County Donegal reported that he had spotted a mysterious 18 ft blob emerging from the surface of the water.

Apparently, he had been sitting at his computer in County Donegal watching the live-stream of Loch Ness when he spotted a black object on the screen. This sometimes happens to me, then I realise it is a bit of dirt, or a dead fly. But Mr OFaodhagain clearly maintains a spotless screen. My heart jumped, he told reporters. The more he looked, the more the mysterious black object grew bigger and bigger.

The miracle of the webcam allows Mr OFaodhagain to take a more relaxed approach than the Nessie-spotters of old. By his own account, his success has been phenomenal. Barely a year goes by without Mr OFaodhagain hitting the headlines with yet another sighting.

For instance, on March 2, 2023, the Irish Star reported that OFaodhagain had spotted something he couldnt believe  a long, dark shape near the surface creating a wake 6 ft to 8 ft feet long.

On November 24, 2022, the Daily Mirror and LBC reported that Mr OFaodhagain got the shock of his life when he saw a long black shape, 10 ft long, this time with a curved hump, long snout and tail.

My guess is it was Sir Ed Davey, squeezed into a black wetsuit and lolloping around in the water in the hope of catching a few floating voters, writes Graham Brown (pictured: The Loch Ness)

In spring 2022, the Inverness Courier rep-orted he saw two black shapes, then one solid black shape. And on November 6, 2021, the Daily Record reported he had seen something dip beneath the waters as a cruise ship approached ... Ive now had 14 registered sightings.

Last week, Mr OFaodhagain hit the headlines once more, or, if youd prefer, once hagain. His eyes glued to the webcam, he thought he had spotted a mysterious hump, roughly 9 ft long, emerging from the water.

I was a bit dumbfounded that it did not dissolve into nothing, but kept materialising ever more distinct and blacker.

He was sure it wasnt a seal, an otter, a fish or an eel. It is very hard to say it is definitely Nessie, but it is easy to say what it is not. And when you rule out the known creatures that inhabit Loch Ness, what are you left with?

My guess is it was Sir Ed Davey, squeezed into a black wetsuit and lolloping around in the water in the hope of catching a few floating voters. Sir Ed could not be mistaken for an eel, still less an otter, so what are you left with? On the other hand, the mysterious black object stayed entirely silent, and Sir Ed is nothing if not chatty.
Once in a generation the British people get sick to the back teeth with the Tories, and look hopefully at Labour.

In 1945 the electorate gave the Conservative Party and Winston Churchill a gigantic raspberry, even though he had steered Britain to victory against Nazi Germany. Labour won a huge majority of 145 seats.

In 1997 the Tories received another bashing from voters, despite the economy being in good health. Tony Blairs Labour Party got a stonking majority of 179 seats.

Today, the Conservative Party is likely to suffer a rout, though Ill be surprised if Labour gets the 250-plus majority suggested by some polls. My guess is that the partys lead will be closer to what it was in 1945 and 1997.

Rishi Sunak campaigns this week with Paul Holmes (left), who is the Tory candidate for the seat of Hamble Valley in Hampshire

The Prime Minister rallies support among Tory supporters at a London election rally this week

Even so, therell be a queue of pundits prophesying the Tories extinction. It will be pointed out that the party has little support among the under 45s, and almost no support among the 16 and 17-year-olds to whom Sir Keir Starmer, in a disgracefully self-serving ploy, proposes to give a vote.

Many on the centre-Right will be in despair on Friday morning. We face a long stretch of Labour rule, and the middle classes are going to be financially squeezed. I doubt Starmers reign will be celebrated for its competence.

Such a dismal prospect should propel everyone on the centre-Right to the polling stations today, so that they can help bring down Labours majority. But it wont be enough to prevent the waves crashing over the breakwater.

Dont despair. Thats my advice. There is a cycle in politics and the Tories  especially this lot  cant be expected to govern forever. But I believe with something approaching certainty that the most successful political party in history will be back, possibly in five years. Disregard the prophets of doom.

My first reason for optimism is that sooner or later Labour always mucks things up. They dont know how to balance the books. They spend too much and push taxes too high. When you take into account the lack of talent on Starmers frontbench, the prospect of failure in the not-too-distant future looms large.

Tony Blair with wife Cherie on the morning after Labour's landslide victory in 1997. But despite the party's 179-seat majority, Toryism recovered and the Conservatives returned to power

Remember that the electorate has become exceptionally volatile, largely because disenchantment with politicians of every hue is now so widespread, and the bonds that once tied voters to particular parties have been loosened.

But my deeper reason for optimism in the face of a Labour landslide is that the Tories have always recovered in the past  and will do so again unless they make a collective decision to destroy themselves.

Voters are periodically tempted by Labour but they return in sufficient numbers to the Conservative Party because they know that it tends to spend public money more wisely, usually taxes less, and is more dependable on law and order, and defence.

The Tories are also traditionally the party of greater common sense. They are therefore less likely than Labour to bankrupt the country in the cause of Net Zero, or to treat minority issues such as trans rights as if they were of overwhelming importance to the general public.

Its largely because the Tories have lost sight of their traditional values that they find themselves in a pickle. In particular, they have failed to cut taxes significantly and have let immigration run riot, as Suella Braverman, one of several prospective successors to Rishi Sunak, said yesterday.

Am I being too sanguine in expecting the Conservative Party to rally? I dont think so. But it obviously faces challenges. Unless these are properly addressed, the Tories could linger a long time in the wilderness.

First of all, they have to decide what kind of party they are. They have become almost wholly managerial without being much good at managing. What do they stand for?

Its an old political saw, repeated recently by Jeremy Hunt, that elections are won from the centre. Well, the Tories have fought this campaign from the centre, and look where it has got them.

Id put it differently from Mr Hunt. The Tories should pitch their tent unashamedly on the Right but in such a way as not to alienate centre-ground voters. Lower tax (which implies tighter spending), effective immigration controls and increased defence expenditure are three policies that would help define a rejuvenated Conservative Party.

Then they need a good leader  someone of rectitude, principle and judgment, who isnt using politics as a means of becoming a multi-millionaire in the City once the political game is over.

Suella Braverman has the right ideas but she seems to me abrasive and divisive, and might turn the Tory Party into a Right-wing sect. Kemi Badenoch? I dont know. Penny Mordaunt, if she retains her seat? God save us. Boris Johnson? The caravan may have moved on, though Im not certain.

There must surely be someone, though if the Tories suffer a complete wipeout, and hold on to fewer than a hundred seats, the gene pool will be perilously thin.

What, you may ask, about Nigel Farage? That question provokes another. How should the Tories deal with Reform? For although the party is likely to win in only a handful of constituencies, it could deprive the Conservatives of dozens of seats. If there are two parties on the Right, the Tory recovery will be more arduous.

Farage is arrogant, vain, often flaky on detail, and has private habits that make Boris Johnson look like a Trappist monk. He is also charismatic, amusing and brave.

As they regroup, the Tory party may be looking for a new leader, says Stephen Glover. Former home secretary Suella Braverman has the right ideas but is abrasive and divisive...

...Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch will also be a contender to lead the Tories into a new era

Theres one other quality I particularly like about him. He offers hope, which the Tories have abandoned. He appeals to some of the young in a way they no longer do. This helps to explain why one recent poll found that, among 18 to 24-year-old voters, 21 per cent intend to vote Reform and only 6 per cent Conservative.

Whatever the Tories do, whomever they choose as their leader, they must establish that they arent the party of the elderly.

So, yes, lots of high fences and tricky water jumps lie ahead, and the Conservative Party will endure a few falls and drenchings along the way. But dont believe facile pundits who say it has no future and cant survive. In some shape or form it will  and thrive again.

Just over 27 years ago, a few days after Labour had trounced the Tories, who many said were finished, I wrote an article in another newspaper. I fixed on Lady Ridsdale, a 76-year-old who had fought back when a thief tried to wrench a ring off her finger. According to the prosecuting counsel, she had raised her right leg and kicked the intruder in a place where it appeared to hurt.

Lady Ridsdale, who was supposedly the model for Ian Flemings Miss Moneypenny, is no longer with us. She seemed to me to epitomise the best Tory virtues  doughty, fearless and, beneath it all, decent and compassionate.

Lady Ridsdale was for me a Tory symbol as the bland age of Blairism dawned. Tony Blair lasted a long time, partly because he often pretended to be Conservative. He finally departed. As I wrote at the end of that piece 27 years ago, Toryism lives on, and will one day have its time again.
I used to be excited by elections. Id walk into the polling booth in high spirits, eager to vote Labour. Previous generations of women fought and died to get the vote and I couldnt let them down, even when the party was unlikely to win.

Since the age of 11, Ive stayed up all night to hear the election results. My parents talked so often about Labours great figures, Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson and Barbara Castle, that they felt like distant members of the family. As an adult, Ive knocked on doors up and down the country, trying to persuade wavering voters to support Labour.

Not any more. Like many women I know, I cant vote Labour at this election. Under Sir Keir Starmer, the party that used to be a standard-bearer for womens rights has become riddled with misogyny.

Under Keir Starmer, the party that gave us the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts has turned its back on women, says Joan Smith

During 2020's deputy leadership campaign, feminists who took issue with Labours approach to trans rights were threatened with expulsion by the eventual winner, Angela Rayner

Leading members of the party have stood by and said nothing as women are harassed, smeared and bullied for stating that human beings cant change sex.

Worse that that, some of Starmers closest associates have joined in. In 2020, during the deputy leadership campaign, we feminists who took issue with Labours approach to trans rights were even threatened with expulsion by the eventual winner, Angela Rayner. She still hasnt apologised for calling several organisations, including A Womans Place UK and the LGB Alliance, trans exclusionist hate groups.

Leading frontbenchers have spouted utter nonsense about biology. Three years ago, Starmer himself told Labour MP Rosie Duffield she was wrong to say only women have a cervix. Perhaps he had been listening to the shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, who evidently believes men can grow one.

Lammy famously told Nick Ferrari that a cervix, I understand, is something you can have, following various procedures and hormone treatment.

Starmer has since rowed back on the preposterous notion that men can have a cervix, but only after a series of bruising interviews. Until very recently, neither he nor Lammy appeared to have sufficient knowledge of basic biology to pass a GCSE in the subject, but such ignorance is widespread. So are beliefs that threaten to put the most vulnerable women in society at risk of male violence.

The shadow secretary for international development, Lisa Nandy, said in 2020 that a male offender who identifies as a woman should be housed in a womens prison, even if he has been convicted of rape. Nandy joined Rayner in signing the pledge card that called for transphobic women to be thrown out of the party. Its a very tough pledge but its important that we are tough, she said.

Labour grandee Harriet Harman even has trouble telling the sexes apart. In an interview in 2021, the former Cabinet minister announced that deciding if somebody is male or female in sport is very difficult. Really, Harriet? Not for those women and girls whove lost out to biological males who are visibly bigger and stronger.

A rumour that Harman is being tipped to head the Equality and Human Rights Commission under a Starmer administration has caused alarm among erstwhile Labour supporters. And it explains why so many of us cant vote for a party weve supported all our lives.

It pains me to say so, but a profoundly woman-hating ideology has Labour in a steely grip.

Trans women are women has become an article of faith, embedded across the party, and anyone who disagrees is likely to be accused of hate speech. Labour has undergone such mental contortions that something accepted throughout recorded history is now supposedly controversial. Until about ten years ago, no one believed that sex is on a spectrum. None of us went through life desperately trying to avoid offending someone by assuming they were a man or a woman. Or, God help us, non-binary.

In recent years, some Labour MPs have trumpeted their bizarre and unscientific ideas about sex. They raged at anyone, even their own colleagues, who didnt believe that men can become women.

Last year, three Labour MPs shared a platform with a trans activist, Sarah Jane Baker, who served 30 years in prison under their original name, Alan Baker, for kidnap, torture and attempted murder.

The MPs claimed to be unaware of Bakers history.

One of my worries about a Labour landslide is that many new Labour MPs will be unashamed trans activists. Look at whats happened during the election campaign. There are around 30 million women and girls in England and Wales, compared to just under 100,000 people who identify as trans men or trans women. Yet Labour candidates bang on about trans rights, which is an entirely separate issue.

Would-be Labour MPs sound as though a chip has been implanted in their brains, avoiding the word woman and replacing it with person with a cervix or birth-giver. Instead of talking about the partys promise to halve violence against women, they repeat a script that could have been dictated by Stonewall. Trans people are the most vulnerable and oppressed, they intone, as though half the countrys shops and bars havent been draped in the pink-and-blue trans flag since last month for LGBT Pride.

Last week, under pressure, Starmer finally acknowledged that a man has a penis and a woman has a vagina. (A man, Sir Tony Blair, said it, so it must be true.)

P ersonally, I dont find it at all comforting that it took our likely next prime minister so long to discover reality.

I could have told him he was wrong, but Starmer doesnt listen to women. Two years ago, at a dinner, I told him to his face about the abuse many female members have endured for saying humans cant change sex.

Three years ago, Sir Keir Starmer told Labour MP Rosie Duffield she was wrong to say only women have a cervix

I described a meeting of Labour-supporting women in west London in 2020, when a jeering crowd of trans activists blockaded the building  and set off smoke bombs to scare us into thinking it was on fire. I told him women were scared to speak openly at party meetings  and said it looked to me as though he didnt care. I wrote to him the next day, pleading with him to condemn the misogyny spreading through the party like wildfire and stand up for free speech. Im still waiting for a reply.

Labour has been stringing women along for months. But the manifesto tells us where its sympathies really lie. The party plans to make it easier to get a document changing legal sex, allowing biological men to conceal the fact they were born male.

It will allow husbands to get this document before their wives have had a chance to seek an annulment. Unbelievably, forcing women into a same-sex marriage they havent agreed to is now Labour policy.

It will ban so-called conversion therapy  defined as an attempt to try to change someones sexual orientation or gender identity. This would place parents and counsellors at risk of prosecution if they vocally disagree with a child who wants to change sex.

What Labour wont do is amend the 2010 Equality Act to say that sex means biological sex, not someones nebulous gender identity. Its a simple step, supported by many womens organisations, but Starmer himself has ruled it out.

I know where Labour stands  for the men, not the many. Under Keir Starmer, the party that gave us the Sex Discrimination and Equal Pay Acts has turned its back on women. Thats why I will head to the polling station with a heavy heart today  and spoil my ballot paper.

Joan Smith is an author and columnist
Despite six weeks of debates, manifestos and campaigning, more people are still undecided about how to vote today than at any previous General Election in living memory.

I have knocked on countless doors over many years, but never before have I come across so many yet to make up their minds. They are not being coy, or polite. Im long enough in the tooth to know when people are concealing their true beliefs.

Rather to my astonishment, this is the 17th general election in which I have been actively involved. The first was 60 years ago, in 1964, when I was a personal assistant to the Lord Privy Seal and former Foreign Secretary, Selwyn Lloyd.

Voters I have met over the last weeks are torn, unsure about how best to act  not so much floating as fearful of taking the plunge.

Thanks to Rishi Sunaks patient, diligent work, Britain has turned a corner, writes Michael Howard

Michael Howard, his wife, Sandra, and their daughter, Larissa, cast their votes in Kent in 2005

The pollsters, on the other hand, do appear certain. They uniformly predict a decisive Labour victory, with some disagreement about exactly how badly the Tories will perform.

Pollsters, of course, always claim to be able to perceive hidden intentions. But since even the voters themselves dont know which way theyre going to go, we have to take any predictions with a considerable pinch of salt.

If the polls are right  and my gut instincts tell me they are not  then we face the danger of a Labour supermajority.

The prospect of a Prime Minister at the mercy of a legion of hard-Left Corbynite backbenchers, without any effective opposition, is one we should certainly find frightening.

Much of the population is dissatisfied with the current state of Britain. Understandably so. Many people have suffered badly from the economic downturn during Covid and the cost of living crisis that followed.

The Tories have endured unprecedented challenges, far worse than any we faced during my own years in government in the mid-1990s.

But this election is not an inquest on the past. Its a decision about the future of our country.

And its a choice, a choice between the only two men who can be Prime Minister on Friday morning.

Labour have done their best to avoid scrutiny during this election campaign. Sir Keir Starmer was even afraid to be interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg on her Sunday morning television programme.

Im afraid he will find that there are many challenges much greater than an inquisition from Ms Kuenssberg should he reach No 10, and he wont be able to dodge those.

Labour claim that they will bring stability. The fact is that Rishi Sunak has already brought stability to our government and our country after a turbulent period.

Starmer is claiming that Labour will be able to generate the economic growth to ease the strain on public finances. But it is impossible to square their promises of growth with the tax increases they have in store for us.

Worse yet, deputy Labour leader Angela Rayners so-called workers rights package would make it easier for trade unions to call strikes and more difficult for employers to do business.

Never forget that this is the man who wholeheartedly backed Jeremy Corbyn to be our Prime Minister.

We still dont know how closely aligned Starmers personal politics are to Corbynism, because he wont tell us.

He fought his leadership election saying he would stick to Corbyns policies  and that was as recently as 2020.

Is he more of a Corbynite than he would like to let on? Honestly, I dont know. I dont think he has any beliefs.

I have known, more or less, what every Labour leader, Labour PM or Leader of the Opposition, stood for at heart. But I have no idea what Starmer stands for, except a desire to become Prime Minister.

There are many people who gave their support to the Tories under Boris Johnson in 2019, but dont want to vote Conservative this time  and also have deep misgivings about voting Labour.

Equally, at this late stage, people are rejecting the Reform party. They realise the futility of cutting off their noses to spite their faces, to use the old expression.

The only result of voting Reform will be to make it more likely that Labour get in, by siphoning away support for the Conservatives. In a couple of dozen constituencies across the country, theres a real risk that the Conservative candidate will lose to Labour because of Tory votes being squandered on Reform.

A viable alternative to a Starmer government is still possible. We dont have to commit this wilful act of national self-harm.

Thanks to Rishi Sunaks patient, diligent work, Britain has turned a corner. Our economy is now growing faster than any other in the G7.

But under Keir Starmer, high taxes, crippling employment legislation and spiteful attacks on business will wreck every hard-won advantage.

Our country is facing a bright future. Dont let Labour ruin it.

Lord Howard of Lympne CH QC was Conservative party leader 2003-05 and Home Secretary 1993-97
Welcome to the nightmare. The hangover from Hell starts here.

It will take more than a couple of paracetamol and a hair of the dog to get over the extraordinary result of this General Election.

The British people have just ushered in the most extreme hard-Left government in history. This isn't 1997, after Labour's last historic landslide victory, when Tony Blair was able to declare: 'A new dawn has broken.'

Back then, there was a genuine sense of optimism. Today, as the dour socialist Keir Starmer is set to enter No 10, there is only foreboding.

Nobody, outside the confines of committed Labour supporters, seriously believes things are going to get better in a hurry. No one is dancing in the street at the prospect of Martha Reeves becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer.

As the dour socialist Keir Starmer enters No 10, there is only foreboding, writes Richard Littlejohn

The millions who put their cross in the Labour column are in for a rude awakening. Things can, and will, only get worse.

Strap yourselves in for Starmer's Socialist Utopia, comrades. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

A terrifying future of soaring taxes, uncontrolled immigration, net zero lunacy and rampant wokery, detailed on this newspaper's front page wasn't Project Fear.

It was your Starter For Ten.

As former U.S. defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously said: 'There are known knowns, known unknowns and unknown unknowns.'

Starmer's few known knowns are well documented  scrapping the Rwanda scheme, an amnesty for illegals already here, votes at 16 to rig future elections, closer ties with Europe, more power to the unions, etc.

So are his known unknowns  ie, what he wouldn't admit publicly during the campaign: higher inheritance, capital gains and council taxes. We can probably add slapping VAT on private health insurance, too, as a basis for negotiation.

But the unknown unknowns are anybody's guess. With a majority this large, Starmer has carte blanche to do whatever he likes.

My hunch is that if he wins another term in four or five years' time, or even sooner, we'll be back in the EU without a referendum.

After all, we've just elected as Prime Minister the man who worked tirelessly and cynically to overturn the result of the Brexit referendum  the biggest vote for anything in British history.

So why would so many of us vote for this nightmare vision, asks Richard Littlejohn

The comparisons with 1997 are wholly misleading. Blair branded Labour 'the political arm of the British people as a whole'.

Starmer's New Model Labour Party is the political wing of the public sector, Left-wing judges and yuman rites lawyers, the trades unions, the burgeoning 'HR' industry, trans fanatics, Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion.

Peter Mandelson was quoted as saying that New Labour was intensely relaxed about people getting filthy rich (especially P. Mandelson and T. Blair), provided they paid their taxes.

Starmer's Labour gives the impression that it not only hates the filthy rich, it hasn't got much time for the moderately wealthy, either. (Unless he's a former DPP living in a 3 million home in North London and with a gold-plated pension protected by a special Act of Parliament.)

When Reeves talks about 'redistribution', what she really means is 'confiscation'. Tax for tax's sake, money for God's sake.

Soon, the trickle of non-doms who have fled already will be joined by mere multi-millionaire British citizens seeking more hospitable tax regimes abroad.

The scenes at private airports will resemble the chaotic evacuation of Kabul, with tax exiles hanging from the wings of planes, tenners tumbling out of their Louis Vuitton hand luggage.

This exodus will be exceeded by the flotilla of small boats heading towards Kent in a kind of reverse of the D-Day landings. Nowhere was Starmer's victory more enthusiastically received than in the 'refugee' departure lounges on the French coast.

This time next week, the only 'non-doms' left in Britain will be the Albanian people-smuggling gangsters holed up in London, Manchester and beyond. And they won't be paying taxes, anyway.

Starmer's Labour gives the impression that it not only hates the filthy rich, it hasn't got much time for the moderately wealthy, either

So what of the millions who are left behind, the middle-class strivers and savers who don't fall into Starmer's definition of the 'working people'?

We're into 'known unknown' territory here  another raid on private pensions, probably, capital gains tax on home sales, some kind of 'wealth tax' and even a more punitive inheritance tax.

Semi-detached, surburban Mr Singh will have to bear the brunt of Labour's plans to spend, spend, spend.

The younger Starmer believed that all property is theft. Today, he sees it as a seriously untapped source of spondulicks for the Treasury.

His activists don't even seem to like most of the British people, particularly in the Red Wall, who have just handed him an unassailable mandate, regarding them as racist gammons.

Never mind the economy, stupid, this is where the real impact of Starmer's New Model Labour will be felt.

The British people will have to be 're-educated' to fall into line behind the woke agenda. If they won't do it voluntarily, they will be forced to comply by law.

Harriet Harman's likely return as head of a beefed-up Equalities Commission, with enhanced powers to enforce draconian diversity diktats, indicates the direction of travel.

For instance, employers will have to swallow a rigidly policed quota system when it comes to hiring and promoting staff.

In a perverse inversion of Martin Luther King's dream, in Starmer's Britain people will be hired on the basis of the colour of their skin, not the content of their character or their ability to do the job.

And if you think strikes are bad now, wait until Ange Rayner repeals all the Tories' trades union laws, which even Blair decided to leave in place.

She won't get any thanks from the unions, even though Labour will shovel excessive pay rises and four-day weeks in their direction. The unions will just keep demanding more.

Soon, we'll be back to the industrial anarchy of the 1970s. Don't forget that it was Labour that brought you the Winter of Discontent, with the dead unburied and rubbish piled high in the streets.

Perhaps most worrying is the looming threat to democracy. Where Starmer will complete the Blair revolution is in handing even more power to unelected judges and quangocrats, emasculating Parliament. And for the next five years there won't be an effective Opposition to stop him.

So why would so many of us vote for this nightmare vision? My view is that ever since Covid, the electorate has been infantilised. Furlough and Rishi's Money For Nothing And Your Chips For Free scheme ingrained a sense of entitlement which hasn't gone away.

Yes, the Tories have screwed up, on taxes and immigration. So instead of clinging to nurse, Britain has voted for something worse. How else to explain rock-solid Conservative constituencies returning vacuous Lib Dems led by a ludicrous circus act who spent the campaign playing It's A Knockout, and when he was in government helped bring you Mr Bates v The Post Office?

Maybe people have been brainwashed by those reality shows which let you throw out the baddies via your TV remote.

This time Britain has pressed the red button. We will all repent at our leisure. Although, trust me, there's going to be nothing leisurely about what comes next.

So pour yourself a large Bloody Mary and swallow a couple of paracetamol while you can.

This hangover from Hell is going to last at least five years.
Fabian Alexander places a marker back in a bin during his pre-kindergarten class at Farias Early Childhood Center on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024 in Houston. HISD reported that pre-K students made progress on The CIRCLE Progress Monitoring System, which monitors early literacy skills. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Houston ISDs youngest students made progress on early literacy assessments this past academic year, although racial gaps in reading skills remain, according to district data.

HISD reported that its Black and Hispanic students as young as 3 continued to report lower scores throughout the year on national measures to monitor reading progress, compared with white and Asian students, although, in some cases, the gaps among demographics are closing, particularly among the districts prekindergarten students.

The district says it is planning to strengthen literacy instruction and performance in the early grades next year through new instructional support teams, more professional development for teachers and additional help to improve reading performance and increase scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, which students take starting in third grade.

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We will not be able to improve our third-grade scores ... unless we improve pre-K, kinder, first- and second-grade instruction, curriculum and access, state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles said during the most recent school board meeting.

THE REPORT CARD: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicles weekly newsletter recapping HISD news

For the first time, the district had all students in kindergarten and first grade take the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills and mCLASS Lectura at the beginning, middle and end of this year. Students in second through fourth grade at New Education System schools also took the assessments, which take a few minutes per student.

The assessments, offered in English and Spanish, measure if students are meeting fluency benchmarks based on topics such as letter naming, word reading and basic comprehension. HISD uses the exam to collect early childhood data, monitor progress, (and) group students for interventions and support, according to its testing calendar.

Students who achieve the benchmarks standards  which increase throughout the year  and continue to receive effective, research-based instruction are more likely to achieve positive reading outcomes, according to Acadience Learning Inc., the original authors of the DIBELS assessments.

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The district reported that half of tested students met benchmarks on the beginning of the year assessments, and the number increased to 60% by the end of the year. Among all grades, first-graders saw the highest increases districtwide, with the percentage of students meeting benchmarks increasing from 49 to 63, while the percentage of fourth-graders meeting standards declined from 42 to 41.

STAAR RESULTS: HISD makes improvements on state standardized tests as state results largely decline

About 38% of Black elementary school students initially met benchmarks, the lowest performance in the district, but that percentage increased by 13 points by the end of the year. Half of Hispanic students and nearly 70% of white students met standards initially, and both demographics saw 10-point increases on end-of-year exams.

Non-NES campuses saw a slightly higher increase in the percentage of students meeting benchmarks when compared with NES schools. At NES campuses, 48% of students met benchmarks by the end of the year, which was a 10 point increase, while non-NES schools reported that 69% of students had met their benchmarks, a 13-point increase from the beginning of the year.

HISD wrote in February that starting next year, it plans to have NES elementary school students take DIBELS assessments at least every three weeks. Students who are way behind benchmark will have to take the test once a week, while students behind benchmark will take it every two weeks.

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The district aims to have at least 70% of kindergarten through third-grade students in C-, D- and F- rated campuses demonstrate typical or above typical growth on the DIBELS assessment by the end of the year, according to a draft action plan.

The district reported that a lower percentage of Black and Hispanic pre-K students met proficiency on letter names and sounds at the beginning and end of the year, but they saw larger percentage point increases over the academic year when compared with all other demographics.

According to district data, 27% of Hispanic, English-speaking pre-K students met proficiency on letter sounds at the beginning of the year, but that grew to 76% on the final assessment  a nearly 50 percentage point increase. The percentage of white students who met proficiency on the same exam grew 36 percentage points, going from 47 to 83.

The results also show that the districts Spanish-speaking 3- and 4-year-olds reported significantly lower literacy skills in their language at the beginning of the year, but they surpassed English-speaking students by the end of the year in their proficiency on letter names and sounds.

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Women can't get enough this budget salon-quality hair range

SHOPPING - Contains affiliated content. Products featured in this article are selected by our writers. Click here for more information.

A mega 40 per cent sale has launched on a range of shampoo that's said to provide 'salon' results on a 'chemist budget'.

Hairification, a best-selling 'hair growth' range, has been reduced to $15 from $25 at Priceline until July 14.

The famed Pure Grow range claims to stimulate as much as 214 per cent growth in as little as 10 days, using powerful science-backed ingredients like European Larch Extract, panthenol and caffeine.

Used together, the shampoo, conditioner and spray treatment now on sale for $12, can help to stimulate hair growth, enhance thickness, and promote overall scalp health while still cleaning and caring for the hair.

A mega 40 per cent sale has launched on a range of shampoo that's said to provide 'salon' results on a budget

The steps are simple - wash twice to clarify follicles and stimulate the scalp. Rinse. Follow with Pure Grow conditioner and finish with the Intensifying spray to triple-target growth and let the actives do the work.

Hairification has become the fastest growing haircare brand in Australia having launched into over 1300 retail locations in less than a year.

Founder, Aussie entrepreneur Jordan Mylius, said he wanted to create something new that bridged the gap between supermarket and upmarket salon offerings.

'In the last few years, something in the beauty industry shifted, and shiny packaging with grand claims no longer quite cut it,' he explained.

Mylius says he was fed up with the state of the haircare industry and created a brand that delivers what he says is 'exactly what's promised on the bottle'.

And the results speak for themselves, with reviews flooding in raving about the quick results and their newly 'glossy, healthy locks'.

A fan wrote: 'After one wash and spray, my hair was given volume that I havent seen in 15 years. Seriously amazed.'

Hairification also has a Pure Health range for those looking for hydration rather than volume; it includes a shampoo, conditioner and a weekly mask

Hairification also has a Pure Health range for those looking for hydration rather than volume; it includes a shampoo, conditioner and a weekly mask.

This range contains hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, olive leaf extract and niacinamide which have been known to increase moisture, strengthen strands, boost circulation and add sought-after shine.

Both are available in 470 Priceline stores, bringing its total presence to more than 1,300 stores across Australia within seven months.

You can also find the range in Coles supermarkets across Australia but to shop the Priceline range, click here.
A young couple have been left in shock after discovering the price of a can of baked beans in Thailand.

The pair, who live in Australia but are originally from the UK, revealed one can of the Aussie pantry staple would set them back 420 baht or AUD$20.

TikTok stars Mark and Nadine posted a video of the incident at Makro supermarket with the title: 'And they say Thailand is cheap'.

'You want your Heinz beans in Thailand,' Nadine asked before revealing the price.

'Only 420 baht,' she exclaimed.

The shock began to sink in once they they converted the Thai baht to Australian dollars.

'What...20 Australian dollars for a can of f****** beans,' Mark asked.

At the current exchange rate this would mean that Heinz beans cost $17 per can in Thailand, compared to just $3.50 from Woolworths in Australia.

At the current exchange rate this would mean that Heinz beans cost $17 per can in Thailand, compared to just $3.50 from Woolworths in Australia

Other Aussies revealed they had also been shocked by the price of beans.

'I was so excited when I saw them, until I saw the price,' one woman said.

One woman explained that the popular UK brand beans have added import taxes, but the couple still found the mark up crazy.

A local suggested shopping at the Villa Market in Phuket instead, where Heinz beans are only 139 baht (5.65 AUD).

Another person suggested swapping in Thai branded baked beans which cost only 20 baht.

Others encouraged the expats to eat like local Thais if they wanted to save money.

Travellers chimed in that other foreign products such as cheese were also notoriously expensive in Thailand.

This lead some to say that Thailand wasn't as cheap as it seems, but they agreed visiting and even living there was 'absolutely worth it'.

This isn't the first time overseas price differences have sparked outrage.

A cattle farmer recently visiting Tokyo was shocked to discover some cuts of Australia beef were retailing for $4 cheaper per kilogram in Japan than back home.

He was surprised to find that even with added export costs, Japanese consumers could still purchase the same Australian beef for a cheaper price.

The farmer suggested the possible reason for the difference was the dominance of supermarkets such as Woolworths and Coles in Australia.

He said that Japan has more competitive prices because their market has many different, smaller retailers instead of just a few.
Australia's political heavyweights put everything on display on Wednesday night at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra.

Thigh high splits, dazzling sequins and plunging necklines were popular among the ladies - with some nailing their eye-catching outfits more than others.

Political commentator Peta Credlin, human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, Bill Shorten's daughter, Georgette, and Jim Chalmers' wife, Laura, were all among the best dressed on the night.

Deputy Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley, Independent Helen Haines and Georgie Purcell from the Animal Justice Party weren't far behind with their gorgeous gowns.

Georgette Shorten

Bill Shorten's 21-year-old daughter stole the show in her glamorous ensemble.

The young blonde showed the party room how to be daring whilst remaining classy in a shining silver dress with a plunging neckline.

She also proved you don't have to spend a fortune to look good - her dress retails for $60 at Zara.

Georgette Shorten proved you don't have to spend a fortune to be the belle of the ball as she stunned in her $60 gown

Georgette kept her accessories simple, wearing old-gold, dangly earrings and a sparkling clutch.

She wore a trending shag coat and finished the look with bright red nails for a splash of colour.

Her hair was pulled up with some loosely curled locks left out to frame her face.

Jennifer Robinson

Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, who has been described as Julian Assange's saviour, looked angelic in a floor-length cream gown by Zimmermann.

Human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson, who has been described as Julian Assange's saviour, looked all class n a floor-length cream gown by Australian designer Zimmermann

Animal Justice League party member Georgie Purcell took a gamble with her dramatic black gown that showed off her tattoos

The $1,500 Victorian-inspired satin dress featured long sleeves and a neatly cuffed neckline.

The 43-year-old opted to add a light gold belt and wore three dainty bracelets and simple pointed shoes to complete the look.

She wore her blonde hair in a bun and kept her makeup on-trend with a natural, glowing look.

Georgie Purcell

Animal Justice League party member Georgie Purcell, 30, took a gamble by opting for a dramatic black gown with a thigh-high split.

The sleeveless satin dress allowed the Victorian politician to show off her heavily tattooed arms and legs.

Georgie wore her hair slicked back, an ode to the fleeting wet look trend of 2022, and opted for a simple gold necklace and earrings.

She finished her look with a pair of striking ultramarine blue heels.

Fans also couldn't help but notice Georgie's other accessory, new partner Labor MP Josh Burns, who clung to her arm like a tight-fitting clutch for photos.

Peta Credlin

Peta Credlin proved she's still got it with the evening's most expensive outfit - a stunning $1,300 sleeveless gown by Aussie designer Rebecca Vallance and feature rings by Cartier.

The political commentator cut a relaxed, confident figure as she smiled for the cameras.

Peta Credlin proved she's still got it with the evening's most expensive outfit

The 54-year-old opted for an on-trend natural, makeup look and wore her hair down in loose curls.

The dazzling outfit was neatly finished off with a fine gold watch and clutch.

Sussan Ley

The Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party stunned in a figure-hugging velvet gown by Australia designer Carla Zampatti.

The $1,050 gown fell nicely from the 62-year-old's shoulders, floating just above the floor.

An eye-catching gold hammered button highlighted the asymmetrical neckline and added a point of interest to the otherwise classic look.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Sussan Ley stunned in a tight-fitting velvet gown by Carla Zampatti

Sussan went light with her accessories, opting for a single pair of large gold hoops which perfectly matched the gold button on her gown.

She opted for loose curls and a pair of simple black heels to finish the look.

Amelia Dobson

Banking Executive Amelia Dobson stood out for all the right reasons in her stunning buttercup yellow gown.

The 38-year-old, who attended the ball with her long-time partner David Littleproud, stood out as one of the best dressed women there.

Banking Executive Amelia Dobson stood out in her buttercup yellow gown

She wore her hair in tight curls and went without any extra accessories on the night.

Helen Haines

Independent MP Helen Haines also looked stunning in a golden gown when she stepped out for the ball.

She wore a chunky gold bracelet and wrapped a black fur stole around her shoulders to keep the chill off.

The 62-year-old wore her grey-blonde hair out but had it blow dried with a heavy wave for the evening.

Independent MP Helen Haines also looked stunning in a golden gown

Laura Chalmers ensured all eyes were on her on Wednesday night when she stepped out at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra

Laura Chalmers

Laura Chalmers ensured all eyes were on her when she flexed her style credentials in a $3,375 ensemble as she posed alongside her husband, Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

The journalist wore a powder blue Rebecca Vallance gown worth $1,500, which had been altered to better suit the mum-of-two's taste.

She opted to keep her accessories to a minimum, carrying an Oroton clutch valued at $150 and finishing the look off with a pair of $1,725 Le Silla beige pumps.

She wore her long blonde hair out for the event and added a statement lip to her otherwise natural makeup look.
Princess Martha Louise of Norway has revealed the new monogram that has been created ahead of her wedding to Shaman Durek Verrett - but revealed that the cipher is 'not official'.

The piece, which which was created by an agency called Anti Hamar, was described by the royal as 'a wonderful emblem embedded with important symbolism for both [Shaman Durek] and myself embracing our love'.

It features both of the couple's initials, alongside hieroglyphics and Egyptian symbols which have meanings that are specific and symbolic to them.

Royal houses customarily release ciphers when couples tie the knot, with the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex among those with their own monogram.

But as Martha Louise, 52, pointed out, her cipher is 'not official'. Sharing the image on Instagram, she wrote: 'This is not an official monogram, as I no longer represent the Royal family at official functions.'

Princess Martha Louise of Norway (pictured, right) will wed her fiance Shaman Durek Verrett (pictured, left) in August

The couple recently revealed they have had a cipher (pictured) designed - however, it is not official as the princess no longer represents the Royal Family at official events

MEANINGFUL: The princess revealed the meanings behind the different symbols included in the cipher (pictured)

The princess, who is King Harald V and Queen Sonja's only daughter, renounced her royal duties in 2022, with reports saying she was forced to step down due to her partner's controversial views, including that childhood cancer is caused by unhappiness.

Their union, which she revealed in an Instagram post in May 2019, has always been considered by some to be controversial. Martha Louise describes herself as 'spiritual' and claims to be a clairvoyant, while Durek Verrett, who is bisexual, calls himself a 'shaman'.

However, despite the controversy surrounding the partnership, in July of 2022, she and Durek announced their engagement.

They revealed their wedding plans more than a year later in September 2023, revealing that they intended to tie the knot in August of this year at Hotell Union in Geiranger, Norway.

Speaking more about the monogram in her recent Instagram post, Martha Louise said: 'Thank you so much to the amazing team @anti_hamar for embracing both of our souls into this representation of the two of us. You have done such a great job in capturing both of our essence into one symbol.'

Explaining the meaning behind the cipher, she continued: 'Honoring our past life together in Egypt, the monogram embraces the hieroglyphs and...Egyptian symbols.'

The hieroglyph M stands for Martha, and according to the royal, it represents 'the wise owl, a guardian of souls navigating between worlds. The owl represents the protector, guiding humans through the passage from the earthly existence to the spirit world'.

Meanwhile, the D stands for Durek. The hieroglyph for D, Martha explained 'manifests as the hand - a symbol of actions performed with grace, opening doors and dancing through life'.

The princess went into great detail about the symbolism behind the monogram

Continuing to list the meanings of the cipher's symbols, she wrote: ' The Eye of Horus representing healing and knowledge. A symbol of protection from evil. Egyptian texts say Horus right eye was the sun and his left eye was the moon. Representing the masculine and the feminine energies. The beginning and the end. The rising sun of day and the rising star at night.'

Next, she explained the inclusion of a symbol representing horses, noting that they 'have been a central animal through both our lives. Honouring their sensitivity, their strength and their majestic powers'.

Meanwhile, the heart symbolises the 'unconditional love that flows between' the couple, the owl also represents wisdom and 'the ability to see through darkness'.

The inclusion of the infinity symbol was to show the couple's 'eternal bond', and the diamond, she wrote, represents 'the portal between the physical and the metaphysical realms'.

Martha concluded: 'This monogram truly speaks to our cores, representing us and our love, and we are truly grateful and honoured that it signifies our unity to the world.'

When the couple announced their engagement, they received well wishes from members of the Royal House of Norway.

Her parents shared a statement saying: 'The Queen and I are delighted that Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett have announced their wedding plans today. We are happy to include Durek Verret in our family and look forward to celebrating the big day with them. We wish Martha and Durek all the best.'

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit said: 'We congratulate Princess Martha and Durek Verrett on their wedding in August next year. We are happy for them and look forward to celebrating with them in Geiranger. We wish Martha, Durek and the girls all the best for the future.'

The union will mark the royal's second marriage. She and her former husband Ari Behn split in 2016, after being married for 14 years, and welcoming three daughters, Maud Angelica, 21, Leah Isadora, 19, and Emma Tallulah, 15.

The former royal, 52 will wed Durek Verrett, who is bisexual and calls himself a 'shaman', on August 31 (pictured together)

Princess Martha and Durek have announced that they will have both a reverend and a spiritual guru leading the ceremony

Ari died by suicide in 2019, aged just 47, with his tragic death sparking depression in his former spouse.

However, after finding love again, she will wed on August 31 in a four-day celebration which 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.

The couple have announced that they will have both a reverend and a spiritual guru leading the ceremony.

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.

For the nuptial celebrations, 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.

Princess Martha Louise stepped down as a working royal in 2022. Pictured ahead of a state banquet in November 2021

On Sunday the newly-weds will host a three-hour brunch, which will reportedly see performances by the Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder.

It appears to be a happy ending for the couple, who raised some eyebrows when they started dating, due to Durek holding some controversial and pseudoscientific views - most notably the belief 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.

Martha Louise has 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.

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, 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'.

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.

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'.

The couple are set to tie the knot at Hotel Union in Geirangerfjord (pictured, file image) in Norway next month

However, she has complimented her family for how they treated her while making arrangements for her to step away from royal duties.

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.

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.'
It takes a special set of circumstances to make a dress, bag or trousers so desirable that not only does it wow the fashionistas on the couture front row  it also becomes a must-have on the High Street.

Every season, there are a few pieces that hit the nail on the head  and end up inspiring strikingly similar items across High Street brands.

Take Totemes graphic print two-piece, totally wearable yet distinctive. Or Schiaparellis puffball skirt (yes, really, another classic of Princess Dianas style and era is back in a big way).

When you know what youre looking for, bagging one of these High Street homages to a red-carpet showstopper is a shortcut to dressing well for less.

Heres our expert guide to snaffling the six key pieces of the summer  in versions so good even a fashion editor will look twice . . .

The silver pump

Versace's SS24 catwalk show in Italy

Not just for Christmas parties any more, silver shoes are taking this season by storm.

These shoes will take you from desk to dinner to dancefloor (and will see you through any season).

Want to steal Versaces style for a fraction of the price? Both River Island and Jones have what you need for under 100.

And if youre willing to spend a little more, then head to Penelope Chilvers, where there is also a 149 version with an elasticated back for added comfort.

30, riverisland.com

89, jonesbootmaker.com

219, penelopechilvers.com

The white puffball skirt

Schiaparelli SS24 - a Princess Diana favourite

Once favoured by Princess Diana and worn in 2024 by pop princess Sabrina Carpenter, this is a super versatile style, although Schiaparellis look from the catwalk isnt exactly office appropriate.

To avoid looking like youre in fancy dress, stick to sophisticated neutrals: & Other Stories have the perfect bubble- hem skirt for 115, or try New Looks midi for 37.99.

Both are simple, but with enough volume to create a bit of oomph. Or to really take the guesswork out of this look, Amy Lynn has a strappy dress complete with voluminous skirt.

99, Amy Lynn at selfridges.com

115, stories.com

Skirt, 37.99, newlook.com

The throw-on frill dress

Stella McCartney throw-on ruffle dress on her SS24 catwalk

Love it or hate it, bohemian style is huge. Its thanks, in part, to Chloes new creative director, Chemena Kamali, whose opening collection was all floaty white blouses and chunky brown clogs.

Even Stella McCartney wanted in on the action with a throw-on ruffle dress on her SS24 catwalk.

Then, the queen of boho returned, Sienna Miller, with that M&S collection. Her range flew off the shelves  no surprise, with this expensive-looking frill dress for just 89.

89, marksand spencer.com

125, monsoon.co.uk

The chunky wedge

Sienna Miller, left, and Georgia May Jagger, centre, on the front row at Chloe

Sandal season is upon us and theres only one It-shoe: Chloes Maxime wedge sandal.

At Chloes AW24 show in Paris, celebrities including Sienna Miller and Georgia May Jagger all wore the 1970s chunky style. Yes, its a Noughties throwback, but its also sturdier than a kitten heel, and more summery than a block heel.

Dunes sky-high platforms are the closest match. If youre after something a little more wearable, try Oasis or River Islands less vertiginous pair.

95, dunelondon.com

36, Oasis at debenhams.com

55, river island.com

The minimal print two-piece

Shirt, 540, Toteme at net-a-porter.com

Trousers, 520, Toteme at net-a-porter.com

Florals and loud prints take a back seat this summer  now, its all about Totemes minimalist graphic print.

The Stockholm brand is adored by the fashion crowd for its effortlessly cool designs, especially this silk-twill, monogram, logo print, left.

This co-ord set would cost you over 1,000, but Monsoon has an almost identical geometric set for just over 100, right, as does Zara in a more relaxed fit  which is currently in the sale.

Shirt, 55, and trousers, 49, monsoon.co.uk

The chocolate woven bag

Maxi Cabat tote bag, 10,300, bottegaveneta.com

If theres one designer house that knows how to make an It-bag, its Bottega Veneta, thanks to its instantly recognisable woven style. This summers update on the classic is in a rich chocolate brown colour  one of this summers hottest hues.

So its no surprise that the High Street has taken inspiration from this one.

Anthropologies slouchy shoulder bag brings boho flair, but is practical for everyday use, while Dragon Diffusions is the perfect grab-and-go.

And if you want to carry on the trend for your holidays, then this small tote bag from Massimo Dutti comes with a handy detachable linen pouch, perfect if youre heading to the beach.

299, massimodutti.com

135, anthropologie.com
Lauren Sanchez and billionaire fiance Jeff Bezos looked every inch the adoring couple as they sat front row at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia.

The mom-of-three, 54, and her Amazon founder beau, 60, put on a very public display of affection at the event - playfully holding hands, leaning in close and whispering to one another.

For the occasion, Lauren struggled to contain her assets in what appeared to a delicate white lingerie set which she then covered with a flowing sheer gown to protect her modesty.

She clipped her raven locks away from her face and accessorized with flashes of silver jewelry - with her dazzling engagement ring front and center.

The couple, who were there to watch Lauren's son Nikko walk the runway, were joined on the front row by her ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzalez, his wife October and designer Gui Siqueira.

Lauren Sanchez and billionaire fiance Jeff Bezos looked every inch the adoring couple as they sat front row at the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia

For the occasion, Lauren struggled to contain her assets in what appeared to a delicate white lingerie set which she then covered with a flowing sheer gown to protect her modesty

Jeff also looked dapper for the occasion - opting for an understated navy shirt and jeans - before posing next to his fiancee and Gui for snaps.

The businessman hid behind a pair of statement shades but still could not contain his smile as he and his wife-to-be giggled up a storm.

The lovebirds have been enjoying a relaxing and romantic getaway in Greece alongside a handful of their other pals - including Kim Kardashian.

Just a few days before Lauren and Jeff's trip to Greece at the beginning of June, the former reporter put on another dazzling display as she and the Amazon founder celebrated her eldest son's graduation from college.

The couple were joined by the Gonzalez family, with all participating in a graduation photoshoot together, before heading out to dinner to honor Nikko.

The proud mom shared a montage of photos and clips from the festivities in a video posted to her Instagram afterwards.

Lauren and Jeff have been island hopping on his luxury $500 million mega yacht Koru since the beginning of June - with Koru meaning 'new beginnings' in Maori.

The Amazon founder's 230ft tall yacht, which he commissioned in 2018, currently holds the record for being the world's tallest superyacht.

The mom-of-three, 54, and her Amazon founder beau, 60, put on a very public display of affection at the event - playfully holding hands, leaning in close and whispering to one another

The businessman hid behind a pair of statement shades but still could not contain his smile as he and his wife-to-be giggled up a storm

The couple, who were there to watch Lauren's son Nikko walk the runway, were joined on the front row by her ex-boyfriend Tony Gonzalez, his wife October and designer Gui Siqueira

Just a few days before Lauren and Jeff's trip to Greece at the beginning of June, the former reporter put on another dazzling display as she and the Amazon founder celebrated her eldest son's graduation from college

,

The Koru is the second-largest sailing ship in the world.

Lauren has been posting some happy snaps of her Grecian getaway, including some sultry selfies from the mega yacht.

Last week, the award winning journalist uploaded a saucy snap to her Instagram story; showing off her abs and impressive figure in a skimpy sea-ready getup as the pair vacations in Greece.

Taking a selfie in a full-length mirror, a tanned Lauren wore a tiny black crop with a cutout and gold beads on the straps and a crocheted mini skirt.

Lauren and Jeff appear to be enjoying their vacation; spotted at the beginning of June with her billionaire beau along a promenade on Hydra island before going for a romantic oceanfront dinner together at Sunset Restaurant.

The Koru is the second-largest sailing ship in the world with an elaborate carving of a woman

The power couple was joined by Jeff's son Preston, who has not made a public appearance since 2019 when he accompanied his father to the American Portrait Gala at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.

The superyacht holds a special place for the couple, with Lauren and Jeff getting engaged there in early 2023.

Lauren opened up about the moment Jeff asked her to marry him to Vogue last year.

She recalled how Jeff popped the question on the $500 million superyacht after they enjoyed a romantic dinner under the stars together.

Lauren said Jeff concealed the huge diamond ring under her pillow, and that she almost 'blacked out' when she discovered it at the end of the evening just before they went to bed.

The couple recently relocated from Seattle, Washington, to Indian Creek Island in Florida - with Jeff purchasing three mansions on the island, totaling a whopping $237 million.
The Dutch royal, 53, looked typically radiant as she cheered on children

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands was all smiles on Thursday as she mingled with residents and cheered on children during a visit to a playground in Zevenbergschen Hoek, a village in the southern province of North Brabant.

The Dutch royal, 53, visited the village to discuss how it can overcome the challenges it's facing with regards to declining facilities and an aging community, and remain an attractive place for people to live.

Queen Maxima, who was wearing a pale pink top accessorised with a dramatic floral necklace made up of stones in complementary colours, appeared delighted to be outside in the sunshine and mixing with local people.

She paired her cap sleeve top with white wide-leg trousers and added some sparkle with diamond earrings and a glitzy bracelet.

With her hair brushed back and smoky eye make-up, the radiant monarch appeared at once glamourous and relaxed.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands (pictured) achieved a look that was at once glamourous and relaxed with a pale pink top accessorised with a dramatic floral necklace in complementary colours

Completing her look with a pair of diamond earrings and a glitzy bracelet, the Dutch royal, 53, opted for smoky eye make-up

Queen Maxima beamed as she waved to crowds, clearly enjoying being outdoors on a sunny day

Having discarded her pale pink clutch bag, the mother-of-three showed her maternal side as she cheered on children taking part in outdoor activities.

For a moment, the queen looked concerned as a young girl shimmied down a pole in the playground.

During her visit to the playground, she was accompanied by Miss 2024 of the annual Summer Carnival of Zevenbergschen Hoek.

Queen Maxima also visited a residential care home for the elderly and a community centre where she met members of the local billiards club.

It's been a busy time for the Dutch royal - last week she visited Friesland, a province in the north of the Netherlands, with sustainability in mind.

She donned a vibrant outfit which included a sheer red top embroidered with floral designs and asymmetric ruffle detailing.

She paired her summery top with a flared blue jeans for a fun and relaxed look.

With her blonde hair brushed back, her bright crimson earrings with tassels were on display.

The Queen travelled to the province to visit Vereniging Circulair Friesland, a partnership between various companies and organisations working in the field of sustainability.

The mother-of-three cheered on children as they took part in activities and games in the playground

As a young girl shimmied down a pole in the playground, Queen Maxima appeared worried

With her hair brushed back into a chignon, the Dutch monarch looked on as children played on the equipment in the playground

Smiling as the girls playing on the swing gathered pace, the royal looked typically radiant

During her visit to the playground, she was accompanied by Miss 2024 of the annual Summer Carnival of Zevenbergschen Hoek (second from right)

Queen Maxima's visit to the village of Zevenbergschen Hoek also included a trip to the community centre

The organisation looks at how humans can reuse existing raw materials in the most effective and sustainable way.

Its goal is to make Friesland completely sustainable by next year.

A smiling Queen Maxima appeared to be enjoying the very warm weather in the region as she sunned herself outside the building.
As Britons head to the polls today to choose the next government, many royal fans may have wondered whether King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other members of the royal family, will join them in casting their vote.

Speaking on Palace Confidential, the Mail+ weekly talk show, host Jo Elvin raised that specific point, turning to her panel of royal experts and asking, 'Do they vote? Can they vote? Will they vote?'

Fortunately, Richard Eden, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor and a royal expert, was on hand to provide the answer.

Richard explained: 'By convention, they don't, obviously they have to be above politics, but it's interesting who's included in that.

'I'm sure the senior royals don't, probably none of the working royals would. I'm sure other members of the extended royal family can vote  whether they do, I don't know.'

Richard Eden (pictured), the Daily Mail's Diary Editor and a royal expert, explained that the royals do not vote because they must remain above politics

Indeed, while there is no law that restricts the royals from voting, convention has long prevented them from doing so.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Jeff King, a law professor at University College London, explained that 'the rules relating to the power of members of the royal family to vote are regulated by constitutional convention and not by statute law.'

Fellow panelist Charlotte Griffiths, Editor-At-Large of the Mail on Sunday, pointed out that Prince Harry had previously urged Americans to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

While he encouraged them to do so - he also admitted at the time that he had never been able to do so himself.

Speaking during a TV appearance in the run up to the 2020 US election, Prince Harry explained: 'Many of you may not know that I haven't been able to vote in the U.K. my entire life.'

Whether Prince Harry would be able to vote now as a non-working royal was up for discussion, with Rebecca English, Royal Editor for the Daily Mail, adding: 'He wouldn't have been allowed to when he was here before but could he now? I think he probably could.'

While Charlotte, who revealed she would be voting in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, joked that she would look out for any members of the royal family, it's highly unlikely that she'll come across any of them at the polling station.

The King has, however, returned from Scotland where he has been taking part in Holyrood Week, the official visit by the Sovereign to Scotland every July to celebrate Scottish culture, community and achievement.

Speaking on Palace Confidential, the Mail+ weekly talk show, host Jo Elvin raised that specific point, turning to her panel of royal experts and asking, 'Do they vote? Can they vote? Will they vote?'

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrived to cast their vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, this morning

Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

On Friday, the leader of the winning party will visit Buckingham Palace and meet the King.

The King will then invite him to become the Prime Minister and form a government.

Polls opened across the UK at 7am this morning after Rishi Sunak made an 11th-hour plea for voters to prevent a 'socialist supermajority'.

From 7am until 10pm, millions of Britons will head to polling stations to cast their vote in the first Westminster contest since 2019.

A series of opinion polls in the run-up to today have shown Labour on course for a huge landslide win.

In his final campaign rally last night, the PM admitted he was the 'underdog' but vowed: 'This underdog will fight to the final whistle.'

Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty were spotted voting early this morning at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in his Richmond and Northallerton constituency in Yorkshire.

Like all other voters, they will have had to ensure they had correct photo identification - such as a passport or driving licence - with them in order to vote.

This year is the first time in the UK that everybody wanting to vote in person at a general election will have to show ID before receiving a ballot paper.

Sir Keir voted later this morning as he attended a polling station together with his wife Victoria in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London.

They arrived hand-in-hand at Willingham Close TRA Hall in Kentish Town.

You can watch Palace Confidential on the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.
Shoppers can get their hands on American snacks at Aldi for a limited time

Shoppers are rushing to Aldi Australia to get their hands on a stash of American chocolate, lollies, snacks and sauces.

The German-owned supermarket chain released the selection across stores last week in the 'Special Buys' middle aisle.

Maraya, who runs the 'Stuff Mums Like' website, stumbled across the snacks and posted a series of images on Facebook.

'It's American food week at Aldi! So many fun treats to try. It would be so fun to do an American treat night with your kids so they can try stuff they've only seen in books and on TV,' she wrote.

'I got some Hershey's kisses to use with the elves (some forward planning).'

Customers can buy Reese's, Twinkies, Pop Tarts, Jelly Belly lollies, Twizzlers, Butterfinger chocolate bars, Baby Ruth chocolate bars, Hershey's Cookies n Creme chocolate and pretzels, Junior Caramels, Milk Duds, and a Smores Kit.

There's also a variety of condiments on offer, including Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce, Jack Link's Beef Jerky, Stubb's Smokey Mesquite BBQ Sauce, French's Classic Yellow Mustard, and Frank's Red Hot Wings Buffalo Sauce.

Many were thrilled by the latest offering and were eager to visit their local Aldi to grab the treats.

Aldi Australia released the selection of American snacks across stores last week and customers noticed the products in the 'Special Buys' aisle

Customers can get their hands on Reese's, Twinkies, Pop Tarts, Jelly Belly lollies, Twizzlers, Butterfinger chocolate bars, Baby Ruth chocolate bars, Hershey's Cookies n Creme chocolate and pretzels, Junior Caramels, Milk Duds, and a Smores Kit

Maraya, who runs the 'Stuff Mums Like' website, stumbled across the snacks and posted a series of images on Facebook. While many were excited, others didn't see what all the hype was about

'Need to go to Aldi tomorrow,' one wrote.

'I need to buy some Twinkies, they were always advertised in comics when I was a kid and I have always wanted to try one,' another said.

'Thank you for posting! This very quickly satisfied the request from my youngest son for s'mores for camping next week,' a third added.

But others weren't as enthusiastic because they aren't fans of American snacks.

'Oh Lordy, that Hershey chocolate is so nasty, not even edible in my honest opinion. Haigh's for the win,' one said.

There were also Oreos and Twinkies in the 'Special Buys' middle aisle

Customers could also get their hands on American sauces and Thins. But stock is limited

'Hershey's chocolate is a total disappointment for Brits - it honestly tastes like the cheap cooking chocolate used for baking. Was so unimpressed when I first tried it in NYC,' another wrote.

A third said: 'Wouldn't buy any American lollies for children the crap and all the dyes they put in them are very bad for you.'

Another claimed The Reject Shop sells US snacks all year round.

Last month Aldi released a range of UK snacks which sent shoppers into a spin.

Natalia, from Sydney, stumbled across the products on a recent shop and was in utter disbelief.

'I'm actually going to cry,' she said in a video while holding up a packet of Smith's Prawn Cocktail chips, a sub-brand of Walkers.

'My parents are in England at the moment and they're bringing back some packets.. now I have more which I'm so happy about.'

Natalia was also ecstatic about the cheese and pickles, and Worcestershire sauce flavour chips. Customers can also get their hands on bags of Galaxy Minstrels and Little Rolo chocolate.
Toxic metals could be lurking in tampons sold in the UK, an alarming investigation revealed today.

Tests on 30 products purchased in New York, Athens and London found some contained dangerous levels of arsenic, chromium and even lead.

And all 16 metals tested were detected in at least one tampon.

Exposure to lead can impair brain development, whist other metals can trigger life-threatening blood clotting and raise the risk of some cancers.

US researchers claimed the probe showed tampons were 'a potential source of metal exposure' for women.

Tests on 30 products purchased in New York, Athens and London found some contained levels of arsenic, chromium and even lead. And all 16 metals tested were detected in at least one tampon. Exposure to lead can impair brain development, while other metals can trigger blood clotting and even raise the risk of some cancers

However, experts urged women not to panic and cautioned more research was required to discover of there is any danger to users.

While some of the products are available in the US, with others in the UK and EU, researchers chose not to name the items or 14 brands involved.

Dr Jenni Shearston, an expert in the epidemiology of air pollution at the University of California, Berkeley, said: 'Despite this large potential for public health concern, very little research has been done to measure chemicals in tampons.

'To our knowledge, this is the first paper to measure metals in tampons.

'Concerningly, we found concentrations of all metals we tested for, including toxic metals like arsenic and lead.'

Professor Kathrin Schilling, an assistant professor and geochemist at Columbia University, added: 'Although toxic metals are ubiquitous and we are exposed to low levels at any given time, our study clearly shows that metals are also present in menstrual products, and that women might be at higher risk for exposure using these products.'

Possible heavy metal exposure via tampons is concerning given the thin nature of the internal tissue of the vagina could provide an easy way for these substances to enter the body.

The findings are also potential far reaching with about 50 to 80 per cent of women who menstruate using tampons on a monthly basis  for several hours at a time.

Under the study, the 16 metals tested included arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper and iron.

Manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium, and zinc were among the others.

Researchers identified examples of all 16 among the tampons tested.

Several metals were detected in all samples, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and vanadium.

Among these lead had the highest concentration with a mean total of 120 nanograms per gram (ng/g).

Cadmium followed at 6.74 ng/g, with arsenic logging 2.56 ng/g.

Writing in the journal, Environment International, researchers said: 'There is no safe exposure level to lead.

'Any proportion of lead that may leach out of a tampon and reach systemic circulation might contribute to negative health outcomes.'

No brand or type of tampon had notably lower levels of metals overall, they added.

Organic tampons had higher levels of arsenic, but non-organic tampons had higher levels of lead.

The authors said there were several ways the metals could have become embedded into tampons in the first place.

It comes just weeks after US consumer watchdog group Mamavation and the Environmental Working Group also suggested tampons could contain harmful perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS. Dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they can linger in the environment for hundreds of years, they have been linked to everything from cancer and high cholesterol to infertility

One was that the cotton plants used to manufacture tampons could have absorbed the metals from soil and water, particularly when there are nearby contaminants, for example, a cotton field near a lead smelter.

They can also be potentially added during manufacturing processes as whiteners, antibacterial agents, or through cross-contamination from other factory processes.

Dr Shearston said: 'I really hope that manufacturers are required to test their products for metals, especially for toxic metals.

'It would be exciting to see the public call for this, or to ask for better labelling on tampons and other menstrual products.'

What ARE 'forever chemicals'? 'Forever chemicals' are a class of common industrial compounds that don't break down when they're released into the environment. Humans are exposed to these chemicals after they've come in contact with food, soil or water reservoirs. These chemicals  known more properly as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS  are added to cookware, carpets, textiles and other items to make them more water- and stain-repellant. PFAS contamination has been detected in water near manufacturing facilities, as well as at military bases and firefighting training facilities where flame-retardant foam is used. The chemicals have been linked to an increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, and damage to the immune system, as well as birth defects, smaller birth weights, and decreased vaccine response in children. Advertisement

Experts, however, urged women not to panic and cautioned there was 'no evidence that the metals would leech into menstrual blood'.

Professor Atholl Johnston, a professor emeritus of clinical pharmacology at Queen Mary, University of London, told MailOnline: 'I don't doubt the research findings, but I do doubt the bioavailability of the metals found in the tampons.

'Prior to analysis, the tampons were cut up and then the researchers added 2 mL of 67-70 per cent nitric acid (HNO3) to each sample and pre-digested the tampons at room temperature overnight before microwave-assisted acid digestion.

'Hardly a similar environment to the average vagina.'

He added: 'Were I a tampon using woman, I wouldnt panic at this stage.

'There is no evidence that the metals would leech into menstrual blood and be absorbed into the body.'

It comes just weeks after US consumer watchdog group Mamavation and the Environmental Working Group also suggested tampons could contain harmful perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS.

Dubbed 'forever chemicals' because they can linger in the environment for hundreds of years, they have been linked to everything from cancer and high cholesterol to infertility.

Mamavation found popular Playtex tampons, Always liners and Carefree liners, all sold in the US, tested positive for organic fluorine, a chemical that contains known PFAS.

Playtex sport contained 19ppm, while the Always liners had 21ppm of the chemicals and the Carefree product had 17ppm.

Last year, some period pants sold by high street retailers in the UK were also found to contain high levels of silver.

Silver is used as an antimicrobial agent and is typically added to period pants to combat user concerns about smell and hygiene.

However, scientists have discovered nanosilver can kill lactobacillus, the healthy bacteria in the vagina that help fight off infection.

This can put period pant users more at risk of harmful bacteria, potentially leading to an increased risk of bacterial infections and pregnancy complications.
Peter Warren is a general assignment reporter for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at peter.warren@houstonchronicle.com.

Peter previously lived in Dallas, where he covered the sports as a freelancer for the Dallas Morning News and other outlets. He has been published in Texas Highways Magazine, DMagazine.com, the Star Tribune and Bowlers Journal International. Peter graduated from Northwestern University in 2021.
Health chiefs investigating a bacterial outbreak at a party in California have traced the source back to a contaminated salad.

Two sisters who attended the family gathering in Fresno County last weekend are in intensive care on ventilators after eating cactus pads that contained C botulinum.

These toxins get into food that has not been properly preserved. Once in the body, they attack nerves, causing muscles and organs like the lungs to become paralyzed.

Around ten others who attended the party were hospitalized with botulism symptoms including blurred vision and vertigo, but have since been discharged.

Through interviews, officials learned all of them had attended the same family gathering and ate a homemade cactus salad.

A bacterial infection outbreak has been traced the source back to a contaminated cactus salad (stock)

Norma Sanchez, communicable disease specialist with Fresno County Department of Public Health, said they identified the contaminated cactus after sifting through trash cans.

Sanchez's team then tracked down the woman who prepared the salad  and learned the cactus pads, or nopales, had been prepared and stored in jars at home in May.

The bacteria that causes botulism is found in soil and ocean floors, where it can remain on the surface of foods like fruits, vegetables, and seafood.

These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings, which are usually harmless.

However, warm and wet tight spaces lacking oxygen - such as plastic jars and cans - can lead to the bacteria to release toxins that attack the central nervous system.

Foods with low acid content are the most common sources of home-canning related botulism cases, according to the CDC, which include asparagus, green beans, beets, corn and nopales.

Sanchez said the remaining jars containing the cacti were found in 'bad shape' in a shed.

'The food had been out there for a couple of days already  it was a hundred and something degrees out there,' Sanchez told local media. 'I was just amazed.'

The woman told health department workers she didn't follow any specific safety guidelines and had learned to can from family and friends.

One of the sisters who remains hospitalized had eaten the contaminated salad three days in a row. The second had eaten it on two occasions.

The CDC estimates that there are just 25 cases of foodborne botulism in the US each year, making it vanishingly rare.

About five percent of people who develop botulism die, according to the CDC. For others, it can cause lifelong disability and extreme physical therapy.

The cactus pads or nopales (shown here) had been prepared at home in May and improperly stored

Patients who are paralyzed need to relearn how to walk, talk, and perform everyday tasks again.

The Fresno health department is urging people to follow proper storing and cooking methods to lower their risk of botulism.

Temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) make it easier for bacterial spores to form.

Any food at risk of contamination should be heated up to 240250F, and heated all the way through.

Symptoms of botulism include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, blurry vision, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and trouble moving the eyes, according to the CDC.

Foodborne infection can also cause vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
A plastic surgeon has revealed the cosmetic procedures he believes Kristen Wiig has undergone to achieve her age-defying transformation.

The 50-year-old Bridesmaids actress turned heads with her glamorous appearance on Saturday Night Live and at the premiere of Despicable Me 4 earlier this year.

Dr Jonny Betteridge, based in the UK, suggests that her transformation  which he called 'not possible' naturally  was down to a facelift.

He also claimed that she had had Botox to smooth lines in her forehead, surgery to reduce skin above the eyes and filler in the lips to give them more volume  all contributing to her new appearance.

The above images show Kristen Wiig in 2013 (left) and again in 2024 on Saturday Night Live (right). A surgeon alleges she has had multiple procedures to maintain her looks

It's not the first time the mother-of-two has been hit with speculation over surgeries, after comments also circulated online last year that she had had a 'nose job'.

Speaking in a TikTok viewed nearly 100,000 times, Dr Betteridge said: 'Looking at her from a few years ago we can see some of the classic signs of aging; frown and forehead lines, hooding of the upper eyelids, under eye bags and lower face laxity [sagging skin in the lower face].

'It's definitely not possible to then look like she does now a few years later without some non-surgical and surgical treatments.'

He continued: 'I can see some characteristic changes to her features.

'The frown and forehead lines have softened from Botox, her eyes appear more open from eyelid surgery, her nose is more contoured from a rhinoplasty, and the lips have more shape and volume from filler.'

He was comparing a picture of the star from 2013, where she appeared at the American Film Institute Festival in Hollywood, to a photo of her from 2024 on SNL.

In the TikTok, Dr Betteridge said she had also likely had a facelift. He pointed to this image from 2016 to show a scar by her ear, which is typically where one is left after a facelift

He also revealed an image of Kristen from the 22nd Annual Screen Guild Actors awards in 2016, which he said showed she had a facelift scar on the side of her face.

She was about 42 years old at the time, with surgeons saying some people get facelifts in their 40s to get a better and longer-lasting result.

Kristen has not previously commented directly on allegations that she has had plastic surgery.

But in an interview in 2016 while promoting Zoolander 2, where she plays a character who overdid plastic surgery, she made rare comments on the topic.

'It's a balance... you know,' she said, 'some people are older and get some little things done, like if you want to do it, like do it.

'But I've noticed younger kids that do it, it makes them look older, I think.'

She also faced speculation over her appearance after arriving at the Golden Globes in January this year.

And several commentators have said online that they believe that she has had a rhinoplasty to reduce the size of her nose.
Party leaders and their fixers are pouring over the polls as election day arrives but maybe they should ask a different question.

Politician trustworthiness has been put to the test Richard Nixon-style with the poll question: Would you buy a used car from this Prime Minister?

The survey harks back to the 1960 Democratic Party presidential election poster campaign that famously used the slogan 'Would YOU buy a used car from this man?' with a photo of Nixon. In the closely contested election Nixon went on to lose to John F. Kennedy.

Reviving that, Carmoola quizzed the public ahead of election day to find out which PM candidate and party were deemed the most honest person to get a solid second-hand car from.

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, and Nigel Farage, leader of Reform, emerged as more trustworthy choices for a used car purchase than Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Labours Keir Starmer came out on top, with 27 per cent saying they would trust him to sell them a car  maybe its all the recent stories hes been telling of his favourite cars?

Perhaps suprisingly, Nigel Farage  whose Reform Party is promising to stop the war on motorists  came second with 22 per cent of respondents saying theyd trust him on a second-hand motor.

Meanwhile, numbers man, Rishi Sunak, came third with just 19 per cent saying theyd trust him to sell them a used car.

Rishi Sunak came third with just 19 per cent saying theyd trust him when buying a used car. But, in a bigger blow to the Tories, a massive 68 per cent of voters wouldnt trust Rishi to sell them a used car  the highest level of distrust placed in any of the politicians

Reversing the question to whether you wouldn't trust a leader selling you a motor dealt a big blow to the Tories, however, as will as indicating that all the leaders would do well to get someone else to sell on their cars for them.

A massive 68 per cent of voters wouldnt trust Rishi to sell them a used car  the highest level of distrust placed in any of the politicians.

Even though Starmer won the poll, 57 per cent still wouldnt buy a used car from him, while 64 per cent wouldnt from Farage.

Some 2,051 people aged 16-plus were quizzed about which potential Prime Minister they'd trust to sell them a second-hand car.

Respondents were able to answer yes, no, dont know or Im not familiar with this person.

Incredibly, one in ten (11 per cent) people didnt know who Ed Davey was, compared to 19 per cent for Denyer and 20 per cent for Ramsay.

Green co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay took fifth and sixth respectively.

John Swinney (SNP) and Rhun ap Iorwerth (Plaid Cymru's leader) got 11 per cent and 9 per cent of people saying yes they are trustworthy, putting them in seventh and eighth place.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey took home fourth place in the Nixon-esque poll (17 per cent would trust him. In political party trustworthiness the Lib Dems came third

Political party preferences were also surveyed, with Labour also taking home the win. Some 39 per cent would trust Labour to sell them a used car.

Interestingly, despite the Green Party having the most anti-car manifesto of all parties- the Green manifesto wants to ban all petrol and diesel cars by 2035 - they are the second most trusted party when it comes to selling a used car.

The Greens told home a 27 per cent yes vote.

The Lib Dems came third with 22 per cent, Reform fourth with 21 per cent and the Conservatives only taking home 19 per cent yes votes.

The SNP had the highest no vote with 69 per cent not trusting the Scottish Nationalist Party to sell them a used car, while the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru both got 69 per cent distrust scores.

Drives me crazy: The motoring pledges in the party manifestos

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Historically, Sunak polls worse than four of his seven most recent predecessor Prime Ministers.

Gordon Brown, Theresa May, David Cameron and Boris Johnson all tied in first place with 21 per cent of people saying theyd trust these leaders to sell them a used car.

But Gordon Brown had the lowest percentage among recent PMs of respondents who would not buy him, with 61 per cent not trusting him.

John Major and Rishi Sunak came joint fifth with 19 per cent, while Tony Blair was just behind on 18 per cent.

Unsurprisingly the shortest serving Prime Minister in UK history Liz Truss tops the list of politicians from whom people would not buy a used car  almost three quarters (74 per cent) of people expressed distrust.

In a wider political context, this polling demonstrates the general distrust in politicians.

All parties have recently published their manifestos, and motoring is one of the leading areas for campaign, with each party trying to get drivers onboard.

This is Money has recently published a guide to the election for motorists, where we dissect the different manifestos to find out what the different party stances are when it comes to drivers.
Among the first industrial tests facing an incoming Labour administration is what to do about the Royal Mail.

The owner of Britains postal system, International Distributions Services (IDS) is proposing to sell a vital part of UK infrastructure to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky and a controversial Slovakian finance group, supported by overseas banks, for 3.6billion.

Labour, in its manifesto, pledges to robustly scrutinise the transaction and to give workers a stronger voice.

A big majority in the General Election provides no excuse for not keeping to its word.

My conversations with former senior executives and the unions illustrate precisely why selling off a historic company and huge employer to overseas financiers with faint understanding of the national interest is a dreadful idea.

National asset:The owner of Britain's postal system is proposing to sell a vital part of UK infrastructure to a Czech billionaire and a Slovakian finance group

The price at which a feeble board is selling is inadequate. Yet active investor Schroder, with a 6.23 per cent stake, and UBS asset management with 6.3 per cent have, so far, been silent. The timing is madness.

It comes after a debilitating industrial dispute and positive outcomes have yet to be reaped.

The regulator Ofcom, headed by former senior civil servant Melanie Dawes, has been late to the party in forging a new settlement for the universal service obligation (USO), which requires delivery six days a week and to the last mile.

Moreover, loading up an indebted balance sheet with further short-term leverage does not make sense.

Instead of the muscular defence which boards are obligated to put up when they come under siege, the directors of IDS have been flaccid.

Chairman Keith Williams preferred to negotiate terms of the sale, in the form of agreements that will be hard to enforce, rather than at the very least fight for an even better price.

Senior non-executive Sarah Hogg, 78, has a long and distinguished career including a spell as a City editor.

But in her role as a sounding board for dissident shareholders and other stakeholders, her voice has not been heard.

As for the rest of the non-executive directors, mesmerised by their misconceived notion of fiduciary duty, they have behaved like nodding dogs.

The main reason for Royal Mail vulnerability is the prolonged disputes with the Communications Workers Union (CWU), which has stood up for the rights of the workforce.

Yet the agreements which emerged on pay, conditions and reforms to the delivery systems, designed to give the postal service a lifeline, have not been given time to deliver. It is axiomatic that in year two after a settled industrial dispute, there is an earnings recovery.

The offer document for IDS last week confirms this, with a forecast of a return to adjusted operating profit in 2024-25.

Existing investors, including the workforce and private shareholders, have endured the downside and Kretinsky and his cronies will enjoy the upside.

Running the Royal Mail in the face of fast declining volumes was always going to be challenge, not least because of the USO.

The CWU recognised this but reckoned that, with more alert management, in an age of online shopping, parcels could have taken up the slack.

On the Continent, regulators recognised several years ago that their USOs needed to be modernised, allowing many services to keep jobs intact and mend the finances.

Ofcom, the UK regulator, was not at the races until recent months, by which time the ghouls were circling.

Governing is hard and Labour has a particular obligation to working people, about whom it endlessly talks, and the unions which help finance its operations. It cannot, like the Tories, absolve itself of its obligations in the name of free markets.

The Royal Mail offers a vital public service and works in tandem with the NHS, HMRC, the Metropolitan Police and returning offices during elections.

If ever there were a moment for a new government to show it will use the full force of regulatory powers to inoculate UK firms from foreign marauders, it is now.

Invoking the National Security & Investment Act, and ending the calamitous deal for IDS, is a no-brainer.
The private equity bandwagon in Britain keeps rolling. Latest to be imperilled is gaming group Keywords Studios, creator of Fortnite and League of Legends, which is being bought by Swedish buyout firm EQT for 2.2billion.

The highly leveraged deal for Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services is, to all intents and purposes, a private equity deal except the buyers are the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinisky and Slovak investment banking partners J&T.

There are reasons to object to both deals. New ownership at Keywords may allow it to tap into new capital, which British asset managers are slow to supply.

However, the ultimate goal of private equity is to sell off prey as soon as possible and cash out.

No one knows where ownership and the intellectual property will end up. The financing model for the Royal Mail buyout is destabilising and the transaction cannot be in the public interest.

London calling: The UK is a magnet for private equity firms. Some of the biggest in the world, including CVC, Permira, Cinven and Apax, have their largest offices in the UK

Private equity has a mixed record in the UK. Some buyouts  Debenhams, Southern Cross care homes and, latterly, Asda spring to mind  have been destructive of the underlying enterprises.

Others, such as Pets at Home, Worldpay and Formula 1 are a resounding success.

As far as Britains financial sector is concerned, private equity is a roaring success.

Not surprisingly, Labour sees the wealth it generates as a potential source of revenue to fund bigger government.

It is aggravating to see private equity barons accumulating huge wealth and benefiting from a quirk in the tax system.

When businesses are sold, the proprietors benefit from carried interest  the profit generated on disposals.

These gains have a top rate of capital gains tax of 24 per cent, way below the 45 per cent for additional rate income tax payers.

The UK is a magnet for private equity firms. Some of the biggest in the world, including CVC, Permira, Cinven and Apax, have their largest offices in the UK.

American groups including the original Barbarians at the Gate KKR have chosen London as their European and global HQ.

Low equity valuations in London have made the UK a happy hunting ground.

The number of private equity partners in receipt of carried interest is about 2,550 a year, says law firm Macfarlanes.

But the importance of the industry to financial and business services is enormous. Much of the bank financing for deals is done through the London branches of overseas and British banks.

Big American law firms have set up shop here  some absorbing magic circle firms. In addition there are dealmakers from investment banks and boutique firms who propose bids and reap huge fees.

There is also an army of other advisers, from PR gurus to accounting firms and consultants, who feed off the structure.

The City has survived and prospered since Brexit because it has the scale that doesnt exist in other European markets.

One may not like the deals but driving the firms offshore to Italy, or elsewhere, through ill-targeted taxes, would be a profound mistake.

Body building

Activists, too, can be a force for good. Arguably they made a difference at Aviva, GSK and Unilever, forcing the pace of change rather than the direction.

Smith & Nephew may receive less attention than big pharma, but it is a vital part of UK health care.

Establishing leadership stability has been a problem with the board and shareholders in a perennial battle over executive pay.

In chairman Rupert Soames, it has a big beast at the helm.

He should be capable of fending off any effort by Swedish activist Cevian to persuade it to abandon its UK home since 1856 and head to New York.

Pay rebuff

One reason executives find Wall Street alluring is to escape pesky governance mavens and ceilings on pay.

But it is not entirely a free-for-all.

This week Marc Benioff, boss of 200billion San Francisco-based Salesforce, received a bloody nose when investors voted against his 35million pay deal.

The streets of America are not always paved with gold.
Shop floor workers and warehouse staff at Tesco are set to share a 30million windfall from maturing share schemes.

Employees will receive the bumper payout following a strong performance from its Save as You Earn colleague schemes.

Tesco said that more than 20,000 staff, working mostly in its stores and distribution centres, would benefit from the strong growth in its share price, up by a fifth over the past year.

The company added that employees who had joined its share savings schemes were able to buy shares at a discounted price of 1.88 or 1.98 each, to either hold or sell.

A worker who had invested the average 68 a month in a five-year share-saving scheme stood to gain about 2,560 from their 4,080 investment.

Employees who had invested the maximum 500 a month stood to make a profit of almost 10,000 from the three-year scheme and almost 20,000 from the five-year scheme, if they opted to sell.

Emma Taylor, Tescos chief people officer, said: Its great news that more than 20,000 will benefit this year from our share schemes.'
Londons private equity bosses are eyeing an escape to Milan amid fears over Labours tax plans.

Sir Keir Starmers party wants to raise the levy on fund manager bonuses to as much as 45 per cent if it wins the election.

As a result top City lawyers are fielding more calls than ever from private equity clients who are plotting an escape to the grand Italian city  and what is seen as a much more solid environment under prime minister Giorgia Meloni).

Marco Cerrato, a partner at Maisto e Associati, whose job it is to help clients relocate to Italy, said: We are trying to deploy as much resource as we can.

City crackdown: Keir Starmer's party wants to increase tax on carried interest - the portion of investment returns shared by fund managers - from 28% to as much as 45%

With opinion polls pointing to a landslide win for Labour, the partys campaign promise to target private equity is fuelling concerns of more taxes on the rich, he added.

Milan has attracted major investment firms in recent years, including Capstone Investment Advisors, Eisler Capital, and billionaire Steve Cohens Point72 Asset Management.

Home to renowned international schools, it is close to seaside towns, lakes and Alpine ski resorts.

Peter Ferrigno, a tax director at Henley and Partners, said: UK nationals are worried about what a Labour government might do to private equity carried interest.

With Labour set for a landslide, listed private equity companies took a hit yesterday.

Amid fears of higher taxes for buyout firms, shares in 3i and Petershill Partners dipped by around 1 per cent.

Labour wants to increase the amount of tax on carried interest  the portion of investment returns shared by fund managers  from 28 per cent to as much as 45 per cent. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in 2021 the tax loophole was absurd.

And during the unveiling of Labours election manifesto on June 13 Sir Keir, the partys leader, said he was absolutely determined to make the change.

Meanwhile preferential tax treatment for wealthy non-domiciled foreign residents in the UK will be scrapped from April next year.

Stability: Milan is seen as a much more solid environment for private equity under Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured)

The phase-out was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the last Budget, but the super-rich are concerned that Labour will move faster and further.

To escape the taxes, Milan has emerged as a hotspot for the private equity executives who are fleeing London.

A flat rate of tax for foreign residents has boosted Italys appeal among wealthy individuals. It means they would pay 100,000 (84,660) on overseas earnings.

And political uncertainty in France and Germany has taken the shine off destinations like Paris and Frankfurt.

Emmanuel Macrons snap election has seen French bonds hammered this week, amid fears the hard-right could win the upcoming parliamentary elections.

In comparison Italys hard-right leader Meloni  the countrys first female prime minister  is perceived as providing more stability.

Figures show around 2,200 millionaires are set to move to the country this year.

Italy is also convenient for those with family still living in the UK, when compared to other destinations like Greece and Dubai.

Simon Goldring, a private client and tax partner at Excello Law, said: With the possibility of changes to the taxation of carried interest, private equity bosses are looking to relocate to Milan to take advantage of the Italian res non-dom regime, a tax regime aimed at attracting wealthy individuals to become tax residents in Italy.
US chip maker Nvidia is set to sell more than 9billion worth of chips in China this year  despite ongoing curbs from Washington.

The technology giant is expected to deliver more than a million of its new graphics processing chips to the region in 2024.

This is almost twice as many as its rival Huawei is expected to sell, according to Semi Analysis, a chip consultancy.

AI boom: Nvidia is expected to deliver more than a million of its new graphics processing chips to China in 2024 - despite curbs from Washington

Each chip costs between 9,400 and 10,000, which suggests that Nvidia is likely to generate more than 9.4billion in sales.

The bumper figures come despite export controls from the US, which is restricting semiconductor chips being sent to China amid security concerns.

Nvidia, which designs chips used in artificial intelligence, has enjoyed an immense surge in its value over the past year.

The company, whose chips have turbocharged the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI), is now worth more than 2.5trillion.

This is more than the entire FTSE 100 is worth (about 2.1trillion) and makes it the worlds third most valuable company behind Microsoft and Apple.

The group posted revenues of 20billion for the three months to the end of April this year. This was up 262 per cent from the year before and smashed Wall Street estimates.

Chief executive Jensen Huang said demand was so strong as he sought to push back against fears that this momentum would be fading any time soon.

Amazon, Google, Facebook-owner Meta and Microsoft have all said they will need to spend more on the chips and data centres required to train and operate their AI systems in the coming months.
One of the thugs who killed 10-year-old schoolboy Damilola Taylor is back behind bars for a sixth time - just days after being freed from a four-year stretch in jail.

Ricky Preddie was just 13 when he and his younger brother Danny slaughtered the youngster as he walked home from the library.

The pair used a broken beer bottle to stab Damilola in the leg, with the stricken schoolboy later found bleeding to death in a stairwell near his home in Peckham, South London.

Ricky and Danny were jailed for eight years in 2006 for the manslaughter Damilola in November 2000  with Preddie freed in September 2010 having served two thirds his sentence, while his younger brother was released in September 2011.

But while Danny, 36, has largely remained out of trouble since being released from jail, his sibling Ricky, 37, has been a one-man crimewave.

The criminal menace was last caged for four years back in February 2020 after running over a police officer in Wembley, north London.

Now MailOnline can reveal the prison tearaway - also known as Ricky Johnson - is once again behind bars, following an alleged police chase through London days after his release from jail.

Ricky Preddie, also known as Ricky Johnson, pictured, has been released from jail after his fifth stint behind bars following the killing of Damilola Taylor in 2000

The schoolboy was stabbed to death by brothers, Ricky and Danny Preddie, aged 13 and 12 at the time of the attack in November 2000

Damilola , pictured, was stabbed and left to die in a stairwell in Peckham, south east London in November 2020. He was just 10 years old

The career criminal has been accused of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to stop for police.

The alleged incident took place on March 2 in Chiswick High Road, west London. Preddie reportedly failed to stop for police before a chase ensured, which ended five miles away in High Street, Hounslow.

The 37-year-old killer appeared at Ealing Magistrates' Court on March 4 before being remanded in custody, ahead of a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on August 2.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police told MailOnline: 'Ricky Johnson, 37, of Croydon Road is due to appear in custody at Isleworth Crown Court on August 2 charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, using a motor vehicle on a road / public place without third party insurance, and failing to stop for police.

'The charges relate to an incident on 2 March in the vicinity of Chiswick High Road, when officers on routine patrol attempted to stop a vehicle.'

Who was Damilola Taylor? The schoolboy who moved to Britain for a better life Ten-year-old Damilola Taylor had moved to Britain from Nigeria a few months before he was jabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle by a gang of youths as he walked home from the local library after school. The youngster was found bleeding to death in a stairwell near his home in Peckham, south London, in November 2000, where local workmen tried to save his life. It took six years and three trials to identify and convict the killers. Danny and Ricky Preddie, members of the Young Peckham Boys gang, were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years at the trial at the Old Bailey in August 2006. Danny was released from prison early in September 2011 after serving five years of his sentence. Ricky Preddie was first released in September 2010, but recalled to custody in March 2011 after returning to Peckham from his west London bail hostel in breach of his licence conditions. Advertisement

Preddie's heinous life of crime started as a 13-year-old child, with the abhorrent killing of Damilola Taylor.

The hard working schoolboy had moved to Britain from Nigeria a few months before he was stabbed in the thigh with a broken beer bottle by Preddie and his brother as he walked home from the library after school.

Harrowing CCTV footage from the night the 10-year-old died, on November 27, 2000, showed him leaving Peckham Library at 4.51pm.

Damilola appeared happy as he skipped home with a smile on his face  but just 15 minutes later he was bleeding to death in a disgusting, grime-covered stairwell.

The 10-year-old was stabbed in the leg with a piece of broken glass and had collapsed in the concrete stairwell close to his home. Within 30 minutes, he was dead.

The boy's death shocked the nation and became one of London's most high-profile killings  with England legend Rio Ferdinand, who grew up on the same estate in Peckham where Damilola died, making a direct appeal to local children for information about the slaying.

Star Wars actor John Boyega was Damilola's friend. He and his sister Grace were some of the last people to see the youngster alive, with the actor this year opening up about the killing of his childhood pal, which he said had been 'life-changing'.

It took six years and three trials to identify and convict the killers. Danny and Ricky Preddie, members of the 'Young Peckham Boys' gang, were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years at the trial at the Old Bailey in August 2006.

Danny was released from prison early in September 2011 after serving five years of his sentence.

During one court hearing in 2013, Preddie, pictured outside West London Magistrates' Court, mocked the Taylor family with a hand-written sign which spelt his victim's name incorrectly

Star Wars actor John Boyega was Damilola's friend (he is pictured on March 16, 2024)

Boyega was friends with Damilola (above), who was killed in the street in Peckham, south London in 2000 as he walked home from a library. Boyega (circled and blurred with sister Grace) was one of the last people to see him alive

Ricky Preddie was first released in September 2010, but recalled to custody in March 2011 after returning to Peckham from his west London bail hostel in breach of his licence conditions.

Then in October 2011 he beat up another prisoner, but a Parole Board hearing on December 23 decided he should be released on January 25, 2012.

He lasted just 16 days before being taken back to prison for again violating his parole by going to areas he was banned from and visiting friends from his old gang.

He was let out in July 2012, which means he has lasted just five months on early release before being hauled before the authorities again for handling stolen goods.

He was released after serving out every day of his eight-year sentence in 2013.

Although the eight-year jail term was handed down in 2006, he had already served time behind bars on remand.

Following a 2013 court appearance, Ricky Preddie arrogantly held up a sign outside court reading 'Real Justice for Damiola Taylor'  misspelling the schoolboy's name.

The stunt followed an appearance before West London magistrates where he denied a string of driving offences.

He was last jailed for four years in February 2020, with his automatic release date expected sometime at the end of February of this year.

Preddie's bid for early release was turned down by the Parole Board in September 2021.
Holly Willoughby's tormentor planned her kidnap and murder on an online forum called Abduct Lovers, where deviants gather to share their vile fantasies.

Gavin Plumb, 37, shared four photos of Ms Willoughby alongside the caption 'The one in the public eye that I want', prompting a US-based undercover police officer who was monitoring the group to send him a private message.

The officer, who uses the pseudonym David Nelson, said that up to 50 individuals could be in Abduct Lovers at any time. The group is on Kik, a free app similar to WhatsApp that allows users to stay anonymous.

Now a search of Plumb's social media history has revealed the depths of his depravity - showing how he was obsessed with Holly Willoughby years before he plotted to try and kidnap, rape and murder the celebrity.

Morbidly obese Plumb was still a member of the Abduct Lovers group, nine months after his arrest - and his account still has not been taken down from Kik.

Listen to The Mail's podcast, The Trial: The Holly Willoughby Plot

Gavin Plumb, 37, sends a video selfie to an undercover policeman he met on the 'Abduct Lovers' Internet forum

Obsessed Plumb called himself 'Big Bear' and used a photo of Holly Willoughby in pyjamas - taken from the TV presenter's lifestyle brand Instagram account, Wylde Moon - as his profile picture

Pictured is the 'Abduct lovers' group Plumb was a member of and would go on to discuss how he wanted to kidnap, rape and murder Ms Willoughby

The wannabe-killer had set up the profile in November 2022, 11 months before he was arrested. Calling himself 'Big Bear', he even used a picture of Ms Willoughby in pyjamas - taken from the TV presenter's lifestyle brand Instagram account, Wylde Moon.

But Plumb's public obsession with Ms Willoughby went beyond the Abduct Lovers group.

He was also an admin of another public Kik group where its 50 members would post pictures of Ms Willoughby and talk about her, sometimes in a graphic and sexual way.

A message in the group declared it was for 'real fans' of the TV star and that 'ONLY Holly chat and pics are allowed', Sky News reports.

And archived records of his account on the now-defunct social media platform Google Plus showed he posted at least seven times under his real name in 2014 - with all but one post being of a sexual nature and mentioning Willoughby.

During Plumb's trial, undercover cop Mr Nelson told Chelmsford Crown Court about the 37-year-old's activity online in the Abduct Lovers group.

The officer's role involves handling online investigations across various social media applications and he came across the group because of its name.

Screenshots of the Holly Willoughby Fans Kik group show that Plumb was the admin

Archived records of his account on the now-defunct social media platform Google Plus showed he posted at least seven times under his real name in 2014 - with all but one post being of a sexual nature and mentioning Willoughby

Plumb is pictured being arrested by Essex Police who raided his home following a tip by an undercover American police officer

He described Plumb's posts as 'not typical', saying: 'There are messages on Abduct Lovers that are more like fantasy and it's rare for an individual to post information of this type.'

Mr Nelson said he messaged Plumb to try and work out whether he was genuine or just a fantasist.

Plumb said in response: 'I have a s***load of information on her. I know when she does and doesn't have security and doesn't have CCTV at home. When she gets up in the morning.'

The officer said this reply made him believe there was an 'imminent threat' to Ms Willoughby.

A short way into the online conversation, which took place on October 3 last year, the officer asked: 'I don't want to ask too much but I'm coming out there, can you send me something so I know you're real.'

Plumb responded by sending a selfie but because it could have come from a stock photo the officer asked for live video.

The defendant sent footage of himself stating the date and saying the day's date and 'Holly'.

A topless Plumb in handcuffs after being arrested by police on October 4

Plumb was later pictured in a police mug shot following his arrest by cops

Plumb said he spent most of his life on the Internet inside his messy Harlow flat

The security guard's trial heard he had previous convictions for trying to kidnap women, in 2006 on a train and two years later at a Woolworths.

Plumb said when he was released from prison in 2010, he spent '99.9%' of his time online.

He said: 'If I wasn't on the (game) console, I would be on the phone, and if I wasn't on the phone, I would be on the console.'

The defendant also said he would communicate with others on 'fantasy' chatrooms between 2010 and 2013.

Defence barrister Sasha Wass KC asked: 'What sort of fantasy sites would you involve yourself with?'

'It was all clean, it was all fantasy chat,' Plumb said. 'It would vary... people we knew, people we didn't know.'

Ms Wass continued: 'What would you fantasise about?'

'It was having sex with certain people, people who were brought up in chats and stuff like that.'

The 37-year-old kept hundreds of photos of Ms Willoughby on his phone, three of which were shown to the jury

Further questioned about this, he said: 'People from different chatrooms that were posted and then celebrities.'

Asked if Ms Willoughby was 'on your radar' at the time, he said she 'would have been - I was at home all the time watching daytime telly'.

Plumb said he developed an obsession with the TV presenter and would think about her 'up to six' times a day.

Following his conviction, Ms Willoughby has since spoken out and praised the undercover police officer for exposing Plumb's plot.

She said: 'As women we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes. I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.

'Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women.

'I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.'
The two companies, Uber Freight and Aurora Innovation are working towards their goal of making driverless trucks accessible to carriers of all sizes and making moving goods efficient starting in Texas. Aurora Innovation

Uber Freight and Aurora Innovation are partnering to roll out self-driving trucks on Texas highways by the end of this year.

Zac Andreoni, vice president of business development with Aurora, said overcapacity, depressed pricing and increased costs within the freight market make autonomous trucks compelling to carriers.

Uber sold its self-driving unit, Advanced Technologies Group, to Aurora in 2020. The companies intend to make driverless trucks accessible to carriers of all sizes.

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The companies announced a Premier Autonomy program providing early access to subscribe to the Uber Freight network for a billion driverless miles through 2030, according to a news release.

"Autonomous trucks will make moving goods more efficient, and this industry-first program will help facilitate and accelerate the adoption of autonomous trucks with our carriers," said Lior Ron, founder and chief executive officer of Uber Freight, in a statement.

Aurora, a self-driving vehicle technology company based in Pittsburgh, builds the software, hardware and data services for vehicles to drive without a human being, according to the company. They have partnered with several companies, including Toyota, PACCAR and Volvo Trucks to design, engineer and provide the trucks to the carriers. Uber Freight, a business unit of ride-sharing company Uber Technologies Inc., will work with the carriers and the company taking the products to move large quantities of goods.

The companies collaborated on a commercial pilot in 2021, starting with weekly hauls between Dallas and Houston. Aurora, along with safety drivers and engineers, was able to haul 11 million lbs. of goods with Uber Freight in one year, said Olivia Hu, head of autonomous trucking with Uber Freight, in an email.

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"The two companies have also been working to integrate our platforms, moving toward a service that allows carriers to easily tap into $18 billion of freight volume managed by Uber Freight that they can move with their Aurora Driver-powered trucks," she said.

If a business plans to ship its products using the driverless trucks between Dallas and Houston, Uber Freight will facilitate and manage the transportation, Hu said.

"The Dallas to Houston route is an incredibly busy freight route which makes it attractive for customers like Uber Freight for the deployment of autonomous trucks," Andreoni said. He added that half of the truck freight in Texas moves along I-45 making the "corridor an ideal route for Auroras commercial launch."

IS TRAFFIC WORSE NOW?: Houston traffic exceeding pre-pandemic congestion, but differently

He noted Aurora's research showed the self-driving trucks being 32% more energy efficient than traditional trucking. The technology for the trucks is equipped with a sensor suite consisting of lidar, camera and radar, providing nearly a 360-degree view, according to Andreoni. The FirstLight Lidar has a 500-meter range to detect obstacles before approaching them.

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The trucks will be traveling about 200 miles between Dallas and Houston.

Despite more companies using more driverless vehicles on the highways, Uber Freight officials said there will still be a need for professional truck drivers. The self-driving trucks are meant to streamline the way drivers work, Hu said.

The company expects to have the trucks without drivers on the Dallas to Houston route by the end of this year, but they will need to prove the vehicles are safe enough for travel.

The company complied the Aurora Safety Case Framework  a combination of guidance from government organizations, best practices from safety-critical industries, voluntary industry standards and consortia, academic research, and what an organization has learned, according to Aurora's website  to help determine whether the vehicles are safe to travel without a driver.

THIRD, SECOND WARD COMMUNITY: Metro prepped to assume funding for electric ride service

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash database reported seven separate Aurora incidents. Some of the crashes involved another vehicle or objects. However, there were no injuries reported.

Andreoni said the company is 95% complete with conducting the final validation of the technology. They hope to reach full completion by the end of the year with Uber Freight being one of the first driverless truck customers. Until then, a safety driver will be present to test the trucks.

The companies have already discussed the second to be Fort Worth to El Paso.

An earlier version of this story had an incorrect distance for the FirstLight Lidar's obstacle detection. The story has been corrected.
Despite living in Essex and targeting a British TV presenter, the sexual deviant who planned to kidnap Holly Willoughby was brought down by an American police officer.

Gavin Plumb first revealed his intention to target Ms Willoughby with a post on a forum called 'Abduct Lovers', which was being monitored by an undercover police officer based in Minnesota.

The policeman, who uses the pseudonym David Nelson, had never heard of the TV presenter but felt sufficiently concerned about her safety that he contacted Plumb to find out more about his plans.

Mr Nelson had been speaking with the security guard for just over a day before he police battered down his front door in Harlow and hauled him away in cuffs.

While the US-based officer's real name will never be known to protect his safety and avoid jeapordising future investigations, his work was absolutely crucial to bringing Plumb to justice.

Gavin Plumb first revealed his intention to target Ms Willoughby with a post on a forum called 'Abduct Lovers'. He is seen here being arrested by police on October 4

Plumb later gave no comment in a police interview

Mr Nelson told Chelmsford Crown Court that Abduct Lovers was a group on an encrypted messaging app called Kik where users discussed kidnap, rape, and murder.

The officer, who specialises in using social media to identify planned abductions, rapes and murders, said Plumb came to his attention on October 3 last year after posting four photos of Ms Willoughby, who he didn't recognise at the time, with the words 'the one in the public eye that I want'.

After contacting Plumb  who used the handle Big Bear  he used 'open questions' to establish the level of his intent and was told he had an 'abduction kit'. He also received a photo of a bottle of chloroform, a powerful anaesthetic.

'At that point in the conversation, it was quite alarming,' he told jurors.

Mr Nelson also asked for details of the plot and was told: 'We'll jump the outer wall, break in, chloroform both her and her husband, tie both up with zip ties and gag both, take her out of the house and take her out in her car.'

Plumb added: 'When we get board [sic] of her, then we get rid Wash her in bleach and put her into a lake at night. Once she's had her throat cut of course.'

Mr Nelson sent photos of a computer screen showing the purchase of a plane ticket and another with a fake ID to 'gain trust' with Plumb.

Three photos of Ms Willoughby in Plumb's possession that were shown to the jury

Sasha Wass KC, defending, suggested it was 'quite common' for posts on the Abduct Lovers group to be 'plainly fantasy'.

Timeline: How Gavin Plumb was snared

October 3, 2023 - Plumb comes to the attention of US undercover officer 'David Nelson' after he posts four photos of Holly Willoughby on the 'Abduct Lovers' forum. These include the caption: 'The one in the public eye that I want.' Mr Nelson contacts him on Kik, writing: 'Alright I'll bite. Who's the hottie with the lazy eye?' Plumb replies: 'She's in the public eye but doesn't have her own security and doesn't have CCTV at her house.' The officer continues exchanging messages with Plumb and decides he poses an 'imminent risk' to Ms Willoughby and passes his details to British police. October 4 - Essex Police raid the suspect's home in Harlow, Essex. He initially tells police 'what are you talking about' and 'please explain to me what the hell is going on'. Told he was under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap, Plumb said 'who?' and was told it was Ms Willoughby. He later admits the TV presenter 'is a fantasy of mine'. Advertisement

Mr Nelson, who appeared by videolink from the US, agreed 'the bulk of conversations' were mere fantasy but added: 'None [was] as specific as this.'

Plumb's posts were 'enough to set off alarm bells', he added.

Mr Nelson, from the Owatonna Police Department in Minnesota, said the kidnap, rape and murder plot would have been 'carried out with or without my services'.

Asked if the fact the defendant was 'significantly overweight' would have affected the credibility of his plan to invade Ms Willoughby's home before 'jumping over a wall' when leaving, he replied: 'No, it did not.'

The officer said the Abduct Lovers group had come to his attention because of its name.

After seeing the public post from Plumb which said he had a 'load of info' on Ms Willoughby, he said it had caused him enough 'concern' to message him privately.

The undercover officer agreed that the defendant shared 'what appeared to be the address' of Ms Willoughby with him online.

The court heard that after his arrest, Plumb told police: 'As I said, it's totally taken me by surprise. I know what it's about, I can tell you, I reckon, I know what it's about.'

The trial has heard Plumb had 'millions' of photos of Ms Willoughby, who waived her right to anonymity for the trial, and other celebrities, including deep-fake porn images.

The defendant told one contact that he had 'wanted this for years  I'm going to be living out my ultimate fantasy'.

Plumb assembled a 'restraint kit', which he filmed laid out on his bed

Plumb had previous convictions for attempted kidnap and false imprisonment relating to three incidents involving four women in 2006 and 2008.

As he was arrested at his home on October 4 for the plot against Ms Willoughby, Plumb initially told officers 'what are you talking about' and 'please explain to me what the hell is going on'.

Told he was under arrest on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap, he said 'who?' and was told it was Holly Willoughby.

The defendant asked 'OK, where's that from?' and was told by an officer 'that will be explained to you in custody'.

He later stated to officers: 'I'm not gonna lie, she is a fantasy of mine.'

Plumb later gave no comment in a police interview.
Hunter Biden's attorney offered hush money to Lunden Roberts in an attempt to keep their love child a secret, her forthcoming book claims.

In Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden, Lunden recalls the moment her lawyer informed her that Hunter was willing to pay $250,000 for her silence - and to not be a part of 5-year-old Navy Joan's life.

Roberts said she had never felt 'so much heartbreak and anger at the same time' than when the Bidens attempted to buy her off.

The revelations come as Hunter has established himself in recent days as a key adviser to President Joe Biden, who alongside first lady Jill Biden has encouraged his father to fire key aides in the aftermath of the 81-year-old's disastrous debate performance.

In her tell-all, Lunden writes about meeting and then casually dating Hunter while he was addicted to crack cocaine - and how he carelessly treated her once he found out she was pregnant with his child in 2018.

Lunden Roberts (right) with her daughter Navy Joan (left) pose for a photo on the beach. She claims in her book that Hunter's attorney offered $250,000 for her to sign an NDA to not discuss Hunter's positive paternity test

Lunden Roberts is photographed leaving court in December 2019 amid her paternity case with Hunter Biden that she wrote about in her forthcoming tell-all. She said Hunter's team wanted her to 'single-parent adopt' Navy

But by 2019, a DNA test taken at an Oklahoma City facility proved that Hunter was the father of Navy Joan.

Lunden mistakenly believed that once paternity had been established, 'Hunter would try to connect with his daughter.'

However, that's when she received a call from her lawyer, Clint Lancaster.

DailyMail.com obtained an early copy of Lunden Roberts' forthcoming memoir Out of the Shadows: My Life Inside the Wild World of Hunter Biden

Hunter, Lancaster told her, 'claims to be broke'.

Lunden said she told her lawyer that she didn't care about that.

'It was just proven that he's the father, and the first thing he comes back with is 'I'm broke.' How about 'I'm sorry?' How about taking accountability for your child?' she mused. 'I don't care if you're broke, and your child won't care either. All she wants is a father.'

But then Lancaster dropped a 'bomb.'

'But that's not the biggie,' her lawyer said. 'He wants to know if you would like to single-parent adopt Navy?'

Lunden immediately got angry.

'Adopt her? Are you f***ing kidding me? So then he has no obligations and avoids responsibility?' she asked.

Lancaster answered yes.

'They even asked if you would sign an NDA to not discuss the results,' Lunden's lawyer replied.

The young mom wasn't having it.

'Oh, hell no. They can shove that NDA up the a** and their f***ing offer,' she told Lancaster.

'Hunter has hurt me before, but this is a new hurt, a mother's hurt for her daughter, my heart breaks for her,' Lunden recalled feeling at the time.

Lancaster then claimed that Hunter's team had given him a dollar amount.

'They said he's willing to add $250,000 to the deal,' Lunden's lawyer said.

Lunden Roberts' lawyer Clint Lancaster is photographed outside Independence County Court in Batesville, Arkansas in May 2023

Lunden said her jaw dropped to the floor upon hearing that.

''How the hell do you put a dollar figure on your own daughter? He wants to keep everything hush, not be a father, and continue to humiliate me in public,'' Lunden writes.

Before establishing paternity, Hunter had smeared Lunden in the press, by denying to The New Yorker that they ever had sex.

Now Hunter wanted legal permission to continue that denial.

Lancaster asked Lunden how she wanted to proceed.

'I wanted to do this the best way to not harm him, but f*** him,' she told her lawyer. 'You tell him I said eat s***, motherf***er. Do whatever you have to do.'

Lancaster said he would file a motion with the court to establish paternity, with Lunden telling the attorney she didn't need to review it.

Hunter Biden (left) married Melissa Cohen (right), his second wife, who was pregnant with baby Beau amid Lunden Roberts' paternity battle in 2019

'No, I'm sick of this s***. Chew him up and spit him out. I don't care about the details,' Lunden said.

'I get off the phone and I look on the bed next to my sleeping daughter. Caressing Navy's blonde curls, I can't hold back the tears,' she recalled. 'How could anyone not want this perfect angel.'

When the motion was filed, there was one detail Lunden and Lancaster missed.

They did so on now President Joe Biden's birthday.

'Turns out we filed the court documents with the DNA test results on November 20, Joe's birthday, and didn't know it,' she admitted.

'I look so conniving,' she wrote.

A lawyer for Hunter Biden did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Out of the Shadows will be released August 20.
The parents who raked in almost $200,000 in donations to fly their sick baby Lucky from Bali to Australia for treatment are at the centre of a new controversy after making a radical change to their alternative lifestyle.

Ex-Melbourne fashion influencer Honey Ahimsa and her Canadian van flipper husband Pan launched a GoFundMe last year to charter a flight for their daughter Lucky, who had sepsis and pneumonia and could not be treated in Indonesia.

Generous Aussies donated $190,000 to save the then-seven-week-old, who doctors in Bali gave just a 50 per cent chance of survival, according to Ms Ahimsa.

Lucky was flown to Brisbane on a medevac flight and transferred to the Gold Coast where doctors treated her successfully.

An Instagram follower asked Ms Ahimsa if she would donate any excess GoFundMe money to Siloam Hospital in Denpasar, where Lucky was first treated.

Ms Ahimsa said she would - but questions were asked when the comment was later mysteriously deleted. She has since provided little explanation of what happened to any additional funds.

The family moved back to Bali in July last year where they were renovating a villa and had plans to launch an online course showing other expats how to do the same.

However, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Lucky's parents, whose real names are Rachael Eti-King and Graham White, have since moved to Thailand and ditched their staunchly vegan lifestyle to become ravenous meat eaters.

Pan and Honey Ahimsa (pictured), who raked in almost $200,000 in donations to fly their sick baby Lucky from Bali to Australia for treatment, are at the centre of a new controversy after making a radical change to their alternative lifestyle

Lucky's parents, whose real names are Rachael Eti-King and Graham White, have since moved to Thailand and ditched their staunchly vegan lifestyle to become ravenous meat eaters

In videos posted to Instagram, the voracious couple can be seen shovelling chicken and beef into their mouths, heralding an end to their 27 years of veganism.

The couple had previously expressed their hatred for meat and animal products.

Ms Ahimsa, who has 83,000 Instagram followers, claims their Instagram reels have gone viral with up to 32million views.

It is unclear how the couple's new carnivorous lifestyle aligns with their chosen surname: Ahimsa means 'non-violence to all living beings' in the Sanskrit language.

Ms Ahimsa said her family's transition towards meat-eating began when she started consuming cow's milk after her breast milk dried up before Lucky fell ill.

She told her followers that she she has noticed a 'big difference, health-wise' between Lucky and her first child, son Hendrix, who was initially raised vegan.

'Our son now has a healthier relationship with food,' she wrote.

Ms Ahimsa now regularly posts videos of herself breastfeeding daughter Lucky in public, saying she is defiant of people who criticise her for doing so.

But the family's drastic lifestyle change has sparked fierce debate in the comments of her posts, fuelled by Ms Ahimsa's claims vegan products 'kill more animals than carnivores'.

'VEGAN**** wasn't healthy so we added meat and now we are THRIVING,' she wrote in one Instagram post.

The family's drastic lifestyle change has sparked fierce debate in the comments of her posts, fuelled by Ms Ahimsa's claims vegan products 'kill more animals than carnivores'

The couple launched a GoFundMe last year to charter a flight for their daughter Lucky (all pictured), who had sepsis and pneumonia and could not be treated in Indonesia

Anti-vegan comments among the responses to the couple's conversion back to eating meat

BEATING THE COST OF LIVING IN THAILAND The couple known as Honey and Pan Ahimsa say moving to Thailand has helped them beat the cost-of-living crisis. These are their tips: Tried living in: USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, Mexico, Costa Rica and Bali, but 'life is easier in Thailand' Friends' rent in Los Angeles: $3000-$10,000 a month Rent in Thailand: 'Virtually rent free' Cost of food: A meal for family of two adults and two kids costs $10 and 'it's a feast'. Mangoes cost 80c per kilo Fuel costs: Petrol is $10 a week Jobs: Create your own The beaches: 'Like stepping into a postcard' The people: 'Amazing' Advertisement

One vegan remarked that the couple were 'never really vegan' and 'no animal agreed to be your food. There is no ethical animal based food'.

In another fervent pro-vegan post, one commenter argued that keeping pets is 'not vegan and immoral' and even building houses and driving cars is not vegan because 'cars require roads which encroach on wildlife'.

However, the family has won some support with one commenter posting: 'I've never seen a vegan that is nice to anyone that eats meats but I've seen many that eat meat being nice to everyone.'

Another wrote: 'Welcome back from the delusions of veganism.'

Defending her family against the criticism, Ms Ahimsa has posted: 'We feel a huge positive improvement in our overall wellbeing.

'You are allowed to change. Nowhere does it say 'lifelong commitment'. We make a conscious effort to eat ethical and sustainably sourced animal products.'

Ms Ahimsa says the move to Thailand has helped them survive the cost-of-living crisis, claiming 'our rent is basically free'.

She has also posted that she's cracked the secret to making money on social media with a 'secret strategy'.

She says she's created a 'four-day online event where we share all'.

'It is time to stop playing small and claim the life, wealth and everything you deserve,' she wrote.

Before meeting each other and later changing their names, Rachael Eti-King had worked as a model in Melbourne and Graham White travelled the world visiting hippie haunts and compared himself to world famous street artist, Banksy.

Daily Mail Australia revealed their true identities and the fact that White was the son of a concrete industry worker who grew up on a farm in Ontario.

Previously calling himself Pan Trinity Das, he was married to Los Angeles actress Kyrie Maezumi, before meeting Ms Ahimsa in Bali.

In Bali, they started their own 'ethical clothing' label and sold re-styled vehicles, such as vans favoured by van-lifers.

Ms Ahimsa gave birth to daughter Lucky via 'natural home birth on a tropical island in Thailand' in December 2022, according to her Instagram page.

But the couple returned to Bali, where two months later, Lucky was put on a ventilator in hospital in Denpasar, but then fell ill and was fighting for her life before the fundraiser paid for her medical evacuation.

Baby Lucky in hospital on the Gold Coast in early 2023 (left) and with her mother breastfeeding in public. Ms Ahimsa has defending herself against criticism of the practice, saying 'other people's opinions are not my problem'

Pan chomps into the chicken as Honey sways to the music as they celebrate re-embracing meat eating in one of their 'viral' videos on Instagram (left) and Pan with baby daughter Lucky (right) in Thailand

The couple told Daily Mail Australia last year that the medical evacuation of Lucky had taken up more than $100,000 of the funds.

Ms Ahimsa said at the time that 'no money from the Lucky Love GoFundMe was used for anything other than what was mentioned on the GoFundMe page'.

She had said she was 'more than happy' to provide an itemised account of how the money was spent but stopped responding to emails when asked to do so.

The pair had also previously launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to pay for an 'eco hotel' in Mexico.

Honey and Pan Ahimsa attempted to raise $US10,000 for a 'non-profit vegan restaurant, boutique eco hotel and tattoo studio' in Tulum, Mexico, in early 2020, but the project was never completed.
Democrats have a ready-made replacement if Joe Biden stands aside before November's election.

She's been vetted. Her election would be historic. And she would easily take up the Biden mantle.

There's one problem: Her name is Kamala Harris and by every measure she is the most unpopular vice president in American history  and among the least likely people to defeat Donald Trump in a general election fight.

But Democrats may be stuck with her anyway.

Former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile explained the party's challenge most succinctly.

Democrats have a ready-made replacement if Joe Biden stands aside before November's election: Kamala Harris.

There's one problem: She is the most unpopular vice president in American history - and among the least likely people to defeat Donald Trump in a general election fight.

'How the f*** are you going to put all these white people ahead of Kamala?' she said last week.

Harris's liberal supporters are already lining up to back her as the next Democrat leader over other more capable candidates, like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer.

On Tuesday, former Democratic Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan called it 'utterly preposterous' and 'insulting' to deny Harris the chance to succeed Biden.

Hours later, South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn, at one time the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House, said he would also back Harris if Biden quits.

That has many in the Democrat donor class, left-wing pundits and even party faithful feeling hopeless.

Now, an exclusive new DailyMail.com poll can back up the handwringing with hard data.

For according to a survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted in the days following Biden's catastrophic CNN debate performance last Thursday, Harris would lose to Donald Trump by 11 percentage points in a hypothetical election head-to-head  38 to 49 percent.

Biden, despite struggling for 90 minutes to form complete sentences on live TV, only trailed Trump by five points in a head-to-head matchup  42 to 47 percent.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama also outperformed Harris  coming up short against Trump by five points.

All other names floated as possible Biden replacements  Whitmer, Newsom, Transportation Secretary Peter Buttigieg  lose to Trump by double digits.

But, while undoubtedly unlikeable, those Democrats are not as well-known to the public as Harris and, therefore, would likely find it easier to reform their images.

'Kamala Harris has a high name ID, which means her brand is harder to change,' said pollster James Johnson, who conducted the Mail survey. 'Unlike other candidates who are a blank slate to voters and can more easily define themselves, Harris brings a lot of baggage.'

When the Mail's poll respondents were asked to sum up the vice president in a word the most common response was 'incompetent.'

In a sign of support from Democrats, the second most common word was 'competent'  which is hardly effusive praise  followed by 'strong', 'stupid', 'corrupt', 'horrible', and 'dumb'.

In public, Harris has developed a reputation for delivering heaped helpings of 'word salad'  a phrase to describe her rambling explanations of seemingly simple concepts.

During a visit to a children's hospital in May, Harris said: 'We all believe that when we talk about the children of the community, they are children of the community.'

A comedian on Democrat-friendly 'The Daily Show' lampooned her distinctive style as 'speaking without thinking'.

Early on in the Biden administration, the president tasked Harris with addressing the burgeoning illegal immigration crisis.

Three months later, when pressed by NBC News's Lester Holt on why she hadn't even visited the southern border, Harris strangely insisted that she had.

'We've been to the border,' she claimed.

'You haven't been to the border,' Holt replied.

J.L. Partners asked 1000 likely voters for their one-word summary of Kamala Harris

'And I haven't been to Europe,' Harris shot back with an awkward laugh. 'I mean, I don't understand the point that you're making.'

For the next year, Harris avoided sit-down interviews. And even Biden described his VP as a 'work in progress.'

Whitney Tilson, a major Democratic fundraiser and former hedge fund manager, said this week that Harris is 'among the least likely to beat Trump, based on my polls, lots of feedback from friends and readers, and my own observations.'

In one painfully revealing moment inside the liberal enclave of MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on Tuesday, host Mika Brzezinski let out an audible sigh as her interviewee explained how Harris could become the Democrat's standard bearer.

'That was me. That was all me,' she admitted.

Meanwhile, Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf conceded that selling Harris to the American public as their next commander-in-chief would be difficult.

'She's going to have to make herself believable as a world leader. That's very tough,' Sheinkopf told the Mail.

Harris's 2020 presidential primary run was a near-unmitigated disaster.

She dropped out before the first contest after failing to gain any traction with the electorate  but not before confronting Biden on the debate stage over his record on racial issues.

She attacked him for his one-time opposition to busing minority school children to majority-white schools.

'There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools and she was bused to school every day,' Harris said, 'That little girl was me.'

Jill Biden reportedly blew up in anger over the affront during a phone call with supporters, saying, 'You get up there and call him a racist without basis? Go f*** yourself.'

Despite Jill's outrage and Harris's political ineptitude, Biden ended up tapping her to be his vice president amid pressure from the party's identity-obsessed progressive wing, who demanded he put a black woman on the Democratic ticket.

What's more, Biden suggested he'd serve one term only  and that Kamala would be next to lead the party.

Harris and Biden in happier times, during a campaign event at Girard College in Philadelphia

'I view myself as a bridge [president], not as anything else,' the then-78-year-old candidate assured a Detroit rally crowd in March 2020, after concerns were raised over his age. 'There's an entire generation of leaders you saw stand behind me. They are the future of this country.'

Those comments have no doubt come back to haunt him.

'Biden can't now say that he's stepping down and not pass the torch to Kamala,' Republican strategist Scott Jennings told the Mail. 'To do that would be to admit she was never qualified in the first place.'

And that's not the only hurdle for anti-Harris Democrats.

In a call with party donors on Sunday, Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez explained that only Harris would be eligible to spend the $91.2 million raised by the campaign.

Under Federal Election Commission rules, the cash is not transferable to another candidate.

That means if someone other than Harris becomes the nominee, the money haul must be returned to donors.

They could then decide if they wanted to back the new candidate.
Britain is facing the reality of a massive Labour majority today with Keir Starmer projected for an election rout.

Moments after ballot stations closed at 10pm, the dramatic exit poll was released - showing Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats. That would be a majority of 170 - just short of the 179 achieved by Tony Blair.

The Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems could get 61 - and Nigel Farage's Reform insurgents are predicted to have 13 after effectively leeching millions of votes from the Conservatives.

That could include Mr Farage himself taking Clacton, while Conservative sources in Great Yarmouth confirmed they expected Reform to triumph there.

The SNP would be slashed to 10, meaning they would no longer be the biggest party in Scotland.

Although the exit survey, run for broadcasters by polling guru Sir John Curtice, is not guaranteed to be exact, it has accurately reflected the outcome in the past few elections.

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell, posting on social media: 'To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party - thank you.'

But his allies were far less restrained, with Lord Mandelson gloating that he was 'gobsmacked' and an 'electoral meteor' had 'struck planet Earth'. He said it would have required a 'superman' to save the Tories and Rishi Sunak 'is not superman'.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner - who could be set to become deputy PM within hours - said the numbers were 'encouraging' and praised Sir Keir's leadership.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was in tears as he was told the figures on live TV.

Tories immediately descended into bitter recriminations, with demands for Rishi Sunak to quit.

A former Cabinet minister - who regards their own significant majority as under threat - said Mr Sunak had 'knifed' Boris Johnson and would be remembered as the 'worst PM ever'.

In other rollercoaster developments:

In the first real result, Labour's Bridget Phillipson retained Houghton & Sunderland South with a boosted majority of just over 7,000 - but Reform surged into second place with more than 11,600 votes;

Reform also picked up significant support in Blyth & Ashington, which narrowly lost the race to declare first, with nearly 11,000 votes, albeit behind Labour's Ian Lavery on 20,000;

Reform's deputy leader Ben Habib hailed the estimates as a 'victory for the nation state';

The 2024 general election results in full : Live maps and charts

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Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrived to cast their vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, this morning

In the first real result, Labour's Bridget Phillipson (pictured) retained Houghton & Sunderland South with a boosted majority of just over 7,000 - but Reform surged into second place with more than 11,600 votes

Ballots being counted in Rishi Sunak's own Richmond & Northallerton constituency

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell on social media

Mr Sunak gave a deadbat response to the blow, merely praising activists

Less than an hour before the exit poll dropped, Downing Street released a dissolution honours list - sending seven Tories and eight Labour politicians to the Lords. They include Theresa May, Rishi Sunak's chief aide Liam Booth-Smith, Chris Grayling and former 1922 committee chair Graham Brady.

Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett are among those on the Labour list - despite Sir Keir having committed to abolishing the Upper House.

A dire campaign for Mr Sunak came stuttering to a on Wednesday night, with the PM making a series more defensive visits in the South East.

He now faces the prospect that he could be out of Downing Street by tomorrow morning, if the results pan out as badly as anticipated in the coming hours.

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told Sky News that it looked like a 'massacre'.

A host of big beasts including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Goldaming & Ash and Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield will now be waiting nervously to see if they fall victim to the Labour and Lib Dem onslaught.

There are fears those with the highest majorities could end up most vulnerable, with Home Secretary James Cleverly and even ex-PM Liz Truss thought to be at risk.

The Tories could quickly plunge into a dangerous new phase of crisis, with questions over whether it can even survive amid the challenge from Reform.

Sir John Curtice told the BBC: 'It looks as though Reform may win more seats than many polls suggested.

'This is largely because, not only has the Conservative vote fallen far in seats they previously held, but also because Reform has advanced most in areas people voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

'However, how many seats Reform will win is highly uncertain  our model suggests there are many places where they have some - but a relatively low - chance of winning.'

A Conservative spokesman said they had to wait for the full outcome, but added: 'If these results are correct it is clear that Starmer and Angela Rayner will be in Downing Street tomorrow.'

Conservatives with big majorities had become increasingly nervous during the day, despite CCHQ claiming that higher-than-expected turnout could help them.

One former Cabinet minister told MailOnline: 'There appears to be a bigger turnout than normal in some of my areas. Not all though.

'That would seem to indicate a determination on the part of the electorate to make their views heard, almost certainly likely to be against the Tories.'

Mr Sunak took a huge political gamble and shocked Westminster by triggering the election on May 22, rather than waiting until the Autumn as had been widely expected.

Moments after ballot stations closed at 10pm, the dramatic exit poll was released - showing Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats

It initially looked to be paying off, with early policies from the Tory campaign - such as national citizen service - seeming to cut through.

In a big moment, Mr Farage responded by ruling out standing as a Reform candidate, admitting he did not have time to put together a campaign.

But even then the Tories did not see a real bounce in the polls. The Tories lost key legislation including Mr Sunak's flagship smoking ban during the 'wash-up' as Parliament was dissolved for the campaign.

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And then a grim week in early June saw things go spectacularly downhill, with Mr Farage dropping the bombshell that had changed his mind and was taking over the leadership of Reform as well as standing to be MP for Clacton.

Although Mr Sunak was seen as landing blows on Sir Keir over tax during their first TV debate on June 4, disaster struck when the PM opted to return early from D-Day anniversary commemorations in France to conduct an interview with ITV.

A subsequent grovelling apology did not prevent Mr Farage and opponents seizing on the blunder, which struck right at the heart of the Tory goal of shoring up the core vote among older generations.

With polls already showing Reform eating into Tory support with potent attacks on immigration, Mr Sunak was then engulfed in another scandal.

It emerged that his closest Parliamentary aide, Craig Williams had successfully placed bets on the date of the snap election - although he insisted he did not have any inside information.

Other candidates and top party officials were then dragged into the allegations, which proved particularly toxic with the public.

Mr Sunak was memorably challenged on the issue during TV appearances, admitting he was 'incredibly angry'. But he was seen as taking far too long to withdraw support for candidates facing allegations.

Nigel Farage was seen driving through Clacton, the Essex seaside constituency where he is hoping to be elected the local MP, in an old military vehicle as he rallied the final support for his campaign

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his wife Emily Gasson attended a polling station in Surbiton. He said: 'It's a beautiful day. I hope lots of people come out to vote'

With some polls even showing Reform ahead of the Tories, CCHQ shifted tactics to warn of the threat of a divided Right handing Labour a 'supermajority' with untrammeled power.

That together with controversial remarks from Mr Farage about the West 'provoking' Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and revelations about unsavoury comments by a series of Reform candidates looked to have stopped the bleeding.

But after a bruising six weeks Labour's huge advantage was intact, and the only significant change was that the Tories had lost ground to Reform.

By yesterday, despite Mr Sunak's claim he was 'fighting hard for every vote', his close ally Mel Stride was effectively acknowledging the Conservatives would lose - an unprecedented step.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said Labour would get an 'extraordinary landslide on a scale that has probably never, ever been seen in this country before'.

As tension built through election day, the Tories claimed a higher-than-expected turnout had left them with a 'MUCH better chance' than cataclysmic polls had suggested.

An email to Conservative supporters, signed from the 'CCHQ Data Team', read: 'We're getting reports from our teams on the ground. And the more reports we get, the more it looks like turnout is higher than expected.

'That means we could have a MUCH better chance than polls have suggested. So if you haven't voted yet, now's the time to get out.'

Queues of people were seen at polling stations today as the requirement for voters to bring correct photo identification - such as a passport or driving licence - was enforced at a UK general election for the first time.

There was a bungle at a Glasgow polling station this morning as voters were met with posters listing the wrong instructions, which erroneously advised the ranking of candidates in order of preference.

This is how ballots are cast in local elections in Scotland, which use the single transferable vote system. But general elections use the first-past-the-post system, which requires voters to put a single 'X' next to their chosen candidate.

Glasgow City Council explained the error was spotted 'very soon' after the polling station opened at 7am and the posters were replaced with the correct information. It said no-one had been disenfranchised as voters' first preferences would be used from the affected ballots.

Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch this afternoon blasted her own local council for having 'potentially disenfranchised' thousands of postal voters who did not receive their ballot papers.

The Business Secretary hit out at Uttlesford District Council for 'forgetting' to send postal votes to 2,600 people in her North West Essex seat.

Prior to polls opening this morning, Rishi Sunak made an 11th-hour plea for voters to prevent a 'socialist supermajority' wrecking Britain, as he repeated his warning against handing Sir Keir 'unchecked' power.
The billionaire ruler of Dubai has won permission to build an eighth house on his Scottish Highland estate despite concerns from neighbours.

Representatives for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum lodged plans to erect a five-bedroom home on the Inverinate Estate to accommodate visiting family and friends.

The 74-year-old bought the 63,000-acre estate in Wester Ross more than 20 years ago which boasts three helipads, a hunting lodge and a pool.

However, locals have accused him of building a 'mini Dubai' on the picturesque banks of Loch Duich.

The Highland retreat already has three large homes, a cottage and two lodges. An application was submitted to Highland Council for an eighth home in January whilst a separate application for a seventh property was submitted last year alongside a fence.

Plans show the new lodge will have five bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, a lounge, dining room and a snug area.

The Sheikh (pictured centre) in August hiking in Scotland whilst visiting his Scottish estate

The Highland retreat at Inverinate already boasts helipads, two large homes, a hunting lodge, a pool and a gym (pictured: Inverinate House, left, and new-build accommodation)

A drawing of the new five-bed lodge which has been approved by Highland Council

Location of Sheikh of Dubai's Inverinate estate in the Scottish Highlands

The Sheikh's Inverinate estate in the Scottish Highlands already has a number of homes and lodges (pictured above)

A design statement included with the application, submitted to Highland Council in January, reads: 'The visitors of Inverinate estate typically travel in large groups of immediate and extended family and friends.

'In recent years their travel to Inverinate has been limited by lack of accommodation.

'This application seeks to enhance that accommodation by forming a new dwelling.

'The proposed design has sought to sensitively place a modest dwelling house into an area of land which is well hidden from view.'

Representatives for the Sheikh argue the house will have 'minimal impact' on trees and habitats as it will sit on an existing area of grass.

The estate is on the coast of Loch Duich, which is a special area of conservation, and is home to large mammals including red deer, Eurasian otter, pipistrelle, west European hedgehog, bank vole, wood mouse, and harbour seals.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum (right) pictured on the estate in August

The Sheikh of Dubai has several lodges at his Scottish estate, which he purchased more than 20 years ago

A 3D drawing of an 11-bed lodge (right) which has also been approved by Highland Council

The Sheikh of Dubai , who is one of the UK's biggest landowners and world's richest men, normally travels to the property once or twice a year.

However, locals told MailOnline earlier this year that they were becoming annoyed with his development plans.

Referencing the sheikh's plans for homes on the estate, a resident said: 'Why build two more large houses when he hardly uses the estate at all?

'The reasoning of a 'lack of accommodation' is ridiculous'. There is plenty. '

Another local said: 'We're fighting a losing battle, and I've washed my hands with it all.'

Local Irene Murray, 66, added: 'The work is becoming a little excessive, and although it doesn't impact me directly, it does impact the community as a whole when he builds as it increases traffic to an already extremely busy road.'

However, Highland Council ruled the development was 'acceptable' on the condition that arboricultural and landscape provision is adhered to.

The Sheikh has recently erected a fence around part of his property in the Highlands

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who has long held ties to this country, owns more than 100,000 acres of land and several sprawling estates.

He even developed a friendship with the late Queen through their mutual love of horses and often appeared as her guest at Ascot.

In 2020, the sheikh won a planning battle to build a six bedroom lodge at the estate after the Scottish Government overruled a council vote to block it.

His plans for Ptarmigan Lodge, on the eastern edge of his estate, were the subject of more than 30 objections from locals.

Highland councillors turned down the application but the decision was overturned following an appeal to the Scottish Government.

The application approved on the condition that the sheikh's property company Smech made a 30,000 payment towards local affordable housing.
Just as millions of Americans were preparing to Independence Day across the country, woke New Yorkers were insisting the country's founding was not worth a celebration.

Patriotism among liberals is extremely low, with recent polling from Gallup showing just 34 percent of Democrats are extremely proud to be American.

Meanwhile, the FBI and Homeland Security issued a warning to those who do intend to celebrate the holiday of possible lone wolf 'attacks' by extremist groups, cautioning that large crowds are often seen as 'attractive targets.'

On the eve of the holiday, DailyMail.com took to the streets of New York to ask young liberals how patriotic they are this 4th of July.

'I saw a meme the other day that was like 'America does not deserve a birthday party,' and I feel like that kind of encapsulates how I feel a little bit about the 4th of July,' said Denise Parker, 34, Wellness Director at a high school.

Denise Parker (pictured), 34, said America does not deserve a birthday party this Fourth of July

'I think that America is a really inclusive place, especially New York. It feels like a welcoming melting pot. Obviously not without certain clashes.'

Anita Gitta, 25, said the 'the American kind of mindset is not in the right place.'

'Capitalism is just forcing people to have to work tirelessly just to survive, that's what I hate about America,' Gitta said.

Others expressed their concerns about the state of politics and Biden's chances of winning following his disastrous debate performance.

'I feel like whatever happens I have my passport ready and I am ready to go to Mexico,' said Giselle Hernandez, 26.

'What is the purpose of our government being there if they are not really helping us.'

Meanwhile, Jack Weerts, 23, visiting from California, said: 'I just don't feel like, the large portion of our politicians right now represent the general desires of America'.

'I just don't think our current President Biden has what it takes to really run the office the way he should be,' Fredrick Schultz, 25, said.

Anita Gitta (pictured), 25, said she hates that capitalism is a driving force that makes Americans have to work tirelessly

Combat veteran Steven Johnson Jr. (pictured) said he thinks democracy is falling apart in front of us

Jack Weerts, 23, said it is hard to feel patriotic because of his concerns over the current state of politics

While it was mostly the young complaining about the state of the Union, a few older adults expressed similar sentiment.

'I feel like America is going through difficulty right now, mainly because of the upcoming election,' said 85-year-old retiree Gino Musso.

Steven Johnson Jr., 54, assistant Principal at elementary school in Charleston, North Carolina, and a combat veteran said he thought the world was 'on fire'.

'It's almost watching our democracy unravel right before our eyes. It is very terrifying.'

Despite many feeling unpatriotic this Fourth of July, others said they are proud to be Americans.

'I'm feeling patriotic, I'm actually feeling more patriotic than I expected,' Alonso Mayorga, 22, said. 'We need to focus on the core values and get back to those.'

'I think America, one of the best things about it, there are lots of problems but everyone is free to speak their minds about them,' said Sahil Sen, 21.

A Buddhist monk was also very positive about the U.S.

'America is peaceful, and free for everybody,' he said.

According to a new ranking from WalletHub, Virginia - home of America's capital city Washington D.C. - is the most patriotic of all 50 states.

Despite many feeling unpatriotic this Fourth of July, others like Alonso Mayorga (pictured) said he is in the spirit of the holiday

Patriotism among liberals is extremely low, with recent polling from Gallup showing only 34 percent of Democrats claiming they are extremely proud to be American

Sahil Sen (pictured), 21, said the best part about American is the freedom to speak about issues you think are problems in the country

Alaska and Montana rounded out the podium - while Florida, New York and Arkansas fell to the bottom of the nationalist pack.

The rankings took into consideration a series of star-spangled factors, including military engagement, jury participation, voting rates, number of volunteers and history education in schools.

Speaking about the rankings to Fox News, analyst Cassandra Happe of WalletHub said: 'The most patriotic states have a lot of residents who serve or have served in the armed forces, high voter turnouts during elections and a high share of the population volunteering with national and local organizations.'

'Patriotism also isn't concentrated in any one particular area. The top states are located in vastly different geographic regions,' she added.
A 17-year-old girl's final moments before she went missing have been revealed in haunting surveillance footage.

Penelope Wise was wandering down a street near the Corner Bar in Rockford, Michigan around midnight on June 1 when she was captured on video.

The youngster, who suffers from mental health difficulties, was wearing a pink top, denim shorts and at one point appeared to glance directly at the camera.

Wise has been missing from her Cedar Springs home since May 31. Security footage released by Kent County deputies shows her walking on Rockford Park Drive, about five miles away from her home, later that evening.

Going on week five of the case, Kent County Undersheriff Bryan Muir is turning to the local community to aid in his search for Wise.

A missing 17 year-old girl's final known moments have been revealed in haunting surveillance footage

Penelope Wise was wandering down a street near the Corner Bar in Rockford, Michigan around midnight on June 1 - the last time she was seen

'We have 750 plus people at the sheriff's office, but obviously, right here in Kent County alone, we have 680,000 people that can be our eyes and ears for a case like this,' Muir told WZZM13.

'If you look past just the Kent County area into the local region, we just feel that there's more people out there that may have information than what our resources can find.'

'We still don't have any information as to where Penny is, and we wanted to make sure that the community is aware that we're still looking for her daily,' Muir said.

'We're partnering with our local and federal law enforcement partners, trying to use any technology or equipment that we have to locate her, but we really need the community's help right now.'

The undersheriff said that the community can help by checking their personal security cameras for footage of Wise, even those living outside of Rockford.

'Even though it may seem like a small tip or insignificant or you think we already have that information, the smallest tip could lead to the investigation, locating where Penny is at right now,' Muir said.

'We're really exhausting our resources to search that last known area,' Muir said. 'We believe it's a chance that she could be further away from where we're dedicating our search to right now.'

Despite having a rule against phones, Wise's parents discovered she had hidden one before she vanished.

Her parents said that Penelope has left the house briefly before, but never for more than a few hours.

'Our top priority is her safety,' stated Mishael Wise, Penelope's mother. 'We love and care for her deeply, and just want her to contact someone, anyone, to let us know she's okay.'

An $1,000 reward is being offered for anyone who knows of her whereabouts.

The youngster, who suffers from mental health difficulties, has left the house briefly before, but never for more than a few hours according to her parents

The Kent County Sheriff's Office asks that they be contacted if someone has a tip of Wise's whereabouts

The Kent County Sheriff's Office said they do not currently suspect any foul play and said she left on her own. However, as the days go by, Muir said he has become increasingly concerned.

"We're going to work this case just as if it was a the newest case that we got. We're dedicating resources to it, and we're not taking those resources off until we can find where Penny's at," Muir said.

The Kent County Sheriff's Office asks that they be contacted if someone has a tip of Wise's whereabouts.
The woman who alleges she was raped by former parliamentary staffer Bruce Lehrmann claims he uttered four words as he was having non consensual sex with her, a court has heard.

Lehrmann fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court last month for a committal hearing on the two rape offences, which police allege occurred in the regional Queensland city three years ago.

It marked the first time he appeared at the courtroom in person since the charges were laid last year.

Lehrmann was excused from attending the court on Thursday, and instead appeared remotely on the phone.

When asked whether Lehrmann wanted to enter a plea, he told the court: 'Not at this time, thank you, your Honour'.

Lehrmann's legal team argued he has no case to answer to during court proceedings on Thursday.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the case against Lehrmann includes two counts of rape.

Bruce Lehrmann is expected to learn whether he will stand trial in a higher court for the alleged rape of a woman in 2021. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

The first charge alleges the complainant 'woke up' to discover Lehrmann allegedly having sex with her without her consent.

The woman then allegedly stopped Lehrmann from having sex with her by saying 'stop, what are you doing', Ms Friedewald told the court.

The second charge against Lehrmann alleges that moments later, he again had sexual intercourse with the woman without her consent.

Ms Friedewald said that the complainant told police that during the second incident she was 'not enthusiastically laying there' while Lehrmann was allegedly having sex with her.

Ms Friedewald told the court the woman also alleged while this was happening, Lehrmann was 'consoling her throughout the act' saying to her 'it's okay, it's okay' and he was not wearing a condom at the time.

'She describes her body as being limp and that she was not enthusiastic. He continued having intercourse with her until he ejaculated inside of her,' Ms Freidewald said.

The court was told while the pair had consensual sex after they had met hours earlier, the crown will allege that the complainant did not consent to having sex after she woke up.

Bruce Lehrmann fronted Toowoomba Magistrates Court in June for the first time since the charges were laid but has been excused from attending Thursday's proceedings. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Lehrmann's barrister, Andrew Hoare KC, said the complainant's statements to others contradict what she said when she reported the incident to police on November 26.

Mr Hoare said about two hours after the alleged sexual assault, the complainant filled out paperwork at a pharmacy where she was trying to access the morning after pill.

The court heard the form has an option for a person to select 'sexual assault' as a reason for the emergency contraception.

'The complainant does not tick that box and it must be said that the ticking of a box is quite distinct of any type of narrative,' Mr Hoare said.

Mr Hoare told the court the woman also didn't report the alleged sexual assault to her doctor during several appointments between the alleged incident and the initial report to police.

It will be alleged in court Lehrmann had given the woman a false name of 'Bryce' when the pair met, before clarifying his name is 'Bruce'.

The court was told the complainant had also spoken to a friend about the incident before reporting the matter to police.

'There then is the intervention of the complainant's (friend) who crystallises the complainant's state of mind,' he said.

'It's (the friend) who has suggested that (the complainant) has been sexually assaulted and it is after that the (allegation of) sexual assault is made.

'Her uncertainty as to the events themselves and certainly until its crystallised by (her friend) shows no subjective belief that she's been sexually assaulted at all.

'What is being said is that the assertion made now by the complainant in respect to count one is inconsistent with disclosures made to others and inconsistent with a document she herself created, which is the reason for wanting the morning after pill.'

The court was told the compliant first met with civil lawyer and a criminal lawyer before meeting with police the day after she became aware who Lehrmann was.

The court was told the complainant had been drinking alcohol and had used cocaine before she met Lehrmann at the nightclub.

The pair also allegedly used cocaine together before they had consensual sex, the court also heard.

Mr Hoare said the complainant's alcohol and drug use could explain why she had no recollection of some of the events that occurred in the bedroom with Lehrmann.

'The conclusion of the doctor that even in the absence of memory, the complainant is capable of consenting, but just not remembering, those circumstances surrounding the act which is now subject of complaint,' Mr Hoare said, referring to a medical expert witness who gave evidence about the impact of alcohol and drug use on a person's memory.

The court was told while the expert witness did not analyse the woman's medical records, he gave his professional medical opinion about the alleged scenario of that night and how alcohol and drug use can lead to 'fragmented memory loss'.

Ms Friedewald said the Crown would argue that while there was initial consent given for the first sexual act, the complainant's actions after she woke up or regained consciousness should have been indication to Lehrmann he didn't have further consent to have sex with her.

Where is Peter Costello when you need him, Bruce Lehrmann says as he walks into Toowoomba Court this morning for a committal hearing for two charges of rape. Its understood if the case is committed to the District Court he intends to plead not guilty. pic.twitter.com/gYsHP5yebb  Tobi Loftus (@tobiloftus) June 16, 2024

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

'Whilst there is some contextual relevance they had consensual intercourse ... that does not mean that there was consent to any or every act of intercourse or penetration for every act,' she said.

'In terms of the complainant's evidence, it is clear, it is unequivocal, that she was passed out (or) unconscious at the time (of the first count of rape).

'If the jury can accept her evidence, they can accept she was not a consenting party to the act.'

Ms Freidewald said it is also 'not an uncommon occurrence' for an alleged victim of rape to not report the matter straight away.

Referring to the complainant telling her friend about the interaction with Lehrmann, Ms Freidewald said the messages between the two women were 'significant' to show that the friend did not 'plant the idea of sexual assault or rape in the mind for the first time' of the complainant.

The court was told the complainant replied to her friend's message that she should report the incident to police with 'who's going to believe me'.

At the last hearing on June 17, a single witness - the complainant in the alleged matter - was cross-examined by Lehrmann's legal team during the closed court proceedings.

Media entities, including News Corp Australia, applied to the court seeking permission to report on closed court evidence during the committal.

Representing the media outlets, barrister Jessica Goldie argued the move would not be prejudicial to the complainant.

She told the court that having media present during the committal would allow for a fair and accurate report of proceedings and allow the media to perform its public interest function of 'appropriate reporting' of alleged serious sexual offences.

'They both reflect on the principles of open justice, which is an important fundamental proposition to our legal system' Ms Goldie said.

Ms Goldie said Lehrmann's case was a unique one that had attracted a high degree of national interest and media coverage.

But Lehrmann's barrister Andrew Hoare said there was a risk the complainant would be identified from her evidence.

The application was also opposed by the Crown, who told the court the complainant herself had opposed the application to protect her privacy.

Magistrate Mark Howden ultimately refused the application while noting the high level of public interest.

'However, in the court's opinion there has not been any basis raised which would shift the position that it would not be prejudicial to the interests of the complainant.

'The matter ought to proceed in the ordinary way in my opinion.'

Lehrmann was charged in December 2022 with raping a woman in Toowoomba in October the year before.

At the time of his first court appearance in January 2023, Lehrmann was known only as a 'high-profile man' in media reports about the allegations, due to laws in Queensland prohibiting the identification of people charged with prescribed sexual offences before they are committed to stand trial.

But this legislation was changed by the state government on October 3 last year.

Lehrmann's legal team then kicked off an 11th-hour application to the state's highest court in a bid to keep his identity protected.

This non-publication order was subsequently knocked back.
Democratic governors said Wednesday night that they expressed 'concerns' with President Joe Biden at a White House meeting with several of the party's rising stars, but the 81-year-old's heels were dug in.

'We always believe that when you love someone, you tell them the truth,' Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. 'We know we have work to do. We know that as we're standing right here, we're behind. But was also know that that path to be able to make sure that we can pull ahead in November is real.'

Moore, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the current head of the Democratic Governors Association and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were tasked with addressing the press after the meeting that was put on the schedule after Biden's debate disaster.

Among those governors in the meeting were some of the most buzzed-about stand ins if Biden decided to step aside - California's Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan's Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and even the lesser known Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky.

But they weren't chosen to come out and address the press.

Still, Walz indicated that some of the governors gave Biden a tough assessment.

'Obviously we, like many Americans, are - we're worried,' Walz said. 'We're worried because of the threat of a Trump presidency,' he said, calling it a 'threat' and 'chaos.'

He said 'feedback' was given to the president - and beating Trump considered the most important goal.

'A path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority and that's the No. 1 priority of the president so that's what we're trying to get done,' Walz said.

But the trio of Democrats also said that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris expressed to the group of governors that they were staying in the race.

Democratic governors said Wednesday night that they expressed 'concerns' with President Joe Biden at a White House meeting with several of the party's rising stars, but the 81-year-old's heels were dug in

President Joe Biden is dealing with the fallout over his terrible debate performance. He's been calling and meeting with party leaders and saying he plans to stay in the presidential race, despite there being some calls for him to drop out

Walz spoke first - and didn't articulate Biden's intention to say in - with Moore, who spoke second, greater elaborating on the president's decision.

'It was a great conversation with the president, the vice president, because it was honest,' the Maryland Democrat said.

At 45, he's considered a Democratic rising star, but not necessarily for this presidential cycle.

'It was candid,' he continued. 'And I think we came in and we were honest about the feedback that we were getting, we were honest about the concerns that we were hearing from people.'

But 'the president continued to tell us and show us that he was all in.'

'Then we said that we would stand with him,' Moore said.

Hochul spoke third and sounded the biggest cheerleader of the president.

'We always believe that when you love someone, you tell them the truth,' Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said. 'We know we have work to do. We know that as we're standing right here, we're behind'

'We came together tonight to listen to President Biden tell us, in his own words what his plans were,' the New York Democrat said. 'I'm here to tell you today - President Joe Biden is in it to win it.'

'And all of us said - we pledged our support to him - because the stakes could not be higher,' Hochul continued.

She said the governors 'feel very confident in his abilities,' while Walz answered 'yes, fit for office,' to a question phrased the same way.

'None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance,' Walz added. 'But it doesn't impact what I believe he's delivering.'

Moore used similar phrasing to Hochul.

'The president was very clear that he is in this to win this. And the president is our nominee, the president is our party leader, and the president has told us - and he was very clear back there - that he's in this to win this,' the Marylander said.

Walz concluded the appearance by adding, 'well, we saw in there today was a guy who was the guy that all of us believed in the first time who could beat Donald Trump - and did beat Donald Trump.'

Ahead of the meeting, Newsom was fundraising off his trip to the White House, indicating that he planned to encourage Biden to stay the course.

'As you read this, I am on my way to Washington, D.C. to meet and stand with the president at the White House later tonight,' the fundraising plea said. 'When that's over, I'll be hitting the road to campaign for him and Democrats running up-and-down the ballot in several swing states.'

He made a similar statement on X afterward.

'I heard three words from the President tonight - he's all in. And so am I,' Newsom posted. 'Joe Biden's had our back. Now it's time to have his.'

Newsom was on hand at the debate Thursday, a near-constant presence in the spin room who was immediately tasked with doing damage control.

'I will never turn my back on President Biden. Never turn my back on president Biden. I don't know a Democrat in my party that would do so,' he told reporters in a gaggle.

Cut to Wednesday and two Democratic lawmakers have said that Biden should drop out of the race - Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Raul Grijalva.

Others voiced concerns.

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said it was a 'legitimate question to say, is this an episode or is this a condition?'

'When people ask that question, it's completely legitimate - of both candidates,' Pelosi said.

Beshear - who attended the Wednesday night meeting - floated that Biden had some work to do to recover from the bad debate.

'Well, Joe Biden is our nominee, and ultimately that decision on continuing or not will fall to him and his family,' Beshear said. 'But I don't think that there's anything wrong with asking the president to talk to the American people a little bit more about his health or that debate performance.'

While the meeting was ongoing, Rep. Seth Moulton released a statement saying he had 'grave concerns about [Biden's] ability to beat Donald Trump.'

'The unfortunate reality is that the status quo will likely deliver us Donald Trump,' Moulton conceded.
Food Town, visible on South Richey Street, pushes name brands and customer service catering to the needs of the communities surrounding the stores Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Food Town has no coffee shops, deli counters or floral departments, and at 30 years old, no plans to change the original layout from its first location, which opened in Pasadena in 1994.

That's all part of the strategy that has helped the Houston-based grocery company grow to 29 locations, with an emphasis on tailoring each store to serve the needs of its communities as grocery superstores such as H-E-B and Kroger continue to redesign and expand their markets.

Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the nation, so there are people from all over the world who come here, and they all have different appetites, said Mike Lewis, the company's president.

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Its too much to cater to everyone, so we do our best to cater to our communities and our neighborhoods. If someone wants something, we will try to get it.

Lewis, son of founder Ross Lewis, said the company holds true to the adage of not trying to fix something that isnt broken, and the mission has always been to keep customers coming back by offering consistency and familiarity.

Various products are visible in an aisle at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

I have been coming here forever, since I was little, said Emily Perez, 22, as she shopped at the Food Town on Shaver Street in Pasadena with her mom, Diana Hernandez.

Hernandez, 52, said she has been doing her grocery shopping here every weekend for more than 20 years. Its less expensive, its closer to my home, and I know where everything is, she said.

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While she occasionally shops at other grocery stores, Perez said Food Town is where the family finds its staples.

And we know the people who work here, Hernandez added.

With stores in Pasadena, Pearland, Webster, Baytown, Sugar Land, Cypress and throughout Houston, Food Town celebrated the anniversary of the opening of its first store, another Pasadena location at 2040 South Richey St., in April.

HILL COUNTRY FARE RECALL: Hill Country Fare potato salad recalled over possible hard plastic in product sold at H-E-B and Joe Vs

Judy and Ross Lewis examine oranges at one of their Lewis Food Town stores in Pasadena in 1998. At the time the chain was the 10th-largest in the Houston area. buster dean/houston chronicle

That first Pasadena store was the prototype for Ross Lewiss vision of offering customers what they need, where they live.

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That strategy remains the companys core mission and includes focusing on areas outside of the suburbs, in areas where it's less likely to find an H-E-B or Kroger nearby, Mike Lewis said.

All our stores are in the older areas of town for the most part, and you dont see too many of the bigger stores going back into the older parts of town, he said. Those stores are opening in the suburban areas where all the growth is, and where theres not a lot of potential for growth.

There are no plans to expand Food Town outside the Houston market for now, said Lewis.

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Signage on the door of Food Town, visible on South Richey Street, stresses 30 years of service to the community and claims to be Houstons hometown grocer Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Fresh tomatillos, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and avocados are visible in the immediate foreground on a produce display at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocados and potatoes are visible in the immediate foreground as Food Town president Mike Lewis inspects the produce during a tour of the store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Store Director, Bill Anderson and Food Town President, Mike Lewis pose for a portrait at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Food Town, visible on South Richey Street, pushes name brands and customer service catering to the needs of the communities surrounding the stores Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer From left, Store Director, Bill Anderson and Food Town President, Mike Lewis pose for a portrait at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Pinatas are visible at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Bottles of hot sauce are visible on the shelves at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer A variety of meats including, beef, chicken and pork are visible in the meat cooler at the Food Town store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocados and potatoes are visible as Food Town president Mike Lewis inspects the produce during a tour of the store on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Signage in the widow of Food Town is visible on South Richey Street Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer Food Town, visible on South Richey Street, pushes name brands and customer service catering to the needs of the communities surrounding the stores Wednesday, July 3, 2024 in Pasadena. Kirk Sides/Staff photographer

Food Towns biggest competition, he said, are the more independent Latin American or Caribbean meat markets and bakeries that open in the same neighborhoods.

For Leti Arias, 40, the long drive from Alvin to the Pasadena store on Shaver is worth it for the Latin American food items that she has trouble finding at other stores, like the bright green plantains in her cart on a recent Sunday afternoon that will later be used for to garnish her pescado frita, a favorite dish.

Since she arrived in the Houston area from Honduras more than 20 years ago, the Pasadena location, which opened in 1996, has been her go-to grocery store.

I like the prices, and the kind of things that I come for are always fresh, Arias said in Spanish.

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Lluvia Santana, 38, lives near the Shaver store and said she can find the "more authentic" ingredients for her menudo, but she also likes to avoid the big crowds at other stores.

Its more convenient and they have everything we need, said Santanas daughter, Lia Gonzalez.

Food Town remains independent, and family-owned and operated. Many of its employees have been there since the beginning, including Lewis, who started work as the night manager of the flagship store on Richey the day it opened in 1994.

Lewis, 59, said the Food Town business philosophy is simple, and the shopping experience is a little bit of a throwback to those he had as a kid, in markets like Minimax.
READ MORE: How Australia could have been building its own EVs

A new electric car spotted in a fast-food parking lot has given motorists another manufacturer to consider before making their switch to an EV.

More Australians are making the switch to electric vehicles with 95,289 sold in the year to June 30, 2024.

EV manufacturer Tesla soared in popularity and topped the list for most sales among motorists, followed by Chinese company BYD.

However, another manufacturer is rivalling Tesla and BYD after making its way to Australian shores and piquing the interest of prospective EV buyers.

Last week, Chinese-owned EV manufacturer Xpeng announced the first deliveries of their luxury G6 electric SUV would start in Australia by the end of June.

The first few test vehicles - all with Victorian number plates - have already been spotted in Goulburn, NSW, with one seen in a KFC parking lot.

Local man Justin Wakefield shared a picture of the luxury SUV to Electric Vehicles for Australia Facebook page.

Mr Wakefield was picking his son up from work when he stumbled across the EV.

The Xpeng G6 electric SUV was spotted in a KFC parking lot in Goulburn, NSW (pictured)

It is one of the first few test vehicles from the Chinese-based manufacturer to hit Australian roads

'Saw an Xpeng G6 in Goulburn last night. Very impressive! First RHD registered in Australia for now. Look out for them,' Mr Wakefield wrote.

Curious EV followers asked Mr Wakefield how the car looked in person, to which he replied: 'Very striking! Its a highly appealing looking unit'.

Others claimed the arrival of the Xpeng G6 could prove as stiff competition for already the established Tesla and BYD brands.

'Well now its a dilemma BYD Sealion 7 or Xpeng G6... reviewers are excited about Xpeng tech and suspension', one person wrote.

'Think I prefer the aesthetics of the Sealion 7 but see what the reviews are like for both. Good to be spoilt for choice,' a second commented.

A third chimed: 'Things are getting exciting with all these new choices coming in'.

Mr Wakefield said he owned the hybrid Mitsubishi Exceed Tourer PHEV and explained his next car purchase was going to be a BYD seal for his wife.

However, after seeing the Xpeng and speaking to the representative, he has hit pause on buying the BYD EV.

'I had not heard of Xpeng previously. I spoke with [the representative] who was driving from Victoria to Sydney, he was only too happy to have a chat about it  but he didn't mention the price,' Mr Wakefield said.

'I saw online that you can order one, but pricing isn't released until September. Looking at specs and how appealing it seems, I would definitely consider one.

'Our next car for my wife was going to be a BYD Seal but this has made us hit pause.'

The Xpeng G6 currently does not have an official price but tipped to sell for under $60,000. The EV is available to pre-order online but won't make its debut in Australian until September

Mr Wakefield added testing of the Xpeng AWD Performance model (LHD) has also created a 'wait and see' approach to buying their first EV.

The Xpeng G6 is marketed as a luxurious electric SUV and has been labelled as a 'high-end' alternative to the Tesla Model Y.

While TrueEV is accepting online pre-orders for the XPENG G6 models, the SUV won't make its debut on the Australian market until September.

The Xpeng G6 includes two variants - a Standard Range Battery and a Long Range Battery - featuring an 800V Xpower electric drive system and rear-wheel drive.

The Standard model is powered by 190kW, delivering up to 440Nm of torque, and has a driving range of 435km.

The Long Range model has a larger battery, with a maximum power output of 210kW and a driving range of up to 570km.

Without an official price tag so far, the Xpeng G6 is tipped to sell for under $60,000 to put it on par with Australia's market leader and best-selling EV, Tesla's Model Y.
Greens Leader Adam Bandt has taken aim at Anthony Albanese after he vowed to cut immigration by half in an attempt to ease the housing crisis.

More than 510,000 migrants moved to Australia in the last financial year, and Labor aims to halve this number by June 2025.

The housing crisis was discussed in Question Time on Wednesday, during which Mr Albanese was grilled on why so many migrants were allowed in.

The PM said several measures had been put in place to cut immigration, including placing limits on international students.

'In Question Time, the PM is boasting that Labor will cut migration more than the Coalition,' Mr Bandt wrote on social media.

'What a disgusting, migrant-bashing race to the bottom from Labor and the Liberals.'

Many Aussies on social media disagreed with the Greens leader, questioning how housing could become more affordable if the population only increased.

'It's not migrant bashing, it is a sensible move to assist those of us who are struggling to find accommodation and gives Australians a fair opportunity to have a health system able to cope without putting undue pressure and stress on nurses and allied health care professionals,' one said.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt has taken aim at Anthony Albanese after he vowed to cut immigration by half in an attempt to ease the housing crisis

'And at the same time you rightfully complain about the housing crisis. This is a way to help the problem,' another added.

'And you want Aussies on the street?' a third said.

'You have on multiple occasions called for a rent freeze, and the reason why the rents keep going up is that there is more and more demand for rental properties due to the amount of people coming into the country,' a fourth added.

'Something that may be solved in time by lessening the amount of people coming in, which will result in lower rents and we eventually catch up in housing to the population growth.

'And yet you are 100 per cent oblivious to this, instead choosing to virtue signal to the sycophants that follow you.'

Another wrote: 'Out of curiosity, how else do you suppose we quickly address the massive housing supply crisis most Australians face?'

The Greens leader has demanded action be taken in regards to the housing crisis but has spoken out against Labor's efforts to reduce immigration

A day earlier, Mr Bandt had written on social media that the 'housing crisis can't wait' and the government needed to crack down on property investors.

He said the Greens had put forward a motion to 'end the massive tax handouts for wealthy property investors', which was rejected by the Labor and Liberal parties.

The capital gains tax discount means if a person buys a home and sells it after a year, they only need to pay tax on half of the profit they made.

'Labor are happy to leave renters in the dirt while making it easier for investors to buy their fourth home,' he wrote.

'When you're led by a property investor Prime Minister and 75 per cent of your MPs are landlords, you can see why. Something has to change and it's not going to be Labor.

'If Labor were serious about tackling the housing crisis they'd stop tinkering around the edges. They'd scrap the tax handouts to wealthy property investors.

Mr Albanese said several measures had been put in place to cut immigration, including placing limits on international students

'They'd make it easier to buy your first home. But they won't.'

During Question Time, Mr Albanese said Labor had inherited a 'mess' from the Coalition when it came to immigration.

'What we have done is we have restored immigration compliance that was cut by the leader of the opposition by nearly 50 per cent,' he said.

'We've increased the temporary skilled migration threshold up to $70,000, we've ended the pandemic event visa, we cracked down on rorts in international education, we've implemented a $160million reform package, we've imposed no further stay conditions on visitor visas.

'We are ending migration system settings that drove temporary visa holders to stay long-term and we've introduced limits on international student numbers.

'We are taking action. As opposed to the mess that we inherited from those opposite.'
Netflix's billionaire co-founder who's one of the Democrats' most generous donors has called for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

Reed Hastings, 63 is asking Biden to step aside after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last week.

'Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous,' Hastings told the New York Times Wednesday.

Hastings, alongside wife Patty Qullin, packed the party's coffers during the Trump era to the tune of over $20 million.

They've also specifically backed Biden in the past, giving $1.5 million to the 2020 campaign and over $100,000 last summer.

Netflix's billionaire co-founder who's one of the Democrats' most generous donors has called for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race

Reed Hastings, 63 is asking Biden to step aside after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last week

Hastings was a part of the Biden campaign's outreach to the tech industry, which has also included LinkedIn co-founder Reed Hastings, Google chief Eric Schmidt and former Yahoo exec Marissa Mayer.

In the days following the debate Biden's donors were coalescing around three different strategies, only of which involved him immediately quitting the race formulated by those with little influence on the campaign.

Now, Hastings has become the biggest Biden and Democrat Party donor to date asking him to step aside.

Notably, he's also close with California Governor Gavin Newsom - hinted by some as a potential Biden replacement - giving his 2021 recall campaign $3 million.

Ari Emanuel, a massive Hollywood super-agent and Dem backer whose brother Rahm is the former White House Chief of Staff and now Biden's ambassador to Japan - was also heavily critical on Wednesday.

'I talked to a bunch of big donors, and they're moving all their money to Congress and the Senate,' Emanuel said at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Emanuel, the inspiration for the character of Ari Gold on Entourage, is also the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the ex-Mayor of Chicago who now serves as Biden's Ambassador to Japan.

'He gave us a bunch of malarkey, and I'm really pissed. We all should be really pissed,' Emanuel added.

Ari Emanuel, a massive Hollywood super-agent and Dem backer whose brother Rahm is the former White House Chief of Staff and now Biden's ambassador to Japan - was also heavily critical on Wednesday

Emanuel (pictured left), the inspiration for the character of Ari Gold on Entourage, is also the brother of Rahm Emanuel (pictured right), the ex-Mayor of Chicago who now serves as Biden's Ambassador to Japan

NEW: Hollywood Democratic megadonor Ari Emanuel torches President Joe Biden



I talked to a bunch of big donors, and they're moving all their money to Congress and the Senate.



"He gave us a bunch of malarkey, and I'm really pissed. We all should be really pissed."



"He is not pic.twitter.com/mKF8VuDVxz  KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) July 3, 2024

Rahm Emanuel was once also Barack Obama's Chief of Staff while Biden was vice president.

A second sitting Democrat has called on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, striking another blow to the campaign as defectors trickle out against him.

Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva, 76, is urging Biden not to run again, The New York Times reported Wednesday. He is the second sitting Democrat to call for the president's withdrawal.

Two other House Democrats have openly said they believe former President Donald Trump will beat Biden - and that lack of confidence will surely be a topic of conversation between the party leaders which is planned for this evening.

'If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,' Grijalva said.

'What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.'

The first sitting Democrat to call for Joe Biden to withdraw from the election says that before going public, party leadership did not try to keep him quiet.

Texas Democrat Rep. Lloyd Doggett, 77, came forward on Tuesday with a statement calling on Joe Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, saying if he did not Donald Trump would win the White House.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., became the second sitting Democrat to publicly call for President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 election

Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett is the first sitting Democrat in office to call for Joe Biden to get out of the presidential race. He said Democrat leadership did not try to keep him quiet

He was the first Democrat in office to call for Biden to withdraw.

Breaking his silence after turning on the top Democrat, the Texan - who has served since 1995 - told NPR that leadership within the party did not dissuade him from airing out his concerns publicly.

'I'm not a vulnerable member in this election,' Doggett said. 'So I'm able to step forward and speak out about what I think is so critical for our country in ways that perhaps some other people have not.'

'But I certainly have not gotten any discouragement from within the leadership of the party,' he added, indicating that top Democrats may actually condone ousting Biden.

'I think the concerns I'm voicing are widespread,' Doggett continued. 'I wish this had been resolved earlier.'

The Democrat said he did not speak out about Biden's withdrawal sooner because he was worried about how Donald Trump could capitalize on such a party shake up.

After the Texas Democrat released his statement calling on Biden to withdraw Tuesday, two other House Democrats similarly came out against the president.

Though they did not explicitly call on Biden to withdraw, both Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington both said Tuesday they believe Donald Trump will beat Joe Biden come November.

President Joe Biden is said to be 'humiliated' and 'painfully aware' of his image following his car crash debate that saw him stumbling over his words and losing his train of thought

'After the first presidential debate, lots of Democrats are panicking about whether President Joe Biden should step down as the party's nominee,' Golden wrote

Further, reports indicate that a cohort of 25 Democrat lawmakers worried about their own elections are considering calling on Biden to withdraw.

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.

Doggett likened the hard decision he says Biden must make for the sake of the nation to the one made decades ago by another sitting Democratic president.

'I represent the heart of a congressional district once represented by Lyndon Johnson,' the Texan said in a statement Tuesday. 'Under very different circumstances, he made the painful decision to withdraw.

'President Biden should do the same,' he continued. 'While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional.'

Lyndon B. Johnson chose to withdraw from the race in 1968 because rising casualties in the Vietnam war had made him extremely unpopular.

Biden is facing plummeting support after his disastrous debate performance on Thursday.

A defiant Biden vowed Wednesday to keep running for reelection, despite senior aides said they believed he might only have a matter of days to show he was up to the challenge before anxiety in the party boils over.

'Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running ... no ones pushing me out,' Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign.

'Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.'

Still, despite his efforts to pull multiple levers - whether it was his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a network television interview - to salvage his faltering reelection, Biden was confronting serious and mounting indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.
The family of a woman who died suddenly on a flight out of Melbourne will have to journey to Australia for her memorial service, as her body can not be sent home.

Aspiring chef, Manpreet Kaur, 24, was putting on her seatbelt on a Qantas flight about to take off for India from Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne on June 20 when she suffered a fatal medical episode.

Ms Kaur was returning to see her family in Dharampura, in the country's northern Mansa district, for her first visit in over four years.

Her cousin and roommate, Kuldeep Kaur, told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Kaur's health had deteriorated in recent months as she unknowingly suffered from tuberculosis.

She said the last thing Ms Kaur said to her was: 'I will come back.'

'She had difficulty talking and during that last week she had no energy to do anything and was just lying in bed,' Kuldeep said.

Kuldeep explained that Ms Kaur was returning to India to aid in her recovery and be with family and friends who could take care of her.

The post-mortem confirmation of the serious and highly infectious respiratory disease prompted authorities to rule the body cannot be transported out of the country, Kuldeep said.

She revealed the decision had forced Ms Kaur's family to apply for visas so they can fly to Australia and attend Ms Kaur's funeral.

The family of 24-year-old aspiring chef Manpreet Kaur (pictured) are applying for visas to Australia to attend her funeral after attempts to repatriate her body were unsuccessful

A friend of Ms Kaur, Gurdip Grewal, said the family were 'devastated ... (and) experiencing a mix of shock, grief, and disbelief'.

'It's been a very tough time for everyone,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Ms Kaur had been studying to become a chef since moving to Australia, but was working at Australia Post in the month leading up to her death.

Kuldeep 'couldn't believe it' when she received a knock on the door from a police officer to tell her of her 'honest and kind' cousin's death.

'I drove her to the airport that morning and she said, "I will come back",' Kuldeep said.

Ms Kaur had booked a return flight to Australia on July 25 expecting to have recovered from her illness.

A GoFundMe launched by Mr Grewal to support the Kaur family has raised more than $41,000 in just over a week.

'Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled,' the fundraising page reads.

'As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need.'

Ms Kaur suddenly died on a plane bound for India at Tullamarine Airport to reunite with her family after unknowingly battling tuberculosis for months (stock image)

The young woman's health had deteriorated for months leading up to her death but was expecting to recover and return to Australian on July 25 (pictured, Ms Kaur)

A severely weakened Ms Kaur reportedly 'fell in front of her seat and died on the spot' after struggling to put on her seatbelt prior to takeoff.

A Qantas spokesperson said flight crew and emergency services tried in vain to resuscitate her.

'Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones,' the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.

Victoria Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The airline was made aware of the Ms Kaur's tuberculosis diagnosis on Monday and contacted the National Incident Centre Operations for further information.

Victoria's Department of Health said it had begun limited contact tracing the following day, and anyone identified as a potential risk would be notified.
Australian entrepreneur Dick Smith has rubbished Anthony Albanese's claim that nuclear power is too expensive.

The Prime Minister tweeted on Wednesday that Opposition leader Peter Dutton 'won't give his nuclear reactor plan a price tag - but he knows it will be a big bill'.

Mr Albanese's Climate Change minister Chris Bowen in a recent press release cited CSIRO research that nuclear power would be eight times more expensive than renewable electricity from wind and solar.

The CSIRO and AEMO's GenCost 2023-24 report said that building a large-scale nuclear reactor would cost $17billion and Labor claimed power bills and taxes would both rise to pay for the increased costs.

But Mr Smith, who founded one of Australia's first electronics retail chains, said the CSIRO and AEMO had misled the Albanese government.

'The Prime Minister's saying nuclear's too expensive for Australia. You've got to be joking,' Mr Smith told Sky News on Wednesday.

Mr Smith argued that what makes renewables the more expensive option was that, for them to provide stable power, they must also have large scale batteries to store electricity.

'They need to be paired with three days of storage, not three hours that the CSIRO has accounted for. Batteries make them unaffordable,' he said.

Dick Smith said the Australian government science agency the CSIRO had lied to the Albanese government that renewable electricity was the cheapest option

Mr Smith pointed out that Pakistan and Bangladesh, which he said are 'really poor countries', have both successfully utilised nuclear electricity.

'To me nuclear is the gold standard for base load power and we actually have to have it,' he said.

The philanthropist and aviator argued nuclear electricity was also better for the environment as it wouldn't need vast tracts of land to house infrastructure.

'You can just have five acres of a nuclear power station instead of thousands of square miles being destroyed.'

He said he believed Labor would have to reverse its position just as it did with the nuclear submarines needed for Australia's defence force, which he campaigned for in 2016.

'I was told by my friends when I ran ads in The Australian for the nuclear subs: ''Dick, Labor will never change their mind you're wasting your money'',' he said.

'Then I woke up one morning and what had happened? The Coalition decided on nuclear subs and, wait for it, Labor reversed and supported it.

'They changed 180 degrees because it was in the national interest.

'They'll have to do the same on nuclear power. The longer they delay the worse it is for our young people.'

Mr Albanese said electricity bills and taxes would rise if nuclear electricity was brought in

An advert placed in newspapers by Mr Smith saying to 'expect blackouts' if Australia relies on wind and solar power alone

Mr Smith added that he was all for reducing emissions and taking action on climate change but that he believed nuclear was the better option over solar and wind to do that.

Mr Bowen recently insisted Labor's renewable electricity transition was on track.

'Under Labor, we've had a 25 per cent increase in renewables in the national grid, record investment in batteries and storage and over 330,000 rooftop solar installations last year alone,' he said.

'We've approved more than 50 renewable projects since the last election, and we're already halfway to meeting our 2030 renewables target in the national grid.'

The government has pledged to have the national electricity grid 82 per cent powered by solar and wind by 2030.
A WA grandfather who spent 43 years living in Australia has been deported to the UK after a last-minute appeal against his visa cancellation was rejected.

Stephen Pokrywka, who was sentenced to six years in jail in 2019 for attempting to supply methylamphetamine, was not allowed to see his family in person before being deported on Wednesday.

In February, with the parole board having recommended he be released from jail, his visa was cancelled because he had been convicted of a crime that carried a sentence of more than 12 months.

Having arrived in Australia from the UK when he was 12, Pokrywka never applied to become an Australian citizen, but had he done so he would have avoided deportation.

Pokrywka was sent from jail to Yongah Hill Detention Centre in Northam, 95km north-west of Perth, where he appealed the deportation order he got early in his prison sentence.

The father-of-six and grandfather of 10 appealed on the grounds that he had no ties to the UK and never thought to apply for Australian citizenship when he became an adult.

In a last-ditch appeal on Tuesday, Pokrywka, 55, asked the federal court to be allowed stay in Australia to care for his 12-year-old daughter, but his appeal was rejected.

'I went straight from the court hearing into a visit with my 12-year-old daughter and I just couldn't hold back the emotions, I was just absolutely gutted,' he told the ABC.

WA grandfather Stephen Pokrywka (pictured), who spent 43 years living in Australia, has been deported to the UK after a last-minute appeal against his visa cancellation was rejected

'What I'm feeling right now and the hurt and anguish I heard from my family when I told them I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

'I thought common sense would prevail.'

Poll Should Stephen have been deported? Yes No Unsure Should Stephen have been deported? Yes 1088 votes

No 489 votes

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Pokrywka visited Britain just once after he left as a child, and was concerned about the life now facing him there, needing to find somewhere to live and a job.

His first week of accommodation in the UK will be paid by the Australian government.

'But after that, nothing's in concrete,' Pokrywka said.

His daughter Jess, 21, said the whole family is being punished by the deportation of her 'very responsible' father.

'Not only is he sad because of being deported, but he's family orientated and he wants to look after his parents, look after his family,' she said.

Jess said the government 'should be trying to keep our families together instead of breaking them apart'.

The father of six and grandfather of 10 had lived in Australia since he was 12 and said he had no ties to the UK and had just not thought to apply for Australian citizenship. Pokrywka is pictured on the left with family members

'I don't think that it's fair, especially on my 12-year-old sister, to miss out on having a dad. It's like your parent has passed away, and they're alive,' she said.

Advocate Gerry Georgatos said cases such as this were on the rise, with more than 1,000 people removed from Australia each year after the Migration Act was amended by the last Coalition government.

Mr Georgatos argued the government should not be deporting those 'with family ties in this country, people who have lived their whole lives here'.

'It's become a vote buying exercise, to go tough on people, tough on crime,' he said.
President Biden swiftly left the East Room of the White House on Wednesday following the Medal of Honor ceremony, ignoring questions about his health.

The embattled 81-year-old commander-in-chief has faced mounting pressure to withdraw his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate performance last week.

After bestowing the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers who fought during the Civil War at the ceremony, he quickly headed for the exit while dodging questions.

Despite a media scrum stationed near the exit of the East Room, a scowling Biden looked straight ahead and ignored a barrage of questioning.

On Wednesday, Biden assured campaign staff on a call that despite mounting calls for him to stand down he remains in the 2024 race for the presidency.

After bestowing the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers who fought during the civil war in a ceremony on Wednesday, he quickly exited and dodged questions

He said: 'Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running - no one's pushing me out.

'I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win.'

The assurance comes after a New York Times report that said Biden told a key he was considering ending his reelection bid.

'He knows if he has two more events like that, we're in a different place' by the end of the weekend, the ally said in reference to the debate performance and upcoming events for the president.

The White House denied the report with Biden's deputy press secretary Andrew Bates writing on X: 'That claim is absolutely false. If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.'

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also told reporters during her briefing on Wednesday that Biden is not preparing to exit the race.

Jean-Pierre, spent the best part of an hour being grilled on the President's health and confirmed that while he still has a cold, he hasn't seen a doctor.

Jean-Pierre claimed 'jet lag' from his two back-to-back international trips 12 days before the debate contributed to the president's poor showing.

She also confirmed Biden hasn't had a medical examination since February.

Biden speaks during a presidential debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, Thursday, June 27, 2024

New poll shows Donald Trump three points ahead on average in all seven swing states after the debate with Joe Biden last week

Biden himself even admitted that he nearly dozed off on stage 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 televised showdown with former President Donald Trump.

Biden did back-to-back trips to France for a D-Day anniversary celebration and then onto Italy for the G7 in June.

Upon his return, the president took a holiday at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Then Biden spent a whole week at the presidential retreat Camp David resting and preparing for the debate.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Biden was so drained from the jet-setting that advisers cut debate prep short by two days - in order to fit in the beach trip.

While at Camp David, debate prep didn't start before 11 a.m. and Biden was given time each day in the afternoon to take a nap.

The president made the clear at the Tuesday campaign event his travel is 'not an excuse but an explanation.'

President Joe Biden speaks during a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Biden is holding the annual Independence Day party at the White House on Thursday and traveling to Madison, Wisconsin on Friday where he will sit down with ABC News for his first post-debate interview.

The President will then head to a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are key swing states that will help determine the outcome of the 2024 race.

In those states and the five other battlegrounds, Trump has pulled ahead in polling following their debate in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, June 27.

Since the debate, Biden and his team have conducted widespread damage control and reached out to reassure party members, staff, lawmakers, donors, allies and voters that Biden is still a viable candidate that can beat Trump again.

But many within the party are looking for other options and are floating those like Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

None are able to beat Trump in nationwide and battleground state polling and all fall behind Biden in his chances of winning against the former president.
Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver slapped a boy with autism for bending the car's hood ornament.

The unidentified motorist is seen smacking ten-year-old Alfredo Morales seconds after surveying the damage Monday, which would cost around $500 to fix.

The car itself costs just north of $146,000, and was purchased just over a year ago from a dealership in Southern California, a vehicle history report shows.

The filmed attack took place at Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Osbourne Street in Pacoima, according to KTLA. The man's license plate was shared by the person behind the camera afterwards.

In the footage, the boy's Spanish-speaking sister tells the sunglass-clad driver 'sorry, [my brother] is autistic' - after which he slaps the boy and walks off. A police report has been filed by the boy's family.

Footage shows the moment a Mercedes driver slapped a child for bending the car's hood ornament

The unidentified motorist is seen smacking the boy seconds after surveying the damage, which would cost around $500 to fix. The encounter took place Monday in Pacoima, 20 miles outside LA

The network identified the boy as 10-year-old Morales, and confirmed from his family has autism.

'Sorry, he is autistic', the woman is heard saying in the original clip, captured on a cellphone. 'He has special needs.'

The man, not swayed, proceeds to move towards the siblings, as the woman is seen trying to simultaneously calm the boy and plead his case.

Within seconds, the man is standing over the two, and quickly cocks his hand back to hit him. He strikes the boy's face with an open palm, before sternly pointing his finger at the now-cowering youngster

An image of the Mercedes hood ornament that was allegedly damaged by the boy with autism before he was smacked by the driver

He then walks off and returns to his car, chest puffed and hands at his sides.

A voice is then heard shouting, in English, 'What the f**k's wrong with you?', after which the man doubles back - this time to survey the damage.

He grabs at the almost-dismembered ornament before again heading to the S-Class's driver's side door in apparent disgust, after which more onlookers shout for someone to intervene.

'No, stop him!' a female voice is heard shouting as he opens the door ready to drive off. He appears to chide another onlooker before taking his seat.

The man then starts the car and speeds away, but not before the person recording filmed his license plate.

The filmed attack appeared to take place in Southern California, cedars, palm trees, and street signs seen in the background suggest - as does the perp's license plate, which was shared by the person behind the camera afterwards

In the footage, the boy's Spanish-speaking sister tells the driver 'sorry, [my son] is autistic - he has special needs'

The man proceeds to slap the boy and walk off. The incident took place on Monday, witnesses said

The car itself costs just north of $146,000, and was purchased just over a year ago from a dealership in Southern California, a vehicle history report shows

The man goes on to drive off, but not before the person recording the encounter got a good look at his license plate. He has yet to be identified

They also shared a still of the man's slightly bent Mercedes insignia, which appeared to be the only damage done to the costly car.

Meanwhile, footage of the incident makes rounds on social media, as the boy's father, Miguel Morales, revealed to KTLA the boy has autism, and regularly touches objects around him to explore his surroundings.

Public records indicated the car he touched was bought in Valencia in April of 2024, at the Mercedes-Benz of Valencia.

The sedan is a 2023, was bought for a price tag of $146,350.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the California Highway Patrol to see whether the plate is linked to any active criminal cases, and filed a public records request for more information

The middle-aged man seen in the footage has yet to be formally identified, and could be charged with battery of a minor, which, depending on the trauma administered, could be treated as a misdemeanor or a felony.

If found guilty, he could face as much as six years in jail.
A tearful Fatima Payman has sensationally quit the Labor party after two weeks of mounting tensions over her position on the war in Gaza.

The 29-year-old first term Western Australian senator claimed she had been 'exiled' by her Labor colleagues after she crossed the floor and sided with the Greens on a motion about recognising the state of Palestine.

On Thursday - the final sitting day before a winter break - the renegade senator finally confirmed she will join the crossbench with friend David Pocock, and Lidia Thorpe.

'With a heavy heart, but a clear conscience, I have announced my resignation from the Australian Labor Party.

'Effective immediately I will sit on the crossbench to represent Western Australians.'

Ms Payman took aim at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying his claim yesterday that she had been planning to strike out on her own for a month, was untrue.

She also insisted that she would not be taking the helm of a new 'Teal Muslim' movement, as has been widely rumoured.

Labor will now have to negotiate with Ms Payman as part of the crossbench when they want to pass legislation in the senate, if they do not have the support of the Coalition.

To reach a majority in the Senate without the Coalition, Labor will need the support of all 11 Greens, plus three members of the eight-strong crossbench.

Ms Payman was elected to a six-year term in 2022 during sweeping Labor victories in Western Australia. She will serve the remaining four years as an independent.

Mr Albanese had reportedly privately told Ms Payman that she was elected using Labor's platform, and that she should quit the Senate entirely so that the government could reappoint someone from within to the Senate position.

The hostility between Ms Payman and many of her Labor caucus has been palpable - and mounting - since she first decided to cross the floor.

Senator Fatima Payman was emotional as she quit the Labor party over its stance on Palestine, and her treatment since voting in favour on a Greens motion

No more of this: Fatima Payman has sensationally quit the ALP after two weeks of hostility over her position on the war in Gaza

Initially, she received no more than a slap on the wrist, but her decision to appear on an unsanctioned ABC interview where she proudly said she'd cross the floor again if she had her time over prompted the PM to intervene again.

She was suspended indefinitely from the party, and senior Labor ministers have been doing the media rounds all week parroting the same party line - that Ms Payman will be welcomed back into the fold when she begins acting like a team player.

They all say she is not being bullied, and that they'd be willing to forgive and forget. Some have said they know 'everyone makes mistakes'.

But Ms Payman does not accept that what she did was a mistake. She voted with her conscience, she says, and on behalf of the rank and file Labor members she has spent time speaking with.

She says her actions reflect the sentiment in her community, and constituents have supported her decision to put her career on the line to back her own conviction.

Ms Payman said 'unlike her colleagues', she 'knows how it feels to be on the receiving end of injustice', later citing the death threats she and her family have received in recent weeks.

My family did not flee from a war-torn country to come here as refugees for me to remain silent when I see atrocities inflicted on innocent people,' she said.

The timing of Ms Payman's press conference - 2.15pm - raised eyebrows among the crowd. It coincided with scheduled Question Time, and given it is the final sitting day before a five week winter break, it was also the last opportunity for the PM and her former party to try to sell their cost-of-living measures to the public.

Fatima Payman (right) crossed the floor with crossbencher David Pocock (left) during a Greens motion on Palestine

It comes after her husband Jacob Stokes' tweets surfaced from earlier this year where he said: 'I think the worst thing to happen would be for her to resign.

'Making government shift its foreign policy position does not happen overnight.

'She needs to work her way up, and be there to recruit more Muslims into the party and into Government.

'THAT's how we get representation.' Mr Stokes's profile has now been set to private after his tweets were published. He is reportedly associated with WA state Labor.

Recently, there has been concern within Labor that Ms Payman was showing up more senior members of government who have been elected in areas with a high Muslim population.

The Greens have vowed to campaign on the ground in some of these seats, pointing out to constituents 'if Senator Payman can do it as a 29-year-old woman and first term senator, then your elected member could too'.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicated in Question Time this week that he believes Ms Payman had been strategising her exit from the party for a month.

She told the ABC that is not the case, and reportedly said she believes the party has said that because they are upset with her.

Ms Payman has not been seen in the Senate since Monday, after announcing she would abstain from voting on any matters except for 'matters of conscience'.

'I have been exiled,' she said at the time.

'I have lost all contact with my caucus colleagues. I have been removed from caucus meetings, committees, internal group chats and whips bulletins.

'These actions lead me to believe that some members are attempting to intimidate me into resigning from the Senate.'
A senior Met Police firearms inspector has been arrested on suspicion of rape.

The arrest of the officer reportedly took place in front of his colleagues at a firearms training base in Gravesend, Kent, and has sent 'shockwaves' through the unit.

The offences are alleged to have taken place over a ten year period between 2013 and 2023.

The inspector, who is said to be nearing retirement, has been bailed until September and has been suspended from duty.

He is a member of Scotland Yard's specialist MO19 firearms command which deals with terrorist threats and provides an armed response across London.

A senior Met Police firearms inspector has been arrested on suspicion of rape (Pictured: The New Scotland Yard sign at the Met's HQ in Westminster)

One source told The Sun the arrest had 'sent shockwaves through the base as he is a big cheese'.

The Met Police has informed police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the arrest.

A Met spokesperson said: 'A serving Met officer has been arrested on suspicion of rape and other offences.

'The officer, an inspector in the Met's Specialist Firearms Command, was arrested on Monday, 24 June.

'The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2013 and 2023.

'He was bailed to return in mid-September, pending further enquiries.

'He has been suspended from duty.'

A spokesperson for the IOPC said: 'We received a mandatory conduct referral from the Metropolitan Police Service on 26 June 2024 following the arrest earlier that week of a Met officer on suspicion of multiple offences.

'After carefully considering the referral we decided, given the officer has already been arrested and interviewed by the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, that the Met should continue with its investigation.'
Justin Ballard is the Houston Chronicle's first ever newsroom meteorologist. He can be reached at justin.ballard@houstonchronicle.com.

He brings five years of experience forecasting tropical systems, severe weather outbreaks, and blizzards to the Houston Chronicle. His unique experience in forecasting will serve him well in his role at the Chronicle, as Houston has experienced a number of impactful weather events in recent years.

Justin looks forward to his work with the Houston Chronicle, where he'll be responsible for posting daily weather forecasts. On top of daily forecasts, he is excited to tackle more in-depth weather and climate stories that impact the residents of Southeast Texas.

A North Carolina native, Justin joined the Chronicle in July 2023. He graduated with his bachelor's degree in meteorology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in December 2017.
Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban has told Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine needs to lay down its arms in the war with Russia.

Mr Orban  Europe's most pro-Russian leader  made the comments in Kyiv a day after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the EU.

The outspoken critic of Western aid to Ukraine has repeatedly blocked or delayed bids by Nato to provide military support.

He claimed a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could help negotiations to end the war.

Awkward: Viktor Orban and Volodymyr Zelensky meet in Kyiv. The Hungarian prime minister has told Zelensky that Ukraine should lay down its arms against Russia

Orban claimed a ceasefire would help speed up negotiations to end the war between Ukraine and Russia

But his call for Ukraine to effectively surrender to achieve peace did not elicit a public response from Mr Zelensky, and the body langauge between the men was awkward during their joint appearance.

In his statement after the meeting, Mr Zelensky said it was 'very important to have Europe's support for Ukraine maintained at sufficient level it's important for co-operation between all the neighbours in Europe to become more meaningful and mutually beneficial'.

Mr Orban said: 'I have asked the president to consider whether... a quick ceasefire could be used to speed up peace negotiations... I am grateful for his frank dialogue and his answers.'
The ABC has come under fire after a film crew for one of its programs was seen wearing keffiyeh scarves - a garment associated with Palestinian political groups.

Behind-the-scenes pictures showed Catalyst staff wearing the distinctive black and white checkered headgear over their caps while another group photo taken with scientists featured three people wearing keffiyehs tied around their necks.

ABC staff were shooting on location at South Australia's remote Lake Callabonna, documenting the search for megafauna fossils for the two-part series, 'Megafauna: What Killed Australia's Giants?'

The special was launched on the national broadcaster's iView channel a week ago.

Australian Jewish Association (AJA) CEO Robert Gregory accused ABC staff of wearing the symbolic clothing to 'irritate Australians'.

'Why on Earth do they feel the need to politicise a program about ancient marsupials?' he said to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday.

'Posing with what has become a very political symbol is a silly stunt, designed to irritate Australians.

'The ABC can't resist getting involved in left-wing politics and virtue signaling.

ABC camera crew were seen wearing keffiyeh scarves, which are associated with Palestinian groups and causes, in a story that showed the making of science show Catalyst

'The ABC charter calls for unbiased reporting but it consistently fails to live up to its own charter. Taxpayers shouldnt be forced to fund the ABC.'

The ABC has strict editorial policies and requires staff to be impartial in their reporting.

However, ABC coverage and staff commentary on the bloody war between Israel and Palestinian terrorist group Hamas has been a frequent source of contention since the current conflict began on October 7 last year.

Fill-in radio radio host Antoinette Lattouf was dumped by the ABC just three days into a week-long stint in December over her posts on the war in Gaza, which all condemned Israeli actions.

Lattouf's posts on various online platforms were deemed to have breached the ABC's social media policies.

She has since launched legal action against the ABC claiming the decision was political, based on her stance on Palestine and her Lebanese heritage.

Last December the ABC pulled down a TikTok story that portrayed consumer boycotts against Israel in a flattering light.

In a group shot of the ABC camera crew and scientists three people were seen wearing the distinctive scarfs

The social media story by ABC reporter Amal Wehbe demonstrated how to take part in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) protest movement that targets Israeli goods and products along with companies seen to be supportive of the Jewish state.

The story was taken down by the ABC after Daily Mail Australia asked the broadcaster questions about it, but was subsequently posted back online.

Mr Gregory said his group is 'frustrated at how often the ABC makes errors when reporting significant international news stories, particularly on the Middle East'.

Daily Mail Australia contacted the ABC for comment.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward

A woman will appear will court over alleged attempted murder

A woman accused of deliberately crashing a car and trying to kill the man and four children inside will face court.

The 32-year-old allegedly flipped the Nissan X-trail she was driving near Atherton, on the Kennedy Highway in far north Queensland, on June 26.

Police will allege that she 'deliberately travelled off the road and crashed into a sign' in the early hours of the morning, with a 43-year-old man and four children aged between three months and nine years in the car.

They will further allege that one child was in the boot and not properly restrained at the time.

According to police, the group left the scene with no serious injuries.

The 32-year-old allegedly flipped the Nissan X-trail she was driving near Atherton, on the Kennedy Highway in far north Queensland, on June 26

Queensland Police said they were made aware of the abandoned car several hours later after someone spotted it on the side of the road in daylight.

Emergency services were called to a property in Evelyn the following day and minor injuries to the baby and a two-year-old girl were reported.

Police will allege the woman assaulted the two children, who were transported to Cairns Hospital.

The woman was charged with five counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault and one count each of disqualified driving, and driving with an unrestrained passenger.

The woman was expected to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Police suggest that both incidents were linked to domestic violence and are urging anyone with information which may assist investigators to come forward.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic or family violence, please contact 131 444 or in an emergency call triple zero (000).

You can also anonymously report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Support services are also available, including 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or 13YARN (13 92 76).
Ofcom will not investigate Channel 4 News after Nigel Farage and Reform UK claimed the broadcaster used an actor as a 'plant' in its undercover investigation into his campaign.

The UK watchdog said it had received more than 270 complaints about Channel 4 News's programme titled Undercover Inside Reform's campaign, which saw a canvasser named Andrew Parker filmed using a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

After the expose aired, Reform's party secretary, Adam Richardson, said in a letter to the Electoral Commission that it was 'entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant within the Channel 4 news piece', adding that the broadcast 'cannot be described as anything short of election interference'.

But on Wednesday, Ofcom said after 'urgently' assessing the complaints against the due accuracy, due impartiality and offence rules under the Broadcasting Code, 'we have concluded that they do not raise substantive issues warranting further investigation'.

A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said: 'Since this report aired, Channel 4 News has strongly stood up for its accurate, rigorous and duly impartial reporting, which speaks for itself.'

Ofcom will not investigate Channel 4 News after Nigel Farage and Reform UK claimed the broadcaster used an actor as a 'plant' in its undercover investigation into his campaign

The UK watchdog said it had received more than 270 complaints about Channel 4 News's programme titled Undercover Inside Reform's campaign, which saw a canvasser named Andrew Parker (pictured) filmed using a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The row with Channel 4 stems from an undercover report on activists involved in Mr Farage's bid to win a Westminster seat at the eighth attempt.

Channel 4's statement continued: 'Ofcom's decision underscores the integrity of Channel 4 News's journalism and high editorial standards.

'The programme will continue to refute any claims that we - or the production company we worked with - knew or paid the Reform UK canvasser, Mr Andrew Parker.

'We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK's campaign headquarters in Clacton, and he was filmed secretly via the undercover investigation.'

The footage showed Mr Parker using the racist term about Mr Sunak and suggesting migrants should be used as 'target practice'.

Another canvasser described the Pride flag as 'degenerate' and suggested members of the LGBT community are paedophiles.

It comes as Mr Farage is embroiled in a dispute with the BBC, claiming the audience for Friday's Question Time special was 'rigged' and refusing to appear on the flagship Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show unless the corporation apologises.

He said audience members 'were not ordinary members of the public', adding: 'They hand-picked a prominent pro-Palestine activist & even a BBC TV director to attack me.'

Having taken part in a protest does not rule someone out from applying to be in the audience. It is understood that there were no BBC staff members in the audience.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'We refute these claims. Last night's Question Time audience was made up of broadly similar levels of representation from Reform UK and the Green Party, with the other parties represented too.

'There were also a number of people, with a range of political views, who were still making up their mind.'

Reform UK co-deputy leader Ben Habib distanced himself from Andrew Parker's comments about the Prime Minister.

He said Andrew Parker, who was filmed using a racial slur to describe Rishi Sunak, is a 'disgusting human being'.

Habib said he would 'absolutely abhor any racism' in the party and suggested that Mr Parker portrayed himself as a 'gammon' character in the Channel 4 footage which was recorded by an undercover journalist.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme, he said: '(Mr Parker) is a disgusting human being if he stands by what he said, absolutely foul language, unacceptable behaviour, unacceptable sentiments.

'And we have made a complaint to the Electoral Commission and we will get to the bottom of that.

'It is a coincidence I think which does beg a lot of questions that he is an actor, that he used a voice when he was canvassing that wasn't his natural voice, and he was bombastic.

'Exactly the kind of character that someone - if you've heard the expression - might wish to attribute to what they call a gammon.'

Reform UK co-deputy leader Ben Habib (seen) distanced himself from Parker's comments about the Prime Minister, saying the divorced father of one is a 'disgusting human being'

Parker, who works as an actor, was filmed calling the Prime Minister 'a f***ing p***' as he canvassed in Clacton-on-Sea. He said he volunteered for Reform as he 'believes' in its message

Parker was also filmed saying that Reform would turn all mosques into Weatherspoons pubs and suggested asylum seekers who try to come to Kent from France on small boats should be shot on the beach by young British Army recruits as 'target practice'.

Parker, a divorced father of one, from Bishop Stortford, Herts, who is a part time actor, refused when asked three times if he had been paid to infiltrate Reform UK to make their volunteers appear racist.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Parker said he'd been set up by Channel - but added: 'I'm not going to say anything, I think the best thing I can do is not say anything at all.

'I'm getting phone calls non-stop and it's making me ill to be honest and it's not fair on me. It's really causing me a lot of stress and I really can't stand much more.

'I was set-up, it's as simple as that, the guy was laughing and joking with it all the time.

'He pretended to be part of the Reform campaign team. It was just a joke and it's become ridiculous.

'We were having laughs and jokes  like blokes do have laughs and jokes - that was it really. I feel a bit of a fool, but I'm not used to this media stuff.'
A screaming match broke out on a JetBlue flight between a mother and another passenger as he accused her of holding up takeoff by bringing 'too many kids' on the plane.

Video footage taken by fellow passenger Chanel Morel shows the moment the situation went from 0 to 100 - real quick.

The woman appeared to be blamed for multiple delays after she handed her child to a good Samaritan after being told the kid needed to sit with an adult.

The incident took place on a flight from JFK airport in New York City to Cibao International Airport in the Dominican Republic on June 23rd.

'We were already delayed multiple times, wasn't her fault,' Morel told PPV Tahoe.

Video shows the moments a screaming match erupted on a flight from JFK airport

The mom's teen son stepped in to defend his parent after a man unleashed his rage

The plane was about to take off when the flight attendant noticed the mother had two infants and a 13-year-old-son with her. The teen was carrying his little sister and the mother was carrying the other infant, Morel said.

The flight attendant informed the mother that another adult had to be present. After the pilot got word of the incident, the plane had to go back to the gate.

However, a good Samaritan offered to hold the baby in his lap when the plane arrived back at the gate. The mother agreed, so they changed the reservation so that the baby was under the other passenger's name.

The issue was resolved and the plane went back to the tarmac, however, just before take off, another passenger snapped at the mother, blaming her for all of the issues.

'As soon as the issue was resolved & we were about to take off the dude starts going crazy and yells at her,' said Chanel.

As the man was yelling at the mother, her teenager stood up for her, outraged at the disrespect.

'Who do you think you're talking to in front of my mom like that?' the teenager said.

The incident escalated quickly after a man confronted the mother and her teen son

The man cussed out the teenager, which is when the mother stepped in, yelling at the man for directing his anger at a minor.

Most airlines say that an adult passenger can care for a maximum of two child passengers while on a plane.

DailyMail.com has reached out to JetBlue for comment.
Might David Furnish want a favour from PM Starmer following his and Elton Johns endorsement of the Labour Party?

He has been vocal about the unfairness of his husband having a knighthood while he remains simply Mr Furnish.

Wives of peers and knights automatically become Ladies. I havent thought about what would be an appropriate designation for the husband of a Sir, wails Furnish.

Could David Furnish be looking for a favour from Sir Keir Starmer in return for endorsing Labour, asks EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE

Mr Furnish has previously voiced frustration at not having a knighthood like his husband Sir Elton John

Would it help if hubby Sir Elton warbled Thats What Friends Are For down the phone to No 10?

King Charles abandons Holyrood Week early for Buckingham Palace in time to appoint his second PM, or ask Mr Sunak to carry on.

His forebears were not always so accommodating. Queen Victoria thought it a politicians duty to travel to her at Balmoral or Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

And when Herbert Asquith became PM in 1908 he had to travel to Biarritz to be appointed by Edward VII, who had refused to abandon his holiday.

The King is abandoning Holyrood Week early to be at Buckingham Palace to appoint the next prime minister

Mr Asquith kissed hands in the Hotel du Palais  and even had to buy his own drink at the bar.

Actress Dolly Wells recalls her late father  and Denis Thatcher impersonator  Johns reaction when a boy at school knocked her into a table, dislodging a tooth.

He made a little voodoo doll of the boy, she tells Radio Times. We put pins in it. When I went to school the next day and the boy walked past calmly, I couldnt believe that the plasticine and candles hadnt worked! My dad was adorable.

Actress Dolly Wells recalls her late father John made a voodoo doll of a boy who knocked her into a table at school

Staunch Roman Catholic Lady Antonia Fraser appeals to Pope Francis to reverse his plan to banish the Latin Mass. She adds her name to a letter in The Times urging the pontiff not to call time on the liturgy.

Is Lady Antonia hoping her moniker will have the same effect on Francis as a similar letter had on Pope Paul VI when he planned a ban in 1971?

Paul was so startled to see Queen of Crime Agatha Christies name on the plea he allowed the old ritual to survive.

Noting the Palestinian flags flying at Glastonbury Festival, Andrew Neil asks: Why was there not a minutes silence at Glastonbury to remember all the young people who were brutally murdered, raped, tortured and kidnapped at the music festival in the Israeli desert on October 7?

'Why did not one performer even mention this atrocity?

Andrew Neil questioned why at Glastonbury there wasn't a minute's silence for all those who died during the attack on the Nova music festival on October 7 last year

Novelist Paul Pickering hoped to pick Graham Greenes brain when he rendezvoused at Browns Hotel in Mayfair while researching Lucy, his forthcoming black comedy about the Second World War spy network of the same name.

Alas Green, an expert on wartime spooks, was drunk and had become stuck in an old-fashioned brass lift. It took several hours to hand-winch him to the nearest floor, says Pickering.

But was Greene, who died in 1991, helpful? He said: You have come to a dead end, my boy. A cul-de-sac, your arse in a bag.
Hurricane Beryl struck the island nation of Jamaica Wednesday, bringing with it fierce winds and heavy rains - and Texas could be next.

The Category 4 storm's eyewall was sent brushing by the island country's south coast in the afternoon, creating hurricane conditions for more than 2.8million residents.

The storm has already made history as the strongest hurricane ever recorded in July, before it was downgraded from a Category 5 Tuesday. The historic hurricane, however, has only weakened slightly, packing a 140 mph punch and already being blamed for seven deaths in other countries.

Jamaican officials, as a result, pleaded with residents to take the storm seriously -urging evacuations as storm surges make flooding possible. As of writing, no deaths have been reported there, the storm's path remains somewhat uncertain.

The Americas, however, appears to be the storm's next stop, weather officials said - with either Mexico or Texas set to be hit next within the next 48 hours, by an even stronger version of the storm that's already killed at least seven.

Hurricane Beryl struck the island nation of Jamaica Wednesday. The Category 4 storm's eyewall was sent brushing by the country's south coast in the afternoon, creating hurricane conditions for more than 2.8million residents

The storm has already made history as the strongest hurricane ever recorded in July, before it was downgraded from a Category 5 Tuesday. Scattered debris clutters the waterfront after Hurricane Beryl passed the island of Carriacou, Grenada is seen here

'Hurricane Beryl has so far brought a lot of water,' Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness wrote in a post to X just after 6pm ET.

'Please stay as safe as you can and remember to use the emergency contacts if you need them.'

Hours earlier, the National Hurricane Center issued its own update, as nine-foot waves were seen barreling into Jamaica's southern seaboard.

It advertised a still-ongoing Hurricane Warning, 'in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun.'

A less severe Hurricane Watch, meanwhile, was issued for the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal, and the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche.

A Hurricane Warning refers to when hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, while a Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within an area, generally within 48 hours.

For the former, 'preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion,' the hurricane center said.

National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan added how storm surges of 6 to 9 feet above normal are expected, as the counterclockwise-rotating storm pushes water onto Jamaicas coast Wednesday night.

The historic hurricane, however, has only weakened slightly, packing a 140 mph punch on residents of Kingston, seen here trying to save pieces of a tin face split apart by the weather

The storm has since moved past the country, leaving only destruction its wake. Such was the case in Barbados Tuesday, as several boats were left nearly sunk by surging currents created by the then Category-5 hurricane

The storm is currently moving west, where it may strike the southern part of Mexico before potentially engaging in a rare double strike of the country by passing over its eponymous gulf and toward more northern cities like Monterrey.

That said, Beryl's path remains unpredictable, and state authorities in Texas are warning people - particularly in coastal areas - about the prospect of a July 4 hurricane or tropical storm.

'While Texans take time to enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends, its important to stay weather aware, pay close attention to the rapidly-changing forecasts,' Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said in a statement.

'[D]ont be caught without an emergency plan.'

'If I lived in Texas, and I have lived in Texas, this would be a storm that I would be watching closely,' FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin added.

'The possible impacts would be Sunday into Monday.'

As of writing, the southern state seems more set be spared, with Mexico the more likely candidate.

But Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday still told the state's Division of Emergency Management to issue a hurricane advisory notice to the Texas Emergency Management Council.

'Texas stands ready to deploy all available resources and support to our coastal communities,' the Republican said, urging Texans to be ready for the still-real prospect the tropical weather will reach the US's Gulf Coast.

In Jamaica, though, extensive damage already appears unavoidable, with the storm then projected to cross the Yucatan Peninsula sometime Friday.

By then, it will against strengthen into a Category 5, officials said - after it had already achieved that status Monday.

A piece of tin roofing was seen wrapped into a tree after Hurricane Beryl passes through the country's capital of Kingston

A man is seen looking at breaking waves along the coast as Hurricane Beryl approached Kingston

A person makes their way through the wind and rain from Hurricane Beryl Wednesday, as towering waves and high-speed winds hit Jamaica

Flooding was seen across the southern part of the country Wednesday, with Kingston one of the hardest hit

The storm is currently moving west, where it may strike the southern part of Mexico before potentially engaging in a rare double strike of the country by passing over its eponymous gulf and toward more northern cities like Monterrey. It has already hit much of the Caribbean

There, it will move into the Gulf of Mexico, before slamming into either Mexico or southern Texas, weather officials said.

As of 5pm Wednesday, the hurricane's center had already passed through the capital Kingston, still some 265 miles from Grand Cayman, as the storm moved past the country.

It is currently moving west-northwest at speeds of around 20mph, while the winds whipping around insight of it are around seven times faster.

'The Cayman Islands are sort of next in line for seeing significant impacts,' Brennan on Wednesday added, after some slight weakening occurred as the storm approached Jamaica earlier in the day.

Authorities at the time made it clear how the storm was a major weather event that should be taken seriously, with Prime Minister Holness telling those in low-lying areas and areas historically prone to flooding and landslide to evacuate.

He further urged those living on the banks of a river to either 'evacuate to a shelter or to safer ground,' hours before the storm made landfall.

People proceeded to board up windows, and fishermen pulled their boats out of the surrounding water.

Workers, meanwhile, worked to dismantle roadside advertising boards to protect them from the lashing winds, just before wind-whipped rains plowed into the island for several hours.

That said, Beryl's path remains unpredictable, and state authorities in Texas are warning people - particularly in coastal areas - about the prospect of a July 4 hurricane or tropical storm. People braving the storm Wednesday afternoon in Kingston are seen here

A tree lays in the road in hard-hit Kingston as Hurricane Beryl passes through the area towards the Gulf of Mexico

As the storm gains strength over the gulf, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday told the Texas Division of Emergency Management to issue a hurricane advisory notice as the storm is set to again become a Category-5

'If I lived in Texas, and I have lived in Texas, this would be a storm that I would be watching closely,' FOX Weather Meteorologist Britta Merwin added. 'The possible impacts would be Sunday into Monday.' Flooding in Jamaica Wednesday is seen here

Power was knocked out in much of the capital, but by the evening, the storm had glanced off the island and continued making its way toward the Gulf of Mexico.

In an ensuing social media post, Prime Minister Holness revealed that nearly 500 Jamaicans had been placed in shelters.

'We are placing emphasis on ensuring they are comfortable and well looked after,' he said.

Earlier in the day, as churning whitecaps brought by Beryls eye scraped by the islands southern coast, Jon Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather, issued a statement citing the dangerous nature of the storm

'We are very concerned about a wide variety of life threatening impacts in Jamaica, he said, before branding Beryl 'the strongest and most dangerous hurricane threat that Jamaica has faced, probably, in decades.'

As a result Jamaica was under a state of emergency, and afterward was declared a disaster zone hours before the impact.

Holness says the disaster zone declaration will remain for the next seven days, as he implemented an island-wide curfew.

The hours for the restrictions were between 6 am and 6 pm, and were in effect only Wednesday.

The curfew has since passed, with officials now surveying the damage.

Officials said that nearly 500 Jamaicans had been placed in shelters, after an evacuation was ordered for those near rivers and residing low-lying areas. Several were left without power

In total, at least seven people are known to have died as a result of the storm's path across the Caribbean

On Monday, Beryl strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane for the first time, and by early Tuesday it was creating record-breaking 165 mph maximum sustained winds.

The small island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines were among those hit, with at least one person dead and more casualties likely as officials continue to probe flooded areas and wreckage.

In Grenada, at least three people have died, after Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said a unspecified number of homes had been destroyed by the "Armageddon-like" storm.

Venezuela was also hit by heavy flooding that caused the deaths of at least, as four more remain missing as a result of the storm, the country's president, Nicolas Maduro, said.

In total, at least seven people are known to have died as a result of the storm's path.
Synthetic opioid found in system of all four people

All four people found dead in a suburban Melbourne home, including a 17-year-old father, had synthetic opioids in their system.

Police were called to a house in Bicknell Court, Broadmeadows, just before 2am on June 26, after a neighbour went to check on the house and discovered the bodies.

Michael Hodgkinson, 32, was one of four people discovered in the loungeroom of a unit along with Abdul El Sayed, 17 and an as-yet unidentified 37-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

Victoria Police on Thursday said their investigation is ongoing, but confirmed drugs were in their bodies.

'Preliminary tests have confirmed the presence of a synthetic opioid in the system of all four people,' the force said in a statement.

'No presence of fentanyl has been detected at this time.'

The Department of Health released a warning this week about cocaine in Melbourne being sold laced with the synthetic opioid protonitazene, which is 100 times more potent than heroin.

'There have been recent serious harms in Melbourne associated with a white powder sold as cocaine that contained protonitazene,' the warning stated.

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

'The product appears to produce such as loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning).'

Last week, police were seen entering the property with the aid of oxygen tanks amid fears the four may have been overcome by a leak of odourless carbon monoxide from a heater.

It is understood that was quickly ruled out because a dog inside the house was unharmed.

The bodies were found by Abdul's uncle Cory Lewis, when he saw them through a window.

When they did not respond, he smashed the window to gain access and then contacted emergency services.

He immediately told media he believed the deaths were caused by a drug overdose.

The group were all found in the same area of the house, leading police to believe they were sitting together and there was no evidence to suggest there had been any violence inside the home.

Preliminary forensic testing has confirmed all four people had a synthetic opioid in their system (pictured, family and police at the home where the four bodies were discovered)
Claims have surfaced Cardinal George Pell's body had a broken nose and was not properly dressed when it was repatriated to Australia following his death in Rome.

Pell, 81, died on January 10, 2023, in Salvator Mundi Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest following a routine hip replacement operation.

His funeral at St Peter's Basilica four days later reportedly 'raised eyebrows' among Vatican insiders because there was no traditional open casket.

Pell had been responsible for managing the Vatican's treasury, its third highest role, and was specifically tasked by Pope Francis with bringing transparency and oversight to hundreds of years of the institution's murky finances.

The process had earned him significant pushback from figures within the Vatican, some of whom have since been charged with financial crimes such as fraud, conspiracy and embezzlement.

The task was also made more difficult when Pell was charged by Victoria Police in 2017 over historic child abuse allegations, leading him to spend 13 months in an Australian jail before he was acquitted on all charges on appeal.

According to a report in The Australian this week, 'rumours have swirled around the Holy See for months that his body was left in post-autopsy disarray', that he was not wearing shoes and his clothes has been 'thrown' into the coffin.

Claims have surfaced Cardinal George Pell had a broken nose and was not properly dressed when his body was repatriated to Australia following his death in Rome

Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt, following a call to Pell's brother, revealed the family had found the cardinal's nose was broken upon the body's return to Australia, in what Bolt called a 'final insult'.

According to Bolt it might have been 'incompetence' but some of Pell's closest associates had told him they suspect the rough treatment of his body 'could be a sign some in the Vatican had not forgiven Pell for hunting down corruption'.

'Pell once told me he did not feel safe in the Vatican as he chased the crooks,' Bolt said.

'What was done to his body makes me suspect he was right.'

Pell himself said in 2021 he was surprised by the amount of resistance he had encountered within the church to modernising its finances.

'I underestimated the ingenuity and resilience of the opponents of reform,' Pell said in September 2021.

Pell had been part of a three-man team looking into the Vatican's finances which also included former Deloitte accountant Libero Milone as auditor-general.

Pell himself said in 2021 he was surprised by the amount of resistance he had encountered within the church to modernising its finances

Milone was sacked under mysterious circumstances on June 19, 2017, the same year as Pell was charged, after he was accused of spying.

At a press conference, Milone said the sacking was an attempt to slow down the reform agenda of Pope Francis and he made allegations his phone had been bugged.

The third member of the financial probity team was Milone's deputy Ferruccio Panicco, who was forced to resign a day later after his office was raided by Vatican police who confiscated his computers.

Panicco died last year from prostate cancer.

On December 16 last year, ten senior Vatican figures were found guilty of financial crimes.

The Vatican 'Trial of the Century', as it was dubbed, was sparked in 2021 after the Vatican lost 350million in a London real estate deal.
Just five asylum-seekers have been sent to Rwanda through Rishi Sunak's flagship scheme, costing the taxpayer an average of 74million each, it has been revealed.

Despite claims as many as 52,000 people could potentially be flown to Rwanda through the scheme, fewer than half a dozen made the journey before Sunak paused the programme in May in the run-up to the election, according to The Sun.

The National Audit Office (NAO) estimates that the scheme will still incur a 370million fixed development fund by 2026 regardless, comprising 220million sent to Rwanda in February 2024 - and 50million for three Aprils thereafter until 2026.

It also priced up the total cost of sending 50,000 people to the East African country at around 9.4billion - around a seventh of the cost of staffing the NHS for an entire year.

Labour have vowed to scrap the Rwanda scheme if they do come to power, however, with The Guardian warning more than 320million could now be 'lost' if the Tories are voted out on Thursday.

File photo. A group of migrants crossing the channel by dinghy off the coast of France in June

Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda scheme has cost an est. 74million per person sent

Estimates on the costs of the Rwanda asylum plan - and the slow start bringing it to fruition - paint a bleak picture of the policy's 'successes' since April 22, when the legislation was approved by parliament after lengthy legal battles.

The NAO believes the cost of relocating 100 people would cost as much as 434million - up to 9.4billion for 50,000 people.

In the year ending March 2024, there were 38,546 irregular arrivals to the UK, according to Home Office data.

On top of the 370million fixed development fund payment agreed, they cite the 120million planned once 300 people had been relocated to Rwanda.

Development funds in the form of per-person payments are quoted at 20,000.

And the cost of per-person asylum processing, operational, and integration payments is priced at 150,874 paid over the span of five years.

Millions are built into the estimates for staffing, legal fees and the cost of escorting people to Rwanda.

Some 12.6million was expected to be needed to train up the escorts this and next year.

The flights themselves were expected to cost 11,000 each.

If Labour is to scrap the scheme, many of these additional fees are expected to become redundant.

But having only managed to send five people to Rwanda through the scheme, the agreed fixed fees mean the average cost of sending someone abroad is eyewateringly expensive.

The first payment of 140million was made in April 2022, 120million going towards the Economic Transformation and Integration Fund (ETIF) to support economic growth in Rwanda.

The government completed its next payment in April 2023, costing a further 100million.

Two months later, the UK Court of Appeal found that it was unlawful to relocate individuals to Rwanda.

In November 2023, it was judged Rwanda was not a safe country to send asylum seekers to through the policy.

The government then passed a Bill effectively holding that Parliament believes Rwanda is a safe country.

After years of delays, Labour MP Neil Coyle jibed in the House of Commons in March that it would cost less to send six people into space with Virgin Galactic than what 'this government wants to spend sending one person to Rwanda'.

'Is it not time to rethink this absurd policy and extortionate cost?' he asked illegal migration minister Michael Tomlinson.
Xi says China, Azerbaijan upgrade bilateral relations to strategic partnership

Xinhua) 08:23, July 04, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Azerbaijan have upgraded bilateral relations to strategic partnership, which is a new positioning and a new starting point, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Wednesday when meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Xi noted that the two sides should continue supporting each other in a bid to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China and Azerbaijan are good friends with sincerity and mutual trust, as well as good partners with equality and mutual benefit, and bilateral relations have been developing healthily and steadily, with fruitful cooperation and richer strategic connotations, he said.

China firmly supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Xi stressed.

The two sides should promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, oil and gas, and photovoltaics, strengthen connectivity, advance the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and ensure the healthy and stable operation of China-Europe freight trains, he said.

The two sides should also carry out more exchanges in such areas as education, culture and tourism, as well as between the youths of the two nations and at the sub-national level, and consolidate the public foundation of China-Azerbaijan friendship, he said.

China supports Azerbaijan in hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Xi said.

China stands ready to work with Azerbaijan to advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarity, and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote world peace, stability and development, he said.

For his part, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and China are good partners.

The two countries have maintained close exchanges at various departments and levels, witnessed increasing bilateral trade volume, and firmly supported each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in international organizations, he said.

The two sides jointly announced the establishment of the Azerbaijan-China strategic partnership in a joint statement, which is of great significance to the development of bilateral relations, he said.

Azerbaijan firmly abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China's great cause of national reunification, which is the trend of history and no force can stop it, he said.

Azerbaijan is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China, tap the potential, enhance cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, new energy and culture within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, closely collaborate within the SCO and other frameworks, oppose external interference and safeguard regional security and stability, said Aliyev.

The two sides issued the joint statement on establishing the strategic partnership.

Relevant departments of the two sides signed cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation and connectivity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Fresh details have emerged of the final moments of a New Zealand woman who was violently killed in front of her husband at a shopping centre in Newport Beach, California.

Patricia 'Trish' McKay was fatally run over by the men who tried to rob her and husband Doug McKay, a former Bank of New Zealand executive and CEO of Auckland council, after the elderly couple was targeted for their pricey belongings.

Patricia and Doug were standing outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Fashion Island Mall, which is usually considered a safe location, when two men approached them at about 3.30 pm on Tuesday to rob them at gunpoint.

A 'struggle' ensued and one of the two men fired several rounds from a pistol as he fled the scene on foot.

Fellow shopper Dan Sheen said he had been inside the nearby Whole Foods and 'heard some shots ring out as I was walking out'.

He told Morning Report he believed the robbers had initially been trying to steal Mr McKay's watch, before turning their attention to Mrs McKay's bag.

'They went after a watch that he was wearing, from what I understand he was wearing,' Mr Sheen said.

'And then they turned their attention to Patricia with the bag and there was a struggle there.'

Fresh details have emerged of the final moments of New Zealand woman Patricia 'Trish' McKay (left) who was violently killed in front of her husband, prominent banker Doug McKay (right), at a shopping centre in Newport Beach, California

Mr Sheen said when the shots rang out 'everybody freaked out and ran for cover'.

One of his friends tried to stop the robber who had grabbed Mrs McKay's handbag and 'put his arm out when the guy was running away with the bag'.

Mrs McKay was then dragged into the car park as the two men got into a Toyota Camry being driven by a third man, who then ran over Mrs McKay.

'I heard the screech of the car, and then I heard what happened afterwards,' Mr Sheen said.

'The person jumped in the car, the car sped away really quick and, unfortunately as I understand, ran over Patricia.'

Mrs McKay, who is today being remembered as a 'doting' grandmother and and beloved 'mother, wife, and friend', was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 68-year old and her husband had been outside a Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Fashion Island mall when they were approached by two men. Three suspects are now in custody

Fellow shopper Dan Sheen told Morning Report he believed the robbers had initially been trying to steal Mr McKay's watch, before turning their attention to Mrs McKay's bag

No one was struck by gunfire, Newport Beach Police Sergeant Steve Oberon told DailyMail.com, but the car ran over Mrs McKay and then sped from the scene.

Police were in pursuit after the attack as shots were fired from the moving vehicle.

Cops followed the men in a high speed cross-county chase, with the suspects' car reaching speeds of 110mph (177km/h) on the 105 freeway.

The pursuit continued into Los Angeles County, where two of the men jumped from the Toyota near Los Alamitos, and began running around a neighbourhood in South Gate, reports CBS.

Police found one of the men hiding behind trash cans outside a house and arrested him, and then tracked down and arrested two other suspects.

Newport Beach Police officials identified the suspects as Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles; and Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton.

All three were booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy.

Doug McKay was not injured in the attack, with police confirming there were no gunshot wounds to either him or his wife Trish.

'It is a shock,' Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Oberon said. 'It just doesn't happen normally here.'

General view of the Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach, California where the the McKays were targeted for robbery. It is generally considered a safe location

In a statement following the death, the McKay family said 'no words can express our sadness as we try to come to terms with the loss of our mother, wife and friend Patricia.'

Auckland's Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson said in a Facebook post she was 'beyond devastated' to hear of Trish McKay's death.

'Trish was the wife of Doug McKay who was - among other significant roles - the inaugural CEO of the amalgamated Auckland Council,' she said.

'Trish was amazing - funny, loyal, and loving. My absolute deepest sympathies to Doug and her family.'

As a memorial of flowers and tributes was growing outside the Barnes & Noble, Newport Beach City mayor Will O'Neill said he was 'furious' after hearing news of the 'staggering' attack, described Mrs McKay's death as tragic.

'I'm horrified. I'm mourning the loss of someone who died inside of our city because of crime,' he said. 'This is a tragedy and I'm furious.

'Newport Beach is a safe community and we're mourning the loss of someone.

'Frankly, to hell with these guys These are thugs. Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.'

Mr O'Neill said at least one of the suspects 'shouldn't have been in free society' because of his criminal history.

A note attached to one bunch of flowers at the death site read, 'Rest in heaven, Patricia McKay. Stop the senseless thefts. We need more security... immediately'.

Police have increased patrols at the shopping mall since the incident.

Bank of New Zealand chief executive Dan Huggins conveyed the bank's 'deep sadness and heartfelt condolences to the McKay family for the sudden and tragic loss of Patricia (Trish) McKay.'

He said Doug and Patricia had been a big part of the company family.

'Our thoughts at this time go out to both Trish's family, to Doug and the McKay family, and we are doing all that we can to support them at this time.'
A New Zealand woman who was killed in front of her horrified husband at an upscale California mall by a group of robbers has been pictured for the first time.

Patricia 'Trish' McKay, 68, and her husband Doug were at the Fashion Island Mall, in Newport Beach, when they were approached by two men on Tuesday.

A struggle ensued, with one of the men fleeing the scene on foot and firing several rounds with a handgun as he did so, according to reports.

McKay was then dragged into the parking lot as the two men got into a car being driven by a third.

As the suspects made their escape, they ran over McKay and continued firing shots as they led police on a high-speed chase.

Patricia 'Trish' McKay, 68, and her husband Doug, seen here, were at the Fashion Island Mall, in Newport Beach, when they were approached by two men on Tuesday

A struggle ensued, with one of the men fleeing the scene on foot and firing several rounds with a handgun as he did so, according to reports. The mall is seen here

The McKay family said in a statement that: 'No words can express our sadness as we try to come to terms with the loss of our mother, wife, and friend Patricia.

'We ask for privacy at this time as we work through this as a family.'

McKay and her husband had lived in Auckland, with her neighbors telling the New Zealand Herald they had been shocked by her passing.

One person told the outlet that McKay had only just began to enjoy life as a grandmother, which she 'loved'.

'We are all in shock. She was a lovely, lovely woman', the neighbor added, while another said it was 'so tragic'.

While the Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon posted on social media saying: 'My thoughts are with the McKay family after the devestating loss of Trish.

'They're great people and my heart goes out to Doug, their family and all those who knew Trish.'

While Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson added: 'I am beyond devastated. Trish was amazing- funny, loyal, and loving.

'My absolute deepest sympathies to Doug and her family. In absolute shock.'

Cops followed the suspects after the violent attack Los Angeles County after a pair of suspects jumped out near Los Alamitos.

As the suspects made their escape, they ran over McKay and continued firing shots as they led police on a high-speed chase. One of them is seen being apprehended here

All three were booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy

The suspects' car reached speeds of 110mph in the chase on the 105 freeway. Two jumped out of the car and began running around a neighborhood in South Gate.

Police found one of the men hiding behind trash cans outside a house and arrested him.

They also tracked down and arrested two other suspects in the fatal attack.

Newport Beach Police officials identified the suspects as Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, Malachi Edward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, and Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton.

All three were booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy.

According to the LA Times, McCrary has a history of crimes in LA County and was arrested in October 2022 with being a narcotics addict in possession of a firearm.

He pleaded no contest to the felony charge the year after and was charged in a robbery case in September 2023 and again pleaded no contest.

DA George Gascon, seen here, is a progressive prosecutor who has been vocal about his belief that the criminal justice system needs to focus more on intervention and rehabilitation

For that, he received a concurrent sentence for both convictions and got two years of probation and three years in state prison, with the sentence being suspended.

The LA County DA George Gascon is a progressive prosecutor who has been vocal about his belief that the criminal justice system needs to focus more on intervention and rehabilitation, blasting 'tough on crime' policies as racist and a failure.

Mayor Will O'Neill said he was 'furious' after hearing news of the attack, which he described as 'staggering'.

'I'm horrified. I'm mourning the loss of someone who died inside of our city because of crime. This is a tragedy and I'm furious.

'Newport Beach is a safe community and we're mourning the loss of someone,' he said.

'Frankly, to hell with these guys.  These are thugs. Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.'
Police believe they have found remains of young girl

Police believe they have discovered the 'gruesome' remains of a 12-year-old girl killed in the first fatal crocodile attack to rock the Northern Territory in six years.

The young girl was last seen swimming at Mango Creek, in the remote community of Nganmarriyanga, 360km south-west of Darwin, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.

Northern Territory Police Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson on Thursday confirmed the 12-year-old's remains had been recovered after a 36-hour search.

'This morning, as a result of searching intensively overnight, the remains of the missing child were located in the riverway,' she told a press conference.

'It was particularly gruesome and a sad, devastating outcome. It was extremely difficult for the first responders involved in the search.

'As awful as the outcome is, it's been an incredible effort from the people involved. I certainly would commend the actions of everyone involved.

'They were diligent and work relentlessly. However, for the family, it's the most devastating outcome possible for them.'

'They are in a state of extreme shock and disbelief. It's not the outcome we were hoping for, but for the family at least there is some small element of closure.'

Police believe they have found the remains of a missing 12-year-old girl who vanished after a suspected crocodile attack in the Northern Territory (stock image)

The young girl was last seen swimming at Mango Creek, in the remote Northern Territory community of Nganmarriyanga, 360km south-west of Darwin (a map is pictured)

Sgt Gibson said it came as a 'salient reminder' of the risks of waterways in the NT.

'Waterways in the Northern Territory could always have crocodiles in them and it's that element of caution and being crocwise to ensure your own safety,' she said.

The community hasn't been rocked by a crocodile attack since 2018 when a Yirralka ranger was killed while in Gangan community.

Almost a decade earlier, a 11-year-old girl is believed to have been attacked by a crocodile in rural Darwin in 2009 - with her remains found after a 12-hour search.

NT Police, along with the search and rescue team, will continue to work with local rangers in monitoring crocodile traps along the waterways.

Sgt Gibson earlier said there was evidence that crocodiles had been in the area.

'No crocodiles were sighted or located in the immediate area that croc-searching has occurred since sunset yesterday  there were no sightings overnight,' she said.

Police Minister Brent Potter has confirmed search efforts had shifted to a recovery operation

Police Minister Brent Potter on Wednesday confirmed that search efforts had shifted to a recovery mission after over 18 hours of searching.

'They do an amazing piece of work, those officers are also divers and they do go into croc-infested waters as required,' Mr Potter said.

Nganmarriyanga, formerly known as Palumpa, is a remote Aboriginal community in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory.

It is situated about 360km south-west of Darwin between the communities of Peppimenarti and Wadeye.
A Las Vegas prostitute was murdered during a $2,000 hotel sex session with an Army Veteran client after he 'snapped' and strangled her, cops say.

Larissa Garcia, a 30 year-old mother, was killed at the Palms Resort on June 12, with suspect Jason Kendall, 35, turning himself into cops June 28.

A police report seen by 8NewsNow detailed Kendall's alleged motive for the horrific attack.

'Jason said Larissa requested additional payment and he 'snapped,'' documents said. 'He hit her in the face and 'choked' her for 'ten minutes' and 'then had sex with her.' After having sex with Larissa, Jason wrote he 'dragged her away from the door and left.' He told cops that after leaving the hotel he called 911 to report an overdose.

A man has turned himself in and allegedly confessed to fatally strangling a Las Vegas prostitute during a session he paid $2,000 for

Jason Kendall (pictured), 35, surrendered him to the police on June 28 and confessed to the murder of Larissa Garcia, 30, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

Kendall allegedly confessed to choking Garcia on June 12. He is now being held in custody without bail, and faces charges of open murder, sexual assault, and battery.

An anonymous caller, who has now been identified as Kendall, called 911 and reported an overdose inside a hotel room.

Security responded to the call and found Garcia on the floor with a cut on her jaw.

First responders were under the impression Garcia was overdosing, so Metro police were not initially called to the scene.

On June 12, Kendall called 911 to report of an overdose inside a hotel room at the Palms Casino Resort (pictured), per police documents

Paramedics brought Garcia to Spring Valley Hospital. Doctors did not detect alcohol or drugs in her blood, immediately weeding out overdose as a possible cause of death.

Instead, doctors suspected Garcia was a victim of battery based on her sustained injuries.

'Upon further inspection it looks like she was assaulted,' the nurse told the dispatcher about 15 minutes after Garcia arrived at the hospital. 'We thought it was an overdose, but she is not responding to Narcan or any of those drugs.'

'Do we have any suspect information at all?' the dispatcher asked the nurse.

'No, no one was there, and like I said, it was an unknown caller, an anonymous caller,' the nurse said.

Garcia was declared brain dead and died at the hospital one week after the incident at the Palms.

Garcia's mother, Kristie Pike (left) posted a photo of her and Garcia (right) when she was just a baby as well as another picture of Garcia as a toddler. The comments were flooded with words of love and support, calling Garcia an angel.

Police found out that the room reservation was placed by Kendall. They then met the suspect at a different hotel, where he declined to provide information without the presence of an attorney.

Six days after the initial incident at the Palms, a nurse specializing in sexual assault trauma reported that Garcia had been strangled and 'possibly suffocated.'

Surveillance footage from the Palms shows Kendall meeting Garcia in the lobby around 4 p.m. An hour later, Kendall is seen leaving the hotel alone.

Detectives later located messages between Kendall and Garcia and a web history of Kendall viewing Garcia's escort advertisement, documents said.

Garcia was a single mother of two, her friends told 8News. In a GoFundMe organized by her friends, she is described as '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. One that reflects the love and joy she brought to the world,' the description read.

Surveillance footage from the Palms shows Kendall meeting Garcia in the lobby around 4 p.m. An hour later, Kendall is seen leaving the hotel alone

Six days after the initial incident at the Palms, a nurse specializing in sexual assault trauma reported that Garcia had been strangled and 'possibly suffocated'

Garcia has been remembered by family and friends who say she was a warm, caring woman

The murdered sex worker's death has shaken Sin City, which has long had a reputation as a lucrative destination for prostitutes to ply their trade

Garcia is pictured with a friend. Social media has been flooded with tributes to the murdered mother-of-two

Kendall is an Army veteran, source close to 8NewsNow said.

The suspect made his first court appearance Saturday afternoon.

He was ordered to be held without bail until his next court appearance, which was scheduled for Tuesday.

Garcia's mother, Kristie Pike, posted a photo of her and Garcia when she was just a baby as well as another picture of Garcia as a toddler. The comments were flooded with words of love and support, calling Garcia an angel.
Joe Biden's emergency meeting with Democrat governors to shore-up support has hit a huge obstacle after one leading lawmaker was accused of lying.

New York's Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul offered unanimous support for the ailing president, 81, after the meeting - but other politicians in attendance say that she had no right to.

And another female Democrat governor - Janet Mills of Maine - pulled no punches in blasting Biden over last week's dreadful debate performance after he tried to soothe them by saying he'd been given a thumbs up from a medical checkup earlier this week.

Mills directly told Biden she had no problem with his age but that she felt he wasn't up to run against Donald Trump, while Ned Lamont of Connecticut asked what his path forward was, citing a need to make the case to his constituents.

Both governors questioned whether he could even beat Trump in their states, according to sources in attendance. A Democrat hasn't lost Connecticut or Maine since 1988.

Joe Biden's emergency meeting with Democrat governors to shore-up support has hit a huge obstacle after one leading lawmaker was accused of lying

New York's Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured center) offered unanimous support for the ailing president, 81, after the meeting - but other politicians in attendance say that she had no right to

Several liberal governors like would be successors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan did follow Hochul's lead, obsequiously tweeting their support after the meeting.

Many of the governors, including Whitmer, only attended the meeting virtually. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also was there.

Biden held the White House summit after nearly a week of bad press and calls to drop out of the race following his debate disaster with Trump. It lasted over an hour and those in attendance described the conversation as 'candid.'

Vice President Kamala Harris, whom many see as the likely successor at the top of the ticket, ended the meeting by reiterating the threat to democracy that a Trump win would mean, according to the New York Times.

Several of the governors did try to reassure Democrats that Biden was capable of doing this and that they'd owed him their support.

'The president has always had our backs. We're going to have his back as well,' Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters.

'The president ... he's our nominee. The president is our party leader,' he added.

Moore, Hochul and Minnesota's Tim Walz, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, were the only three of the 12 who attended in person to speak to the media afterward.

Governor Janet Mills of Maine pulled no punches in blasting Biden over last week's dreadful debate performance after he tried to soothe them by saying he'd been given a thumbs up from a medical checkup earlier this week

Ned Lamont of Connecticut asked what his path forward was, citing a need to make the case to his constituents

'Obviously we, like many Americans, are a little worried. We're worried because the threat of a Trump presidency is not theoretical,' Walz said.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who participated in person, posted his reaction on social platform X: 'I heard three words from the President tonight -- hes all in. And so am I.'

Biden's campaign said the president reiterated his determination 'to defeat the existential threat of Donald Trump at the ballot box in November' and discussed the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ballot.

'All participants reiterated their shared commitment to do everything possible to make sure President Biden and Vice President Harris beat Donald Trump in November,' it said.

Biden's efforts to pull multiple levers to salvage his faltering reelection include his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a network television interview.

But he was confronting serious indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said that though he backs Biden as long as he is a candidate, this 'is an opportunity to look elsewhere' and what Biden 'needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat - and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.'

Wealthy donor Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, called on Biden to drop out as well.
Joe Biden has told aides he may have to step down as a 2024 presidential nominee - and what could prompt that decision as early as next week.

Allies who spoke with the New York Times said that the 81-year-old has acknowledged that three appearances scheduled for this weekend will make or break his re-election bid.

These include a ABC interview on Friday night and campaign stops in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin not to mention a campaign call on Wednesday in which he reportedly told campaign staff: 'No one is pushing me out.'

One ally told the New York Times: 'He knows if he has two more events like that [the debate], were in a different place.'

All are seen as crucial after last Thursday's disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump, which turbocharged calls from other Democrats for Biden to bow out.

President Joe Biden attends the first presidential debate hosted by CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive to speak at a campaign event in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024





White House aides have denied the New York Times' claims an exit plan has been mooted.

These accounts are the first indication that the president is considering whether he is able to recover from his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

His family - including wife Jill and felon former drug addict son Hunter - are among allies who've reportedly pushed him hardest to remain in the White House.

But despite the tough talk, Biden is said to privately concede that he may well have to bow out in favor of a younger Democrat candidate to take on a surging Trump.

On Wednesday, Biden assured campaign staff on a call that despite mounting calls for him to stand down he remains in the 2024 race for the presidency.

He said: 'Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running - no one's pushing me out.

'I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win.'

'If the New York Times had provided us with more than 7 minutes to comment we would have told them so.'

Later on Wednesday evening, Biden met with 20 Democrat governors at the White House to assure them that he was fit to run.

Afterwards, New York Governor Kathy Hochul claimed she and her colleagues unanimously backed Biden's re-election attempt.

But she's since been accused of lying by an anonymous Democrat source who told the New York Times that there's far more continued discontent about Biden's performance and abilities among governors than Hochul let on.

Senior advisers told the Associated Press that they believe Biden may have mere days to mount a convincing display of his fitness for office before his party's panic boils over, according to two people with knowledge who insisted on anonymity to more freely discuss strategy.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also told reporters during her briefing on Wednesday that Biden is not preparing to exit the race.

Jean-Pierre, spent the best part of an hour being grilled on the President's health and confirmed that while he still has a cold, he hasn't seen a doctor.

Jean-Pierre claimed 'jet lag' from his two back-to-back international trips 12 days before the debate contributed to the president's poor showing.

She also confirmed Biden hasn't had a medical examination since February.

Biden himself even admitted that he nearly dozed off on stage 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 televised showdown with former President Donald Trump.

New poll shows Donald Trump three points ahead on average in all seven swing states after the debate with Joe Biden last week

Biden did back-to-back trips to France for a D-Day anniversary celebration and then onto Italy for the G7 in June.

Upon his return, the president took a holiday at his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Then Biden spent a whole week at the presidential retreat Camp David resting and preparing for the debate.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Biden was so drained from the jet-setting that advisers cut debate prep short by two days - in order to fit in the beach trip.

While at Camp David, debate prep didn't start before 11 a.m. and Biden was given time each day in the afternoon to take a nap.

The president made the clear at the Tuesday campaign event his travel is 'not an excuse but an explanation.'

Meanwhile sitting Democrats have called on President Biden to withdraw from the presidential race, striking another blow to the campaign as defectors trickle out against him.

Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva, 76, is urging Biden not to run again, The New York Times reported Wednesday. He is the second sitting Democrat to call for the president's withdrawal.

President Joe Biden speaks during a Medal of Honor Ceremony at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Two other House Democrats have openly said they believe former President Donald Trump will beat Biden - and that lack of confidence will surely be a topic of conversation between the party leaders which is planned for this evening.

'If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere,' Grijalva said.

'What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.'

Biden is holding the annual Independence Day party at the White House on Thursday and traveling to Madison, Wisconsin on Friday where he will sit down with ABC News for his first post-debate interview.

The President will then head to a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday.

Both Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are key swing states that will help determine the outcome of the 2024 race.

In those states and the five other battlegrounds, Trump has pulled ahead in polling following their debate in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, June 27.

Since the debate, Biden and his team have conducted widespread damage control and reached out to reassure party members, staff, lawmakers, donors, allies and voters that Biden is still a viable candidate that can beat Trump again.

But many within the party are looking for other options and are floating those like Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

None are able to beat Trump in nationwide and battleground state polling and all fall behind Biden in his chances of winning against the former president.
An Australian woman is fighting for life and could possibly lose one of her eyes after a mystery accident in Bali.

Former Seaworld worker Rebecca Ode was rushed to Ngoerah General Hospital for brain and eye reconstructive surgery after she was found semi-conscious on a road in Nusa Lembongan at 9pm on Monday.

The 36-year-old, from Newcastle, NSW, is in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.

She had been on the small island off Bali's southeast on an extended break when she suffered the 'terrible accident'.

'No one knows what happened to her,' her brother-in-law Jesse Wilton told news.com.au.

Australian woman Rebecca Ode (pictured) suffered a brain aneurysm while on holiday and is in intensive care in a Bali hospital

'We have no idea how the injury happened there was no alcohol and the extent of her injuries is quite traumatic.'

Ms Ode has been left with structural damage to her face that will leave her disfigured for the rest of her life.

'She has haemorrhaging on the brain and has a fractured cheek and jaw almost beyond repair,' Mr Wilton said.

Ms Ode's (pictured) distraught family is desperately scrambling to raise the money to bring her home

'She will lose one eye, and has titanium plates in collar bones.'

Mr Wilton said in a GoFundMe organised for Ms Ode that she is a 'strong and caring, daughter, aunty and friend (who) urgently needs to be medically evacuated home from Bali for ongoing treatment'.

'Bec needs the best health care possible as soon as possible which means bringing her home,' Mr Wilton wrote, adding that her hospital bills have already passed $60,000.

Rebecca Ode (x-ray pictured) had a 'terrible accident' on the holiday island and was rushed to Ngoerah General Hospital for brain and eye reconstructive surgery

Ms Ode's mother Shari and sister Jordyn are 'by her side in Bali and while her recovery journey is unknown we know Bec will continue fighting her best fight with her strong will and determination,' he said.

Jordyn wrote on Facebook: 'It's a terrifying thought to know that it is all but confirmed she has lost her vision in one eye.

'The impact completely pushed her eye out of her head, and the damage was so severe they weren't sure they could save the eye at all.'

'Her nose was split in half, and the cartilage was shattered. They had to rebuild her face, and I am desperate to get her home for professional help.

'The orthopaedic surgeons repaired her collarbone and shoulder, which were also hit. She now has a metal plate to keep her clavicle together.'

Jordyn said Rebecca went to Bali 'seeking peace after two extremely painful years following our father's passing.

'I am devastated to know she will soon wake up and face the reality that her world has been turned upside down yet again.'

'This has been an incredibly challenging time. We are in a third-world country with doctors who speak limited English, hoping our interpretations are correct.

'We are extremely grateful for the efforts of the surgeons who have helped her thus far.'

Ms Ode (right), who had been in Nusa Lembongan on an extended break, was found 'in and out of consciousness' at around 9pm on Monday and 'in a very bad way'

Ms Ode (pictured) went to Bali 'seeking peace after two extremely painful years following our father's passing,' her sister said

On top of the initial medical bills, the cost of getting Ms Ode back to Australia is expected to be enormous.

'Once there is clearance to get her onto a plane, it's expected a flight to Sydney and transfers to Newcastle to be more than $120,000.

Once home Bec is likely to have a long journey of rehabilitation. We are estimating it will be close to $250,000 just to get back to Australia,' Mr Wilton said.

Ms Ode's insurance cover is not known but is being investigated.

As of Thursday evening, the fundraiser had accumulated more than $84,000 of its $150,000 goal.

'It will be one step at a time, but an expensive journey, if we all pull together we can make a big difference,' Mr Wilton said.
Bill Shorten has launched an extraordinary attack on the Coalition over delays to laws reforming the NDIS - one day after striking a deal with Pauline Hanson to make sure the disability insurance agency is used only by people in need.

During Question Time on Thursday, Mr Shorten blew up about NDIS-funded tarot cards and cuddle therapy - and slammed the Opposition as 'oxygen-stealingly dumb' for stalling on law reforms.

Mr Shorten, who is the NDIS Minister, was asked in the House of Representatives on Thursday about the risks of delaying Labor's legislation to delay reforms to the scheme that would ultimately change the way recipients receive their allowance.

The proposal would also curb a top-up-payments scheme and curtail the therapies available on the NDIS. According to Mr Shorten, it would save taxpayers more than $1billion.

So far, the legislation has been blocked in the Senate by members of the Coalition who have taken three months to consider the changes, and have now asked for a further eight weeks.

On Thursday, Shorten thanked the 400,000 disability workers who received pay rises, tax cuts and energy relief this financial year.

However, he then slammed the current scheme as unsustainable.

Bill Shorten is pictured in Question Time on Thursday afternoon, before he blew up about the NDIS

He asked the Coalition backbench whether it would take them eight weeks to say whether someone on the NDIS should be able to claim tarot cards and clairvoyants.

'You don't need eight weeks to work that out,' he yelled.

'Do you think that it should take eight weeks to work out if people should be able to get cuddle therapy? Of course you don't, but for whatever reason, you are taking eight weeks and a billion dollars to sort out the answer to obvious questions.'

Stephen Jones, the Assistant Treasurer, then yelled: 'The defender of cuddles!'

Mr Shorten continued: 'To be fair, I don't think cuddle therapy should be on the NDIS but I think someone should give the Leader of the Opposition a cuddle after the week he's had.

'The fact of the matter is - and I just say this, I just say this once - there's a billion dollars being wasted. Participants on the scheme, 60,000 kids could get a year's support.

Bill Shorten formed an unlikely allegiance with Pauline Hanson over the NDIS on Wednesday (pictured together)

Shorten with daughter Georgette at the Midwinter Ball on Wednesday evening

He then bellowed across the House: 'Why, why are you so oxygen-stealingly dumb to waste time on a billion dollars? Shame on all of you!'

On Wednesday, Mr Shorten and One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson formed an unusual alliance where she pledged her support for the legislation.

'Australians support the NDIS, but not for things like holidays, court fines, drugs, sex toys, and ridiculous bogus treatments like crystals and cuddle therapies,' she said.

'Im pleased Minister Shorten has recognised that this has gotten out of control and is now acting to ensure NDIS money is spent on necessary disability supports rather than this all-you-can-claim buffet the scheme has become. I have been demanding this for many years.'

Ms Hanson has previously described the scheme as a scam but, speaking to Sky News, she said the NDIS was important for people who 'truly are disabled, not those ones who are ripping the guts out of it and taking money from it'.

Mr Shorten has now launched a roving billboard truck, which reads: 'Delays to the NDIS laws cost you $1.1billion.'
She passed a note to her supporters after she was jailed for 18 years

Lauren Dickason murdered her two-year-old twin girls and their sister Liane, six

A mother jailed for smothering her three young daughters has coldly described her 18-year triple murder sentence as 'a win for mental health'.

Lauren Dickason, 41, murdered her two-year-old twins daughters, Maya and Karla, and their six-year-old sister Liane at their home in Timaru, New Zealand, on September 16, 2021.

Dickason admitted killing the kids but pleaded not guilty to the charges, arguing that she could not be held responsible because she was mentally unwell.

She faced an excruciating five-week trial before a jury found her guilty on three counts of murder last August.

Justice Cameron Mander last Wednesday said her mental health issues were a factor in her not being locked up for life.

He said the 'systematic and methodical' approach to the brutal murders reflected Dickason's belief that the girls were 'better off dead'.

Dickason released a statement after she was sentenced to six years in prison for each of the girls' deaths, saying she 'owed it to everyone and myself to get mentally healthier'.

'I will do whatever it takes, although I know that will never change the past,' she added.

A mother who brutally killed her three daughters, Lauren Dickason (pictured), has avoided a life sentence because of mental issues that were a 'causative factor' in the killings

That was not all she had to say, however, with Dickason sending a series of notes to her supporters, which have been shared on a Facebook group campaigning for the killer mum.

In the most recent 'Note from Lauren', seen by the New Zealand Herald, Dickason thanked those advocating for her release for their 'love and support'.

'Yesterday was a win for maternal mental health,' the note reads.

'Justice Mander heard me. His decision is fair and just.

'Thank you all for your love and support over the last year.

'Thank you for believing my version of events  that I am not an angry, jealous and selfish person; but rather a mother suffering from a severe mental illness while trying to raise my three beautiful little girls and supporting my husband in all his endeavours.'

'I believe you can have it all, but just not all at once.

'Be kind to yourselves and talk until someone hears you. Do not be ashamed to admit if you can't cope.

'There is a way out which doesn't have to end in tragedy.'

Dickason murdered her two-year-old twins daughters, Maya and Karla, and their six-year-old sister Liane (all pictured) at their home in Timaru, New Zealand, on September 16, 2021

Dickason at first tried to kill her children using zip ties and then suffocated them with pillows. She then placed them in their beds under the covers and tried to kill herself.

Justice Mander told Dickason during her sentencing that her children were not just vulnerable because of their age, but because they were 'entirely dependent upon you as the mother who they look to for care and protection'.

'They would have viewed you as an unconditional source of safety and love... The ending represents a fundamental breach of trust.'

He sentenced her to three determinate sentences of 18 years to be served concurrently and did not set a minimum term of imprisonment.

Judge Mander also ruled that Dickason would be detained at a mental health for compulsory treatment until she is mentally well to be transferred to prison.

Dickason will be eligible for parole after six years of her sentence has been served.

Through her counsel, the mother-of-three took responsibility for the deaths and apologised for the pain she had caused her husband Graham.

'I loved Liane, Maya and Karla with all my heart. No apology will ever be enough, and words will seem hollow to many,' she said.

'I want people to know our girls brought me so much joy and were the centre of my world. I am horrified by my actions, and the pain, distress and trauma I have caused everyone who loved them. Like many others, I miss them every single day.'

Through her counsel, the mother-of-three took responsibility for the deaths and apologised for the pain she had caused her husband Graham and their families

Dickason, a former doctor, said she wanted people to know about the risks of post-partum depression and that she was dedicated to improving her mental health.

'We urge other families to look for and act on unhealthy signs. We urge women experiencing the symptoms of post-partum depression to tell the ones they love.

'This pain and heartbreak cannot happen to any other families.'

Judge Mander said Dickason had struggled with poor mental health for most of her life and was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder in her teens.

Her mental state worsened following the births of her daughters and she began seeing a psychiatrist for treatment for post-natal depression.

Dickason began experiencing intrusive thoughts of harming her children in the months leading up to the triple-murder, Judge Mander said.

Following her murder trial last August, the judge said he had been provided with three expert reports on Dickason's current state of mental health.

The reports found she had 'recognition of the impact of the offending on others' and that she had expressed 'regret and remorse' for killing her three daughters.

Some experts said Dickason was still impacted by mental disorders.

Judge Mander said Mr Dickason, who is also a doctor, had conducted himself with grace and stoicism despite the 'unfathomable loss'.

She and her husband had moved to New Zealand from South Africa just days before the murders, seeking a more stable lifestyle for their family.

Her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, returned from a work dinner to find his children dead. He later told police that he knew his wife was struggling with her mental health and with motherhood but had no idea she was capable of killing.

The guilty verdict came after a four-week trial. The jury - comprised of eight women and four men - rejected Dickason's legal defences under New Zealand's insanity and infanticide laws and voted 11-1 that she be found guilty.
MARCH 2020

Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.

She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.'

'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,

'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance'

Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.

APRIL

Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'.

Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.

'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.'

MAY

Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight.

'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.'

That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers

She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty'

JUNE

On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body

JULY

On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.

On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery.

She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.

On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.

On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress.

AUGUST

On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.'

On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family.

SEPTEMBER

At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.

Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.

The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.

OCTOBER

On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime.

Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.

NOVEMBER

Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.

She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.

DECEMBER

The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.

She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.

On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London.

On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.

JANUARY 2021

Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.

She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown.

FEBRUARY

Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma

MARCH

Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek's needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.

The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus.

Kate also revealed that Derek has 'no muscle left' since battling Covid

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home.

MAY

Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were 'minimal' and he 'couldn't really move'

DECEMBER

During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said 'I love you' for the first time.

After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family

JANUARY 2022

Kate revealed that Derek was 'very fatigued' and 'very weak' following the family outing, adding: 'I don't know what this year is going to bring.'

FEBRUARY

Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek

She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself.

JULY

On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a 'downturn,' and in a later interview said she takes things 'day by day.'

On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek's bedside after he took a 'very serious' turn for the worse.

Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: 'At one point Derek said to me, "This is it, this time. I am gone." It was just terrifying.

'His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.'

JANUARY 2023

Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years.

Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: 'This gives the impression you still don't get why they are cross. You still don't get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.'

APRIL

Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple.

She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple, writing on Instagram: 'Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there's such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.'

It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a 'final hope' to help her husband.

MAY

Kate reportedly faced a huge 716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband's business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19.

The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed.

A friend told The Sun: 'The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process.

'When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that's owed.

'It's no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years.

'Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek's terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.'

DECEMBER

Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack.

Kate held a 24/7 vigil by his bedside and cancelled all work commitments while the family 'prayed for a miracle'.

A source said: 'It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.

'This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him. Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life.

'Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.'

JANUARY 2024

Kate announced on January 5 that Derek had passed away.

She said: 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed.

'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'.

MailOnline understands he passed away on January 3 in a North London hospital.

He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14.
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.
Five officers were taken to hospital after a man in their custody died when he swallowed a highly lethal poison.

Police arrested the 27-year-old man at a home in Kyneton, in the Macedon Ranges about 86km north-west of Melbourne, on Tuesday.

They called for medical assistance and began CPR after the man became 'unwell and unresponsive'.

The man died at the scene, despite the efforts of emergency responders to revive him.

Five officers who were inside the home at the time weren't affected but were taken to hospital as a precaution.

A forensic analysis of the substance the man swallowed is ongoing, but police claim the man swallowed sodium cyanide, the Age reported.

The man's devastated family are now demanding answers about what happened during the arrest, Nine News reported.

Officers attended the home as part of an ongoing investigation, which a Victoria Police spokeswoman declined to comment on.

Fice police officers have been rushed to hospital after a suspect allegedly swallowed sodium cyanide - a lethal substance - during a home raid in Kyneton, Victoria, on Tuesday

Police are investigating the substance was and have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation

As the man died in police custody, the professional standards command and the homicide squad have launched investigations into the man's death.

Sodium cyanide is mainly used for industrial purposes, especially in the gold mining industry, and a 2010 government assessment revealed that it was also used in metal cleaning, research, and pest control.

The chemical has since been widely banned and is not registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for agricultural or veterinary usage.

Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
A Chinese national who killed a beauty clinic manager when she administered a lethal dose of anaesthetic during a botched breast augmentation procedure has been sentenced to over six years in jail.

Jie Shao, 40, on Thursday fronted the Downing Centre District Court to learn her fate after she was found guilty of manslaughter over the death of Jean Huang nearly seven years ago.

Ms Huang died following a procedure to pump hyaluronic acid filler into her breasts at the Medi Beauty Clinic in August 2017.

The cosmetic procedure was performed at the Chippendale clinic where Ms Huang was a part owner and manager.

The court heard that during the procedure Ms Huang began convulsing and foaming at the mouth before going into cardiac arrest.

She was rushed to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital but was declared brain dead and her life support was turned off.

Shao pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of using a poison to endanger life relating to the administration of an anaesthetic, Lidocaine.

Shao fought the more serious charge of manslaughter during a three-week trial, but was found guilty in March this year.

'She did not intend to kill the deceased or cause her very serious harm, it would be a case of murder if she had,' Judge Timothy Gartelmann said during his sentencing remarks on Thursday.

Jie Shao pleaded not guilty to manslaughter before being found guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court

'But she was at least reckless as to causing injury to the deceased, as her plea to the alternative offence admits.'

And nearly seven years since the tragic incident, Shao sat in a court, dressed in a black suit and with her hair tied back, as she was sentenced on Thursday afternoon.

The court heard that during the procedure Shao administered painkiller Tramadol, the local anaesthetic Lidocaine and the breast filler.

The court heard that Ms Huang was injected with 2000mg of Lidocaine - administered in ten syringes.

'The offender was not authorised to administer (the Lidocaine), she was not a medical practitioner registered in Australia,' Judge Gartelmann

'The offender injected more than the maximum safe dose into the deceased.'

After Ms Shao injected Lidocaine, Ms Huang began slurring her words.

After Ms Huang passed out she suffered what appeared to be a seizure, vomited and changed colour, Judge Gartelmann told the court on Thursday.

'The offender continued with the procedure during these developments,' Judge Gartelmann said.

The facility did not have the required resuscitation and safety equipment, meaning it was unlicensed to perform the procedure.

Judge Gartelmann described how Ms Huang's loved ones had expressed feeling 'emptiness and pain' following her death.

Earlier this year the court heard that Ms Huang was described by her mother, Lily Huang, as being the 'light' of her family.

Jean Huang died following a breast augmentation procedure inside her Chippendale clinic in inner Sydney

Shaoadministered a lethal dose of anaesthetic during the botched breast augmentation

'Jean was not just my daughter - she was the light of our family - smart, beautiful, kind, generous and funny,' Lily Huang said in a victim impact statement that was read to the court.

Shao arrived in Australia a few days before the procedure and was linked with the Chippendale clinic via a sister clinic in Melbourne.

The court heard that while Shao had a degree from the Guangdong Medical University in China, she was not registered as a practising doctor in Australia or China.

The court heard that Shao had expressed regret and blamed herself for what had occurred.

A charge of manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Judge Gartelmann took into account her clean criminal history and the fact she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

Shao was on Thursday sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, with a three-year, six-month non parole period.

The court heard that she had already served 268 days in pre-sentence custody - including immigration detention - and with time served she will first be eligible for release in December 2026.

Outside court, Shao's solicitor Jeff Chan said his client had 'a lot of remorse'.

'She's very upset, but it is what it is,' Mr Chan said.

A nurse, Yueqiong Fu, who assisted in carrying out the procedure on Ms Huang, was in 2019 sentenced to a two-year good behaviour bond.

Fu pleaded guilty to recklessly administering poison and providing false statements.
Police arrested him after tips from the public

A sweet-toothed shoplifter has been arrested after he was allegedly caught trying to steal hundreds of chocolate bars.

The alleged thief is accused of loading his trolley with 241 Whittaker's chocolate blocks worth a total of $1,349.60 from a supermarket in South Auckland, New Zealand, this week.

Police alleged the man still tried to get away with the New Zealand-made chocolate after he was busted.

'Fortunately, on-site security staff were able to lock the trolley, which the offender has then tried to drag before it has tipped over and all items were recovered before he got too far,' Counties Manukau South Senior Sergeant MJ Riddle said in a statement.

Police made the arrest following extensive inquiries into a string of store thefts across South Auckland in recent weeks.

The alleged shoplifter was tracked down at a property in Papakura after police acted on information they received.

A 37-year-old man was charged with multiple counts of burglary and shoplifting.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in Papakura District Court next Monday.

A man is currently behind bars after he allegedly tried to steal this haul of Whitakker's chocolate (pictured)

The 37-year-old still tried to drag his trolley once spotted by security, who locked its wheels

Police hailed the arrest as an 'excellent outcome' as shoplifting is 'damaging' to communities.

'Police will continue to target prolific offending against retail businesses in our communities,' she said.

'This is also another great example of how the community can assist us in reporting suspicious and illegal behaviour.'

In a separate shoplifting incident, police arrested a woman for allegedly stealing products worth more than $21,000 across multiple supermarkets over Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland).

She faces 20 charges of shoplifting when she appears in Manukau District Court this week.
The Metropolitan Police is set to review its probe into a fatal crash at a Wimbledon prep school which claimed the lives of two eight-year-old girls.

The decision comes after 'angry, sad and confused' headteachers lashed out at the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) move not to charge the driver who killed Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau.

The girls were enjoying an end-of-term party at The Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London, when a Land Rover driven by Claire Freemantle ploughed into the celebrations, fatally injuring them and wounding a dozen others

Last week, prosecutors revealed 47-year-old Ms Freemantle would not be charged with any criminal offence as she had suffered an epileptic seizure behind the wheel - in a move that outraged the families of Nuria and Selena.

And today both the current and former headteacher, who was in charge of the school at the time of last year's crash, have criticised the police over its investigation and blasted the CPS's move not to prosecute.

An 80,000 Land Rover crashed through the primary school's gates during an end of term picnic, killing the two girls and injuring a dozen others

Nuria Sajjad (left) had been enjoying enjoying a tea party with her classmates to mark the last day of term when horrific crash took place. The crash also killed Selena Lau (right)

The school's current Sharon Maher (left) and Helen Lowe, the former head in charge of the school at the time of the crash, have hit out at the decision not to prosecute the driver

In response, the Met Police told MailOnline: 'Having listened to concerns from the families of both Nuria and Selena - and other parties affected - we are committed to addressing their questions, and the Specialist Crime Review Group (SCRG) will therefore be carrying out a review of the investigation.'

The Met said its officers had worked 'tirelessly' to investigate every detail of the tragedy.

However, Sharon Maher, the current head at Wimbledon school, questioned this and said: 'It didn't look that way to us.'

Former head Helen Lowe - who vividly recalls the carnage following the crash and comforting a fatally injured Nuria and her mother - said she hadn't even been called as a witness by the police.

Speaking in her first interview since the tragedy, she told the BBC: 'No, I think the words "thorough" and "tireless" suggest that you would have a body of evidence that you would be able to share but in some areas there was just a complete lack of knowledge, of basic information.'

Ms Maher added the school had to wait nearly a year for the decision, which came just 10 days before the anniversary of the girls' deaths on July 6, 2023.

And Ms Lowe said the victims and school had been 'let down' by the Met and its inability to answer some of the questions from bereaved families, school parents and staff.

'Maybe when they [the Met] go away and look at the evidence, they will remember the answers,' she added. 'But there were a number of occasions where they weren't sure if something had been done, or they couldn't remember.'

Nuria's mother Smera was also injured in the horrific crash that took place just after this photo of them was taken

Selena Lau playing piano at a school concert shortly before tragedy struck last July

After the CPS decision the girls' grieving families raged that 'justice has neither been done, nor has been seen to be done today' - and that they remained 'unconvinced' the police probe had been conducted thoroughly.

In a joint statement, Sajjad Butt, Smera Chohan, Franky Lau and Jessie Deng - the parents of Nuria and Selena - said: 'All the victims of the events of July 6 2023 did nothing wrong.

'We were all in the safest place we could have been outside our own homes. We were celebrating a day filled with joy.

'Nuria and Selena's lives were taken in a moment. So many lives were also irreparably shattered in that moment.

'Hundreds of people - parents, teachers, children, neighbours, friends and family members - will never lead "normal" lives again. Some of us will never experience joy again.

'We have tried to keep faith in the systems and institutions that are supposed to protect victims and deliver justice to those affected. We have been disappointed by this system. We have already expressed, publicly, our dissatisfaction with the pace of the investigative process.

Flowers and toys placed outside The Study Prep school in Wimbledon, south-west London, after the incident

Nuria, who would have turned nine on March 20, is pictured with her loving parents Smera and Sajjad

'It is now clear to us that the depth of the process is questionable too. In the absence of any concrete evidence to the contrary, we can only surmise that the investigation has been equally poor.'

Trevor Sterling, lawyer for the families, added: 'This is disappointing; justice must not only be done, but seen to be done.'

Last week the CPS said there was nothing to suggest the driver could have predicted or prevented the tragedy, and therefore they would not seek a criminal prosecution.

Speaking out following the CPS's decision, a grief-stricken Ms Freemantle expressed her 'deepest sorrow' and said she had 'no recollection of what took place' after losing consciousness because of an epileptic seizure at the wheel.

She added: 'Since I became aware of the terrible event that took place on July 6, the devastating consequences for all those affected have not left my thoughts and will be with me for the rest of my life,' she said.

'I have since been diagnosed as having suffered an epileptic seizure with loss of consciousness. This was not a pre-existing condition. As a result of losing consciousness I have no recollection of what took place.

'I can only express my deepest sorrow for the families who have suffered such dreadful loss and injury.

'As a mother, I understand there can be no words that adequately express the pain and loss resulting from what happened in those horrendous moments while I was unconscious.

'My heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of the children and families affected, and especially to the parents of Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau.'

Specialist officers are pictured at the scene of the incident last July

The Land Rover crashed through a fence at The Study Prep school in south-west London at around 10am on July 6, 2023

Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland insisted 'significant inquiries' had been carried out by a team of 'specialist officers' which established Ms Freemantle suffered a 'previously undiagnosed seizure' that caused her to crash

'Having carried out a detailed examination of her medical records, we know that she couldn't have predicted or prevented the incident,' she added.

'The consequences of this were, as we know, absolutely devastating and the hurt and pain that followed will always be deeply felt.

'I can understand that some may be confused - perhaps even feel let down - by this outcome and want to give every reassurance that our officers worked tirelessly through every detail of the incident to ensure a complete investigation be passed to the CPS.

'To bring charges in cases like this there needs to be an element of responsibility on the part of the driver, and, given the circumstances, this was simply not borne out on this occasion. What happened that day was a very tragic accident which has had a profound impact on the lives of a number of people.

'While our priority has been to support the affected families - including the further six families of those who received injuries - we have also remained in close contact with both the school and local council representatives throughout, updating them on the timeline of the investigation while maintaining the integrity of our inquiries.'
After weeks of campaigning, polling stations open for voters to have their say at the General Election today, which means the return of the trend #dogsatpollingstations - along with cats and a horse.

Millions of people will cast their vote between 7am and 10pm, with opinion polls suggesting Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons.

Polling stations are now open, including the one in Kirby Sigston in North Yorkshire, where Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to vote later.

Mr Sunak said today represents a 'pivotal moment' for the country's future as he claimed Labour would 'wield their unchecked power' to increase taxes should they secure a 'supermajority'.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK 'cannot afford' five more years under the Conservatives, adding Britain can 'begin a new chapter' under his party.

On a less serious note, dogs across the country are being snapped waiting dutifully for their owner to cast a vote.

#DogsAtPollingStations is one of the highest trends on X this morning, with adorable polling pooches seen next to signs.

One pup named Mavis was pictured high-fiving the camera, with her owner writing on X: 'Paws up for change! Mavis feels getting in early is impawtent in Bury North on a day like this.'

Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

Jimmy the Miniature Schnauzer pictured at the new constituency of Hampstead and Highgate

Cute five-year-old Romanian rescue Spud in Doncaster is held by a sign for a quick snap

Dozens of hounds from The Hursley Hambledon Hunt wait outside the Meonstoke Village Hall polling station in the Hampshire countryside

JJ the Labrador at the polling station in Myddle, Shropshire earlier today

A grumpy but cute looking Amber the shih tzu sits in the flowers by a polling station sign

One pup named Mavis was pictured high-fiving the camera, with her owner writing on X: 'Paws up for change! Mavis feels getting in early is impawtent in Bury North on a day like this'

Joey the Shih Tzu waits in a pram outside the polling station at St James' Church, Goldenacre, in Edinburgh.

Marley the dog looks worries as he waits for its owner outside a polling station in Belfast

Smart boy Spike dressed up especially for the occasion this morning

A very cool-looking dog poses with style for a photo at his local polling station

Another well dressed pooch, Lottie the Labour Briard, in Over Haddon, Derbyshire

A man and a dog wait outside a polling station during the British General Election at Richmond Methodist Church in Richmond, North Yorkshire

Left: A six-month-old fluffy puppy is pictured at his first ever #dogsatpollingstations day. Right: Ringo at his first election in Poole, Dorset

Roscoe, a two-year-old Tibetan Terrier at Royal Tunbridge Wells polling station

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also posted to get in on the trend with a voter's dog

A cute Old English Sheepdog along for the vote this morning in Wokingham

One person even brought along their cockerel to vote

Coco the French bulldog made the pawfect companion to Anne and Alistair Blake when the married couple, in their 60s, went to cast their vote at the village hall in Oreton, Shropshire

This incredibly fluffy pup sits patiently in front of a polling station sign

Even horses have been spotted coming along this morning, like this one in Holne, Devon

It's not just dogs, with this cat owner bringing along his confused pet in a carrier to vote

The dogs in polling stations trend first emerged during the 2015 election and typically features photographs of pets pictured waiting for their owners while they cast their votes.

Edinburgh Council posted a smiling Golden Retriever called Ivy on X to remind people that only assistance dogs are allowed inside.

Some dogs, like one sleepy collie, were clearly not happy at being dragged out of bed early this morning for a picture by a polling station sign.

But one wide-awake foster dog named Roma was thrilled to be included as he was brought along.

Most of the dogs were pictured sitting patiently outside the polling stations and generally conducting themselves in a calm and considerate manner.

There are no specific rules banning dogs from inside polling stations, as this depends on whether the building which is being used for the vote usually allows them.

Read more:

Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

A dog waits outside a polling station in Swainby as voters go to the polls

A dog waits outside a polling station in Great Ayton

This adorable dog named Toffee came with his owner to vote in Wood Green, London

Even cats are chiming in on the action today, with some suggesting a new trend with felines

Bettie, voting for the 'Treat Party', poses with her owner today

Yogi, a tiny 13-year-old border terrier, poses by his local polling station sign

One-year-old Labrador retriever cross Hector joined his owners at the polls in Newington, Kent

This little pug named Peanut reluctantly sat for a photograph this morning

It comes after the Sun finally announced their last-minute endorsement of Sir Keir - to the fury of both readers and those in Liverpool a Labour stronghold which has long shunned the newspaper after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

An exit poll, published shortly after 10pm tonight, will provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.

These take place at polling stations across the UK, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30pm.

Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

Tiny Tim the dog yawns as he waits for his owner in Cromer, Norfolk, today

Rebel Barney a Cockapoo walks in protest over a No Dogs sign sprayed outside the Polling Station at St Mark's Hospital in Maidenhead, Berkshire

Bonnie a rescue Pointer and Beagle crossbreed from Cyprus, sits outside the Polling Station at St Mark's Hospital in Maidenhead

A voter ties her dogs to a fence outside a polling station at Notre Dame Primary School in Glasgow

Left: Edinburgh Council posted this smiling Golden Retriever called Ivy on X to remind people that only assistance dogs are allowed inside of the polling stations

Cwtch the Collie - which is Welsh for 'hug' - smiles at the camera this morning

Fred was pictured being held by a polling station sign - looking more interested in snacks

This young collie was a very good dog, tied up to a bench by the sign while waiting patiently

Bear the Labrador looks puzzled at the camera after being dragged out of bed today

This adorable pup called Bagel is pictured at the polling station in Bramley

Left: This sleepy collie was clearly not happy at being dragged out of bed early this morning for a picture by a polling station sign. Right: Polly at the Polling Station in South Belfast

This windswept dog looks up at their owner as he votes in the Scottish Highlands

Many of the dogs got the memo and struck a pose as their owner took their photo

A gorgeous fluffy Golden Retriever smiles for the camera this morning

While the campaigning has been full of the expected back-and-forth between the Tories and Labour in both speeches and social media jibes, the Lib Dems were arguably the highlight for many.

Leader Ed Davey made headlines daily for his wild stunts, ending them by driving off in a pink Cadillac convertible with his deputy Daisy Cooper after his last election campaign stop.

The Lib Dem leader gave a stump speech at Hammond's End Farm in Harpenden to the tune of ABBA's Take A Chance On Me.

Sir Ed said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dem's Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.

He added: 'Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.'

Along his campaign he has entertained the public by doing everything from bungee jumping to surfing and paddle-boarding - but some argued it showed he wasn't taking it seriously.

However he interspersed his light-hearted stunts with heart-warming and sincere insights into his personal life and caring for his son.

Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

One voter even brought along her rabbits in a pram to her polling station

Dylan the Collie in Oxfordshire smiles at the camera beneath a polling station sign

A dog outside the polling station Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow

Dogs out on the school run stop for a photo outside a Polling Station on General Election Day in the village of Datchet, Berkshire

This dog poses by a polling station in the Old Albanians Rugby Club, Herts

A group of dogs seen at the Chrishall, Royston polling station

Rufus, a three-year-old Cocker Spaniel in Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire

Left: Another sleepy terrier reluctantly poses - and hopes for treats as a reward. Right: A grumpy dog is held up by a sign

Reilly, a three-year-old miniature English Bull terrier, in Flintshire, North Wales

Pictured is very good boy Bastian out in Falmouth this morning with his owner to vote

This majestic Golden Retriever is pictured in-between the doors to the polling station

Left: Taylor the Beagle, affectionately known as Pupperino Pankhurst, is seen in London. Right: Mattie, a six-year-old Romanian Border Rottie in Worthing

Jasper looks at a sign at his first general election as he participates in the trend

Sir Keir, writing on social media site X as polls opened, said: 'Change. Today, you can vote for it.'

Ahead of 7am, Mr Sunak posted a series of messages on the same site, which urged voters to 'stop the Labour supermajority'.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay, also writing on X, said: 'Today's the opportunity to vote for real hope and real change, in Waveney Valley, and across the country.'

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, posted an image asking people to 'vote with your heart', adding: 'Vote for real change today. Vote Reform UK.'

The SNP tweeted: 'Vote SNP to deliver independence, rejoin the EU, scrap the two-child benefit cap, invest in the just transition, protect free tuition.'

North of the border, Scotland's First Minister has urged 'every single SNP voter' to turn out today in what he said will be an 'incredibly close' contest throughout the country.

Addressing supporters at a pre-election rally in Leith yesterday evening, John Swinney said the Conservatives were going to be 'heavily defeated' by the Labour Party in England.

But he added that there were 'narrow margins' between Labour and the SNP north of the border.

Is YOUR dog at the polling station? Email your photos to emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

Dogs across England and Wales were out in full force at the polling stations today

Left: A Jack Russell looks back at the camera as he poses with signs. Right: This majestic spaniel in Wales is such a good dog, it doesn't need a lead to pose

A polling station dog patiently waits for its owner in Andover, Hampshire, this morning

But this naughty pooch refused to co-operate for the social media trend

This well-behaved dog called Athena was pictured in Chislehurst, London this morning

Robbie the rescue greyhound at the polling station in Holystone, North Tyneside this morning

This proud pup who works as a school dog sits in front of the doors without a lead

Two tired collies pictured panting as they made an unexpected detour to the polling station

National pet charity Blue Cross has released advice for dog owners who may want to take their pet along to their local polling station.

Whether or not you can take your dog inside varies between polling stations.

According to guidance from the Electoral Commission, dogs, apart from assistance dogs, are not usually allowed inside as they can disturb voters.

However, some polling stations may be more flexible. If you're thinking of taking your dog along with you to vote, it's best to check with the venue in advance.

If your dog is not allowed in, the charity has warned owners to not leave them tied up outside, as there is a risk of theft. It's best to leave your dog at home, or to bring someone along with you who can wait outside with your pet while you vote.

Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross said: 'We love how #dogsatpollingstations has become an event across the country at every election but do check in advance with your polling station to see if they allow dogs inside before taking them along.

'Sadly there's a real risk that your beloved pet could be stolen if you leave them tied up alone outside, so take someone with you who can stay with your pet while you vote, or leave your pet at home.'

This dog is pointedly avoiding looking at the camera as its owner tries to get it to pose for the social media trend on Twitter/X

Another good dog is pictured standing proudly by the sign without a lead

Many owners posted their photos with a reminder on social media, like this proud-looking dog

This dog was pictured looking very proud by a polling station sign

The hashtag dogsatpollingstations is already trending on X, formerly Twitter, as it has on a host of other election days in recent years due to the cute photos, like this one

The owner of these two distracted pups tied them in-between two signs to try and get a photo

This alert dog looks straight at the camera, well-practised at being photographed

This adorable Corgi was held up to the sign by his helpful owner for a photo
An Italian man has turned himself in to police after decapitating his brother and tossing his head over a balcony following a vicious argument.

The man, named locally as 59-year-old Benito, got into a bitter feud with his brother, 65-year-old Annibale, in their home in Pannarano, a small town around 25 miles outside of Naples, last night.

While it is currently unclear what exactly the argument was about it was loud enough that neighbours heard, and it reached a point where Benito grabbed a knife and brutally attacked his brother.

Benito, whose last name is not currently known, reportedly handed himself into the police, who arrived at the family's home to find Annibale's headless body covered in stab wounds.

Italian media reported that the brothers had been unhappily living with each other after Annibale returned from Rome, having recently retired and lost his wife.

Benito turned himself in to a police station following his brother's brutal murder (File image)

Neighbours said that arguments were loud but happened so often they did not take notice of last night's feud, until they saw Annibale's head in the street.

Italian national police, the Carabinieri, are investigating the horrific crime, and have been speaking to friends and acquaintances of the brothers to uncover a motive for the murder.

After speaking to Benito overnight, they took him to a prison in Benevento, which lies roughly 9 miles northeast of Pannarano.

The Public Prosecutor's Office for Benevento has since opened a formal investigation.

It is set to task a coroner with autopsying the victim's body, which currently lies in the morgue of the nearby San Pio hospital in Benevento.
The UK will see a national weather divide on General Election day, with 22C (72F) sunshine in southern England but 50mph winds and rain in the North and Scotland.

South-eastern parts of the country especially areas around London will experience the brightest and warmest weather today as voters head to polling stations.

But strong winds and chillier temperatures will hit further north as well as showers in West and North West Scotland, North West England and Northern Ireland.

Most of the day's rainfall is expected in North West Scotland, and there were even reports of snow this morning on the tops of some mountains in the Highlands.

Winter made a comeback as snow fell in the Highlands and gales forced speed restrictions on the railways.

Snow blanketed the mountains of Glen Coe after temperatures fell to near freezing on Wednesday night.

The Highlands was hit by gale-force winds and freezing rain and snow as the UK saw a weather divide between north and south

A woman arrives with a dog to vote at a polling station at St Mary's Church in Wimbledon today

Voters outside a polling station near Battersea Power Station in London on a sunny day today

A voter enters a polling station today to cast their vote in Osmotherley, North Yorkshire

People outside the polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow during rain today

A wet day in Edinburgh today as people vote in the election at St James' Church, Goldenacre

People outside the polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Halls in Glasgow during rain today

Heavy downpours and strong winds battered coasts and hills, giving a wintry feel to the midsummer weather.

Four flood alerts were issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) in the North and North-West, while motorists were warned of difficult driving conditions.

The Met Office said a strong jet stream in the Atlantic will maintain a changeable theme to the weather which is expected to remain unsettled for days to come.

The jet stream is running across the UK at about 185mph which is very fast for the time of year and will be driving various weather systems as the week continues.

Much of the UK will be on the cooler side of the jet, meaning temperatures will be around or just below average  but it will feel fairly warm in sunshine in the South.

Does the weather affect election turnout and the Labour vote? Voter turnout is not generally affected by weather conditions in the UK, records suggest. According to the Parliament website, despite the last general election in 2019 being the wettest since records began in 1931, turnout was actually higher (67.3 per cent) than in 2001 (59.4 per cent) and 2005 (61.4 per cent) when polling day fell in June and May respectively. But a research paper released by University of Copenhagen political scientists last year surveyed turnout in 15 countries and found election day rainfall reduces turnout by 0.95 percentage points per centimetre of rain, while more sunshine increases turnout. However, the impact of the weather on turnout may be lessened in the UK with 25 per cent of people now doing postal voting - up from 2 per cent a few decades ago. There is also a popular idea that good weather can help bring out more Labour voters. Some cite the last July election in 1945, when it was a sunny day with 27C highs and Labour won with a landslide majority of 146 seats  upsetting the odds when Winston Churchill was expected to get in. But others point out that Labours Harold Wilson won on a wet day in both 1964 and 1974, and there appears to be no proven correlation between rain and voting behaviour. Advertisement

Liam Eslick, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'It's going to be quite a windy day across much of the UK.

'The strongest winds are going to be towards Northern Ireland, the western parts of Scotland and northern England.

'It's going to be a windy day for most people but it is going to be bright for central and southern England as well as Wales.'

He added: 'Where you are out of the wind, it will feel rather warm and even pleasant in the sunshine as well, but the further north you go - it is going to be quite chilly and fresh day for many.'

The winds arrived overnight, bringing a blustery day in northern areas today.

Met Office chief meteorologist Paul Gundersen said: 'Strong winds are expected on Thursday, with Scotland bearing the brunt.

'Inland areas in Scotland could see gusts of 30mph to 40mph, whilst coastal areas and hills could experience gales with gusts of 40mph to 50mph.

'Along with that wind, the West and North West of Scotland will also see blustery showers, which will perhaps merge into longer spells of rain later.

'A few showers are also likely across Northern Ireland, Wales and northern England, but southern England should remain dry with sunny spells.

'It will feel cooler in the damp North West, but temperatures will be nearer average in the South and South West. That rain is expected to continue in parts of Scotland and perhaps Northern Ireland overnight.'

The strong winds across Scotland and northern England will then ease through tomorrow morning, bringing a breezy and showery afternoon for those areas.

In the South, cloud and outbreaks of rain will spread east through tomorrow, bringing some possibly heavy rain across central and southern England and South Wales.

Between 20mm (0.8in) to 40mm (1.6in) of rain could fall within 12 to 18 hours in places.

Then the weekend will see the weather remain unsettled and cool for the time of year, but there will be some sunshine at times which will see temperatures rise a little.

An active jet stream (shown in pink) is running across the UK at about 185mph which is very strong for the time of year and will be driving various weather systems as the week continues

Early rain over the East and South East of England on Saturday should soon clear, with the weekend then featuring a mixture of sunshine and showers, some of which could be heavy with a risk of hail or thunder.

Forecasters added that more persistent rain is possible at times in northern Scotland, while areas of South West England and Wales are likely to remain the driest overall.

Most areas will feel breezy, with strong winds possible in the far South East of England.

It comes after the UK saw less rainfall than expected in June but the average temperature across the month was below 13C, despite the recent mini-heatwave in some areas.

The Met Office said 55.1mm of rain fell across the country last month, 29 per cent less than the long-term average, while Wales and England saw around half of their expected average amounts.

Jackie and Alan Ward at their polling station caravan in Duxford, Cambridgeshire, today

A person sits outside a polling station at Wimbledon Village in South West London today

People arrive at a polling station during the General Election in Southfields, London, today

A man hangs a polling station sign on a mobile unit at a Lidl car park in Loughborough today

But this did not seem to translate into more generally warmer weather as the average UK mean temperature for June was 12.9C, which was 0.4C below the long-term meteorological average.

The lower June temperatures are in stark contrast to those seen the month prior, where an average temperature of 13.1C saw the warmest May in records dating back to 1884.

It also comes after the UK had its wettest spring since 1986 and the sixth wettest on record.
A nine-year-old boy who died 'as a result of a heat-related medical event' after collapsing during a hike in the Arizona desert has been named by police.

Cortinez Logan was on a trail walk with his family at the South Mountain Park and Preserve near Phoenix as temperatures soared to 113F on Tuesday.

The Logan family set off in the early hours of the morning, but later in the afternoon Cortinez became overcome by the heat and began to go 'in and out of consciousness', officials said.

Phoenix Fire first responders were called to the area just before 3pm and the boy was airlifted to a nearby ambulance which took him to hospital, where he later died.

Detectives were on the scene at the park and attended the hospital to take over the investigation into his death, 12News reports.

Cortinez Logan went on a trail walk with his family at the South Mountain Park and Preserve

Cortinez and his family had recently moved from Missouri to Phoenix.

First responders are reported to have administered CPR to the boy on the trail, but were unable to save him.

Trails on South Mountain had been open on the day of the boy's death and the National Weather Service had not issued an extreme heat watch or warning, despite the triple figure temperatures.

Popular Phoenix trails usually close on days with excessive heat warnings.

Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller warned that it is vital for hikers to hydrate properly, and said they should always carry a cellphone and water.

'If you have someone who hasn't been properly hydrating, not drinking enough water, that heat can affect them within minutes,' Keller said.

'When you're halfway done with your water, you're halfway done with your hike.

'If you start to feel any kind of dizziness or any lightheadedness, please stop, turn around, come back another day. Just because you don't make it to the summit of the mountain, doesn't mean it wasn't a successful hike.'

File image shows the Hidden Valley Mormom Trail in the South Mountain Park Preserve

Firefighters train for rescues in tough conditions such as extreme hot weather, but Keller said each call puts their team at risk.

'Our firefighters are the best-trained rescuers in the world. They know it's coming but the heat does affect them,' Keller said

'That's why we always say that if you're going to go up the mountain, you're putting yourself in danger and you're putting our rescuers in danger.'
This is the moment a Norwegian minister thanked a cheering crowd of people after she received an award at Oslo Pride last week... by flashing her breasts.

Lubna Jaffery, the country's Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, was handed the 'Gay Mom 2024' award in the Norwegian capital.

The award goes to women in the public realm who publicly defend the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and who are considered idols by its members.

The 44-year-old politician proudly took to the stage at the Skeiv Preik (Queer Sermon) event on June 25 - which is a popular part of the city's pride schedule.

'I am very grateful to have been named Gay Mom, the main patron of queer people, at Oslo Pride this year. It is a great honour,' she told a cheering crowd.

This Norwegian minister thanked a crowd of people after she received an award at Oslo Pride last week... by flashing her breasts

Lubna Jaffery, the country's Minister of Culture and Gender Equality, was handed the 'Gay Mom 2024' award in the Norwegian capital. As she took to the stage to thank the crowd for the award, she lifted her top to reveal her breasts, covered only by nipple tassles

Jaffery - dressed in purple - was seen to be un-tucking her top from her skirt, before thanking the crowd in the somewhat unconventional way

With her top lifted, she also spun around to show the people behind her - prompting even more cheers from the audience and raucous applause from the hosts.

'It is important that everyone feels free. If you want to deserve such an honour, you have to give your soul and not take yourself so seriously,' she told the crowd

'It was a small contribution. If you want to get an award like this, you have to be committed and not take yourself too seriously.'

As she spoke, Jaffery- dressed in purple - was seen to be un-tucking her top from her skirt, before thanking the crowd in a somewhat unconventional way.

She is seen in video from the event grinning as she lifts her top up to reveal her breasts - covered only by nipple tassels.

With her top lifted, she also spun around to show the people behind her - prompting even more cheers from the audience and raucous applause from the hosts.

'It is important that everyone feels free. If you want to deserve such an honour, you have to give your soul and not take yourself so seriously,' she added.

Jaffery's stunt drew praise from the organisers of pride, all the way to Norway's prime minister, who said it was 'absolutely good' that she flashed her breasts.

Lubna Jaffery, pictured in 2023, has been Norway's culture minister for a year

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gar Stere is seen at Oslo's pride event in 2022 (file photo). He praised Jaffery's stunt, saying she is 'confident' and 'free-spirited'

'Lubna is a confident, free-spirited and wonderful person who enthusiastically follows cultural events across the country,' Jonas Gar Stere, the scandanavian country's leader, said after the stunt.

'It was the same yesterday in Oslo and I think that what he did is absolutely good!'

Joakim Aadland, the head of Pride, told the newspaper Dagbladet: 'I think it's wonderful that we have a minister who goes 'all-in' and is not afraid to put herself forward a little.

'I've never experienced the applause she received in the ten years we've had Pride. So it's clear that the audience appreciated Lubna's stunt.'
A mother today spoke of her shock that killer nurse Lucy Letby was allowed to look after her newborn son just hours after being caught red-handed trying to murder another premature baby girl.

The baby boy was born at around 7.20pm on February 17, 2016  just over 15 hours after the neo-natal nurse tried to murder the girl, known as Baby K, at around 03.50am the same day.

Earlier this week Letby, 34, was convicted of attempting to kill Baby K following a three-week retrial at Manchester Crown Court. She is already serving 14 whole life terms for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more  one of whom she tried to kill twice. She is due to be sentenced for the attempted murder of Baby K tomorrow.

The retrial heard senior paediatrician Dr Ravi Jayaram discovered Letby alone with Baby K doing nothing as she collapsed, moments after the killer nurse had dislodged her breathing tube.

Now the boys parents, who the Mail has agreed not to name, fear Letby also tried to kill their son during his five-week stay at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Listen to our #1 True Crime series, The Trial of Lucy Letby

The baby whose parents believe Lucy Letby may have tried to kill at the Countess of Chester Hospital

Lucy Letby, 34, is facing a police investigation into whether she attempted to kill the baby boy

Police are investigating his case and an expert doctor who analysed his medical notes found he suffered inexplicable vomiting episodes while she was caring for him. They suspect she overfed him milk and injected air into his nasal feeding tube to sabotage his care.

Referring to the moment Dr Jayaram caught Letby virtually red-handed trying to kill Baby K, the boys mother said: I feel so angry that she wasnt suspended at that point.

Dr Jayaram physically saw her try to murder a baby and then they let her look after my son - a 31-week gestation baby - and other babies, unsupervised, straight after. I cant describe how it makes me feel. I still cant believe it, its terrible.

The mother said that, following Letbys conviction on Tuesday, she had struggled to sleep.

It finally it hit home that they let her do that to Baby K, without any sanction, and 15 hours later she was left to look after and potentially try to murder our son, the 33-year-old added. I havent managed to get much sleep since the verdict. I appreciate hindsight is wonderful, but I dont understand why Dr Jayaram did nothing.

Although Dr Jayaram was already suspicious of the nurse following a series of deaths and collapses, the court heard he failed to note down or report the incident.

The baby's parents have said they are 'angry' and 'struggling to sleep' after Letby's convictions

He said the attack, in the early hours, was etched in his nightmares forever and it was a matter of infinite regret that he hadnt escalated his fears to managers or called police.

The baby boy was born unexpectedly, weighing just 3lbs 2oz, around 10 minutes before the following nightshift began at 7.30pm. Letby, who was working her third night shift in a row, was immediately allocated him to care for after he was placed on a ventilator to help him breathe and admitted into the neo-natal units intensive care nursery.

The boys parents said Letby immediately took a shine to their son.

His mother, herself a trainee nurse, had suffered from the pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia and was so poorly after the emergency Caesarean delivery that she couldnt visit her son for 48 hours.

However, her engineer husband, 34, regularly went to see him, and, over the first few days, Letby was always on hand, looking after him and offering the new parents support.

Then, on February 27, when the boy was 10 days old and no longer on the ventilator, he vomited several times and was found with blood in his nappy.

His abdomen was swollen and air was also seen in his intestines on an X-ray.

Doctors performed tests but could find no reason for the blood. Letby was his designated nurse that day.

One expert who has reviewed the nursing notes, which were written by Letby, said the vomiting episodes were striking and there was a compelling reason to believe milk and air had and had been forced down the tube in his nose being used to feed him, in an attempt to cause him harm.

He was taken off milk for seven days and treated for a bowel condition common in premature babies but recovered quickly without any further symptoms.

On another occasion, around six days later, his parents recall Letby being furious when she came into work and another nurse had been allocated to care for their son. She asked to swap with her colleague four or five times but the nurse refused  a move the couple now believe likely saved his life.

A card from the baby boy to his mum to celebrate Mother's Day after he left the hospital

Letby also removed their sons breathing tube  even though he required 24-hour oxygen - to take a photograph of him and asked his mother to be her friend on Facebook. When she later put up a post saying he had been admitted to a specialist hospital with an infection, some time after he had been discharged from the Countess, Letby sent her a series of messages of support.

Her husband thought Letby was so kind he even suggested she be the boys godmother, but thankfully the couple changed their mind and asked a family member instead.

The mother added: Looking back I think we were very, very lucky that our son survived. Our thoughts go out to all the parents involved, especially Baby Ks parents who had to endure two trials. We believe that every child who came to harm at the hands of Letby should have their case heard and prosecuted, even though she is serving a whole life sentence and won't get any more time in prison.

All parents need to have closure on this awful series of events and failures. There are so many unanswered questions as to how this was allowed to happen, not only to our son but to so many others.
(Photo : Unsplash/Anastasiia Chepinska)

A Biden's rule that prohibits gender-affirming discrimination in healthcare is temporarily blocked by a US Judge, as factors protecting transgender people are being weighed from all sides.

The Controversial Healthcare Protection

Healthcare protections based on gender identity were initially implemented during the Obama administration but were subsequently removed under former President Donald Trump. In 2021 and 2022, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that directs entities that receive federal funds, including Medicaid programs, to implement measures aimed at safeguarding transgender individuals from discrimination.

However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced significant revisions to Section 1557 in May, a non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) slated to take effect on Friday, expanding the scope of the Affordable Care Act rule, encompassing discrimination based on "sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics," which left conservative states enraged, Reuters reported.

READ ALSO: Four Trans Candidates Omits Deadnames, Calling it "Hollow" for Ohio House Election Disqualification

Oppositions Being Weighed from All Sides

Republican attorneys general from Tennessee and other states, primarily in the South and Midwest, contended that the new rule implementation under Medicaid or other federal health programs would impose financial burdens on their states or could result in the loss of federal funding when they fail to comply.

Fifteen GOP-led states, including Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia, filed a federal lawsuit against the Biden administration in June, arguing that the new rule replaces their health regulations with a system that prioritizes HHS's adherence to gender ideology over medical facts, ABC News reported.

According to the lawsuit of the opposing states, the rule would mandate their Medicaid programs, which cover low-income residents, to fund treatments such as hormones and surgeries for transgender individuals, including minors, which has long been prohibited by many Republican-led states, commonly referred to as gender-affirming care.

Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola expressed confidence that the Republican states will likely prevail in their legal challenge, asserting that the administration had exceeded its authority by interpreting "sex" in federal law to encompass gender identity in his preliminary order on Wednesday.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, alongside Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, asserted in a statement that a federal court had rejected the Biden administration's effort to mandate every healthcare provider in the U.S. adopt an extreme version of gender ideology.

Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, criticized the ruling, stating that the ruling is not only morally wrong but also bad policy and that everyone should have access to necessary medical care to support their health and overall well-being.

In a court filing, HHS argued that the states' concerns were "speculative" and emphasized that the rule does not supersede doctors' medical judgment. The filing contended that the states were not justified in seeking an injunction to block the rule as they were not facing immediate enforcement actions.

RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk Sued by Eight SpaceX Engineers Over Wrongful Termination, Gender Bias, Harassment Lawsuit

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A Thai teacher has been banned from the classroom for life after filming porn during her lessons.

The trainee teacher, who has not yet been identified, pointed a camera at herself during a lesson at Ban Bua Chum primary school in Thailand's Lopburi province, north of Bangkok.

In the video that went viral on Thai social media, she pulled her skirt up for her viewers while reading a book to her class.

She was livestreaming via the Bigo platform, and courted viewers to give her tokens in exchange for the lewd acts, which she could then cash in for money.

Local media reported that this wasn't the only time she has livestreamed in class, and investigation into the trainee led to her dismissal on June 28, according to the school's director.

The trainee teacher, who has not yet been identified, pointed a camera at herself during a lesson at Ban Bua Chum primary school in Thailand

And the Teachers Council of Thailand has struck her from the register for violating a statute that prohibits educational figures from 'being a person with dishonourable behaviour or lacking good morals.'

While it is not known if Thai police are investigating the incident, the country's cops have a history of cracking down on teachers who commit indecent acts.

Earlier this year, a British teacher was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a teenage student 10 years ago in Thailand.

The suspect, 38, identified by police under the pseudonym 'Tyler', reportedly took a female foreign student, 16, to his house in Phuket to 'commit indecent acts' on two occasions in 2014 and 2015.

The schoolgirl reported the alleged molestation to her parents, who claim they decided to wait until she left the school and graduated before lodging a report with the police.

Upon learning of the alleged sex crime, the school immediately terminated Tyler's contract and police launched an investigation to gather evidence for a warrant.

However, the British man is said to have moved to the northern province of Chiang Mai, evading arrest.

That is until police, acting on a warrant from the Phuket Provincial Court, tracked down and arrested Tyler on January 31 at his Thai wife's home in Chiang Mai, where he has been since 2016.

The Immigration Bureau said Tyler had entered Thailand in 2014 and found a job at a private school on Phuket island.

The alleged assault was reported to have happened at his Phuket residence on December 9, 2014 and again on April 2, 2015.

A spokesman said: 'The Immigration Bureau arrested Mr. Tyler, 38-years-old of British nationality, for taking a minor to commit an indecent act.

'An arrest warrant was issued against him in Phuket for taking away a minor who is over fifteen years of age but not more than eighteen years of age, away from father, mother, guardian or caretaker without justification for indecency.'
More than a dozen dolphins have died in a mass stranding event at Cape Cod, with heartbreaking images showing the mammals struggling in shallow water and beached side by side on sand banks.

Around 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins became stranded in the area off the coast of Massachusetts, which rescue workers called a 'big dolphin trap'.

Rescuers desperately tried to coax them out of the shallows for hours, with their painstaking work allowing more than 100 of the stranded dolphins to get into deeper water.

An estimated 13 dolphins died and one had to be euthanized, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), but aerial footage appears to show many more beached on a sand bank.

The nonprofit said it was the largest mass-stranding it had dealt with on the Cape during its 26-year history in the area.

Volunteers worked for hours to rescue the dolphins, but sadly many perished in the stranding

Dolphins are covered with sheets by rescuers after becoming stranded in shallow waters

Rescuers desperately douse the animals in water as they try to keep them alive after the stranding

Around 125 Atlantic white-sided dolphins became stranded in the area, which rescue workers called a 'big dolphin trap'

Haunting footage shows scores of dolphins covered in sheets lying and flailing helplessly on a sandbank, with rescuers dousing them with water and checking to see if they're still alive.

There's no set reason for why these dolphins became stranded, rescuers said. Cape Cod is known as a global stranding hotspot due to the curvature of its shores and the fluctuation of tides.

Teams in Massachusetts found one group of 10 Atlantic white-sided dolphins swimming in a dangerously shallow area at dawn on Saturday and managed to herd them out into deeper water.

Scouts also found a second group of 25 dolphins swimming close to the shore near Eastham, the organization said. Teams worked to herd them away as the tide dropped throughout the morning.

Ten dolphins died during the stranding Friday at The Gut - or Great Island - in Wellfleet, at the Herring River.

The Gut is the site of frequent strandings, which experts believe is due in part to its hook-like shape and extreme tidal fluctuations.

Misty Niemeyer, the organizations stranding coordinator, said over the weekend that rescuers faced many challenges Friday, including difficult mud conditions and the dolphins being spread out over a large area.

A trained volunteer attempts to herd stranded dolphins into deeper waters Friday, June 28, 2024, in Wellfleet, Mass

Rescue teams carried out a major operation over 12 hours in the blazing sun to help the mammals

Stranded dolphins are seen in shallow waters at Cape Cod on June 28, 2024

'It was a 12-hour exhausting response in the unrelenting sun, but the team was able to overcome the various challenges and give the dolphins their best chance at survival,' Niemeyer said in a statement.

The team started out on foot, herding the creatures into deeper waters and then used three small boats equipped with underwater pingers, which make noise underwater, according to the organization.

Those helping with the rescue effort included more than 25 staff from the organization and 100 trained volunteers.

The group also had the support of Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Center for Coastal Studies, AmeriCorps of Cape Cod and the New England Aquarium.

Rescuers are concerned that the rescued pod is still in the area and could return to the site, and are monitoring the situation.
An Australian dad caught with meth in Bali has spoken publicly for the first time after escaping a lengthy jail sentence.

Troy Andrew Smith, 49, appeared in Denpasar District Court on Thursday, where a panel of judges sentenced him to six months rehabilitation at Anargya Sober House, in Indonesia.

The father-of-two, originally from Port Lincoln in South Australia, was caught with 3.19g of methamphetamine inside a Colgate toothpaste container at Champlung Mas Hotel in Legian on April 30.

His lawyers have maintained that Mr Smith that the drugs were unsolicited.

He and his new wife Tracy Ijusa were one week into their holiday on the island when Indonesian police raided their resort room. She hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing.

The court previously heard that police found a further 0.4g of the drug that had been bought in Bali, along with a bong and a lighter. The charges carried a maximum 12-year sentence.

Escorted by officers, Mr Smith arrived at court in handcuffs wearing a red prison vest over a white business shirt.

'The defendant has been found guilty for abusing drugs for his personal use , and therefore the defendant [has been] sentenced to undergo medical and social rehabilitation at Anargya Sober House for six months, reduce the time he served in custody,' the presiding judge Ketut Suarta read on Thursday.

Troy Smith (pictured) avoided more jail time and will instead spend six months in an Indonesian rehabilitation facility

The judge acknowledged that Smith had been polite during the trial and that he had admitted and shown remorse for his actions.

He also took into account that Smith had never committed a crime previously.

A relieved Smith addressed the media outside court after he was sentenced.

'I want to say thank you to my lawyer Sakti,' he said.

'To my beautiful mum and sister, sorry and thank you and to Tracy, whose support and love I lean on every single day.'

His lawyer Ida Bagus Gumilang Galih Sakti said that Smith's wife had been supportive, despite missing several court appearances during the trial.

'Tracy gave him support so he could be strong,' Mr Sakti said.

'(She didn't come to court) just to make sure Troy only focused on his case. If Tracy appeared during the court with a lot of questions from outside, Troy couldn't focus.'

Mr Sakti said the prosecution didn't appeal the ruling as Smith accepted the sentence to take part in rehabilitation.

'[The] six-month rehabilitation [has been] made with the recommendation from the drug department,' he said.

Troy Smith publicly thanked his wife Tracy (pictured together) following his sentencing

Mr Smith (pictured) addressed the media outside court after he was sentenced

John McLeod, the 'fixer' who previously worked to help free Schapelle Corby from jail assisted Mr Smith and his family with his case.

His security services company Tora Solutions issued a statement after Thursday's sentence was handed down.

'The court acknowledged the compelling case presented by our team, resulting in a favourable sentence for Mr Smith, which allows him to embark on a journey of rehabilitation and redemption,' it read.

'Troy is committed to making most of his second chance, with the court recognising his determination to overcome past challenges and embrace a brighter future.'

Last month, authorities dropped drug trafficking charges against Mr Smith, who was looking at a life sentence if convicted.

The charges were issued under Article 114 and 127, which relate to drug possession and drug use.

Mr Smith was also facing a fine of $741,690 in addition to the prospect of 12 years jail if convicted. The fine has since been waived.

The prosecution stated during the trial that Mr Smith had admitted to using methamphetamine since 2020 to stop his addiction to alcohol.

Mr Smith told the court that he ordered the drugs from a man in Australia three weeks before his arrest.

He added that the drugs was not for sale but for personal use.

Mr Sakti had previously told reporters during an earlier part of the trial that his client does not have any relation to drug trafficking.
Dramatic footage shows the moment a huge brawl erupts on a Carnival Cruise ship, allegedly between a 'bunch of drunk girls from Tampa', as shocked passengers watch on.

A group of unruly women are seen throwing chairs across a dining room, hitting and dragging each other to the ground as they yell threats.

A traveler caught the violent fight on camera as he went into one of the ship's food halls, saying amid the chaos ''I just want some pizza!'

Security guards are forced to intervene as the scrap spirals out of control, but their attempts to reason with the women appear futile as the fight continues.

When the women are eventually calmed down and separated after several minutes, canteen furniture can be seen strewn across the floor.

The women are seen slamming each other to the floor and pulling one another's hair in the footage

The man filming the wild scenes, who has been named as Nick Richardson, offers commentary, laughing and repeatedly shouting 'God damn' as the fight gets more and more out of hand.

'This is just what happens at three in the morning when you got a bunch of drunk girls from Tampa,' said Richardson, 43, who was reportedly on the cruise with his fiancee and children.

The women are seen slamming each other to the floor and are seen pulling one another's hair in the bizarre melee.

The brawling women appear at one point to edge towards Richardson, and he quickly retreats as he fears getting caught up in the aggression.

Other passengers start to film the incident too, and seem to be in disbelief at the ferocity of the fight.

Cruise ship staff also watch on, laughing in apparent bemusement, while a security team arrived and got to work separating the women.

Seemingly annoyed with the disturbance to his holiday, Richardson adds: 'The last night too, had to ruin it for everybody. Welcome to America.'

Chairs were sent flying in the brawl, which took place in the dining area of a Carnival Cruise ship

The incident, which took place last month, was captured on video and has received thousands of views since it was posted on TikTok and YouTube.

In a statement, Carnival Cruise Line said: 'Carnival Paradise's security team intervened in an incident that took place on June 6.

'As is our policy, we will not tolerate such behavior and the guests involved were fined and will not sail on Carnival Cruise Line again.'

The company has a strict code of conduct for guests and says on its website that anyone in violation of it could be fined $500.

The ship, which has multiple restaurants and bars as well as a water park, has a capacity of more than 2,000 passengers and travels from Tampa to multiple locations, including the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
An easyJet flight to Tenerife packed with rowdy British youngsters in their twenties was forced to turn back and land at Gatwick this morning after suffering a hydraulic failure in mid-air.

EasyJet flight U28033, which had up to 244 passengers on board, squawked the 7700 emergency code as it was flying over France.

Passenger Brian Marcel, 78, from London, was on his way to Tenerife for a three-day golfing holiday.

He said his plans were left in tatters after the flight turned around. Since landing, EasyJet staff have warned passengers they could be removed from any future flights if they misbehave.

Speaking from the plane that was marooned on the tarmac for an hour, Brian told MailOnline: 'I was only going for three days. There's one day down the drain.

'The plane is full of young people in their twenties - 244 of us. I could be the grandfather of everyone on board!

'You're supposed to be sitting down with your seatbelt on but young people have no idea of discipline - they are standing up.

Were YOU on board?

Email chris.matthews@mailonline.co.uk

A flight to Tenerife that was packed with young people in their twenties was forced to turn around after a mid-air emergency

One of the plane's hydraulic systems failed, forcing the plane to turn around

Passenger Brian Marcel, 78, (pictured) from London, was on his way to Tenerife for a three-day golfing holiday

Waitrose account manager Annie Passingham, 32, (right) from Bracknell, was on board with her colleague Emily, also 32, (left) as they headed out for a holiday. Annie said a group of men drinking vodka caused trouble for the EasyJet staff after the plane turned around

When the plane landed, police boarded it and staff warned youngsters not to misbehave if they wanted to stay on the plane

Brian was finally able to leave the plane (pictured) at around 11.45 after more than an hour on the tarmac

'We were one and a half hours into the flight when they told us that they had lost a hydraulic system.

'The police are meeting us here. We had to be towed because there were no hydraulics.'

As he was speaking to MailOnline, one of EasyJet's flight attendants told the passengers they would be transferred to another flight at 1.30pm, which was met with whoops of joy.

However, he warned passengers that any misbehaving youngsters would be booted from the plane if they caused a disturbance before then.

Although Britain is enjoying a balmy day, Brian had hoped to be in Tenerife for the start of his three-day holiday

Passengers were ushered to buses after they got off the plane

The flight attendant said: 'Any unruly behaviour will result in you not being able to travel in our aircraft.'

Brian, who runs the IBCS Group barcode business in Eastern Europe, said there was 'no panic' when the plane turned around and no one said the word 'emergency'.

He added: 'I was concerned if the flaps would work because they're a hydraulic system, but they were fine.'

The Airbus A321neo commercial plane that Brian was on had a hydraulic failure at around 8.40am, according to Flight Emergency.

It descended from its cruising level and turned around, heading back towards Gatwick.

An easyJet flight to Tenerife packed with British holidaymakers has made an emergency landing at Gatwick after a hydraulic failure in mid-air

EasyJet flight U28033, which had up to 244 passengers on board, squawked the 7700 emergency code as it was flying over France this morning (File image)

It was put into a holding pattern at 6,000ft to burn its fuel before landing - which can sometimes be needed to lose weight or because of maintenance issues.

Waitrose account manager Annie Passingham, 32, from Bracknell, was on board with her colleague Emily, also 32, as they headed out for a holiday.

Annie said a group of men who had bought vodka in duty free were causing trouble for the EasyJet staff after the plane turned around.

She told MailOnline: 'The main problem was a group of guys who had bought a load of vodka in duty free.

'They were drinking, standing up, wanting to go to the toilet when we were going to land.

'They were being verbally aggressive.'

She said they quietened down when the police boarded the plane, but even so have been banned from the next flight and will have to buy tickets with another airline if they want to go to Tenerife.

Annie said the emergency frightened some children and also sparked panic in a man who was going out to get married in Tenerife tomorrow.

In the end, she said the landing went okay, although it was 'a bit wobbly'. When they were finally allowed to get off, she said police officers 'let everyone leave one row at a time'.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said: 'The aircraft has landed safely and no operational impact at the airport.'

An EasyJet spokesman said: 'We can confirm that the captain of flight EZY8033 from London Gatwick to Tenerife took the decision to return to Gatwick as a precaution, due to a technical issue.

'The captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and passengers have disembarked normally.

'We are arranging for an alternative aircraft to operate the flight to Tenerife and would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the delay.

'The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and easyJet operates its aircraft in strict compliance with manufacturer guidelines.'
President Joe Biden's anticipated interview with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, which was initially described as being 'extended,' could be just 15 minutes long, a new report says.

The conversation will be the president's first interview since his disastrous debate performance against Republican nominee Donald Trump last week. A new video has leaked showing the ex-president mocking Biden as an 'old fool.'

The news that Biden's interview with the former Clinton staffer will likely last for a quarter of an hour was first reported by The Daily Beast. In the same report, a Biden spokesperson described the allegation as 'false' and insisted it will be longer.

On Wednesday, Biden, 81, appeared unexpectedly on a Zoom call with campaign staffers in a defiant mood.

'Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can  as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running  no one's pushing me out. I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win,' he said.

The first sit down interview featuring President Joe Biden will air on Friday evening as part of an hour-long ABC special

ABC previously confirmed that the first clips of the interview will air on Friday's World News Tonight at 6pm Eastern time and then in full in an hour long special later that evening at 8pm. It will air again on Sunday as part of This Week.

Stephanopoulos works as Good Morning America and This Week host. He joined ABC News in 1997 after working for the Clinton administration in Washington.

In those announcements, ABC never commented on the length of the interview but if the network special is one-hour long, it's unclear how the network could fill that with a 15 minute-long question and answer session.

What is clear is that the interview is scheduled to take place during the president's campaign appearances in Wisconsin. The Daily Beast reports that another source said that the interview could be around 20 minutes.

The website adds, citing ABC executives, that there is a hope that Biden's long winded nature will lengthen the piece.

There has been private discussion among Biden's campaign about what it can do to counteract last Thursday's debate, where the raspy-voiced president gave some convoluted and incomplete answers.

Biden's lack of public visibility in situations that aren't tightly controlled has been evident throughout his presidency.

The 36 news conferences he had given through June 30 were fewer than any president in the same time frame since Ronald Reagan, according to Martha Joynt Kumar, director of the White House Transition Project.

Biden gave a total of 128 interviews, compared to Donald Trump's 369 at the same stage of his presidency and 497 by Biden's former boss, she said.

During Wednesday's Zoom call, Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared in order to rally the troops.

'We will not back down. We will follow our president's lead. We will fight, and we will win.'

The call concluded with Biden saying: 'There is no one I'd rather be in this battle with than all of you. So let's link arms. Let's get this done. You, me, the vice president. Together.'

In his private conversations, Biden was focused on efforts to course correct from his rocky debate and on the threat that, in his view, former President Donald Trump poses to the country, as he scoured for feedback on what went wrong last Thursday in Atlanta and took responsibility for his performance.

'We had a direct, open, clear-eyed conversation about the debate, his thoughts on what happened and why it wasn't his best evening or best debate,' Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who spoke with Biden on Tuesday, said in an interview with the Associated Press.

Vice President Kamala Harris told campaign staffers on Wednesday that she is standing behind Biden

'He wanted advice. He was asking earnestly for input and comment on what he should do to restore confidence and support, and what's the best path forward.'

Coons, the president's closest ally on Capitol Hill, said Biden clearly understood the urgency, the difficulty and the importance of the election, as the senator advised that the president do more unscripted, open-ended events to restore confidence in his candidacy.

Biden met for more than hour at the White House on Wednesday night, in person and virtually, with more than 20 Democratic governors who afterward described the conversation as 'candid' but said they were standing behind Biden despite being concerned about a Trump victory in November.

'The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader,' said Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland. He added that, in the meeting, Biden 'was very clear that he's in this to win.'

Despite such reassuring sentiments, a major Democratic donor, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, also called on the president to exit the race, saying, 'Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.'

The statement was first reported by The New York Times.
Startling CCTV footage has captured the dramatic moment a tradie's work van smashed into a Tesla owner's garage in New Zealand.

Rob Johnson's $80,000 Tesla Model Y needs bodywork after the van did a 180-degree turn off the road and slammed into his garage in Auckland on Monday morning.

He was left with $20,000 worth of repairs for his prized possession and garage.

He was 'bloody frustrated' when police officers initially wanted to go easy on the driver, who was a first-time offender, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Officers called Mr Johnson on Wednesday asking if they could give the driver a diversion - typically used for minor offences - so that a conviction could be avoided.

Mr Johnson, who was not home at the time of the crash, got a call from his wife telling him that 'there had been a bit of a bang and the garage door was gone'.

When he returned, the damage was 'way worse' than he expected.

Mr Johnson told the publication that despite having insurance, he still had to 'fork out some money', which can be claimed back.

CCTV caught the moment a work van did a sudden 180-degree turn off the road and into a Tesla owner's garage in Auckland at 8:48am on Monday

Rob Johnson's $80,000 Tesla Model Y has been left with a $20,000 repair bill and was left 'frustrated' and 'disappointed' when New Zealand Police wanted to let the driver off lightly

Mr Johnson was 'disappointed' with police who wanted to let the tradie off lightly.

'What's a diversion? I'm a bit old school and I believe in consequences, not wet bus tickets,' he said.

'[Until I got home] I didn't realise the back end of the garage had gone. He shunted the car, which weighs about a tonne and a half, about a metre.'

Although his beloved Model Y was still drivable and sustained minimal damage, the price to fix Mr Johnson's garage accounted for most of his repair costs.

Although Mr Robinson's $80,000 Tesla was still drivable he said he still believes that the driver should face the consequences

Mr Johnson wants the tradie charged.

'As far as I'm concerned, [the police] have got to do something about it and charge him with dangerous driving or something,' he said.

Mr Johnson must agree to a diversion in order for police to provide one.

If the tradie was given a diversion, they would owe Mr Johnson a letter of apology and be forced to sit a defensive driving course.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted New Zealand Police for comment.
A female Afghan rights activist was filmed being gang-raped and tortured by armed men in a Taliban prison, according to a shocking report.

Reports of sexual violence being inflicted on women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban re-took the country in 2021 have been on the rise.

However, the video - seen by the Guardian - is thought to be the first tangible evidence that proves these crimes are being committed in the country.

The British publication said the video showed the young woman being told to take off her clothes. She is then seen being raped multiple times by two men.

She tries to cover her face with her hands as she is attacked, The Guardian said, and one of the two men 'pushes her hard' when she hesitates to follow their orders.

At one point in the video, she is told: 'You've been f***ed by Americans all these years and now it's our turn,' the newspaper reports.

A female Afghan rights activist was filmed being gang-raped and tortured by armed men in a Taliban prison, according to a shocking report. Pictured: An Afghan women wearing a blue burqa is seen in Kabul on July 25, 2023 (file photo)

The woman seen in the video told reporters at The Guardian and Rukhshana Media (an Afghan women's media organisation) that she was arrested for taking part in protests against the Taliban regime and held in a prison.

The video was filmed on the mobile phone of one of the two male attackers.

The woman, who has not been named, believes that it was deliberately recorded so that it could be used to shame her into ending her criticism of the government.

In the video of the attack, she can be seen standing naked and her face is visible, The Guardian said, making her identifiable.

She has since left the country, but said that the clip was sent to her after she fled in order to intimidate her after she criticised the Taliban.

The woman was told that the video would be shared widely on social media if she continued to protest the Taliban, and sent to her family.

The report on the video comes after the publication accounts from teenage girls and young woman who say they have been arrested by the Taliban for wearing 'bad hijab' and subjected to sexual violence and assault.

The Taliban has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws characterised by the UN as 'gender apartheid'.

According to Zan Times, the Afghan news service, 'untold numbers of young women [are] arrested for what the Taliban deemed to be violations of their dress code'.

In more than one case, the arrests and subsequent assaults have led to suicides, the publication said.

The body of one victim was found dead in a canal weeks after she was arrested.

In May 2022, nine months after they re-took the country following the withdrawal of US and other Western troops, the Taliban decreed that all Afghan women must cover themselves from head to toe. Only their eyes can be uncovered.

Reports of sexual violence being inflicted on women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban re-took the country in 2021 have been on the rise. Pictured: Taliban are seen in 2022 celebrating the first anniversary of the Taliban takeover

Earlier this year, the UN called on the Taliban to end its crackdown on 'bad hijab'.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said at the time: 'Women and girls were reportedly held in overcrowded spaces in police stations, received only one meal a day, with some of them being subjected to physical violence, threats and intimidation.'

Meanwhile, Taliban authorities have been told that women must be included in public life, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said on Monday, as she defended a decision to sideline civil society groups at official talks in Doha.

Rights organisations have strongly criticised the controversial UN move to exclude the groups, including women's rights activists, from the two-day summit on Afghanistan as the price for the Taliban government's participation.

'Authorities will not sit across the table with Afghan civil society in this format, but they have heard very clearly the need to include women and civil society in all aspects of public life', DiCarlo told a Doha news conference.

The UN-hosted meeting began on Sunday and is the third such summit to be held in Qatar in a little over a year, but the first to include the Taliban authorities who seized power in Afghanistan for a second time in 2021.

The talks were due to discuss increasing engagement with Afghanistan and a more coordinated response to the country, including economic issues and counter-narcotics efforts.

In the aftermath of the Taliban's return to power, the international community has wrestled with its approach to Afghanistan's new rulers.

The Taliban government in Kabul has not been officially recognised by any other government since it took power in 2021.

They refused an invitation to Doha talks in February, insisting on being the only Afghan representatives, to the exclusion of civil society groups. But their condition was accepted in the build-up to this latest round.

The Taliban has imposed a strict interpretation of Islam, with women subjected to laws characterised by the UN as 'gender apartheid'

DiCarlo, who chaired the UN talks in the Qatari capital, said she 'hopes' that 'there'll be new consideration' of Taliban government policy on women in public life including girls' education.

The UN and international delegations will have the chance to meet with civil society representatives, including women's rights groups, tomorrow following the close of the main meetings.

But Amnesty International chief Agnes Callamard said in a statement ahead of the talks that 'caving into the Taliban's conditions to secure their participation in the talks would risk legitimising their gender-based institutionalised system of oppression'.

The Taliban authorities have repeatedly said the rights of all citizens are guaranteed under Islamic law.
A senior executive at a FTSE 250 firm who was told by his younger boss he was an 'old fossil' who 'did not know how to manage millennials' has won more than 3 million in an age discrimination case.

The enormous payout to Glenn Cowie is one of the largest awards ever made by an employment tribunal.

The 300,000-a-year engineering manager was sacked and replaced with a younger woman following the implementation of a new policy that meant the company was encouraged not to hire people over the age of 45.

He was 58 when he was told he would be dismissed from his role as a divisional president at global engineering company Vesuvius after almost 40 years.

This was just 18 months after CEO Patrick Andre called him an 'old fossil' in the middle of a meeting with other executives, the tribunal heard.

Senior executive Glenn Cowie, 58, (pictured) has won more than 3 million in an age discrimination case

A tribunal hearing was told that CEO Patrick Andre (pictured) called Mr Cowie an 'old fossil' in the middle of a meeting with other executives

Mr Cowie - who accused the firm of having an 'institutional and deep prejudice against older employees' - won claims of age discrimination, victimisation and unfair dismissal.

Now, he has been awarded 3,171,723 in compensation four years after he launched legal action his former employers.

The tribunal, held in central London, heard Mr Cowie started working for Vesuvius - which makes products for the car industry, steelmakers and foundries - while living in South Africa in 1981.

In 2014 he was promoted to Global Business Unit President of Foundry Industries, also known as Foseco International, one of the four divisions of the company.

The hearing was told that in September 2017 Mr Andre was appointed CEO of Vesuvius, having previously been his immediate peer.

The tribunal heard that at the time Mr Cowie was based in the United States and his salary was raised to more than 300,000 in December that year, although his 'overall remuneration package was significantly more valuable'.

In February 2018 the hearing was told there was a meeting of the company's executives in Brazil, where Mr Cowie said Mr Andre spoke to senior managers including himself.

He told the tribunal Mr Andre said: 'These new millennials will never stop pushing until they have my job and you older guys have to get used to it.'

Also at the meeting the issue of the resignation of a manager who was in his 30s and who Mr Cowie had hired at Mr Andre's recommendation came up.

The tribunal heard Mr Andre told Mr Cowie he was 'an old fossil who doesn't know how to manage millennials'.

Mr Cowie was the divisional president for Vesuvius' metals foundry business Foseco International. Pictured: Vesuvius headquarters

Mr Cowie said he remembered the comment very well as 'it was so out of the blue and inappropriate'.

In the tribunal's judgement, Employment Judge Adkin said: 'First, Mr Andre commented negatively on [his] age and second, he commented negatively on Mr Cowie's inability to manage younger employees.

'It was unwanted conduct. We find it created an intimidating and hostile environment for [Mr Cowie]... this was directed at [him] personally.'

The tribunal heard Mr Andre emailed Mr Cowie in May 2018, pushing for any new recruits to be a maximum age of 45 years old.

There was a concern about not having enough 'high potential' younger employees who could progress to executive roles and the recruiting aim was to find people 'with enough time left in their career in order to develop'.

Mr Andre confirmed this was the 'preference' but said this was not a 'rigid rule' and denied there was an 'age ceiling' within the business.

In September 2018 Mr Andre indicated to the company's board that Mr Cowie was not performing well enough in his role and that he had six months to improve.

However, this was not communicated to Mr Cowie himself, the tribunal heard.

By October, at the insistence of Mr Andre, Mr Cowie moved back to the UK. But the same month an executive search agency was employed to find a potential replacement for him.

The tribunal heard Mr Andre decided to sack Mr Cowie in February 2019, but he did not discuss this decision with him until 1 August 2019, when he told Mr Cowie 'it's not working' and his employment would be terminated.

In the tribunal's judgement Employment Judge Adkin said: 'First, Mr Andre (circle right) commented negatively on [his] age and second, he commented negatively on Mr Cowie's (circled left) inability to manage younger employees. It was unwanted conduct'

The tribunal heard Mr Cowie was 58 at the time whereas his replacement, Karena Cancilleri, was 51 years old, which Vesuvius argued showed that the under 45 policy was a suggestion rather than a rule.

Following his dismissal, Mr Cowie filed a grievance in October 2019 complaining of age discrimination.

He said: 'Patrick has brazenly embarked on an unlawful campaign of getting rid of older employees and replacing them with under 45 year old staff as per emails and direct instructions to recruiting companies not to employ staff over aged 45.

'These blatant written instructions are on the record and show an institutional and deep prejudice against older employees. These comments are a direct smoking gun.'

He said the 'old fossil' comment 'tells you everything you need to know about his motivations and stereotypical opinions about older employees'.

The tribunal concluded that while Mr Cowie's complaint about the 'old fossil' comment was discriminatory it had happened too long ago to form part of his case.

However, it ruled that the remark was 'important background' for the rest of his age claims.

The tribunal ruled he had been unfairly dismissed by Vesuvius and suffered age discrimination at the hands of the company and Mr Andre.

Giving evidence about the impact of his ordeal, Mr Cowie said: 'It is hard to describe fully the mental anguish that I suffered as a result of the company's treatment.

'It was severe and lasting. I had devoted 37 years of my life to the company. I lost confidence. I felt very low. In late 2019 I suffered deeply depressive and anxious periods that I had never had before.'

A spokesperson for Vesuvius said: 'We are disappointed by the outcome of this case, which relates to events in 2019. Vesuvius has always denied that Mr Cowie was unlawfully dismissed and there is an ongoing appeal.

'Since Mr Cowie's departure, Vesuvius's Foundry Division strategy has been completely refocused and is well-positioned for future growth.'
Millions of people across the UK are casting their votes in the General Election today, choosing MPs across 650 constituencies.

It is the first General Election where voters will need to show photographic ID before they can receive their ballot paper following a law change in 2022.

From bringing children to furry friends, here is everything you need to know today about what you should do, and should not:

When do polling stations open and where should I go?

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm on July 4.

These are often found in schools, churches, community centres and libraries.

In 2022, voters in Oxford even cast their ballots inside a launderette.

All registered electors who are eligible to vote in the General Election should have received a polling card which includes the address of the polling station at which they may vote.

You cannot vote elsewhere.

The Electoral Commission, which oversees UK elections, also has an online tool which tells you where your polling station is.

You can also check on your local council's website or contact them for more information.

A voting booth at a station in south Belfast this morning ahead of polling stations opening

What do I do at the polling station?

You may have to queue outside before you get into the polling station as they can get very busy, especially towards the end of the day.

Once you are inside the polling station, the staff will check you are on the electoral register, ask for your photo ID and hand you a ballot paper.

You should take this to a voting booth, read the instructions on it and mark the ballot paper with your vote.

You can then place it in the ballot box and leave the venue.

A polling booth at the Agape Centre polling station in south Belfast ahead of voting opening

What forms of ID should I bring?

This election is the first time in the UK that everyone wanting to vote in person will have to show a correct form of photo ID before casting a ballot - this includes a passport, driving licence and blue badge.

It does not matter if your photo ID is out of date, as long as it still looks like you and has the name under which you registered to vote.

Other forms of permitted ID include an Older Person's or Disabled Person's Bus Pass, and an identity card bearing the Proof of Age Standards Scheme hologram (a Pass card).

Do I need a polling card?

A polling card, which tells you when you can vote and at which polling station, is not required to cast your vote.

Simply tell the staff there your name and address when you arrive.

A member of the polling station team hangs a sign at the Agape Centre in south Belfast today

READ MORE:





What will my ballot paper look like?

Although the election news cycle is often dominated by party leaders, who have appeared in televised debates and regularly make headlines, those probably are not the names you will see in front of you.

Your ballot paper will offer a list of candidates representing political parties, or standing as independents, in your constituency.

There will usually be about seven options, made up of candidates representing the major parties, smaller parties or running as independents.

In some seats where there is more public interest, this number may be much higher.

Some 13 candidates are running in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's constituency of Richmond and Northallerton, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is among 12 names voters in Holborn and St Pancras can choose from.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrive to cast their votes in the 2024 General Election at Willingham Close TRA Hall in London this morning

Can I vote for more than one person?

You are only allowed to vote for one candidate on the ballot paper, by putting a cross (X) in the box next to their name.

Leaving any other mark on the ballot paper, including voting for more than one candidate or party, or writing anything which could identify you or leads to doubt about who you intended to vote for, will result in the ballot paper not being counted.

Doing this on purpose is known as "spoiling" your ballot.

What happens if I have not been able to vote by 10pm?

You are entitled to vote as long as you are inside the polling station or in a queue outside at 10pm.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrive to cast their vote in the 2024 General Election at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, this morning

What do I do if I cannot make it to the polling station on the day or lose my ID?

There are various reasons a person who intended to vote in-person at a polling station on election day may be unable to at short notice, such as a medical emergency, work requirements or loss of photo ID.

Under these circumstances, a prospective voter can apply for an emergency proxy vote where another person casts your ballot on your behalf.

They must take their own ID with them.

Applicants must send the relevant form to their local Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on polling day.

Can I take my dog with me?

Usually, animals such as cats and dogs are not allowed inside polling stations, apart from assistance dogs.

Though the station's presiding officer may theoretically give permission for pets to be taken inside, this is unlikely to be the case.

If you choose to bring a furry friend, they should be safely secured outside the venue - you can always chat politics with them on the way home.

A dog sits outside a polling station in Southfields in South West London this morning

Can I take a selfie inside the polling station?

Photographs are not allowed inside polling stations as the Electoral Commission says this risks compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

Revealing how somebody else voted, even by accident, could land you with a 5,000 fine or up to six months in prison.

What help is there for people with disabilities?

All polling stations should have accessibility measures in place to ensure disabled people can exercise their right to vote.

This includes providing tactile voting devices, magnifiers and large-print sample ballot papers for voters who are visually impaired.

They should also provide seating for people who cannot stand for long periods of time and have measures for wheelchair users - such as ramps and low-level polling booths.

People arrive to cast their ballots at a General Election polling station in Whitley Bay Cemetery and Crematorium today

Can I use my own pen or pencil?

Yes, voters are allowed to bring their own pen/pencil to fill in their ballot paper.

Though there is no legal requirement to use them, pencils are provided inside polling stations because they are less likely to leak or run than pens which use ink.

Can children come into a polling station?

Your children may join you in a polling booth, provided they do not mark the ballot paper.

What else can I not do inside a polling station?

Once inside a polling station, any form of political discussion, campaigning or canvassing is strictly prohibited.

This means you cannot debate your vote with friends, families or strangers.

You must also not be accompanied into the polling booth by another adult unless you have a disability.

When will I know the outcome of the General Election?

The first indication of how the election has gone on a national level is likely to be the exit polls, which are published shortly after 10pm.

These take place at about 144 polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

Official constituency outcomes are likely to be announced from 11.30pm as early results trickle in.

This will speed up as the night progresses, with hundreds of results expected in the early hours of Friday morning, between 3am and 4am.

By 4am, enough results should be in to know which party is on course to win the election and by what margin.
(Photo : Unsplash/Tingey Injury Law Firm )

A federal judge partially blocked the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) rule on Wednesday that would prohibit agreements often signed by employees to refrain from joining competitors or starting competing businesses, following opposition from business and trade groups.

FTC's Non-Compete AgreementsAccording to the FTC, roughly 30 million U.S. workers are subject to non-compete agreements, which restrict competition, contravene U.S. antitrust laws, and limit wages and worker mobility. To end this, the Democratic-controlled agency voted 3-2 to approve a ban on non-compete agreements, which FTC Chair Lina M. Khan believes could create over 8,500 new startups annually, an FTC press release said.

California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma are among the states that have already implemented bans on non-compete agreements, and twelve other states have enacted laws restricting their use.

READ ALSO: Ready to Sign Your Employment Agreement? Spot These Five Important Points in Your Contract

Opposition to The Non-compete Agreements

Ryan LLC, a tax services firm based in Dallas, filed a lawsuit to block the rule, accusing the FTC of exceeding its statutory authority by categorizing all non-compete agreements as unfair and anti-competitive shortly after the FTC voted narrowly to ban non-compete agreements for nearly all workers in the United States. The opposition was supported by various organizations representing various American businesses, including the Business Roundtable, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Association of Business.

In a written decision, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas stated that the FTC did not have the authority to establish broad rules that prohibit practices it considers unfair methods of competition, Reuters reported.

Brown, appointed by Republican President Donald Trump, halted the FTC from enforcing the rule against a coalition of business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and tax service firm Ryan, declining their request for a nationwide injunction, citing uncertainty about its appropriateness, and committed to issuing a final ruling by August 30, shortly before the rule's implementation date.

FTC spokesman Douglas Farrar emphasized the agency's confidence in its authority to implement the rule, advocating for eliminating unlawful non-compete agreements, which reduce innovation, hinder economic growth, trap workers, and compromise economic freedom for Americans, NPR News reported.

Daryl Joseffer, chief counsel of the Chamber's litigation arm, characterized the ruling as a significant victory in the Chamber's opposition to government interference in business decisions, arguing that the FTC's comprehensive prohibition of non-compete agreements exceeds the agency's constitutional and statutory authority.

In their lawsuits, Ryan and the Chamber assert that the FTC lacked the authority to implement the ban on non-compete agreements, arguing that Congress granted the agency only limited powers to make rules.

On Wednesday, Brown expressed skepticism about the rule's validity, stating that the FTC had not adequately justified the broad and almost complete ban on non-compete agreements. Brown criticized the rule for imposing a uniform approach without a specified end date, which, in her view, failed to establish a logical connection between the findings and the decision made.

RELATED ARTICLE: US Chamber of Commerce Sues FTC, Cites Economic Implications on Banning Noncompete Agreements

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A primary school headteacher was 'driven to the depths of despair' after she was accused of assault and sacked for tapping her own child's hand with her fingers.

Friends told how Shelly-Ann Malabver-Goulbourne's distinguished career lay in tatters after a colleague filed an official complaint when she tried to stop her three-year-old son from playing with a bottle of hand sanitiser in her office.

It comes as Ms Malabver-Goulbourne, 46, is celebrating after winning a two-and-a-half year legal battle to clear her name.

The experienced teacher was awarded a payout of more than 100,000 after an employment tribunal ruled the academy trust which runs the school where Ms Malabver-Goulbourne worked for 17 years acted unlawfully when they dismissed her for gross misconduct over the incident.

After the ruling Ms Malabver-Goulbourne, of Edmonton, north London, told MailOnline: 'It has been very traumatic - I'm not the type of person who likes to be in the public eye.

Primary school headteacher Shelly-Ann Malabver-Goulbourne was 'driven to the depths of despair' after she was accused of assault and sacked for tapping her own child's hand with her fingers

Friends told how the teacher is still battling to get her life back on track after being sacked as head of Northwold Primary School (pictured) in Hackney, east London in May 2022

The experienced teacher (pictured today) was awarded a payout of more than 100,000 after an employment tribunal ruled the academy trust which runs the school where Ms Malabver-Goulbourne worked for 17 years acted unlawfully when they dismissed her for gross misconduct over the incident

'It has been an ordeal but I'm happy at where it is now.'

But friends told how the teacher is still battling to get her life back on track after being sacked as head of Northwold Primary School in Hackney, east London in May 2022.

She was left starting from scratch after her dismissal and was only able to obtain one day's work that year as a supply teacher after the school provided her with a reference stating she had been dismissed for gross misconduct.

Ms Malabver-Goulbourne was forced to live off her savings and underwent a series of therapy sessions as she battled to deal with the devastating events.

At her lowest point, after suffering a loss of self confidence, Ms Malabver-Goulbourne considered quitting the profession.

The friend said: 'She has endured an horrific experience. Shelly-Ann is a very capable and successful headteacher who overnight went from being at the top of her profession to being at rock bottom and having to start from scratch.

Shelly-Ann Malabver-Goulbourne was trying to get her three-year-old to stop playing with a bottle of hand sanitizer. Pictured: File photo of hand sanitizer

'It had a massive impact on her mental health.

'There were times when she was in the depths of despair but she is a strong resilient woman.

'She was determined to clear her name and now she has been vindicated.'

What is the Arbor Academy Trust?

Davies Lane Primary School, in Leytonstone and Selwyn Primary School, in Highams Park, formed the Arbor Academy Trust in 2016. Prior to this, the two schools had been working together since 2011 as part of a local authority improvement strategy. In 2015, Davies Lane was awarded national support school status following its strong track record of school improvement. In 2016, Davies Lane was awarded Teaching School status. CEO of the Trust Maureen Okoye is also a current Ofsted inspector. In February 2019, Woodford Green Primary School joined the Trust. In January 2020, Northwold Primary School joined the Trust. Advertisement

The National Education Union, which supported Ms Malabver-Goulbourne in her battle with The Arbor Academy Trust which runs the school, said: 'Shelly-Ann Malabver-Goulbourne, a skilled and dedicated Headteacher, was dismissed on the basis of a false allegation.

'She was treated very unfairly indeed. She is pleased that the employment tribunal recognised this and upheld her unfair dismissal claim against her former employer the Arbor Academy Trust and compensated her accordingly.'

Shelly-Ann joined the inner city school - whose former pupils include Lord Alan Sugar and pop star Marc Bolan - as a teacher in 2005.

She was promoted to assistant head four years later then deputy head in 2013 before becoming the school's 93,000-a-year headteacher in September 2017.

The incident with her child took place in January 2022, when Ms Malabver-Goulbourne was working late in her office after a meeting with Serrantha Bhagwandas, the teacher responsible for safeguarding at the school.

The headteacher's 11-year-old daughter and her three-year-old son, both of whom were pupils at the school, were in her office at the time.

The tribunal, which took place over four days in October last year, was told her son - referred to only as J - picked up a bottle of hand sanitiser from a table and his sister told their mother that he had squirted some of the liquid on to the floor.

Ms Malabver-Goulbourne took the bottle from her son's hand and, according to the tribunal judge, 'bent down to his level to speak to him about why he should not be playing with hand sanitiser'.

In her ruling tribunal judge Julia Jones said that 'when she did so he turned his face away from her and she tapped him with two fingers on the back of his hand to get his attention, so that he would look at her to hear what she was saying'.

Ms Malabver-Goulbourne was forced to live off her savings and underwent a series of therapy sessions as she battled to deal with the devastating events

At her lowest point, after suffering a loss of self confidence, Ms Malabver-Goulbourne considered quitting the profession

Her friend said: 'She has endured an horrific experience. Shelly-Ann is a very capable and successful headteacher who overnight went from being at the top of her profession to being at rock bottom and having to start from scratch'

Two weeks before the incident the boy had got hand sanitiser in his eye.

The judge said 'it was with the knowledge of that earlier experience' that Ms Malabver-Goulbourne 'wanted to speak to him again to ensure that he understood that hand sanitiser was not a toy that he should be playing with.'

Ms Malabver-Goulbourne - whose husband Donovan is deputy head at another school - said she had not acted in anger and was not disciplining her son.

Instead she said she intervened as a safeguarding measure as she wanted to get her son's attention 'to explain to him the danger of playing with hand sanitiser as she was worried about what could happen to him.'

Explaining her views on discipling a child she said: 'When you undertake physical chastisement, you are belittling, you are trying to make a child feel less of themselves.

'You are telling them off and they might feel unworthy of something or disappointed, thinking they have done something wrong.

'It can also cause harm to a child. This can be emotional harm. Can lead to aggression.'

The hearing was told that she was challenged by Ms Bhagwandas who accused her of hurting her son and said she should have spoken to him instead.

She filed an official complaint two days later reporting a 'safeguarding incident' which alleged that Ms Malabver-Goulbourne had smacked her son.

The safeguarding teacher also reported that the child had been crying and that she had spent five minutes comforting him.

It led to Ms Malabver-Goulbourne being suspended and a police investigation.

After her suspension her accuser, Ms Bhagwandas, stepped into her shoes as the school's acting head.

No prosecution was brought as officers said the incident, as reported by Ms Bhagwandas, would not 'meet the threshold for a criminal investigation'.

They said the mother's alleged actions amounted to 'reasonable chastisement' by a parent - but officials at the academy sacked Ms Malabver-Goulbourne for gross misconduct.

The tribunal heard members of a disciplinary hearing were concerned that Ms Malabver-Goulbourne 'did not view the incident - even her version - as a breach of their policies and she did not express sufficient regret'.

One member of the panel's view was that Ms Malabver-Goulbourne 'had assaulted her son and that it did not matter what the context was or whether it was a smack or a tap'.

The judge said the disciplinary panel concluded that what Ms Malabver-Goulbourne had done 'was gross misconduct, which reflected on the whole school/Trust and therefore also presented reputational damage'.

But the tribunal ruled there was no evidence that the headteacher had committed 'physical chastisement or an assault' and that her dismissal was unfair.

In upholding the headteacher's claim, the judge noted that the school's code of conduct did not prohibit all physical contact between pupils and teachers.

The judge ruled that the trust had 'sufficient evidence' to form the view that Ms Malabver-Goulbourne had simply been 'trying to prevent injury to her child'.

Awarding compensation of 102,328, Judge Jones described the impact the case had on Ms Malabver-Goulbourne's life.

She said: 'The Claimant has been successful in her case but that does not detract from the fact that she has been out of school management since she was suspended in January 2022.

'It is unlikely that she would move from a supply teacher post back to a senior leader post.

'It is more likely that she will have to rebuild her career.

'She continued to scour the Times Educational Supplement and a range of other places to see if any jobs come up that she can apply for. She has also worked on regaining her confidence to ensure that she can be the best leader possible.'
A mother who was rushed to hospital after her children found her and her husband unconscious from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning remains in an induced coma nine days later.

The couple were discovered unconscious and unresponsive inside the bedroom of their Westminster home in Perth's north by their teenage children on June 25.

At least five ambulances rushed to the home, where the woman in her 40s and the man in his 50s were treated by paramedics, including a critical care team.

Nine days after the incident, the woman is still fighting for life in the intensive care unit at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Her husband has been discharged from hospital.

It's understood charcoal had been burning in an unvented bedroom where the couple had been sleeping and trying to keep warm in.

It is believed the family had only recently moved into the home.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services acting district officer Luke Miles said the pair were exposed to potential carbon monoxide poisoning 'for a long period of time'.

The married couple were discovered by their teenage children who called triple-000 (pictured emergency services at the scene)

The mother, in her 40s, is still in intensive care but her husband has been discharged from hospital (pictured paramedics at the scene)

'They were using (the charcoal) as a heating source in the bedroom ... where both of the casualties were located,' he told reporters.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) district officer John Manocchio said the couple's children helped save their parents lives due to their quick thinking, reported PerthNow.

'Its tragic but a testament to the actions of those children to alert the authorities and ventilate the home,' he said.

'When firefighters arrived with detectors they didnt actually detect any carbon monoxide left in the house because it had been so well vented.'

Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause a range of symptoms including headache, nausea and vomiting, while exposure to very high levels of it can cause loss of consciousness, seizures and death.

The incident is an important reminder this winter for Aussies be aware of carbon monoxide and to only use suitable indoor heaters.

It is believed the couple had been heating charcoal in their unvented bedroom to stay warm. Pictured is the scene

'The important safety message surrounding that is obviously the burning of any material within an enclosed space, (you) must make sure that you have a well-ventilated area,' Mr Miles said.

Recently, there have been other occurrences of people being exposed to carbon monoxide when trying to heat their home with an unsuitable heat source and lack of ventilation.

Four people, including a child, were transported to hospital on June 29 after a family of five used an outdoor barbeque to heat their Wentworthville apartment in western Sydney.

'The firefighters in attendance say the CO [carbon monoxide] levels inside the unit were more than four times the dangerous limit,' Fire and Rescue NSW said in statement.

Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital clinical toxicologist Jason Armstrong told 7NEWS carbon monoxide 'slowly builds up in the body' eventually starving a person's cells of oxygen.

Mr Armstrong advised that if a person suspects someone of being exposed to carbon monoxide, they need to drag them outside straight away.

'The priority is to get them to fresh air, get supplemental oxygen and get them to a medical facility as quickly as possible,' he said.
Hurricane Beryl is hurtling towards Mexico with crushing 125mph winds set to hit tourist hotspots along the Yucatan Peninsula tonight.

The hurricane has already left destruction in its wake, ripping off roofs in Jamaica, jumbling fishing boats in Barbados and damaging or destroying 95 per cent of homes on two islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Eight people have lost their lives across the Caribbean amid the devastation, with power outages and widespread destruction seeing Grenadian prime minister Dickon Mitchell label the conditions 'armageddon-like'.

What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, weakened slightly but remained a major hurricane. Its eye was forecast to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight.

Maps shows the predicted storm path after it pulled away from Jamaica late last night, with the storm now rumbling toward the Cayman Islands before it is expected to slam into Mexico's east coast.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: A woman walks along the beach of Manresa, covered with garbage after the passage of Hurricane Beryl

JAMAICA: An empty street as people remain indoors amid strong winds and lashing rain from Hurricane Beryl

GRENADA: Wreckage is seen outside battered homes following the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Petite Martinique, Grenada July 2, 2024

Trees bend in the strong winds from Hurricane Beryl in Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 3, 2024

Flood waters pour onto the street as Hurricane Beryl passes through the area on July 03, 2024

This graphics shows the probabilities of sustained (1-minute average) surface wind speeds equal to or exceeding 39 mph

This graphic shows an approximate representation of coastal areas under a hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow)

Hurricane Beryl remains a category 3 hurricane. It lashed Jamaica last night, now starting to impact the Cayman Islands, heading towards Mexico. #Beryl #gawx pic.twitter.com/8UyHjaVChm  Ryan Stinnett (@Ryan_Stinnett) July 4, 2024

Mexico's popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge.

Locals cleared out supermarket shelves as they stocked up supplies and prepared to batten down the hatches.

But in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum tourists still took one more night on the town.

Mexico's Navy patrolled areas like Tulum telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storm's arrival.

Early Thursday morning, the storm's center was about 500 miles (800 kilometers) east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico.

It had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 21 mph (32 kph).

Beryl was forecast to make landfall in a sparsely populated area of lagoons and mangroves south of Tulum in the early hours of Friday, probably as a Category 2 storm.

Then it was expected to cross the Yucatan Peninsula and restrengthen over the warm Gulf of Mexico to make a second strike on Mexico's northeast coast near the Texas border.

Palm trees sway as the wind and rain from Hurricane Beryl pass through on July 03, 2024

Wrecked properties on Grenada after Hurricane Beryl ploughed through this week

A view shows damaged property following the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Carriacou

A person makes their way through the wind and rain from Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica

The storm had already shown its destructive potential across a long swath of the southeastern Caribbean.

Beryl's eye wall brushed by Jamaica's southern coast Wednesday afternoon knocking out power and ripping roofs off homes.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the 'worst of what could possibly happen.'

'We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God,' Holness said.

Several roadways in Jamaica's interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section were without electricity, according to the governments Information Service.

MEXICO: People lounge on the beach as the sun sets ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen July 3, 2024

Furniture store employees board up windows for protection ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Furniture store employees board up windows for protection ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Tourists swim in the ocean ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

This image provided by NASA shows Hurricane Beryl from the International Space Station on Sunday, July 1, 2024

The worst perhaps came earlier in Beryl's trajectory when it smacked two small islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Michelle Forbes, the St. Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organization, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.

Evacuees from Union Island arrive in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The island, in the Grenadines archipelago, was hit by Hurricane Beryl. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)

Members of the Red Cross transport a Union Island evacuee on a stretcher as she arrives in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The island, in the Grenadines archipelago, was hit by Hurricane Beryl. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)

Evacuees from Union Island arrive in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Members of the Red Cross transport a Union Island evacuee on a stretcher as she arrives in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The island, in the Grenadines archipelago, was hit by Hurricane Beryl

Workers remove an advertisement from a billboard for protection ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Tourists lounge on the beach ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

A Mexican soldier stands guard on a beach ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, said.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.

In Cancun Wednesday afternoon, Donna McNaughton, a 43-year-old cardiac physiologist from Scotland, was taking the approaching storm in stride.

Her flight home wasn't leaving until Monday, so she planned to follow her hotel's advice to wait it out.

'We're not too scared of. It'll die down,' she said. 'And we're used to wind and rain in Scotland anyway.'
Tom Cruise is one of the most famous actors in the world, becoming a prolific face on film screens since his star first exploded in the early 1980s.

Despite being one of the most pictured faces in Hollywood, very little is known about his personal life, particularly the relationships he holds with his family.

His father - dubbed a 'bully and a coward' by the multi-millionaire - left his mother in the 1970s, with Tom quickly taking on the role of man of the house, looking after his three sisters.

As a result the siblings formed a tight-knit bond, with Tom even declaring a few years ago: 'I would live with all of my sisters if I could. We have always been very close, my sisters and me.'

And it appears now that dream has come true, with his family reported to have moved into a luxury Scientology building in Florida just a stones throw away from the church's global headquarters.

Tom Cruise appeared to be in a great mood on his 62nd birthday earlier this week at he boarded a helicopter the Battersea helipad in London

He was joined by his sister Marian (pictured) as the pair were pictured at the Battersea helipad in London

Tom Cruise and his sister Lee Anne (left), who is also his former publicist

Tom's other sister Cass Capazorio (pictured), is the director of a company which, according to The Sun, is involved in running Scientology courses

Despite their close relationship, however, the star has rarely been seen with his sisters in public, perhaps because his siblings took vastly different paths to the Academy Award winner.

Sharing Tom's avid belief in the church of Scientology, his sister Cass Capazorio is director of a company that helps run courses in the religion, sometimes referred to as a cult, that was born in America during the 1950s.

His other sister, Lee Anne Gillotte is a former publicist who now works managing the luxury Skyview building where the quartet live and being treasurer of the he 'Skyview Condominium Association Inc'.

According to The Sun his third sister Marian Henry, her son Cal and daughter-in-law Marjorye, are also all Scientologists.

His brother in law Greg, who is married to Cass, is also said to be the head of another company that helps to rehabilitate prisoners using Scientology techniques.

It is perhaps unsurprising that Tom has remained close to his siblings after he dedicated much of his younger years to helping raise his sisters as they endured a tough childhood at the hands of their abusive father Thomas Cruise Mapother III.

Tom Cruise's mother Mary Lee with his ex-wife Katie Holmes and Tom's sister Marian in 2007

Tom's sister Lee Anne Gillotte (left) is part of the management team of the building where all four siblings live

Tom Cruise's sister Cass Capazorio is pictured with her husband Greg

Reflecting on the abuse he endured from his father in a 2006 interview with Parade magazine, he said Thomas 'was a bully and a coward... the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you'.

'It was a great lesson in my life - how he'd lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang,' he added.

'For me, there's something wrong with this guy. Don't trust him. Be careful around him. There's that anxiety.'

On the other hand, he described his mother Mary lee with love and care, calling her a 'very warm, charismatic woman, very kind, very generous'.

At the age of 11, Tom and his family moved to Kentucky after his mother split from Thomas in 1974.

As a result of the split, his mother was forced to take up three jobs to be able to support her four children, depending on her caring and dependable son who began working himself.

The superstar took up a morning paper round, mowed the lawns for his neighbours and even took up cleaning jobs to help his family stay afloat.

Tom Cruise and his mother Mary at the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Tom's sister Marian with his mother Mary at the Cipriani 42nd Street in 2007

Lee Anne DeVette who was formerly Tom's publicist is seen taking photos at the Japan Premiere of Knight and Day in 2010

One of his neighbours Bill Lewis previously revealed: 'No job was too dirty or difficult for Tommy, as long as it paid money to help his mom out.'

Lewis added that even when his mother slipped a disk in her back from all the work, with the star supposedly telling him: 'My mom could have sat there every morning and cried and cried.

'She didn't. My mom was very proud. She had dignity. She's going to work hard.'

In light of her injury, one of Mary's friend had to move in with them to help with the workload while the family also lived on food stamps for a period of time.

John later divorced Mary in 2012 and he passed away in 2015 at age 89 after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, while Mary died in 2017.

She went on to move to New Jersey and marry John 'Jack' South in 1978, when Tom was 16.

Both Mary and her husband were supportive of Tom's dreams to become an actor.

Tom's sisters have previously supported him throughout his career (Marian,far left and Tom's mother Mary Lee, right, are pictured in 2007)

Tom Cruise's mother Mary (pictured in 2007), who passed away in 2017

Mary previously explained how he told them of his ambitions after he starred in a high-school production of Guys And Dolls.

She said: 'After the show, Tom came home and said he wanted to have a talk with my husband and me.

'He asked for 10 years to give show business a try. Meanwhile, my husband's thinking, 'What's this gonna cost me? Ten years of what?'

'Tom said, 'I really feel that this is what I want to do.'

'And we both wholeheartedly agreed, because we both felt it was a God-given talent, and he should explore it because he was so enthused about it.

'So to make a long story short, we gave him our blessing and the rest is history.'

The Church of Scientology has been contacted for comment.
Cineworld is planning to shut around a quarter of its cinemas in the UK under a radical restructuring proposal.

The chain, which currently runs around 100 sites across the country, is expected to launch around 25 closures as part of a formal restructuring plan.

Bosses want to renegotiate rent agreements at a further 50 sites, with the remaining 25 untouched by the restructuring.

The group, which also runs the Picturehouse chain, is among cinema firms to have been knocked by the growth of streaming services, delays to releases following actor and writer strikes, and the increased cost-of-living for customers.

Last year, a swathe of Empire cinemas across the country closed abruptly when the chain plunged into administration.

Cineworld also wants to renegotiate rent agreements at a further 50 sites, with the remaining 25 of its 100 sites untouched by the restructuring

The company has faced problems of people not returning to the cinema post-pandemic and instead increasingly choosing to stay at home and watch new releases on streaming services. Pictured: A boarded up Cineworld cinema in London during the pandemic

Sources told Sky News the proposals were expected to be formally outlined to creditors which will include rent cuts to landlords in the coming weeks.

But if enough landlords refuse to agree to the new let terms, the 50 Cineworld complexes up for rent renegotiation could also be at risk of closure.

It is expected that other cinema operators could step in and take over some of Cineworld's closed sites. It is not yet known what Cineworld locations could be effected.

A Cineworld spokesperson said in a statement: 'We continue to review our options but we don't comment on rumours and speculation.'

After the news of the closure broke on social media, a number of cinema-goers took to Twitter to express their views.

One commenter said: 'With cinemas being so over priced and given that films now take less time before they end up on streams I'm not surprised..

'Does anyone remember orange Wednesdays and Saturday morning pictures for 1.. ah the good old days..'

A number of social media users took to Twitter to comment on the news

While another suggested using the cineas as housing, posting: 'Flats needed. In my town they are knocking down a brand new one for flats for boat bandits.'

Another said: 'Multiplex cinemas in general are going to become a thing of the past. There are no longer enough films people want to see to fill them.'

While another simply posted: 'Netflix 4.99 a month.'

Sources told Sky News that the insolvency mechanism employed by the cinema was expected to be a restructuring plan which would allow it to rework its balance sheet and restructure debts.

Last month it was reported Cineworld was holding talks about a sale with potential buyers, and that it had now switched to a formal restructuring process.

Cineworld's plans to close some of its sites come after a tough few years for the company, which is the UK cinema market leader along with Odeon and Vue.

It has faced problems of people not returning to the cinema post-pandemic and instead increasingly choosing to stay at home and watch new releases on streaming services.

Families also cut back due to the cost of living crisis and instead opted for streaming services such as Disney Plus, which involved a number of films being released directly on that platform - bypassing cinemas altogether.

Families cut back on the cinema due to the cost of living crisis and instead opted for streaming services such as Disney Plus and Netflix

Cineworld grew under the leadership of the Greidinger family into a global giant of the film industry, acquiring chains including Regal in the US in 2018. Pictured: A view of the Regal movie theater while it was closed due to Covid in March 2021 in Times Square, New York

The news of Cineworld's closures comes after Picturehouse, the UK boutique cinema arm of the company, officially confirmed the closure of two historic UK venues last month.

Fulham Road Picturehouse and Bromley Picturehouse theatre in outer London were both revamped prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, but will now closing their doors on July 11 and August 1 respectively.

Both cinema theatres are well-known listed buildings dating back to the 1930s and are much loved venues within their respective locations.

A number of social media users expressed their dismay at the decision to close the two sites in June.

One user wrote: 'A real shame this, but not surprised when the Vue cinema in Bromley was generally a lot cheaper.

'While I far prefer Picturehouse, money is tight for a lot of people and so they'll go where the cheaper options are. Sad to see you go, and hope the staff are being looked after.'

Another commented: 'Too busy watching box sets on a tiny screen to instead spend an evening being entertained in this majestic beauty of a cinema.'

Fulham Road Picturehouse will closing its doors on July 11

Bromley Picturehouse will be closing its doors on August 1

A number of social media users expressed their dismay at the decision to close the two Picturehouse sites in June

Cineworld grew under the leadership of the Greidinger family into a global giant of the film industry, acquiring chains including Regal in the US in 2018 and the British company of the same name four years prior.

However its multibillion-dollar debt mountain led it into crisis, and forced the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. in 2022.

Filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy means a company intends to reorganise its debts and assets to have a fresh start, while remaining in business.

Cineworld shares were worth just 0.6p in June last year after it was hit hard by the pandemic. They were changing hands at 300p just five years ago.

It caused it to delist from the London Stock Exchange in August 2023 after Cineworld's UK arm collapsed into administration as its share price continued to fall and fears were raised for its survival.

A deal was struck last year which exchanged several billions of dollars of debt for shares, with a significant sum of fresh cash injected into the company by a group of hedge funds and investors.

The multinational, which includes cinema brands Regal, Cinema City, Picturehouse and Planet, also operates in central and eastern Europe, Israel and the United States.

As of August 2023 the company employed 28,000 workers across its global operations in 10 countries.

Cineworld was devastated by pandemic lockdowns forcing it to shut down its cinemas, having already racked up enormous debts through the costly takeover of US rival Regal Cinemas in 2018.

During the pandemic, the cinema had to reduce the capacity of each cinema by around 50 per cent.

Movie start times had to be staggered to prevent the build up of too many patrons in the foyer at the one time.

The cinema company received taxpayer support through furlough and tapping up shareholders for cash to avoid collapse during the pandemic.

More than 5,000 staff were furloughed while its 127 UK cinemas, including its Picturehouse brand, were shut.
Lord Alan Sugar has thanked police after the daughters of a serial burglar best known as the 'Essex Spiderman' was ordered to pay almost 100,000 back to their father's victims.

David Buisson stole cash and jewellery from homes and businesses in Essex, including a property that belonged to The Apprentice host, in a 1.2million crime spree between December 2015 and June 2017.

He was sentenced in 2018 to eight years in prison after admitting 11 burglaries and two attempted burglaries and was ordered to pay compensation to eight of his victims in 2019.

Following Buisson's conviction, Essex Police turned their attention to the serial burglar's daughters - Tailah Morris-Buisson, 30, and Bella Morris-Buisson, 26.

Inquiries revealed the sisters' lifestyle had been heavily funded by their father's criminality, with thousands of pounds deposited into their accounts over the period of his offending.

As a result of the investigation, the pair have been ordered to pay a total of 95,440 to the eight victims of their father's crimes.

Following David Buisson's conviction, Essex Police launched a money laundering investigation into the serial burglar's daughters - Tailah Morris-Buisson (left) and Bella Morris-Buisson (right)

David Buisson (left) stole cash and jewellery from homes and businesses in Essex, including a property that belonged to Lord Sugar (right), in a 1.2million crime spree between December 2015 and June 2017

Tailah (pictured on holiday in Thailand) was ordered to pay 94,465.05 in compensation to the eight victims of her father's crimes

Lord Sugar said: 'I am very impressed by the way this investigation has been handled and I would like to thank Essex Police for their persistence in confiscating the money David Buisson made by targeting people's homes.

'I hope that this result acts as a deterrent to others who think it's acceptable to make money from criminal activity.'

Buisson broke into homes and businesses across Epping Forest and Canvey Island, which included two raids on Lord Sugar's Essex mansion.

He was said to have used Facebook to make a list of the wealthiest people in Essex, with seven of the people on the searches later being burgled by him.

Buisson used a ladder to get inside Sir Sugar's home on June 5, 2018 and took watches and jewellery worth 184,000. He then returned the following night to try and open a safe with a drill.

In 2019, the burglar was ordered at a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act to pay compensation to eight of his victims, including handing over 173,977.77 to Lord Sugar.

Whilst their father was evading police, it is alleged the Morris-Buisson sisters set up an electric motorcycle company in Abridge in an attempt to disguise their father's criminal assets, Essex Police said.

Taliah's Instagram page also shows her enjoying an exotic life of travelling to places such as Thailand, Italy and Dubai.

The pair were arrested in October 2017 and were charged with acquiring criminal property and two counts of concealing or disguising criminal property.

Tailah Morris-Buisson, of Church Langley, and Bella Morris-Buisson, of Epping, were convicted of the charges last October, with the former receiving a 24-month suspended sentence and the latter a 20-month suspended sentence.

Buisson (pictured) was sentenced in 2018 to eight years in prison after admitting 11 burglaries and two attempted burglaries and was ordered to pay compensation to eight of his victims in 2019

Alan Sugar's burglar David Buisson and his daughters when they were young

Buisson used a ladder and tool kit (pictured) to get inside Sir Sugar's home on June 5, 2018 and took watches and jewellery worth 184,000

Taliah posted a photo on to Instagram of her outside the Guan Yu Koh Samui Shrine in Thailand

Another photo from Taliah's trip to Thailand posted on her Instagram almost five weeks ago

In the last year, Taliah has also posted about a trip she took to Dubai (above)

Buisson broke into homes and businesses across Epping Forest and Canvey Island, which included two raids on Lord Alan Sugar's Essex mansion (pictured)

At a Proceeds of Crime hearing in May, Tailah Morris-Buisson was ordered to pay 94,465.05 in compensation to the eight victims of her father's crimes, Essex Police said.

At a hearing on Wednesday, Bella Morris-Buisson was ordered to pay 975, the force added.

Financial investigator Marie Hall, from Essex Police's Economic Crime Unit, said: 'Both sisters had benefited financially from their father's criminality.

'Tailah owned a property which had been transferred to her by David Buisson before the offences but could still be confiscated to repay the victims.

'Justice does not stop at the point of a conviction and the work that the Economic Crime Unit put into confiscation orders is to ensure that no-one in Essex can make a career out of crime.'
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out high-risk criminals being released early from prison amid the overcrowding crisis in jails.

The Labour leader, widely expected to become Britain's next PM tomorrow, also left the door open to prisoners being released less than halfway through their sentence.

His failure to rule out high-risk criminals being released early came despite him having urged Rishi Sunak to commit to the same pledge earlier this year.

During PMQs on 15 May, Sir Keir demanded Mr Sunak offer a 'guarantee' that 'none of the criminals who he is instructing prisons to release early is considered high-risk'.

The Government has acted in recent months to release prisoners early due to the ballooning jail population as a result of tougher sentences and court backlogs.

Many of the UK's jails are near full capacity, with reports this week a 'one-in, one out' system - known as Operation Brinker - could be introduced for the first time ever.

Sir Keir Starmer, pictured at a polling station with his wife Victoria today, has refused to rule out high-risk criminals being released early from prison amid the overcrowding crisis in jails

The Government has acted in recent months to release prisoners early due to the ballooning jail population as a result of tougher sentences and court backlogs

On the final day of general election campaigning yesterday, Sir Keir was asked by The Times whether he would give the same guarantee on high-risk criminals as he had previously demanded of Mr Sunak.

The Labour leader said, if he wins power, he would 'instinctively' want to ensure high-risk prisoners were excluded from the early release policy, which allows some inmates to be let out up to 70 days early.

Sir Keir pointed to the case of a domestic abuser who was released from Lewes prison this year despite being deemed a risk to children.

But he also added: 'I'm not going to sort of announce and get ahead of myself on what we'll need to do but it's a very serious problem when the Government has allowed the prison system to get so full, a lack of preparation, that we are having to release people who should be in prison.'

On the campaign visit to Carmarthen, South Wales, Sir Keir was also quizzed about whether he would consider lowering the automatic release point for most offenders from 50 per cent of their sentence to between 40 and 45 per cent.

Such a move was recently recommended by the Institute for Government think tank among a series of proposed measures for freeing up thousands of prisons places.

Sir Keir said: 'I'm very concerned about the situation, because it is appalling that we are in the place we are where the Government has allowed a situation where we don't have enough prison places for the people who need to be in prison.

'That is a shocking indictment of this government, criminal justice should never be in that place.

'In addition to that, they are saying to the police 'Don't arrest people', because they can't put more people into prison places.

'To actually say those things in 2024 - and I worked in criminal justice for five years - releasing prisoners early and telling police not to arrest people, is a terrible state of affairs.

'We are going to, if we get into power inherit that. In terms of the specific things that we will do, we will have to wait and see what that is, but I can't stand here and pretend to you or everybody else that we can build a prison in 24 hours after the election result is called.

'We have to get on with the hard yards of sorting this mess out, but it is one massive mess.'
A village railway station 'frozen in time' from the 1950s has gone on the market for 35,000.

Pentre Berw station located on the small island of Anglesey in north Wales was once full of smoke from steam engines and sounds of whistles but has been left vacant for decades.

The red and white brick station, nestled next to a tunnel, is in need of modernisation but could now be turned into a home.

The former rural station still has its ticket office, toilets, several waiting rooms with wooden shelves in the old London and North Western Railway colours and old tin signs on the walls.

At the end of the station, accessed via an external door, stands an old oil lamp that the stationmaster would refill to allow signals for passing trains, before gas or electricity was used.

Pentre Berw station located on the small island of Anglesey in north Wales has gone on the market for 35,000

The old railway station has been empty for decades but now could be turned into a modern home. Pictured: One of the station rooms equipped with a marble fireplace

The station closed in August 1952 - over 60 years after it was constructed in 1891 - and was the first on the Anglesey Central line to be shut down

Inside, the building is filled with marble fireplaces, solid brick walls, windows, long benches and a unique scent of lamp oil and grass cuttings.

Back in its hay day, the station served the central railway line across the Isle of Anglesey from Gaerwn to Amlwch.

The station closed in August 1952 - over 60 years after it was constructed in 1891 - and was the first on the Anglesey Central line to be shut down.

The railway tracks still stand, despite not being used for 70 years, but the sleepers are covered in wild flowers and brambles.

Its new owners will have to ask for planning permission to turn this historic site into a quirky new home.

The time capsule will go under the auctioneer's hammer for a guide price of 35,000-40,000 with a provisional closing date of Thursday, July 11

The red and white brick station, nestled next to a tunnel, is in need of modernisation but could now be turned into a home. Pictured: One of the station's rooms in need of renovation

The station is based in the small village of Pentre Berw - two miles away from the county town of Llangefni

The redevelopment project would be perfect for those who loves trains, history or a task of building an unusual homes

The redevelopment project would be perfect for those who loves trains, history or a task of building an unusual homes.

The station is based in the small village of Pentre Berw - two miles away from the county town of Llangefni.

The nearby town has a major cultural centre and perfect for outdoor exploring with many nature reserves and wetlands in the area.

The time capsule will go under the auctioneer's hammer for a guide price of 35,000-40,000 with a provisional closing date of Thursday, July 11.

Call Williams & Goodwin estate agents, Llangefni, on 01248 751000 for more information.
An alternative Chinese healer accused of killing a diabetic grandmother as she attended his slapping therapy treatment, assured the 71-year-old she was in 'good hands', her son told the court today.

Hongchi Xiao, 61, told Danielle Carr-Gomm, an 'obsessive' vegetarian who was interested in using 'holistic' medicine, that his therapy 'could help' with her condition, jurors were told.

But in October 2016, the grandmother died after she stopped taking insulin over the course of a four-day workshop run by Xiao as she tried to get rid of her type one diabetes.

Xiao is accused of her manslaughter after he allegedly refused to call for help despite her becoming gravely ill and 'howling' from pain. On day four of the workshop she died from diabetic ketoacidosis.

The practitioner of paida lajin is said to have known of the fatal risks of a type 1 diabetic not taking their insulin because Mrs Carr-Gomm became extremely unwell at his previous workshop and because a six-year-old boy died during another of his retreats.

Hongchi Xiao (pictured) allegedly 'congratulated' Danielle Carr-Gomm, 71, when she stopped taking insulin at his four-day retreat

Mrs Carr-Gomm (pictured) - a follower of Xiao's who wanted to get rid of her type 1 diabetes - fell gravely ill over the course of the October 2016 workshop

Mrs Carr-Gomm died at Xiao's four-day paida lajin course at Cleeve House in Melksham, Wiltshire, in October 2016

Jurors have been told the self-professed healer has an 'unshakeable' belief that Western medicine is 'evil' and claimed Mrs Carr-Gomm's worsening condition was a 'healing crisis' because there is 'darkness before dawn breaks'.

Xiao said paida lajin - which involves patients being slapped and slapping themselves in certain areas and stretching - is a holistic self-healing therapy which can cure many diseases and conditions including diabetes.

Xiao is now on trial at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire for manslaughter of Mrs Carr-Gomm.

Today, her son Matthew told how his mother, a successful businesswoman who had set up her own travel company, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1999. Within six months, her weight had fallen to just six stone (38 kg), he said.

In a statement made shortly after her death and read to the court today, Mr Carr-Gomm described her as an 'obsessive' vegetarian who had always been interested in 'alternative' therapies.

However, he said her decision to pursue 'slap therapy' had come 'out of the blue' to both him and his younger brother Lawrence.

Mr Carr-Gomm, 51, said that initially after her diagnosis she had started taking insulin in tablet form.

Court sketch of Xiao appearing at Winchester Crown Court on Monday charged with manslaughter of woman at slapping therapy workshop

'She had a fear of needles,' he said. 'She was an obsessive vegetarian. We avoided restaurants that smelt of meat. Hence why she was keen to find other treatments. She was always into alternative and holistic therapies.'

Mr Carr Gomm said his mother - who had split up from her husband Richard in 1989 - lived off the income from properties she rented out and travelled widely.

As well as a flat in Lewes, East Sussex, she also owned a home in Bulgaria, which is where she first attended a workshop run by Xiao in 2016 after being told about it by friends.

'She said that [he] assured her she would be in good hands and diabetes would be something he could help with,' Mr Carr Gomm said. 'She said slapping helps get toxins out of the blood. This came out of the blue and we were skeptical.'

Mr Carr Gomm said his mother had always been 'hot headed' and 'impatient' but in the years leading up to her death had been more relaxed.

'It was very unfortunate she went down this route,' he said. 'Her health other than the diabetes was good.

'She was in a good place,' he said. 'She had a lot of life left in her. This happening now is a total shock.'

Xiao, from Cloudbreak, California, today appeared at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, for the first day of his three-week trial. He denies manslaughter

Xiao, from Cloudbreak, California, is accused of knowingly ignoring the consequences of Mrs Carr-Gomm stopping taking her insulin and using his 'influence' over her.

She saw him as a 'messenger sent by God' and believed he could cure her diabetes, it has been heard.

In 2019 Xiao was convicted of manslaughter in Australia after a six year old boy with type 1 diabetes died at his workshop in April 2015, having stopped taking his insulin at the instruction of Xiao.

At the Wiltshire workshop in October 2016, Mrs Carr-Gomm stopped taking insulin on the first day but showed severe symptoms and was heard 'howling in pain'.

Xiao claims through paida lajin - which means slap and stretch in Chinese - patients can unblock their 'meridian systems' and cure diseases.

The three week trial continues.
The international sensation Hawk Tuah girl aka Haliey Welch revealed that she is turning her 15 minutes of fame into a new career in a new Instagram video.

Welch, 21, became famous worldwide after the TikTok video went viral. According to her latest update, Welch is now cashing in after launching her own merchandising company, 16 Minutes LLC, something DailyMail.com earlier reported.

In the short clip, Welch threatened, in her typical light-hearted manner, all of those who have been trying to make a quick buck out of her fame by mentioning that she has hired a lawyer and manager to look after her interests. The video was accompanied with the hashtag: '#Coming4you.

The Tennessee-native mentioned another issue that her fame has created, the constant requests for her to create an OnlyFans page.

Haliey Welch, 21, aka Hawk Tuah, showed off her new merchandise in her latest Instagram video

Welch spoke about the good things that have happened since she became famous, including be able to perform on stage with Zach Bryan

'Stop asking me for the link in bio for my OnlyFans. I don't have an OnlyFans and there will never be an OnlyFans. I just make funny jokes, that's all I do,' she continued.

Another of the bug bears of instant fame, Welch says, is her father, whom she refers to as 'paw paw,' and his constant threats to shoot members of the paparazzi who have been camped out in front of her home since the video blew up.

On a more positive note, Welch said that she is grateful that she was able to get over her stage fright and sing alongside Zach Bryan, mentioning that she cannot 'sing for s***.'

Welch added that thanks to her fame, she has been able to quit her job at the spring factory, a bed spring factory located in Belfast, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville.

However, she said that she will continue to eat Taco Bell, no matter how famous she becomes.

A more light-hearted drawback Welch says is having to get dressed up every day and being unable to 'look like Adam Sandler,' a reference to the A-list actor's casual wardrobe choices.

16 Minutes LLC, based in Nashville, Tennessee, may be a clever wordplay over her attempts to have more than just 15 minutes of fame after her viral interview.

Welch is selling two different types of hats with the phrase written on it, one with a leather patch and one embordered

The name of the new company may also be a nod to her life-changing line - 'You've got to give him that hawk tuah and spit on that thang, you get me?' - which is comprised of 16 words.

According to TMZ, Welch and her management team are planning to send cease and desist letters to merchants who are trying to use 'Hawk Tuah' on clothing for profit.

The filing, as well as her new company come, as a surprise after she told Brianna Lapaglia on the Plan Bri Uncut podcast that she was hesitant to be 'Hawk Tuah' girl forever.

On July 1, she revealed that she has quit her factory job and employed management since the clip of her explaining how to 'make a man go crazy in bed' for Tim & Dee TV racked up more than three million views on YouTube after airing June 19.

Welch had initially isolated herself in rural Tennessee where she lives with her family. Her friends and family built a protective wall around her to shield her from the publicity.

Since being thrust into the spotlight, she explained she had received 'revolting' offers' from fans who attempted to reach her through the man she has partnered with to offer special 'Hawk Tuah' merchandise.

She told Brianna Lapaglia on the Plan Bri Uncut podcast: 'So, the guy that does my hats, he got offered $600 three days ago for me to spit in a jar and sell it. That is revolting! That is just disgusting, is it not?'

She joined Lapaglia, also known as 'Brianna Chickenfry,' just two days after sharing the stage with Lapaglia's boyfriend Zach Bryan at the Nashville Nissan Stadium.

In the wide-ranging interview, Welch confirmed she had been out drinking that evening but that her comment was intended as a joke and that she 'didn't mean anything by it.'

The rising star was then quizzed on who her celebrity crush is in a game called 'Hawk Tuah or Nah.'

Welch also debunked rumors about where she and her family worked. The internet initially said that Welch was a schoolteacher that was fired after the video came out, and that her father was a preacher.

'I worked in a spring factory, I'm not a school teacher,' she said.

'My father is so far from a preacher, it's crazy.'

She said that after she became famous she quit her job and now plans on traveling across the county and 'be on a show and be on a bunch of podcasts and everything else in between.'
A record of 70.9 million people will travel this week for Independence Day, making it the busiest holiday ever in history. However, some employees do not request for paid time off (PTO) or leave.

New Harris Poll research involving 1,274 US workers indicated that over half of all millennials and Gen Z employees quiet vacationed during the July 4th holiday week  took days off without asking for time off in an official way. This is expected to remain consistent through this years holiday season.

Always Being Available Pressures

According to Tim Osiecki, director of thought leadership and trends at The Harris Poll, young professionals are reluctant to request PTO because they feel compelled to be constantly available and productive, even during a holiday week.

Gen Xers and millennials might also resort to silent vacations as an alternative to dealing with fewer leaves of absence due to burnout from working more hours.

"Employees aren't trying to deceive or shirk their responsibilities," Osiecki adds. "They're simply trying to find a way to balance their need for rest with the demands of their jobs"

One of The Least Productive Weeks of The Year

This year, July 4 falls on a Thursday  sandwiched between two working days  which exacerbates the already-existing productivity dip around this public holiday.

The Harris Poll showed that slightly above half (53%) of Generation Z and millennial respondents claimed that they hardly do anything at all on July 4.

There are few other times each year when more people travel than around Independence Day; however, only one out of ten companies surveyed shut down operations for the entire workweek surrounding July 4th.

Most Gen Zs and millennial staff believe having the full week off would enable them to be more productive, work harder, and take on greater responsibilities in their current positions.

This small tradeoff might help increase the level of focus of individuals during one of the least productive seasons of the year, Mr. Osiecki remarks.

READ ALSO: Telephonophobia: Understanding Why Gen Zers Have Phone Anxiety

A Red Flag for a Bad Workplace Culture

Osiecki said that if workers need to slink away from the office, it's a red flag that the company doesn't have a supportive culture and has no effective PTO system.

Employees especially younger ones are scared to ask for time off. In another Harris Poll survey, half of workers admitted they worry about requesting time off. Gen Z respondents were 58%, while millennials were 61%.

Many Americans said they wished their bosses understood the importance of taking breaks from work.

"Managers need to recognize that 'quiet vacationing' isn't a passive trend, but a symptom of a larger issue: employees feeling uncomfortable or unsupported in taking time off," asserts Osiecki. "It signals that there might be a lack of trust or communication breakdown between managers and their teams."

Getting Over The Summer Slump with Good PTO Policies

During summertime, when temperatures rise, most organizations experience a summer slump  longer holidays, shorter days at work, decreased productivity, or lower team spirit.

According to Osiecki, bosses can improve productivity over this period by re-evaluating their policies on paid time off, especially those that apply during major leave times such as July.

Employers can offer creative PTO benefits, such as scheduling company-wide week-long breaks at key holidays, legislating a specific number of days off, or giving employees floating holidays for use throughout the year.

Managers should also set a good example by giving clear guidelines on how to request time off, treating themselves like ordinary employees when it comes to PTO, and supporting their staff whenever they ask for leave.

The advantages of building a supportive vacation policy extend long past the summer holiday period, Osiecki notes. He said that it's understandable if workers need to rest and that respecting this will make them more loyal and productive.

RELATED ARTICLE: Gen Zers at Work: The Greatest Strength of the 'Most Difficult' Generation to Deal With

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Costa del Sol officials have denied claims that tourists will be fined for urinating in the sea, instead saying they are allowed to relieve themselves as they are swimming.

Councillors in the Marbella previously declared bathers will face fines of up to 750 (653) if they are caught performing 'physiological evacuations in the sea and on the beach'.

Anyone caught more than once in the space of a year could face a fine of up to 1,500 (1,2700), while a third infraction could see fines of up to 3000.

The proposals caught the ire of locals and holidaymakers alike, who questioned whether money should be spent on policing the issue.

But a spokesperson for the city council has since clarified the proposals, claiming that the new law 'does not impose a sanction for peeing in the sea.'

They told the Guardian: 'It will not be applicable. The bye-law regulates possible antisocial infractions on the beach, just as any such acts are regulated in any public space such as on the citys streets.'

Anyone caught more than once in the space of a year could face a fine of up to 1,500 (1,2700), while a third infraction could see fines of up to 3000

Councillors in the holiday hotspot in southern Spain have declared bathers will face fines of up to 750 if they are caught performing 'physiological evacuations in the sea and on the beach'

The move was initially ridiculed - 'Who's going to find the culprits - the jellyfish?' one incredulous interviewee said when asked about the measure by Mario Picazo for Spanish television show 'Tiempo al tiempo', according to media outlet El Correo.

'Let them worry about other things - this is idiotic!' another said.

'What would a policeman be looking for? You can't see, I don't understand anything.'

Other outlets openly criticised the measure, declaring that weeing in the sea was 'one of the most widespread customs in our country'.

Despite the outrage, the measure has actually been in place in Malaga ever since 2004 - albeit with much lower penalties.

Bathers can be fined up to 300 at present if they are caught urinating at the beach.

But these fines would be bumped up considerably if the new legislation passes, along with a raft of other measures.

These include a series of new restrictions limiting ball games and paddleboards in parts of beaches where the activities could be seen to 'disturb other beach users'.

Beachgoers will also have to obtain authorisation from the relevant authorities before holding any parties, public events or competitions on the 25 beaches in Marbella affected by the legislation.

Brits who partake in a cheeky wee in the sea may need to budget an extra 635 for their holidays in Marbella

Tourists flash their bottoms on the beach in Spain

Tourism hotspots across Spain have been cracking down on bad behaviour in the lead-up to the summer

In Magaluf - one of the most notorious party destinations popular with Brits - tourists are now subject to draconian laws that prohibit drinking on the streets or buying alcohol in corner shops past 8.30pm

Marbella24horas later reported other restrictions will prevent people from leaving umbrellas or parasols in the sand to reserve a space on the beach, and from leaving cigarette butts, rubbish and food scraps in the sand.

Parking caravans or motorhomes by the beach will also be prohibited where it 'contravenes the applicable traffic regulations'.

Tourism hotspots across Spain have been cracking down on bad behaviour in the lead-up to the summer.

In Magaluf - one of the most notorious party destinations popular with Brits - tourists are now subject to draconian laws that prohibit drinking on the streets or buying alcohol in corner shops past 8.30pm.

Anyone breaking the rules introduced on May 11 could be fined up to 1,500 (1,350).

If someone's offence is decided to be more serious, the fines could increase to 3,000 (2,550).

The strict new regulations also prohibit tourists from organising drinking parties in public, spraying graffiti, riding scooters and displaying nudity.

They are set to stay in place until at least 2027, at which point the regulations will be reviewed for effectiveness and impact.
Joe Biden has admitted that he 'screwed up' in last week's car crash election debate, as he has called an emergency meeting yesterday to try to shore-up support amongst concerned Democrat governors.

The president reportedly revealed in the meeting that he had a medical check up in the days after last week's televised clash with Republican candidate Donald Trump, in which he appeared tired and stumbled over his words.

Responding to a governor who asked about his physical condition, Biden insisted that he remains in good health, knocking on wood for effect, Politico reports citing insiders.

In an effort to allay fears about his fitness to run and emphasize his conviction that he can see the campaign through, he reportedly told the 20 governors involved: 'I'm the nominee of the Democratic Party. No one's pushing me out. I'm not leaving.'

He also used yesterday to deliver an apology of sorts, admitting in a Wisconsin radio station interview that he made a 'mistake' with his stumbling debate performance, but urging voters to instead judge him on his time in the White House.

Joe Biden has admitted that he 'screwed up' in last week's car crash election debate. Pictured yesterday during a Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House

Maine's Democratic Gov. Janet Mills directly told Biden she had no problem with his age but that she felt he wasn't up to running against Donald Trump

Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico questioned whether Biden could even beat Trump in her state, according to sources in attendance

New York's Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul offered unanimous support for the ailing president, 81, after yesterday's meeting - but other politicians in attendance say that she had no right to.

Gov. Janet Mills of Maine pulled no punches over last week's debate performance, directly telling Biden she had no problem with his age but that she felt he wasn't up to running against Donald Trump.

The governor, along with Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, asked what his path forward was, citing a need to make the case to their constituents.

Each questioned whether he could even beat Trump in their states, according to sources in attendance. A Democrat hasn't lost Connecticut or Maine since 1988.

'Obviously we, like many Americans, are a little worried. We're worried because the threat of a Trump presidency is not theoretical,' Walz said.

Biden's attempt to win over the governors saw him pledge that he is 'in it to win it', and he managed to get some supporters to rally around him.

Several liberal governors like would be successors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan did follow Hochul's lead, obsequiously tweeting their support after the meeting.

Ned Lamont of Connecticut asked what his path forward was, citing a need to make the case to his constituents

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who participated in person, posted his reaction on social platform X: 'I heard three words from the President tonight -- he's all in. And so am I.'

Many of the governors, including Whitmer, only attended the meeting virtually. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also was there.

The summit came after nearly a week of bad press and calls to drop out of the race following his debate disaster with Trump.

It lasted over an hour and those in attendance described the conversation as 'candid,' and a pep rally of sorts.

New York's Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul (pictured center) offered unanimous support for the ailing president, 81, after the meeting - but other politicians in attendance say that she had no right to

Vice President Kamala Harris, whom many see as the likely successor at the top of the ticket, ended the meeting by reiterating the threat to democracy that a Trump win would mean, according to the New York Times.

Several of the governors did try to reassure Democrats that Biden was capable of doing this and that they'd owed him their support.

'The president has always had our backs. We're going to have his back as well,' Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters.

'The president... he's our nominee. The president is our party leader,' he added.

Moore, Hochul and Minnesota's Tim Walz, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, were the only three of the 12 who attended in person to speak to the media afterward.

Biden's campaign said the president reiterated his determination 'to defeat the existential threat of Donald Trump at the ballot box in November ' and discussed the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ballot.

'All participants reiterated their shared commitment to do everything possible to make sure President Biden and Vice President Harris beat Donald Trump in November,' it said.

Biden's efforts to pull multiple levers to salvage his faltering reelection include his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a network television interview.

But he was confronting serious indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., said that though he backs Biden as long as he is a candidate, this 'is an opportunity to look elsewhere' and what Biden 'needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat - and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.'

Wealthy donor Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix, called on Biden to drop out as well.
Delegates for the Democratic party's nominating convention say they need more time to decide whether President Joe Biden should still be the one to lead the ticket in November.

While national Party leaders insist the primary is over and that no one else will be their nominee on the Democratic presidential ticket, rank-and-file members and local leaders are off put by Biden's debate performance and worried he isn't the best choice.

Party officials say the delegates are required to hold their 'virtual roll calls' for the presidential nomination before August 7, which is the deadline to get on the ballot in Ohio. But delegates are still in the dark on when the roll call is happening and say one month isn't enough time.

'We need as much time as possible,' a Northeast party delegate told Axios. 'There's no way we can make a decision in two or three weeks.'

The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago, Illinois on August 19-22. At the end of that week, the party will officially put forward its nominee for president in 2024.

Democratic Party chairs, delegates and rank-and-file members want more time to decide if Joe Biden is the right choice for the 2024 ticket. 'Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa (pictured) said: 'We have to feel that we can win this election. Our national Democratic leadership has to make a decision on what is ultimately the best for America'

Not only time, but delegates are also pleading for more options than the incumbent president.

'We are still waiting to hear what Biden is going to do,' Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said.

'We have to feel that we can win this election,' he added. 'Our national Democratic leadership has to make a decision on what is ultimately the best for America  and this world.'

So far some names being floated as replacements for Biden are Vice President Kamala Harris, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Some within the party are hoping former First Lady Michelle Obama would emerge as a potential candidate.

But Biden insists he's in the race to the end and is balking at a chorus of calls for him to step aside.

Biden insists he is the 'leader of the Democratic Party' and will not be stepping aside. He and VP Kamala Harris held a call with campaign staff on Wednesday to reassure them after the debate debacle

'I am the leader of the Democratic Party. No one is pushing me out,' he told his campaign team during a Wednesday call alongside Harris.

And the national DNC agrees with the president.

'The primary is over, and in every state the will of Democratic voters was clear: Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party's nominee for president,' DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a statement.

He added: 'Delegates are pledged to reflect voters' sentiment, and over 99% of delegates are already pledged to Joe Biden headed into our convention.'
A second baby-faced suspect in the brutal murder of 16-year-old Preston Lord has been freed on bond.

Taylor Sherman, one of seven young men accused of beating Lord to death outside a Queen Creek, Arizona, party last October, posted bond on Wednesday after a judge lowered it to $250,000 from $1 million.

The 19-year-old's lawyer argued the original bond amount was excessive because his family is not rich and he is not at flight risk.

Defense attorney Joseph Tobler also denied that Sherman is part of the notorious street gang, the Gilbert Goons, who have been terrorizing Phoenix suburbs for years.

'Mr. Sherman was present but not involved in the victims death,' Tobler said.

'His non-affiliation with the group suggests a lower likelihood of future criminal conduct.'

Taylor Sherman, one of seven young men accused of beating Lord to death outside a Queen Creek party last October, posted bond on Wednesday

Attorney Joseph Tobler denied that Sherman is part of the notorious street gang, the Gilbert Goons, who have been terrorizing Phoenix suburbs for years. Sherman is seen leaving jail

Sherman is the second suspect to be freed after Talyn Vigil, 17, posted a $1million bond in April.

Talan Renner, 17, Dominic Turner, 20, Jacob Meisner, 17, William Hines, 18, and Treston Billey, 18, are the other youngsters charged in the murder.

Preston died after being brutally beaten outside a Halloween party last October and left on a road in Queen Creek.

It took five months, for the suspects to be arrested.

The suspects were arrested after a five-month investigation, with prosecutors claiming some of their wealthy families tried to coverup their involvement in the killing.

Preston died after being brutally beaten outside a Halloween party last October and left on a road in Queen Creek

'Sherman was present but not involved in the victims death,' Tobler said. Image is from March

The police report into the probe reveals how the suspects discussed how they could cover their tracks, with accused killer Taylor Sherman, 19, discussing the cash reward in an exchange with an unnamed person

The suspects went from allegedly threatening witnesses and deleting evidence to turning on each other in hopes of obtaining the $10,000 reward for information on the murder, the police documents claim.

The police report into the probe reveals how the suspects discussed how they could cover their tracks, with accused killer Sherman discussing the cash reward in an exchange with an unnamed person.

The unnamed person texted Sherman: 'Yo tell me you didn't delete the video of the dead kid. It's 10k if you give to the popo.'

Sherman replied: 'Huh, that's going to make me a victim you stupid f***.'

Police noted in the police report that Sherman probably meant 'suspect' instead of 'victim.'

In another text exchange between Sherman and an unidentified person, a message read: 'Talan killed someone with his hands - referencing accused killer Talan Renner, 17.

Just days after the murder, a screengrab of a Snapchat chat was circulated that appeared to be written by Vigil.

After the post caught the community's attention, Talyn posted a public message on his Snapchat account.

The seven suspects in Preston Lord's murder from top left to bottom right: Jacob Meisner, Talan Renner, Taylor Sherman, Treston Billey, Talyn Vigil, Dominic Turner, William Owe Hines

'Yo I understand everyone is hurting right now and wants to find the kids that did this but you got the wrong talyn... the real kids name is talan renner. Please stop accusing me I was there I tried to help the kid off the street thank you,' it read.

At least one other alleged attacker, Talan Renner, also admitted - and even bragged about - beating Preston in the days after the party, writing on Snapchat: 'I got in a fight, a big group fight and I accidentally killed a kid. I guess I'm just too strong.'

The 'Gilbert Goons' were allowed to run amok Phoenix suburbs before Preston's murder, and after they were charged, authorities reopened numerous cases believed to have been conducted by a larger group of assailants.

Victims and residents in the area described the group as mostly white, upper-middle-class teenagers from multiple East Valley high schools.

Several lawsuits have been filed claiming that law enforcement and school officials allowed the Goons to continue unleashing their violence since as least 2022.
Shocking CCTV footage has emerged of the moment a man was struck down and severely injured by his own car after as he attempted to stop it from being stolen.

The man was parked outside restaurants and bars in Melbourne's busy Hardware Lane at about 3pm on Thursday when he was carjacked and left fighting for life in hospital.

The footage showed a man in a blue jacket riding a scooter and inspecting the red Ford 4WD.

The man in the blue jacket folded up his scooter which he placed into the car before he jumped into the driver's seat.

The victim and a woman, who were packing boxes into a trolley in front of the car, noticed the man and attempted to stop him from driving away.

But the thief continued driving as the victim clings for dear life onto the front of the car.

Shocked bystanders were seen rushing to help the victim, but the car continues driving with the victim being dragged along the front.

The man was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he remained in a critical condition on Thursday night.

A man (pictured) is fighting for life after trying to stop his car being driven away by a thief

A man riding a scooter came across the car before jumping into the driver's seat and drove off

It's understood the man lived in the apartments above a nearby dessert shop, Nimbo, The Herald Sun reported.

The alleged carjacker remains on the run.

'The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are yet to be determined,' Victoria Police said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
A man has appeared in court charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting more than six years ago.

Michael Clarke, 34, of Luton, is charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the incident in April 2018.

Tanesha Melbourne-Blake was socialising with friends when she was gunned down from a Vauxhall Meriva people carrier in Tottenham, north London.

She was pronounced dead at the scene and the car was found burnt out in Barnet five days later.

Clarke, wearing a grey puffer jacket, spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address during a brief hearing at Willesden Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Tanesha Melbourne-Blake, pictured, was killed around an hour after she was shot from a Vauxhall Meriva people carrier in Tottenham, north London, in April 2018

Forensic officers pictured searching the road in Tottenham where Ms Melbourne-Blake was shot dead

Ms Melbourne-Blake was killed at about 9.35pm on April 2 2018 after a bullet struck her in the chest, prosecutor Prosecutor Shelina Khudurun told the court.

Marcus La-Croix, 36, of Hackney, who was charged with the same offences as Clarke, appeared in custody at Thames Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey for a bail application on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Ms Khudurun said there appeared to be no link between the victim and co-defendants.

Clarke was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Monday.
A wife has been jailed for a petrol bomb plot against her mother-in-law for saying she wasnt good enough to marry her son.

Mother-in-law Christina Place, 54, found her car ablaze after it was petrol-bombed outside her home in the revenge attack.

A court heard daughter-in-law Alisha Anwar, 29, conspired with a friend to commit arson to blow up the car for money.

A judge was told Mrs Place made it clear that she did not like Anwar and that she wasnt good enough for her son - leading to issues between the pair.

Alisha Anwar, 29, admitted to conspiring to commit arson and has been jailed for 16 months and given a two-year restraining order to protect her mother-in-law

Police discovered Anwar had asked another couple called Luke Williams and his partner if they would blow up a car for money.

Williams agreed without his girlfriend knowing - and in June 2022 Mrs Place was in her home in Wrexham, North Wales, when she saw her car ablaze.

One witness described the car exploding and the flames had spread to two more vehicles by the time firefighters arrived.

One of the neighbouring homes had to be evacuated - and guttering and a window on another property stared to melt.

Mrs Places car was damaged beyond repair - and a glass bottle of petrol was found under the vehicle.

Williams girlfriend realised what the pair had done and informed police. CCTV footage was found of Williams filling up a petrol can at a garage the day before the arson attack.

He was seen with a carrier bag in the residential area the fire took place - and walking home shortly after.

Gareth Bellis, prosecuting, said: Williams was arrested and an analysis of his phone showed hed been searching for arson punishment UK.

A 150 payment transferred from Anwar days before the incident was found on his financial records - referenced as birthday money.

Anwar admitted to conspiring to commit arson at Mold Crown Court.

Mark Connor, defending, told the court: She made the request - but I suspect she was not involved in the detail of carrying it out.

It was a revenge offence. For a long time, she was not able to come to terms with what she had done, such was her fear of the consequences despite the weight of evidence against her.

But she eventually made the right decision. She is now able to make proper and rational decisions.

Sentencing Anwar at Mold Crown Court (pictured), Judge Niclas Parry described the case as 'staggering' and said that she had been determined to seek vengeance on your mother-in-law'

Mr Connor said probation officers who interviewed Anwar described her as a very vulnerable young woman.

He added: She is in a much better place now. She has been a credit to society, working hard and achieving. She is genuinely remorseful.

But sentencing her, Judge Niclas Parry told Anwar: The inherent dangerousness makes any arson a very serious offence.

The courts cant ignore the need to reflect in sentences the grave consequences that can flow from fires.

The facts of this case are close to being staggering. This was all about revenge and spite in a domestic context.

You were determined to seek vengeance on your mother-in-law and offered to pay your co-defendant 150 to petrol-bomb or blow it up.

You orchestrated this conspiracy, and youre as responsible for the acts of each other in a conspiracy as your own.

Anwar, of Pentre Maelor, Wrexham, was jailed for 16 months and given a two-year restraining order to protect her mother-in-law.

Williams, of Wrexham, also admitted conspiracy to cause arson and will be sentenced next week.
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President Joe Biden is set to hold Fourth of July festivities at the White House Thursday evening with his and his party's future on the line amid growing pressure to step down after last week's debate performance.

It comes after the first elected Democrats came forward to urge Biden to step back, with just weeks to go before his party's convention in Chicago. With fury over White House messaging since Biden stumbled his way through his debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, the president reassured governors in a private meeting about his health and political viability  even telling them about a recent check up that had him in good health.

That came shortly after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged direct questions during a contentious press briefing about whether Biden had been evaluated since Thursday's debate.

Biden is set to set to host veteran families, caregivers, and survivors, at an event that will put him back on the public stage, before a crucial interview with ABC interview is set to start airing Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris will be there.
Scotland's political leaders were among the first to cast their votes as the nations polling stations opened their doors at 7am.

Scottish Conservatives urged everyone to have their say in a bid to deliver a knockout blow to the failing SNP.

Party leader Douglas Ross, who is standing for election in the North East, hammered home the message that the only way to stop John Swinneys victory is to vote him.

Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross at Fogwatt polling station with wife Krystle and sons James and Alisdair Ross

He posted on X, formerly Twitter: The polls are open across the country and Im asking voters in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East to vote for me to stop the SNP.

By voting Scottish Conservative, we can get the focus onto the issues that really matter. Its going to be very close. Every vote matters.

Mr Ross, the outgoing leader, is contesting the seat instead of former MP David Duguid - who was barred by Conservative bosses due to ill health - but will not face a candidate backed by Labour.

Andy Brown, who was due to stand for the party, was suspended and stripped of support after reports of controversial social media posts which he denies.

The Scottish Tories described some seats as being on a knife edge between the SNP and Scottish Conservatives as they warned: Not voting risks the SNP getting in.

First Minister John Swinney walked to his local polling station at Burrelton Village Hall, Perthshire, with his 13-year-old son Matthew.

First Minister John Swinney with son Matthew

He was photographed greeting the SNP candidate Dave Doogan, who is running in the Angus and Perthshire Glens constituency.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar with his wife Furheen and son Aliyan after voting at a polling station at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar posted on social media that he had been delighted to vote in the Glasgow South constituency.

He told voters: If you want change, you have to vote for it.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton voted in Edinburgh West, while the co-leaders of the Scottish Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, will cast their votes in Glasgow and Edinburgh respectively.

First results in Scotland expected from 1am

Polling places are open in Scotlands 57 constituencies until 10pm, with first results expected soon after 1am on Friday and most between 3am and 5am.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West was the first to declare at the 2019 election, when the SNP won 48 seats while the Tories took six and the Liberal Democrats four.

Labour was reduced to a single MP.

Even the heavy downpours couldnt stop voters having their say in Glasgow

Delighted pooches as the voting is finally done and the walkies can resume

But Sir Keir Starmers party has since enjoyed a resurgence as support has fallen away from the SNP and against a backdrop of turmoil for the Conservatives.

About a quarter of Scotlands 4,081,585 registered voters requested a postal vote.

Those going to the ballot boxes in person must produce photo ID at polling stations, which could add to the wait for people to cast their vote.
Government officials are celebrating Independence Day by welcoming approximately 11,000 new citizens to the US this week.

Some 195 naturalization ceremonies have been organized between June 23 and July 5 by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). That's double the 5,500 welcomed to the country in the same week last year.

But before being granted citizenship, all applicants must pass a two-part test. In the first part they must demonstrate an understanding of English.

In the second, they must correctly answer six out of 10 civic questions.

The oral exam is multiple choice and examiners pick ten from a pool of 100 questions available for test takers to study prior to the exam.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) organized 195 naturalization ceremonies worldwide between June, 23 and July, 5 in celebration of Independence Day

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) organized 195 naturalization ceremonies worldwide between June, 23 and July, 5 in celebration of Independence Day

Can YOU pass the US citizenship test?

MailOnline challenges you to try your best to answer 10 of the civics questions that you could see on the actual exam. You need 60 per cent to pass!

What is one reason colonists came to America?

Colonists came to America for at least six reasons: freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, the right to practice their religion, and escape persecution.

Any of these six reasons would be a correct answer on the test.

Who is the 'Father of Our Country?'

The 'Father of Our Country' is George Washington - a founding father and the first President of the United States.

He also served as president of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which drafted the Constitution of the United States.

Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States

The Missouri River is the longest and it travels for over 2,300 miles before it joins the Mississippi.

The Mississippi River also travels for over 2,300 miles from its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental US to the Gulf of Mexico.

One of these two rivers will be marked corrected on the test.

Why does the flag have 13 stripes?

The 13 stripes on the American flag represent the original US colonies.

They are New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

Name one branch or part of the government

The six branches featured on the practice test are congress, legislative, President, executive, the courts, and judicial.

Applicants will only need to write one of these six possible answers to have this question marked correct on their test.

Where is the Statue of Liberty?

The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the US, is on Liberty Island in New York Harbor.

The statue can also be seen from various areas in New Jersey.

The USCIS will accept New York, New York Harbor, Liberty Island, New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson River as a correct answer.

When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?

A US citizen has until April 15 to send in federal income tax forms during tax season.

Name one writer of the Federalist Papers

The Federalist papers are a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay supporting the Constitution and a strong federal government. Any one of these names would result in a correct answer.

What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?

Five rights or freedoms protected by the First Amendment are speech, religion, assembly, press, and petitioning the government.

Any of these six rights or freedoms will be marked correct.

What year was the Constitution written?

The Constitution of the United States was written in 1787.

Its first three words, 'We The People,' affirm that the US government exists to serve its citizens.
Channel migrants recently arrived in Britain have said a Labour government 'will be very good for us' after leaving France over fears of a win for the far-right.

The Mail first interviewed Sudanese national Omer, 23, in a Calais camp a week ago and he is now living at a Home Office hotel in the port city of Hull, east Yorkshire.

Fearing victory for Marine Le Pen's National Rally Party and hoping for Sir Keir Starmer's Labour to triumph, he and four friends paid a smuggling gang to bring them on a boat to Dover on Sunday.

'The Labour government will be very good for us,' said Omer after arriving at his hotel today as the polls opened in the UK.

'I hope the Labour party wins. I am very happy I left France because the far-right party is close to victory.'

The Mail first interviewed Sudanese national Omer, 23, in a Calais camp a week ago and he is now living at a Home Office hotel in the port city of Hull, east Yorkshire. File photo

The National Rally, which won the first round of French elections last Sunday, is well known for its anti-immigration stance.

Omer had waited a year for a boat and told the Mail he had no money for the 3000-a-head fare to pay the smugglers.

In desperation at the unfolding political situation in France, he made the decision to move quickly.

He now owes the smugglers money for his clandestine trip.

He travelled with four friends, also in their 20s and from Sudan, who have now been placed in Home Office accommodation in Liverpool.

He said: 'I wanted to stay with them and go to Liverpool but the Home Office said I must come to Hull. It is a city I have never heard of.'

Labour leader Sir Keir has already said that his party's immigration policy will include the scrapping of the Tories' flagship Rwanda scheme to deport illegal migrants to the African country for processing.

Although other Sudanese migrants the Mail met in Calais said they had no idea what the word election means and did not recognise Sir Keir's face when showed the Labour leader's photo, it is clear that Omer and his friends were aware of the swiftly changing political scene on both sides of the Channel.

'I had waited a year. I had to come now,' he said.

Labour leader Sir Keir has already said that his party's immigration policy will include the scrapping of the Tories' flagship Rwanda scheme

Omer says he has no family in the UK, but has friends.

He added: 'My big problem now is how I keep in touch with the others who have been put in Liverpool. I want to see them.'

Earlier this week James Cleverly last night branded Labours immigration plans a con job which will make the UK the destination of choice for illegal migrants in Europe.

The Home Secretary acknowledged that some traditional Tory supporters want to tell us off about immigration, but warned those voters considering voting Reform they risk getting the opposite of what they want.

In an interview with the Mail, he said Labours decision to scrap the Rwanda deportation scheme would have disastrous consequences for the migrant crisis - and leave Sir Keir Starmer with no option but to give an amnesty to tens of thousands who have crossed the Channel illegally.

Sir Keir has vowed to scrap the governments flagship plan to deport Channel migrants to Rwanda, describing it as a gimmick.

Mr Cleverly said the Rwanda scheme was already working to deter some migrants from travelling to the UK, even though no flights have taken off. And he said Labour had no alternative deterrent to offer, making the UK a potential magnet for those seeking a new life abroad.
A four-year-old Texas girl sweltered to death in a hot truck after being forgotten about by her caregivers for around an hour.

Deputies from the Houston Police Department responded to emergency calls made from an apartment complex near 6500 block of Hollister Street around 6.30 pm.

Officials said that the girl was with two women and a group of children running errands in a Chevy pickup truck the entire day.

The adults later parked their car in the apartment complex and took everyone inside but left behind the toddler.

The incident comes amidst multiple reports of infants sweltering to death in overheated cars after being forgotten about by their parents. Experts warn children can start to fall ill within minutes of being locked in a car.

Deputies from the Houston Police Department responded to emergency calls made from an apartment complex near 6500 block of Hollister Street around 6.30 pm

Investigators believe the girl was left in the piping hot pickup truck for about an hour until one of the women realized the child was missing, came back outside to find her and called 911.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Homicide investigators also responded to the scene and reportedly spoke to witnesses. It remains unclear if any arrests have been made.

After the incident, Lieutenant Larry Crowson of the police department warned that it is very important for parents to be aware of your child's location.

'In this type of weather, it doesn't take a few minutes to cause very serious illness or death for someone that's left in a car,' the official said.

About 40 children die of heatstroke in the United States every year after being left or becoming trapped in a car, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The majority of cases happen when a parent or caregiver forgets that the child is in the car.

At the time of the incident, the city of Houston was reportedly experiencing temperatures between 84F to 91F.

Investigators believe the girl was left in the piping hot pickup truck for about an hour until one of the women realized the child was missing, came back outside to find her and called 911

Homicide investigators also responded to the scene and reportedly spoke to witnesses

More than 950 children have died in a hot car over the past 25 years, records show.

Residents are currently being warned to brace for sunny skies and soaring temperatures that are expected to reach the upper 90s today as Hurricane Beryl makes its way towards the state.

Reports of this incident come less than a month after a tiny baby girl died after being left in the back of a hot car just two months after her adoptive parents took her home as a newborn.

Diana Sofia Aleman Roman was found unresponsive in the SUV outside her parents' home in Santee, San Diego, about 12.20am on June 13.

She had been left in the car for several hours in 63F weather when a family member found her and called 911. The baby girl was rushed to hospital but did not survive.

San Diego County Sheriff's Office detectives are investigating how Diana was forgotten in the car and who left her there. No charges have been filed.

Diana's parents Romer and Jayson De Los Santos took her home on April 11 after flying to Arizona where they met the baby girl in hospital for the first time.

Studies show temperature inside a car can rise to 104F in just half an hour on a 70F day and reach 115F in an hour. The body's organs begin to shut down at 107F.

An Arizona mother recently issued a grave warning over to parents over the common issue.

Two-month-old baby girl Diana Sofia De Los Santos, pictured with her father Romer, died after being left in the back of a hot car

Charlotte Jones was left in the car for around three hours back in 2019, her father rushed her to a local hospital where she succumbed to the heat

Angela Jones lost her 'sassy' three-year-old Charlotte in 2019 after her father forgot left her in the backseat of his car as temperatures went above 98 degrees.

The child was in the car for around three hours before her father realized.

Angela recalled the incident in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. Her husband, Scott, had just dropped off the couple's other two daughters at school before coming home to start work from his home office.

Angela said he forgot that he had taken his youngest child along for the ride. 'All of a sudden I could just hear a panic in his voice,' Angela said.

'I initially thought she had gotten into the pool or something like that and then he was like: "Oh, my God, I don't think I ever got her out of the car.'

He called 911 and Charlotte was rushed to a local hospital where she tragically succumbed to the sweltering heat.
Fourth of July revelers should be on high alert for possible lone wolf 'attacks' as they celebrate the holiday, the FBI and Homeland Security warned.

The security agencies said solo attackers and small extremist groups pose the biggest threat, cautioning that large crowds are often seen as 'attractive targets.'

Experts warn that high tensions across the nation due to the presidential election and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war are heightening the risks, and lone-wolf attacks are alarmingly hard to prepare against.

'The police are being told by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security to be on watch for these types of things that are notoriously difficult to guard against,' security correspondent Aaron Katersky told ABC News.

'The political environment of the country certainly doesn't help.'

Security agencies are warning Fourth of July revelers to remain 'vigilant' as they celebrate the national holiday

Law enforcement cautioned that lone wolf attacks are the biggest threat, and large crowds are often seen as 'attractive targets'

The federal warning, which was also issued by the National Counterterrorism Center, urged police departments across the nation to be vigilant amid the celebrations.

Although such bulletins are not uncommon before a national holiday, this July Fourth warning notably cites 'domestic' attacks that could be triggered by issues also including abortion and racism.

Such terrorists would 'likely would use simplistic tactics and relatively easily obtainable weapons such as firearms, knives and vehicles.'

The bulletin adds that while the security agencies are not currently aware of any active plots to target the celebrations, attacks 'can occur with little to no warning.'

As huge crowds take to the streets in major cities across the nation, police departments will be stretched thin and resources will be strained.

The FBI warning notes that this can severely hamper the ability for cops to stop an attack before it happens, as they can 'occur with little to no warning because of the frequently lower levels of security around civilian targets.'

Police are also faced with 'challenges in securing large crowds', with past Fourth of July attacks evidencing why this poses an increased threat.

The most recent tragedy came in 2022 at Chicago's Highland Park July Fourth parade, where gunman Robert Crimo, 22, opened fire on huge crowds and killed seven.

At least 24 others were hospitalized in the shooting, with Crimo firing rounds down onto the throng of people from a perch.

A police officer bows his head in grief next to abandoned strollers and chairs after a shooting that killed six people in Highland Park, Illinois, in 2022

Law enforcement officers look over a park near the scene of a mass shooting at a 4th of July celebration and parade in Highland Park, Illinois, in 2022

Katersky advised anyone planning on joining large events to avoid panic, but to also 'keep your head on a swivel and if you see something untoward, mention it.'

Chicago police affairs consultant Bill Kushner told ABC7 Chicago that in his opinion, the greatest threat could be posed by those being radicalized by the Israel-Hamas war.

'The Israeli-Palestinian issue, where we've seen discord on college campuses, we've seen a lot of protesting and it seems to be growing violence,' he said.

'I would be more concerned about that aspect of it than anything else.'

Kushner advised that to mitigate the danger of a lone wolf attack, attendees should scope out possible exit routes at parades and gatherings.

In a statement to ABC7 Chicago, a spokesperson for the city's FBI bureau said that the warnings come as the bureau 'regularly shares information' with law enforcement, but 'encourages members of the public to be vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to' police.

Millions of Americans are set to take to the streets across the nation, stretching police resources thin

Experts advised those planning on joining large events to avoid panic, but to also 'keep your head on a swivel and if you see something untoward, mention it'

Much of the focus appears to have fallen on domestic terrorism, with the FBI saying it is tracking around 850 suspected 'domestic' terrorists, following a significant increase in domestic terrorist cases involving white supremacists.

'In fact, there have been more arrests and deaths in the United States caused by domestic terrorists than international terrorists in recent years,' Assistant Director Michael McGarrity, the head of the FBI's counterterrorism division, told a Congressional hearing recently.

However, the FBI bulletin also warned that ISIS has also recently called for supporters to target the United States.

The bureau says it is monitoring around 1,000 suspected 'homegrown' terrorists currently residing in the United States, inspired by terrorist organizations including ISIS and al Qaeda.

In a statement to ABC News following the release of the bulletin, an FBI spokesperson urged members of the public to 'maintain awareness.'

'The FBI regularly assesses intelligence regarding possible threats to the U.S. and will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners should there be any potential threat to public safety,' the spokesperson said.

'We ask members of the public to maintain awareness of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.'
The despotic leaders of China and Russia have hailed a 'tectonic shift' in the world order following an anti-West summit in Kazakhstan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping were in the Kazakh capital of Astana for a gathering of leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional bloc that Moscow and Beijing see as a counterweight to US 'hegemony' on the world stage.

In a joint declaration, published by the Kremlin, the group noted 'tectonic shifts in global politics' and called for the bloc to play an enhanced role in global and regional security.

'The use of force is increasing, the norms of international law are systemically being violated, geopolitical confrontation and conflicts are growing, and risks to stability in the world and the SCO region are multiplying,' it stated.

It did not refer to Russia's invasion of Ukraine or China's dispute with Taiwan but said the group had 'mutual respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states'.

Xi called on the countries to 'resist external interference' while Putin claimed 'new centres' of political and economic might were on the rise.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured, right) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (pictured, left) were in the Kazakh capital of Astana for a gathering of leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

In a joint declaration, published by the Kremlin, the group noted 'tectonic shifts in global politics'

Alongside China, Russia and Belarus, its full members are: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

'We should join hands to resist external interference, firmly support each other, take care of each other's concerns... and firmly control the future and destiny of our countries and regional peace and development in our own hands,' Xi told the summit.

'It is of vital importance to the world that the SCO be on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice,' he added.

Both Russia and China regularly rail against what they say is the US dominance of global affairs and are seeking to boost their influence and control, particularly in regions close to their borders.

'The multipolar world has become a reality,' Putin said in remarks at the summit.

He also hailed the accession of Russia's close ally Belarus to the bloc, becoming its tenth member.

'The circle of states that stand for a just world order and are ready to resolutely defend their legitimate rights and protect traditional values is expanding,' Putin said.

'New centres of power and economic growth are strengthening,' he added.

Western-sanctioned Iran joined as a full member last year.

The SCO was founded in 2001 but has come to prominence in recent years. Alongside China, Russia and Belarus, its full members are: India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan.

It is intended to be a platform for cooperation in competition with the West, with a focus on security and economics and Central Asia in particular, and claims to represent 40 percent of the global population and about 30 percent of its GDP.

But it is a disparate group with many internal disagreements, including territorial disputes.

It is intended to be a platform for cooperation in competition with the West, with a focus on security and economics and Central Asia in particular (File image of Chinese soldiers at a military exercise)

Despite the tussle for influence, at the summit on Thursday, the SCO's common anti-Western agenda was on clear display (File image of Chinese soldiers)

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further increased major powers' interest in Central Asia, where Moscow is seeking to maintain its traditional sway but where China now has strong ties through its flagship Belt and Road infrastructure project.

The West is also vying for influence in the strategically important region, rich in oil and gas and a crucial transport route between Asia and Europe.

Despite the tussle for influence, at the summit on Thursday, the SCO's common anti-Western agenda was on clear display.

In the final declaration, the bloc criticised the 'unilateral and unrestricted build-up' of missile defence systems by unnamed countries and regional alliances - a common complaint of both Moscow and Beijing aimed at the United States.

They also called for an 'early, complete and sustainable ceasefire' in Gaza with a 'comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian question.'

Pakistan's foreign ministry on Thursday announced it would host the next summit of leaders in October.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the ministry's spokesperson, said 'all heads of governments of SCO member states' would be welcomed when asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leader of neighbouring rival India, would be invited.

Modi did not attend this summit, but is expected in Moscow in the coming days, his first visit to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine.
A migrant who had sex with a 12-year-old girl who he claimed to believe was a married 18-year-old will be deported back to India.

The 33-year-old - whose name has been suppressed - was jailed in February last year for 10 months after he admitted committing six sex offences on the night he met the girl in April 2021, the Mercury reported.

The man pleaded guilty to five counts of penetrative sexual abuse of a child or young person and one count of indecent assault.

The sex offender's visa was cancelled in August last year, with the case brought up again during an Administrative Appeals Tribunal hearing last week.

The tribunal heard that the man met the girl on the dating app Grindr before picking her up at a Kmart in Hobart, Tasmania.

When he arrived to pick up the girl at 2am, the man claims he found the woman talking to another man who she said was her husband.

He claims she also told him he was a prostitute, which gave him confidence she was above the age of consent.

'I knew to be married you had to be 18,' the man told the tribunal.

A migrant who had sex with a 12-year-old girl who he claimed to believe was a married 18-year-old will be deported back to India (file picture)

'Unfortunately, this happened  I had no intention of harming a child. I was purely looking for an adult. There was no criminal intent.'

The tribunal found it 'difficult to accept' the man did not realise the girl's young age when he saw her naked body in a bedroom.

It ruled that despite the man being assessed being unlikely to reoffend, he should be deported because of the serious nature of his crimes.
New footage has emerged showing the Sydney Prowler lurking through a building during a terrifying crime spree.

A major manhunt continues for the man who robbed and attacked multiple women within several hours in Sydney's west on Wednesday, amid police fears he will strike again.

NSW Police have released new vision showing the man's face during his crime spree as he roamed through a building, checking if any doors are unlocked in a corridor.

He opened a door, appearing to use his sleeve to ensure no fingerprints were left on the handle.

He then exited the building and jogged across the street.

Police were called by multiple members of the public about a man trespassing on properties in the Northmead area.

A motive for the attacks has yet to be confirmed but police believe the man is specifically targeting isolated women.

Police have urged all women travelling on foot to stick to major roads and told anyone who might be approached by him not to resist.

New CCTV footage of the Sydney Prowler has been released showing him unmasked for the first time

In the footage the prowler is seen lurking down a corridor checking to see if any doors are unlocked before fleeing out one and running down an adjacent street

'Property can be replaced, your safety is of the utmost,' Superintendent Barry Vincent said.

The man was first caught on camera at about 4am Wednesday as he robbed a number of properties in Northmead near Parramatta.

An hour later at 5.10am, the same man carjacked a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV as its female owner, 37, bought fuel at the servo on Windsor Road in nearby North Rocks.

He then used the car as he attacked three women, police say.

Officers claim the man first assaulting a 47-year-old woman from behind on the nearby Mons Road at about 5.20am.

She tripped over as she tried to flee, with the assailant making off with her handbag.

A 19-year-old woman called police at 5.40am after a figure - believed to be the same man - pulled a knife on her on Junia Avenue in Toongabbie.

After a short struggle he stole her bag too and drove off in the stolen SUV, police allege.

Police have been hunting the man after he was involved in a series of robberies and assaults in Northmead, north of Parramatta, beginning at 4am on Wednesday

NSW Police Superintendent Barry Vincent urged women to remain vigilant and told anyone who is approached by the man to do as he says

At about 5.55am, a 27-year-old woman was attacked with a hammer in North Parramatta.

'The woman has handed the man her purse and mobile phone ... and (he) left the scene driving the SUV,' police said.

The woman's family tracked her phone and found the man at a nearby home but before they could confront him he smashed their car windscreen with the hammer.

One of the women's relatives, a 27-year-old man, was then attacked before the prowler escaped.

The stolen SUV was found nearby and is now being forensically examined.

Police riot officers and sniffer dogs are now searching for the man.

'I describe this as particularly cowardly, just targeting women walking alone, in the early hours, from behind,' Superintendent Vincent said.

The man was caught on camera as he robbed a number of properties in Northmead, north of Parramatta

Police riot officers and sniffer dogs have joined a major manhunt for the man

'While we weren't able to come across this offender during the morning, it is of concern to us that the offending continues.'

The ensuing chaos of the police search led to Christ the King Primary School in North Rocks to be briefly locked down as officers hunted for the offender nearby but failed to track him down.

There are now fears that the man may have been responsible for a series of break-ins in the area last weekend- raising fears he will strike again.

The man is described as being of medium build and in his 20s. He was last seen wearing all black, including a beanie, balaclava, gloves and Nike hoodie.

Police say people should not approach him and should instead call the police if they see him.
Remainers were gloating today about the end of Brexit amid widespread expectations the general election will see the Tories booted out of office.

As millions of Brits headed to polling stations, those opposed to the UK's exit from the EU urged an incoming Labour government to think again on links with Brussels.

Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who represented the European Parliament in Brexit talks, reckoned 'peak Brexit' had already been reached.

The MEP predicted Britain would pursue a 'more sensible approach' to its relationship with the EU after the general election.

Mike Galsworthy, chairman of pro-Remain campaign group European Movement UK, said polling day was the day 'the Brexit dream shuts up shop'.

He warned Labour not to be the 'caretaker' of Brexit, should Sir Keir Starmer's party - who have pledged to rewrite the Brexit deal - form a new government tomorrow.

But, while former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker left the door open to Britain returning to the EU, he warned this would be 'in a century or two'.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to rewrite the Brexit deal should he become prime minister tomorrow

Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who represented the European Parliament in Brexit talks, reckoned 'peak Brexit' had already been reached

Former European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker left the door open to Britain returning to the EU - but he warned this would be 'in a century or two'

Mike Galsworthy, chairman of pro-Remain campaign group European Movement UK, said polling day was the day 'the Brexit dream shuts up shop'

Mr Juncker, who was the EU's top official during bitter Brexit negotiations, told Politico that Britain was 'currently discovering the consequences' of the Leave vote.

'And the consequences correspond exactly to what we told them they'd be,' the Luxembourgish politician said.

He added the UK's chances of rejoining the EU's single market were slim, but perhaps it could do so 'in a century or two.'

'When you leave a boat, you can't get back on the same boat,' Mr Juncker continued.

Mr Verhofstadt told the same website there would be 'growing pressure' after the general election for Britain to move back closer to the EU.

'I think that more and more after the election we will see a growing pressure to step-by-step to go back in a direction of a more sensible approach,' he said.

'I think the peak was at the moment that the hardliners in the Tory party decided to go for a hard Brexit: I don't think that you can go further than what we have now.'

Mr Verhofstadt suggested the UK resuming participation in the EU's Horizon science project last year was a sign of things to come.

'I think what is already happening now will continue,' he added.

'Britain is back in Horizon; tomorrow maybe Erasmus, and after tomorrow the customs union, defence and so on and so on.

'And then later on maybe people will ask themselves, why are we not in there?

'Because we are following these rules, and maybe it's better that we have a say about what these rules are.'

On his final day of campaigning ahead of the general election, Sir Keir yesterday said he does not see the UK rejoining the European single market in his lifetime.

Speaking to reporters in Carmarthen, the Labour leader - who has pledged to rewrite the Brexit deal - said he 'doesn't think that is going to happen'.

He added: 'I've been really clear about not rejoining the EU, the single market, or the customs union, or returning to freedom of movement.

'I've been equally clear that I do think we can get a better deal than the botched deal we got under Boris Johnson.'

But Mr Galsworthy issued a warning to Sir Keir ahead of the likelihood of the Labour leader becoming Britain's next PM tomorrow.

'Today the Brexit dream shuts up shop,' he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

'Dozens of leading Brexit figures are moving out of Parliament and out of power.

'It would be unwise for the next government to try to be a caretaker of the dilapidated building.'

Earlier during the election campaign, Labour shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of wanting to unwind Brexit 'through stealth'

She set out plans to seek closer ties with the EU if Labour won power,.

This incluced closer alignment with Brussels rules in areas such as chemicals, as well as a veterinary deal, better touring rights for British artists, and greater mutual recognition of qualifications for City of London workers.

Ms Reeves said this was not an 'exclusive' list, telling the Financial Times: 'We would look to improve our trading relationship with Europe, and do trade deals around the world.'

'I don't think anyone voted Leave because they were not happy that chemicals regulations were the same across Europe,' Ms Reeves added.

'When my constituency voted Leave it was purely because of immigration.'
Jay Slater found himself at the Airbnb cottage at the centre of the mystery because as 'all his friends left him', one of the British men who the missing teenager spent his final hours with has claimed.

Ayub Qassim says he invited the apprentice bricklayer, 19, from Lancashire, back to his 40-a-night rented holiday cottage after a rave in Tenerife hours before he vanished on June 17.

The 31-year-old, who booked the Airbnb under the name Ayub Abdul, broke his silence last night, telling MailOnline: 'He came to my Airbnb alive and he left my Airbnb alive.'

Yesterday, MailOnline exclusively revealed that Qassim was jailed nine years ago for being the mastermind behind a sophisticated operation to flood Wales with Class A drugs.

Spanish police searching for Jay spoken to Qassim and the unnamed friend known only as 'Johnny Vegas' as part of their inquiries but concluded they were 'irrelevant' to the investigation.

Jay was last seen by a witness walking off in search of a bus stop close to the Airbnb at around 8am on Monday, June 17. He called a friend to say he was making the 11-hour walk back to his hotel in Playa de las Americas but has not been heard from since.

Today, former detective Peter Bleksley criticised Spanish police, suggesting they may be afraid a proper investigation would hit tourism on the island.

Ayub Qassim invited Jay, 19, back to his rented holiday cottage after a rave in Tenerife and says: 'He came to my Airbnb alive and he left my Airbnb alive'

Jay Slater, 19, went back to Qassim's remote cottage  called Casa Abuela Tina  at 5am on the day he vanished

The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing

Mr Bleksley told the Sun: 'This island is so heavily dependent upon tourism, is there reluctance on behalf of the police to actually delve as deep as they should.'

Much of the almost two-week search was focused on the mountainous terrain around Masca where Jay was last known to be.

He has questioned the efficiency of the probe as they appear to be going back over all ground - meaning vital clues may have been missed.

The former detective continued: 'So were these officers going back to the apartment over two weeks after Jay had gone missing.

'If they were, that raises some very serious questions about the efficiency about the the thoroughness and about the competence of this entire investigation.'

Jay's family were left 'blindsided' when police abruptly called off the search on Sunday.

They insisted any new tip-offs and information would be investigated but halted the on the ground hunt.

Jay's friends have denied leaving him, suggesting the youngster went off on his own.

The men stayed on the island for an extra day after Jay went missing to speak to police  although both have been described as 'irrelevant' to their investigation.

Qassim, 31, was jailed nine years ago for being the mastermind behind a sophisticated operation to flood Wales with Class A drugs

Qassim booked the Airbnb, which Jay went back to with him and another man, under the name Ayub Abdul

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Qassim said: 'The only comment I have to make is that Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive.

'I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go, his friends had all left him.

'I know Jay, through friends, I'm not going to bring someone back to mine if I don't know them.

'I'm doing the geezer a favour and now my face is all over the news. It's a bit mental. I haven't even done anything.'

Now Qassim is back at his family's flat in Barking, east London. He insisted he had had no argument with Jay and he had even given him a blanket to sleep in.

In its Airbnb listing Casa Abuela Tina is described as being a farmhouse within the 'unique natural landscape' surrounding it

The Airbnb owner said she later saw Jay walking uphill in the vast mountainous area

A Snapchat picture Jay sent to friends on the doorstep of the cottage at 7.30am, in which he was holding a cigarette

He added: 'If I'd fallen out with him would he even come to mine?

'There were no problems. You've seen the last images of him with his red blanket around him.

'I don't know if he had beef elsewhere because I don't know him that well, I only know him through friends.'

Former detective turned TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas flew to Tenerife to help with the search - and said he wanted to speak to the two men who rented the apartment Jay last visited.

But Qassim said he had only spoken to authorities in Tenerife.

He said: 'I've spoken to the Spanish police and they've told me not to speak to anyone which is why I've been quiet.

'I've not spoken to Mark Williams-Thomas or anyone like him because he doesn't have any jurisdiction in Tenerife, and I haven't done anything wrong.'

Asked how well he knew Jay and what he thought of the conspiracy theories surrounding his disappearance, Qassim said: 'Everyone knows each other. I'm not going to slander anyone.

'He's a cool guy, Jay. He ain't got a problem with me, I haven't got a problem with him or his mates. We just all talk to each other and everything was sweet.'

Jay went back to Qassim's remote cottage  called Casa Abuela Tina  at 5am on the day he vanished on June 17.

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas (pictured) issued an update on Wednesday, claiming he had been told Jay had stolen a 12,000 Rolex and was trying to sell it

Jay was on his first-ever friends holiday with Lucy Law (pictured) and Brad Hargreaves when he went missing in Tenerife

Brad Hargreaves (pictured) also said he spoke to Jay on the phone before he went missing

But he is known to have left the property at around 7.30am to catch a bus back towards his holiday apartment.

A witness said he asked her when the next bus was. When she told him the next one wasn't until 10am, he is believed to have attempted to walk the 11 hours it would have taken him to get back to his holiday let.

The man and another who was travelling with him stayed an extra day after he vanished and spoke to police.

They gave the officers their details and fully cooperated with the investigation. Sources close to the inquiry have told MailOnline that the men are not relevant to Jay's disappearance.
The grieving family of a teenage boy killed in a hit-and-run during Schoolies have been dealt another cruel blow after hospital staff were accused of inappropriately accessing his medical records.

Charlie Stevens, the son of South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, was struck by a car driven by Dhirren Randhawa in Goolwa, south of Adelaide, on November 17 last year.

Charlie, 18, was with friends waiting for a bus to head to Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when the tragedy unfolded.

He was rushed to Flinders Medical Centre but died the next day from a severe brain injury.

It has now emerged that staff at the Adelaide Hospital have been accused of inappropriately accessing Charlie's personal medical records.

The alleged incidents were detected several months ago when an audit of the computer system was conducted.

SA Health has been made aware of the incidents and is currently investigating 18 staff members who accessed Charlie's records.

Health officials have already suspended 10 staff, pending further investigations.

Charlie Stevens (pictured) died after he was struck by a car in Goolwa, south of Adelaide on November 17

A South Australia Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia Mr Stevens and his family have been made aware of the investigation.

The allegations come as Charlie's parents Grant and Emma Stevens prepare to open up about the loss of their son in an emotional interview set to air on Sunday night.

The tragedy occurred hours after Commissioner Stevens addressed the media regarding the death of 53-year-old Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, who was fatally shot after attending a rural property in the town of Senior, where he was confronted by an armed suspect.

The SA Police Commissioner and his wife recalled the heartbreaking moment they feared the worst about their son.

'The next thing we were at the hospital...we knew, when we saw him [Charlie],' Mr Stevens told 60 Minutes.

His wife added: 'We knew straight away.'

The mother-of-five said she has been left devastated by what happened but added that the couple have forgiven Randhawa.

'There was anger, but sadness [for the driver], because his life has changed now,' Ms Stevens said.

The emotional interview will also air previously unseen footage and photos of Charlie.

Charlie (pictured left) was waiting for a bus to head to Schoolies celebrations in Victor Harbor when tragedy struck. he's pictured with his dad, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens (right) and his wife Emma have opened up about the tragedy in an emotional interview that will air on 60 Minutes on Sunday night

A SA Health spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia protecting the private clinical information of patients is a matter that is taken very seriously.

'We have robust policies and processes in place to ensure that staff are accessing appropriate information and conduct audits to ensure our polices are complied with,' the spokeswoman said.

'Any staff member who has accessed information inappropriately will be subject to disciplinary processes, which may include termination of their employment'.

South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas was shocked to hear about the alleged breach.

'I couldn't believe it when I heard about this,' he said.

'Just because you work in the health system doesn't give you a right to go looking into other people's business.'

Hospital staff who are found to have inappropriately accessed the medical records of patients without authorisation will be sacked.

The rule was introduced by SA Health in 2015 as part of a termination policy.

Dhirren Randhawa (pictured with his mum) pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court last month on one count of driving without care

Randhawa pleaded guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court last month on one count of driving without care.

He also pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.

Randhawa will return to court on August 9 for arraignment on the charges he pleaded guilty to.
An experienced rigger who was killed in a horror workplace accident has been remembered by shattered mates as having a 'heart of gold' and being a 'good Spanish bloke'.

Adrian Farina Pacheco, 59, was struck by a load of steel while working near a crane at a Glask Construction site in Malaga in Perth's north on Tuesday afternoon.

He died at the scene, despite the desperate efforts of colleagues and emergency responders to revive him.

The tradesman, who worked for AR Construction, had been standing near a crane that another worker was operating for the steel construction of a warehouse.

Mr Farina Pacheco was from the Canary Islands and had moved to Australia almost a decade ago with his Italian wife to start a new life together.

His friends and colleagues have rallied around his wife, who Mr Farina Pacheco referred to on construction sites as his 'numero uno'.

'Its surreal. We just never thought we would lose a good workmate and personal friend so suddenly,' friend Adam Briggs told the West Australian.

'I grew up without a father. And everyday he would pick me and my little brother up. Every Friday we would go out for dinner and he was like a mentor to me.'

Adrian Farina Pacheco, 59, (left) was struck by a load of steel while working near a crane in Perth. His friend Adam Briggs (right) has described the experienced rigger as having a 'heart of gold'

Mr Briggs said colleagues who frantically tried to save the 59-year-old have been left feeling 'destroyed' by his death.

He added that Mr Farina Pacheco took workplace safety very seriously and always wore his protective gear on the work site, including his helmet and harness.

Glask managing director Kieran Glaser told The West Australian the company was 'fully cooperating with the investigating authority'.

'This tragic accident has shocked us. Glask Construction is, and has always been, totally committed to ensuring a high standard of work health and safety at all our construction projects,' he said.

The site where the 59-year-old rigger was killed (pictured) remains closed as Worksafe investigated the workplace tragedy

Mr Glaser also added that the company was focusing on providing 'psychological support to our project personnel.'

There have been a total of five fatalities so far reported to Worksafe in 2024 involving mobile plants and were across varied industries - and two involved a crane.

Mobile plants include machinery such as forklifts, elevating work platforms, delivery vehicles, order pickers, earth moving equipment and prime movers, as well as cranes.

Worksafe investigators are now looking into the incident and a report on Mr Farina Pacheco's death will be prepared for the coroner.
Labour's Rachel Reeves has suggested she will demolish Jeremy Hunt's private urinal in the Treasury if she succeeds him as Chancellor.

Speaking ahead of today's general election, Ms Reeves hinted she would flush away all traces of her Tory predecessor if she's installed as Britain's first female Chancellor.

It was recently reported how Treasury officials had been discussing the fate of Mr Hunt's private toilet and whether the urinal should be removed.

After the general election was called - and with Labour maintaining a large lead in opinion polls - a picture emerged of the green-and-white tiled room with boxes of period products placed neatly above the sink.

Another showed the urinal placed behind a glass screen, while it was claimed a team of workers in high-vis jackets had been inspecting the facility.

Labour's Rachel Reeves has suggested she will demolish Jeremy Hunt's private urinal in the Treasury if she succeeds him as Chancellor

Speaking ahead of today's general election, Ms Reeves hinted she would flush away all traces of her Tory predecessor (pictured) if she's installed as Britain's first female Chancellor

Asked whether she was fine with the urinal remaining in the private bathroom, should she take charge of the Treasury, Ms Reeves told the Spectator magazine: 'Not really.'

She added her approach was about 'smashing glass ceilings and urinals'.

Ahead of Labour's expected general election victory, Ms Reeves also told the magazine she had been offered advice by George Osborne, one of Mr Hunt's Tory predecessors as Chancellor.

'I always am happy to receive advice,' she said. 'Alistair Darling was a good friend and mentor of mine. He passed away last year, but I sought advice from him as well.

'In the end, the challenges that I'd face if I become Chancellor are different from those that George Osborne faced 14 years ago and different from what Gordon [Brown] faced 27 years ago. I have to forge my own path.'

A Treasury insider last week told the Financial Times there had 'been a discussion about whether it's appropriate to have a urinal in there and whether it should be removed'.

The newspaper reported the Treasury facilities department has been discussing the Chancellor's private toilet, which is said to date from the Edwardian era.

One Tory official claimed Labour was 'taking the voters for granted', adding: 'Not only are they measuring the curtains but they are doing up the bathroom.'

But a spokesperson for Ms Reeves said: 'We are not doing a running commentary on toilet arrangements.'
President Joe Biden needs to undergo a mental and physical health check because his condition has obviously deteriorated over the past year, a majority of likely voters revealed in an exclusive DailyMail.com poll.

A stunning seven out of 10 respondents said that the president should take a cognitive test after the 81-year-old overwhelmingly concerned voters, politicians and pundits with his disastrous Atlanta presidential debate against Donald Trump.

The survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted days after the debate, also found that 70 percent think Biden should also get another overall physical examination.

Biden blamed his poor performance last week, in part, on being sick with a cold, one the White House has said he got during his international trip - 19 days ago.

Major questions loom over the commander-in-chief's bill of health, prompting a frenzy of meetings among Democrats worried about their prospects in November - including whether Biden should be replaced atop the party's ticket.

Over 70 percent of likely voters believe President Joe Biden should get a cognitive test, an exclusive DailyMail.com poll conducted after the debate found

The White House, seemingly trying to catchup to comments made by the president, finally confirmed Thursday that Biden saw a physician after his stumbling debate performance  but claimed it was just to check on that cold, which advisors have said was the cause of his hoarse voice during the CNN event.

Several days later, the President was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well, White House spokesman Andrew Bates told DailyMail.com on July 4th. Though there are no indications he underwent a more substantial battery of examinations.

The announcement of the health check was a walk-back of a previous claim made by White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre just a day earlier when the DailyMail.com asked if he had seen a doctor about the lingering cold. Wednesday.

She said then that Biden had not been to a doctor since contracting his multi-week illness.

He 'still has a lingering cold,' she said repeatedly during the near hour-long briefing that centered almost exclusively on questions about Biden's ability to continue running for reelection.

She also said that the octogenarian president - other than the recent check - hasn't had a medical examination since his annual physical in February.

Biden's physician, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, travels with him. He was seen by reporters at the president's villa in Italy last month. O'Connor also traveled with Biden to the debate in Atlanta.

Immediately after the debate, Democrats began expressing concern over Biden's age and acuity

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (above) is used widely to check patients with neurodegenerative illness

Additionally, DailyMail.com's exclusive poll shows 60 percent of likely voters believe the president's health has gotten notably worse since the beginning of the year.

Out of the 1,000 likely voters, just 18 percent disagreed that he has gotten worse.

And 55 percent believe Biden has declined in the last month, the poll shows.

'The only option for the White House now  if they want Biden to stay in  is for full transparency,' said pollster James Johnson, who conducted the Mail survey.

'If Biden really does not have an age problem then they need to show everything they can to try and reassure voters of that, right down to medical tests.'

'Even then it feels like voters have already made their minds up that Biden is unfit to govern,' he added.

A majority of likely voters said that Joe Biden's health has declined noticeably in the last year and month

The widespread panic over the president's fitness after the debate has been supplemented by a deluge of video content online showing a flailing Biden.

Two out of three voters told Daily Mail that they have seen embarrassing viral social media videos of Joe.

Those videos include Biden stumbling, looking confused and or garbling his words.

One clip that circulated widely showed the president wandering off while looking up to the sky at a D-Day ceremony in France.

Another clip shows the wide-eyed president motionless while accompanied by his dancing VP and other White House guests at a Juneteenth ceremony.

Videos like that have been seen as hostile towards the president, with Jean-Pierre calling them deceptively edited 'cheap fakes.'

Earlier this week, former White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci demurred when asked if he was alarmed by Biden's condition at the debate.

'You know, I can't say,' he said in an interview with CBS.

'I think it would be inappropriate to say that, Major, because when you're just looking at someone on a one-shot basis, you just don't know what could happen,' Fauci said.

The doctor did suggest, however, that antihistamines used to treat cold and flu could have contributed to Biden's sleepy showing.

'Did he have a bad cold? Did he take an antihistamine to make him groggy or what have you? We don't know what went on,' Fauci continued.

Despite the concerns over his cognitive and physical health and bad debate performance, Democrats who have met with the president in recent days have put on a united front in support of the aging Biden.

A cohort of Democrat governors from across the country met with Biden Wednesday evening to express their concerns with him and hear his case for why he should remain atop the party's ticket.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the current head of the Democratic Governors Association and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul were tasked with addressing the press after the meeting that was put on the schedule after Biden's debate disaster.

'We always believe that when you love someone, you tell them the truth,' Moore said.

'We know we have work to do,' he added. 'We know that as we're standing right here, we're behind.'

'But was also know that that path to be able to make sure that we can pull ahead in November is real.'

'The president continued to tell us and show us that he was all in,' the Marylander continued. 'Then we said that we would stand with him.'
Far-right leader Marine le Pen has insisted that her party, National Rally (RN), will be able to win an absolute majority by the end of the second round of France's election, despite party officials being attacked in the street by angry mobs.

RN, headed by le Pen and her political protege Jordan Bardella, won a massive 34% of the votes in the first round, held in June 30, leaving the centrist forces of President Emmanuel Macron trailing behind.

But with three days left until the second round of the most critical legislative elections in France's recent history, a poll projected that the RN would fall short of an absolute majority despite its initial success.

Despite the negative projections, le Pen was confident that RN would win the second round.

'I think there is still the capacity to have an absolute majority with the electorate turning out in a final effort to get what they want,' Le Pen told BFMTV in an interview.

Far-right leader Marine le Pen (pictured) has insisted that her party, National Rally (RN), will be able to win an absolute majority

RN left the centrist forces of President Emmanuel Macron trailing behind in the first round of the French election

Tens of thousand people gather on Place de la Republique in Paris to protest against the far-right party National Rally

'I say turn out to vote as it's a really important moment to get a change in politics in all the areas that are making you suffer right now,' she added.

While RN's support has been high, it is still an incredibly divisive party that has drawn in a deeply negative reaction.

Four people, including three minors, were detained after government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot and her team were attacked while they were sticking up campaign posters in Meudon outside Paris, prosecutors said.

Thevenot, who is of Mauritian origin, told local media that the attack happened after her team told around 10 young people to stop defacing their posters.

'We said to them, without being aggressive, that [defacing posters] was not allowed', she said.

While she was not harmed, a colleague and a supporter were wounded and taken to hospital after the attack by some 20 people.

Four people, including three minors, were detained after government spokeswoman Prisca Thevenot (pictured) and her team were attacked while they were sticking up campaign posters in Meudon outside Paris

While RN's support has been high, it is still an incredibly divisive party that has drawn in a deeply negative reaction

Political violence is expected to be a massive problem on Sunday night

'Violence and intimidation have no place in our society,' Prime Minister Gabriel Attal wrote on X in response to the attack.

Political violence is expected to be a massive problem on Sunday night. French police will deploy 30,000 officers to quell any riots in the street.

France's interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, said 5,000 cops will be stationed in and around Paris alone to 'ensure that the radical right and radical left do not take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem'.

The night of the first round of the historic election saw violence erupt across France, but particularly in Paris, in response to the far-right massive win.

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.

Supporters of French far right leader Marine Le Pen react after the release of projections based on the actual vote count in select constituencies during the first round on Sunday

Many still remain bitter over a sudden decision which risks plunging France into chaos weeks before it hosts the Olympics

A man holds a board reading the French flag doesn't belong to fascists as tens of thousands people gather in Paris to protest against the far-right

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.

Macron's decision to call snap elections three years ahead of schedule following his party's drubbing in European polls has been seen as the biggest gamble of his political career.

Many still remain bitter over a sudden decision which risks plunging France into chaos weeks before it hosts the Olympics and at a time when Macron's government is playing a key role in backing Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

The unpopular president has disappeared from public view, with his last public comments made in Brussels last week, and centrist candidates have been putting the picture of Attal, not of Macron, on their leaflets.

Even if the RN fails to win an absolute majority, a broad coalition formed by Macron would itself risk being toppled in a no-confidence motion if backed by both the LFI and RN.

Bins were overturned and set alight, spreading acrid smoke into the air

Young women trying to enjoy nights out in the city were forced to stand behind armoured cops

Anti-riot police officers push back protesters who had set piles of rubbish alight

Demonstrators take part in a rally against the RN 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

Fabien Roussel, the leader of France's Communist Party, which is part of the NFP, appeared to open the door to taking part in a grand coalition.

'What I want is not to cause chaos in my country, France must be governable,' he told France 2 TV.

But le Pen claimed that the 'biggest dream' of Macron was to have a 'single party' taking in all forces from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) to right wing Republicans (LR) but excluding the RN.

Macron however made clear at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that there was 'no question' of the LFI being part of any coalition, according to a participant.

Le Pen, who is expected to make a fourth attempt to win the Elysee in 2027, admitted there had been problems with a handful of RN candidates, one of whom had to withdraw after a picture of her emerged wearing a Nazi Luftwaffe hat.

She said: 'There are statements that have been inadmissible and will involve sanctions and there are also statements that are just clumsy.'
Wealthy Hamptons residents are displaying their support for Donald Trump over Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential elections.

A boutique in East Hampton, popular among affluent New York City vacationers and celebrities, is selling merchandise that supports for both candidates.

The Monogram Shop is keeping a tally of which decorated cup is selling more and Trump is far and away ahead with 771 sold compared to Biden's 397.

Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump proudly shared a picture of the cup count on her Instagram page with her 1.8 million followers.

It comes after a new poll revealed that Trump has a three-point edge over Biden across the seven battleground states for the 2024 presidential election.

Wealthy Hamptons residents are displaying their support for Donald Trump over Joe Biden in the upcoming presidential elections

A boutique in East Hampton, popular among affluent New York City vacationers and celebrities, is selling merchandise which support for both candidates

The Monogram Shop is selling Biden-Harris 2024 cups alongside Trump 2024 merchandise for $3 both in store and online.

Its most recent count shows Trump ahead in sales by 374 with 70 sold on Tuesday compared to Biden's 11.

Lara took to Instagram to brag about her father-in-law's popularity and posted a picture alongside the track Y.M.C.A.

Valerie Smith, who has owned the store for 27 years, told DailyMail.com the cup count has accurately predicted the outcome of each election since 2004.

'I was not going to do it this year, instead I printed cups with "Let us pray 2024", simply because I felt the atmosphere felt toxic and complicated.

'But people kept on asking me to do it, so we started three weeks ago and began keeping a count.'

Valerie said almost all of the buyers of the Trump cups have been women.

'Since the polling, it constantly mentions that Trump support is low with suburban women but that is who is walking in and buying these cups.'

She added that since Biden's dismal debate display, there has been a significant increase in sales of the 'Let us pray 2024' cups.

'I have done it because I am a student of politics, I really care. People love it, its a way of engaging and understanding what people in this country think,' Valerie said.

'It has always been light hearted and expression themselves about the election.'

Suffolk County has voted for Trump in the last two presidential elections but the Hamptons is filled with wealthy New York City vacationers and celebrities for the holiday weekend.

A new poll has revealed that Trump has a three-point lead over Biden across seven battleground states.

Following a debate widely assessed as a disaster for President Biden, the former president is now seeing a bump with just four months until Election Day in November.

Biden's campaign tried to get ahead of bad polling and downplay any future dip, writing last week: 'It will not be the first time that overblown media narratives have driven temporary dips in the polls.'

Half of respondents who voted for Biden in 2020 now tell CBS News/YouGov polling they don't think he should be running for reelection this year and claim they are less likely to turn out in November.

Nationally, Trump is ahead by two points, but in the much more consequential swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the former president's advantage grows to three percent, which is outside the poll's 2.3 percent margin of error.

Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin all voted red in 2016 and flipped to vote blue for Biden in 2020.

Nevada voted Democrat in both elections but is considered a toss-up this year, and North Carolina voted Republican in the last two presidential races but is also a battleground in this election.

The Monogram Shop is keeping a tally of which decorated cup is selling more and Trump is far and away ahead with 771 sold compared to Biden's 397

It comes after a new poll revealed that Trump has a three-point edge over Biden across the seven battleground states for the 2024 presidential election

Biden's campaign tried to get ahead of bad polling and downplay any future dip

The winner this year will come down to how the electoral college votes are awarded in these seven states.

And it's not just preference for the candidates, but enthusiasm is also lacking on the left.

After the debate, Democrats say they are less likely than right-leaning voters to show up to vote in the general election.

A whopping 90 percent of Republican voters say they 'definitely' will vote in the November 5 election, while 81 percent of Democrats say the same.

Only 71 percent of independent voters say they are for sure coming out to cast their ballots in the fall.

Overall, 69 percent of registered voters don't think the 81-year-old president should be running for reelection, according to the poll.

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.

Biden's campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon wrote: '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.'

'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,' she added.
The boss of Silverstone has defended the 429 price tag for tickets at the British Grand Prix - as Hollywood a-listers from across the globe begin to arrive.

A beaming Brad Pitt, 60, was among the first celebrities to be spotted in the paddock ahead of this weekend's action in Northamptonshire.

Sporting red and black shades and a stylish black and white coat, Pitt appeared in fine form, waving to the camera - with his appearance coming just days after he was seen on the London set of his Formula One movie.

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, 26, joined Pitt in the paddock, with the Normal People star posing for selfies with fans in the pitlane.

While British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was also pictured strutting in Silverstone sporting a bold outfit, including a white designer Dior handbag, as he walked his dog Roscoe.

A beaming Brad Pitt was one of the first celebrities spotted at Silverstone ahead of the Grad Prix

While British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton was pictured strutting in Silverstone sporting a bold outfit and clutching a handbag as he walked his dog

And British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones , 26, was seen in the paddock posing for photos with fans in the pitlane

This weekend's action comes amid controversy around the cost of the event, with furious fans having slammed price of tickets, branding it a 'p*** take'.

Even racing ace Hamilton raised his concerns about the three-figure toll and called for prices to be dropped - with a Grand Prix day retailing at 309 while a four-day event pass would cost race-goers 429.

The seven-time world champion - who was today spotted signing an autograph for a young fan - feared the tickets could be 'hugely expensive' for families and called for a drop in the cost.

Speaking ahead of the racing showcase, Hamilton said: 'We have to watch ticket prices. I think they're continuing to rise and the cost of living nowadays, I think it's too high.

'I'm just thinking from the perspective of a fan that would come with a family. It's hugely expensive, so I think it's looking into ways where you can make better accessibility for people.'

Stuart Pringle, chief executive of Silverstone Circuit, has insisted the cost of a pass covering all four days of the racing spectacle in Northamptonshire was 'good value'.

Hamilton greets a young racing fan while walking his dog and carrying his designer Dior bag

Hamilton was filmed as he walked his dog, Roscoe in Silverstone on Thursday

Brad Pitt's appearance comes as he was spotted in London a few days ago on the set of his new Formula One movie

Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones looks on in the Pitlane during previews at Silverstone

He said the action not only including world-class racing but also live concerts - with the likes of Stormzy, the Kings of Leon and dance DJ legend Pete Tong among those set to take to the stage.

Stuart Pringle, chief executive of Silverstone Circuit, has defended the ticket prices

Mr Pringle told the BBC: 'It's good value when you weigh up what's included.

'Not only are you getting a world-class sporting event, you are getting a concert within the ticket price every night of the entire weekend.'

He added that there was 'a comedy club in there, a second stage, there's all the support races'.

The race track chief added that many people had bought their tickets in advance at a reduced price, and the profits from sales were put back into grassroots motorsport.

But punters are not convinced, with some racing fans taking to social media to vent their outrage.

One person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote: 'For the price of a weekend ticket at Silverstone you can fly out to Hungary for a 4-day weekend watch the race and travel back for cheaper, the cost of Silverstone tickets are a p*** take.'

Last year saw a record number of 480,000 people descend on the Northamptonshire circuit - with the same number expected to flock to the British motorsports mecca.

The spectacle is the highlight of the F1 calendar - but in recent years has become a nightmare for locals, who have lashed out at the chaos caused by the crowds.

Hamilton's striking outfit turned heads as he strutted around the paddock on Thursday

About 480,000 racing fans are due to descend upon Silverstone for the British Grand Prix

Celebrities have been spotted at the paddock today (pictured) ahead of the racing spectacle kicking off

There was some on-track action today, with Kush Maini of India and Invicta Racing practicing pitstops during previews ahead of Round 8 Silverstone of the Formula 2 Championship at Silverstone Circuit

The 2023 race saw residents living next to the iconic race track were fined for parking outside their own home

People in the village of Silverstone were handing 1,500 worth of fines over strict parking rules that were being enforced during the event.

The rules were part of a temporary traffic regulation order (TTRO) which had been imposed on the area - with the same ban coming into effect on Friday lasting until Sunday, prompting fears the same fiasco could happen again.

The idea of the order was to prevent members of the record crowd of 480,000 spectators parking in nearby villages.

But a misunderstanding led to locals with exemption permits being fined anyway.

Mel Dennision, who has lived in Silverstone for 60 years and has multiple sclerosis, told BBC Radio Northampton: 'We've never had this issue before. We've never been demanded to move our cars.

'I've always left my car there with my residents' pass and blue badge and never been asked to move it before. Never.'

Track bosses later said they would pay the fines for residents as a goodwill gesture.

This year's event has already attracted the rich and famous, with Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt leading the celebrity A-listers at the action.

Sporting his dirty blonde locks, The Mr & Mrs Smith actor was seen slipping into a racing outfit and helmet while inside the paddock.

Sporting his dirty blonde locks, Brad Pitt was seen at Silverstone on Thursday

The Mr & Mrs Smith actor (pictured) was seen slipping into a racing outfit and helmet while inside the paddock

It's thought 60-year-old Fight Club star was filming another scene for his upcoming Formula One movie

It's thought 60-year-old Fight Club star was filming another scene for his upcoming Formula One movie.

Earlier this week, Pitt was spotted being filmed at the Langan's Brasserie in London's Mayfair district.

The restaurant was turned into a Las Vegas supper club where Pitt's character attends a poker night.

Pitt is set to co-produce the film and act as a retired Formula One driver who gets back behind the wheel.

Production on the film began in 2023 and will include scenes from this season's British Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi races.

As DailyMail.com previously reported, all 10 F1 teams will featured, including the sport's drivers and the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile.

While Lewis Hamilton has had a hand in producing the project, which is slated for a 2025 summer release.

The latest sighting of Pitt comes two months before the eight year anniversary of his split from wife Angelina Jolie, whom he is still fighting with over custody of their six children, even though most of them are adults now.
A Chilean TikToker is raising eyebrows after claiming she is having a hard time landing a date.

The reason? Michelle Peint believes her striking beauty is scaring away men.

The content creator, who has more than 271,000 followers on the social media app, made headlines last month when she broke down why she was having problems finding Mr. Right.

'I want to talk about how difficult it is for me to find a partner when I'm pretty,' she opened up in the video, titled 'The Curse of Being Beautiful,' which has been viewed more than 19 million times.

'It is very difficult for a man to approach me and talk to me,' Peint said, before going into details of an encounter with a man who was not too certain about striking a conversation with her.

Chilean influencer Michelle Teint went viral with a TikTok video in June after claiming that her beauty was deterring men from asking her on dates

Chilean TikToker Michelle Peint raised eyebrows in a viral TikTok video when she asked a man why he did not approach her and was told that she looked 'super unattainable' due to her beauty

'One time, I dared to ask the guy, do you like me or did I draw your attention, why didn't you approach me and he told me this  just look at yourself and look at me. You look super unattainable. I was like what?' she said.

The small business owner shared that people usually tell her that her Instagram mailbox should certainly be filled with requests from guys lining up to ask her out and that she should 'have a date every day' because of her attractiveness.

'And literally the only person I talk to the most on WhatsApp is my mom,' Peint countered.

'And when a man approaches me, he is usually too shy. Very, very shy or you can tell that he is nervous talking to me,' she said. 'They also tell me a lot that you are very pretty, they must tell you that very often. No!'

The end result, Peint believes, is that 'beautiful women' find themselves linking with men who are 'not as pretty as' them.

Michelle Teint claims that she can't find a date because men are drawn back by her beauty and think she will reject them

Michelle Peint has the following advice for men who don't want to approach women who they believe are too pretty and will reject them: 'If you see a pretty girl, you like her, she catches your attention, don't be self-conscious. Ask her for her Instagram, ask her for her number, write to her and she is the one who will make the decision to tell you, look yes, let's talk or not'

Chilean influencer and small business owner, Michelle Teint, figured that her striking beauty is the reason why she can't find Mr. Right because men are not daring enough to ask her out

'Because these types of men are the ones who dare, the ones who have more personality and the ones who are not ashamed to be themselves,' she said. 'A lot of confidence you could say or self-love.'

Her solution to 'dateless' dilemma is to remind men that it is OK to approach women who are as pretty as her.

'So, I want to call on all those guys. If you see a pretty girl, you like her, she catches your attention, don't be self-conscious,' she advised. 'Ask her for her Instagram, ask her for her number, write to her and she is the one who will make the decision to tell you, look yes, let's talk or not, I'm not interested.

'I feel like they take the step of I'm going to dare to write to you and well, let's see what happens,' she added. 'If the woman rejects you, that's fine, you tried. But you tried. Don't be drawn away by appearances.'
Radical Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary has insisted he has never run a terrorist organisation and was just campaigning 'for people who are oppressed'.

Choudary, 57, is accused of directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), and taking a 'caretaker role' with the banned militant network in 2014.

The cleric, who was a member of ALM for many years, was arrested with Canadian 'follower' Khaled Hussain, 29, in July last year.

He allegedly ascended to a leadership role in the absence of the group's 'spiritual leader' Omar Bakri Mohammed, when the latter was imprisoned.

Choudary denies membership of a proscribed organisation and addressing meetings of the Islamic Thinkers Society in a way which encouraged support for ALM. Hussain also denies membership of a proscribed organisation.

Radical Islamic preacher Anjem Choudary insisted at Woolwich Crown Court today that he has never run a terrorist organisation and was just campaigning 'for people who are oppressed'.

The 57-year-old denies directing Al-Muhajiroun (ALM), and taking a 'caretaker role' with the banned militant network

Giving evidence today, Choudary told jurors at Woolwich Crown Court ALM was disbanded by Bakri Mohammed in 2004.

The prosecution say that Choudary had acted as the 'caretaker' of ALM during Bakri Mohammed's incarceration.

Choudary told his barrister Paul Hynes KC, that this was a 'ridiculous' suggestion because ALM 'didn't exist'.

He insisted that he had only been managing administrative and domestic matters on behalf of Bakri Mohamed, and nothing more.

'I maintained everything in terms of his family and any other ties that he had here', he said.

'It was domestic stuff like we used to do, a lot of divorce and marriage cases; campaigns for people who are oppressed.'

The preacher, who was recorded by undercover police delivering lectures and sessions to a New York Based organisation called the Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS), went on to deny any connection between ITS and ALM.

'Was ITS some modern variant or equivalent of ALM?', Mr Hynes asked.

'None whatsoever, they've been doing their own thing since 2003', Choudary responded.

'These people are completely dissociated.

'They cannot be in any shape a part of ALM,' Choudary said, quickly adding, 'not that it existed.'

The preacher pictured in 2018 outside a hostel he was staying in under strict licence conditions

Choudary said he asked for Bakri Mohamed's guidance in 2023 because proper Islamic worship in the UK had been prohibited.

'It's impossible for anyone to do anything nowadays in England', Choudary complained.

'I'm asking [Bakri Mohammed] for advice - my main purpose in life is in order to gain paradise.'

Mr Hynes asked Choudary about references he'd made to Bakri Mohamed regarding the Manchester Arena and London Bridge terrorist attacks.

'I'm saying there seems to be a tendency of the media to try and say, "so-and-so used to be in London, maybe he came across x and y," they like to link everything together', he said.

'It is a very sad trope with the Muslim community, just because they are Muslims they must be linked with each other.

'[The media] used to do that a lot with the Irish community and the black community in the past.'

Founded by Omar Bakri Muhammad, ALM was proscribed in this country in January 2010.

Choudary, of Ilford, and Hussain, of Canada, deny membership of a proscribed organisation.

The 57-year-old also denies addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation.

Yesterday, he told court that a joke he made about 9/11 during a lecture on the anniversary of the shocking terror attacks was 'inappropriate'.

During an online meeting on September 11 2022, Choudary laughed while telling listeners that Bakri Mohammed 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, 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.'

The trial continues.
The King has expressed his 'profound sadness' at the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.

In a personal message he sent his 'heartfelt condolences' from the Royal Family and praised emergency services personnel and volunteers who are working round-the-clock to deal with the aftermath.

It is understood His Majesty is additionally making a substantial charitable donation to the disaster recovery and relief efforts.

He has asked to be kept closely informed of the developing situation, and is hoping to engage with regional leaders directly in coming days to offer his support and sympathies.

In his message King Charles said: 'My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean. Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives.

The King (pictured yesterday with Queen Camilla) has expressed his 'profound sadness' at the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean

A woman walks along the beach of Manresa, covered with garbage after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 3 July 2024

Wreckage is seen outside battered homes following the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Petite Martinique, Grenada, July 2, 2024

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'I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction - a spirit which has been called upon too often - and so I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts.

'At this most difficult of times, please know that our most special thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives, livelihoods and property have been so utterly devastated.'

Hurricane Beryl has battered several islands in the Caribbean, most recently Jamaica, killing at least eight people.

Almost every home has been destroyed or badly damaged on Union Island in the Grenadines, where officials say the storm has caused 'immense destruction'.

King Charles remains head of state in St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well Grenada, which has also been badly hit, and Jamaica.

No storm has reached Beryl's level of intensity so early in the hurricane season, which runs from June until November.

The King's message comes after it was confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales had donated privately to the relief effort and continue to follow the impact of the hurricane closely.
A Royal Navy warship has set sail to the Cayman Islands to support Hurricane Beryl relief efforts after the powerful storm tore through islands in the south-east Caribbean, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

The hurricane has wreaked damage in the region and killed at least seven people so far across Grenada, Carriacou, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela.

It was predicted to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight and, on Thursday morning, its eye was approximately 500 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico.

HMS Trent, an offshore patrol vessel, is scheduled to arrive in the Cayman Islands this weekend with the crew set to help communities affected by flooding and storm damage.

The storm, previously rated Category 5, could bring winds of more than 155mph to the area, according to the MoD.

HMS Trent (pictured) is scheduled to arrive in the Cayman Islands this weekend with the crew set to help communities affected by flooding and storm damage

Hurricane Beryl (pictured) has wreaked damage in the region and killed at least seven people so far across Grenada, Carriacou, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Venezuela

Members of the Red Cross transport a Union Island evacuee on a stretcher as she arrives in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

HMS Trent departed from Puerto Rico on Wednesday carrying bottled water, basic emergency supplies and other equipment, with more than 50 sailors on board.

Personnel include a team from 700X Naval Air Squadron who will be able to 'conduct airborne reconnaissance', and assess damage from above, to support members of 24 Commando Royal Engineers who are also on board, the MoD said.

A specialist Rapid Deployment Team has already travelled to the Eastern Caribbean to provide consular assistance to affected British nationals, the government department added.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are understood to be donating privately to Hurricane Beryl relief efforts.

Earlier today, King Charles expressed his 'profound sadness' at the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.

In a personal message he sent his 'heartfelt condolences' from the Royal Family and praised emergency services personnel and volunteers who are working round-the-clock to deal with the aftermath.

The King (pictured yesterday with Queen Camilla) has expressed his 'profound sadness' at the destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean

Wreckage is seen outside battered homes following the passing of Hurricane Beryl, in Petite Martinique, Grenada, July 2, 2024

A woman walks along the beach of Manresa, covered with garbage after the passage of Hurricane Beryl in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 3 July 2024

He has asked to be kept closely informed of the developing situation, and is hoping to engage with regional leaders directly in coming days to offer his support and sympathies.

In his message King Charles said: 'My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean. Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives.

'I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction - a spirit which has been called upon too often - and so I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts.

'At this most difficult of times, please know that our most special thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives, livelihoods and property have been so utterly devastated.'

Hurricane Beryl has battered several islands in the Caribbean, most recently Jamaica, killing at least eight people.

Almost every home has been destroyed or badly damaged on Union Island in the Grenadines, where officials say the storm has caused 'immense destruction'.

King Charles remains head of state in St Vincent and the Grenadines, as well Grenada, which has also been badly hit, and Jamaica.

No storm has reached Beryl's level of intensity so early in the hurricane season, which runs from June until November.

The King's message comes after it was confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales had donated privately to the relief effort and continue to follow the impact of the hurricane closely.
Police have arrested a man as part of a murder probe after the disappearance of a Scot 22 years ago.

Robert Scott Clive, known as Scott, was last seen shortly after 11pm on October 10, 2002, in North Shields, North Tyneside.

The then 30-year-old, who was originally from Stranraer, Wigtownshire, was reported missing after a night out in the town by concerned family members and a murder investigation was launched.

His body was never been found, and unconfirmed sightings in the early hours of the following morning placed a man appearing to match his description near the banks of the River Tyne.

Since his disappearance, officers have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage and spoken to witnesses in a bid to piece together his final movements.

Robert Scott Clive vanished after a night out in North Shields in October 2002

Mr Clive's mother, Patricia, says her family 'needs closure' so they can mourn him properly

Last week officers from Northumbria Polices Major Investigation Team (MIT) arrested a 49-year-old man in connection with the disappearance.

He has since been released on police bail with enquiries ongoing.

Detective Inspector Mark Atherton, who is leading on the case, has now re-appealed for anybody with information to come forward.

He said: We have always kept an open mind as to the exact circumstances surrounding Scotts disappearance and that remains the case.

However, upon receiving new information in recent weeks, we took the decision to arrest a man and he was interviewed in police custody in relation to Scotts disappearance.

The key to this investigation could still be out there within the local community - and I am today urging anybody who has information about Scotts movements that night to come forward.

Scotts family have had to live for the last 22 years not knowing what happened to him - and we hope to give them the closure they deserve, by finding out what exactly happened that night.

Please, if you know anything, think of them and pass on any relevant information to us.

Specialist officers are continuing to offer his family support as the investigation into their loved ones disappearance continues.

His mother, Patricia Clive, said: I have four grandsons and the eldest has just turned 30 - the age Scott was when he went missing.

We cant help but make comparisons, he is living his life to the full and has everything we wished for Scott.

We cant bear this torment any longer - almost 22 years of us missing him and not knowing what happened, we need to lay it and Scott to rest.

If you have any information please come forward, the family need closure so that we can mourn him and hopefully move forward.
French President Emmanuel Macrons decision to call snap legislative elections, with the final round this weekend, is proving a massive headache for the bourgeoisie. The prospect of Macron losing any semblance of a parliamentary majority is spooking the markets. At the same time, the rise of Marine Le Pens far-right Rassemblement National (RN) is provoking hundreds of thousands to take to the streets in protest.

Since the success of RN (formerly National Front) in the European Parliament elections a month ago, hundreds of thousands have participated in protests against the party. The prospect of an RN government has roused the ire of young people and workers opposed to the partys divisive politics.

On 15 June, over 600,000 people participated in 150 mobilisations against the RN across the country. This followed a number of smaller, militant demonstrations, in which participants shouted slogans against fascism, against Macron, and in solidarity with Palestine and migrants.

After the release of the election results on 30 June, anger against the softness of the leaders of the left was palpable. At an 8,000-strong protest in Paris, nominally for the left coalition the New Popular Front, the Socialist Party leader was booed by the crowd, with many present remembering the partys last stint in power. La France Insoumise (LFI) leader Jean-Luc Melenchon was also heckled for withdrawing candidates in favour of Macrons party as part of a Republican Front against RN.

Far from seeking compromises, the mood of the masses is for fighting back.

The ruling class in panic

The ruling class, on the contrary, are tearing their hair out. Whatever happens after the second round, there is no stable government to be found. What they need is a strong government to carry out attacks on the working class that the situation demands.

France is facing massive debts, and a large public deficit. Macrons attacks on pensions went some way to reducing the latter, but it remains at 5.5 percent of GDP, meaning that for every 20 spent in France, 1 of additional debt is incurred by the government.

Macron is expected to lose more than half of his seats in this election / Image: www.kremlin.ru, Wikimedia Commons

The overall government debt is 110 percent of GDP, one of the highest in Europe. And with the rising cost of government borrowing, this is pushing the cost of paying the interest ever higher. This year, this cost is estimated at around 55 billion, and it is increasing by 8 billion every year.

The situation has led to France being issued a warning by the EU that it has to reduce its deficit, or else. It is clear that, to balance the books, the bourgeoisie needs massive attacks on the working class, either by raising taxes (as weve seen in Kenya, with explosive results) or by further cuts and austerity measures. This was the programme of Macron, but he couldnt muster sufficient support for it in the previous parliamentary configuration, and the new elections will make this problem worse rather than better.

Macrons coalition, Ensemble (ENS) had 245 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly, but he is expected to lose more than half of those in this election. His occasional allies in the traditional right-wing Les Republicains (LR) party are set to lose more than 25 of their seats, compounding Macrons difficulties. Most of those that will remain are looking towards Le Pen, hoping a pact with her will save them from oblivion.

Le Pens RN could take as many as 260 seats, up from 89 in the last National Assembly. The New Popular Front (NFP) is likely to take around 180 seats, up from 131. Together with the rump of LR, RN could form a government, something that Le Pen has hinted at in the last few days.

This is a result of the collapse of the centre. In the first round, ENS got 21 percent, down from 26 percent in the last election. LR, the traditional right-wing party, got 6.5 percent, down from 13 percent. That leaves these two parties with 27 percent, down from 40 percent two years ago, and with half the support they had in 2017. It is abundantly clear that they can provide no stable base for the bourgeoisie to lean on.

By contrast, RN has almost doubled its support from 19 percent to around 33 percent. The support for the left has also increased somewhat. The NFP has around 28 percent support, up from the 26 percent vote share of NUPES (the previous left-wing coalition) in 2022.

Gideon Rachman from the Financial Times, in surveying the situation, gives a most glum perspective:

At best, a parliament dominated by the political extremes would plunge France into a period of prolonged instability. At worst, it would lead to the adoption of spendthrift and nationalistic policies that would swiftly provoke an economic and social crisis in France. (France could trigger the next euro crisis)

In essence, for Rachman, the best-case scenario is continued crisis and paralysis. The worst case scenario would be a government actually being formed, because such a government would create even more instability, both in the economic sphere and in the form of mass protests and resistance. In comparing the situation to the short-lived Truss government in Britain, his concern is that there wouldnt exist the possibility of getting rid of such a government:

In the UK, there was a mechanism to sack Truss quickly and to restore rational government. That task would be much more difficult in France.

So, in Britain, the markets, the central bank as well as the MPs of the Tory Party itself managed to replace a Prime Minister that the ruling class didnt want, restoring a rational government (i.e. a government in the interest of big business), but Rachman doesnt see the same thing playing out in France.

Crisis in Europe

Macron himself raised the prospect of civil war should the left or the right gain power. This is clearly an exaggeration, typical of Macron. But there is a strong element of truth in what he is saying. The whole situation is pregnant with class struggle, and either a left or a right government would accelerate the process.

Furthermore, pro-EU bourgeois commentators like Rachman are concerned not just with France, but the impact this election will have on the EU as a whole.

The financial stability pact imposes strict conditions on the member states of the EU, and in particular on the members of the Eurozone. This is to ensure that some countries (read: Germany) dont have to cover the debts of the other countries (read: France, Italy, Greece). Of course, very few countries are in compliance with the rules after 16 years of crisis, but France is one of the worst offenders.

The hope that Le Pen will turn out to be another Meloni isnt shared by everyone / Image: European Parliament, Flickr

In order to ensure continued stability, the EU will demand cuts and austerity from any French government. In order to get to the required target, the government needs to cut 70 billion in spending. It is unclear how the RN would deal with such demands. On the one hand, the person tipped to be a future RN finance minister, Jean-Philippe Tanguy, claims that the party will abide by the stability pact (in the interest of French people), and the party has publicly dropped its demand to leave the EU. On the other, they want to cut Frances EU contributions by 7 billion, which will not go down well in Brussels.

The bourgeoisie is divided on how to deal with the situation. One section is looking to bring RN into the fold, and try to make them responsible. In other words: to bring the partys programme into alignment with that of the bourgeois, making it more amenable to the influence of the ruling class.

The FT reports on how big business is now looking at the RN as a potential partner:

The RNs economic policies are more of a blank slate that business thinks they can help push in the right direction, a Cac 40 [ie a top-40 company] corporate leader said of Le Pens party, which is ahead of other groupings in the run-up to the two-round vote on June 30 and July 7. The left is not likely to water down its hardline anti-capitalist agenda. (French businesses court Marine Le Pen after taking fright at lefts policies)

This week, we find columnist Martin Sandbu asking whether, in the case of RN the cordon sanitaire should be dropped to reward the party for having moderated itself: Le Pens attempted dediabolisation and the partys frantic rowing back on its promises suggest an interest in being successful within the system rather than in tearing it down. (Europes cordon sanitaire against the far right may not work)

The example cited is Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has graciously dropped her opposition to the EU, supported the war in Ukraine, and agreed to follow the EUs fiscal rules. In other words, she has become a responsible politician, one that aligns her interests with those of the ruling class and the system. They dont mind her attacks on womens rights, migrants, etc. The system can accommodate that, as long as she toes the line on the questions that matter to the banks and big business.

But the hope that Le Pen, or her Prime Ministerial candidate Bardella, will turn out to be another Meloni isnt shared by everyone. Sandbu himself recognises that elites arent convinced by the RN.

The stakes are high. Already, the markets are running scared, worried about the potential for a clash with the EU, in particular. Given the belligerent nationalist statements that the party is known for, the question on the minds of the capitalists is: can they be trusted? They are also concerned that RN wont continue Frances support for Ukraine, which the party has been a bit vague about.

Sandbu suggests that, maybe, they should put their faith in the institutions. In other words, the state, the press and other pillars of bourgeois society will moderate the RN and align it with the interests of the bourgeois and their system. In the end, they will probably not have much choice.

Collapse of the centre

Many of the bourgeois can see the writing on the wall. Macrons ENS can not play the role of the main party of the French bourgeois, nor can the traditional conservatives. Together, they command less than 30 percent of the electorate. The latter is also split down the middle between those who want to align themselves with RN and those who want to align with the centre.

The ENS, for its part, is doing its best to tie the left coalition to itself. It has now proclaimed, with the New Popular Front, a Republican Front against the RN, where the ENS withdraws candidates in those constituencies where they have little chance of winning, in favour of the NFP. At the same time, they are pressuring leaders to distance themselves from Melenchon and France Insoumise; that is, the left of the movement.

It is hard to see how they could make the numbers work, but clearly their idea is to break the more moderate elements away from Melenchons LFI to get them to prop up the centre. This would be completely in keeping with the history of the Communist Party (PCF), the Greens and the Socialist Party (PS). As one of the leaders of the Socialist Party bragged in an interview this week, it was their votes that got Macron into power.

Any Republican Front would require LFI to support a new government, since the LFI will control half the NFP seats. Indeed, the FT editorial proposed precisely such a constellation this week. But the ENS refuses to have anything to do with Melenchon, preferring to work only with their republican partners.

LFI has, over the past year, stood out against the other parties of the left. Their opposition to war and imperialism, particularly the war in Gaza, has led the other left parties to launch vicious attacks against the party in general and Melenchon in particular. It is a disgusting spectacle to see the leaders of the PCF and the PS attacking Melenchon for anti-semitism because he opposed Israels invasion of Gaza. They themselves have cosied up to Macron on all important foreign policy questions.

This is why the Communists of Revolution opposed the formation of the New Popular Front. The reality is that the rise of the RN has been prepared by the centre: first with the Socialist administration of Hollande, then the lesser-evilism of supporting Macron against Le Pen. All of that has prepared the way for the greater evil.

France Insoumise and Melenchon have tied their fortunes to the Socialists and the Greens / Image: Arnaud Le Gall, Twitter

The Socialists and the Greens tied their fortunes to Macron. Meanwhile, France Insoumise and Melenchon have tied their fortunes to the Socialists and the Greens. The effect of this is that the massive discontent in French society finds its distorted expression through the one party that has remained in opposition, which is on the far right. For their part, of course, they offer nothing but demagogy, as can be seen with Meloni since her accession to power. The far right, fundamentally, stands for the same rotten programme as Macron. Nonetheless, the behaviour of the leaders of the left, starting with the Socialist Party, the Greens and the Communist Party, has effectively paved the way for the RN.

The programme of the NFP is weaker even than that of the previous 2022 left coalition of NUPES, but still the bourgeois are not happy with it. Its programme includes raising the minimum wage, reversing Macrons pension reforms, price controls on essential goods, and massive investments. It is a threat to the interest of big business and completely at odds with the latters programme of cuts and attacks on workers rights. Nonetheless, the chief of the biggest stock exchange group in Europe had these consoling words for the markets:

I can hardly imagine that, in the event one of these two forces [RN and NFP] get into the office, that they will be able to implement everything they promise because of the combination of rating agencies, unions, pressure from the EU and the presidents power, which would mitigate the impact of any outlier or [inexperienced] party doing what they want. (Business needs to calm down about French election, says Euronext CEO)

Basically, through its institutions, the bourgeoisie can stop the implementation of the NFP programme. Socialist President Francois Hollande won his 2012 presidency promising to tax the rich to stop austerity. He wound up abandoning his programme in favour of tax cuts for corporations and austerity for the working class.

With such precedents, it is no wonder that workers have turned away from the PS and its closest allies, the Greens and the PCF. In the end, it is a political question: when faced with a choice between capitalism and the programme you were elected on, what will you choose? These parties have shown already that their promises are not worth the paper they are written on.

So, it is entirely logical that a layer of the working class is now turning to the RN in sheer exasperation: Maybe, just maybe, they can make a difference. Certainly, the other parties havent been able to. Le Pen and her PM will only continue Macrons policies of cuts and austerity, but with added poison and bigotry.

This is abhorrent to the youth, who can see through the demagogy of the far right, but also disdain Macron and his party. 48 percent of 18-24-year-olds voted for the NFP in the first round, and 38 percent of the 25-34 year-olds. RN won amongst middle-aged voters, while Macron is backed by the over-70s. Only 9 percent of 18-24 year olds support ENS.

For a working-class alternative

The youth can see far more clearly than the politicians of the NFP. The centre is finished, and the way forward must be on a class basis, which means a clear break with Macron, and those who are trying to keep him in power.

The crisis of French capitalism is now reflecting itself in a deep political crisis. It seems the only government on the cards is one led by the RN, either that or a continued political crisis, with no government. The whole situation is crying out for a working-class alternative.

Since 2016, there have been several opportunities to topple Macron in the struggle over labour laws, the yellow vests movement, last years movement against Macrons hated pension reform, etc. Had any of these struggles brought the government down, Macron would have faced a challenge from the left, not from the right. Now, the failure of those movements can be capitalised on by Le Pen and the RN.

As Revolution points out, the moderation and timidity of the leadership of the working class is holding back the movement. The comrades are launching the Revolutionary Communist Party for those who are willing to take up that struggle. This an important step to unite the best workers and youth under a common revolutionary banner.
Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com

A man has been charged with a string of offences hours after he allegedly pushed an elderly woman onto the tracks in front of horrified commuters at one of Melbourne's busiest train stations.

Emergency crews were called to Richmond station on Wednesday afternoon after a woman was allegedly pushed from the platform.

Bystanders rushed to the aid of the 64-year-old woman and pulled her back onto the platform as the man allegedly fled.

She was taken to Alfred Hospital in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said she didn't know her alleged attacker.

The incident caused major delays at train stations across the CBD during the evening peak period.

A Werribee man, 54, was arrested in Southbank on Thursday morning.

The man was charged with conduct endangering life, conduct endangering serious injury, reckless conduct causing injury and unlawful assault of a female.

A man has been arrested after an elderly woman was allegedly pushed onto the tracks at Richmond train station (stock image)

The incident caused major delays at train stations around the CBD (pictured, Southern Cross Station)

He has also been charged with several unrelated offences including burglary, theft, aggravated burglary, trespass, unlawful assault and make threats to kill.

The further charges relate to two recent burglaries and thefts of businesses in Footscray and an aggravated burglary at a hotel in Southbank on Thursday morning before his arrest.

He was remanded in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court next Friday.
A backpacker was found battered, bloodied and shaking on the ground of a remote California hiking trial - and says he still has no idea how he ended up there.

Sashank Upadhyayula, 34, ventured out on the Lost Coast Trail on June 24, but said the last thing he remembered was 'hearing something' on the trail around 10 pm.

'I remember hearing something, being scared and removing my bear spray, my two knives, water reservoir and my electronics,' he told the Lost Coast Outpost.

He was discovered at 9 am the next morning by a group of six teenage campers and two counselors, who found him with several slash wounds that medics said could point to him being savagely attacked.

'The doctors believe it was a knife or bladed weapon,' he said. 'With my lack of memory and because my knives are missing and how I was separated from my pack and found quite a distance away... it all points towards me being attacked.'

Counselors are pictured with injured backpacker Sashank Upadhyayula, 34, under a tarp (left) as a CalFire emergency rescue helicopter arrives to save him

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into the incident, but insisted that there is 'no reason to believe that there is any threat to public health or safety' along the trail.

When he was discovered, Upadhyayula was unable to walk, and it appeared he had been left severely injured all night as he was shivering cold, and was wearing a pair of 'soaked' jeans.

Upadhyayula claims he still has no clue what happened to him, and Paul Sever, an employee of the Bureau of Land Management, told the San Francisco Chronicle it remains 'a bit of a mystery.'

The six teenagers and their two counselors, Solomon Reinman, 26, and Jack Davis, 28, sprang into action when they found the injured man as they began their morning trek.

The counselors cut open his jacket and bandaged his wounds, and attempted to warm up the freezing hiker by wrapping him in a sleeping bag and tarp.

All six teenagers had also just completed a wilderness first aid crash course the day before, and used their new skills to set up a camping stove and heat up water bottles to place next to Upadhyayula.

The incident unfolded on the Lost Coast Trail, where six teenage hikers and two camp counselors sprang into action after finding the backpacker bloodied and incoherent

Maria Vollmar, the camp program director, said she received word of the situation over satellite phone and ran up the path to find them, where she said she found the young campers being 'really, really helpful and steady and kind.'

'Sol and Jack just really did an amazing job helping this man,' she added to the Lost Coast Outpost.

Upadhyayula said it was his first attempt at backpacking and he ventured out alone, but his rescuers reportedly found him to be mostly incoherent when they found him on the ground.

An image taken from the rescue showed the 34-year-old wrapped up under a tarp as a helicopter came to help him, which arrived around 90 minutes after the campers stumbled across him.

He was treated for his various wounds and hypothermia, and said he still has no idea what happened to him.

Upadhyayula added in an email to the Lost Coast Outpost that he was thankful to those who saved him, as he issued a warning to other rookie backpackers.

The backpacker said he 'heard something' at around 10 pm before he fell unconscious, and it appears he lay severely injured all night until he was found around 9 am the next morning

'I just want to thank the people that helped rescue me and I want the other hikers in that area just to be aware of their surroundings and to make sure that nothing like this happens ever again,' he said.

In a statement, the sheriff's office said it was investigating the incident, but said there is no threat to safety along the trail.

'As with any such remote/ rural area, we encourage people to make sure they are adequately prepared for the rugged terrain of that area (adequate food, clothing, maps, GPS enabled location/emergency notification device),' the statement read.

'And as with anywhere, people should always be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity/behavior to law enforcement.'
Throughout his life Gavin Plumb has had a problem with women.

The youngest of three brothers, the 37-year-old 'mummy's boy' from Harlow, Essex, started life in a council house with his father, Adrian Broad, and his mother. His parents' marriage did not last, and when his mum wed a security guard, the children took the surname Plumb.

A half-brother followed. The boys' biological father, who also remarried, would barely feature in his sons' lives from then onwards.

Mr Broad, 61, told the Daily Mail: 'We split up and I had visitation rights for the boys.

'But I had to stop seeing them because my father-in-law said I couldn't bring them around there any more. They all think I abandoned them but I didn't; it's because I had nowhere to take them. None of my boys want to speak to me.'

Gavin Plumb was arrested for planning to kidnap Holly Willoughby in October 2023

Plumb's 62-year-old mother, who worked as a hospital healthcare assistant, declined to speak with the Mail but has resolutely stuck up for her son despite his obvious flaws and failings.

'His mum is a big part of his life,' a family friend said. 'She adores him and worships the ground he walks on. She loves her children unconditionally.'

Described as a 'quiet' child, Plumb grew up collecting Ghostbusters merchandise and playing the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

'He was biggish; simple-looking,' said the mother of an old school friend at Passmores secondary school in Harlow. 'He's always been like that.'

Indeed, by the age of 13, Plumb had started to put on so much weight that he noticed girls would 'friendzone' him rather than fancy him. Those who know him believe his future behaviour around women is rooted in the sexual frustration he experienced from then on.

In 2003, and at Harlow College, he was one of a number of students who helped create a mosaic for the town's bus station, appearing alongside the work of art on the front page of the local newspaper.

It would be the only time in his life that he would garner positive headlines.

Soon after, he embarked on the one serious relationship of his lifetime.

He first met Laura Roberts aged 12  her sister was at school with him. Slim and standing at just 5ft tall, she was dwarfed by her new boyfriend. They started dating at 18.

'I always looked younger than my age when I was that young,' Ms Roberts wrote next to a photo from the time posted on her Facebook page.

This was to be no love story. Ms Roberts has told friends she only got together with Plumb, by then piling on the pounds and with a personal hygiene problem, because he was a 'safe bet' who 'no one else would want'.

Gavin Plumb planned to kidnap presenter Holly Willoughby

It would turn into a deeply 'toxic relationship'  Plumb's words  that the Mail can reveal was punctuated by accusations of domestic violence.

'He was really nice at the beginning and then, eight months into the relationship, he became violent,' a friend of the couple claimed.

'It started off with emotional abuse and then became physical. He wouldn't let her spend money on what she wanted. When she was pregnant with their son she had cravings, but he wouldn't let her buy chocolate for herself unless she bought it for him as well.

'They'd have arguments and he'd lay into her. They could argue over anything. It was stupid. He just seemed to love the power.'

On a number of occasions Ms Roberts called police to report that Plumb had physically attacked her, and he was arrested on at least one occasion. Last night a police source confirmed that reports of domestic violence were made but that Plumb was never charged with any offence.

After spells working at Asda and in the cafe of the local greyhound track, Plumb landed a job travelling by rail between stations, checking car-parking tickets.

It would provide him with the first opportunity to indulge his sick fantasies.

In August 2006, the 19-year-old targeted two uniformed Ryanair workers travelling from Bishop's Stortford to Stansted Airport.

In the first incident he sat in front of one of the women and handed her a note. It read: 'I will do anything.'

When she moved to another seat Plumb followed and showed her another piece of paper that stated: 'I have got a gun. Do what I say. So just stand up and get off at the next stop with me. Don't cry or make a sound. Don't stop me from touching you because I won't hurt you. If you do all of this, no one will get hurt but if you don't, I am going to shoot you and myself and everyone else.'

When she became upset, other passengers intervened. Plumb moved down the carriage and got off.

Two days later, another air stewardess was in an almost empty carriage when Plumb sat beside her.

He showed her a note which read: 'I'm a police officer. You have to get off at the next station for a quick chat.'

He asked her if she wanted to see his ID and he produced a card. The woman said nothing and Plumb got off at the next stop.

Soon after he was approached by a British Transport Police officer on the platform. When asked if he had claimed to be a police officer, Plumb said: 'My little brother uses my coat. He pretends to be a police officer. I've just remembered, there's a gun in my pocket.'

He had a black toy handgun and three pieces of rope on him. When arrested, he said that he wanted to be a police community support officer.

Giving evidence in the Willoughby trial he was again probed about the incident  this time admitting that he had fantasies about air stewardesses. It was also revealed that he had referred to the women in messages, writing: 'Can you blame me for trying to take the sl***?'

The following March, Plumb, who had been held in prison on remand, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted kidnap and received a 12-month suspended sentence.

It was his first conviction. In mitigation the court was told the offences were 'an aberration'. If only.

For a time Plumb and Ms Roberts carried on their dysfunctional relationship. But after a son and a daughter were born within 11 months of one another, they split.

'She said he was like having another child, rather than a partner,' a friend said. 'He rarely washed and she used to have to run his showers for him and tell him to get in. And he never stopped eating. He would have four bits of toast in the morning followed by loads of fruit.

'Then he would have a big lunch, like two to four sandwiches, then he would have loads of chocolate and rubbish to eat and then, after that, two dinners. He'd even steal his son's food when he was a baby.'

In November 2008, Plumb was accused of rape, the Daily Mail can reveal.

During the alleged incident, Plumb was accused of forcing his victim to the floor and covering her mouth with his hand. At the time Plumb was said to have been dressed in a red Liverpool strip, an outfit he often wore.

(Indeed, such is Plumb's love of the club that in 2020 he even recorded an excruciatingly bad rendition of its anthem You'll Never Walk Alone as part of a lockdown project designed to bring fans together. The footage is still available online.)

The alleged rape was reported to Essex Police and the victim was interviewed by specialist officers, but the Mail understands Plumb apparently claimed that the sexual encounter was consensual.

Last night a police source confirmed that an allegation of rape against Plumb had been made but that it resulted in no further action being taken against Plumb.

Just weeks later, in December, Plumb was in trouble again, this time after targeting two 16-year-old girls working at Woolworths, where he had got a job as a shop assistant.

Given his criminal record, it is unclear how he landed the role or whether he underwent any checks.

Those who worked there at the time remember him as a dishevelled character with terrible body odour.

Two weeks before Christmas, the girl and a friend were working in an upstairs store room when they asked Plumb for help.

Instead, he pulled out a knife, telling them: 'Get to the back of the stockroom.'

Removing rope and tape from his pockets, he made the girls face a wall, taping the hands of one of them behind her back. As he then prepared to gag her mouth, the second girl ran off. The alarm was raised and Plumb arrested.

In June 2009 he pleaded guilty to two charges of false imprisonment and one of battery and was jailed for 32 months.

While those involved with the case believed it was a sexually motivated crime, when giving evidence last week the 37-year-old claimed it was in fact 'a cry for help'.

Indeed, during cross-examination, he claimed that both his offences were motivated by a desire to be incarcerated so he could get away from his partner.

An extraordinary excuse  but par for the course for a man who always saw himself as the victim.

Clearly his time inside did little to change Plumb.

Because far from showing remorse for what he had done, when discussing the Willoughby plot with other men online he boasted of his previous convictions.

He also suggested that prison had not been bad  saying that he had been able to watch as much television as he wanted and have use of a telephone.

Police found equipment including a ball gag, ring gag, blindfolds and cuffs at his flat

On his release on licence, Plumb was banned from being in the company of under-18s. His ex-partner duly won a court order stopping him from seeing his two children, which Plumb unsuccessfully challenged.

Jobs at Pizza Hut and McDonald's followed.

Meanwhile, Plumb's love life continued to go badly.

The Mail has learned that in 2013 he was beaten up on the streets of Harlow on the instruction of a disgruntled ex-girlfriend.

He then claimed to have enjoyed a two-month relationship with a woman who was into bondage and sadomasochism. When he was arrested last year, police found equipment including a ball gag, ring gag, blindfolds and cuffs at his flat.

The prosecution claimed it was actually a 'restraint kit' to be used on Ms Willoughby, 43.

Not only was it unused but Plumb refused to divulge the bondage-loving woman's identity, claiming: 'It's not fair to name her.' A noble gesture? Or, as the prosecution suggested, she simply did not exist.

Already obese, Plumb's weight ballooned around this time, heading towards an all-time high of 35-and-a-half stone.

'He started to get like that after the relationship breakdowns,' said a friend. 'Another factor was not getting to see the children. He just gave up on life.'

Stuck in his flat, he would consume vast amounts of junk food washed down with four pints of cola a day.

That we know the detail of his life is thanks to a series of interviews he did with the BBC, firstly in 2016 and then in 2018. He had originally contacted Radio 5 Live to describe his long struggle with his weight.

Unsurprisingly, he never shared the darker side of his life with the nation's broadcaster.

'The last time I went out unaided was 2014  it was my parents' wedding vow renewal,' he moaned. 'I only really go out my front door to put out a bin bag  that's every few days. Other than that, I don't leave my doorstep.'

But friends question that version of events, saying: 'It was all 'poor me' with Gavin. He told the BBC he couldn't go out of his house, but he used to go everywhere.'

Plumb added: 'I get chest pains and I've just been told it's because of my weight. I'm scared that if I have something to eat or if I get up and I do too much, that's it, I'm done.'

He praised his 'fantastic' parents who came over to clean but said his mother was so worried he might have a heart attack that he had given her a set of keys  'just in case'.

And so it was in April 2018 that Plumb underwent surgery to have a gastric sleeve fitted, reducing his stomach's capacity. It was, he said, his 'last resort'.

The operation was a success. Within ten days he had lost 22lbs.

'When I left the hospital I was wearing 5XL clothes but about two months later I was able to fit into a 3XL T-shirt,' he said.

'That was really emotional for me. I feel better about myself but I still don't like the way I look. I know that will come in time and I will get my confidence back. I do feel happier within myself.'

And he added: 'This surgery is not only going to change my life, it's going to save my life.'

Outwardly, at least, things did appear to improve for Plumb.

Gavin Plumb's living room - full of Ghostbusters merchandise

His stepfather, who himself worked as a security guard, is understood to have got Plumb a similar role at a shopping centre in Harlow. Again, how he managed to get such a job given his previous convictions is unclear.

In messages revealed during his recent trial Plumb claimed to have undergone formal security training and to have passed his Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence, which is required for most roles within the UK security industry.

But an SIA spokesman told the Mail that in fact Plumb had never held such a licence.

'He talked about his family a lot,' said another acquaintance. 'He was excited to be getting his life back together. He was a massive gamer and liked spending time on his computer.

'He mentioned he liked playing shooting games. He was looking to move into a new house because his current place had one bedroom. He said he'd been speaking to the social services.'

But dig a little deeper and what we now know is that nothing had fundamentally changed about who and what Plumb was.

He had in fact spent the best part of a decade indulging his perversions online.

Communicating via messaging services with a band of depraved oddballs, Plumb joined secret groups with names such as 'Abduct Lovers' on Kik, a Canadian messaging app, where members discussed kidnap, rape and finding accomplices to 'carry out murders'.

One of his most frequent online contacts was a user named 'Marc', who told Plumb he was from Ireland.

When Plumb was arrested, he had 10,322 images of Ms Willoughby and other celebrities, as well as deep-fake pornography featuring her.

Ultimately the plan concocted by Plumb involved putting together a gang to break into mother-of-three Ms Willoughby's house, where they would use chloroform to incapacitate her and husband Dan Baldwin, 49.

She would then be taken to a 'dungeon-style room' and repeatedly raped before her throat was slit and her body dumped in a lake.

In describing exactly what he wanted to do to Ms Willoughby, Plumb said: 'Getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long. I'm now at the point that fantasy isn't enough any more. I want the real thing.'

Plumb anticipated ending up in prison, the court was told, but described the '23-hour bang-up' regime in jail as an opportunity to 'watch as much TV as you like'.

In the end he would be arrested on October 4 last year after he began chatting with a US-based undercover police officer, whose findings were passed to the Metropolitan Police.

When police smashed their way into his flat and informed him he was being accused of conspiracy to kidnap Ms Willoughby, Plumb told officers: 'I'm not gonna lie. She is a fantasy of mine.'

In his defence Plumb would claim that it was all just online chat, saying: 'There's a massive difference between what's online and real life.'

He also played down comments about 'leaping over a fence' during the planned night-time raid at Ms Willoughby's London house, saying: 'I've got more chance of tripping over a step.'

As for the chloroform, he claimed that he had only purchased two bottles of the liquid because he wanted to remove a stain from his carpet.

In letters written to friends from prison he spoke of his confidence that he would get off, arguing that because it was all online there were no actual victims this time.

But as the girls and women unfortunate enough to be targeted in the past know to their cost, Plumb's fantasies were so uncontrollable that anything might have happened.
A mother has plunged 500ft to her death from a cable car in Italy after she was dragged away by the mountain lift system in front of her horrified family.

The woman, named as Margherita Lega, had been hiking with her husband and two young children during a holiday in the Italian Alps when the freak tragedy happened at around 11am today.

The 41-year-old had been loading luggage onto the teleferica machine - a small cable car used to transport baggage and objects rather than people - when her clothes were snagged by the contraption and it suddenly switched on.

She clung on as it carried her more than 50 yards over a cliff edge, before she was no longer able to hold her weight and let go, plunging to her death, La Repubblica reports.

Ms Lega's children, who are believed to have witnessed their mother's harrowing death, are being looked after while her husband has been taken to the local police station following the horrific incident, which is now being investigated.

Carabinieri attending the scene of the freak tragedy in the Italian Alps

A helicopter was used by search and rescue teams to locate and recover the woman's body

Emergency vehicles are seen in the forest where the Italian tourist fell to her death

The family had reportedly been trying to reach a cabin on the mountain in the Calasca Castiglione area when Ms Lega plummeted into the deep gulley.

The mayor of Calasca Castiglione, Silvia Tipaldi, said she was 'shocked' by the tragic death and shared her condolences with the family.

'We are shocked,' she said, adding: 'We are waiting for the magistrate's checks on the plant to have more information on what unfortunately turned out to be a tragedy'.

Mayor Tipaldi said that 'the cableway paperwork was regularly filed with the Municipality' and that the authorities currently believe 'the tragedy was accidental.'

She added that 'the family is in shock' and that the municipality is on hand to support them.

The hamlet of Drocala, which they had been trying to reach, only has a few private homes, with authorities saying they do not know if the victim's family had friends or relatives in the area or whether they were visiting someone there.

The cableway, which connects the Olino hamlet with the Drocala alpine pasture, is said to travel a distance of around 1,300ft (400m) and crosses a steep ravine.

It is usually operated by two people, at two points, above and below. The starting point cannot be seen from where the controls are at the top, according to reports.

More than 100 emergency personnel including firefighters, police and mountain rescue teams rushed to the scene.

With the help of a helicopter and climbers on the ground, they eventually located the Ms Lega's body in the valley.

The woman, named as Margherita Lega, had been hiking near Calasca Castiglione (pictured) when the incident happened at around 11am this morning

Stock image shows a cable car. The one involved in the incident is designed to carry luggage rather than people

Alpine rescue crewmembers recovered her body by winching themselves down from the helicopter and pulling the mother out of the ravine by air.

Prosecutors reportedly sealed off the teleferica as they look into whether all the correct safety measures were observed at the site.

The system is reported to have restarted suddenly, with the reason as to why it began pulling uphill being investigated.

The incident took place in the Anzasca Valley, a popular hiking area in the Piedmont northeast of Turin.

Ms Lega is said to have been from Fiave, a small town in Italy's northeastern Trento region, a four hour drive from Calasca Castiglione.

Italy has been rocked by cable car tragedies in the past, with 14 people killed when a wire snapped and flung a carriage 65ft to the ground in 2021.

A cable car carrying 15 passengers plunged to the ground in northern Italy in 2021, killing 14

The cable car had been carrying the passengers up a mountain overlooking Lake Maggiore in the western Alps when it dropped 1,000ft away from the station.

Disturbing footage of the disaster shows how close the passengers were to safety before the cabin shot down the mountain.

It shows a cable snapping, sending the car and its passengers inside careening back down as they were brutally thrown around the cabin.

In separate video, the carriage can be seen flying off and falling out of view behind the crest of a hill where it crashed, killing 14 of the 15 people onboard.

In another gondola disaster, 20 people were killed in the Dolomites when a US airforce pilot crashed into the cables holding a carriage full of holidaymakers.

The 1998 tragedy in Cavalese came 22 years after another in the same town, which saw 43 people killed when their cabin skidded 300 feet and was crushed.
A British tourist family has revealed the cut-throat techniques they employ to secure the best sunbed spots in the dog-eat-dog world of resort holidays.

The Harper family flouted official rules to assert themselves while on holiday in Crete by eating their breakfasts by the pool at 6.45am.

They used the crafty tactic to get around a hotel announcement that said 'no one could reserve sunbeds between 7am and 10pm.'

A TikTok posted by Hollie Harper revealed her family's frustration at her Greek hotel's sunbed reservation rules.

The caption of the video read: 'If you leave your sunbed for breakfast, your towels will be taken off.'

The Harper family have begun fighting back, flouting official rules to assert themselves while on holiday in Crete by eating their breakfasts at the sunbeds

The TikTokker, furious at the arbitrary and last-minute change, joked that 'in our family this is a serious game' and 'very a serious matter.'

She showed her family posted on the edge of a pool at the crack of dawn, with plates of breakfast food around them.

'All our family were down at 6:45am securing base camp', she explained.

'All willing to sacrifice breakfast for the greater good!'

The video showed several members of her family protecting their sunbeds, seemingly unconcerned by the 'sun police' patrolling the poolside, referring to a man who 'kept pacing to the base camp, waiting for us all to leave for breakfast.'

Hollie was seen going for a 'pastry run', bringing back a huge spread of tiny snacks for her family.

The battle for the sunbeds seemingly became a siege, with the social media user joking that at 8:21am, there was 'only 1.5 hours left to secure the area.'

She also revealed that her war against her fellow holidaymakers would only get worse, announcing that she would be employing her 'militant' tactics at her brother's wedding.

Last month, MailOnline reported that Greece was beginning a new crackdown on sunbeds taking over the country's coastlines using drones, amid complaints from locals about mass tourism.

Greece is turning to satellites and AI to crack down on the 'illegal' use of sunbeds, umbrellas and chairs on 8,000 of its beaches

New rules have been brought in dictating that umbrellas and deck chairs must be at least four metres from the sea

Aerial footage shows a drone patrolling one beach after the new rules were brought in earlier this year

Angry locals have been taking action as part of the so-called 'beach towel movement' - which began last year and has seen thousands protest against paying extortionate prices to use sun loungers.

Now new rules have been brought in dictating that umbrellas and deck chairs must be at least four metres from the sea.

Bars and hotels also need a licence to put loungers, umbrellas, tables and chairs out on beaches - with a large proportion of the seafront required to be free of them altogether.

As British tourists flock to Greece for their summer holidays, the authorities are using satellites, AI and an app to enforce the new rules and root out the 'illegal' use of sunbeds on thousands of the country's beaches.
The White House is frantically moving to get President Joe Biden in front of cameras and crowds on an expedited schedule this July 4th weekend after growing calls from within his party to step down after his debate disaster.

Biden's handlers had already put in place a taped, sit-down interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos to try to fend off calls from lawmakers and donors to demonstrate that he is still up to the task of campaigning.

But after a Wednesday meeting with the nation's governors that failed to quell mounting calls for his ouster from the Democratic ticket, ABC announced hours later that the entire interview - which had been slated to air in pieces over Saturday and Sunday mornings - would now air in one shot, on Friday night.

The prime time 8 pm broadcast will give Americans their first extensive look at the president in a Q&A format - albeit not live - since Biden trailed off, rattled off odd phrases, and appeared to lose his train of thought repeatedly during Thursday's debate with Donald Trump.

President Joe Biden's interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos will now air on Friday amid pressure from backers to prove that he can still campaign effectively following last week's debate

'The down-ballot freak-out from elected Democrats has not ebbed, and the negative media coverage and information flow about Biden's debate debacle has only intensified,' former Mitt Romney senior advisor Kevin Madden told DailyMail.com.

'As a result, the White House is motivated more by necessity than design to schedule a major interview. There's an urgency to get the President out there so he can address the blowback directly.'

But the move follows days of lost time when senior members of his own party raised doubts about his candidacy and three elected Democrats have called on him to step back.

'Friday is still a tardy response, given that this controversy will have been spiraling for over a week, but waiting until Sunday would have been too late,' said Madden.

The network will air portions of the interview on 'World News Tonight' Friday with David Muir during the 6 pm hour of ABC's World News Tonight with David Muir, then air the entire interview at 8 pm in a special broadcast.

It will run again on Sunday during ABC's 'This Week'  putting the president before millions of viewers while polls are registering growing concern among voters about his fitness for another term.

The network said it will also release a full transcript of the interview, allowing the public to scrutinize Biden's answers even as critics from within his own party and Republicans will be looking for visual cues on whether the president, 81, remains fit for political battle.

Biden will be putting himself in the public eye throughout the weekend, after Democratic governors said he had just days to prove he is still viable after polls showed him slipping after the debate.

The president hosts military vets at the White House for traditional 4th of July celebrations. This time Vice President Kamala Harris will be there as well, as party insiders debate whether she would be a stronger nominee than Biden  amid indications the party could more easily transfer its huge campaign war chest to her than to swing state governors waiting in the wings.

'This Week' host George Stephanopoulos will sit down with the president for an interview airing Friday as well as Sunday

President Joe Biden saw his lead grow nationally and in swing states following the debate

Biden is also returning to battleground Wisconsin, a state he won in 2020 but where shows show him trailing Trump. He will hold a campaign event in Madison, not far from where the Republicans will gather within days to hold their party convention.

The burst of public activity comes amid pressure for Biden to put himself in front of the public more, with allies saying he has just days to prove himself.

'Hes got to show the American people that he can do this job,' Rep. Debbie Dingell told MSNBC. 'He cant be wrapped in bubble right now.'

Referencing his train wreck debate, an ally told the New York Times, 'He knows if he has two more events like that, were in a different place.' The White House denied the report saying Biden had just days to prove he was up to the challenge, and knows that his weekend appearances must go well.

CNN reported a Capitol Hill source holding up the ABC appearance as all important, saying, 'Let's see how this interview goes, let's see how he does on the campaign trail in Wisconsin,' and they're using the next few days to kind of make up their mind.'

A new DailyMail poll reveals a whopping seven out of 10 likely voters said that the president should take a cognitive test after his disaster Atlanta presidential debate against Trump.

Biden's burst of activity has him partying at the White House Thursday, campaigning in swing state Wisconsin Friday, and holding a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Biden is facing increasing pressure to demonstrate his acuity anew before a live audience.

'He needs to be out without a script. Without a teleprompter and just face the press, face the public. Thats critical,' former California Sen. Barbara Boxer told the LA Times.

Added Democratic former Michael Cohen lawyer Lanny Davis, an expert in crisis communications: 'Biden needs to hold one or more press conferences, with no holds barred, and for at least 45 minutes, to prove he can take the tough questions and respond with force, with conviction, and with persuasion.

'And then he needs to do town halls live on TV and allow voters to put him through the same questions and answers.'


The acrid smell of smoke still permeates the air at the kibbutz village of Kfar Aza where, nine months ago, 64 people were brutally murdered and 19 kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during their deadly assault on Israel. It is a place frozen in time.

Until that terrible day, the kibbutz, which was established in 1951  making it almost as old as the State of Israel itself  was home to 760 people.

Now its abandoned, surviving residents dispersed to cramped hotels in Tel Aviv, and houses  those not burned into mangled wreckage  boarded up.

Its too traumatic for people to live here, and too unsafe, so close to the Gaza border (just a few kilometres across a field) that when I walk to its security fence I can see the Palestinian town of Jabalia with my naked eye, and hear the occasional booms of artillery shells.

Hilary Freeman in Kfar Aza outside the house where her cousins wife, Maya, was murdered by Hamas - the wall is daubed in symbols painted by the IDF to show someone died inside

But the birds and the butterflies dont seem to have got the memo, and as I stand on the village green, under the shade of pomegranate trees, I get a glimpse of what an idyllic spot this used to be.

Childrens bicycles lean where they were left on the evening of October 6, and flower pots decorate front lawns, which, with nobody to tend to them, are now parched golden by the sun.

For me, Kfar Aza is where the political and the personal collide. I have come here not just as a journalist, or as a British Jew, but to witness a devastating chapter in my own familys history.

In total, Hamas gunmen killed around 1,200 people on October 7, the deadliest attack in Israels history, and one of them was a much loved member of my own family.

Jewish homes in the Kfar Aza kibbutz - they were burnt to the ground by Hamas on October 7. Many residents have no idea when they will every return home

IDF patrolling Kfar Aza after the Hamas attack on October 7

Until the massacre, my mothers first cousin, Gitit Ben David had lived at the Kfar Aza kibbutz for over 50 years with her husband, Amnon, a legendary cook in the community. My parents had even visited one summer holiday.

For two long days, we had no idea whether they were alive, abducted or dead. I needed to come to see the aftermath for myself.

October 7 was a Jewish holiday, and Gitit and Amnons son, Zafrir, 45 had brought his wife Maya, 48, and their two children, aged seven and nine, to stay for the weekend.

At around 6am, they awoke to the sound of alarms signalling rockets, then gunfire. Around 100 terrorists had broken through the fence on trucks and motorbikes, or paraglided their way inside.

Those who could fled to their safe rooms, exchanging frantic WhatsApp messages. But the rooms were built to withstand bombs, not to keep out terrorists, and their doors didnt lock.

Zafrir, a teacher at a special education school, is a private man, who has never before spoken publicly about what happened to his family.

We are second cousins and, although I met his parents as a child, and we knew of each others existence, we had never met before. He agrees to talk to me, from his home in Kfar Hayim, a small settlement in central Israel.

In our case, around five terrorists broke into the house, chanting religious slogans, he recalls. Two of them tried to open the door of the shelter and struggled with us to break in. When they failed to do so, they shot from the outside in.

One bullet penetrated through the door and hit my wife, Maya, and killed her.

For the next 34 hours, the family remained trapped inside the room, as Zafrir held the door closed, unable even to comfort his children, who were crouched in terror, their mothers body lying next to them.

Members of Hilary Freeman's family - her grandmas eldest sister, Regina (adult, far left), perished in the Holocaust

Regina's daughter Rachel (pictured), was only five when she was gassed on arrival at Auschwitz. Hilary's middle name is Rachel, in her memory

Hilary's great-grandparents, Geni and Chaim, who had fled to Germany in the 19th century to escape pogroms in Poland  they did not survive the Holocaust

The IDF did not reach us until the end of the next afternoon, he says.

Now, Zafrir not only has to care for his young children, but also try  somehow  to help them deal with the trauma they suffered.

I make an effort to keep them busy all day, so that by the end of the day theyre exhausted, he says.

They have both the experience of the loss of their mother and the horror they have to cope with. They are having treatment and I hope to give them a safe and good future.

But Zafrir is no longer receiving counselling. I gave up on that, he explains. I felt like it was weighing me down instead of making it easier.

As for Gitit and Amnon, they are elderly, and too traumatised to speak to me.

Beyond the enormous loss that happened in their own home, and the loss of the community where they lived for decades, their lifes work disappeared within a few hours of terror, says Zafrir. They are currently in a hotel in Tel Aviv, and theres still no target date for their return, if any.

He shows me a photograph of Maya. She was beautiful, I tell him, and he agrees. What was she like, I ask.

Maya always loved nature and the sea, he remembers. She was cheerful and humorous, a family woman, and beloved by many who saw her as a close friend.

She studied law, but chose to work in special education. After the birth of our first son, she sought a new direction that would bring her renewed fulfilment. She discovered the moringa plant [a rich source of vitamins and minerals] and its healing properties. It became her lifes work.

So many of those who died at Kfar Aza were, like Maya, nature-lovers and peace activists. Some of them worked with Palestinians and saw them as friends.

Hilary visits the memorial to the 364 young victims who died at the hands of Hamas while enjoying a music festival, with many raped, and 40 abducted, on October 7

Kfar Aza survivor Batia Holin shows Hilary Freeman around the kibbutz, including the house where her cousin's wife was murdered by Hamas in front of her children

Survivor Batia Holin, 71, who shows me around the kibbutz, is a photographer who collaborated with a Gazan photographer on a joint exhibition in February 2023. On October 7, she learned that he had betrayed her, not only using her photos to help the terrorists plan their attack, but also participating himself.

That morning, at 10am, the assault already in motion, he called her.

He asked me about the IDFs movements, how many were there, which units they were in. He told me he was at Kfar Aza, and I understood he had come to kill me. She stayed barricaded in her safe room for 26 hours before being rescued, watching the carnage outside via her camera in her car that was connected to her phone.

As we are talking, a fighter-plane roars overhead, a reminder of the war that is being waged just a few kilometres away, and I flinch.

Dont worry, Batia says. Its friendly. If it werent there would have been a siren.

This is small comfort. I have already been warned that if a siren sounds, the only option is to lie flat on the ground and pray.

Batia has known my family for half a century, and agrees to show me their home.

Unlike many neighbouring houses, which are now burned-out shells with surviving walls pockmarked by bullet holes, my cousins house stands intact, a sign reading Gitit and Amnon Ben David still displayed on a pole outside.

Only its front wall belies the terror that occurred within. It is daubed in symbols painted by the IDF to show that someone died here, that human remains were inside.

Although I cannot enter, I pause to contemplate what it must have been like for my family, and for the others at Kfar Aza, that morning, as their cherished homes became scenes of horror.

Whole families were tortured and murdered, including babies. It isnt at all hard to imagine; I can feel it, viscerally.

For me, as for so many other Jews around the world, October 7 re-awakened something deep within us: centuries of persecution that have been wired into our DNA.

Every generation of my family in living memory, and beyond, has been the victim of antisemitic violence.

Zafrirs grandmother, Lene, and my grandmother, Tilde, were sisters who grew up in Germany, their family wrenched apart when Hitler came to power in 1933.

Lene and two of her siblings escaped to British Mandatory Palestine, now Israel.

My grandma, the baby of the family, couldnt get a visa to join her sisters and elder brother, but finally managed to find refuge in the UK.

But their parents  my great-grandparents  Geni and Chaim, who had fled to Germany in the 19th century to escape pogroms in Poland  and my grandmas eldest sister, Regina, who was already married with a baby, Rachel  didnt make it out. They all perished in the Holocaust.

The records show that Regina, her husband and Rachel, who was only five, were gassed on arrival at Auschwitz. My middle name is Rachel, in her memory.

I am very glad that my grandma, who died in 2016 at the age of 97, did not live to see what happened to her family at Kfar Aza, in the country where they should finally have been safe.

And Im very glad she did not live to see the resurgence of antisemitism in the UK, which gave her sanctuary.

Or how, every day on social media, I am called a Nazi, a child-killer and a genocide supporter, simply because I believe the state of Israel has a right to exist and defend itself.

And she would cry to know that the great-granddaughter she met shortly before she died  my daughter, who is now eight  has to contend with being singled out at school because she is Jewish. Do you support Israel? older boys taunt. Israel is evil.

From Kfar Aza, I travel to the Nova festival site at Reim, 14km down the road. It is here that 364 people  mostly youngsters  were murdered, with many raped, and 40 abducted on October 7. Many more were wounded.

Reim has become a shrine to the victims, their photos planted across the desert land like memorial trees.

I stumble across Irene Nurith Cohn, one of only ten female volunteers for Zaka, the religious organisation which painstakingly collected body parts so victims could have proper Jewish burials.

She describes combing through the dust for specks of blood  the same dust that now stains my shoes and trousers.

Then she takes out her phone. I have images of the torture and sexual violence that happened here and at the kibbutzes, she tells me. They are not published, but were shown as evidence at the Criminal Court in the Hague by the team of the UN representative.

Would you like to see them? She pauses. You dont have to.

The truth is, I dont want to see them, but I tell her I will. I feel its my duty to bear witness because so many people are now denying that these things ever happened.

We view the pictures together, until Ive had enough: people burned alive, raped with implements  things far too distressing and graphic for a family newspaper. The cruelty, pain, degradation and mutilation inflicted on these young people  in a way that can never, ever be referred to as resistance  explains why every Israeli I meet, whatever their political persuasion, believes Hamas has to be destroyed so it can never do the same again.

When I ask Irene how she copes with what shes seen, her answer surprises me. She says its hard, but its the Jews outside Israel she feels sorry for. We live in Israel, were privileged, she says. Its very hard to be a Jew overseas with all the antisemitism. My sister lives in Manhattan, and shes hiding.

A short drive away, at Tkuma, theres another memorial to Nova.

That day, hundreds of burnt and damaged cars were left scattered along Route 232, ambushed by Hamas as festival-goers attempted to escape. Some vehicles were abandoned, their drivers killed or kidnapped, never to return. Around 300 were set on fire, with their murdered occupants still inside.

We find ourselves, 78 years after the Holocaust, collecting the ashes of Jews, says IDF spokesman, Adam Ittah.

These cars are now stacked together in sculptural form. I notice one car  still bright blue  which stands out from the rest of the rust-coloured metal. It brings to mind the little girl in the red coat in the Spielberg classic Schindlers List, a flash of colour symbolising individuality, humanity.

Somebody once chose this blue car because they loved the colour. Its also, of course, the colour of the Israeli flag.

The following day, in Tel Aviv, I go to Hostages Square, where art installations and banners highlight the plight of the 120 hostages (five from Kfar Aza) still held in Gaza.

Nearby, I meet four of the hostage families, including that of red-headed baby Kfir Bibas, who  if he is still alive, and his family will not allow themselves to think otherwise  has now spent more than half of his short life in captivity.

I talk to Ayelet Svatitzky, 46, sister of British citizen, Nadav Popplewell, 52, originally from Wakefield, West Yorkshire. He was kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nirim. Ayelets diabetic mother, Channah, 79, was also taken hostage, but released on November 24.

Ayelets other brother, Roi, 53, was murdered. Ayelet had to bury him alone and, on the night of Channahs release, greet her with the news that her eldest child was dead.

Tragically, after I return home, it is announced that Nadav has been murdered in Hamas captivity.

Ayelet says: My life froze on October 7. All of us are on our lifes mission to save our loved ones.

Being a British citizen, I am being active both here and in the UK. The hardest thing is not being able to see an end to the nightmare. Its inhumane.

The week I am in Israel, pro-Palestinian protestors try to disrupt a North London film festival showing a documentary about the Nova atrocity.

The same week, three countries  Ireland, Spain and Norway  recognise Palestine as a state, and the International Criminal Court says it will issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

This news is largely met with incredulity in Israel. While the world has moved on from the Hamas massacres, Israel has not.

Until all the hostages are released, it cant even begin to. Israel is a country where today, and every day, it is still October 7.
Jay Slater's mother has hit out at trolls accusing her of being 'on holiday' while she looks for her son in Spain as she pleaded with fellow parents to 'continue to pray' for his return.

The missing teenager's family revealed earlier this week that they were planning on using GoFundMe donations to remain in Tenerife after Spanish police called off the land search 14 days after the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer first went missing.

Now, Debbie Duncan has asked for people to realise that they are a 'normal working family from Lancashire going through hell'.

In a post on social media, she said: 'I feel the need to post this to your group and then I shall remove myself. I joined this group to share the positivity and love from the British public.

'It seems through no fault of my own you have all decided to make up your own minds. It is really sad I have felt the need to do this. My beautiful son Jay is still missing and believe me this is no holiday.'

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'

Jay's father Warren and brother Zak today hiked through the mountain track where Jay's phone was last located

The 40-a-night Casa Abuela Tina holiday rental near the remote village of Masca where Jay spent his final hours before going missing

'He came on his first holiday to Tenerife to attend the NRG music event. What mystery surrounding his disappearance may never surface. We as a family are truly devastated,' she continued.

'I did not ask for publicity from the start and was not aware that the first missing poster had my telephone number on it. It should have had the SOS Guardia Civil but like I say this was out of my control.

'Whatever decision you have in your minds I cannot control this either. We are a normal working family from Lancashire going through hell. I would like to thank the genuine people for their love and support at this difficult time and to continue to pray for Jay to be found.

'For those of you who are more concerned around the Gofundme page I can assure you that up to now it has not been used and our stay up to now has been financed by ourselves.

'I do have proof of transactions and transfers to other persons but I should not have to justify this. So you can make up your own minds. If any of you in this group have donated I am thankful For the other mothers out there. Please continue to pray.'

As the family work with private investigators to track down the missing 19-year-old, Ms Duncan yesterday assured donors the 48,000 or so raised on GoFundMe would be put towards funding more volunteers continuing the search through the remote mountainous area in Tenerife.

This includes providing accommodation, funds and equipment to two TikTok sleuths, Paul Arnott and Callum Fahim, who flew out to help find clues into the teenagers disappearance.

In a statement shared yesterday afternoon she wrote: 'Your generosity has been vast, and we are so grateful for all of your support and kindness during this unimaginable time for our family.

'We will continue to use part of the funds to support the volunteers working hard in the mountains to find Jay.

'We are currently looking after Paul Arnett, putting together a package of any equipment and essentials he needs and going up to do a drop for him.

'We are also supporting Callum Fahim and his group with accommodation and other essentials.

'The remaining funds will continue to be used to support the rescue teams who are tirelessly searching for Jay as well as our own expenses as we remain in Tenerife looking for our boy.'

The official police-led search for Jay was called off on Sunday, with authorities failing to find clear leads to advance their investigation since the teenager went missing on June 17.

The family vowed to continue the search the same day, a representative for the family telling media: 'We're just carrying on searching ourselves.'

'We're looking for whoever we can find with mountain rescue experience and will carry on searching the area,' Ms Hargreaves said.

The family will be joined by TikTok mountaineer Paul Arnott in the search, it is understood.

Jay Slater went missing in Tenerife on June 17. Officials called off their search on Sunday

Jay's father Warren along with with Jay's mother Debbie and a number of his friends have flown to the Spanish island to help over the past two weeks

Jay was invited back to Ayub Qassim's AirBnb shortly before his disappearance

A day prior, Jay Slater's father shared his 'disappointment' after just six volunteers turned out to join the hunt for his missing son.

'It's a bit disappointing that there are no British apart from Paul but I suppose to them he's just a British lad who's come out here and got drunk,' Warren Slater said.

He added he was 'grateful' to those who gathered today to look for his son, an apprentice bricklayer last seen following an after party at the end of a three day festival on the Spanish party island on June 17.

'You can see just how dangerous it is and what gets me is the trollers who are having a go at us for not searching,' he said.

'All those trollers having a go at us, they don't know how we feel, why don't they come up here and have a look and see for themselves how dangerous it is,' he added.

I has since been revealed that Jay found himself at an Airbnb cottage at the centre of the mystery because as 'all his friends left him', one of the British men who the missing teenager spent his final hours with has claimed.

Ayub Qassim invited Jay, 19, back to his rented holiday cottage after a rave in Tenerife hours before he vanished on June 17.

Qassim, 31, was jailed nine years ago for being the mastermind behind a sophisticated operation to flood Wales with Class A drugs.

Spanish police hunting for Jay have already spoken to Qassim and the unnamed friend he was travelling with known only as 'Johnny Vegas'.

The men stayed on the island for an extra day after Jay went missing to speak to police  although both have been described as 'irrelevant' to their investigation.

Speaking exclusively to MailOnline on Wednesday Qassim said: 'The only comment I have to make is that Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive.

'I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go, his friends had all left him.

'I know Jay, through friends, I'm not going to bring someone back to mine if I don't know them.

'I'm doing the geezer a favour and now my face is all over the news. It's a bit mental. I haven't even done anything.'

Qassim insisted he had had no argument with Jay and he had even given him a blanket to sleep in.

Former detective turned TV sleuth Mark Williams-Thomas flew to Tenerife to help with the search - and said he wanted to speak to the two men who rented the apartment Jay last visited.

But Qassim said he had only spoken to authorities in Tenerife.

Jay went back to Qassim's remote cottage  called Casa Abuela Tina  at 5am on the day he vanished on June 17.

But he is known to have left the property at around 7.30am to catch a bus back towards his holiday apartment.

A witness said he asked her when the next bus was. When she told him the next one wasn't until 10am, he is believed to have attempted to walk the 11 hours it would have taken him to get back to his holiday let.

The man and another who was travelling with him stayed an extra day after he vanished and spoke to police.
Kemi Badenoch blasted her local council today for having 'potentially disenfranchised' thousands of postal voters who did not receive their ballot papers.

The Business Secretary hit out at Uttlesford District Council for 'forgetting' to send postal votes to 2,600 people in her North West Essex seat.

Mr Badenoch, who is facing a tight contest in her constituency, claimed the council's leadership were 'unable to carry out basic functions competently'.

Peter Holt, the council's chief executive, has admitted a close result on election night could be challenged if a large proportion of postal votes are not returned.

This has led to speculation it could thwart any bid by Ms Badenoch to replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader in the coming weeks.

Kemi Badenoch blasted her local council today for having 'potentially disenfranchised' thousands of postal voters who did not receive their ballot papers

In a series of social media posts, the Business Secretary hit out at Uttlesford District Council for 'forgetting' to send postal votes to 2,600 people in her North West Essex seat

Posting on X - formerly known as Twitter - this afternoon, Ms Badenoch said: 'Five years ago, all but four Conservatives on Uttlesford council were voted out.

'People wanted 'Change'. Instead, they got 'Change for the WORSE', electing an independent residents group who ran a blame-the-Tories campaign.

'The community is now saddled with a council leadership unable to carry out basic functions competently

'Now they've potentially disenfranchised up to 2,600 postal voters by FORGETTING to send them their ballot papers.'

A 'mortified' Mr Holt last week apologised for the error and said the council was delivering postal ballots by hand in a bid to resolve the matter.

If Ms Badenoch wins her seat by a narrow margin, Labour could challenge the result and demand a re-run.

This could result in a by-election, with Ms Badenoch not considered an MP until its conclusion and therefore prevented from running in a Tory leadership race.

Ms Badenoch is currently the bookies' favourite to replace Mr Sunak should - as widely expected - he lead the Conservatives to defeat.

Having won a 27,594 majority in Saffron Walden in 2019, she is fighting for re-election in the redrawn North West Essex seat.
In the pre-internet age, it might never have occurred to Gavin Plumb to try to recruit accomplices for his depraved kidnap and rape plot.

It is not the sort of job someone could have placed an advert in the local paper for.

But with a swipe of his smartphone, and without having to even verify a telephone number or email address, the security guard could access hundreds of like-minded individuals who shared his sick appetites.

Jurors yesterday agreed that thousands of vile messages exchanged with other men online about abducting and raping Holly Willoughby amounted to more than just fantasy.

And the 37-year-old was unanimously convicted of soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement to kidnap the former This Morning host.

Mark Mulligan, with whom Gavin Plumb shared details of the plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby, dressed as He-Man. He used this picture on a dating site

Plumb's hunting ground of choice when attempting to assemble a 'crew' to put his plan to snatch Ms Willoughby into motion was a messaging app named Kik.

Among the band of degenerates with whom he shared intimate details of the plot was a user named 'Marc'.

The Mail can reveal that 'Marc' is a 49-year-old stalker from Dublin named Mark Mulligan, who was jailed for three-and-a-half years in 2014 after spending four years harassing a mother and saying he would 'love to rape' her three-year-old son.

Mulligan was also convicted of possessing and producing child pornography at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Depraved messages he exchanged online about television presenters from Irish stations RTE and TV3 mirrored the conversations he would have with Plumb almost ten years later.

The pair exchanged thousands of messages, with Plumb telling his trial he felt they were forging a 'real friendship'.

The Irish court heard Mulligan replied to a man who suggested snatching a child: 'Mmmm, make him watch us kill his mum and dad and then kill him.'

Years later, when Plumb told him they would have to find somewhere remote to keep Ms Willoughby once they had abducted her, Mulligan responded: 'Definitely in the middle of nowhere, so no one can hear her scream.' He added: 'Celebrities, they think they're full of themselves, they need to be f***ing put into place.'

A police source confirmed the Irish Garda was investigating Mulligan, but he has not appeared before a court.

Despite his sinister exchanges on private forums and convictions for stalking and child pornography offences, Mulligan described himself on a dating website as a 'genuinely good person, [a] good listener'.

Above a gallery of images including one in which he is dressed as muscle-bound hero He-Man, Mulligan tells prospective lovers who visit his PlentyOfFish profile that he is a 5ft 5ins Catholic non-smoker 'with a few extra pounds'.

Mulligan's contrasting conduct on these platforms illustrates the vast cultural gulfs that exist between different sites  all of which offer varying levels of anonymity and encryption.

On the surface, Kik, which was founded by a group of Canadian students in 2009, appears to have been an odd choice for Plumb to have used for his obsessive kidnap-gang recruitment drive.

Holly Willoughby at the National Television Awards in 2023

Unlike platforms commonly used by criminals such as Telegram, Kik does not offer end-to-end encryption  a system which means no third parties or law enforcement can access messages.

But Kik does offer something else: a space for people with interests too shocking to discuss in the real world to meet and speak freely.

DCI Greg Wood, the senior investigating Essex Police officer in Plumb's case, said his violent language in the chatroom showed how comfortable he was in this environment.

'He was clearly not bothered about encryption or being punished for what he was saying; he was open and overt and explicit throughout in terms of the threats and the language he was using,' he said. 'I just don't think he cared.'

Plumb's remarkably calm demeanour during cross-examination tallies with this notion that, thanks to a mindset warped by years of inhabiting the darker corners of the web, he saw nothing wrong with the vile language he used to discuss women.

After dropping into a swivel chair, having told the court he would be unable to stand in the witness box, Plumb faced a forensic grilling from Alison Morgan KC, for the prosecution.

Plumb insisted again and again that his language was nothing more than harmless 'online chat', and though he did articulate sorrow about prior offending, his body language suggested no embarrassment or remorse.

Asking about the 2008 kidnapping at knifepoint of two teenage girls in Woolworths, Ms Morgan demanded: 'Do you disgust yourself when you think about this?'

Plumb responded that yes, he did  but the question failed to elicit so much as a shudder.

DCI Greg Wood from Essex Police reads a statement outside Chelmsford police station after Gavin Plumb was found guilty

This prompted a colleague in the press bench to note: 'He doesn't even realise this isn't normal. He doesn't know what normal is.'

For a short period after its 2010 launch, Kik looked to be winning the race to become the world's most-used messaging app.

But when WhatsApp pulled away from all other rivals, it began morphing into a more niche platform for younger people and users with less mainstream interests.

Just six years after it went live, US detectives who arrested an American sex offender called Thomas Paul Keeler II found he was a member of more than 200 Kik groups with names such as 'kidsnbabies', all dedicated to trading child-abuse material.

Following the revelations, Kik promised to tighten its safety measures.

But DCI Wood said the company and other social-media platforms were completely failing to monitor dangerous chatrooms.

Plumb's vile correspondence only came to light thanks to an undercover US police officer, known as David Nelson, who infiltrated a disturbing chatroom about kidnapping love interests named 'Abduct Lovers'.

Plumb's phone was seized upon his arrest and police retrieved thousands of sick messages with Mulligan and other users.

And the Mail can reveal that two of the three main groups in which Plumb operated are still live.

The Abduct Lovers group, where Plumb met Mulligan and discussed his Willoughby plot with other users, vanished from the platform only last weekend after it was named during the trial.

The group, which had a photo of a distressed blonde woman with a man's hand covering her mouth as its profile image, was at capacity with 100 members.

But two other chatrooms dedicated to obsessive fans of Holly Willoughby in which Plumb was a prolific poster remain active and open to new members.

Just minutes after a reporter joined the Holly Willoughby Fans group, a user named Dave Brownz posted a Photoshopped pornographic image of the former This Morning presenter next to Spice Girl Emma Bunton.

This photo was followed by an avalanche of posts about Ms Willoughby that are too repulsive to publish.

Our reporter was ejected from another group frequented by Plumb named 'Hollywilloughby1' for failing to post any content about the television star.

'This is a sneaky method that the admins of illicit groups use to keep undercover police and other unwanted members out of their chatrooms,' says Jake Moore, global adviser at cybersecurity firm ESET.

The Kik group Abduct Lovers had 100 members before it vanished from the platform

'Many forums only let people remain there if users continue to post the sort of material they are looking for. If members don't, then they are swiftly ejected.'

The combination of minimal verification checks, easy access to illicit chatrooms and this policy of removing unwanted members has created a culture that emboldens sexual predators.

In just the first half of this year, a string of British sex offenders have been convicted of using the app to lure vulnerable targets.

Alfred Dempster, 57, from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was jailed in February after begging a user who he thought was an 11-year-old girl for explicit photos and pestering another decoy posing as a 14-year-old for sex.

Serial paedophile Matthew Lockwood, 47, from Chatham, Kent, was jailed in January after using the app to entice young boys into his flat with promises of cash, only to sexually abuse them.

In April, 26-year-old Stuart Evans, from Wrexham, was given an 18-month jail term suspended for two years after demanding sex from an undercover police officer posing as a 13-year-old girl on Kik.

Paedophile Stephen Grant, 44, from Romsey, Hampshire, used the app to groom young girls around the world, including in Australia, and was jailed for five years and nine months in May after admitting a string of offences.

Stuart Witham, 31, from Harrogate, tried to sell indecent images of children for Bitcoin and Amazon vouchers on Kik chatrooms and was jailed for two years in February.

And Stuart Brown, 42, from Co Durham, will be sentenced on July 23 after admitting having sexual conversations on the app with a girl he believed to have been 13.

Mr Moore said companies such as Kik very rarely bother to devote time and resources to monitor the content of their chatrooms.

'Don't be fooled into thinking that Kik Messenger is controlled or run by a serious organisation like Meta; it could just be a small group of people who maintain it and have no idea of the sort of material on there,' he added.

And DCI Wood pointed at the ease with which the undercover US officer was able to find and enter a group dedicated to the abduction of female celebrities.

'If he could find it that easily then surely the social media companies hosting it can,' he said.

'And if they can, why aren't they shutting it down?

'What is going to be going on in a group called Abduct Lovers other than violent and misogynistic behaviour towards women and girls? Nothing. So why do we allow it?

'If you look at the language, the violence and misogyny Gavin Plumb used in his conversations with Mark [Mulligan] and David Nelson - if those conversations were happening in the street, it would be a matter of seconds before someone challenged him, stood up to him, reported it and called the police.

'That shouldn't be any different online.'

Plumb was able to lurk in the web's darkest corners and plot an attack that would take place in the real world.

'These spaces are vast and cover the entire globe,' DCI Wood said. 'It's impossible to know how many others there might be like him.

'Unfortunately there isn't an undercover officer in every sinister chatroom.'

Kik has been contacted for comment.
An American Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing after an unruly passenger allegedly exposed himself before urinating down the aisle of the plane.

The perpetrator, a 25-year-old Oregon man who has not been named, was arrested after the plane diverted course from New Hampshire and returned back to Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday.

He was charged with indecent exposure and was released after appearing in a Buffalo federal court, the US Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York said.

The passenger reportedly told police he had drank several whiskey and colas before boarding his initial flight from Oregon, and continued drinking heavily during a layover in Chicago.

An American Airlines jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Buffalo, New York after an unruly passenger allegedly exposed himself before urinating down the aisle of the plane

American Airlines said after the lewd incident that the plane was able to restart its journey from Buffalo after the passenger was removed.

'We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding,' the airline said in a statement.

According to the reported criminal complaint, the passenger said that he got up to use the jet's restroom when the issue occurred.

He said he was returning to his seat when he suffered a 'medical urination problem.'

The travel chaos came as millions of Americans prepared to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday, with up to 32 million jetting across the nation to be with family and loved ones throughout this week.

It came the same day a Delta Airlines plane was also forced to make an emergency landing after dozens of passengers were served spoiled food.

Delta flight 136 was traveling from Detroit, Michigan to The Netherlands when it was diverted to JFK Airport early Wednesday morning after it was discovered that a portion of the in-flight meal service had been spoiled, a Delta spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

On the same day as the American Airlines emergency landing, a Delta Airlines flight en route to Amsterdam diverted to New York City's JFK Airport after it was discovered that passengers were served 'contaminated food' during the in-flight meal service

One seemingly frustrated passenger from the flight took to social media, asking how the airline was 'going to get me to Amsterdam today' after it had to divert 'because you served passengers "contaminated" food' on the plane.

Delta apologized for the 'inconvenience and delay' the incident caused.

'Medical crews were on site to meet the aircraft and treat any affected passengers and crew members,' the airline said in a statement.

'Delta teams will immediately work to gather information into how this incident occurred. This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.'

The airliner reportedly halted some meal options from its flights after the incident.
A female prison officer has been jailed for more than four years for having an affair with a convicted murderer who she went on to marry.

Stephanie Heaps, 32, also worked as a police officer, but quit her job so she could continue dating Layten Ramsden.

The pair kissed in the dock as they were jailed at Bolton Crown Court today.

A judge was told their relationship in prison was an 'exceptional love story' and they planned on having a family together one day.

Ramsden, 35, was serving a life sentence for the brutal pub stabbing of a father-of-three when he 'pursued' Heaps after she started working at HMP Wymott, in Leyland, Lancs, in 2018.

Prison officer Stephanie Heaps, pictured with jailed murderer Layten Ramsden, who she met while working at HMP Wymott, in Leyland, Lancashire, on their wedding day

The pair have now been jailed, after Heaps helped Ramsden organise money laundering and the burglary of her ex's home from behind bars

Layten Ramsden, who also goes by the name Leon, was originally jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years for the 'unprovoked' murder of Paul Gilligan, 31, at a packed Bolton pub in July 2008

The court heard how the 'intelligent' prison officer, a former RAF cadet who has a degree in forensic psychology and criminal justice, helped Ramsden organise money laundering and the burglary of her ex's home from behind bars.

Lisa Hancox, prosecuting, said Heaps was 'proud of the perks' that came with their relationship and enjoyed cash, gifts and 'protection' from his criminal gang.

In return, she passed on sensitive police and prison intelligence to Ramsden, who ran a drug dealing operation from his cell.

Jailing Heaps for four years and three months, Judge Jon Close said psychological assessments showed Heaps had been 'fundamentally unsuited' to work for the prison service and police and had been guilty of a 'significant breach of trust.'

'Your receipt of money can best be described as enjoying the benefits of someone's criminality,' the judge said.

Although he insisted her motivation was 'not financial but emotional.'

Ramsden was jailed for five years and seven months and the pair kissed in the dock before they were sent down.

Ms Hancox said the couple first met at HMP Wymott, where Ramsden was a prisoner, six years ago.

He had access to a mobile phone and the pair would speak almost every day, regularly telling each other, 'I love you,' the barrister said.

During one phone call, Ramsden asked Heaps whether their relationship 'was all worth it' and she replied: 'A billion per cent.'

The pair had sex at least twice while she was a prison officer, the court heard, and were later spotted kissing and cuddling when she visited him at HMP Ranby, in Nottinghamshire, after he was transferred.

Heaps warned Ramsden to keep his mobile phone hidden and passed on information about prison searches, the court heard.

After leaving the prison service, she joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in July 2019 - failing to mention her relationship with Ramsden on the vetting form - but continued to pass on information to her lover.

This included details from police briefings, Ms Hancox said, and information about 'police intelligence, police tactics and advice on how to avoid police detection.'

She informed Ramsden that an associate had been mentioned in police intelligence and told him about 22 police officers allegedly involved in 'handling counterfeit.'

Heaps also met up with a man who had visited Ramsden in prison and was wanted over a 'high-risk' domestic violence incident, but failed to notify her superiors.

Ramsden, 35, was serving a life sentence for the brutal pub stabbing of a father-of-three when he 'pursued' Heaps after she started working at HMP Wymott, in Leyland, Lancs, in 2018

The pair had sex at least twice while she was a prison officer, the court heard, and were later spotted kissing and cuddling when she visited him at HMP Ranby, in Nottinghamshire, after he was transferred

The court heard how she discussed marrying Ramsden on his release with her mother, and talked about how the couple wanted the head of an organised criminal gang, who had committed a murder, as one of their groomsmen.

She also planned to 'disguise' a lump sum in cash given to her by the OCG boss as a 'gift' from her parents.

Heaps quit GMP in 2022 and married Ramsden early last year during a prison visit.

The court heard how Heaps conspired with Ramsden and two others, Phillip Markland, 40, described as Ramsden's 'deputy', and Thomas Barrass, 28, to burgle the home of her drug-dealer ex in St Helens, Merseyside.

She acted as her lover's 'account manager' and took part in 'layering' - a process of laundering cash through multiple bank accounts - for Ramsden along with others, including his father Lee Ramsden.

In return, Ramsden, who made his money by selling cannabis to fellow inmates, lavished her with gifts, including an Apple iWatch, a kitchen renovation and cash for a trip to Iceland.

In total, he made 12,700 from his prison drug-dealing, and passed 3,000 onto her.

Heaps, of Runcorn, pleaded guilty to two counts of misconduct in public office at an earlier hearing.

She also admitted speaking to Ramsden on an illegal mobile phone, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to launder money.

Laura Nash, defending Heaps, said she struggled with her mental health and claimed Ramsden had 'pursued' her.

Ms Nash described Heaps as 'vulnerable' with 'low self-esteem' and someone who sought a 'stable and loving relationship.'

Layten Ramsden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to launder money, three counts of possessing a mobile phone in prison, and supplying cannabis inside jail.

David Pojur, defending, said Ramsden had 'positively engaged' with the prison environment and undertaken education courses, including a degree in sport and fitness.

He described Ramden's relationship with Heaps as a 'love story' that was 'exceptional and unusual', saying the couple planned to have a family together one day.

The pair were seen kissing in the dock as they were jailed at Bolton Crown Court today

The court heard how Heaps quit Greater Manchester Police in 2022 and married Ramsden early last year during a prison visit

Markland and Barrass, both of Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary at an earlier hearing.

Lee Ramsden, 52, his partner Joanne Campbell, 48, and Clifford McCarthy, 35, all of Bolton, admitted a charge of conspiracy to launder money, with Campbell also pleading guilty to intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of an either way offence.

Markland was jailed for 22 months, while Lee Ramsden was handed a 15-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 25 rehabilitation days.

McCarthy was also handed a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, along with a community order for 22 hours of unpaid work, and Campbell was given a 30-month sentence, also suspended for two years.

Barrass will be sentenced on Friday.

Layten Ramsden, who also goes by the name Leon, was originally jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years for the 'unprovoked' murder of Paul Gilligan, 31, at a packed Bolton pub in July 2008.

The pair had been involved in a 'friendly tussle' before the fatal attack, but Ramsden, who had been on a three-day drink and drugs binge, had felt 'humiliated' and stabbed Mr Gilligan twice, with one wound piercing his heart.

Just hours earlier, he had written on his Facebook page: 'I'm twisted at home...feel like killin some1.'

Detective Chief Inspector Jennifer Adams, of GMP's Anti-Corruption Unit, said: 'During our investigation, we were shocked by the actions of Stephanie Heaps and her brazen disregard for the standards required for both her roles in the police and the prison service.

'It's clear Heaps should never be trusted to serve the public, and it is testament to the investigation team that she was only in uniform for a matter of months before she was taken away from frontline duties for good and now put rightly behind bars along with Ramsden and his associates.'

Alan Richardson, senior prosecutor, said: 'Stephanie Heaps was in a position of trust both as a prison officer and later a police officer.

'She knew that her actions created a serious conflict of interest and entirely compromised the trusted positions she held.

'Heaps will now face the consequences of her actions.'
In just a few hours we will start to see the results of the most seismic general election in a quarter of a century.

Brits will wake up fresh on Friday morning to a clear result, as 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 on hand to see you through the night - or just set an alarm for an early start as results flood in.

After polling stations close at 10pm tonight, the counting process begins in 650 constituencies across the UK. The first results will start to trickle in around midnight, and the last around 6am, if everything goes to plan.

A key period in proceedings 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 concedes the election to Labour and - in a worst-case scenario - even 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) both face threats in their seats, which are due to declare around 3.30am.

Elsewhere, Sir Keir should be confirmed back in his safe Labour seat of Holborn and St Pancras around 4.15am, which will come after his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn finds out whether he has defeated Labour as an independent in Islington North at 3am.

4am is also the expected declaration time for Clacton, where leader Nigel Farage is making his eighth attempt to become an MP.

Use our graphic below to find out what time your constituency is expected to declare.

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Rishi Sunak will discover whether he has hung on to his seat in Richmond and Northallerton at 4am

Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer arrives at his local polling station to vote with his wife Victoria. The Labour leader is expecting to be returned in Holborn and St Pancras at around 4.15am

Nigel Farage will find out whether his eighth attempt at becoming an MP has been successful when his constituency of Clacton declares at around 4am

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.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at an eve of poll event in East Kilbride, Scotland

Rishi Sunak knocking on doors during the last day of the campaign

Nigel Farage delivered his last campaign speech at Clacton pier, in the constituency where he is standing

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.

The result from Sir Keir Starmer's constituency of Holborn & St Pancras is due at around 4.15am. The Labour leader is defending a very safe majority of 22,766 and is one of 12 candidates standing in the seat.

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.


It is a 250million superyacht owned by Microsoft Word billionaire Charles Simonyi.

So it was some surprise to locals when the 295ft luxury vessel, Norn, cruised up to the town of Oban on Wednesday.

The boat had sailed into the west coast port after being seen in Dublin last week, where it was speculated Taylor Swift, who jetted in there for a concert, was on board at one stage.

The crew were yesterday (THURS) seen returning to the vessel loaded with supplies.

And from the Aldi shopping bags seen being carried aboard it seems like that even billionaires are savvy shoppers.

The 295ft luxury vessel, Norn, owned by Charles Simonyi, cruised up to the town of Oban on Wednesday

Crew members were seen returning to the vessel with supplies, including Aldi shopping bags

Oban harbour master Vicki McKenzie said it was unknown who was on the yacht, which did not have to sign in as it in open water.

Andy Spence, Chief Executive of business group BID4Oban. said: I am not surprised that this amazing superyacht has come to Oban as the towns reputation, among visitors on land and sea, is soaring.

Oban is now getting ready to welcome ocean racing yachts from the Round the World Clipper Race, for a stopover from July 12-21, which demonstrates its growing appeal. The gleaming superyacht has a white helicopter, open air cinema and a swimming pool which can be converted into a dance floor.

Hungarian Mr Simonyi, 74, is said to be worth 6.1 billion and made his money creating the MS Word and Excel computer programmes.

After working as a night watchman in a computer lab in the 1960s he co-founded and led a company called Intentional Software, which was bought by Microsoft in 2017.

One of Microsofts early employees, he went on to lead the companys journey into great success in the software world.

He bought the new boat, which was constructed in Germany by Lurssen superyacht builders, after owning another yacht for over 20 years.
Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a delegation to negotiate a hostage deal release with Hamas as pressure is piled on Israel from hostage advocates and critics of the campaign in Gaza to end the war, a government official said today.

Netanyahu will have consultations with his ceasefire negotiations team prior to cabinet meetings this evening, and will speak with US President Joe Biden, the source said.

'Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that the war will end only after all its objectives have been achieved and not a moment before,' said the official, who did not specify where the delegation had been sent.

Israel has vowed to fully vanquish Hamas for its role in the October 7 attacks, a joint offensive into southern Israel led by Gaza's de facto governing authority that saw 1,170 killed and some 240 people taken captive.

The government has also pledged to return all the hostages - but has had limited success since the negotiation of a temporary truce in November, in which 105 hostages were released in return for some 240 Palestinian protestors.

Renewed overtures to ceasefire talks came as tensions ratchet up over clashes to the north, with Hezbollah firing 200 rockets into Israel after one of its senior commanders was killed.

File photo. Netanyahu will send a delegation to negotiate the return of the remaining hostages

Thousands holding banners and gather in Tel Aviv during a demonstration to demand a hostage swap deal and the dismissal of the government led by Netanyahu on June 29

Israeli tanks manoeuvre near the border after entering Israel from Gaza on July 4

Smoke rises following the Israeli bombardment of Gaza City on July 4

Netanyahu's latest effort to bring about a ceasefire in the war in Gaza came as Israel yesterday received Hamas' response to a proposal made public at the end of May by US president Biden.

The American proposal included the release of about 120 hostages in Gaza in return for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

There are approximately 120 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas, though US officials estimate fewer than half may still be alive.

Israel reiterated last month it would not accept any ceasefire deal unless all the hostages are returned.

Israel also maintains it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.

Still, US officials said today the US saw a 'significant opening' in the proposed talks, claiming there had been a 'breakthrough' since Biden and Netanyahu went through the draft agreement.

A Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters that Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, has shown flexibility over some clauses, that would allow a framework agreement to be reached should Israel approve.

The US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hamas' latest response 'moves the process forward and may provide the basis for closing the deal,' while stressing it does not mean an agreement was likely in the coming days, and that 'significant work' remained on implementation steps.

Two Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hamas has said any deal must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

UN condemns 'largest seizure of West Bank land in decades' As Israel sent a delegation to review proposals for a possible ceasefire in Gaza, the UN criticised what an anti-settlement watchdog says is Israel's largest seizure of land in the occupied West Bank in decades. Nearly five square miles of land was declared 'state property' in June, meaning Palestinians living there will be denied private ownership and certain rights, according to Peace Now. The UN said the move was a 'step in the wrong direction' for a lasting two-state solution in the region as Israel approved plans to build 5,300 new homes across the territory. The new housing approvals could also rankle Israel's ally, the United States, which speaks out against settlements, though it has done little to pressure Israel on the issue. The question of Palestinian statehood has become enmeshed in efforts for a long-term resolution for Gaza. The U.S. has raised the idea of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority governing Gaza in any post-war scenario and has called for a revival of the peace process to lead to a Palestinian state. COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees the planning council, referred questions to Netanyahu's office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement

But while Israel has vowed, under considerable pressure from allies and advocates of hostages, to scale back the offensive in Gaza to a 'low intensity' war, its armed forces are faced with a new challenge to the north.

Clashes between Israel's Defense Forces and Iranian proxies Hezbollah - and the Houthis in Yemen - have been ongoing for months, with nearly 100,000 people displaced from their homes in south Lebanon alone.

But with clashes on the border ramping up in recent months, the Prime Minister has said some of the troops in Gaza may be used to strengthen the line on Israel's northern front.

Today, Hezbollah militants fired 200 rockets at several military bases in Israel in retaliation for a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.

The attack was one of the largest in the months-long conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, with tensions escalating in recent weeks.

The Israeli military said 'numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets' had entered its territory from Lebanon, many of which it said were intercepted. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

It said about 200 'projectiles' were launched toward the occupied Syrian Golan Heights and more than 20 drones into Israeli territory, but that it had intercepted some of them.

Following the attack, Israel struck various towns in southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said it hit Hezbollah's 'military structures' in the southern border towns of Ramyeh and Houla.

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported an Israeli drone strike of Houla killed at least one person. Israeli jets also broke the sound barrier over the Lebanese capital and other areas in the country.

Israel on Wednesday acknowledged that it had killed Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah's three regional divisions in southern Lebanon, a day earlier.

Hours after the killing, Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha rockets and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights.

It launched more rockets on Thursday and said it had also sent exploding drones into several bases.

Palestinians walk past debris from previous Israeli bombardments, in Khan Yunis on July 4

A fire truck arrives at the scene of a fire after rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit an area in the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel on July 4

Lebanon's Hezbollah said it launched more than 200 rockets and explosive drones at Israeli military positions on July 4 as tensions have soared

Fire and smoke billows in northern Israel after rockets fired from southern Lebanon

An Israeli firefighter airplane drops flame retardant on fires smoke after rockets hit Israel today

The relatively low-level conflict erupted shortly after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Hezbollah says it is striking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, another Iran-allied group that ignited the war in Gaza with its October 7 attack into southern Israel.

The group's leadership says it will stop its attacks once there is a ceasefire in Gaza, and that while it does not want war, it is ready for one.

Israeli officials, meanwhile, say they could decide to go to war in Lebanon if efforts for a diplomatic solution fail.

Israel sees Hezbollah as its most direct threat and estimates that it has an arsenal of 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles.

In 2006, Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war that ended in a draw.
A suspected gunman was killed in a horror shootout at Yellowstone National Park as families prepared to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday at the landmark.

A Yellowstone National Park ranger was also shot in the episode but is in stable condition, and officials said there is no further threat to the public.

The shooting took place in the park's Canyon Village, which remains locked down as the FBI leads an investigation into the incident.

It came as rangers responded to reports of a person making threats with a firearm, which began hours before on Wednesday night.

Yellowstone Park Rangers shot and killed a suspected gunman early on July 4th in the park's Canyon Village

Rangers reportedly responded to the suspect hours before after they were making threats with a firearm

Rangers began to contact the person, who has not been named, which quickly turned into an exchange of gunfire, reports Cowboy State Daily.

Officials confirmed that the gunman was killed in the shootout, but declined to release their identity 'at this time.'

The ranger who was shot in the episode was raced to a nearby hospital, where they are reported as being in stable condition.

Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a reported email to staff that 'numerous' other rangers were also involved in the shootout, but no others were harmed.

Sholly added in the email: 'This team did an amazing job today as you'll learn when more details come out.'

Witnesses took to social media as the chaos began, saying they were told to hide in their hotel rooms during the active shooter situation.

The central area of the park has been placed on lockdown as the FBI carries out an investigation

Although the motivations behind the incident remain unclear, it comes as the FBI issued a chilling warning over possible 'attacks' on the July Fourth holiday.

Security agencies said solo attackers and small extremist groups pose the biggest threat, cautioning that large crowds such as at fireworks shows and parades are often seen as 'attractive targets.'

The federal warning, which was also issued by the National Counterterrorism Center, urged police departments across the nation to be vigilant amid the celebrations, particularly as they are stretched thin for the holiday celebrations.
The crazy plane lady has celebrated the one year anniversary of her meltdown onboard an American Airlines flight by getting on another plane.

Tiffany Gomas went viral for screaming that motherf***er back there is not real' before being escorted off the flight from Fort Worth to Orlando, Florida, in July 2023.

The Dallas marketing executive previously explained the background to the incident and said she became embroiled in a 'little bit of an altercation' with another passenger and it spiraled out of control.'

She commemorated the anniversary by boarding another flight exactly one year on and sharing a photo of herself on X.

Thought it would be fun to catch a flight today, considering, she joked in a post which has been viewed more than a million times.

'Crazy plane lady Tiffany Gomas has celebrated the one year anniversary of her meltdown onboard an American Airlines flight by getting on another plane

Gomas celebrated the anniversary of her meltdown on social media and said: One year anni of the most embarrassing day of my life. Cheers to many more.

She was flying to join her family on a vacation in July when she lost it on the flight due to an 'altercation,' which she described as 'the worst moment' of her entire life.

Gomas was filmed pointing to the back of the cabin and shouting: Im getting the f*** off and theres a reason why Im getting the f*** off and everyone can either believe it or they can not believe it.

I dont give two f***s, but I am telling you right now  that motherf***er back there is not real.

You can sit on this plane and you can die with them or not. I'm not going to.

But in a later interview with Inside Edition, she revealed that when she said the other passenger was 'not real' - she meant it as a figure of speech, meaning 'he's not being real'.

'It was not my best moment  it was actually a horrible moment. Absolutely mortifying. How horribly mortifying,' she told the 'Pardon My Take' podcast.

Explaining her unwillingness to talk about the issue previously she said: 'The reason I probably haven't come out yet is that it's so cringe.'

When asked why she uttered the now-infamous words, which viewers took to suggest she had seen a ghost or an alien, she said, simply: 'I literally did not see anything  It was an expression of speech.'

Instead the comment was aimed at the man with whom she was arguing with.

'They're making me look bat st  and given, I did, I did look absolutely crazy but, no  I was in my feels, needed to get off, I was highly distressed. Not a good look,' she told the podcast.

Gomas revealed that she stayed at home for over four weeks after her crazed meltdown.

'There's no playbook to going viral, I'm just a normal person contrary to what people think and after this all went viral my life did change' she explained.

Tiffany Gomas' meltdown was caught on video as she frantically demanded to get off a plane and claimed someone in the back of the aircraft was not real

Passengers turned their head as she seemed to point to the back of the plane while speaking about a guy who 'was not real'

The July 2 viral incident happened on Flight 1009 from Fort Worth to Orlando, Florida.

Official documents say she was not willing to leave the plane and had to be removed by American Airlines staff following the outburst, as broken by a journalist on Substack and first reported by the New York Post.

The police document states: 'The female then started claiming the aircraft was not safe and did not want the aircraft to leave due to her believing it would not make it to its destination.

'Due to the statements the flight attendants felt the aircraft needed to be rescreened. [The airline manager] explained that the passenger was denied boarding and they wanted her escorted to the public side.'

Passengers on the plane were forced to deplane and be screened through security again as a precaution.
A Louisiana father and son duo decked their house with a massive American flag to celebrate the Fourth of July.

John Beard and his son Jayden draped the colossal Old Glory over their home to show their patriotism.

The 50-foot, 60-pound flag was a gift from a Marine veteran who served four tours in Iraq.

The Beards did not have a flag pole big enough to display the giant Old Glory so they meticulously laid it across their house.

'It's very emotional for me. We just love our country that's all. I just hope that for one day, the Fourth of July, that everybody can just come together and remember America,' John told WBRZ.

A Louisiana father and son duo decked their house with a 50-foot, 60-pound American flag

John Beard and his son Jayden did not have a flag pole big enough to display the giant Old Glory so they meticulously laid it across their house

'Ladder, rope and tackle and getting it up there and laying it across and then unfolding it and putting it up there and tacking it down, trying to be as respectful as possible to the flag.'

The Marine vet who gift them the flag gave it to them as a parting gift when the family moved from Tennessee to Louisiana.

'We're really good friends, he had the flag and he wanted to do something with it but didn't know what to do with it. So actually my son here said let's put it on the house, so we did,' John said.

Jayden told Fox & Friends his pitched in to help him and his dad with the project.

John said the community response has been mostly positive but some people have complained online about their display

The flag was a gift from a Marine vet who served four tours in Iraq and it was very emotional for the father and son to put on the display

'They were all for it,' Jayden said. 'I very much [love my country], and I agree with my father's choice, what he's doing of covering the house.'

'The flag really represents my freedom, everyone's freedom of speech of being able to hang this flag without any repercussions.'

John said the community response has been mostly positive but some people have complained online about their display.

'In our neighborhood everybody loves it, absolutely phenomenal. There's been a little bit of push back online,' John said.
Rishi Sunak has handed a peerage to his right-hand man in dissolution honours announced just hours before he is expected to be ousted from power.

No10 chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith, 37, who is known as 'the Treasury Travolta' due to his love of a leather jacket, will enter the upper house among a slew of Tory big-hitters quitting the Commons.

The Dissolution Honours list, announced less than an hour before polls closed in the General Election, also includes former PM Theresa May and Tory backbench leader Sir Graham Brady.

More controversially there is also a peerage for Chris Grayling, a former minister nicknamed 'failing Grayling' by his critics after holding several senior roles.

For Labour, there is also a peerage for Harriet Harman, the long-serving former party deputy leader, who led Parliamentary efforts to censure Boris Johnson over Partygate.

No10 chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith (left), will enter the upper house among a slew of Tory big-hitters quitting the Commons.

Mr Booth-Smith is known as 'the Treasury Travolta' due to his love of a leather jacket

The Dissolution Honours list, announced less than an hour before polls closed in the General Election, also includes former PM Theresa May and Tory backbench leader Sir Graham Brady.

For Labour, there is also a peerage for Harriet Harman, the long-serving former party deputy leader, who led Parliamentary efforts to censure Boris Johnson over Partygate.

Former deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing and ex-MP Craig Mackinlay, who has battled sepsis which cost him his hands and feet, have also been given peerages.

Former Cop26 president and Cabinet minister Sir Alok Sharma has also been made a peer.

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden, former chief whip Julian Smith, former defence secretary Ben Wallace and Scotland secretary Alister Jack have been nominated for knighthoods.

Among Sir Keir Starmer's other nominations for peerages are Dame Margaret Beckett, Margaret Hodge and Kevan Jones, the former defence minister.

Earlier this week it was reported that Labour is considering putting trans ally Ms Harman in charge of the equalities watchdog if it takes power.

The former deputy Labour leader, who is standing down as an MP after more than 40 years, is said to be a candidate to lead the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Its current leader, Baroness Falkner, has taken a tough stance on gender ideology and defended women's rights.

But a plan for the Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch to extend a five-year term due to end in November was scuppered by Rishi Sunak calling a surprise early election.

If appointed Ms Harman will be a highly controversial choice as she is an outspoken supporter of trans rights and has said trans men cannot be fully excluded from women's services.

In a 2022 interview with Sky the 73-year-old said: 'I stand behind the Gender Recognition Act, so as far as I'm concerned, women are women who are born women, but women are also women who are trans women.

'I think that we also need to recognise that in some respects there need to be same-sex services, which can be delivered and you can't have a blanket exclusion of trans women, but in certain circumstances, in narrow circumstances, you can restrict those services.'

Mr Grayling announced he was stepping down in October, He said he had been successfully treated for prostate cancer earlier in the year and the diagnosis had led him to decide it was 'time for a change'.

Mr Grayling has been MP for Epsom and Ewell since 2001 and served in both the Cameron and May administrations, most recently as transport secretary from 2016 to 2019.
Christians in Idaho who had been banned from carrying religious symbols during their 4th of July parade came out in force on Thursday proudly toting crosses.

Those who attended the Independence Day parade in Coeur dAlene in the deep red state could be seen proudly waving crosses alongside the star spangled banner.

As some carried crosses alongside Old Glory, others wore t-shirts with the symbol of the cross emblazoned across it.

The move by locals came after the Coeur dAlene Regional Chamber reversed a policy which had banned the use of religious symbols in the July 4 parade.

New regulations that had been implemented had banned 'symbols associated with specific political movements, religions or ideologies', branding them unacceptable.

Those who attended the Independence Day parade in Coeur dAlene in the deep red state could be seen proudly waving crosses alongside the star spangled banner

INCREDIBLE: Coeur d'Alene Idaho banned crosses for the 4th of July parade and look what happened  pic.twitter.com/1nsgrYN4JZ  Katie Daviscourt  (@KatieDaviscourt) July 4, 2024

Linda Coppess, chamber president and CEO, told the Coeur dAlene Press that the change in policy had been brought in after they received complaints last year.

According to Coppess, the chamber had received over 50 complaints about signs and symbols that were deemed offensive last year.

These had included Confederate flags, derogatory illustrations, harsh political based language and graphic images.

To address that, the chamber consulted national organizations to bring about a change in policy, according to Coppess.

She said: 'The original policy was not meant to isolate individuals or be considered an anti-religious policy

'Our intention with this policy was simple: to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and respected.'

An outcry had gained momentum over the weekend in the city about the policy before it quickly changed last week.

In u-turning on the policy, Coppess said: 'As a person of deep faith, the recent events and accusations have been especially heartbreaking.

As some carried crosses alongside Old Glory, others wore t-shirts with the symbol of the cross emblazoned across it

New regulations that had been implemented had banned 'symbols associated with specific political movements, religions or ideologies', branding them unacceptable

'Our goal for the Fourth of July Parade is to create a celebration that honors our military, fosters family-friendly fun, and respects all attendees.

'This year, we introduced guidelines to ensure we honor Americas military and not open the door to offensive displays.

'While we understand the significance of various symbols, we intend to keep the parade welcoming for everyone.'

Paul Van Noy, president of the Kootenai County Ministerial Association and pastor of the Candlelight Christian Fellowship church said he was glad of the reversal.

He told the outlet: 'Any and all religious symbols should be allowed.Everybody should have their right to be represented faithfully and properly.'

Prior to the change, acceptable signage had only included slogans like 'Happy Independence Day', messages honoring unity and others honoring veterans, active-military personnel and first responders.

According to the chamber, failure to comply with its rules would have resulted 'in immediate removal from the parade'.
Church of England leaders were forced to act over fears that anger at their 100million slavery reparations fund would hit income from the collection plate.

They admitted working with the Church's 'giving advisers'  responsible for encouraging congregations to donate  to produce 'myth-buster' guidance amid the controversy.

The C of E announced last year it was establishing a 100million fund for reparations to recognise that it once profited from the slave trade.

It later revealed that there were plans to aim for a far larger target of 1billion by seeking funds from other parties.

The latest twist emerged in a written statement, published ahead of the General Synod this weekend, in response to a question submitted by House of Laity member Luke Appleton.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, who sits as deputy chairman of the commissioners, insisted no parish money was earmarked for reparations

The General Synod at The Church House which previously decided ask wealthy families and investors to help it build an enormous pot of cash to address 'enduring harms from enslavement'

The C of E announced last year there were plans to aim for a far larger target of 1billion by seeking funds from other parties but not local parishes it emphasised

He had asked whether the Church Commissioners  who control the C of E's purse strings  would compensate dioceses and parishes that suffered a loss of donations in response to the reparations fund.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, who sits as deputy chairman of the commissioners, insisted no parish money was earmarked for reparations.

But he admitted the Church had worked with giving advisers in the hope that the policy would not hit the collection plate.

The Rt Rev Lake said: 'Our funding commitment will be sourced in its entirety from the Endowment Fund managed by the Church Commissioners.

'None of the money given to a parish church will be used for this fund. None of the money will come from parish income.'

He added: 'We do not have any data about a material loss in giving due to the Church Commissioners' work to address links to African chattel enslavement, although we have heard anecdotally that some givers may have chosen to withdraw support.

'We have, however, worked closely with giving advisers to produce a myth-buster resource which outlines key facts about our response, and counters some of the misleading impressions given by some media coverage and others online.' The Church has faced a significant backlash over the proposals.

David Olusoga (pictured), a professor of public history at the University of Manchester, previously welcomed the fund and described it as an opportunity to 'fully engage in restorative justice'

In March, a report called for the Church's 100million reparations fund to be increased to 1billion through contributions from wealthy families and companies ashamed of their links to slavery.

The report was branded 'anti-Christian', with critics warning the move risked putting off parishioners from donating.

The document sought to clarify 'myths' around the announcement, amid claims of misrepresentation.

It is understood that concerns that donations would dry up have since proved premature.

The money is due to be invested in black-led businesses focusing on education, economic empowerment and health. It will also provide grants to address these issues in communities affected by the legacies of slavery.

The Church of England's 10.3billion endowment can be traced in part back to a fund given by Queen Anne in 1704, referred to as Queen Anne's Bounty.

At the time it heavily invested in the South Sea Company, which shipped enslaved people from Africa across the Atlantic. The Church estimates 34,000 slaves were affected over 30 years.
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This video is no longer available

The exit poll is predicting a massive Labour landslide, but voters online have given a mixed reaction to the forecast.

In a shocking projection the Tories are expected to see their seats slashed from 365 to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.

Whereas Labour is on course for a major boost of 170 new seats, falling just short of the 179-seat majority Tony Blair won in 1997.

Yet the social media response remains divided as one describes 'cheers from the flats around me' over the prospect of a Labour government while another says 'It could have been far, far worse for the Tories'.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

Social media users express their skepticism about the exit poll

One social media user thought the reaction to the exit poll was over hyped and remained unconvinced that anything would change.

'The hyperbole around the exit poll is actually annoying me. This is not a 1997 moment. There is no money. The country is absolutely in the doldrums. Even if it is the landslide predicted, will there be that much change? I hope I'm wrong.'

Another wrote: 'Well, if that's how it all pans out (i.e. like the exit poll), then it could have been far, far worse for the tories.'

A third added: 'Massive cheers from the flats around me and down the street as the exit poll was announced #C4britainDecides.'

A fourth said: 'Given the volatility and the narrow margins in many seats..I don't trust that exit poll.'

Social media user claims he does not trust the exit poll results

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrived to cast their vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, this morning

Moments after ballot stations closed at 10pm, the dramatic exit poll was released - showing Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats

Although the exit survey, run for broadcasters by polling guru Sir John Curtice, is not guaranteed to be exact, it has accurately reflected the outcome in the past few elections.

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell, posting on social media: 'To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party - thank you.'

But his allies were far less restrained, with Lord Mandelson gloating that he was 'gobsmacked' and an 'electoral meteor' had 'struck planet Earth'. He said it would have required a 'superman' to save the Tories and Rishi Sunak 'is not superman'.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner - who could be set to become deputy PM within hours - said the numbers were 'encouraging' and praised Sir Keir's leadership.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was in tears as he was told the figures on live TV.

Nigel Farage was seen driving through Clacton, the Essex seaside constituency where he is hoping to be elected the local MP, in an old military vehicle as he rallied the final support for his campaign

Nigel Farage will find out whether his eighth attempt at becoming an MP has been successful when his constituency of Clacton declares at around 4am

Reform are expected to return more than a dozen MPs based on the exit poll, making it the most significant new political party in recent times.

Sir John Curtice told the BBC: 'It looks as though Reform may win more seats than many polls suggested.

'This is largely because, not only has the Conservative vote fallen far in seats they previously held, but also because Reform has advanced most in areas people voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

However, how many seats Reform will win is highly uncertain  our model suggests there are many places where they have some - but a relatively low - chance of winning.
Sir Keir Starmer will have a bulging in-tray of issues to swiftly deal with if  as is expected  he today wins the keys to No 10.

Several of them threaten to take the shine off any 'honeymoon' period enjoyed by the Labour leader and have appeared on a potential 'disaster list' drawn up by Sue Gray, his chief of staff.

Here, the Mail takes a look at some of the most pressing issues:

Immigration

Before Sir Keir's even had the chance to hang new curtains in No 10, the first small-boat of migrants of his premiership will have landed on British shores.

It means tackling Channel crossings will be top of his priority list, with arrivals already up by 25 per cent between January and April this year compared with 2023.

His first act will be to officially scrap Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda deportation policy, which he's branded an 'expensive gimmick'.

Sir Keir Starmer will have a bulging in-tray of issues to swiftly deal with if he wins the keys to No 10 and one of his first jobs will be tackling Channel crossings

Starmer has promised to officially scrap Rishi Sunak 's flagship Rwanda deportation policy, which he's branded an 'expensive gimmick'. Pictured: Migrants on an inflatable dinghy (File image)

He will start work on creating a new Border Security Command containing hundreds of new investigators, intelligence officers and cross-border police officers.

The hope is they will tackle people smuggling networks upstream more effectively and stem crossings.

But he will also have to decide what to do with the 90,000 migrants currently earmarked for removal to Rwanda. They are likely to be introduced to the asylum system. The Refugee Council charity estimates that around 70 per cent  about 60,000  will be granted asylum given the profile of the countries they've come from.

This could be hugely controversial. Meanwhile, boats will continue to arrive for as long as it takes to train new staff for the new Border Security Command.

Defence and NATO summit

Sir Keir will travel to Washington for the first international summit of his premiership on Tuesday.

The Nato gathering will be his first chance to press the flesh of global leaders and key allies such as US President Joe Biden on the world stage.

But the gathering could prove tricky diplomatically, with some members of the military alliance expected to push for a new agreement for countries to raise GDP defence spending from 2 per cent to 2.5 per cent amid the war in Ukraine.

Although Sir Keir has said a Labour government wants to do this, he has not set a date, meaning he could come under pressure to spell out when he plans to achieve it and to find new money.

NHS waiting lists

During the election campaign, Labour pledged to eliminate the 7.5million waiting list backlog within its first term.

Sir Keir's first act will be to order his health spokesman, expected to be Wes Streeting, to get around the negotiating table with the BMA union, whose junior doctors' strikes have been compounding the crisis.

Wes Streeting (pictured) has described junior doctors' demands for a 35 per cent pay hike as 'unaffordable' but said he will get back around the table with the BMA union

Labour have promised to deliver an extra two million NHS operations, scans and appointments a year  or 40,000 every week (File image)

Mr Streeting has admitted there will have to be 'movement on pay' to get the medics back on to hospital wards.

But he has also described junior doctors' demands for a 35 per cent pay hike as 'unaffordable'.

Work will also need to begin on delivering an extra two million NHS operations, scans and appointments a year  or 40,000 every week  as promised in Labour's manifesto.

It has said it will do this by 'incentivising staff' to work longer hours, but is yet to draw up a detailed plan.

Pay and strikes

Sir Keir faces a post-election clash with the party's union backers over public sector pay as it will have to decide the salaries of at least 2.5million workers.

This includes nurses, teachers and civil servants. The Treasury has been sitting on recommendations made by pay review bodies.

A Labour government will have to soon decide whether to follow these so that definitive costs can be drawn up ahead of an Autumn Budget and so councils can plan.

The Tory Government was poised to offer a 4 per cent increase for most workers. But this could be rejected if junior doctors are offered a double-digit hike by Sir Keir's administration, potentially sparking widespread strikes unless more is offered.

Autumn Budget

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will be ordered to draw up a forecast of public finances.

This is so Rachel Reeves, who will almost certainly be appointed Chancellor, can hold an Autumn Budget.

A Bill giving greater powers to the OBR is expected to be included in Labour's first King's speech.

Rachel Reeves, who will almost certainly be appointed Chancellor, will be holding an Autumn Budget

The current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt with the dispatch box for his Spring budget last year

The planned law would empower the OBR to independently publish a forecast of any major fiscal event to prevent a repeat of former PM Liz Truss's catastrophic 2022 mini-Budget.

The OBR requires around ten weeks' notice to provide an independent forecast, meaning one will need to be requested shortly after Labour comes to power.

Prisons

Sir Keir's first act on justice is likely to be to let out hundreds of prisoners early because of chronic overcrowding in jails.

Labour has pledged to deliver 14,000 extra prison places to tackle the crisis. The party's justice spokesman, expected to be Shabana Mahmood, will be ordered to find locations for these to be built and make arrangements for new staff to be recruited and trained.

Labour has pledged to deliver 14,000 extra prison places to tackle the crisis of overcrowding which is forcing hundreds of prisoners to be released early (File image)

But in the meantime, Sir Keir has said that 'in all likelihood' his government will need to continue the early release of prisoners.

Under a policy introduced last October, some less serious offenders are being released up to 18 days early. This was extended to 70 days in May.

But Sir Keir may need to go even further by releasing more serious offenders early amid a prison population explosion caused by tougher sentences and court backlogs following the pandemic.
This is the shocking moment a Ukrainian drone tore through a gunpowder factory in western Russia in the latest strike aiming to dent Russia's military logistics, a Kyiv security source claimed.

Video showed what appeared to be a missile travelling through the air before disappearing behind a hill and erupting in a huge mushroom cloud.

Smoke billowed high above the city of Kotovsk, in Russia's Tambov region, after 'explosive drones' allegedly hit the factory, a source from Ukraine's defence sector told news agency AFP today.

The extent of damage and information about enemy losses were still being assessed, according to the source.

Earlier, the local governor Maxim Egorov from Tambov said on Telegram that two drones had been reported in the region and both had been 'destroyed', without causing damage or casualties.

A video of the moment when a Ukrainian attack drone struck the Tambov Gunpowder Plant in the Russian city of Kotovsk on the morning of July 4.



The plant, located over 350km from the border with Ukraine, was already attacked by drones in 2023 and early in 2024. pic.twitter.com/42aR2TMDyx  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) July 4, 2024

The drone appeared to disappear behind a hill before a huge cloud of smoke erupted

A Ukrainian defence source said explosive drones were used to target the factory in Russia

A Ukrainian serviceman launches a drone to fly over Russian positions on June 30, 2024

The Ukrainian defence source said the site produced ammunition and gunpowder for small arms and had been targeted by drones in January and November.

Ukraine over recent months has also claimed a series of strikes on Russian refineries and oil storage facilities not only in border regions but also in territories hundreds of kilometres from the border.

Tensions have ratcheted up in recent weeks, since the United States gave its blessing for Ukraine to use donated weapons on targets within Russia.

The US stopped short of greenlighting the use of ground-launched ATACMS missiles, delivering devastating long-range blows.

Officials defended the decision to allow Ukraine to strike into Russian territory with its weapons as a 'necessary' adjustment following Russia's reopened offensive around the northern city of Kharkiv in May.

'The hallmark of our engagement has been to adapt and adjust as necessary, to meet what's actually going on on the battlefield, to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs, when it needs it,' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last month.

Russia responded with threats against Ukraine's foreign backers, Russian President Vladimir Putin warning in late May there would be 'grave consequences' if western countries gave approval to Ukraine to use their weapons in strikes on Russia.

British Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also faced backlash from the Kremlin over lifting restrictions on Ukraine using British-supplied weapons to fire into Russia.

'In terms of what the Ukrainians do, in our view, it is their decision about how to use these weapons, they're defending their country, they were illegally invaded by Putin and they must take those steps,' he said on May 2, appearing to back away from previous restrictions on only striking targets within Ukraine.

Today's attack comes as Russia has been launching a systematic strike campaign targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, causing lasting damage to critical facilities and spurring the introduction of scheduled outages.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to Kyiv's allies to supply more air defence systems to thwart Russian missile and drone barrages.

Zelensky has said systematic Russian attacks on energy facilities have halved Ukrainian electricity production compared to one year ago.

Russian strikes killed two people and wounded 26 today in Ukrainian regions stretching from the south to the east and northeast, local authorities said.

A missile strike in southern Odesa region killed a woman, injured seven people and damaged port infrastructure, regional governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram.

In northeastern Kharkiv region, a second woman was killed and a man wounded in a strike by a Russian guided bomb on the village of Ruska Lozova, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Nine others, including four children, were wounded in a drone attack and shelling in the town of Novohrodivka, in the frontline Donetsk region, governor Vadym Filashkin said.

An aerial view of the destroyed Novyy district in the town of Chasiv Yar, Ukraine on July 4

Law enforcers examine the crater from an impact in a residential area after the Russian glide bomb attack in Kharkiv on July 3

Russian soldiers fire from a 152-mm Howitzer at Ukrainian troops in Ukraine, provided July 3

Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak reported seven wounded in the southern town of Nikopol. He had said earlier that Russian forces had attacked areas near Nikopol with drones and artillery on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Lysak later reported that a woman died of injuries sustained on Wednesday in the region's main city, Dnipro. Seven people died in that attack.

Two civilians in the southern city of Kherson were wounded in a drone strike, the local administration said.

All the affected regions have been subjected to repeated attacks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia denies targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure, but thousands of people have been killed and wounded.
Joe Biden described himself as a black woman during a radio interview flub, as calls mount for the 81 year-old president to drop his re-election bid.

The gaffe-prone president, 81, stumbled over his words during Thursday's interview with Philadelphia's WURD, seemingly mixing himself up with his Vice President Kamala Harris.

'By the way, I'm proud to be, as I said, the first vice president, first black woman... to serve with a black president. Proud to be involved of the first black woman on the Supreme Court. There's so much that we can do because, look... we're the United States of America.'

Biden appeared to be highlighting his appointment of Kamala Harris as the United States first black female vice president.

Confusingly, he himself was previously vice president, which is likely what he was referring to in 'to serve with a black president.'

The reference to the Supreme Court concerns Ketanji Brown-Jackson, the first black female justice, who was appointed by Biden in 2022.

Joe Biden appeared to suggest he was 'proud' to be 'the first black woman to serve with a black president' in a new interview with a black radio station

The gaffe-prone president, 81, stumbled over his words during Thursday's interview with WURD's Andrea Lawful Sanders

The president sat down with black radio hosts in Milwaukee and Philadelphia for his first post-debate interviews following a disastrous fallout in the week since.

His gaffe has since set the worlds of media and politics alight - with the New York Times among the prestigious liberal publications highlighting it.

Biden admitted that he had a 'bad debate' last week but argued it didn't outweigh what he's done in office.

'I had a bad debate. But 90 minutes on stage doesn't erase what I've done for three and a half years,' he told WURD's Andrea Lawful-Sanders.

Biden repeated the argument he's made since his terrible debate performance - that one bad night doesn't erase his record as president.

His interview with WURD lasted slightly less than 15 minutes. After the one question on the debate, Lawful-Sanders asked questions on Biden's record with black Americans.

The president's camp was heavily critical of the media in a response to the controversy.

'It was clear what President Biden meant when he was talking about his historic record, including a record number of appointments to the federal bench,' spokesman Anmar Moussa said.

'This is not news and the media has passed the point of absurdity here.'

Biden is scheduled to sit down with ABC News on Friday in Wisconsin.

The president is set to hold Fourth of July festivities at the White House Thursday evening with his and his party's future on the line amid growing pressure to step down after last week's debate performance.

The gaffe-prone president, 81, stumbled over his words during Thursday's interview with Philadelphia's WURD, seemingly mixing himself up with his Vice President Kamala Harris

Biden appeared to be highlighting his appointment of Kamala Harris as the United States first black female vice president

It comes after the first elected Democrats came forward to urge Biden to step back, with just weeks to go before his party's convention in Chicago.

With fury over White House messaging since Biden stumbled his way through his debate with Donald Trump in Atlanta, the president reassured governors in a private meeting about his health and political viability  even telling them about a recent check up that had him in good health.

That came shortly after White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre dodged direct questions during a contentious press briefing about whether Biden had been evaluated since Thursday's debate.

Biden is set to set to host veteran families, caregivers, and survivors, at an event that will put him back on the public stage, before the crucial interview with ABC interview is set to start airing Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris will be there.
The SNP is set for a major election humiliation in Scotland that could leave it with fewer seats than Nigel Farage's Reform UK, polls suggest.

John Swinney's scandal-ravaged nationalists are expected to be left with just 10 seats, a fall of 80 per cent from the high of 48 the party achieved in 2019.

They would be left with fewer seats north of the border even than the Tories, who are facing a pummelling at the hands of Labour UK-wide. The Conservatives are projected to take 12 seats.

It comes after a dismal year for the SNP, which is at the centre of a financial scandal and rows over trans rights and its independence strategy.

Sir Keir Starmer's party's success appears to have extended north of the border, with the SNP losing 38 seats compared with the 2019 election, many at the hands of Labour.

The first result in Scotland is expected to be Rutherglen, which could declare at 1am.

Speaking on ITV, former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she believed the results of the exit poll would turn out to be 'broadly right'.

'This is not a good night for the SNP on these numbers,' she said.

John Swinney's scandal-ravaged nationalists are expected to be left with just 10 seats, a fall of 80 per cent from the high of 48 the party achieved in 2019.

Speaking on ITV, former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said she believed the results of the exit poll would turn out to be 'broadly right'.

'I think there will be a question about whether there was enough in the campaign to give out, effectively, a USP to the SNP in an election that was about getting the Tories out and replacing them with Labour.'

The first result in Scotland is expected to be Rutherglen, which could declare at 1am.

Thursday will be a 'very difficult night for the SNP' if the exit poll is correct, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Forbes said: 'We know that in this election, people were very much voting for change from this disastrous Conservative Government and if the exit poll is right and counting is just about to get under way, then I think we will see an end to the Conservative Government and people have voted in order to do that.'

The exit poll predictions signal voters had a 'desperate need for change', a Scottish Labour MSP has said.

Glasgow MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy said the exit poll was predicted a 'strong' result for Labour.

She said: 'It was a strong exit poll. I think that the country has been saying for some time now that they're fed up of the 14 years of Tory chaos.'

She added: 'There's really been a desperate need for change and we've ran a really strong, positive campaign and I'm so proud of it.'

Asked whether it signalled a poor night for the SNP, she said: 'People in Scotland, like across the rest of the UK, absolutely want change.

'Everybody I've spoken to on the door is fed up and they all want change. I think, and I hope, that our campaign has been strong enough and has given them that vision for the future that means they can put their trust in us again.'
A Houston man is facing charges of bigamy after his wife was scrolling through Facebook and made the shocking discovery that he was married to another woman.

Marcus Andra Shorten, 53, is currently married to two or more women, cops said - after third wife Tammie uncovered her spouse's alleged crimes on social media.

Tammie married Shorten in 2012, but separated in 2019. In an interview, she claimed the pair never formally divorced because Shorten feared being viewed as a 'failure.'

Shorten's latest wife came into the picture in December, when Tammie found a wedding registry for her and her husband online. A wedding photo obtained by DailyMail.com appears to show the ceremony that took place earlier this year.

That woman's name remains unknown, and there is no indication she was aware of Shorten's illicit activities. Cops are now searching for him, after finding two marriage licenses but no divorce decrees. He is currently charged with bigamy.

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Marcus Andra Shorten, 53, is currently married to two or more women, cops said. A wedding photo obtained by DailyMail.com appears to show his alleged illegal wedding this past January. There is no indication the woman in the picture was aware of Shorten's illicit activities

Third wife Tammie - who asked for her identity to be concealed - uncovered her spouse's sordid crimes while scrolling Facebook, during which she found the pair's wedding registry, she told ABC 13. Cops confirmed they are looking for Shorten, who is charged with a third degree felony that could see him jailed for 10 years

'You can't go around lying and misleading individuals at your self-satisfaction,' Tammie told ABC13 in an interview where she chose not to show her face.

'I told him, "Before you let the whole world know what you're doing, make sure your business is right,"' she went on, embarrassed by attention.

'It's not like you don't know what a divorce is because you've been married several times before.

I was made a fool of,' she concluded.

According to the now-uncovered registry, Shorten and his latest wife got married in January - after Tammie said she confronted her former flame with the fact she knew about his upcoming wedding.

She reportedly reminded him they were still wed, but he went through with the bigamous nuptials anyway, it is alleged.

ABC13 obtained that marriage license as well, sharing an image of it in their report.

Social media posts from Shorten's family from around this time show them celebrating the nuptials, with his sister Monica Shorten writing over a reel overlaid with wedding photos, 'Congratulations to my one and only big brother.'

In a phone call with one of the outlet's reporters, Shorten denied being married to anyone and said he was unaware of the bigamy charge - which is a rare one.

ABC13 obtained that marriage license as well, sharing an image of it in their Wednesday report

'You can't go around lying and misleading individuals at your self-satisfaction,' Tammie told ABC13 in an interview where she chose not to show her face

'It's not like you don't know what a divorce is because you've been married several times before,' she added

However, it is a third degree felony that carries a max sentence of ten years not only in Texas, but the rest of the country as well.

I was made a fool of,' she concluded, sharing photos of her and her estranged husband. His amount of wives is at least two, but could be more, cops said

However, bigamy is a third degree felony that carries a max sentence of ten years not only in Texas, but the rest of the country as well.

Bigamy is defined as the act of going through a marriage ceremony with one person while legally wed to another - not to be confused with polygamy,

Polygamy is the practice of having one more than one spouse at a time, meaning one must engage in bigamy to experience polygamy.

Both are considered crimes, and the Texas Bigamy law gives cops the right to arrest one they believe wed someone while still married to someone else.

In addition to prison time, Shorten could face a fine of up up to $10,000 because of the state law.
The Tories were already descending into bitter recriminations today after the bombshell exit poll showed them heading for meltdown.

Senior Conservatives immediately demanded Rishi Sunak quits after the extraordinary figures emerged on the close of polls.

A former Cabinet minister - who regards their own significant majority as under threat - said Mr Sunak had 'knifed' Boris Johnson and would be remembered as the 'worst PM ever'.

Another veteran Conservative said Mr Sunak '100 per cent' has to go, even though the result was better than some had feared. 'The question is whether they appoint a new leader before party conference (in September) or after,' they added.

Jacob Rees-Mogg told the BBC that the Tories did not have a 'divine right' to votes.

'It's clearly a terrible night for the Conservatives... I think that there were issues with changing the leader,' he said.

'Voters expect the PM they have chosen to remain the PM... the Conservative Party took their core vote for granted.'

He added: 'Big figures in politics make a difference.'

Dame Andrea Leadsom, who stood down from Parliament, said voters are 'sick of all this woke stuff'.

The extraordinary exit poll showed Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats. That would be a majority of 170 - just short of the 179 achieved by Tony Blair.

The Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems could get 61 - and Nigel Farage's Reform insurgents are predicted to have 13 after effectively leeching millions of votes from the Conservatives.

A former Cabinet minister - who regards their own significant majority as under threat - said Mr Sunak had 'knifed' Boris Johnson and would be remembered as the 'worst PM ever'

Another veteran Conservative said Mr Sunak '100 per cent' has to go, even though the result was better than some had feared

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Mr Sunak gave a deadbat response to the blow, merely praising activists

That could include Mr Farage himself taking Clacton, while Conservative sources in Great Yarmouth confirmed they expected Reform to triumph there.

However, polling guru Sir John Curtice warned that the numbers for Reform were highly uncertain.

Mr Sunak gave a deadbat response, merely praising activists. 'To the hundreds of Conservative candidates, thousands of volunteers and millions of voters: Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote,' he posted on X.

A Tory spokeswoman insisted that they would wait for the full results to emerge.

Former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said his party had 'got to respect the scale of this likely defeat and then learn from it'.

He told Sky News: 'I was a candidate in 1997 and I know what it feels like to taste bitter defeat. I think the time for recrimination is not now. I think a lot needs to be looked at in terms of the cumulative build up of events that led to this wholesale rejection of the Conservatives.'

Another ex-minister, Brandon Lewis, said: 'I think Rishi is somebody who will feel this very strongly and ultimately he's the leader of the party, he was the Prime Minister.

'He didn't wait until the very last minute for an election and then call it when he had to call it. He chose when to call an election and he'll know that he made that decision.

'That's nobody else's issue, the Prime Minister makes that decision.

'I suspect right now that's weighing on him very, very strongly. The fact that we're even in a position where the sitting Prime Minister is in one of the safest in the country and we're wondering if he might be at risk, it's a shocking place to be.

'He will go down as the Conservative Prime Minister and leader who had the worst election result in over a century.

'That's not something he would have been looking to do when he became leader of the party.'

Sir Brandon said the ousting of Mr Johnson was the key moment in the downturn in the party's fortunes.

Tories said the ousting of Boris Johnson was the key moment in the downturn in the party's fortunes

However, Lord Jo Johnson (above) - brother of the ex-PM - warned against the Tories trying to be 'Reform-lite'

'I do think if you're looking for that one moment where the polls changed dramatically and never came back, it's when a group of MPs decided to override the mandate that Boris Johnson was given by the public, not just our members overwhelmingly, but the British public,' he said.

'And then a few weeks later, we did it again when our members chose Liz Truss.

'But particularly, when the British public gives someone a mandate and a small group of people effectively say, 'we've got a better idea', I think that's a problem.

'I think we saw that with Margaret Thatcher, and we're suffering now from what we've done with Boris Johnson.'

However, Lord Jo Johnson - brother of the ex-PM - warned against the Tories trying to be 'Reform-lite'.

'I'm stunned by Reform's arrival as a major force in the land,' he told Sky News.

He said it was 'quite possible' that Reform will come second across vast swathes of the 'red wall' in the North West, North East and Midlands.

'These elections do raise a really important issue as to whether it's a sensible thing for the Conservatives to try to be 'Reform-lite' and expect that to be a winning political strategy, it doesn't look to be from what we're seeing today,' he said.

He said the Conservatives are in danger of being 'drummed out' of London and that it would be a 'big mistake' if the party stops trying to appeal to a range of voters.

Lord Johnson said it was a mistake 'to be a sort of Reform-lite sort of party that apes the policies and attitudes and mentalities of Reform without really being fully emotionally and intellectually committed to them because it doesn't come across as authentic'.

Although the exit survey, run for broadcasters by Sir John, is not guaranteed to be exact, it has accurately reflected the outcome in the past few elections.

The SNP would be slashed to 10, meaning they would no longer be the biggest party in Scotland.

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell, posting on social media: 'To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party - thank you.'

But his allies were far less restrained, with Lord Mandelson gloating that he was 'gobsmacked' and an 'electoral meteor' had 'struck planet Earth'. He said it would have required a 'superman' to save the Tories and Rishi Sunak 'is not superman'.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner - who could be set to become deputy PM within hours - said the numbers were 'encouraging' and praised Sir Keir's leadership.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was in tears as he was told the figures on live TV.

A dire campaign for Mr Sunak came stuttering to a halt last night, with the PM making a series more defensive visits in the South East.

He now faces the prospect that he could be out of Downing Street by tomorrow morning, if the results pan out as badly as anticipated in the coming hours.

Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell, posting on social media: 'To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party - thank you'

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told Sky News that it looked like a 'massacre'.

A host of big beasts including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in Goldaming & Ash and Grant Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield will now be waiting nervously to see if they fall victim to the Labour and Lib Dem onslaught. There are fears those with the highest majorities could end up most vulnerable, with Home Secretary James Cleverly and even ex-PM Liz Truss thought to be at risk.

The Tories could quickly plunge into a dangerous new phase of crisis, with questions over whether it can even survive amid the challenge from Reform.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has already waded into the shadow leadership contest, penning an article on the eve of the election blaming the failure to tackle immigration.

Sir John Curtice told the BBC: 'It looks as though Reform may win more seats than many polls suggested.

'This is largely because, not only has the Conservative vote fallen far in seats they previously held, but also because Reform has advanced most in areas people voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

'However, how many seats Reform will win is highly uncertain  our model suggests there are many places where they have some - but a relatively low - chance of winning.'

Conservatives with big majorities had become increasingly nervous during the day, despite CCHQ claiming that higher-than-expected turnout could help them.
A man has been left fighting for his life after he was allegedly stabbed on a train.

Victoria Police are investigating an incident on a train that was travelling towards Huntingdale Railway station, in southeast Melbourne, at about 6.45pm on Thursday.

It's understood a group of four men got into an argument with other people on the train when one of the passengers was assaulted.

The man sustained lacerations to his upper body and was rushed to hospital.

He remains in a critical condition, the Herald Sun reports.

A man has been left fighting for his life after he was allegedly stabbed on a Melbourne train

The four men on the train are alleged to have fled the scene on foot.

It's understood a series of train services were cancelled after the alleged stabbing attack due to a 'police request' on the Huntingdale area.

Metro Trains announced there were major delays on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, with buses replacing trains between Caulfield and Westall.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
A stunned Sky News studio led the way with the most bizarre reaction as Labour's predicted landslide was dramatically revealed by Britain's broadcasters on Thursday night.

As the staggering results from the exit poll were released at 10pm, presenters across Sky, ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC revealed to the nation that Sir Keir Starmer is on track to win 410 of the 650 seats, while the Conservatives are set for just 131.

Broadcaster GB News suffered an early gaffe on election night, displaying a graphic that showed the Tories are down to win 410 seats with Labour on 131 - a landslide in the wrong direction.

But the strangest reaction came from the Sky News studio, who could be heard making some unusual noises as Labour's predicted majority of 170 showed up on screen.

Viewers were left stunned as presenter Kay Burley and Labour mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham let out a series of strange moans as they were left completely speechless.

It prompted social media users to ask: 'What is happening in the Sky News studio?!'

A replay of their reactions was shown moments later, with Mr Burnham seen nearly jumping out of his seat and raising his arms in the air as he sat next to a far from impressed Baroness Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Andy Burnham celebrated as he sat next to a far from impressed Baroness Ruth Davidson, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives

Broadcaster GB News suffered an early gaffe on election night, displaying a graphic that showed the Tories on track to win 410 seats and Labour set for 131 - the wrong way round

Laura Kuenssberg and Clive Myrie were much more measured as they revealed the exit poll

Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Emily Maitlis were staggered as the exit polls were released

Tom Bradby - who anchoring ITV's coverage - was stunned as he revealed: 'The exit poll is here. It is predicting a Labour landslide, a Labour majority of 170.'

Words including 'oh my God' and 'woah' could also be heard from the team, which included political editor Beth Rigby, Sunday breakfast show presenter Sir Trevor Phillips, and data and economics editor Ed Conway.

As expected, the BBC gave a much more controlled update as the polls closed at 10pm.

BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg said: 'As Big Ben strikes 10, the exit poll is predicting a Labour landslide.'

Clive Myrie calmly added: 'Sir Keir Starmer will become Prime Minister with a majority of around 170 seats.'

On Channel 4, Krishnan Guru-Murthy said: 'We can reveal it is a Labour landslide being predicted by the exit poll. The catastrophe for the Conservatives, Sir Keir Starmer becomes the seventh Labour PM in history.

Co-presenter Emily Maitlis added: 'So, a Labour landslide. This is your voice. This is our country deciding we've had enough. If the exit polls are right this is a moment of radical, generational change. Keir Starmer will become the first person to lead Labour from opposition to government in 27 years.

'And that for many of our viewers tonight will be a virtual, maybe an actual lifetime.'

Tom Bradby - who anchoring ITV's coverage - was stunned as he revealed: 'The exit poll is here. It is predicting a Labour landslide, a Labour majority of 170. It has the Conservatives on 131 seats and Labour on 410. The Lib Dems are projected 61 seats, Reform on 13 with the SNP expected to secure 10.

'That is a simply astonishing result, record-breaking, history making. Tories did have, they dropped the lowest number of seats since 1832, I think looking at that number. That is an astonishingly low figure.'

Rishi Sunak's term as Prime Minister looks set to end in electoral disaster, with the Conservatives forecast to endure heavy losses.

Sir Keir Starmer is on track to win 410 of the 650 seats, an exit poll revealed on Thursday night

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrived to cast their vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, on Thursday morning

Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

Your browser does not support iframes.

It marks a dramatic turnaround since the 2019 general election, when Boris Johnson won the Tories a healthy 80-seat majority and Jeremy Corbyn led Labour to its worst result since 1935.

The exit poll suggests Labour is on course for 410 seats, with the Tories reduced to 131.

It will mean a Labour prime minister in No 10 for the first time in 2010 and the Conservatives facing a possible civil war as the fight for the future direction of the party and the battle to potentially replace Mr Sunak gets under way.

After 14 years in power it was always going to be a difficult election for the Conservatives, but the sometimes shambolic campaign - triggered at a time of Mr Sunak's choosing - has contributed to their party's likely defeat.

From the rain-drenched speech announcing the surprise July 4 poll, through the D-Day debacle as he left Normandy early to record a TV interview to confused campaign messaging about a Labour 'supermajority', Mr Sunak struggled to convince the electorate he was the right man to lead the country.

Going for a summer election rather than waiting until the autumn was always a gamble, and the Prime Minister was not helped by the scandal of Tory candidates and officials allegedly heading to the bookies armed with inside knowledge of the date.

Mr Sunak is expected to resign after leading his party to defeat, but many of the contenders jostling to replace him are nervously awaiting their own constituency results to see if their leadership dreams survive the night.

The likes of Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps, Suella Braverman, Steve Baker and Robert Jenrick all face battles to return to Parliament.

Former home secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel, security minister Tom Tugendhat and Health Secretary Victoria Atkins could survive to fight for the leadership.

The exit poll suggested Labour would have a majority of 170, with the forecast indicating the lowest number of Tory MPs on record.

The poll suggested the Liberal Democrats will win 61 seats, Reform UK on 13 and the Green Party two.

In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said his party was 'on course for our best results in a century, thanks to our positive campaign with health and care at its heart'.
Ties to deepen, get broader scope

08:25, July 04, 2024 By Xu Wei ( China Daily

President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev watch as six Kazakh Air Force fighter jets fly overhead, trailing red and yellow smoke to symbolize the Chinese flag, during a welcoming ceremony on Wednesday in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. (WANG JIANHUA/YIN BOGU/XINHUA)

President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pledged on Wednesday to bolster bilateral cooperation across various sectors, setting out targets to double bilateral trade and expand partnerships in energy, connectivity, key minerals, and the digital economy.

Xi held high-level talks at Akorda, the presidential palace in Astana, with Tokayev, in a state visit marking the latest chapter in the ever-strengthening relationship between the two neighboring nations.

Upon Xi's arrival at the presidential residence, he was warmly welcomed by Tokayev, as six Kazakh Air Force fighter jets flew overhead, trailing red and yellow smoke in a spectacular display to symbolize the Chinese flag.

The welcoming ceremony featured a grand display of military precision, with honor guards standing at attention and the national anthems of both nations played by a military band.

"Our two sides have set a new goal of doubling bilateral trade as soon as possible, agreeing to continuously deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as economic and trade investment, capacity, connectivity, and energy," Xi said when jointly meeting the media with Tokayev.

"We will also work together to foster new growth points in key areas such as critical minerals, new energy, technological innovation, aerospace, and the digital economy, aiming to enhance and upgrade practical cooperation between the two nations continuously."

China and Kazakhstan have witnessed flourishing trade and economic cooperation in recent years. Bilateral trade rose 32 percent year-on-year to $41 billion in 2023, making China the largest trading partner of the Central Asian country.

China has also been the largest source of foreign investment for Kazakhstan over the past 15 years, during which the total investment volume reached $25 billion, with over 4,700 Chinese businesses now operating in the Central Asian country, according to Kazakh authorities.

President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday after the signing of cooperation documents at the presidential palace in Astana. (FENG YONGBIN/CHINA DAILY)

"We both agree that China and Kazakhstan are at critical stages of their respective development and revitalization and are fellow travelers on the path to modernization," Xi told the reporters.

"The two sides will continue to uphold their tradition of mutual support, continuously deepen political trust, align their development strategies, and firmly safeguard each other's core interests, serving as strong and reliable backers for each other."

During their talks, Xi offered assurances that China always views China-Kazakhstan relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, considering Kazakhstan a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner in Central Asia.

Beijing's commitment and resolve to maintain and develop China-Kazakhstan relations remain unwavering, regardless of temporary events or international changes, he said, adding that China will always be a reliable and trustworthy neighbor and partner for Kazakhstan.

Xi underlined Beijing's readiness to boost imports of high-quality Kazakh goods and explore new cooperation areas in e-commerce and the digital economy.

The two countries should expand their cooperation in industrial investment and unlock potential in technological innovation, electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce, and satellite communications, Xi added.

After their talks, Xi and Tokayev also attended the inauguration ceremony of the cultural centers of the two countries and the Kazakhstan branch of Beijing Language and Culture University.

Xi announced China's decision to open a second Luban Workshop in Kazakhstan and said that the nation supports the holding of the China Tourism Year in Kazakhstan next year.

As for multilateral issues, Xi pledged support for Kazakhstan's accession to the BRICS cooperation mechanism, so that the nation can play the role of a "middle power" on the international stage and contribute to global governance.

He also praised the role of Kazakhstan as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and expressed hopes for the success of the upcoming Astana summit.

Tokayev addressed Xi as his "dear friend", saying that the visit was a historic event in bilateral relations.

"For us, China is a friendly neighbor, a friend, and a permanent comprehensive strategic partner," and the partnership is "built upon our shared values and our common stance", he said.

Kazakhstan is dedicated to continuously enhancing its all-encompassing friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, he said, adding that his country welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest and will provide all necessary favorable conditions for them.

After their talks, the two heads of state signed a joint statement by the two nations and witnessed the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in fields such as the economy and trade, connectivity, aerospace, education, and the media.

Sayasat Nurbek, minister of science and higher education of Kazakhstan, said after the talks that Kazakhstan wants to become a true economic partner of China. "We truly believe that China has a very special place, a very special responsibility in the world, given its economic potential, given its innovation potential. So we are really keen to work with Chinese companies on research and collaboration," he said.

With China now improving tremendously in its research and innovation, Nurbek said his country is focusing more on research and science cooperation with China.

Satkaliyev Almassadam, the Kazakh minister of energy, said the strong progress in Sino-Kazakh relations is based on the unique relationship between leaders of the two countries.

He said the agreements signed by the two nations will expedite "the process of integration and the process of cooperation between our countries. A lot of promising new projects are now at the stage of consultation and negotiations."

"We strongly believe that China now has a leading position in renewables and high-tech," he said, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative has offered unique opportunities and advantages for all countries involved.

Mo Jingxi in Beijing contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Former Conservative minister Nadine Dorries stole the show on election night as she accused Alastair Campbell of sexism and revealed former Prime Minister Boris Johnson had been texting her.

Appearing on Channel 4 as part of the broadcaster's election programme, hosted by Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Ms Dorries clashed with the former Labour spokesperson just minutes after polls closed at 10pm.

She also caused hilarity for viewers after Ms Maitlis appeared to struggle not to roll her eyes at one of her answers.

The ex-culture secretary and staunch Boris Johnson loyalist said the projected results are a 'disaster' for the party, after an exit poll predicted the party would return just 131 seats.

Pressed on the meteoric rise of Reform, which is projected to get 13 seats, Ms Dorriess pointed out that the far-right party was polling in the low single digits while Mr Johnson was Prime Minister.

Mr Campbell then interrupted her and said: 'You really need to get over Boris.'

Former Conservative Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries accused Alastair Campbell of sexism

Former Labour spokesperson Mr Campbell appeared on Channel 4's election night coverage alongside Ms Dorries

Ms Dorries hit back: 'I think that's quite a sexist comment.'

Mr Campbell retorted: 'It's really not'.

The couple continued to trade blows throughout the programme with the presenters having to intervene at times.

Just a few minutes later there was another clash, this time between Labour's Harriet Harman and the Conservatives' Kwasi Kwarteng.

Ms Harman accused Mr Kwarteng of being 'patronising' in his response to her.

Ms Dorries cut in and said: 'It's up to me and Harriet to hold the men on this stage to account it seems.'

Later in the programme she was asked if her former boss Boris Johnson had been in touch with her since the exit poll.

Looking at her phone, she confirmed he had, but asked to share what he had told her, Ms Dorries said: 'No.'

Pressed on whether Mr Johnson had suggested he might make a return to frontline politics, Ms Dorries stuttered, before saying the country needs a strong leader to counter the 'rise of the far-right' - but stopped short of naming him.

It came after the exit poll predicted Labour will have a total of 410 seats after the election, a majority of 170.

The Conservatives are forecast to have 131, Lib Dems 61, Reform 13 and the SNP 10.

The SNP's vote would be decimated, after winning 48 seats in the 2019 election, while Plaid Cymru in Wales is projected to get four seats.

The Greens are also expected to gain a second seat in Bristol after a knife-edge campaign.

The Tories, who have been in power since 2010, are set to be banished to the opposition benches of the House of Commons, with exit polling suggesting their numbers will be reduced to 131 seats, a loss of some 241 MPs.

This would be its lowest number of MPs on record.

The clash on the programme hosted by Emily Maitlis and Krishnan Guru-Murthy (both pictured) occurred just minutes after polls closed

Harriet Harman (left) also later accused Kwasi Kwarteng (centre) of being patronising

Social media users were quick to react to the clash between the political rivals online

In 2019, under then-premier Boris Johnson premiership the party won 365 seats, with majority of 80.

That total is now set to be dwarfed by the result expected for Sir Keir Starmer's Labour by the end of the night, which is predicted to win power with a total of 410 seats according to the poll.

Rishi Sunak has sought to outwardly portray himself as upbeat, only arguing on Wednesday - the final day of campaigning - he was an 'underdog' who was fighting until the 'final whistle'.

But the exit poll, the final test of public opinion on the night of the election count, has now laid bare the scale of devastation the Tories face.

At risk of losing their seats this evening are several prominent Cabinet ministers, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said the forecast was 'encouraging' but a number of seats were on a 'knife edge'.

'If you look at where we were in 2019, just to get a majority of one we'd have had to have a swing greater than Tony Blair in 1997,' she told the BBC.

'So we know a number of seats were on a knife edge from our own data, but I also know that all of our activists and our candidates have been going out there not taking anything for granted and speaking to the electorate about what matters to them.'

A Tory source said: 'It's clear based on this results we will have lost some very good and hardworking candidates.'

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said his party was 'on course for our best results in a century, thanks to our positive campaign with health and care at its heart'.

Elsewhere, the race to be the first seat of the night to declare was won by Houghton and Sunderland South, which was won again by Labour's shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.

Ms Phillipson took 18,847 votes - 47 percent - ahead of Reform UK on 11,668, more than double the Conservatives on 5,514, the Liberal Democrats on 2,290 and The Green Party on 1,723. The turnout was 51.2 percent.
Nicola Sturgeon has condemned the SNPs general election campaign as she admitted the official exit poll painted a grim picture for her party.

The former First Minister looked devastated as she admitted there are big issues for the SNP as it faces its biggest ever loss of MPs.

The exit poll predicted that the SNP will slump from 48 seats after the 2019 general election to just 10, eclipsing its previous biggest loss of MPs when its seat count slumped by 21 in 2017.

It would see the SNP fall from being the third-biggest party in the Commons to the fifth, behind the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.

Sturgeon looked far from happy as an exit poll predicted the SNP will slump from 48 seats to just 10

Speaking as a pundit on ITV, Ms Sturgeon said: This is at the grimmer end of expectations for the SNP.

She said it is a seismic result for Labour, but criticised the campaign run by her close friend John Swinney.

Ms Sturgeon said: There are clearly big issues in a result of this scale for the SNP. The SNP has been in government for 17 years, we are in government now at a time when austerity is really biting, the impact of Brexit is biting - of course there were always going to be real challenges in this election.

But of course it is also about the context of the election.

'This was a kick the Tories, get the Tories out, and that always happened to the SNP pre the independence referendum and I think we are reverting to that tonight.

But, you know, this is not a good night for the SNP on these numbers, and there will be a lot of questions that need to be asked as we come out of it.

I think there will be a question about whether there was enough in the campaign to give effectively a USP to the SNP in an election that was about getting the Tories out and replacing them with Labour.

Labour are said to have benefited from a tsunami across Scotland and could even challenge in parts of southern Scotland and the north east which were considered Tory/SNP battles.

One Scottish Labour MSP said the exit poll is better than we could have dreamed of.

Labours Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: It would be an astonishing result for the Labour party given weve come from the worst result in 2019 since 1935.

But he added: The Scottish margins could be tight. A lot of the constituencies had very, very large SNP majorities.

'A lot of seats could be tight.

Trying to sound a positive note, SNP leader John Swinney said his party had fought an upbeat campaign, firmly rooted in the values of the people of Scotland.

He said: Scotland will be glad to see the back of this disastrous Tory government and I am confident that SNP votes across the country will make that happen.

This election campaign has brought the SNP together.

I am immensely proud of our people-powered campaign, which has taken our positive vision of a better Scotland to the doorsteps across every corner of our great nation.

Former Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said it was a terrible result for his party UK-wide, but he hoped it would not be as bad north of the Border, arguing Reform UK had less traction in Scotland.

He said: The SNP had said this was another referendum on independence, and that has a momentum all of its own.

If it was another referendum on independence then it was a defeat for independence as well.

SNP constitution secretary Angus Robertson said: Change was in the air. I think people were absolutely fed up with Conservative government and wanted to see them out.

I dont actually think devolved Scottish politics played as big a role in peoples decision making as that desire for change at a UK level.
A 98-year-old Scottish woman who has voted in every election since she turned 21 believes she may have been robbed of her last ever chance after her postal vote failed to arrive on time.

Due to the mishap, Flora Kelsey from Edinburgh, found herself unable to vote at her local polling station, collect an emergency replacement in person or apply for a proxy vote.

Ms Kelsey, from Corstorphine in Edinburgh West, where 33 per cent applied for a postal vote, said she felt she 'ought to vote' after exercising her democratic right at every election since she turned 21.

But she felt unable to visit an emergency facility to get a new pack in person, and was ineligible for a proxy vote as she had applied for a postal one.

Her grandson George tried to act as her proxy, but said: 'She's been ticked off the register because she has to vote by postal vote. We're stuck.'

Flora Kelsey, 98, from Edinburgh says her postal vote failed to arrive on time meaning she may have lost her 'last chance' to vote in a General Election

City of Edinburgh Council's returning officer said Ms Kelsey's situation had been 'regrettable'

Edinburgh returning officer Paul Lawrence said: 'We've been doing everything we can to make sure as many people as possible are able to vote.'

City of Edinburgh Council's returning officer said the situation had been 'regrettable'.

The incident occurred as the Association of Electoral Administrators (AEA) called for an urgent reform of election law in light of concerns that voters had been disenfranchised because of postal delays and photo ID requirements.

Today marked the first General Election where voters needed photo ID, with some reports of people being turned away for not having the right documents.

The AEA said there should be earlier deadlines for applying for postal ballots to give more time.

Almost a quarter of Scotland's four million voters applied for a postal vote at this election.

Royal Mail has however insisted there was no backlog of postal ballots.

Among those voting in person, parties reported turnout was in line with other elections, despite expectations of a Labour landslide and the clashing of the start of the school holidays in Scotland depressing numbers.

Elsewhere, in North East Fife, farmer Kenneth Fraser, 86, was turned away from his polling station in Newburgh after being told he was in the wrong place.

When his polling card proved he should vote there, staff apologised to Mr Fraser but his son, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser, refused to accept it.

He called the police and said he was 'disappointed' at how his father had been treated.

Mr Fraser said: 'This could have cost my dad his vote. I rang Fife Council but it was just recorded messages so I phoned Police Scotland. They said what happened wasn't right and they were going to look into it.'
Labor ministers are reportedly questioning whether Fatima Payman's Afghan citizenship could challenge her ability to remain in the senate because of a possible breach of the Constitution.

The fears come after Senator Payman quit the ALP and joined the crossbench as an independent senator on Thursday, after crossing the floor on a vote in recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Section 44 of the Constitution, which states 'foreign citizens and dual citizens cannot sit in parliament,' could pose a risk to Senator Payman, who is an Australian and Afghan citizen.

Senator Payman has refused to rule out establishing a new political party to contest Labor-held seats with large Muslim populations, with Labor ministers reportedly fearing an independent Muslim party will lose them up to six seats in western Sydney.

Ministers are reportedly already taking action to defend previously safe Labor seats.

Senator Payman's deflection to the crossbench leaves the Labor Party with fewer seats in the upper house than it had when the party was still in opposition at the start of 2022.

In 2003, Senator Payman was granted entry to Australia under her mother's refugee visa after she fled Taliban-held Afghanistan.

She was granted Australian citizenship in 2005.

Senator Fatima quit the ALP on Thursday following concerns over the partys stance on Palestine. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Fatima Payman wore a pin combining the Aboriginal and Palestinian flags when she announced her resignation on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

In her 2022 register of qualifications statement, Senator Payman said she had sought and received legal advice which confirmed she took reasonable steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship, which made her eligible to sit in the Senate.

'In light of the situation in Afghanistan and the impossibility of progressing my application to renounce Afghan citizenship following the recent takeover by the Taliban, I am not disqualified from sitting as a senator and so I can nominate as a candidate,' she wrote.

Senator Payman said she went to the Afghanistan embassy in October 2021, where she was told her request for renunciation could not be completed.

'The embassy advised me that there is no communication between it and the new Taliban government in Afghanistan. As such, the embassy told me that my application for renunciation could not (be) finalised in Kabul (as required under pre-Taliban Afghan law),' she wrote.

Senator Fatima Payman held a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra to announce her resignation. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

'There is nothing further that can be done to progress my renunciation of Afghan citizenship, and it would be very dangerous for me to return to Afghanistan or to attempt to engage with the Taliban regime directly.'

Appearing on Nine's Today, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten said he believed the West Australian branch of the Labor Party would have ensured Senator Payman matched the appropriate criteria prior to selecting her for the ballot.

However, sparring partner Peter Dutton said that if there was a breach, the Labor Party would ultimately be responsible.

'Labor Party knew about it. So they've supported a member of parliament knowing that she wasn't constitutionally valid to sit in the parliament, which I think is an outrage,' he said

'That's quite different than somebody who has a section 44 issue. So there's that question to answer.'

During the 45th parliament, Katy Gallagher and seven other lower-house MPs were forced to make declarations of ineligibility as a result of their dual citizenships.

Labor sources said they believed Senator Payman's eligibility would likely need to be tested in the High Court, according to The Australian.

Pro-Palestine protesters scaled the roof of Parliament House in a show of support for Palestine. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Senator Payman's resignation on Thursday came hours after Parliament House was targeted by pro-Palestine supporters, who staged a 90 minute protest on the building's roof.

The four activists, three men and one woman, were charged with Commonwealth Trespass and fined $2750 after they climbed over a specially-built security barricade to access the roof.

The Australian revealed the activist group responsible for the demonstration, Renegade Activists, met with Senator Payman more than a week ago.

A spokesman for the group, Jacob Grech, told The Australian the group wanted to 'give as much support to Fatima' as possible 'show that her stance is appreciated'.
Sir Keir Starmer insisted Britain was 'ready for change' as Labour appeared on course for a landslide win in the General Election.

The Labour leader, who will become the UK's next Prime Minister, said 'you have voted, it is now time for us to deliver' with his party on course for a majority of 170.

The figure is lower than the win achieved by Tony Blair in 1997 and comes on a low turnout. After 377 constituency results out of 650 in the General Election, turnout stands at 58.7 per cent. Turnout at the 2019 general election was 67.3 per cent.

But it was enough so see off a host of major Tory frontbenchers including Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps.

However the Labour campaign was not without its casualties. Shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire lost to the Greens in Bristol Central and shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth lost in Leicester South.

And the Labour Left is already pushing Keir Starmer to ramp up spending and benefits today with election results still coming in.

Despite Sir Keir's careful refusal to make big commitments, ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he will have to get 'more radical'.

In his winning speech in the early hours Sir Keir said the UK was waking up this morning to 'the sunlight of hope', which was 'shining once again on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back'.

In other rollercoaster developments tonight:

In the first real result, Labour's Bridget Phillipson retained Houghton & Sunderland South with a boosted majority of just over 7,000 - but Reform surged into second place with more than 11,600 votes;

Reform also picked up significant support in Blyth & Ashington, which narrowly lost the race to declare first, with nearly 11,000 votes, albeit behind Labour's Ian Lavery on 20,000;

And in Newcastle Central Reform came second, eating into Labour support without managing to overhaul them;

However, it is unclear that Reform is receiving enough support to meet the high estimate in the exit poll;

There are early signs that turnout could be lower than at the last election in 2019;

The Lib Dems are claiming victory in Tunbridge Wells, which has been Tory since the seat was created in the 1970s;

The 2024 general election results in full : Live maps and charts

The Labour leader, who will become the UK's next Prime Minister, said 'you have voted, it is now time for us to deliver' with his party on course for a majority of 170.

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Sir Keir arrived with his wife Victoria to cast their votes this morning at a polling station in their Holborn and St Pancras constituency in north London

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrived to cast their vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, this morning

However the Labour campaign was not without its casualties. Shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire lost to the Greens in Bristol Central and shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth lost in Leicester South.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said she was 'not counting her chickens' but suggested voters were punishing the Conservatives for their past 14 years in power

In the first real result, Labour's Bridget Phillipson (pictured) retained Houghton & Sunderland South with a boosted majority of just over 7,000 - but Reform surged into second place with more than 11,600 votes

In his acceptance speech after being re-elected in Holborn and St Pancras, Sir Keir said: 'Tonight, people here and around the country have spoken and they are saying they're ready for change.

'To end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service.'

He added: 'You have voted, it is now time for us to deliver.'

The comments came as jubilant Labour figures gloated that an 'electoral meteor' had hit, with a dramatic exit poll showing Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats.

The Tories are expected to be slashed from the 365 secured less than five years ago to just 131 - their worst performance in modern political history. A host of big beasts, including Jeremy Hunt, Grant Shapps and Penny Mordaunt could fall victim to the purge. Welsh Secretary David Davies has already conceded defeat and the Lib Dems claim they have defeated Education Secretary Gillian Keegan in Chichester.

Mr Sunak is expected to announce he is quitting as leader in the morning, although he would stay on until a replacement is chosen.

Speaking on Sky News, Mr McDonnell said he believed that Sir Keir's election manifesto was just a 'first phase'.

'If you look at the Blair government, the first couple of years they held to the Tory spending plans then they became more radical,' he said.

Mr McDonnell said that Sir Keir would begin with his missions, but added: 'At that stage then it will have to be more radical if the children in my constituency are to be lifted out of poverty.'

Despite Sir Keir's careful refusal to make big commitments, ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he will have to get 'more radical'

Ballots being counted in Rishi Sunak's own Richmond & Northallerton constituency tonight

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell on social media

Mr Sunak gave a deadbat response to the blow, merely praising activists

In the first tangible evidence of the hammering, Labour's Heidi Alexander took ex-Cabinet minister Robert Buckland's Swindon South seat with a 9,000 majority.

Altogether the Lib Dems are projected to get 61 MPs - and Nigel Farage's Reform insurgents could have 13 after effectively leeching millions of votes from the Conservatives.

That could include Mr Farage himself taking Clacton, while Conservative sources in Great Yarmouth confirmed they expected Reform to triumph there.

The SNP would be slashed to 10, meaning they would no longer be the biggest party in Scotland.

Although the exit survey, run for broadcasters by polling guru Sir John Curtice, is not guaranteed to be exact, it has accurately reflected the outcome in the past few elections.

Sir Keir gave a muted reaction to the bombshell, posting on social media: 'To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party - thank you.'

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But his allies were far less restrained, with Lord Mandelson gloating that he was 'gobsmacked' and an 'electoral meteor' had 'struck planet Earth'. He said it would have required a 'superman' to save the Tories and Rishi Sunak 'is not superman'.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner - who could be set to become deputy PM within hours - said the numbers were 'encouraging' and praised Sir Keir's leadership.

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting was in tears as he was told the figures on live TV.

Tories immediately descended into bitter recriminations, with demands for Rishi Sunak to quit.

A former Cabinet minister - who regards their own significant majority as under threat - said Mr Sunak had 'knifed' Boris Johnson and would be remembered as the 'worst PM ever'.

But Sir Robert gave a stark warning against the Tories lurching to the right, saying the party risked being like 'bald men fighting over a comb' if it treated politics as 'performance art' and tried to outflank Reform.

No, minister: Cabinet members who could lose their seats Several frontbenchers could lose their seats, according to the exit poll: Jeremy Hunt - Chancellor

Alex Chalk - Justice Secretary

Grant Shapps - Defence Secretary

Gillian Keegan - Education Secretary

Mark Harper - Transport Secretary

Richard Holden - Conservative Party chairman

Penny Mordaunt - Commons Leader

Welsh Secretary David Davies Advertisement

Less than an hour before the exit poll dropped, Downing Street released a dissolution honours list - sending seven Tories and eight Labour politicians to the Lords. They include Theresa May, Rishi Sunak's chief aide Liam Booth-Smith, Chris Grayling and former 1922 committee chair Graham Brady.

Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett are among those on the Labour list - despite Sir Keir having committed to abolishing the Upper House.

A dire campaign for Mr Sunak came stuttering to a halt last night, with the PM making a series more defensive visits in the South East.

He now faces the prospect that he could be out of Downing Street by tomorrow morning, if the results pan out as badly as anticipated in the coming hours.

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson told Sky News that it looked like a 'massacre'.

A host of big beasts including Mr Hunt in Goldaming & Ash and Mr Shapps in Welwyn Hatfield will now be waiting nervously to see if they fall victim to the Labour and Lib Dem onslaught.

There are fears those with the highest majorities could end up most vulnerable, with Home Secretary James Cleverly and even ex-PM Liz Truss thought to be at risk.

The Tories could quickly plunge into a dangerous new phase of crisis, with questions over whether it can even survive amid the challenge from Reform.

Sir John Curtice told the BBC: 'It looks as though Reform may win more seats than many polls suggested.

'This is largely because, not only has the Conservative vote fallen far in seats they previously held, but also because Reform has advanced most in areas people voted Leave in the 2016 EU referendum.

'However, how many seats Reform will win is highly uncertain  our model suggests there are many places where they have some - but a relatively low - chance of winning.'

Mr Farage hailed signs of a breakthrough after Reform pushed the Tories into third place in two early constituency results.

On a video posted to X he said: 'It's midnight, there are two results in from the north-east of England that put Reform on 30 per cent of the vote, that is way more than any possible prediction or projection. It is almost unbelievable.

'And what does it mean? It means we're going to win seats, many many seats I think right now across the country.

'But to watch the TV coverage it's almost comical. There's not a single representative on there from Reform UK, mainstream media are in denial just as much as our political parties.

'This is going to be six million votes-plus. This, folks, is huge.'

A Conservative spokesman said they had to wait for the full outcome, but added: 'If these results are correct it is clear that Starmer and Angela Rayner will be in Downing Street tomorrow.'

Conservatives with big majorities had become increasingly nervous during the day, despite CCHQ claiming that higher-than-expected turnout could help them.

One former Cabinet minister told MailOnline: 'There appears to be a bigger turnout than normal in some of my areas. Not all though.

'That would seem to indicate a determination on the part of the electorate to make their views heard, almost certainly likely to be against the Tories.'

Former Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock said the exit poll's landslide prediction was 'the greatest comeback since Lazarus'.

The former Labour leader told ITV News: 'A gain of 208, according to the exit poll, which is attributable directly to Keir Starmer and what he's achieved in four years, two of which of course were during the lockdown, or the virtual lockdown when the one thing that opposition leaders depend on  contact with the public  was absent.

'It's the biggest comeback since Lazarus.'

He went on: 'I must say I'm just ecstatic about the fact that an entirely dependable, fully grown-up guy, Keir Starmer, and his wife, are going to go through that door tomorrow. I have unalloyed and unreserved delight.'

Mr Sunak took a huge political gamble and shocked Westminster by triggering the election on May 22, rather than waiting until the Autumn as had been widely expected.

Lord Mandelson said an electoral 'meteor' had hit British politics

Moments after ballot stations closed at 10pm, the dramatic exit poll was released - showing Sir Keir winning 410 of the 650 seats

It initially looked to be paying off, with early policies from the Tory campaign - such as national citizen service - seeming to cut through.

In a big moment, Mr Farage responded by ruling out standing as a Reform candidate, admitting he did not have time to put together a campaign.

But even then the Tories did not see a real bounce in the polls. The Tories lost key legislation including Mr Sunak's flagship smoking ban during the 'wash-up' as Parliament was dissolved for the campaign.

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And then a grim week in early June saw things go spectacularly downhill, with Mr Farage dropping the bombshell that had changed his mind and was taking over the leadership of Reform as well as standing to be MP for Clacton.

Although Mr Sunak was seen as landing blows on Sir Keir over tax during their first TV debate on June 4, disaster struck when the PM opted to return early from D-Day anniversary commemorations in France to conduct an interview with ITV.

A subsequent grovelling apology did not prevent Mr Farage and opponents seizing on the blunder, which struck right at the heart of the Tory goal of shoring up the core vote among older generations.

With polls already showing Reform eating into Tory support with potent attacks on immigration, Mr Sunak was then engulfed in another scandal.

It emerged that his closest Parliamentary aide, Craig Williams had successfully placed bets on the date of the snap election - although he insisted he did not have any inside information.

Other candidates and top party officials were then dragged into the allegations, which proved particularly toxic with the public.

Mr Sunak was memorably challenged on the issue during TV appearances, admitting he was 'incredibly angry'. But he was seen as taking far too long to withdraw support for candidates facing allegations.

Mr Farage hailed signs of a breakthrough after Reform pushed the Tories into third place in two early constituency results

Nigel Farage was seen driving through Clacton, the Essex seaside constituency where he is hoping to be elected the local MP, in an old military vehicle as he rallied the final support for his campaign

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his wife Emily Gasson attended a polling station in Surbiton. He said: 'It's a beautiful day. I hope lots of people come out to vote'

With some polls even showing Reform ahead of the Tories, CCHQ shifted tactics to warn of the threat of a divided Right handing Labour a 'supermajority' with untrammeled power.

That together with controversial remarks from Mr Farage about the West 'provoking' Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and revelations about unsavoury comments by a series of Reform candidates looked to have stopped the bleeding.

But after a bruising six weeks Labour's huge advantage was intact, and the only significant change was that the Tories had lost ground to Reform.

By yesterday, despite Mr Sunak's claim he was 'fighting hard for every vote', his close ally Mel Stride was effectively acknowledging the Conservatives would lose - an unprecedented step.

The Work and Pensions Secretary said Labour would get an 'extraordinary landslide on a scale that has probably never, ever been seen in this country before'.

As tension built through election day, the Tories claimed a higher-than-expected turnout had left them with a 'MUCH better chance' than cataclysmic polls had suggested.

An email to Conservative supporters, signed from the 'CCHQ Data Team', read: 'We're getting reports from our teams on the ground. And the more reports we get, the more it looks like turnout is higher than expected.

'That means we could have a MUCH better chance than polls have suggested. So if you haven't voted yet, now's the time to get out.'

Queues of people were seen at polling stations today as the requirement for voters to bring correct photo identification - such as a passport or driving licence - was enforced at a UK general election for the first time.

There was a bungle at a Glasgow polling station this morning as voters were met with posters listing the wrong instructions, which erroneously advised the ranking of candidates in order of preference.

This is how ballots are cast in local elections in Scotland, which use the single transferable vote system. But general elections use the first-past-the-post system, which requires voters to put a single 'X' next to their chosen candidate.

Glasgow City Council explained the error was spotted 'very soon' after the polling station opened at 7am and the posters were replaced with the correct information. It said no-one had been disenfranchised as voters' first preferences would be used from the affected ballots.

Cabinet minister Kemi Badenoch this afternoon blasted her own local council for having 'potentially disenfranchised' thousands of postal voters who did not receive their ballot papers.

The Business Secretary hit out at Uttlesford District Council for 'forgetting' to send postal votes to 2,600 people in her North West Essex seat.

Prior to polls opening this morning, Rishi Sunak made an 11th-hour plea for voters to prevent a 'socialist supermajority' wrecking Britain, as he repeated his warning against handing Sir Keir 'unchecked' power.
Anthony Albanese's plan to build 1.2million homes from this week could spark an insolvency crisis in coming years, an expert fears.

Australia has a housing crisis as building approvals lag well behind immigration-fuelled population growth.

Local councils and state governments approved just 163,759 new homes in the year to May, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.

But this was well short of Labor's target of 240,000 a year over five years, starting on July 1, as part of the prime minister's goal of building 1.2million homes.

Matthew Caddy, a Melbourne-based partner at McGrathNicol with more than 25 years' experience handling corporate insolvencies, said artificially boosting apartment building was more likely to spark an insolvency crisis in coming years.

'If the government's focused on any particular area, at any particular time, that can lead to a spike but we also see, off the back of those spikes, usually they're not well managed on the other side,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'You bring forward demand and you're creating an artificial demand at times - on the other side of that, it's not uncommon that you then see an abnormal amount of insolvencies.'

The low level of building approvals has also occurred as 487,820 migrants moved to Australia in the year to April, leaving a shortfall of 78,422 homes - a figure based on households having 2.5 people on average.

Anthony Albanese 's plan to build 240,000 homes a year starting from this week could spark an insolvency crisis in coming years, an insider fears (pictured are apartments under construction in Sydney)

Despite the housing shortage, apartment developers in particular are struggling, with construction companies now making up more than a quarter of Australia's failed companies.

'Many project feasibilities aren't profitable which has led to a slowdown in construction activity,' Mr Caddy said.

'More of the construction insolvencies relate to higher density construction projects rather than land and building developments.

'In those projects, there's very skinny margins and when there's reduced demand, then everyone's competing for what is available and that drives margins down further.'

Housing Minister Julie Collins argued building more homes was the best way to plan for population growth.

'Building more homes is the best way to address Australia's housing challenges,' she said.

The federal government pledged $3billion for the states and territories to help meet the target building 1.2million homes over the five years to 2029.

Mr Caddy was critical of both sides of politics, noting former prime minister Scott Morrison's HomeBuilder scheme, giving out $25,000 grants during the pandemic in 2020, had also caused an uptick in construction insolvencies as building costs surged.

'You saw all the pressure in the home building market, post Covid, where the builders had gone out and signed record numbers of forward contracts off the back of government grants,' he said.

'Those prices were fixed and then suddenly, the home builders were struggling to build those homes because they weren't getting built at a profit.'

While Australia has a housing shortage, Australians increasingly want to live in a house with a backyard instead of a cramped, high-rise apartment.

'At the customer level, in terms of the buyer demand, that's somewhat subdued,' Mr Caddy said.

The federal government pledged $9.3billion from the states and territories to help meet the target building 1.2million homes over the five years to 2029

While investors had traditionally favoured one and two-bedroom units, they have been lukewarm on larger, three-bedroom apartments.

'Many apartment buildings are built as investment stock - one bedroom apartments, two-bedroom apartments,' Mr Caddy said.

'Lots of apartment complexes were going up that were focused more on owner-occupier, downsizers and they were focused more on selling to the three-bedroom market which isn't strong at all for investors and then the demand for those, certainly over the last 24 months, has fallen away significantly.'

Construction was by far Australia's worst affected sector with 2,832 businesses going into administration in the year to June 16 - a 33.7 per cent surge, Australian Securities and Investments Commission data showed.

Fixed-price contracts and higher building material costs are crippling builders, despite Australia having a housing shortage following record-high immigration.
An eerie shipwreck of a 45-foot-long vessel has been dredged from the mud of a drought-ravaged lake in Mexico  along with a 'unique' set of altered human bones.

Archeologists have identified the ship as being a traditional style known as a 'tepari,' which is believed to predate the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors by centuries, although the age of this particular wreck remains uncertain.

The vessel appears to have sunk with its cargo, primarily firewood, which experts suggested was being shipped to Janitzio Island from Erongaricuaro, four miles west.

Each of the mysterious and remarkably well-preserved bones found with this shipwreck, mostly femurs or thigh bones, were striped with multiple deep grooves.

According to one Spanish-language publication, the bones could provide valuable insights on the 'ritual practices of the ancient civilizations that inhabited the region.'

The eerie shipwreck of an over 45-foot-long vessel has been dredged from the mud of a drought-ravaged lake in Mexico - with a 'unique' set of altered human bones (top). Each of the well-preserved bones, mostly femurs or thigh bones, were striped with multiple deep grooves

Archeologists have identified the ship as a traditional 'tepari,' which predates the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors by centuries, although the age of this particular wreck remains uncertain. The vessel (above) appears to have sunk with its cargo, primarily firewood

'Numerous ceramic and stone objects believed to have been thrown into the lake during pre-Hispanic times as offerings were also found,' according to that same magazine, La Brujula Verde, based across the Atlantic in the city of Oviedo in Spain.

The find was first reported by an excavation and preservation team with Mexico's official National Institute of Anthropology and History or INAH (the acronym for organization's Spanish name, 'Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia').

The bones, according to INAH officials, bear nearly a dozen 'ranurados,' grooved or slotted markings, each  macabre engravings whose purpose is currently unknown.

INAH's director of the excavation project, Jose Luis Punzo, agreed with the institute's assessment that the bones were 'unique' for just how well-preserved they were.

But the researcher was more focused on the other artifacts found with the wreck.

Excavators in the drying lakebed of Mexico's Lake Patzcuaro examine the half-buried 'tepari' shipwreck (above)

'Among these, several complete ceramic pieces have been recovered, such as decorated bowls, pots and incense burners,' Punzo said, 'which are samples of the rituals that were surely carried out in the lagoon.'

'Deer antlers, bone needles and other stone objects have also been recovered,' the INAH official told Newsweek.

'Thanks to these studies,' he said, 'we will be able to have a deeper vision of the relationship of the ancient inhabitants of this place with the lake.'

Punzo noted that the true age of the uncovered tepari boat is still 'difficult' to pin down, even broadly by century.

The boat could be older than Mexico's colonial occupation by Spain 500 years ago, or a more recent carving from more modern times, he opined.

INAH experts, according to Punzo, will be conducting further analysis on the boat to more concretely determine when it was made and its historic value.

Jose Luis Punzo, who is leading the effort to recover and preserve the artifacts, pointed out that these tepari boats, despite their impressive length, 'are monohull boats - that is, they are made from a single large tree and carved from it'

'Numerous ceramic and stone objects believed to have been thrown into the lake during pre-Hispanic times as offerings were also found,' according to one publication that covered the fine, La Brujula Verde magazine, based across the Atlantic in the city of Oviedo, Spain

Lake Patzcuaro, where these artifacts were discovered, has lost an estimated 50 percent of its usual volume in recent years, according to CNN affiliate Televisa.

Both 'environmental factors' like drought, which have accelerated due to climate change, and the 'illicit extraction of water' have contributed to the losses, as representatives for Patzcuaro's municipal government told the news station.

As local hotel owner Arturo Pimentel noted, clear cutting to make way for avocado groves has also disrupted the natural movement and retention of water into the lake.

'The avocado has become like a plague in the area,' Pimentel told Candian public broadcaster CBC.

These conditions have transformed the lake's island of Janitzio, famous for its 'Day of the Dead' celebrations, into a peninsula, according to Mexican news site N+.

Droughts accelerated by climate change and illegal water theft have helped to transform the lake's island of Janitzio (above) into a peninsula

A map of Mexico's Lake Patzcuaro - where the shipwreck and ritual bones were uncovered

But officials with the Mexican government's anthropology institute reported that they hope to make the best of the lake's tragic current state by securing these historic cultural finds.

'At this time, together with the community of Janitzio, conservation tasks are being carried out on the movable archaeological materials,' INAH said in a statement, 'as well as other tepari that have been identified.'

While INAH did not release photographs or details on these additional shipwrecks, the institute did note that their plan is to preserve these artifacts for 'a community museum on the island of Janitzio.'

INAH project director Punzo pointed out that these tepari boats, despite their impressive length, 'are monohull boats  that is, they are made from a single large tree and carved from it.'

The canoe-like boats are carved with an ax-like tool called an adze, which leaves signature marks along the tepari's wood.

Tepari are traditionally sealed or caulked for waterproofing with chapopote, a naturally occurring sludge of raw petroleum material that gives the boats their dark color.

The boats often could carry up to 20 people, with this crew manning a large net for fishing expeditions.

Due to deforestation, however, few logs are locally available for traditional tepari to still be carved by Mexico's indigenous peoples, according to INAH's National Museum of Anthropology.

But the craftsmanship that went into manufacturing a tepari was once so revered that this local respect was built right into the name.

The word is an adjective in the Purepecha language of Mexico's Michoacan region that is used to indicate 'a very large, admirable and consideration thing.'
As Britons flock to cast their votes in the 2024 General Election, the nation will be holding its breath awaiting the results.

While true political diehards might stay up all night watching the votes roll in, the exit poll at 10pm tonight will give many their first hint at the results.

The exit poll is conducted each year by a consortium of broadcasters as an early prediction of how the vote may have swung.

Unlike a regular poll which asks voters what they might do in the election, the exit poll asks people who they have voted for as they exit their polling station.

Luckily for those with an early bedtime, scientists generally agree that the exit poll is a fairly accurate representation of the real vote.

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Today voters around the country will be queuing up outside polling stations. But for those who don't want to wait for the results to come in the exit poll will be released at 10:00 PM

The exit poll is jointly funded by the BBC, Sky News, and ITV News with the actual polling being carried out by research firm Ipsos.

This year, Ipsos is sending interviewers to 133 polling stations around the country.

As voters exit the polling station they are asked to fill in a replica ballot exactly as they have just done and place this in the pollster's ballot box.

According to Ipsos, four in every five people approached at the 2019 General Election agreed to complete the mock ballot paper  so some do refuse to divulge.

Overall, Ipsos says it will ask about 17,000 from all around the country to gauge the swing between different political parties.

An exit poll asked voters, like Rishi Sunak pictured here casting his vote, how they have just voted. This is different to a regular poll which only asks people's intentions

These results are then collected and sent securely to a secret location in London where statisticians and analysts have been sequestered away from media influence.

This is believed to generate a more accurate prediction of the election results than pre-election polls.

Michael Clemence, from Ipsos UK, told Sky News: 'And also we're dealing with people's behaviour, so we're not asking people how they intend to vote.

'We're talking to electors who just voted, and I'm asking exactly what they just did  so you've cut out the error in prediction polling.'

Pre-election polls can be less accurate since even small factors like the order of names on the ballots can bias people's decisions when they're in the booth.

However, by asking people what they have already done this removes any potential bias the interviewer might include.

Likewise, Dr Hannah Bunting, co-director of The Elections Centre at the University of Exeter, wrote in an article for The Conversation that exit polls get around many of the problems faced by political polling.

Experts say exit polls provide a generally accurate first impression of how the vote may swing. This year pollsters will interview about 17,000 voters, just like Kier Starmer pictured here casting his vote

Dr Bunting writes: 'Theyre repeating an action, instead of imagining something they might do.

'We know theyve voted instead of having to estimate their likelihood of turning out.'

The data collected from these interviews is then analysed by a team of experts in the capital.

The current exit poll model was devised in 2005 by John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde, and David Firth, professor of statistics at the University of Warwick.

Professor Curtice has claimed he already knows the result of the exit poll at 2pm on polling day  but if he told anyone he might end up in jail.

Although millions of people are still to vote at 2pm, it's thought this may be late enough to work out the results from key seats.

Since exit polls survey what has already happened they are less influenced by bias and uncertainty among voters

Since pollsters only conduct interviews at a handful of constituencies across the country they need to look at trends and patterns to predict how other regions will vote.

Ipsos spreads its questioning across a variety of urban and rural areas to examine voter swing.

Marginal seats are also more closely examined in order to make predictions on key electoral changes.

Areas are also targeted year after year so that previous election polls and constituency data can be used to build a more general picture of voter habits.

Professor William Jennings, a polling expert from the University of Southampton and part of this year's exit poll team, told Sky News: 'We'll try just to look for patterns in that data to explain as much variation as possible so that we know that our estimates are as reliable as they can be.

'We'll model the change in the vote at each of those polling stations, and we'll try and look for patterns in that change and also particular characteristics of constituencies that might predict change and might predict what we're seeing across the country.'

The analysts, who are currently locked securely in a bunker without access to the outside world, will look at variables such as whether the constituency voted for Brexit or the number of people who own a car.

Since 2005, when this exit poll model was introduced, the predictions have only missed by a few seats each year

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, a leading statistician from the University of Cambridge, told MailOnline: 'This limited data provides estimates of the probability of different types of people changing their vote. This is the core of an exit poll.

'The probabilities of specific vote changes, combined with knowledge of the vote-shares in the last election, provide estimates of the new vote shares.'

And, since this model was introduced in 2005, it has been highly successful at predicting election results to an accuracy of just a few seats.

During the last election in 2019, the poll was incorrect by just three seats for the Conservatives  predicting 368 seats versus the actual 365.

The poll also slightly overestimated the success of the SNP and Liberal Democrats, this meant it slightly underpredicted Labour's eventual seat count.

In 2017, meanwhile, the exit poll was off by only one seat for both the Conservatives and Labour.

In fact, the last time an exit poll went seriously wrong was in 1992, before the media companies teamed up to produce a single exit poll.

In that year, both of the exit polls predicted a hung parliament when in reality John Major's Conservatives won a majority of 21 seats.

Although redrawn constituency boundaries could introduce some uncertainty, the exit poll is likely to produce a good impression of which party will form the next government

There are, however, a few factors which could make this year's exit poll slightly less reliable than usual.

As Dr Bunting points out, since the last election a number of constituency boundaries have been redrawn including the creation of some new constituencies.

This could make it slightly harder for the analysts to draw on previous electoral data.

Additionally, the likely size of this year's swing could introduce some level of uncertainty in certain areas.

Professor Spiegelhalter also notes that the increased prevalence of Reform UK 'increases the complexity, but does not challenge the basic methodology.'

However, experts agree that this year's exit poll will likely produce a result indicative of the broad nature of the result.

Professor Spiegelhalter says that although he wouldn't consider the results of the exit poll to be certain he would 'shall take them very seriously indeed'.

Although we won't know exactly who's won until tomorrow morning, from 10pm onwards we should have a pretty clear idea of who will form the next government.
Archaeologists have unearthed lost remnants of America's first soldiers from the Revolutionary War.

They discovered bricks that were once part of Virginia's first military barracks that housed 2,000 people from 1776 through 1777 in what is now Colonial Williamsburg.

At the time, America was in the middle of a war for its independence from the British that ended in 1781 - five years after the US declared its freedom.

The team also found personal items belonging to the patriot troops, including lead shots, buttons and a 225-year-old Virginia penny, and fireplaces and chimneys.

This discovery will provide insight into Williamsburg's military involvement during the Revolutionary War, which these artifacts will help tell.

Images of the site showed red bricks within the earth, lying where they were demolished hundreds of years ago by the British Army

A French 18th-century map of Williamsburg shows more than a dozen barracks within Williamsburg, detailing how they were built between 1776 and 1777 for the Continental Army as it fought the British

Ashley McCuistion, a lead archaeologist, told The Washington Post: 'These barracks were the first continental barracks in Virginia.

'This all happens immediately after independence is declared and we start forming this American government.'

The barracks were also built on the land used by the British royal governor who had a palace constructed for himself.

But American soldiers took over the palace and the land, turning it into their military outpost that held thousands of people and 100 horses.

The team first found piles of red bricks buried under the surface, laying in piles.

The barracks were destroyed by the forces of British general Charles Cornwallis in 1781.

Cornwallis is best known for his surrender at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, which effectively ended the war and led to peace negotiations between Great Britain and the US.

American soldiers recounted the incident years later, saying they were forced to abandon the area as British troops marched through on your way to Yorktown.

Continental Army soldier Spencer Davis gave a written testimony in the early 1880s, stating that the enemy appeared at night and 'beat up our quarters.'

'There was some little fighting & two of my acquaintances  [were] killed,' he continued.

'The Americans retreated about nine miles that night, & saw the light from the conflagration of the Barracks.'

The patriot army stationed in Colonial Williamsburg was led by Captain David Humphrey, a close friend of George Washington.

Archaeologists have been working at the site since the summer of 2023 but announced their discoveries this past May.

'This site, which was occupied from 1777 to 1781, is particularly valuable since it was built and used only for one purpose,' reads the Colonial Williamsburg's official site.

'In addition, a significant portion of the site has been largely undisturbed since the barracks were destroyed.'

The housing units, found in Colonial Williamsburg, were constructed around 1776, but later destroyed by the forces of British general Charles Cornwallis in 1781

A lead shot with a took mark was found. Soldiers would chew on the shots because of their sweet flavor

The barracks site is estimated to be roughly three to four acres large. Currently, only a small percentage of the site has been excavated.

The team also uncovered personal items from the American soldiers, including a metal military belt that has since been weathered by the elements.

A blue glass button, still shining as if it were just made, a small musket ball, was also found at the site.

The tooth mark in the lead shot was left by a soldier gnawing on it due to the sweet taste - it was a common practice among the military.

The team also uncovered personal items from the American soldiers, including a metal military belt that has since been weathered by the elements

A blue glass button, still shining as if it were just made, was found

Jack Gary, Colonial Williamsburg executive director of archaeology, said: 'We have horseshoes.

'We also have this object here which is a snaffle bit, so it's part of a horse bit that goes in the mouth to control the horse.

'And this object here is part of a curry comb for brushing down the horse's coat.'

'Here at Colonial Williamsburg, we interpret the American Revolution and the politics that led up to it, and a lot of the events that led up to it.

The excavation also found small gun parts

A 250-year-old Virginia half penny was also found in the earth

Williamsburg was founded as the capital of the Virginia Colony in 1699 and was one of America's first planned cities. The original capital, Jamestown was the first permanent English-speaking settlement in the New World founded in 1607

'But then, we don't have a lot of sites that tell us about what actually happened during the wartime. And this site does.

'It allows us to get some insight into the everyday lives of your everyday common soldier. it also tells us about what the officers' lives were like.'

Williamsburg was founded as the capital of the Virginia Colony in 1699 and was one of America's first planned cities.

The original capital, Jamestown, was the first permanent English-speaking settlement in the New World founded in 1607.
A pair of 'planet-killing' asteroids  one recently discovered and another towing its own moon  were caught on video by NASA as they hurtled past Earth last week.

Scientists with the US space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California tracked and imaged the two monster space rocks via the 230-foot-wide Goldstone Solar System Radar, which also measured these objects' dimensions.

Asteroid 2024 MK, first spotted just 13 days before it came its closest to Earth, was determined to be a 500-feet long, 'elongated and angular' object per NASA's radar that captured it skim our planet on Saturday.

And asteroid 2011 UL21, a nearly mile-wide object that sped by Earth on Thursday at 58,000 miles per hour, was seen with a 'moonlet' orbiting about two miles from its surface.

Asteroid passing Earth now 



(415029) 2011 UL21 is 2310 m wide, making it larger than 99% of known near-Earth asteroids. It is currently 17 times farther away than the Moon, and that distance is now growing with each passing second. pic.twitter.com/SYdGUM4rBg  ESA Operations (@esaoperations) June 27, 2024

Asteroid 2011 UL21 (top row), a nearly mile-wide object which sped near Earth at 58,000 miles per hour, was imaged by NASA with a 'moonlet' (bottom row) orbiting 1.9 miles from its surface

The European Space Agency (ESA) which collaborates with NASA on planetary defense minced no words regarding the late identification of asteroid 2024 MK.

'An asteroid this size would cause considerable damage,' ESA officials said.

'So its discovery just [...] before it flies past our planet highlights the ongoing need to improve our ability to detect and monitor potentially hazardous near-Earth objects (NEOs),' the agency noted.

First recorded on June 16th by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in South Africa, asteroid 2024 MK's orbit has now been altered by its incredibly close encounter with Earth's gravitational pull.

The object zoomed in between the distance between Earth and the moon's orbit, coming within about 184,000 miles from the surface of our planet's atmosphere.

While NASA classified 2024 MK as a 'potentially hazardous asteroid,' NASA JPL reported that 'calculations of its future motion show that it does not pose a threat to our planet for the foreseeable future.'

Dr Lance Benner, a planetary scientist at JPL who helped lead the tracking of these two killer asteroids, said that a true 'near miss' like this not likely again for decades, and that the US space agency worked hard to make the most of it.

Asteroid 2024 MK (pictured) was first spotted just 13 days before it came its closest to Earth. NASA radar determined the space rock to be a 500-feet long, 'elongated and angular' object

The European Space Agency (ESA) which collaborates with NASA on planetary defense minced no words regarding the late identification of asteroid 2024 MK (radar images above). 'An asteroid this size would cause considerable damage,' ESA officials said

'This was an extraordinary opportunity to investigate the physical properties and obtain detailed images of a near-Earth asteroid,' Dr Benner said.

2011 UL21, which orbits our sun once approximately every 1,130 days, made its closest flyby of planet Earth in over a century with this recent passing.

NASA JPL was able to determine that this nearly two-mile in diameter planet killer was 'roughly spherical' thanks to its near miss on June 27th.

2011 UL21's very close and high-speed transit also helped the Goldstone radar, also known as Deep Space Station 14 (DSS-14), discovered its orbital 'moonlet' asteroid.

'It is thought that about two-thirds of asteroids of this size are binary systems,' Dr Benner noted about this find.

Two 'planet-killing' asteroids - one discovered just two weeks ago and another towing its own moon - were caught on video by NASA as they hurtled past Earth

'Their discovery is particularly important because we can use measurements of their relative positions to estimate their mutual orbits, masses, and densities, which provide key information about how they may have formed,' he continued.

Like 2024 MK, NASA JPL reported that 2011 UL21 and the moonlet that makes it a 'binary system' are 'potentially hazardous.'

2011 UL21 is, in fact, categorized as a 'planet killer,' according to LiveScience, which is defined as an asteroid capable of damage on a continental scale capable of blasting up enough debris on impact to trigger significant climate changes.

'Calculations of its future orbits,' they noted, 'show that it won't pose a threat to our planet for the foreseeable future.'

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology revealed in 2023 that an asteroid in that category will not impact Earth for at least the next 1,000 years.
The most complete dinosaur fossil ever uncovered in Mississippi, called 'incredibly unusual' by state officials, still remains 85 percent buried since its 2007 discovery.

Paleontologists have confirmed that the specimen was once a living hadrosaur: a family of vegetarian, duck-billed dinosaurs that existed over 82 million years ago.

But the hadrosaur is a large family of herbivore giants  including at least 61 identified, individual species with possibly hundreds of unique kinds having once roamed the Earth, according to experts.

Researchers have secured pieces of this specimen's spinal vertebrae, portions of its forearm, feet and pelvic bones, but the rest has proven tricky to unearth from its location outside Booneville in the northeast part of the state.

'This thing sat for a while because we didn't have anybody to work on it,' as one official with the state's geology office, James Starnes, confessed.

The hadrosaur is a large family of giant plant-eating dinosaurs - including at least 61 identified, individual species with possibly hundreds of unique kinds having once roamed the Earth, according to experts. The hadrosaurs above are an artist's reconstruction of one Russian find

The most complete dinosaur fossil ever uncovered in Mississippi is now known to be from the hadrosaur family - but only 15 percent of it has been safely unearthed. Researcher Derek Hoffman (above) is turning to 3D forensic bone analysis to find out the exact hadrosaur species

For nearly two decades, it has remained a mystery exactly which of the many species of hadrosaur was actually the kind dug up in this Booneville, Mississippi-area find.

But researchers are now turning to a 3D method of forensic bone analysis to solve the riddle before it's even fully unearthed.

University of Southern Mississippi (USM) geology graduate student Derek Hoffman is now analyzing the hadrosaur's remains with this method, which is known across multiple scientific disciplines as 'geometric morphometrics.'

'What geometric morphometrics does,' as Hoffman simplified it, 'is it takes a shape-analysis approach.'

Key features or 'landmarks' are determined for a given bone sample and their respective distances, and the ratios of those distances, are then compared via complex statistical models to confirm differences and similarities to known bones.

The method has also proven effective in anthropology as well as in studies of human evolution, including comparisons between the brain cavities of modern humans and our Neanderthal ancestors.

But Hoffman's hunt for answers about this hadrosaur fossil has been made harder by the fact that some pieces of the creature are in the hands of private collectors.

Above, the upper arm bone of an ancient hadrosaur uncovered in northeastern Mississippi

Hoffman's work is focused mainly on the bones held publicly by the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science.

'We have quite a few of the vertebrae,' museum paleontology curator George Phillips told local paper the Clarion Ledger. 'We have one humerus.'

'We have one ulna. The ulna is the posterior of the forearm.'

'We have some of the foot bones,' Phillips continued. 'Then we have the pubis.'

The adult hadrosaur's ulna comes in at roughly two feet long and its humerus bone is in the range of about a foot and a half long. And just one completed, adult hadrosaur's foot bones can exceed well 50 pounds in total weight.

WHAT WERE HADROSAURS? Hadrosaurs are known as the duck-billed dinosaurs because of the flat duck-bill appearance of the bones in their snouts. They were large animals ranging from 23 to 26 ft (7-8 meters) and 2 to 4 tonnes (2,000 to 4,000 kg) The species was plant-eating and lived from 75 to 65 million years ago. Paleontologists say hadrosaurs may have been able to outrun a T-rex. Advertisement

But the dinosaur's skull  the most unique identifying feature for differentiating between hadrosaur species  has to researchers' frustration yet to be located.

Different species of hadrosaur are well known to have evolved with a wide and weird variety of crowns on their duck-billed heads, even floppy material like a rooster's red 'comb.'

Paleontologists are still debating what biological purpose these unusual and sometimes ostentatious features might have served, but their variety has contributed to the recorded diversity of the hadrosaur family.

Hoffman at USM has focused on the dinosaur's pubis, a bone from the front of the pelvis, as the next best choice for identifying this fossil's species.

While the differences between hadrosaur species' pubis bones are subtle, often too subtle for the naked human eye, their hidden distinctions can be teased out by rigorous mathematical approaches like geometric morphometrics.

The USM geology grad student is hoping to at least narrow down the number of potential hadrosaur species that this Mississippi fossil might be.

Or: 'What is the lowest taxonomy level we can get this hadrosaur to,' as Hoffman phrased it.

What's now known about this particular hadrosaur is that it likely measured about 25-26 feet long and stood about 16 feet tall when perched on its hind legs.

Hadrosaurs as a family of species are 'the most well-represented dinosaurs in the fossil record,' according to Hoffman, 'without a doubt.' Pictured: an artist's impression of another duck-billed dinosaur in this group, one from 80 million years ago discovered nearby in Texas

While researchers believe that the hadrosaur lineage started in North America, the plant-eaters eventually migrated across the globe with fossils uncovered in Asia, South America, Europe and North Africa.

'They're the most well-represented dinosaurs in the fossil record,' Hoffman said, 'without a doubt.'

Hadrosaurs' name derives from the Ancient Greek for 'stout lizard,' and the heavy animals did in fact range from about 2.2 to 4.4 US tons (or between 2,000 to 4,000 kilograms).

Many hadrosaur species lived between 75 and 65 million years ago in the Late Cretaceous Period.

Other examples of dinosaurs from the hadrosaur family include the Parasaurolophus, which had a long, backward-curving crest on its head and appears in the 2022 film 'Jurassic World Dominion,' and the Edmontosaurus, which had the aforementioned crest made from soft tissue like a rooster.

State official James Starnes, with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Geology, said that the 2007 discovery of this hadrosaur in near Booneville was just 'incredibly unusual.'

'We just don't have a lot of skeletons,' Starnes said. 'We have pieces and parts, but not a skeleton.'

Starnes hopes that, despite the nearly two decades it has taken to unearth just a fraction of this hadrosaur fossil, that the project will one day be completed.

'We're still getting more of this specimen out,' Starnes said.
Is travelling in Europe as safe as it used to be? With a war on our doorstep in Ukraine and tensions higher than ever in the Middle East, there are valid concerns about political events and crime affecting our summer break.

Our survey of some of our favourite holiday destinations suggests that while most are very safe for tourists, there are potential dangers to look out for.

From illegal taxi drivers in Spain and fake tour guides in Morocco to no-go areas in Egyptian tourist hotspots and political demonstrations in Turkey, heres our ultimate guide to holidaying crime (and stress) free in Europe and Northern Africa this summer.

A civil guard on patrol in Badajoz, Spain

SPAIN

More than 18million Britons travel to Spain and its island archipelagos each year. The country is one of the safest in Europe and incidents impacting tourists are rare.

Crime: Spain has very low rates of mugging and theft. Robbery rates on the coast are around 100 per 100,000 inhabitants, with this only rising to around 200 in Barcelona.

Police: The Spanish police force can issue fines of up to 500 if youre caught riding in an unlicensed taxi, so make sure you book with a reputable company - especially when travelling from busy airports such as Malaga and Gibraltar. The Guardia Civil are approachable and friendly as a rule. Be aware that a genuine officer may ask you for photo ID but will never ask you to hand over your bag, wallet or purse.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare is of a high standard throughout Spain, though serious illness on the smaller islands may require a transfer to a hospital in a larger mainland city. As with all countries listed, you should make sure you have a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and reliable travel insurance to access care while abroad.

Political stability: There have been street protests in Majorca and Barcelona against tourists recently, but the target of locals' anger is the local authorities rather than visitors, so you are unlikely to be considered a target in what are overwhelmingly peaceful protests.

Safety score: 8/10

Tourists flock to the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, which is a common spot for theft from parked cars

ITALY

The fourth most popular destination for British tourists, Italy is considered a very safe country - but exercising caution in bigger cities is recommended.

Crime: Petty street crime is fairly widespread in the busiest areas in larger cities such as Naples and Rome. Termini station in Rome and the Circumvesuviana train between Naples and Sorrento are both particularly well-known for bag snatching. Theft from parked cars is particularly common in Rome, especially in the Colosseum area, so if youre using a hire car you should leave your most valuable possessions back at your hotel. Robbery rates in tourist-heavy areas remain low, however, with between 15 and 50 robberies reported per 100,000 inhabitants.

Police: The country has a very reliable and trusted police force.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare in Italy is of a good standard and you can expect treatment similar to that which you would get in the UK.

Political stability: The country is considered very politically stable, with a noticeable decrease in political demonstrations under the government of current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Safety score: 7.5/10

Protests are common in France, such as this rally on May Day in 2021 held by the Gilets Jaunes movement. May Day is used to mark the fight for workers' rights

FRANCE

The current Olympic host country has had a steady wave of political unrest in recent years, with the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) movement holding numerous marches and protests. There is a general election this summer, too, but the political situation is not expected to trouble tourists.

Crime: France has a robbery rate of between 75 and 125 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants but you are very unlikely to be a victim of crime in most French cities. You should, however, be extra vigilant when in Paris on the RER B train line (which serves Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and the Paris Gare du Nord Eurostar terminus) and the RER D line, which serves the Stade de France; both have been the location for assaults in the past couple of years.

Police: The French gendarmes are typically friendly and helpful. You must be able to show photo ID on request, however, so its best to keep your passport with you.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare is of a high standard in France but is generally not free at point of contact - so make sure your travel insurance hasnt expired before you cross the Channel.

Political stability: The French love to strike. Industrial union action will see significant strikes on public transport systems, particularly in Paris, and demonstrations in many major cities this summer. These, and other protests, should be avoided by visitors as they have been known to turn violent.

Safety score: 7.5/10

Dubrovnik is a beautiful coastal city in the southern part of Croatia

CROATIA

With a low crime rate compared to the EU average, Croatia is one of the safest tourist destinations in Europe. Exercising the same basic caution that you would at home should be enough to enjoy the safest of holidays.

Crime: Pickpockets are common in the most heavily frequented parts of major ports and cities such as Zagreb. Reported robberies number barely 20 per 100,000 inhabitants. The main crime that tourists experience is being pickpocketed - be careful in Dubrovnik, especially if a large cruise ship has disgorged its passengers for the day.

Police: Youll be treated with genuine concern by the police if you have been the victim of a crime in Croatia. In cities such as Split and Dubrovnik, high standards of public behaviour mean that, although unlikely, you could be given an on-the-spot fine for walking the streets shirtless or in swimwear or drinking in a public place where alcohol isnt permitted. If youre engaging in what police deem to be drunken behaviour then fines rise to as high as 4,000 (3,386).

Emergency services and healthcare: Hospitals are generally of a good standard in the areas tourists are most likely to frequent, though less so in more remote areas. Be sure to have valid travel insurance.

Political stability: As a member of the EU, Croatia is extremely stable and has been since declaring independence from the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Organised crime is present in Croatia but poses no danger to tourists.

Safety score: 8/10

Kyrenia in North Cyprus

CYPRUS

Politicians will tell you that Cyprus has been in a ceasefire situation between the Greek and Turkish sides of the island for half a century. The reality is far less dramatic, however, with tourists welcomed on both sides. The islands close proximity to the Middle East does mean that demonstrations pertaining to the Israel-Gaza crisis may occur. Be aware of any that are planned during your stay (there are numerous English-language Cypriot online newspapers such as the Cyprus Mail) and steer clear.

Crime: Cyprus has a very low crime rate and tourists need not be concerned about being the victim of robbery or theft.

Police: The Cypriot government has announced that it intends to launch a special tourism police unit which will see officers on bicycles offering help in the most-visited areas.

Emergency services and healthcare: The island has a very good healthcare system, considered by the World Health Organisation to be at the same level as the US and UK. It is common for hospital staff to speak some English in the hospitals located in the main tourist areas.

Political stability: Cypruss status as a country severed in two during the 1974 war is hard-baked and extremely unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. This means that shifts in local politics wont affect your stay but in general its best not to offer strong opinions on the ceasefire due to local sensitivities.

Safety score: 8/10

The Maltese capital city of Valletta

MALTA

Malta is a very safe island to travel around though, as in all holiday destinations, opportunistic thefts can occur so be careful around ATM machines on the island and dont carry large amounts of cash on your person.

Crime: Pickpocketing has been known to occur on the bus routes between Valletta and St Julians. Scams targeting Brits are on the increase so be wary of any propositions in the form of romance or friendship, as these can result in you being financially fleeced.

Police: A specially created tourism police force was quietly dropped a year after its implementation in 2017, but you will still generally find Maltese police approachable and friendly.

Emergency services and healthcare: Hospitals are generally of a high standard, and healthcare is of a very similar standard to that of the UK.

Political stability: Malta is a very stable, democratic nation with no issues that should worry tourists.

Safety score: 8/10

Montenegro is one of the safest countries in Southern Europe

MONTENEGRO

Tiny Montenegro is one of the safest countries in Southern Europe for travellers. As with any destination, dont leave your valuables unattended and be vigilant around ATM machines. Otherwise, relax; this is one of the more stress-free destinations.

Crime: The robbery rate in Montenegro is exceptionally low by European standards, at around 15 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Pickpocketing can occur, as it can anywhere, but theres no need for hyper-vigilance and there are no areas of this small Adriatic nation where extra caution is needed.

Police: In the Travel Safe Abroad safety index, Montenegro ranks in the upper third of all countries, above the US and France. The country has a high number of police officers who are well-equipped and trained. While the country has a history of drug gangs, the new government has made an effort to clamp down on organised crime and most of the Mafiosi are either behind bars or on the run.

Emergency services and healthcare: Hospitals are of a good standard and are able to provide most forms of care. International travel insurance is vital if you have a serious injury or illness, however, as some Montenegro hospitals may not have facilities for more complex cases.

Political stability: Demonstrations do occasionally occur outside religious buildings or government offices but these are usually peaceful.

Safety score: 8/10

A souk in Marrakesh, Morocco, where fraudsters may pose as guides

MOROCCO

This popular Northern African country is generally very safe and welcoming to visitors, though you will find a higher degree of hassle and persistence from some local traders.

Crime: Violent crime is uncommon against tourists but can occur. Knives have been used against visitors in random street attacks so avoid quiet areas at night-time. Keep your valuables either in your room safe at your hotel or in a money belt, as pickpocketing does take place in busy areas of Tangier, Casablanca and Marrakesh. Watch out for fraudsters posing as guides in the historic quarters - particularly in any souks and medinas.

Police: There is a tourist police force called the Brigade Touristique who, in recent years, have eroded the numbers of fake guides and aggressive beggars.

Emergency services and healthcare: Moroccan public hospitals are generally not up to European standards. Private hospitals are available but be sure to have international travel insurance as a serious injury or illness may require repatriation out of the country.

Political stability: Morocco is politically stable, but demonstrations do regularly occur and unauthorised ones have been known to turn violent. Follow the English language online newspaper Hespress as a reliable guide on any breaking news during your stay.

Safety score: 7/10

The Pyramids of Giza in Cairo are a particularly popular spot for tourists in Egypt

EGYPT

Its unlikely that your holiday in Egypt will be disturbed by the current internal schisms and government efforts are strenuous to ensure the beaches and resorts of Sham el Sheikh remain safe. But there are regular demonstrations in major cities such as Cairo which can turn violent and should be avoided.

Crime: The general crime rate against tourists is low but there have been instances of sexual harassment against women reported to the British Embassy in recent years in Red Sea tourist resorts. Do not travel in a taxi alone, do not allow hotel cleaners to enter your room while youre alone and dont leave children with hotel staff.

Police: There is an English speaking Tourist Police that operates in most of the main tourist areas of Egypt. Daily News Egypt is an independent, English language online newspaper that you should consult before embarking on any excursions outside the main tourist areas. Police have powers to close beaches and city squares at no notice should there be considered a risk from demonstrators or terrorists.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare in Egypt is not free so be sure that you have travel insurance. There have been reported instances of hotel doctors overcharging so be sure of what the charges are. Not all state hospitals are equivalent to mainland Europe in terms of hygiene and many doctors and medical staff may not speak English.

Political stability: Egypt has been in political turmoil since the Arab Spring. In 2019, at least 16 people were injured after an attack on a tourist bus near the Giza pyramids, while, in 2018, a bomb killed four people on a bus near the Giza pyramids. Kidnapping is also a risk so dont be surprised to see armed security officers around popular tourist sites. Your phone may also be checked before you enter some of these areas.

Safety score: 6.5/10

The Suleymaniye Mosque on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey

TURKEY

Turkey is generally a safe country for holidays but you should exercise more vigilance than in years past, particularly when it comes to avoiding demonstrations relating to the Israel/Gaza conflict outside embassies.

Crime: Pickpocketing is very common in Istanbul so be sure to keep your valuables safe and leave anything you cant afford to lose at your hotel. In 2023, 42 cases of sexual assault, including rape, were reported to British consular staff. These have, most commonly, been committed by someone the victim met during their holiday such as tour guides and hotel workers. Dont let staff enter your hotel room while youre alone and dont accept any offers of tours from guides who cant show you official accreditation or ID.

Police: The country has Tourist Police Officers who are generally helpful and will show concern if you approach them. Its illegal not to have a form of photo ID on your person while youre exploring Turkey.

Emergency services and healthcare: English-speaking doctors are limited in the more rural areas though standards of care in the main cities and tourist areas are adequate. Turkish law states that all medical care is free if youre injured in a road accident (this applies to both tourists and locals) but having travel insurance is still essential if youre visiting any part of Turkey.

Political stability: The Israel/Gaza conflict has resulted in demonstrations outside embassy and consulate buildings (particularly that of Israel) in the major cities. Check the English language Daily Sabah website for up to date information on the current situation.

Safety score: 7/10

A view from Hallgrims church in Reykjavik, Iceland, which is one of the safest countries in the world

ICELAND

You would be exceptionally unlikely to be the victim of crime in Iceland; its one of the safest countries in the world.

Crime: A few of the bars in downtown Reykjavik can get a little rowdy at peak times on a weekend but, even then, youre very unlikely to witness, let alone get involved in any violent, physical altercations.

Police: Youre extremely unlikely to have any contact with the police but, if you do need to report a theft or any other crime, youll find them helpful.

Emergency services and healthcare: Hospitals are of an excellent standard across the country and many medical staff speak fluent English. Be aware that the healthcare system isnt free for tourists from the UK however so be sure to have valid travel insurance.

Political stability: Iceland is about as politically stable as its possible to be.

Safety score: 9/10

A police officer on a motorbike in Norway

NORWAY

This Scandinavian country is famed for being an exceptionally safe country to visit and you shouldnt encounter any issues whatsoever during your stay.

Crime: Norway has one of the lowest robbery rates in Europe with stats showing fewer than 15 reported crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. There is a very small risk of petty theft around the main train station in Oslo but theres no need to exercise any greater caution than you would at home in a busy area.

Police: In the unlikely event that you need to have dealings with the Norwegian police during your holiday youll find them polite, helpful and often able to speak very good English.

Emergency services and healthcare: Almost all hospitals are public ones but the standards are among the highest in the world. Those private hospitals that do exist are for non-urgent care so youre unlikely to have any cause to visit them.

Political stability: Norway is a world leader when it comes to political stability. Put any thoughts of political demonstrations turning violent out of your mind. Those that do occur are invariably peaceful.

Safety score: 8/10

Cafes in the canton of Bern in Switzerland

SWITZERLAND

Youre exceptionally unlikely to be the victim of crime in Switzerland which ranks as one of the safest nations to travel in on the planet.

Crime: Rates are exceptionally low so theres no need to exercise any greater caution than you would at home. There have been reports of thefts on the trains that run between. Geneva city centre and the airport so keep your possessions within sight if you use this service.

Police: Swiss police can carry guns but, in the whole of 2023, they were only used twice. Youll find Swiss police to be helpful in the unlikely event you need to make contact with them.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare standards are as high as you would expect in one of the wealthiest nations on earth. But be sure to have health insurance as Swiss hospitals charge a fixed daily fee for any stay on top of what you pay for treatment.

Political stability: Switzerland is world renowned for its political stability and you need not give the political situation a second thought before booking your holiday.

Safety score: 9/10

A police car in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany

GERMANY

Crime levels are broadly similar to the UK. So while theres no need to be hyper-vigilant and there are few no-go areas, its important that you protect your possessions in major cities such as Berlin and Hamburg and be wary of pick-pockets in busy train and bus stations and market squares.

Crime: Robbery rates are very low throughout the country and youre unlikely to be a target as a tourist. Exercise the same caution that you would at home.

Police: Officers in bigger German cities usually speak English and are approachable, and easily identifiable.

Emergency services and healthcare: Standards are excellent throughout Germany. In an emergency youll almost certainly be taken by ambulance to a hospital that has a care agreement (zugelassenes Krankenhaus). Most hospitals in Germany have this agreement and, as long as your travel insurance is valid, then you will be cared for.

Political stability: Germany is politically stable and its exceptionally unlikely that this is likely to change in any way that would affect visitors in the near future.

Safety score: 8/10

A busy Christmas market in Copenhagen, Denmark

DENMARK

Denmark is a very safe destination though petty crime does occur in Copenhagen so a degree of care should be taken when it comes to your possessions and keeping to well-lit areas after dark.

Crime: The Danish crime rate is very low for robberies and thefts though tourists should be careful around the central station, the main shopping street, Strget and the Christiania neighbourhood. The latter neighbourhood is usually safe at night but you should be careful of darker side streets as gang violence does occasionally occur.

Police: There is no dedicated tourist police force in Denmark and its exceptionally unlikely youll need police assistance during your holiday. Officers are approachable, many speak good English.

Emergency services and healthcare: Healthcare is of an excellent standard. Some Danish hospitals require advance notification before you arrive.

Political stability: Denmark is exceptionally stable and any demonstrations that may occur during your stay will invariably be peaceful ones.

Safety score: 8.5/10

A sign at a taxi rank in Krakow, Poland

POLAND

This central European country is a safe place to visit currently but the eastern border of the country does border Ukraine. Due to the war, its advisable to not travel within 50km of the border.

Crime: The main crime that visitors fall victim to is being overcharged in unlicensed taxis. You can always spot a legitimate taxi in Poland if it has the company name and phone number on the car door and it has a price card for journeys on the window

Police: There have been instances of con artists and criminals attempting to impersonate police in heavily visited cities such as Krakow and demanding to see ID so be aware of the official police uniform and its blue colours. Many Polish police officers speak some English and are approachable.

Emergency services and healthcare: Standards are high in the major cities and even in rural areas is of a similar standard to the UK.

Political stability: Demonstrations are common in Poland but rarely become violent. If youre concerned, then consult the English language Radio Polskie website for details of events or marches that may occur during your stay.

Safety score: 8/10

The Old Town of Stockholm in Sweden

SWEDEN

Famed for its safe, liberal atmosphere, it would be hard to think of a safer place t holiday than Sweden. In reality, the country perhaps isnt quite as liberal as you might think (there are no decriminalisation of drugs here as there are in the Netherlands of Portugal) but you should find your trip to Sweden to be one entirely free of hassle or crime.

Crime: Sweden has one of the lowest rates for robbery in Europe though dont become complacent. Gang activity, which can turn violent, does occur in the major cities such as Stockholm, Malmo and Gothenburg though youre very unlikely to find yourself in the middle of anything dangerous.

Police: The Swedish police generally dont carry guns and are, as a rule, very approachable should you need them. English is very widely spoken in Sweden and most officers will speak it to a decent standard.

Emergency services and healthcare: Swedish hospitals are typically excellent with a standard that generally exceeds what youd find in the UK. Tourists are charged the exact same amount as locals for medical care though, if youre insured, then this isnt something that youll notice should you fall ill during your time here.

Political stability: Youve probably heard of a certain young Swedish protestor named Greta but any protests that take place in Swedish cities are invariably peaceful ones.

Safety score: 8/10

The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece

GREECE

More than 4.5million British tourists travel to Greece and its glorious islands each year  and the overwhelming majority of trips there are trouble free. However, the country has been hit with back-to-back heatwaves that have claimed the lives of several tourists.

Crime: Petty crime and theft can take place in crowded tourist areas, on public transport and at short-term rentals. Extra caution is advised in Athens, especially when walking in badly-lit areas at night and when travelling on the metro. Road deaths as a proportion of the Greek population are higher than in the UK and car crime is an issue throughout the country so be sure to keep valuables out of sight and park in a secure area. Scams in tourist areas can take place, so watch out for street sellers overcharging. Agree prices in advance, check the authenticity of anything youre buying, and make sure youre given enough change.

Police: The Greek police have been known to arrest tourists for rowdy or indecent behaviour, especially where excessive drinking is involved. Some fancy dress costumes may be regarded as offensive and therefore against decency laws.

Healthcare: Treatment and facilities are generally good at public hospitals on the mainland, but are limited on the islands. Some islands, such as Folegandros, have only one GP and very limited medical facilities. A GHIC card will give you access to emergency or necessary state healthcare in Greece but not repatriation so insurance is required.

Political stability: Authorities have increased security at some prominent locations, including tourist sites, particularly around major squares in central Athens, due to the Gaza/Israel war. Despite enduring a decade-long financial crisis, Greeces economy has stabilised.

Safety score: 8/10
Victoria's Secret model Taylor Hill was showing off her supermodel body on Instagram on Thursday.

The 28-year-old cover girl sizzled in a tiny two piece while in the Mediterranean Sea as she wore her hair short and messy on the 4th of the July in the US.

She was showing off her abs in a strapless white bikini while climbing up onto a boat.

The runway expert appeared to be on vacation on the coast of Italy as there was a rugged coastline with picturesque homes in the background.

Several celebrity followers like Alessandra Ambrosio and Gigi Hadid hit the like button.

Victoria's Secret model Taylor Hill was showing off her supermodel body on Instagram on Thursday

The 28-year-old cover girl sizzled in a tiny two piece while in the Mediterranean Sea as she wore her hair short and messy

He caption read, 'Italy.'

There was also a lemon emoji and another one for a plate of pasta.

Taylor was also seen with her husband Daniel Fryer. The pair wed in June 2023 in Taylor's hometown of Winter Park, Colorado. The bride wore an understated white dress by the Italian fashion house, Etro.

In 2015, she revealed she was tormented in school.

A year after she signed with with talent agency IMG when she was 14 years old, Taylor left her Colorado school to pursue modeling.

However, the now-19-year-old, who got her diploma when she was 16, said she has no regrets about bypassing most of her high school career because her peers would either make fun of her or ignore her.

'Boys didn't like me then, and now they're all like, "Hey, I went to school with you,"' she told Cosmopolitan.com. 'Last time I checked, nobody remembers that I went to that school. People were shocked when they found out I went there. I didn't exist back in the day.'

The brunette beauty, who was named a Victoria's Secret Angel earlier this year, admitted that when she was a student, she was the 'butt of everyone's jokes' and known as 'tall, skinny Taylor'.

She was showing off her thin figure while on a boat

The runway expert appeared to be on vacation on the coast of Italy as there was a rugged coastline with picturesque homes in the background

Several celebrity followers like Alessandra Ambrosio and Gigi Hadid hit the like button

Taylor was also seen with her husband Daniel Fryer. The pair wed in June 2023 in Taylor's hometown of Winter Park, Colorado. The bride wore an understated white dress by the Italian fashion house, Etro

This pale pink off-the-shoulder dress had a beige flower in the center

And feeling like she didn't belong made Taylor want to launch her career that much soon.

'I was ready. I was like, "Put me in the world  I don't care. I'm a nerd. They don't like me there,"' she said.

Taylor noted that she now shares a 'sisterhood' with her fellow Victoria's Secret model and is thankful to be in a 'loving, kind, caring, and fun environment'.

The rising star, who can be seen strutting down the runway when the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airs on Tuesday night, walked the catwalk once for the brand in 2014 before she earned her wings.

'It was amazing,' Taylor told Harper's Bazaar of the moment she was named an Angel. 'This brand makes you feel so good and so special. You belong to something.'

Earlier she offered the outlet a behind-the-scenes look at her first wings fitting before the previously taped show, revealing that she is opening the 'boho psychedelic' section in black wings, a crocheted leather bra, and fringe pants that are 'really boho-rocker'.

And for her second look, Taylor is wearing a stunning patriotic getup complete with an American Flag and blue thigh-high boots featuring white stars.

Taylor, who named Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, and Heidi Klum as some of the Victoria's Secret stars she looks up to, admitted that she feels the most confident when she is 'comfortable' with her ensemble and beauty looks - which isn't difficult considering she has a team of experts helping her look her best.

'The hair and makeup they do is always stunning,' she said. 'Every time I'm always like, "What's that? What do you use for that?"
It seems that The Kardashians believe in life beyond this planet, with most of them confirming their beliefs in aliens and UFOs on this week's episode of the Hulu series.

The family was having dinner out in Aspen when Kendall tried to change the subject after Khloe Kardashian told Kris Jenner to 'f**k off' when she tried to get her to stop talking to her daughter during a family dinner.

She mentions, 'this alien situation at that Miami mall,' referring to an incident in early January 2024 when people claimed alien figures were lurking in the shadows of police spotlights during a police call for a teenage brawl.

Kendall and Kim both think its real, as they show a headline about shadow aliens somehow being loose in Miami.

Khloe gets back into the moment, so to speak, adding, Obviously that was 100% real, as Kris asks, Where are all the video?

It seems that The Kardashians believe in life beyond this planet, with most of them confirming their beliefs in aliens and UFOs on this week's episode of the Hulu series.

The family was having dinner out in Aspen when Kendall tried to change the subject after Khloe Kardashian told Kris Jenner to 'f**k off' when she tried to get her to stop talking to her daughter during a family dinner

She mentions, ' this alien situation at that Miami mall,' referring to an incident in early January 2024 when people claimed alien figures were lurking in the shadows of police spotlights during a police call for a teenage brawl.

A headline referring to the bizarre incident in Miami where people believe that 'shadow aliens' were caught on camera.

Khloe retorts, Mom! Are you kidding me? They have technology that wipes it all out, though Kris is still clearly skeptical.

Khloe calls her brother Rob and ask his take on the Miami mall aliens, as Rob says, I just dont force people to believe whats actually happening.

Kris says, Rob, for the record, I do believe in aliens, while Khloe adds in confession, I love conspiracy theories. I dont have to believe them all but I f***ing love them all, and my brother is right there with me.

Rob states matter-of-factly on the phone, There is literally seven species of aliens, and theres good aliens and bad aliens.

Corey interjects morosely, Theres more than that, Rob, as Rob agrees, Theres more than that for sure, Corey.

I definitely think Corey is an alien, by the way, Ive already told Corey that, Khloe says as Kendall laughs.

Corey, for sure, is an alien, Khloe says in confession, as a producer asks if there is proof and she says no, and when asked if shes sure, Khloe says, Well no but yes.

Kendall asks, Why do you think Corey is an alien? Kris adds to Corey, Im on your team, but when a producer asks Kris in confession if Corey is an alien, she simply says, No.

Khloe retorts, Mom! Are you kidding me? They have technology that wipes it all out, though Kris is still clearly skeptical

Khloe calls her brother Rob and ask his take on the Miami mall aliens, as Rob says, I just dont force people to believe whats actually happening.

Corey interjects morosely, Theres more than that, Rob, as Rob agrees, Theres more than that for sure, Corey'

Corey, for sure, is an alien, Khloe says in confession, as a producer asks if there is proof and she says no, and when asked if shes sure, Khloe says, Well no but yes.

Back at dinner, Khloe says, Theres UFOs on etchings in caves, as Rob adds over the phone, Theyve literally been here since like the 40s, as Corey adds, Centuries, Rob. Centuries.

A producer asks Kris in confession about Corey being an alien, Are you sure? She immediately says, No and shakes her head.

Following the Miami mall incident, CBS News Miami reached out to the City of Miami Police for official comment about the conspiracy and rumors.

Officer Michael Vega said in a statement, 'There were no aliens, UFOs or ETs. No airports were closed no power outages,' followed by a face-palm emoji.
High-profile politicians and well-known business leaders dressed to impress as they attended the Midwinter Ball on Wednesday night.

But while many guests wowed with their looks, several missed the mark and suffered fashion fails.

Senator Jacqui Lambie, who stole the show last year, caused quite a stir when she arrived in a bedazzled blue feathered gown.

She had her hair slicked up in a top knot and accessorised with a big chunky necklace and blue clutch.

Unfortunately, the bright blue hue did not flatter her skin tone and the fluffy hem was an unnecessary addition.

Minister for Youth of Australia Anne Aly also caught the eye for all the wrong reasons in a knitted flowery dress.

The bold frock, which featured a colourful floral sash, was accessorised with a matching knitted black bag and shiny heels.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth missed the mark in a tie-dye dress which swamped her figure.

High-profile politicians and well-known business leaders dressed to impress as they attended the Midwinters Ball on Wednesday night. But while many guests wowed with their looks, several missed the mark and suffered fashion fails, including Senator Jacqui Lambie (above)

Minister for Youth of Australia Anne Aly also caught the eye for all the wrong reasons in a knitted flowery dress

Elsewhere, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young captured attention for all the wrong reasons as she stepped out in a see-through gown.

The Greens politician's short underlay and nude coloured corsetry was exposed with the bright lights of the camera flashes.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth missed the mark as she arrived in a tie-dye dress which swamped her figure. Pictured with speaker Milton Dick

Elsewhere, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (above with her husband Ben Oquist) captured attention for all the wrong reasons as she stepped out in a see-through gown

Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil also suffered a fashion fail in a mismatched red strapless top and flare pant set.

She completed her look with red hoop earrings and wore shiny gold shoes as she posed alongside actress Rachel Griffiths.

Never one to shy away from controversy, Lidia Thorpe arrived in a pro-Palestine dress with the divisive phrase 'from the river to the sea' embroidered down the front.

Her white frock also had a blood-stained look at the bottom and her bag said 'Love Harder'.

Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil (right) also suffered a fashion fail in a mismatched red strapless top and flare pant set as she posed with actress Rachel Griffiths

Never one to shy away from controversy, Lidia Thorpe arrived in a pro-Palestine dress with the divisive phrase 'from the river to the sea' embroidered down the front

Federal Teal Zali Steggles also missed the mark, arriving in a white and silver sack frock which featured added layering on the front.

Unfortunately the dress appeared to be wearing her and not the other way round.

Meanwhile, Minster for Industry and Science Ed Husic's fiancee Fiona Scott chose a long red strapless gown which featured bizarre detailing on the very daring slit.

She risked a major wardrobe malfunction when she put her best foot forward on the carpet in the fire-engine red frock.

Federal Teal Zali Steggles (centre) also missed the mark, arriving in a white and silver frock which featured added layering on the front
16 and Pregnant star Whitney Purvis has been arrested after failing to make child support payments.

The reality TV star, 30, was taken into custody on Tuesday in Floyd County, Georgia, as per TMZ, and has been ordered to serve 48 hours in jail.

The mom-of-three is set to be released sometime on Thursday, right for the Fourth of July celebrations.

The MTV star  who's been arrested a number of times before  has been ordered to pay an additional $20 per month in order to cover the back support.

She will also continue having to pay her current monthly obligation of $353 per month.

16 and Pregnant star Whitney Purvis, 30, has been arrested after failing to make child support payments in Floyd County, Georgia, on Tuesday; Pictured in her mugshot

Whitney's arrest came after she was court ordered to participate in the Parental Accountability Court Program and comply with its conditions, which she allegedly failed to do, according to legal documents obtained by The Sun.

She welcomed her first child, Weston Owen Jr., with then-boyfriend Weston Gosa on the show, and later gave birth to their second son River Blake in 2014.

Weston currently has custody of their two sons. He was granted legal and physical custody in 2018, as per The Sun.

Purvis was granted visitation rights every other weekend.

She welcomed her third child, son Collin Adonis, in 2023. It's unclear who the child's father is.

Whitney was previously arrested back in 2012, for allegedly shoplifting a pregnancy test from a Walmart.

That same year she and Gosa were accused of destroying someone else's laptop and cell phone.

She was also booked after allegedly attacking Weston with a broom in 2015, and for making threats against him.

Whitney rose to fame after appearing on MTV's 16 and Pregnant season 1, alongside Maci Bookout, Catelynn Lowell, Amber Portwood, and Farrah Abraham.

The reality TV star has been ordered to serve 48 hours in jail as per TMZ, and is set to be released sometime on Thursday

Whitney has been arrested a number of times before. In 2015 she landed in jail after allegedly attacking ex-boyfriend, and father of her two sons, Weston Gosa, with a broom handle

She welcomed her first child, Weston Jr., on the show, and later gave birth to son River in 2014. Her ex-boyfriend Weston currently has custody of their two sons. She welcomed her third child, son Collin Adonis, in 2023. It's unclear who the child's father is

Whitney rose to fame after appearing on MTV's 16 and Pregnant season 1, alongside Maci Bookout, Catelynn Lowell, Amber Portwood, and Farrah Abraham; Seen in a still from the show

Purvis did not go on to star in seasons after, or the show's popular spin-off, Teen Mom.

Whitney's journey on 16 and Pregnant wasn't easy, as she faced isolation from friends and family, financial struggles, and dropping out of high school.

Despite initial attempts to live with her grandmother and Gosa during her first pregnancy, Whitney and her then-boyfriend eventually ventured out on their own.

The duo separated shortly after their son's birth, and have been in an on-again, off-again relationship since then.
Robert De Niro's daughter Drena is keeping her late son Leandro's memory alive.

On Tuesday, the A Star Is Born actress, 56, paid tribute to her child with a heartfelt tribute and photos on Instagram, marking one year since Leandro's death at age 19.

'I KNEW this kid was jacking my clothes behind my back!!!' she started in the caption, referencing a photo of the teen serving a fun look. 'Today we celebrated sweet wild boy Leo..

'In your short time here you made the world a brighter place. You are deeply loved like the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sea.'

Drena continued, 'Thank you to everyone of you who held me, @carlosmare and our family in your arms and hearts through the darkest days.. I can only hope to pay it forward.. #cantspelllovewithoutleo'

Robert De Niro's daughter Drena is keeping her late son Leandro's memory alive. On Tuesday, the actress, 56, paid tribute to her child with a heartfelt tribute and photos on Instagram, marking one year since Leandro's death at age 19

Leandro's death was ruled an accident, caused by a 'toxic' combination of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine; pictured with mom Drena and grandfather Robert

Leandro was found dead by a friend on July 2, 2023, sitting in a chair in his New York City apartment.

His death was ruled an accident, caused by a 'toxic' combination of illicit drugs, including fentanyl, bromazolam, alprazolam, 7-aminoclonazepam, ketamine and cocaine.

Sofia Haley Marks, 20, was arrested in connection with the overdose last July, charged federally with distributing narcotics.

Drena, who shared Leandro with artist Carlos Rodriguez, announced their son's death on Instagram, writing: 'My beautiful sweet angel. I have loved you beyond words or description from the moment I felt you in my belly.

'You have been my joy my heart and all that was ever pure and real in my life. I wish I was with you right now. I wish I was with you.

She continued, 'I don't know how to live without you but I'll try to go on and spread the love and light that you so made me feel in getting to be your mama.

'You were so deeply loved and appreciated and I wish that love alone could have saved you. I'm so sorry my baby, I'm so sorry @carlosmare. Rest in Peace and Eternal Paradise my darling boy,' added Drena.

Carlos wrote in his own post, 'Words arent enough to express the joy he gave us or the loss we now endure with our families and friends.

'He is God's child now. On this full moon his spirit luminates what could not be seen in the dark,' he added. 'You cant spell LOVE without LEO.'

'In your short time here you made the world a brighter place. You are deeply loved like the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sea,' she wrote

'I KNEW this kid was jacking my clothes behind my back!!!' she started in the caption, referencing a photo of the teen serving a fun look

'Today we celebrated sweet wild boy Leo.. In your short time here you made the world a brighter place,' wrote Drena. 'You are deeply loved like the sun loves the moon and the moon loves the sea'

Robert adopted Drena in 1976 when he married her mother Diahnne Abbott. The pair divorced in 1988 after welcoming another child

Robert, 80, opened up about the 'awful' tragedy of his grandson's death in a February interview with People.

'It's just a shock,' he said after recalling his 'disbelief' in hearing the tragic news. '[I] never thought it would happen.'

'And I just then started thinking about all the things I could have, should have done maybe with him,' the Oscar winner continued. 'I don't know if that would've made a difference. And so that's always playing through my mind.'

The Killers of the Flower Moon actor added, 'It shouldn't have happened.'

He adopted Drena in 1976 when he married her mother Diahnne Abbott. The pair divorced in 1988 after welcoming another child.

Robert has five other children, including a baby girl named Gia he welcome in April with girlfriend Tiffany Chen, 45, with whom he has been linked since summer 2021.
Jodie Kidd looked elegant in a suit co-ord as she beamed alongside Sam Taylor-Johnson and Damson Idris at a IWC Schaffhausen event in London on Wednesday.

The British model, 45, looked radiant posing at the swanky event, which celebrated ten years of partnership with Formula 1 alum Lewis Hamilton in a luxurious rooftop bar next to Battersea Power Station.

The TV personality nailed a chic look in the cream blazer and smart trousers teamed with a black top.

Jodie finished off with white trainers, and added a touch of bling with a dainty gold necklace and tiny pendant earrings.

She rubbed shoulders with Snowfall star Damson Idris, 32, who sported a stylish white jumper and dove trousers.

Jodie Kidd looked elegant in a suit co-ord as she beamed alongside Sam Taylor-Johnson and Damson Idris at a IWC Schaffhausen event in London on Friday

The British model looked radiant posing at the swanky event, which celebrated ten years of partnership with Formula 1 alum Lewis Hamilton in a luxurious rooftop bar next to Battersea Power Station

Meanwhile IWC Schaffhausen Christoph CEO Grainger-Herr flashed a smile as he posed with Damson.

Showing off a cheerful grin Sam, 57, rocked an all-white ensemble while contrasting with a black blazer and glam black stiletto heels.

The director made a statement adding pink-tinted shades and accessorised with a bracelet and a watch.

Emma Walsh looked stylish in a cream co-ord with tailored trousers and buttoned vest.

The Made In Chelsea star, 40, sported a stunning denim maxi coat with her outfit.

Elsewhere Roman Kemp donned an edgy black leather jacket and matching trousers.

Lewis Hamilton was captured beaming on stage posing with Vicky Piria, Lucy Hedges and Cristoph.

He sported a stylish navy raincoat jacket, celebrating the successful partnership with the luxury Swiss watch brand.

She nailed a chic look in the cream blazer and smart trousers teamed with a black top

Jodie finished off with white trainers, and added a touch of bling with a dainty gold necklace and tiny pendant earrings

She rubbed shoulders with Snowfall star Damson Idris and director Sam Taylor-Johnson

The trio posed for photos together by the pool

Meanwhile IWC Schaffhausen Christoph CEO Grainger-Herr flashed a smile as he posed with Damson

He sported a stylish white jumper and dove trousers

Damson was joined by Emma Weymouth

Emma looked sensational in a floral print mini dress

Showing off a cheerful grin Sam, 57, rocked an all-white ensemble while contrasting with a black blazer

The director made a statement adding pink-tinted shades and accessorised with a bracelet and a watch

Emma Walsh looked stylish in a cream co-ord with tailored trousers and buttoned vest

Elsewhere Roman Kemp donned an edgy black leather jacket and matching trousers

Roman looked in good spirits as he DJ'd at the event

The radio host played some tunes for the guests
Sting was every inch the proud husband as he supported his wife Trudie Styler at the Globo d'Oro Awards in Rome on Wednesday.

The music legend, 72, cut a dapper figure as he joined the director, 70, on the red carpet, before she was honoured with the Best Documentary prize.

Trudie, who married Sting in 1992, opted for an elegant cream lace dress as she prepared to accept the award for her film Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples.

The film detailed Trudie and Sting's passion for Italy, with the actress detailing her history with the country at the ceremony, during an interview with PEOPLE.

She said: 'Sting and I fell in love with Italy many years ago  so much so that after one of our kids was born near Pisa, we spent years looking for a home for us all. Italy has always been incredibly kind to us.

Sting, 72, was every inch the proud husband as he supported his wife Trudie Styler, 70, at the Globo d'Oro Awards in Rome on Wednesday

The music legend cut a dapper figure as he joined the director on the red carpet

Trudie, who married Sting in 1992, opted for an elegant cream lace dress as she prepared to accept the Best Documentary award for her film Posso Entrare? An Ode to Naples

'Since the 1980s when I made films here in Rome at Cinecitta, then Sting wrote one of his most emotional albums near Pisa the year after his parents died, and at the same time I gave birth to one of our kids, Italy has a special place in our hearts for many reasons.'

Sting and Trudie are parents to four children, Mickey, 40, Jake, 39, Eliot, 33, and Giacomo, 28, while The Police frontman also shares son Joe, 47, and daughter Fuschia, 42, with ex Frances Tomelty.

Detailing how the family juggles Trudy and Sting's busy work schedules, she said they are 'proud' of them.

She said: 'They appreciate that we are busy and fulfilled. The kids all have their own paths and careers and they've got good work ethics, so we're proud of them for that.'

The outing comes after the couple attended the Ivor Novello Awards, where Sting was awarded with a Fellowship which is the highest honour the Academy bestows.

Speaking on the carpet, the British rocker said he 'loves' the Ivors Academy and was 'delighted' to be 'granted this wonderful honour'.

He said: 'The last time I was here I got a lifetime achievement award which I thought was a bit premature...

'But the fellowship was obviously beyond lifetime and it sounds a bit like Lord Of The Rings, but I think there are more duties attached to a fellowship.

The film detailed Trudie and Sting's passion for Italy , with the actress detailing her history with the country at the ceremony, during an interview with PEOPLE

Sting and Trudie are parents to Mickey, 40, Jake, 39, Eliot, 33, and Giacomo, 28, while The Police frontman also shares son Joe, 47, and daughter Fuschia, 42, with ex Frances Tomelty

Detailing how the family juggles Trudy and Sting's busy work schedules, she said they are 'proud' of them

Sting was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave band The Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986

Monica Bellucci was also among the stars in attendance at the awards, with the actress opting for an eye-catching black dress

After recently confirming their romance, Monica was joined by her boyfriend Tim Burton

As Monica was honoured at the Globo d'Oro Awards, Monica proudly posed with her gong on the red carpet

'The Ivors protect the rights of songwriters - that's one of the things they do, not just established songwriters like me, but up-and-coming songwriters.

'It is also a major export of Britain, our songwriting, so they need protecting, so I am very proud to be part of this organisation.'

Sting was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave band The Police from 1977 until their breakup in 1986.

He launched a solo career in 1985.
Chet Hanks has denounced 'bigots' who have used his 'white boy summer' phrase to promote hate.

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson's rapper son, 33, took to Instagram on Wednesday to distance himself from people who 'twisted' the meaning of the phrase, which is also the name of his 2021 song, after it was co-opted by white supremacist groups.

'White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race,' Chet wrote in a text post.

'Anything else that it has been twisted into to support any kind of hate or bigotry against any group of people is deplorable and I condemn it.'

Chet, who's often been accused of cultural appropriation for speaking with a Caribbean patois, wrapped up his post writing, 'I hope that we all can spread love to each other and treat each other with kindness and dignity.'

Tom Hanks' rapper son Chet Hanks, 33, has condemned 'bigots' who have used his 'white boy summer' phrase, and 2021 song title, to promote hate

He took to Instagram on Wednesday to distance himself from those who 'twisted' the meaning of the phrase, after it was co-opted by white supremacist groups, writing 'I condemn it'

His followers quickly applauded the post, with one writing, 'real ones know!!! white boy summer is all inclusive.'

'White boy summer is the pinnacle of inclusivity,' another added.

Chet  born Chester Marlon Hanks  went on to write another statement on his Stories about the power of God.

'The power of governments, corporations, the media, and the wealth of men are all NOTHING in the face of the only TRUE power in this world and the world unseen... the Power of GOD, the Most High Creator of Heaven and Earth, and ALL THE GLORY be unto HIM!!'

'Quote me on THAT!!' he added.

His response was seemingly prompted by a New York Times piece which discussed how the tagline has become popular among white supremacists.

Chet  who recently opened up about his severe past drug use  has had to defend the phrase before. While appearing on Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan he explained that it was a play on Megan Thee Stallion's 'Hot Girl Summer' and meant to promote interracial relationships.

He also previously clarified that the name of his 'movement' is not racial in nature, and that he's not talking about 'Trump and Nascar type white.'

In May, Chet appeared on Instagram to once again declare that it will be a 'white boy summer.'

Chet wrote in the caption, 'I have consulted with the heavens, felt a westward breeze, and walked outside of a strip club and saw my shadow this will be a #WBS #iHaveSpoken.'

'White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race,' he wrote; Seen in a still from his White Boy Summer video

Chet went on to write another statement on his Stories about the power of God

In May, Chet appeared on Instagram to once again declare that it will be a 'white boy summer'

Hanks found himself the butt of jokes in 2021, when he originally coined the phrase and urged followers to 'tag a real vanilla king'

The musician has had to defend the phrase before, explaining that it was a play on Megan Thee Stallion's 'Hot Girl Summer' and meant to promote interracial relationships

Back when he first used the term, Chet was mercilessly mocked online, with one social media user quipping: 'Someone tell Chet Hanks that we're already several thousand years into a white boy summer.'

The phrase raised eyebrows despite his assertion that it is about 'good vibes.'

Hanks also defended his wardrobe staple  a ribbed white tank top, which some colloquially refer to as a 'wifebeater.'

The actor stated in 2021, 'Someone also asked me can we ban wifebeaters. If we're talking about actual people who beat their wives? Yes.

'If we're talking about the tank tops? Absolutely not. I don't know anything more White Boy Summer than a wifebeater.'

He also made clear that 'prejudice' is not 'white boy summer.'

'You know what's not white boy summer? Having any ill will or prejudice toward anybody from a different background, race, walk of life than you, you know?... That's not White Boy Summer, dude. That's the sh*t we gotta elevate and get rid of, straight up... Because the real vibes is having nothing but good vibes toward everybody,' he noted.

The father-of-one previously faced backlash for refusing to apologize for culturally appropriating accents.

While appearing on Showtime talk show ZIWE, he was asked if there were any marginalized communities he wanted to apologize to. Hanks replied: 'Nah.'

Chet had routinely been hit with claims of 'cultural appropriation' for frequently attempting to speak in a fake 'Jamaican' accent.

The father-of-one has routinely been hit with claims of 'cultural appropriation' for frequently attempting to speak in a fake 'Jamaican' accent

Chet (pictured with his parents) is one of the two sons Hollywood legends Tom and Rita have together. His brother is actor Truman Hanks, 28

In 2020, he was yet again slammed for impersonating what seemed to be Jamaican patois - an English-based creole language with West African influences - in a bizarre video rant about Donald Trump following Joe Biden's presidential win.

Chet once again impersonated a Jamaican accent at the Golden Globes in 2020, after a video went viral of him speaking Patois and laughing, as he said he didn't want a 'mawga' girl, meaning 'skinny.'

However, he defended his actions when speaking about cultural appropriation in an Instagram video in February.

He asked: 'Why are we so caught up on this idea of theft and stealing?'

'Why are we so quick to be angry and tense over the blurring of racial communities, instead of just being welcoming towards it?'

Chet is one of the two sons Hollywood legends Tom and Rita have together. His brother is actor Truman Hanks, 28. Tom also shares son Colin, 46, and daughter Elizabeth, 42, with his first wife, Samantha Lewes.
Monica Bellucci turned heads in a sheer maxi coat as she held hands with her partner Tim Burton at the 64th Globo d'Oro Awards at Villa Massimo in Rome, Italy.

The Italian-born actress, 59, exuded glamour in an all-black ensemble while cosying up to directing legend Tim Burton, 65, on Wednesday.

Monica was truly the epitome of elegance in the slightly see-through coat while flashing black tights and a dress underneath.

Her head-turning look was toted with also black shades and a leather studded handbag.

The Malena star exuded confidence showing off her ageless complexion and towered herself in a pair of classy strappy heels.

Monica Bellucci, 59, turned heads in a sheer maxi coat as she held hands with her partner Tim Burton, 65, at the 64th Globo d'Oro Awards at Villa Massimo in Rome, Italy

The Italian-born actress exuded dramatic glamour in an all-black ensemble while cosying up to the directing legend at the event

Monica was truly the epitome of elegance in the sheer coat while flashing black tights and a dress underneath

She kept jewellery to a minimum with just a gold choker necklace and a ring.

Monica and the Corpse Bride director looked very smitten with one another, strutting as they arrived at the event.

They held hands while stopping for a quick series of snaps before whisking off inside the annual film event in the Italian capital.

The two lovebirds - who have been firstly romantically linked earlier in February - packed on the PDA even as they took to the red carpet.

Monica kept her glamorous shades on as she smiled graciously under the spotlight.

Meanwhile the Beetlejuice filmmaker couldn't keep his hands off the actress as sweetly leaned on her to stamp her a smooch on the cheek.

Monica - who was previously married to actor Vincent Cassel - and Tim - who was married to star Helena Bonham Carter - were captured enjoying the ceremony in exclusive front row seats.

It was quite the glorious night for the Italian stunner as she was rewarded with a legendary Award To The Career ('Premio Alla Carriera') in her native land.

Her head-turning look was teamed with black sunglasses

Monica finished her outfit with a leather studded handbag as she posed on the red carpet

The Malena star exuded confidence showing off her ageless complexion

The brunette bombshell towered herself in a pair of classy strappy heels

Monica and the Corpse Bride director looked very smitten with one another as they arrived at the event together

They held hands while stopping for a quick series of snaps before whisking off inside the annual film event in the Italian capital

The two lovebirds - who have been firstly romantically linked earlier in February - packed on the PDA as they took to the red carpet

Meanwhile the Beetlejuice filmmaker couldn't keep his hands off the actress as he sweetly leaned on her to give her a kiss on the cheek

Monica kept her glamorous shades on as she smiled graciously under the spotlight

Monica and Tim were captured enjoying the ceremony in exclusive front row seats

It was quite the glorious night for the Italian stunner as she was rewarded with a legendary Award To The Career ('Premio Alla Carriera') in her native land

The Raffle star appeared over the moon as she posed on the red carpet holding the precious gong

Earlier in the day Monica looked emotional as she took to the stage to accept the prize and thank the people in attendance

The former model even made some time to stop with dedicated fans outside as she was snapped signing autographs

The Raffle star appeared over the moon as she posed on the red carpet holding the precious gong.

Earlier in the night Monica looked emotional as she took to the stage to accept the prize and thank the people in attendance.

The former model even made some time to stop with dedicated fans outside as she was snapped signing autographs.

Monica finally confirmed their relationship in an interview with Elle France in June 2023, months after they were first linked.

'What I can say... I'm glad I met the man, first of all,' she said. 'It's one of those encounters that rarely happens in life... I know the man, I love him, and now I'm going to meet the director, another adventure begins.'

The model had been shooting Beetlejuice 2 with Burton in London as of late, and gushed about the filmmaker's vision.

'I love Tim,' she continued. 'And I have great respect for Tim Burton.'

Speaking of his work she said: 'I love this dream world where the monsters are kind, like we can turn our darker aspects into something bright, forgiving. Tim Burton's films talk about that a lot.'

Monica and Tim first met 16 years ago but are said to have started dating after seeing one another at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon in October 2022.

News of their romance emerged the following February, when Paris Match wrote that the couple 'briefly met on the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes in 2006, but it was only sixteen years later, behind the scenes of another festival, that they got closer.'
Jackie 'O' Henderson attended her friend Alexander Porter's wedding in France on Tuesday evening.

And just one day after the celebration, the radio host had the time of her life as she partied hard at the newlyweds' recovery event.

In a series of images shared to Instagram, the 49-year-old blonde beauty showed off her tiny frame in yellow floral shorts as she danced along to the music with friends.

Jackie completed her look with a matching buttoned shirt, brown sandals and bright yellow sunglasses.

She curled her long locks and wore a natural makeup palette as she partied with her close friends including Gemma O'Neill.

Jackie threw her hands in the air as she danced to the music with other guests.

The party comes just one day after Alexander - whose family owns Australia's leading condom brand Four Seasons - said 'I do' with partner Chris.

Their wedding took place at Chateau de la Napoule, a restored French castle, located in Mandelieu-la-Napoule - about a 15 minute drive from Cannes.

Jackie O Henderson showed off her tiny frame in shorts as she partied hard at Four Seasons condom heir's wedding recovery party in France on Wednesday

Like his brother Michael Porter, who married longtime partner Billy Mitchell in an Italian wedding last year, the heir held a three-day extravaganza event attended by celebrities, business moguls and influencers.

Jackie stole the show on the couple's big day, looking ever inch the Hollywood movie star in a $5,500 Mariam Seddiq white strapless bridal gown.

She completed her look with a pair of long black Opera gloves and Valentino shades.

Joined by her close friend Gemma, the blonde beauty also carried a Paco Rabanne 1969 ball chainmail disc clutch, worth an eye-watering $1,700.

In a series of images shared to Instagram, the 49-year-old blonde beauty showed off her tiny frame in yellow floral shorts as she danced with friends

She curled her long locks and wore a natural makeup palette as she partied with her close friends including Gemma O'Neill

The radio star posted several photos of the event on her Instagram page, and explained that the two grooms encouraged all female guests to wear white.

'Prepare yourselves cause we're going a bit extra today!!!! The boys said "make sure you bring the glam" and encouraged girls to wear white if they wanted to (before the wedding police shoot me down!),' she wrote.

'This was honestly the most beautiful wedding I have EVER seen and probably will ever see in my lifetime. Wow!!!! Thank you for allowing us to share in your spectacular and ever so loving & special day,' she added.
He is the popular TV host known for his confidence.

But on Thursday, Karl Stefanovic cowered in fear as a guest threatened him on Nine's Today Show.

In the hilarious footage, the 49-year-old covered his head as New Zealand kickboxer Israel Adesanya pretended to attack him during an interview on the show.

'Get him Izzy, get him,' Stefanovic's co-host Sarah Abo can be heard saying.

Israel then moved closer to Stefanovic before gently tapping him on the head and bursting into laughter.

The video, which was reposted to the Today Show's Instagram page, was captioned: 'Very scary moment for Karl.'

It comes after Stefanovic was recently left 'worried' when an iconic guest appeared to fall asleep during a trainwreck interview.

The TV presenter and his co-host Sarah became concerned while interviewing Australian legend Jack Karlson on the Nine Network show last month.

Karl Stefanovic cowered in fear as New Zealand kickboxer Israel Adesanya pretended to attack him during his interview on the show

Karlson was famously arrested while enjoying a 'succulent Chinese meal' on October 11, 1991, and appeared on Today to discuss the incident more than 32 years on.

He joined the show via video link from Brisbane alongside one of the police officers who arrested him, Stoll Watt, who have become fast friends since the viral moment.

But the interview got off to a bumpy start as the two friends struggled to hear the show's hosts before things got even worse when Karlson appeared to fall asleep.

In the video, Israel moved closer to Stefanovic before gently tapping him on the head and bursting into laughter

About two minutes into the chat, Karlson closed his eyes as Watt spoke and didn't open them again for more than a minute as the conversation carried on.

When Stoll finished speaking, Stefanovic said: 'I just got a little worried there, Jack might've nodded off like Weekend at Bernies. You still with us, Jackie boy?'

Karlson, who is now in his eighties, then opened his eyes and rejoined the conversation, with Stefanovic and Abo trying not to laugh.
Kaitlyn Bristowe is blasting people who accused her of copying her ex-partner Jason Tartick's girlfriend Kat Stickler on social media.

This all started when the reality star was accused of being a copy-cat after she posted a photo of her niece's braided blonde locks soon after Stickler had shared a similar picture of her daughter's hair styled in a braid.

'Oh Christ guys. I braided my niece's hair and posted about it not having a f***ing clue someone else did,' Bristowe, 39, wrote on her Instagram Story.

'Y'all are freaking me out to post anything cuz I can't even eat pizza anymore without someone thinking something,' she shared, before adding, 'I do not follow these people, I do not see their content, I do not care.'

The Bachelor Nation star continued, 'Sorry to break it to you but I do not care to be copying anyone. Please calm down.'

Kaitlyn Bristowe hit back at people who accused her of copying Kat Stickler by posting a photo the braid she did for her niece, soon after her fellow reality star

This all started when Stickler shared a photo of the braid did for her daughter, which she declared to be 'my best one yet if I do say so myself'

Bristowe ended up chalking this up to another instance of people trying to get women to take down and ridicule other women.

'Please stop pitting me against other incredible women. None of us deserve that,' she concluded her Instagram post on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Bristowe showed off her hair-styling skills with a photo of the braid she did for her niece, where she professed: 'I still got it,' in the since-deleted post.

Not long before, Stickler had posted the image of her daughter Mary-Katherine's braid, which also included her taking pride in the work she did on her daughter.

'I think its my best one yet if I do say so myself, the popular social media star, 29, wrote inside the image showing Mary-Katherine's beautiful blonde locks and braid.

After meeting during an interview on her Off The Vine podcast, Bristowe started dating Tartick in January 2019.

But ultimately the couple decided to go their separate ways last August after about four years as an item.

Taratick would end up moving on to another romance first when he started dating Stickler in April after months of speculation, according to People.

Bristowe had been spending quality time with her niece in recent days when she took the photo of the braid she did for the young teenager

Bristowe took to her Instagram Story to respond to all the chatter and professed that she didn't have a clue someone else had shared a similar photo, including that of Stickler

Bristowe ended up chalking this up to another instance of someone trying to get women to take down and ridicule other women

The proud aunt also shared a before-and after photo of herself and her niece 13 years apart

After dating for about four years, ending last summer, Jason Tartick has since moved on and is now in a romance with Stickler, which was made Instagram official in April

As for Bristowe, she has since been linked romantically with Tayshia Adams ex-fiance Zac Clark since January.

Adams, 33, and Bristowe had previously served as co-hosts of seasons 17 and 18 of The Bachelorette

During an appearance on the Let's Be Honest podcast the Leduc, Alberta, Canada native revealed that she's still dating other people, while her new beau's not seeing anyone else.

Bristowe went on to gush about her unnamed man, describing him as 'all heart' and 'a very good human,' but confessed that she wonders if the relationship 'is going to turn.'
MTV star, 50, said he's 'been so particularly in love with that idea'

Steve-O says he's planning to get breast implants for two months for a comedic bit.

The TV star, 50, whose full name is Stephen Gilchrist Glover, spoke Wednesday about the endeavor on the podcast X5, explaining his frame of mind in pursuing the body modification.

'I came up with the idea a few years ago to get a boob job,' Steve-O said, 'and just film a bunch of legitimately funny hidden camera pranks with me in disguise, in various disguises, and then revealing who I actually am, and just funny endurance stunts, and whatever.'

Steve-O, who shot to fame on the MTV series Jackass, said he thinks that the surgery and resultant pranks would elevate his brand of performance art to a new level.

'I've been so particularly in love with that idea,' he said, 'because the comedy, the opportunity for comedy I believe is absolutely there, and it's like the quintessential Steve-O - that level of commitment.'

Steve-O, 50, says he's planning to get breast implants for two months for a comedic bit. The MTV personality spoke Wednesday about the endeavor on the podcast X5

Steve-O said that he has scheduled the surgery with doctors and had extensive meetings about what undergoing the surgery entails.

He said he will keep the implants for 'two months, then they're coming out.'

Steve-O said he has expressed his concerns to doctors about the long-term impact of the medical procedure.

'I spoke with the doctors, and I said to them candidly, "The one thing I'm really freaked out about, and bummed out about, and would back out of this over, is if I'm just gonna be a mess afterwards,"' he said.

He said his medical professionals he met with reassured him there would be no long-term effects of the surgery under the timeline involved.

'You know, it's going under the muscle, and the doctors are completely unfazed, like, "Two months, it comes out, absolutely no issue,"' Steve-O said.

An October 2018 report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons stated that 'most surgeons agree that a full recovery can take on average six weeks or so' and that the most intense side effects subside after about a week.

The star said he 'came up with the idea a few years ago to get a boob job'

Steve-O said he has expressed his concerns to doctors about the long-term impact of the medical procedure

The MTV star recently made headlines as he relocated from Los Angeles to Tennessee to live on a property he calls the 'Radical Ranch'

Steve-O chat with the podcast about past efforts he's taken as 'a body modification guy,' including a tattoo on his back and a piercing on his behind.

'Body modification has been part of my f***ing deal,' he said. 'It's been a lane in my art since the beginning. And this level of commitment to this bit, how nuts it is - I believe in it, and I'm gonna go ahead and do it.'

Steve-O previously expressed his interest in pursing the surgical procedure in an October 2022 chat with Dr. Mike.

He said at the time: 'There's a healthy dose of 'My body, my choice' in there, which I believe in.

'There's some straight curiosity that as a heterosexual man who identifies as male  does a boob job mean I can't post pictures on Instagram with my shirt off?'

The MTV star recently made headlines as he relocated from Los Angeles to Tennessee to live on a property he calls the 'Radical Ranch.'

In addition to appearing on the original Jackass series, he has been seen in the franchise's multiple films. He released his memoir A Hard Kick in the Nuts: What I've Learned from a Lifetime of Terrible Decisions in 2022.
Mark Wahlberg raved about his sizzling screen romance with Halle Berry in their upcoming action comedy The Union.

In the movie, Mark, 53, plays a construction worker called Mike who leads a normal life in New Jersey and has never left the Tristate Area.

Meanwhile Halle, 57, plays Roxanne, his glamorous former high school sweetheart who has embarked on a radically different existence as a super spy.

Once they are both middle-aged, Roxanne reappears in Mike's life and seduces him - only to ensnare him in a deadly web of espionage.

Now Mark has gushed about his co-star, pointing out that 'it's every guy's fantasy, to think that they got a shot with Halle Berry,' in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Mark Wahlberg raved about his sizzling screen romance with Halle Berry in their upcoming action comedy The Union; pictured in the film

He also revealed that he and Halle 'have known each other for such a long time,' although they never starred in a movie together before The Union.

In spite of Halle's smoldering movie star magnetism, Mark said that his wife Rhea has no need to have any concerns about his eye wandering.

'I think it's a little weird anyway when you're portraying some sort of romance onscreen, it's not normal, but my wife knows that she is my everything. She is the most special woman in the world,' Mark said sweetly.

Rhea and Mark got married in 2009 after an eight-year romance and are now the proud parents of four children - Ella, 20, Michael, 18, Brendan, 15, and Grace, 14.

As for his movie relationship with Halle, Mark explained: 'They were childhood sweethearts, and they come back together. He basically waited 25 years for her to come back, walk back through that door and into his life, and it happens, and there isn't anything he wouldn't do to prove himself to her if he got a second chance.'

The Ted star shared: 'For me, that was the whole motivation of the character: just do anything he could to not screw it up again.'

In the trailer, Roxanne whirls back into Mike's life and approaches him at a bar, tricking him into believing all she wants is to strike up their romance again.

But when she lures him into a park, she injects him with a drug that knocks him out and he wakes up in Europe - kickstarting a wild adventure.

Roxanne's colleague Tom Brennan, played by a grizzled JK Simmons, briefs Mike on the mission he has just unwittingly joined.

'Two nights ago, a list containing the identities of every US spy was stolen, and to get it back, we need someone who is not on that list,' says Tom.

'We need a nobody - a nobody I can trust,' says Roxanne, explaining that she and Tom are employed by a mysterious spy organization called The Union.

In spite of Halle's smoldering movie star magnetism, Mark said that his wife Rhea has no need to have any concerns about his eye wandering, as she 'knows she is my everything'

In the movie Mark, 53, plays a construction worker called Mike who leads a normal life in New Jersey and has never left the Tristate Area

Meanwhile Halle, 57, plays Roxanne, his glamorous former high school sweetheart who has embarked on a radically different existence as a super spy

Before long, he flings himself headlong into heart-stopping action sequences, including gunfights, fistfights and chases.

Their romance also blossoms again, as Roxanne fondly tells Mike: 'I'm glad it's you and me, and I'm really glad I walked back into that bar.'

In an endearing scene, Mike calls his mother - played by GoodFellas star Lorraine Bracco - from Roxanne's phone and she somehow recognizes the number.

'Ma, how do you know that?' Mike says, nonplussed, to which his mother cheerily replies: 'I always liked her for you. What is she up to?'

Directed by Julian Farino, who helmed several episodes of Entourage, The Union is slated for release via Netflix on August 16.
Sonja Morgan was accused of being 'belligerent, rude and disrespectful' by Jeff Lewis.

Lewis, 54, said he was 'very annoyed' by the Real Housewives of New York City alum's behavior during their joint appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.

On a Wednesday episode of his SiriusXM radio show, Jeff Lewis Live, he claimed Morgan, 60, was 'obnoxious,' 'belligerent' and very drunk during the taping.

'I was very annoyed by Sonja and, I believe  that they did a lot of work to edit her obnoxious, drunk behavior, but what you see was 20 times worse' he said about Cohen's anniversary special, which aired on June 30.

He also opened up about how Morgan allegedly instigated an awkward exchange between him and Teresa Giudice backstage, which continued on air.

'She never stopped talking. She was belligerent,' the former Bravo star added before bringing up a rumor about how Welcome to Crappie Lake was not renewed because of her alleged drinking and poor behavior.

Sonja Morgan was accused of being 'belligerent, rude and disrespectful' by Jeff Lewis

Lewis, 54, said he was 'very annoyed' by the Real Housewives of New York City alum's behavior during their joint appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

He said that Morgan started getting rambunctious during a commercial break while taping WWHL with Porscha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Luann de Lesseps and Jerry O'Connell.

Backstage, he said Morgan told him that she only hates 'one other person' more than him.

'Like, here I am celebrating 15 years with my good friend Andy Cohen,' he said. 'I'm having the best time.

'And I got this woman coming for me  by the way, accusing me of something that I don't recall doing  and I don't think it was something that I did do,' he continued.

He also claimed that Morgan demanded him to 'get on [his] knees' and apologize to Giudice.

After the commercial break, Lewis and the Real Housewives of New Jersey star did confirm they had a tiff backstage.

During the episode, Cohen asked Lewis if he made peace with Giudice and 'squashed their beef' backstage.

The Bravo exec and TV host's question caused an awkward exchange on air as the reality TV personality was initially unconvinced by Lewis' apology.

On a Wednesday episode of his SiriusXM radio show, Jeff Lewis Live, he claimed Morgan, 60, was 'obnoxious,' 'belligerent' and very drunk during the taping

He also opened up about how Morgan allegedly instigated an awkward exchange between him and Teresa Giudice backstage, which continued on air

They had joined Cohen for his anniversary special of WWHL alongside Porsha Williams, Phaedra Parks, Luann de Lesseps, Giudice and Jerry O'Connell. Lewis said Morgan's behavior was '20 times worse' than what was shown on TV

'We're good, right?' Lewis asked Giudice.

'Well, he was saying sorry to me because he said something,' she said. 'But it's like, if you didn't mean it, I don't know why you said it.'

On air, Lewis said he was genuinely sorry: 'I apologize. I was wrong, and I apologized. I'm not dissing her.'

The origins of their feud remain unclear but Lewis recently said he would rather RHONJ fire Giudice over her sister-in-law Melissa Gorga when posing a hypothetical question.

'I think I'd probably let Teresa go,' he said while appearing on the Two Ts in a Pod podcast episode in May. 'Oh, is that not good? I don't know. Is that a problem? It's just my opinion.'

The Bravo exec's 15th anniversary special episode aired on June 30

On his radio show, the Flipping Out alum also brought up a rumor he had heard about how Morgan's spinoff show, in which she stars alongside de Lesseps, was reportedly not renewed because of her drinking; seen in July 2023

Also on his latest radio show episode, the Flipping Out alum also mentioned a rumor he had heard about how Morgan's spinoff show, in which she stars alongside de Lesseps, was reportedly not renewed because of her drinking.

'What I found out recently  it is a rumor  one of the reasons Welcome to Crappie Lake was not renewed was not because it wasn't successful,' he said. 'It was because of Sonja and her behavior.'

Lewis continued: 'So, it has affected her professionally. I think people really like her and are rooting for her, but there is a point in time when it isn't funny anymore.

'She needs to clean up her act,' he added. 'I was annoyed.'
Megan Gale showed off her stunning business attire when she arrived at Sydney Airport on Wednesday.

The 48-year-old supermodel looked incredibly chic in a black tailored suit as she prepared to head back to Melbourne.

Making her way through the terminal, the brunette beauty displayed her sophisticated side in a black blazer that featured a gold buckle and matching black trousers.

Gale completed her look with black leather boots and round-framed glasses.

Her hair was tied back in a ponytail and she showcased her taste in luxury fashion with a $2,800 Mulberry tote over one shoulder, as well as a Carla Zampatti shopping bag in the other hand.

Megan opted for a light, natural makeup palette with a light pink blush and nude lip.

She was later seen testing out a range of scents at the airport perfumery before settling on one fragrance and making a purchase.

Megan is one of Australia's most successful models.

Megan Gale (pictured) showed off her stunning business attire when she arrived at Sydney Airport on Wednesday

The Perth-born star rose to fame in 1999 after starring in advertisements for an Italian telecommunication company.

She then went on to become 'the face of Australia in Italy' in 2023 for the Australian Tourist Commission in 2003.

Megan has also appeared in several Hollywood films, including Mad Max: Fury Road and The Water Diviner.

Last year, the model revealed she is open to return to modelling, 16 years after she retired from the industry.

Speaking to Stellar magazine, the Australian supermodel said she thoroughly enjoyed her one-off return to the catwalk for David Jones' 185th anniversary back in March, 2023.

The 48-year-old supermodel looked incredibly chic in a black tailored suit as she prepared to head back to Melbourne

She was later seen testing out a range of scents at the airport perfumery

'Walking down that runway and having people happy to see me felt like a homecoming. Would I do it again? Never say never,' she began.

'I always loved catwalk modelling, I miss it but I wouldn't just start rolling myself out for the sake of it. It's got to make sense.'

Megan's appearance on the David Jones runway came 22 years after she became their brand ambassador in 2001.

The star also revealed she felt grateful to have worked in such a cut-throat industry for as long as she did.

'I wanted to work as much as I could, have kids later, and maybe semi-retire. This industry is fickle and you don't know when it's going to fade away.'

She added that meeting her partner Shaun Hampson and having a family helped keep her grounded throughout her career.

Megan was seen settling on one fragrance and making a purchase

'[Sean is] very grounded and always keeps things very real. He makes me laugh a lot. We're still having fun, all these years later.'

It comes after Megan previously told Body and Soul magazine she now wears minimal makeup and doesn't 'put too much pressure on my body' when exercising.

'Beauty doesn't have to be that overwhelming - less is well and truly more in my book,' she told the publication.

The supermodel opened and closed the show for David Jones' Autumn/Winter collection at its flagship Melbourne store in March.

Megan was the face of the luxury department store from 2001 to 2014.

Since stepping out of the spotlight, she has been focusing on her family life with her partner Shaun Hampson.

Megan and Shaun, who live together in Melbourne, met in 2011 and became engaged in 2017 and they share daughter Rosie and son River.
Jennifer Hawkins shared a rare glimpse into her family life on Thursday as she enjoyed a relaxing island holiday.

The former Miss Universe, 40, took to Instagram with a gallery documenting her trip to the Maldives with her builder husband Jake Wall, 40, and their children, daughter Frankie, three, and son Hendrix, one.

In one photo, Jennifer showed off her model physique in a pink bikini as she sat on a paddle board with her little girl.

The model wore her long blonde hair out in natural waves and protected herself from the sun in a cap and sunglasses.

She also included a photo while being carried on her husband's back during a day at the beach.

'Such a fun trip with my little family!' she captioned the post.

'The last time we were in the Maldives we were yearning for kids!! It was so surreal being back with our two!! (Gratitude on another level!) Also what a long flight with toddlers! I love you Bluey, haha! xx'

The trip comes after Jennifer was recently in the process of selling one of the last properties in her once extensive investment portfolio.

Jennifer Hawkins showed off her incredible figure in a bikini as she enjoyed an island holiday with her family

The Lake Macquarie district investment is a charming three-bedroom home in Minmi, about 20km from Newcastle's centre, and is expected to fetch between $800,000 to $880,000.

Jennifer, a Newcastle native, originally purchased the property for $345,000 in 2008, a year after securing a lucrative $4 million deal with Myer.

The single-level brick and tiled home sits on a generous 664 square metre block and features a back deck that overlooks a large lawn and a "man shed."

Jennifer flaunted her model physique in a pink bikini as she sat on a paddle board with her little girl

The model wore her long blonde hair out in natural waves and protected herself from the sun in cap and sunglasses

The property enjoys the added benefit of backing onto a reserve, providing a serene and private setting.

According to realestate.com.au, Troy Duncan from First National Lake Macquarie Edgeworth is handling the sale, and he has highlighted the investment potential of the home, suggesting a rental return of approximately $700 per week.

This sale marks a significant moment in Jennifer's property journey. In 2016, she sold another investment property, her very first purchasea three-bedroom house in Merewether.

Bought for $469,000 in 2006, the home sold for $731,000, demonstrating the model's knack for profitable property investments.
A Today show reporter sent the co-hosts back in the studio into hysterics over an awkward blunder on Wednesday.

Brisbane reporter Andrea Crothers was doing a live cross about 'koala cuddles' being banned at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Crothers decided to take matters into her own hands by offering free hugs to random passersby.

'Stuff the koalas. Hug me instead,' she told hosts Karl Stefanovic, Sarah Abo, Alex Cullen and Brooke Boney who sat in the Sydney studio.

Crothers then appeared to approach a man who was scrolling his phone and drinking a cup of coffee before she asked: 'Sir, free hug?'

'Uh... yeah,' he answered, before Crothers went in for the embrace.

But the reporter appeared to attempt a little more than she anticipated by leaning in for a kiss with the tradie, a moment that left the Today show panel shocked.

'She went for the pash!' Stefanovic cried.

A Today show reporter sent the co-hosts back in the studio into hysterics over an awkward blunder on Wednesday. Pictured: Brooke Boney

'Wow, straight to second base, Andrea,' Abo added as Boney couldn't contain her laughter.

The moment sparked a wave of support in the comments for the much-loved reporter.

'Way to go Andrea!' one fan wrote, while another added,' She is the best!'

'Love her she is such a legend,' someone else commented.

Crothers was previously a reporter for Sky News Australia before moving to Channel Nine's Today show.

Brisbane reporter Andrea Crothers was doing a live cross about 'koala cuddles' being banned at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Queensland. Crothers decided to take matters into her own hands by offering free hugs to random passersby

Crothers then approached a man for a hug, which he obliged, before she leaned in for a kiss

In 2023, she fell into one of the black-marble ponds during a live broadcast at Dubai's $1.9billion Atlantis The Royal hotel.

She wrote afterwards: 'What a bloody night I should also mention I fell off the red carpet into a full pond of water, soaking me up to my waist. Thank goodness sequins hide all manner of sins.'

The hotel's water features, which are set into black marble, were soon dubbed 'black ice' by guests who have mistaken them for part of the floor.

A succession of TikTokers, celebrities and Instagram-users have slipped into the ponds since the hotel opened on February 20, 2023.
My Big Fat Fabulous Life star Whitney Way Thore says many people have asked her about if she would use Ozempic amid the growing popularity of the medication - and speculation she has shed pounds as a result.

Thore, 40, told Us Weekly on Tuesday, 'With the Ozempic craze and everything like that, I got questioned a lot.

'It's funny, simultaneously, people are insisting I must have had weight loss surgery. And then, other people are saying, "She hasn't lost a pound."'

The TLC personality, who has lost around 100 pounds, was noncommittal when it came to whether or not she would use the medication.

'I'm not saying that I wouldn't necessarily, I don't know,' the Greensboro, North Carolina native told the outlet as she promoted the 12th season of the series, which initially hit the air in January of 2015.

My Big Fat Fabulous Life star Whitney Way Thore, 40, says many people have asked her about if she would use Ozempic amid speculation that she has shed pounds as a result

The TLC personality spoke on the topic amid the growing popularity of the medication

Thore, who has more than 1.3 million Instagram followers, told the outlet of Ozempic: 'It's not something that I've really thought about or have felt, like, the medical need for, but it's not something that I would say, "I would never do."'

Thore said that while the opinions on Ozempic remain 'nuanced within the body-positive community,' she doesn't feel strongly about the topic in any direction.

'I personally have no hard and fast opinion about it,' Thore said. 'I think people have the right to do whatever they want to do with their own bodies.'

Thore told the outlet she reserves judgment on the topic as far as what others want to do.

'And as a fat person who's been fat my entire adult life, I would never shame or criticize another fat person for choosing to do something that makes their life easier,' she said.

Thore explained the details of her weight-loss journey to the outlet, as she said she lost 50 pounds 'years ago,' and an additional 50 pounds following the death of her mother Barbara 'Babs' Thore in December of 2022 at the age of 76.

She said that speculation from social media over her weight-loss program doesn't mark 'a huge change' from the status quo: 'What it shows is that people on the Internet, they see what they want to see and they project themselves onto you.

'I could post something today and half the comments would say, "Oh, my gosh, you're skinny; you're literally skinny now," even though I'm almost 300 pounds. And then the other half of the comments would say, "Oh, my gosh, she's as big as she's ever been."'

The TLC personality, who has lost around 100 pounds, was pictured in 2021

Thore was noncommittal when it came to whether or not she would use the medication

Thore told the outlet that she hates people making comments about her physical appearance, 'because it is literally just whatever people want to see that day, that time, that picture.

'People constantly tell me, "Oh, you've lost more weight." And I say, "No, I haven't. I weigh myself every day. I can tell you exactly what I've weighed [at] every point in my entire life."'

Thore said that while she's not 'actively trying to lose weight,' she weighs herself everyday to monitor her symptoms with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

'I kind of track based on that,' Thore said. 'It's just a habit, really, [and] it's not for any reason. It doesn't make me feel any kind of way.'

Thore opened up on the ups and downs that come with appearing on the long-running reality series.

'There are so many positives that come from doing the show,' she said, 'unfortunately, it's often clouded by the really scary, hard and negative things.

'I know that My Big Fat Fabulous Life has changed people's lives all over the world, and it's a gift to people  I can't imagine just taking that away because people are crazy on the Internet.'

Thore said that while she's not 'actively trying to lose weight,' she weighs herself everyday to monitor her symptoms with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Thore promoted the 12th season of the series, which initially hit the air in January of 2015

'She said that the loves the series and 'what it's done for people' and 'body positivity.

'So even though it's really difficult, I would not change it.'

My Big Fat Fabulous Life's new season debuts July 9 at 9/8c on TLC and Max, and will be streaming on discovery+ the day it airs.
The Piano winner Brad Kella has welcomed his second daughter with his girlfriend Abbie Lewis just weeks after being crowned the show's second season champion.

Brad revealed that the newborn named Melody Sarah Kellaher, as he took to his Instagram story on Wednesday to share the happy news.

The TV personality, who has not yet shared a picture of the newborn, revealed that his daughter was born early on Thursday morning.

The Liverpool-born star shared a blank screen and penned: 'You've completed our family. Can't wait for your big sister to meet you (love heart emoji).'

Fans have been waiting in anticipation for the baby name reveal because just weeks earlier he confessed that himself and Abbie were 'sceptical' on deciding names.

The Piano winner Brad Kella has welcomed his second daughter with his girlfriend Abbie Lewis just weeks after being crowned the show's second season champion (pictured in 2020)

Brad revealed that the newborn named Melody Sarah Kellaher, as he took to his Instagram story on Wednesday to share the happy news (pictured in June)

The Liverpool-born star shared a blank screen and penned: 'You've completed our family. Can't wait for your big sister to meet you (love heart emoji)'

Appearing on This Morning he revealed that they each wanted different names for new born - as he wanted Melody but Abbie wanted Alba.

Chatting to Ben Shepard and Cat Deeley on the show, the musician said: 'So Abbie has got three weeks left.

'I can't wait. What a time for her to come. We are still sceptical about the name because I want to call her Melody but Abbie likes Alba but let's see who wins that one.'

On Wednesday evening, the pianist braced his fans on social media as he revealed five hours earlier that Melody was on her way and that is had been a long labour.

He wrote: 'Baby Melody is nearly here guys!!! I will keep everyone posted. Abbie has been in a very oong (sic) labour but we are very close to meeting her.'

Brad was declared season two's champion during last month's heart-wrenching finale at the Aviva Studios in Manchester.

He captured the hearts of the nation with his performance as he revealed that not only is he self-taught, but the way he plays is through sound only because he cannot read or write music.

Brad explained that he doesn't know what each key means, and each time he plays a song, it turns out differently because it is based on memory.

The TV personality, who has not yet shared a picture of the newborn, revealed that his daughter was born early on Thursday morning

Fans had waited in anticipation for the baby name reveal because just weeks earlier he confessed that himself and Abbie were 'sceptical' on deciding names

Appearing on This Morning he revealed that they each wanted different names for new born - he wanted Melody but Abbie wanted Alba

Brad was declared season two's champion during last month's heart-wrenching finale at the Aviva Studios in Manchester

He captured the hearts of the nation with his performance as he revealed that not only is he self-taught, but the way he plays is through sound only because he cannot read or write music

Speaking to Ben and Cat, he said: 'When I'm playing music I could create a piece, like the Ev and Frank piece, but when you hear me play that piece again, parts of it will be slightly different.

'And that is purely because I actually don't know what I am playing, I don't know what the keys mean I just understand the sound distance in between each key.'

His candid interview came days after Brad left viewers in tears during his winning performance on Sunday as he reached the final alongside other hopefuls including fellow fan favourite Duncan, 80, who suffers from Dementia.

The Channel 4 show sees a range of musicians play the piano in train stations across the UK in a bid to impress passersby with their music.

Brad took to the stage to perform a song he had written in honour of his beloved foster parents Ev and Frank, who wiped away tears as they watched from the audience.

After impressing judges Mika and Lang Lang, as well as host Claudia Winkleman, and being declared the winner, he made an impassioned speech.

He said: 'I just want to show that us care kids can still do stuff, we just need to be around the right people. Thank you so much for appreciating my music'.

Viewers were left in bits and took to X writing: 'Watched the Piano the final and I have probably wept through the entire programme'

'Well done brad! So utterly deserved, I have just cried ugly tears from start to finish'

Brad explained that he doesn't know what each key means, and each time he plays a song, it turns out differently because it is based on memory

Brad pictured during his first ever piano lesson which was headed by Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang

It comes just days after Brad left viewers in tears during his winning performance on Sunday as he reached the final alongside other hopefuls including fellow fan favourite Duncan

'Well Done Brad on the the piano may have cried a few tears'.

While others said: 'Wow #ThePiano !! All were brilliant - I had tears streaming down my face listening to the music and the stories of these talented musicians! Brad was inspirational what an amazing man to write such a wonderful piece for his foster parents ( cue tears again !)'.

Brad previously spoke about his childhood and credited his foster parents with turning his life around.

Saying: 'I got put in foster care when I was seven years old with my twin brother. I was so confused. I remember hanging onto the railings outside my foster parents' [house] and I didn't want to go in.'

'What they did for me and my brother was absolutely everything. They'd make sure we were up to start in school, routine, getting up early, going to bed early. They gave me absolutely everything and more.'

Brad took to the stage to perform a song he had written in honour of his beloved foster parents Ev and Frank, who wiped away tears as they watched from the audience

The Channel 4 show sees a range of musicians play the piano in train stations across the UK in a bid to impress passersby with their music (Duncan pictured with his wife)

After impressing judges Mika and Lang Lang, as well as host Claudia Winkleman, and being declared the winner he made an impassioned speech
Bargain Hunt has been a well-loved cornerstone of British daytime TV ever since it aired more than two decades ago in 2000.

Ever since, teams sporting blue and red fleeces have been battling it out at various antique shows to see who can bag the biggest profit.

And the stars of the show are no exception to the limelight, as many different familiar faces have come and gone over the years to front the popular programme.

However, behind the scenes it's not all smooth sailing and there has been a lot of drama that's unfolded within the private lives of the show's biggest names.

Here, MailOnline delves into the dramatic lives of the Bargain Hunt cast, from controversial exits and tragic death to a 'secret' baby.

Natasha Raskin-Sharp's 'secret baby'

MailOnline delves into the dramatic lives of the Bargain Hunt cast, from controversial exits and tragic death to a 'secret' baby (Natasha Raskin-Sharp pictured above)

Natasha happily shared the news of Jean's birth on social media in January, saying: 'What a way to start the year - the last few days have been nothing short of immense'

Bargain Hunt star and antiques expert Natasha Raskin-Sharp shocked and delighted her fans back in January.

She gave birth having kept her entire pregnancy a secret from fans, only revealing the happy news after the little one was born.

Natasha, 38, who is married to Joe Sharp, a producer on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, didn't give viewers any clues that there was a little one on the way.

In a shock post, she shared a glimpse of her newborn baby daughter Jean and penned: 'What a way to start the year - the last few days have been nothing short of immense.'

She continued: 'I'll be handing over my Thursday night @bbcradioscot duties to the excellent @ravisagoogram for a short spell - thanks, Ravi. Catch him from 10pm on @bbcsounds.

'In the meantime, there'll be lots of new #bbcbargainhunt and @antiqueroadtrip action (filmed when baby was a mere bump). Back soon! X'

Scottish presenter Natasha has been one of the lead presenters on Bargain Hunt since 2014 and has also featured on Antiques Road Trip, Flog It!, For What It's Worth and Baggage Battles.

Natasha is married to Joe Sharp (pictured) a producer on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip

Natasha, who is married to Joe Sharp, a producer on Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, didn't give viewers any clues that there was a little one on the way

Natasha and her husband Joe met back in 2013, before marrying four years later, and now live together in Glasgow.

The Bargain Hunt star has delighted fans throughout recent months, sharing a few glimpses into life as a new mother.

She has shared a slew of images of baby Jean, with her face always being covered by an emoji.

Eric Knowles' family tragedy

Eric Knowles' television success is dampened by a tragic loss in his personal life - the death of his son Sebastian

Beyond presenting Bargain Hunt, Eric Knowles has a slew of other TV gigs under his belt, including Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, Antiques Roadshow, and Clash of the Collectables.

However, his television success is dampened by a tragic loss in his personal life - the death of his son Sebastian.

Eric, 71, and his wife Anita, who reside in Buckinghamshire, welcomed two sons together, Oliver and Sebastian.

Anita also works as the secretary for their business, Eric Knowles Antiquarian Services Limited.

Sebastian tragically died aged just 26 years old in 2015 after being involved in a road traffic accident.

The collision occurred on the M40 in Buckinghamshire after his Mercedes collided with a lorry near Beaconsfield.

The 26-year-old spent a decade playing gigs in central London bars under the name DJ Sparky B and had worked with big names including The Artful Dodger and Ultrabeat.

He also held a weekly radio slot on Time FM before moving to Wycombe Sound in 2013.

Roo Irvine's antiques backstory

The backstory that led to Roo Irvine becoming a familiar face on our screens is one of family tragedy

The TV star from Argyll and Bute opened her own shop called Kilcreggan Antiques in 2013 following the sudden passing of her father

Arusha 'Roo' Irvine became a Bargain Hunt expert five years ago in 2019, before going on to make her presenting debut in 2022.

Her TV appearances don't begin and end with Bargain Hunt, as the host has also featured on Antiques Road Trip, Flipping Profit, Pointless - and even Mastermind.

However, the backstory that led to Roo, 32, to become a familiar face on our screens is one of family tragedy.

The TV star from Argyll and Bute opened her own shop called Kilcreggan Antiques in 2013 following the sudden passing of her father.

According to Hello! Magazine, Roo previously penned on her website: 'Kilcreggan Antiques came about quite by (bad) luck when suddenly, and unexpectedly, in 2013 my wonderful Dad passed away. I was heartbroken and devastated.

'Then just three weeks later my husband Mark also lost his father to a long battle with cancer. We walked away from our senior corporate jobs and focused on taking care of our widowed mothers.'

The tragic circumstances led the couple to consider a change in their careers and they subsequently set up the shop together.

Tim Wonnacott's shock exit

Tim starred on the popular programme for more than a decade between 2003 and 2015 but things quickly came crashing down (pictured in 2018)

Former Bargain Hunt presenter Tim Wonnacott's shock exit from the programme made headlines back in 2015.

Tim, 73, starred on the popular programme for more than a decade between 2003 and 2015 but things quickly came crashing down.

He was reportedly probed by the BBC over allegations he 'bullied' staff while filming the antiques show and stepped down after allegedly being suspended following a confrontation with producers.

A source at BBC Bristol told Ok! Magazine: 'I've always found him fine to work with. But some staff have been unhappy and made a complaint.

'The word bullying has been used and the BBC has to take these things seriously and check them out.'

Although it was never confirmed why he actually left, the presenter's official departure was announced in November 2015, with Tim releasing his own statement.

It read: 'I am pleased to have been part of Bargain Hunt for so many years and have thoroughly enjoyed every one of my, roughly, 1,200 programmes hunting out bargains with the contestants.

'Alongside continuing to voice Antiques Road Trip for the BBC, I look forward to developing new programme ideas.'

The BBC refused to comment on any more specifics of the suspension, while at the time Tim only said he is off the show for 'personal reasons'.

Charles Hanson court case

Charles Hanson is set to face trial next year as he is accused of assault and coercive behaviour against his wife

Former star of the programme and antiques expert Charles Hanson is set to face trial next year as he is accused of assault and coercive behaviour against his wife.

The presenter, 45, has also appeared on also appeared on Flog It! and Antiques Road Trip.

He made his first appearance at Derby Crown Court in February in front of Judge Shaun Smith KC, where he denied all the charges against him.

He entered not guilty pleas to controlling or coercive behaviour between 2015 and 2023, assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2020 and two counts of assault by beating in 2022 and 2023. All the charges relate to his wife Rebecca.

Judge Smith told Hanson, of Mackworth, Derby, he would face a trial lasting between seven and ten days on February 10 next year.

It is understood Hanson will not appear on any BBC programming for the foreseeable future.

He previously told MailOnline: 'I deny all the charges. I have never behaved aggressively or unlawfully towards my family.

'We have been through some difficult times in our marriage and it is extremely sad that this has become a criminal matter. I will be cooperating fully with the investigation and legal process.'
Film memorabilia worth more than 300,000 went up for auction at Heritage Auctions in Dallas this week.

Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia Star Wars slave outfit from 1983's Return Of The Jedi is up for grabs at a whopping 23,500.

While discussing the raunchy bikini previously, the actress claimed that 'dignity was out of the question,' when wearing it.

Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth's hammer from the iconic film Thor: The Dark World is up for sale for 13,700.

Star Wars fans will also be delighted as a Y-Wing starfighter model from the 1977 film A New Hope is up for grabs for a whopping 235,000.

Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia Star Wars slave outfit from 1983's Return Of The Jedi is up for grabs at auction for a whopping 23,500

Film memorabilia worth more than 300,000 went up for auction at Heritage Auctions in Dallas this week (Chris Hemsworth pictured in Thor: The Dark World)

While Pedro Pascal's helmet from the hit Star Wars TV series The Mandalorian could net 15,600.

A rare copy of Sex Pistols' single God Save The Queen is also expected to go for more than 15,000.

The rock band which formed in London in 1975 signed several copies of their debut single at Buckingham Palace in 1977, however, the publicity stunt was so controversial that most of the copies were destroyed.

It later emerged that some copies were retained by A&M records and were given to executives when the label closed its London offices in 1998.

An even rarer copy, which predates the 13-20 'golden handshake' copies, is also set to go on sale at Wessex Auction Rooms in Chippenham Wilts on Friday.

The seller, who worked at the label until 1984 told The Mirror: 'I have been holding on to it for sentimental reasons.'

According to The Mirror, Heritage Auctions in Dallas are selling 600 movie props in total.

The firm's Joe Maddalena said: 'We're bringing together some of the most important cultural artefacts that have never before been in a single place.'

While discussing the raunchy bikini previously, Carrie Fisher claimed that 'dignity was out of the question'

Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth's, 40, hammer from the iconic film Thor: The Dark World is reportedly up for sale for 13,700

The auction will end on July 26.

It comes after a Star Wars toy collection was sold at an auction for 322,000, with individual figures going for up to 11,400 each.

The hoard of rare memorabilia fetched a huge sum of more than ten times its pre-sale estimate when they went under the hammer at Vectis Auctions in Stockton-on-Tees on April 25 and 26.

The most valuable item was a Kenner Star Wars vintage The Power of the Force Anakin Skywalker figure as seen in the 1983 film Return of the Jedi was priced at roughly 5,000 and sold for 11,400.

Auctioneers were also stunned when a Palitoy Star Wars vintage Return of the Jedi Security Guard figure, which was estimated at around 300, made a whopping 6,000.

It comes after a Star Wars toy collection was sold at auction for 322,000, with one Kenner Star Wars vintage The Power of the Force Anakin Skywalker figure going for 11,400

A Palitoy Star Wars vintage Return of the Jedi Security Guard figure, which was estimated at around 300, also made a whopping 6,000

A mint condition Palitoy Star Wars vintage Cantina Action Playset was valued at around 500 but sold for 4,320.

A Kenner Star Wars vintage The Power of the Force AT-AT Driver figure, estimated at around 2,000, later went on to make 5,280.

Two other figures, both of a The Power of the Force Yak Face, reached roughly double their estimates, selling for 10,200 and 6,000 each.

Vectis Auctions claims to be the worlds largest toy and collectables auction house.
The introduction of Joshua Orpin to the cast of Home and Away has sent fans of the soap into a frenzy.

Joshua, 30, features in a teaser in which his new character, Rory, can be seen flirting with fan favourite Felicity played by Home and Away veteran Jacqui Purvis.

And fans have been quick to speculate that viewers will soon see a romance blossom between the two.

The actor appeared in the scene shared to Instagram sporting stubble and wearing a tank top and boardshorts, and fans liked what they saw.

'He's as hot AF,' one viewer gushed on the show's Instagram message board, while another added: 'I love him already.'

'Already excited for Flick and Rory,' added another.

In the scene, Rory lets out a wolf whistle at Felicity from the balcony of Salt, the restaurant that the Summer Bay favourite manages.

Later in the episode, Felicity gives the ruggedly handsome Rory her phone number.

The introduction of hot actor Joshua Orpin to the cast of Home and Away has sent fans of the soap into a frenzy. (Pictured)

Joshua, 30, features in a teaser in which his new character, Rory, can be seen flirting with fan favourite Felicity played by Home and Away veteran Jacqui Purvis. (Pictured)

It comes after speculation surfaced earlier this year that Seven's much-loved soap is heading for a major shake-up.

With filming taking place approximately five to six months ahead, eagle-eyed viewers are already getting juicy sneak peeks of the upcoming drama.

Home and Away news page Back to the Bay has shared insights into the iconic soaps future.

In May the site reported that in recent months new cast members have been spotted on set.

Meanwhile, one beloved character has been notably absent, sparking rumours about a possible departure.

Among the new faces was Joshua Orpin as 'bad boy' Rory.

Fans have been quick to speculate that viewers will soon see a romance blossom between the new 'bad boy' and Felicity, played by Jacqui Purvis. (Pictured)

The actor told The Daily Telegraph in March that fans should expect his arrival to ruffle some feathers in the seaside community.

'I can say he is a bit of a bad boy who comes into the show and stirs up some trouble among the Summer Bay locals... he is seemingly one thing on the surface but he has a great depth to him that Ive had a lot of fun exploring,' he revealed.

Orpin has a number of credits to his name, including Preacher, Love Me, Upright and the US superhero series Titans.

It comes after speculation surfaced earlier this year that Seven's much-loved soap is heading for a major shake-up with much loved characters expected to make an exit this year

Elsewhere, Hailey Pinto is expected to take on the role of Abigail Fowler, the sister of Eden Fowler (Stephanie Panozzo) and Levi Fowler (Tristan Gorey).

Back to the Bay reports Jacqui Purvis, who has played Felicity for the past three years, was last seen on location in March.

'I know someone went to Palm Beach today and was told that shes overseas and not sure if (shes) coming back, indicating that shes leaving (or) left the show and no longer filming,' wrote one fan on the site.

No official confirmation has been made.
Ella Rae Wise put on a very cosy display with her on-off boyfriend Dan Edgar while filming for the upcoming series of The Only Way Is Essex on Wednesday.

The couple were seen enjoying an evening out at Kohili Restaurant at Cap St Georges Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, with their castmates.

Ella, 24, and Dan , 34, once again, confirmed their relationship is back on, after being rocked by cheating scandals.

She looked incredible in a daring jumpsuit with cut-out sections and a plunging, ruffled neckline.

Meanwhile, Dan opted for a stylish grey short sleeved shirt with a pair of white chino trousers.

Ella Rae Wise put on a very cosy display with her on-off boyfriend Dan Edgar while filming for the upcoming series of The Only Way Is Essex on Wednesday

The couple were seen enjoying an evening out at Kohili Restaurant at Cap St Georges Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus, with their castmates

Castmembers Diags, Jodie Wells, Jordan Brook, Sophie Kasaei, Amy Childs, Junaid and Saffron Lempriere were also in tow as they embarked on a two week filming stint for series 34.

Ella previously revealed Dan had cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally while she was on holiday in Dubai.

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.'

Ella, 24, and Dan , 34, once again, confirmed their relationship is back on , after being rocked by cheating scandals

She looked incredible in a daring jumpsuit with cut-out sections and a plunging, ruffled neckline

Meanwhile, Dan opted for a stylish grey short sleeved shirt with a pair of white chino trousers

Castmembers Jordan Brook and Sophie Kasaei were also in two as they embark on a two filming stint for series 34

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.

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.'

Ella previously revealed Dan had cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally while she was on holiday in Dubai

Just two months since Ella confirmed their split, the appeared to forget all about her cheating claims

Amy Childs wore a stylish snake print dress with a front slit and flared sleeves

Junaid wore a blue two piece set and a flawless face of makeup

Sophie wore a daring wrap around dress with cut-out sections and a hip hip leg slit

She paired the sparkly number with chunky pink heels

Jordan wore a black shirt, trousers and sandals

Filming for the new series comes after a TOWIE boss has told how the production crew deal with unruly castmembers.

Lime Pictures' Rebecca Kenny-Smith serves as Director of Programming for the companies unscripted content.

She oversees production on several shows including TOWIE, Celebs Go Dating and Geordie Shore.

Speaking to TV industry magazine Broadcast, Kenny-Smith told how there are 'warning systems' in place to deal with unruly stars.

She said: 'The executives deal directly with the talent but I get brought in when there are issues that need resolving. If someone has not behaved professionally at work, then we have warning systems.'

Kenny-Smith added common issues that arise are cast demanding first class travel and she also noted returning stars are usually more demanding than newcomers.

She said: 'Problems might be as simple as returning talent not wanting to sign their contract because they want an increased fee or start demanding first-class travel.

'We try to provide a good working environment for people to thrive but it is reality TV and things can get heated. Returning cast tend to be more problematic than cast members who have just come on board.'

Kenny-Smith did not call out any castmembers but some of their bad behaviour has made headlines in the past.

Mike Hassini, who starred on the ITVBe series between 2015 to 2018, was caught with 70,000 worth of cocaine in 2021.

The former reality star later admitted to conspiracy to supply a class A drug, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, and possession of criminal property.

He received a sentence of six years and nine months imprisonment but only served two years.

James Lock was temporarily suspended from the show in 2014 when he plead guilty to possessing the Class C drug ketamine.

Saffron opted for a bright pink flowing dress and metallic heels

Diags and Jodie Wells stepped out hand-in-hand

Jodie showed off her figure in a lace two-piece

She accessorised with a gold handbag

Former TOWIE star Mario Falcone was suspended from the series, also in 2014, after a video emerged of him allegedly snorting cocaine.

He later apologised, telling The Sun On Sunday: 'I would like to publicly apolgise to my loyal family and friends, all of my co-stars on TOWIE, to ITV and most importantly to all of the fans.

'After a few personal issues, I went off the rails. I have been seeking professional assistance and am now fit and well.

'I hope that the producers and ITV will see my genuine remorse and consider allowing me to return to the show.'
Kim Kardashian delighted fans on Thursday by posting some throwback snaps of her in the nineties, to celebrate her childhood friend Lindsay's birthday.

The 43-year-old reality star and SKIMS mogul shared two photos from her younger years on her Instagram stories.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians alum shared one picture captioned: '1993 in Maui with Lindsay,' meaning Kim would have been around 13 years old.

In the throwback snap she posed by a poolside with her friend.

A second photo shared by the star was of her and two friends Lindsay and Simone Harouche all blowing a kiss at the camera.

Kim Kardashian delighted fans on Thursday by posting some throwback snaps of her in the nineties, to celebrate her childhood friend Lindsay's birthday

The 42-year-old reality star and SKIMS mogul shared two photos from her younger years on her Instagram stories

Young Kim looked happy as she flashed a grin at the camera, with the picture featuring her natural long dark hair.

The snapshots of her younger years were shared as a celebration of her childhood friend Lindsay May's birthday.

Taking to her stories to share a photo of some her long-time friendship group now, who she refers to as the Lifers, she wrote: 'Happy Birthday Linds. Never met anyone as strong as you!'

She also shared a snap of the menu at their celebration, which included Cacio e Pepe Pizza and Chicken Paillard.

It comes just after the reality star revealed that she has never been to therapy before because of her great friends.

She celebrated her own 43rd birthday with her closest 'ride-or-die' friends at Funke in Santa Monica on an episode of The Kardashians that aired in June.

Kim revealed during a confession that her friends are the real reason she's still here.

She gushed: 'So tonight, I just wanna celebrate with my girls and I think all of us just need that sometimes. This week in particular, has been complete chaos,' Kim says in confession.

Taking to her stories to share a photo of some of her long-time friendship group now, she wrote: 'Happy Birthday Linds. Never met anyone as strong as you!'

She also shared a snap of the menu at their celebration, which included Cacio e Pepe Pizza and Chicken Paillard

Kim also posted snapshots of her with the ladies in more recent years, proving she has stayed close to the girl gang of six

Kim shared a sweet tribute to her younger sister Khloe Kardashian on Thursday, June 27 to celebrate her milestone birthday

'But honestly, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my friends. Like I have the best friends and they're super supportive.

'I think that's probably why I've never seen a therapist, is because I have the best friends in the entire world, and they mean everything to me,' Kim adds.

The six women include Allison Statter and Zoe Winkler (daughter of Henry Winkler), plus Simone Harouche, Lindsay May, Sarah Meyer Michaelson and Ashley Kraines.

Kim and the women all attended Marymount High School in Bel Air, California. At the time Kim and her family resided in Beverly Hills, then later Calabasas.

Kim also posted snapshots of her with the ladies in more recent years, proving she has stayed close to the girl gang of six.

'These are officially the lifers that I talk about all time,' Kim says into the camera at the party, while adding in confession, 'I always say I hit the jackpot, in the friends department.'

Kim's big birthday bash took place in October, with friends including Hailey Bieber, Lauren Sanchez, Sara Foster, and Ivanka Trump helping her to celebrate.

She also shared a sweet tribute to her younger sister Khloe Kardashian on Thursday, June 27 to celebrate her milestone birthday.

'Welcome to the f***ing 40 club baby!!!!!' Kim began. 'I feel like you have been waiting for years to finally be done with your 30's and the time has now come.

'I know this will be the best decade of your life filled with so much love and happiness! I'm so excited for you to experience this because I know how good it is, and no one deserves this more than you!'

Giving a nod to their adventures thus far, the Kardashians star added, 'What a crazy life we live! I couldn't do it without you by my side! Thanks for being the best friend and sister a girl could ever dream of. Happy Birthday.'
Maura Higgins sent temperatures soaring on Tuesday as she put on a busty display in a racy sheer white dress.

The Love Island US host, 33, looked incredible in the racy ensemble as her hair stylist Carl Bembridge touched up her voluminous curly locks with a texturizing spray.

Leaving little to the imagination, Maura struck up several sultry poses for the camera as she teamed the sheer dress with a pair of white lace brazilian bottoms.

Showcasing her sun-kissed glow, the former islander elevated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup and sported a smokey winged eyeliner.

To complete the look, Maura styled her locks in bouncy curls and further accessorised with a pair of silver statement earrings.

Maura Higgins sent temperatures soaring on Tuesday as she put on a busty display in a racy sheer white dress and showed off her curly locks

The Love Island US host, 33, looked incredible in the racy ensemble as her hair stylist Carl Bembridge touched up her voluminous curly locks with a texturizing spray

It comes after Maura set pulses racing as she posed for a sizzling snap while out in Fiji filming Love Island Aftersun US.

She landed a new job filming social media content for the series last year before being announced as the host of spin-off show, Aftersun.

And while filming on the island of Fiji, Maura showed off her sensational figure in a scantily-clad snap on the beach, shared to Instagram on Tuesday.

Maura's halterneck two-piece featured a floral tiger print and came complete with a swimwear skirt, while her brunette hair flowed in ringlet beachy curls.

Alongside the snap, Maura shared a humorous video of herself sensually feeding Love Island host Ariana Madix a chip - before it cut back to the Irish reality star looking affronted.

Hinting at the raunchy video, Maura captioned the post: 'So the islander I'd like to couple up with is.'

Maura's best friend Molly-Mae, who appeared on season 5 with her, commented: 'Island girl. [love heart eyes].'

Leaving little to the imagination, Maura struck up several sultry poses for the camera as she teamed the sheer dress with a pair of white lace brazilian bottoms

Showcasing her sun-kissed glow, the former islander elevated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup and sported a smokey winged eyeliner

To complete the look, Maura further accessorised with a cluster of bracelets as she struck up a pose for the camera

The new role sees Maura interview the eliminated contestants and discuss their experience inside the villa.

Sharing a clip to Instagram last week, she explained: 'I was a nervous wreck watching it back.'

'Me and Carl were sat there, like "You need to feel my chest". My heart was literally thumping and Im not a nervous person.'

'It was a success and Im so happy with how it turned out and everyone was really, really happy.'

It comes after Maura set pulses racing as she posed for a sizzling snap shared on Instagram on Tuesday while out in Fiji filming Love Island Aftersun US

Alongside the snap, Maura shared a humorous video of herself sensually feeding Love Island host Ariana a chip - before it cut back to the Irish reality star looking affronted

Hinting at the raunchy video, Maura captioned the post: 'So the islander I'd like to couple up with is.'

'Producers were happy; execs were happy which makes me happy and I'm very happy because I am literally my worst critic.'

Love Island US Aftersun premiered on Peacock on June 15, while the main show is hosted by Ariana Madix, 38.

Maura rose to fame on the fifth series of Love Island UK in 2019 where she initially aggressively chased Molly-Mae Hague's fiance Tommy Fury before finding love with Curtis Pritchard.

Most recently she dated stuntman Bobby Holland, 39, who has body-doubled for the likes of Chris Hemsworth, 40.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt has delighted fans as he performed the Beverly Hills Cop theme song as a one man orchestra in an amazing new video shared on Twitter, shared on Wednesday.

It comes as the latest Eddie Murphy film in the franchise dropped on Netflix with an epic cameo from an iconic Happy Gilmore star.

Joseph revealed the 'first melodies he learned' on the piano when he was a child was the Beverly Hills Cop theme song.

He showed off his musical talents as he rocked out on a keyboard, base, guitar, and drums making his own one man orchestra.

The Don Jon star, who cut a smart figure in a blue suit, also played the tune on a kazoo and a shaker to round of the instruments.

Joseph Gordon has delighted fans as he performed the Beverly Hills Cop theme song as a one man orchestra in an amazing new video on Twitter on Wednesday

Joseph revealed the 'first melodies he learned' on the piano when he was a child was the Beverly Hills Cop theme song

He wrote: 'The Axel F theme song was one of the first melodies I ever learned to plunk out on piano back when I was way too young to be watching Beverly Hills Cop.'

Fans took to the comments to call the tune an 'absolute banger' and that the video 'has made their day'.

'Lookin good, dude! keep up the good performances!'

'Absolute banger'.

'You are so talented! I love the Axel F theme song, and I loved the new movie!'

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a 2024 American action comedy film. Eddie, 63, reprises his role as Axel Foley, while Joseph, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon star in new roles.

In the film, Axel has returned to Beverly Hills after his daughter Jane's life is threatened.

He showed off his musical talents as he rocked out on a keyboard, base, guitar, and drums making his own one man orchestra

The Don Jon star, who cut a smart figure in a blue suit, also played the tune on a kazoo and a shaker to round of the instruments

Joseph also played the track on the drums

Fans took to the comments to call the tune an 'absolute banger' and that the video 'has made their day'

Beverly Hill Cop 4 starring Eddie Murphy (seen) dropped on Netflix on Wednesday

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a 2024 American action comedy film Eddie, 63, reprises his role as Axel Foley, while Joseph (pictured), Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon star in new roles

She and Axel team up with her ex-boyfriend, and his old pals John Taggart and Billy Rosewood to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.

The Beverly Hills franchise has been dormant since the third installment hit theaters 30 years ago in 1994.

The original Beverly Hills Cop (1984) was a bona fide hit in the US, grossing more than $234 million dollars against a $13 million budget, making it the highest grossing movie of that year.

Three years later, Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) turned into another smash at the box, earning $299.97 million while working with a bigger budget of $27 million.

It would be six years until the third installment, Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), hit theaters but it take a big dive down in the moneymaking department, bringing in $119.2 million with a $70 million budget.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F premiered on Netflix on July 3.

In the new Netflix film, Axel has returned to Beverly Hills after his daughter Jane's life is threatened
Last week she dipped her toe into the murky world of OnlyFans by launching her own account.

And now Lily Allen has defended her decision to sell photos of her feet online, saying it is 'empowering' after years of being 'sexualized' by people from a 'very young age.'

The pop star, 39, who is happily married to Stranger Things actor David Harbour, started the account after being told her feet were 'highly-rated' on the internet.

She said the account, which costs just 8 per month to subscribe to, is for a 'select group of enthusiasts' who ask her for bespoke photos of her 'spreading' her toes.

'I'm finding this actually quite empowering,' she said on the latest episode of her Miss Me? Podcast.

Last week she dipped her toe into the murky world of OnlyFans by launching her own account. And now Lily Allen has defended her decision to sell photos of her feet online

She has said it feels 'empowering' after years of being 'sexualized' by people from a 'very young age'

Ms Allen, who is mother to daughters Ethel, 12, and Marnie, 11, from her marriage to Sam Cooper, said husband Harbour thinks her new business endeavor is 'great' (seen together)

'Having been very sexualized from a very early age, and literally everybody else in the process profiting from that sexualization, it's actually really fun to be like, in power and in control of something that I find so silly.'

While OnlyFans is primarily used by people selling adult and X-rated content to subscribers, Ms Allen said she doesn't see what she's doing as being 'sexual.'

She said: 'I don't feel like it is sexual - how it is received is another thing altogether.'

While she doesn't find feet 'kinky' herself, she said there is something 'slightly kinky' in the 'power element' of the transactions.

Ms Allen, who is mother to daughters Ethel, 12, and Marnie, 11, from her marriage to Sam Cooper, said husband Harbour thinks her new business endeavor is 'great.'

'He thinks it's great. At first he was, like, not turned on, but he was like, 'Is this a kink for you?,' she said.

'And I was like, 'No, it's totally not a kink'. But maybe there's something in the power element of it that's slightly kinky for me.'

She added: 'I'm having my day in the sun.'

She said the account, which costs just 8 per month to subscribe to, is for a 'select group of enthusiasts' who ask her for bespoke photos of her 'spreading' her toes

A subscription to her site is just 8/$10 a month

Ms Allen, who captioned one photo, 'Sole trader' and another, 'La Dolce Feeta', said she has 'strict rules' about what she will and won't do when it comes to requests.

'My toe daddies are very happy with the content that I am supplying. It's only feet: I've got very strict guidelines,' she said.

'These guys are all up in my DMs telling me they want bespoke content and asking me for all kinds of crazy stuff and I take such pleasure in just saying, 'Only feet.'

'We can talk about what I can do with those feet as long as it doesn't involve any other parts of the body.

'Toe spreading is a big, big thing. They really want to see me spread those toes and apparently I've got a good spread.'

While it's not known how many subscribers she has, the account has got over 700 'likes' since it was started a week ago.

'I have a lady who comes and does my nails and they informed me that I have five stars on Wikifeet, which is quite rare,' Ms Allen said on her podcast last week.

'But yes, my feet are rated quite highly on the internet.'

Ms Allen explained that Wikifeet is 'a Wikipedia for famous people's feet' and that her nail technician thought she 'could make a lot of money from selling foot content on OnlyFans.'

She added: 'I'm like, 'not no.'

Sharing the news that she had officially launched her Only Fans over on her Instagram Story, Lily posted the link to her page alongside a snap of her painted toes.

She wrote: 'She's done it' alongside a laughing emoji, before joking: 'What is this going to do to my algorithm?'

Referencing her and Miquita's chat on the podcast she added: 'If you don't listen to #missme podcast on @bbcsounds... this whole post is going to look very strange indeed'.

Lily, who resides primarily in Brooklyn, New York, married David, 49, in 2020 at a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Sharing the news that she had officially launched her Only Fans over on her Instagram Story, Lily posted the link to her page alongside a snap of her painted toes

'I'm finding this actually quite empowering,' she said on the latest episode of her Miss Me? Podcast

She has been teetotal for five years and has admitted that her life has 'changed so much' after giving up alcohol completely.

Speaking on her new podcast, she recently admitted that she had never 'had sex not drunk' before she met American actor Harbour.

'I wonder if I kink shame my husband. He often asks for things, and I'm like, 'No, babe. It's not happening,' she said of their sex life.

'Not like, 'You piece of s***! How dare you ask me to do that. I'm just like, 'Headache, little headache. I have a bit of a headache, maybe not tonight.'
Halle Bailey and Alessandra Ambrosio sent pulses racing in sheer ensembles as they attended the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia on Wednesday.

Little Mermaid actress Halle, 24, looked sensational as she stepped out in a white wire cage dress which was adorned with with hundreds of pearls and diamonds.

She was the epitome of chic as she layered her jaw-dropping garment over a cream leotard.

Showcasing her classy sense of style, Halle accessorised her look with an elegant diamond necklace and some matching floral earrings.

Adding inches to her fabulous figure, the Disney star slipped into some sparkly heels.

Halle Bailey, (left) and Alessandra Ambrosio, (right) sent pulses racing in sheer ensembles as they attended the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia on Wednesday

Little Mermaid actress Halle, 24, looked sensational as she stepped out in a white wire cage dress which was adorned with with hundreds of pearls and diamonds

For the star-studded occasion she wore her fabulous curly raven tresses in a half up half down do.

Following behind was Alessandra, 43, who put on a very leggy display in a pinstripe and polka dot blazer jacket, which featured a tailcoat, and a matching one-shoulder leotard.

She commanded attention at the glitzy show as she paired her striking two-piece with some racy sheer thigh-high stockings.

To accessorise, the Brazilian model stepping into some towering black shiny stilettos.

Finishing off her fabulous look, she wore some large cross diamond earrings and a myriad of chunky rings.

Ensuring not to take away attention from her jaw-dropping look, Alessandra slicked her raven tresses into a sleek bun.

Also spotted at the fashion event was Lauren Sanchez and her billionaire fiance Jeff Bezos.

The mother-of-three, 54, and her Amazon founder beau, 60, looked incredible as they sat front row of the exclusive runway.

Following behind was Alessandra who put on a very leggy display in a pinstripe and polka dot blazer jacket, which featured a tailcoat, and a matching one-shoulder leotard

She commanded attention at the glitzy show as she paired her striking two-piece with some racy sheer thigh-high stockings

Finishing off her fabulous look, she wore some large cross diamond earrings and a myriad of chunky rings

Also spotted at the fashion event was Lauren Sanchez and her billionaire fiance Jeff Bezos, (rght) (pictured with a fellow model guest)

The mother-of-three, 54, and her Amazon founder beau, 60, looked incredible as they sat front row of the exclusive runway

For the occasion, Lauren struggled to contain her assets in what appeared to a delicate white lingerie set which she then covered with a flowing sheer gown to protect her modesty

She clipped her raven locks away from her face and accessorized with flashes of silver jewellery - with her dazzling engagement ring on show

The loved up pair put on a very public display of affection at the event - playfully holding hands, leaning in close and whispering to one another

Cutting a casual figure, Emily In Paris's English heart throb Lucien Laviscount, 32, stepped out in some high waisted beige sheer trousers

The Netflix actor flaunted his bulging biceps as he wore a cream sheer tank top. To finish off his relaxed look, Lucien paired his ensemble with some leather slip-on loafers

Kitty Spencer, 33, who is Princess Diana's niece, also posed up a storm as she attended in a delicate figure-hugging gold dress which detailed tens of pearl embellishments

The blonde beauty paired her look with a matching box clutch and some matching strappy heels

For the occasion, Lauren struggled to contain her assets in what appeared to a delicate white lingerie set which she then covered with a flowing sheer gown to protect her modesty.

She clipped her raven locks away from her face and accessorized with flashes of silver jewellery - with her dazzling engagement ring on show.

The loved up pair put on a very public display of affection at the event - playfully holding hands, leaning in close and whispering to one another.

Jeff also looked dapper for the occasion - opting for an understated navy shirt and jeans - before posing next to his fiancee and designer Gui Siqueira for snaps.

The businessman hid behind a pair of statement shades but still could not contain his smile as he and his wife-to-be giggled up a storm.

Cutting a casual figure, Emily In Paris's English heart throb Lucien Laviscount, 32, stepped out in some high waisted beige sheer trousers.

The Netflix actor flaunted his bulging biceps as he wore a cream sheer tank top.

To finish off his relaxed look, Lucien paired his ensemble with some leather slip-on loafers.

Kitty Spencer, 33, who is Princess Diana's niece, also posed up a storm as she attended in a delicate figure-hugging gold dress which detailed tens of pearl embellishments.

The blonde beauty paired her look with a matching box clutch and some matching strappy heels.

To accessorise, Kitty wore a hooped necklace, which featured some diamond flowers, and matching earrings.

The Gentleman star Theo James, 39, looked dapper as ever as he stepped out in a tailored black lined blazer and some matching trousers.

Opting for a much less relaxed fit than his other guests, the actor finished his look with some chunky black leather smart shoes and orange-tinted sunglasses.

The Gentleman star Theo James, 39, looked dapper as ever as he stepped out in a tailored black lined blazer and some matching trousers (pictured with girlfriend Ruth Kearney)

Opting for a much less relaxed fit than his other guests, the actor finished his look with some chunky black leather smart shoes and orange-tinted sunglasses

He arrived at the glitzy event hand in hand with his actress girlfriend Ruth, also 39, who wore black lace mermaid dress

The fashion show is being held at the luxury retreat of Forte Village (Guest pictured at the event)

The fashion show is being held at the luxury retreat of Forte Village which offers 'world-class amenities, stunning views, and unparalleled service, making it the perfect place to experience the beauty of Southern Sardinia while enjoying the latest Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria creations' (Another guest dressed at the fashion show)

He arrived at the glitzy event hand in hand with his actress girlfriend Ruth Kearney, also 39, who wore black lace mermaid dress.

According to the Dolce and Gabbana site: 'Here, amidst stunning beaches and majestic ruins that echo tales of times past, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana present their latest creations in Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria.

'These masterpieces of beauty and authenticity are crafted with local artistry and folklore, creating a tapestry of traditions and dreams where each ancient gesture tells stories of love and magic.'

The fashion show is being held at the luxury retreat of Forte Village which offers 'world-class amenities, stunning views, and unparalleled service, making it the perfect place to experience the beauty of Southern Sardinia while enjoying the latest Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria creations'.
Mikaela Testa has been rushed to hospital with a nasty case of appendicitis.

The TikTok star shared the news to Instagram on Wednesday alongside confronting images of her stay, including one with an intravenous drip in her arm

Unfortunately Mikaela's medical episode occurred while she was in the middle of a 'water fast' which left the internet star with quite the appetite.

'The nurse just told me I can't actually eat anything at all and before I came I had already fasted for 24 hours,' she explained in her Instagram Story.

'Think of this next time you want to attempt a water fast,' she added, before admitting her hunger pangs were getting the better of her.

'I'm starving and all I want is some chicken tendies,' she went on.

She included a picture of herself sitting in a hospital bed holding a white cup with yellow liquid in it.

'My O calories dinner,' she explained alongside the image.

Mikaela Testa has been rushed to hospital with a nasty case of appendicitis.

The TikTok shared the news to Instagram on Wednesday alongside confronting images of her stay, including one with an intravenous drip in her arm. Pictured

Another photo showed Mikaela in T-shirt and pants in a hospital room receiving treatment.

It comes after the popular internet star was recently accused of Photoshopping one of her Instagram posts.

The photo, shared with her followers, highlighted her famous curves as she looked out a window during a holiday in Japan.

But an eagle-eyed follower was quick to accuse the social media star of seemingly editing the image.

'I didn't think trees could curve like that,' the comment read, referring to a bent tree branch next to her distinctive derriere.

Mikaela shared to comment to her Instagram story alongside a photo of the bent tree in the background from her window

'The tree is bent,' she responded.

Some of her fans also defended her, with one writing: 'She doesn't edit. Have you ever seen her videos? Her body always looks like this.'

'The nurse just told me I can't actually eat anything at all and before I came I had already fasted for 24 hours,' she explained in her Instagram Story. 'Think of this next time you want to attempt a water fast,' she added, before admitting her hunger pangs were getting the better of her

The Only Fans star was recently accused of photoshopping images

'She's got NO reason to edit an actual 0.05%, like cmon now,' another added.

Mikaela previously confessed to getting a butt lift and in 2023 she opened up about why she got the work done.

The OnlyFans porn creator elaborated on the surgery, saying that initially her body fat percentage was too low to undergo the procedure.

'I got declined TWICE because I didn't make the percentage and weigh-ins,' she said.

Next to a crude sketch of a stick figure man, Mikaela concluded her answer.

'Anyway ended up doing a life threatening surgery for a mid man that wasn't even jacked himself and looked like this,' she said, referring to influencer Atis Paul, her ex and fellow OnlyFans content creator.
Sam Taylor-Johnson and her actor husband Aaron headed out to a London polling station on Thursday to vote.

The director, 57, who worked the Amy Winehouse biopic Back To Back, was the epitome of chic as she made her way to her local booth in some white flared jeans.

She layered her trendy trousers over a fitted white T-shirt and under a tailored black blazer.

She slipped into some black shiny stilettos and accessorised with some gold sunglasses.

Alongside her, Aaron, 33, cut a casual figure with blue jeans which he paired with a white T-shirt and a brown suede jacket.

Sam Taylor-Johnson, 57, and her actor husband Aaron, 33, headed to a polling station on Thursday to vote in the general election

Aaron, 33, cut a casual figure with blue jeans which he paired with a white T-shirt and a brown suede jacket

Keeping his look trendy, he finished his look with some black cowboy boots.

As they made their way around London, Sam shared a snap of her local polling station to her Instagram Stories.

Her post showed a local Gail's Bakery and a busking violinist.

Aaron and Sam, who have a fiercely private relationship, have previously caused controversy within the public due to their age gap.

The couple met on the set of Nowhere Boy in 2009 and they share daughters Wylda Rae, 13, and Romy Hero 11, as well as Angelica, 26, and Jessie, 16, from Sam's previous marriage to art dealer Jay Jopling.

When they first met on the film Aaron was just 18 and Sam was 42. They didn't get together until after they finished the project where a 'deep connection' was formed.

Sam previously spoke about falling for Aaron on the set, but insisted nothing happened until the movie wrapped.

She said: 'I managed to hold off really until almost the end of the film. We weren't even together then. Maybe feelings were there but un-acted upon.'

As they made their way around London, Sam shared a snap of her local polling station to her Instagram Stories

The couple met on the set of Nowhere Boy in 2009 and they share daughters Wylda Rae, 13, and Romy Hero 11, as well as Angelica, 26, and Jessie, 16, (pictured in 2024)

The sighting comes amid reports Aaron has been offered to play the new James Bond - taking over from Daniel Craig (Daniel Craig as Bond in 2006)

The sighting comes amid reports Aaron has been offered to play the new James Bond - taking over from Daniel Craig.

The Sun reported the British actor had been 'formally offered the opportunity to play James Bond', putting an end to months of speculation regarding Daniel Craig's successor.

But insiders have denied reports that he has been cast as the new Bond in the 007 movies, leaving speculation to swirl.

Responding to the rumours he could step into Bond's shoes last week, Aaron played coy, telling Numero: 'I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.'

He began acting as a child and has seen his career go from strength to strength, with three huge film appearance this year alone.

Aaron will be starring as a famous action star who goes missing in The Fall Guy, opposite Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

And he will also be appearing in the hotly anticipated remake of 1922 gothic horror Nosferatu, directed by Robert Eggers and featuring a star-studded cast, including Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe.

But Aaron's biggest upcoming role will see him rejoin the superhero universe, as he will be playing the titular role in Kraven the Hunter, the fifth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

He has previously been nominated for two BAFTAs and previously won Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes for Nocturnal Animals.
The Fourth of July might mean independence day to any ordinary American but, for Julia Roberts, it marked her 22nd wedding anniversary to second husband Daniel Moder.

The 56-year-old Oscar winner - who's rooting for the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce romance - captioned her PDA-filled snap with seven accompanying emojis: 'TWENTY TWO YEARS.'

Among Julia's seven approved Instagram comments included one from Tom Hanks' second wife Rita Wilson, who gushed: 'Lovers! Happiest of days to you both!'

'It all starts with Danny Moder. He is our person and, in the most beautiful way, the captain of our ship,' Roberts gushed on TODAY last December.

'And it's not, like, giving it all away to him. It's just that for me, understanding how deeply felt life could be really started with him.'

The Fourth of July might mean independence day to any ordinary American but, for Julia Roberts, it marked her 22nd wedding anniversary to second husband Daniel Moder (pictured in 2020)

The 56-year-old Oscar winner - who's rooting for the Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce romance - captioned her PDA-filled snap with seven accompanying emojis: 'TWENTY TWO YEARS'

The Chopard brand ambassador and the 55-year-old Emmy-nominated cinematographer will soon become empty nesters in their $9.5M Point Dume hilltop estate in Malibu with their college-bound 17-year-old son Henry and 19-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus.

When the inseparable couple originally met in 2000 on the set of Gore Verbinski's film The Mexican, Julia had been in a relationship with Benjamin Bratt since 1998 and Danny had been married to Vera Steimberg since 1997.

New Idea claimed that Roberts paid the Argentinian-born 51-year-old - who's the make-up artist of Zoe Saldana, Eddie Murphy, and Zazie Beetz - $200K to convince her to sign divorce papers in May 2002, which was two months before their wedding in Taos, NM.

When Oprah Winfrey asked the Leave the World Behind producer-star in 2003 if she caused the breakup of Moder's marriage, she replied: 'No. I'm an easy person to point the finger at "She did it"  and I see that. I don't begrudge people the easy finger-point. It just doesn't happen to be so.'

Julia continued: 'He sorted his whole thing out, separate and apart from me. And I sorted my life out, separate and apart from him. I think that's the only reason we were able to ultimately fall in love with each other and be together.'

Roberts and the Ezra DP have also worked together on a total of eight films, most recently, Billy Ray's dismally-reviewed 2015 crime drama Secret in Their Eyes.

The Joe Biden supporter's first engagement to Flatliners co-star Kiefer Sutherland famously ended three days before their 1991 wedding, and her first marriage to four-time Grammy-winning country crooner Lyle Lovett ended in 1995 after just 21 months.

Julia will soon begin filming her role as a college professor with a dark secret in Luca Guadagnino's 2025 thriller After the Hunt for Amazon MGM Studios alongside Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Chloe Sevigny.

And on March 11, Danny wrapped production on Jim Rash's upcoming grieving drama Miss You, Love You starring Allison Janney and Andrew Rannells.

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Julia gushed on TODAY last December: 'It all starts with Danny Moder. He is our person and, in the most beautiful way, the captain of our ship. And it's not, like, giving it all away to him. It's just that for me, understanding how deeply felt life could be really started with him'

Roberts and the 55-year-old Emmy-nominated cinematographer will soon become empty nesters in their $9.5M Point Dume hilltop estate in Malibu with their college-bound 17-year-old son Henry and 19-year-old twins Hazel and Phinnaeus (pictured in 2019)

When the inseparable couple originally met in 2000 on the set of Gore Verbinski's film The Mexican, Julia had been in a relationship with Benjamin Bratt (R, pictured in 2001) since 1998 and Danny had been married to Vera Steimberg since 1997

New Idea claimed that Roberts paid the Argentinian-born 51-year-old (R) - who's the make-up artist of Zoe Saldana (L), Eddie Murphy, and Zazie Beetz - $200K to convince her to sign divorce papers in May 2002, which was two months before their wedding in Taos, NM

When Oprah Winfrey asked the Leave the World Behind producer-star in 2003 if she caused the breakup of Moder's marriage, she replied: 'No. I'm an easy person to point the finger at "She did it"  and I see that. I don't begrudge people the easy finger-point. It just doesn't happen to be so' (pictured in 2022)

Julia continued: 'He sorted his whole thing out, separate and apart from me. And I sorted my life out, separate and apart from him. I think that's the only reason we were able to ultimately fall in love with each other and be together'

Roberts and the Ezra DP have also worked together on a total of eight films, most recently, Billy Ray's dismally-reviewed 2015 crime drama Secret in Their Eyes

The Chopard brand ambassador will soon begin filming her role as a college professor with a dark secret in Luca Guadagnino's 2025 thriller After the Hunt for Amazon MGM Studios alongside Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, and Chloe Sevigny
Zara McDermott and Sam Thompson's relationship has been at the centre of rumours for days.

And making her first public appearance since reports of the couple's crisis talks emerged, Zara, 27, chose her dad Alan as her Wimbledon plus one.

Zara reportedly rushed to her parents house in Essex last month after a 'blazing row' with Sam saw her pack her bags and leave the London home they share.

And on Thursday Zara was once again with her dad, looking gorgeous in a white halterneck dress as she enjoyed the VIP Vodafone suite alongside the likes of Frankie Bridge and Lucy Mecklenbugh.

Zara McDermott made her first public appearance since reports of her crisis talks with boyfriend Sam Thompson emerged, notably choosing her dad as her plus one to Wimbledon

There was no sign of I'm A Celeb star Sam, 31, who has been kept busy with work this week.

On Wednesday Sam broke his silence after he was consoled by his pal Pete Wicks at the TRIC Awards last week amid reports of his 'crisis talks' with Zara.

In pictures exclusively obtained by MailOnline, the I'm A Celebrity winner was spotted during an emotional exchange with his close friend in the smoking area at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Sam appeared to break down in tears before Pete sweetly embraced him, however the Made In Chelsea star has now explained why he was so emotional.

Speaking on his podcast Staying Relevant, he revealed he had received some upsetting news that day but confirmed he wasn't crying.

'I wasn't crying, I wasn't actually crying. I just want to let everyone know that now.

'Look, there's no way of getting around it. I had actually received some bad news, so I actually was really sad, I'm not going to lie about it, but I was.'

Sam explained that Pete took him around the back of the hotel to console him and provide a shoulder to cry on.

The Love Island star looked gorgeous in a white halterneck dress as she enjoyed the Centre Court action with her dad on Thursday

Zara was spoiled in the VIP Vodafone suite alongside the likes of Frankie Bridge and Lucy Mecklenbugh

He explained: 'I let it go, I let it all out. I am head butting Pete's shoulder. I am caressed into his armpit and he is being such a good mate saying "I am always there for you blah blah blah" and I am feeling very sorry for myself.'

During the awards both the pair's podcast and I'm A Celebrity were nominated, but neither managed to bag the accolade.

Lightening the mood, Pete joked: 'Personally I just think it was Sam's way of letting out the fact that we hadn't won an award. I think that's where the tears stemmed from.'

Sam didn't address his relationship as he thanked his followers and listeners for reaching out and sharing their support after the TRIC snaps.

He finished: 'I really appreciate it. Thank you very much. Everything is good now but it was a tough old time.'

Sam and Zara were spotted filming together in Chelsea on last week after rumours of trouble in their relationship first surfaced.

Zara reportedly rushed to her parents house in Essex last month after a 'blazing row' with Sam saw her pack her bags and leave the London home they share

The pair appeared to brush off the reports to focus on work, as in video obtained exclusively by MailOnline showed them filming a project together.

A source close to the pair has said they are now trying to 'patch things up'.

The insider told The Sun: 'Since Christmas, Zara and Sam have been really busy with work and have had little quality time to see each other, and as a result, their relationship has suffered.

'Theyve both wanted to make the most of their careers and say yes to all the exciting opportunities offered to them.

'Last weekend it came to a head and they had a big row. It was very upsetting and they needed some time to let the dust settle.'

According to the publication, Zara went to stay with her parents in Essex before she headed to a modelling job in Majorca.

On Wednesday Sam broke his silence after he was consoled by his pal Pete Wicks at the TRIC Awards last week amid reports of his 'crisis talks' with Zara

The reality star proceeded to post a cryptic message about staying positive as she quoted: 'When life gives you lemons' alongside a picture of her posing in a minidress.

She is now back in Britain and the pair are believed to be trying to salvage their relationship.

The insider also added Zara returned home to try and 'iron out their differences'. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Sam and Zara for comment.
Theo James put on an amorous display with his wife Ruth Kearney as they attended the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia.

The actor, 39, looked incredibly suave as he cut a dapper figure in a dark navy blazer which featured exposed stitching and a pair of tailored black trousers.

He teamed a black shirt underneath the smart ensemble and sported a pair of leather loafers.

To complete the look, Theo opted for a pair of orange-tinted shades as he strolled into the event with his wife.

Meanwhile, his wife Ruth, also 39, exuded elegance in a black lace gown which boasted a maxi length.

Theo James put on an amorous display with his wife Ruth Kearney as they attended the Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sardinia

The actor, 39, looked incredibly suave as he cut a dapper figure in a dark navy blazer which featured exposed stitching and a pair of tailored black trousers

The Irish actress teamed the chic gown with a cropped blazer and further accessorised the look with a pair of gold drop earrings and black shades.

She added inches to her frame with a pair of black court heels and toted her essentials around in a black clutch.

The happy couple, who have been married since 2018, appeared in high spirits as they walked into the event hand-in-hand.

According to the Dolce and Gabbana site: 'Here, amidst stunning beaches and majestic ruins that echo tales of times past, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana present their latest creations in Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria.'

'These masterpieces of beauty and authenticity are crafted with local artistry and folklore, creating a tapestry of traditions and dreams where each ancient gesture tells stories of love and magic.'

The fashion show is being held at the luxury retreat of Forte Village which offers 'world-class amenities, stunning views, and unparalleled service, making it the perfect place to experience the beauty of Southern Sardinia while enjoying the latest Alta Moda, Alta Sartoria, and Alta Gioielleria creations'.

Theo and Ruth's outing comes after the Hollywood star admitted earlier this year that he started using Irish phrases because of his wife, however, fears he's not using them correctly.

He shared with RSVP Live: 'My wife is Irish, and she obviously loves Ireland, and we love Ireland, I mean, there's lots of Irish that goes around the family.'

He teamed a black shirt underneath the smart ensemble and sported a pair of leather loafers

Meanwhile, his wife Ruth, also 39, exuded elegance in a black lace gown and a cropped blazer

Alessandra Ambrosio, 43, who also attended the fashion show, put on a very leggy display in a pinstripe and polka dot blazer jacket which featured a tailcoat

Cutting a casual figure, Emily In Paris's English heart throb Lucien Laviscount, 32, stepped out in some high waisted beige sheer trousers

Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey, 24, looked sensational as she stepped out in a white wire cage dress which was adorned with with hundreds of pearls and diamonds

He also said he started using the phrase 'That's gas' but admitted it didn't sound quite right in his British accent.

He revealed: '(It) sounds terrible. Because it's obviously an Irish thing, that's gas, but I'm like, "That's a gas. I find that very gas".'

He told The Irish Mail On Sunday: 'Then we also say, for you know, in the morning, especially with kids, you're like, "Oh, do you want some porridge?" But my wife thought the Irish for porridge was "paroiste" (parish). But I think that's actually a priest or something.'

Theo and Ruth met at Bristol's Old Vic Theatre School and the couple appeared on stage in The Man of Mode.

They then got married in 2018 after almost ten years together and tied the knot over two weddings, one low-key civil ceremony and one lavish affair in Italy.

They now have two sons, aged three and one.

Theo and Ruth's outing comes after the Hollywood star admitted earlier this year that he started using Irish phrases because of his wife, however, fears he's not using them correctly (both pictured at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards 2023)
Lara Flynn Boyle revealed she only found out she was cut from one of Robin Williams' highest-grossing films after watching the movie with her mother, Sally.

While recalling the moment she realized her scene had not made it into the the 1989 drama, Dead Poets Society, the Twin Peaks star, 54, admitted she was 'crushed.'

Despite having a 'fantastic' time shooting with the cast in Delaware for a month, the Emmy nominee said she was never informed that her performance didn't make the movie's final version.

'I wasnt in the movie. I'm watching Dead Poets Society with my mom, and I kept [going], "Here comes my scene, here comes my scene." No scene, no scene,' Boyle told People.

She continued: 'They never told me [I was cut]... [that was] the last time that Hollywood hurt my feelings.'

Lara Flynn Boyle revealed she only found out she was cut from one of Robin Williams' highest-grossing films after watching the movie with her mother, Sally; pictured seen in 2013

Boyle revealed she was cast as a woman named Jeanie, the love interest of Robert Sean Leonard's character, Neil.

'[Neil] falls in love with this little actress he does the play with,' she said of her character. 'I remembered my characters name. I never do.'

Having her scene cut was particularly painful as she was previously cut from the comedy Ferris Buellers Day Off, starring Matthew Broderick.

Lara, who was born in Iowa, moved to California to work as a child actress in the 1986 film Ferris Bueller's Day off.

She then went on to appear in Amerika in 1987 then Dead Poets Society in 1989.

Boyle became famous when she landed the role of Donna Hayward in Twin Peaks from 1990 until 1991.

In the 1990s she appeared in several movies including Threesome, Afterglow, then returned to TV with The Practice in 1997.

In 2002, she had luck in movies again opposite Will Smith in Men In Black II then went on to work in Huff.

While recalling the moment she realized her scene had not made it into the the 1989 drama, Dead Poets Society, the Twin Peaks star, 54, admitted she was 'crushed' (seen in 2013)

Despite having a 'fantastic' time shooting with the cast in Delaware for a month, the Emmy nominee said she was never informed that her performance didn't make the movie's final version (the Dead Poets Society cast pictured in 1989)

'I wasnt in the movie. I'm watching Dead Poets Society with my mom, and I kept [going], "Here comes my scene, here comes my scene." No scene, no scene,' Boyle told People (Williams pictured in 1989)

But in 2005, she was back to TV with Las Vegas with Josh Duhamel and Molly Sims. In 2009 she was in Baby On Board then later in Life Is Hot In Cracktown.

She is next set to appear in the dark comedy, Mother, Couch, which comes out this Friday.

The film also stars Taylor Russell, Ewan McGregor, Lake Bell, Ellen Burstyn, and Rhys Ifans.

The film's writer-director, Niclas Larsson, has been intrigued by Lara since he was a child reading tabloids at his mother's hair salon in Sweden.

'The only type of literature I was exposed to between the age of 5 to maybe 10 was gossip magazines,' he reminisced. 'And Lara was on the cover a lot.'

So when Niclas wrote the script, he immediately pegged Lara as the chain-smoking daughter who has little patience for her argumentative mother's (Ellen) unfolding drama at a furniture store.

Having her scene cut was particularly painful as she was previously cut from the comedy Ferris Buellers Day Off, starring Matthew Broderick (seen in 2006)

Flynn is best known for portraying Donna Hayward in the hit series Twin Peaks; seen in 1990

'Im like, "Whats up with Lara? Whats up with the excellent actor Lara Flynn Boyle?" I knew I needed someone who physically and mentally lived through something,' he said. 'I dont think anyone can imagine what it is like to go through what a lot of women went through in the late 90s, early 2000s.'

Because the director does, in fact, enjoy seeing her on screen, he noted to People, 'Im putting her in every movie I make. Lets see how Mother, Couch goes.'

'You have to promote yourself,' the icon chimed in about managing expectations in Hollywood, 'but then you have to sit back and wash your hands of it.'

But Lara doesn't view this as a comeback because, in her eyes, she never left.

As she put it: 'You dont want an article to read, "Boyles Second Chance" or "Look Whos Back." Im right here.'
Lisa Rinna has been celebrating Independence Day with the same bikini-clad photo for a decade.

This year was no different as the 60-year-old actress  who recently channeled Andy Warhol  appeared on Instagram to entertain her 3.7 million followers on July 4th.

Rinna showed off her incredibly lean and toned figure in a red, white, and blue star-spangled two-piece while splashing around on the beach.

She captioned the image, 'Shes back. Happy 4th of July! Go have a hot dog #tradition.'

The image is by photographer Michael Simon.

The mother-of-two put on a busty display and bared her taut tummy in a triangle top and matching string-tie bottoms.

Lisa Rinna - seen here on June 25 in Paris - has been celebrating Independence Day with the same bikini-clad photo for a decade

She captioned the image, 'Shes back. Happy 4th of July! Go have a hot dog #tradition'

Her wispy, blonde-highlighted bob haircut fell around her face as she flashed a megawatt grin.

She made an exception in 2015, when she posted a slightly different bikini snap that was taken during the same beachside photo shoot.

The photo was reportedly snapped in 2010 and her initial 2014 caption simply stated, 'Happy Birthday America!'

Then, in 2016 the bombshell wrote, 'Happy Independence Day America! #Happy4thofJuly You KNOW I'm going to post this picture until I'm 90!!! #GodBlessAmerica.'

On Thursday, Rinna also took to her Instagram Stories to repost a throwback Real Housewives of Beverly Hills July 4th clip with Erika Jayne.

As she and Erika sit across from each other at a poolside table, Jayne begins the scene by stating, 'Usually I like my dogs kosher, but whatever,' as she slices a plain hot dog on a small plate.

Lisa agrees, adding, 'Once, twice a year, a good hot dog.'

The line has become a fan favorite, with social media users quoting it in her comments year after year.

Rinna also took to her Instagram Stories to repost a throwback Real Housewives of Beverly Hills July 4th clip with Erika Jayne

Despite the image being fourteen years old, the superstar has maintained her fit figure.

In May she opened up about doing the same workout routine since age 16.

She dished to Us Magazine: 'Ive had the same fitness routine since I was 16.'

Lisa added: 'It started with Jazzercise and Ive been consistent about working out ever since.'

Jazzercise is a fitness franchise company founded by Judi Sheppard Missett in 1969. Its name is a portmanteau of 'jazz' and 'exercise', and the workout combines dancercise, martial arts and strength training.

In addition to her favorite dance-themed workout, the retired reality television star, who noted that she exercises five days per week, explained that she also incorporates yoga, pilates, spinning, and hikes into her fitness regimen.

Back in 2018 she told Us Magazine, 'Yoga has been my life savior for 26 years Ive been practicing now.'

She continued, 'Its my consistent you know, I do many workouts and I go through lots of different things, but I think most consistently practicing yoga has been the most helpful in keeping myself grounded.'

In 2008, the former soap opera siren released a workout DVD called Dance Body Beautiful - Ballroom Learn and Burn.

It was followed by 2009's Lisa Rinna: Dance Body Beautiful - Hip Hop Ballroom.
Hoda Kotb was left red-faced during Thursday's episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna after her cohost Jenna Bush Hager ordered her to 'free your boobs!'

Hoda, 59, suffered somewhat of a wardrobe malfunction in the pre-recorded July Fourth episode as she opted to wear a chic, sleeveless red dress for the occasion.

About five minutes into the show, mother-of-two Hoda was seen fidgeting with the straps of her stylish garment and admitted: 'My bra's not working! The outfit doesn't work, okay? The bra is too big, the straps are too small, it doesn't work! I can't do anything!'

The two women were in fits of laughter as just moments earlier, Jenna's tummy had made a rather 'strange noise,' which led her to ask: 'But why did my stomach make your dress fall off?' as Hoda admitted a member of the crew had told her to 'fix it.'

'You know when you know you wear a dress that you shouldn't wear? Because it's not right, but you know what, I just decided I'm gonna do it. Have you ever gone to a party and gone, "it's fine," and then you spend the whole party pulling and shoving and stuffing... it's not good! Anyway, I feel like I'm falling apart!' Hoda laughed.

Hoda Kotb suffered a wardrobe malfunction on Thursday's episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna

Jenna Bush Hager ordered Hoda to 'free your boobs' after she admitted the red dress she was wearing wasn't 'working'

Jenna, 42, then suggested: 'You know what you need to do? Next time you just take your bra off! Would you ever just free your boobs? Free your boobs, Hoda! It's time! At this point in your life when you're turning almost 60, free your boobs! Let's free them! Because if you took your bra off, you wouldn't have this problem!'

Hoda was horrified at the suggestion and yelled: 'No, no I can't!' as Jenna swiftly moved on with the show.

However, when she realized Hoda was still fidgeting with her dress, the former First Daughter yelled: 'You look good! Do you want me to take your bra off real quick? I can do it real quick, I can slide it...' but Hoda ordered her: 'No!'

The TV host's wardrobe malfunction comes just one day after she admitted that her former cohost Kathie Lee Gifford 'dazzled the crowd' with her 'boobs out' when she first made a guest appearance on Today.

Of course, Kathie, 70, hosted the show alongside Hoda for 11 years from 2008 until 2019, but during an appearance on Busy Philipps' talk show Busy This Week, Hoda revealed how their partnership really came to fruition all those years ago.

It began with Hoda asking Kathie to simply come onto Today as a guest cohost because she was a big fan of hers.

Luckily, Kathie agreed and Hoda said of her first ever appearance: 'That woman showed up, hair extensions, boobs out, ready to play. She was amazing. She dazzled the crowd, she did what she does.

'When it was over, the bosses came over, they shook her hand, and from that moment on, Kathie Lee was going to be on the Today show. She changed the face of that part of morning TV.'

Mom-of-three Jenna wouldn't let it go and even offered to take Hoda's bra off for her

Hoda's bra strap was on show as she refused to take it off and looked disgusted by Jenna's suggestion

Hoda hosted Today's fourth hour alongside Kathie Lee Gifford from 2008 until 2019

Hoda even admitted that hosting Today with Kathie changed her perspective on her own television career.

'It was always like I was putting a circle in a square,' she explained. 'I could feel it. It just wasn't right, and when I sat with Kathie that very first time, I felt like I was riding a wave. I go, "Oh my God, this is what it feels like when you're doing something you're supposed to do".'

The mother-of-two hosted the show for 11 years, but in December 2018 she announced live on air that she would be stepping down from the role.

'I have something to share with everybody. It's bittersweet as these things always are, but I have been here almost 11 years. Thought I would stay one year. Something happened along the way and fell in love with a beautiful Egyptian goddess and when it's our 11th anniversary I will be leaving the Today show,' she said.

'It's an exciting time for me and I'm thrilled about the projects coming up, but it's also hard is because the reason I stayed longer than a year is because I love everybody here.

'I have been in this business 120 years and never worked with a more beautiful group of people who just give, give, give every day, four hours of live television five days a week.'

She continued: 'We have fun and we laugh and we support one another and know each other's kids names and we know when somebody is having a colonoscopy.

'We do life together and nobody more so than my Hoda,' she added, before they both broke down in tears.
Dramatic Love Island recoupling scenes will on Thursday night as the new series achieves its highest viewership since its first episode in June.

Host Maya Jama, 29, thrilled fans on Wednesday with her sexiest outfit yet as it was revealed she is heading into the villa.

The Islanders have been enjoying the fan favourite Casa Amor storyline where six new boys and girls try to sway them away from their partners.

Each series alternates between the boys and girls going to new villa Casa Amor and this year the girls went and the boys stayed.

Islanders in both villas have visibly had their head turned by the new bombshells, but fans will have to wait and see whether or not they will choose to recouple with them.

Dramatic Love Island recoupling scenes will on Thursday night as the new series achieves its highest viewership since its first episode in June (pictured: Joey Essex)

Host Maya Jama, 29, (pictured) thrilled fans on Wednesday with her sexiest outfit yet as it was revealed she is heading into the villa

The Islanders have been enjoying the fan favourite Casa Amor storyline where six new boys and girls try to sway them away from their partners (pictured: Casa Amor girls)

Wednesday's episode of ITV dating show reached a 1.4 million peak viewership, making it the highest-rated episode of the current series.

The episode also pulled the biggest 16-34 overnight audience of this series so far, with 449,000 hits.

The series as a whole is up to 76 million streams after 28 episodes - a 10 million on the 2023 summer series.

At the recoupling, Maya will ask the boys to stand up one by one.

They must then reveal whether they wish to stick with their current partner or recouple with someone new.

In a first look, Sean, currently with Matilda, is heard admitting he has felt 'like hes been a little kid in a sweet shop' during Casa Amor.

This comes as no surprise to fans who watched him enjoy a steamy kiss with new girl Diamante.

Also at the firepit, Mimii's partner Ayo brazenly declares: 'Im all up in the air to be fair.'

He had previously claimed Mimii's energy wasn't enough for him and has also gotten physical with a new girl, Jessica.

Wednesday's episode of ITV dating show reached a 1.4 million peak viewership, making it the highest-rated episode of the current series

In a first look at Thursday's recoupling, Sean, currently with Matilda, is heard admitting he has felt 'like hes been a little kid in a sweet shop' during Casa Amor

This comes as no surprise to fans who watched him enjoy a steamy kiss with new girl Diamante (pictured)

Also at the firepit, Mimii's longterm partner Ayo brazenly declares: 'Im all up in the air to be fair'

He had previously claimed Mimii's energy wasn't enough for him and has also gotten physical with a new girl, Jessica (pictured)

With shocks and revelations aplenty, along with a heartfelt reunion that even makes Maya Jama emotional get ready for an explosive reunion around the Fire Pit.

MailOnline can exclusively add that Maya will be left in tears by some of the decisions the boys make.

ITV will also be extending the episode to make room for all the expected dramatics.

Love Island airs on ITV2 and ITVX at 9pm tonight and every Sunday to Friday.

LOVE ISLAND 2024: MEET THE CONTESTANTS 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 Advertisement

LOVE ISLAND 2024: MEET THE CASA AMOR GIRLS Emma Milton NAME: Emma Milton AGE: 30 FROM: Manchester OCCUPATION: Fashion Content Creator WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? I had a brief thing with Joey a few years ago. Weve been friends for years and I would be open to reconnecting with Joey. We get on really well and we have a lot of mutual friends. I am also friends with Grace in Manchester, so its a little bit awkward. WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I am ready to bring my fashion and looks into the Villa. Im a really good communicator and always ready to give good advice to help someone. ................................................................................................................................. 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. ................................................................................................................................. Diamante Laiva NAME: Diamante Laiva AGE: 21 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Natural beauty business owner WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? Wil - he gives that energy like hes got something to him. Hes not opened up yet. I feel like hes waiting for me to arrive, he just doesnt know it yet. So hes been reserving himself. WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I have so many different moods, I cant even describe to you what kind of person I am for starters. If I have a problem with something, whoever it is, Ill tell them right then and there. I dont feel the need to whisper behind someones back. ................................................................................................................................. Ruby Dale NAME: Ruby Dale AGE: 23 FROM: Surrey OCCUPATION: Social media content creator WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? Wil seems kind and intelligent. He seems lovely. WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I am going to be a very dramatic Islander, a very loud Islander and a very entertaining Islander. ................................................................................................................................. Lucy Graybill NAME: Lucy Graybill AGE: 26 FROM: Glasgow OCCUPATION: Retail Store Manager WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? Ciaran and Wil are both my front runners at the moment so I am looking forward to going in there, getting to know them and assess the energy. Hopefully I can swoop in at the right time. WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I am always honest and speak my mind but Ill definitely be someone that Islanders can come to for support. ................................................................................................................................ Ellie Jackson NAME: Ellie Jackson AGE: 22 FROM: Cardiff OCCUPATION: Senior Executive Assistant WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYE ON IN THE VILLA? I have chatted to Ciaran in the past and am looking forward to reconnecting with him in Casa Amor. WHAT KIND OF ISLANDER ARE YOU GOING TO BE? I can guarantee I will make everyone in the Villa laugh but at the same time, I do have a fiery personality. My friends would say I am a little chaotic. Advertisement
Love Island fans struggled to hide their confusion as the epic Casa Amor reunion kicked off with a surprise recoupling on Thursday.

As Grace Jackson headed back to the main villa, she opted to recouple with Blade Siddiqi, which came as a surprise to many viewers after she shared a kiss with Moziah Pinder.

Walking back into the villa on Blade's arm, Grace's decision caught the attention of viewers, who claimed she was 'trying to make Joey jealous' after their bitter split earlier in the series.

Others were also stunned to learn that Grace already knew the Casa Amor bombshell Emma Milton, who was chosen by Konnor Ewudzi.

After seeing Grace's decision, many viewers took to X to share their surprise.

Love Island fans admitted they were baffled as Grace Jackson chose to recouple with Blade Siddiqi, despite sharing a kiss with Moziah Pinder

Others were also stunned to learn that Grace already knew the Casa Amor bombshell Emma Milton, who was chosen by Konnor Ewudzi

Posts included: 'WAIT GRACE BROUGHT BACK BLADE??'

'GRACE CHOSE BLADE? REALLY? THE OBSESSIVE ONE?'

'Producers deffo told Grace to choose Blade because there will be more drama! No way she ditches Moziah;'

'Grace definitely liked Moziah more but she brought back Blade to make Joey choke;'

'It was obvious Grace's connection with Moziah was so much stronger than hers with Blade last ep, she looked like she was getting the ick and said her kiss with Miziah was better;'

'I knew Grace would choose Blade just to make Joey jealous. She didn't do it for herself only;'

As Grace headed back into the villa, she immediately recognised Emma, leading host Maya Jama to question whether they 'knew each other.'

It was a reveal that came as a surprise to viewers, with one quickly noting Emma's intentions in going into the villa to meet Joey and the boys, despite his own history with Grace.

Walking back into the villa on Blade's arm, Grace's decision caught the attention of viewers, who claimed she was 'trying to make Joey jealous' after their bitter split earlier in the series

Fans were quick to share their reaction to Grace's surprise decision, as the girls returned to the main villa in an extended episode

As Grace headed back into the villa, she immediately recognised Emma, leading host Maya Jama to question whether they 'knew each other'

It was a reveal that came as a surprise to viewers, with one quickly noting Emma's intentions in going into the villa to meet Joey and the boys

Posts to X included: 'Emma is close to Grace so she will definitely spill to Grace and Grace to all the other girls;'

'So Emma and Grace know each other loool;'

'Grace and Emma know each other... and they both know Joey. This guy really does get around;'

'Emma being Grace's friend but still wanting to get to know Joey;'

'So Grace knows Emma on the outside but Emma went straight for the one she was coupled up with?'

It comes after Wednesday's episode of ITV dating show reached a 1.4 million peak viewership, making it the highest-rated episode of the current series.

The episode also pulled the biggest 16-34 overnight audience of this series so far, with 449,000 hits.

The series as a whole is up to 76 million streams after 28 episodes - a 10 million on the 2023 summer series.

It comes after Love Island fans slammed Joey for 'egging' the boys on to crack on with the Casa Amor bombshells.

The couples have been separated over the past few days, with the girls heading to Casa Amor and six new boys and six new girls arriving to turn the Islanders' heads.

And so far the majority of the boys have taken advantage, with Wil Anderson, Sean Stone, Ayo Odukoya, Trey Norman and Konnor Ewudzi all exploring new connections.

It comes after Wednesday's episode of ITV dating show reached a 1.4 million peak viewership, making it the highest-rated episode of the current series

While Ciaran Davies and Joey have remained the only two boys to stay loyal to their partners, Nicole Samuel and Jessy Potts.

But viewers have taken to social media to insist that Joey is playing a game, after he repeatedly encouraged the boys to crack on with the new girls.

The TOWIE star has been vocal in telling everyone to keep their options open and cheer them on, while he has stayed sleeping outside in the daybeds.

And fans watching from home have declared they have figured out Joey's plan, saying he is purposefully 'egging everyone on', so that he can look like 'the nice guy'.

They took to social media to slam him for the tactic, comparing him to last year's Islander Tyrique Hyde, who acted similarly on the show.
Love Island viewers have slammed Matilda Draper for being 'nasty' to Casa Amor girls Diamante Laiva and Ruby Dale over their connections with Sean Stone in Thursday's episode.

The latest installment saw the Casa Amor twist finally come to a head, with the Islanders having to make the decision of whether to stay with their current partners or recouple.

The past few days have seen the boys and girls separated and 12 new bombshells arriving to try and sway them away from their partners.

Sean, 24, has seen his head turn twice, despite being coupled up with Matilda, also 24, and explored connections with both Ruby and Diamante.

He and Diamante, 21, even shared a steamy kiss in Wednesday's episode as their romance heated up.

Love Island viewers have slammed Matilda Draper for being 'nasty' to Casa Amor girls Diamante Laiva and Ruby Dale over their connections with Sean Stone in Thursday's episode

Sean, 24, has seen his head turn twice, despite being coupled up with Matilda, also 24, and explored connections with both Ruby and Diamante

He and Diamante, 21, even shared a steamy kiss in Wednesday's episode as their romance heated up

In his speech, he said that during his time in Casa Amor he'd been like 'a little kid in a sweet shop' causing winces from the other boys.

But in shocking twist, the sweets salesman decided to stick with Matilda, with her doing the same.

As host Maya Jama confronted Sean on whether he had stayed loyal, he admitted to exploring other connections, but insisted he felt stronger about Matilda.

But when Maya gave Ruby and Diamante a chance to speak, they confessed how they had felt led on by Sean and that he had never made his intentions to pick Matilda clear.

Diamante pointed out that he had told her he saw a lot of potential with her as well as sharing a kiss, saying that maybe he 'wasn't as sweet as we thought'.

But surprisingly, Matilda jumped in to lash out the girls, saying: 'Well you're not sat here babe' to the shock of Maya.

She insisted that she was fine with Sean cracking on with other girls, but continued to rant at Diamante and Ruby, saying neither of them could be special if Sean hadn't picked them, to which Diamante shot back: 'You can have him'.

Viewers were shocked by the fiery exchange and took to social media to slam Matilda for getting mad at the girls and not at Sean, saying it was 'uncalled for' and 'embarrassing'.

In his speech, he said that during his time in Casa Amor he'd been like 'a little kid in a sweet shop' causing winces from the other boys

But in shocking twist, the sweets salesman decided to stick with Matilda, with her doing the same

But when Maya gave Ruby and Diamante a chance to speak, they confessed how they had felt led on by Sean and that he had never made his intentions to pick Matilda clear

Diamante pointed out that he had told her he saw a lot of potential with her as well as sharing a kiss, saying that maybe he 'wasn't as sweet as we thought'

But surprisingly, Matilda jumped in to lash out the girls, saying: 'Well you're not sat here babe' to the shock of Maya

They fumed: 'Matilda, GIRL why you coming for the Casa girls when Sean is the one you should be coming for cause he was the one who kissed a girl and telling them things; Matilda hun ur embarrassing yourself'.

'im so confused whys matilda being nasty to diamante when she doesnt even know the whole story ?! it was totally uncalled for; Matilda why are you speaking to Diamante like this?'

'matilda. girl. i promise you dont need to get this defensive over a man who no one wanted for 3 weeks; Excuse me not Matilda fighting for the sweet boy'.

'Why is Matilda being so aggy with the casa girls?! Like Sean aint no prize lmfao; Matilda stand up babes and have that attitude towards the guy who was three timing you'.

'Youre not sat here girl, your man basically cheated on you. And you acting like that?! DUMB BEHAVIOR; Matilda has all this mouth for a boy that looks and acts like Sean. Shut your mouth and get out my face'.

'Matilda is doing a little too much. Your anger should be with sean; Matilda being rude to the casa girls wtf?? They were trying to have her back and shes telling them they arent special. Not a girls girl clearly'.

'Matilda giving pure attitude to Diamonte and Ruby when theyre telling her how Sean was moving in casa amor and shes telling them how unspecial they are is not the move; Oh Matilda is a whole clown. Why is she taking it out on the girl?'

'matilda being sat with sean is not a flex that guy has begged around the villa using sweets as a pickup line but you think youre better than the casa girls who just told you the guy you coupled up with is a weirdo'

Viewers were shocked by the fiery exchange and took to social media to slam Matilda for getting mad at the girls and not at Sean, saying it was 'uncalled for' and 'embarrassing'.=

'matilda why are you getting mad at HER and not SEAN???; No I need Matilda and Sean gone. Pair of losers; Nahhh Matilda needs to wind her neck in'.

Wednesday's episode of ITV dating show reached a 1.4 million peak viewership, making it the highest-rated episode of the current series.

The episode also pulled the biggest 16-34 overnight audience of this series so far, with 449,000 hits.

The series as a whole is up to 76 million streams after 28 episodes - a 10 million on the 2023 summer series.
Nearly 15 years after her voyage on the SS Tipton, Zoey Deutch is shaking off her Disney image.

The Disney Channel alum, 29, looked unrecognizable in photos she shared on Thursday, introducing her new character Agoura Hills from the Roku movie The Real Bros of Simi Valley.

'You know I had to drop in and say "What's Gucci,"' she wrote in the caption. 'Meet Agoura Hills surpriseee @therealbrosofsimivalley movie out now.

'Congrats baby @jimmy,' added Deutch, tagging boyfriend Jimmy Tatro, who co-created the project with Christian A. Pierce.

She wore a long dark wig for the role and an ultra glam beauty look with a series of outfits that screamed Bravo-lebrity.

Zoey Deutch looked unrecognizable in photos she shared on Thursday, introducing her new character Agoura Hills from the Roku movie The Real Bros of Simi Valley

The actress, who is the daughter of actress Lea Thompson and director Howard Deutch, made her onscreen debut in the Disney Channel series The Suite Life on Deck back in 2010

Deutch got into character in a pink floral bikini with a jeweled choker, as well as a neon yellow jacket with padded shoulders.

The Not Okay star also sported a fun summer look in a hot pink one-piece with a pair of jeans.

She shared some mirror selfies from her dressing room trailer and photos with Tatro, 32, in front of a monster truck.

Deutch's post was met with comments from the likes of Paris Hilton and Shaun White, who also makes an appearance in the movie, as well as in Deutch's post.

'You know I had to drop in and say "What's Gucci,"' she wrote in the caption . 'Meet Agoura Hills surpriseee @therealbrosofsimivalley movie out now. Deutch got into character in a pink floral bikini with a jeweled choker, as well as a neon yellow jacket with padded shoulders

The Not Okay star also sported a fun summer look in a hot pink one-piece with a pair of jeans

She wore a long dark wig for the role and an ultra glam beauty look with a series of outfits that screamed Bravo-lebrity

'Obsessed w [this],' wrote Vanessa Hudgens.

'Augora is [fire emoji],' Tatro commented.

The Real Bros of Simi Valley follows four friends in the titular California city as they attempt to become the dopest versions of themselves ahead of their 10-year high school reunion.

The movie also stars Victoria Justice, Cara Santana, Edo Nwodim, Pierson Fode, Griffin Gluck, Thomas Barbusca, Cody Ko, Peter Gilroy and Christopher McDonald.

'Congrats baby @jimmy,' added Deutch, tagging boyfriend Jimmy Tatro , who co-created the project with Christian A. Pierce

She shared some mirror selfies from her dressing room trailer and photos with Tatro, 32, in front of a monster truck

Deutch's post was met with comments from the likes of Paris Hilton and Shaun White, who also makes an appearance in the movie, as well as in Deutch's post

Deutch and Tatro made their relationship public in 2021, when he shared some 'top notch untapped Zoey content' on Valentine's Day.

The actress, who is the daughter of actress Lea Thompson and director Howard Deutch, made her onscreen debut in the Disney Channel series The Suite Life on Deck back in 2010.

The Real Bros of Simi Valley is now available to stream on Roku.
Ashley Roberts cut a fashionable figure in double denim as she left the Heart FM studios on Thursday.

The radio presenter, 42, wore an off-the-shoulder tube top, designed to resemble a pair of jeans, complete with buttons and belt hoops.

She wore a pair of wide-legged jeans low on her hips and elevated the look with a pair of pointy white heels.

Ashley paired her shoes with her favourite white Miu Miu saddle bag which she hung off the crook of her arm.

The former Pussycat Dolls star finished her look with a stylish pair of sunglasses and beamed as she made her way home.

Ashley Roberts, 42, cut a fashionable figure in double denim as she left the Heart FM studios on Thursday

The radio presenter wore a tube top which resembled the top of a pair of jeans, button and belt hoops and all

She wore a pair of wide-legged jeans low on her hips and elevated the look with a pair of pointy white heels

Ashley is Heart Breakfast's showbiz reporter and also hosts her own show on the station, Heart 00s.

The professional dancer has also been presenting Netflix reality programme Dance Monsters since 2022.

Ashley was last seen on Monday when her body complained about the unseasonably cold weather.

She headed to work at Heart wearing a stunning long-sleeved and pale blue dress made of stretchy material.

Earlier this month, Ashley attended a London Pride event.

The pre-Pride party took place at The Standard Hotel and also in attendance was Big Brother presenter AJ Odudu.

Ashley recently enjoyed a lavish break in Turkey with her tattoo artist boyfriend George Rollinson.

Ashley and George, 25, publicly enjoyed a 300-a-night stay at D-Resort Gocek after previously hiding their relationship.

Ashley recently enjoyed a lavish break in Turkey with her tattoo artist former secret lover George Rollinson, 25

Despite being together for the best part of a year, the couple did not go Instagram official till April.

They travelled to the Chipping Norton retreat for some down time, during which they shared their first photo as a couple.

Ashley and George enjoyed a trip to Miami at the end of 2023 but made sure not to be photographed together.

He is Ashley's first serious partner since her separation from Strictly Come Dancing professional Giovanni Pernice in 2020.
TOWIE's Dani Imbert has revealed a HUGE secret falling out with a co-star that series 33 didn't capture - and admits that the two haven't spoken since.

Dani and the rest of the cast are currently filming series 34 of the hit E4 reality show at Cap St George hotel and resort in Cyprus.

However, despite being in paradise, tensions are running high among the cast return to filming in another exotic location, following series 33 in Bali.

Series 34 is already proving to be an exciting one as series 33 favourites Dan Edgar, 34, and Ella Rae Wise, 24, confirmed they were back on before they jetted off.

And it looks like viewers will have huge kick offs to look forward to as Dani and her ex-friend Harry Derbidge are forced to confront one another.

TOWIE's Dani Imbert, 26, has revealed a HUGE secret falling out with a co-star that series 33 didn't capture - and admits that the two haven't spoken since

Dani and the rest of the cast are currently filming series 34 of the hit E4 reality show at Cap St George hotel and resort in Cyprus

And it looks like viewers will have huge kick offs to look forward to as Dani and her ex-friend Harry Derbidge are forced to confront one another

Dani told The Sun: 'Personally, I get along with everyone bar one. Its Harry. We did have a bit of drama back in Bali but we kind of cleared the air.

'Then, it wasnt actually shown, but we had another falling out during the finale of the last series and he did actually kick me out of his party. I think this series its about addressing it with him and seeing where I stand because Ive not spoken to him since.

'Ive heard that hes nervous and I understand why because he was so clearly in the wrong. For me, Im sick of him randomly having these turns and these lash outs. It will be interesting to see how the conversation goes.'

Harry is already not talking to former best friend Ella, after ditching her in favour of Amber Turner, Chloe Meadows, Courtney Green and Elma Pazar, known as the 'Girl Band'.

This rubbed Ella up the wrong way as Amber is the ex-girlfriend of Ella's current flame Dan.

Ella and Dan packed on the PDA during a romantic beach trip.

It comes after Ella revealed Dan had cheated on her with his ex-girlfriend Hannah Rally while she was on holiday in Dubai.

Dan seems to have form, as Amber also accused him of cheating when their relationship of six years fell apart.

Dani revealed: 'Personally, I get along with everyone bar one. Its Harry. We did have a bit of drama back in Bali but we kind of cleared the air

She continued: 'Then, it wasnt actually shown, but we had another falling out during the finale of the last series and he did actually kick me out of his party

Dani added: 'I think this series its about addressing it with him and seeing where I stand because Ive not spoken to him since

She finished: 'Ive heard that hes nervous and I understand why because he was so clearly in the wrong. For me, Im sick of him randomly having these turns and these lash outs'

Still firm friends are Dani and Roman Hackett, pictured here taking shots with the caption 'party don't stop'

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.'

'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.'
Jade Thirlwall has made her solo cover debut on Beat magazine as she becomes the final member of Little Mix to release music with upcoming single Angel Of My Dreams.

The star's single, to be released on July 19, follows Jesy Nelson's Boyz in 2021, Leigh-Anne Pinnock's Don't Say Love in 2023, and Perrie Edwards' Forget About Us in April.

Jade, 31, told Beat Magazine of her debut: 'I wanted Angel Of My Dreams to feel like a relentless, huge, fat pop punch in your face.'

She said of its creation: 'I was in LA and I was feeling a bit lonely anyways, and then someone called to say that the head of my label, the man who signed me, was leaving. I spiralled hard.

'I went to the studio thinking about how fickle the music industry is, and thinking about how much I love this job but also how much I hate it, too. I explained the concept to [producer] Mike Sabath, where its this kind of love-hate with the industry but making it sound like its a relationship.'

Jade Thirlwall, 31, has made her solo cover debut on Beat magazine as she becomes the final member of Little Mix to release music with upcoming single Angel Of My Dreams

The star's single, to be released on July 19, follows Jesy Nelson 's Boyz in 2021, Leigh-Anne Pinnock 's Don't Say Love in 2023, and Perrie Edwards ' Forget About Us in April

Jade explained that at first she wanted the song to be about a loving yet toxic relationship but decided to be more explicit in the lyrics.

She also shared that she is obsessed with pop and wants to be the next big thing, but found it difficult to step out of the safety net that came with being in a girl group.

Jade aims to follow in the footsteps of S Club's Rachel Stevens who enjoyed solo success with songs such as Some Girls and Sweet Dreams My L.A. Ex.

Her former group Little Mix formed on and won The X Factor in 2011 - the first group to do so in the talent programme's seven-year history.

Originally a four-piece, Jesy left Little Mix in 2020 to protect her mental health, and the girl band officially disbanded two years later.

Jesy, 33, has had the most successful debut to date with Boyz peaking at number four on the UK charts.

Boyz, ft. Nicki Minaj, is followed by Perrie's Forget About Us which peaked at number 10 and Leigh-Anne's Don't Say Love which peaked at number 11.

Jade announced Angel Of My Dreams on Tuesday and Leigh-Anne, her boyfriend Jordan Stephens, of Rizzle Kicks, and her The X Factor mentor Tulisa Contostavlos all commented their congratulations.

Jade said of her debut: 'I wanted Angel Of My Dreams to feel like a relentless, huge, fat pop punch in your face

Jade shared that she is obsessed with pop and wants to be the next big thing, but found it difficult to step out of the safety net that came with being in a girl group

Jade announced Angel Of My Dreams on Tuesday and Leigh-Anne, her boyfriend Jordan Stephens, and her The X Factor mentor Tulisa Contostavlos all commented congratulations

The star has dropped her surname, following into the footsteps of pop icons Cher, Madonna and former Girls Aloud star Cheryl.

Angel Of My Dreams is said to be a 'frenetically shapeshifting, gloriously OTT banger that explores her love/hate relationship with the pop industry'.

Jade said: 'What I'm going for is a pop punch to the face. I want people to be like 'oh my god, I didn't expect that'  but then want to listen to it again.'

The single was written in LA by Jade alongside Steph Jones, who wrote Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso, Pablo Bowman, the man behind Calvin Harris' Miracle, and the aforementioned Mike, who has worked with RAYE.

Jade continued: 'I didn't want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me,' she stated.

'I'm setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own. I want people to hear it and be like 'what the fuck is that song?'. My worst nightmare is for someone to hear my song and go 'that's nice'.'

The hit will be punchy and unapologetic, with Jade saying it delivers 'big pop girl energy' after she went down a 'long, carefully chosen path' to write it.

She added: 'It's OTT, it's ridiculous and it's gloriously WTF. I'm so proud of it and I can say that with chest.

'The fans have waited long enough so now we just want to give it to them.'

Jade will release Angel Of My Dreams on July 19.
McDonalds is bringing its first-ever garlic sauce to the US.

The fast food chain says the Special Grade Garlic Sauce contains notes of garlic and soy sauce, balanced with a slight tangy sweetness.

The new dipping sauce is inspired by the Black Garlic Sauce found at the Golden Arches in Japan.

Keeping with the Japanese connection, the new sauce packaging will feature eight lid designs starring fan-favorite characters from the hit anime series Jujutsu Kaisen.

It is good news for McDonalds fans wanting to see more international menu items coming to the US.

The Special Grade Garlic Sauce contains notes of garlic and soy sauce, balanced with a slight tangy sweetness. They come in packs with eight different pictures from Jujutsu Kaisen

Customers can get the sauce for free with any order of McNuggets.

Or if they order any meal via the app, they can also get it. It is another sign McDonalds is pushing customers to order through the app.

McDonalds is taking it so seriously they are holding a tasting event for press in New York City on July 8, ahead of its releases. It will be hosted by anime food show host Alvin Zhou.

Jujutsu Kaisen is an action anime show that premiered in 2020 and has two seasons. It is based on the Japanese manga series by Gege Akutami and Ballad Kitaguni.

With each purchase of the sauce, customers can unlock a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll, where fans can watch full episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen and other anime content.

And each purchase of the sauce also unlocks a 30-day free trial of Crunchyroll, where fans can watch full episodes of Jujutsu Kaisen and other anime content.

Last week, McDonald's US president Joe Erlinger let slip this week that a sandwich with a cult following is coming back.

The McRib - seasoned boneless pork dipped in tangy BBQ sauce and topped with chopped onions and pickles - is returning to America later this year.

The sandwich, which has been dropped and then added back to the menu dozens of times over the years, polarizes fast food fans- some love it but others hate it.

But McDonald's knows the McRib brings customers into restaurants and drive-thrus.

It's return will be its latest weapon, along with its $5 value meal deal this summer, in the battle to win customers back in 2024.

Jujutsu Kaisen pack designs

The eight pack designs, pictured below, are:

Yuji Itadori  A rare talent not seen in a thousand years who is able to withstand the poison of Sukuna and become his human vessel.

Megumi Fushiguro  A genius who enrolled as a 2nd grade sorcerer and the only first-year student allowed to carry out solo missions.

Nobara Kugisaki  A strong-willed 3rd grade jujutsu sorcerer who came to Tokyo from the countryside.

Satoru Gojo  The strongest special grade sorcerer and teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High.

Kento Nanami  A junior of Gojo who became a salaryman, but later returned to Tokyo Jujutsu High to become a 1st grade sorcerer  the most adult of adults.

Suguru Geto  A villain special grade sorcerer whose goal is to create a paradise for sorcerers, free of humans.

Mahito  A curse that originated from humans who can change the appearance of a person by touching their soul.

Sukuna  A king who survived more than a thousand years ago and still threatens this world after his death.
A celebrity chef has vowed to stop opening restaurants in California until the state 'fixes things' for the industry.

Food Network presenter Andrew Gruel, who is behind a number of successful restaurants in California, has said he will not open another until crime, tax and regulation has been 'sorted.'

Gruel told Fox Business that the restaurant industry is still suffering from the effects of the pandemic but that ongoing issues are continuing to exasperate them.

'I'm going to keep my restaurant in California but I'm going to franchise out of the state moving forward,' Gruel explained.

'I will not open another business in California until they actually fix things on a go-forward basis.'

Food Network presenter Andrew Gruel has vowed to stop opening restaurants in California

Gruel has opened a number of successful restaurants in California including Calico Fish House

When asked about the impact of 30 percent of restaurants being forced to close after the pandemic Gruel said 'the pandemic, obviously, kicked off this astronomical firestorm of chaos that now we've seen reverberate and grow.'

'There are all these restaurants and retailers and small business owners that haven't recovered.

'Things are constantly getting worse every single day' for the industry, he cautioned.

In September last year California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers, up from $16 for other sectors.

Gruel said this means restaurants must be more 'efficient' with hiring or raise prices to meet the spiraling cost of labor.

He also argued that California's crime epidemic has 'ripped apart the social fabric,' which is the foundation of business.

Furthermore Gruel argued that increased regulation was holding businesses back just at the time they need help to thrive.

Restaurants across the US have been struggling, but it has been a particular problem for those in California - due to the higher costs of doing business in the state.

As well as the minimum wage, there are higher taxes.

It has to scores of closures, including Mexican chain Rubio's Coastal Grill which is shuttering 48 restaurants in the state - because of the 'rising cost of doing business in California'.

Blaze Pizza said last month it is relocating its headquarters from Pasadena in the Golden State to Atlanta, Georgia to reduce its state corporate tax rate by more than a third.

The company, which has 330 restaurants across 38 states and six countries, has claimed the relocation will spark the 'next wave of growth'.

Meanwhile, two iconic Italian restaurants located near each other closed on the same day - after serving the Bay Area for a combined 120 years.

Blaze Pizza is relocating its headquarters from Pasadena to Atlanta which will reduce its state corporate tax rate by more than a third

Fiorillo's was known for its size, hosting up to 350 diners in its banquet-style hall

Pezzella's Villa Napoli has been owned and run by three generations of the same family

Family-owned Pezzella's Villa Napoli in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara's Fiorillo's both shut on June 22.

Pezzella's Villa Napoli has been owned and run by three generations of the same family for 67 years, famed for its Italian-American dishes.

Just seven miles or a 20 minute drive away, Fiorillo's also closed after 52 years of family ownership.
Many students opt for PhD programme for reasons unrelated to research. This hinders the nations intellectual progress

A higher academic degree like a PhD is often considered a symbol of quality. PhD training emphasizes innovation and the ability to tackle complex problems. Graduates are expected to think independently, identify gaps in existing knowledge, and propose novel solutions, making them valuable assets in both academic and industry settings.The more PhD holders a country produces, the more productive a country will be. Countries with more PhD holders tend to produce more scientific publications and patents. This intellectual output can lead to technological advancements and improvements in various industries, driving innovation and economic growth.

Despite having the advantages of higher enrolments for the nation, the current system of registering for PhD as an escapism will not reap any benefits for the student or the country. Many students register for PhD as a stop-gap arrangement before their marriage, a permanent government job, or as a fashion to be called 'Dr.'. They never assess their motivation for pursuing a PhD degree. Are they passionate about the research topic? Or Have they reflected on their career goals? If the alignment is strong, it might justify pursuing a research degree that is highly demanding and time-consuming. The most successful PhD candidates are often driven by intrinsic motivations such as intellectual curiosity, passion for their field of study, and a desire to contribute new knowledge. These motivations sustain them through the challenges of research work.Recently, it has been observed that many scholars registering for PhD through national-level competitive fellowships like CSIR, UGC etc, try to prolong their study for the sake of fellowship amount.

In many colleges in Tamil Nadu, college teachers work for a salary as low as Rs. 4000- 8000 per month. Qualifying for a national test will at least provide a scholar with a decent salary for 3 to 5 years. The sole motive of the scholar is financial support. For some, the academic environment may provide a refuge from societal expectations of marriage, family responsibilities, and other traditional roles. Unfortunately, even today, female students are not provided the freedom to make decisions. Our society gives a girl's marriage more importance than acquiring knowledge.

Earning a doctorate requires extensive study, self-sufficiency, and intellectual development, which are priceless assets to the community. Even in a highly literate society like Kerala, many women, even after getting a PhD degree, are forced to stick to societal norms and move away from active research. Many students with PhD degrees ultimately land in job sectors where their research has no role, like clerical jobs in government sectors, banks, or even as a school teacher, to cite a few.

To change people's minds, we must keep fighting for equal rights for women, spreading the word that education should be accessible to everyone and dispelling myths about women's abilities and goals.It's essential for prospective PhD candidates to carefully consider their motivations and the potential impact of their research. Pursuing a PhD solely for recognition or prestige, without a genuine commitment to contribute meaningful research or knowledge, offers little benefit to society or the nation. People who do research for name sake are involved in many unethical practices, like outsourcing the work and outsourcing their thesis writing and paper writing to other agencies. Unfortunately, these people reach higher positions through their influence, overtaking genuine researchers who have toiled their lives for research.

(The writer is an adjunct faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies; views are personal)
As China asserts its influence within the SCO, the interplay of geopolitics becomes increasingly visible

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO held its 24th meeting for heads of State this week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, otherwise known for promoting Bharat to crucial allies at bilateral and multilateral forums, skipped this regional dialogue citing parliamentary responsibilities back home. However, many also point out that, the frosty relationship with Pakistan and China both of whose top leadership were present for the SCO summit, was one of the reasons PM Modi avoided travelling to Astana in Kazakhstan. India was represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for the summit, where he held separate bilateral meetings with several SCO Central Asian member countries.

The SCO as a Eurasian intergovernmental group was announced in China in June 2001. India and Pakistan joined the SCO as full members in 2017. Currently, SCO has 9 member states, 3 observer states and 14 dialogue partners, which represent an entire swathe of emerging economic geographies, that occupy the theatre of current geopolitical developments. Russia and China along with four neighbouring Central Asian states form the founding members. However with Iran later joining in as a member state along with Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bahrain, Myanmar, and Maldives as dialogue partners, one can see why, SCO is an important platform for shaping the current geo-political landscape.

Russia is engaged in a long war with Ukraine, while much of Middle Eastern and West Asia nations are intimately engaged in the Israel-Hamas war. China has been trying to dominate the dialogue since its inception and could be seen by many, as one of the diplomatic extensions of its sovereignty-threatening foreign policy. In the past few years, it has managed to bring a weakened Russia under its wings and is portraying SCO as an alternate multilateral dialogue platform challenging the US control of world affairs. In the run-up to the Astana SCO summit, the Chinese state mouthpiece Global Times carried a few reports extolling the virtues of the summit. "It sends a message to the Western world that there are many different voices from the emerging economies that need to be heard and represented, and the mainstream trend of global cooperation won't be reversed by their obstruction," wrote Zhou Rong, a senior researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China .Chinese President Xi Jinping also clubbed the SCO summit with two state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, thereby, expanding its footprints in the Central Asian states. State media reminded global audiences that Kazakhstan, was where Chinas Belt and Road initiative was proposed in 2013. , which in the past decade managed to get China to secure strategic infrastructure footprints in landlocked Central Asia. Quoting a few analysts Global Times reported Central Asia, as one of the key areas in the implementation of the BRI, offers a vivid example of how the China-proposed global public good has been transforming the landlocked region into a land-linked region, transforming it into a bridge connecting the Eurasian continent. Central and West Asia has been PM Modis focus in the past decade. Even though PM Modi avoided the Astana summit, he is expected to travel to Russia for a post-Ukraine bilateral meeting with President Putin, followed by a stopover in Austria, a first in nearly four decades.

The meeting with President Putin and PM Modi, both of whom have returned to power after elections would be closely followed, since, it would be one of the first face-to-face meetings post Russias isolation by Western countries following the Ukraine war. It will also be the first, where regional issues including the ongoing Israel offensive on Gaza and, the evolving geo-political situation in a conflict-ridden, post-COVID world are likely to be taken up From a regional platform perspective, India China and Russia, also interact closely at BRICS. The unfolding engagement in the next few weeks will be closely followed.

(The writer is a policy analyst; views are personal)
A day after the Centre on Thursday said any MP trying to mislead Parliament will not get away easily and the rules will get them, a war of words between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress escalated. This comes after the Congress wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP MP Anurag Thakur made factually incorrect, inaccurate and misleading statements in the Lok Sabha and sought appropriate action in the matter.

The BJP has already submitted a notice against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha over alleged inaccuracies in his speech. Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore has written to Speaker Birla, requesting that provisions of direction 115(1) be invoked over the statements made by Modi and Thakur.

Nobody can expect to escape. There is no special privilege for anyone just because he comes from a privileged family. If anybody wants to misuse the position in the House to mislead the House, he will not easily get away. Rule will get them, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said.

Rijiju was in fact referring to a notice submitted in the Lok Sabha by BJP member Bansuri Swaraj urging the Speaker to take cognisance of her notice against certain inaccuracies in Rahuls speech on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address.

When the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha kept on lying on many things, including facts and figures, a notice was put to the Speaker and we have requested the Speaker to take appropriate action. We are waiting for the action, Rijiju said in response to questions on the issue.

The Minister said rules apply equally to everyone as no member is above the Chair in the House.

In his letter to Speaker, Tagore flagged that Prime Minister Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address had said the Congress made a false promise of `8,500 per month to women, when the partys promise was conditional to victory and Government formation.

He also challenged Modis claim that the Congress vote share has gone down in 16 States in which it had contested alone. This is factually incorrect. The Congress vote share increased in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Telangana etc., Tagore was quoted as saying in the letter.

He also termed as grossly misleading Modis remarks that no bullet proof jackets [were provided] for the Army during the Congress time. There was a shortage of jackets, not that jackets were not there. Even police had bullet proof jackets like in Mumbai attacks, Tagore said.

He also challenged the Prime Minister over the claim that the Congress didnt give fighter jets to the Army. We had Jaguar, Mig 29, SU- 30, Mirage 2000, the letter read. Tagore also pointed out alleged inaccuracies in Thakurs July 1 speech in the Lok Sabha.

The Congress MP said Thakur claimed that the Army was not given arms and fighter jets when the party ruled the country.

We had Jaguar, Mig 29, SU- 30, Mirage 2000....We had nuclear bombs, missiles like Agni, Prithvi, Aakash, Nag, Trishul and later Brahmos, he said.

Tagore also dubbed as factually incorrect Thakurs remarks that Prime Minister Modi has not taken a single holiday and asked which category of leave is taken for election campaigns.

After Rahuls speech on Monday on the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Rijiju accused the Congress leader of making untruthful claims about a host of issues, including the Agnipath scheme and the compensation paid to locals in Ayodhya.

Under Direction 115 of the Speaker, a member wishing to point out any mistake or inaccuracy in a statement made by a Minister or any other member can, before referring to the matter in the House, write to the Speaker pointing out the particulars of the mistake or the inaccuracy and seek permission to raise the issue.

The member may place before the Speaker such evidence that she or he has in support of the allegation. The Speaker can bring the matter to the notice of the minister or the member concerned to ascertain the factual position.
The CBI has registered its first FIR under newly enforced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against two Delhi Police officers for allegedly demanding `10 lakh bribe to help the release of a person lodged in Tihar Jail. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has replaced the British era Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The FIR registered on Wednesday evening booking Head Constables Ravindra Dhaka and Parveen Saini both posted in Narcotics Cell, Maurice Nagar, under BNA 61(2) related to alleged criminal conspiracy and provisions of bribery under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The complainant alleged that his brother Koshinder has been implicated in a false NDPS case and he was arrested on 23.05.2024 by Narcotics Cell, Maurice Nagar. Koshinder is currently in judicial Custody at Tihar Jail. The complainant alleged that the NRX medicines has been falsely shown in the possession of his brother Koshinder.

The complainant told the CBI that medicines have been falsely shown in the possession of his brother Koshinder.

Dhaka and Saini allegedly demanded the bribe to provide the details of the NRX medicines to the complainant for preparing fake bills and to submit the same before the competent Court, which subsequently would be verified as genuine by them and it would help in release on bail of his brother from his judicial custody, the CBI has alleged.

During verification proceedings, the CBI sent the complainant with concealed recorder to ascertain the claims. Dhaka allegedly told the complainant that IO of the case would settle for Rs 2.50 crore.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Penal Code(IPC), Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Indian Evidence Act respectively from July 1.
Ahead of the full annual Budget of third tenure of BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national Capital on Thursday and described their discussions on key development issues concerning the State as constructive.

Naidus assertion has come a week after another significant ally of the NDA, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had pressed for special package and grants for Bihar during the meeting of partys national executive.

Sources said during the meeting at the PMO, Naidu advocated for increased assistance to Andhra Pradesh in lieu of special category status. The chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is an important ally in the BJP-led NDA Government, presented several crucial proposals for the States development and sought the Union Government support, sources said.

Following the meeting, he expressed confidence in Andhra Pradeshs potential to re-emerge as a powerhouse among States under Modis leadership. Today, I had a constructive meeting with the Prime Minister to address important matters concerning the welfare and development of Andhra Pradesh. I am confident that under his leadership, our State will re-emerge as a powerhouse among States, Naidu took to social media to share the details.

The PMO confirmed the meeting between Naidu and Modi via social media.

The Andhra Pradesh chief ministers two-day Delhi visit included meetings with several Union Ministers. He discussed national highway projects with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and praised the spirit of cooperative federalism after talks with Minister Piyush Goyal. Naidu also met Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan to discuss state-specific issues.

The visit is seen as crucial for securing Central support for Andhra Pradeshs development following its 2014 bifurcation. Naidus engagements in the capital underscore the TDPs importance as an NDA partner and the states push for accelerated growth.

In regards to his party stand, JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha on Thursday rubbished speculations that the partys push for grant of special status to Bihar could lead to a confrontation with the NDA government at the Centre.

The resolution has also made it clear that we want help, be it in the form of special status or special package. The prime minister is sensitive towards our concerns. In the next five years, Bihar would be among the developed states, powered by ample central assistance, said Jha.
With tension persisting at the border for the last five years, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday that the Line of Actual Control (LAC)must be respected.

He also asked the international community to isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism, saying if left unchecked, terrorism can become a major threat to regional and global peace, in a veiled jibe at China and Pakistan.

Delivering Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, Jaishankar, who was physically present at the meeting, recalled that one of the original goals of the SCO is to combat terrorism.

Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned, he told the summit, which was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and and Russian President Vladimir Putin among others.

As regards boundary dispute In Ladakh, India and China vowed to redouble efforts to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh at the earliest and stabilise and rebuild ties during the meeting between the two foreign ministers on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

In the talks, Jaishankar underlined the need for fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements and protocols reached between the two sides in the past for the management of the border.

In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar and Wang had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations.

In the meeting, the external affairs minister also reaffirmed Indias persistent view that the relations between the two sides must be based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.

Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end, Jaishankar said on X.

Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties, he said. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest, the MEA said.

To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting, it said.

The MEA said Jaishankar reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

It said the two ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

The external affairs minister highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations, the MEA said.

He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced, it said.

The talks came amid the dragging border row in eastern Ladakh that entered its fifth year in May. The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

The two sides held the last round of high-level military talks in February with an aim to resolve the row. Though there was no indication of a breakthrough at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on the ground and continue the communication on the way ahead.

Meanwhile, in his address at the SCO summit, Jaishankar said respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. It was in an apparent reference to China which is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes with several countries.

Delivering Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks at the Summit, Jaishankar said the SCO occupies a prominent place in Indias foreign policy.

He said the summit comes in the backdrop of pandemic impact, ongoing conflicts, rising tensions, trust deficits and an increasing number of hotspots around the world.

He said economic development requires robust connectivity.

That can also pave the way for cooperation and trust between our societies. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects, he emphasised.

On the issue of terrorism, delivering Prime Minister Modis remarks at the Summit, Jaishankar recalled that one of the original goals of the SCO is to combat terrorism.

He said the international community must isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism, in an apparent reference to Pakistan and its all-weather ally China which has often put on hold on proposals in the United Nations to blacklist the Pakistan-based wanted terrorists.

Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among our youth, he said, adding that the joint statement issued during Indias Presidency last year on this subject underlines New Delhis shared commitment.

Delivered Indias statement at the Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on behalf of PM Shri @narendramodi ji. Thank the leaders present for conveying their best wishes to Prime Minister @narendramodi on his re-election for a third successive term, Jaishankar later posted on X.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called on the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena to revoke the transfer orders of teachers in Delhi government schools. Delhi Education Minister Atishi has instructed the chief secretary to immediately stop the mandatory transfer of 5,000 teachers who have been teaching in Delhi government schools for more than 10 years, following allegations of corruption in the transfer process.

At a press conference, Atishi highlighted the detrimental impact of the transfer order on the education system.

"This order is absolutely wrong and anti-education. It undermines the hard work of teachers who have transformed Delhi's government schools over the last 10 years," she said.A circular was issued by the DoE on June 11, titled "Online requests for transfer of teaching staff of the Directorate of Education", wherein, vide Clause 16, it was directed that all teachers who have served for more than 10 years in the same school shall compulsorily apply for transfer, failing which they will be transferred to any school by the DoE. Atishi had ordered on July 1 that no teacher should be transferred solely because he has spent more than 10 years in a particular school.

The minister emphasised the crucial role these teachers play in the lives of their students, particularly those from impoverished backgrounds.

"These children are mostly first-generation learners with no academic support at home. For them, their teachers are their sole academic guides," she said.

The minister also referred to the National Education Policy (NEP), which discourages frequent or large-scale transfers of teachers. Stability in teacher placement is essential for maintaining the quality of education, especially for vulnerable student populations, she said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also raised serious concerns about "corruption" in the transfer process.

"There are worrying reports that bribes have been taken to stop the transfers. This is extremely concerning as corruption within the education department threatens the future of our children," she said.

The minister called for an immediate investigation into these allegations and strict action against any officials found guilty of accepting bribes.


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Pro-Khalistan self-styled Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh is set to take oath as a Lok Sabha MP from Khadoor Sahib on Friday, July 5  marking a significant moment in Indian political history. Currently detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) in Assams Dibrugarh jail, Amritpals journey to the Lok Sabha will be closely watched.



On the same day, another jailed MP-elect, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, is also scheduled to be sworn in. Rashid, an Independent candidate from Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, has been in Tihar Jail since his arrest in connection with a 2017 terror funding case.



Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori on Wednesday confirmed that Amritpal has been granted parole for up to four days starting July 5. He clarified that the parole comes with specific conditions already communicated to the Jail Superintendent in Dibrugarh. Amritpal Singh will be escorted to Delhi by the Amritsar police for the oath-taking ceremony.



Amritpal will be flown from Dibrugarh Central Jail to Delhi and then taken directly to the chamber of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for oath. However, the radical Sikh preacher will not be taken to the Lok Sabha floor for the oath.



It has been learnt that Amritpal will be brought to Delhi via a direct flight from Dibrugarh to Delhi. Amritsar police have also reportedly departed for Assam to escort Amritpal to Delhi after completing all legal formalities.



An official maintained that the parole will be allowed only for taking the oath. The four-day parole is granted to ensure his transit despite any potential weather disruptions and comes with specific conditions already communicated to the jail superintendent in Dibrugarh.



The news regarding Amritpals parole was also corroborated by Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, an Independent MP from Faridkot parliamentary constituency in Punjab, following his meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Speaker has told me that Bhai Amritpal will take the oath on July 5, he said.



Amritpals advocate Rajdev Singh Khalsa noted that neither he nor Amritpals family had received any official confirmation. Punjab Home Secretary has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, forwarding Amritpals plea to be allowed to take the oath. This plea was processed through the jail superintendent of Dibrugarh jail to the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner, who then forwarded it to the home secretary. While we await official information, Sarabjit Singh Khalsa has informed us after his meeting with the Speaker that Amritpal will be taking the oath on July 5, said Khalsa.



Earlier, Khalsa indicated that Amritpals oath-taking might coincide with Engineer Rashids. Rashid, who was granted two hours of custody parole on July 5 by a Delhi court with the National Investigation Agencys (NIA) approval, has been incarcerated in Delhis Tihar Jail. Despite his imprisonment, Rashid won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, defeating former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.



The other 12 MPs from Punjab were sworn in on June 25, with Amritpal absent. His name was called third on the list after the Congresss MP from Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, took the oath. The Punjab government had written to the Speaker, assuring that they would facilitate Amritpals attendance whenever permitted.



Amritpals victory in Khadoor Sahib, achieved with a significant margin of 1.97 lakh votes despite his imprisonment and inability to campaign, has inspired his family and constituency supporters. Arrested on April 23, 2023, following a month-long manhunt, Amritpal has been held in Dibrugarh jail under the NSA.



His election success has also motivated three of his aides, who are NSA detainees, to announce their candidacies for upcoming bypolls in three Assembly constituencies. Kulwant Singh Raoke, Bhagwant Singh, alias Pradhan Mantri Bajeke, and Daljeet Singh Kalsi plan to contest from Barnala, Gidderbaha, and Dera Baba Nanak, respectively.



Amritpal, the head of the Waris Punjab De organization, hailing from Jallupur Kheda village near Amritsar, defeated Congresss Kulbir Singh Zira to win the Khadoor Sahib seat with over four lakh votes.



On February 23, 2023, under Amritpals leadership, thousands of people stormed the Ajnala police station in Amritsar, leading to his arrest after a two-month long hot chase, and subsequent detention under the NSA since April 2023. Despite his incarceration, his popularity remains strong, reflected in his decisive electoral victory.


The State BJP has reacted strongly over possible regime change in State and has termed the decision of INDIA bloc leaders of replacing Champai Soren as Chief Minister of State as insult and injustice to tribal leaders of State.

Former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren was elected as leader of ruling INDIA bloc leader in Assembly, paving the way to once become the chief minister of State.

BJP State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi attacked Hemant Soren for being re-elected as the leader in the JMM Congress RJD Legislature Party meeting. He said that the tribal outside the Shibu Soren family in JMM is only a makeshift one. The Shibu Soren family will use them as they wish and then throw him out like a fly in the milk.

He said that the real face of JMM, which talked about choosing the Chief Minister by rising above nepotism 5 months ago, has been exposed again today.

He said that this is a lesson for other tribal leaders of JMM. They should understand their boundary line. They should understand that they are only there to carry the palanquin of the Shibu Soren family. Flying high is not in their destiny.

Marandi said that Champai Soren ji is the Chief Minister of the state today but he was insulted repeatedly while in office. Despite chairing the meeting today, he was made to sit on the side. Earlier during the Lok Sabha elections, in the INDI Alliance rally held in Ranchi, he was given a place on the side of the stage while the daughter-in-law of the family, Kalpana Soren, sat in the middle of the stage without any post. Even in the middle of Champai Soren's speech, the party leaders present on the stage started getting up and leaving. He said that today the tiger of Kolhan was turned into a mouse.

After this news came through the media, Assam Chief Minister and co-in-charge of Jharkhand Assembly elections, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on his Instagram that "It is very sad that a senior tribal leader was removed from the post of Chief Minister by JMM and Congress Party in Jharkhand. I am sure that the people of Jharkhand will strongly condemn this decision and strongly reject it"

At the same time, Leader of Opposition, Jharkhand Assembly Amar Kumar Bakri wrote on his Instagram that "This behavior of the Soren family with a senior leader like Champai Soren is very shameful and condemnable. Now only a few months are left for the elections in Jharkhand, but the Soren family is so desperate for power that they cannot stay away from it even for a day. Anyway, Hemant Soren was running the government from jail, but as soon as he came out of jail on bail, he became desperate to sit on the throne again. Hemant Soren has left no stone unturned to shame Jharkhand in the last five years."

It is known that in the meeting held in CM House on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister Champai Soren, MLAs of the ruling party and Congress state in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, there was a consensus on Hemant Soren becoming the Chief Minister. It was also decided that this information should be given today itself by going to the Raj Bhavan. With this, Hemant Soren will assume the responsibility of the post of Chief Minister for the third time in the state.
Heavy rains lash parts of HP weather dept warns of more rainfall in next four days



Shimla: Heavy rains lashed parts of Himachal Pradesh, affecting vehicular traffic on Wednesday while the meteorological department warned of more rainfall along with thunderstorms till July 7. Katuala was the wettest in the state with 169 mm of rain followed by Pandoh with 117 mm, Sujanpura Tira 88 mm, Gohar 60 mm, Mashobra 58 mm and Dharamshala 56.4 mm, the meteorological department said. Jot received 54 mm of rain, Kahu 51.5 mm, Baggi 40.2 mm, Mandi 38.2 mm, Malron 35 mm, Baldwara and Sundernagar 30.6 mm each and Kufri 30 mm. As many as 18 roads, including 12 in Mandi, four in Chamba and one each in Kangra and Lahaul and Spiti districts were closed for vehicular traffic following rains. The local weather office issued a yellow warning for heavy rains along with thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh till July 7.



Committee formed to address Sexual Harassment complaints of women employees in Hry Civil Secretariat



Chandigarh: Haryana Government on Wednesday constituted an Internal Complaints Committee to provide protection against Sexual harassment to women at the workplace and to hear the complaints of sexual harassment of the female employees in the Haryana Civil Secretariat. According to a letter from the Chief Secretary's office, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar has been appointed as the Chairperson/Presiding Officer of the committee. IAS officer J Ganesan, Additional Advocate General Shubhra Singh, Under Secretary HSS-I Deepali Malik, and Chairperson, Center for Human Rights and Duties, Panjab University, Dr Upneet Kaur Mangat, have been made members of this committee. The Presiding Officer and each member will serve on the committee for a maximum of three years from the date of their nomination.



First-Aid Kits to be purchased for Anganwadis: Hry Minister



Chandigarh: Haryana Minister of State for Transport & Women and Child Development Aseem Goel on Wednesday announced that "First-Aid Kits" will be purchased for Anganwadis across the state to ensure primary medical treatment for children in case of any accident. The High Powered Purchase Committee headed by the Minister granted approval for this initiative. After the meeting, the Minister informed that electric buses will be introduced in several cities across the state. For the monitoring and management of these buses, tenders were awarded to a company for ITMS (Intelligent Transport Management System).



1,425 roads, spanning 4,655 kilometers set to improve during 2024-25: Hry Minister



Chandigarh: Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads) Department Minister Dr Banwari Lal on Wednesday said that the riding quality and condition of 1,425 roads, spanning 4,655 kilometers across the state, will be improved at a cost of Rs. 2,750 crore during the year 2024-25. This includes 51 State Highways covering 680 kilometers at a cost of Rs. 600 crore, 43 Major District Roads covering 725 kilometers at a cost of Rs. 500 crore, and 1,331 Other District Roads covering 3,250 kilometers at a cost of Rs. 1,650 crore. Dr. Banwari Lal made this revelation while addressing a press conference following a review meeting with senior officers of the Department in Panchkula.



200 people get tested in free medical checkup camp



Panchkula: A free medical checkup camp was organized under the aegis of Territorial Army Group Headquarters, Western Command, Chandimandir by Rotary Club Pinjore Hills and Women and Child Care Welfare Foundation Chandigarh. The camp was organized on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee Celebration of the Territorial Army. This camp was inaugurated by Colonel Rajiv Sinha, Commanding Officer, 102 Infantry Battalion (TA) Punjab, Kalka, District Panchkula (Haryana).



Hry Chief Secretary releases book "Be Future Proof"



Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad on Wednesday released the debut book "Be Future Proof" by Vikas Verma, the Regional Head of North India for UNDP, at a gathering at Chandigarh Club. The event sparked enthusiasm and inspired conversations about innovation and resilience in an ever-changing world. In his address, Prasad said, The book Be Future Proof is a timely guide for anyone looking to stay ahead in these transformative times. Verma has encapsulated key insights and strategies that are not only essential for personal growth but also for contributing to a sustainable future.



Officers asked to improve sewerage system in Ballabgarh Assembly



Chandigarh: Haryana Industries and Commerce Minister Mool Chand Sharma on Wednesday directed the officers concerned for improvement of the sewerage system in the Ballabgarh Assembly in light of the upcoming rainy season. He visited the disposal site at Sector-3 Tigaon Road with officers from various departments to review the cleaning and repair of sewer lines. Sharma emphasized the importance of regular inspection and maintenance of the sewerage system during the rainy season to prevent blockages and waterlogging issues. He also stressed repairing potholes on roads to avoid water accumulation and ensure smooth traffic flow. In case of waterlogging, special plans should be implemented for traffic management to prevent public inconvenience due to jams and other issues, directed the Minister.



Chd MC introduces two E-carts for compostable bags



Chandigarh: To make Chandigarh a plastic-free city, the Municipal Corporation Chandigarh on Wednesday introduced two E-carts for compostable bags. This initiative, undertaken in association with Mobisoft Telesolutions under the CSR campaign "I HATE POLYTHENE," aims to make compostable bags available to vendors at reasonable rates at vegetable market, Sector 26 and Apni Mandis in different sectors. City Mayor Kuldeep Kumar formally flagged off the two e-carts at Sector 26 vegetable market and honored vendors. MC Commissioner Anindita Mitra informed that the MCC has been implementing various initiatives to reduce plastic waste, and the availability of E-carts for compostable bags at subsidized prices is yet another step towards achieving a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future under the "Safai Apnao Bimaari Bhagao" campaign.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has hailed the 2024-25 budget as 'Sarvajan Hitay-Sarvajan Sukhay,' signifying welfare and happiness for all. He highlighted that, for the first time in the state, a budget exceeding Rs 3 lakh 60 thousand crore has been presented. A notable feature of this budget is the absence of any new taxes. Instead of reducing allocations, Funding for departments have been increased. The budget, themed Vikasit Bharat-Vikasit Madhya Pradesh, aims to double its size in the next five years while ensuring GDP growth aligning with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modis vision. It caters to all sections of society, particularly the youth, poor, women, and farmers. Emphasizing advancements in new technology, including IT, the budget includes a long-term plan to train and encourage more youth to join administrative services. Chief Minister Dr. Yadav congratulated the people of the state on the 2024-25 budget while addressing the media at the Assembly's media center.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav announced that the budget includes special provisions for students residing in hostels. He highlighted that adequate funds have been allocated to boost milk production in the state and to support cow shelters. The budget for industrial development has been increased by 40 percent. Significant provisions have also been made for self-help groups, including those involved in heavy industries, MSMEs, and cottage industries. Emphasis will be placed on permanent infrastructure projects such as schools, colleges, hospitals, roads, and expressways. The budget also includes provisions for direct connectivity between Mahakaushal, Chambal, Vindhya, Malwa, and the capital, ensuring adequate arrangements and financial liquidity for this purpose.

Chief Minister Dr. Yadav announced that the upcoming Simhastha will be organized on a grand scale in the state. The event, traditionally held in Ujjain, is known for its grandeur and divinity. To ensure adequate arrangements at the Devasthans in 13 districts across the Indore and Ujjain divisions, a token amount of Rs 500 crore has been allocated. Dr. Yadav also emphasized the importance of senior citizens, referring to them as the backbone of the state. A special scheme is being introduced to support them, particularly the parents of youth working in other states or abroad. In urban areas, societies with comprehensive facilities, including medical care for senior citizens, will be encouraged. The state government will support the private sector initiatives aimed at this cause.Yadav noted that the state has welcomed a record number of tourists, with abundant activities in religious tourism, heritage tourism, and forest tourism. Additionally, funds have been allocated to promote education and health tourism. The state's production capacity of millets is the highest in the country, and measures have been taken to further encourage this. A Shri Anna Research Centre is being established in Dindori to support these efforts.

Similarly, under pulses, a Gram Research Center will be opened in Malwa and a Mustard Research Center will be opened in Chambal. To ensure that crimes related to cows are not encouraged, along with taking strict action, the state government has declared this year as Cow Protection Year.
Chief Minister Champai Soren today resigned after legislators from the INDIA bloc in the State unanimously chose former Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Executive President Hemant Soren as their new legislature party leader.

Champai Soren, accompanied by Hemant Soren, Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmed Mir, State Congress President Rajesh Thakur, Minister from RJD quota Satyanand Bhokta, and Congress MLA Pradeep Yadav and CPI ML legislator Binod Singh, visited Raj Bhawan on Wednesday afternoon to submit his resignation.

Simultaneously, former CM Hemant Soren put forward his claim to form a new government in the state. The leaders presented Governor CP Radhakrishnan with a letter of support signed by most legislators of the INDI Alliance.

After leaving Raj Bhawan, Champai Soren stated, Today I have submitted my resignation to the Governor as we have elected Hemant Soren as our new leader. The decision reflects the sentiments of the alliances legislators.

Health Minister Banna Gupta confirmed that Champai Soren had resigned and that Hemant Soren had requested the Governor to schedule the swearing-in ceremony. The Governor has accepted Champai Sorens resignation and is expected to call Hemant Soren for the oath ceremony on July 4.

This development follows Hemant Soren being granted bail by the Jharkhand High Court on June 28, after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged land scam case on January 31. Hemant Soren had resigned on January 31 before his arrest, leading to Champai Soren being sworn in as a temporary Chief Minister on February 2.

With assembly elections scheduled for November 2024 in Jharkhand, the ruling INDI Alliance aims to use the upcoming four months for election preparations.

Hemant Soren is set to become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time, having previously taken office in 2013 and 2019.

Notably, Champai Soren might take on a new position within the INDIA bloc, potentially as the chairman of the coordination committee or as the executive president of the JMM.

In the Jharkhand State Assembly, the INDIA bloc holds a majority with 45 seats, strengthened by recent electoral victories. The BJP, now with 24 seats, saw its numbers decrease as two of its legislators won parliamentary seats.

Kalpana Soren, Hemant Soren's wife, has emerged as a significant figure in JMM politics after achieving a decisive win in a recent bye-election. Her victory in the Gandey constituency highlighted the family's sustained influence amidst changing political dynamics.

Sita Soren, Hemant Soren's estranged sister-in-law and former JMM member, criticized the leadership change, calling it superficial. "Changing the CM's face will not yield any benefit," she stated, reflecting ongoing political rivalry in the state.

With preparations in motion for the next electoral contest, Hemant Soren's return to office marks a crucial moment in Jharkhand's political landscape, aiming to solidify support ahead of the upcoming state polls.
AIIMS Bhopal continues to lead the way in academic excellence and innovative medical practices under the visionary leadership of Professor (Dr.) Ajai Singh, Executive Director. Emphasizing a culture of knowledge-sharing and continuous learning, AIIMS Bhopal has garnered significant achievements across various academic platforms.

Recently, Dr. Ruchi Singh, Professor of Physiology, presented her pivotal research at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) conference held in Helsinki from June 29th to July 2nd, 2024. Her study, titled "Association of Fibromyalgia Severity with Patients' Mood, Sleep Quality, Quality of Life, and Autonomic Dysfunction," offers new insights into the multifaceted impacts of fibromyalgia on patients' lives.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday castigated the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner over illegal and unauthorised constructions in the national capital and said courts were being used as "pawns" in the process. It said one of the reasons for flooding in Delhi is that water outlets are blocked due to unauthorised constructions and asked the civic body chief to take stern action against erring officers.

The bench said it has noticed that some lawyers are also blackmailing and extracting money in unauthorised construction matters and the court process was being misused.

"We are being used as a pawn in the entire thing. We want to break this nexus, it is a big nexus. The system is collapsing. You do something and take drastic action against your officers," the bench told the MCD commissioner.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela apprised Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, who joined the proceedings virtually in pursuance of the court's direction, about filing of motivated petitions which cannot be ignored as the fact of illegal and unauthorised constructions is not in dispute.

"Courts are being used as a strategic tool by both the petitioner and the officials of MCD for their ulterior purposes and for extracting money. Professional persons are filing a number of petitions on unauthorised constructions. We are stuck in a strange situation. If we take action, they tend to extort money from the property owner. If we don't take action, then the unauthorised construction remains," the bench said.The court said, "The floods in Delhi are because outlets of water are blocked. Drains are choked. This is because of unauthorised constructions. Houses and buildings have been constructed on public lands and drains so there is no way left for water to flow."

It questioned the MCD officials for turning a blind eye to unauthorised constructions coming up in the city and said it is not possible without the complicity of MCD officials.Responding to the concerns raised by the bench, the commissioner assured the court that strict action will be taken against erring officials, they will be sensitised, and a strong message will be sent out that such activities are not going to be tolerated.

He assured the court that the civic body will take action against unauthorised constructions and they will be removed.The court was hearing a petition filed by a 20-year-old woman seeking directions to the authorities to stop and demolish an illegal and unauthorised construction being carried out on a land in Paharganj here.

During the hearing, the MCD counsel contended that the petition was motivated.The high court had earlier said though it was prima facie in agreement with the contention that the petition seemed to be motivated, it does not take away from the fact that the construction was illegal and unauthorised.

"This court has been dealing with a number of similar matters where the bonafide of the petitioner is suspect, but the factum of unauthorised and illegal construction is not in dispute," it had said.
The Jharkhand High Court has instructed the State Government to make an action plan to address Bangladeshi infiltrators issue and submit a status report within two weeks.



During a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing on Wednesday, the division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai directed the state government to have all Deputy Commissioners in the Santhal Pargana region formulate a strategy to identify and repatriate Bangladeshi infiltrators through mutual coordination.



The High Court has mandated the state government to provide a status report within two weeks via an affidavit.



Previously, in April, the High Court inquired whether the Central Government could take direct action under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) against Bangladeshi infiltrators in five districts of Santhal Pargana.



Daniel Danish, who filed the PIL, claimed that Bangladeshi intruders are entering Jharkhand through border areas such as Jamtara, Pakur, Godda, Sahibganj, among others, which is negatively impacting the local population.



He also mentioned a significant number of madrasas being established in these districts and the formation of marital relations with local tribal people. Danish demanded that the Home Ministry of the Government of India submit a report detailing how these infiltrators are entering Jharkhand and the resulting demographic changes.



The issue of Bangladeshi infiltration in the Santhal Pargana area has been a long-standing political topic. Many senior BJP leaders have consistently raised this concern, alleging that the demography in several districts of Santhal is being altered due to this infiltration. This issue has frequently been discussed in the Assembly. However, the government contends that since no district of Jharkhand borders Bangladesh, preventing infiltration is the responsibility of the central government.



On June 30, during the Hul Diwas event, State BJP president Babulal Marandi expressed alarm over the declining tribal population. He pointed out that the tribal population in Jharkhand decreased from 44.69% in 1951 to 28.11% in 2011. In contrast, the Muslim population increased from 9.44% to 22.73% during the same period, while the population of other communities rose from 43% to 49%.


Former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren was elected as leader of ruling INDIA bloc leader in Assembly, paving the way to once become the chief minister of State. Soren was elected as INDIA bloc (JMM, Congress, RJD and Left) leader after he called the ruling alliance partners meeting. Today was Soren's first meeting after he was released from jail on bail in an alleged land scam.

Apart from Soren, alliance partner leaders including Congress in-charge of the State Ghulam Ahmad Mir, State Congress president Rajesh Thakur leaders and legislators of INDIA bloc allies were present in the meeting. Sources said that in the meeting there was consensus among INDIA bloc leaders over the change of guard and making Hemant Soren as Chief Minister of the State again. Hemant will be 13th Chief Minister of State.

The INDIA bloc leaders were euphoric on change of guard claiming that under Hemant Soren the ruling alliance will become stronger.

A decision was taken at the meeting that Hemant Soren will be the Chief Minister of the State again, said Congress MLA from Jamtara Irfan Ansari to local media persons in Capital.

Sources said that the INDIA bloc leaders will stake claim before Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan who is likely to reach Ranchi on Wednesday evening. Some of the ruling alliance legislators wished Mr. Soren to take oath as Chief Minister even tonight if Governor gets ready or by tomorrow.

In the total 81-member Jharkhand State Assembly, the JMM-led INDIA bloc strength, after the recently held Lok Sabha poll, has become 45 from 47 (JMM-27, Congress-17 and RJD-1). The BJPs strength in the State Assembly is 24 as two of its legislators Dhulu Mahto (Baghmara in Dhanbad) and Manish Jaiswal (Hazaribagh) were elected as party MPs.

The meeting assumes importance as this is first time that Hemant will be meeting all MLAs of INDIA bloc, though he had met several MLAs after his release from jail on bail.

The last time Hemant Soren had called a meeting of the legislature party of INDIA alliance was on the day he was arrested on January 31.

The MLAs were asked to sign and authorise the then chief minister Hemant Soren to take any decision in eventuality of any action by ED against the latter. Soren then had designated Champai Soren as his successor.

Soren resigned as chief minister on January 31, minutes before he was arrested by the federal agency, and passed on the baton to Champai Soren. As he languished in jail, his party won three Lok Sabha seats this year, two more than its tally in 2019; its partner, the Congress, won two. The BJP-led NDA won nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, three less than 2019. All the five seats won by the JMM-Congress combine in the state this time are reserved for scheduled tribes.
Preparations for the three- century old Jagannath Rath Yatra or Chariot Festival are on in full swing in Ranchi. The fair is set to start on July 7 and will culminate on July 17.

The festival holds immense significance for numerous devotees across the country. It symbolises the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra on elaborately decorated chariots to Mausi Bari.

Jagannath Temple First Shebait and Trustee Thakur Sudhanshu Nath Sahdeo said, It is believed that the deities develop fever after excessive bathing during Snan Yatra Mahotsava. They are then kept in isolation for 15 days until the Rath Yatra. The fair will begin from June 6 after the Netradan Mahotsava at 4:30 pm. The Snan Yatra Mahotsava took place on June 22 this year.

On the day of the main event- July7- the district administration has also ensured the use of drones to closely monitor the entire procession. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren along with his family will be a part of the event. As per information received an invitation has also been sent to the Governor. Former CM Hemant Soren and his wife MLA Kalpana Soren, MP Sanjay Seth will also participate in the procession. MLAs Navin Jaiswal and Rajesh Kachhap will also be present.

The Ranchi district administration will also have male and female police personnel deployed at the fair. The entire ground will be monitored on CCTV and 5 watch towers have also been placed. A police control room has also been set up in the temple premises, informed an official.

To ensure utmost hygiene during the monsoon season, Ranchi Municipal Corporation has already started spraying bleaching powder while separate dustbins for wet and dry garbage will also be placed by the civic body. Fire brigades will be stationed at a government school near the fair ground.

Sahdeo also added that presently the finishing touches are being given to the Rath. It is made of wood from saal, jamun and mango trees and is about 25 feet broad and 40 feet in height. A new Rath was made last year so it is being used this year as well. Pieces of wood which had gone bad have been replaced and a fresh coat of paint has been applied.

The temple committee will also deploy 100 bouncers to safeguard the devotees. Arrangements for a clean drinking water facility have also been made. This time the fair will have some new installations of swings which are likely to attract a lot of revellers. In order to give our local artists a platform to showcase their talent, cultural programmes are also being organised, added Sahdeo.


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Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday maintained that the Punjab One Time Settlement (Amendment) Scheme (OTS-3) has achieved unprecedented success, surpassing expectations by collecting Rs 137.66 crore in tax revenue  marking a substantial increase compared to the Rs 13.15 crore collected under the previous OTS-1 and OTS-2 schemes.



Cheema highlighted this achievement, underscoring the schemes efficacy and the Punjab Governments commitment under Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns leadership to foster a culture of tax compliance.



OTS-3 has been instrumental in facilitating tax compliance among dealers, with 58,756 beneficiaries taking advantage of its provisions, said the Minister. He said that the scheme has provided significant relief, waiving off Rs 215.92 crore for 50,774 dealers with arrears up to Rs one lakh, and Rs 414.67 crore for 7,982 dealers with arrears ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs one crore.



Cheema attributed the success of OTS-3 to its investor-friendly framework and the governments proactive support for taxpayers. He also announced the extension of the scheme until August 16, 2024, to accommodate the remaining 11,559 dealers who can still benefit from this initiative.



The Punjab One Time Settlement Scheme for Recovery of Outstanding Dues, 2023, launched on November 15, 2023, offers taxpayers a unique opportunity to settle their outstanding dues up to the assessment year 2016-17. The scheme provides a complete waiver of tax, interest, and penalty for arrears up to Rs one lakh as of March 31, 2024. For cases with demands ranging from Rs one lakh to Rs one crore, the scheme offers a waiver of 100 percent interest, 100 percent penalty, and 50 percent of the tax amount.



The extension of OTS-3 underscores the governments commitment to facilitating financial relief and promoting compliance among taxpayers in Punjab.




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Punjab Police's relentless pursuit of justice hit a high note on Wednesday with the arrest of two travel agents accused of trafficking innocent Punjab residents into a nightmarish world of cyber slavery in Cambodia and other South East Asian countries. The arrests, executed by the states Cyber Crime Division, exposed a chilling scheme where promises of lucrative data entry jobs abroad turned into a cruel trap.



Amarjeet Singh, the mastermind behind Visa Palace Immigration in Mohali, and his accomplice Gurjodh Singh, lured victims with false hopes, only to strip them of their passports upon arrival in Siam Reap. These individuals were then coerced into running cyber scams targeting fellow Indians, under threats and dire conditions akin to modern-day slavery.



This is not just a crime against individuals but an assault on human dignity, said the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.



DGP Yadav said that following the statement of the victim, who has managed to escape from Cambodia after getting in contact with the Indian Embassy in Cambodia, the State Cyber Crime Police Station had registered a first information report (FIR) and started investigations in this case.



A case had been registered under sections 370, 406, 420 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 24 of the Immigration Act at Police Station State Cyber Crime.



He said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused persons have fraudulently sent many persons to Cambodia and other South-East Asian countries, where they are forcibly made to work at centres engaged in Cyber Scamming Indians. The details of the persons, who are into cyber slavery are being obtained and contacts are being established with them and their families, he added.



Assistant Director General of Police (ADGP), Cyber Crime Division, V Neeraja, leading the charge against human traffickers, warned citizens against falling prey to deceitful promises of overseas jobs, especially in Southeast Asia. Verify employers rigorously; don't risk becoming a victim, she urged.



Be aware of such fraudulent immigration activities and do not fall prey to fake promises of travel agents offering lucrative job opportunities abroad, especially in South-East Asian Countries. DO conduct a thorough background check of the prospective employer, especially when work is offered in the name of Data entry operator job and to not undertake any illegal cyber activities and reach out to Indian Embassy, she added.



ADGP Neeraja said that Police teams from State Cyber Crime, led by Inspector Deepak Bhatia, conducted raid at the office of Visa Palace immigration and arrested both the accused persons.



The accused have further revealed that they were doing the illegal activities in connivance with other agents belonging to different states. Further investigation is being conducted to identify other such travel agents and their accomplices to nab them, she said.



Meanwhile, the Union Ministry of External Affairs has also set up an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) as a single-window facilitation centre, to provide the required support services to persons desirous of going abroad for employment purposes. The OWRC, at present, is operating a 24x7 helpline (1800113090) to provide need-based information to emigrants and their families through a toll free number.



If any other person from state of Punjab has fallen victim in this alleged scam, the person may call State Cyber Crime Division, Punjab helpline no. 0172-2226258 for further facilitation through Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi.




Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Umang Singhar reached the Satyagraha of Youth Congress going on at Board Office Square against the nursing scam today. He ended the Satyagraha by providing biscuits to Youth Congress President Mitendra Singh.

On this occasion, Umang Singhar said, our fight is with Minister Vishwas Sarang. This fight will continue until he resigns.

He said that innocent students of the state take admission in the college. How would they know that the college is fake? Here in Bhopal, the officers in connivance with the minister tamper with the rules. Due to which the future of the students is getting ruined. We want to assure the youth of the state that we will not let your future be tampered with.

He said that this Satyagraha will be completed when you will win the entire battle of the nursing college. This fight of yours will continue against Vishwas Sarang from the House to the field. The Congress party and its MLAs are completely with you in this fight of yours. Our fight is with the minister who is a minister in the cabinet of Mohan Yadav's government. Mohan Yadav has kept such a corrupt minister. Mohan Yadav has just joined and his image is clean. If he wants his image to be tarnished, if the minister's black stains come on his clothes, then he should bear it.

Youth Congress started a 24-hour satyagraha at Board Office Square from Tuesday against the nursing college scam. Along with Youth Congress President Mitendra Darshan Singh, many youth leaders and students affected by the nursing scam also reached the satyagraha site. Some nursing students started crying bitterly at the satyagraha site.

During this, PCC Chief Jeetu Patwari also reached and consoled the students. Vivek Tripathi accused the BJP of doing only politics and neglecting the students and youth. Many Congress leaders including former Union Minister Arun Yadav, former Minister PC Sharma, Jaivardhan Singh reached the spot and accused the BJP of protecting the education mafia.

Demanding the resignation of Minister Vishwas, Sarang

Youth Congress State President Mitendra Singh said that a nursing scam has taken place in the BJP rule, due to which the future of lakhs of students has been ruined. This has affected the future of the students as well as their entire family. The BJP has forced the students to wander from door to door at the behest of the education mafia. We will fight this battle from the House to the streets. We demand the resignation of Vishwas Sarang and strict action against the responsible officers.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, began with Vande Mataram in the committee room of the Assembly. In his address before the meeting, Chief Minister Yadav expressed his sorrow over the tragic incidents in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, where a stampede during a Satsang resulted in the untimely demise of devotees, and in Indore, where children in an orphanage lost their lives.

Yadav announced that the Indore district administration has been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take action against the institution's manager. He also mentioned that a woman from Gwalior was among the victims in the Hathras incident. Dr. Yadav directed that an initial financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each be provided to the families of the deceased woman from Gwalior and the children from Indore.

Yadav instructed the Chief Secretary that the district administration should co-ordinate with all the major events in the state.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is set to host the 11th edition of the Manufacturing Conclave East at a city hotel on July 5. With the theme "Future Ready to Future Proof Manufacturing," the event aims to gather eminent leaders from the industry to deliberate on emerging technologies and their potential to future-proof the manufacturing sector.

The conclave, focusing on competitiveness, inclusiveness, and sustainability, promises to be a pivotal event. Industry leaders, policymakers, and experts will discuss the latest trends, innovations, and opportunities in the manufacturing sector through insightful panel discussions, keynote addresses, and networking sessions. These interactions aim to foster meaningful exchanges and collaborations, shaping the future of manufacturing in the state and region.

Kamal Bali, President & Managing Director of Volvo Group India Pvt Ltd, will grace the conclave as a special guest. Bali, who has had an illustrious career in the automotive and engineering industry with organizations such as the Eicher Group, the Escorts Group, SDF India, and Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK), brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event.

Other key speakers addressing the conclave include Suvendra Behera, Chairman, CII Eastern Region & Vice Chairman & Managing Director, RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd; Prithish Chowdhary, Deputy Managing Director, Titagarh Rail System Ltd; Ranjot Singh, Chairman, CII Jharkhand State Council & Managing Director, Emdet Jamshedpur Pvt Ltd; Ravindra Kulkarni, Plant Head  Jamshedpur, Tata Motors Ltd; Ramphal Nehra, Director & Plant Head, Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd; Ujjal Chakraborti, Managing Director, JCAPCPL; Sanjay Sabherwal, Managing Director, Metalwork Industries Ltd; Saurabh Verma, Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG; Anand, Sr. Vice President, Tata Hitachi; and Sarajit Jha, Chief Business Transformation Services & Digital, Tata Steel Ltd, among many others.

The conclave will feature discussions on Business Beyond Borders: Realigning to Global Value Chain; Future Technology for Future Business: Towards Intelligent Manufacturing for Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond; and Inclusive & Sustainable Manufacturing: The Way Ahead.

The primary aim of the conclave is to establish and enhance ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies, deliberate on policies, share best practices, explore business developments, and discuss management strategies. The overarching goal is to fortify the engineering and manufacturing sector, including MSMEs, fostering a robust foundation for sustainable development, growth, and innovation.

The CII Manufacturing Conclave East is anticipated to be a landmark event, driving the agenda for future-ready and future-proof manufacturing. With a focus on sustainability, inclusiveness, and competitiveness, the conclave aims to chart a path for the manufacturing sector that is resilient and innovative, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed the possibility of a conspiracy in the Hathras accident which left 121 people dead. After visiting the spot on Wednesday morning, the chief minister also announced a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The chief minister said that the whole matter would be investigated under the chairmanship of a retired judge of the High Court and strict action would be taken against whoever was found guilty.

The chief minister said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted under the chairmanship of ADG Agra Zone to investigate this entire incident.

The ADG Agra Zone has given a preliminary report. He has been asked to get to the bottom of this incident. There are many aspects which need to be investigated.

Yogi said till now, prima facie our action is to call the organisers for questioning apart from relief and rescue. To question them about the accident and to determine the negligence of those responsible, an FIR has already been registered, the chief minister informed the media persons.

Responding to questions about the absence of an FIR against Bhole Baba, he explained that the initial FIR is against those who sought permission for the event, and the investigation will expand to hold all responsible parties accountable.

The chief minister further said that it could not be ignored that this type of incident could not be just an accident.

If it is an accident then who is responsible for it. If the incident has happened and is not an accident, then it is a conspiracy. A judicial inquiry will be conducted to find out who is behind this conspiracy. Its investigation will be conducted under the chairmanship of a retired judge of the High Court. Retired senior officials of the administration and police will also be included in it and the investigation will be done to get to the bottom of the entire incident. Whoever is found guilty will be punished and it will be ensured that the incident does not recur, the chief minister disclosed, adding that the notification for the judicial inquiry will be issued on Wednesday.

Furthermore, this inquiry will devise recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent similar incidents in the future. These measures will be implemented in all future events of this nature.

Chief Minister Yogi stated that in such events, the sevadaars and volunteers run the entire system. Where the crowd is disciplined and people come with devotion, they remain disciplined. But when this programme becomes a toy in the hands of vested selfish elements, then a scene of indiscipline is seen. Its victims are innocent persons, who came with devotion as they are not aware of the conspiracy. But the conspirators quietly slip away from there after conspiring. If it was an accident, then the sevadaars should have strengthened the system. If they were not able to strengthen it, then with the help of the administration, they should have tried to take the accident victims to the hospital. People kept dying there and the sevadaars kept running away, he added.

Chief Minister Yogi said that he himself went to the spot. Apart from the state governments three ministers, the chief secretary and other officers are also camping here. Senior administrative and police officers are also working towards accountability of those responsible. Some special teams have been formed. In this, action will be taken against the responsible people of different teams, he claimed.

Chief Minister Yogi announced plans to support the education of minor children affected by the accident under the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Bal Seva Yojana, regardless of their current school or institution. Furthermore, he mentioned that the Central and state governments were providing Rs 4 lakh as financial assistance to the families of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh to the injured.

Before the press conference, Chief Minister Yogi held a comprehensive review meeting regarding the incident at the Hathras police headquarters. Local officials gave him crucial information and detailed insights into the incidents circumstances. He received a comprehensive briefing about the entire area and witnessed the police present an outline of the incident.

Chief Minister Yogi then directed appropriate actions to be taken. State government ministers Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan Singh, Asim Arun and Sandeep Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Bhupendra Chaudhary, Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, DGP Prashant Kumar and other officials and local MLAs were present in the meeting.
A court here on Thursday extended till July 18 the judicial custody of Kannada actor Darshan Thoogudeepa along with his friend Pavithra Gowda and others accused in the Renukaswamy murder case.

All the 17 accused, including Darshan and Pavithra, were produced before the magistrate through video conferencing from Bengaluru and Tumakuru prisons, where they are lodged, as their judicial custody ended today.

According to police sources, 33-year-old Renukaswamy, a fan of the actor, had sent obscene messages to Gowda, which enraged Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder. His body was found near a stormwater drain next to an apartment in Sumanahalli here on June 9.

Raghavendra, one of the accused who is part of Darshan's fan club in Chitradurga, had brought Renukaswamy to a shed in R R Nagar here, on the pretext that the actor wanted to meet him. It was in this shed that he was allegedly tortured and murdered.

According to the post-mortem report, Renukaswamy, a native of Chitradurga, died due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of multiple blunt injuries.

Police sources said Pavithra Gowda, who is accused number one, was the "major cause" for Renukaswamy's murder, claiming that it has been proved from the probe that she instigated other accused, conspired with them, and took part in the crime.
Shenzhou-18 taikonauts complete second spacewalk

Xinhua) 08:26, July 04, 2024

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Cong going out for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu worked for about 6.5 hours to complete multiple tasks, with Li Guangsu remaining inside the space station.

With the assistance of the space station's robotic arm and researchers on Earth, they installed space debris protection devices for the pipelines, cables and key equipment outside the Tiangong space station, and conducted an extravehicular inspection.

Ye Guangfu and Li Cong, who were assigned the spacewalk duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

The trio have completed one third of their space journey and are scheduled to carry out a large amount of in-orbit scientific experiments and technological tests, the agency said.

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronauts preparing to go out for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronauts Li Cong (above) and Ye Guangfu performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Cong going out for extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Cong performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Cong performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Li Guangsu assisting with extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 3, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Ye Guangfu performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 taikonauts on board China's orbiting space station completed their second spacewalk at 10:51 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
As the turd of Labour looms out of the puckered gonorrhoea ridden anus of inequity, we must now accommodate the Remoaners gloating over their final pyrrhic victory, however the deluded Remoaners are morons because Brexit never happened anyway. When our borders are still ruled by the ECHR, our road laws still dictated by the EU and all the other EU regulations, there was no Brexit. Besides, the dumbfuck Tories squandered every chance of a negligible Brexit by completely ignoring it.

Guy Verhofstadt the maggot farmer from Brussels no doubt will gloat as Keir Starmer agrees to free movement over our borders, but is there any difference to the free movement over our borders currently under way, and has been ongoing for decades? Free fucking movement? Theyre coming over in dinghy after dinghy, escorted by the French fucking Navy? Pajeet Sunak has let in over 10 million Indians into the UK on student visas. The borders are so open, you can fit a fucking Death Star through the fucking hole.

We never left the EU any way, so knock yourselves out Remoaners, however heres the rub, what will Remoaners moan about after we officially rejoin the EU we never left again thanks to Labour? Imagine the horror of not being able to blame every single outrage on Brexit. Hopefully, the fuckers will top themselves, maybe go to a jungle somewhere and take copious amounts of Kool-Aid laced with some horrific poison so they all croak in each others arms.

A drink to rejoining the EU! Thank you, Labour, thank you Tories for squandering your mandate and ignoring your voters, and ignoring Brexit. Let us rejoin the Soviet EU, a prison which we never left because the UK is so institutionalised. This time, though, the EU will demand we lose the Pound Sterling, and naturally the suppurating genital wart Keir Starmer will take the knee.
When Dr. Kenneth Rockwood began his career as a physician and researcher, he never imagined his work would lead him to one of Canadas highest honours.

Although by his own admission not without ambition, he was not expecting the phone call he got in April.

Up to a few seconds before I realized why they were talking to me, I thought it was about someone else Id helped nominate, he recalls.

The world-renowned geriatrician, researcher, and academic, is among the 83 Canadians newly appointed to the Order of Canada. Dr. Rockwood is recognized for his outstanding research, collaboration and clinical care of older adults living with frailty and dementia, his long-term campaign against ageism in healthcare, and most notably, his development of the Frailty Index and the Clinical Frailty Scale, now used in health care systems worldwide.

Dr. Rockwood was named one of 16 newly appointed Officers to the Order announced by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada on June 27, 2024.

[Learn about three Dalhousie alumni also appointed this summer at the bottom of this article]

Redefining frailty



Dr. Rockwood, a professor in the Department of Medicines Division of Geriatric Medicine and the Senior Medical Director for the Frailty and Elder Care Network at Nova Scotia Health, has spent decades prioritizing patient care and enhancing patient outcomes through research and education.

The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a tool for assessing older patients' function and prognosis. Dr. Rockwood developed it in 1997 to summarize the overall level of fitness or frailty of elderly patients.

Both predictive and easy to use, the CFS summarizes the overall level of fitness or frailty of an older adult and is commonly used as a triage tool. During the pandemic, that included allocating scarce healthcare resources for COVID-19 management.

Rationing was never an intended use, says Dr. Rockwood, but at least it was better than a strict age-defined cutoff.

The Frailty Index (FI), also developed by Dr. Rockwood, is a key tool for assessing frailty at various levels.

With many colleagues, especially Paul Stolee at the University of Waterloo, we tried to boil down all the changes that occur with the complex, dynamic state that is frailty, says Dr. Rockwood. With my friend and mathematician colleague Arnold Mitnitski, the frailty index emerged as an elegant solution to that.

Used globally in routine care, the FI quantifies frailty based on the number and nature of an individual's health deficits.

The frailty index seems, on its face, like simplicity itself: people are frail when they have more age-related health changes than do their age peers says Dr. Rockwood. It turns out, that properly operationalized, elaborating that simple hunch offers amazing insights into how biological aging works.

A global impact



Dr. Rockwoods prolific research career, with more than $20 million in research funding as principal investigator and over 600 peer-reviewed publications, has significantly advanced our understanding of geriatric medicine. His work has also brought considerable resources and employment to Nova Scotians and has recruited students, physicians, and scientists to collaborate in this important field.

Despite his many and varied commitments, Dr. Rockwood consistently makes time for those seeking his guidance, displaying patience and a sincere interest in their pursuits. Under his mentorship, many individuals have flourished in their academic and professional journeys.

And it is not just students. Other physicians and health-care professionals also routinely call upon him for counsel. Countries such as the United Kingdom and China often approach him to provide advice on innovation in the care of older patients, leading to improved patient care both in our province and country as well as around the world.

A lifetime of achievement



For more than 30 years, Dr. Rockwood has made exceptional contributions to health care, research, and education. He has been recognized with countless prestigious awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Service Medal for his work during the pandemic and the Ryman Prize, a $250,000 international award  the most generous prize of its kind in the world.

And now he has received the Order of Canada, bestowed only upon those who make extraordinary contributions to the country. He is quick to underscore that it shows recognition of not only his success, but the work of all those who have committed themselves to these efforts over many decades.

Clinical medicine is a team sport everywhere, and so is clinical science says Dr. Rockwood. What makes geriatrics special to me is that it truly feels like it was a job I was born to do. I am amazed at the opportunities we have here in Nova Scotia to get this right. I see it as my duty to help keep that work going, including by helping to train the next generation of leaders. For that, we seem to be on the right track, but we cannot be complacent.

Dr. Rockwood is many things, but complacent is certainly not one of them. He knows there is much work to be done.

I fear that unless we get to grips with how to approach the complexity of frailty, and show what successful, useful, and rewarding work that is, we will lose medicare in a sea of disillusionment about how the systemseems unable to care for all these old people. That is motivation enough to keep going as long as seems useful.

Dr. Rockwood's relentless pursuit of excellence ensures that his contributions will continue to shape the future of geriatric medicine, improving the lives of older adults and inspiring the next generation to carry forward a legacy of compassionate and innovative care.
04/07/2024 English edition of the Revista Espanola de Defensa. Number 16

The deterrence and defense missions of NATO's eastern flank are the cover story of the May issue of the Revista Espanola de Defensa. It reports on Spain's participation in these missions, with some 2,000 soldiers. An interview with Rear Admiral Joaquin Ruiz Escagedo, who has been in charge of SNMG-1, and information about the Steadfast Defender 2024 exercises, NATO's largest since the Cold War, are included. Colonel Jose Ignacio Yaniz, from EMACON, writes about this new NATO training model.

It also includes the completion of the EU mission in Mali and the deployment of the five ships of the Daedalus expeditionary group in the Mediterranean and the Baltic. Likewise, a report is dedicated to Spain's work in Iraq, with 370 soldiers in the international coalition against Daesh and in the NATO mission.

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, reflects on the need to put defense at the center of EU policies. In another article, the conclusions of an Army Conference dedicated to analyzing operations in cyberspace are presented.

The Industry and Technology pages report on the presentation of the first EU Defense Industrial Strategy and are completed with the future SIRTAP tactical RPAS, which will be developed entirely in Spain.

Opinion pages analyze Russia's growing military and economic influence in Africa, and another article reflects on the Safe Schools Declaration, which aims to guarantee education in armed conflicts.
Derry Girls Nicola Coughlan has successfully raised $2 million for the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund (PCRF).

The Bridgrton star has achieved this through her social media efforts.

The PCRF says that with the support of people around the world, it provides food, water, clothing, medical care, and other essential aid to children in the Middle East.

The organisation expressed their gratitude to the Irish actor on X, formally known as Twitter.

Their post read: Thank you to actress and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan for your incredible support of PCRF and your fundraising efforts, which totaled an astonishing $2 million USD in support of our Urgent Gaza Relief and Recovery efforts. Thank you for using your voice to inspire support for peace and impacting the lives of thousands of displaced children and families in dire need, providing them with humanitarian aid and medical relief.

The PCRF noted that Ms. Coughlan had also donated to the aid effort.

While the funds raised by Ms. Coughlans efforts have been recognised, the organisation expressed the important awareness about Palestine she has achieved.

Throughout photoshoots and the promotional tour of the new season of Netflixs Bridgerton, she has worn the Artists for Ceasefire pin.

The cause is close to Ms. Coughlan, as her family had lived in Jerusalem in the late 1970s and early 1980s before she was born, while she said her father was part of the UNs Truce Supervision Organisation, a peacekeeping force in the Middle East.
South Korea strives to boost EDA competitiveness

Lee Jong-ho, Korea's Minister of Science and ICT, reportedly arranged a meeting with semiconductor Electronic Design Automation (EDA) professionals to gain insights into the local EDA industry.

Lee, a semiconductor specialist, sees South Korean EDA's lack of competitiveness as a big threat to the country's semiconductor industry. As a result, he is actively seeking a settlement.

EDA is a crucial software tool used for the development and validation of semiconductor circuit designs. Chipmakers employ EDA tools for pre-manufacturing simulation and verification, to eliminate significant losses caused by faults in chip design. These techniques aim to identify circuit designs and defects.

EDA: Essential for semiconductor design sovereignty

EDA is seen as the peak of the semiconductor food chain.

However, South Korea is an EDA desert, with only a few companies active in related fields. According to local industry insiders, founding and supporting EDA companies is crucial to maintaining "semiconductor design sovereignty."

Commentary from local South Korean media channels indicates that customized EDA software tools are playing an important role in the race for global semiconductor dominance in system semiconductor design.

In 2022, China experienced an EDA crisis due to the US' continued prohibition of chipmaking technology exports, which targeted the country's semiconductor industry. As a result, Chinese IC design companies were unable to use American EDA tools. In May 2023, Chinese smartphone company Oppo announced the termination of its IC design team, Zeku, as many projects were ultimately stalled due to a lack of proper EDA tools.

Since then, China has made every effort to support its own EDA technology, finance a portion of the R&D investment of EDA companies, and establish specialized talent cultivation institutions.

Should Korea boost EDA competitiveness?

Data from the annual International Conference on Computer-Aided Design (ICCAD) was once cited in Chinese media reports, which indicated that China has 87 of the 140 EDA participants in the world.

According to South Korean media reports, the top 10 EDA enterprises in China have already achieved a substantial degree of technological independence, as evidenced by the statistics. Conversely, Baum and Alsemy are among the only handful of South Korean EDA companies currently operational, as indicated by the reports.

In the global EDA market, the top three firms with the highest market share are Synopsys (32%), Cadence (30%), and Siemens EDA (13%). These three companies collectively account for approximately 75% of the global market share, resulting in an oligopolistic situation.

Even though South Korea is home to Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, the country's few EDA companies have almost no market share in the worldwide market.

South Korea has several highly skilled professionals in EDA. However, over 90% prefer to work for foreign companies, with most joining the three largest EDA companies in the US.

Baum has been dedicated to research and development from its inception and is motivated to establish a presence in South Korea. However, it has faced various challenges in recruiting EDA professionals, for example.

South Korea evaluates local EDA subsidies

The Minister of Science and ICT of South Korea has initiated discussions regarding countermeasures. According to local media reports, the South Korean government intends to provide tax breaks and subsidies to local EDA companies and IC design houses for EDA-related expenses.

The importance of EDA technology is becoming increasingly clear in light of the intensifying US-China conflicts and geopolitical concerns. Many countries view EDA as a strategic weapon in semiconductor warfare. The requirements for using EDA have become more strict, and the cost has increased.

In addition, as AI chips continue to advance and gain popularity, the importance of EDA is set to increase significantly. Nonetheless, established EDA companies are using the interoperability of their products to create barriers for new entrants wanting to enter the market, which has piqued the attention of relevant South Korean authorities.

To effectively transition into the era of generative AI, there is also a perspective within the industry that South Korea should possess its own EDA capabilities. According to experts at Sungkyunkwan University, the South Korean government should prioritize EDA for economic security.
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Prices for commodity DRAM and NAND chips stall as demand recovery lags

The prices for general-purpose DRAM and NAND flash chips have remained flat for four consecutive months, suggesting a slower-than-expected pace of demand recovery.

According to South Korean media Newsis, the prices of general DRAM and NAND flash products, which had increased for four consecutive months until January 2024, have since plateaued. After a slight increase in April, they have stayed flat.

Industry insiders attributed this price stagnation to a slower-than-expected recovery in the Chinese economy. Despite expectations that DRAM and NAND prices would rise in line with improving market conditions in the second half of 2024, the sluggishness in the Chinese market is likely to hold back prices.

China now dominates 60-70% of global electronics production. However, a recent slump in demand for major electronic devices such as computers, TVs, and smartphones has hindered inventory depletion of commodity DRAM and NAND flash chips at downstream manufacturers, slowing down price increases.

As China currently absorbs 37% of South Korea's total semiconductor exports, a sluggish Chinese market is bound to impact South Korea's memory industry, a major export sector for the country. Additionally, the current global economic downturn and the resultant increase in demand for budget PCs have also caused the profit performance of general-purpose memory to fall short of expectations.

Market observers noted that the improvement in market demand for smartphones and other devices in the second half of 2024 will be less than 10%, limiting the room for memory chip price growth. However, due to active production cuts by major players such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix in 2023, prices are unlikely to fall.

Some analysts also believe that overall memory chip prices are likely to rise in the second half of 2024 due to the industry's focus on producing High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and the rising demand for storage devices driven by the AI boom.
Taiwanese companies warned against greenwashing behaviors

In addition to the energy industry, the financial industry also plays a key role in the global effort to achieve net-zero carbon reduction.

At the Cathay Capital Holdings' "Cathay Sustainable Finance and Climate Change Summit" held on March 3, Eugene Chien, Chairman of the Taiwan Sustainable Energy Research Foundation, highlighted that enterprises have begun to be severely scrutinized for their ESG practices. More stringent laws and regulations will be put in place in the future to prevent "greenwashing" behaviors.

According to the latest Global Sustainable Investment Survey released by the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA), the overall sustainable investment in the world's major countries has exceeded US$30 trillion, which is a huge amount of money. However, the resources have not been placed in the right position.

Take the US as an example, half of all sustainable investment projects have been eliminated in recent years, not because of a slowdown in investment momentum, but because the US has introduced a clearer definition of sustainable financial investment and more stringent regulations. This has led to at least half of the fish-eye investment projects being recognized as such.

In the future, the international definition and regulation of sustainability will only become stricter and clearer, and the external examination of enterprises will become more and more stringent, which is a point that all enterprises need to pay careful attention to when carrying out sustainable development and investment.

This is a point that all enterprises need to pay careful attention to when making sustainable development and investment. In the future, there are bound to be controversies and challenges of greenwashing, and if they step on the red line, they will need to spend more efforts and sincerity to win back the trust of the society.

Greenwashing can be divided into unintentional and intentional behavior. The former is mostly because global discussions on sustainable development have not been held for a long time, and as a result, industries are still in the process of figuring out how to do it.

The United Nations campaign against greenwashing is strongly supported by the US and the European Union, which will be held legally accountable in the future. Therefore, if Taiwanese companies claim to export green and environmentally friendly products to Europe and the US in the future, they need to provide relevant proof, or else they will be subject to lawsuits.

One example is Delta Air Lines, which was sued for going green, announcing in February 2020 that it was going to invest in the project, but in January it was discovered that it had already claimed to be the world's first carbon-neutral airline. Delta relies on "junk carbon" offsets, which have no real carbon reduction benefits, to give consumers the false impression that they are not emitting any carbon if they travel with them.

In recent years, many low-quality carbon offset programs have been reported to be ineffective and involve greenwashing. The first batch of carbon rights in Taiwan will be on the shelves by the end of 2023, and the Ministry of the Environment has also emphasized that it will set recognition criteria for foreign carbon rights, and only recognized carbon rights will be allowed to offset carbon fees.

With the emergence of greenwash, it may become the next resistance to ESG promotion. For example, in recent years, there has been a wave of "anti-ESG" in the US, which has not only become a tool for political struggles but has also been questioned as a means of resisting competitors or preventing the entry of new companies into the market, which is related to antitrust laws.

Chien emphasized that the ESG headwinds are only a small part of the problem and there are different voices, but overall it is still an international consensus.
China now only supports promising chip firm consolidation amid doubling IPO terminations

Under China's "high-quality productivity" initiative, an increasing number of China-based chip startups have seen their IPO processes withdrawn or terminated to support mergers and acquisitions rather than IPOs to focus resources on breakthroughs in the technology sector.

According to the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE), the planned STAR Market IPO for Hangzhou Semiconductor Wafer Co. Ltd., a manufacturer of silicon wafers, has been terminated. The cancellation occurred because the company's application exceeded the validity period for financial information and was not updated within the required timeframe.

As a result, the SSE halted the review process in accordance with their listing rules. Hangzhou Semiconductor Wafer had its IPO prospectus accepted in August 2022, but it did not proceed past the initial inquiry stage.

Hangzhou Semiconductor Wafer is not alone in terminating the IPO process. Jiwei reported that 36 semiconductor companies on the three major A-share exchanges terminated their IPO reviews in the first half of this year, about double that of last year's period and close to the total number of IPO terminations in 2023.

The total amount of funds they planned to raise was CNY38.332 billion (approximately US$5.8 billion). The average company planned to raise is CNY1.065 billion.

Jiwei reported that looking at the breakdown of when the 36 companies terminated their IPO applications, there were six terminations in January, four in February, two in March, four in April, nine in May, and eleven in June. This means that the number of terminations increased significantly in May and June, with June having the highest number for the year's first half.

China values chip industry consolidation

The report cited unnamed insider sources citing three main reasons for the recent surge in terminated IPOs among chip companies in China.

First, China's securities regulator has intensified its crackdown on financial misconduct, insisting that only high-quality companies are permitted to go public. Second, some companies withdrew their applications due to weak financial results, failing to meet the heightened expectations. Third, new policies have raised the bar for companies looking to list on the stock exchange, making it more challenging to meet the necessary criteria.

To improve resource allocation and foster innovation, China recently introduced laws, including the so-called STAR Market Eight Provisions" unveiled in June, to encourage mergers and acquisitions for tech companies instead of encouraging IPOs. Yicai reported that the China Securities Regulatory Commission aims to create a supportive environment that helps tech companies, particularly those with critical technological capabilities (so-called hard technology), thrive and innovate.

Sources close to the Chinese security regulator told Yican that China plans to support mergers and acquisitions for companies listed on the STAR Market. This initiative aims to facilitate the acquisition of promising technology firms, even if they are currently unprofitable. The ultimate goal is to enhance STAR Market-listed companies' long-term sustainability and growth prospects.

Meanwhile, the China Securities Journal reported experts believe the STAR Market Eight Provisions, which include measures to support refinancing, mergers and acquisitions, underscore the STAR Market's dedication to "hard technology" sectors. New mechanisms are being introduced to effectively identify enterprises with promising technologies.
A group of 4th year Film and TV students took centre stage in London recently as they won the prestigious Undergraduate Factual Long Form award.

This group were the only Irish nomination at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards 2024 which is sponsored by 4Skills - Channel 4s nationwide training and development strategy and walked away with this prestigious prize.

Hosted by rapper, author and broadcaster Guvna B, the winners were crowned at the awards ceremony at the IET, Savoy Place on Friday 21st June.

The RTS Student Television Awards is an annual celebration, showcasing the talent, potential and enthusiasm of students across the UK and Ireland, identifying exceptional skills and craftsmanship.

Sinead Rocks, Managing Director, Nations and Regions at Channel 4 and Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards, said:

The RTS Student Television Awards are a brilliant opportunity to recognise the next generation of industry entrants at the top of their games, who are creating dynamic, skilled films and soon to be transforming the screen industries.

As we celebrate our winners and nominees, it is a reminder of the value of creating content and its ability to evoke conversation and change.

The winning DkIT student documentary challenges the history of the Irish government while following the story of a woman who was directly impacted by the Irish mother and baby homes and has taken back control over her life.

The documentary tells the story of Susan who is one of the nine thousand babies born and or raised in Bessborough mother and baby homes. She was adopted into a loving family when she was only two weeks old.

Susan uses her art to construct an identity for herself given that her other forms of identity have been constructed for her. Labyrinths are tools for personal, psychological and spiritual transformation. For Susan, the labyrinth symbolizes a journey of self-discovery.

The adoption system in Ireland is designed to remove all agency from the adopted person. It was designed so Susan would never discover if she had other family members. This is the story of how an abstract methodology such as art shattered that and at the age of 44, Susan discovered she had a brother.

Jessica Doherty, from Dundalk, who was the Director of the documentary said:

"I am absolutely thrilled and honoured that our documentary won the prestigious Royal Television Society Undergraduate Factual Long Form Award in London. Being recognized on such a significant platform is truly a privilege.

This win is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We were absolutely delighted to represent Irish talent on this international stage."
Councillor Robert Nash called for more communication around the proposed Simon Community development at the Quay during Tuesdays monthly meeting of Dundalk Municipal District.

The Fine Gael councillor said that residents on Barrack street got leaflets through their door from the Simon Community detailing plans for the project, while residents in other nearby areas did not.

Some residents got a leaflet through their door last week in Barrack Street, but residents in Hyde Park and Peter Street werent notified and obviously theyre skeptical down there about the plans for the new units.

The people down there are looking for a meeting with the Simon Community and yourselves going forward. I hope that will happen for them because theres great concern down there about the housing [plans].

Its an older community down there, a lot of them maybe wouldnt have access to computers and maybe would only be getting word from their neighbours and rumours are starting so you really need to do something officially.

He added: Theyre skeptical now and think theres something going on behind their backs and thats what we dont want.

John Lawrence, Senior Executive Officer with the Housing Section told the meeting that:

Notices were issued by Dublin Simon Community just to advise. We did say that this is a planning process that we are now entering into. There is a requirement to put up site notices and we did ask Dublin Simon to leaflet some of the area but we didnt say that they had to do all those areas.

Mr Lawrence said he would contact the Simon Community to see if something could be arranged, adding: Its now a very public planning process . An application has been submitted, any resident or anyone in this country can make a contribution to that.

He also said that hed look into the possibility of a meeting after the planning process.
In a world where traditional ceremonies often dominate the celebration of childhood milestones, Aoife Curran-Butler is carving out a unique space for inclusive, non-religious ceremonies that honor these significant moments.

Aoife, a celebrant, primary school teacher, performer, and author, is dedicated to ensuring that every child is celebrated, acknowledged, and included in their community.

Aoife's journey to becoming a celebrant began with her desire to create meaningful ceremonies for children at pivotal moments in their lives.

I wanted to be able to create a ceremony for children who were moving through this milestone, she explains. Her search for support led her to Entheos, an organisation known for its inclusive approach.

They deal with that massive wedge between religion and non-religion. And they're very inclusive.

One of Aoifes standout initiatives is Aois na Cuise, a ceremony marking the "Age of Reason," which is celebrated around the ages of seven to nine.

This developmental milestone is a time when children begin to understand themselves within the broader context of their family, community, and the world.

Its a very important developmental milestone in a childs life, Aoife notes. It's one that has been celebrated for thousands of years within different civilizations.

In contemporary Ireland, many children do not participate in traditional religious sacraments, leaving a gap and Aoifes ceremonies aim to fill this gap in a way that is inclusive of all backgrounds.

But Aoife is quick to note, This is a fully inclusive ceremony. Even if a child has made their communion, they are very welcome to take part, she said.

The inaugural Aois na Cuise ceremony, held over May and June, received overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants.

There were about 50 people gathered to celebrate, and the feedback was incredible, Aoife recalls.

They said that they were really moved by the experience, and how centered and child focused it was.

But very much focused on celebrating the child in their moment now and not thinking about the child in the future or thinking about the child in the past, but just very much looking at the child in the present moment.

One set of parents said: This was such a beautiful ceremony for the children participating. Aoife captured the essence of bringing families together to celebrate important milestones in their children's achievements and growth. This inclusive celebration has created cherished memories for the children, marking their Aois na Cuise for their families and the congregation.

While another added: The ceremony was such a special and magical experience for us. What really stood out to me was not just the ceremony but all the wonderfully individual children and hearing about their own experiences and journey.

Aoife had us captivated and definitely emotional , I felt extremely proud to be part of this day.

Given the success of this event, Aoife has plans to expand her offerings. She is considering a similar ceremony for older children, Teacht na hAoise, which marks the transition into adolescence.

Theres great interest, and Ive had support from Entheos, especially from the director Karen Dempsey, Aoife shares.

This support, she says, has been crucial in pioneering what appears to be the first structured program of its kind in Ireland.

Aoifes ceremonies are thoughtfully structured, beginning with a series of preparatory workshops. These sessions, held in nature and infused with Irish mythology, help children reflect on their past, present, and future.

Each workshop had a different focus to help the child understand their journey to this point in their life, Aoife explains.

The ceremony itself, while familiar in structure, is rich with symbolism and meaning. Participants are welcomed and introduced to the purpose of the gathering. The ceremony includes poetry, music, and a candle-lighting ritual that honors ancestors and connects families.

Each child receives a butterfly pin, symbolizing transformation, and families express their hopes and wishes for their children by tying ribbons onto driftwood.

There will be an information meeting held this September for parents hoping to take part in May and June of next year and Aoife can be contacted on celebrantaoife@hotmail.com or on Facebook Aoife Curran-Butler Celebrant.
The closure of Kilsaran and Clogherhead Credit Unions is a blow to the rural community, Sinn Fein has said, with Deputy Ruairi O Murchu raising the matter with Taoiseach Simon Harris in Leinster House on Tuesday.

Deputy O Murchu and his colleague, Cllr. Pearse McGeough, met with Kilsaran and Clogherhead CU owners, Connect Credit Union, on Tuesday morning after the organisation announced that it is to close both branches at the end of August.

The Sinn Fein representatives said they were advised by Connect CU that almost 90% of transactions are now being done online and customers were no longer coming into branches in sustainable numbers.

The credit union said it was no longer viable to keep the branches open, with significant funds needed to keep cybersecurity up to date, as well as electricity and rates to be paid. No jobs will be lost as a result of the closures, it has been confirmed.

Deputy O Murchu and Cllr. McGeough said they were "very disappointed"with the decision by Connect CU to close the branches at the end of the summer.

It comes on top of the previous closure of other credit union branches in Annagassan and Castlebellingham.

Cllr. McGeough asked about the ATM machine that is available at Clogherhead Credit Union and was advised that it would no longer be operational when the branch closes at the end of August as it was not owned by Connect CU.

He also asked if there was additional money from the sale of the buildings, that consideration would be given to providing a community dividend as a one off gesture to the communities affected.

He said: "This is a very disappointing blow for Kilsaran in particular and it comes in the wake of the loss of the Crowing Cock and the closure of the local shop. I fear Kilsaran is becoming a wasteland."

During questions to An Taoiseach on Tuesday, Deputy O Murchu said: "This is not something we want to see. I spoke to the representatives and our biggest concern was about the vulnerable clients and that thing that makes the credit union different.

"We need to make sure that full supports are being provided and I have been told that they will be in this case. It is an issue which needs to be revisited. We all know the issue in relation to rural Ireland and the loss of services.

"The credit union brought up the report by the International Credit Union Regulators Network, ICURN, - the report of the auditor of auditors - and the fact that consideration was given to changing the threshold which at present means that credit unions can only have 10% of mortgages, business loans and agri-loans."

In response, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he had a meeting with the credit union movement that afternoon.

He said: "I will raise that and particularly the issues it raised with the Deputy about some of the changes it needs. I am happy to revert in writing."
Tackling anti-social behaviour and expanding public transport options in Cork City were among the issues to come under the spotlight at a symposium hosted by Cork City Council.

The authority brought together a range of stakeholders to review progress in the city centre and discuss upcoming projects and schemes, including the councils night-time economy strategy.

This refers to the diverse social, cultural and economic activity occurring during specified evening and night-time hours and balances the needs of inter-related communities that co-exist to bring the city to life and create a sense of shared place.

Action plan

Following the publication of the NTE Taskforce Report, Cork City was successful in being designated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media as one of nine pilot towns and cities in the country that will prepare and implement an action plan.

The plan will set out a range of interventions to support the co-ordinated development of Cork Citys night-time economy.

Speaking to The Echo following the meeting, Cork City Councils night-time economy advisor Fiona Collins described the night-time economy as a hugely important contributor to the citys economy, cultural, and creative sectors, highlighting the importance of protecting, supporting and sustaining it.

I am working on an anti-social behaviour campaign and hopefully that will be rolled out across the nine pilot areas in the hope of reminding people that our community is important to us and its our responsibility as much as the guards to look after our areas

, Ms Collins said.

Connectivity

Ms Collins also highlighted the importance of connectivity and said that research by Ipsos Behaviour and Attitudes on what people would like to see in Cork City centre showed that people are using public transport to come into the city, which she said means there is pressure on the public transport system.

Its about working with the NTA [National Transport Authority], especially from a night-time perspective, Ms Collins said.

Were lucky that we have a really good late-night service in Cork.

I know not everyone agrees with that, but when Im looking at other areas, their bus services stop at 8pm and ours here in the city run until about 11.30pm, and we have a 24-hour service and lots of cities dont have that.

I would love to see three or four 24-hour bus services. One going to the airport, one to Glanmire, one servicing Blarney.

It shouldnt just be Ballincollig and Carrigaline, we have a huge network around the city and people should be able to get to those areas as well.

Ms Collins said that the pilot scheme is about trying new things and learning how to improve them until they stick.

The Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Dan Boyle, said that while plans for the city centre are ambitious, they must be implemented.

We can see construction on the ground and this is expected to continue over the next number of years, transforming the experience of the city centre and making it a more enjoyable and pleasant place, said Mr Boyle.

I am delighted that the first conference convened by Cork City Council following the local elections focuses on the city centre, reflecting the importance the elected members and executives are putting on enhancing Cork as a place to live and visit.
Leading figures in Corks hotel and restaurant trade have warned that more hospitality businesses will close down by the end of September if there isnt a strong indication before then from the Government that the 9% Vat rate on food will be restored.

Mike Ryan, proprietor of the CoqBull and Cornstore in the city, and Michael Magner, owner of the Vienna Woods Hotel and president of the Irish Hotel Federation, issued the warning as a coalition of the leaders in the hospitality organisations reiterated their calls for the reduction of the rate from 13.5% to 9% as part of a pre-budget submission to the Government.

Mike Ryan, owner of the Coqbull and Cornstore restaurants warned more Cork hospitality businesses will close by September if the 9% VAT rate on food was not restored.

The Government realise the impact it has on businesses, were not crying wolf, said Mr Ryan.

Last year we were hit by a double whammy  one was the Vat and the other was the minimum wage which pushed up the baseline because you have an awful lot of people working above that rate but everybody wanted to be the same metric above the new rate.

According to Mr Ryan, the increase in the Vat rate added 40% to costs for an average restaurant, while the minimum wage increased added a similar proportion to the costs.

Really good premises will go under because of their ethos, because theyre using local produce and employing local workers  the picture people are not seeing is what fills the space after theyre gone, Mr Ryan said.

He warned that there would be closures in September if light at the end of the tunnel did not materialise in the form of the restoration of the 9% Vat rate for food.

Mr Ryan said it would be similar to what happened after last Christmas when a number of prominent Cork restaurants announced their closure.

Mr Magner said he agreed with Mr Ryans warning on likely closures.

Mr Magner said he agreed with Mr Ryans warning on likely closures. Hes not wrong, I would concur with him, said Mr Magner.

I would say the hotel sector is probably more resilient as it has accommodation as part of its business mix because accommodation is profitable.

He pointed out that the food and beverage offering was used to fill the hotel rooms  so a Vat reduction would be helpful to the hotels too.

He also said the Governments 500m estimate of the cost of the restoration of the 9% rate would be mitigated by 250m in savings for a failed business support scheme.

Mr Magner said the restoration of the Vat rate shouldnt be temporary.
Vulnerable people, children, and the elderly in Kerry Pike and Clogheen on the outskirts of Cork city were left without water for five days and some are still waiting for their supply to be restored as Uisce Eireann crews worked to repair a series of leaks in the pipes to the area since Friday.

According to Kerry Pike and Clogheen Community Association chairman Iain McGregor, the failure by Uisce Eireann or Cork City Council to provide a tanker of water as work continued was inexcusable, as it left many without water for an extended period.

There are many vulnerable people in the community who were left without water and its inexcusable that an alternative offer of water was not made  people were left without water for five days and some are still without water, said Mr McGregor.

He said the community would meet to discuss what happened since last Friday.

However, an Uisce Eireann spokesperson said a number of bursts occurred on the water network which affected the catchment region of Kerry Pike in recent days and these had been fully resolved.

The dedicated Uisce Eireann and county water services crews have been working tirelessly in the area since Friday. The repair works were challenging with the crews working to manage subsequent bursts on the network, the spokesperson said.

The water utility did not respond to a query regarding the provision of a water tanker to support the residents of the Kerry Pike/Clogheen area during the water outage.

In other locations where there was a notified outage, a water tanker was provided.

Its an absolute disgrace that the people here were left high and dry for five days at least as these pipes were being fixed, said Michelle Gould, the Sinn Fein councillor for the North West ward on the City Council.
Figures show the number of dentists treating people with medical cards have reduced by almost half in some areas of Cork.

The figures, provided to The Echo by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, showed numbers increased slightly between 2017 and 2019, after which they started to drop, with the largest decreases happening between 2023 and 2024.

There were 275 dentists on the DTSS scheme in Cork in May 2017; 278 in 2018; 287 in 2019; 282 in 2020; 275 in 2021; 262 in 2022, and 246 in 2023. This year that number has dropped to just 188.

Cork dentist Mairead Browne, spokesperson for the Irish Dental Association, told The Echo that the scheme was totally unworkable, prioritising emergencies over prevention.

In Cork South Lee, 44% of dentists that were on the scheme in May 2018 had left by May 2024. North Lee saw a 28% decrease, West Cork saw a decrease of 34%, and North Cork reduced by 26% between 2019 to 2024.

'Neglected'

Cork South West TD Holly Cairns told The Echo: The reduction in the number of Cork dentists participating in the Dental Treatment Service Scheme is concerning but not surprising.

Unfortunately, it is reflective of what can be seen all over the country. In fact, nationally, the number of dentists signed up to the DTSS has dropped by almost 50% in the past 10 years.

There are significant problems with how the DTSS operates, including a major gap between the current fees paid to private dentists by the HSE and the costs they incur, said Ms Cairns.

The Minister for Health announced in May 2021 that he would instruct his officials to begin talks on a new scheme as a matter of urgency. However, three years later, the Irish Dental Association are still waiting for formal talks to begin.

Under this Government, dental care continues to be one of the most neglected areas of our health service.

Issue raised in Dail

Raising the issue in the Dail on Wednesday, Sinn Fein TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh O Laoghaire said: If someone is on a medical card, it is close to impossible to be seen by a dentist, as things stand. I have seen some new figures for the Cork area.

He criticised in particular the sharp drop in his area, South Lee, saying: I know this has caused particular problems in Carrigaline, for example, but also in other parts of the constituency, right across Cork and I would say across the country as well.

It is becoming increasingly hard to find dentists, he said.

He explained that it wont just be patients that pay the price for this issues in finding dentists but the dental system itself, as dental health will decrease in years to come, putting more pressure on dentists.

The DTSS scheme clearly needs to be reviewed and a modern up-to-date contract is needed.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that the issue is a serious one, and an issue he had been discussing with the Minister for Health this week, and that he and his Department have given consideration to what measures can be taken.

We can point to increased number of dentists etc, but that misses the point in terms of the number of people on the medical card who are reliant on the DTSS scheme, he said, reiterating that the issue is being worked on.
Tariffs on China's EVs harm EU's interest, German association warns

Xinhua) 08:35, July 04, 2024

People visit the booth of Chinese carmaker Xpeng during the 2023 International Motor Show in Munich, Germany, Sept. 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

The association urged the European Commission to refrain from imposing the announced tariffs and instead find a negotiated solution with China.

BERLIN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The planned tariffs against China-made electric vehicles (EVs) would be counterproductive for Europe's climate goals and harmful to its industry and consumers, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said on Wednesday.

The association warned in a statement that Western car manufacturers in China would also be affected by the tariffs initiated by the European Union (EU), in some cases even worse than Chinese companies.

The cooperation and production of European carmakers in China were "an important building block for the transformation and competitiveness in Europe," the VDA stated, emphasizing that the EU has historically benefited from its openness in international trade.

Germany, in particular, maintains a significant surplus in the automotive trade with China. Last year, Europe's largest economy exported passenger cars and parts valued at 26.3 billion euros (28.4 billion U.S. dollars) to China, meanwhile, imports from China amounted to 6.8 billion euros, according to the VDA.

A BMW i5 electric car is displayed during the press preview of the 2023 International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich, Germany, Sept. 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei)

The tariffs, set to take effect soon if no other political agreement is reached, would also "make it more difficult to successfully ramp up electric drive and thus decarbonize and achieve the climate targets," the VDA emphasized.

The association urged the European Commission to refrain from imposing the announced tariffs and instead find a negotiated solution with China. It welcomed the fact that talks have now started between the two parties.

"Competitiveness is fostered through competition," the association said. It proposed promoting this through free trade agreements, targeted and efficient funding for research and innovation, and a coherent policy framework that embraces technological advancements.

The German government rejects punitive tariffs on Chinese EVs. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made a compromise offer in the customs dispute, proposing equally high tariffs on car imports from both sides, according to local media reports last week.

This file photo taken on June 6, 2024 shows an electric car at a charging station near the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Due to the risk of trade conflicts, a third of over 160 German economic experts have opposed tariffs, while some others also expressed their hope to reduce the duties, according to a survey published Wednesday by the Munich-based ifo Institute for Economic Research.

The institute stressed that the tariffs would not weaken the position of China's electric cars, whereas "European manufacturers would not become more efficient as a result of tariffs."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A Clare man who admitted his part in trashing a hotel bedroom in Cork during a drunken night was jailed for eight months.

Cathal McNamara, aged 33, of Larch Hill, Ennis, Co Clare, was in Cork in the course of his work on a tarmacking contract when he got involved in this hotel room disturbance. Sergeant Dave Delea said it occurred on the night of October 4, 2023.

After midnight he stole two bottles of Southern Comfort worth 60 from a delivery area at the rear of Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire, and brought them to a room where he and a guest were staying and they drank them, Sgt Delea said.

It was further stated that later in the morning, he broke a Phillips TV worth 900, an armchair worth 750 and two wall-mounted lights worth 250 each. The accused had 83 previous convictions including seven for causing criminal damage and 31 for theft.

He also had 12 for being drunk and a danger and 10 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.

Killian McCarthy, defending, said McNamara and two of his workmates went drinking that night and ended up back in his hotel room where matters got out of hand to the extent that damage was caused.

Mr McCarthy said that while two others were present in the room, McNamara accepted responsibility for causing the damage.

Judge Dorgan at Cork District Court jailed the Clare man for eight months for causing criminal damage and a three-month concurrent sentence for stealing the alcohol.
ONE of West Corks most popular venues, Levis Corner House in Ballydehob, is to play host to a cultural takeover by artists and performers representing one of Belfasts most exciting cultural hubs from July 11 to 14.

Supported by Cork County Council and Belfast City Council, the initiative will see the Ballydehob community host a gathering of cultural performers and artists from The Duncairn Arts Centre which is located on the Antrim Road in north Belfast for a weekend of music, art, poetry and cinema in the picturesque west Cork village.

Over the past six months, artists from each community have participated in residential exchanges, swapping the rural idyll of west Cork for the hustle and bustle of north Belfast.

Artists and performers from Ballydehob and area are due to travel to Belfast in November to participate in the takeover of the Antrim Road venue by the Rebel County contingent.

According to Corks County Mayor, Joe Carroll, the project was bringing together two very different communities, both with a passion for Irelands shared cultural heritage.

He said the event would be a showcase of Belfasts creative scene in the heart of West Cork and indicated that a large turnout was expected.

Cork County Council is proud to deliver this project as part of Creative Communities on a Shared Island, supporting cross-border creative projects to inspire connections between communities and places, said the Mayor.

Among the events planned in Ballydehob, The Duncairns famous Club Fifty will feature a cabaret of music, poetry and cinema from artists of both traditions in Belfast on July 12.

The following day, the main evening concert will showcase The Duncairns Creative Collective.

The weekend will round off with a re-creation of one of Duncairns biggest successes, The Super Sunday Session, an afternoon focused on community, creativity and connection. This free, family-friendly arts event will feature a concert, kids crafts and storytelling for all ages.

Across the weekend, there will be a variety of smaller events by Belfast-based artists throughout Ballydehob and the surrounding areas. See www.leviscornerhouse.com.
A learner driver in Cork is due to appear in court following the seizure of their car earlier this week.

Members of An Garda Siochana in Bandon stopped the driver as the vehicle was operating with no rear lights.

Upon further inspection gardai found that the driver had been travelling unaccompanied, with no valid tax, insurance or NCT.

Bandon Gardai stopped this car after they saw that it had no rear lights.



They found that it had no tax, NCT or insurance and that the driver was an unaccompanied learner.



And, to top it off, it also had a bald rear tyre.



The car was seized. Court to follow.#SaferRoads pic.twitter.com/pTT5ZRJBNE  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) July 4, 2024

In a post shared on social media, a garda spokesperson said: To top it off, it also had a bald rear tyre.

Following the inspection, the vehicle was seized with a court date to follow.
A 41-year-old man who ran at an ice cream display at the front door of Centra on Grand Parade and kicked it over causing extensive damage has been jailed for seven months.

Judge Mary Dorgan said that Daniel Walsh, of 122 Lower Friars Walk, Togher, Cork, had the case against him adjourned a number of times with him on bail on strict conditions requiring him not to cause any more problems.

However, the judge said that she now had to sentence the accused because he had been unable to stay out of trouble. He has certain mental health challenges that have been discussed in court during various adjournments of the case previously.

The incident at Centra occurred at around 4pm on August 29, 2023.

Sergeant Dave Delea said the accused kicked the display, damaging the base to such an extent that it could not be used and had to be replaced at a cost of 480.

This was Daniel Walshs 13th conviction for causing criminal damage. He has six previous convictions for assault, 24 for engaging in threatening or abusive behaviour, and 30 for being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others.

He has a total of 96 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said the defendant had pleaded guilty to the latest offence.

On previous occasions it was stated that the accused had certain mental health difficulties as a result of injuries sustained in an accident many years ago and that the consumption of alcohol exacerbated his difficulties.
WEST Cork is having an onscreen renaissance. It is not a secret how beautiful it is, and plenty of films and television shows have been filmed in the region, but it has yet to be capitalised in the way other areas have. Things are changing. Netflixs hit show Bodkin is almost entirely shot in Union Hall, raising the areas profile.

Michael Kinironss debut feature is set in Baltimore and focuses on a dysfunctional family drowning in grief.

16-year-old Kevin (Ollie West) doesnt fit in with the rest of his family. His dad, Larry (David OHara), is an ex-soldier with a temper and an alcohol problem. He is quick with his fists and has no qualms about using them on his sons.

Sally (Michelle Gleeson) is the youngest. There is no sign of Larry being violent towards her, yet.

Kevins older brother Robbie (Eanna Hardwicke) is the golden boy. He is tall, strong, and stereotypically manly. He is about to join the army, and as he is an exemplary student, he will be fast-tracked into the cadets. Larry loves Robbie, constantly compares Kevin to him, and readily puts down Kevin in front of people.

Trapped in this violent, oppressive environment, Kevin is stagnating. He isnt sporty like Robbie; he doesnt like the army, let alone want to join it. Larry could probably get his head around that, but he cant handle the fact that Kevin wont stop talking about his mother, who died a few years earlier.

Larry wont let his kids talk about her; she is non-grata. He locked her belongings in the attic, out of sight, out of mind, but Kevin keeps sneaking up. He wears her clothes and her lipstick. Larry is sickened by his sons behaviour.

Kevin thinks he has found a kindred spirit in a local girl, Hanna (Isabelle Connolly, but something holds her back from him. They find an injured sparrow, which Kevin takes home to nurse.

Larry is annoyed. Its like something his wife would have done, and he cant handle the reminder. The more Larry needles Kevin, the more Kevins mental health unravels. When something terrible happens, Kevin begins to spin a web of lies, leaving Garda Mahon (Mark OHalloran) to work out the truth before more lives are ruined.

Kinrionss debut is a compelling story of trauma and grief skillfully told, cleverly avoiding melodrama. The films central trio gives powerful performances.

Veteran actor OHara avoids cliches and delivers a frighteningly real performance.

Hardwicke imbues Robbie with empathy but also pulls off the charm expected of the golden child. West, in his screen debut, gives a star-making performance. He is one to watch, as is Kinirons, who knows when to pull back, when to let the story play out, and how to use the landscape to add to the atmosphere. Great stuff.

See more on The Sparrow on P7 of Downtown.

The Sparrow, out in cinemas tomorrow, Friday July 5. Cert; 15a ****
Thermo Fisher Scientific operates a world-class contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing campus in Cork supporting customers in developing and optimising novel chemistries to treat rare diseases and manufacturing many life-changing medicines to treat common conditions. There are currently many exciting opportunities to join this growing team with an important Mission to enable their customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

Thermo Fisher has significantly expanded its drug development capability at the Cork site in recent years and is recruiting into its growing Process Development Services (PDS) team. Chemists and Analysts working in Thermo Fishers state-of-the-art laboratories and production facilities here in Cork work alongside colleagues in Project Management, Operations, Engineering, Quality and Supply Chain to deliver the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) that go into products to treat cancer, hepatitis, HIV, lupus, diabetes/weight gain, Parkinsons Disease, psoriasis, BPH, respiratory diseases and more.

There are several open roles within their Analytical Development (AD) team  the AD chemists are responsible for developing new analytical methods, providing analytical expertise and technical support for all phases of drug development. This might include supporting the analytical aspects of route scouting, route development, proof of concept of new and existing manufacturing routes for APIs.

Peter McDonald, who heads up the PDS team at the Cork site, says: The career development opportunities here are immense. We are building a world-class AD offering, and the team is working on multiple chemistries in parallel. As well as the opportunity that brings to develop and expand technical skills, our analytical chemists also get to interact with customers on a day-to-day basis and that experience is quite unique.

Peter McDonald is head of Thermo Fisher's Process Development Services (PDS) team.

Norma Kelly, Senior Process Chemistry Manager, added: We partner with more than 20 customers, a mix of large multinationals and small biotech companies, which offers a breadth of experience that you dont get everywhere. A lot of the development work we do is with biotech companies developing novel chemistries, and we are able to apply our development expertise to help them synthesize it, make it reliable and robust so it can be scaled to support clinical trials and ultimately to commercial manufacture. The Analytical Development team gets a chance to flex their scientific muscles every step of the way.

Norma Kelly, Senior Process Chemistry Manager at Thermo Fisher, Tara McInerney, Thermo Fisher Scientific Prize in Organic Chemistry awardee and Dr Stuart Collins, Lecturer in Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCC

Here, Colleen Kelly, Analytical Development Manager, and Paddy Feeny, Senior Analytical Development Chemist, outline what they love about working as part of the Thermo Fisher team.

What led you to a role in Analytical Development?

Colleen: I grew up on the west coast of Ireland, by the sea and I loved growing up in nature. Studying science seemed like a no brainer to me. I went on to study Pharmaceutical Science and Drug Development in IT Sligo because it was a broad course. During my degree, I did a lab-based thesis within a Quality Assurance department. Though I didnt know it at the time, this Quality Assurance experience, combined with the lab experience set me up to start making the transition into Analytical Development.

Colleen Kelly has worked for a number of pharmaceutical companies, but none have offered her as much variety as Thermo Fisher does.

Paddy: I hold a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry and a Masters of Science, Chemistry from University College Cork. When I first left college, I worked as a research technician and then moved into manufacturing. After a few years, I felt that all I had learnt in instrumentation and analysis leant itself to a natural progression to Analytical Development. At this stage, I had gained what might be called troubleshooting experience, I had learned how to develop practical methods of drug development and I was eager to keep moving along that path.

Why did you choose to build your career at Thermo Fisher Scientific?

Paddy: I knew I wanted to make the jump into Analytical Development and based on what I had heard about the team here, I knew Thermo Fisher would give me the training that I still needed in certain route development skills in conjunction with the support to learn more about testing and documentation on the job. For my first three years here, I learned quickly yet at a safe enough pace that I felt secure in my learning. I was guided every step of the way. I think what we do in Cork is special, method development is not just a concept here, we all live and breathe it. We get to work on early-stage methods and turn them into something that's scalable and manufacturable.

For Paddy Feeny, Thermo Fisher's acceptance of different perspectives and new ideas is one of the best parts of the company's culture.

Colleen: Cork is a long way from Sligo but I was bamboozled by how much I liked it here, even the setting is so gorgeous. I started in Thermo Fisher with the Quality Control Department, then moved into an Analytical Development chemist role. After four years, I went travelling for a few months and when I came back, I moved between a number of pharmaceutical companies  one consisted of just method transfers, one didn't do validation work. They werent really a right fit as I wanted more variety. In 2023, I re-joined the Thermo Fisher team as a Senior Analytical Development Chemist, and in June was promoted to my current role of Analytical Development Manager.

Within Thermo Fisher Scientific, what has your career journey been and what experience have you gained?

Colleen: The opportunities at Thermo Fisher are pretty unique. Were customer-facing here, and I'd never had that experience anywhere else. I consider myself a people person as well as a chemist and I love the interaction with customers, you really get a sense that the work we are doing is making a real difference in the world.

The customer programmes we work on range from early phase clinical trials all the way through to commercial release, and because we are a contract development and manufacturing organisation you never know what your next project is going to be. The innovation never stops. If you are in any way curious and if you like a challenge, youll thrive here within our Process Development Service team.

Paddy: Ive had the opportunity to expand my experience in method development, validations and transfers. Overall I developed my analytical and technical expertise for all phases of drug development because I get to work on honing these skills every day in the lab. After three years of carefully guided learning from my team and demonstrating my hard work, I was guided into the role of Senior Analytical Development Chemist. I volunteered to lead on a three-to-four-month project because I wanted to decide for myself if I liked the specific project leader responsibilities.

Do you feel like you are contributing to the development of life-saving medicines when you get to work every day?

Colleen: 100%! The work we do means that we work with our customers to adapt whatever methods they have, run their methods here to see how robust they are, make adjustments and then move to validate the data. One of the projects that we're working, for example, is the first ever treatment for a rare neurodegenerative disorder impacting children with most wheelchair bound in their 20s. The chemistry is really promising, and its being investigated as a potential treatment for a range of other neurological disorders. We get to come to Thermo Fisher and work on this amazing project every day.

Paddy: Absolutely! When you work on a project here, you work on all stages with the team  you work on the method development and validation, perform a technology transfer of the method to Quality Control or In-Process Control (IPC) labs, troubleshooting of those methods with chemists  all while collaborating with the customer to bring their work to life. When the project concludes into a commercial product, there is an immense sense of pride.

What would you say to anyone considering a career in Analytical Development at Thermo Fisher Scientific?

Colleen: The breadth of the work and the collaborative approach to the work is fantastic. We have an amazingly diverse team  a mix of graduates just starting out on their careers and people who have been working for nearly 30 years. Everyone is unique and is supported to achieve their individual career ambitions, we dont copy and paste a career journey, we help you map out clear career progression. There are also loads of opportunities to get involved in cross-functional groups, for example, Im a member of the Womens Resource Group on site and love taking part in our annual Volunteer Day to support the local community. There is a real emphasis on giving back. For example, each year, Thermo Fisher awards a Community Partnership Grant to charities and community groups in Corks Lower Harbour  there have been over 100 awardees to date.

Thermo Fisher Scientific's Cork base contains exceptional laboratories and production facilities.

Paddy: If youre in any way curious about analytical chemistry, give it a try. If you are willing to work hard and demonstrate that you are a team player, Thermo Fisher will look after you and your career here. Ive seen that working here  there is a culture that welcomes ideas and different perspectives. Inclusion isnt a buzz word here; diversity is embraced to drive innovation and improvement. Its hands-on learning within a really supportive team."

To discover the career opportunities available at Thermo Fisher Scientific, visit their website.
The European Commission has approved a 10.82bn French scheme to support the deployment of offshore wind to transition towards a net-zero economy, under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. The scheme is expected to run for 20 years to support the construction and operation of two bottom-fixed offshore wind parks through bidding processes organised to select one beneficiary per project. The scheme should operate as a monthly variable premium under a two-way contract for difference (CfD), which will be calculated by comparing a reference price, determined in the tender offer of the beneficiary (pay as bid), to the market price for electricity. The projects are the South Atlantic wind project with an expected capacity of up to 1-1.2 GW planned to generate at least 3.9 TWh/year, and the Normandy wind project with an expected capacity of up to 1.4-1.6 GW that once operational is estimated to generate at least 6.1 TWh/year of renewable energy. The aid will be granted before 31 December 2025.

The State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) was adopted by the Commission on March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.
Going overseas is not a new topic in the photovoltaic industry. However, the recent US trade policy has caused a wave of turbulence, and the overseas expansion path of Chinese photovoltaic companies is being reshaped.

"The preferred relocation routes for Chinese photovoltaic companies in Southeast Asia are now Indonesia and Laos, which have not yet been included in the tariff list by the United States." Li Nan, a senior executive of the marketing department of an A-share listed photovoltaic company, said: "Some photovoltaic companies are not leading enterprises and have small production capacity. They may choose to quickly relocate to these two neighboring countries to seize the window period before the United States establishes a new bill."

In mid-May this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce officially announced anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (whether assembled into modules or not) imported from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, and imposed additional tariffs on solar cells imported from China (whether assembled into modules or not).

On June 7, local time, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) passed a preliminary ruling on damages in the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation of photovoltaic products from four Southeast Asian countries. Due to the possibility of traceability, before the final ruling is released, Chinese companies will be cautious about selling battery components to the United States through production lines in Southeast Asia. But it is clear that it is an inevitable trend for Chinese photovoltaic companies to turn their "course" overseas.

Back in 2011, the United States began to impose high anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on my country. Since then, major battery manufacturers in my country have begun to choose to build production lines in Southeast Asia.

Chinese photovoltaic enterprises have successively "gone to Southeast Asia", and the leading enterprises have integrated production capacity from silicon wafers to modules. Southeast Asia has become an important region for Chinese photovoltaic enterprises to export to the US market. According to statistics, as of 2023, the main supply of photovoltaic cell modules in the United States will still come from Southeast Asia, accounting for about 60% of the total demand in the US market.

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the total volume of modules imported by the United States from the four Southeast Asian countries from 2021 to 2023 will be 16.6GW, 18.7GW, and 36.4GW, respectively, with corresponding import amounts of US$4.33 billion, US$5.69 billion, and US$11.91 billion in the three years. However, with the resurgence of U.S. trade protection measures, Southeast Asia is no longer a "safe haven" for Chinese photovoltaic companies.

"Several factories in Thailand may still be wondering whether a 'miracle' will happen. The leading large factories are more practical. They have long given up their fantasies and have basically turned to setting up factories in Mexico and the United States." A senior person in the photovoltaic industry said that some companies that have invested in recent years but have not yet recovered their investment are now basically moving to Laos, Myanmar or Indonesia.

In response to recent rumors of a shutdown at its Thai factory, Trina Solar (688599.SH) said that the company's production capacity in Thailand and Vietnam is mainly for the United States. The demand in the US market will fluctuate in the short term, so the company will adjust its production plan based on industry and market conditions. "The company has already laid out component production capacity in the United States and battery component production capacity in Indonesia, both of which are under construction. The Indonesian factory is expected to be put into production in the third quarter of 2024. The joint venture partner of the project is the Indonesian National Electricity Company."

Talking about the way out for Southeast Asian photovoltaic power generation, Li Zhenguo, president of Longi Green Energy (601012.SH), recently responded to the media that whether the photovoltaic production capacity in Southeast Asia must be shut down needs further evaluation. First, it is necessary to evaluate the market competition situation, and second, it is necessary to consider whether to keep the Southeast Asian production capacity as a "backup". Trina Solar said that the company's production capacity in Thailand and Vietnam will soon enter a shutdown and maintenance state, which will be carried out in the middle of each year.

The situation in Southeast Asia is changing, and the Middle East is becoming a potential destination for Chinese photovoltaic companies to expand overseas.

In October last year, Trina Solar (688599.SH) signed the "Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Trina Solar's UAE Project", intending to invest in the construction of a large vertically integrated base project in the local area, including about 50,000 tons of high-purity silicon materials, 30GW of crystalline silicon wafers and 5GW of battery modules, to be built in three phases; in May last year, TCL Zhonghuan (002129.SZ) announced that it planned to invest in the construction of a photovoltaic crystal wafer factory project in Saudi Arabia, with a designed production capacity of 20GW in the first phase.

On the evening of June 13, Drinda (002865.SZ) announced that the company had signed an "Investment Intention Agreement" with the Oman Investment Authority on the same day. The company plans to invest in the construction of an annual production capacity of 10GW of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells in Oman to strengthen the overseas market supply of photovoltaic cells. It is worth noting that the investment amount of the battery factory is about US$700 million. The company also promised to invest in the most advanced production capacity in Oman to provide the most popular products on the market.

In addition, during the just-concluded Shanghai SNEC exhibition, Saudi International Electricity and Water Company ("ACWA Power") signed the "Solar Photovoltaic Module Framework Agreement" with three Chinese solar photovoltaic module suppliers, JinkoSolar (688223.SH), Longi Green Energy and Tongwei Co., Ltd. (600438.SH).

From a regional perspective, the new photovoltaic "GW-level market" (referring to the market with photovoltaic power generation installed capacity reaching or exceeding 1GW) in 2022 will be mainly in European countries such as Greece and the United Kingdom, while the new photovoltaic "GW-level market" in 2023 will be mainly in Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

However, some photovoltaic companies believe that there are still opportunities to invest and set up factories in Europe.

Chen Gang, chairman of Aiko Co., Ltd. (600732.SH), said that in terms of going overseas, we are one of the few companies that have not invested in production capacity in Southeast Asia. Aiko has always been quick to do things, but we have been refraining from setting up production capacity in Southeast Asia. "If the company had made a relatively large investment in the four Southeast Asian countries, the financial statements in the past few years might have looked better, but the losses now are relatively large. In addition to financial losses, we will also face a series of problems such as the handling of local labor relations. We did not get this dividend in the past, and we have not suffered this loss today." Chen Gang believes that setting up a factory in Indonesia or Laos is very risky, and setting up a factory in the Middle East is also risky. He said: "If there is an opportunity, the company's overseas destination will first choose the European market, especially we have noticed that Europe has recently introduced some production subsidy policies."

It is also understandable that the United States is an important option for Chinese photovoltaic companies to go overseas.

In terms of volume, the US photovoltaic market is the third largest market in the world, second only to mainland China and Europe. According to statistics from the US Energy Information Administration, the cumulative import value of photovoltaic modules in the United States in 2023 was US$18.608 billion, equivalent to RMB 135.3 billion at the latest exchange rate, a year-on-year increase of 95%; the cumulative import volume was 53.84GW, a year-on-year increase of 63%.

In recent years, more and more leading photovoltaic companies have started to layout photovoltaic module production capacity in the United States, and most of the production lines are expected to be put into production from 2024 to 2025.

For example, Longi Green Energy cooperated with the US clean energy developer Invenergy, and the 5GW photovoltaic module joint venture factory in Ohio, USA, was put into production in the first quarter of 2024. Trina Solar has 5GW module capacity under construction in the United States, which is expected to be put into production within 2024.

However, except for the photovoltaic component link, the return effect of other links in the photovoltaic industry chain (silicon materials, silicon wafers, and solar cells) is not obvious.

According to statistics from Solar Power World (SPW), a US photovoltaic industry platform, as of January 2024, the production capacity of domestic solar cells in the United States is 0, and the silicon wafer production capacity in the upstream of the photovoltaic industry chain has almost no production capacity. It is expected that the supply of photovoltaic cells will still be mainly imported from 2024 to 2025.

In addition to being close to the terminal market, subsidies are also an important factor in attracting Chinese companies to build factories in the United States.

It is clear that the "overflow" of China's photovoltaic capacity has become inevitable. According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in 2023, China's production of polysilicon, silicon wafers, batteries, and modules will be 1.43 million tons, 622GW, 545GW, and 499GW, respectively, with each link increasing by more than 60% year-on-year. It is expected that the global market share of each link will exceed 90%.

Under the trend of involution in the entire industry, Chinese companies are facing the dilemma of being out of the market if they do not go overseas.

"The deeper the involution, the more opportunities can be found in the crisis by going out." Zhu Gongshan, chairman of GCL Group, said during the just-concluded Shanghai SNEC Shanghai Photovoltaic Exhibition that the global industrial chain is deeply reconstructed, and China's photovoltaic industry has become inevitable to go overseas. Europe, the United States, India and other countries are paying more and more attention to the autonomy and controllability of their own industrial chains. The "tariff stick" that is constantly waving has forced China's photovoltaic industry to change from "going overseas in a roundabout way" through Southeast Asia to going overseas in an all-round way, and from going overseas with a single technology and product to going overseas with an industrial chain including equipment and raw materials.

Diversifying investments and not putting all eggs in one basket is also the consistent thinking of photovoltaic companies when actively responding to overseas trade barriers.

However, whether choosing to change course and "enter the Middle East", temporarily moving to other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Laos, or directly investing and setting up factories in Europe and the United States and other places close to the market, Chinese photovoltaic companies need to change from "going out" to "integrating in".

Sourcehttps://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/mgoiCROydBH3Jheb0_w_lQ
The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) ban on noncompete agreements was supposed to take effect on September 4, but a Texan court has postponed its implementation by siding with the plaintiffs in a lawsuit that seeks to block the rule. Back in April, the FTC banned noncompetes, which have been widely used in the tech industry for years, to drive innovation and protect workers' rights and wages. A lot of companies are unsurprisingly unhappy with the agency's rule  as NPR notes, Dallas tax services firm Ryan LLC sued the FTC hours after its announcement. The US Chamber of Commerce and other groups of American businesses eventually joined the lawsuit.

"Noncompete clauses keep wages low, suppress new ideas, and rob the American economy of dynamism," FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said when the rule was announced. They prevent employees from moving to another company or from building businesses of their own in the same industry, so they may be stuck working in a job with lower pay or in an environment they don't like. But the Chamber of Commerces chief counsel Daryl Joseffer called the ban an attempt by the government to micromanage business decisions in a statement sent to Bloomberg.

"The FTCs blanket ban on noncompetes is an unlawful power grab that defies the agencys constitutional and statutory authority and sets a dangerous precedent where the government knows better than the markets," Joseffer said. The FTC disagrees and told NPR that its "authority is supported by both statute and precedent."

US District Judge Ada Brown, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, wrote in her decision that "the text, structure, and history of the FTC Act reveal that the FTC lacks substantive rulemaking authority with respect to unfair methods of competition." Brown also said that the plaintiffs are "likely to succeed" in getting the rule struck down and that it's in the public's best interest to grant the plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction. The judge added that the court will make a decision "on the ultimate merits of this action on or before August 30."
A 20-year-old man was arrested for allegedly strangling his mother to death after she notified him of an eviction for not keeping his room clean.

The mother of Conner Kobold, a student at the US Merchant Marine Academy, served him an eviction notice, demanding that he find employment and contribute to the upkeep of their home. The notice stipulated that he would have 30 days to comply or face eviction.

Kobold did not attempt to cover the tracks of his February 2024 murder. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they were met with a chilling confession.

According to 'The New York Post,' Kobold quickly approached the officers, stating unequivocally that he had "killed somebody." He then led the authorities to his mother, who was critically injured. She was rushed to the hospital. According to reports, the son asked to be handcuffed. The victim suffered brain damage before succumbing to her injuries two days later.

While the confession was immediate, Kobold still awaits trial. He is currently in police custody and will be tried soon in Indiana.

Kobold originally intended to defend himself in court, stating plainly that the "only person who can explain what happened and why it happened is myself." In April, he was appointed a public defender.

Kobold reportedly suffered from severe mental health issues in the past and has been admitted to two different mental health facilities. He has also worked with five different therapists.
It seems the government isn't done holding B.G.'s feet to the fire.

B.G., who was released from prison last year, must submit any future music projects for approval as a condition of his parole.

In 2023, the Louisiana rapper and original Cash Money Records alum was arrested and put behind federal prison bars for a decade for illegal gun possession. Although he has the right to make music, it won't be business as usual.

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'The Guardian' states that the rapper, born Christopher Noel Dorsey, must provide the government with copies of any songs he writes moving forward, ahead of production or promotion in order to ensure the material is consistent with his goals of rehabilitation. The ruling came Friday via the U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan.

The order serves as a compromise with prosecutors, who reportedly wanted the rapper completely barred from releasing any musical material that is "promoting and glorifying future gun violence and murder."

Judge Morgan refused their original request, citing its violation of the constitution, protecting the rapper's right to free speech. The judge also considered his need to financially support himself with federal authorities' enforcement of supervision upon his release, which he accepted, per the news outlet.

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In November 2023, the judge presiding over the RICO trial of "Gang Up" rapper Young Thug ruled that rap lyrics can be admitted by prosecutors as evidence in the case on a "conditional" basis. Thug's attorney Brian Steel argued that lyrics are a form of artistic expression, and shouldn't be used as evidence, per 'ABC News.'

B.G. is a New Orleans rapper who started his music career alongside Birdman, signing with Cash Money Records back in 1992. His stage name B.G. is short for "Baby Gangsta."

The rapper is best known for his "Hot Boyz" New Orleans sound in hit songs including "Bling Bling," "I Need A Hot Girl," and "#1 Stunna."
The Racing Report is a five-part photo essay shot at short tracks in Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania that will run in Farm and Dairy through the summer. Each month we will bring you a different theme to ponder from a different track. For the third installment, photojournalist Matthew Chasney visited Fremont Speedway, in Sandusky County, Ohio on June 22 to talk to people about freedom.

Welcome to Fremont Speedway in Fremont, Ohio. Opened in 1951, it epitomizes Midwestern dirt racing. There arent many things better than watching (and hearing and feeling) sprint cars blast through the corners of this 1/3 mile treasure on a summer night. As the setting sun illuminated the cloud of caramel colored dust over turn 4, it was the perfect place to consider freedom.

With that in mind, I photographed race fans on a Saturday night in late June and asked what freedom meant to them. I got a lot of answers which was good because this is one of those types of questions to which there really arent any wrong answers.

There are two types of freedom: freedom to and freedom from. The freedom to say whats on your mind. The freedom to move about unencumbered. The freedom to love who you want to. Freedom from fear. Freedom from want. Freedom from worry. But everyone said that it meant being able to decide how to live their lives.

I cant tell you what freedom should mean to you, but Ill tell you what it means to me. For me, it means floating in the deep pool in my favorite creek and letting the current just take me wherever she pleases. It means a fair wage for my labor. It means being left alone to do as I please as long as it doesnt hurt anyone else. It means the freedom to ask if I am, in fact, free. And it means driving to Fremont Speedway so 21 sprint cars can baptize me with dust. Do I feel free? Sometimes, but not as much as Id like to if Im being honest. Happy Fourth.

Click on the photo to enlarge the gallery. Use the left and right arrow keys or the arrows on the screen to navigate between photos.
Farming charity RABI's Return to School grant will be available to farming families for a third consecutive year.

The campaign, launched in response to the cost-of-living crisis in 2022, has provided around 2m of financial support to farming families.

This year, eligible parents and guardians can apply for a fixed sum of 200 per child for up to six school-aged children (4-16 years).

Applications are open from RABIs Return to School grant available from Monday 8 July to both working and non-working farming families.

RABI director of services, Caron Whaley said: The cost-of-living crisis, coupled with the rising prices of school uniforms and supplies, has significantly impacted the finances of many families across the UK.

Our grant is committed to ensuring that thousands of school children across our farming community are equipped and ready to thrive when they return to their classrooms in September.

In 2023, half of all applicants for the award-winning grant were new to RABI, with many going on to access further support from the charity.

As well as alleviating some of the pressure of back-to-school costs, the campaign is seen as an important gateway to providing more farmers with general support.

Applications open on Monday 8 July via an online form on RABI's website.
Coldplay will reportedly pay a seven-figure sum to their former manager after he sued the band for 10 million.

Coldplay will reportedly pay a seven-figure sum to their former manager after he sued the band for 10 million

The group parted ways with Dave Holmes in 2022 after more than two decades, sparking a lengthy legal battle, with the former band boss last year claiming he was owed a fortune in unpaid commission for Coldplays tenth and eleventh albums, both of which are yet to come out.

But Coldplay, led by frontman Chris Martin, 47, countersued for 14 million, claiming Dave had lost control of budgeting for their Music of the Spheres tour and overspent by 17.5 million.

Papers filed at the High Court in London said Coldplay agreed an undisclosed seven-figure settlement to prevent private details being made public in court.

A source told The Sun about the alleged payout deal: Chris and the band are happy theyve drawn a line in the sand but it has come at a price. The settlement cost them millions. They just want to move on.

Dave had accused the band of making up stories about mistakes and ethical lapses on his part, and told Mail Online he felt the band knew they were in trouble after they countersued him for 14 million.

A spokesman for the former manager said in October: Coldplay knows theyre in trouble with their defence.

Accusing Dave Holmes of non-existent ethical lapses and other made-up misconduct will not deflect from the real issue at hand: Coldplay had a contract with Dave, they are refusing to honour it and they need to pay Dave what they owe him.

Coldplays lawyers alleged had Mr Holmes exercised reasonable care and skill in the performance of his obligations, the band would never have had to have incurred costs of at least 17.5 million.

Examples given included buying 16 bespoke stage pylons for lighting and video costing around 10 million that then became too expensive to use.

Coldplay also said Dave used his position as their manager to land 24 million in loans at preferable rates from concert giant Live Nation.

Dave managed the band for more than 22 years before the group dismissed him in 2022, despite having agreed to extend his contract to aid with their tenth and eleventh albums, according to his legal filing.

Coldplay said Daves management agreement expired at the end of 2022, at which point they decided not to start a new one.
Eddie Murphy has given his seal of approval of his son Eric Murphy dating his best friend Martin Lawrence's daughter Jasmin Lawrence.

Eddie Murphy discussed grandchildren when giving his seal of approval of his son's romance with his best friend's daughter

The 'Boomerang' co-stars' offspring confirmed they are a couple in a selection of sweet images of them together which were shared to Instagram in 2021, and the 63-year-old funnyman is already discussing what their future child will be like if they decide to start a family, insisting they will no doubt be a comedian like their grandfathers.

He said on CBS Mornings: Theyre both beautiful, they look amazing together.

And its funny, everybodys like, What is that baby gonna be funny?

He said: Our gene pool is gonna make this funny baby.

If they ever get married and have a child, I am expecting the child to be funny.

Eric, 34, previously declared himself "head over heels in love" with the 28-year-old beauty.

He wrote: "Head over heels in LOVE with YOU @jasmin_lawrence [heart emojis] #myotherhalf #equallyyoked #iloveyou (sic)"

Eric is Eddie's eldest son with former partner Paulette McNeely, while Martin has Jasmine with his ex-wife Patricia Southall.

Eddie has 10 children and previously described them as the "brightest part" of his life.

Joking about how many of his kids are now adults but not "old", he said: "None of my children are gray and balding...

"The brightest part of my life is my kids. My relationship with them, and my world revolves around them - even the old, gray bald ones."

And ahead of turning 60, the 'Nutty Professor' actor admitted his family were his main focus these days.

He said: "I am going to be 60 in April and I have all these babies. I love fatherhood.

The whole idea of being out there and doing three movies a year, that s*** is over ... I found over and over again and along the way I realised that if you put your children first you never make a bad decision.

The Beverly Hills Cop star went on to gush over his brood whom he feels blessed to be a father to.

He added: "I am so blessed with my kids. I don't have one bad seed. I don't have any like 'Oh you are the one.' I don't have any of that. My kids are so great, normal people - and nobody is like the Hollywood jerk kid."
Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Paxton are being hailed as shapeshifters by director Jan de Bont.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Paxton are being hailed as shapeshifters by director Jan de Bont

The pair were cast by 80-year-old filmmaker Jan in his 1996 blockbuster Twister, and he has now paid tribute to their talents after Bill was killed by a stroke following heart surgery aged 61 in 2017  three years after troubled Philip died aged 46 from a drugs overdose.

Ahead of the premiere of the long-awaited sequel to Twister  titled Twisters  Jan told The Hollywood Reporter: Those two were basically the shapeshifters of that group, and they helped make a group of really amazing people feel as if they had worked together for a really long time.

Its unique to get that feeling on the screen.

Bill played Bill Harding in Twister  a storm chaser who with his wife, played by Helen Hunt, 61, seek out tornadoes while trying to create an advanced weather alert system.

Philip played Dustin Davis, one of the storm chasers on their daredevil crew.

Jan, who also made Speed with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, both 59, said the Twister cast eventually became such a team similar to their characters in the film.

He said he hoped the cast would be relaxed around each other, and have quick-witted banter off-screen, which he says did happen thanks partly to Philip.

Jan went on: Philip Seymour Hoffman, who was really laid back, was one of the people who contributed the most for that to happen.

He was so completely ready to make a character for himself in the movie.

In the script, he was in a lot of pages, but there were very few scenes with him on his own or with somebody else.

So he created a character almost from day one, and everybody was surprised by that.

What was also amazing was how witty he was. He could create such a light tone and humour that it would relax all the other team members.

He said Bill was high-energy and loved stepping in the middle of an action scene, saying: He loved really dangerous things. He loved getting other people involved as a group.

So, slowly but surely, they all came together, and that was so nice to see happen.

Twisters, starring Glen Powell, 35, Anthony Ramos, 32, and Daisy Edgar-Jones, 26, as a new set of storm chasers is out in cinemas on 19 July.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are believed to be "donating privately" towards relief efforts after the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are personally donating towards relief efforts

As of Thursday (04.07.24), the death toll from the destructive Category 4 hurricane has reached at least 10 as heavy winds and rain batter many of the islands, including Jamaica, where the royal couple visited in 2022.

HELLO! reports that: "They continue to follow the impact of Hurricane Beryl closely. At the time of writing, the Category 5 hurricane is heading towards Jamaica, where the royal couple toured in 2022."

The British royals' arrival on the island was marked by protests seeking slave reparations from the monarchy amid calls for the country to drop the then-queen as head of state.

In response, William expressed his "profound sorrow" over slavery.

The Cambridges attended an official dinner and reception hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica at Kings House in Kingston, Jamaica, where the royal denounced the "abhorrent" slave trade.

Speaking on the couple's fifth day of their Caribbean tour, he said: "I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened.

"While the pain runs deep, Jamaica continues to forge its future with determination, courage and fortitude.

"The strength and shared sense of purpose of the Jamaican people, represented in your flag and motto, celebrate an invincible spirit.

"I strongly agree with my father, The Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history."

William also insisted his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth, had a "deep affection" for Jamaica.
The total volume of cargo shipments through the Netherlands' seaports fell by 7.6 per cent to 574 million tonnes in 2023, according to new figures from Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This decline affected both incoming and outgoing shipments, with a notable reduction in goods from Russia and a significant increase in cargo from the US.

The volume of cargo shipments through Dutch seaports fell 7.6 per cent to 574 million tonnes in 2023. Incoming goods dropped 8.6 per cent, while outgoing shipments decreased by 5.1 per cent. Containerised goods fell 4.6 per cent by weight. US cargo surged 28.8 per cent, becoming the top source. Major sources also included the UK, Norway, Brazil, and China.

In 2023, Dutch seaports unloaded 396 million tonnes of goods, representing an 8.6 per cent year-on-year decline. Outbound cargo destined for other countries also decreased by 5.1 per cent, totalling 178 million tonnes.

The volume of container goods arriving at Dutch seaports fell as well. The total weight of containerised goods dropped by 4.6 per cent, and the number of containers, measured in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), declined by 6.9 per cent. More than a quarter of all containers arrived from China. Although the proportion of containers from China remained steady, their number decreased by 5.5 per cent, as per CBS.

Cargo from the US surged, with a 28.8 per cent increase compared to 2022. The US emerged as the largest source of inbound cargo, providing 58.5 million tonnes, or 14.8 per cent of the total. Russia, which was the largest supplier in 2022, saw its share plummet to 2.7 per cent in 2023. This sharp decline followed the implementation of additional EU sanctions on petroleum, petroleum products, and coal from Russia starting in December 2022.

Following the US, the largest quantities of goods unloaded in 2023 came from the UK, Norway, Brazil, and China, respectively.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
In a move to advance trade while prioritising sustainability, New Zealand has concluded a landmark trade agreement with Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland, eliminating tariffs on hundreds of products, including wool, that benefit the environment. The Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) is set to significantly enhance commercial opportunities for New Zealand businesses, according to trade and agriculture minister Todd McClay.

This ambitious agreement, a first of its kind outside of the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework, opens up significant commercial opportunities for New Zealand businesses. The focus on trade in sustainable goods and services is expected to drive growth and innovation in key sectors. Importantly for New Zealand, the agreement will see the removal of tariffs on crucial exports, including wool, thereby providing a significant boost to the countrys agricultural sector, the New Zealand government said in a press release.

New Zealand has concluded a trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland, eliminating tariffs on hundreds of products, including wool. The Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability enhances commercial opportunities, supports renewable energy, and sets ecolabelling guidelines. It aims to boost exports and address climate challenges.

The ACCTS will also eliminate tariffs on a wide range of other products, such as wool fibre and slag wool used for insulation. These measures are anticipated to enhance the competitiveness of New Zealands exports in the global market, fostering economic growth and job creation.

Beyond tariff elimination, the ACCTS agreement establishes rules to prevent harmful fossil fuel subsidies, thereby supporting the country's renewable energy sector. Moreover, the agreement sets forth guidelines for ecolabelling.

Minister McClay highlighted the strategic importance of the ACCTS, noting that it will open new markets for New Zealand exporters and generate increasing benefits over time as more countries join the agreement. This innovative trade deal not only provides new, high-quality trade opportunities but also addresses pressing climate and sustainability challenges.

It is only through a strong economy that we can lift incomes, reduce the cost of living and provide Kiwis the public services they deserve. The ACCTS deal helps to achieve this," said McClay.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
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A modification to the rule of origin under the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) concerning certain woven fabrics of heading 5408 under the US harmonised tariff schedule (HTSUS) to permit the use of non-originating cuprammonium rayon (cupro) yarn will be effective from August this year, a notice by the US trade representative (USTR) said.

In June 2020, the US president proclaimed a modification to the rules of origin for certain Korean woven fabrics under the KORUS and specified that the modification would go into effect the first day of the month following the date on which the USTR published a notice that South Korea has completed its applicable procedures to give effect to a corresponding modification to its rules of origin to be applied to US goods.

A modification to the rule of origin under the US-Korea Free Trade Agreement concerning certain woven fabrics to permit the use of non-originating cuprammonium rayon yarn will be effective from August, the US trade representative said. The US Congress and the industry trade advisory committee on textiles and clothing did not object to the modifications.

South Korea notified the United States that it had completed its applicable procedures on April 19 this year. KORUS was signed on June 30, 2007.

Section 202 of the KORUS Implementation Act provides rules for determining whether goods imported into the United States originate in the territory of a KORUS party and thus are eligible for the tariff and other treatment contemplated under the KORUS.

The section also authorises the US president to proclaim the rules of origin set out in the KORUS, and to modify previously proclaimed rules of origin, subject to the consultation and layover requirements of section 104 of the Act.

In 2018, South Korea submitted requests to modify certain textile rules of origin based on commercial availability of specific inputs.

Following public comment on the proposed rules changes, both sides agreed to modify the rule of origin concerning certain woven fabrics of HTSUS heading 5408.

Pursuant to the KORUS Implementation Act, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) conducted an economic impact review and concluded that the impact on US imports, exports and production of the proposed modifications would be negligible.

The US industry trade advisory committee on textiles and clothing did not object to the proposed modifications. Congress also did not object during the consultation and layover process, an official release said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Jibraan Khan, who recently made his debut as one of the leading men in the romcom Ishq Vishk Rebound, is opening up on being an assistant director in Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Brahmastra: Part One  Shiva. In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, the actor called it an "unreal" experience and dished about the lessons learnt from the star cast and director Ayan Mukerji throughout filming.



Jibraan said, "Brahmastra was the biggest film school I could ever go to. I was blessed to work on it. The first shot or 'muhurat' shot was Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's, where Ranbir was stopping the fire and Alia was hugging him. I was giving clap for it and Ayan Mukerji made me comfortable."





Speaking further, he added that the incredible star cast were professional and had great behaviour on set. " Working with Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna Akkineni, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Mouni Roy made me understand why they are such big stars. They are so disciplined and professional," he added.



Jibraan also opened up on Ranbir and Alia's equation during filming. He said, "I think Ranbir and Alia were even dating while they were shooting the film, but they were so professional on set. It's unreal. I can't put it to words."
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Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2024) - Argyle Resources Corp. (CSE: ARGL) ("Argyle" or the "Company"), a mineral exploration company, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Aman Gill as a Director of the Company. Mr. Gill is a seasoned capital markets and finance industry professional, having spent the majority of his career at Scotiabank Private Wealth as a wealth management advisor. Mr. Gill managed a robust portfolio for High Net Worth Individuals as well as for indigenous groups, multinational companies and family offices. Mr. Gill holds a BBA from Anhembi Morumbi University. The Company also announces that Mr. Charn Deol has resigned as a Director. The Company thanks Mr. Deol for his services to the Company.

"Aman's extensive experience in the private banking industry and in finance brings immediate value to our Board of Directors," stated Jeff Stevens, CEO. "I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Charn Deol on behalf of the Board and Company for all of his efforts and guidance as we have progressed the business. He's been a valuable contributor, and we wish him well in all of his future endeavours."

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeffrey Stevens

President & CEO

About Argyle Resources Corp.

Argyle is a junior exploration company primarily focused on the Frenchvale graphite property on Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. The company has an option agreement to acquire up to 100% of the property by funding or incurring expenditures for a series of work programs. There has been significant historic drilling, mapping and sampling work conducted at the Frenchvale site. The company is focused in the industrial materials such as graphite and silica.

For all other inquiries: info@argylresourcescorp.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy of the contents of this press release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215415

SOURCE: Argyle Resources Corp.
Miami, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2024) - SEO expert and LinkDaddy founder Tony Peacock has been interviewed on the James Dooley podcast, announces LinkDaddy. The pair take a deep dive into the science behind backlinking, the innovative strategies used by LinkDaddy, and the story behind the company's recent successes.

The latest episode is now live on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sPo-ToIARx8?si=MCGMuyCCsJFN6IC9

LinkDaddy Announces Founder Tony Peacock Interview on New James Dooley Podcast

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/215307_3f19329184e6d877_002full.jpg

James Dooley, the eponymous host of the James Dooley Podcast, is known for taking an interest in heavy hitters in the entrepreneurial space, and particularly those at the forefront of the lead generation industry. Tony Peacock fits this description to the letter, making him an ideal guest to appear in Dooley's content, says LinkDaddy.

Peacock's product, LinkDaddy, presents users with a sophisticated and highly engineered backlink generation system that is intended to help build a long-lasting presence across the content marketing ecosystem. The platform marries multi-channel content creation efforts with a network of verified domains to build out a client's presence, which is then followed up by white-label reporting and after-action adjustments.

In the interview, Tony Peacock discusses the success of the product and the myriad ways in which his product differs from competitors in the field. For instance, the pair discuss how staying within the Google product ecosystem while attempting to build backlinks may be beneficial when raising CTR.

Other topics up for discussion include the rank-boosting potential of Google Maps marketing and other similar local placement techniques, the power of syndicated websites such as Yahoo and MSN, and the benefits of LinkDaddy's unique analysis method. These topics are woven into a broader discussion about the SEO market as a whole, how it has changed in recent years, and how businesses can benefit from these techniques while keeping their marketing budget relatively low.

Overall, this new interview is an insightful resource for businesses interested in LinkDaddy or in the broader state of the SEO market.

About LinkDaddy

Founded in 2019, LinkDaddy is a Florida-based SEO company specializing in the development of proactive content and backlink solutions for businesses across sectors. LinkDaddy has served more than 2,800 clients in less than 5 years.

More information can be found at https://linkdaddy.com.

Contact Info:

Name: Tony Peacock

Email: tony@linkdaddy.com

Organization: LinkDaddy

Address: 1065 SW 8th St PMB 622, Miami, Florida 33130, United States

Website: https://linkdaddy.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215307

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - July 3, 2024) - Lode Gold Minerals Inc. (TSXV: LOD) (OTCQB: SBMIF) ("Lode Gold" or the "Company") announces it has appointed Winfield Ding as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Winfield has been CFO and Director for several public companies in Canada and US. He is a seasoned senior finance executive with over twenty years of finance and operations experience. A former audit manager and currently a self-practitioner, he worked in audit, taxation and advisory across a wide range of industries with a focus on public issuers financial reporting and advising Asian investors doing business in Canada. He has assisted in multiple IPO/RTOs of overseas companies in TSX Venture Exchange and is experienced in structuring cross-border complex transactions. He holds an MBA degree and is a Chartered Professional Accountant of Ontario.

The Company also reports that Brendan Blair, current CFO and Gary Nassif, current Senior Vice President have resigned from the Company to pursue other opportunities.

The Company would like to thank both of them for their dedication and contribution to the Company during its transitory and pivotal years. Gary joined as a Director, then later as SVP of Lode Gold where he assisted in the acquisition of Fremont, California and the completion of the PEA study. Brendan Blair has been with Lode Gold for 12 years as Controller/CFO and has helped steer the Company through a challenging decade for junior mining. Lode Gold wishes them well in their future endeavors.

"Lode Gold's day-to-day operations will carry on unabated," said Wendy T. Chan, CEO of Lode Gold. "Prioritizing people first, then business, we remain focused on building a core team with expertise in key functional areas that will enable us to lead and excel in capital market and technical proficiencies."

ABOUT LODE GOLD

Lode Gold is a Canadian exploration and development company with grassroots and advanced exploration properties in highly prospective and safe mining jurisdictions.

Its Golden Culvert and Win Projects, Yukon, covering 99.5 km2 across a 27-km strike length, are situated in a district-scale, high-grade-gold-mineralized trend within the southern portion of the Tombstone Gold Belt. Gold deposits and occurrences within the Belt include Fort Knox, Pogo, Brewery Creek and Dublin Gulch, and Snowline Gold's Valley target on its Rogue property in the Selwyn Basin.

Its McIntyre Brook Project, New Brunswick, covering 111 km2 and a 17-km strike length in the emerging Triple Fault Gold Belt, is surrounded by Puma Exploration's Williams Brook Project (5.55 g/t Au over 50m) and is hosted by orogenic rocks of similar age and structure as New Found Gold's Queensway Project.

The Company is also advancing its Fremont Gold development project in the historic Mother Lode Gold Belt of California where 50,000,000 oz of gold has been produced. Fremont, located 500km north of Equinox Gold's Castle Mountain and Mesquite mines, has a PEA with an after-tax NPV of USD $217MM, a 21% IRR, 11-year LOM, averaging 118k ounces per annum at USD $1,750 gold. A sensitivity to the March 31, 2023 PEA at USD $2,000/oz gold gives an after-tax NPV(5%) of USD $370MM and a 31% IRR over an 11-year LOM. The project hosts an NI 43-101 resource of 1.16 Moz at 1.90 g/t Au within 19.0 MT Indicated, and 2.02 Moz at 2.22 g/t Au within 28.3 MT Inferred. The MRE evaluates only 1.4 km of the 4 km strike length of the Fremont property that features five gold-mineralized zones. Significantly, three step-out holes at depth hit mineralized structure, typical of orogenic deposits that often occur at depth. Fremont is located on private land in Mariposa, the original gold rush county and is 1.5 hours from Fresno, California. The property has year-round road access and is close to airports and rail. Please refer to the Fremont Gold project PEA dated March 31, 2023 under NI 43-101 guidelines. The technical report has been reviewed and approved by independent "Qualified Persons" Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, and Andrew Bradfield, P.Eng. both of P&E, and Travis Manning, P.E. of KCA.

QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT

Buddy Doyle, FAusIMM is the author of this news release. The scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jonathan Victor Hill, Director, BSc (Hons) (Economic Geology - UCT), FAusIMM, and who is a "qualified person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.lode-gold.com or contact:

Kevin Shum

Investor Relations

info@lode-gold.com

+1 (647) 725-3888 ext. 702

Forward-Looking Statements

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

WARNING: The Company relies upon litigation protection for "forward-looking" statements. The information in this release may contain forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking information. Factors that may cause actual results to vary materially include, but are not limited to, inaccurate assumptions concerning the exploration for and development of mineral deposits, currency fluctuations, unanticipated operational or technical difficulties, changes in laws or regulations, failure to obtain regulatory, exchange or shareholder approval, the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets and the inability to raise additional financing. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update this forward-looking information after the date of this release or to revise such information to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215450

SOURCE: Lode Gold Resources Inc.
Women in leadership takes centre stage as Azentio welcomes Aarthi Ramesh and Emma Foley

SINGAPORE, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Azentio Software ("Azentio") - a leading end-to-end software company specializing in the BFSI sector, today announced the appointment of Aarthi Ramesh as Chief Customer Officer and Emma Foley as Chief Marketing Officer.

Ramesh joins Azentio with over two decades of experience in the IT industry, both within the services and SaaS space. Most recently she served as Vice President at Freshworks, managing a large portfolio of strategic accounts across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. During this time, she contributed significantly to the company's growth, including as Head of GTM Operations, where she played a pivotal role in scaling the operations function and aligning it with the company's IPO objectives. Prior to Freshworks, Aarthi had a long successful stint with Cognizant as global COO for a large business unit.

At Azentio, Ramesh will primarily be focused on delivering excellence in customer success. In her role, Aarthi will ensure customer satisfaction and retention by overseeing all customer-facing activities. This includes managing customer success teams, support services, and customer experience strategies to ensure seamless onboarding, adoption and ongoing engagement with Azentio products suite.

Commenting on the announcement, Aarthi said, "I am delighted to join Azentio and lead our efforts towards achieving complete customer centricity. With my extensive background in both product and services and my dedication to driving customer success, I am confident I can significantly benefit both our business and our customers."

Foley brings with her over 20 years of B2B marketing experience primarily focused on the tech space in the MEA, APAC and European markets. Most recently serving as the Head of Marketing for Europe, Middle East & Africa at Temenos, Foley is immersed in building high performing teams to drive transformative marketing models. Her expertise in leveraging data analytics to enhance marketing efficiency and effectiveness is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping Azentio's marketing strategies into the future.

Her primary focus will be in ensuring Azentio's value propositions are clear, compelling, and simple for customers as well as supporting the business in its strategic growth plans throughout the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia, with a significant focus on digital marketing technology as well as data-driven marketing initiatives.

Speaking about her appointment, Foley commented, "I am thrilled to join Azentio, a company I have known and regarded highly for its cutting-edge solutions and customer-first approach. I look forward to leveraging my experience to contribute towards the company's growth, driving marketing strategies that resonate with our customers and set new standards in the industry."

Sanjay Singh, CEO at Azentio added, "Aarthi and Emma are both driven and effective leaders who bring a wealth of experience, vision and innovation that will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Azentio. As our company continues to grow, I am confident that both of these leaders will help us to achieve Azentio's vision and growth ambitions while championing innovation and a customer first mindset."

Azentio Software incorporated in 2020 at Singapore, has been carved out of 3i Infotech, Candela Labs, Beyontec Technologies and Path Solutions. Azentio Software provides mission critical, vertical-specific software products for customers in banking, financial services and insurance verticals. Azentio has over 800 customers in more than 60 countries, with a team of over 2,300 employees across offices in 12 countries (and growing) globally and is wholly owned by Funds advised by Apax Partners.

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Spendesk research shows that SMBs struggle to manage their mass of vendors, with dormant suppliers costing nearly 1 billion annually

Spendesk, the complete spend management platform, today released the findings of its new report: Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Supplier Management. Analysing 4.7 million suppliers across a sample of 5,000 Spendesk customers in the UK, France, Germany and Spain, the report found that the average small and medium-sized business (SMB) has nine times more suppliers than it has employees, however it only uses one quarter of these. The findings indicate that today's SMBs rely heavily on outsourced capabilities yet they may not be holistically and actively managing them, resulting in hidden financial losses.

Overview of key findings:

SMBs have nine times more suppliers than employees, with a median average of 800 suppliers.

Many SMBs only use one-quarter of the suppliers on their books, resulting in a potential total loss of 964,440,000 in wasted time and management costs.

The top five areas of spend with suppliers are: business services, travel and accommodation, utilities, maintenance and office supplies, food and beverage, and retail and merchandise.

The findings emphasise the need for businesses to adopt an active spend management approach. With outsourcing continuously increasing and each supplier on the books costing a business 855 per year, supplier management (including holistic overviews, negotiation, and payment) become an increasingly important subset of managing a company's spend and eliminating these hidden costs.

The report into supplier management comes on the back of Spendesk's acquisition of procurement company Okko in April 2024. Julien Chriqui, co-founder and CEO of Okko, said: "The findings of the report highlight how crucial it is for businesses to optimise their vendor management processes to keep costs under control and reduce inefficiencies."

"SMBs need to adopt an active spend management approach. By consolidating payments and negotiating as a single entity, finance teams can leverage their combined purchasing power to secure more favourable rates and terms from suppliers. This approach not only helps in managing costs but also strengthens relationships with suppliers," he continued.

The report also examined where SMBs are spending money with suppliers. According to Spendesk's data, the top three card spend categories are business services (such as software subscriptions and consulting services) at 42%; travel and accommodation at 19%; and general business expenses such as utilities and office supplies at 9%.

Julien Lafouge, CFO of Spendesk, commented: "Actively managing spend is not just about managing "who" you are paying, but also "how" you are paying them. Knowing where the money goes is crucial for financial controllers to improve financial operations. Paying a supplier by invoice is a great option when the cost of the invoice and the cost to push the invoice to payment balances out. For example, if you have a 200 invoice but the time spent receiving and putting it through your systems costs 100, then your invoice has cost you nearly 50% more. This also isn't including the bank fees for transferring money to pay suppliers. However if the invoice is 20k then the management costs are minimal in comparison. So, large one-off invoices are fine, but everything else you should pay with a card."

A full copy of Spendesk's report: Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Supplier Management can be found here.

About Spendesk

Spendesk is the complete spend management platform that saves businesses, up to 1,000 employees, time and money by connecting company spend. With the integration of everyday technologies, built-in automation, and an easily adopted approval process, Spendesk's single solution makes agile, efficient spending easy for employees and gives finance leaders complete visibility across the entire company spend. Trusted by thousands of companies, Spendesk is proud to have over 200,000 users across brands such as Soundcloud, Gousto, SumUp, and Bloom Wild. With 600 employees and offices in Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid, Spendesk also puts community at the heart of spend management. Spendesk-backed CFO Connect is the fastest-growing global community of finance leaders with more than 12,000 members. For more information, visit: https://www.spendesk.com/en/press/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240703844459/en/

Contacts:

Srishti Bahadur, GingerMay

spendesk@teamgingermay.com
Andre Hoffmann, Former Refinitiv CEO David Craig, and Oxford Science Enterprises among notable investors backing company's growth phase

Natural Capital Research Limited (Natcap) announced today it has secured $10 million in an oversubscribed Series A funding round to scale its pioneering nature tech product. This funding will help accelerate Natcap's rapid growth supporting organisations to understand their nature-related risks and opportunities. The company's focus is to scale the delivery of high-quality nature data to the growing number of companies in scope for the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, or those voluntarily reporting under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) recommendations. Natcap is one of the first nature and biodiversity intelligence companies globally to complete Series A financing in the nascent market.

Natcap has secured new funding from Andre Hoffmann, Norinchukin Capital, Yeo Ventures, and Pelican Ag. The round also includes investment from former CEO of Refinitiv David Craig, as well as follow-on investments from Oxford Science Enterprises, funds advised by MW&L Capital Partners, and Alea Iacta Est, all of which participated in the company's 2.5 million seed round in early 2023. This is a notable endorsement of the positive work Natcap is doing and sets the stage for their trajectory as nature reporting becomes mandatory across the globe.

Natcap's innovative platform brings together the world's best science, data and technology, empowering companies to measure, report and act on nature-related risks and opportunities. The company was founded in 2018 by Professor Baroness Kathy Willis at the University of Oxford and others, and is on a mission to embed nature intelligence into business decision making.

The company has developed world leading technology to support 20+ organisations, including collaborating with Tesco's Nature Programme, and a partnership with MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings. Natcap was recently selected as one of just four UK tech companies to receive government support from the UK-APAC Tech Growth Programme for expansion into the Japanese market.

Quote from Natcap CEO, Sebastian Leape:

"It has been truly exciting to see the level of investor interest in our company, particularly in a less-than-optimal fundraising environment globally," said Sebastian Leape, CEO of Natcap. "We see our investors' support as a further endorsement of the market need for what we offer: a simple, straightforward solution for companies grappling with nature risks and reporting needs under CSRD and TNFD. We look forward to scaling our offering, allowing more organisations to integrate nature into their decision-making, and accelerating the world's transition to a nature-positive future."

Quote from Andre Hoffmann, Vice-Chairman, Roche Holding AG:

"As an investor deeply committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship, I am thrilled to support Natcap. Their innovative and science-based approach to assessing nature risk and opportunity represents a pivotal step forward in our efforts to embed nature into how businesses make decisions. Through my role as a senior advisor to the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) I have witnessed firsthand the gap that Natcap fills: helping businesses to measure nature risk and opportunity at scale. I look forward to working with the Natcap team to help them achieve their ambitious goals."

Quote from Nick Dixon-Clegg, Partner, Oxford Science Enterprises:

"Managing nature-related risks effectively is crucial for both companies and investors, and requires the development of new innovative nature-related technologies. This significant round of capital is a testament to both Natcap's remarkable progress in this cutting-edge field and to the team behind it. We are thrilled to continue supporting the growth of their platform as part of our mission to scale the most promising technologies from the Oxford ecosystem."

About Natcap:

Natcap helps companies quantify and embed nature-related risks and opportunities into business strategy. They collaborate with world-leading scientists to deliver comprehensive and understandable nature data and metrics. Natcap's platform guides businesses through measuring, reporting and acting on their nature-related risks and opportunities to build resilient nature strategies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240703278128/en/

Contacts:

Name: Hayley Moller

Position: Interim Head of Marketing

Email: hayley.moller@natcapresearch.com

Website: www.natcapresearch.com
BURLINGAME, Calif., July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global Digital Healthcare Market, valued at $220.10 billion in 2024, is on a trajectory of rapid expansion, with projections indicating it will soar to $836.10 billion by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% from 2024 to 2031, as per a recent report by Coherent Market Insights. Various healthcare organizations have started implementing telehealth solutions to provide care to patients from remote locations and reduce disease exposure in clinical settings. Telehealth is enabling virtual doctor consultations, remote monitoring of chronic conditions, and digital communication between healthcare providers and patients. The convenience of accessing healthcare services digitally without visiting clinics physically is driving more patients and providers to adopt telehealth. This increased adoption of telehealth is expected to propel the growth of the overall digital healthcare market in the coming years.

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Market Dynamics:

The growth of digital healthcare market is driven by increasing adoption of telehealth and telemedicine. Telehealth allows remote consultation for the healthcare providers and patients which increases the convenience of treatment. During COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth witnessed exponential growth as it addressed the challenge of physical distancing. Moreover, growing usage of smartphones and tablets has fueled the demand for various healthcare apps for self-diagnosis and monitoring of chronic conditions. These apps provide healthcare services at affordable costs compared to regular hospital visits.

Digital Healthcare Market Report Coverage

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $220.10 billion Estimated Value by 2031 $836.10 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 21% Historical Data 2019-2023 Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Technology, By Component, By End User Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Growth Drivers Aging Population and Need for Remote Patient Monitoring

Launch of new products Restraints & Challenges Data security and privacy concern

Lack of digital infrastructure in developing regions

Market Trends:

Growing Trend of Remote Patient Monitoring: Remote patient monitoring allows continuous tracking of vital signs outside of conventional clinical settings which improves patient engagement. It ensures safety of high risk patients such as ones with chronic illnesses by alerting healthcare providers in case of any emergencies.

Growing Trend of Digital Therapeutics: Digital therapeutics deliver evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients that are driven by high quality software programs to prevent, manage, or treat a medical disorder or disease. They are used to effectively treat various medical conditions such as diabetes, insomnia, chronic pain etc. with minimal physical interaction.

Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/4623

Market Opportunities:

Healthcare analytics segment accounts for more than 30% share of the overall digital healthcare market. Healthcare analytics solutions help in population health management, clinical variability reduction, financial performance and many other applications. It provides actionable insights from large amounts of medical data for better clinical and financial outcomes.

mHealth segment is growing rapidly, driven by increasing penetration of smartphones and tablets. mHealth apps and solutions enable remote monitoring of patients, medical personnel connectivity, delivery of healthcare services and information. They improve access and convenience of care while reducing costs.

Key Market Takeaways:

The global digital healthcare market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of 21% during the forecast period 2024-2031, owing to growing investments and initiatives in digital transformation of healthcare systems.

On the basis of technology, healthcare analytics segment is expected to hold a dominant position, accounting for over 30% market share due to improved quality of care and medical outcomes with data-driven insights.

By component, software segment dominates with around 60% share owing to various healthcare IT solutions for electronic health records, revenue cycle management, practice management and others.

Regionally, North America is expected to hold a dominant position over the forecast period, with over 35% share of the global market due to advanced digital healthcare infrastructure and favorable government policies in the region.

Key players operating in the digital healthcare market include Telefonica S.S., Epic Systems Corporation, AT&T, AirStrip Technologies, Google, Inc., Hims & Hers Health Inc., Orange, Softserve, Computer Programs and Systems, Inc., Vocera Communication, IBM Corporation, CISCO System, Inc. Apple Inc., Oracle Cerner Veradigm, and Mckesson Corporation among others. Strategic partnerships for product development and geographical expansion are leveraged by these players.

Recent Developments:

In January 2024, Eli Lilly and Company, introduced LillyDirect, a novel digital healthcare solution for patients in the U.S. dealing with obesity, migraine, and diabetes.

In March 2023, BlueRock Therapeutics LP, announced a partnership with Emerald innovations and Rune Labs, health analytics company focusing on leveraging contract less and invisible wearable digital health technology, to enhance monitoring for Parkinson;s disease.

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Detailed Segmentation-

By Technology:

Healthcare Analytics

mHealth

Tele-health

Others

By Component:

Software

Hardware

Services

By End User:

Hospital & Clinics

Patients

Providers

Payers

Others

By Region:

North America:

U.S.

Canada

Latin America:

Brazil

Argentina

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Europe:

Germany

U.K.

Spain

France

Italy

Russia

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific:

China

India

Japan

Australia

South Korea

ASEAN

Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East:

GCC Countries

Israel

Rest of Middle East

Africa:

South Africa

North Africa

Central Africa

Browse More Trending Reports:

Global Telehealth Services Market: The global telehealth services market was valued at US$ 12.47 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach US$ 26.64 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.2% from 2024 to 2031.

Healthcare API Market: The healthcare API market is estimated to be valued at USD 228.3 Mn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 345.5 Mn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2024 to 2031.

Global Well Being Platform Market: The global well being platform market size is expected to reach US$ 87.38 Bn by 2030, from US$ 62.93 Bn in 2023, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.8% during the forecast period.

Healthcare Consulting Services Market: The global healthcare consulting services market is estimated to be valued at USD 30.53 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 57.49 Bn by 2031, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% from 2024 to 2031.

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We are known for our actionable insights and authentic reports in various domains including aerospace and defense, agriculture, food and beverages, automotive, chemicals and materials, and virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients.

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Coherent Market Insights

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EQS-News: Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) / Key word(s): Agreement

Africa Finance Corporation Signs Joint Declaration with UNIDO and Backs Cotton Partnership at WTO's Aid-for-Trade Global Review



04.07.2024 / 11:45 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Signs Joint Declaration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Backs Cotton Partnership at World Trade Organization's (WTO) Aid-for-Trade Global Review

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) ( www.AfricaFC.org ), the continent's leading infrastructure solutions provider, has signed a joint declaration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to enhance sustainable industrialisation and committed to support the 'Partenariat pour le coton' initiative, which seeks to enhance Africa's role within the global textile and apparel value chains. Aligned with AFC's commitment to drive Africa's sustainable development, the declarations were signed at the ongoing Aid-for-Trade Global Review at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

AFC's work with UNIDO is aimed at advancing sustainable industrialisation in developing economies, with the two institutions focused on catalysing private investment across several sectors while supporting energy access and transition, industrial decarbonisation, and the development of agro-industries through mobilising the knowledge, expertise, and financial resources required to achieve the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Separately, AFC agreed to collaborate with UNIDO, the WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) to support the 'Partenariat pour le coton'. This initiative aims to strategically position African nations - notably Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cote d'Ivoire - within the global textile and apparel value chains. The partnership will focus on constructing regional hubs for sustainable textiles to boost trade competitiveness and spur economic development within Africa's cotton sectors. Supported by a joint declaration aligned with the UN SDGs, the initiative is committed to transforming the cotton industry by implementing sustainable practices, creating jobs, empowering women and youth, and enhancing technology and infrastructure.

'Partenariat pour le coton' extends AFC's already significant role in transforming Africa's textiles industry through investee company ARISE IIP's Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin Republic. The GDIZ hosts a textile manufacturing plant that processes locally sourced raw cotton to create finished t-shirts for sale in domestic and international markets. The GDIZ's 'Made-in-Benin' t-shirts now retail at The Children's Place Store in the US, and it recently exported 80,000 children's leggings to the French brand Kiabi. This milestone showcases the significant potential of Africa's textile industry and marks a major step in integrating Benin Republic into the global textiles and clothing market.

AFC's President & CEO, Samaila Zubairu said: "These joint declarations are a reaffirmation of AFC's commitment to driving sustainable development in Africa. By partnering with esteemed global organizations such as UNIDO and supporting transformational initiatives like the 'Partenariat pour le coton,' we are setting the stage for rapid economic and industrial advancements that will create quality jobs and wealth."

AFC's recently published "State of Africa's Infrastructure Report 2024" identified significant infrastructure gaps and, correspondingly, immense investment opportunities in key sectors including power, transport, and digital communications.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Download image 1: https://apo-opa.co/3RTsPis (AFC partners with UNIDO and key global organizations to enhance sustainable industrialization and support Africa's cotton sector through the 'Partenariat pour le coton' initiative)

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Media Enquiries:

Yewande Thorpe

Communications

Africa Finance Corporation

Mobile: +234 1 279 9654

Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:

AFC was established in 2007 and has been the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC's approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa's infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception. www.AfricaFC.org

04.07.2024 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.



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DUBAI, UAE, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is excited to announce its partnership with BLIK, the innovative payment system in Poland, to revolutionize their digital asset trading experience by enabling zero-fee transactions for the Polish community.

From now until July 17, 2024, 10AM UTC, users who deposit or buy at least 100 USDT (or equivalent) and select BLIK as their payment method will enjoy zero fees. This promotion is available for both One-Click Buy and Fiat Deposit, empowering users to easily access the benefits of Bybit's comprehensive trading features.

Bybit's One-Click Buy and Fiat Deposit provide support for over 65 fiat currencies and 100+ cryptocurrencies. With robust security measures in place, users can have peace of mind while conducting transactions on the platform.

"Bybit's partnership with BLIK marks a significant step in our mission to provide innovative solutions and unparalleled trading experience for users worldwide. Riding on the momentum of Bybit's rapid growth, we are committed to bringing a more customized and exceptional experience to individuals seeking a more seamless digital asset trading experience. We believe that introducing zero-fee transactions to the Polish market will greatly benefit our users." said Joan Han, Sales and Marketing Director of Bybit.

For more information about deposit or buy crypto with BLIK, visit this page.

Bybit / TheCryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 33 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team.

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For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

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CHICAGO, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Hot-Melt Adhesives Market by Resin Type (EVA, SBC, MPO, APAO, Polyolefins), Application (Packaging Solutions, Nonwoven Hygiene Products, Furniture & Woodwork, Bookbinding), and Region - Global Forecast to 2029", size was USD 9.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 10.9 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 2.8% between 2024 and 2029.



The marketing factor of technological inventions in chemical engineering and specifically in creating a new generation of adhesives with greater heat and wearing resistance, and easier to apply, is fuelling its growth. These developments help in improving the properties of hot-melt adhesives, this makes them useful in special calls for in different industries. Due to increased awareness of the effects of its products and the environmental returns of products many manufactures are shifting towards a green adhesive product.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Hot-Melt Adhesives Market"

290 - Tables

59 - Figures

276 - Pages

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The major driver for the hot-melt adhesives market is catering to wide range of high growth applications.

Hot-melt adhesives are extensively utilized in various applications, including packaging solutions, nonwoven hygiene products, furniture and woodworking, bookbinding, and more, due to their low volatile organic compounds (VOC) content, strong adhesion, excellent heat resistance, and rapid drying. The significant growth in these application segments has fueled the expansion of the hot-melt adhesives market. The rising demand for high-performance adhesives across diverse applications also drives the hot-melt adhesives market, leading to the development of products with enhanced properties like transparency and being odorless.

Hot-melt adhesives hold a substantial share of the adhesives market due to their benefits over water-based and solvent-based adhesives, including higher production speed, environmental friendliness, reduced floor space requirements, and cost-effectiveness.

Packaging is the largest application for hot-melt adhesives, accounting for about one-third of the total market. The primary packaging uses include corrugated cases and paperboard carton sealing. The demand for hot-melt adhesives is also rapidly increasing in other sectors, such as textiles, footwear, automotive, consumer goods, and product assembly, especially in the emerging markets of Asia Pacific and South America. Additionally, global manufacturers are creating customized hot-melt adhesives, opening new growth opportunities in untapped areas like road marking and graphics.

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resin type segment is expected to hold largest share of the hot-melt adhesives market during the forecasted period.

EVA is the leading resin type in the hot-melt adhesives market by both value and volume during the forecast period. This dominance is due to the extensive use of EVAs in producing hot-melt adhesives for various applications, including baby diapers and feminine sanitary products. EVA's cost-effectiveness compared to other types is also driving its increased demand for hot-melt adhesives manufacturing. Meanwhile, PU is the fastest-growing segment, driven by its rising use in nonwoven hygiene products, particularly in emerging markets.

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Packaging solutions application segment accounted largest share of the global hot-melt adhesives market during forecasted period.

Packaging solutions constituted the largest application segment in the hot-melt adhesives market, driven by the rising use of hot-melt adhesives in various packaging types, including bulk, industrial, commercial, and specialty packaging. Hot-melt adhesives are utilized in various packaging applications, including carton boxes, envelopes, carton closures, cups, flexible packaging, specialty packaging, bags, and processed food products. Paperboard cases and cartons are used to package goods for diverse needs, such as transporting and storing agricultural and poultry products, biscuits, chocolates, pharmaceutical items, and industrial products.

Asia Pacific region likely to account the largest share of the global hot-melt adhesives market during forecasted period.

Asia Pacific is the largest market for hot-melt adhesives due to its robust manufacturing sector, particularly in industries such as packaging, automotive, textiles, and electronics. The region's significant economic growth and industrialization drive the demand for efficient and cost-effective adhesive solutions. Additionally, the expanding e-commerce sector and increasing infrastructure development further contribute to the high demand for hot-melt adhesives in the region.

Henkel AG & CO. KGaA (Germany), H.B. Fuller Company (US), Jowat SE (Germany), 3M (US), Arkema (France). The companies are majorly following product launches, acquisition, expansion as the strategy to grow and expand the market.

Browse Adjacent Market: Coatings Adhesives Sealants and Elastomers Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

REACTIVE HOT-MELT ADHESIVES MARKET - GLOBAL FORECASTS TO 2028

ADHESIVES & SEALANTS MARKET - GLOBAL FORECAST TO 2029

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Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

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La Defense, France / Stuttgart, Germany, 4th July 2024



Indigo Group signs an agreement to acquire 100% of APCOA Belgium



Indigo Group today announced it has signed an agreement with APCOA Holdings GmbH ("APCOA") to acquire APCOA's Belgian subsidiary, APCOA Belgium NV ("APCOA Belgium"), including a 50% stake in ParcBrux BV (the remaining 50% being already owned by Indigo) and a 50% stake in Maatschap Parkeren Leuven.

APCOA Belgium operates 36 contracts across four regions in Belgium (Antwerp, Flemish Brabant, Limburg and East Flanders) and generated over 18 million of euros of revenues in 2023.

APCOA Belgium car parks are mostly located in areas where Indigo Group is already present, facilitating the integration of APCOA Belgium's operations within Indigo Group organization. This, combined with the addition of operational and commercial expertise and a shared culture of excellence, is expected to create significant synergies.

In Belgium, Indigo Group operates 240 contracts across 75 cities and generated more than 64 million of euros of revenues in 2023. The contemplated transaction will allow Indigo Group to expand its contracts portfolio with high-quality assets and to consolidate its leadership position in Belgium. It will also provide Indigo Group with an opportunity to accelerate and intensify the deployment of its strategy in Belgium and strengthen its competitive position in the attractive on-street and electric vehicles charging markets. Finally, following the contemplated transaction, Indigo Group will own and fully consolidate 100% of ParcBrux BV.

Sebastien Fraisse, President of the Indigo executive board, comments: "This operation fits perfectly into the Group's strategy of strengthening its positions wherever it is deployed, both off-street and on-street. The complementarity of the portfolio of contracts provided by APCOA Belgium with that already held by Indigo Belgium, and the cultural proximity between the two structures will allow an accelerated and value-creating integration. It is also in line with our commitment to work alongside cities to support urban transformation, ensuring that they can respond effectively to the changing mobility needs".

Bert Pijls, Executive Chair of APCOA says: "The acquisition is beneficial for both sides, allowing Indigo to leverage synergies and APCOA to refocus the allocation of resources and investments in markets with a better market position and stronger commercial connections. We sincerely thank the entire team of APCOA Belgium for their longstanding commitment to our business and are confident that this transition will enable the business to continue to thrive under new leadership and collaboration."

The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected before the end of July 2024.



**********

Indigo Group

Analyst / Investor contact: Press contact: Mathieu Barnavon Bruno Tallent ir@group-indigo.com bruno.tallent@group-indigo.com



About Indigo Group S.A.

The Indigo Group, which owns nearly 100% of Indigo Infra, Indigo Neo and INDIGOweel, is a global player in parking and urban mobility, managing more than 1.4 million parking spaces and their associated services in 10 countries.

Indigo Group is indirectly 49.2% owned by Credit Agricole Assurances, 34.3% owned by Vauban Infrastructure Partners and 14.9% owned by MR Infrastructure Investment GmbH (MEAG), and held 0.2% of its own shares in treasury, with the Group's management owning the remainder of the shares.

www.group-indigo.com



APCOA Holdings GmbH

Contact :

Sebastian Merkle

sebastian.merkle@apcoa.eu



About APCOA

APCOA is Europe's leading parking operator[1] with more than 50 years of industry expertise. With its 5,000 employees, the Group manages more than 1.8 million individual parking spaces at 13,000 locations in 13 European countries. The company is active in the areas of parking, charging, technologies and urban solutions.

www.apcoa.com



Notice

The information contained herein has been included in good faith but is intended for general information purposes only. All reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure that the information contained herein is not false or misleading. It should not be relied upon for any specific purpose and no representation or warranty is made as to its accuracy or completeness. This press release should be read in conjunction with the information about Indigo Group S.A. (the "Company") published on its website at www.group-indigo.com.

This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for, any securities. Its preparation does not constitute a recommendation regarding securities. Nothing in this document may be used as the basis for entering into a contract or agreement.

This document may contain objectives and forward-looking statements concerning the Company's financial condition, results of operations, business activities and expansion strategy. Although based on reasonable assumptions, these objectives and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including factors not presently known to the Company or that it does not currently consider material, and there can be no assurance that the anticipated events will occur or that the stated objectives will be achieved. All forward-looking statements are the current expectations of the Company's management regarding future events and are subject to several factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The information is current only as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additional information about the factors and risks that could affect the Company's financial results is included in the documents filed by the Group with the Autorite des Marches Financiers and available on its website at www.group-indigo.com.

Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, officers or employees shall be liable for any loss, damage or expense arising out of access to or use of this document, including, without limitation, any lost profits, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss.

No part of this document may be sold or distributed for commercial purposes or modified.

[1] In terms of number of spaces

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CHICAGO, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global microscopy market is poised for significant growth, expected to reach USD 10.6 billion by 2029 from USD 8.1 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 5.4%. Key drivers include rising cases of chronic diseases necessitating effective diagnostics, coupled with robust investments in research and development across healthcare sectors. However, market growth faces challenges such as the high costs associated with microscope instruments and software subscriptions, which may restrict adoption, particularly in pathology labs and smaller enterprises. Opportunities abound in emerging applications like optogenetics and telemedicine, driven by advancements in microscopy technologies. North America leads the market geographically, supported by a strong research funding infrastructure. Major market players include Danaher Corporation, Carl Zeiss AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and others, known for their innovations such as advanced imaging systems and AI integration, aimed at enhancing microscopy capabilities across diverse applications and industries.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Microscopy Market"

290 - Tables

62 - Figures

303 - Pages

Key Players in the Microscopy Market: A Competitive Landscape

The microscopy market features a competitive landscape dominated by major multinational corporations alongside significant contributions from SMEs and regional players. Key players include Carl Zeiss AG (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), Danaher Corporation (US), EVIDENT (Japan), Nikon Corporation (Japan), JEOL Ltd. (Japan), Oxford Instruments plc (UK), Hitachi High-Tech Corporation (Japan), Keyence Corporation (Japan), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Euromex Microscopen bv (Netherlands), Bruker Corporation (US), and Helmut Hund GmbH (Germany).

Carl Zeiss AG (Germany): Leading Innovator in Precision Optics and Technology

Carl Zeiss AG, renowned for its 175-year legacy in precision optics, operates across five business segments: Medical Technology, Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology, Industrial Quality and Research, and Consumer Markets. The company excels in producing high-quality microscopes catering to material research, life sciences, and quality control within its Industrial Quality and Research division. Diversification into Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology and Medical Technology further shields the company from common market risks, enhancing its resilience and revenue streams.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (US): Strategic Focus on Innovation and Global Expansion

Thermo Fisher Scientific maintains a significant global presence across more than 80 countries, specializing in analytical instruments, equipment, consumables, reagents, software, and services. The company's microscope offerings fall under its Analytical Instruments segment, supported by robust research and development initiatives aimed at developing cutting-edge products and services. Thermo Fisher Scientific employs strategic inorganic growth strategies, including partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions, to strengthen its market position and expand its global footprint.

Danaher Corporation (US): Diverse Product Portfolio and Market Leadership

Danaher Corporation operates within the Environmental & Applied Solutions, Diagnostics, and Life Sciences segments, with its microscope offerings managed under the Life Sciences division through its subsidiary Leica Microsystems. The company is a key player in the microscopy market, offering a wide range of microscopes including light, confocal, stereo, digital, and super-resolution variants, along with microscope cameras and imaging software. Leveraging its strong reputation and extensive experience, particularly through Leica Microsystems, Danaher Corporation maintains a loyal customer base and continues to innovate in research instruments and microscopy technologies.

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Telemedicine and COVID-19 Drive Innovation in Microscopy Market

The healthcare sector is increasingly adopting digital and portable microscopes for remote pathology, positively impacting the microscopy market. Post-COVID-19, heightened life science research has spurred demand for advanced microscopy solutions to support enhanced healthcare diagnostics and research capabilities.

Product Segmentation: Diverse Offerings and Market Dominance

The microscopy market is segmented by product type into optical microscopes (including confocal, stereo, digital, compound, and inverted microscopes), electron microscopes (scanning and transmission), scanning probe microscopes (atomic force, scanning tunneling, and near-field scanning optical), X-ray microscopes, and cryo-electron microscopes. Imaging software and accessories play a crucial role in niche-specific applications, with optical microscopes and electron microscopes leading the market as of 2023.

Application Diversity: Key Sectors Driving Market Growth

Microscopes find extensive applications in semiconductors and electronics, healthcare and life sciences, material sciences, automotive, aerospace, environmental, and water treatment industries. The semiconductor and electronics segment dominates the market share, driven by quality control, material detection, and failure analysis needs, supporting robust production and improved product quality.

Geographical Insights: North America Leads with Technological Advancements

Geographically, the microscopy market spans North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, with North America holding the largest market share. Renowned for its supportive research funding environment and favorable manufacturing regulations, North America hosts major microscope distributors and manufacturers, cementing its leadership in the microscopy market.

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NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The world of digital advancements is experiencing a phenomenal level of explosive growth, and Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, has witnessed staggering popularity and an exponential level of advancement in India. India's robust infrastructure, coupled with its incredibly skilled developers, has made it an attractive hub for all things Salesforce. The Indian IT sector has an established history of providing world-class solutions, which renders it a reliable partner for Salesforce development initiatives. Since the Salesforce development market in India is growing, global enterprises are increasingly hunting for specialized solutions to enhance their CRM capabilities. Custom Salesforce solutions have curated a sudden spike in demand that could help firms stand out.

This sudden need, plus the urgency of competent pricing, has led international investors to lean towards Indian workforces. Indian developers are known for their mastery of customizing Salesforce solutions to meet distinct business needs, streamline operations, and ensure seamless CRM integrations. The talented pool of Salesforce developers at competitive pricing makes for an appealing option for businesses looking to optimize their CRM investments. Indian developers are known for their creative approach, favorable time zones for extended working hours, understanding of global practices, and constant thinking outside the box to render the best-in-class modern solutions to overcome complex Salesforce-driven business challenges. That's where Hyperlink InfoSystem struck the chord and cemented its position as India's leading Salesforce development company.

Hyperlink InfoSystem has emerged as a frontrunner in Salesforce development solutions and has become the ultimate powerhouse for custom CRM solutions. Their dedication to excellence has helped them maintain a steady track record spanning over a decade, with several successful Salesforce project deliveries. Hyperlink InfoSystem utilizes best-in-class technologies such as AI, Big Data, and IoT to craft bespoke Salesforce solutions to meet every business's unique needs. They place a strong emphasis on client requirements to deliver custom solutions for driving measurable results. From consultation and integration to support and customization, Hyperlink InfoSystem offers end-to-end Salesforce development services, ensuring a seamless transition to the CRM. With a commitment to Agile methodologies and certified Salesforce developers, they follow only the best practices in the industry.

"We are extremely honored to be recognized as India's leading Salesforce development company," said Mr. Harnil Oza, CEO of Hyperlink InfoSystem. This achievement showcases our team's commitment and dedication to delivering immaculate solutions that promote the company's success. He added, "We at Hyperlink InfoSystem think that Salesforce can change how businesses run and engage with their customers and staff. And we will keep pushing the envelope of innovation to provide each client with immaculate Salesforce solutions."

Looking forward, Hyperlink InfoSystem is committed to staying one step ahead of all Salesforce innovations. Their whole focus is on helping companies realize the full potential of Salesforce, which can result in remarkable customer experiences and growth that is truly transformative. This will be achieved by consistently incorporating the newest features and functionality into their development processes. By providing scalable and adaptable Salesforce solutions, businesses can smoothly future-proof their operations.

About Hyperlink InfoSystem

Hyperlink InfoSystem is a prominent international enterprise excelling in IT solutions in many domains. Since its humble beginnings in 2011, its specialization in technologies has expanded across web development, mobile app development, enterprise software solutions, and now Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 1200+ employees and a global presence in the USA, UK, UAE, France, India, and Canada, Hyperlink InfoSystem is dedicated to assisting corporations to leverage the complete power of technology to accomplish their goals.

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Gander Gold Corp. ("Gander" or the "Company") (CSE:GAND)(OTCQB:GANDF), is pleased to provide an exploration update on its Gander North Project in Newfoundland where 28 rotary air blast ("RAB") drill holes, an exploration tool designed to prioritize first-ever diamond drilling targets, were completed in 2023.

Highlights:

Anomalous to significant gold mineralization was encountered in eight (8) of 11 RAB holes completed on the western side of Gander North with five (5) of these holes also intersecting mafic-ultramafic rock associated with the GRUB Line;

Anomalous mineralization was encountered in 14 of the 17 RAB holes completed on the eastern side of Gander North;

This initial round of RAB drilling on each side of Gander North tested only five (5) of 14 large soil geochemistry anomalies identified at this large-scale project to date;

Results warrant additional follow-up exploration at these 5 anomalies ahead of potential diamond drilling;

An exploration plan for the remaining 9 large soil geochemistry anomalies is being finalized.

Mr. Mark Scott, Gander President and CEO, commented: "The immense size of the grassroots Gander North Project requires a very systematic approach to determine initial diamond drilling targets with the highest probability for success. We're very pleased with these early results, especially on the western side of Gander North where very anomalous gold mineralization was encountered at depth and along strike of the Jonathan's Third Pond Copper Showing.

"With Gander North still at a very promising early stage, and some breakthroughs at Lizard Pond and Thwart Island, and Mount Peyton and Cape Ray II yet to be RAB-tested, we have much to look forward to in terms of discovery potential across one of the largest overall land packages in Newfoundland that still awaits initial diamond drilling," Mark Scott concluded.

Gander Gold completed a total of 34 RAB drill holes across its Newfoundland properties in 2023 including three (3) at Lizard Pond (Gander South) where diamond drill targets have been outlined after 1 RAB hole cut 13.7 metres grading 1.06 g/t Au starting from surface (refer to Nov. 30, 2023 news release).

Refer to Figures 1 & 2 and Tables 1 & 2, below, for Gander North RAB drill hole locations and summary of results.

Figure 1 - "GNO Series" RAB Drill Holes - Gander North Project (Western Side)

Figure 2 - "GNE Series" RAB Drill Holes - Gander North Project (Eastern Side)

Table 1 - Gander North Project 2023 RAB Drill Results

Drillhole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m)* Au (ppb)** Cu (ppm) Comment GNORAB23-001 0.00 13.72 13.72 - Anomalous Au, Ag, As, Sb, Te GNORAB23-001 22.86 42.67 19.81 91.62 Including 32.00 36.58 4.58 188.33 GNORAB23-002 0.00 9.14 9.14 150.5 Anomalous Ag, As, Sb Including 3.05 7.62 4.57 271.00 Anomalous Ag, As, Sb GNORAB23-003 10.69 15.24 4.55 15.67 640.33 Anomalous Ag, Te GNORAB23-004 6.10 18.29 12.19 17.06 259.49 Anomalous Ag, Te GNORAB23-005 6.10 9.14 3.04 26.00 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Cu, Mo, Pb, Te GNORAB23-005 41.15 57.91 16.76 - Anomalous Ag, As, Bi, Mo, Pb, Te GNORAB23-006 56.39 65.53 9.14 - Anomalous Ag, Bi, Mo, Pb, Te GNORAB23-007 9.14 39.62 30.48 16.28 511.95 Anomalous Ag, Te GNORAB23-007 56.39 65.53 9.14 - 465.33 Anomalous Ag, Te GNORAB23-008 24.38 39.62 15.24 - 484.10 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Mo, Pb, Te GNORAB23-009 4.57 12.19 7.62 98.20 576.62 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Mo, Te Including 10.67 12.19 1.52 452.00 838.00 GNORAB23-009 51.82 64.00 12.18 - - Anomalous Hg, W GNORAB23-010 25.91 39.62 13.71 187.61 609.82 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Te Including 25.91 30.48 4.57 512.33 700.67 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Te GNORAB23-011 No significant results GNERAB23-001 0.00 16.76 16.76 Anomalous Au (up to 14ppb), Ag, As, Bi, Mo, Sb, Te GNERAB23-001 53.34 56.38 3.04 Anomalous Au (8ppb), Ag, Bi, Te GNERAB23-002 36.58 38.10 1.52 Anomalous Au (12ppb), Te GNERAB23-003 24.38 36.58 12.20 Anomalous Ag, As, Bi, Au below detection limit GNERAB23-004 0.00 3.05 3.05 Anomalous As, Sb, Au below detection limit GNERAB23-005 0.00 7.62 7.62 Anomalous As, Sb Au below detection limit GNERAB23-006 0.00 4.57 4.57 Anomalous As, Bi, Sb, Te, Au (up to 5ppb) GNERAB23-007 18.29 22.86 4.57 Anomalous Au (up to 6ppb) GNERAB23-008 0.00 3.05 3.05 Anomalous As, Sb, Au below detection limit GNERAB23-009 0.00 1.52 1.52 Anomalous Ag, As, Bi, Cu (1794ppm) Sb, Te, Au (5ppb) GNERAB23-010 0.00 3.05 3.05 Anomalous Ag, Bi, Cu, Hg, Pb (>1000ppm), Sb, W GNERAB23-011 No significant results GNERAB23-012 No significant results GNERAB23-013 0.00 1.52 1.52 Anomalous Au (7ppb), As, Sb, Te GNERAB23-013 6.10 9.14 3.04 Anomalous Au (up to 6ppb), Ag, Bi, Te GNERAB23-013 39.62 51.82 12.20 Anomalous Au (up to 6ppb), Ag, As, Bi, Te GNERAB23-014 0.00 1.52 1.52 Anomalous As, Sb, Au below detection limit GNERAB23-014 15.24 16.76 1.52 Anomalous Au (9ppb) GNERAB23-014 35.02 53.34 18.32 Anomalous Au (up to 10ppb), Ag, As, Bi, Te GNERAB23-015 No significant results GNERAB23-016 3.05 7.62 4.57 Anomalous Ag, As, Bi, Pb, Te, Au below detection limit GNERAB23-016 39.62 48.77 9.15 Anomalous Au (up to 15ppb), Ag, As, Bi, Pb, Sb, Te GNERAB23-017 7.62 9.14 1.52 Anomalous Ag, As, Bi, Mo, Pb, Sb, Te, Au below detection limit

*Drill hole intercepts are drill hole lengths - true widths unknown at this time

- refers to below detection limits for Au

**Note 1000ppb equals 1 gram per tonne

Table - 2: Gander North Project RAB Drill Hole Locations

Drillhole ID Easting* Northing Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) GNORAB23-001 681770.4 5440527.8 300 -55 64.0 GNORAB23-002 681720.1 5440553.0 300 -55 59.4 GNORAB23-003 681832.3 5440756.9 120 -55 65.5 GNORAB23-004 681780.7 5440787.9 120 -55 65.5 GNORAB23-005 681116.4 5440252.0 300 -55 65.5 GNORAB23-006 681059.6 5440282.6 300 -55 65.5 GNORAB23-007 681798.4 5441703.6 300 -55 64.0 GNORAB23-008 682369.2 5437738.6 120 -60 65.5 GNORAB23-009 682323.5 5437946.1 120 -60 64.0 GNORAB23-010 682328.9 5437982.0 120 -60 65.5 GNORAB23-011 680252.0 5439256.0 300 -55 18.3 GNERAB23-001 686601.82 5424913.85 100 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-002 686568.37 5424568.48 100 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-003 689382.26 5427810.49 100 -60 50.3 GNERAB23-004 689647.86 5428278.5 100 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-005 689801.18 5428361.52 100 -60 61.0 GNERAB23-006 689283.54 5427963.22 100 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-007 689336.17 5427886.87 100 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-008 689231.32 5428065.73 100 -60 48.8 GNERAB23-009 690595.29 5436911.59 90 -60 35.1 GNERAB23-010 690545.44 5436775.51 90 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-011 690792.97 5432556.91 310 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-012 691136.52 5430746.42 90 -60 19.8 GNERAB23-013 691136.52 5430746.42 270 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-014 691747.00 5430904.59 270 -60 65.5 GNERAB23-015 691412.42 5429872.63 270 -60 38.1 GNERAB23-016 690198.15 5434405.66 310 -55 64.0 GNERAB23-017 689672.26 5433799.87 130 -60 65.5

*Easting and Northing in NAD83 (Zone 21N)

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Gander Gold Corporation contracted the services of GroundTruth Exploration to conduct and manage the 2023 RAB drill program in Newfoundland. RAB drilling produces rock chip samples. A representative sample for each 5-foot (1.52m) interval of drilling was collected for analyses. Once sorted and logged, all samples were shipped to SGS Canada's prep facility in Grand Falls, NL, and final analyses were performed at SGS in Burnaby, B.C. At SGS in Grand Falls, NL, individual samples were dried, crushed and pulverized (PRP89). Analyses at SGS Burnaby consisted of a 30g Au Fire Assay (GE_FAA30V5), and a 25g sample was analysed for 49 elements by 2 Acid Leach with an ICP-MS finish (GE_ARM3V25). SGS Canada is a certified laboratory independent of Gander Gold Corporation. As part of the sampling protocol a QAQC program was adhered to and included the insertion of industry approved standards, blanks, and the insertion of field duplicates. Alternating standards, blanks and field duplicates were part of the sampling stream and amounted to six QA/QC samples per 100 samples collected.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Fraser, P.Geo., Vice- President of Exploration for Gander Gold Corp. Mr. Fraser is the Qualified Person responsible for the scientific and technical information contained herein under National Instrument 43-101 standards.

Acknowledgment

Gander Gold acknowledges the financial support of the Junior Exploration Assistance Program, Department of Natural Resources, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

About Gander Gold Corporation

Gander Gold is "All Newfoundland, All the Time". The Company is one of the island's largest claimholders targeting new high-grade gold discoveries with a current focus on the large Gander North, Mount Peyton and BLT (Botwood-Laurenceton-Thwart Island) projects where there has been very promising early exploration success. Other opportunities advancing through the pipeline are Cape Ray II, Carmanville, Gander South, Little River and Hermitage.

Contact Info:

Mark Scott

Chief Executive Officer & Director

info@gandergold.com

Terry Bramhall

Gander Gold - Corporate Communications

1.604.833.6999 (mobile)

1.604.675.9985 (office)

terry.bramhall@gandergold.com

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Investors are cautioned that, except for statements of historical fact, certain information contained in this document includes "forward looking information," with respect to a performance expectation for Gander Gold Corp. Such forward looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections formulated using assumptions believed to be reasonable and involving a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such factors include, without limitation, fluctuations in foreign exchange markets, the price of commodities in both the cash market and futures market, changes in legislation, taxation, controls and regulation of national and local governments and political and economic developments in Canada and other countries where Gander carries out or may carry out business in the future, the availability of future business opportunities and the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions or operational difficulties related to technical activities of mining and reclamation, the speculative nature of exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks obtaining necessary licenses and permits, reducing the quantity or grade of reserves, adverse changes in credit ratings, and the challenge of title. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update publicly or revise forward looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Some of the results reported are historical and may not have been verified by the Company.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news 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 news release.

SOURCE: Gander Gold Corp.

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MUNICH, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Intellias, a global software engineering and consulting company, introduces a new partnership with ZENRIN, a leading Japan map data provider, to develop cutting-edge digital maps enriched with Japan map data tailored for modern car navigation systems.

The two companies are active members of the Navigation Data Standard (NDS) association, contributing to efficient and accurate mapping technology. Intellias applies its expertise in mapping and navigation to commercial projects with global clients and contributes to data standards for the automotive industry. ZENRIN brings over 70 years of experience in mapping services, building a strong reputation as a provider of maps that cover the entire territory of Japan. Both companies are ready to leverage their proven expertise, approaches, and tools to stay at the forefront of efficient and sustainable innovation in the automotive field.

We are delighted to collaborate with Intellias as a new possibility to expand our businesses. Having a strong relationship with a global software engineering market leader like Intellias helps us contribute to the growth of global business related to the automotive segment.

Takao Furuya, VP, Head of Mobility & Smart City at ZENRIN

ZENRIN approached Intellias as a global player with an established footprint across worldwide locations and an expert in mapping and location markets to bring their Japanese maps to the specific data formats for global delivery. Intellias assistance in the transformation and optimization of specific map data will empower ZENRIN to expand their business to wider markets and introduce modern approaches and tools in mapping development. In addition, both companies plan to find common touchpoints for further development of their cooperation, applying innovative technologies to enable mutual business growth.

We recognize the cooperation with ZENRIN as the next step in our globalization strategy that signifies our commitment to deliver excellence in mapping technology to wider regions. We anticipate diving deeper into Japanese mapping market, learning from the best in the field. Together, we are going to deliver exceptional experiences to drivers around the world, equipping them with data-rich maps to navigate their journeys.

Oleksandr Odukha, Senior VP Delivery, Head of Mobility at Intellias

In the course of Intellias strategic globalization initiative, the company strives to grow its presence in the APAC region by building strategic alliances in this market. The cooperation with ZENRIN becomes an excellent opportunity to expand Intellias local footprint in Asia, leveraging its proven engineering DNA and expertise accumulated during 20 years of experience delivering accurate navigation systems to global OEMs and automotive solution providers. Intellias recognizes ZENRIN, a leader in Japan map data and services, as a perfect partner to achieve visible progress in both directions, expansion to the APAC region, and proving the company's position as an expert in mapping solutions development.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 4, 2024) - Thesis Gold Inc. (TSXV: TAU) (WKN: A3EP87) (OTCQX: THSGF) ("Thesis" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has mobilized for the 2024 exploration season at its 100% owned Lawyers-Ranch Project in the prolific Toodoggone Mining District of northern British Columbia. Thesis Gold is planning an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) scheduled for release in Q3-2024. Consequently, this summer's field program will focus on geological, engineering, and environmental baseline studies, aimed at further de-risking the project, unlocking its broader potential, and preparing it to commence a Pre-Feasibility study in 2025.

2024 Program Highlights

Geological work : 10,000+ metres (m) of drilling will be split between resource upgrading and a limited number of drill holes focused on resource expansion at both project areas, with a focus on testing undrilled prospects at Ranch. Field crews will undertake preliminary mapping and prospecting at new claims north and east of the contiguous Lawyers-Ranch project. These areas cover prospective units, contain mineral showings, and significant gossanous outcrops.

: Engineering work: Geochemical sampling is ongoing at Lawyers and will begin at Ranch this year to determine the acid-base qualities of the mineralized material. Geotechnical drilling at Ranch will focus on rock quality characteristics to establish a framework for potential mine design. Additional metallurgical studies at Ranch will help further classify rock comminution characteristics and optimize the processing flow chart.

Environmental studies: The required two years of baseline data collection at Lawyers is complete , with ongoing studies focused on monitoring and upkeep. Ranch has entered the second year of its two-year study period . Biologists and hydrogeologists will be on-site this summer to continue characterizing the projects aquatic, terrestrial, geochemical, and meteorological components.



Dr. Ewan Webster, President and CEO, commented, "We are excited to kick off the 2024 exploration season at our Lawyers-Ranch Project. Our comprehensive geological, engineering, and environmental baseline studies are designed to further de-risk the project and unlock its full potential. With over 10,000 metres of drilling planned, we aim to upgrade and expand our resources, while also exploring new prospects. Our ongoing engineering and environmental work will lay a solid foundation for further engineering studies and the environmental assessment process. These efforts underscore our commitment to advancing the Lawyers-Ranch Project towards becoming a leading precious metals venture."

Following the release of a Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.0 Moz and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 727 koz, at respective grades of 1.51 and 1.82 g/t AuEq (gold equivalent; see release from May 1st, 2024), Thesis is intensifying its efforts to upgrade critical ounces from inferred to the Measured & Indicated (M&I) categories at Lawyers-Ranch. The Ranch project also offers significant exploration potential, with over 20 undrilled gold showings and numerous areas identified with promising geological, geochemical, and geophysical anomalies. This year, the Company plans to test these targets to continue the search for new discoveries.

To date, Thesis has made considerable progress in de-risking the Lawyers-Ranch project. In 2023, the Company completed roadworks on the Ring Road, ensuring safe, year-round access to both project areas with gentle grades and no avalanche risk. Road maintenance will continue throughout the 2024 field season. Engineering studies at Lawyers have advanced to a level sufficient for initiating a prefeasibility study. This summer, our primary focus will be to achieve a similar level of data and understanding at Ranch, supporting a combined prefeasibility study across the entire project area.

Environmental baseline studies are essential for understanding the environmental conditions specific to an area before project construction begins. These studies require at least two years of data collection and document existing conditions related to air, water, soil, and biotic resources. At Lawyers, the required two years of data collection is complete, so ongoing studies are focused on maintaining current and relevant data in preparation for entering the environmental assessment phase. Ranch is entering its second year of baseline studies, with crews assessing aquatic conditions, monitoring fish and terrestrial wildlife, and studying geochemistry and meteorological conditions.

Ian Harris has stepped down from his role as Chief Operating Officer and Vice-President of Engineering. He remains dedicated to the Company and the project, continuing to oversee the completion of the ongoing Preliminary Economic Assessment and related ongoing engineering studies as a consultant.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Thesis Gold Inc.

"Ewan Webster"

Ewan Webster Ph.D., P.Geo.

President, CEO, and Director

About Thesis Gold Inc.

Thesis Gold is unlocking the combined potential of the Lawyers-Ranch Gold-Silver Project in the Toodoggone mining district of north central British Columbia, Canada. A 2022 Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Lawyers project alone projected an open-pit mining operation yielding an average of 163,000 gold equivalent ounces annually over a 12-year span1. By integrating the Ranch Project, the Company aims to enhance the economics and bolster the overall project's potential. Central to this ambition was the expansive 2023 drill program, which continues to define a high-grade out-of-pit Mineral Resource at Lawyers and augment the near-surface high-grade deposits at Ranch. The project now boasts a combined Measured & Indicated Mineral Resource of 4.0 Moz and an Inferred Mineral Resource of 727 koz, at respective grades of 1.51 and 1.82 g/t AuEq2. The Company roadmap includes, new metallurgical work (now delivered), a robust 2024 exploration and drill program and a combined updated Preliminary Economic Assessment slated for Q3 2024. Through these strategic moves, Thesis Gold intends to elevate the Ranch-Lawyers Project to the forefront of global precious metals ventures.

1Please refer to the Company's Preliminary Economic Assessment entitled, "Preliminary Economic Assessment, Lawyers Gold-Silver Project" with an effective date of September 9, 2022 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

2Details of the mineral resource estimate will be provided in a technical report with an expected effective date of May 1, 2024, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101-Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The scientific and technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc, P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101.

For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Dave Burwell

Vice President Corporate Development

Email: daveb@thesisgold.com

Tel: 403-410-7907

Toll Free: 1-888-221-0915

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-Looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future plans or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-Looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management's discussion and analysis, which is available on the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215452

SOURCE: Thesis Gold Inc.
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Netevia, a leading fintech company specializing in innovative payment solutions, is pleased to announce that it has raised up to $120 million in committed and uncommitted capital from WhiteHorse Capital, a premier private investment firm; the new funding consists of various debt facilities designated to complete key acquisitions, rollout new products and execute on strategic initiatives.

"We are thrilled to partner with Whitehorse Capital, the funding marks a pivotal moment for Netevia as we embark on the next phase of our growth journey. This financial partnership will allow us to carry on Netevia's mission of becoming the next unicorn in financial technology with a very unique and diverse channel sales strategy" said Vlad Sadovskiy CEO of Netevia.

"We are excited to partner with Netevia and look forward to supporting them in the continued growth and success of the business." said Craig Palmer from WhiteHorse Capital.

About Netevia

Netevia is a pioneering fintech company that offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions designed to meet the needs of businesses across various industries. By integrating advanced technology and customer-centric approaches, Netevia provides seamless, secure, and efficient payment processing services. With a focus on innovation and growth, Netevia is committed to empowering businesses to thrive in the digital economy.

About WhiteHorse Capital

WhiteHorse Capital provides debt financing to middle market companies across a wide range of industries, including Telecom, Media and Technology, Healthcare, Business Services and Financial Services. WhiteHorse has a broad investment mandate and provides senior and subordinated debt for refinancings, growth capital, acquisitions, buyouts, and balance sheet recapitalizations. WhiteHorse Capital professionals, across the U.S. and Europe, have extensive experience and a proven track record of providing creative financing structures and employing a long-term relationship-oriented portfolio management philosophy. For more information, please visit our website at https://whitehorse.com

Media Contact:

Netevia Communications Team

Email: media@netevia.com

Phone: (123) 456-7890

Website: http://www.netevia.com

Whitehorse Capital

Email: investorrelations@whitehorse.com

Website: https://whitehorse.com

**Disclaimer:** This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Netevia's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.

For additional information, please visit [Netevia's newsroom] http://www.netevia.com/newsroom or follow us on [Twitter] http://www.twitter.com/netevia and [LinkedIn] http://www.linkedin.com/company/netevia

Media Contact

Organization: Netevia

Contact Person: Michelle Beyo

Website: https://netevia.com

Email: media@netevia.com

Contact Number: +11234567890

City: North Miami Beach

State: Florida

Country: United States

SOURCE: Netevia

View the original press release on accesswire.com
CHICAGO, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The people counting system market is projected to grow from USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 2.1 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. Increasing adoption of people counting systems in smart cities for traffic management and infrastructure planning, is driving the market for people counting systems. Smart cities increasingly use people counting systems to track pedestrian flow and traffic patterns. Hence, this data aids in improvement of traffic management, public transportation routes are optimized, and planning for future infrastructure projects are established.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "People Counting System Market"

190 - Tables

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People Counting System Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 1.2 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 2.1 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% Market Size Available for 2020-2029 Forecast Period 2024-2029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, Technology, Offering, End-use Application & Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge High installation and maintenance cost Key Market Opportunities Growing installation in workspaces is creating significant opportunities for people counting system in the market Key Market Drivers Growing demand for real-time data transmission in mission-critical applications



The transportation segment in the end-use application is expected to witness significant growth rate during the forecast period.

Transport hubs such as bus terminals, airports, and train stations require efficient management of passenger flow. People counting systems help monitor and analyze passenger movement, leading to better scheduling and reduced congestion. These systems help provide accurate counting systems and assist in monitoring crowd levels in real-time, which is critical for maintaining safety and security in transportation facilities. This helps in preventing overcrowding and ensuring swift evacuation during emergency.

Infrared beam technology segment is expected to hold the second largest market share in the people counting system market during the forecast period.

Infrared beam systems are a relatively low-cost solution compared to other technologies like video analytics or thermal imaging. This makes them a cost effective solution for budget-conscious businesses. Moreover, these technologies are simple to install and require minimal maintenance and function well in various lighting conditions and are not affected by rain or dust, unlike some other technologies making them ideal for a variety of applications.

Market for Bidirectional segment is expected to witness larger market size during the forecast period.

The use of bidirectional systems is crucial for optimizing staffing levels and monitoring queues in order to improve the customer experience. They enable businesses to track people's flow through different areas in order to analyze space utilization. Specifically, the retail sector, in particular, benefits from bidirectional people counting as it helps in evaluating store performance, analyzing conversion rates, planning marketing campaigns and for effective space management and security purposes.

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North America is expected to hold the largest market share in People counting system industry during the forecast period.

The North American countries are increasingly adopting new technologies, such as IoT and AI in retail stores and transportation which is responsible for the growth of the market in the region. The region has technologically advanced retail stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, stadiums, banks, and other sectors. For instance, Walmart Inc., CSV Health, Lowe's, Home Depot International, Inc., and The Kroger Co. have a strong presence in North America. Giant retailers, such as Walmart, have approximately 8,200 retail stores in North America.

Key Players

Leading players in the people counting system companies include Axis Communications AB. (Sweden), Axiomatic Technologies Ltd (UK), DILAX Intelcom GmbH (Germany), Eurotech S.p.A. (Italy), FootfallCam (UK), Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HELLA AGLAIA MOBILE VISION GMBH (Germany), IEE Smart Sensing Solutions (Luxembourg), iris-GmbH infrared & intelligent sensors (Germany), Irisys (InfraRed Integrated Systems Ltd) (UK), RETAILNEXT, INC. (US), SensMax (Latvia), Sensormatic Solutions (US), VIVOTEK Inc. (Taiwan), and V-Count (UK). Clever Devices Ltd. (New York), CountWise (US), DELOPT (India), Density (US), Infodev EDI inc. (Canada), Inkryptis AI (India), SenSource (US), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated. (US), Traf-Sys (US), and Xovis AG (Switzerland) are few other key companies operating in the people counting system market.

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Browse Adjacent Market: Semiconductor and Electronics Market Research Reports &Consulting

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Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



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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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WESTFORD, Mass., July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- According to SkyQuest, the global Managed Security Services Market size was valued at USD 26.89 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 31.18 billion in 2023 to USD 101.86 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.95% during the forecast period (2024-2031).

The global managed security services market has been growing rapidly, over the last couple of years, due to the increasing security threats or risks and increasing challenges in managing security over IT networks. It's impossible to ignore the fact that small businesses face relentless cyberattacks, including malware, ransomware, advanced threats, advanced persistent threats, and data breaches, leading to remote and hybrid operations systems.

Download a detailed overview:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/managed-security-services-market

Managed Security Services Market Overview:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 USD 31.18 billion Estimated Value by 2031 USD 101.86 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 15.95% Forecast Period 2024-2031 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Service Type, Type, Organization Size, Security, Type and Industry Vertical Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the world Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Surge in Demand for Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Service Key Market Drivers Cyber Threats are Growing Complex

Segments covered in Managed Security Services Market are as follows:

Service Type Managed IAM, managed vulnerability management, managed risk and compliance, managed detection and response, managed firewall, and managed SIEM and log management, others

Type Fully managed, co-managed

Organization Size Small and medium-sized enterprises, Large enterprises

Security Type Network security, cloud security, endpoint security, application security, others

Industry Vertical BFSI, government, healthcare & life sciences, telecommunications, IT and ITeS, Retail and eCommerce, energy and utilities, manufacturing, and other verticals\



Request Free Customization of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/managed-security-services-market

Rapid Responders: Incident Response Services

Managed detection and response are the large segment in the managed security services market. Managed detection-response services provide continuous improvement, threat detection, and response capabilities critical to today's enterprises facing sophisticated cyber threats. This segment is characterized by the increasing prevalence and importance of cyberattacks advanced threat detection and response strategies beyond traditional security measures. The ability of the MDR service to provide comprehensive analysis of security incidents and take corrective action quickly is essential to minimize potential damage and ensure business continuity.

Managed identity and access management is the fastest growing segment in the market. The rising growth in this sector is driven by the need for robust stakeholder solutions in an era of digital transformation and remote collaboration. The rise of cyber threats and increasing regulatory requirements for data security and privacy and the main drivers of this segment.

Data Guardians: Data Protection Services

The global market recognizes the dominant position of the entire service management segment. This dominance is largely due to the scope of this role, in which companies assume full responsibility for an organization's security programs from security providers, especially those without in-house security expertise or resources. These roles cover a wide range of security measures, including threat identification, incident response, compliance management and continuous monitoring. Adoption rates are also driven by the increasing complexity of cyber threats, which require a strong, 24/7 monitored security measure that only specialized providers can provide further strengthening its position as the largest market share.

In addition to the dominance of fully managed services, the advanced management segment is growing the fastest in the global market. This increase is driven by hybrid security models that offer a collaborative approach between internal IT teams and external security providers.

View report summary and Table of Contents (TOC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/managed-security-services-market

Safeguarding Tomorrow's Digital Frontiers

As businesses and organizations take on the cyber panorama in terms of severe, MSS vendors remain vigilant guards, the use of advanced era and professional insights. Managed Security Services (MSS) have emerged as the cornerstone of present-day cybersecurity strategies, presenting strong protection in opposition to threats in a more and more digital international.

Related Report:

Cyber Security Market

Network Security Market

Endpoint Security Market

Cloud Security Market

Application Security Market

About Us:

SkyQuest is an IP focused Research and Investment Bank and Accelerator of Technology and assets. We provide access to technologies, markets and finance across sectors viz. Life Sciences, CleanTech, AgriTech, NanoTech and Information & Communication Technology.

We work closely with innovators, inventors, innovation seekers, entrepreneurs, companies and investors alike in leveraging external sources of R&D. Moreover, we help them in optimizing the economic potential of their intellectual assets. Our experiences with innovation management and commercialization has expanded our reach across North America, Europe, ASEAN and Asia Pacific.

Contact:

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Skyquest Technology

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HAIKOU, China, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Hainan International Media Center (HIMC):

From July 1-3, a delegation from Hainan Province, China, held Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) promotion and exchange activities in Germany, promoting exchange and cooperation between Hainan and Germany in the fields of energy conservation & carbon reduction, medicine & wellness, and advanced manufacturing.

During their time in Germany, the Hainan delegation held discussions and research meetings with ZEISS Medical Technology, Siemens Energy, the German Energy Agency, EUREF-Campus Dusseldorf, the Volkswagen Group, Italy's Zambon Group, and Germany's Hansler Medical Group, as well as other groups in order to promote cooperation in related fields.

According to the strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding signed by Hainan's provincial government and Siemens Energy, the two parties plan to cooperate in R&D, manufacturing, and applications in the field of hydrogen energy.

On July 3, Hainan Province and the Bank of China jointly held the 'Invest in China' Hainan Free Trade Port Europe Conference in Frankfurt, Germany. At the event, the Hainan delegation gave an introduction to the province's free trade port policies as well as development and investment opportunities in high-tech industries available to all, welcoming European companies to invest, start businesses, and vacation in Hainan.

During the signing ceremony, a number of Hainan companies signed cooperation agreements or letters of intent with German counterparts, and the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany.

Attracting more than 500 people from all walks of life, the event was well received, with representatives from companies, business associations, and government departments located across 12 European countries in attendance. Companies in many key areas including high-tech manufacturing, software engineering, finance, vehicle engineering, bio-medicine, corporate consulting, international logistics, and international trade also took part.

As a new frontier of China's reform and opening up, the Hainan FTP will continue to explore further cooperation with European partners and promote deeper and broader ties with the continent.

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LONDON, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- BE OPEN Art, an online gallery set up by Elena Baturina's humanitarian think-tank BE OPEN, continues to run BE OPEN Regional Art, the regional competition for emerging artists aimed to support those whose art best represents their regional, cultural and ethnic identities.

Throughout 2024, BE OPEN expert community will continue selecting those artists who best represent the artistic tradition of a certain region to feature in the BE OPEN Art gallery and offer them greater visibility.

The third stage of the second year of the programme run will cover the countries of Central America: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

The stage will traditionally last three months, and the regional winner for Central America will be announced and awarded 500 euro at the end of September 2024. In the meantime, artworks by 20 emerging artists from the listed countries will be posted at the online gallery every month, and a public vote will select the Regional Artist of the Month. At the end of the stage, one of the monthly winners will become the Artist of the Region, based on the amount of votes by the public and the BE OPEN art community members.

Later in 2024, BE OPEN Regional Art will travel to Southern Africa.

The regional competition runs alongside the regular ongoing work of BE OPEN Art, whose experts every month select 20 new artists for the gallery, using online voting to name the Artist of the Month and the Artist of the Year.

Aiming to support emerging talent, BE OPEN Art selects artists at an early stage of their career who emphasize social consciousness and aesthetical solutions to the wrongs of the contemporary world. The project sees its mission in looking for new influencers in the art scene, and invites everyone to contribute.

BE OPEN is a global initiative to foster creativity and innovation, a think-tank whose mission is to promote people and ideas today to build solutions for tomorrow. It is a cultural and social initiative supported by Austria-based international philanthropist and businessperson Elena Baturina.

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MONACO, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge gets to the heart at the Yacht Club de Monaco. More than 450 students from 40-plus universities around the world (25 nations) have been working on their 'boat of tomorrow' projects all year to earn their place and present them in the Principality. "Basically we have 3 different categories: Energy Class where we provide the same hull to all the teams and they have to develop their own cockpit for the driver, the storage of energy and the engine. We have many battery energy, fuel cell energy with hydrogen and also other sources of energy. Then we have the Solar Class, where we have many solar panels, more than 9 square meters of these. The third category is the Open Sea Class which is a certificated class of boats that are built from the industry and they're competing in several activities to demonstrate which is the fastest, the most manoeuvrable and the one with the best efficiency", explained Jeremy Laguarrigue, Jury president of the competition. Coming down to the numbers there are 18 teams in the Energy Class, 13 teams in the Solar Class and 15 in the Open Sea Class.



Participating for the first time is team Riviera Racing from Cambridge University. "We've been given the hull, which is standard across al the teams and we've gone for hydrogen power, electrical and then for two pods on the back of the boat as well", said Annabel Gray. "It's very daunting to see all the teams but they've all been incredibly helpful. There's such a great culture of helping each other when we got a few different problems. It's just been incredible so far". In the Open Sea Class the Riva El-Iseo catches the eye on the quay: "We're extremely glad to participate for the second year in a row to the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge. El-Iseo is a full-electric Riva, the first boat coming from Riva and the Ferretti Group with a full-electric propulsion that opens up a new segment in the yachting business: we called it e-luxury. It's the first boat fully certified by Rina, with a complete electric propulsion at zero emission. The boat is already available in the market and not only for those who have an ecological approach but also to have access to limited waters", said Enrico Sgarbi, director of communication Ferretti Group.

Supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, UBS, BMW and SBM Offshore, the event has attracted the attention and support of well-known names in the industry like Monaco Marine, Oceanco, Ferretti Group, Azimut/Benetti Group, Sanlorenzo and Lurssen, all keen to play a part in the yachting transformation. So for these young competitors there are opportunities to make contact with the industry by applying for job offers and internships via the Job Forum.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a010d16-0cfa-45e3-9ee5-0e5c1810cc25

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/473fa749-2bc8-40ac-af0a-e3b8334e95d5
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 04

For immediate release

04 July 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 143,341 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 842.97 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 47,872,370; 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 177,118,933.

The figure of 177,118,933 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
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 4, 2024) - Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. (TSXV: ELE) (OTCQX: ELEMF) ("Elemental Altus" or the "Company") announces continued progress at the Company's Diba royalty, further repayment of the Company's credit facility alongside its extension, portfolio payments relating to Ming and Egypt and the reduction in the number of the Company's outstanding common shares.

Diba Development and Exploration

The Company notes that alongside expected maiden production from Diba, Allied Gold Corp (TSX: AAUC) ("Allied") have announced that their 12,000 meter drilling program is targeting extending the Mineral Resources at Diba. This is significant as the exploration program is designed to prioritise near-mine oxides and comes on top of the previously announced initial Proven and Probable Reserves of 280,000 ounces of gold at 1.43 g/t within the larger 377,000 ounces of gold in Measured and Indicated Resources that was announced in February 2024.

Diba is expected to materially contribute to production at Sadiola from mid-2024 and Allied have fast-tracked it into production this year, while simultaneously undertaking aggressive exploration to expand the Resource. Elemental Altus owns a 3% NSR royalty on the first 226,000 ounces produced at Diba and an uncapped 2% NSR royalty on all subsequent production. The consideration also included multiple production-based milestones totalling up to US$6 million and for which the Company has received the first US$1 million with further payments anticipated this year.

Credit Facility Extension and Debt Repayment

In June 2024, the maturity date of the Company's up to US$50 Million Credit Facility with National Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (the "Facility") was extended from December 2025 to June 2027. The commercial terms of the Facility have been improved from the original agreement in December 2022.

Alongside the extension of the Facility, the Company made a further repayment of $5 million of the Facility, reducing the drawn balance to $20 million and increasing the unutilized amount of the Facility to $20 million, plus another US$10 million available under certain conditions.

The Company has repaid US$10 million in the first half of this year and expects to continue to actively pay down outstanding debt when not making new acquisitions, with over US$5 million cash remaining on hand.

Share Surrender

In order to satisfy tax obligations the Company has acquired, for no consideration, and cancelled an aggregate of 814,321 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Surrendered Shares") surrendered by certain former and current management personnel (the "Holders") relating to the prior exercise of performance stock units of the Company, effective as of July 4, 2024.

Following the cancellation of the Surrendered Shares and as of the date of this announcement, the Company has 195,176,071 issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares"). The Surrendered Shares represent 0.42% of the Company's issued Share capital immediately prior to the cancellation of the Surrendered Shares.

For complete details, please refer to the Material Change Report available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Portfolio Payments

Following a settlement of certain outstanding claims, Elemental Altus received in June an additional US$0.3 million in relation to the Company's Ming gold stream. Elemental Altus received an initial US$2.3 million in shares of Firefly Metals Ltd ("Firefly") (ASX: FFM) in February 2024 and will receive a further approximately US$9.8 million split equally between cash and equity in April 2025.

A further amount remains held back subject to final determinations, with any remaining balance to be paid to Elemental Altus in cash.

As well as future payments related to Diba, Ethiopia and Ming, Elemental Altus expects to shortly receive a further US$0.4 million from In2Metals Explorer S.a r.l. ("In2Metals") in respect of its sale of Akh Gold Ltd's Egyptian licences.

The Company sold 80.1% of Akh Gold in August 2024 for a US$10 million exploration commitment, a 1.5% NSR royalty on Egyptian licences and licence applications totalling 1,914km2 at the time, cash of US$1.1 million on closing and US$0.4 million on or before August 30, 2024. A milestone payment of US$5 million on definition of a 3 million ounce gold resource before February 2031 remains alongside rights to co-fund its 19.9% equity interest in Akh Gold following the completion of the US$10 million investment.

Frederick Bell

CEO and Director

Corporate & Media Inquiries:

Tel: +1 604 646 4527

Email: info@elementalaltus.com

Elemental Altus is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca

TSX.V: ELE | OTCQX: ELEMF | ISIN: CA28619K1093 | CUSIP: 28619K109

About Elemental Altus Royalties Corp.

Elemental Altus is an income generating precious metals royalty company with 10 producing royalties and a diversified portfolio of pre-production and discovery stage assets. The Company is focused on acquiring uncapped royalties and streams over producing, or near-producing, mines operated by established counterparties. The vision of Elemental Altus is to build a global gold royalty company, offering investors superior exposure to gold with reduced risk and a strong growth profile.

On behalf of Elemental Altus Royalties Corp.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V.) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

Qualified Person

Richard Evans, FAusIMM, is Senior Vice President Technical for Elemental Altus, and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this press release.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements

This news release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology.

Forward-looking statements and information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the date that the name change is expected to become effective, whether shareholders will be required by their broker to exchange their issued certificate for a new certificate or take any other action in connection to the name change, the Company's ability to deliver a materially increased revenue profile with a lower cost of capital, the future growth, development and focus of the Company, and the acquisition of new royalties and streams. Forward-looking statements and information are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions that, while believed by management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies.

Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of Elemental Altus to control or predict, that may cause Elemental Altus' actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including but not limited to: the expected maiden production from Diba, Diba's expectation to materially contribute to production at Sadiola, the Company's ability to actively pay down outstanding debt, the impact of general business and economic conditions, the absence of control over the mining operations from which Elemental Altus will receive royalties, risks related to international operations, government relations and environmental regulation, the inherent risks involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties; the uncertainties involved in interpreting exploration data; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with Elemental Altus' expectations; accidents, equipment breakdowns, title matters, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions in operations; fluctuating metal prices; unanticipated costs and expenses; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations; currency fluctuations; regulatory restrictions, including environmental regulatory restrictions; liability, competition, loss of key employees and other related risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of important factors which could cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, refer to the annual information form of Elemental Altus for the year ended December 31, 2023. Elemental Altus undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking statements and information represents management's best judgment based on information currently available. No forward-looking statement or information can be guaranteed, and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215513

SOURCE: Elemental Altus Royalties Corp.
By SA Commercial Prop News

The market capitalisation for the listed property sector in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, is about $827m says Keillen Ndlovu.



Investors should look at African property companies with a five year time horizon in mind according to Stanlib's head of listed property funds, Keillen Ndlovu.

Ndlovu launched an African property fund for investors which falls under the Stanlib banner and has exposure for retail investors to African properties.



Ndlovu's fund is gaining traction because realised various companies are buying or developing properties in Africa. Many of these are South African funds. His fund can gain exposure to these.

The interest in Africa comes not only from property companies, but also spreads to local banks, local construction companies, property management companies, architects and local retailers.



Clearly, companies have realised that South Africa is still, despite its strong performing listed property market, only one medium sized country in among a massive continent.

He says that the market capitalisation for the listed property sector in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, is about...

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSXV:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company")?is pleased to announce the appointment of Kamar Jones to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Jones is a seasoned executive with a unique blend of expertise in capital markets and mining consulting. With nearly three decades of experience, he has developed a robust understanding of the financial mechanisms that drive market success and the operational intricacies essential to mining consulting. Mr. Jones has been involved in multiple turnaround mining projects.

Ingrid Hibbard, Pelangio's President and CEO stated,?"we are delighted to welcome Mr. Jones to Pelangio's Board of Directors. Kamar's experience in capital markets and concentration on mining consulting is a strong addition to Pelangio as we look to further advance our Ghanaian projects."

Ms. Hibbard continues, "We also extend our gratitude for the contributions made by Mr. Albert Gourley, who is stepping down from the Board of Directors."

About Pelangio?

Pelangio acquires and explores prospective land packages located in world-class gold belts in Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is focused on its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km 2 Manfo property, the site of eight near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km 2 Obuasi property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. See www.pelangio.com for further details on all Pelangio's properties.

For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact:

Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO

Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com

Forward-Looking Statements?

Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, and the Company's ability to complete the planned exploration programs. Regarding forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made many assumptions, including about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, delays due to COVID-19 safety protocols, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement.?

?

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 4, 2024) - EnviroMetal Technologies Inc. (CSE: ETI) (OTCQB: EVLLF) (FSE: 7N20) ("EnviroMetal" or the "Company"). As a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission, EnviroMetal Technologies Inc. is issuing the following press release to clarify our disclosure.

Effective June 1, 2024 Mr. Jason Leikam, the Company's VP Business Development, was appointed the Company's CFO by EnviroMetal's board of directors. Mr. Leikam replaces EnviroMetal's former CFO, Nathalie Pillon who resigned for personal reasons effective January 1, 2023.

EnviroMetal's president, Mr. Wayne Moorhouse, stated, "after interviewing numerous candidates to fill the vacant CFO position I am pleased Jason was able to take on the role of CFO in addition to his business development responsibilities."

The Company also announces the resignations of Mr. Court Anderson and Mr. Alexander Ruckdaeschel from the board of directors. EnviroMetal would like to thank Messrs. Anderson and Ruckdaeschel for their service to the board as the Company transitioned from processing e-waste to providing metal recovery solutions to gold miners.

About EnviroMetal Technologies Inc.

EnviroMetal Technologies is commercializing highly effective precious metal recovery technologies. EnviroMetal's proprietary non-cyanide, water-based, neutral pH and closed-circuit treatment process has been proven to extract precious metals from ores and concentrates at lab and pilot scale and provide both operational and environmental advantages to gold mining companies. EnviroMetal is actively engaging with mining companies that are seeking to reduce the costs and environmental impact of their operations. For more information please visit: https://EnviroMetal.com.

Contact Information:

Jason Leikam

VP Corporate Development

EnviroMetal Technologies Inc.

info@EnviroMetal.com

(604) 428-2400

The CSE has not approved or disapproved of the information contained herein.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/215503

SOURCE: EnviroMetal Technologies Inc.
Singapore, Singapore, July 4th, 2024, Chainwire

The industry-leading brand of DOGE and Litecoin mining machines announced a new product line at the recent Mining Disrupt 2024 conference.

FoundationLogic, the fabless semiconductor design company behind high-performance ElphaPex Dogecoin (DOGE) + Litecoin (LTC) miners, took center stage at Mining Disrupt 2024 in Miami, Florida, held from 24-26 June.

At the event, FoundationLogic unveiled its new product line for silent home miners.

Like the pro ElphaPex DG 1/DG 1+ models, the new device, dubbed ElphaPex DG Home 1, is powered by the Proof-of-Work (PoW) Scrypt algorithm, offering dual DOGE and LTC rewards.

Designed for a new era of home mining, ElphaPex DG Home 1 promises silent, low-maintenance, yet performant DOGE + LTC mining ensured by water-cooling technology.

Set to be released in Q4, 2024, the new model boasts a hashrate of 2000M, power of 620W and power efficiency of 0.31JM. Upon launch, ElphaPex DG Home 1 will be available for immediate purchase through the ElphaPex official website.

ElphaPex DG Home 1 drew an immediate reaction from crypto mining insiders, with some of the industrys major influencers sharing photos on social media as soon as the model was showcased. Specifically, they described the new water-cooled miner as silent, powerful, and efficient.

This new silent home miner embodies our commitment at ElphaPex to be everyones miner partner, regardless of the scale of operations said Ben Weng, VP of Product at FoundationLogic. We were pleased by the enthusiastic response we saw at the conference, as many visitors wanted to get one on the spot. Luckily, it wont be long before everyone can start dual mining DOGE and Litecoin from the comfort of their homes.

ElphaPex products have achieved a remarkable milestone in the DOGE & Litecoin mining chip industry and were excited to launch this new product into mass production said Charles Song, Executive VP at Samsung Foundry. I believe this is just the beginning of a very bright future for ElphaPex.

In addition to launching its newest product, FoundationLogic made a strong impression at the event, drawing attention from industry insiders and influential figures.

As the main sponsor of Mining Disrupt 2024, the Scrypt mining hardware company hosted the official opening party and operated one of the events busiest booths, featuring engaging activities and giveaways.

Another standout at the conference was FoundationLogics keynote presentation.

During the keynote, the companys representatives emphasized their commitment to advancing Scrypt mining, highlighting its growing potential for miners. This is particularly significant in light of bitcoins recent halving, which has posed challenges across the industry due to reduced rewards. They also pointed out several key advantages of Scrypt hardware over SHA-256 hardware, including better cash flow, ROI, and equipment lifecycle.

Another highlight of the presentation was the success of the ElphaPex DG 1+, an ASIC miner launched earlier this year at Blockchain Life 2024 in Dubai. As FoundationLogics flagship model, it has set a new standard in the market and continues to dominate the Scrypt mining sector with a hashrate of 14000M, power of 3920W and efficiency of 0.28JM.

Considering recent price trends and the increasing availability of reliable Scrypt mining hardware provided by FoundationLogic, leveraging DOGEs meme advantage alongside LTCs solid track record may offer a strategy for mining operations this year.

About FoundationLogic

FoundationLogic is a Singapore-based fabless semiconductor design company dedicated to revolutionizing the cryptocurrency mining industry. With a focus on innovation and reliability, FoundationLogic utilizes state-of-the-art ASIC chips designed in-house and subjects its products to rigorous field testing. Through its flagship ElphaPex series, FoundationLogic empowers mining enthusiasts and professionals with cutting-edge, accessible machines, setting new standards for efficiency and performance in the field. For more information, users can visit elphapex.com

X: https://x.com/ElphaPex

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/100958166

Contact

VP of Product

Ben Weng

[email protected]


HR Path, a Paris, France-based company which specializes in HR consulting, raised 500M in funding from Ardian.

The company intends to use the funds to continue and accelerate the external growth strategy initiated in 2009, which has seen the integration of 38 companies in 12 countries

Co-founded by Francois Boulet and Cyril Courtin, HR Path is a human-resources company that supports clients in every aspect of the HR departments digital transformation by offering a comprehensive and customized approach to the full range of HR issues companies face. Through its three business lines  Advise, Implement & Run  HR Path provides consultancy services, HR systems implementation and payroll outsourcing, enabling companies of all sizes and sectors to optimize their HR functions.

The group now operates in 22 countries, employs over 1,800 people, and serves over 3,000 clients worldwide. It has a turnover of 215 million, with a CAGR of 25% since 2021.

HR Path plans to make new targeted acquisitions in strategic markets  such as the United States, Canada, Germany, the Nordic countries and Australia  to expand its value proposition and consolidate its position in the global market.

FinSMEs

04/07/2024
The legendary actor of Indian cinema, Nana Patekar recently spoke about the difficulties he faced while working with filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra while working in Parinda. Both personalities are known for their fiery temperaments.

In the last year, while promoting 12th Fail on the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, Aditya Narayan asked the filmmaker about his equation with Patekar, to which, Chopra replied, Id seen Nana in a play called Purush, and its very important to say this, but those days, I never used to curse. I was a very well-behaved young man from Kashmir. But it all changed because of Nana.

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He continued, When Id direct him in a scene, hed hurl abuses at me. I wondered how I would direct him at all. So, thats when I started abusing him back. I started swearing only because I had to direct Nana. Recalling a scene, the filmmaker added, Theres a scene in the film where Nana asks if he has tears in his eyes after his wife has died Wed been shooting all day, and it was late in the evening. Nana declared that he was too tired to continue and that he was going home. I told him, Sure, you pay for the overheads then. He started swearing at me, I swore back, and in the scuffle, I tore his kurta. The cops on set said, Were here to protect you, and youre fighting among yourselves.

If you watch the scene, hes wearing a vest in it because his kurta had just been torn. The tears that you see in his eyes are real because wed just fought. Later, we hugged it out and he told me, I was nervous about the scene. Thats how Parinda was made, recalled the director.

The first fight we had was over food, because he asked for lunch. I asked him, Ghar se nahi laaya khaana (Didnt you get food from home)?," added Chopra.
Experts are of the opinion that controversy has made both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stronger than ever. read more

When Harry and Meghan made a trip to Nigeria in the month of May, they were given a VIP treatment. There were a lot of controversies around her trip too. Her inappropriate dressing to a visit in a Muslim school has also been criticised. Meghan Markles rude interaction during royal tour of Nigeria has been branded as phoney.

in the past has also been criticised for being an attention seeker. Publicity crazy sure she is. Duke and Duchess of Sussex were on a tour of the African nation after receiving an invitation. But Meghan Markles rude interaction with the people didnt go down well. The invitation of Meghan and Harry came from the countrys Chief of Defence Staff. According to reports Prince Harry and Meghan Markles recent trip to Nigeria has caused outrage within the British royal family, with Prince William and King Charles reportedly furious.

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Royal expert Tom Quinn told The Mirror that the visit, which included traditional elements of a royal tour such as receptions, school visits, and meetings with wounded soldiers and the disabled, has left Prince William and King Charles absolutely furious.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were on a visit to Nigeria. Reuters

Despite stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the couples actions during the trip had caused a lot of tension among senior royals, as it closely resembled an official royal tour.

Prince Harry and Meghan are both hated and loved by many. But many claim that Duchess of Sussexs popularity is on the rise. 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.

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.

In the past too there was a lot of controversy around Harrys memoir Spare. There were a lot of dark secrets about the royal family which were disclosed by him in the book. Prince Harry called the book Spare because he was the spare and his elder brother Prince William was the heir. The spare is often used for the youngest son and the elder one is called the heir. The eldest one who is the heir takes over the duties of the father when the father passes away and the spare is literally like a spare part. He is there to take over the responsibilities if anything happens to the heir.

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And how can we ever forget Netflixs Harry & Meghan and how Markle was the master mind behind both Spare and the controversial series. This made them probably one of the most popular couples in the world. This hugely popular melodrama series on Netflix was highly criticised for washing dirty linen in public.

(With added inputs from agencies)
Chinas espionage efforts against the US have increasingly focused on Cuba, leveraging the islands strategic location and historical ties. A recent CSIS report reveals significant expansions in Cubas electronic spying facilities in the country. We explain how Cuba is able to spy on the US for Beijing, and what motivates it to do so read more

A new report suggests that China has developed espionage stations in Cuba for spying on US. Agencies

China is at odds with the West, especially the United States, due to Beijings efforts to expand its global power and influence. The Asian nation, harbouring deep distrust and animosity towards the US, has some very good reasons to spy on Americas military activities.

Recently, an investigation by US-based think tank, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has yielded a shocking report about China using assets in Cuba to spy on the US. This is the latest in a long line of news articles and documents around such efforts.

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We explain how spying on the US is possible from Cuba and why China has chosen Havana for such activities.

Growing Chinese spying via Cuba

The CSIS investigative report is based on years of satellite imagery analysis. It has found that Cuba has significantly upgraded and expanded its electronic spying facilities in recent years. Images of four key sites Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar have unveiled that there has been significant growth in the kinds of infrastructure and equipment used for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). Well explain what that is shortly.

For instance, in Bejucal, which is known to be a spying enclave that houses antennas, there is now a mysterious new radome that may contain a radar or Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) system.

The newest section of Bejucal is this structure marked by number 3. It resembles a typical radar or other receiving equipment optimised for SIGINT. The antenna is obscured by a radome covering designed to protect the equipment and hide its specifications. Image source: CSIS

Near the El Salao neighbourhood, CSIS uncovered a new SIGINT collection site under construction. The structure seems to be a circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) formation. This is a configuration that allows a group of antennas to catch high-frequency signals quite effectively.

Similar developments have been noted Wajay and Calabazar. Wajay even has a solar farm to bypass Cubas notoriously unreliable power grid.

But the CSIS report isnt the only one pointing to growing investment in enhancing Cuban spy systems. The hardware for solar power generation is often supplied by China.

In June 2023, the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials familiar with highly classified intelligence, reported that China and Cuba had reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. These officials disclosed that China had agreed to pay cash-strapped Cuba several billion dollars to allow it to build the eavesdropping station, with the two countries reaching an agreement in principle.

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Shortly after this report, the White House stated that China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, with Beijings efforts to expand its intelligence gathering being ongoing.

How Cuba spies on the US

The CSIS report and several unconfirmed reports before it have mentioned the presence of high-tech equipment, including large antennas, used for SIGINT. SIGINT is a core element of modern spycraft, involving the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information from intercepted electronic signals for intelligence purposes. This includes communications and non-communication signals, providing valuable information about adversaries, competitors, and allies.

Collecting SIGINT requires specialised equipment, such as antennas optimised for the signal characteristics of their targets. The size, number, orientation, and layout of these antennas determine their capabilities and function.

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Notably, there has been an increase in space-monitoring equipment at sites like Bejucal and Calabazar, which is significant given Cubas lack of its own satellites or space program.

A satellite image of Wajay SIGINT site shows a solar farm, several small vertical antennas, and two large horizontal antennas. Image source: CSIS

These space-tracking capabilities are likely intended to monitor the activities of other nations, particularly the United States.

According to an October 2018 staff report of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, China maintains a physical presence at Soviet-era intelligence facilities at Bejucal, likely for SIGINT collection.

What also helps Cuba spy on the US is its geographic proximity to Florida. Sitting less than 100 miles south of Florida, Cuba is well-positioned to monitor sensitive communications and activities in the region, including those of the US military. It is important to note that Florida houses US Naval stations, Air Force bases, and the US Southern Command.

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Cuba is located less than 100 miles from Florida. Image courtesy: CSIS

Geography impacts the effectiveness of SIGINT, as radio signals can become difficult to isolate over long distances. Radar transmissions generally require a direct line of sight to the target, and Cubas proximity to the southern United States and the Caribbean provides a significant intelligence advantage.

Cubas state-owned telecommunications monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), also plays a critical role in this espionage effort, according to a report by the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector. Through ETECSA, the Cuban government can access and collect all internet traffic, sensitive data, and communications transiting through certain cables in specific areas. It could potentially share this collected information with foreign adversaries like China and Russia.

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Cuba: the perfect choice for China

Cuba has a long history of hosting foreign espionage operations targeting the United States. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated its largest overseas intelligence site at the Lourdes SIGINT Complex in Cuba.

Amid Western sanctions, Cuba has sought to strengthen ties with China (and Russia). Reports suggest that Cuba and China have discussed additional security cooperation. Strong military ties between Cuba and the China are also evident through the presence of Chinese military personnel on the island.

Cubas economic situation also plays a role. The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union and is in desperate need of external assistance. China has emerged as a critical lifeline, providing billions in debt relief and direct assistance in recent years. This economic leverage may open doors for Chinas military and intelligence services in Cuba, even if China does not have direct access to facilities. Data collected by Cuban counterparts can be readily shared with Beijing, enhancing Chinas intelligence capabilities.
Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari or Bhole Baba, is a self-styled godman with a sizable following in Uttar Pradesh. He served as a UP head constable and claims to have worked with the Indian intelligence. However, he has a dubious crime record which includes an arrest for claiming to revive the dead and allegations of sexual assault read more

People stand near a poster of preacher Surajpal, also known as 'Bhole Baba' stuck on a board, at the site where believers had gathered for a Hindu religious congregation following which a stampede occurred, in Hathras district of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India, July 3, 2024. Reuters

Suraj Pal, often referred to as Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari or Bhole Baba, is a self-proclaimed godman who has a sizable fan base in Uttar Pradesh.

He often hosts satsangs (prayer meetings) for his devotees, who flock to the gatherings to hear him speak.

One such event, held in Hathras, descended into tragedy on Tuesday when a rush to collect dust from under the godmans feet caused a fatal stampede that killed at least 121 people, many of whom were women and children.

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Heres a look at his life and crimes.

From cop to a luxurious godman

Born in Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj in a Dalit family, Suraj Pal served as a head constable working with the Intelligence Unit for over 18 years. His supporters assert that he has made claims to have worked with the Intelligence Bureau, according to The Times Now.

He says he left the service voluntarily in 1999, but its unclear if that was a voluntary retirement or a result of termination.

He resigned to start his spiritual journey and disclosed to his followers that he was drawn to spirituality and world peace.

On Wednesday, authorities announced that they had obtained records that included information about some of his enormous fortune, which included a 13-acre five-star ashram in Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. Just the ashrams land is worth Rs 4 crore, as per NDTV.

Devotees at the religious gathering where a stampede broke out, in Hathras district. Officials blame overcrowding for the tragedy and are investigating the matter. PTI

According to the records, Mainpuri Ashram is located across 21 bighas and has several rooms with amenities comparable to those found in five-star hotels.

His followers meet on Tuesdays at his several properties to follow his religious teachings.

The self-styled preacher changed from wearing saffron robes to formal white attire.

In his sermons, Bhole Baba compared himself to God. I go to temples, gurudwara, mosques and churches. I reach wherever I am called from. And if I am not called, I dont go, he says in one of the videos of his sermons and claims is an incarnation of God.

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The preacher is said to be over 60 years old and does not have any children by the people in his hometown of Bahadurnagar.

They stated that he had adopted a girl who passed away some 16 or 17 years ago. They said that Baba had kept her body at home for two days in the hopes that she would revive. The neighbours said that the girl was cremated when the cops had to step in.

He received a lot of respect from the villagers for never soliciting money or chadhava (offerings) from anybody, according to Economic Times.

The villagers explained to the PTI that Baba constructed the Bhavya Dham with donations that he voluntarily collected from his followers.

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Black commandos, female army in protection

The godman has a strong mistrust of others and believes there is a plot to kill him, according to NDTV.

Because of this anxiety, Bhole Baba hasnt been to his house in the UP district of Etah, Bahadur Nagari village, in almost eight years.

In addition, he has a complex security setup that includes an army of women and black commandos.

There is a room in the ashram that belongs to the Baba, and only seven individuals are permitted to enter.

An injured arrives in an ambulance at the Sikandrarao hospital in Hathras district. AP

Women and sevadars, who have lived with him from the start, are among the seven, the report said.

After 8 pm, the godman never meets anyone by security policy.

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Each member of the security team on his cover has a code word, and they are all distinguished from one another by wearing specific clothes.

The Narayani Sena, the Garud Yodha, and the Hari Vahak are the three groups that guard him around the clock. The Garud Yodha, also referred to as the black commandos by the locals, wears black clothing, while the Hari Vahak members wear brown clothing with unique caps. Personnel in the Narayani Sena wear pink clothing.

The black commandoes are always deployed in groups of 20 and follow the Babas convoy. While the Hari Vahak members are divided into groups of 25, each Narayani Sena group has 50 members.

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Controversies and legal troubles

Renowned for his frequent satsangs, Suraj Pal has been facing legal issues for years, including accusations of sexual assault.

His popularity has remained consistent despite the numerous cases, unaffected by the cases in the cities of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Along with his wife Premvati and four other people, the former UP constable Suraj Pal was charged with using his purported magical powers to resurrect a teenage girl who had passed away in Agra in 2000, according to the Indian Express. Pal was residing in Kedar Nagar, in the Shahganj neighbourhood of Agra, at the time.

After that, a case was filed at the local police station against six people, including Pal, his wife, and four other people  two of whom were women  under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act and IPC Section 109, which punishes abetments when they commit crimes for which there is no express provision for punishment.

According to the Indian Express which quoted Tejveer Singh, the station house officer of Shahgan, the case began in March 2000 when a 16-year-old local girl passed away from natural causes.

Suraj Pal, along with over 200 people, reached the cremation ground where the body was taken by her family for the last rites. Suraj Pal and others stopped the family from performing the last rites and tried to convince them that he could resurrect her, said Tejveer Singh.

The case was filed on March 18, 2000. Singh asserted that the accused took the body against his will and moved it to a location on the cremation site. A few individuals who were with the girls family members voiced their disapproval, and one of them called the police.

When we reached the spot, Suraj Pal and his supporters argued with us. Suraj Pal claimed he could resurrect the girl. His supporters then started pelting stones at the police team. Additional police personnel were called in and the situation was brought under control. We arrested Suraj Pal and the others involved, claimed now-retired officer Singh.

According to Agras Deputy Commissioner of Police Suraj Kumar Rai, the police have also filed a chargesheet against the accused. Later, when fresh information surfaced, more research was done. A closure report was filed in the case on December 2, 2020, based on the evidence gathered during the further investigation, Rai added.

The Hathras stampede

According to a preliminary inquiry report, a stampede that killed 121 people in Hathras on Tuesday was a result of chaos and a slippery slope, which was started when the godmans bodyguard shoved his supporters.

Considered a blessing, the crowd flocked to gather the dust left behind by Pals car as it drove away.

The volunteers and other security personnel from Pals organisation started pushing people back in an attempt to manage the crowd. Several followers fell around an embankment and were trampled by the crowd. Some attendees started to run amid the chaos, which led to a stampede.

Outside the districts Sikandara Rao Trauma Centre, heartbreaking scenes unfolded as people victims bodies of the deceased lay scattered surrounded by anxious and mourning relatives. PTI

The UP police have lodged an FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people gathering for the event in which only 80,000 were permitted.

Mukhya sevadar Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers have been named in the FIR filed at the Sikandar Rau police station late Tuesday, as per PTI.

Notably, the godman is not named in the list of the accused in the FIR filed in the incident, though his name is in the complaint. Police personnel, pooled from several police stations, have been deployed outside the ashram at Bichhawan and no one, including the media, is allowed inside, according to the news agency.

However, his two upcoming congregations in Agra have now been cancelled by the authorities.

Suraj Pal, who has been absconding since the Hathras stampede incident, issued a statement on Wednesday evening, declaring that he will take legal action against anti-social elements that allegedly engineered the horrific chaos.

He also expressed deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, I spoke to some of the witnesses they said that during the satsang, when women wanted to touch the godmans feet, a sea of people pushed forward and his security pushed back. Then they tried to cover up the issue And, when people were being taken to hospitals, the security team ran away.

Notably, according to India Today, back in May 2022, a year after all COVID-19 pandemic rules were cleared, Pal had sought permission for a Hathras-type satsang in Farrukhabad, which was to be attended by a handful of people but about 50,000 people turned up.

With inputs from agencies
Canada appointed its first-ever Chief of Defence Staff, Lt Gen Jennie Carignan. From leading combat missions in Afghanistan and West Asia to tackling the sexual misconduct crisis plaguing the Canadian military, her 38-year-old career in the army has seen it all read more

Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan has been appointed as the first woman to hold the top job in the Canadian Armed Forces. AFP

Breaking barriers and making history, Lieutenant-General Jennie Carignan will become the first woman to hold the top position in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Announcing her appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff on Wednesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasised the significance of this decision, calling it an extraordinarily important choice in a time of complex geopolitics and heightened threats, particularly to the Arctic.

At a press conference in Montreal, Trudeau expressed confidence in Carignans leadership: I am confident that as Canadas new Chief of the Defence Staff, she will help Canada be stronger, more secure, and ready to tackle global security challenges.

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Carignans appointment aligns with Trudeaus ongoing efforts to place women in senior leadership roles, reflecting a broader push for gender equality in the highest ranks. Currently, women constitute only 16 percent of the Canadian military.

So, who is Lt Gen Jennie Carignan, and why is her appointment so significant? Lets take a closer look:



1. Born and raised in Asbestos, Quebec, as the daughter of a policeman and a teacher. Lt Gen Jennie Carignan joined the Army in 1986, three years before Canada allowed women in combat roles.



2. Trained as a combat engineersoldiers that clear bombs and erect and destroy battlefield structures-Carignan, who is a mother of four, rose through the ranks and became the first woman to lead a Canadian combat unit in 2008.



3. Over her 38-year military career, Carignan has commanded troops in various countries, including a notable tenure in Afghanistan, where she narrowly escaped a suicide bomber and an improvised explosive device that damaged her convoy, according to AFP.

Carignan has commanded troops in various countries, including a notable tenure in Afghanistan, where she narrowly escaped a suicide bomber and an improvised explosive device that damaged her convoy. Reuters



4. Carignan has also served in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Syria, led NATOs training mission in Iraq from 2019 to 2020, and commanded the 2nd Canadian Division  the militarys largest regiment with more than 10,000 troops.



Over the course of her career, her exceptional leadership qualities, commitment to excellence, and dedication to service have been a tremendous asset to our Armed Forces, Trudeau said in a statement.



5. In recognition of her leadership and valour, Carignan received the Meritorious Service Medal and the Governor Generals Order of Military Merit in 2011.

In recognition of her leadership and valour, Carignan received the Meritorious Service Medal and the Governor Generals Order of Military Merit in 2011. Reuters

6. Carignan will be promoted to the rank of general and take over from retiring General Wayne Eyre at a ceremony on July 18. For the last three years, she has been serving as the militarys chief of professional conduct and culture, a position created following the sexual misconduct crisis.



7. In 2022, an external report pointed out that the Canadian Armed Forces are hostile to women [and] conducive to more serious incidents of sexual harassment and assault. After hundreds of cases of sexual misconduct were reported, including some against top brass, Carignan was tasked with reforming this culture to be more respectful and inclusive.



8. Beyond cultural reforms, Carignan faces the challenge of increasing Canadas defense spending amid pressure from allies. The armed forces are also grappling with recruitment shortfalls and slow equipment upgrades. Last November, the head of the navy said the service was in a critical state and might not be able to carry out its basic duties in 2024.

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With input from agencies
With 57 constituencies, the electoral decisions of Scottish voters wont single-handedly decide the UK election. However, they can notably influence the extent of Labours victory or the Conservatives defeat. Recent polls indicate that Labour might secure over 30 seats, while the Scottish National Party (SNP) could see a significant decline, dropping to the low teens from their current 43 MPs read more

As the UK votes to elect its next government, Scotlands vote has taken on a crucial significance for both the Conservative and Labour parties.

Unlike previous elections dominated by a single party, this election in Scotland is shaping up to be a competitive two-party contest between Labour and the Scottish National Party (SNP). Labour has led the SNP in recent polls, but not by a significant margin, reflecting a dissatisfaction with both the Edinburgh and London governments.

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Public services, particularly NHS waiting times and educational outcomes, are major issues for voters.

The breakdown of the SNPs coalition with the Scottish Greens has introduced new dynamics. The Greens, now vocal opponents of the SNP, are standing in most constituencies for the first time. Additionally, Alex Salmonds Alba party is also vying for votes, though with less success. These smaller parties could impact close races by drawing away left-leaning voters.

What was Labours strategy in Scotland?

When Keir Starmer launched Labours Scottish election campaign in Glasgow, he made it clear that Scotland was central to the mission of the next Labour government. Theres no change without Scotland, no Labour without Scotland, he proclaimed to an enthusiastic crowd.

Starmer emphasised that the importance of Scotland went beyond numbers, saying, I want to be the prime minister for the whole of the United Kingdom, and that includes Scotland.

British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar gesture during a Labour general election campaign event, at Caledonia Gladiators Stadium in East Kilbride, Scotland, UK, July 3, 2024. Reuters

Labours focus on Scotland is driven by both necessity and ambition. After suffering a significant defeat in 2019, Labour is keen to win back as many seats as possible.

In the final hours before the election, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, alongside Keir Starmer, stated the choice facing voters. Five more years of chaos and division or the journey of change that gets opportunity back for so many Scots, Sarwar said.

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Starmer reinforced the importance of Scotland, saying, The route to a Labour government runs through Scotland.

Recent polls suggest Labour could secure over 30 seats in Scotland, a significant increase from their current standing. The Rutherglen by-election, which saw a 20 per cent swing from the SNP to Labour, highlights the potential for Labour gains. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is also aiming to end nearly two decades of SNP dominance in the 2026 Holyrood (Scottish Parliament) elections.

What is Sunak banking on?

Rishi Sunaks visit to Scotland, ending his UK tour in the port of Nigg, underscored the Conservatives industry-first strategy. Sunak criticised the SNP for being completely out of touch with the needs of ordinary Scottish people and blamed their focus on independence for failing public services.

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with workers during a visit to Global Energy, after he called for a general election, in Nigg, Scotland, UK, May 23, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross is campaigning on similar themes, targeting SNP-held seats in the north-east and the Scottish borders, areas concerned about the transition away from oil and gas.

Ross urged voters to back the Conservatives to end the SNPs focus on independence. Many of these contests are still on a knife-edge, he noted, highlighting the crucial role of Scottish votes in the overall election outcome.

What challenges is SNP facing?

The SNP faces a turbulent period with its third leader in 18 months and internal strife. Despite these challenges, Scottish First Minister John Swinney remains confident, telling voters, The issue for Scotland is who is going to protect Scotlands interests in the next Westminster parliament.

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However, recent polling indicates a decline for the SNP, with projections suggesting they could fall to the low teens in seat numbers from their current 43 MPs.

Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) John Swinney and his son Matthew walk outside a polling station during the general election in Burrelton, Scotland, UK, July 4, 2024. Reuters

Despite the challenges, Swinney remains optimistic about the SNPs prospects. The election is well and truly over and done with south of the border. The issue for Scotland is who is going to protect Scotlands interests in the next Westminster parliament, he asserted.

There are 4,081,585 registered voters in Scotland, with about a quarter being postal voters. However, delays in receiving postal ballots have raised concerns, especially as the election date falls during the school summer holidays. Swinney has criticised the timing, while the UK government has assured that they are addressing the issue.

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What are key issues for voters in Scotland?

The cost of living crisis is a top priority for Scottish voters, overshadowing the issue of independence. While support for independence remains significant, it has taken a backseat in this election cycle. Labour and the Conservatives are both capitalising on this shift, with Labour highlighting progressive, equality-driven policies.

Constitutional preferences, which have dominated past elections, are playing a smaller role this time. A plurality of voters, even those who support independence, prioritise removing the Conservatives from office over sending a message about constitutional issues. This shift presents a challenge for Starmer, who must balance pro-union stances with progressive policies.

Also Read | Keir Starmer vs Rishi Sunak: As UK begins to vote, a look at what final mega polls predict

The Scottish vote is pivotal in this UK election, with both major parties recognising its importance. Labour aims to regain its former stronghold, while the Conservatives seek to capitalise on SNP weaknesses.

With inputs from agencies
By SA Commercial Prop News

CEO Gavin Lucas is confident that Stor-Ages differentiators and strong market fundamentals bode well for take-up of the offers.



South Africas largest self-storage property fund, Stor-Age Property REIT Limited (Stor-Age), is set to list on the JSE in November as the first REIT of its kind on the exchange.

Founded in 2005 by the Lucas family, the decade-old group will list an initial R1.3 billion portfolio of self-storage properties and is forecasting above-average distribution growth in the medium term.

South Africa tends to have more generalist property REITs that invest in a mix of segments such as commercial industrial, hotel, office and retail. But one of the trends we have seen internationally is for more focused REITs that invest solely in just one segment of the property market.

The listing of Indluplace Properties in June, the first residential-focused fund on the JSEs R600 billion real estate sector, was heralded as a diversification play for the property market. The fund paved the way for more specialist property listings, with Balwin Properties set to list this October.

Stor-Age is following in the footsteps of international self-storage peers who have consistently outperformed the listed property sectors of the US, UK and Australia in recent years.

CEO Gavin Lucas is confident that Stor-Ages differentiators and strong market fundamentals bode well for take-up of the offers.

The majority of our listing portfolio assets are considered Mature, meaning over 80% tenancy. This stabilises our portfolio, minimises investor risk and provides visibility of earnings, Lucas said.

The Fund is looking to raise around R700 million from institutional investors and has set aside another R15 million for staff, customers and suppliers. The company is targeting a market capitalisation of around R1.2 billion on listing. The price per share will be finalised post the institutional bookbuild.

Stor-Age would further look to expand its national footprint either through third-party acquisitions or the R1-billion pipeline over which the group had a pre-emptive right of acquisition.

Stanlibs head of listed property funds, Keillen Ndlovu, says: "We like the quality of the buildings, business model and management. Their properties are perfectly located close to where people live."

"Storage has been a very successful sector globally especially in the US. We believe that there is room for growth in South Africa over time. It's also refreshing as well to have a new sector in the listed property sector which is traditionally retail, office and industrial sectors. concludes Ndlovu.
The Sun newspaper run by Rupert Murdoch has in a surprising move, given the years of attacks on the Labour Party, thrown its support behind Keir Starmer. But whom did the other UK newspapers endorse? And how are they preparing for the seemingly imminent change of government? read more

UK opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour Party's manifesto in Manchester. Reuters

In the weeks leading up to Britains election, Rishi Sunak has insisted that the polls showing that the Labour Party is set to wipe out his ruling conservatives are wrong.

Now, people across the United Kingdom have begun casting their ballots in the snap general election called by Sunak.

But it seems that the UK media isnt waiting for the results.

The Sun newspaper has, in a surprising move given the years of attacks on the Keir Starmer-led party, thrown its support behind Labour.

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But how are the UK newspapers preparing for the imminent change of government?

Lets take a closer look:

For Labour Party

The Sun

The Sun is one of Britains bestselling newspapers and boasts a record of backing winners in elections.

The tabloid, part of Rupert Murdochs News Corp famously crowed It was the Sun wot won it in 1992, claiming its support had swayed 10 million readers to back John Majors Conservatives to an unexpected election victory.

It switched its support to Labour before Blair led the party to the first of three successive election victories in 1997.

In 2009, The Sun turned away from the Labour Party after more than a decade of support and said it would support David Camerons Conservatives under the headline: Labours Lost It.

Labour lost the 2010 general election.

The newspaper has been supporting the Conservatives ever since.

The Sun newspaper in an editorial declared it is time for a change.

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Though the newspaper said it backed many of Sunaks policies including his Rwanda plans it said the Conservative Party have become a divided rabble more interested in fighting themselves than running the country.

It noted how Sunak was Britains fifth prime minister in 12 years with four Home Secretaries, four Chancellors, and five Education Secretaries in 2022 alone.

Put bluntly, the Tories are exhausted. They need a period in Opposition to unite around a common set of principles which can finally bring to an end all the years of internal warfare, the newspaper noted. It is time for a change.

The newspaper called the Nigel Farage-led Reform a one-man band and declared the Liberal Democrats to be a joke.

Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage speaks during a BBC Question Time Leaders Special at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham on June 28, 2024 in the build-up to the July 4 general election. AFP

The editorial said this means it is time to elect Labour.

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Sir Keir has been solid in his support of Ukraine and also Israel - despite coming under significant pressure from Left-wing Labour MPs who were quick to forget the October 7 atrocity inflicted by terrorist organisation Hamas Labour is strong in its support for the Union and strengthening the ties that bind together our United Kingdom, the piece stated.

The editorial noted that Labour does not have a clear plan for getting a grip on immigration, legal or illegal and that taxes would increase.

Sir Keir, an ex-Remainer, now talks of wanting closer ties with Brussels - which could mean sacrificing some of our newly-won Brexit freedoms. He has a mountain to climb, with a disillusioned electorate and low approval ratings, the piece noted.

The Sun editorial added that Keir has earned the right to take charge by bringing the Labour Party back to the center.

We will hold Labour to account, without fear or favour. But we wish them every success, the piece concluded.

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The Times

The Times newspaper in an editorial entitled Leap in the Dark wrote, As Labour heads towards a victory that may eclipse even Tony Blairs landslide of 1997, inflicting upon the Tories a defeat of unprecedented scale, Sir Keirs rare display of hubris in what has been for him a campaign marked by extreme  sometimes crippling  caution appears justified.

However, the newspaper added that Labour has been sparing with the truth about what it will do in office and cannot expect an endorsement.

The newspaper added that Labour is yet to earn the trust of the British people.

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Sir Keir may have secured a huge majority by Friday. The day after he must begin the process of earning it.

The Financial Times

The Financial Times in an editorial accused the Tories of squandering its reputation as the party of business and said Sir Keir Starmer is better placed to provide the leadership the country needs.

The newspaper in an editorial said voters seem to have made up their mind after nearly a decade and a half and five prime ministers that it is time for a change.

It noted that Rishi Sunak has done some good things during his tenure and that Jeremy Hunt is a serious chancellor.

But the prime minister does not, even now, appear master of a party mired in bickering and sleaze. All too often since 2010, the Conservative party has prioritised management of its fractious party politics over sound governing of Britain.

The newspaper added that it has no fixed party political allegiance and that it believes in liberal democracy, free trade and private enterprise, and an open, outward-looking Britain  which often lines up with the Conservatives.

The party needs a spell in opposition to resolve its internal differences. We would not, though, wish to see the Conservatives so shattered that they are unable to fulfil the role of viable opposition that is vital to British politics, it noted.

The Labour party of Sir Keir Starmer is better placed today to provide the leadership the country needs. Five years ago, under the hard-left Jeremy Corbyn, the idea would have seemed fanciful. Starmer has transformed what was a shambolic group hankering after the failed interventionism of the 1970s back into a credible party of government. Both the Conservatives and Labour, infected by different strains of populism, deserted the centre ground in 2019. It is Labour that has swung back towards it, the piece argued.

Sunday Times

The Sunday Times in an editorial argued that the Tories have forfeited the right to govern.

The newspaper, which endorsed the Conservatives in every election since 2005, was the first Murdoch-run sheet to switch its endorsement.

The newspaper said that though neither Sir Keir Starmer nor Rishi Sunak have engaged meaningfully with the public during this campaign, the poll feels like a landmark.

Rishi Sunak has cut an embattled  almost cursed  figure, his Conservative Party lurching through a string of self-inflicted mishaps, culminating in the betting scandal. Sir Keir Starmer and Labour have avoided meaningful debate for fear of disturbing their double-digit poll lead, the piece said.

It added that though television debates and interviews have occurred both parties have run a hermetically sealed campaign punctuated by staged photo opportunities.

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and wife Victoria arrive at a polling station to cast their vote in London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. AP

The newspaper added that this is the right time for Labour to be entrusted with restoring competence to government.

We cannot go on as we are, and we believe it is now the right time for Labour to be entrusted with restoring competence to government. Britain needs to do better as a place to live, work and do business, it concluded.

The Guardian

The Guardian in an op-ed said a Labour win would be a reason for hope.

The Tories dont deserve to win. After 14 years in power, they are a shambles. The original sin was austerity. But the precipitating crisis of this government was when voters were told that leaving the EU with the thinnest of deals would be good for them, the piece began.

It stated that the nation was tired of the daily drama and completely disconnected from Westminster.

It too noted how Britain had five prime ministers in eight years.

The Conservatives can blame no one but themselves for their handling of the pandemic: incompetence, rule-breaking and cronyism bred political distrust and a shift towards populist right-wing politics, the piece stated.

It added that though a Labour win suggests a watershed moment, the party manifesto shows no such change is imminent.

Labours vision is calming rather than exciting. Sir Keir may not be inspiring, but he does inspire confidence. He offers compassion, where a lack of it has become a matter of principle for the Tories, the op-ed stated.

The newspaper noted that power must be given to those ready to mould Britain into the country that we want to see.

That is why the Guardian would vote, with hope and enthusiasm, for Labour to lead Britain to a better future, the op-ed concluded.

Observer

The Observer in an editorial stated that only a Labour government can begin to deliver the real change that Britain so desperately needs.

a Labour administration characterised by integrity and a respect for public office, an understanding of ordinary peoples lives, and an honest desire to make Britain a fairer and greener place. Such simple ingredients, but ones that have been missing in action for the past 14 years, to the detriment of us all, it stated.

The newspaper claimed that every Tory prime minister since 2010 made the situation in Britain immeasurably worse.

If Labour wins, its task will be far from easy. There is much that will make governing Britain in the second half of the 2020s a more difficult prospect than the last time the party conclusively defeated a Conservative government in 1997, the piece noted.

The Observer piece added that the Labour campaign has not been upbeat because of the challenge facing the next government.

But know this when you cast your vote on Thursday: there remain tough times ahead, but only a Labour government can begin to deliver the real change that Britain so desperately needs, the editorial stated.

Independent

_

The Independent_ in an op-ed declared that s a sense of betrayal that is driving the national mood for change.

It is not quite an iron rule, but political parties that have been in power for a prolonged period eventually run out of ideas, talent and energy  and can collapse into a spiral of corruption. The latest election betting scandal is embarrassing and damaging to the Conservative campaign because, although novel, it is entirely consistent behaviour from a government that brought us Partygate, among many other severe lapses in the standards we expect in public life, the piece began.

The article noted that the entire UK seems to want to get the Tories out including areas in the South scarcely breached by Labour.

The op-ed chalked up Labours comeback to not just disillusionment with Tory rule, but to a remarkable act of statesmanship by Sir Keir Starmer in creating an alternative party of government.

Sir Keir has been wise to steal the Tories old clothes and present Labour as the party of economic growth and wealth creation, the piece argued.

There is no doubt that Sir Keir is going to inherit a broken country in many ways, but  as he has told The Independent  the first step to solving its problems is pragmatic solutions.

This newspaper said though it is reluctant of endorsing a particular party, these are extraordinary times.

Trust in politicians has been damaged by the Conservatives to a devastating degree. Only by removing the party from power can that trust have any chance of being rebuilt. That is why this newspaper is prepared to give the benefit of the doubt to Sir Keirs party.

It, however, added a caveat  that Labour must turn its promises into policies that benefit the hardworking and hopeful people of the UK.

Sunday Mirror

The Sunday Mirror urged its readers to vote for change, vote for Labour.

You have the chance to vote for hope. You have the chance to vote for a better future. Only Labour is offering the country a way forward. Only Labour can fix our public services, usher in a new age of prosperity and restore this nations pride, it began.

It said the country cannot bear another five years of Tory rule and that such a reign would lead to only more ruination, scandal, division and poverty on the United Kingdom.

The newspaper said the Conservative Party that has broken Britain. It accused the Tories of overseeing the steepest fall in living standards and the highest rise in taxes since World War II.

The seriousness, dedication and purpose of Keir Starmer s Labour has never been more needed. This is a very different Labour party to the one which contested the last three elections. It is in tune with a country which is crying out for change. In place of the shambolic rule of the last 14 years, Labour promises to restore professionalism and stability to government, the newspaper stated.

For Tories

Daily Express

The Daily Express warned its readers to vote Tory or hand Labour unchecked power.

It said that though many traditional Tory voters would be attracted by reform, it called for calm heads and backing for proper conservatism.

But to get to a position where that person has an effective power base to stand up to Labour there must be a groundswell of loyal support behind the Tories today. It really is not a day to stay at home in protest but to back the cause of conservatism in the debate for Britains future. It could mean the difference between five years of Labour Government or 10, the newspaper argued.

The newspaper said that the public should not treat the poll as akin to anger management or trauma therapy. It also argued that it isnt merely a referendum on the record of the government.

At heart, it is the peoples verdict on who should rule us in the immediate future. On that basis, for all their recent failings, the Conservatives are still far better equipped for office than Labour, it said.

The Daily Telegraph

The Daily Telegraph told its readers they face a binary choice between Sunak and Starmer.

Our view is that the Conservatives are by far the better option for Britain, the op-ed stated.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (Photo: Reuters)

The unarguable truth facing voters is that they face a straight choice between Sir Keir and Mr Sunak. It is similarly unarguable that a Labour government might well bring change, but it will not be of the good kind. Labour would tax more, regulate more, be weaker in defence of the national interest and be far more relaxed about mass migration and the excesses of green ideologues, it noted.

The newspaper said that though the Conservatives cannot claim to have a great record, they must band together behind Sunak and tell voters things would be far worse under Starmer.

Daily Mail

The Daily Mail too argued to its voters that they face a simple choice between Sunak and Starmer.

Lets face facts. No other party can hope to govern, or indeed have the slightest impact on the nations fortunes over the next parliament. This is a two-horse race. So, voters must decide not only who they want to see in power but also who they dont. Disillusioned Tories may wish to punish their party for its manifest failings of recent years. In doing, so, however, they must be careful not to punish themselves by ushering in something far worse, the piece warned.

The article urged tactical voting to stop Labour from getting a supermajority.

The Mail believes that would be a disaster for the political, cultural and economic life of this country. With no effective opposition, it would give unbridled power to a Labour party which seeks to change Britain immeasurably for the worse, the op-ed argued.

Mail on Sunday

The Mail on Sunday wrote: It is not all over yet. Vote Conservative on Thursday and we may yet escape a long and punishing season of hard Labour.

For all their faults, the Tories are what stand between us and Sir Keirs leaden wokery, his green zealotry, his instinctive desire to tax savers, his feeble opaqueness on mass immigration, his embedded sympathy for the Remainer cause, and his party which, for all its makeovers and tweakments, remains what it has always been, a machine for spending other peoples money until it runs out.

Sunday Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraphs piece was entitled Vote Tory to save Britain from Labour.

It said an administration led by Sir Keir would be dramatically worse than one led by Rishi Sunak.

Despite the unedifying nature of the campaign, this could come to be seen as one of the most consequential general elections in decades. It would be a disaster for Britain if Labour were to be given unparalleled power to refashion the country in its spiteful, intolerant, progressive image.

Sunday Express

The Sunday Express too warned voters that they are not just deciding if Britain needs change, but also whether Sir Keir is allowed to deliver that change.

If you have any doubt he is the right person, the only sensible option is to vote Conservative.

How newspapers they changed their tune

According to iNews, right-leaning papers initially published positive stories about the Conservatives.

They then began running negative articles on Labour around halfway through the campaign.

Meanwhile, left-leaning papers consistently ran with negative stories about the Tories.

They then spent the past few days pushing positive pieces about Labour.

A lot of the coverage focused on the two main parties has been negative rather than positive. Many papers were consistently negative  like The Mirror, The Guardian and The Independent, while others, such as the Express, Telegraph, Mail and Times have become more negative as the campaign has gone on. That trend changed as polling day drew near, with many left-wing papers switching to stories positive for Labour, the piece noted.

With inputs from agencies
The Labour Party hopes to return to the top position in the United Kingdom after 14 years while Reform UK is expected to eat into the vote share of the Conservatives, several opinion polls suggested. Here is a detailed analysis of the hot seats that one needs to look at ahead of the results read more

As Britain votes, political gurus are predicting a win for the Labour Party after 14 years. This time the Conservatives are under threat from both the Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

As per opinion polls, Labours Keir Starmer is set to become the next prime minister of the country with his party making gains even in Scotland. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are focusing their energies on taking seats traditionally belonging to the Conservative Party namely the South of England.

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Polls close at 10 pm BST (2.30 am IST) and results will be announced in each of the UK parliaments 650 constituencies throughout the night.

Below are ten seats to look out for which could provide clues as to how the rest of the day will unfold, in order of expected declaration time.

Basildon and Billericay

This seat, being contested by Conservative Party Chairman Richard Holden, has been comfortably won by the ruling Conservatives at every election since it was created in 2010. Winning here would mean Labour overturning a majority of more than 20,000 votes and could be a sign of the size of the Labour landslide to come.

Conservative Richard Holden leaves after a media interview in London, Britain. Reuters

Broxbourne

This seat has been won by the Conservatives at every election since it was created in 1983. In 2019, they won it with a majority of just under 20,000 votes. A Labour victory in Broxbourne would be a huge loss for the Conservatives and an early indication of the size of the possible national swing towards Labour leader Keir Starmers party.

Swindon South

Swindon South is a bellwether seat, having elected a representative from the party which goes on to form the government at every election since 1983.

Conservative former justice minister Robert Buckland has been a member of parliament since 2010 and is defending a majority of 6,625.

British Secretary of State for Wales Robert Buckland arrives for a cabinet meeting in Downing Street. Reuters

This is the kind of seat Labour would win comfortably if it is going to achieve the large majority opinion polls have predicted.

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Cramlington and Killingworth

This newly formed constituency includes most of the former seat of Blyth Valley, which was the first seat in the previously Labour heartlands known as the Red Wall to be taken by the Conservatives in 2019.

The Conservatives overturned a 7,915 majority in the seat, which had been held by Labour since it was formed in 1950. A win here for Labour could mark the beginning of the rebuilding of the wall.

Hamilton and Clyde Valley

This is a newly created seat in Scotland but its predecessor, Lanark and Hamilton East, had been held by the Scottish National Party (SNP) since it won it from Labour in 2015. At the last election in 2019, Labour came third behind the Conservatives here.

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If Labour takes this seat it could indicate the party has achieved the kind of swing away from the SNP it needs to regain many of the Scottish seats it lost in 2015, when Labour was all but wiped out in its former stronghold.

Cannock Chase

Labour would have to achieve a huge swing to reclaim Cannock Chase, which it held from 1997-2010. The Conservatives won it with a majority of nearly 20,000 votes in 2019.

Modelling by opinion pollsters YouGov has projected a Labour win is likely here, an outcome which could signal the Conservatives are in for a very bad night.

This seat also voted 69 per cent in favour of leaving the European Union at the 2016 referendum, so a win here could be a sign of a recovery in support for Labour in Brexit-backing areas.

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Castle Point

The incumbent, Conservative candidate Rebecca Harris, has represented the seat since 2010 and had a majority of more than 26,600 votes at the last election.

The area voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the EU in 2016 and the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party (UKIP) topped 30 per cent of the vote at the 2015 election.

If Reform UK, led by Brexit campaigner and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, wins here it would be a strong indication of his partys surge in support in leave-supporting areas and bad news for Rishi Sunaks Conservatives.

Godalming and Ash

This seat is being contested by UK Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt, who has been the areas Member of Parliament since 2005. Some polls have forecast he will lose it to the Liberal Democrats.

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Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt holds his traditional red ministerial box as he leaves 11 Downing Street for the House of Commons to deliver the Budget in London. AP

If Hunt is defeated his fate will symbolise a collapse in Conservative support in the affluent home counties around London that had been solid for more than a century.

Hunt has never seen his share of the vote in his constituency dip below 50 per cent, but YouGov has predicted it will fall to 29 per cent, with the Liberal Democrats on 46 per cent.

Watford

This is considered a bellwether seat, having elected a lawmaker from the winning party at every British general election since 1974. At the last election in 2019, the Conservatives won it with a majority of just over 4,400 votes.

Clacton

Some polls have predicted Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, will take Clacton, his eighth attempt to win a seat in parliament. The seat, which the Conservatives won in 2019 with a majority of more than 24,700, voted for Farages earlier party, pro-Brexit UKIP, in 2015.

With inputs from Reuters
Voters in the UK are exercising their franchise today to elect the new government. Once polling ends, counting of votes will begin immediately. From exit polls to final results, heres a complete timetable of the election day read more

The UK is voting on July 4 to elect a new government. Reuters

The United Kingdom (UK) is holding its general elections today (July 4). The polls show Labour wresting the Conservatives from power after a 14-year rule.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who called a surprise snap general election in late May, is widely expected to be replaced as UK premier by Labours Keir Starmer.

As the UK goes to the polls, heres everything to know about voting, exit polls and the final results.

When will voting begin?

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Voting will begin in the UK at 7 am (11.30 am IST), with polling stations remaining open until 10 pm (2.30 am IST).

About 50 million (five crore) people are eligible to vote in these elections. Voters have to be 18 years old or over and can either be a British or Irish citizen or qualifying Commonwealth citizen, noted Reuters.

Overseas British citizens can also exercise their franchise, irrespective of how long they have been living outside the UK.

Votes can be cast in person, by post, or via a proxy.

When to expect exit polls?

Broadcasters in the UK start releasing the exit polls as soon as voting ends at 10 pm BST or 2.30 am IST.

The model of exit poll, developed by British political scientist John Curtice and statistician David Firth, which has been used for election coverage since 2005 covers 130 polling stations with voters given a mock ballot, as per The Guardian report.

The track record of these exit polls has been pretty decent and they present a fair idea of the final results.

UK elections: final results

Unlike in India, the counting of the votes begins in the UK immediately after polling concludes. A party needs to win 326 of the 650 parliamentary seats for an outright victory. The leader of the winning party becomes the prime minister.

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11 am (3.30 pm IST): Blyth and Ashington, a newly formed constituency, is expected to be the first to declare results at about 11.30 pm (4 am IST).

Houghton and Sunderland South, which is also in north-east England, could also announce results around this time. Both are predicted to deliver Labour wins, reported The Guardian.

Midnight to 3 am (4:30 am to 7.30 am IST): One of the key candidates whose fate will be revealed around midnight is Richard Holden, the Conservative Party chairman. He will know whether he won the Basildon and Billericay seat.

At about 1 am (5.30 am IST) on Friday, the early results from Scotland will signal whether the Scottish National Party (SNP) vote has transferred to Labour. If this happens, Starmers party could gain 15 constituencies in Scotland, according to The Telegraph.

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The pace of results declared will pick up by 2 am (6.30 am IST).

The sitting MP from North West Essex, Kemi Badenoch, is trying to retain her seat. Her name is doing rounds to replace Sunak as Tory leader if he loses the election.

Rishi Sunak is projected to lose the UK general elections. File Photo/Reuters

George Galloway of the Workers Party is up against Labour candidate and political journalist Paul Waugh from Rochdale. The results for this constituency could be declared around 2.30 am (7:00 am IST).

ALSO READ:

3 am to 5 am (7.30 am to 9.30 am IST): As per The Guardian, this is the arguably most significant period, with results for 443 of the 650 constituencies expected to be out.

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By 5 am, results will be declared for nearly 530 seats, giving a clear idea of who will be forming the next government in the UK.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will know whether he will return to Parliament from the new constituency of Godalming and Ash. He is facing a tough challenge from Liberal Democrats candidate Paul Follows.

The fate of Cabinet ministers Gillian Keegan, Claire Coutinho, Alex Chalk, Simon Hart and Penny Mordaunt will also be known, as per The Telegraph.

Mordaunt, the Leader of the Commons, is in a tight race from her Portsmouth North constituency. Her name has also come up to potentially succeed Sunak as the Tory leader.

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Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who has represented Chingford and Woodford Green as an MP since 1997, is vying to be elected from the seat again.

Other top Tories like Jacob Rees-Mogg and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps are expected to know their fate by this time.

In Bristol Central, Labours Thangam Debbonaire could be defeated by Green Partys Carla Denyer.

According to The Guardian, the political party Plaid Cymru has hopes from Ynys Mon and Caerfyrddin constituencies in Wales, which could announce results between 3 am (7.30 am IST) and 4 am (8.30 am IST).

Gavin Robinson, the Democratic Unionist partys interim leader will know by 3 am if he trounced the Alliance party leader, Naomi Long, to win Belfast East.

Around this time, Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, will find out if he won the Islington North seat as an Independent candidate.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, will learn at about 4 am if he finally made it to the Parliament after seven failed attempts.

PM Sunak will know around 4 am if he has been elected as an MP from the new constituency of Richmond and Northallerton. If a recent Telegraph poll is to be believed, he could become the first sitting prime minister in the UK to lose his seat in the general election.

Fifteen minutes later, the results are expected in Holborn and St Pancras, the constituency of Labours Keir Starmer.

Britains main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer could be the new UK PM. File Photo/AFP

5 am to 7 am (9.30 am to 11.30 am IST): The results for the remaining constituencies should be declared by 7 am, with a few exceptions, noted The Guadian.

Former UK PM Liz Truss is set to discover whether she could secure South West Norfolk, one of the safest Tory seats. In North Cornwall, Tories Scott Mann will find out his fate.

Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, will know whether he has the trust of the voters of Plymouth Moor View.

In Hitchin, where the housing crisis dominated poll issues, Labours Alistair Strathern, Conservative candidate Bim Afolami and Chris Lucas for the Liberal Democrats will learn who will be the MP.

One of the last result declarations will come from Ilford North where Labours Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, is fighting against Leanne Mohamad, an Independent candidate.

By 7 am, the final UK election results will be out and we will know which party will stake a claim to form the next government.

With inputs from agencies
As the United Kingdom votes, polls suggest a monumental victory for Keir Starmers Labour Party, potentially securing the largest majority in modern British history. We explain what majority means when it comes to UK general elections, and what the biggest majorities in Britain have been since 1928 when the country adopted the Universal Adult Franchise read more

Keir Starmer's (Centre) is expected to score a majority that dwarfs those won by Tony Blair (Left) and Margaret Thatcher (Right) in past elections. Agencies

Citizens of the United Kingdom have begun casting their votes. All polls have suggested a victory for Keir Starmers Labour Party in the UK general election. But it is not expected to be just another win: It is expected to be the largest majority in modern British history.

Survations final mega poll, released Tuesday (July 2), gave Labour a majority of 318 seats. Labour, the poll predicts, will secure 484 out of the 650 seats in parliament. Other polls have shown similarly large defeats looming for Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservative Party.

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On Wednesday (July 3), YouGovs final poll forecast a historic election victory for the centre-left party, predicting 39 per cent of the vote and 431 seats in the House of Commons.

This potential victory would be historic because the majority of over 200 has not happened since 1935- thats 89 years!

We explain what majority means when it comes to UK general elections, and what the biggest majorities in Britain have been since 1928, when the UK adopted Universal Adult Franchise.

What is a majority in UK elections?

In the UK, the majority refers to the difference between the number of seats the winning party has and the number of seats that all the other parties combined together have.

An example would illustrate this quite well.

According to Survations final poll, the Labour is expected to get 484 seats out of 650 in total. That means that all non-Labour parties together are going to get 650-484= 166 seats.

The majority would be 484-166=318 seats. Thus, Labours predicted majority of 318 means they would have 318 seats more than the combined total of all the other parties seats.

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Heres a look at some of the largest majorities since Universal Adult Suffrage in UK elections.

1997: Tony Blair and the triumphant return of Labour Party

In 1997, the Labour Party had been out of power for 18 years. When it lost the 1992 election to John Majors Conservatives, many questioned whether it would ever regain power.

Under the leadership of Tony Blair, Labour won the May 1, 1997 general election by a landslide.

A young Tony Blair led the Labour Party to a victory with a majority of 179 seats. AP

One factor in the Tories defeat was the economic crisis of September 1992, when the British pound was ejected from a European exchange rate system. Major also faced a series of financial and sexual scandals within his party and deep divisions over the UKs place in the European Union.

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Labour won a majority of 179 seats, even bigger than the partys victory over Winston Churchills Conservatives in 1945. The Conservatives ended up with just 165 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

2001: Blairs resounding re-election

Tony Blairs Labour Party was widely expected to be re-elected by a big margin, similar to its victory four years earlier.

The election took place in June 2001, a month later than planned due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Despite an incident where Blairs deputy, John Prescott, punched a man who threw an egg at him, Labour performed well, winning a majority of 167 seats.

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1945: Winston Churchills defeat after WWII

In 1945, Winston Churchills Conservative Party suffered one of its biggest defeats shortly after the Allies victory over Nazi Germany. During the war, Churchill had governed in a coalition with other parties, notably Labour, whose leader Clement Attlee acted as his deputy.

Winston Churchill lost to the Labour Party, led by Clement Attlee in 1945. The Labour had a majority of 145 seats in the House of Commons. Reuters

The election on July 5, 1945, was the first in a decade due to WWII. Labour fought on domestic issues, campaigning for housing, full employment, and state intervention in the economy. The results were announced three weeks later, showing Labour had won a landslide with 48 per cent of the vote and its biggest-ever majority of 145 seats in the House of Commons.

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1983: Thatchers Falklands triumph

Following the Falklands War in 1982, Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was widely expected to win the June 1983 general election. Her victory was assured after Labour published a radical manifesto, described by one moderate party member as the longest suicide note in history.

Thatcher won a landslide and remained in power until 1990. The Conservative Party won a majority of 144 seats.

With inputs from agencies
By Friday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is likely to be ousted from Downing Street, with his Conservative Party facing its most severe crisis in over a century. Historically, the Conservative Party has been winning elections since the 1830s, a stark contrast to its current situation. We take a look at the trajectory of the worlds oldest party read more

By Friday (July 5), British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to be forced out of Downing Street, as his party faces its greatest crisis in over a century. Polls indicate that the opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is set to win Thursdays UK election by approximately 20 percentage points, ending the Tories 14-year rule.

The only question that remains: How severe will the defeat be for the worlds oldest and historically most successful political party, which has held power for much of the past 150 years?

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The Conservative Party, known as the Tories, has been a formidable force in British politics since its inception in the 1830s. Throughout the 19th century, it vied with the Liberals for dominance but managed to adapt and thrive while the Liberals faded.

The Conservatives have held power longer than any other party in the 20th century and have governed 14 of the first 24 years of the 21st century.

The partys most successful result in terms of seats since 1945 was in the 1983 General Election, where they secured 397 MPs. Their highest share of the vote was 49.7 per cent in 1955.

In contrast, the 1997 General Election saw only 165 Conservative MPs elected, with the party receiving just 30.7 per cent of the vote, marking their worst performance in both seats and vote share since 1918.

A sign points to where residents can cast their votes in London. File Image/AP

In the 2019 election, under former UK PM Boris Johnson, the party won 365 seats, the most they had held since 1987.

The Tories dominated the 20th century and nearly swept the 19th century in the UK general elections.

How have the Tories been so successful?

The Conservative Partys success can be attributed to its ability to anticipate and adapt to societal changes. In the 1840s, Robert Peel recognised the rise of industrial capitalism and championed the repeal of the Corn Laws, which lowered the price of grain and incorporated the new men of business into the partys base.

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Similarly, in the latter half of the 19th century, Benjamin Disraeli and Lord Salisbury leveraged the conservative instincts of the middle and working classes to extend the partys power through democracy.

In the 1970s, Margaret Thatcher foresaw the shift towards free markets and privatisation, positioning the party to lead the UK into a new economic era. This adaptability has been a constant theme in the partys history, allowing it to remain relevant and powerful.

The three great weapons of Tories

The Conservatives success can be attributed to three key factors: an appetite for power, patriotism, and a sense of jollity. John Ramsdens book An Appetite for Power highlights the partys willingness to discard people or principles that impede its pursuit of power.

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For example, Theresa May quickly sacked her chief advisers after a poor election performance, whereas Jeremy Corbyn clung to his despite a devastating defeat.

Britains former Prime Minister Theresa May looks on, during a state visit by South Koreas President Yoon Suk Yeol, in London, UK, November 21, 2023. File Image/Reuters

Patriotism has always been a strong suit for the Tories, from imperialism in the 1870s to retaking the Falkland Islands in the 1980s. This sense of national pride resonates with many voters.

Additionally, the partys ability to mock the left for its earnestness and embrace a more relaxed, enjoyable image has endeared it to many.

Boris Johnson and the modern Tory

Boris Johnson epitomised the modern Conservative leader. He was one of the first to recognise the rising tide of nationalist populism and leveraged it to his advantage, becoming a key figure in the Eurosceptic movement.

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Despite his bumbling exterior, Johnson was seen as a ruthless, power-seeking politician willing to sacrifice anything for office. His withdrawal of the whip from 21 colleagues in 2019 demonstrated his commitment to consolidating power.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson endorses British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a campaign event during a Conservative general election campaign event in London, UK, July 2, 2024. Reuters

Johnsons ability to embrace the lighter side of Toryism, cracking jokes and making fun of the EUs (often exaggerated) regulations, has helped him connect with voters.

His career as a Eurosceptic was built on making fun of the EUs ambitions, and his humour often targeted the guardians of political correctness, which resonated with working-class voters.

What now?

Despite its historical success, the Conservative Party faces significant challenges. Even as Sunak announced the next general election, polls suggested catastrophic losses. The Tories trail the opposition Labour Party by over 20 points, and many pundits expect a severe defeat.

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Local elections in May this year provided an early indication of the partys prospects. This is the first of two stages of Conservative annihilation, a former minister told US-based The Daily Beast. The second stage being the general election.

Also Read: Why are UK Conservatives called Tories?

In 2021, under Boris Johnsons leadership, the Tories performed well, buoyed by the success of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout. However, the current political landscape is vastly different.

The party has seen five prime ministers since 2010, with only two winning decisive national elections. The Tories gave UK its shortest-serving PM in Liz Truss who resigned after seven weeks

Britains former Prime Minister Liz Truss speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, US, February 22, 2024. File Image/Reuters

Speaking to The Daily Beast, polling expert John Curtice estimates a 99 per cent chance of Labour forming the next government, predicting the Tories could face their worst result in modern parliamentary history. Some fear a fate similar to Canadas Progressive Conservatives in 1993, who lost all but two federal seats after nine years in power.

Even if the Tories avoid total wipeout, a heavy defeat could exacerbate internal divisions and potentially lead to the partys breakup.

How old are other parties in the UK?

The Conservative Partys endurance is even more impressive when considering the landscape of other UK political parties. The Labour Party, established in the early 20th century, emerged to represent working people and trade unionists dissatisfied with the existing political options.

Labours rich history includes landmark social reforms and substantial shifts in British politics, yet it has faced periods of decline and resurgence.

Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party (SNP), both founded in the 1920s, have focused on representing Welsh and Scottish interests, respectively. These nationalist parties have gained significant traction in their regions, influencing national politics and advocating for greater autonomy.

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

The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Sinn Fein, both born in 1905, have played pivotal roles in Northern Irelands political landscape. The UUP, with its unionist stance, and Sinn Fein, advocating for Irish republicanism, have been central to the regions complex political dynamics.

Also Read |

In more recent history, the late 20th and early 21st centuries saw the emergence of several new parties. The Liberal Democrats, formed in 1988 from a merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, have sought to provide a centrist alternative in British politics.

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

The Green Party, the UK Independence Party (UKIP), and various regional parties have also become influential, though they are younger and have yet to achieve the long-term dominance of the Conservatives.

Also Read | Blue, red, green, orange: How do political parties in UK pick colours and what do they symbolise?

The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, established in 2009, is the youngest party with a significant slate of candidates in recent general elections. This coalition reflects ongoing shifts and new voices in the UKs political landscape.

With inputs from agencies
After the first US presidential debate, some Democrats are considering replacing Joe Biden as their nominee owing to his shaky, stumbling performance. What is the way forward for the party if it truly chooses to do so? read more

President Joe Biden walks on stage to speak at a campaign rally, the day after the debate with Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Post-debate, calls have grown to replace Biden as the Democratic nominee. File image/AP

Joe Bidens debate debacle last week has sent the Democrats into a tizzy. Since his performance at the first presidential debate where Donald Trump emerged as the big winner, pressure has been mounting on the 81-year-old Biden to step aside from the race over concerns about his mental health.

On Wednesday (July 3), amid calls for him to step aside, the US president stated categorically: Im the nominee of the Democratic Party. No ones pushing me out. Im not leaving.

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He also met with senior Democratic leaders at the White House for more than an hour in person and virtually in an attempt to convince them that he was the right candidate to go up against Trump in the November presidential elections. Following that meet, Democratic governors Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, and Kathy Hochul of New York addressed reporters outside the White House, underscoring that they stood behind the president.

We, like many Americans, are worried, Walz of Minnesota said. We are all looking for the path to win  all the governors agree with that. President Biden agrees with that. He has had our backs through COVID the governors have his back. Were working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No 1 priority and thats the No 1 priority of the president The feedback was good. The conversation was honest.

The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader, added Moore of Maryland. He said Biden was very clear that hes in this to win it.

But even as the governors throw their weight behind the US president, there are worries about Bidens cognitive abilities and his ability to win. Theres also concern over what a replacement to Biden will mean for the White House race.

Calls to oust Biden

A stuttering Biden at the first presidential debate in Atlanta led to panic among the Democrats that the US president is unfit for the White House race. Democratic Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first to voice his concern openly, saying: 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.

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This call was echoed by Represenative Raul Grijalva of Arizona. He told The New York Times that if Biden is the candidate, Im going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere. He added that Biden must shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Even former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told MSNBC that its a legitimate question to ask whether Bidens poor performance at the debate was just an episode or a condition. She added, Both candidates owe whatever test you want to put them to, in terms of their mental acuity and their health  both of them.

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A Democratic House member also told CBS News that Democratic House frontline representatives  vulnerable House Democrats who are facing tough re-election races  are circulating a letter asking the president to step aside as the presumptive nominee. The Democratic member, who is not one of the frontline members and supports Biden, said that if there is a lot of people who sign up, I think the dam can break.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk from Marine One at Fort McNair in Washington. Reuters

Replacing Biden

But is it possible for Biden to drop out from the race? According to a DW report, switching out a candidate, especially a sitting president, this late in the race would be highly unusual. But its not impossible.

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To replace a candidate at this point, ideally, he would step back himself, Filippo Trevisan, an associate professor at American Universitys School of Communication in Washington told DW. That would be simplest.

However, it seems that Biden is in no mood to drop out and he has reiterated on multiple times that he is in it to win it.

In that case, if the Democrats want to replace Biden, they have a limited way to do so  and its a complicated and unlikely route. Democrats nominate candidates based on party rules, which state that a candidate must win a certain number of delegates in state primaries, which have already taken place. If the party wanted to get behind another candidate with Biden still in the race, they would have to win over Bidens pledged delegates at the convention, who are obligated to back him by the rule of good conscience, according to ABC.

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Calls for US President Joe Biden to drop out of the race have grown loud after his poor performance at the first presidential debate in Atlanta in the last week of June. File image/Reuters

However, if Biden drops out voluntarily, the Democratic Party would technically have until its convention the week of August 19 to nominate a different candidate. Trevisan explained to DW that it would be a free-for-all. They could vote for whomever they want.

This is known as an open convention and delegates would pick according to their conscience. J Miles Coleman, an election analyst with the University of Virginia Center for Politics, told DW, I would say (Kamala) Harris really has the right of first refusal.

In case, Biden drops out of the race after the convention on grounds of its health, the Democratic National Committee would convene and decide on a candidate.

Why Democrats fear replacing Biden

Even as panic spreads through the Democratic Party about Bidens chances and lists are prepared on who could replace him, the chances that the party actually replaces him is almost zero. Ezra Klein, a Times columnist and podcaster, who had earlier written a column  Democrats Have a Better Option than Biden  told the New Yorker that one of the primary reasons the party wont replace Biden is that they fear that there isnt a stronger option. Many in the Democratic Party dont believe that Vice President Kamala Harris is a strong contender to Trump.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul standing with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, talks with reporters following their meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington. They have extended their support to Biden, saying he is the Democratic nominee for the 2024 US presidential elections. AP

Theres also the issue of money. If a new candidate was brought in, the party would have to raise new donations, which, according to a CNN report, would be a highway to losing.

A new candidate also may send a message of confusion and worry to the voters, say political pundits. However, many voters also worry that Democrats have a better chance of keeping the White House if Biden isnt the nominee.

Lastly, the other contenders in the reckoning such as California Governor Gavin Newsom, dont have the numbers to go up against Trump. For instance, a March Rasmussen Reports survey of 912 likely voters found that former President Trump would lead by 17 points (51 per cent to 34) if Newsom were the 2024 Democratic nominee.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who is considered another replacement for Biden, also doesnt have the numbers. One poll revealed that Whitmer would garner 44 per cent of the vote, while Trump would get 46 per cent in a head-to-head matchup.

With inputs from agencies
LGBTQ+ rights activists argue that Cameroons anti-homosexuality laws must be repealed, following a social media post by Brenda Biya, daughter of longtime President Paul Biya. Brenda recently posted a photo on Instagram, dated June 30, showing her kissing her girlfriend Layyons Valenca, accompanied by a caption declaring, I am deeply in love with you and want the world to see read more

Brenda Biya, the 26-year-old daughter of Cameroons President Paul Biya, has ignited a significant controversy with a recent Instagram post. The image shows her kissing Brazilian model Layyons Valenca, accompanied by the caption, Im crazy about you & I want the world to know, with a love heart emoji.

This public display of affection has caused an uproar in Cameroon, where same-sex relationships are illegal and can lead to imprisonment for up to five years.

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Paul Biya, 91, has been in power of the central-African nation since 1982, making him one of Africas longest-serving leaders. His daughters social media has raised questions about the treatment and rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Cameroon.

What was the reaction to the post?

While Brenda did not explicitly state her sexuality in the post, she later shared an article from Le Monde that suggested she had come out. This declaration has received mixed reactions.

Some supporters have praised her bravery. Transgender activist Shakiro, who fled to Belgium after being convicted of attempted homosexuality in Cameroon, remarked that Brendas post could be a turning point for the LGBTQ+ community in Cameroon.

Patricia and Shakiro, two transgender women who were convicted in May of attempted homosexuality, record a video after their release to thank those who supported them, at Shakiros house in Douala, Cameroon, July 16, 2021. File Image/Reuters

Biya is now positioning herself as a voice for social change in a country where taboos are deeply rooted, said Shakiro, reported BBC. Human rights lawyer Alice Nkom also praised Brenda, calling her a model of courage and saying she sends an important universal message of love.

I love this for Cameroons First Daughter, LGBT activist Bandy Kiki commented on social media. However, it highlights a harsh reality: Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor. Wealth and connections create a shield for some, while others face severe consequences.

I love this for Brenda Biya (Cameroons First Daughter)! However, it highlights a harsh reality: Anti-LGBT laws in Cameroon disproportionately target the poor. Wealth and connections create a shield for some, while others face severe consequences. #EqualityForAll pic.twitter.com/G6mQnd1QrR  Bandy Kiki (Her/She)  - LGBT+ (@Bandykiki) July 2, 2024

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Despite the support, Brendas post has also attracted homophobic comments on social media. Some critics have speculated that she shared the picture to generate controversy, given her history of provocative social media posts.

Others have questioned whether her status as the presidents daughter grants her a level of protection that ordinary citizens do not enjoy.

African dictatorships in a nutshell.



While homosexuality is illegal in #Cameroon , with penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, Brenda Biya, the daughter of Cameroonian dictator Paul Biya, can come out as a lesbian, because she lives a life of freedom and luxury abroad. https://t.co/n130WWnWdj  Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) July 2, 2024

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What does the law in Cameroon say?

Cameroons Penal Code 2016 criminalises same-sex relationships, leading to arrests based on perceived identity, arbitrary detention, and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported a spike in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes, including assault, harassment, and murder, often with little intervention from law enforcement. In 2022, HRW urged Cameroon to revoke its discriminatory laws and uphold the human rights of all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Also Read: All you wanted to know about Pride Month and were shy to ask

The National Communication Council of Cameroon has acted to censor media content depicting homosexuality, even suspending channels that violate this policy. In 2023, the government rejected a conference on gender and sexual orientation proposed by the French Ambassador for LGBTQ+ Rights, reinforcing its stance against LGBTQ+ discussions.

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How has the Biya family responded?

The Biya familys response to the controversy has been defensive. Georges Gilbert Baongla, Brendas brother and president of the Republican Party of Cameroon, described the discussions surrounding his sisters post as attempts to discredit the family, reported 76Crimes. He issued a stern warning against such attacks, emphasising the familys respect for government institutions and the Cameroonian community.

Alice Nkom, a lawyer representing members of the countrys LGBT community, attends an interview at her home in Douala, Cameroon, April 24, 2021. File Image/Reuters

Human rights activists like Alice Nkom believe that Brendas public declaration could catalyse the repeal of Article 347-1 of the Penal Code. Your courage can be crowned with a welcome change, Nkom stated, urging Biya to consider repealing the law out of love for his daughter.

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What is the state of LGBTQ+ community members in Cameroon?

Cameroon remains a challenging environment for LGBTQ+ individuals. In recent years, the persecution of queer people has intensified, with reports of arrests, public harassment, and violence.

Activists like Nfomi Laura Berka and Sally Ndape who is a prominent human rights defender in Cameroon, continue to fight for the recognition and protection of LGBTQ+ rights, despite the governments crackdown on related discussions and media content.

Blanche Bailli, a transgender woman wearing a mask, is pictured as she sits in a room of her friend Nkwain Hamlet, a gay-rights activist in Douala, Cameroon, April 24, 2021. File Image/Reuters

Berka, who is a civil society activist and human rights advocate and co-executive director of the Community Centre for Integrated Development (CCID), a Buea-based human rights NGO, highlights the contradiction between Cameroons crackdown on LGBTQ+ individuals and its commitments to human rights under international treaties in a piece with Fair Planet.

People should be allowed to freely express themselves regardless of culture and free from discrimination and cohesion, she said.

Also Read: Thailand set to approve same-sex marriages. Which other Asian countries allow it?

However, given the current political and cultural climate, LGBTQ+ advocates and individuals often have to operate covertly, facing significant risks for their activism. The controversy surrounding Brenda Biyas Instagram post has brought these issues to the forefront, sparking a critical conversation about the future of LGBTQ+ rights in Cameroon.

With inputs from agencies
A new study published on Wednesday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology suggests that those who use weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy may be more susceptible to a rare type of blindness called NAION. Healthcare company Novo Nordisk is looking into the relationship between semaglutide use and diabetic retinopathy in a trial they expect to finish in 2027 read more

Boxes of Ozempic and Wegovy made by Novo Nordisk are seen at a pharmacy in London, Britain March 8, 2024. Reuters

The world has long been concerned about obesity.

It has long been known for its connections to non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension.

Initially presented as a simple fix for this issue, Ozempic and Wegovy quickly gained popularity as weight loss choices, even among Hollywood celebrities.

A new study published on Wednesday in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology suggests that those who use these medications may be more susceptible to a rare type of blindness.

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Doctors maintain that this shouldnt stop people from using medications to manage their obesity or diabetes.

Lets take a closer look.

Weight-loss drugs and blindness

Researchers at Mass General Brigham have found that patients taking semaglutide, marketed under the names Ozempic for diabetes or Wegovy for weight loss, had a higher chance of being diagnosed with a rare disorder called NAION than patients with obesity or diabetes who did not take the medicine.

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION is a kind of stroke that results in sudden, painless loss of vision in one eye, as per CNN. The condition is relatively uncommon; up to 10 out of 100,000 persons in the general population may encounter it.

It is unclear exactly how semaglutide interacts with the eyes and the exact cause of NAION is not known either. The illness damages the optic nerve, yet vision loss frequently occurs without any prior warning.

Harvard University researchers examined data from 16,827 patients at the Mass Eye and Ear Hospital who underwent treatment over a six-year period for their study. 710 patients with type 2 diabetes were involved in the trial, and 194 of those patients were administered semaglutide. A total of 975 patients who were overweight or obese were included in the trial; 361 of them had been administered semaglutide.

The analysis revealed that individuals with diabetes had a four times higher chance of being diagnosed with NAION if they were taking prescription semaglutide. Those with obesity had a seven times higher chance of developing the illness if they were taking the drug. It was discovered that the risk was highest during the first year after being prescribed semaglutide.

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The study, however, does not establish a link between semaglutide treatment and NAION. In addition, the small sample size of patients  roughly 100 cases on average were found annually  from a single speciality hospital may not correspond to a larger market.

According to Dr Joseph Rizzo, director of neuro-ophthalmology at Mass General Brighams Mass Eye and Ear, this study is the first to establish a connection between the rare illness and these diabetic and weight-loss medications.

The use of these drugs has exploded throughout industrialized countries and they have provided very significant benefits in many ways, but future discussions between a patient and their physician should include NAION as a potential risk. Our findings should be viewed as being significant but tentative, as future studies are needed to examine these questions in a much larger and more diverse population, lead researcher Dr Rizzo said in a news release.

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Also read: Is the famous weight-loss drug coming to India soon? What we know so far

Novo Nordisks response

Ozempic and Wegovys distributor, Novo Nordisk, stated in a statement that it takes patient safety reports seriously.

A causal association between the drugs and the disease, according to the manufacturer, is not established by the study data. The company further stated that NAION has not been listed as a possible adverse effect on the FDA-approved marketing labelling for the medications.

Semaglutide has been studied in large real-world evidence studies and robust clinical development programs with a cumulative exposure over 22 million patient years, the company said in a statement.

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Vision changes are listed as possible adverse effects on the US Food and Drug Administration-approved labels for both Ozempic and Wegovy.

Novo Nordisk is looking into the relationship between semaglutide use and diabetic retinopathy in a trial they expect to finish in 2027.

Expert opinion

The use of semaglutide drugs to treat diabetes and obesity shouldnt be discouraged due to the possibility of NAION, according to experts.

In the ever-changing landscape of systemic therapies, being vigilant for potential new disease associations is a duty we all share on behalf of patients, Susan Mollan, an ophthalmologist, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK said, as per CNN.

According to Dr Disha Narang, director of obesity medicine at Endeavor Health in Chicago and endocrinologist, who was not involved in the new study, variations in blood sugar levels can impact the structure of the lens in the eye as well as vision.

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Also, the use of semaglutides, which cause the body to produce more insulin to lower blood sugar, has been connected in the past to temporary changes in vision. This includes the development of new or worsening cases of diabetic retinopathy or damage to the blood vessels in the back of the eye, the report explained. This is probably because semaglutides cause blood sugar levels to drop quickly.

With inputs from agencies
Ambassador of India to France and Principality of Monaco Jawed Ashraf launched UPI by live use at the store in the presence of Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group, the release said. read more

London/Paris: India has launched the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at Paris historic department store Galeries Lafayette after a successful launch at the iconic Eiffel Tower.

This significant step is towards realising Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of globalising UPI, which is an Indian instant payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.

On July 3, 2024, the UPI became live at the flagship store of the world-renowned Galeries Lafayette in Haussmann, Paris. This expands the acceptance of UPI in Paris after a successful launch at the iconic Eiffel Tower, the Indian Embassy in France said in a release on Thursday.

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Ambassador of India to France and Principality of Monaco Jawed Ashraf launched UPI by live use at the store in the presence of Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette, and Alain Lacour, Chairman of Lyra Group, the release said.

Delighted to launch @UPI_NPCI in the world-famous @Galeries_Laf in Paris. After the launch in the Eiffel Tower in Jan 2024, expanding UPI across France. A journey that PM @narendramodi began in 2018 with UPI in Singapore taking another step forward, Ashraf said in a post on X.

In February, India formally launched UPI at the iconic Eiffel Tower here, terming it as taking Prime Minister Modis vision of taking UPI global. Recalling the success of the UPI launch at the Eiffel Tower in January 2024 and the meeting hosted for potential merchants with NPCI International in February 2024, the Ambassador welcomed the quick conclusion of the agreement and arrangement between Lyra and NPCI for the launch of UPI at the world-famous Galeries Lafayette ahead of the Paris Olympics starting July 26, 2024, which is expected to draw a large number of Indian visitors, the release said.

The ambassador recalled the first international launch of UPI in Singapore in 2018 by Modi and expressed satisfaction with the international journey of UPI.

He hoped that in addition to quick, safe and efficient means of cross-border digital payments, UPI would grow as a medium of cross-border remittances and eventually become the digital payment system in countries across the world.

UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood, according to NPCI.
The US claims to track global religious freedom, yet its reports omit rising Hinduphobia in the West. Indias rising influence demands its own report, setting global standards and exposing Western hypocrisy read more

The West uses global indices as a geopolitical tool to coerce difficult countries into succumbing to its worldview and position on pressing global issues. Often, countries of the Global South are expected to succumb to the Western whip (pun intended) and submissively adhere to the rulebook of the global hegemonic powers, even if that comes at the cost of their national interest.

The West routinely uses research as a tool to control and intimidate countries like India. That its tactics dont seem as effective any longer, at least when it comes to India, is another matter altogether. India ranked 104th in the recent V-Dem Liberal Democracy Index, released in the earlier part of 2024. The index, which reviewed 179 countries, called India an autocracy claiming that the countrys democracy has been fast deteriorating since 2014, when the Modi government first came to power.

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In the V-Dem report, India has been classified as an electoral autocracy along with countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Russia, and Turkiye. Its incredible that the so-called index talks in the same breadth about the worlds largest democracy and countries that dont have any democratic system whatsoever. In the World Press Freedom Index 2023, India was ranked 161 out of 180 countries. Interestingly, Pakistan at 150 ranked more than 10 places above India in the index. Sri Lanka at the 135th spot also ranked way above India.

In the Global Hunger Index 2023, India ranked 111 out of 125 countries, lower than neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan. There is a slew of such motivated indexes  the World Happiness Index, the Global Poverty Index, the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, etc. What has changed though is the Indian governments attitude towards these indices. India has started categorically rejecting these indices and calling them biased. That is indeed a welcome change.

In its latest anti-India offensive, the US State Department has accused India of covertly facilitating violent attacks against minorities and their targeting through draconian measures like anti-conversion laws. The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, while unveiling the annual report, said that in India, Christian communities reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion activities, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges.

In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolition of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities, Blinken further said.

The contents of the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: India recently released by the US State Department constitute a blatant violation of Indias sovereignty, democracy, and laws passed by the democratically elected Indian Parliament and state legislatures through standards protocol and mechanisms. A cursory read of the report is enough to ascertain that its no less than a rather grave manoeuvre to undermine the credibility of Indian democracy and Indias ability to enact laws governing its own citizens.

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The ridiculously biased report solely focuses on Christian and Muslim minorities in India and conveniently overlooks the incidents of atrocities committed against the countrys Hindu population. It conveniently overlooks events like Sandeshkhali violence, numerous incidents of Hindus in West Bengal being brutally attacked by the TMC goons, the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan for putting out a social media post in support of BJP leader Nupur Sharma, who received multiple death threats after making a statement on Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate, numerous incidents of vandalism of Hindu temples in West Bengal, multiple incidents of identity fraud where Hindu girls were lured into marriage with Muslim men posing as Hindus and later being forced to convert to Islam, and numerous incidents of fraudulent Christian conversions in India, etc.

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The report falsely paints the situation in Manipur as a Kuki Christian and Meitei Hindu binary. It forcefully tries to fit the Kuki-Meitei issue in Manipur into the minority-Christian and majority-Hindu paradigm. Lacking any sort of nuanced and informed understanding of the complex situation in Manipur, the report rather sensationalises the whole issue, insinuating that the Meitei majority Hindus are inflicting violence on Kuki Christians, and the Indian state is not doing enough to protect the Christians of Manipur.

In June, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum said that at least 253 churches were burned down during the violence in Manipur. According to international and domestic media reports, the violence resulted in the killing of more than 200 persons and the displacement of over 60,000. Although the violence resulted in the destruction of religious places belonging to both communities, media reports stated that more churches than Hindu temples were destroyed, said the report. It further continued to peddle the majority Hindus harassing minority Christians narrative. Some members of the Kuki community reported that police abetted the Meitei groups who engaged in violence. There were also reports of Meitei Hindus pressuring Meitei Christians to convert and attacking churches belonging to Meitei Christians, it said.

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The International Religious Freedom report specifically targets a wide array of Indian legislations  the anti-conversion laws passed in various Indian states, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which has been implemented by the Uttarakhand government, and certain provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita replacing the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that came into force July 1, 2024. According to the provisions of the new law, individuals who engage in sexual relations through deceitful means such as misrepresentation of their identity, or false promises of employment or marriage, with no intention to fulfil them, could face imprisonment of up to 10 years, accompanied by fines.

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This new provision is expected to tackle widespread instances of young Indian women being fraudulently duped into marriage and thus preventing any crimes that may result thereafter. There have been numerous Indian media reports of love jihad, the fraudulent practice of Muslim men targeting Hindu women for conversion. The usual modus operandi involves these men enacting a false identity, often misrepresenting themselves as Hindu, and eventually forcing the woman to change her religion once they get married.

Despite the widespread prevalence of love jihad in India as widely reported by Indian media, the Western media dismisses it as a conspiracy against minorities. If its indeed a conspiracy, then why is the US State Departments report on Religious Freedom in India so worked up about the countrys new set of criminal laws? Although the new penal code did not mention religion, some critics and proponents of the law said provisions on deceit by suppressing identity aimed to criminalise love jihad, a derogatory term referring Muslim men seeking to marry women from other faiths to convert them to Islam, said the report.

In its quest to perpetuate an anti-India narrative, the authors of the US State Department report stooped down to the level of glorifying practices like polygamy, insinuating that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarmas decision to introduce a bill to ban polygamy is an attack on the rights of Muslim minorities in India since the 1937 Muslim Personal Laws (Shariat) Act permits polygamy.

The Report also puts to scrutiny judgements delivered by Indian courts including the Allahabad High Court ruling to conduct a survey of the 17th-century Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and its ruling to permit the examination of the 17th-century Shahi Eidgah Mosque in Mathura. Taking forward the vicious narrative that such decisions amount to an infringement on the religious identity of minorities, the report has stayed silent on the other side of the issue  the presence of incriminating evidence on these sites that makes archaeological surveys to determine if these mosques were built on the remains of Hindu temples destroyed by Islamic invaders.

But such nuances dont fit into the anti-India agenda of the US State Department; thus, they deliberately take a simplistic and one-sided view of these issues. What they also fail to recognise or perhaps conveniently overlook is that nationwide efforts to reclaim Indias civilisational heritage, destroyed by Islamic invaders and European colonisers, is a matter of cultural solidarity and pan-India national identity, it doesnt in any way infringe on the rights of Indian citizens practicing Christianity or Islam.

To conflate the identity of present-day Muslims and Christians with the oppressive legacy of Islamic invaders or British colonisers is akin to all white people viewing colonialism as an empowering legacy. The very idea sounds laughable, but this is exactly whats happening in the context of India. Western media and the think tank ecosystem perpetuate the narrative of minorities being in danger by portraying Bharats resistance to the ecosystem of fundamentalist Islam or the aggressive missionary ecosystem of Christianity as an infringement on the rights of minorities.

Thus, attempts by local Hindu groups and organisations to resist and challenge the large-scale proselytisation and the conversion of local Hindu population are portrayed by the Western media as an attack on minorities. Reports like the one released by the US State Department quote from such biased and one-sided reports, creating the impression that Hindus in Bharat are attacking minorities like Christians and Muslims. By cleverly omitting the background and the context, such reports create a false perpetrator-victim narrative in the context of Hindus and minorities of Bharat.

The Report on religious freedom continuously attacks anti-conversion laws passed in various Bharatiya states, arguing that the government doesnt have a right to put restrictions on ones right to proselytise. But the Indian Constitution guarantees one the freedom to practice ones own religion. Taking it as a right to aggressively proselytise and convert would be taking it too far. The Constitution doesnt give the right to endlessly proselytise and convert. That would amount to an infringement of the rights of those being sought for conversion; it would be a violation of their right to practice their own religion in peace.

Most importantly, the Report accuses the Indian government of deliberate inaction in investigating and prosecuting crimes against members of religious minority groups. Thats quite a serious charge and the report levies these charges casually, without concrete evidence whatsoever. It selectively cites certain incidents, Indian court judgements, media reports, and opinions of mostly unnamed sources to somehow construct a trail, arguing that the Indian state has a deliberate bias when it comes to the investigation of crimes against members of religious minority groups.

The report conveniently omits the background and the context of incidents quoted; it doesnt seem like a research paper compiled under the aegis of the US State Department but rather a college essay or dissertation where the writer, in their over-enthusiasm to prove a set of points, no matter what, conveniently distort facts and sensationalise incidents and perspectives.

The Indian government has categorically rejected the US State Departments annual Report on International Religious Freedom. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, called the report deeply biased that lacked an understanding of Indias social fabric and driven by vote bank considerations. Perhaps its high time the Indian government should consider commissioning its own indigenous Religious Freedom Report in collaboration with Indian think tanks. With Indias increasing geopolitical clout, the next step should be to set our own global standards and benchmarks in evaluating phenomena like religious freedom, terrorism, social justice, etc.

The US report tracks religious freedom in almost 200 countries. All country-wise reports can be accessed through their page. Yet, the report conveniently omits the issue of Hinduphobia in Western countries. The International Religious Freedom Report: UK, for example, condemns Islamophobia and antisemitism but it doesnt mention a word on Hinduphobia or anti-Hindu hate crimes. Rising temple attacks in the West, the series of incidents in Leicester violence targeting Hindus, rise in anti-Hindu hate crimes in the West - the report dodges all these issues.

Perhaps, an independent report commissioned by the Indian government should take up these issues. In the US, caste is increasingly being used as a ploy to soft-sell Hinduphobia. While there are no new laws in place to prohibit vandalism of Hindu places of worship, to keep a check on rising anti-Hindu hate crimes in the US, bills are being introduced in the US and Canada to ostensibly prevent caste discrimination. Hindu advocacy groups in the West are putting up a united front against such bills, saying such measures would amount to the increased caste profiling and demonisation of Hindus.

With the US lecturing the whole world on religious freedom, perhaps its the right time the country looks in its own backyard and evaluates its not so generous treatment of minorities, including Hindus.

Rati Agnihotri is an independent journalist and writer currently based in Dehradun (Uttarakhand). Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Exhibitor applications open for import expo 2025 with robust start

Xinhua) 08:51, July 04, 2024

A visitor views Belgian candles at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Jiansong)

NANNING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday kicked off the application process for global exhibitors looking to participate in the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE), set to be held in November 2025.

Twenty-six firms headquartered in countries such as the United States, Japan and Germany signed up to participate on-site at the exhibition recruitment launch ceremony in Nanning, the capital city of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Their exhibition area would total approximately 15,000 square meters.

Several foreign-invested companies attending the ceremony, including U.S. firm 3M and French firm L'Oreal, have been full-time CIIE participants since the expo's inception.

"The CIIE is an excellent platform that greatly facilitates our brand-building, customer interaction and attraction of more business partners, and fosters cooperation with a wider range of ecosystem partners," said Andrew Wu, managing director of Dun &Bradstreet China. The U.S.-based commercial data and analytics firm has been attending the CIIE since 2020.

The CIIE, first held in 2018, is the world's first national-level expo to focus on promoting imports. The first six expos have seen the registration of more than 10,000 overseas enterprises and the release of over 2,400 new products, technologies and services.

An exhibition area of over 350,000 square meters has been booked for the seventh CIIE, which will be held in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10 this year.

"These figures show that the CIIE is a platform full of opportunities, and its appeal to global businesses is growing steadily," said Tang Wenhong, China's assistant minister of commerce. "The CIIE is becoming increasingly popular, which is a vote of confidence from the global business community in China's economic development."

The recruitment launch is part of a campaign that the CIIE Bureau, the main organizer of the CIIE, is conducting to introduce foreign investment into Guangxi in a targeted manner.

Nearly 120 foreign-invested firms and investment promotion institutions are participating in the campaign, which also includes an investment promotional event, a business match-making session, and field trips to several cities in the autonomous region.

To convert exhibitors into investors, the CIIE Bureau has been organizing tours of China for foreign-invested firms to seek trade and investment opportunities as part of similar campaigns since 2021.

The ongoing cooperation campaign is the first to be conducted in an ethnic-minority autonomous region. Previous iterations have seen nearly 1,000 potential foreign investors tour provincial-level regions such as northeast China's Jilin and southwest China's Yunnan.

China has bolstered its efforts to attract more foreign investment to share in the growth dividends of the country's high-quality development.

In late June, a State Council executive meeting said that China will expand its opening-up of key areas, optimize policy implementation, facilitate foreign investment further, and renew its catalog of industries where foreign investment is encouraged.

"China's business environment will continue improving," Tang said. "We welcome everyone to seize the opportunities to achieve greater success in China, and to keep expanding the scope of win-win cooperation."

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By SA Commercial Prop News

The Umzimkhulu CBD is set for a major facelift as result of a R125 million development financed by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance for the construction of a retail centre that is set to be a hub for much needed economic activity in the area. Image gallery



The Umzimkhulu CBD in KwaZulu-Natal is set for a major facelift as result of a R125 million development financed by Nedbank Corporate Property Finance for the construction of a retail centre that is set to be a hub for much needed economic activity in the area.

More than just creating economic revival, the issue of unemployment will be addressed as 200 people will be employed during construction while the Mall will create 600 permanent jobs for members of the community.

Umzimkhulu CBD is situated in the prominent south-east corner of the R56, a provincial route linking Pietermaritzburg to the N2 leading to the Eastern Cape. It is the main commercial hub for the Umzimkhulu area and attracts many people from small surrounding towns as well a transit shoppers between KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Nedbank Corporate Property Finance is pleased to participate in the exciting economic revival taking place in the Umzimkhulu CBD. The new mall is well-located in the heart of Umzimkhulu and offers easy and convenient accessibility off the R56 and Main Street, says Anand Joseph, Regional Executive of Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, KwaZulu Natal.

The site will also be supported by an onsite taxi rank which will enhance the appeal of the centre by being accessible to taxi commuters, while the existing main road network is being upgraded by the Council to facilitate vehicle access to the Mall. These improvements will enhance flow to the shops, making it convenient for consumers using public transport.

The Mall is anchored by large supermarket, Shoprite. Clothing retailers are represented by Mr. Price, Jet, Edgars Active, Exact, Markhams, Total Sports, Ideals, Ackermans, Pep, Power Fashion, Sheet Street, Franco Ceccato Fashion World to name but a few. OK Furnishers, Ellerines, Joshua Doore and Price n Pride will offer a wide range of furniture. Five fast food franchises will cater a variety of foodstuff, while smaller shops will offer everything from Medical, Dental and Opticians services to internet, cellphone repairs and photographic shops.

Nedbank and African Bank are opening branches in Phase 1.

Phase 1 is over 90 % let and a second phase of between 5000 to 7000 m2 is expected to follow shortly to accommodate the shops and banks that were too late to secure space in Phase 1, says Mike Graham of Graham Projects.

Negotiations are underway with several Government Departments who wish to consolidate Government services on one site as envisaged by the Governments Thusong Centre concept. The Department of Home Affairs is already on site operating from 500 m2 of mobile offices until their new permanent offices become available, he adds.

This is the fourth shopping centre that Nedbank Corporate Property Finance has financed for Graham Projects since 2003 when their association began with the development of the Esikhawini Mall near Richards Bay.

Our longstanding relationship with Nedbank has positioned us to be in the forefront of developments in previously underserviced areas, thereby allowing us to play a role in the revitalisation of economic activity in the local economy, says Graham.

Last year, President Jacob Zuma, in his state of the nation address, mentioned Umzimkhulu as a town in dire need of services and infrastructure. Since then National Government has been working closely with the Municipality to provide finance and support for programmes to uplift the town.

Nedbank Corporate Property Finance is proud to be part of the transformation that is taking place in Umzimkhulu. We are cognisant of the fact that creating a prosperous economy cannot be the sole responsibility of our local or national governments, but the responsibility of every stakeholder in our country, concludes Joseph.

The development is being undertaken by Thina Bantu Trading (Pty) Ltd, and project managed by Graham Projects. Construction of the first phase of 17000 m2 of GLA commenced in May 2012 with completion set for April 2013.
If Taiwanese leaders continue to uphold illegitimate Chinese territorial demands against India, why should anyone take Taiwans own demands for respect of its own sovereignty seriously? read more

Taiwans sovereignty is under unprecedented threat as Chinese Communist Party leaders in Beijing seek to coerce Taiwan into submission even as they threaten to take the country and its outlying islands with military force. Chinese leaders may insist there is One China, but Taiwan has always been distinct. The last time mainland China truly controlled Taiwan was in 1895, before the Spanish-American War in which the United States acquired Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba.

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Over the past 500 years, Chinas true control over Taiwan can be measured in just a couple decades. Whereas Chinese authorities today cite Qing-era control over Taiwan to support their claims, they ignore two historical problems: First, Chinese nationalists considered the Qing to be Manchus, not Chinese and, second, the control was often more theoretical than real as Taiwans population largely remain in rebellion and off-limits to meaningful Chinese presence.

In 1949, as Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist Partys advance toward Beijing, Chinese President Chiang Kai-Shek relocated to Taiwan as the base of the Republic of China. Like Mao, Chiang Kai-Shek considered himself president of One China incorporating both the mainland and Taiwan.

This political impasse continues to the present day. Unable to convince the Taiwanese people to subordinate themselves to the Chinese Communist dictatorship, Taiwan thrives as a country. Even unrecognised internationally by most countries due to Beijings pressure, Taiwan is a thriving democracy and home to the 14th largest economy in the world in terms of gross domestic product.

Taiwan hopes not to defend itself alone. While the United States has always sought strategic ambiguity about its willingness to come to Taiwans defence, the pressure to do so would be enormous. The whole reason why the United States now maintains a US Marine rotational presence in Darwin, Australia, is to set a line from which to respond outside of the range of Chinese aircraft and air-launched missiles. Japanese strategic thinkers imply that Japan would also rally to Taiwans defence.

Meanwhile, Singapore hosts the fuel storage facility for which U.S. naval aviation would depend upon for any Pacific operations east of Guam. Taiwan would also expect other regional states threatened by ChinaVietnam, the Philippines, and South Koreato support it diplomatically against the backdrop of blockade or invasion.

As India is both the worlds largest democracy and a country whose territory China occupies, many Taiwanese assume they would also have Indian support. Perhaps New Delhi would. But Taiwan must recognise that respect for sovereignty goes two ways.

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Prior to moving from China to Taiwan and before Mao Zedong moved into Aksai Chin, Chiang Kai-Shek voiced expansionist claims to Indian territory. That his successors have failed to renounce them undermines Taiwans case before the international community. After all, if Taiwanese leaders continue to uphold illegitimate Chinese territorial demands against India, why should anyone take Taiwans own demands for respect of its own sovereignty seriously?

In 1947, Kai-shek published China Destiny in which he set the stage for Chinas conquest of Tibet and Mongolia. While China had never truly controlled Tibetans and the indigenous people of the Assam highlands, Chinese ambition to do so had always been high. Shortly before its collapse, the Qing dynasty sought to establish a military presence in Tibet. In the aftermath of the 1911 Revolution, local authorities overran Chinese garrisons.

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The Republican leader not only argued that Tibet was a province of China and Tibetans and Mongolians were simply minorities living within China, but he also laid claim to several hundred kilometres of Indian territory. Kai-shek subsequently argued that Inner and Outer Mongolia, Sinkiang (Xinjiang) and Tibet are each a fortress essential for the nations defence and security. After Indias Independence, Kai-sheks government sent several notes to New Delhi.

After the attainment of independence to India, the Nationalist Government in China sent several protest notes to it against the administrative control over Assams northernmost hilly tracts. Kai-sheks representatives later protested to New Delhi after India invited Tibetan representatives to the 1947 Asian Relations Conference in Delhi. Kai-sheks ambassador to India made clear that the Republic of China recognised neither the McMahon Line that established the de facto boundary as the watershed between the Himalayan range and the Tibetan plateau, nor the 1913-14 Simla Convention that gave British India effective control over the Assam-Tibetan borderlands.

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The British government debated a sharp protest to Republican authorities in Nanjing when China redrew maps to include a new Xikang province violating the McMahon Line, but did not want to make waves. The problem did not go away. In 1946, Republican officials told the British that they reserved the right to claim compensation for any losses they suffered as a result of British encroachment.

The Chinese Communist Partys initial hostility toward India in many ways represented continuity over a new direction. Both independent India and Communist China blamed their dispute on the legacy of the British in India and Republicans in China, but the changed political situation in both countries did not shake loose an agreement for Ladakh and Assam. The only real difference between the dispute before and after the Chinese Communist Revolution is that Mao Zedong was willing to use military force to enforce Chinas position.

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More than a century after the Republic of China asserted claims to Indian territory, it is time the Republic of China renounces them. If Taiwan argues there is one China, it will cease to exist under the power of the Chinese Communist Party and mainland China. If Taiwan argues it is a separate country, a finding history supports, it should not carry water for Chinese Communist imperialism.

In many ways, Kai-shek encapsulates the original sin of Chinese claims on India. While Taiwanese embrace the Republican leader as their founding father, they can acknowledge his maximalist claims were unjust and unsupported by history. To do so might not only put Taiwan on the right side of history, it would delegitimise President Xi Jingpings aggression along the length of Chinas borders.

Taiwan is correct that democracies should stand together against the backdrop of Chinese aggression. Taiwanese authorities might begin by recognising they must give and not only receive. Neither Washington, New Delhi, Tokyo, nor Manila should accept anything less from Taipei.

Michael Rubin is director of policy analysis at the Middle East Forum and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
If assembly elections are held as scheduled, the Valley will be a contest between the NC and the PDP. Furthermore, the polarisation and separatist narrative that gained hold during the Lok Sabha elections will only gain momentum and peak during the assembly elections read more

The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir was a huge win for Indian democracy. This region, wrought with terrorism, bad memories of rigged elections, interference from Delhi heartaches, conducted elections that were widely hailed as free and fair. The Modi government can successfully claim credit for restoring trust in the electoral process and ensuring significantly high voter turnouts.

Elections remained peaceful and no boycott calls were given by separatists and terrorists. All political parties campaigned freely without any shadow of terror looming over them.

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Now that the dust has settled on the election excitement and we can look beyond electoral processes it is time to analyse what narratives gained centerstage during election campaigning in the Valley and what can we extrapolate from this verdict about the upcoming assembly elections that are scheduled to be held in a few months. All regional parties including National Conference and PDP were very vocal in telling their flock that this election was just a dress rehearsal for the finals that are coming in the shape of assembly elections.

Following are 11 takeaways from the election results in the Valley. The BJP chose not to contest in the Valley and I will discuss their decision separately.

Revival of regional parties: The Congress and the National conference turned out to be a formidable alliance. The Congress did not win anything but NC won two out of three seats and was a strong contender in the third. The Congress has an old but dedicated cadre in the Valley who did their bit in strengthening the NC. Regional Parties in J&K are not dead or discredited even after months of sustained campaign against them. The election process saw the revival of NC and PDP. The election gave them an opportunity to revive their cadre, and bring dormant issues to surface.

Nepotism is not an anathema: Vociferous campaigns against nepotism have yielded no results. This election campaign saw sons of Omar Abdullah, fourth generation scions of the Abdullah family, in limelight. They followed their father during campaign trips and while both sons maintained that politics was not on their immediate horizon, there are no prizes for guessing where such outings by sons of politicians lead to. Similarly, Mehbooba Muftis daughter assumed greater responsibility and unlike Abdullah kids has actually embraced the mantle of next generation politician from the Mufti family. Engineer Rashid who won as an independent from Baramulla constituency is in Tihar jail and his entire campaign was managed by his two sons  political novices  who managed to upset the apple cart and win the election for their father. Clearly Kashmir valley has no issues with nepotism and family run political organisations.

National Conference wave: There was a silent wave for the National Conference: While psephologists were looking for a wave in the rest of India, almost everyone missed the wave in favour of the National Conference. Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah campaigned long and hard to prove that the Abdullah brand was not outdated. Omar attracted large crowds wherever he went as did Farooq Abdullah. Their social media campaign was managed well and they managed to get their cadre out on the streets.

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Ticket distribution by NC: This got least attention in local media and national media but it was the most significant takeaway of this election in the Valley. Omar Abdullah was ready to eschew all traditional fault lines of Kashmiri society and present a combined Muslim unified face. He gave Srinagar seat to a Shia cleric, Aga Ruhullah and Anantnag-Rajouri seat to a Gujjar cleric, Mian Altaf. Omar Abdullah himself chose to challenge Sajad Lone in Baramulla constituency leaving their traditional safe seat of Srinagar for Aga Ruhullah. This ticket distribution galvanised the Muslim majority of the Valley and they responded with votes.

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Mehbooba Muftis isolation: The PDPs traditional cadre was erstwhile Jamaat-e-Islami cadre. Since the Government of India has announced a ban on Jamaat, their cadre has gone underground. Mehbooba found herself relatively isolated in the elections. She is part of the India alliance but could not carve out any alliance with the PDPs arch rival, National Conference. However, if sometime in future the ban on Jamaat is lifted and one desperately hopes it is not, the PDP will bounce back as the only rival to the NC. Double speak: Kashmiri politicians maintained their ill begotten reputation of speaking in forked tongue. What they said in Kashmiri language was markedly different from what they were saying in English and Urdu for the benefit of national media. In Kashmiri they were openly fanning soft separatism and winning their respect back from India. They talked about wrestling back police control and administrative control, they promoted xenophobia inciting people about afsar who have come from outside, they warned about Hindu India and how they have to maintain their unique Islamic character. But all this was said in Kashmiri language so the national media did not understand and didnt care to understand and report.

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Apni Party bit dust: The new party that had come up post abrogation of Article 370 led by businessman and erstwhile PDP member, Altaf Bukhari, was rejected by the people. The Apni Party even made an alliance with the Peoples Conference of Sajad Lone and yet could not stand up against the NC onslaught. The Apni Party has since dissolved its district units and hopes to rebuild and reorganise. Sajad Lone was more bluster than real deal: Sajad Lone managed to do the largest rally of this election season in Kashmir valley. He took on Omar Abdullah and called him all kinds of names from Tourist to tarr baaz (Kashmiri for liar), the final verdict showed Sajad Lone nowhere close to winning the North Kashmir seat. Sajad Lone enjoys huge goodwill in North Kashmir but is not a pan Kashmir figure and this will be reflected in the Assembly elections as well.

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Omar Abdullahs makeover as Muslim Leader: Omar Abdullah has convincingly gone through a makeover. Projecting himself as a Muslim leader of qaum; he made a trip to Mecca even before the election campaign commenced. He made sure the photographs of his pilgrimage were posted on his social media handles prominently. Omars language has also gone through some change. While it is difficult to tell what language he uses in personal interactions, his public interactions are interspersed by overt Islamic vocabulary and he often talked about zulm his qaum had to go through. Article 370 is a distant memory in Valley: Although all Valley-based parties pay lip service to Article 370, it is not an issue on ground at all. Local people have moved on. They have realised Article 370 in no way offered them any more security than the Indian Constitution already does. Restoration of statehood remains an issue. Biggest issues in this election were electricity, development, jobs and security. Engineer Rashid factor: Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, was a wild card entry in Kashmir valley elections. Baramulla was set to be a tight contest between Sajad Lone and Omar Abdullah with Omar expected to have a narrow edge over Sajad. In the last few days before nomination was to be filed, it was suddenly announced that Engineer Rashid will also contest. Rashid is currently in Tihar Jail in Delhi for the last five years arrested under the stringent UAPA case. The word on the street was that Rashids candidature is being facilitated by agencies and he was expected to queer the pitch enough so as to tilt the Baramulla seat in favour of Sajad Lone. But the unexpected happened. The sea of support that Rashid got was beyond anyones imagination. His two sons leading the campaign only talked about freedom for their father. Their emotional pitch won over people and Omar Abdullah was defeated by almost two lakh votes. This was totally unexpected and a shock development supposedly for agencies too.

The BJP has unquestionably invested a lot in the Valley. Prime Minister Narendra Modi used significant political capital to abrogate Article 370 and reorganise the state. The peace dividends of this have been visible already: The valley is no longer a hostage to separatists and their whims and fancy. Schools run smoothly. Government offices open on time and remain open, administrative tasks are carried on smoothly. Popular street protests are no longer seen and stone throwing is now a distant memory. Yet, the BJP did not seem keen to reap the benefit of all the good work it had been doing and chose to not contest in the Valley.

While it was clear that Srinagar and Baramulla seats would be difficult for the BJP to win this time given the demographics, post reorganisation, there was hope that the BJP might use the Anantnag-Rajouri seat to try and gain a foothold in the Valley. However, that was not to be and this disappointed thousands of Kashmiri Pandits who were voting in exile and wanted to vote for a BJP Candidate. The BJP did manage to convey that KPs should choose non-NC, Non-PDP parties, alluding to Peoples Conference and Apni Party, but it was difficult for Pandits to vote for those who they directly accuse to be bystanders of their genocide.

Similarly, the Pahadi community felt let down by no BJP candidate in the fray and even though the Home Minister made a surprise quick trip to Srinagar, his appeal to Pahadis didnt help much. They felt obliged to vote for the BJP but in absence of the saffron party they were not going to choose parties as suggested by the BJP. This was a golden opportunity for the BJP to slowly build its cadre and even if it would have lost elections it would have gained trust of people. Losing elections is no shame in a democracy and those who lose today, win tomorrow.

If assembly elections are held as scheduled, the Valley will be a contest between the NC and the PDP. Furthermore, the polarisation and separatist narrative that gained hold during the Lok Sabha elections will only gain momentum and peak during the assembly elections. Confronting the separatist narrative then falls on the BJP since the other national party is already in alliance with the NC and the separatist rhetoric suits them. If the BJP chooses not to contest again, Kashmiri Pandits will be left with no option but to sit out and not vote at all.

The Assembly elections, therefore, pose a tough challenge before the Indian State. Does it allow the separatist sentiment to gain hold while trying to strengthen democracy via elections, or does it jump in the fray in the Valley and confront soft separatism leading to conflict on the streets? Or, should there be another reorganisation where Jammu is given separate statehood, a small union territory is carved out for Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities who are victims of genocide and then elections held in both union territories? This option of further reorganisation allows the BJP a strategic and civilisational foothold in the Valley. These questions must be asked and answered before the Assembly elections are held in the Valley. Otherwise, we must be prepared for the political status quo in the Valley.
The inability of the major nuclear powers to forge new arms control treaties that include China will have a long-term fallout on global peace and security read more

During the Cold War era, the two superpowers engaged in an arms race, yet acknowledged the need for restraint on account of mutually assured destruction. Image Credit: CNBC

For a country to emerge as a pole, possession of nuclear weapons is not a prerequisite. Even the permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 1945 was not predicated on possession of nuclear weapons. In 1945, when the UN was established, only the US possessed nuclear weapons. The Soviet Union in 1949, followed by the UK in 1952 and France in 1960, used their P5 membership to acquire and legitimise their nuclear weapons.

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Today, power and influence do not flow from nuclear weapons. Economic power and the capacity to offer ethical alternatives for peace and progress are far more important. For example, the DPRK may have nuclear weapons. But it can never hope to be a pole in an emerging multipolar global order.

During the Cold War era, the two superpowers engaged in an arms race, yet acknowledged the need for restraint on account of mutually assured destruction. Today, no single power has the capacity to dominate others on all issues at all times in all geographies. In a flatter world, even weaker states and non-state actors have acquired the capacity to bridge absolute gaps in military and economic power, often through asymmetrical means.

Some non-state actors, over time, have acquired temporal, spatial and military power and transformed themselves into quasi states, like Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis. In the case of the Taliban, it is now a state actor.

Nearly eight decades after the use of atomic weapons, nuclear deterrence is increasingly seen as indispensable by those that possess nuclear weapons. Ironically, those that gave up the nuclear option, like Ukraine did in 1994 under the Budapest Memorandum, appear to regret their decision.

Notably, nuclear deterrence has failed to prevent wars. In fact, the nuclear overhang and second strike capabilities have created a new paradigm in which states readily engage in conventional conflict and proxy wars. Wars of attrition as the one witnessed in Ukraine, however, are dangerous. They harbour the potential to subscribe to existential threats, real or perceived. These, in turn, could elevate the chances of resorting to nuclear weapons.

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In recent decades, international arms control and disarmament mechanisms have seen deep erosion. The Open Skies Treaty (OST) which provides for state parties to conduct short-notice, unarmed, reconnaissance flights over the entire territory of other member states to collect data on military forces and activities, is a casualty of the Ukraine war. The US withdrew from the Treaty in November 2020 followed by Russia in December 2021. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, long considered a bedrock of global nuclear strategic stability, ran aground with the withdrawal by the US in 2019.

There has been little progress on disarmament initiatives between the two biggest nuclear-weapon states, the US and Russia. The START-1 Treaty lasted from 1991 to 2004 and the START-2 Treaty lasted from 1993 to 2002. The New START Treaty, signed in 2010, is expiring in 2026. There is no hope of an extension. In fact, Russia walked out of the Treaty in February 2023 on grounds that it was not ready to permit the US and NATO to inspect its nuclear facilities. The NPT Review Conference in 2022 achieved nothing. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), pushed through a UN General Assembly Resolution in 2017, did not acquire traction due to flawed content and procedure. The P-5 nuclear-weapon states opposed the Treaty, favouring the NPT instead. India did not participate in the negotiations. Many countries, like India, maintain that the Conference on Disarmament (CD) is the only legitimate negotiating forum for disarmament.

Significantly, the five nuclear-weapon states have failed to act in good faith, under Article 6 of the NPT, to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

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The CTBT has unilaterally listed 44 countries in its Annexe 2, including countries which are not party to the treaty. This, and the fact that even signatories to the treaty have balked at ratification, have limited its relevance. The negotiations on a possible Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT) can succeed only if they are based on the Shannon mandate, which emphasises the goal of a universal, non-discriminatory, and verifiable treaty.

Ironically, at the beginning of 2022, the P-5 countries had issued a joint statement giving assurances that nuclear weapons, for as long as they continue to exist, should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression and prevent war. Soon thereafter, Russia put its nuclear forces on alert. Now, there is renewed focus on the role of tactical nuclear weapons. There is also renewed focus on an arms race in space. These can lead to new threat perceptions and misunderstandings in an era of network centric warfare, given the lack of consensus among the P-5 nuclear weapon states.

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A key concern today is proliferation and the threat of WMDs falling into the hands of terrorists and non-state actors, as seen in the reports of the UN Security Council Resolution 1540 Committee. India traditionally co-sponsors a resolution in the First Committee aimed at preventing this.

An even more worrying prospect should be the impact of hypersonic nuclear delivery systems on nuclear deterrence, missile defences and second strike capabilities. Scramjet hypersonic missiles pose a new threat that is difficult to counter.

Technological advances have made nuclear weapons more lethal as well as more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities around the world raises the disturbing spectre of vulnerability of command and control systems governing nuclear weapons and missiles.

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The key question is whether AI can replicate the sense of intuition, doubt, suspicion and morality that human operators rely on to detect false alarms. There also exist legal and ethical concerns over the use of AI, especially in the context of the Lethal Autonomous Systems (LAWS).

The long-term impact of AI on nuclear stability, arms control, escalation and accidental confrontation needs greater scrutiny. Recently, several experts have emphasised the need to establish a global regime to regulate AI.

Today, all major nuclear powers are modernising their nuclear arsenals. In Chinas case, reports suggest that the arsenal is growing at a very rapid rate, including long-range delivery systems.

Rapid military modernisation and development of advanced early warning capabilities have led to speculation about changes in No First Use (NFU) postures.

The inability of the major nuclear powers to forge new arms control treaties that include China will have a long-term fallout on global peace and security.

India has an unblemished record in non-proliferation. Indias traditional initiatives include support for a resolution on the role of S&T in international security and disarmament. It has long advocated general and complete disarmament on the basis of a step by step process that is universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable, to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

The author, a former Ambassador, is the Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses; he has served as Indias representative to the First Committee at the UN in New York. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
iOS 18 will also feature support for alphabetical layouts for 11 Indian languages, including Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. iOS 18 will also include live voicemail transcription for Indian English read more

Apple has also made improvements for those using dual SIM cards. Since the iPhone 11, iPhones have supported dual SIM cards with one physical SIM slot and an eSIM. With iOS 18, Apple introduces a dedicated SIM switch button within the redesigned control centre. Image Credit: Apple

Apple has announced some exciting India-centric updates for iPhones with the upcoming release of iOS 18. The new operating system, introduced at the WWDC 2024 event, promises to bring a host of new features to all iPhone users, but there are some special additions specifically designed for Indian users.

One of the standout features is the support for numerals in 12 different Indian languages. With iOS 18, users will be able to customize their contact posters and lock screens using numerals from languages such as Arabic, Arabic Indic, Bangla, Devanagari, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Malayalam, Meitei, Odia, Ol Chiki, and Telugu. This allows for a more personalized and culturally relevant experience.

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In addition to numeral support, iOS 18 will include live voicemail transcription for Indian English. This means that iPhones can transcribe voicemails in real time, making it easier for users to understand their messages. Alongside this, there will be support for live caller ID, which will help users identify incoming calls more easily.

Apple has also made improvements for those using dual SIM cards. Since the iPhone 11, iPhones have supported dual SIM cards with one physical SIM slot and an eSIM. With iOS 18, Apple introduces a dedicated SIM switch button within the redesigned control centre. This new feature allows users to switch between two phone numbers quickly and conveniently, enhancing the dual SIM experience.

Siri, Apples virtual assistant, is also getting an upgrade. On iOS 18, Siri will better understand Indian English mixed with local languages such as Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu. This makes interactions with Siri more natural and effective for Indian users.

Additionally, the new translate app now supports Hindi and can perform system-wide translation, including in the Safari web browser and the Notes app, making it easier for users to navigate and communicate in their preferred language.

Apple has not stopped there. iOS 18 will also feature support for alphabetical layouts for 11 Indian languages, including Bangla, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. This will help users type and organize their content more efficiently. Furthermore, there will be enhanced language search capabilities in Assamese, Bangla, Devanagari, and Gujarati, making it easier for users to find what they are looking for.

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iOS 18 is set to roll out later this year, and iPhone users in India can look forward to a more personalized, convenient, and culturally relevant experience with their devices. Whether its through improved language support, better dual SIM management, or enhanced voice interaction, Apple is making significant strides to cater to the Indian market.
The DPDP Act, which was officially notified in the Gazette in August of last year, includes Section 9, which prohibits behavioural tracking of children on digital platforms. However, social media companies believe this restricts the effectiveness of safety features read more

Executives from a social media intermediary expressed their concerns, emphasizing the need to track certain user signals, including those from children, to ensure safety features are effective. Image credit: Pexels

Social media companies are raising significant concerns about the upcoming Rules for the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, specifically around issues such as behavioural tracking of children, verifiable parental consent (VPC), and targeted advertisements. These rules, designed to enforce the DPDP Act, have the industry hoping for solutions to their pressing challenges.

The DPDP Act, which was officially notified in The Gazette of India in August of last year, includes Section 9, which prohibits behavioural tracking of children on digital platforms.

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This measure is intended to protect childrens privacy by preventing companies from monitoring a childs online activities. However, social media companies argue that this restriction negatively impacts the effectiveness of safety features designed to protect young users.

According to a report by the Economic Times, executives from a social media intermediary expressed their concerns, emphasizing the need to track certain user signals, including those from children, to ensure safety features are effective.

They are in discussions with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and other stakeholders to find a balanced approach that maintains both privacy and safety for teenagers.

Social media companies assert that tracking teenagers behaviour is essential for safeguarding them from predators and harmful interactions. One official mentioned that a complete ban on behavioural tracking is counterproductive to the governments objectives of protecting children. They noted that the provision for exemptions leaves room for continued advocacy on this issue.

Another executive highlighted the adverse consequences of turning off behavioural tracking, citing the European Unions e-privacy directive as an example. In the EU, companies had to suspend certain safety measures due to similar regulations but were later allowed to reinitiate them after regulatory review. The executives stressed that without exemptions for security purposes, platforms will struggle to prevent predators from targeting children.

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The DPDP Act does allow the government to exempt specific data fiduciaries or data processes from the behavioural tracking prohibition, providing some hope for companies. They believe that future notifications of the rules might introduce such exemptions, avoiding the need to disable critical safety features.

Parental consent is another major issue under Section 9, requiring companies to obtain permission from parents before processing a childs data. Companies are struggling to devise a practical method for obtaining this consent and are looking to the forthcoming rules for guidance. They hope the government will identify third parties who can handle VPC, as companies cannot manage this entirely on their own.

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Executives suggest that a token-based solution could be safer than having parents share their IDs with multiple companies. They also warn that without age-appropriate advertising, children might receive inappropriate ads, such as those for adult hygiene products.

Executives from various companies stress that resolving issues related to verifiable parental consent, behavioural monitoring and tracking, and targeted advertisements is crucial.

These challenges represent the most significant problems with the DPDP Act. Addressing these concerns will help mitigate the impact on product changes, revenue, and user growth for social media platforms.
Neither Foxconn nor Apples official hiring practices discriminate against married women. However, some have claimed that unofficially, married women are perceived as having family duties and a higher likelihood of pregnancy, which may influence hiring decisions read more

The investigation into Foxconn's hiring practices comes at a time when Apple's expansion in India is gaining momentum. As of April 2024, 14 per cent of all iPhones are manufactured in India, signalling a shift away from China. Image Credit: AFP

In late June 2024, iPhone assembler Foxconn faced allegations of discriminating against hiring married women for its plant in India. This prompted the Indian government to launch an investigation into the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed the local government of Tamil Nadu to look into the accusations, reflecting the political sensitivity of the issue as Modi pushes for more women to join the workforce.

Earlier this week, a fact-finding team from the federal governments regional labor department visited the Foxconn plant in Chennai. This team, which consisted of 5 people, questioned executive officers and interviewed over 40 married women working at the plant.

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According to regional labour commissioner A. Narasaiah, none of the women interviewed expressed concerns about discrimination. Narasaiah stated that the team investigating the matter was collecting information. The team has asked Foxconn to submit documents including company policies, and recruitment policies. They told us they are not discriminating," he said.

Foxconn reported that it currently employs 51,281 workers at the Chennai plant, with 33,360 of them being women. Among these women, about 8 per cent, or roughly 2,750, are married. However, Foxconn has not provided a detailed breakdown of these figures, such as the number of married women specifically working in iPhone assembly, which is where the accusations of discrimination are focused.

Despite the initial findings, the investigation has faced criticism for not questioning Foxconns third-party recruitment staff. The discrimination claims suggest that four recruiters had informed candidates that only unmarried women were eligible for certain positions. This aspect of the investigation remains unaddressed, leaving room for further scrutiny.

The alleged discriminatory practice is significant in India, where Prime Minister Modi is encouraging more women to enter the workforce. Employers like Foxconn are seen as crucial to this effort, offering many women a chance to escape poverty. The accusations, if proven true, could undermine these efforts and highlight the challenges married women face in securing employment.

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Neither Foxconn nor Apples official hiring practices discriminate against married women. However, sources within Foxconn have suggested that unofficially, married women are perceived as having family duties and a higher likelihood of pregnancy, which may influence hiring decisions.

Apple has not commented directly on the current investigation but previously addressed similar concerns in 2022.

At that time, Apple stated, When concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022, we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld. Apple also emphasized that all its suppliers in India, including Foxconn, hire married women.

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The investigation into Foxconns hiring practices comes at a time when Apples expansion in India is gaining momentum. As of April 2024, 14 per cent of all iPhones are manufactured in India, signalling a shift away from China. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to diversify Apples supply chain and strengthen its presence in the Indian market.

The outcome of the investigation remains to be seen, but it underscores the importance of fair employment practices in supporting economic development and gender equality. As the Indian government continues to gather information and assess the situation, the findings could have significant implications for Foxconn, Apple, and the broader efforts to promote womens participation in the workforce.
The Labour Party, overwhelmingly favoured by the Labour Party, is set to win a landslide victory in the UK general elections read more

The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip remains a major priority for ethnic minority voters in the UK general elections, according to a poll.

The British voters cast their ballots on Thursday (July 4). Just as the voting concluded at 10 pm BST (2:30 am IST), exit polls were released which showed that Labour Party was headed to a landslide victory by winning 410 of the 650 seats.

The British ethnic minorities are in favour of the Labour, according to a poll by the Independent newspaper and More In Common.

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The poll shows that 53 per cent of minority voters preferred the Labour. The figure for Black voters was 65 per cent.

Gaza War big issue for Asians

The poll showed that the Gaza war was a top issue for one in five Asian voters.

The poll further showed that the Labour harmed its standing among the British Muslim voters with its support to Israel in the initial phase of the war after the terrorist attack by Hamas and allied groups. The poll showed that the voters likely remained supportive of the Labour despite the dissatisfaction.

Ed Hodgson, the Research Manager at More In Common, said, For some of Britains Muslim Community, Labour has lost their trust over their stance on Gaza. However, given that less than a quarter list Gaza in their top three election issues, Labours vote share remains strong. This means that, for the most part, regaining the trust of Britains Muslims will be a challenge for after the election.

Black voters believe Labour will make lives better, shows poll

The Black voters are most likely to vote for the Labour as they believe the party will make their lives better, showed the poll published by The Independent.

Fifty-seven per cent of Black British voters said the Labour will make their lives better, as per the poll.

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Overall, the cost-of-living crisis was the most important issue for all minority voters, with 72 per cent Asian British voters and 70 per cent of Black voters.
British Indian community praises Rishi Sunaks performance

As the voting for snap general elections began on Thursday, the Indian community in the United Kingdom expressed confidence that the Labour Party would end the nearly 15-year stint of the Conservatives.

I think if the current political trends are anything to go about and if they continue till the end of the polling day, I think Labour should come back with a resounding victory, a UK resident said.

What is going to happen is that they (Conservatives) are going to lose. There are some reasons for that as well. There has been a messthey have changed so many prime ministers and the services are in a mess. The National Health Service (NHS) is in a mess and other things are in a mess. So I personally believe that Labour should come back with a victory, he added.

Expressing support for the incumbent Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, the UK resident said that he is a good PM. He said that the Conservative Party will lose due to problems created by previous leaders, not because of the current Prime Ministers performance.

He (Rishi Sunak) is a good prime minister. Unfortunately, if the Conservatives lose, which sounds sure, its not because of him. Its because of the mess that the others made. Because he is a very good Prime Minister, he didnt have enough time as well, because when he came as Prime Minister, there was only a year or something left for the next elections as well. So I would personally love to see him as the Prime Minister, he told ANI.
From Sunak's defeat to Starmer's historic win, here's everything you need to know about 2024 UK Election results

It was a big day in UK politics as the country witnessed many historic firsts with Keir Starmer clinching the post of prime minister after his Labour Party won a thumping victory while Rishi Sunaks Conservative Party made a poor show. With Starmer in and Sunak out, heres a round-up of all that happened in between on Friday, July 5.

-Labour Party won a landslide victory by winning 412 seats. The Conservative Party won 121 seats. (These are not the final results as counting in two constituencies is still underway)

-Keir Starmer became the second prime minister, after Tony Blair, under whose leadership the Labour Party has crossed the 400 mark

-Starmer won from his constituency Holborn and St Pancras while Rishi Sunak, who had to give up the prime ministerial post, also won from his Richmond and Northallerton seat

-Rishi Sunak apologised to the nation after losing the elections and took responsibility for the Conservative Partys defeat. His colleague and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman also said sorry for the partys performance and said, My party did not listen to you.

-Women are set to make a greater presence in the House of Commons after 242 female MPs were voted to power, 22 more than last year

-Liberal Democratic Party emerged as the third-largest party in UK after winning 71 seats

-Conservative Partys Liz Truss became the first former prime minister to lose from her constituency in 90 years

-This was also the first time the Conservatives performed poorly in its nearly 200-year history. Meanwhile, Labour will enjoy a majority of 174 seats, just a little short of its record achieved under former PM Tony Blair

-After delivering his last address from 10 Downing Street, Sunak tendered his resignation to King Charles III at Buckingham Palace following which Starmer was formally appointed as the prime minister

-Starmer addressed the nation for the first time as a prime minister from Number 10 where he said, Country first, party second and vowed to start working now
Eastern Congo has been torn by decadelong fighting between government forces and more than 120 armed groups, often involving bombs targeting civilians as the militias seek a share of the regions gold and other resources. read more

A general view shows miners at an artisanal gold mine near Kamituga in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, August 1, 2018. File Photo- Reuters

A militia attack on a gold mine in northeastern Congo killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese soldiers, a civil society group said Thursday, the latest assault as violence worsens in the resource-rich region.

The attack on Wednesday targeted the village of Gambala and the nearby Camp Blanquette gold mine in the Ituri province, according to Jean Robert Basiloko, a member of a local civil society group. A militia known as the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, or CODECO, claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Eastern Congo has been torn by decadelong fighting between government forces and more than 120 armed groups, often involving bombs targeting civilians as the militias seek a share of the regions gold and other resources. Violence in the region has worsened in recent months as security forces battle the militias.

On Wednesday, the militiamen set homes ablaze and then attacked the mine, which is guarded by a competing armed group, the Zaire Militia, Basiloko told The Associated Press.

They attackers killed six Chinese miners and two Congolese troops, he added, and abducted two other miners, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

CODECO and the Zaire Militia are involved in a complex conflict, mixing economic ambitions and power struggles. The Zaire Militia, a dissident faction of CODECO, fiercely opposes its former allies.

CODECO is a loose association of militia groups mainly from the ethnic Lendu farming community. Attacks by CODECO killed nearly 1,800 people and wounded more than 500 in the four years through 2022, according to the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism.

The United Nations has said some of the attacks could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.


Several rivers in North Bihar flowing above danger levels The situation in North Bihar appeared grim on Thursday with several rivers, including the Kosi, Bagmati, Kamla Balan, Adhwara, and Mahananda, flowing above the danger level. The Kosi River in the Baltara block of Khagaria district was flowing at 34.09 meters, surpassing its danger level of 33.85 meters.



The Bagmati River in the Benibad block of Muzaffarpur district is also posing a serious flood threat, with its current water level at 49.41 meters, well above the danger level of 48.68 meters.



The Adhwara River in Sundarpur, Sitamarhi district, is also flowing above the danger level. The current water level is 62.10 meters, exceeding the danger level of 61.70 meters.



The Mahananda River at Dhangaraghat in Purnea district is currently at 36.20 meters, exceeding the danger level of 35.65 meters.



Similarly, the Kamla Balan River at Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district was flowing above the danger level, with a current water level of 50.44 meters compared to the danger level of 50.00 meters.



Other rivers, including the Gandak, Burhi Gandak, Bhutahi Balan, Lalbakeya, and Khiroi, were also flowing near danger levels in several locations.



The release of about 1.25 lakh cusecs of water from the Valmiki Barrage, the highest this season, has exacerbated the situation. Additionally, the water level of the Gandak Barrage has been rising due to continuous rain in Nepal and the release of 1.64 lakh cusecs of water from Narayan Ghat in Nepal.



The Bihar government's Water Resource Department has put all officials of the Gandak Barrage on high alert, and dams are being continuously monitored. The risk of floods and soil erosion has significantly increased for residents in low-lying areas. People living in areas such as Shripat Nagar, Bhaisahiyan, Balua Thodi, Madarhawa, Sisai, Khap Tola, Uma Tola, and Harakh Tola of Bagaha subdivision have been advised to stay alert.



Many villages in Gopalganj, East Champaran, and the Bagaha subdivision of West Champaran district are also at risk, including the Yogapatti block of Bettiah. Almost every year numerous villages turn into islands during such situations, causing significant distress among the population.



The situation has already led to serious consequences, such as the embankment of the Gandak canal in Murarpur Gularia Tola of Harsiddhi block breaking on Wednesday. This break has resulted in the submergence of nearby villages and the destruction of crops across hundreds of acres.



The officials of the Water Resource Department asked residents in the affected regions to remain vigilant, follow instructions from local authorities, and prepare for potential evacuations to ensure their safety.




Marcos instructions came after Manila and Beijing agreed on the need to restore trust and confidence to better manage maritime disputes during a round of talks which Manila hosted on Tuesday read more

Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivers a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, on May 31, 2024. Reuters File

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered his armed forces to defuse tensions in the South China Sea, his military chief said on Thursday, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal.

Marcos instructions came after Manila and Beijing agreed on the need to restore trust and confidence to better manage maritime disputes during a round of talks which Manila hosted on Tuesday.

But that did not stop the Philippine military from calling for China to return the firearms that its coast guard seized from Filipino navy personnel and pay around $1 million in compensation for damaging vessels involved in last months resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.

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I demanded the return of seven firearms, General Romeo Brawner told reporters following a command conference with Marcos. We are demanding that China pay 60 million pesos for the damage they caused during that.

Manila has accused the China Coast Guard of intentionally ramming and deliberately puncturing navy vessels and seizing weapons to disrupt the resupply mission on June 17, seriously injuring a Filipino sailor who lost a finger. The Philippines maintains a rusting warship manned by a small crew that it ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.

Brawner said the military is looking at the possibility of charging China with the cost of reconstructing the finger of the injured sailor.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory, has maintained that its actions in the waterway, a key conduit for trade between Asia and Europe and the Middle East, have been lawful and professional.

It rejects the 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which said Beijings expansive maritime claims had no legal basis.

The Philippine military presented the president with several options on its operations in the South China Sea, but they will not result in significant changes to how resupply operations were being carried out, Brawner said, without giving details.

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The end goal is still to be able to bring supplies to our troops to be able to practice freedom of navigation and overflight, without necessarily escalating the situation youre in, Brawner said.

In the same briefing, Brawner said the Philippines armed forces will also coordinate with a senator who claimed to have knowledge of a Chinese plan to target her country with hypersonic missiles.

Senator Imee Marcos, the presidents sister and head of the senate foreign relations committee, created a stir earlier this week with her video, posted on Tik Tok. She has provided no evidence for the claim.

Beijing had previously condemned the deployment of a US intermediate range missile system on Philippine soil during joint military exercises in April and May.

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An army spokesperson confirmed the Typhon missile launcher remains deployed in the Philippines northern islands and would be shipped out by September.

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.

Brawner said he was hopeful an agreement allowing the militaries of Philippines and Japan to visit each others soil would be signed during a meeting between their defence and foreign ministers on July 8.
The Mango projectiles that will be made in India are designed to be fired from the guns of T-72 and T-90 tanks which Indias land forces use, Russias vast state-owned Rostec corporation said in a statement read more

Russias vast state-owned Rostec corporation said on Thursday that its weapons export unit had organised the production in India of armour-piercing rounds for Russian-made battle tanks.

Rostec issued its statement ahead of a July 8-9 visit to Russia by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin.

The Mango projectiles that will be made in India are designed to be fired from the guns of T-72 and T-90 tanks which Indias land forces use, Rostec said.

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The rounds allow you to hit modern tanks equipped with combined protection. Various modifications of these combat vehicles are in service with India, it said in its statement.

Rostec said it also had plans to localise the production of gunpowder in India as part of the Indian governments drive to have more foreign goods made in India.

Moscow has long supplied the Indian military with equipment.
Hasinas Beijing visit follows her travel to New Delhi last month besides her attendance at the swearing ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third term signifying close ties between India and Bangladesh. read more

The Chinese government announced on Thursday that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay a visit to Beijing from July 8 to 10, where she will meet with top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping.

This visit is expected to strengthen political mutual trust and boost bilateral relations to a new level. Coming just days after her trip to India, Hasinas visit to China is seen as an effort to strike a balance between her countrys ties with its two major investors.

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According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, this is Hasinas first visit to China since her new term began and her second visit in five years. During her stay, she will hold talks with President Xi and Premier Li Qiang, and attend a ceremony to sign cooperative agreements.

The leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on deepening traditional friendship, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and international and regional issues of common concern, the spokesperson said, adding that Hasina will also attend the China-Bangladesh Business Trade and Investment Conference.

The visit will facilitate political mutual trust, strengthen the development strategies, promote high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, accelerate the implementation of the three major global initiatives, and push China-Bangladesh relations to a new level, Mao said.

Hasinas China visit was expected to focus on more Chinese investments in Bangladesh under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a multi-project, multi-country infrastructure project of China. Next to Pakistan, Bangladesh is the biggest recipient of Chinese investments estimated to be over USD 25 billion.

Hasinas Beijing visit follows her travel to New Delhi last month besides her attendance at the swearing ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third term signifying close ties between India and Bangladesh.

After her talks with Modi on June 22, both sides decided to work on a mega project to conserve and manage the cross-border Teesta River, apart from moving ahead to start negotiations on a comprehensive trade pact and boosting defence ties.

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Incidentally, China has also evinced interest to build a mega project on the Teesta River. After returning from her India visit, Hasina said Bangladesh would gauge proposals from both India and China for that mega project and accept the better one for her country.

With inputs from agencies.
As the UK votes in one of its most significant general elections, heres a recall of Boris Johnsons Brexit-fueled 2019 victory. Johnsons gamble on a winter election reshaped British politics, effectively setting the stage for todays high-stakes contest read more

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson endorses British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at a campaign event during a Conservative general election campaign event in London, UK, July 2, 2024. Reuters

The United Kingdom is voting today in its general election amid speculation about a change of government for the first time in 14 years. Many analysts believe it will be one of the countrys most consequential elections since the end of World War II. As the sixth-biggest economy votes for its next government, lets look back at the 2019 parliamentary election, considered a landmark event since the war.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called that election held in December 2019 a referendum on essentially one issue: Brexit.

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The issue of 2019 polls

General elections in the UK are typically held in the spring or early summer. But in the autumn of 2019, the recently-appointed Johnson gambled on holding one on December 12, when most people just want to get ready for Christmas and would rather think of anything but politics.

For Johnson, desperate times called for desperate measures. The June 23, 2016 Brexit referendum, won narrowly by those backing an exit from the European Union, triggered a chaotic period in politics.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, resigned immediately after his side lost the referendum.

His successor, Theresa May, tried but failed to find a Brexit formula that a majority in Parliament would back. Everyone seemingly had a different idea as to what post-Brexit deal the UK should have with the EU, and the original day of departure  March 2019  was delayed.

Parliament was in chaos, and Johnson, who succeeded May, pledged that he would Get Brexit Done.

Rivals in a flux, Johnson offers clarity

With Labours Brexit policy unclear and its left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn deeply unpopular, Johnsons Conservatives won their biggest majority since 1987 under Margaret Thatcher. Labour suffered its worst election result in terms of seats since the 1930s.

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Johnson prevailed largely because his message was clear, especially in parts of the country that voted Brexit but had for decades voted Labour. The UK left the European Union on Jan. 31, 2020.

But, the victory turned ugly for the victor

Any celebrations were short-lived, however, with a deadly coronavirus pandemic soon spreading around the world.

Johnson was forced to resign in the summer of 2022 after he was found to have lied to Parliament over lockdown-breaching parties at his offices in Downing Street. The 49-day tenure of his successor, Liz Truss, was even more chaotic after she unveiled unfunded tax cuts that roiled financial markets and sent borrowing costs for homeowners surging.

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Rishi Sunak succeeded May and he has had to contend with the dual legacy as their Conservative Party looks at the uphill task of keeping the Labour Party from returning to power in the UK.
The Global Times challenges the veracity of claims made by the Wall Street Journal linking Chinas expansion in Cuba to electronic espionage, citing inconsistencies and political motivations read more

The Chinese government mouthpiece, The Global Times, has responded strongly to an exclusive piece published by the Wall Street Journal on July 2. The article claimed that a study from the Washington-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), reveals satellite images indicating the expansion of Cubas electronic eavesdropping stations, purportedly connected to China. This includes new construction at a previously undisclosed site approximately 70 miles from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

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According to The Global Times, this claim has been refuted by the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, the spokespersons of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Chinese Embassy in the US.

In June 2023, the Wall Street Journal had reported, citing US officials, that China and Cuba had reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility in Cuba. This report was later debunked by both the White House and Cuban authorities.

The Global Times said that observers are left questioning whether the Wall Street Journal, a newspaper with over a century of history, maintains basic editorial and fact-checking procedures. The July 2 report, written by the same journalist as last years piece, seems to overlook the glaring inconsistencies and contradictions between the two articles, the Chinese newspaper said.

The concern about the stations, former officials and analysts say, is that China is using Cubas geographical proximity to the southeastern U.S. to scoop up sensitive electronic communications from American military bases, space-launch facilities, and military and commercial shipping, the WSJ said in its latest piece. Authors of the CSIS report, after analysing years worth of satellite imagery, found that Cuba has significantly upgraded and expanded its electronic spying facilities in recent years and pinpointed four sitesat Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay and Calabazar, the Wall Street Journal said in its latest report.

However, this has definitely not amused China.

Moreover, the CSIS reports author claimed to have identified the spying facilities in Cuba after analysing years worth of satellite imagery. However, one of the locations, referred to as El Salao, according to the reports coordinates, actually points to the landmark building National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity del Cobre in the village of El Cobrewhich is a church, The Global Times responded to the Wall Street Journal report without mincing any words.

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The Global Times reported that the Wall Street Journal claimed Cubas eavesdropping stations are believed to be linked to China without providing a clear explanation for this assertion. The CSIS attributed this belief to China and Cubas cooperation in space technology, which The Global Times argued is a clear case of concocting charges without substantial evidence. According to The Global Times, while the facts remain unclear, the conclusions explicitly target China.

The Global Times also noted that the CSIS report was produced jointly by Hidden Reach and the Americas programme and that the former uses so-called satellite imagery and open-source information to long-term vilify China, accusing it of using civilian research vessels for intelligence gathering and expanding polar expeditions. The Global Times suggested that this effort is aimed at leveraging the US global surveillance system to propagate the China threat theory.

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On July 2, the Wall Street Journal reported that this development arises amid escalating concerns about Great Power competition in the Caribbean and Latin America, regions where Washington has long sought to prevent rivals from gaining military and economic advantages. In its annual threat assessment released in February, the US intelligence community publicly acknowledged for the first time that China is pursuing military facilities in Cuba, though it did not provide specific details.

The Global Times argued that the Wall Street Journal, CSIS and their backers are not seeking objectivity and fairness, but are instead creating a dirty bomb of public opinion to align with Washingtons agenda to suppress China and Cuba. The Global Times pointed out that these reports not only have significant factual issues but also a skewed value system. For instance, they claim that the so-called eavesdropping station is near the US Guantanamo Bay naval base. The Global Times countered that the Guantanamo Bay naval base itself is a century-old symbol of illegal US interference in Cuba and that the US military has used it as an intelligence station to monitor Latin American countries.

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Furthermore, The Global Times highlighted that the US has 750 military bases in over 80 countries and regions, including dozens in Latin America and the Caribbean. The US regularly conducts close-in reconnaissance against China in the South China Sea, and in April, it even deployed the Mid-Range Capability ground-based missile system on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. According to The Global Times, it is evident who is engaging in double standards and who is posing threats to other countries and the world.
The governors, including Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York, came out in support of Biden after holding a closed-door meeting with the president read more

Governors Wes Moore, Kathy Hochul and Tim Walz speaks to reporters after meeting with Joe Biden at the White House. AFP

A group of leading governors from the Democratic Party rallied behind US President Joe Biden after he assured that he wouldnt be leaving the race for the White House. The governors, including Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, Gavin Newsom of California and Kathy Hochul of New York, came out in support of Biden after holding a closed-door meeting with the president.

The calls for Biden to leave the race, reached an all-time high after he gave a lacklustre performance in the first 2024 presidential debate against Former US President Donald Trump. The POTUS conducted an hour-long meeting with the aforementioned governors and 20 other Democratic governors took part in the meeting virtually.

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After it was over, the governors told local reporters that the conversation was candid and they spoke to Biden about his debate performance. The US lawmakers reiterated that defeating Trump would be their utmost priority but supporting Biden in this time is also important.

We want a clear path to victory: Democrats

While speaking to the reporters, the governors assured that the party wants a clear path of victory in the upcoming 2024 presidential elections and made it clear that they will stand behind Biden.

We, like many Americans, are worried, Walz of Minnesota said. We are all looking for the path to win  all the governors agree with that. President Biden agrees with that," he told reporters on Wednesday.

He has had our backs through Covid  the governors have his back. Were working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No 1 priority and thats the No 1 priority of the president  The feedback was good. The conversation was honest, Wes Moore of Maryland averred.

The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader, he added. The proclamation from the governors came after some lawmakers from the Democratic Party called for Biden to abandon his re-election bid.

On Wednesday, Representative Raul Grijalva became the second House Democrat to call for President Joe Biden to quit the race. In an interview with The New York Times, Grijalva said that the President should shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

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However, the lawmaker from Arizona made it clear that he would support Biden if he remains the Democratic nominee.

Biden remains adamant to continue in the race

The president for his part also made it clear that he will stay in the race. Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running  no ones pushing me out, Biden said on a call with staffers from his re-election campaign. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win," he added.

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris also insisted that she is standing by Bidens side despite some insiders reportedly rallying around her as a possible replacement.

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We will not back down. We will follow our presidents lead, the vice president reportedly told staffers on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. With the proclamation from Biden himself, it is safe to say that the 81-year-old Commander-in-chief is not backing down anytime soon.

With inputs from the agencies.
Vladimir Putins foreign tours have remained restricted for a major part after he ordered the Russian military to cross the Ukrainian borders in February 2022. However, in recent weeks, his foreign visits have become more frequent despite an ICC arrest warrant. read more

Russia President Vladimir Putin has an arrest warrant pending against his name after an International Criminal Court (ICC) issued it in March 2023 for war crimes. He has been charged with abduction and forced recruitment of children in armed forces from Ukraine after Russia invaded the country in February 2022.

Yet, he has travelled to Kazakhstan this week to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), an international group designed to counter the dominance of Western alliances in global affairs. This followed his visits to North Korea and Vietnam.

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These visits underscore his defiance of Western sanctions and international condemnation and are particularly significant given the looming shadow of the arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

But Putin has been wise in choosing his foreign trips

The ICC arrest warrant, issued for Putins alleged responsibility in the abduction of children from Ukraine, imposes substantial travel restrictions. With 123 countries as ICC members, the risk of arrest looms large for Putin if he ventures into these jurisdictions.

However, Kazakhstan is not a party to the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC, and thus bears no legal obligation to detain him. This loophole has allowed Putin to navigate his international travels carefully, selecting destinations where the threat of arrest is minimal.

India is also not a signatory to the ICC but Putin had avoided visiting India last year for the G-20 Summit amid speculation what New Delhi would do given its strong ties with the West as democratic blocs.

Notwithstanding legal challenges, it remains uncertain whether Putin or other senior Russian officials will ever face justice under international law. The Kremlin has staunchly denied any allegations of war crimes by its troops in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the ICC continues to investigate other potential atrocities, while Ukraine has swiftly put captured Russian soldiers on trial for war crimes, resulting in numerous convictions.

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A message from Astana: Putin-Xi friendship

The visit to Kazakhstan marked the second meeting between Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in as many months, highlighting the strengthening ties between Moscow and Beijing. Both leaders have faced escalating tensions with the West, and their meeting in Kazakhstan served to affirm their strategic partnership.

The two leaders have met more than 40 times for bilateral meetings in one anothers countries and on the sidelines of multi-lateral forums. This partnership is critical for Russia, which has leaned heavily on China as a primary market for its oil and gas, and as a key supplier of high-tech imports necessary to sustain its military operations.

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Vying for influence at the SCO Summit: The West is over-rated

Putins presence at the summit was meticulously documented by Russian state television, with footage of his multiple bilateral meetings with other world leaders. These carefully curated images were aimed at reinforcing the narrative that Russia remains an influential player on the global stage, despite its growing isolation due to Western sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

During a meeting with Xi Jinping, Putin lauded the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a cornerstone of a fair, multipolar world order. He emphasised that the current relationship between Russia and China is at its historic zenith.

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For Xi, the summit was an opportunity to project Chinas influence, particularly in Central Asia and the Global South, promoting Beijing as a viable alternative to the US and its allies. Xis call for bridges of communication among nations underscored his vision of expanding Chinas diplomatic footprint.

Winning regional powers back

The summit also saw interactions between Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Although anticipated visits by Putin to Turkey have not materialised, Erdogan has maintained a delicate balance in his relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Since the onset of the conflict, Erdogan has frequently positioned himself as a mediator, navigating the complex geopolitical landscape with caution.

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For Kazakhstan and other Central Asian nations, hosting the summit was an opportunity to bolster their cooperation with larger neighbours like Russia and China. Kazakhstan, in particular, has adeptly balanced its relations, engaging with both Russia and China while also forging ties with the West. This year alone, it has hosted US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, demonstrating its multifaceted foreign policy approach.

Putins trip to Kazakhstan, against the backdrop of an ICC arrest warrant, is a testament to his resolve to maintain Russias global presence and to forge fresh alliances that can withstand Western opposition. This Kazakhstan was not just about attending a summit but also about sending a clear message to the world that Russia, under his leadership, remains undeterred and strategically engaged on the international stage.
Beyond mere statistics, this comparison of land mass and parliamentary representation offers a fascinating lens through which to view governance and democracy read more

In the grand mosaic of global geography and political dynamics, India and United Kingdom emerge as fascinating contrasts, each offering unique insights into the interplay between land area and parliamentary representation.

Land area: David vs Goliath?

The United Kingdom, comprising England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, collectively spans approximately 243,077 square kilometres. In stark contrast, India boasts a vast landmass covering approximately 3,287,263 square kilometres. This stark difference underscores the diverse scales at which these nations operate geographically.

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Despite the UKs modest land area relative to India, its constituent nations are renowned for their cultural diversity, historical significance and economic prowess on the global stage. Each region within the UK contributes distinctively to the countrys rich tapestry of traditions and innovations.

Parliamentary power: Size doesnt always matter

In terms of political representation, the UK operates a parliamentary system that accommodates the interests and voices of its constituent nations through a total of 650 parliamentary seats. These seats are distributed among England (533 seats), Scotland (59 seats), Northern Ireland (18 seats), and Wales (40 seats). This parliamentary framework ensures that the interests and concerns of each region are adequately represented in the UK Parliament.

Meanwhile, India, a federal parliamentary democratic republic, boasts a lower house known as the Lok Sabha, comprising 545 parliamentary constituencies. Each constituency represents a diverse cross-section of Indias vast population and cultural mosaic, reflecting the nations commitment to inclusive governance and democratic principles.

Number of voters!

India has a staggering 969 million eligible voters as of the latest figures. These voters are registered to participate in elections across the country. In contrast, the United Kingdoms population totals approximately 67.96 million people. This number encompasses all residents, regardless of age or eligibility to vote. The contrast between Indias massive voter base and the UKs total population highlights the significant scale difference in electoral participation and demographic size between these two nations.

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What we learn

The juxtaposition of the India and UKs land area and parliamentary representation offers valuable insights into their respective governance structures and geopolitical landscapes. Despite Indias extensive geographical expanse, the UKs parliamentary system provides a concentrated yet effective platform for regional representation and policymaking. Conversely, Indias decentralised federal structure accommodates the diverse needs and aspirations of its vast populace across numerous states and territories.

Beyond mere statistics, this comparison of land mass and parliamentary representation offers a fascinating lens through which to view governance and democracy. Despite their disparate sizes, both Indiua and UK exemplify resilience, diversity and the enduring spirit of democratic principles.
The previous government decided last year to ditch the scheme, calling it a fiscal injustice, but parliament then extended it till the end of 2024 for applicants who could prove they had readied their move to Portugal during 2023. read more

The Portuguese government is planning to reintroduce tax breaks for foreign residents to attract skilled workers despite criticism in the past that the scheme stoked housing prices, the economy minister said on Thursday.

The scheme, launched in 2009 to attract investors and professionals at a time of financial crisis, gave people who became residents by spending more than 183 days a year in Portugal a special 20% tax rate on Portuguese-sourced income derived from high value-added activities, such as practising medicine or teaching in universities.

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The Non-Habitual Resident scheme also included tax exemptions on almost all foreign income if taxed in the country of origin and a 10% flat tax rate on pensions from a foreign source.

The previous government decided last year to ditch the scheme, calling it a fiscal injustice, but parliament then extended it till the end of 2024 for applicants who could prove they had readied their move to Portugal during 2023.

Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento told the Financial Times, which first reported the new plan, that salaries and professional income would now still be covered by the tax breaks but not pensions, dividends or capital gains.

We are revisiting this scheme (because) we want to attract talent qualifications that are highly strategic for the country and that add value to our economy, Economy Minister Pedro Reis told a news conference after Thursdays cabinet meeting that officially approved the plan.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegros government may still struggle to get the plan through parliament as it lacks an outright majority.

Data showed that over 74,000 people benefited from the tax exemptions scheme in 2022, costing the state budget more than 1.5 billion euros ($1.62 billion), an annual increase of 18.5%.

The government also approved on Thursday a cut in the normal corporate income tax rate to 15% by 2027 from 21% currently and a new mandatory minimum tax rate of 15% for all multinationals operating in Portugal and for large Portuguese companies.

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Reis said new incentives for private investment and the merging of companies were also planned for them to better compete with their European peers.

Analysts say low productivity continues to undermine the competitiveness of Portuguese companies. Labour productivity was 28% lower in Portugal in 2022 than the average of the 19 euro zone countries, Eurostat data showed.
China is demanding loyalty from students and young professionals living in the US and has issued a set of directives, including requiring them to promote Chinas propaganda in front of their American peers, according to a report read more

A man walks past the national flags of China and the US before a meeting between China's Vice Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at the Guangdong Zhudao Guest House, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, on 6 April, 2024. Reuters File

China is demanding loyalty from students and young professionals living in the US and has issued a set of directives, including requiring them to promote Chinas propaganda in front of their American peers.

According to a Financial Times report, these rules are targeted at Chinese nationals, who joined the Communist Party in hopes of advancing their careers upon returning home, and sometimes are in conflict with the local American laws and immigration requirements.

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The directives include attending webinars where they are trained to push Chinas propaganda among their American peers, paying membership fees to the Communist Party, studying political materials sent from China, and regularly reporting to party officials to confirm their ongoing loyalty, added the report.

Chinese directives vs American laws

While members of the Communist Party are required to obey directives from the central authority, these may clash with American laws like the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). This legislation mandates that individuals register as foreign agents if they engage in promotional activities at the behest of foreign governments or politicians.

While its legal for Chinese immigrants to maintain Communist Party membership in the US, it raises security concerns and complicates legal and immigration matters. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services considers party affiliation grounds for disqualification from obtaining a green card. Consequently, many Chinese professionals in the US choose not to disclose their party membership when applying for work visas.

Under constant watch

The Chinese Communist Party has intensified efforts to oversee its members abroad, necessitating regular reporting and participation in webinars to promote a positive image of China, thereby placing Chinese professionals in a challenging position as they strive to adhere to party directives while avoiding legal issues in the US.

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Some individuals opt to conceal their party ties to secure permanent residency in the US, while others grapple with maintaining their membership to capitalise on career opportunities upon returning to China. Quitting the party is technically feasible by halting dues payments for six months, yet executing this in practice poses challenges.

As US-China relations strain, the pressure on Chinese professionals in the US to navigate these conflicting demands and laws is mounting.

With inputs from agencies
Retired Rep. Jackie Speier, 74, said she has been treated for breast cancer. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Former California representative Jackie Speier was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, she announced Thursday.

I have personal news that I want to share with you because we can all learn from it, Speier, a Democrat, wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. I just became one of the 300,000 women per year who are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Speier said doctors discovered the cancer early after a routine mammogram. Surgeons at UCSF successfully removed a lump from her breast on Tuesday, she said.

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But because of her busy summer schedule, Speier admitted, she almost missed her appointment.

Thank goodness I didnt cancel, she wrote, adding: The lesson here is, please be diligent about your own screenings and dont skip them.

Speier, 74, worked in politics for more than four decades, most recently serving as the U.S. House representative for Californias 14th Congressional District from 2008 to 2023.

Her political career began as an aide to former 14th District Rep. Leo Ryan; while working for Ryan, she traveled to Guyana to investigate human rights abuses by Jim Jones and his Peoples Temple. As the team prepared to fly home, members of Jones cult ambushed them on the airstrip; Ryan was killed and Speier was shot five times.

The events of that harrowing day steered Speier toward a life of public service, she later wrote in her memoir.

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In September, Speier announced she would run for a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, a position she first held in 1980, when she beat out a 20-year incumbent. That was the first time she held elected office.
The parliamentary constituency in Greater London was created in 1983 and has been a strong ground for labour since its inception read more

A day before the Britons went to polling stations to cast their votes, the Mega polls predicting the outcome of the race to No. 10, revealed that the Labour Party under the leadership of Keir Starmer would win the highly-anticipated elections.

According to the YouGovs MRP poll, Starmers Labour party is predicted to win 431 seats, with the Tories crashing down to a mere 102 seats. If the predictions turn out to be true, this will be the first time the Labour party will come to power in 14 years. Several pollsters predicted the party might end up getting a landslide victory with Starmer being the top contender for the PM post.

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However, this begs the question of how Starmer will perform in his own constituency. Lets have a look at the track record of the Labour Party firebrand on his own turf.

A map of the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras. Source: Labour Party

Holborn and St Pancras: The home ground for the labour

The parliamentary constituency in Greater London was created in 1983 and has been a strong ground for labour since its inception. Right from the very beginning, the seat of Holborn & St. Pancras has been represented by two Members of Parliament (MP)  both from the Labour Party.

Before Starmer, the late British politician Frank Dobson was the MP from the seat. Dobson represented the constituency from 1983 to 2015 when he retired from mainstream politics.

Keir Starmer inaugurated Dobson Court in Camden with his predecessor Frank Dobson. Source: Facebook / Keir Starmer

After Dobsons retirement, the Labour Party unanimously selected Keir Starmer to represent the region. It is pertinent to note that the constituency was re-created in 2023, following the Boundary Commission recommendations, losing two large northern wards to the new Hampstead and Highgate parliamentary seat.

The seat covers the southern half of the London Borough of Camden, including all or most of Camden Town, Kings Cross, Gospel Oak, Kentish Town and Bloomsbury.

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How Starmer has performed

After Dobsons retirement, Starmer took the reign of the constituency. The following table reflects his performance in the region:

Year Percentage of Votes Win margins (How many more votes than the candidate who came second?) 2015 52.9% 17,048 votes 2017 70.1% 30,509 votes 2019 64.5% 27,763 votes

Interestingly, Starmer has supported the unsuccessful Britain Stronger in Europe campaign in the 2016 European Union membership referendum. He eventually served as the Shadow Brexit Secretary under Jeremy Corbyn, whom he succeeded as the leader of the Labour Party in April 2020, winning on the first ballot.

Georgia Gould and Keir Starmer holding a Vote Labour Poster. Source: Labour Party

It is not exactly clear where he lies when it comes to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war since he has been a member of the parliamentarian groups Labour Friends of Israel and Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East.

New challenges

Apart from Starmer around 11 candidates are contesting polls from the seat of Holborn and St Pancras. While Starmer is known for winning the seat by a landslide, one of his main competitors will be Mehreen Malik from the Conservative Party.

Malik is running polls on three major priorities:

Protecting green spaces in the constituency.

Dealing with the housing crisis

Fighting crime in Holborn and St Pancras

Starmers other competitors include; Andrew Feinstein (Independent), Charlie Clinton ( Liberal Democrat), John Poynton (UK Independence Party), David Roberst (Reform Party), etc.

Earlier this week, candidates and party representatives from the constituency clashed over a plethora of climate and nature issues at a campaign event.

The event was organised by Zero Hour, a campaign group advocating for a Climate and Nature Bill, and 24 other organisations contributing, with five of the 12 candidates invited to attend. Four main parties were invited for the debate.

Liberal Democrats and Greens sending their candidates Charlie Clinton and David Stansell, respectively. Labour sent Adam Harrison, a local councillor and Cabinet Member for a sustainable Camden. Harrison deputised for Starmer who was busy duking it out against Sunak.

Meanwhile, The Conservative parties decline to send a representative. Independent candidate Andrew Feinstein, a former MP from South Africa, who joined the race opposing the Labour Partys stance on Gaza, also attended the event.

During the event candidates clashed on national topics like phasing out gas heating and retrofitting social housing stock, to local issues like growing more fruit and vegetables in the borough and balancing the need for access to nature and requirements for more housing.

Feinstein also used the opportunity to make his credentials known. While posing his arguments, he emphasised his experience in government drafting legislation as an MP in South Africas first democratically elected government under Nelson Mandela.

While polls predict that Holborn and St Pancras will continue to remain a strong turf for the Labour Party, Starmer can witness a significant challenge in the 2024 General Elections. Will Holborn and St Pancras Starwalt will become the next PM of the UK, is a question which only time can tell.

With inputs from agencies.
The top courts decision offered a major relief to the victims who had been seeking justice for decades read more

The plaintiffs, their lawyers and supporters hold the signs reading Winning lawsuit outside the Supreme Court after in Tokyo. Source: AP

In a landmark judgement, Japans Supreme Court has ordered the government to compensate the victims of the forced sterilization surgery, despite a 20-year statute of limitations coming into play. The court stated that the victims of the barbarian program should be duly compensated on the basis of the now-defunct eugenics law was unconstitutional, The Japan Times reported.

The top courts decision offered a major relief to the victims who had been seeking justice for decades. These victims were forced to undergo sterilization surgery without their consent or awareness. Most of the victims were suffering from physical and mental disabilities when they were forced to undergo the surgery.

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According to The Japan Times, it was a unified ruling from the Supreme Court that covered five similar lawsuits which were filed in Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai, Kobe and Sapporo. Interestingly, this was also the first time the Japanese court handed down a decision on forced sterilization.

What did the ruling say?

It is pertinent to note that this is the 13th case in postwar Japan which the countrys court has referred to as unconstitutional. According to The Japan Times, the case was presided over by Judge Saburo Tokura. The Supreme Court justice mentioned in the ruling that eugenics law was significantly against the idea of respect for individual dignity and personality and in violation of Article 13 of the Constitution.

The ruling called the draconian law discriminating towards people with disabilities and maintained that such discrimination is also unconstitutional.

Justice Tokura also maintained that the governments argument that the victims cannot seek compensation because the statute of limitations has passed is unacceptable and goes against the idea of justice and fairness. Furthermore, the Supreme Court also condemned the 3.2 million lump sum payment offered to the victims in the past as too little and does not hold the government accountable.

In 2019, the first ruling over the matter at the Sendai District Court found the eugenics law to be unconstitutional but dismissed compensation claims due to the statute of limitations. Since then, the plaintiffs have been losing cases in lower courts across the country.

However, things started to change in 2022, when the Osaka High Court ordered compensation to be made, criticizing the application of the statute of limitations as unjust.

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The horrors of the Eugenics law

The controversial Eugenics law was first enacted in 1948 to address the rapidly growing postwar population in a country which was struggling to keep its economy floating amid the sanctions.

The law allows the government to sterilize individuals with hereditary, mental or physical disabilities in order to prevent the birth of inferior offspring. The law was eventually revised as the maternal protection law in 1996 and the eugenics clause was removed.

A parliamentary report has revealed that around 25,000 individuals were subjected to sterilization surgeries. Out of this, 16,500 operations were performed without the consent of the individuals concerned, and often involved deception and unsafe methods.

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In response to the report, in 2019, the parliament passed a bill to provide a lump sum payment of 3.2 million to each of the victims of the eugenics law. The government eventually issued an apology, saying that, as the enforcer of this law, we sincerely regret this and apologize deeply.

However, the plaintiffs argued that it was not a clear-cut apology. Speaking to reporters after the ruling Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida apologized to the victims and said that he plans to meet with them by the end of the month to apologize in person.

Ive instructed Minister Kato to consider measures to draft a new compensation framework in a swift manner, he said, referring to Ayuko Kato, the state minister in charge of creating an inclusive society, and Justice Minister Ryuji Koizumi.
The decision was denounced by several activist groups who claimed that the move would further increase tensions brought on by the war in Gaza and would deteriorate the prospects of a Palestinian state read more

As the ongoing Israel-Hamas war rages on, reports are emerging that the Jewish nation has approved its largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank. A settlement tracking group operating in the region called it the biggest land grab in three decades.

The decision was denounced by several activist groups who claimed that the move would further increase tensions brought on by the war in Gaza and would deteriorate the prospects of a Palestinian state.

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In June this year, an official declaration obtained by several Israeli news outlets stated that around 12.7 square kilometres of land in the Jordan Valley had been formally designated as state property. This means that the Israeli authorities have formally recognised the region as their own and no Palestinians will be allowed to own land privately in the area.

The size of the area designated for declaration is the largest since the (1993) Oslo Accords, and the year 2024 marks a peak in the extent of declarations of state land, said Peace Now, a group based in Tel Aviv, Israel, that tracks the growth of Israeli settlements.

The bigger picture

The tracking group stated that the newly annexed land would connect settlements in an area along the Jordan border. Shortly after the news circulated around the world, the United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called it a step in the wrong direction, adding that the direction we want to be heading is to find a negotiated two-state solution.

It is pertinent to note that the state of Israel gained control over the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Middle East war. Since then, the Jewish nation has built settlements throughout the West Bank.

While several countries have condemned Israel for it, calling it a new-age colonisation, more than 490,000 Israelis now call these regions their homes. It is important to note that these settlements are still considered as illegal under international law.

Since the beginning of the year, the Israeli government has maintained that it has taken over 23.7 square kilometres of land in the West Bank. Interestingly, the newly taken land is also located in a place where settler violence was displacing communities of Palestinians even before the Israel-Hamas war.

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also a settler, is touted as one of the key players in Israels expansionist endeavour. We came to settle the land, to build it, and to prevent its division and the establishment of a Palestinian state, God forbid, he said during a conference for his ultranationalist Religious Zionism Party last month.

In a recent statement, Peace Now said that there could be no solution to this matter without the establishment of the state of Palestine. Today, it is clear to everyone that this conflict cannot be resolved without a political settlement that establishes a Palestinian state alongside Israel, Peace Now said in a statement.

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Still, the Israeli government chooses to actually make it difficult and distance us from the possibility of peace and stopping the bloodshed, he added.

With inputs from agencies.
Previous talks have stalled over Hamas insistence that Israel agree to an end of the war and full withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. The official says Netanyahu reiterated his position that Israel will not end the war until it reaches its goals of destroying Hamas read more

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Image-AP

An Israeli official says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will dispatch negotiators to resume Gaza cease-fire talks.

The decision on Thursday comes a day after Hamas submitted a new response a a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire.

The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, says Netanyahu has decided to authorize a team to continue talks. There was no word on when or where the talks would take place.

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Previous talks have stalled over Hamas insistence that Israel agree to an end of the war and full withdrawal of its troops from Gaza. The official says Netanyahu reiterated his position that Israel will not end the war until it reaches its goals of destroying Hamas military and governing capabilities and returning all hostages held in Gaza.

An Israeli anti-settlement monitoring group says the government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank.

It is the latest move by Israels hard-line government to beef up the settlements as part of a strategy to cement Israels control over the West Bank and prevent the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Peace Now says the governments Higher Planning Council approved or advanced plans for 5,295 homes in dozens of settlements.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government is dominated by settlers and their supporters. He has placed a former settler leader, Bezalel Smotrich, in charge of settlement policy.

COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees the planning council, referred questions to Netanyahus office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israels Cabinet was to convene Thursday to discuss Hamas latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war stirred back to life after a weekslong hiatus.

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Fighting, meanwhile, intensified between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah, with the militant group saying it fired more than 200 rockets and exploding drones into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a senior commander in an Israeli airstrike the day before.

The relatively low-level conflict has literally set the border ablaze and raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East. Hezbollah has said it will halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire between Hamas  a fellow Iran-backed ally  and Israel.

The United States has rallied world support behind a plan that calls for the release of all of the scores of hostages still held by the militant Hamas group in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

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But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it. Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal last month, some of which the U.S. said were unworkable, without providing specifics.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has given conflicting stances. He confirmed that the original proposal was an Israeli one. But he has also said he would accept only a partial deal, after which Israel would return to its military campaign to destroy Hamas.

Hamas confirmed Wednesday that it had sent another response to Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, without providing details. A U.S. official said the Biden administration was examining the response, calling it constructive but saying more work needed to be done. The official, who wasnt authorized to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.

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An Israeli official said Netanyahu would convene a Cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss the latest developments surrounding the negotiations. The official, who wasnt authorized to discuss the meeting with the media, spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel would likely hold additional consultations before making a final decision on any amended proposal.

As cease-fire talks appeared to be gaining new steam, Gazas Health Ministry said the number of Palestinians killed by Israels campaign in Gaza had climbed past 38,000. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count.

Hamas political official Bassem Naim said the group has neither accepted nor rejected the American proposal and has responded with some ideas to bridge the gap between the two sides, without elaborating. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas top political leader, shared suggestions with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials, the group said in a statement late Wednesday.

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U.S. officials have said the latest proposal has new language that was proposed to Egypt and Qatar on Saturday and addresses indirect negotiations that are set to commence during the first phase of the three-phase deal that President Joe Biden laid out in a May 31 speech.

The first phase calls for a cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of some hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, the negotiations are meant to lead to a sustainable calm and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza  with the release of all remaining men, both civilians and soldiers, held captive by Hamas in return for an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners. The third phase would see the return of the remains of hostages.

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks. Israeli officials have said they want the negotiations to lead to Hamas removal from power in Gaza  a provision not spelled out in the proposal. They have also pushed for a time limit on negotiations to keep pressure on Hamas and prevent it from drawing out talks and the initial cease-fire.

In a lengthy television interview last month, Netanyahu said that he was prepared to make a partial deal, but was committed to continuing the war after a pause in order to annihilate Hamas. Later, speaking before Israels parliament, he said Israel remains committed to the deal outlined by Biden.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, attacking multiple army bases and farming communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted another 250 people. more than 100 of whom were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Militants are still holding around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

In its campaign in Gaza since the attack, Israel has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza, who dont say how many were civilians or militants. Israels bombardment, ground offensives and restrictions on Gaza have caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million  often multiple times  and caused widespread hunger, raising fears of famine.
Since the start of the war on Hamas, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has withheld payments of customs and tax duties to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbass administration. read more

A Palestinian flag flies as the ruins of houses, which were destroyed by Israeli air strikes during the Israeli-Palestinian fighting, are seen, in Gaza Strip, May 25, 2021. File Photo- Reuters

Israel has approved a new payment of more than $140 million to the Palestinian Authority after announcing it had also unblocked some funds frozen because of the Gaza war, a finance ministry spokesperson told AFP on Thursday.

Since the start of the war on Hamas, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has withheld payments of customs and tax duties to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbass administration.

But Israeli officials said on Wednesday that the government had made a 435 million shekel ($116 million) payment for duties collected for April and May.

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A finance ministry spokeswoman said a further payment of about 530 million shekels for duties collected for June was approved.

Israel collects tax and customs duties for the Palestinian Authority under a 1994 protocol, which granted sole control over the territories borders to Israel.

According to economists, the payments collected by Israel account for 60 percent of the cash-strapped authoritys revenues.

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa confirmed the 435 million shekel payment at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

He said the money would be used for unpaid wages for tens of thousands of Palestinian civil servants and suppliers.

Authority workers have been living on reduced wages for months and the PA has made repeated appeals for international aid.

Mustafa added that Israel still owed the authority six billion shekels in back payments. Israel stopped making the payments after the October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel, with Smotrich accusing the PA of backing the Islamist terrorists.

Hamas is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and other countries. It is distinct from the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas took over Gaza in 2007 following a violent struggle with Abbas Fatah faction, with the Palestinian Authoritys influence limited to Palestinian-run parts of the occupied West Bank.

According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich only agreed to make the new payments under a deal in which the government recognised five wildcat settlements in the West Bank.

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In June, he ordered the transfer of about $35 million of the funds collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to help Israeli victims of terrorism. The decision was condemned by the US government as extraordinarily wrongheaded.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to convene a meeting of the security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss proposals from Hamas about a possible ceasefire and hostage deal, according to a report, citing a source in Netanyahus office read more

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to convene a meeting of the security cabinet on Thursday evening to discuss proposals from Hamas about a possible ceasefire and hostage deal, according to a Times of Israel report, citing a source in Netanyahus office.

The source said before the cabinet meet, Netanyahu will hold consultations with his negotiation team.

Israel had said on Wednesday evening that it has received Hamass response to the latest truce-hostage deal outline, and would evaluate the document before replying.

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A statement from the Mossad distributed by the Prime Ministers Office said that mediators have conveyed to Israels negotiators Hamass remarks on the outline of the hostages deal.

Israel is evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators, Times of Israel report quoted the statement as saying.

Confirming that it had submitted its latest demands, Hamas later issued a statement saying that it is eager to reach an agreement to stop the war, and our communication with the mediators continues.

We exchanged some ideas with the mediators with the goal of stopping the war and the full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, Times of Israel quoted the terror group as saying in the statement.

While it claimed to be flexible in its demands, the terror group accused Israel of trying to deceive and evade.

In a later statement, Hamas said its Qatar-based politburo leader Ismail Haniyeh had spoken with mediators in Qatar and Egypt regarding the ideas being discussed. It added that talks have also been held with Turkish officials regarding recent developments.

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The movement dealt in a positive spirit with the content of the ongoing deliberations, it said.

For over six months, mediators from US, Qatar, and Egypt have repeatedly failed to make progress in negotiations aimed at securing the release of 116 hostages abducted on October 7 and believed to still be held captive in Gaza.

The negotiations also aim to establish a truce in Gazas ongoing conflict and to secure the release of hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners.

The current version of the proposed deal is based on a plan unveiled by US President Joe Biden in late May, structured around a three-stage Israeli framework for the long term. However, more than a month later, there has been little advancement in the negotiations.

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On June 11, Hamas responded to the Israeli proposal, which the US criticised for containing numerous amendments. Some of these amendments reversed previously agreed clauses, while others were deemed unacceptable.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had said on June 12 that certain changes proposed by Hamas were not feasible.

In the weeks that followed, mediators worked to bring Hamas down on some of its demands  even as the State Department last week for the first time said Hamas had rejected the proposal on the table  leading to the new response submitted Wednesday by the terror group.

A senior Israeli official said the new response was positive enough to allow for the negotiations to move forward after several weeks of deadlock.

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With inputs from agencies
His candidacy has ignited a surge in support for his hard-right Reform UK party. Running on a pro-Brexit, anti-immigration, and anti-net zero platform, the party poses a significant threat to draw right-wing support away from the Tories read more

Nigel Farage, seeking to become a British MP on Thursday at the eighth attempt, has risen from fringe Eurosceptic rabble-rouser to attention-grabbing figurehead who wants to reshape right-wing UK politics.

The 60-year-old former European parliamentarian (MEP) was a driving force behind Britains 2016 Brexit vote, before forging a career as a presenter on the brash right-wing TV channel GB News. Farage played a significant role in the 2016 EU referendum, where the Leave campaign won with 52 per cent of the vote. Following the referendum, he temporarily stepped back from frontline politics but returned in 2019 to lead the Brexit Party. Under his leadership, the Brexit Party won the most UK seats in the 2019 European Parliament elections, putting additional pressure on the UK government to deliver Brexit.

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A vocal Donald Trump advocate nicknamed Mr Brexit by the former US president, Farage is a divisive figure, loved and loathed in equal measure by supporters and detractors.

Seen as one of Britains most effective communicators and campaigners, his decision to stand in a Eurosceptic seat in Clacton, southeast England, poses particular peril for the ruling Conservatives.

His candidacy has spurred a surge in support for his hard-right Reform UK party, which has campaigned on a pro-Brexit, anti-immigration, anti-net zero platform that threatens to draw right-wing support away from the Tories.

That could help the main Labour opposition, which polls show is on course to win by a landslide, putting Farage in a powerful position as remaining Tories grapple over the partys future direction.

Farage said his long-term aim is to stage a takeover of the Conservatives, likening his bid to similar efforts in Canada in the 1990s to the Conservative Party.

I want to reshape the centre-right, he told the Sunday Times, adding that he did not have any trust in the Tories, who have been in power since 2010.

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First, though, he has to finally become an MP after seven failed attempts.

Early life and career

Nigel Paul Farage was born on April 3, 1964, in Farnborough, Kent, England. He was educated at Dulwich College, a prestigious independent school in London. Before entering politics, Farage worked in the commodities trading industry.

Farages political career began in earnest in 1993 when he became a founding member of UKIP, a party established to campaign for the UKs withdrawal from the EU. Over the years, Farage held various leadership positions within the party, becoming its leader in 2006, a role he held intermittently until 2016.

Farage was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for South East England in 1999 and served until the UKs exit from the EU in 2020. During his time as an MEP, he was known for his outspoken speeches and confrontational style, often criticising EU institutions and their leaders.

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Everyman

Nigel Paul Farage, a beer-loving divorced father-of-four, is on paper an unlikely man of the people, appearing to embody much of what he rails against.

The son of a stockbroker, the privately educated former commodities trader was an MEP in Brussels for 20 years, yet railed against the European Union that paid his salary and regularly lambasts both career politicians and the global elite.

Cheered by his supporters as a straight-talking, pint-swilling everyman, opponents accuse him of being a hypocrite who plays to racists and far-right ideologues.

Reform has ditched scores of would-be candidates this year over offensive comments, according to a monitor, while Farage was criticised by opponents for saying during the campaign that the West provoked Russias war in Ukraine.

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Farage has an uncanny ability to capture media attention, capitalising on right-wing voters frustrations over how Brexit has been handled.

In 1985 he had a cancerous testicle removed, and was hit by a car after a night out in 1987, suffering serious head and leg injuries.

Once recovered, he married his nurse, and the couple had two sons.

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Following their divorce in 1997, Farage married second wife Kirsten Mehr, a German, with whom he has two daughters. They separated in 2017.

On general election day in May 2010, a light aircraft he was in crashed after a campaign banner got caught in a propeller.

He escaped relatively unscathed with just broken bones and a punctured lung.

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Farages political ascent began in 1993 when Britain, under Conservative prime minister John Major, joined in a process of deeper European integration.

He quit the Tories in disgust to co-found the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) and six years later was elected to the European Parliament aged 35.

Farage had two stints leading UKIP, pulling off an unprecedented win in the 2014 European Parliament elections, as Euroscepticism, once a fringe Tory view, became more mainstream.

The 2014 results heaped pressure on then-prime minister David Cameron to call the EU membership referendum that would eventually seal his demise.

Farage was kept out of the official Leave campaign because of fears his brand was too divisive.

But he maintained a high profile, hammering away at the immigration issue  and sparking claims of racism with a poster of refugees under the slogan breaking point.

In the afterglow of victory, Farage stepped down as UKIP leader, claiming his mission was complete.

But he soon returned to frontline politics, founding the Brexit Party in response to the political paralysis around leaving the EU and then helping rebrand it as Reform following the UKs eventual withdrawal in 2020.
Thousands of people are fleeing Myanmar due to the military juntas announcement of conscription to bolster its forces against armed groups challenging its power. The exodus is driven by fear of forced recruitment, with reports of human rights abuses and violence against women. The situation worsened after the 2021 coup, leading to widespread displacement and unrest. read more

In this undated photo released on April 8, 2024, by The Military True News Information Team, trainees of first batch of military service have meals as an opening ceremony for their training session was held at a military compound in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military has begun basic training at military bases and schools across the country for draftees called up under the countrys recently activated conscription law, state-run media reported on Tuesday, April 9. File Photo- AP

On February 10, Myanmars military junta declared the introduction of mandatory conscription for the first time since the Peoples Military Service Law was passed in 2010. According to this law, individuals within specific age ranges - men between 18 and 35, and women between 18 and 27 - can be required to serve in the armed forces for two years.

The military has said about 14 million men and women of the total 56 million population of the country are eligible for military service and it will draft 5,000 people at a time and up to 60,000 people a year. Evading conscription is punishable by three to five years in prison and a fine.

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Estelle knew she had to flee Myanmar. The military junta had just announced it would introduce conscription to bolster its forces against myriad armed groups challenging its power, and she was terrified she would be forced to fight.

The former government worker, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, is among thousands of people who have decided to leave their homes since the mandatory military service law was announced in February and then came into effect in April.

Some people have risked their lives to trek through jungles and ford rivers, crossing into neighbouring countries without documentation because the military has made it increasingly difficult to leave through formal channels.

Others have fled to areas under the control of armed groups fighting against the military, or have joined these groups themselves. The mass exodus is taking place as the military regime faces its most serious crisis since it took power in a 2021 coup, which sparked widespread protests.

The street demonstrations, which were met with a brutal crackdown, morphed into an armed resistance movement that has seen newer anti-coup forces join with many of Myanmars autonomy-seeking ethnic armed groups, posing the most significant challenge to the military in decades.

The U.N. Human Rights Office says more than 5,000 people have been killed by the military since the coup, including more than 1,000 women. Around 3 million people have been displaced.

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Estelle had to sneak out of the country because she had joined a countrywide Civil Disobedience Movement after the coup and faced international travel restrictions as a result. She and a friend paid around $280 each in Myanmars kyat currency to travel by car from the city of Mawlamyine to the border with Thailand and then hired a smuggler to take them across the Moei River.

It was just the two of us girls traveling with a man we didnt know, Estelle said. We were scared we would be arrested or trafficked.But they took the risk anyway despite the fact that, at 36, Estelle falls outside the age range for conscription. A few days after its initial announcement, the junta also pledged to exempt women for the time being. But Estelle is not going back.

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Thats just words, she said. We never know when the time will come when they will make difficulties for us.Western governments have accused the junta of systematic atrocities, including executions and torture, and excessive use of air strikes and artillery in civilian areas. It has dismissed that as misinformation and says it is targeting terrorists.The junta said it planned to call up 5,000 people by the end of April and 60,000 by the end of the year.

Women are using dangerous channels to flee the country amid fears of conscription, putting them at high risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Conscription exemptions for married women also raise the risk of early and forced marriage for girls and women, Andrews wrote.

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For Catherine, whose name has also been changed for security reasons, the writing is on the wall.The military is weak, so its calling (up) young people. Its not OK for us, and we dont accept it, the 23-year-old florist and office worker said in a telephone interview from the northern city of Myitkyina.Military conscription laws in other countries are designed to protect and defend their nations against external threats. Still, in our country, this law is intended to force us to kill our own people.

The forced conscription order had sent shockwaves across the country and caused widespread fear among young people, whose futures remain increasingly uncertain amid the ongoing conflict.

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Myanmars military is also reportedly tapping an unlikely source to fill its depleted ranks, turning to members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, who seven years ago were the targets of a brutal counterinsurgency campaign incorporating rape and murder that saw an estimated 740,000 flee to neighbouring Bangladesh as their villages were burned down.

Analysts say the move is meant not only to counter the armys attrition though deaths, desertions and defections, but also constitutes a divide and conquers strategy meant to reignite tensions between ethnic groups in Rakhine.

Rohingya have lived especially in Rakhine for generations, but they are not officially recognized as an indigenous ethnic minority, instead being called Bengalis and described as illegal immigrants. They have been denied citizenship and other basic rights including freedom of movement, and are the targets of widespread social discrimination. The U.N. has estimated that 600,000 Rohingya are still living in Myanmar.

HOLDING GUNS NOT FLOWERS;

Catherine and her friends attempt to make light of the situation. Still, they are worried.We joke that the hands that once held flowers will hold guns now, she said. Although we are joking, we feel deeply concerned and disappointed that it has come to this situation.Catherine is trying to get a passport but is struggling as the demand for passports has surged since February.

The military call-up comes on top of an economic crisis that has sent the currency spiralling lower and caused unemployment to surge. The World Bank says women have been particularly hard hit by the economic downturn that followed the Covid pandemic and the coup. Moon Nay Li, joint general secretary for advocacy group the Womens League of Burma, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that displaced women could be pushed into early or forced marriage, and also face heightened risks of domestic violence.There is no safe place for women and girls  they have to survive in risky situations, she said.

REIGN OF FEAR

In his report, U.N. Special Rapporteur Andrews said women, girls, and LGBT people were acutely vulnerable to discrimination, violence, and exploitation since the coup

.Women interviewed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation said a sense of unease has seeped into their everyday lives.Sometimes, I feel mentally exhausted, said Catherine. Im scared to go out alone, even to get a coffee.And in the past months, there have been signs that their exemption from military service may be coming to an end.

Several media have said that local-level officials serving under the militarys administration were drawing up lists of women who were eligible to be called up to the army. The military has denied these claims - describing them as fake news - but an analysis of military pamphlets and pro-military media channels conducted by the Burma Affairs and Conflict Study (BACS) advocacy group found that women were likely to be included in the fifth batch of conscripts, due to be called up in August. Min Htet Aung, a lead researcher for BACS, said women would face unique risks if forced to serve.

The Myanmar military is an organisation dominated by patriarchy and male chauvinism. Consequently, women who join the military may face discrimination and sexual abuse, he said in an emailed response to questions.

Women were at the forefront of resistance to the 2021 coup and joined armed groups fighting the military. Around one-fifth of the 20,000 political prisoners in Myanmar are female, according to a local rights group.

Women from the Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority from Myanmars Rakhine State, have also faced fresh hardships after years of abuses. In 2017, a violent military crackdown against the Rohingya sent 730,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. The United Nations described the action as genocidal in intent.

Although Rohingya are not eligible for conscription under the law because they are denied citizenship, the military has conscripted more than 1,000 Rohingya men and boys since February using methods including abduction, threats and false promises of citizenship, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

And this has affected women and the economic welfare of their households. Families are worried  Women dont want their husbands to go, said Sofia, a Rohingya womens protection specialist in Rakhine State, who also used a pseudonym for security reasons.

RECRUITED BY FORCE

On May 3, the military said men of conscription age would no longer be allowed to seek employment abroad, and those avoiding conscription would face three years in jail.

Min Htet Aung said the army was snatching people from their homes, roadside checkpoints, tea shops and bars and sometimes soldiers threatened the parents of people who had fled, a tactic it also uses against opponents.

The junta propagates the notion that they only recruit volunteers. However, in reality, few people willingly enlist. Most are recruited by force, said Min Htet Aung.

The International Organization for Migration in Thailand said it had seen a steady increase in people crossing the border from Myanmar, including a nearly 30% increase between January and February. Women were more likely than men to enter without official documentation, it added.

But its not just military conscription that some women have to fear. In the eastern Shan State, at least three ethnic armed groups have announced mandatory service policies in recent months and two conscript women. Fear of being conscripted into an ethnic armed group drove 16-year-old Christine, who also did not give her real name for security reasons, from her home in Lashio township in February after one of the armed groups there told her grandmother that Christine and her siblings would have to serve in its forces.

They fled the next day and Christine headed to Malaysia. She described hiding in the back of a cargo truck and walking through mountains at night. She is now in Kuala Lumpur where she is terrified of being arrested by immigration officials.

I dont have many difficulties as long as I dont leave my room, she said. Its not safe around here. Estelle also found it hard to get by in Thailand because she did not enter legally. But she has no intention of going home while the junta remains in power. I hope the revolution will succeed quickly and that I can return home quickly.

With inputs from agencies.
Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties, Jaishankar posted on X read more

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Astana on Thursday. ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Astana on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas.

After the meeting, taking to X, he said three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide India-China bilateral ties.

#WATCH | External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar holds a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting, in Astana today. pic.twitter.com/mKWlIU6Zj7  ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2024

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Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end, Jaishankar posted on X.

He said that respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas was essential.

The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties, he added

Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning.



Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end.



Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the pic.twitter.com/kR3pSFViGX  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 4, 2024

India and China have been in a military standoff for the last three years since May 2020, when the Chinese tried to aggressively alter the status quo on the Line of Actual Control.

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Amid border tensions, in March this year, India and China exchanged views on ways of achieving complete disengagement and resolving the issues along the LAC in the Western sector of India-China border areas.

Later, in a statement, Ministry of External Affairs said that the two ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations.

The two Ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations, the statement added.

The statement further said that Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past.

The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced, the statement quoted Jaishankar as saying.

Both Ministers also agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest.

To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. EAM reiterated that India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests, the statement added.

Jaishankar, who is representing India at the annual summit, met UN chief Antonio Guterres and his Belarusian, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan counterparts Maksim Ryzhenkov, Sirojiddin Muhriddin and Bakhtiyor Saidov, respectively, on Wednesday.

Taking to X, he posted, Always a pleasure to meet UNSG @antonioguterres. Appreciate his insights on the state of the world. Discussed global hotspots and their larger implications.

Always a pleasure to meet UNSG @antonioguterres.



Appreciate his insights on the state of the world. Discussed global hotspots and their larger implications.



Spoke about the reform of the UNSC, preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Future, and future prospects for pic.twitter.com/imCEYFwUAJ  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 3, 2024

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Jaishankar said that he spoke about the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), preparations for the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, and future prospects for meaningful India-UN partnership.

During his meeting with Uzbek Foreign Minister Saidov, Jaishankar said he appreciated the steady progress in India-Uzbekistan ties and discussed ways to take it forward to a higher level.

Nice to meet @FM_Saidov of Uzbekistan today in Astana.



Appreciated the steady progress in   ties. Discussed taking it forward to a higher level. pic.twitter.com/Hbev5R5vAT  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 3, 2024

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Glad to meet Tajik FM Sirojiddin Muhriddin today in Astana. Took stock of our bilateral partnership and cooperation on multilateral forums. Appreciate the exchange of views on the regional situation, Jaishankar posted on the social media platform X along with the photos of the meeting.

Jaishankar also met Belarusian FM Maksim Ryzhenkov and welcomed his country as the newest member of the SCO

Pleased to meet FM Maksim Ryzhenkov of Belarus today. Welcome Belarus to the SCO as its newest member. Discussed our bilateral relationship and its future growth potential, the Minister posted earlier on X.

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The meeting of the two foreign ministers came days after the first-ever India-Belarus Consular Dialogue that was held on June 28 in Minsk.

The Indian delegation was led by Dr Aman Puri, JS (CPV), while the Belarusian delegation was led by Andrei Kozhan, Head of General Directorate for Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, a statement from the MEA said on Tuesday.

With nine member states - India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyz, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan  the SCO has emerged as an influential economic and security bloc and one of the largest trans-regional international organisations.

Belarus will be the 10th nation to join as a member.

Kazakhstan is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping.

With inputs from agencies
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who attended the SCO Summit in person, delivered PM Modis message to the member countries. The prime minister also congratulated Belarus for its induction into the group read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called for greater cooperation among the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to combat terrorism.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who attended the SCO Summit in person, delivered PM Modis message to the member countries. The prime minister also congratulated Belarus for its induction into the group.

Priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism, one of the original goals of the SCO. Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace, the prime minister said in his message.

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PM Modi said that members of the grouping should isolate and expose countries that harbour terrorists and fund terrorism.

Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth, he added.

On climate change

Another prominent concern before us today is climate change. We are working towards achieving committed reduction in emissions, including transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles, and building climate-resilient infrastructure. In this context, during Indias SCO presidency, a Joint Statement on emerging fuels, and a Concept Paper on de-carbonization in the transportation sector were approved, Modi said.

On technology

The 21st century is the century of technology. We have to make technology creative and apply it to the welfare and progress of our societies. India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of an AI Mission. Our commitment to AI for All is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation.

About the SCO Summit

The SCO, which encompasses a vast stretch of the globe from Moscow to Beijing, includes around half the worlds population and on Thursday Belarus became its 10th member.

Its other permanent members are this years host Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and, as of last year, Iran.

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The world stands again at a crossroads, CCTV reported Xi as saying.

It is extremely important to the world that the SCO stands on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice.

On Wednesday, Xi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who told the Chinese leader that the Shanghai alliance was strengthening its role as one of the key pillars of a fair multipolar world order.

With inputs from agencies
Oakland saw a dramatic drop in parking tickets given between 2019 and 2023, according to Oakland Department of Transportation data. Amir Aziz/Special to the Chronicle

The number of parking citations given out in Oakland fell sharply over the past four years.

The total number of tickets issued by the Oakland Department of Transportation declined from about 401,100 in 2019 to 269,000 in 2023, a 33% drop, according to an analysis by the Chronicle. Citations for the vast majority of violations declined, and certain types fell by more than 95%.

The number of parking citations had actually increased by 24% between 2018 and 2019. But the pandemic brought a steep decline in tickets issued. And though tickets increased in 2021, they never returned to 2019 levels and have been falling since.

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Sean Maher, an OakDOT spokesperson, said the decline in citations is mostly due to layoffs of parking control technicians at the start of the pandemic. When the city was potentially facing a major loss of revenues, they released all temporary part-time workers, many of whom were responsible for giving parking tickets in Oakland.

The city of Oakland hired 15 new parking control technicians earlier this year, and they are expecting to achieve full strength by the end of the year, Maher added.

All parking enforcement was suspended for several weeks following Alameda Countys pandemic shelter-in-place order in March 2020, according to Maher. Enforcement ramped back up slowly, beginning with ticketing related to public safety measures like parking on red curbs, followed by violations regarding metered parking and illegally parking in certain residential parking areas.

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Yet, enforcement for some violations has yet to resume at all.

Tickets for all types of handicapped parking fraud fell from 915 in 2019 to just 7 in 2023, a 99% drop. OakDOT suspended the units special detail dedicated to enforcing disabled parking placard abuse during the pandemic, but they expect to resume enforcement after more technicians are hired, according to Maher.

Im disappointed to hear that Oakland isnt enforcing [placard abuse], said Disability Rights California lawyer Autumn Elliott. I hope they end up making a different choice about their priorities.

Tickets for parking outside of permitted hours, as indicated by a sign, typically make up about half of all citations given out in Oakland. Citations for that infraction dropped from about 213,000 in 2019 to about 125,750 in 2023, a 41% decrease, and the largest decrease in absolute numbers. When asked about the reason for the decline in tickets for this violation, OakDOT said the drops are explained by the overall drop in citations due to pandemic layoffs.

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Citations for parking in bike lanes fell by 70% between 2019 to 2023, from 1,420 to 425. OakDOT attributes this drop to improved bike infrastructure in the city, pointing to a project in 2019 that installed permanent concrete barriers on Telegraph Avenue, a street with a high rate of citations for parking in bike lanes.

Bike East Bay advocacy director Robert Prinz said that biking advocates believe that while it is important to discipline people who park their car in bike lanes, giving out tickets has not tended to have much of an impact on driver behavior, especially in commercial areas. Its more effective to instead push the city to implement physical infrastructure changes like separated bike lanes that dont allow drivers to park where bikers should be able to pass, Prinz said.

Despite the overall decline, not all types of citations decreased.

Tickets for parking on public grounds increased from 270 in 2019 to 1,405 in 2023, a 415% increase. This is partially due to the crackdown on parking in public spaces like lakes and parks, according to Maher. In Lake Merritt, for example, the city installed parking meters in March 2023 and began ticketing people for parking around the lake without paying.

OakDOT has announced a few initiatives to try to raise the number of citations for certain violations. But our analysis of 2024 violation data shows that citations for these violations have not yet increased.

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In October 2023, OakDOT said they would prioritize ticketing people who were parking on sidewalks, citing concerns for pedestrians who are seniors, children and people with disabilities. But five months into 2024, about 3,090 tickets for sidewalk parking have been issued, compared to about 3,240 in the first five months of 2023, down by 5%.

The city had a change of plans for sidewalk enforcement, they stated two months after their initial announcement. They decided not to actively enforce sidewalk parking violations on all streets, instead only responding to dispatch requests.

The city also announced that it would begin giving tickets for parking in residential areas without a permit in February 2021. Yet, while tickets temporarily spiked in 2021, they did not reach 2019 levels and have been steadily declining since.
Thousands of trainee doctors stopped working in February, protesting against government plans to increase medical school quotas which they say will affect the quality of specialist education read more

Members of South Korean patient advocacy groups hold up placards reading "Normalisation of medical services" during a rally against doctors' strike in Seoul on July 4, 2024. AFP

Hundreds of South Korean patient rights advocates gathered Thursday to urge physicians to halt a prolonged strike that has affected public health services.

Thousands of trainee doctors stopped working in February, protesting against government plans to increase medical school quotas which they say will affect the quality of specialist education.The strike has caused disruptions in hospitals and forced delays or cancellations of key treatments, including chemotherapy.On Thursday around 300 protesters gathered in the capital to call for the strike to end, and for laws to prevent further industrial action." we could no longer bear the continuing damage and anxiety," a statement by the organisers said.Under no circumstances should medical services for patients be suspended.

Kim Jeong-ae, whose daughter is struggling with treatment for a rare syndrome, said patients were being used as pawns by the medical community.

Would you do this if the patients were your sons and daughters? she said, her head shaved as a protest gesture.

In May, the government finalised an admission quota hike of around 1,500 for medical schools for 2025, which it says will tackle shortages of doctors and a rapidly aging population.

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Senior doctors and medical professors at some of the nations key medical institutions recently joined the indefinite walkout in solidarity.

Doctors at some of the countrys largest medical facilities have also suspended outpatient treatments and non-emergency surgeries.
Suella Braverman, leveraging her legal background and staunch advocacy of conservative principles, stands as the Conservative candidate for Fareham and Waterlooville in the 2024 General Election read more

In the 2024 General Election, Suella Braverman is standing as the Conservative candidate for Fareham and Waterlooville in the 2024 General Election. Suella has represented the people of Fareham since 2015, being re-elected in 2017 and 2019, on both occasions increasing the share of the vote for the Conservatives.

She has held roles including serving on the Education Select Committee, acting as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Treasury, and serving as a Brexit Minister until her resignation in November 2018 due to objections to the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. In February 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed her to the Cabinet as Attorney General, a position she held until September 2022.

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Suella made a little bit of history in 2021 as the first Cabinet Minister to have a baby in office. A new law, known as Gabriellas Law in honour of my daughter, has been enacted to allow me to take maternity leave and resume my position afterward. From September 2022 to November 2023, she served as Home Secretary, appointed by both Prime Ministers Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. Her main focuses included halting small boat crossings across the Channel, implementing common-sense policing, and ensuring the safety of the British population.

Early life

Suella Braverman, born Suella Fernandes on April 3, 1980, in Harrow, London, is a British Conservative Party politician and lawyer of Goan Indian heritage. She attended Heathfield School, an independent girls school in Ascot, before studying Law at Queens College, Cambridge, where she graduated with honours.

After completing her education, Braverman pursued a career in law, specialising in public law and judicial review. She was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 2005 and practiced as a barrister at No5 Chambers in London, focusing on constitutional and administrative law. Her legal background equipped her with expertise in issues surrounding human rights, immigration and governmental affairs.

Political career

Braverman entered politics and was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Fareham in Hampshire in the 2015 general election. She quickly gained attention within the Conservative Party for her articulate advocacy of conservative principles, including free markets, individual liberty, and the rule of law. Her rise through the party ranks was steady, marked by her appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union in February 2020.

Ministerial role and Brexit

In her role at the Department for Exiting the European Union, Braverman played a crucial part in the Brexit negotiations, focusing on legal aspects and ensuring that the UKs departure from the EU complied with constitutional requirements and legal frameworks. Her tenure was characterised by her robust defence of the governments Brexit strategy and her commitment to upholding the referendum result.

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Attorney General appointment

Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Suella Braverman as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland in February 2020. As Attorney General, she became the governments chief legal adviser, responsible for providing legal advice to the government and overseeing the work of the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office. Her tenure has been marked by significant legal challenges, including matters related to national security, human rights, and the constitutional implications of Brexit.

Personal life

Outside of politics, Suella Braverman is married to Rael Braverman, a management consultant, and they have two young children. She is known for her strong work ethic and dedication to public service, often citing her background and upbringing as influences on her political beliefs and career choices.
In 2017, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi made history by becoming the first turbaned Sikh to be elected as a Member of Parliament in any European country read more

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, a prominent Labour candidate, has represented Slough as a Member of Parliament since 2017.

Early life and education

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, commonly known as Tan, was born in Berkshire and spent his formative years in Slough. He received most of his primary education in Punjab, India, before returning to the UK at the age of nine. Tan pursued higher education with a focus on Mathematics with Management at University College London, followed by an MSc in Applied Statistics at Oxford University. He furthered his academic credentials with an MPhil in South Asian history and its connections with Great Britain at Cambridge University.

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Political career

Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi made history by becoming the first turbaned Sikh to be elected as a Member of Parliament in any European country. He was elected as the MP for Slough in the 2017 General Election with a substantial majority of 17,000 votes and was re-elected in 2019. His political journey began earlier when he was elected as a councillor in Gravesham in 2007, eventually becoming Mayor in 2011. During his tenure as Mayor, he also served as a Cabinet Member, Constituency Party Chairman, and held numerous voluntary roles such as School Governor, Trustee for an Alzheimers & Dementia charity, advisor for Mencap Society, and member of the Independent Police Advisory Group.

Parliamentary roles and advocacy

In Parliament, Tan has held several significant positions. He served as the Shadow Minister for Exports, Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, and between 2020 and 2023, as the Shadow Minister for Railways. He chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group campaigning for a Western Rail Link to Heathrow and has been a leading advocate for the National Sikh War Memorial.

Personal life

Tans personal background is rooted in community service, influenced by his father, Jaspal Dhesi, who served as the president of the UKs largest Gurudwara. His experiences and values are reflected in his work both in his local constituency and on the international stage.
The UK is currently in the process of voting for its next prime minister. Polls opened at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and will close at 10:00 pm when exit polls will give a strong indication of the final result read more

Pedestrians on the way to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships walk past a polling station in Southfields in London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. AP

British news websites or broadcasting channels wont carry a single article or story on politics today. The reason? UK elections.

The UK is currently in the process of voting for its next prime minister. Polls opened at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and will close at 10:00 pm when exit polls will give a strong indication of the final result.

Different countries have varying rules when it comes to election campaigning. In India, political parties are not supposed to hold rallies or post any sort of political message on social media to ensure a fair polling process by not influencing voters. Britain goes a step further by refraining from media houses from publishing political stories.

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What do the rules say?

As per Ofcom, UKs broadcast regulator, news channels cannot publish the results of any opinion poll on polling day itself until the election or referendum poll closes.

It is also a criminal offence to publish any exit poll surveys or predictions when polling is underway. This is to ensure that media organisations dont seem impartial at a time when voters cast their votes.

While these are the rules set for digital and television broadcasters, print journalism  newspapers and magazines  have a different set of rules that allow them to publish election content on their respective platforms. The reason behind this disparity is that most newspapers go to print at night which effectively means that that any new information on elections would not be available to readers on the day of polling.

What about social media?

There are no means to regulate what is posted on social media which means that users may find poll-related content on their feeds.

However, BBC has a specific editorial guideline that does not allow them to publish any election material on their platforms or social media.

UK elections

Voting is taking place for all 650 MPs in the lower chamber of parliament, each representing a constituency or seat.

A total of 543 seats are in England and 57 in Scotland, with 32 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.

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There are 4,515 candidates this year  a record.

The increase is down to hard-right Reform UKs decision to end its 2019 promise not to stand against the Conservatives, and more Green party hopefuls.

In all, Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Tories are fielding candidates in 635 seats, with 631 for Keir Starmers Labour and 630 for the Liberal Democrats, led by Ed Davey.

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has 609 with 629 for Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsays Greens. The remainder are running for smaller parties or as independents.

With inputs from AFP
In the UK, the government is led by the Prime Minister who gets support of the Cabinet as well as his ministers read more

Within hours, the United Kingdom is set to get a new government and it is most likely to be of the Labour party as predicted by most exit polls. Soon after the voting ends at 10 pm (local time) on Thursday, the ballots will be counted and the fate of Keir Starmers Labour Party and incumbent Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led Conservative party will be unravelled.

As the UK votes for the new government, here is a look at what the political structure of the country looks like.

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How the UK government works?

In the UK, the government is led by the Prime Minister who gets support of the Cabinet and ministers.

Who runs government in the UK?

The UK is a parliamentary democracy where the elected British Government, headed by the Prime Minister, holds executive power.

Being the leader of the government, the UK Prime Minister is responsible for all policy and decisions.

The Prime Minister also oversees the operation of the Civil Service and government agencies. He/she also appoints members of the government and is the principal government figure in the House of Commons.

The UK Cabinet

The UK Cabinet is made up of the senior members of government who, every week during Parliament, meet to discuss the most important issues of the government.

Ministers in the UK government

In total, the UK government has 126 ministers, including the Prime Minister.

The ministers in the UK government is chosen by the Prime Minister from the members of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

The House of Commons, which is the lower chamber  is made up of 650 elected regional Members of Parliament. The upper chamber is the House of Lords which is made up of a mixture of appointed and hereditary peers.

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Unlike with elected MPs, the number of members in the House of Lords is not fixed.

These appointed ministers are responsible for the actions, successes and failure of their departments.

Prime Minister - 1

Cabinet ministers - 23

Other ministers - 102

What does the King in the UK do?

The UK is a constitutional monarchy, which means that a monarch acts as Head of State.

The British government has central power, however, a certain amount of political power has been devolved to the regional governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The UK runs a first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system with elections every five years.

Main political parties in the UK

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Currently, there are 11 political parties with seats in the House of Commons.

About the UK Parliament

The UK parliament is separate from government made up of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The role of the UK parliament includes looking at what the government is doing, debating on issues and passing new laws. They also set taxes.
The Conservatives have acknowledged that Labour appears headed for victory and urged voters not to hand the party a supermajority read more

British voters are picking a new government Thursday in a parliamentary election that is widely expected to bring the Labour Party to power against a gloomy backdrop of economic malaise, mounting distrust in institutions and a fraying social fabric.

A jaded electorate is delivering its verdict on Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010. Polls opened at 7 am (local time).

Sunak made the short journey from his home to vote at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in his Richmond constituency. He arrived with his wife, Akshata Murty, and walked hand-in-hand into the village hall, which is surrounded by rolling fields.

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The polls are open.



Vote Conservative to stop the Labour supermajority which would mean higher taxes for a generation. pic.twitter.com/NPH7lSeDFc  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 4, 2024

The center-left Labour Party led by Keir Starmer has had a steady and significant lead in opinion polls for months, but its leaders have warned against taking the election result for granted, worried their supporters will stay home.

Change. Today, you can vote for it, he wrote Thursday on the X social media platform.

Change.



Today, you can vote for it.



pic.twitter.com/pLOFU5ijTz  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 4, 2024

The Conservatives have acknowledged that Labour appears headed for victory and urged voters not to hand the party a supermajority.

In the final days of campaigning Sunak insisted the outcome of this election is not a foregone conclusion.

But in a message to voters on Wednesday, Sunak said that if the polls are to be believed, the country could wake up tomorrow to a Labour supermajority ready to wield their unchecked power. He urged voters to back the Conservatives to limit Labours power.

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Labour has not set pulses racing with its pledges to get the sluggish economy growing, invest in infrastructure and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

But nothing has really gone wrong in its campaign, either. The party has won the support of large chunks of the business community and endorsements from traditionally conservative newspapers, including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sun tabloid.

The Sun said in an editorial that by dragging his party back to the center ground of British politics for the first time since Tony Blair was in No. 10 (Downing St.), Sir Keir has won the right to take charge, using the formal title for Starmer, who was knighted.

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Former Labour candidate Douglas Beattie, author of the book How Labour Wins (and Why it Loses), said Starmers quiet stability probably chimes with the mood of the country right now.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, have been plagued by gaffes. The campaign got off to an inauspicious start when rain drenched Sunak as he made the announcement outside 10 Downing St. Then, Sunak went home early from commemorations in France marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Several Conservatives close to Sunak are being investigated over suspicions they used inside information to place bets on the date of the election before it was announced.

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It has all made it harder for Sunak to shake off the taint of political chaos and mismanagement thats gathered around the Conservatives since then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff held lockdown-breaching parties during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnsons successor, Liz Truss, rocked the economy with a package of drastic tax cuts and lasted just 49 days in office. There is widespread dissatisfaction over a host of issues, from a creaking public health care system to crumbling infrastructure.

But for many voters, the lack of trust applies not just to Conservatives, but to politicians in general. Veteran rouser of the right, Nigel Farage, has leaped into that breach and grabbed attention with his anti-immigration rhetoric.

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The centrist Liberal Democrats and environmentalist Green Party also want to sweep up disaffected voters.

I dont know whos for me as a working person, said Michelle Bird, a port worker in Southampton on Englands south coast who was undecided about whether to vote Labour or Conservative. I dont know whether its the devil you know or the devil you dont.

Catch all the updates on 2024 UK elections LIVE here.
In the 2024 UK polls, around 46.5 million Britons are eligible to exercise their franchise. Soon after the polling ends at 10 pm (local time), the counting begins read more

As the UK begins to vote to elect the new government, the final mega polls predict historic defeat for the ruling Conservatives and a landslide victory for the Labour party. Whether or not these predictions about the 2024 UK elections come true, will become clear in less than 24 hours from now.

Lets first take a look at what the mega polls are saying about who will hold office, come Monday.

UK polls 2024 prediction

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Almost all major pollsters have a sombre and somewhat of a grim reading for Rishi Sunaks Conservative party in the lead-up to the UK election 2024 predictions

YouGovs: For the unversed, YouGov is a long-standing pollster that has accurately predicted a hung parliament in the 2017 general election in an MRP poll when other polling suggested a strong majority for the Tories.

The term MRP stands for Multilevel Regression and Post-stratification and is used by pollsters to estimate public opinion at a local level from large national samples.

According to YouGovs MRP poll prediction on the UK , the Labour party, led by Keir Starmer, is expected to win 431 of 650 parliamentary seats, up from 229 in 2019.

For the Conservative party, YouGov has predicted that they will win 102 seats, down from 263 in the last polls.

For an outright victory, a party has to win at least 326 seats. Labour is expected be getting 212 seats more than the majority, the largest the party has ever enjoyed.

Ed Daveys Liberal Democrats is seen winning 72 seats, up 61, as per YouGovs poll prediction, while Nigel Farages insurgent right-wing Reform UK is seen getting three seats.

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Our central projections are vote shares of 22 per cent for the Conservatives, 39 per cent for Labour, 15 per cent for Reform UK, 12 per cent for the Liberal Democrats and 7 per cent for the Greens, YouGov said.

More in Common: The UK poll prediction by More in Common shows Labour winning 430 seats, a 210-seat majority, while the Tories are seen getting 126 seats.

Focaldata: A poll by Focaldata has also predicted a higher majority for Labour, allocating the party 444 seats to the Tories 108 seats.

People in the UK, on Thursday, are sealing the fate of incumbent Britain PM Rishi Sunak and the leader of the Conservative Party Keir Starmer.

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In the 2024 UK polls around 46.5 million Britons are eligible to exercise their franchise. The electorate votes for members of Parliament across 650 constituencies with 326 required for a majority in the first past the post system.

How does the UK elect a prime minister?

Soon after the polling ends, the counting of the vote will begin. As per convention, the leader of the party with the most seats in the Commons becomes prime minister.

The June 4, 2024 election is the first in the UK since 2019, when then-Conservative leader Boris Johnson sealed the partys biggest majority win since 1987 over Jeremy Corbyns Labour.

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In Britain, people will cast their vote from 7 am to 10 pm (local time) at 40,000 polling stations across the country, shortly after which a closely watched exit poll will be released.

Catch all updates on 2024 UK elections LIVE here.

With inputs from agencies
In a historic first, Rishi Sunak is the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom with family roots in India, a former colony that the British ruled for centuries read more

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, is expected to be the next British Prime Minister. (Photo: AP)

The 2024 United Kingdom general elections are like none before in the centuries of British parliamentary politics.

For one, this is the first election in which a prime minister with family roots in India a former British colony is seeking reelection. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not just of Indian heritage but is also a son-in-law of India as his wife, Akshata Murty, is an Indian citizen.

The elections come at a time UK and Europe face unprecedented situations. The misery of the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet faded from memory and the relevance of Brexit the British exit from the European union (EU) is also being questioned. The election is also taking place in the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has plunged Europe in the biggest security crisis since the World War II.

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Here is a look at reasons that make the 2024 UK general elections one of many firsts.

1st election after Brexit

The UK joined the EU in 1973. Even though Conservative British icon Margaret Thatcher championed the UKs membership of the EU, doubts began to creep into the British psyche within the next two decades.

By 1990s when the EU as we know it today finally took shape, tabloids carried screaming headlines about the overreach of Brussels-based EU bureaucrats who purportedly sought to call shots in British policymaking. The content was highly exaggerated and often inaccurate, but the questionable accuracy of claims did stop the cultivation of an anti-EU sentiment.

The anti-EU sentiment was worsened by the 2008 global financial crisis that was followed by the eurozone crisis. The eurozone crisis is a term for the collapse of financial institutions in EU member-states in quick succession in 2008. It started with the fall of Icelands banking system and then spread to Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain. Investopedia noted that the crisis led to a loss of confidence in European businesses and economies.

In 2013, British PM David Cameron said he would hold a referendum on whether the UK should stay in EU or leave it. The referendum was held in 2016 and 52 per cent voters chose to leave. In 2020, the UK finally left EU after years of messy negotiations over the British economic, trade, migration, and security relationship in the post-Brexit era.

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Now, this is the first elections after the Brexit. In the four years since Brexit that promised to take control of British policies from the purported overreach of the EU, secure the borders, fuel economic growth, and restore the British pride, the UK has changed prime ministers thrice, gone into recession, and suffered one political scandal after another, and dealt with uncomfortable questions of race and identity.

There have been questions if the Brexit has been worth the troubles (Photo: Reuters)

As British voters cast their ballots after 14 years of Conservative Partys rule which pushed for the Brexit the question whether it worked as promised hangs heavy in the air.

1s election since Covid-19 pandemic

In 2019, the Conservatives under Boris Johnson won a sweeping victory in the general elections. Then, a year later, his agenda was disrupted by the worst pandemic in living memory that brought the world to a halt, ransacked the economy, and ushered in death and misery hitherto unseen. Even the famed British National Health Service (NHS) cracked under the pressure and mismanagement.

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The scandals that enveloped Johnsons tenure ranged from parties at his official residence even as the rest of UK including the late Queen stayed at home to party infighting as he accused Sunak of hiking taxes and not being conservative enough after he was forced to quit over the Partygate scandal.

Voters are casting their ballots in the first elections since the pandemic and their votes are therefore bound to be a referendum on the Conservative Partys handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the UK plunging into recession, unprecedented pressure on the NHS, bungled public messaging, and infighting among senior government leaders.

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1st election since Russian invasion of Ukraine

Its not just the economy or the political stability that the incoming British prime minister will have to deal with. They will also have to deal with the worst security threat to Europe since World War II: the Russian expansionism and the invasion of Europe.

For the UK, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a flashback to the early invasions of European countries by Nazi Germany before plunging the world into the world war. For the UK and Europe, the Russian invasion is therefore a very existential security threat  unseen in three generations.

Like Rishi Sunak, Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer is also a supporter of Ukraine in the war with Ukraine (Photo: Reuters)

Even as the positions of leaders and parties differ, they are largely united on the Ukrainian question. Among the European nations, the UK has been among the foremost supporters of Ukraine and Johnson, the former British PM, was the first major Western leader to visit Kyiv while the capital was still under Russian assault. Sunak continued to support Ukraine and Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader most likely to be the next prime minister, has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine.

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1st election involving an Indian-origin PM

Rishi Sunak, the sitting prime minister in the elections, is a man of many firsts: the first Indian-origin, first Hindu, and the first person of colour to be the British PM. In a country that once carried the White Mans Burden the world over, the rise of Sunak was a watershed moment in the British polity.

I stand before you today as the first non-white leader in our countrys history, said Sunak last year at the Conservative Partys conference.

Rishi Sunak is the first person of Indian-origin, first Hindu, and the first person of colour to be the British Prime Minister (Photo: AFP)

Sunak has governed the UK as a conservative and has touted his Hindu upbringing and India connect at every turn. He has said his faith guides him through the job.

Sunak further said, My grandparents did not emigrate to just Leicester or Southampton, but to the United Kingdom. They came here because our country stands for a set of values. We are the home of fair play, the best of British.
Priti Patel, a prominent British Conservative politician, served as Secretary of State for the Home Department from July 24, 2019, to September 6, 2022. Patel has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Witham since her election in May 2010, consistently winning re-election in 2015 2017, and 2019 with substantial majorities.

Priti Patel is hoping to hold down her seat of Witham in Essex in this round of parliamentary election.

Born on March 29, 1972, in London to Indian parents who had emigrated from Uganda, Patel grew up in a family that valued hard work and entrepreneurship. After attending a comprehensive school in Watford, Priti Patel pursued her undergraduate studies in economics at Keele University, followed by postgraduate studies in British government and politics at the University of Essex.

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Political career

Patel began her political journey working in the Conservative Partys press office and later headed the press office for the Referendum Party. She also served as an international development adviser for Conservative Party leader William Hague.

Patels first significant government role was as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from July 2014 to May 2015. She was then appointed Minister of State for Employment from May 2015 until July 2016, focusing on labour market policies and employment support programmes .

Secretary of State for International Development

In July 2016, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Patel as Secretary of State for International Development. During her tenure, she oversaw the UKs foreign aid budget and international development initiatives. However, her term ended in November 2017 following revelations of unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials during a holiday.

Secretary of State for the Home Department

In July 2019, Patel was appointed Home Secretary by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. She was responsible for immigration policy, counter-terrorism, and policing. Patel became known for her tough stance on immigration, advocating for stricter border controls and a points-based immigration system. Her tenure saw the introduction of several controversial policies, including plans to deport illegal immigrants to third countries for processing. She served in this role until September 2022.

Electoral success

Patels electoral success in the Witham constituency has been notable. She first won the seat in 2010 with a majority of over 15,000 votes, increased her majority in the 2015 general election to over 19,000 votes, and maintained a strong majority in subsequent elections. Her continued electoral success demonstrates strong local support and a solid connection with her constituents.

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Controversies

Patels career has been marked by several controversies. Her resignation as Secretary of State for International Development in 2017 after unauthorised meetings with Israeli officials was a significant incident. As Home Secretary, she faced criticism over her handling of immigration policies and allegations of bullying within the Home Office, which were investigated in an internal government inquiry.

Career outside politics

Before entering Parliament, Patel worked in consultancy and had an international career. In November 2013, she was appointed by the Prime Minister as the first UK Indian Diaspora Champion, a role that highlighted her commitment to representing the interests of the Indian community in the UK.

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Priti Patel is married to Alex Sawyer, a marketing consultant and former Conservative councillor. The couple has a son.
The ATM at the Patelco Credit Union branch in Dublin is seen in 2018. The credit union was hit by a major security breach over the weekend. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

A Northern California-based credit union attempted to reassure its members that their money was safe and secure after a ransomware attack forced it to halt many major banking functions.

In a security update posted on its website Wednesday, Patelco Credit Unions CEO, Erin Mendez, said cyber security specialists have validated and greenlighted our core systems, though they still did not anticipate having their systems up-and-running until next week.

The ransomware attack, reported June 29, forced Patelco to shut down electronic transfers, balance inquiries and direct deposits. The credit union was also forced to limit debit and credit card transactions for its members.

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Cybersecurity professionals were still completing a larger forensic investigation, the update said, and Patelco said it would post more information when it became available. Mendez reminded members that while the security breach is being addressed, they can still use Venmo and PayPal if their credit union accounts were connected to those apps. A prior message also noted that members could withdraw cash from ATMs.

Patelco did not immediately respond to a request for additional information about the security breach on Thursday. The credit union serves nearly half-a-million people across Northern California, including in the Bay Area and Sacramento, and reports about $10 billion in assets.

I know this continues to cause our members frustration and many of you have questions, Mendez wrote in the statement. We hear your concerns and are working around the clock to address them.
George Jacob, ousted CEO of the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, is accused of spending lavishly on travel and events while the facility struggled financially. Aquarium officials plan to ask state authorities to investigate Jacob. Michael Short/Special to the Chronicle 2018

Officials at the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco plan to ask state authorities to investigate their ousted president and CEO, who they said spent lavishly on travel and events while the aquarium faced financial troubles.

The board of Bay.org, the nonprofit overseeing the aquarium, voted Wednesday to refer allegations of financial and operational mismanagement by George Jacob to the California Attorney Generals Office, according to Jon B. Fisher, the recently appointed chair of the board.

The Charitable Trusts Section of the Attorney Generals Office investigates and brings legal action against charities that misuse funds. Its investigations, which can take from six months to a few years, can result in enforcement actions such as the recovery of misused funds, the assessment of penalties and even a charitys involuntary dissolution, according to the office.

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I believe this great organization designed to protect and highlight the fish and the ocean has been strip-mined and needs the attorney generals scrutiny, said Fisher, an aquarium donor who joined the board in February.

Jacob, a self-described museum futurist, was forced to resign on May 22 after key members of his staff raised concerns about his spending and other behavior in letters to the board of Bay.org. Former staff members, many of whom who told the Chronicle they resigned in frustration over Jacobs management, said that previous iterations of the board of Bay.org long knew about management problems at the nonprofit and also held responsibility for its difficulties.

Jacobs attorney, former San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto, said her client is being defamed. She previously characterized his ouster as a firing and said that he plans to sue for wrongful termination, among other charges.

We 100% absolutely will cooperate with any investigation of the great attorney general of the state of California, Alioto said.

Fisher would not disclose the specific financial and management issues Bay.org plans to refer to the attorney general, but he previously told the Chronicle that money was grossly mismanaged under Jacob.

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In December, Jacob hosted a concert at an opera house in Dubai that cost his nonprofit an estimated $461,000, according to a preliminary accounting provided by staff to the board. He threw the concert in the hopes of courting donors for his $260 million plan to transform the aquarium into a world-class climate museum, which never came to fruition.

Jacob also had a $286,000 travel budget last year paid by the nonprofit, according to preliminary estimates. He flew across the globe pitching his vision for transformation.

At the same time, his nonprofit was in a deepening financial crisis. Employees alleged that a $700,000 loan the aquarium secured last year to upgrade its failing infrastructure was instead used largely for other purposes, including on unpaid rent and to cover the costs of miscellaneous credit card expenses.

Alioto said she sent a letter of intent to sue to Bay.org on Tuesday. She said Jacob was wrongfully terminated after reporting employee misconduct to the board and that some employees who spoke out against him had been on the chopping block to be fired by Jacob.

Alioto said that any investigation by the attorney general should not be limited to Jacob.

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Nothing was spent that the board didnt know about, she said.

The law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has agreed to represent Bay.org and its current board pro bono against any legal claims brought by Jacob, Fisher and the firm told the Chronicle.

Fisher has said he hopes to turn the nonprofits financial situation around.
This photo released by relatives on March 21 shows a family killed in a crash in San Franciscos West Portal: Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto, 38, and her husband Diego Cardoso de Oliveira, 40, with their two sons. Relatives of the family have sued the driver accused of killing them. Courtesy photo

Relatives of the San Francisco family killed after a driver struck them at a West Portal bus stop sued the motorist, who was also criminally charged in their deaths on Tuesday.

The surviving parents of Diego Cardoso de Oliveira and Matilde Moncada Ramos Pinto filed a wrongful death lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court last month against the driver, Mary Lau, 78. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount in damages for the loss of the familys love, companionship, comfort, care, assistance, affection, society and moral support.

San Francisco attorney Rebecca Coll filed the claim on behalf of the relatives, who reside in Portugal and Brazil.

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San Francisco prosecutors this week filed four felony vehicular manslaughter charges against Lau, who is accused of striking and killing a couple and their two small children while they waited for a bus in the citys West Portal neighborhood in March.

Laus attorney Sam Geller said that he was reviewing the case to determine how to mount a defense. Lau is expected to appear in court on Friday. Geller declined to comment Wednesday.

Laus 2014 GLK-Series Mercedes SUV allegedly veered into an oncoming lane of traffic and then plowed onto the sidewalk at high speed, nicking the West Portal Library before barreling into the waiting family on March 16, police said. Prosecutors and police investigators said the crash could not be blamed on mechanical issues with Laus vehicle, and that Lau was traveling as fast as 72 mph down a residential street when the collision occurred.

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Evacuee Misti Morrow Mosley sits on the steps of an RV at an evacuation shelter in Oroville as the Thompson Fire burns Wednesday. Ethan Swope/Associated Press

On Wednesday, Gary Black fled his home near Oroville for the second time in a week.

It wasnt even the 3,747-acre Thompson Fire burning close by, forcing 28,000 Butte County residents to evacuate, that threatened his home. It was the Grubbs Fire, which broke out Wednesday a few miles from the Thompson Fire.

Just five days earlier, Black had thought his home was lost when another fire  the Apache  ignited near south Oroville and burned onto his property as he and his daughter fled. Firefighters saved the house, but then came the Grubbs Fire.

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I thought, Not again!  said Black, 75, a retired sugar maker at C&Hs nearby factory.

Black and others at an evacuation center at a south Oroville church watched smoke plumes rise ominously a handful of miles away. Too close.

People gather at an evacuation shelter Wednesday as the Thompson Fire burns. Ethan Swope/Associated Press

Cal Fire contained the Grubbs Fire at about 8 acres by diverting some of the eight helicopters and 1,400 personnel on the Thompson Fire. The agency also held another fire that broke out Wednesday in the area, on Hurleton Swedes Road, to less than 2 acres.

But the far larger Thompson Fire, which prompted a state of emergency declaration for Butte County from Gov. Gavin Newsom, continued to keep thousands of people away from their homes on the eve of the holiday.

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Cal Fire spokesperson Rick Carhart came to the shelter to update evacuees on the firefight and efforts to get them home soon. He knew how they felt. As an Oroville resident, he and his family had evacuated, too.

Officials have not confirmed any structure losses in the Thompson Fire, but photographs show flames ripping through some structures and vehicles. Four firefighters were treated for heat illnesses Tuesday when the fire started, and another stricken firefighter was rushed from the fire line Wednesday.

Cars carry residents evacuating the Thompson Fire in Butte County on Tuesday. Ethan Swope/Associated Press

Orovilles main commercial streets were bustling Wednesday afternoon, and the only sign of the fire was the brown haze over town. But things grew increasingly desolate closer to the dam, with closed storefronts and an abundance of law enforcement patrolling near checkpoints at the border of evacuated zones.

Oroville, home to 20,000 people, has been threatened time and again by wildfires plus a nearly disastrous dam breach in 2017. Black and others at the evacuation center marveled at the repeated onslaught of wildfires and smoke that have hit Butte County.

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Carhart moved to Oroville in 2018 and bought his home one day before the deadly Camp Fire ignited nearby and destroyed Paradise.

Since then, more wildfires  including the 300,000-acre North Complex in 2020  have collectively burned tens of thousands of acres.

The Thompson Fire was less active Wednesday  smoke dispersed south and the fire didnt churn out many plumes throughout the day  although officials said theyd reached only about 7% containment around the blaze Thursday afternoon.

An evacuee winces as flames from the Thompson Fire jump the road Tuesday in the Oroville area. Ethan Swope/Associated Press

There are still many, many people evacuated  and its hot, Carhart said.



Outside the shelter, Brittanie Hardie, a Louisiana native new to California, didnt mind the oppressive heat but hated the fire. She was at the library when her girlfriend called and said they were evacuating their apartment and coming to get her. She had nothing but the clothes shed worn while they waited for news of their home and whether theyd be able to return.

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I knew wildfires were bad in California, but I didnt know it was this bad, said Hardie, 31.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Canadian singer-songwriter Deborah Cox performs during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn of the White House on June 26 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Transgender activists and their supporters were disappointed and dismayed over a statement released by the White House this week that President Joe Biden does not support gender-affirming surgical procedures for transgender youth.

Such procedures are extremely rare, and the presidents statement does not stop them from happening. But Bidens words add fuel to a fire thats been raging across the country for more than a year as states move to ban all types of gender-affirming care for minors and curtail other rights for trans youth.

With these heightened attacks from far-right extremists on trans youth in particular, what we really need right now is for everyone, including the president of the United States of America, to stand with our community, said Tom Temprano, managing director of external affairs for Equality California, an LGBTQ advocacy group. We are calling on him to reaffirm his commitment to these youth and their families.

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The White House statement, first published Tuesday in the 19th News, came in response to reports last week in the New York Times and Fox News that Biden opposed gender-affirming surgery for trans youth.

These are deeply personal decisions and we believe these surgeries should be limited to adults, the statement said. We continue to support gender-affirming care for minors, which represents a continuum of care, and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors in these decisions.

The statement also condemned efforts at the state level to ban gender-affirming care for youth, and Biden in the past has supported maintaining access to such care.

Twenty-five states have passed laws that prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender people under 18. A legal challenge to a ban in Tennessee is headed to the Supreme Court in its next term.

Im very disappointed and dismayed by this statement from the White House, said Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ individuals. Its very out of sync with everything they have done and said up until now, which has been deferring to health care providers and parents and medical standards. Its not the role of the government to opine about independent medical decisions.

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Federally accepted guidelines for gender-affirming care for trans youth include puberty blockers to halt the permanent changes that can happen in early adolescence, followed by hormone therapy.

Surgery is generally not recommended for minors, and reserved for older teens who have extreme gender dysphoria. Experts in transgender care estimate that a few hundred teenagers under 18 get so-called top surgery every year, and fewer than 20 undergo genital procedures.

Gender-affirming surgeries on people under 18 are so rare as to be borderline nonexistent, said state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco. If you just listen to the rhetoric you would think that kids are having gender-affirming surgeries left and right, and its just not true. It's unfortunate the administration is buying into this moral panic.

Wiener and others added that most transgender youth receive no gender-affirming care at all, either by choice or because they are unable to access it. Wiener authored legislation in 2022 that made California a sanctuary state for children and families seeking gender-affirming care thats been banned, and in some cases criminalized, in other states.

Any concerns about care should be oriented around making sure young people have access to the services they need, not limiting their options, Wiener said.

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NEW YORK, July 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) resulting from allegations that U.S. Steel may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased U.S. Steel securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=26696 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 13, 2024, The Washington Post published an article entitled Biden calls American ownership of U.S. Steel vital as he opposed deal. It stated, in pertinent part, that President Biden [said] that he opposed Nippon Steels proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel, an extraordinary move that comes as a federal panel continues its review of the transaction for any potential effect on national security.

On this news, U.S. Steels stock fell 12.7% on March 13, 2024, and 6.3% on March 14, 2024

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
This collaboration enhances global educational benchmarks in radiotheranostics and aims to expand patient access to a new era of effective cancer therapeutics in South Africa.

July 4, 2024  Wiesbaden, Germany, and Pretoria Central, South Africa. Today, the International Centers for Precision Oncology (ICPO) Foundation and Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) in Pretoria, South Africa announced their cooperation in establishing the theranostics center as one of the global ICPO Collaborating Centers. The parties intend to enable a growing number of patients worldwide access to Radiomolecular Precision Oncology (RPO) and further promote research and development in the fields of RPO. Moreover, the NuMeRI will support the joint development and enhancement of best practice standards in South Africa and their implementation in professional development to establish the internationally active "ICPO Academy for Theranostics."

The ICPO Foundation aims to develop an international network of physical diagnostic and therapeutic centers dedicated to Radiomolecular Precision Oncology. It has launched the ICPO Academy for Theranostics and is driving forward the research of innovative radiopharmaceuticals. The Foundation's mission is to ensure that cutting-edge cancer therapies are accessible to patients worldwide. The ICPO Centers work under a social operating model based on shared know-how, certified education, and standardized design and processes that enable the implementation of best clinical practices on a global scale. The ICPO Foundation has successfully established ICPO Collaborating Centers in Germany, China, India, Australia and Egypt. Expansion plans are underway, with upcoming centers in locations globally.

The Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI), an integral component within the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap (SARIR) of the Department of Science and Technology, serves as a specialized medical imaging facility with a dedicated focus on advancing drug development and clinical research in the realm of nuclear technologies for medicine and biosciences. NuMeRI as a South African national infrastructure partners with University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, NECSA, iThemba Labs and all South African universities. Operating within the healthcare domain, NuMeRI fosters a collaborative environment for medical research and practice, driven by the shared objective of improving public health. The research conducted at NuMeRI is oriented towards the development of therapies targeting national priority diseases.

NuMeRI plays a pivotal role in bolstering the public healthcare sector by providing essential infrastructure that is unique to its fields and by facilitating the development of critical and scarce skilled medical professionals. The objectives of NuMeRI align inherently with the priorities outlined by the National Department of Health. The infrastructure rollout plan of NuMeRI involved a phased approach, including establishing an interim pre-clinical imaging facility at Necsa, Pelindaba, designed to ensure immediate operations during the construction of the primary NuMeRI site. The completed infrastructure situated at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital is now a one-stop shop for imaging and therapy.

The NuMeRI will provide advice and recommendations to the ICPO Foundation on how precision oncology's international quality standards, processes, and procedures can be best implemented in South Africa. The aim of the parties is that the theranostics center in Pretoria promote the "ICPO Academy for Theranostics" in South Africa, including at national society meetings, and act as a point of contact in South Africa for interested parties and registration of participants. The center will be allowed under ICPO certification and in alignment with the ICPO Academy curriculum for practical training of physicians, chemists, physicists, nurses, technologists, and other participants in its facilities for various time durations. NuMeRI will provide advice and recommendations to ICPO on how international quality standards, processes, and procedures of precision oncology can be best implemented in South Africa

Odile Jaume, CEO of the ICPO Foundation, expressed her intense enthusiasm for the partnership, stating: "This collaboration positions the Theranostics Center NuMeRI in Pretoria as a leading partner within both the ICPO network and South Africa, marking a new chapter in cancer care. We aim to broaden patient access to innovative Radiomolecular Precision Oncology therapy worldwide and to further develop the ICPO Academy for Theranostics in collaboration with top-tier partners."

Dr. Mike Sathekge, CEO & President of NuMeRI, emphasized this commitment: "Collaborating with the ICPO Foundation, our theranostics center is leading a transformative shift toward precision oncology in South Africa. The research infrastructure provided by NuMeRI extends support to healthcare research and development, benefiting both academic and commercially driven healthcare entities, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. As an ICPO Collaboration Center, we benefit from the global community and exchange with world-class experts within the foundation."

About ICPO Foundation

The International Centers for Precision Oncology Foundation (ICPO) is a non-profit organization established in 2019 under German law by leading international medical practitioners and life sciences entrepreneurs. Recognizing a paradigm shift in cancer care from one size fits all to a personalized approach, the ICPO Foundation is helping to build momentum to scale global patient access to Radiomolecular Precision Oncology to support this shift. Therefore, the ICPO Foundation aims to develop an international network of physical diagnostic and therapeutic Centers for Precision Oncology organized in a Social Franchise model based on shared know-how, certified education with the ICPO Academy for Theranostics, and design and process standardization that enables best clinical practice globally. Furthermore, it is the ICPO Foundation's objective to empower its Centers by embedding them in a highly inclusive Community that spearheads its model and lives up to the Precision Oncology promise by making it available to all patients in need, irrespective of country or social status.

Learn more about the ICPO Foundation at www.icpo.foundation and the ICPO Academy for Theranostics at www.theranostics.academy

Image caption:

ICPO Foundation signed the contract with Nuclear Medicine Research Infrastructure (NuMeRI) to establish an ICPO Collaborating Center and expand patient access to a new era of effective cancer therapeutics in South Africa: Dr. Mike Sathekge, CEO & President of NuMeRI; Dr. Jan Rijn Zeevaart, General Research Manager, NuMeRI; Martin Reuter, CFO ICPO Foundation; Odile Jaume, CEO ICPO Foundation; Prof. Richard P. Baum, President of the ICPO Academy for Theranostics (f.l.t.r.)

Media contact ICPO Foundation

Susanne Simon

Head of Communication & Community

Email: susanne.simon@icpo.foundation

Phone: + 49 172 8666093

www.icpo.foundation

Attachment
Hosted by BBC News Anchor Carl Nasman, Future Earth is a series exploring the most important conversations around sustainability and climate change. Luke Plants, who is CEO of Zefiro subsidiary Plants & Goodwin (P&G), is featured in the third episode of Future Earth, with first-hand reporting by Carl Nasman at a P&G job site in Upstate New York.



FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ZEFIRO METHANE CORP. (Cboe Canada: ZEFI) (Frankfurt: Y6B) (the Company, Zefiro, or ZEFI) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary Plants & Goodwin, Inc. (P&G) has been featured in an episode of Future Earth , a new informational series by the British broadcasting conglomerate BBC, through its BBC News arm. In this third episode of the Future Earth series, BBC News Anchor Carl Nasman explores some of the challenges around energy transition, including orphaned and abandoned well sites in the United States which could potentially be leaking methane.

Nasman was reporting in-person from a remediation job site in Upstate New York with P&G personnel including Project Manager Josh Sandberg and CEO Luke Plants, who were both interviewed on camera. Mr. Plants explained the importance of scaling up P&Gs operating bandwidth to address the issue of methane leaks. Former BBC Science Editor David Shukman then gave additional insights to build upon Mr. Plants remarks, particularly with respect to how stopping methane leaks can expedite broader environmental remediation efforts at a global scale.

The full episode where P&G is featured can be viewed through the following links:

BBC iPlayer (U.K. Only): https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001sr6p/future-earth-3-episode-three

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLvkWpnzba8



P&G CEO Luke Plants was featured in the third episode of the BBC News series Future Earth, where he explains the importance of decommissioning sites of potential methane leaks, which are highly concentrated in regions such as Upstate New York



Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR+ or the Investors section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media.

Zefiro Founder and CEO Talal Debs commented, The methane leak crisis in the United States has gained considerable attention in the past couple of years, and we are glad to see that major worldwide news outlets such as the BBC are doing in-depth reporting on the subject. We are very grateful that Carl Nasman traveled to the United States to film at one of our job sites and interview P&G team members. Zefiro is uniquely positioned as a key actor in curbing methane emissions in the United States, and we are honored to have been recognized for the work we are doing in making our homes and neighborhoods safer for all Americans.

Luke Plants, who is CEO of P&G and Senior Vice President of Business Development for Zefiro commented, It was a pleasure to work with BBC News Anchor Carl Nasman, who I feel did an excellent reporting job for this episode of Future Earth. As efforts to reduce methane emissions in the United States continue to ramp up, businesses like ours play an increasingly important role in carrying out remediation efforts, in addition to educating the public on what actually happens at the job site level.

About Zefiro Methane Corp.

Zefiro is an environmental services company, specializing in methane abatement. Zefiro strives to be a key commercial force towards Active Sustainability. Leveraging decades of operational expertise, Zefiro is building a new toolkit to clean up air, land, and water sources directly impacted by methane leaks. The Company has built a fully integrated ground operation driven by an innovative monetization solution for the emerging methane abatement marketplace. As an originator of high-quality U.S.-based methane offsets, Zefiro aims to generate long-term economic, environmental, and social returns.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

ZEFIRO METHANE CORP.

Talal Debs

Talal Debs, Founder & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Zefiro Investor Relations

1 (800) 274-ZEFI (274-9334)

investor@zefiromethane.com

For media inquiries, please contact:

Rich Myers - Profile Advisors (New York)

media@zefiromethane.com

+1 (347) 774-1125

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seeks, believes, plans, expects, intends, estimates, anticipates and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information including statements regarding: the Companys intention to reduce emissions from end-of-life oil and gas wells and eliminate methane gas; the Companys partnerships with industry operators, state agencies, and federal governments; the Companys expectations for continued increases in revenues and EBITDA growth as a result of these partnerships; the Companys intentions to build out its presence in the United States; the anticipated federal funding for orphaned well site plugging, remediation and restoring activities; the Companys expectations to become a growing environmental services company; the Companys ability to provide institutional and retail investors alike with the opportunity to join the Active Sustainability movement; the Companys ability to generate long-term economic, environmental, and social returns; and other statements regarding the Companys business and the industry in which the Company operates. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) adverse general market and economic conditions; (ii) changes to and price and volume volatility in the carbon market; (iii) changes to the regulatory landscape and global policies applicable to the Company's business; (iv) failure to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals; and (v) other risk factors set forth in its Prospectus dated April 8, 2024 under the heading Risk Factors. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment where technologies are in the early stage of adoption. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. Forward-looking information in this news release is based on the opinions and assumptions of management considered reasonable as of the date hereof, including, but not limited to, the assumption that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information. The forward-looking information included in this news release is made as of the date of this news release and the Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms

Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by Zefiro Methane Corp. can be found under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca/ .

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/44e38d03-e824-4c8d-978b-a7804a00bbc6
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "India Generic Drugs Market, By Region, Competition, Forecast and Opportunities, 2020-2030F" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



India Generic Drugs Market was valued at USD 24.91 Billion in 2024 and is anticipated to project impressive growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 6.02% through 2030

The India Generic Drugs Market is primarily driven by factors such as cost-effectiveness, increasing demand for affordable healthcare solutions, and a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure. India's generic drug industry benefits from a large pool of skilled manpower, a well-established regulatory framework, and low production costs, allowing for the production of high-quality generic medications at competitive prices.

The country's strong emphasis on research and development, coupled with a growing focus on exports, further propels the growth of the generic drugs market. The government's initiatives to promote generic drug usage, such as price control measures and incentivizing domestic manufacturing, contribute to market expansion. As the demand for accessible and cost-effective healthcare solutions continues to rise, the India Generic Drugs Market is expected to witness sustained growth and innovation in the coming years.

Technological Advancements and Innovation



Technological advancements and innovation contribute to the growth of the India Generic Drugs Market by enhancing manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and therapeutic efficacy. Indian pharmaceutical companies are investing in research and development (R&D) initiatives to develop novel drug delivery systems, formulations, and dosage forms that improve patient compliance and treatment outcomes. Advancements in manufacturing technologies, such as continuous manufacturing, automation, and process optimization, enable Indian manufacturers to produce generic drugs more efficiently and cost-effectively. Collaborations with academic institutions, research organizations, and technology partners facilitate knowledge exchange and innovation in the generic drugs industry.



Disease Burden and Healthcare Infrastructure



The disease burden and healthcare infrastructure in India are significant drivers of the India Generic Drugs Market. The country faces a high prevalence of infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and lifestyle-related conditions, driving the demand for generic medications to address these health challenges. The expansion of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities, further fuels the demand for generic drugs by increasing access to healthcare services. The growing availability of generic medications at retail pharmacies, government hospitals, and private healthcare providers ensures widespread accessibility and affordability of essential drugs to the Indian population, driving market growth and penetration.



Segmental Insights

Type Insights



Based on the Type, in the India Generic Drugs Market, Small Molecule Generics have traditionally dominated over Biosimilars, primarily due to several factors including regulatory pathways, manufacturing complexity, and market maturity. Small molecule generics, which are chemically synthesized compounds identical to their branded counterparts, have been the cornerstone of the generic drugs industry in India for decades.

The regulatory pathway for small molecule generics is well-established, with clear guidelines and processes for approval, ensuring a relatively smoother and faster route to market compared to biosimilars. The manufacturing processes for small molecule generics are more straightforward and scalable, allowing for efficient production and cost-effective scaling, which aligns well with the high volume, low-cost business model characteristic of the Indian generic drugs market. The market for small molecule generics in India is more mature and competitive, with numerous domestic and multinational pharmaceutical companies actively participating and driving innovation in this segment.



Application Insights



Based on Application, in the India Generic Drugs Market, cardiovascular diseases emerge as one of the dominant therapeutic areas, alongside diabetes and oncology. Cardiovascular diseases encompass a broad spectrum of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and stroke, which collectively represent a significant burden of morbidity and mortality in India. Given the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and tobacco use, the demand for generic medications for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases remains robust.

Generic drugs for cardiovascular diseases, including antihypertensives, statins, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulants, are widely prescribed by healthcare providers due to their proven efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness. Initiatives such as the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Stroke (NPCDCS) and the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) further drive the demand for affordable cardiovascular medications, ensuring widespread access and affordability for patients across the country.



The presence of a large number of pharmaceutical companies specializing in the production of generic cardiovascular drugs, coupled with regulatory support and incentives for domestic manufacturing, strengthens India's position as a leading supplier of generic cardiovascular medications to both domestic and international markets. However, challenges such as patent litigation, intellectual property issues, and pricing pressures pose constraints to market growth and innovation in the cardiovascular drugs segment, requiring collaborative efforts from industry stakeholders, regulatory authorities, and healthcare providers to address these challenges and ensure continued access to affordable cardiovascular medications for patients in India.



Regional Insights



West India emerges as a dominant region in the India Generic Drugs Market due to several factors, including a favorable business environment, robust pharmaceutical infrastructure, and strategic geographical location. Among the states in West India, Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai and Pune, stands out as a pharmaceutical powerhouse. Mumbai, known as the financial capital of India, hosts a plethora of pharmaceutical companies, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises to large multinational corporations.

The city's well-developed infrastructure, access to skilled manpower, and supportive regulatory environment make it an attractive destination for pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, and innovation. Pune, often referred to as the "Oxford of the East," boasts a vibrant pharmaceutical industry with a cluster of pharmaceutical companies, research institutions, and academic centers. The city's strategic location, proximity to Mumbai, and thriving ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship contribute to its prominence in the generic drugs market.



Gujarat, with cities like Ahmedabad, is another significant contributor to the dominance of West India in the generic drugs market. Ahmedabad, the largest city in Gujarat, is a major pharmaceutical hub with a strong presence of pharmaceutical companies, manufacturing facilities, and research institutions. The city's business-friendly policies, supportive government initiatives, and access to raw materials make it an ideal location for pharmaceutical manufacturing and export. The state's proactive approach towards industrial development, infrastructure investment, and skill development further enhances its competitiveness in the generic drugs market.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 83 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $24.91 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $35.62 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.0% Regions Covered India

Competitive Landscape



Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the India Generic Drugs Market.

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Limited

Cipla Limited

Lupin Limited

Piramal Group

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited

Biocon Limited

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited

Aurobindo Pharma Limited

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Report Scope:



India Generic Drugs Market, By Type:

Small Molecule Generics

Biosimilars

India Generic Drugs Market, By Mode of Drug Delivery:

Oral

Parenteral

Topical

Others

India Generic Drugs Market, By Form:

Tablets

Capsules

Injections

Others

India Generic Drugs Market, By Source:

Contract Manufacturing Organizations

In-house

India Generic Drugs Market, By Distribution Channel:

Retail Pharmacies

Hospital Pharmacies

Online Pharmacies

Others

India Generic Drugs Market, By Application:

Neurology

Oncology

Cardiovascular Diseases

Diabetes

Anti-Inflammatory Diseases

Others

India Generic Drugs Market, By Region:

North

South

West

East

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fxrrry

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
Police are investigating a shooting near an Antioch vineyard late Wednesday that killed a man and a woman. Jacom Stephens/Getty Images

Antioch police are investigating the shooting deaths of a 58yearold man and a 44yearold woman.

Police responded to a report that a man had been shot near vineyards on the 1600 block of Vineyard Drive around 11:26 p.m. Wednesday. When officers arrived they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds, police said in a statement.

Officers rendered aid until paramedics arrived, but the man, whose identity was not released, died at the scene.

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Later, a woman arrived at Sutter Delta Medical Hospital suffering from gunshot wounds, and she was transferred to John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek in critical condition, police said.
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "US Ad Spending 2024: A Rebound for Social, a Final Surge for CTV, and an Endless Boom for Retail Media" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Total media ad spending growth has stabilized, and digital ad spending is set for an extended period of low double-digit annual increases. Amazon, TikTok, and Instagram will be the main growth drivers this year.

Total media and digital ad spending will grow at a healthy pace for most of the rest of the decade. Retail media and connected TV (CTV) remain the hottest stories, although traditional search and social networks are by far the largest categories for spending.

Key Question: What is the outlook for total and digital ad spending across the major formats, channels, and platforms in 2024 and beyond?

Key Stat: Traditional search - which excludes retail media search - remains the biggest draw for marketing spend, to Google's benefit. Social network ad spending will overtake it by 2026, however.

Key Report Features:

3 Exportable files for easy reading, analysis and sharing.

9 Charts: Reliable data in simple displays for presentations and quick decision making.

Key Topics Covered:





Executive Summary

Total media ad spending is in good shape, thanks to relentless growth from digital

Digital ad spending is splintering across formats and channels, and there are many winners

Among companies, Amazon's surge overshadows everything else

Retail media remains the fastest-growing segment in digital advertising

Social network ad spending is back on track

CTV ad growth is set for its final acceleration

Traditional TV remains enormous, and this year it will actually grow a little

Media Gallery

Charts

US Ad Spending on Select Media Formats and Channels, 2024 (billions)

US Digital Ad Spending, 2022-2028 (billions, % change, and % of total media ad spending)

US Display and Search Ad Spending, 2024 (billions, % change, and % of total digital ad spending)

Amazon Is Closing In on Meta, as the Duopoly Fades and the Triopoly Solidifies (% of US digital ad spending among select companies, 2021-2026)

Companies With Over $2 Billion in US Net Digital Ad Revenues, 2024 (billions)

US Retail Media Ad Spending, 2022-2028 (billions, % change, and % of digital ad spending)

US Social Network Ad Spending, 2022-2028 (billions, % change, and % of digital ad spending)

US Connected TV (CTV) Ad Spending, 2022-2028 (billions, % change, and % of digital ad spending)

US Traditional TV Ad Spending, 2022-2028 (billions, % change, and % of total media ad spending)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bt3xd2

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Market Report by Drug Class, Route of Administration, Distribution Channel, Regions and Company Analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Market share is anticipated to be about US$ 15.42 billion by 2032. The CAGR for the market from 2024 to 2032 is 9.05%. According to the publisher, it was valued US$ 7.07 billion in 2023.

Approximately 70,000 people worldwide suffer with cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the most prevalent hereditary disorders, according to the NIH.

The growing prevalence of cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the key factors driving the cystic fibrosis therapeutics market over the forecast period.

The CF Foundation said that approximately 40,000 adults and children in the US have cystic fibrosis, and 105,000 people worldwide are thought to have received a CF diagnosis. Growing awareness of this degenerative genetic illness and the growing use of pharmaceutical therapy are the also the factors driving the cystic fibrosis therapeutics industry.

For instance- The cystic fibrosis community gathers for CF Awareness Month in May. "Resilient" is this year's CF Awareness Month theme. Regardless of people's relationship to cystic fibrosis, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation offers shareable resources to assist them in sharing their story on social media this month and throughout the year.

The market for cystic fibrosis therapeutics is expanding thanks to the numerous advances in cystic fibrosis pharmacotherapy. The other elements anticipated to propel the cystic fibrosis therapeutics market in the next years are also an increase in R&D investment and legislation that is supportive of the industry.

In March 2023 - To speed up the development of novel medicines for cystic fibrosis patients, LifeArc, a member of the CF AMR Syndicate, is offering drug discovery innovators 3 million in joint funding. About five collaborative initiatives that seek to quickly discover novel antimicrobial medicines to treat chronic respiratory infections in individuals with cystic fibrosis will be supported by the CF AMR Syndicate's Collaborative Discovery Programme.

Asia-Pacific Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Market

Both the number of patients and the popularity of the urban lifestyle are rising in the area. This is anticipated to drive the cystic fibrosis therapeutics market in Asia-Pacific.

According to the NIH, China has been steadily recognizing cystic fibrosis (CF) in recent years. The number of CF patients reported in China in the last ten years is more than 2.5 times the total number in the preceding thirty years, and the projected total number of CF patients in China is more than 20 000.

According to a research released by four United Nations organizations, Asia's cities are expanding so quickly that by 2030, over half of the vast population of the region is predicted to live in urban settings. This will have similarly significant effects on urban food security and nutrition.

Rising healthcare expenditures are anticipated to fuel the cystic fibrosis treatment market in the Asia-Pacific region.

Asia-Pacific will have the highest growth in healthcare spending, making up over 20% of global spending by 2030, predicts Bain & Company. Customers are willing to spend more and take a more proactive role in maintaining their health. In exchange for improved health outcomes, better experiences, and greater efficiency, about 50% of all consumers - 58% of whom are Gen Z - plan to increase their healthcare spending.

Increased funding for CF pharmaceutical research and development studies, along with other helpful government initiatives, will propel the growth of the Asia-Pacific cystic fibrosis medicines market.

In February 2023 - An international patient-led movement has been launched in several nations, including India, to gain access to Vertex Pharmaceuticals' (American biotech business) Trikafta, a treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF).

Cystic Fibrosis Therapeutics Industry News

In March 2024 - Israeli business BiomX purchased American startup Adaptive Phage Therapeutics to establish a biotech company dedicated on advancing two genetically modified viruses that eradicate bacteria through clinical trials.

In November 2023 - Arcturus Therapeutics's ARCT-032 has been designated as an orphan drug by the US Food and medication Administration (FDA) to treat cystic fibrosis (CF).

In November 2023 - The licenses for the cystic fibrosis medications Kaftrio (ivacaftor, tezacaftor, and elexacaftor) and Kalydeco (ivacaftor) for children two to five years old have been renewed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

In October 2023 - ATUM has extended its collaboration with Anagram Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical enterprise committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals afflicted with cystic fibrosis (CF) and other uncommon illnesses. The extended collaboration comes after a fruitful collaboration that expedited the introduction of ANG003 into a clinical trial that was just started in individuals with cystic fibrosis.

In May 2023- Tavanta Therapeutics at Two Renowned Scientific Conferences Released New Preclinical Data for Their Cystic Fibrosis Candidate, TAVT-135.

In April 2023 - The previously disclosed merger of Vallon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now GRI Bio, Inc.) and GRI Bio, Inc. has been completed. The united business will be known as "GRI Bio, Inc." and its primary goal will be to further GRI Bio's cutting-edge NKT cell modulator pipeline for the management of autoimmune, fibrotic, and inflammatory illnesses.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 220 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $7.07 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $15.42 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.0% Regions Covered Global

Key Players Analysis: Business Overview, Recent Developments, SWOT Analysis, Revenue Analysis

Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Abbvie Inc.

Novartis Ag

Gilead Sciences

Viatris INC

Pfizer

Astrazeneca

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd

Drug Class

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)

Bronchodilators

Mucolytic

Pancreatic Enzyme Supplement

Others

Route of Administration

Oral Drugs

Inhaled Drugs

Distribution Channel

Hospitals

Retail Pharmacies

Others

Countries

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

United Kingdom

Belgium

Netherland

Turkey

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Australia

New Zealand

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

UAE

South Africa

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i6hgxu

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Desalination Market Report by Technology, Application, Water Source, Regions and Company Analysis 2024-2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Water Desalination Market size is expected to reach US$ 36.98 billion by 2032, up from US$ 16.19 billion in 2023, with a CAGR of 9.61% from 2024 to 2032.



Communities are increasingly using desalination strategies to obtain essential water assets by purifying wastewater, brackish water, and saltwater. This method is broadly employed to reap sparkling water for agricultural and human use. Desalination occurs evidently as a part of the water cycle, wherein rain is created through the evaporation of seawater, leaving salt in the back of the clouds. While seawater desalination has been used for centuries on boats and submarines to provide fresh water during long voyages, large-scale desalination vegetation was no longer developed until the Industrial Revolution.





As per study by researchers at the United Nations University's Institute for Water, Environment, and Health (UNU-INWE), approximately 16,000 desalination plants are in operation globally, spanning 177 nations, collectively generating about 95 million m3/day of clean water. The Perur plant in India is anticipated to be finished by December 2026, and it will increase Chennai's water delivery through 400 MLD.

Newly Water Desalination Plant projects worldwide



Apr 2023: Three USA initiatives are under construction, which include the Antioch Brackish Water Desalination mission, the City of Camarillo North Pleasant Valley Desalter venture, and the City of Santa Monica Brackish Desalter Production Efficiency Enhancement project.



In May 2024, The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis built a water desalination plant at Canada Estate. Canada obtained solar-powered water desalination plants from the United Arab Emirates as a part of the UAE's Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (CREF).



In January 2024, South West Water is making an investment of 125 million in a desalination plant on the West Coast of the United Kingdom. The plant will have a capacity of 20,000 m3/day and will offer water for 300,000 human beings in Cornwall. It is expected to, meet up to 40 percent of the location's water demands.



Cannes Mandelieu desalination plant aims to supply fresh water to the Alpes-Maritimes region. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to incorporate energy-efficient processes and minimize environmental impact, setting the standard for future desalination projects in France.



In Oct 2023, Hydro has announced an investment of EUR 3 million to install a new water treatment plant at its Schwandorf legacy site in Bavaria.



China plans to build seawater desalination projects in several provinces and cities with the goal of producing 3 million cubic meters of freshwater daily by 2030, requiring $10 billion in investments.



India has announced plans to build Asia's largest desalination plant in Chennai to address saline groundwater intrusion.



In April 2023, Saudi Arabia announced seven new desalination projects to be built starting in 2024: Ras Alkhair 2, Ras Alkhair 3, Tabuk, Alshuqaiq, Rabigh 5, Rayis 2, and Jazan.



Saudi Arabia has announced the construction of seven new desalination projects starting in 2024. The projects include Ras Alkhair 2, Ras Alkhair 3, Tabuk, Alshuqaiq, Rabigh 5, Rayis 2, and Jazan.



Saudi Arabia Water Desalination Market



Thanks to the increasing investment in desalination, Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of the global water desalination market. The 4th MENA Desalination Projects 2023 Report has revealed that the total expenditure on proposed or ongoing regional desalination projects amounts to US$ 39.3 Billion. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the leading investors in these nations, with US$ 14.58 Billion and Us$ 10.28 Billion, respectively. In 2019, around 60% of the Kingdom's water supply came from desalination, most of which was provided by the government-owned Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC).

Saudi Arabia uses desalination to convert salt water from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf into fresh water.

Desalination is criticized for its environmental impact due to its reliance on gas and oil.

Saudi Arabia aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030 and is taking steps to reduce carbon emissions, such as using solar panels at desalination plants.

Large-scale solar power desalination, such as at the Jazlah plant, is contributing to significant carbon emission savings.

The growing demand for solar desalination is driving the water desalination industry.

Six Largest Desalination Plants worldwide

Ras Al Khair Plant, Saudi Arabia has a capacity of 1,036,000 m3/day.

Sorek Plant, Israel has a capacity of 624,000 m3/day.

Shoaiba 3 Expansion, Saudi Arabia with a capacity of 550,000 m3/day.

Jebel Ali M Station, United Arab Emirates has a capacity of 140,000 m3/day

Shuweihat S1 Hybrid Plant, United Arab Emirates has a Capacity of 454,000 m3/day

Ras Azzour, Saudi Arabia, with a capacity of 380,000 m3/day

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 200 Forecast Period 2023 - 2032 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $16.19 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2032 $36.98 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.6% Regions Covered Global

Company Analysis: Overview, Recent Developments, Revenue Analysis

Acciona

Dow

Evoqua Water Technologies

Siemens AG

DuPont

Doosan Enerbility

Toray Industries, Inc.

Xylem

Technology - Market breakup in 4 viewpoints

Reverse Osmosis

Multi-stage flash (MSF) Distillation

Multi-effect (MED) distillation

Others

Application - Market breakup in 3 viewpoints

Municipal

Industrial

Others

Water Source - Market breakup in 4 viewpoints

Seawater

Brackish Water

River Water

Others

Country - Market breakup of 25 Countries

North America

United States

Canada

Europe

France

Germany

Italy

Spain

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

South Korea

Australia

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Argentina

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

United Arab Emirates

Kuwait

Qatar

Saudi Arabia

Rest of Middle East and Africa



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kc0a4i

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
Intention to Float







NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER STATE OR JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

This announcement does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the Prospectus Regulation) or, in Switzerland, the Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA), or, in the United Kingdom, the Prospectus Regulation Rules published by the UK Financial Conduct Authority, and investors must subscribe for or purchase any shares referred to in this announcement only on the basis of information contained in the offering memorandum to be published by Art Share 003 S.A. (the Offering Memorandum) and not in reliance on this announcement. No prospectus, as defined pursuant to the above indicated regulations, will be published.

Neither this announcement nor anything contained herein shall form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any offer or commitment whatsoever in any jurisdiction. Nothing in this announcement should be interpreted as a term or condition to any offer and nothing contained herein shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with, or act as an inducement to enter into any investment activity, any decision to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire, or dispose of, any Offered Shares (as defined below). Any offer to acquire shares in the Company (as defined below) pursuant to the proposed offering will be made, and any investor should make their investment decision, solely on the basis of the information that is contained in the Offering Memorandum which is expected to be published before the admission of the Companys Class B redeemable shares (Offered Shares) to trading on the multilateral trading system operated by ARTEX Global Markets AG (ARTEX GM). A copy of the Offering Memorandum will be made available prior to the commencement of the private placement on the Company's website at https://www.artshare003.com, subject to applicable securities regulations.

Art Share 003 S.A. is a public limited liability company (societe anonyme) formed and existing under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, having its registered office at 16, rue E. Ruppert, L2453 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Business Register (R.C.S.) under number B286436 (Art Share 003 or the Company).

Art Share 003 is managed by a board of directors which is composed of Mrs Ursula Schmidt, Mr Edouard de Burlet and Mr Ronan Le Bouc.

Investing in the Offered Shares is connected with a number of risks including, but not limited to, the financial risk resulting from a decline in the price of the Offered Shares and the potential limited liquidity of the Offered Shares. With all investment decisions it is necessary to define future profit and assess the risk connected with it. Investing in the Offered Shares implies the risk of losing part or all the invested funds, and even the necessity of incurring additional costs. The risk factors set out in the Offering Memorandum should be reviewed, and evaluated in full by any prospective investor prior to making any investment decision.





Announcement of Initial Offering and Intention to Float

Art Share 003 today announces its intention to undertake an initial offering by way of private placement to qualified / professional investors [as further defined in the Offering Memorandum to be published on the Companys website (the Offer) and intends to apply for listing and admission of its Offered Shares on ARTEX GM (the Listing).

The sole underlying Artwork held by the Company is the Abstraktes Bild (809-4) by Gerhard Richter (the Artwork). This monumental painting showcases Richters renowned squeegee technique, developed during this period, wherein a large flat tool is dragged across the wet paint. It results in mesmerising colour formations and unusual depth and texture. One of the last monumental Abstrakte Bilder, the Artwork propelled Richter to become the most expensive living artist when it was sold for $34.4 million in October 2012.

The Company is a securitisation vehicle governed by the Luxembourg law of 22 March 2004 on securitisation, as amended. Its principal activity is to hold and securitise the Artwork (including entering into certain agreements in relation thereto) as well as assuming risks, existing or future, relating to the holding of the Artwork.

Potential Offer Highlights

Should the Offer proceed, the Offered Shares shall be comprised of redeemable class B shares of the Company without nominal value denominated in U.S. dollars and where all cashflows relating to such shares (e.g., purchase, distributions, redemptions) shall be settled in Euro currency. The Offer shall be conducted to allow investors to indirectly invest in the Artwork, hence giving to the investors access to a fraction of the Artwork by way of a securitisation transaction in proportion to their investment.

The Offer should consist in an institutional offering to qualified / professional investors in the European Economic Area (the EEA), the UK and Switzerland.

In connection with this Offer, an Offering Memorandum will be made available online on Art Share 003s website at www.artshare003.com subject to certain access restrictions prior to the commencement of the Offer.

Enquiries :

Public Relations Adviser to ART Share 003

Alienor Miens - +33 (0)6 64 32 81 75 - alienor.miens@margie.fr

Bertrand Chambenois - +33 (0)6 11 84 34 92 - bertrand.chambenois@margie.fr

Investor Relations at ART Share

Fabien Svarnas : investor-relations@Artshare003.com

Important  Legal Information

These materials must not be published, distributed or transmitted in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, or any other state or jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The Offered Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration on exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The shares of the Company have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act. These materials do not constitute an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase Offered Shares in Luxembourg, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction.

This publication constitutes neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy securities. The Offer will be made solely by means of, and on the basis of, a securities offering memorandum which is to be published. An investment decision regarding the publicly offered securities of Art Share 003 should only be made on the basis of the offering memorandum. The offering memorandum is available free of charge at 16, rue E. Ruppert, L2453 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, or the Company's website at https://www.artshare003.com/ subject to applicable securities regulations.

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this investor relations news or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations, or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. The Company does not assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

The information contained in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed by any person for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy, fairness, or completeness. This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, South Africa, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States) or any other jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction. The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

The Offered Shares may not be offered or sold in the United States unless registered under the Securities Act except pursuant to a transaction exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. The Offer and sale of the Offered Shares has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or under the applicable securities laws of Australia, South Africa, Canada or Japan and New Zealand. Subject to certain exceptions, the Offered Shares may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada or Japan, New Zealand or to, or for the account or benefit of, any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, or Japan. There will be no public offer of the Offered Shares in any jurisdiction.

In the United Kingdom, this announcement is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, persons who: (A) (i) are investment professionals specified in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the Order) and/or (ii) fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (and only where the conditions contained in those Articles have been, or will at the relevant time be, satisfied); and (B) are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of retained EU law as defined in the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons).

In the EEA, this announcement is addressed only to and directed only at, persons in member states who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (Qualified Investors). This announcement must not be acted on or relied on (i) in the United Kingdom, by persons who are not Relevant Persons, and (ii) in any member state of the EEA, by persons who are not Qualified Investors.

Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to: (i) in the United Kingdom, Relevant Persons; and (ii) in any member state of the EEA, Qualified Investors, and will be engaged in only with such persons. For the avoidance of doubt, no offer to the public will be made in the United Kingdom and no application will be made for the Offered Shares to be traded on a regulated market in the United Kingdom.

None of Zeus Capital Limited or any of its affiliate or any of its or their affiliates' directors, officers, employees, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for/or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to Art Share 003, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of the announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

This announcement may include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking statements may be identified by using forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes", "estimates", "plans", "projects", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, objectives, goals, future events or intentions. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. Any forward- looking statements reflect the Company's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Company's business, results of operations, financial position, liquidity, prospects, growth, and strategies. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Any subscription or purchase of the Offered Shares in the possible Offer should be made solely on the basis of information contained in the Offering Memorandum which may be issued by the Company in connection with the possible Offer.

The information in this announcement is subject to change. Before subscribing for or purchasing any Offered Shares, persons viewing this announcement should ensure that they fully understand and accept the risks which will be set out in the Offering Memorandum. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. Neither this announcement, nor the references herein to the Offering Memorandum, shall form the basis of or constitute any offer, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any Offered Shares nor shall it (or any part of it) or the fact of its distribution, form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract thereof.

The Company may decide not to go ahead with the Offer and there is therefore no guarantee that the Listing will occur. You should not base any financial decision on this announcement. Acquiring investments to which this announcement relates may expose an investor to a significant risk of losing all of the amount invested. Persons considering making investments should consult an authorised person specialising in advising on such investments. Neither this announcement, nor the Offering Memorandum referred to herein, constitutes a recommendation concerning the Offer. The value of the Offered Shares can decrease as well as increase. Potential investors should consult a professional advisor as to the suitability of the Offer for the person concerned.

Unless otherwise indicated, market, industry and competitive position data are estimates (and accordingly, approximate) and should be treated with caution. Such information has not been audited or independently verified, nor has the Company ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon therein. For the avoidance of doubt, the contents of the Company's website are not incorporated by reference into, and does not form part of, this announcement.




NEW YORK, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avalanche The Architect, a prominent Bronx-based rapper and vocal freedom of speech advocate , announces the expansion of his business empire with the opening of a chain of martial art schools and snake farms. Known for his fierce battle rap skills and unwavering commitment to free expression, Avalanche has now made significant strides in the business world, boosting his net worth to over $14 million.



Avalanche The Architect, born and raised in the Bronx, has always been a dynamic figure in the rap scene. His passion for freedom of speech has not only fueled his music career but also inspired his entrepreneurial ventures. The rappers foray into martial arts and snake breeding demonstrates his diverse interests and commitment to fostering unique, community-focused businesses.

The martial art schools, strategically located across multiple states, aim to provide comprehensive training in various disciplines, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and traditional Karate. Each school is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed by experienced instructors dedicated to teaching self-defense, discipline, and physical fitness. Avalanches goal is to make martial arts accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds, promoting a healthy lifestyle and personal growth.





In addition to his martial arts schools, Avalanche has tapped into the niche market of snake breeding . His snake farms, which have quickly gained a reputation for their quality and variety, cater to reptile enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. The farms specialize in breeding rare and exotic snakes, ensuring the highest standards of care and ethical practices. Avalanches commitment to excellence in snake breeding has positioned his farms as leaders in the industry.

"Avalanche The Architects success story is a testament to his relentless drive and innovative spirit. He has effectively cornered two unique markets, combining his entrepreneurial acumen with his passion for empowering others," said a spokesperson for Avalanches business ventures.

Avalanche The Architects entrepreneurial achievements have not gone unnoticed. His business model, which integrates community engagement and ethical practices, has earned him praise from industry experts and the public alike. With his martial art schools and snake farms flourishing, Avalanche continues to set new standards in both industries.

For more information about Avalanche The Architects martial art schools and snake farms, please visit www.avalanchethearchitect.com .

About Avalanche The Architect

Avalanche The Architect is a Bronx-based rapper, freedom of speech activist, and entrepreneur. He is known for his battle rap skills and his dedication to promoting free expression. Beyond music, Avalanche has successfully launched a chain of martial art schools and snake farms, significantly increasing his net worth and business influence.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a75cd18-c692-4ed8-8ad6-0cad86024a9b

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db08a666-ab6e-43c3-bd14-24b7ce87b21f
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Synthetic Immunology Market Report 2024-2034" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



World revenue for the Synthetic Immunology Market is set to surpass US$19 billion in 2024, with strong revenue growth through to 2034.



Advancements in Biotechnology Driving Market Growth



Technological advancements in synthetic biology, gene editing, and immunotherapy have revolutionized the landscape of healthcare, particularly in the emerging field of synthetic immunology. Synthetic biology techniques provide researchers with unprecedented control over the design and construction of biological molecules, allowing for the creation of novel synthetic molecules tailored to specific therapeutic needs. Biopharmaceuticals are leading the charge within the industry, capturing over 41% of the market revenue in 2023.

Biologics are surpassing traditional drugs in terms of new drug approvals by the FDA. By engineering synthetic antibodies, cytokines, and receptors, researchers can precisely target immune cells, pathways, or disease antigens with enhanced efficacy and specificity. Gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, enable researchers to modify the genetic code of immune cells, such as T cells, to enhance their ability to recognize and eliminate diseased cells. This targeted approach minimizes off-target effects and improves the overall effectiveness of immunotherapies.



High Development Costs of Synthetic Immunology Likely to Hamper Industry Growth



The development of synthetic immunotherapy and diagnostic tools entails significant investment in research and development (R&D) across multiple stages, from early discovery to clinical testing and regulatory approval. One of the primary cost drivers is the need for cutting-edge technology and expertise to design, engineer, and produce synthetic molecules with the desired therapeutic or diagnostic properties. This includes investment in sophisticated laboratory equipment, computational tools, and specialized personnel skilled in synthetic biology, gene editing, and immunology.

Moreover, conducting clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of synthetic immunotherapy and diagnostic products represents a substantial portion of R&D costs. Clinical trials require extensive resources, including patient recruitment, data collection and analysis, and compliance with regulatory standards for Good Clinical Practice (GCP).

Key Market Dynamics

Market Driving Factors

Advancements in Biotechnology

Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

Rapid Growth in Cancer Immunotherapy

Market Restraining Factors

High Development Costs of Synthetic Immunology

Challenges in Regulatory Process

Ethical Considerations of Synthetic Immunology

Market Opportunities

Growing Demand of Personalized Medicine

Emerging Therapeutic Areas

Growing Synthetic Vaccine Development

Key Questions Answered

How is the synthetic immunology market evolving?

What is driving and restraining the synthetic immunology market?

How will each synthetic immunology submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2034?

How will the market shares for each synthetic immunology submarket develop from 2024 to 2034?

What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2024 to 2034?

Will leading synthetic immunology markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2034 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2034?

Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

What are the synthetic immunology projects for these leading companies?

How will the industry evolve during the period between 2024 and 2034? What are the implications of synthetic immunology projects taking place now and over the next 10 years?

Is there a greater need for product commercialisation to further scale the synthetic immunology market?

Where is the synthetic immunology market heading and how can you ensure you are at the forefront of the market?

What are the best investment options for new product and service lines?

What are the key prospects for moving companies into a new growth path and C-suite?

Forecasts to 2034 and other analyses reveal commercial prospects

In addition to revenue forecasting to 2034, the new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares.

You will find original analyses, with business outlooks and developments.

Discover qualitative analyses (including market dynamics, drivers, opportunities, restraints and challenges), cost structure, Porter's Five Forces Analysis, PEST Analysis and recent developments.

Market Segments Covered in the Report

Type

Synthetic Antibodies

Synthetic Vaccines

Synthetic Adjuvants

Synthetic Immunomodulators

Others

Application

Infectious Diseases

Autoimmune Diseases

Cancer

Allergies

Others

End-users

Hospitals

Clinics

Research Institutes

Others

In addition to the revenue predictions for the overall world market and segments, you will also find revenue forecasts for five regional and 20 leading national markets.

The report also includes profiles and for some of the leading companies in the Synthetic Immunology Market, with a focus on this segment of these companies' operations.



Leading companies profiled in the report

ADC Therapeutics

BioNTech SE

Camena Bioscience

CRISPR Therapeutics

Editas Medicine

Evonetix

GenScript Biotech

Ginkgo Bioworks

Inscripta, Inc.

Mammoth Biosciences

Mission Therapeutics

Moderna, Inc.

Sherlock Biosciences

Synlogic Therapeutics

Synthego

The report provides you with the following knowledge:

Revenue forecasts to 2034 for the Synthetic Immunology Market, with forecasts for type, application, end-users, each forecast at a global and regional level - discover the industry's prospects, finding the most lucrative places for investments and revenues.

Revenue forecasts to 2034 for five regional and 24 key national markets.

Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market - including company profiles for 15 of the major companies involved in the Synthetic Immunology Market.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qw42x

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 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Stevedoring and Marine Cargo Handling - Global Strategic Business Report" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global market for Stevedoring and Marine Cargo Handling was valued at an estimated US$10.6 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$13.0 Billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.9% from 2023 to 2030. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, drivers, and forecasts, helping you make informed business decisions.







Technological advancements and automation are significant trends shaping the industry. Automated container terminals and the use of robotics in handling cargo can significantly reduce loading and unloading times and minimize human error, leading to more reliable and efficient operations. Moreover, sustainability initiatives are becoming increasingly important.



There is a push towards greener port operations, including the use of electric cargo handling equipment and the implementation of practices to reduce emissions and waste. These trends not only improve operational efficiency but also help companies comply with international environmental standards, making them attractive to clients who prioritize sustainability.

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 177 Forecast Period 2023 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $10.6 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $13 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 2.9% Regions Covered Global



Key Insights:

Market Growth: Understand the significant growth trajectory of the Bulk Cargo Handling segment, which is expected to reach US$6.5 Billion by 2030 with a CAGR of a 3.3%. The Containerized Cargo Handling segment is also set to grow at 2.6% CAGR over the analysis period.

Regional Analysis: Gain insights into the U.S. market, estimated at $2.9 Billion in 2023, and China, forecasted to grow at an impressive 5.7% CAGR to reach $2.6 Billion by 2030. Discover growth trends in other key regions, including Japan, Canada, Germany, and the Asia-Pacific.

Why You Should Buy This Report:

Detailed Market Analysis: Access a thorough analysis of the Global Stevedoring and Marine Cargo Handling Market, covering all major geographic regions and market segments.

Competitive Insights: Get an overview of the competitive landscape, including the market presence of major players across different geographies.

Future Trends and Drivers: Understand the key trends and drivers shaping the future of the Global Stevedoring and Marine Cargo Handling Market.

Actionable Insights: Benefit from actionable insights that can help you identify new revenue opportunities and make strategic business decisions.

Key Questions Answered:

How is the Global Stevedoring and Marine Cargo Handling Market expected to evolve by 2030?

What are the main drivers and restraints affecting the market?

Which market segments will grow the most over the forecast period?

How will market shares for different regions and segments change by 2030?

Who are the leading players in the market, and what are their prospects?

Report Features:

Comprehensive Market Data: Independent analysis of annual sales and market forecasts in US$ Million from 2023 to 2030.

In-Depth Regional Analysis: Detailed insights into key markets, including the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa.

Company Profiles: Coverage of major players such as APM Terminals Management B.V, Blue Water Group, Bothra Group, and more.

Complimentary Updates: Receive free report updates for one year to keep you informed of the latest market developments.

Select Competitors (Total 36 Featured):

APM Terminals Management B.V

Blue Water Group

Bothra Group

Carver Companies

Charleston Stevedoring Company, LLC

CJ Logistics Corporation

CMA CGM SA Group

Crowley Maritime Corporation

DP World

Enstructure LLC

Irish Continental Group

Jones Stevedoring Company

Newcastle Stevedores Pty Ltd

Orissa Stevedores Ltd.

Texas Stevedoring Services, LLC

The Cooper Group

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jaubis

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
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COLLECTIVE METALS INC. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1 ) (the Company or Collective) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement to engage Coast Mountain Geological Ltd. (CMG) for the management and ongoing geological services of the upcoming exploration activities at the Companys flagship Princeton Copper Project (the Project) in British Columbia, Canada.



CMG is a forward-thinking geological consulting firm, offering a full range of services that includes highly diversified international expertise to all aspects of the mineral exploration and geotechnical process. CMG has provided worldwide geological services to clients for over thirty years, with a team of geoscience enthusiasts led by seasoned industry professionals.

With the Company recently providing review of the Trojan-Condor target area as well as a review of exploration and deposit models pertinent to the Project, the Company believes it is now critical to partner with a strong geological consulting firm to help lead the next phases of exploration. Results of Collectives 2023 soil sampling program, taken together with historical geochemical and geophysical results, are interpreted to support the Trojan-Condor Corridor as a high priority, drill ready exploration target.

Chris Huggins, Chief Executive Officer of Collective, commented, The decision to partner with CMG was straightforward given their proven track record in leading exploration and drill programs. With results of the 2023 soil sampling program being interpreted to support the Trojan-Condor Corridor as a high priority, drill ready exploration target, we are excited to further explore the area as we believe there to be significant potential.

Princeton Project 2024 Work Program (the Program)

Phase 1 of the Program will be comprised of outcrop/alteration mapping and rock/soil sampling at two priority targets: the 14/15 Mile Creek Trend and the Lamont Ridge-Goat Creek Trend. Many anomalous rock samples have been taken within these two target areas, but very little lithological/alteration mapping appears within the available dataset. Correlating known geochemical anomalies to rock type, alteration, and potential economic mineralization will help define future drill targets.

Historical and recent soil sampling has identified highly anomalous copper +/- pathfinder elements associated with Fe-carb alteration at the Fourteen and Fifteen Mile Creek target areas. However, little to no sampling has occurred between the two targets, and current anomalies remain open in many directions. An east-west oriented grid infilling between the two targets and extending to the north (past Fourteen Mile Creek) is planned to expand upon the current coverage. This will also serve to explore suspected potassic alteration zones identified through 2008 airborne geophysical work immediately north of Fifteen Mile creek.1

Recent work by the Company at the Lamont Ridge-Goat Creek Trend (located in the northern claim group) outlined promising base and precious metal geochemical anomalies in both rock and soil samples. An infill and expansion grid are planned to extend these anomalies that are open in all directions. The grid will also cover suspected potassic altered zones inferred from the above-mentioned 2008 airborne survey, as well as cover a series of mapped intersecting NE/NW faults. The prospectivity of the area is further supported by a 2008 silt sample1 collected immediately upstream from the 2023 Lamont Ridge Grid that assayed 50.4 ppm Cu.

Finally, a recce soil grid is planned to cover a magnetic low target identified through 2011 geophysical work2 immediately south from the Trojan-Condor Corridor target area. A similar magnetic response underlies known mineralization within the Trojan-Condor Corridor.

Phase 2 of the Program will be comprised of IP geophysical work over the Trojan-Condor target area, as well as any anomalous zones identified through Phase 1 mapping and geochemical results.

Qualified Person

Patrick McLaughlin, P. Geo. (#41479), a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Mr. McLaughlin is a geologist at Coast Mountain Geological Ltd. and is independent of the Company.

The information disclosed is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Project.

References

1 Saleken, L.W. 2010: Compilation Exploration Report on the Tulameen Project Property. BC ARIS 31585A.

2Thibaud, C. 2012: Geophysical Report for Goldcliff Resource Corporation 3DIP and Magnetometer Surveys on the Whipsaw Grid, Tulameen Project. BC ARIS 33626.

About Collective Metals:

Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT | OTC: CLLMF | FSE: TO1) is a resource exploration company specializing in precious metals exploration in North America. The Companys flagship property is the Princeton Project, located in south-central British Columbia, Canada, approximately 10 km west of the currently producing Copper Mountain Mine. The Princeton Project consists of 29 mineral tenures totaling approximately 28,560 ha (70,570 acres) in a well-documented and prolific copper-gold porphyry belt and is easily accessible by road, located immediately west of Highway 3.

The Companys Landings Lake Lithium Project is located in northwestern Ontario where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of Li 2 O. The Landings Lake Lithium Project is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario and covers 3,146 hectares. The Whitemud Project, with several identified pegmatite outcrops, neighbours the Landings Lake Project and consists of 381 single cell mining claims totaling 7,775 hectares.

Social Media

ON BEHALF OF COLLECTIVE METALS INC.

Christopher Huggins

Chief Executive Officer

T: 604-968-4844

E: chris@collectivemetalsinc.com

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. 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. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: the Project and its mineralization potential; the Companys objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to the Project; the commencement of the Program in the future; the anticipated results of the Program; further exploration work on the Project in the future. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news 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.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release
Dublin, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. In-Store Retail Media 2024: How Can Retailers Capitalize on Physical Stores to Drive Retail Media Growth?" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Physical stores are the new frontier for retail media. But undeveloped tech capabilities, competing priorities, and unproven new formats are hurdles retailers need to address.

The rapid growth of online retail media coupled with increased in-store digital connectivity highlights the potential for physical stores as the next frontier for retail media. But lagging tech capabilities, competing priorities, and unproven new formats create an uncertain path forward for retailers.

Key Question: How big is the opportunity for in-store retail media, and what should retailers and brands focus on in the near term?

Key Stat: By 2028, in-store retail media spend will reach over $1 billion but will make up less than 1% of total omnichannel retail media ad spending.

Key Report Features:

2 Exportable files for easy reading, analysis and sharing.

7 Charts: Reliable data in simple displays for presentations and quick decision making.





Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

In-store retail media spending will exceed $1 billion by 2028

Retail media's digital ascent has created momentum for physical stores as the next frontier

Cost, complexity, and competing priorities will hinder momentum

Retailers exploring digital in-store media can leverage current capabilities for near-term strategies

The in-store retail media landscape is complex, but there are multiple paths to success

Sources

Media Gallery

Charts in This Report

In-Store Retail Media Spend Will Top $1 Billion - but Will Not Reach 1% of Total Retail Media - by 2028 (billions in US in-store retail media ad spending, % change, and % of omnichannel retail media ad spending, 2024-2028)

Shoppers Who Discover Products in Store Are More Likely to Make a Purchase Immediately (% of US shoppers, Sep 2023)

Components of US Advertisers' Retail Media Strategies, Dec 2023 (% of respondents)

Brands Are Prioritizing Budgets for Established Formats Over In-Store Digital Media (% of US advertisers, Dec 2023)

Retailer Adoption of Innovative Technology Is Still Nascent

Advertisers Want to Combine In-Store Services and Loyalty Programs With Retail Media Offerings (% of US brands, Aug 2023)

Types of In-Store and Online Shopping Where US Adults Prefer to Shop Quickly vs. Browse/Take Their Time, Nov 2023 (% of respondents)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/51xqg9

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
If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 in Scotts between November 3, 2021, and August 1, 2023 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/SMG.



NEW YORK, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (Scotts or the Company) (NYSE: SMG) and reminds investors of the August 5, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: the Companys inventory levels, debt covenant compliance, and financial performance. Specifically, Defendants repeatedly assured investors that the Companys inventory levels were appropriate, while attributing strong sales to selling through high-cost inventory, which resulted in peak selling and record shipments. Defendants also repeatedly assuaged investors concerns about the Companys debt, stating that they were optimistic we will remain within the bounds of our bank covenants and [did] not see leverage compliance issues going forward. As a result of these misrepresentations, Scotts common stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period.

The truth began to emerge on June 8, 2022, when Scotts admitted that replenishment orders from its U.S. retailers were more than $300 million below target in the month of May alone. The Company told investors that 2022 full-year earnings would be roughly half of its prior guidance. The Company also announced plans to take on additional debt to cover restructuring charges as it attempted to cut costs.

In response to these disclosures, the price of Scotts common stock declined by $9.05 per share, or nearly 9%, from a closing price of $102.18 per share on June 7, 2022, to a closing price of $93.13 per share on June 8, 2022.

On August 2, 2023, Scotts revealed that quarterly sales for its fiscal third quarter had declined by 6%, and that gross margins fell by 420 basis points. The Company also slashed fiscal year EBITDA guidance by a staggering 25% and announced a $20 million write down of pandemic driven excess inventories. The Company also disclosed that it had to modify its debt covenants to 7.00 times debt-to-EBITDA ratio, from the former ratio of 6.25 times debt-to-EBITDA ratio.

These disclosures caused the price of Scotts common stock to decline by $13.58 per share, or 19%, from a closing price of $71.44 per share on August 1, 2023, to a closing price of $57.86 per share on August 2, 2023.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Scotts conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Scotts class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/SMG or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e848124-9c14-4bab-ba13-256ecec0c433
Cross-Strait youth summit opens in Beijing

Xinhua) 09:06, July 04, 2024

A performance is staged prior to the opening ceremony of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A cross-Strait youth summit kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday, attended by about 600 people, including young people, from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

At the opening ceremony, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, called on the younger generations on both sides to become more proud, confident, and assured in their identity as Chinese.

Song urged them to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation, and actively participate in cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation, and integration.

Young people should be fully aware of the opportunities brought to them by Chinese modernization and contribute their wisdom and strength to cross-Strait integration, said Xu Xiao, president of the All-China Youth Federation, at the same ceremony.

In a speech delivered via video link, Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), urged young people across the Strait to engage in in-depth exchanges, learn from each other, and work together to create a bright future for the Chinese nation.

Young people, from Taiwan or the mainland, are all Chinese and should encourage and help each other in areas such as business and sci-tech development, working together for rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said Sean Lien, vice chairman of the KMT, at the ceremony.

The summit was jointly organized by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Education, the All-China Youth Federation, and the Beijing Municipal People's Government.

It consists of forums, an internship and job fair for youth from Taiwan, a lifestyle festival, and a night concert among other activities.

This photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows a scene at the opening ceremony of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

This photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows a scene during the main forum of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Guests jointly inaugurate a lifestyle festival during the main forum of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

A performance is staged prior to the opening ceremony of the cross-Strait youth summit in Beijing, capital of China, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Berkeley police responded to a reported shooting on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. A trail of blood led them to a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Mark Winema/Getty Images

A man was killed in Berkeley in a shooting near the Ashby BART Station on Wednesday evening.

According to the Berkeley Scanner, a person called police to report the shooting at around 7:25 p.m. Shortly after, police responded to the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, where they found a bloody trail that led to a nearby residence.

There they found a man on the porch with gunshot wounds to his head and torso. First responders attempted CPR but the person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad

The department did not immediately return the Chronicles request for details on the incident.
CHICAGO, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- nuEra Cannabis invites cannabis enthusiasts to celebrate two major events in the cannabis community: the 4th of July and 710. These festivities offer exciting opportunities to enjoy top-quality cannabis products at special discounts.







4th of July Dispensary Hours:

Chicago : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM East Peoria : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Urbana : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Champaign : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Aurora : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Pekin : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM DeKalb : 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM



4th of July Cannabis Deals:

From June 30th to July 4th, enjoy exclusive deals on a variety of products from renowned brands like Cresco, Aeriz, and nuEra House of Brands.

Here are some highlights:

Buy 1, get 30% off

Buy 2, get 35% off

Buy 3 or more and get 40% off



Participating Brands: Cresco, Aeriz, Midweek Friday, Interstate 420, Alchemy, and nuEra Premium Flower

Additional Specials:

Buy 1 Get 1 50% off  SweetBuzz

 SweetBuzz Buy 1 Get 1 50% off  Journeyman

710 Cannabis Concentrates Deals:

Celebrated on July 10th, 710 is dedicated to oils, extracts, and concentrates. The date "710" spells "OIL" upside-down, highlighting its focus on these products. From July 5th to July 10th, take advantage of these special offers:

Buy 1, get 30% off

Buy 2, get 35% off

Buy 3 or more and get 40% off



Participating Brands: Cresco, Aeriz, Midweek Friday, Interstate 420, Alchemy, and nuEra Premium Flower

Special 710 Offers:

30% off Wyld products on July 6th and 7th only

on July 6th and 7th only 25% off Revolution Vapes and Extracts on July 10th only

Featured Cannabis Products:

Rhythm - Sour Diesel Flower: An invigorating sativa dominant strain with a pungent-diesel aroma.

An invigorating sativa dominant strain with a pungent-diesel aroma. Journeyman - Tart Lemonade: Vegan, gluten-free, and all-natural, this product offers a sweet and sour flavor.

Vegan, gluten-free, and all-natural, this product offers a sweet and sour flavor. The Essence - Orange Push Pop 5-pack Js: An Indica-dominant hybrid featuring creamy orange flavors with a vanilla aroma.

An Indica-dominant hybrid featuring creamy orange flavors with a vanilla aroma. Ariez - Cake Breath Flower: A potent strain with a musky scent, perfect for end-of-day relaxation.

A potent strain with a musky scent, perfect for end-of-day relaxation. Midweek Friday - Sweet Backwood Vape: Featuring an earthy tobacco flavor with a creamy vanilla aftertaste.



Join us in celebrating summers high holidays with fantastic deals and exceptional service. Visit us during our special holiday hours and take advantage of these limited-time offers. For more information, visit our website www.nueracannabis.com or contact your nearest location.

About nuEra Cannabis:

nuEra Cannabis is dedicated to providing high-quality cannabis products to enhance our customers' experiences. Our offerings include a diverse range of products from top brands, ensuring something for everyone. For further information, please visit nueracannabis.com.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/45437b4a-0622-4b69-8f95-e5f402254019
If you suffered losses exceeding $100,000 investing in Fastly stock or options between February 15, 2024 and May 1, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/FSLY.



NEW YORK, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Fastly, Inc. (Fastly or the Company) (NYSE: FSLY) and reminds investors of the July 23, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (i) contrary to its representations to investors, Fastly was in fact experiencing a significant deceleration in growth among its largest customers and was losing the increased market share it had gained as a result of the 2023 CDN consolidation trend; (ii) the foregoing issues were likely to have a material negative impact on the Companys revenue growth; (iii) accordingly, the Company was unlikely to meet its own previously issued revenue guidance for FY 2024; (iv) as a result, the Companys financial position and/or prospects were overstated; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On May 1, 2024, Fastly announced its first quarter (Q1) 2024 financial results. Despite the Defendants positive statements just three months earlier about Fastlys performance and near-term business prospects, the Company reported revenue of only $133.52 million, missing consensus estimates by $0.35 million. The Company also lowered its FY 2024 revenue guidance to a range of $555 million to $565 million, significantly below its previously issued FY 2024 revenue guidance of $580 million to $590 million, and likewise below consensus estimates of $584.62 million for the same period.

That same day, Fastly held a conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Companys Q1 2024 results (the Q1 2024 Earnings Call). In explaining the Companys disappointing revised FY 2024 outlook, Defendant Nightingale stated that [t]he biggest factor is a reduction of revenue from a small number of our largest customers. The first-quarter revenue from our top 10 customers dropped from 40% to 38%[,] and that the Company saw significant volatility in the Multi-CDN strategy run by many of Fastlys top 10 accounts. Further, Fastlys Chief Financial Officer Defendant Ronald Kisling stated that the Company is facing a challenging environment of revenue declines in our largest customers, overshadowing the impact of new customer acquisition and product pipeline[,] and that the Company would not benefit in 2024 from the favorable impact of the early 2023 CDN consolidation that drove favorable sequential growth in the prior year same period.

Then, on May 2, 2024, Bank of America downgraded Fastly stock from a Buy rating to an Underperform rating and cut its price target on the stock from $18 per share to a mere $8 per share, noting that [d]ecelerating growth in Fastlys largest customers, share loss in delivery, and limited visibility in 2H cause us to question a rebound in 2024, and that [w]hile we continue to like Fastlys positioning in the edge compute market, we see it as a 2025 opportunity instead of a near-term growth driver.

Following these developments, Fastlys stock price fell $4.14 per share, or 32.02%, to close at $8.79 per share on May 2, 2024.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Fastlys conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Fastly class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/FSLY or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e848124-9c14-4bab-ba13-256ecec0c433
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $100,000 In Toyota To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options



If you purchased or acquired securities in Toyota between June 25, 2022 and June 2, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310). You may also click here for additional information: www.faruqilaw.com/TM.

NEW YORK, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota or the Company) (NYSE: TM) and reminds investors of the August 23, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, this Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts, about the Companys business and operations. Specifically, Defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Toyota understated its malfeasance relating to certification of its cars and issues relating to overall legal compliance; and (2) as a result, defendants statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

On June 3, 2024, The New York Times published an article entitled Toyota and Other Japanese Carmakers Say They Mishandled Safety Tests. This article stated, in pertinent part, that Toyota [. . .] and other top Japanese automakers said on Monday that internal investigations found they had mishandled vehicle testing on dozens of models over the past decade. Further, Toyota said it had failed to gather proper data when doing pedestrian and occupant safety tests for three models, including its popular Yaris Cross sport utility vehicle.

On this news, Toyotas American Depositary Shares (ADSs) fell $5.34 per ADS, or 2.45%, to close at $212.17 per ADS on June 3, 2024.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Toyotas conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Toyota class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/TM or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.





A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e848124-9c14-4bab-ba13-256ecec0c433
WHITEHORSE, Yukon, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Victoria Gold Corp. (TSX-VGCX) (Victoria or the Company) provides an update on the heap leach facility (HLF) incident that occurred at the Eagle Gold Mine on June 24, 2024 (see Company News Release dated June 24, 2024).



As initially reported, there were no injuries to personnel associated with the incident and Victorias primary focus has been on the continued safety of its employees and mitigation of harm to the environment. The Company has and will continue to liaise with the Government of Yukon, the First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun, the Village of Mayo, the Yukon Workers Safety and Compensation Board and other regulatory authorities.

With respect to environmental mitigation, within hours of the incident a pumping system was established to return water from the HLF material to lined containment ponds. Diversion systems have also been installed for the management of both non-contact and contact water and material. To date, continued environmental surface water quality sampling at multiple points downstream of the property has not detected any cyanide.

The Company advises that it has received Notices of Default from its lenders under the Credit Agreement dated December 18, 2020 (the "Credit Agreement").

Production remains suspended with previous 2024 production and cost guidance forecasts retracted.

The Company expects to provide further information by the end of next week.

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Paul D. Gray, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About the Dublin Gulch Property

Victoria Gold's 100%-owned Dublin Gulch gold property (the Property) is situated in central Yukon Territory, Canada, approximately 375 kilometers north of the capital city of Whitehorse, and approximately 85 kilometers from the town of Mayo. The Property is accessible by road year round, and is located within Yukon Energy's electrical grid.

The Property covers an area of approximately 555 square kilometers, and is the site of the Company's Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits. As at December 31, 2023, and adjusting for mining depletion through this date, the Eagle and Olive Deposits include Proven and Probable Reserves of 2.3 million ounces of gold from 114 million tonnes of ore with a grade of 0.63 grams of gold per tonne. As at December 31, 2023, and adjusting for mining depletion through this date, the Mineral Resource for the Eagle and Olive Gold Deposits are estimated to host 234 million tonnes averaging 0.59 grams of gold per tonne, containing 4.4 million ounces of gold in the "Measured and Indicated" category, inclusive of Proven and Probable Reserves, and a further 36 million tonnes averaging 0.63 grams of gold per tonne, containing 0.7 million ounces of gold in the "Inferred" category.

Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Except for statements of historical fact relating to Victoria, information contained herein constitutes forward-looking information, including any information related to the intended use of proceeds from the Term Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility, the amended terms and conditions of the Loan Facility, and Victoria's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking information is characterized by words such as plan, expect, budget, target, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may, will, could or should occur, and includes any guidance and forecasts set out herein (including, but not limited to, production and operational guidance of the Corporation). In order to give such forward-looking information, the Corporation has made certain assumptions about its business, operations, the economy and the mineral exploration industry in general, in particular in light of the impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease (COVID-19) on each of the foregoing. In this respect, the Corporation has assumed that production levels will remain consistent with managements expectations, contracted parties provide goods and services on agreed timeframes, equipment works as anticipated, required regulatory approvals are received, no unusual geological or technical problems occur, no material adverse change in the price of gold occurs and no significant events occur outside of the Corporation's normal course of business. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made, and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other known and unknown factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information. These factors include the impact of general business and economic conditions, risks related to COVID-19 on the Company, global liquidity and credit availability on the timing of cash flows and the values of assets and liabilities based on projected future conditions, anticipated metal production, fluctuating metal prices, currency exchange rates, estimated ore grades, possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in accounting policies, changes in Victoria's corporate resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, changes in development and production time frames, the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, uncertainty of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, higher prices for fuel, steel, power, labour and other consumables contributing to higher costs and general risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, final pricing for metal sales, unanticipated results of future studies, seasonality and unanticipated weather changes, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, requirements for additional capital, permitting time lines, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims, limitations on insurance coverage and timing and possible outcomes of pending litigation and labour disputes, risks related to remote operations and the availability of adequate infrastructure, fluctuations in price and availability of energy and other inputs necessary for mining operations. Although Victoria has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding Victoria's expected financial and operational performance and Victoria's plans and objectives and may not be appropriate for other purposes. All forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof, as the case may be, and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management of the Corporation as at the date hereof. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information contained herein and the documents incorporated by reference herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws.

For Further Information Contact:

John McConnell

President & CEO

Victoria Gold Corp

Tel: 604-696-6605

ceo@vgcx.com
OKOTOKS, Alberta, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: MTL) Mullen Group Ltd. ("Mullen Group" and/or the "Corporation") intends to release its 2024 Second Quarter earnings results on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. ET, and has scheduled a conference call and webcast as follows:



Date:

July 25, 2024

Time:

10:00 a.m. ET

Pre-Registration:

registration link Upon registering, you will receive a calendar booking by email with dial in details and a unique PIN. This process will bypass the operator and avoid the queue. Registration will remain open until the end of the conference call. Dial-in:

1-844-763-8274 (for participants in North America) +1-647-484-8814 (International participants) Webcast:

www.mullen-group.com

Replay:

Two weeks until August 8, 2024, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (Canada/US toll free) or 1-412-317-0088 (International toll), access code 5925436 followed by the pound key.



About Mullen Group Ltd.

Mullen Group is one of Canada's largest logistics providers. Our network of independently operated businesses provide a wide range of service offerings including less-than-truckload, truckload, warehousing, logistics, transload, oversized, third-party logistics and specialized hauling transportation. In addition, we provide a diverse set of specialized services related to the energy, mining, forestry and construction industries in western Canada, including water management, fluid hauling and environmental reclamation. The corporate office provides the capital and financial expertise, legal support, technology and systems support, shared services and strategic planning to its independent businesses.

Mullen Group is a publicly traded corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MTL". Additional information is available on our website at www.mullen-group.com or on the Corporation's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Contact Information

Mr. Murray K. Mullen - Chair, Senior Executive Officer and President

Mr. Richard J. Maloney - Senior Operating Officer

Mr. Carson P. Urlacher - Senior Financial Officer

Ms. Joanna K. Scott - Senior Corporate Officer

121A - 31 Southridge Drive

Okotoks, Alberta, Canada T1S 2N3

Telephone: 403-995-5200

Fax: 403-995-5296
London, England, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --



As the cryptocurrency market faces significant volatility with Bitcoin and other major currencies like Ethereum and XRP retreating from their peaks, Adam Carl Waldman, CEO of ValueZone, steps forward with crucial guidance. Amid revelations from prominent investor Peter Thiel about reducing his Bitcoin holdings, Waldmans guide offers strategic advice for navigating these tumultuous times.

Recent Market Dynamics and Investor Sentiment:

Bitcoin's journey has been notably rocky after rebounding from the 2022 crash, eclipsing its previous highs only to struggle significantly in recent weeks. Amidst these fluctuations, Peter Thiel, a key figure in tech and investment, including his roles at PayPal, Palantir, and Founders Fund, revealed to CNBC that he has reduced his Bitcoin position. While still holding a smaller stake, Thiel suggested the potential for further price increases but cautioned, "It probably still can go up some but its going to be a volatile, bumpy ride."

Empowering Traders with Expert Insights:

In response to these market conditions and investor insights, Waldmans guide focuses on risk management and advanced trading strategies that can be advantageous during market downturns. It emphasizes the importance of diversification and introduces techniques such as short selling, which can be profitable in a declining market. "Our guide aims to equip traders with the tools they need to protect their investments and possibly even profit from market fluctuations," Waldman commented.

Comprehensive Investment Plans:

To cater to diverse investment preferences, ValueZone offers a range of personalized investment plans, each designed to meet different risk tolerances and financial goals:

Free Experience Bot: Invest $50 for a 1-day duration and earn a total profit of $1.

Invest $50 for a 1-day duration and earn a total profit of $1. High Frequency Trading Strategies: Invest $100 for 2 days and gain a total profit of $4.

Invest $100 for 2 days and gain a total profit of $4. Statistical Arbitrage Strategies: Invest $500 for 3 days to earn $16.50 in total profits.

Invest $500 for 3 days to earn $16.50 in total profits. Cross Market Arbitrage Strategy: A $1,500 investment for 7 days yields $126 total profit.

A $1,500 investment for 7 days yields $126 total profit. Short Term CTA Strategy: For a 10-day investment of $3,000, earn a total profit of $390.

For a 10-day investment of $3,000, earn a total profit of $390. Short Term Alpha Strategy: Invest $5,000 for 15 days and receive $1,050 in total profits.

These plans offer flexibility and high returns, allowing users to choose the strategy that best fits their trading style and financial objectives.

Advanced Tools and Educational Support:

ValueZone has updated its platform with sophisticated trading tools that align with the strategies outlined in the guide. Additionally, the platform will host educational webinars and interactive workshops where Waldman and other experts will further discuss the strategies in the guide and address user questions.

Future Plans and Continuous Support:

ValueZone is committed to regularly updating its educational resources and trading tools to ensure that users have access to the latest information and technology. "We continuously seek ways to enhance the trading experience on our platform and ensure our users are well-prepared to navigate any market condition," Waldman added.

With the release of this comprehensive guide amid the current market uncertainties, ValueZone reaffirms its commitment to supporting its community through all market conditions. By providing its users with necessary tools and knowledge, ValueZone is helping to secure their trading journey and increase their potential for profitability, even during challenging times.

For more information about how to get started with ValueZone and make the most of the crypto summer, visit https://valuezone.ai or use media contacts.

Media Contact Details

Contact Name: Siodina Edgar

Contact Email: siodinaedgar@valuezone.ai

Company Name: Wealth Investment Blockchain Company Ltd.

City/Country: Essex, United Kingdom

Website: https://valuezone.ai







Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency & securities.






New York, United States , July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Capacitor Bank Market Size is to Grow from USD 3.3 Billion in 2023 to USD 5.1 Billion by 2033, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.45% during the projected period.





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An electrical energy storage device known as a capacitor bank is constructed from many capacitors with similar ratings that are linked in series or parallel. To make up for or correct a phase shift or power factor lag, the resultant bank is then applied to an AC power source. They can also be utilized to boost the total amount of stored energy or the power supply's ability to tolerate ripple currents in a DC power source. Improving voltage stability and grid power factor is its primary objective. Whenever the need for reactive power fluctuates, it quickly releases or absorbs energy to make up the difference. Energy costs are reduced and system performance is improved by reducing line losses and maintaining a constant voltage level. Furthermore, the growing product consumption in telecommunications and data centers is having a beneficial effect on the market. This is a result of these sectors' increasing demand for robust and efficient power management solutions. As vital hubs for processing and storing massive volumes of data, data centers require a steady power supply and the highest possible power quality. Capacitor banks are essential for improving power factor, reducing voltage fluctuations, improving power system stability, minimizing downtime, and optimizing overall data center performance. Furthermore, the growing emphasis on power quality and energy efficiency is one of the main factors propelling the capacitor bank market. Due to the increasing demand for electricity and the increased emphasis on sustainable energy practices, industries, and utilities are constantly seeking ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce power losses. However, throughout the projected time frame, price volatility for raw materials like copper, titanium, aluminum, and other components that can reduce market demand is anticipated to hinder the growth of the capacitor bank market.



Browse key industry insights spread across 206 pages with 110 Market data tables and figures & charts from the report on the  Global Capacitor Bank Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Internally Fused, Externally Fused, and Fuseless), By Application (Power Factor Correction, Harmonic Filter, Industrial, and Others), By Installation (Pole Mounted, Open Air Substation, Metal Enclosed Substation, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2023  2033.

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The internally fused segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global capacitor bank market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the type, the global capacitor bank market is divided into internally fused, externally fused, and fuseless. Among these, the internally fused segment is anticipated to hold the greatest share of the global capacitor bank market during the projected timeframe. The market for capacitor banks is expanding due to two main factors increased investments in the power generation industry and a high demand for capacitor banks to enhance the quality of the energy supply. Internally fused capacitor banks are highly recommended due to their include an internal protection mechanism that ensures safety during operation and lowers the chance of damage from internal faults.

The industrial segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the global capacitor bank market during the projected timeframe.

Based on the application, the global capacitor bank market is divided into power factor correction, harmonic filter, industrial, and others. Among these, the industrial segment is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the global capacitor bank market during the projected timeframe. Due to the world's fast industrialization and the growing usage of modern technologies in production facilities to promote productivity. As industrialization and electrification rise, the need for voltage regulation and power factor correction grows. The creation of energy, the decrease in power costs, and the stability of the voltage supply in industries are all significantly influenced by capacitor banks.



The pole mounted segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the capacitor bank market during the estimated period.

Based on the installation, the global capacitor bank market is divided into pole mounted, open air substations, metal enclosed substations, and others. Among these, the pole mounted segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the capacitor bank market during the estimated period. For spread deployments, pole mounted systems are ideal, especially in remote or rural areas. Due to their compact size, they are easy to incorporate into utility poles, improving the voltage regulation and power factor of distribution networks. This kind of architecture can lower line losses and increase grid stability for utilities.

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Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share of the global capacitor bank market over the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is Expected to hold the largest share of the global capacitor bank market over the forecast period. Significant increases in industrialization, urbanization, and infrastructure development have occurred throughout Asia Pacific, resulting in increased power demand and the need for efficient power distribution networks. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are driving the demand for capacitor banks across a range of industries, including manufacturing, utilities, and commercial buildings. Government actions to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources contribute to the governance of the Asia Pacific capacitor bank sector.

Europe is predicted to grow at the fastest pace in the global capacitor bank market during the projected timeframe. The renovation, modernization, and updating of these areas' electrical infrastructure will lead to an increase in the demand for capacitor banks. To meet their electrical needs, many European nations are constructing renewable power plants rather than relying on traditional power-producing techniques. It is necessary to use capacitor banks for these applications. Panelboards are used in modern architecture, and their proper operation depends on capacitor banks.

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 Capacitor Bank Market include Eaton, Comar Condensatori S.p.A, ABB Ltd., Enerlux Power s.r.l., Hitachi Ltd., Circutor, Siemens, Toshiba Corporation, EPCOS, Schneider Electric SE, General Electric Company, and Others.

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Recent Developments

In February 2024, Pole-MVar is a straightforward post-mounted device that Powerside invented to solve reverberation and symphonious mutilation issues. It is a tuned-filter capacitor bank. This innovative approach aims to be of considerable help to engineers who are facing reliability problems with power frameworks, especially in their exploration of the interface between innovation and existing foundations.

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at global, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2033. Spherical Insights has segmented the Global Capacitor Bank Market based on the below-mentioned segments:

Global Capacitor Bank Market, By Type

Internally Fused

Externally Fused

Fuseless

Global Capacitor Bank Market, By Application

Power Factor Correction

Harmonic Filter

Industrial

Others

Global Capacitor Bank Market, By Installation

Pole Mounted

Open Air Substation

Metal Enclosed Substation

Others

Global Capacitor Bank Market, By Regional Analysis

North America US Canada Mexico

Europe Germany Uk France Italy Spain Russia Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia Pacific

South America Brazil Argentina Rest of South America

Middle East & Africa UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of the Middle East & Africa



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Technip Energies (PARIS:TE) in partnership with Universite Gustave Eiffel, Valeco, and OPEN-C Foundation, will be leading the PAREF project, an R&D program aimed at accelerating industrial-scale development of floating wind. This project is funded by the French State as part of France 2030 operated by ADEME. It aims to design, fabricate, and test a reusable anchoring system, high and low connectors, and tendons for a tension line system, all while minimizing the impact on the marine environment in real offshore conditions.

The PAREF project will provide the anchoring system for the NextFloat project. In 2022, Technip Energies, X1 Wind, and a consortium of 10 international entities were chosen by the European Commission to deliver the NextFloat project. The integrated system includes X1 Wind's innovative and disruptive floating wind technology, featuring a lighter floater design with a reduced steel requirement, plus a compact mooring system minimizing seabed impact. The 6MW prototype will be deployed at a test site in the Mediterranean Sea to operate the concept in open-sea operational conditions.

The PAREF project is a significant step towards achieving a competitive and sustainable integrated floating offshore wind solution optimized for deep waters, significantly reducing cost and accelerating industrial-scale deployment. The NextFloat platform will provide the means to test the PAREF foundation system in situ for a minimum of two years.

Jacques Vende, Project manager PAREF of Technip Energies, commented: We are thrilled to be selected for the PAREF project and to play a role in France's ambition to lead the way in decarbonized and cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, as outlined in the France 2030 plan. This project represents a significant opportunity to advance the development of sustainable energy solutions and support France's green industry vision.

Christelle Abadie, Research fellow at the Universite Gustave Eiffel added: We are excited to contribute our expertise in experimental testing and analysis to the PAREF project. This initiative aligns perfectly with our ongoing activities and ambition to advance the understanding of anchor design for the floating wind energy sector. Collaborating closely with Technip Energies and Open-C is essential for knowledge transfer and a deeper comprehension of anchor design. This project and partnership will help optimize anchor geometry and reduce mooring system costs, facilitating the large-scale deployment of innovative floating wind farm technologies.

Pauline Bertrand, Director of Valeco's Offshore Division: The PAREF project is also an innovative approach to environmental monitoring. Environmental DNA is a new way of collecting data that can be replicated for any offshore project and we felt it was necessary to test the methodology. Our participation in the PAREF project will increase our knowledge of the marine environment and the species attracted by the floaters. It will also give us the opportunity to work with new players in the Mediterranean to test complex artificial reefs.

As our aim has always been to promote and support the development of MRE, we are proud to be involved in this project alongside Technip Energies, Gustave Eiffel University and the Open-C Foundation.

Bertrand Alessandrini, Managing Director of the OPEN-C Foundation commented: Hosting the PAREF project is at the core of the Foundations mission: test and derisk new technologies to accelerate innovation. It is essential to work together to face climate emergency and deliver French and European ambitions in terms of Marine Renewable energies.

About Technip Energies

Technip Energies is a leading Engineering & Technology company for the energy transition, with leadership positions in LNG, hydrogen and ethylene as well as growing market positions in blue and green hydrogen, sustainable chemistry and CO 2 management. The Company benefits from its robust project delivery model supported by an extensive technology, products and services offering.

Operating in 34 countries, our 15,000 people are fully committed to bringing our clients innovative projects to life, breaking boundaries to accelerate the energy transition for a better tomorrow.

Technip Energies shares are listed on Euronext Paris. In addition, Technip Energies has a Level 1 sponsored American Depositary Receipts (ADR) program, with its ADRs trading over the counter.

For further information: www.ten.com

About Universite Gustave Eiffel

Since January 1, 2020, the Gustave Eiffel University has been the only multi-disciplinary establishment in France to combine the missions and skills of a university, a research organization, a school of architecture (Eav&t) and three engineering schools (EIVP, ENSG and ESIEE Paris), with the shared aim of being at the heart of the issues facing tomorrow's cities and territories. Today, Gustave Eiffel University accounts for a quarter of national research in this field.

It has 17,000 students and 3,000 staff (teachers, researchers, lecturers, etc.). In addition to its main site in eastern Paris, Gustave Eiffel University has 6 campuses based in Nantes, Lille, Lyon, Mediterranee, Paris and Versailles. The Gustave Eiffel University trains and supports future generations to reinvent today's world and imagine tomorrow's.

The Geotechnical Centrifuge group is located on the Nantes Campus of Gustave Eiffel University, and operates France's only geotechnical centrifuge and one of the top five largest in Europe. Renowned for high-quality experimental campaigns using reduced-scale models, the centrifuge allows for controlled environmental and boundary conditions, facilitating systematic and rigorous analysis of geotechnical problems. The team has unique expertise in offshore geotechnics and foundation design for offshore wind turbines, evidenced by a number of publications, prizes and key participation in international congress.

About Valeco

Valeco, a wholly owned subsidiary of EnBW, specialises in the development, construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of renewable energy projects. Based in Montpellier for almost 30 years, the company employs nearly 270 people in the wind and photovoltaic sectors and is present throughout the value chain in France: from identifying suitable sites to selling renewable electricity. At 31 December 2023, Valeco had an installed capacity of 845 MW, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 678,330 people. For more information, visit www.groupevaleco.com

About the OPEN-C Foundation

The OPEN-C Foundation is the French offshore test center for floating wind and marine renewable energy (MRE). It coordinates, develops and operates 5 offshore tests on the Atlantic and Mediterranean metropolitan coasts. A non-profit organization of general interest, the OPEN-C Foundation was created in March 2023 and has 30 employees to date.

Contacts

Investor Relations Media Relations

Phillip Lindsay Jason Hyonne

Vice-President Investor Relations Press Relations & Social Media Manager

Tel: +44 207 585 5051 Tel: +33 1 47 78 22 89

Email: Phillip Lindsay Email: Jason Hyonne

Important Information for Investors and Securityholders

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect Technip Energies (the Company) intentions, beliefs or current expectations and projections about the Companys future results of operations, anticipated revenues, earnings, cashflows, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, anticipated growth, strategies and opportunities and the markets in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words believe, expect, anticipate, plan, intend, foresee, should, would, could, may, estimate, outlook, and similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on the Companys current expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning future developments and business conditions and their potential effect on the Company. While the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those that the Company anticipates.

All of the Companys forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant or beyond the Companys control, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys historical experience and the Companys present expectations or projections. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

For information regarding known material factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results, please see the Companys risk factors set forth in the Companys 2023 Annual Financial Report filed on March 8, 2024, with the Dutch Autoriteit Financiele Markten (AFM) and the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) which include a discussion of factors that could affect the Companys future performance and the markets in which the Company operates.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no duty to and will not necessarily update any of the forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Attachments
Corazon Dandan had finished her shift as a telephone operator and was taking BART home to Daly City when she was pushed to her death from the train platform at BARTs Powell Street Station. Courtesy of Alvin Dandan

The San Francisco district attorney has filed murder charges against a man accused of fatally pushing a woman onto the Powell BART Street Station tracks.

Trevor Belmont, a 49-year-old also known as Hoak Taing, was charged Wednesday with one count of murder, inflicting great bodily injury on a vulnerable victim, and intentionally killing a victim while lying in wait in connection with the fatal incident Monday.

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Belmont is accused of shoving Corazon Dandan, 74, into an oncoming train at the downtown station at 11:06 p.m. Dandan, who had just clocked out from her hotel shift, then hit her head on the train and died at San Francisco General Hospital.

BART police quickly arrested Belmont, who was booked into jail Tuesday morning. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

The nature of this incident at Powell Street BART Station was tragic and truly shocking, said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. Unprovoked attacks, especially on our most vulnerable, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Dandans family members had, as recently as last week, tried to persuade her to drive to work and often encouraged her to retire.

Dr. Alvin Dandan described his aunt as a brave, independent woman who moved alone from the Philippines in the 1980s and put him through medical school. For more than 40 years, Dandan was also a cherished employee at the Westin St. Francis in Union Square, said Clif Clark, the hotels general manager and area general manager at Marriott International.

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It is a tragic way of passing away, that is the most painful part, Alvin Dandan previously told the Chronicle.
VANCOUVER, July 3, 2024 - Element 79 Gold Corp. (CSE:ELEM) (OTC:ELMGF) (FSE:7YS) ("Element 79 Gold" or "(ELEM) a mining company focused on the production of gold and silver in Peru, announces that the Company wishes to raise up to $250,000 through a non-brokered private placement of units of the Company (each a "Unit") at a purchase price of $0.23 per Unit (the "Financing"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable for one Common Share at a price of $0.35 per Common Share for four (4) years from the date of issuance.

James Tworek notes that "We had several interested investors and business partners that were not able to be accommodated in the last round of financing and we are pleased to be able to have them participate in this round."

The proceeds of the Financing will be used for funding mineral lease fees, ongoing community relations, contractual and exploration work in Peru, and general working capital.

In accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, all securities issued pursuant to the Financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The closing of the Financing is subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

The securities of the Company referred to in this press release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Element79 Gold Corp

Element79 Gold is a mining company focused on gold and silver committed to maximizing shareholder value through responsible mining practices and sustainable development of its projects. Element79 Gold's focus is on developing its past-producing, high-grade gold and silver mine, the Lucero project located in Arequipa, Peru, with the intent to restart production beginning in 2024.

The Company also holds a portfolio of 5 properties along the Battle Mountain trend in Nevada, with the Clover and West Whistler projects believed to have significant potential for near-term resource development. Three properties in the Battle Mountain Portfolio are under contract for sale to Valdo Minerals Ltd., with an anticipated closing date in 2024.

The Company, through its subsidiary, Synergy Metals Corp., holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Dale Property, 90 unpatented mining claims located approximately 100 km southwest of Timmins, Ontario, and is advancing through the Plan of Arrangement spin-out process.For more information about the Company, please visit www.element79.gold

Contact Information

For corporate matters, please contact:

James C. Tworek, Chief Executive Officer

E-mail: jt@element79.gold

For investor relations inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations Department

Phone: +1.403.850.8050

E-mail: investors@element79.gold

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press contains "forward?looking information" and "forward-looking statements" under applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward?looking statements"). These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management made considering management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Company's business strategy; future planning processes; exploration activities; the timing and result of exploration activities; capital projects and exploration activities and the possible results thereof; acquisition opportunities; and the impact of acquisitions, if any, on the Company. Assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Consequently, forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed. As such, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, assumptions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward?looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "target", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward?looking statements".

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
Not for dissemination in or into the United States or through U.S. newswires

All dollars are Canadian unless otherwise noted

VANCOUVER, July 4, 2024 - Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC)(OTCQB:RGCCF) (the "Company" or "Relevant Gold") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription agreement with Kinross Gold Corp. ("Kinross") (NYSE:KGC),(TSX:K) in connection with a $1,530,000 private placement financing (the "Placement") of 5,100,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit . The Placement represents a separate follow-on financing to the previously completed private placement (see news releases dated May 2, and June 26, 2024).

The Placement is for 5,100,000 Units at a price of $0.30 per unit, with each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company and a one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. There are no finder's fees associated with this Placement.

After giving effect to the Placement, Kinross will hold approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a partially diluted basis. At closing, Relevant Gold and Kinross will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement reserving certain rights for Kinross, namely pro-rata participation in future financings, the ability to increase ownership to 19.9%, and the formation of a technical advisory committee comprised of two Kinross members and two Relevant Gold members.

"Kinross's strategic investment represents a strong vote of confidence in our team's Wyoming exploration vision and ability to execute in the field- we are thrilled to welcome them as a major shareholder and strategic partner," said Relevant Gold's CEO Rob Bergmann. "This investment marks a key milestone for Relevant, expanding our technical depth, strengthening our corporate structure and bolstering our treasury. We look forward to immediately leveraging this new relationship in our upcoming drilling program."

The Proceeds from the Placement are expected to be used to fund exploration activities at the Company's projects in Wyoming, USA, and for general working capital.

The Company anticipates closing the Placement shortly following receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (The "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Relevant Gold Corp.

Relevant Gold Corp. is a North American gold exploration company founded by experienced exploration geologists and operated by a highly respected team with a proven record of significant value creation for shareholders. Relevant Gold is focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery, and development of district-scale gold projects in the state of Wyoming - one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions in the United States and globally.

On behalf of Relevant Gold Corp.,

Rob Bergmann, Chief Executive Officer

More information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information about Relevant Gold Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at www.relevantgoldcorp.com or contact Rob Bergmann, President and CEO, or Kristopher Jensen, Manager of Investor Relations, at 763-760-4886 or by email at investorrelations@relevantgoldcorp.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Historical Information

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 Relevant Gold Corp. ("Relevant" or "Relevant Gold" or "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. 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.

The scientific and technical contents of this release have been approved by Mr. Brian C. Lentz, CPG #11999, Chief Exploration Officer of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Lentz is not independent of the Company.

SOURCE: Relevant Gold Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, July 4, 2024 - Red Lake Gold Inc. (CSE: RGLD) ("Red Lake Gold" or the "Corporation") is pleased to report it has successfully and safely completed the recent phase of field exploration at its Whirlwind Jack Gold Project ("Whirlwind Jack") (see news release, Red Lake Gold Inc. Commences 2024 Exploration Program at Whirlwind Jack, dated May 28, 2024).

During the course of the environmentally respectful field program, which was performed by Thunder Bay-based Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation ("Fladgate"), a total of 966 grid-based soil samples and 35 prospecting samples were collected. The recent exploration work comprised the most substantive ground-based exploration program undertaken to-date at Whirlwind Jack by Red Lake Gold. The aggregate total of 1,001 samples have been delivered to a laboratory in Ontario and assay results are expected to be received within the next four to six weeks.

Of material note to this news release, the Corporation reports that field work by Fladgate identified both mafic and felsic metavolcanic lithologies at Whirlwind Jack within the area targeted by the herein-described field program. In conjunction with these findings, the Fladgate exploration teams mapped over 50 site locations (exposing various lithologies), with significant areas of Whirlwind Jack remaining to be mapped in future efforts.

"This is an exciting time for Red Lake Gold, as well as its shareholders and project constituents. We remain focused on our corporate goal to be the junior exploration company that makes the next important gold discovery in the Red Lake mining district. Ground-truthing work by our exploration team has revealed that both mafic and felsic metavolcanic lithologies are located within our initial targeted exploration area, and this is an important development as those lithologies have demonstrated prospectivity for gold-endowment elsewhere in the region. We anxiously await lab results for many grid-based soil (and prospecting) samples that Red Lake Gold believes may help highlight prospective areas to make a gold discovery within at Whirlwind Jack" stated Ryan Kalt, Chief Executive Officer of Red Lake Gold.

As diagrammed by prior news release, the Corporation confirms that the program substantively adhered to the planned locations (see Figure 1 below), broadly collected within a prioritized east-west magnetic corridor adjoining the adjacent Great Bear Project (which in turn is being advanced by Kinross Gold Corp.).



Click Image To View Full Size

Figure 1 - Whirlwind Jack Geophysical Project Map with Planned Sample Locations.

The above-described lab assays are anticipated to be received by the Corporation's geological consultants within 4 to 6 weeks, with results then expected to be then compiled and released by Red Lake Gold around mid-August (or sooner if available).

The exploration program was almost exclusively focused on gold-centric exploration data, however, certain soil samples which overlayed an EM anomaly located during the Corporation's TDEM survey flown last summer (see news release, Red Lake Gold Inc. Engages ProspectAir for a TDEM Exploration Survey at Whirlwind Jack, dated July 20, 2023) are scheduled to receive additional screening for base metal potential, specifically copper and nickel.

Depending upon the results of the current program and funding availability, the Corporation may consider additional in-fill sampling (and/or other field work) in the near-to-mid term on any target areas that emerge, as well as studying exploration techniques (e.g. lake sediment or IP surveys) for core project areas that are situated within the magnetic low corridor (see Figure 1 above) but are not otherwise examined through traditional soil sampling due to their topographical nature.

The Corporation would like to extend its appreciation to Fladgate and its involved team members for their safe and diligent completion of the above-described field program. Red Lake Gold looks forward to near-term opportunities to further engage their geologic expertise and demonstrated field abilities as it advances forward-moving exploration efforts at Whirlwind Jack.

The Corporation cautions that the exploration potential of and any exploration results from the Whirlwind Jack Gold Project may differ, materially, from exploration results of adjoining and/or regional projects, including but not limited to the adjacent Great Bear Project being advanced by Kinross Gold Corporation.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Thompson, P.Geo, Fladgate Exploration Consulting Corporation's President, who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and responsible for the technical information for this phase of exploration on the Whirlwind Jack Gold Project.

About Red Lake Gold Inc.

Red Lake Gold Inc. is a Vancouver-based junior mining exploration company, traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "RGLD". For more information, please visit www.redlakegold.ca.

The Corporation is subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties set out in its public filings, such public filings generally being available, without limitation, through SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and the Corporation's Disclosure Hall on the CSE website (thecse.com/listings/red-lake-gold-inc/#disclosure).

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Ryan Kalt

Chief Executive Officer

T: 604.687.2038

Email: info@redlakegold.ca

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the Corporation's exploration plans at its Whirlwind Jack Gold Project, the timing, completion and extent of such exploration plans and the results of any such exploration work to the extent such work is successfully completed, the timing and outcome of any pending lab assay results, as well as to the general exploration potential and/or geological interpretations involving the Whirlwind Jack Gold Project as held by the Corporation or otherwise. Actual results may differ materially from those currently expected or forecast in such statements.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Copyright (c) 2024 TheNewswire - All rights reserved.
After the Austrian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was scapegoated, taunted and heavily critised by some. The Dutchman was said to be racing far too aggressively and had been totally unpunished for his aggressive actions in 2021. A week later, the entire F1 paddock recoiled and Verstappen was suddenly supported by all drivers.

"I don't think he needed to apologize," Lando Norris began the press conference ahead of the British Grand Prix. "I think some of the things I said in the pen after the race were just more just because I was frustrated at the time. A lot of adrenaline, a lot of just emotions."

Norris was open and honest at the press conference: he might have overreacted after the Austrian GP. Of course, the two did not entirely agree on the incident, but they both wanted to move on again. They spoke twice between the two races and soon came to the conclusion that the fight was actually fun.

Verstappen and Norris spoke to each other

For Norris, it was also a new situation. For years he fought in the midfield and now he was fighting for his second win in F1. Verstappen knows that feeling all too well and therefore does not blame Norris for being a bit more emotional after the race. The two friends made up, something Verstappen felt was very important.

The two friends have made up, but there was also a real war of the two sides in the media and on online platforms after the GP in Austria. One camp defended Max, while the other attacked Verstappen. Verstappen was particularly harshly attacked in the British media after the race, but it turns out that just about the entire F1 paddock in the UK is behind Verstappen.

Almost every driver was asked about the duel between Norris and Verstappen and the answer came down to the same thing every time: the rules are clear, there is certainly no need to add any rules and what Verstappen did was 'not too bad'.

This is what the F1 paddock thinks about Verstappen

"Max is one of the best, and he's a hard racer, and he'll push the rules to the limit, as all of the top drivers do," George Russell revealed in the press conference. Yuki Tsunoda also stated earlier that it was not all that bad: "I mean to me it was pretty normal. I've seen much worse than that."

Ricciardo, who raced with Verstappen for a long time, echoed the same opinion: "I don't know, I'm assuming they've probably blown it up because it's obviously a battle for the lead and once friends, now enemies. It's probably that going on."

None of the drivers felt that Verstappen had crossed the line. No one felt that Verstappen had driven dangerously or recklessly in Austria and that the end result, a moment of contact between the two, was an unfortunate confluence of circumstances.

The criticism that the rules were not clear or that Verstappen had not been following them for years was also denied by all drivers who were asked about it. For where Andrea Stella spoke out harshly after the race about Verstappen being allowed to break rules even in 2021, none of the drivers agreed. Indeed, most drivers revealed that they would prefer fewer rules and that amount of rules would actually be detrimental to the sport.

Carlos Sainz, for example, pointed to the book of rules there is for racing, pointing out that there are rules written out for all scenarios. "I really struggle with the fact that we need to keep adding rules to the racing side. I don't want any further rules. The rules are clear enough and there was a decision taken on the steward side already so it's not like there's nothing much to talk."

In response to a question from GPblog, Verstappen closed the day on a similar note: "Look at the rule book from 10 years 15 years ago to now, it just keeps on growing. So that's probably also the world that we live in."
Inside Binu Bonu, a new wine bar in San Franciscos West Portal. It is the latest from the owners of Italian restaurant La Ciccia. Provided by Massimiliano Conti Inside Noe Valleys new Fiorella location, which offers pizza, Italian dishes and cocktails. Eric Palozzolo/Provided by Lisa Nourse

Layer up and get ready to hit the streets because the beginning of summer has brought new dining and drinking offerings all across San Francisco.

A new beach bistro opened in the Sunset District, while a Mediterranean-Japanese restaurant is now serving diners near Civic Center. New spots also sprouted around the waterfront, North Beach, Pacific Heights and beyond.

Click here for a list of notable new restaurants that opened in May.

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Italian wine bar and shop now open

One of San Franciscos most anticipated wine bars of the summer is now open in West Portal. Binu Bonu, Sardinian for good wine, offers plenty of Italian wines by the bottle and glass, or to take home. Owner Massimiliano Conti told the Chronicle the bar opened on June 25 and is offering around 15 wines to sip on at the new space, fitted with small tables and an intimate bar. Tablehopper reported there is also a menu with finger foods like olives and cheeses.

230 West Portal Ave., San Francisco. instagram.com/binubonusf

A caipirinha and a gin daisy at Bar Agricole. Caleb Pershan / The Chronicle

Lauded bar finds a new venue

Bar Agricole, one of San Franciscos most celebrated stops for cocktails, is back in action at the restaurant Ositos adjacent bar space in the Mission. The bar announced its relaunch at 2875 18th St. on Instagram, following a series of pop-ups at three Michelin-starred Quince. Owner Thad Vogler previously told the Chronicle that Bar Agricoles previous space on Mission Street was too large, feeling more like a restaurant than a bar. Current offerings at the new location have a South American influence, including a caipirinha, a cocktail popular in Brazil, and sandwiches stuffed with chorizo and mortadella.

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2875 18th St., San Francisco. instagram.com/baragricole

French restaurant launches new bistro

The team behind downtown San Francisco French restaurant Bouche has opened a new restaurant in the Outer Sunset. Gallinette is the latest from chef Jeremy Blaringhem and Julie Fulton, offering approachable dishes like burgers, soups, salads and bourride, a seafood stew. Eater SF reported the opening, describing it as a beach bistro.

3554-3560 Taraval St., San Francisco. galinettesf.com

Lobster roll specialists land on the waterfront

Pier 41 is now home to an East Coast-style seafood specialist. Cousins Maine Lobster opened its first permanent location on June 8, where customers can find the same lobster rolls, loaded tots and soups offered by the food trucks around the Bay Area. A company press release states that the new location will offer clam chowder in a bread bowl, an option unavailable at the trucks, and seating with views of the waterfront.

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Pier 41 Marine Terminal, The Embarcadero. San Francisco. cousinsmainelobster.com

Inside Noe Valley's new Fiorella location, which offers pizza, Italian dishes and cocktails. Eric Palozzolo/Provided by Lisa Nourse

Italian restaurant continues to grow

San Franciscos Fiorella unveiled a new Noe Valley location, its fourth in the city, in June. True to form, the neighborhood Italian restaurant features pizza, pasta and antipasti for lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. The space features three seating areas, including a six-seat pizza bar where diners can watch as kitchen staff make pie after pie.

4042 24th St., San Francisco. fiorella-sf.com

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Mediterranean meets Japanese influence

Xebec, a new Mediterranean restaurant, is offering fresh seafood dishes in Hayes Valley. Tablehopper reports chef George Hawawini has put together a menu with Japanese influences. Entrees include Chilean sea bass with wasabi quinoa salsa and a fattoush salad with fresh and pickled produce, a yuzu vinaigrette and a choice of protein.

131 Gough St., San Francisco. xebec-sf.com

Joe Poz, part-owner of Bar April Jean, pours a cocktail. The new North Beach spot opened in late June in the old Grant & Green Saloon space. Camille Cohen/Special to the Chronicle

Retro-cool bar inspired by moms

Bar April Jean is the latest tenant at a storied bar space in North Beach, formerly the home of dive bar Grant & Green Saloon. It now boasts a handsome, midcentury modern-inspired look with reclaimed old-growth redwood accents throughout. The new bar offers a short, affordable cocktail list, with most drinks around $13, as well as beer, wine and nonalcoholic beverages. The bar takes inspiration from the owners mothers with a few cocktails named after the matriarchs. The Pats Choice cocktail, for example, is made with rhum agricole, sour lime, condensed milk and a bit of pie crust.

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1371 Grant Ave., San Francisco. barapriljean.com

A batch of fresh bagels at Boichik Bagels in Berkeley. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Top bagel operation keeps expanding

Fast-growing Boichik Bagels launched its latest San Francisco location in lower Pacific Heights in June, drawing lines for its acclaimed New York-style bagels. As at its six other locations, bagels will be available with a variety of schmears and fillings. Grab-and-go items like bagels, schmears, whitefish salad and lox are also available. Boichik owner Emily Winston previously told the Chronicle she planned to open three San Francisco locations; this marks the second.

1946 Fillmore St., San Francisco. boichikbagels.com

Paper Son Coffee is among the newest crop of Vacant to Vibrant pop-ups taking part in a San Francisco program to rev up business downtown. Mario Cortez / The Chronicle

Standout coffee shop arrives downtown

One of the Bay Areas standout Asian American coffee shops is now brewing downtown. Paper Son Coffee is slinging drinks like pandan aerocanos, sparkling drinks with fruit foams and coffee brewed with locally roasted beans at a new location facilitated through the citys Vacant to Vibrant program. Paper Sons residency at Neighbor Bakehouse in Dogpatch will continue. Other Vacant to Vibrant program participants, such as panini pop-up Aurora Centro, Indian ice cream shop Koolfi Creamery, cookie shop Hungry Crumbs and frozen treat shop Steep Creamery all opened in June as well.

303 Second St., #102, San Francisco. papersoncoffee.com
From left: Sam Liccardo, Joe Simitian and Evan Low participate in a 16th Congressional District candidates forum at Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto on Jan. 17. Low edged Simitian for second place in a primary election that included multiple recounts and allegations of ethics violations. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle

Regarding California is more important than ever. Were blowing it (Editorial, SFChronicle.com, June 28): When President Barack Obama appointed me to chair the Federal Election Commission, I knew that candidates and their cronies would exploit the FEC to take shots at their opponents.

The Chronicles editorial highlighting ethical scandals in California politics underscores a critical issue but mischaracterizes baseless allegations against congressional candidate Sam Liccardo, which amounts to a typical election-year scam to mislead voters, perpetrated by opponent Evan Lows cronies.

The FEC complaints referred to in the editorial were filed by Low allies who have no experience or expertise in elections law and have provided no evidence or validity to their allegations. These complaints have no merit and are nothing more than a crass political ploy by Lows campaign to mislead voters.

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The real scandal is Lows tactics regarding the recount, which the Mercury News editorial board accurately characterized as shameful, politically opportunistic, anti-democratic demonizing. Low even said during an online community forum that he opposed recounting votes because not knowing the results of a recount, I could easily have been also similarly knocked out (of the election).

The FECs purpose is campaign financing transparency and to hold elected officials accountable for genuine wrongdoing. Yet the filing of complaints to the FEC relating to the recount was solely to confuse voters into believing a false equivalency  between a longstanding commission investigation into Low as well as his receipt of funding from major donors who are now under investigation and scrutiny by ethics groups.

The unsubstantiated complaint filed against Liccardo is misleading and, unfortunately, your editorial only bolsters such misleading efforts.

Ann Ravel, former chair, Federal Elections Commission

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Derail the bullet train

Regarding California approves final high-speed rail link connecting S.F. to Los Angeles (California, SFChronicle.com, June 27): On Thursday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority cleared the way to complete the long-awaited bullet train line. This railway is projected to cost $100 billion to finish the intended San Francisco to Los Angeles route  money that could be better spent.

It is in the best interest of every Californian to solve other, more pressing issues before investing more money in a railway that has made little progress considering it has been in construction for over a decade.

That $100 billion could help fight Californias drug problem or alleviate the housing crisis throughout the state.

While a high-speed rail is a nice thought, our state needs to address the issues of the everyday person and uplift those living in poverty before we build unnecessary inventions that only benefit those rich enough to purchase a ticket.

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Lauren Kral, Danville

Fight human trafficking

On June 24, the U.S. State Department released its 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, which ranks countries on their efforts to address human trafficking and sheds light on the often-unseen crime of modern slavery.

Human trafficking is a pervasive issue that affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, including many in vulnerable communities here in the United States. The sheer scale of this atrocity, with women and children making up the majority of those trafficked, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive action. We must strive to eradicate this modern form of slavery, which strips individuals of their basic freedoms and dignity.

I call on Congress to elevate the findings of the State Department report and reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the landmark federal law that governs American policy to address trafficking in the U.S. and around the globe.

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The U.S. must stand up as a global leader against modern slavery and human rights abuses.

Valerie Kosiadi, San Francisco

Keep Mays in S.F.

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

Regarding Honoring Willie Mays by renaming this Bay Area highway for him would be perfect (Letters to the Editor, SFChronicle.com, July 1): If any stretch of highway is to be named for Willie Mays, it should be Highway 101 between San Francisco International Airport and Mariposa Street, which includes the exits to Candlestick Park.

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Any highway or street named in Mays memory should be in San Francisco.
OnePlus has just announced that it's holding a launch event on July 16 in Milan, Italy. It will take place at 3PM local time, which is 2PM in London, 9AM in New York, 6AM in LA, and 6:30PM in India. Here's what the invite text says:

Some say its impossible in the 5G era to make a smartphone with the strength, sophistication and enduring quality of metal. We sayNever Settle.

The invite itself is metallic-looking, to go with the theme of the quote.

OnePlus has also shared the following teaser image alongside the invite:

So it's clear. The Nord 4 is finally getting official on this occasion, and the oft-leaked device has widely been rumored to arrive in international markets as a rebranded OnePlus Ace 3V, which launched in China recently.

Thus, it should come with a 6.74-inch 1240x2772 AMOLED touchscreen with 120 Hz refresh rate and 2,150-nit peak brightness, the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 SoC at the helm, 12/16GB of RAM, 256/512GB of UFS 4.0 storage, a 50 MP main rear camera with OIS, an 8 MP ultrawide, a 16 MP selfie snapper, and a 5,500 mAh battery with support for 100W wired charging. The phone will of course run Android 14 with OxygenOS 14 on top from day one.

Alongside the Nord 4, OnePlus could also announce the OnePlus Watch 2R, which was recently made official in China too as the OnePlus Watch 2 (but it has a different design compared to the international Watch 2, hence why it will be called Watch 2R outside of China). Think of this as a slightly more affordable version of the OnePlus Watch 2.

Finally, the company might also introduce the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 which leaked recently.

Via
Realme held today an AI imaging media preview event in Bangkok, Thailand, where it introduced an in-house solution for AI photography, called Hyperimage+.

It described it a three-layer architecture consisting of flagship optics, on-device AI imaging algorithms, and cloud-based AI image editing.

The event was themed "The Future is Here: AI is revolutionizing mobile imaging," where Realme invited speakers from Sony and TUV Rheinland to talk about their partnership and the upcoming Realme 13 Pro products.

The stage also saw Francis Wong, Head of Product Marketing at Realme, who told us more about Hyperimage+. The base layer is "cutting-edge optics, consisting of multiple lenses, periscope lenses and large sensors", which will be part of the new 13 Pro lineup.

Building upon this, we have AI imaging algorithms and AI image editing that process image data to enhance the visual quality of photo and video content. The new comprehensive approach is developed to take mobile photography to the next level, allowing users to "enjoy ultra-clear camera with AI from the convenience of their smartphone".
A couple of days ago we found out that Samsung's Galaxy M35 was finally headed to India, following its initial launch in Brazil back in March. The company had at that point started teasing the phone for the Indian market, but didn't reveal its actual launch date. Amazon did advertise that it would have the M35 as part of its Prime Day sales which are taking place on July 20 and July 21, so clearly the phone should either launch before that or on July 20.

Today the mystery has finally been solved. The Galaxy M35 is becoming official in India on July 17. This comes straight from Samsung itself.

The image above, by the way, comes with a disclaimer saying it's simulated and actual colors may vary, so maybe don't expect a transparent back.

The M35 is powered by Samsung's Exynos 1380 SoC, and has a 6.6-inch 1080x2340 120 Hz Super AMOLED screen with 1,000-nit peak brightness and Gorilla Glass Victus+ on top, a 50 MP main camera with OIS, an 8 MP ultrawide, a 5 MP macro camera, a 13 MP selfie snapper, and a 6,000 mAh battery with support for 25W wired charging.

It will be available from Amazon.
How many members will the Galaxy S25 family have when it launches in January? Believe it or not, this question has become quite prescient over the past 24 hours. Yesterday a wild rumor claimed Samsung would give up on the S25+ and only launch the S25 and S25 Ultra.

Mere hours later, however, this was refuted by another source which claims the company is in fact still developing three S25 models as we all expected it to all along. So RIP S25+, long live the S25+! It's been a rollercoaster ride for sure.

Let's go into these claims now, shall we? The rumor claiming the death of the plus model was based on the fact that an IMEI database doesn't yet contain the S25+'s model number, even though in July last year all three S24s were seen in there.

That's a pretty weak argument to make six months before the phone's theoretical launch - there's still plenty of time for it to be added to IMEI databases left and right. While this isn't the greatest 'proof' of something like this happening, not by a long shot, Samsung giving up on the plus model would actually make sense, since it's the least sold of its flagship trio.

Anyway, another source claims the development is going along as usual with three models, codenamed F1, F2, and F3, aka the S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra, which have the model numbers SM-S931, SM-S936, and SM-S938, respectively.

Who to believe? No one at this point. If Samsung has given up on the plus model, we'll hear much more about that in the coming weeks and months. If it hasn't, then we will never hear about any of this ever again.

Source 1 | Source 2 (in Dutch)
The slow lead-up of fireworks to the Fourth of July helps, but its tricky to build resilience to the explosions.

Theyre always going to be loud and startling, and theyre very sporadic, Fink said.

Some animals, like the rabbits, are kept indoors. Others are given extra space to move around and activities to distract them.




Haiti - Hurricane Beryl : Situation report #1 (official)





The National Emergency Operations Center (COUN) has issued a first situation report after Hurricane Deryl, classified 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale (the highest level), passed over the Caribbean Sea.



This first COUN report presents a first partial assessment of the situation, for the period from Tuesday July 2nd at 10:00 a.m. to Wednesday July 3rd at 10:00 a.m. It includes most of the information produced by the various departmental Civil Protection directorates concerned and activated departmental COUs (COUD).



 The passage of major hurricane Beryl off the southern coast of Haiti caused minor damage to housing. Floods caused by rising seas have been reported in several municipalities, particularly in the South-East where the waters have progressed up to 100 meters inland in places.



 In Cayemites, rescuers, dispatched by the town hall, rescued the occupants of a small boat in distress, coming from Port-au-Prince



 Damage was recorded in the agricultural sector in Grand Boucan and in the South where assessments are continuing.



 Orange vigilance was maintained for the south of the country and yellow vigilance for the departments of Nippes and the West during the day on Wednesday. The outskirts of Beryl still generated heavy stormy showers, strong gusts, spontaneous winds and strong swells on Wednesday morning in the South, South-East and Grand'Anse departments.



The Carcasse River, in the commune of Lrois, was in flood on Wednesday morning.



On Wednesday on the South Coast, waves could reach heights of 10 to 17 feet and the sea remained very rough on the coast and heavy offshore. The ban on cabotage operations is maintained until the evening.



Human toll :

According to initial assessments, no loss of life or injuries has been recorded to date.



Agriculture, livestock and fishing :

In the South-East, damage was recorded in the fishing sector with two boats damaged respectively in Cayes-Jacmel and Marigot. The waves swept away two yachts in Bainet.



In Nippes, four fishing boats were destroyed in Grand-Boucan where plantations were also devastated by strong winds.



Assessments are continuing in the South where cases of devastated plantations and destruction of fishing boats have been reported.



Infrastructures :

In the South-East, the road is cut at Marigot, at Anse Colin, at the entrance to the town. Sea waters invaded the coast several tens of meters inland. In coastal communities : 100m in Marigot, near Cotterelle to Guillaumonde, where several streets are flooded; 30m to Cayes-Jacmel, Raymond-les-Bains; up to 50m at Bainet, in several places; almost 10m in Cotes-de-Fer; 50m in Belle-Anse, at the port where the sea has invaded the main road.



To be continued...



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - UN : BINUH report on Haiti to the Security Council





Wednesday July 3rd, 2024, report from Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) to the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Haiti.



Intervention by Maria Isabel Salvador :



"Mister President, Distinguished Members of the Council, Prime Minister Conille,



Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,



Major changes have taken place in Haiti since I last briefed this Council, and I am happy to report Haiti is making headway toward restoring democratic institutions through enhanced security and credible elections. The installation of the Transitional Presidential Council in April https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42198-haiti-flash-swearing-and-installation-of-members-of-the-cpt.html, and the designation of a Prime Minister and a new government, sworn in last month, are clear indications of progress. Works have continued at the Port-au-Prince Airport, where flights have resumed and the building of the base that will house the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) has been completed. A first group of Kenyan Police officers for the MSS arrived on 25 June. This first deployment is an important step in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2699 and brings renewed hope to the people of Haiti.



Mister President,



On May 28, Dr. Garry Conille, whose presence among us we welcome today, was chosen as Prime Minister by the Transitional Presidential Council. On June 12, a new Transitional Government was inaugurated, composed of 14 ministers at the head of 18 ministries. With the installation of this Government, the two-headed executive is committed to leading Haiti towards the restoration of state institutions through the holding of credible, inclusive and participatory elections which will lead - according to the proposed timetable - to the installation of the authorities elected no later than February 2026.



I welcome the efforts of the transitional authorities to increase the participation of women and other minorities in key positions in government. In fact, 6 of the 18 ministries are led by women https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42631-haiti-news-zapping.html, representant 33 pour cent de l'ensemble des ministeres.50% of the heads of Haiti's diplomatic missions are today women. Inclusion and diversity are essential to promote a political transition that paves the way for the restoration of state institutions and effectively meets the needs and expectations of all Haitians.



[...] It is in this spirit that BINUH has renewed and reoriented its strategic commitment to support the political process. Systematically increasing the participation of women and young people in this process is a fundamental pillar of this strategy that we are developing jointly with the government. In this vision, BINUH supported the organization of the Civil Society Forum which was held last week, June 27 and 28, in Port-au-Prince. This forum, which was marked by a significant participation of women's and youth organizations from different departments of the country, aimed to promote the inclusion and participation of women and young people in the current transition. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42652-haiti-news-zapping.html



[...] On the security front, though progress has been achieved, alarming levels of violence remain a source of great concern. Indiscriminate gang violence has been consistently spreading beyond the capital to other regions of the country. The gangs' recurrent attacks since 29 February have severely hampered national and international efforts to fast-track the recruitment process of new police officers and attrition rates in the national police continue to be high. The recent designation of a new Director General of the Haitian National Police brings new hope to the continuous fight against gang violence https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42606-haiti-pnh-the-pm-installed-the-new-director-general-videos.html



Human rights violations and abuses have persisted at alarmingly high levels. Documented incidents include mass shootings and targeted killings, collective rapes, kidnappings, the burning and looting of homes and businesses, and the intentional destruction of facilities operated by social service providers, including hospitals and schools.



I remain deeply disturbed by the indiscriminate violence and grave abuses perpetrated by armed gangs against children. Equally worrisome is the prevalence of threats and attacks against human rights defenders, journalists and members of the judiciary, many of whom have been forced to limit or stop their work, or even to flee the country.



In my discussions with Prime Minister Conille, I transmitted the commitment of the United Nations to continue supporting Haiti in line with national priorities. Taking into account the new context marked by enhanced cooperation with OAS and CARICOM. Within its mandate, and at this new momentum BINUH will continue to support the transitional authorities in key areas that include elections, constitutional reform, police development, enhancement of political dialogue and justice, as well as community violence reduction  to name a few. BINUH is redirecting and redefining priorities in support of the new governance structure of this Haitian-led and owned transition. As elections are at the core of the objectives set forth by the new transitional authorities, the possibility to strengthen BINUH electoral expertise could be considered.



As the MSS continues deploying, the establishment of a coordination mechanism among national authorities, the MSS, the UN in Haiti and other partners will be critical to promote complementarities, exchange information, and devise effective communication strategies.



I would like to express my appreciation to Member State efforts ensuring the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2699, and commend Kenya's willingness to lead the Multi-national Security Support Mission. I would also like to appeal to all Member States to ensure the Multi-national Security Support Mission receives the sustained financial support that it needs to succeed.



Turning to the humanitarian situation, it continues to worsen. There are 578 thousand internally displaced persons, a 60% increase since March 2024 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42531-haiti-social-578-074-displaced-people-increase-of-60-in-3-months.html. Rates of sexual violence and abuse remain troubling. Only 20 per cent of health facilities are operating normally. Despite being faced with access constraints over the last few months, as you know, the United Nations and its partners have continued to deliver across the country. Disappointingly, the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan is only 24.3 per cent funded.



Mr. President,



Security Council Resolution 2699 authorized a strengthened Police component in BINUH, though the financial situation in the Organization with the hiring freeze prevented us from moving forward with scaling up the Police and Corrections area and the security situation that unfolded since 29 February further exacerbated this situation. In this new momentum for Haiti, as we move forward, it is also an opportunity to reinvigorate BINUH and reposition its role in the current context. As the Multi-national Security Support Mission deploys, strengthening the human rights area in BINUH to be able to provide the necessary support and monitoring to a compliance with the Human rights due diligence policy is fundamental. Resolution 2699 mandates the MSS to establish a human rights oversight mechanism. BINUH within its mandate on human rights stands ready to provide support -when required-to the definition of a robust human rights compliance framework [...]"



HL/ S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - USA : Address by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Haiti to the Security Council.





Following the report on Haiti to the United Nations Security Council, by Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary General (RSSG) and Head of BINUH https://www.haitilibre.com/article-42692-haiti-onu- report-from-binuh-on-haiti-to-the-security-council.html American Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Security Council :



Remarks by American Ambassador Inda Thomas-Greenfield :



"Thank you. SRSG Salvador, thank you for your briefing and for the work you and the entire BINUH team are doing in Haiti during these challenging times. These efforts are critical to supporting Haitis path to a democratic transition https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42692-haiti-un-binuh-report-on-haiti-to-the-security-council.html



[...] The Transitional Presidential Council and Prime Minister Conilles selection of a Cabinet of Ministers are important steps toward accountable, responsive, and inclusive governance that can promote security and future elections.



Across Haiti, gangs have carried out unthinkable atrocities : killings, mass rapes, kidnappings, forced recruitment, exploitation, and trafficking of children. You heard the report of the SRSG. Coordinated attacks by gangs have pushed tens of thousands of residents from their homes.



Haitians needs our help. They need peace and security.



As the largest donor to the MSS mission, the United States intends to provide more than $309 million dollars to support the Missions success with investments in logistics, equipment, and training.



Our support for the people of Haiti is unwavering. And we call on all international partners to do more and give more, including by providing the MSS mission with funding and in-kind contributions.



As we work to ensure a better, more secure future in Haiti, we must also promote accountability for past atrocities. This Council must consider sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for, or complicit in, actions that threaten the peace and security in Haiti. The 2653 Haiti Sanctions Committee and Panel of Experts have a critical role to play in this effort. Like many of you, are also concerned about the illicit flow of arms into Haiti, which fuels the capacity for increased violence, civilian casualties, and human rights abuses.



The U.S. is actively working to enforce the arms embargo. Most recently, on June 24th, the head of the 400 Mawozo gang, Joly Germine, was sentenced to 35 years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in gun-running conspiracy.



In November 2023, the Biden Administration signed a memorandum of understanding with the Haitian National Police for the use of the electronic ATF eTrace system, which can help identify potential gun traffickers.



And this past February, we signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Haiti to formally establish a Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, which will enhance cross-border investigative capabilities.



Finally, the Biden Administration announced a new rule to reduce the number of firearms sold without background checks in the United States.



We urge fellow Member States to join us and take steps to strengthen enforcement mechanisms.



For our part, the United States is committed to working with CARICOM and other international partners to support the governments work to improve the lives of all Haitians and prepare the country for elections.



That is the future the Haitian people demand; it is the future that the Haitian people deserve. One of democracy. One of security. One of hope, prosperity, and freedom. Let us all do our part to make this a reality.



Thank you."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















. Jack Ohman/The Chronicle

The late President Richard Nixon is cackling in his grave today.

This week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president of the United States of America can do virtually anything he wants under the guise of official duties.

Apparently, official duties now can include fomenting an insurrection.

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Under the new rules, Nixon would have been held immune, would not have resigned, and there would be no President Gerald R. Ford to pardon him, for he did nothing illegal.

Indeed, Nixons then-spurious assertion that if the president does it, then it is not illegal, would, in fact, be legally correct under the Federalist Society handpicked court were currently living under.

If Nixon is guffawing wherever he is, Earl Warren, a former California governor and the 1948 vice presidential running mate of the late Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, is spinning at 10,000 RPMs in his grave.

All of this has conspired to make this July 4 the second-most important July 4 in American history.

Those who want to see some sort of authoritarian dictatorship next Jan. 20 are emboldened. Theyll have a president who arguably could do whatever he wants, when he wants to do it.

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Checks and balances? Do you see any with a MAGA Republican Senate and House of Representatives, and a MAGA-enabling Supreme Court? I dont see anything other than a rubber stamp.

Speaker Mike Johnson called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment the other day to remove Biden from office; I dont recall his mawkish concern as rioters defecated on the floor of the Capitol, occupied then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and absconded with her lectern, and beat police with flag poles on Jan. 6, 2021.

A President Donald Trump will pardon each and every one of them.

Under President John Adams, the 1798 Alien and Sedition Act gave the president authority to silence political opponents, shut down critical newspapers and generally be the unitary executive the Roberts Court seems destined to establish.

This aint no Alitos Wife Flying the Flag upside down, this is the Supreme Court burning the flag on the staff.

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Some fireworks display.

My great great great great great (sorry, it was a while ago) grandfather was a man named Francis A. Dana. You may have heard of Dana Point (Orange County). Thats named after his grandson and my way-back uncle Richard Henry Dana, who wrote the novel Two Years Before the Mast.

Francis A. Dana was an official Founding Father. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, signer of the Articles of Confederation and minister to Russia. Later he served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court and was John Adams right-hand guy.

If I could speak to Francis A. Dana today, I can assure you of two things: Hed say the United States shouldnt have a king, and that the enduring survival of the American experiment depends on goodwill.

Hed have a hard time finding a silver lining in any of this on July 4, 2024.

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Benjamin Franklin, who never held elective office but was a key Founding Father of, well, everything ranging from the birth of America to electricity, and even editorial cartooning, said that the founders gave you a republic, if you can keep it.

On this July 4, can we keep it? Will we even try?

On this July 4, President Joseph R. Biden, the kid from Scranton, Pa., is faced with a moment no one could have predicted even days ago.

Does the president summon the spirit of 76 and do the right thing, not just for the Democratic Party, but for the democratic experiment were living moment to moment today? Or does he punt, betting, probably erroneously, that he can convince already shaky pro-Biden voters, independents and a segment of sensible Republicans that he can stave off Trump one more time?

My guess is that George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Grandpa Dana are whispering in his ear that its time to do the right thing.

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Biden is nothing if not a patriot. He sees it.

He sees an America slipping into the abyss of authoritarian rule. He sees that its just Joey Biden making the decision to, not to overstate it, save America from itself.

Biden has given so much to his country. John F. Kennedy wouldnt have to ask Joe Biden what he did for his country.

Hes been doing things for his country, including the sacrifice of his cherished son, since he was 29 years old.

Stepping aside, or even resigning the presidency itself in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris, would be beyond what President Lyndon Johnson did in 1968 by not running for reelection.

Ultimately, LBJ made a political decision. It was correct, but the future of the country didnt hinge upon it.

Biden has to make a historic decision, unlike any other in American history.

On this July 4, Biden has to look the American people in the eye and say: I know I am the fulcrum of the future of the United States. I know that my decision may decide not just the future of the United States, but the future of NATO, and the physical survival of billions of people.

Knowing Joe Biden as we do, Biden will always choose the country over everything else.

On this July 4, observe it as one would. See friends, have a hot dog, shoot the fireworks, but also know this:

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

If you want to have another July Fourth with any semblance of meaning, dont ignore whats happening.
These newspapers provide insights into the lives of Finnish communities in America and are freely accessible from anywhere through the digital platform digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi .

The National Library of Finland has digitized its collection of Finnish-American newspapers up to the end of 1923. This highly anticipated collection serves as a significant resource for studying immigration history, population history, and genealogy.

Users can perform various searches or browse the collection by title. Additionally, some of the material is available on microfilm at the National Library.

The collection comprises 174 newspaper and magazine titles dating back to 1876. Finnish immigrants' political and religious associations, as well as various local communities, published their own newspapers in the United States and Canada. The publication locations, such as Duluth, Astoria, Hancock, New York, and Fitchburg, reflect the history of Finnish settlements. These periodicals were printed in Finnish, Swedish, and English, with some content blending into a unique Finnish-English hybrid known as "Finglish."

Some publications have direct links to the present day. For example, "Canadan Uutiset" continued until 2000 before merging with "The Finnish Update: Pohjois-Amerikan Uutiset," a politically independent news outlet.

The National Library's digitized collection covers the period of mass Finnish immigration to North America, peaking between the 1870s and 1920s. The newspapers offer a multifaceted view of daily life for immigrants in their new homeland and provide information on how news from Finland and Europe was reported across the Atlantic.

In 2024, the digital collection will be expanded with additional materials digitized in the United States, including approximately 5,000 pages from "Toveritar," "Auttaja," and "Uusi Kotimaa," donated by the Library of Congress. These issues are missing from the National Library's physical collection.

Materials published after 1924 have also been digitized but are available only at designated workstations in legal deposit libraries due to copyright restrictions.

HT
Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday wrote that property developers and managers have turned to various campaigns to find tenants. Retta Management, the management company behind a newly completed high-rise in Kalasatama, Helsinki, is presently offering new tenants a 50-per-cent discount on rent for the first month.

The company has earlier sought to attract tenants to the building by offering a 500-euro gift card to the Mall of Tripla. Its website indicates that 48 of the 240 flats in the building, which was completed at the end of last year, are vacant.

Thats an indication of the general market situation especially in the capital region, analysed Eemeli Karlsson, an economist at the Finnish Landlord Association. The supply is considerably greater than its been for decades. The situation is completely different than four years ago, when people were waiting for flats.

Karlsson told the newspaper that the number of vacant flats has more than tripled from fewer than 2,000 in early 2020 to over 6,000 in June 2024. The situation is therefore opportune for those looking for a rental flat: they can inspect a number of flats choose whichever happens to suit their needs and budgets.

Thats a totally healthy phenomenon, he said.

Quality, price and location are the key considerations for tenants, according to Karlsson.

In spite of the oversupply, the Finnish capital remains by far the most expensive city for renters in Finland. One-room flats are 7 per cent, two-room flats 11 per cent and three-room flats 10 per cent more expensive than in the second most expensive city to rent in, Espoo. In Helsinki, the median rent for a one-room flat is 759 euros, that for a two-room flat 975 euros and that for a three-room flat 1,313 euros.

Helsinki is Finlands 11th most attractive city for property investors

Helsingin Sanomat reported in June that Helsinki has lost its shine in the eyes of property investors due to recent challenges in the rental market.

The Finnish Landlord Associations annual ranking of the most appealing cities for investors saw the capital fall five spots from 6th to 11th. Tampere retained its spot at the top of the ranking for the fourth consecutive year, followed  also for the fourth consecutive time  by Turku. The third place was clinched by Rovaniemi.

Along with Helsinki, Kajaani was the biggest faller.

The capitals decline is attributable especially to an increase in advertising times, analysed Karlsson. Theres oversupply in the capital region. You cant rent out flats as quickly as you used to and the increase in advertising times can cause vacant months, he said to Helsingin Sanomat on 26 June.

Helsinki has lost it shine also due to a decline in house prices, which last year were steeper in relative terms than anywhere else in Finland. In terms of property appreciation for the period between 2019 and 2023, though, the city ranked second behind Turku.

Karlsson told that Turku, Tampere and Oulu stood out positively from the three other large cities in terms of rent development, advertising times and market outlook. Tampere and Turku performed almost identically, the former claiming the top spot due to more rapid population growth and favourable development outlook.

The ranking is based on investment return calculations by Pellervo Economic Research (PTT) and advertising times on Vuokraovi.com. It also took into account demographic forecasts, the proportion of renters and outlook based on a barometer by the Finnish Landlord Association.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
CEO Sebastian Ebel revealed to Kauppalehti in June that the company is considering building two resort hotels in the region, one in Kittila and one in Rovaniemi. The hotels, he added, could welcome their first guests in three to four years.

A PLAN by TUI, one of the largest travel groups in the world, has generated excitement in Finnish Lapland.

Laura Aaltonen, the director of communication at TUI Finland, declined to disclose further details about the nature and location of the hotels in an interview with YLE in June.

Were constantly scanning plots and vacant properties all around the world. We have nothing concrete to reveal, but were really interested in investing in Finland, she commented to the public broadcasting company.

Despite the lack of details, the plan has been received with excitement by tourism industry operators in Finnish Lapland. The operators believe the development could jump-start international summer tourism to the region, which could offer visitors respite from the scorching summer temperatures in large parts of Europe.

This is wonderful news. When tourism industry giants mull over investing in Lapland, it tells that weve taken a step forward in terms of the feasibility of tourism [in Lapland], Sanna Karkkainen, the CEO of Visit Rovaniemi, said to YLE.

TUI brought more than 50,000 visitors to Finland between December 2023 and January 2024. The tourism group has increased its flight capacity to the country year after year, a development that will continue next winter with the opening of a direct route between Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Ivalo, Finnish Lapland.

Aaltonen told YLE that about 80 per cent of the trips for next winter have already been sold, representing an improvement on the situation in June 2023.

TUI was looking for sites in Finnish Lapland also in the 2010s, reminded Jyrki Oksanen, a regional director at Visit Finland. The market probably hadnt matured enough then, but now tourism has grown manifold and the situation is completely different, he stated to the public broadcaster.

He estimated that announcing the plans may be a way for the tourism group to gauge interest among domestic investors to participate in the development project. The project, he also argued, does not signal a shift toward mass tourism in Finnish Lapland.

TUI is a top-drawer brand that works with controlled masses. They have a sustainable tourism programme, and they try to engage in dialogue with the local population. I wouldnt be too concerned about that, he said.

On the contrary, he appeared delighted with the plan.

This is tremendously wonderful news. Christmas came early, Oksanen stated to YLE.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The SCO, established in 2001, is an intergovernmental organization with nine member states, including Kazakhstan, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. It represents 40% of the global population and contributes over $23 trillion to the world economy, giving it a significant role in regional and global affairs.

The 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 3-4, 2024.

The summit's agenda covered several key areas, including developing common approaches to security issues like terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime. Discussions also focused on the security situation in Afghanistan and regional counterterrorism efforts. Strengthening trade and economic cooperation among member states was another priority, with Kazakhstan pushing for the creation of an investment fund and enhanced economic partnerships. Additionally, the summit aimed to expand the SCO's international influence by improving contacts with major global and regional organisations.

China's Foreign Ministry announced on June 30 that President Xi Jinping would expand his visit after the SCO summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from July 2 to July 6. The visits, invited by the respective leaderships of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, aim to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance cooperation in various fields.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasised the importance of security cooperation within the SCO, advocating for a collective approach to combat the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism. He highlighted the SCO's role in ensuring regional stability and development, proposing the Global Security Initiative (GSI) to advance global security governance.

A significant development from the summit was the strengthening of logistical ties between China and Kazakhstan. The China-Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Trade Logistics terminal, launched in February 2024, facilitates China-Europe freight train operations, enhancing cargo transportation efficiency. This initiative has significantly boosted trade by reducing customs congestion and transportation times, demonstrating the deepening economic cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.

In just a few months, The China-Kazakhstan (Xi'an) Trade Logistics terminal in Xi'an has become a vital hub for China-Europe freight trains since its launch in February. This terminal, over 66,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year, developed in collaboration with KTZ Express and Xi'an Free Trade Port, has significantly reduced customs congestion and transportation times, facilitating efficient cargo transfers. Over 35,000 tonnes of goods have passed through the terminal, cutting delivery times between Xi'an and destinations like Tashkent and Baku.

In a signed article titled Staying True to Our Shared Commitment and Opening a New Chapter in China-Kazakhstan Relations published by both Chinese and Kazakh media before the trip President Xi Jinping stressed the historical and cultural connections between China and Kazakhstan, highlighting the mutual benefits of their partnership. He underscored the importance of enhancing trade, economic ties, and people-to-people exchanges, reflecting on the ancient Silk Road's legacy and its modern revival through initiatives like the Belt and Road.

He praised the positive history of the China Kazakhstan relations which have affected the whole region: It was in Kazakhstan eleven years ago that I first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, which was warmly received by people from different sectors in Kazakhstan. This marked a magnificent chapter in Belt and Road cooperation between our two countries. And the development of China-Kazakhstan relations have since entered a new stage. He also emphasised the win-win principle which has been the cornerstone of the Belt and Road initiative: China and Kazakhstan have different yet complementary resource endowments and industries. This offers huge potential for cooperation. ..We need to significantly unleash the potential for cooperation in such high-tech areas as new energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cross-border e-commerce, aviation and aerospace, and build more industrial and supply chains with high added-values, in order to inject new impetus to our cooperation.

In May, China and Tajikistan committed to boosting bilateral cooperation during a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe. This followed President Rahmon's visit to China the previous year. China's involvement in Central Asia includes pledging billions of dollars to major infrastructure projects, such as the ambitious China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) highway, which is set to improve connectivity and economic development in some of the region's poorest areas.

HT
Meeting space in new veterans center is the Col. Grady Hawkins Community Room

The second-floor meeting space at the new Hedrick Rhodes Veterans Center has been named the Col. Grady Hawkins Community Room in honor of the most decorated military veteran to have served on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners in recent decades.

As a U.S. Air Force navigator-bombardier aboard a B-57 bomber, Hawkins flew 310 missions and logged 770 hours of air combat during the in Vietnam War in 1967 and 68 and after that piloted dozens of Cold War air missions.

First elected to the Board of Commissioners in 1996, he won re-election in 2000 before losing to Chuck McGrady in 2004 then regaining a seat on the board in 2012, defeating incumbent Bill O'Connor, and serving two more terms. During his four terms in office, current chair Rebecca McCall said in announcing the honor, the county:
Bob Egelko has been a reporter since June 1970. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000.

His beat includes state and federal courts in California, the Supreme Court and the State Bar. He has a law degree from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and is a member of the bar. Coverage has included the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, the appointment of Rose Bird to the state Supreme Court and her removal by the voters, the death penalty in California and the battles over gay rights and same-sex marriage.
War stories to tell, the right place to tell them

More than 150 people turned out Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the Hedrick Rhodes Veterans Center

They had war stories to tell. They stood at a fitting place to tell them  on the front porch of a historic brick structure built by and for World War II veterans  and they spoke at a fitting time  on the eve of the 248th birthday of America.

Henderson County commissioners, aides from Congress and others celebrated the completion of a $4.7 million renovation that saved the 76-year-old Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 from ruin and transformed it into a sparkling new veterans and community center.

On the market in 2020 for more than a half million dollars, the VFW home was sold to Henderson County in 2021 for $35,635  a price the post was willing to accept along with the pledge of a complete renovation. In addition to the VFW, the building will also house the countys Veterans Services office and military museum, which will move from the Health and Human Services building on Spartanburg Highway. The community room will be available for use by organizations, for now at no charge. Under terms of an American Rescue Plan grant that covered 90 percent of the construction cost, the county is not permitted to charge rent.

Speaking from the front porch of the imposing brick edifice perched on a slope above Five Points, commissioners thanked veterans and shared stories of their own familys connection to wartime service.

Dec. 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, Board of Commissioners Chair Rebecca McCall said. We all recognize these words and understand what they mean. There may be some here who may have heard President Roosevelt say those words for the first time when he announced that Pearl Harbor had been invaded and America was now part of the war in Europe that had been going on for two years.

There were 16 million U.S. soldiers sent to fight in that war. Four thousand of them came from Henderson County and at that time that was 15 percent of the population. The war claimed 407,000 American lives and physically wounded 670,000. But wounds go deeper than physical. Those who returned home needed a place to gather and overcome their experiences of war with those who understood. They came together in 1946 to form VFW Post 5206 and in 1948 built this building as a respite for all who had made the sacrifice to defend our freedom. At one time, there were more than 1,600 members. Over the years and due to the effects of Covid, the membership has declined, so being able to support this facility became a challenge for the members of this post.

When the opportunity arose for the county to help save this historical building, the decision was an easy one, she said.

Commissioners agreed to buy the building and renovate it, appropriating $4.2 million in ARP funds

A kid from Green River

.

One of those 4,000 Henderson County residents sent to fight in World War II was Norman Capps, Commissioner Michael Edneys uncle.

In 1944, he was a 21-year-old kid from Green River, Edney said. The Army sent him to Louisiana to learn how to be an airplane mechanic but apparently they also taught him how to shoot a machine gun because he became a waist gunner on a B-24 bomber. He was sent to Europe and he and the other 10 members of his crew flew several flights over enemy-occupied Europe. Then on Oct. 30, 1944, their bomber went down. Only he and two other crew members survived, bailing out while the plane was spinning to the ground. They were caught and became German prisoners of war. As war was winding down the Germans decided to move all their POWs via a forced march.

For the next 83 days they walked 550 miles in relentless winter conditions in which thousands of Americans died. They were liberated on April 29, 1945, Edney said. My uncle and the millions of Americans who have served and sacrificed to protect our way of life are the reason were here today. Theyre the reason we chose to renovate and restore this building to continue to serve Henderson County.

When the post home was in danger of being sold and possibly even razed, Edney stepped in to help.

It was unfathomable to me that we could not do everything possible to save this historic facility, he said. I made it my mission to restore the VFW to properly honor our veterans of foreign wars. I brought this to the attention of my fellow commissioners and received immediate overwhelming support.

U.S. Marines, we know youre coming

My dad was 40 years old when I was born  that's a little older than a lot of people having children  but he was a World War II Marine  part of the Second Marine Division, Commissioner Daniel Andreotta told the crowd. He joined when he was 17 years old. A fleet of ships sailing to the war zone in the Pacific would zigzag to try to avoid being hit or to try to avoid all of them being hit at one time from enemy attacks. And he said on one occasion through the hull of that big ship he was on, they had speakers and when they got within range they tuned into Japanese radio broadcasts. Maybe you have heard of the historic name of Tokyo Rose, a female voice on Japanese radio. Seventeen years old, a long way from Mama's table, he heard these words go through that ship: United States Marines, we know you're coming. So thank God my dad made it home, and so I have been raised being patriotic.

My nearest and dearest project

David Hill, a Henderson County native, recalled the VFW post as a familiar landmark at the citys northern gateway.

Since I was a young boy growing up here, I always remember this building, he said. This building will now stand, still here, as you enter into town from the north and it will still be that view that I remember as a young man. For me, this is probably the nearest and dearest project for the county that Ive been a part of because we are a veteran-friendly community.

I wonder where theyre going

My father, 19 years old, Nov. 30, 1941, served in the Merchant Marines, Commissioner Bill Lapsley said. He was in Honolulu Harbor, Nov. 30, 1941. He joined a convoy of ships, including destroyers. How do I know this? He gave me his logbook, when he was 19 years old. Joined the convoy, heading from Honolulu Harbor to Manila in the Philippines. In his logbook, he notes: Just passed the Japanese fleet heading east towards Hawaii. I wonder where they're going?

He and I talked about it many times as I was growing up, and I always appreciated his life story and his service to our country. So with that short note, I'm very proud to have been a part of this board in the restoration of this building. I hope itll last for another 70 years and I hope the people of our community continue to support our veterans.

* * * * *

McCall, the county commission chair, thanked the people who guided the project to completion: The architect, Ethan Ward of McMillian Pazdan Smith, contractor Frank Blum Construction superintendent Chris D'Angelo, senior project manager Cory Swanstrom, general superintendent David Hana, vice president of operations Matt Coley and the construction crew; and, from county staff, Brian Rhodes, capital projects construction manager; Brian Cotton, capital projects superintendent; John Michell county manager; Amy Brantley, now retired assistant county manager; Christopher Todd, new assistant county manager; and Samantha Reynolds, finance director.
FORMER Olympic champion Will Satch returned to the water at this years Henley Royal Regatta.

The 35-year-old from Watlington rowed for Star and Arrow Club as they beat A.K.R. Wurzburg & R.G. Speyer in The Prince of Wales Challenge Cup for quadruple sculls by a length.

The former Leander rower, who retired after winning gold in the GB eight at the 2012 Olympics in London and in the pair at Rio in 2016, rowed with fellow former Team GB athlete Jack Beaumont as well as Sebastian Devereux and Sam Meijer.

Theirs was one of scores of races that took place in the first two days of the regatta, which began on Tuesday and will end on Sunday.

Shiplake College won all five of their races across the first two days while there were also wins for Leander Club, Upper Thames Rowing Club and Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning.

Thousands of visitors flocked the town for the 185th regatta, which attracted a record 771 entries this year from 27 countries. The previous record of 739 was set in 2022. This year will see the most races ever at 409, up by 15 on last year.

On the first two days, the weather was overcast with showers and the athletes had to contend with headwinds.

The dull weather forced spectators to take cover under marquees as many had not come prepared for the frequent downpours.

The visitors turned out in traditional style, with the majority of women wearing long, colourful dresses, hats and fascinators.

Temperatures remained at about 18C with the Met Office forecasting more of the same on Saturday and finals day on Sunday.

Satch and Beaumont only started planning to take part in the regatta a month ago and they struggled to find team-mates.

Satch, a former Shiplake College student, said: Jack and I have been sculling a little bit over the last two months and then we had this idea that felt quite stupid at the time but it has been really fun. We were, like, touch and go about the deadline for entries, trying to find two other people to row with us. We were asking around everywhere.

Were out of shape compared to what we used to be but we rely on our experience and our enjoyment of the sport.

Theres always that belief in athletes that we will win and its always really fun to turn over the Germans.

Its a very different approach to when we were in the national team because we have sort of rolled up.

When you are in a national team you train all year and through our careers we have done that, so this time its a very different process.

We have done a month of training, only about four sessions together. Were just having a go and it was great to win. My mum loves the regatta and she was elated to have me rowing again.

The general sort of comment we get from people is, You guys should know better.

But running just hurts and I sort of fell in love with being sort of being back on water.

Satch, who first rowed at Henley in 2005 when he was 16 with his school, said he and Beaumont planned to celebrate with a pint whether they win or lose.

Beaumont, 30, who lives in Maidenhead, and works for Invesco, won silver in the at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

He has come to the Regatta every year since he was 15.

He said: It felt really good to come back to compete in Henley again. Were like the rowers from the back of the antique shop now, I think.

We are not coming back fully  I want to keep my job  but I think we can and have turned up on days like today and still get a good performance out. We know what to do.

Were definitely not as prepared as we have been here before but we want to be involved in a fantastic event.

I really love the regatta. Its my 14th time coming. Its part of the year and a big landmark in a rowers year.

Its a massive party as well  theres crowds and on the river and its close to home.

Among the crowds was in the enclosures was former Henley Mayor Martin Akehurst and his wife Glynnis who live in Two Tree Hill.

He said: I used to row for Westminster when I was in sixth form and for Nottingham

University.

I just love rowing. Its the people, the whole atmosphere. The enthusiasm for rowing is absolutely stunning and the regatta is very well done.

Year six pupils from Rupert House School attended the first day of racing alongside their teachers and headmaster Nick Armitage.

The children, dressed in formal attire and their school blazers, were given a tour of Leander Club, the stewards enclosure and enjoyed a ride up the course on a Hobbs of Henley boat.

Mr Armitage said: With Henley being the world centre of rowing, we thought it would be great for them to come down.

Its great for the kids to see all the teams from all over the world. The rowers walk past the school most days and they always say hi and are very friendly.

The regatta is an important part of Henley life and we wanted to really inspire them. It the sort of thing I would love every kid in Henley to do and they have loved dressing up and the blazer looks the part.

While in the stewards enclosure the children were tasked with finding members wearing similar jackets.

Mr Armitage said: They found a crew from Miami and one from Southampton University had a similar blazer.

Pupil Matilda Groh., 12, said: Its really fun to watch the races and see how they row. Its really nerve-wracking too.

He favourite part of the day was tour of Leander Club.

She said: I loved looking at how they train and seeing all their boats.

Head girl Tekl Cazier, 11, said: The best part was the boat ride. It was also really fun to see all the trophies in the stewards enclosure  some of them were massive. There was also official regatta clothing being sold by Crew clothing.

Shop assistant Holly Bureau, 19, from Reading, said: Seeing all the different types of blazers is quite fun. I get to watch some of the races. I did it last year too.

In the regatta store the 185th anniversary Emma Bridgewater mugs were a hit at 28 a piece

The most expensive item was a 225 Crew blazer with the Henley Royal Regatta crest embroidered on the chest.

Police patrolled the regatta site and through the town and reported that everyone was being well-behaved.
New stickers wait to be handed out to voters at City Hall during Election Day in San Francisco on March 5. Californians will decide on 10 statewide ballot measures in November. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

On top of deciding the next president and other elected offices in November, California voters will face 10 statewide ballot measures, dealing with a range of issues from marriage equality to taxes and wages.

Wednesday was the final day for lawmakers to place measures on the ballot, solidifying the lineup of issues to be decided by Californians.

As usual, there are myriad fights and rivalries behind some of the measures that might not be obvious at first glance.

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One measure, for example, appears to deal with health care spending, but is really directed at sidelining one specific person whose nonprofit funds numerous political efforts, including other ballot measures.

Meanwhile, voters will weigh only one measure on whether to roll back parts of Proposition 47, an initiative approved in 2014 that lowered criminal penalties for some crimes, after a competing measure spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom collapsed at the 11th hour.

The ballot could have been longer, but the intervention of the California Supreme Court struck one measure from the ballot. Newsom and lawmakers struck deals with some initiative proponents to enact new laws in exchange for those groups pulling their measures from the ballot.

The states high court ordered a measure that would have made raising taxes dramatically harder for local governments be pulled from the ballot earlier this month. The measure was so far-reaching it would have amounted to a revision of the state Constitution, the justices unanimously ruled.

In other instances, lawmakers and ballot measure proponents reached deals to keep measures off the ballot that would have reformed the Private Attorneys General Act, added a personal finance course to high school graduation requirements, raised taxes on the wealthy to fund pandemic prevention efforts, and expanded a state health care program for children. Oil and gas companies also yanked their effort to overturn a state law banning new oil wells near homes.

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The 10 issues to be decided by state voters in November:

Proposition 2  School facilities bond: Most school district budgets are eaten up by teacher salaries. To upgrade school buildings or build new ones, public officials often turn to voters for more money. This time, it comes in the form of a $10 billion bond that would fund repairs and construction for K-12 schools and California community colleges. While many schools argue the funds are desperately needed, smaller districts have warned that the funding allocation favors wealthier districts.

Proposition 3  Cutting Prop. 8 from the California Constitution: Californias Prop. 8, a ban on same-sex marriage, was ruled unconstitutional in 2015 and the Supreme Court went on to legalize same-sex marriage. But Prop. 8 still lives on in the California Constitution, and advocates worry that it could be revived if the Supreme Court reconsiders the issue. Democratic leaders have said they hope the marriage measure will motivate young people to vote.

Proposition 4  Climate bond: A massive climate bond package would bring in $3.8 billion for water needs, $1.5 billion for forest health and combating wildfires, $1.2 billion for efforts to combat sea-level rise and about $850 million for clean energy projects.

Proposition 5  Lowering the threshold for local government taxes: When local governments want to pass a bond, they must secure a two-thirds vote. This measure would lower that threshold to 55%  still higher than a simple majority, but lower than the current requirement.

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Proposition 6  Ending forced prison labor: The California Constitution prohibits slavery, with one exception: as a punishment to a crime. Proposition 6 would remove that exception, and would prohibit the state agency that oversees prisons from disciplining incarcerated individuals who refuse a work assignment.

Proposition 32  Minimum wage hike: Minimum wage hikes have been in the news a lot this year: A $20-an-hour minimum wage for fast-food workers kicked in on April 1, and the state budget delaying a $25 health care workers minimum wage that was supposed to kick in July 1. This measure would eventually raise the states minimum wage to $18 an hour. For companies with 26 or more workers, the new wage would kick in Jan. 1, 2025; for smaller companies, it would kick in Jan. 1, 2026.

Proposition 33  Allowing cities to enact rent control measures: Californians sometimes vote on the same issue multiple times (were looking at you, kidney dialysis), and rent control is one of those issues. This measure would repeal a longtime state law that blocks local governments from setting rent limits on homes built after 1995, or any single-family homes. The measure would not require cities to enact rent control measures, but it would allow them to pursue them if they choose. It is funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the organization being targeted in a separate ballot measure.

Proposition 34  Stifling one prolific ballot measure proponent: After years of battling rent control initiatives funded by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California landlords have placed a measure on the ballot designed to stifle that organization from running any more measures. Their measure targets health care providers that have spent more than $100 million on things not related to patient care and that have more than 500 serious health and safety violations at apartment buildings they run. AIDS Healthcare appears to be the only organization matching that description. The organization has amassed funding through a federal program that allows nonprofit health organizations to buy prescription drugs at a heavily discounted price but sell them at a regular market rate. It has used those funds to run ballot measures on housing issues. The landlords measure would put an end to that practice and require the organization to use 98% of the money it receives through its federally discounted drugs on patient care.

Proposition 35  MCO tax: Californias Managed Care Organization tax is a rare thing: a tax thats supported by the organizations that pay it because it allows them to unlock federal matching dollars. Essentially, they make money by paying the tax. But in recent years, hospitals and doctors have complained that the governor and lawmakers have used funds generated by the tax to plug budget deficits. This measure would require that the money be used for Medi-Cal, the states health insurance program for low-income people, in an effort to ensure it continues to go to doctors and hospitals instead of other areas of the budget.

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The Indian education system has long grappled with the persistent issue of unfair means during public examinations, leading to widespread concerns about the integrity and fairness of these crucial assessments.

In recent years, several states have enacted laws to address this challenge, including the Uttar Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 1998 (the Act, 1998) and the newly proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024. (Bill)

The Act, 1998, enacted in the wake of several high-profile paper leak incidents, aimed to establish a comprehensive framework to prevent and punish unfair practices in public examinations. The Act empowered examination authorities to take stringent measures, including the cancellation of examinations, debarring of candidates, and prosecution of offenders.

It also introduced measures such as the establishment of an independent examination regulatory body, stricter penalties for offenders, and the use of technology to enhance the security of examination processes.

While these initiatives were lauded, the extent to which they have been successful in curbing examination malpractices remains a subject of ongoing debate.

The newly proposed Public Examinations Bill, 2024, seeks to address the issue of examination integrity at the national level. The Bill proposes the creation of a centralised examination authority, the establishment of a system of mandatory biometric identification for exam candidates, and the imposition of severe penalties for those found guilty of engaging in unfair practices.

Implementation of the Act, 1998

There have been several instances where people have been booked under the provisions of the Act, 1998, however even after the conviction, due to the compoundable, bailable nature of the offence, and the punishment with lesser implications, the Act, 1998 could not have the deterrence effect on the people involved in unfair means, etc.

In Vijay Kumar Mishra & Anr. v. State of U.P. (2005), an FIR was lodged under Sections 5 and 10 of the 1998 Act following a surprise raid at Seth Baburam Bhartiya Inter College, where papers for copying were found. The High Court observed that the evidence did not constitute a cognizable offence against the accused. The court stated that the allegations, even if accepted fully, did not prima facie establish any offence. Thus, continuing proceedings against the accused would be a misuse of the legal process.

In Shweta Singh v. State of Uttar Pradesh (2012), the petitioner, a minor at the time of her offence under Sections 3 and 9 of the 1998 Act, was convicted based on a confession to avoid trial. The Allahabad High Court ruled that this single conviction, made before she reached the age of discretion, should not disqualify her from being appointed as a constable. The court referenced the Supreme Courts decision in Commissioner of Police v. Sandeep Kumar, emphasizing that a solitary act of using unfair means in an examination does not determine a candidate's future suitability for state service.

In 2022, a court in Muzaffarnagar fined three teachers 1,500 each for helping students cheat during board exams in 2001. The teachers, from a government inter-college in Uttar Pradesh, were found guilty of facilitating cheating in the exam. This decision comes as part of the court's effort to uphold academic integrity and accountability in educational institutions. The prolonged legal process underscores the challenges and delays often encountered in the Indian judicial system.

In February 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable recruitment exam faced a significant scandal when it was discovered that the exam papers were leaked using digital devices. The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh arrested ten individuals, including the main accused Rajeev Nayan Mishra and Ravi Attri, who had orchestrated the leak. The group used sophisticated methods to obtain and distribute the exam papers.

Bill 2024: Increased deterrence and stringency

The Bill 2024 introduces more deterrent and stringent measures compared to the Act, 1998 in several ways. The most significant differences include:

Classification of Offences: Section 9 of The Bill classifies all offences related to examination malpractice as cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. This means that law enforcement agencies can arrest individuals suspected of these offences without a warrant, and the accused cannot be granted bail easily. Additionally, these offences cannot be settled out of court, ensuring a more rigorous legal process.

Penalties for Individuals: The Bill imposes stricter penalties on individuals involved in examination malpractices, including:

Unfair Means: Section 10(1) of the Bill specifies imprisonment for three to five years and a fine of up to ten lakh rupees.

Organised Crime: Sections 10 (2) and 10 (3) of the Bill specify imprisonment for five to ten years and a fine of not less than one crore rupees. These penalties are significantly higher than those prescribed under the Act, 1998, wherein, Section 9 specified a maximum imprisonment of one year and a fine of five thousand rupees for leaking exam material.

Penalties for Service Providers: The Bill 2024 holds service providers accountable for examination malpractice. They are subject to a fine of up to one crore rupees, proportionate costs of the examination, and a four-year ban on conducting public examinations. This provision adds a layer of responsibility and deterrence absent in the Act, 1998.

Further, as per Section 8 of the Bill, any person associated with a service provider who assists someone unauthorisedly during the examination process is considered to have committed an offence. The Bill also extends responsibility to directors, managers, secretaries, or other officers of a service provider if an offence is committed with their consent or connivance.

However, it also provides a safeguard for such individuals if they can prove they had no knowledge of the offence and exercised due diligence to prevent it.

Targeting Organised Crime: Section 2(h) of the Bill specifically addresses "organised crime" related to examination malpractices, defining it as unlawful activities involving collusion and conspiracy for wrongful gain. This focus on organized entities demonstrates a commitment to dismantling sophisticated networks engaged in these activities, which is not explicitly addressed in the Act, 1998.

Efficacy of acts

While both the Act, 1998 and the Bill have made significant strides in addressing the issue of paper leaks, their overall efficacy has been limited. Effective implementation and enforcement of these laws, along with a multi-pronged approach that includes technological advancements, robust examination management practices, and a focus on ethical conduct, will be crucial in restoring public confidence in the integrity of public examinations.

Several states have their own legislation to address the issue of examination malpractices, which can provide valuable insights and best practices for further strengthening the proposed bill. It is the need to make changes in the existing system and innovate to introduce reforms that can curb the menace of paper leaks and ensure fair and transparent public examinations.

The Act, 1998 presents an opportunity to learn from the past and develop a more comprehensive and effective framework to safeguard the sanctity of public examinations in India. The deterrence effect of the proposed legislation, coupled with a commitment to its proper implementation, can serve as a catalyst for a more ethical and secure examination system.

Sanya Singh is a practising lawyer based out in New Delhi. She pursued a B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) from NUSRL, Ranchi and holds a keen interest in civil and commercial litigation. The views expressed are personal
NEW DELHI: The idea of rule of law is not only about social and political justice but is also intrinsically linked to better economic outcomes and financial advancement, Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said on Thursday, adding that a legal system with adequate procedural safeguards and fairness builds investor confidence and is crucial for economic growth. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud speaking with SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch at the inauguration of new office premises of Securities Appellate Tribunal in Mumbai on Thursday. (PTI)

Inaugurating the new office premises of the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) at Mittal Court in Mumbai, the CJI underscored the critical role of the tribunal in fostering improved economic outcomes and financial growth, which in turn create a stable and predictable investment environment.

Justice Chandrachud noted that SAT, as a pivotal appellate forum for securities markets, ensures that all stakeholders adhere to the regulations, thereby maintaining market integrity and investor confidence.

A legal system that has adequate procedural safeguards, fairness, and forums that dispense justice without arbitrariness, is integral to building investor confidence in a countrys markets and business landscape. Therefore, regulators like SEBI and appellate forums like the SAT assume immense national importance in fostering a stable and predictable investment environment, the CJI said, citing the World Banks approach since 2005 that protecting the rule of law is intrinsically linked to better economic outcomes.

When investors feel assured that their investments are protected by law and that there are effective mechanisms for dispute resolution, the judge added, they are more likely to invest in the countrys markets. This influx of investment can lead to better economic outcomes, such as increased capital formation, job creation, and overall economic growth, he said.

According to the CJI, the tribunal is like a referee, ensuring that all stakeholders play by the rules in the dog-eat-dog world of finance. Just like any good referee, the SAT has successfully kept pace with the evolving game. As our markets and businesses become more complex and new regulations flood in, the tribunal must consistently rise to the challenge. To effectively adjudicate the appeals before the tribunal, members require not only a deep understanding of intricate financial matters but most importantly, a strong commitment to fair adjudication and procedural safeguards. This is crucial in maintaining market integrity and investor confidence, he asserted.

Commending the tribunal for moving its office to new, modern premises equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology, the CJI stressed the importance of digital infrastructure, stating that the concept of access to justice needs to be reimagined because modernising infrastructure must not limit to physical infrastructure. He said that technology is at the heart of the functioning of the Indian judicial system and that it has been a mission for him as the CJI to promote it.

In Sarvesh Mathur Vs The Registrar General, High Court of Punjab and Haryana (2023 and 2024), the Supreme Court issued several directions to ensure the continued use of video conferencing facilities across High Courts and Tribunals. It is commendable that the SAT has been at the forefront in adopting technology including virtual hearings and e-filing, both during the Covid-19 pandemic and after it subsided, he said.

Given that SAT only has a bench in Mumbai, CJI Chandrachud underscored the importance of virtual hearings as a matter of right rather than a concession. A tribunal with jurisdiction across the country must have digital resources to allow lawyers from different regions to appear before the tribunal easily and effectively, he said. The judge also praised the decision to revamp the SATs website, making it more user-friendly and enhancing accessibility and efficiency in accessing legal services.

The CJI also underscored the urgent need to fill the vacancies at SAT, pointing to the increasing volume of appeals and disputes related to regulatory non-compliance, market conduct, corporate governance and shareholder issues. The rapid growth in the number of market participants and the increase in the volume of financial transactions bring with it the likelihood of an increased number of disputes. The vacancies in the SAT must be filled at the earliest to allow the tribunal to work effectively and at full capacity, he urged.

The CJI suggested that it may be worth considering the establishment of additional benches to manage the escalating caseload. The SEBI Act also allows for the setting up of benches of the SAT. It may be worth giving greater thought to the proposals of equipping the tribunal with additional benches and improved infrastructure to manage its escalating case load, he proposed.

Justice Chandrachud also praised the dedication and expertise of the SATs members, registrars, researchers, administrative staff, and other officials who ensure the smooth functioning of the tribunal. The officials who run the show from behind the scenes are the steel frame of our legal system. They are integral to dispensing justice, he said.

During his speech, the CJI reminisced about his professional roots in Mumbai, expressing a deep connection to the city that shaped a significant part of his career. For me, visiting Mumbai is much like coming back home  to a city that shaped a considerable part of my professional life. I spent most of my career, first, as a lawyer frequenting the corridors of Mumbais judicial forums and then as a judge of the Bombay High Court, recalled the judge.

Justice Chandrachud expressed confidence that the new office premises would empower SAT officials to work with renewed vigour and determination, leading to fair and just decisions. May the years ahead not only bring fair and just decisions by members of the SAT but also novel administrative and infrastructural developments that can be adopted by tribunals and courts across the country, he stated.

Justice DK Upadhyaya, Bombay high court chief justice, retired justice PS Dinesh Kumar, SATs presiding officer and Dheeraj Bhatnagar and Meera Swarup, technical members of the SAT, were also present at the inauguration of the new office space.
Google is aiming to make India a key export hub for its Pixel range of smartphones for markets in Europe and the United States, it was reported. Owing to this, Google will soon start commercial production through Foxconn and Dixon subsidiary Padget Electronics, Moneycontrol reported citing people in the know. The Google logo is seen on the Google house(Reuters)

The tech giant has already launched trial production in Tamil Nadu with Foxconn, also a major maker of Apple devices, the report claimed.

Google is a large brand, which Dixon will add to its customer list in the second half of the year through its partnership with Compal. They will share the production with Foxconn, a source told Moneycontrol. The report also claimed that the base variant would be made by home-grown Dixon Technologies while Foxconn would be responsible for Pro variants.

Google will make a formal announcement in H2... they are committed to India. The initial plan is to serve Europe and going forward Google will address demand in the US with India-made Pixel smartphones, it added.

Commercial production would start in September and the export would begin once the production stabilises, the report claimed, adding, Since demand for Pixel smartphones is very low in India, Google plans to export most of the locally produced devices from Foxconn and Dixon facilities leveraging the PLI benefits."
NPCI International Payments Ltd in partnership with Network International (Network), a leading enabler of digital commerce across the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, has enabled QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments through the latter's point-of-sale terminals in the UAE. UPI in UAE: This initiative ensures seamless and secure transactions for Indian tourists and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

This initiative ensures seamless and secure transactions for Indian tourists and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) across Network Internationals vast merchant network in the UAE, NPCI International said in a statement.

Network has over 200,000 POS terminals across over 60,000 merchants in sectors including retail, hospitality, transport, and supermarkets among others, it said.

UPI acceptance will be rolled out progressively, covering a wide range of establishments from retail stores and dining outlets, as well as tourist and leisure attractions including Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, it said.

By enabling UPI acceptance through its POS terminals, Network will provide a QR-based safe and secure method for facilitating cross-border payments, it said.

This will allow Indian tourists and NRIs with Indian bank accounts to use UPI for payments across Networks POS terminals in the UAE, it added.
The government and the telecom regulator will not interfere or stop telecom companies from increasing prices, officials in the know told Economic Times. The tariffs in India are still among the cheapest in the world and authorities want the companies to ramp up their focus on quality of services, the officials said as per the report. Mobile sim card packets for Jio Platforms Ltd., a unit of Reliance Industries Ltd., in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, April 20, 2024.(Bloomberg)

"There is enough competition in the telecom sector and the situation is not critical that requires intervention of the authorities. Consumers may feel some pinch of the price rise, but the hike has happened after three years," one of the officials told ET.

This week, India's three private telecom companies raised mobile tariffs by 11-25%. This is likely to help the companies in spending on telecom services in urban India to 2.8% of household expenditures in fiscal 2025 from 2.7% in FY24. For rural households, it would go up to 4.7% from 4.5% but officials have called the increase "moderate".

Axis Capital said in a note, The analysis shows that the 13% (average) increase in tariff is moderate, and unlikely to have much of an impact on household expenditure. It also shows that even Jio's higher increase in tariffs and 5G monetisation are likely to be well absorbed by consumers.

Meanwhile, a senior official in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) said as per the report, There is a policy of forbearance in telecom tariffs and telcos are free to fix the tariffs. But they have to provide a good quality of service to consumers.
In a shocking incident, a 22-year-old student in Bengaluru allegedly killed the security guard of his college for not allowing him inside the campus during the college. The incident happened on Tuesday, and in the CCTV footage that went viral on social media, the student was seen stabbing the security guard. Bengaluru college student stabs security guard for not allowing inside campus

Also Read -On camera, middle-aged man's bag snatched in Bengaluru's Silk board junction during broad daylight

According to reports, the accused is identified as Bhargav Jyoti Bhumran, a third-year BA student from Sindhi College in Kempapura. Bhumran participated in the college fest and wanted to step out of college at noon. A staffer warned him that he would not be allowed to come back to the campus for the day if he ventured out. However, Bhumran left the college, and when he tried to return to the campus at 12:30 PM, the security guard intercepted him and did not allow him to enter the college.

The accused returned at 2:30 pm and started arguing with the security guard. He then flashed the knife that he bought and started stabbing on the chest of the security guard multiple times and fled the scene. Though the injured was rushed to the hospital immediately, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, a senior police officer said, We suspect that the accused was intoxicated when he committed the crime. We arrested the accused and we are investigating in all possible angles. Officers are also investigating the background of the accused.

Bhumran is a native of Assam and came to Bengaluru to study.
Bhopal: Five children of the Yugpurush Dham Baudhik Vikas Kendra, the shelter home for the special children in Madhya Pradeshs Indore, died of cholera after allegedly consuming contaminated water, officials aware of the incident said on Thursday. (Representative Photo)

In the test report, cholera has been confirmed and delayed diagnosis led to the deaths as the infection went out of control, said Dr Preeti Malpani of Chacha Nehru Government Hospital, where 52 children are still admitted and undergoing treatment. Six children are stated to be serious and are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), she added.

After the incident came to light on Wednesday, a probe committee found that as many as six children died between Sunday and Tuesday, of which four died in the shelter home itself.

Speaking to media persons, a district administration official who is part of the probe committee said that the children had complained of diarrhoea and dehydration on June 27 to the doctor at the shelter home, but the administration did not take it seriously.

After four deaths, the children were rushed to the hospital. The ashram (shelter home) administration did not inform the district officials on time and tried to treat children at the ashram only, the official added.

Officials said that an inspection of the shelter home was carried out after the incident came to light and the probe team found the water contaminated. There was also no proper hygiene in the kitchen and the availability of lids to cover cooked food.

Also Read: Gujarat: Jamnagar reports 7 cholera cases, restrictions imposed

During the inspection, it was also found that the ashram, which is registered to give shelter to 100 children, was sheltering more than 200 children, said another official.

An action has been recommended against the ashram and its administration for negligence, said officials.

After the probe committee report, district collector Asheesh Singh served a show cause notice to the ashram to reply in three days.

The ashram was found overcrowded as it is the only ashram in MP. We are writing to the state government to open more shelters like this. We are also shifting extra children to other places. The ashram administrations intention was not found malicious but careless, so action will be taken against them, said Indore divisional commissioner Deepak Kumar Singh.

As the cholera outbreak is a serious issue, we have asked the public health engineering and health department to check the water sources of all the shelters and hostels of the Indore division, Singh added.
Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been granted temporary release for up to four days or less, will be brought from the high-security Central Jail at Dibrugarh in Assam to Parliament in New Delhi on Friday to take oath as the member representing Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab. Detained under the National Security Act (NSA), he will be escorted back to the jail on Friday itself after he takes oath as a member of Parliament, senior Punjab Police officials said on Thursday. Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA) at Dibrugarh jail in Assam along with nine of his accomplices since April last year. (HT file photo)

According to the Amritsar district magistrate Ghanshyam Thoris orders to the jail superintendent at Dibrugarh, This temporary release is for a period of up to four days or less for the limited purpose of enabling him (Amritpal) to take oath as a member of the Lok Sabha in New Delhi.

The temporary release of the Waris Punjab De chief, who is jailed along with nine accomplices under the NSA, is subject to 10 conditions. He shall be accompanied by such number of police personnel as is deemed appropriate by the senior superintendent of police, Amritsar (rural), from the date and time of his temporary release from Central Jail, Dibrugarh, till the time he returns to the jail for the continuation of his period of detention, the order issued on Wednesday said.

For the time period when Amritpal is present within the precincts of Parliament, he shall be accompanied by such number of police personnel, or other security personnel, as permitted by the secretary general, Lok Sabha, the order said, clarifying that Amritpal shall not enter the territorial jurisdiction of any place other than New Delhi during the period of the temporary release.

The period of temporary release shall include the time taken for the journey from the Central Jail, Dibrugarh, to New Delhi and back. For the period, when Amritpal is not required in the precincts of Parliament, he shall be housed at such a place in New Delhi as is deemed appropriate, the orders said.

The relatives of Amritpal, as defined under Section 2(c) of the Punjab Detenue (Condition of Detention) Order, 1981, shall be allowed to meet him during the period he is housed in Delhi.

Amritpal Singh shall refrain from doing any action or making any statement that is prejudicial to national security. He or any of his relative shall not be permitted to videograph any statement of Amritpal Singh and/or circulate any such statement in any electronic form, the directions read.

The expenses incurred on the travel and board and lodging, including local travel in Delhi, of Amritpal shall be charged to the departmental budget available with the Punjab director general of police.

The Amritsar (rural) senior superintendent of police shall co-ordinate with the secretary general, Lok Sabha, for the smooth compliance of the conditions for the temporary release of Amritpal under Section 15 of the National Security Act, 1980.

Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, an Independent MP from Faridkot, said: I understand that Amritpal will be flown in from the prison for taking oath, which will be in the private chamber of the Speaker.

Having fought the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as an independent, Amritpal defeated Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by 1.97 lakh votes to win the Khadoor Sahib seat. Amritpal Singh, who styled himself after slain radical Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Mogas Rode village on April 23 last year following an over month-long manhunt. The Khalistan sympathiser had escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

The Punjab Police had launched the crackdown after the February 23 Ajnala incident last year in which Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of Lovepreet Singh Toofan, one of his aides. He and his associates were booked for several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.
National Conferences two-day working committee meeting is underway in Srinagar to chalk out a strategy for the assembly elections, which could be held in September or October this year. Former Jammu and Kashmir CM and NC president Farooq Abdullah presided over the meeting. (HT FIle)

The session is being headed by former chief minister (CM) and party president Farooq Abdullah with all senior leaders including Omar Abdullah being in attendance.

The working committee meeting is currently in session and will continue over the next two days. During this time, core competencies and future courses of action will be discussed and put into perspective, party chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said, adding that the working committee meeting will continue for another day.

The present political situation, discussion on strengthening the organisation and the assembly elections were discussed by party leaders, he said.

Party leaders, sources said, will be holding threshold discussion on the assembly polls which are likely to be held in September or October. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, NC performed well and bagged two seats with a good margin. However, the party lost the prestigious Baramulla seat where vice-president Omar Abdullah was contesting.

The party was hopeful of winning all three seats in Kashmir as part of the Opposition INDIA bloc. However, now leaders say the party discussed strategy of how it could win the maximum number of seats in Jammu and Kashmir if elections are held in September.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Election Commission of India and the Centre to conduct polls by September. The ECI is currently conducting fresh revision of electoral rolls in all 20 districts of the UT. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar had said preparations for assembly polls had begun in the UT.

Apart from NC, other political parties are also busy in consultations for assembly polls.
Shira Stein is the San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent, covering California's role in national politics and policy from the nation's capital. She writes about issues that matter to California residents  like housing, abortion and LGBTQ rights  and California's influence on Congress and the White House. She was the primary chronicler of the last year of Sen. Dianne Feinstein's life, including her health, familial financial feud, and death.

Shira was born and raised in the Bay Area and now lives in Washington, D.C. She joined the Chronicle in 2022 after spending four years as an award-winning health care reporter for Bloomberg Law, where she was key in its coverage of the Covid-19, the fall of Roe v. Wade and health costs. She is a graduate of American University and interned at the Washington Post, Bloomberg Law and the Colorado-based Durango Herald.
Jaipur: Rajasthan agriculture minister Kirodi Lal Meena, who vowed to step down from the state cabinet if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost any of the seven Lok Sabha seats under his charge in the national elections, resigned from the cabinet on Wednesday evening. Rajasthan agriculture minister Kirodi Lal Meena resigned on Wednesday (Twitter/@DrKirodilalBJP)

Meena told reporters that he sent his resignation letter to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Wednesday evening. I am worried about my weakened influence in my areas. Hence, I have resigned from the post, the BJP leader said, referring to the BJP losing four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in eastern Rajasthan under his charge.

The minister added that he had met the chief minister after the Lok Sabha results were declared. The CM said that he would not accept the resignation. But I had to keep my word to the public. Therefore, I hadnt attended cabinet meetings and stopped using the official car and bungalow.

On Wednesday, a statement by the chief ministers office said state minister K K Bishnoi has been given additional charge of the agriculture department and minister Otaram Dewasi has been given rural development and panchayati raj departments following Meenas resignation.

Meena, a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Dausa and six-time MLA, was a Rajya Sabha member last year when the party decided to field him from the Sawai-Madhopur assembly seat to improve its prospects in eastern Rajasthan. In January, he was inducted as cabinet minister in the BJP government led by Sharma, a first-time MLA.

During campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections, Meena declared that he would step down from the state cabinet if the BJP loses from the Dausa Lok Sabha that he previously represented. On June 3, the BJP leader told reporters hours before the counting of votes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given him a list of seven seats to oversee during his visit to Dausa. I worked hard on 11 seats, but more on 7. If the party loses even one of these seven seats, I will resign from the post of minister, he said.

Among the four seats that the BJP lost in the eastern Rajasthan belt was Dausa where the Murari Lal Meena of the Congress defeated the BJP candidate Kanhaiya Lal Meena by a margin of more than 237,000 votes. The BJP also lost Bharatpur, Dholpur Karauli and Tonk-Sawaimadhopur Lok Sabha seats and won Jaipur Rural, Alwar, Jhalawar seats.

Meenas resignation is a result of BJPs autocratic- approach towards their own public representatives during elections. Despite being a senior leader and two-time MP, the BJP central leadership has always ignored his voice and opinions in the CM selection process and formation of the government. They finished the voices of all such senior leaders and legislators of their party, Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra said on the development.
Kolakata: The Calcutta high court said on Thursday that it will hear the defamation suit filed by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against chief minister Mamata Banerjee on July 10. (Representative Photo)

Justice Krishna Rao told deputy solicitor general Dhiraj Trivedi, who appeared for the governor, to make media organisations referred to in the suit parties in the case before the hearing begins, said lawyers present at the court on Thursday.

Bose filed the suit against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she said before the media that several women had told her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhawan. Women have informed me they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there, the chief minister had said.

Bose had criticised Banerjee for her remarks, saying it was expected of public representatives not to create erroneous and slanderous impressions.

Banerjees remarks were a reference to an allegation of molestation made against Bose on May 2 by a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan. The Kolkata Police is probing the issue.

During Thursdays hearing, Justice Rao, observing that the defamation suit was filed on the basis of media reports, pointed out that the publications had not been made parties in the case and adjourned the hearing till July 10.

A woman contractual employee working at the Raj Bhawan had lodged a written complaint at the local Hare Street police station on May 2, alleging that she was molested by the governor on two separate occasions  on May 2 and March 24  who summoned her to his chamber on the pretext of offering her a permanent job.

The allegation triggered a political row, which continues. The governor denied the charge in a statement issued on May 2.

On May 6, after returning from a short trip to Kerala, his home state, Bose called the allegation a political conspiracy.

The May 2 police complaint was lodged five days before the third phase of Lok Sabha polls in Bengal and hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Raj Bhawan to spend the night during a campaign tour.

According to Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be initiated against the President and the governor of a state as long as they are in office.

In view of this immunity granted to the governor, Kolkata police have not registered a case against Bose. However, the police questioned some Raj Bhawan employees and collected security camera footage.
The Hathras police on Thursday arrested six members of the organising committee, including two women sevadars (volunteers), in connection with the satsang stampede that claimed 121 lives on July 2, officials said. Officials at a press conference in Hathras after the arrests. (PTI PHOTO)

A search is on for the main accused Dev Prakash Madhukar named in the FIR lodged in the case, the police added. A reward of 1 lakh has been declared on him. Madhukar is said to be a key aide of the self-styled preacher Bhole Baba after whose satsang the stampede took place.

The arrests come a day after chief minister Yogi Adityanaths visit to Hathras.

Police also said no clean chit has been given to anyone and all those whose names surface during the investigation, including self-styled preacher Bhole Baba, will be questioned, if necessary.

Six, including two women sevadars (volunteers) from the organising committee, have been arrested and a search is on for the main accused in (connection with the) FIR lodged, inspector general of police, Aligarh range, Shalabh Mathur said during a press conference in Hathras.

The incharge of the Samagam (satsang) Dev Prakash Madhukar (Engineer), in whose name permission was sought for the satsang, is absconding after being named in FIR by Hathras police. A reward of 1 lakh has been declared on his arrest and NBW (non-bailable warrant) issued. Teams are searching for him, Mathur said.

The six arrested on Thursday by Sikandra Rau police of Hathras include Ram Ladete (50) from Mainpuri, Upendra Singh Yadav (62) from Firozabad, Megh Singh (61) from Hathras, Manju Yadav (30) from Hathras, Mukesh Kumar (38) from Hathras and Manju Devi (40) from Hathras.

On interrogation, it was learnt that these arrested are members of organising committee and work as sevadars (volunteers) and were involved in gathering of crowd, collection of donations, barricading, crowd management, electricity arrangements at venue, parking of vehicles and cleanliness. They were given uniform by organisers. These sevadar gave out that they did not allow police and administration to have photo and video of event and even misbehaved when questioned, Mathur said.

Replying to question on Bhole Baba, IG stated that investigation is on and whosoever is found involved during the course of investigation shall be interrogated and action will be taken accordingly.

But for now Bhole Baba has not been named in the FIR because permission for the satsang at Hathras was not sought in his name but in the name of absconding main accused Dev Prakash Madhukar. He is named in FIR but is absconding, Mathur said.

On repeated questions about Bhole Baba, the IG Aligarh stated that police were tracing the past record of Bhole Baba and found that he had taken VRS while he was posted as constable in Agra in the 1990s.

Police records reveal that a case was registered against the Baba at Shahganj police station of Agra. He was later acquitted. We are actively (looking for) any other FIR registered against Bhole Baba in (any) other part of the country,  he said.

On the question of negligence by police and lack of arrangements by the district administration, Mathur said no clean chit is given to anyone and all these aspects will be inquired into by the judicial commission.

Police are also investigating if there was any conspiracy angle behind the incident, he said.

Mathur alleged that the organisers of the satsang kept the arrangements in their own hands and did not allow the police to handle it.

Nevertheless, the required police, PAC, fire brigade and traffic police personnel were present near the location of the satsang on Tuesday, he said.

Those arrested said that followers believe that charan raj (soil from under feet of Baba) is much revered and believed to relieve all problems. These sevadars run with convoy of Baba and, on Tuesday, had attempted to keep away the followers from Baba. But once the Baba moved away, the followers ran for charan raj and fell over each other. These sevadars moved away as the situation worsened, Mathur said.

The sevadars and organisers were found to be negligent while dealing with the crowd after the satsang ended. When things got out of hand, they absconded, the IG said.

He said 121 were killed during the stampede.

The dead included two men, 112 women, six children and one infant. All 121 have been identified and include 19 from Hathras, 18 from Agra, 17 from Aligarh, 10 from Etah, six from Badaun, 11 from Mathura, five each from Shahjahanpur and Bulandshahr, 10 from Kasganj, four from Faridabad, two each from Auraiya, Pilibhit and Sambhal, one each from Lalitpur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Firozabad, Lakhimpur, Unnao, Ghaziabad, Gwalior, Morena, Palwal and Deeg, he said.

The Prime Ministers Office has declared compensation of 2 lakh to next of kin of each deceased and the same amount of 2 lakh has been declared by the U.P. govt. A judicial inquiry has been ordered.

The FIR was lodged on July 2 under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence).

The Hathras SP has transferred the investigation to Ram Pravesh Rai, the circle officer (City) ,and will be assisted by Hathras Kotwali police station incharge Vijay Kumar Singh.

Besides, a Special Operation Group has been constituted by ADG Agra Zone to inquire into the role of those linked to satsang, sevadars and office bearers of the organising committee.

The SOG will work under the direction of additional ADG, Agra Zone.

The forensic team and field unit have gathered evidence from spot, said IG.
Bridges that have completed 50 years of age and are found unsafe during an inspection, should be closed to traffic, chief minister Yogi Adityanath told officials on Thursday. This inspection is to be carried out by PWD officials UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath chairing a review meeting of the PWD in Lucknow on Thursday (HT Photo)

Chairing a review meeting of ongoing projects at UP PWD, the chief minister said, Bridges that have completed 50 years should be tested for superstructure / pier, water ways, scour wall, embedment and bolder. If any of such a bridge is found unsafe it should be closed for transport. Also inform the local administration.

He directed officials not to make any compromises with the quality and timeline of the work. He also demanded that a fresh proposal be made for widening of roads keeping in view the need and comfort of common people.

Kawar routes should be made pothole-free. This work should be completed by July 15 and pockets that suffer water-logging should be provided with a water outlet, said the CM.
An FIR has been registered at Sikandra Rau police station in Hathras district against Devprakash Madhukar, mukhya sevadar, and other organisers of the Satsang, in connection with the death of 121 people in a stampede at a Fulrai village in Hathras district on Tuesday. However, there is no mention of Bhole Baba in the FIR. Bags and other belongings lying at the scene a day after a massive stampede that took place during a 'satsang' (religious congregation), in Sikandara Rao area in Hathras district on Wednesday. (PTI)

The case has been registered under Sections 105, 110, 126(2), 223, and 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Bhole Baba, the self-styled spiritual leader, seems to be eluding law enforcement agencies as he has yet to be traced. There were reports that since Tuesday night Bhole Baba had moved to his ashram on the outskirts of Mainpuri city, but the police were non-committal despite enhanced security outside the ashram, where the movement of vehicles continued on Wednesday.

Police officials deployed near the ashram in Mainpuri ruled out the presence of Bhole Baba, also known as Suraj Pal, in the ashram and stated that security was enhanced for the safety of Bhole Babas followers inside the ashram in the wake of Tuesdays incident.

The FIR blames the organisers for concealing the fact that the number of attendees at the satsang would be in the lakhs. The FIR alleges that contrary to the expected number of 80,000 as claimed by the organisers, there was a gathering of about 2.5 lakh followers at the satsang organised at Fulrai village on Tuesday. This large gathering led to a traffic jam on the national highway alongside which the spiritual congregation was held before ending at 2 pm.

The FIR further states that at about 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the convoy of vehicles of Bhole Baba moved out of the venue after which the followers went into a mad rush to get the raj or sand from the land over which Bhole Babas car had moved. As chaos prevailed at the venue, a stampede took place at the end of the satsang.

The FIR also mentions that sevadar and others from the organizing committee, armed with sticks, stopped followers, adding to the trouble. The FIR blames the organisers for being non-cooperative, using force to prevent followers from moving away, and attempting to destroy evidence by throwing away the slippers and other belongings of followers that were spread all over.

Additional superintendent of police (ASP), Hathras, Ashok Kumar Singh, said that the complaint was against the organisers, and the head sevadar had been named because he sought the permission but misled about the number of attendees. Investigation is underway, and whoever is found responsible shall be named, he said.

Baba often quotes Kabir Das in his sermons

A journalist who was present at the satsang of Bhole Baba in Agra recollects that Baba often quotes Kabir Das, a revolutionary poet who targeted differences in society.

Bhole Baba talks about family values and asks his followers to serve the elders in the family. He specifically asks daughters-in-law to serve their mothers-in-law, said a veteran journalist in Agra. The journalist also recollects that Baba was temperamental and fond of scolding followers attending the satsang.

Hathras stampede: Chest injuries, asphyxia among causes of death, autopsy report reveals

The followers make their arrangements on their own and expect nothing from Baba, never complaining about the lack of facilities at the satsang site. He has his own force of volunteers who clear the route half an hour in advance whenever Baba is to arrive, the journalist added.

His followers consider his visit to their newly built house equivalent to a grah pravesh ceremony, which is otherwise organized by others when purchasing or building a house.

Munni Devi (50), a follower of Baba for the last 15 years, says that Baba teaches family values and has magical powers.

Five members of my family, including my two daughters-in-law, were having a tough time and used to fall ill repeatedly. I took all five to the ashram of Bhole Baba, but he was not present there. Yet, merely praying to Babas portrait, all five family members of mine got well. Since then, our whole family regularly attends the satsang, stated Munni Devi, who is strictly against any action against Bhole Baba. She is confident that baba will return to bless them.
Priests of the Ayodhya Ram temple are now attired in traditional yellow clothes from those of saffron earlier. Also, taking phones to the temple has been banned for priests as well. Priests now sport a dhoti, chaubandi and turban, all of which are yellow. Earlier, they wore saffron kurta, turban and dhoti. (Sourced)

Along with other instructions, the temple trust has issued a new dress code for the priests as per which they now sport a dhoti, chaubandi and turban, all of which are yellow. Earlier, they wore saffron kurta, turban and dhoti.

The turban is made of cotton, and the priests were given training to how to sport them properly. The chaubandi, a kurta-like cloth, has a rope, not buttons, to hold it in place. The dhoti sported by the priests cover their legs till the ankles.

Read Here: Roof of Ram Temple in Ayodhya leaks during rainfall, chief priest urges attention

Temple sources said the move to ban priests from carrying their phones to the temples was as part of security measures. It was taken after recent pictures of the temple were leaked online, they said.

In the temple, the chief priest is assisted by four assistant priests. The trust has decided to assign five trainee priests to each assistant priest. The priests will offer their services from 3.30 am to 11 pm. Each team of priests must provide five hours of service, the trust said.
As a large number of citizens and expecting mothers avail treatment at private facilities, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to team up with them to counter the Zika virus threat. As per officials, on Thursday, 16 samples of suspected patients were sent to NIV for testing for the virus infection. Out of these 16 samples, 9 samples are of pregnant women from the Mundhwa area and three from the Kothrud area. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

Till July 4, Pune city has reported seven Zika virus cases, the highest in the state, including two pregnant women.

Prithviraj BP, additional municipal commissioner of PMC, held a meeting with the health department on Saturday. The health officials have been directed to conduct a meeting with all private hospitals, private doctors, practising obstetricians and gynaecologists to step up testing and surveillance for the Zika virus.

Dr Kalpana Baliwant, health officer of PMC, said, as per the directions of the additional municipal commissioner, a meeting will be held on Monday with all big private hospitals, general practitioners, Indian Medical Association and Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI).

All big hospitals will be asked to direct their obstetricians and gynaecologists to monitor the pregnant women visiting their hospitals. The samples of suspected pregnant women should be sent for testing Zika virus infection to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune, she said.

As per officials, on Thursday, 16 samples of suspected patients were sent to NIV for testing for the virus infection. Out of these 16 samples, 9 samples are of pregnant women from the Mundhwa area and three from the Kothrud area. The reports of 13 samples sent to NIV on Wednesday are awaited, they said.

The fever patients should be closely monitored and suspected patients should be tested for the virus infection. Also, they will be requested to report us Zika-positive patients on priority, said Dr Baliwant.

PMC has received reports of three patients who have tested positive for Zika Virus infection as per reports of a private laboratory. Out of these three cases, two cases were reported on Thursday which includea 68-year-old male from Kothrud and a 65-year-old male from Saswad. A 62-year-old woman from Prabhat Road tested positive as per private lab reports on July 1.

Dr Rajesh Dighe, assistant health officer of PMC, informed the focus is currently on pregnant women. The Zika-positive cases from private laboratories are considered as suspected cases. The containment activities and surveillance have been started in these areas even though the cases are considered suspected cases. The details of the 65-year-old patient from Saswad have been sent to the district health office as it is outside PMC limits, he said.

As per officials, the Zika virus can be transmitted by mosquito bites, sexual contact, mother-to-fetus during pregnancy, blood transfusion and organ donation. Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause microcephaly and other congenital malformations in the infant, including limb contractures, high muscle tone, eye abnormalities and hearing loss. These clinical features are collectively referred to as congenital Zika syndrome. It can also cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome in the fetus.

Dr Nagnath Yempalay, district civil surgeon, stated that the public health department has issued a high alert for the entire district following reported cases of Zika Virus in Pune city.

I have issued orders to officials at Aundh District Hospital, 24 rural hospitals, 5 sub-district hospitals, and one womens hospital to monitor fever patients and pregnant women. Samples from all suspected patients will be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV). Also, ten beds have been kept reserved for Zika patients at the district hospital, he said.
A new state-run medical college will start on the premises of Gokuldas Tejpal (GT) Hospital in south Mumbai from the academic year 2024-25, Maharashtra Medical Education Minister Hasan Mushrif told the legislative assembly on Thursday. The decision to start the medical college was taken on January 31, 2012. The Indian Council of Medical Research has permitted to start the facility, he said.

He said the medical college will be affiliated with GT, and Cama and Albless hospitals.

The decision to start the medical college was taken on January 31, 2012. The Indian Council of Medical Research has permitted to start the facility, he said.

The college will start with 50 students and the intake of students will be gradually increased, the minister said.

Also Read: ICSI CSEET on July 6, second mock test today on icsi.edu
Rajasthan PTET Result 2024 Live Updates: Vardhaman Mahavir Open University Kota declared the Rajasthan Pre-Teacher Education Entrance Test (PTET 2024) result. Candidates who have appeared for the exam and wish to check their results can visit the official website at ptetvmou2024.com. The entrance exam took place on June 9 and both provisional and final answer keys have been released....Read More

After the provisional answer key, candidates were asked to send objections from June 17 to 19 on payment of 100 per question. Candidates were asked to send required proof along with the objections.

Direct Link to check PTET- 2 Year Course (B.Ed.) Result 2024

Direct Link to check PTET Integrated Results

Rajasthan PTET result 2024: How to check

Go to the exam website at ptetvmou2024.com.

Open the PTET result link for the 2-year or 4-year course, as required

Enter the login details and submit it.

Check and download the result.

The PTET exam is held for admission to four-year BA-BEd, four-year BSc-BEd and two-year BEd courses offered by participating institutions of the state.

For any help, the candidates can contact the university via email at ptet2024@vmou.ac.in or call at 0744-2471156, 6367026526.

Check the latest updates on Rajasthan PTET results below.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Thursday said she has directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to immediately withdraw transfer orders for 5,000 teachers that were issued without her directions. Delhi Education Minister Atishi has called for the immediate withdrawal of transfer orders of 5000 teachers. She also said there may been corruption in the matter. (HT file image)

A circular titled 'Online requests for transfer of teaching staff of the Directorate of Education' directed all teachers who have served for more than 10 years in one school to compulsorily apply for a transfer.

Also read: New medical college to start in Mumbai: Medical Education Minister Mushrif

Failing which they will be transferred to any school by the DoE, according to the circular issued by the DoE on June 11.

The minister had ordered on July 1 that no teacher should be transferred solely because they have spent more than 10 years in a particular school.

Also read: Delhi University releases academic calendar for 2024-25, check full schedule and important details here

Addressing a press conference, Atishi said she has learnt that there has been corruption in the matter.

"Contrary to my orders, a transfer order was issued on July 2 transferring nearly 5,000 teachers. I have directed the chief secretary to withdraw this order. I have also asked him to conduct an inquiry if there has been any corruption or malpractice," she said.

Also read: UPSC CSE Mains 2024: Check out the syllabus for PSIR as optional subject, details inside
A manmade creek is seen among blooming flowers and grassy knolls at Levis Plaza in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle A red dragonfly flutters over a manmade creek at Levis Plaza in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

San Franciscos Embarcadero has no shortage of crowd-pleasing attractions, from Pier 39 on the north to the Giants ballpark down south. In some ways, though, the spot I treasure most is a nook that passers-by can easily miss: Levis Plaza.

Specifically, the curving half-block space due west of Pier 19 with its tumble of hills and waterways and gnarled-trunk trees folding together with an idyllic ease thats also, somehow, distinctly urban in the most timeless of ways.

Water runs down steps into an artificial creek at Levis Plaza in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki

What feels like a sylvan remnant of nature is less than 45 years old. The design was inspired by the Gold Country, part of a 9.4-acre compound developed for a company that had net revenues last year of $6.2 billion.

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All of which is irrelevant to the sensations of the moment  the sense of being transported to an Edenic refuge where mounds of white and blue agapanthus rise along a rippling creek amid granite slabs. You can bask in the sun on the lawn, or savor the lazy scene from a shaded wooden bench. Dragonflies skim the water, and if you sit on one of the folding chairs near the meadows edge, a black phoebe might touch down nearby.

People dine and work at tables in Levis Plaza, a park west of the Embarcardero in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

No other spot near downtown San Franciscos core offers such an antidote to the grind of modern life. And it just gets better with age, like all great landscapes do.

Ive sung the parks praises before, but the Embarcadero has become so much more popular during the past decade that a fresh plug is overdue. Otherwise, visitors can easily miss the painterly realm on the inland side of a promenade where the open bay has a magnetic pull  especially since the design includes a conscious effort to screen off the tranquil space from the roadway to the east.

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That design is by Lawrence Halprin, a landscape architect who practiced his craft in San Francisco for more than 50 years while establishing national renown for grandly scaled spaces including Seattles Freeway Park and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.

This ones more intimate, and with a bucolic vibe far removed from Halprins earlier, more bombastic remake of Market Street that coincided with the construction of BART. Look no further than the fountains in each: where Vaillancourt Fountain near the foot of Market Street looks like a heap of entangled and rectangular concrete piping, the meadow at Levis Plaza is accompanied by water rushing emphatically from a simple stack of granite blocks tucked into a shady alcove amid trees.

The water hits the ground and slides beneath a walkway, emerging as a granite-lined stream that snakes along the craggy eastern rim of the meadow  even looping to form a small island before disappearing from sight.

Underneath all the scenographic romance, you can appreciate Halprins response to what, then, were harsh surroundings. The interlaced melaleuca trees that curve in tandem with the Embarcadero roadway block the view of what then was a busy artery with abandoned freight rail lines on one side and decrepit piers on the other. Near Battery Street theres screening as well, in the form of grassy hillocks adorned with a statuesque pine that serves as a counterpoint of sorts to Transamerica Pyramid on the horizon, seven blocks to the south.

The clamor of the fountain serves as another filter, distracting from the roadway noise and serving as part of the larger composition: Not to copy nature, Halprin said in a 2003 interview for the Cultural Landscape Foundation, but the way the water runs, the sound  theres a musical quality.

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Charles Birnbaum, the foundations president, calls Levis Plaza a bit of an anomaly in Halprins work because of the picturesque quality, but also one of the great Halprin projects.

Parkgoers walk across stone steps in a manmade creek at Levis Plaza in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Another thing he appreciates is how well it has been maintained by Levi Strauss & Co. and the current owner, Jamestown Properties: Of all the Halprin-designed public landscapes in the Bay Area, Levis remains the truest to Halprins original design intent.

This is where we get to the urban aspect of this too-good-to-be-true romantic evocation of the Sierra foothills.

Levis Plaza opened in 1982 and was developed by Gerson Bakar, with terraced red-brick buildings pulling back from the central public spaces. One is a formal paved plaza between Battery and Sansome streets, dominated by a fountain where the water spills down from a single stunning chunk of pink carnelian granite. On the east side of Battery is the park, entered through a smaller plaza that serves as a forecourt to the naturalistic meadow.

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Bakar developed the gracious compound specifically for Levi Strauss, luring the biggest name in denim jeans from the Financial District both convenient and cozy. (Historical note: This was a decade when other corporate giants were moving to the suburbs en masse). Halprins indulgence was to craft the park as a homage to Levis supposed Gold Rush roots with a simple merchant serving the needs of plucky prospectors.

Anthony Adani walks his dog, Elaine, on a hill at Levis Plaza in San Francisco. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Mr. Levi went up there and found that they were wearing out their pants sitting on the granite, Halprin said in the 2003 interview. Since this was Levis headquarters we decided to do all the (design) things  from the high Sierra.

The origin story is as embroidered as a pair of 1970s jeans  Levi Strauss was a wholesale merchant in San Francisco who sailed here from New York in 1853. Those legendary riveted pants date only to the 1870s and were conceived by Jacob Davis, a tailor, who approached Levi Strauss because the wholesaler had the resources to scale up.

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Thats how origin stories are in modern society. Myths take on lives of their own.

At its core, Levis Plaza is a corporate office park that employed a high-profile designer to add an attention-getting private amenity (including signs that list such prohibitions as no BBQing or grills). Capitalism fuels investment. The magic of Levis Plaza is the spark that flares up with the right mix of elements  in this case, the right client and designer and developer at a moment in San Francisco when people sought something besides monolithic modern towers.

A variety of trees are seen throughout Levis Plaza in San Francisco. The parks design took inspiration from the forested setting of the Gold Rush. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

More than 40 years have passed, and even if Levis Plaza looks pretty much the same, much else has changed. The Embarcadero is a major destination. Food trucks pull up in the western plaza at lunchtime. Theres a bike-share station next to the park on Battery Street, which now features a dedicated bike lane.
The University of Delhi has released the 2024-25 academic calendar for postgraduate, B.Tech, and five-year integrated programmes in LLB (BA LLB (Honours), and BBA LLB (Honours) for Semester 1 and Semester 2. Delhi University releases academic calendar for 2024-25.

According to the schedule, classes are set to begin on August 1, 2024.

Check out the schedule below:

SESSION 1:

Classes begin from August 1, 2024.

Mid Semester Break: October 27 to November 3, 2024.

Classes after mid-semester break: November 4, 2024.

Dispersal of classes, preparation leave, and practical exams: November 28, 2024.

Theory examination from: December 10, 2024.

Winter break: December 29, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

Also read: UPSC CSE Mains 2024: Check out the syllabus for PSIR as optional subject, details inside

SESSION 2:

Classes begin from: January 2, 2025.

Mid Semester break: March 9 to March 16, 2025.

Classes after mid-semester break: March 17, 2025.

Dispersal of classes, preparation leave, and practical exams: April 30, 2025.

Theory examination from: May 13, 2025.

Summer break: June 1 to July 20, 2025.

Also read: TS DOST 2024 Phase 3 registration deadline extended till 5 PM today, direct link to submit applications here

Current summer vacation extended

It may be mentioned here that the university has extended the summer vacation for existing students till July 31, 2024.

The university said in a notice, In order to give effect to the above-mentioned Academic Calendar for the Academic Session 2024-25, the summer vacation notified in the existing Academic Calendar for the Postgraduate Programmes for the academic session 2023-24 has been extended from July 22, 2024, to July 31, 2024.

Also read: JoSAA 2024 round 3 allotment result releasing at 5 pm on josaa.nic.in, how to check and important dates

How to check Delhi University Academic Calendar for the 2024-25 session:
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is expected to return to Indian cinema with a rom-com, which also stars Vaani Kapoor. Aarti Bagdi has come on board to direct the project, which will be shot entirely in the UK. (Also Read | Barzakh trailer: Fawad Khan, Sanam Saeed headline series about love and ghosts of the past. Watch) Fawad Khan was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

"Fawad Khan has a massive international pull given his popularity amongst South Asians worldwide. He has also been a part of the Marvel cinematic universe. Details of this project are being kept under wraps and everyone is tight-lipped about it. The producers will announce this project just before it starts its filming schedule in the UK," a trade source was quoted as saying.

The rom-com will tell the story of how two broken people come together by a stroke of luck and end up helping each other and ultimately falling in love. The yet-to-be-titled film is Eastwood Studios' first international collaboration.

This update has left Fawad Khan's in India extremely excited. Fawad last starred in a Hindi-language film eight years ago. He has acted in Indian films such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Kapoor and Sons and Khoobsurat.

Fawad was last seen in 2016s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, directed by Karan Johar. The film also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai.
Sean Diddy Combs finds himself embroiled in controversy once again, as new allegations have surfaced accusing him of being involved in sex trafficking. Sean Diddy Combs' backup dancer has said the allegations are not surprising (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo)

Former porn star Adria English has filed a lawsuit detailing her harrowing experiences, alleging that she was coerced into engaging in sexual acts with attendees at Diddys parties, where she was asked to flirt with guests and drink alcohol.

The court docu states, Plaintiff was coerced by Defendant Combs into consuming copious amounts of, allegedly laced, alcohol prior to being coerced and forced into having sexual intercourse with Defendant Jacob.

The court document showcased by the Daily Mail suggests English first met Diddy around 2004, when her then-boyfriend was auditioning for a modelling gig with Diddy's clothing line, Sean John. From the beginning, Diddy's behaviour is described as peculiar and unsettling.

ALSO READ| Lady Gaga played no role in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' getting dumped by NYC law firm: Team asserts

Former porn star alleges coercion and abuse

The lawsuit also recounts an incident where Diddy told her to have sex with Jacob Arabov, also known as Jacob the Jeweler in the hip-hop industry. English claims that she had forced sexual intercourse with Arabov and was paid an additional $1,000 on top of her usual payment for working at Diddy's parties.

The situation took a bizarre turn when her boyfriend was allegedly pressured to perform oral sex on Diddy to secure the job, a demand that was also made to another model. Both men refused the degrading offer.

Following this incident, English was offered another opportunitythis time to work as a go-go dancer at a Labor Day weekend party in the Hamptons hosted by Diddy. She accepted the job and worked at the event.

Initially, English was not required to engage in sexual activities, but she alleges that this changed as she was "groomed" into the sex trafficking operation.

Diddy was the mastermind behind the corrupt sex trafficking organization

Defendants Thomas and Combs passed off Plaintiff to other Defendants, outside of Defendant Jacob named as Defendant Does, to be sexually assaulted as part of their ongoing corrupt sex trafficking organization, per court documents.

The lawsuit also states that, Being sex trafficked and abused has led Plaintiff into a tailspin of anxiety and depression. In or about 2010, Plaintiff was hospitalized for mental illness as a direct cause of her being trafficked by Defendants.

ALSO READ| Sean Diddy Combs erases entire Instagram feed, including assault apology to Cassie Ventura

Filed by attorneys Ariel Mitchell-Kidd, Esq. and Steven Metcalf, Esq., the lawsuit details how English's situation deteriorated further, leading to repeated sexual assaults at Diddys events. Another individual named in the lawsuit, Tamiko Thomas, is accused of facilitating the trafficking operation, drawing comparisons to Ghislaine Maxwell.

By 2009, English managed to escape the abusive environment and returned to California.

Combs' attorney, Jonathan Davis, refuted the claims as false. No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won't change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone, he told Daily Mail, and added, We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof.
After the Friends actor Matthew Perry died in October at the age of 54 this year due to the acute effects of ketamine, the authorities experienced a major criminal probe. Matthew Perry poses for a portrait on Feb. 17, 2015, in New York. Authorities are investigating the death of Perry and how the beloved actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death. Los Angeles Police Capt. Scot Williams told the Los Angeles Times Tuesday, May 21, 2024, that detectives were looking into why the Friends star had so much ketamine in his system when he died in October. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP, File)(Brian Ach/Invision/AP)

The autopsy report clearly revealed that the late actor was undergoing Ketamine therapy for depression. Given ketamine's rapid metabolism, the autopsy report concluded, the ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy. Investigators thus suspect that Perry acquired the fatal dose from another source.

In Touch reported last month, Officers seized an iPhone and a laptop from a [famous] womans room at a sober living residence in L.A. and brought her in for questioning.

While another insider told the outlet that cops have basically been on the hunt for Matthews killer, since October.

The insider elaborated that the Friends actor, who passed away at age 54 in his hot tub, had formed an unexpected friendship with the well-known woman after meeting her during one of his 15 rehab stays.

ALSO READ| Matthew Perry's death: Police on the hunt probing an unnamed female celebrity

Police on the hunt probing an unnamed female celebrity

On June 25, In Touch identified this celebrity, who has been completely cooperative with authorities, as socialite and actress Brooke Mueller, 46, the former wife of actor Charlie Sheen. She was reportedly in total shock and had no idea what the search warrant was about when police knocked his doorknob.

The source added, Its tough to say or know exactly what her role is [in Perry's death], but shes adamant she had nothing to do with that, and, Shes being tight-lipped about the situation.

Last month, Blast also reported that the authorities are questioning Brooke Mueller.

Now In Touch outlet reported that another celebrity friend may be implicated in Matthew Perrys drug-related death investigation. This investigation, conducted by the LAPD, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has uncovered that this second celebrity and Matthew both claimed to be sober but were actually walking pharmacies. They reportedly engaged in late-night conversations about their addictions, battles with sobriety, and personal lives.

ALSO READ| Matthew Perry death: Police investigating several people linked to the mysterious death

There is photo evidence of Matthew and this second friend at the office of a doctor who prescribes ketamine, raising further questions about their activities. According to a source, Matthew and this second celebrity may have aided each other by referring one another to their respective doctors when their drug supplies dwindled.

The source indicated, If the feds had either one of their phones  especially [the second celebs], because she doesnt erase her text messages  they would probably find conversations about the drug and How can I get extra? Like, Oh, come see my doctor if you need more, and It will not look good for the celebrity.
Actor-politician Sumalatha Ambareesh put out a statement on Instagram about how she feels about Darshan getting arrested for the alleged murder of Renukaswamy. In a lengthy note penned in Kannada, Sumalatha detailed her relationship with Darshan, stating that she is shocked by everything that has happened. (Also Read: Film chamber approached with Darshan alleged murder case-related film titles like D-Gang and Khaidi No 6106: Report) Sumalatha says she has only known Darshan as a generous man.

You do not understand the bond between our families

According to One India, Sumalatha began the note by expressing condolence to Renukaswamys family. She also stated that she was praying for his parents and wife, hoping he would receive legal justice.

Addressing criticism over her staying quiet since Darshans arrest on June 11, Sumalatha wrote, You do not understand the bond between my family and Darshan's family. I have known him for 25 years, even before he became a star. Beyond his stardom, Darshan is like a family member to me, like a son. He always referred to Ambareesh as his father and gave me a special place in his life. No mother likes to see her son in such a situation.

She added that the Darshan she knows would never commit a crime like this. I know Darshan as a man with a loving and generous heart. His compassion for animals and willingness to help those in need testify to his character. I believe Darshan is not the type of person to commit such a crime, wrote Sumalatha, stating she would not comment further as the matter is in court.

Sumalatha ended the note by criticising those directing their ire at Darshans wife, Vijayalakshmi and son Vinish. Darshan is still an accused; nothing has been proven against him, nor has he been punished. Let Darshan get a fair trial, she reportedly wrote. The actor-politician also wrote that Sandalwood has come to a standstill, calling it a family problem. Much like Vijayalakshmi, she urged Darshans fans to remain calm.

Update on Darshans case

According to PTI, the Bengaluru court has extended Darshan, Pavithra Gowda, and the other accuseds judicial custody until July 18. All the accused joined the proceedings through video conferencing from Bengaluru and Tumakuru prisons. They were arrested on June 11 after Renukaswamys murder on June 9.

For the unversed, the police said that Darshans fan Renukaswamy had sent obscene messages to Pavithra on social media. These enraged her friend, Darshan, allegedly leading to his murder at a shed in RR Nagar. His body was found after he died as a result of multiple injuries. Pavithra is listed as accused number one, and Darshan as accused number two.
Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan held a public meeting in his home constituency, Pithapuram, on Wednesday. He thanked the people for choosing him as their representative in the State Assembly and clarified whether he would continue making films after becoming the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. (Also Read: Pawan Kalyan goes on 11-day fast for Andhra Pradeshs prosperity) Pawan Kalyan addressed the topic of making films after becoming Deputy CM.(ANI)

You will watch OG, itll be good

At the public meeting, a section of the people who were Pawans fans began chanting OG, making him smile. OG? Do you think Ill have the time to make films? questioned the actor-politician, eliciting cheers.

He then clarified that he wants to concentrate on bettering his constituency before he can even think of shooting for films again. Pawan said, I made a promise. First, I want to concentrate on making this constituency better. No one should fault me for at least not filling potholes or building new roads. OG chestava, kya ji, ante mari em cheppanu? (What will I do if someone questions why Im busy shooting for OG instead?)

However, Pawan seems not to have written off his film career completely yet, at least for his pending films. He revealed that he asked his filmmakers for time, saying, With that fear in my heart, I even told my filmmakers -- you must forgive me, but I need to concentrate on serving people first. I will shoot films only when I find the time for it.

Despite that, Pawan ended it on a hopeful note for those looking forward to his films, saying, OG chudduru gaani, bauntundi. (Youll indeed watch OG, itll be good.)

Pawans pending films

Pawan, who debuted with the 1996 film Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi, entered politics in 2014 and founded his own party, the JanaSena Party. Despite losing in the 2019 elections, the party made history by winning all the 21 assembly seats it contested in 2024. Pawan is now the MLA of Pithapuram and the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh.

The last few years has seen Pawan concentrate mainly on politics. In 2018, he starred in Trivikram Srinivas Agnyaathavaasi, which was panned by critics and the audience. He returned to cinema in 2021 with Venu Srirams Telugu remake of Pink, titled Vakeel Saab. In 2022, he starred in Saagar K Chandras Telugu remake of the Malayalam film Ayyappanum Koshiyum, titled Bheemla Nayak. In 2023, he starred in Bro, the Telugu remake of his Tamil film Vinodhaya Sitham.

Now, Pawan has three films on floors that he has yet to wrap up shooting for. Sujeeths OG is the one his fans seem most excited about, but he also has Harish Shankars Ustaad Bhagat Singh, the Telugu remake of Tamil film Theri. Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1  Sword vs Spirit, directed by Krish and AM Jyothi Krishna, has been in production since 2020. OG was scheduled to release on September 27 this year but theres yet to be an update on the new release date.
Choreographer Jani Master recently celebrated his birthday, sharing his joy on Instagram with Chiranjeevi, Ram Charan, and Upasana Konidela. In a heartwarming post, he revealed the unique birthday gift from Ram and Upasana and thanked them for helping out numerous families. (Also Read: Upasana Konidela shares Klin Kaara birth video as she turns 1; proud dad Ram Charan holds daughter close. Watch) Upasana Konidela and Ram Charan had a unique gift for a choreographer.

Ram, Upasana provide health insurance to dancers

Sharing pictures with Chiranjeevi and Ram at their home on Instagram, Jani wrote, Feeling extremely happy to get the MEGA blessings on my birthday from my most favourite people MEGASTAR @chiranjeevikonidela garu & @alwaysramcharan Anna. Forever grateful for your unwavering love & support towards me always. Thankyou.

He also shared a picture with Ram and Upasana detailing how he asked for their help and got it for his birthday. He wrote in Telugu, He who renders timely help is hailed as God! adding, I vividly recall the time I reached out for help regarding our Dancers' Union. Their promise to secure health insurance for over 500 families was a testament to their unwavering support. It is rare to see such a commitment to words given, especially reaching out to every single family. This act of kindness will forever be etched in our hearts with the deepest gratitude.

For the unversed, Jani is the man behind several hit numbers in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi like Kaavaalaa from Jailer, Yentamma from Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan, Arabic Kuthu from Beast, Srivalli from Pushpa: The Rise and more.

Upcoming work

Ram was last seen in SS Rajamoulis RRR, which also starred Jr NTR, Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgn. The film was a massive success when it was released in 2022. The music also made waves when the song Naatu Naatu, composed by MM Keeravaani with Chandraboses lyrics, won a Golden Globe and an Oscar in 2023. Ram will soon be seen in Shankars Game Changer, with Kiara Advani as his co-star. He will also feature in films helmed by Sukumar and Buchi Babu Sana.
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan will be next seen in Asim Abbasi-directed Barzakh. He will also reportedly make his comeback in Bollywood with director Aarti Bagdi's film. Now, Asim has come to Fawad's defence after an X (formerly Twitter) user from Pakistan criticised Fawad's choice to star in a Bollywood film. (Also Read | Fawad Khan to make Bollywood comeback with rom-com after nearly 8 years: Report) Fawad Khan will star with Sanam Saeed in Asim Abbasi's supernatural romance Barzakh.

Asim defends Fawad's choice to star in Indian film

On X, the person wrote, "Btw. Fawad Khan doesn't 'need' offers from Pakistan, he HAS offers from Pakistan. Tons of them. He has refused most of them. Mainstream, massive projects with A list writers and actors and directors. But he's choosing to work with Vaani Kapoor in a rando Bwood film."

Reacting to the tweet, Asim wrote, "Appreciate this isnt my battle, but I am really curious to understand what the problem here is? We are individuals, free to make the choices we want to make for our careers and our fulfilment? Who is any random person to judge the people/geography we want to work with/in?  Also OFFERS are subjective - we dont have the same likes or interests. Despite the interest from some channels, I have ZERO interest in doing that content - it is not my style, my aesthetic - there is no definitive list of A-List. We are in a beautiful industry that"

He also added, "Should celebrate diversity and personal choices. We do what fulfils our soul. Doing shows with Zindagi or in the UK fulfils my soul. Perhaps something else fulfils Fawads soul? Please, know that we love you all, but we do not want to be held to arbitrary standards."

Asim on Fawad being a part of own industry

Another person said, "After the way he was treated, we expected him to turn towards his own industry. He is our superstar. What about The industry that made him ?" Asim responded, "What is 'own' industry? If I only had an 'own' industry, Cake would have never been made? Every single TV channel threw me out of their offices, because there was nothing commercial in my film?"

When a fan said they didn't want to fight with him, he replied, "Not fighting at all. But we all want to do things that our heart desires, even if the world doesnt understand our choices/decisions. Hence, I was speaking out." He also wrote, "All of you seem disappointed, and that saddens me. An actor is acting. Let them act as they want to, where they want to, and who they want to be with."

About Fawad's next Bollywood film

Fawad is expected to return to Indian cinema with a rom-com, which also stars Vaani Kapoor. Aarti Bagdi has come on board to direct the project, which will be shot entirely in the UK. The rom-com will tell the story of how two broken people come together by a stroke of luck and end up helping each other and ultimately fall in love. The yet-to-be-titled film is Eastwood Studios' first international collaboration. Fawad last starred in a Hindi-language film eight years ago. He has acted in Indian films such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Kapoor and Sons and Khoobsurat.

Fawad and Asim's next project

Fawad will star with Sanam Saeed in Asim's supernatural romance Barzakh. The trailer gives a glimpse of the emotional journey of a 76-year-old man who shocks his estranged children and grandchildren by announcing his intention to marry the ghost of his first love. Barzakh will be released simultaneously on Zindagi's YouTube and ZEE5.
After creating one of the representative groups of K-pop's fourth generation, ENHYPEN, in 2020, I-Land's sequel kicked off plans to launch a new girl group in April 2024. Mnet's South Korean sequel of the survival reality series is racing towards the final chapter of the competition. The I-Land 2 finale made way for a seven-member announcement for the new girl group, IZNA. Revealed on July 4, the finalists will be trained and managed by WakeOne as a non-temporary K-pop unit with a standard contract.

On July 4, the I-Land 2 N/a finale (Episode 11) forged the golden destiny of a new septet - to be managed by a CJ ENM subsidiary, WakeOne, home to beloved K-pop groups like ZEROBASEONE and Kep1er. Even before the group's official debut, the latest addition to the musical roster is already breaking constricting pathways as the first non-temporary girl group whose foundation will be consolidated with a standard contract, marking a stable and secure inception for the band.

IZ*ONEs Jo Yuri, Kep1ers Hikaru and Chaehyun and ZEROBASEONEs Han Yujin, Kim Taerae and Zhang Hao attended the final broadcast of the series as special guests to boost the confidence of participating contestants aspiring to debut as K-pop idols.

Also read | K-pop group Dreamcatcher announces U.S. Tour dates and cities for Luck Inside 7 Doors: See list

The finale, I-Land 2: Final Countdown, aired live on Thursday at 9:30 pm KST. K-pop star Jeon Somi joined the broadcast as a special host alongside the show's fixed MC, ZEROBASEONE's Sung Hanbin. Both artists' musical passions manifested into reality following their victories on similar platforms. Therefore, as alums of the survival audition contest format, Somi and Hanbin were fully cognisant of I-Land 2 participants' pains and tribulations, which they vocalised through their vitally important presence on the show.

I-Land 2 Group Name and Winners Revealed

Although the original decision revealed the group would be a six-member lineup, the final reveal paved the way for a seven-member announcement. While fans (I-Mate) picked five members of the new girl group, the producers chose the final two.

Before the highly anticipated winner announcements rolled out, the upcoming group's name was revealed as IZNA.

Also read | BTS' Jimin and Jungkook ride a bike, go snorkelling in new teaser for travel variety show Are You Sure

Ultimately, the shows winning contestants, aka the final IZNA members, were announced:

Choi Jungeun (823,393 points) - born in 2007 Bang Jeemin (591,495 points) - born in 2005 Yoon Jiyoon (471,699 points) - born in 2005 Narai Koko (320,124 points) - born in 2006 Ryu Sarang (319,693 points) - born in 2007 Tomioka Mai (Producers choice) - born in 2004 Jeong Saebi (Producers choice - surprise addition) - born in 2008

Check out their profiles:

IZNA's official Instagram account (@izna_offcl) is coming soon.
BTS member Kim Taehyung, who is currently serving in the South Korean military, recently spoke with Jinny's Kitchen 2 director Na Yeong-seok. As reported by allkpop, Kim Taehyung, aka V, talked to him in a 'downcast voice'. V was one of the interns on Jinny's Kitchen, and now Go Min-si has replaced him in season two of the show. (Also Read | Jinny's Kitchen Season 2 confirmed; Cast update revealed) (L-R) Jung Yu-mi, Choi Woo-shik, Park Seo-joon, Kim Taehyung and Lee Seo-jin in a still from Jinny's Kitchen.

What did Taehyung tell show's director

Yeong-seok recently reviewed the first episode of Jinny's Kitchen 2 on a YouTube live broadcast. Talking about Taehyung, Yeong-seok said, "Apparently, these days, you can use your phone in the military. After the first episode aired, I got a call from Taehyung. He asked me in such a downcast voice, 'Is Go Min Si really that good?'"

Yeong-seok gets calls from Taehyung

He added, "So I answered, 'Don't worry, Taehyung. You worked hard, and Min Si is working hard, too. When you're back, you can come rejoin us and then the puzzle will be completed. It'll be way more entertaining, then. For those of you wondering, Taehyung is doing well in the military. When I get calls from him from time to time, he says that the people there are really good people. I think he's doing fine and staying healthy."

About Jinnys Kitchen 2

tvNs Jinnys Kitchen 2 is taking place in Iceland. It stars Lee Seo-jin, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Jung Yu-mi, and new intern member Go Min-si. In the show, the staff members will serve traditional Korean food to people in Iceland. In this season, Yu-mi is the managing director, Seo-oon is the director duties, and longtime intern Woo-shik has been promoted to assistant manager post. Jinnys Kitchen 2 premiered on June 28.

About Jinny's Kitchen

Jinny's Kitchen is a South Korean television reality show that premiered on tvN on February 24, 2023, as well as Prime Video. The first season comprises eleven episodes. It featured Lee Seo-jin, Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Jung Yu-mi, and Taehyung. It is the second spin-off of Youn's Kitchen (2017) after Youn's Stay (2021).
Feature: Stampede at India religious gathering kills about 116, probe ordered

Xinhua) 09:36, July 04, 2024

NEW DELHI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in Tuesday's stampede in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh rose to 116, confirmed a local administration official to Xinhua over the phone.

The stampede occurred at around 3:00 p.m. local time. Witnesses said 88 victims' bodies were lying at a local trauma center, 27 at Etah Hospital and one at a hospital in Hathras town.

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 of 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 when 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, said an eyewitness.

"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," said another eyewitness.

Local resident Ram Asrey Dubey told Xinhua over the phone: "For many years, the religious figure has been giving weekly sermons 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."

According to official sources, nearly 18 injured people were admitted to a local hospital where they were being given medical treatment.

The local government has ordered a probe into the stampede. State Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said a team had been set up under the chairmanship of a senior police official which had been tasked to give a detailed report at the earliest about the situation that led to the stampede.

"The chief secretary and the director general of police of the state are camping there. Three ministers of the state government Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan, Sandeep Singh, and Asim Arun are also at the spot," said the chief minister.

Asim Arun told reporters that more than the permitted number of people were present at the event. A local police was quoted as saying that overcrowding had led to the tragedy.

Media reports suggested that a "callous attitude" on the part of the local administration and the police, by turning a blind eye to ensuring adequate arrangements at the venue of the religious gathering, had led to the stampede.

Sandeep Singh told the media that the state government was working to provide the best possible treatment to all the injured as soon as possible.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is looking forward to returning to his music-making days. Starting his film direction career with Tum Bin (2001), which had chartbuster songs and had earlier directed videos from the super hit albums including Sonu Nigams Kismat (1998), Deewana (1999) and Jaan (2000), now he wants to resume music direction soon. Anubhav Sinha on his visit to Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

Im hungry to make music, again. I dont know if I will be able to or not but mann toh bada hain! I miss shooting those songs in slow motion, music compositions and singing, says the Ra.One (2011) director on his recent visit to Lucknow.

Sinha has started learning music as well. Last year, Vishal (Bharadwaj, composer-director) came to my house on my birthday (June 22) and I asked him about a piano that I had wanted to buy. Usne mujhe daant lagai ki aur bola kahan itna mehnga le raha hai and the next day when I reached home, the piano was assembled. Since I am a purist, besides piano training I am learning to read and write notations, but I feel it will take over a decade to play well.

The filmmaker recalls, Since my younger days I used to fantasize playing a piano with single malt on the side but that couldnt happen as in Mumbai you have small houses.

Anubhav Sinha at Sheroes Cafe, run by acid attack survivors, on his visit to Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

Sinha adds, Mera music ke liye prem pareshaan toh karta hi rehta hain but I am unable to use it in the kind of films I am making. Films like Mulk (2018) and Article 15 (2019) have no or very less scope of music. I used a bit in Thappad (2020) or wherever I can but aaj kal music hoti hi kahan hai. I met Anurag (Kashyap, director) here (in Lucknow) and he also said I should do music. I told him there are no such situations in projects these days and he was like bina situation ke banao and he is right...I should!

The director clarifies, People feel Tum Bin was musical, but it was not! A global-level, musical are films that have dialogues, songs and scenes all in music like Chicago (2002) and Singin in the Rain (1952). Unfortunately, we dont have such films in India and now I feel why its so. I think we should make one!

On making Bhojpuri rap Bambai Main Ka Ba (2021) with actor Manoj Bajpayee, he says, I was disheart-ened as I feel the Bhojpuri audience still desire that latka-jhaka and lehnga-kamar. Gaane ki charcha toh bahut hui but it was not consumed that much. I believe, audience ke bhi jimmedari banti hai!

Sinha has sometime back wrapped shooting of his next project IC 814 which is said to be based on Flight Into Fear: The Captain's Story penned by Captain Devi Sharan, a pilot of IC 814.
Anant Ambani, son of Reliance moguls Mukesh and Nita Ambani is all set to tie the knot with Radhika Merchant, daughter of business tycoon, Viren and Shaila Merchant on July 12. But before the lavish wedding, the happy couple celebrated with a vibrant pre-wedding ceremony traditionally called Mosalu. Nita Ambani, Mukesh and Radhika all look resplendent as they celebrate at Antilia.

Similar to the Mosalu, most Indian wedding rituals are usually inclusive of pre-wedding festivities. From Punjab's Chunni Ceremony to Rajasthan's Bhaat Nyotna, here's everything you need to know before you plan your own big fat Indian wedding of the year!

Gujarati Mosalu-Mameru

The Gujarati Mosalu is a traditional ceremony where the groom's mother's family blesses the happy couple with gifts and offerings. In this case, Nita Ambani's family including her mother Purnima Dalal and Mamta Dalal presented the Radhika Merchant with gifts that included clothes, jewellery and sweets.

These gifts, also known as Mameru symbolised their blessings and affection towards the bride and her family. The tradition is a way for the maternal side of the groom's family to show their love and support for the bride.

Donned in a gorgeous orange and pink bandhani lehenga custom-made by Manish Malhotra, Radhika Merchant paired it with her mom's own jewellery from her mameru ceremony.

Punjabi Chunni Chadan Ceremony

This ceremony, usually performed after the groom is given shagan by the bride's family, involves covering the head of the bride with a red scarf or chunni. The ritual is symbolic of the bride's responsibility to uphold the honour of the groom's family. Gifts are exchanged and the groom marks her head with sindoor as a sign of lifelong commitment. All of this is followed by song and dance!

The chunni's are red, to symbolise auspiciousness.

Maharashtrian Sakhar Puda

Sakhar means sugar and puda means a packet or box. In the Sakhar Puda, the groom's parents give a packet of sugar to the bride and the bride's parents return this gesture with a coconut and coin to signify their agreement to the marriage. The groom's family also give a few gifts to the bride which include sarees, bangles and jewellery.

Marathi brides usually wear green bangles.

Telugu Nischitartham Ceremony

This is a pre-wedding ritual where the families of the bride and groom meet to match the couple's horoscopes; the aim is to figure out the most auspicious date for the wedding to commence. In essence, this event is the start of the wedding planning. The couple is then blessed by elders from both sides of the family and gifts are exchanged including jewellery.

A western astrology charts showcasing planetary positions.

Assam Juran Diya-Tel Diya

The very first wedding rituals, these ceremonies take place 1-2 days before the wedding day. In Juran Diya, the groom's mother visits the bride's house accompanied by an entourage of every female member of the family. She gifts the bride pan and tamul (betel leaves and nuts) along with the traditional gamusa.

The Tel Diya happens next, where the groom's mother puts the pan and tamul on the bride's forehead and bathes her in oil; sindoor is applied on the bride, who is then showered with gifts.

Pan and tamul are a staple at most Assamese functions.

West Bengal Aiburobhat

This pre-wedding ceremony celebrates the groom's final meal as a bachelor and celebrates the day before the wedding with an enormous feast encompassing the couple's favourite foods. The celebration mainly includes a veritable feast that includes but is not limited to rice, dal, bhaja and fish, accompanied by family and close friends.

Fish is often served at Aiburobhat.

Rajasthan Bhaat Nyotna

In this ceremony, the couple's mothers visit their parental home a few days before the wedding to formally invite their maternal families to attend. They are also invites for Bhaat, a simple north Indian meal to seal the deal. The entire ritual is based on the sentiment of playfully poking the uncles to spend lavishly on their niece/nephew's wedding.

A simple meal include dal, rice, sabzi and roti is most common at these ceremonies.

Indian pre-wedding rituals are much more than a mehendi and sangeet; their variance showcases the cultural heritage and familial bonds that define our country. Anant and Radhika's Mosalu was simply the first step in bringing these significant cultural events into the mainstream!
In an unconventionally novel move, a city in Germany has temporarily renamed itself after Taylor Swift. The move was suggested by Aleshanee Westhoff, a young fan who took the initiative to write to the mayor of Gelsenkirchen. The humorous petition was made in honour of the pop star's upcoming Eras Tour shows happening in the city. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour has been one of the highest-grossing tours of all time.

For the next few weeks, the city of Gelsenkirchen will be renamed 'Swiftkirchen' but that's not all. The city has also installed a Taylor Swift Tram for travelling around the city, which will be supplemented with more Taylor Swift paraphernalia around the city.

Surprisingly, this is not the first city that has dedicated such an unconventional tribute to the pop star. The Taylor Swift effect is real and believe it or not, this has happened before. Here's everything you need to know.

Glendale, Arizona

In May 2023, the mayor of Glendale, Arizona renamed the city in honour of the star's Eras tour. Temporarily christened Swift City, the name was official for the entire weekend Taylor played in the city.

Arlington, Texas

The city of Arlington ceremoniously renamed one of their streets to Taylor Swift Way for the weekend she was performing. If this was not enough, the mayor also declared that a four-story steel sculpture in front of City Hall would be lit Red in honour of the album.

Randol Mill Road was renamed Taylor Swift Way for a weekend in March 2023.(Arlington Govt. )

Tampa Bay, Florida

Tampa took things a little further, offering Taylor the title of Mayor For The Day. To make it official, she was also given a key to the city. Here in Tampa, weve got a reputation to uphold. We want to go bigger, said Mayor Jane Castor in a video. Mayor Swift has a nice ring to it. We cant wait to welcome you and your fans to Tampa (Taylors version).

The official key of the city for Taylor Swift.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia welcomed the star in their own way, choosing to rename a radio station. 96.5 TDY (WTDY-FM) was renamed Ninety-Swift-Five T-A-Y and in addition to the moniker dedication, the radio station also announced that it would exclusively play Swift for the weekend.

96.5 TDY (WTDY-FM) rebrands as Ninety-Swift-Five T-A-Y for a weekend.

Minnesota

In a friendly attempt to one-up every other city that changed its name for the pop star, Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz officially renamed two days of the calendar, 23 and 24 June, as Taylor Swift Days. The city of Minneapolis located in Minnesota also renamed itself Swiftie-apolis for the occasion.

And there you have it. You might not like Taylor Swift or her music, but look what she made the whole world do!
A 22-year-old student, in an intoxicated state, allegedly stabbed the security guard of a private college in Amruthahalli on Wednesday after he was allegedly denied entry, a police officer familiar with the matter said adding that the accused was arrested later. The accused was later arrested (File photo)

The officer identified the accused a Bhargav (22), a final-year BA student from Bihar, and the victim as Jaikishore Roy (52), a native of Assam and a security guard at the college.

North East deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Sahil Bagla said: The incident occurred around 3:30 pm at the Sindhi College entrance in Amruthahalli. Bhargav, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, attempted to enter the college premises during an ongoing programme when Roy, stationed at the entrance gate, denied him entry due to his intoxicated state, sparking a heated argument.

Following the argument, Bhargav left the premises and then came with a knife to confront Roy once more. After renewed objections from Roy, Bhargav stabbed him five to six times in the chest. Though Roy was rushed to Manipal Hospital immediately after the attack, he passed away before medical intervention could be provided, he said.

He said that Roys body has since been transferred to Victoria Hospital for autopsy and a murder case under BNS section 103 has been registered at the Amruthahalli police station, and investigations are ongoing.

The police arrested Bhargav soon after the incident. Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased have voiced their grief, alleging negligence on the part of the Sindhi College management board, questioning Roys assignment as a security guard and claiming inadequate security measures on campus.
Three people were arrested a day after the Kerala police confirmed that Kala, a woman who was suspected to have gone missing in 2009, was murdered, and her remains were reportedly buried in Mannar, an officer familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The woman was suspected to have gone missing in 2009 (File photo)

The arrested persons were identified as Jinu, Soman, and Pramod, who were sent to six days of police custody, said Rajendran Pillai, circle inspector, Mannar.

The police FIR in the case, accessed by HT, named Anil Kumar, the deceaseds husband, as the primary accused. The other three accused are friends and relatives of the first accused and key accomplices in the crime. Anil is currently employed in Israel, and efforts are underway to bring him back, police said.

The FIR stated that Kala was killed by her husband, Anil, and the other accused in 2009 when they discovered she was having a romantic affair with another man. On the day of the murder, the victim was taken to the Valiyaperumbuzha bridge near Chennithala in Alappuzha district and killed. Her body was then taken in a Maruti car to an unknown spot and buried, police said. The FIR does not provide clear information about the method of killing and the location of the victims remains.

The accused have been charged under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence), and 34 (criminal act by multiple persons with common intention) of the Indian penal code (IPC).

Soman, involved in the excavation process, told reporters, We were able to find a locket and a hair clip from the slush inside the septic tank. There was also a piece of elastic used in womens clothing. There were some other items which have to be confirmed through forensic analysis.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday said 34,000 Indian citizens die due to causes associated with unchecked air pollution every year. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.(ANI)

Quoting a study published in global medical journal The Lancet Planetary Health in his statement, the Congress leader said this shows how bad this crisis is.

7.2 percent of all deaths in India are associated with air pollution. About 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities and Delhi is the worst affected, with 12,000 deaths each year. However, even cities with lover pollution such as Pune, Chennai, and Hyderabad witness thousands of deaths, said Jairam Ramesh.

He said that this public health crisis is a direct result of the failures of the non-biological PMs governments, which has prioritised the profits of the PMs friends over the health of India's people.

Since 2017, the Modi government has continuously pushed back the deadline for coal power plants to install pollution-controlling Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) equipment. It has led to thousands of deaths, all for the profit of plant owners, alleged the Congress leader.

Read: Security tightened in Mumbai for Team India's Vijay Yatra

Skyrocketing prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders have meant that indoor air pollution has worsened, as families are forced to cook on chulhas instead of cooking gas, he added.



The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019 with typical fanfare, has turned out to be a complete failure. More than 50 percent of CAP funds were not utilised by the end of 2023. Further, as the recent Lancet study points out, the clean-air targets set by the NCAP are much too low to save lives, Ramesh adds.

He said that out of 131 cities under NCAP, most do not even have data to track their air pollution and of 46 cities which have data, only 8 cities have met the NCAP's low target, while 22 cities actually saw air pollution get worse.

Taking a swipe at the Centre, he said government has launched an all-out war on Indias environmental protection norms and the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2023 stripped protections for much of Indias forests, the Biological Diversity Act and Environmental Protection Acts have been diluted, the Forest Rights Act of 2006 has been weakened, and Environmental Impact Assessment norms have been bypassed.
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested six people in connection with the stampede during a religious gathering in Hathras earlier this week, which claimed 121 lives, officials said, adding that self-styled godman Bhole Baba, whom hundreds of thousands flocked to see ahead of the deadly tragedy and remains at large, will be interrogated if required. Relatives perform the last rites of a deceased in Hathras. (PTI)

While those arrested are sevadars or volunteers of the event, a search is underway to nab key accused and mukhya sevadar (head volunteer) Devprakash Madhukar, who also went missing after the stampede, the deadliest in India since 2008. A reward of 1 lakh will be announced for information on Madhukar and a non-bailable warrant (NBW) will also be issued against him, the officials added.

All six people who have been arrested worked as sevadars. They were arrested by officials of Hathras Kotwali and Sikandra Rau police stations. A reward of 1 lakh will be announced soon and NBW will also be issued against key accused Madhukar, inspector general of police (Aligarh Range) Shalabh Mathur said.

Those arrested were Ram Ladaite (50), Upendra ingh Yadav (62), Megh Singh (61), Mukesh Kumar (38), and women Manju Yadav (30) and Manju Devi (40)  all from Mainpuri, Firozabad and Hathras.

Hathras stampede: Bhole Baba owns assets worth 100+ crore

During the course of interrogation, police learnt that the arrested people are members of the organising committee and work as sevadars. They also followed a dress code while working as sevadars. On the day of the incident, the sevadars tried to stop the crowd from proceeding towards Babas vehicle (when he was leaving). They later left the crowd to take charan dhul (dust left from feet), Mathur said.

These sevadars made sure people did not prepare any videos and also did not allow police intervention in the internal cordon (at the event venue), he added.

At least 121 people, most of them women and children, were killed in the stampede on Tuesday afternoon as they attempted to leave the haphazardly organised satsang by Bhole Baba, a 65-year-old-man originally named Suraj Pal, a former cop, who remains at large. The event was held at a partially covered field in Phulari Mughal Garhi, a village roughly 200km from Delhi, and far from any major centre with medical facilities to handle a mass casualty event.

Around 250,000 people attended the event, beyond the allotted permission of 80,000, underlining a string of lapses by the organisers and administration. The tragedy is the deadliest such incident in India since 2008 when 162 people died in a stampede in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.

Explained: What happened in Hathras? All you need to know about Bhole Baba, stampede

On Wednesday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial investigation led by a retired high court judge, even as Bhole Baba blamed anti-social elements for the stampede. Police filed an FIR against Madhukar and unnamed organisers of the religious congregation under sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Asked about Bhole Babas role, Mathur said the role of any person will be ascertained on the basis of evidence. The arrests will depend upon the investigating officer and evidence collected. A judicial inquiry has been ordered. The police force, civil police, fire department personnel and PAC (Pradeshik Armed Constabulary) were also deployed at the site. Baba is not named in the FIR and organisers, who have taken permission for the event, have been named as they hold responsibility for the event, he said.

Baba took voluntary retirement from the post of head constable in 2000 while he was posted in Agra. There was an FIR registered against him in Agras Shahganj police station and he was acquitted later. We are trying to trace other cases at the zone level and see if any FIR is registered in other states, he added.

Mathurs remarks came as a team of police entered the ashram premises of Bhole Baba in Mainpuri to check security arrangements, officials said. He (Baba) was neither there yesterday (Wednesday) nor today, circle officer Sunil Kumar Singh said.

Asked why police personnel entered the ashram, he said, We are not here for a probe. We are here to check security.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at Adityanath for suspecting a conspiracy behind the tragedy. Look, there cant be a conspiracy in this. The conspiracy could be that the government wants to run away from its responsibility, he said.
HATHRAS: Self-styled godman Suraj Pal, also known as Narayan Sarkar Hari and Bhole Baba, on Wednesday blamed anti-social elements for the stampede at his congregation in Hathras district, hours after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the incident without ruling out the possibility of a conspiracy. Mainpuri: Police personnel outside Ram Kutir Charitable Trust, the ashram of preacher Baba Narayan Hari, also known as Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, at Bichhwa, in Mainpuri district on July 3 (PTI)

At least 121 people, mostly women and children, were killed and over a hundred injured in the stampede at the religious congregation as Pal, a former Uttar Pradesh police constable, was leaving the venue in the Phulrai Mughal Garhi village. This was the biggest stampede in India since 2008.

Supreme Court lawyer AP Singh, authorised by Pal to represent him and take legal action in the incident, said: There were some anti-social elements who probably conspired at the event site and this led to stampede. Baba had left the venue when the incident took place. We offer condolences to the family of the deceased and wish speedy recovery for those injured.

Singh confirmed Pal has also issued a statement expressing condolences over the incident.

Earlier in the day, Adityanath hinted at a conspiracy angle in the incident and said a detailed investigation was underway. He met some of the injured people in a Hathras hospital and also visited the stampede site at Sikandra Rao.

A judicial probe by a retired high court judge will be conducted into the incident, he told reporters at the Hathras police lines on Wednesday afternoon. If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of these will be probed. Retired officials of the police and civic administration will be part of the judicial inquiry and action will be taken against those found responsible.

He said that of the 121 people killed in the stampede, six were from other states  four from Haryana and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Later in the day, the UP government formed a three-member judicial inquiry commission to probe the incident on the recommendation of states Governor Anandiben Patel. The commission will be headed by retired judge of Allahabad high court, Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastav (II), and also comprise retired IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar Singh as the two members. The commission has been tasked to complete the probe within two months, according to the official order.

Meanwhile, a case of culpable homicide has been registered against Pals chief sewadar (volunteer) Devprakash Madhukar and the organisers of the congregation at the Sikandra Rao police station, officers said.

The first information report (FIR), registered suo motu (on its own) by the Hathras police, has slapped sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (offences on any road, or street or thoroughfare, or any open place etc, causing inconvenience or danger to residents or passers-by), 126(2) (voluntary obstruction), 223 (voluntarily disobeying order promulgated by public servant) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the newly enforced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Asked why the religious preacher has not been named in the FIR as an accused, Adityanath said, Prima facie, the case has been filed against those who had applied for permission for the event. Whoever is responsible for this will come under its purview.

He added: The sewadars were managing the internal cordon and fled when stampede happened and people died. The organisers will be questioned in due course We will take strict action, and teams have been formed to take up action in nearby districts in coming time.

No arrest has been made in the incident so far, a police officer said.

There have been no arrests so far in the case and our teams are trying to trace the six organisers/sewadars who obtained permission for the satsang event. There were reports that the godman was in Etawah. We sent teams there but it was not the case. We are trying to trace him and also the organisers, a senior officer from Hathras police said, requesting anonymity.

The officer added that four people were being questioned by the police, but did not divulge their details.

HT on Tuesday night found that names, addresses and mobile numbers of the six organisers were written on the main hoarding at the consecration event. HT tried to contact those named as organisers  Devprakash Madhukar, Anar Singh, Sanju Yadav, Mahesh Chandra, Chandra Dev and Ram Prakash, all residents of Sikandra Rao  but their mobiles remained switched off.

Meanwhile, the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), who had given permission to the organisers for the congregation at the Phulrai Mughalsarai village, on Wednesday submitted a report to the Hathras district magistrate.

The report mentioned that the organisers had obtained permission for a gathering of about 80,000, but we had asked them to reduce the numbers. On the day of the event, the gathering swelled to more than 2 lakh (200,000). The devotees were trying to get close to Babas vehicle while his sewadars were pushing them backwards. This led to stampede. Amid this, Baba in his vehicle fled towards Etah on NH-91. We tried to communicate with him but there was no response thereafter, SDM Ravindra Kumar Singh told HT.
Actor Vijay, who will enter Tamil Nadus political arena in the 2026 assembly elections, reached out to first-time voters by taking the stance of Tamil Nadus Dravidian majors, advocating to scrap the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Wednesday . Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president Vijay waves at supporters during an event in Chennai on Wednesday (PTI)

Vijay supported a resolution passed by the ruling DMK government in the assembly on June 28, demanding that the Union Government scrap NEET by amending the National Medical Commission Act.

NEET has lost its credibility and it has to be abolished across India, the actor said in Chennai while speaking at an event to felicitate toppers of class X and XII. The real truth is that the students of Tamil Nadu, especially those in rural areas from poorer, backward, most backward, and downtrodden backgrounds, have been significantly impacted by NEET.

Vijay, who has a devoted fan base in the film industry, established the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam earlier this year.

He is expected to split votes in his political debut in 2026 in a state where 75% of the vote share is shared between Dravidian majors DMK and AIADMK, analysts say.

S. Seeman, the founder of the Tamil nationalist party Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), has previously hinted at his inclination to align with Vijay, vowing to never align with either of the Dravidian majors.

Vijays ideology and position on major issues in Tamil Nadu are unclear and opinion on NEET marks a significant shift in the politicians position. Vijays remarks saw instant political reactions, with the AIADMK offering support and the BJP expressing criticism.

On Wednesday, DMKs student wing protested against NEET in Chennai.

Vijay batted for state autonomy, arguing that the notion of one nation and one test is contradictory to diversity and the purpose of education. As a solution, he called for a Constitutional Amendment to create a special concurrent list for education and health.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test has been a controversial issue in Tamil Nadu, with over a dozen students committing suicide either due to failing the exam or the fear of failure. This has been the case since the exam became mandatory in the state in 2017.

Most political parties, except BJP, are in favor of abolishing NEET. The Tamil Nadu state assembly has passed two bills requesting exemption from NEET  one by the AIADMK in 2017 and another by the DMK in 2021. Vijay made these remarks during a controversy surrounding a leak in the NEET-UG 2024 exam and the sudden postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 exam.

Additionally, a bill to eliminate NEET in Tamil Nadu, which was passed by the assembly in 2022, is currently awaiting approval from the President.

Tamil Nadu is seeking to revert to the system used before the introduction of NEET, when state governments admitted students to medical colleges based on their class XII marks.

AIADMKs organising secretary D Jayakumar reiterated that the AIADMK stance has been against NEET. Vijays comments should be welcomed. But, the DMK government has done nothing about it in the past three years, Jayakumar said.

BJPs Tamilisai Soundararajan told ANI that while students are for NEET, only politicians are against it.

It benefits rural students. Even school children studied by the government are benefitting from it. Children who studied in the Tamil medium also got selected after National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. These are the positive things about National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is unfortunate that the actor, sorry, politician Vijay has revealed his mind speaking like this, she said.
A group of unidentified armed men allegedly fired several rounds of bullets at the residence of a Manipur legislator in the states Churachandpur district on Thursday, police said, amid the ongoing ethnic turmoil in the northeastern state. The group fired several rounds at the MLAs house and escaped, taking advantage of the darkness, a police officer said, seeking anonymity. (File)

According to police officials, the group of armed men opened fire at Singhat (ST) MLA Chinlunthangs residence at Zou Veng at around 12.50am on Thursday.

The group fired several rounds at the MLAs house and escaped, taking advantage of the darkness, a police officer said, seeking anonymity.

In 2022, Chinlunthang had contested the assembly elections under the Kuki Peoples Alliance (KPA).

Police said some portions of the wall were found damaged and five empty cases of AK-47 cartridges were recovered from the spot. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. A case has been registered at Churachandpur police station and a probe is underway, the officer quoted above said.

Read Here | PM Modi should go to Manipur before he goes to space: Jairam Ramesh

There was no immediate reaction from Chinlunthang.

More than 220 people have been killed and over 50,000 displaced in Manipur since the ethnic violence  primarily between the Meiteis and Kukis  erupted on May 3 last year.

In a statement, the Zenhang Lamka Village Authority condemned the attack on the MLAs house and said such incidents will not be tolerated in the future.

Meanwhile, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), an umbrella group of Kuki organisations, alleged that a leader of a local Kuki body was abducted by a group of unidentified people who broke into the house of ITLF secretary Muan Tombing on Wednesday night.

In his first comments in Parliament on the issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that instances of violence that have roiled the northeastern state have begun to decline, and that the resumption of schools, offices and establishments in the state is a sign of normalcy being restored, his first comments in Parliament on the issue.

The Supreme Court, on the same day, expressed distrust towards the state and criticised the N Biren Singh government for failing to provide adequate medical care to a Kuki undertrial lodged at a jail in Meitei-dominated Imphal and for the states inability to safely transport him.
NEW DELHI: As India and Bangladesh prepare to begin negotiations to renew a nearly three-decade-old treaty for sharing the waters of the Ganga river, the impact of climate change on water flows and the role of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee are emerging as crucial factors. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, during the annual convocation of Visva Bharati University, in Birbhum. (PTI FILE PHOTO)

The Ganga is one of 54 rivers shared by India and Bangladesh and long-standing differences over the sharing of its waters were resolved with the signing of the Ganga Waters Treaty in December 1996 by then Indian premier HD Deve Gowda and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

The treaty is up for renewal in 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced during Hasinas official visit to New Delhi last month that the two sides had decided to start technical negotiations to renew the pact.

People familiar with preparatory work done by the two countries said on condition of anonymity that the effect of climate change on the flow of the Ganga is a crucial issue that has to be factored into the negotiations. This is a factor that has had an impact on the flows of numerous cross-border rivers that traverse India, they said.

Studies on the impact of climate change on the Ganga will have to be a key part of the negotiations to ensure the treaty remains relevant and future-proof, covering all possible scenarios and contingencies, said one of the people cited above.

People on both sides acknowledged the crucial role that will be played by the West Bengal government headed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, given that the states through which a cross-border river passes have to sign off on a water-sharing treaty or its renewal.

In this context, the people pointed to Banerjees role in holding up a treaty on the Teesta river, even though India and Bangladesh had agreed on the text as far back as 2011. The signing of the pact had to be put off due to opposition from Banerjee, who contended the treaty would leave parts of West Bengal dry.

The role of the West Bengal chief minister will be key to the efforts to renew the treaty, given that we have only about 18 months for negotiations on the renewal, a second person said.

Banerjee recently sent a letter to the prime minister contending the move to renew the Ganga Waters Treaty was unilateral and that the West Bengal government had not been consulted. However, the people pointed out the Jal Shakti ministry set up an internal committee in July 2023 that included representatives of the Bihar and West Bengal governments.

West Bengal nominated its representative to the internal committee in August 2023, and participated in three of the panels four meetings. The West Bengal government also sent a communication to the committee on April 5, 2024, that provided its drinking and industrial water requirements for inclusion in the Ganga Waters Treaty beyond 2026, the people said.

The internal committees final report, submitted on June 14, 2024, is being examined by the Jal Shakti ministry, which has also formed a joint technical committee to begin discussions with Bangladesh.

On the Bangladesh side, there are concerns about any possible move to reduce the quantum of water provided to the country under the provisions of the treaty.

The treaty has worked pretty well for three decades, including the regular sharing of data and coordination. But any reduction in the quantum of water will be disastrous and make it very difficult to sell the treaty to the public in Bangladesh, a third person said.

Under the terms of the treaty, when the availability of water at the Farakka barrage is 70,000 cusecs or less, India and Bangladesh share the water equally. When the availability is 70,000 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh gets 35,000 cusecs and India the balance of the flow. When the availability is 75,000 cusecs or more, India gets 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh the balance of the flow.

This is subject to the condition that India and Bangladesh each will receive guaranteed 35,000 cusecs in three alternate 10-day periods between March 11 and May 10 every year. The quantum for both countries was decided according to the 10-day average availability of water at Farakka between 1949 and 1988.

According to a report released by Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in 2019, climate change will begin altering water levels in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra over the next three decades, and the rivers could record an abrupt decrease in flow after 2050. This will diminish the water available for drinking, irrigation and producing electricity for roughly 250 million people living downstream.
Heatwave conditions persisted in Kashmir on Thursday with Srinagar recording a maximum temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius, six notches above normal and the highest in July in 25 years, officials said. Women hold an umbrella as they walk along a street on a hot summer day in Srinagar. (AFP)

The city had recorded a high of 37 degrees Celsius in July 1999.

Srinagar was hotter than Delhi (31.7 degrees Celsius), Kolkata (31 degrees Celsius), Mumbai (32 degrees Celsius) and Bengaluru (28 degrees Celsius).

Other parts of the Valley also witnessed scorching temperatures, with Qazigund recording a high of 32.8 degrees Celsius and Kupwara 35.2 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The Valley has been experiencing rising temperatures and scorching heat over the past few weeks, leading to water shortage in many areas.

The health department has issued advisories to deal with the heatwave conditions. The school education department has already announced a 10-day summer vacation for all schools in the Valley from July 8.

Amid the heat, people are choosing to stay indoors.

Some respite is likely on Friday as the meteorological department has forecast intermittent spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places.

There is also a possibility of intermittent moderate rainfall at many places and heavy spells at a few places in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and Saturday, the weather office said.

Light rainfall is expected on Sunday. Hot and humid weather is likely from July 8 to 10, with scattered rain and thundershowers likely in the Jammu division, it said.

The Met office has also warned of flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas till Sunday and advised residents to take precautions.

"Low-lying areas may experience temporary waterlogging and moderate thunderstorms with lightning are also possible at a few locations," it said in an advisory.

It advised the residents follow the latest weather forecasts.

Police have also issued an advisory, warning that increased water levels in rivers and streams posed significant risks.

They advised people to avoid swimming in fast-flowing waters, stay informed about weather alerts, have an emergency plan, and follow evacuation orders when necessary.

The residents have been urged to call 100 for assistance.
NEW DELHI: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) should address issues such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-discriminatory trade rights in the context of connectivity projects, India said on Thursday in a thinly veiled swipe at China. External affairs minister S Jaishankar delivering India's statement at the Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on behalf of PM Modi, in Astana (PTI/X/DrSJaishankar)

Delivering a speech on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SCO Summit in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, external affairs minister S Jaishankar pointed to mutual respect for territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs and non-use of force being the basis for the foreign policies of the nine members of the bloc.

The remarks came against the backdrop of Indias opposition to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) since a key part of it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), and its concerns about Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Indian officials have pointed in the past to the lack of a level playing field in projects under the BRI.

Chinas President Xi Jinping attends Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana (REUTERS)

The text of Modis remarks to the SCO Summit noted that economic development requires robust connectivity, which can facilitate trust between societies. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects, the text said.

The SCO is a principle-based organisation and consensus drives the approach of its member states. It is particularly noteworthy that we are reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as a basis for our foreign policies, the text added.

The speech also highlighted the issue of combating terrorism, which was one of the original goals of the SCO. Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace, the text said, in an apparent reference to Indias concerns about cross-border terror from Pakistan.

The world community must isolate and expose countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism, and cross-border terror requires a decisive response and terror financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered.

SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Iranian Interim President Mohammad Mokhber, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) executive committee Ruslan Mirzayev take part in a photo ceremony at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana (REUTERS)

The speech also referred to challenges such as climate change and the proper use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. India is working towards a committed reduction in emissions, transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles and building climate-resilient infrastructure. It is also among countries to formulate a national strategy on AI and is working within the SCO framework on a roadmap for AI cooperation.

The Indian side expressed its condolences at the recent death of Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash while congratulating Iran on attending the SCO Summit as a member of the bloc. It also congratulated President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Belarus becoming a new member of the SCO.

The SCO, which was established in June 2001, includes Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India was represented at the summit in Astana by Jaishankar following Modis decision to skip the meet.
Bihar deputy chief minister Samrat Chaudhary on Thursday assured action would be taken against the negligence of officials over frequent bridge collapses in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary addressed the multiple bridge collapses in Bihar and said an investigation was ongoing and action would be taken (ANI Photo)(Samrat Choudhary-X)

Also Read: Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi suspects conspiracy behind the collapse of bridges in Bihar

10 bridges have collapsed in 15 days in the Saran, East Champaran, Araria, Madhubani, Kishanganj and Siwan districts of Bihar. No casualties have been reported in these incidents.

I am getting each and everything investigated. I have given directions for swift action," ANI quoted the deputy chief minister as saying.

Also Read: Tejashwi jabs Modi, Nitish over Bihar bridge collapses; PIL filed in Supreme Court: 'Auspicious corruption'

The deputy CM also assured people that he is taking note of those involved in the building of the bridges, I will get a list issued - when was it built, who built it. As per the information we have received, they were built by recommendations of several MLAs. Action will be taken against negligent officers.

Also Read: Tejashwi Yadav takes swipe at Nitish govt after 5th bridge collapses in 9 days

Earlier on Thursday, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav took a dig at chief minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their silence on the frequent bridge mishaps. In his post on X, he said in Hindi, They are wondering how they can convert this auspicious corruption into Jungle Raj?

A PIL has also been filed by advocate Brajesh Singh, requesting a structural audit of the bridges, especially in light of the heavy rainfall Bihar is experiencing.

Kumar, on Wednesday, ordered the Road Construction Department(RCD) and Rural Works Department (RWD) to identify bridges in the state which require urgent repairs.

Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has suspected a conspiracy behind the multiple bridges that have collapsed in a short period of time. Two months ago, we didnt witness any incidents of bridges collapsing in the state. Now, bridges are collapsing continuously, and I suspect a conspiracy by a few people to insult the government, he said.
Kolkata, At least 25 patients started experiencing complications following cataract surgeries at a West Bengal government-run hospital in Kolkata's Metiabruz, prompting the authorities to stop such operations temporarily, an official said on Wednesday. At least 25 patients started experiencing complications following cataract surgeries at a West Bengal government-run hospital in Kolkata's Metiabruz(AFP / Relevant Image )

The cataract surgeries were performed on them last Friday and Saturday, he said.

Also read : What are cataracts and how they can be treated

It is not yet clear how the infection occurred, he said, adding that all the instruments used in the surgeries are being tested to find out the cause of the infection.

"The reason behind the infection is yet not clear. We have stopped cataract surgery for the time being," the official of the hospital told PTI.

"All 25 patients have been transferred to the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology. They are undergoing treatment there," he said.
A woman staff member of the West Bengal Raj Bhawan has petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the immunity granted to the governor under Article 361 of the Constitution, citing her allegations of sexual harassment against governor CV Ananda Bose. West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose. (PTI)

The petitioner has urged the court to clarify whether acts of sexual harassment and molestation can be considered part of the governors official duties, thereby entitling him to immunity under Article 361. It sought to highlight the potential injustice faced by victims, questioning if they must wait for the governor to leave office before seeking justice.

This court has to decide whether a victim like the petitioner can be rendered remediless, with the only option being to wait for the accused to demit his office, which delay will then be inexplainable during the trial, and render the entire procedure a mere lip service, without any justice to the victim herein, the plea said.

The petition called for a thorough investigation by the West Bengal police and the establishment of guidelines regarding the immunity of governors under Article 361.

It contended that while a civil suit against a governor can be initiated after a two-month notice, no such provision exists for criminal proceedings, leaving victims without recourse. The object of Article 361 cannot be to impair the power of the police in such situations.

The plea maintained that the immunity provided by Article 361 should not be absolute, particularly in cases involving illegal acts or violations of fundamental rights.

Such powers cannot be understood to be absolute so as to enable the Honble Governor to do acts which are illegal or which strike at the root of Part III of the Constitution. Moreover, the said immunity cannot impair the polices powers to investigate the offence or even naming the perpetrator in the complaint/FIR, despite specific averments to that effect, the plea said.

According to the woman staff members complaint, Bose allegedly called her on April 24 and May 2 under the false pretext of offering her a better job only to sexually harass her within the premises of Raj Bhavan during working hours.

The plea highlighted the disparity in how the governor, while claiming to perform his official duties, dismisses the allegations as an engineered narrative, leaving the woman marginalised and stigmatised. The petitioner has also requested state protection and compensation for the trauma she has endured.

The development follows a May order by the Calcutta high court staying proceedings in a first information report against the Officer on Special Duty (OSD-II) to the governor. The OSD-II was accused of restraining and pressuring the victim to refrain from filing a sexual harassment complaint against the governor.
Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma recused himself on Thursday from hearing a batch of bail pleas in a UAPA case linked to an alleged larger conspiracy behind the 2020 communal riots here, including that of student activist Sharjeel Imam. Delhi High Court judge Amit Sharma recused himself on Thursday from hearing bail pleas in a UAPA case against Delhi riots accused Sharjeel Imam and others (PTI)

Also Read: Delhi LG approves prosecution of Arundhati Roy under UAPA

The matters were listed before a division bench headed by Justice Prathiba M Singh after a change in the roster of judges dealing with such cases.

"Let these matters be listed before another bench of which one of us, Justice Sharma, is not a member, subject to the orders of the acting chief justice, on July 24," Justice Singh ordered.

Also Read: UAPA tribunal issues show cause notice to LTTE

The other accused persons in the case include Rashtriya Janata Dal's (RJD) youth wing leader and Jamia Millia Islamia student Meeran Haider and Alumni Association of Jamia Millia Islamia president Shifa-ur-Rehman.

Also Read: Modi govt has not learned from election results: Asaduddin Owaisi questions UAPA

Imam, United Against Hate founder Khalid Saifi and several others, including former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Umar Khalid, have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for allegedly being the "masterminds" of the February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi that left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.

The violence had erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

On April 11, 2022, the trial court denied bail to Imam, who was arrested in the case on August 25, 2020.

The Delhi Police opposed Imam's bail plea before a bench headed by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait in March on the ground that he mobilised members of the minority community and "propagated" "chakka jam" as a mode of disruption, with "no window for a peaceful protest".

Police have claimed that the protests were part of a conspiracy to trigger violence at the time of the visit of then United States president Donald Trump and that Imam, in his public addresses, had propagated the idea of "chakka jam" as the plan of action to paralyse the government.
France's answer to the Excalibur, the Durandal, has mysteriously vanished, after being stuck in stone for over 1,300 years in the village of Rocamadour. The French police are investigating the loss of the 'magic' sword, according to the Telegraph UK. The Durandal, which is France's version of the Excalibur sword, has gone missing after being stuck in stone for 1300 years (Taken from twitter: @F_Desouche)

Watch: France Elections: Le Pen & Bardellas Far-Right Party Stuns Macron In First Round; Protests Erupt

The sword was stolen on Monday, from Rocamadour, where it serves as a major tourist attraction. The ancient weapon was the favoured weapon of a famous character in French literature - the knight Roland, who was said to possess an indestructible sword.

Also Read: Another New Delhi-based French journalist claims forced to leave India

Medieval myths also claim that this magical sword had been given to the knight by an angel. It is said that the knight threw the sword to save it from approaching enemies and lodged it into the rock permanently. This further created the legend that the sword could cut through stone with one blow.

Also Read: Kante: French hero back in business

These magical qualities of the sword are mentioned in the 11th-century poems of the Song of Roland, which is the oldest surviving major work of French literature.

Now, however, the sword into a rock, lodged 100 feet above the ground, has been stolen by someone, distressed locals say. "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, local mayor Dominique Lenfant told La Depeche, a French newspaper.

He added that, 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 perplexed by how someone managed to climb 100 feet on a cliff and pull a sword embedded in stone out.

The sword has been considered so precious by the town, that when it was to be displayed at Cuny Museum in 2011, the local councillor and security guard escorted the sword to Paris.
HATHRAS: A modest 30-bedded health facility that became the first port of call to a mass carnage in Sikandra Rao town of Hathras on Tuesday crumbled under the deluge of dead bodies coming into the hospital by the minute. People gather outside a hospital where the victims of a stampede have been shifted in Hathras district of the Uttar Pradesh. (REUTERS)

Known for providing immediate relief to the local community, the staffers at the centre faced an unimaginable crisis when casualties and injured people from a stampede at a religious event, just about four kilometres away in Phulrai Mughal Garhi village, started pouring in, pushing the centre beyond its breaking point.

Also Read: How Hathras locals came together in the face of tragedy

The day began like any other at Sikandra Rao Trauma Centre. Dr RK Verma, the medical superintendent, made his rounds, checking on patients recovering from illnesses and injuries. The facility, though small, is the lifeline for the towns 20,000 residents, offering critical healthcare services in an area with few alternatives.

Around 3 pm, two young men arrived at the centre with three dead bodies of boys, aged no more than 12. The men came to the emergency ward and said a big incident has happened. We thought of first checking with the local police officer, as the two men carrying bodies of three kids seemed suspicious. As I dialled the local police station, I was told to brace for more, as the officer on the other end told me about the tragedy, said Dr Manoj Katara, who was the doctor on-call at the emergency ward.

According to Verma, when the bodies started coming in, there were six doctors on duty at the centre, including senior medical officer and two superintendents, along with 15 nursing staff.

As we got to terms with the gravity of the tragedy, all the medical staff who were off duty at the time were immediately called to service. By 4 pm, the total staff at the centre was of 60 people, including senior doctors from additional community health centre in Aligarh as well as the paramedical staff, said Verma.

Within an hour, at least 30 ambulances, private vehicles, and even carts began arriving at the health centre, carrying the injured and the dead. The small parking lot quickly filled, and the area around the health centre became a scene of frantic activity and desperate cries for help.

Senior medical officer Dr Sandeep Pal said even with as many people, the staff were unprepared for this scale of the disaster.

One by one, at least 89 bodies came in, and around 40 people injured were admitted here. The 30 beds were quickly occupied by the severely injured. The hallways, waiting areas, and even the courtyard was filled with makeshift beds. Each of the 30 beds were equipped with oxygen concentrators and those who required it was provided the same, said Pal.

Verma and his team of doctors and nurses worked around the clock, trying to triage and provide care to the injured. However, all of it was not enough.

Roshni, 17, had called her mother around 4 pm on Tuesday from the Sikandra Rao trauma centre telling her she was okay.

My daughter and I had got separated in the stampede after which I was taken to Hathras hospital, as I lay unconscious at the satsang site. As I reached there, my daughter called on my phone saying she is at the Sikandra Rao trauma centre. I asked my husband to immediately go there and check on her. But by the time he reached, our daughter had passed away, said Kamla Devi, Roshnis mother and a resident of Belsi, Badaun.

Roshnis father Kailash Chand recalled, As I reached the trauma centre, I started looking for my daughter in the womens ward. A nurse asked me to show her my daughters photograph, and then took me to the room where the bodies were kept, and so was my daughters remains.

He further alleged, The doctors did not pay attention to my daughter, because of which this happened. If they had taken care of her, she would not have died.

The doctors at the trauma centre, however, maintained there was not a single person who came to the centre alive and later died.

Among all the people that were brought here, only 40 were breathing, who were treated, while 89 others were brought dead. We checked each of them for their pulse, Verma said, adding the hospital is equipped with an oxygen plant that provides 250 litres per minute oxygen to each of the 30 beds at the facility.

The biggest task for the doctors was to check and declare death of the patients. We had never worked with these many bodies before. We were going around with stethoscopes, checking the pulse of the people lying across the centre, and noting their deaths. We were also worried that if we make an error, what if the person we have announced as dead comes into consciousness, said Pal.

It was chaos, said nurse Priya. So many people needed urgent care... We did what we could, but it felt like an impossible task.

As resources were limited, doctors were quick to refer the injured to other hospitals. Out of the 40 injured, 17 people were referred to the Hathras district hospital and seven to the Aligarh district hospital. By night, as the injured felt better, 16 people were discharged from the centre, said Verma.

As the day wore on, the influx of bodies overwhelmed the centres capacity. The bodies were shifted to the mortuaries at bigger hospitals, including Hathras district hospital, Aligarh district hospital and Etah district hospital.
Suraj Pal, known to his followers as Bhole Baba or Narayan Hari Sakar, the man behind the large religious gathering at Hathras that ended in a tragic stampede, resulting in the death of 121 people, mostly women and children, has a prawling network of 24 ashrams, a fleet of luxury cars, and assets worth at least 100 crore, according to people familiar with the matter. An ashram of Bhole Baba in Kasganj. (PTI)

Pal, 65, has been missing since the stampede, although he released a statement blaming anti-social elements . To be sure, the police have not named him in their initial complaint. On Thursday, they arrested six people , including some of his key aides, but still did not name him.

Pals trust , the Shri Narayan Hari Sakar Charitable Trust, oversees his empire, said the people cited above, including some who are closely associated with his operations.

The source of this wealth is unclear because most of Pals followers are poor people.

Read Here: 6 sevadars held over Hathras stampede, preacher still at large

When Bhole Baba makes his grand entrance before his devotees, he is usually clad in a crisp white three-piece suit, replete with a tie and fashionable eyeglasses . He comes in a convoy; leading it are 16 commandos in black fatigues, astride powerful 350 cc motorcycles, ensuring a clear path for his escort of 15 to 30 vehicles. His Trusts volunteers (sevadars), dressed in light pink attire and carrying batons, are strategically positioned along the route to ensure smooth passage for their revered leader and to make sure that no one films or takes a photograph. Pal himself rides in a white Toyota Fortuner, its interiors adorned with matching white seat covers, epitomising both luxury and spiritual authority, one person said.

Baba does not trust the police and administration for security, his events and community service, explained Anil Kumar, who has been a devoted follower for 11 years. Instead, he relies on his thousands of sevadars who manage every aspect of security. Becoming a sevadar involves a formal application process and selection. They receive payment, food, and accommodation within the ashram.

The Hathras event did have permission from authorities, although the crowd is expected to have been twice what was expected.

Explained: What happened in Hathras? All you need to know about Bhole Baba, stampede

Pal resides in the Mainpuri Ashram located in Bichuva, sprawling across 21 bighas of land and named Hari Nagar. Within this expansive estate, six rooms are exclusively reserved for him and his wife. At the entrance of his Mainpuri ashram , a board displays 200 donors who have contributed amounts ranging from a minimum of 10,000 to a maximum of 2.5 lakh.

To our knowledge, Baba oversees 24 ashrams spread across various parts of the state and the country. This particular ashram, completed three years ago, serves as his residence and operational base, another person said.

In its present form, the Shri Narayan Hari Sakar Charitable Trust was set up only last year. Through other subsidiary trusts it owns ashrams across the region. Such as one in Kasui village of Kanpurs Bidhnu, where the sevadars reside. Or another that is under construction in Bhupat Sarai, Etawah, and is spread over 15 bighas. There is also one in Patiyali, where Pal hails from, that is constructed on over 29 bighas of land, resembling a fortress with its watch towers, high walls, and a grand entrance gate. Outside the ashram, a board clearly states that video recording and photography are prohibited both inside and outside the premises.

However it has been years since Pal has visited it, the people said. Nor has he visited in years, the house he owns in Agras Kedar Nagar . It is not clear how a UP police constable with modest means built a spiritual empire.Given the secrecy around him and his organisation, it is likely this will change.
A day after the Hathras stampede, preacher Bhole Baba's lawyer claimed on Wednesday that the incident occurred because of a conspiracy hatched by anti-social elements. He also refuted the claim that the stampede broke out when devotees rushed to touch the feet of the preacher.

Suraj Pal aka Narayan Sakar alias Bhole Baba, a religious preacher.(HT_PRINT)
As India and Bangladesh prepare to begin negotiations to renew a nearly three-decade-old treaty for sharing the waters of the Ganga river, the impact of the climate crisis on water flows and the role of West Bengal government are emerging as crucial factors in the deal. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shaking hands with his Bangladesh's counterpart Sheikh Hasina (L) upon their arrival at the Hyderabad house in New Delhi. (PTI)

The Ganga is one of 54 rivers shared by India and Bangladesh and long-standing differences over the sharing of its waters were resolved with the signing of the Ganga Waters Treaty in December 1996 by then Indian premier HD Deve Gowda and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

The treaty is up for renewal in 2026, and during Hasinas official visit to New Delhi last month Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the two sides had decided to start technical negotiations for renewing it.

People familiar with preparatory work done by the two countries said on condition of anonymity that the effect of the climate crisis on the flow of the Ganga is a crucial issue that has to be factored into the negotiations. This is a factor that has had an impact on the flows of numerous cross-border rivers that traverse India, they said.

Read Here | India, Bangladesh moving ahead rapidly to strengthen bilateral cooperation: President Murmu

Studies on the impact of climate change on the Ganga will have to be a key part of the negotiations to ensure the treaty remains relevant and future-proof, covering all possible scenarios and contingencies, said one of the people cited above.

The people on both sides acknowledged the crucial role that will be played by the West Bengal government headed by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, given that states through which a cross-border river passes have to sign off on a water-sharing treaty or its renewal.

In this context, the people pointed to Banerjees role in holding up a treaty on the Teesta river, even though India and Bangladesh had agreed on the text as far back as 2011. The signing of the pact had to be put off due to opposition from the West Bengal government, which contended the treaty would leave parts of the state dry.

The role of the West Bengal chief minister will be key to the efforts to renew the treaty, given that we have only about 18 months for negotiations on the renewal, a second person said.

Banerjee recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister arguing that the move to renew the Ganga Waters Treaty was unilateral and that the West Bengal government was not consulted. However, the people pointed out the Union Jal Shakti ministry set up an internal committee in July 2023 that included representatives of the Bihar and West Bengal governments.

Read Here: India offers to take up Teesta project in Bdesh

West Bengal nominated its representative to the internal committee in August 2023, and participated in three of the panels four meetings. The West Bengal government also sent a communication to the committee on April 5, 2024, that provided its drinking and industrial water requirements for inclusion in the Ganga Waters Treaty beyond 2026, the people said.

The internal committees final report, submitted on June 14, 2024, is being examined by the Jal Shakti ministry, which has also formed a joint technical committee to begin discussions with Bangladesh.

On the Bangladesh side, there are concerns about any possible move to reduce the quantum of water provided to the country under the provisions of the treaty. The treaty has worked pretty well for three decades, including the regular sharing of data and coordination.

But any reduction in the quantum of water will be disastrous and make it very difficult to sell the treaty to the public in Bangladesh, a third person said.

Under the terms of the treaty, when the availability of water at the Farakka barrage is 70,000 cusecs or less, India and Bangladesh share the water equally. When the availability is 70,000 cusecs to 75,000 cusecs, Bangladesh gets 35,000 cusecs and India the balance of the flow. When the availability is 75,000 cusecs or more, India gets 40,000 cusecs and Bangladesh the balance of the flow.

This is subject to the condition that India and Bangladesh each will receive guaranteed 35,000 cusecs in three alternate 10-day periods between March 11 and May 10 every year. The quantum for both countries was decided according to the 10-day average availability of water at Farakka between 1949 and 1988.

According to a report released by Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in 2019, the climate crisis will begin altering water levels in the Ganga and the Brahmaputra over the next three decades, and the rivers could record an abrupt decrease in flow after 2050. This will diminish the water available for drinking, irrigation and producing electricity for roughly 250 million people living downstream.

In the dynamic context of climate change, the Ganges Treaty necessitates recalibration. As river flows shift, adaptive water allocation becomes paramountbalancing equitable distribution with ecological resilience. Proactive flood management, guided by data-driven insights, should be incorporated. Robust data-sharing mechanisms, joint monitoring efforts, and science-based water allocation frameworks should be adopted to ensure sustainable water management and equitable resource distribution between India and Bangladesh, said Arun Bhakta Shrestha, Climate and environmental risks Lead, ICIMOD.

Maya Mirchandani, a senior fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and member of faculty at Ashoka University who has studied the issue of cross-border rivers, acknowledged the need to factor climate change into the upcoming negotiations but pointed to the erratic nature of extreme weather conditions. We are lurching from flooding to droughts and we dont know whats coming next, she said.

Besides, on the diplomatic front, water relations between India and Bangladesh have been contentious, Mirchandani said. In the context of the tightly knit geography, she added: In principle, I believe upper riparian nations have a responsibility to those downstream.
By Aditya Kalra A five-member team of the federal government's regional labour department visited the Foxconn factory near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu state(Reuters )

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Indian labour officials visited a Foxconn factory in the country's south this week and questioned executives about the company's hiring practices, an official said, after Reuters reported that the major Apple supplier has been rejecting married women from iPhone assembly jobs.

A five-member team of the federal government's regional labour department visited the Foxconn factory near Chennai, in Tamil Nadu state, on July 1 and spoke to company directors and human resources officials, A. Narasaiah, the regional labour commissioner, told Reuters by telephone on Wednesday.

Foxconn did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while Apple did not address questions from Reuters about the visit.

The inquiries come after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government asked state officials and the office of the federal government's Regional Chief Labour Commissioner last week to provide detailed reports on the matter, following Reuters' investigation into hiring practices at the manufacturing facility.

"We are collecting information, and have asked the company to submit documents like company policies, recruitment policies" as well as evidence of compliance with labour laws and information on maternity and retirement benefits, Narasaiah said. "They told us they are not discriminating."

Narasaiah said Foxconn told the labour officials the factory employs 41,281 people, including 33,360 women. Of these women, some 2,750, or about 8%, were married, he said, citing Foxconn's submission.

Foxconn did not break down the staffing figures into specific areas such as iPhone assembly, where Reuters reported the discrimination was taking place, Narasaiah said. He added that the labour inspectors interviewed 40 married women inside the plant, who raised no concerns about discrimination.

Narasaiah said he currently has no plan to question Foxconn's third-party hiring agents, who scout for candidates and bring them to the plant for interviews.

A Reuters investigation published last week found Foxconn systematically excluded married women from assembly jobs at its main Indian iPhone plant on the grounds they have more family responsibilities than their unmarried counterparts. Foxconn HR sources and third-party hiring agents cited family duties, pregnancy and higher absenteeism as reasons for not hiring married women.

The reporting also found that Taiwan-based Foxconn relaxes the practice of not hiring married women during high-production periods.

The story has sparked debates on TV channels, newspaper editorials, and calls from opposition figures and women's groups, including within Modi's party, to investigate the matter.

Responding to the Reuters investigation, Apple and Foxconn acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and said they had worked to address the issues. All the discriminatory practices documented by Reuters at the Tamil Nadu plant, however, took place in 2023 and 2024. The companies did not address those instances.

Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry, has previously said it "vigorously refutes allegations of employment discrimination based on marital status, gender, religion or any other form."

Apple has said all its suppliers, including Foxconn, hire married women and all its suppliers, including Foxconn, hire married women and "when concerns about hiring practices were first raised in 2022 we immediately took action and worked with our supplier to conduct monthly audits to identify issues and ensure that our high standards are upheld."

Indian law does not bar companies from discriminating in hiring based on marital status, though Apple's and Foxconn's policies prohibit such practices in their supply chains.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra; editing by David Crawshaw and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
New Delhi The Union government on Wednesday notified the appointment of justice BR Sarangi as the chief justice of the Jharkhand high court, albeit with a brief tenure before his impending retirement on July 20. The appointment came after prolonged delays by the Centre, which did not move on the collegiums recommendation made in December last year. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The appointment came after prolonged delays by the Centre, which did not move on the collegiums recommendation made in December last year, highlighting ongoing concerns over judicial appointments and administrative delays.

The governments endorsement of justice Sarangis elevation to the chief justiceship was announced by law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on X, by sharing the notification that offers him just around a fortnight at the helm of the Jharkhand high court. The high court has remained without a full-time chief justice since December 29, two days after the collegiums recommendation to appoint justice Sarangi.

This appointment highlights varying timelines in the appointment of judges and chief justices across various high courts.

Notably, while clearing justice Sarangis appointment, the government has again chosen to leave out the appointment of justice Sheel Nagu as chief justice of the Punjab & Haryana high court. Justice Nagus appointment is the only one of the five names proposed by the collegium in December 2023.

The other three appointments -- justices Arun Bhansali, Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Vijay Bishnoi as chief justices of the high courts of Allahabad, Rajasthan and Gauhati respectively -- were cleared by the Centre in February.

The Punjab & Haryana high court has been without a full-time justice since February 4.

The Delhi high court, too, has not had a full-time chief justice since November 9, 2023, while high courts of Madhya Pradesh and Madras are also functioning with acting chiefs since May this year.

The memorandum of procedure of appointment (MoP) of high court judges  a guidebook of understanding between the Supreme Court collegium and the central government in matters of appointment and transfer of judges of constitutional courts, lays down that the Government have, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, decided as a matter of policy to appoint the Chief Justice of all High Courts from outside. The MoP was framed in 1999 as the standard based on three decisions of the Supreme Court that evolved the collegium system as the selection mechanism for the appointment of judges in India.

The first three Supreme Court judges, including the Chief Justice of India, comprise the collegium recommending the appointment of chief justices in high courts. The collegium is currently made up of CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, and justices Sanjiv Khanna and BR Gavai.

The Supreme Court collegium puts out some basic reasons which serve as a rationale for the appointments or transfers that they recommend, but the existing MoP does not bind the central government to a timeline to respond -- it can simply sit on the collegiums recommendations.

Justice Sarangis brief tenure highlights systemic challenges within the appointment process, resonating with earlier instances like that of justice Sabinas retirement from the Himachal Pradesh high court without assuming the chief justices office due to non-notification of the collegiums recommendation. She retired in April 2023 as the government did not notify the collegiums February 2023 recommendation to appoint as her as the chief justice.

Another judge who barely made it to the coveted office of chief justice (for just 10 days), was justice Jaswant Singh. He was supposed to become the chief justice of Orissa high court after the transfer of justice S Muralidhar, according to a September 2022 recommendation by the collegium. When the government did not process justice Muralidhars transfer, the collegium revised its recommendation in January 2023 and made a fresh proposal to transfer justice Singh to the Tripura high court in view of his retirement clock. He retired in February 2023.
The Kerala high court allowed a 19-year-old transwoman to live freely after she was allegedly held in illegal detention by her parents and sister and forced to undergo therapy aimed at altering her gender identity. The bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and PM Manoj held that LGBT persons like other heterosexual persons are entitled to their privacy and the right to lead a dignified existence without fear of persecution (File photo)

The bench of justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and PM Manoj held that LGBT persons like other heterosexual persons are entitled to their privacy and the right to lead a dignified existence without fear of persecution.

The HCs ruling on July 1 came in response to a petition filed on behalf of the transwoman by her friend pleading for directions to her family to produce her in court and set her at liberty.

The transwoman, who was assigned male sex at birth, told the court that she was subjected to familial violence when she came out revealing her gender identity. She alleged that she was admitted to Amrita Hospital in Ernakulam by her family and coerced into signing a consent form for therapy aimed at altering her gender identity. She was allegedly administered medication without her consent and threatened with being labeled as mentally ill if she insisted on discharge from the hospital.

The court ordered the family of the transwoman to produce her and interacted with them in private. The HC acknowledged the transpersons wish not to return to her family residence and heard the submissions of the government pleader, her family and the petitioners counsel.

The court cited the National Legal Services Authority v Union of India to recognise the right of transgender persons to decide their self-identified gender. It also cited Navtej Singh Johar v Union of India case and the Supreme Courts ruling that sexual orientation is innate to a human being. It is an important attribute of ones personality and identity. Homosexuality and bisexuality are natural variants of human sexuality, the HC said.

We are of the view that the choice expressed by her needs to be respected and she should be permitted to live her life on her own terms, the court said.

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Long adjournments granted by trial courts for cross-examining witnesses is an unhealthy practice capable of affecting the fairness of the trial and endangering the safety of witnesses, the Supreme Court has said while upholding the life imprisonment of a police constable for murdering a relative using his carbine at Delhis Mayur Vihar police station in 2002. The Supreme Court said long adjournments could endanger the safety of witnesses. (HT PHOTO)

A bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Rajesh Bindal on Wednesday noted that there was a gap of two months between the recording of the prime witnessess statement and the date of cross-examination. It flagged the issue for future trials. Such long adjournment as was given in this case after examination...should never have been given. Reasons for this are many, but to our mind, the main reason would be that this may affect the fairness of the trial and may even endanger, in a given case, the safety of the witness.

The defence was given the adjournment to have the prime witness cross-examined with another witness. The Supreme Court cited records and said the reason was only a ruse to adjourn the matter as the other witnesses were examined nearly a year after the prime witness was questioned. We only wanted to record this cautionary note to make our point that this practice is not a healthy practice and the courts should be slow in deferring these matters.

The Supreme Court, which granted the convict Surender Singh bail in 2012 when he challenged the Delhi high court verdict upholding his conviction and sentence in 2011, directed him to surrender to the trial court within four weeks.

Singh was on guard duty when he killed Satish for having a relationship with his wife. A head constable at the police station, who was injured in the shooting, was the prime witness. The statements of the head constable and other policemen at the police station helped the prosecution secure the conviction in the case.

Singh argued in the Supreme Court that he was forced to fire in self-defence after Satish tried to assault him. The court rejected the argument. The plea of self-defence taken by the accused is childish, to say the least, in the light of the facts of the case.

Eight to nine gunshot wounds were found on Satishs body mostly on his back. The prosecution said the first bullet was fired in Satishs chest. As he tried to escape, Singh fired a volley of gunshots into his back.

The eyewitnesses testified against Singh with the Supreme Court concluding that the crime was a clear case of murder that deserved no mercy.

Also read : Afternoon briefing: PIL filed in SC to probe Hathras stampede; Bengal Guv vs Mamata Banerjee over defamation suit, more

The court noted in case after case cross-examinations were being adjourned routinely. It added this can seriously prejudice a fair trial.

Justice Dhulia, who wrote the judgment for the bench, said as far as possible, the defence should be asked to cross-examine the witness the same day or the following day. Only in very exceptional cases, and for reasons to be recorded, the cross-examination should be deferred and a short adjournment can be given after taking precautions and care, for the witness, if it is required.

The court referred to the Code of Criminal Procedures Section 231, which allows discretion for a judge to defer cross-examination of any witness or witnesses or even recall a witness. It added adjournment is not a matter of right but at the discretion. This court had, on more than one occasion, condemned this practice of the trial court where examinations are deferred without sufficient reasons, the bench said.
PANAJI: The Mahadayi Progressive River Authority for Water and Harmony (PRAWAH) will hold a four-day visit to the Mahadayi river basin in Goa and north Karnataka to see the extent of work undertaken by the Karnataka government, Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday. Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant (PTI)

Mahadayi PRAWAH was set up by the Jal Shakti ministry in May last year to oversee compliance and implementation of the decisions of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.

The Mahadayi PRAWAH members will conduct a detailed site inspection of the Mhadei basin which will familiarise them with the on-ground facts about the extent of work undertaken by the Karnataka Government. The inspection is crucial for Goa as it will uncover the truth before the PRAWAH members. This is an outcome of our continuous efforts to protect Mhadei which will strengthen our case and vindicate our stand, Sawant said.

The visit is being conducted at the request of the Goa government.

On Thursday the team began inspection of the Goa side of the river basin and is scheduled to travel to Chorla-Kankumbi along the Goa-Karnataka border on Sunday before heading to Bengaluru for a joint meeting of the three states on Monday.

PRAWAH has members nominated by Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, the three parties to the dispute,

Goa has opposed any diversion of waters of the Mahadayi river which originates in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, takes a detour via Maharashtra and enters Goa as the Mandovi. The Mahadayiriver basin drains an area of 2,032 sq km., out of which an area of 375 sq km. lies in Karnataka, 77 sq km. in Maharashtra and the rest in Goa.

Both the Goa and Karnataka governments have, for very different reasons, challenged the final award granted by the Mahadayi Interstate Water Disputes Tribunal. This verdict in August 2018 granted Karnataka a total of 13.42 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC) of water against their total claim of 36.558 TMC.

While Goa has approached the Supreme Court arguing that Karnataka shouldnt be allowed to divert any water since the Mahadayi is a water-deficient river, Karnataka had moved the top court arguing that the tribunal erred in granting it only 13.42 TMC.

Karnataka argues that the river diversion project is aimed at feeding northern Karnatakas parched regions, particularly the twin towns of Hubli and Dharwad, Goa has said any diversion of the Mahadayi river, which is already water deficit, will spell doom for the state.
Bhopal, The Madhya Pradesh Police's Anti-Terror Squad on Thursday arrested a man who was allegedly planning a "lone-wolf" attack on security forces and had even done a recce, officials said. Man planning 'lone-wolf' attacks on security forces arrested by MP ATS

Faizan Sheikh, a 34-year-old mechanic, was influenced by the ideologies of the Indian Mujahideen and the Islamic State . He was arrested following raids in Kanjar Mohalla-Saluja Colony in the communally-sensitive Khandwa town, they said.

Inspector General of MP Police Ashish told reporters that initial investigation has revealed that Sheikh wanted to make a name for himself by carrying out a "lone-wolf" attack on security personnel and had done a proper recce for that.

According to police sources, the accused was on the ATS radar for a long time for being in regular touch with members of banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India .

Four mobile phones, one pistol, live cartridges, and literature and videos of various terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, IM and IS were recovered from him. He has been booked under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Act , IG Ashish said.

Some others associated with Sheikh in Khandwa are also being quizzed by the ATS, police said.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav congratulated the police on Sheikh's arrest and said the state government has contacted central agencies to share details about the network of the accused.

"We will not tolerate any such activity in Madhya Pradesh... we were able to arrest a dreaded terrorist and have also come to know of his secret plans. I am sure the police action will break the backbone of their network," Yadav told reporters in Chhindwara.

"We took timely action against him and thus foiled a major terror plan," he said.

The state government has also informed the Intelligence Bureau about Sheikh's arrest and the central agency will also investigate the matter, he said.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Imphal: The officials in Manipur have attributed improper disposal of single-use plastic bottles as one reason for blocking of river water flow, leading to flooding in residential areas after many parts of Imphal Valley were inundated due to the rise in water levels of rivers amid heavy rainfall. Officials in Manipur said that plastic has led to obstruction of river water flow, potentially contributing to floods in valley regions (HT Photo/Sourced)

Earlier, the Manipur government imposed a ban on single-use plastic bottles and plastic carrying bags less than 75 microns in thickness until December 30, 2022. From December 31, 2022, plastic carrying bags with less than 120 microns in thickness are also banned.

Thaonaojam Alexander, a development officer at the department of environment and climate change, told the Hindustan Times on Wednesday about the necessity for people to stop disposing of waste materials, especially used plastic bottles and bags, along river banks. He warned that such practices could significantly obstruct river water flow, potentially contributing to floods in valley regions.

Since July 1, Manipur has experienced incessant rainfall, causing water levels in major rivers flowing through Imphal Valley to rise above flood levels. During the previous flood caused by Cyclone Remal, a large number of used plastic bottles and other plastic waste items were observed blocking the flow of rivers, particularly in the Nambul River.

The Nambul River, which passes through Imphal city, is considered one of the most polluted rivers in the state. It flows through the congested Khwairamband Market area, where waste is often disposed of along its banks. After meeting Naga Nullah, the river continues towards Loktak Lake.

Also Read: Manipur: Flood situation worsens after breaching, overflowing of rivers

Due to the impact of southwest monsoon rains, major rivers, including Nambul, Imphal, and Iril, have overflowed and breached their banks, causing inundation in parts of Imphal East and West.

During the second flood, significant amounts of used plastic bottles and other plastic items were found obstructing the flow of the Imphal River at Salanthong in Imphal East.

Thaonaojam Alexander emphasized that despite government efforts to raise awareness, many people continue to dump waste on river banks. He cited the tons of used plastic blocking the flow at Salanthong as evidence of the need for greater awareness and responsible waste disposal practices.

He appealed to the public to dispose of waste properly to maintain clean surroundings.

Alexander mentioned that during the earlier flood caused by Cyclone Remal, the department had collected around 30 truckloads of used plastic bottles and other plastic waste materials from various spots along the Nambul River stretch. This may have contributed to less overflow along the Nambul River during the current flood.

To prevent disturbances in water flow in the Imphal River, the department is actively cleaning and removing used water bottles and other plastic items stuck along the river course, Alexander added.

Also Read: Assam, Manipur floods: 48 killed, thousands evacuated amid heavy rains | Top updates

He also stated that the department will continue surveying the Imphal River stretch to remove other pollutants that could disrupt its flow, and similar surveys will be conducted for the Iril River.

According to the daily report from the Water Resources Department, until 10 am Thursday, water levels in major rivers are decreasing from the high flood level to the flood level. However, all rivers remain above the warning level.

Meanwhile, the directorate of education (school) issued an order on Thursday extending the holiday for schools and colleges (private, government-aided, and central schools) for an additional two days until July 6 due to worsening flood conditions that have submerged residential areas and educational institutions.

Earlier, the directorate of education (school) had announced to close all schools in the state on July 3 and 4.

It also mentioned that departments involved in rescue and relief operations and essential services will remain a working day.

On Wednesday, the state government declared July 3 as a public holiday for all government offices, including Public Sector Undertakings/corporations/autonomous bodies/societies under the Government of Manipur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that instances of violence that have roiled Manipur for over a year have begun to decline, and that the resumption of schools, offices and establishments in the state is a sign of normalcy being restored, his first comments in Parliament on the issue. New Delhi, Jul 03 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Rajya Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV) (Sansad TV)

Pointing out that the Presidents Rule was imposed 10 times in the state during the Congress rule, the PM, during his speech in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, cautioned that anyone trying to fan the fire by stoking unrest in the state should stop as the state will reject them.

The opposition staged a walkout barely 30 minutes after the Prime Minister began his address after leader of opposition in the house Mallikarjun Kharge was not allowed to intervene. In his 124-minute long speech, Modi criticised the INDIA bloc for disrespecting the Constitution and democratic processes and accused the National Advisory Council that was headed by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi of running the government through remote control.

Defending the governments response to the ethnic violence between the Kukis and the Meiteis in Manipur, the PM said the government is making all efforts to stem violence and curb tension in the state that have resulted in arson and loss to life and property.

While the opposition has been critical of the governments response and the PM for not visiting Manipur, Modi slammed the Opposition for politicising the sensitive issue that should have been dealt with by setting aside party politics.

He said the government is relentlessly working to restore peace.

...11,000 FIRs have been filed, over 500 arrests made...incidents of violence are reducing... home minister Amit Shah stayed there for many days, Union minister of state for home also stayed there for weeks and apart from the political leadership, even government officials have been going there, he said.

The PM in his statement, which came a day after the opposition disrupted Lok Sabha during his address, lashed out at the Congress for forgetting the history of the state.

Those who know the history of Manipur know theres a long history of social conflict in Manipur. No one can deny that the root of this social conflict is very deep. Congress people should not forget, Presidents rule had to be imposed 10 times in such a small state...the conditions were worse in 1993 (during the Congress rule) that it lasted for five years, he said and added that those who want to contribute towards restoring peace are welcome.

All of us must rise above politics and contribute to making the situation normal there. This is our duty, he said.

Hitting out at Modi, the Congress called his claims on Manipur astounding, saying the situation is still tense in the state.

In actuality, the situation is still tense as the MP from Inner Manipur pointed out in the Lok Sabha on July 1, said Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh.

Referring to the steps taken to resolve outstanding issues in the northeast, the PM said boundary disputes between the states have been resolved. Terror groups and their underground workers have been dismantled and made to surrender, he said.

The Prime Minister also slammed the opposition for running a fake narrative during the Lok Sabha election that the BJP intended to change the Constitution and scrap caste-based quotas that offer reservation to SCs and STs in educational institutions and government jobs.

We are proud of the wisdom of people who defeated the propaganda and gave priority to performance, the PM said.

He dubbed the oppositions walkout as a sign of their inability to accept the verdict of the Lok Sabha polls and they have insulted the Upper House and its traditions. They do not have the courage to listen... People have defeated them, now they have no other option but to run away and indulge in sloganeering...this is written in their fate... he said.

Referring to the sloganeering and disruption in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, he said unlike the Opposition, he is duty-bound as a sevak (servant) of the people and is accountable to them.

If what we have to say is not heard, then why should we stay? When Rahul Gandhi spoke, PM Narendra Modi got up twice to clarify. Four ministers clarified. When I spoke, attempts were made to interrupt. Today, why didnt we get even a minute to intervene during the PMs address? said Kharge.

Taking potshots at the Oppositions coalition, he said political compulsions dictate the response of parties to issues such as crimes against women. Drawing attention to the public flogging of a couple in West Bengal that was widely shared on social media, he said, Those who consider themselves progressive pro-women leaders have not expressed concern... because the incident is related to a party, which they have political connection with. And that is worrying.

The PM was referring to the incident from West Bengals Uttar Dinajpur district, where a Trinamool Congress functionary has been accused of flogging a couple.

On the issue of paper leaks and other irregularities in the conduct of examinations, which the opposition has flayed the government for, the PM said, his expectation that all parties will sidestep party politics to address the concern have not been met.

I assure the youth that those who betrayed them will not be spared... the PM said.

We wanted there should be no politics on a sensitive issue like paper leak, but the opposition is used to it. I assure the youth of India that action is being taken to ensure that those who play with the future of youths are handed down strict punishment, he said.

Responding to the Oppositions charge that the government has been misusing probe agencies, the PM hit back that weeding out corruption is his mission and conviction.

The fight against corruption is not for winning polls...it (corruption) is like a termite that has hollowed out the country... the agencies have full freedom to take action and the government will not interfere, he said.

Modi also laid a roadmap for development over the five years, even as he vowed to continue a crackdown on corruption.

The government has given probe agencies complete freedom to take stringent action against the corrupt, he said, taking a potshot at the Congress for levelling serious allegations with evidence against the AAP and then forming an alliance with it to fight the Lok Sabha polls.

Yes they (probe agencies) should work honestly. No person embroiled in corruption will be able to escape the law. This is Modis guarantee, the PM said
The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday filed a first information report (FIR) against the organisers of a religious congregation in Hathras, where a stampede killed 121 people, but did not name the self-styled godman Bhole Baba, whom hundreds of thousands flocked to see on Tuesday as the deadly tragedy, which stunned the nation and exposed a raft of administrative failures, unfolded. Relatives mourn during the last rites of three members of their family who died in the stampede at Hathras. (PTI)

Five more people succumbed on Wednesday, pushing the toll up from 116 the previous day, even as roughly two dozen more remained critical, said officials.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial investigation into the stampede  the deadliest in India since 2008  to be helmed by a retired high court judge, and said the state government would consider laying out standard operating protocols for gatherings of such magnitude.

The tragedy took place at a satsang organised by Bhole Baba, a 65-year-old-man originally named Suraj Pal, who remains at large, said UP Police.

District officials have been asked to trace him, even though he is not named in the FIR, said an officer.

Around 250,000 people attended the event, said local officials, survivors and residents, adding that the venue was a partially covered field in Phulari Mughal Garhi, a village roughly 200km from Delhi.

The stampede occurred minutes after the programme ended. As Pal began to leave the venue around 1.40pm on Wednesday, a large mass of devotees started to run towards his convoy, to gather dust from the ground he had touched (a practice they call Raj). However, the preachers guards stopped people as they rushed toward him, with dozens falling over each other at this point on the sloping ground.

The tragedy was worsened by a string of other factors -- the wet ground turned the field into a muddy trap, humid weather caused many to faint during the melee, and only two medical facilities with limited resources were available to tend to what was a sudden flood of people who had been crushed in the crowd.

The accident underlined a string of lapses by the organisers and officials, with the satsang crammed well beyond the allotted permission of 80,000, as the absence of properly defined exits or barricading compounded the scale of the chaos.

The FIR, filed on the complaint of sub-inspector Brijesh Pandey, named Devdas Madhukar, the head volunteer (sevadar) of Pals organisation and unnamed organisers of the religious congregation. All the suspects were at large, said police.

It was registered under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by the public servant), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The FIR also blamed the volunteers (sevadars) for not cooperating with authorities after the stampede, throwing devotees belongings into fields and removing the tent, all in a bid to wipe out evidence.

A report filed by the subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Ravindra Kumar Singhof the Sikandra Rau division (which Hathras falls under), who had given permission for the event, corroborated the contents of the FIR.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer involved in the probe said they were looking for Pal, who was not to be found at his sprawling farmhouse in Mainpuri, even as a large police contingent remained deployed there since Tuesday.

Victims families, however, refused to blame Pal.Kailash Chand, who lost his daughter Roshni to the stampede, was one of them. Baba teaches us that everything happens for a reason, even if we cant understand it, he said. Roshnis soul is now with the divine, and we must continue our spiritual journey.

Adityanath, after meeting with Hathras police officers, said the list of suspects in the FIR could swell as the investigation progresses, assuring that no guilty person will be spared.

A woman constable on duty at the congregation also detailed the sequence of events before the chief minister at Hathras district hospital on Wednesday.

The CM said the judicial probe would ascertain if the stampede was a conspiracy or just an accident.

We will ensure such incidents do not recur, said Adityanath.

He also met the injured at the Hathras district hospital, of whom 115 are from Uttar Pradesh, four from Haryana, and one each from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Several global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, offered their condolences over the tragedy.

Kindly accept the most sincere condolences over the tragic accident in Uttar Pradesh, Putin told President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a message, according to the X handle of the Russian Embassy in India.

In a statement, Kishida said, 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.

Meanwhile, Opposition leaders pulled up the local administration and state government, demanding accountability.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday over the stampede, saying such incidents keep happening but accountability is not fixed by the government, which instead is only interested in whitewashing these matters.

In a post in Hindi on X, she said, Three times more crowd than permitted, no administration on the spot, no crowd management arrangements, no way to escape from the scorching heat, no medical team, no ambulance after the incident, no one for help, no doctors and facilities in the hospital ... such a long list of negligence but no one is accountable. Who is responsible for the tragic incident that happened in Hathras?

A petition was also filed in the Supreme Court seeking the submission of a report before the court on the stampede and legal action against the accused, authorities and officials for their negligent conduct.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Russia and Austria next week, with the highlight being a bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin that will allow the two sides to chart a course for future cooperation. Kremlin said PM Modi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the further development of the traditionally amicable relations between Russia and India, as well as pressing international and regional issues (AP FILE PHOTO)

The first leg of the three-day official visit will take PM Modi to Moscow on July 8-9 at the invitation of Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the external affairs ministry said in a statement on Thursday. The summit is scheduled for July 9.

An announcement from the Kremlin said Modi will meet Putin to discuss the further development of the traditionally amicable relations between Russia and India, as well as pressing international and regional issues.

This will be Modis first bilateral visit in his third term following a trip to Italy last month to participate in the outreach session of the G7 Summit. It is also his first visit to Russia since 2019, and also the first since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Besides discussing ways to balance bilateral trade, which is currently skewed in Russias favour following Indias increased purchase of Russian crude, the two sides are expected to review cooperation in defence, space and nuclear energy, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. They will also explore new avenues for cooperation, including connectivity initiatives, the people said.

The safe and speedy return of Indian nationals serving in the Russian military, an issue that figured in talks between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Astana on Wednesday, is expected to be raised during the prime ministers visit, the people added.

India has sought a verified stop to the recruitment of Indian nationals in the Russian Army following the death of four Indians on the frontlines of the conflict with Ukraine.

India has not publicly criticised Russias invasion of Ukraine though it has called on both sides to cease hostilities and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy. Modis visit to Russia will also reflect Indias strategic autonomy in foreign relations, the people said.

The trip has, however, raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles as Indian prime ministers have traditionally chosen a neighbouring country as the destination for their first foreign visit.

From Russia, Modi will travel to Austria on July 9-10. This will be the first visit to Austria by an Indian premier in 41 years.

Modi will meet President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from both countries.

He will also interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow and Vienna.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national Capital on Thursday to discuss issues concerning the development of the state, people familiar with the matter said. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. (PTI)

Describing the meeting as constructive, the Telugu Desam Party leader said, Today, I had a constructive meeting with the Honble Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji, in Delhi to address important matters concerning the welfare and development of Andhra Pradesh. I am confident that under his leadership, our state will re-emerge as a powerhouse among states.

According to a person aware of the details, Naidu, who is seeking more financial aid from the Union government for development in the states capital and other infrastructure projects, was hopeful of the states wish list being met.

The TDP, which has been accommodated in the Union cabinet, has demanded an increase in financial assistance to Andhra Pradesh in lieu of a special category status, the person cited above said.

Read Here: Andhra CM launches NTR Bharosa pension

The chief minister also met Union roads and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, commerce minister Piyush Goyal, agriculture minister and rural development minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu and minister of state for rural development and communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani.

Naidu visited Krishi Bhawan, which houses the agriculture ministry, and held a discussion with farm minister Chouhan on speedy rural infrastructure development, a second person said. Civil aviation minister Kinjarapu and minister of state for rural development Pemmasani, both of who belong to the TDP, were also present in the meeting.

The CM has a number of meetings lined up with several Union ministers to accelerate the process of granting funds and clearing the decks for new projects, the person cited above said. Naidu is also hosting a dinner for all the Lok Sabha MPs and two MPs of the Jana Sena, its ally in the state.
The 236 MP-strong INDIA bloc of opposition parties will get at least eight prized front row seats in the 18th Lok Sabha while the BJP will occupy another eight seats, after division numbers are allotted to the members before the next Parliament session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and NDA MPs in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. (ANI)

The seating arrangement reflects the relative strengths of the ruling and the Opposition benches after the Lok Sabha results in which the BJP won 240 seats (down from 303 in the 17th Lok Sabha) even as the Congress improved its tally to 99 (from 52). With Samajwadi Partys 37 MPs and Trinamools 29, the Opposition has expanded its footprint in the Lok Sabha. The allotment of seats indicates the pecking order and the importance of MPs in their parties.

The first treasury bench  where Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and transport minister Nitin Gadkari sit  will not undergo any changes as the NDAs top order remains unaltered in this government.

But key allies such as TDP leader and civil aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu and animal husbandry and Panchayati Raj minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh are all set to get a seat in the coveted first row.

Read Here: Speaker amends Lok Sabha rules after MPs raise slogans during oath

A senior Lok Sabha official told HT that parties have been informed about the seats allotted to different parties. Now, the parties will write back to us to inform which seat should be allotted to a particular MP. After this exercise is over, the Lok Sabha secretariat will formally notify the division numbers, added this person, who asked not to be named.

A division number is the seat number of an MP, which is used during voting.

In the Opposition benches, the Congress party is entitled to three front row seats out of which Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi will occupy one. K Suresh, one of the two most experienced Congress lawmakers in the house and also the chief whip of the party, might also get a front row seat.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav and DMKs floor leader K Kanimozhi or senior leader TR Balu are also expected to join Gandhi in the Oppositions first row. The Opposition is also expected to give prime seats to representatives of smaller allies such as Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant or RJDs Misa Bharati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh  the latter is the senior-most minister in the government  will occupy seat Nos 1 and 2, respectively. The next two seats  Nos 3 and 4  will go to Union home minister Amit Shah and transport minister Nitin Gadkari.

In the new building, the Lok Sabha is arranged in a semi-circle with eight blocks of seats  up from six blocks in the old building. Each block has 12 rows, and is numbered from front to back. The first block has 57 numbered seats. With a larger capacity, the new Lok Sabha has not allotted any members seats in the last row.

The BJP-led NDA will occupy five of the eight blocks.

In the recently concluded opening session of the Lok Sabha, the lawmakers were not allotted their respective seats. The seating arrangement for most of the MPs as well as ministers in the first session did not necessarily reflect their division number, said a second Lok Sabha official who too asked not to be named.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday fired back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the real parasite, citing its history of consuming regional parties. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.(PTI)

Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi had accused the Congress of becoming a "parasite" party, claiming it has thrived at the expense of its allies' votes.

"In 13 states, they have zero seats, yet they consider themselves heroes," Modi said on Tuesday. "Congress has been a 'par-jeevi' party since 2024, which means the one that lives off its host and ends up consuming it."

"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 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," Modi added.

Read: Constitution guides like lighthouse, its spirit valuable: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha

Jairam Ramesh dismissed Prime Minister Modi's allegations and turned the tables on the BJP.

"Only a parasite can use that word. Look at the track record of how the regional parties have been eaten up by the BJP. Today, the BJD has stood with the INDIA group in the Rajya Sabha. So if anybody is a parasite, it is the BJP," Ramesh asserted.

Read: Speaker amends Lok Sabha rules after MPs raise slogans during oath

On Tuesday, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge slammed Modi for calling the grand old party "parasite" and claimed that the prime minister had used the term for farmers as well in 2021.

You insulted the year-long struggle of the farmers for their rights. In front of that, your dictatorial government had to bow down and withdraw the three anti-farmer black laws," Kharge posted on X in Hindi.

"Today you have used the same word for the Congress party. This is not an abuse for the Congress party. It is a matter of pride for us to sacrifice our lives for nation-building along with the farmers," he said.
Citing a media report that quoted Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief S Somnath as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be the candidate for India's first manned space mission, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the PM on Thursday stating that before he goes into space, the "non-biological" PM should go to Manipur. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig and said that before he goes into space, the "non-biological" PM should go to Manipur (PTI)

Also Read: Manipur will reject those adding fuel to fire: Modi in Rajya Sabha

Taking to 'X', Ramesh, on July 4, wrote, "Before He goes into space, the non-biological Pradhan Mantri should go to Manipur."

The media report has quoted ISRO Chief S Somnath as saying that PM Modi can be the candidate for India's first manned space mission, 'Gaganyan', which is slated to be launched in 2025.

Also Read: Congress slams PM Modi over remarks on Manipur in Rajya Sabha: Astounding claims

"While he (PM Modi) certainly has many other, more critical responsibilities, developing a human spaceflight program is a capability we would like to cultivate and contribute to the Gaganyaan space program, particularly the astronaut training program for the International Space Station (ISS)," said S Somnath, as quoted by the media report.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha session highlights: Manipur will soon reject Congress, says PM Modi

As per the report, Somnath said, "All of us will be very, very proud if we have the ability to confidently send the head of state to space."

The Gaganyaan project is another major Indian mission that envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian waters.

Meanwhile, the central government is facing heat from the opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc over the ethnic violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur, which started in May 2023.

PM Modi, while addressing the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, affirmed that the central government is making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur.

"The government is continuously making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur. More than 11,000 FIRs have been registered and over 500 people have been arrested. Incidents of violence are continuously reducing in Manipur," PM Modi said.

He further said that the central and state governments are establishing interactions with all stakeholders to restore peace.

"Today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions are open in the state. The central and state governments are talking to all stakeholders to restore peace," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, while the Prime Minister was addressing the Lok Sabha, he faced continuous sloganeering by the opposition on Manipur.

The northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Earlier in June, Union Home Minister Amit Shah did a holistic review of the security situation in Manipur in a high-level meeting here in the national capital and directed to ensure that "no further incident of violence takes place" in the northeastern state.

In the one-hour-long meeting at his North Block office, the Home Minister stressed the strategic deployment of the central forces to restore peace and tranquility in Manipur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Russia and Austria from July 8 to 10, the ministry of external affairs said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (ANI File)

The prime minister will be in Moscow on July 8-9, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministry said.

Read: Modi, Putin review ties, discuss future initiatives

It will be Modi's first trip to Russia since Moscow launched its military offensive in Ukraine.

The visit was first announced by Russian officials last month, but the dates have not been previously disclosed.

Modi and Putin will discuss "prospects for further development of traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations, as well as relevant issues on the international and regional agenda," the Kremlin said in a statement.

The visit also follows Prime Minister Modi's re-election for a third successive term. He last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. He last travelled to Moscow in 2015.

Read: In phone call with PM Modi, Putin conveys inability to attend G20 meet in Delhi

Russia has had strong ties with India since the Cold War, and New Delhis importance as a key trade partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. India has avoided condemning Russias action in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement through dialogues.

Following the summit in Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the European country in 41 years.

In Vienna, Prime Minister Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Belle and hold talks with the country's Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from the two nations.
A Bengaluru court has issued a summons to former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa, asking him to appear before it on July 15 in connection with a POCSO Act case filed against him. The BJP stalwart has been accused of sexually assaulting a minor girl.



The summons were issued on Thursday, after the Karnataka Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had filed a chargesheet against Yediyurappa on June 27. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa.(PTI file)

On June 28, the Karnataka high court extended its interim order restraining the CID from arresting the BJP leader, after allowing the prosecution to file objections to the petition filed by Yediyurappa seeking quashing of the FIR against him.

What CID chargesheet said?

According to the CID chargesheet, the victim along with her mother had visited Yediyurappa at his residence in Bengaluru's Dollar Colony on February 2. The girl wanted help in getting justice in a previous case of sexual assault.



The chargesheet claimed that while the former chief minister was speaking to the mother, he was allegedly holding the daughter's right wrist with his left hand.



According to the chargesheet, the BJP leader called the 17-year-old girl inside a meeting room next to the hall and allegedly locked the door.

Yediyurappa then asked the victim whether she remembered the face of the person who had sexually assaulted her earlier to which the victim replied twice stating that she did, the chargesheet claimed.



After this Yediyurappa asked her what her age was then, to which she replied six-and-half; at this point he allegedly tried to sexually assault her, the CID alleged.

The victim reportedly pushed Yediyurappa's hand and moved away, asking him to open the door. The BJP leader opened the door and exited after putting some cash in the hands of the girl from his pocket, the chargesheet alleged.

Yediyurappa reportedly told the mother that he cannot help them and also gave her some money from his pocket. The chargesheet alleged that the ex-CM's aides Arun, Rudresh and Mariswamy went to the victim's house and brought mother and daughter to his residence.



According to the chargesheet, Arun then ensured that the victim's mother deleted the video from her Facebook account and her iPhones gallery. On Yediyurappas directions, Rudresh is said to have paid the alleged victim two lakh in cash, the chargesheet alleged.



On March 14, the case was registered against Yediyurappa based on a complaint by the mother of the teenager.

Yediyurappa was questioned for over three hours by the CID on June 17.

The 54-year-old victim's mother, who had leveled the charge against Yediyurappa, died at a private hospital in May, due to lung cancer.

While denying charges against him, Yediyurappa said he will fight the case legally.



(With PTI inputs)
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is planning to visit Hathras and interact with those affected by the stampede, said Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the recently concluded Parliament session. (PTI file photo)

On Tuesday, 123 people died in the stampede at a religious event.

"It was an unfortunate incident. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is planning to visit Hathras. He will go there and interact with the people who are affected," he said.

Meanwhile, RJD leader Manoj Jha said the panel formed to probe the stampede is just an eyewash.

"How many committees have been constituted for such accidents? We all know there will be no discussions about this matter after 2 days. This nation has become a nation of accidents... Was the local administration of the city not aware of the crowd? All of this is just an eyewash," he said.

Also read: What happened in Hathras? All you need to know about Bhole Baba, stampede

According to the local administration, the incident took place at a religious meeting addressed by preacher Bhole Baba.

The preacher's followers wanted to collect the dirt around his feet when he was walking, leading to the stampede. The organisers of the event had secured permission for a gathering of 80,000 people. However, over 2.5 lakh people turned up.

Sheela Maurya, the Uttar Pradesh police's constable who was on duty at the venue, blamed overcrowding for the incident.

Also read: Hathras tragedy: Bhole Baba's lawyer refutes 'charan raj' allegation | 10 points

"I was deputed in front of the stage. There was a huge crowd there after the event concluded. People started falling on each other. I helped many women but later even I fell and suffered injuries. The problem was that there was a huge crowd and everyone started exiting the venue together," she said.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh police conducted a search operation at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri on Thursday. However, Bhole Baba couldn't be found inside the premises of his ashram.

An FIR has been lodged against the organisers of the event. Bhole Baba has not been named as an accused yet.

A three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Brijesh Kumar Srivastava has been constituted to ensure comprehensiveness of the subject matter and transparency in the inquiry, according to an official statement.

With inputs from PTI, ANI
India and China should redouble efforts for complete disengagement of troops and restoring peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control as part of efforts to normalise ties, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday. Astana [Kazakhstan], Jul 04 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, in Astana on Thursday. (ANI Photo) (S Jaishankar-X)

At a meeting with Wang on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, Jaishankar laid out Indias imperatives for resolving the border issue, including respecting the LAC, and reiterated that mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest will continue to guide bilateral relations.

Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end, Jaishankar said on X after meeting Wang, also a member of the Chinese Communist Partys Politburo.

Editorial: No India-China thaw at SCO meet

Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest  will guide our bilateral ties, he added.

This was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Wang in almost a year, though they had a brief encounter on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany in February.

A readout from the external affairs ministry noted the two ministers agreed that prolonging the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side, and said that Jaishankar had highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations.

The two ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of diplomatic and military officials to take forward discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest, the readout said.

Read Here: At SCO Summit, PM Modis speech takes a veiled swipe at China, Pakistan

In this context, Jaishankar and Wang agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. Jaishankar reiterated that the bilateral relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests, the readout said.

Jaishankar also emphasised the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached by the two sides in the past, and that the LAC must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always ensured, the readout added.

The readout further noted that the meeting had focused on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations.

The ministers also discussed the global situation and Jaishankar extended to Wang Indias support for Chinas presidency of the SCO in 2025.

HT Insight: Is India undermining the SCO?

There was no immediate word from the Chinese side on the meeting, which was held against the backdrop of continuing tensions between India and China over the military standoff on the LAC, which is into its fifth year and has taken bilateral ties to a six-decade low.

Jaishankar and Wang last held a bilateral meeting on the margins of various Asean-related meetings in Jakarta on July 14, 2023 and Thursdays meeting was an opportunity for the two sides to take stock of the situation along the LAC and continuing efforts to address remaining friction points such as Depsang and Demchok.

Jaishankar has maintained that the overall relationship with China cant be normalised without peace and tranquillity on the border. He has also blamed China for the current situation, saying on numerous occasions that it violated border management agreements and massed troops along the LAC.

However, even at his meeting with Jaishankar last July, Wang had said the two countries should not define overall relations with specific issues  a reference to Chinas position that the LAC standoff should be put in its appropriate place in the overall relationship.

China has lobbied in recent weeks for the resumption of direct flights to India and the easing of restrictions on issuing visas to Chinese nationals, especially technical personnel deputed to work with manufacturing units in India. The Indian side has given no indication it intends to address these matters, with officials saying all such issues are linked to the situation in Ladakh sector, where both sides have arrayed about 50,000 troops each.

Despite dozens of rounds of diplomatic and military talks, India and China have been unable to resolve friction points such as Depsang and Demchok.

A deadly clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, sent ties plummeting and the Indian side also has concerns about Chinas adversarial activities across the region, such as the deployment of surveillance vessels and efforts to gain access to ports and key facilities in neighbouring countries.
July 3, 2024: Ukraine has developed its own version of the French Caesar truck-mounted 155mm howitzer. The Ukrainian version is called the 2S22 Bogdana. This is a 28 ton, six-wheel truck armed with a NATO standard 155mm howitzer and operated by a crew of five. Development of the 2S22 began in 2015 and the first prototype was available in 2018 for test firings and other tests. Mass production began in January 2023 and by the end of 2023 production was ten 2S22s a month.

Currently 2S22a are replacing the many similar artillery systems sent to Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion. The first of these were eight Swedish Archer truck mounted 155mm artillery systems. Ukrainian artillerymen used the Archers for counterbattery, as in destroying enemy artillery. Ukrainians used UAVs to find targets for Archer and sent target locations to the nearest Archer system. Archer then fired a few 155mm shells at the target and moved, all in less than two minutes. Archer has 21 155mm shells onboard in a magazine that automatically loads these shells into the gun. This contributes to the speed of operation capability that makes Archer so effective. The Russians are also looking for counterbattery opportunities but have nothing like Archer, which can move, halt, fire and then resume moving faster than any Russian artillery. Archer can fire 20 shells at the rate of one every 7-8 seconds.

Archer counterbattery tactics have destroyed a growing number of Russian artillery and the Russians have not developed any defensive measures, except to shut down artillery operations and seek a hiding place from Archer. The Russians eventually developed the ability to use UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to find and destroy these truck-mounted artillery systems.

In the 19902 a French firm developed the truck-mounted 155mm Caesar, which entered service in 2003. In 2009 France sent eight Caesar howitzers to Afghanistan. The roads in Afghanistan are pretty bad, and wheeled combat vehicles have a hard time of it, but Caesar was built to handle cross country operations. Afghanistan was the first time Caesar had served in combat and was successful. The French Army ordered about a hundred and another hundred have been exported. Caesar is the lightest of the truck-mounted 155mm howitzers, weighing 18 tons. Other nations have built heavier 20-30 ton systems, usually on a 6x6 heavy truck chassis.

None of these systems can be considered an exotic piece of technology. For example, Archer is an FH77 155mm/L52 howitzer mounted on a modified Volvo 6x6 dump truck. The vehicle, with the howitzer on board, weighs 30 tons. L52 means the barrel is 8 meters long, or 52 times the caliber. When the vehicle halts, the four-man crew can extend the metal braces in the rear, raise the barrel, and be firing within minutes. After firing, the vehicle can be moving in less than a minute. Archer can use the Excalibur GPS guided round, which means Archer and an ammo vehicle can supply lots of effective firepower without the need for constant resupply. Each Archer vehicle costs about $5 million.

This French experience with Caesar in Afghanistan encouraged Sweden about the ability of its Archer system to operate in the vast rural areas of Scandinavia. Some parts of rural Sweden are similar to Afghanistan, but worse, with more swamps. Sweden had had some Archer systems in service 2013 and 24 by 2017 and eventually 48. More were ordered because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The original Caesar system has been produced in larger quantities, with about 870 delivered or on order so far. Every time Caesar or similar systems like Archer have been used in combat, they have been successful. Their mobility has reduced losses and only four have been lost in combat so far. Three of those losses were in Ukraine, where these systems quickly experienced the most intense combat operations they were ever exposed to. Because of the demand by Ukrainian forces, production of Caesar systems has increased and Ukraine is supposed to receive over a hundred Caesar systems. Ukraine has already received 49 and lost about ten of them, usually to Russian UAVs. Ukraine is receiving lots of replacement systems in the form of the French Caesar, the Swedish Archer and the Ukrainian 2S22.
New Delhi: India and China should redouble efforts for complete disengagement of troops and restoring peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) as part of efforts to normalise bilateral ties, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday. Jaishankar also laid out Indias imperatives for the resolution of the border issue. (@DrSJaishankar | Official X account)

At a meeting with Wang on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in the Kazakhstan capital of Astana, Jaishankar laid out Indias imperatives for resolving the border issue, including respecting the LAC, and reiterated that mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest will continue to guide bilateral relations.

This was the first meeting between Jaishankar and Wang in almost a year, though they had a brief encounter on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany in February.

Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end, Jaishankar said on X after meeting Wang, also a member of the Chinese Communist Partys Politburo.

Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest  will guide our bilateral ties, he said.

Also Read: Jaishankar to lead Indian delegation to SCO Summit

A readout from the external affairs ministry noted the two ministers agreed that prolonging the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side and said that Jaishankar had highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations.

The two ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of diplomatic and military officials to take forward discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest, the readout said.

In this context, Jaishankar and Wang agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. Jaishankar reiterated that the bilateral relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests, the readout said.

Jaishankar also emphasised the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached by the two sides in the past, and that the LAC must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always ensured, the readout added.

The readout further noted that the meeting had focused on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations.

The ministers also discussed the global situation and Jaishankar extended to Wang Indias support for Chinas presidency of the SCO in 2025.

There was no immediate word from the Chinese side on the meeting, which was held against the backdrop of continuing tensions between India and China over the military standoff on the LAC, which is into its fifth year and has taken bilateral ties to a six-decade low.

Also Read: For Modi, economic security is priority with China, not profit for Indian business

Jaishankar and Wang last held a bilateral meeting on the margins of various Asean-related meetings in Jakarta on July 14, 2023, and Thursdays meeting was an opportunity for the two sides to take stock of the situation along the LAC and continuing efforts to address remaining friction points such as Depsang and Demchok.

Jaishankar has maintained that the overall relationship with China cant be normalised without peace and tranquillity on the border. He has also blamed China for the current situation, saying on numerous occasions that it violated border management agreements and massed troops along the LAC.

However, even at his meeting with Jaishankar last July, Wang had said the two countries should not define overall relations with specific issues  a reference to Chinas position that the LAC standoff should be put in its appropriate place in the overall relationship.

China has lobbied in recent weeks for the resumption of direct flights to India and the easing of restrictions on issuing visas to Chinese nationals, especially technical personnel deputed to work with manufacturing units in India. The Indian side has given no indication it intends to address these matters, with officials saying all such issues are linked to the situation in the Ladakh sector, where both sides have arrayed about 50,000 troops each.

Despite dozens of rounds of diplomatic and military talks, India and China have been unable to resolve friction points such as Depsang and Demchok.

A deadly clash in Galwan Valley in June 2020, which killed 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops, sent ties plummeting and the Indian side also has concerns about Chinas adversarial activities across the region, such as the deployment of surveillance vessels and efforts to gain access to ports and key facilities in neighbouring countries.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has amended the oath-taking rules for Members of Parliament, prohibiting them from adding any remarks during their oath as members of the House. This change comes in response to many members resorting to slogans during their oaths for the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24 and 25. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (Sansad TV)

A new clause has been added to Direction 1 within the Directions by the Speaker to manage specific matters related to the House's functioning that are not explicitly covered by existing rules.

What does the new amendment say?

According to the amendment to Direction 1, as reported by news agency PTI, the new clause 3 states that a member shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation without using any words or expressions as prefixes or suffixes to the prescribed form.

Several members raised slogans such as Jai Samvidhan and Jai Hindu Rashtra during their oaths last week. One member also raised the slogan Jai Palestine which was met with objections from several members. Despite the then protem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab urging members to adhere to the prescribed format, these instructions were ignored.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju claimed that several members used the solemn occasion of taking their oath or making an affirmation to send political messages.

The slogans sparked a war of words between the treasury and opposition benches on June 24 and 25. (In Parliament, the treasury benches refer to the front-row seats occupied by senior leaders of the ruling party or union ministers. The benches to the Speaker's right are traditionally reserved for the ruling party's council of ministers.)

The first session of the eighteenth Lok Sabha concluded on Tuesday, July 2. During the session, new members took their oaths, and the House adopted a motion of thanks to the President's address following a debate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the debate.

What was the row over the Jai Palestine slogan?

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi sparked controversy on June 25 by concluding his oath-taking in the 18th Lok Sabha with the slogan Jai Palestine.

Owaisi, re-elected as MP from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, took his oath in Urdu and ended it with the slogans Jai Bheem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine.

The unexpected inclusion of Jai Palestine immediately drew objections from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs in the House. Radha Mohan Singh, who was presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, announced that the controversial slogan would be expunged from the official records.

However, Owaisi defended his actions after leaving the House, telling reporters there was nothing wrong in saying, Jai Bheem, Jai Meem, Jai Telangana, Jai Palestine.

Other members are also saying different things... How is it wrong? Tell me the provision of the Constitution. You should also listen to what others say. I said what I had to. Read what Mahatma Gandhi had said about Palestine, Owaisi said.

Asked why he mentioned Palestine, he said, They are oppressed people.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, criticising their silence over the frequent incidents of bridge collapses in the state. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav speaking with media persons outside of his residence in Patna, Bihar. (Photo by Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Nitish Kumar are completely silent and speechless on these achievements. They are thinking about how to convert this auspicious corruption into Jungle Raj? Tejashwi Yadav said on X in Hindi with a hint of sarcasm.

Tejashwi, who served as Nitish Kumar's deputy in the previous Mahagathbandhan-led state government, took a dig at ruling NDA workers and media for singing paeans of morality and good governance while attacking the opposition for what they describe as Jungle Raj. The RJD leader accused them of killing their conscience and wearing the 'blanket of silence' on these misdeeds of good governance.

On Thursday, another bridge collapsed in the Saran district, making it the 10th such incident to have been reported from Bihar in just over a fortnight. This incident follows two more bridge collapses in Saran within 24 hours, occurring in the Janta Bazar and Lahladpur areas.

"A high-level probe has been ordered to find out the reason for the collapse of these small bridges in the district," District Magistrate Aman Samir said.

Incidents of bridge collapse have been also reported in Bihar's Siwan, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj districts in over a fortnight.

Read: Nitin Gadkari clarifies after bridge ready to be inaugurated collapses in Bihar's Araria

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Bihar government to undertake a structural audit and set up an expert committee to identify bridges that can be either strengthened or demolished based on the findings.

The PIL, filed by advocate and petitioner Brajesh Singh, raised concerns about the safety and longevity of the bridges in the state that witnesses floods and heavy rains during monsoon.

Besides setting up a high-level expert panel, it also sought real-time monitoring of the bridges as per the parameters of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Nitish Kumar on Wednesday directed the road construction and rural works departments to conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair.
As many as 213 prisoners, including 205 life-convicts, were released from different central jails in Telangana on Wednesday after the government granted them remission and ordered their premature release, a senior official of the state prisons department said. Prisoners released from multiple jails across Telangana, including Hyderabad and Warangal (Shutterstock)

Director general of police (Prisons) Sowmya Mishra said that of the 213 convicts, 178 were male and 35 were female inmates. While 61 of them were from Cherlapalli Central Prison and 27 from Chanchalguda prison in Hyderabad, the others are from various other jails including Warangal, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Sangareddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Khammam, Karimnagar and Asifabad, she said.

The DGP said they were convicted by the courts of various crimes including murder and violence. Based on their behavior, jail term period, and gravity of the cases the government identified and ordered release of 213 prisoners, she said.

The decision to release the prisoners was made after their family members made representations during the Praja Palana programme held in January this year by the state government to address peoples grievances.

Based on their representations, chief minister A Revanth Reddy constituted a high-level official committee to examine them. As per the Centres guidelines on granting remission to life convicts, the committee prepared a list of such prisoners. It was sent to the cabinet for approval. The governor then approved the list. After that, the home secretary issued orders, she said.

Mishra said as part of the rehabilitation programme for these released convicts, the prisons department conducted a job mela at Cherlapalli central prison for them. At least 70 prisoners were selected for jobs in My Nation Fuel Stations run by the department. Another eight women were provided with sewing machines so that they could take up tailoring vocation and earn a livelihood, she said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts widespread heavy rainfall in north and northeast India over the next five days. Rainfall in the national capital on Thursday caused significant traffic disruptions in various areas, with showers occurring both in the morning and around midday. According to the IMD, Safdarjung recorded 9.2 mm of rainfall, Lodhi Road 7.4 mm, Ridge 5.6 mm, Palam 17.4 mm, and Ayanagar 40.8 mm in the last 24 hours as of 8.30 am on Thursday. (File)(HT Photo)

According to the weather agency's noon update, light rain and drizzle are expected in select areas of South Delhi and South-East Delhi, including Akshardham, Lodi Road, Nehru Stadium, Defence Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Kalkaji, Tughlakabad, East of Kailash, Chhattarpur, IGNOU, Ayanagar, and Deramandi.

According to the IMD, Safdarjung recorded 9.2 mm of rainfall, Lodhi Road 7.4 mm, Ridge 5.6 mm, Palam 17.4 mm, and Ayanagar 40.8 mm in the last 24 hours as of 8.30 am on Thursday.

The regional meteorological centre in New Delhi forecasts a generally cloudy sky over the Delhi-NCR region on Thursday, with light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Similar weather conditions are anticipated for Friday. Beyond that, cloudy skies and occasional light rain are expected until July 10, according to the latest weather forecast from the regional meteorological centre.

The southwest monsoon has covered the entire country six days ahead of the normal date despite making sluggish progress during mid-June, the weather body said on Tuesday.

Here are the latest rain updates from across India.

Floods in Assam

The flood situation in Assam has worsened, affecting over 1.65 million people across 29 districts as of Thursday, according to an official bulletin. A total of 48 flood-related deaths have been reported across the two states, with 46 deaths reported in Assam and two reported in Manipur. Eight people died in Assam on Wednesday after drowning in flood waters, while two drowned in Manipur.

An alert has been issued for Kamrup (Metro) district due to high water levels in the Brahmaputra, Digaru, and Kollong rivers, leading to widespread flooding.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma plans to visit flood-affected areas in Guwahati Metropolitan area, including Maligaon, Pandu Port, and Temple Ghat, on Thursday to assess the situation.

The districts severely affected by the floods include Barpeta, Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, East Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia.

Heavy rainfall warning to Uttarakhand and northeastern states

- According to IMD's latest weather bulletin, over the next five days, Northwest and Central India will experience widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning.

- In Northeast India, Arunachal Pradesh is predicted to have isolated very heavy rainfall from July 4 to 8, while Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura may experience isolated very heavy rainfall on July 4 and 5.

- Uttarakhand is likely to see extremely heavy rainfall from July 5 to 6, with heavy rainfall expected on July 7 and 8. Assam and Meghalaya are expected to experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall from July 4 to 6.

- In East and Northeast India, fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected throughout the next five days. Specific locations like the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Odisha may see isolated heavy rainfall on July 7 and 8.

- Specific areas such as Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh, Punjab, and East Rajasthan may see isolated heavy rainfall from July 4 to 8. West Madhya Pradesh will likely receive heavy rainfall on July 4 and 5, with East Madhya Pradesh also expecting heavy rain on July 4.

Rain prediction for southern India

- In the coming days, fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected over Kerala and Mahe, Lakshadweep, Coastal Karnataka, Konkan and Goa, and Gujarat State. Scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall is anticipated over Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, and Interior Karnataka.

- Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall is forecast over Marathwada, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Karaikal, Rayalaseema, and Telangana during the next 5 days.

- Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan & Goa, Kerala & Mahe, and Karnataka State from Thursday to July 8.

- Madhya Maharashtra can expect heavy rainfall on Thursday, with the Gujarat Region experiencing it on Thursday and Friday

- Isolated very heavy rainfall is expected over Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra from July 5 to 8.
A day after 121 people died in the stampede in Bhole Baba's satsang in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district, the Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday failed to name the preacher in their FIR. Since the incident on Tuesday, the preacher has maintained a low profile, with the police saying he hadn't turned up at his sprawling ashram in Mainpuri. Hathras: Relatives mourn at the residence of three members of their family who died in the recent stampede at the 'satsang' of Baba Narayan Hari.(PTI file photo)

Bhole Baba is also known as Baba Narayan Hari and Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba. He quit the police department over two decades ago and became a religious preacher. He presides over several ashrams. The biggest among them is his ashram in Mainpuri.

The police on Wednesday beefed up the security around his Mainpuri ashram. However, they claimed the self-styled godman wasn't inside the premises.

Bhole Baba, in his sermons, equated himself with God.

"I go to temples, gurdwara, mosques and churches. I reach wherever I am called from. And if I am not called, I don't go," he says in one of the videos of his sermons, per PTI.

According to a preliminary report, the stampede took place after the godman's security detail pushed his followers as they tried to collect the dirt around his feet. The slippery slope exacerbated the situation.

Also read: Hathras tragedy: Bhole Baba's lawyer refutes 'charan raj' allegation | 10 points

His two upcoming congregations have been cancelled by the authorities.

He is a native of Bahadurnagar village in Kasganj district. He is 60 years old and doesn't have any children.

Villagers claim the baba never asked for donations. His ashrams were built with voluntary donations.

The Uttar Pradesh police on Wednesday lodged the FIR against the organisers of the religious congregation in Hathras, accusing them of hiding evidence. Per the FIR, the organisers had secured permission for 80000 followers but 2.5 lakh turned up.

They have booked Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers.

The complainant claimed that the satsang triggered a traffic jam on the GT road.

Bhole Baba came to the venue at 2 pm on Tuesday. His followers bent to take the mud from his feet. Those running out from the spot were stopped by stick-wielding helpers of the baba, it said.

His lawyer, AP Singh, said that the stampede took place because of a conspiracy by some anti-social elements. "Some anti-social elements hatched a conspiracy. When Narayan Saakar Hari left the venue, his vehicles left, and our volunteers and followers failed to understand what was happening due to the conspiracy. This was done as per a plan and should be investigated," he said.

He said the preacher never allowed his followers to touch his feet. He also refuted the claim that people were scrambling to collect mud from around his feet.

With inputs from PTI
The Congress on Thursday ruled out an alliance with INDIA bloc partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for upcoming assembly elections in Haryana and Delhi.



"There is no INDIA 'janbandhan' in Punjab. In Haryana, we had given one seat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha polls but I don't think that INDIA janbandhan will be there for assembly polls. In Delhi, the AAP itself has said that INDIA janbandhan will not be there for assembly polls," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI. A file photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal(PTI file)

Asked specifically as to whether there would be an alliance in Haryana and Delhi, Ramesh said, "There is no scope (for alliance) in Delhi and Haryana."

Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra are slated to go for polls later this year, while assembly elections in Delhi will be held early next year.

Last month, Delhi minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai had made it clear that the party's alliance with the Congress was only for Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc was only for contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Several parties fought elections together and A was also a part of it. As of now, there is no alliance for the Delhi Assembly polls, he had told PTI.



The Congress and AAP had contested the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together. The grand old party had fought on three seats, while AAP contested on four. However, the alliance failed to win a single seat in the capital.



Few days ago, a Congress leader had blamed the AAP for the alliance's disastrous showing in the Lok Sabha elections in the capital. I believe if we had not contested the elections with them, then Congress' seats would have increased in the elections. Because of the Excise scam, the Congress suffered a loss in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader Abhishek Dutt told ANI.
The Langmatt's prestigious collection of Impressionist masterpieces is being seen in a new light, literally, after leaving the museum in northern Switzerland on loan for the first time. HT Image

Around 50 paintings, including works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, are being shown in brighter surroundings at the Hermitage Foundation in Lausanne while the Langmatt undergoes renovation.

"I've never seen the paintings in this light," the Langmatt's director Markus Stegmann said.

The collection has never been seen outside the cocoon of the Langmatt villa in Baden, near Zurich, where the artworks are displayed under the light of crystal chandeliers and latticed windows.

At the Hermitage, overlooking the western Swiss city of Lausanne, the 19th-century villa's large bay windows give free rein to the same play of light that inspired the Impressionists.

The collection includes Renoir's "The Braid" , Monet's "Ice Floes at Twilight" and Gauguin's "Still Life with Bowl of Fruit and Lemons" .

The exhibition, which runs until November 3, pays tribute to not only the 150 years since the start of the Impressionist art movement but also to Sidney and Jenny Brown, the couple who amassed the collection between 1908 and 1919.

A wealthy family from the industrial bourgeoisie of northern Switzerland, the Browns showed exceptional taste.

All the works "were bought with the heart" rather than on the advice of art experts, Stegmann said.

Take for example Eugene Boudin's "Washerwomen on the Bank of the Touques" , showing the women leaning over the water with a smoking factory in the background.

Bought by the Browns during their Paris honeymoon in 1896, the painting "is not an easy work, it's not a loveable work", said Hermitage Foundation director Sylvie Wuhrmann.

The Browns also collected works by the Munich Secession association of visual artists, before becoming exclusively passionate about contemporary French artists.

Renoir became a big favourite, alongside Cezanne and Camille Pissarro.

The couple's devotion to Impressionism was not without risk in society circles where such artists raised eyebrows.

Alongside "The Boat" and the portraits of his children, Renoir's "The Braid" is among the most recognisable works in the collection.

It is inspired by the classicist works of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and it has even been nicknamed the Langmatt Mona Lisa.

It also goes well with the Hermitage's own collection: the Lausanne museum has an exceptional set of 17 paintings and drawings by Suzanne Valadon, the model depicted in "The Braid".

In 1919, for reasons difficult to pin down, the Browns changed their tastes. Out went Impressionism and in came 18th-century French painters.

They sold eight artworks, including paintings by Renoir and Cezanne, to buy "Young Girl with a Cat" by Jean-Honore Fragonard, which is also being shown in Lausanne.

And the couple asked the Austrian artist Max Oppenheimer to paint their portrait in a style mixing Expressionism and Cubism.

In 1941, Sidney Brown died and Jenny Brown stopped buying art, living as a recluse at the Langmatt villa until her own death in 1968 aged 96.

When Stegmann reached out for a temporary home for the Langmatt's paintings during the villa's renovation, the Hermitage enthusiastically said yes as it celebrates its own 40th anniversary.

Stegmann said the collaboration also made it possible to publish a comprehensive catalogue by experts on the Langmatt collection, something the Baden museum did not have the means to do alone.

In November, facing serious financial difficulties, the museum sold three Cezannes at auction in New York.

"Fruits et pot de gingembre" fetched $38.9 million, "Quatre pommes et un couteau" sold for $10.4 million, and "La mer a l'Estaque" raised $3.2 million.

At the time, Stegmann called the sale a painful last resort to secure the museum's long-term future.

After Lausanne, the collection will be shown in Cologne, Germany, from March to July 2025, and then in Vienna from September next year to February 2026, before returning home to Baden.

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This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Romantasy, or to make it a little more elaborate- an escape from reality that involves folklore, dragons, magic, combined with a rush of romance! Balancing romance and fantasy, the literary genre has seen a surge of attention thanks to the Sarah J. Maas A Court of Thorns series and Rebecca Yarros Fourth Wing series. Here are some other exciting reads in the genre to get you started. (Also read: Suffering a reader's block? Here's a step-by-step guide on how to develop a reading habit) Pick up these exciting new books in the romantasy genre.

The Final Strife by Saraa El-Arifi

Inspired by Ghanaian folklore and Arabian mythology, Saraa El-Arifi's The Final Strife tells the story of three headstrong women (Sylah, Hassa, and Anoor) who join hands to go against a tyrannical regime built upon a caste system. Gritty and infused with mythical tension, The Final Strife is a striking tale of courage.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

The New York Times bestselling novel by Rebecca Yarros is the first book in the Empyrean series. It revolves around a young woman named Violet Sorrengail who has been forced against her wishes to become a dragon trainer by her demanding mother. In Basgiath War College, her only hope is that she escapes the wrath of the enemy wingleader Xaden Rioson. A battle ensues.

Lightlark by Alex Aster

The island of Lightlark hosts a Centennial in every 100 years, which is a game in which the rulers of the six realms participate in the hope of finally break the curses that plague their lands. A booktok sensation, Lightlark is fast-paced, twisted and timeless in its appeal. What's not to like? Also, Universal has already secured a massive 7-figure deal to adapt it into a Lightlark movie.

King of Battle and Blood by Scarlett St. Clair

If Twilight was your obsession, then this book might just be the one to pick up next. Fan-favourite author Scarlett St. Clair's King of Battle and Blood tells the story of Isolde, Princess of Lara, who is forced to marry the ruthless King of Battle and Blood, Adrian Aleksandr Vasiliev, who is a vampire. Her assassination attempt goes wrong and she is threatened by Adrian that he will turn her into a vampire. Yet, an inevitable attraction grows between them.

An Ember in the Ashes

An Ember in the Ashes is the first book in the quarter that follows a girl named Laia who is the hunt for rebels who can rescue her older brother Darin from a male prison. In return for the favour, she would risk her own life to become a spy for the Empires military academy. Things take a wild turn when she meets Elias, the best soldier in the school.
Victoria and David Beckham took a trip down memory lane to celebrate a milestone in their marriage this week. Marking their 25th anniversary, the couple took their iconic status to new heights. They married on July 4, 1999, and honoured their special day with a joint Instagram post on July 3, recreating looks reminiscent of the purple Antonio Berardi outfits they wore at their wedding reception. The photo features them seated on regal thrones, holding hands and donning signature styles from over two decades ago, capturing a nostalgic tribute to their enduring love. (Also read: Isha Ambani adds modern twist to traditional bandhani saree with ruffles and sequins for Radhika-Anant's Mameru ceremony ) David and Victoria Beckham recreate iconic wedding looks for 25th anniversary celebration.(Instagram)

David and Victoria Beckham stun in matching purple outfits

The couple delighted their fans with a mid-week treat on Wednesday by sharing an adorable post on Instagram, captioned "Look what we found ." Their post quickly garnered attention, receiving tons of likes and comments from their followers. One fan commented, "Couple goals," while several others posted fire and heart emojis. Let's take a look at their post.

In the pictures, the popular duo can be seen serving couple fashion goals in twinning purple outfits. Victoria's stunning dress featured an off-the-shoulder neckline, body-hugging fit accented with vibrant rose embellishments in shades of purple and red, taking her look to the next level of sartorial sophistication. The striking thigh-high side slit added a touch of drama.

To modernize the looks for 2024, Victoria wore silver stilettos that laced up her calves and wore her long brown hair down. In 1999, her hair was cut short, which showed off much more of the floral detail on the one-shoulder dress. With smokey eyeshadow, defined brows, mascara-coated lashes, blushed cheeks, highlighter and glossy nude lipstick, she finished off her makeup look.

David and Victoria Beckham during their wedding in 1999. (Instagram)

David, on the other hand, has updated his look with numerous new tattoos and fewer highlights in his hair. Despite these changes, his styling closely mirrors his earlier look. He donned a purple suit and shirt, complemented by a matching rose pinned to his lapel. He completed the ensemble with coordinating purple shoes, adding a touch of sophistication. Davids affectionate gaze towards Victoria further highlighted the couples enduring chemistry.

About David and Victoria Beckham

David Beckham, a former football star with Manchester United and Real Madrid, and Victoria Beckham, known as "Posh Spice" from the Spice Girls, found success in football and fashion, respectively. They met in 1997 at a soccer game, married in 1999, and have four children: Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, and Harper.
July 4, 2024: Indians are mystified at the inability of India, the most populous nation in the world with over a billion people, as well as a current GDP of $3.7 trillion, to have adequate weapons for its military. Its GDP is the fifth largest on the planet, after the U.S., China, Germany and Japan. The Indian defense budget of $83.6 billion is the fourth largest after the United States, China and Russia. Despite these numbers, India still has to import most of its weapons and remains unable to develop a domestic arms manufacturing industry befitting the nation with the third largest defense budget of $61 billion. This is exceeded by China with $177 billion and the United States with $717 billion.

In 2014 India elected a new reform-minded government that was obsessed with making India less dependent on imported military technology. Increased efforts to develop domestic weapons development and production capability consistently failed. In response to this the government made it more difficult to import needed weapons that Indian firms were unable to develop and build. Annual arms imports are currently about $2.6 billion and the government is trying to address the structural problems that have prevented commercial firms from developing military equipment. India is also trying to reduce the power of government weapons development and production operations that have never been able to compete with foreign defense manufacturers.

The major goals of local procurement are to decrease reliance on Russia, which is still the largest supplier of military equipment. At the same time India is the second largest, after Saudi Arabia, importer of weapons in the world and the largest customer for Russian military exports. India has been buying less from Russia since the 1990s. Since the 1960s Russia supplied more and more, often over 80 percent, of Indian weapons imports. In the last decade that has fallen to fifty percent and continues to decline.

The second part of the program to reduce weapons imports is to make it easier for Indian firms to meet the needs of the Indian military. The government issued a list identifying specific weapons and items of military equipment that must be procured locally. Making it mandatory to buy locally has been tried before and led to some spectacular failures, so much so that the government authorized the emergency Fast Track Procurement or FTP procedures in 2004. With FTP the military could unilaterally buy some items from foreign suppliers. It was assumed that FTP would eliminate the most embarrassing problems with getting the military weapons desperately needed. It was also believed that government efforts to clean up the corruption and other problems with the military procurement process would soon make FTP unnecessary. That has not happened.

FTP is still around to allow the immediate purchase of essential military items without the usual political and procurement delays that can add years, sometimes a decade or more, to obtaining needed items. FTP is still needed because the current confrontation with better equipped Chinese forces on the northern border makes it obvious that all the Chinese weapons and equipment is Chinese-made and clearly more modern. The new Made in India mandates make it more difficult to use FTP. The Indian Air Force believes it will not be able to replace aging jet fighters with local designs in time. The air force will shrink while the politicians come up with more ways to block efforts to fix the problem. This refusal to face reality and actually solve procurement problems is crippling the Indian military. Another problem is that FTP did not eliminate all the delays and even with FTP there were often years of delays.

Meanwhile more Indians ask why China developed a world-class weapons development and production capability in the last few decades while India has not? Mainly its about corruption and decades of India making it difficult for Indians to start and operate profitable firms that could produce consumer goods as well as military equipment. The United States became the largest economy in the world over a century ago by encouraging this entrepreneurship. Many other nations, including those in Europe and East Asia (Japan, South Korea and China) followed that example. India did not.

While making it difficult for Indian entrepreneurs, India tried to use government-owned weapons development efforts and defense manufacturers to locally produce weapons. These state-owned organizations were epic failures and continue to develop second-rate weapons or weapons that dont work at all. Recent examples include assault rifles, helicopters and jet fighters. The only successes have been with privately owned firms and that is what the government wants more of. New rules and laws to reduce restrictions on commercial firms are meant to encourage less dependence on imports. As with previous efforts in this area, the goals tend to be more aspirational than actual. Indian government bureaucrats and procurement agencies have become quite effective at protecting their own interests at the expense of commercial firms and the needs of the military. This is a problem in all industrialized nations because that is the nature of government; to use their power to expand.

Nations like China and Israel are notably different because China did not begin undergoing the industrial revolution until the 1980s. As usual, that produced spectacular results, which will be eroded over the years as the government expands, often at the expense of successful new firms. That is already happening in China, where the communist government fears the potential political influence of the largest and most successful firms. Israel is a special case because they have been under constant attack by their Moslem neighbors since Israel was founded in 1947. For Israel it has always been a matter of succeeding at developing new weapons or being wiped out.

India is different because it adopted a local form of socialism instead of a free enterprise economy when modern India was formed in 1948. As a result, India has always had to import most of its weapons. Efforts to change this have failed so far, mainly because of corruption and unwillingness to tolerate competitive and efficient defense industries. That corruption that has been pervasive in India for thousands of years and makes imported weapons from nations willing to pay bribes to Indian government officials more attractive than allowing competitive Indian firms to develop and provide cheaper locally made equipment.

One bit of good news is that this form of corruption has been under heavy attack for more than a decade because of the Internet. Political parties could control mass media and much local news, but not the Internet. Fighting corruption has become enormously popular with voters, who learn that most Western countries supplying weapons to India are often very anti-corruption themselves and much more successful at it. When Russia was supplying over 80 percent of weapons imports, you had a supplier that was a dictatorship and quite comfortable with bribes and payoffs. For more than a decade Russia has been losing sales to Western firms. The culture of corruption still exists in Indian defense procurement, but it is under heavy attack. Even if no bribes were involved when buying foreign weapons, that would not fix the inability to create a competitive Indian weapons industry.

The reason for that has to do with why, for most of the last half century, most Indian weapons came from Russia. There were several reasons for that: politics, price and practicality. The policy was a decision by Indian politicians to be non-aligned during the Cold War. This conflict began just as India became independent from the British Empire. Still resentful towards Britain and the West for two centuries of colonial domination, India officially refused to take sides during the Cold War. Yet its relations with Russia, a communist dictatorship, were much warmer than with the Western democracies. Although India clung to democracy, the educated classes were infatuated with the promise of socialism. For several decades Indians abhorred the Russian dictatorship form of government but admired their socialist approach to running their economy. It wasnt until the 1980s that most Indian politicians admitted that the Russian economic model was all a fraud and not working. For India, this sort of set in motion the sort of free enterprise policies that China had employed since the 1980s. But by then it was too late for India. Decades of attempts to impose government regulation and guidance of the economy had created a huge bureaucracy that could not be easily dismantled because many of these jobs were used by politicians to reward supporters and get reelected.

Then there was the price of Russian weapons. They were cheaper than Western equivalents. This meant more could be spent on bribes and payoffs. Finally, there was practicality. Indias main foes were Pakistan and China. Pakistan had a much smaller population, economy and defense budget than India. Russian weapons were adequate for Pakistan. China was also poorly equipped, until quite recently, and separated from India by the Himalaya Mountains. Under those conditions Russian weapons were just fine for Indian needs.

Since the Cold War ended in 1991 all this has changed. Indian politics has changed and now officially wants to clamp down on the corruption, which everyone admits cripples the economy. Price is still important, but its been noticed that Russian weapons have slipped in quality and effectiveness since the Soviet Union collapsed. Pakistan is even less of a military threat, because Pakistan is even more corrupt and economically crippled than India. China, however, is another matter. China has managed to build a powerful and productive arms industry. All those Russian weapons India has no longer provide any degree of superiority. India needs Western-quality arms to maintain a competitive military for confronting China, but those are both more expensive and require reductions in Indias military procurement corruption. Its possible to make them in India under license, but the Indian industry has not been able to master high tech sufficiently to make this practical. In short, its no longer practical to tolerate an inefficient domestic defense industry.

Efforts to create domestic defense industries have been crippled by specific portions of the bureaucracy. The worst of these is the DRDO, as in the Defense Research and Development Organization. Alas, DRDO became a monumental example of bureaucratic inefficiency, wasting billions of dollars and decades of effort on weapons systems that never quite became operational or when they did, they really weren't. DRDO was created in 1958 to provide government support and guidance for defense related research. But the network of research and manufacturing facilities DRDO established since then were more about patronage and plundering the taxpayers than in actually creating competitive defense industries. Even DRDO efforts to create low-tech weapons like assault rifles and other infantry equipment were failures, with sloppiness and inefficiency resulting in very uncompetitive weapons.

Worse, many major DRDO weapons development projects have failed because bad politics ensured that bad ideas kept getting funded, and those efforts rarely produced anything the military found acceptable. For example, the 5.5-ton Dhruv helicopter was in development for two decades before the first one was delivered in 2002. Since then, domestic and foreign users have expressed dissatisfaction. A series of crashes indicated some basic design flaws, which the manufacturer insisted did not exist. Similar situation with locally developed Tejas jet fighter. Indian politicians still cite these two aircraft as examples of successful Indian developed tech. The Indian military has been equally quick to cite these two aircraft as unacceptable and has often succeeded in avoiding accepting more than a token number. Export customers did not exist.

Then there is the effort to develop and build a tank. Many of the problems with the Arjun tank project had to do with nothing more than government ineptitude. The Ministry of Defense was more interested in putting out press releases about how India was becoming self-sufficient in tanks than in attending to the technical details needed to make this happen. The Ministry of Defense crowd has done this sort of thing many times. Moreover, if it isn't incompetence screwing things up, then it's corruption.

Efforts to develop missile systems have also been a long running failure. Work on indigenous missile designs, under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), managed by DRDO has gone on for decades, with no useful weapons to show for it. The most common problems were apparently caused by inept software development. While India has a lot of local talent in this department, creating this kind of specialized military software is very difficult and the best programmers tend to join the growing number of new companies that sell their services or software products to foreigners. Many other Indian engineers and scientists migrate to countries where it is easier to put their skills to good use.

The one exception has been ballistic missiles. Curiously this was seen as a really, really important project and the politicians eventually backed off and let the engineers get on with it. India has world class engineers and scientists, but too many of them have to go overseas to do what they do best because the government does not tolerate being told what works and what doesnt by people who know what they are talking about.

India is determined to develop the capability of designing and building high-tech weapons, something few countries can do. India is following in the footsteps of China and Russia, two nations that still had most of their population living in poverty, while the state concentrated resources to create the technological base needed to build modern weapons. Russia and China have gone farther than India in developing and manufacturing modern weapons. Not as far as Western firms, if only because of the corruption and lawlessness in both those nations. But Russia and China had an advantage of having authoritarian governments. Decisions could get made quickly and decisively. India is a democracy and democracies are messy. Important decisions tend to get kicked down the road rather than taken care of. Chinese leaders openly boast of this as a major reason China has succeeded while India fails.

There have been some new ideas and opportunities. One of the most alluring is the growing number of private firms in India that can handle defense work. Currently non-government Indian firms get about a quarter of the contracts. Foreign defense firms can make deals with these private firms who can then go after Indian defense contracts. But standing in the way are the Indian defense officials. The Indian bureaucrats have a well-deserved reputation of gumming up the works and preventing needful things from getting done. This makes it difficult for private companies, especially when the main customer is the government. Getting rid of DRDO and its 30,000 employees is difficult. Over 20 percent of them are scientists and engineers unable to compete in a free market economy with many of the rest are obstructionist bureaucrats that cripple the efforts of commercial firms competing with DRDO. Eliminating DRDO is extremely unpopular with most politicians. Yet in the last few years senior elected officials have made some decisive moves to end the bureaucratic deadlock. This involved something as simple as ending the ban on former military personnel taking key jobs in the Defense Ministry and shutting down state-owned arms factories with long records of failure.

This situation is tragic and a growing number of Indians realize it. India, a regional superpower and the worlds largest democracy now finds itself in a very rough neighborhood and military efficiency is becoming a necessity, not just a worthy goal. To deal with that, India has always maintained large armed forces and one of the largest armies, with a million troops, on the planet. But keeping these troops equipped to handle combat has proved to be very difficult. The army keeps falling behind in replacing aging weapons like artillery and obtaining new technology like missiles, smart munitions, and night vision equipment. Getting the money from the government has been the least of their problems. The biggest hassles are with corruption and failed efforts to develop local weapons production.

The latest government moves to change all that are not revolutionary, but evolutionary. As has long been observed, democracies always do the right thing, but often only after trying everything else. India still has not reached the end of the everything else list.
Dior's handbags are the stuff of dreams, the epitome of fine craftsmanship and luxury. Owning one can be a source of fulfillment and self-esteem. But, not to burst your bubble, as the dreamy Dior turns dire with the unsettling truths an Italian investigation revealed. A raid by Italian police on Dior's production units uncovered the dark side of luxury brands. Dior's unethical production practices are exposed in an Italian investigation. (Pixabay )

Luxury fashion brand Dior, owned by LVMH, produced their bags for $57 and retailed them for $2,780. The workers were subjected to brutal conditions to churn out the bags non-stop. The Italian investigation of Dior's third-party suppliers disclosed the workers' inhumane working conditions. Similarly, another luxury brand, Armani, engaged in similar malpractice, paying $99 per bag to the contractors, which they retailed for more than $1,900 in their stores.

Shocking working conditions

The investigation uncovered shocking working conditions where workers slept in sleeping bags and laboured without any breaks. A Reuters report revealed the draconian tracking of electricity consumption data meticulously to ensure the workers were churning out bags like machines, day and night. Most of the workers were Chinese illegal immigrants, living in the country without proper documentation. To speed up the production process, safety devices on gluing and brushing machines were eliminated. This severe cost-cutting in production allowed Dior to sell the bags with gilded price tags of over $1,000 and maintain a high-profit margin.

ALSO READ: Louis Vuitton and Dior Are Still Wardrobe Staples

Judicial Action

The Milan judiciary issued orders to place both the production units of Dior and Armani under judicial administration for one year. This unprecedented move was prompted by the investigation findings after the rampant violations of labour laws in the luxury brands factories. The prosecution stated that the violations of labour standards were not isolated incidents but rather the brands usual manufacturing method to generate more profits. Workers were toiling day and night, exploited, dismissing their health and safety standards, working hours, and fair pay. The judicial order was made, keeping the mistreated labourers at the forefront.

ALSO READ: Sonam Kapoor goes from au natural to glam for Dior event, shares before-after looks. Watch
Ashadha Amavasya, also known as Amvasai, is observed on the new moon day of the Hindu month of Ashadha, which usually falls in June or July according to the Gregorian calendar. This significant day is dedicated to honouring and remembering ancestors through sacred rituals. Devotees traditionally take holy dips in revered water bodies to purify themselves and perform rites to pay homage to their forebears. Additionally, Ashadha Amavasya is an auspicious occasion for worshipping deities such as Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva and seeking their blessings and guidance. The observance of this day reflects deep spiritual practices and reverence in the Hindu tradition. From date to history, scroll down to know more. (Also read: When is Pradosh Vrat in July 2024? Date, shubh muhurat, history, significance and everything you need to know ) Ashadha Amavasya is a day of honouring ancestors through puja rituals and seeking blessings.

When is Ashadha Amavasya 2024? Date and timing

Ashadha Amavasya 2024 date: July 5, 2024

Amavasya Tithi begins: 4:57 AM, July 5, 2024

Amavasya Tithi ends: 4:26 AM, July 6, 2024

Ashadha Amavasya 2024 History and Significance

Amavasya holds immense religious and spiritual significance for Hindus, particularly as a day dedicated to honouring ancestors. Various rituals are performed, such as Pitru Tarpan, Pind Daan, and organizing Gayatri Path for the salvation of departed souls. According to astrology, the New Moon phase, when the moon is nearly invisible and its energy is low, symbolises emotions and feelings. This time is ideal for spiritual activities like meditation and yoga. Taking a holy bath in the Ganga river is also considered highly auspicious and meritorious.

On this day, families often invite priests and Brahmins to their homes, offering them sattvik food, clothes, and dakshina in the name of their ancestors. The eldest male member of the family typically performs Pitru Tarpan to appease the forefathers and seek their blessings. This practice reflects the deep-rooted tradition of ancestor worship and the desire for spiritual connection and guidance.

Ashadha Amavasya 2024 Rituals

1. Wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath at home.

2. Many devotees visit Ganga Ghats to take a holy bath in the Ganga river.

3. People visit sacred places to perform Pitru Puja for the peace of their ancestors.

4. Some people organize food stalls to feed the needy.

5. Organize Gayatri Path for the salvation of the ancestors.

6. Feeding crows, ants, dogs and cows on this day is considered highly meritorious.

7. Invite Brahmins or qualified priests at home, feed them sattvik food, and give them clothes and dakshina.
Are you noticing signs of wear and tear, such as sagging, lumps, or noticeable indentations on your mattress that impact your comfort and support? Or are you waking up with aches and pains or struggling to find a comfortable sleeping position? Additionally, is your mattress older than 7-10 years? All of these indicate that it might be time to consider a replacement and buy a new mattress at the earliest. And whats better than buying the best mattress from Amazon deals at discounted prices? Explore the 9 best Amazon deals on mattresses for superior comfort and maximum savings.(Unsplash)

Yes, you read that right! Amazon is offering amazing deals on the best mattress brands in India, with discounts of up to 40%. We've curated a list of 9 incredible deals on mattresses on Amazon that offer maximum savings on a variety of mattress types.

These Amazon deals on mattresses cater to different comfort preferences and budgets, ensuring everyone can find their ideal match. With such significant discounts, you can enjoy premium comfort and support without overspending. Dont miss out on these limited-time Amazon offers!

Get the best Amazon deals on mattresses with the SleepyCat Original Ortho Mattress featuring AirGen Memory Foam. Designed for balanced comfort with a medium-firm feel, this 6-inch king-size mattress (78x72x6 inches) combines 1 inch of gel memory foam and 5 inches of high-density base support foam. The SoftTouch bamboo zipper cover adds a touch of luxury and is easy to clean. Enjoy uninterrupted sleep with zero partner disturbance and the assurance of zero harmful chemicals. With a 10-year warranty and convenient delivery in a box, this mattress offers premium quality and support directly from the factory. SleepyCat is one of the best mattress brands and you can get it with unbeatable Amazon offers on mattresses.

Specifications of SleepyCat Original Ortho Mattress:

Brand: SleepyCat Size: King (78x72x6 inches) Fill Material: High-density foam Special Feature: AirGen Memory Foam Item Firmness Description: Medium firm

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Medium firm feel for balanced comfort Only available in one firmness level Zero partner disturbance Higher weight (20 kg) might be cumbersome to move 10-year warranty and convenient delivery May require a specific bed size due to exact dimensions

Explore these Amazon offers on mattresses and find the best mattress for your needs with the SmartGRID Ortho from The Sleep Company. Designed for back pain relief and certified by AIHA, this queen-size mattress (78x60 inches) features patented Japanese SmartGRID technology. With a medium-firm feel (7 on the firmness scale), it provides optimal support and cooling comfort with 2500+ air channels. The 550 GSM cotton knitted fabric is soft and breathable, ensuring a comfortable sleep experience. Enjoy zero partner disturbance and peace of mind with non-toxic, hypoallergenic materials. This orthopaedic mattress is perfect for all ages, offering the best combination of comfort and support.

Specifications of the Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho 6 Inch Mattress Queen Size

Brand: The Sleep Company Size: Queen (78x60 inches) Special Feature: Patented Japanese SmartGRID Technology Item Firmness Description: Medium firm Product Weight: 40 kilograms

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid AIHA certified for back pain relief Heavier weight (40 kg) can be difficult to move 2500+ air channels for cooling comfort Firmness may not suit those preferring softer mattresses Non-toxic and hypoallergenic materials

Discover unparalleled comfort and support with the SleepyCat Latex Mattress, available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses. This king-size hybrid mattress (78x72x6 inches) features a unique combination of latex and memory foam for firm, orthopaedic support. The top layer of latex with Pinhole technology ensures excellent airflow and firmness, while the open-cell memory foam with a 5-zone base provides targeted support for your body. The bamboo cover adds a soft, breathable touch, enhancing your sleep experience. With a 10-year warranty, this mattress offers long-lasting durability and comfort. Explore the best mattress brands and Amazon offers on mattresses to find your perfect sleep solution.

Specifications of SleepyCat Latex Mattress:

Brand: SleepyCat Size: King (78x72x6 inches) Fill Material: Latex Special Feature: Pinhole technology, 5-zone support Cover Material: Bamboo

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Firm orthopaedic support Only available in one firmness level Excellent airflow with Pinhole technology Higher weight (21 kg) might be cumbersome to move 10-year warranty May require specific bed size due to exact dimensions

Also read: Best mattress for kids: Top 5 picks to give your kids a sound and peaceful sleep

Enhance your sleep quality with the duroflex LiveIn Duropedic Mattress, available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses. This queen-size mattress (78x60x6 inches) is doctor-recommended and designed with advanced orthopaedic support. Featuring 5-zone orthopaedic technology, it adapts to your body's needs, providing personalised support and optimal spinal alignment. The adaptive memory foam cradles pressure points, ensuring a restful sleep. The luxury anti-microbial fabric shields the mattress from fungi, dust mites, and harmful bacteria, maintaining ultimate freshness and hygiene. With a 10-year warranty, this mattress promises durability and comfort. Explore this Amazon offer on mattresses to find the best mattress for your needs.

Specifications of duroflex LiveIn Duropedic:

Brand: duroflex Size: Queen (78x60x6 inches) Fill Material: Memory foam Special Feature: Orthopaedic support Top Style: Pillow top

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Doctor recommended for orthopaedic support Higher weight (28.8 kg) might be cumbersome to move 5-zone orthopaedic technology for personalised support Only available in one firmness level Triple anti-microbial fabric for hygiene May require a specific bed size due to exact dimensions

5. Livpure Smart Ortho Duos Reversible Dual HR Foam Mattress

Experience dual comfort options with the Livpure Smart Ortho Duos Reversible Dual HR Foam Mattress, available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses. This double bed mattress (72x48x5 inches) features a unique reversible design with medium firm and firm support options. The Duos precision-cut foam with ergonomic zones provides targeted support and comfort. It is crafted with Oeko Tex-certified premium high GSM luxury fabric, ensuring durability and aesthetics. The removable zipper cover allows for easy maintenance and washing, enhancing mattress hygiene. Ideal for adults seeking versatile comfort, this mattress is designed to be rotated head to toe every 6 months for an extended lifespan.

Specifications of Livpure Smart

Brand: Livpure Smart Size: Double bed (72x48x5 inches) Fill Material: High-density foam Special Feature: Reversible comfort, Duos precision-cut foam Top Style: Tight top

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Reversible design for dual comfort options May not provide extreme firmness or plushness Oeko Tex certified premium fabric for durability Limited size availability Easy maintenance with removable washable cover Requires regular rotation for optimal use

Also read: Best natural latex mattresses: Top 6 selections for luxurious, eco-friendly sleep comfort and optimal support

Explore Amazon offers on mattresses to find the best mattress for your back health and sleep needs. The duroflex Back Magic Mattress is recommended by doctors and available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses at affordable prices. This double-size mattress (75x42x6 inches) features advanced 5-zone dual-density orthopaedic support technology. The high-density coir construction ensures firm support and natural cooling, perfect for alleviating night sweats. It is crafted with knitted fabric and PU foam quilting for durability and comfort. Designed sustainably with 40% recycled yarn from PET bottles, this mattress promotes eco-friendly living.

Specifications of duroflex Back Magic - Doctor Recommended:

Brand: duroflex Size: Double size (75x42x6 inches) Fill Material: Coir Special Feature: 5-zone orthopaedic technology, naturally cooling coir Top Style: Tight top

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Doctor recommended for orthopaedic support May be too firm for those preferring softer mattresses 5-zone orthopaedic technology for even weight distribution Heavier weight (23.19 kg) may be difficult to move Naturally cooling coir for temperature regulation Limited size availability

Experience versatile comfort with the Centuary Mattresses Sleepables 5-Inch Single Size Dual Comfort Foam Mattress, available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses. This single-size mattress (75x36x5 inches) offers dual comfort with a reversible designchoose between firm and soft sides to suit your preference. Built with high-resilience foam and hyper-soft foam, it provides excellent support and comfort. The premium knitted fabric cover, with a zipper for easy removal and cleaning, adds convenience and hygiene. Recommended by the National Health Academy, this mattress is Certi-PUR US certified for durability and non-toxic emissions.

Specifications of Centuary Mattresses

Brand: Centuary Mattresses Size: Single (75x36x5 inches) Fill Material: High resilience foam, hyper soft foam Special Feature: Dual comfort (firm & soft), reversible design Cover Material: Premium knitted fabric Warranty: 7 years

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Reversible design for dual comfort options May not suit those looking for extremely plush mattresses Certi-PUR US-certified non-toxic foam Single size may not be suitable for larger beds Convenient vacuum-packed delivery Firmness may vary between sides

This single-size mattress (72x30x4 inches) by one of the best mattress brands, Springwel, offers a firm feel and is crafted from high-density PU foam for optimal support and comfort. Designed in beige with a tight top style, it features hypoallergenic properties, making it ideal for allergy-prone individuals. The mattress is lightweight (8000 grams), making it easy to handle and manoeuvre. It is recommended for those seeking value and quality, with a focus on durability and standardised quality control. Hand washable for easy maintenance, this mattress ensures long-lasting comfort. Explore this incredible Amazon offer on mattresses and buy the best mattress at a huge discount.

Specifications of Springwel Endura Plus:

Brand: Springwel Size: Single (72x30x4 inches) Fill Material: PU Foam Special Feature: Hypoallergenic Top Style: Tight top

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid High-density PU foam for optimum support Single size may not be suitable for larger beds Lightweight and easy to handle May feel too firm for those preferring softer mattresses Hypoallergenic properties Hand wash only maintenance requirement

Also read: Best queen size mattress: Top 9 options offering supportive sleeping surface and promoting proper spinal alignment

Experience superior comfort and hygiene with the duroflex Livein 6 Inch Queen Size Medium Firm Mattress, available in the best Amazon deals on mattresses. This queen-size mattress features pressure-relieving memory foam that adapts to your body's contours, providing exceptional comfort and support. It comes with a triple anti-microbial fabric layer, shielding against fungi, dust mites, and bacteria for ultimate freshness and hygiene. Designed in white with a tight top style and breathable fabric cover, this mattress ensures a cool and comfortable sleep environment. Conveniently vacuum-packed as a bed-in-a-box, it offers a hassle-free setupjust unroll and slice out the covering to let your mattress breathe back to life.

Specifications of duroflex Livein - Pressure Relieving

Brand: duroflex Size: Queen size (78x60x6 inches) Fill Material: Memory Foam Special Feature: Triple anti-microbial fabric, breathable cover Top Style: Tight top

Reasons to Buy Reasons to Avoid Pressure-relieving memory foam for excellent comfort May be too firm for those seeking a plush feel Triple anti-microbial fabric for hygiene Heavyweight (19.7 kg) may be difficult to move 10-year warranty for peace of mind Initial odour from packaging may require airing out

Top 3 features of mattresses on best Amazon deals

Best mattresses Size and dimension Fill material Special features SleepyCat Original Ortho Mattress King (78x72x6 inches) High-density foam AirGen Memory Foam The Sleep Company SmartGRID Ortho Mattress Queen (78x60 inches) Memory foam Patented Japanese SmartGRID Technology SleepyCat Latex Mattress King (78x72x6 inches) Latex Pinhole technology, 5-zone support duroflex LiveIn Duropedic Queen (78x60x6 inches) Memory foam Orthopaedic support Livpure Smart Ortho Duos Mattress Double bed (72x48x5 inches) High-density foam Reversible comfort, Duos precision-cut foam duroflex Back Magic Mattress Double size (75x42x6 inches) Coir 5-zone orthopaedic technology Centuary Mattresses Sleepables Single (75x36x5 inches) High resilience foam, hyper soft foam Dual comfort (firm & soft), reversible design Springwel Endura Plus Mattress Single (72x30x4 inches) PU Foam Hypoallergenic duroflex Livein Pressure Relieving Mattress Single (72x36x5 inches) Memory foam Eco-friendly, pressure-relieving

Best value for money Amazon deal on mattresses

Experience versatile comfort with the Centuary Mattresses Sleepables 5-Inch Single Size Dual Comfort Foam Mattress, now at an unbeatable Amazon deal with a 40% discount. This mattress offers dual comfort with a reversible design, allowing you to choose between firm and soft sides based on your preference. Crafted from high-resilience foam and hyper-soft foam, it ensures exceptional support and comfort. The premium knitted fabric cover is easy to remove and clean, enhancing convenience and hygiene. Certified by Certi-PUR US for durability and non-toxic emissions, it's recommended by the National Health Academy. With a 7-year warranty, this mattress combines quality, comfort, and affordability, making it the best value for money Amazon deal on mattresses.

Also read: Best mattresses for side sleepers: Top 10 picks for better blood circulation and reduced discomfort

Best overall Amazon deal on mattresses

Get the best Amazon deal on mattresses with the SleepyCat Original Ortho Mattress at a 25% discount. This king-size mattress (78x72x6 inches) features AirGen Memory Foam for balanced comfort with a medium-firm feel. It includes 1 inch of gel memory foam atop 5 inches of high-density base support foam, ensuring support and comfort. The SoftTouch bamboo zipper cover adds a touch of luxury and practicality for easy cleaning. It offers zero partner disturbance and peace of mind with zero harmful chemicals. Backed by a 10-year warranty and convenient box delivery, SleepyCat offers premium quality directly from the factory, making it an unbeatable choice on Amazon for quality and savings.

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FAQs on best mattresses

What size mattress should I buy?

Choose a size that fits your bed frame and accommodates your sleeping needs. Common sizes include Twin, Full, Queen, and King.

How often should I replace my mattress?

Typically, mattresses should be replaced every 7-10 years, depending on the type and wear.

What is the best type of mattress for back pain?

Memory foam or hybrid mattresses with medium firmness often provide good support for back pain.

How can I make my mattress last longer?

Use a mattress protector, rotate it regularly, and follow the manufacturer's care guidelines for cleaning and maintenance.

What should I look for in a mattress warranty?

Check for coverage length, what it covers (sagging, defects), and any conditions or exclusions that may apply.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Plastic usage is known for being hazardous to the environment. Plastics are durable, flexible and can be used for a very long time  while the inexpensive nature of this element makes it a go-to product for usage, it also brings with itself health hazards. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Meenakshi Jain, Director - Internal Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj, said, One of the primary concerns is the presence of toxic chemicals in plastics, such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, which are often used to enhance the flexibility and durability of plastic products. These chemicals can leach into food and beverages, especially when plastic containers are heated or come into contact with acidic or fatty foods. The toxins present within plastics can cause additional complications to the kidneys for individuals with existing kidney diseases.

ALSO READ: Viral tweet says you ingest 10 credit cards worth of plastic in a year by using plastic chopping boards. Is it true?

Health impact of plastic on health:

BPA and phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the body's hormone systems, potentially leading to reproductive health issues, developmental problems in children, and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, added Dr Meenakshi Jain.

ALSO READ: 6 types of foods to avoid with kidney problems

Health hazards of plastic usage on kidneys:

Dr. Prakash Chandra Shetty Urologist, Dr. LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, Mumbai pointed out the impact of BPA and phthalates on kidneys  When consumed they can disrupt proper functioning of the hormones in the body hence cause different health complications. In the case of kidneys these chemicals are awful since they may induce Oxidative Stress and inflammation in the initial stages of kidney injury.

ALSO READ: 7 lifestyle hacks to maintain healthy kidneys

Additional complications to existing kidney diseases:

The toxins present within plastics can cause additional complications to the kidneys for individuals with existing kidney diseases. To kidney patients, constant exposure to plastic usage worsens the diseases advance, hence bringing complications in its control and treatment.

Low kidney filtration rate:

The kidneys play a crucial role in filtering waste and excess fluids from the blood. However, high levels of BPA can lead to the buildup of toxins within the kidneys, reducing their efficiency. This can lead to the presence of protein in urine and the development of chronic kidney diseases, underscoring the potential impact of plastic on kidney health.
Raymond Limited on July 4 announced that it will demerge the real estate business to explicit the growth potential of the real estate business and attract fresh investors to participate in the realty business, the company said. "This strategy to demerge the Real Estate business into a separate company that will be listed through automatic route is another step to enhance the shareholder value," said Gautam Singhania, MD of Raymond Ltd.

In a regulatory filing, the company informed that its board has approved the scheme of arrangement of Raymond Ltd (demerged company) and Raymond Realty Ltd (resulting company) and their respective shareholders.

It announced the vertical demerger of its real estate business into its wholly owned subsidiary, Raymond Realty Limited (RRL). Upon completion of this demerger, Raymond Ltd and Raymond Realty Limited (RRL) will operate as separate listed entities within the Raymond Group post all statutory approvals, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Also Read: Mumbai redevelopment news: Raymond Realty wins redevelopment project in Bandra with 2,000 crore revenue potential

As per the scheme of arrangement, each Raymond Ltd shareholder will receive one share of Raymond Realty for every one share held in Raymond Ltd. The standalone operational revenue of the real estate division stood at 1,592.65 crore in the last fiscal, accounting for 24% of the total revenue of Raymond Ltd.

This will be subject to the requisite approvals and sanction of the jurisdictional bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and subject to the approval of shareholders and/or creditors, central government, or such other competent authority as may be directed by the NCLT.

The new entity will seek automatic listing on stock exchanges and according to the scheme of arrangement, each Raymond Ltd (RL) shareholder will receive 1 share of RRL for every 1 share held in Raymond Limited.

This strategic move comes as Raymond's Real Estate Business has achieved scale, reporting revenue of 1,593 crore. (43% YoY growth) and EBITDA of 370 crore. in FY24, positioning it well to chart its own growth path as a separate entity, the company said.

Also Read: Raymond Realty launches housing project in Bandra, Mumbai, with a revenue potential of 2,000 cr

Raymond Ltd said it seeks to reorganise the real estate business carried on by itself and through its subsidiaries.

"To exploit the growth potential of the real estate business and attract a fresh set of investors/ strategic partners to participate in the real estate business, it is proposed to consolidate the entire real estate business of the Group under one single entity.

"Therefore, it is proposed to demerge the Real Estate Business Undertaking of Raymond Limited into Raymond Realty Limited thereby unlocking the value of the real estate business of Raymond Limited as a whole," the company said.

Raymond Ltd said the new entity will seek automatic listing on stock exchanges.

Raymond Realty has around 100 acres of land in Thane with around 11.4 mn sq ft RERA approved carpet area of which about 40 acres is currently under development. There are five ongoing projects worth 9,000 crore on its Thane land, with an additional potential to generate more than 16,000 crore, making a total potential revenue of over 25,000 crore from this land bank, the company said in a statement.

Also Read: Mumbai real estate market: Heres why listed realtors are making a beeline for redevelopment projects

Leveraging an asset-light model, Raymond Realty has launched its first JDA project in Bandra, Mumbai. Additionally, Raymond has signed three new JDAs in Mahim, Sion, and one more in Bandra East Mumbai, taking the combined revenue potential from four JDA projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to over 7,000 crore. With the development of Thane Land Bank and current four JDAs gives the company the potential revenue of  32,000 crore.

Commenting on the development, Gautam Hari Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, Raymond Limited said; Having stated that now we have clear three vectors of growth at Raymond group i.e. Lifestyle, Real Estate and Engineering, this corporate action is in line with creating shareholder value creation. This strategy to demerge the Real Estate business into a separate company that will be listed through automatic route is another step to enhance the shareholder value. The existing shareholders of Raymond Limited will get the shares in the new listed Real Estate company in a ratio of 1:1.

The demerger aligns with Raymond Group's stated objectives of simplifying its corporate structure and enhancing shareholder value for operational and structural benefits. Leveraging Raymond's institutional strength, the move will allow for independent, dedicated management teams with industry-specific expertise to sharpen business focus and tailor investment strategies to each sector's unique dynamics, the company said in a statement.
Delhi-NCR-based real estate firm, Whiteland Corporation, signed an agreement on July 4 with Marriott International Inc to bring Westin Residences to Gurugram and will invest 5600 crore to develop the ultra luxury project. Whiteland Corporation to invest  5,600 crore to develop a branded residences project in Gurugram

The total investment for the project is estimated to be around 5600 crore, which includes construction cost of 5000 crore and the land cost of 600 crore. The topline of the project is pegged at 15,000 crore, the company said.

To be located along Dwarka Expressway in Sector 103, Westin Residences Gurugram, will be the first residential development in India under the Westin brand. This development will also be the largest standalone branded residences project announced in India, the company said.

The first phase, consisting of 674 residences, is set to be launched in the second quarter of the financial year, the company said.

Also Read: Ascott forays into North India; announces opening of aparthotel in Gurugram

The project spread across an area of 20 acres, will feature three-and four-bedroom residences ranging from 235 sq m to 386 sq m.

These will be luxury branded residences and the tentative starting ticket price is likely to remain around 5 crore and above, depending on the floor and size of the property, the company said.

We are delighted to sign an agreement with Marriott International to bring Westin Residences to India. The Westin Residences Gurugram, will redefine premium home ownership with exceptional service and attention to detail, offering a prestigious address that will bring pride and joy to its residents, said Pankaj Pal, Managing Director of Whiteland Corporation.

Also Read: Hospitality sector witnesses $401 million investment activity in FY23: JLL

"We are delighted to have signed an agreement with Whiteland to introduce the first Westin Residences to India. Their pioneering spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence, combined with Marriotts global experience in operating branded residences, will set a benchmark in premium living in India and create homes where residents can be the best versions of themselves, said John Hearns, Senior Vice President, Global Residential Operations, Marriott International.

Also Read: Hotel industry expected to witness revenue growth of 7-9% in FY2025; spiritual tourism to drive demand
If you have lived in Delhi NCR region, like this writer has, in the October-November period, you would be familiar with the dreadful bad air days. The scenes are no different from the disaster and doomsday movies we see in Hollywood. Buying guide for budget air purifiers: Check out our detailed study of air purifiers in this category and pick one that suits you.

The AQI index goes berserk, with very high indices affecting the overall health and well-being parameters. Schools remain shut, smog paralyses day-to-day life, children and elderly feel the pinch the most, but no one is spared. Masks are used frequently, but those are only short-term solutions. Governments experiment with an odd-and-even formula to reduce vehicular pollution, but that too is insufficient. In such a scenario, opting for a good and effective air purifier is the only solution.

In this buying guide for air purifiers, we will delve deep into all aspects of air pollution, the best air purifiers in the market and discuss their features so that you can make an informed decision.

Remember, if you live in a metro, an air purifier is no longer a luxury, it is a must. North India, owing to several reasons, may be worst affected, especially during winter months, but no Indian city is immune from air pollution.

A quick Google search is sure to give you a basic idea of what an air purifier is all about. But wait! Let's first understand what are the kinds of air pollutants people have to experience. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) came out with a study that showed that 14 of the 20 most polluted cities in the world were in India. While industrial pollution is a major contributor, other factors also play a significant role. Chief among these are vehicular emissions, stubble burning, generation of dust (particularly from construction sites), depleting tree cover and poor waste management. While long-time solutions like policy changes and behavioural changes in public are considered drivers of change, in the immediate, an air purifier is a perfect solution.

What is an air purifier?

An air purifier is a device designed to remove contaminants from the air in a room to improve indoor air quality. These devices are commonly used in homes, offices and other indoor spaces to reduce the presence of pollutants, allergens and other harmful particles.

What would pollutants imply? Typically, they include dust, pollen, soot, smoke, liquids, and gases like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs, chemicals that easily vaporise into air and are found in paints, solvents, cleaners, and fuels).

When we think air pollution, as consumers, we generally think of pollutants that make breathing hard. However, one must always bear in mind that allergens are also pollutants that can cause serious health hazards. So what are they? Allergens are substances that can cause allergic reactions by triggering the immune system. These reactions can range from mild symptoms, such as sneezing and itching, to more severe responses like difficulty breathing. Allergens that contribute to air pollution typically include pollen (from trees, grasses and weeds), dust mites (organisms found in household dust) and animal dander (skin flakes, saliva, and urine from pets) and mould spores (fungi that thrive in damp environments).

Also read: 14 out of worlds 20 most polluted cities in India, Delhi and Varanasi the worst: WHO

How do air purifiers work?

In layman's language, the job of an air purifier is to clean up the air. The most basic way to do so is by filtering it. Let's see the different ways in which that goal is achieved.

Filtration: Most air purifiers use a filter to capture particles from the air. The most common type is a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, which can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns with an efficiency of 99.97%.

Activated Carbon Filters: These advanced filters are used to remove odours, gases and VOCs; they adsorb them onto a porous material. Note that adsorption is different from absorption - the former means the attraction of molecules onto the surface of a solid.

UV Light: Some air purifiers use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms.

Ionisers: These devices emit negative ions (like atoms and molecules) that attach to airborne particles, making them heavier so they can be more easily captured by filters or fall to the ground.

Some air purifiers come equipped with a technology called Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO). However, such air purifiers are considered premium and do not come under the budget air purifier bracket.

What are the benefits of an air purifier?

Needless to say, the benefits are many and often immediate. Here's a list.

Improves air quality: Removes dust, pollen, pet dander, mould spores, and other airborne particles.

Reduces allergens: Helps reduce symptoms for people with allergies or asthma by removing allergens from the air.

Eliminates odours: Removes smoke, cooking smells, and other unpleasant odours.

Removes harmful chemicals: Can capture VOCs and other harmful gases that may be present in indoor air.

Promotes better health: Reduces the risk of respiratory infections and other health issues related to poor air quality.

What are the common uses of air purifiers?

Homes: To improve air quality for general health and to help with allergies or asthma.

Offices: To create a cleaner working environment and reduce the spread of illnesses.

Hospitals: To maintain sterile environments and reduce the risk of infections.

Industrial settings: To remove contaminants that may be harmful to workers or affect product quality.

Let's check out some of the best options among budget air purifiers we can get on Amazon.

The Coway Airmega 150 Professional Air Purifier is designed for home use, featuring a True HEPA filter that captures 99.99% of viruses and PM 0.1 particles. It boasts an extended filter life of up to 8500 hours and comes with a manufacturer's warranty of 7 years, ensuring long-term reliability. Available in a sleek white finish, it offers effective air purification with minimal noise for enhanced indoor air quality.

Specifications of Coway Airmega 150 Professional Air Purifier For Home

True HEPA filter

Captures 99.99% of viruses and PM 0.1 particles

Longest filter life: 8500 hours

Manufacturer's warranty: 7 years

Low noise operation

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid High efficiency in capturing airborne contaminants May be higher priced compared to basic models Long filter life and extended warranty for peace of mind Size and design may not fit all room aesthetics

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers praise this air purifier for quality, low noise, value, simplicity, attractive design, and effective performance, enhancing home aesthetics and functionality.

Why choose this product?

Efficiently removes viruses and fine particles, durable filter life, backed by a long-term warranty for reliable air purification.

The Philips AC1711 Smart Air Purifier is ideal for bedrooms, covering up to 350 sqft. It features a HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of viruses, allergens, dust, and PM2.5 particles. With a filter life of up to 15000 hours, it includes a real-time AQI display for monitoring air quality. This purifier combines efficient purification with user-friendly features, making it suitable for maintaining clean indoor air in residential spaces.

Specifications of Philips AC1711 Smart Air Purifier for Home

HEPA filter removes 99.97% of particles

Coverage area: up to 350 sq ft

Filter life: up to 15000 hours

Real-time AQI display

Designed for bedrooms

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid High efficiency in removing airborne contaminants May be relatively expensive compared to basic models Long filter life reduces maintenance frequency Design and features may not suit all preferences

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Customers appreciate this air purifier for its simplicity and ease of use, user-friendly features, and overall quality, despite occasional lighting issues and mixed opinions on performance and value.

Why choose this product?

Pick this product for the following reasons - reliable HEPA filtration, long-lasting filter, real-time air quality monitoring, ideal for bedrooms, ensuring clean and healthy indoor air.

The FULMINARE Air Purifier is designed for bedrooms, offices, and living rooms, featuring an H13 True HEPA filter for efficient air cleaning. It operates quietly and includes a night light for ambient lighting. This portable unit is suitable for homes with pets, providing clean and fresh indoor air with minimal disturbance.

Specifications of FULMINARE Air Purifiers for Bedroom

H13 True HEPA filter

Quiet operation

Night light feature

Portable design

Suitable for bedrooms, offices, and living rooms

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Effective HEPA filtration for clean air May have limited coverage area Quiet operation and convenient night light Night light might not suit all preferences

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers praise this purifier for its quiet, compact design and low noise levels, though opinions vary on its overall quality and effectiveness.

Why choose this product?

Select this product for the following reasons - compact, quiet operation with HEPA filtration and a night light, ideal for bedrooms and small spaces for improved air quality.

The Honeywell Air Touch V4 Air Purifier offers comprehensive 5-stage filtration for homes, covering up to 543 sq.ft. It includes UV LED and ioniser features, along with Anti-Bacterial, Activated Carbon, and H13 HEPA filters, effectively removing 99.99% of pollutants and micro-allergens. This purifier ensures cleaner indoor air with advanced filtration technologies.

Specifications of Honeywell Air Purifier For Home

5-stage filtration system

Coverage area: 543 sq ft

UV LED and ioniser features

Anti-Bacterial, Activated Carbon, and H13 HEPA filters

Removes 99.99% pollutants and micro-allergens

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Comprehensive filtration system Potentially higher price point Large coverage area Mixed opinions on ionizer effectiveness

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers find this air purifier easy to install and operate, with a touch panel, efficient performance, and good value, despite mixed quality and noise feedback.

Why choose this product?

Pick this product for the following reasons: Offers extensive 5-stage filtration, UV LED, ioniser features, and large coverage area for superior air purification in homes.

The AIRTH Air Purifier enhances any AC into an effective air purification system, offering proven defence against PM2.5, PM10 particles, viruses, and allergies. Developed at prestigious institutions like IIT Kanpur and IISc, it ensures efficient room air purification. This portable HEPA AC filter integrates seamlessly with existing AC units, transforming them into powerful purifiers. Ideal for combating indoor pollutants, it combines advanced technology with scientific rigour to deliver cleaner, healthier air for homes, backed by innovative research and development.

Specifications of AIRTH Air Purifier for Home, Portable HEPA AC Filter

Converts AC into an air purifier

Developed at IIT Kanpur and IISc

Filters PM2.5 and PM10 particles

Provides virus and allergy protection

Designed for efficient room air purification

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Utilizes existing AC for air purification Compatibility issues with some AC units Developed with advanced technology and proven effectiveness Effectiveness may vary based on AC settings and room size

What are buyers saying on Amazon?

Buyers appreciate this air purifier for its quality, ease of use, and sleek appearance, despite mixed opinions on value and efficiency.

Why choose this product?

Here are the reasons to buy this product - harnesses AC efficiency for air purification, scientifically developed to filter pollutants effectively, ensuring cleaner and healthier indoor air.

The Eureka Forbes Air Purifier 150 features True HEPA H13 filter and Surround 360 Air Technology for comprehensive purification. It effectively removes 99.97% of dust and particulate matter through its 3-stage purification process. Designed to cover up to 200 sq. ft., it operates with minimal noise, ideal for bedrooms or small living spaces. This purifier combines efficient filtration with a sleek white design, ensuring cleaner indoor air quality with reduced allergens and pollutants for enhanced comfort and well-being.

Specifications of Eureka Forbes Air Purifier

True HEPA H13 filter

Surround 360 Air Technology

Removes 99.97% dust and particulate matter

3-stage purification process

Coverage: 200 sq. ft.

Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Effective in removing dust and particles May be limited in coverage for larger rooms Operates with minimal noise Mixed reviews on durability and longevity

How can I purify air cheaply?

To purify air inexpensively, prioritise natural ventilation by opening windows and using fans to enhance airflow. Utilise houseplants known for air-purifying qualities, such as spider plants or aloe vera. Additionally, consider DIY air purifiers using box fans fitted with HEPA filters or activated charcoal filters to trap particles effectively without high costs.

Are air purifiers worth buying?

Yes, air purifiers can be worth buying, especially for individuals sensitive to allergens or living in areas with poor air quality. They effectively remove airborne pollutants like dust, pollen, and pet dander, improving indoor air quality and reducing respiratory issues. Choose models with HEPA filters for optimal effectiveness.

Which budget air purifier is good?

For a budget-friendly option, consider the Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier. It features a True HEPA filter capable of capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen, and pet dander. The compact design is suitable for small to medium-sized rooms, offering quiet operation and effective air purification.

Also read: Air purifier vs dehumidifier: Whats the difference, which one is right for you and the best options to buy

Top 3 features of best budget air purifiers

Best Budget Air Purifiers Product Dimensions Floor Area Specification Met Coway Airmega 150 Professional Air Purifier Compact Up to 350 sqft True HEPA filter, Long filter life Philips AC1711 Smart Air Purifier Compact Up to 350 sqft Real-time AQI display, Long filter life FULMINARE Air Purifiers Compact, Portable 215 Square Feet True HEPA filter, Quiet operation Honeywell Air Purifier Medium size Up to 543 sqft 5-stage filtration, UV LED & Ionizer AIRTH Air Purifier Portable Small to medium rooms Converts AC to purifier, PM2.5 & PM10 protection Eureka Forbes Air Purifier 150 Compact Up to 200 sqft True HEPA H13 filter, Surround 360 Air Technology

Best value for money budget air purifier

The Honeywell Air Touch V4 is a standout choice for value-conscious consumers seeking superior air purification. With its 5-stage filtration system and H13 HEPA filter, it effectively removes 99.99% of pollutants and micro-allergens, covering up to 543 sq.ft. The addition of UV LED and ioniser technologies, along with Anti-Bacterial and Activated Carbon filters, enhances its efficiency. This purifier offers robust performance in larger spaces, ensuring cleaner and healthier indoor air at a competitive price point.

Best overall budget air purifier

The Coway Airmega 150 AP-1019C stands out as the best overall air purifier with its exceptional features. It boasts a True HEPA filter that captures 99.99% of viruses and PM 0.1 particles, ensuring high-efficiency air purification. With the longest filter life of 8500 hours and a generous 7-year manufacturer's warranty, it offers reliability and cost-effectiveness. Its sleek white design complements any home decor, making it a top choice for those prioritising performance, durability, and aesthetic appeal in air purification.

Factors to keep in mind while choosing the best budget air purifier

Budget: Consider your budget constraints and look for air purifiers that offer the best value for money within your price range.

Room size: Ensure the purifier is suitable for the size of the room you intend to use it in, as coverage area varies among models.

Filtration type: Look for purifiers with HEPA filters or equivalent, capable of trapping small particles like dust, pollen, and allergens.

Additional features: Evaluate extra features such as ionisers, UV filters, or activated carbon for specific air quality needs.

Noise levels: Check reviews for noise levels, especially if you need a quiet environment.

Energy efficiency: Opt for models that are energy-efficient to minimise operating costs over time.

FAQs

What features should I prioritise in a budget air purifier?

Focus on models with HEPA filters for effective particle removal, suitable room size coverage, and additional features like activated carbon for odour reduction.

Are budget air purifiers effective in removing allergens?

Yes, many budget air purifiers with HEPA filters can effectively remove allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander from indoor air.

How often do I need to replace filters in budget air purifiers?

Filter replacement frequency varies, but generally, HEPA filters should be replaced every 6-12 months, and activated carbon filters every 3-6 months, depending on usage and manufacturer recommendations.

Can budget air purifiers reduce indoor odours?

Yes, budget air purifiers equipped with activated carbon filters can help reduce indoor odours from cooking, pets, and other sources by trapping volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other odorous particles.

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Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Indian is not for beginners, says Tony Klor - he should know, for hes been scammed multiple times in the country. The American founder of Catoff Gaming  a platform that leverages blockchain technology for competing with friends  has spent the last five months building a team in Bengaluru. In an exclusive conversation with Hindustan Times, Klor spoke about his time in India, the developer community of Bengaluru, his work and the myriad ways hes been scammed as a foreigner in the country. Anthony Klor spoke to Hindustan Times about his time in India.(Instagram/@tonykmontana)

The first time Tony Klor arrived in Bengaluru, a bus driver stole his luggage. The driver then managed to find the luggage again and returned it to Klor for the small fee of 1000.

He just completely jacked it, the founder of Catoff Gaming told Hindustan Times. When I woke up on the night bus and asked wheres my bag, he went like Oh, its missing.

And then, 10 minutes later, he [the bus driver] said he had found my luggage, but asked me to pay 1,000 to get it back.

Fake wedding scam

Another time, Klor was conned into paying the hefty bill of a five-star meal when he fell for a fake wedding scam.

He revealed that he got into a conversation with a man in Bengalurus Cubbon Park who invited him to a friends wedding. We were vibing at Cubbon Park. He was very nice, very cordial, said Klor.

The kid then asked Klor whether he wanted to go for lunch, and took him to Taj Bangalore. At the five-star restaurant, he began running up the bill by ordering one exorbitantly-priced dish after the other, along with cocktails.

Meanwhile, Klor made his way to Commercial Street to buy a kurta for the wedding they were supposed to attend together. But when the time came to leave for the venue, the scammer told Klor that he could no longer go to his best friends wedding because it was raining outside.

Thats when I realised Id been scammed, he told Hindustan Times.

These instances stand out in a sea of smaller scams he has experienced during his time in India - from people in fake accidents begging for money to fake monks extorting cash - but the Bengaluru-based founder says experience has only made him tougher.

In fact, scams aside, he is full of praise for the Silicon Valley of India. Bangalore is a highly intellectual place. People are highly sophisticated, he told Hindustan Times. The intellectual capital that persists here is truly second to none. People are absolutely brilliant.
Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu recommended hydrogen peroxide nebulisation to treat viral infections as she shared a picture of herself taking the viral medication. Her Instagram Story caught the attention of Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, who goes by The Liver Doc on social media. The hepatologist not only said that this nebulisation has adverse effects on health but also slammed the actor, calling her health and science illiterate. Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, who goes by 'The Liver Doc' on X, slammed actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu for recommending hydrogen peroxide nebulisation. (Screengrab)

Influential Indian actress Ms Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who is, unfortunately, a health and science illiterate, advises millions of her followers to inhale hydrogen peroxide to prevent and treat respiratory viral infections, wrote the multi-award-winning doctor on X.

He added that the hydrogen peroxide nebulisation is dangerous for health. Scientific society, The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, warning people to not nebulize and breathe in hydrogen peroxide because it is dangerous for health, he said, sharing a picture and a link to the advice by the Virginia-based organisation.

It reads, Do not put hydrogen peroxide into your nebulizer and breathe it in. This is dangerous. It is not a way to prevent nor treat COVID-19.

The doctor further said that the actor should be fined or put behind bars for putting public health in danger: In a rational and scientifically progressive society, this woman will be charged with endangering public health and fined or put behind bars. She needs help or a better advisor in her team.

Will Indias Health Ministry or any health regulatory body do something about these social media health influenzas damaging public health, or will they remain spineless and let people die? he concluded.

Take a look at the post shared by the hepatologist below:

Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently shared a picture of herself trying out the viral medication on Instagram. Alongside, she wrote, Before taking medication for a common viral, consider trying an alternative approach. One option is to nebulise with a mixture of Hydrogen peroxide and distilled water. Works like magic. Avoid unnecessary use of pills.
NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas turned the Arizona desert in the United States into their practice ground to perform four moonwalk simulations ahead of the Artemis III mission. NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas perform a moonwalk on the San Francisco Volcanic Field north of Arizona.(NASA)

Artemis III mission

The astronauts of the premier space agency performed the moonwalk to prepare for Artemis III, the first human exploration mission of the lunar South Pole region. The 30-day mission will allow the astronauts to travel to the lunar orbit, where two crew members will descend to the surface near the South Pole.

Set to launch in September 2026, NASA is yet to select the two astronauts for the mission. To prepare for the significant milestone, NASA astronauts Rubins and Douglas trudged through northern Arizona's San Francisco Volcanic Field and performed a moonwalk simulation over a week in May.

Arizona desert's moon-like geology

The scientists chose Arizona's desert as their practice ground owing to its moon-like geological formation, shaped by millions of years of volcanic eruptions. A region called Marius Hills on Earth's moon geologically resembles the Arizona volcanic field. Like the volcanic field, Maurius Hills were also shaped by ancient volcanic eruptions, as per NASA.

According to the US space agency, Earth-based simulations are essential to prepare the astronauts to travel to space. The moonwalk simulation allows the scientists to make geological observation from afar through descriptions from astronauts.

After the moonwalk, the astronauts experimented with various technologies including augmented reality and lighting beacons that could be used on the mission.

According to NASA, the moonwalk had to end early due to strong winds in the desert. Following the practice, Earth and planetary scientists and crew gathered at NASA Johnson to assess simulation through a video.

After descending to the lunar surface, the astronauts will walk on the moon wearing Axiom Space suits, that offer an increased range of motion and flexibility to explore the lunar landscape. During the actual moonwalk, the astronauts are expected to take pictures and video, survey geology and collect samples.

The Artemis III mission will mark humanity's first return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years. The astronauts and the crew will ride to and from Earth onboard NASA's Orion spacecraft.
July 4, 2024: The Russian invasion cost Russia more than over half a million soldiers killed or incapacitated and over 7,000 tanks destroyed or captured. The Ukraine operation also cost Russia its military reputation. Before 2022, western military analysts, especially the American ones, considered the Russian military a formidable force. This assessment ignored the impact of Russian troops having no combat experience against a near peer, or roughly equal in weapons and troops training, force since 1945, when World War II ended. The impact turned out to be negative and in a major way. The Ukraine invasion revealed that Russian troops were poorly trained, poorly led and equipped with many defective weapons and items of military equipment. Decades of peace enabled Russian defense officials to indulge in corrupt practices that provided the troops with many defective or substandard weapons or items of equipment. This was revealed, and denied, during the 1979-1989 war in Afghanistan where Russia simply withdrew in 1989.

Russian troops also put down several East European insurrections in the 1950s and 60s. Eastern Europe was controlled by Russia but each nation was run by local officials. The people were not free and that created popular anger that often broke out in anti-government and anti-Russian violence. Sometimes Russian troops had to be called in to restore order because local police and soldiers could not handle it or could not be trusted to remain loyal to the government. On a few occasions civilians attacked the invaders and that included the tanks. The Russian tanks were vulnerable to gasoline bombs, usually a bottle filled with a flammable liquid and igniting the rag used to plug the bottle opening. Ignite the rag and toss the bottle and even tanks will suffer damage. This is especially true if the gasoline bombs are tossed from the upper floor of a building on a tank below. Russian troops and tank crews were not prepared for this and often panicked.

A major part of the problem was poor training of Russian recruits and a lack of sergeants. Its all about conscription and, since 1917, the Russian government not trusting their troops and Russians now going to extremes to avoid being conscripted. This widespread opposition to peacetime conscription was unique to Russia. Other European nations adopted conscription as early as the 1800s, but none had as much popular dislike of conscription and some very real reasons to avoid conscript service.

Even the United States, which rarely used peacetime conscription, had it during peacetime between 1948 and 1973. Americans tolerated conscription in wartime as long as all young men were subject to it. During the 1861-65 civil war it was possible for families with money to pay a relatively large sum to keep their sons out of uniform. This led to violence in many areas. By 1940, when peacetime conscription was once more used, there were no problems with selectivity. The problems with who should serve returned in the 1960s. This is often attributed to the unpopular Vietnam War (1965-72) but conscription was also unpopular during the earlier (1950-53) Korean War. Both wars were unpopular with most Americans because the United States was not threatened with attack, unlike the two World Wars. In Korea the government used reservists as much as possible and kept the war from escalating, so few conscripts were sent into battle.

The 1960s were different because the large Baby Boom generation, of children born after World War II, were reaching 18 in large numbers throughout the decade and even without a war in Vietnam, there would have been growing popular support for eliminating conscription because there were far more young men available for conscription than the military needed. Even with the Vietnam War, by 1970 politicians had to heed demands for an end to peacetime conscription and that was done by 1973. Britain, alone among European nations, also had a tradition of avoiding peacetime conscription. Britain had conscription during World War I but dropped it in 1920. Conscription returned in World War II but despite the Cold War, Britain ended conscription in 1960.

When the Cold War ended unexpectedly in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, European voters began demanding an end to conscription. That happened throughout Europe during the 1990s but was reversed after 2014 when a much-reduced Russian military again became a threat. This was a different threat because post-Soviet Russia had a military one fifth the size of the Cold War Soviet forces and most of the troops were very reluctant conscripts who only had to serve one year. Even that could be avoided with a large bribe, if your family could afford it, to buy an exemption. One of the many causes of the Soviet Union collapsing was increasing public protests against Russian conscripts being killed in an unpopular eight-year war in Afghanistan. Some 15,000 Russian died in Afghanistan, most of them conscripts. There were unprecedented public protests by parents who had lost sons as well as parents who did not want their conscripted sons sent there.

In the 1990s there were more protests, this time by Russian voters in a democratic Russia that sent thousands of conscripts into the Caucasus to put down a Chechen uprising. Many conscripts were killed and Russian leaders finally remembered that they lowered their losses in Afghanistan by depending more on commandos and airborne troops, who were all volunteers. Some of those volunteers were conscripts who felt up to the challenge of being a spetsnaz commando or paratrooper and the Afghans feared these troops.

By 2014 Russian leaders realized that getting conscripts killed in combat outside of Russia was not worth the political trouble and formed all-volunteer combat units that were only about ten percent of the military and that was but one of many problems that still existed in the Russian military.

Since the 1990s Russia has been trying, without much success, to address these many problems. For example, since 2019 the Russian Army was once more trying another approach to create enough sergeants to match the Western success with this form of troop leadership. The 2019 effort was an experiment with the use of a senior sergeant called a starshina or sergeant major similar to those that have long existed in Western armies, and Russian forces until World War I. This was the latest post-1991 attempt to revive the authority and respect NCOs (non-commissioned officers) had in the Russian army until the early 1920s. In theory, Russia reintroduced NCO ranks in 2011 but that system was never accepted or able to sustain itself. The 2019 try involved selecting 370 soldiers who met high standards for special training and encouraged enough to become effective NCOs willing to make a career of being an NCO. This was supposed to provide enough competent NCOs who could select and train other young soldiers to be NCOs. The starshina effort was only partially successful because only troops in the elite spetsnaz and airborne units provided satisfactory career opportunities for veteran NCOs. The rest of the military was rather less accepting.

China took a different approach under similar circumstances. Initially, in the 1940s, the Chinese used the old Soviet rank system but still kept some lower NCO ranks and a tradition of career NCOs. As a result, China never lost its old school tradition of sergeants. In 2009 China switched over to the Western system with nine enlisted soldier ranks. Six of those ranks were for NCOs with the top one being sergeant major. China has been successful with this system and Russia has not.

Until World War I the old czarist army had an impressive number of effective NCOs. In part, this was because the czarist era conscription took in young men, who were not volunteers, for twenty years. This enabled most young men to avoid military duty altogether. The ablest of the conscripts could become senior NCOs and these sergeants were respected and received post-service benefits. During World War II Russia produced many effective NCOs because of all the combat experience and lack of time to train outstanding troops as officers. But right after both World Wars Russia got rid of these experienced sergeants by offering officer ranks for those who wanted to stay in the military and thereby eliminated the experienced wartime NCOs.

After 1991 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia noted their post-World War II experience and the Chinese system. In 2011, after over a decade of false starts and failure, the Russian Army believed it had a workable plan to create an efficient NCO force. That first effort did not work, despite the fact that for most of the last century, the peacetime Russian Army has been a mess, and the main reason has been the lack of NCOs. Conscription has been a contributing factor, as too many troops were just there for two or three years and left just as some were becoming useful and capable of being a career NCO. The 2011 plan tried to take advantage of this by offering selected conscripts a competitive, with civilian jobs, wage if they agreed to continued service, with the option of promotion to better paying NCOs rank. There were many volunteers, or contract (kontrakti in Russian) soldiers, and those deemed NCO material were sent to special NCO schools. Russian officers examined such methods in Western armies and adopted the Western techniques they believed would work in Russia.

The army generals also accepted the fact that Western NCOs come in many different flavors. Most of these NCOs are just technical specialists, while a smaller number are supervisors and leaders. Russia accepts that NCOs must be trained to be able to take over command if all the officers are killed or disabled. Communist Party leaders nervously noted that, during the communist revolution in 1917, many of the rebel leaders had been NCOs in the Czarist army. The communists also noted that this was not the first time this had happened. It had occurred several times in the last two centuries, most notably during the French revolution of the 1790s. For monarchists and despots of all flavors, NCOs were a flaw, not a feature of an effective peacetime military. That decision was a long-term failure because the NCOs are essential for knowing what is going on with the troops in terms of morale, skills, loyalty and so on, and are sensitive to any changes. Officers can rarely do that even though, on paper, Russian junior officers are supposed to take care of this. Trying to use young lieutenants in place of older and more experienced sergeants missed the point that the key NCOs are the older ones, with a decade or more in service. These are the platoon sergeants and company first sergeants, as well as key members of headquarters staff. After all, who do you think trains the new officers and enlisted soldiers joining these organizations? Same with teams of technical personnel. The most obvious example is the team of maintainers who look after aircraft and helicopters and are supervised by an NCO crew chief, who is the person the pilot talks to before taking off and after returning.

After World War II, the ratio of officers to troops was expanded in the Russian military and professional NCOs practically disappeared. With that, morale plummeted and discipline disintegrated. The dismal effects of this policy were obvious whenever Russian troops came under fire, as in Hungary (1956), Czechoslovakia (1968) and Afghanistan in the 1980s. But the problems were ignored. Russian leaders continued to believe that quantity had a quality all its own. It does, but with the introduction of more effective weapons that require more training to be effective, the weapons dont work with poorly trained and led troops. It definitely does not work when parents can vote and publicly protest abuse of conscripts or the continued use of conscription.

Since the 1980s Russia also had a declining birth rate to contend with, which meant there were far fewer young men to recruit. The end of the Russian police state made it easier to evade conscription, which most potential conscripts do. Russia can no longer rely on quantity to make up for a lack of quality. The 2011 Russian plan failed because not enough young men or women were interested in joining the army as anything but an officer.

Russia has tried to avoid going with an all-volunteer force, as most other European nations have done. Partly it was a lack of money and partly a reluctance to do away with the tradition of conscription. Because of the lack of NCOs, conscripts have had an awful time for decades, and this has become a source of popular and legendary discontent about military service. The Soviet government managed to suppress popular unrest over this. But even before the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, fathers, and grandfathers, and especially their wives, were no longer quietly enduring this mess, and the abuse their sons were exposed to. The 2011 plan was to simultaneously eliminate the hazing of new recruits while flooding the army with competent NCOs. The latter was the real cure for hazing, as NCOs spend a lot more time in the barracks, and with the troops. A competent NCO can sort out problems in the barracks. In the West, they do it all the time. It is one of their primary functions. Even with Russian conscription now one year for most soldiers, there is still the hazing of new conscripts by those who have been in a few months. Eliminating this debilitating hazing has proved much more difficult than anyone anticipated.

The 2011 reforms failed in part because Russian conscripts only serve 12 months, hardly enough time to turn young civilians into anything militarily useful. Most of the kontrakti were trained in the old army and easily slipped into the old bad habits like hazing and bullying younger troops, even fellow kontrakti. The new, trained, NCOs arrived slowly and found themselves in an uphill battle against tradition. Many of these new NCOs reacted by not renewing their contracts and leaving. Change does not come easily in the Russian army. But if the Russians are ever to have a capable military, they have to create effective platoon and 1st Sergeants as well as Sergeants Major. The experiment was another new approach that worked better than earlier efforts but was not successful enough to be considered a major sign of progress.

Russia was reminded of these problems after 2014 when they sent troops, in unmarked uniforms, into Donbas in eastern Ukraine. There the fighting continued and local forces, paid like kontrakti, were inadequate to the task and many were simply quitting and leaving Russian-controlled areas of Donbas. Russia thought they could send some conscripts into Donbas as support troops. Some of these were killed and a few captured by Ukrainian forces. The Russian conscripts complained that they were deceived and not told they were going into a combat zone, although the unmarked uniforms were rather suspicious. Russia outlawed public discussion of military casualties but this did not stop the bad news from circulating via the Internet and social media. Russia arrested thousands of civilians for protesting the 2014-2015 and 2022-2024 wars in Ukraine, even before a lot of conscripts were killed there. The army planned to send in units with conscripts into Ukraine to handle transportation and distribution of supply as well as for policing parts of the Ukraine that are considered free of Ukrainian resistance. Since 2015 Ukraine has organized, trained and armed thousands of volunteers as local defense forces. Weapons were stockpiled for distribution to volunteers if the Russians invaded. The Russians came and the local volunteers are making Russian travel through many liberated areas dangerous. The volunteers shoot at any armed Russians, be they conscripts or kontrakti. In some cases, the Russian combat units were told to just bypass this unexpected resistance and let units full of armed conscripts take care of it. Old traditions die hard in Russia.
When the Tamil Nadu police were notified of a break-in in a house in Tuticorin district, they quickly reached the scene. Upon their search, the police found cash and some jewellery that went missing. However, what stood out in the entire incident was a note from the thief, as per reports. The thief had taken  60,000 in cash, two pairs of gold earrings, and silver anklets. (Unsplash)

The incident happened at the 79-year-old retired teacher Chithirai Selvin's home. Selvin, a retired teacher has a wife and four children. The couple left their home in the care of a hired maid on June 17 to see their son's family in Chennai. When the maid got to the residence on Tuesday night, she discovered that someone had broken in and called the police, reported Times of India.

The police confirmed that the thief had taken 60,000 in cash, two pairs of gold earrings, and silver anklets. The thief also left a note in their residence and wrote, "Forgive me. I will return [it] in one month. Someone sick in my house." (Also Read: Thieves high-five, celebrate after looting entire inventory of family jewellery store. Watch shocking video)

Earlier in China's Shanghai, a man robbed a shop and then left a message requesting that the owner upgrade their anti-theft system. Sang, the burglar, climbed the building's exterior wall before entering and taking an Apple MacBook and a watch. After coming inside, Sang collected cell phones and laptops, piled them on a desk, wrote in a notebook, left it open, and tucked it under the electronics pile.

He wrote, "Dear boss, I took a wristwatch and a laptop. You should improve your anti-theft system. I did not take all the phones and laptops, fearing it might hurt your business." He also added, "Contact me if you want your laptop and phone back."

The police then used the phone number the thief left and the public surveillance cameras to track down the offender. The stolen items were still with Sang when he was captured on a train leaving Shanghai. And he was taken into custody.
A French 'magic' sword known as Durandal, mysteriously disappeared from the Rocamadour town, where it was stuck for over 1,300 years in a rock. The Durandal sword was one of the key tourist attractions of Rocamadour in France. The Durandal, which is France's version of the Excalibur sword, has gone missing after being stuck in stone for 1,300 years.(X/@F_Desouche)

What is Durandal?

According to the French epic literature, the ancient sword was the sword of Roland, a legendary knight and officer of a former Roman emperor called Charlemagne, the Telegraph reported.

The indestructible sword

Legend says King Charlemagne gifted the magic Excalibur to his best soldier Roland, who later died in a battle. The elite knight attempted to break the sword before dying, to prevent his enemies from seizing it. However, he failed to do so due to its indestructible quality.

The indestructible sword, which was the talk of the town, is believed to be the sharpest sword that could cut through giant boulders with a single strike. The Excalibur was wedged ten meters up in the rock for over 1,300 years, with no way of removing it.

Rocamadour's famous tourist spot

According to the legendary folklore, unable to destroy the magical sword, Roland threw the sword into the air and it magically travelled hundreds of kilometers before landing on a cliff wall in Rocamadour.

The cliff wall where Durandal was embedded became a prominent tourist site in the town, above the Dordogne River, which has attracted pilgrims for centuries from across the world.

French literary references

The magical qualities of the missing sword are narrated in the 11th-century epic poem, The Song of Roland, one of the oldest surviving poems of French literature. The sole copy of the poem is now preserved at the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

Lost legend or stolen treasure?

The sudden disappearance has left the locals distressed, who think that the town has been robbed of a part of itself. They believe that the destinies of their town and the magical sword are entwined with each other.

According to the Telegraph report, the Cluny Museum wanted to exhibit the sword in 2011. The precious sword was accompanied by the town councilor and a security guard on its return journey from Paris to ensure its safety.

The weapon's disappearance is unknown, while the locals believe it was stolen by a thief who must have pulled it out of the rock. An investigation is underway to track down the ancient relic.
Four pro Palestine protesters were arrested for climbing the roof of Australia's Parliament House on Thursday in a security breach condemned by lawmakers, on the same day a ruling party senator quit over the government's stance on Palestine. Representative Image: Four pro Palestine protesters were arrested for climbing the roof of Australia's Parliament House and waving the Palestinian flag for an hour(AFP)

The protesters stood on the roof of the in Canberra building for around an hour, unfurling black banners including one which read "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", a common refrain of Pro Palestine protesters.

Also Read: India calls killings in Rafah heartbreaking, reaffirms Palestinian statehood amid European moves

One of the protesters gave a speech using a megaphone accusing the Israeli government of war crimes, an accusation it rejects.

"We will not forget, we will not forgive and we will continue to resist," the protester said.

Also Read: Ireland, Norway and Spain recognise Palestinian state

Police and security advised people not to walk directly under the protest at the main entrance to the building, while more were seen on the roof attempting to remove the protesters.

Also Read:Empty threats wont work': Asaduddin Owaisi on backlash against Jai Palestine slogan in Lok Sabha

The protesters packed up their banners before being led away by waiting police at around 11:30 am local time (0130 GMT).

The four were arrested and charged with trespassing, and have been banned from the grounds of parliament for two years, a spokesperson for Australian Capital Territory police said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the protests.

"Those responsible should feel the full force of the law. Peaceful protest has an important place in our society, but this was not a peaceful protest," he said.

The Speaker of Australia's lower house Milton Dick said he had ordered an investigation into how the security breach occurred.

Fatima Payman, a senator in the ruling Labor Party, quit the party on Thursday to sit as an independent after she was suspended for voting for a motion backing Palestinian statehood.

"Witnessing our government's indifference to the greatest injustice of our times makes me question the direction the party is taking," she told a news conference.

Australia, which has for months called for a ceasefire in the conflict, does not currently recognise Palestinian statehood, though Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in May it could do so before a formal peace process between Israel and Palestinian authorities is complete.

Payman's defection could make it harder for Labor, which does not have a majority in the Senate, to pass legislation.

The war in Gaza began when Hamas gunmen burst into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages back into Gaza, Israel says.

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.

Both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes in the early stages of the Gaza war, a U.N. inquiry found last month, saying that Israel's actions also constituted crimes against humanity because of the immense civilian losses.

Since the war began Australia has been the site of several pro Palestine protests, including weekly demonstrations in major cities and a months-long occupation of university campuses.
Nearly 90 migrants bound for Europe perished when their boat capsized earlier this week off the coast of Mauritania, the state news agency and a local official said Thursday, while dozens more remain missing. The report quoted survivors saying that the boat had set sail from the border of Senegal and Gambia with 170 passengers on board, bringing the number of missing to 72. (File)

"The Mauritanian coast guard recovered the bodies of 89 people aboard a large traditional fishing boat that capsized on Monday July 1 on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean" about four kilometres from the country's southwest city of Ndiago, the state news agency said.

The coastguard rescued nine people, including a five-year-old girl, it said.

The agency quoted survivors saying that the boat had set sail from the border of Senegal and Gambia with 170 passengers on board, bringing the number of missing to 72.

A senior local government official gave AFP similar information, on condition of anonymity.

The Atlantic route is particularly dangerous due to strong currents, with migrants travelling in overloaded, often unseaworthy, boats without enough drinking water.

But it has grown in popularity due to increased vigilance in the Mediterranean.

The number of migrants landing at Spain's Canary Islands in 2023 more than doubled in one year to a record 39,910, according to the Spanish government.

Off the coast of North Africa, Spain's Canary Islands lie 100 kilometres away at their closest point.

But many boats -- often long wooden vessels known as pirogues -- leave from much further away, setting sail from Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Gambia and Senegal.

More than 5,000 migrants died while trying to reach Spain by sea in the first five months of this year, or the equivalent of 33 deaths per day, according to Caminando Fronteras, a Spanish charity.

That is the highest daily number of deaths since it began collating figures in 2007, and the vast majority were on the Atlantic route.
Pakistan on Thursday said it would host the SCO Heads of Government meeting in October and invite all heads of government of the member states of the grouping. The October summit will be preceded by a Ministerial meeting and several rounds of Senior Officials meetings, focusing on the financial, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states. (X/S Jaishankar)

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly press briefing that Pakistan as the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) would host the SCO Heads of Governments Meeting in October this year.

When asked if Pakistan would extend an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit and attend the Summit in Pakistan.

Baloch replied, "The chairmanship belongs to Pakistan, so in our capacity as the chair, we will be extending invitations to all Heads of Government of SCO member states."

"This conference will take place in person and we hope and expect that all members of SCO will be represented at the Heads of Governments Meeting being held in October, she said.

She said the October summit will be preceded by a Ministerial meeting and several rounds of Senior Officials meetings, focusing on the financial, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states.

Baloch also said that Pakistan would not become a part of any bloc in international politics as it believed in having good ties with all countries.

I would first like to clarify that Pakistan has repeatedly said that we are not part of any bloc. We do not believe in bloc politics. We believe in good relations with all countries on the basis of mutual respect, mutual confidence and non-interference in each other's domestic affairs, she said.

She said Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the recent report on religious freedom released by the US Department of State and as a matter of principle, Pakistan opposes such unilateral reports that make observations on the internal affairs of sovereign states.

We believe that International Religious Freedom cannot be viewed from the lens of any single countrys social and legal perspective, it said.

It said unilateral reports assessing other countries' human rights situations are not free from political bias and present an incomplete and distorted picture and the methodology adopted in preparing these reports and the mandate and expertise of its authors are not transparent.

We strongly believe that each State itself has the primary responsibility to promote and protect the religious rights and freedoms of its nationals, she said, adding that Pakistani citizens are entitled to the freedom of religion and belief under the law and as enshrined in Pakistans constitution.

She said that during the visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Tajikistan this week, the two sides signed the Pakistan-Tajikistan Strategic Partnership Agreement, which would be based on five pillars of bilateral cooperation, including political, trade and investment, energy and connectivity, security and defence, and people-to-people contacts.

It will include structured high-level dialogue at the leadership and Foreign Ministers level.

She termed the UN group report on Imran Khan as unwarranted and said, I would like to underline that a report on any particular case is unwarranted when it lacks objectivity and is based on an incomplete and inaccurate understanding of Pakistan's legal and judicial system.

The report said that cases against Khan were politically motivated.
The campaigning for the general elections in the United Kingdom came to an end hours before the voting was set to take place across the entire country on July 4. These elections will likely end the current reign of the Conservative Party. While UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak eyes another term in office, the opposition Labour Party is expecting a landslide victory. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) and Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer (R) (AFP)

PM Rishi Sunak asserted that the Conservative Party is still fighting hard while one of his closest allies conceded defeat saying that the Tories are heading for a landslide defeat in the elections.

Opinion polls show the centre-left Labour Party is set for a big win in Thursday's vote that would end 14 years of Conservative government, reported Reuters. The winner of the elections will likely be declared in the early hours of Friday, with polls suggesting that Labour Party leader Keir Starmer will take the keys to the prime minister's 10 Downing Street office.

UK Elections 2024: All you need to know

The Britons will cast their votes on July 4 from 7 am to 10 pm local time. There are a total of 650 constituencies in the United Kingdom, and according to opinion polls, the left-leaning Labour Party is set for a clean sweep. The results of the 2024 elections will be declared in the early hours of Friday, July 5.

Once the results are declared, the leader of the party with the most votes, likely to be Keir Starmer, will be appointed the Prime Minister. After the counting of the votes, the monarch of the UK (presently King Charles III) will invite the leader of the majority party to form a new government.

The current parliament was dissolved on May 30 after the election dates were announced.

You Gov's final seat projection published on Wednesday put Labour on track to win a majority of 212 seats, the largest of any party in modern history. But, facing predictions of the worst result in the party's history, the Conservatives turned their focus to damage limitation, saying they needed to hang on to enough seats to provide an effective opposition to a Labour government.

The Labour Party, in its election campaign, highlighted the public fatigue with the change in prime ministers in the Tories' ongoing term, Brexit, the crumbling economy and multiple scandals involving top Conservative leaders.

However, Rishi Sunak emphasised the migration issue in the UK and made the revival of the country's economy his top campaign point. The outgoing prime minister asserted that a change in governance could lead to the economy taking a dip once again.
An exit poll suggests the Labour Party is headed for a huge majority in Britain's election, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. (AP)

UK Election 2024 Live Highlights: Keir Starmer is set to become Britain's next prime minister, with Labour expected to win a large majority in the parliamentary election, according to an exit poll on Thursday. Rishi Sunak's Conservatives are predicted to face significant losses. The poll indicated Labour would win 410 seats in the 650-seat parliament, ending 14 years of Conservative-led rule....Read More

The value of the pound remained steady, as traders had already expected a Labour win. It was trading around $1.2758 and 84.74 pence per euro just before the exit poll. Financial markets had already adjusted for a Labour government with a strong majority in parliament to support its centre-left policies.

The United Kingdom began voting on Thursday, with polling stations open from 7 am until 10 pm (0600-2100 GMT).

Detailed results are expected early Friday.

Opinion polls for this year's UK Election indicated that the centre-left Labour Party is poised for a historic victory in 2024 election. On the final day of campaigning, both Labour leader Starmer and Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned voters of severe economic repercussions should the other candidate win.

Who is Labour Party's candidate Keir Starmer?

Keir Starmer, 61, a Labour Party candidate standing against Rishi Sunak in the UK Election 2024, assumed leadership of the party in 2020 following its worst electoral defeat in 84 years in 2019 under veteran left-wing figure Jeremy Corbyn. He focused on shaping Labour as a party known for competence and pragmatism rather than being driven primarily by ideology. Starmer, a former human rights lawyer who ascended to become Britain's top prosecutor, entered parliament in 2015 and served as Corbyn's spokesperson on Brexit. He was named after Keir Hardie, the founder of the Labour Party.

Starmer's campaign has centred on a simple promise of 'change', which resonates with public dissatisfaction over Britain's strained public services and declining living standards. These are symptoms of a sluggish economy and political uncertainty.

Key points to know

- The United Kingdom voted on Thursday to decide on Sunak's 20 months in office and the four Conservative prime ministers before him. They were widely expected to do something they have not done since 2005: elect a Labour Party government.

- British general elections are determined by individual votes in 650 districts, each representing a seat in the House of Commons. A party needs 326 seats for a majority, though about 320 seats typically suffice because the speaker and three deputies do not vote. Northern Irelands Sinn Fein abstains from taking their seats in Westminster.

- The Rupert Murdoch-owned British tabloid newspaper The Sun endorsed Labour and Starmer on Wednesday, stating in an online editorial: Its time for a change.

- Sunak has tried to convince voters that his 20 months in office have set the economy on a positive trajectory following the external shocks of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, and has marked the end of years of turmoil under his Conservative predecessors. Facing an approximately 20-point deficit in opinion polls against Labour, Sunak turned to former prime minister Boris Johnsonthe man he helped oust in 2022inviting him to speak at a late-night Conservative rally on Tuesday.

- Many election experts predict a low voter turnout, below the 67% recorded in 2019. However, this election could bring significant change to Britain if it results in a large Labour majority and a weakened Conservative Party.

(With inputs from agencies)
The future of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party hangs in the balance as millions of voters across the United Kingdom cast their ballots on Thursday. Earlier, hundreds of thousands of people had cast their ballot by postal vote. Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty leave a polling station after voting near Richmond, North Yorkshire, England, Thursday, July 4, 2024.(AP)

Voting across 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland began at 7 am and will end at 10 pm (local time). The majority mark is 326. Follow LIVE updates of the UK elections here.

An exit poll commissioned by the main UK broadcasters will also be published as soon as the polls close.

Counting of votes would also commence immediately after voting ends, with the first results expected just before midnight local time.

While UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party eye another term in office, the opposition Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer is expecting a landslide victory.

Earlier today, Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty walked hand-in-hand to their local polling booth in the constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire to cast their votes.

The polls are open. Vote Conservative to stop the Labour supermajority which would mean higher taxes for a generation, he shared on X.

Little later, Starmer and wife Victoria were seen at their polling station in Camden, north London.

Today, Britain can begin a new chapter, Starmer told voters in a statement. We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour.

The current parliament was dissolved on May 30 after the election dates were announced.

Also Read | UK elections: Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer clash in testy final TV debate

In the preceding six-week election campaign, both leaders wrapped up their campaign with contrasting messages. While Sunak urging voters not to hand "tax-raising" Labour a supermajority, Starmer played down the prospect of a landslide win for fear of a low turnout impacting the final outcome.

Besides the two main parties, voters will be choosing from a list of candidates representing the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party (SNP), SDLP, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fien, Plaid Cymru, the anti-immigration Reform Party and several contesting as Independent.

Polling experts have forecast a low turnout, which stood at 67 per cent in the last general election in December 2019 when Johnson won a solid majority on his get Brexit done message.

According to the UK's Office of Communications (Ofcom) media watchdog rules, no discussion or analysis of political issues is allowed until voting ends.
In a bizarre incident, an Oregon man allegedly exposed himself and urinated in the aisle mid-flight, forcing the American Airlines flight to make an emergency landing. The plane, which was scheduled to land in New Hampshire, returned to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The Oregon man acknowledged drinking multiple whiskeys and colas during a stopover in Chicago, and after boarding his subsequent flight(REUTERS)

The 25-year-old rowdy passenger was held and accused of indecent exposure. He later testified in federal court in Buffalo and was subsequently freed, as per the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York.

The American Eagle flight proceeded on its route from Buffalo after the unsettling incident. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding.

Oregon man admits to consuming several whiskeys and colas

After being arrested, the Oregon man told authorities he was on his way from Portland to Manchester. He acknowledged drinking multiple whiskeys and colas during a stopover in Chicago, and after boarding his subsequent flight. He further claimed he had a medical issue with urination, and that the incident occurred when he was heading back to his seat after using the restroom.

Also Read: Indian-origin woman, 24, dies on Delhi-bound Qantas flight

Delta Air Lines flight takes U-turn due to spoiled meals

The incident comes after customers were served "spoiled" food, prompting Delta Air Lines to reroute the flight.

The flight, which was scheduled from Detroit to Amsterdam, made an emergency landing at JFK Airport in New York. Medical personnel attended to at least 12 passengers upon their arrival, according to the New York Fire Department.

Virginia, one of the frustrated passengers, wrote on social media, @delta I need to know how you're going to get me to Amsterdam today - I'm on the plane that's emergency landing at JFK because you served passengers 'contaminated' food - I don't need hotel/food vouchers I need to arrive in Amsterdam today.

Following the incident, Delta issued a sincere apology for the inconvenience and delay. In a statement, it informed that medical teams were present on the site to treat affected passengers and crew members. The airline informed that its teams will promptly work to collect data to determine the cause of the incident. This is not the service Delta is known for and we sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.
As Joe Biden is putting his best foot forward to convince Democrats about his rerun for the White House despite his old age, the incumbent President met with Democratic governors on Wednesday night. The POTUS made major admission about his health during the meeting. Joe Biden's brief visit to doctor was limited to evaluating what appeared to be a persistent cold and it did not involve any significant tests, a source stated,(AFP)

According to Politico, the Commander-in-Chief, 81, told the governors that he underwent a medical examination in the wake of the catastrophic debate this past week and insisted he is in good health.

Citing a source, the outlet stated that Biden's brief visit to doctor was limited to evaluating what appeared to be a persistent cold and it did not involve any significant tests.

Three persons with knowledge of the conversation told the outlet that Biden's health revelation to over 20 governors was triggered by a question about his physical condition raised by one of the state leaders during the hastily scheduled hour-long meeting.

The meeting comes as Democrats have started expressing concerns about Biden's age and mental and physical capacity as he continues to run for another four-year term.

Biden's mention of a checkup was actually referred to a brief and expeditious appointment with a White House physician for a recurring cold, a person acquainted with the president's daily itinerary told Politico. The source further claimed that the doctor did not administer Bide for any crucial tests.

Hours before the meeting, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to openly respond to questions from reporters if physicians have assessed Biden's health after the debate.

The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report, she stated. Were going to continue to do that.

Also Read: Biden makes big announcement amidst calls to withdraw from 2024 presidential race: When you get knocked down

Joe Biden is our nominee: Several governors extend support to POTUS

As soon as the meeting ended, several governors publicly endorsed Biden on X, despite them being regarded as the top candidates to replace Biden should he withdraw from the race.

The one thing which was common in the governors' post was Biden "is in it to win it".

@JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him," tweeted Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Meanwhile, three governors spoke to the reporters following the meeting.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that all the governors, who were present during the discussion, vowed their support to Biden.

Politico, however, claims that at least two staff members appeared unimpressed with Biden's future.
by Austin Bay July 3, 2024

The June 27 televised Biden-Trump debate fully exposed America's and the Free World's most grave strategic weakness: dominant mass media organizations that fail to hold their favored government, economic and media elites accountable for policy failures.

Strategic weakness  that's a Washington wonk way of saying "a social, political or military flaw a dedicated enemy of America identifies and then exploits over time" with the goal of weakening or destroying the U.S.

Informed citizens keep free societies free. Informed citizens need facts, not propaganda. Reporting facts  no matter how awkward or politically damaging  sustains freedom. A news organization that sticks to the facts trusts its audience to make their own decisions.

Trust. A very important concept. Creating trust takes time. It requires mutual respect and demonstrated reliability over time.

Prior to the June 27 debate, major U.S. and international media knew Joe Biden suffers from dementia. Beltway insiders knew Biden cannot and does not function as president of the United States.

Yet the White House denied it. Videos showing Biden stumbling and mumbling were "cheap fakes." Major news organizations like The New York Times, The Washington Post and NBC parroted the White House lies.

Essentially, the White House and its media allies told the American people, "Don't believe your lying eyes." They didn't trust the American people.

Then came the June 27 debate. Joe mumbled; his sentences fragmented then disappeared. The Biden Moment  incoherent fragments, glazed eyes.

Now the White House and protective media lies no longer work.

A dysfunctional president of the United States is a high order defense problem in a world of nuclear weapons, ICBMs, wealthy enemy states (China) and suicidal terrorists.

The American president must make quick yet thoughtful executive decisions  at 3 a.m. when the red phone rings and a cool Pentagon voice tells him, "Mr. President the Afghan bugout situation in Kabul has gone to terrorist hell. Thirteen killed, sir, our people."

On June 27, Slow Joe proclaimed no U.S. military personnel had died on his watch during his administration, and ... slow fade to the truth that 13 did.

Biden's big media buddies and his duplicitous White House have already harmed U.S. and Free World defense.

Yes, the U.S. has the world's most powerful military forces and largest economy. That's been the long run case since World War II ended.

In 1991, Desert Storm crushed Saddam Hussein, the Soviet Union collapsed, and the Cold War was definitely over. The so-called Peace Dividend kicked in and the Pentagon slowly shrank. 9/11 turned the Pentagon into a counter-terror organization. Meanwhile, Communist China began building a near-peer military force, including a navy numerically superior to the U.S. Navy.

It's 2024: The long run is in a sprint phase toward disaster.

Communist China thinks it has answered the 21st century's biggest strategic question: How do you defeat America?

Beijing's answer: You get America to defeat itself.

I suspect future historians will write, "America's enemies created conditions that leveraged U.S. weaknesses."

In 2024, the U.S. military looks like a slowly disintegrating institution, one disintegrating at the level of human beings willing to serve.

The U.S. once assumed its states were secure from internal attack  Pearl Harbors and 9/11-type attacks were the threat. But open borders  a Biden administration policy  has changed that. It's not merely the rise in crime, the burden illegal aliens place on the social safety net and the fentanyl drug crisis spurred by Mexican cartels and China. It's the presence of terrorists connected to the Islamic State and Iran. America now faces the prospect of fighting small proxy armies on its own soil.

Biden's media allies didn't report on the border fiasco. Instead, they called critics of his open borders policy racists and Nazis.

The Biden Moment of one policy failure after another has been a disaster for U.S. defense. Biden's Afghanistan bugout encouraged Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion of Ukraine  Putin seized The Biden Moment. Biden's ineptitude encouraged Iranian troublemaking, to include pursuing nuclear weapons.

But the most insidious threat is China's "disintegrative warfare." In a disintegrative war, a "unitary belligerent becomes increasingly fragmented by secessions."

Increasingly fragmented. The Biden Moment writ large.
Joe Biden's regrets continue! Biden on Wednesday appeared in two interviews with local radio stations in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and appealed to voters to evaluate him on the basis of his tenure in the White House.(AP)

In his latest admission, US President Biden acknowledged that he screwed up and committed a mistake during a presidential debate with Republican rival Donald Trump last week. However, he pledged to continue running for office despite currently being behind the former president by roughly six points in several polls.

Biden on Wednesday appeared in two interviews with local radio stations in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and appealed to voters to evaluate him on the basis of his tenure in the White House.

Speaking to Milwaukee radio host Earl Ingram, Biden said, I had a bad night. And the fact of the matter is that I screwed up. I made a mistake. Thats 90 minutes on stage  look at what Ive done in three and a half years, he added, as per The Guardian.

Addressing Black voters, Biden highlighted his government's achievements in the last four years, stressing that he picked Kamala Harris to be his vice president.

I picked a Black woman to be my vice-president. Ive appointed the first Black woman to be a supreme court justice. Ive appointed more Black judges, more Black women judges, than every other president in American history combined, he asserted.

Biden targets Trump for remarks about Black workers

Biden further blasted Trump for remarks he made regarding Black workers, claiming that migrant workers might be taking over 20 million Black jobs.

As far as Black and minority groups are concerned, Biden claimed Trump has done terrible things, adding that "he has about as much interest and concern as the man on the moon does."

Several opinion polls taken following last week's debate, in which Biden seemed to stumble and lose his train of thought, show that the incumbent president's popularity has reduced, sparking concerns over his age and physical fitness.

Biden set to hold July 4 party

On Thursday, Biden will welcome families to the White House as the United States is all set to mark annual July 4 Independence Day celebrations. On Friday, he will appear for an interview with ABC News. On the same day, he will fly to Wisconsin to attend a campaign rally that will draw hundreds of supporters.

Biden and First Lady Jill will address thousands of supporters at the National Education Association in Pennsylvania on Sunday. He will have a rare solo news conference and welcome dozens of foreign leaders at the NATO summit in Washington the following week.

According to a source who spoke to Reuters, dozens of House Democrats are keeping a close eye on Biden and are ready to push him to withdraw from the race if he stumbles during the Friday night interview with ABC.
Astana, India and China on Thursday vowed to redouble efforts to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh at the earliest and "stabilise and rebuild" ties even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting that the Line of Actual Control must be respected. EAM Jaishankar, his Chinese counterpart Wang hold talks in Astana; focus on early resolution of eastern Ladakh row

In the talks held on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation , Jaishankar underlined the need for fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements and protocols reached between the two sides in the past for the management of the border.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar and Wang had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to "stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations."

In the meeting, the external affairs minister also reaffirmed India's persistent view that the relations between the two sides must be based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.

"Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end," Jaishankar said on 'X'.

"Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties," he said.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

"Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest," the MEA said.

"To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs should hold an early meeting," it said.

The MEA said Jaishankar reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

It said the two ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

"The external affairs minister highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations," the MEA said.

"He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced," it said.

The Jaishankar-Wang talks came amid the dragging border row in eastern Ladakh that entered its fifth year in May.

The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

The two sides held the last round of high-level military talks in February with an aim to resolve the row.

Though there was no indication of a breakthrough at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain "peace and tranquillity" on the ground and continue the communication on the way ahead.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Following Joe Biden's shaky debate performance last week, pressure has mounted for him to withdraw from his presidential campaign, positioning Vice President Kamala Harris as the leading candidate to replace him. Vice President Kamala Harris has been the White House's first line of defense after President Joe Biden's faltering performance in last week's debate with Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)(AP)

Despite these mounting pressures, Biden has firmly dismissed any notions and calls to end his campaign. On Wednesday, he reassured his staff, saying, No one is pushing me out  Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

This followed a report from the New York Times that suggested Biden had privately acknowledged to allies that his campaign might be in jeopardy if he failed to prove his viability to voters.

The White House continues to deny rumours that Biden is reconsidering his campaign, but speculation about a potential replacement has intensified. Sources within Bidens campaign, the White House, and the Democratic National Committee have indicated that VP Harris is the top contender to take his place.

Some Democrats are also unhappy with how first son Hunter Biden involves himself in White House matters, despite his recent conviction for lying when obtaining a gun permit.

ALSO READ| Republican Scott Jennings and Democrat Jamal Simmons engage in a heated debate on CNN over Hunter Biden: Watch

Harris, who served as a senator from California before becoming vice president, has stood by Biden during the fallout from the debate. She reassured her campaign staff on Wednesday, stating, We will not back down. We will follow our presidents lead.

Polls show Harris competitive even against Trump

Advocates for Harris argue that she could have a strategic advantage over Biden in a potential race against Donald Trump. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after the debate, one-third of Democrats believe Biden should withdraw, with 81% of Democrats viewing Harris favourably compared to 78% for Biden. Michelle Obama held the first position; however, she has consistently stated she is not running. Harris sat as the second-best option in that poll.

A CNN poll released on Tuesday showed Harris in a competitive position against Trump in a hypothetical matchup, with 47% supporting Trump and 45% supporting Harris, a difference within the poll's margin of error.

CNN noted that Harriss relative strength stemmed from broader support among women and independents.

ALSO READ| Biden, Harris join campaign call to say they will keep fighting after debate flop: Report

According to reports, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has indicated to party members that Harris would be the best option. Senior congressional Democrat James Clyburn has publicly stated his support for Harris if Biden were to withdraw, urging Democrats to do everything to bolster her, whether shes in second place or at the top of the ticket. Similarly, Summer Lee, a House Democrat from Pennsylvania, asserted on Wednesday that Harris was the obvious choice to replace Biden if he decided not to continue his campaign.
By Marco Carta Italy court trims sentences for US tourists over police officer's murder, again

ROME, - An Italian appeals court on Wednesday again reduced the prison terms imposed on two American tourists, who were originally given life sentences for the 2019 murder of a police officer in a case that shook Italy.

The court ruled that Finnegan Lee Elder, 19 at the time of the incident, should now serve 15 years and two months in jail for stabbing officer Mario Cerciello Rega to death in central Rome following a botched drug deal.

His friend, Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth, then 18, was given an 11-year, 4-month term. He did not handle the knife during the attack but was tussling with another Carabinieri police officer.

Their case has been bouncing around various Italian courts. After receiving life terms in a first trial in 2021, Elder and Natale-Hjorth's sentences were reduced on appeal to 24 and 22 years respectively in 2022.

However, in 2023, Italy's highest court ordered a new appeals trial, saying some allegations had not been sufficiently corroborated.

Prosecutors had called for tougher sentencing than the court handed on Wednesday, and they can contest this latest verdict thanks to Italy's multi-tiered appeals process, which can drag out cases for years.

The defence lawyers welcomed the new ruling.

"This sentence is fairer than the previous ones," said Renato Borzone, Elder's lawyer. "It took five years, but we finally have a court that can sleep easily because it has made the right decision in good conscience."

SIM, a trade union for Carabinieri officers, expressed "outrage and regret" in a statement on Thursday, reiterating its solidarity with Cerciello Rega's widow and asking "how much is the life of a Carabiniere worth?"

The two Americans, both from California, were in Italy on holiday in 2019 and tried to buy drugs from a local dealer in a tourist hotspot in Rome. They have said they were cheated, but grabbed a bag belonging to an intermediary of the dealer as he tried to escape.

They later agreed to meet the dealer again to get their money back in exchange for the bag, but instead, the two policemen showed up in plain clothes.

Elder has admitted killing Cerciello Rega, but both he and Natale-Hjorth said they acted in self defence because they thought the two policemen were thugs who were out to get them.

"My son, from the very first moment, declared that he had not realised that they were Carabinieri," Ethan Elder, Finnegan Lee's father, was quoted as saying by Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Police say Cerciello Rega, 35, was unarmed at the time and was stabbed 11 times by Elder with an 18-centimetre blade.

Italian media reported that the dealer was an informer who had reported the theft of his bag and asked police to intervene.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Biden! Biden! Biden! Well, it seems all focus has been shifted to the incumbent President Joe Biden after his last week's poor debate performance with Republican rival Donald Trump. Rather than talking about Trump, Biden has become a spotlight for both Republicans and Democrats. Joe Biden answered a query about his health from Hawaii Governor Josh Green by stating, "I don't know about my brain." (AP)

In order to cool the raging concerns around his mental and physical fitness, the 81-year-old Commander-in-Chief held meetings with Democratic Governors and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday. The meeting came amidst call to step aside from the White House race and give a chance to a strong candidate who can give a bold fight to Trump.

Now a new report claims that Biden told a group of around two dozen Democratic governors at the White House that he requires to sleep more, work for less hours, and avoid events after 8 p.m.

The New York Times confirmed Biden's acknowledgement, citing two attendees of the crucial meeting and additional individuals who received information about the statement.

The president made this startling admission about his limitations after his lackluster debate performance against Trump. despite his frequent declarations that he will seek a second term.

While reacting to the report, one user on X wrote, its joever, while another said, Even presidents need their beauty sleep!

So 'sleepy Joe' is actually a thing now? a third user quipped.

Also Read: Biden makes surprising admission about his health as he meets Democratic governors after debate blunders

Biden annoys governors with a bizarre joke

According to the publication, Biden answered a query about his health from Hawaii Governor Josh Green by stating, I don't know about my brain. Biden's campaign chairwoman, Jen O'Malley Dillon, stated that the POTUS was obviously making a joke, and added, All kidding aside.

His remark left several governors in the meeting irritated, sources told CNN.

Biden is prone to forgetful missteps and exhaustion if he participates in an event that takes place before 10 a.m. or after 4 pm, reported Axios, citing White House aides after the debate.



White House on Thursday confirmed that Biden was examined by the doctors after the CNN debate. Several days later, the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well, White House spokesman Andrew Bates stated.

Biden admits he fell asleep on stage

Days after the debate, Biden admitted that he nearly "fell asleep" during the July 27 presidential debate because he was so worn out following his trip overseas.

However, he did get 13 days of relaxation after his foreign visits. According top reports, he is said to have indulged in afternoon naps at Camp David for a week.

Addressing the Democratic fundraisers in McLean, Virginia, Biden said: I decided to travel around the world a couple of times... shortly before the debate, according to the New York Post. It wasnt very smart [to be] traveling around the world a couple times.

Regretting the fact that he didnt listen to my staff, he went on to say, and then I almost fell asleep on stage.
Prince William and Kate Middleton inherited the title of Prince and Princess of Wales after King Charles ascended to throne passing his former title to the couple. Prior to this when in 2011, William married his girlfriend the young couple were showered with the title of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and were recognised by the same by millions for a very long time. However, when in Scotland, the royal couple sheds these familiar titles and embraces a whole new set of names steeped in history and tradition. This unique practice extends to Prince Harry as well, before his decision to leave royal status. Prince William- Kate Middleton: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, depart following the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain.(Reuters)

Why Kate Middleton, Prince William have different titles in Scotland

Forget Wales and Cambridge when the they travel north of the border. In Scotland, a whole new set of titles awaits them. William transforms from Duke of Cambridge to Duke of Rothesay, a title reserved for the heir apparent to the Scottish throne since 1469! Naturally, Catherine becomes the Duchess of Rothesay. Now, this is just one of the many titles the couple were bestowed with.

Also read: Prince Harry, Kate Middleton now 'separated' with 'no bridge to mend' after Princess

King Charles was the one who formally declared William as the new holder of this title in his inaugural speech as ruler on September 9th, 2022, after Queen Elizabeth II's death. "As my heir, William now assumes the Scottish titles which have meant so much to me," the king said as per People in his first address as monarch to the nation.

Also read: Vanessa Hudgens welcomes first baby with Cole Tucker on his 28th birthday; spotted leaving hospital

This comes after the way the couple was addressed sparked interest and confusion among some as the Royal Family prepared for Holyrood Week events in Scotland. On July 3, William participated in the Thistle Service at St Giles' Cathedral alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla.

What other Scottish titles William and Kate have?

The parents of three- George, Charlotte and Louis, they also are known as Earl and Countess of Strathearn a diversion from their usual English title. The royal also became the Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland as the eldest son of the monarch. In addition, the king's eldest son succeeded his father as the Duke of Cornwall, assuming the responsibilities for the Duchy of Cornwall.

Prince William isn't the only member of the royal family to undergo a Scottish transformation! Prince Harry also got a unique honor in Scotland. Right before his marriage to Meghan Markle in May 2018, he was given the titles Earl of Dumbarton and Duke of Sussex. This would have meant that Meghan would have been known as Countess of Dumbarton. However, the couple gave up their royal status when they decided to step back from their royal duties.
NASA has again picked Elon Musks SpaceX for another project. TOPSHOT - A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) weather satellite Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U (GOES-U) lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida, June 25, 2024. (AFP)

On Tuesday, June 2, the US space agency announced that it had granted SpaceX a contract, valued at about $69 million, to launch the Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI) spacecraft mission into low Earth orbit.

With SpaceXs Falcon 9 as NASAs rocket ride for COSI, the joint partnership will launch a space telescope to study the universe in high-energy gamma-ray light. The astronomy mission lift-off is scheduled for August 2027 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US.

What does NASA's space telescope launch with SpaceX's Falcon 9 aim to achieve?

The American government agency previously selected COSI in 2021 for its Small Explorer (SMEX) program, which was estimated at $145 million at the time, excluding the launch costs. According to Space News, the spacecraft will detect soft gamma rays and their sources in the galaxy and beyond.

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NASA said on Tuesday that its wide-field gamma-ray telescope will explore energetic phenomena in the Milky Way and beyond, including the creation and destruction of matter and antimatter and the final stage of the lives of stars.

COSI will probe the origins of the Milky Ways galactic positrons, uncover the sites of nucleosynthesis in our galaxy, perform studies of gamma-ray polarization and find counterparts of multi-messenger sources, the agency added in a statement.

This mission was initially projected to take off in 2025. However, the launch was pushed to 2027 due to constrained budget issues. NASA claimed to have extended Phase B design work to accommodate budget pressures.

The global space media outlet also reported that NASA refused to divulge the number of companies bidding on the launch as they considered the information source selective sensitive.

Also read | American League All-Star Jerseys leaked on socials, fans demand return to traditional team uniforms

SpaceXs Falcon 9 has gained the buzzworthy title as the busiest rocket active in the arena. It has already lifted off 67 times this year.

The NASA x SpaceX mission is a collaborative effort between the University of California, Berkeleys Space Sciences Laboratory, the University of California, San Diego, the Naval Research Laboratory, NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, and Northrop Grumman.

In addition to the COSI program, NASA previously shortlisted Musk's spacecraft manufacturer to intentionally destroy the International Space Station (ISS) after its estimated retirement in 2030. Through the $843 million contract, SpaceX's so-called Deorbit Vehicle" (USDV) will guide the laboratory back into Earth's atmosphere, thereby decommissioning it.
Reed Hastings, a prominent Democratic Party donor and co-founder of the streaming service Netflix (NFLX.O), opens new tab, has joined a growing number of Democratic supporters to urge President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race after his disastrous debate performance last week. Netflix boss Reed Hastings has urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the race after his disastrous debate performance last week.(AP )

In an email to the New York Times, Hastings was cited as stating,

Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.

Hastings, who has donated over $20 million to the Democratic party over the years with his wife Patty Quillin, is among the largest Democratic donors to issue such a statement.

In the face of multiple public appeals for his resignation, including those from two Democratic members of Congress, Biden vowed to continue running against the Republican rival Donald Trump in November.

Biden on Wednesday held a call with the Democratic National Committee and stated, Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running... no one is pushing me out. He went on to say, Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

However, some Democrats are still uncertain if Biden will win as the party's nominee.

Also Read: Unbelievable: White House under fire for lying to our faces after Joe Biden accidentally admits

Here's what Hollywood camp has to say on Biden rerun

After the Biden's "simply game-changing" debate performance, screenwriter Damon Lindelof, a lifelong Democrat who supported Biden in 2020 and donated to his campaign, declared that it was time for Democrats to "wake the f*** up" and recommended contributors to withhold their funds to the party until Biden withdraws his reelection campaign.

And so, I propose a DEMbargo. No checks written. No ActBlue links clicked. For anyone, the cocreator of the hit television show Lost wrote in a Deadline guest column on Wednesday. He further called his move a short term hurt for long term healing.

Prior to the CNN debate, Hollywood celebrities, including Julia Roberts, George Clooney, arranged a historic $30 million event for Biden's campaign in Los Angeles. However, Hollywood celebrities have started to criticise Biden following his poor debate performance.

Hollywood mogul Ari Emanuel expressed his dissatisfaction with the Biden's rerun.

During his appearance at the Aspen Ideas Festival, he told the crowd that he's pi**** off at the founding father.

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, he stated, as per the Hollywood Reporter.

In addition, Emanuel accused Biden's advisors of lying to people about his deteriorating mental and physical capacity.

In his first post-debate interview, Biden will speak with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos on Friday.
Remembered for their easy camaraderie, Prince Harry and Kate Middleton were once called the "Fab Four" with William and Meghan by their side. Yet, a deep chill appears to have developed between the extended family. Royal biographer Emily Andrews describes a sad picture, claiming they are "separated" with "no bridge to mend" their fractured relationship. This revelation is especially sad considering Kate has been diagnosed with cancer, a period when the support of family is crucial. Britain's Prince Harry (L) and Dutchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton (R) applaud as they view the closing ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. REUTERS

Where has Harry been?

Harry and Princess Kate were known to have a very close bond before the Dukes marriage to Meghan Markle. The two of them were known as the fun-loving duo who tagged along to watch games and enjoy outings with William and the kids. However, that relationship no longer exists and has only deteriorated further since the infamous Megxit. According to Andrews in the Mirror, "What has kept her going are her family and friends rallying round." Sadly, the same cannot be said for her brother-in-law, whom she was once close to. Now faced with her darkest days, where has Harry been?

Also read: Justin Timberlakes mugshot turns into a limited edition art piece' in Sag Harbor: Take a look

Prince Harry and Kate separated

After exiting the royal palace and stepping down from their roles as working royals, Harry and Meghan found a new home in California, USA. The buzz surrounding their exit kept the tabloids speculating until the duo released their Netflix documentary, Harry and Meghan, aimed at telling their story while taking several jabs at royal members, including Kate. The duke even made comments referring to the princess as "formal" and someone who would fit the 'mold'.

Also read: Meghan Markle may call 'old Suits pals, Priyanka Chopra' to save new podcast after Archetypes flop

With his new life in the US, high-profile TV appearances and a scathing book to boot, it is unlikely that Harry's shoulder will be one Kate has sought to cry on, Andrews continued. But, there lies the rub. Surely illness is one of the most powerful reasons to reunite and to put the past firmly in the history books? Instead, the wedge appears to be even larger, with no sign of a bridge to connect the pair.

Kate, who last made a public appearance at the Trooping the Colour, is known to rely on a very small, trusted circle that includes William and the King. Reports suggest she is also growing closer to Queen Camilla these days, but the Sussexes are far from that list. Harry could have been part of it, but the way news of her cancer spread to Harry and Meghan, like to the rest of the public, highlights the strained relationship between these estranged family members.
Firefighters lined roads to keep flames from reaching homes as helicopters dropped water on a growing wildfire Wednesday in Northern California that has forced at least 26,000 people to evacuate, as the state sweltered under extreme heat. Shane Lawson, an off-duty firefighter, works to extinguish flames from the Grubbs Fire in the Palermo community of Butte County, Calif., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Firefighters stopped the fire at around 10 acres. An extended heatwave blanketing Northern California has resulted in red flag fire warnings and power shutoffs. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)(AP)

The Thompson fire broke out before noon Tuesday about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, near the city of Oroville in Butte County. It sent up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space as it grew to more than 5.5 square miles (14 square kilometers). There was no containment.

But Oroville Mayor David Pittman said by Wednesday afternoon there had been a significant drop in the fire activity, and he was hopeful that some residents could soon be allowed to return home. The fire's progress was stopped along the southern edge and firefighters working in steep terrain were trying to build containment lines on the northern side.

On that north side they have some real struggles in terms of the topography, Pittman said.

ALSO READ| House insiders rally behind Kamala Harris to replace Joe Biden in the presidential race

Oroville firefighters gain ground, but blaze remains uncontained

More than a dozen other blazes, most of them small, were active in across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. A new fire Wednesday afternoon prompted a small number of evacuations in heavily populated Simi Valley, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The state's largest blaze, the Basin Fire, covered nearly 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) of the Sierra National Forest in eastern Fresno County and was 26% contained.

In Oroville, a state of emergency was declared Tuesday night and evacuation centers were set up. The evacuation zone expanded Wednesday into foothills and rural areas beyond the city thats home to about 20,000 people. With July Fourth in mind, authorities also warned that fireworks are banned in many places, including most of Butte County.

There was no immediate official report on property losses. An Associated Press photographer saw fire burn three adjacent suburban-style homes in Oroville.

The fire ignited sprigs of grass poking from the concrete edges of Lake Oroville as gusty winds whipped up American flags lining a bend of the states second largest reservoir and the nations tallest dam.

Residents stood on hillsides in the night, watching the orange glow, as aircraft made water drops to keep the fire from spreading. A crew of more than a dozen firefighters saved one home as goats and other farm animals ran to find safety.

The fire's cause is being investigated. Red flag warnings for critical fire weather conditions, including gusty northerly winds and low humidity levels, were in effect when it erupted.

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The warnings were expected to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, said Garrett Sjolund, the Butte County unit chief for Cal Fire.

The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than weve experienced the last two summers, Sjolund said in an online briefing. The fuels are very dense, brush is dry. And as you can see, any wind will, move a fire out very quickly.

The conditions led Pacific Gas & Electric to implement targeted public safety power shutoffs in parts of some Northern California counties to prevent fires from being ignited by downed or damaged wires.

More high temperatures above 100 degrees (37.8 Celsius) were forecast Wednesday, the National Weather Service said. Hot conditions were expected to continue into next week.

Authorities warned of full legal consequences for any illegal use of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday.

Governor activates State Operations Center to combat wildfires and heatwave

Dont be an idiot, cause a fire and create more problems for us, said Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea. No one in the community is going to want that. And we certainly dont want this."

The governors office announced late Tuesday that federal funding had been approved to help with firefighting efforts. Gov. Gavin Newsom this week activated the State Operations Center to coordinate Californias response, dispatch mutual aid and support communities as they respond to threats of wildfire and excessive heat.

ALSO READ| US: Explosion at Arkansas defense weapons plant leaves 2 injured, 1 missing

In Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park officials closed Covington Flats, an area with most of the park's important Joshua tree populations, on Wednesday because of extreme fire risk after spring rains led to abundant grass that has now dried. A June 2023 fire burned 1.6 square miles (4.14 square kilometers) of Joshua trees and desert tortoise habitat.
Ahead of the US Independence Day, Marblehead authorities were forced to cancel the annual Fourth of July firework show following an overnight barge fire on Wednesday. In Marblehead, the fire department and the Harbormaster are currently examining the cause of the blaze.(X)

The Marblehead Fire Department rushed to a barge at the harbor's mouth to douse the flames. State environmental police and US Coast Guard were also present on the spot battling the blaze.

Early on Thursday morning, the Marblehead Fireworks and Harbor Illumination posted on social media that the barge in the north coast village of Marblehead caught fire in the middle of the night.

In the dramatic video, a boat can be seen passing by the waterside inferno and its dense smoke plumes.

The fire agency and the Harbormaster are currently examining the cause of the blaze.

In a post on X, Marblehead Fireworks and Harbor Illumination announced that they have cancelled the show because Fire Marshal won't allow our vendor to perform any fireworks until determination of how the barge was able to catch fire.

Fourth of July shooting sees three injured in Texas

Three persons, including a teenager, were shot in San Antonio, Texas on Thursday morning, according to the police.

Police were called to a house off Steves Avenue at around 2:30 in the morning after a group of men fired bullets into the rear.

After police arrived on the scene, they found two males in their 30s and a 17-year-old had been shot. While two were hit in the leg and shoulder, one sustained injuries to the abdomen.

Also Read: 4th of July Fireworks in Seattle, New York, Dallas, San Diego and more: Top locations to explore

According to local news source KENS 5, the three victims were taken to the hospital, where two were said to be in a stable condition and the third one remains in a serious condition.

Four men were taken into custody following the incident, as per the San Antonio Police Department.
London, The world is at the cusp of ushering in an India era as the countrys growth trajectory moves towards a developed nation status by 2047, leading economist and policymaker N K Singh has said. World is at cusp of ushering in an India era: N K Singh

In his address on being conferred a prestigious Honorary Fellowship at the London School of Economics and Political Science on Wednesday evening, the President of the Institute of Economic Growth said he was humbled to be joining the ranks of fellow Indians such as Nobel laureate Professor Amartya Sen and former president K R Narayanan.

The renowned university said the honour was in recognition of Singhs long-standing and committed relationship with the LSE and his efforts to facilitate its unique relationship with India as Co-chair of LSEs India Advisory Board.

It is a humbling moment for me considering the stature of many of my predecessors. The LSE has been a centre of academic excellence since its inception in 1895. Its connection with India has been an intensive, inquisitive and integral relationship, said Singh.

In his acceptance speech, the 83-year-old economist traced the countrys glorious history and its quest as a high-growth economy in time for its 100th anniversary of independence.

This is the third term of Prime Minister Modi, he and all members of the council of ministers are deeply committed to a developed India by 2047 for the next two decades, India needs to sustain this kind of growth trajectory. The Indian growth story also demonstrates that democracy and development are not inimical to each other, he said.

From time immemorial, India has been a mine of precious ideas; ushering in the India age is predicated in this deep belief, in our quest, in our anxiety, in our earnestness, in our restlessness to achieve what is ordained for us, he concluded.

Singh, as the Co-Convenor of the High-Level Expert Group for the reforms of Multilateral Development Banks formed by the G20, has called for a better, bolder and bigger approach by the MDBs that also tackle pressing concerns of the climate crisis.

Lord Nicholas Stern, co-director of the LSEs India Observatory, gave the oration at Singhs Fellowship ceremony and highlighted his many achievements including as a member of the Rajya Sabha and in the core group of leaders involved in Indias economic reforms of 1991. Singh is also credited with major structural and macroeconomic reforms thereafter as Secretary to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

LSE Vice-Chancellor Larry Kramer said: This is the first Honorary Fellowship I have the privilege to award in my term as LSE President, and I am particularly thrilled to confer it upon our lifelong partner, N K Singh.

NK's life and career have exemplified LSE's mission to apply the social sciences in service of humanity, and the entire School is delighted to honour his decades of friendship in this way.

The ceremony held at the Royal College of Surgeons in London also included remarks from Alex Ellis, former British High Commissioner to India, along with messages read out from senior Indian ministers.

N K Singhs profound expertise in fiscal policy, coupled with his unwavering commitment to fiscal prudence, transparency, and cooperative federalism, epitomises his enduring legacy, read Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamans message.

In the diplomatic domain, he is well-known for his efforts at forging a closer relationship between India and Japan and was deeply involved in Indias G20 Presidency, serving as the Co-Convenor of the Independent Expert Group for the Reforms of Multilateral Development Banks, noted Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The United States is sending Ukraine what it describes as a "significant new package" of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.

The $150 million package falls under a program set up by President Biden. It includes missiles for HAWK air defense systems, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, 81mm mortar rounds, Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, the State Department says.

It is also sending small arms ammunition and grenades, demolitions equipment and munitions, tactical vehicles to tow and haul equipment, tactical air navigation systems and aircraft support equipment, night vision devices and spare parts, maintenance and other field and ancillary equipment.

"This support will also help strengthen Ukraine's air defenses against Russian attacks and reinforce Ukraine's capabilities across the front lines," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

This is the seventh security assistance package President Biden has authorized to help Ukraine since signing the national security supplemental two months ago.

Blinken said the U.S. will move the weaponry "as quickly as possible" to help Ukraine battle Russian forces.

The aid might be too late for Ukraine to hold onto Chasive Yar. Ukraine's army retreated Thursday from the outskirts of the strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region, according to the Associated Press.

The town has been under a monthslong Russian assault.
California is going to bake as it rides through a heat wave over the holiday weekend.

The hottest temperatures were expected on Friday and Saturday.

Desert temperatues were expected to top 115 degrees. Moutain temeratures could reach 112 and valleys could see highs hitting 108. The coastal plain temperatures were expected to stay in the 90s.

"Limit outdoor activities during times of peak heat," the National Weather Service warned.

Christina Coffey, of Sacramento, told the Associated Press that it's just as miserable indoors, even with the air conditioning, while others wait in long lines for ice cream, hoping to cool down.

Many are flocking to beaches in an effort to beat the heat and enjoy cooler coastal waves.

Temperatures in some inland areas may set new record highs.

Statewide heat advisories are in effect.

Around 134 million people in the U.S. are under alerts as an "extremely dangerous and record-breaking" heat wave broils much of the country, according to the National Weather Service.
Police in Australia have found the body of a missing child who was dragged off by a crocodile in the country's Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Police announced they had found the girl's body on Thursday.

The search started on Tuesday near the remote community of Palumpa.

Around 5:30 p.m. police received reports of a missing 12-year-old girl who was last seen swimming at Mango Creek.

Initial reports stated she had been attacked by a crocodile and then went missing.

Community members and police immediately began searching for the girl.

A Search and Rescue team was later deployed into the area.

"Our thoughts are with the family and the community," Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said. "Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek via boat and we thank the community for their ongoing assistance."

"This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search," Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said.



""Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene."
Kelly Paduchowski went for a swim in an Arizona creek and was never seen again. Now her husband is under arrest as authorities continue to try to find out what happened to her.

Police arrested Daniel Paduchowski, 58, on July2, on aggravated assault charges after her mysteriously disappearance on June 30.

The Flagstaff Police Department and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office are coordinating a search to find Kelly Paduchowski, 45.

Following interviews with family members and witnesses, investigators said they "processed evidence resulting in the arrest" of the husband.

"This investigation is ongoing, and the number one priority is to locate Kelly; however, based on current evidence and information, it is believed that Kelly may be the victim of a homicide," police said in the statement.

In a news conference, Flagstaff Police Sgt. Jerry Rintala told reporters that "with further evidence and investigation, further charges could be coming."

Data collected from Kelly's phone placed her in the area of Schultz Creek Trail at roughly 10:20 a.m. Daniel was traced to the same area at 11:30 am.

Police said sometime around noon, Kelly's phone returned to the couple's shared home in the Coconino Estates.

At 1:30 p.m., Daniel is seen with Kelly's white Mazda CX-5 at the Campbell Mesa Trail Head, but it wasn't until 7:39 that evening that he reported his wife missing, possibly in the area of Lake Mary.

Photos taken at the trailhead and obtained by the sheriff's office allegedly show Daniel wearing a dark-colored tee, shorts, and a hat as he looks down at an object.

Daniel's bond has been set at $500,000, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.

Police are asking anyone who had contact with Kelly, Daniel, or saw Kelly's white Mazda CX-5 on June 30 to contact them.
Passengers on an American Airlines flight were shocked as a man allegedly stood up, exposed himself and then urinated in the middle of the aisle.

Neil McCarthy, 25, of Oregon, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure after the plane was diverted to Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Police meet the plane at Gate 2 at the airport and a flight attendant let them know what happened on the plane.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, said it happened on Wednesday on a flight headed to Manchester, New Hampshire.

McCarthy reportedly told officers he was flying from Portland, Oregon, to Manchester and had several whiskey drinks before boarding and then more during a layover in Chicago.

He said he got up to use the restroom but he has a medical urination problem, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Associated Press.

McCarthy had an initial appearance Wednesday afternoon in front of a U.S. Magistrate Judge and was released on his own recognizance.

It was unclear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

McCarthy faces a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Shocked neighbors reportedly watched an Italian man tossing his brother's head into the street after decapitating him.

Brothers Benito, 57, and Annibale, 70, lived together in a Pannarano home, roughly 25 miles outside of Naples.

Police say it happened Wednesday night near Benevento south of Naples.

The killing took place after a fight over petty issues, police told ANSA.

Annibale went to bed and Benito allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and attacked his brother.

Benito's confessed to the Carabinieri, Italy's national police. They found Annibale's headless body covered in stab wounds, according to the Daily Mail.

After questioning Benito overnight, authorities transferred him to a prison in Benevento.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Benevento has launched a formal investigation and assigned a coroner to autopsy Annibale's body.

Italian media outlets have reported that the brothers were unhappy living together after Annibale's return from Rome, following his recent death of his wife.
Scandic has signed a long-term lease agreement for two new Scandic Go hotels in central Gothenburg and Umea. The hotels are expected to open in 2026 with a total of 276 rooms, and the project involves converting existing office buildings. This will bring the number of Scandic Go hotels in the company's pipeline to five with a total of 876 rooms in Sweden and Finland.

Since its launch in September 2023, Scandic Go has been well received by guests and property owners alike, attracting new partners. And now, Scandic will add 176 hotel rooms to the Lilla Bommen district in Gothenburg, where existing office space will be converted into a Scandic Go. In Umea, an entire office building will be converted into a Scandic Go with 100 rooms. The conversions will be initiated by the property owners during the first quarter of 2025. The hotels are expected to open during the first part of 2026.

Greater demand for hotels combined with longer lead times for establishing new hotel properties is creating an opportunity for Scandic. By conversion of office spaces and other properties, Scandic can accelerate the growth of its new brand in the economy segment. Conversions are carried out by the property owner, allowing the landlord to also plan for other commercial activities in the building in addition to hotel operations.

Scandic Go, Umea

In central Umea, approximately 250 meters from the central station, a former office building will be converted into a Scandic Go. With 100 rooms on five floors, the new hotel will become a landmark in the city. The property will be environmentally certified according to BREAM Very Good standards, and thanks to extensive upgrades, Scandic expects significantly lower operating costs compared with a more traditional hotel. The long-term agreement for this hotel was signed with property owner Dios.

Hotel website
The Trump Organization has signed an agreement with Dar Global to develop a new luxury high-rise tower in Saudi Arabia.

The project

Located in Jeddah, the tower would be the Trump Organization's first major project in Saudi Arabia, marking an expansion of Donald Trump's business in the Middle East. It will target the luxury segment of Saudi Arabia's real estate market, alongside international investors, aligning with Dar Global's strategic growth plan.

This project leverages the successful partnership established through the Trump International Oman project within the AIDA development, one of the world's largest premium mixed-use real estate ventures.

Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organization, said: "We are thrilled to expand our footprint in the Middle East and bring the Trump standard of luxury to the region through our long-standing relationship with Dar Global.

"This collaboration embodies our shared vision of creating landmark developments that exude luxury, quality, and sophistication. Together with Dar Global, we are setting new benchmarks for excellence, aiming to meet the demand for iconic properties in key markets."

Attracting elite buyers

Dar Global, the international arm of Saudi mega-developer Dar Al Arkan, aims to capitalise on opportunities in key Saudi cities with this new development.

Dar Global, listed on the London Stock Exchange, manages projects worth US$5.9 billion across six countries: UAE, Oman, Qatar, UK, Spain, and Bosnia. The addition of Trump Tower Jeddah will further solidify its standing in the high-growth real estate market of Saudi Arabia.

Known for its partnerships with prestigious brands like Dolce & Gabbana and Lamborghini, Dar Global anticipates leveraging the Trump association to attract high-net-worth buyers.

Hotel website
Effective July 1, 2024, Florian Augustin, the current Chief Commercial Officer and member of the executive team at HotelPartner Revenue Management, will assume the role of Deputy CEO. This strategic decision aims to fortify the leadership team, broaden service offerings, and drive further growth.

Having joined HotelPartner Revenue Management in 2017, Florian Augustin has been instrumental in the company's positive trajectory over recent years. Rainer M. Willa, CEO of HotelPartner Revenue Management, remarked, "Florian's expertise and dedication have been crucial to our evolution into becoming the leading service provider for revenue management and distribution in Europe. In his new role as Deputy CEO, Florian will not only bring his extensive knowledge but will continue to collaborate closely with me and the leadership team to further enhance the success of our partners and our company."

Rainer M. Willa, who began his career at HotelPartner Revenue Management as Deputy CEO over a decade ago, has significantly contributed to the company's success. The founder and Chairman of the Board, Oliver Meyer, has consistently leveraged in-house talent and their continuous development since the company's inception. This is exemplified by the "TET-Synergy" of HotelPartner Revenue Management, which stands for qualified teams (T), proven expertise (E), and the use of the latest technology (T).

In his new position, Florian Augustin will act as a direct deputy to Rainer M. Willa, managing operations across countries. While Rainer M. Willa will concentrate on quality management, Florian Augustin, with nearly 20 years of experience in international hospitality, will focus on sales and marketing. HotelPartner Revenue Management, a Swiss company with offices in Vienna, Salzburg, Hamburg, and London, currently supports over 500 hotels across Europe.
Beijing Language and Culture University establishes branch campus in Astana, Kazakhstan

Global Times) 09:53, July 04, 2024

A branch campus of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) has been established in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, a symbol of the growth of China-Kazakhstan friendship and people-to-people exchanges.

Duan Peng, principal of BLCU stated that the branch campus will play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and exchanges between China and Kazakhstan.

The BLCU Kazakhstan branch is located on the campus of Astana International University within the Astana Expo Park, including a reading room with Chinese language books as well as an exhibition room for Kazakh culture.

Aside from decorations of lanterns and eagles from both countries, the most eye-catching item on the campus is the student ID copy of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev when he was a student at the BLCU in Beijing. It witnessed President Tokayev's student life in China and the valuable China-Kazakhstan friendship.

BLCU and Astana International University signed an agreement in March 2024 to co-build the BLCU Kazakhstan branch campus, Duan told the Global Times in Astana.

Prior to the agreement, the two universities began detailed negotiations regarding cooperation following a memorandum of understanding signed in December 2023, Irsaliev Serik Aztaevich, president of Astana International University, told the Global Times, noting that the two sides reached a consensus after only several months and received effective support from education departments of both countries and Chinese embassy to Kazakhstan.

The BLCU Kazakhstan branch campus is the university's third overseas branch campus following similar sites in Bangkok and Tokyo. The branch campus now is ready to welcome its first batch of 100 students in September this year and will become the test site for a Chinese Proficiency Test.

Over the next five years, the BLCU Kazakhstan branch campus aims to establish itself as a high-level university offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs. The goal is to positively impact the entire region. Duan noted that young people in Kazakhstan will have the opportunity to study at the campus, make friends, and become a bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Gewan Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Khaled Al Kurdi as the new director of operations for HE Hotel Apartments by Gewan in Dubai.

With over 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Al Kurdi brings in extensive knowledge and expertise to his role.

Al Kurdi began his career with Wyndham Hospitality in Jordan and has held significant roles in luxury hotels in Jordan and Bulgaria.

He joined Kempinski Hotels in Ajman in 2017 and later became front office manager at Fairmont Ajman, a position he held from December 2022.

Known for his ability to build strong relationships with his team and foster a positive work environment, Al Kurdi has implemented comprehensive training programs aimed at delivering exceptional customer service and creating memorable guest experiences.

In his new role, Al Kurdi will oversee the daily operations of HE Hotel Apartments by Gewan, ensuring high standards of service and efficiency. Al Kurdi's passion for hospitality and strategic approach to operations make him a valuable asset to Gewan Hotels & Resorts, and his leadership will undoubtedly contribute to the brand's continued growth and success, the company says.
JW Marriott Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa, part of Marriott's luxury and lifestyle portfolio, has announced the appointment of Manuel Magana as General Manager. A highly accomplished and results-driven hotel executive with 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Magana brings a rich skill set to the property which opened in May 2023.

Magana has a storied tenure and success with Marriott; his journey began as a Room Service waiter at the JW Marriott Mexico City and evolved into roles in HR and Food & Beverage, and quickly advanced to management roles. During his time in Mexico City, Magana played a pivotal role in the openings of the JW Marriott Hotel Quito in Ecuador and the Panama Marriott Hotel, contributing his expertise to the pre-opening Food & Beverage Task Force team.

Magana brings a global experience and perspective from his roles around the world in locations like Renaissance Prague Hotel in the Czech Republic, Marriott Casa Magna Cancun Resort, and JW Marriott Miami. His leadership was instrumental in achieving the AAA Five Diamond award for the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and the Hotel of the Year and Food & Beverage Financial Excellence awards.

Most recently, Magana served as the Multi-Property General Manager for the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa and the Westin Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. Under his leadership, these properties saw record revenue growth, significant ADR improvements, and prestigious awards such as the AAA Four Diamond distinction and 2021 hotel of the year.
Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has revealed the top summer European destinations favored by Saudi travelers this year.

Summer is one of the peak travel periods for Saudi travelers. The lengthy summer break also means more time to explore beyond the backyard and Europe is where families, couples, and solo travelers are keen to be heading this time of the year.

Wego data shows that Saudi travelers prioritize comfort, with 4-star and 5-star hotels constituting a combined 66.66% stake of all European hotel bookings. This hotel preference remains largely unchanged since last year.

The United Kingdom is receiving most European summer travel bookings from Saudi Arabia, constituting 18.38% of all bookings to Europe. Trailing closely behind the UK is Georgia, with 14.97% share of total bookings to Europe.

Searches for trips to Europe from Saudi Arabia during summer holiday have more than doubled compared to the same travel period during earlier months of 2024. As summer travel season is still in full swing, it may be a close race once again between the UK and Georgia for shares of bookings from Saudi Arabia this time around. Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego

Last summer, the UK and Georgia were tied for the position of the most in-demand summer European destinations from Saudi Arabia on Wego, with about 1% difference in booking numbers.

Saudi travelers angling for seasonal deals may have more reasons to book right now. Summer airfares on Wego to many popular European destinations are currently observed to be lower than last year. Among the steepest drops are flights to the UK, down by 22.56%, and flights to Azerbaijan, now 31.45% cheaper than last summer.

Wegos list of most searched European summer destinations from Saudi Arabia this year features a mix of well-known hotspots such as Italy, Germany, and Spain, along with a handful of Eastern European countries. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azerbaijan, Poland, and Austria are among top countries from the region that is receiving a lot of interest.

Some of these Eastern European countries are relatively budget-friendly and offer convenient visa arrangements for Saudi passport holders, which explain their popularity among Saudi travelers.

About Wego

Wego provides award-winning travel search websites and top-ranked mobile apps for travelers living in the Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions. Wego harnesses powerful yet simple to use technology that automates the process of searching and comparing results from hundreds of airlines, hotels, and online travel agency websites.

Wego presents an unbiased comparison of all travel products and prices offered in the marketplace by merchants, both local and global, and enables shoppers to quickly find the best deal and place to book whether it is from an airline or hotel directly or with a third-party aggregator website.

Wego was founded in 2005 and is dual headquartered in Dubai and Singapore with regional operations in Bangalore, Riyadh, Cairo, Lahore, and Kuala Lumpur.
UTRECHT, The Netherlands, July 2, 2024  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).

About the report

Business travel can be a seismograph of economic growth. The rise and fall of business travel volumes reflect the level and health of economic activity within a region or country. BCDs latest Cities & Trends 2023 Asia Pacific edition shows the top destinations for APAC business travelers with insights into how they travel. The findings are based on BCD flight and rail data from 2023 in a range of APAC markets. This report follows the recently published 2023 Europe edition and U.S. edition. The reports are produced annually.

About BCD Travel

BCD Travel helps companies travel smart and achieve more. We drive program adoption, cost savings and talent retention through digital experiences that simplify business travel. Our 15,000+ dedicated team members service clients in 170+ countries as we shape a sustainable future for business travel. BCDs leading meetings and events management and global consultancy services complete our comprehensive suite of solutions for all aspects of corporate travel. In 2023, BCD achieved US$20.3 billion in sales. For more information, visit www.bcdtravel.com.
Room Mate Hospitality & Leisure, S.L. (Room Mate Hotels), a leading lifestyle hotel brand and lease management company headquartered in Madrid, today announced the acquisition of Staying Valencia, a portfolio of boutique hotels and aparthotels in Valencia. This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in Room Mate Hotels expansion strategy, bolstered by the support of TPG Angelo Gordon, a diversified credit and real estate investing platform within TPG, and Westmont Hospitality (Westmont), which together acquired Room Mate Hotels in 2022.

Staying Valencia operates a portfolio of 10 boutique properties in Valencia, including award-winning Helen Berger, and is renowned for its strong reputation, exceptional customer service, and commitment to providing guests with authentic, local experiences. This acquisition not only expands Room Mate Hotels presence across Spain, but also strengthens its foothold within Valencia, Spains third-largest city and a thriving destination in the European hospitality market. Room Mate Hotels plans to integrate and rebrand these properties into its family of prime located lifestyle hotels.

Since the acquisition of Room Mate Hotels in 2022 by TPG Angelo Gordon and Westmont, Room Mate Hotels has significantly strengthened its financial position and revamped its portfolio through a program of capital expenditures into several hotels. The company is now well-positioned to continue its international expansion through further strategic acquisitions, new leases, and hotel management agreements.

We believe Room Mate now operates from a position of financial strength with no debt and a target EBITDA of 40 million in 2025 for the combined entity. We are pleased to have helped Room Mate reestablish itself as one of the premier international hotel chains and look forward to continuing to support the company as it seeks to take advantage of exciting opportunities in the European hospitality sector and beyond. Jacopo Burgio, Managing Director, Europe Real Estate at TPG Angelo Gordon

Room Mate is on an exciting growth trajectory, underpinned by a strong balance sheet, an institutionalized management team, and a renovated hotel portfolio. This acquisition reflects our continued commitment to support the companys continued expansion into fast-growing hotel and tourism markets like Valencia through the addition of high-quality assets. Westmont Hospitality

Welcoming Staying Valencia into the Room Mate family marks a significant milestone in our journey. We are thrilled to add Staying Valencia to our portfolio of centrally located lifestyle hotels. Valencias cultural richness and the companys hospitality philosophy perfectly aligns with Room Mates values. We look forward to working with the new landlords, employees, and stakeholders. Together, we are committed to setting new benchmarks in hospitality excellence. Kike Sarasola, Founder and President of Room Mate Hotels

Room Mate Hotels acquisition of Staying Valencia follows its recent acquisition of The Lime Tree Hotel in Belgravia, London in late 2023, as well as its recent opening of the Palazzo Dei Fiori by Room Mate in Venice. With this transaction, Room Mate Hotels will operate 32 properties across Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK, and Turkey. The company is also preparing to launch its Room Mate Collection brand, designed for travelers seeking an elevated and distinctive luxury experience.

Clifford Chance (Legal), Perez Llorca (Tax & Structuring), Jones Lang LaSalle (Commercial), PwC (Financial) and Arcadis (Technical) served as advisors to Room Mate Hotels in the transaction. JJL, led by Javier de Miguel, served as financial and legal advisor to Staying Valencia.

About Room Mate Hotels

Founded in 2005, Room Mate Hotels is a Spanish lifestyle hotel brand and lease management company with 32 hotels and ~2,200 keys under management across 5 countries and 14 cities. With its headquarters in Madrid, Room Mate Hotels employs over 900 people. Known for its vibrant, people-oriented, and eclectic approach, Room Mate Hotels offers unique, personalized experiences inspired by local cultures. Renowned designers such as Patricia Urquiola, Lazaro Rosa Violan, Tomas Alia, Lorenzo Castillo, and Pascua Ortega, among others, have contributed to the distinctive character of Room Mate Hotels. For more information, visit www.room-matehotels.com.
Technology is everywhere! The rapid and pervasive inclusion of technology in various work processes has positive and negative impacts on employees, managers, and organizations. Since hospitality is synonymous with service, it is important to understand how technology may impact service processes. In this article I discuss stress in service work, how technology may change the nature of service work processes, possible outcomes, and discuss some ways organizations can respond.

The American Psychological Association notes that stressful environments contribute to problems such as headaches, sleep disturbances, short temper, and difficulty concentrating. It can also cause depression, obesity, and heart disease. People who experience excessive stress adopt unhealthy escapes such as overeating, smoking tobacco, or abusing drugs and alcohol. Work is cited as a significant source of stress. Stress at work costs organizations money through insurance premiums and EAPs. Job stress costs organizations more than US $300 billion annually due to absenteeism, turnover, decreased productivity, and medical, legal, and insurance costs.

Service work is among the more stressful. Several causes of work stress have been identified. Service jobs, for example food service, are often characterized by long work hours, excessive workloads, low salaries, and unpredictable earnings from week to week. Lodging managers or lodging employees are likewise susceptible to experiencing stress because of the nature of their work: handling people issues - both guest and staff, managing the bottom line and productivity, and ensuring a high level of guest satisfaction. The jobs of service workers, particularly front-line customer facing workers, include a substantial proportion of emotional labor. Researchers describe emotional labor as converting an individuals actual felt emotion (for example, anger or sadness) into one displayed based on organizational rules (for example, happiness and joy).

The psychological effort required to manage and convert ones felt emotions into socially and organizationally acceptable emotions is stressful. Emotional labor can be very stressful since over a workday the employee is called on to engage in several micro-acts of emotional regulation and management. While the employee does get to engage in some positive emotional exchanges, for example with a regular guest, the sum of the interactions requiring regulation and management of negative felt emotions often overwhelms the positive.

In addition, lack of opportunities for career growth, routinized work that is less than challenging, lack of social support from managers or colleagues, inadequate or lack of control over job-related decisions, and conflicting or unclear performance expectations are all reasons for stress.

It is apparent from the above discussion that the nature of the job has a big role to play in the perception of stress by the job holder. Managers will argue that some aspects of the job that can induce stress are inherent to the job. Current conceptions of hospitality characterizing hospitality as a person-to-person business and commonly held by all engaged in the industry determines job descriptions, the provision of service, and the shape of the organization.

As industry professionals we have a firm view of the best hierarchy, authority structures, and overall organizational structure. Advances in technology and the way technology is incorporated in various aspects of typical hospitality operations are upending our collective understanding of the nature of service jobs and, consequently, organizational structures. This has implications for how work is carried out and for stress in hospitality work. What might these be? In what ways can the advance of technology and its inclusion in hospitality jobs and service processes impact perceptions and actual experience of stress in hospitality?

That technology has encroached in many areas of hospitality operation is not in doubt. Both customer facing and back-office processes have adopted technologies of various kinds. I have separated the technologies into two broad categories: technologies that are visible to the customer and those that are invisible to the customer. Visible technologies change the dynamics of the hospitality organization at customer interfaces. For example, self-service kiosks at restaurants and airports have changed expectations of how a customer will obtain her burger or boarding pass. Worldwide self-service kiosk market is projected to double to about US $21.5 billion by 2027 from $12 billion in 2020. Asia has also adopted service robots widely. Statista reports that consumer service robotics dominates the market for service robotics and is projected to reach a market volume of US $6.9 billion in 2024.

Service processes are being digitalized and transformed at a rapid pace. The job descriptions of front-line employees are shifting as a result. The typical fast food restaurant service process is transformed, and frontline positions have changed. Technology adoptions mean fewer order-takers and cashiers are required. The job now entails delivery of a finished product to the consumer. As a result, there are fewer interpersonal interactions required with consumers. Such interactions are a primary source of variability in workflows of front-line work. The variance inherent in frontline service work demands that service workers observe and manage their emotions continuously. However, the proportion of emotional labor required in such jobs is significantly reduced due to the inclusion of technology. I noted earlier that the need to provide emotional labor as a component of service jobs is a big source of stress. The adoption of technology solutions and interfaces can help to reduce stress.

Kiosks and similar visible technologies also help to manage variability in the numbers of customers visiting an establishment. While the number of installed kiosks depends on capital availability, such installations can help manage staffing ratios. An important source of stress to the service employee such as unpredictable salary and work hours can be greatly reduced. Employees can be provided with more regular and predictable schedules.

Other sources of stress are jobs and tasks that are highly routinized, unchallenging, and tasks that provide the employee with little perceived control of their workday. Some positions in back-office operations can be characterized as routine and therefore a source of potential stress to the employee. The advance of artificial intelligence and similar invisible technologies has changed the nature of back-office work. AI supported back-office process automation is poised to become more widespread than it is currently.

These technologies have the potential to rapidly change back-office workflows, job descriptions, and as a result the nature of stress on employees. Similar to other service processes, tasks are likely to be reorganized into new and different jobs. Technology commentators and researchers note that while many jobs and tasks that humans currently engage in will be handled by technology, and that new jobs will take their place. Such new jobs are likely to demand skills and competencies that include critical and strategic thinking. This will no doubt make jobs more interesting and challenging and remove one source of stress in hospitality jobs.

On the other hand, it is possible that other forms of stress can occur due to the inclusion of technology in work processes. Technostress is defined as negative impact on attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, or body physiology that is caused either directly or indirectly by technology. Causes of technostress include constant connectivity with the organization, cognitive overload due to multiple streams of information that need processing, uncertainty due to changes in software or hardware potentially resulting in changes in work expectations, and insecurity due to fear of loss of job due to the inclusion of technology.

Managers can reduce much of this stress by knowledge sharing about an innovative technology, technical support to reduce any perceived complexity and uncertainty in operating recent technology and creating organizational mechanisms to encourage employees to engage with the technology. Upskilling or reskilling employees to ensure they are ready to engage with technology supported service processes can alleviate a potential source of stress, namely fear of unemployment.

As some have noted, technology is neutral, and its value must depend on its appropriate and benign application. Organizations must strive to balance investments in technology against those in their employees and ensure that employee stress levels are not heightened. Managers must seek to digitalize their organizations in a manner that does not abruptly disrupt existing organizational systems dependent on individual contributions. Organizations must rethink their service processes carefully accounting for the duration it will take to transform a process, the resulting reallocations of work tasks, plan future employee requirements, and gradually phase in technology.

At the same time, organizations must plan and execute their reskilling and retraining needs to ensure current employees are included in the redesigned and technology supported service processes. Careful planning and execution will reduce human resource related challenges including stress resulting from lack of job security or a lack of understanding of the new technology.

In conclusion, technology is changing the way we work. With increasing sophistication and having moved past the learning curve technology solutions will be applied to large parts of hospitality organizations. I have argued elsewhere that hospitality organizations are likely to evolve into two large categories - one group of organizations will be intensely technology supported and driven, while a smaller group of organizations will continue to deliver high-touch services at a higher price point.

No matter which end of the spectrum an organization falls on, technology applications will be inescapable. Technology can be both a bane and a boon to manage stress. Managers must be aware of the ways in which technology can affect stress levels, both positively and negatively, and develop clear conceptions of the pace and intensity of technology adoption in their organizations.

Reprinted from the Hotel Business Review with permission from http://www.hotelexecutive.com/.
Welcome to the regular Q&A feature where we shine the spotlight on our EHL research faculty and their current work. With a view to going behind the scenes to better understand the fascinating, impactful world of research, the EHL Institutional Visibility team catches up with an EHL researcher whose work is making a difference in both the classroom and industry.

Our EHL researcher spotlight this month is dedicated to the work of Dr. Nicole Hinrichs (Associate Dean of Degree Programs and Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship) and Dr. Marc Stierand (Director of the Institute of Business Creativity & Full Professor of Service Management). Their recent research project unveils how learnings from the haute cuisine sector can be applied to many different industry contexts, with a special focus on the role that curiosity plays in a chef's identity and, by consequence, the creativity and potential it ignites as a means of standing out.

Definition of haute cuisine

MS: Haute cuisine - a French term meaning high cooking - refers to the art of preparing food in a way that emphasizes quality, expertise and meticulous attention to detail. Its often associated with chefs from top-end restaurants who are highly skilled and innovative. Much like any other discipline that carries the descriptive haute, e.g., haute couture, it involves a high level of specific practice anchored in craft that over time is elevated to a kind of art form. It is one of the few industries that has a publicly accessible system that rewards high levels of creativity, the Michelin Star.

Why did you choose to study haute cuisine so specifically?

NH: We were especially driven to study this niche hospitality area because of wanting to create active links to other industries in a way that was academic, managerial and, above all, relevant. What are the transferable skills that haute cuisine can teach? What would a CEO learn from spending time in a Michelin-starred kitchen? What patterns can be extracted from this new context? Our aim is to use innovative empirical settings to spark fresh ways of developing business angles, i.e., get away from the tired assumptions of what leads to success, and thereby place haute cuisine as an unusual empirical setting to study innovation.

MS: Chefs in haute cuisine face a unique paradox of having to fit in and stand out simultaneously. On the one hand, to be successful and earn critical acclaim they have to fit in with what critics consider award-worthy food. On the other, they also have to take risks and innovate to differentiate themselves from their competitors and better stand out in the market. Hence, we were also keen to understand how chefs gain a competitive edge through the identities they develop that in turn impact their creativity as the main ingredients for standing out.

What can managers from other industry sectors learn from haute cuisine?

NH: Haute cuisine belongs to the creative & cultural industries; in other words, there is often a culturally ethnic or iconic aspect to the products and cooking methods used. Haute cuisine is a fascinating example of creative collaboration and co-creation. More and more restaurants are partnering with other art forms to create more immersive and memorable experiences. Thus, they prove the power of creative collaboration and breaking the mold.

MS: Bringing top level managers into an haute cuisine kitchen ignites their sense of aesthetics. Many aspects of a managers job are normally linked to cognitive functions, but the exposure to the sensory aspect is what develops intuition. Going from the boardroom to the kitchen puts them in a transitional state; the totally unfamiliar setting impacts their liminality effect as they try to make sense of the new environment, make patterns from it and suspend the usual thinking processes.

Most businesses ask themselves the question How can we be different? We channeled our research specifically into looking at the essence of curiosity: what it is and how it impacts creativity as a means of standing out from the crowd. Could the practice of curiosity be used as a strategic resource? Much of our work was conducted at the 2* Alchemist restaurant in Copenhagen, where a young haute cuisine innovator, Ramus Munk, has gone on to create an internationally renowned organization that is bigger than the sum of its parts.

What specific insights did you get from Ramus Munk at Alchemist?

NH: In his groundbreaking restaurant, curiosity is omnipresent, even contagious, and can serve as a fascinating model for many different artistic, cultural and business institutions. At Alchemist, Ramus invites the most random ideas from his employees so that buying into the curiosity mindset is a team effort  from individual to collective. No idea is ridiculed. Failure is as valid a venture as any other.

After spending a week at his restaurant, we found Rasmus and his team to be dramatically inspirational, infectious, thrilling, and at times scary, (the idea of exploring extreme culinary possibilities might be too much for the guest who was just expecting a romantic dinner out). Reacting to the lack of blood donors in Denmark, he recently launched a dessert called Lifeline made with a ganache of pigs blood, deer blood garum and juniper oil, served on a plate with a QR-code leading to an official blood donation page. Roll with it or run away!

MS: Theres a bold playfulness to his 29 youthful years that drives Rasmus to incorporate thought-provoking themes into this cuisine (politics, activism, ethics, CSR, theatre and humor). What other fine dining restaurant has a dramaturg on board to create a theatrical setting and a music producer to design the sonic landscape while you eat in a huge domed planetarium? The average meal at Alchemist lasts between four and five hours  you have to be open to it being more of a multi-layered experience or a happening rather than just a meal. It is a place where you go to be inspired, and even possibly, changed.

I quote from his Holistic Cuisine manifesto:

Provide dining experiences that stimulate and interact with all five senses as well as the intellect through exploring elements from theatre, art, science, and technology.

Challenge the preconceptions of what a meal can be through innovative thinking, curiosity, and a persistent desire to break new ground.

Initiate and partake in debates on social and ethical issues.

Provide knowledge of and insight into societies and cultures beyond ones own.

Embrace and support sustainability and biodiversity, as well as the farm-to-table philosophy.

NH: There is so much to learn from Ramuss open mindset. We took away the following transversal insights:

The road to creativity actually needs boundaries, they are there to be challenged and reinvented; friction is necessary.

Scarcity is what often brings about radical inventions.

Entrepreneurship = finding solutions fast.

Practice the art of unlearning and re-learning., e.g., ask yourself How would things be if this wasnt the case?

Use this mantra as a yardstick for improvement If you liked everything, then we did a poor job.

What did your research teach you about the essence of curiosity?

MS: Curiosity is often confused as a synonym for creativity. This is misleading and not necessarily the case. Curiosity can be a precursor to creativity - or not. It can also lead nowhere, i.e., have no specific endgame or ambition, but just be a passive action in itself. However, when curiosity is encouraged and developed as a behavior pattern in the workplace, this is when things start getting exciting. An organization that makes curiosity part of its working culture is helping to drive the spirit of innovation within a framework of psychological safety.

Since every business strives to make an impact at some stage, our research suggests that curiosity could be used as a strategic resource to this end. Innovation depends on asking constant questions and a willingness not to get too stuck in habitual processes. For any organization that wants to stay on the ball, turning curiosity into an active part of the company mindset is a way forward. Since its more about the question than the answer, the creative interface should remain open without the expectations or pressure of a definite outcome.

What we learnt from Ramus was that although he doesnt take himself too seriously, he takes the process of being curious very seriously. Highly creative people are not necessarily more intelligent than non-creatives, but they have an ability to unleash the curiosity process in a child-like, uninhibited manner  which often yields the most original results.

Can you explain the role of identity as a driver of differentiation?

NH: In the world of haute cuisine, success is very much determined by a clearly recognizable sense of identity for the head chef and restaurant. Top chefs are defined by their unique signature. Their sense of self is highly crafted and is reflected in everything they do: their cooking philosophy, how they source their ingredients, manage their staff, design their premises, etc.

Their identity is a constant balancing act between trying to stand out and yet needing to fit in. Some seek more recognition for their artistic and cultural contributions, while others are very proud of the hard work and years of practice as an artisan or craftsman.

As an example, Ramus Munk has built his entire haute cuisine identity around his innate sense of curiosity, audacity and sensorial as well as intellectual experimentation. He seeks out angles related to activism and ethics to prompt guests to think deeply about topics like food waste and plastic pollution  yet he also wants to be known as a chef who delivers a unique culinary excellence.

Dr. Nicole Hinrichs is Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean Degree Programs at EHL Hospitality Business School. Her research interests focus on the influence of organizational and role identities in the context of strategic decisions that affect transformative change and innovation. She regularly conducts qualitative research to examine the processes by which managers and employees develop strategies and drive innovation, and how these enable entrepreneurial success. Her research has been widely supported by grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) and the HES-SO, has received awards, and has been published in international journals such as the Journal of Management. More articles by Dr Nicole Hinrichs

CONTINUER LA LECTURE

Marc Stierand, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Service Management and the Director of the Institute of Business Creativity at EHL. Before joining the world of academia, he was a chef in Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury hotels. His research focuses on managerial and organizational cognition and management education and development in the hospitality context, with particular interest in personal and team creativity, intuition, and talent. Marc has authored several papers in diverse outlets including Management Learning, Creativity and Innovation Management, the Journal of Creative Behavior, and the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. More articles by Dr Marc Stierand

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Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

Emma Corrin has revealed that their hopes of undergoing a huge transformation to star in Marvel superhero film Deadpool & Wolverine were shot down by producers who told her: Thats absolutely not required of you.

The 28-year-old actor, who goes by they/them pronouns and is known for their role as Princess Diana on The Crown, will star as the villainous Cassandra Nova in the upcoming sequel.

During a video interview with British GQ, Corrin was asked by a fan whether they had to undergo physical training for the film.

This is funny because I did ask if I could have a personal trainer and they said no, Corrin replied. They said I dont have to undergo any physical training. I was so ready to undergo a huge transformation but they were like, Thats absolutely not required of you. Please stand down. I tried.

Marvel comic book fans will know Cassandra Nova as the evil twin sister of Charles Xavier, the X-Men leader often played by Patrick Stewart in the film adaptations.

Elsewhere in the interview, Corrin was asked what drew them to the part that stands in major contrast to their normal roles.

open image in gallery Emma Corrin attending the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, California ( Frazer Harrison/Getty Images )

Money, they replied. No, Im joking. I think probably because it is a major contrast to my normal roles, and I always wanted to play a villain. And then, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. Ryan improvs the entire time. And it was kind of like a masterclass in that kind of comedy and that kind of genre of film, which I hadnt really done before. Whats not to love?

Earlier this week, Corrin reflected on attending an all-girls school while growing up not conforming to one gender. They recalled going to a school dance and being mocked for their appearance.

I went to the dance and someone thought I was a boy and asked me to dance, and it became a big joke in my class, said Corrin, revealing that this was the turning point that caused them to start conforming to societal expectations surrounding femininity.

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I grew out my hair and rolled up my skirt, explained Corrin.

In the GQ interview, Corrin reflected on their experiences of coming out as non-binary in July 2021, stating: You get knocked down a ton and then you come out and youre verbal about your identity, and then people f***ing stamp that out; make f***ing stupid clickbait headlines that make you feel like s*** and use your identity against you as a weapon.

The actor said that their younger self is now actually being looked after following a backlash to their coming out.

After publicly revealing their gender identity, Corrin played the gender-swapped lead in a West End production of Virginia Woolfs Orlando in 2022, which The Independents Jessie Thompson rated four stars out of five.
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We all came out to Montreux/ On the Lake Geneva shoreline... So goes the opening lines of Deep Purples classic rock song, Smoke on the Water.

Montreux Jazz Festival, the same event that inspired that immortal song, launches its 58th edition on Friday 5 July, with a full schedule of performances to take place over the next two weeks.

Across the festival, ticket-holders will see live sets from artists such as Alice Cooper, Mahalia, PJ Harvey, The National, Dionne Warwick, Paolo Nutini, Jessie Ware, Justice, Diana Krall, Brittany Howard, Massive attack, Lenny Kravitz, Tems and RAYE.

Meanwhile rock legends Deep Purple will return on 8 July to play the brand new Lake Stage, built over Lac Leman (Lake Geneva).

The Independent is once again the exclusive global news partner of the festival.

Music fans interested in learning more about the historic festival can tune into They All Came Out to Montreux, a BMG Films and Beyond documentary from renowned British director Oliver Murray.

The three-part series tells the story of the Rolls Royce of music festivals and includes archive footage of some of its most memorable performances, from Nina Simone and Miles Davis to Prince and David Bowie.

open image in gallery Claude Nobs with Muddy Waters ( Montreux Jazz Festival )

It explores how the young Nobs came to found what is now regarded as one of the most prestigious music events in the world, and details some of its most memorable moments, including the Montreux Casino fire of 1971 that inspired Deep Purples Smoke on the Water.

Ive been really lucky to have worked with some fantastic musicians, Murray, who has directed projects about The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, told The Independent.

The common denominator for a lot of them has been that they all have this special affection for Montreux, and particularly for the late Claude Nobs who founded it.

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He viewed They All Came Out to Montreux as an opportunity to preserve memories of an era that has passed, using footage from the extraordinary archive at Nobs former chalet in Caud, overlooking Montreux, where the festival manager once hosted friends including Bowie, Quincy Jones and Phil Collins.

open image in gallery David Bowie larks around at Claude Nobs house ( Montreux Jazz Festival archives )

The BBC documentary also interviews former colleagues and musicians such as Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock, all of whom wax lyrical about the festival.

I think whats special about Montreux is its amazing energy  that it has the potential to completely crash and burn, as well as succeed, Murray said.

Montreux has this culture of trying things, and sometimes you fail, but that doesnt matter. It means the musicians have the freedom to do whatever they want, but that could mean turning up 40 minutes late or just sitting at the piano and staring at the audience.

He added: Its this rare space in music where you feel like anything can happen. Theres no safety net, and its incredibly intimate.

Murray pointed out that Montreux wasnt just a space for musicians to perform  they also created and recorded there.

Claude became like an oasis for me, going to Claudes library and just [looking through] the record collection and playing Mead Lux Lewis, you name it, Keith Richards says in the documentary.

I think that his love for [music] was the fulcrum of everything he did.

They All Came Out to Montreux is available now on BBC iPlayer. Montreux Jazz Festival 2024 takes place from Friday 5 July to Friday 20 July.
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Comedian and TV star Ellen DeGeneres has abruptly cancelled four of her live shows this week, shortly after beginning her Ellens Last Stand... Up tour in June.

An announcement on the Ticketmaster website confirmed that shows scheduled in July and August for Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago had all been cancelled.

The cancelled Dallas show was due to take place next week, on 10 July.

Unfortunately, the Event Organiser has had to cancel your event, the ticketing company said in a statement to its website.

You dont need to do a thing. Well issue a refund to the original method of payment used at time of purchase, as soon as funds are received from the Event Organiser. It should appear on your account within 14-21 days.

The Independent has contacted DeGeneress representatives for comment.

Her other scheduled shows in San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago are still due to take place,The Hollywood Reporter reports.

open image in gallery Ellen DeGeneres is touring after her eponymous chat show was cancelled ( Getty Images for Live Nation )

Ellens Last Stand... Up marks the embattled comedians first live tour since the end of her daytime talk show, Ellen, in 2022.

The programme, which over the years had hosted celebrity guests including Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Octavia Spencer and Daniel Radcliffe, was cancelled following claims of a toxic work environment in 2020.

In April, DeGeneres spoke about how the devastating bullying accusations had impacted her marriage to wife of 16 years, Portia de Rossi.

Im making jokes about what happened to me, but it was devastating, she told her audience at an early Ellens Last Stand... Up tour in Los Angeles.

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It took a long time for me to want to do anything again.

She admitted that the funk she was in began to affect her relationship with the Arrested Development star as she claimed she struggled to leave their home during the hard time.

She was watching it happen to me... she went through it with me, DeGeneres said.

open image in gallery Ellen claimed the scandal surrounding her chat show affected her marriage ( Getty Images for The Recording A )

Also during the performance, DeGeneres joked about the controversy and said she was kicked out of show business for being mean.

SFGatereported that she repeated the joke at a show in Santa Rosa this week, adding: I am many things, but I am not mean.

She apparently noted that having her show axed was the second time shed been kicked out of show business, the first being in 1997 when she came out as a lesbian.

Next time, Ill be kicked out for being old. Old, gay and mean, the triple crown, she reportedly joked, while also commenting on the different ways male and female bosses are viewed.

I can be demanding and impatient and tough. I am a strong woman, she said. I am many things, but I am not mean.
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Miriam Margolyes caused nervous laughter in the Loose Women studio after she unexpectedly swore live on the ITV programme.

The Harry Potter actor, 83, had been discussing her new memoir, Oh Miriam, on the daytime talkshow, hosted by Kaye Adams, Denise Welch, Olivia Attwood-Dack and Nadie Sawalha, when the profanity slipped out.

Margolyes is known for speaking her mind during live broadcasts and previously caused controversy when she claimed Harry Potter fans need to grow up live on ABC News Australia.

Speaking to Kaye Adams on Loose Women on Thursday morning (4 July), Margolyes revealed she had chosen to write a book at this point of her career because they paid me.

When Adams asked Margolyes: Can they pay you to do anything, Miriam? the star responded with an inappropriate phrase that was immediately bleeped out.

After Welch clasped her hands to her mouth in shock and Adams shook her head in disbelief, Margolyes asked: Am I allowed to say that? Oh dear.

Rephrasing her response to where she draws the line when it comes to earning money, the actor explained: I wouldnt eat faeces.

open image in gallery Miriam Margolyes caused nervous laughter in the  Loose Women studio after she unexpectedly swore live on the ITV programme ( PA Archive )

The on-air blunder comes after Margolyes recently revealed she makes a significant amount of money on the personalised video service Cameo.

The Harry Potter actor said she charges 100 to send a video message to one of her fans and has been inundated with requests.

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Sometimes, Im asked to cheer up someone with terminal cancer. This is not easy, she said. Sometimes Im asked to propose to somebody on behalf of the person whos paying me.

I enjoy it. I do as many as I can. And I charge 100 and Ive made an enormous amount of money. Im not ashamed of that. I think thats perfectly fair.

The actor, who claims she is a socialist, added: Dont think I dont like money  I love money. I love it and I want as much of it as I can get.

When asked if she needed to continue her lucrative Cameo career, Margolyes said: Of course. I want it all.
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Steve-O says hes planning to get breast implants to film new pranks.

The Jackass star, 50, has long been known for pushing physical and ethical boundaries in his comedy.

Speaking to the X5 podcast, Steve-O said: I came up with the idea a few years ago to get a boob job and just film a bunch of legitimately funny hidden camera pranks with me in disguise, in various disguises, and then revealing who I actually am, and just funny endurance stunts, and whatever.

He added that the idea of actually undergoing surgery for the bit tickled him: Ive been so particularly in love with that idea because the comedy, the opportunity for comedy I believe is absolutely there, and its like the quintessential Steve-O - that level of commitment.

Steve-O continued to say that he didnt want to permanently alter his body and that he would give it two months, then theyre coming out.

The London-born stunt performer and stand-up said he had been reassured by doctors that there would be no lasting damage to his body.

open image in gallery Steve-O pictured in September 2022 ( Getty Images for UTOPIA )

I spoke with the doctors, and I said to them candidly, The one thing Im really freaked out about, and bummed out about, and would back out of this over, is if Im just gonna be a mess afterwards, he said.

You know, its going under the muscle, and the doctors are completely unfazed, like, Two months, it comes out, absolutely no issue.

Referring to the number of tattoos and piercings he has, Steve-O said that body modification has been part of my f**king deal and added: Its been a lane in my art since the beginning. And this level of commitment to this bit, how nuts it is - I believe in it, and Im gonna go ahead and do it.

Last year, Steve-O spoke to The Independent about his Bucket List stand-up tour, which delivered forbidden stunts described as being too hot for Jackass  not only life-threatening but flagrantly illegal.

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In one video, he was put under general anesthesia while riding a bicycle. In another, a drug was injected into his spinal cavity using a four-inch needle, which renders him paralysed  while in a full sprint. Yet another saw him leap from an airplane, completely naked and strapped to another mans back, while furiously masturbating to completion.

Its safe to say Im the only person thats ever done that, said Steve-O. I love that Ive done so many things that make me a pioneer.
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Chinas seizure of a Taiwanese trawler is likely an act of psychological warfare to build pressure on the islands government amid rising tensions in the region, Taiwanese officials claimed on Thursday.

The boat was captured after it reportedly sailed into Chinese waters on Tuesday.

Taipei is working to have the boat released, the officials said.

There were five fishermen onboard, three of them Indonesian.

They were fishing for squid in the waters near the Kinmen islands, the officials said.

Kinmen lies just off Chinas coast but is controlled by Taiwan.

China reacted strongly to the vessels presence in its waters and said it violated a summer ban on fishing.

It accused Taiwan of carrying out illegal trawling in Chinese waters.

open image in gallery Taiwan Coast Guard Administration official Ching-Chin Hsieh explains the case of a fishing boat seized by Chinas coast guard during a news conference in Taipei ( AFP via Getty )

Tsai Ming-yen, director general of Taiwans National Security Bureau, claimed it was unusual for Chinese officials to board and detain a Taiwanese trawler.

"We must continue to analyse whether this is a cognitive warfare operation and will fully assess what the motivations are for the Chinese communists," Tsai said.

Taiwans coast guard said China has seized Taiwanese trawlers before for illegal fishing but released them after fines were paid.

Chiu Chui-cheng, a top Taiwanese official for China affairs, said Taipei will work to get the boat and its fishermen released.

Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office on Wednesday confirmed the seizure of the boat and called it an act of "normal law enforcement" to protect fishery resources and the environment.

It said the boat was engaged in illegal fishing. "The relevant departments will deal with it in accordance with the law and regulations.

The capture of the boat comes as a time of heightened tensions in the region.

China and Taiwan have been engaged in a diplomatic war of words especially since Lai Ching-te took over as Taiwans president in May.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory, has accused Mr Lai of being a "separatist", meaning that he wants to prevent the islands unification with the mainland.
In Majeong-ri, South Korea, Yoon Seol Hyun proudly claims to run the closest guesthouse to North Korea. Only a bridge, a set of guard posts, and several lines of barbed wire fence separate his village from the demilitarised zone (DMZ) which splits the Korean peninsula in two.

Normally, his hostel offers a peaceful getaway for locals visiting from the nearby capital of Seoul. But tensions between the North and the South have spiked recently and Yoon is worried, with a number of incidents around the DMZ, which is 150 miles long and 2.5 miles wide.

Last month, a number of North Korean soldiers  believed to be between 20 and 30  briefly crossed the demarcation line on three occasions, retreating after soldiers from the South fired warning shots. Seoul said the incidents were likely accidents. Meanwhile, the North has been sending balloons filled with rubbish over the border, it claims in retaliation for a propaganda campaign by North Korean defectors and activists in the South who regularly send over balloons carrying food, medicine, money and leaflets criticising the Norths leaders.

Yoon worries that if things escalate, both sides of the peninsula will go from trading balloons to trading bullets and bombs instead, and that his village will be the first to be impacted.

Hostility between South and North is higher, he says. This area is close to the border, it is very serious, we worry about that.

open image in gallery Yoon Seol Hyun claims to run the closest guesthouse to North Korea ( Jan Camenzind Broomby )

Tasked with monitoring these developments is Major General Ivo Burgener, head of the Swiss delegation to the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC). Currently made up of five Swiss and five Swedish soldiers who live inside the DMZ, the NNSC has monitored adherence to the Korean wars armistice agreement since it was signed in 1953. While this armistice ended hostilities, a peace treaty was never signed and both sides remain technically at war.

Stationed in a hut just metres from the North Korean border, Burgener and the NNSC have a frontline view of how the frozen conflict has developed. Since the start of the year, they have noticed a significant remilitarisation on both sides of the DMZ.

There are more activities in the DMZ, Burgener adds, also citing an increase in soldiers, weapons, and construction activity. The situation is becoming more uncertain.

With Pyongyang developing its military infrastructure, destroying sections of road, building walls, and planting landmines, explosions from the Northern side now also regularly interrupt the NNSCs work. South Koreas Yonhap News Agency reported recently that North Korean soldiers had sustained multiple casualties caused by landmines exploding on the Northern side of the DMZ.

We are seeing more and more militarisation efforts, explains NNSC operations officer Lieutenant Colonel Livio Raeber. There is more military equipment inside the DMZ. Previously unarmed soldiers that face off on either side of the border are now once again armed, and both sides have begun to rebuild formerly decommissioned guard posts.

While the balloons are described by analysts as low-level provocations, Burgener points out that they have not helped to de-escalate tensions.

open image in gallery Major General Ivo Burgener pictured metres from the military demarcation line between the two countries ( Jan Camenzind Broomby )

The possibility of an escalation is higher than before, and this is something that we monitor very closely, Raeber adds.

The risk of misunderstandings and unplanned incidents along the DMZ are rising, says Burgener. In a worst-case scenario, he warned this could lead to escalation, the outbreak of a conflict.

At the start of the year, North Korea's Kim Jong-un branded the South a principal enemy and relations on the Korean peninsula are now arguably at the lowest point in the last five or six years, said Dr Edward Howell, a Korean Foundation fellow at Chatham House.

Kims recent meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, which culminated in the signing of a strategic partnership agreement between the two, has also added to the tension. The guesthouse owner Yoon says that things do not need to be this bad.

In 2018, both sides signed an agreement, aimed at decreasing tensions by partially demilitarising the DMZ, and he was hopeful that the agreement could mitigate the risk of conflict.

We were very thankful, he says. Those times were more peaceful.

Now, Yoon's phone buzzes with alerts. Issued by authorities in Seoul, they warn of more incoming balloons and other notes. Yoon sees his responsibility to help maintain peace and he regularly organises events to educate tourists about the area.

And despite living on the frontlines of this frozen conflict, he has no intention of leaving. This is my hometown, he says. I was born in this village, my father, my grandfather was born in this village.
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Police in India are searching for a Hindu preacher after 121 people, mostly women and children, died in a stampede at his overcrowded prayer meeting in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh earlier this week.

Suraj Pal, reverentially known as "Bhole Baba" (the innocent religious guide) by his followers, claims to "heal" many an ailment and conducts "exorcisms to rid people of evil spirits".

His ill-fated religious event or satsang was permitted to have 80,000 people, police said, but gathered over 250,000, mostly bluecollar workers and their families.

The event was held in Hathras, about 200km southeast of New Delhi, on Tuesday.

The stampede occurred when hundreds of devotees scrambled to collect dust from the preacher's feet, which they believed could "heal all ailments".

Mr Pal fled the scene and has been untraceable since.

In a statement issued through his lawyer, AP Singh, the preacher blamed "some anti-social elements" for the crush.

Mr Singh claimed there was a criminal conspiracy against his client. He also denied reports that Mr Pals security guards sparked panic by pushing away people who tried to get his blessings.

Totally false allegation, the lawyer told the BBC. Security staff always provide help to the followers.

open image in gallery Relatives mourn victims of the stampede victims at Daunkeli village in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh ( Reuters )

Mr Pal, 58, was born in a Dalit family in Uttar Pradeshs Kasganj village. According to reports his followers are mainly from the formerly untouchable community.

He got a job as a police constable but left after 18 years in the late 1990s to follow spirituality, changed his name to Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari, and donned the garb of a preacher.

He quickly gained popularity among the Dalits in the heartland states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Posters and videos posted on Mr Pals YouTube channel, which boasts millions of views, show him dressed in kurta tunics or pristine white suits and sporting ties and sunglasses, a marked contrast with the spartan appearance of most self-styled Indian godmen.

open image in gallery Relatives mourn victims of the Hathras stampede during a cremation ceremony at Daukeli village in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh ( Getty )

Seated on an ornate throne and flanked by his wife, Mr Pal is often seen addressing huge gatherings of mostly women devotees, almost all of whom sit on the ground, hands folded in reverence.

"Humanity was the true religion, is the true religion and will always be the true religion," he is quoted as saying in a poster.

Urmila Devi, who had travelled to Tuesday's satsang from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, told The Indian Express that people were drawn to Mr Pal because, unlike most religious preachers, he didnt ask for offerings.

Baba does not take or ask for anything. In his satsang, he would tell us not to lie and not to consume meat, fish, egg, and alcohol, Ms Devi said.

open image in gallery People walk at the scene after a stampede in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh ( EPA )

In rural Uttar Pradesh, Mr Pal reportedly has about a dozen main followers in almost every Dalit village who keep people informed about his events and ferry them to the venues in cars and buses. His followers wear a yellow locket with his photo around their necks.

Mr Pal travels in a cavalcade of cars and mostly stays away from the media. To keep away devotees who would rush to touch his feet and seek his blessings, he has formed a personal escort of men and women guards known as Narayani Sena, NDTV reported.

Mr Pals claim of having magical powers got him arrested in Agra in 2000 after he allegedly forcibly took a young girls body from her family to bring her back to life.

He also notoriously flouted Covid guidelines by hosting thousands of people at prayer meetings in 2022. At one such event in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, he gathered more than 50,000 people despite having permission for just 50.

A series of videos posted on his YouTube channel, which has over 31,000 followers, advertised Tuesdays gathering and exhorted devotees to attend in large numbers.

"The great Narayan Sakar Hari will manifest in person and bless devotees," one video said.

Mr Pal was scheduled to host two more gatherings near Agra city later this month. They have now been cancelled.

Police have filed a case against the organisers of the event and arrested six of them but have not named the preacher himself.

The organisers did not follow the conditions imposed by the authorities for the programme, Uttar Pradesh police chief Prashant Kumar said.
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Police in India have arrested six people after 121 people died in a stampede at a religious function in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

A crush occurred when followers of a Hindu preacher known as Bhole Baba scrambled to take dirt from his feet after a prayer meeting in Hathras, about 200km southeast of the capital New Delhi, on Tuesday afternoon.

A preliminary investigation found over 250,000 people had gathered for the event, held in a tent pitched in a muddy field, even though the organisers had permission to host only about 80,000. It is not clear how many people were inside the tent when the stampede began.

The Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday arrested six aides of the preacher, four men and two women, who were involved in organising the event.

"All six persons who have been arrested worked as volunteers at the satsang," inspector general Shalabh Mathur said, referring to the prayer meeting.

The police also issued a warrant and a reward of Rs 100,000 (938) for the arrest of a key suspect named Devprakash Madhukar.

"When the stampede situation happened, all these people who organised the event fled from the spot," Mr Mathur added.

The preacher, whose real name is Suraj Pal, too fled the scene and has been untraceable since.

His lawyer, AP Singh, told the BBC on Thursday that the crush was caused by "some anti-social elements" and alleged a "criminal conspiracy" against the preacher.

The lawyer denied reports that Mr Pal's security sparked panic by pushing away the devotees who rushed to touch his feet.

Totally false allegation, he said. Security staff always provide help to the followers.

Mr Singh said he would represent the arrested men and women.

"Police are doing their job but the people they have arrested are those whose family members are victims of the stampede," he said. "Those who actually caused the stampede have run away."

The police said they would question the preacher based on the findings of their ongoing investigation. Mr Pal has not been named in the first information report filed after the crush.

"We will question the baba if necessary, its too early to say or comment whether he has a role," Mr Mathur said, adding that permission for the event was obtained by the organiser rather than the preacher himself.

The dead, including 112 women and seven children, have all been identified and their bodies handed over to their families, state officials said.
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More than 120 people died in a stampede after a religious gathering in northern India, making it one of the deadliest such accidents in recent years.

Authorities are investigating what led to the huge stampede, which is believed to have erupted as the event, led by a Hindu guru known locally as Bhole Baba, drew to a close on Tuesday.

What happened?

It was not immediately clear what sparked the panic, but authorities believe massive overcrowding, insufficient exits, bad weather and other factors may have contributed to the high death toll.

The event was held in a large tent in a village in Hathras district, located in Uttar Pradesh state, amid sweltering heat and high humidity.

Initial reports suggest that the closed enclosure of the tent led to suffocation, causing discomfort and panic among attendees, said senior police officer Shalabh Mathur.

Poor planning was another key issue: some 250,000 people turned up for the event, which was permitted for 80,000 and held in a tent in a muddy field. Its not clear how many were inside the tent.

open image in gallery Relatives and villagers in Daukeli village mourn those who died in a stampede during a cremation ceremony in Hathras, India ( Getty Images )

As the preacher descended from the stage, officials said, devotees inside the tent surged forward to touch him, causing chaos as volunteers struggled to intervene.

An initial report from police suggests that thousands of people then thronged toward the exit. Many also slipped on the muddy ground, causing them to fall and be crushed by the crowds. Witnesses described a scene of utter chaos as a number of devotees also ran after the preacher as he departed from the venue in his car. Most of the dead were women.

Who is Bhole Baba, and why did hundreds of thousands come to see him?

Hundreds of thousands of Bhol's devotees from across the state and nearby turned up to attend his sermon.

The preachers Sri Jagar Guru Baba organization had spent more than two weeks preparing for the event.

The Hindu gurus name is Suraj Pal, but he goes by the alias Bhole Baba.

Bhole is a Dalit, a group that's at the bottom of Indias caste pyramid, and many of his followers are also from lower castes, female and poor.

open image in gallery India Stampede ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

open image in gallery People walk around the venue of a stampede a day after it occurred on July 03, 2024 in Hathras, India ( Getty Images )

open image in gallery Relatives and villagers in Daukeli village mourn those who died in a stampede during a cremation ceremony in Hathras, India ( Getty Images )

He was a policeman until the late 1990s, when he quit his job to become a preacher. While not a household name nationally, he enjoys a large following in Uttar Pradesh state as well as nearby states. Now in his 60s, he's known for dressing in all white, often sporting blue mirrored aviator sunglasses.

Bhole runs two ashrams in the state and holds weekly religious gatherings, known as satsangs, where he often talks about leading a simple and virtuous life.

Following the stampede, police launched a search for Bhole and other organizers of the event.

In May 2022, Bhole held a gathering that drew over 50,000 people, but no casualties were reported.

How common are stampedes in India?

Deadly crowd surges are fairly common in India, especially during religious festivals where huge gatherings, sometimes in the millions, are held often in cramped areas with shoddy infrastructure and few safety measures.

There have been a number of stampedes in India over the past two decades, as many religious events are organized without adequate preparations, crowd control measures or even prior permission, said Sanjay Srivastava, a disaster management expert.

Often such functions are held so regularly that sometimes police dont check whether guidelines are being followed, he said.

The event on Tuesday violated general safety norms, Srivastava added.

The function was held in a makeshift tent without ensuring multiple exit routes. Typically, there should be eight to 10 well-marked exits opening into open areas, he said.

Instead, officials said it appeared the tent had only one small exit.

One of the last major such accidents occurred in 2013, when 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.
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More than 100 people were killed in a stampede Tuesday in northern India following a Hindu religious gathering, making it one of the deadliest such accidents in recent years.

Thousands had gathered at a makeshift tent for a religious event led by a Hindu preacher in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh state. The victims were crushed to death as they rushed to leave. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed, and authorities said heat, overcrowding and suffocation may have been factors.

Here's a look at other major stampedes in India over the past two decades:

12 die in crowd surge at popular Hindu shrine

A crowd surge at a popular Hindu shrine in Indian-controlled Kashmir killed at least 12 people and injured 15 on New Years Day 2022. The crush occurred at the Mata Vaishnav Devi shrine, where tens of thousands of Hindus had gathered to pay respects.

Stampede during morning rush kills 22 on Mumbai pedestrian bridge

A stampede on a crowded pedestrian bridge connecting two Mumbai railway stations killed 22 people and injured 32 during the morning rush on Sept. 29, 2017. Police said some commuters leaped over the railing while others were crushed or fell underfoot and were trampled.

Two dozen are killed on overcrowded bridge in Varanasi

At least 24 people were killed and 20 injured in a stampede on Oct. 15, 2016, as they crossed a crowded bridge to reach a Hindu religious ceremony in northern India. The stampede took place on the outskirts of Varanasi, a city in Uttar Pradesh known for its temples. Organizers had expected 3,000 devotees at the ceremony, but more than 70,000 thronged the ashram of a local Hindu leader on the banks of the Ganges River.

Crowd surge along Godavari River kills at least 27

Tens of thousands of pilgrims taking part in a Hindu religious bathing festival surged forward and triggered a massive stampede on a riverbank in southern India, leaving at least 27 dead and dozens injured. The stampede along the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh on July 14, 2015, was triggered by some pilgrims who tried to retrieve their shoes, which had fallen off when they first made their way to the riverbank.

115 die after collapsing bridge leads to stampede during festival

A collapsing bridge caused a stampede that killed 115 people, mostly women and children, on Oct. 13, 2013. They were among hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who had come to the Hindu temple in the remote town of Ratangarh in Madhya Pradesh state on the last day of the popular 10-day Navaratri festival.

Last-minute rail platform change causes stampede that kills 36

Some 36 people were killed on Feb. 10, 2013, in a stampede in a train station in the northern India city of Allahabad, where millions of Hindu devotees had gathered for Kumbh Mela  or Pitcher Festival  one of the world's largest religious gatherings. Tens of thousands of people were in the citys main rail station waiting to board a train when railway officials announced a last-minute change in the platform, forcing people to rush there, eyewitnesses said.

Nearly 200 die in stampede at crowded temple in Jodhpur

At least 168 people were killed and 100 injured when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a Hindu temple in Jodhpur on Sept. 30, 2008. Severe overcrowding apparently caused the crush as more than 12,000 people gathered at the temple to celebrate Navratra, a Hindu festival.

145 killed in stampede caused by rumors of a landslide

Dozens of women and children were among 145 people who died on Aug. 3, 2008, when thousands of pilgrims stampeded at a remote mountaintop temple in northern India during celebrations to honor Shakrti, a Hindu goddess. The devotees were attending a nine-day religious festival at the Naina Devi Temple in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh state. Rumors of a landslide apparently started the panic, according to a senior government official.

Stampede and subsequent blaze kill 258 during religious procession

A stampede during a religious procession to a hilltop temple on Jan. 25, 2005, killed at least 258 people and injured 200 in western India, near the village of Wai, some 150 miles (241 kilometers) south of Bombay, in Satara district. The stampede was triggered after several Hindu pilgrims inside the temple fell on a slippery floor and were crushed to death by other pilgrims who apparently walked on them. Angered over the deaths, some pilgrims started a fire that gutted hundreds of makeshift shops along a narrow walkway leading to the temple and set off the deadly rush.
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A Japanese YouTuber couple has been accused of attempting to boost their social media numbers by posting a video of their two-year-old daughter trapped in a hot car.

The couple, who use the handle @raunano_family on YouTube, posted a video with the title, My daughter trapped in a car under the burning sun on 24 May, the South China Morning Post reported.

The toddler was reportedly locked in the car for about 30 minutes.

As soon as the post was up on YouTube, the backlash started.

One observer noted: The parents are crazy. I have encountered a similar situation, and at that time, my heart was broken and I was so nervous that I felt like I wasnt even alive. Its amazing that someone can stay so calm to record this on their phone.

Another said: Does the money you earn from risking your childs life make you feel good?

On 31 May, the YouTuber couple apologised to their followers following the backlash, SCMP reported. They said in a video that they were very sorry for making a video that made everyone uncomfortable.

However, several angered commentators demanded they close their channel.

The father filmed the video while his wife was away, showing his two-year-old daughter accidentally locked inside their car.

The incident happened after he reportedly placed her in the back seat and accidentally closed the door, locking it, while picking up their son from kindergarten with his two daughters.

Despite the infant being clearly upset, the father is accused of filming her while trying to instruct her to unlock the door, instead of immediately calling for help.

He eventually contacted a locksmith, who freed the child.

In November 2022, a two-year-old girl died from heatstroke after being left inside a car for most of the day. Her father mistakenly believed he had dropped her off at a nursery school in Osaka prefecture in Japan.

In May this year, a two-year-old girl died after her neck was caught in a car window in Tokyo. The toddlers 34-year-old mother called an ambulance, reporting that her daughters neck was stuck in a car window and she couldnt pull her out.

The mother had been driving on a street in Nerima ward in Tokyo while the daughter sat alone in the back seat.

The child was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.
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A Japanese climber fell to his death while descending one of the highest mountains in northern Pakistan, just weeks after two other Japanese climbers died in the South Asian country.

Hiroshi Onishi, 64, fell into a crevasse earlier this week on the 7,027m (23,054ft) Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak.

"While descending, he fell into a crevasse near Camp 2," Ataur Rehman Kakar, the Nagar district deputy commissioner, told AFP.

The other climbers and porters recovered the body and brought it to Camp 1 safely," he added. Rescuers located his body and arrangements were being made to airlift the corpse by helicopter to the base camp, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said.

Mr Khan said authorities were in contact with the Japanese embassy.

Onishi was among the four Japanese mountaineers who began their climb on 10 June with the help of two Pakistani porters, who summited the peak on 1 July.

Earlier two Japanese climbers, Atsushi Taguchi and Ryuseki Hiraoka, died while trying to scale the same mountain. They went missing on 13 June and Hiraoka's body was found two days later.

His colleague was presumed dead after an unsuccessful weeklong search. Both had fallen into a deep crevasse, authorities said.

The secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, Karrar Haidri, conveyed condolences to Onishi's family and friends. "It is indeed shocking for all of us because another Japanese has died on the same mountain where two Japanese died in June," Mr Haidri said.

The Golden Peak is renowned for its distinct golden hue at sunrise and sunset, making it a popular destination.

Several climbers die in Pakistan every year while trying to reach the summit of some of the world's highest mountains, including K2, which is located in Pakistans north.

More than 8,900 foreigners visited the remote Gilgit-Baltistan region where Spantik is located in 2023, according to government figures.
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The Philippines has demanded $1m (800,000) in damages from China over a clash in the South China Sea that left eight Filipino sailors injured last month, even as diplomats of the two countries met to ease tensions.

One of the sailors lost a finger in the clash on 17 June, Philippines chief of staff, General Romeo S Brawner Jr, said.

The Philippines has accused the Chinese coast guard of deploying motorboats to block and repeatedly ram a pair of Filipino rubber boats, using machetes, knives and hammers to damage the naval boats, and seizing eight M4 rifles packed in cases.

The Chinese coast guard has accused the Philippine navy of sparking the confrontation by sailing one of its boats dangerously close to a Chinese vessel.

General Brawner said the compensation demanded by his country was only for damage to its property and did not cover the injury to the sailor who lost his finger.

He previously demanded that China return the rifles and equipment seized during the assault, comparing it to a pirate-like attack.

open image in gallery General Romeo Brawner Jr pins a medal on a sailor in Palawan province of Philippines on 19 June 2024 ( Armed Forces of the Philippines )

Amid rising bilateral tensions, Chinese and Filipino diplomats held a meeting on Tuesday and affirmed their commitment to deescalate tensions without prejudice to their respective positions.

There was no mention of an agreement to try to prevent a repeat of the chaotic 17 June clash at Second Thomas Shoal, which has emerged as the most dangerous flashpoint in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Philippine foreign undersecretary Theresa Lazaro told Chinese 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.

They did, however, sign an agreement to improve communications during emergencies at sea and agreed to continue talks on enhancing ties between their coast guards.

open image in gallery In this photo provided by the Philippine military, Chinese coast guards hold an axe as they approach Filipino troops in the Second Thomas Shoal

A similar agreement signed in January did not prevent confrontations between Philippine and Chinese coast guards.

Apart from the Philippines and China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have all made overlapping claims to the strategic sea and have reported sporadic incidents of clashes with Chinese forces.
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Nearly 30,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Northern California as an enormous wildfire rips through the region amid a sweltering heatwave on the US west coast.

The annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration was cancelled and a state of emergency declared as the fire destroyed more than 3,500 acres of land near the city of Oroville, about an hour outside Californias capital Sacramento since it began on Tuesday morning.

Some 1,500 emergency workers have been involved in containing the fire in Butte County.

Firefighters lined roads to keep the flames from reaching homes while helicopters dumped water on Wednesday. By 9am local time the blaze was still zero percent contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire.

Four firefighters responding to the blaze and as many civilian have been reported injured in the fire.

Pictures from the area showed houses, vehicles and woodland engulfed in bright yellow and orange flames.

open image in gallery Helicopters try to douse the flames in a forested area of Butte County on Tuesday night ( AP )

Oroville, home to 20,000 people, declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night after the fire destroyed several homes.

The cause of the fire is being investigated. Red flag warnings for critical fire weather conditions, including gusty northerly winds and low humidity levels, were in effect when it erupted.

The warnings were expected to remain in place until 8pm PT on Wednesday, said Garret Sjolund, the Butte County chief for Cal Fire.

The conditions out there that are in our county this summer are much different than we have experienced the last two summers, Mr Sjolund was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

The fuels are very dense, brush is dry. And as you can see, any wind will, move a fire out very quickly.

Mayor David Pittman said there was a significant drop in the fire activity on Wednesday and he was hopeful some people could be allowed to return home soon.

open image in gallery The fire has engulfed houses, vehicles and nearby forested areas ( AP )

High temperatures have made the situation more challenging as Cal Fire asked the public to take extra precautions.

The combination of events has presented a huge challenge for firefighters, Ed Fletcher, an information officer at Cal Fire, said. You are asking people to hike up a mountain when its 108F outside.

Temperatures in Sacramento were set to reach between 105F and 115F (40.5C and 46.1C) and remain high throughout the week, the National Weather Service said.

open image in gallery Nearly 1,500 emergency personnel are involved in operations to put out the fire ( AP )

Authorities warned of consequences for any illegal use of fireworks during the Fourth of July holiday on Thursday.

Dont be an idiot, cause a fire and create more problems for us, said Butte County sheriff Kory L Honea. No one in the community is going to want that. And we certainly dont want this."

California governor Gavin Newsoms office announced on Tuesday that federal funding had been approved to help with firefighting efforts.

Mr Newsom activated the State Operations Center earlier this week to coordinate the response, dispatch mutual aid and support communities as they respond to threats of wildfire and excessive heat.

More than a dozen other fires, most of them small, were active in California, according to Cal Fire.
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This Thursday, Americans will be donning red, white and blue in honor of Fourth of July celebrations across the country.

The Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, marks the 248th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The original celebration occurred when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which established the United States as its own sovereign nation apart from its original status as colonies of Great Britain.

Aside from the day being a federal holiday  with banks, post offices, government offices, and the stock market all being closed  many Americans tend to celebrate the holiday with a few classic activities.

In addition to sporting patriotic attire, some Americans celebrate with a backyard barbecue, complete with hamburgers and hot dogs; trips to the beach; and firework displays. However, other cities across the US have some traditions that arent as conventional.

New York

Every year at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, famous hot dog brand Nathans holds a contest in which both men and women try to eat as many hot dogs as they can in 10 minutes.

This years competition has already gained national attention, as reigning champion Joey Chestnut was barred from the 2024 contest due to a sponsorship with a competing plant-based hot dog brand.

California

The city of San Diego in California has a marshmallow fight every year on the Fourth of July. The tradition started when a few families in Ocean Beach began to randomly throw the classic smores ingredients at each other.

The event ended up growing in size until large crowds got involved. However, due to a lack of cleaning up the sugary mess in recent years, Ocean Beach has asked residents to eat marshmallows instead of throwing them.

Meanwhile in northern California, the communities of Bolinas and Stinson Beach in San Francisco host a century-old tug-of-war event across the water that separates the two communities.

Missouri

Hannibal, Missouri  the hometown of author Mark Twain, who wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  combines the Fourth of July with what is called Tom Sawyer Days. Every year around the holiday, the town reenacts a famous scene from the novel, in which Tom convinces people to paint a fence for him.

For the towns contest, people dress up like characters from the book and compete in a race to paint an assigned patch of their fence the fastest.

Maine

For the Fourth of July, Bar Harbor in Maine leans into their well-known reputation for seafood, specifically lobster.

To celebrate, the city holds lobster races with live lobsters. Participants are allowed to place bets on which lobster they think will win, as they stand on the sidelines to cheer for the sea creatures.

Idaho

The town of Hailey, Idaho, used to put an interesting spin on their annual Fourth of July parade, called the Road Apple Roulette. To play this game, residents would buy one out of 10,000 squares that fell within the path of the parade.

Throughout the parade, horses dropped road apples along the way. If these apples landed in the square you bought, your name went in a drum and you could win big prizes, while the money went to local charities in the area.
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Election day is finally upon us and no doubt many voters are feeling a mix of emotions  including anxiety.

It has been six weeks since Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressed the nation in the pouring rain outside 10 Downing Street and declared that it was the moment for Britain to choose its future, and political spats, betting scandals and proposed policies have dominated headlines ever since.

After 14 years of Conservative governments, changes could be on the horizon. But if youre finding it all a bit overwhelming, youre not alone.

Dr Sheethal Rajashanker, a consultant psychiatrist based at Priory Hospital Cheadle Royal in Cheshire, says election-related anxiety is an understandable response to the uncertainty and heightened emotions surrounding political events.

It is normal for individuals to experience anxiety, stress, and worry about the outcome of an election, particularly when it involves important issues that directly impact their lives, says Rajashanker.

However, in some cases, these uncomfortable feelings may snowball.

Some peoples mental health is affected adversely by political discussions, which can cause severe anxiety or even physical symptoms of anxiety, such as a raised pulse, palpitations, a choking feeling or butterflies in the chest, explains Rajashanker.

Allow yourself to feel your emotions

The election result this evening is bound to evoke some emotions.

Its normal to feel a range of emotions after an election result, including disappointment, anger, fear, or sadness, says Rajashanker. Allow yourself to acknowledge and feel these emotions, rather than suppressing them.

Educational psychologist Dr Patricia Britto agrees, and encourages voters who are unhappy about the election outcome to give themselves some grace and time to process these feelings.

Focus on what you can control

After we can cast our vote into the ballot box, the result is out of our hands  so try to channel your emotions into something positive that will give you a sense of control.

To stay calm and optimistic this week, focus on what you can control, and let go of what you cannot, suggests Britto. Channel your emotions into constructive actions, such as community involvement or advocacy to make a positive impact.

Volunteering in your community could help turn your anxiety or disappointment into something fruitful and will make a tangible difference in your community.

Limit social media

Doomscrolling through all the memes and angry posts over the next few days probably isnt the best use of your time if your anxiety is spiralling, and could negatively impact your mental health.

Constantly checking the news or scrolling through social media can exacerbate feelings of stress and anxiety, explains Rajashanker. Limit your exposure to these sources and take breaks when needed to give yourself a mental rest.

Engage in hobbies

Put your phone on silent and get outside  fresh air does wonders for the mind. Reconnect with a hobby or something you enjoy.

Try and engage in activities where you are away from constant updates, for example go for a run in a park, advises Rajashanker.

Practice self-care and mindfulness

Treating yourself to a pamper night or a relaxing evening of yoga could help overhaul feelings or worry and helplessness. Britto suggests: Engage in self-care activities to help you feel grounded and practice gratitude for the positive aspects of your life.

Rajashanker echoes this and says that practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness could dramatically help reduce stress: These techniques can help ground you in the present moment and alleviate feelings of worry or fear.

Stay connected with others

Even if you feel like the political world is crumbling around you, try not to isolate yourself.

Connect with supportive friends or groups who share your views to feel less isolated, recommends Britto.

Rajashanker adds: Reach out to friends, family members, or support groups to talk about your feelings and concerns. Sharing your thoughts with others can provide comfort and a sense of community during this challenging time.
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Dozens of classic sailing vessels from 13 countries that are plying the Baltic Sea arrived at the Finnish capital on Thursday at the end of the first leg of the Tall Ships Races that began in the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda in late June.

This years competition, with a total of 50 ships of different shapes and sizes, is themed around the alarming environmental status of the Baltic Sea, which is suffering from eutrophication -- an excessive accumulation of nutrients that has led, among things, to the growth of harmful blue-green algae.

The Baltic Sea isn't doing well, said CEO Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt of the Finland-based John Nurminen Foundation that supports projects protecting the shallow seas marine environment.

It suffers from eutrophication and nature loss that are accelerated by climate change. But its not yet too late to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for the future generations, she said.

The international charity sailing race is normally held every four years but returns to the Baltic Sea after a seven-year hiatus because the planned 2021 competition was canceled due to COVID-19.

According to co-organizer Sail Training International, the race aims to teach the young global crews group dynamics while training them to handle the impressive old-school sailing ships, including some that are over a hundred years old.

One of vessels, the naval training vessel Guayas, sailed to the northern European waters from Ecuador in South America.

The 2024 competition sails between six Baltic Sea ports: Helsinki, Turku and Mariehamn in Finland, Tallinn in Estonia, Szczecin in Poland and Klaipeda in Lithuania.

Though a rather small sea internationally, the Baltic Sea is a major trade, passenger and military shipping route for the nine nations around it, including Russia, and has played a vital role in the history of northern European nations throughout the centuries.

Helsinki is a maritime city and the Baltic Sea has shaped our southern coast and the history of Finland, Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen said at the official welcoming ceremony aboard the elegant Polish training ship Dar Modziezy.

Sea has always been of vital importance to our citys trade and an important transport route out to the world from the Nordic nation of 5.6 million, he said.

A change from previous Tall Ships Races is that Russian vessels have been banned from taking part after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

After Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and this year, respectively, Russia's key port of St. Petersburg and its Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are completely surrounded by members of the Western military alliance.

This years Tall Ships Race is set to end at the Polish seaport of Szczecin near the German border in early August.
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The annual Nathans Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest will see a slate of competitive eaters wolf down as many franks as they can in New York City on Thursday  but this year, the events biggest star will be chowing down 1,900 miles (3,000 km) away.

Joey Jaws Chestnut, who won 16 out of the previous 17 contests, isn't attending the competition over a sponsorship tiff. Instead, he'll compete against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso later in the day.

That leaves the traditional Brooklyn event wide open for a new winner, with eaters from around the world competing on America's Independence Day to see how many hot dogs they can eat in 10 minutes.

Thousands of fans flock each year to the event held outside the original Nathans location in Brooklyn's Coney Island, a beachfront destination with amusement parks and a carnivalesque summer culture. ESPN will broadcast the contest live, kicking off with the womens division at 11 a.m. ET, while the mens will begin at approximately 12:20 p.m.

Competitors are coming from over a dozen states and five continents, with prospects from Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic vying for the coveted title and $10,000 prize money.

There's going to be a new champion, Australian James Webb, who holds a world record for eating 70 doughnuts in eight minutes, said at a preview event in New York on Wednesday.

Last year Chestnut, of Indiana, chewed his way to the title by downing 62 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The record, which he set in 2021, is 76.

Ahead of the event, ESPN said it would focus on two Americans with dedicated camera shots: Massachusetts high school teacher Geoffrey Esper, in the mens division, and Florida dental hygiene student Miki Sudo, in the womens.

Esper came second last year with 49 dogs and buns, though his personal best is 51. Sudo won her ninth title in 2023 with 39 1/2, but her best is 48 1/2, the women's world record.

I'm going to be pushing myself, Sudo said Wednesday. Her rival Mayoi Ebihara, from Japan, said through a translator that she would eat until she passes out, with a goal of downing 50 hot dogs.

Chestnut was initially disinvited from the event over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes.

Major League Eating, which organizes the Nathans Famous contest, has since said it walked back the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with the troops anyway.

Chestnut said he wouldnt return to the Coney Island contest without an apology.

The event at the Fort Bliss army base in El Paso, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, will use traditional franks, with Chestnut attempting to out-eat four soldiers in five minutes.

Even though he won't be eating their vegan products, Impossible Foods is promoting Chestnut's YouTube livestream of the exhibition by flying airplanes with banners over Los Angeles and Miami. The company will also donate to an organization supporting military families based on the number of hot dogs eaten at the event, a spokesperson said.
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Three men were rushed to hospital after two stabbings just minutes apart in west London.

The first victim was knifed at 2.07pm on Thursday next to a community centre in Alcott Close, Feltham.

The suspect fled the scene. Six minutes later another two men were found with multiple knife injuries in Walsham Road, eight miles away.

Both victims received medical treatment with their injuries initially being treated as life-threatening or life-changing. They were then taken to hospital where their condition was confirmed as not life-threatening.

No arrests have been made so far.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said there is not believed to be any link to the general election or any polling station activity.

She said: Police were called to Alcott Close in Feltham to reports of a stabbing.

He was taken to hospital for treatment to non life-threatening injuries.

Six minutes later, police were called to Walsham Road to reports of a stabbing at the location.

On arrival, officers found two men with stab injuries. They were both taken to hospital. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Crime scenes remain in place. Enquiries are ongoing to establish whether the assaults are linked.
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Inside a cramped, grubby two-bedroom flat filled with Ghostbusters memorabilia, Gavin Plumb hatched a plan.

He would kidnap, repeatedly rape and murder the object of his obsession  television personality Holly Willoughby  as he plotted to live out his ultimate celebrity fantasy.

But weighing in at almost 30 stone and having tried and failed to kidnap women twice before, he knew he could not do it alone.

So in the dark world of encrypted chat groups and online forums, where people shared details of their most sordid sexual obsessions under the cover of anonymity, he looked for like-minded individuals to join his crew.

In hundreds of depraved messages shown to the jury, many too graphic to be published, he set out in shocking detail to his potential accomplices how he would ambush the former This Morning presenter at her home and tie up her husband, before taking her to an abandoned building to abuse. Afterwards, he planned to slit her throat and dispose of her body.

It was here  chatting to a man he had met in a forum called Abduct Lovers  that he unwittingly revealed his plan to an undercover US police officer.

The officer was so concerned about the immediate danger facing the mother-of-three that he alerted the FBI, who contacted the UK authorities.

On Friday, Plumb was jailed for life for the depraved and vile plot. He must serve a minimum of 15 years and 85 days before he can be considered for parole.

Inside the flat in Harlow, Essex, where Plumb devised an elaborate plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby ( Crown Prosecution Service )

But neighbours in Plumbs suburban road in Harlow, Essex, where mothers and young children play on the green opposite his block of flats, had no idea the man living on the ground floor had been carefully assembling his kidnap kit  complete with knife, shackles, metal cable ties and chloroform to stupefy his victim.

Nor did they know he already had serious convictions for attacking women.

Flynn Greenslades, 18, said he rarely saw the isolated security guard, who was only ever spotted waiting for a taxi to take him to work.

He was really isolated from everybody else, he told The Independent. He wasnt really part of the community, I would say.

The only time you would see him walk was from his flat to a cab. Other than that, he was just sat shut indoors with the curtains drawn.

I remember when he got arrested and me and my girlfriend were walking down the road here. He was just in handcuffs being put in the back of the car.

A mother with a newborn child living next door said she rarely heard anything from the other side of the wall  apart from when his team Liverpool FC were playing.

Holly Willoughby was the alleged victim of the plot ( PA Archive )

An elderly couple across the road revealed it was frightening to discover the man they would sometimes see smoking by his bins was plotting a sinister attack.

Theres lots of children round this area, the woman added.

He kept a similarly low profile at his last address too, it seems, telling jurors he spent 99.9 per cent of his life online. A man who lived next door to him in a second-floor flat in a housing estate in Waltham Abbey said he had only seen him twice in almost two years, when he dropped him a Hermes parcel.

Giving evidence from a chair in the witness box, Plumb admitted the messages he exchanged about Ms Willoughby were dark but insisted it was only a fantasy.

Sasha Wass KC, defending, said he was an isolated and lonely individual who lived out his fantasy life online.

Although his messages were vile and misogynistic, his excessive weight prohibited from seeing through his plan, she claimed, repeatedly noting the state of his dimensions rendered the idea he could hop the outer wall of Ms Willoughbys home all but impossible.

Plumb was arrested at his Harlow flat in October 2023 after the FBI contacted UK police ( PA Media )

The former Pizza Hut worker had previously revealed in an interview with the BBC that he had been all but housebound for four years after his weight ballooned to 35st as he guzzled 36 pints of a cola a day, until he had NHS weightloss surgery in 2018.

He said the gastric sleeve operation was his last resort as his weight left him suffering chest pains and struggling with everyday tasks, adding: My parents are absolutely fantastic. They come over and help tidy up  but I know they worry.

At the time of his arrest last October, he estimated he weighed between 25-30st.

But this was not the first time Plumb had found himself in the dock for crimes against women.

Jurors were told how  aged 19  he had tried to kidnap two Ryanair stewards on the Stansted Express as he travelled between car parks servicing ticket machines.

He passed a note to one victim, warning: I will do anything, so keep quiet and get off with me at the next station. Otherwise I will shoot you and everyone on this train.

Two days later he tried again, only this time he had an imitation firearm in his pocket.

After receiving a 12-month suspended sentence, he struck again two years later. By now in his early twenties and working in a shop, he held two 16-year-old girls in a stock warehouse  threatening them with a Stanley knife as he tried to tie them up.

A picture of an alleged abduction kit gathered by Plumb ( PA Media )

Explaining the crimes to the jury, he acknowledged he did have a stewardess fantasy but insisted the attacks were a cry for help as he needed to escape a toxic relationship with his ex-partner.

He railed over his difficult teenage years as he struggled with his fluctuating weight, adding he was regularly in the friend zone and nothing more, only for his first serious relationship to become dysfunctional. He and the former partner now share two children, including a 15-year-old son.

Plumb also told the jury he had carried out internet searches of what does it feel like to be raped? in order to comfort a female friend who had been abused, but refused to tell the prosecutor who she was.

He was also adamant he had purchased two bottles marked chloroform to tackle a particularly stubborn stain on his living room carpet  with jurors shown pictures of a watermark on his dingy brown carpet in his cluttered living room.

Testing later discovered the bottles contained mostly ethanol and water after he purchased highly diluted concentrates from a homoeopathic website.

Plumb previously told jurors his alleged plans were a fantasy ( PA Wire )

But Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, hit back, branding him a prolific liar who had targeted real women in her closing remarks.

He has terrified, subdued, threatened and detained real women against their will, she said.

He has carried weapons for that purpose. He has carried ropes for that purpose.

Real people exist in the world now who were threatened and touched by this man and he was looking  to learn how to avoid those mistakes again.

Looking to make sure that he didnt fall into the errors that led to women being able to get away from him.

Ms Morgan said the boring detail in Plumbs online messaging as they discussed alleged stakeouts and logistics of carrying out an attack around his work schedule is what tells you its real.

One man  known as Marc  with whom Plumb shared hundreds of depraved messages about Ms Willoughby, claimed to have previously been jailed for stalking television presenters in Ireland.

In one message, he shared a news report from 2014 about a man who had been jailed for three and a half years for stalking a woman and later talking about raping her young son.

In another conversation about the star, Marc told Plumb: True shell look good wearing a paper bag. And even dead.

Details of Marcs messages with Plumb have been passed to police in Dublin, Essex Police confirmed.

A spokesperson said: An Garda Siochana has commenced a criminal investigation following information received from a UK Police Force through Interpol.

As this is an ongoing investigation, An Garda Siochana is not confirming any further details.
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An obsessed security guard who purchased a kidnap kit with shackles and chloroform has been found guilty of plotting to abduct, rape and cut the throat of TV personality Holly Willoughby.

Jurors took 12 hours and 19 minutes to unanimously convict Gavin Plumb, 37, for masterminding a depraved scheme to target the former This Morning presenter - who was his ultimate fantasy  in a home invasion.

Plumb, who had attacked women twice before, was caught after he unwittingly revealed details of his attack to an undercover US officer in a chatroom called Abduct Lovers.

The shopping centre security guard, whose weight once ballooned to 35 stone, lowered his head and sobbed in the dock as he was found guilty of soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement on Thursday.

On hearing that Plumb had been found guilty, Ms Willoughby said in a statement: As women we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes. I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.

She went on to thank prosecutors, the judge and jury and commended the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.

Gavin Plumb, 37, was found guilty of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder TV star Holly Willoughby ( Essex Police )

Jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were told the father of two had terrified, subdued, threatened and detained real women before after he tried to kidnap two air stewards from a Stansted Express train in 2006  once armed with an imitation firearm.

After receiving a suspended sentence, he struck again two years later, this time threatening two 16-year-old girls with Stanley knife in a warehouse stockroom.

The girls were screaming and crying as he tried to tie them up, before they managed to escape and raise the alarm.

He bragged about his previous attacks in messages with a potential accomplice he met online, later telling the undercover officer: I got 16 months. Our justice system is s*** tbh.

The court heard how Plumb revealed his sexual obsession with Ms Willoughby, who has waived her right to anonymity, in more than 1,000 messages shown to the jury with an online user called Marc and later with an undercover officer using the alias David Nelson.

In a series of conversations between 2021 and 2023, he shared images of Ms Willoughbys home, discussed ambush points and shared deepfake pornographic images of the Dancing on Ice presenter.

In one message, Plumb said: ...getting her has been my ultimate fantasy for way too long. Im now at the point that fantasy isnt enough anymore. I want the real thing.

Plumb said Holly Willoughby was his ultimate fantasy in messages seen by the jury ( Scott Garfitt/Shutterstock for NTA )

The trial heard it was his ultimate fantasy to target Ms Willoughby, 43, and he had purchased metal cable ties, a knife and chloroform  a liquid drug used to stupefy victims  in preparation for an attack.

Using the online identity BigBear, Plumb revealed to the undercover officer his plans to invade Ms Willoughbys home and tie up her husband before taking the star away to enjoy her.

At various points Plumb and Marc discussed taking the mother of three to an abandoned building, including a disused stud farm with 15 cells, his flat in Harlow, Essex, or to a dungeon type room where no one would hear her screams.

Afterwards, Plumb said he would slit her throat and dispose of her body.

The defendant had shared a video with the officer showing real items in his possession, which he described as his kit of materials, laid out on a bed; to include hand and ankle shackles, ball gag, rope, metal cable ties and handcuffs. These items would later be found at the defendants home address, prosecutor Alison Morgan KC told the jury.

An undercover US officer said receiving an image of an abduction kit was quite alarming (Crown Prosecution Service/PA) ( PA Media )

Giving evidence via video link from the US, the undercover officer attached to the Owatonna Police Department in Minnesota, said he feared Ms Willoughby was in immediate danger from Plumb.

The officer, who monitored online forums where he investigated murder for hire, kidnap and human trafficking, said Plumb had shared personal information about the star and her security arrangements under the usernameBigBear341987.

The US officer contacted the UK authorities. When he was arrested in Essex on 4 October and charges read out, Plumb said: Im not gonna lie. She is a fantasy of mine.

Police later found more than million images of women on his devices  including 10,322 of Ms Willoughby.

Plumb, who denied all the charges, insisted he had attacked women in the past to escape his toxic relationship in a cry for help before his weight ballooned to 35st, as he gave evidence in his own defence.

Shopping centre security guard Gavin Plumb had previously attacked women, the court heard ( Sourced )

He also claimed two bottles of chloroform found at his address had been purchased to clean a stain on his carpet, despite having carried out internet searches on its effects.

The bottles were later tested and found to be a mixture of ethanol and water after he purchased them from a homeopathic website,

He told the court his life was online and he engaged fantasy discussions in forums about celebrities, adding that Ms Willoughby was his celebrity crush.

Although he admitted his conversations with an online user called Marc were dark, he insisted he never planned to follow through with the plot.

It was talk  nothing more, he said.

Plumb previously told jurors his messages were just chatting and fantasy (Elizabeth Cook/PA) ( PA Wire )

Sasha Wass KC, defending, described Plumb as an isolated and lonely individual who lived out his fantasy life online.

However, in her closing remarks, prosecutor Ms Morgan insisted Plumb was a sly individual and a prolific liar who gained sexual arousal from his real plans.

He has terrified, subdued, threatened and detained real women against their will, she told the jury. He has carried weapons for that purpose. He has carried ropes for that purpose.

Real people exist in the world now who were threatened and touched by this man and he was looking  to learn how to avoid those mistakes again.

Looking to make sure that he didnt fall into the errors that led to women being able to get away from him.

A bottle of chloroform was found at Gavin Plumbs address, jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were told (CPS/PA) ( PA Media )

Following the verdicts, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood, of Essex Police, said: Gavin Plumb is a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim.

He was not just simply obsessed with Holly Willoughby, he meticulously and carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a depraved and violent attack, in which he plotted to deprive her of her liberty and ultimately her life.

His claims in court that he was a fantasist are simply not true and were evidenced by the extent with which he plotted with others to carry out his wicked plan.

He also noted Plumbs online chats in the group Abduct Lovers were not hidden, adding: Theres a responsibility on all of us including social media companies to really regulate what goes on online.

Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said: Gavin Plumb is a dangerous man who plotted unspeakable violence against one of the nations most familiar faces.

Despite his attempts to pass himself off as a harmless fantasist, the prosecution persuaded the jury that Plumb posed a very real threat.

I hope his conviction brings some comfort to Holly Willoughby and her family and shows others that the Crown Prosecution Service will always seek the strongest possible charges against those who plot violence against women.

Plumb is due to be sentenced on 12 July.
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A serving Metropolitan Police firearms officer has been arrested on suspicion of rape.

The officer was arrested on 24 June over offences alleged to have taken place between 2013 and last year.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: A serving Met officer has been arrested on suspicion of rape and other offences.

The officer, an inspector in the Mets Specialist Firearms Command, was arrested on Monday, 24 June.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between 2013 and 2023.

He was bailed to return in mid-September, pending further enquiries. He has been suspended from duty.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was informed by the Met about the arrest of the officer, as is a matter of course.

A spokesperson for the policing watchdog said: We received a mandatory conduct referral from the Metropolitan Police Service on 26 June 2024 following the arrest earlier that week of a Met officer on suspicion of multiple offences.

After carefully considering the referral we decided, given the officer has already been arrested and interviewed by the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards, that the Met should continue with its investigation.
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A police dog died while chasing a wanted man through a country park into water.

PD Zyla was following an attempted murder suspect, aged 27, at the Watermead Country Park in Birstall, near Leicester, on Wednesday.

The dog was confirmed dead after being taken to a vet in the afternoon.

Leicestershire Polices chief constable Rob Nixon said: Our police dogs are an integral part of Team Leicestershire playing a crucial, critical role in some of our most dangerous operations.

Zyla died in the line of duty and will always be remembered for her bravery, her dedication and her service.

My thoughts remain with Zylas handler and all those who have been impacted. Yesterdays events are a stark reminder of the inherent dangers associated with policing and I want to extend a massive thank you to all the officers who assisted during the incident.

A birds-eye view of Watermead Park ( NPASMidlands )

Officers said a man wanted by Nottinghamshire Police was detained on suspicion of attempted murder before being further arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty.

A statement added: As part of our response to the incident, a police dog was also deployed to assist with the search.

The suspect made off from officers before entering the water in Watermead Park.

The police dog became unresponsive after it also entered the water and was taken to a vet where it was confirmed they had sadly died.

Following a continued search of the surrounding area, the suspect, a 27-year-old man, was located in the park and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and subsequently arrested on suspicion of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

He remains in police custody.

An investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the dogs death, while the attempted murder inquiry is being led by Nottinghamshire Police.

Detective inspector Claire Hughes said: This is an extremely sad incident that has resulted in the death of one of our police dogs.

Colleagues are supporting the dogs handler at this understandably difficult time and our investigation to establish what happened is ongoing.

We would like to speak to anyone who may have any information at all relating to this incident and has not as yet spoken to police to get in touch.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 293 of July 3.
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A straight-A pupil groomed for sex by a school teacher has shared the extent of the abuse suffered and the heartbreak of not being able to see the child they had together.

Rebecca Joynes, 30, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after being found guilty of six counts of sexual activity with children after sleeping with one pupil before falling pregnant by a second while on police bail.

A jury heard Joynes, who taught at a school in Greater Manchester, had entered in flirty exchanges on Snapchat with the boys after she had undegone a messy break-up after a nine-year relationship.

With the first boy, Boy A, she bought him a Gucci belt at the Trafford Centre before having sex at her apartment.

Then, despite arrest and suspension from her job, she targeted a second child, Boy B, who said sexual activity started when he was 15, before full sex when he was 16 and still a pupil.

She became pregnant with the boy and gave birth earlier this year, but the child was taken away from her within 24 hours.

Rebecca Joynes taking Boy A to her apartment for sex after buying him a Gucci belt ( Greater Manchester Police )

Following Joynes sentencing at Manchester Crown Court on Thursday, Greater Manchester Police released a victim impact statement read out in court by Boy B that revealed the emotional toll of the abuse.

It read: I struggled to come to terms with my abuse, I was completely in denial. I subsequently held back and did not fully open up to people.

For reference, Rebecca was in my head that much. I would argue until I was blue in the face protecting her and would not hear a bad word against her. I felt as so I had betrayed someone I love and had done wrong by giving evidence. I felt a large sense of guilt for a long time.

I questioned if I was right to give statements about the woman who was carrying my child, since then I have replayed a lot of things in my head, and spoken to a lot of people, and it has made me realise the full extent of the abuse carried out on me and the tactics that were used to do so.

I was coerced, controlled, manipulated, sexually abused, and mentally abused. It is very upsetting that this has happened to me. The months after the abuse happened to me, was a very dark time, I felt backed into a corner. I had just lived a double life for 18 months behind my familys back.

This had a massive mental toll over me and my family. It tore my family apart, they struggled to come to terms with the fact they sent me to school, where they believed it to be a safe environment, and this happened as a result. I attended school regularly and left with straight As.

My parents broke down every day and night trying to get me to speak, I held many things back. I thought I would be better off dealing with things alone, as it is a rare case and not very relatable to others.

One of the hardest things I had to deal with in this time was not being able to be involved in the pregnancy. Social services contacted me in October and told me that Rebecca had refused to let them update me about anything including, due date, gender, health updates. The thought of not being able to see my child was heartbreaking.

I now also really struggle with the idea of going into another relationship, due to the negative experience I have gone through with Rebecca. Ultimately, I will forever be Rebeccas victim and forever linked to her through our child.

Joynes was found guilty of six counts of sexual activity - four counts of sexual activity with a child, and two counts of sexual activity with a child by a person in a position of trust.
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A British backpacker told her mother she feared she would die alone in Greece after falling 13 feet into a ravine in a quad bike accident.

Courtney Leanne Boylan, from north-east Manchester, is currently in intensive care in an Athens hospital after the vehicle she was on with a friend crashed into a fence on the island of Naxos last Friday.

The 22-year-old was left with fluid on her lungs, a split liver, a torn spleen and internal bleeding after being sent flying down the roadside ravine with the quad bike landing on top of her, her family said.

A resident in Naxos is believed to have climbed down to reach her before the emergency services hoisted her to a local hospital, where her chest was drained, before being taken to Athens General Hospital, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades ( Getty Images )

Her mother Debbie  who told the outlet she booked the first flight out to Athens after making terrified calls to the hospital and British embassy  said Ms Boylans heartbreaking first words to her when she arrived were: I thought I was [going to] have to die alone.

Were on day six now and Courtney is getting stronger, her mother added. She has two chest drains for pleural effusions, she has fluid on her tummy from the damage to her liver and spleen and X-rays have just shown she has clouding on her lungs.

Were all distraught, I have panic attacks when I have to leave and need to gather myself to be strong. The doctors and locals have all been amazing.

The family has launched a crowdfunding effort to fly Ms Boylan back to the UK for treatment, after being told it would cost either 5,000 for a flight sitting alone with assistance from medical teams, or more than 36,000 for a private air ambulance.

Her sister, who created the GoFundMe page  which has so far raised more than 5,500  said while Ms Boylan does have medical insurance, due to unforeseen circumstances theyre refusing to pay out.

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Her mother said Ms Boylan had planned to study and then travel, saying: After university she got a job, saved hard and booked her backpacking trip to Greece. Her plan was to continue education or work in the field she studied once she got back.

She loves history and wanted to go at it alone because she can make friends in an empty room. I dropped her off at Manchester Airport with a one way ticket on 6 June, and she headed to Rhodes and met lots of lovely people and friends.

Ms Boylan then travelled to Kos and Mykonos before heading to Naxos, where she met up with some lovely friends ... and they had a ball, her mother said.

One morning, two girls were going for a hike and Courtney and her friend didnt want to, so they planned to sightsee on a quad. Her friend had a licence and booked a quad bike Courtney rode on the back.

Her mother explained when the Greek roads became narrow, the friends pulled over to let a car pass.

She added: After the car had gone, her friend went to turn the handlebars to pull out slowly and I can only presume pulled too hard on the revs, which sent them into a fence. They hit the gate and then went over the embankment.

Courtney fell off the back and rolled down the ravine and ended with the quad on top of her. She got up and fell back over because she couldnt breathe. They both wore helmets or they would have been dead.
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Holly Willoughby says she will be forever grateful to a US undercover police officer who foiled a plot by a depraved security guard to kidnap, rape and murder her.

In a statement released after a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Gavin Plumb, 37, guilty of soliciting murder and inciting rape and kidnap on Thursday, the TV presenter said women should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes.

Breaking her silence on the case, the Dancing on Ice star thanked a US undercover officer who helped uncover Plumbs plans and for understanding the imminent threat to her life.

Willoughby said: I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.

Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women.

I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.

Gavin Plumb was arrested by Essex Police ( PA )

During the course of his trial, jurors were told Plumb developed an obsession with Ms Willoughby over a number of years and assembled an kidnap kit  complete with handcuffs and metal cable ties  and hatched a plan to abduct her from her own home.

Plumb, who adopted the user name Big Bear to chat to others about his plot online, appeared to formulate his fantasy as early as 2011  googling the phrase how to meet people who plan to kidnap celebs.

The security guard had attacked women twice before and receieved a suspended sentence for attempted to kidnap to female air stewards from a Stansted Express train in 2006.

Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood of Essex Police said that Plumb thought he had found a likeminded person online, but it was actually a US undercover police officer using the alias David Nelson.

Mr Wood, who was the senior investigating officer in the case, said the UK force was contacted by the FBI and they were able to disrupt Plumbs plot.

He said: Gavin Plumb is a dangerous, predatory individual who was intent on causing the most serious harm to his victim.

Holly Willoughby thanked everyone involved in foiling her kidnap plot ( PA Archive )

He was not just simply obsessed with Holly Willoughby, he meticulously and carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a depraved and violent attack, in which he plotted to deprive her of her liberty and ultimately her life.

His claims in court that he was a fantasist are simply not true and were evidenced by the extent with which he plotted with others to carry out his wicked plan.

Police body-worn video footage of the arrest of Gavin Plumb - who has been found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court ( Essex Police/PA Wire )

The trial heard it was his ultimate fantasy to target Ms Willoughby, 43, and he had purchased metal cable ties, a knife and chloroform  a liquid drug used to stupefy victims  in preparation for an attack.

Using the online identity BigBear, Plumb revealed to the undercover officer his plans to invade Ms Willoughbys home and tie up her husband before taking the star away to enjoy her.

At various points Plumb and Marc discussed taking the mother of three to an abandoned building, including a disused stud farm with 15 cells, his flat in Harlow, Essex, or to a dungeon type room where no one would hear her screams.

Gavin Plumbs living room where he masterminded a plot to kidnap, rape and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby. ( CPS/PA Wire )

Afterwards, Plumb said he would slit her throat and dispose of her body.

Jurors took 12 hours and 19 minutes to unanimously convict Plumb, who had told officers during his arrest the former This Morning presenter was a fantasy of his.

The shopping centre security guard lowered his head and sobbed in the dock as he was found guilty of soliciting murder, incitement to rape and incitement on Thursday.

A photo of a kit possessed by Gavin Plumb, shown to jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court during his trial (CPS/PA) ( PA Media )

The prosecution will apply for a restraining order and a sexual harm prevention order at Gavin Plumbs sentencing, prosecutor Ros Earis said.

The sentencing will take place on July 12.
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A private investigator has urged Jay Slaters family not to give up hope, claiming the missing teenager could still be alive drinking rainwater and eating plants.

The 19-year-old from Lancashire has not been seen or heard from since he disappeared on the morning of June 17 in Tenerifes Rural de Teno national park.

It is thought to have embarked on an 11-hour walk from an AirBnb in the village of Masca back to his own accommodation in Playa de Las Americas.

His last known location placed him on a rural footpath in the national park after he called his friend at 8:15am to let them know he was lost, needed a drink of water and that his phone had one per cent battery.

His disappearance sparked huge national interest and a huge search operation but following a gruelling 13-day search, the Spanish Civil Guard called off its operation on Sunday.

Follow our live coverage of Jay Slaters disappearance here.

A private investigator has urged Jay Slaters family not to give up hope ( Supplied )

However, private investigator and army reservist Juan Garcia, 53, said that it was too early to halt the search and told The Times: [Slater] could be alive somewhere  someone can drink from rainwater and eat plants. The family should not give up hope.

He added that he had spoken to Jays family - who are still in Tenerife desperately trying to find the apprentice bricklayeer - to directly to offer his advice.

Garcia is not the only private detective who has gotten involved in the case.

TV detective Mark Williams-Thomas - who also investigated Nicola Bulleys disappearance - flew out to Tenerife to assist Jays family in their search.

He issued a full update on Wednesday detailing Jays movements on the Sunday evening and Monday morning before he went missing.

A group of search and rescue workers near to the village of Masca, Tenerife (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

He said: I have spoken to lots of witnesses and have a clear picture of what happened overnight of Sunday 16th through to the morning of 17th June.

He went on to detail how Jay left the Veronicas Strip in Playa de Las Americas shortly before 6am with two men casually known to him and drove to their AirBnb an hour north in the village of Masca.

Mr Slater sent several messages via social media to his friends from the holiday rental, before leaving the property at around 7:30am.

He was then seen by the host of the rental property waiting for a bus but when he was told there wasnt another one until 10am, he began to walk back instead.

It is thought he was walking for a further 30 minutes, in which time he called his friend to tell them he was lost, before his phone died marking his last location off the road on a track at 8:50am.

Firefighters search near to the village of Masca, Tenerife (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

Mr Williams-Thomas highlighted Jays strange decision to embark on the walk through challenging terrain rather than return to the AirBnb.

He said: He was told to go back to the rental. He said he could not do that and that he had already been walking 30 minutes and that he was now off the road and walking on a track, where there were loose stones.

The Airbnb Casa Abuela Tina in Masca which Jay Slater travelled to (James Manning/PA) ( PA Wire )

One of the men thought to have invited Mr Slater back to the AirBnb said they knew each other through friends and told reporters: He came to my Airbnb alive and he left my Airbnb alive.

Ayub Qassim told the Mail Online: Ive spoken to the Spanish police and theyve told me not to speak to anyone which is why Ive been quiet.

Ive not spoken to Mark Williams-Thomas or anyone like him because he doesnt have any jurisdiction in Tenerife, and I havent done anything wrong.

The Spanish authorities have said the two men who were renting the AirBnb are irrelevant to their investigation.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a private donation to the ongoing relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean.

It has been reported that the royals are closely following the impact of the storm, which has so far peaked at category five winds of more than 165 miles an hour.

The storm is the fastest on record to ever reach category five in the Atlantic, with scientists putting its rapidly increasing winds down to the impacts of climate change.

A royal source said: The Prince and Princess of Wales are donating privately to the relief efforts. They continue to follow the impact of Hurricane Beryl closely.

According to reports, 95 percent of homes have been either damaged or destroyed on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In Jamaica, roofs were ripped off homes and boats were thrown around in Barbados.

Locals are now speaking of their devastation as experts described the situation as unprecedented.

Its terrible. Everythings gone. Im in my house and scared, Amoy Wellington, 51, a cashier from rural Jamaica said. Its a disaster.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to be closely monitoring the hurricanes progress. ( Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that the country had not seen the worst of what could possibly happen and that they were working to take as many precautions as possible to lessen its impact.

We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God, Mr Holness said.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC) still has warnings in place on Thursday for Jamaica, Grand Gayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, which includes Cozumel are also reported to be affected.

Several hurricane watch and tropical storm warnings are also in place.

Hurricane Beryl is the fastest storm to reach category five in recorded history. ( Getty Images )

In an advisory published on Wednesday, the NHC said: Devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves are expected to begin in Jamaica within the next few hours and spread into the Caymwan Islands tonight. Mountainous locations in Jamaica are likely to experience destructive wind gusts.

At least seven people are confirmed to have lost their lives in the hurricane so far, with experts warning that Beryl could be heralding the start of one of the worst hurricane seasons in history.

The hurricane, which is now a category four storm, is the worst to hit certain parts of the Caribbean in 20 years.
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Ambulances were called out to attend incidents at Wethersfield asylum site in Essex 38 times in the first five months of this year, The Independent can reveal, after a scathing report found increasing numbers of men attempting suicide at the prison-like former RAF base.

Charities working with asylum seekers at the site have been issuing urgent warnings about the conditions inside in recent months. Migrants living there have told The Independent that they have witnessed extreme acts of self-harm and frequent suicide attempts.

One refugee from Iraq estimated he had seen 10 people try to take their own lives in the past four months and said people were going crazy at the remote site. Around 580 migrants are housed at the former RAF base in Essex, where asylum seekers can be held for six to nine months. It opened last year.

Failures in vetting have seen vulnerable people sent to the site, with hundreds getting transferred out after the Home Office admitted the conditions were unsuitable.

Now new freedom of information data obtained by The Independent shows that an ambulance was called out to the base 38 times in the months of January to May this year. The highest number of callouts was 16 in January, followed by 11 in February, data from the East of England Ambulance Service showed.

Former RAF base Wethersfield in Essex has been criticised for being remote, with few ways to travel into nearby towns ( PA )

The Home Office expects to spend 338.7 million on the Wethersfield site in the next three years, despite the base being the subject of a legal action that is due to be heard at the High Court this month.

Senior Tories Priti Patel and James Cleverly have previously said that they want to close the site down because it is not appropriate for asylum accommodation due to its remoteness.

Sir Keir Starmer has said that Labour would shut down Wethersfield if they are elected on Thursday, but admitted this would take time.

It comes after a new report from the charities Humans for Rights Network and the Helen Bamber Foundation revealed that there were 30 recorded incidents of men self-harming, attempting suicide, or being at serious risk of doing so in the first three months of 2024.

There were 91 incidents of men expressing that they were considering suicide or self-harm, and over 160 safeguarding referrals were made regarding suicide and self-harm, the report found.

In February, 12 referrals were made to the Home Office over people who were not eating. Maddie Harris, director of Humans for Rights Network, said that data showing 38 ambulance callouts to Wethersfield this year was lower than expected given the level of distress at the site.

She told The Independent: Are ambulances being called in each and every situation when they should be? The numbers suggest not. Over the past 10 days, weve been made aware of a further three occasions of men attempting to take their own lives, so it is incredibly frequent.

That data suggests to me that they are not taking these suicide attempts, or urgent medical care incidents, seriously enough.

One Libyan asylum seeker who had been at the site for four months said: In Libya I faced a lot of struggles. I was in prison, they tortured me, they beat me every night and day. Now Im also a TB patient. I cant sleep well. I sleep one hour a day because of this stress.

Another man who had been in Wethersfield for six months said: I have not committed a crime but Im in this prison. My mental health is getting worse and I have self-harm thoughts. I cant sleep. I stay awake all night. I have nightmares about ending my life.

I lost weight and my body is getting weaker every day. I dont have any appetite.

Kamena Dorling, director of policy at the Helen Bamber Foundation, said of the ambulance data: The increase in the number of men self-harming and attempting suicide in RAF Wethersfield is extremely concerning. The men in Wethersfield feel increasingly desperate the longer they are forced to live there with no sense of when they will be moved, or what is happening with their asylum claims. The site should be closed immediately.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The safety and security of those accommodated on sites, staff and local communities are of the utmost importance. Welfare officers are on site round the clock and all residents have access to an on-site GP service delivered by a local healthcare provider, including mental health support, and a specialist and experienced security provider is working on site 24/7.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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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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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.
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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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Watch a live view of 10 Downing Street as Britons vote in the general election on Thursday 4 July.

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have already cast their ballots as they vie to win the election after weeks of campaigning.

Polling stations across the UK opened at 7am, giving millions of voters the chance to decide if the Tory incumbent remains in the top job or the Labour leader enters Downing Street.

Opinion polls suggest Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

Mr Sunak, who has insisted the results are not a foregone conclusion despite dire poll ratings for his party, voted in his Richmond constituency.

He waved at reporters as he and his wife Akshata Murty arrived hand-in-hand at the Kirby Sigston Village Hall, as he hopes to be returned to parliament as the MP for Richmond and Northallerton.

Sir Keir was also joined by his wife, Victoria, as he visited a polling station in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

The Labour leader told his final rally in Redditch, Worcestershire, on Wednesday night to imagine a Britain moving forward together with a Labour government.
Labour may have stormed to power in a landslide, but Sir Keir Starmer will have no time to celebrate his victory.

The first few days and weeks as prime minister will be a whirlwind that, in hindsight, will make the tough job as leader of the opposition look easy.

Aside from the huge economic problems facing Britain and the growing possibility of having to work with Donald Trump in the White House, he faces other difficulties.

Labour has a huge Commons majority, but the party won barely a third of the votes - by contrast, Tony Blairs New Labour secured closer to one in two votes in the 1997 landslide. Starmer will face vocal opposition from Jeremy Corbyn, who was returned to parliament as an independent after Starmer banned from standing for Labour, as well as pressure from four pro-Palestinian independents who beat Labour MPs, including close ally Jonathan Ashworth.

The incoming prime ministers in-tray will be more daunting than usual because of a rotten economic inheritance  in sharp contrast to 1997, when Tony Blair took over with the economy growing, which eventually allowed him to boost spending on public services.

Sir Keirs first big task will be to appoint his cabinet and junior ministers. Most of the top jobs are expected to be filled by those who held them in opposition, but there could be some tweaks.

One headache: the number of ministers who sit in the Commons is limited to 95, but 109 Labour MPs were on the front bench in the last parliament. When the Lords is included, Labour had more opposition frontbenchers (146) than there are paid ministerial posts (109).

Will Sir Keir scale back his team and ask many of them to forsake their ministerial salary? This could be a difficult sell, and disappointed MPs who expected government roles may be inclined to resort to mischief-making - as weve seen under the Tories.

open image in gallery Keir Starmers first few days and weeks as prime minister will be a whirlwind ( Jacob King/PA Wire )

Another dilemma will be whether to appoint as ministers the retreads who have returned to the Commons after time out.

The centre of government, 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, will likely be restructured to reflect Sir Keirs five missions and ensure more joined-up government across departments. Figures from business may be appointed to mission boards chaired by the PM.

He is likely to create an inner cabinet, or quad, including Angela Rayner, Rachel Reeves and Pat McFadden, with other ministers joining it after their briefs are discussed.

Sir Keir has promised to hit the ground running and start addressing voters concerns on day one.

He will be acutely aware that his huge majority is just one part of the story of this election. Reform UK has made significant gains, particularly in Red Wall seats, and has taken more than 4 million votes. Nigel Farage has made no secret of his plan to supplant the Tories as the main challenger to Labour at the next election; a vow Sir Keir would be foolish to ignore.

This is also an electorate that put Boris Johnson in No 10 with an 80-seat majority less than five years ago. While the Tories actions in office are undoubtedly a huge factor in their downfall, the fact that an election can produce such a different outcome shows this is a volatile electorate, and their votes must not be taken for granted.

But for now his attention will be on the immediate future, and Labour insiders say they have announcements up their sleeve to show momentum, in a first 100 days plan.

They suggest that the big idea will be swift action to streamline planning rules to allow more housebuilding in the green belt, enabling Labour to hit its target to build 1.5 million homes in the five-year parliament.

Other early measures will reflect the incoming prime ministers modest first steps, including plans to cut NHS waiting lists and recruit 6,500 teachers.

Foreign affairs will loom large in the opening days  perhaps larger than Sir Keir might be expecting.

After the traditional phone calls with world leaders, who will be queueing up to congratulate the new PM, he will head to Washington on 9 July for a summit to mark Natos 75th anniversary, to be dominated by the war in Ukraine.

There, Sir Keir will be feted by his fellow leaders, who love a winner. He would be wise to enjoy it while it lasts.

The love-in will no doubt continue as Sir Keir is tasked with hosting a meeting of the 47-strong European Political Community at Blenheim Palace on 18 July.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer shakes hands with French president Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris in September 2023 ( Laurent Blevennec/Presidence de la Republique )

Although it is not an EU institution, the PM is likely to pledge to reset relations and start talking to EU leaders about an ambitious security deal he hopes will extend to economic and border security, and how to reduce post-Brexit trade barriers. He will have to tread carefully, with right-wing rivals ready to pounce on any move they can claim is an undoing of Brexit.

An urgent task will be to finalise the Kings Speech on 17 July, which will set out the governments legislative programme.

Bills will likely include setting up Great British Energy, a publicly owned clean energy firm; taking the rail network back into public ownership when franchises expire; tackling antisocial behaviour; and reforming mental health laws.

A border security command will be created to show that the government is doing something about the small boats when it formally scraps the Tories Rwanda scheme.

Labour will make a start on its plans to enhance workers rights, but will also consult with business on the details. Some measures might be delayed, because legislation that sounds easy in opposition can be difficult to draft.

The economy will be centre stage. Rachel Reeves will be the UKs first female chancellor, and will settle down to plan her first Budget, expected in October. Her big decision after inspecting the nations books? Whether to claim a doctors mandate and raise taxes immediately in the hope of blaming the Tories, or delay any increases in the hope that stronger economic growth makes them unnecessary.

Ms Reeves will also lay the ground for a government-wide spending review, to take effect from next April.

Sir Keir will be keen to demonstrate that he is keeping his promise to return politics to public service after the rule-breaking of the Tory era. He may move quickly to set up an independent ethics commission.

While the new government will probably enjoy a few days of positive headlines, it might not take long for events to blow its first 100 days strategy off course.

open image in gallery The Labour leader and Wes Streeting visit a GPs surgery ( PA )

Ministers will be expected to hold direct talks with the junior doctors in an attempt to end the long-running dispute over their 35 per cent pay claim. Sir Keir has rejected it, but will be keen to avoid the further strikes threatened. However, Whitehall officials are worried about contagion if the British Medical Association wins a generous settlement.

Public sector workers have great expectations after years of restraint, and decisions will be due shortly on pay awards, which could cost the government about 6bn.

Known unknowns that will make incoming ministers nervous include warnings that the prison population might hit its limit of 88,778. Tackling the backlog in the courts, another inherited problem, could add to the pressure on the prisons without an expanded early-release scheme.

One early crisis could be the collapse of Thames Water, which is on a risk register drawn up by Sue Gray, Sir Keirs chief of staff, which has been dubbed Sues s*** list in Labour land.

It is too big to fail, so ministers might have to consider temporary nationalisation to maintain supplies to its 16 million customers.

Despite the parlous state of the public finances, Ms Reeves will face many demands for money. Several universities are believed to be on the brink of going bust.

More local authorities might also run out of money; the Local Government Association says councils will have a 4bn deficit over the next two years. Social care is perennially short of resources, and may need a short-term injection until a fair pay agreement is introduced. So might the NHS.

The first 100 days will include the summer recess, and Sir Keir will have to accept that his team will need a break to catch their breath in August. But the hard work will resume in the first week of September.
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No sitting prime minister has ever failed to win their seat at a general election  but the opinion polls this time around raise the question of what would happen if Rishi Sunak loses in Richmond.

The constituency could be close, and a survey by Savanta has suggested that the Tory PM is on course to see the 27,000-strong majority in his North Yorkshire constituency overturned.

A report claimed on Wednesday that the prime minister had confided to members of his inner circle that he was fearful of losing his seat, warning confidants that he believed the race in Richmond and Northallerton was too close to call.

Follow our blog for the latest general election updates

Could Sunak remain PM even if he loses his seat?

In the event of such an outcome being declared in the small hours of Friday, it is highly unlikely that Mr Sunak would stand down as prime minister prior to the final national election result being called later that day.

According to the Institute for Government (IfG), precedent suggests that a prime minister should be an MP  but there is no suggestion that they must immediately resign if they lose their seat.

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit their polling station on Thursday ( AP )

As no incumbent PM has ever lost their seat, other ministers are the best source of constitutional precedent for what could occur, according to the think ctank. While just 12 sitting cabinet ministers have lost their seats since 1974, YouGovs final poll on Wednesday predicted that 14 ministers could be unseated this week.

In the past, ministers have resigned immediately if the elections outcome is abundantly clear, but some remained in post without constituencies in the early days of hung parliaments in 1974 and 2010, according to the IfG.

As the prime ministers constitutional status is similar to other ministers, this suggests a PM could also remain in office temporarily even if they lose their seat.

What happens if Sunak loses his seat and Labour wins the election?

If Rishi Sunak lost his seat he would remain as prime minister until his resignation to the King, Dr Catherine Haddon, a fellow at the IfG, told The Independent.

If Labour win a majority, this does not cause any difficulties, as he would have been expected to step down on Friday morning anyway.

Rishi Sunak announcing the July 4 poll in the rain on Downing Street ( Lucy North/PA )

However, the expectation that the leader of the opposition is a sitting MP causes problems for the Tory party, Dr Haddon warned, saying: They dont have a deputy leader, unlike Labour, so would need to find someone to replace him as interim leader until a full leadership competition can be run.

Someone would need to lead questions at PMQs and help organise the opposition in their scrutiny of the government. The party board and the newly formed 1922 backbench committee will be meeting anyway to decide on the rules around a future contest, but they dont have an obvious mechanism to guide them through.

Even if Mr Sunak retains his seat, cabinet ministers are reported to be in a fight to convince him to remain as interim Tory leader, with one telling The Times: We are seeking to persuade Rishi and his team to stay on and provide some continuity.

We want him to, at the very least, do what Michael Howard did in 2005, and remain in place until the leadership election is complete. Once we get through election day, that will be communicated to him very clearly. We dont want him to do a David Cameron.

What happens if Sunak loses and Tories win?

In the event of a Conservative majority or a hung parliament, the PM losing their seat becomes a much bigger problem, said Dr Haddon, warning that there is no constitutional role of acting prime minister.

( EPA )

Given the expectation to face weekly Prime Ministers Questions sessions and other parliamentary scrutiny, Mr Sunak would be unable to remain as prime minister for long without a Commons seat  putting pressure on his party to resolve this situation through an expedited leadership contest, said Dr Haddon.

Furthermore, the Tories losing their leader could affect how a hung parliament is resolved, because the King is expected to appoint someone likely to be able to command confidence, Dr Haddon added.

The outgoing PM can advise on who the King should call, but it is not binding. It would very much depend on numbers, but the departure of the incumbent PM could make it more likely that the leader of the opposition be called upon to form a government, she said.

However, the guiding principle here is that the King must not be drawn into politics, so it would be for the politicians to resolve the question and ensure there is stable government.
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A record-breaking 11 cabinet ministers have lost their seats as Rishi Sunaks government faced a general election bloodbath.

Johnny Mercer, Grant Shapps, Gillian Keegan, Lucy Frazer, Penny Mordaunt, Michelle Donelan, Alex Chalk, David TC Davies, Victoria Prentis, Mark Harper and Simon Hart are among the Tory big beasts who have fallen as Labour claimed a dramatic victory.

Others who had been under threat, including chancellor Jeremy Hunt, business secretary Kemi Badenoch and home secretary James Cleverly, clung on despite challenges in their seats. Rishi Sunak had a scare in his seat too, going there to campaign eight times, but he won easily in the end taking almost half the vote.

Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign.

Penny Mordaunt was among the high profile figures to lose their seats ( Sky )

Another big beast to go was Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg in North East Somerset but former home secretary Suella Braverman held off a challenge.

Defence secretary Mr Shapps has lost to Labour in Welwyn Hatfield while leader of the Commons Ms Mordaunt was defeated in Portsmouth North by the party. Veterans minister Johnny Mercer has been defeated by Labour in Plymouth Moor View.

Justice secretary Mr Chalk was defeated in Cheltenham to Liberal Democrat candidate Max Wilkinson and education secretary Ms Keegan has also been beaten heavily by the Liberal Democrats in Chichester. Ms Frazer, the culture secretary, loset her Ely and East Cambridgeshire seat to the Liberal Democrats. And Ms Donelan, the science secretary, lost her Melksham & Devizes seat to the Lib Dems.

The Tories lost all their MPs in Wales after it was confirmed Welsh secretary David TC Davies lost his seat in Monmouthshire to Labour. And Mr Hart came third in the Caerfyrddin constituency, with Plaid Cymru's Ann Davies taking top spot. Becoming the 11th cabinet minister to be ousted, transport secretary Mr Harper was defeated by Labour in the Forest of Dean.

Grant Shapps was one of the first big beasts to fall ( James Shaw/Shutterstock )

In his concession speech, Mr Shapps hit out at the Conservative indulgence that appears to have cost them the election, saying voters do not back divided parties. And in her own concession speech, Ms Mordaunt said the party had taken a battering.

While a key figure in the Tory party for decades, having been appointed vice-chairman in 2005, it was after the 2019 election win that Mr Shapps became higher-profile in Government.

He has held five Cabinet positions since then  from the roles of transport secretary and home secretary to energy security secretary as well as business secretary, and most recently defence secretary.

After a short-lived Tory leadership bid in 2022, Mr Shapps became a major backer of Liz Trusss rival Rishi Sunak in that contest.

Jacob Rees-Mogg lost his North Somerset seat to Labour ( Jonathan Brady/PA Wire )

Mr Shapps is said to have recorded Tory colleagues doubts about Ms Truss in a running spreadsheet, wielded on a pricey foldable smartphone.

He oversaw the transport department during the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing airport chaos as travel resumed, and faced criticism for failing to engage with unions over industrial action.

The exit poll put Sir Keir Starmer on course to complete one of the most remarkable turnarounds in British political history forecasting a huge Labour victory that will sweep him into Downing Street with a majority of 170.

As polling stations closed at 10pm, the exit poll predicted that Labour will win 410 seats, the Tories 131, the Lib Dems 61, Reform 13 and the SNP 10. Outside the cabinet, Tory former deputy prime minister Dame Therese Coffey has been defeated by Labour in Suffolk Coastal. And, in a major upset, Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross lost his seat to the SNP by just under 1,000 votes.

Mr Shapps, who has lost to Labour in Welwyn Hatfield, said it was clear tonight that Britain will have a new government in the morning.

Gillian Keegan has also been shown the door by the electorate ( Sky )

He added: What is crystal clear to me tonight, is that it is not so much that Labour won this election, but that the Conservatives have lost it.

Door after door, voters have been dismayed by our inability to iron out our differences in private and then be united in public.

Instead, we have tried the patience of traditional Conservative voters with a propensity to create an endless political soap opera out of internal rivalries and divisions which have become increasingly entrenched.

Today, voters have simply said, if you cant agree with each other, we cant agree to vote for you.

We forgot a fundamental rule of politics, that people do not vote for divided parties.

In a stunning upset, Ms Keegan secured only 13,368 votes, with Lib Dem candidate Jess Brown-Fuller on 25,514. And Ms Mordaunt, who was a frontrunner for the Tory leadership after the election, was beaten by around 1,000 votes by her Labour rival. She won 13,715 votes, while Labours Amanda Martin won 14,495.

In a concession speech during which she was on the brink of tears, Ms Mordaunt said: Tonight, the Conservative Party has taken a battering because it failed to honour the trust that people had placed in it.

You can speak all you like of security and freedom, but you cant have either if you are afraid, afraid about the cost of living or accessing healthcare, or whether the responsibility you shoulder will be recognised and rewarded, that fear steals the future and it only makes the present matter, and that is why we lost.
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A member of a Virginia school board who bragged about drinking beer inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot will spend 12 days behind bars for storming the halls of Congress.

Miles Adkins, 39, has pleaded guilty to two federal misdemeanors in connection with the riot and has been sentenced to 12 days in prison  only to be served on weekends  plus two years of probation and fines and restitution.

Despite his guilty plea, Adkins told NBC News4 that he refuses to capitulate to the demands of community members who want him to step down from his position on the Frederick County Public Schools board.

You're gonna need a bigger wrecking ball to get me out of there, he told a reporter.

During the trial, Adkins defense attorney argued that his client was simply duped by the messaging of conservative media and former President Donald Trump, thus absolving him of responsibility for storming the Capitol to disrupt the peaceful transition of power.

Miles Adkins, Frederick County Public Schools board member, just after his July 2024 sentencing for his role in the Capitol riot ( screengrab/NBC News4 )

Not only was Adkins one of the first people to illegally enter the Capitol, but he also drank beer and whiskey inside and helped others break into the federal building, investigators said. At one point he shouted: Lets go get a beer, lets go get a beer.

I drank fireball and coors lite in the capitol, Adkins later bragged in a social media post, according to an affidavit.

The judge noted during the sentencing that it wasnt Adkins first time on the wrong side of the law; he also had previous charges for DUI and a hit-and-run.

Bryan Nuri, a community activist who also spoke to NBC News4, questioned what kind of message it sends to children in Adkins district when hes allowed to remain in a prominent position despite his criminal history.

He and other parents have called for him to step down.

Were asking him to resign because he is really damaging the integrity of our basic functions as community members and as an elected official, Nuri said.

Under Virginia law, a school board member can be removed if they have been convicted of a felony.

While some members of the community pushed for his resignation, most of the school board has kept quiet about their colleague and have provided no indication they plan to hold him accountable for his actions, The Winchester Star reports.

"We are aware of the courts decision to sentence Mr Adkins," a joint statement from the school board, released after his sentencing, said. "However, our focus will stay where it needs to: on the children in our county. We will continue to make decisions that serve in the best interests of our students while working to ensure that the educational environment in our schools is not disrupted by these events."

Even if the board members wanted to remove Adkins, they do not have that authority; only members of the Shawnee community, which Adkins represents, can vote to remove him.
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A Houston man has been sentenced to serve two life terms in prison this week for severely abusing two small children over the course of two years, including a multitude of horrific acts such as withholding food because it makes the children have to poop.

Victor Prado, 45, has been convicted after being accused of beating two small children, restraining them with zip ties, and withholding food from them in 2019 and 2020, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a news release on Prados sentencing.

Our children are our most valuable resource and our most vulnerable victims, Ogg said. This man intentionally tortured two little kids, and now, hopefully, he will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Prado worked in a southwest Houston commercial office building as the owner of a moving company.

He was dating a woman who was the mother to a three-year-old and a four-year-old, and Prado let them live in the building.

A witness told police that the building was for commercial use and was not suited for children, as it was not equipped with a kitchen or shower.

The witness, who filed a complaint with child protective services earlier that month, said she had previously seen the couple leaving the office building at night without the children and would also sometimes hear the victims screaming at night, according to an affidavit obtained by Law & Crime.

The witness said that on one particular occasion, the (Prado and the mother) left music blaring inside the office, and she said that (the children) were left inside and tied up, the affidavit reportedly stated.

The witness, who noticed that the children looked like they were being starved, said she spoke to Prado about why he had not been feeding the young children, to which he allegedly replied because it makes the children have to poop, the affidavit said.

The now-convicted man was supposed to watch these children while their mother went to work. However, in May 2020, the two children were removed from their mothers custody by child protective services while they were investigating allegations about the children and took them to Texas Childrens Hospital.

The four-year-old boy was found to be 32 pounds by the time he was taken into child protective services ( Harris County District Attorneys Office )

At a trial later on that lasted six days, jurors heard evidence that the young four-year-old boy was severely malnourished and weighed only 32 pounds, with medical personnel also testifying that the young boy looked like a skeleton.

The boy had multiple broken bones in various stages of healing and permanent brain-tissue loss, the district attorneys office said.

The young girl also had allegedly been beaten, according to trial witnesses and had several blunt-force trauma injuries, including broken ribs, severe intestinal injury, as well as bed sores, the authorities said.

Both the three and four-year-old had a broken pelvis that the district attorneys office said was an injury that is typically seen only in children who are in car crashes.

On top of all of this horrific detail, the children also had ligature marks on their hands, wrists, ankles and feet that left permanent scars.

Doctors who examined the children had concluded that their injuries were classified as child torture.

Prado was subsequently convicted on two counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony.

At a time in their lives when they should have been shown love and affection, these two children were shown violence and fear  theyve lost their innocence, said the assistant district attorney Ashlea Sheridan, who is a chief in the DAs Juvenile Division and prosecuted Prado.

They will have to live the rest of their lives with the effects of what this man did to them, and so should he.

Danielle Oxford, a chief in the DAs Crimes Against Children Division, also prosecuted Prado.

Prados two life sentences will run concurrently and he must serve at least 30 years in prison before he will be eligible for parole.
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An 81-year-old woman has been sentenced to life in prison for the cold-blooded murder of her romantic rival almost four decades ago  and says she can finally retire and not worry about it.

According to court documents, Mary Jo Bailey of Polk County, Wisconsin, had unwittingly been involved in a love triangle for years. While dating Bailey  who formerly had the surname Lunsmann  boyfriend Jack Owen also courted Yvonne Carol Menke, a 45-year-old mother-of-four.

Warming her car up before work in the frosty, early hours of December 12, 1985, Menke was shot dead after sustaining three gunshot wounds  one in the neck and two in the back of the skull. One of Menkes daughters spotted the shooter quickly fleeing the scene.

Nearly 40 years later, Bailey was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment at the Polk County Courthouse on Tuesday. The pensioner was, however, granted the possibility of parole in just over 19 years due to an archaic state law from the date the murder took place.

I think it needs to be said how brutal and how horrific this crime was. And cold-blooded, Judge Scott Nordstrand who presided over the case said.

Yvonne Menke was murdered in December 1985 by a romantic rival, Mary Jo Bailey ( Polk County Circuit Court )

Other than her lack of denial, Ms Bailey has not admitted what she did, she has not taken accountability for her actions, she has shown no remorse, he added.

The case sat cold until Lieutenant Andrew Vitalis of Polk Countys Sheriffs Office and Mark Biller, liaison deputy at Polk County Investigations, began investigating the case in 2021 as a criminal complaint confirming the love triangle.

Evidence from the trial showed that Baileys boots closely matched the footprints left in the snow. A note was found in Menkes purse with the perpetrators car information, the court heard.

Additionally, Menkes family claimed that they received repeated phone calls from an anonymous woman who inquired about what time Menke left for work in the morning.

Other than her lack of denial, Ms Bailey has not admitted what she did, she has not taken accountability for her actions, she has shown no remorse, said assistant district attorney Holly Wood-Webster, as reported by the Osceola Sun.

After Bailey was convicted, Wood-Webster said that she told the bailiff she could now retire and not worry about it.

Three of Menkes children provided statements before Baileys sentencing including Julie Connors, who was just 20 years old at the time of her mothers death.

You waited in a dark stairwell to maliciously murder my mom. You sentenced us to a life filled with pain, sadness, and hurt, she said.
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A neo-Nazi has been convicted of murder and hate crime charges for fatally stabbing a gay 19-year-old classmate he met for a hookup.

A California jury gave its verdict against Samuel Woodward on Wednesday after one day of deliberation. Woodward was convicted for the first-degree murder of Blaze Bernstein in 2018. He now faces a sentence of life in prison without parole.

People in the gallery cheered as the verdict was read while Bernstein sat motionless during the reading, his face hidden from cameras by his long hair.

Bernstein, a Jewish teen, was found stabbed 20 times in a California park in 2018. The defense did not contest the killing but said it was not the result of hate.

Woodward - who grew up in a conservative, religious family - had met Bernstein on Tinder and they agreed to meet up.

At that point, he pretty much said, Dont worry, I get it, completely understand, Woodward previously testified during the trial. He also admitted he made the first move.

Samuel Woodward was convicted of first-degree murder for killing Blaze Bernstein in 2018 after they agreed to meet for a hookup (  2024, Orange County Register/SCNG )

Im pretty sure I said we should hang out at some point  and he said he was actually free (that) night, right now, the 26-year-old said. He said something else that was basically an offer to if I wanted to come over. At that point, I said Alright, cool.

The two were students at the Orange County School of the Arts. Before that, Bernstein was a briefly a student at the University of Pennsylvania to study pre-med. Woodward had dropped out of college and went to Texas. There, he met with a Neo-Nazi extremist group Atomwaffen Division before moving back to his California parents home.

Woodward testified there were moments in his life when he felt he did not have friends, and mostly, the only communication he had with other people was while talking online.

I had been looking for people for a long time to spend time with or talk to, Woodward said, according to the Orange County Register.

Screenshots of the online conversations between Woodward and Bernstein were shown during the trial, relaying how the pair had connected over the internet months before Bernstein had died, the outlet reported.

Woodward told the court that he picked up Blaze from home and they went to the park, where the 19-year-old was later found dead.

The defense argued that a long-undiagnosed autism spectrum condition meant Woodward had challenges in relationships with others and was confused by his own sexuality, especially due to growing up in an environment where his father criticized homosexuality openly.

Bernstein was found dead in a California park in 2018. Now, his killer faces a sentence of life in prison without parole ( Facebook )

Woodwards attorney also argued the narrative surrounding his client that has been put forward is flawed.

There is this narrative thats been pushed: Nazi kills gay Jew. From the defense perspective, thats inaccurate, attorney Ken Morrison told the judge during a hearing leading up to the trial, the Los Angeles Times reported.

It took years for the case to go to trial due to questions surrounding Woodwards mental state until he was deemed competent to stand trial in late 2022. The trial started in late April and is currently 28 days into the proceedings and three days into Woodwards testimony.

Authorities connected Woodward to the crime after Bernsteins family looked over his social media and saw he allegedly had contact with Woodward on social media.

Upon searching Woodwards family home, the authorities allegedly found a folding knife with a bloodied blade in his room, along with a black Atomwaffen mask that had traces of blood on it.
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A female tourist visiting California from New Zealand was killed in a botched robbery escape attempt, according to police.

The 68-year-old victim, Patricia McKay, was hit by a car driven by individuals who had allegedly tried to rob her at Newport Beachs upscale Fashion Island mall, ABC7 reports.

Police identified the suspects in the robbery and subsequent killing as Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster, Malachi Eddward Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, and Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 26, of Compton, according to the Newport Beach Police Department.

All of the suspects were arrested and booked on suspicion of homicide, robbery with a firearm, and conspiracy.

The incident occurred on Tuesday around 3.30pm just outside the Fashion Island Barnes and Noble bookstore in Orange County.

Newport Beach police block access to a street where a 68-year-old woman from New Zealand was killed after she was hit by a car driven by suspects who tried to rob her at the Fashion Island mall in July 2024 ( screengrab/KTLA5 )

McKay was walking with her husband when two of the suspects allegedly approached the couple and tried to rob them. A struggle ensued, and one of the suspects allegedly grabbed McKay and dragged her into the street, police said.

The suspects then allegedly tried to flee the scene in a Toyota Camry, at which time police say they ran into the victim, hitting her in her head.

"One of the suspects ran while the vehicle fled and actually struck the female victim," Newport Beach Police Spokesman Steve Oberon told the broadcaster. "The male suspect that ran got back into the vehicle, at which point some rounds were fired from a handgun and the vehicle fled the scene."

All three suspects were taken into custody after a brief police pursuit.

McKay's husband was not injured in the incident, according to Oberon. The officer called McKay's death a "tragic loss."

Will O'Neill, the mayor of Newport Beach, called the suspects "creeps" during a press conference about the fatal incident, and said they "came into our city, knowing they were going to commit crime, and a woman is dead today because of it."

Newport Beach police arrest one of three suspects believed to have attempted to rob a 68-year-old woman at the Fashion Island mall before fatally hitting her with a car while fleeing the scene ( screengrab/KTLA5 )

"Newport Beach is a safe community and we're mourning the loss of someone,'' he said. "Frankly, to hell with these guys ... These are thugs," he said. "Every community is now dealing with this. We have to do better as a society. We cannot tolerate this.''

He said that despite the death, the mall's security was "phenomenal" and was a safe place for people to visit.

"Frankly, I would have no problem coming back here with my family,'' he said.

There was some initial confusion on the day of the incident; stores in the mall went into lockdown after bystanders reported a shooter in the vicinity.
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A teenage girl was tragically murdered following a shooting near the food court of a shopping center in Washington, police have said.

Jayden Woods Johnson, 13, was shot and killed when violence broke out at the Alderwood Mall, in Lynwood.

Police responded to the incident shortly after 7.30pm local time on Wednesday, asking members of the public to avoid the area.

Two groups of teenagers were in an altercation near the food court around 6 pm when someone fired a gun, hitting the girl, Lynwood Police Deputy Chief Patrick Fagan later told reporters.

It is believed that the youngster was an innocent bystander and was caught in the crossfire when the shooting started.

Jayden Woods Johnson, 13, was shot and killed during the incident near the food court of the Alderwood Mall, in Lynwood, Washington ( Lynwood Police Department/ X )

Lynwood Police Department released images of the suspect, wearing a white sweatshirt, and later said that he was in custody.

The 16-year-old boy, from Edmons, was brought in by his mother, a statement from the department said.

The teenager is in custody and will be charged with murder. As of Wednesday night, the gun had not been recovered by detectives.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. Detectives have asked that anyone who witnessed the altercation near the food court, or with any further information, to come forward.

The family of Woods-Johnson has requested privacy at this time and asked that all media contact go through the Lynnwood Police Department.

A photo of the suspect in the mall shooting was released by police, and the 16-year-old was later brought in by his own mother ( Lynwood Police Department/ X )

The mall is a place for the whole community to gather this is really an altercation between two groups, Deputy Chief Fagan told reporters, adding it was frustrating for the whole community. He expressed his condolences to the teenagers family.

The Alderwood Mall remained closed following the incident.

A spokesperson for the malls owner, Brookfield Properties, said the company was grateful to its security team and the police "for their quick response and leadership during this difficult time."

"We are completely devastated by the senseless, horrific tragedy that happened in our shopping center," the spokesperson said in a statement shared with ABC.

"Our thoughts are with the victims family and friends during this unimaginable time. In observance and respect for them and our entire community, Alderwood will remain closed today."
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Park rangers shot and killed a gunman whod fired at them after making threats in Yellowstone National Park early Thursday morning.

The shooting happened after rangers received reports of a person with a gun making threats, the National Parks Service (NPS) said in a statement. When the officers arrived, the unnamed person shot at them and they fired back, according to the NPS. The shooter injured one officer before the rangers fatally shot him.

The officer who was shot is in stable condition at a local Wyoming hospital, the NPS said on Thursday afternoon.

The unidentified gunman was shot and killed by park rangers near Yellowstones Canyon Village, pictured, on Thursday ( Google Maps )

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now investigating, the NPS said. The shooting happened in Yellowstones Canyon Village, a cluster of lodges for visitors, which is currently closed as officers look into the incident.

There is no longer any danger to visitors, the NPS said.

Earlier this year, Yellowstone rangers had to step in when a reportedly drunk tourist harassed a group of bison and kicked one of the animals in the leg.

Rangers arrested 40-year-old Clarence Yoder for attacking the animal. They said he sustained minor injuries from the encounter with the bison. He was charged with intoxication, disorderly conduct, and approaching and disturbing wildlife.

Park rangers say 40-year-old Clarence Yoder harrassed a group of bison, kicking one of the animals in the leg ( NPS / Jacob W. Frank )

Rangers also arrested the man driving the car Yoder was found in. They charged the driver with driving under the influence, failing to yield to a police car and disturbing wildlife.

The men, who were both from Idaho, pleaded not guilty.
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A two-year-old child in Georgia died after being found inside a hot car, but police say that they are yet to find any evidence that the young child was left inside the vehicle.

Cobb County Police say the toddler was found unresponsive in a parked vehicle in Marietta, which is around an hour outside of Atlanta, around 5.36pm on Tuesday.

First responders arrived at the home and rushed the child to a hospital by ambulance, where he was pronounced dead.

Despite being found in a car, the local police have stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the child was left inside the vehicle, adding that no criminal charges have been filed at this time.

Sergeant Eric Smith, with the Cobb County Police, said at a press conference on Wednesday that police have yet to determine how long the child was inside the car or how he ended up there.

Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer also described the death as a hot car incident.

Kids and Car Safety, an organization that raises awareness of saving the lives of children and pets in and around vehicles, listed the incident as the sixth hot car death to occur this year in the United States.

Smith also added that the temperature on Tuesday was ambient and in the 90s, but it is currently unclear what the temperature was in the car at the time of death.

Chief VanHoozer told reporters that the investigation is in its preliminary stages and asked the community to give the family their grace and support.

"I would ask just for support right now [so] we have time to sort out the facts of this case," VanHoozer said. "And we will do what is right, but we dont know right now whether or not criminal charges are warranted or whether or not outrage is warranted. But we do know that support is warranted."

My only role today really is to extend our sympathies to the family and the friends and the neighbors and all those who were affected by this tragedy, he added. We need some time to sort this out before we really know what happened.

News reporters with WANF went to the childs home on Wednesday, where they found the family outside on the porch.

The family reported that the child did live at the home and said that the death was an accident.

VanHoozer also urged the public to "really, really, really be careful in this heat."

On average, 37 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left inside a vehicle, with nearly every state experiencing at least one death since 1998.

In 2024, there have been six deaths reported after being left in a hot vehicle, according to the National Safety Council.

One of the first incidents occurred in South Carolina on May 4, when a three-year-old girl managed to open the door of an inoperable car and climbed inside the hot car, dying as a result.

In another more recent incident, a mother was charged with involuntary manslaughter in North Carolina in late June after her eight-year-old daughter was pronounced dead after she was allegedly left in a vehicle in hot weather conditions and suffered a medical emergency, ABC reports.

An investigation is also currently underway for a possible seventh case in Texas after a four-year-old girl was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being left in a vehicle unattended on Wednesday evening, Houston Police say.
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Hurricane Beryl has made landfall in Mexico after tearing through Jamaica and the Windward Islands, bringing devastating winds and storm surges that have destroyed homes, wiped out power, and left at least 10 people dead.

The storm has weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane after it is now packing maximum sustained winds of 100mph (160km/h), yet the National Hurricane Center said it could reintensify once Beryl moves back over the Gulf of Mexico.

Follow our live coverage of Hurricane Beryl here.

Beryl has so far charted a deadly path through Jamaica, Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines, destroying buildings and killing at least 10, including one in Jamaica and three in Venezuela where outer rings of the hurricane caused heavy rainfall.

On Thursday, Hurricane Beryl struck the Cayman Islands as a Category 3 hurricane, sustaining winds near 120mph (195km/h), spurring on large evacuations ahead of the impact.

Beryl is forecast to rapidly weaken as the hurricane moves farther inland and crosses the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday but is expected to slowly reintensify once the storm moves back over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has warned that Beryl would make a direct hit on Tulum, urging tourists and residents to seek higher ground, shelter, or homes of family and friends elsewhere.

Dont hesitate, material possessions can be replaced, the president wrote.

Storm shelters were opened, and tourist resorts prepared for the strong winds, as authorities also taped off beaches and thousands of troops were deployed ahead of Beryl.

Officials in Mexico warned the storm could make a rare double strike.

Map shows Hurricane Beryl reaching the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday morning ( NHC )

Ms 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.

Map shows arrival time of tropical storm force winds ( NHC )

Beryl is expected to emerge over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico on Friday night, before moving northwestward toward northeastern Mexico and southern Texas by the end of the weekend, forecasters predict.

Earlier, Beryl beat records, first becoming the earliest Category 4 hurricane and later the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic.

AccuWeather forecast for path of Hurricane Beryl as makes landfall in Mexico ( AccuWeather )

Officials in the Windward Islands, where Beryl first made landfall received widespread reports of destruction and devastation in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, Grenada prime minister Dickon Mitchell said.

In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened.

A total of eight deaths have been confirmed, with Jamaica confirming the first death on Thursday and four dead in the Windward islands, including one person who was killed in Grenadas capital St Georges, when a tree fell on a house.

Three deaths were reported in Venezuela where rainfall from outer rings of Hurricane Beryl caused flooding and landslides.

We do hope there arent any other fatalities or any injuries, said Mitchell. But bear in mind the challenge we have in Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

This satellite image obtained from the NOAA shows Hurricane Beryl on July 4, 2024, at 15:10:22 GMT, heading to Mexico ( NOAA/RAMMB/AFP via Getty Images )

Authorities were scrambling to assess the situation on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where there were initial reports of major damage but communications remained a challenge, he said.

On the Grenadines Union Island around 90 per cent of homes have been damaged or destroyed, he said.

Through Friday Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of four to six inches, with localized amounts of 10 inches, across the Yucatan Peninsula ( NHC )

Beryl is now only the second storm on record to reach the intensity of Category 5 in July after Emily did so in mid-July 2005.

Earlier on Sunday, it became the earliest storm to reach Category 4 and the first ever to do so in June.

The hurricane was downgraded Sunday evening to a Category 3, but picked up power and speed over warm ocean water and was upgraded to Category 4 on Monday morning.

Map shows warnings and forecast for Hurricane Beryl ( NHC )

With the hurricane hitting St Vincent and the Grenadines over the carnival weekend, on Sunday prime minister Ralph Gonsalves urged residents to postpone their festivities and prepare for Beryl to hit.

According to Loop News, Mr Gonsalves has already ordered the early closure of bars and postponed some carnival events.

Airports were also shuttered in Barbados, Grenada, and St Lucia on Sunday night in preparation for the storm. However, Grenadas Maurice Bishop International Airport reopened on Tuesday.

Before and after images show widespread devastation caused by Beryl in Grenada's Petite Martinique and St Vincent and the Grenadines Petit St Vincent island ( Satellite Image 2024 Maxar Technologies )

After making landfall in Mexico, Beryl is forecast to weaken. However, a computer model of Hurricane Beryls many possible paths, known as a spaghetti model, showed the direction the destructive storm could take as it moved towards the southeastern US in bathtub-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The model showed the storm potentially blowing into the Gulf Coast, near eastern Texas and Louisiana.

Global heating, caused by burning coal, oil and gas, has been increasing temperatures on land and the ocean. Warmer ocean waters fuel hurricanes. In the area where Beryl is located, ocean temperatures are two to three degrees above normal for this time of the year, the levels that arent typically seen until September.
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Travelers at Miami International Airport on July 4 saw more bright green than red, white, and blue as a mysterious liquid flooded the facilitys Concourse G.

The lime-green substance came gushing out of a broken pipe and was not hazardous, the Florida airport said on X after the incident.

Crews were immediately dispatched to investigate and it was determined that the liquid from the leak was not hazardous, the airports post read. Cleanup efforts were completed within 90 minutes.

It was later revealed the liquid was just water with green dye, Greg Chin, communications director for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, told NBC News.

The liquid was water from the AC system with a green dye in it so if there is ever a leak it can traced to its source, Chin said.

Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4 ( Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4 )

This Independence Day is expected to break travel records, with 71 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this week, the American Automobile Association estimates.

Some 4 million of those travelers are expected to come from Florida.

In April, a passenger at the same airport was stopped by security after they discovered he had snakes hidden in his pants.

Two small, pink snakes were retrieved from a camouflage bag that was hidden down the passengers trousers at Miami International Airport, and turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ( @TSA_Gulf/ X )

Pictures shared by the Transportation Security Administration showed the two small, pink snakes they discovered. The man admitted to harboring them during a pat down.

The snakes were safely turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
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A hacker gained access to the internal messaging systems of artificial intelligence developer OpenAI and stole details of its technologies, it has been revealed.

The data breach occurred earlier this year, though the company chose not to make it public or inform authorities because it did not consider the incident a threat to national security.

Sources close to the matter told The New York Times, that the hacker lifted details of the AI technologies from discussions in an online forum where employees talked about OpenAIs latest technologies.

They did not, however, get into the systems where the company houses and builds its artificial intelligence, the sources said.

OpenAI executives revealed the incident to employees during a meeting at the companys San Francisco offices in April 2023. The board of directors was also informed.

However, the sources told the newspaper that executives decided not to share the news publicly because no information about customers or partners had been stolen.

The incident was not considered a threat to national security because they believed the hacker was a private individual with no known ties to a foreign government. As such, the OpenAI bosses allegedly did not inform the FBI or other law enforcement.

The data breach occurred earlier this year, though OpenAI chose not make it public or inform authorities because it did not consider the incident a threat to national security. ( Getty Images )

But for some employees, The Times reported, the news raised fears that foreign adversaries such as China could steal AI technology that could eventually endanger US national security.

It also led to questions about how seriously OpenAI was treating security, and exposed fractures inside the company about the risks of artificial intelligence.

After the breach, Leopold Aschenbrenner, an OpenAI technical program manager, focused on ensuring that future AI technologies do not cause serious harm, sent a memo to the companys board of directors.

Aschenbrenner argued that the company was not doing enough to prevent the Chinese government and other foreign adversaries from stealing its secrets.

He also said OpenAIs security wasnt strong enough to protect against the theft of key secrets if foreign actors were to infiltrate the company.

Aschenbrenner later alleged that OpenAI had fired him this spring for leaking other information outside the company and argued that his dismissal had been politically motivated. He alluded to the breach on a recent podcast, but details of the incident have not been previously reported.

We appreciate the concerns Leopold raised while at OpenAI, and this did not lead to his separation, an OpenAI spokeswoman, Liz Bourgeois, told The New York Times.

While we share his commitment to building safe AGI, we disagree with many of the claims he has since made about our work.

This includes his characterizations of our security, notably this incident, which we addressed and shared with our board before he joined the company.
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A US Navy veteran who has lived in America for more than seven decades says it now feels like his country doesnt want him after his citizenship was challenged by authorities in Tennessee.

As the nation celebrates Independence Day on July 4, David OConnor is locked in a battle with the state DMV, which has taken away his license after claiming he could not prove he was a US citizen.

The 77-year-old has been a professional truck operator for the last 61 years and has held drivers licenses in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, according to NewsChannel5.

He also got a license eight years ago when he moved to Tennessee. According to OConnor, last month the state canceled his license.

"They told me I shouldnt have had the license in the first place cause I couldnt prove that I was a citizen," OConnor told NewsChannel5.

David OConnor, 77, has had his drivers license taken off him in Tennessee, after state authorities said he could not prove his US citizenship ( NewsChannel5 )

Both of OConnors parents are US citizens but were briefly living in Canada when he was born, meaning he has a Canadian birth certificate. When OConnor went to the Driver Service Center in McMinn County to renew his license and get a Real ID, the certificate was rejected.

"They said, No, thats no good. We shouldnt have given you the license in the first place," OConnor recalled.They just canceled my license right then and there."

He says he is now being made to jump through multiple hoops to prove his citizenship.

"Ive been here for 77 years," OConnor told the outlet. "None of this makes any sense to me."

At the age of 17, OConnor enlisted in the US Navy, where he served for four years as a sonar technician. As well as his parents US citizenship, his military discharge forms also list him as American.

He also has a social security card, gets retirement benefits, and votes every year.

Despite this, without approval and a license from the state, the Navy veteran can no longer drive, cannot get on a plane, and wont be able to vote in the upcoming elections in November.

"Its like your country dont want you. Ive tried to do things the right way all my life. And now its like Im nothing," he told NewsChannel5.

The OConnors were supposed to visit family earlier in Vermont, but without a drivers license, he couldnt fly there. Ultimately, OConnor had to cancel his airline ticket and have his son drive them there.

His wife, Jean OConnor said she was flabbergasted and outraged by the situation.

"It just blows my mind," she told NewsChannel5. "I am flabbergasted. I am outraged that, at 77 years old, he is now considered a non-citizen by the country that he has lived in his whole life.

Social media users were also quick to react to the story, calling the treatment of OConnor messed up and ridiculous.

What a shame they are treating him this way. Hope he gets this straightened out soon. Hate to see a veteran treated this way, one user wrote. This is Insanity. Who makes these asinine decisions? added another.

The Independent has reached out to the Tennessee DMV for comment on the situation with OConnors license.
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Billionaire Democratic donor and Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings has called for Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race after his dismal debate showing against Donald Trump last week.

In what marks a major blow to his reelection campaign, Hastings, 63, has became one of the partys first, and most pivotal, benefactors to call on the 81-year-old president to step aside.

The entrepreneur, who has an estimated net worth of $4.8bn, told The New York Times: Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous.

Hastings, who co-founded the streaming giant in 1997, and his wife Patty Quillin have donated more than $20m to the Democrats in recent years, including $1.5m to Biden in his 2020 bid for office.

Hastings and Quillin also donated $100,000 last year toward Bidens 2024 presidential run.

Now, the major donors funding looks set to dry up.

Calls are growing for Biden to step aside after he lost his train of thought and, at points, froze up completely on CNNs debate stage in Georgia, Alabama, last Thursday.

President Joe Biden looks on during his debate with Donald Trump in June 2024 ( AFP via Getty Images )

One in three Democrats now believe Biden should quit the race, according to a poll commissioned by Reuters on Wednesday.

Some polls have also tipped further in favor of Donald Trump, who has now taken a six-point lead over the Democrat presidential candidate.

As of Thursday, three senior Democrats had publicly urged Biden to give up his Democratic ticket or warned he will lose in November.

Despite this, the White House has denied reports that Democratic party donors and members are urging him to stand down behind closed doors and, in public comments, Biden has vowed to stay in the race.

The president and his aides have also sought to share a litany of excuses for his poor debate performance ranging from suffering from a cold to jet lag.

Yet, Reid Hoffman, another of the Democrats loyal megadonors, continued to staunchly back Biden in an email sent to his network.

In the note shared on X by The New York Times reporter Teddy Schleifer, Hoffman wrote it was counterproductive to be musing on Bidens flaws and that they should revert their energies to Trumps flaws.
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President Joe Biden reportedly told a group of Democratic governors on Wednesday that he needs more sleep, wants to wrap up his days by 8 p.m., and joked that while his health is in good shape, its just my brain.

The president also revealed that he had a brief medical check-up after last weeks debate  shortly after the White House told reporters that Biden had not seen a doctor since.

A group of 20 governors met with Biden at the White House on Wednesday night as mounting concerns about his mental fitness have followed a faltering performance at his first debate against Donald Trump, which the president blamed on both a cold and jet lag.

At least three sitting Democratic members of Congress have either publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race for the White House, as polling tips in favor of Bidens criminally convicted and twice-impeached Republican rival.

During Wednesdays meeting, which lasted an hour, the president declared that he was in good health following his medical appointment, two people who attended the meeting told Politico. The statement was preceded by Biden visibly knocking on wood, they said.

He told the governors that he needs to work fewer hours, including ending a busy schedule by 8 p.m. each day, according to The New York Times, citing people who participated in the meeting and others briefed on his remarks.

Biden insisted that his health was fine, its just my brain, he said, according toThe Times.

Campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon, who attended the meeting, said in a statement to the newspaper that he had said all kidding aside and that he was clearly making a joke.

President Joe Biden looks on during his debate with Donald Trump in June ( AFP via Getty )

A statement from the campaign said the president reiterated his determination to defeat the existential threat of Trumps return to the White House, and Biden sought the advice and expertise of Democratic governors during the meeting.

After the meeting, governors touted their support for the president.

Were working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority and thats the No. 1 priority of the president, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday.

The feedback was good. The conversation was honest, he added.

I heard three words from the president tonight  hes all in, and so am I, Governor Gavin Newsom said on X. Joe Bidens had our back. Now its time to have his.

Democratic governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota speak to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden on July 3. ( Getty Images )

Biden reportedly had a brief, non-exhaustive check-up days after the debate due to his cold symptoms. There were no major tests.

That revelation came just hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that insisted that Biden merely had a cold and had not seen a doctor since the debate when facing questions about whether the president had been examined by medical professionals since last weeks debate.

The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report, she said. Were going to continue to do that.

On Tuesday, Jean-Pierre denied that the president has any form of degenerative brain disease, adding that she hoped the same question would be put forward to Trumps campaign.

Jean-Pierre attested that Biden did not have a great night on the evening that he took on Trump in Atlanta, adding the caveat that he knows how to deliver for the American people.

The sentiment has been echoed by first lady Jill Biden, who after the debate told Vogue that those 90 minutes should not define the four years hes been president.

Wednesdays meeting marked Bidens latest effort to prove to his divided Democrat camp that he is fighting fit and ready for another four years in office.

Hours before his health update, the president joined a Zoom video call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff, pledging that no ones pushing me out.

ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is scheduled to interview Biden at 8 p.m. ET on Friday.
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Democratic governors say Joe Biden pledged to continue his presidential campaign during a Wednesday evening meeting - as the president looks to control the fallout from his disastrous debate performance.

Rumors have spread not only about Bidens mental fitness at 81 years old and whether he can serve another four years but over his desire to remain in the race against Donald Trump.

Biden and his camp have denied he is stepping aside - despite calls for him to bow out - and it was something the president reiterated to the governors.

President Joe Biden is in it to win it, and all of us said we pledged our support to him. New Yorks Kathy Hochul told reporters outside the White House, according to the New York Times.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (center), standing with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (right), spoke with reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden. The three were some of the Democratic governors who spoke to the president and pledged their support ( AP )

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he believed the president was fit for office, while also admitting that the presidents debate performance was bad.

Governors who spoke to the press said that they had an honest conversation with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris. Governor Josh Green of Hawaii said told the Times that the president admitted he was exhausted on the day of the debate.

However, Green said, the president was clear and focused during Wednesdays meeting. He added that people will need to see the president in person and on TV to be convinced he is up to four more years.

I think we came in and we were honest about the feedback that we were getting, we were honest about the concerns that we were hearing from people and we were also honest about the fact that as the president continues to tell us and show us that he was all in, that we said that we would stand with him, Marylands Wes Moore said, The Washington Post noted.

Governors who spoke to the press said that they had an honest conversation with the president and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wedneday evening ( EPA )

The governors stressed they are looking for ways to defeat Trump in November.

They described Trump as dangerous for the US and praised Bidens work during his first term.

I heard three words from the president: hes all in, California Governor Gavin Newsom posted on social media. "And so am I. Joe Bidens had our back. Now its time to have his.
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Senior Democrats are in panic mode as Joe Biden insisted he would not abandon his presidential re-election campaign despite serious concerns growing over his mental fitness for office.

Anonymous lawmakers described the situation facing Biden and the Democratic party in a pointed interview with Politico.

Everybody wants him to quit. Theres a sense of despair, the unnamed lawmaker told the outlet. I think people dont understand how we get out of this hole. And were hurtling toward losing to Trump.

All my text chains in Congress go from a dark humor to lets take action.  I dont find any discernible group of people who actually believe were going to win with Joe Biden.

Pressure on Biden to step down from the campaign has intensified in recent days, following his disastrous performance in last Thursdays debate against Donald Trump, in which he spoke in a raspy voice and appeared, on multiple occasions, to lose his train of thought.

Despite this, the embattled president has been firm with his determination to stay in the race, reportedly telling staff during a call on Wednesday: I am running.

No ones pushing me out, he said. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

Pressure on Biden to step down from his re-election campaign have intensified in recent days, following his disastrous performance in last Thursdays debate against Donald Trump ( Getty Images )

However, sources told The Independent that campaign staffers are preparing to shift their focus to elevating, then electing, Vice President Kamala Harris, instead of Biden.

Several prominent Democrats have also voiced their concerns publicly, including Texas representative Lloyd Doggett and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said on Tuesday it was legitimate to question the presidents faculties.

Politico reported that behind the scenes, things were even worse: Everybodys in panic mode, and I dont even know what to say, one senior Democratic House lawmaker told the outlet.

However, members of the party are divided on how to move forward, with some waiting for clearer polling or further discussion with colleagues and advisors.

The House will return from its July 4 recess on Monday, when members will gather, increasing the likelihood of collective action. Until then Politico reports, members will be forced to privately discuss their courses of action in group chats and phone calls.

Another aspect of major concern for many Democrats has been the presidents teams attempts at damage control, with dismissals, excuses, and rebukes from official White House spokespeople.

Sources told The Independent that campaign staffers are preparing to shift their focus to elevating, then electing, Vice President Kamala Harris, instead of Biden ( AP )

Bidens surrogates calling all of us bedwetters is backfiring more than helping, one Democrat said.

It comes amid fallout from a New York Times article, published on Wednesday, in which a key ally to the president said he had admitted he would have to end his re-election campaign if he could not convince voters that he was up for the job and that his next several crucial public appearances could shape his plans for 2024.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told The Independent that the claims in the article were absolutely false and that the Times had not given the administration enough time to respond.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spent much of her daily press briefing telling reporters that it was Bidens intention to stay in.

Biden is scheduled for an interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos on Friday followed by campaign stops in critical swing states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
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As confidence in Joe Bidens ability to lead the country wanes among both Democrats and the public, the president has a ballast behind-the-scenes attempting to keep his re-election bid on course: Jill Biden.

Bidens disastrous performance at the first debate of the 2024 election against Donald Trump thrust his mental fitness into the limelight. Within the past week, three senior Democrats have either publicly called on the president to stand aside or announced he would lose the election, and Trump now has a six-point lead in the latest The Wall Street Journal poll.

The 73-year-old first lady, however, has publicly painted a rosy picture of her husbands performance. Joe you did such a great job, Dr. Biden proclaimed in the immediate aftermath last Thursday, before adding: You answered every question!

In the days since, she has remained steadfast  both in public and in private  in her belief that he should remain in the race.

[We] will not let those 90 minutes define the four years hes been president, Biden told Vogue after reflecting on the debate debacle.

By Tuesday, Dr. Biden was by the presidents side as he campaigned in Pennsylvania, smiling and engaging with the crowd, Rep Nanette Barragan told NBC News.

I couldnt see anything that would tell me that something was happening and something else was going on, she said in the aftermath of the debate.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden walk from Marine One to board Air Force One at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, New York ( AFP via Getty Images )

Democratic party strategist Hank Sheinkopf recently told the Guardian that the first lady is in the prime position to dissuade Biden from running due to health concerns.

Instead, she is steering her husband to act as a roadblock to prevent the chaos of another Trump presidency.

To the dismay of some Democrats, the first lady continues to spur the president to stay in the race. A person close to the family told CNN there is no change, since the debate, adding that the first lady is all in. The familys all in.

The educator is credited for stitching Bidens life back together after he lost his wife Neila Hunter Biden and daughter Naomi in a car crash in 1972. Youngest son Hunter quickly called her mom, he wrote in his memoir, Beautiful Things. She met the grieving then-Delaware senator on a blind date in 1975.

Almost five decades on, Biden remains smitten. My name is Joe Biden and Im Jills husband, he frequents at campaign rallies.

Along with being a bedrock of the presidents private life, the first lady remains the key person of influence outside of Bidens close-knit group of senior advisers.

She has been the most ardent and fervent supporter, campaigner, surrogate, defender, and protector than anyone around him, and clearly has tremendous influence, Anita McBride, former first lady Laura Bushs ex-chief of staff, told Reuters.

While his aides say we need this or we need that, Dr. Biden told NBC, she presents the worlds problems as stories.

I tell him what Im seeing, what Im hearing  and he gets it. And this is where the magic happens, she told Vogue.

First lady Jill Biden poses for photos with campaign volunteers and supporters at the Virginia Beach Democratic Coordinated Campaign Office on Thursday, June 27, 2024 ( AP )

The 2024 election marks the fourth time Dr. Biden has helped her husband campaign for the top job after losing to Michael Dukakis in 1987 and Barack Obama in 2008, before he took office in 2020.

She is now confronted with a difficult task: convincing disgruntled Democrats they should stand by her husband, declaring to group of party donors in New York on Saturday that hes the only person for the job.

On Sunday, Dr. Biden, Hunter and the presidents grandchildren convened at Camp David to further shift the blame away from the president, instead pointing the finger at his senior aides, a source told The New York Times.

The family is scared. These advisers are incredibly loyal and doing their jobs, a senior Democrat contested to NBC News on Thursday.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients also retorted that the president and first lady have full confidence in their team, he told the outlet. There is absolutely no truth to these unfounded and insulting rumors.

The first ladys staff have also been quick to quash puppeteering claims.

As much as any husband and wife team make decisions together that impact their lives, they absolutely do, but as shes said more times than I can count  politics is his lane, Elizabeth Alexander, Dr. Bidens communications director, told Reuters.
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President Joe Biden is in the fight for his political life, having acknowledged that the next few days are crucial to convincing the American public that hes the right person to lead the country for the next four years.

The crisis comes after Bidens dismal debate performance on June 27, when he appeared frail, his voice raspy, and during which he made several gaffes and appeared to lose his train of thought.

In public, he has insisted that hes still in the race and that hes confident that he can beat former president Donald Trump even as his predecessor is pulling away in poll after poll.

But theres precedent for declining to run for a second term and stepping aside. Most recently, and possibly most famously, back in 1968.

Lyndon B Johnson

Johnson took over as president in 1963 following the assassination of President John F Kennedy. Winning the 1964 election, Johnson went on to announce that he wasnt running for another term at the end of a speech about the war in Vietnam, which was tearing the country apart at the time.

On March 31, 1968, with the Democratic primary already underway, Johnson told the American people: With Americas sons in the fields far away, with Americas future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the worlds hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office  the presidency of your country.

He added: Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president.

Mark Updegrove, presidential historian and the CEO of the LBJ Foundation, told CNN in 2022 that theres a misconception that LBJ opted not to run again due solely to the growing controversy and divisions over the war in Vietnam. That may have been part of it, but his principal concern was his health.

He had had a nearly fatal heart attack in 1955, and his family had a history of fatal heart disease, Updegrove added. He didnt want to put the country through the kind of crisis we had gone through with the sudden death of FDR in 1945, and Woodrow Wilsons stroke in 1919, which left him incapacitated.

At the time of the speech, Johnson was almost 60 years old. At the age of 64 in 1973, he died of a heart attack.

Harry S Truman

US President Harry S Truman (1884-1972) signed the Foreign Aid Assistance Act in 1947 in Washington, DC, but chose not to run in the 1952 election ( Getty Images )

Taking over after the death of one of the most consequential presidents in American history  Franklin D Roosevelt  Truman led the US through the end of the Second World War, deciding to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and through the beginning of the Cold War.

After losing the New Hampshire Democratic primary, Truman announced in late March 1952 that he wouldnt run for what would in effect have been a third term.

I have served my country long, and I think effectively and honestly, he said.

The announcement came at a low point in his popularity, polling at 22 per cent in February of that year, Politico noted.

Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) was the 30th president of the United States of America. He declined to run for re-election in 1928 ( Getty Images )

Nicknamed Silent Cal, Coolidge was known for his few words. Ambiguously announcing his intention not to seek another term in August 1927, he issued slips of paper to the press with the statement I do not choose to run for president in 1928.

Coolidges presidency was marked by the Roaring Twenties as business boomed following the end of the First World War.

Coolidge, a vice president who took office after the death of President Warren G Harding in 1923, won the 1924 election and was considered to be able to win re-election in 1928, but had made it clear that he wasnt interested in staying in office.

Rutherford B Hayes

Rutherford B Hayes, the 19th US president, ran on reforming the civil service ( Getty Images )

Hayes became only the second president to win the Electoral College but lose the popular vote in 1876.

During the campaign, he promised to only serve one term in his letter accepting the Republican nomination, according to the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.

Hayes led a part of the party arguing for reforming the civil service to base it on merit rather than patronage. In that vein, he committed to only serve one term, lest patronage be used to secure his reelection, the center noted.

The 1876 election would go on to be one of the most contested and hostile elections up until that time and has been cited by Republicans challenging the results of the 2020 election.

James Buchanan

The 15th US president James Buchanan didnt run for re-election in 1860 ( Getty Images )

Buchanan came into office as the country was heading towards the Civil War, winning the 1856 election with a plurality of the popular vote.

He tried to avoid dealing with the issue of slavery during his presidency. The National Constitution Center noted that in his inaugural speech, he said that the issue of slavery in new territories was happily, a matter of but little practical importance."

The Dred Scott decision by the Supreme Court would a few days later further split the nation as it declared that Black people didnt have the rights of citizens.

Buchanan supported the rights of states to decide whether to allow slavery, doing little to resolve the issue.

It was clear by 1860 that Buchanan wasnt going to run for re-election, the center noted.

He appeared happy to leave the office. According to the Library of Congress, Buchanan expressed his joy at returning to his home Wheatland when speaking to his successor, Abraham Lincoln.

My dear sir, if you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man indeed, he said.

James K Polk

James Knox Polk was the 11th president of the United States and served from 1845 to 1849 ( Getty Images )

Polk became the first president to step down voluntarily after one term after pledging only to serve four years following his 1844 election victory.

His election to the presidency was a remarkable comeback after serving as speaker of the House from 1835 to 1839 and governor of Tennessee between 1839 and 1841. He lost re-election and subsequently failed in his attempt at a comeback.

In the 1844 presidential race, he intended to run for the second spot, but the convention deadlocked over the issue of expansionism, with delegates eventually turning away from former president Martin Van Buren and towards Polk, who accepted the nomination.

Theodore Roosevelt became president following the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. Roosevelt won the 1904 election but declined to run in 1908. However, he tried  and failed  to get the job back in the 1912 election as a third-party candidate.
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The internet has fallen out of the coconut tree.

Speculation that President Joe Biden will hang up his re-election campaign has triggered a wave of semi-ironic online support for Vice President Kamala Harris, with fan cams set to songs from Charli XCX and memes that riff on a string of memorable quotes from her last few years in office.

The KHive  the online grassroots stan-culture army of earnest supporters who fueled online rage and enthusiastic support for Harris when she launched her 2020 run for the presidency  was resurrected overnight. Now Americans are quickly become coconut-pilled, Kamala maxxing, existing in context and unburdened by what has been.

Following an emerging pressure campaign for Biden to exit the race, a flood of irony-poisoned jokers and exhausted voters joined in, clinging to some kind of relief while staring down the possibility of a second Donald Trump presidency with only a deteriorating Biden in his way.

Social media users flooded timelines with out-of-context clips featuring Harris laughing, dancing and remembering something her mother once told her:

Everything is in context. My mother used to  she would give us a hard time sometimes and she would say to us, I dont know whats wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? she said while laughing during a White House event in 2023.

She then whipped to a sincere and serious turn of phrase that has lived on in countless memes: You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.

Vice President Kamala Harris poses for a photo in Milwaukee on May 16. A new wave of Harris memes and old videos are spreading across the internet as questions on Joe Bidens future swirl. ( AP )

And then theres we know what can happen and what is possible when we collectively have the ability to see what can be unburdened by what has been.

why did I stay up till 3am making a von dutch brat coconut tree edit featuring kamala harris and why cant I stop watching it on repeat, wrote a user on X, whose video superimposes Charli XCXs Brat album art over a montage of Harris.

Im a KHiver now because its somehow both the soberly correct stance and the funny irony-poisoned stance, wrote author David Klion.

The funny irony-poisoned posts havent stopped: Look, this burgeoning, unstoppable freight train of a candidacy didnt just fall out of a coconut tree. It exists in a context. Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this coconut tree! A Kamala Harris Apology Form that jokingly harkens back to a time when the KHive threatened to steamroll any candidate who crossed it.

Theres Harris dancing with a marching band, or singing a slightly off-key version of Wheels on the Bus.

I love Venn Diagrams, Harris said in one recirculated clip. I really do. I love Venn diagrams. Its just something about those three circles, the analysis about where theres the intersection, right?... I see people... you agree with me right? OK, so I asked my team... I brought props.

Harris is seen laughing with Biden during July 4 celebrations. Videos of her previous jokes are being shared across the internet as calls mount for her to take the reins for the elections. ( EPA )

The Supreme Court has fundamentally restructured the federal government and the office of the presidency within a weeks worth of rulings. Trump and his allies have opened the door to violent retribution and a platform bent on consolidating power around him, if elected. Following Bidens inability to hold Trump accountable for his lies during their first 2024 debate, the White House and his campaign are swatting down suggestions that he is going anywhere.

Social media users are washing it down by embracing a delirious rush of self-referential memes and impenetrable Harris-isms that imagine, if even briefly, that things could be different.

Realized its not excitement for Kamala that Im feeling its this moment of hope that the Dems might take drastic measures to do something outside of How Things Are Typically Done for once in my life. Imagine that? What a high, wrote journalist Luke ONeil. Of course they most likely will stay the course.

Vice President Kamala Harris embraces President Joe Biden after a speech on healthcare in North Carolina on March 26. ( AP )

At least two Democratic members of Congress have openly called for the president to drop out of the race. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested there may be serious questions about his health. In a column for Newsweek, former Ohio congressman Tim Ryan pushed for Harris to replace Biden on the 2024 ticket.

If Biden did drop out of the race, and Harris remained on the ticket, she would inherit the millions of dollars in the Biden campaign war chest that could fuel her candidacy into Election Day.

Biden, for his part, has resisted any characterizations that hes going anywhere.

Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running, Biden told campaign staff on Wednesday. No ones pushing me out. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

Facing a barrage of questions about Bidens viability and fitness for office, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre insisted that the president is still running but added that Harris remains the future of the Democratic Party.

The possibility of a Harris campaign, real or imagined, wasnt just social media hype. Her name is also topping betting markets for the best odds of emerging as the Democratic nominee.
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Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert is facing criticism after she referred to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as a DEI hire.

In a recent tweet, Boebert took aim at Jean-Pierre, a Columbia University graduate and the first Black gay woman to serve as the top White House spokesperson, accusing her of being hired as part of a diversity, equity, and inclusion program to improve representation.

I couldnt care less about what @PressSec has to say today, Boebert wrote on X on Tuesday. Its between 10am-4pm which means President Joe Biden supposedly should be coherent enough to take a few questions from the press. Instead, Americans are supposed to listen to the discredited DEI hire. PASS.

Boeberts tweet also references an Axios report stating that the president is dependably engaged between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The report came after Bidens devastating 9 p.m. debate on July 27, during which he appeared to lose his train of thought and made several gaffes. According to the Axios report, Bidens days, including when he sleeps, are carefully orchestrated, down to his orthopedic shoes and how he walks onto the Marine One helicopter and Air Force One when he leaves the White House.

Lauren Boebert and Karine Jean-Pierre ( Getty )

Boebert quickly faced criticism from other X users after her comment, which many deemed racist.

DEI hire? Not only was that incredibly racist, it was disrespectful. A sitting Congresswoman should be better than that, one user said. Remember, elections have consequences. I guess the Republican Party is the party of racism and bigotry.

DEI hire vs a GED hire. You have a lot of nerve nasty lady, Florida Democrat Mike Harvey said.

I couldnt care less. These words indicate a closed mind, a refusal to listen, an inability to consider anything new, and maybe most importantly, a meanness of spirit and lack of character, another user wrote. All disqualifying in one serving in a position of immense power. #CO04, please. PASS.

Jean-Pierre became the White House press secretary in 2022, following Jen Psaki in the role after she joined MSNBC. The 49-year-old served as the deputy press secretary before ascending to the top role.

During Barack Obamas 2008 campaign, Jean-Pierre was a regional political director for the southeast. She served in the same role during Senator John Edwardss 2004 presidential campaign. She also worked in the Obama administration and on the then-presidents 2012 re-election campaign.

Boebert has used the DEI attack in the past, PinkNews noted. On March 30 last year after a train derailment in Minnesota, Boebert took a similar jab against the first openly gay member of the cabinet: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Another train derailment - now in Minnesota. And it was carrying ethanol! When we had a real Transportation Secretary instead of a DEI sympathy hire, this didnt happen every day! she wrote at the time.
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Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat that could beat Donald Trump in a head-to-head race in November, according to a new poll.

The poll, conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, found that the former first lady was the only Democrat with a lead on Trump in a hypothetical match-up, garnering 50 per cent support to his 39 per cent.

Only four per cent of respondents said they would not vote at all.

The survey also found that President Joe Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck in a head-to-head match-up, each receiving 40 per cent of the vote, while eight per cent said they would vote for someone else, with another eight per cent saying they would not vote at all.

Kamala Harris received 42 per cent in a head-to-head match-up with Trump, the poll found. Meanwhile, other Democrats floated as potential replacements to Biden include California Governor Gavin Newson, who trailed Trump by three percentage points, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who trailed by five points in the poll.

An earlier Rasmussen Reports poll released in February also found that Obama was the top choice among Democrats to replace Biden on the 2024 ticket.

The former first lady has repeatedly said she has no plans to pursue a bid for the White House, saying bluntly at the end of her husbands second term in 2017: No, nope, not going to do it.

She doubled down on her opposition to a run again in 2019, urging voters to support Biden instead.

But speculation of a presidential run  or a potential Biden-Michelle Obama ticket  arose again in March, with CNN commentator Alisyn Camerota floating her as a vice presidential pick.

However, Obama rejected the calls once again in a statement to NBC News. Former US President Barack Obama has also rejected rumors that his wife will be on the Democratic ticket, saying that she does not like politics and will not run for president in the future.

Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat that could beat Donald Trump in a head-to-head line-up, according to a new poll ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Despite the Obamas opposition to the idea, social media users are voicing support a 2024 run for the former first lady.

Michelle Obama. Announce your candidacy tonight. Well back you, one person wrote on X.

Dear Michelle Obama, I am sorry but you have to run for office. This is not only about you and your family. Its about so many people now and in the future, another person said.

I like the idea of Michelle Obama running for President against Donald Trump. A far better chance than old man Biden, a third person wrote.

This comes as Biden is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down, including from within his own party, after his disastrous debate performance last week in which he at times muddled his words and appeared to lose his train of thought.

On Tuesday, the president blamed his poor debate performance on jet lag, telling reporters that he wasnt very smart for travelling around the world a couple of times before the event. Aides have blamed his performance on him suffering from a cold.

However, some Democrats arent convinced. Representative Lloyd Doggett, of Texas, became the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to publicly call for Biden to step aside. Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan wrote in a Newsweek op-ed that he believes Harris is the partys best path forward, accusing those who believe she has less of a chance of beating Trump than the Joe Biden we saw the other night and will continue to see of not living in reality.

Like Obama, Harriss aides have also dismissed any talk of a Democratic ticket that doesnt include both her and Biden.

Vice President Harris looks forward to serving a second term with President Joe Biden, a statement from her office said.

Newsom and Whitmer have also dismissed the notion that they could replace Biden on the ticket.

In a Biden campaign fundraising pitch on Friday, the California governor called such discussions unhelpful and unnecessary.

We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? he wrote.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker have also been floated as potential replacements.
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A GoFundMe campaign for Stormy Daniels has raised more than $800,000 in the eight days since it launched in order to help the adult film star deal with the fallout of speaking out against Donald Trump.

Daniels  real name Stephanie Clifford  was the star witness at the Republican presidential candidates hush money trial this spring, which ended with Trump being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in order to hide a $130,000 payment to silence her in the days before the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006.

Trump is set to be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan on September 18, after he was granted a delay as he seeks to overturn his conviction in in light of the Supreme Courts recent immunity ruling.

In a new interview on MSNBC this week, Daniels revealed she has received numerous threats from Trump supporters since testifying against him in the Manhattan trial, including on Facebook from people in my own community and from strangers warning they were going to rape everybody in my family, including my young daughter, before they killed them.

Trump is trying to make, I believe, trying to make an example out of me, Daniels told Rachel Maddow.

She warned that all Americans should fear a belated second Trump administration and revealed that she is still fighting a defamation lawsuit from him that has so far cost her $500,000 in lawyers fees since 2018  a total she said she currently has no prospect of being able to meet.

In response to her financial woes, Maddow mentioned the I Stand with Stormy Daniels crowdfunding page.

The GoFundMe was launched by the stars former manager Dwayne Crawford in late June with the aim of raising $1m to help her to move to a more secure location for her familys protection due to the ongoing threats.

We have had front-row seats to the parts of this story that dont fit neatly into click-bait headlines, Crawford wrote on the page, adding that he and other friends of Daniels have witnessed the consequences of her speaking out against the former president, including her not knowing whether or not her family will have a home come August.

Its become unsafe for her family and her pets, Crawford continued.

Her horses have been shot twice now by protesters and even mainstream media paparazzi trying to provoke her out of her home. As if thats not bad enough, Trump is still tangling her up in lawsuits in an effort to bleed her dry financially because his cult of minions will foot the bill for him to do so.

Stormy Daniels interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC on July 2 2024 ( Maddow/MSNBC )

Stormy needs help to relocate her family to somewhere they can feel safe and live life on their terms. She needs assistance to be able to continue to pay the mounting court fees so that Trump doesnt just win because his pocketbook seems endless.

The allusion to the account on Maddows show inspired a groundswell of support and caused donations to flood in, with many taking to social media to express their support.

Among the supporters was the writer E Jean Carroll, who was awarded a total of $88m from Trump in two civil trials accusing him first of sexual assault and then defamation, who posted on Tuesday: Id be happy to help!!

Less sympathetic was Daniels jailed former attorney Michael Avenatti, who wrote: Stormy Daniels is not now, nor has she ever been, a victim of President Trump. Her new claims, made as part of her GoFundMe grift, are complete bulls***.

Daniels has made MILLIONS over the last 8 years based on Trump. But instead of paying her bills, she blew the money on trips to Europe, private jets, etc. (check her posts), all while hiding income from her creditors. Now she wants others to bail her out. Trump is not threatening or harassing her daughter. Daniels has simply been ordered to answer basic questions on a form about her income & child support/custody like every other judgment.

Social media users were quick to accuse him of seeking a pardon from Trump in the event that the former president returns to the White House.
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Two centuries after the constitutions authors warned against an elected king in the executive office, the Supreme Court kicked off the week of the Fourth of July with a sweeping decision on presidential immunity that Justice Sonia Sotomayor said will create a king above the law.

Democrats in Congress have introduced several pieces of legislation to overhaul the Supreme Court, from codes of ethics to attempts to block precedent-shredding decisions that will have profound effects on government and society. Theyre likely to fail.

Impeaching the justices

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez plans to file articles of impeachment against the justices, citing a court that has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control, she announced this week.

The immunity ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture, she said.

Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive Democrat on the influential House Oversight Committee, did not specify which justices would be targeted for impeachment.

A now-deleted response from Representative Veronica Escobar said count me in.

Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamie Raskin are pressing the Supreme Court on ethics concerns ( Getty Images )

The only successful impeachment of a Supreme Court justice was against Samuel Chase in 1804 on charges that he used his seat for political gain, and to prostitute the high judicial character with which he was invested, to the low purpose of an electioneering partisan. He was later acquitted in the Senate.

A new constitutional amendment

AOCs fellow New York Representative Joe Morrelle is introducing a new constitutional amendment that would explicitly state that presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution in an attempt to reverse the high courts ruling.

Morrelle, the top Democrat on a House committee with federal election oversight, said his proposed amendment will do what the justices failed to do  prioritize our democracy.

The Supreme Court decision will cause a seismic shift in the powers of the presidency unless we take immediate action to ensure accountability, integrity, and justice prevail, he added.

The Republican-majority Supreme Court granted Donald Trump some immunity from prosecution for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The decision granted the presidency absolute immunity from prosecution for actions that can be considered official duties, and the assumption of immunity for actions in the outer perimeter of those duties.

Representative Joe Morelle wants to introduce a new constitutional amendment that overturns the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision. ( AP )

That decision erodes the publics confidence in our institutions and poses as great a threat to our democracy as the behavior of the former president and his enablers, Morrelle said.

This amendment will guarantee that no public officer of the United States  including the president  is able to evade the accountability that any other American would face for violating our laws, Morelle wrote in a letter to colleagues this week.

Expanding the court

Several Democrats in the House and Senate have issued calls to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court from its current nine-member panel, a makeup that has been the same since 1869 when there were only nine circuit courts taking up litigation that would get to the high court. There are now 13.

Last year, Democratic Senators Ed Markey, Tina Smith and Elizabeth Warren, with House Democrats Jerry Nadler, Cori Bush, Hank Johnson and Adam Schiff, reintroduced the Judiciary Act, which would add four more seats to the bench. Lawmakers first introduced the bill in 2021.

This is a rogue, untethered, and damaging Supreme Court, Markey said this week. Maga extremist justices also are ignoring the festering corruption in their ranks. We need justices committed to justice. Stolen seats filled with partisan hacks lead to alarming results.

Ethics investigations

It is extremely unlikely that any of the above measures survive in a Republican-dominated House and a deadlocked Senate.

Congressional Democrats have also been trying to impose ethics and transparency rules for Supreme Court justices, efforts that were quickly swatted down by Senate Republicans.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Supreme Court on July 1 ( Getty Images )

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, the leading Senate Democrat on Supreme Court ethics reform, has led committee hearings into the state of the high court after bombshell investigations revealed GOP megadonor support for Justice Clarence Thomas, among other previously undisclosed gifts and vacation travel.

Durbin also led calls for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from January 6-related cases after it was revealed he was flying an upside-down American flag outside his properties.

Last month, Senate Republicans blocked a vote on a bill that would enforce ethics obligations at the high court.

Durbin said he will revive the legislation in the wake of the courts immunity ruling, warning that the justices have stripped the Department of Justice of its valued independence and undermined its commitment to the rule of law.

Chief Justice John Roberts has repeatedly turned down requests from Democratic lawmakers about growing ethics concerns.

He now has until July 5 to respond to a letter from AOC and Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, who are pressing for answers to questions about ethics lapses that are turning into a full-blown legitimacy crisis, they wrote.
Can a president order a rivals assassination and get away with it?

It was an absurd hypothetical raised by an appeals court judge to point out the literally unbelievable and dangerous consequences of the legal argument from Donald Trumps attorneys.

But it landed as a shocking warning from a Supreme Court justice in an earthquaking decision this week that shields Trump from accountability for crimes committed in office.

There has never been any legal precedent that would give a president such authority. But according to legal scholars, attorneys and the Supreme Courts liberal justices, the decision has seemingly opened the door to question whether the commander in chief can commit legal murder.

The whole assassination thing sounds far-fetched if you dont view that hypothetical in light of what we just went through on January 6, according to Donald Sherman, executive vice president and chief counsel with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan nonprofit government watchdog group.

This is not an academic exercise. This is no longer theoretical. This is no longer the providence of academics in ivory towers. We know what Trump has said. We know what this court has said. We know what Trump has done. We know that on January 6, Trump incited a mob to violently storm the Capitol, threatening the lives of members of Congress and the sitting vice president, Sherman told The Independent.

How much farther do you think we need to go to get to the scenario that the Supreme Court just said falls under this blanket immunity?

The ruling from the courts Republican-appointed majority grants the president absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions under their official duties. If a president relies on those core constitutional powers  say, activating the military to respond to a crisis  the president could ostensibly be shielded from prosecution for the killing of a political opponent.

The courts decision does not make the underlying act legal. The military would not be immune from prosecution for carrying out a crime, and the military is not going to obey illegal orders. But a lawless president would be restrained only by their own administration and will power to test those constraints, according to legal experts.

In a dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the court had created a law-free zone around the president, upsetting the status quo that has existed since the founding.

Supreme Court grants Trump immunity for 'official' acts in landmark ruling

Orders the Navys SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune, she wrote. Organizes a military exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune. 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.

She didnt invent that assassination plot scenario, of course.

It first came out of an appeals court hearing in January, when Judge Florence Pan pressed Trumps attorney whether he believed that a president could order SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival without being criminally prosecuted.

The fact that the Supreme Courts majority did not specifically carve out such radical exemptions from that absolute immunity  and instead only mentioned actions that Trump himself is immune from  has alarmed legal analysts.

If theres ever a threat to democracy, Joe Biden can say hes confronted by it, according to John Dean, former White House counsel to Richard Nixon and a key witness in the Watergate scandal. Its an unclear guideline and it will be until some jurisprudence develops on it.

If elected, Trump would return to the White House with an ideologically tested staff of loyalists and be armed with an authoritative blueprint for his regime. Two massive Supreme Court rulings that demolished the so-called administrative state this term have paved the way for him to centralize power, and a decision granting him legal immunity will undoubtedly empower him to act with impunity and grind his criminal cases to a halt.

The majoritys decision says flatly that unofficial acts can still be prosecuted. But it might end up being impossible for prosecutors to dig up evidence that proves a president was acting unofficially because the Supreme Court has largely made any communications or other materials inadmissible as evidence under its new threshold for immunity.

How can prosecutors even present a case if they cant even use what a president says or does while in office as evidence against them?

Donald Trump addresses supporters in Washington DC on January 6, 2021, before a mob stormed the Capitol to block the certification of Joe Bidens election. ( REUTERS )

The presidents conversations with the secretary of defense, with the attorney general, cant even come into evidence, Sherman said. This effectively means that whether we have a democracy is based solely on the whims and temperament of the person that holds the presidency.

The ruling in Trump v United States fails to distinguish whether an official act clearly within the presidents power becomes unofficial if they commit a crime to do it, leaving a gaping hole in understanding the courts new formula for reining in abuse.

While the President may have the authority to decide to remove the Attorney General, for example, Justice Jackson wrote, the question here is whether the President has the option to remove the Attorney General by, say, poisoning him to death.

The frighteningly absurd legal arguments surrounding Trumps actions  where analysts are now debating whether a president can legally kill someone  reflects something more sinister about the state of politics and the Supreme Court, according to legal experts.

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, according to Georgia attorney Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, speaking to reporters on Monday.

Whether its actually not illegal, 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, said Matthew Seligman, a fellow at the Center for Constitutional Law at Stanford Law School.

Like, what are you talking about? Sherman told The Independent. The court doesnt issue advisory opinions. It takes real cases and controversies.  God help us if the court ever has to deal with this issue, because the only way that happens is if there was an attempt.
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Donald Trump sent his respects to Kamala Harris in a belligerent message to mark the July 4 holiday  describing the vice president as our potentially new Democrat Challenger

The former president lashed out again at his current political rival Joe Biden who, he said, had choked like a dog during their recent televised debate.

The Biden campaign has sought to play down the 81-year-old presidents poor performance during the debate last week, saying he was suffering from a cold and also jet lag from a heavy travel schedule.

In his post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump dismissed the reasons blamed for Bidens clunky performance.

Happy Fourth of July to all, including to our highly incapable President, who uses Prosecutors to go after his Political Opponent, who choked like a dog during the Debate but tried to pretend it was International Travel (only 12 days rest!) and, when that gig was up, he blamed it on a cold. Therefore, why would anyone say hes cognitively challenged?

Trump referred to vice president Kamala Harris as his new Deomcrat challenger in his post on Truth Social ( AP )

Turning to Harris, he continued: Also, respects to our potentially new Democrat Challenger, Laffin Kamala Harris.

She did poorly in the Democrat Nominating process, starting out at Number Two, and ending up defeated and dropping out, even before getting to Iowa, but that doesnt mean shes not a highly talented politician!

Trumps nickname of Laffin Kamala comes as speculation over Harris taking the reins from Biden has triggered a wave of semi-ironic online support for the vice president, and the resurrection of multiple memes about her.

The KHive  the online grassroots stan-culture army of earnest supporters who fueled online rage and enthusiastic support for Harris when she launched her 2020 run for the presidency  returned overnight.

Concluding his Independence Day post, Trump also directed comments to special counsel Jack Smith, writing: Someone else that I have to compliment is a Deranged Biden Prosecutor named Jack Smith, who has become a Legend in his own mind for all of those cases he has lost.

The Corrupt Prosecutors are working hard for Crooked Joe, but it will never be enough  MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
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Australian police have found what appeared to be the remains of a 12-year-old child who went missing after a suspected crocodile attack.

The child went missing on Tuesday afternoon after going for a swim near the remote Northern Territory community of Palumpa, around 350km from Darwin, police said.

This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search, senior police sergeant Erica Gibson said on Thursday.

She said the recovery of the remains was particularly gruesome, and a sad, devastating outcome.

Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene.

Ms Gibson said police were working to trap the crocodile believed to be responsible for the childs death.

Investigations will continue, that is a long and protracted matter, she said. The search element will still continue insofar as the croc traps and monitoring the activities in the waterways.

The victim belonged to the remote Aboriginal community of Nganmarriyanga, also known as Palumpa. The family was visiting the creek for holidays, police told ABC Radio.

Police said they discovered the childs T-shirt upstream on Wednesday and their search had shifted to the recovery stage.

Ms Gibson said the remains indicated injuries consistent with a crocodile attack.

"It was an extremely difficult 36 hours for the first responders involved in the search," she said.

Members of the community in Palumpa had joined the search led by Northern Territory police.

The Northern Territory is home to some 100,000 saltwater crocodiles that are larger and more dangerous to humans.

The territory has a population of 252,469 but only about 364 people live in Palumpa, according to federal data.

Last month, a crocodile that had been terrorising people in the Northern Territory was killed and eaten by villagers. The reptile was blamed for devouring pets and chasing children and the local authorities deemed it a significant risk to the community.

Police said they shot the crocodile after consultation with traditional owners, elders, community members and the Parks and Wildlife officials.

In January, a nine-year-old boy was left fighting for life after being attacked by a crocodile while swimming in the territory.

Last year, an Australian man dramatically escaped an attack by a saltwater crocodile after prising its jaws off his head. Marcus McGowan, 51, from Brisbane, was snorkelling at a luxury private island resort on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia when he was attacked.
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An Australian senator has resigned from prime minister Anthony Albaneses Labor Party over its stand on Palestinian statehood.

Fatima Payman, 29, resigned on Thursday, the last day of the parliament session before winter break, and said she was deeply torn over the decision.

Ms Payman, the first Afghan-Australian Muslim woman in the parliament, said she continued to believe in the principles of the Labor Party but felt she could see no middle ground that would allow her to remain in it.

Fatima Payman in the senate during the opening of the 47th parliament on 26 July 2022 ( AFP via Getty Images )

On one hand, I have the immense support of the rank and file members, the unionists, the lifelong members, the party volunteers who are calling on me to hang in there and to make change happen internally, she said during an emotional press conference. On the other hand, I am pressured to conform to caucus solidarity and toe the party line. My conscience leaves me no choice.

Ms Payman will now sit on the crossbench as an independent senator.

She was indefinitely suspended from the Labor caucus last week after she defied the party and sided with the Greens to call for recognising Palestinian statehood and voted to do so again, according to the ABC.

Unlike my colleagues, I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of injustice, she said at the press conference. My family did not flee a war-torn country to come here as refugees for me to remain silent when I see atrocities inflicted on innocent people.

Mr Albanese had said Ms Payman was pursuing a strategy related to her departure dating back at least a month. She responded that the ruling party was trying to spread that perception because it was upset with her stand.

This topic on Palestinian recognition, Palestinian liberation is a matter that has impacted everyone with a conscience. It is not just a Jewish versus Muslim issue, she said.

Ms Payman has alleged intimidation on many fronts from her Labor colleagues and an ultimatum from the prime minister, who she claims told her you either stay and you toe the party line, or you give up the position because you dont believe in caucus solidarity.

Mr Albanese has denied the allegation.

Israel launched a brutal ground and air war on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed nearly 1,200 people on 7 October last year.

The Israeli war has killed around 38,000 Palestinians so far, according to Gazas health ministry. It has also displaced 90 per cent of the territorys 2.3 million population, according to the UNs humanitarian agency, and left them facing starvation.

Earlier on Thursday, pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on the roof of Australias parliament in Canberra and unfurled banners with slogans as police locked down the building in the wake of the security breach.
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Pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on the roof of Australias parliament in Canberra on Thursday and unfurled banners with slogans as police locked down the building in the wake of the security breach.

The protesters were taken away by police after they climbed down two hours later. It was not clear if any of them had been charged.

At least four protesters were seen on top of the building, holding banners with slogans such as From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free in support of the embattled people of Gaza.

One banner read, War crimes, enabled here.

Israel launched a brutal ground and air war on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed nearly 1,200 people on 7 October last year.

The Israeli war has killed around 38,000 Palestinians so far, according to Gazas health ministry. It has also displaced 90 per cent of the territorys 2.3 million population, according to the UNs humanitarian agency, and left them facing starvation.

The security breach caused concern among Australian parliamentarians as the opposition coalition called for an investigation. This is a serious breach of the parliaments security, the coalitions home affairs spokesperson James Paterson said.

The building was modified at great expense to prevent incursions like this. An investigation is required.

MP Keith Pitt said there were serious questions that must be asked about how the protesters accessed the roof.

I support an individuals right to protest, thats something that has been fought for and defended in this nation since we commenced, he was quoted as saying by the ABC.

But I dont support an individuals right to firstly put themselves at risk, as these individuals have done, and secondly to prevent the Australian public from accessing their parliament and seeing their representatives work.

Pro-Palestinian protesters hang banners from the top of Australias parliament in Canberra on 4 July 2024 ( Reuters )

Pro-Palestinian protesters from the group Renegade Activists coordinated with advocates of other causes such as Indigenous peoples rights and the climate crisis.

At around 10am on Thursday, anti-coal protesters wearing Rising Tide shirts attracted the police and security personnel at the parliament building by glueing themselves to its marble pillars.

While they were being removed, a group of pro-Palestinian protesters climbed onto a portico above the main entrance, unfurling banners against Israels war in Gaza and in support of Indigenous Australians.

The activists on the roof read aloud a statement demanding the end of American and Australian support for the genocidal state of Israel.

They also sent out paper planes with their messages.

To the Albanese government: we will not forget, we will not forgive, and we will continue to resist, they said.

They also declared: Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Pro-Palestinian protesters hang banners from the top of the Australian parliament in Canberra on 4 July 2024 ( Reuters )

Shaun Murray, a spokesperson for Rising Tide, which organised the climate protest at the parliament, claimed ignorance when asked if they were aware other demonstrations would take place at the same time.

No. I guess its just democracy in action. This government has got a shocking record on genocide and a shocking record on climate, he told The Guardian.

Responding to the protests, defence minister Richard Marles said: I think its really important that we do everything we can to take the temperature down here. Its not about denying anyone their right to have their say  people should have their say  but that can be done in a respectful way, which contributes to the national debate without doing anything to disrespect other Australians, to put people in danger and to give rise to social disunity.

Pro-Palestinian student protesters in Australia previously filled universities in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Canberra demanding they cut academic ties with Israel and end research partnerships with companies supplying weapons to the Israeli military.
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Ukraine has said its army has retreated from a neighborhood in the outskirts of Chasiv Yar.

It comes as the strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region has been reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault.

Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle. For months, Russian forces have focused on capturing Chasiv Yar, a town which occupies a strategic, elevated location. Its fall would put nearby cities in jeopardy, compromise critical Ukrainian supply routes and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of seizing the entire Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian army retreated from a northeastern neighborhood in the town of Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia ground forces formation said in a written message Thursday.

Ukraine's defensive positions in the town were destroyed, he said, adding that there was a threat of serious casualties if troops remained in the area and that Russia did not leave a single intact building.

Months of relentless Russian artillery strikes have devastated Chasiv Yar, with homes and municipal offices charred, and a town that once had a population of 12,000 has been left deserted.

A map of Chasiv Yar:

The intensity of Russian strikes on Ukraines defensive line in the area of Chasiv Yar has increased over the last month, Voloshyn said.

In the past week alone, Voloshyn said Russia has carried out nearly 1,300 strikes, fired nearly 130 glide bombs and made 44 ground assaults.

Other Russian attacks in recent weeks have focused on capturing nearby settlements that would allow them to advance to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the biggest cities in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian commanders in the area say their resources remain stretched, largely due to a months-long gap in military assistance from the United States which threw Ukraine's military onto the defensive.

Russian soldiers fire from their 152-mm Giatsint-B howitzer from their position at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. ( Russian Defense Ministry Press Service )

In June, members of the artillery brigade in Chasiv Yar reported that supplies of American ammunition had started to arrive.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the governor of the northern Chernihiv region, Viacheslav Chaus, said Russia launched 22 drones over Ukraine last night. One hit an infrastructure facility in the northern Chernihiv region, leaving nearly 6,000 customers without electricity, he said, adding that the rest were shot down.

Russia is continually targeting Ukraines badly-damaged energy infrastructure, resulting in hours of rolling blackouts across the country. Ukrainian officials have warned that the situation may worsen as winter approaches.
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Some 30,000 police will be deployed across France late on Sunday following the high-stakes second round of a parliamentary election, a minister said, as three candidates reported having been attacked on the campaign trail.

Sundays second round will determine whether Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party (RN) secures a parliamentary majority for the first time and forms the next government in France, the eurozones second-largest economy.

The campaign has been marred by political tensions but also by growing violence.

Frances interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, said he would be very careful about security on Sunday evening, when the election results will be announced.

Some 5,000 of the 30,000 police to be deployed that evening will be located in Paris and its surroundings, and they will ensure that the radical right and radical left do not take advantage of the situation to cause mayhem, he told France 2 TV.

Mr Darmanin said four people had been arrested over an incident that occurred on Wednesday evening, when government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot and her team were attacked while they were out putting up campaign posters.

While Ms Thevenot herself was not harmed, her deputy and a party activist were injured by an unidentified group of about 10 youths who were defacing campaign posters, Ms Thevenot told the newspaper Le Parisien.

A few hours before being targeted, Ms Thevenot had shared her anxiety as a person of colour in a complicated political climate with French broadcaster TF1.

I dont say this only as spokesperson of the government, but more as the daughter of immigrants and mother of mixed-race children, she said, citing repeated and intensified racially motivated attacks.

The [attackers] no longer do it anonymously, but with uncovered faces and even with a certain pride.

An RN candidate in Savoie, Marie Dauchy, also said she had been attacked by a shopkeeper at a market on Wednesday.

Its shameful, Ms Le Pen said in a brief TV interview. We have a number of candidates that have had to stop their campaign. This climate is deplorable.

Separately, the 77-year-old deputy mayor of a small town near Grenoble, in southeastern France, was punched in the face on Thursday morning when putting up a poster for Olivier Veran, a former spokesperson for the president Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Veran denounced it as a completely unprecedented context of violence in this campaign.

Lets reject the climate of violence and hatred that is taking hold, prime minister Gabriel Attal said on X/Twitter.

Meanwhile, a poll on Wednesday suggested that efforts by mainstream parties to block the far right from achieving an absolute majority may prove effective.

The Harris Interactive poll for Challenges magazine showed that the anti-immigration, eurosceptic RN and its allies would get just 190 to 220 seats in the 577-strong assembly, while the centre-right Republicans (LR) would win 30 to 50 seats. This could rule out the possibility of a far-right minority government supported by part of the LR parliamentary group.

The poll was published after more than 200 candidates across the political spectrum withdrew their candidacies to clear the path for whoever was best placed to defeat the RN candidate in their district, in a movement known as the republican front.

However, much uncertainty remains, including whether voters will go along with these efforts to block the RN.

Reuters and Associated Press
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The first African-born member of parliament in Germany has announced that he will not stand in the next federal election in 2025, just weeks after receiving a death threat.

Karamba Diaby, 62, said such racist threats were not the main reason for his decision. He simply wanted to spend more time with his family and make room for younger politicians.

After months of consideration and weighing, I, in consultation with my family, have come to the decision not to run for the Bundestag again, he wrote in a letter to his party colleagues, the German Press Agency reported.

I look back on 11 enriching and successful years in federal politics. After three legislative periods, its time to make way for the next political generation and explore new paths.

Mr Diaby, a member of the centre-left Social Democrats representing Halle since 2013, has endured many racist attacks and threats over the years, including several on his office.

Of course, I will remain active and engaged in the SPD. We face big challenges and hard work, he said.

At the same time, Im looking forward to having more time for my family and friends and our allotment.

Mr Diaby was born in Senegal and is the only member of the German parliament with African heritage.

He was seven when he lost both his parents and was brought up by his older sister and her husband. He moved to Germany on a study grant in 1985.

In spite of the attacks and insults he has faced in Halle over the years, Mr Diaby told Der Spiegel last year: I feel very comfortable in Halle.

But the unpleasant incidents, he said, made him sad and worried.

Karamba Diaby speaks in the Bundestag on 28 May 2020 ( Getty )

In several interviews, Mr Diaby has noted the increasingly hostile atmosphere he has had to contend with in the parliament and society, attributing it to the 2017 entry of the populist AfD party into the Bundestag.

Since 2017, the tone in the German parliament has become harsher, he told the Berlin Playbook podcast of Politico. We hear aggressive speeches from colleagues of the AfD. We hear derogatory and hurtful content in these contributions. That is truly a totally new situation compared to the period between 2013 and 2017. This aggressive style of talking is fertile breeding ground for the violence and aggression on the streets.

More recently, after receiving a death threat, the MP wrote on Instagram: For me the level of hatred and agitation has reached a new level. I now encounter it every day in the news and commentaries, but also in the German Bundestag.

Bullet holes in the window of Karamba Diabys constituency office in Halle ( Getty )

I wont let myself be intimidated. I am fighting back. The hatred that the AfD sows every day with its misanthropic narratives is reflected in concrete psychological and physical violence! This jeopardises cohesion in our society.

He said this latest threat against him crossed a new red line.

My coworkers are also threatened and blackmailed, he said.

Mr Diabys absence from the 2025 Bundestag election will leave a void as the parliamentarian has been an outspoken advocate for social justice and a key figure in combating racism within German politics, German newspaper Aussiedlerbote noted.
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The suspect in the attempted assassination in May of Slovakia's populist prime minister, Robert Fico, is now facing terror charges as part of an investigation by authorities, the countrys prosecutor general said Thursday.

Maros Zilinka said in a statement that the suspect identified only as J.C., who was originally charged with attempted murder, now faces the additional charges. Zilinka said the change is based on evidence the investigators obtained, but didnt immediately give further details.

The government officials originally said they believed it was a politically motivated attack committed by a lone wolf, but announced later that a third party might have been involved in acting for the benefit of the perpetrator.

Fico has currently been recovering at home from multiple wounds he suffered in the assassination attempt on May 15 when he was shot in the abdomen as he greeted supporters after his government's session in the town of Handlova,

The assailant was immediately arrested and a court ordered him to remain behind bars.

Fico has long been a divisive figure in Slovakia and beyond, He returned to power for the fourth time last year after his leftist party Smer, or Direction, won the parliamentary election last September, after campaigning on a pro-Russia and anti-American message.

His critics worry that Slovakia could abandon its pro-Western course and follow the direction of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Thousands have repeatedly rallied in the capital and across Slovakia to protest Ficos policies.
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Ukraine's troops had pulled back from part of the strategically important town of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region  having faced a months-long Russian assault.

Chasiv Yar is a short distance west of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle. For months, Russian forces have focused on capturing Chasiv Yar, a town which occupies an elevated location. Its fall would put nearby cities in jeopardy and compromise critical Ukrainian supply routes.

The Ukrainian army retreated from a northeastern neighborhood in the town, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia ground forces formation, told The Associated Press in a written message Thursday.

Ukraine's defensive positions in the town were "destroyed," he said, adding that there was a threat of serious casualties if troops remained in the area and that Russia did not leave "a single intact building."

Months of relentless Russian artillery strikes have devastated Chasiv Yar, with homes and municipal offices charred, and a town that once had a population of 12,000 has been left deserted.

Oleh Shyriaiev, commander of the 255 assault battalion which has been based in the area for six months, said after Russian troops captured the neighborhood, they burned every building not already destroyed by shelling. Mr Shyriaiev said Russia is deploying scorched-earth tactics in an attempt to destroy anything which could be used as a military position in a bid to force troops to retreat.

"I regret that we are gradually losing territory," he said, speaking by phone from the Chasiv Yar area, but added, "we cannot hold what is ruined."

Drone view shows destroyed buildings in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar ( via REUTERS )

Russian troops outnumber Ukrainians 10-to-1 in the area but Mr Shyriaiev suggested that, even with that ratio, they have not been able to make significant progress in the past six months of active fighting.

The intensity of Russian strikes on Ukraine's defensive line in the area of Chasiv Yar has increased over the last month, Mr Voloshyn said.

In the past week alone, Mr Voloshyn said Russia has carried out nearly 1,300 strikes, fired nearly 130 glide bombs and made 44 ground assaults.

Other Russian attacks in recent weeks have focused on capturing nearby settlements that would allow them to advance to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the biggest cities in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian commanders in the area say their resources remain stretched, largely due to a delay in military assistance from the United States which threw Ukraine's military onto the defensive.

Mr Shyriaiev, the assault battalion commander, said ammunition from allies is arriving, but more slowly than needed by the army.

"We are determined to hold on to the end," said the commander, who has been fighting on the front line since the outbreak of the war.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the governor of the northern Chernihiv region, Viacheslav Chaus, said Russia launched 22 drones over Ukraine last night. One hit a power infrastructure facility in the northern Chernihiv region, leaving nearly 6,000 customers without electricity, he said, adding that the rest were shot down.

Russia is continually targeting Ukraine's badly damaged energy infrastructure, resulting in hours of rolling blackouts across the country. Ukrainian officials have warned that the situation may worsen as winter approaches.

Associated Press
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About 90 per cent of the population of Gaza has been displaced at least once since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war, according to a UN humanitarian agency.

About 1.9 million people are believed to be displaced in Gaza, Andrea De Domenico, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Palestinian territories, said.

We estimate that nine in every 10 people in the Gaza Strip have been internally displaced at least once, if not up to 10 times, unfortunately, since October, he told reporters, according to AFP.

Before we were estimating 1.7 (million) but since that number, we had the operation in Rafah, and we had additional displacement from Rafah, he said.

Then we also had operations in the north that [have] also moved people, he added.

Israel launched a brutal ground and air war on Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel and killed nearly 1,200 people on 7 October last year.

The Israeli war has killed around 38,000 Palestinians so far, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry.

Mr De Domenico said: Behind these numbers, there are people  that have fears and grievances. And they had probably dreams and hopes; the less and less, I fear today, unfortunately.

People who in the last nine months have been moved around like pawns in a board game.

Displaced Palestinians from areas in east Khan Yunis arrive in the city as they flee after the Israeli army issued a new evacuation order for parts of the city and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on 2 July 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group ( AFP via Getty Images )

Gaza is the only place in the world where people cannot find a safe refuge, and cant leave the front line, he said, according to Al Jazeera.

Just days ago, Israels military ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The evacuation order covered 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.

The Israeli militarys evacuation order for Khan Younis, Gazas second-largest city, affected about 250,000 people, according to the UN.

Displaced Palestinians from areas in east Khan Yunis arrive to the city as they flee after the Israeli army issued a new evacuation order for parts of the city and Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on 2 July 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group ( AFP via Getty Images )

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.

Its an unendurable life, Anwar Salman, a displaced Palestinian told AP. If they want to kill us, let them do it. Let them drop a nuclear bomb and finish us. We are fed up. We are tired. We are dying every day.

Hamas 'will not be allowed to decide future' of Gaza, says Blinken

Earlier, Clive Baldwin, a senior legal adviser at Human Rights Watch said in a statement: Governments supporting Israel and Palestinian armed groups should not only use their leverage to stop further abuses, but also to ensure that victims and survivors receive meaningful reparations.

The OCHA had also previously stated that the number of Palestinians from Gaza who have been detained by the Israeli military since 7 October last year remains unknown.

Additional reporting with agencies.
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An Israeli strike in southern Lebanon on Wednesday killed a senior Hezbollah commander as tensions between the two sides continue to boil.

The strike near the southern coastal city of Tyre took place as global diplomatic efforts have intensified in recent weeks to prevent escalating clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli military from spiraling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran.

A Hezbollah statement identified the killed commander as Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who went by the name Abu Naameh, his nom de guerre. A Hezbollah official speaking anonymously in line with regulations, said he was head of the group's Aziz Unit, one of three regional divisions in southern Lebanon.

Naameh is the most senior official from the Iran-backed group killed since Taleb Sami Abdullah, who was killed in an airstrike 11 June.

An Israeli flag flutters next to a fire burning in an area near the border with Lebanon ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a speech honoring Abdullah said he played a pivotal role on the front line since clashes began on 8 October leading the Nasr Unit.

In a video circulated by local media, residents rushed toward a charred vehicle with a large plume of smoke. Civil Defense said its first responders transported an unnamed wounded person to a hospital.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the attack.

Hezbollah launched rockets on northern Israel a day after a Hamas surprise attack on southern Israel in October, leading to limited clashes along the tense border. The attacks have since gradually escalated, with Hezbollah introducing new weapons in their attacks and Israel striking deeper into Lebanon.

The group maintains that it will stop its attacks once there is a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip. Until then, it says it will continue with its attacks to pile pressure on Israel and the international community. Israeli officials have threatened to launch a larger military operation should Hezbollah not stop its attacks.

Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press All rights reserved )

Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Kassem told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that Israel cannot expect the group's attacks to remain limited should it launch a military operation within Lebanon, even if it aims to keep the conflict below the threshold of all-out war. Allies, including thousands of Iran-backed militiamen in Iraq, have offered to join Hezbollah on the front lines.

Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon since October have killed over 450 people, most of them Hezbollah fighters, but the dead also include more than 80 civilians and non-combatants. On the Israeli side, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed since the war in Gaza began. Tens of thousands of people on both sides of the tense frontier have been displaced in the monthslong war.

Senior adviser to US President Joe Biden, Amos Hochstein, who has been shuttling between Lebanon and Israel, is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macrons Lebanon envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris on Wednesday as part of his ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
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The Israeli government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a monitoring group has said  a move that will only increase tensions over the war in Gaza.

Word of the decision emerged as an Israeli official said prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu had decided to send negotiators to resume ceasefire talks over Gaza.

Diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war in Gaza appear to be stirring back to life after weeks of little movement. The night before, the militant Hamas group said it gave mediators its latest response to a US-backed proposal for a phased ceasefire.

Fighting has intensified between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, with Hezbollah saying on Thursday that it fired more than 200 rockets and exploding drones into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a senior commander in an Israeli airstrike the day before.

The strikes have raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East. Hezbollah has said it will halt its attacks if there is a ceasefire between Hamas  a fellow Iran-backed ally  and Israel.

The Israeli anti-settlement monitoring Peace Now said the government's Higher Planning Council had approved or advanced plans for 5,295 homes in dozens of settlements across the occupied West Bank. On Wednesday, Peace Now said Israel approved the largest seizure of land in the West Bank in over three decades.

Cogat, the Israeli defence body that oversees the planning council, referred questions to Mr Netanyahu's office.

Mr Netanyahu's government is dominated by settlers and their supporters. The hardline nationalist finance minister, Bazalel Smotrich, himself a settler, has been placed in charge of settlement policy.

The turbocharged settlement drive threatens to further stoke tensions in the occupied West Bank, which has seen a surge in violence since the Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October that triggered Israeli retaliation in Gaza. The Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people, while another 250 people were taken hostage, more than 100 of whom were released during a week-long ceasefire in November.

In its campaign in Gaza since the attack, Israel has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. Israel's bombardment, ground offensives and restrictions on Gaza have caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million  often multiple times  and caused widespread hunger, raising fears of famine.

Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 six-day war  for an independent state. It could also rankle Israel's ally, the United States, which speaks out against settlements, though it has done little to pressure Israel on the issue.

The US has rallied world support behind a plan for a phased ceasefire that calls for the release of the scores of hostages still held by Hamas in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it. Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal last month, some of which the US said were unworkable, without providing specifics. Hamas said on Wednesday it had sent another response to talks mediators Egypt and Qatar, without providing details.

An Israeli official said Mr Netanyahu had decided to send a team for new talks. The official, who wasn't authorised to discuss the meeting with the media, spoke on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear when or where the team would go for negotiations.

The first phase of the proposal calls for a ceasefire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, the negotiations are meant to lead to a sustainable calm and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza  with the release of all remaining men, both civilians and soldiers, held captive by Hamas in return for an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners. The third phase would see the return of the remains of dead hostages.

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

In a lengthy television interview last month, Mr Netanyahu said that he was prepared to make a partial deal but was committed to continuing the war after a pause in order to annihilate Hamas. Later, speaking before Israel's parliament, he said Israel remains committed to the deal outlined by Mr Biden.

Associated Press
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The reason we seem to be alone in the universe might be right beneath your feet, scientists have suggested.

For years, scientists have been perplexed by the fact that we have not found any other kind of alien civilisation.

That is despite the fact that the Drake equation suggests there should be many civilisations near enough and capable enough to get in contact with us. The equation  originally posited by Frank Drake  attempts to estimate the chances of coming into contact with intelligent life, and suggests that the chance of that should be high.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

But the new study suggests that it might have misled us by missing one key part about the emergence of intelligent life. Our Earth might be relatively rare in having the oceans, continents and long-term plate tectonics that are under our feet  and which might be essential for leading to the development of active, communicative civilizations, or ACCs, of the kind we are and look for elsewhere in the universe.

The Drake equation takes a series of factors that could help define the likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe. Each is in turn thought to be a pre-requisite for life.

It starts with looking at the number of stars that are formed each year, then how many of those have planetary systems, how many of those planets have an environment that could be suitable for life, how many of those see life actually appear, how often that life then becomes intelligence life, and how many of those are able to make a technology that would alert others to their existence, along with how long that all takes.

It is impossible to assign precise values to any of those variables. But researchers who have estimated have found that it suggests that life should be widespread throughout the universe, ready for us to make contact with.

We have failed to do so, however. That failure has led to the discussion of the Fermi paradox, named after Enrico Fermi, who puzzled over why we had failed to find life anywhere else at all.

In the new study, however, scientists suggest that we may have missed an important part of one of those variables. And that might explain why we are alone.

For a long time, researchers have believed that the chance that life on a planet would go on to become intelligence life was almost 100 per cent. But researchers suggest that it could be much lower, since it may depend on plate tectonics.

On Earth, plate tectonics suggests that the Earths crust and upper mantle are broken into pieces, which slowly move around and lead to dramatic natural disasters on our planet. But that is rare: Earth is the only planet in our solar system to have plate tectonics, even though there are three other rocky objects in Venus, Mars and Io, Jupiters moon.

Having plate tectonics means that mountains, volcanoes and oceans are formed; they also contribute to weathering, which releases nutrients into the ocean; and by making and destroying habitats, any life on the planet is required to evolve and adapt. That process might be necessary to lead to the intelligent life that we have on Earth.

The scientists therefore suggest that the Drake equation should be better defined so it takes account of how many planets have continents and oceans and long-lasting plate tectonics. If it is, then the estimate becomes much lower: the important variable goes from nearly 100 per cent to between between 0.003 per cent and 0.2 per cent.

This explains the extreme rareness of favorable planetary conditions for the development of intelligent life in our galaxy and resolves the Fermi paradox, said University of Texas at Dallass Robert Stern, who wrote the paper alongside Taras Gerya from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.

The work is reported in a new paper, The importance of continents, oceans and plate tectonics for the evolution of complex life: implications for finding extraterrestrial civilizations, published in the journal Scientific Reports.
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Netflix users say they are being warned that their subscription is about to disappear.

Users across the world, particularly in Canada and the UK, report receiving warnings indicating that they will soon lose access to the service.

The warnings are showing to people on the Basic plan. They are told instead that they need to switch either to the cheaper plan  which shows ads  or the considerably more expensive one.

( AFP via Getty Images )

Netflix had already announced that it would cut the Basic plan earlier this year. It specifically pointed to those countries that have the ad-supported tier.

During the results call in which it made that announcement, it said it would remove the plan starting with Canada and the UK in Q2 and taking it from there.

Netflix also discontinued the basics plan for new sign-ups last year. Its pricing page makes clear that it has been discontinued and advises people they can change plan at any time.

But then it had allowed people who were already signed up to the basic plan to continue with it. It did not make clear when that would come to an end.

Those sharing the warnings included a note that the last day to watch Netflix is July 31. Choose a new plan to keep watching, it reads.

Netflixs basic plan was considerably cheaper than any other that did not offer ads. In the US, for instance, the basic plan cost $11.99 compared with $15.49 for the other ad-free tier, $22.99 for the one with 4K, or $6.99 for the one with ads  and prices are largely comparable across the world.

The streaming service is one of many companies to move towards including ads in their offering, after years of not doing so. Disney+ also offers a cheaper, ad-supporter tier  and Amazon Prime Video recently pushed ads into users experience, asking them to pay extra if they want them removed.
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A state-owned power company in China has announced plans to build the worlds biggest solar farm, capable of powering a small country.

The 8.5 billion project will be constructed in northern Chinas Inner Mongolia region and will dispatch electricity to the urban cluster of Jing-Jin-Ji, consisting of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

The 8 gigawatt facility is more than half the entire installed solar capacity in the UK, and capable of powering roughly 6 million homes.

open image in gallery China has installed more than 600 gigawatts of solar capacity, making use of uninhabited mountainous and desert areas ( iStock/ Getty Images )

The integrated energy project will also include 4 GW of wind power, 4 GW of coal-fired power and 200 MW of solar thermal, as well as a further 5GWh set to be added at the site in energy storage.

Operated by Chinas Three Gorges Renewables Group, construction is expected to begin in September 2024 and come online by June 2027.

Plans for the new facility were announced just weeks after a 5GW complex was switched on in the north-west province of Xinjiang, becoming the biggest operational solar plant in the world.

Covering 200,000 acres in a desert region, the vast solar farm takes up the same space as New York City.

China has installed more solar power capacity than any other country, with more than 600 GW connected to the grid as of November 2023.

The country is also continuing to ramp up its solar capacity, commissioning as much last year as every other country in the world combined in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

While the increases in renewable capacity in Europe, the United States and Brazil hit all-time highs, Chinas acceleration was extraordinary, the IEA noted in a recent report on renewable energy.

Chinas role is critical in reaching the global goal of tripling renewables because the country is expected to install more than half of the new capacity required globally by 2030.

Read more on solar farms
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A flight headed for New Hampshire was diverted Wednesday after a man exposed himself and urinated in the aisle, officials said.

American Eagle flight 3921, which was on its way to Manchester, New Hampshire, after taking off in Chicago, was forced to divert to the Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

American Eagle is a brand name for the regional branch of American Airlines.

Shortly after landing, the 25-year-old man from Oregon was arrested and charged with indecent exposure.

He was released after making an initial appearance in federal court in Buffalo, according to a release from the US Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

The Attorneys Office did not release the name of the man.

The 25-year-old allegedly told officers he was flying from Portland, Oregon, to Manchester and had several whiskey and colas before boarding the flight, and then more of them during a layover in Chicago and after boarding there.

He said he got up to use the restroom and was coming back to his seat, but he has a medical urination problem, according to a criminal complaint.

The American Eagle flight departed from Buffalo shortly after the incident, American Airlines told The Independent.

We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding, the airline added.

Airline officials also said that a Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam was diverted to JFK Airport in New York on the same day after passengers were served spoiled food.

The redeye flight took off from Detroit around 11pm Tuesday and landed in New York at 4am after reports that a portion of the Main Cabin in-flight meal service were spoiled, a Delta spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said 14 of the planes 277 passengers were treated by medical personnel when the flight landed. Ten crew members were also treated. None required hospitalization.

It was not clear how many people ate the spoiled food, or how the food came to be spoiled. Delta said it would investigate the incident.

A similar incident occurred in May when 70 of the 290 passengers on board Condor airline Flight DE2315 fell ill while traveling from Mauritius to Frankfurt.

The plane was halfway through its journey to the German city when it became clear that many passengers were suffering from a bug, reporting symptoms including nausea and vomiting.

The aircraft landed in Frankfurt at around 5.33pm where it was greeted with a large contingent of emergency services after the crew had called ahead to alert officials on the ground of the unfolding emergency. The crew was not affected.

The cause of the sudden wave of illness was not confirmed. However, the airline noted that the food onboard would have been prepared in Mauritius.
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A Boeing whistleblower has claimed that the company used scrapyard parts on its factory assembly lines for years.

Merle Meyers, who worked as a Boeing quality-control manager for 30 years, told CNN that for years workers at the companys Dreamliner factory in Everett, Washington, routinely took parts that were deemed unsuitable to fly out of an internal scrapyard and put them back on factory assembly lines.

Nonconforming parts ended up in the reclamation yard, Meyers said, only after being rejected by three departments: Engineering, procurement, and quality.

He alleged that workers would do so to meet production deadlines.

Its a huge problem, Meyers told CNN. A core requirement of a quality system is to keep bad parts and good parts apart.

He alleged that in the early 2000s, for more than a decade, about 50,000 parts, including screws and wing flaps, escaped quality control and were used to build aircraft.

He added that the lapses he witnessed were intentional because workers would have known the parts were not good to use because parts that were meant to be scrapped were often painted red to signify they were unsuitable for assembly lines.

And he said the practice of using other unapproved parts in assembly lines is still going on.

Now theyre back to taking parts of body sections  everything  right when it arrives at the Everett site, bypassing quality, going right to the airplane, Meyers said.

open image in gallery A Boeing whistleblower has claimed that for years the company used scrapyard parts on its factory assembly lines ( Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

However, he added that based on his conversations with current Boeing workers, he believes the practice of taking parts from the scrapyard no longer happens.

Meyers also showed CNN emails going back years in which he repeatedly flagged the issue to Boeings corporate investigations team, pointing out what he says were blatant violations of Boeings safety rules.

But he said investigators ignored his concerns and routinely failed to enforce safety rules, even ignoring eyewitness observations and the hard work done to ensure the safety of future passengers and crew, he wrote in an internal 2022 email to CNN.

In a statement to CNN, Boeing did not dispute Meyers allegations, adding that the company investigates all allegations of improper behavior, such as unauthorized movement of parts or mishandling of documents, and makes improvements when appropriate.

Current Boeing quality investigator, Sam Mohawk, also made similar allegations last month when he filed an official complaint reporting a number of non-compliant parts making their way back to the airplanes for installation. His complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was publicly released by a Senate subcommittee investigating Boeing.

Mohawks complaint said the issue of disappearing nonconforming parts continues. Boeing is still losing parts to this day, his official complaint reads.

Boeing has been under scrutiny for its safety standards since a faulty door panel blew off a Boeing 737 MAX plane mid-air during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Several passengers were injured in the incident, which grounded all Boeing 737 MAX 9s and prompted investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board into the aircraft manufacturer and Spirit AeroSystems.

Reports released since have suggested the plane did not have the critical bolts it needed to keep the door plug in place when it left the factory.

Meanwhile, several whistleblowers have also come forward with safety concerns about Boeing, two of whom have died since coming forward with allegations.

One whistleblower, Santiago Paredes, 40, previously told The Independent that he is vigilant about his safety since blowing the whistle on Boeing.

Im always looking behind my mirror to make sure nobodys cars following me, he said.

open image in gallery A door plug fell off a Boeing 737-9 MAX, pictured, in January 2024. Following the incident, several whistleblowers came forward with safety concerns about the company ( Getty Images )

Meyers claims come after it emerged this week that the Department of Justice is poised to offer Boeing a deal to plead guilty to criminal charges over two deadly 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

The aerospace giant is accused of violating a 2021 settlement related to the two fatal crashes  first in Indonesia in October 2018 and then in Ethiopia in 2019.

Boeing was also forced to disclose any allegations of fraud, cooperate with the government and avoid committing any felony offense. Under these conditions, the DOJ agreed to defer criminal prosecution for three years.

However, the DOJ said that Boeing had failed to meet its obligations under the agreement.

Now, the DOJ is proposing a new deal that would see the company plead guilty to conspiracy charges but avoid criminal trial, attorneys for the families of the crash victims told ABC News this May.

The company must also agree to appoint an external corporate monitor, pay a fine of about $200m and remain on probation for three years, the lawyers told ABC News.

Boeing has until July 7 to accept the deal. If Boeing rejects the terms, the DOJ can pursue criminal prosecution.
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An easyJet flight bound for Tenerife was forced to divert to London after suffering a technical issue mid-flight.

Flight U28033 from Gatwick to Tenerife South Airport returned to the London aviation hub this morning.

According to Flight Emergency, a squawk code 7700 was issued as the Airbus A321neo flew over France at around 8.40am.

A squawk 7700 code indicates that there is an emergency onboard the aircraft.

As it approached Spanish airspace, the easyJet flight left cruising level FL330, turned around and descended to return to London Gatwick.

The flight then entered a holding pattern at 6,000ft to burn off fuel before its return to land at its departure airport.

Up to 244 passengers, including British holidaymakers, who were on board the commercial flight safely disembarked upon landing.

A spokeswoman for Gatwick Airport said: The aircraft has landed safely and no operational impact at the airport.

In a statement, a spokesperson for easyJet said: We can confirm that the captain of flight EZY8033 from London Gatwick to Tenerife took the decision to return to Gatwick as a precaution, due to a technical issue.

The Captain performed a routine landing in accordance with standard operating procedures and passengers have disembarked normally.

We are arranging for an alternative aircraft to operate the flight to Tenerife and would like to thank customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the delay.

The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority and easyJet operates its aircraft in strict compliance with manufacturer guidelines.

This is just one of many delays the airline has encountered this summer.

Just last week, a pair of easyJet flights between Manchester and the Greek island of Rhodes were delayed by over four hours due to air-traffic control restrictions.

Annoyingly for easyJet, a Ryanair plane flying the same there-and-back journey 25 minutes later was permitted to depart  and landed on the Greek island on time.

For more travel news and advice listen to Simon Calders podcast.
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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.
Energy cooperation 'cornerstone' of China, Kazakhstan economic relations, vivid example of complementary, win-win results

09:57, July 04, 2024 By Li Xuanmin and Xing Xiaojing ( Global Times

Crude oil and natural gas projects between China and Kazakhstan in the past decade have played a significant role in safeguarding China's energy security and elevating the economic development of Kazakhstan as well as the Central Asian region, high-level executives and business representatives from China and Kazakhstan told the Global Times.

The comment was made during Chinese President Xi Jinping's ongoing visit to Kazakhstan. Industry insiders said the visit could consolidate the two countries' comprehensive cooperation momentum across multiple sectors, including energy which serves as the cornerstone of flourishing bilateral economic relations, while also leading to more investments in solar power, new-energy vehicles, and other green energy sectors.

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed relevant agreements with Kazakh companies on Tuesday during the 7th meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Entrepreneurs Committee held in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, according to a statement on CNPC's website on Wednesday.

Almassadam Satkaliyev, Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy, said at the meeting that the future prospects for cooperation between the two countries are broad, and both countries will further deepen exchanges and cooperation in the entire oil and gas industry chain, making greater contributions to building a new "golden thirty years" of cooperation in China-Kazakhstan relations.

One of the most important achievements in China-Kazakhstan energy cooperation in the past decades centers on two projects - the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline and the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline.

To date, the natural gas transmitted by the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline A/B/C line - which runs through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China and makes resource-rich Kazakhstan a main natural gas supplier to China - has reached about 500 million Chinese in 25 provinces and municipalities as well as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Huang Hongxing, general manager of Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline project under Trans-Asia Gas Pipeline Company, told the Global Times. The natural gas pipeline has been running for 15 years.

The company is a joint venture set up by Chinese and Kazakh firms.

Kaiypov Yerseiit Zholmyrzauly, chairman of the management board of Asian Gas Pipeline LLP, a Kazakh-China joint venture, told the Global Times that the designed annual gas transmission capacity of the natural gas pipeline is 55 billion cubic meters.

Also, in the past decade, the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline, China's first overland crude oil import passage, has shipped over 150 million tons of oil to China to date, according to public data. The oil pipeline, which runs from Kazakhstan's Caspian shore to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was put into operation 20 years ago, Huang said.

He noted that the two pipelines are of great importance to China, as they have been ensuring a stable and safe crude oil and natural gas supply.

"The two projects constitute the northwestern pillar of China's four energy passages, and they're implemented at quite an early stage compared with the other two overland pillars, further safeguarding China's energy security," Huang said.

According to Huang, taking account of China's sheer size of population and large industrial base, the country has a huge energy demand which domestic supply is apparently lacking. It is estimated that over 70 percent of China's crude oil relies on imports, while the figure for natural gas was around 40 percent, according to media reports.

With regards to the projects' benefits to Kazakhstan, the two executives also highlighted how the thriving energy cooperation with China has been helping the Central Asian country to diversify export channels and integrate into a larger energy market.

"Before the implementation of the two flagship projects, Kazakh oil and natural gas only had one export destination: Europe," Huang explained. He also noted that the two major oil refineries are located in Kazakh central and northeastern regions, whereas the western Caspian shore is the place with rich oil reserves. This means the build-up of the pipeline also meets Kazakhstan's need to link up the downstream, midstream, and upstream of the oil production chain.

According to Kaiypov, the wider use of natural gas also aligns with the green energy development goals of both China and Kazakhstan.

"In Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan, authorities are replacing thermal power plants with natural gas amid a nationwide push," Kaiypov said. He also stressed that the pipeline's operation and maintenance have driven the fast-lane development of related manufacturing and service sectors in Kazakhstan, offering a great boost to the local economy.

In Tajikistan, the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline line D is under construction, the Global Times learned from state-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation, one of the project's contractors. Line D was reportedly planned to tap Turkmenistan's Galkynysh gas reserves, which are among the world's largest, and takes a shorter route from Turkmenistan to China's Xinjiang region.

Local businesses have described the two pipelines as the "new silk road of energy," which embodies the connectivity of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in terms of trade, infrastructure, policy, finance, and people-to-people exchanges, the Global Times learned. The two projects are also vivid examples of how cooperation between China and Central Asia complements each other's advantages, leading to a win-win result.

Last year, China proposed to forge a China-Central Asia energy development partnership, increase oil and gas trade, develop energy cooperation across the industrial chain, and boost cooperation in new energy and for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, among other priorities.

According to a statement the China Chamber of Commerce in Tajikistan sent to the Global Times, in terms of the broader energy cooperation between China and Central Asia, the ties are solid and have rosy prospects, not only in traditional energy but also in new energy, solar power, and clean energy cooperation.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
An ITV quiz show contestant is going viral online after making a major blunder about when Abraham Lincoln was alive.

Primary school teacher, Hanifa, appeared on Tipping Point, when she was asked by host, Ben Shepherd: At the Malta Summit in 1989, which US president declared the end of the Cold War?

Hanifa responded: I should know this as I did A Level historyIm debating between two. J.F Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865 after leading the United States through the American Civil War.
Count Binface has sent a message to the UK public as he stands as a candidate in the general election.

Key points on his manifesto include limiting the price of a 99 ice cream to 99p, and former prime ministers will be expected to take part in the national service Rishi Sunak wants to introduce.

I promise at least one affordable house, which is more than the other parties can muster between them, he says.

Count Binface will be on the ballot paper for those living in Richmond and Northallerton.
Nigel Farage has this morning (4 July) sent out a last-minute video message to followers encouraging them to vote for Reform UK in this years general election.

Explaining why hed come out of retirement to back the party, he said: Britain is broken and Britain needs Reform.

Nothing works anymore...the health service, travelling anywhere, trying to get your kids or grandkids to get a house.

Reform UKs proposed policies include ending non-essential migration, banning transgender ideology, and increasing the income tax threshold.
Jeremy Hunt has been spotted heading to vote in the general election, despite admitting he could be first chancellor to lose seat in Godalming and Ash in Surrey.

Mr Hunt appeared to step out of a nearby Range Rover as someone documented him heading to the polling station, wishing him luck as he went in.

I think you know who Im going to vote for, he told the camera.

Unfortunately all the good he has done at a local level has really been destroyed by his support for a toxic government, Godalming resident Julian Humphrys, 66, said of Hunt to Reuters.
A criminal complained to police that dashcam footage of a high speed pursuit to catch him made his driving look bad.

Nicholas Collins was part of a four-man gang, who organised crime spree of robberies and ram raids across the Midlands.

Shops were destroyed in the raids and staff were terrorised as the gang struck during the first half of 2020.

Ironically, as police closed in on the gang, Collins, who was driving the getaway van, accused officers of making his driving look bad.

The gang members are now beginning sentences of up to 18 years in prison each after a major investigation by West Midlands Police.
Rishi Sunaks parents and his wife Akshata Murty joined him for the final stump speech of the general election campaign.

The prime minister stood for a photo with his family after giving a speech at Romsey Rugby Club, north of Southampton where he grew up on Wednesday evening (3 July).

This underdog will fight to the final whistle, Mr Sunak said during his last speech on the trail.

The prime minister also urged Tory activists to continue campaigning, claiming they had urgent work to do to save the UK from a Labour government.
This is the moment a British man accused of raping two women he met on Tinder in Scotland is arrested whilst working out on a Costa del Sol beach.

Video footage shows gym boss James Clacher, 55, hanging upside down on a workout rig when three Spanish plain-clothes officers run up to him and pin him to the ground in May 2024.

Mr Clacher was facing trial on rape charges when he went missing from the Scottish town of Airdrie in May 2022.

Spains Civil Guard released footage of the high-profile arrest today (4 July).
Despite using almost the same supply chains, Belfast was found to be significantly cheaper. Photo: Getty

Dublin is the second most expensive of 10 cities across Europe looked at for apartment construction in a new study, and build costs in the capital are around a third higher those in Belfast.

The report looked at the costs of building the same apartment block in different locations across Europe.

Zurich was the most expensive with the Estonian capital Tallinn the cheapest.

But Dublin is the second dearest place to build while Belfast, just 140km away and with almost the same supply chain for materials, was the second cheapest.

The report was compiled by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and researchers from Trinity College Dublin.

It looked at the cost of building the same new unit in a seven-storey or more block of mostly two-bed homes.

The average across the 10 cities surveyed came in at 2,057 per sqm. The cost in Dublin is 2,363.

Zurich was the only city more expensive, at 2,866 per sqm. Tallinn was the cheapest at 1,367 per sqm. In Belfast the cost per square metre was 1,755. Amsterdam and Brussels, both large and wealthy cities, are also among the cheaper places to build.

The report, which includes both hard costs such as materials and some but not all soft costs such as professional fees and taxes, is the first to use a common International Construction Management Standards V3 (ICMS3) to compare costs across markets.

The disparity in costs between Dublin and Belfast in particular needs to be examined, according to Ronan Lyons, associate professor of economics in Trinity College Dublin, and one of the authors of the report.

In addition to the role of labour productivity, policymakers need to understand the role played by regulatory specifications and standards, as well as differences in soft costs, in affecting overall viability, he said.

High construction costs in Dublin are a barrier to new housing supply, he said.

Dublin is somewhat cheaper than the typical city for structural works, typically involving concrete.

However, Dublins high overall cost is due in particular to two headings  services and equipment, which includes heating, power elevators, and non-structural works, which covers things like floors, windows and carpentry, he said.

A second author of the report, Bryn Griffiths, vice chair of the SCSI Quantity Surveying Professional Group Committee, said the survey shows construction costs here could be reduced.

This survey compared the price of a Swiss apartment block if it were built in the ten cities, and it is clear that this design is architecturally very different to what we would deliver in Ireland. The designs we are using here drive higher costs and we believe if planning policy was to adopt alternative approaches and more flexibility, costs could be reduced in this area.

This article was updated on July 3rd to correct an earlier headline that suggested costs in Dublin were double those in Belfast.
Despite minor tweaks, businesses are unhappy with transport plan

Traffic on Bachelor's Walk will be even more restricted. Photo: Milosz Maslanka

Business representative groups, and the retailer Brown Thomas Arnotts Ltd, have said they continue to have concerns about Dublin City Councils new transport plan  despite the minor tweaks made this week by chief executive Richard Shakespeare.

The plan, which aims to reduce private car use in the city centre, is due to start taking effect from next month.

We would like more visibility and awareness on what the plan means, and on practical issues

Junior Minister for Enterprise Emer Higgins has called for it to be postponed until next year.

The retailers concerns relate to deliveries, access for workmen who need to do emergency repairs, and the ability of staff and customers to get in and out of their premises.

Ibec, the business lobby group which has called for a pause in the plans implementation, said yesterday that there is a lack of clarity about the plan (which is still officially a draft)and its timelines.

What we want is an improvement on communication with businesses about the plan, said Aidan Sweeney, Ibecs head of infrastructure and environmental sustainability. We would like more visibility and awareness on what the plan means, and on practical issues, such as whether deliveries will be facilitated.

We ned more information on the councils website about timelines. No one know what they are.

The draft plan on the Dublin City Council website has not been updated with the tweaks announced on Monday by the CEO, such as allowing cars turn left from Bachelors Walk onto OConnell Street.

Richard Shakespeare, CEO of Dublin City Council Photo: Gerry Mooney

The Dublin City Centre Traders Association, which has claimed the transport plan will lead to job losses and business closures, has commissioned independent research into the impact.

On Monday, Mr Shakespeare told a council meeting he would wait to receive its report on the economic impact before deciding whether to proceed with the plan next month.

Formed by solicitor Noel Smyth, the traders association membership is dominated by the owners of city-centre car parks. The Restaurants Association of Ireland, Jervis Shopping Centre and tailor Louis Copeland are also members.

Asked who it has commissioned to do the research, a spokeswoman for the association said: I have been instructed not to give any further detail on this until the report is released.

Asked yesterday if the tweaks made by the city manager have changed the alliances view, she added: Our understanding is that these changes to the transport plan have been brought about as a result of required consultation between Dublin City Council and the DPOs [disabled persons organisations].

We have commissioned two reports which will examine the impact the plan will have on Dublin city economy and traffic management system.

We await the findings of these reports, which we believe will better inform all stakeholders and parties of interest of the consequences of the proposed transport plan in its entirety. The first of these reports, which deals with economic impact, will be ready in 10 days.

Donald McDonald, the chief executive of Brown Thomas Arnotts Ltd said: We absolutely support encouraging people to make more sustainable transport choices, whilst also promoting the capitals leisure and retail offering.

We view these changes as necessary amendments to current traffic proposals to enable deliveries and access to city centre car parks.

One more change would help: allowing a right-hand turn off Bachelors Walk onto OConnell Bridge

However, concerns remain about the viability of the transport plan to support and promote a vibrant city centre.

The easing of proposed restrictions on the north and south quays of the Liffey has somewhat allayed the concerns of Dublin Town, a group with 2,500 members.

Instead of a 24-hour bus gate on Bachelors Walk, which would have stopped private traffic from turning left onto OConnell Street, the restriction has been moved down to Eden Quay.

Richard Guiney, the CEO of Dublin Town, stresses that the group is in favour of the aims of the plan  less car traffic means more footfall  but said businesses have concerns around deliveries, and access for repairs.

On pedestrianised Capel Street, for example, he cites one incident when the toilets at a business became blocked and it was difficult to get plumbers in to do the repairs.

Restaurants that operate takeaways on the street have also faced challenges. Such practical problems should be solved at the planning phase, he said.

In May, we had a good session between about 100 businesses and Dublin City Council to tease out the issues, Mr Guiney said.

A few changes were made to the plan. One more would help: allowing a right-hand turn off Bachelors Walk onto OConnell Bridge.

That would get traffic out of the city centre, and would not impact on the integrity of the plan. We have made good progress in the last month. One more change would really help.

We understand that the city should not be used a throughway. In other cities, reducing traffic has worked.

Overall, business groups mostly say they agree with the vision of the plan to make the city more pedestrian-friendly  but they want council officials to engage with the practical problems.

They also dont want individual businesses who express concerns to be accused of holding up the entire plan.

To avoid this happening, Ibec has been forwarding questions from businesses to Dublin City Council on an anonymised basis.
The Hilton Prague could fetch as much as 300m

Hotel is likely to fetch as much as 300m and its sale will mark the end of another chapter in the dismantling of the former Quinn empire

A luxury hotel in Prague that was once a prime asset of Sean Quinn and his family has been formally put up for sale.

The Hilton Prague is likely to fetch as much as 300m and its sale will mark the end of another chapter in the dismantling of the former Quinn empire.

It comes after an approach fronted by Sean Gallagher and backed by former billionaire Sean Quinn to buy the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan was rejected. That hotel is up for sale with a 35m guide price.

Commercial property specialist CBRE, meanwhile, has been appointed to handle the sale of the Prague property, which is the largest branded hotel in the Czech Republic.

Its being put up for sale by Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, formerly Anglo Irish Bank.

CBRE said it expects strong investor interest in the property. In 2015, it had previously been reported that Blackstone was among the groups then interested in acquiring the hotel.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 5th

The property  one of the largest Hilton hotels in Europe  extends over more than 81,000 sq m, has 791 refurbished guestrooms, six food and beverage outlets, extensive leisure facilities and approximately 5,000 sq m of conference space.

It opened in 1989 and has performed well following the Covid pandemic, according to CBRE, with 50m invested in the property since 2018.

The latest accounts for a Luxembourg-based holding company show that a firm behind the Hilton Prague  Quinn Hotels Praha  posted a 9.7m profit last year, compared to 9.9m in 2023.

However, accounts in Ireland for the hotel operation show it made a profit of 838,000 in 2022 when it generated revenue of 43.3m. It made an 11.3m loss the previous year.

The hotel was bought by the Quinn family in 2004 for 145m. The price included an adjacent Ibis Hotel, which was sold in 2012.

In 2022, CBRE valued the Hilton Prague at 250.4m. That represented a 28.4m increase on the previous valuation undertaken in 2017. The company behind the property noted that the increase reflected enhancements to the hotel and improved trading conditions.

The hotel made an 8m loss in 2020 as the Covid pandemic flared, compared with a 743,000 loss the hotel made in 2019. At the end of 2020, the company behind the Hilton property owed 229.2m to IBRC.

CBRE said the hotel performs strongly in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) market.

For investors looking for a market landscape with unmet demand, the European MICE market offers healthy, long-term fundamentals, said Kenneth Hatton, Head of Hotels, Europe at CBRE.

He added: However, this sub-sector has suffered from under-investment, resulting in a scarcity of product that is able to meet contemporary demand effectively.

With the value levers that will be available to an incoming owner, we anticipate investor interest to be extensive, according to Mr Hatton.

According to the Prague Convention Bureau, 4,900 meetings and conferences were held in Prague last year, with an estimated 691,000 delegates. This represented increases of 25pc and 12pc respectively in 2022.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has been urged to set a date for the launch of the new auto-enrolment pensions following the passing of legislation underpinning it.

The Dail passed the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill on Wednesday, paving the way for the retirement plan that aims to provide an income for around 800,000 people when they give up work.

The legislation has previously been passed by the Seanad, and will now go to the President to be considered and sign it into law.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) welcomed what it said was a landmark piece of social policy but said they could be no further delay in implementing the new retirement savings scheme.

ICTU general secretary Owen Reidy said the passing of the auto-enrolment legislation was a defining moment in bringing an end to our failed voluntary approach to pensions saving.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th

Future generations of workers can now be spared from seeing their income and living standards plummet in retirement, he said.

After decades of delay, it is vital to maintain momentum. The minister must name the date for the first auto-enrolment pension contributions. This legislation cannot be left to sit on a shelf gathering dust, Mr Reidy added.

ICTU also said the introduction of auto-enrolment must not do any harm to existing good occupational pensions.

We will nonetheless be vigilant for displacement or dilution and wont hesitate in taking action should employers respond to the cheaper pension auto-enrolment option by closing their workplace pension to new hires or levelling down their pension contributions to the AE rate, Mr Reidy said.

Putting in place an auto-enrolment system was first proposed by the Government some 18 years ago.

Indian information technology company Tata Consultancy Services has been chosen by the department as its preferred partner to build and run the system for its landmark auto-enrolment (AE) pension scheme, Ms Humphreys said.

Experts said the passing of the legislation and appointment of TCS are major milestones.

The Government has a target having the scheme up and running at the start of next year.

However, there are huge doubts that the deadline will be met.

Employers have complained about the cost and complexity of the new scheme.

A State agency that will oversee AE has yet to be set up and the department still has not begun the formal search for asset management firms to manage the underlying investments.

Ms Humphreys said: Auto-enrolment is a truly transformative policy that I am proud to deliver for Ireland.

It will make sure that hard working men and women across the country will be able to save for their future, with help from their employers and the State.

Automatic enrolment will put employees between the ages of 23 and 60, and who earn over 20,000 a year, into a workplace scheme. At the beginning, contributions will be set at a rate of 1.5pc of a workers gross income, which will be matched by the employer and topped up by the State.

The contributions will automatically increase every three years by 1.5 percentage points, until reaching a maximum of 6pc by Year 10.

For every 3 saved by an employee, the State will add 1.
The tech giant wants to develop a third centre at Grange Castle

Google Ireland has said it needs to build a third data centre at Grange Castle in south Dublin in order to meet the increasing demand for ICT services in Ireland. Without this project progressing, [we] will not be able to provide services to these customers, it has warned.

The tech giant has lodged a planning application with South Dublin County Council for a 72,400 square metre data centre at the Grange Castle business park.

In a planning report submitted with the application, Arup says that once the data centre is operational in 2027, it will provide about 50 extra jobs, including 25 direct staff. About 800 temporary jobs would be created during the construction phase.

Data centres have become increasingly contentious due to amount of energy they consumer  close to 20pc of the power on the Irish electricity grid.

However the Government has remained supportive of them, because the computing industry is supporting more than 90,000 jobs.

Googles planning report says the company has been in Ireland for more than 20 years, and at the Grange Castle campus for more than 10. After an initial investment in a data centre there in 2012, it completed a second one in 2019.

Google Ireland carefully selects the locations for data centres to be close to population centres in order to minimise the latency in serving the query, and the costs associated with transmitting data, its planning report says.

In relation to greenhouse gas emissions, Google points out that it has signed a 14-year power purchase agreement with Power Capital Renewable Energy for 58MW from the Tullabeg solar farm in Co Wexford through an existing grid connection.

It says the agreement has allowed the development of a new renewable-energy project which was given planning permission in 2022 and is now being built. This will add new renewable energy to the grid that Google Irelands offices and data centres run on, contributing to the decarbonisation of Irelands electricity system, it claims.

The tech company says its current projections indicate that, once operational, its agreement with Power Capital will help its offices and data centres to reach 60pc carbon-free energy next year, measured on an hourly basis.

Google says it will put photovoltaic panels on the roof of a facility support depot at Grange Castle, which will generate 20pc of the energy needed by the building.

There are also measures to allow district heating to be provided, whenever excess heat is produced at the Google operations. This has the potential to deliver heat for both space heating and water heating needs to nearby building through a network of insulated underground pipelines, it says.

The system will only work, however, when suitable off-takers for the heating are available.

Pointing out that it currently employs over 9,000 staff in Ireland, Google argues that its data centres are the engines that keep the internet running, along with services such as the Google cloud, Google search function, Google maps and workspaces, which includes Gmail and Google Docs.

The use of AI has increased the demand for computing power across Cloud and Edge data centres, it says, adding that the proposed third centre in Grange Castle can help meet the growing and increased demand for computing power as a result of AI.
Sean McGovern profile: Rise of Dubliner to top of Kinahan cartel was surprise to gardai who knew him
Gardai at the Thornton Hall site in north Dublin where three pigs were stabbed last week, understood to have been carried out in an attempt to deter Muslims from living there. Photo: Collins Dublin

Protests are hampering plans to house hundreds of asylum-seekers at a north Dublin site, a government department has said.

The delay in placing immigrants on lands at Thornton Hall comes after the Irish Independent revealed two pigs were stabbed on the site last week. Gardai are investigating whether there was an anti-immigrant motive to this incident.

Plans to build a super prison on the site were shelved and the Government instead hoped to begin accommodating asylum-seekers in tents at the site last month.

Local representatives were this week told the Department of Integration is continuing to work with the Irish Prison Service on a handover of Thornton Hall. However, the departments community engagement team said protests at the site had caused delays.

In an update to politicians, it said: A review is currently ongoing regarding the status of services at Thornton Hall. The department is engaging with our partners to complete relevant assessments.

While it was hoped that we would be in a position to begin providing emergency accommodation to people seeking international protection at the site in June, ongoing protests at the site are hampering progress.

Department officials have already met community representatives, while a further meeting is expected in the coming weeks.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell hit out at the delay, saying: There is no place for disruptive protests at any location chosen to house international protection applicants, particularly in light of recent animal cruelty at the gates of this facility. Such horrific behaviour should never be tolerated in our democracy.

A vet was called, and after tending to the animals determined their injuries were too severe for them to survive

Protests have taken place at the site in recent months, with locals raising concerns about facilities on site and a lack of consultation.

Gardai were called out to Thornton Hall last week after receiving reports of trespassers at the site. Two pigs and a piglet were discovered at the scene, and the two larger animals had been stabbed.

A vet was called, and after tending to the animals determined their injuries were too severe for them to survive. The two pigs were put down while the piglet was taken into care.

A short time later, a man in his 30s was arrested and detained for public order offences. He has since been charged and is due to appear in court next month.

Investigations into the animal cruelty aspect of the incident are continuing.

Weeks earlier, Irish far-right activists shared social media posts that claimed plans to build a mosque in Spain were scrapped after pigs were buried on the proposed land, as pork is prohibited under Islamic law.

Many of the international protection applicants arriving in Ireland are coming from Muslim countries, and gardai believed the incident is connected to the planned housing of migrants at Thornton Hall.

A source said: This is a sad incident, The pigs had to be put down because there was nothing more that could be done for them.

It is being looked at if this was done out of some belief that a pig being harmed on the land would mean Muslims cannot live there. The whole thing is cruel and bizarre.
Researchers used a drug named E6130 to redirect NK cells to the tumour. Photo: Getty

Irish scientists have discovered a new approach to overcoming problems linked to the treatment of obese patients with oesophageal cancer.

The team at Trinity College Dublin, funded by Breakthrough Cancer Research, discovered a way of making immunotherapy treatment more effective for these patients.

Their findings showed how a category of cancer-killing immune cells were badly affected by abdominal fat, but could be redirected to the tumour by a drug called E6130, according to a study in Nature-Scientific Reports.

The scientists said oesophageal cancer had long posed a significant challenge in the medical field, with only one in four patients surviving past the critical five-year mark post-diagnosis.

Dr Melissa Conroy, Dr Eimear Mylod and Professor Joanne Lysaght said they have identified vast potential for novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

Their research explores innovative strategies targeting the immune system, particularly Natural Killer (NK) cells.

Such cells are the bodys first-line defence against cancer and play a crucial role in recognising and eliminating cancer cells.

One key finding of the research was the serious effect of obesity on oesophageal cancer progression.

Individuals with higher levels of visceral fat, characterised by excessive abdominal fat, exhibit lower levels of NK cells within their tumours.

The team identified a molecule known as Fractalkine, which is responsible for drawing NK cells into fat deposits and diverting them away from the tumour site where they are needed most.

Building on this initial discovery, the team introduced an innovative intervention.

By utilising a drug named E6130, they redirected NK cells from fat towards the tumour, marking a breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy.

This research not only offers hope for oesophageal cancer patients, it holds promise for advancing immunotherapy across various cancer types, Dr Conroy said.

By addressing the intricate interplay between the immune system, obesity and cancer, we are paving the way for more effective and personalised treatment approaches.

Orla Dolan, chief executive of Breakthrough Cancer Research, said: The immune system is a powerful tool in treating cancer, but its complexity is still being unravelled.
It was banned for 336 years but our national spirit is back with a bang

The recent revival of Irish whiskey on the international market and renaissance of distilleries across the island has been an exciting development for Irish drinks culture, pulling in its wake many craft Irish gins, vodkas and rums. Arguably the most exciting twist in this tale of our new-found distilling confidence and success is the re-emergence of a spirit that we can truly call uniquely Irish: poitin.

Theres such a great industry evolving right now, says Dave Mulligan of Dublins stellar cocktail bar Bar 1661, which is spearheading the campaign to reintroduce poitin to bar shelves and spirit drinkers around the country and the world. Weve never been in a more exciting time, to see a national spirit emerge and small indie producers doing it for the love.

Dismissed as dangerous moonshine made by unskilled home distillers, poitin was banned in 1661 and remained illegal for 336 years until it was decriminalised in 1997. Of course, the ban was not about the risk of going blind but rather a tax control measure. Whiskey evolved as the officially sanctioned spirit, carefully controlled by the powers that be, and stored under bond in wooden casks for three years and a day, when it could be taxed before being sold.

Poitin, conversely, is generally not cask-aged (with the exception of a few versions that are rested for up to 10 weeks in barrels for a very light cask influence), but is influenced more directly by the small copper pot stills (poteens, or poitins) it is distilled in, and by the mash bill (recipe ingredients and ratio) used. It is generally barley based, usually malted, but mash bills can also include anything from potato to oats to rye.

Many of todays recommendations make great sipping spirits, at home or in a bar like Bar 1661, where they serve flights of poitin with tasting notes from their 27-strong collection.

Straight spirits or booze-forward drinks are not for everyone, however. If you dont already drink martinis or neat whiskeys, Mulligan recommends starting with a mixed drink, whether his Belfast Coffee (think Irish coffee meets Espresso Martini, served cold with a cream float and dusting of nutmeg) or another poitin cocktail, or a pre-mixed drink. Mulligans Little & Green brand of ready-to-drink poitin-based cans (littleandgreen.ie, 21 for six) come in Shady Bramble and Sneaky Orchard flavours, and are perfect for bringing to parties and festivals.

A lot of people fought for the right to produce poitin, so it is culturally important as well as uniquely Irish, Mulligan says. We can see the future and we can see the past, and theres a collective of Irish people helping thousands of years of history to flourish in front of our eyes.

Drinks of the week

Blackwater Irish Poitin Malt na Mara

Blackwater Irish Poitin Malt na Mara, 50pc, 25 (20cl) If youd like to get your head around the potential complexity of poitin, this release from Blackwater is a great place to start, with its accessible price, back-pocket-sized bottle and exact mash bill explained on the label (recipe ingredients and ratios, which include kelp-steeped malt and turf-malted oats). Complex and layered, it balances sweet and creamy pineapple and malty, biscuity notes with umami character (think peat and iodine). It finishes quite saline, crisp and briny with a crunchy vegetal. Good independents, including Celtic Whiskey Shop, irishdrinkshop.ie, blackwaterdistillery.ie

Mad March Hare Poitin

Mad March Hare Poitin, 40pc, 37.50 (70cl) Distilled in copper pot stills for a robust flavour and texture, with aromas of roasted chicory root, coffee and cacoa bean, broad and punchy on the palate but with a sweet, slightly chocolatey finish. Celtic Whiskey Shop, The Wine Centre, Molloys, wineonline.ie, shopmadmarchhare.com

Micil Poitin

Micil Poitin, 44pc, 34.50 (50cl) Galway-made by the sixth generation of proud poitin makers, based on 100pc malted barley with Connemara bogbean, as per family tradition, which brings a honeyed, tropical fruit flavour, this works very well in place of tequila in bright mixed drinks such as a grapefruit-based paloma. Good independents, including Celtic Whiskey Shop, DrinkStore, Sweeneys D3, irishdrinkshop.ie, micildistillery.ie

Ban Poitin

Ban Poitin, 44.5pc, 55 (70cl) Made at Echlinville Distillery in the Ards Peninsula for Dave Mulligan of Bar 1661 who is spearheading the contemporary poitin revival. Distilled in a modern style from homegrown malted barley and potato, it is designed for cocktails such as Bar 1661s signature Belfast Coffee, and tastes slightly vegetal with sweet notes of breakfast pastry, roast pineapple and a spicy heat. Celtic Whiskey Shop, irishmalts.com, irishdrinkshop.ie, echlinville.com

Killowen Pangur

Killowen Pangur, 47pc, 47 (70cl) Blending poitin distilled in a direct fire-flamed copper pot still in a tiny craft Mourne Mountains distillery with new-make spirit from a large distillery just across the lough, and rested before bottling in PX sherry casks, this fragrant and aromatic poitin has exotic fruit notes, punchy heat with complexity undertones and a subtle peaty smoky finish. Celtic Whiskey Shop; celticwhiskeyshop.ie
Fionnan Sheahan: London calling at 10pm, Labour landslide and Portillo moments  what to watch out for tonight in the UK election results

Northern Ireland battles, Jeffrey Donaldson fallout, Sinn Fein bounce back and Irish emigrant candidates across the water  here are the moments to watch out for, writes Fionnan Sheahan in Westminster

Labour leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrive at a polling station in London. Photo: PA

Fionnan Sheahan Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 15:14

The UK has gone to the polls, with a predicted outcome of a Labour return to power after 14 years of Tory government. Senior Labour strategists reckon the party will win with just under 400 seats, despite opinion polls putting the party well over this mark.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (left) with former co-leaders Roisin Shortall and Catherine Murphy (right). Photo: Brian Lawless

It was Margaret Thatcher who said: If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.

Former Social Democrats co-leaders Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall might have had very little in common with the Iron Lady, but in dynamism and their dedication to public service, they personified the truth of her words.

After they announced that they dont intend to run in the next election, it is important to recognise how instrumental they have been in breaking down resistance to gender balance in Irish political culture.

In 2015, the pair, along with Stephen Donnelly, formed the Social Democrats.

Despite a historically patriarchal environment, their efforts proved that the more women achieve power, the quicker the barriers will have to fall.

Only a year after the party was formed, then-agriculture minister Simon Coveney told the Dail the Government was correct to introduce gender quotas.

We have tried multiple policies since Ive been in politics over the last 15 years to try and encourage more women into politics and it simply hasnt worked. So we have to force the issue, he said.

He also noted: Ireland will tell other countries in parts of the developing world and so on that they need to find ways of bringing more women into politics. We need to practise what we preach.

To the credit of Ms Murphy and Ms Shortall, no one could accuse either of not having the courage of their convictions.

It was entirely fitting for the current leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, to describe both as trailblazers.

Yet in terms of getting more women into the Dail and involved in local politics, there is so much more work to be done.

Ireland is in 22nd place out of the 27 member states of the European Union for the number of women in local politics.

Small wonder Women for Election  which campaigns to increase the number of women in office  has called for the introduction of the 40pc candidate quota to be extended to local elections. Currently, the quota only applies to general elections.

But the toxicity of the political climate is now also an inhibiting factor in enticing women to get involved.

In March, Mary Butler, a junior minister, found herself in the middle of what she called a co-ordinated campaign of online hate and harassment.

And in May, Noirin OSullivan, chairperson of a taskforce into harassment and intimidation towards politicians, told the Seanad there was a palpable sense of menace that had been disproportionately targeted at women.

Last week Justice Minister Helen McEntee acknowledged a changed environment for those working in politics.

It is high time the hugely important services of women like Ms Shortall and Ms Murphy were saluted, not slated.
Dessie OHare, aka The Border Fox, was one of the most notorious criminals to emerge from the violence of The Troubles.

From a small village on the Armagh-Monaghan border, Dessie OHare became one of the most notorious criminals to emerge from the Troubles.

A confessed killer who was linked to up to 27 murders and the man behind one of the most high-profile crimes in the history of the State, The Border Fox - as he would become known - has been described as the last of a dying breed of Irish criminals.

He was linked to a series of killing and attacks but left the IRA in the late 1970s as he was deemed too violent and erratic for the group.

In 1987, he kidnapped dentist John OGrady and demanded a 1.5m ransom while moving his victim around the country. At one point he severed OGradys fingers and left them in a church as a mark of his intentions should the money not be paid up.

He led a gang of terror thugs who attempted a forced takeover of security at the property of late businessman Jim Mansfield Sr in Saggart, Co Dublin, during a chaotic period when Jim Mansfield Jr was employing a series of dissident groups at the family home.

Along with killer Declan Whacker Duffy, OHare used his fearsome reputation and his fists to terrorise employee Martin Byrne, who would be placed on the Witness Protection Programme such was the level of threat in the run-up to the trials.

Now, OHare is a free man once again  having been released from prison for the third time.

Today on The Indo Daily, Ellen Coyne is joined by Paul Williams, special correspondent with the Irish Independent, to talk about a terror boss who was so brutal that he was deemed too violent for the Provisional IRA.
The doctors spoke following the release of a report which said that there has been a significant increase in the senior clinicians, consultants and GPs presenting with burnout, stress and anxiety

Doctors who work in the Macroom area and wider County Cork have said that burnout is a real danger in their profession.

Dr Rawle Maicoo, who runs a GP and out-of-hours practice in Bandon as well as an out-of-hours service in Macroom, and Dr Con Kelleher, who was previously a GP in Macroom and now works as a locum doctor, told The Corkman that a shortage of doctors as well as other factors are contributing to physicians becoming burnt out.

The local doctors spoke following the release of a report from the Practitioner Health Matters Programme(PHMP), which found that there has been a significant increase in the senior clinicians, consultants and GPs presenting with burnout, stress and anxiety.

The report found that there were 107 new presentations to the PHMP in 2023 and there was a 48% increase in the number of presentations in the 5-year period from 2018. It said that 87% of those presenting were doctors (63% aged 26-49), with lower numbers of pharmacists and dentists presenting.

Dr Maicoo told The Corkman that burnout is definitely something which he has experienced on a semi-continuous basis since 2020, when he opened his GP practice in Bandon.

The doctor, who has since opened SwiftDoc out-of-hours practices in Macroom and Bandon, said that even though he has managed to take on a second doctor to help him, it can get really tricky when it comes to taking time off.

You are either asking a second doctor to do twice the amount of work or you are looking for a locum, Dr Maicoo explained.

Dr Maicoo said that locums usually have an hourly rate ranging between 90 and 160 and this is a cost which is often not feasible for many practices to bear.

He said that locums often tend to shy away from working in GP practices due to the workload expected of doctors, which might consist of seeing five or six patients an hour, a lot of paperwork and doing house calls.

In addition, it can be difficult to find any doctor to take on work as many Irish doctors are leaving the country while foreign doctors often come with higher rates.

Its difficult to afford the extra help and some GPs decide its not worth it, Dr Maicoo said.

The doctor said that he would like to see more funding be put into the healthcare system so that more doctors would be available, clinics would receive more support, and there would be a healthier population, to prevent doctor burnout.

If the buck stops with you and thats where it is, there is no rest. There is no mental switch off really, Dr Maicoo stated.

Dr Con Kelleher said that the findings of the PHMP report, relayed to him by The Corkman, were not a huge surprise.

He believes that a lack of doctors available to work as GPs is one of the main contributing factors to this, along with Covid-19 making life more complicated for doctors.

The 70-year-old locum said that he was slightly surprised that it was mostly younger doctors who were reporting burnout, as many older GPs are still in practice as doctors have become scarce.

He said burnout is something he saw in his colleagues when he was working as a GP although younger doctors expectations in terms of work-life balance may be contributing to them feeling burnt out.
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The group met with the Minister in hope that he would help to get Kanturk Courthouse refurbished

A delegation from Kanturk Courthouse Restoration Committee visited the Dail on Wednesday, where they spoke to the Minister for Heritage, Malcolm Noonan TD, about getting the local courthouse handed over to a state body which would refurbish the building.

The bridewell of the courthouse, built in the 1820s, is home to rare graffiti etched on its walls by Republican prisoners during the Revolutionary Period but damp conditions in the building, courtesy of its leaking roof, is believed to be damaging the artefacts.

The Kanturk delegation, who were joined by Cork North-West TD Michael Moynihan, met with Minister Noonan over lunch at the Dail and spoke about facilitating a process in which the Courts Service of Ireland would hand the building over to the care of a state body.

Deputy Moynihan told The Corkman that Minister Noonan of the gem that the courthouse is and the significance of the graffiti within the walls of its bridewell.

He is acutely aware of the challenges there and the importance of preserving the courthouse, Deputy Moynihan said.

The Minister spoke to the Kanturk delegation about the need to get eyes on the findings of a report recently completed on the courthouse. He also spoke about the Irish Landmark Trust and the Irish Heritage Trust potentially having roles in caring for the building in the future.

Minister Noonan told the visiting party that if a state body took over the courthouse, funds would be made available on a regular basis for the development of the building.

Deputy Moynihan said that a meeting is hoped to held within the next week, in which a number of parties will be brought together to discuss the courthouse and ensure action is taken.

Vice-chairperson of the Restoration Committee, Dan Dennehy, told The Corkman that the group also bumped into Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Dara Calleary TD, who said he supported their cause.

Although they headed up to Dublin with the goal of kickstarting a process that would see the courthouse refurbished, the Kanturk delegation also enjoyed themselves on their day out and got to chat with a number of prominent politicians, including Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Independents Mattie McGrath and Michael Healy-Rae.

While enjoying a few pints in the Dail bar, the group also encountered Riverdance creator Michael Flatley, who was promoting his new whiskey brand and was happy to be photographed with the visitors.
The government is being urged to intervene and assist at Ardara Child care service which is facing demolition due to defective concrete blocks.

Ardara Community Childcare opened its purpose-built premises in the heart of Ardara town in 2007, after securing funding from the EU for a special program for Peace and Reconciliation and with the help of many local fundraising initiatives in Ardara.

Since then, it has provided vital childcare for hundreds of families in Ardara and the surrounding areas, and provides an essential afterschool service for children attending the six national schools close to the facility.

However, findings of a recent defective block report showed significant defective concrete materials in all five tested areas, including the buildings foundations.

The report recommended that the building should be demolished and rebuilt due to the high levels of pyrite, pyrrhotite and free mica.

Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has pressed Government to assist the child care service whose facility is affected by defective blocks, saying the impact of the defective blocks crisis will be seen in far more community and private buildings in Donegal and across the country and must be addressed.

Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dail, Deputy Pringle said he visited the Ardara Community Childcare centre and was horrified to see the effect that defective blocks are having on the building.

There is no doubt that this childcare service is extremely important to the people of Ardara.

"Many people rely on this service and many parents have stated that they would be unable to work without it.

"It was devastating for them to discover the findings of a recent defective block report which showed significant defective concrete materials in all five tested areas, including the buildings foundations.

The report recommended that the building should be demolished and rebuilt due to the high levels of pyrite, pyrrhotite and free mica, however, disgracefully there is no government funding available for this.

"Ardara Community Childcare is a community organisation with a voluntary board of directors, who have charitable status, he said.

The deputy raised the issue during Leaders Questions.

Deputy Pringle said, We have been telling the government since the introduction of the redress scheme that defective blocks would be found in buildings such as this, yet the government refused to listen and now community organisations, such as Ardara Community Childcare, are faced with this dire situation through no fault of their own.

They are in this position because of the governments light-touch regulation and now the government refuses to address or rectify the effect that this light-touch regulation has had on community buildings across Donegal.

In response to a question regarding Ardara Community Childcare, Minister OGorman stated that: This is a unique situation.

I dispute this completely.

"This is certainly not a unique situation, and the government would know this if they had listened to the opposition and the people affected from the beginning.

Taoiseach, defective blocks are having a detrimental effect on many important services across Donegal already, such as Raphoe Community Playgroup and Letterkenny Community Childcare as well, and this is only the beginning.

As the years go on, we will start to see the effect of defective blocks on far more community and public buildings in Donegal and across the whole country, said Deputy Pringle.

Deputy Pringle told the Taoiseach he must address this issue now before the issue gets completely out of hand and many vital services are forced to close as a result.

There is no way the likes of Ardara Community Childcare would be able to raise the amount of money required to demolish and rebuild the building as a small community.

"Without vital government funding, they will be forced to close their doors, during a crisis in childcare, and this would be devastating for the town of Ardara.

What are you going to do and what is your government going to do to make sure this doesnt happen and that these defective buildings will be remedied? he asked.

In his response the Taoiseach, Simon Harris, said Minister OGormans department is aware of the impact that defective blocks are having on the child care service in Ardara.

He said his understanding was that the Department is examining how it can use existing capital funding in the Department and seeing if that can be repurposed to assist in that case.

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Deputy Pringle said, I do think you need the whole of government to take the approach that this is a crisis, that this is going to get worse.

He said one thing Government could do immediately would be to amend IS465 to include pyrite and pyrrhotite.

The deputy said, And how do you make sure this doesnt happen again in the future? You make sure theres proper regulation put in place.
Louise Hassan, who left school at 15, is now on the verge of completing her PhD

A Dublin mother who says she never contemplated university after leaving school at just 15, went back to do her Leaving Cert in her 40s and is now aiming to complete her PhD.

Louise Hassan, from Walkinstown, is on the brink of achieving this extraordinary educational milestone while balancing the care of her autistic daughter, who attends daycare services.

She credited the staff at her local Further Education and Training (FET) centre in Blanchardstown for helping her reach this point.

My second foray into the world of education started in 2014 in Blanchardstown Adult Education Centre, and it was just transformational, she said.

Not just for the educational aspect, it was also great to get out and meet people again. The teaching was exceptional. I was very lucky to have had four exceptional teachers, and they will be acknowledged in my PhD when its published.

Louise Hassan (right) with Anne McHugh, Chairperson of the ETBIs Chief Executive Forum, and Paddy Lavelle, ETBI General Secretary

While she has managed to balance her education and her responsibilities in taking care of her daughter, it didnt come without challenges.

There were times when I couldnt go into lectures because Id be at home looking after my daughter. But Id catch up later, she said.

Anyone thinking of returning to education should visit their local Education and Training Board college to find out what they can offer.

Some people might find the prospect of picking up the books again a bit daunting. But they shouldnt worry. All the teachers are fantastic, and they will support you all the way. There is such a diverse range of courses available, there is something for everyone.

After enrolling herself for the Leaving Certificate in her 40s, Ms Hassan is now close to completing her doctoral studies at Dublin City University (DCU), focused on the fantasy novels of George R.R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th

Ms Hassan said her journey really began when she finally completed her Leaving Cert.

At our graduation, someone from DCU was there to give a talk about further education. Thats when I began thinking, Wow, maybe I could do that.

I left school when I was 15, and the thought of going to university never entered my head. But now, older and wiser, I decided to study Theology and English.

The interview panel at DCU were really impressed by the fact that I had gone back to college to do the Leaving Cert.

After successfully graduating with honours, Louise went on to enrol in DCUs first-ever Masters course in Creative Writing.

After completing my MA, I was asked if I wanted to continue with my studies and study for a PhD, she said.

Im a big fan of Game of Thrones and thought if I was going to do another four years of education, it would have to be to study something I really loved. My supervisor for the PhD is Marina Carr, the playwright, and the focus is on Christology and mythology.

I have just completed my third year and have one year to go before I can call myself Dr Louise Hassan, fingers crossed.

Louises inspiring story was highlighted as the ETBI unveiled its four key priorities for Budget 2025, including increased funding for the FET sector and a 600mn allocation for the FET Colleges of the Future project, set to commence in 2028
Councillor hits out at catastrophic anti-social behaviour at council housing estates across Dublin

Councillor Mannix Flynn has called for a report on the management of council housing estates

A Dublin councillor believes some council housing estates are at risk of becoming no-go areas due to the level of ongoing criminal and anti-social behaviour.

Independent councillor Mannix Flynn has called for better policing of these areas and said Dublin can have police all over the place for Taylor Swift and the Europa League Final, but we simply can't do that for tenants.

Next month, he will seek a full report from Dublin City Council on the estate management in relation to the ongoing catastrophic criminal and anti-social behaviour taking place in the vast majority of the councils housing estates.

He will refer to the Glovers Court flat complex at York Street/Mercer Street, Digges Street and York Street as it has become so dangerous for residents that its bordering on a no-go area.

Wed the vast amount of police for Taylor Swift. We can have police all over the place for the Europa League Final. We can do all of that, but we simply cant do that for tenants, he told the Irish Independent.

Its frightening. Its smack bang in the middle of the city, right beside the Royal College of Surgeons, right beside Saint Stephens Green, right beside the Maryland Hotel, the Swan bar on Aungier Street. Its simply a mess.

Councillor Mannix Flynn has called for a report on the management of council housing estates

Youve got major drug dealing going on in the area from young individuals to very old individuals. You have serious assaults in the area. Youve threats on individuals and staff in the areas. Its unsafe for workers.

Young children arent allowed to play in their yards because of the number of drugs in the area. The elderly are being threatened and intimidated too.

Its like this because of Dublin City Councils complete and absolute lack of any proper estate management and enforcement. The other issue is the non-existent police force, he added.

Cllr Flynn said local residents are sick of whats occurring and threatened to take their protest to the streets.

Im going to organise the residents in my area, which is the York Street, Mercer Street, to block every single street into the city. That includes the Luas, he said.

This is going to continue to happen until we get a proper police service in these areas. It is catastrophic within the working-class social housing estates and it's no laughing matter.

The blocks of flats in Mercer House and Glovers Court, theyre locking their doors and their children have been held hostage. You feel very intimidated. Women feeling frightened, racism, drug use.

Two 20-year-olds tried to take my phone recently. Crime is up. The residents are telling me they want to get out of there and these are people that are in the area 30, 40 and 50 years.

The city is dangerous; the city is unsafe. The residents in the area are sick of this, it is 24/7. Its day and night with people coming into the area to score drugs and people fighting, he added.
The Cessna single-engine plane that was seized by gardai after it landed in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Photo:: An Garda Siochana

A father of one who was caught red-handed in playing an active role in the importation of over 8m of cocaine into a private airfield in the midlands almost two years ago has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Fifty-six-year-old Tim Gilchrist Jr of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford, was handed down an eleven and a half year with the final six months suspended at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court today (Thursday) by Judge Keenan Johnson.

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The Waterford native had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co. Westmeath and of importing an estimated 8.4m of the controlled drug at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Abbeyshrule, Co Longford.

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.

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.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 4th

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.

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.

The Cessna single-engine plane that was seized by gardai after it landed in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Photo:: An Garda Siochana

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.

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.

In delivering sentence, Judge Johnson expressed his concern at how private airfields appeared to be used as an open corridor by organised crime gangs in which to import significant quantities of controlled drugs.

He said there was a clear and unequivocal need for significant upgrades in both security and custom examination checks to be introduced at facilities similar to those in Abbeyshrule and Dieppe from where the seven figure drugs haul was transported between.

Judge Johnson said the accused had effectively been caught red-handed by gardai when the 09-D registered Alfa Romeo car he was driving was intercepted by gardai on the date in question.

He said there had been a considerable degree of planning in the orchestration of the drugs importation, saying Gilchrist Jnr played an active role in both its logistics and ultimate delivery for his own financial gain.

Judge Johnson described the episode as being at the upper end of the mid range of offences that, on indictment carry a maximum tariff of life in prison.

He said given the gravity of the incident the court was of a mind to put the headline sentence at 16 and-a-half-years.

Taking those factors into account and, in imposing the maximum 30pc reduction open to the court allied to Gilchrist Jnrs early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions, that sentence could be reduced to one of eleven-and-a-half years.

Judge Johnson imposed that sentence on both the possession for sale or supply and drugs importation charges, terms he directed to run concurrently.

In backdating the sentence to when the accused first went into custody in August 2022, Judge Johnson suspended the final six months of that sentence for a period of two years in order to foster and encourage Gilchrist Jnrs rehabilitation when he is eventually freed from prison.
Call for greater protections for students and landlords of digs accommodation. Photo: Stock image

A Leitrim TD has called for legislation to be put in place to protect students and landlords of digs accommodation.

Students across the northwest often travel for college, with digs being the only affordable option for accommodation.

There has now been a call to formalise these accommodations arrangements - for the student and the homeowner so everyone understands what is expected of them.

The Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2024 was debated recently in the Dail.

The bill, brought forward by Sinn Feins Housing spokesperson Eoin O Broin TD and Higher Education spokesperson Mairead Farrell TD seeks to give protections to students and householders renting so-called student digs.

This is where a student rents a room in which the homeowner also resides as part of the rent a room scheme.

Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Martin Kenny said he will have two children in College this coming September so he is well aware of the struggles facing students finding accommodation.

He said while many students have no issues while living in digs, there are some cases where problems can arise.

The only option for many student is to go into digs and in most cases it does work out very well.

Most of the landladies look after them very well and become like a second mother to them.

There are the instances where things do not work out so well.

We need to have some sort of agreement in place where everyone knows what is expected.

That the students are supposed to pay their rent on time, not to act the blaggard too much - except maybe during rag week, said Deputy Kenny.

While the bill will give rights to homeowners, it will also provide protections for the students.

Deputy Kenny said homelessness charity Threshold has previously pointed out that those renting such rooms have effectively have no rights and is desperately in need of reform.

Many parents and student renters are unaware that they have no right to privacy  which includes a lock on their door, he said.

Currently, there is also no right to reasonable use of the kitchen or bathroom, a notice period, or a right to a rent book.

For the majority of students, they have a positive experience in this kind of digs accommodation  but we cannot ignore that there have also been some horror stories.

That is why this bill is necessary.

The students need some sense of the responsibility that they have as a tenant but the person who is renting out the room also has a responsibility to provide a proper kind of accommodation.

Number one that there is heating on in their rooms, access to a kitchen and cooking facilities.

This is about trying to formalise something that will provide for both so that everybody can be respectful of each other.

When it is written down on paper and there is a contract in place and they have recourse, it puts everybody in the right place, said Deputy Kenny.
Tributes have been paid to Judge Elizabeth MacGrath from the Judiciary, Legal Profession, and Courts Service

Tributes have been paid to Judge Elizabeth MacGrath of Thurles District Court, who died last night after a short illness in her home town of Nenagh in north Tipperary.

Judge Cephas Power paid tribute to his colleague at Cashel District Court on Thursday morning, and the court held a moments silence in her honour.

Judge Power said he was surprised and shocked to hear the news, and he had been reading the many tributes to her from her colleagues across the Courts and beyond.

I too would like to extend my deepest condolences, he said. Judge MacGrath had served with distinction for 16 years, and all those who met her were lucky to do as she was a wonderful person. She was always happy to help out with her colleagues, and her loss will be deeply felt by all of us.

She had been a President of the Association of Judges, and was a member of numerous committees.

Solicitor Gary Kingson led tributes on behalf of the legal profession. Judge MacGrath had been assigned to the District Number 8. I have known Judge MacGrath for many years, said Mr Kingston. She had excellent knowledge of the law and was held in high esteem. She dispensed justice in a fair and kind manner, and was an absolute lady.

Mr Kingston extended his condolences to Elizabeths husband, Charles, and to her family and friends.

Court Clerk Denise Fitzgerald led tributes on behalf of the Courts Service. As Mr Kingston said, she was an absolute lady. She was always fair and a pleasure to deal with. She will be deeply missed by all the Court staff, he said.

Judge MacGraths brother Joe MacGrath was appointed as the first Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council after the amalgamation of North and South Tipperary, and retired from that role only recently.

Her other brother, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, is a Judge of the Court of Appeal. She was married to Charles Stanley Smith, a former head of An Taisce.
On Saturday the Enniscorthy meeting of Quakers played host for the celebration of 400 years since founder George Fox was born in 1624.

This celebration was held in conjunction with the quarterly Leinster meeting which is historically always held in the Meeting House in Killagoley. As the religion has no employed priests, the quarterly meetings are divided into the free regions of Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connacht.

Local clergy and families were invited to the event for tea, sandwiches, cake, and Wexford strawberries provided by The Village at Wheelocks.

While the religion rejects ordained ministry and outward rites, the group has a long tradition of sitting in communal silence, with everyone waiting to be moved to give ministry.

Clodagh Davis, one of the members, said that sometimes no ministry is given while other times there are a variety of ministries within the one meeting. This can be given in the form of words, no matter how long or short, through song or poetry.

"Inspiration may come from various places.

The cake was baked to celebrate the birth of founder George Fox.

There are over 1,500 members across the country of Ireland; 20 of them attending the Enniscorthy meetings. However, despite the small number, they have never actively sought to find extra people and prefer for people to be naturally drawn to their method of worship.

They are also open to people attending the meetings for a while before returning to their previous methods of worship. Ms Davis said sometimes people travel for a while with us and if that helps them in some way, that is great.

The Meeting House, one of the oldest buildings in the town will also be going under much needed restoration. Five years ago during a a particularly strong storm, the property flooded with water after the drain pipes burst, with the pews found floating around the room.
Queen guitarist Brian May, singer Myleene Klass and Blackadder star Tony Robinson are among the stars who have been casting their ballots and encouraging others to vote in the General Election.

May, 76, shared a video of the sign outside his local polling station and said the sweet scent of liberation is in the air.

He wrote on Instagram: Happy Independence Day folks !!! Special salutations to all our American friends, celebrating the birth of your nation.

This year, over here in the UK, we are having a kind of Independence Day too.

The mood of the country seems to be that this is a long-awaited chance to express their disgust at the ineptitude, arrogance and corruption that we have been forced to witness over the last decade.

He added: But for us the sweet scent of liberation is in the air. A New Hope of decency.

By the early hours of tomorrow morning we will know for sure one way or the other.

Klass, who has campaigned for changes to miscarriage law and womens health care, shared a selfie outside her polling station and wrote: I never thought it possible my voice could create change and yet time and time again I have been able to prove that it does, I just need to use it.

I have walked the hallowed halls of parliament where women are still severely under represented and have stood in the very cupboard where suffragette Emily Wilding Davison hid in order to be physically present to place her vote the morning after by using the house of commons as her address.

Meanwhile, the old boys club rolls on. (My fav line, and there have been many, when asked which Asian I am, Oh we have a Filipino maid.)

I have campaigned (and WON) for changes to Womens health, Miscarriage care and the chance of/ equal education for children across the UK.

As a state school kid myself, who now mentors at her old school helping to guide those who have lost their way, I know first hand how important access to education and facilities are.

Parliament is on the whole, utterly oblivious to the needs of the real world.

Thats why, you must use your vote today. To make change. For you and for your children.

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Actor Tony Robinson shared a video of himself singing and dancing as he walked into his local polling station, holding his passport for photo ID.

He wrote: Vote TODAY. Vote Change. Vote Labour.

Actor Charles Dance waits to cast his vote (James Manning/PA)

Game Of Thrones star Charles Dance was photographed waiting in a queue to vote at his local polling station at Willingham Close Tenants and Residents Association Hall in north London, where Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria also cast their vote on Thursday morning.

TV star Piers Morgan also shared a picture from his own trip to vote, writing: Vote cast.

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Polls are open until 10pm.
From the perfect plain T-shirt to classic jeans and best trench, Irish stylists and fashionistas share for their tried-and-true high-street and high-end staples

There are certain items of clothing that we turn to again and again: the plain T-shirt, the button-down shirt, the straight-leg jeans, the throw-on cardigan, the white trainers. They may not be quite as exciting as the statement pieces, but basic doesnt have to mean boring.

These are the foundations of many of our everyday outfits, versatile staples that can be dressed up or down, and you want to invest in reliable options that will stand the test of time.

1. The Tee: Fits Everybody T-shirt, 58, Skims

Skims Fits Everybody T-shirt

This would be my basic top. I have one in all the base colours  black, brown and grey  and I just wear them with every single thing, says TV presenter and model Katja Mia (@katja_miaa). You can wear it over or tuck it in, and they go really well with blazers, shirts and coats, so all throughout the year, youre wearing them.

With short sleeves and a crew neck, the T-shirt is made from a polyamide-elastane blend for a second-skin feel, and caters to sizes XXS-4XL. It fits so well because of the stretch, and its got that butter softness, Mia says. Its that kind of material like you get from Spanx or tights, so it really will hold you in, but at the same time, its really comfortable and really soft on your body.

2. The long-sleeved tee: T-shirt, 25, Arket

Arket T-shirt

If people are on a budget, Arket always does really good T-shirt basics, in lots of different colours. Arket does a long-sleeved T-shirt that I really like because its great all year round, says fashion stylist Corina Gaffey (@corinagaffey), who counts Vogue Williams, Amy Huberman and Loah among her clients.

I kind of veer towards long sleeves because I think its a better layering option  it works under blazers, and it works on its own as well. I prefer the silhouette and its a little bit more oversized. The Arket ones wash really well too. I wash and dry mine, and theyre always totally fine.

The 100pc cotton crew neck top comes in sizes XS-L and in eight colours.

3. The jeans: 501 Original jeans, 120, Levis

Levi's 501s

Thats definitely a basic that I love time and time again. It just looks so classic, says Zeda the Architect (@notzeda), a stylist and creative director.

The iconic blue jeans, invented in 1873, are shaped to a straight leg and feature a button fly, available in standard sizes in a 23-32 waist, and in plus sizes 14-24. Theyre 100pc cotton denim, with zero stretch so they hold their shape better over time and wont go saggy around the backside and knees.

Levis has expanded the 501 range to include all kinds of variations, from skinny cuts to cuffed hems to cropped fits, but Zeda prefers to stick with the original, ideally sourced second-hand.

If you can, get it vintage, the fit is amazing, she says. But if not, theres a remade version with a vintage fit.

4. The sandal: Arizona sandal, 130, Birkenstock

Birkenstock 'Arizona' sandal

The one thing I would always have on the go is a really good pair of Birkenstocks  and I never thought Id be that woman who would be saying that she would have Birkenstocks, says Sonya Lennon (@sonyalennon), designer and co-founder of Lennon Courtney.

She wears a pair from the German companys 2021 collaboration with luxury label Jil Sander, although she rates the classic sandals too.

They do some really interesting designer collabs, but the basic ones are brilliant as well. A basic pair of Birkis is kind of a must. I spend so much time traipsing on beaches and hopping into the sea, so just being able to throw them on and run is perfect.

5. The mac: Extra-long trench coat, 79.95, Zara

Zara trench coat

Definitely a mac coat, says Zeda. Burberry is too expensive, but Zara does a great extra-long one.

The light camel trench, which is made from 100pc cotton and comes in sizes XS-XXL, has a double-breasted button fastening with tabs on the shoulders and cuffs. The matching belt can be used to cinch the waist or tied in a knot at the back to leave the coat hanging open, while the storm flap is offset with a raw-cut hem to put a fresh twist on its traditional tailoring.

6. The trainers: 530 trainers, 120, New Balance

New Balance 530s

New Balance is a great everyday shoe for me, says Mia. She has a few different models from the footwear company, but she returns most often to this white pair with grey and indigo accents.

It looks really good with traditional denim but, at the same time, its neutral enough to go with everything. It goes with tracksuits, with tailored pants, and with jeans it looks great because of the blue.

7. The shirt: Boyfriend shirt, 150, With Nothing Underneath

With Nothing Underneath shirt

A shirt is a really good basic. I have the striped one. I like that its got the masculine element of the stripe, says Gaffey. Theyre a really good price point and really good materials, and its sustainable as well.

The London brand is B Corp-certified, in recognition of its high standards for social and environmental impact. Its button-down  dubbed The Boyfriend for its looser fit, inspired by mens tailoring  is created with 100pc organic cotton and available in sizes 6-18.

I love that the shirt is becoming a co-ord with shorts this summer, and then you can wear it with jeans in autumn, Gaffey adds. I love the combination of something dressy with casual, like [a] shirt with sequins or under a suit.

8. The cardi: Gaspard cardigan, 100, Sezane

Sezane Gaspard cardigan

Sezane does great knitwear, Gaffey says of the Parisian brand. The Gaspard is their signature cardigan. It has little buttons down the front, and you can wear it back to front, with the buttons on the back, kind of like a crew-neck [jumper]. Thats a really nice, more dressy style of cardigan that you could wear open with a cami or wear on its own. Its a bit cooler than your typical kind of cardigan.

The cardigan comes in more than 30 colours, from black and navy to bright red and sea green. Made from a mohair-alpaca blend, its hand-wash only, and available in sizes XXS-3XL.

9. The belt: Triomphe belt, 470, Celine

Triomphe belt

I got this belt for my birthday, kind of like an investment belt, Mia says. Its black and its skinny, and it just goes with everything. If Im wearing something really casual, thats how I would glam it up so I could wear it out for lunch or to an event.

The mid-waist belt is crafted from Taurillon leather  more durable and scratch-resistant than standard calfskin  complete with neat gold finishing at the clasp, which features the French fashion houses Triomphe logo, the interlocking C motif. It comes in two widths and up to eight sizes, in many different colours, from crisp black to pastel pink to leopard print.

10. The shoe: Flat slingback shoe, 220, Nicki Hoyne

Nicki Hoyne slingbacks

A pointed style draws the eye down, it gives you a cleaner line and it makes legs look a little bit longer, Gaffey says. If you dont want to wear a trainer and you want to look a bit more dressed up, its a really good option, for comfort factor and then also its polished, if you want to take them to the office or dress up a pair of jeans.

She recommends the collection by Kilkenny designer Nicki Hoyne, made in Spain. Gaffey highlights the new crystal-embellished style The Moment (270) or, for a more understated look, theres a black suede pair with oversized bows.

I like the idea of the pointed flat not just being for daytime. I think Nickis doing that evening flat well, Gaffey adds. You could wear it with a dress, you dont have to rely on heels. Im so bad with heels, so Im all for people putting flats first.

11. The blazer: Eve structured oversized blazer, 65, 4th Arq

'Eve' blazer 4th Arq

4th Arq, founded by Dublin influencer Rosie Connolly, is best known for its half-zip fleeces, but has branched out into other categories, including blazers, of which Mia is a fan.

I wear that blazer a lot, its another staple, she says. Its an Irish brand, and the blazer looks so good with jeans and a T-shirt.

She wears the charcoal version, praising its oversized, boxy shape, sold in three sizes: XS-S, M-L and XL-XXL. There are also olive, cream and black options of the double-breasted jacket, made in a polyester blend that is machine washable.

12. Frankie round handbag, 180, Somas Studio

Somas Studio bag

I go for a crossbody bag, because I need my hands free when Im working. I prefer a smaller bag that you can just fit essentials in, like a phone, wallet and a little bit of make-up, Gaffey says.

Somas Studio has a really nice selection of bags that are a little more minimalist and quiet luxury. Theyre multi-use bags: you can wear them crossbody, you can wear them as a shoulder bag and you can also clutch them in your hand. I have this in a cream colour, which actually is quite practical to go with lots of neutrals.

Margaret Urbanowiczs handbags are designed in Cork and manufactured in Italy, and the Frankie silhouette is available in black, brown, khaki and orange.

13. The loafer: Brushed leather loafers, 930, Prada

Prada brushed leather loafers

You can get trusty loafers from Asos, but the Prada ones are amazing  theyre so comfortable and theyre so worth it with the cost per wear, Zeda says.

The fine leather loafers are set on platform rubber soles, giving the preppy stalwart a modern, streetwear edge, and feature a notched-effect welt emblazoned with the Italian houses distinctive metal triangle plaque to add a splash of bling.
MBABANE  Hloniphile Mabuza (nee Mkhonta) has accused her husband, Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza, of making derogatory statements about her to gain public sympathy.

Hloniphile said her husband, Bacede, allegedly made the derogatory statements about her also to possibly sway the court into losing sight of the real issues it needs to decide on, being the interests of their three minor children. She told the court that the children were missing out on school and were further being denied the lifestyle they had become accustomed to since birth. Might I add that the respondents assertions and derogatory statements made upon myself are scandalous and should be struck out, for they are made solely for the purpose of gaining public sympathy, said Hloniphile.

The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. She further submitted that she was aware of 14 children fathered by her husband. However, when he was incarcerated, Hloniphile said she was introduced to four others. She submitted that even though the children allegedly multiplied, it did not deter her husband from giving her the amount of E50 000 monthly allowance.

Allegedly

Hloniphile said Bacede had done so until April 2024, when he also allegedly stopped paying for his childrens accommodation and school fees. On another note, Hloniphile said she failed to understand why her husband insisted that his family would support her and the children. She said they had allegedly not bothered to assist her with the payment of school fees, despite that she alerted them. She said her mother-in-law was also not well and it would be insensitive of her to leave her with a house full of children, while she acclimates with the incarceration of her son.

Hloniphile further told the court that she was shocked to discover that a motor vehicle loan instalment of E17 500, in favour of Standard Bank was paid into her account on June 18, 2024, from the Dvonga Trust Account held at FNB, belonging to the former Member of Parliament (MP). According to the applicant, she stopped using the Ranger Rover last year and bought a VW, which she could maintain. I could not afford to maintain a E1 million motor vehicle. In full appreciation of the situation my husband is in, I had to downgrade and not financially over-burden myself with expensive car maintenance. She argued that the respondent (Bacede), prior to this date, was allegedly aware that school fees for their children had become due on May 31, 2024. Hloniphile informed the court that she changed houses when the former MP allegedly stopped making rental payments.

Affordable

The house rent stood at E6 400 when he made the payment in February 2024. When the respondent stopped making such payments, I decided to move to an affordable house, wherein I currently pay E4 200 for rent. I further informed the respondent of my change of address and asked him to send a family member to confirm same, however, he told me that he would send a driver instead and I refused. I submit that I am still open to his family knowing and coming to see where I, as a Mabuza wife and children live. Hloniphile denied that she owned the rental flats her husband was referring to. She also submitted that she also did not own a decor business. She said she only had one stretch tent, which her husband allegedly took to Luve. She stated that when she went to fetch it, she realised that she could no longer make meaningful income out of it.
Met Eireann has issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain in four counties on Friday, with spot flooding possible.

The national forecaster issued the alert for the counties of Dublin, Meath, Louth and Wicklow from 10pm on Friday to 6am on Saturday, with heavy rain and possible spot flooding.

Meanwhile, Met Eireann has forecast a windy Thursday and heavy rain, hail and thunderstorms tomorrow, bringing the risk of spot flooding.

This morning might be blustery and breezy, with a mix of sunshine and showers. Meanwhile, it will become cloudier in the southwest through the afternoon, bringing light rain or drizzle.

Temperatures will range between 14 and 18C, sometimes with fresh and gusty winds as winds will become stronger at times along coasts and very strong along northern coasts.

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Tonight will be cloudy with rain or drizzle in the south, which will clear early at night, Met Eireann said. The rest of the country may enjoy clearer conditions, with isolated showers mainly in Ulster. Temperatures on Thursday night will drop to 7 and 10C.

Tomorrow morning will be mostly dry before scatted showers move in slowly from the west. Some of these showers will turn heavy with the chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail, bringing the risk of spot flooding. Temperatures on Friday will be 14 to 17 degrees.

Friday night will see further heavy scattered showers overnight, merging with longer spells of rain over the north and east regions which may lead to spot flooding. Temperatures will drop to 6 and 9 degrees, the forecaster predicted.

Irish weather warning colours explained

The weekend will continue quite unsettled with rain or showers, while it will be cool for the time of the year.

Saturday morning will start off with clouds and rain lingering in the east while elsewhere will see a mostly dry start with sunny spells. However, there will be some showers in the north and west as these will extend to other areas through the afternoon and evening. Temperatures will range between 13 and 17C.

Saturday night will see a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, with temperatures dropping to 5 and 9C
Missing girl in Australia has been killed by a crocodile, police fear

Twelve-year-old was last seen cooling off in a creek in Australias Northern Territory

A female crocodile seen on the banks of the Daintree River in Queensland. Photo: Getty

Telegraph reporter Telegraph.co.uk Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 03:30







A 12-year-old girl who disappeared in remote northern Australia on Tuesday was killed by a crocodile, police believe.
BREAKING | Labour landslide as Keir Starmer set for 410 seats in historic UK election victory

Tory wipeout as Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks party to win just 131 seats after 14 years in powerResult will be welcomed in Dublin following tensions with London over Brexit and borderResults to roll out overnight as 650 Westminster seats to be filled, including Northern Ireland

UK Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer (Jacob King/PA)

Fionnan Sheahan in Hackney, London Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 23:26







Labour have won a landslide victory in the UK general election with Keir Starmer being dramatically swept to power.
Frances far-right reckoning: My Algerian father wanted a better life for us here but I could only get ahead when I lost my African name

The National Rally is as toxic as mustard gas, writes this French author, and its rise can only be understood against the backdrop of an unresolved colonial legacy

Jordan Bardella and National Rally supporters celebrate during the announcement of the recent European election results. Photo: Julien De Rosa via Getty

Xavier Le Clerc Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 03:30

In 1939, Albert Camus travelled to the Kabyle Mountains in what was then French Algeria to witness the extreme poverty there. Over 11 days, the 25-year-old journalist wrote an article a day, backed with numbers and precise descriptions of the natives hardship, caused by an exploitative and cruel colonial system. The Kabyle people were not even allowed to collect wood and had to feed on roots. Thousands died of hunger.
Irish News

LATEST | We will evaluate it when it comes closer  Tanaiste responds to soldiers concerns they may not be able to come home at end of Lebanon tour
Vital hospital in southern Gaza now completely empty as staff flee after Khan Younis evacuation order

US government officials who quit over handling of Gaza war say its a threat to national security

Israeli soldiers stand near a military vehicle near the Israel-Gaza border. Photo: Reuters

Washington Post Thu 4 Jul 2024 at 03:30







One of the largest hospitals in southern Gaza is now completely empty after staff, patients and their families fled the facility following an Israeli evacuation order for parts of Khan Younis, according to World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Barack Obama has privately raised concerns about US president Joe Bidens path to re-election after his shaky debate performance, a sharp deviation from his public comments.

The former president has told allies he is worried about the Democrats ability to defeat Donald Trump in November and has warned Mr Biden in recent months about the challenges ahead, according to the Washington Post.
LOBAMBA  The Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, is said to be in possession of laptops that were delivered and distributed in the financial year that ended March 31, 2023.

At the time of the audit, the minister was still an employee of the Royal Eswatini Sugar Corporation (RESCorp). The irregularity was noted yesterday when the Ministry of Agriculture was providing feedback on the whereabouts of the 10 laptops worth E320 800, that were purchased and delivered in March 2023. The ministrys Stores and IT personnel were unable to provide information about their location, hence they were reported missing.

Missing

In May 2024, when the ministry was before the PAC, the controlling officer told the PAC that the laptops were not missing, but were used by officers. Yesterday, the Principal Secretary (PS), Sydney Simelane, provided the PAC with a list of the officers who had the laptops, together with their serial numbers. The list included the current minister of agriculture, which puzzled the Members of Parliament (MPs), because at the time of the audit query, the minister was not anywhere near the ministry. I see the list states that one of the laptops was with Minister Mandla Tshawuka. How is that possible, because during the audit he was at RESCorp and he probably had not dreamt of being a minister? asked Matsanjeni South MP, Sabelo Ndlangamandla.

The PS said the laptops were brought in advance. However, the MP said even if that was the case, the list indicated Tshawukas name, despite that at the time in question, he was not in the Ministry of Agriculture.

Rescue

However, the Auditor General (AG), Timothy Matsebula, came to the ministrys rescue and stated that the presented document was a current distribution list of the gadgets. The PAC Chairperson, Madala Mhlanga, said the ministry could have just stated that it was in the ministers office, because the way it was presented raised questions similar to those asked by the MP.
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
India to Fund AI Computing Infrastructure with 10,000 GPUs

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has accelerated progress in various key sectors in India and has become increasingly vital for the countrys overall economic development.

At the Global INDIAai Summit 2024, it was announced that the country will invest in an AI computing infrastructure equipped with at least 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

At the INDIAai Summit 2024, Union Minister of Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced Indias strategy for harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the democratization of technology. The minister highlighted the importance of making advanced technology affordable and accessible to all, to prevent it from being concentrated in the hands of a few.

The two-day summit, organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), saw participation from global leaders and AI researchers from over 50 countries.

Investments into AI in India

According to Stanford Universitys annual AI Index report, India ranked fifth in terms of investments received by startups offering AI-based products and services in 2022, behind only the US, China, the UK, and Israel. The report, released in April 2023, stated that AI startups in India attracted US$3.24 billion in total investments in 2022, surpassing countries like South Korea, Germany, Canada, and Australia.

The report also revealed that AI startups in India secured US$7.73 billion in total funding from 2013 to 2022, making India the sixth-leading country for AI investments during this period, with nearly 40 percent of the total investment occurring in a single year.

Key announcements on AI infrastructure at the INDIAai Summit 2024

India intends to fund a public platform offering standardized protocols, high-quality datasets, and processing capacity. Additionally, as part of a public-private partnership, the central government will invest in an AI computing infrastructure with at least 10,000 Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

India is in discussions with the 29 countries of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) to agree on a declaration for responsible AI usage, setting boundaries for the technology and its management.

Further, an AI Innovation Center is being established in the country to acquire high-quality datasets to support researchers and companies. The central government is also expected to roll out an application development project focused on addressing current social and economic issues and prioritizing skill development.

The minister stated that the center would prioritize funding for AI and deep tech, particularly in the early stages of projects, as venture capital often becomes available only when returns are evident. Supporting deep-tech businesses in these initial stages will be a key government objective.

India-Japan collaboration on responsible AI deployment

Japanese Vice-Minister for Policy Coordination (Internal Affairs) Hiroshi Yoshida commended Indias commitment to responsible AI and affirmed Japans support for India as the GPAI Chair.

Yoshida emphasized that collaboration between Japan and India could significantly advance the responsible development, deployment, and use of AI globally, enhancing overall global AI efforts. He expressed Japans belief that Indias AI initiatives would align well with GPAIs goals and stressed Japans advocacy for safety codes and guidelines to mitigate risks such as misinformation and intellectual property protection.

Exploring AI deployment countrywide

Industry leaders recognize Indias leadership in global AI innovation. While significant investments are being made to nurture AI startups and increase AI skill penetration, there is a growing consensus on the need for collaborative solutions across critical sectors, such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.

In 2023, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made his inaugural visit to India, followed by Global Affairs VP Anna Mankajus participation at the GPAI Summit.

Also last year, Indias startup Digital Green, in collaboration with OpenAI, launched Farmer.Chat. This digital platform integrates with VISTAAR (Virtually Integrated Systems to Access Agricultural Resources), part of Indias digital public infrastructure led by the government. Farmer.Chat was initially deployed in mid-2023 to 5,000 field-level agriculture extension workers across Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand.

During the GPAI summit, industry experts emphasized the necessity of a multi-stakeholder approach for widespread AI adoption. OpenAI Vice President Srinivas Narayanan announced the companys commitment to partnering with INDIAai, underscoring Indias pivotal role in its strategic AI initiatives.
Photo courtesy: X

New Delhi/IBNS: Radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who was elected the MP from Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat after contesting the general elections from jail in Assam, has been granted a four-day parole, beginning Friday, to take the oath of office.

Singh, who is in Assam's Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, had written to the Punjab Government on June 11 seeking temporary release to take oath.

The state government had sent an application to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and the parole decision was taken based on that.

On Wednesday, Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said: "Amritpal Singh has been granted parole for 4 days or less from July 5 with certain conditions, about which the jail superintendent, Dibrugarh, has been informed."

Amritpal Singh won Punjab's Khadoor Sahib seat defeating Congress's Kulbir Singh Zira by a huge margin of 1,97,120 votes. He is currently languishing in a prison in Assam.

Who is Amrtipal Singh?

Amritpal, who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Moga's Rode village on April 23 last year following an over a month-long manhunt.

The Khalistani sympathiser had escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

Amritpal, who had supported calls for the formation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, was wanted for several charges, including attempted murder, obstruction of law enforcement, and creating disharmony.

He and his supporters, armed with swords, knives, and guns, had raided a police station in March and clashed with policemen.
Photo courtesy: X/ @BengalGovernor

Kolkata/New Delhi/IBNS: Former Raj Bhavan staffer, who brought a molestation charge against West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose , on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court questioning the constitutional immunity granted to the Constitutional head of the state, media reports said.

She told the top court how the immunity granted to Bose would curb her fundamental Right to Life.

The case will be heard early next week.

The Governor's House is yet to react to the filing of the case in the Supreme Court.

In May, a female staff working with Kolkata's Raj Bhavan leveled serious allegations of molestation against Bose.

The alleged victim had filed a complaint with Hare Street Police Station in Kolkata stating that she has been allegedly molested by the Governor twice.

However, with the Governor enjoying legal immunity provided by the Constitution of India, the police are looking into the complaint and the allegations but may not be able to take any action against him.

The Kolkata Police have started probing into the allegations.

In a recent development, Bose filed a defamation case against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her claims that women are scared to visit Raj Bhavan owing to the activities there, media reports said.

Bose has filed a defamation case against Banerjee and some Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders for similar remarks in Calcutta High Court.

During her administrative meeting, Banerjee on Thursday said, "Women said they are scared to visit Raj Bhavan for the kinds of incidents reported from there."

In this context, two TMC MLA-elects, Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Houssen Sarkar from Baranagar and Bhagobangola assembly constituencies respectively, have refused to visit Raj Bhavan for the oath-taking ceremony.

They have demanded Governor Bose to reach the assembly and administer their oaths.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy | Photo courtesy: Revanth Reddy Facebook page

Hyderabad/IBNS: In a huge relief to the state government employees, Telangana lifted the 6-year-ban on general transfers on Wednesday, media reports said.

The lifting of the ban, which was imposed by the previous BRS government in 2018, will facilitate about 3 lakh government employees and 1.5 lakh government school teachers.

The transfer will be allowed from July 1 to July 20. The ban will be reimposed again on July 21.

The government has, however, put some conditions for the transfer.

No employee will be transferred within completion of 2 years in service at a particular station as of June 30, 2024. The condition exempts employees who seek transfers for spouses.

No employee will be able to continue working at the same station beyond 4 years except the ones who are retiring before June 30, 2025.

The retirement-bound employees, however, will be transferred only if they seek.

Maximum 40 percent of the total employees in any cadre will be eligible for transfer to avoid dislocation of work.

To maintain transparency in the whole process, the competent authority will publish the list of employees currently working, all vacancies and the employees who are to be transferred mandatorily.
Photo courtesy: x.com/DrSJaishankar

Astana (Kazakhstan): India and China on Thursday committed to double down efforts to resolve the outstanding issues in eastern Ladakh soon and to "stabilize and rebuild" their relationship during a meeting where Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar firmly conveyed to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the importance of respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

During talks held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi the importance of fully adhering to bilateral agreements and protocols for border management.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that the two ministers had an in-depth discussion on resolving the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh to "stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations."

"Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end," Jaishankar said on 'X'.

"Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties," he said.

Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning.



Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end.



Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the pic.twitter.com/kR3pSFViGX  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 4, 2024

India maintains that normal relations with China depend upon peace in the border areas.

"Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest," the MEA said.

"To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs should hold an early meeting," it said.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that Jaishankar emphasized the importance of the India-China relationship being guided by the principles of mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interests.

It noted that the two ministers concurred that the ongoing situation at the border is not beneficial for either country.

"The external affairs minister highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations," the MEA said.

"He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced," it said.

The talks come amid the ongoing border dispute in eastern Ladakh, which entered its fifth year in May.

Indian and Chinese militaries have been in a standoff since May 2020, and while some disengagement has occurred, a full resolution has not been achieved.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly after the Galwan Valley clash in June 2020, the most serious military conflict between them in decades.

The last round of high-level military talks was held in February, with both sides agreeing to maintain "peace and tranquillity and continue communication despite the lack of a breakthrough.
The Hollywood film that received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival 2024, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga has made its OTT debut already. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and Tom Burke, the action-adventure movie is directed by the visionary George Miller. Here's all you need to know about the film's OTT release.

All about Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga OTT release date

Twitter

When to watch Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in India on OTT?

The movie which was released on May 24 in theatres has silently made its debut online. The movie is available to stream online.

Where to watch Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga in India on OTT?

You can now stream the movie on BookMyShow and Amazon Prime Video. The movie is available to watch in Telugu and many other languages along with subtitles.

More about the film

Set 15 to 20 years before the events of Mad Max: Fury Road, Furiosa delves into the origins of its titular character, exploring her journey from the Green Place of Many Mothers to the treacherous Wasteland before her encounter and team-up with Mad Max. Anya Taylor-Joy, who portrays Furiosa, spoke of the challenges of embodying such a complex character and said, "By nature, of how arduous the shooting schedule was, I was very often alone, and (Furiosas) a character thats very much in her head and shes very, very quiet." With its gripping storyline and breathtaking visuals, Furiosa promises to reignite the Mad Max frenzy that captivated audiences with Fury Road. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is the fifth installment in the much-loved Mad Max franchise that boasts an ensemble cast of Elsa Pataky, Tom Burke, and Nathan Jones.



Also Read: Kill OTT release date: When and where to watch Lakshya and Raghav Juyal's film

Eight-minute standing ovation at Cannes

The film made its world premiere at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and left the viewers in awe of the film. As the credits rolled for a staggering 7 minutes and 50 seconds, people were on their feet applauding the movie.

Also Read: Ganapath OTT release date: When and where to watch Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon starrer sports action film online

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


In one of the recent episodes of Bigg Boss OTT season 3, actor Ranvir Shorey who is also a contestant on the show opened up about the biggest scandal of his life - his controversial relationship with Pooja Bhatt. The actor recalled the tough phase of his life in 2002 when he was on the sets of Lakshya and got a call about his mother's ill health. "During the same time, I also encountered the biggest scandal of my life with another actress," he said.

X

Ranvir couldn't leave the sets of the film until the shooting in Ladakh was done. When he came back to Bombay, his mother was discharged from the hospital, but a few days later, he got the biggest trauma of his life - his mother passed away. He was finding it tough to deal with the loss and around the same time he was involved in the biggest scandal of his life.

On Bigg Boss OTT 3, Ranvir Shorey shares about the biggest scandal of his life

X

"During the same time, I also encountered the biggest scandal of my life with another actress. Unable to cope, my brother asked me to come to the US with him for a while. I pursued a six-month acting course in the States and borrowed money from my brother. After returning from the US, I started shooting for The Great Indian Comedy Show in 2005. At that time, two of my long-shelved films were greenlit for release and hit theaters back-to-back within a week and my work was loved by audiences. After those films, I finally felt my life was steady as an actor and that I had arrived," he said on the show.

Ranvir Shorey-Pooja Bhatt's relationship

X

It was back in the early 200s when Ranvir and Pooja first met. From good friends to falling in love, their relationship blossomed into a beautiful romance and they eventually started living together.

Engagement

While there's no confirmation as of yet, some reports claimed that they were secretly engaged.

Ranvir was an alcoholic and abusive boyfriend

However, the love story didn't last long. It is said that they broke off due to Ranvir's abusive behaviour and drinking habit. The break-up was quite ugly and scandalous.



BCCL

Also Read: Ranvir Shorey Slams Report On His 'Abusive' Relationship With Pooja Bhatt, Calls It Defamatory

In an interview with Rediff, Ranvir Shorey had once admitted, "Just like any normal couple. We had our share of tiffs. But today (pauses and begins to look at the ceiling). I used to drink at her place. Often, she used to say I was drinking too much and not taking enough care of her. On such occasions, I used to volunteer leaving the scene. That used to irritate her, and she would get violent. A scuffle would ensue. Mind you, it takes me drinking to get violent. She gets violent without drinking, too. I must have told her a relationship cannot work if she behaved like this at least 30 times."

Pooja Bhatt's bother Rahul attacked Ranvir Shorey with an iron rod

X

He added, "Like every day, I was at Pooja's place. The usual scuffle ensued. I decided to call off the relationship. Things got out of hand. I packed my bags and left. When I slid behind the steering wheel of my car, I realised I had forgotten one of my bags. I started calling Pooja on her cell phone (groans). She disconnected my calls. I kept trying to reach her. As I was dialling, I heard the glass shatter around me. I looked back to see that both windows of my car had been broken. I came out and saw Pooja's brother Rahul standing with an iron rod. I was dazed. Before I knew what happened, he started whacking me with the rod."

After their ugly separation, Pooja Bhatt found love for the second time in Manish Makhija. They got married in 2003 and divorced in 2014. On the other hand, Ranvir went on to marry actress Konkona Sen Sharma in 2011. They got separated in 2015 and divorced in 2020.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Wedding preparations are well underway for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. Lots is happening, from organising a large-scale wedding for underprivileged people to hosting the Mameru, or Mosalu, ceremony in advance of the big day. Videos of Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant, Mukesh Ambani, and Nita Ambani greeting guests for the wedding event they hosted yesterday were all over social media. Many people since then have been trying to understand all about the Mameru/ Mosalu ceremony. If you would like to know everything there is to know about the ceremony, we have all the information you require.

What is the Mameru or Mosalu ceremony?

The Mameru ceremony, also called mosalu, is a customary Gujarati event in which the bride is visited by her maternal aunt's husband and her maternal uncle (Mama). During the ritual, the bride and groom touch Mama and Mami's feet and ask for their blessing.

The custom helps to fortify the relationship between maternal relatives. A Panetar saree, jewelry, ivory or white chura (bangles), and a gorgeously organized selection of sweets and dried fruits in trousseau trays are among the gifts given at the ceremony.

Also read: From Justin Bieber to Adele, Hollywood artists likely to perform at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's wedding

Mameru ceremony marks the beginning of the wedding festivities.

All about the wedding schedule

On July 12, the wedding ceremonies will begin. The wedding ceremony, also known as the auspicious Shubh Vivah, will take place first. Shubh Aashirwad will be held on July 13. The wedding reception, or Mangal Utsav, is scheduled for July 14. Indian elegant attire is required. All these events will be held at the Jio World Centre in BKC.

Also read: Anant-Radhikas wedding festivities begin with Mameru ceremony; Janhvi, Orry and others attend

For the unversed, several Hollywood celebrities like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Lana Del Ray and others will perform at the pre wedding events. Also ahead of the wedding, Anant Ambani visited the Krishna Kali temple in Neral, Maharashtra to seek blessings for the new journey.

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Actor and blogger Aditi Khinchi posted a video on Instagram of a West Side storea Tata enterprisegiving shelter to a stray dog during heavy rain in Mumbai, praising Ratan Tata for his care for canines. She shared the video with the caption, "Today I noticed this doggo sitting calmly at @westsidestores in my city when it was pouring, which astonished me because it's not very usual here. No one allows dogs or cats to stay in their showrooms."

Why was the dog sitting inside the Westside store?

Ratan Tata, the famed industrialist, is well-known for his love of animals | Image: Instagram

Ratan Tata, the famed industrialist, is well-known for his love of animals, particularly dogs. In May, a LinkedIn user revealed that Tata had told Mumbai's Taj Hotel workers to treat stray animals with care if they wandered onto the property. Tata's command made news at the time.



Also read: Ratan Tata comes to the aid of 115 Tata Institute of Social Sciences employees facing termination

Who did the woman thank for the kindness?

The dog was seen peacefully waiting inside the Westside store | Image: Instagram

Possibly remembering that, Khinchi wrote, Then I realised that its TATA Enterprises and who owns it @ratantata sir thanks so much. thanks to the staff who was so kind to give shelter to this dog during heavy rainfall Kindness still exists.



Also read: Why Ratan Tata doesn't feature among the world's richest people

The video also includes the text, "This is why I love @ratantata," and "Ek hi toh dil hai sir, kitni bar jitogey?" (Sir, there is only one heart, how many times will you win it?)

How did people on the internet react?

With over 74,000 likes, the video received a lot of attention from Instagram users.

One of them wrote, "I wish many stores in India open their hearts to abandoned animals. This is a start toward kindness. I hope that our public becomes more open to such ideas. A change in providing quiet sanctuary for stray animals is desperately needed in India."

A second user commented, Ratan Tata the gem good fellows foundation for elderlyfoundation for animals n stray dogs ..army personal staying at concessional rates in taj ..hard to imagine Indias profess without him.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Anant Ambani, the youngest son of India's business magnate Mukesh Ambani, is no stranger to luxury and opulence. Recently, he made headlines not just for his upcoming wedding with Radhika Merchant, but also for his remarkable choice of accessory  a Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams watch worth a staggering Rs 12.5 crore. Known for his extensive and rare collection of high-end watches, Anant's latest addition has captivated attention due to its exclusivity, with only 30 pieces available worldwide. This rare timepiece is a testament to his exquisite taste and penchant for the finest things in life.



A Closer Look at Anant Ambani's Rare Richard Mille Watch

The Indian Horology first shared the details of Anant Ambani's watch on Instagram. Anant chose to wear an ethnic outfit and paired it with the rare Richard Mille (RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams). This exclusive watch has a market price of $1.5 million, equivalent to Rs 12.5 crore, reported in HT. Only 30 pieces of this limited edition watch are available worldwide.

Unique Features of the Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams

Precisionwatches

Richard Mille's official page describes the RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams as having a design inspired by the cosmos. The watch features a Grade 5 titanium alloy, known for its biocompatibility, corrosion resistance, and rigidity. The interior design resembles the universe, with sapphire used to create a cosmic look. The RM 52-05's tripartite case is meticulously crafted from solid sapphire by specialized experts in Switzerland.



Recently, Anant Ambani visited the Krishna Kali temple in Neral, Maharashtra, to perform a havan ceremony. However, it was his striking watch that caught everyone's attention. He was wearing a red carbon Richard Mille watch (RM 12-01 Tourbillon), which, according to the Hindustan Times, is a limited-edition watch with only 18 pieces available worldwide.

Anant Ambani wearning RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams

Justin Bieber's fee for performing at Anant Ambani's wedding



The RM 12-01 comes in four different case colours. The case is 39.3mm wide, 13.84mm thick, and has a 48mm lug-to-lug distance. It is made from Carbon or Quartz TPT and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. The watch has a rubber strap with a titanium buckle. Anant Ambani's Richard Mille RM 12-01 Tourbillon costs approximately $828,000 (6.91 crore).

List of Ultra-Luxurious Watches Owned by Anant Ambani

Richard Mille RM 56-02: Rs 18 crore

The RM 56-02 features a baseplate made of Grade 5 titanium, suspended inside a sapphire case. This case includes a single braided cable woven through a system of pulleys, with a tiny ratchet controlling the cable's tension.

Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time 5990/1422G Emerald 18k White Gold: Rs 12 crore

This watch has a self-winding movement, an 18K white gold case, and a graduated black dial with diamond hour markers. It includes a dual time zone mechanism, a chronograph, and a 60-minute counter.

Here's what is inside Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's wedding invitation, watch



Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002R-001: Rs 49 crore

The Sky Moon Tourbillon features a Grand Feu brown enamel decoration and a double-faced case with arabesques. This watch includes matching cufflinks and is the second most intricate Patek Philippe wristwatch.

Richard Mille RM 27-01 Rafael Nadal Tourbillon White Quartz: Rs 6.4 crore

This lightweight and durable watch can withstand shocks from clay courts. It requires careful consideration and testing due to its high-performance mechanics.

Patek Philippe Nautilus 5990/1422G White Gold, Ruby, and Diamond Set: Rs 21 crore

Known as a businessman's ideal watch, the Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time features a dual time zone mechanism, a 40 mm stainless steel case, and a 55-hour power reserve. It is part of Anant Ambani's luxurious watch collection.

Not Mukesh Ambani or Gautam Adani: Meet India's first private jet owner



In addition to his impressive watch collection, Anant Ambani is making headlines for his upcoming wedding to Radhika Merchant. The couple will tie the knot on July 12, with celebrations spanning three days. Anant and Radhika have been childhood friends and began dating later in life. Their relationship remained private until they were seen together at family events.

Fees Of International Artists For Performing At Ambanis Weddings

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are more than just high-profile names in India's business and social circles. As they prepare to marry on July 12, 2024, at the Jio World Convention Centre, their impressive educational journeys have garnered significant attention. Anant, the youngest son of Nita and Mukesh Ambani, and Radhika, the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare, both boast strong academic backgrounds that have shaped their careers and personal lives. This article delves into the educational qualifications of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, highlighting their academic achievements and the impact of their education on their professional paths.

Anant Ambani: A Strong Educational Foundation

Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Nita and Mukesh Ambani, has made a name for himself in the business world thanks to his solid education. He plays a key role in Reliance Industries Limited, Indias largest private sector corporation and a Fortune 500 company.

Early Education

Riltasticasset

Anant started his education at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai, founded by his mother, Nita Ambani. The school is known for its high academic standards and global perspective, which gave Anant a strong foundation in various subjects, preparing him well for higher education.



Higher Education at Brown University

After finishing school, Anant went to Brown University in Rhode Island, USA. Brown University is an Ivy League school known for its flexible curriculum. At Brown, Anant studied business management, which provided him with a deep understanding of business and economics. This education has been vital for his role in the family business, blending theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's Mass wedding for underprivileged venue moved to Thane



Real-World Experience

Beyond his academic studies, Anant serves as a Director on the Boards of several Reliance subsidiaries. He focuses on expanding energy and materials businesses, which puts his education to practical use. This experience highlights how his education has prepared him for leadership roles.

Personal Interests

Anant is also passionate about animal welfare. He is involved in initiatives to help at-risk animals, showing his commitment to humane values alongside his business skills.

Radhika Merchant: A Diverse Academic Journey

India.com

Radhika Merchant, Anant Ambanis fiancee, has an impressive educational background of her own. She is the daughter of Viren Merchant, CEO of Encore Healthcare.



Diverse Schooling in Mumbai

Radhika attended several prestigious schools in Mumbai, including Cathedral and John Connon School, Ecole Mondiale World School, and B.D. Somani International School from 1999 to 2013. This diverse education gave her a well-rounded foundation.

Here's what is inside Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant's wedding invitation, watch

Higher Education at New York University

Radhika went on to study at New York University (NYU) in the USA, where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. NYU is a globally renowned institution, and her time there helped her develop critical thinking and analytical skills.

Professional Achievements

Radhika serves on the Board of Directors at Encore Healthcare (EHPL), working alongside her sister, Anjali Merchant. Her father, Viren Merchant, is the founder and CEO of EHPL, while her mother, Shaila Merchant, is the Managing Director. This role shows how Radhika applies her education in real-world business settings.

List Of 7 Ultra Luxurious Watches Owned By Billionaires



Symbolic Connection

During their pre-wedding celebrations, Brown and NYU banners decorated the venue, symbolizing Anant and Radhikas college years. These decorations highlighted the start of their journey together.

For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here
Recently, ed-tech company Unacademy made several headlines for reportedly laying off 250 employees. This further fueled up rumours of the company heading towards a potential merger with a big online platform.

However, putting a rest to all speculations, co-founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal denied this rumour on X. He went on to say that Unacademy has had a great year in terms of growth and profitability.

There is a lot being said about Unacademy currently. To set the record straight, Unacademy will have its best year in terms of growth and profitability. We also have many years of runway. We are building Unacademy for the long run. Ignore the rumours, the Unacademy CEO wrote on X.

There is a lot being said about Unacademy currently. To set the record straight, Unacademy will have its best year in terms of growth and profitability. We also have many years of runway. We are building Unacademy for the long run. Ignore the rumours.  Gaurav Munjal (@gauravmunjal) July 3, 2024

Who is Gaurav Munjal and how did achieve success?

tech crunch

Munjal, originally from Mumbai, India, attended Jamnabai Narsee School for his early education and later pursued a computer engineering degree at NMIMS University. During his senior year of high school, he started coding and initiated his first YouTube channel. In 2010, he posted his first youtube video on graphics. Eventually, this channel focused on teaching Java programming and other technical subjects. Eventually, this platform evolved into Unacademy, gaining popularity among students nationwide.



Interestingly, Munjal is a serial investor and has invested in over 37 companies.

While building his Youtube channel, Munjal founded an app called Flatchat

fortune

Gaurav Munjal harbored a long-standing ambition for entrepreneurship. Following his engineering studies, he launched an app named Flatchat while also serving as a software developer at Directi.



Throughout this period, he maintained his YouTube channel, Unacademy, where he continued to upload videos. Recognizing its potential, Munjal enlisted the help of his friend Roman Saini to further develop the channel with the goal of transforming it into an educational platform.

Finally in 2015, he and his 3 friends founded Unacademy

In 2015, Gaurav Munjal, along with Hemesh Singh, Roman Saini, and Sachin Gupta, co-founded Unacademy with the mission to provide high-quality educational content tailored for various competitive exams such as UPSC, NEET, JEE, and GATE.

The platform quickly gained traction, attracting numerous educators within just a few months. Under Gaurav Munjal's leadership as CEO, Unacademy emerged as a leading educational technology platform in India. By 2022, Munjal's earnings reached Rs 1.58 crore, reflecting his pivotal role in the company's growth.

Reports indicate that Unacademy has achieved a remarkable valuation of $3.44 billion (approximately Rs 28,710 crore), underscoring its significant impact and success in the ed-tech sector. In 2022, Munjal's salary was Rs 1.58 crore as the CEO of Unacademy.

About Unacademy

the financial express

Unacademy is an Indian educational technology company (ed-tech) that offers online courses and lessons across various competitive exams and subjects. It was founded in 2015 by Gaurav Munjal, Hemesh Singh, Roman Saini, and Sachin Gupta. The platform provides a wide range of educational content, including live classes, recorded lectures, and test series, aimed at preparing students for exams such as UPSC, NEET, JEE, GATE, and others. Unacademy has gained popularity for its interactive learning approach and accessibility, allowing learners to access quality education from anywhere with an internet connection.


A young British woman's dream vacation in Zante turned into a nightmare when her stolen phone led to a significant financial loss.

Lydia Coates shared her ordeal on TikTok, in a video captioned "How a simple mistake in Zante cost me over 10,000."

In the video,

she recounted how her phone was stolen during a boat trip in 2022 when the thief gained access to her online banking information through her driver's license, which was stored in her phone case.

The thief then transferred 12,242 from her Help-to-Buy ISA, a type of savings account, to an unknown individual named Jessica.

Upon discovering the theft, Lydia immediately contacted the police, but they were unable to offer much assistance.

"The biggest mistake I made on that holiday was putting my driver's license in the back of my phone case," Lydia explained. "My birthday, on the driver's license in the back of the phone, was the passcode to my phone and the passcode to my online banking."

The incident left Lydia devastated, as the stolen money represented years of savings. She was also forced to enroll in an identity theft protection program to safeguard her personal information.

After a series of appointments with banks and the police, Lydia was able to recover the stolen funds through fraud protection. However, the perpetrator was never caught, and the phone was never recovered.

In a follow-up video, Lydia reassured her followers that she had resolved the issue by changing all her banking details and closing her previous account.

She also urged others to learn from her mistake and take precautions to protect their finances while traveling.

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Leftist leader Stefanos Kasselakis has pledged to step down if he is seen as posing a problem to efforts to unifying progressive forces in the country.

He made the announcement at a conference of the Economist, south of Athens, emphasising that political parties should not function like businesses engaging in mergers and acquisitions. We want a clear message from other progressive forces

that they genuinely uphold progressive values, Mr. Kasselakis stated. However, this message must emerge from the grassroots. Personally, he said, I am open to not being part of the problem. If my presence becomes an obstacle to such a convergence that has the potential of becoming a government , then I promise to resign.

Mr. Kasselakis said his priority, instead, was his country altogether.

Syriza here to engage with [the socialist] Pasok party, but any external pressure will face the reaction of our base.

The message from our base is one of a strong and independent Syriza.

In addressing the conference, the leftist leader lashed out at the government, accusing it of allowing Greeks to suffer without adequate support, highlighting rising rates of workers living along poverty lines.

Asked about his partys performance in recent European elections, the leftist leader said reactionary forces emerged as the clear winners of the polls. Still, he explained, Syriza managed to close the gap with the ruling New Democracy party despite internal struggles that has gripped his party in recent months.

The government is no longer beyond scrutiny or criticism, and it lacks the arrogance of a 41 percent majority, Mr. Kasselakis said. The prime minister himself has admitted that the partys slump in support was due to rising costs of living.

Asked about his nine months as Syriza president, Mr. Kasselakis emphasised the importance, as he put it, of listening to people and being genuine. Still, he said, he was not required the permission to act in the best interest of ordinary citizens.

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A Cretan man has turned himself in to authorities after fatally shooting his 36-year-old brother-in-law at a sheep shearing festival in Katharo Plateau.

The shooter was purported to be in a state of shock when he surrendered to police. He told officers that he threw the gun away immediately after realising the tragedy but could not recall the exact location.

Initial reports suggest that the

used a double-barreled shotgun in his attack.

The victim, identified as a 36-year-old farmer,, was found dead on the side of the road in Katharo Kritsas, by two women.

He had been assisting relatives with sheep shearing when celebrations at a festival turned tragic after alcohol consumption led to celebratory gunfire.

While initial reports suggested a possible murder due to a nearby dispute between farmers, it appears the shooting was accidental.

The shooter, the victim's brother-in-law, reportedly retrieved the gun from his car to fire celebratory shots when the weapon discharged, fatally wounding the 36-year-old.

The victim was transported to Agios Nikolaos Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Authorities launched a manhunt for the shooter, who eventually surrendered to the Lasithi Police Department.

Preliminary evidence suggests negligent homicide, but police are conducting an autopsy and are gathering evidence to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Labour and Social Security Ministry on Thursday.

The discussion focused on labour and insurance issues, such as the increase of the minimum wage, the reduction of insurance contributions, while particular emphasis was placed on the tourism sector.

In

his statements, the prime minister noted that the government attaches importance to social dialogue, with a view to finding optimal solutions for both businesses and workers.

As he said, important work has been done at the Labour Ministry over the last five years, which is reflected in the reduction of unemployment, the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs, but also in the improvement of the working environment, always having as the first goal the protection of the rights of workers.

Mitsotakis also focused on the reform of the Digital Work Card. "It is the government's commitment that the Digital Labor Card be implemented in all sectors of the economy. The benefits in terms of recording the actual overtime work for the benefit of the employees are already noticeable," he said.

Regarding the issue of the minimum wage, the prime minister emphasized that the government remains committed to the target for increasing the minimum wage to 950 euros at the end of the four-year period.

The Greek premier also referred to the need to improve the participation in the labour market, primarily of women, young people, people with disabilities, but also retirees.

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Lefteris Avgenakis has been expelled from the ruling New Democracy parliamentary group after footage emerged showing him assaulting an airport employee.

He was referred to the partys ethics committee by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis who personally intervened as the allegations emerged Wednesday. Meantime, an Athens prosecutor has launched

a probe into the incident to review allegations of assaulting a staff member at the airport in Athens , disrupting public services, and causing damage to public

Any further legal action will require lifting Mr. Avgenakis parliamentary immunity. Video released this week showed Mr. Avgenakis turning violent against an airport employee when he was blocked from boarding a flight to Crete after the gate had closed.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Avgenakis said he would not give up his parliamentary seat.

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Some angry protesters, on Wednesday, blocked the Ayati -Sai road in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State to protest over the incessant killings in the area.

It was gathered that the demonstrators who described state government action towards the development as insensitive, also invaded the council secretariat in Zaki Biam, headquarters of Ukum LGA destroying things to express their displeasure.

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It was gathered that a resident of Ayati village who who pleaded anonymity, told PUNCH that the protest was triggered by the killing of 11 people on Tuesday night by some suspected local bandits.

The source said: You know how volatile the local government has been in recent times.

There is hardly a day we dont experience killings and kidnappings in this council, unfortunately, the state government has not shown any seriousness in tackling these daily killings.

READ MORE: Benue Police Kill Two Suspected Bandits, Recover Deadly Weapons

Tuesday night, these bandits invaded Ayati village and killed several people, as at the time youths recovered 11 corpses it triggered angst and subsequently stormed the road and protested the killing.

Some of the youths also went to the council secretariat with the recovered corpses to vent their anger smatched windows and destroyed things there.

Reacting to the unfortunate incident in a statement issued to the public on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the state Governor on Internal Security, Joseph Har, said that bandits were responsible for the killing.

He said: Yes, they are protesting because of the killings in the area. We dont have the details yet but bandits are responsible.

They are protesting and threatening to burn down the LG Secretariat but they are aware that the state government has dislodged these bandits.

So what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, the last kick of a dying horse.

Just a few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina-Ala. So this is their last kick.

They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on the armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.
Tragedy struck in Okpare, Olomu Kingdom, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Wednesday, as a son murdered his father, a reverend in the Anglican Church.

According to PUNCH Online, the priest, Rev. Isaac Umurie, one of the reverends of St. Johns Anglican Church in Okpare-Olomu, was hacked to death in his sleep in the early hours of the day by his 28-year-old son, Ufuoma Umurie.

It was revealed that the crime occurred about 2 a.m., with the mother narrowly escaping being butchered alongside the reverend.

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The suspect allegedly chased his mother while she was trying to save her husbands life, but she escaped unharmed.

Ufuoma, who is currently in police custody, is reported to have used a cutlass to chop his fathers skull and other portions of his body while he was sleeping, before neighbours and church members gained entry to the apartment.

Although the circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear at the time of publishing this report, many community sources claimed that Ufuoma was mentally disturbed and that this was the suspects second attack on the father.

However, it was learned that during the ensuing brawl, the suspect was overpowered, captured, and turned over to the police at the Otu-Jeremi Divisional Headquarters.

Commenting, one of the sources said, This is the second time Ufuoma is attacking his father. The other time, he beat him, and the Okpare-Olomu vigilante held him. But the father pleaded that he should not be taken to the police station. We heard that he is not mentally stable.

The priest has a few years to retire. He was brought closer home because of his retirement before this unfortunate incident.

READ MORE: Patrick Doyle Frowns At Tems Best Gospel Prize Win At 2024 BET Awards

When reached, SP Bright Edafe, the state Police Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, confirmed the incident.

The suspect is already in police custody and he would be prosecuted for the crime, Edafe said.
Sheila, the estranged spouse of musician Davidos logistics manager, Israel Afeare, also referred to as Israel DMW, has expressed that she has no regrets about calling it quits on her marriage.

She made this statement during a recent podcast conversation with her friend Ginika, which went viral on social media on Wednesday.

Sheila, on the other hand, claimed that her ex-husband had hurt her by engaging her friend and mother in their divorce proceedings.

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READ MORE: Kai, Money Miss Road  Charly Boy Teases FCT Minister, Nyesom Wikes Fashion Sense

I did not regret any decision I have taken because it was all bound to happen. I believe strongly that God is in charge of all that happens in our lives whether positive or negative, theres a master planner behind everything, she said.

But Ive had my moments of sadness. I feel so bad about the whole thing especially the way my friend and my mum were dragged into it [our divorce]. That has hurt me. But generally, I have zero regrets.

Watch her speak below
Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, says Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is willing to fulfil any condition that would secure his release.

Abaribe said this during a chat with journalists on Wednesday, after South-East senators emerged from a meeting with Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation.

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Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was re-arrested in Kenya and extradited to Nigeria in 2021.

Abaribe said Kanus prolonged incarceration has emboldened criminals in the South-East who now commit all manner of nefarious activities in his name.

I met with Nnamdi Kanu myself on behalf of the rest of the caucus on Monday. And he is very supportive of our plea to the president of the federal republic of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: I Didnt Discuss Release Of Nnamdi Kanu With South-East Govs  Obasanjo Refutes Viral Claims About Him

By the way, the 15 of us signed this letter which has been handed to the Attorney-General.

Kanu has also assured me that he is ready to fulfil any conditions that will lead to his early release.

The AGF received us very warmly and also told us that this is a request for which he has to go and study it, digest it and take to the president because he wont take the ultimate decision  because its a decision of the government of the federal republic of Nigeria.

This matter cannot be resolved legally.

If we continue with the legal wrangling, it will continue to cause insecurity because the legitimate demand has been hijacked by criminals, undesirables and all manner of elements who have used it to perpetrate their nefarious deals on the rest of the people in the South-East, Abaribe said.

Recall also that Governors of the South-East region resolved to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Kanus release.
Former Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, on Thursday, expressed joy following the Federal High Courts invalidation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election.

Reacting to Justice Inyang Edem Ekwos ruling on Thursday, Shaibu criticized the PDP, labeling their February 22, 2024 primary as a mere formality lacking legal validity.

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Earlier, the court voided the primary election because it didnt satisfy the requirements for free, fair and credible primary poll.

The court ruled that the primary election that produced Asue Ighodalo as PDPs governorship candidate is illegal as it was marred by manipulations and irregularities.

Ekwo however ruled that the primary election is invalid because 378 delegates who were supposed to vote at the primary election were unlawfully excluded by PDP

Shaibu further argued that the Party undermined internal democracy with fraudulent conduct during the purported primary held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

READ ALSO: Benue Govt Imposes 24-Hour Curfew In Ukum LGA Over Destruction Of Govt. Properties

Shaibu affirmed that the delegates who supported him in his parallel primary were legitimately elected by the people to nominate the PDPs governorship candidate.

Regarding the APCs efforts to lure him to their fold, Shaibu justified considering the move, emphasizing democracys competitive nature.

He contrasted this with PDPs actions, accusing them of planning election rigging by alienating members.

When you see a political party wooing people to its group, that party wants to win but when you see a party chasing people away as in the case of the PDP, that party is planning nothing but rigging of election, he said.

Also, in a video via X, Shaibu was sighted jubilating the Courts ruling.

An excited Shaibu said: Ofone (it is finished), na God get power.

Recall that Shaibu was impeached by the Edo State House of Assembly after he fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki, allegedly over his gubernatorial ambition.

Shaibu was later replaced by Marvellous Omobayo Godwins, a former chieftain of the Labour Party.
Kathmandu, July 3 (UNI) The CPN-UML led by former Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli on Wednesday decided to withdraw its support to the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government.

UML chief whip Mahesh Bartaula said all the UML ministers will submit their resignations to Prime Minister Dahal later today.

The UML withdrew its support to the government to pave the way for the formation of the national consensus government. The prime minister will be informed of the decision later today, said Bartaula, Kathmandu Post reported.
The operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a suspect, identified as Amos Daniel, who stole his employers vehicle on the same day he was hired as a driver.

Daniel, who is 36 years old, confessed that he had taken the car to his church to share testimony of Gods miracle in his life.

Briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos state capital, on Wednesday, the states Police spokesman, SP Benjamin Hudenyin disclosed that the suspect stole the car same day he was hired by his female boss.

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He said: We have somebody who was employed as a driver.

READ MORE: Lagos Police Arrest Two Robbery Suspects, Recover Locally Made Firearm

Unfortunately, the employer did not do due diligence. The same day he resumed as a driver, he ran away with the car and could not be traced.

Interestingly, he dedicated the car in church the following Sunday, testifying of what God had done to him.

Also speaking with newsmen, the arrested driver, Daniel, recounted why he stole his bosss car.

He said: I stole my madams Lexus car and took it to the church to testify that God has blessed me.

I intended to use it for Uber and use the proceeds to pay my debt.

I stole the car on June 23, 2024, the very first day I was employed, and I took it to church on June 30, 2024.

The commands spokesman urged employers to exercise diligence when hiring drivers or domestic staff and to conduct background checks at the Central Criminal Registry at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, before employment.

He added that the suspect will be charged in court for his crime.
The Nigeria Police Force National Centre for Cyber Crimes has arrested Ubani Zion aka ZFancy, a prominent Nigerian prankster and social media influencer.

According to reports, the prankster was detained about 11 a.m. on Wednesday in Abuja.

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Punch was informed by a top source within the centre that the pranksters detention was related to one of his pranks.

The official said, Zfancy, the popular prankster, had just been arrested by our men a while ago.

It should be noted that some users on social media accused the prankster of engaging in ritualistic behaviour.

On June 16, 2024, Dami Adenuga, an entertainer, posted a video of a woman calling out Zfancy on his Twitter account, formerly known as X.

This Zfancy matter is looking very real. The Nigeria Police should intervene at this point, Adenuga said.

READ MORE: How I Was Robbed Of 70,000, Other Valuables In Spain  Kiddwaya Reveals

In the video, the woman who introduced herself as Kokina accused the prankster of ritualism while searching for her missing friend.

Adenugas tweet drew the notice of the Nigeria Police on X, who advised the woman in the uploaded videos to report to the nearest police station right away.

The post read, Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We take allegations of this nature very seriously. Kindly advise your friend to immediately report at a police station nearest to her.

You can also contact us immediately on our emergency lines to provide more details so we can initiate a thorough investigation. Your cooperation is essential to ensure a swift and accurate response. Thank you.

When contacted, Force Spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi confirmed his arrest.

Adejobi said, Yes. Its in relation to a case of a wrong prank.
The Jigawa State Police Command disclosed on Wednesday that two people had died and three houses had been destroyed in a farmers-herders dispute.

On Tuesday, a confrontation erupted in Jigawa States Brinin Kudu Local Government Area.

Lawan Shiisu, the Commands spokesman, claimed the fight was prompted by suspected cattle herders from Katsina State who were allegedly encouraged by local herdsmen to destroy farmlands in the Safa and Gaurakai villages.

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In a statement released in the state capital of Dutse, Shiisu revealed this.

According to Shiisu: On Tuesday, at about 1600hrs, the command received information from reliable sources that herders with large number of cattle from Katsina state on the invitation of the indigenous herders were sighted moving towards Safa and Gauraki villages.

As a result of this, farmlands along the route were destroyed.

On receipt of the ugly report, the Area Commander of Birnin Kudu Area Command mobilised patrol teams alongside Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN) and rushed to the scenes.

READ MORE: Patrick Doyle Frowns At Tems Best Gospel Prize Win At 2024 BET Awards

He explained that farmers in the affected communities had rallied in huge numbers to defend their farmlands prior to the arrival of the security forces.

The PPRO further stated that the groups attacked themselves before the team was able to disperse them.

He reported that two people had died.

Shiisu said, Three of the indigenous herders houses were set on fire and 15 cattle abandoned.
Fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the statue of George Washington at Eakins Oval during the 2023 Wawa Welcome America Festival. Read more

Thirty-five years in media and 20 years writing books mainly about the history of disasters shaped the journey of John Withington, whose latest book details the history of fireworks  a history in which Philadelphia plays a notable role.

The British author is scheduled to release A History of Fireworks from Their Origins to the Present Day in October. In his research, Withington found that Philadelphia was one of the many key cities in developing fireworks. From the first U.S. Independence Day on July 4, 1776, to modern-day displays of skies lit with colorful lights, fireworks have maintained a history in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as a whole.

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Ahead of July Fourth, Withington spoke with The Inquirer to discuss the creation of the book, the history of fireworks, and the important role Philadelphia played in their development.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What made you want to write about the history of fireworks?

It came out of a discussion with my publisher. He pointed out that there had not been a comprehensive history of fireworks since about 1949, and that even that had not really been a world history. I had always wanted to write a history of an everyday thing with which we were all familiar, so this seemed the perfect opportunity.

What is the story behind the book?

I was inspired by memories of when I was growing up in Manchester, England, in the 1950s. Fireworks then meant Bonfire Night, 5 November, when people celebrated the failure of the Gunpowder Plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, by letting off fireworks and burning a guy  an effigy of the conspirator Guy Fawkes. In those days I never saw fireworks at private celebrations such as birthdays or weddings, or even on New Years Eve. It took me about three years to research and write.

How does Philadelphia play a role?

On 3 July 1776, the day before the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, who would become the United States second president, wrote to his wife that the next day would be the most memorable in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival, to be marked with parades, bonfires, and what he called illuminations. In other words, fireworks.

On 4 July 1776, the War of Independence was still being fought, and the celebrations were pretty muted, with a couple of dozen rockets being set off in Philadelphia. The following year, despite continued hostilities, the city of the Liberty Bell put on a much bigger show, including, according to the Virginia Gazette, a grand exhibition of fireworks, which began and concluded with thirteen rockets on the commons, and the city was beautifully illuminated. Boston and other cities rejoiced, too, and the tradition of fireworks on 4 July was firmly established. By 1783, ordinary folk were starting to hold their own celebrations, with a Philadelphia merchant advertising a large and curious assortment of fireworks for sale.

In 1876, leading British pyrotechnist Charles Brock put on four displays at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. According to Frank Leslies Illustrated Newspaper, this far surpassed anything of the kind seen in this country. The climax was a barrage of 2,000 large rockets. ... The Fourth of July display attracted more than a quarter of a million people.

Not everyone was thrilled that Independence Day came to mean fireworks. A Pennsylvania man confided to his diary in 1866: 4 July is the most hateful day of the year, when the birth of democracy is celebrated by license and noise. There were stories of fireworks being thrown at horses or put under milk bottles or flowerpots so the explosion flung out nasty shrapnel. Around the same time, in Philadelphia, it was said that as a general rule, 30 or 40 houses are set afire every 4 July.

What important figures from the Philadelphia region contributed?

On 4 July 1903, 466 people were killed in firework accidents and nearly 4,000 injured. ... The Playground Association of America noted, The killed and injured at the battle of Bunker Hill were only 1,474 as compared with 1,622 killed and injured while celebrating Fourth of July in 1909. In 1903 a Pennsylvania lawyer named Charles Pennypacker [who is from West Chester] had decided to do something about it.

He urged people to move to a quiet and sane celebration, suggesting that rather than letting off fireworks, they should pass a quiet day under the trees or bake a nice cake, and spend their money on sandwiches instead of squibs. According to a local newspaper, young men in his area resented his initiative, and at midnight on July 3, 1904, a large number gathered outside his house with Roman candles and other fireworks and created merry hell for the next fifteen minutes.

But across America, Pennypackers ideas inspired the movement for a Safe and Sane Fourth. The year he spoke out, the mayor of Chicago banned the discharges of fireworks, firecrackers, gunpowder, or other explosives in any alley, backyard, or other confined space. Cannon crackers got a complete ban, as did firearms, dynamite and putting explosives on the tracks of any street railway.

How would you describe what your book is about?

The story of fireworks from their mysterious origins as a by-product of the search for eternal life to the pyrotechnic spectaculars of today.

How they appeared in Europe in the 14th century, enlivening state occasions such as coronations, as royal families competed for star pyrotechnists with big money. ... In the 19th [century], they would conquer the British Empire, being carried through jungles on the heads of porters to reach its most remote corners, while colors got brighter and more vivid, and fads like living fireworks emerged. The 20th century saw the computer revolution that has brought todays breathtaking shows televised across the globe with ever-more-audacious effects.

And fireworks are not just for fun. They have been deployed on battlefields for centuries, while in peacetime, they have been used to rescue wrecked mariners, deliver mail, or even prevent hail storms. But they can also be dangerous, and they have been at the center of many accidents. Now they also face new challenges, with growing concern over pollution and the effect they have on animals.
Pleasure watercraft escort the Battleship New Jersey as tugs return it home to the Camden Waterfront Thursday, June 20, 2024, after a restorative hull repainting and other maintenance work in Philadelphia. Read more

After a $10 million facelift, Battleship New Jersey is ready to show off its new look.

Beginning Wednesday and just in time for July 4 celebrations, tours are resuming on Big J, the Navys most-decorated battleship.

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Self-guided tours on the battleship run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and guided tours start at noon, according to its website. Tickets cost $5 to $40.

The ship will have the main deck and captains and admirals cabins and decks open for guests to watch fireworks on Wednesday.

The ship returned home to the Camden waterfront on June 20 following three months of repairs and maintenance in South Philadelphia. The makeover marked the first time the decorated battleship had ventured out since 2001.

The battleship left Camden for a stop in Paulsboro on March 21, then moved to Philadelphia on March 27.

Philadelphia Ship Repair workers repainted and repaired the hull, in addition to replacing anticorrosion technology. The hull project also included an inspection and sealing of about 160 through holes that drew in seawater to cool the engines when the ship was operational. Carpenters installed a new teak deck.

Gov. Phil Murphy allocated $5 million last summer for the project through the N.J. Historical Commission. Camden County also financed the project with $3.2 million in guaranteed revenue bonds, and the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey Inc. raised money to pay for the work.

The ship  887 feet long and four stories tall, and weighing 45,000 tons  was launched from dry-dock at what was then the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on Dec. 7, 1942, the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Production of the ship already was underway before Dec. 7, 1941.

One of four Iowa Class battleships produced, Big J is the most decorated vessel in Navy history. After World War II, the ship was again put into service during the Korean conflict, the Vietnam War, and as part of Ronald Reagans defense buildup in 1981. The ship was decommissioned in 1991 and turned into a floating museum in 2001.

When Big J was built, thousands of people were employed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Thousands also served on it during World War II.
This story will be highlighted in How We Care, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring original reporting and perspectives on how we care for one another at all stages of life. Sign up for free here.

Christiana Blakes fever had been raging for days.

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On that day in early April last year, a doctor who examined her at an outpatient center became concerned that a family member was refusing to take her to the emergency room, even though the 76-year-old Dauphin County woman could barely keep her eyes open. In the haze of dementia brought on by a stroke, Blake couldnt communicate or advocate for herself.

That was the first time her situation was reported to the local agency charged with protecting older adults from abuse and neglect, according to records obtained by Spotlight PA. Yet it would take nearly two months  more than twice the 20-day time frame prescribed by state regulations  for that agency to assemble a plan for Blakes safety.

And once it did, little was done to ensure the plan was followed.

There were two more suspected abuse reports filed on Blakes behalf over the next nine months  the last one just weeks before her death this past February. The doctor who performed an autopsy called it one of the worst cases of neglect he had seen in his 40-year career.

Most of Pennsylvanias 52 county agencies responsible for protecting older adults are failing, in varying degrees, to swiftly review complaints of suspected abuse or neglect and craft plans to keep people safe  in some cases, even in emergencies, a Spotlight PA investigation found.

Certain county protective services agencies have taken five or more times the mandated 20 days for determinations in abuse and neglect investigations, according to data obtained from a wide-ranging public records request and analyzed by the news organization.

The deficiencies have persisted despite a 2018 report by the state inspector generals office recommending the Department of Aging, which oversees those county agencies, develop procedures to improve timeliness in completing abuse and neglect investigations.

At the same time, there has been a staggering increase in the number of older Pennsylvanians who died during an open investigation of an abuse or neglect complaint, according to data obtained by Spotlight PA. In 2018, 888 people died under these circumstances. In 2022 (the last complete year of data), that number was nearly 1,700  a 91% increase.

State aging officials have attributed the increase in large part to the states growing population of older adults, a sharp rise in abuse and neglect complaints, and the pandemic that wreaked disproportionate havoc on vulnerable populations.

But because the department does not track the cause of death for people who die during open investigations and county agencies arent required to report it, accountability is near impossible.

Peoples lives are at stake, said Sheri McQuown, a protective services specialist who monitored the county agencies for seven years, adding: If this involved children or puppies, there would be hearings.

Despite the high stakes, the Department of the Aging has for years not made public the information needed to assess the performance of those agencies, what deadlines they are missing, and the repercussions of their failure to follow state regulations.

Protective services case files are confidential, and when things at county agencies go wrong, details about their corrective action plans are also withheld from the public.

Taken together, it is impossible to get a complete picture of how county-level failures harm older adults in Pennsylvania.

As the number of those adults continues to grow  by 2030, the population of Pennsylvanians 60 and over is projected to outnumber every other age group, according to state officials  there is an urgent and growing call for reform and transparency.

State Rep. Lou Schmitt (R., Blair) recently introduced legislation that would require the Department of Aging to publish the compliance status of each of the 52 county agencies.

The public deserves to know, Schmitt said. They are where the rubber meets the road when it comes to protecting seniors.

In an interview, Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich, appointed by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro to head the agency in early 2023, said the data analyzed by Spotlight PA dont tell the whole story.

He said the county agencies have improved in other areas, including quickly getting out to conduct face-to-face interviews with older adults suspected of being abused or neglected. And he said that when investigations exceed the 20-day deadline, older adults may get some services as a final care plan is being drafted.

Kavulich also said there are outside factors that affect performance numbers, even in situations where caseworkers do everything right. Still, he said, he told county agencies shortly after taking over the department that he intended to make more information about their performance public, and that the office is actively working on a plan to do that.

We as a department have to do better, he said, adding. I dont come to work every day to maintain the status quo.

Little public information

Individual states set policies on protective services for older adults, as well as adults with disabilities. In Pennsylvania, this work is administered by 52 county-level agencies called Area Agencies on Aging.

Some are nonprofits that contract with counties, while others are government-run. Collectively, they cover all of the states 67 counties, providing services from recreational programs to transportation to meals. One of their most critical functions, however, is investigating allegations of abuse against older Pennsylvanians and providing them with services.

In Pennsylvania, state regulations require county aging agencies to make all reasonable efforts to complete investigations of suspected abuse or neglect as soon as possible, but at least within 20 days. An investigation is complete only when the allegation has or has not been substantiated; and if substantiated, after necessary steps have been taken to reduce imminent risk to the older adult.

Earlier this year, Spotlight PA requested a broad swath of data from the Department of Aging dating back eight years. The request sought information on the number of reports of suspected abuse and neglect (called reports of need) that were filed with the county agencies, as well as the length of time it took to investigate them and determine a plan of action.

The news organization also requested information, by county agency, on how many investigations each year were completed within the 20-day time frame, how many missed that deadline, and by how long.

Spotlight PAs analysis found that, in the best year, nearly a third of total cases investigated annually by the 52 county agencies either missed the 20-day deadline or contained faulty paperwork that made it impossible to determine how they performed.

Some years were far worse. In the 2016-17 fiscal year, 49.5% of abuse and neglect investigations missed the deadline or lacked proper paperwork to know. The year after that, it was 46%. That number decreased to 35.4% in 2022-23, the most recent complete year of data.

Though that is an improvement since the inspector generals 2018 report, serious deficiencies persist, especially in Pennsylvanias largest counties that serve more people and have the highest number of reports of suspected neglect and abuse.

Allegheny Countys aging agency launched 3,850 abuse and neglect investigations between July 2022 and June 2023. Of those, no determinations were made within 20 days in 1,460 cases  or nearly 38%. Another 18.5% of the cases the county handled contained faulty or incomplete information, so it is unknown if they missed the deadline.

Of the 1,460 cases that didnt meet the deadline, nearly 8% were classified as emergencies, the records show, meaning the older adult was at imminent risk of death or serious physical harm.

In Delaware County, nearly 45% of the 952 investigations handled by the agency there in 2022-23 werent completed within 20 days. Another 34% of the countys cases contained faulty or incomplete information.

In fact, Delaware Countys combined percentage of investigations that missed the deadline or had faulty or incomplete paperwork  nearly 79%  was the highest in the state, followed by Westmoreland (67%), Allegheny (56%), Dauphin (55%), and Philadelphia (53.7%).

The head of the Delaware County agency, Barbara S. Nicolardi, referred questions about its performance to her deputy director, who lacked authorization to speak to a reporter. County spokesperson Ryan Herlinger said in an email that its aging agencys challenges stem from documentation issues that are not reflective of the immediate outreach and connection we make with clients.

The Department of Aging monitors compliance of county agencies by randomly selecting investigations completed in a given year to see how they were handled, and then assigning a performance score.

But few of its findings are readily available to the public.

If the bureau finds deficiencies, it can cite the county agency for noncompliance and require it to submit a plan to correct the problems. That plan is not a public record, according to a department spokesperson. As a result, the public cannot know what deficiencies exist, what is being done to fix them, or the ramifications they might have had on the people affected.

Kavulich told lawmakers at his departments budget hearing this past February that some information about noncompliance (including which counties fall into that category and why) would be released in May. The departments most recently released report did not contain that information.

At Spotlight PAs request, the Department of Aging provided a list of county agencies that are currently in noncompliance status, meaning their unsatisfactory performance left older adults at risk: Allegheny (16 deficiencies), Delaware (six deficiencies), Lehigh (six deficiencies), Mercer (10 deficiencies), Philadelphia (16 deficiencies), and Westmoreland (four deficiencies).

The department sent letters to those agencies between last summer and the start of this year informing them of their status. None of the letters described the actual problems. Nor did they say what the repercussions were, including whether older adults were harmed, or in what way.

Kavulich said he has mandated monthly meetings with the county agencies with the worst compliance rates. The hope, he said, is to hear what may be causing the problems and provide technical assistance.

He also said hes launching a fatality review process for cases where the circumstances surrounding an older adults death are suspicious.

McQuown said that process existed under the previous administration. After Kavulich took over, she said, responsibility for those reviews was transferred out of the department to the county protective agencies  effectively letting the agencies monitor themselves.

Asked about the change, a department spokesperson said the prior administration had no formal protocol for conducting those reviews. And though the counties are now the ones who are responsible for the reviews, the department has laid out specific standards for them to follow.

An unrealistic standard?

Investigating cases of abuse and neglect is neither easy nor foolproof, according to interviews with protective services staffers and administrators.

County caseworkers receive training in a set curriculum that includes information on a range of topics, including how to manage older adults who may be resistant to care or who may be incapacitated, as well as requirements under state law. They also receive in-service training annually.

Once on the job, the work can be mentally and emotionally challenging, leading to high turnover in staff. In larger counties, caseloads sometimes exceed what is permissible under the law, which says that protective services investigators should not be handling more than 30 cases at any time.

JR Reed, who heads Lehigh Countys agency, said expecting 100% compliance with the law, 100% of the time, for every caseworker is unrealistic. Reeds agency met the 20-day benchmark in nearly 87% of the cases it investigated in fiscal year 2022-23.

Reed said many factors can prevent investigators from meeting the 20-day deadline, including getting timely access to doctors or medical records, or dealing with older adults who are incapacitated and thus difficult to interview.

Black and white data doesnt always tell the full story, he said.

Reed said he would like to see Pennsylvanias protective services code updated, and would support the 20-day requirement being lengthened by up to 10 days. Kavulich also told Spotlight PA the regulations need to be modernized, though he stopped short of saying county agencies should have more time to investigate reports of abuse and neglect.

Still, he acknowledged that quickly making determinations in cases is critical to keeping older adults safe, and that counties should strive to meet that and other benchmarks.

In 2018, Pennsylvanias Office of State Inspector General conducted an extensive investigation of protective services in the commonwealth. The inquiry centered on whether the Department of Aging was properly monitoring the county agencies, as well as whether it was enforcing regulations on how quickly they were responding to reports of alleged abuse  including the 20-day deadline to investigate those allegations.

It found that in nearly half the alleged abuse cases reported in the 2016-17 fiscal year, county agencies either failed to meet that deadline or provided incorrect or missing information.

Among its 12-point list of recommendations for the Department of Aging: consider implementing a system for the department to review county agencies in real time, in addition to its annual monitoring, to spot deficiencies more quickly.

McQuown, who worked as a protective services specialist at the Aging Department at the time the report was released, said the findings spurred changes. There was more robust data collection and analysis to better understand how the county agencies were performing. The department also created a bench of experienced caseworkers  including retired protected services employees  who could quickly step in to help ease staffing shortages and increased caseloads.

But McQuown said she quit her job at the department last summer because she believed that Kavulich, a onetime county agency director himself, was diluting its watchdog role, and making changes she did not believe were beneficial to older adults. The departments protective services bureau, she said, no longer refers to its work as monitoring.

Instead, workers there refer to it as evaluations.

Kavulich dismissed the criticisms, saying they dont reflect the difficult realities of people doing protective services work in the field.

You cant walk into somebodys office and say, You need to do better, because Ive said you need to do better. That doesnt make someone better, he said. If that were the case, he added, there would have been more significant improvement in county agency compliance with the 20-day deadline following the inspector generals findings.

If you dont have buy-in from the people doing the work in the field, or the people in the field dont trust that you are supporting them to make positive changes, youre not going to get the change that you want, Kavulich said.

One of the worst cases of neglect

The forensic pathologist who helped perform Blakes autopsy after her death in February said the wounds on her body could be one of the worst cases of neglect he has seen during his career spanning 40 years, according to court records in what is now a criminal case in Dauphin County.

The head of Dauphin Countys county agency, Benjamin Knox, referred questions about the case to the countys spokesperson, saying he could not comment on pending litigation or investigations. He did not elaborate.

The spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. The Department of Aging declined to comment on whether it is reviewing Blakes case, or whether it has an opinion on how Dauphin County handled her situation, citing the pending criminal prosecution.

Blakes daughter and caregiver, Yeawah Sanu, was charged in mid-May by law enforcement in Dauphin County with criminal homicide and neglect of a care-dependent person. Court officials said she has not yet entered a plea in the case, and Sanus lawyer did not respond to calls requesting comment. Spotlight PA also left a message with Sanus husband, who did not return the call.

The pressure sores on Blakes back were up to 2 inches deep, court records say. Her legs were decomposing and mummified, and had open wounds and exposed bones. One of her feet was on the verge of falling off her body shortly before her death.

Doctors, according to the criminal complaint against Sanu, had advised in the months before Blakes death that her lower legs be amputated. But Sanu, who made medical decisions on her mothers behalf, rejected the recommendation.

Protective service records in Blakes case obtained by Spotlight PA indicate it was Sanus refusal to take steps to help her mother that led to the first report of suspected neglect to Dauphin Countys protective services in early April 2023.

According to those records:

Sanu had taken Blake to an outpatient center on April 10 last year due to a high fever that had been ongoing for a week. Medical staff there recommended Blake be taken to the emergency room, but Sanu allegedly resisted until a doctor threatened to call 911 to report her.

Sanu then allegedly refused ambulance transport to the emergency room even though her car battery was dead, opting to instead wait for family members to jump her car before taking her mother to Hershey Medical Center.

The records do not make it clear who contacted Dauphin Countys protective services bureau, which received the report of suspected neglect on April 11. The report was listed as priority, which under state regulations calls for meeting with the older adult within 24 hours.

The Dauphin County protective services worker assigned to the case met that guideline, visiting Blake in the hospital  and substantiating the report of neglect  that same day.

But it took nearly two months, until June 1, 2023, for a care plan to be presented to Blakes daughter, the records show. The plan, which included in-home services for Blake, was assembled minutes after a social worker informed Dauphin Countys protective services unit that Blake had missed several follow-up doctors appointments, and that Sanu had reported feeling overwhelmed with managing her mothers care.

The protective services record obtained by Spotlight PA shows just one other entry until late October, when another person reported suspicions of caregiver neglect to Dauphin Countys protective services unit. The report was classified as an emergency.

By then, Blake had landed in the hospital again because her feeding tube had become dislodged  and medical staff there diagnosed her with pressure wounds, a kidney injury, and a gangrenous black foot that looked mummified.

Again, a Dauphin County protective services worker visited Blake in the hospital the same day the report was made, but there is no entry showing whether the allegation of caregiver neglect was substantiated, or that there was a care plan put in place  that is, until a third and final report of suspected neglect was made to Dauphin County on Jan. 2.

Blake had again landed in the emergency room with terrible wounds of unknown cause, wounds down to exposed bones, as well as one necrotic leg and another on the verge of complete decay. She had pneumonia, was struggling to breathe, and her room smelled bad because as the nurse there put it: Gangrene and infection smells rotten.

Subsequent entries in Blakes protective services reports are fast and furious: Police are alerted; a request for guardianship is made; neighbors of Blakes are contacted; medical records are requested and reviewed.

At 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, Blake died. Dauphin County protective services closed her case three days later.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Senate Republicans seem poised to refocus their efforts to alter Pennsylvanias education landscape by bringing down the cost of private school and homeschooling, as part of a sweeping new tax credit proposal thats being fast-tracked in a Senate committee. Read more

HARRISBURG  Senate Republicans have refocused their efforts to alter Pennsylvanias education landscape on a sweeping new proposal that would allow families to use tax dollars to subsidize the cost of private school and home schooling in the state.

Unlike a prior proposal to provide vouchers to poor students in communities with low-achieving public schools, the bill, sponsored by Sen. Judy Ward (R., Blair), would allow all families that homeschool or send their child to private school  regardless of their income  to receive an $8,000 tax credit back to their bank accounts to cover some school-related expenses.

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A spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro said he opposes it, and it is certain to face resistance in the state House, where Democrats hold a narrow majority.

The bill, which was fast-tracked in a Senate committee in the midst of budget season, comes as a sign that lawmakers have yet to reach an agreement on how to change Pennsylvanias education system  even after weeks of closed-door negotiations for the next fiscal year.

It quickly drew opposition from critics, who noted it could cost more than $2 billion per year as currently written  a figure that would grow if more families enrolled in private schools in the future.

Weve just gotten a signal of what the end of the road is: the destruction of public schools, said Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg, senior attorney at the Public Interest Law Center. He called the expedited bill the Episcopal Academy Assistance Act, highlighting the Newtown Square private school where high school tuition tops $43,000 as one of the expensive schools that could benefit from such a proposal.

A spokesperson for Senate Republicans said in a statement that the concept has significant interest within our caucus and empowering parents to have educational opportunities for their children remains a key area of focus for our caucus. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee along party lines on Wednesday.

At the committee meeting Wednesday, Ward said the total cost was unlikely to top $2 billion like public education advocates estimate, because similar programs are often underutilized and lawmakers would likely cap it in the future. She noted a similar effort in Oklahoma, where the state only spent about half of the $150 million it earmarked for private school tax credits. She also likened the program to the childcare tax credit Pennsylvania passed last year, which Democrats championed. The Blair County Republican is also a proponent of vouchers, as the prime sponsor on legislation to create such a program.

Advocates across Pennsylvania  and even Jay-Z  had been prepared for a tough budget fight over whether the state should create a private-school voucher program to send tax dollars to low-income families in poor-performing schools. But so far, top legislative leaders have mostly sidestepped the issue in budget negotiations, focused at this point on implementing a new school funding system, as instructed by a state appellate court. The state budget for the next fiscal year was due Sunday and there has been little indication that lawmakers are close to reaching a final agreement.

Under the new proposal, families could use the $8,000 credit toward tuition, tutoring, software, after-school programs or textbooks. Unlike proposed school voucher programs, students who currently attend a public school would not be eligible.

Sen. Lindsey Williams (D., Allegheny) said the fact that the fast-tracked bill  introduced last week and already getting a committee vote Wednesday  has no income limits shows Senate Republicans telling on themselves.

Theyve literally just abandoned all pretense that this is for low-income families and struggling students, Williams added. This is for wealthy families to get a tax break.

Public education advocacy groups were also quick to oppose the legislation, arguing that the state needs to meet its constitutional duty to equitably and adequately fund public schools  following a Commonwealth Court ruling last year that Pennsylvania has been depriving poorer school communities of needed resources  before creating a new tax credit program.

Urevick-Ackelsberg, whose group brought the successful school funding lawsuit, said the proposal demonstrated that Pennsylvania could afford a plan to increase K-12 education funding by $5.1 billion, phased in over seven years.

I am thankful that they are again making clear that complying with the constitution, and funding public schools is well within our grasp, he said.

Despite its lack of focus on students from poor families in low-performing schools, several Republican members claimed it would still help them.

Today were talking about educational opportunities for all children, said Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R., Butler), who chairs the committee. This will help less fortunate families more than anyone else.
At Seventh and Market Streets, the installation by Sonya Clark, The Descendants of Monticello, at Declaration House features images of the eyes of the descendants of the over 400 people enslaved at Monticello, including those biologically related to Thomas Jefferson. Read more

On July 4, 2026, the nation will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding. How should we here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, mark the occasion?

This is the question we have been asking ourselves across civically engaged spaces for years now. From numerous committees, start-up organizations, and public debates, the question looms  and has gathered more urgency in recent months, as the country teeters in an election year that will determine what kind of democracy we will have in 2026, and for generations to come.

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Ive heard many suggestions to emulate the earlier anniversary milestones such as the 1876 centennial or 1976 bicentennial, creating similar opportunities for tourism and municipal investment. But we cant view these historic commemorations through rose-colored lenses.

These previous anniversary celebrations were, in many ways, successful  but a deeper look shows how they also spotlighted the underlying contradictions of our city, where longings for freedom and persistence of inequity structure our everyday realities.

Consider, for instance, the story of the Richard Allen memorial, the only exhibition featuring and sponsored by African Americans permitted in the 1876 centennial, held a year before the end of Reconstruction. After the centennial celebration, Fairmount Park refused to allow the bust of Allen to remain there permanently, so it was sent to a university in Ohio, where it spent the next century most likely in storage. It didnt return to Philadelphia until 2010.

Consider, too, when then-Mayor Frank Rizzo called for the National Guard to squelch protests during the 1976 bicentennial.

Two years away from the semiquincentennial, we find ourselves at another crossroads: How do we mark 2026 in a way that contends with some of our biggest social challenges  including inequity and division  in a revolutionary way?

This question is especially vital at a moment when we face ongoing challenges to the very fabric of our democracy. In the midst of an election year rife with consternation, where deep wounds of injustice persist and as threats to our multiracial democracy reign, what America will be in 2026 is far from settled.

As recent reports have shown, the city lacks funding to pull off a major celebration; Independence National Historical Park doesnt have enough funding for necessary maintenance, let alone preparing for the semiquincentennial.

But our preparations are also dependent on moral currency.

Preparing for 2026 requires more than just party planning, but a reckoning with an unfinished democracy and systemic injustices that date back to our nations founding: the legacies of enslavement, dispossession of Indigenous lands, and racial and gender inequality. These are unhealed wounds that remain self-evident and hold back our progress and possibility. These are not matters of the far-off past but embedded within symbols and systems of our nation today.

Now, and especially as we struggle to keep our democracy intact, we must tend to these legacies through civic healing and repair.

Not everyone wants to confront our painful past. The clear, lucid, and candid telling of this full history is under threat from authoritarian forces who are working to re-entrench segregationist ways into American life. It appears they would rather curtail the full unvarnished telling of history than learn or heal from it.

As the saying goes, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Likewise, those who shut down the telling of our history are poised to doom us into dark times.

Do not get me wrong  the radical potential of joy and celebration in 2026 is profound. And, still, we need a vision for our city and country that unpacks our history in ways that bring catharsis and relief. We are bursting at the seams with grief. We need resources to process, grow, and transform together.

We are bursting at the seams with grief.

How we make room for our unhealed civic wounds in 2026 will define us as we strive to move forward.

To start, I believe we must look more deeply at how we got here  the unfinished and unfulfilled promise of the country. We can do this by boldly addressing our central contradictions with grace and clarity. Embracing the fullness of our history.

At Monument Lab, we have begun our 2026-related projects this year with Declaration House, featuring Sonya Clarks public artwork The Descendants of Monticello, a collaboration with Independence National Historical Park and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticellos Getting Word African American Oral History Project.

This installation is staged at the site where Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, and penned a passage later removed by his colleagues in which he referred to slavery as a cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty. The artwork features videos of the blinking eyes of the descendants of the over 400 people enslaved at Monticello, including those biologically related to Jefferson.

Other projects that offer similar approaches include Matthew Jordan-Miller Kenyattas The Museum of Hidden Genius: An Atlas of Afrotech, which chronicles the technologies developed by Black inventors, and the Sacred Red Rock Project, focused on returning a boulder sacred to the Kaw Nation back to its people in Kansas.

 READ MORE: Joint session of Congress at Independence Hall proposed for nations 250th anniversary

There is a lesson here  not just for Philadelphia and the U.S., but for our times of division and strife. If we want to have healing, learning, belonging, and true celebration for all, we must change our ways.

We must be called to the future by way of our past, tending to the gaps and erasures we have inherited. We must make room for our full history to breathe, thrive, and come to life through courageous conversation, art, and action. This is the only way we can animate democracy and make generational change.

Paul M. Farber is director and cofounder of Monument Lab. He also serves as senior research scholar at the Center for Public Art and Space at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design.
SELYDOVE, Ukraine  In this devastated small eastern town, in the heavily contested region of Pokrovsk, Russias deliberate bombing of civilian targets is visible everywhere.

I emphasize the word deliberate, because bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure is the centerpiece of Russias strategy to destroy Ukraine, even if it cant occupy the country fully. As I drive around with Maj. Boris (call sign: Johnson) of the 59th Brigade, he points out an apartment building partly crushed by a glide bomb.

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What great military targets! Boris laughs, without humor.

Two missiles hit the elementary school, one destroyed the kindergarten. The bank, the polytechnic college, a restaurant  all crushed. The roof of the local hospital was destroyed; a bomb even targeted the cemetery. This is not collateral damage from war; there are no military installations anywhere in the vicinity.

They cant take the big cities, so they try to empty and destroy every village and town, as well as civilian infrastructure for the entire country, Boris said bitterly. Its nothing but civilian destruction.

Indeed, Vladimir Putins war on Ukrainian civilians makes clear what some NATO leaders are still too timid to face up to, as they prepare to meet for the alliances 75th-anniversary summit this week in Washington, D.C. Putin wants to destroy independent Ukraine and wont stop unless he is forced to by giving Ukraine the Western weapons it needs right now and putting it on a clear path to NATO membership.

Ukrainians keep fighting, not because President Joe Biden and NATO force them to, as Russian propaganda blares daily, echoed word for word by Donald Trump and his MAGA devotees. Ukrainians keep fighting because they know what will happen to them if they agree to a cease-fire. It will only give Putin a breather to prepare for his next attack.

Most Americans have no clue about the extent of civilian destruction, rape, murder, torture, and de-Ukrainization Putin has brought to the territories Russia has occupied, nor the number of Russian-speaking Ukrainians he has murdered. My current trip to Ukraine has been aimed at examining how Putin wages war, how Russia acts within the Ukrainian territory it has seized, and how it has treated POWs  all contributing to Putins long list of war crimes.

What I have seen is a mountain of evidence as to why there is no point to negotiations with a Kremlin leader who disdains international law, commits war crimes too numerous to catalog  and has broken every accord Russia made with Ukraine since the Soviet Union dissolved.

As nearly every Ukrainian I spoke to repeated: Putin understands only force.

The Russian way

On this trip  my fourth since the initial whispers of war in early 2022  I visited Kyiv, the key southern port of Odesa, the eastern front lines near Pokrovsk and Chasiv Yar, and the cities of Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, where many internal refugees from the occupied territories live.

One cannot fly into Ukraine because all airports have been closed since the war started. So my route took me by plane through Warsaw, Poland, to Chisinau (Kishinev), the capital of Moldova, and then three and a half hours by car to Odesa. No sooner did I reach the pearl of the Black Sea than I saw the results of Putins bombing campaign aimed at destroying Ukraines power and heating infrastructure.

Odesa was dark, as rolling blackouts hit all of Ukraines cities. No air-conditioning, except at hotels, restaurants, and for those who can afford generators. That means no refrigeration, and often no water. It means mothers with kids who live in apartments have to carry them, along with nonperishable groceries, up punishing flights of stairs.

Many Ukrainians told me Putins goal is to freeze the people during the winter, driving millions more to flee to neighboring European countries, and denuding the country of population. This is a war crime. This is why The Hague, Netherlands-based International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in June for former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and top Russian Gen. Valery Gerasimov for attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Unfortunately, that wont stop the Kremlin.

From the first days of the invasion, the Russian army proved that human life does not matter to them, I was told in Kyiv by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, who is compiling data on Russian war crimes. More than 162,000 civilian infrastructure objects have been damaged or destroyed, and of these, 130,000 are housing.

I have seen this Russian destruction over and over in every big city I have visited  deliberate targeting of universities, high schools, markets, cinemas, shopping malls, even the Ukrainian equivalent of a huge Home Depot in Kharkiv.

Plunging Ukraine into darkness and cold is an obvious plan of the aggressor and one more sign of the genocidal nature of this war, Kostin said.

I traveled east by car, over bumpy roads and through partly destroyed villages where some people still refuse to leave. We passed endless fields of wheat and rye, and the early yellow buds of the sunflower crop.

In stark contrast to those cheerful blossoms, Putins disdain for humanity  including his own troops  was the subject of much discussion with the military units I visited. I also had many long talks about the death toll caused by Congress six-month cutoff of military aid, and the creative efforts of Ukrainian soldiers to hold the line by technological innovation, including drones.

Most revolting to Ukrainian soldiers is the Russian disregard for their own men, leaving dead bodies to rot in trenches and fields and even burying the wounded alive.

I wont easily forget the conversation I had with 28-year-old Capt. Hans (his military code name), who heads an artillery battery in the 59th Brigade, and went through the painful shell hunger caused by the U.S. aid holdup.

Sitting on rough homemade chairs deep in the woods near a base outside Pokrovsk, Hans spoke of the human waves of troops Russia sends forward. When the first wave, usually draftees from the occupied Donbas region, are slain, the second wave advances over their corpses. The next waves are Russian convicts or members of its ethnic minorities. By the 10th or 15th attempt, they often manage to move forward.

There are plenty of cases where they roll over or through Russian bodies, Hans told me. They throw bodies out of trenches to use the same trenches and dont mind the smell.

This is how they advance. When we see the way they treat their own with no respect, as if they are not human, all the hairs on our bodies stand on end.

Stretching his long legs, Hans reflected on a question that deeply bothers many on the front lines.

Putin said Ukraine needed to concede four regions  which Russian troops only partly occupy  to Moscow. But how can we accept that if there are Ukrainian citizens there who dont want to live under Russia? They know what will happen, like Bucha, Hostomel, or Mariupol  massive killing and rapes, he said. For Russian troops in occupied territories, there are no laws. They can do anything they want.

News from Mariupol

Capt. Hans thoughts on occupied territories touched on a place I often think about: Mariupol.

I visited the once beautiful port city just before Putins army blasted it into the ground in 2022. That included bombing the citys iconic drama theater, which was sheltering 600 women and children.

I checked out the office of Me Mariupol in Dnipro, one of a series of centers for Mariupol refugees set up across the country by the citys former and still de facto mayor, Vadym Boychenko. The mayors deputy for these centers, former Mariupol City Councillor Oleksandr Khaliavinskyi, was still visibly affected by the destruction of a multicultural city so many Ukrainians loved.

Although there was no electricity on a steamy hot day, at least a dozen volunteers  all escapees from the city  were busy helping fellow refugees go through a free clothes rack, fill out legal documents, or pick up their children from a day-care center on the site. Eighty percent of the city buildings were destroyed, including 2,500 apartment blocs, Khaliavinskyi told me. Many of these were demolished with dead or wounded inside.

I spoke at a nearby cafe with a 20-year-old university student who escaped from Mariupol in March 2023  I will call him Alex because some family members remain in the city. The most horrible thing I saw, he told me, was when the Russians blew up a whole building damaged by their rockets with injured people still in it. They took the rubble to the dump, then covered the building site with cement. No one thought to evacuate the living.

People were screaming because you could see men and women stuck under collapsed concrete plates. The Russians didnt bother to help. They waited for them to stop screaming. A nice lady wearing a pink robe was crying for help. Some humanitarian volunteers begged the Russian police to rescue her. They said, Shut your mouth.

Putin has made a big show of visiting new prefab apartment blocks with yellow and green trim that are promoted on Russian social media as proving Russia is rebuilding the city. The fancy buildings are for those Russians whom their government is bringing from the far east to repopulate the city and do menial jobs. Now the population is more of ethnic outsiders than of locals, Khaliavinskyi said.

All the population is forced to get Russian passports, otherwise there is no health care or pensions. In every neighborhood, there are checkpoints to stop and investigate your phone for any Ukrainian channels, which means arrest and torture. People are so scared to use the Ukrainian language and can only receive Russian TV or propaganda, he added.

Youngsters are indoctrinated at school to believe there is no such country as Ukraine, and in adulthood are mobilized into the local proxy army for Russia, which is sent to the front as cannon fodder against brother Ukrainians.

Alex told me how Russians had stripped the facilities of his technical university bare, tossing out all books in Ukrainian and even Russian books whose content they disliked. The Russians also looted the local history museum. An avid techie, Alex managed to hack into the database of his university and found a series of presentations the Russians had designed for lecturers to give to high school and university classes. The maps showed no more Ukrainian state, and the bulk of the country had been turned into regions of Russia.

They teach them the worst lies about Ukraine, I was told angrily by Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk in Kyiv. She has the hopeful title of minister of reintegration of temporarily occupied territories. Mariupol is practically a city that can be called a cemetery, with buildings constructed over Ukrainian bones, she said.

Indeed, Russias treatment of Mariupol and other occupied areas seems identical to current definitions of genocide  attempting to erase the culture, religion, language, indeed the very identity of a people  all while deporting tens of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia for adoption, and jailing tens of thousands of civilians accused of embracing Ukraine or its language.

It is little wonder Ukrainians feel their struggle is existential, with Putin openly declaring there is no such thing as a Ukrainian state. In March, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine issued a report condemning the Russian intimidation, violence, detention, and punishment of Ukrainians under occupation.

Putin does not care.

War crimes

One of the ultimate horrors of Russian war crimes is the unspeakable treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, especially the last holdouts in besieged Mariupol, who lasted for weeks inside the Azovstal steelworks.

They were guaranteed an honorable surrender and humane prison conditions by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which then did little to prevent them from being delivered to pure hell.

Prosecutor General Kostin spoke to me at length about the treatment of detainees and POWs and how it violates international laws of warfare. More than 160 torture chambers and places of detention were discovered in liberated territory. Mostly the goal was to eliminate community leaders or anyone who could resist Russian rule.

But the methods of torture used bear close resemblance to the Nazi torture chambers in World War II. Nothing is too ugly or disgusting. And as the U.N. report detailed, sexual violence is openly committed by Russian soldiers and interrogators against women and men as a weapon of war.

I spoke in Kyiv with Anna Sosonska, a deputy in the chief prosecutors office who supervises investigations of sexual crimes committed during the war, and who has been developing a process that protects women and girls from stigma if they come forward with complaints.

The Russian military uses sexual violence as the cheapest method of terror, she told me. We have incidents everywhere that Russian forces are based.

Sosonska said they have recorded incidents where Russias FSB intelligence agents told their victims, You are tortured because you are Ukrainian. As the U.N. report mentioned, more than half of the POWs from the Azovstal steelworks suffered from sexual violence, indicating it was standard operating procedure, not rogue behavior.

This is not surprising given the vituperation toward Ukrainians that dominates Russian social media and TV talk shows.

What moved me the most about talking with Sosonska was what she told me about the stories her Jewish great-grandmother told her about the Nazi camps for Jews.

These stories were very similar to the conditions of Ukrainian POWs in Russian camps, she said.

There is good reason why Ukrainians call Putin Putler, and why he tries to reverse this label by ludicrously calling Ukrainians Nazis  a lie ignorantly embraced in the U.S. by many in the MAGA camp.

Putins genocidal approach to Ukraine, and his cold-blooded inhumanity, make clear why Ukrainians believe he can only be stopped by force, and by Ukrainian membership in NATO. What I saw and heard in Ukraine illustrates why Trumps embrace of Putin is reprehensible, and why Bidens approach must be tougher.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told me in Kyiv: It is impossible to help Ukraine with one hand and shake Putins hand with the other.

Especially when that criminals hand is covered in blood.
Im stumped. Its been a week since everyone watching the first presidential debate heard it, and Ill admit, Im still baffled: What exactly is a Black job?

Im African American and a female as well as a columnist for a major metropolitan newspaper. There arent many other Black women who do what I do for a living. I can count maybe a handful of us spread out around the entire country.

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So, does that mean I have a white job?

Or is my position considered a Black one because I happen to be the one who currently holds it?

It was Donald Trump who sent me down this ridiculous rabbit hole when he mentioned during last weeks debate that Black jobs were being assumed by the millions of people who have been allowed to come in through the border.

Theyre taking Black jobs now, Trump said (falsely, according to economists) of migrants. And it could be 18. It could be 19 and even 20 million people. Theyre taking Black jobs and theyre taking Hispanic jobs, and you havent seen it yet, but youre going to see something thats going to be the worst in our history.

It wasnt the first time Ive heard that phrase come out of Trumps hyperbolic mouth. He brought up Black jobs during a rally at Temple Universitys Liacouras Center in North Philly last month.

I was sitting in the audience, and I found myself looking around to see if anyone else was thinking what I was.

When he did it again during last weeks disastrous presidential debate, I had the same reaction. Stunned disbelief. Such an idiotic thing to say once, much less to have on repeat.

It was yet another occasion when Trumps white supremacy was on full display, and with virtually any other candidate at any other time, it would be instantly disqualifying. But Trump? He still has a good chance of becoming the nations next president.

Since the debate, Ive been consoling myself about Trumps ignorance  and the way so many millions of voters put up with it  by checking out the TikTok videos and memes on social media about his Black jobs comment.

My favorite is an Instagram video showing members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, a historically Black Greek organization, stepping forward one by one in their trademark purple and gold and announcing the various professional jobs they hold.

Its an impressive group. One is a retired nuclear physicist. Another is a real estate developer. One says hes a deputy sheriff in Memphis. Another is an occupational therapist. Theres a psychotherapist from Houston. A dentist from Gainesville, Ga. An IT professional. An occupational therapist. A pastor in Phoenix. A consultant with the federal government.

Its Black excellence personified. I dont know these men. But I guarantee you not one of them is worried about an immigrant taking their job. Not one.

Its ironic that Trump, the ultimate anti-DEI candidate, is trying to frame his Black jobs comments as if hes genuinely concerned about African American unemployment rates (which have been historically low).

In actuality, what Trump is trying to do is use yet another racist dog whistle  only this time, hes trying to pit the Black community against our brown brothers and sisters.

If hes trying to get African American voters motivated about the crisis at our borders, this is not the way to do it.

Trump bullies Joe Biden about his age, but hes the one whose mindset is stuck in the 1950s. Back then, Black people were largely relegated to certain low-level, menial jobs, due to Jim Crow and systemic racial discrimination. Those are the so-called good old days Trump seems to want to get back to.

Those days werent all that long ago. My parents lived through them. So did their parents. And their parents. Unfortunately, Trump and many of his followers still see the world through that outdated prism, despite the fact that rates of Black poverty are at record lows.

Trump kicked off his political career by taking advantage of the racial backlash created by the nations election of its first Black president, Barack Obama. Before placing the Republican Party under his spell, Trump led the birther movement, in which he claimed Obama was born in Kenya and therefore ineligible to be president. He was wrong about that, too.

Shortly after The Inquirer hired me as a metro columnist in 2017, Ill never forget seeing a reader post something on Facebook about my new position, saying something to the effect of, Look who they are letting write for The Inquirer.

Even without his elaboration, I knew what he meant. He was taken aback at seeing someone with my racial background holding a position in what traditionally is a white space.

He wasnt used to it. Nor did he like it. But thats his problem. Not mine.

America is evolving; our great national tapestry is becoming ever more colorful. Black Americans make up about 14% of the overall U.S. population, with about 46 million people claiming some form of African ancestry.

The Mad Men era Trump and so many of his supporters pine for is long gone. Our eyes are open. Were woke, as they say, and proud of it.

Proud, yes. But when it comes to Black jobs, many of us are confused.

As State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) quipped on social media recently: Did we ever figure out what a Black job is? Asking for me. And for 46 million of us.
Four die in road accident in N Afghanistan

Kabul, July 4 (UNI) At least four people died when a vehicle turned turtle in northern Afghanistan's Samangan province, a local official reported Thursday.

The incident happened on a district road along the highway linking Samangan with neighbouring Balkh province when a vehicle veered off the road and overturned, leaving four dead on the spot and one injured, state-run media outlet Bakhtar News Agency quoted Qari Mohammad Nazir Saad, a provincial official for traffic, as saying.

The official blamed overspeeding as one of the major causes of the accident.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro speaks as President Biden joins him at Ladder 11 in Philadelphia on Dec. 11, 2023. Read more

Josh Shapiro is in the conversation  but hes light-years away from the top of the 2024 presidential ballot.

As Democratic panic continues following Bidens bad debate performance June 27, Shapiros name has been placed on potential short lists  even if the chances he replaces Biden on the ticket are extremely slim. While the Pennsylvania governor has shown no outward signs of vying for the job, his name keeps coming up.

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Shapiro is a logical candidate for Democrats to mention in Pennsylvania, where he remains its most popular elected official in a critical battleground state. While hes been largely untested on the national stage, hes listed with some politicians whose political resumes and national profiles make them more likely replacements  if Biden makes the extraordinary move of stepping aside.

Theres a case to be made for Josh, said Biden fundraiser Alan Kessler. You dont win in November without winning Pennsylvania. Does it have any basis in reality? No. This is not about Josh or [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom or any of the others. This is about what is realistic.

For a replacement to even be considered, Biden would need to decline the nomination, which the White House stated Wednesday he is not considering. But the New York Times reported hes discussed the possibility with a close ally. Shapiro was to attend Wednesday nights meeting with Biden and other Democratic governors about the future of his campaign.

Should Biden decline the nomination, many in the party see Vice President Kamala Harris as the obvious replacement. Shed inherit the campaign infrastructure and funding. Shes been a loyal part of the administration for three years and is often the go-to voice to defend Biden on the trail. Passing over her could alienate her supporters, including some Black voters who have already drifted away from Biden in recent polling.

Shes the vice president, Kessler said. Shes pining to be president. Theres nothing anyone could offer her that would satisfy her other than the presidency.

If not Harris, many strategists see more likely picks among governors who have been elected to two terms, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg ran for president in 2020 and has remained in the spotlight. Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who won reelection in 2023, has also gained national attention for his unlikely success in the traditionally red state.

Shapiros name has also come up as a potential vice presidential pick, should Harris be the nominee.

Shapiro doesnt seem as if hes angling for the nomination. Hes gone on news shows post debate, defending the president and saying he will fight like hell to reelect Biden, while rejecting questions about a potential replacement. Even when offered the opportunity to speak off-record, members of his administration are disciplined and have declined to speculate on the topic.

Hes got this attention without being overtly seeking the attention, said Mike Mikus, a longtime Democratic strategist in the state.

Conversations with more than a dozen Democratic lawmakers and operatives around the state largely found consensus around Shapiro: Its unlikely to happen but it makes sense that hes in the mix. Still, being part of the conversation now could boost Shapiros clout in 2028 or beyond.

The case for Shapiro

The halls of Harrisburg buzzed over the last week, with Democrats whispering about potential picks to replace Biden  and the small chance that Shapiro could be that guy.

Were all Joe Biden fans. But the alternative is too scary to contemplate, one top state Democratic lawmaker said last week, urging that Shapiro replace Biden on the top of the presidential ticket.

Nationally, Shapiro is seen as a stable choice.

Shapiro, 51, is a former state lawmaker, Montgomery County commissioner, and state attorney general who has been credited for his role in building up the Democratic Party in Philadelphias collar counties. He first rose to national recognition after he won election to be attorney general in 2016  the year former President Donald Trump won the state. Shapiro also gained national attention in 2020 for his defense of Pennsylvanias presidential election results against Trump.

He cleared the Democratic field to run for governor in the state in 2022, when several Democrats were eyeing the job. That showed an understanding of how to coalition-build in the party and negotiate with different Democratic constituencies in the state.

Shapiro, Pennsylvanias third Jewish governor, has continued to raise his national profile, from his outspokenness for Israel and his intervention in debates about antisemitism on college campuses to his quick rebuild last summer of a collapsed portion of I-95. The country has never elected a Jewish president or vice president, but many see Shapiro as someone who could change that.

Shapiros favorability stands above Bidens and Trumps in Pennsylvania and he has the built-in argument that his name at the top of the ticket likely carries the state for Democrats. Presidential elections are no longer won nationwide  but in six swing states.

National polling conducted this week shows Shapiro trailing Trump 44% to 48%, a similar performance to Buttigieg, Newsom, and Whitmer. Both Harris and Biden do a little bit better in the theoretical polls, getting support from about 45% of likely voters against Trumps 48%.

Even some Republicans saw the possibility of a Shapiro candidacy as unlikely  but acknowledged hed be tough to beat in Pennsylvania.

Christian Nascimento, who chairs the Montgomery County GOP, said Shapiro could energize already heavily engaged voters in his native Montgomery County, the states third most populous.

Shapiros careful political style and demeanor also came up in conversations with Democrats and Republicans in Pennsylvania.

He would be an awfully solid pick that you could make a lot of arguments for, a former Senate staffer said. I think hes someone who D.C. Democrats would breathe a sigh of relief to have on the ticket, especially in a crazy situation like this.

The same staffer said he thought the optics of passing over Harris for a white male would be a potentially disastrous decision for Democrats.

Shapiros careful political style may be the best argument for why he likely isnt interested in this highly unconventional election year.

He is a methodical planner, said Bruce L. Castor Jr., a longtime Republican office holder who served with Shapiro on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and represented Trump during his second impeachment trial. I believe that he would want to have his national organization built, have his very good record embossed or embellished with six or seven years as governor of a big state. He would not want to jump in without all the stuff lined up. He can do that four years from now; he cant do it now.

The case against Shapiro

Skeptics question how well Shapiro is known outside of Pennsylvania. One Pennsylvania Democrat compared the scenario to when Doug Burgum, the Republican governor of North Dakota, ran for president  though Shapiro, as a swing state governor, has a higher profile than Burgum did.

Its an easy answer for Pennsylvanians and frankly folks who think it scores them points with the governor but I think its bull .... a Western Pennsylvania Democratic operative said. I dont think anyone outside of the state has heard of Josh Shapiro.

While Shapiro won big in Pennsylvania, beating State Sen. Doug Mastriano by 14 points and driving up Democratic margins in Trump strongholds, he also faced a weak challenger.

Thinking [that] beating Doug Mastriano means you can run for president is kind of like winning a Little League game and thinking youll compete in the World Series, the Western Pennsylvania strategist added.

Shapiro is the only swing state governor with a divided state government, something hes pointed to as a sign of his ability to work across the aisle but he only has a few years of accomplishments under his belt.

Shapiro was slated to participate in the meeting with other Democratic governors and Biden on Wednesday virtually, as he continues to negotiate his second-ever budget deal. The state budget was due on Sunday for the new fiscal year beginning July 1, and lawmakers seemed hopeful that theyd have a final product by the end of the weekend.

Lets see him pass two budgets before talking about him being president, a Philadelphia-based Democratic operative said.

Staff writer Katie Bernard contributed to this article.
The facade of the U.S. District courthouse at 6th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. Read more

President Joe Biden has selected a judge on the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas to fill the remaining vacancy without a pending nominee in the Philadelphia regions federal trial courts.

The White House announced the nomination of Gail A. Weilheimer  a former Abington Township commissioner who has spent just over a decade adjudicating civil and criminal cases at the state level  to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in a statement Wednesday.

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If confirmed for the lifetime appointment by the U.S. Senate, she will fill the seat left open by the May death of Judge Gene E.K. Pratter, an appointee of former President George W. Bush.

Weilheimers nomination comes as Biden races to cement his imprint on the federal judiciary before the end of his term and to surpass the record of his predecessor, Donald Trump. Administration officials described her and three other federal judicial nominees also announced Wednesday for vacancies in other parts of the country as extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution.

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) praised Weilheimers record as a judge and former prosecutor during a stint earlier in her career working in the Philadelphia District Attorneys Office.

I am particularly proud of her attention and dedication to helping address the needs of Pennsylvanians dealing with mental health challenges who become involved with the justice system, he said.

Biden is racing to confirm federal judges before the end of his term

Judges on the U.S. District Courts oversee myriad civil and criminal matters each year and issue the first rulings on significant legal questions that can eventually rise to the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court.

After Trump made judicial appointments a focus  appointing more than 230 district and appellate judges and three Supreme Court justices during his single term in office  Democrats have pushed to leave their own stamp on the federal judiciary, a mark Trump would not be able to erase should he win a second term in November.

But Senate Republicans have exhibited an increasing unwillingness to cooperate with the Biden administration on judicial nominees as the election approaches  most notably with a focused campaign to sink the nomination of New Jersey-based attorney Adeel A. Mangi to the Philadelphia-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which handles criminal and civil appeals arising out of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Still, the Senate has confirmed just more than 200 Biden judicial nominees, including nine judges for federal trial and appellate courts in Pennsylvania.

Nominations for five others remain pending, including federal public defender Catherine Henry and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Kay Costello, both of whom Biden nominated for trial court seats in Philadelphia within the last two months.

If the Senate confirms them and Weilheimer, it will leave Biden tied with Barack Obama, as the president who has played the largest role in shaping the current makeup of the Philadelphia regions U.S. District Court, each with seven appointees serving on the bench. In Bidens case, all but one have been women.

Trump successfully nominated five judges to the regions federal trial court. The three others on the 22-member bench  which handles cases that arise from Philadelphia, its suburbs, and outlying counties including Berks, Lancaster, Lehigh and Northampton Counties  were appointed by Bush.

A committed public servant

Weilheimer, 54, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on her nomination Wednesday.

A graduate of Hofstra University, she was first elected to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas as a Democrat in 2013 after seven years working at Blue Bell-based law firm Wisler Pearlstine LLP, primarily representing school districts, municipalities and other government entities.

Previously, she worked as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and an associate at the Philadelphia firm Abrahams, Loewenstein, and Bushman.

Weilheimer has also served as counsel to Gov. Josh Shapiros transition team when he was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011.

She resides in Abington with her husband, Larry, a senior vice president and general counsel to The Inquirer.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), who recommended Weilheimer for the post, described her in a statement Wednesday as a committed public servant with the skill, character, and integrity to serve the people of the Eastern District.

I look forward to voting to confirm her swiftly, he said.
Seth Bluestein (from left), Lisa M. Deeley, and Omar Sabir after they are sworn in as City Commissioners Jan. 2, 2024 on the stage of the Met Philadelphia on North Broad Street. Read more

Wary of potential misinformation infecting the November election, the Philadelphia City Commissioners office plans to hire an outside marketing firm for $1.4 million to battle voter deception.

The firm, not yet selected, would also work to increase voter participation, and bolster confidence in the validity of the electoral process, according to City Commissioner Seth Bluestein.

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Over the last four years, weve seen lots of falsehoods about the election system in Philadelphia as well as Pennsylvania as a whole, said Bluestein, a Republican. And its on us to communicate accurate information to voters so they have faith in our elections.

Bluestein said his office will do everything in our power to help voters access the official information theyll need to make critical ballot-box decisions. For example, well be directing them to our website, so they can get their questions answered by actual sources who are running the election, he added.

The marketing campaign also will consist of nonpartisan messages on social media, billboards, radio, and other means of communication to remind people to vote, and that there are several ways to do it, including mail ballots. The effort will also be used to debunk conspiracy theories, Bluestein said.

How, where, when?

When it comes to electorate vulnerability, the most important aspects are how, where, and when to vote, according to Matthew Stamm, director of the Multimedia Information and Security Lab at Drexel University.

Officials are working hard to disrupt those whod use AI and other means to disseminate false information about these elemental factors to keep people away from the polls, said Stamm, whos been consulted by the Pennsylvania Election Threats task force. Formed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in February, the task force is charged with combating and preventing any threats to Pennsylvanias 2024 presidential election.

In February, New Hampshire voters were told in AI-generated robocalls that mimicked Bidens voice that it wasnt necessary to vote in the states primary.

This is the first presidential campaign of the AI era, Stamm said. I believe things are only going to get worse.

Last year, Stamms group debunked a political ad for Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, then a presidential candidate, that appeared on Twitter, now known as X. It showed Trump embracing and kissing Anthony Fauci, long a target of the right for his response to COVID-19.

Election watchers are concerned that people who dont consume mainstream media may be more susceptible to conspiracies and falsehoods about voting, according to Sunil Wattal, a misinformation expert at Temple Universitys Fox School of Business.

False news is very persuasive  sometimes extremely emotional  and can be seen a great deal on social media, Wattal said. Such items evoke outrage, and can be more engaging and effective than real news.

Ultimately, Wattal said, the consequences for penalizing someone for spreading fake news is extremely low, while the benefits can be quite rewarding.

And that could tilt an election in a swing state such as Pennsylvania.
The new reassessments will capture two years of growth, resulting in steeply increased property tax bills for many homeowners. Read more

Many homeowners will see increased real estate tax bills this year because the city is reassessing all of Philadelphias roughly 580,000 properties for the first time in two years.

But if you want to know what your bill will be, youll have to wait.

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Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration is months behind schedule in releasing the new valuations, and city officials wont say what is causing the holdup.

The citys work on assessments is ongoing, and as soon as it concludes, it will be shared fully with the public, Parker spokesperson Joe Grace said. He declined to answer more specific questions about the delay.

The deadline imposed by state law for Philadelphia to release the new assessments was March 31. As recently as early June, city Finance Director Rob Dubow said they would be completed by the end of the month. The administration is no longer offering a timeline for their release.

 READ MORE: How Mayor Parker is changing the conversation on Phillys tax structure

The city in late June posted some valuations on the citys online property search tool without announcing it to the public. But Dubow said that was a mistake  some data was inadvertently placed on a city website, he said  and the assessments were removed.

Im waiting with bated breath, said Peter Kelsen, a Blank Rome attorney who works on real estate and land use. Its frustrating to the business community and its frustrating to the homeowners.

The delay is causing uncertainty for commercial property developers over whether they can move forward with projects because they dont know what their new tax bills will be, Kelsen said.

This is budgeting season for major properties, commercial properties, he said. Thats another stressor.

This years delay is the latest setback in a reform effort launched a decade ago by former Mayor Michael A. Nutter to fix what was long viewed as a broken, corrupt, and essentially random assessment system. Since then, the Office of Property Assessment has made major strides, especially around the accuracy of valuations, which has improved dramatically on a citywide basis but still reflects systemic biases on a neighborhood level.

But the office has struggled to find the capacity to reassess all properties on an annual basis. Thats key because it could put an end to a vicious cycle that has stymied the citys efforts: When OPA completes a reassessment that captures multiple years of growth, as is the case this year, the city becomes overwhelmed by protests from owners objecting to eye-popping increases. To catch up, the office then has to forgo the next years reassessment, leading it to capture multiple years of growth the following cycle.

Property tax revenue unknown

Monday marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the city, and the $6.37 billion budget that Parker and City Council approved last month is now in effect.

Council had to approve that budget without knowing how much money the city expected to collect from the real estate tax, the second-largest revenue stream behind the wage tax.

 READ MORE: Council green-lights Mayor Cherelle Parkers budget plans, including $100 million for a Northeast Philly drug rehab center

Parker in March estimated that revenue would grow 8% from residential properties and remain flat from commercial properties, a reflection in part of office vacancies due to the rise in downtown employers offering work-from-home options. That translated to an estimated $877 million for the city.

But Parkers team promised to produce more concrete numbers by the time Council voted on the budget in early June. That didnt happen.

Lawmakers were fearful that assessments could skyrocket for some vulnerable homeowners in gentrifying areas, given that the new valuations are going to reflect two years of growth. So they voted to increase the homestead exemption, which reduces assessments for owner-occupied properties, from $80,000 to $100,000. They also approved a new tax freeze program for low-income homeowners.

 READ MORE: Property tax bills are going up for many Philadelphians. Heres how to access new tax relief measures.

The city left the property tax rate unchanged at 1.3998% of assessed value. Tax bills are due March 31, 2025, but the city sometimes offers a discount for owners who pay early.

Revenue from the property tax is split between the city and school district, and Council also approved Parkers proposal to increase the districts share from 55% to 56%. That change that wont affect tax bills.

Appeal deadline timing

The state law that establishes the deadline for new assessments doesnt include any consequences for the city if it blows past that date, Kelsen said.

But he cautioned that the city could run into legal trouble if it does not release the new valuations with a substantial amount of time before the deadline for property owners to appeal their assessments to the Board of Revision of Taxes, which this year is Oct. 7.

 READ MORE: How to appeal your property assessment in Philadelphia

As long as there is ample opportunity for a property owner to file an appeal with appropriate time  Im not talking about a day  then due process is served, he said.

Kelsen, who is currently dealing with the city on several assessment disputes, said he suspects there was a glitch with the citys computer assisted mass appraisal system, which is being used this year for a citywide reassessment for just the second time.

They told us everything was sort of on hold because the, quote, system was not working properly, he said.

Implementing CAMA, which was first used in the 2023 reassessment, was seen as a major step forward in Phillys modernization efforts. Grace said the software is not the reason for the delay, but did not offer an alternative explanation.

There is no glitch with the CAMA system, he said.
The original front porch at the home of Karolye Eldridge and Colin Browne in Elkins Park. Read more

Colin Browne had no intention of returning to his hometown in suburban Philadelphia. The Delaware County native and career woodworker had moved to New England with his wife. But when the cost of living pushed them elsewhere, they revisited the area. Then Browne stumbled on the house.

The 1800s farmhouse, nestled on a skinny road next to the Tookany Creek in Elkins Park, had structural issues and crumbling plaster. The large horse barn in the back was barely standing.

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But Browne was looking for a shop space. His wife, Karolye Eldridge, whose sweater designs were regularly featured on The Cosby Show, had a new job in Philadelphia. The historic home, which was owned by an elderly couple and sat in a floodplain, came at the right price.

I had to sell everyone on it, said Browne, who runs Colin Browne Woodworking out of the restored barn, now painted black with orange doors. I had to make a pitch to the bank that I was capable of fixing it up.

According to Brownes tax records, the home dates back to 1802. The four-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot house had an addition put on in 1860 and then again in 1909, when the central staircase was moved. The home still has part of the original 1860 metal roof.

You can see each addition stepping down the hillside, Browne said on a recent spring day. To see that roof is still on the house is crazy to me.

Browne and Eldridge purchased the property in 1995. For the first few years, Browne worked on the barn, which had a dirt floor and slate roof, and essentially had to be squeezed back together. Formerly used as a garage, the barn needed a new floor plan to be useful for his workshop. The couple lived in the home while spending more than 10 years remodeling it.

In the kitchen, there was no counter space, no egress, Browne said. The kitchen sink used to empty into the backyard.

He took down the 1909 paneling and redid the walls. He removed plaster on the ceilings to expose the beams and installed French doors to add light. Browne used the wood from a 200-year-old white ash tree that came down after a storm for the cabinets. Like his other works, he had the tree milled in Bucks County and then dried the wood in his shop for two years.

That cabinet is made from a tree that stood 40 feet from this kitchen, he said.

The space, one of his favorites, holds a potbelly wood stove from New England, a custom cherry table, and is decorated with a collection of die-cast model cars from his childhood.

The nearby dining room, painted peacock blue, features a 4-by-10-foot wooden table Browne made from Spanish cedar and copper. The nearby office holds a black walnut desk.

Browne, who does commissions in Philadelphia and New England, studied under an artist who worked with American sculptor and midcentury furniture maker Wharton Esherick. Browne is inspired by organic form.

My furniture is sculpted and shaped and formed. Theres never a square edge. Its just the art in me. Its how I see things.

Upstairs, Browne and his wife, who teaches at Abington Friends School, embraced the transitions between additions. Browne redid the primary bathroom, reconfiguring the laundry area and adding light. Its almost like an outdoor space.

A back porch with modern vibes overlooks a tranquil yard. The porch stretches near an exterior orange door, which serves as the entrance to what used to be a speakeasy.

There is a fireplace, gas lamps, and drinking songs painted on the walls. Its the last big project for me to restore that, he said. Our friends will be lining up.

Is your house a Haven? Nominate your home by email (and send some digital photographs) at properties@inquirer.com.
New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) India and the UK held the Sixth Cyber Dialogue in New Delhi during which they discussed cyber threat assessment, internet governance, data protection, protection of critical infrastructure, including the latest developments in the cyber realm at the United Nations.

The dialogue was held on July 3 in New Delhi. The dialogue was co-chaired by Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) and Kat Jones, Head of Strategy and Engagement, Cyber Policy Department, The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK.

The Indian delegation consisted of officials from the MEA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center (I4C), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), CERT-In and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). The delegation from the UK comprised of officials from National Cyber Security Centre, the Cyber Policy Department of the FCDO, and representatives of the Cyber Policy Team of the British High Commission, a statement said.

Discussions during the Dialogue included cyber threat assessment, internet governance, data protection, protection of critical infrastructure, capacity building and cooperation in multilateral fora, including the latest developments in the cyber realm at the United Nations.

Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation between their respective cyber agencies in order to build a safe and robust cyberspace, the statement added.

UNI RN
Insurtech innovators Insurance Business recognizes the Global 5-Star Technology and Software Providers of 2024. During a 15-week process, IBs research team conducted interviews with brokers and surveyed thousands more within IBs global network to gain expert insight into what insurance professionals think about the current market and who are the top insurtech companies. Additional data shows how insurtech is a vital part of the industry and is expected to undergo incredible growth. Gallagher Res Global Insurtech Report 2024 highlights this by focusing on the stage of investments for those firms looking to become top insurtech companies.





Additionally, Market.us data shows: By 2032, the projected value of the insurtech sector is estimated to be US$336.5 billion .



By 2032, the sector is projected to undergo a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41%.

Mordor Intelligence predicts a similar steep trajectory but rates the insurtech market at a lesser value: market size in 2024: US$8.63 billion



market size in 2029: US$32.47 billion



CAGR in 2024-2029: 30.34%



The United States is currently the largest region in the insurtech market, with some estimates reporting that it accounts for around 50% of the global market. Other dominant nations include the United Kingdom, France, and China.









Expert opinion



David Gritz, co-founder and managing director of InsurTech NY, shares an insight into the market-leading standard for the criteria used by IBs criteria to determine the 5-Star Technology and Software Providers of 2024.

Ease of use

The obvious ones require relatively limited training and no need for development resources on the carrier side, says Gritz.

Gritz also points out that some insurtechs have begun as fintechs, so they have to ensure their language and design are based on workflow on the partner side.

He adds, To tell their clients they need to do a highly technical implementation or a data scientist resource, I don't want to call it a no-go, but it pushes the project success rate substantially lower.

Customer support

The bar is so low on customer support; most insurtechs dont even have a form that works on their website. Successful insurtechs will have a phone number that a live person answers, or theyll have a form that, if filled out, gets a response.

Gritz also underlines the need for top insurtech companies to be truly global, particularly American organizations.

He says, Theres this assumption that US companies can do business anywhere. A lot of founders dont realize that, if theyre coming to the UK, Europe, or Singapore, they need to have local resources in the same time zone that can provide the same level of service as local insurtechs.

Streamlining of process

A general rule of thumb is that if the insurtech can demonstrate that it reduces a full-time equivalent by their process, theres a meaningful improvement.

Gritz also suggests the insurtech show:

current process takes 25 minutes



the insurtech product does not take 15 minutes



Its very important to have an objective measure of how the processes can be streamlined, Gritz says.

Value for money

If it's a data business model, its very simple. If youre cheaper than one of the other major providers for the same data source, then its a pure dollar and cent comparison, says Gritz.

But in enterprise software, Gritz points to the key points of:

demonstrating cost efficiencies



quantifying the percentage of new business it will allow the client to capture

Ease of implementation

The key questions for Gritz in this area are:

Do they have good API documentation?



Do they have tooltips?



Are there guidance or videos so the user can learn without having to go to support?

Customization

If the start-ups want to be very tailored, then they should offer this. But theres insurtech where it doesnt make sense. If they do custom development, it actually harms the carrier because it prevents them from streamlining their processes. Insurtechs in this position have to be careful that theyre not doing customization; theyre just fitting the old process instead of enabling the carrier to use a newer, better process.

The result of what matters to brokers in determining the top global insurtech companies is shown below:

Grappler

Location: New Zealand

Grapplers solution is designed to transform the back office administrative processes of the commercial insurance sector by automating existing manual processes in a scalable manner.

It allows clients to:

implement best practices



improve controls



lift governance and accountability



We are constantly evaluating new trends and applications of emerging AI technologies to see how they could benefit our clients if applied

Alistair Harold Grappler

Co-founder and CEO Alistair Harold highlights how the top insurtech company stands out in IBs criteria:

Ease of use

Our implementation team works closely with customers to understand their specific data and business requirements, ensuring we configure a solution that meets their needs. We describe ourselves as a managed SaaS, meaning our customers dont need to be experts in our software. Our team manages all ongoing setup and configuration changes on behalf of the client.

Customer support

Our business model is subscription based, so customer satisfaction is essential to earning customer renewals. We work closely with our customers through regular customer user group forums to understand both their ever-changing reporting (legislative, regulatory, operational, etc.) and functional requirements, and we will continue to add functionality, dashboards, reports, and analytics to provide greater insights into debtor data and leverage predictive analytics.

Value for money

During the sales process, it is important to get executive buy-in and for customers to really understand the business benefits they can achieve as a result of using Grappler. Once they see a demo of the solution, they start to understand how we can save them time and money and also improve processes and give them greater transparency of their debtor position, credit control process, and reconciliation with partners.



The firm also has a focus on keeping pace with ongoing challenges in the tech world.

Grappler has the benefit of being built as a cloud native product eight years ago. Having a solid foundation in modern architecture allows us to easily remain current on new technologies that will add value to our product and ultimately add value to our end users, explains Harold.



InsCipher

Location: USA

Making its name by creating a solution for how surplus lines taxes should be filed. It began with InsCipher looking to organize and automate complex insurance tax issues as its tax division grew. However, the top insurtech company could see long-term scalability issues without better tools; hence, it designed its own.

Jason Russon, vice president of sales and marketing, explains, To date, no other company has been successful in creating comprehensive surplus lines tax software, especially to this size and scope. There was no playbook for what we were building, and the learning curve was steep. However, we see now that this steep learning curve is a key competitive advantage for anyone thinking of entering surplus lines for tax compliance.



Someone will always try to take a good idea and apply the latest tech to make it better. We want to be that someone

Jason Russon InsCipher

Russon below comments on InsCiphers key commercial strengths in relation to IBs criteria:

Ease of use

Our strong relationships with state regulators and industry leaders give us an unparalleled understanding of the compliance landscape and its complexities, which in turn influences how our software functions.

Streamlining of processes

We simplify surplus lines taxes. Specifically, the pain points that we relieve include eliminating repetitive manual reporting tasks, time-consuming compliance research, and tracking hundreds of state reporting deadlines across the country. The cost of noncompliance is high, with penalties including high late fees and even the potential loss of insurance licenses.

Value for money

Our clients write hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of E&S policies annually. The fines and fees associated with reporting policies incorrectly can be significant, disrupting business for our customers. To date, there hasnt been a simple way to report E&S taxes across all 50 states. InsCiphers suite of products and services takes what was a complicated problem and makes it easy for agencies to focus on their goal of selling more insurance.

Bentek

Location: USA

Understanding the unique needs of public sector employers, the top insurtech firm offers consultative implementation and provides a benefits and administration tailored platform.

The firm prides itself on:

client-first approach



ability to adapt and refine the platform to meet the evolving demands of benefits administration within state and local government and education





We serve a specific market and focus on those changes that have the most impact on state and local government and education employers. This allows us to improve on what we do best, ensuring that our solutions are not only comprehensive but also the best in their class

Julie Fink Bentek

President Julie Fink provides her insight on how Bentek meets several of IBs criteria:

Ease of implementation

Our approach to client success is founded on the premise that we do the heavy lifting. That starts with implementation; we utilize a consultative approach to gather information instead of handing clients a blank document to complete. We find having conversations leads to a deeper understanding of the clients current state and their unique needs, not to mention the invaluable connections and friendships that are developed.

Customization

Over the past 12 to 18 months, we have made significant refinements to our benefits administration, including Retiresweet, our proprietary retiree administration module offering a single platform to manage eligibility for all members, actives and retirees. This module is highly configurable, catering to various retiree groups with different needs. We have also focused on refinements that are designed to improve the user interface and navigation within the platform, making it more user-friendly and accessible, and enhancing overall engagement and satisfaction.



In addition, the firm is not standing still and is innovating to maintain its edge.

We prioritize innovation and leverage advanced technologies such as AI in our business to create efficiencies and eliminate redundant tasks for our team members, adds Fink. AI is evolving every day, and we are excited to continue exploring ways it can enhance the platform and further improve the personalized user experience.
Cate and Sarah are exceptional people and lawyers. They always go the extra mile for their colleagues and clients and are valued for their expertise and commitment to their respective fields, Matthews said.
Firstly, I would just like to extend such a massive thank you to outgoing SCA Australasia president Chris Duggan, who has left an incredibly strong legacy of achievement and collaboration that I hope to build on, he said. Chris has been such an invaluable member of SCA, and his contribution to the strata industry really cannot be understated. From his leadership on strata insurance affordability, availability, and transparency, to increasing professional standards across the country and driving the creation of the fledgling SCA RTO, he has been a clear and unifying voice for the strata industry.
In 2023, we have proven again that collaborating with stakeholders and leveraging collective strengths lay the foundation of our thrust toward resilience and prosperity. As we move forward, we endeavor to sustain and further our efforts to fulfill Nat Res purpose here and beyond, Santos said.
When you are planning your overseas holiday travel insurance is a must-have, as is ensuring that you are covered for the activities you have planned, he said. While enjoying a drink or two is a key part of holidaying for millions of Australians, travellers should be aware of what they are covered for so that a broken bone doesnt lead to a broken bank account.
A federal judge delayed implementation of the US Federal Trade Commissions near-total ban on noncompete agreements, the first salvo in the high-stakes legal fight over how much freedom workers should have to switch jobs within an industry.

US District Judge Ada Brown in Dallas sided with the US Chamber of Commerce and a Texas-based tax firm that claimed the agency lacks authority to craft rules defining unfair methods of competition. The groups warned the unprecedented rule would invalidate 30 million employment contracts in a move that amounts to a vast overhaul of the national economy.

The ban was set to take effect Sept. 4, but it will now be on hold until August while the judge considers the merits of the lawsuit by the groups that seek to permanently strike the rule from the books.

Brown said in her ruling Wednesday that the challenge to the measure is likely to succeed on the merits, and that the public interest weighed in favor of temporarily blocking the rule.

The FTC approved the new rule in April, arguing that noncompete agreements unfairly block workers from switching jobs and undermine labor competition. The ban is backed by labor organizations AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union, Democratic senators and attorneys general from California, Illinois and 17 other states.

Related: FTC Noncompete Ban Includes Key Revisions, But Faces Uncertain Future

The FTC stands by our clear authority, supported by statute and precedent, to issue this rule, Douglas Farrar, a spokesperson for the agency, said in a statement. We will keep fighting to free hardworking Americans from unlawful noncompetes, which reduce innovation, inhibit economic growth, trap workers, and undermine Americans economic liberty.

The rule would ban most noncompete agreements, including those of senior executives. Existing agreements for executives who earn more than $151,164 a year in a policy making position would remain in place under the FTCs ban, while those binding lower-level workers would become unenforceable.

Business groups argue the FTCs rule is overly broad and limits the ability of companies to protect confidential information. The ban would impact businesses and people across the workforce  everyone from doctors to tax professionals to hair stylists  and shift the balance of power between bosses and staff.

This ruling is a big win in the Chambers fight against government micromanagement of business decisions, the Chamber of Commerces chief counsel Daryl Joseffer said in a statement. The FTCs blanket ban on noncompetes is an unlawful power grab that defies the agencys constitutional and statutory authority and sets a dangerous precedent where the government knows better than the markets.

About one in five Americans is bound by a noncompete agreement, a March 2022 Treasury Department report found. In some industries, including technology and health care, its even higher. Studies found as many as 45% of primary care physicians and 35% to 45% of tech workers are bound by noncompete clauses.

President Joe Biden supports the ban and his administration has made competition issues a key part of his economic policy.

Browns decision could be appealed to the conservative US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The appeals court has become a favorite for conservative opponents of Bidens policies related to federal regulatory power, guns, abortion and social media regulation.

The case is Ryan v. Federal Trade Commission, 3:24-cv-00986, US District Court, Northern District of Texas (Dallas).

Photo: The Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, DC. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation
Fears of lay-offs at Google continue to impact Irish staff with concerns that the companys effort to reduce its headcount has not been properly communicated.

The tech giant cut 240 Irish jobs last year, joining most other IT multinationals in reducing headcounts in their Irish operations. It followed a surge in recruitment by major tech firms across the globe in the wake of the covid pandemic which saw a huge shift to remote working.

However, in recent months the process has seen a reversal with a series of cuts being announced.

Under Irish law, companies employing 300 or more employees must notify the Government if 30 or more are put at risk of redundancy. However, the Financial Services Union (FSU), which represents Irish Google employees, has called out the company for a lack of transparency, with fears that lay-offs are continuing in small but regular rounds, hence avoiding the need to report cuts to the Government and engage in collective consultations with affected staff.

While we had a formal redundancy process last year, the way things have unfolded in recent months is very different, one Google employee told the Irish Examiner.

"Lay-offs have been taking place every month this year and are done by product area and department. Theyre coming in waves. It started in January and has been continuing throughout February, March, April, May and June.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Gareth Murphy, Head of Industrial Relations and Campaigns at the FSU said the union was extremely concerned about ongoing redundancies at Google and the impact they are having on individuals who are being forced out, as well as those remaining who are unsure of their futures.

The lack of transparency or information shared with staff or the union on the number of people being made redundant is troublesome.

The Government last received a collective redundancy notification from Google in February 2023, with Mr Murphy calling on the company to clarify without delay how many staff they have made redundant so far this year.

In an email sent to Google staff at the beginning of 2024, Google's Chief Executive, Sundar Pichai said that some teams will continue to make specific resource allocations throughout the year adding that some roles may be impacted.

Its extremely difficult to get any information, said the Google employee, adding that the lack of communication has been very stressful for Irish staff. The mood has changed quite a lot. We dont know how many more will be cut. Its the not knowing that is making this so complicated.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Google said that several teams made changes throughout the second half of 2023 to best position them for significant opportunities ahead. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organisational changes, which include some role eliminations globally, the spokesperson continued.

Any proposed organisational team changes are subject to local regulations and processes. Were continuing to support any impacted employees as they look for new roles here at Google and beyond.
Twelve DairyBeef factsheets were launched at the recent Beef2024 Open Day in Grange. It's one of the commitments from the 10-point action plan to support dairy calf to beef systems in Ireland, launched by the Department of Agriculture earlier this year.

The factsheets cover all major aspects of running an efficient and environmentally sustainable calf-to-beef enterprise. They incorporate the newest technologies, such as the Commercial Beef Value (CBV), and the latest research on finishing options for various categories of cattle, such as early maturing steers, heifers, and Friesian steers.
South-South cooperation yields fruits on agriculture

Xinhua) 10:05, July 04, 2024

JINAN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Production lines are rolling at the maximum speed at an agricultural technology company's workshop in east China's Shandong Province, to meet flourishing orders for tractors from the Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Taking pride in their close partnership with clients in these countries, Wang Shiguo, a marketing manager at Weichai Lovol Intelligent Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, said the company saw its exports grow by over 60 percent in the first half of this year, and the upward trend is expected to continue.

In recent years, as trade between China and Latin America heats up, more and more high-quality products such as Argentine beef, Ecuadorian shrimp and Chilean cherries, have secured a growing share of the Chinese market.

At the third ministerial forum on agriculture between China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that opened on Tuesday in Weifang, Han Jun, Party chief of China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said in a live video speech that over the past decade, China and CELAC have achieved fruitful results in their agricultural cooperation.

Focusing on cooperation and green development, the event has attracted 290 attendees, including 24 ministers or vice ministers, 13 ambassadors from 25 countries, and representatives of agricultural research institutes, enterprises and regional organizations.

Han noted that China has established agricultural cooperation mechanisms with 19 CELAC countries, and agricultural trade and economic cooperation have been expanding rapidly, with bilateral agricultural trade doubling to more than 81 billion U.S. dollars from 2014 to 2023.

Jean Felipe Celestino Gouhie, an agricultural counselor at the Brazilian embassy in China, praised the success of the agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

"In Brazil, many people believe that Brazil and China are good partners who trust and support each other," he said, adding that China, which imports soybeans, meat and other products from Brazil, is also playing an active role in the construction of agricultural infrastructure in Brazil.

Peng Tingjun, deputy director of the international cooperation department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said that China has so far signed free trade agreements with Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Nicaragua, which have significantly facilitated economic and trade relations with these economies.

According to Peng, China's stock of direct investment in agriculture in Latin America stands at about 2 billion U.S. dollars, four times that of a decade ago, which has not only boosted local economic and social development but also contributed to safeguarding global food security.

As the South-South cooperation deepens, the scope of China-CELAC agricultural cooperation also continues to broaden.

During the forum, Bosco Martin Castillo Cruz, minister of agriculture, livestock and forestry of Nicaragua, took a keen interest in the tomato cultivation in Weifang City, and intended to return with some seeds for crossbreeding and other scientific research purposes.

Research institutes in China, the Latin American and Caribbean countries have also communicated on topics ranging from agricultural clean energy, soybean germplasm resources exchanges and cultivation to seed breeding of saline-alkali tolerant forage grass.

"These interactions have expanded the depth and breadth of South-South cooperation between China and CELAC," noted Xu Tiemin, vice mayor of Shouguang City, one of China's major vegetable production bases.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Israel declares largest amount of Palestinian lands as state lands in 30 yrs

Jerusalem, July 4 (UNI)Israeli authorities have declared 12,700 dunams (nearly 3,140 acres) in the West Bank as state property, the largest size of Palestinian territory designated for declaration in the past 30 years, Israeli rights group Peace Now said in a statement.

"On June 25, 2024, the Custodian of the States Property in the Civil Administration declared 12,700 dunams at the Jordan Valley state lands... The size of the area designated for declaration is the largest since the Oslo Accords, and the year 2024 marks a peak in the extent of declarations of state land. Since the beginning of 2024, Israel has declared 23,700 dunams of the West Bank as state lands," the group said on Wednesday.

The group said the Israeli practice of declaring lands as state property "is one of the main methods by which the State of Israel seeks to assert control over land in the occupied territories." According to Peace Now, Israeli authorities made the decision on June 25 but officially declared it only on Wednesday.
The first gene-edited ryegrass varieties could be just 10 years away from launch in Europe, should it be given full approval, according to Piet Arts, Barenbrugs global research director.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Arts said he was hopeful gene-editing would get across the line soon.

There are slow movements on the legal side, but its taking time, he said.

The European Parliament has accepted a proposal from the European Commission, but with many amendments, so those need to be discussed with the European Council of Ag Ministers and then it has to go back to the Parliament.

But there were elections [last month] and things are changing and some of these amendments are not in line with other laws, like patent laws. So the European Parliament has accepted the gene-editing proposal, but with the amendment that gene-edited products cannot be patented.

But in the present patent laws, gene-edited product can be patented. Gene editing in ryegrass is not very easy, but if you were to ask me when is the first gene-edited ryegrass likely to hit the market, Id say 10-15 years from now.

There are many, many genes involved in a trait like drought tolerance for example. You can already edit 20 genes at the same time right now. Its complicated, but its technically possible.

It might speed it up in a way, but you still need to do your trials. Grass-breeding is still a long, time-consuming process. Especially whenever you consider this year compared to last year. You want a variety to perform in multiple environments and multiple seasons.

Genomics 'will speed up breeding'

Barenbrug has already been using genomic evaluations for around 10 years  a process where DNA testing and artificial intelligence are used to identify genes associated with particular traits.

Genomics is not new, but it will speed up breeding. Once you apply genomics, like you do to cow breeding, you can shorten the length of time radically, he said.

You dont have to grow plants to see the traits; you can grow plantlets, sample the DNA and decide which to take forward. Were almost there with it.

The company is also carrying out trials involving drones and artificial intelligence.

Yield is really hard to assess with drones, because that view is saturated very quickly. We have done many, many trials with drones but its not so easy, he said.

[We can identify] density and diseases, but yield is difficult and thats the one big thing were after.

Farmer-proof

Mr Arts warned that multispecies need to be farmer proof, and said that testing needed to better reflect the practicalities of growing swards on-farm.

Clover is hard to manage; if you cut the grass too short, the clover will take over as it gets more light. If you keep it taller, then the clover will be out-competed. So its not only genetics that is important, but also management, he said.

The more complex your mixture, the more complex your management will become as well. Its becoming more difficult for farmers too.

Its not only clover, but other species like chicory or plantain, often included in multispecies swards. That means that the management has to be in line with the composition of all of the plants. You have to be careful when to graze and when to cut.

Its much easier to grow ryegrass. So that requires a bit of change not just for plant breeders but for the farmers themselves.

Despite the growing interest in multispecies, he believes ryegrass will still retain its place as the main grassland species in Ireland and the UK.

Definitely in this part of the world, he said. In France, they have done some exercises looking at original populations of ryegrass and where they fit, and you dont see that many changes, here they will still grow ryegrasses that are from this area.

But if you are in France, and you want to keep growing ryegrasses over there, youll probably need to look at something from Greece.

If the nitrates derogation measures mean that you have to grow clover, we will test more with clover as well. If all plants are grown with clover and that becomes the standard, then it makes sense to incorporate clover into your trials.

With clover, you want it to be there, but you dont want it to be too aggressive. Yet official trials are run in monoculture. So if you want to register a white clover, it will be trialled in a monoculture system, so it has to yield, which is insane, because you dont want this to yield or it will take over. You just want it to be there.

You can only get a white clover registered if it yields  if its aggressive - but we dont want it to be aggressive, we want it to be stable and ok and quiet and do its thing.

Red clover is not persistent enough  it will disappear after a few years. As breeders, we need to find clovers that are easier to manage , but thats not easy.

Overcomplication

He also warned there was a danger in overcomplicating multispecies swards.

Legumes are becoming more important, and the question is how complicated should they be? Should they include only legumes, plantain and chicory, or perhaps just legumes and perennial ryegrass? he said.

Some companies have very complicated mixtures, but you often wont find much of it back because it adds competition. Its hard enough to have clover and grass together.

Biodiversity is a magic word, but if you can grow clover and ryegrass in a good way together thats already a winner  if you can keep it stable for a number of year then you are already making a huge gain because it can take over if you dont manage it properly.

In terms of further threats, Mr Arts said his attention is firmly fixed on rust.

Its not such a big issue here at the moment, but we just heard today that rust is moving north in England.

If the climate is getting warmer, and we are going down in nitrogen fertilisation that will increase rust because rust attacks weak plants. Any disease will always be more prevalent in plants that are weaker.
1. Your Skin Stuff (RRP 19.50 - 24.50, yourskinstuff.com)

Has your pre-teen, tween or child been pestering you for skin-care products that you wont buy as you know it will harm their skin?

Then Your Skin Stuff, the new skincare range tailored exclusively for eight to 12-year-olds, is for you.

Pioneered by the brains behind Waxperts, the range  which includes two cleansers, three serums and a moisturiser  has been dermatologically tested and created with pre-teen skin in mind to encourage healthy skin habits.

2. POCO Beauty Cheek Haze Collection (23 each, pocobeauty.com)

POCO Beauty Cheek Haze Collection (23 each, pocobeauty.com)

Another hit from one of Irelands most exciting new brands.

Adding to the previous blush count of one, Pippa OConnor and her team have curated a whole blush gallery for those looking to play in the pinks, reds and peaches of complexion products.

Cream and dewy, this gives the look of Hailey Biebers Rhode for less.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick (47, Brown Thomas)

Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick (47, Brown Thomas)

Team Tilbury is back with a new foundation  and this time its in stick form.

Lightweight and dewy, this picks up where Flawless Filter left off, offering a lighter, fresh and no-makeup makeup base for warmer days.

Ring light skin in a stick, according to the woman herself.

This one is for those who usually eschew heavier foundations and want to show off their freckles.

4. Rimmel Thrill Seeker Extreme Volume Mascara (16.99, pharmacies nationwide)

Rimmel Thrill Seeker Extreme Volume Mascara (16.99, pharmacies nationwide)

The British brand has released its most extreme volume mascara yet in Thrill Seeker, a product which benefits from a trio of waxes to create a supreme volume that lasts up to 24 hours.

The new tapered fibre brush is designed to grab and coat each lash for instant impact and create five times more volume when compared with bare lashes.

5. Nak Hair Dry Texture Spray (20.90, salons nationwide and Millies)

Australian brand Nak has launched a lightweight texture spray for those looking to build body and volume while also taming flyaways.

It works by way of rice and aloe powder particles, which attach to the hair surface and create micro spaces between hair strands for a full-bodied effect, while also blending co-polymers to build a base of flexible hold. Trust the Aussies to create the perfect hair product for sunnier days.

6. Joico Blonde Life Blonde Strong Detangler for Fragile Hair (26.90, joico.com)

Joico Blonde Life Blonde Strong Detangler for Fragile Hair (26.90, joico.com)

This multi-tasking protector helps to detangle fragile hair post-bleach. It is designed for compromised blonde hair thats seen long-term lightening services. It strengthens, detangles, hydrates and heat protects all in one.

7. Josh Wood Colour Root Smudge (16, Millies)

Josh Wood Colour Root Smudge (16, Millies)

Trips between salon visits can be extended further now that hairstylist Joshs compact root smudge is around.

The easiest way to instantly cover greys and tackle outgrown roots (weve all had battles with splattery root sprays over the years), this creamy powder and double-ended brush makes for zero-mess, precise application when your hair needs a colour root boost.

Available in blonde, brown and dark brown.

8. Hildun Beauty Spiced Pecan (18, hildunbeauty.com)

Hildun Beauty Spiced Pecan (18, hildunbeauty.com)

Irish brands are doing phenomenally right now and few more than Hildun, the brainchild of former beauty writer Suzy Griffin Dunne, whose line has been the toast of OG beauty bloggers such as Sali Hughes.

At an event for the brand, someone described them as the butteriness of Victoria Beckham pencils, the staying power of NARS, at the price point of Rimmel and I couldnt say it better myself.

The Spiced Pecan shade is a collaboration with makeup artist Hannah Martin and is a beautiful coppery brown with a light shimmer.

Consider it a less harsh swap for your usual black and a must-have for green, blue and hazel eyes.
Location

Encircled by the ethereal Caha mountains, the native rainforests that dapple Beara and the shimmering majesty of Bantry Bay, Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff occupies the kind of timeless holiday setting worthy of a John Hinde postcard.

The emphasis is on timeless; as one of Irelands oldest hotels, Eccles has been welcoming guests since, quite unfathomably, 1745 and to this day remains an iconic landmark on the Wild Atlantic Way.

9/10

Style and design

Given its pedigree, the Eccles impresses from the get go. Walking up to the hotels Victorian facade, where wrought iron verandas embellish the hotels suites, a yesteryear wonder exudes.

Inside, its traditional lobby is inviting with a reception flanked by lounges centred around roaring fires (even in June!), with old-school encyclopaedias on their mantles.

Guest rooms are located along a series of fine hallways with impressive high ceilings and original mouldings, however there are some jarring elements.

Room signage has an unbefitting hand-painted look and the spa entrance appears like a door to a hotel bar, adding an incoherent look to this grande dame.

6/10

Service

Irish customer service has ramped up in recent years but its particularly stand-out at this property. Staff at the spa are genuine and obliging and the restaurant team are personable, polished, and knowledgeable.

While walking through the village in the evening, a young staff member whod finished her shift recognised my friend and I and asked if we were enjoying our stay.

Thats a warmth and hospitality which even extends off the clock.

10/10

A suite at the Eccles Hotel.

Rooms

I was staying in one of the hotels bay view twin rooms with double bay windows overlooking the water (and the car park which is less obvious from the higher floors).

Its a fine, comfortable space, albeit a little tepid with the soft grey colour scheme. Beds are cosy and very generously pillowed and cushioned (there are 10 in all!) backed by a pleasant elderflower wallpaper.

The opposing end of the room, however, features velvet chairs, a French style vanity table, art deco style mirror and a poof seat featuring imprints of Latin architecture which all just adds to a melange of styles: I feel theres a lack of identity to the space.

The en suite bathroom with shower is compact but fresh.

7/10

In-room perks

Rooms are kitted with a Nespresso machine, tea, coffee as well as bathrobes to mosey down to the spa in.

The en suite is generously stocked with Voya products as well as a handy supply of vanity kits.

7.5/10

The terrace of Garnish Restaurant, at the Eccles Hotel & Spa

On the menu

Garnish Restaurant is Eccles flagship dining experience and features a new summer menu curated by the hotels head chef, Eddie Atwell.

Expect a strong sustainability ethos here with menus focusing on produce from West Cork artisan producers, aided by a fine crop of fresh ingredients sourced from the hotels own polytunnel.

Dishes are rich in imagination, flavour  and ingredients  and include the likes of butter poached hake served with crab and cabbage roll, sherry caramel, lime confit, herb cream and confit potatoes.

Theyre served on stylish tableware too which adds to the experience.

The dining setting is a little less inspired with meals served in the quite conservative dining room or on the panoramic terrace which despite the beautiful views, could do with a little TLC with its flooring.

Breakfast is served in the same setting with lovely cooked-to-order items along with a more modest buffet station for the price point.

8/10

Activities and amenities

The hotels top amenity is its spa which sits in the east wing of the property and offers myriad treatments featuring Voya organic products.

The facility also features a wonderful outdoor thermal suite with sauna, seaweed baths and two bubbling hot-tubs scenically overlooking the water.

Theres a charge of 15pp for 25 minutes but that guarantees more privacy for what is a highlight of the hotel experience.

Beyond the hotel itself, Glengarriff is the perfect base to explore Beara, the peninsulas and beyond, and the village is a dream spot to simply park up and explore with nearby attractions include boat trips to Garinish Island or sunset kayaking tours across the bay with the likes of Outdoors Ireland.

8/10

Escape notes

Room to improve? A cohesive style direction for the hotel could reposition it as one of the countrys leading properties.

A cohesive style direction for the hotel could reposition it as one of the countrys leading properties. Access for guests with disabilities? One wheelchair friendly room.

One wheelchair friendly room. Family-friendly? Yes

Yes Dogs welcome? No

No EV charge points? No

The verdict
Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have cast their ballots as they vie to win the UK's general election after weeks of campaigning.

Polling stations across the UK opened at 7am, giving millions of voters the chance to decide if the Tory incumbent remains in the top job or the Labour leader enters Downing Street.

Opinion polls suggest Labour is on course to secure a big majority in the House of Commons and form a new government.

Mr Sunak, who has insisted the results are not a foregone conclusion despite dire poll ratings for his party, voted in his Richmond constituency.

He waved at reporters as he and his wife Akshata Murty arrived hand-in-hand at the Kirby Sigston Village Hall, as he hopes to be returned to Parliament as the MP for Richmond and Northallerton.

On X, the Mr Sunak repeated his plea to voters to stop the Labour supermajority.

Keir Starmer was also joined by his wife, Victoria, as he visited a polling station in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty arrive to cast their vote in the 2024 General Election at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton (Owen Humphreys/PA)

The Labour leader told his final rally in Redditch, Worcestershire, on Wednesday night to imagine a Britain moving forward together with a Labour government.

He added: Thats what we are fighting for, lets continue that fight.

If you want change, you have to vote for it.

As the bookies favourite to be the next prime minister, Sir Keir said he was pleased with Labours campaign and his party was ready for what comes next.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and his wife Emily cast their votes at Surbiton Hill Methodist Church (Yui Mok/PA)

A victory for Keir would see Labour return to power for the first time in 14 years.

Other party leaders have also cast their votes, with Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and his wife Emily visiting a polling station in Surbiton.

Its a beautiful day. I hope lots of people come out to vote, Mr Daveysaid as he left Surbiton Hill Methodist Church.

Scotlands first minister John Swinney was joined by his son Matthew as he cast his ballot at Burrelton Village Hall, Perth and Kinross.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar cast his vote at Pollokshields Burgh Hall in Glasgow, accompanied by his wife Furheen and son Aliyan.

Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, walked with supporters to a Bristol polling station to vote.

Former UK prime minister Boris Johnson shared a video of himself walking to a polling station and saying: Im going to cast my vote against the nightmare prospect of a left-wing government.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn posted a photo of himself outside a polling station on social media with the caption: Just voted for the independent candidate in Islington North.

Mr Corbyn is hoping to pull off a shock win in his London seat, which he won for Labour at every general election since 1983 until he was blocked from standing again for his old party.

An exit poll, published shortly after polls close at 10pm on Thursday, will provide the first indication of how the election has gone on a national level.

Scotlands First Minister John Swinney attended Burreltown Village Hall polling station with his son Matthew (Jane Barlow/PA)

These take place at polling stations across the country, with tens of thousands of people asked to privately fill in a replica ballot as they leave, to get an indication of how they voted.

The first of the 650 seats are likely to declare their results from 11.30pm.

It is the first UK general election where voters will need to show photographic ID before they can receive their ballot paper following a law change in 2022.

In his last-ditch appeal to voters after touring the country since calling the election, Mr Sunak said Thursday represented a pivotal moment for the countrys future as he claimed Labour would wield their unchecked power to increase taxes should they secure a supermajority.

In his final stump speech on Wednesday evening, Mr Sunak said: This underdog will fight to the final whistle.

Ending a tour that was dominated by attention-grabbing stunts, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said he had enjoyed the campaign, which saw him travel the entire length of the UK, cover 6,000 miles on the Lib Dems Yellow Hammer One bus and bungee 160 feet.

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer was at Redland Park United Reformed Church in Bristol to cast her vote (Jonathan Brady/PA)

In a Harpenden stump speech, he said: Communities are angry. The water companies have been allowed to pour their filthy sewage into our rivers, lakes and onto our beaches. This has to change. The Conservatives have got to go.

North of the border, Scotlands first minister Mr Swinney urged every single SNP voter to turn out on Thursday in what he said would be an incredibly close contest throughout the country.

An average of all polls completed during the seven days to July 3 puts Labour on 39%, the partys lowest rating since the campaign began, 18 points ahead of the Conservatives on 21%, followed by Reform on 16%, the Lib Dems on 11% and the Greens on 6%.

The Tories are up slightly on the figures for the previous week while Labour are down, with the averages for the seven days to June 26 being Labour 41%, Conservatives 20%, Reform 16%, Lib Dems 11% and Greens 6%.

On May 22, the day Rishi Sunak called the General Election, the seven-day averages stood at Labour 45%, Conservatives 23%, Reform 11%, Lib Dems 9% and Greens 6%.
The agriculture minister has ordered a new independent investigation into a case of unexplained animal ailments on a farm in Kilkenny.

Dan Brennan's farm in Castlecomer suffered contamination which stunted the growth of dozens of livestock and withered trees, which only cleared up when a brick factory next to the farm shut down.

The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee last year compiled a report into the matter, which said the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, and the CRH group (the successor to the company that operated the Ormonde Brick Factory), all "took the position that the issues had been satisfactorily investigated by an Inter-Agency Group, including the EPA, which had reported in 2010".

The 2010 group said it had "not found evidence to indicate that environmental pollution caused ill thrift and poor growth rates in animals on the farm" and had suggested that the problems in the herd were "multifactorial in source and that common infectious diseases were likely to have been responsible".

Contamination at Dan Brennan's farm saw livestock growth stunted and trees wither. Picture: Dylan Vaughan

The agriculture committee, however, heard "extensive criticism of the methods and practices used by the investigating bodies, during the hearing on the 30th November 2022".

A committee report said that it "does not consider that the issues have been satisfactorily investigated to date" and recommended a commission of investigation be established.

That report was discussed in the Dail on Thursday, with Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue saying that an independent review will be carried out.

I acknowledge the stress experienced by Mr Brennan and his family due to the health issues in his herd, which undoubtedly have been very difficult.

"In recognition of that and of the work and request of the committee, I will now move to seek an independent review of the department's investigation into this and of the reports that fed into it, to report back to me," he said.

Matt Carthy says 'problems began to emerge at the same time as activities taking place in a nearby factory'. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy told the Dail the Brennan family ran a successful farm that was considered "to be top-notch by anyone who ever saw it" before the establishment of the brick factory.

"Then problems began to emerge at the same time as activities taking place in a nearby factory.

"Animals got sick. Milk yield was dramatically reduced. Biodiversity was destroyed. Plant life was wiped out. As the output of the adjoining factory intensified, the problems got worse and more intense.

"When the Brennan family complained and raised issues and concerns, they were told to varying degrees that either it was their fault, in one instance, or that the problems pertained to disease and not pollution," he said.
A Clare man who admitted his part in trashing a hotel bedroom in Cork during a drunken night was jailed for eight months.

33-year-old Cathal McNamara, of Larch Hill, Ennis, Co Clare, was in Cork in the course of his work on a tarmacking contract when he got involved in this hotel room disturbance.

Sergeant Dave Delea said it occurred on the night of October 4, 2023.

After midnight, he stole two bottles of Southern Comfort worth 60 from a delivery area at the rear of Vienna Woods Hotel, Glanmire, and brought them to a room where he and a guest were staying and they drank them, Sgt Delea said.

It was further stated that later in the morning, he broke a Philips TV worth 900 and an armchair worth 750 and two wall-mounted lights worth 250 each.

The accused man had 83 previous convictions, including seven for causing criminal damage and 31 for theft.

He also had 12 for being drunk and a danger and 10 for engaging in threatening and abusive behaviour.

Defence solicitor Killian McCarthy said the defendant was in Cork that week in the course of his tarmacking work. He said Mr McNamara and two of his workmates went drinking that night and ended up back in his hotel room where matters got out of hand to the extent that damage was caused.

Mr McCarthy said while two others were present in the room at the time, Mr McNamara accepted responsibility for causing the damage.

At Cork District Court Judge Mary Dorgan jailed the Clare man for eight months for causing criminal damage and a three-month concurrent sentence for stealing the alcohol.
A "Walter Mitty-type" character, who played an "important logistical role" in smuggling 8.4m worth of cocaine to Ireland via an "open corridor" aerodrome in the midlands, has been jailed for 11 years.

Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) officers kept a Cessna single-engine aircraft, which flew from Dieppe in France, under surveillance when it landed at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Co Longford, on the evening of August 4, 2022.

A short time later, they intercepted father of one Tim Gilchrist who was "caught red-handed" at the Lough Owel area in Co Westmeath, and recovered 120 kilogrammes of cocaine from his car.

Wearing a green T-shirt, grey tracksuit bottoms, and runners, Tim Gilchrist, 56, of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford, and showed no reaction when the sentence was imposed.

The accused, who told gardai he was a company director with business interests in Uganda, pleaded guilty 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. Gilchrist also admitted unlawfully importing the cocaine in the light aircraft.

Sentencing

Prosecution evidence was heard on Tuesday, and the case was adjourned until Thursday when Judge Keenan Johnson handed down an 11-and-a-half-year sentence, with the final six months suspended. He voiced concerns about "open corridor" airfields around the country and called for "significant upgrading" of security and 24-hour monitoring and checks.

The defence counsel described Gilchrist as a Walter Mitty-type character. However, gardai thought he gave a fanciful account to the investigation team about being under duress which could not be corroborated.

The judge noted the considerable degree of planning and Gilchrist's "active and important logistical role" and held the accused did it for financial gain. The sentence was backdated to August 4, 2020, when he went into custody.

Judge Johnson set a headline of 16 years and six months but held the terms could be reduced due to the guilty plea, information heard in mitigation, and his lack of previous convictions.

The court heard Gilchrist, who used the Cessna for "leisure" flying, claimed he was under duress from two men who threatened him unless he followed their instructions. However, GNDOCB Detective Sergeant Ciaran Cummins characterised Gilchrist's version of events as "fanciful".

Arrest

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with prosecuting counsel John Hayden BL that the investigation arose from information received about a Cessna light aircraft used to bring controlled drugs into the jurisdiction. The GNDOCB set up an operation at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome.

The Cessna, carrying two men, landed at 5.25pm, and bags were removed from the aircraft. Gilchrist was driving a 2009-registered 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 120kgs of cocaine worth 8.4m, the court was told.

The officers arrested Gilchrist and questioned him at Ashbourne Garda station. 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".

'Under duress'

Subsequent investigations into his assertions would not support his story, Detective Sergeant Cummins told the court.

Quoting his statement, Mr Hayden said 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 threatened 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 and was given 4,000 to finance the trip.

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed that the investigation did not corroborate the series of events outlined by Gilchrist.

'Complete open corridor'

The flight took three-and-a-half hours, and there were no customs officers at the Dieppe aerodrome where the plane only spent a short time.

The GNDOCB officer agreed with Judge Johnson that the procedures in Abbeyshrule were the same, and likewise, it was 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."

Gilchrist had been in Dieppe for 24 hours before returning.

Phone

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 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.

'Fanciful'

Detective Sergeant Cummins believed Gilchrist's story was "fanciful" and that he had done "almost identical trips" before. Gilchrist claimed he was helping the plane's pilot build up flying hours, and the court heard there had been six known flights.

Gilchrist admitted he enjoyed leisure flying and tried to convince gardai 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. The court heard he worked in Ireland for a highway maintenance firm from 2017 to 2020, after which he received 208-a-week in illness benefit social welfare payments.

Detective Sergeant Cummins agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that his client's guilty plea was valuable.

Mitigation

In a mitigation, 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.

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 a position to bring 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 was remorseful and ashamed. Gilchrist never applied for bail and had been in custody on remand since the date of his arrest.
Friends and relations of a man who was stamped to death during a "vicious and frenzied" attack in his own home applauded when the Court of Appeal rejected the killer's attempt to reduce his 13.5-year sentence.

Garrett Smith, 35, last of St John's Park, Waterford, had argued before the three-judge court that the sentence was too harsh despite having been told by his trial judge the jury had been "charitable and merciful" in finding Smith guilty of manslaughter instead of murder.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt told Smith to welcome the jury's verdict "like a drowning man clinging to a life-raft".

The court heard such were victim Edward Liam O'Sullivan's injuries, his family only recognised him by his tattoo and a closed coffin was needed for his funeral.

At the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards said the court was not persuaded to uphold any of the grounds of appeal. He said the attack on Mr O'Sullivan was characterised by "sheer viciousness and brutality" and by its "intensity and frenzied nature".

Manslaughter verdict

The manslaughter verdict was returned on the basis Smith was too intoxicated to have been able to form the necessary intent for murder.

However, Mr Justice Edwards said "any suggestion that the accused did not know that he was assaulting the deceased, or by what means and in what manner he was doing so, is not tenable".

He agreed with Mr Justice Hunt's finding that the offence belonged among the "worst cases" of manslaughter. Intoxication, he said, is not the same as diminished responsibility and provides no mitigation of his moral culpability for the killing.

The court also rejected arguments the trial judge had failed to properly take into account mitigating factors. Mr Justice Edwards noted the trial judge had set a headline sentence of 16 years and reduced that to 14.5 years, with the final 12 months suspended.

"While the sentencing judge might have had some scope to be more generous, we do not believe that he operated outside his margin of appreciation."

When Mr Justice Edwards dismissed the appeal, family and friends of the deceased gave a brief applause before prison officers took Smith back to the cell area.

Violent disorder

In 2022, Smith was convicted by a jury of the manslaughter of Edward Liam OSullivan in the deceased's apartment at High Hayes Terrace, Kilkenny, on February 6, 2020. He was also found guilty of violent disorder.

The court heard before the killing, Smith and others had been drinking for about 18 hours and Smith was probably abusing prescription medication. He was seen on CCTV at about 3am with Mr O'Sullivan at a Circle K garage where Smith was "repeatedly and visibly stumbling around the garage forecourt".

Smith went to Mr O'Sullivan's apartment where there was a violent outbreak which prompted Mr O'Sullivan to produce a knife and tell everyone to leave. He put the knife down but a violent disorder flared up again on the street with Smith again involved. Smith then re-entered the apartment and inflicted the fatal injuries on his victim.

One witness told the trial she saw Smith stamping repeatedly on Mr O'Sullivan's head and face and punching him.

At a sentencing hearing, the court heard State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers had said Mr O'Sullivan's injuries were akin to those typically suffered in traffic accidents.

Smith had eight previous convictions, including one for assault in 2009.
Professor Philip Nolan is appealing a judges refusal to extend an injunction preventing his dismissal from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is proceeding with his wider High Court claim.

Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy on Thursday discharged his earlier order that for five weeks secured Prof. Nolans director general position with the State-funded research agency.

He rejected an application from Prof. Nolans lawyers seeking a variation of this order: that, pending his appeal, SFI would be restrained from treating him as dismissed from his employment for the purpose of a specified legal provision. The judge said this request can be addressed by the Court of Appeal.

SFI asked to be awarded its legal costs, but Mr Justice Mulcahy agreed with Padraic Lyons SC, for Prof. Nolan, that the issue of legal fees should follow the outcome of the substantial trial of the case.

This was justified because the issues that were central to the preliminary injunction application will remain central at full trial, he said. If Prof. Nolan succeeds in his overall case, it might be unjust for him to have to pay for this failed application, the judge added.

Earlier, Mr Lyons, instructed by Daniel Spring & Co Solicitors, said his client intends to appeal the judges decision of June 21, 2024, refusing to grant an injunction that would have lasted until his case concludes.

Counsel noted the judge had said in his ruling that Prof. Nolan had to mount a formidable hurdle to meet the injunction threshold of establishing he had a strong case likely to succeed at trial. He said the judge had also made clear he could not decide on conflicts of fact in the pre-trial application.

The judgment said the picture of the dismissal changed decisively when SFI submitted affidavits to the court saying the dismissal was not due to misconduct but because of dysfunction within the organisation, said Mr Lyons. There were no board minutes or notes to support this asserted basis for termination, he added.

A different picture may well emerge, on the courts analysis, at the trial of the action, Mr Lyons submitted.

SFIs senior counsel, Mark Connaughton, instructed by McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, asked the court to discharge the earlier injunction and refrain from making any variation of the order. He said the plaintiff clearly failed to establish a strong case likely to succeed at trial and failed in the second limb of the legal test.

The judge discharged his earlier injunction and adjourned the High Court case to December for an update on progress in sharing documents in preparation for the full trial. Prof. Nolans injunction appeal application is likely to come before this date.

Reason for dismissal

In refusing to grant the injunction two weeks ago, Mr Justice Mulcahy said the director general contract permitted the SFI board to dismiss Prof. Nolan for no reason at all.

The key question for the court was whether Prof. Nolan was dismissed for misconduct, and therefore entitled to fair procedures, notwithstanding SFIs claim the termination came pursuant to his contract terms.

The judge said the dismissal letter left significant doubt about the basis for termination, but the SFI sworn statements to the court make clear its contention it did not dismiss for misconduct.

Mr Justice Mulcahy said the SFI board gave some reasons for the dismissal which are no doubt connected to disruption following claims made against Prof. Nolan by five senior staff members last December. Prof. Nolan may be able to show at full trial that this was, in substance, dismissal for misconduct, but the current evidence does not establish this, the judge said.

Prof. Nolan received a letter of dismissal last May 27 in the wake of a barristers investigation into the claims made last December. The probe made no findings against the director general but concluded he engaged in inappropriate behaviour and this could ground allegations of gross misconduct.

Prof. Nolan strongly rejects this charge and argues he should have been allowed to contest this via a disciplinary process. However, no disciplinary process was invoked over this before he was dismissed.

SFI says Prof. Nolan was not owed fair procedures because he was dismissed pursuant his contract terms after presiding over a period of dysfunction. Prof. Nolan has been appointed CEO-designate of Research Ireland  a planned merger of SFI and the Irish Research Council.
A trial date has been set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for three gardai accused of burglary and perverting the course of justice.

One of the three men also faces a charge of false imprisonment of a woman.

Robert Gorman, 43, with an address in North Dublin, is charged with burglary of a basement flat on Mountjoy Square North in the city centre on September 7, 2021.

He is also accused of perverting the course of public justice between September 30 and December 30, 2021, by allegedly signing information for a search warrant on that flat in Mountjoy Square.

Mr Gorman faces a second count of perverting the course of justice by allegedly creating three incidents on the Garda Pulse computer system on September 21, 2021.

Ciaran Whelan, 51, with an address in Co Tipperary is also charged with burglary of the basement flat at Mountjoy Square, Dublin 1, on September 7, 2021.

Mark Duffy faces one count of burglary at a property on Kenilworth Road on June 19, 2021, and a second count of perverting the course of justice on a date between August 28 and December 20, 2021. Picture: Collins Courts

Mr Whelan is further charged with burglary of a flat on Kenilworth Road, Dublin 6, on June 19, 2021, and with three counts of perverting the course of justice on dates between August 25 and September 27, 2021.

The charges of perverting the course of justice include allegations Mr Whelan made a false report to a superintendent regarding a search of the flat at Kenilworth Road, and amended data on the Garda Pulse system.

Mr Whelan is also charged with false imprisonment of a woman on September 7, 2021, at Saint Johns Road West in Dublin 8.

Mark Duffy, 39, with an address in Dublin 15, faces one count of burglary at a property on Kenilworth Road on June 19, 2021, and a second count of perverting the course of justice on a date between August 28 and December 20, 2021.

At a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, Judge Martin Nolan set a trial date of February 23, 2026, in relation to the three men.
Astana/New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called on the SCO nations to give priority to combating terrorism, and stressed that the international community must isolate and expose countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism.



In his remarks that were delivered by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar who was physically present at the summit in Astana, the Prime Minister also welcomed Belarus as the newest member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

The PM said that it is particularly noteworthy that the SCO is reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as a basis for our foreign policies. We have also agreed not to take any measures contrary to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

While doing so, priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism, one of the original goals of the SCO. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned. International community must isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism.

Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth. The Joint Statement issued during Indias Presidency last year on this subject underlines our shared commitment, the PM said.

He also mentioned climate change as another issue of concern.

"We are working towards achieving committed reduction in emissions, including transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles, and building climate-resilient infrastructure. In this context, during Indias SCO presidency, a Joint Statement on emerging fuels, and a Concept Paper on de-carbonization in the transportation sector were approved," the PM stressed.

The PM said while economic development requires robust connectivity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects, the PM said.

He said that technology needs to be made creative and applied for the welfare and progress of our societies. India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of an AI Mission. Our commitment to AI for All is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation.

PM Modi said India has recognised the centrality of Central Asia to SCO and has prioritized their interests and aspirations. It is reflected in greater exchanges, projects and activities with them.

UNI RN
Well-known English broadcaster and former I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here contestant Janet Street-Porter's ire is usually reserved for the likes of Westminster politicians, Just Stop Oil campaigners, and celebrities, but this past week, she turned her attention to a car rental company at Cork Airport.

Speaking on ITV's Loose Women this week, Ms Street-Porter, 77, explained she had travelled to Cork a week previously, and had booked a rental car for the duration of her visit.

She said because she has a UK licence and was able book the car online, and because she had driven rental cars without issue in Italy, France, and Spain over the past couple of years, she did not expect to be told she could not drive here.

"At Cork Airport, I've got to the car rental counter, I've filled in the form and its all gone through, I booked it in advance," she said.

"I was just about to take the keys and the guy went: One thing  have you got the doctor's letter?'"

UK driving licence holders are permitted to drive here if they live in the UK and are visiting.

But in Ireland, licenses expire the day before a motorist turns 75. After that point, they can apply for either a three-year or a one-year licence, subject to a certification of fitness to drive from a medical professional dated within a month of their application.

In the UK though, things are slightly different.

There, motorists over the age of 70 are required to renew their driving licenses every three years, provided they meet minimum eyesight standards. Drivers over this age with specific medical conditions must inform the UK's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency of their health information, though they are only required to undergo examination to determine their fitness to drive if the DVLA deems this to be necessary.

Essentially, it is down to drivers to declare whether or not they are fit to drive.

In Ms Street-Porters case, when she arrived in Cork, she was told by a car rental company employee that, because of her age, she needed a letter from her GP as well as one from her insurance company stating she had had no accidents in the last five years. These are documents car rental companies here are permitted to ask of over 75s.

Being told this information, she said, went down like a cup of cold sick.

I was absolutely irate.

To me, thats age discrimination, pure and simple. I could drive in Italy, drive in France, I can drive in Spain, but I cant drive in Ireland, she said.

She claimed the requirements for 75s to drive in Ireland are discriminatory as cars are so important to older people and because they're not responsible for most deaths, that's younger people.

In Ireland, 26% of road fatalities last year were aged between 16 and 25, while Just 11% were over the age of 75.

In the UK, however, 24% of road fatalities in 2023 were aged from 17 to 29, while 23% were aged 70 and over.

After her depressing experience in Cork, Ms Street-Porter said she took a taxi to her friend's house, which "cost a fortune".

"God knows what you're doing in Ireland if you're over 75 and you don't meet standards," she said.
Budget 2025 will be delivered on Tuesday, October 1, the Finance Minister has confirmed.

Jack Chambers told RTE's Morning Ireland this was the "natural date" for the Budget  even though it is one week earlier than usual.

He also denied that an early Budget would mean an early general election.

"We have to prepare budgetary and fiscal framework for October 15. We are absolutely committed to running the full term as a Government.

"The fact it is one week different from last year is really of very little difference in the context of the social welfare bill and the finance bill, which will conclude at the end of November or early December."

It comes as Mr Chambers said on Wednesday that this years budget will be tighter than previous years.

Mr Chambers said he is keen to get back to a more regular budgetary environment than what was previously rolled out during the covid-19 pandemic and high levels of inflation.

He said he wants to strengthen living standards and support for householders and families who are still under pressure from the rise in inflation in recent years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have attended the summit of a security grouping created by Moscow and Beijing to counter Western alliances.

Mr Putin and Mr Xi joined the leaders of other countries that are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at its annual meeting in Kazakhstans capital, Astana.

The grouping was established in 2001 by China, Russia and four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to promote regional security and economic cooperation.

It was later joined by India, Pakistan and Iran.

The leaders of Kazakhstan, Tajikstan and Belarus joined the Chinese and Russian Presidents (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russias western neighbour and ally, Belarus, also joined the SCO on Thursday.

Observer states and dialogue partners include Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Addressing the summit, Mr Putin emphasised the groups focus on ensuring security of its members and noted that the SCO will form a dedicated centre that will coordinate response to various security challenges.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Sergey Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

He added that the groups members will also endorse a special programme to fight separatism and extremism.

Mr Xi called on the SCO members to show solidarity in the face the real challenges of intervention and polarisation, according to a transcript of his speech by the official Xinhua news agency.

In the face of the real threat of the Cold War mentality, we have to safeguard the security bottom line, he added.

Besides Mr Putin and Mr Xi, and summit host Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, attending Thursdays meeting are Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan, President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan and President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India has sent his foreign minister. Indian media reports speculated the recently re-elected Modi was busy with the parliament session that began last week.

The summit is taking place in Astana (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Iran is still choosing a successor to President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May, with a run-off election on Friday. Acting President Mohammad Mokhbar will attend the summit.

During a meeting with the Russian leader on the side-lines of the summit, Mr Mokhber conveyed a message to Mr Putin from Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that deep and unchangeable relations between the two allies will remain strong irrespective of the election.

Mr Mokhber added that strong ties between Moscow and Tehran have changed the power equations in the world.

Other guests of the SCO include President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

Also present is UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Central Asia.

Mr Putin was joined by his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov (Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

For Mr Putin, the summit offered another venue to demonstrate the failure of Western efforts to isolate Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Mr Putin mentioned his statement in June that the hostilities could end if Ukraine withdraws its troops from the four regions that Moscow annexed in 2022 and abandons its bid to join Nato. Kyiv and its allies have rejected the idea.

Mr Putin also thanked SCO members for their proposals for a peace settlement, adding that Moscow will take them into account.

Moscow has hailed a peace plan for Ukraine offered by China last year that was rejected by both Ukraine and the West for failing to call for Russia to leave occupied parts of Ukraine.

Mr Putin later told Russian reporters that he has noted claims by Donald Trump, the presumed Republican candidate in the US presidential election, that he can resolve the Ukraine crisis and said: We take this quite seriously.

However, he said he has no details about what Mr Trump might propose.

Vladimir Putin hailed the SCO as one of the key pillars of a fair, multipolar world order (Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

At a meeting with Mr Xi on Wednesday, Mr Putin hailed the SCO as one of the key pillars of a fair, multipolar world order, and said ties between Moscow and Beijing are experiencing the best period in their history.

It marked their second meeting in as many months following Mr Putins visit to China, which underlined Beijings political support for Moscow amid Western sanctions and Chinas role as a top market for Russian oil and gas.

Russia also has relied on Beijing as a main source of high-tech imports to keep its military machine running.

The SCO helps China project its influence, especially across Central Asia and the Global South. Xi called for bridges of communication between countries last week and wants to further promote China as an alternative to the US and its allies.

For host Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian nations, the meeting is a way to further their cooperation with bigger, more powerful neighbours. Kazakhstan, for instance, frequently engages with both neighbouring Russia and China, while also pursuing links with the West.

In his opening remarks to the summit, Mr Tokayev hailed the SCO as one of the most authoritative and influential international structures.
Hurricane Beryl has ripped off roofs in Jamaica, battered fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on two islands in St Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and Mexicos Caribbean coast.

At least nine people have died as a result of the storm so far.

What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic weakened to a Category 3 by early Thursday but remained a major hurricane.

Beryls eye wall brushed by Jamaicas southern coast Wednesday afternoon. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.

Hurricane #Beryl Advisory 23: Weather Deteriorating in the Cayman Islands With Strong Winds, Dangerous Storm Surge, and Damaging Waves Expected There Later This Morning. https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ  National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 4, 2024

On Thursday morning in Kingston, telephone poles and trees were blocking the roadways.

Authorities confirmed a young man died on Wednesday after he was swept into a storm drain while trying to retrieve a ball. A woman also died after a house collapsed on her.

Residents took advantage of a break in the rain to begin clearing debris.

On the island, 65% remained without electricity, along with a lack of water and limited telecommunications. Government officials were assessing the damage, but it was hampered by the lack of communication mainly in southern parishes that suffered the most damage.

A visit to the south-central parish of Clarendon saw residents attempting to mend damaged roofs and clear downed trees. Many roadways in the area remained partially blocked by downed electricity and telecommunication poles.

Workers remove tree branches felled by Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica (Collin Reid/AP)

A man, armed with a machete as he and other residents attempted to clear debris, was grateful that the lives of him and his neighbours were spared.

I am just grateful for life although Beryl destroyed a lot of roofs and we dont have any water or light (electricity), he said, giving his name only as Seymour.

The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said that weakening is forecast during the next day or two, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Mexicos popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surges.

In Playa del Carmen, most businesses were closed on Thursday and some were boarding up windows as tourists were jogging and some locals walked their dogs under sunny skies.

In Tulum, Mexicos Navy patrolled the streets telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storms arrival. Everything was scheduled to shut down by midday.

The hurricane is expected to arrive in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (AP)

The storms centre was about 95 miles (150km) west-southwest of Grand Cayman island and 330 miles (530km) east-southeast of Tulum. It had maximum sustained winds of 115mph (185kph) and was moving west-northwest at 18mph (about 30kph).

The premier of the Cayman Islands, Juliana OConnor, thanked residents and visitors on Thursday for contributing to the collective calm ahead of Beryl by following storm protocols.

We have done everything possible that we could have done to face the various challenges ahead of us, she said.

The head of Mexicos civil defence agency, Laura Velazquez, said that Beryl is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it hits a relatively unpopulated stretch of Mexicos Caribbean coast south of Tulum early on Friday.

But once Beryl re-emerges into the Gulf of Mexico a day later, she said it is again expected to build to hurricane strength and could hit right around the Mexico-US border, at Matamoros.

That area was already soaked in June by Tropical Storm Alberto.

Fishing boats were jostled by the storm (AP)

Ms Velazquez said temporary storm shelters were being set up at schools and hotels in case they are needed.

She said efforts to evacuate a few highly exposed villages  like Punta Allen, which sits on a narrow spit of land south of Tulum  had been only partially successful.

The storm had already shown its destructive potential across a long swath of the southeastern Caribbean.

The worst perhaps came earlier in Beryls trajectory when it smacked two small islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Michelle Forbes, the St Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organisation, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said.

Several people have been killed as the storm passed (AP)

Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.
The Lebanese Hezbollah group says it has launched more than 200 rockets at several military bases in Israel in retaliation over a strike that killed one of its senior commanders.

The attack by the Iran-backed militant group on Thursday was one of the largest in the months-long conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, with tensions boiling in recent weeks.

The Israeli military said numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets had entered its territory from Lebanon, many of which it said were intercepted. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

It acknowledged on Wednesday that it had killed Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollahs three regional divisions in southern Lebanon, a day earlier.

Hours later, Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha rockets and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights. It launched more rockets on Thursday.

The US and France are continuing to scramble to prevent the skirmishes from spiralling into an all-out war, which they fear could spill over across the Arab world.

The relatively low-level conflict erupted shortly after the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Hezbollah says it is striking Israel in solidarity with Hamas, another Iran-allied group that ignited the war in Gaza with its October 7 attack into southern Israel.

The fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides of the 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.
Police have found the remains of a 12-year-old girl, two days after she was snatched by a crocodile while swimming in a creek in remote northern Australia.

The remains were found in the river system near where the girl vanished at the Indigenous community of Palumpa, south-west of the Northern Territory capital Darwin, Police senior Sgt Erica Gibson said.
The Ukrainian army has retreated from an area on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar, a strategically important town in the eastern Donetsk region which was reduced to rubble under a months-long Russian assault.

Chasiv Yar lies a short distance west of Bakhmut, which was captured by Russia last year after a bitter 10-month battle.

For months, Russian forces have focused on capturing Chasiv Yar, a town which occupies a strategic, elevated location.

Its fall would put nearby cities in jeopardy, compromise critical Ukrainian supply routes and bring Russia closer to its stated aim of seizing the entire Donetsk region.

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the outskirts of the town (Russian defence ministry press service via AP)

The Ukrainian army retreated from a north-eastern area in the town of Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia ground forces formation, told The Associated Press.

Ukraines defensive positions in the town were destroyed, he said, adding that there was a threat of serious casualties if troops remained in the area and that Russia did not leave a single intact building.

Months of relentless Russian artillery strikes have devastated Chasiv Yar, with homes and municipal offices charred, and a town that once had a population of 12,000 has been left deserted.

The intensity of Russian strikes on Ukraines defensive line in the area of Chasiv Yar has increased over the last month, Mr Voloshyn said.

In the past week alone, he said Russia has carried out nearly 1,300 strikes, fired nearly 130 glide bombs and made 44 ground assaults.

Other Russian attacks in recent weeks have focused on capturing nearby settlements that would allow them to advance to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the biggest cities in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian leaders have said resources are stretched (Dnipro Regional Administration via AP)

Ukrainian commanders in the area say their resources remain stretched, largely due to a months-long gap in military assistance from the US which threw Ukraines military onto the defensive.

In June, members of the artillery brigade in Chasiv Yar reported that supplies of American ammunition had started to arrive.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the governor of the northern Chernihiv region, Viacheslav Chaus, said Russia launched 22 drones over Ukraine last night.

One hit an infrastructure facility in the northern Chernihiv region, leaving nearly 6,000 customers without electricity, he said.

The rest of the drones were shot down, according to the air forces morning update.

Russia is continually targeting Ukraines badly-damaged energy infrastructure, resulting in hours of rolling blackouts across the country.

Ukrainian officials have warned that the situation may worsen as winter approaches.
New Delhi, July 4 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday held a telephonic conversation with Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles and talked on range of issues including bilateral defence cooperation.



Through a post on X, the Defence Minister stated that a range of issues pertaining to bilateral defence cooperation were reviewed, with focus on closer collaboration between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific.



Spoke with Australias Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Mr. @RichardMarlesMP. We reviewed a range of issues pertaining to defence cooperation and discussed closer collaboration between India and Australia in the Indo-Pacific. We place great value on India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia, Singh said in a post on X.



Both Ministers noted the transformative progress in defence cooperation under the comprehensive strategic partnership, and appreciated the momentum achieved in the ties since the last India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, which was attended by both in November 2023, a Defence Ministry statement said.



Australia considers India as a top-tier security partner in their National Defence Strategy document which was released in 2024.



Marles also congratulated Singh for taking charge as the Defence Minister for a second consecutive term, and appreciated the functioning of the Indian democratic system wherein people voted in large numbers.



He also congratulated Rajnath on Team India becoming the T20 world champions.

UNI RBE CS1433
Chris Bing and Joel Schectman at Reuters:

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to counter what it perceived as Chinas growing influence in the Philippines, a nation hit especially hard by the deadly virus.

The clandestine operation has not been previously reported. It aimed to sow doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China, a Reuters investigation found. Through phony internet accounts meant to impersonate Filipinos, the militarys propaganda efforts morphed into an anti-vax campaign. Social media posts decried the quality of face masks, test kits and the first vaccine that would become available in the Philippines  Chinas Sinovac inoculation.

Reuters identified at least 300 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, that matched descriptions shared by former U.S. military officials familiar with the Philippines operation.

More here.
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According to the annual United Nations World Happiness Report, Finland has yet again proved that it is the happiest country in the world, having won the title for seven consecutive years. Denmark is second.

The secret to a happy life is simple, and Finns mainly attribute it to four fundamental elements: a strong bond with nature, a grounded lifestyle, fresh and wholesome food, and a commitment to sustainability. According to Finns themselves, the key to happiness is a set of skills that can be learned rather than a closely guarded mystery, Good News Network reported.

CNBC Make It consulted a panel of Finnish and Danish business leaders and psychologists to explore key sayings that encourage optimistic thinking, particularly during challenging times.

Incorporating these three phrases into your vocabulary can enhance your overall happiness, these experts said:

Things You Leave Behind Will Only Haunt You

Everyone encounters problems in life or at work, but addressing them as soon they show up can prevent them from happening again.

Finland believes that neglecting an issue can only lead to larger problems down the line, which is why it is very important to address it upfront to avoid further escalation, said Anni Hallila, head of people and culture at Framery, a Finnish manufacturing company.

READ ALSO: Careers You Should Pursue If You Want To Be Rich And Happy At The Same Time

"Pyt Med Det"

Americans face numerous external stressors beyond their control, with 27% reporting daily inability to function due to stress, per an American Psychological Association poll.

People in Denmark use a three-word phrase to avoid this stress every day. Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, wrote "Pyt med det" on CNBC Make It.

"Pyt med det" is a frequently used phrase in Denmark that translates to "It doesn't matter" or "Don't worry about it." While it was initially used as a swear word meaning "hell," its modern usage embodies a deep acceptance and letting go of worry. It represents a gentle exhale amidst life's challenges, reassuring that things will be okay, even if they do not seem to be.

Wiking added that "Pyt med det" fosters a mindset of shrugging off negativity and progressing with grace and resilience.

While Some Have Happiness, Everyone Has Summer

Most of us agree that we tend to feel self-conscious or envious when we see other people sharing their highlights on Social Media. It would help if you were not because what we perceive is only a meticulously curated image they choose to present.

We are currently in an era of perfectionism that kills, where the pressure to meet impossible standards in our personal lives, the quest for an ideal body, or the relentless drive for career success fosters a toxic psychological environment. Will Storr's book "Selfie: How We Became So Self Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us" reads.

Finnish psychologist Frank Martela wrote for Make It in March that Finnish people rely on the century-old phrase, "Some have happiness, everyone has summer," which signifies that better days are on the horizon regardless of current challenges.

Life has its ups and downs, with challenges for some today and joys for others tomorrow. Finns are certain that, despite circumstances, "summer will come to us all." Martela added.

RELATED ARTICLE: Five Phrases for a Happy, Fulfilled, and Engaged Workforce, From the World's Happiest Country

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The US Justice Department has given Boeing until the end of the week to decide whether to plead guilty or face a trial. Bloomberg first reported that this decision left affected families enraged, calling it a sweetheart plea to let Boeing off the hook.

Boeing's Fraud Conspiracy

The Department of Justice (DOJ) offers Boeing a plea deal that would enable the aerospace giant to avoid once again a trial over allegations of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Attorneys representing families of victims of two fatal Boeing 737 Max crashes were briefed on the DOJ's plans on Sunday afternoon.

The deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) was initially established before the Trump administration ended, charging Boeing with one count of conspiracy for allegedly misleading the FAA during its assessment of the new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people, with the first occurring in Indonesia in October 2018 and the second five months later in Ethiopia.

As punishment, Boeing was fined $243.7 million and mandated to pay $1.77 billion in compensation to its airline customers and $500 million to the beneficiaries of the victims under the terms of the DPA. Boeing was also mandated to disclose fraud allegations, cooperate fully with government investigations, and refrain from committing any felony offenses, prompting the DOJ to defer criminal prosecution for three years.

A note to employees after the company was charged by the DOJ in 2021 reads that David Calhoun, Boeing's president and CEO, firmly believed entering into this resolution was the right decision. The resolution serves as a significant reminder of Boeing's obligation to transparency with regulators and the potential consequences the company faces if anyone fails to meet those expectations.

READ ALSO: Boeing CEO Grilled in Court Hearing, Accused of "Strip-Mining" Despite Safety Remorse

Victims Strongly Opposing The Sweetheart Plea

Under the proposed deal, Boeing would need to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge filed in January 2021 for allegedly misleading the FAA during its evaluation of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. It would also be required to accept the appointment of an external corporate monitor, pay a fine of approximately $200 million, and undergo a three-year probationary period, ABC News reported.

The families, who are unhappy and angered because there is no accountability or admission from Boeing that its admitted crime caused the 346 deaths, have been urging the DOJ to take Boeing to trial and impose fines that could exceed $20 billion and will likely object before Judge Reed O'Connor and ask him to reject the plea deal if Boeing accepts it, Robert Clifford, lead counsel in the civil litigation against Boeing said.

The criminal charges and potential plea deal follow numerous safety failures at Boeing, leading to multiple federal investigations and strong criticism from airlines, customers, lawmakers, and regulators. Criminal charges against a major corporation like Boeing are uncommon and would significantly impact its already unstable financial state and further harm its reputation.

However, the families of the victims expressed anger that Boeing might avoid a trial, believing that the government is absolving the company of responsibility for the deaths of their loved ones, CNN reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: United Airlines Held Liable for an Accident Crushing Worker's Foot, Demanded $14,502 for Negligence on Safety Procedures

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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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A proposed legislation would mandate employers to implement measures to safeguard 36 million American workers from severe heat conditions, otherwise face corresponding fines, the White House outlined in a news release on Tuesday.

The new rule, if implemented, would mark the first significant regulation of its kind, introducing nationwide protection for workers, where employers are mandated to recognize heat hazards and ensure provisions such as rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatization for new employees.

While private employers have been mandated to ensure safe workplaces, including addressing heat hazards, Tuesday's proposal introduces specific protections against heat exposure for the first time that would allow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to impose fines on non-complying employers.

The Record-Breaking Heat in 2024

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that workplace heat exposure has killed over 1,000 U.S. workers since 1992 and caused nearly 34,000 cases of heat-related injuries to lead employees to miss work between 2011 and 2020. According to climate scientists, 2024 could potentially become the hottest year on record, as several cities across the United States encountered record-breaking heat in June.

The announcement also coincides with tens of millions of Americans under heat advisories, and President Joe Biden has emphasized that disregarding climate change is "deadly, dangerous, and irresponsible," KCRA3 reported.

READ ALSO: California OSHA Clashes with Finance Department Over Workers' Indoor Heat Protection's Budget Concerns

The Scope of The Regulation

The proposed measure aims to set the first federal standard protecting millions of workers against heat-related injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, especially among farmworkers, delivery personnel, construction workers, and indoor workers in warehouses, factories, and kitchens.

Under the proposal, employers must create an injury and illness prevention plan, assess heat risks, provide access to water and necessary rest breaks, and train employees to recognize symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Jessica Martinez of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health emphasized the significance of the proposed regulations as summer approaches and expects employers to comply.

Doug Parker, assistant secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), emphasized the necessity of implementing measures to safeguard workers from experiencing heat-related incidents, including heat stroke and fatalities, while performing their job duties, adding that the current proposal marks a crucial progression towards gathering public feedback to develop a final rule that balances worker protection with practicality and feasibility for employers, the statement reads.

The New Federal Rule Proposal

The Labor Department proposes new protections based on two heat index thresholds. In the first instance, when the combined temperature and relative humidity reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide drinking water and scheduled rest breaks.

Under the proposed rules, when the heat index reaches 90 degrees, further measures would be required. Employers must ensure a minimum 15-minute paid rest break every two hours and implement a monitoring system to detect signs of heat-related illness or symptoms among their workers.

However, the OSHA proposal excludes sedentary or remote workers, emergency-response personnel, and employees working indoors with temperatures below 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

RELATED ARTICLE: Domestic Workers in Miami Demanding Passage of "Domestic Worker Bill of Rights," Seeking Stronger Workplace Protection

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The Fourth of July is a holiday, falling most often on a Tuesday or Thursday. Workers typically get a holiday on the Fourth and the preceding or following Monday or Friday.

Independence Day is one of the historic dates in America. It is celebrated on the day on which the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July in 1776, formally declaring the United States of America a free nation.

4th of July Traditions

Many of today's Independence Day traditions in America originated in early celebrations of Americans who would gather for bonfires, concerts, and parades to commemorate their new nation. Some activities that formed fun aspects of the celebrations included reading the Declaration of Independence aloud, followed by firing muskets and cannons to honor patriotism.

These activities have transformed through the years into the beloved traditions we enjoy today, such as:

Watching fireworks

Waving sparklers

Hosting barbecues

Playing backyard games

Attending parades

Wearing attires in color red, white, and blue

Engaging in patriotic crafts

Waving mini American flags

Traveling; and

Taking advantage of stellar sales

READ ALSO: 10 Labor Day Facts: Knowing The Foundation and Legacy of America's Workforce

This year, the Independence Day holiday falls on a Thursday and will fall on the following days in the corresponding years:

2025: Friday

2026: Saturday

2027: Sunday

2028: Tuesday

America's Colonizing Country

Britain colonized America in 1607, with Jamestown, Virginia, the first colony established. As Britain continued to expand its colonies throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, over 2.5 million settlers were recorded among the 13 colonies by 1755.

Great Britain imposed the Stamp Act of 1765, Townshend Acts of 1767, and Tea Act of 1773 to raise funds after the French and Indian War. The taxation without representation grievance was triggered by forcing colonists into paying more without giving them a say in the policy, which later fueled the American Revolution.

The tensions between British authorities and American colonists escalated with events like the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. They peaked in April 1775 during the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts after British forces tried confiscating colonists' weapons, triggering the first clashes between Colonial militias and British troops and marking the start of the American Revolutionary War.

July 4, 1776: The American Independence Day

During a Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia in June 1776, Virginia statesman Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the Colonies to dissolve their ties with Britain. The Declaration of Independence, written by a special committee in the historical society, came to be on July 4, 1776, when America was officially declared free from its colonization under British jurisdiction. The Revolutionary War continued, and America finally achieved victory over Great Britain in September 1783.

Americans salute the bravery of the Founding Fathers on Independence Day, who stood up for freedom, equal rights, and self-rule. The nation bursts into festive mode with patriotic shows, street marches, and dazzling sky displays, with people coming together in their towns and cities to pay tribute to the undying love of America for liberty.

RELATED ARTICLE: Exploring Women's Month: Top 10 Interesting Facts You Need to Know

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Microsoft agreed to pay California a $14.4 million fine and committed to reviewing its leave policy moving forward after the civil rights department accused the company of employee retaliation against protected time off since 2017.

Microsoft's Settlement with California's Civil Rights Department

According to CNBC, California's Civil Rights Department announced the proposed settlement with Microsoft on Wednesday. The settlement demands a $14.4 million fine for denying raises, promotions, and stock awards to employees who used parental, family care-taking, or disability leave.

The tech giant based in Redmond, Washington, houses approximately 6,700 individuals in California, as per the complaint. Out of its 221,000 workforce, the representation of women comprises 31.2% of the total workforce in 2023, which is a rise from 27.6% in 2019, as per the company's latest diversity report.

The complaint alleges that the discriminated workers who received lower performance-review scores were predominantly women and individuals with disabilities, affecting their pay, opportunities for promotions, and altering their career paths.

Microsoft's Discriminatory Workplace Culture

According to legal filings, the agency's three-year investigation revealed that Microsoft's workplace culture discourages employees from taking advantage of protected leave, with managers making negative comments when employees exercise their rights.

READ ALSO: Snapchat Faces $15M Settlement as California Civil Rights Probe Exposed Unfair Treatment to Female Employees

The state agency asserted that Microsoft's policies and practices disproportionately affect women and people with disabilities who use or will use protected leave, which have a discriminatory adverse impact based on sex and disability that Microsoft cannot justify on the grounds of business necessity.

In an email statement to Yahoo Finance, a Microsoft spokesperson reiterated the company's dedication to fostering an environment where employees can take leave and receive the necessary support for their professional and personal development. Despite disagreeing with the agency's allegations, Microsoft committed to listening, learning, and supporting its employees.

Holding Microsoft Accountable for The Discrimination

Yahoo Finance reported that Kevin Kish, director of the Civil Rights Department, said the settlement would offer direct relief to affected workers and help prevent future discrimination within the company.

Microsoft employees affected from May 2017 until the court's judgment will receive compensation from a $14.4 million settlement fund, while the rest of the settlement will support the agency's enforcement initiatives.

Under the proposed settlement, Microsoft will engage an independent consultant to assess and recommend improvements to the company's practices regarding annual rewards and promotions for workers, implement measures to ensure that employees are aware of procedures for lodging discrimination complaints, and will be obligated to report its findings to the department overseeing the settlement.

Civil Rights Department Protecting Workers' Rights

In recent years, the state's Civil Rights Department has announced several substantial settlements, primarily in sex discrimination cases. These include a $100 million agreement with video game maker Riot Games in 2021, a $54 million settlement with Activision Blizzard last year, and a $15 million settlement with Snapchat parent Snap announced last month, The Express Tribune reported.

RELATED ARTICLE: Uber, Lyft Riders Win $32.50 Hourly Minimum Wage as Massachusetts AG Demands $175M Violation Settlement

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Revised.

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Americans are commemorating the Fourth of July today, the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Implicit in this holiday is the recognition of the right of a people to self-determination.

The grievances that the four million inhabitants of British North America had in 1776 were not felt by them to be narrow or specific but rather universal, and so too was the remedy. They laid against the government of King George III that it was not serving the interests of its North American subjects.

Thomas Jefferson wrote,

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

All human beings are created equal, the founders of the United States believed.

That means that Palestinians, as human beings, are also created equal. The text says all.

Moreover, the Palestinians by virtue of being men (i.e. human beings) have been endowed by God with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

In todays world, the Palestinians do not have any of these rights, whether God wants them to or not. They were successively ethnically cleansed from their homeland of Palestine by militant Jewish settlers. (There were no Jews in Palestine to speak of as recently as 1800; Bonaparte found about 3,000 when he invaded in 1799, I think; Palestine was inhabited by Muslim and Christian Palestinians and as late as 1939 the British mandatory authorities envisaged a Palestinian state run by independent Palestinians in 1949). Some 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from what became Israel by Zionist forces with no compensation and their land and property usurped in 1948. More tens of thousands were displaced in 1967. Their numbers have grown. Some 21 percent of Israel is remnants of the original Palestinian inhabitants, some 2 million persons. They are second class citizens in many ways.

But the some 5 million Palestinians who live in the West Bank and Gaza, and the several hundred thousand living in Lebanese refugee camps, are living lives the opposite of the ones Jefferson declared natural. They are stateless. In the West Bank they live under Israeli military rule; there are a few civil institutions, but all of these can be over-ruled by the whim of the Israeli army. Palestinians do not control their land, water or air.

Julia Frankel at the Associated Press reported Wednesday, Israel turbocharges West Bank settlement expansion with largest land grab in decades. Note that some of this newly stolen land was explicitly promised to the Palestine Authority in the Oslo Peace Accords, which Bill Clinton signed and guaranteed. But the Biden administration wont lift a finger to stop this injustice.

According to the Gaza ministry of health, at least 37,900 Palestinians have been reported killed in the Gaza Strip since 7 October. Another 87,060 Palestinians have been reported injured in 2023-2024. The majority of those killed and injured have been women and children, and many of the remaining deaths were among noncombatant men. Israel has dropped some 500 two thousand pound bombs on Gaza, flattening residential complexes and destroying a majority of the housing stock, often striking in the absence of any obvious military target, according to the UN.

Before that, the Israelis had put the Palestinians under siege, including the children and non-combatants in general. They werent allowed to export virtually anything they produce. They had (and have) no port or airport (both bombed by Israel). They suffered from massive unemployment and even malnutrition, which the 2023-2024 total war made worse. The Israelis had placed the Palestinians of Gaza in a huge open-air concentration camp. With American and European help.

The British are estimated to have killed 1 percent of the American population 1776-1882. Israel has already killed nearly 2 percent of the Palestinian population of Gaza in roughly nine months of war.

In the phrase of former SCOTUS Chief Justice Earl Warren, the stateless have no right to have rights. They do not have the right to life, or liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. They may be killed with impunity (the Israeli army has killed 9 Palestinians, including children, in its crackdown on the West Bank over the horrific kidnapping and killing of three Israeli youth. The horrid character of the crime does not authorize Israel to engage in collective punishment nor Israelis to act as vigilantes and deprive other people of life or liberty.)

So the Palestinians do not have a right to life. They have no liberty at all as the US founding generation conceived it. And they certainly have no right to pursue happiness. Their lives are constrained and made difficult by deliberate actions of Israeli officials and officers and armed squatters on their land who torment them.

The Declaration of Independence insists that people have a right to elect their government. But Palestinians cannot elect the Israeli government, which actually rules them (and they cannot elect the Lebanese government either, where there is a significant Palestinian refugee population). The elections held after the Oslo process have been undone by deliberate Israeli intransigence. When Palestinians vote for the Palestine Authority, in any case, they are not actually getting representation that matters. The PA only polices 40% of the West Bank, and it is routinely overruled by the Israeli military. The Israeli equivalent of Red Coats, the Israeli military, still controls their land, air and sea. Increasingly, in addition, the Israeli equivalent of neo-Nazis in the cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been given control of police and administration in the West Bank, eclipsing the occupation army.

The early Americans were angry that King George III took away land at will, which is something the Israelis routinely do to the Palestinians. They also minded that he appointed the court judges. The Palestinians have no courts in which to adjudicate their claims, being forced to litigate in front of unsympathetic Israeli judges.

Did the Americans mind that the king was cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world? Israelis are doing that to the Palestinians. Were they angry at him for depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury? The Israelis arrest and hold people for a very long time without any judicial process, a travesty they call administrative detention. The Israeli parliament just advanced a bill that would specify that Jewish squatters in the Palestinian West Bank cannot be held under administrative detention with no habeas corpus that the practice is only directed at Palestinians. This kind of discrimination is why major human rights bodies accuse Israel of Apartheid.

The remedy the early Americans applied to these problems, of rising up against foreign occupying troops, is not available to Palestinians. The Israelis are too strong, too well armed, and too backed to the hilt by the US Congress, many members of which use Israel for their white nationalist purposes. Opposing the Israeli occupation is routinely equated in the US to terrorism, even though Palestinians are the aggrieved party. But in any case, the Declaration of Independence does not say all men are created equal except those that have some violent people among them. And King George III saw the American revolutionaries as terrorists, too.

The horrible thing is that US diplomacy and US taxpayers money is going toward keeping the Palestinians stateless and without rights. Americans are doing to a helpless people exactly the kinds of things they wouldnt put up with from King George III for themselves.

Americans dont have a responsibility to liberate everyone in the world. But they do have a responsibility not to help Israel deprive Palestinians of their inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
By Kian Sharifi | 

( RFE/RL )  More than 60 percent of Irans 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/RLs Radio Farda, Sweden-based Iranian political activist Mahdieh Golrou said the declining voter turnout in recent major elections was 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 republics 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.

Reformist, ultraconservative in Iran presidential runoff as voters stay home  FRANCE 24 English Video added by IC

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 Pezeshkians credentials as a true reformist, noting that he has been largely supportive of Khameneis 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 Irans Shiite 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/RLs Radio Farda. The Islamic republic has never understood peoples complaints, he added, and now trust in the establishment has collapsed.

With reporting by Elaheh Ravanshad of RFE/RLs Radio Farda

Via RFE/RL

Copyright (c)2024 RFE/RL, Inc. Used with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
By Peter Martin, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University | 

(The Conversation)  Opposition leader Peter Dutton might have been hoping for an endorsement from economists for his plan to take Australian nuclear.

He shouldnt expect one from The Economist.

The Economist is a British weekly news magazine that has reported on economic thinking and served as a place for economists to exchange views since 1843.

By chance, just three days after Dutton announced plans for seven nuclear reactors he said would usher in a new era of economic prosperity for Australia, The Economist produced a special issue, titled Dawn of the Solar Age.

Whereas nuclear power is barely growing, and is shrinking as a proportion of global power output, The Economist reported solar power is growing so quickly it is set to become the biggest source of electricity on the planet by the mid-2030s.

By the 2040s  within this next generation  it could be the worlds largest source of energy of any kind, overtaking fossil fuels like coal and oil.

Solars off-the-charts global growth

Installed solar capacity is doubling every three years, meaning it has grown tenfold in the past ten years. The Economist says the next tenfold increase will be the equivalent of multiplying the worlds entire fleet of nuclear reactors by eight, in less time than it usually takes to build one of them.

To give an idea of the standing start the industry has grown from, The Economist reports that in 2004 it took the world an entire year to install one gigawatt of solar capacity (about enough to power a small city). This year, thats expected to happen every day.

Energy experts didnt see it coming. The Economist includes a chart showing that every single forecast the International Energy Agency has made for the growth of the growth of solar since 2009 has been wrong. What the agency said would take 20 years happened in only six.

The forecasts closest to the mark were made by Greenpeace  environmentalists poo-pooed for zealotry and economic illiteracy  but even those forecasts turned out to be woefully short of what actually happened.

And the cost of solar cells has been plunging in the way that costs usually do when emerging technologies become mainstream.

The Economist describes the process this way:

As the cumulative production of a manufactured good increases, costs go down. As costs go down, demand goes up. As demand goes up, production increases  and costs go down further.

Normally, this cant continue. In earlier energy transitions  from wood to coal, coal to oil, and oil to gas  it became increasingly expensive to find fuel.

But the main ingredient in solar cells (apart from energy) is sand, for the silicon and the glass. This is not only the case in China, which makes the bulk of the worlds solar cells, but also in India, which is short of power, blessed by sun and sand, and which is manufacturing and installing solar cells at a prodigious rate.



Image by Tornike Jibladze from Pixabay

Solar easy, batteries more difficult

Batteries are more difficult. They are needed to make solar useful after dark and they require so-called critical minerals such as lithium, nickel and cobalt (which Australia has in abundance).

But the efficiency of batteries is soaring and the price is plummeting, meaning that on one estimate the cost of a kilowatt-hour of battery storage has fallen by 99% over the past 30 years.

In the United States, plans are being drawn up to use batteries to transport solar energy as well as store it. Why build high-voltage transmission cables when you can use train carriages full of batteries to move power from the remote sunny places that collect it to the cities that need it?

Solars step change

The International Energy Agency is suddenly optimistic. Its latest assessment released in January says last year saw a step change in renewable power, driven by Chinas adoption of solar. In 2023, China installed as much solar capacity as the entire world did in 2022.

The world is on track to install more renewable capacity over the next five years than has ever been installed over the past 100 years, something the agency says still wont be enough to get to net-zero emissions by 2050.

That would need renewables capacity to triple over the next five years, instead of more than doubling.

Oxford University energy specialist Rupert Way has modelled a fast transition scenario, in which the costs of solar and other new technologies keep falling as they have been rather than as the International Energy Agency expects.

He finds that by 2060, solar will be by far the worlds biggest source of energy, exceeding wind and green hydrogen and leaving nuclear with an infinitesimally tiny role.

In Australia, solar is pushing down prices

Australias energy market operator says record generation from grid-scale renewables and rooftop solar is pushing down wholesale electricity prices.

South Australia and Tasmania are the states that rely on renewables the most. They are the two states with the lowest wholesale electricity prices outside Victoria, whose prices are very low because of its reliance on brown coal.

It is price  rather than the environment  that most interests The Economist. It says when the price of something gets low people use much, much more of it.

As energy gets really copious and all but free, it will be used for things we cant even imagine today. The Economist said to bet against that is to bet against capitalism.

Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Highlights:

Furthest North Drillhole to Date, Blind Target on North Hill Trend Hits Mineralization

Expanding Resource Potential 130-meters to the Northwest of JES-24-79 (42.7 meters of 1.0 g/t Au) 350-meters North of the Main Zone JES-24-88, 24.4 meters of 0.2 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag Including, 1.5 meters of 1.1 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag And 3.0 meters of 0.4 g/t Au and 6 g/t Ag Within 59.5-meter anomalous zone from 42.7 meters depth, averaging 0.1 g/t Au and 2 g/t Ag

Three holes Released, All Three Intersect Mineralization

Results Pending for Eight (8) Drillholes

Summer Surface Mapping, Rock and Soil Sampling Has Started Across Expansion Area

CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Tocvan Ventures Corp. (the "Company") (CSE:TOC) (OTCQB:TCVNF) (FSE:TV3), is pleased to announce drill results from its 2024 Reverse Circulation (RC) drill program at its road accessible Pilar Gold-Silver project in mine-friendly Sonora, Mexico.

Video: North Alteration Zone

To date, the 2024 drill program has completed 3,268 meters across 26 drill holes. Results for eight drill holes are currently pending analysis (green squares on Figure 1).

"The latest results continue to show expansion potential remains open and untested across several developing trends." commented Brodie Sutherland, CEO. "Step-out drilling has hit a blind target where no previous data was available significantly extending out mineralization another 130-meters. We are highly encouraged by these results and the significance they imply along trends that have shown recently they can yield high-grade results. It is important to recall the majority of past drilling focused primarily along the Main Zone where significant surface exposure provided well guided drill targeting. Future resource development will rely on sound geological knowledge and progressive testing through drilling. Each hole that hits mineralization further out from the Main Zone provides sound evidence for added resource potential, we still have not begun to drill across the expansion area that covers over 20x the area drilled to date. Surface work is ongoing to rapidly define the surface expression of mineralization and advance new drill target areas. We look forward to updating as more drill results become available."

Results today highlight two step-out drill holes on the Main Zone and North Hill trends and one infill drill hole on the North Hill Trend. Step-out hole JES-24-88 tested a blind target on trend and 130-meters northwest of previously released drillhole JES-24-79 which returned 42.7 meters of 1.0 g/t Au. JES -24-88 returned 24.4 meters of 0.2 g/t Au and 4 g/t Ag including 1.5 meters of 1.1 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag. The trend remains open to the north, northwest and east where no previous drilling has been completed, surface sampling and mapping is currently underway to locate the continuation of the trend on surface. The North Hill Trend now extends for over 500 meters with room to expand along the trends northwest and southeastern extents. Step-out hole JES 24-89 tested the northwest continuation of the Main Zone Trend, 230-meters northwest of the heart of the Main Zone. Six separate zones of anomalous mineralization were intersected with gold values up to 0.2 g/t Au, silver values up to 8 g/t Ag and copper values up to 0.3% Cu. Infill hole JES-24-90 tested an area 115-meters southeast of JES-24-79 (mentioned above). Two isolated zones of mineralization were intersected with elevated pathfinder elements recorded at the bottom of the hole. Results are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 1. Summary map of drill highlights and surrounding surface results.

Table 1. Summary of Drill Results Released Today from Pilar Project.

All interval lengths are drilled widths. 10,000 ppm = 1%. Includes Pathfinder Geochemistry.

Table 2. Drillhole locations released today.

Figure 2. Pilar Project Planview map showing the southern block made up of the Pilar Main Zone and the newly discovered placer source with additional gold-silver mineralization extending to the south. Within the northern block, a large alteration zone that spans 3.3 km by 1.5 km (North Alteration Zone) has returned high-grade gold and silver values in the first few sampling programs across the newly acquired area. The Southern Block remains largely untested with drilling, with an expanding mineralized footprint expanding from ongoing surface sampling.

Discussion of Results

North Extent of North Hill Trend

JES-24-88

The drillhole targeted the northwest extension of the North Hill Trend where surface sampling is limited. The hole was drilled due east with a 45-degree angle dip. Recent drillhole JES-24-79, 130-meters to the southeast returned broad low-grade mineralization with a high-grade core (42.7-meters of 1.0 g/t Au, including 3.1 meters of 10.9 g/t Au). The hole hit a blind zone of mineralization starting at 42.7-meters (21-meters from surface). Mineralization continued to a downhole depth of 102.2-meters. Elevated gold, silver, copper are recorded in the hole with elevated pathfinder elements arsenic, molybdenum and antimony. Across the 59.5-meter zone of mineralization gold values up to 1.1 g/t Au were recorded averaging 0.1 g/t Au. Silver values up to 25 g/t Ag were recorded averaging 2 g/t Ag. Copper values up to 0.2% Cu were recorded averaging 217 ppm. Arsenic values up to 2,360 ppm were recorded averaging 151 ppm. Mineralization remains open in all directions from the hole which is the northern most hole drilled to date across the property.

Infill Along the North Hill Trend

JES-24-90

The drillhole targeted an infill area 120-meters southeast of JES-24-79 along the North Hill Trend. The hole was drilled vertical to 100.7 meters depth. Two anomalous zones of mineralization were recorded with gold values up to 0.1 g/t Au and pathfinder arsenic up to 202 ppm. Elevated arsenic with gold was recorded at the very bottom of the hole indicating the potential for mineralization at depth.

North Extent of the Main Zone Trend

JES-24-89

The drillhole targeted the northwest extension of the Main Zone Trend where surface sampling is limited but thought to continue onto the expansion area. The hole was drilled at a 045 azimuth and 45-degree dip. Six separate anomalous intervals were recoded across a 96.1-meter zone starting at 19.8-meters down hole depth (10-meters from surface). Values up to 0.2 g/t Au, 8 g/t Ag, 0.3% Cu, 96 ppm As and 24 ppm Mo were recorded indicating that the mineralization system does continue. Surface sampling is underway to further evaluate the extension to the north. A summary of the drill results is provided in Table 1.

Plate 1. Technical Team initiating sampling across the expansion area. Rock chip and soil sampling is ongoing along with detailed geological mapping to define developing target areas. Surface sampling to date in the expansion area has returned up to 7.3 g/t Au and up to 1,225 g/t Ag.

About the Pilar Property

The Pilar Gold-Silver property has returned some of the regions best drill results. Coupled with encouraging gold and silver recovery results from metallurgical test work, Pilar is primed to be a potential near-term producer. Pilar is interpreted as a structurally controlled low-sulphidation epithermal system hosted in andesite rocks. Initially three primary zones of mineralization were identified on the original property from historic surface work and drilling and are referred to as the Main Zone, North Hill and 4-T. Each trend remains open to the southeast and north and new parallel zones have been discovered. Structural features and zones of mineralization within the structures follow an overall NW-SE trend of mineralization. Mineralization extends along a 1.2-km trend, only half of that trend has been drill tested so far. The Company has now expanded its interest in the area by consolidating 22 square-kilometers of highly prospective ground where it has already made significant surface discoveries.

Pilar Drill Highlights:

2022 Phase III Diamond Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 116.9m @ 1.2 g/t Au, including 10.2m @ 12 g/t Au and 23 g/t Ag 108.9m @ 0.8 g/t Au, including 9.4m @ 7.6 g/t Au and 5 g/t Ag 63.4m @ 0.6 g/t Au and 11 g/t Ag, including 29.9m @ 0.9 g/t Au and 18 g/t Ag

2021 Phase II RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 39.7m @ 1.0 g/t Au, including 1.5m @ 14.6 g/t Au 47.7m @ 0.7 g/t Au including 3m @ 5.6 g/t Au and 22 g/t Ag 29m @ 0.7 g/t Au 35.1m @ 0.7 g/t Au

2020 Phase I RC Drilling Highlights include ( all lengths are drilled thicknesses ): 94.6m @ 1.6 g/t Au, including 9.2m @ 10.8 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag; 41.2m @ 1.1 g/t Au, including 3.1m @ 6.0 g/t Au and 12 g/t Ag ; 24.4m @ 2.5 g/t Au and 73 g/t Ag, including 1.5m @ 33.4 g/t Au and 1,090 g/t Ag

15,000m of Historic Core & RC drilling. Highlights include: 21.0m @ 38.3 g/t Au and 38 g/t Ag 13.0m @ 9.6 g/t Au 9.0m @ 10.2 g/t Au and 46 g/t Ag

61.0m @ 0.8 g/t Au

Pilar Bulk Sample Summary:

62% Recovery of Gold Achieved Over 46-day Leaching Period

Head Grade Calculated at 1.9 g/t Au and 7 g/t Ag; Extracted Grade Calculated at 1.2 g/t Au and 3 g/t Ag

Bulk Sample Only Included Coarse Fraction of Material (+3/4" to +1/8")

Fine Fraction (-1/8") Indicates Rapid Recovery with Agitated Leach Agitated Bottle Roll Test Returned Rapid and High Recovery Results: 80% Recovery of Gold and 94% Recovery of Silver after Rapid 24-hour Retention Time



Additional Metallurgical Studies:

Gravity Recovery with Agitated Leach Results of Five Composite Samples Returned 95 to 99% Recovery of Gold 73 to 97% Recovery of Silver Includes the Recovery of 99% Au and 73% Ag from Drill Core Composite at 120-meter depth.



About Tocvan Ventures Corp.

Tocvan is a well-structured exploration and development company. Tocvan was created in order to take advantage of the prolonged downturn in the junior mining exploration sector, by identifying and negotiating interest in opportunities where management feels they can build upon previous success. Tocvan has approximately 51 million shares outstanding and is earning into two exciting opportunities in Sonora, Mexico. The Company has consolidated an attractive land position at its Pilar Gold-Silver Project where it holds 100% interests in over 21 square kilometers of prospective area and a majority ownership (51%) in a one square kilometer area shared with Colibri Resources. The Company also holds 100% interest in the Picacho Gold-Silver project in the Caborca Trend of northern Sonora, a trend host to some of the major gold deposits of the region. Management feels both projects represent tremendous opportunity to create shareholder value.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Samples were shipped for sample preparation to ALS Limited in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver. The ALS Hermosillo and North Vancouver facilities are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Gold was analyzed using 50-gram nominal weight fire assay with atomic absorption spectroscopy finish. Over limits for gold (>10 g/t), were analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Silver and other elements were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish. Over limit analyses for silver (>100 g/t) were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with ICP-AES finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's robust quality assurance / quality control protocol.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO for Tocvan Ventures Corp. and a qualified person ("QP") as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved.

These forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the speculative nature of the Company's business, the Company's formative stage of development and the Company's financial position. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

For more information, please contact:

TOCVAN VENTURES CORP.

Brodie A. Sutherland, CEO

820-1130 West Pender St.

Vancouver, BC V6E 4A4

403-829-9877

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Howard Group

Jeff Walker

VP Howard Group Inc.

403-221-0915

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All dollars are Canadian unless otherwise noted

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC) (OTCQB:RGCCF) (the "Company" or "Relevant Gold") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription agreement with Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") (NYSE:KGC),(TSX:K) in connection with a $1,530,000 private placement financing (the "Placement") of 5,100,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit . The Placement represents a separate follow-on financing to the previously completed private placement (see news releases dated May 2, and June 26, 2024).

The Placement is for 5,100,000 Units at a price of $0.30 per unit, with each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company and a one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. There are no finder's fees associated with this Placement.

After giving effect to the Placement, Kinross will hold approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a partially diluted basis. At closing, Relevant Gold and Kinross will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement reserving certain rights for Kinross, namely pro-rata participation in future financings, the ability to increase ownership to 19.9%, and the formation of a technical advisory committee comprised of two Kinross members and two Relevant Gold members.

"Kinross's strategic investment represents a strong vote of confidence in our team's Wyoming exploration vision and ability to execute in the field- we are thrilled to welcome them as a major shareholder and strategic partner," said Relevant Gold's CEO Rob Bergmann. "This investment marks a key milestone for Relevant, expanding our technical depth, strengthening our corporate structure and bolstering our treasury. We look forward to immediately leveraging this new relationship in our upcoming drilling program."

The Proceeds from the Placement are expected to be used to fund exploration activities at the Company's projects in Wyoming, USA, and for general working capital.

The Company anticipates closing the Placement shortly following receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (The "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Relevant Gold Corp.

Relevant Gold Corp. is a North American gold exploration company founded by experienced exploration geologists and operated by a highly respected team with a proven record of significant value creation for shareholders. Relevant Gold is focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery, and development of district-scale gold projects in the state of Wyoming - one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions in the United States and globally.

On behalf of Relevant Gold Corp.,

Rob Bergmann, Chief Executive Officer

More information

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information about Relevant Gold Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at www.relevantgoldcorp.com or contact Rob Bergmann, President and CEO, or Kristopher Jensen, Manager of Investor Relations, at 763-760-4886 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Historical Information

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 Relevant Gold Corp. ("Relevant" or "Relevant Gold" or "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. 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 forwardlooking 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 forwardlooking 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.

The scientific and technical contents of this release have been approved by Mr. Brian C. Lentz, CPG #11999, Chief Exploration Officer of the Company, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Lentz is not independent of the Company.
Ethiopian forces have committed "widespread attacks amounting to war crimes against medical professionals, patients, and health facilities" in the conflict-torn Amhara region, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.

The northern region was under a state of emergency until last month after fighting erupted there between federal forces and the Fano "self-defence" militia in August 2023.

In a 66-page report based on interviews with 58 people, including victims and eyewitnesses, global rights watchdog HRW said it had documented attacks by federal forces and a pro-government militia against "medical workers, healthcare facilities, and transports in at least 13 towns".

"Soldiers beat, arbitrarily arrested, and intimidated medical professionals for providing care to the injured and sick, including alleged Fano fighters," HRW said, adding that troops also "unlawfully attacked ambulances" and prevented hospitals from functioning.

"Federal forces have obstructed access to medical facilities, including by wrongfully arresting patients on mere suspicion of a Fano affiliation, causing widespread fear for those that may seek or need treatment," it added.

The rights group said that international humanitarian law offered "special protections to health facilities, medical professionals, patients, and ambulances".

But HRW deputy Africa director Laetitia Bader said Ethiopia's federal forces "operating with near impunity are unsurprisingly disregarding civilian lives by attacking medical facilities."

HRW noted that humanitarian agencies have struggled to operate in the region of 23 million people, with nine aid workers killed since fighting erupted, including four fatalities this year.

Media access to Amhara has also been heavily restricted, while the mandate of a UN commission of experts investigating atrocities in Ethiopia expired in October, leading to limited subsequent monitoring of rights abuses in the country, HRW said.

A report released last month by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that "Ethiopian federal forces and the Fano militia had been involved in numerous violations of international humanitarian law, resulting in over 2,000 civilian casualties in the Amhara region," HRW said.

Bader called for "much greater international scrutiny" of the rights situation in Ethiopia.

"So long as the government feels no pressure to hold abusive forces to account, such atrocities are likely to continue," she warned.

The violence in Amhara reignited concerns about Ethiopia's stability, months after a peace agreement was signed in November 2022 to end a two-year conflict in the neighbouring region of Tigray.

Amhara forces and the Fano supported Ethiopian troops during that war but fell out after Addis Ababa signed the 2022 peace deal, fuelling a sense of betrayal among the Amhara, who have a history of land disputes with the Tigray region.
Investigators in Germany and Sweden on Wednesday arrested eight suspects allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government over alleged participation in crimes against humanity in Syria, prosecutors in both countries said.

The suspects are accused of taking part in a "violent crackdown on a peaceful anti-government protest" in the Al-Yarmouk district in Damascus on July 13, 2012, Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said.

It said the four stateless Syrian Palestinians and Syrian national detained in Germany were "strongly suspected of killing and attempting to kill civilians, qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes".

It named the Syrian Palestinians as Jihad A., Mahmoud A., Sameer S. and Wael S. The Syrian national, identified as Mazhar J, is believed to have worked for the Syrian military intelligence service.

"They and other accessories specifically targeted the civilian protesters, shooting at them", resulting in six deaths and other serious injuries, the prosecutor said.

The war between Assad's troops and armed opposition groups, including Islamic State, erupted after the government repressed peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011.

It has killed more than half a million people, forced millions to flee their homes, and ravaged Syria's economy and infrastructure.

Wednesday's arrests took place as a result of work carried out by an investigation team named "Caesar" after a defector who worked as a photographer for Syrian military police.

In 2013 he smuggled more than 50,000 photographs out of Syria, many of them documenting the deaths of prisoners in detention centres or military hospitals.

- 'Severe and repeated' abuse -

German prosecutors said that those arrested in Sweden belonged to a pro-government militia which also participated in the crimes on July 13, 2012.

Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud, the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said the suspects were arrested thanks to "good cooperation with Germany, Eurojust and Europol".

German prosecutors say the four Syrian Palestinians also "physically abused civilians from Al Yarmouk severely and repeatedly" between mid-2012 and 2014, including at militia checkpoints on the outskirts of the district, inhabited predominantly by Palestinians.

Germany let in hundreds of thousands of Syrians during the 2015-16 refugee influx and has arrested several Syrians since on its soil over crimes committed in their country.

It has used the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows the prosecution of certain serious crimes -- regardless of where they took place -- to try Syrians over atrocities committed during the country's civil war.

One of the most high profile cases to be brought to trial was that of a former Syrian colonel who was found guilty in January 2022 of crimes against humanity committed in Damascus.

Last month a Swedish court acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the army's "indiscriminate attacks".

Former brigadier general Mohammed Hamo, 65, was one of the highest-ranking Syrian military officials to stand trial in Europe.
Investigators in Germany and Sweden on Wednesday arrested eight suspects allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government over alleged participation in crimes against humanity in Syria, prosecutors said.

The arrests, five in Germany and three in Sweden, represent the latest attempt to pursue justice for the victims of abuses committed in Syria's civil war.

The suspects detained on Wednesday are accused of taking part in a "violent crackdown on a peaceful anti-government protest" in the Al-Yarmouk district in Damascus on July 13, 2012, Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor's Office said.

It said the four stateless Syrian Palestinians and Syrian national detained in Germany were "strongly suspected of killing and attempting to kill civilians, qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes".

It named the Syrian Palestinians as Jihad A., Mahmoud A., Sameer S. and Wael S. and said that they were part of a pro-Assad militia called the "Free Palestine Movement" (FPM).

The Syrian national, identified as Mazhar J., is believed to have worked for Syrian military intelligence.

"They and other accessories specifically targeted the civilian protesters, shooting at them", resulting in six deaths and other serious injuries, the prosecutor said.

The war between Assad's troops and armed opposition groups, including Islamic State, erupted after the government repressed peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011.

It has killed more than half a million people, forced millions to flee their homes and ravaged Syria's economy as well as its infrastructure.

Wednesday's arrests took place as a result of work carried out by an investigation team named "Caesar" after a defector who worked as a photographer for Syrian military police.

In 2013 he smuggled more than 50,000 photographs out of Syria, many of them documenting the deaths of prisoners in detention centres or military hospitals.

- 'Severe and repeated' abuse -

German prosecutors said that those arrested in Sweden also belonged to the FPM and participated in the crimes on July 13, 2012.

Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud, the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said the suspects were arrested thanks to "good cooperation with Germany, Eurojust and Europol".

German prosecutors say the four Syrian Palestinians also "physically abused civilians from Al Yarmouk severely and repeatedly" between mid-2012 and 2014, including at militia checkpoints on the outskirts of the district, inhabited predominantly by Palestinians.

Mahmoud A. is accused of turning over one individual to Syrian military intelligence to be incarcerated and tortured.

Prosecutors also say that he threatened a woman at a checkpoint with rape and that he forced her "to pay with family jewels for the release of her minor son".

Three people arrested at a checkpoint in Yarmouk and turned over to military intelligence by Mahmoud A. and others were allegedly killed as part of "a scheduled mass execution" in April 2013.

Germany let in hundreds of thousands of Syrians during the 2015-16 refugee influx and has arrested several Syrians since on its soil over crimes committed in their country.

It has used the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows the prosecution of certain serious crimes -- regardless of where they took place -- to try Syrians over atrocities committed during the country's civil war.

One of the most high profile cases to be brought to trial was that of a former Syrian colonel who was found guilty in January 2022 of crimes against humanity committed in Damascus.

In recent years there have also been several investigations in Germany, Austria, Norway, France and Sweden targeting people suspected of crimes in Syria's civil war -- particularly those committed by pro-Assad forces.

Last month a Swedish court acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the army's "indiscriminate attacks".

Former brigadier general Mohammed Hamo, 65, was one of the highest-ranking Syrian military officials to stand trial in Europe.

Sweden was the first country to sentence a former Syrian soldier for war crimes in 2017.
Turkey's media regulator has withdrawn a radio station's licence after a guest talked about the "Armenian genocide" on air, officials said Wednesday.

Radio and television watchdog RTUK suspended Istanbul-based Acik Radyo from broadcasting for five days in May for the programme, which it said incited hatred.

The sanction came after a guest on a show in April called the 1915 killings of Armenians in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire "genocide" -- a term many historians agree on but which Turkey disputes.

RTUK board member Ilhan Tasci, from the opposition CHP party, criticised the decision. He said the licence was withdrawn because the station did not suspend broadcasts, though it did pay its fine.

Acik Radyo -- which has been broadcasting for three decades -- confirmed the withdrawal to AFP. It was still broadcasting Wednesday.

The Turkish Journalists' Union said RTUK's decision was a blow to freedom of speech.

"RTUK should be an autonomous institution and should immediately overturn this decision," it said on X.

Armenia says Ottoman forces massacred and deported more than 1.5 million Armenians during World War I between 1915 and 1917.

Around 30 countries have recognised the killings as genocide, a charge vehemently rejected by Turkey. Ankara admits nonetheless that up to 500,000 Armenians were killed in fighting, massacres or by starvation during mass deportations from eastern Anatolia.

rba-fo/fg

EMPIRE COMPANY
In a rare and unanticipated move, Han So Hee, the beloved South Korean actress, surprised fans by uploading a serene video on her personal channel on July 3rd.

The video, accompanied only by the soothing melody of Rio's "Art Museum," offered viewers a glimpse into a simple yet enchanting moment of her daily life.

In the footage, Han So Hee is seen riding a village bus alone, gazing out of the window with a contemplative expression.

Despite being a recognizable figure, passengers on the bus approached her with curiosity and warmth, engaging in conversations and sharing smiles as she occasionally glanced their way.

The video captures a candid Han So Hee enjoying the quietude and the cool evening breeze, seemingly unfazed by the attention around her.

This unguarded moment has resonated deeply with her fans, who have admired her down-to-earth demeanor and appreciated this intimate peek into her life beyond the spotlight.

HAN SO HEE & JEON JONGSEO TOGETHER?? NO ONE'S READY 



"confirmed to lead a new OTT drama 'Project Y', depicts the desire of two friends of the same age to steal 8 billion gold bars and leave the scene for the last time." pic.twitter.com/7Z1s1Q5Jnp  LE GARCON VULTURES (@SaintSeverino) April 29, 2024

Han so hee as yeo dakyung in the world of the married (2020) pic.twitter.com/84rieijmYa    (@jooikslvr) February 19, 2023

Han So Hee, known for her roles in popular dramas such as "The World of the Married," "My Name," and "Nevertheless," is currently anticipating the release of her upcoming movie "Heavy Snow," and has confirmed her participation in the highly-anticipated drama "Project Y."

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Joan Cabigas.
Park Shin Hye made heads turn as the South Korean star gave off a strong queen vibe, gracing the cover of Vogue Hong Kong.

For the publication's July 2024 issue, the "Memories of the Alhambra" star once again wowed the fans with her striking beauty, showcasing effortless grace and elegance.

In a post shared by Vogue Hong Kong, Park Shin Hye dons power outfits in collaboration with Yves Saint Laurent and Bulgari, where she also serves as their global brand ambassador.

On social media, fans can't help but gush over the top star's impeccable visuals ahead of her upcoming return to the small screen.

So happy to see you again on Magazine...

Indeed QUEEN

beautiful, lovely, picturesque, magnificent, fine, fancy, gorgeous, glamorous, shining,...



Park shin hye x BVLGARI#ParkshinhyexBVLGARI#ParkShinHye #VogueHongkong pic.twitter.com/xg5tAf1A6k  matchawin (@matchawinkatui) July 3, 2024

On the other hand, the 34-year-old beauty talks about her return to the industry, her new job as a mom and wife, as well as her plans in the industry.

Park Shin Hye's Two-Decade Career

Starting out as a teen star, Park Shin Hye has appeared in various dramas, playing young versions of the lead star and eventually headlining her own K-dramas and movies.

However, according to her, she never dreamed of becoming an actress and "started acting by chance."

"There have been many things I had to give up in life while being an actress, so I've never doubted whether this path was the right one, and I also don't think I've had a moment difficult enough to reconsider my path as an actress," she explained.

Park Shin Hye also admitted that, after realizing that acting is truly her passion and destiny, she has found herself "missing being in front of the camera."

With a slew of K-dramas and movies under her belt, Park Shin Hye says that she has learned a lot about her characters.

According to her, the most important part of it is to have "good people" surround you.

"In a drama, there are people who help the main character, people who harass them, unwanted situations occur, and sometimes misunderstandings pile up with good people, but in the end, sincerity and truth always come through, so I think it's important not to lose good people."

The actress also added that it's these things that make her feel grateful for the people who are around her.

Park Shin Hye on Her New Drama, 'The Judge From Hell'

After her return through the medical K-drama "Doctor Slump" with Park Hyung Sik, Park Shin Hye is set to make a comeback this year with a highly anticipated romance crime series.

Joined by "Love in Contract: star Kim Jae Young, the female top star transforms as a vicious judge named Kang Bit Na in the SBS K-drama "The Judge From Hell."

According to Park Shin Hye, her character, Kang Bit Na, is something that she has never played before.

"Her way of expressing herself is different from the roles I've done so far; she likes very flashy things and has a different personality, so that's what attracted me to this role."

While drama officials have yet to announce the confirmed premiere date, rumors sparked that "The Judge From Hell" will debut sometime in September 2024.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
The Japanese adaptation of "True Beauty" is getting hate comments from netizens after outlets confirmed the plan for the drama to be released.

First premiered in 2020, starring Moon Ga Young, Cha Eun Woo, Hwang In Yeop, and Park Yoo Na, the rom-com fantasy K-drama, which is also based on a popular webtoon, was well loved by viewers at the time.

The story centers around a high school student who gets bullied and discriminated against because of her looks.

To hide her features, she conceals her imperfections through makeup, and with her skill, she transforms into a girl with goddess-like beauty.

She then befriends two fellow high schoolmates. One comes from a wealthy family but has a cold demeanor, while the other is an aggressive student full of talents.

At the time of its broadcast, the 16-episode series was among the most talked-about K-dramas, despite not getting a double-digit rating on viewership.

Interestingly, it was also the drama that made Moon Ga Young and the rest of the "True Beauty" cast skyrocket their fame globally.

This might also be the reason why Japanese broadcast networks expressed their interest in remaking the series, hence the upcoming adaptation.

'True Beauty' Japanese Adaptation Selects KoKi as the Lead Star

Following the news surrounding the Japanese remake, reports cited that Koki, a model and songwriter, whose real name is Kimura Mitsuki, will be headlining the "True Beauty" remake.

Interestingly, the upcoming J-drama will be her debut on the small screen after starting her acting career in 2019 with "Eternal Love," followed by the horror film "Ox-Head Village" in 2022.

Fans are thrilled to see KoKi portray a challenging character as she transforms into a completely different person through her role in "True Beauty."

However, amid this, the Japanese adaptation has been receiving mixed reactions from the public.

'True Beauty' Japanese Remake Gets Online Hate Following the Announcement of the Female Lead

On social media, netizens expressed their honest opinion regarding the upcoming remake of "True Beauty."

Unfortunately, not everyone is thrilled to see the rom-com get a Japanese adaptation, with others pointing out that it didn't deserve the hype.

True beauty does not deserve all the hype, the first few episodes were but the series got messy when it continued. There are tons of other manhwa's that deserve adaptations more than True Beauty   BamBee (@BamBee_arts) July 2, 2024

no hate on the actress but d*mn I'm so tired of seeing "True Beauty"   Gyeol's #1 simp (@rkive_twt) July 1, 2024

Why is this series so popular? Like I am sure there are better shojo Webtoon?  WARRIOR IS BACK! WE GON ROCK THIS! UH HUH!  (@Maoubhao) July 1, 2024

Other than "True Beauty," several K-dramas were remade in different countries.

Japan also did Park Seo Joon's "Itaewon Class," which they called "Roppongi Class," as well as the iconic "My Love From the Star," which had Japanese, Filipino, and Chinese adaptations.

As for Hollywood, Lee Jung Jae's "Il Mare" had an international version through "The Lake House." The same goes for the hit movie "Sassy Girl," which also had the same name.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - 187 protestors who were arrested for taking part in the anti-government protests on Tuesday have been freed on bond.

According to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), minors were granted a Sh10,000 bond each, while adults received a Sh50,000 bond each.

The organizations President Faith Odhiambo stated that the minors will be held at Capitol Hill police station whereas the adults will be released once they provide information about their close family and relatives.

The court has granted each of the children arrested a personal bond of Sh.10,000 and has ordered that they be held at Capitol Hill police station separate from the adults as they provide details of their parents in accordance with the bond terms, Odhiambo stated on X.

The adults were each given a Personal bond of Sh.50,000 and will be released after providing details of their close family and relatives, she added.

She pointed out that to expedite the release process and prevent delays by law enforcement, the court set a strict deadline for the police to record all relevant details of the arrested individuals and secure their release in compliance with the court orders.

To prevent the recent habit of police frustrating release processes even after court orders are issued, the court gave the police a deadline of 10 am by which time all relevant details of the arrested persons ought to have been recorded and their release secured, Odhiambo said.

Odhiambo remarked that the court will address the issue of protecting the children involved in todays (Thursday) session.

The matter will be mentioned tomorrow for directions on how children can be given protection as most are orphaned street children, she highlighted.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Detectives from DCI HQS Homicide Directorate have arrested two suspects believed to be architects of terror, who orchestrated the gruesome murder of Tanzanian businessman Gerald Raphael Ramale of Eastleigh12th Street, 2nd Avenue.

Dennis Abiola alias Wolfan alongside his partner in crime Christine Moraa who doubles as his girlfriend, were arrested at Entarara-Loitoktok area on the Kenya-Tanzania border.

On the fateful night of March 24, 2024, the deceased was found by his nephew lying in a pool of blood at his house, dead.

He had been stabbed multiple times by the suspects, who stole his two mobile phones, a Samsung Galaxy S10 and an Oppo Reno 8T.

Like bloodhounds on a scent, detectives traced the elusive culprits to their Loitoktok hideout, ultimately apprehending them and recovering the deceased's phones.

The suspects have been arraigned and custodial orders granted to the police until July 7 when the case will be mentioned.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is now ready and willing to be sacked for letting President William Ruto down.

Speaking during an interview yesterday, Duale urged Ruto to take stern action against Cabinet Secretaries he felt had let him down, even if it is him.

According to Duale, he was ready to resign in case the Head of State felt that he was among the non-performing ministers.

However, he called on the president to first review the performance of all the Cabinet Secretaries and make the final decision on whom to dismiss and retain.

If the President feels I have let him down as a Minister of Defence, I want him to do the right thing, Duale stated.

Not only start with me and all the rest who have let him down in the interest of the Kenyans and tell us to step aside, I will have a new team. I am ready, he added.

The CS observed that it was the right time for the Head of State to make changes, especially within the Cabinet.

While exuding confidence, CS Duale reiterated his commitment to working for the people of Kenya, noting that despite serving in different capacities within the government, he had never let anyone down.

"Anybody he feels is baggage and he feels should come out of the bus he is driving, he should do it, including me, Aden Duale," CS Duale insisted.

"I have served the people of Kenya as a member of Parliament, as a leader of a majority, and for the last two years as the Cabinet Minister for Defence," he added.

Duale's sentiments come barely hours after senators called for an overhaul of President William Rutos Cabinet.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4,2024 - Journalist and activist, Hanifa Aden, has urged the young generation in Kenya, commonly known as Gen Z, not to listen to President William Ruto, who will be on X(Twitter) space on Friday.

Hanifa, who commands the attention of Genz, which has been demonstrating for the past three weeks, claims that Ruto has paid traitors to host him on Twitter Space to lie to the youths, just as he did with Mama Mbogas and mkokoteni guys during his presidential campaign.

Anyone who will host Ruto and his people have been paid. Be warned, Hanifa wrote on X.

Ruto, through his state house operatives led by Dennis Itumbi and Farouk Kibet, has reportedly hired some freeloaders on Twitter who will host him on space on Twitter on Friday and purport to be speaking with the Kenyan youth who are tired of his corrupt and dictatorial regime.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Senators have urged President William Ruto to fire his entire Cabinet due to current challenges facing Kenya.

Led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, Senators have made calls to disband the office of Prime Cabinet Secretary, currently held by CS Musalia Mudavadi, among other significant recommendations.

Addressing the Senate yesterday, Khalwale criticised the inclusion of offices like that of the First and Second Ladies outside constitutional bounds.

Mr President, dissolve and reconstitute the Cabinet. Disband offices like the Prime Cabinet Secretary that are not constitutionally mandated in Kenya," Khalwale stated.

At the same time, Khalwale also advised the president to fire his economic advisor David Ndii for misadvising him.

Senator Enoch Wambua echoed these sentiments, advocating for a reduction in the number of cabinet secretaries from 21 to 14, citing unsustainable government expenditure.

"As a show of listening to the people's concerns, reduce the number of cabinet secretaries to 14," he urged during the Senate session.

"Why do we need 21 Cabinet Secretaries for a population of less than 60 million, especially with an economy that cannot support such expenditure?"

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Former Muranga County CEC, Paul Macharia, is reportedly swimming in millions after looting public funds during Mwangi Wa Irias administration.

Macharias proximity to former Governor Mwangi Wa Iria, who is facing corruption charges, enabled him to loot and stash the money abroad.

It is now emerging that he bought a house worth $ 2,000,000(Ksh 258 Million) in Washington State in the United States of America.

He purchased the house a few months ago using proceeds of corruption.

See photo.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua appears to have convinced the young generation, commonly known as Gen Z, to call off the anti-government protests they have been organizing for the past three weeks.

This is after he pleaded with youthful protesters to call off the ongoing demonstrations, agonizing over how violent and destructive the protests have become.

According to Gachagua, criminal entities are now using the demonstrations as a disguise to conduct criminal activities, resulting in the disruption of businesses and the destruction of property.

"What started as peaceful protests have unfortunately been infiltrated and hijacked by criminals who are now engaged in looting and creating mayhem," Gachagua said during his sister's burial in Laikipia County on Wednesday.

"As a parent, I appeal to my children, my sons and daughters, to listen to us as your parents. We want to plead with you to call off the protests so that criminals do not hijack them."

Gachagua further urged Kenyan youth to agree to a sit-down with President William Ruto, who he says has shown goodwill by seeking an audience with them.

Surprisingly, Gen Z called off the protests on Thursday after Gachagua's plea.

The second in command spoke even as the National Intelligence Service (NIS) continued to accuse him and former President Uhuru Kenyatta of sponsoring the Gen Z protests.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has pleaded with Gen Z to call off protests and allow President William Ruto to engage them as he has indicated.

Speaking in Laikipia during the funeral ceremony for his late sister Leah Wangari, Gachagua appealed to the youth to give dialogue a chance, saying Ruto had listened to their concerns and would subsequently address them.

"Now that you have been heard, a mechanism is being worked on how the issues that you think need to be addressed will be addressed," Gachagua stated.

At the same time, Gachagua assured the country, especially the Gen Zs, that Rutos government would deal decisively with goons who have been infiltrating the recent demonstrations to cause chaos, but asked them to call off the protests first.

"Once you call off the protests, then our security agencies will be in a position to deal firmly and decisively with criminals," he added.

Gachagua further noted that the Kenyan Gen-Z had started a notable initiative by showing interest in proper governance.

The Deputy President's rallying call falls on the backdrop of the protests witnessed in different parts of the country on Tuesday.

The protests, which occurred across various towns in the country were marred with violence and destruction of property as goons took advantage to loot and vandalize property.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024  Gen Zs are on their own if they go on the streets to demonstrate against President William Ruto and his government.

This is after volunteer medics withdrew from the protests, citing their safety concerns after Tuesday's demos which turned violent after paid goons infiltrated the peaceful protests.

The volunteer medics, who have been providing free aid to injured protestors, vowed never to return to the streets again.

The group, Medics for Kenya, was formed by a coalition of doctors, nurses, clinical officers, psychologists, nutritionists, paramedics, interns, and students across the nation during the anti-Finance Bill protests that have now entered their third week.

In a statement released online, the group cited increasing violence and the safety of their volunteers as the primary reasons for their decision to halt services.

The protests have morphed into an anti-government movement, becoming more violent by the day.

The withdrawal of Medics for Kenya's aid services came just hours after protests in Nairobi and other parts of the country turned chaotic.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Flashy City businessman Khalif Kairo has confirmed that his much-hyped relationship with social media influencer Cera Imani hit a snag.

Speaking in an interview with Dr. Ofweneke on TV47, Kairo said he is the one who messed up, prompting Cera to dump him.

I think I'm the one who messed up. I agree that I was the problem, he said.

Kairo rubbished claims that he was chasing clout when he first announced that he had broken up with Cera.

It was real... you know me, I don't do that stuff. I don't do clout chasing.

"I've been in very many relationships, it's just that this one was very public, said Kairo.

He further denied that Cera fell in love with him because of money.

He described her as a very principled lady who is not easily swayed by material things.

You know it is not all girls who are obsessed and enticed by these material things and money.

"Cera is a very principled lady, you know I know her so she is not someone who is with you because of the money or anything.

"Money also wouldn't be a course for breakup, he added.

Yaani Kairo aliachwa na Cera Imani?

What do Women Really Want?pic.twitter.com/AVkV3Qvl3R  Omwamba  (@omwambaKE) July 4, 2024

Cera seems to have moved on after breaking up with Kairo.

She was pictured in Diani being entertained by a man rumoured to be her new lover.









The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Fred Shieni, the brother to Eric Shieni, whose life was cut short by a sniper during anti-finance bill protests, has told President William Ruto that his brother was not a criminal.

Speaking during Erics burial in Narok, Fred said his brother was exercising his democratic rights while unarmed when he was shot dead outside Parliament buildings.

My brother was not a criminal. He was a University student and a smart guy. He just wanted to be heard, Fred, a staff at DHL said.

We are not trying to overthrow your government. We are trying to address the issues that we feel dont favour us, he added.

He told President Ruto that Gen Z youths will not relent in their fight against bad governance until the government listens to them.





Watch the video.

A message to you @WilliamsRuto from Fred Shieni , brother to Eric Shieni whose life was cut short by a gvt bullet. He was not a criminal , just a citizen exercising his rights using his voice ,you failed us #RutoMustGo #justiceforshieni pic.twitter.com/1MrUvyYmWL  debranashipae (@debraanashipae) July 3, 2024

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Flamboyant businessman Maina Wakabura was on Wednesday grilled by a state intelligence team over links to financing anti-government protests in Nakuru.

Wakabura was accused of sponsoring goons to infiltrate the peaceful anti-finance bill protests to create mayhem and destabilize the government.

He was grilled by a team of DCI officers and intelligence officers from NIS for over two hours.

However, he denied the allegations levelled against him.

Wakabura is a close ally of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

They have been spotted together several times in public functions.

Gachagua has been accused of funding goons to infiltrate the peaceful protests through proxies.

NIS boss Noordin Haji reportedly gave intelligence reports to President Ruto that Gachagua and former President Uhuru Kenyatta were funding goons through proxies to cause chaos during the protests, with the aim of destabilizing the government.

Below are photos of the Nakuru-based businessman accused of sponsoring goons during protests.

























The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Friday, July 4, 2024 - Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader, Raila Odinga, has emphasised the need for action to be taken against the infiltration of Gen Z protests by goons.

According to Odinga, the goons terrorized demonstrators and he termed it as a betrayal of the youth.

What started as an expression of disaffection with the government by young Kenyans through peaceful protests and presentation of petitions to authorities degenerated into chaos and mayhem yesterday, he said.

Odinga highlighted that individuals who were not part of the original Gen Z protesters hijacked the movement, leading to looting, attacks on innocent citizens, and destruction of critical infrastructure.

He also mentioned reports of innocent women being harassed and assaulted during the protests.

He emphasized that the actions of these criminals posing as protestors were vastly different from the peaceful demonstrations led by the Gen Zs.

He further condemned police brutality against peaceful protestors.

I extend deep sympathy to the families whove suffered at the hands of looters posing as Gen Z protestors, innocent people whove seen their business premises broken into, their products looted, he said.

He underscored that the original purpose of the protests was to address injustices in the country peacefully and educate others on the effectiveness of civil protests.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has spilled the beans on the real faces behind the push to overthrow President William Ruto using the young people, especially the Gen Zs.

Speaking in an interview, Duale claimed that the Kenyan Gen Zs are not behind the slogan 'Ruto Must Go', but some unscrupulous vultures who want a regime change.

He sensationally claimed that Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, lawyer Miguna Miguna, and a group of people, were behind the slogan.

Ruto must go slogan is not a Gen Z slogan. It is Kalonzo Musyoka, it is Kioni, it is Miguna, it is a traditional cabal group of people who are not Gen Zs who have not recovered and cannot wait for 2027, Duale remarked.

The CS further claimed that those behind the slogan were looking for a shortcut to get into power, maintaining that the Constitution does allow that.

Duale argued that they were the same people who claimed before the August 2022 General Elections that President William Ruto would not become Head of State.

"They even feel that since Raila is going to AU, they dont have a chance in 2027, and in their wildest dreams, they feel there is a shortcut to change William Ruto.

"The Constitution 2010 does not envisage that. You cannot even tell an MCA that he must go, Duale stated.

The CS went on to assert that some politicians were behind the anti-government protests and promised to release the names in due course for their prosecution.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Nairobi county governor Johnson Sakaja has dismissed reports linking him to the hiring of goons to loot businesses in Nairobi during the anti-government protests organised by Gen Z.

Sakaja is among politicians who have been heavily linked to the hiring of goons to counter the Gen Z protests.

But speaking on Thursday, Sakaja said one of the people seen burning City Hall works in the office of a Member of Parliament.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Sakaja demanded that the MP and his aide be exposed so the rule of law can take its course.

"Let the politician and MP who sent them be known," he said.

He simultaneously denied claims that he facilitated goons who infiltrated Gen Z demos on Tuesday.

The county boss said he was at the Coast with his cabinet and could not have planned such activities.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
This is the chopper that Head of Public Service, FELIX KOSKEI, reportedly uses to fly to work in Nairobi from his Nandi home every day using taxpayers money (PHOTOs).




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has recommended stringent austerity measures, including budget cuts and concessional allocations for legislators.

Speaking during a Senate session yesterday, the ODM lawmaker noted that the budget cuts would be a relief to Kenyans who are currently demanding accountability from the parliamentarians.

Among the budget cuts recommended by the legislator include the toll fee allocation to some of the senators including him, which caters to his expense when using the expressway.

According to Sifuna, his current toll fee allowance stood at Ksh377,000, an amount that the lawmaker termed outrageous and unnecessary.

When I became the deputy minority whip, I was allocated a GK vehicle, on the first day that I used that car to go home, I passed through the expressway, and I was shocked at the amount of money that was on my ETC card," Sifuna narrated.

"As of this morning when I used the car to come here, there is Ksh377,000 on my ETC on the vehicle that I had been given by parliament. I honestly do not need such an amount of money, he added.

The Nairobi senator went ahead and urged legislators to express high levels of integrity especially when approving budget allocations for themselves.

Sifuna also rejected the proposed salary increment for him and other State Officers by the SRC.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, July 4, 2024 - 27-year-old University of Nairobi student Eric Shieni has been laid to rest at his familys home in Narok.

Shieni was shot dead by a sniper outside Parliament buildings during the anti-finance bill protests.

A postmortem report showed that he had been killed by a single shot to the head that raptured his brain.

Shienis brilliance with numbers fired up his ambition for a stellar career in finance, promising his family that he would one day become the Treasury CS in Kenya that seals all corruption loopholes.

He was due to graduate this coming September and had concluded his CPA studies that had made him a fully baked accountant.

His first-born brother Meshack Leshan - whom he lived with in South B - said that he spoke to Shieni at 1:25pm on the phone and he told him he was protesting in town but he asked him to withdraw and go back to the house.

When he tried to reach him at 2pm, the phone was not going through.

I told him to go back to the house because he had protested enough and he agreed.

"At 2pm, he was unreachable and his girlfriend later confirmed that he was no more, said his brother.

In the days running up to June 25, Shieni often discussed the contentious Finance Bill 2024 with his family, telling them This one will finish you guys completely.

Leshan said Shieni would analyse the bill to the family because he had read it and understood it very well.

Below are photos of his burial.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.




Thursday, July 4, 2024 - Azimio Leader Raila Odinga has challenged President William Ruto to stop talking and start acting on the sponsors of the goons that caused mayhem during the Gen Zs protests on Tuesday.

In a statement, Raila called on Ruto to immediately probe the destruction of property and robbery incidents witnessed during the Tuesday protests.

On Tuesday, the ODM leader accused Ruto and his administration of reluctance to deal with the suspects who caused mayhem.

According to Baba, Rutos government had enough information about the sponsors of the ongoing demonstrations but had chosen not to take action against them.

According to him, the protests witnessed on Tuesday involving vandalism and robbery differed from what was witnessed at the start of the protests when Gen Zs were in complete control.

While expressing his stance on the chaotic protests, Raila warned the perpetrators to halt their activities or face dire consequences.

For thugs to hijack the protests and turn them into mayhem against innocent Kenyans amounts to a double betrayal of the youth. The bad manners have to be stopped, Raila declared.

People who are not the Gen Z that started the initial protests hijacked it, looted businesses, attacked innocent Kenyans, and destroyed critical infrastructure.

Raila condemned the violence caused by hired goons, saying they should never be allowed to continue with their barbaric activities again.

Raila's remarks come barely a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki put on notice criminal gangs posing as peaceful protesters with intentions of invading public and private property.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Tradition comes from the Latin word tradere, meaning to transmit or hand over. In contrast, the word academia is derived from the Latin phrase academia (Greek:  or Akademia), which refers to Platos Academy  a school residing by olive trees where teachers and learners gathered to educate each other and share knowledge through undefined curricula of readings, lectures, debates, and discussions. Traditional academia, then, etymologically describes the passing down of knowledge through similar methods done by our ancestors. In academic medicine, this tradition has remained centered around physician-pupil relationships (even since medicines earliest days), but the appearance of this relationship and, consequentially, the delivery of academic practices and patient care have been continually changing for thousands of years.

Over the last half-century, traditional academic practices in Western civilizations (like the United States) and the morphology of the physician-pupil relationship have been largely focused on three educational methodologies. First, attending live didactics, where pupils (whether medical students, residents, or fellows) step away from clinical obligations during dedicated, protected periods to physically congregate in designated rooms. Here, they gather alongside their mentors or guest speakers (e.g., invited faculty from a different university) to engage in a series of weekly readings, lectures, debates, or discussions reminiscent of Platos Academy. Second, exploring print textbooks or journal articles, which many consider to be gold standards of medical information synthesis since physician peers frequently scrutinize these resources to ensure accuracy, validity, and appropriateness. Third, and finally, meeting at national academic conferences, where physicians and pupils from institutions throughout the country (or world) flock together for shared collegiality and commonplace.

For many physicians, particularly those who have been in practice for the greater half of their lifetimes, these educational methods have summarized their core academic means of pruning and refining their pupils for lives as fully independent faculty colleagues after training. However, since the turn of the 21st century, (1) advancements in technology (including the Internet, smartphone applications, and artificial intelligence), (2) mediosocioeconomic climate shifts (i.e., rising physician shortages, inequitable public access to quality and affordable health care, and increased costs of medical education and living without adequately adjusted pay), and (3) transitioning viewpoints of younger generations of pupils regarding lifework balance have all challenged the delivery of these decades- and centuries-long traditional academic practices. Systemic flaws in traditional academia have continued to accumulate without prompt response or resolution by policymakers or academic leadership, resulting in generational and cultural discordance toward how medical education, physician-pupil relationships, and, ultimately, patient care should be carried out.

In reality, many live lectures are boring and lengthy, numerous textbooks and journal articles are cumbersome and costly to explore, and national academic conferences often become subpar networking opportunities for pupils due to financial and political barriers (i.e., expensive to attend or present at, not conducive to professional development and career advancement). When in-person activities were largely halted because of social distancing restrictions brought on by the coronavirus-2019 pandemic, these flaws were spotlighted  they could not be hidden or masked any longer. Medical educators and education programs worldwide were forced to adapt and implore innovative virtual, remote strategies to maintain physician-pupil relationships and a sense of academia. Thus, (1) live lectures were moved to remote broadcasting sites like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, (2) educators created video recordings and supplied them to learners for independent study, (3) an influx of free online textbook-style web pages and resource guides were created to improve worldwide accessibility to medical knowledge, and (4) physician-pupil networking previously performed largely at national academic conferences was increasingly supplemented by flexible, online communication applications like social media.

Now with the widespread return to in-person activities after the conclusion of this pandemic, we as an academic medical community find ourselves at a critical inflection point. Either resume back to the way things were before the pandemic  and, with this, re-normalize traditional academia  or use lessons learned from our years of social isolation and technological improvements during this pandemic to make medical education conducive to the modern demands of 21st-century health care and beyond. I, like many, favor the latter: we need to redefine academic medicine since the traditional academia of the former has had its day. The time has come to move the delivery of medical education forward to ensure mainstreamed medical knowledge creation and dissemination, physician-pupil relationships, and patient-centered care permanently.

You see, traditional academia is not dying; its evolving.

Today, we can pick up our smartphones at any time, log onto popular social media applications like X (formerly Twitter), and, in seconds, post, like, and share bits of medical knowledge with any physician or pupil in the world for free. Others can engage with these posts and share relevant literature, their experiences, or additional thoughts in reply in real-time. If we have invigorating ideas that we want to pursue and publish, we can consult our peers online, via email, or using chat-based applications like WhatsApp (of Meta) for transparent and fast review without needing to wait months or years to advance medical knowledge. If we are stuck on challenging cases and in the middle of busy clinics or hospital schedules, we can go on our smartphones or laptops and quickly peruse reliable medical web pages to get answers to questions we need fast without sacrificing vital time necessary for superior patient care. We can even remotely attend sensational academic conferences or participate in lively, virtual didactics and still be at home without needing to be away from our families or personal needs longer than we already do as physicians (and pupils).

All of these practices can be maintained and blended with prior traditions. We can implore the best of both worlds in todays academia of improved time and cost flexibility that comes with virtual means and continued human bonding that comes with in-person activities. New, innovative traditions can be strengthened, made more enjoyable, and conducive to what pupils need now to be successful in their careers while having the information they continually need available to do so. Physicians, and the entire establishment of medical education, cannot keep pace with how fast knowledge is expanding. Physician burnout has become a public health emergency and affects all generations; pupils continue to face significant rates of maladaptive mental health crises related to job stress and pressures to be successful with less financial support, and patients throughout the world continue to suffer because we as an academic medical community  like all of humankind  continue to resist this evolution because of uncomfortable feelings or biases.

Academia can be both exhilarating and affordable, taxing and efficient, and bendable and firm, all at the same time. Physicians and pupils worldwide need to mutually come together within their respective institutions and online communities and meet each other halfway now to improve medical educations future. Excuses no longer exist or can be made an option. Our patients and future generations of pupils need this now more than ever. Just as was done during the times of Platos Academy and throughout the thousands of years afterward, we must continue the evolution of academia. New traditions are upon us; lets embrace them.

Casey Paul Schukow is a pathology resident.
Local companies and other key players in the oil and gas sector have been urged to make the most of the ongoing 90DaysofOilandGas campaign that is meant to showcase prospects in the countrys Oil and Gas sector.

The annual campaign launched earlier by the Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) is running between June 4th August 30th, 2024, under the theme; Ugandas Journey to the First Oil in the Face of a Just Energy Transition.

According to the UCMP Chief Executive Officer Humphrey Asiimwe, the 4th edition of the campaign is intended to bring together oil and gas sector players to spotlight key sector projects and activities ahead of the First Oil in 2025, amidst the global energy transition debate.

Asiimwe thus encourages companies to register in the National Suppliers Database to benefit from the National Content framework. He also urges Ugandans to register in the National Oil and Gas Talent Register to tap job opportunities that come with the nexus between oil and gas sector developments and the global energy transition.

As the country anxiously awaits the first oil in 2025 and continues to see more investments in the sector at all levels, The 90 Days of Oil and Gas Media Campaign 4th Edition comes in handy to spotlight the nexus between oil and gas sector developments and the global energy transition debate, he said in a press statement.

He adds the campaign also offers space for sector players to update the country on the progress of the oil and gas sector projects ahead of the first oil in 2025, showcase sector players response to Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) requirements, as well provide a platform for the government and its partners to check the sectors response to the international ESG standards

According to the UCMP, out of 6 billion barrels of oil that were discovered in Albertine Graben, 1.36 billion barrels are recoverable, with over $15b expected to be invested in the sector in the next 5 years.

With sustainable exploitation of oil and gas, it is anticipated that Ugandas GDP will significantly be boosted through sectoral linkages and related opportunities to sector players, he added.

One of the expected outcomes from the campaign is shared knowledge on the current status of the oil and gas sector ahead of the first oil in 2025.

Key participants in the campaign include media representatives, development partners, oil companies, project-affected communities, international contractors and cultural institutions and leaders among others.
By Winfred Watenya

The second consignment of 80,000 metric tons of diesel from Kuwait is expected to arrive at Mombasa Port today.

The first fuel-laden ship arrived yesterday as the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) implemented the sole importation of petroleum (fuel) mandate.

The two ships consignment is the maiden delivery as UNOC implements the sole importation mandate. The first ship arrived from Jebel-Ali, UAE with 58,000 metric tons of petrol.

Following the Petroleum Supply (Amendment) Act, 2023, UNOC is now responsible for importation of all petroleum products (fuel) thereafter supplied to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

According to Tony Otoa, the companys Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, the fuel will be discharged into the Kenya Pipeline Company infrastructure, delivering it to Eldoret, Kisumu and Nakuru in Kenya.

Fuel tankers will thereafter deliver it to Uganda and should be available next week.

UNOC is working with Oil Marketing Companies, which will routinely forward their demand by placing orders. The relationship between UNOC & OMCs is facilitated by Supply and Purchase Agreements, said Mr Otoa in a press statement.

UNOC is additionally working with its partner to ensure the availability of buffer stocks to be used in case of supply disruptions. Regular supply is expected to lead to stability in the market. UNOC will continue to ensure supplies via Tanzania as an alternative route, he added.

UNOC is a limited liability company wholly owned by the Government of Uganda mandated to handle the States commercial interests in the petroleum sub-sector and to ensure that the resource is exploited in a sustainable manner.
China stays committed to opening-up to promote reform, development and innovation

10:08, July 04, 2024 By Ren Zhongping ( People's Daily

In its modernization drive, China has made new and constant achievements in reform and development through opening up.

In May 2024, Tesla broke ground on another mega factory in the Lingang new area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The process from business negotiation to contract signing took just one month. Such a rapid speed would not have been possible without the support of a continuously improved business environment.

Freight train X8157 departs from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province, bound for Malaszewicze, Poland, on May 25, 2024, marking a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000. (People's Daily Online/Tang Zhenjiang)

China has implemented multiple measures to improve its business environment and all these efforts highlight the pioneering spirit of China's pilot free trade zones. For instance, Chinas pilot free trade zones have introduced the first negative list for foreign investment and pioneered the reform of the commercial registration system. They have also seen the establishment of the first wholly foreign-owned public fund company and the first wholly foreign-owned automobile manufacturing enterprise.

China is speeding up the development of its 22 pilot free trade zones, and the Hainan Free Trade Port has already set sail.

China firmly believes that opening up brings progress while isolation results in backwardness. It remains firmly committed to advancing high-standard opening up to promote reform, development and innovation, and works to build an open world economy.

China has advanced a broader agenda of opening up across more areas and in greater depth, from implementing pre-establishment national treatment plus a negative list for foreign investment to expanding the globally-oriented network of high-standard free trade areas. China is opening its door wider and wider to the outside world, which further drives its own development.

China's economic growth over the past 40 years has been achieved with a commitment to opening-up. In the same vein, high-quality development of China's economy in the future can only be guaranteed with greater openness.

Containers are handled at an international land port in Nankang district, Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi province. (People's Daily Online/Zhu Haipeng)

In just six days, the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) saw a total of $78.41 billion worth of tentative deals reached for one-year purchases of goods and services, setting a record high. Utilizing this platform, Ethiopia exported over 20,000 metric tons of coffee beans to China last year. Since the first CIIE was held in 2018, more than 80 new fruit varieties, such as Brazilian melons, Pakistani cherries, and Malaysian jackfruits, have been granted access to the Chinese market.

This year, British biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca invested $475 million in the construction of a new small molecule factory in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. Valeo, a world-leading auto parts supplier headquartered in France, has begun construction of the production and R&D base for its comfort and driving assistance system in Shanghai's Jiading district.

Foreign companies continue to invest in China, not only attracted by its vast market, but also by the new quality productive forces here that are primarily driven by innovation and marked by a substantial increase in total factor productivity. This is creating new appeal within the global industrial landscape.

As the second largest economy in the world, China has become a leading engine of global development, contributing around 30 percent to global growth in recent years.

Leveraging the advantages of its vast market, China has provided a broader platform for global trade and investment growth. With its complete industrial and supply chains, China has been able to offer high-quality products to the world, supporting the global transition towards green and low-carbon development. China's unwavering opening up is injecting strong momentum into the world economy.

A citizen shops at a trade center for imported goods in Hefei Comprehensive Bonded Zone, east China's Anhui province. (People's Daily Online/Zhang Min)

On May 25 this year, freight train X8157 fully loaded with diverse goods departed from Xi'an, the capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi province. It arrived in Malaszewicze, Poland after over ten days. The journey marked a significant milestone as the total number of China-Europe freight train trips has surpassed 90,000. Reaching 25 European countries and 11 Asian countries, the China-Europe freight train service has become the "golden corridor" of trade between Asia and Europe.

What matters more than the numbers is the sense of gain of people in various countries. For instance, the entry of Kenyan fresh avocados into the Chinese market has benefited thousands of Kenyan growers; an Afghan carpet sold in China can increase the income for four or five Afghan families; Chinese Juncao technology has been extended to over 100 countries and regions worldwide, creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs for local people.

British historian Peter Frankopan said in his book The Silk Roads: A New History of the World that the Silk Road has shaped the past world, even the present world, and will continue to shape the future world. The Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, representing humanity's joint pursuit of development for all.

Moving forward, China will always maintain a global vision and stand firm on the right side of history and on the side of human civilization and progress. It will join hands with other countries to build an even better world.

Expanding converging interests and sharing opportunities through opening-up and cooperation, China will remain a strong advocate of openness at the global level, and will continue to act as a stable engine of global growth and a big market with enormous opportunities. The country will undoubtedly provide more opportunities for global development.

Photovoltaic products to be exported are manufactured in a digital workshop of a Trina Solar facility in Suqian, east China's Jiangsu province. (People's Daily Online/Wang Li)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The family of murdered Kilkenny woman Christine Quinn has expressed serious concerns over the temporary day release of their mothers killer.

In June, the family was told that convicted murderer Mark Costigan has been approved temporary release for two days a week to attend an educational course in Dublin. This is despite him having been refused parole in February 2023 as the Parole Board had concerns that he would pose an undue risk to the community, were he to be released on parole at this stage.

Costigan was convicted of the murder at her home in Kilkenny City in 2002. He has never admitted the murder or apologised to the victims family.

Christine Quinn (36) was stabbed 35 times by Mark Costigan and sustained 69 knife injuries. Costigan, who has never admitted the murder or apologised to the victims family also set three separate fires to the house at Greenfields in Kilkenny City to try and destroy the evidence. In 2004 he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Christine Quinn.

In February 2023 the parole board refused parole stating that the board has concerns that Mark Costigan would pose an undue risk to the community, were he to be released on parole at this stage and stated that Costigan would not be eligible for review for two years.

However in recent weeks Ronan and Jason Quinn were informed by the Victim Liaison Service in the Irish Prison Service that Costigan has been approved daily temporary release for a period of two days per week, which may increase, depending on his progress to attend an educational course accompanied by his probation officer. This move has been approved by the Minister for Justice.

In June the Irish Prison Service also told the Quinn family that the victim liaison officer gave them incorrect information in relation to the Parole Board decision and apologised for this error.





The family of murdered Christine Quinn are deeply concerned about the temporary release of Costigan and questioned whether it is to do with prison capacity.

Is it a case that the prisons are full and they are taking a chance on him? said Ronan.

What I dont understand is why these proposed releases are being granted for two days a week with the potential to increase the days under the supervision of a parole officer not prison officers, if the parole board deems Mark Costigan to pose an undue risk to members of the community, he added.

I would have great concerns regarding security to members of the public with this arrangement. This is a convicted murderer we are dealing with not some petty criminal, he added.

Culpability

The whole purpose of prison is rehabilitation but this prisoner has never admitted culpability for his actions that caused the murder of my mother and he is been afforded these concessions without been rehabilitated as he continues to deny he brutally murdered her in her own home.

Ronan Quinn also pointed out that while Mark Costigan has been in prison since 2004 he has only started engaging with the Prison Service since 2017.

In my eyes he has only spent seven years engaging in rehabilitation and I think this is him playing the system to get parole, said Ronan.

We have campaigned tirelessly to change the outdated laws for serious crimes in Ireland which resulted in The Parole Act 2019 being implemented and we await to introduce mandatory minimum sentences at the judges discretion and up to whole life orders as is the case for decades in the UK.

We need a major overhaul of the justice system in Ireland which will represent a proportionate rebalancing and strengthening of the penalties for gender-based violence, knife crimes, manslaughter and homicide.

The victims families should not have to plead with the Parole Board every two years to keep killers in prison. This mental abuse of victims families having to relive all the horrors again and again has to end.

Kept in the dark

Jason Quinn said he is baffled, hurt and horrified by how the families of victims of crime are treated by the prison system.

We are just kept in the dark, he said.

I want something to be done for the families of victims. Everything seems to be about the prisoner. We need proper, coherent communication from the Probation Service, the Parole Board and the Prison Service.

Mark Costigan has shown no remorse for murdering my mother or admitted his guilt. He should be kept behind bars. I feel so let down by the system. There must be more support for the families of victims. If there was a tariff system with minimum life sentences before someone is eligible for parole would give families some peace of mind. Everything is geared towards the prisoner who has committed the ultimate sin and her we are suffering, he said.

Jason Quinn added that he has no issue with the Costigan family, only the prisoner, Mark Costigan who murdered his mother.

Jason Quinn also said that he spends time in Dublin and has family there adding that these temporary releases add to his trauma knowing that there is a possibility that he could see him on the streets of Dublin.

A probation officer has no power of arrest, what sort of a society do we live in whereby a murderer can walk around the streets of Dublin, he added.

His brother, Ronan said that the decision to allow Costigan to have temporary release is a major contradiction.

In relation to the day releases I find the Parole Boards decision to allow temporary day releases to be a major contradiction. On the one hand they are saying that he is an undue risk to society but at the same time they allow him to walk around Dublin and put society in danger, he said.

Incorrect information

In correspondence received from the victim liaison officer last month an apology was made for the incorrect information received in relation to the Parole Board decision.

It is the case though parole was declined, the Parole Board did recommend the prisoner avail of daily temporary release from the prison for the purposes of re-integration and socialisation.

 Taking this into account, it was decided to recommend to the Minister that he be approved for daily temporary release for educational reasons, the liaison officer said adding that each period of temporary release will be dependent on his continued good engagement with prison-based services, his behaviour in prison and his behaviour while on temporary release and failure to comply fully risks the temporary release being withdrawn.
Iarnrod Eireann does not have funding at this time for restoration of the old long platform at Kilkennys train station, but it was the intention to restore the protected structure of the original train shed once funding can be obtained.

Thats according to Iarnrod Eireann Chief Executive Jim Meade, who was responding to a parliamentary question from Independent TD for Waterford Matt Shanahan. Deputy Shanahan had requested that Iarnrod Eireann prioritise the restoration of a platform, which was shortened 20 years ago, significantly reducing the size of train it can service.

The issue has previously been raised by Kilkenny representatives, and the calls are backed by this newspaper. However, the limited capacity affects other counties too.

As everyone in Waterford will know, the train from Waterford to Dublin is always extremely busy, and its not good enough that theres been such a reduction in capacity for the last 20 years due to a sale that never actually took place, Deputy Shanahan said.

Ive been in contact with Iarnrod Eireann about this, and they have confirmed that the ex-station structures and land remain within their ownership.

According to Mr Meade: a review of Iarnrod Eireanns Infrastructure funding levels (MAC) Multi Annual Contract 5-year plan 2025-2029 is currently being progressed with the Department of Transport.

Ive asked Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to prioritise the restoration of the platform, which really shouldnt be an undertaking too large or expensive for them at this time, Deputy Shanahan said.

For the many people who travel to Kilkenny, Carlow, Dublin, etc, from Waterford, a platform extension and enhanced fleet carriages would greatly enhance capacity and, with it, comfort, efficiency and convenience.
Miss Margaret Tynan is the first woman ever to be elected chairman of Kilkenny County Council.

At the first meeting of the newly-elected council Miss Tynan (Fine Gael) beat Senator Bob Aylward (Fianna Fail) by 14 votes to 12. And she had the support of her own party, the Labour Party and Sinn Feins Sean Walsh.

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Alderman Seamus Pattison TD (Labour) was elected vice-chairman also by 14 votes to 12 against John Fennelly (Fianna Fail).

Mr Walsh said that in deciding who he was going to vote for he must disregard political affiliations and choose on the basis of personality.

As Margaret Tynan was one of the only two women elected to the Council he was voting for her because he was in favour of women participating in politics.

While I was selected by the Sinn Fein organisation and elected by the people to play an active part in the council - and I will play an active part on every issue that comes up - in deciding who I am going to vote for I must disregard political affiliations, he said. I must choose on the basis of personality.

In my opinion the two people the council have served the public well but I think my choice must go to Margaret Tynan because she is one of only two women on the Council and I am in favour of women participating in politics.

Now its Mayor Martin

In one of the more uneventful Mayoral elections of recent years, Ald Thomas Martin was chosen as Kilkennys First Citizen on Friday.

Proposed by his own party, Labour, and seconded by Fine Gael, he was elected unanimously - Fianna Fail and the Independents made no nominations.

Following his election, Ald Martin said he was conscious of three major needs for the city to which he would give his attention - housing, jobs and recreational facilities.

He would not place them in priority, but during his term of office as Mayor and as an Alderman on the Corporation he would work for the betterment of Kilkenny.

Leinster Title

The Kilkenny minor camogie team captured the first ever Leinster minor title by the narrowest of margins at Nowlan Park on Sunday.

And how close the game came to going to a replay. In the dying seconds a 30 by Mary Purcell was the winning score as Kilkenny beat Dublin by 2-3 to 2-2.
The government has dismissed rumours of an early general election despite Budget 2025 being brought forward by one week.

The Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, confirmed news of the new date on RTE's Morning Ireland earlier today (Thursday July 4), calling October 1 "the natural date" for the Budget due to ministerial commitments in Europe.

He said, "We've to submit our fiscal and budgetary submission to the European Commission on October 15, and the week prior to that both myself and Minister [Paschal] Donohoe will be attending Ecofin and the Eurogroup meeting, so October 1 is the natural date to have Budget 2025.

Chambers - who was named as the new Minister for Finance just last week - claimed the government is "absolutely committed" to running to full term, seemingly shutting down rumours of an early election.

It was recently believed that the current government may want to capitalise on a dip in support for Sinn Fein, which was previously the most popular party in Ireland as per opinion polls.

An early June poll released before the local and European elections revealed a sharp drop in support for the opposition party, while Independents and even Fine Gael saw surges.

Political pundits have speculated on when the next election is likely to take place, with dates in late October and mid-November popular choices.
The Herald reports:

The Governments $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) opens to applicants today, though officials are still finalising the assessment process.

The pot will be divided into two parts. Theres $720 million for resilience infrastructure  helping to provide for regional resilience in the face of flooding and extraordinary storms, for example, and for the likes of energy security.

The second part is $420m for enabling infrastructure: projects that can underpin stronger regional economies and increase lagging productivity.

$60m is set aside for the Governments emerging priorities, a designation that, in the case of the Provincial Growth Fund, proved to be distinctly slushy.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mostly sunny. Very warm. High 86F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
By Yi Whan-woo

Korea is still heavily reliant on the United States and China regarding exports although the level of reliance has been reduced recently, according to experts.

The experts urged Korea to speed up the diversification of its export destinations, noting that trade protectionism in both the U.S. and China has been growing and that these actions add additional concerns regarding the increasingly fragile global supply chain.

In its recently published report containing summaries of various government policies and legislation, the National Assembly Research Service pointed out that the U.S. and China combined accounted for 40.4 percent of Koreas total exports in 2020.

The rate dropped to 37.9 percent in 2023. Nevertheless, Korea is ranked second after Canada among the worlds top 10 exporting countries when it comes to dependence on a handful of countries for outbound shipments.

In that regard, Korea is being urged to lower such a rate considering that the worlds two greatest economies are increasingly advocating protectionism and that Korea is highly exposed to risks concerning the fragile supply chain, the National Assembly Research Service said.

It suggested capitalizing on the popularity of Korean pop culture to further diversify its export markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East as well as Central and South America.

Ku Ki-bo, a professor at Soongsil Universitys Department of Global Commerce, echoed similar sentiments.

Cosmetics and other beauty products used to rely on China too much in the past, and expanding other export routes is crucial considering Chinas weaponization of trade, the professor said.

Baek Chul-woo, a professor at Duksung Womens Universitys Department of Commerce, said a closer link between the economy and national security makes securing a diverse set of export channels essential for a countrys sake.

In the meantime, he favorably evaluated the higher level of sales concerning major export items such as semiconductors to the U.S. over China.

He noted that Koreas ratio of exports to the U.S. went up from 14.5 percent in 2020 to 18.3 percent in 2023, while those to China went down from 25.9 percent to 19.7 percent over the same period.

"The shift from China to the U.S. on exports can be regarded as a part of broader export diversification efforts, the professor said.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy deemed Koreas reliance on the U.S. and China as not being too worrisome, arguing that it is the result of a search for bigger markets.

Exports and private spending are the twin engines of Koreas economic growth. The outbound shipments in 2024 are anticipated to grow 9 percent as it is rebounding from sluggish performance last year when it shrank 7.5 percent.
By Lee Kyung-min

The soft-landing of real estate project financing vulnerabilities and the full implementation of the Corporate Value-up Program will top the policy priority list of the Financial Service Commission chairman-designate Kim Byoung-hwan, market watchers said Thursday.

Also crucial will be the low-income earner aid packages to relieve the debt service burdens for the underprivileged amid sustained elevated borrowing costs.

"The risk of real estate project financing is among the most pressing issues," he said shortly after the announcement of the designation at the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, Thursday.

"I'm given to understand the measures to aid project financing businesses with high leverages have been put in place over the course of the past six months. A continued effort will induce the full soft-landing in the latter half."

The Corporate Value-up Program is a financial policy initiative of President Yoon Suk Yeol, designed to reinvigorate the chronically stagnant Korean equity market. The drive has all but lost momentum after the crushing defeat of the ruling People Power Party in the April general elections.

During his tenure as a director of financial policy at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, he introduced the Asset Securitization Act to process distressed corporate and financial institution assets.

Also to his credit is the introduction of Primary Collateralized Bond Obligations to resolve corporate liquidity concerns.

Kim, the current first vice finance minister, will replace the incumbent Kim Joo-hyun.

He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Seoul National University. He obtained a master's degree from the University of Birmingham in 2005.

His previous stints include ones at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank.

"I feel a deep sense of responsibility at a time of great importance. I will do my best at the confirmation hearing," he said.
By Park Jin-hai

Amid growing attention on Central Asia, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to a number of Central Asian countries last month, a new book highlighting Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been published.

The "Central Asia 3 Countries" travel guide is co-authored by Seo Byung-yong, a seasoned traveler with extensive experience in former Soviet Union countries, and Go Soo-youl, a business professional with strong ties to Central Asia.

The book offers a comprehensive guide to the land that Korean travelers feel familiar with yet distant despite relatively close physical distances.

Seo, author and CEO of TravelBooks publishing company, said the region is an untapped tourism frontier for Koreans.

"As Korea welcomes an era of 30 million overseas tourists, the three Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are poised to become a 'blue ocean' for the tourism industry," said Seo during an event to commemorate the book's publication at the Korea Foundation in central Seoul, Tuesday.

The author counted several factors that contribute to this promising outlook, including growing direct flights connecting Korea and Central Asia, geographic proximity, visa-free entry, relatively affordable travel expenses and abundant unique attractions.

"Kazakhstan's vast landscapes unveil breathtaking natural beauty, while Uzbekistan stands as a cultural crossroads, captivating visitors with its ancient Silk Road cities and vibrant heritage where East meets West. Kyrgyzstan, often referred to as the Switzerland of Central Asia, offers experiences related to nomadic culture, including opportunities for trekking, horseback riding and yurt stays," Seo said.

The 256-page book introduces shared cultural aspects of Central Asia, including the Islamic architectural style, the Silk Road and popular dishes such as plov, a one-pot rice dish traditionally cooked with meat, vegetables and spice and lagman, a noodle soup dish with various toppings. The book also offers lists of must-buy items and specialized itineraries, including a travel course recommended for women traveling alone.

This book also serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to navigate the business landscape of this region. Some tips include avoiding products that compete directly against Chinese products because of an abundance of Chinese goods due to geographical proximity and building strong relationships with capable local dealers, as having consumer recognition for non-established brands is hard and takes longer in the region.

"Central Asia 3 Countries" contains interviews with a travel YouTuber, a blogger, Korean consular officials responsible for handling accidents and a Korean company's overseas branch head.

To help celebrate the launch of the book, envoys from the three countries attended the event. They expressed enthusiasm for attracting Korean tourists, highlighting their countries' unique attractions.

Nurgali Arystanov, ambassador of Kazakhstan to Korea, said that the three cities of Almaty, the former capital, Astana, the new capital, and Shymkent, the Silk Road region's capital, collectively known as the Golden Triangle, are must-visit destinations. He added that Kazakhstan has more great tourist attractions, such as snowcapped mountains and the Charyn Canyon.

Arystanov further elaborated that his country is focused on developing its tourism sector, urging Korean readers to "go through this book, get inspired, hit the road and revisit all of our countries in Central Asia for many occasions."

He also invited the Korean guests to attend the World Nomad Games to be hosted in Astana from Sept. 8-13.

Aida Ismailova, the Kyrgyz ambassador to Korea, said, "I hope you will experience the beauty of nature at Issyk Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world," emphasizing that Kyrgyzstan boasts stunning scenery.

Arizev Fazliddin, Uzbek charge d'affaires ad interim to Korea, said Samarkand was a major center of the Silk Road and a significant element showcasing the glorious past of the 14th-century Timurid era.

"Visitors will be able to experience the country's limitless potential by visiting cities like Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, where they can enjoy cultural heritage, artifacts and traditional cuisine," he said.
By Lee Kyung-min

Jin Yu-ha, co-founder and CEO of Tella, an online chat-based English learning platform, said she is committed to enriching youth social entrepreneurship, Friday.

Her business was showcased as exemplary youth entrepreneurship at the Regional Youth Co:Lab Summit 2024 held in Manilla, the Philippines, from June 27 to 28.

I was glad to hear my edu-tech startup launched to create job opportunities for a highly educated workforce in Uganda was an inspiration to the over 200 participants from 20 countries at the summit, she said.

The Regional Youth Co:Lab programme was co-created in the Asia-Pacific region in 2017 by Citi Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme, a U.N. organization established to end poverty, inequality and climate change with a network of experts and partners in 170 countries.

Tella is not only bridging language gaps but also creating more than 300 knowledge-based job opportunities for university-educated youths in developing countries, including the Philippines and Uganda, she said.

Tella connects English learners all over the world with native English tutors in Southeast Asia and Africa. The platform exceeds 100,000 users across 60 countries.

The firm achieved B corp certification conferred by B Lab in 2019, in recognition of its social and environmental commitments. It certifies that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

I had my fair share of difficulties over the last few years. What I came to understand was that young entrepreneurs should be very well aware of technological advancements to succeed and diversify their business portfolio to manage future risks, she said.

The critical role of young entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds is and should be all the more celebrated, in her view, to drive sustainable and equitable economic development and to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Leading a business in and of itself is hard enough, she said. Fostering knowledge and idea sharing underpinned by networking and collaboration with young entrepreneurs was an opportunity to engage more youth to take action and advocate for collaborative initiatives and policies.

She plans to expand her business to match young, talented IT industry workers in developing countries with employers in advanced economies.

My firms years of experience in the rigorous screening of jobseekers and high-quality services, as verified by end-users, can help the efficient operation of the global IT workforce, she said.
By KTimes

A high school student in Busan has been caught using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to create and sell obscene videos by superimposing the faces of female classmates onto pornographic content. Similar crimes are occurring among teenagers nationwide, prompting urgent calls for relevant countermeasures.

According to officials from the Busan Office of Education on Wednesday, the office is investigating a second-year high school student, referred to only as A, on these charges.

A used AIs deep learning technology to superimpose the faces of female students from his school and nearby schools onto pornographic videos. This is known as deepfake content creation.

He sold these deepfake videos to an unspecified number of people through social media networks. He even disguised the videos to make it appear as though the female students in the videos were selling the videos themselves.

In online conversations with buyers, A set different prices for the videos based on whether the female students were in elementary, middle or high school.

He went so far as to collect and post reviews from buyers on social media. Multiple female students were reported to have fallen victim to his crimes. The high school has taken measures to separate the perpetrator from the victims.

Teenagers' deepfake crimes are continuously occurring as the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency announced that it is currently investigating 13 cases of illegal pornographic deepfake content.

Recently, the police sent seven male middle school students from Jeonju City to the prosecution on charges of committing digital sexual crimes.

To prevent the distribution of such criminal videos online, the police have requested the Korea Communications Standards Commission to delete and block the content.

Last month, two high school students from Goryeong, North Gyeongsang Province, were investigated on similar charges for creating and sharing composite nude photos of female classmates.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.
Members of more than 90 patient advocacy groups staged a rally in central Seoul on Thursday, calling for doctors to end the ongoing walkout that has disrupted public health services for nearly five months.

The protest, including members from the Korea Alliance of Patients Organization and the Korean Organization for Rare Diseases, came as trainee doctors have left their worksites since late February, causing disruptions in major hospitals, including cancellations and delays in surgeries.

"Under no circumstances should medical services for the patients be suspended, nor should there be any indication that they could be stopped, causing anxiety," the groups said in a joint statement.

"Patients and their families, as well as the public, are experiencing anger, anxiety and fatigue amid the conflict between the irresponsible government and reckless trainee doctors and medical professors," they added.

The rally came amid sluggish progress between the government and the medical community to launch a dialogue, with medical professors, who serve as senior doctors at general hospitals, also recently joining trainee doctors' walkout in solidarity.

While the medical community formed a committee to establish a unified representative body for doctors, trainee doctors and medical students have been boycotting the initiative, claiming it fails to adequately reflect their voices.

Amid the lingering dispute, senior doctors at Asan Medical Center, one of the five largest hospitals in Seoul, began reducing patient care on Thursday, claiming that this measure aims to focus on treating critically ill patients amid the ongoing medical vacuum.

The health ministry said it was notable that the professors at Asan Medical Center did not proceed with an all-out walkout for the patients.

"We ask medical professors to refrain from taking extreme measures, such as indefinite collective walkouts," Kim Guk-il, a senior official of the ministry, said.

Kim also urged trainee doctors to promptly return to their hospitals, noting that the government will make its best efforts to help them complete their training.

"The government will make its best efforts to engage in talks with the medical community, responding to the desperate voices of patients and their families," Kim added.

Doctors at Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital and Yongin Severance Hospital, meanwhile, have been suspending the treatment of outpatients, nonemergency surgeries and other services since late last month.

Medical professors at Korea University and Chungbuk National University have vowed to launch walkouts starting July 12 and 26, respectively. (Yonhap)
By Kim Hyun-bin

The ASEAN-Korea Centre hosted a seminar on ASEAN-Korea sustainable waste management in Vientiane, Laos, from Tuesday to Wednesday. The event was part of the center's 2024 Investment and Market Research Mission, aimed at fostering business networking and enhancing cooperation between Korea and the five Mekong ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Representatives from government agencies and the private sector of the waste management industry participated in the seminar, which included three key events: the Mekong-Korea Sustainable Waste Management Seminar, a site visit to the Integrated Resources Recovery Centre and the Mekong-Korea Waste Management Business Technology Sharing and Networking Session.

Since its establishment in 2009, the ASEAN-Korea Centre has organized investment and market research missions to explore investment opportunities across various industries, strengthening ASEAN-Korea cooperation.

This year's mission focused on the critical and promising sector of waste management, highlighting its importance in promoting regional environmental, social and corporate governance trends and building a circular economy within the ASEAN Economic Community.

The seminar aimed to raise awareness, deepen economic exchanges and foster partnerships between ASEAN and Korea, showcasing the center's commitment to strengthening cooperation across diverse industries.

Participants visited the Integrated Resources Recovery Centre on Wednesday to learn about waste management facilities in Laos.

This was followed by a briefing on the Riverine Plastic Monitoring Program at the Mekong River Commission headquarters. The day concluded with a visit to the Vientiane City Office for Management and Service to gain insights into the status and challenges of waste management in the city.
By Lee Hyo-jin

A ceremony was held on Thursday to mark the completion of delivery to Korea of six P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, at Naval Aviation Command in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, according to the ROK Navy.

The new P-8A fleet, which will replace the aging P-3 fleet, is expected to significantly enhance the ROK Navy's readiness against the threat of North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities.

The delivery ceremony, presided over by Brig. Gen. Ha Seong-wook, commander of Naval Aviation Command, was attended by major military officials including Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Yang Yong-mo, as well as key figures from related organizations and institutions such as Seok Jong-geon, chief of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok.

Around 200 people attended the ceremony, including the P-8A crew and Naval Aviation Command personnel.

"The P-8A will be a key asset in neutralizing enemy submarines, and become a strong pillar of the sea-based Korean three-axis system by significantly contributing to South Korea's security preparedness," Ha said in his commemorative speech.

The commander added that the Navy plans to deploy the aircraft in mid-2025 following a year-long training and evaluation of its operational capabilities.

Thursday's event also featured an aircraft tail number designation ceremony conducted by Adm. Yang and a commendation ceremony for Navy officials who were involved in acquiring and accepting the aircraft, presented by the defense minister.

Following the ceremony, Shin ordered the inaugural flight of the P-8A piloted by Lieutenant Commander Lee Seong-hee.

The P-8A Poseidon, manufactured by U.S. aircraft giant Boeing, is a derivative of the Boeing 737 airliner.

With a maximum speed of 907 kph, the aircraft boasts a maximum flight duration of 10 hours and can carry Harpoon anti-ship missiles, torpedoes and other weaponry crucial for maritime warfare. It can also engage in a wide range of patrol missions, as it is equipped with high-end sensor radar systems.

In 2018, the South Korean government signed a deal with the U.S. government to purchase six P-8s to replace its aging P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft. They were manufactured at Boeing's factory in Renton, Seattle, in 2023.

Three of the aircraft arrived in South Korea on June 19 and the remaining three arrived on June 30. Prior to the delivery, South Korea's Navy personnel underwent approximately 16 months of operational training in the U.S.
The top military officers of Korea and Qatar held talks in Seoul on Thursday to discuss ways to strengthen military cooperation, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.

JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo and his Qatari counterpart, Lt. Gen. Salem Bin Hamad Al-Nabit, discussed the security situations on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East, as well as expanding joint exercises and boosting personnel exchanges, according to the JCS.

Al-Nabit also showed interest in Korean weapons systems and training methods, it said, noting that he will visit Air Force units and local defense companies during his trip to the country.

The talks came after Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation in Doha in February.

Seoul has recently sought to boost military and arms industry ties with countries in the Middle East amid efforts to win major defense contracts.

Last November, Korean defense company LIG Nex1 clinched a $3.2 billion deal to export the Mid-range Surface-to-Air Missile Block-II (M-SAM II) system to Saudi Arabia.

Korea has announced plans to secure a 5 percent share of the global arms export market to become the fourth-largest defense exporter by 2027. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

A bullet has been found inside a piece of carry-on luggage belonging to a Korean Air flight attendant who was bound for Thailand.

According to police on Thursday, a 7.62-millimeter-caliber live bullet was found in her bag at Incheon International Airport during baggage inspection on Tuesday when she was preparing to board a flight to Bangkok at 7:30 a.m.

An airport explosive ordnance disposal team was immediately deployed to collect the bullet.

The flight attendant recognized that the bullet belonged to her, saying that she found it somewhere when she was a child. However, she said she was unaware that it was inside the bag.

After police and the company concluded that she wasn't deliberately trying to smuggle the bullet into Thailand, they allowed her to board the flight for work. Police said they would question her again when she returns.

Under Thai law, it is mandatory for everyone to obtain authorization prior to the possession, use, sale and import of firearms. Violations of the rules and regulations set out in the law could bring serious consequences, including imprisonment and the death penalty, according to the Thailand Law Forum, which provides an online English-language resource concerning the laws of Thailand.

It was not the first time that a bullet had been found on one of the company's planes. On March 10, two live bullets were found under a passenger seat on a Korean Air plane about to take off to fly to Manila, the Philippines, causing more than 200 passengers to evacuate the aircraft.
By Jung Min-ho

A Chinese national was detained, Thursday, on suspicion of setting fire to his hotel room at Kangwon Land, a casino resort in Gangwon Province, after losing a lot of money, police said.

The man, in his 50s, faces an arson charge after six people staying at the same hotel, which is situated in the county of Jeongseon, were hospitalized after a fire erupted on the hotels 14th floor at 2:31 a.m.

The consequences could have been much worse, given the time of the incident. However, the fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes by the hotel's emergency sprinkler system.

After checking footage from CCTV cameras, police apprehended the suspect in the vicinity of the hotel at around 8 a.m.

After questioning the suspect, police said they believed that the man, who was angry due to a lot of money he had lost at the casino, used a cigarette lighter to set fire to the beds in his room.
By Kwak Yeon-soo

First lady Kim Keon Hee visited the site of a deadly car crash near Seoul City Hall on Wednesday evening, according to people at the scene.

A few images spreading across social platforms showed Kim waiting at traffic lights to cross over to the site and leaving flowers in memory of those who died in Mondays fatal traffic accident. The presidential office later confirmed that Kim had visited the site.

Nine people were killed and seven injured when a car hit pedestrians waiting at a traffic light at an intersection near Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Monday night, as it drove on the wrong side of the road and collided with two other cars before hitting the pedestrians.

The driver, in his late 60s, spoke of a sudden unintended acceleration and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to police, who vowed a swift probe into the car crash.

Of the nine who died, two were Seoul Metropolitan Government employees, four were employees at a nearby bank and three were employees of a company doing outsourced work from hospitals.

As the police investigation continues, mourners have laid white flowers, beverages and condolence messages at the site in memory of those who lost their lives in the deadly car crash.
Korea's domestic adoption system bars international couples from becoming adoptive parents

By Lee Hyo-jin

This July marks a significant milestone for British national Thomas Pallett and his Korean wife surnamed Kang: seven years of unsuccessful attempts to adopt a child in Korea.

The couple, who live in the southeastern port city of Busan, have faced persistent rejections from local adoption agencies, which primarily cite Palletts British nationality as the obstacle. They got married in Korea in May 2019, with Pallett obtaining an F-6 marriage visa that grants him permanent residency.

Our discussions on adoption began in July 2018 even before we were married. When we first met, I was 35 and my wife was 40. We knew having our own child could be difficult, Pallett said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.

We tried numerous fertility treatments, including three rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF), but all were unsuccessful," he said.

The couple approached major adoption agencies in Korea  Holt International, Korean Social Services and Eastern Social Welfare Society  but all responded that they could not work with them, refusing to go through the verification process for prospective adoptive parents.

Reasons for the refusals varied: One agency insisted on both spouses being Korean nationals for domestic adoption, another cited an absence of an agreement with the United Kingdom and the other agency stated they lacked an adoption program for foreign couples residing in Korea.

Despite numerous emails and phone calls with these adoption agencies, the couples attempts have been fruitless.

In March 2023, Pallett lodged a complaint with Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The commission's response read: "Under adoption laws, foreigners residing in Korea can adopt children subject to domestic protection if they are qualified as adoptive parents. Therefore, it is not impossible for Korean-foreigner couples living in Korea to adopt."

The government agency directed the couple back to the same agencies that had previously turned them away.

I had been researching related laws, expecting to find a law explicitly prohibiting international couples from adopting a Korean child, only to discover that the refusals were baseless, Pallett said.

In January this year, Pallett obtained a "No Objection Letter" from the British Embassy in Seoul, stipulating that the British national is no longer "habitually resident" in the United Kingdom and thus the British authorities have no further role in the matter.

Pallett showed this document claimed that adoption process should be handled solely by the Korean government, yet their efforts remained unproductive.

Now 42 and 47 respectively, Pallett and his wife worry about their age being a potential barrier to adoption.

On the whole, life in Korea has been good to me. I don't have many complaints, apart from that huge one that we've been prevented from being a mom and dad to our own child. And it's becoming our concern that although we still feel a good age that we hope that doesn't count against us because, five years ago, we were probably an ideal age to adopt, Pallett said.

When asked about potential legal action against the agencies, he replied, I don't want money from them. We just want to be allowed to adopt.

Attorney Min Ji-won of IPG Legal, representing Pallett, argued that a significant blind spot in the country's adoption system is barring dozens of international couples, including Pallett, from going through the evaluation process as prospective adoptive parents.

"Refusing international couples without legal grounds goes against the government's policy of prioritizing domestic adoption, ultimately sending hundreds of children overseas every year," Min stated, mentioning that Article 7 of the Act on Special Cases Concerning Adoption mandates that domestic adoption be prioritized, allowing overseas adoption only if no parents are found locally.

From a broader perspective, the main reason why Pallett's efforts have seen no improvement is because the government plays no role in facilitating adoption, the lawyer pointed out.

"I got the impression that local adoption agencies do not know how to handle cases regarding interracial families. Not only have they rarely handled such cases, but also they have not been given clear guidelines from the government," she said.

For decades, child adoptions in Korea have been facilitated by private-run agencies focused primarily on overseas rather than domestic adoptions, as intercountry adoptions used to be a lucrative business for the agencies between the 1960s and 1980s. Various controversies have arisen over this practice, with some accusing the agencies of human trafficking across borders, sometimes without following legal procedures.

"With the government playing virtually no role in child adoption, this has resulted in the bitter irony where Korea continues to send babies overseas to foreigners who do not have any connection with Korea, while denying international couples settled here the chance to raise these kids," Min said.

The Korea Times reached out to Holt International and Eastern Social Welfare Society with inquiries on their programs for international couples, but they were unavailable for comment. Korean Social Services replied that they had not arranged any adoptions since 2011.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which oversees the adoption system, acknowledged the struggles faced by Korean-foreign couples located here, but attributed the reluctance of agencies to difficulties in verifying and managing foreign adoptive parents.

"We have requested cooperation from adoption agencies multiple times, but they seem to face challenges in evaluating foreign would-be parents. We aim to incorporate improvements into the adoption system reform that will be effective from July 2025," a ministry official said.

Earlier this May, the welfare ministry announced a reform under which the government will take over the adoption process from private agencies in July 2025. This change aims to enhance child welfare and better support adoptive families.

Shin Pil-shik, secretary-general at the Adoption Solidarity Forum, agreed that international couples in Korea should be given the opportunity to undergo the evaluation process for child adoption.

Its regrettable that international couples who could be eligible adoptive parents have been left out due to systemic loopholes, he said.

But he cautioned that integrating foreign nationals into the country's adoption system would require a thorough review and stricter criteria. The adoption expert pointed out that post-adoption management challenges could potentially arise if the couple decided to move abroad with the child.

For instance, a non-Korean national should only be allowed to participate in domestic adoption when there is a government-to-government agreement or cooperative system in place that guarantees post-adoption management. Every adoption should be carried out in the best interest of the child, Shin said.
Police are set to conduct their first questioning on Thursday of the driver involved in a recent car crash that killed nine pedestrians in downtown Seoul.

The questioning comes three days after the 68-year-old man's Hyundai Genesis sedan plowed through a sidewalk guardrail and hit pedestrians while traveling against traffic on a one-way road near Seoul City Hall on Monday night.

A total of nine people were killed, including six who died at the scene, most of them office workers nearby. Seven other pedestrians were injured, while the driver has also been admitted to a hospital for broken ribs.

Officials from the Namdaemun Police Station said they plan to send investigators to the hospital to question the driver, identified by his family name Cha. The exact timing of the session is currently being discussed with his side, the officials said.

Cha has claimed that his car suddenly accelerated out of control and the brake did not work at the time of the accident, although he tried to apply the brake.

Some initial findings, however, contradict his claim. Based on an ongoing analysis of the sedan's event data recorder (EDR), police suspect that the driver significantly pressed the accelerator shortly before the accident.

Police also discovered that the secondary brake light did not illuminate during the accident, and no skid marks were found at the scene, findings that contradict the driver's claim of applying the brake.

Investigators are expected to question him about the grounds for the claim of unintended acceleration, why he entered the road against traffic as well as other details regarding his vehicle and the circumstances of the accident.

The duration of the questioning is expected to depend on his health condition.

The previous day, a Seoul court denied an arrest warrant requested by the police for the driver, saying that he has no reason to evade police questioning, as he is currently hospitalized and under police protection for his personal safety, the officials said. (Yonhap)
Asan Medical Center begins reducing medical services

By Jung Da-hyun

A total of 92 patient advocacy groups held an unprecedented rally in Seoul, Thursday, calling on the medical community to end its ongoing walkout and urging the National Assembly to enact legislation to prevent future collective actions by medical professionals.

The groups, comprised of patients and their guardians, inlcuded the Union of Korea Breast Cancer Patients, the Korea Alliance of Patients Organization and the Korean Organization for Rare Diseases.

Large-scale rallies by patient organizations are exceedingly rare, given that the members are patients or their guardians dealing with their health challenges.

"We are here today to ensure that patients are no longer harmed or left anxious because of the strike," said Kwak Jeom-sun, chairman of the Union of Korea Breast Cancer Patients.

"We urge the doctors to return to their patients' sides as soon as possible."

So far, patient groups have voiced their concerns through press conferences or meetings with government officials and politicians.

However, the unprecedented street rally was prompted by the medical professors' continuation of the walkout since late February that has disrupted major hospitals, including surgery cancellations and delays despite a court rejecting an injunction filed by the medical community to stop the governments plan to increase the medical school admissions quota by 2,000 for next year.

Kim Jung-ae, 68, whose daughter suffers from Cornelia de Lange syndrome  a developmental disorder that affects many parts of the body  attended the rally, criticizing the use of patients' lives as leverage points in conflicts between the government and the medical sector.

"Patients just want an environment where they can receive care when they are sick," Kim said.

"Principles must be established to ensure that patients never have to live in fear again."

The groups demanded that the medical community end the indefinite walkout and called on the government and the National Assembly to enact legislation to prevent future occurrences.

They also emphasized the need for laws ensuring that essential medical services, such as those in emergency rooms, intensive care units and delivery rooms, continue uninterrupted during any future collective actions by medical personnel.

Many patients directly affected by the doctors' strike expressed their anxiety.

Cho Eun-hee, 63, a breast cancer patient, shared with The Korea Times that her treatment and tests have been delayed for over three months.

"Even though my situation isn't critical, the delay causes anxiety because I need regular treatment," she said.

Kim Sun-kyung, diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer just a few days before the strike began, said, "Even though I have a stomachache and need to receive cancer treatment tomorrow, I came hoping the strike would end soon."

She added, "I am very scared. I have to wait a long time for treatment, but the time with the doctor is very short. Both doctors and the government must consider patients first."

Oh Sun-hye, a Type 1 diabetes patient, recently faced difficulties booking a surgery. She had to travel to North Jeolla Province as no hospital in Seoul could accommodate her.

"These days, I can't get a surgical reservation at a university hospital, and I'm behind on my medication," Oh said.

Meanwhile, Asan Medical Center began reducing its medical services on Thursday. Medical professors at Korea University and Chungbuk National University have announced plans to start walkouts on July 12 and July 26, respectively.

Doctors at Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital and Yongin Severance Hospital have been suspending outpatient treatments, non-emergency surgeries and other services since late last month.
President Yoon Suk Yeol named Lee Jin-sook, a former journalist of public broadcaster MBC, as new chairman of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), Yoon's chief of staff said Thursday.

The appointment of Lee, who served as president of MBC's Daejeon branch, came three days after former KCC Chairman Kim Hong-il stepped down voluntarily ahead of an opposition-led parliamentary impeachment vote against him.

The resignation was aimed at preventing the chairman's duties from being suspended as impeachment would automatically suspend the job. The watchdog's chairman holds the key to decisions on broadcasting stations, including the appointment of a new president at MBC TV.

Kim's predecessor, Lee Dong-kwan, also resigned ahead of an impeachment vote in December.

"I stand here with a heavy heart because I have been nominated after witnessing my two predecessors step down after just three and six months, respectively," Lee said during a briefing at the presidential office.

"They did not engage in any illegal activities while performing their duties. They left their positions to prevent the disruption of the KCC's duties ahead of politically driven impeachments," she added.

The main opposition party, which has a controlling majority of 170 seats in the 300-member Assembly, has accused the former KCC chiefs of unfairly running the broadcasting watchdog only with a vice chairperson, leaving three out of five standing member positions vacant.

If she takes office, Lee said she will normalize the KCC to restore public trust, urging the opposition to recommend standing committees to fill up the vacant posts as soon as possible.

Lee is subject to parliamentary hearings, although Yoon can proceed with the appointment regardless of the outcome of the hearing.

In the latest reshuffle, Kim Byoung-hwan, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, was appointed as the new head of the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and Kim Wan-sup, who previously served as the second vice finance minister, was named as the Minister of Environment, chief of staff Chung Jin-suk said. (Yonhap)
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Thursday railroaded a contentious bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death amid fierce protest from the ruling party.

The bill, which passed in a 189-1 vote, calls for the appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations of interference in the Marine Corps' internal investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun during a search mission for downpour victims in July 2023.

The bill was put to a vote during a plenary session at the National Assembly after the ruling People Power Party's 24-hour filibuster to block the passage of the bill ended in the afternoon.

The DPK-led bill had initially passed through the previous National Assembly but was scrapped 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.

The presidential office expressed strong regret over the DPK railroading the bill although it was rejected in a revote after Yoon's veto, calling the move "unconstitutional."

"(We) deplore the shameful infringement upon the Constitution in the history of our Constitution," a senior presidential official said, requesting anonymity.

Earlier in the day, DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae warned Yoon against vetoing the bill.

"He should bear in mind that if he exercises veto rights, he will be put on a path to catastrophe and downfall," Park said during a party policy meeting.

Under the National Assembly Act, a filibuster can be stopped after 24 hours if at least three-fifths of all parliament members, or 180 lawmakers, consent to it.

Immediately after the bill was tabled at a plenary session the previous day, DPK lawmakers submitted a request for an end to the filibuster.

In response to the passage of the special probe bill, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) said it will boycott the opening ceremony of the 22nd National Assembly, originally scheduled to be held Friday, while also criticizing the DPK's motion, submitted Tuesday, to impeach four prosecutors involved in the investigation of criminal cases against its former leader Lee Jae-myung.

The PPP's floor leader Choo Kyung-ho said the party also asks President Yoon Suk Yeol not to participate in the ceremony.

The office of the National Assembly speaker later said the opening ceremony will be postponed and rescheduled at a later date. (Yonhap)
22nd Assemblys official opening ceremony postponed

By Kwak Yeon-soo

The opposition-controlled National Assembly passed a contentious bill, Thursday, mandating a special counsel probe into allegations surrounding the death of a Marine despite fierce protests from the ruling party.

The bill, which was passed with support from 189 lawmakers out of 190 present at a plenary session, aims to initiate an investigation into the government's alleged interference in the military's investigation of Marine Cpl. Chae Su-geuns death, which occurred during a search and rescue operation in a flooded area in July 2023.

Most lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) boycotted the vote and walked out of the chamber in protest before voting began while Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the PPP voted in favor of the bill.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) believes that the presidential office may have exerted pressure during the Marine Corps internal probe.

The passage of this bill underlines the deep divide between the rival parties. The PPP has been staging a filibuster since Wednesday afternoon to block the bill's passage after it was tabled during the Assemblys plenary session. The filibuster ended on Thursday afternoon due to the National Assembly Act, which allows a three-fifths majority to end a filibuster after 24 hours.

The DPK-led bill had initially passed through the previous National Assembly on May 2, but was scrapped in a revote after President Yoon Suk Yeol vetoed it on May 21. The DPK proposed it again after the new National Assembly kicked off in late May. The newly passed bill is a revised version of the original one, with changes to clauses regarding the special investigation committees composition and method of investigation.

Yoon is expected to exercise his veto for the special counsel probe bill again, which targets the governments alleged interference in the militarys investigation into the Marines death.

The presidential office expressed strong regret over the DPK railroading the bill although it was rejected in a revote after Yoon's veto, calling the move "unconstitutional."

"We deplore the shameful infringement upon the Constitution in the history of our Constitution," a senior presidential official said, requesting anonymity.

If Yoon opposes the special counsel probe bill, conflicts between the rival parties will likely escalate further. The controversial bill continues to be a tremendous burden on Yoon while he is facing increasing impeachment calls on the Assemblys public petition website. Over 1 million users signed an online petition calling for Yoon to be impeached.

The PPP opposes the bill, saying that the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials are already investigating the case.

The Assembly is operating under the DPKs dictatorship. The DPKs addiction to impeachment and legislative monopoly is beyond common sense. Not only has the DPK made the Assembly its playground, but its not shying away from taking control of the executive branch, judicial branch and media, Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the PPP, said.

When Assembly Speaker Rep. Woo Won-shik tried to end the filibuster at a plenary session, the PPP lawmakers slammed him for not staying politically neutral and asked him to step down from the role.

On Thursday morning, DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae warned Yoon of exercising his veto power following the vote. If Yoon exercises his veto, he will be put on a path for catastrophe and downfall, Park said during a party meeting.

The 22nd Assemblys official opening ceremony, which was scheduled for Friday, has been abruptly postponed after the PPP said it wouldnt attend the event.
Past impeachment cases make opposition prudent in tabling motion

By Nam Hyun-woo

An online petition demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol has secured more than 1 million approvals just two weeks after its posting on the National Assemblys website, gaining increased political attention to whether it will bring tangible outcomes.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other opposition parties are using this public sentiment to boost its criticisms against the administration, but it has not been making tangible legislative actions so far, apparently reflecting on the precedents of impeaching or attempting to impeach former presidents.

The petition, which calls for the Assembly to table an impeachment motion for Yoon, surpassed the 1 million mark as of Wednesday, after gaining a daily average of 100,000 signatures since it was posted on the Assemblys public petition website on June 20.

As of noon on Sunday, the number of approvals surpassed 1.26 million.

The post, which was posted by Kwon Oh-hyeok, secretary general of progressive civic group Candlelight Action, claimed that South Korea is facing an omnishambles after President Yoons inauguration, citing the heightening tensions between the two Koreas, Yoons vetoes on special counsel probes for major political cases and the worsening economic environment.

A National Assembly committee is obliged to review a petition that gains more than 50,000 approvals in 30 days after being uploaded to the website. Due to this, the petition was already handed over to the Assemblys Legislation and Judiciary Committee on June 24.

The committee is headed by DPK Rep. Jung Chung-rae, and its subcommittee which will review the petition is comprised of four DPK lawmakers and one ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker. This means that the DPK can send it unilaterally to the Assemblys plenary session.

Through the petition process, the National Assembly in 2020 legislated a revision to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, better known as Nth Room case prevention law, which refers to a string of criminal sexual exploitation cases that were committed through Telegram chatroom groups.

The DPK is seeing the number of approvals as showcasing the growing public disappointment in Yoon.

Even though the people have reprimanded the administration, the president is not budging at all, resulting in more than 1 million citizens joining the impeachment petition in just two weeks, DPK floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae said in a DPK Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday.

Park also said during the party lawmakers meeting that the presidential office is looking down on the impeachment calls by saying that they do not believe impeachment is possible unless there is a clear violation of the law.

Though Park and other DPK lawmakers were drumming up the growing negative sentiment against the president, they are refraining from clearly stating what the partys next step will be.

DPK spokesperson Rep. Kang Yu-jung told reporters that the party humbly accepts the 1 million petitioners demands and the legislation committee will thoroughly review the petition, adding there could be a hearing if necessary.

However, Kang stressed that the hearing, even if it takes place, will be a procedure required for the committee, not the partys response to the petitions.

Prudent approach

The DPK is taking a prudent approach to this issue because of the difficulties of actually impeaching a serving president and possible political and public backlash if the impeachment bid fails.

Korean laws stipulate that a motion on impeaching a serving president can be tabled at the Assembly when more than half of registered lawmakers propose it, and can pass the Assembly when more than two-thirds of registered lawmakers approve it.

Currently, the DPK holds 175 out of the Assemblys 300 seats, while the PPP has 108. This means that the main opposition is able to table an impeachment motion unilaterally, but needs approvals from at least eight PPP lawmakers even if all minor opposition lawmakers endorse the impeachment.

When it passes the Assembly, the motion will be sent to the Constitutional Court, which then has 180 days to hand down its ruling. In doing so, the chairman of the Assemblys legislation committee will act as a prosecutor while being assisted by a group of lawyers.

In previous impeachment cases, the Constitution Court has been focusing on whether the individual facing impeachment has committed illegalities that threaten the Constitution.

In the latest case, the court on July 25 last year ruled unanimously against the Assemblys vote to impeach Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min for his response to a 2022 deadly crowd crush in Itaewon, saying there was no significant violation of the Constitution or relevant laws that can justify the impeachment.

A similar rationale can be observed in the impeachment case of former President Roh Moo-hyun.

In May 2004, the court turned down the impeachment motion on Roh, saying the presidents acts of violating laws do not bear significance in the perspective of safeguarding the Constitution, and there is no ground to justify the impeachment.

At the time, the Assembly attempted to impeach Roh for his remarks during a Feb. 24 press conference, during which he said I expect voters to show overwhelming support to the Uri Party. The Uri Party was a breakaway party from the liberal Millennium Democratic Party from which Roh was elected as president. The Millennium Democratic Party and the conservative Hannara Party viewed the remark as violating the presidents duty to keep political neutrality.

On the other hand, when the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment motion of former President Park Geun-hye in March 2017, it cited that her corruption allegations were equivalent to betrayal of the trust of the people and must be regarded as serious violations of the law that cannot be tolerated from the perspective of upholding the Constitution.

The previous cases showed that the Constitutional Court upholds an impeachment when there are risks of actual damage to the constitutional order, not just law violations. This means that the DPK, if it seeks to table an impeachment motion against Yoon, needs to verify that Yoon has actually committed serious enough illegalities.

We do recognize public sentiment against the president and mounting calls for the impeachment, but passing an impeachment motion and having it upheld by the Constitutional Court are different matters, a DPK official said on condition of anonymity. It should entail proper legal grounds, and come after thorough reviews at the legislation committee.

Public consent

The political and public backlash that may come in case the impeachment bid fails are another reason the DPK remains cautious.

Though the petition gained more than 1 million approvals, it remains unclear whether this can be interpreted as the peoples consent on the impeachment or a display of extreme political division among the public.

An official at the presidential office said, If the number (of approvals) matters the most, that means former President Moon Jae-in, against whom 1.46 million people petitioned, also should have been impeached.

PPP Rep. Sung Il-jong also said Thursday, We have to ask whether the petition (against Yoon), which is led by an activist who was convicted for violating the National Security Act, truly represents the peoples sentiment.

An online petition posted on February 2020 on a website run by then-presidential office Cheong Wa Dae received more than 1.4 million approvals. At the time, Cheong Wa Dae gave answers to petitions that gained more than 200,000 approvals within 30 days, and the office briefly said it could not answer the petition because that was the role of the Assembly.

The attempt to impeach former President Roh came with a political backlash, as it had not secured widespread public support. After the Assembly passed the motion in March 2004, the public sentiment turned against the opposition parties, with massive candlelit rallies taking place across the nation, denouncing the parties for attempting impeachment without proper legal grounds.

This resulted in Rohs Uri Party clinching a landslide victory in general elections a month later, with opposition heavyweights who pushed the impeachment attempt losing their Assembly seats.

On the other hand, former President Parks impeachment in 2017 came after massive public rallies calling for the president to step down. The impeachment resulted in the then-oppositions frontrunner Moon to take office in the presidential election in May that year.

Public sentiment does not determine the outcome of an impeachment judgment, but it is clear that public consent and proper legal grounds are the most important preconditions, the DPK official said. Political processes should be the tool for that.








Impeachment should be a measure of last resort

In South Korea, the two main pillars of power are the National Assembly and the prosecution, with President Yoon Suk Yeols administration often referred to as republic of prosecutors. On Tuesday, the Assembly-dominating opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) tabled a motion to impeach four incumbent prosecutors. This move arouses a significant anxiety about the Assembly's misuse of impeachment for political revenge and maneuvering.

Impeachment is a potent tool endowed to the Assembly to deal with grave legal infringements by ranking officials in the administration or judiciary. The DPKs recent motion appears politically motivated with the aim of settling scores rather than addressing genuine misdeeds.

The four prosecutors in question led investigations into corruption scandals and a North Korea remittance case, all allegedly involving Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former chairman of the DPK. They include land development cases in Seongnam's Daejang-dong and Baekhyeon-dong, the Ssangbangwool North Korea remittance case and the case of cash envelopes distributed during a national convention of the party.

Last year, the DPK also initiated impeachment against three prosecutors on charges of abusing their indictment power. Yet there was insufficient evidence of any illegal activities by the four prosecutors. For instance, prosecutor Uhm Hee-joon was acquitted in the investigation of illegal political funds involving former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook. In addition, accusations against prosecutor Park Sang-yong lacked concrete evidence. Former Gyeonggi Province Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, who was accused of masterminding the remittance case, has failed to specify the exact time and place of his meeting with Park.

The DPK referred the impeachment motion to the National Assemblys Legislation and Judiciary Committee for deliberation ahead of tabling it for a vote in a plenary session. This indicates the DPKs bid to raise the issue to highlight it as a hotbed political issue at the committee attended by attorneys-turned-lawmakers who previously worked in defense of the former DPK chairman.

The DPKs move is drawing a fierce backlash from prosecutors and the ruling People Power Party (PPP). Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the PPP, slammed the DPK for trying to undermine the very reasons of the Assemblys existence only for the purpose of defending Rep. Lee. Prosecutor General Lee One-seok on Tuesday described the DPKs move as tantamount to enabling the former party chairman to preside over his own case, despite his status as the defendant, with the DPK taking a judiciary role. More than 200 prosecutors including 20 senior officials left comments in the prosecution's intranet critical of the DPKs moves.

The DPKs bid to press for the impeachment is an attempt to make the most of the case as political propaganda by calling in the relevant prosecutors for interrogation at the Assembly committee. Some DPK members have also pointed out the excessiveness of the impeachment bill. They say it is like "calling in the prosecutors in charge of the investigations before the public to humiliate them.

The DPKs current move exemplifies the exploitation of absolute power by a parliamentary majority party. As the top prosecutor put it, it is like a defendant trying to impeach the prosecutors who indicted him in order to intimidate the prosecution and the judiciary. Now Lee and the DPK should answer the following question: Do they deserve to talk about equality before law?

The DPK indicated the possibility of impeaching more prosecutors in the future, vowing to use its power to punish what it calls corrupt and political prosecutors. Now the prosecutors, for their part, should humbly reflect on their previous inappropriate practices including political interference to prevent such misdeeds from happening again.

The DPK should remember the impeachment process should be a measure of last resort, reserved for addressing genuine legal and constitutional violations. The DPKs current approach risks undermining the judiciarys role and eroding public trust in democratic institutions. Both the DPK and the prosecution should uphold the principles of justice and equality before the law to maintain the integrity of South Koreas democratic system.
By Park Jae-hyuk

Korean Air recently signed a partnership agreement with Frances CEVA Logistics to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for its cargo transportation business, the air carrier said Thursday. SAF is an alternative fuel made from non-petroleum feedstocks that reduce emissions in the air transportation industry.

The signing ceremony took place at Air Cargo China Conference 2024 in Shanghai, June 26.

Eum Jae-dong, senior vice president and head of cargo business at Korean Air, and Olivier Boccara, air & ocean division leader at CEVAs Asia-Pacific operation, participated in the ceremony along with senior executives of both companies.

Under the agreement, CEVA will support Korean Airs usage of SAF in its air cargo operations. The Korean airline will share the result of its reduction in carbon emissions with the French logistics firm. Both companies also plan to promote their usage of SAF and raise awareness about reducing carbon emissions in the logistics sector.

We are pleased with the strong support from businesses and cargo customers for our SAF program, Eum said. We will continue to build partnerships that enable our customers to actively and directly contribute to decarbonization efforts.

Boccara emphasized that one of CEVAs key short-term levers to promote decarbonization hinges on collaboration.

Through developing new solutions for our customers with airline partners like Korean Air, we are able to contribute to meaningful change in our industry, the French firms executive said. Extending our SAF offering into the Asian market is a tangible step we can take now as we look ahead to more advances in fuels and other technologies to decarbonize air freight and the global supply chain.

Since September 2023, Korean Air has run a Customer-participation SAF program to engage industry partners in supporting sustainable practices. The air carrier signed partnerships with Koreas LX Pantos last November and Japans Yusen Logistics in January this year for the usage of SAF in its air cargo operations.

In February 2022, Korean Air became the first Korean flag carrier to use SAF, with its implementation on its scheduled Paris-Seoul Incheon route. The airline also signed a memorandum of understanding with Shell in September 2022 to purchase SAF at major airports in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East from 2026 to 2031.
Calls grow for tighter safety monitoring, more crew education

By Lee Min-hyung

Korean Air is mired in yet another scandal on its lax security checks, after one of its flight attendants was caught carrying ammunition with her while boarding a flight from Incheon to Bangkok, according to the police, Thursday.

A female employee attempted to board the flight with live ammunition in her pouch bag, Tuesday, but was stopped by a security official at Incheon International Airport during luggage scanning.

An internal investigation by Korean Air showed that she did not intend to pose any security threat. The airline said the flight attendant brought the old bag she had used at an early age and was not even aware that there was a bullet in it. She picked it up in the street in her childhood and kept it in the bag, according to police investigation.

But this sparked calls for the nations flag carrier to heighten its vigilance on security checks, as the airline was involved in a series of similar controversies in recent years.

A bullet was found underneath a seat on a flight from Incheon to Milan, Italy, on March 24. It was spotted during pre-flight cabin cleaning.

The airline also came under severe criticism for its poor safety monitoring in March 2023 when an American passenger brought with him two bullets on a flight from Incheon to Manila. The passenger jet from Korean Air ended up returning to the terminal shortly before takeoff.

At that time, a total of 230 passengers and cabin crew evacuated the airplane. All of them went through extra security checks, and the flight was delayed for about four hours.

The airline pledged to strengthen security monitoring and education to prevent further security scandals.

We will actively cooperate with the investigation from police and relevant authorities, an official from Korean Air said. Korean Air conducts security education online and offline regularly for all flight attendants. We will further reinforce education and raise their sense of security.

Police allowed the employee to board the flight after taking away the bullet. She will be investigated further upon returning to Seoul.

According to data compiled from Rep. Jeong Dong-man of the ruling People Power Party, a total of 1,439 life-threatening products, such as guns, ammunition and knives, were found during security checks from local airports between 2019 and September 2023. This has raised calls to recruit more security personnel and develop their training systems at the airport.
The labor union of Hyundai Motor, Korea's leading automaker, on Thursday decided to launch a two-day partial strike next week amid stalled negotiations with the company over wages and working conditions.

The union said it has decided to stage four-hour walkouts on Wednesday and Thursday next week. The company and the union have held 11 rounds of wage negotiations since late May.

The labor union has rejected the company's proposal package, which includes a basic monthly salary increase of 106,000 won ($77), an incentive bonus of 350 percent on individuals' monthly salary and other incentives.

The union's demand includes a salary increase of 159,000 won, a 900 percent incentive bonus and the introduction of a four-hour workday on Fridays.

The two sides have reached an agreement to hire 1,100 new manufacturing workers by 2026.

If executed, the walkout would be the first for the company in six years. Hyundai Motor's union has not carried out a strike in the past five years, taking into consideration various factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national trade issues.

Last month, nearly 90 percent of unionized workers voted in favor of a walkout amid stalled negotiations. (Yonhap)
By Park Jae-hyuk

Samsung Electronics and SK hynix started their respective recruitment procedures this week to hire massive numbers of semiconductor experts, amid a fierce competition for leadership in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) chip market, according to industry officials, Thursday.

This is unusual for the two largest chipmakers in Korea to post job openings in July.

Their recent move has been interpreted as part of efforts to lead the market for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which has enjoyed rising global demand following the rapid growth of AI technologies.

Samsungs device solutions (DS) division, which is in charge of its semiconductor business, announced on Wednesday that it will receive job applications until next Tuesday to hire around 800 experienced workers, who will work at the companys facilities nationwide.

The recruitment came just five months after the DS division looked for a large number of skilled workers in February. This is also the first job opening posted under the leadership of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Jun Young-hyun, who was tasked in May with directing the conglomerates semiconductor business.

In addition, the tech giant recently combined its HBM development teams into one, in order to reinforce its research and development on AI chips.

Industry officials view that Samsung has been trying to secure semiconductor experts in advance, as optimism is growing about an upturn in the chip industry. The companys second-quarter operating profit is expected to reach 8.6 trillion won ($6.2 billion), due to a recovery in its earnings from semiconductors.

I am confident that we will be able to overcome the recent difficulties in a short period of time, if we continue communication and discussion, Jun said in his inaugural address in May.

A day after Samsung posted its job opening, SK hynix announced that it will receive job applications from inexperienced applicants until July 12 and from experienced workers until July 15 to hire hundreds of new and skilled employees.

The recruitment drive came after the chipmaker hired experienced workers in April. The company also plans to post another job opening in September to hire those with two to four years of experience in the industry.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea's semiconductor sector faced a shortage of 1,784 workers in 2022 and 1,621 workers in 2020. The Korea Semiconductor Industry Association expects the country's chip industry to face a shortage of 54,000 workers in 2031.
President Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance is reverberating across the Democratic Party, forcing lawmakers to grapple with a crisis that could upend the presidential election  and their own and even change the course of American history.

The Democratic president has vowed to stay in the race against Republican Donald Trump despite the halting and uneven debate delivery that threw a spotlight on questions about Biden's age and capacity to be president. But as Democrats make the case that the stakes of the election are momentous  challenging no less than the foundations of American democracy  they're wrestling with what to do about the 81-year-old who's supposed to be leading the charge for their party.

Here's how Democrats are handling the debate aftermath:

Prominent congressional Democrats have moved in recent days to public concern not just over Bidens performance during the 90-minute debate last week but also the level of transparency his team has shown about his mental fitness. Theyve tiptoed toward embracing the idea Biden should withdraw.

One Biden ally, Rep. James Clyburn, on CNN Wednesday openly discussed holding a mini-primary in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention in mid-August.

After the debate last week, Clyburn had initially urged fellow Democrats to stay the course with Biden and chill out, but by Wednesday his tone had changed.

I saw what I saw last Thursday night, and it is concerning, said Clyburn, who is 83 years old.

In recent days, comments from Clyburn and other senior Democrats including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have provided signposts for a political party in crisis. Still, it was not clear whether their concerns were reaching Biden, who told aides on a Democratic National Committee call that no one is pushing me out.

Clyburn, a senior South Carolina lawmaker who is a former top party leader in the House, also had a lengthy call with Biden on Wednesday.

Pelosi, in an interview Tuesday on MSNBC, called on both Biden and Trump, whos 78, to face tests for their health and mental acuity even though she also emphasized that Biden is on top of his game, in terms of knowing the issues and what is at stake.

I think it is a legitimate question to say is this an episode or is this a condition. So when people ask that question, its legitimate  of both candidates, said Pelosi, D-Calif., whos 84.

Minutes after Pelosi's comments on Tuesday, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, of Texas, became the first sitting Democrat in Congress to call for Biden to withdraw from the race.

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, said Doggett, who's 77.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., also told The New York Times on Wednesday that Biden had a responsibility to drop out of the race.

Lawmakers are also concerned Bidens weaknesses could tamp down potential voters enthusiasm, creating a ripple effect that hurts Democrats as they try to maintain a narrow Senate majority and take back control of the House. Down-ballot Democrats are already confident they can outperform Biden in swing races, but if large numbers of voters reject Biden, it could impact them.

While several vulnerable Democrats have stopped short of calling for Biden to withdraw, they've also cast the situation in stark terms: If Biden continues, Trump will win.

The truth, I think, is that Biden is going to lose to Trump, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat, told an ABC-affiliated television station. "I know that's difficult, but I think the damage has been done by that debate."

With Bidens family urging him to stay in the race, attention has turned to senior Democratic lawmakers who could potentially persuade the president to withdraw his nomination. So far, top Democratic leaders have mostly stood behind Biden in public statements.

There have not been discussions among senior leadership about anything other than making sure we continue to articulate a compelling vision for the future to the American people related to the issues of importance around the economy, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Monday in Pittsburgh.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, posted on X after the debate that it showed voters there was a choice between four more years of progress, or four more years of attacks on our fundamental rights and our democracy.

After days of no direct talk between Biden and congressional leaders, the president late Tuesday and Wednesday held calls with Schumer and Jeffries, as well as Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat who's a close ally of the president, according to people briefed on the calls who insisted on anonymity to discuss them.

Many of Biden's allies have chided the news media for being fixated on Biden's mental capacities, arguing that instead the focus should be put on Trump's record of refusing to accept the results of the 2020 election he lost to Biden and repeatedly lying.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Texas Democrat who's part of Biden's campaign committee, conceded on Friday the debate wasn't what she hoped for but added, I think there needs to be a real conversation about the things that Donald Trump said. It is beyond vile.

The June 27 debate infused a new dynamic into an election contest that had been marked by few surprises. Voters are familiar with Biden and Trump and had previously decided between the two in 2020.

Still, many House Democrats were caught in a state of uncertainty as they faced a barrage of questions on the morning after. The situation has only grown more unpredictable as Democrats contemplate the effects of replacing Biden at the top of the ticket.

Privately, rank-and-file lawmakers have been engaging in calls and conversations amongst themselves as they consider their message to the White House. Many are still holding back public remarks allowing Biden time to make his case in campaign stops and interviews in the days ahead. Many will closely watch his interview with ABC, the first since the debate, later in the week.

But some vulnerable House Democrats are already distancing themselves from the president.

Rep. Jared Golden, a moderate Democrat from Maine, argued the outcome of the election was a foregone conclusion.

While I dont plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win, Golden said in a Bangor Daily News op-ed. "And Im OK with that. (AP)
Donald Trump has established a sizable lead over President Joe Biden in the White House race since the two candidates debated last week, according to separate opinion polls published on Wednesday by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Biden vowed to stay in the 2024 presidential race during a call with campaign staff on Wednesday and sought to reassure top Democrats on Capitol Hill that he is fit for reelection, despite his halting, shaky debate performance last week.

The New York Times and Siena College poll showed Trump, a Republican, building a 6 percentage point lead - 49 percent to 43 percent - over Biden, a Democrat, among registered voters that the Times considered likely to cast ballots in the Nov. 5 election. It was Trump's largest lead in a Times/Siena poll since 2015, when he was campaigning ahead of his 2016 presidential election victory. Among all registered voters in the poll, Trump led by 9 points.

The Wall Street Journal poll showed Trump with a 6 point lead over Biden, compared to a 2 point lead in a survey that the Journal carried out in February.

In both polls, which were conducted nationwide, respondents noted that Biden's age, 81, was weighing on his appeal. Some 80 percent of respondents in the Journal poll, which surveyed 1,500 registered voters from June 29 through July 2, said Biden was too old to seek a second term. That poll had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

The Times poll, which surveyed 1,532 registered voters from June 28-July 2, found that large slices of every demographic  including Black voters and those who said they would still vote for him saw  Biden as "just too old to be an effective president." It had a margin of error of 2.8 points for registered voters.

Biden's debate performance last Thursday against Trump, 78, sparked concern among Democrats about his future as their presidential candidate.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted July 1-2 found Trump and Biden tied among registered voters with 40 percent support each. That poll found one in three Democrats believe Biden should drop out of the race. (Reuters)
The leaders of Russia and China on Wednesday hailed their efforts to harden their anti-Western alliance at a summit in Kazakhstan, seeking to press their influence in the strategic Central Asian region.

Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping were in Astana for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)  a Beijing-led regional bloc that covers Central Asia, India and Iran and is designed as a counterweight to U.S. influence in international affairs.

In televised opening remarks ahead of a bilateral meeting, Putin told Xi that Russia's ties with China were stronger than ever and touted the SCO as a powerful instrument to advance their foreign policy agendas.

"Russian-Chinese relations, our comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, are experiencing their best period in history," Putin said.

Moscow and Beijing have deepened their political, military and economic links since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Both countries have railed against what they call U.S.-led "hegemony" on the world stage and are trying to advance rival regional groups and alliances to push back against Western influence in regions they see as their backyards.

Putin said Wednesday that the SCO was "strengthening its role as one of the key pillars of a fair multipolar world order," using language characteristic of how Moscow bashes the West.

Ahead of the gathering, China's foreign ministry said the summit would "make contributions to promoting security, stability and development of member countries," and advance "lasting peace and common prosperity in the world."

Rivalry

China's Xi said Moscow and Beijing needed to continue developing relations despite difficult global circumstances.

"In the face of the turbulent international situation and external environment, the two sides should continue to uphold the original aspiration of friendship for generations to come," Xi told Putin in brief opening remarks.

Despite inking a "no limits" strategic partnership just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow and Beijing have been rivals for influence in the Central Asian region.

The five countries  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan  are ex-Soviet republics and have historic cultural, linguistic and economic ties to Russia.

But China's rising economic power and sprawling investment has challenged Russian influence.

Central Asia, key to China's flagship Belt and Road infrastructure project, is rich in natural resources and crucial for the overland transport of goods between China and Europe.

Russia's war on Ukraine has also been seen as creating an opening for other powers to swoop into regions that have been traditionally aligned with Moscow.

The ultra-closed Turkmenistan is not a member of the SCO, but the four other Central Asian states are, alongside India, Iran and Pakistan.

The nine-member bloc is complemented by 14 "dialogue partners," such as Turkey and several Gulf states.

'Fair peace'

Putin also met Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an on the sidelines of the summit.

The NATO member, which is positioning itself as a possible mediator in the Ukraine war, is a key trade and finance center for Moscow, which faces heavy Western sanctions.

Erdo?an told Putin that Turkey "can lay the groundwork for a consensus to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, first with a ceasefire and then with peace," according to a readout from the Turkish presidency.

"A fair peace that can satisfy both sides is possible," it added.

Russia's close ally Belarus is set to formally join the SCO on Thursday.

In an interview with Kazakh state media, Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko said the group was "demonstrating to the world that there are alternative international platforms, different centers of power."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also planned to address the two-day summit on Thursday. (AFP)
Israel killed a senior commander in the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Wednesday, the second top field leader killed in less than a month, and the group said it retaliated by firing scores of rockets at Israeli military positions near the border.

The Israeli military estimated that around 100 rockets were fired, and said there were no reports of casualties.

International diplomats are scrambling to prevent the near-daily clashes between Israel and Hezbollah from spiraling into an all-out war that could possibly lead to a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran, which is Hezbollah's main backer. Hezbollah says it will stop its attacks once Israel agrees to a cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

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.

The nearly nine-month war in Gaza has caused massive devastation across the besieged territory and displaced most of its 2.3 million people, often multiple times. Israels military estimated Tuesday that around 1.9 million people are now clustered into the territorys central region.

Evacuees have been told by Israel to seek refuge in an overcrowded coastal area filled with sprawling tent camps where there are few basic services. Israeli restrictions, the ongoing fighting and the breakdown of law and order have curtailed humanitarian aid efforts, causing widespread hunger and sparking fears of famine. The top U.N. court has concluded there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza  a charge Israel strongly denies.

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. (AP)
Joe Biden is "absolutely not" pulling out of the White House race, his spokeswoman said Wednesday, as pressure mounted on the president following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

Panic has gripped Democrats in the wake of last week's TV debate, and internal rumblings about finding a replacement candidate before November's election have been amplified by polls showing Trump extending his lead.

The New York Times and CNN reported that Biden, 81, had acknowledged to a key ally that his reelection bid was on the line if he failed to quickly reassure the public that he was still up to the job.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre rejected those reports outright, insisting Biden has no intention of withdrawing.

"The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race," she told reporters.

In a call with campaign and party staffers, Biden insisted he was going nowhere.

"I'm in this race to the end and we're going to win because when Democrats unite, we will always win. Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, we're going to beat him again in 2024," he said, according to a source close to the campaign.

He repeated that message in an emergency meeting at the White House with Democratic governors, who pledged their continued support, attendees said afterward.

"As the president continued to tell us, and show us, that he was all in...

we said that we would stand with him," Maryland Governor Wes Moore, seen as a rising star and potential future presidential candidate, told reporters alongside Minnesota's Tim Walz and Kathy Hochul of New York.

Walz said Biden was "fit to serve."

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who also attended the meeting and is seen as one of the top picks to replace Biden if he should drop out, said on X that he "is our nominee."

"He is in it to win it and I support him," she added.

Biden has repeatedly admitted he performed poorly in the debate, and was blunt in a radio interview recorded Wednesday with Wisconsin's Civic Media.

"I screwed up. I made a mistake. That's 90 minutes on stage. Look at what I've done in 3.5 years," he said.

Aftermath

The Biden campaign has been desperate to reassure Democratic donors and voters that the president's performance against Trump was a one-off, and not a fatal blow to his hopes of a second term.

But party figures have voiced bafflement over what they see as deflection and excuses from the president and his aides.

The concern was compounded by a New York Times poll conducted after the debate that showed Trump with his biggest lead ever over Biden  49 percent to 43 percent of likely voters.

It wasn't until Wednesday  six days after the debate  that Biden completed a round of calls with Democratic congressional leaders, and staffers have also voiced consternation over the glacial pace of the outreach.

"We are getting to the point where it may not have been the debate that did him in, but the aftermath of how they've handled it," a senior Democratic operative told Washington political outlet Axios.

Biden may be tested on his ability to think on his feet when he sits with ABC News on Friday for his first television interview since the debate, and he will also hit the swing states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in the coming days.

More worrisome

The president has cited fatigue as a new explanation for his poor debate showing, saying that he was unwise to travel "around the world a couple times" before the debate.

But he had been back in the United States for nearly two weeks and spent two days relaxing and six days preparing before the debate.

Democratic lawmakers have begun to go public with their doubts. Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva became the second sitting Democrat to call on Biden to drop out.

"If he's the candidate, I'm going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere," Grijalva said, according to the Times.

In the street where the president grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania, there was sympathy for Biden  but no campaign signs for either candidate.

"I was embarrassed for him. I felt he didn't feel well and he probably shouldn't have gone on the stage," said 73-year-old Jamie Hayes. (AFP)
Militia fighters have attacked a Chinese-linked mining site in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing six Chinese nationals and at least two Congolese soldiers, local officials said Thursday.

China condemned the attack, which took place on Wednesday in Djugu territory in the gold-rich Ituri province.

Djugu administrator Ruphin Mapela said it was carried out by the CODECO (Cooperative for the Development of the Congo) militia. It is mainly made up of fighters from the Lendu ethnic group, which they claim to defend.

Six Chinese nationals and two Congolese soldiers guarding the site were killed, Mapela said.

The Red Cross representative for Djugu, Dhekana Ernest, said the CODECO fighters had come across the Chinese digging for gold.

"They entered their camp, killed six Chinese nationals and three soldiers. The victims were killed with bullets," he said, adding that the corpses were taken to the city of Bunia.

A spokesperson for the army in the region confirmed the toll and added that a Congolese national and six militia fighters were killed.

In Beijing, the Chinese foreign ministry said an attack on on a Chinese-funded private enterprise led to the death and disappearance of several Chinese citizens.

China is in close communication with DRC authorities in the search for those missing, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing.

"We urge the DRC to pursue and punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law as soon as possible," Mao said, while calling for measures to beef up security and protection for Chinese citizens and enterprises there.

"Those already in high-risk areas should be evacuated as soon as possible," she said.

The name of the mine and the company were not immediately available.

In eastern Congo mining concessions, many private Chinese operators partner with local licence holders, sometimes providing funding and machinery to operate. They also bring in Chinese workers.

Wednesday's was the latest deadly militia attack in a region where the violence is linked to long-running competition for influence and rich mineral resources.

CODECO is one of a myriad of militias fighting over land and resources in east Congo. It has been accused in the past by the United Nations of attacks against other communities that could constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Reuters)
The European Union on Thursday slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car imports because of "unfair" state subsidies, despite Beijing's warnings the move would unleash a trade war.

A European Commission probe launched last year concluded that state subsidies for Chinese EV manufacturers were unfairly undercutting European rivals  which Brussels wants to shield as they make the transition from thermal to electric power.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU slammed the tariffs, coming on top of current import duties of 10 percent, as "politically-motivated" and "protectionist," while voicing hope the dispute could yet be resolved through dialogue.

Europeans themselves are split on the move, with Germany and its homegrown auto champions, who do significant trade with China, fearing it will do more harm than good if it leads to a clampdown on EU exports as Beijing has already threatened.

German auto giant Volkswagen slammed the move as "detrimental" while the head of BMW said the tariff battle "leads to a dead end."

France and Italy have pushed for tariffs on Chinese EVs  whose market share in the EU has skyrocketed  but Sweden like Germany has expressed reservations, while Hungary is outright opposed.

The provisional tariffs will kick in from Friday, with definitive duties to take effect in November for a period of five years, pending a vote by the EU's 27 member states.

"Our investigation... concluded that the battery electric vehicles produced in China benefit from unfair subsidization, which is causing a threat of economic injury to the EU's own electric car makers," the EU's trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis said.

In response, the commission imposed provisional duties on major Chinese manufacturers including 17.4 percent for market major BYD, 19.9 percent for Geely and 37.6 percent for SAIC.

Other producers in China that cooperated with the EU will face a tariff of 20.8 percent, while those that did not cooperate would be subject to the maximum 37.6 percent duty.

U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk's Tesla  which manufactures in China  is the only electric automaker that has asked Brussels for its own duty rate, to be calculated based on evidence it has submitted.

The move comes despite the opening of talks between Chinese and EU trade officials, but Brussels will continue "to engage intensively with China on a mutually acceptable solution," trade chief Dombrovskis said.

China's electric car maker Nio said it still hoped for a resolution with the EU, while fellow EV maker XPeng said it would "find ways to minimise the impact on consumers" without changing its international strategy.

EU officials have indicated that, should a negotiated solution emerge, they may not ultimately need to levy the tariffs.

But Dombrovskis cautioned that "any negotiated outcome to our investigation must clearly and fully address EU concerns and be in respect of WTO rules."

Beijing has already signalled its readiness to retaliate by launching an anti-dumping probe last month into pork imports, threatening Spanish exports, and Chinese media suggest further probes could be in the works.

Chinese officials have also railed against EU investigations targeting state subsidies in the green tech sector, including wind turbines and solar panels.

The United States has already hiked customs duties on Chinese electric cars to 100 percent, while Canada is considering similar action.

But Brussels faces a delicate balancing act as it seeks to defend Europe's auto industry  the jewel in its industrial crown  while both avoiding a damaging showdown with China and meeting its targets for slashing carbon emissions.

The EU aims for Europeans to switch massively to electric vehicles as it plans to outlaw the sale of new fossil fuel-powered cars from 2035.

Chinese-made EVs' market share in the EU climbed from around 3 percent to more than 20 percent in the past three years, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association.

Chinese brands account for around 8 percent of that share, it said.

Germany's Kiel Institute for the World Economy, alongside Austrian institutes, predicted the provisional higher taxes would reduce vehicle imports from China by 42 percent. They added that electric car prices could rise by an average of 0.3 to 0.9 percent in the EU.

German auto manufacturers fear any retaliation could hurt their activities in China, and Germany's Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck visited Beijing last month on an 11th hour mission to avert a damaging trade war.

Duties were "generally not suitable for strengthening the competitiveness of the European automotive industry in the long term  we reject them," Volkswagen said in a statement. The EU refused to comment on the criticism. (AFP)
Despite being behind bars, Kris Wu's mom has attempted to sell his car.

On July 3, 2024, it was revealed by a Chinese car broker that Kris Wu's mother attempted to sell her son's car. In a post to social media, the Chinese broker captioned a photo of a car with, "Fan's car." Fan is an abbreviation of Kris Wu's Chinse name, Wu Yi Fan.

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It is likely that Kris Wu's mother opted to use the abbreviated form of his name, "Fan," since Kris is unable to use his full name online due to his arrest.

According to the broker, Kris Wu's car is being sold by the idol-actor's mother on his behalf. Although the regular price of the vehicle is 15.35 million yuan (approximately $2,111,417.06), the car is now being sold for half its price. The vehicle is on sale for six million yuan (approximately $825,309.60).

As of writing, the car has not yet been sold.

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Kris Wu first became famous as a member of EXO in 2012. However, he left the group in 2014 and debuted as a soloist and actor in China soon after. The idol-actor saw a successful career in China until he faced a massive scandal in 2021.

Kris Wu's Sexual Abuse Scandal & Arrest

[Trigger Warning: This section of the article features mentions of rape and sexual assault]

In July 2021, a Chinese college student accused Kris Wu of sexually assaulting women, some underage, while they were intoxicated and unconscious. She claimed Kris Wu raped her several times in 2020 when she was 18 years old. She went on to state that she can speak for at least seven victims, with two of them being minors during the time of the crime.

Kris Wu initially denied the accusations and was promptly investigated by the Beijing Public Security Bureau. Several companies that he represented, such as Bvlgari, Lancome, and Porsche, terminated their contract with Kris Wu.

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He was soon detained by Beijing police and was formally arrested in August 2021 on suspicions of rape. In November 2022, Kris Wu was sentenced to 13 years in prison: one charge saw him guilty of having sexually assaulted three women while they were drunk, leading to an 11-year and six-month sentence, while another charge found him guilty of a crowd to engage in promiscuous activities and the sentence was 1 year 10 months.

After serving his sentence, Kris Wu will be deported from China for rape and group lewdness. In July 2023, an appeal trial was held in an attempt to overturn the ruling. However, the appeal was rejected.

KpopStarz Owns This

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As many have expected, the fleet of Russian warships that recently visited Cuba and conducted military exercises near US waters have arrived in Russia's ally, Venezuela. This was confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense, though only two of the four warships that visited Cuba warships made the port call.

According to the Miami Herald, the Admiral Gorshkov, the most advanced missile frigate in the Russian fleet, arrived along with a Russian oil tanker, Pashin, in the Port of La Guaira, a neighboring city to Caracas. It is expected to stay docked there for several days, much like in Cuba.

The two ships were originally part of the four Russian warships that conducted military exercises off waters near Florida before spending several days in the port of Havana in Cuba. The fleet included the Kazan, an advanced Russian nuclear submarine.

While the Russian fleet was conducting its military exercises in the Atlantic Ocean, at least three US Navy destroyers followed the Kazan as it traveled into the North Atlantic and back up the Florida coast. US officials confirmed. They also tracked the movements of the three other ships as they moved south.

These military exercises come as a show of force from Russia after the US authorized Ukraine that it can strike Russian soil with US-made weapons for the first time since the invasion began. However, the US confirmed that the nuclear submarine, the Kazan, was not carrying nuclear weapons, with US intelligence assessing that the small fleet posed "no threat" to the US.

As for Venezuela, its dictator, Nicolas Maduro, is considered one of Vladimir Putin's biggest allies on the international stage. He has been vocal in expressing his support for Moscow during its invasion of Ukraine and considers the Russian strongman as his "big brother."

Why Are Russian Warships Visiting Venezuela?

It is no secret that the two dictators have forged a close relationship with one another, and Maduro is showing his support to ally Putin's effort to guarantee the Russian naval presence in "remote areas of the oceans," including in the Americas.

READ MORE: Russia Warships Leave Cuba, Head to Venezuela Next

The stop near Caracas was also to highlight the close ties between Moscow and the government of Venezuela, led by Nicolas Maduro. This came as Maduro faces re-election, though he is lagging in the polls.

While Venezuelan authorities have not yet officially confirmed the presence of these Russian warships in the country, crewmembers of the two ships have already been spotted in the city center of La Guaira, according to the Associated Press.

Experts Sound Off on Russia Warships' Visit to Venezuela

As the Russian warships arrived in Venezuela, several international policy experts commented on its impact on the region, including, the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council's Andrew D'Anieri, who noted, "The Kremlin loves their authoritarian buddies, and so this group will also head down to Venezuela to see Nicolas Maduro's forces there as well."

Meanwhile, Ryan Berg, director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told KOAA News 5, "Russian warships can create quite a bit of mischief. Keep in mind that they will be in the region for as long as we're up to Venezuela's contentious July 28 elections, so they could play some kind of role in helping the Maduro regime hang on to power there."

READ MORE: Venezuela Citizens Testify Against Dictator Nicolas Maduro in Argentina Court Over Crimes Against Humanity

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Two Russian naval ships dock in Venezuela after exercises in Atlantic Ocean - Associated Press
Jamaica braces for Hurricane Beryl, a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds, expected to hit the southern coast soon, warns the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).

The storm has killed nine across the Caribbean, with more expected as communication improves.

Union Island saw 90% of homes destroyed or damaged, according to BBC.

A curfew is in place in Jamaica, and Prime Minister Andrew Holness urges evacuations from flood-prone areas.

The Jamaica Public Service Company paused power restoration for worker safety.

NHC's Dr. Michael Brennan warns of "devastating hurricane-force winds," 12 inches of rain, flooding, mudslides, and 9-foot storm surges.

Residents are advised to stay in safe places for at least 12 hours.

READ NEXT: Caribbean Devastated by Record-Breaking Category 4 Hurricane Beryl

Impact Across the Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain.

The Category 4 storm had already killed at least seven people and caused severe damage in the southeastern Caribbean.

Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac were under hurricane warnings.

Although Beryl was expected to weaken, it was still forecast to remain a major hurricane as it moved past Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and toward Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula.

Jamaica declared a state of emergency, with an island-wide curfew and evacuation orders for flood-prone areas.

Prime Minister Holness assured that security forces would maintain order and assist with disaster relief, AP News reports.

Hurricane Beryl, which briefly reached Category 5 status, had maximum maintained winds of 140 mph and was 65 miles from Kingston on Wednesday.

Heavy rains threatened flash flooding and mudslides.

The storm was expected to impact Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and potentially hit the Gulf coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas.

In the Caribbean, rescue crews assessed the damage, with three deaths in Grenada and Carriacou, one in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and two in Venezuela, where five people were missing.

Approximately 25,000 people in Venezuela were affected by heavy rainfall.

Damage and Response

A fatality in Grenada occurred when a tree fell on a house, according to Environment Minister Kerryne James.

Carriacou and Petit Martinique suffered the most damage, with many homes and businesses flattened.

Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell reported widespread power outages and impassable roads.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves pledged to rebuild, noting that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed.

Journalist Mikey Hutchinson described extensive damage to homes and agriculture in Grenada, Aljazeera noted.

The destruction recalled Hurricane Ivan from 20 years ago, which devastated Grenada.

United Nations Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell highlighted the worsening climate crisis, pointing to Hurricane Beryl's impact on his parents' home in Carriacou and other global climate-related disasters.

Beryl, the Atlantic season's first hurricane, is an early and intense storm, reflecting climate change's influence.

It rapidly strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in under 10 hours, the fastest recorded before September.

The 2024 hurricane season is expected to be highly active, with up to 25 named storms, including 13 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

This projection surpasses the average of 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes.

READ MORE: Hurricane Beryl Upgrades to Category 5, Targets Jamaica After Caribbean Devastation

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Hurricane Beryl roars toward Jamaica after killing at least 6 people in the southeast Caribbean - From WHAS11
The landmark Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity has many legal experts worried that absolute immunity would lead to dictators, especially as Donald Trump has promised he would become one himself and use the office of the presidency to go after political opponents. This has led to a proposal to amend the Constitution so this would not happen.

Rep. Joseph Morelle of New York, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, is trying to "ensure that no president is above the law" and sent a letter to colleagues informing them of his intent to file a resolution to amend the Constitution.

"This amendment will do what SCOTUS failed to do - prioritize our democracy," he told the Associated Press in a statement. He would be filing a resolution to amend the US Constitution, which has been described as "traditionally a cumbersome" process.

The lawmaker also noted that former president and convicted felon Donald Trump "must be held accountable for his decisions. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment and stand with me on the front line to protect our democracy," adding, "Presidents are citizens, not tyrants."

The Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity came as Donald Trump argued that as president, he has absolute immunity and could not be prosecuted for crimes he did while in office. The Supreme Court partially agreed and ruled that presidents do have absolute immunity, but only for official acts and are not immune for personal and unofficial acts.

Legal experts pointed out that this is a frightening idea as presidents could simply do illegal acts without impunity as they could just claim crimes they committed while in office were just official acts so they would be absolutely immune.

A hypothetical example would be a sitting president running for re-election having Seal Team 6 assassinate his political rival and not be prosecuted for it because he claimed it was an official act.

READ MORE: Trump Supporters Get Poked Fun At, Get Their Flawed Logic Exposed by Daily Show's Jordan Klepper

Supreme Court's Presidential Immunity Ruling a 'Mockery' of the Law, Say Legal Experts

One of the country's founding fathers, Patrick Henry, warned that the presidency must have legal checks and limit his/her power as an ambitious president would not hesitate to crown himself a "monarch."

As The Guardian's Corey Brettschneider noted, "Private acts are not why the question of immunity matters. The most dangerous acts of a president are those that are official."

This can be seen in Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor's warning in her dissent. The Supreme Court's first Latina Justice warned that a president attempting to use the military to illegally retain power after losing an election could be protected from prosecution.

What the Current US President Says About Supreme Court Ruling on Presidential Immunity

While Donald Trump is taking a victory lap after the Supreme Court presidential immunity ruling, President Joe Biden was none too happy, noting that the decision was a blow to Democracy and the rule of law.

"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. "It's a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law, the only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone."

READ MORE: '2000 Mules' Donald Trump Propaganda Movie Still Being Spread After Being Debunked, Losing Court Battle

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Analysis of Supreme Court's decision on Trump immunity case - CBS Mornings
The combination of the Joe Biden administration's strict border policies and pressure on countries along the migration route seems to be working as fewer and fewer migrants seem to be crossing the US-Mexico border since the Biden crackdown started. Migrants themselves also admit that getting to the US is much harder now, with some even pausing their journeys in the meantime.

The preliminary Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data seem to be backing the administration's claims that the crackdown is working, with CBP agents processing around 84,000 migrants who crossed the US-Mexico border without authorization in June. This is now the lowest monthly level for migrants captured at the southern border since Biden first took office.

According to CBS News, this is also the fourth straight monthly drop in migrant apprehension numbers as the unexpected downward trend in illegal border crossings that started in the early spring continues to happen. In February, there were 141,000 recorded apprehensions, and it fell to 137,000 in March. It fell even more to 129.000 in April and then again to 118,000 in May. However, the largest drop so far has happened in June.

While there are exemptions for unaccompanied children and those who wait in Mexico for a chance to be processed at a port of entry, the Biden border crackdown has allowed US immigration officials to deport larger numbers of migrants as quickly as possible.

"The numbers have been going down before the presidential announcement, but they went down a lot more afterwards, so I think you have to give some credit to that," stated the president of the Migration Policy Institute, Andrew Selee. "We have to assume, if nothing else, that in the short term, it has dissuaded some people."

Migrants Staying in the Amazon and Pausing Journey to US, Say Getting There Harder Now

One of the countries that migrants stop in is Brazil, as many flee their respective countries to get a better life in the United States. However, since Joe Biden's border crackdown began, many of these migrants, particularly ones from Venezuela, have decided to stay in Brazil for a while.

READ MORE: Panama New President Jose Raul Mulino Sworn In, Promises Migration Crackdown

One of them is Venezuelan migrant Johany "Flaca" Rodriguez, 48, who was staying in a shelter holding 45 people in Assis Brasil, near the Peru-Brazil border. She told the Associated Press that she and many others are now waiting to see what happens next after others told her how difficult the journey to the US has now become.

"I have to stay here until it is safer to go," she told the outlet. "I am not super happy about staying (in Brazil), but that's what I can do."

Migrants Started Staying in Brazil Since Joe Biden's Border Crackdown Started

While illegal border crossings in the US have gone down, this has also affected Brazil as the migrants are now forced to stay in the country and not even make the trek north, across the Darien Gap and Central America, to get to Mexico.

Many of the migrants arriving in Brazil are Indians, Bengalis, Senegalese, and Nigerians, all seeking to get to the US. However, many are now staying in the Brazilian state of Acre and not continuing their journey, as the crackdown has proven more difficult to deal with than they have imagined.

Many of these migrants are not planning to leave any time soon and may leave as soon as the US eases its border policies.

READ MORE: Joe Biden Border Crackdown Sees Migrant Arrests Down by 40% as Fewer Migrants Cross Border, Says Alejandro Mayorkas

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Illegal border crossings down 40% since asylum crackdown, Homeland Security says - CBS News
The United States and Venezuela have once again reopened negotiations after the US reimposed sanctions against Venezuela over dictator Nicolas Maduro breaking his promise of conducting free and fair elections in the country, including allowing banned candidates to run for president.

Negotiations broke down as soon as the Maduro-aligned Supreme Court decided to uphold the ban on the united opposition coalition's leader and the election's previous presidential frontrunner, Maria Corina Machado, from holding office.

Venezuela's chief negotiator Jorge Rodriguez confirmed that the two sides began talking again on Wednesday, with Washington revealing that it urged the Maduro regime to ensure that elections scheduled for July 28 will be "competitive and inclusive."

Rodriguez stated that the meeting was virtual and that both countries agreed to work on improving their complicated relationship and maintaining "constructive and respectful" communication, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, the US has expressed concern about whether or not Maduro will follow through with his promises this time and ensure a free and fair presidential election. Polls in Venezuela have shown that the dictator is currently far behind in the polls against Edmundo Gonzalez, a veteran ex-diplomat who now serves as Machado's replacement after her disqualification was upheld.

The US has accused the Maduro regime of breaking its promise to not just the US but also the Venezuelan opposition. This led to the US reimposing oil sanctions against Venezuela. For his part, Maduro has stated that he had already accepted a US proposal to resume direct talks.

"We discussed a wide range of issues and continued to urge competitive and inclusive elections on July 28 in Venezuela," revealed a White House National Security Council spokesperson regarding the Wednesday meeting.

READ MORE: Russia Warships Arrive in Venezuela After Stay in Cuba

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Urges Venezuela for 'Free and Open Space for Debate'

It is not just the US that is urging Venezuela, a country now infamous for human rights violations and forcing its populace to flee en masse, to clean up its act, but also the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

"My Office continues to receive reports of detentions as election day approaches, including of supporters and members of the opposition," he said. "This does not augur well, and I urge a change to such practices."

Nicolas Maduro on the Defensive as Venezuela Elections Loom

As for Maduro himself, his oppressive tactics may have come back to haunt him as he currently trails Edmundo Gonzalez in the polls. The infamous dictator has been speculated to have previously won via cheating, and many are afraid that he would do so again, allegedly.

His oppressive tactics have forced the opposition to campaign mostly via social media, but still, the opposition has pressed the offensive as Machado has campaigned for her replacement vigorously, showing that despite the repression, Maduro may be booted from power should he keep his promise to have the elections be free and fair.

"Never before has the opposition enjoyed such a gap in a presidential election," John Magdaleno, a political scientist and director of the Polity consulting group, told Reuters. Despite this, doubts still linger, given Maduro's tendencies.

READ MORE: Venezuela Citizens Testify Against Dictator Nicolas Maduro in Argentina Court Over Crimes Against Humanity

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Venezuela: Electoral process begins with Sunday's voting drill - TeleSUR English
Endangered milu deer thrive in China reserve as population tops 8,000

Xinhua) 10:15, July 04, 2024

NANJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The population of milu, commonly known as Pere David's deer, has exceeded 8,000 for the first time in a national reserve in China dedicated to protecting this endangered species.

The Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve in eastern Jiangsu Province welcomed 825 newborns this year after the calving season ended in June, according to the provincial forestry authorities.

The species endemic to China was believed to be extinct in the early 20th century. The deer gets its English name from a French missionary and naturalist who came to China in the 1800s and spread the news of this species to Europe.

The population of this endangered deer species has maintained healthy and steady growth in the reserve, increasing from 7,840 last year to 8,216 now.

The deer population in the reserve began to revive after 39 milu deer were gifted by the British government in 1986.

According to Xu Anhong, of the reserve administration, when the reserve was first established, there were no water facilities, roads, or power supply in the area. However, 38 years later, the coastal tidal zone has been transformed into a lush oasis.

"We didn't know what the deer liked to eat, so we tried different grass varieties and observed their behavior," Xu said.

At present, the population of milu deer in China has exceeded 12,000, accounting for more than 80 percent of the global total.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
American Solar Return

The United States of America celebrates the 248th return of the sun to the place it was when the Second Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. This years celebration occurs between a significant retrograde and a new moon, reflecting a sense of being in the thick of things, sorting through the complexities of democracy.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your favorite people will be part of the fun. You take care of them, and they take care of you -- often at the same time. Youre a genius at steering interactions in a positive way and keeping the good vibes flowing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You have strong intuition. Write down a prediction; its a gift to future-you. Tonight offers the chance to fix one small problem that will in turn fix or prevent many others in the days to come.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There is art in the concept, but the concept is not the art until its executed. This is why it behooves you to get into construction mode as soon as possible. If you cant build it today, what small step can you make today with the intent to bring it to life?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Its possible to like someone and love them, too. Its also possible to love someone and not like them at all. The mind and heart have their own agenda. It will sync up nicely today, and this is nothing to take for granted. Celebrate!

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Nothing about you needs to change, except maybe your location. When youre in the right spot, everything falls in line and makes sense. When youre not in the right spot, keep moving. Youre going to find it!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You dont have to spend a lot of money to get what you want, but you will have to spend some. Choose quick and keep working. Maybe you could save a few bucks by shopping around, but getting on with your life has a greater value.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Every emotion has something to teach you. Anger can motivate, jealousy can teach you your own values, frustration shows you your relationship to time and helps you understand where to set your expectations. Love opens up the world.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When you share good news, you find out who your real supporters are. The ones who cannot immediately love and celebrate your success are probably not true supporters, but it doesnt mean they dont belong somewhere in the system.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may research, interview and investigate, all very helpful. But theres only one thing that will show you what is really up, and of course thats doing the thing. You may not feel ready, but youre ready-ish, and thats ready enough.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Because you notice what people need before others see it (and maybe even before the needy one does), youll be in a position to speak to a problem while its small and easier to remedy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Off-beat invites, pitches and offers will be the best kind to agree to. They are a chance to create a memory. Its better to have a new and different experience than to do something comfortable but ultimately forgettable.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Dont drive yourself too hard or youll only rebel against yourself later. Finding the right-sized challenge will be your gift and your success secret.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (July 4). Youre focused on others and youll quest for the thriving of your people, community and world. Its fulfilling and youll make a difference over and over. In the process youll stumble onto happiness more often than not. Other highlights: A proud funding, celebrating dear relationships and three items checked from the bucket list. Virgo and Gemini adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 13, 2, 28 and 15.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Born on the same day as America, former first daughter Malia Obama is a loyal Cancer with Venus and Mars in Gemini, the sign of communication. Shes fast on her feet, a quick thinker and an excellent debater. Moon in Scorpio points to a rich inner life, and love of solitude and privacy, yet the spotlight has irresistible magnetism for someone with a natal Mercury in Leo.

Holiday Mathis debut novel, How To Fail Epically in Hollywood, is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and ebook. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

COPYRIGHT 2024 CREATORS.COM
Latino leaders, community members in the Lehigh Valley and first lady Jill Biden agree: career-connected programs are crucial to todays youth, especially in the Latino community.

The first lady visited to Lehigh Carbon Community Colleges Allentown campus on Tuesday with U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, D-7th Dist., to discuss Lehigh Valley education and workforce development. The event hosted by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus brought together more than 70 people, including students, leaders and community members.
Steel-gray clouds threatened rain that would hold off as Frank Ferruccio and friends paid their respects in a rural Pennsylvania cemetery Saturday.

They gathered at the grave of someone theyd never met, but who visitor Nicci Guiseppe, from Lebanon, Pa., said means everything to her.

Jayne Mansfield was laid to rest in the quiet Fairview Cemetery outside Pen Argyl in 1967, following her death 57 years ago Saturday in a car crash en route from Biloxi, Mississippi, to New Orleans.

Its truly a labor of love that draws Ferruccio to Mansfields grave twice each year  once for her birthday in April, and once for the day she died. Since first visiting her resting place in the early 1980s, hes written three books on Mansfield. His latest, a coffee-table book hes selling on eBay called Jayne Mansfield Unpublished, is crammed full of photos of the starlet  many of which Guiseppe colorized from the black-and-white originals. His first on Mansfield, Diamonds to Dust, he had made into a 2014 feature film of the same name.

Frank Ferruccio holds books he's written on the life of Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield beside her grave in Fairview Cemetery outside Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, on the 57th anniversary of her death in a car crash June 29, 1967.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Mansfield was born Vera Jayne Palmer on April 19, 1933, and spent her early years in Phillipsburg, prior to her fathers death and the surviving familys move to Dallas, Texas.

Her second husband, Mickey Hargitay, honored her wishes to be buried in the family plot in Plainfield Township, part of Northampton Countys Slate Belt, according to Ferruccio.

Ive loved it, Ferruccio said of his years honoring Mansfields life and making sure her grave is freshly decorated with flowers in her favorite color, pink. Ive hung out here. Ive spent hours here at a time. People are always like, Youre such a freak  Ive laid on her grave and Ive read her biographies and I would be like asking her, Is that true? And then I wrote my own book so I know that its true.

Jayne Mansfield by the swimming pool at the Hollywood Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. This image was digitized by the Alabama Department of Archives and History from physical photographic archives donated by Alabama Media Group, an Advance Local sister organization of New Jersey Advance Media.Ed Jones File Photo | Alabama Media Group

Jayne Mansfield by the swimming pool at the Hollywood Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. This image was digitized by the Alabama Department of Archives and History from physical photographic archives donated by Alabama Media Group, an Advance Local sister organization of New Jersey Advance Media.Ed Jones File Photo | Alabama Media Group

Ferruccio found his love of Mansfield through another stunning blonde contemporary of hers: Marilyn Monroe. He was by far the youngest of three children, with a sister 17 years his senior and brother a decade older, and he grew up basically an only child. Old movies were his comfort.

And I loved Marilyn. Something got me with the blonde and the wiggle, Ferruccio said. And every time I researched Marilyn I found something on Jayne, and I was like, Who is this Jayne? What is she about?

Ferruccio would devour his first details of Mansfields life in a library book he picked up in Edison, New Jersey  a four-town bike ride from his home outside Princeton where he grew up and has returned to live after spending time in New York, Los Angeles and Pennsylvanias Delaware River-side New Hope.

They always talked derogatorily about Jayne when it came to Marilyn, that she was an imitator, she was the truck drivers version of Marilyn  they belittled her image, put Marilyn up on this big pedestal, Ferruccio said Saturday. So I became very curious.

In 1982, at age 14, his brother drove him to Pen Argyl, and Ferruccio began his commitment he maintains today to keep Mansfields gravestone flowers worthy of her memory.

Its where, two years later, Ferruccio met and befriended Mansfields mothers sister Helen Milheim.

I was here in 1984, kneeling on her grave, he said Saturday. I had brought flowers like that and I saw a white Cadillac convertible, which was Jaynes forte, with the top down, come in with my peripheral vision. She came around and she parked. And I saw a pink scarf and blonde hair, which really freaked me out.

She came up, she stood right behind me, practically touching me, Ferruccio recalled, the flowers offering the opening into the new friendship. Shes like, Do you bring them? Im like, Yeah. Shes like, Did you know her? And Im like, No, Im just a really big fan. I didnt even look at her face, but then I turned around: She had platinum blonde hair, pink scarf, pink suit. Im like, Did you know her?

That was my niece.

Jayne Mansfield aficionado Frank Ferruccio, second from left, is joined by Nicci Guiseppe, from left, Kelly Marmol, Gary Reider and Stephen Ballschmieder at the grave of the Hollywood star in Fairview Cemetery outside Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, on the 57th anniversary of her death in a car crash June 29, 1967.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Both sets of Mansfields grandparents are buried in the family plot, as is Milheim, who died 2005. So is Mansfields mother and the man she married after the death of Mansfields father, who is buried in the same cemetery but at a different plot from the rest of the family.

But Jaynes maternal side is all around her here, and thats why shes buried here, Ferruccio said.

Mansfield got her start in Hollywood with a cold call to Paramount Studios, Ferruccio said: Hi, Im a really sexy blonde, my measurements are 42-18-35 1/2, and I would like to be a movie star, he said of her introduction. And that got her a screen test, her ballsiness, and because of that she became within two years of moving to Hollywood from Texas  one of the No. 1 stars in the world.

With an IQ of 163, Mansfield spoke German, Spanish, French, Italian and English and was a piano and violin virtuoso, Ferruccio said.

She was going to become a star in some way no matter what, he said. And it turned out after all that she became a star by being known as a dumb blonde. That was the irony of it. Sadly, because she instilled that image so intensely in the public eye, it was also her downfall. Because when the 60s came she wasnt given those opportunities that other actresses got to play serious roles. They only thought she was like a one-trick pony.

Mansfield appeared in Playboy in 1955. Its considered her first big break, according to a retrospective at legacy.com, and came the same year she signed on with Warner Brothers to begin making the movies that would wow generations of fans on the silver screen.

Ferruccio is quick to rattle off more of the numbers that helped define Mansfield: 29 movies, five children, three marriages.

Toward the end of her life, she was doing nightclub appearances earning her $2,500 a night  like the performance June 28, 1967, before her fateful ride.

The Biloxi venue owner borrowed his wifes Buick and assigned as driver for Mansfield and her family a teenage employee whod been working a 24-hour shift at a nearby airbase. Approaching New Orleans, they came to a stretch slick from the mist of mosquito spray applied minutes earlier, and the car slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer at 80 mph.

Mansfield, boyfriend Sam Brody, and driver Ronald Harrison were killed. Her children in the back seat, 8-year-old Miklos, 6-year-old Zoltan and Mariska, 3, survived with minor injuries. Mansfield was just 34.

Ferruccio credits Mariska Hargitays own acting career with helping to reignite interest in Mansfield, and counts two new books in the works on the starlets life. Hargitay stars as Capt. Olivia Benson in the NBC property Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, whose 26th season is set to premiere in fall.

Ferruccio said his intense investigation into Mansfields life has included years of defending her children from macabre speculation shed been decapitated in the crash 57 years ago into the rear of the truck, which peeled back the Buicks roof. A look back at Mansfield published on the crashs 50th anniversary by nola.com explained that a (New Orleans) Times-Picayune crash-scene photo fueled those rumors by showing her wig tangled in the cars windshield. According to that report, federal highway regulations that took effect in 1998 required trucks to be equipped with a Rear Underrun Protection System to prevent such devastating effects of rear-end truck collisions, but which took on a more colloquial name.

It was because of Jayne that it became a federal regulation that they have the Mansfield bar on the back of the trucks so that you cant easily go under the back of the trucks, Ferruccio said.

The family knows of Ferruccios dedication and appreciates it, he said. Two years ago, Ferruccio said, Mansfields family had the grave power-washed and glazed, with the relatives nearby markers restored, as well.

Ferruccios purchased his own burial plot a few feet from Mansfields, but expects to have plenty to do before its used.

Its been my mission to keep the grave nice, Ferruccio said.

Frank Ferruccio stands atop his own burial plot a few feet from the grave of Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield in Fairview Cemetery outside Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, on the 57th anniversary of her death in a car crash June 29, 1967.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

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A man denied having a bald tyre at a car meet in Glendine in the Slieve Bloom Mountains two days before Christmas.

Martin Joseph Freaney (28) of Fallagh Mor, Ballyadams, Ballylinan was accused of having a front right bald tyre at Glendine on December 23, 2023.

Garda Hogan gave an outline of the events at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.

On December 23, 2023 at Glendine outside Mountrath there was a meet with approximately 20 cars, he explained.

He told the court that all of the cars attending the car meet were inspected by gardai.

On this particular vehicle the front right tyre was below the 1.6mm thread depth, said garda Hogan.

A fine was issued to the defendant but it was never paid, he said.

How can they determine it was less than 1.6mm if it was never tested? the defendant asked. He brought photos of his car tyres to show the court.

Garda Hogan insisted the tyre was checked and he said the picture could have been taken at any time.

The defendant said he was initially sent a summons for both front tyres.

Judge Andrew Cody said he had struck out the summons for the left bald tyre as no evidence had been provided.

The defendant called into his local garda station in Ballylinan on Christmas eve where he said a garda at the station advised him to take photographs of the tyres. He said the garda advised him to take the pictures on the day as there was no way he could buy new tyres on Christmas eve or Christmas day.

Judge Cody asked the man what measurement he believed his tyres were. The man estimated that they were 3mm.

The guard did not test my tyres, he insisted.

Garda Hogan said I personally checked the tyres on every vehicle that was up there. He said only vehicles with bald tyres or other issues received fines. He said the tyres were checked by more than one garda and he recalled Sgt Mick OConnell of the Roads Policing in Portlaoise being at the scene.

The defendant claimed a female garda had checked his licence and details and said it was ok.

Then the next garda came over and flashed a light at the face of the wheel and said I am doing you for two tyres, the defendant said. He claimed the thread depth was never measured by gardai.

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby asked the defendant who the garda was that advised him to take the pictures.

The defendant admitted he didnt know the name of the garda as he said he was new to Ballylinan.

Sgt Kirby asked Garda Hogan about the defendants contention that he hadnt tested the thread depth on the tyre.

Garda Hogan said he remembered it well as gardai had been plagued with calls and because it was raining on the night in question. I was down on my hands and knees.

He said he could see the depth was below the minimum 1.6mm and he explained that not all of the cars at the car meet were issued with fines.

Judge Andrew Cody asked Garda Hogan what he had used to check the depth of the tyre threads.

Garda Hogan said he had used a depth checker but he admitted he had not made a note on the night in question. He told Judge Cody that some of the drivers left the area with different tyres.

They were changing their tyres before leaving the Glendine, he said.

The defendant said he hadnt changed tyres that night in the area.

Judge Cody asked if the defendant worked and what car he had been driving.

He was told the man was driving a BMW 320, that he was unemployed and that he had no previous convictions.

Judge Cody convicted him for having a bald tyre and fined him 350.
Naas-based Irish Dog Foods has agreed a trial contract with ALDI to supply product to three regions of ALDI's US stores, it was announced today.

Valued at $400,000, Irish Dog Foods will initially supply three regions of ALDI US stores as part of a product trial starting this month.

Irish Dog Foods has a rich history with ALDI, having supplied pet care and pet food to ALDI Ireland for almost 20 years. The company also supply ALDIs UK and Dutch markets. The value of its UK contract is 30 million.

During their time working together, the company has supplied over 220 private label and own brand  Irish Rover  products to 1,200 ALDI Ireland and UK stores. In 2023, Irish Dog Foods supplied product worth over 7 million to ALDI Ireland and 35.5 million to ALDI UK.

Both companies have collaborated on new private label product ranges, in addition to working closely together to meet shared sustainability goals. During the past two years, ALDI has moved a significant portion of its private label product to recyclable, paper packaging, contributing to its sustainability pledges.

Irish Dog Foods

Founded in 1985 and owned by the Arrow Group, Irish Dog Foods employ 370 people across their Kildare headquarters and production facilities in Kilkenny and the UK. The company recently expanded its Kildare facility to create additional production capacity to take on new business including ALDI US.

Irish Dog Foods recently acquired South African pet food facility Afrique, which employs around 300 people. The business currently exports its pet food products to over 40 countries, with the UK and US key markets.

ALDI Ireland

The announcement comes as ALDI marks 25 years in Ireland in 2024. One of the largest retailers operating here, ALDI employ over 4,650 people across its 161-store network in Ireland. ALDI has invested more than 10 billion with Irish suppliers since 1999 and currently work with a network of more than 330 Irish businesses.

Commenting on the announcement today, Liam Queally, Managing Director of Irish Dog Foods said: "We are proud to partner with ALDI, providing high-quality, nutritious dog food that meets the high standards of our customers. Our collaboration ensures that pet owners have access to affordable and healthy options for their pets, reflecting our commitment to animal well-being and customer satisfaction.

We have a long history of success with ALDI and have benefited from their international presence, opening global markets for us and our business. This trial reflects the success of our partnership and the quality products, provenance and service we bring to ALDI and their customers. We look forward to continuing to nurture our partnership with ALDI and our business to meet the needs of our growing customer base.

Colin Breslin, Managing Director of Buying and Services, ALDI Ireland said:"ALDI is deeply committed to supporting our Irish suppliers. This year, we are marking 25 years of operations in Ireland, and we recently published a report detailing ALDIs economic impact in Ireland since 1999. This includes spending more than 10 billion with Irish suppliers in that time. This demonstrates the scale of our commitment, and today were proud to work with more than 330 Irish suppliers, as part of our strategy of continuing to provide value to all our stakeholders and suppliers.

Were particularly proud of the long-standing partnerships weve developed with suppliers such as Irish Dog Foods, neighbours of ours in Naas. Opening international markets to them and other Irish suppliers is something we're proud of and is testament to the quality, provenance and success of these Irish businesses who are competing internationally. Were pleased to support Irish Dog Foods with this latest opportunity and were sure that their products will prove just as popular with ALDI US customers as they have in Ireland.
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The Further Education and Training Centre  Drumshanbo, under the auspices of the Mayo Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) celebrated their Graduation Ceremony on June 20, 2024, in The Jackalope Cafe, The Shed Distillery, Drumshanbo.

(L to R)  Health Nutrition and Food Science Graduates: Avril Cox (tutor), Cassandra O'Donnell, Maureen O Donnell, Nicole Renshaw, Valeriia Otchenko, Fiona Hannon (tutor). Missing from photo: Peter Roberts

It was a fantastic opportunity for learners and staff alike to enjoy an evening together celebrating their achievements over the past number of years.

The centre itself runs QQI Level 5 courses under the VTOS (Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme) and the PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) programmes which are designed to provide free QQI certified courses to unemployed adults, and students who have recently finished post primary education, with a view to helping these people upskill, retrain, gain employment or go onto further/higher education.

Our QQI Level 5 courses for September 2024 are:

Business & IT with Payroll & Bookkeeping (VTOS and PLC)

Health Nutrition and Food Science

Tourism with Business and

Traditional Irish Music

The VTOS courses:

Are free of charge.

Allow students to retain their social welfare benefits (even if they miss a day of class).

Provide an increase to 232 for adults aged 2125 who are on an aged reduced rate of payment.

Qualify for National Childcare Scheme (NCS) formerly known as CETS.

Provide meal and travel allowances.

Provide the loan of a laptop for the duration of the course.

Provide CV and interview preparation.

Provide one to one meetings with an adult guidance counsellor.

With a potential 390 CAO points available there is the opportunity of progression to university.

Provide Microsoft Office Specialist as an ad-on.

Include relevant work experience and field trips.

Include the opportunity to travel abroad for two weeks work experience under the Erasmus+ Programme  accommodation, travel and living expenses are covered.

For further information check out:

www.fetchcourses.ie choose the location: Leitrim and sub-location: Drumshanbo

The websites www.vtosleitrim.ie and www.dvs.ie.

Facebook or search Drumshanbo Vocational School.

Call Sean Bailey on 086-0624200 or email seanbailey@msletb.ie for VTOS courses.

Drumshanbo Vocational School on 071-9641085 or email info@dvs.ie for the PLC course.

The tutors in the centre would like to thank all the learners for their hard work and dedication and wish them the best of luck in their future personal, professional and educational careers.

The centre would also like to thank our cleaner in the centre, Mary Healy for keeping the place clean and tidy, the Jackalope Cafe for their fantastic food and Willie Donnellan for his patience and excellent photography work on the night.
The Parents Council of St Aidan's NS in Kiltimagh have paid a moving tribute to their "beautiful 2nd class pupil Abbigael Moore-Tournie and her loving mother Aisling Moore".

The mother and daughter died tragically when their car was involved in a crash with a lorry at Lismoran, Foxford, County Mayo, Tuesday evening, 2nd July 2024.

The collision happened on the N26 at approximately 5.45 pm, resulting in the deaths of Aisling (46) and Abbigael (8).

"Abbigael was a beautiful child. So full of life. Always smiling. It is heartbreaking to think she has been taken so suddenly in such a tragic way. She was a much-valued pupil and friend of 2nd class. All her friends adored her as she was always so much fun to be around," the parents council said.

They added that Aisling was so well-known and liked among all the parents within their school community.

"She always had a kind word for everyone. She was a beautiful soul. Her gentle presence always brought a sense of calm. She was so devoted and proud of Abbigael. You would never see one without the other," they said.

They recounted how Aisling and Abbigael were in school on Friday evening for the Uniform Exchange.

"Little Abbigael had her blue eye shadow on and with a twinkle in her eye she said to us 'I think I'm allowed to cartwheel in here since no teachers are around' - without a reply off she went! She was so pleased and happy with herself walking out the door.

"Aisling offered to stay and help which was not unlike her as she was always so supportive of the Parents Association.

We offer our heartfelt condolences to Aisling and Abbigael's family, friends and neighbours at this devastating time. We are also thinking of all Abbigael's friends in 2nd class, the staff and parents of St Aidan's.

"Aisling and Abbigael you will be forever a part of our school community and we will always remember the joy and the 'much love' you brought to it.

"May Aishling and Abbigael Rest in Peace. Forever together like they always were," the Parents Council said.

Their Funeral Mass will take place this Saturday, July 6 at 12 oclock in Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Swinford prior to burial in Swinford cemetery.

They will be reposing in Swinford Cultural Centre, Swinford (F12WK83) on Friday, July 5 from 5 oclock to 8 oclock.
Ultra Lithium Receives Cash Notice From Power Minerals Limited





VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultra Lithium Inc. (TSXV:ULT, OTCQB: ULTXF and Frankfurt: QFB) ("Ultra Lithium" or the "Company") today announced it has received a cash notice ("Cash Notice") from Power Minerals Limited ("Power Minerals") for the full repayment of amounts outstanding under a convertible loan agreement ("CLA") between the two companies.



The Company and Power Minerals entered into the CLA on May 12, 2023. Under the CLA, Power Minerals advanced an interest-bearing loan of AUD $1.13 million to the Company. On October 25, 2023 the Company pre-paid the sum of AUD $150,000 to Power Minerals.

The July 1, 2024 Cash Notice demands repayment by the Company of the full outstanding balance under the CLA in the amount of AUD $1,098,246 within 10 business days of receipt of the Cash Notice.

The Company intends to pay the amount specified in the Cash Notice in full within the time and in the manner specified in the CLA.

If the Company is unable to make the payment in a timely manner, Power Minerals has stated it intends to issue a default notice under the terms of the CLA, and to enforce its rights under security granted by the Company to Power Minerals. The Company entered into a general security agreement and a share pledge agreement with Power Minerals as security for amounts outstanding under the CLA.

About Ultra Lithium Inc.

Ultra Lithium Inc. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the acquisition and development of lithium, gold, and copper assets. The Company holds a brine lithium property in Argentina, hard rock spodumene type lithium properties at the Georgia Lake / Forgan Lake area in northwestern Ontario, Canada, and a brine lithium property in the Big Smoky Valley, Nevada, USA. The Company also holds other gold and base metals properties in Argentina.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Kiki Smith, CFO

For further information, please contact:

Kiki Smith, CFO

T: +1-778-968-1176

E: [email protected]

W: www.ultralithium.com

Or view the Company's filings at www.SEDARPLUS.com

Follow us on X-Twitter @Ultra_Lithium and LinkedIn .

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

Some of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "intends", "is expected", "potential", "suggests" or variations of such words or phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information are not historical facts and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control. Actual results and developments are likely to differ and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

4 july 2024 at 09:45

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Robert S.M. Bimba, Executive Director of CHAP, and other stakeholders at the recent three-day International Conference on African Land Degradation in Tunis, Tunisia
A COUNTY Limerick couple have been refused retention of planning for a modular home at the back of their own house for one of the applicants mothers to live in, which was put in place during the pandemic as an emergency measure.

The couple from Bulgaden appealed the council's decision to refuse permission for the modular unit, made up of two bedrooms, two bathrooms with a kitchen and living room, to An Bord Pleanala.

According to the application, its purpose would be to provide independent shelter for the applicants mother/mother-in-law in close proximity to the family home.

It was refused by the Planning Authority on the basis that it is not an extension of the family home, as set out in the Subdivision of Dwelling to Accommodate Dependent Relative of the Limerick Development Plan 2022-2028.

The home also does not meet the planning requirements for a granny flat.

There is a presumption against detached residential structures of this nature, the report noted.

READ MORE: Urgent appeal for blood donors across Limerick

While Limerick City and County Council aim to facilitate accommodation for older people and dependent relatives within the family home, this must meet certain conditions.

These include being attached to the home by way of an extension, having an internal connecting door between the two residences, and that it must not be used as rental accommodation at any point.

The report points out that originally, the development was necessitated during the pandemic as an urgent response to a family crisis.

The refusal centres around the unit being detached from the family home and the report states: The dwelling is offset from both of its side boundaries and there are no apparent physical restrictions on the site that would prevent a family flat from being linked directly to the main dwelling via an internal connecting door.
THE QUICK-THINKING of two doctors, judge and parishioners ensured an elderly lady who fell ill at Mass got the best care possible.

Limerick Live was contacted by a parishioner who attended 10am Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish on Sunday morning.

The poor woman got a weakness just before Holy Communion. Judge Tom ODonnell came up the church and asked for an announcement to be made immediately from the pulpit to see if there were any doctors in the church. He then went back to help other parishioners who were tending to the poor woman, said the parishioner.

There were two doctors at Mass who went to her assistance. An ambulance was called and the woman was taken to University Hospital Limerick. The parishioner didn't know the names of the two doctors but recognised the retired judge.

It was a frightening thing to happen. In fairness to Judge ODonnell he moved fast to raise the alarm and luckily there were not one but two doctors in the church. Please God she will be fine. She got the best care possible in the circumstances, said the parishioner.

READ MORE: PICTURES: The Limerick faithful enjoy pilgrimage to Lourdes

Fr Tom Ryan, who was celebrating the Mass, praised one and all for their fast response and caring for the elderly lady.

The doctors, Judge ODonnell and the people around the lady who went to her aid have to be praised. I was highly impressed by the quick-thinking of one woman to help identify her. She brought up the poor ladys collection envelope. I was able to cross reference the number on it and get her name and address from that.

"She took the initiative and solved the problem of identifying her. Her husband was contacted and he came to the church. She was with her from the very beginning and stayed until the ambulance arrived, said Fr Ryan.

On behalf of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Fr Ryan wishes the elderly woman well and hopes she makes a full recovery.
THE State has appealed a decision made in a pretrial hearing in relation to the case of a retired superintendent and four gardai who are charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to penalty point notices.

At the Court of Appeal today, an application was made by the Director of Public Prosecutions relating to matters raised at a preliminary trial hearing in 2023.

The respondents in this matter are retired Garda Superintendent Edmond Eamon ONeill (56), formerly of Limerick Garda Division, Sergeant Annemarie Hassett (39) of Kerry Division, Sergeant Michelle Leahy (47) and Garda Thomas McGlinchey (51), both of the Limerick Division and Garda Colm Geary (36) of Clare Division.

READ MORE: Limerick priest praises doctors, judge and parishioners after medical emergency at Mass

All of the respondents are charged with more than 40 counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The 42 total charges relate to events that allegedly occurred on dates between October 9, 2016, and September 6, 2019.

The charges follow a lengthy investigation by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).

It is alleged the five accused attempted to pervert the course of justice in relation to fixed charge penalty notices.
Have you ever wondered what your home looked like two centuries ago?

Thanks to a new digital heritage resource created by researchers at the University of Limerick, Ordnance Survey (OS) maps from between 1824 and 1842 are now available online.

The OS maps completed in this first ever large-scale survey of an entire country are regarded by cartographers as amongst the finest ever produced.

To mark the beginning of the first Ordnance Survey of Ireland 200 years ago, the OS200Digitally Re-Mapping Irelands Ordnance Survey Heritage project gathered historic OS maps and texts that were held in disparate archives to form a freely accessible digital resource for academics and members of the public to use.

The website enables you to find the map of your local area in the 1800s through filtering by County, Barony, Parish or Townland. For example, Limerick city can be seen in County Limerick, Sheet 5.

UL worked with Queen's University Belfast and the Digital Repository of Ireland, amongst other partners, to create the digital archive.

The project, which was launched in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, was co-funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Irish Research Council.

Dr Catherine Porter, from the School of History and Geography in UL, led the UL team.

She explained that the main challenge of this project was the sheer volume of information, and varied state of materials.

Many of the OS records were not easily accessible or searchable and housed in different locations, so it was difficult to build a complete picture of what happened during the first survey in the early nineteenth century, she added.

Dr Porter proudly stated that the project provided them with the opportunity to collate the materials together and develop a new OS archive for the island.

A press statement from the University of Limerick explained that by reconnecting digitally, the OS maps, memoirs, correspondence, drawings, and books of place names into a new online resource, the project aims to open up the histories to wider audiences, enabling a richer and deeper engagement with and understanding of the OS operations in Ireland two centuries ago.
Five people living illegally in Ireland have been arrested by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

The arrests were made in Dublin this morning (Thursday July 4) with assistance from local Garda units in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West as part of Operation Fern.

Operation Fern is an ongoing operation targeting people who are illegally residing in the State and are the subject of Deportation Orders.

All five arrested people are currently in custody pending deportation from the State in due course.

Speaking this morning following the operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock said, "This mornings operation was part of Operation Fern, which is a nationwide operation targeting persons subject to Deportation Orders. A Deportation Order is an order from the Minister for Justice to leave the State.

"Prior to GNIB receiving these Deportation Orders, there has been significant engagement with each person by the Department of Justice, which includes the offer of a supported voluntary return package to their country of origin. Persons subject to Deportation Orders have declined supported voluntary return, and are now illegal in the State.

"Todays operation, under Operation Fern, is part of GNIBs focus to arrest persons subject to Deportation Orders and who are illegal in the State."

Figures released by Minister Helen McEntee following a parliamentary request by Aontu's Peadar Toibin revealed that just 317 out of 948 people issued deportation orders in 2023 left the State.

Two hundred and thirteen of these were voluntary returns, while the GNIB enforced 80.

Over 600 people who were issued deportation orders last year have remained in the State.
Move to San Francisco and it is hard not to be swept up by mania over Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft, all of which have either headquarters or outposts nearbyare investing vast sums. This year they are budgeting an estimated $400bn for capital expenditures, mostly on AI-related hardware, and for research and development.

In the worlds tech capital it is taken as read that AI will transform the global economy. But for AI to fulfil its potential, firms everywhere need to buy big techs AI, shape it to their needs and become more productive as a result. Investors have added $2trn to the market value of the five big tech firms in the past yearin effect projecting an additional $300bn-400bn in annual revenues according to our rough estimates, about the same as another Apples worth of annual sales. For now, though, the tech titans are miles from such results. Even bullish analysts think Microsoft will only make about $10bn from generative-AI-related sales this year. Beyond Americas west coast, there is little sign AI is having much of an effect on anything.

One problem is the rate of adoption. Reputable companies are putting out startling estimates of how many people are using generative AI. Close to two-thirds of respondents to a recent survey by McKinsey, a consultancy, say that their company is regularly using" the tech, nearly twice as many as the year before. A report by Microsoft and LinkedIn, an online platform for professionals, finds that 75% of global knowledge workers" (folk who sit in front of a computer) use it. People are, on such accounts, already in an AI world.

And in a sense, they are. Almost everyone uses AI when they search for something on Google or pick a song on Spotify. But the incorporation of AI into business processes remains a niche pursuit. Official statistics agencies ask AI-related questions to businesses of all varieties, and in a wider range of industries than do Microsoft and LinkedIn. Americas Census Bureau produces the best estimates. It finds that only 5% of businesses have used AI in the past fortnight (see chart 1). Even in San Francisco many techies admit, when pressed, that they do not fork out $20 a month for the best version of ChatGPT.

View Full Image (The Economist)

It is a similar story elsewhere. According to official Canadian numbers, 6% of the countrys firms used AI to make goods and provide services in the past 12 months. British surveys suggest use there is higherat 20% of all businesses in Marchthough the questions are asked differently. And even in Britain use is growing slowly. The same share used AI last September.

Concerns about data security, biased algorithms and hallucinations are slowing the roll-out. McDonalds, a fast-food chain, recently canned a trial that used AI to take customers drive-through orders after the system started making errors, such as adding $222-worth of chicken nuggets to one diners bill. A consultant says that some of his clients are struck with pilotitis", an affliction whereby too many small AI projects make it hard to identify where to invest. Other firms are holding off on big projects because AI is developing so fast, meaning it is easy to splash out on tech that will soon be out of date.

Companies that are going beyond experimentation are using generative AI for a narrow range of tasks. Streamlining customer service is perhaps most common. ADP, a payroll firm, boasts of a new feature that enables our small-business clients toleverage gen AI to answer questions and better understand how to initiate an HR action". Other firms use the tech for marketing. Verizon, a telecoms firm, says that it employs AI to create a better personalised plan recommendation" for its customers; Starbucks, a coffee chain, uses it to make more personalised customer offers".

If you think that such efforts seem unimpressive, you are not alone. Goldman Sachs has constructed a stockmarket index tracking firms that, in the banks view, have the largest estimated potential change to baseline earnings from AI adoption via increased productivity". The index includes firms such as Walmart, a grocer, and H&R Block, a tax-preparation outfit. Since the end of 2022 these companies share prices have failed to outperform the broader stockmarket (see chart 2). In other words, investors see no prospect of extra profits. The tech could even be distracting executives from more pressing matters.

View Full Image (The Economist)

What of the anecdotes that some firms are using AI to transform their operations? Klarna is one frequently cited example. The online financial-services firm recently claimed its AI assistant was doing the work of 700 full-time customer-service agents. Its boss says that, as a result of the tech, employment at the company is falling by a fifth each year. Yet this is, at best, an incomplete picture. Klarna is looking to go public before long: talking about its use of AI drums up press. According to data from CB Insights, a consultancy, Klarnas headcount started to drop long before AI came on the scene. The company is worth perhaps half as much as it was in 2021. If it is now cutting employees, overhiring during the covid-19 pandemic deserves as much blame as AI takes credit.

Indeed, there is no sign in the macroeconomic data of a surge in lay-offs. Kristalina Georgieva, head of the IMF, recently warned that AI would hit the labour market like a tsunami". For now, however, unemployment across the rich world is below 5%, close to to an all-time low. The share of rich-world workers in a job is near an all-time high. Wage growth also remains strong, which is hard to square with an environment where workers bargaining power is supposedly fading.

Nor does an AI effect emerge if you dig more deeply into the numbers. Workers are not moving between companies faster than usual, as would probably happen if lots of jobs were being destroyed. Using American data on employment by occupation, we focus on white-collar workers, who range from back-office support to copywriters. Such roles are thought to be vulnerable to AI, which is becoming better at tasks that involve logical reasoning and creativity. Despite this, the share of employment in white-collar professions is a percentage point higher than before the pandemic (see chart 3).

View Full Image (The Economist)

Some economists think AI will transform the global economy without booting people out of jobs. Collaboration with a virtual assistant may improve performance. A new paper by Anders Humlum of the University of Chicago and Emilie Vestergaard of Copenhagen University surveys 100,000 Danish workers. The average respondent estimates ChatGPT can halve time spent on about a third of work tasks, in theory a big boost to efficiency.

Yet macroeconomic data also show little evidence of a surge in productivity. The latest estimates, using official figures, suggest that real output per employee in the median rich country is not growing at all. In America, the global centre of AI, output per hour remains below its pre-2020 trend. Even in global data derived from surveys of purchasing managers, which are produced with a shorter lag, there is no sign of a productivity surge (see chart 4).

View Full Image (The Economist)

For such a spurt, firms need to invest in AI. Besides big techwhich is anyway spending chiefly to develop AI products for others, rather than to boost its own productivitymost companies are not really doing so. Capex among the rest of the S&P 500, made up of Americas largest firms, is likely to fall this year in real terms. Across Americas economy as a whole, it is hardly rising. Overall business investment in information-processing equipment and software is rising by 5% year on year in real terms, well below the long-run average. Across the rich world, investment is rising more slowly than during the 2010s.

In time, businesses may wake up to the true potential of AI. Most technological waves, from the tractor and electricity to the personal computer, take a while to spread across the economy. Indeed, on the assumption that big techs AI revenues grow by an average of 20% a year, investors expect that almost all of big techs earnings from AI will arrive after 2032, according to our analysis. If an AI bonanza does eventually materialise, expect the share prices of the users of AI, not only the providers, to soar. But if worries about ai grow, big techs capex plans will start to look as extravagant as its valuations.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Agritech companies are increasingly banking on private labels to steer growth as the sector faces challenges in scaling up and a drop in investments. Owned brands now contribute a big portion of the revenue for top startups in the space, signalling a major shift in strategies.

Agrostar, which has carved a niche as a marketplace for agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers for farmers, gets almost 80% of its business from its private labels, co-founder and CEO Shardul Sheth told Mint. The 11-year-old Pune-based company introduced its first brand in 2020 and the contribution of private labels to the topline has grown to 70% from 5%, Sheth said.

DeHaat, backed by Singapores Temasek and Belgian investment company Sofina, gets about 30% of its business from its agri inputs private-label vertical, according to co-founder Shyam Sundar Singh. It started the Honest Farms brand to sell staples and grains across e-commerce platforms in April.

The recalibration comes at a moment of reckoning for Indias agritech sector. Venture capital funding for Indian agritech and food tech startups dropped 33% to $2.4 billion in 2022, according to the AgriFoodTech Investment report by AgFunder and Omnivore last year. The sector continues to rely on government support.

Valued at $24 billion, Indias agritech sector remains significantly untapped, with only 1.5% penetration, according to a report by Ernst & Young.

None of the startups in the sector has achieved unicorn status - a valuation of $1 billion or more - or has listed publicly. DeHaat, WayCool Foods, and Ninjacart are valued in the range of $650 million to $800 million.

Margin game

Typically, agritech firms that run their own brands cater to both farmers and consumers. They offer high-quality seeds, pesticides, and farming equipment to farmers, while consumers can get farm-to-fork products such as rice, pulses, and condiments.

The biggest advantage of running a house of brands is the high margin due to the absence of intermediaries. Usual distribution processes, especially for fast-moving everyday essentials, involve multiple changes of hands that result in higher final prices and leave little in terms of earnings for the producer.

On the B2B (business-to-business) side, private labels can offer great value to farmers because the agricultural inputs supply chain is largely unorganised. Margins in this segment tend to be at least 2-3 times more than non-branded items," said a former executive of the Flipkart-backed agritech firm Ninjacart, asking not to be identified.

DeHaats Singh said its network of 5 million registered farmers benefits from the technology assistance and competitive pricing. Being able to control the supply chain right from the farmers to the consumers also helps build a single platform for a variety of needs.

However, Singh noted that DeHaat continues to focus on its core business of providing a marketplace for farmers and buyers.

According to Pratip Mazumdar, a partner at early-stage venture capital firm Inflexor Ventures, agritech companies are slowly moving towards high gross margin businesses simply because the initial value propositions may be struggling to find a stronghold.

Ninjacartone of the earliest startups in the spacewas set up as a fresh produce supply chain company but it later pivoted to an online marketplace to link farmers, distributors and retailers.

Chennai-based Waycool, which is said to be in talks to raise money for working capital needs, strategically focused on becoming a house of brands over the past two years, managing director Karthik Jayaraman told Mint.

This focus on value-added and differentiated products will remain our priority. Over the past 30 months, the share of our own brands in overall revenues has increased from 3% to 41%. In the next 24 months, we anticipate this will rise to 75%, with a continued emphasis on value-added and differentiated products rather than basic offerings," Jayaraman said.

Mint reported last week that Omnivore-backed agritech startup Reshamandi found itself in a deep financial crisis with frozen bank accounts, delayed debt repayments, and mounting legal challenges threatening its survival.

Moreover, there is enough competition from established FMCG brands such as Tata and ITC, which could make it a difficult space to win, according to Inflexors Mazumdar.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday referred a trademark infringement case involving Tesla Inc and Tesla Power for mediation after the two companies agreed to try and settle their dispute through this route.

A senior mediator of the Delhi High Court Mediation and Conciliation Centre will take up the matter starting July 18. If the mediation fails, a bench of the court will hear the case on September 18.

Chander Lall, a senior lawyer representing Tesla Inc, told the court on Thursday that mediation might not be effective because Tesla Power would not relinquish its brand.

"Mediation will not work when it comes to their brandthey are not going to give it up," Lall said.

In response, lawyer J. Sai Deepak, representing Tesla Power, said, "We are open to mediation.

Also Read: Mint Explainer: How Teslas first India lawsuit will affect EV trademark battles Tesla Inc, the US electric vehicle giant co-founded by Elon Musk, sued Tesla Power India Pvt Ltd on May 2, accusing the Gurugram company of infringing on its trademark and misleading consumers by implying an association with its EVs. Tesla Inc. claimed this caused confusion among customers and potential damage to its reputation as it looked to enter the Indian market.

Lall reiterated that Tesla Power was not abiding by the court's orders and that it continued to sell e-scooters on IndiaMart. He also said that people had called him up personally, alleging cheating by Tesla Power.

They say they have been charged lakhs of rupees and then abandoned," Lall said.

According to Sai Deepak, Tesla is not a unique trademark as there are many companies and registrations with this name in India, Taiwan and other countries.

Therefore, for someone to come out and say that because of Elon Musk, we are the only ones who are entitled to claim Tesla and a monopoly over it, frankly speaking, doesn't fly," he said.

On May 30, Tesla Power informed the court that it had instructed its partners and vendors to remove the Tesla logo from their electric scooters to comply with a May 2 Delhi High Court order prohibiting the sale and promotion of products bearing the Tesla trademark. Tesla Power clarified that it had no intention to market its electric scooters under the Tesla brand.

The Indian company said 699 e-scooters bearing the Tesla trademark had been sold by its partners and dealers so far. Tesla Power's partner company, e-Ashwa, was mostly responsible for selling the e-scooters.

Also Read: Teslas India entry on ice: Musk yet to firm up plans for India The court instructed Tesla Power to take further steps to comply with its orders and refrain from engaging in any EV business using the Tesla trademark.

The US company informed the court that Tesla Power was selling e-scooters with the Tesla logo even after undertaking on May 2 that it would not sell anything related to EVs. Tesla Inc. had claimed that the Indian company had violated the court's order.

On May 2, the Delhi High Court restrained Tesla Power from publishing promotional advertisements featuring EV products under the Tesla trademark, following the plea from Tesla Inc. It claimed Tesla Power not only had a similar trademark but also advertised itself as an EV company in newspapers. It said consumers were mistakenly buying Tesla Power batteries, assuming they were associated with the US company, and sending complaints to Tesla Inc.
SYDNEYAmazons cloud-computing business will build a top-secret cloud for Australias government, improving the key U.S. allys ability to share and analyze information and boost the resilience of its defense communications.

Australia said it will invest at least 2 billion Australian dollars, or US$1.3 billion, over the next decade in establishing and operating the top-secret cloud. The deal involves a strategic partnership between the Australian Signals Directorate, the intelligence service in charge of cybersecurity, and Amazon Web Services.

The top-secret cloud will provide a state-of-the-art collaborative space for our intelligence and defense community to store and access top-secret data," said Rachel Noble, director general of the ASD. This will transform how we work together as agencies and partners."

The cloud will support deeper collaboration with the U.S. and support Australian military operations while harnessing new technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, the government said.

Australian government entities and companies have been the target of several high-profile cyberattacks in recent years, including one in 2019 that targeted the nations Parliament. Cybersecurity professionals have been worried that cyberattacks are rising globally and stretching resources.

Although it can be difficult to ascertain who is behind such attacks, U.S. officials believe China is the most active and persistent cyber threat to the government, private sector and critical infrastructure. Beijing has denied being involved in cyberattacks.

U.S. tech companies have seen a significant business opportunity in Australia, which has had a rocky diplomatic relationship with China in recent years despite Beijing being its largest trading partner.

Microsoft in October said it would invest A$5 billion over the next two years in Australia to expand its cloud-computing and AI infrastructure while also partnering with the ASD. Amazon Web Services also previously said it would invest an additional A$13.2 billion in the country.

Write to Mike Cherney at mike.cherney@wsj.com
Cold brews and iced lattes have soared in popularity at coffee shops. Now brands made to be drunk at home want a piece of the action.

Keurig Dr Pepper plans to launch a machine this fall that can both brew and chill coffee in under three minutes. Nestle has started selling a version of Nescafe that quickly dissolves in cold liquids. And J.M. Smucker is pushing a Dunkin branded cold-brew liquid concentrate it says lets consumers make drinks similar to those made by baristas.

Weve seen an explosion in interest in cold coffee," says David Rennie, Nestles head of coffee brands. One out of every five cups of coffee around the world is now drunk cold, the company says, up from one in 14 cups a decade ago.

Consumers have historically shown a willingness to pay high prices for cold coffee at cafes. Starbucks says its iced shaken espressowhich in Manhattan costs $6.95 for a 16-ounce cupis one of its fastest-growing drinks. Starbucks says some 63% of its drink sales in the U.S. in the second quarter were cold, a figure that hit 75% last summer. The company says Gen Z and millennial customers drink cold coffee daily.

Packaged coffee makers see cold coffee as a way to woo younger consumers, particularly when many Americans are cutting back on dining out in response to high prices.

Brands also say cold coffee could help them appeal to people looking for a treat in the afternoon and better compete with energy drinks.

In a survey of U.S. consumers by the World Coffee Portal, some 24% of respondents said they drank iced coffee daily in 2023, up from 7% in 2022. Servings of cold coffee in cafes and other out-of-home locations rose 4% last year while hot coffee servings declined 1%, according to research firm Circana.

As the world becomes hotter, cold coffee is becoming more of a year-round drink, says Peter Giuliano, director of the Coffee Science Foundation, a coffee research nonprofit. He points to the popularity of ice tea in the U.S. to support his forecast that cold coffee will make up most of the category by 2030.

Cold coffee had long been an afterthought for many packaged coffee makers who limited their involvement in the category to milky, ready-to-drink bottles and cans. Figuring out how to get products typically brewed hot to taste good cold was a challenge.

Keurig in 2018 launched a brew over ice feature" for its machines that brewed a hot coffee at 198 degrees Fahrenheit and then cooled it to 150 degrees. We knew it wasnt going to deliver on that true cold experience consumers were after," says Morgan Lombardi, a senior director of product management at Keurig. It was seen as a hack."

To deduce what temperature consumers consider to be cold and how long they would be willing to wait, the owner of K-Cups and Green Mountain had panelists test coffee at different temperatures that took varying amounts of time to brew.

Eventually, Keurig determined that consumers would wait three minutes at most and that the optimal temperature was 50 degrees. Any cooler and people couldnt tell the difference. Very cold coffee also didnt melt the ice, leaving drinkers with an empty glass full of it, which Keurig says they disliked.

Lombardi says consumers usually add ice to cold coffee because they think that jingle in the cup" is an integral part of the experience. She also says coffee should always be brewed hot to extract the full flavor.

Its easy to chill something with lots of ice or to put coffee in the fridge and wait," says Lombardi. Our challenge was trying to chill the coffee very quickly without impacting the flavor."

Earlier versions of Keurigs new machine were too big or took too long to cool the coffee down. The breakthrough came at a hackathon last year, when engineers found a way to cool hot coffee by passing it through a chamber containing aluminum and water that absorbs the heat.

It plans to launch the new $200 machine in the fall with ads touting the affordability of the drinks it brews vis-a-vis what consumers get from coffee shops.

Nestle has also overcome technical hurdles to tap in to the cold-coffee trend.

The company says it picked up social-media chatter during the pandemic about consumers experimenting with cold coffee at home. To cater to the rising demand, it decided to reformulate its instant coffee granules so they dissolve quickly in cold water.

That sounds easy but actually all our technology was around making Nescafe soluble in hot water," says Rennie.

Nestles scientists ultimately concluded they should crystallize roasted coffee more slowly to yield a powder that is finer than typical granules. The finer powder dissolves faster at lower temperatures.

The worlds largest packaged coffee maker rolled out Nescafe Ice Roast in the U.S. in April. It chose to lightly roast the coffee used because bitter notes from heavier roasting would be more apparent in a cold drink.

Nestle has also launched an iced-coffee blend under the Starbucks brand, which it owns the rights to sell in grocery stores. Consumers can use either pods or ground coffee to make a hot brew that they pour over ice.

The packaged coffee makers are emphasizing that their cold-coffee offerings can be customized, an attribute coffee chains have said draws consumers. Part of the reason people are willing to pay higher prices for cold coffee is the variety of flavors, textures and toppings they can get. Starbucks says cold foam" is a particularly popular ask at its coffee shops.

To emphasize how its Dunkin cold-brew liquid concentrate, launched last year, can be drunk in various ways, J.M. Smucker has been running an ad in which Goldilocks lets herself into the three bears house and drinks three cold coffeesan iced black coffee, an iced coffee laced with milk and another one blended with ice and cream. She says are all just right" as the bears look on forlornly.

Nestle says global consumption of cold coffee has climbed 15% in the past four years and the trend has staying power. For young people this isnt just an entry into coffee but the way they drink coffee," says Rennie.

Write to Saabira Chaudhuri at Saabira.Chaudhuri@wsj.com
New Delhi: The Union government is exploring a dozen different models to extend the benefits of the world's largest health insurance scheme to India's growing elderly population, according to two officials with knowledge of the development.

The move is in keeping with the ruling National Democratic Alliance's promise in the run-up to the general election to cover all people aged above 70 under the government's flagship schemethe Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY).

The government is likely to announce the increased coverage for India's elderly in the upcoming Union budget, the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Different models are being studied by the government to implement AB PM-JAY for senior citizens 70 years of age and above," said one of them, adding that the government was working out the mechanics of how to extend the scheme.

The National Health Authority (NHA), which has been tasked with formulating the plan, is actively looking at two preferred models among the several being considered.

Two models are being studied to take the initiative forwardall family members with senior citizens may get covered, or only senior citizens in a particular family will get the health coverage," said the second official cited above.

Accordingly, health benefit packages are being firmed up for geriatric treatment, with hospitals providing dedicated geriatric services to be onboarded for PM-JAY. Geriatric therapy is a medical specialty focused on the care of the elderly.

The budget proposal has been submitted with a view to increase the beneficiary base of AB PM-JAY," said the second official. "It is likely that the government may mention the implementation of PM-JAY for eligible senior citizens during the Union budget. Government meetings are being done internally to explore the mechanism and how to start with it."

Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson remained unanswered.

Healthcare for the elderly

During the release of Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) election manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that all senior citizens above 70 years will be covered under PM-JAY scheme, across poor families, middle income groups and even economically well-to-do families.

Extension of PM-JAYs coverage to the elderly will help prevent families from exercising painful choices between needed healthcare for elderly family members and other essential household expenditures," said K. Srinath Reddy, former president of Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI).

It will also enable elderly persons to be fit and functional, reduce their dependency, and make further economic and social contributions to society. This measure wilk promote inter-generational social harmony," he added.

According to governments population projection report 2011-2036, there are nearly 104 million elderly persons in India, of which 53 million are women and 51 million men.

Also read: Private hospitals pull back on Ayushman Bharat amid low state funding

With the new policy that is in the works, there may be a possibility that having a senior member in a family will be a criterion to be eligible for the scheme regardless of whether they are listed in socio-economic caste census 2011 (SECC 2011) database or not. The scheme originally picked beneficiaries from this database.

This may also give an opportunity to non-poor families or to benefit from the scheme. Another likely challenge that the government may face in implementing all families having senior citizens is adverse selection", which means all intended beneficiaries can immediately avail treatment under the scheme, even for pre-conditions, without any waiting period.

In the insurance industry, adverse selection refers to situations in which an insurance company extends insurance coverage to an applicant whose actual risk is substantially higher than the risk known by the insurance company.

Therefore, NHA is exploring ways and means to counter the challenge of adverse selection. So, the plan is to include healthy and unhealthy individuals and increase the risk pool to ensure that younger beneficiaries who are healthy might not avail themselves of the treatment under PM-JAY.

Health benefit packages are being looked into for geriatric treatment as per the need of the elderly population. Meanwhile, hospitals providing dedicated geriatric services will be taken on board to offer PM-JAY services. This includes both state-owned and private hospitals.

The scheme's utilization could also increase premiums, which may lead to higher financial outflow for the government.

Universal health coverage for people over 70 is an attractive concept, but the actual delivery of healthcare will be logistically complex and has many hurdles to overcome," said Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, a leading public health expert, adding that by default, the group has a higher burden of disease and will incur greater medical expenses.

The existing system, which doesnt include seniors, is already plagued by several limitations such as delayed payments and reimbursement packages that are too low for private hospitals to cover even the basic cost incurred. Besides, there are reports of misuse of the system by people without eligibility, siphoning off the funds. These irregularities have to be ironed out before it becomes a viable solution," Jayadevan said.

He added that the public sector is already providing free care to seniors, and that could be strengthened from a manpower and infrastructure standpoint first. In addition, the small and medium-sized hospitals that serve the rural sector in particular will need strengthening to reduce the need for frail elderly individuals to travel to faraway hospitals.

What is AB PM-JAY?

Launched in September 2018, the PM-JAY provides free heath coverage of up to 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization, subject to certain criteria.

The beneficiaries of PM-JAY were originally culled from the SECC database on the basis of select deprivation and occupational criteria in rural and urban areas, respectively.

Subsequently, as the scheme matured, state health agencies were provided with the flexibility to extend the scheme to other sections of society.

A majority of states and Union territories that have extended PM-JAY beyond SECC households, have done so using the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database. The majority of AB PM-JAY beneficiaries from SECC 2011 are also eligible for benefits under NFSA.

NHA is working on integrating the SECC 2011 beneficiary database with NFSA, which will enable beneficiaries to seek information regarding their entitlement under the AB PM-JAY using their ration card number.

NHA is also working on a proposal to use fair price shops or ration shops for providing information related to the scheme and entitlement under the scheme to eligible beneficiaries.

This will provide an additional avenue to beneficiaries along with the existing Common Service Center, UTI-ITSL etc., for card creation, making the beneficiary identification process convenient.

This year, in the interim budget announced on 1 February, the allocation for the scheme has hiked from 6,800 crore in FY24 to 7,500 crore for FY25. The funds allocated for the scheme for the financial year 2021-22 was 6,400 crore.

The scheme has recorded significant utilisation in the past two years. Till date, 68.6 million authorised hospital admissions have taken place while 347 million beneficiaries have been empowered with Ayushman Card.

Increasing the beneficiary base under the scheme has always prominently figured in discussions in policy circles. In the latest, accredited social health activists (Asha) and anganwadi workers were brought under the scheme since this February.

Asha workers and anganwadi workers (AWWs) are the primary field-level frontline healthcare workers who come into direct contact with the population to create awareness on healthcare issues and mobilise communities.

Mint earlier reported about Asha and anganwadi workers collecting data on individuals above 70 years of age for this purpose.

With inputs from Gireesh Chandra Prasad
Rajasthan PTET Result 2024 Declared: Vardhaman Mahavir Open University Kota on Thursday announced the results for Rajasthan Pre-Teacher Education Entrance Test (PTET 2024).

Candidates can check their PTET result on ptetvmou2024.com.

The entrance exam was held on June 9 for which provisional and final answer keys have already been released.

The PTET Examination consisted of one question paper containing the four Sections, with each section 50 questions.

Rajasthan PTET result 2024: How to check the result  Go to the exam website at ptetvmou2024.com.

 Open the PTET result link for the 2-year (B.Ed.) course, or 4-year course ((B.A. B.Ed./B.Sc. B.Ed.), as required

 Enter the login details and submit it.

 Check and download the result.

Steps to check results  Enter Roll No

 Date of Birth

Search by General Detail  Enter Name

 Enter Mother's Name

 Date of Birth

Rescanning of the answer-sheet for Pre-Teacher Education Test can be done by online submission of application within 10 days of declaration of result on website with the fee Rs. 200/-.

For any help regarding the PTET examination, candidates can contact the university at 0744-2471156, 6367026526 or email at ptet2024@vmou.ac.in.

 Based on the performance in the PTET-2024, a merit list showing the marks obtained by each candidate will be prepared.

 Marksheets of the candidates will not be sent by post. The same will be made available on the above website.

 Registration amount for online Counseling will be Rs. 5000/-. This amount will be adjusted in overall fee. After online counselling if the candidate does not report at the allotted college, then (1) 200/- will be deducted and (2) if a candidate deposits the fee but does not join the college then 600/- will be deducted.

 Any false statement of facts noticed at any stage will automatically result in the cancellation of candidature and admission to the course. If it has already been made, the entire responsibility will lie with the candidate concerned and the fee deposited will not be refunded.
Looking to boost the volume of air cargo exports from the country, the Indian government has initiated a consultation process with industry stakeholders to discuss various proposals aimed at further liberalising the norms governing the country's air cargo industry.

We have been putting a specific focus on the air cargo segment for the last six months. We are looking at ways to increase participation of freighters, assessing cargo throughput of the top 20 Indian airports, and other ways to improve efficiency and create a competitive market," a senior official involved in the ongoing discussions told Mint.

The government hopes to make concrete progress on these proposals within a year, the official added.

According to data from the Airports Authority of India, all operational airports handled 3.4 million tonnes of freight in 2023-24, including 2 million tonnes of international freight. It is also important to note that the government has set a target of handling 10-million tonnes of air cargo per year by 2030.

Doubling down

As part of the discussions with stakeholders, the civil aviation ministry is also evaluating various methods to enable a smoother process for foreign freighter operators to carry cargo to and from multiple points in India, the official added.

Under the current framework, Indian freighter operators are allowed double dipping, a term used in the industry to explain how cargo meant for imports or exports is carried to and from more than one city in India.

For example, a domestic freight operator can take cargo from Delhi, then fly to Mumbai, take cargo from there, and then fly to its destination abroad. However, international freighter operators are approved on a case-by-case basis only.

We are in a very open, competitive world today. The most critical and biggest shareholder in the entire chain is the customerthe shipper. For India to be(come) the factory of the world, we need to think beyond one cargo stakeholder," said Yashpal Sharma, president of Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI).

Creating capacity

Indian carriers have to boost their capacity to service the Indian business demand. The entire air cargo ecosystem needs to create facilities and capacities backed by effective regulatory framework for Indian shippers to create Indiathe factory to the world," he added.

The domestic air cargo traffic grew 4.4% between 2012-13 and 2022-23, while international air cargo traffic grew at just 2.1% during the same period. However, capacity constraints remain for Indian carriers in the cargo space.

The latest annual cargo data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that Indian carriers carried only 12.7% of the international cargo flying to and from India in 2022-23, while their share was 15.5% in the year before that.

In contrast, the global air cargo market is growing at a healthy pace, with an year-on-year increase of around 15% in total demand in May 2024. The Asia-Pacific region, which contributes 33% towards the global air cargo market, saw a 17.8% year-on-year growth in demand for air cargo services in May this year.

Air cargo is carried in the belly of passenger aircraft and also by private or non-scheduled as well as scheduled freighters.

In India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have around 5-6 aircraft for cargo operations, while Blue Dart and QuikJet, among others, are scheduled domestic freighter operators.

The belly capacity of scheduled carriers is also set to increase, as domestic airlines such as IndiGo and Air India, among others, have placed orders for a number of wide- and narrow-body aircraft to be delivered in the next few years.

Removing red tape

Separately, the civil aviation ministry has also assessed ways to increase the efficiency of shipping procedures and minimise the paperwork required during the process.

It has held discussions with the Directorate General of Foreign Trade and the Central Board of Excise and Customs over the same, a second official said.

Presentations have been made on the impact of e-KYC and digital shipper invoices. We are assessing these with the stakeholders," the official added.

Under the current framework, an exporter has to provide a full KYC (know your customer) to a custom broker, with whom it has engaged for a particular shipment. However, the exporter will have to repeat the entire process of providing its KYC whenever it chooses a new custom broker.

Apart from the KYC process, the government has also held consultations on the prospect of standardising the e-invoice format for shippers, which can spur better collaboration among stakeholders in the industry.

We need to have data flowing instead of paper flowing. We should be able to push data across," ACFI's Sharma noted.
New Delhi: Top Chinese smartphone makers Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi are looking to partner Indian companies to manufacture and distribute their products in the country, three people aware of the discussions said. This comes after previous efforts to form joint ventures with Indian partners in the lead failed to make headway.

The Chinese companies have been looking to tie up with Indian partners after the government's nudge in this direction; however, discussions changed track as large Indian groups who could have been equity partners were keen on building their own manufacturing operations on the lines of local electronics manufacturing services providers, or even large global contract manufacturers that can make for more than just one brand and export as well.

All Chinese players are talking to Indian groups. Tata group, Reliance Industries and Dixon Technologies have been in discussions with them, but talks on taking majority equity have not progressed because of the tax cases and investigations by the Enforcement Directorate which have a direct bearing on the brand," said one of the people cited above, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating Vivo for suspected money-laundering. The government claims that Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi have evaded taxes including customs and GST payments totalling 9,000 crore between FY19 and FY23.

There is a certain stigma attached to them (Indian entities) owning something that has a Chinese branding to it. Ultimately, it's a question of whether the brand will remain as is because thats what it is known as in the market. Were not keen on taking over the brand," a second person added.

However, he added that a partnershipwhich could be a manufacturing or distribution joint venturewill be mutually beneficial as the Indian company would not take ownership or be part of a so-called Chinese phone brand, but make devices for them and benefit from their hefty sales in India.

Queries emailed to spokespersons of Tata group, Reliance Industries, Oppo, Vivo, Dixon Technologies and the electronics ministry remained unanswered till press time.

"Some of these discussions have not progressed due to issues of valuation as well," said a third person aware of the details, asking not to be named.

Market share

According to Counterpoint Research, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme are four of India's top five smartphone makers, holding a combined volume market share of 58% as of March 2024. All Chinese phone brands held a combined 75% share as of May 2024.

"A smartphone market without Chinese brands would be one devoid of the affordability and innovation that Chinese brands have been known to bring to Indian consumers. Their exit would likely make smartphones less accessible to the masses and potentially slow down the pace of technological advancements," said Prabhu Ram, head of industry intelligence unit, Cybermedia Research.

"Chinese smartphone makers dominate the Indian market, capturing over 69% of the total smartphone shipments. This dominance is even more pronounced in the affordable and value segments (under 25,000), where their market share reaches nearly 80%. With their competitive 5G and 4G offerings, Chinese OEMs have been instrumental in bringing Indians online for the first time," he added.

The Indian government is keen on companies with Chinese parents to have Indian equity partners, local leadership as well as local distribution. In March, China's SAIC Motor sold 51% in subsidiary MG Motor India to investors led by JSW Group, which picked up 35% stake.

However, not everyone is convinced about the wisdom of nudging foreign companies to have Indian partners. What India can do is to ask such brands to be compliant with local regulations on data collection and privacy, but a push to ask brands to find domestic equity partners will always find more questions than answers unless a conducive business environment is upheld," said a top lawyer, whose law firm is part of several advisory committees to the government.

However, some in the industry said that Chinese firms should change the way they do business in India.

The ways of doing business by Chinese brands have to be more transparent. The government is not against any other foreign companies. But if a brand is using the consumption market and ends up being the biggest seller, but not paying taxes on it, the government will definitely have the questions and the right to ask the questions," said Madhav Sheth, chief executive of Honor Tech, which restarted operations in India last year. The company was formerly owned by Chinas Huawei, but is now licensed by Gurgaon-based PSAV Global.

Localizing operations

Smartphone makers have begun taking steps to comply with some of the demands, including extensive localization of operations.

Localization of our overall business, through manufacturing, is created by a combination of supplies from abroad, as well as from India. Today, we continue to have conversations to figure out how more of our supply chain partners, based in China or elsewhere, come and set up shop in India," said Muralikrishnan B., president, Xiaomi India in interview with Mint on 10 June.

He added that it was an ongoing conversation where the suppliers evaluate their move based on market potential, commercials, approvals and more. Almost 50-60% of the non-semiconductor bill of materials gets sourced locally which includes mechanics, fingerprint and camera modules, he said.

Vivo is also planning to open its largest manufacturing facility in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh this year which will take its capacity to 120 million units a year. An investment of over 3,000 crore is expected in this plant, according to an Economic Times report in June. In 2019, it had planned an investment of 7,500 crore over several years.

An Economic Times report in March said Vivo and Oppo have begun appointing Indian entities for distribution. A senior executive from one of the companies said on the condition of anonymity that compliance was necessary in order to continue to do business in the country. Different countries have different regulations and for us to be able to continue, we have to comply," he said.

Another Chinese smartphone maker Transsion Technology Ltd has entered into an agreement with Dixon Technologies where the latter will acquire a majority 50.10% share in Ismartu India, a subsidiary of Transsion that makes phones for its three brands - iTel, Infinix, and Tecno in India.
Bansal Wire IPO subscription status: The initial public offer of Bansal Wire Industries Ltd has been oversubscribed of the second day of bidding led by non institutional investors. Bansal Wire IPO subscription status was 5.73 times, as per BSE data.

The quota for retail investors got subscribed 6.19 times while the portion for non-institutional investors fetched 12.16 times subscription. The Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) part received 9% subscription.

The initial share sale received bids for 12,28,88,254 shares against 2,14,60,906 shares on offer, according to BSE data

On the first day of bidding yesterday, Wednesday, July 3, the initial public offer (IPO) of steel wire maker Bansal Wire Industries Ltd got off to a terrific start with a big number of subscriptions from retail and non-institutional investors. At the end of day 1, Bansal Wire Industries IPO subscription status was 1.76 times, as per BSE data.

The retail investor quota has been subscribed to 2.47 times, while the non-institutional investor (NII) component has been subscribed to 2.44 times. One percent of the category is reserved for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs).

The public offering of Bansal Wire Industries has set aside a 15% of its shares for NII, 50% of its shares for QIB, and 35% of its shares for retail investors.

On Tuesday, Bansal Wire Industries said that it had received more than 223 crore from major investors. Steel wire manufacture and exporting are the activities of Bansal Wire Industries. High carbon steel wire, mild steel wire (low carbon steel wire), and stainless steel wire are its three main operating sectors.

Additionally, the firm intends to strengthen and expand its market position in the future fiscal year by adding a new sector of specialty wires through its planned Dadri factory.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO details.

Bansal Wire IPO review Anand Rathi Research With a market capitalisation of 40,078.3 million following the issuing of equity shares and a market cap-to-sales ratio of 1.62 times its FY24 profits, the brokerage claims that the company's P/E ratio is 50.8 times based on its FY24 earnings.

With more than 3,000 SKUs of high carbon steel, mild steel (low carbon), and stainless steel wires, the firm and its subsidiary, Bansal Steel & Power Limited, provide one of India's largest product portfolios for steel wire. The subsidiary offers around 1,500 SKUs, compared to about 2,000 SKUs offered by the company. We advise the IPO to receive a "Subscribe - Long Term" grade based on these considerations.

Sushil Finance The brokerage claims that in FY 22, FY 23, and FY 24, the business has maintained a year-over-year client retention rate of 64.74%, 66.06%, and 68.49%, respectively. It sells around 86% of its output domestically and exports the remaining portion. The US and European wire markets account for over 70% of export earnings. The business has a sizable market share in India.

Over the course of FY2224, the revenue CAGR was around 5.9%. For the year that ended in FY24, the company's EBITDA margin was 6.04%, while its PAT margin was 3.19%. producing a 21.19% and an 18.46% return on equity, respectively, for FY24.

Using diluted EPS for FY 24 ( 6.18), the business is requesting a PE multiple of 41.4x on the higher end of the pricing band.32.72x is the industry average. For FY24, the P/BV is 7.72x. With a medium- to long-term perspective, investors may choose to subscribe for the issue given all the variables, risks, possibilities, and high value.

Bansal Wire Industries IPO details Bansal Wire IPO, which is worth 745 crore, comprises a fresh issue of 29,101,562 equity shares. There's no offer-for-sale (OFS) component.

The firm's memorandum of association outlines its core objectives, as well as incidental and ancillary goals that support them. These goals allow the company to: (i) carry out its current commercial operations; and (ii) carry out the projects that are suggested to be funded with the net proceeds.

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 GMP today Bansal Wire IPO GMP today is +60. This indicates Bansal Wire Industries share price were trading at a premium of 60 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Bansal Wire Industries expected listing price was 316 per share, 23.44% 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.
Upcoming IPO: The National Stock Exchange (NSE), has approved the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) of VL Infraprojects Limited, paving the way for the company to launch its initial public offering (IPO). The company had submitted its papers with the Indian exchange to launch its SME IPO for listing on the NSE SME Emerge Platform. As per the company's claims, the company has proposed to launch up to 44,10,000 company shares with a face value of 10 per equity share in this upcoming IPO.

In the pre-IPO phase, the company's total paid-up capital is 1,13,02,500, which will go up to 1,57,12,500 equity shares after listing this NSE SME IPO. Currently, the company promoters and promoters group owns 1,02,75,000 equity shares, which is 90.91 percent of the company's total paid-up capital. The company has public shareholding as well. As per the information shared by the company, net public shareholding in VL Infraprojects Limited is 10,27,500 equity shares, which is 9.09 percent of the company's total paid-up capital. The company has said in its DRHP that net proceeds of the NSE SME IPO will be utilized to fund the company's working capital requirements.

VL Infraprojects valuations At the end of the September 2023 quarter, the company's ROE stood at 26.57, a significant increase from 25.41 in FY23. This growth trend is promising, with the company reporting a rise in ROE in FY22 and FY23. The company's ROE grew from 14.41 to 16.37 during FY22, which further grew at 25.41 in FY23.

The company reported ROCE at 22.02 at the end of the September 2023 quarter. In FY23, the company's ROCE stood at 22.97. Its ROCE in FY22 stood at 18.41. The company's debt-equity ratio at the end of the September 2023 quarter stood at 1.04, whereas the company's debt service coverage ratio stood at 3.33 in September 2023.

In FY23, the company's revenue diversification strategy was evident, with 95.59 per cent of its revenue coming from its top five clients, a significant increase from 91.97 per cent in FY22 and 86.86 per cent in the previous year. This steady growth in revenue from top clients is a testament to the company's strong client relationships and its potential for sustained growth.

The company's business is diversified into water pipeline construction, irrigation projects, road construction, building construction, power and civil, etc. In FY23, the company's revenue diversification strategy was successful, with nearly 73 per cent of its total revenue coming from water pipeline construction, including O&M service. This diversification showcases the company's resilience and its ability to generate revenue from multiple sources, instilling confidence in its financial stability.
Persistent Systems Ltd stock was in focus on Thursday, gaining more than 3% and hitting a new 52-week high of 4,760. This week, the information technology (IT) companys wholly owned subsidiary announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire US-based Starfish Associates, LLC for $20.7 million.

Starfish is a global software company that provides enterprise communication solutions. The acquisition is expected to augment Persistents artificial intelligence (AI) offerings and give it access to various Fortune 500 clients, thus widening the scope for cross-selling.

Considering Starfishs margin profile, the acquisition is expected to increase Persistents earnings per share, ICICI Securities Ltd said. The speed at which Starfish is integrated  and its actual impact on earnings  need to be tracked closely.

Also read: Can Dr Reddys buy its way out of a slump?

Persistent is no stranger to inorganic growth, having been on an acquisition spree in recent years. Persistent Systems has acquired eight companies in the past five years, including Starfish, spending a total of $ 260.5 million and acquiring revenues worth $123.13 million (at the point of acquisition)," said the ICICI report, dated 4 July.

Beyond the AI hype

While the growing traction on AI could be boosting sentiment for the stock, it should be noted that the latest acquisition is small in the overall scheme of things. Against this backdrop, the June quarter (Q1 FY25) earnings performance and demand outlook will be a crucial near-term trigger.

Also read | Q1 results preview: From TCS to HCL Tech, IT sector revenue growth expected to improve sequentially

In Q4 FY24, management had said the macro environment continued to be challenging. Persistent aims to achieve a $2 billion revenue run-rate by FY27. Management reiterated its aspirational earnings before interest and tax (Ebit) margin improvement guidance of 200-300 basis points over the next two to three years. Investors should track these numbers to check if the targets are achieved on time.

In Q1 FY25, Motilal Oswal Financial Services expects Persistent to lead the pack of mid-tier IT companies with 5% sequential constant-currency revenue growth, largely driven by deal ramp-ups in the healthcare vertical. However, it expects the Ebit margin to contract by 50 bps sequentially. Margins are likely to be under pressure due to the initial ramp-up costs for large deals.

Also read: IT companies' revenue revival seen delayed to FY26

Persistents shares have rallied 29% so far in 2024, comfortably beating the Nifty IT index, which has fetched single-digit returns. The stock trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 43 times estimated FY26 earnings, showed Bloomberg data. The stock has enjoyed a premium over its tier-1 IT peer mainly due to its relatively better revenue growth trajectory. Still, a meaningful revival in demand is crucial for earnings upgrades.
Motilal Oswal Financial Services Chairman Raamdeo Agrawal expects the Sensex to touch 1,60,000 points by 2029, and sought a minister for capital markets, CNBC-TV18 reported.

At 1:56 pm IST on Thursday, the Sensex was at 80,093.45, up 106.66 points, or 0.13%, after opening at 80, 321.79. Earlier, it touched a 52-week high of 80,392.64 in intra-day trade.

Sensex has doubled every 5 years, target 1,60,000 for Sensex by 2029. Market can double in the next 5 years with a 15% CAGR, this is the happiest moment of my life, he told CNBC-TV18 in an interview.

The Benchmark S&P BSE 30 index opened above 80,000 mark on Thursday, it had briefly crossed the same on Wednesday too. The Sensex had crossed the 70,000 mark on December 11,2023. The gain from 70k to 80k has been achieved in the shortest span of time. The reasons for gain are being attributed to monsoons, softening of US bond yields, and positive FPI flows in June .

On the liquidity rush he said, it is not a worry in the market, it is a happy situation. Over half a billion people should invest in the capital market, this leads to inclusive growth of the market. Ultimate form of distribution of risk. Liquidity rush will also distribute the risks and improve the quality of equity, the Motilal Oswal top honcho said.

Agrawal said the government should have one state cabinet minister for capital markets with an office in Mumbai, even though the SEBI is doing its job.

Agrawal also said in four years, we (the Indian capital markets) might become a 10 trillion market.

On the expectations of the capital market from the union budget, he said the government should not change anything. Capital markets should be made attractive to the masses. Masses should not go back to real estate or gold investments, he said.

The current market boom is bigger than the 1992 boom, only difference is SEBI was not there in 1992, Agarwal said. The government should tax people with income above 12 lakh, increasing consumption.
Mumbai: In a striking shift within India's investment landscape, GenZ investors are rapidly rising to prominence, nearly doubling their presence in the stock market compared to other age groups.

Once a modest 22-23% before the pandemic, this cohortdefined as those under 30now makes up 40.1% of the National Stock Exchange of India's (NSE) 95 million registered investors as of May 2024.

This spurt underscores a broader phenomenon: the younger generation's growing appetite for speculative trading and quick profits. As market veterans observe, this surge in youthful participation is not just a fleeting trend but a potential game-changer for the Indian stock market, especially as traditional revenue streams continue to dry up.

Incidentally, this group has also been the biggest age-group on the NSE over the past three years, taking pole position in terms of number of users across age groups in FY22.

Nisarg Seth, a 28-year-old trader, said what motivates him to trade is that the job requires more of analytical skills, rather than labour work, or simply buying or selling a commodity. I've also been seeing big names in the industry like Rakesh Jhunjhunwala and Vijay Kedia, who started their trading journey at a very early stage and made big money," he said.

The below-30 age group comprises those who are in for a quick buck, rather than tapping the market for serious investing," said Dhiraj Relli, MD & CEO of HDFC Securities. Options and intraday squaring off in the cash market are what attracts them. They are those whove just completed their education or those just started their working careers and, thus, prefer cheaper instruments like options."

Intraday squaring off means taking positions on stocks between market hours. If a position is not closed before end of trading at 3:30 pm, delivery has to be given or taken.

Lure of the quick buck

The rise of this investor group coincides with NSE's premium turnover of index optionsthe most popular traded productsurging 426% from 26.29 trillion in FY21 to 138.19 trillion in FY24.

The tally for the current fiscal through 2 July stands at 40 trillion. Cash market turnover on NSE has risen at a more sedate 30% from 154 trillion in FY21 to 201 trillion in FY24. The tally for the fiscal through 2 July (FY25) stands at 76.32 trillion.

The fact of the younger generation entering the markets is proven by the age of the median investor on Groww, the country's biggest brokerage by clients, being 29, said a company spokesperson.

"Mostly, GenZ is in the market for speculative activity," said Anand K. Rathi, co-founder of MIRA Money, a Bangalore-based mutual fund investment platform. They are into buying options based more on hearsay rather than on taking informed decisions. They take loans from friends and family to trade."

Asked about the count of such investors increasing with investor penetration being a fraction of the population, Rathi said in the long term the count would stabilize as those losing money would be replaced by other newbies".

There is no homogeneity in GenZ; some among them are smart investors doing outstanding research," Nilesh Shah, MD of Kotak Mahindra AMC remarked. Unfortunately, many others are traders trying their luck rather than using their skill."

Rise of the young investor

The share of the under-30 age group began steadily rising post FY21, a year after the pandemic surfaced. GenZ overtook those between the 30 and 39 age group (millennial), with their share in the total registered investor base increasing from 29.4% in FY21 to 40.1% as on 31 May, as per NSE data.

Those between 30 and 39 saw their share decrease marginally from 30.4% to 29.2% over the same period. Other age groups also saw their share fall over the same period (see table).

Thanks to this decline in the other age groups, exchange data shows that the age of the median investor has dropped from 38 years in FY18 to 32 years currently. Similarly, the average age of the investor has dropped from 41 years to 36 years.

Who invests on the NSE?

Interestingly, the maximum number of registered investors on NSE in the current fiscal through 31 May came from North India (33.8 million), followed by west (29.4 million), south (19.6 million) and east India at 11.2 million. Others, mainly army personnel, accounted for 0.9 million, for whom state mapping is unavailable, as per the data.

Among states, Maharashtra leads with 16 million investors in the current fiscal through 31 May (FY25), followed by UP (10.3 million), Gujarat (8 million), West Bengal (5 million) and Rajasthan (5 million). These five account for 48% of the total investor base of 95 million.
With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections concluding and the Modi-led NDA securing a third consecutive term, attention has now turned to the forthcoming Union Budget for the financial year 2024-25.

As the Indian stock market anticipates the upcoming Budget, investors and analysts are evaluating strategies to navigate the potential volatility. With historical data showing mixed returns leading up to the Budget announcement, market experts offer their perspectives on how to manage investments during this period of uncertainty.

From booking profits and re-evaluating portfolios to focusing on long-term growth sectors, market analysts suggest investors to align their strategies with upcoming fiscal policies and capitalise on market movements. By staying informed and proactive, investors can better manage risks and seize opportunities during this crucial period, they added.

Also Read | How incentives from Modi 3.0 govt could shape affordable housing in 2025

Let's take a look at what different market experts recommend: Apurva Sheth, Head of Market Perspectives & Research, SAMCO Securities Markets generally trade with a negative bias before the Budget. The prime reason is that uncertainty levels rise as we get closer to the Budget. Market participants prefer to book profits and sit on cash and let the event pass by.

Since 2010 there have been 17 Budgets (14 were full and 3 were interim). The average returns 1 week prior to the Budget is -0.45 percent. This time around we have seen a sharp rally in the last 20 days. Nifty has moved up by more than 10 percent in the last 20 trading sessions. This calls for some profit booking in the near term. The returns one week after the Budget is announced are generally positive as the uncertainty is over. Average one-week returns, post Budget presentation, is 1.32 percent for the Nifty. Thus, market participants can start booking profits in stocks that have over-extended rallies and wait for some dips around the Budget to re-enter them.

Nishit Master, Portfolio Manager at Axis Securities 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.

Ravi Singh- SVP, Retail Research, Religare Broking Currently, markets are at record-high levels and we do not see major corrections. Long-term investors need not make pre-Budget changes in the portfolio as we are expecting smooth policy continuation in the country and continued focus on capex on Defence & Railways, Infrastructure investment, sustainability models, modernisation of transport networks, and improvement in environmental outcomes. One must not be too bullish as we can see profit-booking opportunities in days to come. Pre-Budget, long-term investors can shuffle their portfolio by ridding from low-performing stocks and traders can gain from short-term trading by buying value stocks on dips. Expect the Sensex and Nifty to inch towards 81,000 and 24,900 marks, respectively, by the end of this year.

Vaibhav Jain, Head of Content and Education, Share.Market With the current government securing a third term, the interim Budget offers clues on what to expect in the upcoming Budget. Key areas of focus are likely to include infrastructure development and enhanced connectivity, suggesting positive outcomes for the construction, steel, and transportation sectors. Investors might benefit from increasing exposure to companies involved in such industries, as they may stand to gain from continued government spending on infrastructure.

Furthermore, election promises made by the ruling party, including affordable housing, healthcare initiatives, and renewable energy projects, might find space in the Budget, offering additional investment avenues. Overall, positioning portfolios towards infrastructure, defence, and tourism while keeping an eye on Budget announcements can help investors align with potential government priorities and capitalise on upcoming fiscal policies.

Puneet Sharma, CEO and Fund Manager at Whitespace Alpha In my view, retail investors should take a longer-term view while investing in equity markets especially now that there is an expectation of continuity in government policy and actions. For those interested in trading intra-day through the derivatives market - you should consider stop losses at reasonable distances. For options trading, we expect a higher premium in anticipation of higher volatility. Direction-agnostic strategies such as butterflies, long strangles/straddles, or iron condors can be utilised for benefits during such periods.

For example, one can consider taking a butterfly position on either side of Nifty 50. Such strategies come with a predefined nominal risk-reward payoff of 1:10 going up to 1:20. However, traders should be prepared to close trades as soon as the price of the index is within range of the butterfly.

Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Also Read | Free health insurance for senior citizens makes it to the Budget priorities list
Shares of multibagger stocks Inox Wind and Inox Wind Energy were in demand on Thursday after the company announced an infusion of 900 crores by the promoter. The funds will be utilized by the firm to completely pare down its external term debt to achieve a net debt-free status, said the renewable energy company. The net debt-free status excludes promoter debt, it added.

"Inox Wind Limited (IWL), Indias leading wind energy solutions provider, today announced the completion of an infusion of 900 crore into the company by its promoter Inox Wind Energy Limited (IWEL). The funds were raised by IWEL on May 28, 2024, through the sale of equity shares of IWL through block deals on the stock exchanges, witnessing the participation of several marquee investors," the company stated in an exchange filing.

Post the announcement, shares of Inox Wind jumped as much as 15.2 percent to its day's high of 164. The stock is now just 7 percent away from its record high of 177, hit on May 27, 2024. Meanwhile, it has rallied 304.5 percent from its 52-week low of 40.54, hit on July 5, 2023.

Shares of its promoter Inox Wind Energy, on the other hand, were locked in its 5 percent upper circuit at 7562.25. The stock is 6 percent away from its peak of 8,049, hit on April 29, 2024, and has surged 253 percent from its 52-week low of 2,139.95, hit on July 5, 2023.

Both Inox Wind and Inox Wind Energy stocks have given multibagger returns in the last one year, soaring 250 percent and 236 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Inox Wind has gained over 27 percent in 2024 YTD, whereas, Inox Wind Energy has jumped 50 percent.

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Commenting on the fund infusion, Kailash Tarachandani, CEO of Inox Wind, remarked, "It has been a remarkable journey so far. This fund infusion will help us become a net debt-free company, strengthening our balance sheet and helping accelerate our growth. We expect substantial savings in interest expenses going ahead, aiding our profitability further. With all the building blocks in place, be it our execution capabilities, state-of-the-art technological offerings, financial strength, robust order book, and a large order pipeline, we are geared up to embark on a substantial growth journey ahead.

Inox Wind Limited (IWL) is Indias leading wind energy solutions provider servicing IPPs, Utilities, PSUs & Corporate investors. IWL is a part of the $8 billion INOXGFL Group which has a legacy of over nine decades and is primarily focused on two business verticals - chemicals and renewable energy. Inox Wind is a fully integrated wind energy solutions provider.

The company is engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling wind turbine generators (WTGs). It also provides erection, procurement, and commissioning (EPC), operations and maintenance (O&M), and common infrastructure facilities services for WTGs and wind farm development services.

Recently, brokerage house Axis Securities initiated coverage on Inox Wind with a buy call and a target price of 185.

According to the brokerage, Inox Wind is well-positioned to benefit from the growing Indian wind sector. The company's strengthened balance sheet and a robust order book of 2.7 GW across various customer segments are significant strengths. Additionally, Inox Green Energy Services Ltd., its operational and maintenance arm, enjoys strong margins exceeding 45 percent.

Axis also highlighted India's strong strategy to boost its wind power capacity by approximately 75 GW by FY32, up from the current 46 GW. Inox Wind's technological advancements, including the shift from 2 MW to 3-3.3 MW turbines and progress in developing the 4.X MW WTG platform, position the company well for future growth in the sector, it said.
The ongoing exhibition, Madras Modern: Regionalism and Identity, at DAG, New Delhi, offers a rare viewing experience. Its not often that you get to witness the trajectory of significant artists such as S.G. Vasudev, K.M. Adimoolam, M. Reddeppa Naidu, S. Dhanpal, J. Sultan Ali, S. Nandagopal and K.V. Haridasan, who added to the Indian modernist vocabulary through their works. By taking a deep dive into their practices, the exhibition highlights the making of the Madras Art Movementconsidered by art scholars as the last bastion of Indian modernismand the Cholamandal Artists Village, a residential work-centre for artists envisaged by K.C.S. Paniker in the 1960s. The works of each of the artists, who formed an integral part of this movement, while being unique and individualistic, are tied together in their exploration of regional and folk iconography and mythology.

The show, as well as the accompanying book, place this modern art movementa late phenomenon of modernity in south Indiawithin the national context. It developed as a regional phenomenon that began to take shape from the mid-1950s onwards as a search for authenticity in modernism derived largely from the regions cultural heritage," states the introduction to the book, authored by art historian-curator Ashrafi S. Bhagat, which has the same title as the exhibition.

The genesis of the Madras Art Movement can be traced back to the Government School of Arts and Crafts (now Government College of Fine Arts in Chennai) established in 1850. It all started when D.P. Roy Chowdhury took over as the first Indian principal of the college between 1930 and 1957, and shifted the focus from a purely craft-based curriculum to a study of fine arts. [He] put forth an empirical and perceptual approach to art making, and axed the colonial pedantry of human form study based on classical statuary. These ideas were extended by K.C.S. Paniker who, as the next administrative head, brought in a study of European masters," mentions Bhagat in the book.

Also read: Minor Detail: A group show interprets the meaning of home

She goes on to describe how Panikers pedagogy opened avenues for technical and creative explorations that became a hallmark of the school, contributing towards the development of the art movement in Madras (now Chennai). Though the movement was named after the city, its fabric was determined by artists coming in from the four southern statesTamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka that made up the erstwhile Madras Presidencythus bringing in different approaches and visual vocabularies.

View Full Image M. Reddeppa Naidu, Untitled Oil on fabric, 1963

While the names of Roy Chowdhury, J. Sultan Ali and Paniker are familiar to most art enthusiasts, in the show and the book, one meets many more figures who contributed to the rise of this modern art movement. In that sense, Madras Modern: Regionalism and Identity, on view till 6 July, becomes extremely significant. This kind of north-south divide that we experience regularly impacted the art world back then as well. For artists, who practised out of the southern states, the familiarity with art centres in Mumbai and Delhi was a little less forthcoming," says Kishore Singh, senior vice-president, DAG. Though the artist collective, Group 1890, did try to include one artist from the region, Reddeppa Naidu, but it phased away in a year after its exhibition in 1963 held in Delhi. Artists from the southern states remained neglected in the national mainstream for the longest time, and that is a pity as the art school in Chennai was the oldest in the country."

Paniker, as the administrative head of the institution, grappled with the factors behind this neglect for a long time. Both through his personal practice and role as a mentor, the artist tried to arrive at what was Indian and what was regional. Many artists, whether figurative or abstract in their language, began to look at the regional as their central pivot. And it is from that idea that the Madras Modern emerged," adds Singh. Take, for instance, the example of S. Dhanpal, who set up the sculpture department at theGovernment School of Arts and Crafts. He redefined the sculptural vision within the movement by creating a bridge between the modern and the traditional elements of temple design and architecture.

Also read: Blasphear: Playing sacred games in Pakistan

He became well established within the national art scene, as did J. Sultan Ali, who spent a fair amount of time in Delhi before returning to Cholamandal," says Singh. Another well-known figure to emerge from the movement was painter and filmmaker, V. Viswanadhan, who was also one of the co-founder of the Cholamandal Artists Village. Today, he lives and works between Paris and Cholamandal. But if you look at the spate of other names, you will be surprised to see the sheer sophistication of their art. K. Ramanujam, L. Munuswamy, C. Douglas, R.B. Bhaskaran and more, were such brilliant artists. The depth of their vision and the breadth of their practice is something else. Madras Modern is in a way a course correction in bridging the gap between the regional and the mainstream, and hopes to bring in familiarity to these names," elaborates Singh.

View Full Image L Munuswamy, 'Untitled', oil on cardboard

It is also interesting to witness the journey of women artists within the Madras Art Movement, who pursued their careers against all odds. Those who went on to win national acclaim included Arnawaz Vasudev nee Driver (1945-88), T.K. Padmini (1940-69), Rani Pooviah nee Nanjappa (1935-91), Anila Thomas nee Jacob (b. 1941), and Premlatha Hanumanthiah Seshadhri (b. 1947)," states Bhagat in the chapter onWomen Artists Within the Madras Art Movement in the book. While Vasudev, Padmini and Pooviah were painters, Thomas became a sculptor. The progressiveness of these artists in the 1960s was at odds with the role of women within the conservative Madras milieu. Institutionally, their progressiveness lay in their acceptance by male artists, endorsed by Paniker who opened the doors for womens admission in the art institution. Anila professed to the helpful attitude and encouragement of her male peers. If so, it opened up questions about the structure of male power and a gaze not so much sexual as condescending," writes Bhagat.

As you walk through the exhibition, you cant help but wonder if there was ever a dialogue between the various modern art movements taking place in the country. After all, each of these emerged out of a rejection of whatever had come to signify the establishment. For instance, the rise of Santiniketan was linked to a rejection of the romanticism of the Bengal School. Later, the Progressives found an affinity with the modernism that filtered in from the West. But they wanted to embark on their own journey, rooted in the Indian culture and aesthetic. For Group 1890, the process was more important than anything else. For the artists in Baroda, intellectualisation of art became significant. And for the Madras Art Movement, localisation or regionalisation became the pivot," explains Singh.

Also read: Plan your week ahead with these 5 buzzy events

Their idea gained strength as they were able to work together as a community in Cholamandal. There, they lived, practised and ideated together. It became a platform for dance, theatre, poetry and music as well, with international visitors coming in from time to time, bringing in their artistic ideas. Its location was significant, situated right next to Kalakshetra, which was based on a similar idea, and a stones throw away from Mahabalipuram, which had been a workshop for sculptors and architects since the medieval period. Like the other modern art movements, the Madras Art Movement allowed for a rejection of what was becoming the norm elsewhere. It was united with the rest in the idea of resistance and finding its own path," says Singh.
My first response to reading The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai was envy. Why cant I write like this? Simple, heartwarming and unputdownable even to me sitting in Coimbatore, thousands of miles from Kyoto where the book is set.

Two non-fiction books I fell in love with this year are also this alphabet soup of food, culture, trade and history. Zaitoun: Recipes from the Palestinian Kitchen and Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, both by Yasmin Khan, are moving beyond words and explore ideas of diversity and identity through food. In these, food comes together with culture, history and tradition in a joyous celebration even in the midst of strife.

Also read: Savouring the multi-cultural food pie of New York The Kamogawa Food Detectives, a work of fiction, is set in a small diner in Kyoto run by a retired policeman, Nagare, and his daughter, Koishi, in a quiet lane. They track down and recreate dishes people remember just by taste or memory with no idea of the ingredients or technique. A beef-and-vegetable-stew eaten only once decades ago, a mackerel sushi tasted at a long-gone ryokan, a tonkatsu-craving of a dying man, among others. The father-daughter duo investigate and recreate the exact taste for their delighted clients. Most of the time, their clues are nothing more than vague memories.

If Nagare and Koishi were closer home, I would ask them to recreate a morukuzhambu I ate in a tiny room in Madurai in 1987. All I remember that is our rickshaw driver stopped there on a hot day in May. A temple festival was underway, and I sat on a red-oxide floor eating the tastiest lunch of my life off a banana leaf. I could never find the little eatery again. But, Nagare and Koishi would nail it, I know.

It is her memories of hawker food she ate so much of when she was growing up in Singapore, that keep Chef Chindi Varadarajulu going. The Creative Chef and founder of the Pumpkin Tales and Zhouyu restaurants in Chennai says, I sampled a melting pot of multi-cultural, multi-ethnic cuisines in Singapore. There are hawkers there who are third generation and who still cook the same way as their mothers and grandmothers did.

The fried carrot cake is a memory she is determined to keep alive. It is actually made of radish (or white carrot). It is cooked with soy, garlic, chillies and eggs. It is simple, but it is tricky too, and is one of my favourite breakfast dishes. I am trying to recreate that in my kitchen, shares Varadarajulu. But she is sad that many ingredients and vegetables that she saw in her childhood, seem to have disappeared from the markets.

The books by Yasmin Khan are also about food memories, but in a different way. These are true life accounts. Khan visits refugee camps and talks to the inmates about the food of their countries. The displaced people hang on to memories of their homeland through food. Ahlan wa sahlan are the words with which Yasmin is welcomed at a Palestinian camp. The phrase loosely translates to may you arrive as part of the family and tread an easy path. She meets Sumood wa Hurriya, who teaches yoga to women in the refugee camps. Sumood is also a part of a Palestinian local organic food movement.

She shares with Yasmin her recipe for roasted aubergines, spiced chickpeas and tomatoes. I was delighted I had all the ingredients, so I cooked it too. I also made a side of cucumber raita with roasted and ground cumin, so widely used in Palestinian food. There is something heartening in there about our shared food heritage and the message of love that runs through life-giving dishes.

Sudha G Tilak is a food writer and the author of Temple Tales. In the chapter Heavenly Feasts, she lists sacred food offerings that have stood the test of time. Look how long the Kanchipuram idli has survived. The idli offering at the Varadaraja Perumal Temple is made with original ingredients of the land like rice, urad dal, gingelly oil and peppercorns and cumin and it is steamed in mantharai (bahunia) leaves, just as it was all those hundreds of years ago, probably the 16th century, she says.

Food nostalgia, like other happy memories, can offer comfort. Not just the taste of the dish, the memory of the person who cooked it and served it to you is also linked to the memory. Sadly, I am a hopeless food detective, but I have been around so many women who just by tasting something know what ingredients have gone into the dish. And they know immediately if one of those ingredients has been substituted with another! These are real super sleuths of the food world, notes Tilak.

Meanwhile, I cant wait to read what the food mysteries the food detectives will solve in Hisashi Kashiwais The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, his next book.

Pankaja Srinivasan is a journalist based in Coimbatore.
Mira Kapoor is the latest celebrity to create a skincare brand. Last month, Reliance Retails beauty platform Tira and Rajput launched Akind, which aims to enhance skin barrier health.

The brand offers skin rebuilding options for different skin types, at a price range starting 575. It has launched nine products, including cleansers, toners, serums and sunscreen.

In an interview with Lounge, Kapoor discusses the idea behind the brand, the product creation process and her skincare routine. Edited excerpts:

What's the idea behind Akind? Our focus is on the skin barrier, which is crucial for overall skin health. By addressing the skin barrier as the foundation of our brand, we tackle skin health holistically rather than targeting just one or two issues. We have three rangesBuild, Balance, and Defenddesigned to ensure the skin barrier remains intact from all perspectives. The brand is rooted in my philosophy as an everyday person dealing with everyday skin problems, yet struggling to find practical solutions. It is gender neutral, skin type agnostic and is also a great brand for teenagers to use when they are starting their journey with skincare.

Also read: Lip oil: a skincare must-have or a beauty scam? The beauty space has become a crowded market. What prompted you to start the brand? I was inspired by my skincare journey, which began with watching my mother's beauty ritualssimple, natural and effective. Those early memories of using rosewater patches have evolved into curating an entire skincare line, all the while adhering to the philosophy of less is more. My approach to beauty has always been closely linked with wellness, understanding that what we put on our skin reflects our overall health. My skincare journey truly took off when I started paying attention to what my skin was communicating. It has been a process of discovery, filled with trial and error. Through it all, Ive learned what works for me, and I wanted to share those insights with others on their quest for healthy skin.

Your must-do practices for good skincare? Establish a consistent skincare. This includes cleansing twice daily, regular exfoliation to encourage skin renewal, and applying sunscreen every day. Sunscreen is vital for protection against premature aging and sun damage, regardless of the weather.

What went behind the scenes while designing these products? Our products cater to the Indian skin type, which is rich in melanin and prone to hyperpigmentation. I remember when we were developing the OnCloud 9 moisturizer. It was almost ready for launch but then I suggested adding probiotics to give it an edge and enhance its skin benefits. The Tira team went back and reformulated it. This solution-driven approach has been central to our product development process.
India's affordable housing sector has gained momentum in recent years, propelled by government initiatives. With the population expanding rapidly and increasing demand for homes, especially affordable ones, the upcoming 2024-2025 budget is poised to lay the groundwork for significant advancements in this sector. The government is expected to allocate strategic funds and implement policy measures to transform affordable housing, aligning with the vision of achieving "Housing for All" by 2025.

Gunjan Goel, Director of Goel Ganga Developments, emphasized, "While strides have been made in affordable housing, there remains a substantial gap between supply and demand. Addressing key issues such as high land acquisition costs and cumbersome approval processes in the upcoming budget is crucial to providing the necessary impetus."

LC Mittal, Director of Motia Group, highlighted, "Budgetary measures addressing supply and demand will be pivotal in reshaping affordable housing. Incentives for green building practices can foster sustainable urban communities that are both affordable and environmentally friendly."

Technological advancements are expected to play a pivotal role in expanding the inventory of affordable housing units and enhancing operational efficiency by 2025.

Aman Gupta, Director of RPS Group, pointed out, "The future of affordable housing lies in embracing cutting-edge technologies. Budget incentives promoting modern construction methods and smart city technologies can revolutionize the approach to affordable housing development."

One critical area where budget interventions could make a substantial impact is in addressing financing challenges for developers and homebuyers:

Enhancing Refinancing Options for NBFCs: Measures to improve liquidity for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) could ease the real estate sector's credit crunch.

Expanding Home Loan Benefits: Increasing the deduction limit on interest for home loans under Section 24 of the Income Tax Act could incentivize first-time homebuyers.

Boosting Rental Housing: Introducing tax incentives for investments in private rental housing projects could offer a viable solution for accommodating migrant workers and young professionals who prefer rental options.

Gaurav Kansal, Director of KBP Group, stressed, "Addressing financing challenges is crucial for catalyzing affordable housing. A comprehensive approach is needed, including incentives for developers and simplified home loan processes for aspiring homeowners."

Gunjan Goel concluded, "The 2024-2025 budget is not merely about allocating funds; it's about envisioning India's urban future. With the right incentives and policy frameworks, we can create affordable housing solutions that foster vibrant communities, driving economic growth and societal advancement."
How is it to miss out on a job opportunity for want of a good CIBIL score? Sounds incredible but could be a reality for some applicants. This is what may happen to the applicants of a job for the post of a clerk at public sector banks  and this did not go down well with the applicants, and rightly so.

When we are not taking any loans, what is the justification for making the CIBIL rating one of the selection criteria? N Sravan Kumar, a software engineer preparing for bank exams, said upon being asked about the latest notification for clerks in public-sector banks, reported Hindu.

What is a CIBIL score? CIBIL Score, or Credit Score, is a three-digit numeric summary of a borrowers credit history. CIBIL maintains and calculates your credit score.

Simply put, it means how well you have managed your finances such as a home loan, personal loan or your credit cards, in the past.

Exam for selection in banks In the first notification this year, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection or IBPS has notified the Common Recruitment Process (CRP Clerks XIV) for the Recruitment and Selection of Personnel for over 6,000 Clerical Cadre Posts in a number of participating banks.

All public sector banks, barring State Bank of India (SBI) are constituents of the CRP.

Despite the excitement over the upcoming recruitment, the aspirants also point to a lack of clarity in the notification on the Cibil front.

Jagadish Shetty, another applicant, believed that there should be more clarity since the notification states the candidate applying maintains a healthy credit history at the time of joining participating banks. Also, the minimum credit score will be as per the policy of participating banks, which is subject to change from time to time. Why cant there be standardisation, he wondered.

When contacted, a senior official of a public sector bank who did not like to be identified said, Credit discipline is one of the most important traits for bank employees, and a bad record in youth might also lead to a higher propensity for fraud.

The norm is not applicable to those who do not have a bank account till now, and it is also not mandatory at the time of application. It will only be checked at the final stage before issuing appointment letters, he added.

Those candidates whose CIBIL status has not been updated before the date of joining have to either get the CIBIL status updated or produce the NOCs from the lender stating that there is no outstanding with respect to the accounts adversely reflected in the CIBIL, failing which the letter of offer may be withdrawn/cancelled.

Also Read | Can you improve your CIBIL score in a month?

The final discretion in this regard remains with the allotted bank, as per the notification.

Apparently, the banks did not heed the widespread protests against the Cibil norm when it was introduced in previous recruitment.
The DSP TIGER Fund was a standout performer in 2007, drawing huge inflows. Infrastructure saw a massive rally from 2003 to 2007, and the DSP TIGER Fund, launched in June 2004, capitalized on this trend.

TIGER stands for the the infrastructure, economic reforms and growth fund. What later happened to the DSP TIGER Fund is a great lesson for mutual fund investors. When the global recession of 2008 struck, TIGER crashed 58%. By November 2010, the market had staged a comeback and TIGERs NAV again reached within 10% of its peak. But that was a false recovery.

Real estate and infrastructure sectors entered a lost decade. The great names of 2007 and 2010, like Lanco, GVK, GMR, and Unitech, faded away, and new sectors took over as theinfra-realty sectors saw a churn. A change of government at the Centre also catalysed some shifts.

After nearly 16 years in the wilderness, infra and realty saw a significant revival last year. The fund has surged by 81%, though valuations appear stretched. The portfolio's trailing PE ratio stands at 27 times, compared to 21 for the Nifty. This is partly due to the fund's exposure to mid and small-caps (54% of its portfolio) and its avoidance of relatively cheaper banks.

View Full Image Mint

Fund manager Charanjit Singh has been in place since 2018 and is quite bullish on a sustained infrastructure revival. He points to diminishing capacity utilisation, a pick up in orders and structural displacement of manufacturing from China to India.

However, DSP AMC CEO Kalpen Parekh strikes a more conservative note. We want people to know how much the fund has fallen in the past. We want people to stick to SIPs only, not invest lump sums. The fund has run up," he told a group of reporters at a press conference.

Yet the fund house is keen to bring this horse out of the stable. It is an OFO or Old Fund Offer, says Parekh with chuckle - a dig at his peers' penchant for launching new fund offers or NFOs based on the fashionable themes of the day.

DSP is keen to portray the OFO, originally launched in January 2021, as a side bet, asking investors to consider it for 10-15% of their portfolio for at least five years.

Investors don't have the patience for 15 year downcycles, in fact they can't even wait 2 years normally," said Amol Joshi of Plan Ahead Rupee Services. They also cannot time these entries and exits. Fund houses should take these bets in their diversified funds," he added.

The strategy of side bets and timing market cycles also leads to unnecessary tax leakage when profits are booked and redemptions made. Riding the cycle may not be everybodys cup of tea.

Expert speak

The fund has a strong focus on infrastructure stocks that have appreciated significantly in recent times. According to the experts, this is due to a robust order book. They suggest that investors should be cautious while allocating their investments in this sector as it has its own potential risks as well.

The fund has a strong focus on infrastructure, and we view the current infrastructure sector positively due to a healthy order book," says Vishal Dhawan, founder & CEO, Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors. However, stocks in this sector are currently trading above historic valuation levels. The main risk with infrastructure projects lies in the ability to execute them at the agreed-upon cost, as profit margins and overall business profitability depend heavily on meeting contract terms for timely delivery and cost management."

Experts recommend a longer investment horizon or systematic investment plans (SIPs) for the infrastructure sector due to several factors. Infrastructure projects often have long gestation periods, and while supported by strong reforms, realizing their economic benefits can take years. A longer horizon helps investors weather volatility and benefit from the growth these projects can deliver. Additionally, the sector is sensitive to economic cycles and policy changes.

Given the significant attention this sector has garnered in the last 2-3 years, most stocks are now priced at a premium,"says Vishal Dhawan. Therefore, investors interested in this sector should consider a long-term investment horizon of at least 10 years or use systematic investment plans (SIPs) over an extended period to benefit from this fund. This approach allows for a more balanced participation in this theme. While economic reforms are important, they should not be the sole basis for an investment strategy."

He also warns against the overexuberance seen during previous sector peaks in 2005 and 2007. Investors should make informed allocations, keeping in mind the inherent risks to fully capitalise on the potential of infrastructure investments.

Also Read: How much does your fund manager earn in a year?
NEW DELHI : Opening a bank account is a cakewalk for most of us. Bank executives happily come to our doorsteps for the paperwork. However, it is not the same for parents of specially abled children.

New Delhi-based Vikas Arya, 48, learned it the hard way when he visited a bank to open an account for his 21-year-old daughter. It took him over two months and multiple visits to the bank to open an account that is still not operational.

"I applied to open a joint bank account for her and my wife. Even senior executives had no idea what process was to be followed," he says.

Arya, who has not received any welcome kit either, says bank officials are still figuring it out.

View Full Image Graphic by Pranay Bhardwaj

Bengaluru-based Sunil Kawariya's seven-year-old daughter was hospitalized a couple of years ago. Even though he had added her to his family floater policy when she was born, the insurer rejected the claim, saying it was a congenital disease not covered by the insurance.

"Autism is visible medically only when the child turns two or three years old. By nature, it could be by birth, but we had not hidden this information," says Kawariya.

Self-declaration is no guarantee that the claim will be settled. Aishwarya Magesh, 42, did declare about his son's cerebral palsy condition while buying the policy. The claim was still rejected for the same reason of congenital disease.

"It irked me how they accepted the policy proposal after the self-declaration and collected the premium but did not settle the claim. I now invest to create a healthcare fund for him," she says.

Moreover, expenses for a child with special needs are much higher than those for a normal person.

I spend 3 lakh a year on his education (for special school). The inclusive school or Montessori insists on employing a shadow teacher. They don't pick up and drop off our child unless a shadow nanny is hired due to safety concerns. Otherwise, parents have to do it, which adds to our cost," says Bengaluru-based Sunita Singh, 34. Therapies are very expensive, and costs are not regulated; every therapy centre is changing as they wish. I spend nearly 65,000 every month."

Financial planning

Challenges abound. The financial planning of a family with a specially abled child is different from a normal family. A normal working professional considers the retirement age of 60 years when creating a financial plan. Parents of children with special needs may not be in a position to work that long. Moreover, they need a much higher emergency corpus, which can last for at least nine to thirteen months, and a good amount in the healthcare fund.

"They have to plan for two generations: For themselves and their child. We suggest creating a separate financial plan for the child and adding these expenses in the master financial plan of the family," says Jitendra Solanki, a Delhi-based Sebi-registered investment advisor who specializes in financial planning for families with children with special needs.

The first step is to estimate expenses required to secure their own retirement and the child's lifetime care. If they are short of funds factoring in future income, they can put in efforts to arrange it and invest the monthly surplus astutely to fetch good returns. Insurance will play a key role here.

"People make a mistake of adding the child in their normal medical policy. Insurance companies have designed a separate product for people with disabilities, as per IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) mandate, which is a standard product covering 21 disabilities," says Solanki.

For example, Niramaya' Health Insurance Scheme offers an annual coverage of 1 lakh to all families with specially abled children. "It is a government scheme that not only covers hospitalization but also regular expenses like therapies. However, the latter is covered only up to a certain amount, not the entire 1 lakh," says Solanki.

The scheme has no income bar. All parents with a child with special needs are eligible for it.

When it comes to the life cover, the popular 1 cover term insurance will not suffice. "We did some calculations for an 18-year-old child whose yearly expenses would cost 6 lakh to parents. We suggested to them a term cover of 2.5 crore," says Solanki.

The checklist

A "person with disability" is defined as an individual who has been certified by a government-approved medical authority to have a disability of not less than 40%, as per the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation) Act of 1995. Every person with disability should get a UDID (Unique Disability Identity) card.

"The UDID has succeeded the disability certificate. Launched by the government with the objective of creating a database for persons with disabilities across India, it can be issued by notified hospitals in the home district as well as the hospital where the person with disability is taking medical treatment," says Rajat Dutta, founder and initiator at Inheritance Needs Services Pvt. Ltd.

Another important task is to get the legal guardianship certificate when the child turns 18 (if medically unfit to make independent decisions). Solanki says parents like Vikas Arya should consider opening an individual bank account for their specially abled adult children, where one of the parents can be the legal guardian to conduct operations on their behalf. "Parents are natural legal guardians for minors. The legal guardianship certificate ensures they continue being so even after the child turns 18," Solanki says.

One should accord legal guardianship to a trusted person in will and trust to ensure the child is cared for in their absence. Consider power of attorney too."The parents, while they are alive, gradually introduce the legal guardian to not only the child but also the stakeholders like banks, financial institutions, etc. This enables a smooth transition from parents to legal guardians," Dutta says.

Next comes availing tax benefits. Section 80DD of the Income Tax Act offers a deduction of 75,000 ( 1.25 lakh if the disability is more than 80%) to resident individual taxpayers and resident HUFs (Hindu Undivided Families) for expenses incurred on the support and maintenance of their dependents. This includes insurance premiums as well. Dependent of an individual taxpayer means spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters of the taxpayer and a member of the HUF in case of an HUF.

Section 80U of the Income Tax Act directly offers the same tax deduction to the specially abled person, being a resident individual. If parents have already claimed it under 80DD, their offspring cannot do it under section 80U," says Chintak Shah, vice president, Anand Rathi Wealth Ltd.

There is another tax benefit that not many people are aware of. "For normal families, the income of a minor child is clubbed with the parent's income when filing taxes. However, the clubbing provisions do not apply to parents with specially abled children. It makes sense to make some investments in the child's name to reduce the family's overall tax liability," says Shah (see the graphic).
India is known for its diverse culture, which includes a strong tradition of joint families. Further, the joint family concept in India is not limited to living together in a family house, it extends to many more things including owning properties jointly, conducting family businesses jointly in an all-inclusive manner, etc.

Like the head and tail of the coin, combined living, joint ownership of family properties and joint conducting of family businesses have pros and cons in social, sentimental, commercial, and other aspects, hence at times, families need to take certain measures to preserve family values, properties and harmony.

In spite of these measures, conflict in the family may still arise due to overlay of personal dynamics over the commercial focus and resolution of the conflict is utmost important for the families to protect the family harmony and business interest.

Family settlement or arrangement is one of the ways to resolve such disputes by defining the clear rules regarding the management of business and/ or ownership of the assets which include business as well as personal assets. Family settlement would generally lead to a split of business and/ or the assets to avoid overlap of managerial role and ownership over the assets and provide independence to each family.

The term Family Settlement is not a defined term under any statute including the Indian income-tax law or succession laws of India. However, one may be curious to know what the term settlement indicates. Is it a settlement of a dispute or a possible dispute?

Also Read | The Godrej split holds valuable lessons for family businesses

Key essentials of family settlement to have a legally binding effect on the parties are:

It should be for the benefit of the family. Family here has a broader meaning than lineal ascendant, descendants or blood relatives. It could include extended families like cousins.

It should be transparent and framed with the right intention and should not be driven by any fraud or coercion.

It should be for the settlement of present or future disputes by equitable distribution of family property amongst various families/ members.

There should be the existence of antecedent title (pre-existing rights) in the property.

It should be meant for the preservation of family property, peace and reputation of the family.

It is being executed to resolve a dispute or to avoid a potential dispute. The family settlement would generally lead to exchange of assets amongst the family members and one of the main issues under evaluation would be the income tax implications on such transactions. In absence of any specific provisions under the taxation laws, the taxability of assets transfer under the family settlement has been a matter of dispute.

The courts or tribunal have in the past ruled that the exchange of assets amongst family members under a family settlement would not trigger a capital gain tax because transfer or exchange of properties are happening due to pre-existing rights of family members and hence it is not akin to transfer of a capital asset.

The taxability of such transfer of assets has to be determined based on the facts of each case and transfer of assets under the garb of family settlement would not get immunity from the tax and courts have ruled that in these situations, exchange of assets is subject to capital gains.

It has also been noted that the familys assets are sometimes owned or held in the corporate entities and transfer of the assets by these corporate entities to family members may not get immunity from the capital gain tax. The settlement of these assets needs to be structured to achieve tax efficiency.

Also Read | To be or not to be: How you can let go of the reins to the family business

Many big business houses and conglomerates have adopted family settlements to preserve the dignity and honour of the family. At times, improper planning, cross transfers from corporate entities to family members or lack of robust implementation/ documentation can hit them hard when challenged in the courts.

Prevention is better than cure is an age-old tried and tested phenomenon which is being followed by families as few large families or big business houses have started adopting succession planning for their family and business assets and at times careful demarcation of assets is made amongst siblings or even in the same stripe of family too to avoid future disputes.

Nowadays, families have started creating a family charter which though not a legally binding document but provides a framework to the families and guide them to follow the defined rules and principles in order to resolve the conflicts in an amicable way.
Milking cows has been a tough business in the past decade, with volatile prices, costs rising and workers hard to find. Now Americas dairy farmers face a new problem: bird flu.

Avian influenza has hit dairy farms in at least 12 states after being confirmed in March to have jumped to cattle. The malady, which can curb cows milk production and upend dairy farms operations, is the latest curveball for an industry that has grappled with low profit margins, drought and shifting consumer tastes.

Dairy farmers are so stressed to begin with," said Jason Schmidt, a fifth-generation dairy farmer with 75 cows near Newton, Kan. The threat of bird flu makes it even harder," he said.

Officials estimate that an outbreak can curb a farms production by 10% to 20% for several weeks, complicating dairy farmers efforts to improve profitability after two years of sliding markets. Pressure is growing for the industry to address the spread, with federal health officials warning that continued outbreaks ratchet up the risk to human health.

Federal regulators say the commercial milk supply remains safe and consider the virus low-risk for humans, but people with close contact to infected animals have a greater chance of contracting it. Increased infections could lead the virus to change and pose a greater threat to human health, said Dr. Nirav Shah, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions principal deputy director.

The virus has infected at least 136 herds of cattle across the U.S. and four dairy workers, according to the CDC. Three of the workers experienced eye symptoms, while a fourth had respiratory symptoms. All four recovered.

Officials say the disease is more mild in cows than in poultry, where it is typically fatal and entire farms of birds are destroyed to mitigate outbreaks. Widespread outbreaks among poultry facilities caused egg prices to skyrocket in 2022 and 2023.

As the virus spreads among cows, it is cutting into milk production. The virus has reached at least 26 herds in Idaho, where affected farms are losing up to a fifth of their milk production for three to four weeks. It is costing the average producer in the state $10,000 a day in lost revenue, said Idaho Dairymens Association Chief Executive Rick Naerebout.

In Michigan, the flu has reached at least 25 herds, according to the USDA. Theres a lot of unknowns with how this disease manifests itself in dairy cattle, what this means economically for farms, what the continued human health concerns are around the disease," said Tim Boring, Michigans top agriculture official.

The disease spreads from cow to cow and potentially via vehicles and equipment, officials said. Farmers are looking out for changes in milk production and a hollow, depressive look" in cattle, said Linda Ceylor, who raises organic, grass-fed dairy cattle on a small Wisconsin farm.

In Michigan, third-generation dairy farmer Ashley Kennedy is trying to boost biosecurity by limiting visitors access to her cows and logging the people who enter and exit the farm, as the state requires. In Idaho, Naerebout said farmers treat infected cows with fluids and anti-inflammatory drugs, just like we do people."

Always fluctuating

Bird flu outbreaks add to the financial pressure that has been building on dairy farmers. Since rising to $25.46 per hundred pounds of milk in April 2022, futures prices for Class III milk, which is used to make hard cheeses, had declined to $20.03 at the end of June.

Victor Cabrera, a dairy-farm management professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said milk prices havent kept up with farmers rising costs for feed and labor. The USDA has forecast that 2024 earnings for dairy farms will fall below 2023 and 2022 levels.

As profit margins tighten, farms have consolidated to scale up production and save money on expenses. The number of U.S. dairy farms fell by about a third between 2017 and 2023, according to USDA data, while overall milk production increased slightly.

Farmers who are part of cooperativesmember-owned businesses that process and distribute milk, butter and cheeseoften learn what price their milk will fetch after they have already shipped it off. Profit margins can be tough to predict.

We are the last one to get our share out of that gallon of milk at the grocery store, and then our input prices are also always fluctuating," said Kennedy, who owns Sheridan Dairy and ships milk from 240 cows to the Michigan Milk Producers Association, a dairy cooperative.

Analysts said they are monitoring the virus, but it hasnt so far significantly affected dairy markets. Bird flu is a wild card," said Lucas Fuess, a senior dairy analyst at Rabobank, adding that it hasnt affected demand and prices at grocery stores.

On watch for dead birds

The USDA began accepting applications Monday for emergency-assistance funding for farmers who are experiencing milk losses. After regulators confirm a positive H5N1 test result, a producer can recover payments equivalent to 90% of lost milk production over the affected period.

In Texas, farmers arent taking up other USDA initiatives, including one that offers up to $2,000 to motivate farmers to adopt testing and biosecurity plans, said Sid Miller, commissioner of the states agriculture department.

Its not that much money," Miller said. Its not worth the hassle of going through the government red tape and putting yourself in the spotlight of the federal government."

USDA representatives said 24 herds have been enrolled in the agencys support programs, and more producers are expected to participate as the USDA ramps up outreach.

Naerebout, of the Idaho producers association, said it is in farmers business interests to try to prevent the virus. Many are right around the break-even point after roughly 18 months of deflated prices, he said.

If the virus reaches Ceylors Hillside Dairy in Wisconsin, it would be a financial hit, she said. Ceylor has been keeping an eye out for groupings of dead birds on her farm where 90 cows graze on 180 acres.

Theres no way I can physically protect them from this," Ceylor said. I do the best that I can."

Brianna Abbott contributed to this article.

Write to Victor Stefanescu at Victor.Stefanescu@wsj.com
In the decade-plus that Wu Xinbo has taught a class on Chinas foreign policy at Shanghais Fudan University, Americans have typically made up a third of his class.

Then came Covid-19, which essentially locked out most international students. But even as Fudan classes returned to normal last year, none of the 30 or so foreign students in Wus class were from the U.S.

I miss them," said Wu, who said his American students lobbed lively questions at himand provided insight into how Americans were looking at China.

Across China, American students have been slow to return since Beijing ended its strict Covid restrictions in late 2022. That is despite pledges by both Beijing and Washington to rebuild exchanges between ordinary Chinese and Americans, including Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressing hope at a November summit with President Biden of attracting 50,000 American students to China over the next five years.

In the last full academic year before the pandemic, over 11,000 Americans were studying in China, making it the most popular non-European destination for U.S. students abroad and the seventh overall, according to data from the Institute of International Education. As of June 2023, the IIE said, China wasnt even among the top 20.

While there is no official tally of Americans currently studying in China, Nicholas Burns, the U.S. ambassador to Beijing, put the number at about 800 in a speech last month. A State Department spokesperson clarified that this figure only represents those studying in university-credit programs.

Henry Huiyao Wang, president of Beijing think tank Center for China and Globalization, estimates the number is closer to 3,000, though he includes visiting nondegree students in his estimate. Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said that there are currently thousands" of American students in China, according to what he termed incomplete statistics." Meanwhile, around 290,000 Chinese students were in the U.S. during the 2022-23 academic year, according to the most recent IIE data.

The fact that China ended Covid restrictions later than other countries is only part of the explanation, said David Moser, associate professor at Beijing Capital Normal University. He said the number of Americans studying in China has been declining for over a decade amid rising U.S.-China tensions and the tightening of controls on expression under Xi.

Whats happening now is that after Covid and even after China opened up, the students didnt come back," he said.

Academics like Moser and Wu say they see the decline as detrimental to the broader U.S.-China relationship.

We really need to have people at all levels of government, business, academia who are China-savvy," Moser said. I feel like weve already lost a generation of those people."

A State Department spokesperson said the department was focused on expanding people-to-people ties," but said the Chinese government does not consistently meet us halfway in our efforts to build bridges between the people of our two countries."

The spokesperson added that since the November summit more groups of young Americans have visited China on short, Beijing-sponsored programs and that the U.S. hopes more will follow. We need more U.S. students going to [China] to learn Mandarin, study Chinese culture, and become our next generation of China experts," the spokesperson said.

Before the pandemic, the number of U.S. students in China had already dropped by more than one-fifth since the peak in 2012, with many students interested in China studies or Mandarin going to Taiwan instead.

In July 2020, then-President Donald Trump ended the U.S. governments Fulbright exchange program in China and Hong Kong.

Hanna Nkulu spent a summer in Chengdu in high school and has invested a lot of time studying China. A recent graduate of the University of Arizona, she had hoped to return to China to study Mandarin through the State Departments Critical Language Scholarship Program, whose programs in China have remained virtual-only since the pandemic. Nkulu has shifted gears and is now set to spend the next school year as an English teaching assistant in Taiwan with a Fulbright scholarship.

Having Taiwan be the only option where I can explore Mandarin on State Department programsit does feel a little limiting," she said, adding that her previous studies now feel less relevant.

Travel warning

One major factor slowing the return of American students is a State Department Level 3 travel warning recommending that Americans reconsider travel" to China and Hong Kong due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions."

The impetus for the travel warning is Chinas heightened use of exit bans to target bankers and executives. The State Department also currently classifies three Americans as wrongfully detained" in China.

Charles Laughlin, professor of East Asian Studies at the University of Virginia, said the advisory made his schools administration skittish" about restarting its China programs.

A recent IIE report found that less than 30% of U.S. colleges and universities they surveyed planned to send students to China last year.

Some schools, however, have resumed travel to China despite the advisory. The University of Pennsylvania sent around 100 students to China over the past year as it felt reasonably confident" that China didnt pose a risk for students, said Amy Gadsden, executive director of Penn China Initiatives.

Neysun Mahboubi, director of the Penn Project on the Future of U.S.-China Relations, said that the warning has a chilling effect" on academic exchange, and should be modified.

As far as I know, there are no American students and scholars who have been subject to either detention or exit bans," he said.

Burns, who has regularly called for more people-to-people exchanges, defended the travel advisory in a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal. There are complaints by business peoplemainly long-term residents of Chinathat are being subjected to exit bans, and were concerned about that," he said.

Liu, the Chinese Embassy spokesman, called the warning completely reckless."

Almost everyone who has been to China said that China is the safest country in the world," he said. If China is Level 3, then the United States is Level 5."

Liu said China is taking various measures to encourage more students to come in accordance with the consensus reached by the two presidents" in November.

The State Department spokesperson said the advisory was issued to provide U.S. citizens wishing to go to China with full understanding of the risks involved," noting that U.S. citizens of all types were being blocked from leaving China.

In June, Wu, who is dean of Fudans Institute of International Studies and director of its Center for American Studies, traveled to Washington in part to lobby the State Department to ease its travel warning for China.

Sending more American students to China is in the U.S. interest, no matter the political climate, Wu said. Even if you think of China as an enemy you have to have a better understanding of your enemy," he said, adding that such ties also put a human face on relations between governments."

For Steven Zhang, an undergraduate student at Yale, being one of the few Western students at Beijings Tsinghua University last fall meant he was treated very well.

Chinese people, like all of us, are very curious to understand what the U.S. is like," Zhang said. To be an actual Westerner thereit is a unique experience for them to interact with you."

Around 60% of the around 800 U.S. students in university-credit programs in China were enrolled at New York University Shanghai, which was able to recover quickly from the impact of Covid restrictions, including by chartering a plane to fly in students in 2022, according to Jeffrey Lehman, the schools vice chancellor. Before Covid, the campus hosted 3% to 4% of Chinas American students.

China program directors say other factors also dissuading Americans from studying in China include fewer and more expensive flights, the relative difficulty in getting a student visa compared with other destinations and challenges like adapting to Chinas digital ecosystem, including the ubiquitous use of apps like WeChat.

Potentially adding to concerns, four college instructors affiliated with an American college were stabbed last month in northeastern China, an attack the Chinese Foreign Ministry at the time characterized as an isolated incident. Burns, the U.S. ambassador, told the Journal recently that he has asked for more information on the motives of the assailant.

As to whether the presence of American students in China will eventually return to normal, Mahboubi, of the University of Pennsylvania, says that the current moment is a delicate one" with voices in the U.S. political environment that arent supportive of American universities engaging with China.

The overall political environment for this is still fraught," Mahboubi said.

James T. Areddy and Jonathan Cheng contributed to this article.

Write to Jazper Lu at jazper.lu@wsj.com
Amid an ongoing war of words over the Agniveer scheme between the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government and the Opposition Congress party, the family of slain Agniveer Ajay Kumar said they wanted the government to shut down the scheme.

Rahul Gandhi, who made his first speech as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, attacked the government over the scheme, sparking a debate.

Stating that the compensation money cannot replace Ajay Kumar, his father told NDTV, We want the Agniveer scheme to be scrapped, and we should get a pension and canteen card.

Kumar's sister stated that the government had given them money, but added that they wanted the government to shut down the scheme.

"My brother lost his life for a job of four years. While the government promises 1 crore, can a family survive solely on that amount without him?" asked Kumar's sister while speaking to NDTV.

They also demanded the 'hero' status for him from the Indian Army.

On July 3, in a video posted on X, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had lied in Parliament about the issue of compensation to families of killed Agniveers.

The Congress leader demanded an apology from the defence minister.

"The defence minister had lied to the family of killed Ajay Singh ji, the armed forces and the youth of the country, and must apologise to them. Daro mat, Darao mat," he added.

Following that, the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) issued a statement on its X handle and said that Ajay Kumar's family had already been paid 98.39 lakh.

The army stated that it salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar.

The last rites were carried out with full Military Honours. Of the total amount due, the family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid 98.39 lakh. Ex-Gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakhs, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid on Final Account Settlement shortly post due Police verification. The total amount will be 1.65 Cr approximately, said the Army.

Reposting the Army's post, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the Indian Army is committed to the welfare of Agniveers.
Assam, Manipur floods: Heavy rainfall in northeastern states has exacerbated the flood situation in Manipur and Assam, posing a critical challenge. Many people have lost their lives in both states, prompting the evacuation of thousands to relief camps due to extensive damage to homes and infrastructure caused by flooding.

Here are the top 10 updates on Assam, Manipur floods: 1) On Wednesday, authorities confirmed that the combined death toll from flood-related incidents in Assam and Manipur has reached 48. Heavy rainfall persists in both states, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for all northeastern states this week.

2) Military personnel from the Army and Assam Rifles, along with state police, Manipur Fire Service, NDRF, SDRF, and local volunteers, utilized boats to rescue people affected by the floods. They also distributed packaged water bottles and food packets to those in need.

3) The flood crisis in Assam worsened, as more than 1.65 million people were impacted across 29 districts, and major rivers exceeded their danger levels on Thursday.

4) As many as 2,800 villages across 105 revenue circles remain submerged, with floodwaters covering 39,451.51 hectares of crop area. In Assam, over 3.86 lakh people stay in 515 relief camps and distribution centres established by the administration in 24 flood-affected districts.

5) In the past 24 hours, floodwaters have destroyed hundreds of roads, bridges, and houses throughout Manipur and Assam. This week, the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries have risen above danger levels, leading to extensive damage in nearby areas.

6) The Imphal River overflowed its banks at Singjamei Oinam Thingel in Imphal West, while the Kongba River surged at Kongba Irong and parts of Keirao in Imphal East.

7) The Indian Army, state authorities, NDRF, and SDRF are conducting relief operations in the two states. Other northeastern states like Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are also dispatching personnel to support the relief efforts.

Also Read | Assam floods: IMD issues red alert for heavy rains in 3 northeastern states

8) The central government announced that it will fully support the flood-affected states by providing additional manpower, boats, and life-saving supplies to Assam and Manipur.

9) Officials said that in the last few days, Rain-related incidents have claimed at least five lives and caused widespread damage in Nagaland.

10) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the situation in the national park on Tuesday and directed the authorities to take adequate precautions, including regulating vehicular traffic on NH 715, to ensure that wildlife is not harmed.
A bridge collapsed in Bihar on Thursday, July 4, marking the 10th such incident in the state in just over a fortnight.

The latest incident was reported from Saran, which witnessed two more bridge collapses in the last 24 hours, District Magistrate Aman Samir told newswire PTI

He said no casualty was reported after the structure, built 15 years ago, collapsed this morning.

Hindustan Times reported that a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Bihar government to undertake a structural audit and set up an expert committee to identify bridges that can be strengthened or demolished based on the findings.

The PIL, filed by advocate and petitioner Brajesh Singh, raised concerns about the safety and longevity of the bridges in the state that witnesses floods and heavy rains during monsoon

The small bridge over the Gandaki River was located in the Baneyapur block and connected several villages in the Saran district with the neighbouring Siwan district.

The small bridge was constructed 15 years ago. I am going to the spot. Several other officials of the district administration have already reached there. The exact cause of the bridge collapse is yet to be ascertained, but desilting work was recently undertaken," the district magistrate told PTI.

On Wednesday, the Saran district witnessed the collapse of two small bridgesone in the Janta Bazar area and another in the Lahladpur area.

A high-level probe has been ordered to find out the reason for the collapse of these small bridges in the district," the DM said.

Local reports suggest that heavy rainfall over the past few days in the district likely contributed to the collapse of these small bridges.

In the last 16 days, 10 bridges have collapsed in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran, and Kishanganj districts. The most recent incident occurred just a day after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar instructed the road construction and rural works departments to assess all old bridges in the state and identify those needing urgent repairs.

On Wednesday, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting to evaluate maintenance strategies. He noted that the road construction department has already formulated a bridge maintenance policy and urged the rural works department to promptly outline its bridge maintenance plan.
A 15-year-old bridge over the Gandaki River collapsed in Bihar's Saran district on 4 July, marking the third bridge collapse incident in the district within 24 hours, India Today reported quoted District Magistrate Aman Samir.

The bridge is used to connect villages in Saran to the neighbouring Siwan district.

According to the India Today report, at least 12 bridges have collapsed across Bihar in the past 17 days. No casualties have been reported yet.

The latest bridge collapse occurred a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a survey of all old existing bridges in the state to identify those needing urgent repairs.

The bridge collapse in Saran also marked the tenth such incident in the state in just over a fortnight.

The latest incident was reported from Saran, which witnessed two more bridge collapses in the last 24 hours, District Magistrate Aman Samir told newswire PTI.

A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Bihar government to undertake a structural audit and set up an expert committee to identify bridges that can be strengthened or demolished based on the findings.

It was filed by advocate and petitioner Brajesh Singh, who raised concerns regarding the safety and longevity of the bridges in the state.

The small bridge was constructed 15 years ago. I am going to the spot. Several other officials of the district administration have already reached there. The exact cause of the bridge collapse is yet to be ascertained, but desilting work was recently undertaken," the district magistrate told PTI.

On Wednesday, the Saran district witnessed the collapse of two small bridgesone in the Janta Bazar area and another in the Lahladpur area.

A high-level probe has been ordered to find out the reason for the collapse of these small bridges in the district," the DM said.
More than 1.6 million people have been displaced in unabated flooding in the northeast, with Assam and Manipur the hardest hit by incessant rainfall. According to reports, the death toll in these two states reached 48 as of 3 July.

The situation prompted the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue district-wise red alerts for all northeastern states on Thursday, especially for areas located near the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries.

The weather bureau said two cyclonic circulations over northeast Rajasthan and a trough running from northeast Rajasthan to Bangladesh and over west Jharkhand may cause widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning over east and northeast India, including Gangetic West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and Meghalaya during the next four-five days.

Heavy rains on Thursday and Friday Extremely heavy rainfall is expected over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya on Thursday and Friday.

With heavy rain and overflowing rivers, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have been reeling under severe flooding and the state administrations are bracing themselves for a deterioration in the situation over the next few days.

This has prompted the authorities in Assam to evacuate thousands to relief camps due to extensive damage to homes and infrastructure.

The flood situation in Assam further deteriorated with over 1.65 million population affected in 29 districts with the major rivers flowing above the danger level across the state on 4 July, officials said. Eight people died from drowning.

The worst affected districts in Assam are Nagaon and Darrang in central Assam and Karimganj in the Barak Valley.

Meanwhile, 17 wild animals, including a rhino calf and hog deer, drowned in Kaziranga National Park, while 72 were rescued by the forest authorities; another 32 wild animals are currently under treatment and 25 others were released. The flood situation in Assam's Kaziranga National Park is still grim, as 173 forest camps in the park are still reeling under the flood situation, according to media reports.

"The park authorities and forest department have rescued 55 Hog Deer, two otters (infants), two Sambar, two Scops Owls, one rhino calf, one Indian Hare, one Jungle cat, etc," Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, told ANI.

On the other hand, incessant rainfall resulted in flooding at several places in Manipurs Imphal West and Imphal East districts, after two major rivers breached embankments, officials said prompting closure of schools in the state till 4 July.

Heavy weather in North-west also The weather bureau also sees very heavy rainfall over northwest India, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Uttar Pradesh for the next four-five days, but Delhi will see no lashes.

While eastern states such as Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar are likely to experience a similar weather condition, northeast India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya could see extremely heavy rainfall during the same period, it said.

As monsoon trough is near normal position at mean sea level and a cyclonic circulation laying over southeast Pakistan, widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning is likely over northwest and central India during the next five days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in a statement.

Heavy rainfall is seen over Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh during this period.

No rain in Delhi But no rain is expected in Delhi, IMD said after missing its projection for the national capital earlier this week.

IMD's significant rainfall forecast for Delhi on Monday forecast turned out to be inaccurate as the national capital remained bone dry and experienced a hot day because of high humidity.

The highest temperature recorded in Delhi was 36c though the heat index or real feel temperature was 47c as the humidity level was between 59-82%. The weather bureau revised its forecast for Delhi twice that day.

At 9 am, the colour coded alert, which indicates the intensity of weather events, was dropped to 'yellow' with light to moderate rain expected throughout the remaining day. This was revised to orange at around 1:30 pm with moderate to heavy rainfall forecast.

On Tuesday, the southwest monsoon, which arrived in Kerala two days earlier than usual on 30 May, covered the entire country six days ahead of the normal date of 8 July.

Also Read | Monsoon arrives in Delhi, brings city to its knees with heavy downpour

Also Read | Monsoon may regain momentum in next two days, says Skymet

It progressed normally up to Maharashtra but lost momentum after 9 Junetwo days earlier than the usual date, prolonging the wait for rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, which were reeling from a heatwave.

The country recorded 16 days of below-normal rainfall from 11 June to 27 June, registering overall below-normal rainfall at 147.2 mm in the month against a normal of 165.3 mm. This was the seventh lowest on record since 2001.

June rainfall accounts for 15% of the total precipitation of 87 cm recorded during the country's four-month monsoon season.

The IMD on 1 July 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.
Hathras stampede: Bhole Baba, a preacher at whose Satsang over 120 people lost their lives due to a stampede near Phulhari village in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras on Tuesday, was reportedly arrested in 2020 for claiming that he could revive the dead.

The stampede at Satsang allegedly took place as Bhole Baba's followers scrambled to collect the dust from his feet while he was leaving the venue in his vehicle.

The organisers of Satsang had obtained permission for 80,000 people, but 2.5 lakh people attended. The police have filed an FIR against the organisers.

Also Read | UP Hathras tragedy: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to visit stampede site

According to The Indian Express report, Suraj Pal alias Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, is revered by his followers, who believe hes a healer with cures.

His followers reportedly also believe he is a 'godman' with magical powers who can grant their wishes.

A report said that in 2000, he was arrested in Agra when he allegedly took the body of a 16-year-old girl forcibly from her family, claiming he would bring her back to life. However, the case was later closed.

Before becoming a preacher, Bhole Baba reportedly served as a Constable Suraj Pal from Kasganj.

Here's what we know so far  On Thursday, Uttar Pradesh Police said that six people were arrested in connection with the Hathras stampede.

 Shalabh Mathur, Inspector General of Police (Aligarh Range), stated that six people worked as sevadars at the Satsang.

 A non-bailable warrant will be issued against chief sevadar Devprakash Madhukar and a reward of 1 lakh will also be announced.

 Police will also investigate if the incident occurred due to a conspiracy.

 Police are also inquiring about Bhole Baba's criminal history.

 Permission for the event was not taken in Bhole Babas name.

 Bhole Babas lawyer, A P Singh, said the preacher is ready to cooperate and claimed that some anti-social elements hatched a conspiracy.

 A three-member judicial commission headed by a retired Allahabad High Court judge, Brijesh Kumar Srivastav, will probe the tragedy

 The bodies of all victims have been identified and handed over to their families.

 The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a monetary relief of 2 lakh to the kin of the dead and 50,000 for those injured.
Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena resigned late on Wednesday, months after saying he would quit the post if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) loses the Dausa Lok Sabha seat.

After submitting his resignation from the Rajasthan cabinet, BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena said, "Despite working actively for the last 10-12 years, I couldn't make my party win in those areas where I have some impact. The High Command has asked me to come to Delhi tomorrow, I will go there and try to convince them as I have announced that if I won't be able to make my party win, I'll resign, and I have done that. It is my moral duty that I should resign if my party doesn't win. I met the CM as well, but he has rejected my resignation... I have no complaints and no expectations for any post, neither from the CM nor from the organisation.

However, the minister's resignation has not been accepted yet.

Also Read | Hemant Soren to take oath as Jharkhand CM at 5 pm today

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Meena posted the famous Ramcharitramanas lines Raghukul reeti sada chali aai, pran jaai par vachan na jaai' to underline his unwavering intent to keep his promise at any cost.

During the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Rajasthan agriculture minister had said he would quit the Bhajan Lal Sharma government if the party lost any of the seven parliamentary seats under his responsibility.

Meena had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned him the seven seats in eastern Rajasthan, for which he worked hard during the polls.

But when the results were announced on June 4, the saffron party lost some of those seats, including his native Dausa.

Meena said he had already publicly announced that he would resign if the party failed to win the seats he worked on. He added that he resigned to keep his word.

"There is no reason for resentment. I have resigned. I did not go to the recent Cabinet meeting because I had resigned. I could go morally. I had also met the CM. He had respectfully said that he will not accept the resignation," PTI quoted Meena as saying.

Also Read | Ayodhya Ram Mandir priests get new uniform, restrained from using mobile phones
A high-level committee which probed the deaths of five children in a shelter homeShri Yugpurush Dham Bal Ashramin Indore has submitted an interim report to the District Collector of the city. The report held the shelter home management responsible for hiding facts, including the death of a child, mismanagement in record-keeping and negligence in the treatment of children.
In a shocking incident, a slab of a flyover collapsed on a moving vehicle in the Andheri area of Mumbai on Thursday.

The incident occurred around 3:20 p.m. on the Western Express Highway (WEF) near Gundavali Metro Station. The reason behind the collapse is yet to be ascertained.

The driver of the vehicle escaped injuries as the slab fell onto the bonnet of the car.

Also Read | T20 World Champions: Mumbai Traffic Police issues advisory for victory parade

Officials from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Police, and ward staff have rushed to the spot, and the area has been cordoned off.

This is an alarm for an urgent check on all the infrastructural projects - constructed and under-constructed around the city at the earliest, Mumbai Congress said in a post on X.

Sharing a photo of the collapsed slab, Activist Zoru Bhathena said, "Slab of flyover has fallen..Jog Flyover..Western Express HighwayAndheri W.

My BMC, My MMRDA, My MSRDC, Multiple agencies for construction. None for maintenance. This is My Mumbai (SIC), Bhathena posted on X.

Also Read | Mumbai womans note for CISF officials goes viral after finding diamond ring

The incident comes over a month after 17 people died after a huge billboard collapsed on a petrol station in Mumbai's Ghatkopar.

A committee headed by former Allahabad High Court chief justice Dilip Bhosle is probing the May 13 incident.

On Monday, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant told the legislative assembly that the state government will soon unveil a policy regarding hoardings in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

BJP leader Ashish Shelar has demanded an inquiry into hoardings erected since the Covid-19 pandemic.

He alleged that hoarding owners received subsidies and a 50 per cent discount on licences.

Shelar also pointed out that of the 1,025 big hoardings in Mumbai, 179 are in the railway limits and do not have permission from the BMC.
The Indian Army on Wednesday rejected claims that no compensation has been paid to the kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty, saying his family has been given 98.39 lakh out of the due amount.

The total sum will be around 1.65 crore, the statement said in a "clarification" issued after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi shared a video on X. The video allegedly features Ajay's father claiming they had not received any money.

On Monday, Singh had said that an Agniveer who lays down his life in the line of duty gets a compensation of 1 crore. His rebuttal came after after Gandhi criticised the Agnipath scheme, saying the government does not even give Agniveers the status of a "shaheed" (martyr) and that no compensation is extended to their families if they are killed in action.

Certain posts on the social media have brought out that compensation hasn't been paid to the next of kin of Agniveer Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty. It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme sacrifice made by Agniveer Ajay Kumar. The last rites were carried out with full military honours. Of the total amount due, family of Agniveer Ajay has already been paid 98.39 lakhs, the Army wrote on X.

"Ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately 67 lakhs, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid on Final Account Settlement shortly post due Police verification. The total amount will be 1.65 cr approximately. It is re-emphasised that emoluments due to a fallen hero are paid expeditiously to the next of kin of departed soldiers, including Agniveers. #IndianArmy," it added.

Singh then asked Gandhi not to mislead Parliament and also requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to expunge the former Congress president's claims on the Agnipath scheme.
The button-size geotracking device has become a popular tool in the rough-and-tumble world of local elections, where lawn signs often end up stolen, vandalized or run over. Candidates who have grown tired of dirty tricks are hiding AirTags in their signs, leading to digital dragnets when they go missing.

Tracking the devices pings has led to the doorsteps of alleged sign snatchers and, in some cases, candidates opponents. The stings have left snatchers dumbfounded. Some have faced charges of theft, criminal mischief and receiving stolen property.

I just wanted it to stop," John Dittmore said of why he got an AirTag after several of his campaign signs vanished over three days in May.

Dittmore, who is running in a Republican primary for a seat on the Brevard County Commission in Florida, said he believed he was being targeted and decided to put up a replacement sign with the tracking device at an intersection where others had disappeared.

After setting the trap, Dittmore spent three hours one night staking out the intersection in hopes of spotting the would-be thieves. Eventually, he gave up and went home to bed. His wife woke him up when her iPhone showed the sign on the move.

Dittmore called the police after tracking the AirTag to a pickup truck parked in the driveway of a home about 8 miles from the intersection. Officers questioned two teens. When they learned about the tracking device, the kids eyes bugged out," Dittmore said.

The teens were charged with criminal mischief and grand theft for taking nine of his signs, which, with their stands, had a total value of more than $1,100.

Putting up campaign signs in yards, outside businesses and on the sides of roads is a time-honored tradition in U.S. politics. Unfortunately, so is stealing them, say candidates and political consultants. The problem is so common that during campaign seasons, some police departments and local governments put out reminders that stealing a sign is a crime.

Candidates and homeowners have at times taken matters into their own hands to protect their posters. Some have used doorbell cameras to monitor them. A handful have resorted to more drastic measures, such as embedding signs with razorblades or smearing them with grease to ward off sticky fingers.

Vinny Panico, the deputy mayor of the township of Readington, N.J., said he grew so sick of sign stealers that in 2022 he placed a trail camera near a sign supporting a Republican running for Congress at the time. Panico said he also smeared the sign with white lithium grease. The camera ended up capturing video footage of a man wiping grease off his hands after trying to pull the sign out of the ground.

This year, with local, congressional and presidential races taking place, the township has more signs than you can shake a stick at," Panico said. In May, the Republican upped his sign-protection protocol, putting AirTags in some that were critical of a former congressman who was running for chair of the local county Democratic Party.

When one of the AirTagged signs went missing, Panico said, he followed the pings to the home of a Readington Township committeeman. Local police arrested the committeeman and issued him a summons for theft after finding six signs on his property. A lawyer for the committeeman said his client is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."

Panico said the arrest led to local news coverage, but he wasnt concerned about the publicity tipping off future sign snatchers to the hidden devices. Its a lot like when cops mark themselves on Waze," he said, referring to the navigation app where users can flag hazards and police along roads. If that slows people down, that slows people down."

Mike Lambrechts said some of his campaign lawn signs were run over and flattened out like pancakes" when he ran as a first-time candidate in 2022 for a seat on the Fort Lauderdale City Commission in Florida. Others, he said, were stolen. While advisers told him losing signs wasnt unusual in a campaign, he refused to let it slide.

How can anybody say this is acceptable and this is normal?" said Lambrechts, a 34-year-old financial adviser.

After some brainstorming, he used campaign funds to purchase AirTags, which cost about $80 for a four pack. When he noticed a sign with one of the geotrackers had moved from a lawn, Lambrechts traced it to a car parked in the driveway of the home of one of his opponents in the commission race.

The opponent told police officers that a homeowner had given her campaign aide permission to remove the sign and that it wasnt stolen, according to police body-camera footage taken of the encounter. The opponent, who wasnt charged with any crime, also asked Lambrechts where he had hidden the AirTag. Lambrechts responded, These are millennial solutionsfor modern problems." Both Lambrechts and the opponent lost the race.

Chris Torre said he didnt know what an AirTag was when he ran last year as a write-in candidate for a seat on the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors in Virginia. Im 80 years old and I dont pay much attention to things like AirTags," he said.

After some of Torres political signs went missing, a millennial campaign volunteer joked about using AirTags, but the idea stuck. When a Torre sign with an AirTag vanished, his campaign traced it to the home of his political opponent, Renee Rountree. Police located two of Torres signs stashed in a crawl space in her home. Her son-in-law was charged with a petit larceny misdemeanor for stealing the signs and was allowed to plead guilty to trespassing. Rountree was charged with a misdemeanor for receiving stolen goods.

Rountree, who later won the election, declined to comment. At a one-day trial in December, she said she had intended to return the signs to Torre. However, a judge said the prosecution had established Rountree was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, noting that she concealed the signs by placing them in the crawl space. Still, the judge withheld issuing a decision and instead conditioned dismissing the case on Rountree performing 250 hours of community service.

I would like to think that Ms. Rountree is completely and utterly embarrassed by her conduct," the judge said, according to a transcript. And I would like to think that this will have a huge deterrent effect."

Write to James Fanelli at james.fanelli@wsj.com
A young girl from China took to social media to draw Elon Musk's attention to a glitch in her Tesla car's touchscreen. In a video posted online, Molly demonstrated a minor but noticeable issue while drawing on the screen of her Tesla car. After demostrating the issue, she requested Musk to investigate and resolve the issue. Elon Musk promptly responded to her post, assuring that the problem would be fixed.

The video was shared by @DriveGreen80167 on X with caption, Molly decided to report an important bug to Mr. Musk @elonmusk.

Molly demonstrated the problem in the video by sketching on the touchscreen pad. As soon as she drew the sketch, the previous elements of her sketch disappeared immediately. After explaining the whole issue, Molly asked, You see it? So, can you fix this? Thank you.

Also Read | Elon Musk announces first human recipient of Neuralink brain implant!

The young girl's adorable request received a response from the SpaceX CEO, who wrote, Sure.

Elon Musk's response to the post led to several social media reactions to the post. Many users applauded Musk's gesture.

I think Elon can fix anything, so yes, wrote a social media user on X. Awww, shes so adorable, said another.

Here are a few reactions to Elon Musk's response to the Chinese girl:

She has better English than many on this side of the Pacific. Wish my Chinese was a quarter as good.

It's been there for many years.... finally got to Elon. Thank you! read another comment on Musk's post.

Also Read | 34 new Tesla Cybertrucks defaced with anti-Elon Musk graffiti in Florida

LOL my daughter has been asking me to report this for I don't know how long (she's 7).

Molly is the perfect end user. Concise description when reporting the problem and includes reproducible examples with screen shots or video.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Both foreign leaders discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas.

The talks between both leaders focussed on resolving the dragging border row between India and China, particularly in Eastern Ladakh, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

After the meeting, EAM Jaishankar said that the two sides agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end.

In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end. Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties.

India has maintained that peace and tranquillity in the border areas are prerequisites for normal ties between the two countries.

Amidst a military standoff since May 2020, sparked by Chinese attempts to alter the status quo on the LAC, India and China have been engaged in discussions to achieve full disengagement and resolve issues along the Western sector of their border.

Nearly four years later, the standoff persists, with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar characterising bilateral relations as abnormal. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has condemned China's unilateral actions along the LAC, stating they violated the foundation of bilateral ties. In a brief period, relations between the two countries shifted dramatically from engagement to heightened tension.

In his book, Why Bharat Matters, Jaishankar contends that the aftermath of the border clashes in 2020 had necessitated the Indian establishment adopting a more holistic strategy towards China.

It was not just the underpinning of peace and tranquillity that was shattered as a result, Jaishankar wrote in Why Bharat Matters. He stressed, There should be an acceptance that a multipolar Asia is one of its essential constituents.
Retaliating to the IDF strike that killed one of its senior commanders, the Lebanon-based Hezbollah group on Thursday said it launched over 200 rockets at several military bases in Israel.

However, there were no reports of casualties so far.

Israel confirmed the development. "Numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets" entered its territory from Lebanon, the country said, adding many of them were intercepted.

On Wednesday, Israel acknowledged that it had killed Mohammad Naameh Nasser, who headed one of Hezbollah's three regional divisions in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah launched scores of Katyusha rockets and Falaq rockets with heavy warheads into northern Israel and the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, newswire AFP reported.

The report said that Siren alerts for rockets and air attacks were sounded across Israeli areas bordering Lebanon and in the annexed Golan Heights.

17 alerts were sounded over 90 minutes in different parts of the northern region, from Nahariya in the west to the Golan in the east, AFP quoted Israel Army as saying, amid increasing fears that cross-border clashes between Hamas ally Hezbollah and Israel could escalate into an all-out war.

A report said that Iraqi militant groups warned they are ready to enter the fray against Israel and the United States.

A field commander of the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq said there would be "escalation for escalation" in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon.

Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the commander said the Iran-backed group had already sent "experts and advisors" to Lebanon.

The War in Gaza broke out after Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out attacks in southern Israel on October 7.

Also Read | Joe Biden to continue to run for Democrats in the 2024 Presidential race

The conflict quickly widened to involve several pro-Iran armed groups in the Axis of Resistance, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and demanding an end to the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Elon Musks social media platform X is set to be served with a formal warning for failing to combat dangerous content, in the third show of force by European Union regulators against Big Tech in recent weeks.

The escalation  which could eventually pave the way for fines of 6% of Xs revenue  is likely to be announced by Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton before the EUs summer recess, according to people familiar with the case who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Should X not make the necessary changes to address the European Commissions preliminary findings, the authority could proceed with a formal decision before the end of the year, the people said. After this, the company could face a financial penalty for non-compliance.

The warning shot against X follows the opening of an investigation by the EUs regulators in December. Brussels watchdogs have made inquiries into platforms handling of content after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Regulators also have opened investigations into Meta Platforms Inc., AliExpress, and ByteDance Ltd.s TikTok.

The commission said its proceedings against X are ongoing and there are no time limits on the next step. X didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The EUs DSA and the Digital Markets Act, or DMA, are two freshly minted laws that take aim at the most powerful online platforms. The EU has now ramped up enforcement of its new powers.

The DSA became legally enforceable last August, laying out content rules for social media platforms, online marketplaces and app stores. It forces their owners to clamp down on misinformation and objectionable content such as hate speech, terrorist propaganda and ads for unsafe toys.

The DMA regulation took hold on March 7, hitting big tech firms with a broad list of dos and donts based on decades of antitrust enforcement in the digital economy. The aim is to stop abusive conduct before its takes hold and allows the digital giants firms to dominate markets. The EU has just issued formal warnings to Apple Inc. and Meta over allegedly unfair practices under the DMA.
Amid rising concerns over Joe Biden's health issues and his re-election bid after disaster in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump, the POTUS on Wednesday made a major disclosure about his medical check-up to over 20 Democratic governors.

The admission comes amid growing talk among Democrats that Biden should drop out of the race.

According to Politico, Biden, 81, informed governors in a private meeting that he underwent a medical check-up after last weeks debate.

Also Read | Sudden return of the Trump trade sends Treasury yields reeling

The report stated that Biden was asked about his physical condition by one of the governors, and the president mentioned that he had a check-up, asserting that he remains in good health.

However, the report quoting people with knowledge of the discussion stated that the check-up was done by a White House physician due to lingering symptoms from his cold and did not include any major tests.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sidestepped direct questions from reporters who asked if hed been examined since the debate, reported Politico.

Also Read | Joe Biden to continue to run for Democrats in the 2024 Presidential race

The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report. Were going to continue to do that, she added.

Meanwhile, the Democratic governors of New York, Minnesota and Maryland said they would support President Joe Biden's re-election bid.

"The president has always had our backs. We're going to have his back as well," said Maryland Governor Wes Moore after a meeting with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, reported Reuters.

Also Read | Prisoner feels for his liberator, Ramaswamy on democrats likely to drop Biden

Moore said there was clearly work to do before the Nov. 5 election, but Biden had made it clear he would stay in the race.

"The president ... he's our nominee. The president is our party leader," Moore added.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she felt confident after the meeting and all the governors pledged their support to Biden.
Chinese officials are flocking abroad to answer President Xi Jinpings call to woo foreign capital. Their pitch to investors is being met with doubt, partly due to the policies of their big boss.

That skepticism was on show at a ballroom in a four-star Singapore hotel last week, where officials from Inner Mongolia promoted their regions rare earths sector to scores of potential investors.

One attendee questioned whether Beijing truly welcomed foreign investment in such minerals, which have become a focal point of US-China tensions and subject to export controls. Three days after local bureaucrats offered their assurances, Beijing tightened its regulations managing such resources.

That exchange underscored the challenges facing Chinese officials in convincing companies to spend in the worlds No. 2 economy. One official gauge of foreign direct investment clocked its lowest monthly reading since mid-2018 in May, as investors show caution amid Xis conflicting campaigns to bolster national security against foreign threats and further open the economy.

Once the confidence is lost, it is not that easy to restore, said Sun Yun, director of the China Program at the Washington-based Stimson Center. Whether officials drive to take their sales pitch abroad will succeed remains to be seen, she added.

Chinas top leaders appear aware of the problem, with Xi making time for a rare meeting with American business leaders in March to shore up confidence. Premier Li Qiang and He Lifeng have separately vowed in the past week to make a greater effort to attract foreign capital.

The mood to invest in China could cool further ahead of a US election thats threatening tariff hikes on Beijing from both sides of the ballot. In their first debate ahead of the November vote, Donald Trump accused China of killing America and blamed President Joe Biden for allowing it.

For Communist Party officials chasing fresh capital, Singapore has emerged as a popular stop thanks to its proximity to China, friendly ties with Beijing and majority-Chinese population. But even in that welcoming environment hard questions remain.

In the city-state earlier this year, one attendee at a roadshow asked a Shanghai official if China protects private property  echoing concerns business people raised in the wake of Xis abrupt crackdowns on the education and technology sectors.

Officials from Chinas southern Hunan province in May tried to drum up interest for their tech parks at a hotel in downtown Singapore to rounds of polite applause.

Such trips were rare before the pandemic, but Chinas slowdown had prompted Hunans commerce department to urge officials to go overseas and search for investors, one of the officials said, asking not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.

They are going overseas because there is a clear directive from the central government to attract foreign investment, said Dominic Chiu, senior analyst at Eurasia Group. Now they need to attract foreign investment in order to get ahead in the promotional ladder, he added.

Overseas Trips

Chinese officials began heading abroad after pandemic controls were lifted last year. Since then, the nations housing slump has dragged on domestic spending, while trade tensions with the US and Europe have cast a shadow over the manufacturing sector thats overall been a bright spot for growth.

One district in Beijing dispatched delegations to France and the United Arab Emirates last month to explore opportunities. Officials from a manufacturing area of the western province of Sichuan toured Cambodia in May, while a delegation from the northwestern Shaanxi province visited Denmark, Germany and Austria that month to exchange notes on green energy and tourism projects.

The delegations  which often feature business leaders  have also been driven by a desire to expand overseas amid sluggish demand at home. Chinese firms made $60.2 billion in foreign direct investment in the first five months of the year, a 16% rise on the same period in 2023.

Some overseas expeditions have found success. On a trip to Germany, officials inked a pledge with Volkswagen AG to further cooperation in the northeastern province of Jilin. The local government said in a statement that visits to Europe had also helped Chinese car and drug companies enter that market, without elaborating.

Officials trips are normally constrained to one week by domestic rules that have tightened bureaucrats overseas travel, according to Lu Xi, a senior lecturer at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, who says the outcomes of such excursions vary.

In Singapore, officials from large cities with overseas ties that pre-date the pandemic are managing to leverage those existing relationships, said Lu, who has been meeting with such delegations.

But for lower-level delegations, the success rate is almost zero, he added. Those events are essentially just for show and rarely result in substantive investment cooperation.
As the age of AI dawns upon us, it has brought excitement and trepidation in equal measure. The trepidation was mostly around AI-generated deepfakes and how they could change voter minds, influence elections and thus subvert democracy. This was especially true in India, as almost a billion voters were electing a new government. Many other countries due for polling, including the US and UK, confront similar fears.

While India is a developing economy, it has a digitally- and social media-savvy population. Political parties, too, have large IT and social media wings. Deepfakes are not new, with AI technologies like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) churning them out since 2011.

However, the advent of GenAI and the ubiquity of social media have made their creation, quality and spread at scale much cheaper and easier. This explains the concerns expressed by civil society, governments and media.

In a few articles and comments on AI and deepfakes, I had taken a contrarian stance, arguing that AI, if used well, could help the electoral process and democracy. It can help detect fraud, optimize the complex logistics of booth and voter management, and build resource and cost efficiencies into the vast machinery of Indian elections.

GenAI can be used for politicians to reach out to voters in a more personalized and scalable manner, level the playing field, and make voting access for the differently-abled voters easier. Most, however, tended to focus on the negatives and the supposed havoc that GenAI could wreak on Indian elections.

Now that Lok Sabha polling is over, it seems to be much ado about nothing. A post facto analysis done by two Harvard Kennedy School scholars Vandinika Shukla and Bruce Schneier (bit.ly/4er8ISi) concluded that AI was mostly used constructively, rather than the destructive use that most of us expected.

They estimated that political parties spent $50 million on authorized AI-generated content, and used it for targeted communication aimed at their constituencys voters. In Tamil Nadu, for instance, both Karunanidhi, with his trademark dark glasses, and Jayalalithaa were resurrected to appeal to voters, and this was openly authorized by their respective political partiesan example of deepfakes without deception.

Party workers at the lowest rung of the ladder frequented small tech companies that created personalized deepfake videos of them. These could then be distributed at scale. This created an unprecedented opportunity for young techies, who set up nimble outfits to serve such political parties. India has 25 official languages and thousands of local dialects, and some politicians leveraged the Bhashini AI platform to dub their speeches.

Voice clones of candidates made millions of calls to voters, explaining their promises. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi got into the act when in Tamil Nadu he asked his audience to put on earphones for his Hindi speech to be translated into Tamil in real time. Political workers used GenAI and other technologies to flood social media with localized and contextualized memes.

It was not all a bed of roses, though. There were many instances of the use of deepfakes to impersonate candidates spewing hatred and discord, saying things they had never said, and making it difficult for voters to understand what was real and what was fake.

But, as James Thornhlll writes in Financial Times (bit.ly/3RBLgI8): [It] could well be that the increasing use of AI tools by millions of users is itself deepening public understanding of the technology, inoculating people against deepfakes. The election did not appear to be disfigured by the digital manipulation."

In a sense, the proof was in the pudding. There were more concerns about the heatwave killing poll workers and reducing voter turnouts than of fake videos. The outcome of the election revealed less IT-savvy parties winning in many places. This showed that the wise Indian voter not only saw through the rhetoric of politicians, but also the fake news that some of them generated.

In the end, the dire forecasts of doomsayers did not come true, as AI was used more for good than bad. Harvard researchers Shukla and Steiner point out that the technologys ability to produce non-consensual deepfakes of anyone can make it harder to tell truth from fiction, but its consensual uses are likely to make democracy more accessible."

Also read: OpenAI joins AI content alliance as Election Commission warns of deepfakes

James Thornhill wisely noted that we should worry more about politicians spouting authentic nonsense than fake AI avatars generating inauthentic gibberish." Indian voters this summer seemed to agree.
The list of dramatis personae in the drama that unfolded after Hindenburgs report of 24 January 2023 on the Adani Group has grown. Online searches for Kingdon Capital Management and Kotak India Opportunities Fund Class F surged this week on news of the American short-sellers reaction to a show-cause notice sent by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

The market regulator had dubbed Hindenburgs report sensationalist, asking it to explain its allegedly unfair efforts to profit from a crash in Adani stocks that followed its allegations of fraud, stock manipulation and more, all of which were denied by Adani even as the market value of its listed firms shrank. Kingdon, a US-based hedge fund, was named by Sebis notice as Hindenburgs sole investor. Its role?

It began betting against Adani shares a fortnight before that report was published. In its public response, Hindenburg accepted Kingdon as an investor partner," but sought to highlight the role played by Kotak Mahindra Bank in setting up an offshore funda Class F spinoff of an existing fundthat was used by the hedge fund for acts of short-selling under Sebis scanner. This has dragged yet another name into a story that has kept market watchers agog for over 17 months.

Do these actors merit a spotlight in the long arc of the Adani-Hindenburg saga? To distance itself from controversy, Kotak has denied fore-knowledge of Kingdons link with Hindenburg and of the latters report. The bank said it did not know that the US hedge fund would act on the basis of price-sensitive information, given that it had confirmed it would operate solely by what was publicly known.

Kotaks Class F unit was a shell company registered in March 2022 and bought by Kingdon in December that year. According to Sebis timeline, the US hedge fund purchased it about a month after getting a draft of the Hindenburg report that would batter Adani stocks.

Since Sebi was probing a market bout of short-selling, it had good reason to focus on the actual sellersor direct profit makersmore than their investment vehicles. Unless evidence emerges of Kotak collusion with Kingdon, it is the latters association with events thats far more likely to endure.

The story isnt over. Sebi was asked last year by the Supreme Court to investigate not just proximate causes of the volatility in Adani stocks (which have largely recovered since), but also to probe the Adani Group in the context of Hindenburgs allegations. This January, the court said that most aspects of Adanis conduct had been looked into by Sebi and its investigation inspired confidence," but two parts were pending, as Sebi awaited inputs from foreign regulators to conclude the process.

While we await this conclusion, a larger lesson from the episode can still be drawn. Recall that Adani stocks saw steep drops even before Hindenburg took centre-stage, with those investor jitters attributed to the companies allegedly unclear compliance with Sebis 25% free-float rule, seen as exposing them to distortive swings in market value.

In general, markets for such assets work best when they have sufficient depth of trading, with a sizeable volume of stocks being bought and sold daily at prices determined by a wide interaction of demand and supply.

The more widely a firms equity is held, the better its share price captures its true value, thanks to a broader blend of views. It would serve everyone well if all high-profile listed companies took note. It would make stock-rigging charges hard to level.
The final Union Budget for the ongoing fiscal year 2024-25 will be presented in the monsoon session of Parliament starting 22 July. It is expected to conform to the interim Budget presented before the elections by the same finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman. But there have been some developments post the election process which call for new initiatives.

Examination paper leaks have roiled India. Public examination processes must have integrity in order to offer equality of opportunity, a key element in the social contract between the individual and the almighty state. The issue found mention in the Presidents address to Parliament on the governments agenda. Hopefully, it will find further mention in the Budget speech, with a focus on prevention.

Fiscal support for a selection and training centre for personnel inducted into examination administering agencies is urgently needed. The idea would be to ensure appointment of people fully trained in standard operating procedures for setting and securing exams in a variety of formspaper-based or computer-based. The new unit could be added as a wing to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), which commands widespread trust and respect.

The surprising feature of the current scandals is that they involved national agencies. At the state level, the problem recurs frequently. Most recently, the written examination for the post of police constable in Uttar Pradesh scheduled for February 2024 was cancelled because of paper leaks.

Fiscal provision for public examination processes will not take a big bite out of the exchequer. There is the overriding concern, of course, of whether the fiscal deficit committed to in the interim budget, at 5.1% of GDP, will be achievable. The Cabinet has already taken a decision to hike minimum support prices for 14 crops, mostly in the range 5-8 % (with a few outliers), in accordance with the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices .

Without knowing whether this increase was anticipated in the food subsidy in the interim budget, pegged at 2.05 trillion, it is not possible to estimate how much higher the food subsidy will be in the final Budget.

Standard macroeconomic prudence gets upended when confronting an economy with the fingerprints of global warming all over it. The present situation is that food (read vegetable) prices are rising in the face of the scorching heat wave that engulfed large tracts during the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Every move in the Budget has to be evaluated against the backdrop of the warming monster that kills people (including staff on duty in the just concluded general election); that can drastically reduce agricultural productivity; can raise food prices and reduce real wages more than what seems apparent from an overall CPI index.

It has caused forest fires in a region where the major river systems of the country originate. It has led, exacerbated by decades of predatory exploitation, to severe water problems in major cities. In short, it has the power to destroy us.

Moodys Ratings has said public failure to address water scarcity could lower the credit rating of India. Maybe that will prod the finance ministry into placing climate warming front and centre. Short-term indicators like the Purchasing Managers Index do not matter as much as frequent disruptions to economic activity posed by climate forces, which can become more frequent and disruptive over time. The time to act is now.

Also read: Exam mess casts cyber scare over education

There is need for a new Central government initiative with municipalities. Within that umbrella, partnerships can be taken up in sequence with cities which put forward a viable programme for restoring underground aquifers. It can work like the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, with the difference that cities would be invited to come forward with financial proposals for specific projects.

These city partnerships need not be fully funded by the Centre. There could be special purpose vehicles for each Centre-city partnership, financially contributed to by private individuals. The Forbes-list billionaires residing in big Indian cities could surely throw a few pennies into that hat, drawing inspiration from the famous 1975 rescue of the New York City municipality from bankruptcy by a financial vehicle formed by high-net-worth residents. But project supervision must be assigned to a board of engineers with professional credibility, unrelated to the financiers.

The flooding during the monsoons of several large cities with concomitant mixing of sewage and drinking water is a continuing health-hazard disgrace. The annual flooding of the Minto Bridge underpass is so predictable that it has become the signature of the monsoon in Delhi. A major commercial centre like Bhikaji Cama Place is periodically assailed by the stench of sewage overflow even in non-monsoon months.

What about the ambient warming brought about by global forces? Air-conditioners to cool interior spaces pump hot air into the exterior world, turning urban public spaces into furnaces.

Subsidies to incentivize retrofitting of air-conditioners with more efficient motors at lower energy intensity and insulation of roofs and windows have been tried in other countries. We need to study initiatives successfully implemented elsewhere, such as country schemes within the Green Deal of the European Union, and build on them.
The US President Joe Biden will continue to be a part of the Presidential race according to an email sent out by the Biden campaign.

Folks, let me be clear: Im running. Im the Democratic Partys nominee. No one is pushing me out.Im not leaving.Im in this race to the end, and we are going to win this election. If thats all you need to hear, pitch a few bucks to help Kamala and me to defeat Donald Trump in November.

This came days after Biden's disastrous performance at the 2024 US Presidential debate, following which several reports suggested that Democrats are likely to drop him from the race.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also cofirmed that Biden is not considering stepping down. Absolutely not, she said.

I cannot lay out something that would change the presidents mind," Jean-Pierre said about Biden continuing to seek a second term.

Meanwhile, several leading Democratic governors said they were firmly behind President Joe Biden after a meeting at the White House following last weeks disastrous debate performance.

The president was very clear that he is in this to win this, Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters after the gathering late Wednesday. The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader. And the president has told us, and he was very clear back there, that he is in this to win this.

None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, referring to Bidens debate, when he stumbled over answers and spoke in a raspy voice. But it doesnt impact what I believe hes delivering.

The meeting included more than 20 governors, with approximately half attending in person with the others participating virtually.

Biden admits almost fell asleep on stage Biden has admitted that he "almost fell asleep on stage" and "was not very smart" enough to handle his schedule before the first presidential debate with Donald Trump, blaming his extensive foreign travels for his disastrous performance.

I wasn't very smart. I decided to travel around the world a couple of times...shortly before the debate, Biden said while talking to donors at a fundraiser in a Virginia suburb of Washington DC on Tuesday.

I didn't listen to my staff...and then I almost fell asleep on stage, he said, amidst pressure on Biden to quit the race for the White House due to his advancing age.

Biden admitted that he did not have a good debate, and apologised by saying that he was sorry for the performance.

"Its not an excuse but an explanation," he said.
Amid all the talks that the Democrats are likely to drop Joe Biden from the Presidential Race, Vivek Ramaswamy said that the anyone but Biden was obvious for last one year but the bigger question is what's next.

Ramaswamy posted on X (previously Twitter), The later the Dems make the switch, the more advantageous it actually is for them

Full post here: A lot of geniuses are coming out of the woodwork to predict that it wont be Biden, but thats been obvious for over a year. The real question is whats going to happen in the next 4 months. Follow the incentives: the later the Dems make the switch, the more advantageous it actually is for them. Heres why:

Therell be the initial 3-4 month honeymoon phase where the public, aided by MSM coverage, is likely to fall in love with *anyone* they put up as Bidens successor. At minimum, itll be the publics sense of relief, akin to the feeling of gratitude that a tortured prisoner feels for his liberator.

The Democrats ideal scenario is for the election to occur during that honeymoon phase, long before the public scrutiny of the new nominee begins. Every day that passes between now & late August to make the switch, the better off they will be. Conventional wisdom says its messy for them to swap someone out late, but its increasingly clear that view is wrong.

The GOPs best way to protect against this risk is to offer our own vision of who we are & what we stand for, *irrespective* of which puppet the Democratic machine puts up next.

Individual, family, nation, and God beats race, gender, sexuality and climate. Trumps embrace of national pride & American exceptionalism is something that countless Americans are hungry for, regardless of race or party. Thats how we win & save our nation.

Biden to continue to run for democrats Joe Biden is "absolutely not" pulling out of the White House race, his spokeswoman said Wednesday, as pressure mounted on the president following his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump.

Panic has gripped Democrats in the wake of last week's TV debate, and internal rumblings about finding a replacement candidate before November's election have been amplified by polls showing Trump extending his lead.

The New York Times and CNN reported that Biden, 81, had acknowledged to a key ally that his reelection bid was on the line if he failed to quickly reassure the public that he was still up to the job.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre rejected those reports outright, insisting Biden has no intention of withdrawing.

"The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race," she told reporters.

In a call with campaign and party staffers, Biden insisted he was going nowhere.
The perfect European, or so the sarcastic quip goes, should drive like a Frenchman, cook like the Dutch, be as organised as the Greeks and as humorous as a German. A variant of the joke might haunt those trying to devise the perfect ally for Ukraine as it fends off Russian aggression. Imagine a country the size of Latvia, with the budget problems of the hard-up Italians, the willingness to pitch in of Kremlin-loving Hungarians and the arms industry of neutral Ireland. Alas, that is close to the reality of Europe today. Ukraine needs allies that are hefty, big military spenders and decisively on its side. As things stand, countries are either too small to matter, too broke to help or too hesitant to use their powerif not all three. A new approach to meld the 27 countries of the EU into one sizeable and decisive ally is necessary yet elusive.

Statesmanship has been woefully lacking. A summit of EU leaders starting on March 21st will feature plenty of sound-bites on Europes unwavering support, but little else. The mood ahead of the confab has been gloomy. What has become a war of attrition seems to favour Russia, whose economy has proved resilient to Western sanctions. Support from Europe and America has helped keep the Ukrainian state solvent and its soldiers in the battle. But now a dearth of artillery shells, supplies of which Europe has promised but is struggling to deliver, means holding the front line is the pressing aim for Ukraine, not counter-attacking in a way that might force Russia to sue for peace. Worse, if Donald Trump wins the American election in November, Europe could be left with the prospect of fending off Russia alone. In a bid to galvanise Europe, Frances President Emmanuel Macron has gone so far as to suggest some NATO countries might send troops to Ukraine, prompting simultaneous howls of enthusiasm, panic and derision.

On paper, Europeans should be in a position to deliver more than enough support to Ukraine. The 30 European countries that belong to NATO have, taken together, the worlds second-biggest military budget (exceeded only by Americas), vastly outspending Russia. Their economy is bigger than Americas. And across the continent the desire for Ukraine to prevail is strong. The realisation that Vladimir Putin would be unlikely to be satisfied with invading just one neighbour is chilling.

The problem is that the attributes needed in a good ally are unevenly spread. Most of Ukraines most vocal backers are also the blocs smallest countries, whether Baltic or Nordic. Take Estonia, which is among the EUs biggest defence spenders as a share of GDP. Its healthy public finances mean it can act on its word: Estonia has the highest bilateral aid to Ukraine per head of any EU country. But that only goes so far given there are just 1.4m Estonians. Kaja Kallas, the prime minister, wants all of Ukraines allies to spend an extra 0.25% of GDP on fending off Russia. The money coming from Estonia would on its own finance enough rounds for Ukraine to match a mere two days worth of Russian artillery fire. One EU member, the Czech Republic, has dazzled with its agility. In recent weeks it has managed to source 800,000 rounds of artillery from far and wideenough to match Russia for three months.

Some countries are biggerbut lack Estonias sound public finances. Total defence spending by European members of NATO in 2023 was about $65bn below what it would be if all members met the alliances minimum target of 2% of GDP. Over half of that deficit stems from a handful of countries with a debt-to-GDP ratio of over 100%. Italy, Spain and France are among the biggest EU countries, but have had little fiscal leeway to invest in military capacity in recent years. Their contributions to Ukraine have been underwhelming. For all Mr Macrons Baltic-style rhetoric, the amount of military aid France has sent to Ukraine remains paltry (but is more than made up for by the quality of what is sent, officials in Paris argue, stressing its supply of howitzers and cruise missiles).

One EU country is big, rich and thus able to spend lots. Alas, Germany falls into the hesitant camp. Its chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is ramping up defence spending and has pledged lots of cash and military equipment to Ukraineoften belatedly. Having dithered over sending weapons of any sort, then delayed the delivery of tanks, he is now opposed to the delivery of Taurus missiles that Ukraine thinks could help. Some in his party seem comfortable with the idea of a frozen conflict", or running on a doveish platform in next years elections. Poland, perhaps the only big, solvent country hawkishly worried about Russia, has led a successful charge to throttle imports of Ukrainian agricultural goods, thus hobbling its allys economy to placate its own farmers.

With friends like these

If some countries are short on size and others on either money or ambition, why not join forces? EU schemes abound, some better than others. A boost to the European Peace Facility" agreed on March 18th was meant to deliver military kit worth 5bn ($5.4bn) to Ukrainebut turns out to be in part recycled past commitments. A better idea, floated by Estonia and now backed by Mr Macron, might be for the EU to jointly borrow 100bn that would go towards bolstering the blocs defence. This would be a repeat of the pandemic-busting Next Generation EU fund worth 750bn.

Such a scheme could turn the EU into, in effect, a single large, solvent and potentially ambitious ally for Ukraine. For now it is being resisted by richer countries, mainly in the north of Europe, which end up repaying most of the money borrowed by the EU (and which agreed to the pandemic fund only as a one-off). Sceptics worry that a large defence fund would be hostage to a familiar type of sclerosis that befalls joint EU projects, often involving Hungarian vetoes. They may be right. But Ukraine might well prefer one big yet imperfect ally to lots of smaller ones that all fall short in their own different ways.
A popular firework viewing spot in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley got some upgrades that should make the experience more enjoyable.

Rotary Peace Park, formerly DeMoley Park, along the 1400 block of Prospect Avenue, has a new retaining wall as part of the Lewiston Rotary Clubs service work to improve the park.

Fred Fickenwirth, who was the past president of the club as of June 30, said the retaining wall serves two purposes: It provides landscaping and a seating area to watch the Community Spirit Fireworks Show on July 4 and the Lighted Boat Parade in mid-December.

The retaining wall was completed Tuesday and is two-tiered, but there are plans to make it a three-tiered by next year.

It came together in just a couple weeks, said Robert Clifford, a Rotary Club member.

For fireworks, people can still lay out chairs and blankets to watch the show that begins at 10 p.m. today, or sit on the wall.

Its in the shade so people can get out of the heat, Clifford said.

The parks location across the river from Adams Field at Clarkston High School makes it a popular destination for firework enthusiasts, which includes Clifford. His family tradition is to set up at the park to watch the show.

Its such a good viewing area, Clifford said. Its just so open.

The retaining wall that doubles as seating is one of many improvements made to the park over the last two years when John Rusche was Rotary president. Rusche said the work is being done in phases and theres plans for more as they get funding and volunteers to work on the park.

The park now has a shelter area with benches, but the roof of the shelter will need to be replaced so its a permanent shelter. Clifford said the Rotary Club is hoping to partner with Lewis-Clark State College for that project.

There is also a temporary peace pole, which Fickenwirth said will be upgraded.

Rotary is all about world peace, thats one of the tenants of it, Fickenwirth said.
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

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.
PULLMAN  Investigators were unable to determine what caused the fire that destroyed a storage building and its contents earlier this year on the outskirts of Pullman.

Darren Jones, fire marshal for the city of Pullman Fire Department, finished his investigation into the Feb. 8 blaze. While he was unable to pinpoint what started the fire, he said it was most likely an accident.

The blaze at Express Storage located on the Moscow-Pullman Highway was a costly one. Jones said there was at least $2 million in damages. The fire consumed several units containing motorhomes, vehicles, ATVs, boats, household items, appliances and personal effects.

Around a dozen insurance investigators attempted to determine what caused the fire. Jones said this was a contributing factor to the lengthy investigation, along with the sheer size of the building.

The facility was massive, he said, all 10 units scaled 14 feet high to accommodate for big-ticket items. This meant authorities had more ground to cover compared to other incidents.

Unlike a traditional storage facility, Jones added patrons could rent or own a unit, which complicated the investigation further. He said there were more parties to work with in the investigation.

The undetermined cause wont affect insurance claims, Jones said. He added insurance companies like to know what starts fires because it helps with their statistics and costs to insure items.
This story has been restored to its full version. Part of it was omitted in today's print edition because of a typesetting error.

A federal judge has denied a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that wouldve halted the city of Clarkston from enforcing ordinances related to the homeless camp at Foster Park.

In a decision handed down Monday, U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice ruled plaintiffs John Parke, Scott Darrington, Nancy Caskey, Tamara Apfelback and Elves for the Homeless failed to satisfy legal tests and are not entitled to their requested relief. They are represented by attorney John Wolff of the Northwest Justice Project.

The group asked the court to temporarily bar the city from enforcing an ordinance that limits camping at Foster Park in Clarkston. The plaintiffs previously filed a lawsuit April 5 against the city alleging Clarkstons ordinance disproportionately affected them because of their disabilities.

City officials plan to discuss the latest ruling and the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Grants Pass v. Johnson on Monday night during the regular council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Todd Richardson, who is filling in as city attorney for Suni Hanson, has promised to study the decisions and advise the council on the citys next steps.
Since 2012, Idaho Republicans closed their primary to 270,000 independent voters who previously participated. It was deliberate. They knew that low voter turnout leads to manipulation by the central committee in candidate choice. Over time, more outsider-influenced candidates infiltrated the Legislature. They enacted unpopular laws that Idahoans disliked, because they no longer felt accountable to them. Its still happening, and an increasing number of citizens are furious.

The solution will be on the November ballot: the Open Primaries Initiative. This initiative gives all legal voters in Idaho the opportunity to vote without being coerced into first joining a political party. It does not recommend or support any candidate. It is a nonpartisan, voters rights initiative only.

Youll be hearing disinformation from the extremists about the purpose of the OPI. Theyll say its a socialist plot; that Idahoans are going to install foreigners into office; let unqualified people vote; or whatever they can think up out of sheer desperation. The hard truth is, they dont want you to exercise your constitutional right to vote, because they want to retain their stranglehold on our Legislature. Dont be fooled.

We The People must take back our voting power. Vote yes on the Open Primaries Initiative.

Patrice Yeatter

Kooskia
Granard is set to host an innovative festival inspired by ancient tales of a great people and place.



The Suntown Grian Ard Festival will take place this coming weekend; Friday, July 5 - Sunday, July 7.



Deirdre Orme of Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre explained, Suntown Festival is inspired by the olden gaelic term Grian Ard which relates back to Granard being a beacon hill and sacred site.

Also read: North Longford set for heritage festival



The official opening will take place on Friday, July 5 at 7.30pm in Granard town hall, with thanks to Longford Library Services.



Granard Community Writer's Group will open the festival with a performance of 'Diary of a Town' by Noel Monahan, followed by music by Granard's very own singer songwriter Jamie Cunningham.

PICTURES | Yee Haw! Stetsons and stilettos galore in Longford for huge Granard barn dance



On Saturday evening, July 6, at Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre there will be outdoor entertainment with trad music by John Dungan CCE, spoken word by Marty Mulligan and top class Irish rock group Cronin will perform.

Down Memory Lane | Glam Longford ladies step out in style for 2016 Granard Festival fundraiser



Characters from Ireland's ancient past and fire dancers will lead a fire lighting ceremony on Granard Hill, followed by music, song and dance by a band of local creatives.



The event will run from 8pm till late. Attendees are advised this is an all outdoors nighttime event.



On Sunday morning, July 7, all are invited to gather for a morning of midsummer mindfulness with an enlightening introduction to clinical hypnotherapy by Daisy O'Sullivan.

Also read: Granards 73rd Agricultural Show takes place on Saturday, July 20



The Suntown Festival will see Granard bask in literature, music, spoken word and mindfulness.



The event is anchored by Knights and Conquests Heritage Centre, supported by Longford Arts, Longford Community Safety Partnership, Longford Tourism, Creative Ireland and with kind permission of Longford Library Services.

Also read: Tickets in huge demand for Longford screening of Battle of Ballinamuck documentary film
Representatives from the Family Resource Centres National Forum met with members of the Oireachtas from Longford at a briefing event in Buswells Hotel, Dublin this week, to urge them to adequately fund community services in Longford 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.

Also read: Longford charity Cians Kennels awarded 18,000 from RTE Toy Show appeal

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.

Also read: Longford receives 14,000 towards installation of wheelchair-accessible shelving units

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 Longford 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.

Also read: Longford planners to run the rule over Granard telecommunications mast proposal

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 Longford and across the country, and showed us the potential of what could be achieved at a local level  if long-term funding was provided.

Also read: Increased garda presence in Longford town aims to strengthen law enforcement

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/
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: July 04 2024

Experience Local and Foreign Film Screenings, Celebrity Appearances, Informative Panels, A Star-Studded Awards Ceremony and Q & As with Top Filmmakers From Around The World.

The Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) is proud to announce the full schedule of screenings and events for the 27th Anniversary presentation of the festival, happening from July 9th - July 14th at the historic Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave in Bellmore.

LIIFE is proud to feature over 120 films this year, including 19 World Premieres, 5 US Premieres, 28 New York Premieres and 50 Long Island Premieres! Plus, there are also 32 Female Directors.

Full Schedule and Tickets for films and events on sale at www.LIIFE2024.EVENTIVE.ORG

Our Pre-Fest feature on Tuesday night at 7pm is the NY Premiere of The Strangers Case, a film currently creating international conversation, where tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries.

There will be a press conference on Wed. July 10th at 3pm at the Bellmore Movies with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Actor Lukas Hassell (The Blacklist) and others in attendance.

Then, the Wednesday Opening night film is the Long Island Premiere of Colibri, by Juanpedro David Salazar and Francisco Salazar originally from East Meadow, which tells the story of a young Colombian couple who are faced with a major change in their lives, where each one will go on a personal journey to right the wrongs of the past in order to build a stronger future.

Special screenings of note throughout the week include: the NY Premiere of Child Machine a fun Sci Fi/Comedy feature that is showing on Thursday night, and the World Premiere of thriller Lady Of The Lake about our notorious local lake from native Ronkonkomas own Maria Capp, starring Seth Gilliam (The Walking Dead), Nia Sioux and Emery Kelly, which screens on Friday night - right before the Scared For Your LIIFE block that includes Screamwalkers, alumni Sean Quincy King's unique shot-on-video 90s-styled horror feature. You also shouldnt miss the World Premiere of romantic comedy Royal Runaways from Long Island local Candace (Candy) Cain and the NY Premiere of Hidden Flora, a coming of age queer trans-produced romantic dramedy from Writer/Director Ryan Rox, both showing on Saturday. Saturday at 8pm is also Super Mega Trivia Slam trivia in the Filmmakers Lounge hosted by Steve Strangio with tons of prizes, including a prize pack from Smodcastle Cinemas with a T-shirt, a signed photo from Kevin Smith, and more.

Plus, we have a short doc on Long Island based NYS Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg entitled Harvey: The Voice for The Voiceless.

Additionally on Saturday night, the 4th Annual Midnight Madness block is back, presented by Vinegar Syndrome. This annual block features a bevy of unclassifiable fringe and genre films that make you say "What did I just see..?!" Everyone in attendance will receive a custom Midnight Madness 2024 button, and at the end of the block, a one-of-a-kind handmade Midnight Madness award will be presented to one of the films. Reign Energy drinks are sponsoring the festival providing soft drinks for festival week, as well.

Finally, on Sunday July 14th at 1:30pm, the Closing day feature will be the Long Island Premiere of Scrap starring Anthony Rapp and Vivian Kerr, who is making her directorial debut and will be appearing on local media outlets to promote the film and festival earlier in the week. Then, everything culminates at 5:00pm that night, when you are invited to please join us for LIIFE Closing Awards Ceremony hosted by Kevin Brown (dotcom from NBCs 30 Rock).

Panels include: Directors Audition panel (July 10 - 12 noon - 3 PM), a Filmmakers Breakfast panel (Saturday, July 13 at 11 AM) sponsored by the Bellmore Moves & Showplace, the DP Expo (Friday 4-8pm) an open-room networking event where local cinematographers bring some of their camera equipment to display and discuss their methods and techniques, answer any technical questions, discuss their rates, and expand each other's network and many more!

Festivals of the past have included such luminaries as the late Danny Aiello and Ed Asner, Blue Bloods Robert Clohessy and Abigail Hawk, Ralph Macchio, John Amos, Daniel Baldwin, Ally Sheedy, Catherine Curtin, Chad Coleman, Steve Buscemi, Ed Burns, Ilene Kristen, and so many more.

LIIFE has become a summer playground for filmmakers; with local and international film screenings, celebrity appearances, entertaining and informative panels, a star-studded awards ceremony, and networking galore. LIIFE is presented by the Long Island Film/TV Foundation (LIFTF) and sponsored by the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency, Gold Coast Studios, and the County of Nassau.

For more information on LIIFE please visit: www.LongIslandFilm.com

Submissions for Scared for Your LIIFE, LIIFE's sister horror film festival are open at https://filmfreeway.com/ScaredforyourLiife.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: July 04 2024

Dr. Rosen will support the AHAs newly announced president, providing guidance and insight, and helping to direct the overall initiatives of the 35 million volunteers and supporters of the AHA.

The American Heart Association (AHA), the worlds leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, has named Northwell Healths Stacey E. Rosen, MD, senior vice president of womens health and executive director of the Katz Institute for Womens Health (KIWH) as its 2024-2025 volunteer President-elect.

Dr. Rosen, a practicing cardiologist for over 30 years, will formally take the helm as president in July 2025. As volunteer President-elect, she will support the AHAs newly announced president, providing guidance and insight, and helping to direct the overall initiatives of the 35 million volunteers and supporters of the AHA.

I am deeply honored and grateful to be elected as the President-elect of the American Heart Association as the AHA celebrates 100 years of lifesaving service. I look forward to supporting AHA President, Keith Churchwell, MD, in advancing his vision for the AHAs future, said Dr. Rosen, Partners Council professor of womens health and professor of cardiology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Together, along with all of the AHAs amazing staff and volunteers, and my colleagues at Northwell Health, we will continue our vital work to promote heart and brain health, with a special focus on the unique challenges faced by women.

For more than 30 years, Dr. Rosen has been a passionate AHA volunteer, offering her time, clinical expertise and advocacy in advancing the mission of the AHA. Dr. Rosen has served in leadership roles at the local, regional and national level, including the National Board of Directors. Dr. Rosen currently serves on the AHAs International Committee, NYC Board of Directors and NYC Medical Advisory Committee. With a career focused on the cardiovascular health of women, Dr. Rosen is passionately engaged in the AHAs Go Red for Women initiative. In 2018, Dr. Rosen received the AHA Women in Cardiology Mentoring Award; and in 2021, she received the AHAs Physician of the Year Award.

Dr. Rosen oversees Northwells Katz Institute for Womens Health. Its mission is to enhance women's health throughout their lives, bridging the gap between wellness and personalized care delivery. With a dedicated focus on women, the Katz Institute offers comprehensive healthcare and sets the standards for excellence in patient-centered womens healthcare. It also serves as a convener and amplifier for all of Northwells womens health initiatives, including supporting sex- and gender-specific research, providing expert, coordinated clinical care, and educating the community on prevention and well-being.

She is a sought-after expert in the cardiology and womens health space. In 2023, she was the recipient of the 2023 WomenHeart Wenger Award for Excellence in Medical Advocacy. She co-authored the book Heart Smarter for Women: Six Weeks to a Healthier Heart, which was published in 2022, and co-produced the documentary Ms. Diagnosed, which premiered at the Cinequest film festival in 2020. And most recently, Dr. Rosen was named to Modern Healthcares 2024 Top 50 Clinical Executives.

It is only fitting that Dr. Rosen has been elected as the new President-elect of the American Heart Association. Her unwavering dedication to heart health, especially her advocacy and support for womens health, is inspiring, said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. Our Northwell Health team is proud to support Dr. Rosen and the AHA in their mission to raise awareness about heart disease.

The AHA is dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities through collaborations with numerous organizations, and with the help of millions of volunteers. 2024 is the AHAs centennial year, starting in 1924 when six cardiologists founded the group as a professional society for doctors.

About Northwell Health

Northwell Health is New York States largest health care provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 85,000 employees  18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners  are working to change health care for the better. Were making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Local News

By Chris Boyle Published: July 04 2024

Nassau County Marine 7 responded and located the disabled 14 sailboat.

The Public Information Office reports the details of a Water Emergency that occurred on Wednesday, July 3, 2024 at 5:58 pm in Cold Spring Harbor.

According to Police, 911 received a call for an overturned sailboat in distress in the waters of Cold Spring Harbor. Nassau County Marine 7 responded and located the disabled 14 sailboat. Bay Constables assisted the two occupants and safely transported them to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. The occupants were not injured and refused medical attention. SeaTow towed the vessel back to the marina.
Suspect in Custody in Connection with Armed Robberies of Two East Meadow Businesses, Cops Say

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: July 04 2024

Brian Adams, 39, is charged with four counts of Robbery 1st Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree.

The Major Case Bureau reports the arrest of an East Meadow man for two Armed Robberies that occurred on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 7:45 p.m. in Uniondale and Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 7:57 p.m. in East Meadow.

According to Robbery Squad Detectives, Brian Adams, 39, of 225 Mitchell Avenue, was arrested for the armed robbery of the Conoco gas station, located at 1198 Front Street, Uniondale and for the armed robbery of the Dunkin Donuts, located at 329 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow.

During both Robberies, defendant Adams pointed a firearm at the employee while demanding cash from the register. After a thorough investigation, Detectives were able to track down defendant Adams and arrested him without incident.
China, Kazakhstan to discuss possibility of commercial use of each other's space launch sites

Xinhua) 10:41, July 04, 2024

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Kazakhstan support their aerospace institutions and enterprises in discussing the possibility of the commercial use of each other's space launch sites, said a joint statement between China and Kazakhstan released here on Wednesday.

The two sides also support their aerospace institutions and enterprises in communicating and cooperating in the peaceful use of outer space, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation in fields including the moon and deep space, as well as the reception and exchange of remote sensing data, said the joint statement signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
An Easton man was indicted again in connection with using COVID-19 relief funds to secretly buy a home in the name of a close relative, Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office announced.

Bill Dessaps, 47, was charged in a superseding indictment with a second count of wire fraud conspiracy, Levys office said in a statement released Wednesday. He was first indicted in January 2024 on one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering and one count of bank fraud.

An Easton man was charged yesterday in a superseding indictment for allegedly using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds to secretly purchase a home in the name of a close relative.

Dessaps, who ran an Abington-based used car dealership, conspired with five other people in Massachusetts and Florida to turn in fake Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, funds on behalf of his dealership, Levys office said.

The application they prepared and turned in falsely claimed that his dealership had 40 employees and averaged in monthly payroll expenses $334,720, Levys office said. Dessaps received $836,800 and made kickback payments to some of the conspirators who helped with the application.

After Dessaps received the PPP loan, he bought a $750,000 home in the name of a straw buyer, a close relative, Levys office said. This was because his credit score would have stopped him from getting a mortgage on favorable terms. The relief program prohibits buying a home.

Dessaps, his relative and a real estate agent submitted fake mortgage applications to a lender, Levys office said. This included forms and forged records that inflated his relatives income and assets. For part of the home costs, Dessaps transferred PPP proceeds into a joint bank account that he and the relative controlled.

When a lender denied the relatives application for a secondary loan, Dessaps and the real estate agent arranged a sham gift of $127,500 from the real estate agents girlfriend to the relative, Levys office said. In total, Dessaps obtained a $510,000 mortgage on the home and lived in it.

Dessaps original indictment charged him with attempting to get a second draw PPP loan through a different fake application in March 2021, Levys office said.

The charges of wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater.

The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transaction.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater.
A police raid on a home in North Andover found several guns, ammunition and homemade explosives, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tuckers office announced.

The raid was conducted on a home at 59 Village Green Drive, the home of Daniel Medina, 64, Tuckers office said in a statement released Wednesday.

Authorities conducted the raid after Medina set off an explosive device that damaged two vehicles, Tuckers office continued. He then returned to hide the damage using spray paint.

During the raid, police found more than 30 guns, many of which did not have serial numbers, the district attorneys office said. Medinas license to carry weapons expired in 2000.

Medina appeared in Lawrence District Court on Wednesday and was charged with five counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing and improperly storing an automatic rifle and vandalizing property, Tuckers office said.

He pleaded not guilty and was ordered help without bail. Medina is scheduled to return to court on July 12.

Anyone who is under the impression that they will not face consequences for illegally stockpiling weapons without a license is absolutely wrong, Tucker said in the statement. We will continue to prosecute in such cases in order to keep our communities safe.
A class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corp. claiming it sold baby wipes containing high levels of synthetic chemicals known to be harmful to children, according to the class action complaint.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Larisa Bullard of San Ramon, California, and Mila Corrigan of New York, both of whom purchased Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes, Fragrance Free. The suit claims the wipes are unfit for their intended use, as they contain unsafe levels of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The class-action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corp. for selling the product, and Nice-Pak Products Inc. for producing the product.

PFAS are harmful even at very low levels, and persist and accumulate over time, according to legal filings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines a number of effects PFAS exposure is connected with, including liver damage, decreased fertility and increased asthma, according to the suit. Other potential effects include thyroid disorders, immunotoxic effects and cancers.

The suing partys counsel found the product, despite being labeled as made with Naturally Derived Ingredients, contained 3.7 parts per billion of PFAS after testing in a Department of Defense laboratory, according to the suit.

Bullard purchased the product online from Costco multiple times between January 2022 and February 2024, assuming the product was safe for babies based on its packaging and labels.

The suit says had Bullard known those representations were not true, she would not have purchased the product.

According to the suit, Corrigan said she also would not have purchased the wipes if she had known it was not, in fact, safe for use as intended.

Costco Wholesale Corp. and Nice-Pak Products are facing several allegations, including but not limited to violating Californias False Advertising Law, breach of express warranty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment or omission.

The class-action lawsuit was filed on June 20, 2024, in the United States District Court Northern District of California.
While it used to have the company of a few other states, Massachusetts is now the only U.S. state with a full ban on consumer fireworks.

In the Bay State, private citizens cannot possess, sell or use fireworks of any kind, including sparklers and firecrackers. According to CBS News, the states ban has existed since 1943, meaning World War II was the last time Massachusetts residents were able to use fireworks for personal displays.

Back in 2014, Massachusetts was among three other states with full bans on fireworks, all in the Northeast  Delaware, New Jersey and New York. Those three states have since laxed restrictions.

Read more: Marblehead fireworks cancelled after barge catches fire

In 2018, for example, Delaware lawmakers passed a bill allowing the use of ground-based fireworks and handheld sparklers on July 4 and New Years Eve.

The year prior, New Jersey legalized the purchase and use of handheld and ground-based sparklers and novelty items  such as snakes, snappers, and party poppers  for people 16 and older.

At the time, Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, told WHYY, the PBS member station for the Philadelphia area, that states were lifting restrictions partly because of tax revenue. Lawmakers were tired of seeing their residents go to other states, she said.

Massachusetts officials remain firm that residents should leave the fireworks to the professionals. If a resident is caught with illegal fireworks, they can face fines. Police are required to confiscate them.

Massachusetts fire departments reported nearly 1,000 fires and more than 200 burns and injuries related to illegal fireworks between 2013 and 2022, according to the Department of Fire Services and State Police.

In 2022, the most recently available data, fire departments reported 106 fires and explosions, 38 injuries and $414,279 in damages attributed to fireworks. More than half of the incidents took place during the week of July 4.

The Department of Fire Services maintains a webpage of professional fireworks displays across the state that residents can attend.
These are pretty dark times for American politics. Theres no doubt about it.

From wars abroad to unrest at home, a presidential election that seemingly no one is looking forward to, an economy that remains frustratingly unequal, and a U.S. Supreme Court whose legitimacy has been shaken to its core, theres plenty to be concerned about this Independence Day if youre concerned about the health of the republic.

It absolutely doesnt help that were weathering this storm at the same that were all supposed to set off fireworks, sit under the stars at the Hatch Shell, and get our Red, White, and Blue on.

But heres the thing.

Wars. Pandemics. Economic crashes. Cultural battles. From Marcus Aurelius to FDR, from Kennedy to Biden, weve been here before. We will be again.

Just consider:

In November 1863, with the nation torn apart by the Civil War, and thousands dead, President Abraham Lincoln stood in a field in Gettysburg, Pa., that had been the site, just months earlier, of some of the bloodiest fighting of the conflict.

The speech Lincoln delivered remains the most economical and most powerful in all of American politics.

He called on his fellow citizens to fight for a new birth of freedom, so that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

The nation rallied. It survived. It wasnt pretty. And that fight for a government for all people, by all the people, remains a work in progress.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt would be called upon to guide the nation through not only the Great Depression but also the unspeakable trauma of the Dec. 7, 1941 sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that finally catapulted the United States into World War II.

Roosevelts admonition, in his first inaugural address in 1933, that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself, is a political bromide, to be sure. But they were exactly the words that a frightened nation needed to hear.

The nation rallied. It survived. And later, it thrived.

In 1960, as he accepted the Democratic nomination for president, John F. Kennedy said the nation stood on the edge of a new frontier  the frontier of the 1960s; the frontier of unknown opportunities and perils; the frontier of unfulfilled hopes and unfilled threats.

A year later, in 1961, Kennedy called on Americans to ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

A little more than two years later, in November 1963, the Brookline native would be killed by an assassins bullet, and a countrys sense of itself would be shattered.

By the decades end, his brother, Robert F. Kennedy, and the nations great civil rights leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X., would suffer the same fate.

Somehow, we found a way through.

The Challenger explosion in 1986. The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, where we were shocked into grief and silence so profound we thought it would never lift. The pandemic took so many from us far too soon.

The Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. School shootings. Attacks on the rights of women and the most vulnerable among us. We have seen more than our share of darkness.

Each time, however, we have found our way back to the light.

Now, some will argue that, unlike before, we dont have leaders who are equal to the task; that our culture has become so fragmented that we cant rally as one the way we used to.

The thing about those big moments, though, we rarely recognize were in them until after the fact. And even our leaders we believe our boldest, harbor the same nagging fears and insecurities as the rest of us.

Just ask Lincoln. In 1859, he told a fellow Illinois Republican, Thomas Pickett, that he didnt think he was qualified to be president. The cost of not stepping up, however, was too great. So he did.

Fear, the historian Jon Meacham noted in his book "The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, is about limits.

It casts its eyes warily, even shiftily, across the landscape; it points at others, assigning blame; it pushes away, and it divides.

But at our best,... the soul of the country manifests itself in an inclination to open our arms rather than to clench our fists; to look out rather than to turn inward; to accept rather than to reject, Meacham also wrote. In so doing, America has grown ever stronger, confident that the choice of light over dark is the means by which we pursue progress.

Its dark now. It doesnt have to stay that way. The power to change it, as ever, resides in ourselves.
A task force mandated with delivering recommendations to make child care more accessible in the state will be holding 12 listening sessions this summer to hear the status of child care and insights into the issue directly from residents.

We will learn about the unique challenges and strengths (of each region) so that we can respond most effectively, said Amy Kershaw, the states early education and care commissioner. And we would imagine there will be common themes that emerge as well.
ORANGE  Rolling hills covered by miles of lush trees lead into this town of just over 7,000 residents, until you land at its center, marked by a vacant cluster of mills.

The Franklin County community has been financially struggling for decades, according to town overseers, largely because of what they deem neglect by Boston officials and a large population of special needs children who live there, requiring more education dollars than they receive. In its most recent budget deliberations, the town was facing a $2 million shortfall.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Jocelyn Jones Arnold is bringing to light the untold history of her ancestors from the Revolutionary and Civil War eras, honoring a legacy once obscured and tarnished by racism and prejudice.

By day, Jones Arnold is a consultant for nonprofit communities in Philadelphia. In her spare time, she is leaning into genealogical and historical research with the Sheffield Historical Society on its After Elizabeth Freeman project.
For anyone under the age of 50, if they think about it at all, Irish muteness in non-condemnation of the Nazi atrocities of World War II is a deep mystery. That a nation which prides itself on its compassion for the oppressed could tolerate, without public outcry, the policy of eradication of the Jewish race, flies in the face of all logic and reason.

And yet, the simple answer is equally incredible, because the reality was that the ordinary citizen knew absolutely nothing of the horrors being inflicted over those five years.

Today, we live in an age of instant news; social media guarantees that any event, anywhere in the world, becomes common knowledge within seconds. But such was not the case when heavy-handed censorship, vigilantly imposed from on high, ensured that not the slightest reference to wartime brutality would find its way to Irish readers or listeners.

Irelands stance of neutrality in the war was much trumpeted; we were above the conflict, and anything which might be remotely construed as either condoning or condemning the actions of either set of belligerents was to be avoided. And since, in the eyes of the Government, propaganda was an important weapon of war, we needed to be cautious about what information was allowed into the public domain, lest either of the warring factions might find an excuse for questioning our assertion of absolute neutrality.

Known as Emergency Censorship, the strictures applied to press and publications of every kind; films, radio and theatre; posters, telegraph and telephone communications. In the words of the responsible Minister, Frank Aiken, the purpose was to keep the temperature down, to suppress news or views which might threaten domestic stability, or encourage people to take a partisan stand. Thomas J Coyne, the senior civil servant in charge of censorship, opined that the publication of atrocity stories, whether true or false, can do this country no good, and may do it much harm.

The degree of censorship was nothing if not thorough. When the German legate in Dublin complained that an upcoming production in the Peacock Theatre of a play called The Refugee would feature a Jewish refugee from an Austrian concentration camp, the producer was summoned by the Censor. A number of amendments to the script were suggested. When the play finally reached performance, the hero had simply become a refugee from Hungary, and all referenced to the concentration camp were left out completely. Special Branch detectives were in the first-night audience.

In truth, the government measures were quite acceptable to the general public. Such was the visceral Irish hatred of Britain  this was only two decades since the bloody War of Independence  that stories of atrocities were readily dismissed as Anglo propaganda. Even when, at wars end, the true horror of concentration camps was revealed, many refused to believe what was uncovered in Dachau and Auschwitz. Some columnists even argued that the stories, in spite of eye witness and photographic evidence, were more British propaganda.

The non reporting of barbarity was applied across the board, even when the victims happened to be Irish Catholic. When the war in the Pacific saw the slaughter by the Japanese of 60 people, including Irish priests, in the De La Salle college in Manila, the suppressed press report blandly noted that several people had died, having been congregated in Mandalay by orders of the Japanese.

Four Maynooth Mission priests were forced into a house in Manila and were deliberately burned to death by the Japanese. The subsequent report in the Irish media noted the deaths of four priests, during recent fighting in Manila, implying that the deaths could have resulted from either US or Japanese military action.
Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (ETB) is calling on the Government to commit to tackling inequalities in the education sector by supporting the priorities laid out in the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign.

Representatives from Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB met with members of the Oireachtas at a briefing event in Buswells Hotel, Dublin, last week where they expressed their concerns.

Mayo politicians in attendance included Minister Dara Calleary and Senator Lisa Chambers.

The event marked the official launch of the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign and was organised by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the representative body of 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) nationwide.

Paddy Lavelle; Minister Dara Calleary and Cllr Michael Moegie Maher (Photo: Marc OSullivan)

The four priorities outlined in the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign that ETBI and its members are calling for government support on include:

Increase the number and profile of Community National Schools nationwide;

Increase in the Deputy Principal allocation in ETB post-primary schools with DEIS designation;

Increase in funding for Further Education and Training (FET) so that funds reflect the proportion of learners, and ring-fence 600m in funding for the FET Colleges of the Future project, due to commence in 2028;

Restore funding for youth work to pre-austerity levels and ensure pay parity for youth workers.

Launching the campaign at Buswells Hotel, last week, ETBI General Secretary Paddy Lavelle told invited TD's that they were delighted to launch the #SupportYourLocalETB campaign and political priorities for the coming year.

We are calling on the Government to commit to supporting our work. TD's can also raise these issues at local and national levels of Government, and ensure these priorities are included in their partys manifesto for the next General Election, concluded Mr Lavelle.

For more information on ETBI and their priorities for the next year, see the ETBI website.
Fr John Kenny of St Marys Church in Westport has invited other priests around the country to Minister on Croagh Patrick for Reek Sunday.

The theme for Reek Sunday this year is to pray for and honour grandparents and the elderly.

This year, the annual pilgrimage takes place on the weekend of July 26-28, when thousands of pilgrims are expected to scale Croagh Patrick, Irelands Holy Mountain, to pray and participate on the summit in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and of the Eucharist.

Father John Kenny, Administrator of nearby Westport Parish, is delighted that the three-and-a-half year undertaking to complete the Pilgrims Path on Croagh Patrick has now been completed.

Accordingly, and on behalf of the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group, I welcome all to our annual Reek Sunday weekend pilgrimage that will start on Garland Friday, 26 July, he added.

Poster for Reek Sunday's National Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick 2024 (Catholic Communications Office archive)

Calling the work of the stakeholders group monumental in preserving and safeguarding the mountain, Fr Kenny said for this large gathering on the Reek, it is essential that pilgrims play their part in maintaining the mountain.

In this context, I am highlighting that we all have a responsibility to share in the protection of the mountains fragile ecosystem, and I encourage all climbers to stay on the Pilgrims Path. This request is made in the interest of the safety of climbers themselves, to preserve the mountains habitat, and to sustain this special pilgrimage for future generations, continued Fr Kenny.

Fr John Kenny is asking priests from around Ireland to contact him if they are in a position to assist with the celebration of Mass and the hearing of confessions on the summit to contact him on +353 (0) 98 28871 or +353 (0) 87 240 1533

Additionally, if other priests can assist the pilgrimage by advising their parishioners by way of including the following newsletter notice in their July bulletins:

'2024 is the dedicated Year of Prayer and Reek Sunday is on 28 July. This year, the annual pilgrimage takes place on the weekend of 26  28 July. On this day, we also celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly #ElderlyandGrandparents.

Parishes are also asked to display the Reek Sunday poster to help promote this years Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage.

See the schedule for Reek Sunday weekend pilgrimage below:

Garland Friday, 26 July  Local Pilgrimage

10:00am. Mass on the summit of Croagh Patrick, celebrated by Westport

native, Father Tod Nolan PP Newport

7:30pm. Mass at Murrisk Community Cafe  Croagh Patrick Car Park

Reek, Saturday, 27 July

8:30am. Tochar Phadraig Pilgrimage begins at Ballintubber Abbey.

6:30pm. Vigil Mass in Saint Marys Church, Westport, Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam.

Reek Sunday, 28 July

7:30am until 2:00pm, Confessions will be heard on the summit.

8:00am. First hourly Mass on the summit.

2:00pm Last Mass on the summit

(TBC. Aifreann Lan Gaeilge ar barr Cruach Phadraig)
A mountain rescue from Benbulben by the Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue team ended in tragedy when a man died after sustaining a serious head injury from a fall.

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024 Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team were tasked to the Benbulben forest walk area, where a climber had sustained a serious injury.

"Two local climbers were out climbing a gully above the Benbulben Forest Walk when the accident occurred," stated Henry Doherty, spokesperson for Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team.

"The climber, a local man in his forties," continued Mr Doherty, "slipped while climbing the gully, sustaining a serious head injury. Both climbers were active members of Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team."

15 Mountain Rescue volunteers responded to the call and rushed to the scene; they were accompanied by two ambulances from the National Ambulance Service and Members of An Garda Siochana. Irish Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue 118 was dispatched from Strandhill to assist in the operation.

A helicopter rescue from the mountain could not be attempted due to the location and prevailing winds but was able to provide extra illumination from the helicopter as the light began to fade. Four paramedics attended the scene alongside mountain rescue personnel and despite their best efforts they could not revive their colleague.

He was lifted onto a stretcher to be lowered off the mountain. The operation to retrieve their colleague was very precarious as the terrain was very steep and the weather started to deteriorate, making conditions very difficult underfoot. A break rope was deployed on the stretcher to assist with extraction off the mountain.

Despite the worsening conditions there was a concerted effort by all team members to bring their friend home.

"As a team we are all devastated at the loss of our friend and colleague, for almost decade he was a dedicated member of the team coming to assist those in need.

"He was compassionate, professional, friendly and always had a big smile wherever you would meet him," concluded Mr. Doherty.

"We would like to extend our deepest condolences to his family at what is a very difficult time.

"We would also like to reassure the public that as we go through this period of mourning that the team is fully operational and ready to respond to anyone who may get into difficulty in the upland areas of Sligo and Leitrim.

"Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team wish to thank An Garda Siochana, the National Ambulance Service and Coast Guard Rescue 118 for their assistance in the operation."
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, July 3, 2024

Article I, Section 9, Clause 8: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

From The Constitution Annotated, Courtesy of Congress.gov:

The Constitutions prohibition on titles of nobility reflects both the American aversion to aristocracy and the republican character of the government established by the Constitution. The Clause thus complements other constitutional provisionsmost notably the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendmentsthat prohibit invidious governmental distinctions between classes of American citizens.

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The Articles of Confederation and many Revolutionary-era state constitutions contained prohibitions of titles of nobility and other systems of hereditary privilege. The federal Title of Nobility Clause substantially follows the Articles prohibition and was not a subject of significant debate at the Constitutional Convention. As James Madison observed in the Federalist No. 44: The prohibition with respect to titles of nobility is copied from the articles of Confederation and needs no comment. Alexander Hamilton, in the Federalist No. 84, was only slightly more loquacious:

Nothing need be said to illustrate the importance of the prohibition of titles of nobility. This may truly be denominated the corner-stone of republican government; for so long as they are excluded, there can never be serious danger that the government will be any other than that of the people.

Very few courts have had occasion to interpret the meaning of the federal Title of Nobility Clause. The Supreme Court has only discussed the Title of Nobility Clause in passing, as when Justices cite the Clause to make a rhetorical point in a concurring or dissenting opinion.

How broadly to understand the Title of Nobility Clauses prohibition thus remains an open, if perhaps academic, question. On a narrow reading, the Clause merely prohibits a federal system of hereditary privilege along the lines of the British aristocratic system. More broadly understood, the Clause could preclude other governmental grants of enduring favor or disfavor to particular classes based on birth or other non-merit-based criteria. Some commentators have suggested, for example, that the Title of Nobility Clause might forbid admission preferences for legacy students at state universities or certain benefits that accompany receipt of the Medal of Honor. After the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, challenges to governmental favoritism based on class, race, or other bases have usually relied on the Equal Protection Clause.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, July 3, 2024

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee sued Meta Platforms for allegedly displaying ads that misappropriated his identity to hawk CBD gummies.

Because Meta approved and maintained advertisements that unauthorizedly used and exploited plaintiffs name, photograph, and likeness, plaintiff is now wrongly associated with the CBD industry and marijuana use, Huckabee alleges in a complaint filed this week in federal district court in Delaware.

Huckabee alleges that he learned of the false endorsements in May.

His complaint references several fake ads, including one that linked to a phony Fox News site.

Using unauthorized photographs and fictitious quotes, the advertisement claimed plaintiff was leaving his show on Trinity Broadcasting Network because of a four-year battle with an autoimmune disease, he alleges, referring to the ad on the fake Fox News site. Adding to this lie, the advertisement falsely claimed that Plaintiff used Fortin CBD gummies to replace opioids and painkillers.

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Huckabee adds in the complaint that he has talked to numerous fans who believed the ads were true and purchased CBD as a result.

Without the unauthorized use of Plaintiffs name, photograph, and likeness, these fans would likely have never purchased the CBD product, he alleges.

The complaint includes a claim that Meta violated an Arkansas right-of-publicity law, which gives people the right to control the commercial use of their names and images.

Huckabee's suit comes two weeks after a federal judge in California ruled that Meta must face a similar complaint by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, who sued over fraudulent cryptocurrency ads that used his name and image.

Meta argued in that matter that it was protected by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. That law broadly immunizes web companies from liability for material created by advertisers and other third parties, but also has some exceptions -- including one that applies when web companies develop illegal content.

U.S. District Court Judge P. Casey Pitts in the Northern District of California rejected Meta's request for a speedy dismissal, noting that Forrest alleged that Meta helped develop the fake ads.

Section 230 also has an exception for material that infringes intellectual property rights. Huckabee says in his complaint that his claims against Meta fall within that exception, arguing that his right to control the commercial use of his image is an intellectual property right.

In 2021, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals accepted that argument in another lawsuit involving Meta. In that case, the court said news anchor Karen Hepp could proceed with a claim that Meta violated her right-of-publicity by hosting a dating ad with her photo.
by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, July 3, 2024

I have no idea whether Joe Biden will pull out of the race and throw the Democratic nomination to someone else, but The New York Times sure thinks so.

Personally, I had hoped Biden might have done that a year or so ago, before the official campaign began for the 2024 election. That he would have made an elegant speech explaining how he accomplished what he needed to do -- got Trump out of office, stabilized America, recharged its economy, and well, kept the lights on -- and then announce that it was time for a new generation to take over and let the democratic process sort its way out toward a new Democratic nominee.

Obviously, that didn't happen.

And while Biden's approval ratings have remained under water ever since, the undeniable options of his debate performance have created a crises for the Democratic party. Or is it an opportunity.

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Honestly, either way it does not change the choice for the 2024 presidential election, because it still comes down to a binary choice: Donald Trump vs. democracy.

If you're an American patriot who still believes in democracy -- regardless of what party you are or not affiliated with -- it's a pretty simple choice.

If Biden does cede to mounting pressure and bows out, I'll vote for whoever the Democratic party's replacement candidate is. If Biden hangs in there, I'm all-in for him. It's not about any man or woman. It's about defending and preserving the institutional norms our founding fathers enshrined in the Constitution. And all you need to do is look at what a Trump-stacked Supreme Court has done this week to know elections have consequences -- especially this one.

So while it's still too early for the Red, White & Blog Editorial Board to make any endorsements, I will say we are leaning toward one: Anybody but Trump. Heck, anything. The worm inside RFJ Jr.'s brain would even be a better choice.

Check back in four months to see our official endorsement, but you know where we're leaning.




Self-Report Tool for Identification of Individuals With Coronary Atherosclerosis: The Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study

Trusted Source
The new storage system at SEW is a combination of a Kasto Unicompact honeycomb storage facility with 5,140 cassettes and a KASTOcenter sawing centre with 450 storage locations.

SEW-Eurodrive, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of electric motors, gear units, gear motors and associated automation, has installed an advanced storage and sawing system in a new high-bay warehouse integrated into a recently extended, 62,000 square metre production facility in Graben-Neudorf, southwest Germany. Both the automated store and the sawing equipment were supplied by German manufacturer Kasto, whose UK subsidiary in Milton Keynes describes the installation.

The order placed by SEW was one of the largest ever received by Kasto in its 180-year history. Within the 4,000 square metre warehouse, the supplier has installed a Unicompact honeycomb storage system with 5,140 cassettes having a load capacity of three tonnes, as well as an integrated KASTOcenter sawing centre with 450 locations for tube or bar.

The Unicompact offers high-density 3D storage in a compact footprint to maximise the use of space. An overhead gantry crane transports material to seven KASTOpick split outfeed stations where it is separated by lifting mechanisms and transferred to the infeed roller conveyors of the saws. There is potential to connect three further outfeed stations if required.

Eight automated KASTOvariospeed C 18 production circular saws have been supplied to process stock up to 180 mm in diameter. The heavy-duty, CNC production saws cut solid material as well as tubes and profiles to length.

The Kasto sawing centre comprises buffer storage for material and a KASTOtec SC 4 high-performance, horizontal bandsaw with infinitely variable cutting speed. Stock including tool steel and difficult-to-cut materials such as titanium and nickel alloys from 22 to 260 mm in diameter is cut into individual pieces.

Eight automated KASTOvariospeed C 18 production circular saws process stock up to 180 mm in diameter.

As steel can be magnetised by transportation and friction, which can cause issues during production, Kasto has implemented a demagnetisation system in the goods-in area. A crane unloads material from a lorry onto a buffer chain conveyor. A barcode reader determines if the material is ferrous and if it is not, it goes immediately into store. If it is, the stock is routed to a bypass area where the transport cassette moves through a coil carrying a demagnetising alternating current.

A KASTOlogic warehouse management system (WMS) ensures seamless flow of material throughout the facility. The software optimises the travel paths and checks and evaluates system changes. Kasto integrated the sawing machines and material handling into the WMS to achieve full automation of the entire process. KASTOlogic communicates with the SEW's SAP enterprise resource planning system through an interface to provide an end-to-end, digitalised system.

Max Schmitt, group production systems project manager at SEW said, "KASTO customised the storage and sawing systems to meet our specific needs.

"The equipment supplies our new production facility at the Graben-Neudorf site with the correct materials, fully automatically, no matter whether the batch size is one or 10,000.

At SEW, the KASTOtec SC 4 automatic bandsaw cuts material up to 260 mm in diameter, although the machine has a capacity of 430 mm.
A union that represents Michigan Department of Corrections officers says they are in dire need of state support as they deal with ongoing staffing shortages.

Michigan Corrections Organization President Byron Osborn asked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a letter Wednesday, July 3 to deploy the Michigan National Guard to bolster staff at prisons. Osborn wrote that corrections officers are being forced to work mandatory 16-hour overtime shifts in order to keep prisons staffed.

Corrections officers are STILL being forced to run prison operations with far less than the required number of officers, resulting in unsafe prisoner to officer ratios. Officers are forced to work alone in isolated areas, jeopardizing not only their safety but that of the prisoners, Osborn wrote.

Related: With over 800 vacancies, Michigan prisons consider rehiring retired officers to fill the gap

Michigan employs over 5,000 officers and forensic security assistants at its 26 correctional facilities. But staffing has been an issue for the Michigan Department of Corrections in recent years with there being about 1,000 open positions unable to be filled. At the same time, the number of inmates went up by nearly 1% in the past year while the number of offenders climbed 17%, according to budget analysis.

To address staffing shortages, a bill was passed two years ago that allowed retired corrections workers to come back and work for the state temporarily without losing their retirement allowance. The recently passed state budget appropriated $2.1 billion to the MDOC, but a provision was cut that would have set aside $12 million for signing and retention bonuses.

After seeking solutions from the state for years, Osborn says the union has reached the point of desperation.

On behalf of all the state corrections officers represented by our organization, I am formally requesting that you activate the Michigan National Guard to provide immediate custody support to prisons in dire need of it while we work directly with you to find realistic, permanent relief measures, he wrote to the governor.

The governors office deferred to the MDOC to respond to Osborns letter.

Related: Corrections officers protest working conditions in Michigan prisons

MDOC acknowledged staffing challenges have required officers to work high levels of both voluntary and mandated overtime. The department said it has been focused on recruitment and retention by widely advertising positions, hosting hundreds of hiring events, improving the working environment and running corrections officer academies throughout the year.

These efforts have helped some facilities achieve staffing stability, while other sites continue to face staffing challenges, the department said in a statement.

In an April update to the legislature, MDOC reported vacancy levels ranged between 4.3% and 36.3% for officers. Half of prisons are also now operating with vacancies under 15% and eight facilities have vacancy rates at 5% or below, according to the MDOC. The state has also allowed previously certified officers to work overtime and closed housing units at understaffed prisons.

The situation facing MDOC staff continues to be challenging, but the solution is not a temporary measure such as bringing in National Guard members who have not been trained to operate in this environment, the department said in its statement.
MONROE COUNTY, MI -- A helicopter pilot told officers he was on his way to an Ypsilanti-area airport when he crashed in a Monroe County field.

Police were called around 10:45 a.m. Thursday, July 4, to a field near Oelke Road and Yensch Road in London Township for a report of a helicopter crash, according to release from the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

Neither the pilot or passenger were injured in the crash, police said.

The pilot, a 51-year-old Newport resident, told police he had been on his way to the Willow Run Airport in Wayne County when he began to experience engine trouble. The pilot then used autorotation, which allows the helicopter rotors to turn without engine power, to control his descent before crashing into a farmers field.

Monroe County sheriffs deputies were aided by crews from the Monroe County Ambulance and London/Maybee/Raisinville Fire Department.

The incident remains under investigation by the Uniform Services Division and the Federal Aviation Administration. Anyone with information is asked to contact 734-240-7700.
ALPENA, MI  This adventure tour along Michigans Lake Huron shoreline includes five spectacular lighthouses within a two-hour drive of each other.

The Alpena area boasts the best collection of lighthouses on the Great Lakes, according to Visit Alpena, the local visitors bureau.

That collection includes seven lights from Presque Isle to Harrisville. However, two of them  Middle Island Light Station and Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse  are on islands and require a boat ride to reach. In this article, well focus on the five lights you can reach by land.

You can visit all five lights in a day, if youre determined. Or take your time exploring and add other fun activities to your Alpena-area trip.

The sightseeing tour begins at 40 Mile Point Lighthouse, then its a 32-minute drive to New Presque Isle Lighthouse, which is about a mile down the road from the Old Presque Isle Light Station. From the old lighthouse, its a 33-minute drive to Alpenas Little Red Lighthouse. The route concludes at the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, which is a 38-minute drive from Little Red.

Continue reading for more information about each lighthouse.

40 Mile Point Lighthouse

This lighthouse was built in 1896 to assist ships through the dangerous shoreline where open water, hidden shoals and false bays had claimed a number of vessels, according to Visit Alpena. Follow a trail to the beach to see whats left of the Joseph S. Fay, one of 27 wooden ships that sank during a fierce storm in 1905. About 150 feet of the ships side wall rests on the beach.

The park is open to the public year-round. The lighthouse museum, pilot house, Glawe school and gift shop are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. Admission is free.

Find the 40 Mile Point Lighthouse at 7323 US-23 just north of Rogers City.

At 113 feet tall, the New Presque Isle Light Station is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible by the public on the Great Lakes. For a fee ($5 for adults, $3 for children), visitors can climb 130 steps to the top to enjoy breathtaking views.Visit Alpena

New Presque Isle Light Station

At 113 feet tall, the New Presque Isle Light Station is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible by the public on the Great Lakes. For a fee ($5 for adults, $3 for children), visitors can climb 130 steps to the top to enjoy breathtaking views.

The light was built in 1870 to replace a shorter lighthouse about a mile down the shoreline. The tower has a connected keepers dwelling, which now serves as a gift shop. A separate keepers dwelling built in 1905 has been restored and serves as a museum.

The lighthouse is situated on a 99-acre township park featuring a playground, picnic area, pavilion and nature trails.

Visit the museum and climb the tower 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 2. Hours are then reduced until the buildings close in mid-October. Find it at 4500 E. Grand Lake Road in Presque Isle.

Old Presque Isle Lighthouse

Built in 1840, the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is one of the oldest surviving lighthouses on the Great Lakes. It operated until 1871 when the keeper was transferred to the new, much taller light.

Visitors can climb the hand-hewn stone steps of the 30-foot tall tower for a panoramic view of the Lake Huron shoreline and Presque Isle Harbor. The fee is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

The keepers dwelling serves as a museum where you can blow foghorns, ring the clock tower bell, pose in for a photo in old stocks, and examine artifacts.

Visit the museum and climb the tower 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 2. Hours are then reduced until the buildings close in mid-October. Find it at 5295 E. Grand Lake Road in Presque Isle.

Alpenas Little Red Lighthouse

First built in 1877 out of wood, it is said among locals that the Alpena Breakwater Light is long on duty, short on beauty, according to Visit Alpena. The 80-foot-tall skeletal tower stands at the mouth of Thunder Bay River.

Known as Little Red, it is believed to be the only lighthouse of its style in the United States. It was rebuilt of wood in 1888 and then constructed a third time in 1914 - this time of steel.

The light is best viewed from the transient docks at the Alpena Marina, 400 E. Chisholm St.

Sturgeon Point Lighthouse

The Sturgeon Point Lighthouse has been in continuous service for more than 150 years. It began service in 1870 and still operates today. The original Paris-made 3.5-order Fresnel lens is still in the tower but not in service. Instead, the U.S. Coast Guard monitors an LED light that guides recreational watercraft.

The grounds include a keepers house, which has been restored and serves as a maritime museum. The museum is open 11 a.m .to 4 p.m. on weekends Memorial Day through Labor Day. The grounds are open year round. The tower is periodically opened for climbs; call 989-471-2088 for details.

Find the lighthouse at 6071 Point Road in Harrisville.

Click here to find a printable version of Visit Alpenas lighthouse adventure tour.
INGHAM COUNTY, MI - An Ingham County Sheriffs Office Deputy was not injured early July 3 after being struck by a firework.

Shortly after midnight, deputies responded to a report of young people shooting off fireworks in a backyard on the 5000 block of Hemlock Drive in Delhi Township, the sheriffs office said in a Facebook post. When police arrived, they saw what appeared to be a party.

As deputies approached the gathering, a vehicle quickly drove away as its occupants intentionally launched a projectile firework at the deputies, police said.

The firework hit a deputy, ricocheted off his chest, and exploded seconds later, according to the sheriffs office.

The people inside the vehicle drove away from the party, but police were able to idenitify some who were involved.

Michigan allows fireworks to be used on private property from June 29 through July 5 before 11:45 p.m. The Ingham County Sheriffs Office warned that with all the fun and excitement of the July 4 holiday, things can get out of hand quickly with fireworks.

We share this unfortunate and reckless event as a reminder to the community of the responsibility and dangers associated with fireworks of all kinds. Anything that burns, sparks and explodes comes with risk, the sheriffs office said in its post.

The incident remains under investigation.
KENTWOOD, MI - Dressed in red, white and blue, Kentwood residents cheered as the annual Fourth of July parade began.

For over 40 years, the city of Kentwood has hosted the parade and fun activities throughout the day for the community as part of its Fourth of July celebration that ends with a fireworks show at dusk.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- First Lady Jill Biden visited Michigan on July 2 and 3, following a trip to Pennsylvania earlier this week.

Air Force One landed at Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Tuesday afternoon. Grand Rapids mayor Rosalynn Bliss and U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Grand Rapids, and her two sons greeted the First Lady as she disembarked.
HILLSDALE, MI  Thousands of mourners and law enforcement officers gathered Wednesday in Hillsdale to attend the funeral of Hillsdale County Sheriffs Deputy William H. Bill Butler Jr.

He was the model deputy. I couldnt ask for anything more from any deputy that weve ever hired, Hillsdale Sheriffs Capt. Kevin Bradley said.

RELATED: Fallen Hillsdale Sheriffs deputy laid to rest as thousands gather to show respect

Butler, who served for 20 years in the U.S. Army National Guard before his 12-year career at the department, was well-respected within the department and the community, Bradley said.

The deputy was a field training officer for the department, led a ride-along program with local youth and had recently completed an intensive crash investigation training program, Bradley said.

Butler was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect during a traffic stop June 27 in rural Hillsdale County.

READ MORE: Deputy fatally shot during traffic stop identified as Iraq War veteran, father of 5

Well never be the same. We cant, Bradley said. But I truly believe tragedies like this make an office stronger as well as the community coming together.

More than 2,500 law enforcement officers from around the state and nation gathered outside Christ Chapel on the Hillsdale College campus before taking part in a procession through the citys downtown to Lakeside Cemetery, where Butler was interred with military honors including a 21-gun salute and a helicopter flyover.

Along the way, many lined the streets, holding their hearts, signs or small flags.

In addition, hundreds of community members showed an outpouring of support over the weekend, showering Butlers police cruiser in flowers and balloons as it sat parked outside the Hillsdale County Sheriffs Office.

Ive been doing it 23 years and never experienced anything like this. Its amazing to me, Bradley said. Deputy Butler may be gone, but his legacy will never be forgotten.

44 1 / 44 Funeral for Hillsdale County Sheriffs Deputy William Henry Bill Butler Jr.

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LANSING, MI -- Flags across the Michigan State Capitol grounds have been lowered in honor of the Hillsdale County deputy killed during a traffic stop last week.

The U.S. and Michigan flags at the capitol complex, as well as all public buildings and grounds across Michigan, will be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, July 3, according to an order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
KALAMAZOO, MI  Several residents here were displaced after a suspicious fire kept Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responders active in the early morning hours on the Fourth of July, officials said.

There were no injuries from the fire, public safety officials reported in a statement.

The department responded to reports of the fire shortly before 2 a.m. Thursday, July 4, on the 700 block of West Lovell, officials said.

Firefighters arrived to find the blaze venting from a first-floor window, the report stated.

A fire attack team then put out an overwhelming amount of the fire, leaving just hot spots for follow-on checks, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety statement read.

Red Cross representatives were contacted to assist the displaced residents. Officials did not indicate how many residents were displaced.

Officials with the public safety department requested individuals with information about the fire can call the fire marshals office at 269-337-8260.

Information also can be relayed anonymously via the Kalamazoo Silent Observer tip line at 269-343-2100, the P3Tips app, or online at KalamazooSilentObserver.com.
OSHTEMO TWP., MI  The school bus for Chime Elementary used to drop a 7-year-old Themi Corakis out front of a restaurant on Stadium Drive every day after school let out.

Hed hop off the steps with his sister and make his way across the street, his head tilted up at the sign across from him: Ted and Maries Colonial Inn.

But to Themi, Ted and Marie were just mom and dad.

I would do dishes, clean tables or whatever, Corakis said. Back then, you did stuff like that.

From age 7 on, each day Corakis learned the restaurant business from his parents who moved from Greece to follow this dream.

In the early 1970s, Corakiss parents landed in Kalamazoo, after spending time in London, Ontario.

His father, Ted, spent the next few years working in different restaurants until the pair decided to buy their own.

In 1973 they purchased The Colonial Inn and made it their own.

They were very proud of it, Corakis said. They bought Ted and Maries.

What was now Ted and Maries Colonial Inn had been a restaurant in the same spot at 6416 Stadium Drive since the 1940s.

Marie Corakis, 85, talks to a friend at Ted and Maries Colonial Inn in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, on Friday, June 28, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

At 85, Marie still visits to cut potatoes in the back.

She walks past the spatula shes used for over 50 years, that is now framed on the wall, to a table in the back filled with friends  regulars of the restaurant  and greets them with a heavy Greek accent and hugs, as she has for decades.

Ted passed away 18 years ago. Next to Maries spatula is a photo of Ted, standing proud on a mountainous terrain on a visit to Greece.

In the back entrance of the building a painting of the original restaurant hangs, inscribed with Teds name  it was a painting he made for Marie in 1989.

A painting done by Ted Corakis, hangs inside Ted and Maries Colonial Inn in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, on Friday, June 28, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

For the past 51 years Ted and Maries has served the Kalamazoo community with fresh made-to-order breakfast. Eventually, Corakis and his wife Shelly took over.

If youre in a rush, you might want to go to McDonalds. But if youre looking for a meal that is actually going to be prepared for you, this is the place to be, Shelly Corakis said.

Themi Corakis cooks up an order inside Ted and Maries Colonial Inn in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, on Friday, June 28, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

When COVID-19 shut down the nation in 2020, the couple questioned whether or not a restaurant that serves breakfast could survive, but Corakis refused to do take-out. He didnt want to sacrifice on quality, so instead the restaurant took the time to remodel.

The new ceiling, paint and flooring brought the restaurant into the 2020s, without forgetting the roots of what make it special: A friendly atmosphere with quality home cooking.

Were starting to see a lot of young family come in because our prices are so reasonable, Shelly Corakis said.

Most meals at Ted and Maries are under $10.

An order of bacon, potatoes, eggs and toast is less than $8 at the restaurant.

A breakfast plate at Ted and Maries Colonial Inn in Oshtemo Township, Michigan, on Friday, June 28, 2024.Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com

They are open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day of the week except for Sundays.

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HOUSTON -- The quarterfinals of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America is set to begin on Thursday with an exciting battle, as Argentina prepares to take on Ecuador.

Watch Copa America on FuboTV (7-day free trial)

The 15-time Copa America champions look to make their back to another final match. Argentina looked very confident in a rather easy Group A, finishing with a 3-0 record, outscoring their opponents, 5-0. Lionel Messi and company played confidently and did not look out of sorts in the opening round. Now, they have aspirations of punching their ticket to the semifinals at the Copa for the eighth time in the last nine tournaments.

Ecuador, despite coming into the United States with the expectation that they would be favorites to advance to the knockout stage, showed some signs of weakness. Even though they scored a win over Jamaica, they ended up losing to Group B winners Venezuela, and hung on for a scoreless draw against Mexico to move on. Now, they will have to really push their game to the next level if they want to advance to the semifinals for just the third time in the countrys history.

Argentina is 24-11-5 against Ecuador, including a 3-0 thrashing in the quarterfinals at the Copa America three years ago.

2024 COPA AMERICA: QUARTERFINALS

Argentina vs. Ecuador

When: Thursday, July 4

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Where: NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)

Channel: FOX, TUDN, Univision

Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream

Follow Copa America here
Xi meets Russia's Putin in Astana, urging conservation of unique value in bilateral cooperation

10:42, July 04, 2024 By Fan Anqi and Cui Fandi ( Global Times

China and Russia should continuously conserve the unique value in China-Russia relations, and explore the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday while meeting with his old friend Russian President Vladimir Putin in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the sidelines of the three-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Chinese experts said the frequent interactions between the leaders of the two major countries, against the backdrop of the current complex international landscape, are crucial for promoting peace and stability, while playing a guiding role in driving development in the Eurasian region.

Xi said that facing an international situation fraught with turbulence and changes, the two countries should keep upholding the original aspiration of lasting friendship, and sticking to the determination of benefiting the people, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The two countries should also make efforts to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations, Xi said.

The two leaders' last meeting took place from May 16 to 17, when Putin paid a state visit to China, his first overseas trip after the Russian leader was sworn in for a new term.

Experts said such high frequency of meetings signifies that under pressure from the West, Russia's determination to "turn to the East" is becoming more rock-solid.

"This is especially important given today's complex and chaotic world situation. And with the upcoming US presidential election, the international landscape is anticipated to become even more complicated," Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Echoing Cui, Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the close interaction between Xi and Putin is crucial for maintaining regional stability and peace, as well as setting the direction for advancing regional development.

The issue of counter-terrorism is the focus of this edition of the SCO summit, and it will also very likely be discussed at bilateral levels, Cui said.

"Russia this year has experienced a number of deadly terrorist attacks, and the risk of terrorism resurging in the Eurasian continent is becoming increasingly evident. The importance of counter-terrorism cooperation within the SCO for China and Russia is therefore becoming more prominent," he noted.

Given the security deficit in the region and the lack of effectiveness for existing security mechanisms, the SCO has stepped up, taking joint actions to combat the "three evils" - terrorism, separatism, and religious extremism, as well as in cross-border law enforcement cooperation, Cui said.

Practical cooperation, especially how to eliminate Western pressure and resistance, to better promote the steady development of trade exchanges between the two countries, is likely to be a major topic between the two leaders, Yang told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"This includes specific areas such as energy, cross-border transportation, and new-energy sectors. Additionally, the two leaders may also discuss the construction of a new natural gas pipeline project between China and Russia, as well as the deepening of cooperation in Central Asia," Yang said.

While the gathering of developing countries in Kazakhstan is focusing on promoting joint development, Western media is sparing no effort to smear this partnership in an attempt to create divisions.

CNN said in a Tuesday report that Beijing and Moscow are pushing to "transform the grouping from a regional security bloc into a geopolitical counterweight to Western institutions led by the US."

Refuting such claims, Yang said the SCO member states are more eager to address their most urgent issues of stability and development through close economic and trade cooperation, as well as cooperation in transportation and infrastructure, rather than engaging in power games among major countries.

Also on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal wrote that Beijing and Moscow are "going from 'no limits' friendship to frenemies in Russia's backyard," claiming that Central Asia is moving further into China's orbit as Russia loosens its grip on the former Soviet republics.

Such statements underestimate Central Asian countries by treating them as "subordinate" to major powers, a typical hegemonic mentality of the West, experts said.

"They [Central Asian countries] are well aware of what they need, and they are not mere pawns to be fought over," Cui remarked.

Cooperation with China is a genuine need to fulfill their national interests, and the impetus comes from the complementarity of China-Central Asia economic and trade ties.

"Central Asia boasts abundant resources and serves as a crucial transportation hub, meanwhile, Central Asia needs a neighbor like China to provide funding, technology, and a huge market to stabilize their economies," Yang said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
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3D-printed Terra Cotta Warriors make appearance in Taiwan

Xinhua) 10:47, July 04, 2024

TAIPEI, July 3 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition featuring 3D-printed replicas of Terra Cotta Warriors recently opened at a science and technology museum in Kaohsiung, offering visitors in Taiwan a glimpse into the grandeur of the world-class cultural relics.

The replicas featured in this exhibition were printed in accordance with detailed data gathered by the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum Site Museum based in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

In addition to showcasing the Terra Cotta Warriors in various postures, the exhibition also features the latest achievements in the study and restoration of the warriors' original color.

The exhibition also consists of multiple interactive activities, such as an archaeological excavation simulation and a Terra Cotta Warriors restoration workshop.

Since opening on June 28, the exhibition has been well received by visitors, particularly students and teachers from local schools.

The exhibition was co-organized by multiple organizations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, including the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation and the Emperor Qinshihuang Mausoleum Site Museum. The exhibition in Kaohsiung will end on July 21 and will be followed by another one in Taoyuan from July 30 to Sept. 1.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Readers, I wish you an excellent Fourth of July! lambert

Hippos can glide through the air says zoo study BBC

On the Time Benjamin Franklin, American Show-Off, Jumped Naked Into the Thames Literary Hub

Americans First Holiday is the Fourth

Today in History: July 4, Declaration of Independence adopted in Philadelphia AP. Commentary:

70 songs for your Fourth of July playlist: Patriotic tunes from Lee Greenwood, Bruce Springsteen and more FOX. Not on the list (lyrics):

Lambert here: Even though X titled this song 4th of July, I tend not to run it on this day, since the bitter lyrics are about a failing relationship told from the male perspective, and who wants that? That said, Springsteins Born in the U.S.A. somehow became a patriotic classic, despite its lyrics; perhaps people are silently attuned to irony, moreso than I think; or they just play it loud. You can do either! Also, words in the refrain  Talk a walk outside!  are appropriate at any scale, from the darkened room to the geopolitical.

Americans swat away high fuel prices and gear up for record July 4 travels Al Jazeera
Yves here. This is not pretty, to put it mildly. This is not Steve Bannon speaking. The Project 2025 chief is the head of the Heritage Foundation, which once was a respectable if hard core conservative organization. A right wing contact agreed this statement was disconcerting, since one aim of Project 2025 was to develop lists of potential Trump Administration members who would not sandbag him, and not to go around rabble-rousing.

By Jake Johnson, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams

The president of the right-wing group spearheading Project 2025 raised the specter of violence Tuesday against those who refuse to capitulate to what he characterized as the second American Revolution ushered in by presumptive GOP nominee and would-be authoritarian Donald Trump.

Kevin Roberts, head of the Heritage Foundation, said in an appearance on Real Americas Voice that the coming revolution will remain bloodless if the left allows it to bea thinly veiled threat against those who resist the far-rights efforts to seize power.

Trump said in April that whether there is violence surrounding the 2024 presidential election depends on the fairness of the contest and the outcome.

Watch Roberts remarks:

#Project2025 architect Kevin Roberts makes it clear: @Heritage is no longer a think tank. It's a terror group. "We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless if the left allows it to be." pic.twitter.com/4KHbX7oLle  The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) July 3, 2024



We are going to win. Were in the process of taking this country back, declared Roberts, who has said Project 2025 is institutionalizing Trumpism in preparation for a possible victory in November.

The Heritage Foundation president also hailed as vital the U.S. Supreme Courts decision earlier this week bestowing what analysts and critics described as king-like powers on the presidencypowers that Trump is already planning to exploit.

Project 2025, a sweeping 922-page document, provides Trump with a detailed blueprint to advance his far-right agenda, including by purging career federal civil servants and replacing them with loyalists and centralizing power in the executive branch.

Kim Lane Scheppele, a professor of sociology and international affairs at Princeton University, has called Project 2025 a blueprint for autocracy, characterizing it as a direct copy of the plan that Viktor Orban used to take over the Hungarian government in 2010.

If it is carried out, Project 2025 will concentrate huge power in the hands of the president, giving him the power to control the whole federal government at his whim, Scheppele added.

Scheppeles assessment echoed that of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, which warned in an analysis published late last year that the entire project is devoted to aggrandizing executive power by centralizing authority in the presidency, and a key aspect of democratic backsliding is viewing opposition elements as attempting to destroy the real community, an essential aspect to quashing dissent.

Project 2025 paints progressives and liberals as outside acceptable politics, and not just ideological opponents, but inherently anti-American and replacing American values,' the analysis said. Targeting vulnerable communities is a core tenet of Project 2025. Project 2025 is very clearly on a path to Christian nationalism as well as authoritarianism.
Anti-white DEI industry in full collapse as woke America runs out of steam

America's university campuses are slowly phasing out their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs due to widespread and growing disapproval of its anti-white agenda.

MIT and Harvard University have both publicly abandoned their requirement that all job applicants submit "diversity statements" as part of their job applications. The New York Times reported on this with the headline: "The End for Mandatory DEI Statements."

"The switch has flipped as of now," commented Jeffrey S. Flier, Harvard Medical School's former dean.

"I think the large, silent majority of faculty who question the implementation of these programs and, in particular, these diversity statements  these people are being heard."

The first education system in the country to require diversity statements was the University of California (UC) system, which implemented them about 10 years ago. Supporters of the requirement say it is necessary to build a "welcoming environment for a diverse student population," but critics say it shames and promotes hate against white people.

For now, the UC system appears to be sticking with its diversity statement requirement, but faculty at Harvard and MIT feel differently about the matter.

(Related: Remember when DEI "expert" David Austin Walsh complained publicly that nobody wants to hire him because he is white and male?)

Republican-led states axing diversity requirements

Perhaps the biggest shift away from anti-white DEI is taking place in Republican-led, or "red," states where, in some cases, entire DEI departments are being dismantled and their employees fired.

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.

At The University of Texas  Austin, for instance, 40 people lost their jobs after the school's DEI office was shuttered by the state. A similar situation occurred at the University of Florida where 13 school administrators were fired in response to a statewide DEI ban.

As promising as this all might seem, abolishing diversity statements is not the same thing as abolishing the diversity cult behind it. Anti-white hate is rampant throughout academia, and not just in DEI programs. Entire curriculums are, in some cases, dedicated to dismantling "whiteness" and replacing it with non-whiteness, whatever that even means.

"The triumphalism over vanishing diversity statements operates on the assumption that said statements are a primary driver of anti-white and anti-male discrimination in academia," reports Revolver.news. In reality, though, these statements are simply the product of a DEI-obsessed culture that exists on a deeper level."

"Mandatory statements during the hiring process make it easier and smoother to reject white male applicants, but the intent to reject them as often as possible was there long before. This discriminatory intent means that DEI (or woke, or race communist, pick your term of choice) priorities now pervade almost every aspect of the academic sausage-making process  to a degree that would shock most Americans."

Unless something changes and soon, American academia is as good as dead. At best, even the "top" colleges and universities that embrace and push DEI will be mediocre. At worst, they will remain a laughingstock where students learn go to "learn" about how "racist" white people are.

Another problem is that some schools are simply renaming and rebranding their DEI programs to evade disapproval and bans. One academic admitted that between 2020 and 2023, upwards of 90 percent of faculty hires were done through a DEI program that had been renamed.

For example, in Nov. 2022, I asked our Dean at a faculty senate meeting what fraction of hires in the last 2-3 years were from FDAP (i.e. the Faculty Diversity Action Plan, our DEI hiring program, which has since been rebranded). His answer: over 90%. From the public minutes: 2/ pic.twitter.com/h5p00Gsnbg  Matt Burgess (@matthewgburgess) May 28, 2024

DEI is anti-white racism under another name. Learn more at Wokies.news.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NaturalNews.com
MAUREEN CALLAHAN: Bad Doctor Jill Biden doesnt give a damn about America  or her husband. Shell humiliate him till he can take no more

This is presidential power on life support  and Jill Biden is refusing to pull the plug.

(Article republished from DailyMail.co.uk)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Read more at: DailyMail.co.uk
DHS focuses on domestic terrorism while ignoring influx of illegals with terrorist ties

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been warning the public about potential violence around the 2024 general election and other sociopolitical issues but has failed to address the increasing number of illegal immigrants with terrorist ties entering through the southern border.

President Joe Biden has maintained a strong stance on combating domestic terrorism since taking office in 2021. Since then, DHS has issued two advisories to address potential threats from extremists following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot through different international reviews and potential extremist violence warnings. Yet, there has been a noticeable lack of alarm over reports that individuals linked to terrorist organizations are entering the United States through the southern border.

For instance, NBC News reported in February that over 400 people crossed the border with the assistance of an ISIS-linked smuggling ring, including 50 individuals whose whereabouts remain unknown. As of February, at least 30,000 "Special Interest Aliens," migrants from countries considered potential national security risks, had been released in the preceding 15 months.

Between October 2023 and January 2024, more illegal immigrants on the terror watchlist were apprehended than in the total period between fiscal years 2017 and 2020. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) data also indicates approximately 286 encounters with individuals on the terror watchlist at the northern and southern borders between fiscal years 2021 and 2023, with 91 encounters recorded in fiscal year 2024 alone.

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.

Moreover, the federal authorities recently arrested eight men from Tajikistan with connections to ISIS in coordinated raids across the U.S. One of the individuals had crossed into the U.S. through a port of entry using the CBP One app.

But despite all this, DHS has not issued any new advisories on its National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) dashboard. Instead, DHS has continued to warn about the threat of domestic violent extremists, often mentioning them alongside foreign terrorist groups. Recent advisories have even noted potential violence related to the 2024 general election and other sociopolitical issues.

GAO report proves that illegal immigration crisis is a more pressing issue than domestic terrorism

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended their approach, but then a June 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that incidents of domestic terrorism have claimed fewer American lives between 2010 and 2021 than lightning strikes.

The report, which analyzed data from the DHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals that there were only 145 deaths attributed to domestic terrorism across 231 incidents between 2010 and 2021. In contrast, the CDC reported an average of 28 lightning-related deaths per year from 2006 to 2011, translating to approximately 336 deaths during the same period. (Related: TARGETED: DHS intelligence group views Trump supporters, military members and religious Americans as domestic terrorism threats.)

But despite domestic terrorism accounting for only an average of 13.2 deaths annually, the Biden administration still prioritized combating domestic extremism more than the increasing number of illegal migrants with terrorist ties. Efforts have been focused on addressing extremist ideologies within institutions such as the military, especially following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and now that the 2024 presidential election is only a few months away.

Visit Terrorism.news for more stories about illegal migrants with ties to terrorist organizations.

Watch this episode of "The Breanna Morello Show" as Breanna Morello interviews Dan Lyman about men of military age illegally entering the United States.

This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

DOMESTIC TERRORISM? The illegal questioning of mainstream medical narratives in America.

Domestic terrorism in Portland: Indy journalist Andy Ngo attacked with chemical-laced quick-drying cement as mayor, police do NOTHING.

Feds inflating domestic terrorism numbers by threatening people to confess when they did nothing wrong.

Washington gets schooled on J6 domestic terrorism propaganda after critics point out anomalies in pipe bombs planting video.

FBI tried to cultivate sources inside Catholic and Christian churches under phony guise of fighting domestic terrorism.

Sources include:

[your]News.com

DailyCaller.com
Five states to SUE Pfizer over misleading COVID-19 vaccine claims

Judgment day is coming for pharmaceutical giant Pfizer now that Kansas, Idaho and three other thus far unnamed states are suing the company for misleading Americans about its modRNA (mRNA) Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines."

Led by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, the lawsuits allege that Pfizer violated various state statutes  in Kansas it is called the Consumer Protection Act  by falsely claiming that its COVID injections are "safe and effective" against the Chinese Virus.

Pfizer willfully concealed, suppressed and omitted material facts, Kobach alleges, about its chemical shots, which were fast-tracked onto the market through Operation Warp Speed, resulting in many injuries and deaths.

"Pfizer marketed its vaccine as safe for pregnant women," Kobach said in a statement.

"However, in February of 2021 (they) possessed reports of 458 pregnant women who received Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. More than half of the pregnant women reported an adverse event, and more than 10% reported a miscarriage."

Peter Imanuelsen of The Freedom Corner says all five of these lawsuits are "huge news." They could be enough to really hit hard against a corporate pharmaceutical giant that for decades has been getting away with murder.

"I started to notice something really weird with birth rate statistics," Imanuelsen writes. "You see, about 9 months after the covid injections were rolled out, we saw a massive collapse in birthrates."

"Not only that, but we saw that women that did not get the covid injection were overrepresented in giving birth. This made me think."

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.

(Related: Check out our earlier report about Kobach's claim that Pfizer misled Kansans on COVID injections.)

Pfizer's record $75 billion in COVID jab sales should be returned to Americans

Every American deserves a cut of the $75 billion that Pfizer raked in from sales of its COVID shots. That money would best be clawed back from Albert Bourla and his minions, and instead given to We the People who were defrauded by Pfizer.

Remember that Pfizer never ran any true clinical trials as claimed. The few trials that Pfizer claims to have conducted were sham operations "designed, run, analysed and authored by Pfizer employees," Imanuelsen explains.

One of these sham studies was published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) back in April 2021. It claimed that preliminary findings showed no significant safety concerns among pregnant women who got shot for COVID.

The observed miscarriages were not unusual, that same study claimed, and were probably not even a direct result of the shots.

Nearly a year later, in February 2022, another study was published in the journal Medicine that contradicted the first. It found that "adverse events" from COVID injections are especially pronounced in pregnant women, who face a 17 percent greater risk compared to the general population.

Despite all this, Pfizer lied to the public and to pregnant women specifically, urging them to take the shots because they had been "proven" to be "safe and effective."

"Pfizer urged Americans to get vaccinated in order to protect their loved ones, clearly indicating a claim that Pfizers COVID-19 vaccination stopped transmission," Kobach said.

"Pfizer later admitted that they've never even studied transmission after the recipients receive the vaccine."

In a public statement, Pfizer said that the lawsuits have "no merit," and that the company will "respond to the suit in due course."

"Pfizer is deeply committed to the well-being of the patients it serves and has no higher priority than ensuring the safety and effectiveness of its treatments and vaccines," Pfizer further said in its own defense.

The latest news about Big Pharma's crimes against humanity can be found at BadMedicine.news.

Sources for this article include:

PeterSweden.Substack.com

KansasReflector.com

NaturalNews.com

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden questions Biden winnability, says hes OK with Trump victory

A Democratic lawmaker has openly questioned President Joe Biden's ability to win re-election while stating he is "OK" with a potential Donald Trump victory in November.

In an op-ed article for the Bangor Daily News, Maine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden expressed his doubts about Biden after his "poor performance" during the first CNN presidential debate with Trump on June 27.

"After the first presidential debate, lots of Democrats are panicking about whether President Joe Biden should step down as the partys nominee," Golden wrote. "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 don't plan to vote for him, Donald Trump is going to win. And I'm OK with that."

Golden, a co-chair of the moderate House Blue Dog Coalition, dismissed concerns over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Instead, he stressed the importance of economic issues over democratic stability. (Related: Bidens debate performance raises alarm among Democrats. Heres why.)

"Democrats' post-debate hand-wringing is based on the idea that a Trump victory is not just a political loss but a unique threat to our democracy. I reject the premise... This election is about the economy, not democracy," Golden insisted. "And when it comes to our economy, our Congress matters far more than who occupies the White House."

The representative of Maine's rural 2nd Congressional District, which Trump carried in the 2016 and 2020 elections, consistently criticized the Biden administration for abandoning successful Trump-era border policies and imposing restrictive environmental regulations on Maine's lobster industry. He then opposed Maine's secretary of state to bar Trump from the 2024 ballot.

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.

"Some of Congress best work in recent years has happened in spite of the president, not because of him," he said. "A handful of responsible Democrats, including myself and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, rejected Biden's bloated "Build Back Better" bill and instead passed a law that supercharged American energy production, saved Medicare billions of dollars and reduced the deficit. Years earlier, Congress stood up to the GOP establishment who tried to hijack Trumps agenda to achieve their long-held goal of repealing the Affordable Care Act."

Golden ended his op-ed article with a call for confidence in democracy, independent of presidential influence: "I urge everyone  voters, elected officials, the media, and all citizens  to ignore the chattering class' scare tactics and political pipedreams. We don't need party insiders in smoke-filled back rooms to save us. We can defend our democracy without them."

Texas Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett calls on Biden to withdraw

Aside from Golden, Texas Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett made headlines on Jul. 2 by drawing parallels between Biden and former President Lyndon B. Johnson, who withdrew from the 1968 election amid growing unpopularity due to the Vietnam War.

"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. While much of his work has been transformational, he pledged to be transitional."

"He has the opportunity to encourage a new generation of leaders from whom a nominee can be chosen to unite our country through an open, democratic process. 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. 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," he continued.

Doggett, a respected member of the Democratic House caucus since 1995, lamented Biden's inability to capitalize on the debate to boost his campaign. Instead, he noted that the president continues to lag behind Democratic senators in key states and trails Trump in most polls.

"The President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trump's many lies," Doggett said.

Meanwhile, National Republican Congressional Committee Communications Director Jack Pandol slammed the dissent within Democratic ranks and said Doggett's announcement came too late.

"The cowards in the Democratic Caucus have spent every day after the debate in witness protection, too afraid to say what they're all thinking," Pandol said. "Americans remember House Democrats were complicit in covering up and gaslighting the public about the president's condition, and voters are primed to punish them in November."

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.

More related stories:

Bidens catastrophic performance in the debate raises more questions about his fitness for office.

Biden will not withdraw from presidential race despite calls for a replacement candidate from the Democratic Party.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says Biden should be REMOVED as president.

Biden appears FATIGUED and CONFUSED during 80th anniversary celebration of D-Day landings in France.

Majority of Americans doubt Biden can still serve another term after a report revealed the extent of his COGNITIVE DECLINE.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NYPost.com

BangorDailyNews.com
Israel has bombed Lebanon over 6,000 times since October

The Israeli army has conducted 6,142 attacks on Lebanese soil, resulting in at least 543 deaths between October 7 last year and June 21 this year, according to an analysis by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).

Aita al-Shaab, a Shia-majority village near the Israeli border that saw 85 homes destroyed during the 2006 IsraelHezbollah war, has been targeted in 300 of these attacks. (Related: Israel OKs plans for ALL-OUT WAR in Lebanon to wipe out Hezbollah.)

Other frequently targeted towns include Ras al-Naqoura (246 attacks), which houses the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) headquarters; Hula (219 attacks), where dozens of unarmed men were killed by the Israeli army in 1948; Kfarchouba (218 attacks), the second largest village in southern Lebanon; and Kfar Kila (209 attacks).

While most attacks have been concentrated in southern villages, Israeli drones and jets have also targeted the cities of Tyre and Saida, as well as various locations in the Bekaa Valley in northern Lebanon.

Western media reports indicate that the near-daily airstrikes, artillery shelling and the use of incendiary chemical white phosphorus by the Israeli army have rendered much of the five-kilometer (3.1-mile) zone north of the border "uninhabitable," displacing over 95,000 people in southern Lebanon.

Residents have faced significant destruction of infrastructure, including homes, schools and hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Hezbollah, other armed groups fight back

ACLED reports that Hezbollah and other armed groups near the border are responsible for 1,258 attacks on Israeli soil.

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However, figures released by the resistance on June 13 indicate a total of 2,125 attacks since October 8. Many of these attacks have targeted Kiryat Shmona (132 attacks), Margaliyot (91 attacks) and Metula (72 attacks).

Other targets include military bases, barracks and airfields. According to Tel Aviv, these attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 21 Israelis.

Hezbollah reported that its military actions have displaced over 200,000 Israelis, forcing the evacuation of over 40 settlements and striking up to 35 kilometers into the occupied territories.

In recent weeks, Israel has escalated threats to expand the war against Lebanon to regain control of its northern settlements, causing significant concern among international observers and humanitarian organizations.

The conflict has strained Israel's relationship with its U.S. backers, who are advocating for a diplomatic resolution.

"We're urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israels northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the IsraelLebanon border," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on June 25 following a meeting with his Israeli counterpart in Washington.

The U.S. has also been working with other international actors to broker a ceasefire and provide humanitarian aid to affected areas in both countries.

Less than two weeks ago, Israel said it was prepared for an "all-out war" in Lebanon with approved plans to target Hezbollah, officials announced following the release of threatening drone footage by Hezbollah.

The footage showed civilian and military areas of Haifa, prompting a strong response from Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who warned that Hezbollah would be destroyed and Lebanon severely hit in a war.

The Israeli military confirmed that plans for a ground assault across the northern border have been approved by Ori Gordin, head of the Northern Command. This comes amid ongoing border skirmishes since the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war on Gaza, which has killed at least 37,000 Palestinians.

The conflict has resulted in over 400 deaths and 90,000 displacements in Lebanon, with 25 deaths and 60,000 displacements in Israel. The U.S. is working to prevent further escalation, with White House envoy Amos Hochstein emphasizing President Joe Biden's aim to avoid a greater war.

Head over to WWIII.news for similar stories.

Watch this video of Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah warning Israel of a war "without limits and consequences" if it attacks Lebanon.

This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israeli military approves plan for invasion of southern Lebanon and new offensive against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah "storing missiles and explosives at Lebanons main airport," Western media claims without evidence.

Israel preparing for "mass burials" ahead of impending offensive in Lebanon.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co.uk

Aljazeera.com
Kenyans respond to government eco-fascism proposal with protests, FIRES

The people of Nairobi, Kenya, know how to get it done when their government tries to eliminate their rights

Protests reportedly erupted in Kenya's capital this week in response to a new nationwide tax scheme supposedly designed to protect the environment and align the Kenyan populace with the "Eco-Austerity" program of legislators.

In addition to making their voices heard in the streets of Nairobi, some protesters also set the parliament building on fire, forcing legislators who voted to pass the Eco-Austerity tax scheme to flee for their lives.

The "Eco Levy," as some media reports are calling it, will raise prices for basic goods like diapers. The purpose, or so the public is being told, is to "curb waste management and be more environmentally friendly."

If the plan is so good, then why was it hidden away in Kenya's Finance Bill 2024? The answer is that the plan is not good as it takes advantage of Kenyan citizens in the name of "saving the planet."

The new scheme will cause price increases for other consumer goods as well like batteries and dry cells, smartphones, earphones and headphones, clocks, radios, television sets, cameras, staplers, printers, calculators, photocopying machines, keyboards, mice, projectors and LCD monitors.

"The stringent Eco Levy especially impacts those who intend to import plastics into the Kenyan market, imposing a hefty fee per kilo on the products," reports further explain.

(Related: Earlier this year, climate professor Bill McGuire tweeted that the only way to prevent a climate breakdown is with a "culling" of the human population.)

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.

Protesters upon entering parliament: "We're coming for every politician"

Unlike Americans, Kenyans know that action has to be taken when threats like this emerge. Signing online petitions and complaining on social media is not the same as confronting the powers that be directly whenever they try to commit crimes against humanity.

"We're coming for every politician," said one protester upon entering the parliament building in Nairobi.

In response, law enforcement is said to be using live fire and other riot control measures like tear gas to try to restore order amid throngs of angry protesters who want their politicians to leave prices alone.

Kenyan President William Ruto is also getting involved, though not necessarily in condemnation of the protests. Ruto praised the enthusiasm of the mostly younger crowds that are gathering to demonstrate against the new tax scheme.

Some of the confrontations are becoming violent as legislators refuse to listen to their constituents. Police officers are of course taking the side of the government with officers having "abducted" at least 50 Kenyans, including the personal assistant of Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo.

Among the missing are people who were very outspoken against the new tax before the protests erupted. These individuals were reportedly abducted from their homes, workplaces, and public spaces, and have not been heard from since.

At least eight people were killed and dozens more injured, according to a Kenya national broadcast cited by the Associated Press. The Kenya Human Rights Commission pointed the finger at police, who are confirmed to have been "firing live rounds" at demonstrators in the protests.

"Sadly all of this is part of a familiar and historic pattern in Africa," reported Zero Hedge. "The so-called international community and powerful global/Western institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regularly induce governments to take on huge debts, and then begin to impose from abroad drastic societal reform measures on the population."

"And in the process of billions being exchanged, corrupt local government figures line their own pockets while imposing stringent and very sudden measures on the lower class and impoverished citizens."

Man-made climate change is a hoax. Learn more at GreenTyranny.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

DownToEarth.org

NaturalNews.com
Heres how NATO and the West are planning to trigger WWIII

A whistleblower insider from the United Kingdom Parliament claims that the West is chomping at the bit to launch nuclear weapons and spark a third world war between the Zionist-controlled Anglo-American Axis and the BRICS alliance using massive deception.

UK Member of Parliament (MP) Andrew Bridgen says NATO and its many tentacle nations are planning to stage a false flag attack, probably on a European city, by planting and detonating a nuclear "dirty bomb." Then in the aftermath, NATO and its members and allies will blame Russia for the attack as a pretext to launch nuclear war.

Bridgen's anecdotal evidence comes from various defense analysts in military intelligence whom he says told him that there is a lot of nuclear material being transferred all over the place right because of the situation in Ukraine. Some of that material is being diverted for false flag purposes, he says  watch the video below for key portion of a recent interview with Bridgen:

British Member of Parliament Andrew Bridgen is warning the world that NATO is planning to launch a false flag attack on a European city using a nuclear "dirty bomb" and to put the blame on Russia. Bridgen says he is receiving information from defense analysts in military pic.twitter.com/9VUc8a6wXs  Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) June 23, 2024

(Related: Did you know that Joe Biden is supposedly sending F-16s to Ukraine right now in defiance of Russia's red lines?)

False flags always seem to get the job done for tyrants

All throughout history, tyrannical regimes have staged false flag events like the one Bridgen says will happen in order to catalyze their agenda. Their method is simple: strike a target and simply blame the opposition as justification for taking action against the opposition  this is also known as a problem, reaction, solution agenda.

The West is setting the stage for this false flag by pushing the bear hard really right now, crossing every red line issued by Moscow. President Putin is showing great restraint for now, but there will eventually come a time when Russia has no choice but to respond to the constant provocation from the country's enemies.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Speak freely without censorship at the new decentralized, blockchain-power Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The UK where Bridgen serves is right now conducting missile attacks from Ukrainian territory, which is only escalating the matter even further. Any day now, expect to see even more fireworks leading straight to WWIII.

By the way, if you are interested in watching the full interview with Bridgen, you can do so below:

"People need to realize that our enemy isn't Russia," wrote someone on YouTube about this whole affair.

"The enemy is within," responded another.

"Andrew is one of the most courageous politicians in the former 'great' Britain," said another. "If only the millions of people in this nation actually stood up for the country and the future of their children and grandchildren instead of cowering in their homes in fear."

All Zionist agencies, noted another, wage war "by way of deception." This includes Mossad, the CIA, NATO and all the rest.

"Russia is under attack and there will be retribution," said the same person.

"Here's what happened:

Step 1: NATO supplied the weapons

Step 2: Mossad / CIA did the recruiting and training

Step 3: Controlled opposition media blames 'Islamists'

The war against Russia is a war against Christianity."

Finally, someone pointed out that all of these wars are about money, power and influence.

"No citizen gets or has any 'added value' from this nonsense. This must stop. Wars must stop."

How much longer do you think it will be before the nukes start flying? Find out more at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

StateOfTheNation.co

NaturalNews.com
Nevada nuclear test site near the filming location of infamous John Wayne movie linked to CANCER DEATHS

A movie starring John Wayne, which was filmed in an area of Utah affected by nuclear fallout, has seen a high number of cancer deaths among its cast and crew

The 1956 film "The Conqueror" featured Wayne as the Mongolian warlord Genghis Khan. It was filmed in the desert outside St. George, Utah. However, the movie became infamous decades later due to the suspicious number of cancer deaths that followed its production.

St. George is located 137 miles downwind from the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The federal government conducted more than 900 nuclear tests at the NTS. For years, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)  which was abolished in 1975 after a 19-year existence  insisted to locals that there was no danger.

The federal government blamed the negligence of ranchers at St. George when the latter's sheep began mysteriously dying. But after the movie was filmed, observers noted the high rate of cancer among people involved with it. Of the 220 crew members, 91 developed cancer and 46 died.

Even Wayne himself and his co-stars Susan Hayward and Agnes Moorehead, alongside director Dick Powell, eventually died of cancer. Local Native Americans from the Paiute people were used as extras for crowd and battle scenes, but no records were kept of cancer rates among them.

"Hayward and Powell both died in their 50s, a notably young age to develop cancer," according to The Hill's Zack Budryk. He added that the residents of St. George who developed cancer during the time "The Conqueror" was filmed included young children.

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.

Pedro Armendariz Sr., another actor in "The Conqueror," later appeared in the 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love." He was reportedly in pain while filming his scenes as Ali Kerim Bey, a close ally of Sean Connery's character. Armendariz took his own life the same year as the film's release when his cancer became terminal.

New documentary expounds on this link

A new documentary titled "The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout" aims to expound on the link between the 1956 film and the cancer cases following its production almost 70 years later. Its makers hope to tell the story of not just the film's staff, but those of the residents of St. George  one of the many "downwinder" communities impacted by radioactive fallout from the NTS. (Related: Report: 300M Americans could die from radiation should adversaries attack United States' missile silos.)

The documentary's director, Will Nunez, said he had the idea for the documentary in 2020. At the time, he was only aware of the movies infamy and the alleged cancer connection.

According to the documentary, the producer of "The Conqueror" and eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes may have exacerbated radiation exposure when he had 60 tons of the irradiated desert sands delivered to the RKO Pictures soundstage in Hollywood to film interior scenes.

Hughes later admitted he felt "guilty as hell" about its production. As he became increasingly reclusive, he bought every print of it and watched it on a loop in his hotel suite. It was only in 1979 that the film returned to circulation after Universal Pictures purchased "The Conqueror" from Hughes' estate.

According to Budryk, "epidemiologists have warned of the difficulty of definitively identifying a single cause for one cancer." Wayne himself was skeptical of a connection between the filming and the disease striking the cast and crew. The actor of "True Grit" fame noted that he, Powell and Armendariz were heavy smokers later in life.

Questions surrounding Wayne's death in 1979, which first surfaced in People magazine, led Utahns to begin investigating a potential connection to their medical histories. Among them is Mary Dickson, a thyroid cancer survivor turned downwinder activist who appears in Nunez's documentary.

According to her, the effects of the nuclear testing fallout were not considered an emergency until the Department of Defense began to worry that they may have "killed John Wayne"  as an internal document put it.

The declassification of internal AEC documents followed, and strenuous lobbying by downwinders like Dickson and others paid off. The late former U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) sided with the downwinders, leading to the passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act in 1990 that recently expired.

Watch Brannon Howse explaining how the 1962 film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," which starred John Wayne and James Stewart, predicted the cause of lawlessness and disorder in America.

This video is from the Worldview Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

"Leave the World Behind" movie about a grid down cyber apocalypse was ominously produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.

Simulation shows NUCLEAR HELL would be unleashed in apocalyptic Iran vs. Israel war.

Nuclear War: Why we should be thinking about it now.

Sources include:

Yahoo.com

Brighteon.com
Texas Supreme Court upholds ban on transgender surgeries for minors

The Texas Supreme Court has upheld Senate Bill 14 , which bans transgender surgeries for minors.

SB 14, which was enacted in September 2023, prohibits physicians from providing puberty blockers, transgender hormone interventions and gender transition surgeries to minors with gender dysphoria. The law also threatens the medical licenses of doctors who provide these treatments. But soon after the enactment, parents whose children were undergoing or planning to undergo transgender interventions, along with three doctors and two LGBTQ+ rights advocates, brought a case against the law.

A Travis County district court judge issued a temporary injunction against SB 14, which the Texas Supreme Court ruling lifted.

The 8-1 ruling stated that SB 14 did not violate the Texas Constitution and determined that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate a probable right to relief on their claims of legislative overreach. Instead, the court asserted that Texas lawmakers acted within their authority to regulate the medical field. (Related: Transgender medical procedures for minors to be reviewed by Supreme Court.)

"We conclude the Legislature made a permissible, rational policy choice to limit the types of available medical procedures for children, particularly in light of the relative nascency of both gender dysphoria and its various modes of treatment and the Legislature's express constitutional authority to regulate the practice of medicine.

"We, therefore, conclude the statute does not unconstitutionally deprive parents of their rights or physicians or health care providers of an alleged property right in their medical licenses or claimed right to occupational freedom. We also conclude the law does not unconstitutionally deny or abridge equality under the law because of sex or any other characteristic asserted by plaintiffs," Justice Rebeca Huddle wrote for the majority.

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.

Legal experts and advocates react to Texas SC decision

The decision has gained mixed reactions.

Justice Debra Lehrmann, the sole dissenter in the case, stated that the court failed to protect the fundamental rights of parents to make medical decisions for their children.

"Surely the right of parents to make medical decisions, in consultation with their physicians, regarding the welfare of their children is worthy of more constitutional protection than the Court recognizes today," Lehrmann wrote. "Concerningly, the Court's opinion puts all parental decisions at risk of being overruled by the government."

Similarly, Lambda Legal, one of the civil rights organizations representing the plaintiffs, expressed profound disappointment in the ruling. Karen Loewy, the senior counsel and director of constitutional law practice at Lambda Legal, criticized the court for stripping parents of their ability to make medical decisions for their children and penalizing doctors for following leading medical recommendations.

"It is impossible to overstate the devastating impact of this ruling on Texas transgender youth and the families that love and support them," Loewy said. "Instead of leaving medical decisions concerning minor children where they belong, with their parents and their doctors, the Court here has elected to let politicians  in blatant disregard for the overwhelming medical consensus  determine the allowed course of treatment, threatening the health and the very lives of Texas transgender youth."

Meanwhile, Texas Values (TV), a conservative advocacy group, hailed the decision as a significant victory for protecting children.

"No child deserves a false sense of hope from the unscientific idea that they are not really the sex they are born," said Jonathan Covey, the advocacy group's director of policy. "Today, the Texas Supreme Court agrees. This decision affirms what we already know, that doctors cannot mutilate children in the name of healthcare."

Watch this clip of a teacher unabashedly grooming her students using LGBT books.

This video is from the Self-Government channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas Children's Hospital forced to temporarily SHUT DOWN transgender program following whistleblower revelations.

MUTILATED TODDLERS: Biden administration pushing for age limits to be dropped from transgender surgery guidelines.

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.

Biden regime unseals indictment of Dr. Eithan Haim, who faces up to 10 years in prison for exposing illegal child gender mutilations at Texas Children's Hospital.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

MSN.com
Unconscious patients are being enrolled in medical experiments without their consent

Some Americans are being enrolled in medical experiments without their knowledge or consent while unconscious, according to a new report by journalist Sean Miller.

He explained how an FDA rule that took effect earlier this year allows for this horrifying scenario to take place. It involves the establishment of an exception to the longstanding requirement to obtain informed consent from individuals when a clinical investigation poses no more than minimal risk to the human subject and includes appropriate safeguards to protect the rights, safety, and welfare of human subjects.

At least nine healthcare sites have already started taking advantage of this, automatically enrolling people in clinical trials for dangerous drugs like ketamine and fentanyl  yes, the same fentanyl behind the opioid epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans  when they are administered to patients who are unconscious while being brought by ambulance to the hospital following car accidents and similar incidents.

One such experiment is the Prehospital Analgesia Intervention (PAIN) Trial, which is being led by the University of Pittsburgh with funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The medical provider network Guthrie defended its position in a press release, noting: Because severe traumatic injuries must be treated right away, there may not be time to get consent. Giving consent for medical research usually means reading information, talking with doctors and nurses and having time to think about whether to join. A person with traumatic injury is often not able to do these things.

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.

Moreover, because family members are usually not around or are unreachable in these emergency scenarios, the researchers are often unable to ask them for content as well.

Although many people would have no problem with ambulance crews administering pain medicine to them in the aftermath of an accident and would have given their consent to it if they were conscious, it is important to keep in mind that once the patient is given either ketamine or fentanyl, they are automatically enrolled in this experiment in some places and therefore expected to keep up with the study protocols for as long as six months afterward.

According to the press release, random trauma patients will be given either ketamine or fentanyl at the nine healthcare sites involved. And even though the FDA rule stipulates that the risks in medical tests involving non-consenting subjects must be minimal, the study openly admits that there are serious side effects involved, acknowledging fentanyls potential for addiction and ketamines association with hallucinations and other complications.

Opting out is difficult and not foolproof

The only way to opt out of this four-year study appears to be contacting the studys organizers and asking for a silicone bracelet you can wear indicating your unwillingness to participate. Those living in affected areas, such as rural parts of southern New York and northern Pennsylvania, have received notices in the mail about the study with instructions on how to opt out.

Its not exactly a foolproof system; even those who do take the time to request a bracelet just in case they are involved in an accident might not be wearing it at the time of the accident or it could even be destroyed during the accident. Its not clear whether individuals who are not local residents but are brought by EMS to the hospital could also be enrolled.

Ultimately, those who are enrolled in the study are being used as guinea pigs to help the U.S. military.

UPMC trauma surgeon Dr. Jason Sperry explained: The goal is to help the military to provide the best care for injured personnel, help determine the best pain medicine and determine what are the best short and long-term outcomes when comparing these medications.

Sources for this article include:

InfoWars.com

Inside.UPMC.com
United States announces new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has announced that the United States will provide an additional $2.3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine

The aid package, sourced from the approved $60 billion supplemental military aid bill in Congress in April, will supply more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other munitions from U.S. military inventories. The funds will be used to order extra Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to protect Ukraine.

"Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support," Austin said. "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."

During a Pentagon news conference with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on July 2, the two leaders discussed Ukraine's immediate security needs and strategies to counter future Russian aggression.

"Ukraine is in a tough fight and has been ever since the start of Putins reckless war of choice," Austin said during the meeting, which took place ahead of the 2024 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit in Washington on July 9. "The Kremlin continues to intensify its bombardment of your cities and civilians. But I continue to be impressed by the skill of [Ukraines] forces and your troops continue to fend off Russias attacks with grit, ingenuity and courage." (Related: U.K. cash cow: PM Sunak announces $3.2B in military aid for Ukraine.)

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.

"As we look ahead to the NATO summit next week, Rustem, well take steps to build a bridge to NATO membership for Ukraine," Austin told Umerov. "Just weeks ago, President [Volodymyr] Zelensky and President [Joe] Biden signed a crucial 10-year bilateral security agreement. That reflects our strong and enduring support for Ukraine."

The summit is anticipated to focus heavily on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Kyivs potential inclusion in the NATO alliance, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in April.

Civic activists arrested for allegedly planning to destabilize Ukraine

This decision came a day after the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) arrested several civic activists who were allegedly planning to seize the Ukrainian Parliament and destabilize the country.

According to the official website of SSU, the activists intended to announce a "removal from power" of Ukraine's current military and political leadership through domestic and foreign media under the guise of "veche" or people's assembly. The activists planned to gather participants for a rally in the center of Kyiv to destabilize Ukraine.

The main organizer enlisted several accomplices from NGOs based in Kyiv, Dnipro and other regions. The SSU thwarted the plot in its early stages, documenting the subversive activities and arresting the organizers. Searches of the suspects' homes revealed weapons, ammunition, mobile phones, computer equipment and written records incriminating them.

The detainees have been charged under Articles 109.1, 109.2, and 109.3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertain to actions and call for actions that forcibly overthrow the constitutional order or seize state power. They face up to 10 years in prison and confiscation of property if convicted.

Visit WeaponsTechnology.news to read similar stories.

Watch the full video below of "Judging Freedom" as host Judge Andrew Napolitano and guest Colonel Doug Macgregor discuss the current situation in Ukraine and America's decline.

This video is from the What is Happening channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EU threatening to SABOTAGE Hungarys economy if Viktor Orban continues to block military aid for Ukraine.

Biden pre-approves $200 million in additional military aid for Ukraine following Zelenskys visit to the Capitol.

After squandering $111B on military aid for Ukraine, Biden administration is asking for yet more funds.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announces another $200 million in military aid for Ukraine.

Hungary BLOCKS EU military aid for Ukraine after Kyiv blacklisted Hungarian bank for keeping Russian branches open.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

SSU.gov.ua

NYPost.com
TREASON: Biden administration has been secretly flying previously deported migrants back into the U.S.

The Biden administration has been secretly flying illegal aliens who were previously deported by the Trump administration back into the U.S., according to a new report.

Internal memos obtained by the Washington Free Beacon point to the existence of a top-secret program that has been bringing people from Cameroon, whose asylum claims were denied in the past and were deported, back into America. The claims were backed up by interviews they carried out with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) staff.

The publication reports that the program is a response to a report by Human Rights Watch in February 2022 about Cameroonian citizens who were deported in the years from 2019 to 2021 and were subsequently mistreated by their government. They estimate that as many as 90 Cameroonians were deported in this time frame, and many of them have been coming back into the U.S. at the behest of the Biden administration despite their asylum claims being determined invalid in the past. According to the report, those who were returned to the Central African nation were subject to arrest, torture, extortion, rape, abuses against relatives, medical neglect and other violence.

Jon Feere, a former ICE official and Center for Immigration Studies Director of Investigations, told the Free Beacon: "Gutting deportations isn't enough for the Biden administration, so now they're apparently bringing back previously deported illegal aliens. These are people who have already had their cases closed, one way or another, and they've been returned home."

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.

ICE officials worked together with nonprofit organizations to help relocate the Cameroonians who were secretly flown back to the U.S., and a trail of emails describe some of their movements. Officials with the ICE who are familiar with the program said that various airports throughout the U.S. were being used as ports of entry for these individuals from Cameroon to make the influx less obvious by dispersing them across the country.

The internal memos revealed that the reason the migrants were returned was to avoid a potential lawsuit related to their alleged abuse, although their return has not been ordered by any courts.

Former ICE Chief of Staff Tom Blank complained about the power that the Biden administration appears to be giving activist groups. He said: These individuals were deported by the order of a court after they were afforded all due process rights. For DHS to arbitrarily reverse court orders to satisfy complaints from an activist group makes a joke out of the entire legal immigration process. It looks like outside activist groups now run the DHS immigration process instead of the courts.

Program could serve as a model for future efforts to bring migrants back to U.S.

Although around 90 Cameroonian migrants might sound like a drop in the bucket when you consider the millions of illegal immigrants who have made their way across the border with Mexico, many ICE officials worry that the program could serve as a model for similar programs in the future. If other activist groups threaten to file lawsuits about the mistreatment of migrants like Human Rights Watch did, there is now precedent and the Biden administration could once again choose to return the asylum seekers to avoid controversy and litigation.

ICE staff are growing increasingly frustrated with Bidens immigration policies, and deportations have dropped dramatically since he took office; less than 5% of the 3.2 million migrants who were encountered by the border were deported in 2023 thanks to changes to guidelines that make deportations more difficult.

This is far from the only time that Biden has taken steps to undo Trump's initiatives on immigration. On his first day in office, he famously rolled back several of Trump's border policies and paused the construction of the wall at the southern border. He also put an end to a policy that required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico until their court hearing, something that has contributed to the growing problem of illegal crossings at the border.

Sources for this article include:

AmGreatness.com

FreeBeacon.com

HRW.org
Democrats in full freak-out while the rest of the world marvels at the U.S. presidential freak show

Someone created a faux New York Times editorial board headline today that encourages Joe Biden to launch a drone strike on Donald Trump. While intended as bitter irony, I am sure there are many anti-Trumpers who nodded approvingly at the suggestion. I also am certain that there are many countries around the world chortling over the spectacle unfolding in the United States because, in the past, they have been targeted with harsh rhetoric and sanctions for failing to uphold what U.S. officials deemed to be the values of democracy. The United States has now earned the right to Shut the Fuck Up! We, referring to my fellow citizens, no longer have the moral standing to lecture any other government on human rights or election integrity. We are like a raging alcoholic trying to enforce a no-drinking-beer campaign on others. We would be better off joining Alcoholic Anonymous and getting our own act together.

(Article by Larry Johnson republished from Sonar21.com)

The United States and the Democrats are facing several disasters. First, Democrat efforts to use questionable legal tactics to derail Donald Trumps campaign have backfired. Instead of making him a toxic pariah, Trumps popularity has soared, especially among the Black community (men at least), which readily identifies with him as a target of an unfair, corrupt judiciary. Trump is beating the man, (i.e., English slang for the establishment).

Second, plans by some of the Democrat elite to persuade Biden to drop out of the race and let some other Democrat ride-to-the rescue and save the party is running into trouble. Joe Bidens handlers  principally his wife  are insisting that Joe will be the candidate and that people calling for him to resign should go to hell. If Joe refuses to go, the Democrats are screwed because it appears that Joe has Parkinsons Dementia and the prognosis is grim.

Alex Berenson wrote about this on substack today, quoting a neurosurgeon who requested anonymity, but offered this assessment:

He undoubtedly has Parkinsons disease, and is increasingly suffering from Parkinsons dementia. The signs are unmistakable: -his shuffling gait -the absence of associated movements (facial expression, arm swinging). When he does swing his arms, it appears stilted  probably because his handlers have told him to swing his arms when he walks. Its something we all do naturally, but it goes away in Parkinsons disease -gait instability -soft voice -ON and OFF periods  times when the medication seems to be working well, and when it isnt (also explains how a good dose of Sinemet at the right time could get him more animated ) Ive spoken to many colleagues who feel the same way about his appearance. His gait and his expressionless face (called a poker face in the Parkinsons literature) are quite classic.

Looking at Bidens blank expression reminded me of this classic from Robert Palmer  The lights are on, but youre not home:

So there is option one  Biden stays in the race and his medical condition will continue to deteriorate. Anyone who seriously thinks that Biden can stage a debate comeback in September is in need of incarceration in the nearest psychiatric ward. I will even pony up the bucks to buy you a strait-jacket with an embroidery of a Biden Presidential Seal in the front.

Option two  Biden stabilizes and manages to stop pooping his pants on the campaign trail. Odds of that happening? Ukraine will conquer Russia first.

Option three  Joe does not come down for breakfast (i.e., dies in his sleep) or suffers a major medical crisis before the convention. That opens a whole new can of worms. All of the money Biden raised for his campaign cannot be transferred to the eventual replacement. If Biden is dead or removed via the 25th Amendment  whether before or after the convention  say hello to President Kamala Harris. From the sounds of it, Kamala is a Dylan Thomas fan:

Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

She will be doing some raging, you can bet on that. And there is a bevy of women of color ready to back her up and insist that she get a Presidential term in her own right. Does not matter that she is unpopular and unelectable. Remember, this is the party that insists there is no such thing as a biological woman. It the world of magical Democrat thinking, all Kamala has to do is identify as President and Bingo! Shes it.

Option four  Joe drops out and there is an open convention. If you believe that Democracy Democrat-style is like a Mixed Martial Arts cage match with wrestlers from the WWF then you will be ecstatic. I propose we have all prospective candidates clad in bikinis or Speedos, fully lathered up with pig grease, and force them to wrestle to determine who gets the Presidential nod. Here is an image you will have trouble erasing from your mind  Hillary Clinton in a Brazilian thong using a figure-four head lock on Gavin Newsome. Yikes!

Figure Four Head Lock

Judge Napolitano and I discussed the ramifications of the U.S. political chaos on U.S. foreign policy, with special emphasis on Russia and Israel.

Read more at: Sonar21.com
John Deere laying off hundreds more workers in the Midwest and shifting production to Mexico

Farm equipment manufacturer John Deere has announced another round of layoffs due to the slowing American economy and a reduction in demand that is prompting them to shift their production to Mexico.

The company, which is the top seller in the world of tractors and crop harvesters, has given 610 production staff at its Iowa and Illinois plants their walking papers. The layoffs will reportedly take effect at the end of August.

The layoffs come not long after the company announced that it will be moving production of compact track loaders and skid steer loaders from Dubuque, Iowa, to Mexico within the next few years in the wake of increasing domestic manufacturing costs.

Last fall, the company laid off 225 employees at their East Moline plant, and they have already laid off hundreds of workers at other locations this year. For example, 500 employees have been laid off from their Waterloo plant in Iowa, while 150 were laid off at a facility in Ankeny, Iowa, in March. Another 34 employees at their Moline cylinder works factory got their walking papers in May. In total, more than 1,000 John Deere workers have been laid off or sent into early retirement in Illinois and Iowa since October, and additional layoffs are expected to be announced later this year.

A statement from the company noted: We can confirm Deere leadership recently communicated that rising operational costs and declining market demand requires enterprise-wide changes in how work gets done to achieve our goals and best position the company for the future.

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Employees accuse John Deere of greed

John Deere is being accused of greed with the cost-cutting measures; they brought in more than $10 billion in profit last year, while CEO John May took home $26.7 million in total compensation.

One longtime employee at the companys Harvester Works plant in East Moline said: We get wind of more layoffs daily, it seems, and it's causing uncertainty all over. The only reason for Deere to do this is greed.

Waterloo has been particularly hard hit. John Deere employs 5,200 people there and is its largest employer. The recent layoffs of 500 workers there across multiple facilities, combined with the company moving its tractor and cab production to Ramos, Mexico, has left residents disappointed and upset, according to Mayor Quentin Hart. He added that it has been a challenge for the local community, where many people have relatives going back decades who have worked for the company. He added that it has a significant philanthropic presence there.

The union president of the local United Auto Workers 838 chapter, Tim Cummings, spoke out against the Waterloo layoffs, saying: I urge John Deere to stop outsourcing and bring these products back to our factories and allow our talented workforce to produce these products at home where they are used by North American farmers and businesses.

Another affected area is Ottumwa, Iowa, where John Deere has a factory that produces mower conditioners. They announced that this production would be moving to Monterrey, Mexico, and then laid off employees who were not willing to take an early retirement offer.

One of the factors contributing to an excess of unsold tractors is reductions in crop prices and its effect on farmers. This has prompted some equipment sellers to suspend new orders and provide discounts.

The economic problems facing the agriculture industry are unlikely to improve any time soon, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasting a 25.5% drop in farm income compared to last year's levels. John Deere has reportedly revised its profit forecast downward twice so far this year due to expected sales declines.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

DailyMail.co.uk
Liberal sanctuary state Massachusetts tells illegals to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE

The liberal state of Massachusetts, which prides itself as a sanctuary for illegals, has told border crossers to go somewhere else after its resources have been overstretched to handle the migrant influx.

According to media outlet Law Enforcement Today (LET), Democratic Gov. Maura Healy is hoping that state personnel will connect with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Defense's Joint Task Force North, non-governmental agencies and migrant families to send the message that "the 'welcome' mat is no longer out."

Scott Rice, director of the Bay State's Emergency Assistance (EA) program, said officials will be going to various processing centers in Texas, such as the San Antonio Airport, Centro de Bienvenida/San Antonio Migrant Resource Center and Shelter, the Ursula Processing Facility in McAllen, Texas, Hidalgo Port of Entry and the Brownsville Migrant Welcome Center.

"This trip is an opportunity to meet with families arriving in the U.S. and the organizations that work with them at the border to make sure they have accurate information about the lack of shelter space in Massachusetts," he remarked. "It is essential that we get the word out that our shelters are full so that families can plan accordingly to make sure they have a safe place to go."

Despite Massachusetts' shelter shelter system being full, illegal aliens continue to stream into the Bay State.

The Bay State can't keep illegals at bay

LET pointed out that Healey "is circumventing the 'proud' history of Massachusetts as being one of the first sanctuary states after realizing that the [state] is running out of room to house the illegals [President] Joe Biden's lax border policies have allowed to enter."

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Alongside the effort to inform illegals that the Bay State can no longer keep the migrant influx at bay, the governor also signed a proposal limiting the amount of time illegals can stay in emergency housing. Under the proposal, illegals in emergency shelters will only have nine months to live under the EA system before they are told to move on. Healey's fellow Democrats argued that the bill is necessary to curb demand amid an influx of migrants. (Related: Open borders policies are really just are a child trafficking operation run by Democrats).

In a statement, the Massachusetts governor said the proposal "implements a length of stay policy for emergency assistance shelter, which is a responsible step to address our capacity and fiscal constraints as Congress has continued to fail to act on immigration reform." She added that a companion spending bill she also signed "dedicates resources to balance the budget and maintain critical services and programs."

"We will be finalizing details of this policy in the coming weeks and ensuring that families and providers are informed of the requirements and the services that we have available to help them secure work and stable housing."

But for State Sen. Peter Durant, a Republican, there is a much simpler solution to the Bay State's migrant problem  stop giving money to illegals. "Until you stop benefits, until you stop all of the easy flowing dollars and rooms and food, people are going to continue to come," he said.

Head over to OpenBorders.news for similar stories.

Watch this video about a Massachusetts judge releasing an illegal who sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl at a state-run shelter.

This video is from Children Are NOT Sex Toys! channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Fox guarding the henhouse: Bidens new migration advisor is a FOREIGN-BORN advocate of OPEN BORDERS.

Globalist billionaire George Soros is financing efforts to elect more open borders Democrats in Texas.

Take Our Border Back convoy on track to southern border, will demand government secure our wide open borders.

Sanctuary city mayors admit being at the breaking point with migrant crisis, but they blame Texas Gov. Abbott instead of Bidens open borders.

Democrats who support open borders now complain when Texas, Arizona send illegal migrants to their cities.

Sources include:

LawEnforcementToday.com

Brighteon.com
Russia overtakes U.S. as Europes primary gas supplier despite ongoing sanctions

Sanctions have failed to stop Russia from overtaking the United States as Europe's primary gas supplier

Even with the continent's efforts to reduce its reliance on Russian fossil fuel resources since the beginning of the conflict, reports have revealed that Europe's gas imports from Russia surpassed those from the U.S. in May. (Related: Russian central bank governor: Western seizure of frozen assets wont affect Russias financial stability.)

Russia reduced its pipeline gas supplies to Europe after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In response, the region increased its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is transported on specialized boats and is primarily supplied by the United States.

And as experts predicted, the U.S. beat Russia as Europe's primary gas provider several months later in September 2022. As of 2023, the U.S. accounts for about a quarter of the total supply in the region.

But recent data from Independent Commodity Intelligence Services (ICIS) suggests that in May, at least 15 percent of the overall supply to the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Serbia and Switzerland came from LNG and gas pipes imported from Russia.

ICIS data also shows that only 14 percent of the region's LNG supply came from the U.S., the lowest amount since August 2022.

Russia's fuel industry flourishes even with sanctions

The turnaround takes place during a general increase in Russian LNG shipments into Europe, despite the efforts of several EU nations to impose restrictions on them.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

According to reports, Russia ceased supplying gas via pipelines that connected it to the northwest of Europe in the middle of 2022. However, it is still supplying gas through pipelines that pass through Turkey  and even through Ukraine.

In May, a major U.S. LNG export terminal experienced an outage that affected flows. Meanwhile, Russia exported additional gas through Turkey ahead of scheduled maintenance in June.

Gas storage levels are almost at record highs for this time of year as demand for gas in Europe remains comparatively low.

This year also marks the expiration of the transit agreement between Russia and Ukraine, which endangers the movement of goods along the route. This also suggests that opposition to the sanctions will continue and that Europe's division along pro- and anti-Russian lines will remain.

According to a senior EU official, supplies through the route are still not enough to replace the 14 billion cubic meters of Russian gas that currently flows through Ukraine to the EU annually.

Additionally, the European Commission is bolstering efforts to establish an investment plan to expand the capacity of pipelines in the Southern Gas Corridor between the EU and Azerbaijan.

During a visit to Japan in June, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said she had voiced concerns about LNG being diverted from Europe to meet demand in Asia. Simson added that both Tokyo and Brussels have agreed to explore energy-saving measures and have set up an early warning system to monitor LNG supplies.

Simson explained that the EU is "prepared to buffer any negative supply or demand events in global gas markets." She added that the EU's gas storage remains at record high levels and gas demand has stabilized at record low levels.

Visit RussiaReport.news to read more news involving Russia.

Watch the video below to see how Russia stored weapons in Cuba during a recent naval visit to Havana.

This video is from the Polyxena Lobkovice channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

New U.S. anti-Russia sanctions target Chinese entities that sell dual-use products to Moscow.

Washington State Democrats move to ban natural gas in new residential and commercial buildings.

Putin authorizes Russian company to take over German chemical company BASF subsidiary.

Western sanctions against Russia causing more copper production to move to China, concentrating control over this critical metal in Chinese hands.

Sources include:

GreatGameIndia.com

Brighteon.com
Trump announces he will investigate Big Pharma over autism, infertility, allergies, etc.  is he really serious about going after the vaccine industry this time?

In a recent public address, Donald Trump announced plans to investigate the pharmaceutical and vaccine industries to determine the link between their products and out-of-control chronic illnesses like allergies, autism, infertility and obesity.

Trump says he is alarmed by the "unexplained" growth in the prevalence of chronic illnesses and health problems, especially in children.

"We've seen a stunning rise in autism, autoimmune disorders, obesity, infertility, serious allergies and respiratory challenges," Trump said  watch the video below. "It's time to ask what is going on?"

?TRUMP TO INVESTIGATE BIG PHARMA FOR THE "STUNNING RISE" IN AUTISM, INFERTILITY, ALLERGIES, & CHILD ILLNESS! "If Big Pharma defrauds American patients & taxpayers or puts profits above people, they must be held accountable." Share to amplify his AMAZING message! pic.twitter.com/xMeeDyTHup  Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) July 2, 2024

(Related: Trump can't stop bragging about how "phenomenal" he feels his Operation Warp Speed "vaccines" were for the Wuhan coronavirus [COVID-19] "pandemic.")

Trump's "special presidential commission of independent minds" to probe Big Pharma

Trump speculated that perhaps food, the environment and certain medications may be to blame for America's out-of-control chronic illness epidemic. He also questioned the presence of toxins and chemicals in consumer products  before these toxins and chemicals existed, far fewer people were sick like they are today.

"Every year we spend hundreds of billions [sic] of dollars to treat these chronic problems rather than looking at what is causing them in the first place," Trump explained.

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"Too often our public health establishment is too close to Big Pharma  you make a lot of money, Big Pharma. Big corporations and other special interests does [sic] not want to ask the tough questions about what is happening to our children's health. If Big Pharma defrauds American patients and taxpayers and puts profits above people, they must be investigated and held accountable."

"When" he is back in the White House, Trump is promising to establish what he described as "a special presidential commission of independent minds who are not bought and paid for by Big Pharma." These folks will be charged by Trump with investigating what is causing the decades-long increase in chronic illnesses.

"I understand Big Pharma, I believe, better than anybody else," Trump bragged. "I know where they're coming from."

After the special commission is established and its research conducted, Trump wants it to "publish recommendations for how every American child can have a safe and healthy childhood."

"It's a conversation that is long overdue, and it's a conversation that American families deserve," Trump maintains. "American families must have this conversation and they must have a leader, a president, who can do something about this problem  and I will do that  thank you."

On X, someone named "Ryan King" (@RKING90210) asked about the $1 million that he says "Pfizer gave to Trump in 2017 for his inauguration," wanting to know how this might impact Trump's agenda.

"'The father of the vaccine' planning to go after big pharma?" asked another. "Who's going to fund your candidacy, bro? Please ..."

Another asked why Trump doesn't just endorse Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead, seeing as how Kennedy has been talking about this issue for many years and probably knows a lot more about it than Trump does.

"All of a sudden Trump is on board with this? Kennedy must be gaining traction."

Another praised Trump for the announcement, adding that "he needs to get rid of the NIH, too."

"They are the biggest bunch of crooks," this person added about the National Institutes of Health. "They are tied to Big Pharma."

The latest news about Trump's third bid for the presidency can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

X.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. diplomat FOUND DEAD in Kyiv hotel room

An American diplomat was found dead in his room on June 25 at the five-star Hilton hotel in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv. Ukrainian news outlet Strana reported that "there were no signs of violence on the body."

The diplomat arrived in Ukraine on June 15. Medical records provided by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv showed that the man had elevated cholesterol levels. Local police have launched an investigation into the cause and circumstances of the diplomat's death. (Related: Ukraine claims attack on crowded beach that killed civilians was justifiable because they were "occupiers.")

No autopsy was performed as the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv took the body.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, later confirmed the death of the unnamed diplomat in a June 26 press conference. According to him, the deceased was a U.S. government employee "who was under chief of mission authority" at the embassy.

"I hate to even bring this up, but I know sometimes conspiracy theories spin out of control," said Miller. "It is our understanding that he died of natural causes, and there's no sign of foul play."

State Department plans to send more diplomats to Kyiv

According to Foreign Policy magazine, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv employs between 100 and 200 diplomats and military personnel. But the embassy is reportedly "overstretched and understaffed" with such a headcount when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Four unnamed sources told the magazine in March that the State Department was planning to deploy as many as 30 to 40 diplomats to the embassy. The additional manpower would give officials, including U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, more flexibility to travel around the region.

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.

The State Department currently advises Americans not to travel to Ukraine because of the ongoing "active armed conflict." Its latest travel advisory updated in May 2023 urged those who remain in Ukraine to "exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the department's latest security alerts."

"The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation or harassment because of their nationality," the advisory continued.

"Although Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the embassy's access and ability to provide services in these areas, the [department] and the [embassy] continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens  to the extent possible given security conditions."

Russia Today remarked: "Washington is one of Ukraine's main backers in the conflict with Russia, supplying Kyiv with billions of dollars in cash, weapons, ammunition and equipment. The U.S. and its allies have insisted that this does not make them a party to the conflict, however, ignoring Moscows repeated warnings to the contrary."

Head over to UkraineWitness.com for more similar stories.

Watch this video explaining U.S. President Joe Biden's plan, or lack of it, to bring Russia and Ukraine together.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Hungary hops off "NATO Train," calls West's escalation of war in Ukraine "hopeless."

North Korean troops could join Russias war action against Ukraine.

Entire UK establishment piles on Nigel Farage for saying we provoked Ukraine war.

Biden (supposedly) sending F-16s to be stationed inside Ukraine in defiance of Russian red line.

Ukraine unleashes KAMIKAZE drone boats against Russian ships in the Black Sea.

Sources include:

RT.com

MSN.com

Travel.State.gov

Brighteon.com
In the quiet farmlands of Belgium, a remarkable mission gets into action well before daylight breaks. Cedric Petit and his volunteers take on an essential mission: saving young wild animals' lives from the menaces caused by modern farming machines.

This mission has been gaining popularity, as over the past four years, it has grown into saving nature's balance.

A Race Against Time and Machinery

Petit uses his drone to look into tall grasses on the ground for tiny fawns, potential victims of the harvest that's likely to begin within days.

Forty-year-old wildlife enthusiast Petit started "Saving Bambi" to prevent such tragedies. Volunteers for the group called out at a moment's notice, working unpaid, using drones fitted with heat-sensitive cameras like his to find and save such vulnerable creatures.

Changing patterns of agriculture underlines the urgency of their mission. Unpredictable weather due to climate change means crops grow all year round, and harvesting starts earlier, often overlapping with the fawns' birthing period.

Petit knows this only too well. His family were farmers. In the past year, his association rescued 834 fawns, which had risen from 353 prior.

Also Read: Experts: Red Deer Possesses a Personality Related to Their Dominant Behavior

Innovation and Compassion at the Heart of the Mission

The operation, now consisting of about 80 drone pilots, was inspired by similar operations in Germany and Switzerland. These volunteers balance their day jobs with their commitment to flying drones for the most critical six weeks of the year.

While the drone flies about 70 meters above ground-respecting the fields-the pilots look out meticulously for any sign of life.

Recently, the team in Eghezee, central Belgium, witnessed the drone's sensors picking up the fawn in question, a hare, and a young male roe deer, which was no bigger than one-and-a-half to two weeks old and packed into a ball in a position that would otherwise have been incomprehensible if its spindly legs were worth anything to run away on.

Approached with care, Petit scooped up the young creature using gloves and a hay-covered crate, relocating it to the safety of the woods where its mother would find it.

That's not all the work of "Saving Bambi." The volunteers also prevent botulism poisoning in livestock from tainted hay bales. Roe deer fawns make up the majority of rescues.

Shortly after birth, the mothers move their roe deer babies from the woods to the fields to soak in the sunlight, essential for early life.

This mission of compassion shows us the power of community and technology in safeguarding our natural heritage. Continuing to grow, "Saving Bambi" is a beaming testimony to what a small group of dedicated people can do to enhance the difference in the lives of the voiceless and vulnerable.

What are the Results of Agriculture on Biodiversity Hotspots?

Agriculture is among the foremost critical threats to biodiversity, particularly within countries with large numbers of unique species and under severe pressure from humans. Such countries are mentioned as biodiversity hotspots. Most of the negative impacts of agriculture are felt in these countries.

A number of the implications include:

Deforestation and habitat loss result in the destruction of huge areas, degradation of the quality of habitats that most wild species inhabit, and fragmentation of their populations.

Reduced ecosystem services impact ecosystem functions and resilience and, therefore, the services they provide, like pollination, regulating water, fertility of the soil, and climate.

Improved conflict and rivalry may cause stress and damage between humans and wildlife because both calculate precisely equivalent facilities and space.



Related article: COVID-19 in White-Tailed Deer Evolves 3 Times Faster Than in Humans; Is Interspecies Transmission Possible?
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Pawan Kalyan to stay away from film shoots for 3 months

A

ndhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan on Wednesday said he will stay away from film shoots for three months.

Addressing a public meeting in his Assembly constituency Pithapuram, he said that whenever possible, he would give one or two days for film shoots.

When his fans shouted "OG" (the name of his upcoming film), Pawan Kalyan asked them if they thought he would have time to act in movies.

"I have to make sure that you dont abuse me for not even filling potholes on roads. Thats why I have to first do what I promised. Otherwise, you will ask me Kiya Ji we elected you and you are doing OG," the Tollywood star said amid loud cheers by the crowd.

The Jana Sena leader said he apologised to producers about not being able to do film shoots. "I told them I will serve people of Andhra Pradesh and whenever possible, I will do shoots for 2-3 days without disrupting the work," he said.

Pawan Kalyan raised the curiosity of his fans with the remark that "OG" would be a good movie.

With Pawan Kalyan and Priyanka Mohan in lead roles, the film also stars Emraan Hashmi in his Telugu debut. The action thriller is written and directed by Sujeeth.

Pawan Kalyan is on his first visit to Pithapuram after his victory in the elections and after assuming office as the Deputy Chief Minister. On Monday, he announced that he would not accept his salary and any special allowances, including new furniture for his office, considering the precarious financial condition of the state.

At the public meeting on Wednesday, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the people of Pithapuram have given him the strength to have a say in national politics. He claimed that no political party in the country has achieved a 100 per cent strike rate. The Jana Sena won all 21 Assembly and two Lok Sabha seats it contested.

"Some people said they will not allow Pawan Kalyan even to cross the Assembly gate. People of Peethapuram took this seriously. TDP leader Varma said Pawan Kalyan will not just cross the Assembly gate but will break the gate to enter. His words have come true," he said.

Pawan Kalyan said many people wanted him to take the Home portfolio but considering Mahatma Gandhis dream of gram swaraj, he took the Panchayat Raj Department.

"I dont need bribes. I told officials to make sure that funds are not misused. I pay taxes on my income. Now, since this is your money, I am seeking details from officials about every rupee. I am controlling expenditure in my department," he said.

Pawan Kalyan holds the portfolios of Panchayat Raj, Rural Development & Rural Water Supply, Environment, Forest, and Science & Technology.

 Pawan Kalyan to stay away from film shoots for 3 months

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Dalai Lama able to walk after knee replacement surgery, say personal physicians

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fter a successful knee replacement surgery at a top New York hospital, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is rapidly recovering and able to walk, two of his personal physicians said on Thursday.

"His Holiness is rapidly recovering and able to walk. Soon, he will move to a place with a better environment. Theres nothing to worry about," said the physicians -- Tsetan D Sadutshang and Tsewang Tamdin -- in an update on the fifth day of the knee surgery.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk, will turn 89 on July 6.

In a medical bulletin, David J. Mayman, MD, Chief of the Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service at the Hospital for Special Surgery, said, "During the first week after knee replacement, the primary objective is to minimize inflammation and swelling. His Holiness is mobile and walking with our physical therapy team."

The second week involves the progression of walking and physical therapy exercises.

"I would expect His Holiness to continue to improve in terms of his knee and walking over this coming year," Mayman added.

 Dalai Lama able to walk after knee replacement surgery, say personal physicians

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When 'Rust' safety adviser turned down Alec Baldwin's wish to ride a horse

H

ollywood star Alec Baldwin is back to filming Rust in Montana, after he accidentally shot the films cinematographer in 2021 while preparing for a scene at a New Mexico ranch.

Naturally, the producers were focused on safety, forbidding the use of any functional firearms on set, and hiring two veteran safety officers to oversee the completion of filming, reports Variety.

Now one of those officers, Paul Jordan, is set to testify against Baldwin at his upcoming manslaughter trial in Santa Fe, saying that the actor resisted advice not to ride a horse at full gallop.

There was a little bit of yelling at times, insisting he could do certain things that everyone else felt he couldnt do, Jordan testified in a pre-trial interview.

As per Variety, prosecutors want to use Jordans testimony to help establish a pattern of recklessness. They have argued that the accidental shooting was just one of several instances on set in which Baldwin was careless with safety. They have also sought to show videos of Baldwin cursing and rushing the crew on the set in New Mexico.

Jordan wasnt on set in New Mexico. And Baldwins defence says his opinions about what happened when filming resumed are beside the point. Nothing that took place in Montana, more than a year after the accident occurred, is relevant to any issue in this case, the defence argued in a motion to bar his testimony.

Baldwin has said that he has a bad hip, which makes it hard to get on a horse. In his pre-trial interview, Jordan said that Baldwin required three or four people to help him mount and dismount the horse, but that once astride it, he wanted to ride fast over uneven terrain.

 When 'Rust' safety adviser turned down Alec Baldwin's wish to ride a horse

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Rajshri Deshpande says Hema is a story of vulnerability, loneliness and exploration

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Sacred Games' actress Rajshri Deshpande, has shared that her film Hema is a story of vulnerability, loneliness and exploration. The actress also said that the film portrays the story of every woman and how they battle different situations.

The film captures the journey of cultural assimilation faced by many women who relocate to the United States. The film bagged the Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film at the recently concluded Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.

Rajshri told IANS: I know its partly based on the director's mothers life but I feel its a story of every other woman. Its a story of vulnerability, belonging, loneliness and exploration. Its a story of life, love and refinding yourself in the wide world. It's a story about me somewhere.

The actress lauded the films director Ritvik Dhavale, as she called him an interesting filmmaker.

She said: His approach towards his stories is empathetic. Hema is special to him because its somewhat a homage to his mother but he brought emotional depth to many womens lives in this story.

Sharing her experience of working with the films team, she said: The amazingly talented team of Hema, the producer Aishwarya sonar, Shaurya Nanavati and the writer-director Ritvik is extremely curious to learn about complexities of life. They are passionate and I definitely feel they all will create magic together.

The actress contrasts the glamour of the film industry with her social work. She has been working with 30-odd drought-prone villages in the Marathwada district in Maharashtra. Rajshri addresses issues like rejuvenating groundwater, building schools and toilets, and conducting gender sensitisation through her non-profit, Nabhangan Foundation in these villages.

Rajshri, whose credits also include titles like Trial By Fire and Manto, has said that social work enriches her soul which subconsciously helps her approach each role with empathy.

She told IANS, If acting is my love and passion then social work is my skin and my heart.

She said that her on-ground work with the villages and communities evolves her into a better human being.

She shared: Empathy is the most valuable thing I have learned in my life and I am thankful to the communities I work with that constantly push me to be a better person. As an actor, I have always gravitated and portrayed realistic and raw characters. So my humanitarian work constantly teaches me to value that.

The actress feels that the more complex characters come with a lot of baggage that an actor cant carry back into their personal life but must deal with them with a lot of empathy, and these are the characters she has to compartmentalise.

Indian content has been making waves in the international market be it RRR or the recent big wins of Indian films at the Cannes Film Festival. While Payal Kapadias film All We Imagine as Light was feted with the Le Grand Prix award, Chidananda S Naiks film Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know was honoured with the La Cinef Award for Best Short Film, and Un Certain Regard Best Actress honour for Anasuya Sengupta.

Talking about the international acclaim of Indian films, Rajshri said: We have diverse, important and colourful communities around the country and I am glad we have the best of the filmmakers who bring their authenticity and uniqueness into their work. Unfortunately, the gatekeepers need to be more open with their choices. The formulaic films and the star-driven system need to go through re-evaluation.

She continued: Fortunately festival films around the world provide a platform to more creative and diverse films that give new filmmakers a chance to showcase their work and get a deserved recognition.

The moment we look at the creative field as an industry then we should learn to know how to handle the industry term too. The word Industry brings a lot of baggage because it involves mathematics. So Creative and Industry both are important but need to be treated with a lot of empathy. We need producers who understand and work towards more empathetic sets, she added.

 Rajshri Deshpande says Hema is a story of vulnerability, loneliness and exploration

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Raghav Juyal shot intense action scenes for 'Kill' despite knee surgery

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ctor Raghav Juyal shot an intense high-octane action sequence for his upcoming film Kill despite undergoing serious knee surgery before the shoot and was advised by his doctors to rest for at least six months.

With the support of a team of medical experts on set, he executed the demanding action sequences in the film."When I was offered the role of the villain in 'Kill,' I saw it as a golden opportunity to push my boundaries and explore new dimensions as an actor," said Raghav. "Despite the advice from my doctors to take it easy for six months post-surgery, I couldn't pass up this incredible chance.Raghav said he knew it would be a challenge.But I was determined to prove that I could overcome any obstacle. The medical team on set was phenomenal, ensuring my safety and well-being throughout the shoot. Every high-adrenaline action scene was a testament to their expertise and my dedication. Raghav took home a lesson that he learnt. This experience has taught me the true meaning of perseverance and has deepened my love for the art of filmmaking. I hope my journey inspires others to never give up, no matter the odds."Kill," directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, features Lakshya as a protagonist and Raghav Juyal in a villainous role. The film, which is slated to release on July 5, is about a pair of commandos facing an army of invading bandits during a train trip to New Delhi.Kill also features Tanya Maniktala and Lakshya, who made his acting debut with the small screen show Warrior High in 2015.Talking about Raghav, rose to stardom with 'Dance India Dance 3' in 2009. In 2016, he participated in the stunt-based reality show 'Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi 7' and made his film debut with 'Sonali Cable' in 2014.

 Raghav Juyal shot intense action scenes for 'Kill' despite knee surgery

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Mansi Srivastava explains why Karan Vohra and she are 'very comfortable in each other's presence'

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ctress Mansi Srivastava has opened up on her perfect camaraderie with the 'Main Hoon Saath Tere' co-star Karan Vohra, sharing they have become those kinds of friends, who are very comfortable in each others presence.

In the show, even though Raina (Mansi) hates her stepbrother Aryaman (Karan), Mansi and Karan share a beautiful friendship and lovely rapport, off-screen.

Mansi said: "It is a great experience working with Karan, he is a very talented actor. Gradually, we have become those kinds of friends, who are very comfortable in each others presence. Hence, it is difficult for me to always be rude to him on screen because our real-life bond is really great."

"Our off-screen bond is so strong and full of positivity, that switching to a negative role and getting into that zone of hating him, is a challenge. As soon as the shot gets cut, we laugh about it, and discuss how we can improve our scenes. We gossip, relish meals coming from our respective places, and play games together in between breaks," she added.

It will be interesting for viewers to watch the upcoming episodes as Janvi (Ulka) has got to know the real identity of Aryaman. Will Janvi ever be able to forgive Aryaman for having concealed his true identity?

The show also stars Nihan Jain as Janvi's son Kian.

'Main Hoon Saath Tere' airs on Zee TV.

On the work front, Mansi made her acting debut in 2012, playing Jasleen in 'Suvreen Guggal-Topper of The Year'. She has then featured in shows like 'Arjun', 'Rab Se Sohna Isshq', 'Do Dil Bandhe Ek Dori Se', 'Sasural Simar Ka', 'Ishqbaaaz', 'Divya Drishti', 'Ishq Mein Marjawan 2', and 'Kundali Bhagya'.

Mansi has also featured in web series like 'Ratri Ke Yatri', 'Swaanng', 'The Prayag Raj'.

 Mansi Srivastava explains why Karan Vohra and she are 'very comfortable in each other's presence'

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EAM Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart, says LAC must be respected

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xternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, and said that the "Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas be always enforced".

The two met on the sidelines of the SCO Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and discussed bilateral issues ranging from restoring border peace to rebuilding relations.

Agreeing that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side, the two Ministers had an "in-depth exchange" of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to "stabilise and rebuild" bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

EAM Jaishankar emphasised the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity.

He also reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced, the EAM said.

To resolve the remaining issues at the earliest, the leaders agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials.

They agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting.

The EAM reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

The two Ministers also exchanged views on the global situation.

EAM extended to FM Wang India's support for China's Presidency of SCO next year.

 EAM Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart, says LAC must be respected

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Mark Wahlberg says romancing Halle Berry onscreen is 'every guy's fantasy'

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ctor Mark Wahlberg has talked about working with Halle Berry in the upcoming film The Union and said that romancing the actress onscreen is every mans fantasy.

"...Halle, her and I have known each other for such a long time and this movie is going to be so great because its every guys fantasy, to think that they got a shot with Halle Berry," Wahlberg told Fox News Digital.

The Union follows a construction worker from New Jersey who is recruited by his high school sweetheart to embark on "a high-stakes US intelligence mission," per the synopsis, reports people.com.

In the interview, Wahlberg elaborated on the relationship between the two lead characters, played by him and Berry respectively.

"They were childhood sweethearts, and they come back together. He basically waited 25 years for her to come back, walk back through that door and into his life, and it happens, and there isnt anything he wouldn't do to prove himself to her if he got a second chance," he said.

The actor continued: "For me, that was the whole motivation of the character: just do anything he could to not screw it up again."

However, Wahlberg admitted that its "a little weird to act in a romantic relationship onscreen given that hes been married to his wife Rhea Durham since 2009.

"I think its a little weird anyway when youre portraying some sort of romance onscreen, its not normal, but my wife knows that she is my everything," he said. "She is the most special woman in the world."

 Mark Wahlberg says romancing Halle Berry onscreen is 'every guy's fantasy'

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The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Illinois assault-weapons ban Tuesday, but Justice Clarence Thomas said in a separate statement he is hopeful the high court will hear the case once lower courts have rendered final decisions  and he is skeptical that it will withstand constitutional scrutiny.
A key mechanism which detects when the brain needs an additional energy boost to support its activity has been identified in a study in mice and cells led by UCL scientists.

The scientists say their findings, published in Nature, could inform new therapies to maintain brain health and longevity, as other studies have found that brain energy metabolism can become impaired late in life and contribute to cognitive decline and the development of neurodegenerative disease.

Our brains are made up of billions of nerve cells, which work together coordinating numerous functions and performing complex tasks like control of movement, learning and forming memories. All of this computation is very energy-demanding and requires an uninterrupted supply of nutrients and oxygen. When our brain is more active, such as when we're performing a mentally taxing task, our brain needs an immediate boost of energy, but the exact mechanisms that ensure on-demand local supply of metabolic energy to active brain regions are not fully understood." Alexander Gourine, Lead Author, Professor, UCL Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology

Prior research has shown that numerous brain cells called astrocytes appear to play a role in providing the brain neurons with energy they need. Astrocytes, shaped like stars, are a type of glial cell, which are non-neuronal cells found in the central nervous system. When neighbouring neurons need an increase in energy supply, astrocytes jump into action by rapidly activating their own glucose stores and metabolism, leading to the increased production and release of lactate. Lactate supplements the pool of energy that is readily available for use by neurons in the brain.

Professor Gourine explained: "In our study, we have figured out how exactly astrocytes are able to monitor the energy use by their neighboring nerve cells, and kick-start this process that delivers additional chemical energy to busy brain regions."

In a series of experiments using mouse models and cell samples, the researchers identified a set of specific receptors in astrocytes that can detect and monitor neuronal activity, and trigger a signaling pathway involving an essential molecule called adenosine. The researchers found that the metabolic signaling pathway activated by adenosine in astrocytes is exactly the same as the pathway that recruits energy stores in the muscle and the liver, for example when we exercise.

Adenosine activates astrocyte glucose metabolism and supply of energy to neurons to ensure that synaptic function (neurotransmitters passing communication signals between cells) continues apace under conditions of high energy demand or reduced energy supply.

The researchers found that when they deactivated the key astrocyte receptors in mice, the animal's brain activity was less effective, including significant impairments in global brain metabolism, memory and disruption of sleep, thus demonstrating that the signaling pathway they identified is vital for processes such as learning, memory and sleep.

First and co-corresponding author Dr Shefeeq Theparambil, who began the study at UCL before moving to Lancaster University, said: "Identification of this mechanism may have broader implications as it could be a way of treating brain diseases where brain energetics are downregulated, such as neurodegeneration and dementia."

Professor Gourine added: "We know that brain energy homeostasis is progressively impaired in ageing and this process is accelerated during the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Our study identifies an attractive readily druggable target and therapeutic opportunity for brain energy rescue for the purpose of protecting brain function, maintaining cognitive health, and promoting brain longevity."

The researchers were supported by Wellcome, and the study involved scientists at UCL, Lancaster University, Imperial College London, King's College London, Queen Mary University of London, University of Bristol, University of Warwick, and University of Colorado.
Ever wondered why you performed worse than expected in that final university exam that you sat in a cavernous gymnasium or massive hall, despite countless hours, days and weeks of study? Now you have a genuine reason  high ceilings.

New research from the University of South Australia and Deakin University has revealed a link between rooms with high ceilings and poorer examination results.

A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology, led by architecture and psychology-trained UniSA researcher Dr Isabella Bower in collaboration with educational psychology researcher Associate Professor Jaclyn Broadbent from Deakin University, demonstrates that building design impacts our ability to perform tasks.

Dr Bower and her team analyzed data from 15,400 undergraduate students between 2011-2019 across three campuses at an Australian university, comparing students' exam results with ceiling heights of the room in which they sat the examination.

After considering individual student differences and their prior performance in coursework, they found that students had lower scores than expected when sitting exams in rooms with an elevated ceiling.

The researchers factored in the students' age, sex, time of year when sitting the examination, and whether they had prior exam experience in the courses investigated.

Dr Bower says it is difficult to identify whether this is due to the scale of the room itself, or factors such as student density or poor insulation, which in turn lead to fluctuating temperatures and air quality  all factors that can affect the brain and body.

These spaces are often designed for purposes other than examinations, such as gymnasiums, exhibitions, events and performances. The key point is that large rooms with high ceilings seem to disadvantage students and we need to understand what brain mechanisms are at play, and whether this affects all students to the same degree." Dr. Isabella Bower, architecture and psychology-trained UniSA researcher

The results support experiments that Dr Bower has done using virtual reality (VR), measuring brain activity of participants exposed to different rooms, while controlling for other factors such as temperature, lighting and noise.

Using a technique called electroencephalography (EEG), where electrodes are attached to the scalp to measure brain cell communication, her team altered room sizes, while recording the brain's response. They also measured heart rate, breathing and perspiration, revealing if someone could unconsciously detect a change to the environment.

In these VR experiments, they found that simply sitting in a bigger room resulted in brain activity associated with concentrating on a difficult task. This led them to question if task performance in large spaces is reduced.

"Based on these results we were curious to apply our lab findings to a real-world dataset and see if being in a large space like a gymnasium while having to concentrate on an important task would result in a poorer performance," Dr Bower says.

"Examinations have been a key part of our education system for over 1300 years, shaping students' career paths and lives," says Assoc Prof Jaclyn Broadbent.

In Australia, many universities and schools use large indoor spaces for exams to streamline logistics and costs. It's crucial to recognize the potential impact of the physical environment on student performance and make necessary adjustments to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to succeed," she says.

"These findings will allow us to better design the buildings in which we live and work, so we can perform to the best of our ability."
Medical devices are central to modern patient care, with these devices ranging from advanced multimillion-dollar imaging systems to compact diagnostic tools. Radiological systems are a well-established, proven tool in the medical sector, but the vast and diverse realm of optical systems is often underappreciated.

Strengths and applications

The ongoing evolution of CMOS camera sensor technology has driven monumental advances in optical imaging technology. Sensors are now pervasive in everyday devices, leading to the significant growth of the optical device industry, particularly in the biomedical sector.

Optical systems offer the distinct advantage of point-of-care vision, supplementing existing clinical examination techniques with high-fidelity imaging capabilities.

High-performance optics play a critical role across various domains, with medical applications in optical coherence tomography (OCT), micro-endoscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instruments, laser-based ophthalmology, and robotic surgery.

Each of these cutting-edge areas is helping to drive ongoing advancements in medical research and enhance clinical outcomes for patients.

Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). Image Credit: Shanghai Optics

Medical optics in modern medicine

Optical technologies represent the foundation of many ground-breaking diagnostic developments in modern medicine, improving outcomes in research, diagnostics, and treatment.

Shanghai Optics is a leader in this field, and the company specializes in producing state-of-the-art optical components tailored to meet diverse medical needs.

Due to their use in potentially life-saving situations, the production of medical optics demands a steadfast commitment to quality. Shanghai Optics employs stringent quality standards, offering a suite of high-performance optics with rapid turnaround times, all while maintaining competitive prices.

Medical device development must adhere to strict timelines and meet exacting performance standards. Shanghai Optics offers a range of off-the-shelf optical components and collaborates with clients to expedite the development of customized products.

Device reliability is assured thanks to strict adherence to regulatory standards, and the companys ISO 13485 certification underscores its ability to reliably produce high-quality medical optics that are fully compliant with regulatory directives.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Instruments. Image Credit: Shanghai Optics

Exemplary medical optics applications

Shanghai Optics optical components are key to vital applications such as optical coherence tomography, assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of eye conditions. For example, laser-assisted eye surgery has revolutionized ophthalmic procedures and improved patient outcomes thanks to its integration of advanced medical optics.

Cost efficiency is also a principal consideration in medical optics production, and Shanghai Optics maximizes cost-benefit ratios through its comprehensive design processes and extensive engineering expertise.

Opportunities

Technological opportunities in optical medical imaging continue to leverage consumer technologies to accommodate their respective features and capabilities.

There are opportunities for the development of molecular sensing tools in medicine, while a shift towards wellness-focused healthcare is leading to increased integration of optical sensing into home monitoring technologies.

As optical medical imaging technology continues to evolve, the potential for advancements in medical optical imaging will only increase, signaling a brighter future for the wider healthcare sector.

Acknowledgments

Produced from materials originally authored by Shanghai Optics Inc.

About Shanghai Optics

We have served original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers with high quality optical components for the past 50 years.

We have the capabilities and experiences to ensure that your products are delivered on time with the highest quality and lowest cost. We are established professionals with many years of business experiences in the U.S. and Chinese optics industries. Over the years, we have supplied customers worldwide with quality optics that have resulted in drastic savings for them.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.
As the newly elected government settles into its third term after the elections, it prepares to present the new Budget that forecasts pivotal changes for Indias financial sector. The insurance industry looks forward to long-overdue reforms that will propel the sector forward and support the economy.

With Indias insurance penetration still not on par with global standards, the industry is urging policymakers to introduce meaningful changes that will incentivize adoption, increase accessibility, and drive growth. Tax benefits have proven to be a potent catalyst in the past, and the sector is counting on Budget 2024 to deliver substantive measures that will cement the governments commitment to Insurance For All by 2047.

Reviewing taxation for pension products

As Indias population ages, there is a need to take cognizance of their needs and reassess the taxation on annuities to ensure the financial stability of this segment. With millions of Indians set to enter their golden years in the coming decades, their retirement income must allow them to maintain a dignified standard of living. To ensure a secure financial future for Indias aging population, retirement planning must be made more appealing. The insurance industry urges the government to level the playing field by granting pension products the same tax benefits as the National Pension System (NPS).

Currently, annuity income is fully taxable, including both principal and interest, which discourages individuals from investing in these products. By exempting annuity income from taxes, the government can incentivize people to plan for their retirement, bringing annuity products in line with existing tax norms and creating a supportive environment for their growth. This move would empower individuals to secure their financial future and promote a culture of retirement planning in India.

Incentivising health insurance for MSMEs

To make health insurance more inclusive and widespread, group health insurance policies should be made more attractive and rewarding, especially for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These businesses rely heavily on employee health insurance as a vital tool for attracting and retaining talent. However, the current GST regulations pose a significant burden, as MSMEs cannot claim input credit for the GST paid on employee health insurance premiums.

While a complete waiver might not be feasible for all businesses, the government may consider offering this relief to MSMEs, which are the bedrock of Indias entrepreneurial ecosystem and drivers of economic growth. By doing so, MSMEs can provide their employees with comprehensive health coverage, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more secure workforce.

Expanding the scope of tax deductions under Section 80C

The insurance industry has been urging an overhaul of tax deductions under Section 80C, particularly the long-standing deduction limit of Rs 1,50,000. With various other eligible expenses like PPF and loans depleting this limit, theres little room for essential financial investments. To tackle this, a dedicated tax exemption category exclusively for term insurance is necessary. This would motivate taxpayers to opt for comprehensive term plans, fostering financial security for individuals and families. Moreover, the industry seeks a reassessment of the GST rate, currently at 18% for health and term insurance. Reducing this limit to 5% would help pass down the pricing benefit to the end consumer and in turn, lead to a wider adoption of these crucial protection products.

A revised and relaxed tax structure would ensure that consumers benefit from affordable pricing, encouraging greater adoption of life insurance. A balanced tax regime is crucial for the industrys growth, stability, and ultimately, the well-being of policyholders.

Written By  Tarun Mathur, Co-founder and CBO, Policybazaar.com
In an unexpected turn of events, Microsoft, a global tech giant employing over 2 lakh people worldwide, has agreed to settle a discrimination case with its employees. The settlement, totaling approximately Rs 117 crore ($14.4 million), addresses allegations that the company systematically discriminated against employees who took leave for reasons such as pregnancy, disability, illness, or caregiving.

The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) confirmed the settlement following an investigation initiated in 2020. The case culminated in a verdict by the Santa Clara County court, prompting Microsofts agreement to compensate affected employees. An independent agency will oversee measures to prevent future discrimination within the company.

The core issue revolved around disparities in bonuses and performance reviews, which consequently impacted salary increases and promotions for affected employees. As per the courts decision, eligible employees, active since May 13, 2017, will receive a base payment of Rs 1.25 lakh (amounting to $1,500), with additional compensation based on salary and tenure.

Microsoft, known for its progressive policies like Discretionary Time Off (DTO), which allows flexible leave approvals based on managerial discretion, has around 7,000 employees in California out of its workforce of 2.21 lakh across the globe. DTO, distinct from traditional fixed leave policies, emphasises results-oriented work culture, enabling employees to manage their schedules while meeting job expectations.

The settlement underscores Microsofts commitment to rectifying workplace discrimination issues and promoting equitable treatment among its diverse workforce.
The University of Delhi has released the academic calendar for the first and second semesters of postgraduate courses, BTech programmes, five-year integrated programmes in LLB, BA LLB (Honours), and BBA LLB (Honours) on its official website at du.ac.in. In accordance with the programme, classes for the odd semesters (1 and 3) begin on August 1 and will conclude with theory tests on December 10, 2024. Winter vacation will begin on December 29 and will last until January 1, 2024. Similarly, sessions for even semesters (2 & 4) will commence on January 2, 2025, with theoretical examinations beginning May 13, 2024.

In order to give effect to the above-mentioned Academic Calendar for the Academic Session 2024-25, summer vacation notified in the existing Academic Calendar for the Postgraduate Programmes for the academic session 2023-24 has been extended from the 22nd July 2024 to the 31st July, 2024, DU said in an official announcement.

The midterm break will run from October 27 to November 3, and courses will resume on November 4 in accordance with the DU academic schedule for 20242025. The semester examinations for theory topics will begin on December 10, and winter break will be declared on December 29.

Here is the detailed Delhi University Academic Calendar 2024-25:

DU Academic calendar 2024-25 for PG, BTech programs, and LLB programmes

Semester 1st and 3rd

Event Date Classes Begin August 1 Mid Semester Break October 27 to November 3 Classes began after the Mid-semester break November 4 Dispersal of classes, preparation leave and practical examination begin November 28 Theory exams begin December 29 to January 1, 2025

Semester 2nd and 4th

Event Date Classes begin January 2nd, 2025 Mid Semester Break March 9 to 16 Classes begin after mid-semester break March 17 Dispersal of classes, preparation leave and practical exam begin April 30, 2025 Theory Exam Begin May 13, 2025 Summer Vacation June 1 to July 20

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
In a new initiative to support Indian students here, the Consulate General of India in New York has developed a special platform for them to find internship opportunities at companies in the US as well as provide access to attorney and medical information.

The Consulate General of India in New York serves the north-eastern US states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.

As part of the initiative to support Indian students in its jurisdiction, @IndiainNew York has developed a platform for Indian Students to find internship opportunities at companies in the USA, the Indian Consulate said in a post on X on Tuesday.

The new facility for students is part of the Consulates effort to support Indian students in its jurisdiction.

Several Indian and American companies and organisations have agreed to consider deserving Indian students for internship opportunities, the Consulate said, adding that students are advised to apply directly to the companies as per the details provided in the portal.

The portal lists student internship opportunities in companies across several sectors such as finance, IT, investment banking, automotive, software, science and technology, healthcare, hotels, multinational corporations and technology, government agencies, aviation, artificial intelligence, pharma and Tata Sons.

The Consulate is also offering attorney and doctor information to support and help the students.

Committed to serving the Indian diaspora, the Consulate said it has reached out to some renowned attorneys within its jurisdiction who have agreed to assist distressed Indians residing in the Northeast United States of America.

Members of the community may reach out to the Attorneys directly with the Consulate Generals reference. It may please be noted that this initiative is aimed at assisting the Indian community and that the Consulate does not hold any responsibility for the outcome of the case, it said.

Further, the Consulate has also reached out to some renowned doctors in its jurisdiction, who have agreed to assist Indian students enrolled in the 10 states under its jurisdiction with psychiatry counselling and other consultations (including via telemed if needed).

Several incidents, including deaths, involving Indian students in US universities have been reported in recent months, causing concern amongst the Indian community.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) will start the registration process for the Telangana State Engineering, Agricultural, and Medical Common Entrance Test (TS EAMCET) counselling 2024 today, July 4. Interested and eligible candidates can apply for the counselling procedure via the official website tgeapcet.nic.in. The registration deadline is July 12. Recently, the council updated the TS EAMCET 2024 counselling dates. Earlier, it was slated to begin on June 27.

How to register for TS EAMCET Counselling 2024?

Step 1: Head to the official portal at tgeapcet.nic.in.

Step 2: On the homepage, look for the TS EAMCET 2024 registration link and click on it.

Step 3: Follow the instructions and fill in all the required information carefully.

Step 4: Pay the counselling fees.

Step 5: After payment, book a schedule for document verification.

Documents Required for TS EAMCET 2024 Counselling:

 TS EAMCET 2024 rank card.

 TS EAMCET 2024 Admit card

 Class 12 or equivalent mark sheet.

 Class 10 or equivalent mark sheet.

 Transfer Certificate (TC)

 Education certificates from Class 6 to Class 12.

 Caste Certificate (if applicable)

 Residence Certificate of either parent for 10 years in Telangana / Andhra Pradesh (if applicable)

 Aadhaar Card

 Minority Certificate (if applicable)

 PH/NCC/CAP/Sports and Games Certificates (if applicable)

TS EAMCET 2024 Counselling Process, Important Dates

The counselling procedure of the TS EAMCET 2024 consists of five stages, that is, Registration, Document Verification, Choice Filling, Seat Allotment, and Self-reporting.

Registration: Candidates need to complete their online registration via the official website by providing the required information and the application fee. Also, they need to book a slot for certificate verification.

Documents Verification: The candidates must attend the help line centre at the designated date and time along with all the required documents.

Choice Filling: Following the verification process, candidates need to fill in their preferred course and college.

Seat Allotment: Seats will be allocated to candidates based on their choices, rank, and seat availability.

Self-Reporting: Lastly, to confirm admission, the candidates need to report to their allotted institutes with the necessary documents and pay the fees.

The document verification process for Phase 1 of the counselling process will be held from July 6 to 13 and the candidates will be able to freeze their options on July 15.

The TS EAMCET 2024 is a state-level entrance test for admission to BE, BTech, BPharm, PharmD, BSc, BFSc, and BVSc courses offered by various institutes in Telangana.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been embroiled in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam that comes amid the resignation of one of his ministers, B Nagendra, over alleged illegal money transfer from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited. The Opposition BJP in the state has alleged that MUDA illegally allotted an alternative site to Siddaramaiahs wife Parvati.

The latest allegation is the MUDAs 50:50 scheme, under which, those who lost their land for the development of layouts were entitled to 50% of the developed land.

The BJP protested outside the CMs office on Wednesday over the alleged scam, demanding his resignation and CBI inquiry.

Siddaramaiah, however, said on Wednesday his government was investigating the alleged irregularities. He said all sites MUDA allotted had been suspended. He also asked his opponents from the BJP, what is my role in the irregularity and why should I resign?

Lets understand more such alleged irregularities in the scam.

What is MUDA Scam?

Under MUDAs 50:50 scheme, land owners were promised 50% of the developed site per acre that they give up. This works out to about 9 developed plots of 30x40 dimension and they will be at liberty to sell it to anyone at the prevailing market rate.

The scheme was first introduced in 2009, but scrapped in 2020 by the BJP government. But MUDA still continued with the scheme without seeking permission from the then BJP government.

The distribution of sites continued despite two government orders in the last six months directing MUDA to cancel the allotment of sites to beneficiaries under the 50:50 scheme until clear guidelines were issued. However, the allotment did not stop.

A government order institution an inquiry on July 1 said there was suspicion that rather than providing the sites to eligible beneficiaries, there are complaints that they were allotted to influential people and real estate agents.

The inquiry committee headed by Commissioner, Urban Development Authorities, Venkatachalapathi R., an IAS officer, has given 15 days to submit the report and it is expected to be ready by July 15 when the legislature begins the monsoon session.

Urban Development Minister Byrati Suresh has already transferred four officers, including MUDA Commissioner Dinesh Kumar.

What is Wrong with the 50:50 Scheme?

It has been alleged that the sites were awarded illegally to those claiming to be land losers. Apart from the role of middlemen, the active connivance of MUDA officials has been suspected in the scam.

According to an order dated June 15, 2024 of allotting sites to two land losers, then MUDA Commissioner Dinesh Kumar awarded 98,206 sq. ft of developed land to the heir of the original owner of the 8.14 acres of land that had been acquired by MUDA for the development of Gokulam layout, according to a report by The Hindu. The acquisition proceedings for Gokulam layout in Mysuru started in 1968.

In some instances, land-losers had been allotted sites far in excess of their entitlement, The Hindu report said.

How CMs Name Cropped Up

According to RTI activist Gangaraju, after MUDA developed the Devanur layout on land belonging to Siddaramaiahs wife, she received an alternative site in Vijayanagar, one of the neighbourhoods where the land price was higher. This was done even though MUDA had sites at the developed layout that could have been allotted to Parvati.

Siddaramaiah, however, has claimed that MUDA allotted sites at Vijayanagar as sites were not available in Devanur 3rd Stage layout.

In his clarification, the CM said his brother-in-law Mallikarjuna had purchased three acres and 36 guntas of land in 1996 and gifted it to his sister Parvati. He said Muda did not acquire three acres and 36 guntas of land, but created plots and sold them out. He added that after plots were sold by Muda, she was deprived of her property.
Interview: Expert says China's efforts in AI development, governance "substantial, impactful"

Xinhua) 10:55, July 04, 2024

VALLETTA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance have been substantial and impactful, Alexiei Dingli, an AI expert and professor at the University of Malta, said in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday.

He said China has made significant investments in AI research and development, and "China's AI strategy is comprehensive, encompassing aspects from academic research to industrial application, as well as governance frameworks."

Commenting on the unanimous adoption of an AI resolution at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday, Dingli said it is a testament to China's commitment to not only advancing its AI capabilities but also shaping global norms and standards.

The resolution on "Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence," proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries, emphasizes that the development of artificial intelligence should adhere to "the principles of being human-centered," promoting beneficial intelligence, and benefiting humanity.

"This leadership role is crucial as it demonstrates China's willingness to engage constructively with the international community, promoting a collaborative approach to AI governance that balances innovation with ethical considerations," he said.

According to Dingli, who has received numerous awards from organizations such as the European Space Agency, the World Intellectual Property Organization, and the United Nations, the unanimous adoption of this resolution signifies a remarkable convergence of international will.

"It is heartening to see member states rallying around the imperative of collaborative AI governance. This consensus underscores the global community's recognition that AI, with its vast potential and inherent risks, requires a coordinated approach to ensure it serves the greater good," he said.

"China's proactive stance in promoting dialogue and cooperation is commendable, as it sets a precedent for other countries to follow," he noted.

China launched the Global AI Governance Initiative in October 2023, setting the course for global AI development and governance.

With over 20 years of experience in AI research, Dingli highlighted the critical importance of cooperation in AI governance. He explained that AI's impact transcends national borders, and issues such as data privacy, ethical use of AI, and mitigating biases in AI systems necessitate a unified approach to create comprehensive frameworks that can be universally applied.

Cooperative governance helps bridge the technological divide between developed and developing countries, ensuring equitable access to AI advancements and preventing further digital inequality, he said.

Moreover, global collaboration fosters an environment of shared learning and innovation, allowing countries to pool resources, expertise, and best practices to tackle common challenges effectively, he said.

"As we move forward, sustained international dialogue and cooperation will be essential to harness AI's potential for the benefit of all humanity," Dingli concluded.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) that replaces the Indian Penal Code 1860 has been enforced in the country. The government has brought in several changes through the BNS, but the insertion of Section 69 has experts worried.

The BNS criminalises sexual intercourse on false promises of marriage or jobs. Section 69 of BNS states that if a promise to marry is made without any intent to follow it up and a sexual relationship is established, a person can face up to 10 years of imprisonment.

Experts think that the section will do more harm than benefit the society. Even though the law comes in support of thousands of women who are harassed for or in marriage, it could be misused by many, and an accused could find it difficult to prove his innocence.

What Does Section 69 Say?

Whoever, by deceitful means or by making a promise to marry a woman without any intention of fulfilling the same, has sexual intercourse with her, such sexual intercourse not amounting to the offence of rape, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine, reads the Section 69 of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Deceitful in the section is defined as inducement for, or false promise of employment or promotion, or marrying by suppressing identity.

Earlier, such cases were tried under Section 90 of the IPC, which said a woman could not have consented to sexual intercourse if there was a misconception of fact. The accused could then be charged with Section 375 of the IPC, which defined rape. A consent is not such a consent as it intended by any section of this Code, if the consent is given by a person under fear of injury, or under a misconception of fact, and if the person doing the act knows, or has reason to believe, that the consent was given in consequence of such fear or misconception, it said.

Police officials say Section 69 of the BNS might make arresting men easier without credible evidence.

What are the Legal Ramifications?

Section 69 not only feeds into the misogynistic narrative of protecting women but also endorses chastity of women as a virtue legally, Sandhya Ram, an Associate Professor at VM Salgaocar College of Law, Goa, wrote for LiveLaw.

Lawyers argue that it would be difficult to prove the intent to marry in court and prove it as a false promise. The intent [to marry] is subjective. How one can prove that there was genuine intent if the marriage does not take place is not clear yet, India Today quoted Ghaziabad-based lawyer Arvind Singh as saying. Relationships can end for several reasons, even when there is an intent to marry. Proving somebody intended to marry but could not for whatever reason will be difficult, he added.

Prominent lawyer Vivek Tankha, a senior Rajya Sabha MP, said, as quoted by Deccan Herald, By making this provision, you have opened a floodgate of complaints. Now everytime there is a break up, there is a risk of a female partner filing a complaint. Nowhere in the world I have seen such a provision, Tankha said adding.

Why Arrests Can Be Made After Initial Probe

The police will have to produce circumstantial evidence that there was a promise to marry, and the sexual intercourse happened under pretense, which would be difficult to prove in court.

Although text messages, call recordings and pictures might be used as evidence of breach of promise, but it might still be difficult to infer that a sexual relationship was established on the grounds of a promised marriage.

The provision could lead to unfair arrests, years of court cases and damage to a mans life.
Jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh who is being brought to Delhi on parole to take oath as a Lok Sabha member will be allowed to meet his family but will not be permitted to leave the territorial jurisdiction of New Delhi.

During his stay in the national capital, neither Singh nor his relatives or family members can make a statement in any form of media, according to the conditions laid down in his parole order issued by the district magistrate of Punjabs Amritsar from where he was arrested on April 23 last year.

The Khalistani sympathiser, who won the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab in the recent parliamentary elections while being lodged in a jail in Assams Dibrugarh district, is scheduled to take oath on Friday.

Singh, 31, will be flown in from Assam to Delhi for taking oath and his parole period of four days starts from July 5, sources said on Wednesday.

The parole order, which mentions 10 conditions, stated that the period of temporary release will include the time taken for the journey from the central jail in Dibrugarh to New Delhi and back.

He will not enter the territorial jurisdiction of any place other than New Delhi during the period of temporary release, it stated.

Amritpal Singh or any of his relatives shall not be permitted to videograph any statement of Amritpal and/or circulate any such statement in any electronic form, according to the order.

He will also refrain from doing any action or making any statement that is prejudicial to national security, it stated.

The relatives of Amritpal, as defined under Section 2 (c) of the Punjab Detenue (Condition of Detention) Order, 1981, shall be allowed to meet him during the period he is housed in New Delhi, the order stated.

On deployment of security personnel for Singh, the order stated he will be accompanied by such a number of police personnel as is deemed appropriate by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Amritsar (Rural).

These personnel will be there with him from the date and time of his temporary release from the jail, and till the time he returns to the prison for continuation of his period of detention, it stated.

For the time period, when Singh is present within the precincts of the Parliament, he shall be accompanied by such number of police personnel, or other security personnel as permitted by the Secretary General, Lok Sabha, the order stated.

It added that for the period, when Singh is not required in the precincts of the Parliament, he shall be housed at such place in New Delhi as is deemed appropriate by the SSP, Amritsar (Rural), after taking into account various security considerations.

On Wednesday, Amritsar District Magistrate Ghamshyam Thori told PTI, Amritpal Singh has been granted parole for up to four days or less beginning July 5 with certain conditions that have been communicated to jail superintendent, Dibrugarh. Singh, who heads the Waris Punjab De outfit and styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was jailed along with nine of his associates under the National Security Act.

He was arrested in Mogas Rode village after he and his supporters on February 23 barged into the Ajnala police station breaking barricades, brandishing swords and guns, and clashed with police personnel in an attempt to free one of his aides from custody.
Widespread outrage has erupted after two incidents of public flogging and humiliation of women  accused of extra-marital affairs  in West Bengals North Dinajpur and Jalpaiguri. In both cases, FIRs were lodged and the accused arrested after the videos went viral on social media.

The brutal acts have sparked condemnation and brought renewed attention to the issue of kangaroo courts and their unchecked authority in rural areas. However, kangaroo courts, especially those targeting women, are entrenched in West Bengal and neighbouring eastern states like Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha.

Unfortunately, this form of instant societal justice is not exclusive to a region or a few states, but is almost a pan-India phenomenon. In Bengal, it is called salishi sabha, while in North India, it is known as Khap Panchayat and so on.

Delivery of instant justice

These extrajudicial ways to deliver instant justice have been a prevalent practice across the rural hinterlands in the country. The informal justice system led by village-heads or local politicians thrives in rural areas where formal justice systems are inaccessible, slow, or expensive.

Political parties and local administrations frequently turn a blind eye, fearing the loss of electoral support if they interfere with these traditional practices. This tacit approval perpetuates a cycle of instant  and often brutal  justice that undermines the rule of law and disproportionately affects vulnerable women.

While the public flogging of a woman is at the fore now, Bengal witnessed another brutal form of such kangaroo courts in Birbhums Labpur in 2014 when a 20-year-old tribal woman was gang-raped by 13 men on the orders of the kangaroo court. The woman was punished for having an affair with a Muslim man. The court penalised the family and asked them to deposit Rs 20,000. When the family failed to deposit the money, the village head ordered the gang rape of the woman.

Cultural traditions and societal norms often lend these informal courts a semblance of legitimacy, perpetuating their existence. This is why some states still witness kangaroo courts that brand women as witches, punish some for extramarital or inter-faith marriages, penalise some for alleged child-lifting and sometime also order lynching in areas like Jharkhand, Bihar and Bengal.

Nyaya Panchayats, Shanti committees, Salishi Sabha

The partition of Bengal in 1947 caused massive upheaval, uprooting countless families overnight. Those who were displaced left indelible imprints on the collective psyche of Bengal. This traumatic event shaped their view of law and courts of justice, leading to a complex perception of justice and protection.

In the wake of the Partition, those evicted found themselves living in refugee colonies where colony committees emerged as protectors, stepping in where formal administration and institutions failed. These committees often took on the roles of vigilantes, administering justice through local bodies known as salishi sabha.

Meanwhile, tribal-dominated societies in Jharkhand and Bengal have a different cultural-traditional societal justice system as they want to be away from the purview of the formal criminal justice system.

In 1973, a significant attempt was made to formalise these informal systems with the Panchayat Act, which included a provision of Nyaya Panchayats. This move aimed to legitimise the salishi system by incorporating it into an informal justice framework for the villagers. The Nyaya Panchayat system was never implemented. However, the Left Front rule saw several peace committees in localities which included a member of local police station, administration and Panchayats.

Despite these efforts, the sense of justice delivered by these local bodies has remained largely unchanged, continuing to reflect the deep-seated community values and the need for swift, accessible justice outside the formal legal system.

Khaps, Salishi Sabha: Interplay of formal-informal justice system

The coexistence of Khap Panchayats, Salishi Sabha and Gram Panchayats reveal the complexities of political society and party affiliations, where caste and local loyalties play a crucial role in shaping peoples vision of justice and governance. This dynamic interplay often leads to a dual system of justice: one that is formal and state-sanctioned, and another that is informal but deeply rooted in local traditions and power structures.

Historically, similar conflicts have existed in the pre-Independence era as well.

For instance, in 1870, the British colonial administration established the Shanti Committee and the Chaukidari Panchayati, attempting to integrate traditional community leaders into a formal law enforcement framework. However, these efforts often proved to be incompatible with the established norms and practices of local communities and it led to tension between pre-modern institutions and the forces of modernity.

This tension remains evident today as Khap Panchayats and other informal bodies continue to operate outside the formal legal system. They are seen as anathema to modern legal principles, often resulting in decisions that are ill-recognised by state authorities but hold significant sway within their communities.

The interplay among such state panchayats, Salishi Sabhas and Khap Panchayats explains the ongoing struggle to balance traditional forms of justice with the demands of a modern legal framework, influenced by political, social, and cultural factors that shape the rural areas in the country.
July 2 will forever be etched in Shyam Brijeshs memory. When 40 constables deployed to man the crowd of 2.5 lakh devotees at godman Narayan Saakar Vishwa Haris satsang were struggling to handle the crowd, it was youths like Brijesh from neighbouring Barai Sahaipur, Bamanhar Gadai, Mughalgarhi, Kheria, Nagla Bhage and other villages who took it upon themselves to save those stuck in the stampede that killed 121 people.

Brijesh, who hails from neighbouring Barai Sahaipur village and was one of the first rescuers to reach the spot, defined the stampede as one of the most dreadful sights of my life.

It has been almost 48 hours and I can still hear the shrieks and cries of women and children who literally begged people to get off them and let them breathe. It was the most horrible site I ever came across. Baba, organisers and all those who were part of the event should be penalised, he said.

For Brijesh, the day of the satsang was like any other. As usual, I woke up early morning and after completing the daily chores, I left for the field which is situated around 300 meters away from the site of the congregation, he told News18.

It was a humid day as heavy rainfall had lashed the district a day before and most of the farmers had returned to their houses after working in their fields while listening to Bhole Babas sermons being played on loudspeakers, he said.

It was around 2 or 2.15pm when I first heard a shriek, which soon faded amidst the sound of bhajans and the noise of heavy traffic on the adjacent GT road. But, the cries and yells soon grew louder and louder, enough to suppress the sound of the bhajans, Brijesh said.

As he ran towards the satsang site, his friends Rajkumar, Vikas and others rushed with him to take stock of the situation.

When we reached the site, private commandos dressed in black tried to shove us away. We breached their line and were exposed to the deadliest sight of my life. Near the exit, a pit was filled with the bodies of women and children who might have slipped due to the slippery ground when Babas army prevented them from exiting, recalled Brijesh.

Brijeshs friend Rajkumar said they soon came to their senses and started the rescue work by clearing the pit first.

The bodies were slippery as they were laced with mud. Somehow, we managed to take them out one by one. Meanwhile, Vikas rushed to GT Road to seek help. Soon we were joined by truckers, drivers and other locals who parked their vehicles and came down to the site to rescue people. Of the people we took out from the pit, many did not respond. However, those who were alive, were rushed to the hospital with the help of local vehicles, he added.

Other than clearing the pit, Brijesh and others also rescued many other people who were gasping for fresh air, many unable to breathe since their nostrils and mouths were full of mud.

I dont think we did anything extraordinary. I think every human being should come forward to help people in need, especially in such circumstances. I appeal to our Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-ji to take stern action against the Baba and others whose negligence cost many people their lives, Shyam Kumar, another local, added.

Locals said the rescue operation lasted for almost two hours before the team of district administration and police force arrived at the site to help out.

The FIR, which UP Police registered against 22  including the Sewadaars and other organisers  states: Due to the uncontrollable crowd leaving the venue, devotees sitting on the ground were crushed. On the other side of the road, the crowd running in the water and mud-filled fields was forcibly stopped by the organising members with sticks. The police and administrative officials on the spot made every possible effort and sent the injured people to the hospital with the available resources. But the organizers didnt cooperate.

According to the latest list released by the Relief Commissioners Office in Lucknow, 121 persons died and 31 were injured in the Hathras stampede.
India and China held a discussion on issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and agreed to redouble efforts to restore border peace. The meeting was between by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State summit in Astana on Thursday.

The two leaders exchanged views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations and agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to restore border peace.

#WATCH | External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in Astana. pic.twitter.com/xkTjNfpZjT ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2024

The Foreign Ministers emphasised respect for the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) and talked about ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards return of normalcy in bilateral relations, stated the MEA.

The two leaders also talked about, the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest- to guide Indo-China bilateral ties.

The leaders also agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting to resolve the remaining border issues at the earliest.

Jaishankar is representing India at the SCO Summit in Astana which is being held on July 3 and 4. The meeting is expected to draw focus on the regional security situation and ways to boost connectivity and trade.

Generally, the Indian prime minister participates in the SCO summit.

In a phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Indias full support for the success of the summit.

Kazakhstan is hosting the summit in its capacity as the current chair of the grouping.

India was the chair of the SCO last year. It hosted the SCO summit in the virtual format in July last year.
As Bihar witnessed nearly 12 cases of bridge collapse incidents, an official from the states Water Resources Department, on Thursday pointed out at the potential lapses by engineers and contractors involved in recent de-siltation efforts.

As per media reports, Additional Chief Secretary of the state Water Resources Department Chaitanya Prasad blamed the engineers of not taking proper care and further accused the contractors of not being diligent.

The officials remarks came soon after one more bridge collapsed in Bihars Saran district on Thursday, marking the twelfth such incident within span of 17 days. Over the past fortnight, the bridges that have collapsed were located in the districts of Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj.

Speaking to the media, Prasad said, Six bridges collapsed on the river Gandak in Siwan and Saran on July 3 and July 4. It appears that engineers didnt exercise proper care, and contractors were not diligent either.

He further said, Engineers concerned seem at fault prima facie. Special flying squads have been dispatched to the sites with a deadline of Friday to submit their report.

Talking about the corrective measures undertaken by the Bihar government, as quoted by India Today, Prasad said, New bridges will be constructed, and the cost will be imposed on the contractors found guilty.

Most of these bridges were thirty years old with shallow foundations. These foundations were eroded during de-siltation, he stated.

The Additional Chief Secretary added that all bridges that cross thirty years of service will be inspected for faults and necessary repairs will be undertaken.

On Wednesday, the Saran district witnessed the collapse of two small bridges  one in the Janta Bazar area and another in the Lahladpur area.

According to locals, heavy rainfall for the last few days in the district might have contributed to the collapse of these small bridges.

Altogether 10 bridges collapsed in Siwan, Saran, Madhubani, Araria, East Champaran and Kishanganj districts in the past 16 days.

Commenting on recent incidents of bridge collapse in Bihar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary on Thursday told reporters, The CM, after a review meeting on Wednesday, has given a clear instruction to officials concerned to conduct a survey of all old bridges in the state and identify those that require immediate repair. The CM has also asked departments concerned to immediately prepare their respective maintenance policy for bridges or causeways in the state. Chaudhary, also the state BJP president, said the government has already ordered a probe into the bridge collapse incidents to find out the reasons and strict action would be taken against the guilty.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, however, claimed that 12 bridges have collapsed in Bihar since June 18.

In a post on X on Thursday, he wrote, Twelve bridges have collapsed in Bihar since June 18Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are silent over these incidents in Bihar. What happened to the claims of good governance and corruption-free government? These incidents show how corruption is rampant in every department of the state government.
Six persons were arrested in the Hathras stampede case on Thursday, while the police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for the arrest of the main accused Dev Prakash Madhukar, who was the mukhya sevadar at the religious congregation by preacher Bhole Baba.

A non-bailable warrant will be issued against the mukhya sevadar Dev Prakash Madhukar in the case, IG Shalabh Mathur said.

A total of 121 people, mostly women, were killed in the deadly incident and 31 were injured. Police said they were not allowed at the camps by organisers and, when the stampede happened, most of the sevadars fled and stopped people from making videos.

The stampede took place due to followers attempting to collect dust (charan raj) from where the preacher had walked on the ground, police said.

Late on July 2, the police filed an FIR against the organisers of the satsang accusing them of cramming 2.5 lakh people into the venue when they had obtained permission for only 80,000.

Madhukar and other organisers have been named as the accused in the FIR filed at the Sikandrarau police station. The preacher, who is called Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari Bhole Baba, is not on the list.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who visited Hathras on Wednesday (July 3) and met the injured, was asked why the preacher was not named in the FIR as an accused. Prima facie, the case has been filed against those who applied for permission for the event. Whoever is responsible for this will come under its purview, he said.

The state government has also formed a three-member judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge to probe the tragedy, also looking into the possibility that a conspiracy was behind the stampede. The panel will submit its report in two months.

(With PTI inputs)
Are sermons, preachings, and the larger-than-life image the only reasons that make Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari aka Bhole Baba a favourite among political bigwigs? Perhaps not, the locals and senior journalists say. It is his sway over the Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBC) that dominate western Uttar Pradeshs 30 districts, 25 Lok Sabha constituencies, and more than 130 assembly seats that has stopped political parties from blaming him for this weeks Hathras stampede, which claimed more than 120 lives and left over 200 people injured.

About 48 hours have passed since the tragedy at an illegal religious event. The death toll has risen to 123 (including 113 women, seven children, and three men), with 31 people still battling for their lives. But Bhole Baba, who fled the scene, is still at large. And silence rules the roost.

Barring some mild attacks on the UP government, the opposition, which was vocal on the issues of paper leaks, constitutional amendments, reservation, etc, while campaigning for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, is not saying much. Most on the government side too avoid taking Bhole Babas name. Their social media handles also tell a similar story. This, senior journalists and locals say, is explained by Narayan Sakar Vishwa Haris political clout and strong influence, especially among the Dalits of western Uttar Pradesh.

Nobody wants to speak against Bhole Baba. Over the decades, Babas popularity has increased drastically. Be it bureaucrats, influencers, business tycoons, or politicians, all used to pay a visit to Baba, who himself comes from a Dalit family. However, uttering a word against Baba may leave a dent in the Dalit vote bank, which is in abundance in west UP, a senior journalist from Hathras, who did not wish to be named, told News 18.

Western UP is composed of diverse communities and tribes, including Gurjar, Jat, Meo, Rajput, Kayastha, Tyagi, Ahir, Brahmin, Kachhi, Kahar, Gadaria, Kumhar, Bania, Khatik, Lodha, Valmiki, Nai, Jatav, Kurmi, and Rohilla Pashtun. But, its the Dalit population, the senior journalist says, which dominates the region. On a rough estimate, there are more than 50 lakh Dalits in the entire western UP, which largely includes Agra, referred to as the states Dalit capital, Hathras, and Mathura, having more than three lakh voters from the community each, he added.

He said long queues of politicians from across political lines are often witnessed outside Bhole Babas ashram during elections. Those parties that got Babas support are often seen bearing his flag along with theirs as a sign of Babas support. This also sends a clear message among the followers of Baba, he added.

The journalist said that Bhole Baba initially began his spiritual career by holding small gatherings in his native village Bahadur Nagar Patiyali in UPs Kasganj district. Back in 2000, people, especially women, would line up at Babas meetings to hear his sermons and preachings. Over the years, his political clout has grown significantly, extending not only in west UP but also to other states and union territories. His influence, initially rooted in spiritual guidance, has expanded to wield considerable political power, making him a significant figure beyond his initial religious following, he added.

Bhole Baba lives in an ashram built on 21 bighas at Bichhua in UPs Mainpuri, where taking photographs, making videos, or even talking over the mobile phone is prohibited, said the journalist. Bhole Baba also owns ashrams in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. In UP, he owns more than 10 ashrams in districts including Etah, Mainpuri, Kannauj, Etawah, and others.

Local journalists, who also confirmed that Baba stayed in Mainpuri itself on Tuesday night, said its because of his influential image that he was not named in the FIR.

The FIR states that around 2pm, as Bhole Baba left the venue in his car, devotees began collecting dust from the path his vehicle took. The massive crowd of around two lakhs surged, causing those sitting and bowing down to be crushed.

On the other side of GT Road, the crowd, running wildly through waterlogged fields and a three-meter-deep ditch, was forcibly stopped by the organising committee and guards wielding sticks. This increased the pressure on the crowd, resulting in women, children, and some men being trampled. Many sustained severe injuries, and the situation turned fatal for some due to the chaos and stampede.

The FIR further mentions that the police and administrative officers present on the spot tried their best and, with great difficulty, managed to send the injured and unconscious people to the hospital with the available resources, but no cooperation was provided by the organisers and service providers. As a result, many people were injured, some fatally. The injured were sent for treatment to hospitals in Hathras district, Aligarh, and Etah. After informing higher authorities about the incident, additional police force and resources were requested for relief and rescue operations.

The FIR also accuses the organisers of inviting a large number of people while hiding the expected crowd size and failing to follow traffic control conditions.

Furthermore, it alleges that the organisers tampered with evidence by clearing the site and throwing items into nearby fields. Due to these actions, the FIR states, many innocent people were killed and seriously injured. The organisers and service providers are charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, attempt to commit culpable homicide, wrongful restraint, disobedience to public servant orders, and causing disappearance of evidence.

The FIR alleges a violation of the permission that was sought for the gathering of eighty thousand people, while the turnout was far more. It was filed on the complaint of Brijesh Pandey, sub-inspector and outpost in-charge at Pura Police Station, Sikandra Rao, Hathras. In the FIR, around 22 people including sevadars (volunteers) and organisers were named, but not Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari aka Bhole Baba.

While Bhole Baba continues to be at large, UP police has carried out multiple raids but is yet to track him down.
Shiva Temple in Aruvippuram village of the Southern District of Thiruvananthapuram is famous for being the first Lord Shiva shrine to be established by a non-brahmin in Kerala. It was installed by Sri Narayana Guru in 1888. The Shivratri at this temple is one of the important festivals in Thiruvananthapuram. Aruvippuram village is located at the bank of the stream Neyyar offering scenic views to the tourists and locals. Sree Narayana consecrated the Shiva idol at a time when lower castes were not allowed to enter the temple. It was done so that the lower castes could worship and pray to Lord Shiva. The Shiva lingam for this shrine was obtained from the deepest Shankaran pit in Neyyar. This is the first Pratishtha performed by Sree Narayana Guru. This temple establishment was the most revolutionary initiative against the upper caste at that time. It was named Ezhava Siva by the Narayana Guru.

After being questioned by the upper-caste Brahmins over the naming of Siva Temple after lower-caste Ezhava, the Guru replied that Lord Shiva is for everyone. Aruvippuram Shiva Pratishtha was one of the main events that celebrated the upliftment of the downtrodden people.

The administrative committee of the Aruvippuram temple later evolved into Sree Narayana Dharma Parimanana (SNDP) Yog. It was formed by the political father of the Ezhava community, Dr Palpu in 1903. As per reports, Dr Palpus brother P Parameswaran has noted that Guru first went to Aruvippuram in 1883. In 1884, he went into deep meditation in a cave by the side of the Aruvippuram stream. A boy who was inspired by the Guru at that time was his first disciple. The boy, Ayyappan Pillai, came to be known as Sivalinga Dasa Swami (1859-1919), a great philosopher, spiritualist and poet.

Breaking a major tradition, the Aruvippuram Shiva Temple serves as a pilgrimage centre in Kerala. People in Aruvippuram regard it as a holy place. Sivaratri celebration at this temple attracts visitors across districts and regions.
Two men working as salespersons in a real estate firm allegedly sexually assaulted a woman all night in their car, after they spiked her cold drink and sweet. Identified as Janardhan and Sanga, they were arrested after a rape case was registered against them at Miyapur police station.

According to police, in her complaint the woman said she went to Miyapur to work as a saleswoman on June 30, where the two men met her. Later, they picked her up in a car from a hostel and proceeded to a site in Yadagirigutta, she told police. After the meeting was done, while returning, they stopped their car at an under-construction building and told her it had broken down, the complainant added.

The woman told police that she was then offered food, which she refused, but they finally persuaded her to have a cold drink and sweet. She immediately started feeling dizzy after consuming these items, she said.

A release from Cyberabad Police Commissionerate said taking advantage of the situation, the two men stripped her, touched her body parts as well as abused and beat her up. Further, one after the other they sexually assaulted her till the early morning hours of July 1 due to which she suffered severe body pain and, subsequently, dropped her at the hostel and fled, it said.

(With PTI inputs)
Enhancing the quality across all areas of medical education is the top priority of the National Medical Commission, said the bodys newly appointed chairperson Dr BN Gangadhar on Wednesday. The NMC is the apex body responsible for regulating medical education in the country.

Gangadhar, appointed chairperson of NMC by the appointment committee of the cabinet, told News18 in an exclusive conversation that his top focus area is to improve the standards across dimensions of medical education.

The NMC has operated without a full-time chairperson since September 2023, even though the Union Health Ministry invited applications to fill the key position last year. Gangadhar, who is the former director of Indias top mental health institute, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), had been serving as the interim NMC chairman following the end of Dr Suresh Chandra Sharmas tenure in September.

Now, Gangadhar has been officially appointed as the chairperson. Speaking to News18, he said the post of chairperson of NMC is a big responsibility and he appreciates the excellent work done by all medical colleges across India to improve human resources.

He said that these medical colleges are responsible for shaping the future of 1 lakh students.

Gangadhar, MD in Psychiatry from Bangalore University, believes that he needs to maintain a delicate balance going forward. A delicate balance has to be struck between quality and increased inputs against the financial burden that colleges and medical education departments will have to face.

Dr Gangadhar is credited with initiating the integration of yoga services for clinical applications in mental health and neurosciences. His colleagues from NIMHANS remember him for his role in conducting research in yoga therapy for various psychiatric disorders, with results that have shaped practice guidelines. His work underscores the role of yoga in managing depression and schizophrenia, claimed one of his colleagues who requested to remain anonymous as he was not allowed to speak to the media.

He has written over 400 publications on areas like biological psychiatry, electroconvulsive therapy, schizophrenia, and yoga and around 100 have an H-index of 55, which indicated a significant impact and high citation rate of the research, the former colleague said, adding that Gangadhar is a team leader with sharp ethics and morals intact.

Gangadhar has been the program director for NIMHANS Integrated Centre for Yoga since its inception and he led the de-addiction centre from 2003 to 2006.

A page on LinkedIn titled Manoshanti, which works on mental health in Maharashtra, congratulated Gangadhar by calling him a man with vision and foresight. Medical education in India would benefit from his experience and wisdom, the post said.

Industry insiders talk of his soft leadership skills which involve more empathy, emotional intelligence and relationship-building rather than authority and dominance.

Major Changes in NMC Posts

Additionally, the Health Ministry has announced that Dr Sanjay Behari, director of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, has been appointed as the president of the medical assessment and rating board.

Dr Anil DCruz, director (Oncology) of Apollo Hospital in Mumbai, has been named a full-time member of the post-graduate medical education board.

The appointment committee of the cabinet has also appointed Dr Rajendra Achyut Badwe, professor emeritus at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, as a part-time member of the undergraduate medical education board for two years, until he turns 70 or until further notice, whichever comes first. Other appointments are for four years until the appointee attains the age of 70 years or until further orders, whichever is earliest.
Various struggle stories go viral on the internet every day. Recently, one such similar incident has garnered attention from Uttar Dinajpur district in West Bengal. According to reports, a woman named Poornima Burman went through a very dark phase in her life. Her husbands arm was broken in an accident. Since then, the 40-year-old has had to take on all the responsibilities of the children and the family, including her husband. She has started selling potato chop and ghugni (a dish made from chickpeas) on the street. She goes out with a van rickshaw to sell it in various areas of Kaliyaganj town in Uttar Dinajpur district.

A recent report suggests that Poornima earns Rs 700 to 800 almost every day by selling various types of fried food besides potato chops and ghugni. Overall, she earns Rs 25,000 per month. By selling these fried items, she takes care of his childrens education, home, and all the responsibilities of the family.

Poornima sells various types of snacks and chops by standing on one side of the road. She sells onion chops for Rs 1, potato chops for Rs 2, and ghugni for Rs 5.

Apart from this, Poornima sometimes also sells puri or paratha in the morning. She starts her shop at ten in the morning. After taking care of all the household chores, she opens her shop. In a recent media interaction, Poornima shared that this business has become an addiction for her. She didnt study much, but currently she is earning thousands of rupees by selling chops and ghugni.

Earlier, a similar incident went viral. Numerous individuals, despite achieving education and securing positions in multinational corporations, often fall short of matching the monthly earnings of an Indore-based snack vendor. According to reports, a street-side pohawala is reaping a monthly profit of Rs 75,000 from a single cart.

A viral video on social media features a vendor disclosing that he reaps a daily profit of Rs 2,500 from a single cart. When extrapolated, this amounts to a monthly profit of approximately Rs 75,000 per cart. Astonishingly, he operates six such carts, emphasising that with certain adjustments, he consistently generates this level of profit from nearly every cart.

The pohawala further claimed that, operating a total of six carts, he accumulates profits amounting to an impressive Rs 4.5 lakh monthly. It translates to an annual profit of approximately Rs 54 lakh.
A world-class Mumbai Central Public Park is set to be developed across 300 acres of land, stretching over the Mumbai Coastal Road and the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) possesses 120 acres of this land for the parks development. The project, which has received approval, will span about 300 acres, including 120 acres from the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and approximately 175 acres from the Mumbai Coastal Road. Out of the total 211-acre plot of the racecourse, 91 acres will be leased to M/s Royal Western India Turf Club Limited for 30 years. This lease agreement was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The 211-acre Mahalaxmi Racecourse had been leased to M/s. Royal Western India Turf Club Limited for over a century. Following the leases expiration a few years ago, the BMC has been diligently working to repossess the land for public benefit. This process has involved navigating various legal, statutory, and administrative hurdles. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and with the efforts of Additional Chief Secretary Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Prashant Gaikwad, and the Estate Department, a consensus and amicable solution was reached. The municipal administration is now ready to realize Chief Minister Shindes vision of an international-standard public park.

The Government of Maharashtra recently decided to transfer 120 acres of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse land to the BMC after the lease expired. The remaining 91 acres will be leased to M/s. Royal Western India Turf Club Limited from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2053. The lease agreement was signed on July 2, 2024, at the Varsha Bungalow, the official residence of the Chief Minister. The signing was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Additional Chief Secretary Dr Iqbal Singh Chahal, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, Deputy Municipal Commissioners Sanjog Kabre and Prashant Gaikwad, Assistant Municipal Commissioner Vinayak Vispute, and other officials. Representatives from M/s. Royal Western India Turf Club Limited, including KN Dhunjibhoy, Dr Ram Shroff, Dilip Thakkar, and Secretary Niranjan Singh were also present.

With the allocation of 91 acres to M/s. Royal Western India Turf Club Limited, the BMC now controls the remaining 120 acres. The BMC administration will expedite the development of the international standard Mumbai Central Public Park that models after New Yorks Central Park and Londons public parks. This park will encompass the 120-acre plot from the racecourse and 175 acres from the Mumbai Coastal Road Project, adjacent to the racecourse. The Urban Development Department of Maharashtra, through a government resolution dated June 26, 2024, has mandated that no commercial construction will be allowed on the reclaimed land from M/s. Royal Western India Turf Club Limited. The land is designated solely for public use, specifically for developing the international-standard park.

Repossessing the 120-acre Mahalaxmi Racecourse plot marks a significant administrative milestone. The Mumbai Central Public Park project will elevate Mumbais international profile, increasing the citys green space from 3,917 acres to 4,212 acres. This 300-acre green space will significantly contribute to environmental conservation efforts. The BMC administration is confident that the new park will benefit both Mumbai residents and tourists, providing much-needed green space and recreational opportunities.
Devprakash Madhukar, the key accused in the Hathras stampede case that claimed 121 lives, has not returned home since the deadly event took place while his family members have also gone incognito.

Madhukar, they say, worked as a junior engineer and was also an ardent devotee of Surajpal, who is known as Narayan Sakar Hari and Bhole Baba.

A lock hung at the main door of his two-storey corner home in the New Colony of Damadpura in the Sikandra Rau area when PTI visited it Thursday afternoon.

It is predominantly a Dalit neighbourhood and is a five-minute ride away from Fulrai village  the site of stampede along the National Highway 91, which is also known as GT Road.

Located opposite the Sikandra Rau station, New Colony residents who knew Madhukar are divided over the idea that it really was his fault that led to the stampede.

Madhukar, the mukhya sevadar of the July 2 Satsang (religious congregation) of Bhole Baba, is the only named accused in the police FIR.

Akhilesh, a student of law who lives in the same neighbourhood, feels Madhukar is being falsely framed in the case as the main accused while Baba went scot-free.

Did he go to the homes of all the participants to call them for the Satsang? Baba is the one because of whom people came but he is the one who fled the spot, Akhilesh told PTI.

The locals, several of whom claimed to the media that they were not followers of the preacher, said Baba taught people to follow a good path and do go deeds.

But did that change peoples life for the better? Some locals believed it did.

Why else would people in such large numbers go to his programmes then, said another neighbour, shying from revealing his name.

However, he felt his following would wane after this stampede.

Vikas, another young man living close by, said he knew Madhukar as a neighbour.

Its being said that he is absconding. But what if he has lost his relative and is with their family at the moment? An illusion is being created around his role in the Satsang. He was just a member of the organising committee who was leading the locals, Vikas said.

On Madhukar evading accountability of the episode as an organiser, Vikas questioned whether it was not the responsibility of the police and government officials to inform the district administration about the size of the crowd exceeding the permitted limit of 80,000.

He also claimed that there was a scarcity of ambulances at the venue and of healthcare facilities at the nearest Community Healthcare Centre in Sikandra Rau.

Also standing outside Madhukars house is Sarla Devi, 70, who attended the Satsang with several folks from her neighbourhood and came back unhurt.

If his teachings are not helping us then why do we go? she countered when this reporter asked if Babas Satsang made her life better.

He talks about doing good deeds such as living with others unitedly and in harmony. I have benefited from his teachings, the woman claimed.

However, not everyone in the Dalit neighbourhood is a supporter of Madhukar.

When you wont allow government officials or police inside the venue and your volunteers think they can do anything, what else do you expect, a woman neighbour said.

Another woman said, Why dont you allow government officials or police inside the venue? Does it not mean you are hiding something? The locals in New Colony Damadpura now wait to see how the situation unfolds.

Meanwhile, the police announced a Rs 1 lakh reward for the arrest of Madhukar and said it is trying to get a non-bailable warrant also against him even as it arrested six organising committee members on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Russia and Austria on July 8-10, the Ministry of External Affairs announced on Thursday.

As per the official press release, PM Modi will be in Moscow on July 8,9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladmir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit.

The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministry stated.

It will be Modis first visit 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.

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 alternately in India and Russia.

The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Vladimir Putin had visited India to attend the summit.

The summit saw both sides sealing 28 MoUs and agreements besides coming out with a joint statement titled India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity.

Modi and Putin last held bilateral talks on the margins of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Samarkand in Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022.

Following his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister of India will travel to Austria during July 9-10, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years.

In Vienna, Prime Minister Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Belle and hold talks with the countrys Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from the two nations.

The prime minister and Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria, it said in a statement.

PM Modi is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow as well as in Vienna.

(with agency inputs)
In a heartbreaking turn of events in Uttar Pradeshs Etawah district, the joyous occasion of a wedding swiftly turned into a scene of despair and disbelief. On Wednesday, July 3, amidst celebrations in Ratanpura village, chaos erupted when a groom took his own life shortly after the wedding festivities concluded. The incident unfolded shortly after the baraat returned to the village with the 24-year-old groom, identified as Satendra Kumar, and his bride Vinita Kumari.

As preparations were underway to welcome the newlywed bride into the household, Satendra retreated to a room alone. Concern grew as he failed to respond to calls, prompting family members to check on him. To their horror, they discovered Satendras lifeless body, clad in his wedding attire, having hanged himself.

The news sent shockwaves through the community, leaving both families and guests in disbelief. According to Mansoor Ahmed, in-charge of Usrahar police station, the police were alerted immediately. Satendras body was retrieved and sent for post-mortem examination as authorities launched an investigation into the tragic incident.

Details surrounding the motive behind Satendras drastic action remain unclear, leaving his bride, Vinita Kumari, and their families grappling with profound grief and unanswered questions. The abrupt end to what should have been a joyous occasion has cast a pall of sorrow over the entire village.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to Satendras untimely death, hoping to shed light on the tragic turn of events that has left a community in mourning.

If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
Cyber criminals are forcibly confining, physically abusing, and subjecting Indians who have gone to Cambodia and Laos for jobs to shock treatment, forcing them into duping fellow Indians. Cyber slavery is on the rise, with data showing that over 65-70 per cent of lost money originates from Southeast Asia.

The matter has escalated to the highest levels, with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs, along with central intelligence agencies and NIA, working to address this new threat to the Indian financial system. A meeting was held at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology office where social media intermediaries were urged to proactively curb these activities. Company-specific recommendations have been issued to intermediaries.

According to I4C, fake call centres employ a multilayer bank transfer system, moving money through up to nine banks before converting it into cryptocurrency or withdrawing it abroad. Cyberslaves, stock market experts, and various cyber gangs operating from compounds in Southeast Asia, especially in countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, have siphoned off over Rs 7,061 crores in public funds in the first four months of this year, prompting over 600,000 complaints received by I4C.

The Indian government has frozen debits from 3.25 lakh mule accounts in the first four months of this year, and more than 3,000 URLs and 595 apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act. Indian agencies have also suspended 5.3 lakh SIM cards and 80,848 IMEI numbers since July 2023, according to I4C data.

Modus Operandi

Cybercriminals looking for jobs get ads through their cookies and search history on social media apps. The criminals who run the whole system publish ads on social media sites and spend a lot on these ads, a senior MHA official said. Also, through local contact in India, these fraud companies get help from Indian agents to send young job seekers to countries like Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand.

After short listing the candidates based on their communication skills they take some money and arrange tickets to these countries. Once they arrive, these individuals are taken into one place and asked to surrender their passports, the official said. Once they give their passports, fraudsters deploy them in different compounds where armed musclemen are deployed. They give a system to them along with phone numbers and other details of Indians to dupe them.

Those who refuse are physically abused, subjected to shock treatment, and have their passports confiscated to prevent them from returning home. Left with no choice, these Indians fall victim to cyber slavery. Victims proficient in English are lured and fraudulently sent to Laos and other countries where they are compelled to work in fake call centres, another government official told News18.

NIA Investigation

Recently, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) intensified its investigation into a case involving human trafficking and cyber fraud under IPC sections and the Emigration Act. The NIA conducted raids across multiple locations in Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan to uncover the involvement of various suspects in the human trafficking and cyber fraud operations in Laos.

Five locations across these states underwent thorough searches by NIA teams as part of their crackdown on individuals and travel agents engaged in trafficking vulnerable Indian youth to the Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos. These locations were associated with aides and offices of the main accused, Balwant alias Bobby Kataria. NIA investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly managed victims involved in trafficking, as well as logistics and recruitment for a cyber fraud company in Laos.

The human trafficking syndicate under investigation operated from Gurugram and other regions within and outside India, focusing on recruiting, transporting, and transferring victims from India to the Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos.

What UN Says

The UN office on drugs and crime has termed frauds originating from Southeast Asia as a hidden and accelerating threat. In the latest report, UNODC has said that Southeast Asia faces unprecedented challenges posed by transnational organized crime and illicit economies, and in recent years has become a testing ground for new technologies.

According to officials, victims included many skilled workers with information technology expertise, among others, who had been lured into the country through social media advertisements promising high-paying jobs at casinos and hotels who were ultimately deceived and trafficked into heavily guarded compounds for forced criminality  namely perpetrating cryptocurrency-based romance and investment scams, UNODC said.
The temple town of Puri in Odisha is gearing up for one of the largest religious congregations in the world as the Lord Jagannath Ratha Yatra is just days away. The annual sojourn of the divine trinity- Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra- attracts devotees and visitors from across India and abroad to Puri.

According to the Hindu Calendar, Ratha Yatra is held on the Dwitiya Tithi or the second day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha. This year, Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri will be held on Sunday, July 7. The nine-day festival will conclude with Bahuda Yatra, or the return journey of Lord Jagannath with siblings, on July 16.

Lord Jagannath, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is revered as the ruler of the universe. The annual Rath Yatra or the chariot festival marks the 9-day visit of the holy trinity to their birthplace at Gundicha temple.

This year Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is going to be a significant occasion for devotees due to some rare occurrences.

Lets look at the timeline, changes, and how Puri prepares for this historic occasion.

Puri Rath Yatra 2024 Rituals: A rare combination after 53 years

The 2024 edition of the Rath Yatra is going to be a special occasion for devotees due to a rare occurrence after 53 years.

This year Netrotsav, Nabajoubana Darshan and Ratha Yatra fall on the same day.

This rare combination is going to happen again after 1971. However, for timely completion of rituals the temple administration has decided not to allow Nabajoubana Darshan for devotees this year.

Netrotsav and Nabajoubana Darsha rituals refer to the reappearance of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra after isolation for 15 days, known as Anasara, following Snana Purnima.

Also, this year in another rare combination the Anasara period will be for 13 days instead of 15 days.

Puri Ratha Yatra 2024: Rituals And History

Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will be taken to Gundicha temple on their chariots, Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalana, respectively.

On the day of the Rath Yatra, many rituals will be performed. The agyanmala for chariots will be brought from Pati Dian rather than the deities, while other rites will adhere to as per the 1971 schedule, due to the rare occurrence this year.

On July 7, the festivities will begin with the Mangal Alati at 2 am, followed by the Netra Utsav Bandhapana at 4 am. Then the Daitapati servitors will perform the Chhenapatta Lagi Seva between 7:3 am and noon to prepare the deities for their journey.

Chariot consecration will be completed by 11 am, and the ceremonial Pahandi of the deities will be held between 1:10 am and 2:30 pm, as per the schedule finalised by the temple administration.

The King of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, will perform the Chhera Pahanra ritual at 4 pm, followed by devotees pulling the chariots at 5 pm.

Although there are some modifications this year, the festivals spirit remains the same. Devotees from all over the world will converge to see and participate in this spectacular event, praying for blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
The much-awaited third season of Mirzapur is all set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Diving deep into the gripping political drama and intense power struggles, the third installment will release on July 5, 2024. Mirzapur Season 3 will pick up where it ended in the previous season, i.e., the death of Munna Bhaiya and Kaleen Bhaiyas alliance with Sharad, hinting towards a new power dynamic. The upcoming series is expected to bring an intense confrontation between Guddu and Kaleen, followed by introducing fresh characters in the storyline.

Ahead of the Mirzapur Season 3 premiere, heres a recap of the previous part.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin)

What Happened At The End Of Mirzapur Season 2?

While the second season saw an escalation in the power struggle with Guddu (Ali Fazal), Golu (Shweta Tripathi), and Dimpy (Harshita Gaur) seeking vengeance, Munna (Divyendu Sharma), on the other hand, prepared to seize control.

In the explosive final, the makers shocked viewers with the deaths of some key characters and shifting allegiances in the fierce battle. Starting with Kaleen Bhaiyas loyal aide Maqbool, who holds Bauji (Kulbhushan Kharbanda) at gunpoint, it prompts Beena (Rasika Dugal) to take her revenge. Further, the climax also saw the unexpected downfall of Munna Bhaiya, who had turned against his father under Rajas influence.

In pursuit of power, he turned blind to the looming threat from Guddu and Golu and ended up planning to kill his father. It was late until he realised that Kaleen wanted to appoint him as the Raja of Mirzapur. As Guddu and Golu lead an attack on the father-son duo, Kaleena Bhaiya has a narrow escape with the help of Sharad (Anjum Sharma), but Munna succumbs to the injuries.

With such a dramatic closure, a lot of questions arise. Why did Sharad save Kaleen? Why did he not enter the brutal battle? Why did he leave Guddu unharmed? And most importantly, how will Kaleen Bhaiya avenge Munnas murder?

With Guddu now claiming the throne, it is to be seen what his future goals are, as well as those of others, as in Mirzapur, no one enters without a purpose. Season 3 will span across 10 episodes, with the lead actors returning to reprise their roles alongside new ones fighting for their relevance.
Tamil superstar Ajith Kumars wife Shalini has everyone concerned after she shared a picture from the hospital. The former actress took to Instagram and shared a picture in which she was seen resting on the hospital bed while Ajith sat beside her. Shalini sported the hospital rob while she sat with the superstar. The couple held hands and even smiled for the camera.

She shared the photo with the caption, Love you forever . While Shalini did not delve into the reason behind her hospitalisation, an India Today report claimed she underwent surgery. Fans took to the comments section and sent her their prayers. Get well soon Maam. Lots of prayers from fans and well wishers , a fan wrote. Get well soon shalini maam , added another. Get well soon maam. Take care health, a third fan wrote.

It is reported that Ajith was filming his upcoming movie, Vidaa Muyarchi in Azerbaijan. However, he rushed back to Chennai, presumably due to Shalinis health scare. He was spotted at the Chennai airport on Wednesday but did not stop for fans. The India Today report assures the former actress underwent a minor surgery.

Its too personal, so lets not get into the details. But, she underwent surgery and is doing fine now. Theres a possibility that an official statement might be shared in a day or two, the insider said.

As of now, the filming of Vidaa Muyarchi has been put on hold until Ajith Kumar returns. The film went on floors on June 20. The film reunites Ajith and Trisha Krishnan.

As per reports, Ajith Kumar and Trisha are expected to be playing the role of a married couple. They go for a trip together, where Trisha goes missing. The film reportedly centres around the search for her by Ajith Kumar. The villain in the film, whose character details have still been kept under wraps, tries to create more obstacles for the leads.
While Fawad Khans fans in India are excited for the actors comeback Bollywood film, some of his Pakistani fans do not share this enthusiasm. A certain section of his fans is upset that the actor is going to return to Bollywood instead of working with A-lister in Pakistan. Fawads Barzakh director, Asim Abbasi recently defended the actor on X.

Recently, someone wrote on X, Btw. Fawad Khan doesnt need offers from Pakistan, he HAS offers from Pakistan. Tons of them. He has refused most of them. Mainstream, massive projects with A-list writers and actors and directors. But hes choosing to work with Vaani Kapoor in a rando Bwood film. Asim jumped to defend Fawad.

Appreciate this isnt my battle, but I am really curious to understand what the problem here is? We are individuals, free to make the choices we want to make for our careers and our fulfilment? Who is any random person to judge the people/geography we want to work with/in?  pic.twitter.com/RkhOYOotEu Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) July 3, 2024

Asim wrote, Appreciate this isnt my battle, but I am really curious to understand what the problem here is? We are individuals, free to make the choices we want to make for our careers and our fulfilment? Who is any random person to judge the people/geography we want to work with/in?  Also OFFERS are subjective  we dont have the same likes or interests. Despite the interest from some channels, I have ZERO interest in doing that content  it is not my style, my aesthetic  there is no definitive list of A-List. We are in a beautiful industry that

He added, Should celebrate diversity and personal choices. We do what fulfils our soul. Doing shows with Zindagi or in the UK fulfils my soul. Perhaps something else fulfils Fawads soul? Please, know that we love you all, but we do not want to be held to arbitrary standards.

Another person posted, After the way he was treated, we expected him to turn towards his own industry. He is our superstar. What about The industry that made him ? Asim responded, What is own industry? If I only had an own industry, Cake would have never been made? Every single TV channel threw me out of their offices, because there was nothing commercial in my film?

Not fighting at all. But we all want to do things that our heart desires, even if the world doesnt understand our choices/decisions. Hence, I was speaking out, he added. He also wrote, All of you seem disappointed, and that saddens me. An actor is acting. Let them act as they want to, where they want to, and who they want to be with.

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan won hearts across the nation when he starred in noteworthy Bollywood films like Khoobsurat and Kapoor & Sons. The actor enjoys a massive fan following in India, however after starring in the 2016 film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, the actor had to take a step away from Bollywood, due to the Uri attacks in 2016. However, 8 years later, the actor is all set to make a comeback in Bollywood. Reportedly, Fawad is all set to star alongside Vaani Kapoor in an upcoming entertainer.
Even Hrithik Roshan couldnt help but notice Vicky Kaushals insane dance moves in Bad Newzs song Tauba Tauba. For the unversed, Vicky has set social media on fire with the music video of Bad Newzs first song. In the music video, a breathtaking Vicky flaunts his smooth as butter dance moves while Karan Aujla sings the song.

Not only is social media talking about how hot Vicky Kaushal looks but they cannot get over his impressive dance movies. Hrithik, who is one of the best dancers in the industry, joined the internet to praise Vickys dancing skills. Taking to the comments section of a post featuring a small portion of the song, Hrithik wrote, Well done man. . Love the style .

Vicky got emotional after getting Hrithiks seal of approval. He replied, @hrithikroshan I think you do have an idea as to what this means to me Sir!!! .

Besides Hrithik, several other stars also fanned over Vicky. Tussi great ho! Sanya Malhotra wrote. You have killed it smashed it murdered it.  Janhvi Kapoor added. Choreographer Terence Lewis wrote, After long, Industry has a Gem  A Real Actor who can Dance n Slay ! Love the ease n swag @vickykaushal09 .

Check out the exchange below:

Meanwhile, Karan called Vicky and Karans collaboration as the hottest track of the year. The boys are dropping the hottest track of the year!!! #TaubaTauba SONG OUT NOW! Karan wrote, while sharing the song.

Directed by Anand Tiwari, Bad Newz is a rom-com that features a fresh trio of talents  Vicky Kaushal, Triptii Dimri, and Ammy Virk. The trailers offbeat storyline, where Dimris character finds out shes expecting twins from two different fathers, portrayed by Kaushal and Virk, has intrigued audiences and sparked curiosity about the movies plot.

The film is set to release on July 19.
Having taken a plunge into politics, Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay met the students who recently topped the 10th and 12th examinations in Tamil Nadu. The meet-and-greet event was held in two phases, with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader gracing the second leg on Wednesday, July 3. Vijay not only honoured the students but also interacted with them at the Ramachandra Convention Center in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Later, he shared pictures of his meeting with the students on Instagram.

In the pictures, the star can be seen entering the venue with folded hands as he greets the media personnel at the entrance. With a bright smile on his face, Vijay graced the stage and waved at the audience. In another one, he can be seen seated among the students and their parents, speaking to them and shaking hands. Dressed in his signature white shirt, Thalapathy Vijay received a rousing welcome.

Overjoyed by his humble gesture towards the students, the actors fans flooded the comment section with praise and appreciation. A fan wrote, Love u Thalapathy, while another commented, You are the best man.

Popular Tanzanian content creator Kili Paul also commented on the post and wrote, Big love for you Sir. Been a fan of ur movies for long since Gun with vidyut jamwal you always a goosebumps. God bless you Sir.

It is pertinent to note that Vijay, as a part of his political foray, is reaching out to first-time voters in the state to make his mark. Holding a massive fanbase in Tamil Nadu, Vijay announced his political party in February this year and received huge support from fans and friends.

Whats On The Work Front For Thalapathy Vijay?

Vijay is currently in the final phase of his upcoming film, The Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), directed by Venkat Prabhu. The film is slated for release on September 5 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. If reports are to be believed, he will soon start working on his 69th and alleged final film before entering full-time politics.

Tentatively titled Thalapathy 69, the film will be directed by H Vinoth and backed by KVN Productions. Reports also suggest that Samantha Ruth Prabhu will play the leading female role.
The shoot of YRF and Netflixs Maharaj might have been completed in 2021 but it has finally hit the screens in 2024. The film, which marks the debut of Aamir Khans son Junaid Khan, was supposed to be released in early June but a stay order was imposed after a plea alleged that it hurt the sentiments of the Pushtimarg community. However, the Gujarat High Court cleared the film and lifted the stay order, eventually leading to Maharajs release on Netflix.

While most actors many be making their film debuts in their late teens or twenties, Junaid decided to take it slow. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, the 31-year-old reveals that though he had been receiving offers, he let his fate decide the right time for his debut. Before Maharaj happened, I had been receiving scripts. Ive been doing plays in Mumbai since 2017. At that time, I would also be offered film scripts and get calls for auditions and readings, on an on-and-off basis, he tells us.

In fact, he was roped in for Maharaj after the makers saw one of his other screen tests. Siddharth (P Malhotra; director) sir and Adi (Aditya Chopra; producer) sir saw my test for another film before they called me in for Maharaj. This is my first film because this is the first thing that worked out for everybody, remarks Junaid, who already has a film with Khushi Kapoor  a remake of Tamil film Love Today in the pipeline.

At a time when a strong social media game and surrendering to the paparazzi culture have become an integral part of an actors profession, Junaid decided to steer clear from both. While he still doesnt have a social media account, its only recently that the shutterbugs began capturing him. Quiz him if that was a thought-out call taken by his family and he says, Not really. People didnt know what I looked like largely because I never took to social media even when it became a thing. There was no conscious decision there. Its just how it happened and panned out.

And what has the response from members of the film fraternity and his loved ones been like for his performance in Maharaj? It has been really heartwarming and gratifying. A lot of people from the industry who have liked the film have reached out. Ive had classmates from college who I havent spoken to in ten years and school texting me. Ive had lots of conversations with Adi sir. He really liked the film and my work in it, shares an overwhelmed Junaid.

Maharaj also received a thumbs up from Sai Pallavi, who congratulated him for his maiden film. The duo will share screen space in a love story tentatively titled Ek Din set in Sapporo, which is being produced by Junaids father Aamir Khan. The Japan schedule of the film has already been wrapped and as per reports, the second phase of the shoot will begin in Mumbai soon. While he remains tight-lipped about the project, hes elated to be sharing screen space with Sai as he says, Sai Pallavi is absolutely fantastic. Ive my fingers crossed for this one.
Marathi actress Akshata Atul Apte, known for her acting in Guni Jodi, Jhimma and Dagdi Chawl 2 recently lashed out at the central railways in her Instagram post. Akshata wrote that the AC trains should arrive on time on the Central Line. According to her, the Ticket Collector should also upgrade the first-class ticket without charging a fine, if no tickets are available after boarding the train. She wrote that when the AC trains dont arrive on time, she has to opt for non-AC trains. Due to this, Akshata Apte wrote that in some instances, many people dont have the time to buy the tickets and the TC is not concerned about these problems and fines them. This happens even if there is a marginal difference between the prices of AC and non-AC tickets.

Akshata Apte added that she commutes by train to lessen the traffic load and save time, but these issues with AC trains are making things problematic. Akshata wrote that even after incurring so much expenditure on the AC trains, if they are not operating properly, then they should be shut down. Akshata Apte wrote in the caption, Received many replies on this story Id put up some time ago. Now COMMENT and SHARE if you know this struggle. Lets try to make a change.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshata Atul Apte (@akshataapte)

The Mumbai division of the Indian Railways responded to Akshatas complaint and commented that she should use the UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) application for easy ticket booking and stress-free travel. She asked where one could get access to the UTS  from the platform or the station area? Akshata added that she has no idea whether a new update has come or not. Other social media users also agreed with the point raised by the actress and tagged Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation in the comment section.
Mirzapur 3 Review: Mirzapur fans can finally heave a sigh of relief! Four years later, the makers have finally released the third season of the show. Once again, its replete with carnage, violence and gumption and smells of gore and gun powder. So, does that mean that the series has once again hit the ball out of the park? Well, sorry to break your hearts but its a no. With its last two seasons becoming an integral part of modern pop culture and meme fests, the latest season feels like a damp squib. Okay, that might be an exaggeration but thats perhaps something that happens when you set your expectations too high.

With the absence of Munna bhaiya and the quasi-absence of Kaleen bhaiya, Mirzapur season three seems to lack the spark, the spunk and the spectacle. It kicks off with a rather slow start and doesnt pick up pace or pique your curiosity till the third episode. Having said that, youll find yourself not giving up solely because of your allegiance to the franchise. So yes, Mirzapur fans, youve to give it some time before you can indulge in its drama and almost feisty abandon.

Spoiler (and heartbreak) alert: Season three begins with a scene that finally puts an end to all speculations and fan theories. Yes, our favourite gangsta Munna bhaiya who epitomised sigma, alpha and screamed thug life is no more. Hes put into an electric incinerator and sadly, none of his loved ones are seen attending his cremation, apart from his wife Madhuri, whos also the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Its a pretty sad end to a life lived king sized!

Coming back to the plot, when a priest asks for a male member of the family to light a fire, Madhuri steps up, thereby reversing gender roles. And that profoundly sets a precedent for every woman in the show. While violence and politics may be a mans space, the women this season step forward like never before, thus putting an end to their roles as the wind beneath the mens wings working from the periphery.

Golu comes into her own and matches shoulders with Guddu. She takes on the role of Bablu, becoming the brain to the brawny and impulsive Guddu. Beena continues to function as a catalyst amid the local political pandemonium and uses her sexuality as a powerful weapon. Dimpy goes through a major mind-set shift and her silence slowly transitions into something more substantial and strategic. Shabnam  Lalas daughter- takes on the reigns and takes his barfi business forward as he spends his time behind the bars.

And this remains the biggest highlight of this season. The makers  producers Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, directors Gurmmeet Singh and Anand Iyer and writer Apurva Dhar Badgaiyan  deserve credit for creating and rendering ambitious layers to the women in the show and this coming from men is refreshing and trailblazing.

Season two also ended with Kaleen bhaiya being severely injured with Sharad Shukla, his nephew, saving him. For four years, the internet kept wondering Sharad ne Kaleen bhaiya ko kyun bachaaya? And were happy to report that youll find the answer this season. At the outset, theres a whole lot of questions raised about Kaleen bhaiyas disappearance with many believing that hes no more.

Ramakant Pandit, who killed SSP Maurya in a bid to protect Guddu, gets arrested after he decides to punish himself for his murderous deed. His familys effort to get his decision changed goes down the drain. And while Guddu, Golu and Beena feel that Guddu is the rightful heir to the Mirzapur throne, they face resistance from other baahubalis. The rest of the series focuses on the conflict between Sharad and Guddu and who between them is gaddi ka daavedaar.

Through with the corruption, murders and power struggles, Madhuri is hell bent on creating a bhay mukt Pradesh and taking her fathers viraasat ahead with little support from her cabinet ministers who deride her for being a woman. But focused as she is, she unabashedly declares, Humaari maqsad hai uss gaddi ko khatam karna. And once again, she dons a white saree. Ironically, Munna bhaiya had cheekily proposed to her saying that white doesnt suit her and he offered to fill her life up with colours by undraping her white saree during an election campaign.

Despite the stage being set for yet another hard-hitting and explosive season, it fails to soar high. Known for its dark sense of humour, the show this time around seems to be bereft of the same and there are multiple instances when youll keep looking at the clock, expecting a dramatic plot twist. However, the character of the Tyagi twin  the one thats alive  has an interesting character arc and hell leave you guessing and second-guessing. The performances are all stupendous but the screenplay doesnt do them justice. The background music by John Stewart Eduri also deserves a mention as it definitely elevates the action.

Mirzapur 3 belongs to Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi Sharma and Anjumm Shharma, all of who give it their all. The perplexing tension between Guddu and (now tobacco chewing and spitting) Golu is palpable and that adds a lot of character to their dynamic and the events. Anjumm as Sharad is a revelation. Vijay Varma displays an excellent restraint in the face of atrocities, dark ambitions and emotional pangs. Isha Talwar as the authoritative CM is equally impressive. Whats interesting is that she keeps her feminine instincts and femininity intact even as she fills the shoes of her father and takes on a position thats reserved for men. Madhuri proves that one doesnt need to imbibe masculine traits to be heroic.

Pankaj Tripathi doesnt get to put the suavity and menace of Kaleen bhaiya on display as much as you would expect him to. His scenes with Beena and Munna bhaiya are terribly missed. For most part, he manipulates the puppets from behind the curtains. Rasika Dugal, Harshita Shekhar Gaur, Rajesh Tailing, Sheeba Chadha and Priyanshu Painyuli ably support the primary cast. They collectively and successfully manage to fill the many voids in the screenplay with their nuanced performances.

A little more drama, a little more flare and a little more panache would have definitely made Mirzapur 3 a winner. But do give it a shot because despite a flat and predictable screenplay, it has its moments, moments that stay true to the essence of a world where heartland violence intersects with polity, emotion and desire for justice. Chaos always begets an exciting storyline and the collective strength of control, power aur ijjat will make you not want to press the stop button despite it lacking a binge-worthy quality. So, yes, Mirzapur is almost there but keeps fizzling out every now and then.

And amid all this, youll often find yourself hoping against all odds for Munna bhaiya to be back, infuse some much needed flashiness and eccentricity to the plot and save the day. He was truly a superman without a cape  wielding a gun, unapologetic in his advances and always ready to hurl expletives. In short, whats Mirzapur without him and his lackeys screaming, Laal phool, neela phool, Munna bhaiya beautiful!
Richa Chadha and her actor-husband Ali Fazal are looking forward to welcoming their first child soon. As they prepare for this exciting new chapter, the couple is meticulously planning every aspect of their journey and striving to strike a balance between their personal and professional lives. Recently, they attended the screening of the highly anticipated third installment of Mirzapur. Mom-to-be Richa Chadha left no stone unturned to support her husband, who plays a pivotal role in the popular series.

Ali Fazal walked hand in hand with his wife, Richa Chadha at the screening. The actress is in her last trimester and is setting some chic maternity fashion inspiration for all expecting mothers. For the event last night, she wore a stunning maroon kaftan dress. Not only stylish, but the dress looked quite comfortable for the mom-to-be. It featured a thigh-high slit in the centre with a ruched pattern all over. She paired it with black flats and a small sling bag.

On the other hand, Ali Fazal opted for a casual look with a black T-shirt and faded jeans. He accessorized with a few chains, and his long hair was partly knotted at the back. Mirzapur is a popular action-thriller series featuring actors such as Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajesh Tailang, Isha Talwar, Rasika Dugal and more.

Meanwhile, speaking about embracing parenthood, Richa shared with HT City, We have had very free upbringings where no restrictions were placed on us by our parents. So, I think we will do the same. We will also surely try to inculcate the spirit of curiosity in the child. She added that although she is not shooting at the moment, the actress is directing her efforts towards improving their production company, Pushing Buttons Studios.

Recently, the critically acclaimed film Girls Will Be Girls, directed by Shuchi Talati and produced by Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal, won the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). This marks the films third Grand Jury Prize, following wins at the Transylvania International Film Festival in Romania and the Biarritz Film Festival in France.
The much-awaited MTV original series, Primetime With The Murthys, has started streaming exclusively on Jio Cinema Premium from July 3. A contemporary family fiction show, it is available in English, Hindi and Tamil. It promises a nuanced exploration of the problems faced by the modern Indian youth. It will do so in a humorous manner, fostering a connection with a large section of the audience. Primetime With The Murthys lets a modern urban South-Indian family take centre stage and shows insightful conversations about Gen Z children and their families.

More about Primetime With Murthys

This series sheds light on the problems faced by the youth in 6 different episodes. These episodes are based on the topics like Online Bullying, Social Media Addiction, Peer Pressure, Comfort Culture, Loneliness, Drug Addiction, Suicide and Bipolar disorders.

Cast And Director

Primetime With Murthys introduces the audience to the Murthy family members, that is Sushma Murthy (Sukhita Aiyar), Manohar Murthy (Preetam Koilpillai), Nisha Murthy (Sanjana Doss), and Shiv Murthy (Amrith Jayan). Arvind Sastry has directed this series and talked about it in an interaction with a media channel. Arvind said, I am thrilled to bring Primetime With Murthys to audiences worldwide. This show is not just entertaining; its a mirror reflecting the evolving Indian family  its aspirations, dynamics and influences. I am sure Gen Z and their families will connect with the interconnected themes and find them relatable."

About Arvind Sastry

For those who dont know, Arvind is the youngest filmmaker to win the Kerala State Film Award for the best original screenplay.

Shooting Location

Primetime With Murthys has been shot entirely in Bengaluru.

Primetime With Murthys Promo

The promo of this series had a hilarious take on the family drama films directed by Karan Johar. It shows how an imaginary depiction of the films by Mr Johar is and what a real family looks like. The promo shows the mother lashing out at her daughter for keeping the door locked. The daughter, on the other hand, laments the fact that she is not getting any privacy from her family members.

For watching this show, JioCinema Premiums subscription can be taken at Rs 29 per month.
Pawan Kalyan has finally clarified if he will complete his pending movies after becoming Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister. On Wednesday, the actor-turned-politician held a public meeting in his constituency, Pithapuram, when people started to chant the title of his upcoming movie, OG. While this left Kalyan smiling, he then asked his fans, OG? Do you think Ill have the time to make films?

Pawan Kalyan then clarified that he wants to focus on his constituency for now before resuming film shoots. I made a promise. First, I want to concentrate on making this constituency better. No one should fault me for at least not filling potholes or building new roads. OG chestava, kya ji, ante mari em cheppanu? (What will I do if someone questions why Im busy shooting for OG instead?) he said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

The actor-turned-politician then revealed that he has asked filmmakers also to give him some time. With that fear in my heart, I even told my filmmakers  you must forgive me, but I need to concentrate on serving people first. I will shoot films only when I find the time for it, he added.

However, Pawan Kalyan concluded by teasing fans about OG, saying, OG chudduru gaani, bauntundi. (Youll indeed watch OG, itll be good.)

Pawan Kalyan, formally known as Konidela Kalyan Babu, made his acting debut in 1996 with Akkada Ammayi Ikkada Abbayi. The film was an official remake of Aamir Khans Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. While the film gave a glimpse of his actress prowess, it was his film with director A Karunakaran, Tholi Prema (1999). The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and six Nandi Awards that year.

The actor, who is the brother of Telugu stars Chiranjeevi and Nagendra Babu, is known for his martial arts and starred in several films, including Gokulamlo Seeta (1997), Suswagatham (1998), Thammudu (1999), Kushi (2001), Balu (2005), Jalsa (2008), Gabbar Singh (2012), Attarintiki Daredi (2013), Gopala Gopala (2015), and Vakeel Saab (2021), to name a few. He starred in Bro last year.
We know that the BTS ARMY cant get enough of all things BTS and we are always on the lookout for new merchandise, food and places related to our favourite band. Even if it is remotely related or the BTS or any of its members, we are sold! Well, your search might just end for another BTS-related hangout spot as we have landed on the perfect one. However, you might need to visit Seoul for that. The latest bit in news is that the boybands leader RMs younger sister has opened up a cafe in the buzzing Seongsu district of the South Korean capital city. The cafes name is Cafe Far Ben and it was reportedly inaugurated on July 1.

What adds to its uniqueness is that it is located at a prime spot on the main street where sky-rocketing office buildings surround it, along with 1MILLIONs dance studio nearby.

Fans of BTS couldnt hold in and have started visiting the cafe already. An X (formally Twitter) user also uploaded a few photographs of the new cafe. Namjoons sister opened up a cafe and Jimins dad sent her a congratulatory flowerpot, just absolutely previous of him and I say again, jimin really got his dads kindness and heart full of love, read the post.

Check it out here:

namjoons sister opened up a cafe and jimins dad sent her a congratulatory flowerpot, just absolutely previous of him and i say again, jimin really got his dads kindness and heart full of love pic.twitter.com/N0Pn2CLeQs mayrah (@nochujimi) July 1, 2024

The photos show the front view of the cafe with dark blue-greyish walls, a spacious entrance and plants decorated outside. The insides of the cafe look cosy with dim, yellow lights and circular seating arrangement. The other photo, as informed by the user, is of a potted flower plant sent to RMs sister by his band member Jimins father.

Another fan also took to social media to share a full video of the interiors and food in the cafe. Watch it here:

However, it is not just the BTS fans and foodies who are going gaga over the cafe. Even RMs family members, his friends and his friends family members have joined in celebrating his sisters new venture.

According to Koreaboo, Kim Namjoon aka RM, congratulated his sister saying, Little sister! Im cheering for your new start! Band member Jimins father, Park Hyeon Su, sent her a floral wreath saying, Congratulations. In fact, he himself runs a cafe in the Busan district. Another member, Jins brother also owns a Japanese restaurant in the Yeouido district of Seoul.

So, the next time you plan a visit to South Korea, you know where to find the most delicious coffee, food and some BTS tidbits!

Reference link: https://www.koreaboo.com/news/bts-rm-younger-sister-opens-seoul-cafe-next-must-visit-spot-army-visiting-korea/
Incidents of robbery and theft are becoming increasingly common these days, so much so that even some of our beloved celebrities are not spared. Jahnavi Killekar, a prominent Marathi actress, has shared her ordeal on social media, making some shocking revelations about a recent robbery at her residence.

Known for the show Bhagya Dil Tu Me, Jahnavi Killekar took to her official Instagram account to spread awareness of house robberies and theft, as a victim of the crime herself. In the video, the actress revealed that her mother suffered shock which led to paralysis because of the incident. Talking to the viewers, she stated, We have built a bungalow as a second home in Pen, Raigad. We go there on weekends. She added, The thieves took away the music system and speakers, my brothers guitar and his several expensive watches apart from my mothers expensive sarees. Revealing further, she said the thieves even tried to remove the air conditioner and tried to take the refrigerator, but left those behind.

The actress mentioned in the clip, that she aimed to spread awareness of the increasing cases of robberies, especially when there is no one at home. She said, We had bought these things with our hard-earned money and they were very selective and precious for us. According to her suspicions, the robbers had kept a close watch on the house and were aware that they only visited the property on weekends. I have lodged a police complaint and the cops are probing the case, Jahnavi added.

The video was posted with the caption, We all need to be vigilant and aware. Do watch this video and share it. Fans express their shock at the information in the comment section. The first user wrote, Take care & thanks for sharing. A second user advised, German Shepherd may be the best choice to adopt as your family member. While a third user shared, Mam, please use CCTV. And a concerned fan wrote, Take care of your mother.
Sussanne Khan and Arslan Goni have been dating for a quite a few years and now and have been going strong ever since. Recently, the formers mom Zarine Khan, spoke about her daughters alleged wedding plans with actor Arslan Goni. Her mom strongly believes that marriage is not the only thing in life and that there are more important things in life than her daughters marital status.

In an interview with ETimes, she shared, If you find happiness with someone today, you are lucky. One does not know what lies in store in the future. Today, life is what you make of it. Marriage is not the only thing in life today. Hollywood couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russel have been in a relationship for ages now and are still happy together. The age-old notion that you have to be married to be happy and settled, no longer holds true now.

She added, Women are independent, established in their careers and also want to make their own decisions. And marriage is a bond, which not always keeps you bonded for life. So, I am happy to see that Arslan and Susanne are happy together and focused on their careers.

Khan praised her daughters boyfriend, actor Arslan Goni, and shared, Arslan has studied law and belongs to a reputed political family in Jammu. Hes also interested in acting, so I wish him all the best for that. His family is very good, and I am glad that Susanne and Arslan are happy together.

Prior to dating Arslan, Sussanne Khan was married to Hrithik Roshan. The two separated after staying married for 13 years. The ex-couple continues to co-parent their two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan.
Tom Cruise, who is spending time in the UK filming Mission Impossible 8, took a break from his busy schedule to celebrate his 62nd birthday with loved ones on July 3. While the Hollywood star is often surrounded by celebrities, Cruise was recently seen with his sister Marian Mapother in a rare public appearance. The two were spotted together while exiting a helicopter in Battersea. They were accompanied by Mission Impossible director Christopher McQuarrie and his wife Heather. Despite his fame, Cruise has always remained close with his family, including his other sisters, Lee-Ann and Cass Mapother.

As per the paparazzi video circulating on the internet, while Marian, Christopher and his wife quickly left the airport, the Top gun star took a moment and gave a friendly wave to the photographer as he arrived. Cruise even greeted the airport staff by giving them a fist bump before heading out. During the birthday outing, Marian looked happy, dressed casually in a black padded jacket and loose trousers as she walked on the tarmac after landing. Cruise looked charming as always in a simple navy blue T-shirt and denims.

Tom Cruises recent sighting with his sister Marian comes shortly after he was seen in a rare public appearance with his son Connor. Cruise shares Connor with his ex-wife Nicole Kidman, who married in 1990 and got separated in 2001. While the two were married, the couple adopted Connor in January 1995 and Isabella in 1992.

In a 2007 interview with Vanity Fair, Nicole Kidman, who met Tom when she was 22, spoke about their decision to adopt two children. She explained, From the minute Tom and I were married, I wanted to have babies. And we lost a baby early on, so that was really very traumatic and thats when it came that we would adopt Bella.

Without getting into the details, the actress added, Theres a complicated background to that, given that I never speak much about many things. One day maybe that story will be told. So thats the way it came up, and we adopted Bella when I was 25. My mother has an adopted sister, so its been part of our family, and I knew it would probably play out somewhere in mine. I didnt think it would happen so early, but it did.

Other than Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two, Tom Cruise is also gearing up for Top Gun 3.
Travis Kelce has opened up about his surprise cameo during Taylor Swifts Eras Tour stop in London. The Chiefs player, who has been dating Swift for nearly a year, talked about how the moment came together on the latest episode of his New Heights podcast.

Kelce said it was initially his idea to join the show at Wembley Stadium, recalling that he told Swift it would be funny if he rolled out on one of the bikes that dancers typically ride on stage during the 1989 portion of the show.

Kelce said Swift laughed, but then asked him, Would you seriously be up for doing something like that?

I was just like, What? I would love to do that. Are you kidding me? Ive seen the show enough  might as well put me to work here, he recalled. And sure enough, she found the perfect part of the show for me to come in.

Kelce surprised the crowd in London last week when he appeared on stage in a tuxedo and top hat carrying Swift onstage in The Tortured Poets Department era of the show.

It happened on the third night of the London stops, after the brothers attended Swifts first two shows there.

There was no bike in case I ran into somebody else or hit one of the dancers or anything, Kelce said. It was the safest option.

Kelce said his silly dance on stage was inspired by one Jim Carey does in the movie Dumb and Dumber.

I always wanted to pull out this move, but I never knew like when I should pull it out where it made sense, he said. Thats one of my favorite moves of all time!

All said, Kelce called it an honor being on the stage with Swift and her dancers.

It was an absolute blast, he shared. It was such a fun, playful part of the show and it was like the perfect time for me to go up there, just be a ham and have some fun, not only with [Swift] but the crowd and really try and get everybody excited for the rest of the show. It was awesome.

I didnt disappoint Taylor, so thats all that really matters, he added, saying his only rule was do not drop the baby.

The golden rule was Do not drop Taylor. Get her to the couch safe, Kelce said.

His brother and co-host Jason Kelce laughed, adding: No fumbles.
Karan Johars latest film, Kill, starring Lakshya Lalwani, is all set to release this weekend. In anticipation of the highly anticipated premiere, the producers hosted a star-studded screening in Mumbai on Wednesday. The event was a star-studded affair, with popular faces like Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Varun Dhawan in attendance. However, it was Vicky Kaushal who stole the limelight.

Vicky Kaushal, who will soon be seen in the upcoming film Bad Newz, looked dapper in all-black attire at the event. He arrived dressed in a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves and well-fitted trousers. To complete his look, Vicky Kaushal wore black loafers and tinted sunglasses. His admirers couldnt overlook his well-trimmed beard and backswept hairstyle, which added to his appearance.

Karan Johars latest production, Kill, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) last year, marks Lakshya Lalwanis Bollywood debut. The film was showcased in the Midnight Madness section of TIFF and was one of 10 films chosen to be exhibited at the festival.

Meanwhile, Vicky Kaushal will soon be sharing the screen with Triptii Dimri and Ammy Virk in the comedy Bad Newz. The films trailer has already been released and is receiving positive feedback from the audience. Recently, the makers also released the first song, Tauba Tauba, which has been trending on social media. Vicky Kaushal and Triptii Dimris chemistry in the song has sparked a lot of buzz. Sung by Karan Aujla, the music video features Vicky in a stylish black suit and glasses, while Triptii stuns in a short, sequin body-hugging dress. Their flawless moves in the video are sure to get everyone grooving.

Bad Newz, directed by Anand Tiwari, is a romantic comedy starring this new trio. The plot revolves around Triptiis character realising that she is carrying a child from two different fathers (Vicky Kaushal and Ammy Virk). She embarks on a journey to determine who, among the two, would be best suited to be a good father to the child. The film offers a novel plotline with humorous elements that have piqued audiences interest. Bad Newz, produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Amritpal Singh Bindra, and Anand Tiwari, will be released in theatres on July 19.
For Sydney Sweeney, there is no end to her struggle with social media mayhem. Months after fake explicit videos of the Madame Web actress went viral, she has become a victim of another cybercrime incident. On Tuesday, July 2, the actress X account came up with a bunch of cryptocurrency-related posts. Even though it has been taken care of for now, screenshots of the tweet are making the rounds on the platform.

In a series of posts, the actresss account promoted a crypto bearing her name on it. $sweeney 100mc incoming, the first tweet read followed by more like Giving away some $sweeney, RT to enter and 100MC coming within a few hours.

sydney sweeneys account being hacked is the funniest thing ive seen all day pic.twitter.com/ngn7wCKW2J garf  (@ihatedolphinss) July 2, 2024

According to Cointelegraph, the Solana-based token earned over $10 million in trading volume within just two hours of its launch, further bolstered by the promotional posts on her verified account. The report further states that the token was linked to a Telegram channel that later took credit for the hack. They also claimed to be behind similar hacks on rapper 50 Cent and former pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.

The actress is yet to comment directly on the incident. Notably, this is not the first time that the actress has gone through such a mishap. Earlier in January, the Euphoria stars X handle was hacked by another crypto-scammer. The hackers promoted another Solana-based token named MILJ, which presently has a market cap of $1 million. The post left her fans in a state of shock, owing to an explicit picture that was shared on her social media handle.

Sydney Sweeneys Next Projects

Rising to fame with her performance as Cassie Howard in HBOs hit series, Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney has worked on a number of successful projects, including Anyone But You, Reality, The Handmaids Tale, The White Lotus, and Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.

She currently has a survival thriller film titled Eden alongside Ana de Armas in the pipeline. The film is based on a group of people who head to the Galapagos Islands in quest of lifes meaning. The films cast also features Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Toby Wallace, and Felix Kammerer, among others.

Additionally, Sydney also has Barbarella and Euphoria Season 2 this year.
Harshvardhan Rane, with his charismatic presence and powerful performance, has carved a niche for himself in the Hindi film industry. The Bollywood heartthrob has captivated audiences on screen with his versatility in films like Paltan, Taish, Haseen Dillruba and Saavi. But this time, it is not his acting prowess that has captured the attention of fans. It is his sheer dedication to achieving his academic endeavours. The Haseen Dillruba actor, who has been preparing for his first-year exams of Psychology Honours, made sure to share glimpses of him studying and visiting the exam centre while interacting with the students there.

Yet again, the handsome hunk shared a video on Instagram, where he can be seen interacting with his fans at the institution. The clip also showed him striking cool poses with students and teachers. But what caught the attention of viewers was his interaction with a female student.

The clip showed a female student teasing the actor, mentioning that she is his senior as she was in her second-year. To which, the Sanam Teri Kasam actor, in a humble and humourous way, responded by bowing down to touch her feet to take her blessings as a sign of respect. However, the student hesitated and stopped him from doing so. This gesture by the star has undoubtedly left viewers impressed.

Sharing the clip, the actor penned a hilarious caption. Seniors ka ashirwaad le liya, teacher ki blessings mil gai. Hoping for above 75 percent marks. This was the toughest but most satisfying month of my life, he wrote. The actor further informed that the final exam will be held on July 6.

Social media users were quick to react to the actors post on Instagram. Impressed by his actions, many expressed their admiration in the comment section.

An Instagram user wrote, I wonder sometimes how can a celebrity be so humble its a treat to watch you sir. Have learned a lot from you. Grateful to you.

I was literally so stressed today and was trying to distract myself, suddenly your video popped up and I realised how much power you hold in my heart. It gave me that instant sukoon and put a smile on my face, expressed an individual.

Another user commented, Youre so kind. Always inspiration for us.

A fan added, Watching him study is therapy for me.

I have great admiration for your hard work which is truly inspiring. U keep impressing everyone with your kindness and amazing humbleness which never goes unnoticed, another noted.

Meanwhile, the heartthrob also posted several videos on his official social media account, showing him preparing for his exam and discussing answers with other students.

Harshvardhan Rane made his debut in the lights-camera-action world with the Telugu movie Thakita Thakita in 2010. However, the actor catapulted to stardom and marked his presence with the Bollywood movie Sanam Teri Kasam opposite Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane in 2016. His role as Inder Lal Parihar, a hopeless romantic, is cherished till date.

Talking about his professional commitments, the actor has several films in the pipeline. He will be next seen in Abhinay Deos Tum Hi Ho. The film also features Anil Kapoor and Lee Nicholas Harris in key roles. He also has K7: The Story of Seven Immortals on his plate.
Arjun Bijlani is currently seen trying out his cooking skills on the show Laughter Chefs. He and his partner on the show, Karan Kundrra, are striving to win the competition. In a recent episode, Arjuns wife, Neha Swami, came to support him. Arjun Bijlani shared a glimpse of the emotional moments he experienced with Neha Swami on his show, expressing his gratitude to his wife for standing by him during the challenge.

Arjun Bijlani shared a video captioned Meri Girlfriend, with the song Qaafirana playing in the background. The video begins with Arjun welcoming Neha into his kitchen with a warm hug. It features clips of Arjun lovingly looking at Neha and kissing her while she helps him prepare the allotted dishes.

Arjun and Neha Swami have been happily married since 2013. Reportedly, they met in a hotel twenty years ago and fell in love right away. They welcomed their first child, Ayaan, in January 2015.

Earlier, this year, the actor marked his 11th anniversary with Neha and shared an adorable glimpse of the duo on social media to mark the day. In honour of their 11th anniversary, Arjun Bijlani uploaded a lovely video on Instagram featuring candid shots from their life. The video began with the actor and his wife sharing a sweet hug while dressed in white clothes. He had a rose in his hands. Some glimpses showed the couple walking hand in hand on the streets, floating on a yacht during a vacation, and discovering new places together. In the caption, he wrote, Thank you Neha for everything. Happy Anniversary

Arjun Bijlani is one of the most well-known faces on Indian television. He began his career with the 2004 show Kartika. The actor rose to prominence with shows like Left Right Left and Miley Jab Hum Tum. Aside from acting, Arjun has worked as a host on shows such as Dance Deewane, Indias Got Talent, and MTV Splitsvilla. He now plays the role of Dr. Shiv Kashyap in Pyar Ka Pehla Adhyaya: Shiv Shakti.
Kazakhstan is currently hosting the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana from July 3-4. The last summit was held under the chairmanship of India, albeit virtually, exactly a year ago. Interestingly, for the SCO, the US Independence Day also coincidentally falls during the summit. It ironically looks at an alternative security architecture dominated by China and Russia, especially as several of its members are subjected to geopolitical and geo-economics contestations. This non-Western, even anti-Western, character is further emphasised by the presence of Moscow and newly inducted member Tehran, both heavily sanctioned by the West. The quest for new definitions and markers for an emerging multipolar world order remains an underlying theme.

India is represented by Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, although Kazakhstans President Tokayev had invited Prime Minister Modi to attend virtually. Some commentators speculate that Modis decision to forgo the summit stems from Chinas dominance within the grouping, the presence of Pakistan, and ongoing tensions between New Delhi and both nations. The official reason cites scheduling conflicts and the ongoing Parliament session. But then PM Modi is also heading to Russia and Austria the following week.

Its worth recalling that ironically, India and Pakistan both joined the SCO together in 2017 after more than fifteen years of protracted negotiations. This also happened at the Astana Summit. While Russia wanted India to be part of the Shanghai Five (later known as the SCO), the Chinese predicated that on the entry of Islamabad.

This years summit unfolds amidst heightened global disruptions, aiming to address a range of critical issues, from rising security tensions and mounting protectionism to intensifying competition in high-tech space. The Eurasian space itself has its own geo-strategic competition not only from Turkey, the US, and others but also between China and Russia, particularly in the Central Asian landscape. India, with its Connect Central Asia policy, must navigate this complex landscape carefully, avoiding any concessions to geopolitical competitors within the SCO. This is particularly crucial as Chinas presence and narratives, and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are increasingly becoming non-transparent and less reliable.

Incidentally, as the birthplace of the BRI, Kazakhstan was among the first Central Asian countries to join the infrastructure project after it was launched in 2013. This highlights how dependencies can arise in the absence of viable alternatives.

One of the key objectives of the SCO was to fight against extremism and terrorism. However, due to geopolitics, it ended up including countries that are determined to use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of their foreign policy. Ironically, these countries are also supported by a permanent member of the UNSC and founder of the SCO, which puts technical holds on the designation of terrorists at the 1267 committee, thereby giving state and non-state actors a big breather and moral and material boost.

The SCO does have a robust Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) to cooperate and collaborate and possibly counter terrorism, with regular exercises among member states. But of what use is that when one witnesses the double-speak and false standards by the very actors acting mischievously? Furthermore, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, principles enshrined in the SCO charter, are threatened by the hegemonic ambitions of certain powerful members.

Under Indias presidency last year, the theme was aptly advanced and crafted by PM Modi as Secure SCO. SECURE stands for Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Environment. Indias focus will likely remain on these core principles, guided by mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each others concerns.

The SCO is experiencing growth both in its membership and in the scope of its activities. Iran joined in 2023, Belarus is set to join this year, and several Middle Eastern nations are seeking observer or dialogue partner status. Furthermore, the organisation is also expanding in the areas of its deliberations and programs, from infrastructure, investment, and informatics to trade, technology, physical and digital connectivity, and intra-regional migrationlet alone deliberations on regional and global security issues, which have diluted its ambit and actionability to a certain extent. The importance and intensity of South-South cooperation and the fight against increasing protectionism in the West are becoming more salient.

The SCO Foreign Ministers Council, meeting on May 20-21, engaged in substantive discussions on deepening cooperation within the organisation. Key areas of focus included environmental protection, humanitarian and cultural exchange, transport interconnectivity, and various aspects of security  food, economic, and energy. The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to regional security, particularly combating what SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming has termed the three evil forces: terrorism, extremism, and separatism. This commitment extends to tackling drug trafficking, cybercrime, and other transnational threats. Modernisation efforts are also underway to make the SCO more topical and resilient to emerging challenges.

The next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Governments is scheduled to be held in Pakistan for the first time in autumn this year as they take on the SCO Presidency. How the dynamic between India, China, and Pakistan eventually plays out may impact the trajectory of cooperation within the SCO in the times to come.

While the Astana Declaration of 2024 is expected to address the emerging regional and global landscape, including challenges and SCO initiatives promoting peace and harmony, its true impact hinges on member states adherence to their own established norms and standards. Only through genuine transparency, trust, and truth can the SCO effectively fulfill its role in maintaining regional stability.

The author is the former Indian Ambassador to Jordan, Libya and Malta and is currently a Distinguished Fellow with Vivekananda International Foundation. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views.
Speculation has been been rife that a change of guard is on the cards in the Congress-led Karnataka. However, internal sources in the Congress have told News18 that there would not be one until the present government completes 18 months of governance. It is learnt that as of now, the party high command has decided not to take a call until the by-polls in three assembly constituencies of Channapatna, Sandur, and Shiggaon have been completed.

There will be no change of chief minister for at least 18 months. The government has been formed to give people stable governance and ensure that the guarantees are delivered, and development takes place. The rest is all media creation, said a senior Congress minister under confidentiality.

When the Congress came to power in 2023, amid a power tussle for the Chief Ministers post, several rounds of lobbying and rallying support of MLAs between the Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar camps took place in Delhi to showcase which leader had the maximum support from MLAs to be made the Chief Minister.

It is said that Siddaramaiah managed to cobble up support from more than 60 per cent of MLAs in his favour and so it was decided to give him the post. However, there was also an unwritten pact of handing over the baton to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar after 20 months, who had been vying for the post since the Congress won the 2023 Karnataka Assembly Elections with a resounding victory on 135 seats. The BJP, which was in power, was reduced to 66 seats, and the JDS won 19 seats.

Siddaramaiah  The Mass Leader

Siddaramaiah is considered the most influential AHINDA leader and the man who had worked for the upliftment of the downtrodden, having his governance between 2013-18 to showcase. The camp supporting him claims that he stands tall as an effective administrator and mass leader compared to many other Congress leaders.

Nobody can beat the administration of Siddaramaiah and the handling of state finances. His vast experience and more importantly, his connection with the aam aadmi, he is just like them, that makes him the most deserving and nobody can question that, said a KPCC member from the Siddaramaiah camp.

DK  The Man Behind Congresss Revival in Karnataka

Shivakumar, his supporters say, revived the Congress in the state after he took over as the state party president in 2019, leading to the re-energised, renewed Congress winning the election. His strategy and campaign led the Congress to its victory after having lost power in the coalition government the party formed with the JDS in 2018.

He injected energy amongst the party workers and helped in the win. It was like DK (as he is fondly called by his supporters) personally stood from every constituency and won the election for the Congress. He has shown that he can lead the state as well, said another Congress leader who didnt want to be named.

Issue Not to be Discussed in Public, Say Siddaramaiah and DK

On the question being asked, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the issue should not be discussed in public.

Whatever decision the high command takes, we will abide by it. Ours is a national party. There is a high command who decides, he said. He was also reacting to a statement made by Kumara Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji of Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamastana Math, Vokkaliga seer, publicly making a statement that Siddaramaiah should step down and make way for his deputy Shivakumar to become the CM.

Speaking during the Kempegowda Jayanti event while Siddaramaiah was present on the dais, the statement was made. A prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat seer, Balehonnur Rambhapuri seer Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Swamy, also made a similar pitch.

I dont want to comment on what Swamiji said, Siddaramaiah added.

There have also been growing demands to create additional Deputy CM posts in order to give better representation to Congress leaders from Lingayat, SC, ST, and minority communities who helped the party win the election. For this, too, the ball has been put in the Congress high commands court, and a warning has been issued by Deputy CM Shivakumar against issuing public statements about both issues.

But there is a move that is being made, said insiders, where the Siddaramaiah camp has been planning to celebrate the AHINDA leaders 77th birthday in a grand way. Like the last time, this will also be a show of strength for the CM at a time when there is a power tussle for his chair. Just before the assembly polls, Siddaramotsav was celebrated in order to showcase the leaders popularity as well as a show of strength to the high command.

Even Rahul Gandhi, who had attended the event, was very impressed by the turnout and the support and love people showed Siddaramaiah, said an official working closely with the CMO.
Over the last week or so, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met MPs of all prominent alliance partners of the NDA. Apart from exchanging pleasantries and forging a strong bond between the BJP and its allies, the meetings have left the MPs with valuable take-aways. For the younger and first-time MPs, particularly, the meetings with the PM have been inspiration and a source of mentorship.

In the series of meetings the Prime Minister had with parties like the TDP, JD-U, Janasena and LJP (Ram Vilas), politics was hardly part of the conversations.

I am an MP just like you. I can clearly understand what issues you will face. Do not hesitate to call my office or share your concerns with me. I am always available to you, a TDP leader quoted the PM as saying. The TDP MP said he appreciated the PMs attempt at building a personal connect with alliance partners.

In the recent lok Sabha election, Chirag Pawan came out with flying colours, winning all the five Lok Sabha seats that his party contested. The first-time MPs from his party were reportedly amazed to see the kind of motivating messages that the Prime Minister came up with.

He told us that we have an amazing M-Y combination. We were wondering what it means and then he explained that it means the Mahila and Yuva combination. This actually let all of us in splits. The way he described the importance of empowering the poorest of the poor was extremely emotional, an LJP leader told News18 after the meeting.

A Janasena leader said: The emergence of Pawan Kalyan will act as a biggest influence on the youth, given his dedication and how he channelised his star power. The welfare of the state is something that needs to be imbibed by a lot of young politicians. The way the Prime Minister spoke about what qualities are required to become a good leader and not just an elected member of Parliament was very noteworthy. The Janasena, TDP and BJP have an alliance not just at the Centre but at the state-level too where it won the Assembly elections as well.

With the MPs from Nitish Kumars JD-U, PM Modi spoke about how Bihar has been plagued by the lack of development over the last many decades. Go to the ground and get your feedback from the people and understand their problems. When you are able to solve it, it will give you more satisfaction than anything else. After all, we are all representatives of the public, a JD-U leader quoted the PM as saying.

The Shiv Sena had been the natural ally of the BJP for a long time, but since the party split, Eknath Shinde has been leading the ruling faction. You should work for the people and not get carried away by the narrative that your opponents are trying to create. If you diligently do your job, you will be able to control the narrative. There is no other success formula except hard work, a Shiv Sena MP quoted the PM as saying, adding that it touched him when the PM spoke from his detailed experience.

Right from checking on the health of former union minister Ashok Gajapati Rajus hospitalized wife to checking on the health and well-being of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi truly knows how to build a personal connect with whoever he meets, an MP who recently met Modi as part of this delegation told News18.

There was a very important message for the newcomers who are practically trying to understand the nuances of Parliament. There is no bigger treasure of knowledge than the experience of MPs who have been coming here for years. One must be a student who can absorb all this knowledge and it will only help you perform better in the days and times to come, said the Prime Minister to the NDA MPs.

In the recently concluded NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, apart from motivating all the MPs who have been elected to the 18th Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister had valuable advice for new MPs as well. Be vigilant and be very careful because, in Delhi, you will come across many people who will promise you the moon and will tell you that they will do everything for you. But you must always do your due diligence and never fall for the trap. Ask someone experienced when in doubt, an NDA MP quoted the PM as saying after the meeting concluded on Tuesday.

Besides the NDA MPs, PM Modi has been giving important counsel to his cabinet colleagues as well. More than 30 members of the Council of Ministers are first-timers. The Prime Minister has always been very positive in his feedback and gives very constructive advice. Its been less than a month that the new cabinet has been in place, but there has been so much to learn, said a Union Minister.

He told us we must learn from our seniors and from the senior officers of our department. He said we should engage them and meet them, and that we would always come back with a learning or two from their experience, the minister added.

As far as the Prime Ministers meeting with the NDA MPs recently in Parliament is concerned, it was not all work and no fun. The PM cracked up on how an MP promised that he would lose and maintain his weight. He said that not only has the MP kept his weight intact, but has also gained political weight, a source said.

For Chirag Paswan, whose father Ramvilas Paswan was also a cabinet minister in the Modi government, it was an emotional meeting. A few moments in the meeting were spent remembering his late father. Similar is said to be the experience of Milind Deora who reminisced about later father Murali Manohar Deora with the Prime Minister.
Jailed radical preacher Amrit pal Singh will temporarily be released on a four-day parole on Friday (July 5), so that he can take oath as a member of Parliament. He will be housed in New Delhi under tight security cover while his family members will be allowed to meet him during this period, as per the order issued by Amritsars district magistrate.

According to officials, the parole was granted under certain conditions, which have been communicated to the jail superintendent in Assams Dibrugarh. Amritpal and nine of his associates have been behind bars under the National Security Act (NSA) since April last year.

He won the Khadoor Sahib seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, after defeating Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira by a margin of 1,97,120 votes. Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, an Independent MP from Faridkot, said he is likely to take oath as MP on July 5.

I went to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at his residence in Delhi on Wednesday. He said the oath will be administered on July 5, Khalsa told PTI over phone. He also said clearances and permissions from various quarters to enable Singh to take the oath have come.

I understand that he will be flown in from the prison for taking oath, which will be in the private chamber of the Speaker, he said, adding that his sole purpose of his meeting Birla on Wednesday (July 3) was regarding Singhs oath-taking issue.

About parole, Amritsars deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate Ghamshyam Thori told PTI, Amritpal Singh has been granted parole for up to four days or less beginning July 5 with certain conditions that have been communicated to jail superintendent, Dibrugarh.

In response to another query about the parole, he said: granted by district magistrate, Amritsar, after authorisation by the home department.

According to Rajdev Singh Khalsa, a lawyer of the chief of the Waris Punjab De outfit who meets him in jail, said he (Amritpal), through the Dibrugarh jail superintendent, had recently sent a letter to the Amritsar deputy commissioner, who in turn forwarded it to the state government for necessary clearance to allow the jailed preacher to take oath. His temporary release was sought under Section 15 of the National Security Act, he added.

Amritpal, who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Mogas Rode village on April 23 last year following a manhunt that lasted more than a month. The Khalistan sympathiser had escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances.

The Punjab Police had launched the crackdown after the February 23 Ajnala incident last year in which Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of Lovepreet Singh Toofan, one of his aides.

He and his associates were booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants.

(With PTI inputs)
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Thursday denied any possibility of the INDIA bloc fighting elections together in Delhi and Haryana. There does not appear to be much scope (for alliance) in Delhi and Haryana, Ramesh said.

He, however, stressed that the INDIA alliance would fight elections together in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh further stated that the INDIA bloc will fight together in states where Congress leaders and other alliance partners agree to an understanding.

There is no INDIA janbandhan in Punjab. In Haryana, we had given one seat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha polls but I dont think that INDIA janbandhan will be there for assembly polls., he said.

Ramesh further highlighted the alliance between Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP) with Congress in Maharashtra and that of JMM in Jharkhand and said, Where state Congress leaders and the respective alliance parties agree, there will be an alliance.

Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra are slated to go for polls later this year, while assembly elections in Delhi will be held early next year.

(With PTI inputs)
Google is ready to take cues from Microsofts mistakes and offer its own AI feature for Pixel users that is less scary. Reports say that the Pixel 9 series will be its first lineup to come with AI features out of the box. And one of these features will be called Pixel Screenshots that will capture details from images in the form of a library that can be helpful later.

Pixel 9 series is likely to offer on-device AI processing so features like these could help people feel less worried about what Google can read. This is a big shift from Microsofts Recall on Windows 11 that can essentially capture all your activities on the PC and help you monitor the data when needed. However, the company was criticised for bringing this too, which Elon Musk said reminded him of a Black Mirror episode, the popular sci-fi dystopian series. Microsoft was forced to roll back its release without giving a clear timeline but Google will go ahead with its feature next month.

Pixel Screenshots  How Will It Work

The details about this AI tool have been mentioned by Android Authority who claim that Google will not take these screenshots by default and will require manual assistance to capture these images.

The feature will require access to the media library on the Pixel device and Google reportedly assures that the data processing will be done on the device.

The details accessed from these screenshots include images, text, metadata and AI-generated content as well. Google is likely to rely on the mobile-centric Gemini Nano AI model to do the heavy work. Were eager to see how Google pulls this off and if the company can really walk the talk by making these privacy claims stand true.

Google will reveal all the details about its AI push, and the new Pixel 9 series that will be launching, surprise surprise, in August this year. Google could be planning to steal Apples AI thunder by going for an earlier launch, but Samsung could surpass both as the new Galaxy AI-powered foldables are launching as early as next week.
A historic painting made over five centuries ago by famed Italian painter Titian has been auctioned for 17.5 million pounds (Approx Rs 18 crore). The painting, named, Rest on the Flight into Egypt, was made by the painter in 1510 when he was just 20 years old. The two feet wide, painted on wood shows Mary cradling baby Jesus with Joseph sitting close to them.

The artwork was stolen from Longleat House in Wiltshire in 1995. It was found by famous detective Charles Hill after seven years of work. Charles Hill, who is also credited with recovering Edvard Munchs The Scream, found the above-mentioned masterpiece inside a plastic bag in London. The painting was without its frame but was not badly damaged.

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt was auctioned by Christies. Its estimated auction price was believed to be between 12 million pounds to 15 million pounds, but this turned out to be an underestimation. The painting was owned by the Longleat estate. The current Lord Bath, who inherited the estate in 2020 told BBC that this is the most profitable time to auction the painting. He said, We have a considerable long-term investment strategy at Longleat and have decided to sell this asset to further this agenda at a time when the market for paintings of such unique rarity is so strong.

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt has had an illustrious history of owners. It was once owned by Austrian Emperor Joseph II and even framed at Viennas Belvedere Palace. In 1809, it fell at the hands of French troopers who looted the painting for Napoleons museum in Paris.

At some point, it was acquired by a Scottish landowner who auctioned it to the 4th Marquess of Bath at a Christies auction in 1878. At the time, the painting was sold for 350 guineas (about 35,000 pounds today or approximately 35 lakhs). Since then it stayed with his family, until now. It was stolen from the Longleat stately home in 1995 before it was recovered in 2002 by detective Charles Hill.

Andrew Fletcher, Christies global head of the Old Masters Department, spoke to BBC before the auction. He described the painting as a truly outstanding example of the artists pioneering approach to both the use of colour and the representation of the human form in the natural world.
A troubling incident unfolded in Beijing, China when a 64-year-old man was detained following a heated argument with a young woman on a metro. The video of the incident has gone viral showcasing the man demanding the girl to give up her seat. When she refused to give up her seat, the man resorted to shouting at her and striking her with his cane, according to a briefing issued by Beijing police, as quoted by Global Times.

The disturbing incident reportedly happened on the Beijing Subways Line 10. The viral footage shows an elderly man asking a young woman to vacate her seat for him. She declined stating she would offer her seat to someone else but not to him. The situation escalated when the man used his cane to sweep between her legs as depicted in the footage.

The elderly man in the video confronted the woman questioning why she refused his request to sit down. Whats wrong with me asking if you can let me sit? he said. He adamantly stated that he was not forcing her to give up her seat for elderly individuals while pointing his hand at the woman and pushing her hand, as reported by the portal.

Amid the escalating tensions, the man became agitated and swept his cane towards the middle of the womans leg. He said, Call the police, well go to the police station, and you can say Im harassing you. Subway security personnel were also seen intervening in an attempt to mediate the dispute as captured in the clip.

Beijing China - Young woman refused to give her seat to the old man. pic.twitter.com/ybCgv8oY6j Githii (@githii) June 26, 2024

Later, Beijing police detained the elderly man involved in the incident which reportedly occurred on June 24. The man faced widespread condemnation from social media users after the video surfaced.

One user commented, Embarrassing. That guy is a clown, while another added, That old man needs to chill.

Embarrassing. That guy is a clown. Ian Smith (@IanTRUSSdm) June 26, 2024

That old man needs to chillax Tapin (@TappyTapin) June 26, 2024

A viewer remarked, Even the ability of being polite is a choice.

Even the ability of being polite is a choice. RoCo_74 (@RoCo_74) June 26, 2024

Another user pointed out, What am I missing here? Theres a spot next to the girl. Just looks like a grouchy old man who should have never put his hands on her

What am I missing here? There's a spot next to the girl. Just looks like a grouchy old man who should have never put his hands on her. Ed Suarez (@suarez1116) June 26, 2024

An individual sharing their contrasting experience wrote, Not typical in China. My wife and I (late-70s Americans) visited my daughter in China for a month. On boarding a public transit bus for the 3 hour ride back from the Great Wall to Beijing we had more than a few people get up from their seats and insist we sit while they stood for the entire 3 hours. I kept insisting they take a break and sit for a while but they would not hear of it.

Not typical in China. My wife and I (late-70s Americans) visited my daughter in China for a month. On boarding a public transit bus for the 3 hour ride back from the Great Wall to Beijing we had more than a few people get up from their seats and insist we sit while they stood Boyd (@TheBoydness) June 26, 2024

What do you think of the spat?
Members of the Snake Helpline in Bhubaneswar, Odisha are garnering praise for saving a helpless cobra. As per a video circulating online, the snake had mistakenly swallowed a bottle of cough syrup, believing it to be another creature, which left it struggling to breathe. A video of the dramatic scene, shared on X by Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Susanta Nanda, shows the bottle stuck inside the snakes mouth. The snakes situation was terrible until locals decided to inform the experts. The rescue team arrived immediately and carefully dislodged the bottle from the snakes throat.

Despite the risks involved, their efforts paid off as they managed to safely push the bottle out and turned a tragic situation into a successful rescue. Sharing the footage on social media, Nanda wrote, A Common cobra swallowed a cough syrup bottle in Bhubaneswar & was struggling to regurgitate it. Volunteers from snake helpline gently widened the lower jaw to free the rim of the base of the bottle with great risk & saved a precious life. Kudos. Since the video was shared online, it has gone viral and garnered over 84,000 views.

A Common cobra swallowed a cough syrup bottle in Bhubaneswar & was struggling to regurgitate it.Volunteers from snake help line gently widened the lower jaw to free the rim of the base of the bottle with great risk & saved a precious life.Kudos  pic.twitter.com/rviMRBPodl Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) July 3, 2024

Reacting to the video, a user joked, Did not like the taste of the cough syrup obviously.

did not like the taste of the cough syrup obviously! welcome to what humans are made to consume. cemisri (@ash1praj2) July 4, 2024

Another appreciative rescuer wrote, Thats very well accomplished with care and patience.

That's very well accomplished with care and patience. Congratulations. Lala Aswini K Singh (@Lala_Aswini) July 4, 2024

This is why strict rules for not littering should be made, a comment read.

This is why strict rules for not littering should be made specially in and around protected areas Subhajitwild (@subhajitreehug) July 3, 2024

Another wondered, Why is that person touching Cobra without hand gloves?

Why is that person touching Cobra without hand gloves? In the last few days several PPL died due to overconfidence. Love4rAnimals (@Vikash06P) July 3, 2024

An individual shared, How many times must something like this happen before people take responsibility for disposing their waste properly & safely.

How many times must something like this happen before people take responsibility for disposing their waste properly &safely. Thank you for sharing & raising awareness Susanta Tigers4Ever (@Tigers4Ever2010) July 3, 2024

One more added, Plastic has reached every corner of earth.

Plastic has reached every corner of earth! Anmol Arora (@AnmolArora321) July 3, 2024

Speaking with The Times of India, Susanta Nanda said, The bottle was big and it got stuck in the jaw (just a few centimetres in the mouth). Had it been a soft object of similar size, it could have well slipped into the cobras stomach.

Meanwhile, snake expert and wildlife enthusiast, Suvendu Mallick who rescued the serpent explained, I gently manipulated the fang and the jaw while maintaining caution to avoid being bitten. I just helped the reptile to regurgitate the bottle and it did so. It was released outside the city in its natural habitat. The snake got attracted to the smell and swallowed the bottle.

According to Mallick, the cobra was dehydrated because the bottle had been stuck in its mouth for almost a week.
In a bizarre case, the workers at an internet cafe in China did not realise that one of their customers had died. The deceased, whose identity is not revealed, had checked in for a long gaming session on June 1. On the night of June 3, at 10 pm, one cafe worker tried to wake him up but found him unresponsive and noticed that the mans body felt cold. The distressed worker called the police, who declared him dead. The incident took place in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province.

News portal Jimu News reported that the internet cafe workers believed that the 29-year-old man was sleeping, which is why they did not wake him up. He was their regular customer and would spend up to 6 hours playing. The deceased once paused his gaming session at 6 am on June 2 to get breakfast. A police official told the South China Morning Post, Based on the breakfast residuals left on the desk, he did not have lunch on June 2. He possibly died suddenly on the morning of June 2. The police added that the investigation is underway.

In their defence, the internet cafe boss explained that the man looked healthy and they were used to seeing him spend a long time at the cafe. He also added that gamers routinely fall asleep between their gaming sessions. The cafe workers avoid waking them as the customers then become irritable and scold them.

The mans brother-in-law, surnamed Chen, told the South China Morning Post that because his family did not consent to an autopsy, they wont be able to determine the time of death. Chen questioned why his brother-in-laws death was not noticed for over a day. Chen argued, He sat in an open area instead of a closed partition. There should have been employees checking on him and noticing his strange behaviour,

For context, the internet cafes in China, called Wangba, are different from the ones in India. The Wangba is a hub for the gaming community. Most Wangba establishments run for 24 hours. Many people also take admission to an overnight open wangba to get a cheap place to spend the night. Usually, these internet cafes have fast food and drinks within the shop that customers use to have meals or snacks. Many wangba-related companies shut down during the pandemic and those who are still running are struggling to cash in the same revenue as before.
Biden Congratulates Keir Starmer US President Joe Biden congratulated Keir Starmer on being elected UK PM.

More Confirmed Appointments at No 10: Liz Kendall: Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds: Business Secretary Peter Kyle: Science Secretary Louise Haigh: Transport Secretary

Other Confirmed Appointments at No 10: Wes Streeting: Health Secretary Bridget Phillipson: Education Secretary Ed Miliband: Energy Secretary

David Lammy Is Former US President Obamas Friend While Farage Is Close To Trump Britains new foreign minister David Lammy, appointed Friday, is a trailblazing black lawmaker descended from slaves who calls former US president Barack Obama a friend. And Nigel Farage, the firebrand far-right leader, is a close confidant of Donald Trump.

Yvette Cooper Is UKs New Home Minister Keir Starmer, UK PM, appointed Yvette Cooper as the home secretary. The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP @YvetteCooperMP has been appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department @ukhomeoffice. pic.twitter.com/1IXxGXDZjW  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 5, 2024

Starmer Appoints John Healey As Defence Secretary John Healey, the Labour MP from Wentworth and Dearne, has been appointed as defence secretary The Rt Hon John Healey MP @JohnHealey_MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Defence @DefenceHQ. pic.twitter.com/K6zP3dO4G5  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 5, 2024

UKs New Justice Secretary Is Shabana Mahmood Shabana Mahmood, the Labour MP from Birmingham Ladywood, has been appointed as Justice Secretary. Shabana Mahmood MP @ShabanaMahmood has been appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice @MoJGovUK. pic.twitter.com/suXGZXkOCK  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 5, 2024

David Lammy Appointed Foreign Secretary Labour MP David Lammy has been appointed as the UKs new foreign secretary. The Rt Hon David Lammy MP @DavidLammy has been appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs @FCDOGovUK. pic.twitter.com/NKs1L5gTsp  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 5, 2024

Reeves First Woman In 800 Years To Be Appointed As Finance Minister A report by the Guardian said that Rachel Reeves made history with her appointment as UK finance minister as she is the first woman to hold the position in its 800-year history.

Rachel Reeves Appointed as First Female UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves makes history as she becomes the first female Chancellor of the UK.

Rachel Reeves Also Arrived at Downing Street Earlier Rachel Reeves has arrived at Downing Street. The Guardian said that she was confirmed by Keir Starmer before the election that she would become the Chancellor to the Exchequer (equivalent to the finance minister).

Who All Have Arrived At Downing Street? Peter Kyle: Shadow Science Secretary Bridget Phillipson: Shadow Education Secretary Yvette Cooper: Shadow Home Secretary

Starmer Appoints Angela Rayner As Deputy PM Angela Rayner is the UKs new deputy prime minister.

Who All Have Been Spotted Arriving At Downing Street? David Lammy has arrived in Downing Street, poised to take on the role of Foreign Secretary. He had shadowed the post in opposition.

Possible Cabinet Appointees Spotted Arriving At Downing Street Three possible cabinet appointees spotted outside Downing Street, the Guardian said.

Spanish PM Sanchez Congratulates Starmer, Salutes Labour Party Spains socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday congratulated new British premier Keir Starmer and hailed Labours historic victory in UK elections. Congratulations Keir Starmer, new prime minister of the United Kingdom. Congratulations, Labour, for the historic victory for labourism. Spain and the United Kingdom are friends, partners and allies, Sanchez wrote on X.

Keir Starmer, Wife Post First Picture Of Their New Home UK PM Keir Starmer and UKs First Lady Victoria Starmer posted a photo of their new home on social media site X. My government will serve you. Politics can be a force for good. The work of change begins today. pic.twitter.com/b5R3VWVUrI  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 5, 2024 Starmer captioned the photo saying: The work of change begins today.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Congratulates Starmer My congratulations to Keir Starmer on his election success, Meloni wrote on X. The state of relations between Italy and the United Kingdom is excellent and I am sure that we will continue to cultivate a strong and reliable collaborative relationship between our great nations.

UK PM Keir Starmer, Wife Victoria Enter Their New Home
US President Joe Biden, currently facing one of the worst crises of his decade-long political career after a subpar debate performance against his GOP rival Donald Trump last week, is not considering stepping down from the race, his press secretary said Wednesday.

Is President Biden considering stepping down in the race? reporters asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her daily news conference.

Absolutely not. And you heard, I believe directly from the campaign as well, she said amid a volley of similar questions from White House reporters.

#WATCH | When asked if President Biden is considering stepping down, White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean Pierre says, Absolutely not. And you heard directly from the campaign as wellHe had an opportunity to talk to supporters. Hes done it a couple of times at this point pic.twitter.com/Hdj5rRrZIE ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2024

According to a BBC report, President Biden held a private lunch with Vice-President Kamala Harris at the White House amid growing speculation about whether she would replace him as the partys candidate in the upcoming November election.

Afterward, they participated in a call with the broader Democratic campaign team, where Biden firmly stated his intention to stay in the race and Harris reaffirmed her support. Im the nominee of the Democratic Party. No ones pushing me out. Im not leaving, Biden said on the call, according to a source quoted by BBC News.

This message was echoed in a fundraising email sent out a few hours later by the Biden-Harris campaign. Let me say this as clearly and simply as I can: Im running, Biden said in the email, emphasising his commitment to remain in the race until the end.

Concerns have been mounting about whether the 81-year-old president will continue his campaign following a debate with Trump, which featured verbal slips, a weak voice, and some unclear answers. These issues have sparked worry among Democrats about his fitness for office and his ability to secure re-election.

Biden, 81, has increasingly been receiving calls from Democratic Party leaders and editorial boards of mainstream American media to step down from the presidential race and let others from the party lead them in the November 5 elections. So far, he has resisted these calls.

Given the groundswell of concern from fellow Democrats, from donors, from supporters, doesnt he owe it to the American public to reflect on whether he should step down? she was asked again.

Hes done it a couple times at this point and laid out what happened that night, talked about how he understands, and it was not his best night, Jean-Pierre said.

He understands that it is fair for people to ask that question, but we cannot forget his record and what hes been able to do. We cannot forget how he has been able to deliver for the American people for almost four years, she said.

That matters too, and he has the most historic record of administration, the most in modern politics and that should matter. And he wants to continue to do that work. And a lot of whats on his agenda is very much popular with the majority of the American people, whether its continuing to build a strong economic policy, the press secretary said.

On being asked again if there is anything that would change his mind, she said, Look, I cannot lay out something that would change the presidents mind. He has been very clear and hes going to continue to build on the unprecedented record that hes been able to lay out for the American people. Thats his focus right now.

At the press conference, Jean-Pierre had a tough time defending the Presidents statement wherein he attributed his foreign trips to Europe as an explanation to his poor performance at the presidential debate against Trump in Atlanta last week.

How is it that the president was still tired 12 days after returning from Europe, had a cold but then went to the Waffle House and then the following day, staged such a huge comeback that he gave those North Carolina Remarks? Help us understand, Jean-Pierre was asked.

Theres a cold. Theres a jet lag. You combine that, he continues to work for the American people day in and day out around the clock, things happen, things happen. And the cold thing is something that you all pointed out during his debate. We didnt even point that out. You all pointed that when you heard his voice being hoarse, because he knew he had to push through, she said.

He knew he has to power through. Thats what presidents do. If you care about this country and you dont care about yourself, and you care about the American people. You care about delivering for this country, you care about how youre going to continue to work day in and day out, you push through, she added.

In response to a question about whether there is any discussion that if the president were to suspend his campaign, he would also resign, she said, No. No. Absolutely not.

Asked if there are any discussions about the vice president assuming Bidens duties, she again said, Absolutely not.

What I can say is the president is moving forward. Hes moving forward as being president. Hes moving forward with his campaign, as his campaign has been very, very clear about that. Thats what I can speak to and thats what I can say. And that is the presidents focus, the press secretary said.

The presidents focus is how does he continue to do that work. And anything else that were hearing or thats being reported is absolutely false, she added.
With Labour predicted to become the biggest party in the UK parliament, here are the contenders for the most prominent ministerial positions.

Deputy Prime Minister: Angela Rayner

Rayner, 44, is an outlier in a country long dominated by a ruling class disproportionately educated at private schools and Oxford and Cambridge universities.

She grew up in social housing in northern England, left school without a degree and became a single mother at 16.

A trade unionist before being elected to parliament in 2015, she was elected as Labours number two in 2020.

Her left-wing background and straight-talking style  complete with strong northern accent  contrasts with Starmers more staid public persona.

He smooths off my rough edges. I bring him out of his shell, she has famously said of their partnership.

As well as being deputy prime minister  filling in for Starmer at weekly parliamentary questions when he is unable to attend  Rayner would be responsible for housing policy and tackling regional inequalities.

Finance: Rachel Reeves

The former Bank of England economist is in line to become the first female Chancellor of the Exchequer, living next door to Starmer at 11 Downing Street.

Reeves, 45, has called that prospect shattering the last glass ceiling in politics.

A central figure in Labour efforts over the last four years to regain the electorates trust on economic issues, she insists it is now the natural party of British business.

Using her reputation for economic competence, Londoner Reeves, whose younger sister is also an MP, has pledged iron discipline on public finances.

The former child chess champion, an MP since 2010, has vowed to be both pro-worker and pro-business in her role overseeing the public purse.

Foreign affairs: David Lammy

Lammy, 51, a black lawmaker descended from slaves, has honed his vision for UK diplomacy with dozens of foreign trips in the past two years.

He has argued that the foreign ministry needs to rediscover the art of grand strategy in the post-Brexit era.

Lammy, an MP since the age of 27 in 2000, is likely to steer Britain towards closer EU ties  no easy task with both Brussels and Eurosceptic Britons reticent.

He will also likely face pressure from Labours left flank over issues including its policy towards Israel and its war against Hamas in Gaza.

A friend of former US President Barack Obama, Lammy may also have to deal with the possible White House return of Donald Trump.

He once described Trump as a neo-Nazi sympathising sociopath and profound threat to the international order.

Home Affairs: Yvette Cooper

Coopers decades of political experience will undoubtedly be sorely tested heading the Home Office  Britains interior ministry  a notoriously hard government department to succeed in.

An MP since the late 1990s and a minister in the 2000s, Cooper, 55, has been Labours home affairs spokesperson over two stints during its 14 years in opposition.

A candidate to be party leader in 2015, plaudits credit her grasp of policy and details as well as stellar communication skills.

Immigration  a major election campaign issue and potential weak point for Labour  will likely dominate much of the public discussion around her brief.

Health: Wes Streeting

A fresh-faced Labour centrist, Streeting has been one of the most visible Labour figures during the election campaign.

Hailed as one of its best communicators, the 41-year-old from a working-class background in east London is tipped as a potential future leader.

But first he will have to prove himself in one of the toughest jobs in UK government, charged with reversing the decline in the countrys cherished but ailing National Health Service (NHS).

Weighed down by years of austerity under the Conservatives and still struggling to recover from the pandemic, Streeting  a cancer survivor  will rely in part on his own experience of the system.

Defence: John Healey

Party veteran Healey is set to become defence secretary as the policy area gains importance given the war in Ukraine and rising global insecurity.

The 64-year-old, who first became an MP in 1997 when Tony Blair won power for Labour, held a series of government posts during the partys 13-year spell in charge.

Labour has promised to increase military spending to 2.5 percent of GDP (from 2.3 percent this year) as soon as economic conditions allow.
In a last-ditch effort to shape his fate, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday issued a fervent call to Conservative supporters and urged them to mobilise against Labours potential supermajority, led by its leader Keir Starmer.

READ MORE: UK Elections 2024 LIVE Updates: Sunak, Starmer, Farage Cast Votes As Millions In Britain Await Next PM

This warning comes as Britons are voting in a general election widely expected to return the opposition Labour Party to power and end nearly a decade-and-a-half of Conservative rule. The polls are open. Vote Conservative to stop the Labour supermajority which would mean higher taxes for a generation, Sunak said in a post on X amid the high-stakes battle unfolding as voters head to the polls.

2024 UK Election: Full Coverage

The polls are open.Vote Conservative to stop the Labour supermajority which would mean higher taxes for a generation. pic.twitter.com/NPH7lSeDFc  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 4, 2024

The countrys first national ballot since Boris Johnson won a landslide for the Tories in 2019 follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks surprise call to hold it six months earlier than required.

Throughout his campaign, Sunak raised alarms about a Labour supermajority, asserting it could grant the opposition unchecked power. Despite dismissing suggestions of conceding defeat, Sunak and his Conservative Party focused on mitigating potential losses.

Labour will put up your taxes. Again and again and again.1 hour to stop the Labour supermajority. pic.twitter.com/6zBkXY8Jh6  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 4, 2024

Recent polls consistently show Labour maintaining a substantial lead, prompting the Tories to target wavering supporters and criticise Starmers policies. During the last week of the election campaign, rhetoric intensified and accusations flew from both sides.

In response to Sunaks claims, Labour has vehemently denied plans to increase taxes on working people, pledging no rises in income tax, national insurance, corporation tax, or VAT. Sunaks camp has accused Starmer of intending a part-time prime ministership, citing remarks about family time, which Starmer countered as desperate and hysterical attacks.

Change.Today, you can vote for it. pic.twitter.com/pLOFU5ijTz  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 4, 2024

According to UK media reports, the Conservative strategy includes warnings of economic downturns under Labour, including crash scenarios for the FTSE 100 and potential energy blackouts. In response, the Labour Party kept on urging Brits to vote for change.

Starmer rejected as desperate Sunaks efforts to stoke fears about the opposition party winning a huge majority. 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.
Keir Starmer will be Britains next prime minister with his Labour Party set to win a massive majority in a parliamentary election, an exit poll on Thursday indicated, while Rishi Sunaks Conservatives are forecast to suffer historic losses.

The poll showed Labour would win 410 seats in the 650-seat parliament, ending 14 years of Conservative-led government.

Sunaks party were forecast to only take 131 seats, down from 346 when parliament was dissolved, as voters punish the Conservatives for a cost-of-living crisis and years of instability and in-fighting which has seen five different prime ministers since 2016.

The centrist Liberal Democrats were predicted to capture 61 seats while Brexit campaigner Nigel Farages right-wing populist Reform UK was forecast to win 13.

In the last six national elections, only one exit poll has got the outcome wrong  in 2015 when the poll predicted a hung parliament when in fact the Conservatives won a majority. Official results will follow over the next few hours.

Sunak stunned Westminster and many in his own party by calling the election earlier than he needed to in May with the Conservatives trailing Labour by some 20 points in opinion polls.

He had hoped that the gap would narrow as had traditionally been the case in British elections, but the deficit has failed to budge in a fairly disastrous campaign.

It started badly with him getting drenched by rain outside Downing Street as he announced the vote, before aides and Conservative candidates became caught up in a gambling scandal over suspicious bets placed on the date of the election.

Sunaks early departure from D-Day commemorative events in France to do a TV interview angered veterans, and even those within his own party said it raised questions about his political acumen.

If the exit poll proves right, it represents an incredible turnaround for Starmer and Labour, which critics and supporters said was facing an existential crisis just three years ago when it lost a parliamentary seat on a 16% swing to the Conservatives, an almost unique win for a governing party.

But a series of scandals  most notably revelations of parties in Downing Street during COVID lockdowns  undermined then prime minister Boris Johnson and by November 2021 the Conservative poll lead, which had been higher than at any time during Margaret Thatchers 11 years in government, was gone.

Liz Truss disastrous six-week premiership, which followed Johnson being forced out at the end of 2022, cemented the decline, and Sunak was unable to make any dent in Labours now commanding poll lead

While polls have suggested that there is no great enthusiasm for Labour leader Starmer, his simple message that it was time for change appears to have resonated with voters.

Unlike in France where Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally party made historic gains in an election last Sunday, the disenchanted British public appears to have instead moved to the centre-left.
UPDATE

Jul 4, 2024 4:45 AM CDT

A member of the secretive Atomwaffen Division neo-Nazi group has been found guilty of murdering a former high school classmate in California. Samuel Woodward, 26, was arrested days after the body of Blaze Bernstein was found in an Orange County park in early 2018. After his arrest, it emerged that he was a member of Atomwaffen, which celebrated the murder of the gay, Jewish 19-year-old. After a long-delayed trial, a jury found Woodward guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder with a hate crime enhancement, the Guardian reports. He will be sentenced in October, probably to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Jan 13, 2018 5:30 AM CST

Police believe the 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student found dead in a California park knew his killer. Samuel Lincoln Woodward, 20, of Newport Beach was arrested Friday in the death of college sophomore Blaze Bernstein; the AP reports the two were friends who had gone to high school together. Per Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes, Woodward was the last person to see Bernstein alive, and DNA evidence spurred the arrest. Woodward had told police the two drove to Borrego Park on Jan. 2 and that Bernstein walked into the park by himself and did not return. Court filings back up initial reports: That a sheriff's investigator thought Woodward seemed nervous during their interview, that he had scratches on his hands and dirtied fingernails, and that he tried not to touch the building's doors.
Kevin Spacey may be on the outs with Hollywood, but that's not the case in Italy. The actor will receive the Nations Award for Lifetime Achievement at a gala in the town of Taormina later this month, reports Deadline. "Kevin Spacey is a timeless monument in film and theater history, who unquestionably deserves the chance to get his career back," says one of the award organizers, Michel Curatolo, per the Hollywood Reporter. The event is not connected to the well-known Taormina film festival.
Say goodbye to BVO. The FDA announced Tuesday that brominated vegetable oil, the controversial ingredient found in some citrus-flavored soft drinks, will no longer be allowed in food or beverages in the US due to safety concerns. Used to keep citrus flavoring from rising to the top of drinks, the ingredient includes bromine , a naturally occurring chemical that's denser than water and, when combined with vegetable oil, ensures certain ingredients are evenly distributed through a liquid, per Live Science . A 2022 study found that rats fed BVO accumulated bromine in their blood and tissues and suffered damage to the thyroid, a gland that helps regulate the body's metabolic rate, growth, and development.

Already banned in the European Union and Japan, BVO is also linked to nervous system damage, headaches, irritations of the skin and mucous membrane, fatigue, memory lapses, and loss of muscle coordination, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit consumer health advocacy group, per CNN. In proposing a ban last year, the FDA said studies "clearly show adverse health effects" in animals. It added that "animal and human data, including new information from recent FDA-led studies on BVO, no longer provide a basis to conclude the use of BVO in food is safe," per the Washington Post.

The ban goes into effect Aug. 2, though manufacturers will have a year from that date to "reformulate, relabel, and deplete the inventory of BVO-containing products before the FDA begins enforcing the final rule," the agency says. Many companies have already phased out the ingredient. BVO was removed from Pepsi's Gatorade and Coca-Cola's Powerade more than a decade ago, though it's still found in "some store-brand orange, pineapple and citrus-flavored sodas from Giant, Food Lion, Walmart, and others," per the Post. Keurig Dr Pepper, the maker of Sun Drop soda, which includes BVO, previously said it was reformulating the drink. (California previously moved to ban BVO by 2027 as a stopgap measure.)
Former NFL player Daniel Muir and his wife, Kristin, were taken into custody Wednesday in connection with the alleged abuse of their 14-year-old son. Indiana State Police said they executed a search warrant at the Muirs' Logansport, Indiana, home early Wednesday and found Bryson Muir "safe and well," Fox News reports. A Silver Alert was issued over the weekend after the parents failed to bring the boy to meet investigators looking into abuse allegations, reports NBC News . The alert stated that Bryson, who hadn't been seen since June 16, was considered "missing and endangered."

Last week, Cheryl Wright, the teen's maternal grandmother, told WTHR that Bryson had injuries including a black eye and a split lip when she saw him last month. "He just said that his dad did it, but he wasn't angry, but he wasn't angry at his father," Wright said. "He told me that he deserved it and it was OK. So I told him that it wasn't and that nobody should beat their children like that, not if they love them." The boy's "whole face was swollen," the grandmother told Fox 59. " I can only imagine how many times he had been hit in the face for it to be like that."

Both parents have been charged with felony obstruction of justice, and Daniel Muir has been charged with domestic battery. They were remanded into custody at the Cass County Jail on Wednesday, and Bryson was placed in the custody of the Cass County Department of Child Services," NBC reports. (More Indiana stories.)
A phrase coined by Tom Hanks' rapper son has become a rallying cry for hate groups, despite Chet Hanks' assurance that "white boy summer" is actually all about "love." For many, "the phrase represents an unapologetic embrace of white heterosexual masculinity, often at the expense of women and people of color," per the New York Times , which takes an in-depth look at how the phrase has morphed. The slogan and the abbreviated "WBS," recently used by Hanks , have appeared thousands of times across Telegram this year.

Embraced by the Proud Boys, White Lives Matter, and neo-Nazi Active Clubs, it's "a powerful global call-to-action for far-right recruitment, protest, and violence," particularly against immigrants and LGBTQ+ people, according to a report published Tuesday by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. Chet Hanks, a white rapper, coined the phrase in 2021 following the success of Megan Thee Stallion's "Hot Girl Summer." He said he was "not talking about Trump, you know, NASCAR type white." The rapper said the phrase was instead meant to promote white male hip-hop and rap artists like himself.

In the wake of the GPAHE report, Hanks took to Instagram to explain himself again. "White boy summer was created to be fun, playful, and a celebration of fly white boys who love beautiful queens of every race," he wrote Wednesday, per NBC News. "Anything else that it has been twisted into to support any kind of hate or bigotry against any group of people is deplorable and I condemn it." "The fact remains that it has been co-opted by far-right extremists to promote hate and bigotry," GPAHE responded, adding it "emphasizes the need for those with powerful platforms to remain vigilant against irresponsible statements that can be used for tools of hate and division." (More Chet Hanks stories.)
Stressing the support they've received during his term from President Biden and their fears about what Donald Trump would do if returned to office, Democratic governors said Friday they're sticking with the incumbent. Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland, and Kathy Hochul of New York spoke to reporters after they and other governors met with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House, the New York Times reports. "President Joe Biden is in it to win it," Hochul said, "and all of us said we pledged our support to him."

Walz, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, described the conversation as "honest and open," per CNN, saying the governors expressed their concerns. Asked by a reporter if he believed Biden to be fit for office, Walz answered, "Yes." He said the governors agree that Biden's debate performance last week was poor but said, "It doesn't impact what I believe: He's delivering." Some of the more than 20 governors who attended were at the White House, per the AP; others did so virtually.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, a physician who participated virtually, texted afterward: "The president was clear and focused in our meeting, and I found him to be solid," adding: "I suspect people will need to see the president in person and on TV to be convinced he is up to it. He is." California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who's been mentioned as a potential nominee if Biden steps down, said he's all in after hearing the same from the president. "Joe Biden's had our back," Newsom said. "Now it's time to have his." (More President Biden 2024 stories.)
Democrat governors might be standing with President Biden , but another House Democrat is calling on him to resign. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona became the second Democrat lawmaker to do so publicly, after Lloyd Doggett, who spoke out Tuesday on Biden's questionable debate performance. "What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seatand part of that responsibility is to get out of this race," Grijalva, an 11-term congressman, told the New York Times Wednesday, calling the state of Biden's reelection campaign "precarious."

He said Biden is a "good man," and that he would support him if he chooses to remain in the race, but that Donald Trump is an "anti-democratic, authoritarian despot" and it's "very, very dangerous" to give him a chance at a second term. "I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere," he said, mentioning Vice President Kamala Harris as one possibility to replace Biden as the Democrat candidate. Biden told campaign staff Wednesday that he has no plans to withdraw, USA Today reports. However, in what the New York Times calls the first sign that Biden himself has serious doubts about whether he can recover post-debate, sources say the president has told key allies he knows he has just days to salvage his candidacy. The White House quickly denounced the article as "absolutely false," Reuters reports. (More Election 2024 stories.)
This year, the Fourth of July is Election Day in the UKand it's expected to be Rishi Sunak's last day as prime minister, with polls suggesting his Conservative Party faces a loss of historic proportions. The party held 349 of the 650 seats in Parliament when Sunak called the election in May, but it's expected to lose hundreds of them todaypossibly including Sunak's own seat in North Yorkshire.

Sunak loss would be a first: The loss would make Sunak the first sitting British leader to lose his own constituency. Sources tell the Guardian that Sunak told associates on Tuesday that he thought the vote in Richmond and Northallerton, which he won with 63% of the vote in 2019, would be too close to call. Sources say Sunak has spoken about returning to work in financial services and might also spend more time in California, where he has a home.
UPDATE

Jul 5, 2024 3:54 AM CDT

Thousands of people evacuated during a Northern California wildfire were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon as crews continued battling flames amid scorching heat, officials said. Containment of the Thompson Fire near the city of Oroville in Butte County also increased to 29% from 7%, the AP reports. The "vast majority" of the 17,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings were able to go home, said Kristi Olio, public information officer for Butte County. Previous reports of 26,000 people being under orders or warnings were inaccurate, she said, adding that the fire has unfolded so quickly that it has been difficult to get firm figures.

Jul 4, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

Officials in a Northern California community canceled an annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration as an estimated 26,000 residents remained displaced by a growing wildfire, while hundreds of firefighters toiled under extreme heat to keep flames from reaching more homes. The Thompson Fire broke out before noon on Tuesday about 70 miles north of Sacramento, near the city of Oroville in Butte County, the AP reports. It sent up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space as it grew to more than 5.5 square miles.
A homeless man in San Francisco has been charged with murder after allegedly pushing a stranger into a moving train. Police say Trevor Belmont, 49, approached 74-year-old Corazon Dandan as a train was arriving at the Powell Street Bay Area Rapid Transit station around 11pm on Monday. Dandan was then heading home after a shift as a hotel telephone operator, her family says, per CBS News . Pushed from behind, she fell forward and her head collided with the arriving train, police say. She fell to the platform with severe head injuries and was taken to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

BART police arrested Belmont, who also uses the name Hoak Taing, at the station platform, per the Bay City News Service. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office said he intentionally killed the victim after lying in wait. DA Brooke Jenkins described it as a "tragic and truly shocking" case. "Unprovoked attacks, especially on our most vulnerable, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," she added, per the San Francisco Chronicle. BART police said it was the first murder on the train system this year. Belmont, facing one count of murder, is due to be arraigned on Friday.

Fearing such an incident, family members had asked Dandan to stop using BART at night, per CBS. Though she reportedly didn't need to work, she said she loved her job and continued with the nightly commute from Daly City. As recently as last week, family members had urged her to drive to work instead, per the Chronicle. The tragic nature of the "brave, independent" woman's death "is the most painful part," a nephew tells the outlet. "San Francisco residents, workers, and visitors should be able to freely move about and utilize our public transportation systems without fear," said Jenkins, per ABC News. "My office will now do everything in our power to ensure that there is justice in this case." (More murder stories.)
In the days since President Biden's alarming debate performance, former President Trump has "kept a low profile, leaving the focus on the drama engulfing the Democratic Party," per the AP . But on the golf course, where he apparently didn't realize he was being filmed, his thoughts on the debate flowed freely. Biden is an "old, broken-down pile of crap," Trump says in a "covertly filmed" clip obtained by the Daily Beast . "He just quit, you knowhe's quitting the race ... and that means we have Kamala," who is "so f---ing bad," Trump continues. It's not known when or where the video was filmed. It shows Trump seated in a golf cart discussing the debate with the person holding the camera.

"She's so bad. She's so pathetic," Trump continues on Vice President Kamala Harris. He then goes on to describe Chinese President Xi Jinping as "a fierce man, very tough guy" whom Biden might not be able to handle. "But they just announced he's probably quitting," he adds of Biden. "Just keep knocking him out, huh?" Asked for comment, a Trump campaign rep pointed to an earlier statement from advisers that claims Biden is "weak, failed, dishonest, and not fit for the White House" and labels Harris as his "cackling co-pilot."

Biden's campaign responded Wednesday evening, saying what is truly bad is "committing 34 felonies," "assaulting women," "taking away women's rights," "not paying your taxes," "losing an election and encouraging a violent mob to attack the Capitol," "running on a platform of your revenge and retribution ahead of ... what is best for our country," and "wanting to making yourself a dictator on day one." White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added on Wednesday that Biden is "absolutely not" considering stepping down. She spoke a day after a CNN poll found voters favor Trump over Biden 49% to 43%, and Trump over Harris 47% to 45% (a result within the margin of error).
However, fans of the label were quick to point out online that the "fresh direction" didn't include customers above a size 18, with the brand dropping size 20, or XXXL, from its range. The latest collection is instead available in sizes 4-18.

According to an investigation by Refinery29 last year, while it's typically reported that the average Australian woman is a size 14-16, data indicates that is not actually the case. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2017-18 National Health Survey (NHS) found more than two-thirds (67 percent) of Australians aged 18 and over were classified as 'overweight' or 'obese'. After comparing the average measurements in the survey with the size charts of 20 of Australia's most popular clothing brands, the author determined the average Australian woman typically wears a size 16-18.

A spokesperson for Witchery told news.com.au the decision to axe their largest size was made after "careful consideration".

"Size inclusivity is important for us, and we're proud to be one of the few high-street fashion brands in our category to offer such a wide range of sizes in our main range," they said.

"After careful consideration, we've decided to remove size 20 from our collection. This size accounted for a small percentage of our sales, and when we asked our customers why, the feedback revealed inconsistencies in our sizing between styles.

"In response, we embarked on an extensive project to improve the accuracy and consistency of our sizes and fits across our whole collection. Our updated design direction means that sizes from 10 and up are now a more relaxed fit, with the new size 18 fitting closely to the previous size 20.

"While size 20 is currently unavailable, we're committed to learning from and listening to our customers as we refine our sizing. We welcome our customers to come in-store to experience the new collection and try on the new fits."
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Infrastructure will enhance energy system availability and reliability

Central East Transfer-Out project to be constructed and owned by AltaLink and ATCO .

. Will add 750 MW of electrical capacity to the Alberta grid.

to the grid. 130 kilometres of new transmission line will help future proof Alberta's transmission infrastructure, increasing resiliency and enhancing power reliability.

CALGARY, AB, July 4, 2024 /CNW/ - The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is providing Alberta electricity transmission companies, AltaLink, L.P (AltaLink) and ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO) with financing to construct a new transmission line in the counties of Red Deer, Lacombe and Stettler.

View of fragment of power line as component of large electrical networks and system of power equipment. Electricity transmission, electric current. Energy supply of regions. Selective focus. (CNW Group/Canada Infrastructure Bank)

The CIB's $283.5 million loan will help advance a new, 130-kilometre high-voltage power line, which is needed to reinforce and strengthen the reliability of the electrical grid and increase access to available renewable electricity generation in the region. This investment will save Alberta ratepayers approximately $135 million over the 30-year financing of the project.

According to the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), the transmission line is required to relieve power congestion and distribution capabilities in the area. The Central East Transfer-Out project will supply over 750 megawatts of electricity to the grid.

Adding new transmission infrastructure will help to alleviate grid congestion and unlock the capacity for new renewable energy sources to come online to reduce the province's GHG emissions.

The CIB's flexible loan will allow AltaLink and ATCO to construct and operationalize the new transmission infrastructure at a lower financing cost, reducing the cost to Alberta ratepayers. Investing in projects like this will strengthen Alberta's grid, increase resiliency and enhance power reliability for future generations.

This is CIB's first investment in energy transmission under its $10 billion Clean Power priority sector, which is dedicated to addressing financing gaps in new projects such as renewables, transmission, district energy systems and energy storage.

The CIB financing is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission.

Endorsements

The CIB's investment in the Central East Transfer-Out project will improve Alberta's transmission capacity while creating the opportunity for clean energy sources to be added to the grid. As the CIB's first investment through the Clean Power priority sector, this project will help build a cleaner economy and support Alberta's clean energy transition.

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities

Our partnership with AltaLink and ATCO will help future proof Alberta's transmission grid  increasing the amount of available power and enhancing power reliability. The investment will enable both transmission companies to advance the construction of the Central East Transfer-Out project, which will deliver energy safely and cost-effectively to homes and businesses in Alberta.

Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank

This investment is yet another step towards ensuring Alberta's electricity system is affordable, reliable, and sustainable for generations to come. Collaboration is necessary for our grid to be prepared to meet the province's future needs. As Alberta's government works towards modernizing our grid, support from industry and the CIB is essential to achieving these goals.

Nathan Neudorf, Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Government of Alberta

As the demand for electricity continues to grow in Alberta's expanding economy, our goal remains to provide reliable and affordable electricity to our customers. With the support of the CIB, we are reducing the cost to our customers for this important electrical infrastructure, while strengthening the system and increasing access to renewable energy sources.

Gary Hart, President and CEO, AltaLink

The Central East Transfer-Out project will underpin Alberta's growing economy by addressing future electricity availability and augmenting resiliency. Adding 750 MW to our grid will meet this increasing demand while helping to enable a modernized system that can more readily accommodate renewable generation projects. Importantly, the Canada Infrastructure Bank's significant investment will also help maintain affordable rates for our customers by minimizing financing costs.

Melanie Bayley, President, ATCO Electric

Learn More:

Canada Infrastructure Bank

ATCO Electric

AltaLink

SOURCE Canada Infrastructure Bank

Media contacts: Canada Infrastructure Bank, [email protected]; AltaLink, Scott Schreiner, [email protected]; ATCO, Doris Kaufmann Woodcock, Manager, Media & Corporate Communications, [email protected]
Chinese solar module manufacturers are ramping to more than 750 GW of modules in 2024. This will be over 50% annual growth over the 499 GW they delivered in 2023, according to the China Photovoltaic Industry Association (CPIA). China solar manufacturing industry should produce 820 GW of solar cells, up from the 545 GW in 2023. Silicon wafer output is also expected to exceed 935 GW this year considering the expansion plans of leading companies in the space. Last year, the country rolled out close to 622 GW, having gone up 67.5% YoY (see Chinas Solar PV Output In 2023 Exceeded RMB 1.7 Trillion).

After delivering 1.43 million tons of polysilicon last year with a 67% annual increase, China is looking at over 2.1 million tons this year, according to the CPIA that makes this forecast in its recently released China Photovoltaic Industry Development Roadmap (2023-2024).

Chinas solar industry employed 3.5 million people in 2022 and this could be 5-6 million by the end of 2025.

For 2024, the association forecasts China to install up to 220 GW AC new PV additions with land constraints and grid capacity as the major challenges, after growing to 216.30 GW AC in 2023.

The current investment cost of operationalizing a 10,000-ton trichlorosilane polysilicon production line is RMB 90 million/thousand tons (USD12.4 million per thousand tons). Expecting technological improvements, the investment/thousand tons will drop to RMB 80 million by 2030 (USD11 million per thousand tons).

Even when it comes to silicon wafer thickness, the thinner the better. The average thickness of polysilicon wafers in 2023 was 170 m. While the CPIA does not see any change to this value this year, it believes it can change in the later years.

Wafer Sizes

There are various wafer sizes for solar cells in the market today. The the share of 182 mm square wafers is 47.7%, while that of rectangular derivates of M10 format such as 182mm x 183.75mm, 182mm x 185.3 mm, which are termed as micro-rectangular by CPIA (using machine language translation), is 20.3%, but these may phase out of the market in 2028.

The market share of 210 mm square wafers and rectangular wafers in 2023 was 20% and 10%, respectively. The latter most likely refers to the half cut wafers that are so far used only in HJT processing. Going forward, these may become the future mainstream size, but these will still need continuous verification by the market.

The TOPCon n-type silicon wafer products for solar cells and heterojunction (HJT) cells have strong motivation to reduce thickness. The average thickness of n-type silicon wafers used in TOPCon cells is 125 m, and the thickness of silicon wafers used in heterojunction cells is about 120m, which is a decrease of 15m and 5m respectively compared with 2022.

Efficiency

In 2023, the average mass production solar cell efficiency of PERC cells reached 23.4%, 25% for TOPCon and 25.2% for HJT. By 2025, the CPIA forecasts the same to increase to 23.7%, 25.7% and 26.2%, respectively. It does not see any major breakthroughs going forward since its guidance for 2028 for these cell technologies is a maximum of 24%, 26.5% and 26.8%, respectively. For HJT efficiency, it factors in half cells of 182 mm and 210 mm formats, which has evolved as the state of the art for HJT.

Inverters

Among inverters, string inverters accounted for 80% market share last year while central inverters claimed the remaining share. The association foresees great uncertainty in the market shares of different types of inverters as changes take place in application scenarios and technology evolves.
The China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute (CREEI) reports that by the end of 2024, China is set to add 190GW of solar capacity and 70GW of wind. The NEA reports China added 217GW of solar power and 76GW of wind power in 2023  to reach a total capacity of 1,050GW.

China needs 15 Tesla Megapack factories (150,000 per year) worth of fixed storage every year for the new wind and solar energy. This will increase as China accelerates solar and wind installation to meet AI data center demand.

By the end of 2024, Chinas installed solar and wind capacity will be 1,310GW.

In 2023, Chinas solar power generation reached 584 terawatt hours (TWh). China had 392 GW of installed solar at the end of 2022. In 2022, the US had 110 Gigawatts of installed solar and it generated 204 TWh. In 2023, China contributed almost 60% of additional global energy capacity (an added 301GW), making it both the largest greenhouse gas emitter and green energy producer.

By May 2024, China had installed 690GW of solar capacity and 460GW of wind, which made up 38% of its power generation capacity.

China is averaging about 1 MWh/year (2.8kWh/day) per kilowatt of installed solar. The US is getting 1.85 MWh/year (4.8 kWh/day) per kilowatt of installed solar.

It is a common mistake for people to assume that the kilowatts of installed energy are all equal. US nuclear power can get 8 MWh/year (22 kWh/day) per installed kilowatt. Other countries get 6-7 MWh/year per installed kilowatt of nuclear. Coal power can get about 4 MWh/year per kilowatt of installed power. Hydro can get about 3 MWh/year per kilowatt of installed power. There is also a lot of variability by country, locations and projects even for the same energy type. At the end of 2023, China had 53 Gigawatts of nuclear power installed and this generated 440 TWh. 600 GW of solar generated 584 TWH of power which was 33% more than 53 gigawatts of nuclear making 440 TWh.

The fast build out of solar power in China could take time to fully connect to the grid. China had much more installed solar power in 2017 at 130 GW than the US in 2022 but it took until 2019 for China to generate more electricity than the US using 110 GW.

Mongolia is a good location for solar power generation, with 270300 sunny days per year. This is equivalent to 2,2503,300 hours of sunshine. Mongolia has cold winters with snow and ice. The number of sunny days should not be the problem. Too much heat can also be bad for solar panels, reducing their efficiency by 10%-25%. Chinas solar power only generates about 55-65% of the electricity for the same installed capacity as the USA. The fast buildout could have a lag factor before everything is connected. The China solar locations are probably 20-40% worse than the best places in the USA. China has dust and air pollution that is reducing the effectiveness of the solar power. China is choosing to mass install in north and northwest where the Gobi desert is located. China is also building solar in many other locations by the super-scale projects are in the Gobi desert.

China had 3.56x as much installed solar capacity but just over 2X in electrical generation.

The Kubuqi Base Project is a 16-gigawat (GW) solar, wind, and coal project in Chinas Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Its the worlds largest wind and photovoltaic power project developed and built in a desert. The Kubuqi base project is roughly the size of 20 Central Parks. China will build 450 Gigawatts of solar and wind power in the desert.

Chinas solar power reached 610 GW at the end of 2023. 74 GW was activated in November and December. Chinas company and government have put $130 billion into solar cell and energy production. This will capture about 80% of the global market. China will have losses and low margins while they generate a solar power glut while capturing market share. Solar module prices dropped 42% in the last year. They are now at $0.15 per watt. This is down to $150 per kilowatt. The US has prices for home installation of $3 per watt which is $3000 per kilowatt. The $0.15 per watt is 60% below the $0.40 per watt for wholesale utility scale US prices.

China will reach over 1 terawatt of solar installed capacity by the end of 2025. This will generate about 1100 TWh/year. Chinas total power generation volume was about 9,360 TWh in 2023. Chinas electrical power generation and demand will be about 9600-9700 TWh in 2024 and about 10000 TWh in 2025.

An Australian energy project, Uaroo, combined a 3.33GW solar park with a 2.04GW wind farm and a battery with a storage capacity of 9.1GWh. Swedish state-owned utility Vattenfall also aims to address the grid congestion in the Netherlands with its integrated wind, solar, and BESS project. Its 61 million Energypark Haringvliet, which opened in March, has 38MW of solar capacity, 22MW of wind and a 12MWh BESS.

The BESS (Battery electric storage system) sizing for these renewable projects is roughly 2 hours of storage for each megawatt of solar or wind generation.

The Tesla Megapack provides about 3.9 MWh of storage which would match up with 2 MW of solar or wind generation. 1 Terawatt of solar in China would match up to 2 TWh of battery storage for a fully stored energy solution. This would move the generation from say 9AM-11AM to 6pm -8pm. 2 TWH would be 500,000 Tesla Megapacks. It would take 10 Tesla factories at full 40 GWh per production to build this number of megapacks in 5 years. Global Solar would need to continue scaling for 20 years to meet current world electricity demand. World electricity demand would increase 30% by electrifying all cars and trucks. World electricity demand could start doubling every 5-10 years with growing energy demand from AI data centers. The existing solar and wind energy (2TWh) already need about 1,000,000 megapacks of storage. There is some pumped hydro and other storage but almost all of the solar and wind energy has no battery storage to make the energy created more efficient, productive and valuable.

Chinas Energy Storage increased from 8.7 GW at the end of 2022 to 31.4 GW at the end of 2023. China has invested $14 billion into mainly lithium ion battery energy storage in 2022 and 2023.
Xi calls on China, Russia to conserve unique value of bilateral ties

Xinhua) 10:56, July 04, 2024

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and Russia to continuously conserve the unique value in China-Russia relations, and explore the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana.

He also said that facing an international situation fraught with turbulence and changes, the two countries should keep upholding the original aspiration of lasting friendship, and sticking to the determination of benefiting the people.

The two countries should also make efforts to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A woman and her two young children were seriously injured in a violent attack in East Orange on 4th of July morning, authorities said.

A neighbor called police at 1:20 a.m. reporting a possible assault at a home on Park Avenue, East Orange Police Chief Phyllis L. Bindi said.

Officers arrived at the home and found a woman, a three-year-old and a nine-month old, all suffering from serious injuries, Bindi said.

The mom and her children were rushed to University Hospital, where they are still undergoing treatment, officials said.

The nature and extent of the injuries is not being disclosed now as this is an ongoing investigation, Bindi said.

No arrests have been made. An investigation by the East Orange Police Department is ongoing.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Nicolas Fernandes contributed to this report.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com
A popular New Jersey sandwich shop chain that President Barack Obama once visited has shuttered one of its locations.

Tastee Sub Shop closed its Lawrence Township location Wednesday after more than 12 years in business, an employee confirmed to NJ Advance Media.

When reached by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday, employees at the location would not disclose the reason for the closure.

The sub shop got its start in 1963 in Edison and went on to open locations in Lawrence Township and Franklin Park. President Obama paid a visit to the chains flagship Edison location in 2010 for a meeting with owners of four small New Jersey business to discuss a proposed tax credit.

Obama ordered a half-size Super Sub, a monstrous sandwich featuring pressed ham, boiled ham, salami, cappacola, prosciuttini and cheese. Unsurprisingly, there was a spike in business at Tastee Sub Shop following Obamas visit.

Tastee Shop Shops menu features 16 different sandwich options served in half (8-inch) or whole (16-inch) sizes featuring turkey, pepperoni, roast beef, tuna, bologna, meatballs, sausage and more.

The Edison and Franklin Park locations remain open.

Tastee Sub Shop, where President Barack Obama once visited for a meeting with New Jersey business owners, has closed its location in Lawrence Township. (AUGUSTO F. MENEZES/Staff)Augusto F. Menezes

More food coverage

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The Front Bottoms have announced their fall tour, and they are ready to get the tour buses rolling.

The New Jersey rock band will begin their tour on Sept. 12 in Boston and will wrap up on Dec. 14 in Atlantic City.

Their Finding Your Way Home Tour will be in support of their latest album You Are Who You Hang Out With, which the band released in 2023.

Tickets to see the group are available on all secondary market websites, such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, TicketCity, SeatGeek and Ticketmaster.

The cheapest ticket at the time of publication for the Front Bottoms Atlantic City show, before fees, is $63 on Vivid Seats.

If you find that you never secure the tickets at the best cost or in the section you want to be in through StubHub, you can find some tips and tricks here.

First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout.

A complete list of The Front Bottoms show dates is available here.

More massive upcoming tours 2024

The Front Bottoms are not the only artists heading out on a massive tour.

Here are a few more tours you do not want to miss: Billy Joel, George Strait, Noah Kahan and Tom Jones.

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
UPDATE: N.J. teacher sexually assaulted student in car, sent nude photos of herself, authorities say

A teacher who resigned from Wall High School this week has been arrested and accused of having a sexual relationship with a student earlier this year, authorities said.

Julie Rizzitello, 36, of Brick, was taken into custody on Wednesday and charged with two counts of sexual assault, three counts of criminal sexual contact and a single count of witness tampering, the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office said in a news release.

Rizzitello had worked for Wall Township Public Schools since 2013, according to public pension records.

A spokesperson for the district could not immediately be reached for comment on Thursday.

Authorities allege that Rizzitello engaged in various sexual acts with the student multiple times at locations in Brick, Belmar and Wall Township. The alleged abuse began earlier this year, investigators said.

Rizzitello is the second educator in Monmouth County in the past week to face allegations of having a sexual relationship with a student.

On Saturday, 43-year-old Allison Havemann-Niedrach, of Jackson, was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The charges stemmed from allegations during her time working at a middle school in the Freehold Borough School District, officials said.

Rizzitello is being held at Monmouth County Correctional Institution pending a detention hearing.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Police charged a New Jersey man with attempted murder for his role in a Jackson Township shooting that left one person with a gunshot wound to the face, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office announced Wednesday.

Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was taken into custody Wednesday on charges of attempted murder and three other related weapons charges, according to the prosecutors office.

Police responded to a report of a man with a gunshot wound in the area of Larsen Road at 12:20 a.m. on June 27, authorities said.

The victim, a 27-year-old man, was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was treated and later released. The mans name was not immediately released Wednesday by authorities.

An investigation revealed the man and an unidentified female were sitting in a parked car outside of a residence on Larsen Road on June 27 when another vehicle parked in front of them, authorities said.

Two men  one identified as Vulpis  exited the vehicle, approached the parked car and knocked on the window, authorities said. As the victim got out of the car, one of the assailants began to strike him, the prosecutors office said.

During the assault, Vulpis shot the victim in the face, authorities said. Afterward, Vulpis and the other assailant fled the scene.

Additional details about the shooting and attorney information for Vulpis were not immediately available.

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Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
Theres a lot riding on President Joe Bidens interview with ABCs George Stephanopoulos, which will be aired in prime time on Friday.

After Bidens rocky performance in last weeks presidential debate, Biden can clean up the mess and quell the uprising in his party to replace him as the nominee because of his age, or send those smoldering ashes into a five-alarm fire.

If the Democrats revolt and push Biden aside, its unlikely that the new nominee  no matter who it is  would beat Trump, who according to wide-ranging polls, is up by a point or two or as many as six points.

Those who are against a change are telling anxious Democrats and Never Trumpers to be careful.

With a new nominee, a lot of things have to fall into place where it would take an act of God for it to go well, Stephanie Cutter, a Democratic consultant, told the New York Times.

Cutter advises the Biden campaign but said she was not speaking on its behalf.

Similarly, Cornell Belcher, a Democratic pollster who worked on both Obama victories, told the Times that he is against a change, but the least vulnerable switch would be to Vice President Kamala Harris, who would be able to tap into the Biden war chest. Other candidates would be forced to raise their own money.

Do they have $1 billion to do it, and do they have the time to spend $1 billion to tell this story? Belcher told the Times.

Saurav Ghosh, the director of campaign finance reform at the Campaign Legal Center, said that as vice president Ms. Harris would be able to take over Mr. Bidens campaign accounts if she became the nominee, where others would not. Also, any skeletons are already out of her closet.

The advantage that Kamala Harris holds in this hypothetical is that she has already been vetted  thoroughly, said Elaine Kamarck, a member of the Democratic National Committee and a fellow at the Brookings Institution. We probably know everything there is to know about her. Which cant be said for others. And she has been in the White House for four years. She has plenty of name recognition.

The Trump campaign already is airing an online ad that handcuffs Harris to problems at the border, but border crossings have plummeted since Biden took executive action last month. Would she be able to effectively take credit for that?

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who couldnt rally enough support for his wife in a senate campaign, warns that a new presidential campaign would be an uphill climb.

You cant snap your finger and assume it materializes, he said.

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As the Democratic food fight over continues whether President Joe Biden should remain in the presidential race after his stumbling debate performance last week, former Democratic presidential candidate Tim Ryan says the answer is right under their noses.

And its not California Gov. Gavin Newsom  although youre in the right state.

Its Vice President Kamala Harris.

The reasons, he says are simple: The former California attorney general would represent a generational change; plug the leaking support from youth and Black voters; better prosecute the case against former president Donald Trumps catastrophic rollback of reproductive rights; and, as a polished prosecutor, she would beat Trump in any debate. As a former prosecutor, Harris could point to her tough-on-crime policies.

In addition, Harris would give so-called double haters, voters unhappy with the choice between an 81-year-old president and a 78-year-old former president, a new option in November. A new candidate almost certainly would enjoy a surge of campaign contributions, and Harris would be able to legally assume the Biden war chest already in the bank.

Harris already is a trail blazer: She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African-American and first Asian-American vice president.

Harris would strengthen the necessary working-class votes from urban centers like Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Charlotte, Miami and Milwaukee, Ryan said.

In a CNN poll released this week, Harris trailed Trump by two points in a head-to-head matchup.

Heres what Ryan  who lost a senate bid to J.D. Vance in 2022  wrote in an op-ed for Newsweek:

Kamala was the highlight of a historically dreadful night. Across cable news stations, the Vice Presidents performance was stellar, a ray of light in the darkness. 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.

During the 2020 presidential race, our paths crossed many times. She is a joy to hang out with. She is brilliant, compassionate, engaging, funny and totally down to earth. My wife and our young son loved her.

But the fact that she is cool isnt reason enough for her to be our nominee. Kamala Harris should be the Democratic nominee because she can energize the electorate and govern effectively as our next president. She has honed her raw talent and intelligence through a tough national campaign and three and a half years of experience that have her steeped in the knowledge of domestic and international issues. All of this while joyfully operating in our toxic and complicated political environment.

Ryan has long railed against the Democrats aging leaders, campaigning Nancy Pelosi as minority speaker in 2016 while arguing that the party needed new blood. So its not surprising that hed taking this opportunity to bang that drum once again. He wrote:

The Democratic Partys Achilles heel for years has been a lack of upward mobility for fresh, young leaders. When young candidates like JFK, Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama carry the torch for Democrats, we win. Now a fresh, charismatic candidate can do it again.

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After the voters have cast their ballots in today's general election, the next steps in the democratic process will unfold rapidly, setting the stage for the formation of the new government.

Parliament Reassembles

Just five days post-election, the newly elected Parliament will convene on Tuesday, July 9. The first order of business will be to elect the Speaker of the House of Commons.

The incumbent Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is expected to seek re-election to this prestigious role.

The Speaker is a crucial figure in Parliament, responsible for maintaining order during debates, deciding who may speak, and ensuring that parliamentary rules are followed.

Swearing-In of MPs

Following the election of the Speaker, the next few days will be dedicated to the swearing-in of Members of Parliament (MPs).

This process is essential as it signifies the MPs' official acceptance of their duties and responsibilities.

Each MP must take an oath of allegiance to the Crown, a ceremonial step that solidifies their commitment to serving their constituents and the country.

The King's Speech and Legislative Agenda

Major parliamentary business will take a brief pause until the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, July 17.

This grand ceremony features the King's Speech, which outlines the government's legislative agenda for the coming year. The speech is a crucial event, as it details the policies and bills the government intends to prioritise.

According to the Hansard Society, the introduction of several bills to Parliament is expected to follow swiftly, possibly as soon as a day after the King's Speech.

This means that within a fortnight of the general election, the wheels of legislative progress will already be turning.

Swift Legislative Action

It is customary for a newly formed government to act quickly on its legislative program following a general election.

Ministers will likely aim to schedule the second reading of key bills before the summer recess, ensuring that the new government's priorities are addressed without delay.

This proactive approach helps to maintain momentum and demonstrates the government's commitment to delivering on its election promises.
Sales of the locally made Ford Explorer SUV were essentially flat in the second quarter, ticking down by a statistically negligible 0.1%.

Overall Ford and Lincoln sales rose by 0.8% to 536,050 in second quarter, up from 531,662 during the same time last year.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford saw a 61.4% increase in electric vehicle sales, a 55.6% jump in hybrid sales and a 5% decline in sales of vehicles with gas-powered internal combustion engines in the second quarter.

Ford sales have risen by 3.6% to 1,044,133 through the first six months of the year, up from 1,007,568 during the same period last year. Electric vehicle sales are up 71.8% and hybrids 49.6% so far this year, as compared to the same period last year. Internal combustion sales are down 1.4% year-over-year.

From the urban customer who wants the capability of a small pickup like Maverick to the businesses that rely on Transit vans to help drive the American economy, the distinctive Ford lineup is resonating with customers, said Andrew Frick, president, Ford Blue. Hybrid and electric vehicles are driving growth, as are post-purchase experiences, like BlueCruise hands-free highway driving, the Ford Pro Intelligence software platform and remote vehicle servicing options.

Ford has been investing heavily in electric vehicles and is now the second-largest electric vehicle manufacturer in the United States, after Tesla, but has been scaling back in favor of hybrids after EV sales started to slow. It also has been phasing out lower-margin cars, shifting its strategy to focus on pricier and higher-margin pickup trucks and SUVs.

In the second quarter, Ford sold 46,338 units of the Explorer, which is made at the Chicago Assembly Plant on the banks of the Calumet River near the state line. The total was down slightly from 46,362 units during the same period in 2023, a dip of 0.1%. Explorer sales have risen 0.4% to 104,803 units through the first six months of the year, up from 104,423 during the same period last year.

In 2019, Ford also started making the Lincoln Aviator at the Chicago Assembly Plant after phasing out the Lincoln MKS and Ford Taurus. Sales of the Aviator rose 90.3% to 5,664 in the second quarter, up from 2,977 units during the same period the previous year. Aviator sales are up 45.1% to 11,914 units through the end of June, as compared to 8,213 units through the end of June 2023.

In 2023, Ford sold a total of 1.99 million vehicles, up 7.1% from 1.86 million the previous year.
Shoppers at Strack & Van Til and Town & Country supermarkets in Porter County raised $11,000 for Opportunity Enterprises, a nonprofit that works to make people with disabilities independent.

Customers rounded up their purchases for Strack & Van Til's Checkout Challenge from May 20 through June 2. The proceeds will go toward Opportunity Enterprises' mission of "creating inclusive and equitable opportunities for people of all abilities."

"We're grateful to be able to continue to support Opportunity Enterprises and their mission, Strack & Van Til CEO Jeff Strack said. This is really a testament to the generosity and dedication of our customers, who are committed to supporting organizations that make a big difference in the community."

Strack & Van Til, which is the Region's largest homegrown grocer with more than 20 locations, supports many different nonprofits in the community through its regular checkout challenge campaigns. Strack & Van Til has raised money for Opportunity Enterprises for more than 20 years, through its Checkout Challenge program since 2017, OE Chief Development and Communications Officer Kacie Ensign said.

Thank you to all of the customers who generously donated. It might feel like youre not donating much when you round up, but it truly makes a huge impact, Ensign said.

Marcia Zeck of Town & Country, Hailey Jalovecky of the Chesterton Strack & Van Til location, Pam Cagle of the Valparaiso Calumet store, and Joan Ramey of the Valparaiso U.S. 30 Strack & Van Til supermarket raised the most funds and received gift bags as a result. OE also recognized all the cashiers at Town & Country for having the largest increase in donations over last year.

Strack & Van Til, the Highland-based grocer that was recently acquired by that Iowa-based Hy-Vee, raises money for a number of causes, including hunger relief, women's organizations, schools, first responders and the military.

Valparaiso-based Opportunity Enterprises serves more than 1,000 people with disabilities in Northwest Indiana every year. It employs about 400 people.
Rob Stone, who as a founder of the music magazine The Fader and the brand-strategy firm Cornerstone Agency bridged the sounds of the streets and the corporate suites, giving early exposure to rappers like Kanye West and Drake while brokering lucrative endorsements at a time when corporate America was still resistant to hip-hop, died on June 24 in Mount Kisco, N.Y. He was 55.

His longtime professional partner, Jon Cohen, said the cause of his death, in a hospital, was lung cancer.

Early in his music business career, first at SBK Records and later at Arista, Mr. Stone was charged with finding exposure and radio airplay for new artists. He began to establish himself as a hip-hop insider, working with performers like the Notorious B.I.G. and Craig Mack, as well as with Sean Combs, whose label, Bad Boy Records, had entered into a joint venture with Arista.

Before long Mr. Stone decided to set out on his own, and in 1996 he started Cornerstone with Steve Rifkind, the founder of the hip-hop label Loud Records. Mr. Rifkind left the agency after a year and a half and was replaced by Mr. Cohen, who had also worked at SBK and had been Mr. Stones best friend since middle school on Long Island.
After calling just four witnesses, lawyers for Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey rested their case late Wednesday afternoon in Manhattan federal court, setting the stage for jurors to begin deliberations in his international bribery conspiracy trial early next week.

Mr. Menendez, 70, said that he decided against testifying in his own defense for two primary reasons.

The government, he said, had not proved its case, and he did not want to give prosecutors an opportunity to rehash the charges twice  once on cross-examination and again in closing arguments.

That was simply not something that makes any sense to me whatsoever, Mr. Menendez said as he left the courthouse after proceedings ended for the day.
A former U.S. Air Force engineer has been charged with making false statements and obstructing justice during a federal criminal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash that killed 16 people, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

The engineer, James Michael Fisher, 67, formerly of Warner Robins, Ga., had been living in Portugal when he was arrested Tuesday morning on an indictment issued by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi, the department said in a news release. He is charged with two counts each of making false statement charges and obstruction of justice. If convicted, could receive up to 20 years in prison.

According to the department, Mr. Fisher, a former lead propulsion engineer at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, engaged in a pattern of conduct intended to avoid scrutiny for his past engineering decisions related to why the crash may have occurred. He also knowingly concealed key engineering documents from investigators and made materially false statements to them about his decisions, the department said.

The Justice Department did not specify a cause of the crash, which took place on July 10, 2017, in the Mississippi Delta when a U.S. Marine Corps KC-130 aircraft known as Yanky 72 crashed near Itta Bena, Miss., killing 15 members of the Marine Corps and a Navy corpsman. Witnesses at the time said the plane had disintegrated in the air as it neared the ground, prompting an urgent rescue effort in one of the Souths most rural areas. The authorities estimated the debris field was about three miles in diameter.
President Biden told a group of Democratic governors on Wednesday that he was staying in the 2024 campaign, as the group peppered the president with questions about the path forward after Mr. Bidens disastrous debate performance last week.

After the meeting, a handful of governors spoke with reporters outside the White House, with one, Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, declaring, President Joe Biden is in it to win it, and all of us said we pledged our support to him.

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said: He has had our backs through Covid, through all of the recovery, all of the things that have happened. The governors have his back, and were working together just to make very, very clear on that.

But he added, A path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority, and thats the No. 1 priority of the president.
President Joe Biden is in it to win it. And all of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher. We, like many americans, are  were worried. Were worried because the threat of a Trump presidency is not theoretical for governors. Weve served when Donald Trump was president and the threats to our nation were real. The Trump presidency was chaos, destruction. A Biden presidency was dealing with Covid, using the science, investing in infrastructure, and working to the middle class. We came in and we were honest about the feedback that we were getting. We were honest about the concerns that we were hearing from people. And we were also honest about the fact that as the president continued to tell us and show us that he was all in, that we said that we would stand with him because, as Governor Walz said, the president has always had our backs. Were going to have his back as well. Do you think hes fit for office. Yes, fit for office. The president has three and a half  three and a half years of delivering for us, going through what weve all been through. None of us are denying: Thursday night was a bad performance. It was a bad  it was a bad hit, if you will, on that. But it doesnt impact what I believe hes delivering.
Representative Raul M. Grijalva, a progressive Arizona Democrat, on Wednesday became the second House Democrat to publicly urge President Biden to leave the race, citing the precarious state of the presidents campaign.

What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race, Mr. Grijalva, 76, said in an interview with The New York Times.

His remarks came one day after Representative Lloyd Doggett, a 77-year-old progressive Democrat from Texas, called on Mr. Biden to withdraw. Both men are close in age to Mr. Biden, 81, whose halting debate performance on Thursday reignited questions about his age and acuity.

Mr. Grijalva questioned whether Mr. Biden could beat former President Donald J. Trump and said that Democrats needed to put up a fight. Mr. Grijalva, who was diagnosed with cancer in March, stressed that he believed Mr. Biden was a good man and that he would support the president if he stayed in the race.
Britons head to the polls

Britain votes today after a campaign that featured the same ingredients as other elections across Europe and the Americas: frustrated voters eager to reject the status quo, a deeply discredited government and a dash of populism.

But Britain is likely to emerge from the election as an outlier. While the electorates in other countries are shifting to the right, British voters are expected to evict the Conservative-led government after 14 years, in favor of the center-left Labour Party  zigging while others zag.

The Conservatives, or Tories, have presided over a tumultuous era that began with David Cameron in 2010. It included harsh budget cuts after the financial crisis of 2008; the Brexit vote of 2016; the Covid pandemic; and a revolving door of prime ministers. For many, it has come to seem like a circus that now needs to leave town.

Beyond the constant drama, Labour politicians charge that the Conservatives have broken Britain, including starving its revered National Health Service. Other experts note that Britains departure from the E.U. has slowed trade and handicapped economic growth.
The video posted last year on Chinese social media showed more than 100 Japanese children, supposedly at an elementary school in Shanghai, gathered in their schoolyard. Chinese subtitles quoted two students leading the group as screaming: Shanghai is ours. Soon the whole China will be ours, too.

The messages were alarming and infuriating in China, which Japan invaded during World War II. Except that the scene actually took place at an elementary school in Japan. And the students were not stoking hatred of China; they were swearing an oath to play fair at what looked like a sporting event.

The video wasnt taken down until after it had been viewed more than 10 million times.

Xenophobic online content like the schoolyard video is the subject of debate in China right now. Last week, a Chinese man stabbed a Japanese mother and her son in eastern China. Two weeks earlier, four visiting instructors from a college in Iowa were stabbed in northeastern China. Some Chinese are questioning the role that online speech plays in inciting real-world violence.

China has the worlds most sophisticated system to censor the internet when it wants to. The government sets strict rules about what can and cannot be said about politics, economics, society and the countrys leadership. Internet companies deploy an army of censors. Private citizens censor themselves, knowing that what they post can get their social media accounts deleted or, worse, land them in jail.
The European Union took the next step on Thursday toward collecting new tariffs on Chinese electric cars, telling automakers to obtain guarantees from banks that they would be able to pay the taxes set to be made final in October.

The move was expected. The bloc had said on June 12 that it would impose additional tariffs of 17 to 38 percent on electric vehicles imported from China. An investigation by the European Union had found what officials in Brussels describe as unfair subsidies by the Chinese government for electric car manufacturers.

The Chinese government has denied that it subsidizes the industry. Beijing contends that low prices for electric cars made in China reflect vigorous competition and innovation instead.

The two sides began talks on June 22 to try to resolve the dispute. We are continuing to engage intensively with China on a mutually acceptable solution, said Valdis Dombrovskis, the E.U. trade commissioner.
A man attacked with a machete. A young woman killed after the police said a 22-year-old woman stabbed her in an unprovoked attack near the Port Authority bus terminal. A carpenter waiting for a co-worker in the bus station stabbed nine times as he sat and read.

Times Square, the gaudy icon of Manhattan, and the surrounding streets have seen a string of attacks since April  sometimes in broad daylight  that have led to blaring headlines. They came just months after a winter spate of violence fed fears, inflamed by accusations from Republican politicians, that New York was sliding toward chaos and violence.

Those who live and work in the area say they are also concerned by the desperation they see every day in the place that styles itself as the Crossroads of the World: heroin users shooting up on the sidewalk, people suffering from mental health crises screaming in the streets and pervasive homelessness.

But despite the conspicuous incidents, most major crimes in Times Square have actually fallen, the police said, as officers, city officials and community groups work to improve conditions.
When the news broke that an upside-down American flag, a protest symbol carried by the Jan. 6 rioters, had flown above the home of a Supreme Court justice, some saw it as a sign of how badly the court had been corrupted. Others saw it as a sign of how badly the news media had been corrupted. For me, the unfurling scandal was a testament to the enduring expressive power of flags.

According to Justice Samuel Alito, the decision by his wife, Martha-Ann, to hoist that inverted standard was an expression of distress over a personal conflict with a neighbor. Soon it emerged that she had flown another provocative flag, the Pine Tree flag. And later, caught on a secret recording, Mrs. Alito expressed indignation over the sight of yet another flag, the rainbow Pride flag. She fantasized aloud about conveying her disapproval through, amazingly, another flag, one of her invention that would bear the Italian word for shame.

Its remarkable to me how, in a desacralized and image-saturated era, these simple devices can still inspire such intense passion. Its also remarkable how flexible they can be as symbols. This is especially true of the American flag, which is as laden with meaning as it is contestable.

That flag is more visible on the anniversary of the nations founding than on any other day of the year. Its in front of government buildings, in the hands of paradegoers, in the windows of shops and restaurants. It will be worn on T-shirts, burned in protest and sculpted in cake frosting. Its a seeming expression of unanimity, but everyone brings to the flag different associations. And theyre all right.
Whenever a politician cites Judeo-Christian values, I find its generally followed by something unsettling.

Last month brought two flagrant instances. In both cases, Republican officials introduced state laws that formalize precepts of the Christian nationalist movement  in the words of the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (A.D. 2019), doing everything we can to restore the Judeo-Christian foundation of our nation.

On June 19, Gov. Jeff Landry of Louisiana signed legislation requiring public classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, a practice struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1980. A rich endorsement came via Donald Trump, who crowed, I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT  HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG???

One week later, Landrys fellow Christian soldier Ryan Walters, Oklahomas superintendent of public instruction, announced plans to mandate teaching the Bible in public schools. Walters said learning the Bible is necessary to having an understanding of the basis of our legal system.
Early last year, a hacker gained access to the internal messaging systems of OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and stole details about the design of the companys A.I. technologies.

The hacker lifted details from discussions in an online forum where employees talked about OpenAIs latest technologies, according to two people familiar with the incident, but did not get into the systems where the company houses and builds its artificial intelligence.

OpenAI executives revealed the incident to employees during an all-hands meeting at the companys San Francisco offices in April 2023 and informed its board of directors, according to the two people, who discussed sensitive information about the company on the condition of anonymity.

But the executives decided not to share the news publicly because no information about customers or partners had been stolen, the two people said. The executives did not consider the incident a threat to national security because they believed the hacker was a private individual with no known ties to a foreign government. The company did not inform the F.B.I. or anyone else in law enforcement.
The Claremont Institute has been located in Southern California since its founding in the late 1970s. From its perch in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, it has become a leading intellectual center of the pro-Trump right.

Without fanfare, however, some of Claremonts key figures have been leaving California to find ideologically friendlier climes. Ryan P. Williams, the think tanks president, moved to a suburb in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in early April.

His friend and Claremont colleague Michael Anton  a California native who played a major role in 2016 to convince conservative intellectuals to vote for Mr. Trump  moved to the Dallas area two years ago. The institutes vice president for operations and administration has moved there, too. Others are following. Mr. Williams opened a small office in another Dallas-Fort Worth suburb in May, and said he expects to shrink Claremonts California headquarters.
A European plan to give Ukraine another Patriot air defense system to protect its battered cities from Russian airstrikes is coming together, piece by piece.

The radar and three missile launchers are being supplied by the Netherlands. Some interceptor missiles are coming from a four-country coalition led by Germany. A mobile fire control center has been promised, though officials wont say yet from where or by whom. Additional missiles and launchers, as well as training for Ukrainians to use the sophisticated system, will be provided by as many as eight countries.

We have all the pieces of the puzzle, the former Dutch defense minister, Kajsa Ollongren, said in an interview before she left office this week as part of a long-expected transition in the Netherlands caretaker government. We just have to put them together.

It is the Patriot puzzle, as the assembled air defense system is being called by NATO officials.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has said he desperately needs at least seven Patriot batteries to fend off attacks across the country. President Biden has promised that five Western air defense systems will soon be delivered to Ukraine.
The authorities in Washington and Arlington, Va., on Wednesday advised all 920,000 residents to boil their drinking water after they discovered that algae blooms in the Potomac River had raised pollution levels in a reservoir.

The boil water advisory, which extended to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport, was lifted on Thursday morning after the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority said it had confirmed that the water supply never deviated from established water quality standards.

It is unusual for a boil water advisory to cover the entire city, said John Lisle, a spokesman for the Washington water utility, who added that he had not seen such an expansive warning in the 11 years that he worked there. Mr. Lisle said he was not aware of anyone becoming ill from drinking the tap water.

Cloudy or hazy water could be a sign of lower water quality, Arlington County said in a statement. The water may contain bacteria, viruses and parasites that cause nausea, cramps, diarrhea and headaches, the authorities said. Infants, children, older people and people with compromised immune systems can be more vulnerable to them, they said.
Hurricane Beryl, which tore through the eastern Caribbean this week, leaving islands flattened, communities inundated and at least eight people dead, made landfall again early Friday morning, in Mexico, just northeast of Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula.

The storm, which this week became the earliest Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic, weakened early Friday, dropping to Category 2, with maximum sustained winds up to 110 miles an hour, according to the National Hurricane Center.

With the center forecasting dangerous storm surges and hurricane-force winds, the Mexican authorities were taking no chances. The government said on Thursday that it had deployed more than 13,000 workers and members of the armed forces, along with rescue dogs, and had set up mobile kitchens and water-treatment plants in Quintana Roo, a southern state facing the Caribbean that may be the first to feel the storms impact.

After the hurricane moved on from Jamaica, residents emerged from shelters there to take in a landscape of farmland that had been devastated, homes that had sustained damage and roads that were covered with toppled utility poles and foliage.
The Raven, the story goes, alighted on the beach and heard sounds coming from a giant clamshell. He found creatures cowering inside but, ever the trickster, he cajoled them out into the world. Liberated, they became the first people of the islands of Haida Gwaii.

The Haida people have lived for thousands of years on Haida Gwaii, a remote archipelago in the Pacific Ocean off Canadas western coast, just south of Alaska.

Nearly wiped out by smallpox after the arrival of Europeans, the Haida clung to their land  so rich in wildlife it is sometimes called Canadas Galapagos, coveted by loggers for its old-growth forests of giant cedars and spruce.

For decades, despite their geographic isolation, the Haidas unwavering fight to regain control over their land drew outsize attention in Canada, raising questions about the countrys long unacknowledged, brutal colonial history.
Germanys first Black African-born member of Parliament said this week that he would not seek office again in next years general elections. Although he played down racism as a factor, he made the announcement in the wake of a slew of hate mail, death threats he said he has received, as well as multiple violent attacks on his office.

The lawmaker, Karamba Diaby, a 62-year-old Senegal native first elected in 2013, said in a letter written to his colleagues that he wanted to make way for a new generation of politicians, spend more time with family and that racism was not the main reason for his decision. But he has been outspoken about the abuse he has experienced, which has markedly increased in volume and tenor in recent years.

Bullets were fired through the window of his district office in 2020, and the office was a target of arson last year.

In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Diaby reiterated his stance but acknowledged the attacks he had weathered were a factor in his decision. Particularly troubling, he said, was the feeling his staff were also in harms way. That cannot be brushed aside, he said. However, I have stressed that I will never allow myself to be intimidated.
Mr. Starmer, a 61-year-old former human rights lawyer, has led a remarkable turnaround for the Labour Party, which just a few years ago suffered its worst election defeat since the 1930s. He has pulled the party to the political center while capitalizing on the failings of three Conservative prime ministers.

He has been ferociously  some would say tediously  boring in his discipline, Jill Rutter, a research fellow at the London research group U.K. in a Changing Europe, told The New York Times recently. Hes not going to set hearts racing, but he does look relatively prime-ministerial.

Mr. Starmer was raised in a left-wing, working-class family in Surrey, outside London. He was not close with his father; his mother, a nurse, suffered a debilitating illness that took her in and out of the hospital. Mr. Starmer became the first college graduate in his family, studying first at Leeds University, and then law at Oxford.

He was named after Keir Hardie, a Scottish trade unionist who was Labours first leader. As a young lawyer, he represented protesters accused of libel by McDonalds. He later rose to become Britains chief prosecutor and was awarded a knighthood.

Elected to Parliament in 2015, he succeeded the left-wing Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in 2020 and began remaking the party. He dropped Mr. Corbyns proposal to nationalize Britains energy companies and promised not to raise taxes on working families. He committed to supporting Britains military, hoping to banish an anti-patriotic label that clung to Labour during the Corbyn era.
Colonel Gorodilov led the unit at the time and was present in the town where hundreds of civilians died, in some cases as a result of brutal executions, The Times found. Russian troops retreated from the area in early 2022.

The U.S. government imposed sanctions on Colonel Gorodilov last year for what it called his involvement in gross violations of human rights, namely extrajudicial killings.

He was promoted to the rank of colonel days after images from Bucha emerged publicly and turned the suburb into a global symbol of the terror that Russian forces have brought to occupied Ukrainian towns.

Moscow has denied involvement in the Bucha killings, with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia calling the events a provocation. The Times, however, identified two dozen members of the 234th Regiment who were in Bucha at the time of the massacre, in part by tracing the numbers the troops called in Russia using the Ukrainian victims mobile phones.
Follow our live updates on the U.K. election.

Voters went to the polls in Britain on Thursday in a dyspeptic mood, many of them frustrated with the Conservative government and skeptical that any replacement can unravel the tangle of problems hobbling the country.

Their skepticism is warranted, according to analysts. Even if the Labour Party wins a robust majority in Parliament, as polls suggest, it will confront a raft of challenges, from a torpid economy to a corroded National Health Service, without having many tools to fix them.

The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, would inherit a legacy of ashes, said Robert Ford, a professor of political science at the University of Manchester. And voters, who less than five years ago elected the Conservatives in a landslide, are not likely to give Mr. Starmer much slack to turn things around.
Voters streamed into a polling station in Portsmouth, a city nestled along Englands southern coast that is known for its naval base and historic dockyard, on Thursday morning as ballot workers greeted them warmly.

Older couples walked hand in hand into the local church, which had been temporarily fitted out with ballot boxes, alongside parents with children in strollers, and young adults rushing in on the way to work.

One by one, they weighed in on the future of the nation in a vote that polls suggested could end 14 years of Conservative-led government.

I just want to see change, said Sam Argha, 36, as he left his local polling station on Thursday morning having just cast a ballot for the Labour Party. I just really want to see us do something differently.
American and Israeli officials on Thursday expressed renewed optimism over a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip, after Hamas revised its position and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel then told President Biden that he was sending a new delegation of negotiators to the stalled talks.

White House officials said they believed new progress in the talks amounted to what one repeatedly called a breakthrough in the monthslong negotiations, though they said that it would take some time to work out the many steps involved in implementing the truce. Israeli and other officials involved in the talks agreed that there had been progress but described it in more cautious terms.

The discussions are based on a three-stage framework deal publicized by President Biden in late May and endorsed by the United Nations. If carried out, the agreement would ultimately stipulate an end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and for Hamas and its allies to release the remaining 120 living and dead hostages in Gaza for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

A senior Biden administration official directly involved in the talks said that there was broad agreement now about the steps required to transition from phase one, a temporary cease-fire, to phase two, a permanent end to the fighting and a release of the remaining living hostages.
FOUR Offaly based organisations are the recipients of funding as a result of the RTE Toy Show Appeal.

The big winner in Offaly was Offaly Traveller Movement which benefited to the tune of 40,000. This will go towards the Travelling to Wellbeing Mental Health Service to extend their unique, traveller specific programme to address the critical mental health needs within the Traveller Community.

Offaly Domestic Violence Service received 10,000 for the provision of play therapy for children who have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

Tullamore Community & Family Resource Centre 11,000 for access to play therapy and therapeutic interventions for low income families and children with additional needs.

Clara Community Family resource Centre 14,000 to upscale the planet youth project by increasing the working hours and extending the duration of employment of a youth worker to one year to engage with marginalised teens and to include facilitation costs for the delivery of a diverse range of programmes.

The RTE Toy Show Appeal began in 2020,and was inspired by the story of Saoirse Ruane from Kiltullagh, Co Galway, who won the hearts of the nation with her appearance on The Late Late Toy Show. Saoirse sadly passed away in March of this year, and RTE Director General Kevin Backhurst today spoke of Saoirses enduring legacy with The Toy Show Appeal.

Announcing the grants, RTE Director General Kevin Bakhurst said: The RTE Toy Show Appeal is one of the most important things that we do as an organisation. We are so grateful for the support of our Late Late Toy Show audience whose generosity has ensured that RTE can continue to make a positive difference to the lives of thousands of children, and their families across the island, north and south. Children have always been the inspiration behind the Late Late Toy Show and have, in turn, inspired the RTE Toy Show Appeal, not least, Saoirse Ruane who will be remembered as someone who made such a positive and lasting impact on us all. Her memory will live on through the RTE Toy Show Appeal and the many young lives that will be transformed.

Local projects and organisations in every county of Ireland will receive grants to help with a diverse range of needs including meeting basic needs like food and essentials, disability supports, creativity and play and bereavement support. Four grants of 75,000 have been awarded to organisations including Clara Community & Family Resource Centre, Offaly Domestic Violence Service and Tullamore Community & Family Resource Centre. Community Foundation Ireland is supporting Offaly Traveller Movement alongside the RTE Toy Show Appeal which will increase the total funds awarded to charities in Offaly to 155,000.''
IdeasLab, the entrepreneurial and innovation hub at University of Galway, has announced the winners of its student entrepreneur Start100 competition.

Damien Delaney, a first-year Psychology student from Birr, and the owner of Hology Photography, secured the top prize and a 5,000 award for his visual-based app called FocusZen which enables individuals to use photography as a form of meditation and a way of enhancing their wellbeing.

Final year Bachelor of Commerce student David Garvey from Glenamaddy, Co Galway, received the One to Watch award and a prize fund of 1,000 for Arclo, an innovative clothing brand bringing t-shirts to life using augmented reality technology.

Most Engaging Pitch went to Claudine Mulihano, a first-year Podiatric Medicine student from Dundalk, Co Louth, and her idea StepWise, a smart insole designed to tackle the foot condition plantar fasciitis using Bluetooth technology to transmit real-time biomechanics data to healthcare practitioners.

Alongside the three main prize winners, one of the Start100 judging panel, Paul Merriman, chief executive of Fairstone, pledged to give student Emily Donellan from Maree, Co Galway 2,000 in funding for her podcast Start Right, a by-student, for-student podcast that offers tailored advice and guidance to young people transitioning from secondary school to college.

Start100 offers students an intensive six-week programme, where ten teams refine their business model and present at a special showcase, bringing their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges from the worlds of academia, research, and enterprise.

The competitions is designed to empower early-stage student start-ups. During the process the teams are introduced to speakers from different industries, experts in entrepreneurial development both regionally and nationally, and Start100 alumni who have successfully started their own businesses.

Each team is matched with a mentor in a relevant field, ensuring they receive the advice and the support they need to take their idea to the next level.

Professor Peter McHugh, University of Galways Deputy President and Registrar, said: University of Galway plays an important role in nurturing innovation and growth within our region and beyond. Start100 is an example of how the connections we foster with industry cultivate innovative leadership skills in our students, and provides them with the space and supports to develop ideas with the potential for broader societal impact.

Meabh Conaghan, Regional Director for the West and North-West Regions, Enterprise Ireland, said: "Programmes that encourage and support student entrepreneurship at all levels are crucial to a vibrant start-up ecosystem. The Start100 series of incubation supports is to be applauded as it helps students to explore, develop and validate their ideas in a structured and safe environment. Enterprise Ireland West region is delighted to collaborate with Ollscoil na Gaillimhe and its IdeasLab team on Start100 2024. Enterprise Ireland warmly welcomes Start100, recognizing it as an avenue for future enterprise success and is happy to support this worthwhile initiative."

Throughout the programme students visited CREW, ComWorks in Loughrea, Platfrom 94 and the Portershed and had guest speakers from Enterprise Ireland, Westbic, the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) and Start100 alumni. They were given workshops on intellectual property, tax, presentation skills and more, and speakers from successful enterprises such as Mbryonics and Tribe Hospitality.

The judging panel for the final event were Dr Helen McBreen, Partner Atlantic Bridge; Paul Merriman, CEO Fairstone; Meabh Conaghan, Regional Director for the West and North-West Regions, Enterprise Ireland; and John Brennan, CEO WestBic, and the prize fund sponsored by AskPaul for the second year in a row.

Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development at University of Galway, said: "Start100 is more than a programme it is a bridge that connects our student entrepreneurs with our vibrant regional ecosystem and beyond. By fostering these connections, we empower our students to leverage the wealth of knowledge, expertise, and resources available right here in our region. The collaboration with local industry leaders, visits to innovation hubs, and insights from successful Start100 alumni, all contribute to a rich network of supports that helps our young entrepreneurs turn their innovative ideas into viable businesses with global impact.
A 'BUY a Brick' fundraising campaign has been relaunched in Lorrha, Co Tipperary, in order to complete the construction of a permanent home for the village's community shop and cafe.

Construction began in early June on the long-awaited project at St Ruadhan's Hall in the village, which will be the only shop in the villages of Lorrha, Rathcabbin and Redwood. Efforts are now being strengthened to raise adequate funding to support the full completion of the construction.

Almost 240,000 in grant funding has already been secured as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, to extend the community hall and to renovate existing space at St Ruadhan's Hall, Lorrha, to provide a community centre and remote working hub that complements the existing community services (cafe and shop) provided by the community centre.

However, an ambitious drive to fundraise an additional 75,000 through the 'Buy a Brick' campaign is also necessary to support the completion of this essential project. The 'Buy a Brick' campaign was launched in recent years, with 100 donations coming from across the parish, as well as from many individuals and community organisations in Ireland and abroad.

So far, over 17,000 has been raised and the SCEAL committee is asking people, families and community groups in the parish of Lorrha and further afield to contribute to the completion of a long-term home for an essential amenity.

Chairperson of SCEAL, Patrick Cahalan, outlined the significance of this development: The SCEAL community shop in Lorrha is now the last remaining shop in the three villages of Lorrha, Rathcabbin and Redwood. People in the parish, across Ireland, and across the world have been hugely generous in donating 100 for bricks, and we're so grateful for the support shown so far.

The construction of this permanent home for the shop in Lorrha isn't a want. It's an essential need, and public support is critical to maintain its presence in the short, medium and long-term.

Anybody who wishes to donate 100 to the 'Buy a Brick' campaign can do so by visiting the SCEAL shop in Lorrha (Eircode: E45 A097), or making the donation online to SCEAL's Paypal account, by searching for 'Sceal Society Limited'.

SCEAL (Social Community Enterprise for the Advancement of Lorrha/Rathcabbin) was established in 2016 in response to the closure of the last shop in the village, and as well as evolving to manage a seven-day per week community shop, it also promotes the rich cultural and historical background of the parish.
ONE of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of the State, the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region, which will see water piped from the River Shannon to Dublin, has been given the green light by the Government.

The delivery of the Water Supply Project, Eastern and Midlands Region, has been described as critical to sustainable economic growth, enabling housing delivery and attracting investment to support Irelands growing population for the next 30 years and beyond.

However, the project is not without its opponents, with many in the Mid West and Midlands expressing grave fears about the damage it may cause to the Shannon and also to the escalating cost of the project.

The project, which received Cabinet approval in principle last week, under the Infrastructure Guidelines, can now proceed to planning. It will be one of the largest and most important infrastructure projects in the history of the State and has the capacity to ensure secure sustainable water supplies for up to 50% of the population.

The project will develop a new, climate-resilient, long-term water source to meet the demands of a growing population and economy, including the need for housing and mitigating against the impacts of climate change. It will create a water spine across the country which will ensure an urban level of service to towns and regions from Tipperary to Dublin and Carlow to Drogheda.

In Offaly, the project will provide the capacity for offtakes of treated water to Tullamore, Clonaslee, Edenderry, Rhode, Daingean, Walsh Island, Geashill and Dunkerrin/Monegall. This will provide the infrastructure needed to support significant population growth in these areas. For example, in Tullamore, it will facilitate population growth from 16,700 (2019 figures) to 20,814 (2044 figures), while population in Edenderry/Rhode will have capacity to increase from 11,041 to 12,735. It will also provide the capacity and flexibility to support greater commercial water demand for existing businesses and potential future investment in these areas. This will be in addition to other significant investments by Uisce Eireann in the county. Since 2014, the utility has invested circa 50 million in water and wastewater infrastructure projects in the county, with significant continued investment in infrastructure and programmes planned.

Commenting after the Government decision, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien TD said: I am very glad to have received Government approval today for the Water Supply project to proceed at Approval Gate 1 under the Infrastructure Guidelines. What this means is that Uisce Eireann can now progress the project through the remaining Infrastructure Guidelines approval gates including the submission of a planning application to An Bord Pleanala in 2025. This marks an important first step in what is a multi-billion euro project which will ensure a sustainable water supply for our country both now and into the future.

Not only that, but this project will enable much needed housing delivery. One of the key recommendations in the recently published Housing Commission report was to take urgent action to ensure delivery of the critical Water Supply Project for the Eastern and Midlands Region' and with todays Cabinet approval we are doing just that and showing our commitment to this project and to the future generations.

Uisce Eireann CEO Niall Gleeson said: The Water Supply Project is critical for the future of our country. By delivering a secure, climate-proof supply of water for up to 50% of the States population it will facilitate increased demand for housing, enable sustainable economic growth and support competitiveness across the Region. Crucially it will also help us meet the challenges of climate change by diversifying our water supplies to ensure safe, resilient water services for communities across the region, and reduce the vulnerability to drought and other extreme weather events.

This essential project will provide Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow with a resilient, safe, secure water supply. It will also create a treated water supply spine across the country with the capacity to serve communities along the route in Newport, Moneygall and Borrisokane in North Tipperary, Dunkerrin and Tullamore in Offaly, and Mullingar in Westmeath. In addition, supplies currently serving Dublin can be redirected back to Louth, Meath, Kildare, Carlow and Wicklow, providing security of supply to homes and businesses, which will support growth and regional development.

The Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region proposes to abstract a maximum of 2% of the average flow of the River Shannon at Parteen Basin downstream of Lough Derg. Treated water will then be piped 170km through counties Tipperary, Offaly and Kildare to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in County Dublin, connecting into the Greater Dublin network.

Currently water supply in the Eastern and Midlands region faces a number of serious challenges, notably the over-reliance on the River Liffey to supply 1.7 million people in the Greater Dublin Area. This dependence on the Liffey (and the two main treatment plants of Ballymore Eustace and Leixlip) results in a serious vulnerability to risks such as prolonged drought and/or contamination. With forecasts showing that the region will need 34% more water by 2044 than is available today, this combination of a growing water supply deficit and lack of supply resilience is not sustainable.

The potential solutions to the water supply need in the Eastern and Midlands Region have been under review for over 25 years. Hundreds of options have been considered. The proposal approved by Cabinet is the culmination of extensive and detailed appraisal of potential solutions and alternatives including technical, engineering, environmental, financial and economic assessments in addition to widespread stakeholder consultation. To date, the project team has engaged with over 1,500 stakeholders and Uisce Eireann is committed to continuing engagement with all stakeholders including further consultation with landowners and local communities as the project progresses. The project has also been examined in the context of the outcomes of Uisce Eireanns first National Water Resources Plan and associated Regional Water Resource Plans and it remains the best solution to address the majority of the water supply needs of the Eastern and Midlands region. Following Cabinet approval Uisce Eireann will submit a Strategic Infrastructure Development application to An Bord Pleanala next year with construction estimated to take 4-5 years.
A warning remains in place about increased levels of cryptosporidiosis, a severe stomach bug, reported from areas of Spain, particularly Salou in Catalonia.

The warning remains in place on the Department of Foreign Affairs website as peak holiday season arrives.

The HSE is advising people to take extra hygiene precautions when travelling in this area. More information can be found on the HSEs website here.

According to the HSE, Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrhoeal disease caused by a microscopic parasite (Cryptosporidium). Once an animal or person is infected, the parasite lives in the intestine and passes in the stool.

The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants.

It can survive temperatures greater than 70oC. It is found (particularly in water) through the world.

Cryptosporidium lives in the intestine of infected humans or animals. Millions of parasites can be released in a bowel movement from an infected human or animal. It is therefore found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with human or animal faeces. It is a common cause of waterborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis.



The most common symptom of cryptosporidiosis is watery diarrhoea. Other symptoms include:

Dehydration

Weight loss

Stomach cramps or pain

Fever

Nausea

Vomiting

Some people with cryptosporidiosis will have no symptoms at all.

Cryptosporidium can be quite contagious. These simple measures will reduce the likelihood of spread:
Bus-Truck collision injures 25 passengers in Madampe

Posted by Editor on July 4, 2024 - 11:00 am

25 passengers were hospitalized today (July 4) after a collision between a cement truck and a Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus on the Chilaw-Colombo main road in Madampe.

Police reported the injured were taken to Chilaw Hospital, where some are in serious condition.

The bus, traveling from Devala Junction to Colombo via Chilaw, reportedly lost control and collided with the truck amid rainy weather.

Both vehicles sustained severe damage.

Madampe Police are investigating the incident further.
Police Inspector from Mahabage Police station arrested for bribery

Posted by Editor on July 4, 2024 - 9:50 am

A police inspector from Mahabage Police Station was arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) for accepting a bribe of Rs. 25,000.

The arrest came after a complaint from a Palliyawatta resident, Wattala.

Reports indicate the inspector demanded the bribe to avoid court action over two bounced cheques.

He allegedly promised to arrange for the settlement of the cheque amounts in installments.

The arrested inspector will appear before the Colombo Chief Magistrates Court.
Sri Lanka President confirms 5-year term amid Supreme Court petition

Posted by Editor on July 4, 2024 - 10:28 am

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe clarified that businessman Chamindra Dayan Lenawa did not consult him or his lawyers before filing a petition in the Supreme Court.

The petition seeks the courts interpretation of the Presidents term under the Constitution.

President Wickremesinghe reaffirmed that the Presidents term is 5 years, supporting the Election Commissions plan to hold the next Presidential Election in 2024.

The Presidents Media Division highlighted that Chamindra Dayan Lenawa filed the petition under specific constitutional articles, challenging the interpretation of the Presidents term and seeking to delay the 2024 Presidential Election until the court rules on the matter.


Distressed American flag

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Let's get right to it: The shocking decision by the Supreme Court has us non-Trumpers in a place of deep anxiety and overt fear. We know that our lives and our kids' futures will be forever changed by a court that has become so outrageously biased and openly political that it is not hyperbolic to charge them with the end of our democracy as we've known it.

Thankfully Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) announced on July 1 that she would file articles of impeachment because "the Supreme Court's decision [on presidential immunity] "represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture."

In fact, some justices should have been impeached for lying when they said in their congressional hearings that "no man is above the law," or when they lied about Roe v. Wade being "settled precedent." Alito's flag tricks and Thomas's high-flying vacations are also grounds for impeachment. So, bravo to AOC, and the three women Justices, for having the courage to immediately stand up to a compromised and contaminated Supreme Court.

Given the Court's horrific ruling, President Biden is now free to appoint several new Supreme Court justices to the bench, with Congressional approval, to clean up the highest court in the land and restore justice to Americans. Indeed, it's time to expand the Court and set term limits if ever there was one. It's at least a start for reclaiming our national sanity.

As for President Biden's bad debate night, this seems like a good time to remind people that we aren't just voting for a candidate, we are voting for democracy, freedom, and a safe, fair and humane future. It's too early to know whether President. Biden will be the Democratic nominee as I write this commentary. Compelling pro and con opinions fill the airwaves as polls fluctuate.

But the fact is, with all due respect, it's not about whether the president is up to the challenges of another term. He doesn't have to complete one, because no one is indispensable. That's why we have a qualified person and an experienced team to take over should that be necessary.

It's vital that this election restores good governance, upholds the Constitution, cleans up Congress and the courts and saves our country from a dictatorial regime that would end life as we know it. We urgently need to avoid a terrifying agenda of oppression and lawlessness, and we need to stop the rule of oligarchs. We need to stop Donald Trump from being dictator.We need to take his agenda seriously and understand how it will affect every single one of us. To put it bluntly we need to understand Trump et.al. are a catastrophe waiting to happen. Remember: The minute the Supreme Court ruled on his immunity, he called for a military tribunal to put Liz Cheney in jail. What's next on his list?

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Not quite ready gooseberries.

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By Bob Gaydos

Change is inevitable, they say, so the best course is to try to learn from it. For example, moving from an urban environment, which I lived in for most of my life, to a rural one required learning some new skills.

Some are more important than others. Pruning and harvesting gooseberry bushes without getting cut up by thorns is one of the more esoteric ones.

I'm learning.

"How'd you get those scratches on your arms?"

"It's gooseberry season."

"Huh?"

"Thorns."

That was a recent conversation. With temperatures in the high 90's, I went after the spreading bushes while wearing a T-shirt. Good thing the berries are juicy.

But not just that. They also have history. I'd never heard of gooseberries before becoming countrified and I imagine a few of you haven't either. That's because they were banned in America for decades.

Early in the 20th century, federal and state governments banned the growing of currants and gooseberries to stop the spread of white pine blister rust. Basically, the fungus was killing white pine trees, which were vital to the construction industry in the country.

It seems the blister rust fungus completes its life cycle only when gooseberries or currants and pine trees are living in close proximity to each other. Rather than cut down all the pine trees to save the gooseberry bushes, the decision was made to stop growing gooseberries to save the pine trees. Hard to argue with that.

Yet here we are with seven very healthy gooseberry bushes waiting to be harvested. What happened? Are they illegal? Not anymore.

Science saved the gooseberries as well as the pine trees. By mid-century, cross-breeding programs had been developed using remaining pine trees to develop varieties resistant to the rust. That meant gooseberries could be living safely in the neighborhood with the pine trees.

The federal ban was lifted in 1966, although some states still have restrictions on cultivating or shipping gooseberries.

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Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) July 4, 2024: My favorite scholar is my former teacher at Saint Louis University, the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter Jackson Ong, Jr. (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955).

Father Ong's father was a Protestant until his death-bed conversion to Catholicism. But Father Ong's mother was a Catholic, and so Walter Jr. and his younger brother were raised as Catholics and attended Catholic schools. So we can think of Father Ong's father and mother as constituting a hybrid family of sorts.

In any event, Father Ong's family name is English. His paternal ancestors left East Anglia on the same ship that brought Roger Williams to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1631 - a few years before the founding of Harvard College in 1636.

Around the time of the 300th anniversary in 1936 of the founding of Harvard College, scholars began to take note of the work of the French Renaissance logician and educational reformer and Protestant martyr Peter Ramus (1515-1572) - whose logic dominated the curriculum of the recently founded Harvard College - and of Cambridge University in East Anglia, even when the English Renaissance poet and pamphleteer John Milton (1608-1674) was a student there.

Who was this forgotten figure Peter Ramus, and what was the novelty of his work in logic? Harvard's Perry Miller explored these and other questions to the best of his ability in his massively researched 1939 book The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century (Harvard University Press; for specific page references to Ramus, see the "Index" [p. 528]). However, in the end, Miller called to someone to undertake a more thorough account of Ramus and his work.

In the meantime, young Walter Jr. had entered the Jesuit novitiate in September 1935. Subsequently, as part of his lengthy Jesuit formation, he was sent to Saint Louis University, where he studied philosophy and English. At that time, the young Canadian convert to Catholicism, Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980), was teaching English at Saint Louis University (from 1937 to 1944), as he worked on his 1943 Cambridge University doctoral dissertation on the English Renaissance writer Thomas Nashe (1567-1601) and the verbal arts in our Western cultural history.

Young McLuhan called young Walter Jr.'s attention to Perry Miller's 1939 book The New England Mind: The Seventeenth Century.

McLuhan's 1943 Cambridge University doctoral dissertation was published posthumously, unrevised but with an editorial apparatus, as the book The Classical Trivium: The Place of Thomas Nashe in the Learning of His Time, edited by W. Terrence Gordon (Gingko Press, 2006).

Now, after Walter Jr. had been ordained a Jesuit priest and had completed his lengthy Jesuit formation, he proceeded to Harvard University to undertake his doctoral studies in English. Perry Miller (1905-1963) served as the director of Ong's massively researched doctoral dissertation on Peter Ramus.

In 1958, Harvard University Press published Ong's massively researched dissertation in two volumes: (1) Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue: From the Art of Discourse to the Art of Reason [in Ramus and in the Age of Reason]; and (2) Ramus and Talon Inventory, a briefly annotated listing of the 750 or so volumes by Ramus and his supporters and his critics that Ong had tracked down in more than 100 libraries in the British Isles and Continental Europe. Ong received financial assistance from two Guggenheim Fellowships.

For three years (November 1950 to November 1953), Ong was based in a Jesuit residence in Paris.

Ong's 1958 book Ramus and Talon Inventory carries the dedication "For/ Herbert Marshall McLuhan/ who started all this" - meaning that McLuhan had started Ong's interest in Ramus and the verbal arts.

Now, Ong's massively researched 1958 book Ramus, Method, and the Decay of Dialogue was both his pioneering study of the print culture that emerged in our Western cultural history after the Gutenberg printing press emerged in Europe in the mid-1450s, and his pioneering contribution to media ecology theory (see the "Index" entry for aural-to-visual shift [p. 396]).

I have written about Ong's philosophical thought in his account in his massively researched 1958 book of the aural-to-visual shift in cognitive processing in our Western cultural history in my somewhat lengthy OEN article "Walter J. Ong's Philosophical Thought" (dated September 20, 2020):

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Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters issued a memo last Thursday requiring a Christian Bible to be in every public-school classroom and that the Bible is to be used "as an instructional support into the curriculum across specified grade levels, e.g, grades 5 through 12".

The Christian theocrat Walters is under the delusion that the Christian Bible is a fundamental source for the US Constitution. If he ever read the US Constitution, he would realize it NEVER mentions the Bible, Christianity, Judaism, Jesus, Moses, nor does it state the Christian Bible is a fundamental pillar of the US Constitution. Walters, when confronted with this fact regarding the US Constitution, turned to the Declaration of Independence and pointed out that the Declaration of Independence states "our rights come from our creator". This is true. HOWEVER, the Declaration of Independence is NOT a Christian document, it is a Deistic document.

Knowledge is power. If the students who will be indoctrinated with Christianity in public schools in Oklahoma had the knowledge that America's Founders did NOT create the American Republic to be a Christian nation and had in fact stated that the United States of America is NOT a Christian nation, theocrats like Walters would not be able to brain-pollute children with the lies of the religious right. The document that makes clear the original intent of the Founders was not to create a Christian nation is found in the US Treaty of Tripoli. This treaty originated in the administration of George Washington and was unanimously ratified during the administration of John Adams. Article 11 of the treaty clearly and openly states: "As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion..."

If teachers who know the truth about America not being a Christian nation refuse to teach Christian lies to their students, they will lose their license to teach.

The theocrats of the religious right have been hard at work for decades to turn the US into a Christian nation. Walters believes that when public-school teachers teaching the Bible in Oklahoma is legally challenged in court, the theocrats will be victorious due to the pro-Christian US Supreme Court that was created by Donald Trump. Two key US Supreme Court decisions in 2022 should give Walters and other Christian theocrats comfort. Those cases are Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and Carson v. Makin. Both of these cases promote theocracy over democracy.

Walters made it clear that requiring public-school teachers to teach the Bible in school is not at all the end of the Christian theocrats' demands. He said that Trump has "helped provide a path for us to be able to do this as states" and that if Trump wins a second term in the White House "it will help us move the ball forward, even more so than this". Perhaps the religious right would like to have blasphemy laws and ecclesiastic courts?

One of the most important potential obstacles to the Christian theocrats who are turning the US into a Bible-based Christian theocracy is Deism . This is because many of America's key Founders were Deists. George Washington Thomas Paine , etc., were not Christians, they were Deists. If this fact about America's key Founders was common knowledge, it would destroy their lie that America's Founders created the US as a Christian nation, and the Christian theocrats would not be able to do what they are doing and what they are planning on doing. Unfortunately, very few people know about Deism, let alone know the truth about America's Deist Founders. This is why it's important to openly teach objective truths about the Bible and all "holy" books, using as our example Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In his years in power, Joe Biden and his top foreign policy officials have come up with a distinctly more aggressive and militarized approach to a rising China and, in particular, its claims to areas of the South China Sea or the island of Taiwan. As an old Cold Warrior who lived through the era of "containing" Soviet power, the president has taken a strikingly similar approach toward China, even if he's repeatedly denied that it's a policy of "containment."

Typically, American Green Berets have recently been stationed on the Taiwanese island of Kinmen, just a few miles off the coast of the People's Republic (though the head of the United States Indo-Pacific Command insists that it's not a permanent change). Four new military posts are also being established in the Philippines, all of them strategically closer to China than the other U.S. bases there. Meanwhile, last year the U.S. Marines opened their first new base in 70 years on the Pacific island of Guam as a "strategic hub" for the region, even as the American military command in Japan was also being strengthened.

(Imagine for a moment, how this country would react if China were challenging America's "aggressive" behavior by establishing military bases throughout, say, the Caribbean or off the Mexican coast. Truly beyond belief, right?)

And then, of course, there's Australia, where the U.S. is now stockpiling military supplies (and conducting joint war games) for a possible future conflict with China over Taiwan and, as TomDispatch regular Michael Klare makes strikingly clear today, that's just the beginning when it comes to future military connections with that country. (Think nuclear submarines!)

And all of this is happening, as Klare points out, while American power globally is actually on the wane and its crucial alliances (in a world where the Global South is finally rising), increasingly" well, let's not say "white" but, as Klare makes clear today, distinctly Anglo-Saxonified. Tom

Trusting the "Five Eyes" Only

The Anglo-Saxonization of American Foreign Policy and Its Perverse Consequences

By Michael Klare

Wherever he travels globally, President Biden has sought to project the United States as the rejuvenated leader of a broad coalition of democratic nations seeking to defend the "rules-based international order" against encroachments by hostile autocratic powers, especially China, Russia, and North Korea. "We established NATO, the greatest military alliance in the history of the world," he told veterans of D-Day while at Normandy, France on June 6th. "Today" NATO is more united than ever and even more prepared to keep the peace, deter aggression, defend freedom all around the world."

In other venues, Biden has repeatedly highlighted Washington's efforts to incorporate the "Global South" -- the developing nations of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East -- into just such a broad-based U.S.-led coalition. At the recent G7 summit of leading Western powers in southern Italy, for example, he backed measures supposedly designed to engage those countries "in a spirit of equitable and strategic partnership."

But all of his soaring rhetoric on the subject scarcely conceals an inescapable reality: the United States is more isolated internationally than at any time since the Cold War ended in 1991. It has also increasingly come to rely on a tight-knit group of allies, all of whom are primarily English-speaking and are part of the Anglo-Saxon colonial diaspora. Rarely mentioned in the Western media, the Anglo-Saxonization of American foreign and military policy has become a distinctive -- and provocative -- feature of the Biden presidency.

America's Growing Isolation

To get some appreciation for Washington's isolation in international affairs, just consider the wider world's reaction to the administration's stance on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden sought to portray the conflict there as a heroic struggle between the forces of democracy and the brutal fist of autocracy. But while he was generally successful in rallying the NATO powers behind Kyiv -- persuading them to provide arms and training to the beleaguered Ukrainian forces, while reducing their economic links with Russia -- he largely failed to win over the Global South or enlist its support in boycotting Russian oil and natural gas.

Despite what should have been a foreboding lesson, Biden returned to the same universalist rhetoric in 2023 (and this year as well) to rally global support for Israel in its drive to extinguish Hamas after that group's devastating October 7th rampage. But for most non-European leaders, his attempt to portray support for Israel as a noble response proved wholly untenable once that country launched its full-scale invasion of Gaza and the slaughter of Palestinian civilians commenced. For many of them, Biden's words seemed like sheer hypocrisy given Israel's history of violating U.N. resolutions concerning the legal rights of Palestinians in the West Bank and its indiscriminate destruction of homes, hospitals, mosques, schools, and aid centers in Gaza. In response to Washington's continued support for Israel, many leaders of the Global South have voted against the United States on Gaza-related measures at the U.N. or, in the case of South Africa, have brought suit against Israel at the World Court for perceived violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

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HKSAR gov't welcomes passage of bill to optimize deposit protection scheme

Xinhua) 10:59, July 04, 2024

HONG KONG, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday welcomed the passage of the Deposit Protection Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council of the HKSAR to implement various measures aimed at improving the Deposit Protection Scheme.

The measures include raising the protection limit from 500,000 to 800,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 64,000 to 102,400 U.S. dollars), as well as providing enhanced coverage to affected depositors upon a bank merger or acquisition.

The Deposit Protection Scheme (Amendment) Ordinance 2024 can help strengthen depositors' confidence, the resilience of the banking sector as well as the overall stability of the financial system, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong's position as an international financial center, said Christopher Hui, secretary for financial services and the treasury of the HKSAR government.

The ordinance will be gazetted on July 12 and will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will come into effect on Oct. 1, 2024 when the protection limit will stand at 800,000 Hong Kong dollars, and the second phase will start on Jan. 1, 2025.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
By Robert Weiner and Kailynn Bannon

What will happen to the media if Trump wins? Journalists must prepare for the "vindictive" vendetta he said he would foster. What can journalists do and how should they cover him?

Trump caused a lot of damage to the reputation of journalism while president. He criticized countless news outlets for "fake news" and belittled journalists. He is still at it.

Trump has threatened freedom of the press: he vowed to seek "retribution "on the news media. In 2019, he threatened a Time magazine journalist with jail time for taking a photo. He mocked journalists with disabilities, told reporters to take off their masks at the height of the pandemic, and condoned acts of violence against journalists. He also banned reporters from the White House and took legal action against several publications. To this day, at most rallies, he points to and condemns the "fake news in the back."

He even called on the government to make cable channel MSNBC "pay for their illegal political activity," claiming their criticism is a "24-hour hit job" and "the world's biggest political contribution to the Radical Left Democrats." He has made targeted attacks against MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell, tweeting that maybe he should sue him.

"He wants to put MSNBC on trial for treason so that he can execute us," Maddow said.

It's not just MSNBC. Variety Magazine reports that among the outlets Trump singled out and derided as "fake news" are the New York Times, NBC News, ABC, CBS, CNN and the Washington Post.

Much as he pre-judged the Central Park Five for murder, he kept posting that "Morning Joe" host, Joe Scarborough, had responsibility for the death of a congressional staffer. Trump shoots from the hip and misses - but as president he would have the power to force investigations and possibly even prosecutions.

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IDS Next is excited to announce the opening of its new headquarters at Manyata Tech Park, Bangalore, the city's largest integrated township. With the relocation to one of Bangalore's premium technology parks, this state-of-the-art facility marks a significant milestone in the company's journey of growth. The office offers a dynamic workspace designed to enhance both customer experiences and employee well-being. Our new head office is equipped with the latest facilities, including audio-visual 
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.
Mayo Clinic is looking to take its at-home care model to new heights with the assistance of autonomous drones capable of making same-day prescription deliveries.

The Rochester-based hospital system recently signed an agreement with Zipline, the worlds largest commercial drone delivery company, with the goal that medications could be delivered directly to patients doorsteps beginning in 2025.

Anyone who has driven to a pharmacy while sick and contagious has wished for a better way to do things, said Jeff Williams, head of U.S. operations for Zipline. Its a far more convenient experience, and it makes care more accessible for everyone: from people without reliable transportation to folks who are just too busy to take on another errand.

Mayo is among a growing number of healthcare providers, pharmacies, and retailers that have signed similar agreements with Zipline, which has been handling medical deliveries in Rwanda and other African countries since 2016. Among them is Mayo health care rival Cleveland Clinic, which announced a deal in the fall and also plans to begin using drones to deliver medications by 2025.

The deals follow the rollout of Ziplines latest aircraft, the Platform 2 (P2) delivery drone, which is capable of reaching speeds up to 60 mph while carrying 6 to 8 pounds of weight. For a patient living within a 10-mile radius of the provider, that could mean a delivery landing on their doorstep in 10 minutes or less.

Drone delivery is one example of our Bold. Forward. strategy at work, Jim Francis, chair of Supply Chain Management at Mayo Clinic, said in a statement, referring to Mayos planned multibillion-dollar buildout of its Rochester campus. It helps complete the sentence in a telehealth or virtual care setting, creating a seamless and convenient means to deliver products directly to a patient without requiring the patient to leave their home.

While there are a number of details left up in the air  Mayo declined to make a representative available for an interview  the hospital system plans to use Jacksonville, Fla., as the initial testing grounds, before integrating the drones into its operations in Rochester. In addition to the delivery of prescriptions, Francis said the drones will likely be used for the transportation of samples and tests across its campuses.

Zipline began medical deliveries in the U.S. in 2020 amid the pandemic and purports to have now made more than 1 million commercial deliveries worldwide. While its previous technology relied on the Zip  as the drone is called  floating deliveries down via a parachute, its P2 model is much more precise, the company says. Using GPS and multiple sensors, the Zip is able to reach a zone as small as a patio table before dropping down a droid and releasing the package. The droid then zooms up and flies back to its docking station.

While instances of drones running into cable lines or landing in restricted areas have drawn headlines, officials from Zipline said there have been no reported instances of their technology going haywire. They point out that despite the drones flying autonomously, the flights are monitored in real time for weather and air traffic. Patients, they added, will also be able to schedule deliveries down to the second to ensure they are home, reducing the chances that medicines are stolen.

At the Cleveland Clinic, officials are already in conversations with local and federal entities regarding its drone program. While there are sporting events and critical infrastructure they will have to plan around, they are confident the drones will be able to navigate the dense urban landscape around its pharmacies in northeast Ohio.

Like Mayo, Cleveland Clinic plans to slowly roll out its medicine-by-drone capabilities before widespread implementation. Geoff Gates, senior director of technology for Supply Chain and Support Services at Cleveland Clinic, said in an interview he expects it could take a year or two to get the whole network up and running, which would mean the potential to reach up to 2.5 million patients.

Its about the timeliness and the accuracy around deliveries, and becoming more predictive, said Gates. I also think timing-wise its ripe because theres not necessarily a model in place as everyone tries to figure out how best to serve patients at home  which is where I think [the drones] could fit in very nicely.

2024 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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 in June.

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.
With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, you might find yourself wanting to explore outside. But, you might face the conundrum of knowing your typical go-to spot will have an influx of other people there, too.

If thats you, have no fear. There are plenty of places to explore, its just a matter of knowing where to look.

On this weeks episode of Peak Northwest, Jamie and Vickie peel back the curtain on hikes less traveled in Oregon.

Here are some highlights from this weeks show:

A family-friendly hike near a body of water to cool down.

An overlooked beach for a coastal destination.

Where to backpack and put your legs to the test.

Crossing into Washington for a hike in the Columbia River Gorge.

Heres the full episode:

Subscribe to Peak Northwest on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

-- Jamie Hale and Vickie Connor
Heres a list of governmental office closures and service schedule changes due to the Fourth of July holiday.

Government offices:

Federal offices and courts: Closed Thursday, July 4, for the holiday.

Oregon and Washington state offices and courts: Closed Thursday.

Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington and Clark county offices, city of Portland and Vancouver offices, Metro regional center: Closed Thursday.

Transit:

TriMet: Will run buses on Sunday schedules, MAX on weekend service, WES will not run, and the Portland Streetcar will run on weekend schedules Thursday.

C-Tran: Is running on Sunday/holiday service Thursday.

Portland Aerial Tram: Closed.

Public services:

Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington county libraries and Fort Vancouver Regional Library District branches: Closed Thursday.

U.S. Postal Service offices: Closed, no regular mail service Thursday.

Banks: Closed, some in-store branches may be open.

Portland parking meters: Free Thursday except in Portland Parks that charge for parking.

Hundreds of pedestrians gather on the Hawthorne Bridge to watch the fireworks at the Blues Festival in 2019. Oregonian file photo. LC- THE OREGONIAN

Bridge closures:

Multnomah County will close the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges to vehicles 8 p.m.-midnight on Thursday for the fireworks show put on by the Waterfront Blues Festival.

In prior years when the bridge was open to motor vehicles, crowds of pedestrians would generally gather on the bridges to watch the show and cause safety issues. Cars and trucks will need to choose an alternate river crossing during that time. Both bridges will remain open to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized vehicles.

Looking for something to do this Independence Day holiday? Weve got you covered with a long list of rodeos, parades, and of course, fireworks across Oregon and southwest Washington: Fourth of July 2024.

 Rosemarie Stein

503-221-4376, events@oregonian.com; @trafficportland

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
An Oregon man exposed himself and urinated in the aisle of a plane headed to Manchester, New Hampshire, causing the plane to divert to Buffalo, New York, officials said.

The 25-year-old Portland man was arrested and charged with indecent exposure after the flight landed at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. He was released after making an initial appearance in federal court in Buffalo, according to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

The American Eagle flight departed from Buffalo shortly after the incident, according to an emailed statement from American Airlines. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding, read the statement.

The man told officers he was flying from Portland to Manchester and had several whiskey and colas before boarding the flight and then more of them during a layover in Chicago and after boarding there. He said he got up to use the restroom and was coming back to his seat, but he has a medical urination problem, according to the criminal complaint.

An email seeking comment was sent to his federal public defender.

-- The Associated Press
A woman faces murder liabilities in a decades-old Texas case after a baby was found dead near a roadside.

Shelby Stotts Arrested and DNA Identification in the Case of Angel Baby Doe

Shelby Stotts was arrested on Monday after DNA proof recognized her as the baby's mother, according to statements from the Texas Attorney General's Office and Johnson County Sheriff's Office. In November 2001, a man collecting cans south of Fort Worth found the baby, named "Angel Baby Doe."

The Johnson County Sheriff's Office, which primarily handled the case, recorded that the baby was wrapped in a jacket with the umbilical cord still connected.

The sheriff's office recorded that, based on the situation of Angel Baby Doe's demise, investigators decided it was a case of foul play.

Three years ago, investigators submitted genetic material to a lab in The Woodlands, Texas, where forensic scientists created a DNA profile for the baby. An in-house genealogy team then gave new leads to law enforcement.

As a result of this inspection, Stotts was recognized as the mother of the baby. The Texas Attorney General's Office received a second-degree murder accusation against Stotts, asserting she dangerously caused her daughter's passing by dumping her without proper medical care.

The indictment also alleges that the baby died from bleeding because her umbilical cord was not properly clamped.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that after over twenty years, they are closer to obtaining justice for Angel Baby Doe and guaranteeing responsibility.

Court records do not list an attorney for Stotts, and no publicly available phone numbers were found for her.

Read Also: DNA Shows Baby Elsa Is Third Baby Newhan Parents Abandoned

Texas' Implementation of Safe Haven Laws

Texas was one of the first states to authorize safe haven laws, known as "Baby Moses" laws, which permit mothers to safely and unknowingly leave their newborns with authorities. The law was passed in 1999, and many states have since adopted similar legislation.

Safe haven laws desire to refrain from child abandonment and infanticide by permitting mothers to abandon their babies at particular locations, like police or fire departments, where the newborns obtain medical care until placed in foster or adoptive homes.

Steve Shaw spoke with one of the original Johnson County detectives on the case, who mentioned that it remains vivid even after twenty years.

Shaw remarked, "It's a baby, and I have two kids. This just isn't right. It's simply not right."

Stotts was employed at Cleburne High School, located near the site where the baby was found. The Cleburne Independent School District acknowledged the accusations and confirmed that Stotts is no longer employed there.

The statement indicated that the District plans to adhere to Board Policy and state law by conducting a thorough investigation. Due to the sensitive nature of the personnel issue, the District cannot disclose additional details or comments, as required by state law and board policy.

Attorney General Ken Paxton remarked in a statement that the timing of Stotts' departure from her position or whether she was terminated remains unclear. He highlights that after more than two decades, efforts are nearing completion to obtain justice for Angel Baby Doe and hold the people accountable for these deadly circumstances.

Attorney General Paxton conveyed gratitude for the skill and diligence of the investigators, and he praised the faithfulness of the law enforcement professionals from the Johnson County Sheriff's Office in their quest to disclose the truth.
Lucy Letby, a former neonatal nurse at Chester Hospital in northwest England, faces a new attempted murder verdict as a legal consequence following her prior convictions.

Already serving a life sentence for the murder of seven infants, Letby now confronts another charge of attempted murder involving a premature baby, Child K, at the same hospital.

Convicted Neonatal Nurse Faces Additional Charge

During a recent hearing at Manchester Crown Court, Letby was convicted of trying to kill Child K by interfering with the infant's breathing tube in February 2016.

This belief represents a major advancement in the continuing legal story regarding Letby's behavior while she worked at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Senior Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams outlined Letby's deliberate actions, explaining how she removed the infant's breathing support multiple times, initially dislodging it and subsequently doing so again to mask her initial intervention as accidental.

Witnesses testified to Letby's calculated behavior, which indicated a disturbing pattern of attempting to conceal her actions.

Previous Sentencing of Lucy Letby

Letby was previously found guilty of killing seven infants and trying to kill six more from June 2015 to June 2016.

She used techniques such as introducing air into their veins, giving substances through feeding tubes, and tampering with breathing devices. The medical community was astonished by these discoveries, prompting serious inquiries into hospital oversight and protocols.

Even though Letby insisted on her innocence during the trials, she was found guilty based on the convincing evidence presented in court.

At the moment, she is undergoing a life sentence with no chance of parole, emphasizing the gravity of her offenses under British legal frameworks.

The case has prompted a broader inquiry into hospital practices and responses to concerns raised by staff members.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay announced an independent investigation to ensure transparency and accountability in addressing the circumstances that enabled Letby's actions.

Dr. Stephen Brearley, a senior physician at Chester Hospital, expressed worries about how management dealt with Letby's behavior, claiming there were delays in addressing alerts from medical personnel.

These findings have emphasized the necessity of strict monitoring and quick response in protecting patient well-being.

Impact and Ongoing Investigation

After the decision, the responses from both the public and medical experts have been varied. Numerous people were surprised and doubtful about Letby's actions, with some also questioning the hospital's response to the initial reports and follow-up inquiries.

Barclay stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive evaluation of hospital protocols and procedures in order to avoid recurring incidents. The autonomous investigation aims to tackle these issues and bring understanding to impacted families looking for resolution and justice.

As Letby awaits sentencing for her latest conviction, the legal and medical communities continue to grapple with the implications of her crimes.

The trial's outcome has brought closure to some affected families while renewing calls for stringent safeguards against similar tragedies in healthcare settings.

The ongoing investigation aims to provide clarity and justice for the victims and their families, ensuring that such egregious breaches of trust and care do not recur.

Lucy Letby's case serves as a stark reminder of the responsibilities and ethical considerations inherent in the medical professions, underscoring the imperative for robust oversight and accountability.
A 2-year-old toddler from Georga succumbed to the severity of his condition in what is believed to be another case of a hot car death. In contrast to initial reports, officials have clarified that the child was not abandoned in the car. The Cobb County Police Department is carrying out a detailed inquiry to establish the facts related to the incident.

Hot Car Death

The Department of Cobb County Police reported receiving an urgent call to rescue a child who was reportedly unconcious alone inside a vehicle at around 5:30 p.m. in Marietta, located about an hour away from Atlanta.

The police statement reveals that when authorities arrived on the scene, the responding officers found the 2-year-old unresponsive and immediately rushed the toddler to the nearest hospital. Unfortunately, the child was declared deceased upon arrival.

The inquiry is still in progress, and there are no criminal charges filed yet. The police statement stated that there was no proof indicating that the child had been left in the vehicle.

Sergeant Eric Smith stated in the recent press briefing that the investigation is still ongoing and that the office is still uncertain how long the child was in the car.

It is still unknown how the car ended up at the location, and it has not been disclosed whether the child's parents owned the vehicle.

Ongoing Investigation

Even though the specific reason for the death has not been revealed, Cobb County Police Chief Stuart VanHoozer described the incident as a hot car death.

During the press briefing, Chief VanHoozer offered his sympathies to the family and encouraged the community to help the family during this challenging period.

VanHoozer, during the press conference on Wednesday, mentioned that his department would require some time to investigate the case and determine the details of what occurred. VanHoozer expressed sympathy for the child's family and urged the community and public to provide assistance and kindness during the investigation.

VaanHoozer mentioned that he will only seek support at the moment in order to allow time for the facts of the case to be clarified.

And stated they will act appropriately, but it is currently uncertain if criminal charges or outrage are necessary. However, they are aware that help is necessary.

Summer Safety Warning

Families are encouraged to take necessary safety measures, such as closely supervising children around vehicles, using safety equipment, and never leaving children alone in cars, even briefly.

The society is being urged to stay attentive and back initiatives to avoid the occurrence of similar disasters in the future.

During hot summer weather, Kids and Car Safety is advising parents to stay extra cautious. They recommend several safety measures to prevent further tragedies:
A federal district court judge issued a temporary halt on protecting transgender health care.

This would have prohibited insurers and medical professionals from refusing hormone therapy, gender transition surgeries, and related medical treatment for transgender individuals.

U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. supported 15 states in their argument that the 1972 Title IX law prohibits discrimination based on biological sex, not gender identity.

The ruling impacts the implementation of the Affordable Care Act regulation scheduled for Friday.

This ruling is a major obstacle to the Biden administration's attempts to broaden safeguards against discrimination. Recently, three federal judges halted a regulation in various states that aimed to safeguard LGBTQ+ students by expanding the scope of sexual harassment in schools under Title IX.

Biden's Transgender Health Care Blocked

Healthcare protections for gender identity were first included during the Obama administration, taken away during former President Donald Trump's term, and subsequently reinstated by the Department of Health and Human Services earlier this year.

The updated regulation added safeguards against biased treatment related to gender norms, sexual preference, gender identification, and biological sex traits.

The 15 states, led by Tennessee, argued that the new rule would impose financial burdens if they complied under Medicaid or other federal health programs, or risk losing federal funding if they did not. The plaintiffs claimed that the rule prioritized gender ideology over medical realities.

Cody Smith, an attorney for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, testified that the state's Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program do not cover gender transition procedures for minors, which are rare, nor do they cover surgeries to treat mental health conditions.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves commended the ruling, saying that the Biden administration tried to weaken Title IX by drastically redefining it to include gender identity.

Reeves expressed gratitude for the judge's decision to support Mississippi and other states in standing up for women and defending the current state of Title IX.

Broader Implications

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, and the attorneys general for Tennessee and Mississippi failed to promptly reply to inquiries for feedback.

The office of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee chose not to provide a statement on the ongoing legal action.

The president of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, criticized the decision as immoral and stated that every individual should have the right to receive necessary medical treatment in order to stay healthy.

Instead, this court has chosen to support fringe groups and politicians who aim to intimidate the LGBTQ+ community whenever possible.

Robinson further stated that the issue is not yet resolved and has a strong conviction that every LGBTQ+ individual should access the healthcare they are entitled to and have the autonomy to make informed choices regarding their own bodies.

Ongoing Legal Battles

District Judge Louis Guirola Jr., appointed by President George W. Bush, ruled that allowing the Biden administration's rule to take effect would cause immediate and substantial harm through compliance costs or lost federal funding.

Tennessee's GOP Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who spearheaded the legal action, praised the ruling, asserting that a federal court rejected the Biden administration's unlawful push for all healthcare providers in the US to embrace the most radical form of gender ideology.

This ruling marks another chapter in the ongoing legal battles over health care protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, as the Biden administration seeks to expand anti-discrimination measures while facing strong opposition from several conservative states.
Im slowly and carefully reading through the talks that were given in April 2024 at the most recent general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This passage, from the remarks that were delivered at that conference by Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Covenant Confidence through Jesus Christ), stood out to me against the background of the current strikingly toxic and hyper-partisan atmosphere of American political discourse:

The house of the Lord is where we can be transformed in higher and holier ways. So, when we walk out of the temple, transformed by our hope in the promises of the covenants, armed with power from on high, we take the temple with us into our homes and lives. I assure you that having the spirit of the Lords house in us changes us, completely. We also know from the temple that if we want the Spirit of the Lord to be unrestrained in our lives, we simply cannot and must not have unkind feelings toward anyone. Giving place in our hearts or minds for unkind feelings or thoughts will produce unkind words and actions, whether on social media or in our homes, causing the Spirit of the Lord to withdraw from our hearts.

Although I have no reason to believe that this Brazilian apostle, speaking to members of the Church who are scattered around the world, had politics particularly in mind (let alone specifically American electoral politics), Im absolutely sure that the quality of our politics and political discussions  right now, Im disinclined to dignify them with the word debates  would be vastly improved, completely changed, were we to follow Elder Soaress counsel.

One of the recurring themes in the Book of Mormon is its condemnation of contention. The two following passages will serve to represent the spirit of its teaching on this matter:

Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists. (Alma 1:22) For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. (3 Nephi 11:29-30)

We should not forget that this dispensation  which is to say, the Restoration as a whole  began with the young Joseph Smiths rejection of the stir and division, the strife, the war of words and tumult of opinions, the great confusion and bad feeling that surrounded him and that had divided his community and even his own family. (See Joseph Smith History 1.)

We see in the Book of Mormon what the ultimate societal result of tribalism and the loss of a cohesive sense of community can be. The account given in 3 Nephi 7 opens as follows:

1 Now behold, I will show unto you that they did not establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chief judge of the land. 2 And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land. 3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes. 4 Now behold, there was no man among them save he had much family and many kindreds and friends; therefore their tribes became exceedingly great. 5 Now all this was done, and there were no wars as yet among them; and all this iniquity had come upon the people because they did yield themselves unto the power of Satan. 6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets. 7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them.

It is anything but an attractive picture, although it did serve as the overture to a visit of the resurrected Christ to the New World  after cataclysmic natural destruction.

Heres something that might be of interest to at least a few of you out there: Restore 2024. Its billed as A Faith Matters Gathering, and it will be held in the Mountain America Exposition Center in Salt Lake County from 5 September through 7 September 2024.

And Im looking forward to this, as well: New movie portrays the deep faith of former President Ronald Reagan: Dennis Quaid, who will play Ronald Reagan in an upcoming biopic, has talked about the faith that shaped Reagans life

In conclusion, knowing the desperate need that some feel for constant reminders of the evils wrought by theists and theism, I share the following specimens from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File:

Washington D.C. YSA Stake Plans Charity Event to Help 1,500 Families: More than 300 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lazera Ministries and Good360 distributed donations to approximately 7,700 people

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen Joins Ga King to Celebrate Church Funded Renovation of School in Ghana: The King Tackie Tawiah I Primary School receives refurbished classrooms and new library and sanitation facilities

Tents and mud-brick homes allow refugees in Cameroon, West Africa, to rebuild their lives: The Church supports ShelterBox in its efforts to meet immediate and long-term needs of families in Minawao Refugee Camp

And, yes: How Andy Reids beliefs in Jesus Christ and a second chance for Michael Vick guide the Kansas City Chiefs: During a New York City event for religious leaders, Andy Reid shared The Formula that led to Vicks tremendous, rejuvenated career in the NFL

And even this: The Hollowing Out of an American Church: What the diminishment of Mainline Protestantism means for the nation

Posted from Newport Beach, California
The Ladies Forum of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Blue Fusion, has donated a range of medical equipment to the Women and Childrens Unit of the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa. This donation forms part of the Forums ongoing commitment to community development.



The donated items include three adult beds, three fetal dopplers, two blood pressure monitors, three digital baby weighing scales, and three baby warmer systems.



Leading the team from the bank, Margaret Obimpeh, Head of Affluent, and Chairperson of Blue Fusion presented the items to the hospital staff. She commended them for their hard work and shared that this donation is part of their mission to support quality healthcare delivery.



She said, We are part of the ladies Forum in the bank, which we call Blue Fusion. We set this group up purposely to advance the career growth and development of the women in the bank. Additionally, we believe in making a positive impact on the communities within which we operate, through focus areas such as health and education. We know that health is wealth and if women who are the backbone of SMEs in Ghana, are healthy, they will be more productive and create wealth for themselves and their families.



She added, This quarter we decided to visit the Upper West Regional Hospital to give back. Our mission here is simple, we are here to support the mother and child unit of the hospital.



This is our widows mite to the hospital to help the doctors and nurses improve the quality of healthcare services they provide to our women and children.



We are impressed by the sacrifices they make daily to support these mothers and children and we felt it necessary to play our part. On behalf of Stanbic Bank and the Blue Fusion Ladies forum of the Bank, we are excited to present these items to you. It is our genuine hope that through this you can do much more than you already do and help even more women in the community receive access to healthcare.



Dr. Amesiya Robert, Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, in receiving the items said, we strive to be the best unit in the country and very recently we were looking to expand. We cannot take care of all the patients we receive, because we are also a referral centre.



This donation is therefore very timely and will go a long way to improve our services to those in need. We are grateful to the Blue Fusion ladies of Stanbic Bank for this donation. We understand that we are in a harsh financial climate but you have still gone out of your way to reach out and support those in need. Thank you very much."



The Stanbic Ladies Forum, Blue Fusion, was launched to pave the way for a brighter and more inclusive future for women in the bank and to promote gender equity and empowerment. Earlier this year the Forum donated reading and learning materials worth GH30,000 to Serwaa Nyarko Girls SHS in Kumasi.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Africa's finest principal dentist and chairman of the renowned Beaver Health Group, Dr. Dennis Emeka Ilogu has been crowned Ghana's Most Outstanding Personality in Dentistry at the just-ended Business Executive Excellence Awards 2024 held at the Ghana Marriot Hotel in Accra.



The significant award recognizes his exceptional leadership qualities and outstanding dedication to providing high-quality healthcare in the country, as well as being a highly respected figure advocating for best business practices in the dentistry sector.



The 10th edition of the event, held on Friday, June 28th, 2024 seeks to identify and publicly recognize private enterprises, public institutions and individuals that have displayed exemplary conduct and chalked up extraordinary accomplishments with regard to their business activities over the previous one-year period.



For him, the award authenticates the company's continuous growth and contribution to the Ghana Health Industry and the Ghanaian economy.



Speaking to the media after receiving the all-prestigious honour, Dr. Dennis Emeka Ilogu said, the award means a lot to his consistent determination to build a formidable and Proficient brand in the healthcare fraternity.



According to him, the award reflects the company's dedication and commitment to building the dentistry industry.



"I am extremely grateful for such a wonderful milestone at this highest magnitude. I will continue to work hard to achieve the vision of becoming the best across the globe. I dedicate this award to our cherished clients ", he said.



Always and previously known as Beaver Clinic, the company is expanding to become Beaver Health Group with a 360 degree approach to healthcare, as the GP practice and Pharmacy come on board, to complement the dental. In this way, Beaver Health Group is positioning itself as a leader in the Healthcare industry and setting a benchmark for others to follow.



Profile Of Dr. Dennis Emeka Ilogu (Chairman, Beaver Health Group)



Dr Dennis Ilogu is the Principal Dentist & Chairman of Beaver Clinic Limited, a premium dental office with a branch in Accra, the new St. Michaels Specialist Hospital Lapaz and Kumasi. Patients include captains of various industries across Africa, corporates, diplomats, and government officials. With over 40 years experience, Dr Dennis graduated from the University of Leeds Dental School in 1983 and went straight into general dental practice. He ran a predominantly NHS dental practice in the Fallowfield area of Manchester from 1983 to 2004, when he sold to his associates to concentrate on Ghana.



In 1978, Dr. Dennis Ilogu graduated from the University of Nigeria with a B.Sc in Zoology and completed his National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria the following year. In 1983, he graduated from Leeds University School of Dentistry in the UK with a degree in Dentistry. From 1985 to 2004, he acquired a dental practice in the Fallowfield area of Manchester that was struggling after the founder's death five

years prior.



Through hard work and dedication, he turned it into a successful practice that focused on NHS and private patients. In 2004, he sold the practice to his associate but remained as the landlord.



In 2005, he sold his real estate portfolio to focus on Ghana, where Beaver Clinic Ltd. was incorporated to provide holistic healthcare services. Initially, dentistry was the focus and was carried out in a mobile unit until they bought the current site in 2007. In 2016, they completed the construction of their flagship eco-friendly premises, which houses Beaver Clinic Ltd, Dental Resources Ltd (where Dr. Dennis

Ilogu has a 50:50 ownership), and Arcoa Ghana Ltd.



Dr. Dennis Ilogu's son Obi and his German business partner Mr. Markus are now part of the team to realize his original goal of a holistic or the 360-degree approach to healthcare. He is also counting on the help and support of his younger brother Dr. Noel Ilogu and childhood friend Prof. Chuka Nwokolo, as well as colleagues, Dr. Jamal Johnston and Dr. Edmund Edi Osagie, who are all very able professionals.



Beaver Clinic Limited (BCL) is an established company, founded in 1999, specializing in dental services. Their primary mission has consistently been to deliver premium dental care and related services in a professional and user-friendly setting.



In 2016, BCL achieved a significant milestone with the completion of Beaver House, an environmentally conscious flagship facility located in the prestigious Airport Residential Area of Accra. Beaver House accommodates the dental practice on the ground floor, while the first floor houses support offices, and additional floors are leased out as part of their real estate portfolio. BCL takes great pride in their cutting-edge equipment and advanced procedures, resulting in beautiful and long-lasting smiles for their clients.



In 2022, BCL expanded its reach by opening a branch practice in Kumasi, situated within the Medcourt Pharmacy building opposite Bar Naas in Nyiaeso-Ahodwo.



Further enhancing their portfolio, in 2023, BCL entered into a partnership with SMSH (St Michael's Specialist Hospital) in Lapaz, Accra, where they operate a general dental services practice.



BCL's range of services at their dental practice includes General Dentistry, covering diagnostic, preventive, periodontal, restorative, endodontics, and prosthodontics, as well as Cosmetic Dentistry offering non-surgical facial aesthetics with Botox and dermal fillers, Tooth Whitening through home kits or laser light treatment, Orthodontics featuring Invisalign and Fixed Appliances using Damon Brackets or the Lingual Technique, Oral Surgery, and Implants.



BCL is renowned for its meticulous attention to detail, a friendly and experienced staff, and an impeccable reputation. Throughout their history, they have consistently upheld a commitment to delivering uncompromising quality in their services.



Dr Ilogu is a Director of a sister company, Dental Resources Limited, incorporated in Ghana in 2013, in a partnership with Director, Madam Anne Flaszynski, who is the owner and Managing Director of Arcoa Ghana Limited, incorporated in 2004.



Arcoa Ghana Limited supplies laboratory and medical equipment across Ghana and West Africa.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt has shared varying opinions on the choice of Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh as Vice Presidential candidate of the ruling New Patriotic Party.



Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh is said to have been selected by Dr. Bawumia to partner him but awaits approval from the National Council of the party before a public announcement can be made.



The party will hold a National Council meeting on Thursday, July 4, 2024 to deliberate on the selection of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also called "NAPO".



Nonetheless, the Majority in Parliament has approved him, revealed by their leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.



Yes, the leader of our party and flagbearer met with the leadership of Parliament and had an extensive engagement with us, regarding the way forward for the party going into the 2024 elections.



The conclusion was that our respected colleague, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh is his choice for Running Mate. And that is normally the practice and out of respect, the caucus would have to be informed and engaged about the decision.



After, I proceeded and engaged the caucus, and so far, the feedback has been positive. The generality of the caucus members is in support of his choice. What it is, is that for it to become official or confirmed, theres going to be a National Council meeting, Hon. Afenyo-Markin reportedly told the media.



This notwithstanding, Kwesi Pratt has shared his reservations on whether or not Dr. Opoku Prempeh is the right candidate for the position.



Making his submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Mr. Pratt was of the view that NAPO is not a strong candidate to partner Dr. Bawumia, stressing if he had the authority to choose the Running Mate, NAPO wouldn't be his ultimate choice.



"If I were the one choosing, I probably would choose a different person but I don't have the authority", the Editor-in-Chief of the Insight newspaper told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A notorious Haitian gang stormed a police station in the country and slaughtered dozens of police officers, according to reports.



Reports are emerging that members of a gang led by the infamous warlord Jimmy "Barbecue" Cherizier attacked a police station in Gressier, Port-au-Prince, and killed at least 20 officers.



The assault is believed to have begun on Sunday, June 30.



Haiti Libre said the attack was carried out by members of the "Vivre Ensemble" gang coalition led by "Barbecue". Other reports stated that the Bougoy Gang were involved.



As far as the assault on the police station is concered, reports stated that a "musculat counter-offensive" from police saw several gang members killed.



Haiti Libre stated that Bougoy leader Ti Bebe Bougoy, who had boasted the day before the attack of being stronger than the police forces, was captured.



It had been reported that the bandits were using "heavy machinery" to destroy the police station. This has reportedly been seized by authorities.



In June 2022 it was reported that the gang had been rounding up homeless and at-risk teens, to use as foot soldiers in gang wars.









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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Former National Vice Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Said Sinare has warned party members, cautioning against complacency at the polls and collation centres in the upcoming 2024 elections.



In a Facebook post, the National Chairman of the Zongo caucus working committee emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and ensuring the party's victory.



"Complacency should not replace our watchdog role at the polls and collation centres," he stressed.



"We must remain vigilant and ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is protected."



Alhaji Sinare's warning comes as the NDC prepares to face off against the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in what is expected to be a highly contested election.



"We have worked hard to get to this point, and we cannot afford to let our guard down now," he said.



"Every vote counts, and every polling station matters.



Aside from the agents, we must ensure that we voluntarily make ourselves present at every polling station and collation centre across the country to protect the will of the people.



The NDC's Zongo President stated that his warning is particularly relevant regarding concerns over electoral malpractice and voter suppression. He noted that the NDC has long been critical of the Electoral Commission's handling of elections, and his comments reflect the party's ongoing concerns.



In a related development, Alhaji Sinare has also expressed his support for John Dramani Mahama's 2024 presidential bid, describing the former President as the "best candidate" for the job.



"John Mahama has the experience and leadership skills necessary to lead our country forward," he said.



"We must rally behind him and ensure his victory, he appeals to the Muslim community."



Alhaji Sinare also noted that, the NDC shall settle any pending outstanding electoral issue at the polling stations not at the court.



"Spread the word: It is imperative to settle any pending outstanding electoral issue at the polling stations through super monitoring of the ballot box at the polling stations rather than going to court," he said.



READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW



H.E ALHAJI SAID SINARE, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF ZONGO WORKING COMMITTEE WRITES...



Comrades, what obstacles could hinder us from voluntarily mobilizing 30 reliable party members to supplement our appointed agents, and policing our ballot boxes at every polling station across the Constituencies in Ghana?



Once the votes are counted at the polling stations, these dedicated individuals will escort and police the results fearlessly from each polling station to the collation centres, ultimately leading to John's Victory.



Suppose we have 300 branches in the Akatsi South Constituency, with 30 dedicated party supporters voluntarily deciding to police the ballot boxes at each polling station.



Even if the police or military dares to intervene to impose the Incompetent Bawumia on Ghanaians with everything at their disposal it would be impossible for them to kill 9,000 people (300 x 30) in a single constituency.



If this level of support is replicated across the country, not even appointing Dr. Bawumia as the EC chairman could prevent H.E. John Dramani Mahama from emerging victorious at the polls.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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The Presidential candidate for the Alliance for Revolutionary Change, Alan Kyerematen has shared his plans on how he will form a formidable government when he becomes Ghana's next president.



According to him, he will form an all-inclusive government by picking some members from both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to form his government.



I hear people asking, how are you going to get your ministers but that is very simple. I am saying that I will pick ministers from the two parties that are represented in Parliament and if other parties will make it to Parliament, I also have the flexibility to pick independent candidates.



I am picking them not because they are NPP or NDC. I will pick them based on their own individual merits. It is just that they are in Parliament and I am required by the constitution to pick at least half of my ministers from Parliament. Mr. Kyerematen told Citi FM in an interview.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman/Peacefmonline.com









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

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Ghana's finest freight forwarder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sel Logistics Services, Dr. Faith Selasie Dunyo has been crowned Ghana's Most Outstanding Personality in Freight Forwarding at the just-ended Business Executive Excellence Awards 2024 held at the Ghana Marriot Hotel in Accra.



The prestigious award reflects his stunning leadership qualities and exceptional dedication to providing quality freight forwarding, local customs clearance and logistics services in the country and beyond and also for being an extremely respected personality advocating for best business practices in the sector.



The 10th edition of the event took place on Friday, June 28th, 2024. It aims to identify and publicly recognize private enterprises, public institutions, and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary conduct and achieved outstanding accomplishments in their business activities over the past year.



For him, the award is a testament to the team's unwavering focus on meeting and exceeding customer expectations while adhering to rigorous quality standards over the years.



Speaking to the media after receiving the all- prestigious honour, Dr. Faith Dunyo who is also the Constituency Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said the award means a lot to his consistent determination to build a formidable and proficient brand.



"I am extremely grateful for such a wonderful milestone at this highest magnitude. I will continue to work hard to achieve the vision of becoming the best across the globe. I dedicate this award to our cherished clients, "he said



Meanwhile, Dr. Faith Selasie Dunyo has called on Ghanaians to vote for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia come December 7th 2024.



According to Dr. Dunyo, the paperless system introduced by Vice President Dr. Bawumia, who doubled as the flagbearer of the NPP, has contributed significantly to efficient and fast clearance and has cut the cost of doing business at the various ports in Ghana.



Dr. Dunyo also appealed to Ghanaians, especially those in the freight forwarding industries, exporters, and importers to consider Dr. Bawumia's vision to introduce the flat rate tax system on imported goods to reduce the higher customs duty to retain our importers in business.



"The introduction of Dr. Bawumia's flat rate on imported goods will revive the freight forwarding industries to contribute significantly to helping GRA collect revenue for the government for development under Dr Bawumia's administration as President.



Dr Dunyo appealed to the entire NPP membership to accept and support whoever Dr Bawumia will choose as his running mate to enable us break the 8 to retain power in the 2024 general election", he said







Profile Of Faith Selasie Dunyo



He is a professional freight forwarder and an entrepreneur.



He has been in the logistics and freight forwarding industry since 2009 (over 15 years) and acquired professional knowledge and experience in operational activities, implementation of management systems, and business plans for excellence programs.



He is a highly motivated and results-oriented personality, dedicated, and focused professional with much experience in freight forwarding businesses comprising clearing and forwarding, local customs clearance, logistics, and transport of cargo.



He aims to develop theoretical and practical knowledge in a supply chain environment, optimizing his skills in the area of transportation of goods and services (imports and exports), logistics, local customs clearance, warehousing and other related corporate and functional strategic management.



Currently, he is the CEO and managing director of SEL LOGISTICS SERVICES Ghana Ltd, a global logistics group with its Head Office in Tema and offices in Accra Airport (KIA), Aflao border, and Lome, Togo.



The company provides the full scope of logistics services, including air and ocean freight, export and import, overland transportation by road, warehousing and distribution, third-party logistics, and supply chain management.



Their specialty is in providing logistics solutions for project cargo, commodities (agro and mining), exhibitions, and events.



Moreover, Dr. Faith Dunyo is also the founder and CEO of SEL POULTRY FARMS AND TRADING ENTERPRISE, DUSA FARMS, and DENSELA TRANSPORT VENTURES.



Dr. Faith Selasie Dunyo is also the immediate past parliamentary candidate aspirant for the people of Central Tongu Constituency, Adidome in the Volta Region.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The High Court in Accra has given lawyers for Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia 24 hours to file a medical excuse duty to justify why the defendant failed to show up to mount his defence in a GH 20 million defamation case.



The suit, which was filed by former Auditor-General, Professor Dua Agyeman, is in connection with Mr Asiedu Nketias comments in the media to the effect that Prof. Dua Agyeman generated fake audit reports resulting in him being sacked by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG).



Mr Asiedu Nketia, who has never shown up personally in court since the case started in October 2018, was expected to open his defence on Monday (July 1) but he failed to show up.



Following the claim that the defendant was unwell, the court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, ordered his lawyers to produce a medical excise duty to buttress their claim.



Proceedings



When the case was called for hearing Wednesday (July 3) for the medical excuse duty to be produced, counsel for the defendant who held the brief for Samuel Cudjoe, informed the court that they were unable to present the excuse duty because the person bringing the document was running late due to the traffic situation, seeking a short adjournment.



He informs us this morning that he is running late to court as a result of the traffic situation on his route which has been caused by the weather conditions this morning.



In the circumstance we pray this court for a further court adjournment to enable us procure same and bring same to the attention of the court, counsel prayed.



Feeble



Meanwhile, the judge, who was not happy with the excuse said, I honestly find the reasons submitted by Counsel for defendant very feeble because notwithstanding the weather conditions the court is present.



She added that since the person was already on his way, lawyers for the defendant should file the excuse duty.



Consequently, she ordered the court clerks to receive the report first thing tomorrow (Thursday July 4, 2024) morning.



The case has been adjourned to Friday July 5, 2024.



Background



Prof. Dua Agyeman is arguing that the allegation by Mr Asiedu Nketia is without basis and that it only sought to impugn his integrity, dignity and reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.



According to the plaintiff, the defendant, on October 2, 2018, made some unsubstantiated and disparaging statements on an Accra-based radio station, Neat FM, accusing him of producing fake audit accounts in 1983 while he was at the Audit Service.



He is reported to have said that the plaintiff was banned from auditing in 1983 by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) for producing fake accounts for a non-existent company. In view of the ban, the plaintiff could not practice as a private auditor.



The defendants comments caused the former Auditor General to sue the defendant on the grounds that the comments had generated media attention in Ghana and abroad apparently to tarnish his hard-won reputation.



Reliefs sought



Prof. Dua Agyeman is accordingly praying the court to declare that the defendants publication on Neat FM that he was banned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) for producing fake audited accounts for a non-existent company is slanderous and defamatory of him and same was made without any reasonable, just or probable cause.



A declaration that the Defendants publication on Neat FM that Dua Agyeman concocted fake audit reports concerning some senior officers which led to their dismissal from public service is slanderous and defamatory of the Plaintiff and same was made without any reasonable, just or probable cause, the plaintiff is praying.



Prof. Dua Agyeman is seeking a further declaration that the defendants publication on Neat FM that he was sacked from the Audit Service by reason of dishonesty was slanderous and defamatory of him and same was made without any reasonable, just or probable cause.



He wants the court to grant an order of injunction directed at the defendant, agents, assigns and his privies from continuing to make any further defamatory publication about him.



An Order of Court directed at the defendant to retract the said defamatory publication and render an unqualified apology in the same prominence on Neat FM and four publications in the Daily Graphic is also being sought.



General damages and compensatory damages in the sum of GH20 million for loss of reputation is also being sought against the defendant.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The recent Gen Z activism in Kenya has sent shocks to the spines of politicians across the African continent. Top amongst them is Ghanas majority leader, who has called on politicians to address the issues of public discontent.



Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, called on the political class to collaboratively take drastic measures to address public discontent to prevent the likelihood of agitations and a surge in demonstrations.



According to the Member of Parliament for Effutu constituency, reflecting on the recent protests that rocked Kenya leading to the death of about thirty demonstrators is a lesson to African politicians to do whatever it takes to protect the interest of the populace.



He added that, there should be a collaborative approach to resolving agitations irrespective of which political side one belongs.



He said, The recent Gen Z activism in Kenya serves as a striking warning. To prevent such scenarios in Ghana, it is imperative that the political class collaboratively take proactive and comprehensive measures to address the underlying causes of public discontent."



Our preoccupation with political manoeuvring should not blind us to the reality of public expectations. Let us recommit to a national agenda that not only leverages the potential of our youth but also unlocks the massive development potential often associated with a demographic dividend.



NDCs Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo constituency, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye who was a witness to the Kenyan protests and violence, called on all stakeholders to address the issue of youth unemployment which has plagued the country in recent times.



The Odododiodoo lawmaker said, We should not be deceived. Yes, we can preach and preach and preach peace all the time. But when people think that the impunity of the political class is beyond their endurance, they will definitely react."



Today, as we sit here, the perception out there is that the executive is corrupt. The judiciary has become a political pawn. We, the legislature, are selfish and uncaring and they have low expectations of our ability to fight for them. And that is a danger, he added.

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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Ghanaian genre-defying continues his dominance in the music space, clinching the number one spot on Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, and Youtube concurrently for two weeks with his new single, Kilos Milos.



The single, which debuted at number one barely 24 hours after its release across all Ghanaian music charts and broke onto other charts on the African continent, further solidifies his status as one of the most promising talents in African music.



Kilos Milos went viral with the performance video that accompanied the song, which captured the stylish artiste rocking CUNNINGZ armoured-corseted rebel costume.



Known for his unique blend of Afrobeat and Hip Hop, Black Sherif continues to captivate audiences with his raw lyricism. "Kilos Milos" showcases his versatility as an artist, delivering powerful verses layered over a mesmerizing production heralded by Kwame Agger and Joker Nharnah. This follows the release of his widely received street anthem, Shut Up.



Black Sherif continuously hints at the release of his sophomore album, which is due this year. He recently won the award for Best Hip-Hop and Hip-Life Artiste at the 25th Telecel Ghana Music Awards and headlined one of the biggest festivals in Africa, Afrofuture. Adjudged as the second most streamed artiste globally on Audiomack in 2023.



Black Sherif keeps defying the odds and breaking new grounds for music emanating from Africa on the global stage.



A native of Konongo, a small mineral-rich town in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, Black Sherif, born Mohammed Ismail Sharif Kwaku Frimpong, has risen against all odds to become the country's biggest star. Embracing a diverse musical palette, he bridges the gap between Afrobeats, highlife, and Ghanian drill, showcasing his wordplay, storytelling, and linguistic versatility.



The breakout success of "First Sermon" and "Second Sermon" in 2021 propelled Black Sherif onto the international stage, with "Kwaku The Traveller" earning him superstar status in 2022.



Since the release of his debut album in 2022, The Villain I Never Was, Black Sherif has solidified his place as one of Africas most powerful creative voices. and amassed massive global streaming numbers, which made him the most streamed Ghanaian artist of 2022 and 2023 on Spotify and the most streamed Ghanaian artist of all time on popular African streaming platform Boomplay.



Black Sherif has reached these pinnacles in record timebeing an integral part of the front runners pushing the sounds coming from Africa globally.

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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A 56-year-old Berks County man and member of the Jehovahs Witness faith was sentenced Wednesday to 14 to 46 years in prison after the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General said he repeatedly sexually abused a girl for more than 20 years, according to a press release.

Luis Manuel Ayala-Velasquez, of Reading, was arrested last year after a grand jury investigation led to several members of the Jehovahs Witness faith being charged with sexual assault offenses.

Earlier this year, Ayala-Velasquez entered a guilty plea to five felony offenses, including the rape of an unconscious person, the press release said.

The courageous victims who came forward and told the grand jurors their horrific stories of abuse led to charges against predatory defendants, Attorney General Henry said. The abuse in this case began decades ago, but the brave victim and the diligent efforts of OAG agents and attorneys ensured that justice was served and, at long last, the defendant was held accountable.

The Attorney Generals Office said the abuse  which happened while the victim was sleeping  took place at Ayala-Velasquezs Bethlehem residence. The abuse started around 2001 and continued into the victims adulthood.

Following his release, Ayala-Velasquez is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
North Wildwood, New Jersey, has lifted a ban on tents ahead of Independence Day weekend.

When North Wildwood Council revised its 70-year-old municipal code, the citys beach was starved of sand after offseason storms had battered the coastline, fueling a need for emergency repairs that pitted local officials against Trenton.

Gov. Phil Murphy recently ordered an emergency beach replenishment project for North Wildwood. Now that enough sand is on its beach for the holiday, the City Council on Tuesday ended the ban on tents through a resolution, Mayor Patrick Rosenello told NJ Advance Media.
By BEN FINLEY, The Associated Press

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  For those of you who didnt celebrate World UFO Day, consider this:

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 officers claims; that Mexican researchers said the mummies made no sense; and that a NASA study found no evidence of extraterrestrials.

Theres 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 werent 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.

In this image from video provided by the Department of Defense labeled Gimbal, from 2015, an unexplained object is seen at center as it is tracked as it soars high along the clouds, traveling against the wind. There's a whole fleet of them, one naval aviator tells another, though only one indistinct object is shown. It's rotating." (Department of Defense via AP)

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 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 Pentagons 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.
By Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News (TNS)

The FBI and Pittsburgh police on Wednesday were investigating a phony bomb threat sent to the Tree of Life synagogue, which was the scene of an antisemitic mass shooting that left 11 people dead.

The threat came via email Tuesday morning, city police spokesperson Cara Cruz told NBC News. She noted that it was very quickly determined to be a hoax and confirmed an investigation into the matter has since been launched.

On Oct. 27, 2018, Robert Bowers burst into the Tree of Life Synagogue, located in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, and opened fire on congregants gathered together for sabbath services. He shouted things like All Jews must die as he rampaged through the house of worship, and then he attempted to flee.

Bowers escape attempt, however, was ultimately unsuccessful  he was shot several times by responding officers and arrested on the scene. He was charged with 63 federal crimes, including hate crimes. A jury found him guilty on all counts. In August, the mass murderer was sentenced to death by lethal injection.

It is the deadliest attack on a Jewish community in the U.S.

Pittsburgh authorities declined Wednesday to provide specifics about the threat, but Cruz emphasized it was a hoax in line with other similar threats against synagogues around the country.

In April, the Anti-Defamation League said bomb threats made against Jewish institutions in the U.S. increased dramatically last year compared to 2022. According to the ADL, there were 1,009 antisemitic bomb threats last year, 906 of which targeted synagogues.
A Centre County garbage company has been fined over $16,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the death of one of its workers earlier this year.

Nathan Kerstetter, 38, of Milesburg, who worked for Newman Hill Inc., was killed on Jan. 17 while riding the back of a garbage truck, according to reports from WJAC and WTAJ.

The trucks driver did not see an overhanging tree while he was backing up near the driveway of a residence, and backed into it while Kerstetter was on the back of the truck.

Kerstetter was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head, according to news reports.

In a statement, OSHA said that Newman Hill, did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to struck-by and caught between hazards when riding on the riding step while the waste collection vehicle was operating in reverse.

The driver of the garbage truck, Dennis Butler, 68, was also cited for careless backing onto a roadway, WJAC reported.

Newman Hill must pay the $16,131 fine by July 25.
A Clinton County fugitive who was on Pennsylvania State Polices 10 Most Wanted List fatally shot himself as he was about to be arrested in West Virginia, authorities say.

Jimmy Hank Carlton Henry Jr., 31, had been wanted for the April 2020 sexual assault of a minor child in Castanea Twp. in the Lock Haven area.

Police in Parkersburg, W. Va., said they had received information overnight Tuesday that Henry was in their area.

They and members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force conducted surveillance Wednesday at the location provided and observed Henry driving his vehicle into a parking lot, they said.

As they approached Henry, he retrieved a firearm from the vehicle and shot himself, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was determined through further investigation that Henry had lived in West Virginia for some time under an alias, police said.

Henry was designated a fugitive in August 2020 after Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse said he had fled the Lock Haven area and had deactivated his cell phone.

He was wanted on charges of aggravated indecent and indecent assault of a victim under the age of 13 and endangering the welfare of children.
The National Weather Service issued an updated heat advisory at 2:55 p.m. on Saturday in effect until 8 p.m. for Eastern Chester.

The weather service says, "Heat index values up to 101 degrees."

"Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses," explains the weather service.

Weather service Heat wave safety tips: Stay safe with these recommendations

Stay hydrated: Make sure to drink plenty of fluids.

Find cool shelter: Stay indoors in an air-conditioned room to keep cool.

Avoid sun exposure: Stay out of the sun, and make sure to check up on relatives and neighbors.

Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially during hot weather when car interiors can become dangerously hot in a matter of minutes.

Caution outdoors: Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside.

Optimal timing: If possible, move strenuous activities to early morning or evening for more favorable conditions.

Recognize heat-related issues: Learn to identify the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Stay cool with clothing: Select lightweight and loose-fitting outfits for enhanced comfort.

Additional tips for outdoor workers:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas for outdoor workers.

If someone succumbs to the heat, promptly relocate them to a cool, shaded location.

In emergencies, call 911 for immediate assistance.

These NWS heat safety recommendations are vital for your well-being during periods of high temperatures. Stay informed and take the necessary steps to protect yourself and others from the heat's potentially dangerous effects.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
By MARTIN SILVA and FERNANDO LLANO, The Associated Press

PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP)  Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling toward the Cayman Islands and taking aim at Mexicos Caribbean coast after leaving at least seven dead in its wake.

What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, weakened to a Category 3 by early Thursday but remained a major hurricane. Its eye was forecast to pass just south of the Cayman Islands overnight.

Weakening is forecast during the next day or two, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 8 a.m. update.

A Mexican soldier stands guard on a beach ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Cancun, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)AP

Furniture store employees board up windows for protection ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)AP

Mexicos popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge, but in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum tourists still took one more night on the town.

Mexicos Navy patrolled areas like Tulum telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storms arrival.

Early Thursday morning, the storms center was about 50 miles southwest of Grand Cayman island and 385 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico. It had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph and was moving west-northwest at 20 mph.

Beryl was forecast to make landfall in a sparsely populated area of lagoons and mangroves south of Tulum in the early hours of Friday, probably as a Category 2 storm. Then it was expected to cross the Yucatan Peninsula and restrengthen over the warm Gulf of Mexico to make a second strike on Mexicos northeast coast near the Texas border.

Workers remove an advertisement from a billboard for protection ahead of Hurricane Beryl's expected arrival, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)AP

The storm had already shown its destructive potential across a long swath of the southeastern Caribbean.

Beryls eyewall brushed by Jamaicas southern coast Wednesday afternoon knocking out power and ripping roofs off homes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.

We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God, Holness said.

Several roadways in Jamaicas interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section were without electricity, according to the governments Information Service.

Members of the Red Cross transport a Union Island evacuee on a stretcher as she arrives in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The island, in the Grenadines archipelago, was hit by Hurricane Beryl. (AP Photo/Lucanus Ollivierre)AP

The worst perhaps came earlier in Beryls trajectory when it smacked two small islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Michelle Forbes, the St. Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organization, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.
By John Myers Jr. and Renloy Trail, The Associated Press

KINGSTON, Jamaica  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 Beryls 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 Beryls 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.

Hurricane Beryl was still a Category 4 on Wednesday as it headed toward Jamaica, which could get 6 to 9 feet of storm surge. Beryl could eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico.National Hurricane Center

Kingston resident Pauline Lynch said that she had stockpiled food and water in anticipation of the storms 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 dont suffer no deaths, no loss.

By midday, winds already howled in the capital, turning the sea into churning whitecaps as Beryls eye scraped by the islands 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.

This image provided by NASA shows Hurricane Beryl from the International Space Station on Sunday, July 1, 2024. Beryl was roaring toward Jamaica on Wednesday, July 3, with islanders scrambling to make preparations after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least six people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean. (NASA via AP)AP

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 Mexicos 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.

Roofs of houses lie damaged by Hurricane Beryl in St. Patrick, Grenada, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Haron Forteau)AP

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 Haitis southern coast and the Yucatans east coast. Belize issued a tropical storm watch stretching south from its border with Mexico to Belize City.

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 storms 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.

Jamaicas 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.

Fishing boats lie in the middle of the street for protection from Hurricane Beryl in Kingston, Jamaica, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Collin Reid)AP

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.

Mexicos 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 Mexicos 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.

As Beryl barreled through the Caribbean Sea, rescue crews in southeastern islands fanned out to determine the extent of the damage the hurricane inflicted on Carriacou, an island in Grenada.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Two other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where five people are missing, officials said. About 25,000 people in that area also were affected by heavy rainfall from Beryl.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press. She said Carriacou and Petit Martinique sustained the greatest damage, with scores of homes and businesses flattened in Carriacou.

Palm trees wilt after being uprooted by Hurricane Beryl in St. Patrick, Grenada, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Haron Forteau)AP

Grenadas Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said Tuesday there was no power, roads are impassable and the possible rise of the death toll remains a grim reality.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago. He noted that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed.

The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.

Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson in Mexico City and Coral Murphy Marcos in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.
By NOAH BERGER and JOHN ANTCZAK, the Associated Press

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP)  Officials in a Northern California community canceled an annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration as an estimated 26,000 residents remained displaced by a growing wildfire, while hundreds of firefighters toiled under extreme heat to keep flames from reaching more homes.

The Thompson Fire broke out before noon Tuesday about 70 miles north of Sacramento, near the city of Oroville in Butte County. It sent up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space as it grew to more than 5.5 square miles.

Oroville Mayor David Pittman said there was a significant drop in the fire activity Wednesday, and he was hopeful that some residents could soon be allowed to return home.

Firefighters keep watch on hot spots from the Sharp Fire in Simi Valley, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)AP

The fires progress was stopped along the southern edge, and firefighters working in steep terrain were trying to build containment lines on the northern side. By Wednesday evening, containment stood at 7%.

On that north side they have some real struggles in terms of the topography, Pittman said.

More than a dozen other blazes, most of them small, were active across the state, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. A new fire Wednesday afternoon prompted brief evacuations in heavily populated Simi Valley, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.

The states largest blaze, the Basin Fire, covered nearly 22 square miles of the Sierra National Forest in eastern Fresno County and was 26% contained.

Cindy Miller moves belongings from her home as the Grubbs Fire burns in the Palermo community of Butte County, Calif., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)AP

In Oroville, a state of emergency was declared Tuesday night, and evacuation centers were set up. The evacuation zone expanded Wednesday into foothills and rural areas beyond the city of about 20,000 people.

With July Fourth in mind, authorities warned that fireworks are banned in many places, including most of Butte County. Authorities also cited the ongoing evacuations and damage caused by the Thompson Fire for the cancellation of Orovilles fireworks show, which had been specially permitted.
Matthew Lambrecht clinched his maiden World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and his first seven-figure score in Event #76: $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em for $1,018,933  a career-best. Lambrecht overcame his compatriot Damarjai Davenport heads up, who banked $678,707 for his efforts.

A total of 965 entries were recorded which generated a prize pool of $8,974,500, and eclipsed the 568 that played last year's edition of the event.

Final Table Results

Place Name Country Prize 1 Matthew Lambrecht United States $1,018,933 2 Damarjai Davenport United States $678,707 3 Tauan Naves Brazil $478,247 4 Simas Karaliunas Lithuania $341,963 5 Vladimir Minko Russian Federation $248,174 6 Eshaan Bhalla United States $182,846 7 Andrei Konopelko Belarus $136,792 8 Robert Heidorn Germany $103,942 9 William Jia Australia $80,238

Matthew Lambrecht

Winner's Reaction

"I feel great," were Lambrecht's first words as he spoke with PokerNews. "I recently just had my biggest score so this is another one, so it's like, certainly. Maybe I'll play more of the bigger stuff later this year or next year, like the $25ks or something," replied Lambrecht when he was asked about how the money would change his poker world.

Lambrecht, who already won two WSOP rings in his career, was then asked if he preferred the Mystery Bounty format or different poker variants. "I like it. I've done very well in Mystery Bounties, whether or not that's just luck but I think it's good, you know. It kinda mixes things up, no complaints. There's still a huge prize pool."

"I think I might have pulled four today and maybe four yesterday. I think the biggest I got was a $25,000 at the end just now," replied Lambrecht on the bounties he collected.

Lastly, Lambrecht was asked what's next for him at the WSOP. "Umm, Main Event. Let's do it! I'll probably play Day 1c".

Matthew Lambrecht

Final Table's Action

Nine players came back on Day 3 for the final table of Event #76: $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold'em (8-Handed). However, dreams of success quickly disappeared for William Jia, who lost a flip to the chip leader Tauan Naves in the first minutes of the day to finish in ninth place for $80,238.

Robert Heidorn was more fortunate at first as he doubled up, but after he moved all in once again with ace-eight, he ran into Matthew Lambrecht's ace-king and was eliminated. He won $103,942 for eighth place, plus at least $200,000 in mystery bounties. Moments after his elimination, Andrei Konopelko was sent to the rail as well by Naves kings (7th - $136,792).

At the same time, Eshaan Bhalla came back from short stack to big stack by winning a big flip. The same situation occurred to Damarjai Davenport, who saw his stack decrease during the first levels before doubling up with kings against Bhalla.

Damarjai Davenport

Bhalla was next to double, and he was imitated by Lambrecht who found aces at the perfect time to win the chip lead pot against Naves.

After this new double up, Naves, Vladimir Minko, and Bhalla were all short-stacked. But out of these three, Bhalla was first to fall (6th - $182,849) while Minko survived thanks to quads to reach the next break. However, he didn't last long after the restart, as his tens got cracked by Lambrecht's two pair (5th - $248,174).

These two eliminations benefited Naves, who doubled up twice and reached a new pay jump after Simas Karaliunas' elimination in fourth place for $341,963. Despite having the loudest rail of the final table, Naves' tournament eventually came to an end in third place for $478,247 when he ran ace-five against Lambrecht's ace-queen.

Thanks to this last hand, Lambrecht started the last duel with more than twice Davenport's stack. Although Davenport doubled up once, Lambrecht continued extending his lead. Ultimately, cards went on their backs one last time and Lambrecht was crowned the winner of this $10,000 Mystery Bounty.

Matthew Lambrecht

This concludes PokerNews coverage of the event. Be sure to check out our live-reporting hub for continuing coverage of the 2024 WSOP and other events around the globe.
Day 2 of Event #78: $1,000 Mini Main Event No-Limit Hold'em has come to an end. The day started with 486 players returning out of a starting field of 6,076 and by day's end, only five players were still sitting in their seats as they bagged for Day 3 here at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.

After twelve hours of play, it was Kyle Williamson of the United States finding himself at the top of the leaderboard with 146,300,000. However, right on his tail is Cypriot Georgios Skarparis with 143,700,000.

Final Five Chip Counts and Seat Chart

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Kyle Williamson United States 146,300,000 49 2 Mikhail Zavoloka Russian Federation 20,200,000 7 3 Dirk Bruns Germany 17,500,000 6 4 Alexandre Barbaranelli Italy 36,800,000 12 5 Georgios Skarparis Cyprus 143,700,000 48

Day 2 action

The day began fast and furious, with bust-outs happening rapidly. By the first break of the day, only 207 of the 486 players remained. Early in the day, some of the fallen included Tony Miles (404th), Ismael Bojang (262nd), David Kaye (255th),Landon Tice (219th), and Marsha Wolak (113th).

Kaihung Hu

Kaihung Hu had a huge stack for the majority of the day, gaining traction early when his aces knocked out Panagiotis Mavritsakis. Although he was the chip leader for a long time, he ultimately fell to seventh place, earning $93,171 when his top pair was out-kicked by the aggressive Skarparis

Williamson sky-rocketed to the top in the last few hands of the night, as he scored a big pot with six-high as Skarparis mucked at showdown.

The very next hand, Williamson knocked out Joshua Prager (6th - $120,950) in a blind versus blind battle when his ace-five cracked the queens of Prager. This pot sent him to the number one spot as the tournament director brought over bags to end the night.

All five players have locked up a payout of $158,191 of the $5,346,880 prize pool, but all eyes are on the grand prize of $554,925 and the coveted WSOP gold bracelet.

Final Table Results and Remaining Payouts

Place Player Country Prize 1 $554,925 2 $369,994 3 $276,695 4 $208,444 5 $158,191 6 Joshua Prager United States $120,950 7 Kaihung Hu United States $93,171 8 Stefan Widmer Switzerland $72,316 9 Hunter Frey United States $56,557

Day 3 begins at 2 p.m. local time on July 4 in the Horseshoe Event Center with 20 minutes and 15 seconds remaining in Level 42, and blinds of 1,500,000/3,000,000 and a big blind ante of 3,000,000.

Stay tuned for more coverage of this event from the PokerNews live reporting team as we wait to see who becomes the newest champion here at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
The 2024 World Series of Poker is set to crown another champion on July 4 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Only five players remain in contention for the seven-figure top prize in Event #79: $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha.

After Day 1 brought with it a field of 131 entries, a new record attendance seemed unlikely in this high-stakes competition. However, the only remaining level during the registration period reeled in another 56 entries and reentries to boost the field to 187 entries and generate a prize pool of $8,929,250.

When the dust had settled after midnight, the field was reduced to the final five contenders from as many countries, and Hong Kong's Danny Tang emerged at the top of the leaderboard with a stack of 20,725,000.

There is already a decent gap to Ronald Keijzer (13,275,000) and Daniel Perkusic (12,150,000), who have distanced themselves from the bottom two. Jim Collopy (5,100,000) and Santhosh Suvarna (4,850,000) are separated by only one big blind.

Seat Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Santhosh Suvarna India 4,850,000 16 2 Danny Tang Hong Kong 20,725,000 69 3 Daniel Perkusic Germany 12,150,000 41 4 Jim Collopy United States 5,100,000 17 5 Ronald Keijzer Netherlands 13,275,000 44

Suvarna has three cashes to his name during the ongoing series in Sin City, all of which came in High Roller buy-ins. The businessman from India won his second WSOP gold bracelet in Event #55: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em for a huge score of $5,415,152.

Chipleader Tang is no stranger to high-stakes competitions either, as he has already cashed for more than $26.9 million in live poker tournaments. Five years ago, the Hong Kong-based poker pro won his maiden gold bracelet in Event #90: $50,000 Final Fifty and can double his tally tomorrow. Collopy has three WSOP titles under his belt, whereas PLO specialist Keijzer has one from back in 2018 and Perkusic is the only finalist to seek a maiden victory.

They will return at 1 p.m. local time with 20:35 minutes left in Level 26 at blinds of 150,000/300,000 with a big blind ante of 300,000. All five finalists have secured a cash prize of $503,085 already, and the winner can look forward to a massive top prize of $2,100,325.

Santhosh Suvarna

Action of the Day

The opening stages can only be described as fast and furious, as numerous late entrants attempted to run up their stacks and brought rapid changes on the leaderboard. Pot-Limit Omaha bracelet winners such as Lou Garza, 2022 winner Robert Cowen, Stephen Chidwick and Dash Dudley were all eliminated during the opening stages.

Defending champion Jesse Lonis was unable to run up his short stack, and the title defense came to an end well before the money bubble. Many other big names such as Michael Duek, Jared Bleznick, Eelis Parssinen, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey and Shaun Deeb came up empty-handed as well.

Close to the money bubble, Bryce Yockey and Isaac Haxton saw their hopes vanish and the elimination of the latter in a gigantic pot propelled Collopy atop the leaderboard. Soon after, the money bubble burst in cruel fashion and Dylan Smith was the last contender to leave empty-handed.

Dan Smith and Dylan Weisman bowed out in the money but before the three table redraw, after which the PLO specialists Richard Gryko and Veselin Karakitukov were among the next to fall. Jason Mercier was denied a shot at a seventh gold bracelet and online legend Viktor "Isildur1" Blom recorded another deep run without a maiden victory at the WSOP.

On the final three tables, Tang was among the short stacks but earned a double and triple up in quick succession. Former big stacks Joshua Ladines and Christopher Frank were unable to keep up the momentum. Frank as well as Cary Katz were knocked out by Tang in a three-way all in.

Once the final table was set, Keijzer led the way, but Tang leapfrogged him with the elimination of Ben Lamb. Brian Rast was eliminated by Perkusic before Tang notched up another knockout by sending David Benyamine to the payout desk. Last but not least, Keijzer held with kings to dispatch Gabriel Andrade and conclude the action for the night.

Final Table Results and Remaining Payouts

Place Winner Country Prize (in USD) 1 $2,100,325 2 $1,400,217 3 $973,882 4 $692,232 5 $503,085 6 Gabriel Andrade Ecuador $374,020 7 David Benyamine France $284,604 8 Brian Rast United States $221,778

The final day will recommence at 1 p.m. local time inside the Horseshoe Event Center, and the PokerNews live reporting team will be back then to provide all the key hands en route to crowning a winner.
Shortly after noon local time, Daniel Weinman stepped up to the microphone inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas Event Center and delivered the words every poker player had waited a year to hear: Shuffle Up and Deal.

That meant that the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event had officially begun, with thousands of pros and home game heroes dreaming of following in Weinmans footsteps and capturing the bracelet that forever makes you a world champion.

A total of 915 players showed up for Day 1a, the first of four opening flights. They included two past champions, Qui Nguyen and Greg Merson, who happened to share the same table throughout the day and both bagged, Nguyen with 39,000 and Merson with 36,800.

End of Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chips Big Blinds 1 Joshua Feiger United States 311,900 390 2 Assaf Zeharia Israel 276,600 346 3 Frank Funaro United States 265,000 331 4 Mark Stockton United States 260,700 326 5 Jie Wu China 252,300 315 6 Nan Li United States 247,500 309 7 Vid Zagar Slovenia 241,300 302 8 Jonathan Wong (NY) United States 239,800 300 9 Naoya Kihara Japan 228,300 285 10 Pedro Bromfman Brazil 224,600 281

Joshua Feiger is the player to catch after the opening flight as he was the only one to finish above 300,000. Feiger busted a player who was all in for 50,700 with queen-jack on a queen-high board, but Feiger had ace-queen to win the pot as he ended the day with 311,900. The Boulder, Colorado native has just over $110,000 in live earnings, his best result being a deep run in The Colossus at the 2018 WSOP.

Assaf Zeharia was on the right side of a number of big pots as he built up a massive stack. Zeharia busted poker content creator Abby Merk in a straight-over-straight cooler in the second level of the day, then eliminated David Williamson in a more than 100,000-chip pot with top set of queens. The Israeli also made a royal flush against Kahle Burns, capping off his dream day on the felt on his way to bagging up 276,600.

Assaf Zeharia

Approximately 620 players punched their tickets for Day 2 after five two-hour levels. Other players advancing include Frank Funaro (265,000), Rayan Chamas (162,000), Matt Affleck (161,700), Bin Weng (152,000), Kevin Gerhart (150,700), Rob Kuhn (130,700), Parker Talbot (106,700), Barny Boatman (70,000), and PokerNews' Chad Holloway (16,900). Jeff Platt was pulling double duty today, serving both as a player and host as he walked around the room conducting interviews when not in a hand. He managed not to put a curse on himself as he had 96,100 to end the day.

Then theres Jon Pardy, the Canadian reality TV star, poker vlogger, and Twitch streamer. Pardy was at the same table as Zeharia all day, and in between taking videos, being interviewed by Platt, a few drinks, and plenty of laughs, he managed to bag up 161,700.

Oh man, we had an absolute blast. The atmosphere was electric all day. You definitely know its Main Event day, Pardy said. We had an amazing table. The table was talkative the entire time. We had an absolute blast. It was almost like a home game. You would never know it was a 10K buy-in.

Jon Pardy

The Main Event is the day poker players circle on their calendars. Its a dream for many just being in this room, and its something Pardy isnt taking for granted as he advances to Day 2.

The Main Event is the pinnacle. The Main Event is what every single poker player dreams of. They dream of being in these seats. They dream of playing for eight or nine days straight. And to be able to sit here, Im very grateful. There was a time in my life when I never wouldve thought I would get this opportunity, let alone be able to do it year after year. So Im thrilled to be here, and I know from the atmosphere in this room, everybody else is as well, he said.

The Main Event is usually pokers ultimate grind, a test of endurance over days of action. But this year, it started off with a bang. Travis Darroch and Craig Issod were both eliminated on the first hand, Darroch in a full house versus quads massive cooler against Williamson. Pardy had a front-row seat for the carnage.

I was here for the first hand when my buddy TJ busted the boat versus the quads. That set the tone for the entire day at our table. We had guys sending it, bluffing with underpairs for like 400 big blinds. Other guys just calling with ace-high. It was absolute madness out here today.

The Main Event dream also ended for the likes of Brad Owen, Kahle Burns, Kyle Julius, Upeshka De Silva, Freddy Deeb, and several hundred others on Day 1a.

Those who were fortunate to survive the day will return for Day 2abc on Sunday, July 7, at noon local time. Three starting flights remain, and late registration remains open for the first two levels of Day 2. Judging by the massive turnout on Day 1a and the atmosphere in the room, last years total of 10,043 players stands a good chance of being matched.

PokerNews will return for Day 1b tomorrow at noon local time as a new crop of players start their journies that, they hope, eventually end with their face on a banner alongside Weinmans.
As Donald Trump and his Republican enablers work out in the open to turn the United States back into a monarchy, this Independence Day marking our nations success 248 years ago at rejecting an autocratic king has turned somber.

The Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Sarafina Chitika issued a statement in light of the many alarming events preceding this day and Donald Trumps history of rejecting democracy, prioritizing his own power over our country, announcement that hed be a dictator for a day, incitement of a violent, deadly insurrection and more.

Today is a day to celebrate the freedoms Donald Trump is trying to rip away, to honor the troops Trump has called suckers and losers, and to mark the birth of our democracy as convicted felon Donald Trump fights to make himself a dictator, Chitika wrote in a statement sent to PoliticusUSA.

This July Fourth, the stakes of the election ahead couldnt be higher  and everything we value as Americans is on the line. Voters will be faced with a decision between Joe Biden  who has fought to protect our freedoms, our democracy, and our troops and a wannabe despot who only cares about himself. The choice could not be more clear.

This a pivotal Fourth of July in our nations history. Never has the country been under such a dire threat of the loss of the very things that this nation was founded upon.

The Revolutionary War was fought so that Americans could be freed from a system where a king was above the law, and self-determination did not exist.

Two hundred forty eight years later that same right of self-determination is at risk, so the Biden-Harris campaign is correct. Today is the day to celebrate those freedoms, and more importantly, it is a day to vow that they will never be allowed to be taken away.

To support PoliticusUSA, please consider making a donation:


CAYCE  The city of Cayce announced on July 3 that police Chief Chris Cowan will be stepping down to join the staff at South Carolinas Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

Cowan has served as the head of the Cayce Police Department since September 2021 and has been a law enforcement veteran for over 30 years. He said the position is the right decision for him and his family.

I love our Cayce team and am proud of the new initiatives we have built, Cowan said. I am thankful for the people of Cayce we serve and have enjoyed being a part of this great community.

Mayor Elise Parton said she's thankful for the impact Cowan has had on the city. According to Partin, Cowan transitioned Cayce from the public safety model to an individual police department and worked to bring down emergency response times to 2 minutes and 9 seconds.

We look forward to continuing to support the women and men of our Police Department as we build upon these successes, Partin said.

Cayce Mayor Pro Tem Tim James  former Cayce Director of the Department of Public Safety  noted that Cowan set goals to improve at "detecting, investigating and preventing crime.

James said the goals have resulted in the decrease in crime rates.

I look forward to working with city leaders, our department staff, and our community to see our upcoming events and initiatives come to fruition, Cowan said

An interim chief of police will be announced by the Cayce city manager at a later date, according to a statement from the city.
GREENVILLE  It's a busy summer day, and lines of people stroll through One City Plaza as Ronnie Elliott's fingers dance on a Tom Anderson T Classic electric guitar.

The teen's eyes laser-lock to the brick sidewalk, only glancing up when a child drops a few dollars in his tip jar. His feet tap to the beat of a 1928 jazz song nearly a century older than him, "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise."

Elliotts father stands a few steps away with a camera, videotaping a 30-second clip for Instagram that would open up doors Elliott never saw coming  at least, not in 2023.

Fast-forward a summer later.

Now, 1.2 million people have watched the video. Comedian Bill Burr liked it. Stevie Wonders bassist, Nathan Watts, commented on it.

Very mature sounding! Awesome playing! Let me hear more blues!! wrote Tomo Fujita, a guitar professor at the Berklee College of Music.

O jazz corre nas veias, another user wrote in Portuguese  which in English is Jazz runs through your veins."

In the year since that Instagram video posted in 2023, it has turned the high school student, who starting busking in Greenville at age 9, into a mini jazz sensation. It was reposted on The Jazz Estate, a popular Instagram page with 740,000 followers. Promoters at Dollywood in Tennessee saw the clip and booked him for a show at their resort.

Now, hes 14 years old with nearly 30,000 followers on Instagram, including music stars Lenny Kravitz, Sheila E. and Jason Isbell.

Theres so many buskers downtown doing a variety of different kinds of things, said Matt Dingledine, a longtime Greenville music teacher, but no one's doing what Ronnies doing.

A vibrant busking culture

Every day, downtown Greenville sings with horns, beats and guitar solos from Falls Park to the brick walkways of Main Street.
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster has two words for state lawmakers after they approved numerous changes to the way the Legislature selects judges: Do more.

In a July 3 letter to Senate President Thomas Alexander, the governor said that while the changes bring long-overdue reforms  like term limits for the judge selection committee and an expanded pool of bench candidates  it does little to address other longstanding concerns.

He particularly mentioned the prominent role that lawyer-legislators continue to play in selecting judges they may one day appear in front of.

No good argument can justify maintaining or merely tinkering with the status quo, McMaster wrote. Continued resistance to meaningful change will only further elevate the current perception and exacerbate the actual imbalance of power.

The letter and subsequent signing of the Judicial Merit Selection Commission reform legislation came amid a flurry of final-day activity for the 2024 legislative session, including the governors issuance of nearly two-dozen vetoes to the state budget.

While the governor now has a greater say in appointing members of the commission, their selections are still vastly outnumbered by members of the state General Assembly, with legislative appointees outgunning the governors picks to the body by a ratio of 2 to 1.

The new legislation also fails to provide meaningful reforms to the screening process for judicial candidates, McMaster contended, leaving judges subject to what he termed a demeaning reality of repeatedly traveling to the Statehouse to campaign for lawmakers favor.

And, unlike a version proposed by the S.C. House of Representatives, the Senate version of the bill and the subsequent compromise agreement passed by both chambers failed to address lingering concerns about the way South Carolina appoints local magistrates who hear the vast majority of cases in state courts.
Warm water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea are shattering records and worrying scientists and environmentalists who warn of potentially devastating consequences.

Temperatures in the tropical portions of the Atlantic basin are several degrees warmer than they should be this time of year, the Sierra Club of South Carolina reported. Observers fear mass coral bleaching, stronger cyclones and migration of sea life, which could have significant impacts on fisheries and coastal areas in the path of tropical storms, including South Carolina.

"The risks are enormous," said Montravias King, director of South Carolina's Sierra Club chapter.

Already, the strongest hurricane ever recorded in June  Beryl  has rolled across the Caribbean, wrecking small islands and threatening others. It reached Category 5 strength on July 1, with peak winds at 165 mph, before weakening to Category 4 with 145-mph sustained winds that were still considered "catastrophic" by meteorologists. Jamaica endured the cyclone's wrath on July 3. Beryl is expected to weaken somewhat before making a predicted landfall on Mexicos east coast or in southern Texas the morning of July 8.

Heat is the energy source tropical storms need to grow. As ocean temperatures rise, every degree is additional fuel for stronger storms, said Scott Curtis, director of The Citadel's Near Center for Climate Studies.

South Carolinas waters are warmer than usual for this time of year, with temperatures in the low 90s recorded in late June.

Off the coast of South Carolina, water temperatures generally have been rising for the last several decades, according to the University of Maines Climate Change Institute. Scientists expect this trend to continue.

Marine heat waves and prolonged warming can affect underwater ecosystems and accelerate sea-level rise.

Once water temperatures exceed the limits of a given species, breathing, moving, eating and reproducing can become more difficult, said Tracey Smart, a marine scientist with the state Department of Natural Resources. Every degree above that limit makes them work that much harder, she said.
GREER  After more than 100 years of providing community coverage, The Greer Citizen is set to print its last edition.

The family-owned weekly newspaper announced July 3 that it will cease operations with its July 31 edition.

The national decline of print journalism and the corresponding community move from newspaper advertising to online outlets have made financial sustainability impossible, staff writer William Buccheit wrote in a front-page story reporting the news to readers.

Buccheits family owns the newspaper.

A message requesting comment from Publisher Steve Blackwell was not immediately returned.

Greer Mayor Rick Danner said he found out The Citizen was closing the same way many others did  by reading it on the newsstand.

It caught me by surprise, he said, calling the local weekly an institution.

Joel Fitzpatrick, who spent a few years as editor of The Citizen, said he was heartbroken by the news. Growing up, the thought of working at his local paper was a dream.

He learned about the newspapers coming end on Facebook.

The reactions on social media were swift, with some mourning the paper and others thanking the staff for keeping the paper going for 106 years.

Theres a lot of sadness in the community, he said, pointing to those online reactions.

Danner said a woman called him after reading the story. Shes not on social media and relies on the weekly to keep up with the news. She asked Danner what the city would do to fill that void. His answer: He doesnt know.

I think there may be more people like that than you think, Danner said.

Eddie Burch, whose family owned the newspaper for more than six decades before selling it in 2006, said The Citizen closing is sad for Greer.
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London Business School (LBS) celebrates 1,600 Graduates at Annual CongregationHonorary Fellowship awarded for exceptional contributions to global business and society, previously awarded to Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg and Kofi AnnanLBS is Europe's leading business school with an alumni network of over 50,000 professionals in 156 countriesWith over 5,000 Alumni, LBS Dubai Campus bridges academic excellence between Europe and the Middle EastUAE's US $ 2.7 billion education budget drives future skills developmentLONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / London Business School, a leading global academic institution renowned for its cutting-edge business education and influential research, held its annual congregation ceremony in London to honour 1,600 graduates who completed their MBA, Executive MBA, Masters, and PhD programs.As part of the ceremony, Badr Jafar, CEO of Crescent Enterprises and UAE Special Envoy for Business and Philanthropy, was awarded the London Business School Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his multifaceted contributions to global business, philanthropy, and social entrepreneurship'. Previous honourees include notable figures such as Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft; Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City and founder of Bloomberg L.P.; and Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations.In his commencement speech to over 3,000 graduates, faculty and family members, Badr Jafar expressed his deep admiration for the opportunities provided by the UAE to residents from over 200 nations, stating, "As a deeply proud Emirati, I am constantly guided by the spirit of our young, yet formidable nation, which espouses an unwavering belief that nothing is impossible to those determined to make their dreams a reality." Francois Ortalo-Magne, Dean of the London Business School, commented, "Today, at the congregation of London Business School's Class of 2024, we were privileged to recognise Badr Jafar with an Honorary Fellowship. We celebrate his success and his generosity. What an outstanding role model and inspiration for us all." Since its establishment in 1964, London Business School (LBS) has earned a reputation for its rigorous academic programs, consistently ranking among the top in the world. LBS also boasts a robust alumni network of over 50,000 professionals across 156 countries. In 2007, LBS opened its first campus outside London in the UAE, aiming to promote academic excellence and bridge the gap between research in Europe and the Middle East. By supporting advanced research and facilitating meaningful collaborations that transcend geographical boundaries, the LBS campus in Dubai has seen more than 5,000 alumni graduate from its programmes.Reflecting on his personal experiences, Badr Jafar emphasised to the graduates the fundamental role that our families and local community plays in building resilient economies and societies, saying "In a world fixated on big institutions and lofty global initiatives, many of which find themselves increasingly incapable of addressing people's needs or maintaining their trust, I've come to realize that the most important institution is not found in towering edifices or distant boardrooms, but in the sanctity of our homes, fortifying us with the resilience to face whatever challenges come our way." Through the National Strategy for Higher Education 2030, the UAE has integrated education, economic growth, and competitiveness, focusing on equipping future generations with technical and practical skills for both public and private sectors. The strategy aims to prepare Emirati professionals to sustain growth in key sectors like the knowledge economy and entrepreneurship. This vision is supported by a US $ 2.7 billion allocation to education programs, representing 15.5% of the federal budget for 2023-2026.Crescent Enterprises actively supports the educational sector through numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing learning outcomes and fostering innovation in the UAE. Through partnering with educational institutions and investing in their programs, the company contributes to the development of future leaders and the promotion of knowledge and skills essential for socio-economic growth.About Crescent EnterprisesCrescent Enterprises is a leading multinational company, growing diversified global businesses that are sustainable, scalable, and profitable. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, with business operations in 15 countries, it operates under four enterprise platforms: CE-Operates, an operating business platform, focusing on smart infrastructure as the main driver of economic development and growth. CE-Invests, a strategic investment platform investing in late-stage businesses and private equity funds. CE-Ventures, a corporate venture capital platform targeting early-stage technology-enabled high-growth businesses and venture capital funds globally. CE-Creates, an internal business incubator, building start-ups that are socially and environmentally conscious.Crescent Enterprises operates with a value system and culture that embraces corporate governance, inclusive growth, and responsible business practices.Follow Crescent Enterprises on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescent-enterprises/?originalSubdomain=ae Follow Crescent Enterprises on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CrescentEnterp Media Contact: Crescent Enterprises https://www.crescententerprises.com/ +971 (6) 554 7222SOURCE: Crescent Enterprises
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NEWARK, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / July 3, 2024 / Nicolas Fauchoux, the Chief Operating Officer of Biotrial, a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO), has been honored as one of the top 50 COOs globally at this year's OnCon Icon Awards. These awards celebrate leadership excellence and were announced virtually at the OnCon 2024 summit on April 23rd, highlighting Fauchoux's exceptional contributions to clinical research.A Journey of Growth and InnovationNicolas Fauchoux joined Biotrial as a medical doctor in October 2000. Initially screening volunteers and patients for study protocols, he developed a passion for clinical research. Advancing to Investigator, he held key positions, including Principal Investigator for complex CNS, cardiology, hematology, and infectious disease protocols.In 2015, Fauchoux was appointed Global Chief Operating Officer and, in 2022, Chief Medical Officer, roles in which he thrived, leading the organization to new heights of international success. His leadership was instrumental in Biotrial's strategic expansion into the United States, establishing a state-of-the-art Clinical Pharmacology Unit (CPU) in Newark, New Jersey.Expanding Biotrial's Horizons in the U.S.Founded in France in 1989, Biotrial has evolved into a global provider of comprehensive clinical research services. The company's expansion into the U.S. was not just a move but a strategic leap, recognizing the critical importance of being present in the world's largest market for clinical trials. The U.S. hosts most clinical trial sponsors, making it essential for Biotrial to establish a robust presence to serve its international clients effectively.This endeavor required transferring Biotrial's 26 years of expertise from France to the U.S., ensuring the Newark facility met the same high standards as its European counterparts.Navigating Cross-Cultural ChallengesOne unique aspect of Biotrial's expansion has been managing the cultural differences between the French headquarters and the U.S. team. Fauchoux played a pivotal role in bridging these gaps, fostering collaboration and understanding between French employees and U.S. nationals.Biotrial's work culture demands flexibility and adaptability from all team members, from clinical technicians to doctors. This cross-cultural synergy has been vital in delivering exceptional service to Biotrial's international clients.The organization thrives on thinking outside the box, being committed, and working collaboratively. Our asset is being reactive, innovative, and flexible in meeting the diverse needs of our clients, from small startups to large international pharmaceutical companies.Excellence in Neuroscience and OncologyBiotrial excels in Neuroscience, offering translational solutions that precisely integrate non-clinical and clinical development.In Oncology, Biotrial collaborates closely with specialized researchers, leveraging over 35 years of experience to pioneer new approaches from preclinical to clinical stages. A patient-centered approach and innovative solutions make Biotrial a partner of choice in early-stage oncology development.Commitment to Support InnovationWith facilities in Rennes, France; Newark, New Jersey; London, England; and Quebec, Canada, Biotrial continues to lead clinical research and deliver exceptional results worldwide.Reflecting on his journey, Fauchoux expressed immense pride in Biotrial's accomplishments and looks forward to future collaborations. "Our company's culture is built on the belief that no challenge is too big. With determination and collaboration, we find solutions and achieve our clients' goals," he said. "I invite you to consider working with us at our state-of-the-art facilities in Europe and the U.S. We are dedicated to innovation and excellence and look forward to supporting your drug development process to deliver effective cures to patients." For more information about Biotrial and its services, visitBiotrial.com Contact:BiotrialNathalie TouzePhone: + 33 (0)6 83 99 31 97Email:communications@ biotrial.com SOURCE: Biotrial
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THIS PRESS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Diamcor Mining Inc. (TSXV:DMI)(OTCQB:DMIFF)(FRA:DC3A), ("Diamcor" or the "Company"), announces that it has now received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange following the closing of its CND$2,006,300.00 non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"), announced on July 2, 2024. Existing insiders, management and directors, and larger shareholders subscribed for an aggregate of $1,375,000.00 of the Offering.NM Management Ltd., a private family holding company based in Manitoba, acquired 6,000,000 units of the Offering for a total consideration of $300,000.00. Prior to the Offering, NM beneficially owned 25,827,890 Shares representing approximately 20.09% of the issued and outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis. Following the completion of the Offering, NM beneficially owns 31,827,890 Shares and 6,000,000 Warrants representing approximately 18.87% on a non-diluted basis and 18.12% on a partially diluted basis assuming exercise of all Warrants. The units acquired by NM Management Ltd. are strictly for investment purposes. A copy of NM Management's early warning report appears on the Diamcor Mining Inc's profile on SEDAR+.Due to NM Management's control person holdings prior to the commencement of the Offering, the Company has filed the Offering with the TSX Venture Exchange as a Related Party Transaction for the purposes of TSX Venture Exchange Policy 5.9 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 ("MI 61-101") which is incorporated into Policy 5.9. The Offering is a distribution of securities for cash for the purposes of paragraph 5.5 (c) of MI 61-101 and there is no disclosure document in respect of the Offering. The Offering is also a distribution of securities for cash with a fair market value of under $2,500,000 for the purposes of paragraph 5.7(b) of MI 61-101 which has received approval by the independent directors of the Company. Accordingly, other than news releases, early warning reports and material change reports (as applicable) no disclosure, valuation or minority shareholder approvals are required.The Company has issued 40,126,000 units in total from the Offering at a price of CND $0.05, with each unit consisting of one Class "A" Common share in the authorized capital of the Company (a "Share"), and one non-transferable share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional Class "A" Common share at an exercise price of CND $0.075 for a period of 36 months following the close of each of the respective tranches. Securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months plus one day following the date of their issuance.The securities sold in the Offering have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration under such Act or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.About Diamcor Mining Inc. Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded diamond mining company with a proven history, which is focused on building a growing supply of ethically sourced, non-conflict, natural rough diamonds to some of the world's most reputable diamantaire's and luxury retailers. The Company has a long-term strategic alliance with world famous Tiffany & Co, and currently, its primary focus is on the development of its Krone-Endora at Venetia Project which is co-located and directly related to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. The Venetia diamond mine is long recognized as one of the world's top diamond-producing mines, and the deposits which occur on Company's Krone-Endora Project have been identified as being the result of shift and subsequent erosion of an estimated 50M tonnes of material from the higher grounds of Venetia to the lower surrounding areas in the direction of Krone and Endora. The Company is also focused on the acquisition and development of additional mid-tier projects with near-term production capabilities to allow the Company to position itself as a growing supplier of ethically and responsibly mined non-conflict natural rough diamonds to reputable diamantaires and select luxury retailers. The Company has a strong commitment to junior mining, social responsibility, women in mining, supporting local communities, and to protecting the environment.About the Tiffany & Co. Alliance The Company has an established long-term strategic alliance with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world-famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at market prices. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing in an effort to advance the Project as quickly as possible. Tiffany & Co. is now owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), a publicly traded company which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext) under the symbol LVMH and on the OTC under the symbol LVMHF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com Qualified Person Statement: Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.On behalf of the Board of Directors: Mr. Dean H. TaylorDiamcor Mining Inc DeanT@ Diamcor.com +1 250 862-3212For Investor Relations contact: Mr. Rich MatthewsIntegrous Communications rmatthews@ integcom.us +1 (604) 355-7179This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual even
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 11:01:07

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Harbor Diversified, Inc. ("Harbor Diversified" or "the Company") (OTC:HRBR) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Harbor Diversified securities between May 10, 2022 and March 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR Case Details:According to the Complaint, Harbor Diversified describes itself as "a non-operating holding company that is the parent of a consolidated group of subsidiaries, including AWAC Aviation, Inc. (AWAC'), which is the sole member of Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC (Air Wisconsin'), a regional air carrier. Harbor is also the direct parent of three other subsidiaries: (1) Lotus Aviation Leasing, LLC (Lotus'), which leases flight equipment to Air Wisconsin, (2) Air Wisconsin Funding LLC (AWF'), which provides flight equipment financing to Air Wisconsin, and (3) Harbor Therapeutics, Inc. (Therapeutics'), which is a non-operating entity with no material assets." The Complaint alleges that Harbor Diversified made materially false and/or misleading statements because the Company misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) Harbor Diversified's financial statements from May 9, 2022 to the present were misstated due to improper revenue recognition;(2) Harbor Diversified lacked adequate internal controls; and(3) as a result, Harbor Diversified's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.The truth began to emerge, according to the Complaint, on March 29, 2024, when Harbor Diversified filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K in which it announced that certain of its previously-issued financial statements would need to be restated as a result of improper revenue recognition. Further, Harbor Diversified disclosed a material weakness in its internal controls that has the company's management evaluating "appropriate remediation actions." On this news, according to the Complaint, the price of Harbor Diversified stock fell by $0.28 per share, or14.25% , to close at $1.73 on April 1, 2024.Therefore, the Complaint further alleges that as a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Harbor Diversified's common shares, investors have suffered significant losses and damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Harbor Diversified you have until July 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller,332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 13:45:38

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NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Netevia, a leading fintech company specializing in innovative payment solutions, is pleased to announce that it has raised up to $120 million in committed and uncommitted capital from WhiteHorse Capital, a premier private investment firm; the new funding consists of various debt facilities designated to complete key acquisitions, rollout new products and execute on strategic initiatives."We are thrilled to partner with Whitehorse Capital, the funding marks a pivotal moment for Netevia as we embark on the next phase of our growth journey. This financial partnership will allow us to carry on Netevia's mission of becoming the next unicorn in financial technology with a very unique and diverse channel sales strategy" said Vlad Sadovskiy CEO of Netevia."We are excited to partner with Netevia and look forward to supporting them in the continued growth and success of the business." said Craig Palmer from WhiteHorse Capital.About NeteviaNetevia is a pioneering fintech company that offers a comprehensive suite of payment solutions designed to meet the needs of businesses across various industries. By integrating advanced technology and customer-centric approaches, Netevia provides seamless, secure, and efficient payment processing services. With a focus on innovation and growth, Netevia is committed to empowering businesses to thrive in the digital economy.About WhiteHorse CapitalWhiteHorse Capital provides debt financing to middle market companies across a wide range of industries, including Telecom, Media and Technology, Healthcare, Business Services and Financial Services. WhiteHorse has a broad investment mandate and provides senior and subordinated debt for refinancings, growth capital, acquisitions, buyouts, and balance sheet recapitalizations. WhiteHorse Capital professionals, across the U.S. and Europe, have extensive experience and a proven track record of providing creative financing structures and employing a long-term relationship-oriented portfolio management philosophy. For more information, please visit our website at https://whitehorse.com Media Contact:Netevia Communications Team Email: media@ netevia.com Phone: (123) 456-7890 Website: http://www.netevia.com Whitehorse Capital Email: investorrelations@ whitehorse.com Website: https://whitehorse.com **Disclaimer:** This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on Netevia's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially.For additional information, please visit [Netevia's newsroom] http://www.netevia.com/newsroom or follow us on [Twitter] http://www.twitter.com/netevia and [LinkedIn] http://www.linkedin.com/company/netevia Media ContactOrganization: NeteviaContact Person: Michelle BeyoWebsite: https://netevia.com Email: media@ netevia.com Contact Number: +11234567890City: North Miami BeachState: FloridaCountry: United StatesSOURCE: Netevia
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 21:17:21

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces it has filed a lawsuit against UiPath, Inc. ("UiPath" or the "Company") (NYSE:PATH) and certain of the Company's senior executives.Investors have until August 19, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in UiPath securities between December 1, 2023 and the close of trading on May 29, 2024 inclusive (the "Class Period"). The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and is captioned Zack Steiner v. UiPath, Inc., No. 1:24-cv-4702.If you suffered losses on your UiPath investment, you are encouraged to submit your information at https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/uipath-inc-investigation What is the Lawsuit About?The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, defendants made materially false and misleading statements concerning the success of UiPath's turnaround strategy. For instance, defendants represented that the Company was "executing against that strategy, and we're seeing [the] results in the deal quality and the customer quality," asserted that "our strategic investments in innovations and our go-to-market ecosystem positions us well for continued momentum," and that "there's no doubt there's [been] better execution" since the implementation of the turnaround strategy.These statements were allegedly materially false and misleading. In truth, UiPath's turnaround strategy had failed. Fruitless investments and inconsistent execution plagued the Company's overhauled go-to-market strategy. Additionally, UiPath's AI-powered Business Automation Platform caused "confusion" among customers and was not able to be adequately scaled. As a result, UiPath experienced significant difficulties closing and/or expanding large multiyear deals.On May 29, 2024, UiPath announced the sudden departure of CEO Robert Enslin. On the same day, UiPath announced disappointing 1Q 25 financial results and significantly cut its FY 25 revenue guidance by 10%, or $150 million. The Company attributed the poor results and guidance to several factors related to its failed turnaround strategy, including an inadequate "execution strategy to scale" the Company's AI-powered growth products "to reach their full potential," and that AI had "create[ed] a little bit of confusion with our customers." Ui Path also described how the "investments we have made to reaccelerate growth have fallen short of our expectations, [and] made us less agile in responding to customer needs" while experiencing "contract execution challenges on large deals." This news caused the price of UiPath stock to decline $6.23 per share, or more than 34%, from $18.30 per share on May 29, 2024, to $12.07 per share on May 30, 2024, resulting in significant harm to investors.Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/uipath-inc-investigation A copy of the lawsuit can be foundhere .What Can You Do?If you invested in UiPath, Inc. you have rights and are encouraged to submit your information to speak with an attorney.All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The Firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information:Or contact us at:Ross Shikowitz ross@ bfalaw.com 212-789-3619Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs' Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.'s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.SOURCE: Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 12:30:08

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Not for dissemination in or into the United States or through U.S. newswiresAll dollars are Canadian unless otherwise notedVANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Relevant Gold Corp. (TSXV:RGC)(OTCQB:RGCCF) (the "Company" or "Relevant Gold") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a subscription agreement with Kinross Gold Corporation ("Kinross") (NYSE:KGC),(TSX:K) in connection with a $1,530,000 private placement financing (the "Placement") of 5,100,000 units at a price of $0.30 per unit . The Placement represents a separate follow-on financing to the previously completed private placement (see news releases dated May 2, and June 26, 2024).The Placement is for 5,100,000 Units at a price of $0.30 per unit, with each Unit consisting of one common share of the Company and a one-half share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.35 per share for a period of 24 months from the date of issue. There are no finder's fees associated with this Placement.After giving effect to the Placement, Kinross will hold approximately 9.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company on a partially diluted basis. At closing, Relevant Gold and Kinross will enter into an Investor Rights Agreement reserving certain rights for Kinross, namely pro-rata participation in future financings, the ability to increase ownership to 19.9%, and the formation of a technical advisory committee comprised of two Kinross members and two Relevant Gold members."Kinross's strategic investment represents a strong vote of confidence in our team's Wyoming exploration vision and ability to execute in the field- we are thrilled to welcome them as a major shareholder and strategic partner," said Relevant Gold's CEO Rob Bergmann. "This investment marks a key milestone for Relevant, expanding our technical depth, strengthening our corporate structure and bolstering our treasury. We look forward to immediately leveraging this new relationship in our upcoming drilling program." The Proceeds from the Placement are expected to be used to fund exploration activities at the Company's projects in Wyoming, USA, and for general working capital.The Company anticipates closing the Placement shortly following receipt of approval from the TSX Venture Exchange.This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (The "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.About Relevant Gold Corp.Relevant Gold Corp. is a North American gold exploration company founded by experienced exploration geologists and operated by a highly respected team with a proven record of significant value creation for shareholders. Relevant Gold is focused on the acquisition, exploration, discovery, and development of district-scale gold projects in the state of Wyoming - one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions in the United States and globally.On behalf of Relevant Gold Corp.,Rob Bergmann, Chief Executive OfficerMore informationNeither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.For further information about Relevant Gold Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at www.relevantgoldcorp.com or contact Rob Bergmann, President and CEO, or Kristopher Jensen, Manager of Investor Relations, at 763-760-4886 or by email at investorrelations@ relevantgoldcorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Historical InformationThis news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events of Relevant Gold Corp. ("Relevant" or "Relevant Gold" or "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. 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 forwardlooking 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 forwardlooking 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 Co
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 09:30:42

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 /Sastanaqqam, a pioneering Polygon-based Web3 ecosystem, is excited to announce a series of groundbreaking initiatives aimed at expanding its global footprint. These initiatives include a $1,000,000 airdrop campaign, strategic launchpad listings, andsuccessful private sales. Designed to reward its loyal community and attract new members, these efforts underscore Sastanaqqam's commitment to creating a valuable and engaging ecosystem.Campaign Overview Total Airdrop Value:$1,000,000 in $Bloo tokens$10,000 in USDTAirdrop Structure:Community Acquisition Airdrop: A one-time airdrop to welcome new members .Daily Airdrop for Community Retention: Daily rewards for continued engagement.Monthly Airdrop for Best Community Members: Monthly recognition and rewards for top members.Final Airdrop: Special rewards for members who achieve 5000 points.Points System:Earn Points: Engage with the platform, participate in daily tasks, and accumulate points.Leaderboard: Points will determine leaderboard positions, influencing monthly and final airdrop rewards.Daily Tasks: Exciting daily tasks designed to keep the community engaged and motivated.Reward Distribution:General Campaign: $500,000 worth of $Bloo tokens will be distributed between July 5th and September 15th, accessible to everyone.Final Airdrop: Another $500,000 in $Bloo tokens reserved for final rewards to top members.USDT Rewards: $10,000 in USDT to be distributed throughout the campaign.Participation Instructions:Join the Community: Connect with Sastanaqqam on various platforms.Engage and Earn Points: Complete daily tasks, interact with content, and earn points.Climb the Leaderboard: Accumulate points to enhance chances of winning in monthly and final airdrops.Why Participate?Exclusive Rewards: Early access to $Bloo tokens and USDT.Engagement and Fun: Participate in engaging tasks with daily surprises.Community Building: Connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to a thriving community.About Sastanaqqam: Sastanaqqam is an ecosystem where art, DeFi, education, and gaming intersect, powered by its native $Bloo token. It aims to bring the advantages of Web3 and blockchain technology to users with a familiar, user-friendly interface. Key projects under Sastanaqqam include:Artiziri: A curated NFT marketplace democratizing digital art for creators and collectors.Sastanawallet: A non-custodial wallet supporting all Sastanaqqam platforms.WalletJR: An educational financial platform for young users to learn about DeFi and Web3.SastaPlay: A skill-based "Rank to Earn" gaming platform.Partnerships: Sastanaqqam has established strategic partnerships with NOWPayments, Simplex, Mercuryo, BrightNode, Unicsoft, CDN, Oubstudio, Luna, Muse, Boosty, and Zex PR to bolster its ecosystem and ensure a seamless user experience.Social Media Growth: Sastanaqqam has experienced rapid growth across its social media platforms, reflecting the strong community interest and engagement. Our Twitter followers have surged to 26,400, Telegram followers have reached 29,300, and ourDiscord community now boasts 4,000 members. This explosive growth demonstrates the increasing interest and trust in the Sastanaqqam ecosystem.Listing and Private Sales: The journey to listing $Bloo tokens has been meticulously planned to maximize value and accessibility. Our private sales have garnered significant interest from early investors, further solidifying the confidence in our project. The upcoming listings on major launchpads such as Kommunitasand GemPadare highly anticipated, setting the stage for a successful entry into the market. Subsequent listings on prominent exchanges like MEXCand Coinstorewill provide liquidity and accessibility to a broader audience.Community Metrics:Twitter Followers: 26,400Telegram Followers: 29,300Discord Followers: 4,000Useful Links:WebsiteWhitepaperPitch DeckTwitterTelegramDiscordInstagramLinkedInPress ReleaseWith this comprehensive airdrop campaign, Sastanaqqam continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a valuable and engaging ecosystem for its community. Join us today and be a part of the future of art, DeFi, and gaming!PR Contact: ZEX PR WIRE info@ zexprwire.com SOURCE: Sastanaqqam
PR-Inside.com: 2024-07-04 03:40:20

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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / July 3, 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 30, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Seritage Growth Properties ("Seritage" or the "Company") (NYSE:SRG), if they purchased the Company's securities between July 7, 2022 and May 10, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Seritage 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-srg/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byAugust 30, 2024 .About the LawsuitSeritage and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On August 14, 2023, the Company disclosed a "material weakness" in its internal control over financial reporting "due to a deficiency in the design of our control over the identification of impairment indicators for investments in real estate and documentation of evidence of review" related "to the failure to identify potential indicators of impairment related to development projects in a timely manner." On this news, the price of Seritage's shares fell $0.86, or 9.67%, to close at $8.03 per share on August 15, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume.Then, on May 10, 2024, the Company released its 1Q2024 financial results, disclosing that it was "adjusting [its] pricing projections for some of [its] assets" resulting in the gross value of the Company's portfolio of assets being reduced by at least $325 million. On this news, the price of Seritage's shares fell $2.54, or 27.3%, to close at $6.78 per share on May 13, 2024, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is He v. Seritage Growth Properties, et al., No. 1:24-cv-05007.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: 2024-07-04 08:00:26

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NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.RECOMMENDED CASH ACQUISITIONofTRIDENT ROYALTIES PLCbyDETERRA GLOBAL HOLDINGS PTY LTD(a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Deterra Royalties Limited)to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangementunder Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006PUBLICATION OF SCHEME DOCUMENTLONDON, UNITED KINGDOM / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / On 13 June 2024, the boards of Deterra Global Holdings Pty Ltd ("Bidco") and Trident Royalties Plc ("Trident") announced that they had agreed the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of Trident by Bidco pursuant to which Bidco will acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Trident (the "Acquisition").The Acquisition is being effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Scheme") and is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the scheme document relating to the Acquisition (the "Scheme Document").Publication of Scheme DocumentTrident and Bidco are pleased to announce that the Scheme Document, together with the associated Forms of Proxy for use in connection with the Court Meeting and the General Meeting, are today being sent, or made available, to Trident Shareholders and, for information only, to persons with information rights, participants in the Trident Share Scheme and the Warrant Holder. The Scheme Document contains, among other things, a letter from the Chair of Trident, an explanatory statement pursuant to section 897 of the Companies Act 2006, the full terms and Conditions of the Scheme and the Acquisition, an expected timetable of principal events, notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting and details of the actions to be taken by Trident Shareholders.A copy of the Scheme Document will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on Trident's website at https://tridentroyalties.com/recommended-offer and on Deterra's website at www.deterraroyalties.com/investors/proposed-acquisition-of-trident by no later than 12 noon on 5 July 2024.Unless otherwise defined, all capitalised terms in this announcement shall have the meaning given to them in the Scheme Document. All references to times are to London, UK, times unless otherwise stated.RecommendationThe Trident Directors, who have been so advised by BMO as to the financial terms of the Acquisition, consider the terms of the Acquisition to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Trident Directors, BMO has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Trident Directors. BMO is providing independent financial advice to the Trident Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Takeover Code.Accordingly, the Trident Directors unanimously recommend that Trident Shareholders vote (or procure votes) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution at the General Meeting, as the Trident Directors have irrevocably undertaken to do (or procure to be done) in respect of their interests and those of certain of their connected persons being, in aggregate, 1,948,623 Trident Shares representing approximately 0.66 per cent. of the issued share capital of Trident as at the Latest Practicable Date.In addition to the irrevocable undertakings given by the Trident Directors referred to immediately above, Bidco has also received irrevocable undertakings to vote (or procure the voting) in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution at the General Meeting from Regal Funds Management Pty Limited, LIM Asia Special Situations Master Fund Limited; Ponderosa Investments (WA) Pty Ltd and Ashanti in respect of 74,606,085 Trident Shares, in aggregate, representing approximately 25.5 per cent. of Trident's issued share capital as at the Latest Practicable Date.As set out in the Rule 2.7 Announcement, Amati Global Investors Limited had given to Bidco a non-binding letter of intent to vote (or procure the voting) in favour of the resolutions proposed to effect the Acquisition at any meetings of Trident Shareholders to be convened in relation to the proposed Scheme in respect of 11,707,015 Trident Shares. Amati Global Investors Limited has subsequently announced that it has disposed of such Trident Shares and, therefore, the letter of intent given to Bidco by Amati Global Investors Limited has ceased to apply in respect of such Trident Shares.In aggregate therefore, Bidco has received irrevocable undertakings to vote in favour of the Scheme at the Court Meeting and the Resolution at the General Meeting from the holders of 76,554,708 Trident Shares in total representing approximately 26.1 per cent. of Trident's issued share capital as at the Latest Practicable Date.Notices of the Court Meeting and General MeetingAs further detailed in the Scheme Document, to become Effective, the Scheme requires, amongst other things, the approval of a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting (in person or by proxy) at the Court Meeting representing not less than 75 per cent. in value of the relevant Scheme Shares voted, and the passing of the Resolution at the General Meeting. The Scheme must also be sanctioned by the Court. The Scheme is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Conditions and further terms that are set out in the Scheme Document.Notices convening the Court Meeting and the General Meeting for 10.00 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. (or as soon thereafter as the Court Meeting is concluded or adjourned), respectively, on 26 July 2024, to be held at the offices of Simmons & Simmons LLP, CityPoint, One Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9SS are set out in Parts 8 and 9 of the Scheme Document.It is important that, for the Court Meeting in particular, as many votes as possible are cast so that the Court may be satisfied that there is a fair and reasonable representation of Scheme Shareholder opinion. Trident Shareholders are therefore strongly urged to submit their Forms of Proxy (or, if they hold their Trident Shares in uncertificated form, through CREST) as soon as possible and, in any event, by no later than 10.00 a.m. on 24 July 2024 in the case of the Court Meeting, and 10.15 a.m. on 24 July 2024, in the case of the General Meeting in accordance with the instructions for doing so set out in the section headed "Action to be taken" on pages 9 to 11 of the Scheme Document.Timetable and Cancellation of Admission to AIM of Trident SharesThe Scheme Document contains an expected timetable of principal events relating to the Scheme, whic
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Union of Arab Banks recognizes Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd for his influential role in sustainable development and financial innovation.DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / The United Nations headquarters hosted a conference on "Challenges of Achieving Sustainable Development Goals" in Geneva. It took place in the presence of a large number of key financial and banking experts, as well as some representatives of international organizations. In the same event, the Union of Arab Banks honored Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd for his influential role in sustainable development and financial innovation.Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd is a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Arab Banks and also the chairman of IDB (International Development Bank), an institution established in 2011 that has grown to become one of the major banks in Iraq, providing pioneering services for people and companies. Moreover, it has been able to gain a massive share of the market in Iraq, especially in commercial financing, card issuance, and comprehensive banking operations.This puts the bank on the Arab and international forefronts. It binds efforts made by Dr. Ziad in his commitment to providing financial solutions supportive of sustainable growth and exploiting new investment and trade opportunities in a bid to boost relations between Iraq and the rest of the world.At the end of this highly specialized two-day congress, the honorary shield was handed to Dr. Ziad by Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Banks. Prominent among the participants were Dr. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ESCWA; Marion Honecker, Head of Financial Inclusion and Expansion Management at the European Investment Bank; and Michel Detlevsen, Innovative Financing Head at UNIDO and UNCTAD.In his speech, Dr. Ziad in particular put forward the need for financial infrastructure improvement in the Arab region and support for financial and investment innovations oriented towards sustainable development. He did not fail to mention that cooperation, if united, can lead to building a better future for present and future generations after so much instability and conflict that has happened in the region.He pointed out the serious consideration of how to achieve growth in countries that have all the elements of success, where ambition intersects with capital. Now, the whole world passes through difficult transformations that can be addressed by market systems. Much emphasis has been placed on strategic investments to connect the Gulf region to Europe through the International Development Road project, which creates free trade agreements that enhance prosperity.Dr. Ziad concluded that economic growth can be achieved through the empowering of entrepreneurs, enhancing the bond through partnerships and collaboration, heavy investment in research and development, and enhancing human resources.Media Contact:Name: Ahmed MansurEmail:ahmed@ nmeeventsmedia.comWebsite:www.nmeeventsmedia.com/Company Name: NME MEDIA LLCSOURCE: NME MEDIA LLC
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Missing Persons Investigator, Brian Fitzgibbons, joins Nancy Grace as USPA Nationwide Security and their nonprofit, Kingsman, Deploy to Locate Missing Woman, Nikki Saelee-McCain in Shasta County, CaliforniaSHASTA COUNTY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / USPA Nationwide Security has announced its commitment to aiding in the search for Nikki Saelee-McCain, a missing woman whose disappearance has captivated the nation. Leading this effort is Brian Fitzgibbons, a renowned missing persons investigator and Vice President of Operations at USPA Nationwide Security. Fitzgibbons recently joined a distinguished panel on Merit Street Media, Dr. Phil's new television network, to discuss the ongoing investigation.USPA's nonprofit wing, Kingsman, known for its specialization in locating missing girls, is spearheading both the intelligence and ground search operations. Kingsman's team includes elite personnel from the Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, former intelligence agents from various US agencies, and Army Military Intelligence experts. Their collective expertise is vital in complex missing persons cases, whether involving trafficking or runaways.Details of the Nikki Saelee-McCain CaseNikki Saelee-McCain last contacted her family through a text message just after midnight on May 18, 2024 indicating she was driving her mother-in-law's vehicle back to the McCain home near the Win-River Casino. When her family attempted to reach her the following morning, she did not respond. It has now been over a month since she was last seen or heard from. Her truck was found abandoned in another county, adding to the mystery of her disappearance.The Redding Rancheria Tribal Council has permitted searches on their sovereign land, and the Win-River Casino, operated by the Redding Rancheria, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to Nikki's whereabouts.Brian Fitzgibbons on "Crime Stories"Brian Fitzgibbons recently discussed Nikki's case on "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" on Merit Street Media. The episode included other special guests such as:Tad DiBiase - Former Assistant United States Attorney in D.C. and author of "No-Body Homicide Cases: A Practical Guide to Investigating, Prosecuting, and Winning Cases When the Victim Is Missing"Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative ReporterChloe Saelee - Nikki's sisterKaye Ford - Nikki's sister"Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" airs nationally on SiriusXM channel 111 and is also available as a daily podcast on Spotify and all major podcast platforms. The full episode featuring the discussion on Nikki Saelee-McCain's case can be watched on Merit Street Mediahere .USPA Nationwide Security, through its Kingsman initiative, remains dedicated to finding Nikki Saelee-McCain and bringing closure to her family.Kingsman's Ongoing InvestigationsKingsman has a long record of participating in high-profile missing persons cases. Currently, the Missing Persons Unit is heavily involved in the search for Andi Wagner, a missing 24-year-old woman from Evansville, IN who has been missing since August, 2022. In the case of Andi Wagner, significant leads were developed following a tip that led investigators to multiple search locations where evidence was collected. The full details of this case can be readhere . Similarly, the remains of Caitlyn Case, another high-profile missing persons case, were recently identified, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation. Further details are availablehere .Rachel HarrisPulse Media rachel@ pulsemediapr.com For more updates and information on the search for Nikki Saelee-McCain and other missing persons cases, followUSPA Nationwide Securityon Facebook.SOURCE: USPA Nationwide Security
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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Wi2Wi Corporation ("Wi2Wi" or the "Company") announces on June 25, 2024 the Company issued 2,100,000 options to the members of its board of directors.Investor & Media ContactTed Clark, Chief Executive Officer+1-469-545-3423 ted_cl@ wi2wi.com About Wi2Wi CorporationWi2Wi is a specialized electronic component supplier with expertise in all aspects of frequency control devices as well as in wireless technologies. Wi2Wi's Precision Devices brand of products has earned a premier spot in numerous key markets including avionics, aerospace, industrial equipment, government, and the US military. Wi2Wi's frequency control products are best-in-class and of the highest quality.Founded in 2005, Wi2Wi's headquarters, design center and state-of-the-art manufacturing facility are located in the heart of America's industrial belt in Middleton, WI. Wi2Wi can deliver specific solutions using its in-house design and manufacturing expertise, as well as leveraging many tier-1 global partnerships with numerous industry leading silicon and wireless technology suppliers.Wi2Wi has partnered with best-in-class sales leaders. The company uses a global network of manufacturer's representatives to promote its products and services, and has partnered with world class distributors for the fulfillment of orders all of which augment a US-based direct sales team.Wi2Wi is extremely proud to serve hundreds of the world's top companies with its made-in-America products.Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to access sufficient capital, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, stock market volatility. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, 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 so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Company will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website ( www.sedar.com) . Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward- looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Wi2Wi Corporation
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Jayden Scott acquires CloudSharks, pledging to enhance manufacturing and job creation in Michigan.SAGINAW, MI / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / Jayden Scott, celebrated as a visionary among young business leaders, has successfullycompleted a multi-million dollar acquisition of the viral e-commerce brand CloudSharks , known for its innovative shoewear products.Jayden Scott, Founder, The Mountain Movers FirmAt just 21 years old, the entrepreneur and search fund manager of The Mountain Movers Firm is reshaping the e-commerce industry by becoming a significant player in the lower middle market and scaling D2C e-commerce brands through vertical and concentric acquisitions, laying a foundation for all future e-commerce operators to follow.The Scott Family.Under Scott's leadership, CloudSharks is set to advance the industry by bringing manufacturing back to America, starting with local manufacturing in Saginaw, Michigan. This move is poised to bolster job creation in Saginaw and contribute to economic growth in Michigan, aligning with Scott's commitment to enhancing local economies. CloudSharks will be the catalyst for this manufacturing plan, utilizing the new factory in Saginaw to produce all of the firm's products for their other brands.CloudSharks has made a name for itself with "Shark Slides," a line of innovative shoewear that has captured the attention of millions worldwide. The brand's commitment to e-commerce market expansion and e-commerce innovation continues to set industry standards. With such an online presence, the brand's global e-commerce reach extends far beyond the U.S., captivating an international audience.As a Christian entrepreneur and devoted father who has triumphed over personal challenges, including losing both his parents during late adolescence, Jayden Scott's story is one of True American resilience. His strategic acumen in e-commerce brand scaling and business acquisition strategy is informed by his deep-rooted values and a relentless pursuit of excellence.The Mountain Movers Firm, under Scott's guidance, specializes in C-suite acquisition advisory, focusing on buying, selling, and scaling e-commerce businesses. The firm's influence stretches across continents, making it a significant player in the international business arena.The Mountain Movers Firm proudly operates offices in Saginaw, Michigan; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Sacramento, California; Miami, Florida; and General Santos City, Philippines. With a clear strategic vision, Jayden Scott is set to take CloudSharks public within the next two years. This decisive move will undoubtedly strengthen the brand's market position and showcase its innovative approach to e-commerceJayden Scott and his son."This acquisition is a significant step in our mission to scale innovative e-commerce brands and bring manufacturing back to America, which is one of our greatest driving factors," said Jayden Scott. "We are thrilled to bring CloudSharks into The Mountain Movers family." Jayden Scott's acquisition of CloudSharks is not just a business transaction; it represents a milestone for young inspirational entrepreneurs globally. As he continues to advance the brand and reinforce manufacturing within the U.S., Scott is poised to leave a legacy on both the e-commerce industry and the economic fabric of Michigan.For further information, to arrange an interview, or to request additional insights, please visitThe Mountain Movers Firm website.About CloudSharks:CloudSharks, renowned for its innovative shoewear products like the popular "Shark Slides," has established itself as a viral e-commerce brand. Selling millions globally, the company focuses on combining trendy designs with functional comfort. Under Jayden Scott's leadership, it is transitioning to local manufacturing in Saginaw, Michigan, supporting both economic growth and sustainable practices within the community.Media Contact:Rachel HarrisPulse Media info@ puslemediapr.com SOURCE: The Mountain Movers Firm
In March 2018, former Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong announced that the state government had procured 400 tractors for farmers across the state. The news was widely reported in the newspapers, as can be seen here, here, here, and here.

However, when former President Muhammadu Buhari was invited to commission the tractors, only 40 of them were on display. Mr Lalong explained that this was because the Government House premises used for the ceremony could not contain all the tractors.

A controversy has since raged on the whereabouts of the tractors as most farmers in the state still lack access to modern farm implements.

Plateau State is a leading food producer in Nigeria. Its landscape, fertile soil, and temperate climate make the state suitable for large-scale farming. Yet, the states agriculture sector is still dominated by subsistence farming.

Who did what?

The states Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) portal stated that the state government procured 400 Tractors and farm implements in 2019 at a total cost of NGN 5.6 billion. The agencies and groups involved in the procurement process were Plateau State Ministry of Agriculture, Plateau State Ministry of Finance, Plateau State Bureau of Public Procurement, Office of Accountant General, Plateau State Local Governments (17 LGAs), Tractor Owners Beneficiaries, Plateau State Government, and Commercial Banks.

However, the states Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) has said it was not aware of the project. In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to his office, the bureaus director-general, Yabilsu Dogo, said the bureau, which was established to ensure transparency and accountability in government procurement processes, said it was not aware of the procurement.

I wish to categorically inform you that the Bureau of Public Procurement has no records of the said Procured Tractors, hence not in a position to answer the questions raised in your letter. You may wish to confirm from the State Ministry of Agriculture if it has such information, please, Mr Dogo wrote in a letter.

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In its response through its Programme Manager, Ishaku Jilemsam, Plateau Agricultural Development Programme (PADP) noted: As far as we may not be able to tell whether there was such procurement of the 400 tractors in question or not, we emphatically wish to state that we did not receive the tractors neither can we tell about the current state of the tractors and whether they are in use or not

The Agricultural Services Training Centre and Marketing Ltd (ASTC & M Ltd., through its Managing Director/CEO, Susan Bentu, also said it was not aware of any transaction regarding the procurement of any 400 tractors said to have been procured during the Lalongs administration. We do not know how many tractors were procured during the period. We have (had) 300 tractors for mechanised agricultural operations since our establishment.

None was received from the Plateau State government during the period under review (Lalongs administration). Since ASTC & M Ltd was never a part of the team for the said procurement, and or beneficiary it cannot say who the beneficiaries of those said 400 tractors are

The other agencies said to be involved either in the procurement or implementation of the project did not respond to the FOI requests as of the time of this report, despite many reminders.

PPP, not direct contract

Hakar Engineering Nigeria Limited supplied the tractors to the state government. The company refused to officially reply to questions about its roles in the procurement. However, a senior official of the firm said the purchase did not go through the normal public procurement process because it was not a direct contract.

The official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak to journalists, explained the companys role.

It was not a contract. The whole thing started in 2016 when we presented the tractorisation idea and sought a partnership with the state government.

It was a tripartite partnership that involved the Plateau State Government, Hakar Engineering, and farmers to revolutionise agricultural activities. The scheme was to allow farmers to own tractors at subsidised rates and pay overtime.

Each tractor was N14 million. It was to be funded by all stakeholders at different levels as counterpart contributions. The state was to pay 30 per cent, the local government 10 per cent and the farmers 60 per cent. The farmers were to pay 10 per cent of the cost of a tractor as a down payment and the remaining balance was to be spread over three years. As the tractors are working and they make a profit, they remit the payment into an agreed account.

When the programme came in, it was a complete package and had mechanisation, agricultural development, youth empowerment, community farming, and land development. The government was to subsidise the tractors for farmers to enable them own tractors to develop agriculture.

I dont know if it was a misconception because when we were writing the MoU with the government, instead of MoU, it was now presented as a contract to supply tractors. It was not a direct contract but a subsidised PPP programme.

How many and where are the tractors?

Although the initial intention of the government was to get 400 tractors through the PPP scheme, fewer than 100 tractors were supplied, according to the company official.

The project was for 400 tractors, which were to be supplied in batches. We brought the first batch, which was over 90, but there were a few delays, and it never took off again. I cant say why it stopped.

What we asked for, what we got

Many farmers who got the supplied tractors said they have not been happy ever since. Some of them expressed regrets that they committed their resources to get the equipment.

A beneficiary from Jos North LGA beneficiaries cluster, who asked not to be named so he is not barred from future deals, explained his disappointment. The government collected N1.5 million from each beneficiary through the All-Farmers Plateau Multi-Purpose Cooperative Limited as a commitment to be given the subsidised tractors.

The model of tractors agreed upon with the farmers was the Massey Ferguson brand, including all the implements. But the contractor supplied another brand (Deutz Fahr) alien to our topography. When the beneficiaries raised an observation, the representative of the government and the contractor promised and assured the farmers of the availability of spare parts and service stations in each of the senatorial zones in the state, to avoid any breakdowns.

The remaining parts (trailers) were never supplied. The spare parts were never supplied. Most of the tractors broke down in the first few months. The service centres agreed upon were never established. No trained mechanics were available to repair this brand of tractors.

The contractors moved out of Plateau State and the beneficiaries were not privy to any information concerning the remaining tractors.

Why we did not participate  Farmers groups

John Wuyep was the chairman of the All-Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Plateau State at the time of the scheme.

The tractor was an intervention scheme; the state government paid 30 per cent, the LGAs 10 per cent. It was an initiative of Plateau All Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative; it was not AFAN, Mr Wuyep said.

Some persons went as cooperatives and benefitted but the majority were individuals. We felt it was the first batch so we should wait for the subsequent batches, which never came. It was a government arrangement, and it was an election year. After the election, everything stopped, and some people were refunded their money.

The Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) also had interest in the scheme. An executive officer of the group, Mary Afan, explained why the group eventually did not participate in it.

We were asked to pay some amount of money, which was over a million, and small-holder women farmers have no such money.

When they were procuring the tractors, we told them that as women farmers, we do not need those big tractors but power tillers that women can operate, so they should include those so that women could afford and access them.

At that time, it was N190,000 to get a power tiller but they didnt do that. When we talk about food security, people look at big tractors and big farms but what you find in the markets is what the small-holder farmers produce. The big farms target exports or industrial use.

Small-holder farmers produce vegetables, grains, tubers, and others, but when the government wants to support them, you hardly see them benefit. It is either the political farmers collect and sell because they dont have farms, or it is the big farmers that benefit. That is why we are facing food insecurity; small farms are neglected. The real farmers dont get the needed support.

I got a tractor for my personal use

A local government chairman during the Lalong administration said he got one of the tractors. He also spoke with this reporter on the condition of anonymity.

He said: Our local government contributed 10 per cent of the money as stated in the agreement. Individuals also contributed. Individuals contributed the sum of N1.4 million. I got a tractor for my personal use. My local government paid the amount to get one for the Agric Department, but we were not given one.

The first batch they shared was for individuals and I got one. But the one for the local government, we were promised that they would be delivered but to date, that has not been done. It was not all the 17 LGAs that indicated interest in getting for their councils. A few of us did pay for the council but we didnt get.

The whole thing was done at the state level by the Ministry of Agric. That tractor was just a name, even right now, it is broken down and left at a repairers place at Shendam. I have wasted so much money on it and even if I were to sell it, I would not recover my money.

There was no expert for repairs. The understanding was that three centres would be opened as the workshops across the three zones but nothing like that happened. Even the trailer was not given to us as promised. We got only the harrow, the plough, and the ridgers. What I have spent on that tractor! I have regretted getting the tractor because it did not serve me.

The intention was to use the tractor and help rural farmers to cultivate their lands at a subsidised rate. Some people deposited money for the tractor to be used on their farms. The people are angry, and we are looking for money to return to those who paid.

I heard that some people sold theirs in the first few months but mine was to work within the community and help others at a subsidised rate. The agreement was for the supply of Massey Ferguson in which parts are readily available and skilled mechanics abound.

Why we did not supply popular brand

On why the government did not get the popular brand of tractors that the farmers asked for, the official of the supplier company said opinions were divided on the preference.

We were to have facilities for the maintenance of the tractors in the three zones. We worked with the All-Farmers Plateau Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, which represented the farmers. They came up with the idea that Massey Ferguson was very common and there was a possibility of pilfering of the parts by either the operators or the workers.

They insisted that they wanted a different brand and came up with the brand that we gave.

On the complaint that the tractors were not durable, the official said: Some of the farmers started mismanaging their tractors almost immediately. The agreement was for the tractors to be warehoused as they arrived until they all arrived. The tractors were to be clustered in the various local government areas for proper management and supervision.

Before the tractors arrived, we organised training and asked the beneficiaries to bring those who will manage their tractors to come for the training. In 2018, we trained over 200 operators with the support of our partners from Germany and South Africa.

We used the tractors for practical for the trainees to show them how they worked. How the tractors were managed and that, within a short time, they developed problems is clear; some of the people who were trained were not the ones who operated the tractors. We found that out.

The official explained further: We asked them to call us for services because services were supposed to be carried out on the tractors at specific intervals. The company brought the components to do the service, but they did the service themselves without our knowledge until they encountered problems and started calling us.

Those who approached us, we sent experts, but others chose to use their local mechanics, who were not trained by us, and they damaged the tractors. We trained mechanics and engineers from the Ministry of Agric. The trailers of the tractors didnt come because of the impatience of the beneficiaries.

Despite challenges, tractors useful

But some of the beneficiaries have a positive view of the scheme, despite the maintenance problems of the tractors.

The District Head of Pushit (Mangu LGA), Diket Gupiya, and the acting Chairman of Pushit Development Association, Salihu Dakat, whose association was a beneficiary of the scheme, said despite the challenges, the tractors have been useful.

The tractor that we got in Pushit Development Association worked and we were using it, Mr Gupiya stated. It breaks down from time to time, but we repair or replace the faulty part. Farmers in the district pay to use the tractor on their farms. We got it on hire-purchase, and we have been making payments. We made some down payment before the tractor was released to us.

Mr Dakat continued: We got our tractor in 2019 and it is still working. But just in the first week of June 2024, it broke down again. The ram broke. Anytime it breaks down, we repair it in Shendam Local Government Area, but we buy the spare parts at Dadin Kowa in the Jos South Local Government Area.

The front tyres are always giving problems, so we replaced them. Just last week, the ram broke. We have spent N4.4 million repairing the tractor since we got it and the broken ram will require about N1.8 million to fix it.

We charge people who hire the tractor based on hectares of land. Before now, it used to be N30,000 per hectare, but with the situation, we are charging N70 per hectare for ploughing and harrowing. The components of the tractors were not complete. We got the plough, harrow, and ridger, but we are yet to get the trailer.

The first year we collected the tractor, we made a down payment of N1.2 million and a non-refundable N50,000. The tractor was spoiled last Thursday close to the Panyam fish farm. We have spent a lot to repair the tractor. The insecurity last year did not allow us to go to the farm. Now that we are making efforts to go to the farm, the tractor is grounded.

We are probing the project

The Plateau State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Samson Bugama, said the administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang was investigating the project and would not comment until the investigation is concluded.

We cant comment on it, we are looking for information, we are doing every investigation, so we understand what Plateau State money was used for that tractorisation thing.

Plateau people are asking questions and we want to be fair to all parties. So, we have to conclude our findings so that we dont indict anyone wrongly without proof.

The story was supported with funding from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, CJID.

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a stern warning to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) regarding the rejection of dirty or mutilated Naira notes.

According to the bank, the directive comes in response to numerous reports received by the CBN about some banks refusing to accept dirty and damaged currency from the public.

In a circular dated 28 June 2024, signed by Solaja Olayemi, the acting director of the currency operations department, the CBN reiterated that the guidelines outlined in its previous circular from 2 July 2019, remain in full effect.

The 2019 directive specified penalties for banks that reject Naira banknotes.

The Central Bank of Nigeria shall not hesitate to apply strict sanctions on DMBs who are reported to have rejected deposits of Naira banknotes from the public, under any guise, the circular stated.

The issue of mutilated banknotes has long been a concern in Nigeria, amid efforts to ensure that notes are better handled by the public.

Section 21 of the CBN Act specifically prohibits the abuse of Naira notes, prescribing penalties for offenders that include fines and imprisonment. According to Section 21 (1)  (3) of the CBN Act, a person who tampers with a coin or note issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six months or to a fine not less than N50,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment.

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A coin or note shall be deemed to have been tampered with if the coin or note has been impaired, diminished or lightened otherwise than by fair wear and tear or has been defaced by stumping, engraving, mutilating, piercing, stapling, writing, tearing, soiling, squeezing or any other form of deliberate and willful abuse whether the coin or note has or has not been thereby diminished or lightened.

For the avoidance of doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under Sub-section (1) of this section.

In recent times, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its enforcement of the CBN act, while some Nigerians suspected of mishandling the Naira have been arrested and prosecuted.

Notable figures among those arrested include Nollywood actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, popular crossdresser Bobrisky, and socialite Cubana Chief Priest.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and NIPCO Gas Limited, have commissioned twelve Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, commissioned the stations in Abuja and Lagos State on Thursday.

The stations commissioned in Abuja are located at Airport Road, Kubwa, Gaduwa, Olusegun Obasanjo way zone 1, Dei-Dei junction, Duste-Bwari road and Gwagwalada.

In Lagos State, the stations are located at Lateef Jakende, Agidingbi, Agege Motor Road, Mushin, Lekki-Epe expressway, Sangotedo, Eti-Osa LGA and Mobile Road, Apapa.

These CNG stations, according to NNPC Ltd, feature advanced reciprocating and hydraulic booster compressors, ensuring a dispensing pressure of 200 bar of CNG to vehicles.

In August 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI).

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement at the time, said the initiative furthered the presidents commitment to easing the impact of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians by reducing energy costs.

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Following Mr Tinubus approval, NNPC Ltd announced it was partnering with NIPCO Gas Limited to develop the CNG stations in the country.

The stations

Commissioning the stations in Abuja on Thursday, Mr Ekpo explained that the stations demonstrated the determination of the federal governments commitment to drive the CNG project to ensure gas prosperity.

Today is a great day in the history of Nigeria. And today is the second commissioning, after the one that I did in Lagos. It is going to be done simultaneously in twelve other stations within Nigeria and Lagos.

We demonstrate the willingness, and determination of the federal government to drive the CNG project. And of course, as the president said the gas for prosperity renewable program is in progress, Mr Ekpo said.

I commend the NNPC for living up to the mandate of their establishment to work through and make sure CNG is available for Nigerians. It is irreversible. We are talking about CNG. We are going into CNG. Are you sure we will be able to sustain it?

From the daily production in the country currently, we are only using three per cent. That goes a long way to tell you that irrespective of the demand, we will meet the target, and of course, the NNPC Ltd and other investors are not relenting in making sure that they go into a new development of gas, he said.

Also speaking, Mele Kyari, the NNPC Ltd Group Chief Executive Officer, said the CNG is supplied to stations in Abuja and Lagos via virtual transportation from mother stations in Ajaokuta, Kogi State and Ibafo, Ogun State.

He noted that the Abuja station will soon connect to the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, becoming a mother CNG station.

The stations power needs are met by gas-driven generators, reducing carbon emissions. The CNG station on Airport Road, Abuja includes a five-bay CNG vehicle conversion workshop capable of converting five to six vehicles daily.

Together, he said the Abuja and Lagos stations have a combined dispensing capacity of over six million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of CNG per day serving approximately 15,000 vehicles daily.

He explained that this ensures continuous, reliable, affordable and safe CNG supplies to motorists across various regions.

We are providing cheaper and cleaner fuel, and we are also utilising the free resources that God has made available to our country, which we have not utilised for a long time. And this will not happen until we have a focus.

I want to thank Mr President for giving us the push that this is possible and we are seeing it happen. It is being rolled out across the country and we are seeing the benefits. People are happy, it is a cleaner and cheaper fuel and it is accessible.

What we are going to do is to roll out stations all across the federation, it is already a work in progress to construct six CNG model stations across the country between now and December. More CNG stations are under construction by NNPC Gas Marketing Ltd (NGML) and NIPCO Gas JV under presidential directives coming soon, he said.

In his remark, Huub Stokman, the Managing Director, NNPC retail, said the 12 CNG retail stations commissioned in Abuja and Lagos are a significant milestone for NNPC Ltd.

These stations represent a major step in expanding our CNG presence in the country, marking an important moment in our efforts to diversify Nigerias energy mix. Six of these sites are NNPC retails first CNG sites, joining establishing the business financed by Natural Gas Limited and the NNPC gas marketing and NIPCO gas JV, Mr Stokman said.

READ ALSO: Nigerians react as NNPC begins CNG sale in Lagos

He said adding CNG to NNPC retail stations provides Nigeria with an affordable alternative to existing fuel products.

CNG will be about 40 per cent cheaper than petrol in Nigeria. Todays event is the first step and I can confirm that in the next six weeks, six more sites will be launched in Lagos. The NNPC retail is very proud to be part of this journey, he said.

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Nigeria has won its bid to host the headquarters of the Africa Energy Bank (AEB).

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this while speaking to journalists after a virtual meeting of the council of ministers of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) on Thursday.

The government said Nigeria emerged as the preferred host nation amidst stiff competition from Ghana, Benin, Algeria, South Africa, and Cote dIvoire. The selection, it said, highlights Nigerias robust energy sector and its strategic vision for the continents energy future.

The bank, according to the government, is expected to facilitate access to funding for energy projects, thereby catalysing economic growth and enhancing energy security.

Mr Lokpobiri emphasised that this initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the African Unions Agenda 2063, aiming for a prosperous and self-sustaining Africa.

I am delighted to share that Nigeria has been selected to host the headquarters of the African Energy Bank. This prestigious honour is a testament to our countrys leadership and commitment in the energy sector.

As the Minister for Petroleum Resources (Oil), I am incredibly proud of this achievement. The African Energy Bank will be a cornerstone for financing and advancing energy projects across Africa, promoting innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

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This is a remarkable victory for Nigeria and the entire African continent. It symbolises our collective efforts to harness and develop our rich energy resources for a brighter, more sustainable future, Mr Lokpobiri said.

He assured Nigerians and Africans at large that the establishment of the AEB would mark a transformative era in meeting energy needs.

We are committed to ensuring that this bank will not only move Nigeria forward but will also be a beacon of progress for the entire continent. Our goal is to foster sustainable energy solutions that are both innovative and inclusive, he added.

He highlighted the collaborative spirit of the APPO members and their shared vision for a united, energy-secured Africa.

Mr Lokpobiri reiterated his gratitude to Mr Tinubu for his unwavering support and to the council of ministers for their trust in Nigerias ability to lead this pivotal initiative.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Together, we are shaping the future of energy in Africa, starting right here in Nigeria, he said.

Desire to host

Last month, the Nigerian government expressed readiness to host the bank.

Speaking at the bidding exercise which took place at a dinner for the heads of mission of the envoys of members of APPO in Abuja at the time, President Bola Tinubu said hosting the bank in Nigeria will ensure proximity to opportunities essential for formulating and implementing effective solutions to Africas energy challenges.

Mr Tinubu, represented by Mr Lokpobiri, noted that the banks share capital, put at $5 billion, is expected to be subscribed over three years with an initial capital of $1.5 billion reserved for APPO member countries.

AfreximBank has been supporting APPO to establish the bank and has approved an investment of $1.75 billion for the bank.

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Many women desire to be the wife of a king and would embrace the opportunity due to the associated title, prestige opportunities, influence, and luxury.

However, just as everyone has their unique love stories and reasons for entering into any marriage, for Olori Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, the fifth wife of Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, her reason is a fascinating journey of friendship and understanding.

The London University alumnus who graduated in Law and founded Africa Fashion Week London in 2011 knew the Ooni one year before he became King in 2015. They remained friends, and they married in October 2022.

The CEO of Africa Fashion Week London (AFWL) had nothing but fond remarks for her spouse.

I have been his friend, you know. Weve been friends for ten years and celebrated ten years of friendship this year, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

Olori Ronke, who has witnessed two sides of the monarchbefore and after he became kinghas described being a wife to the monarch as bliss.

She said: Its been good, you know, its different, but its been good. Because I have been his friend, you know, weve been friends for ten years, we celebrated a decade of friendship this year. So, its more of a friendship, you know, so its been good.

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In addition to being married to the traditional ruler of Ife, Olori Ronke is an entrepreneur who promotes African fashion and empowers youths.

A queen is usually saddled with many responsibilities and expectations, which could overshadow personal desires and dreams; she is expected to serve the people, nurture them, and offer them value.

Speaking about her responsibilities, she revealed that her royal and entrepreneurial duties are interwoven.

I just try to combine my royal duties and my entrepreneurial duties as well. And sometimes theyre interwoven because my royal duties are about ensuring my community, especially the women and the youth in my community, are okay. Looking at the challenges some of them face and seeing how I can support them as their royal mother. So, sometimes these duties are interwoven, she added.

Advice to Women

Advising women from her experience in marriage, she stated that happiness is critical because whatever you display is contagious.

The mother-of-one said, Just do whatever makes you happy. Your happiness is vital, no matter what others say, because this world is a journey. Nobodys going to be here forever. Were going to transit someday. So, do what makes you happy, and then your happiness will reflect how you deal with others.

If youre a happy person, you would radiate happiness. But if youre moody, unhappy, or angry, that is what you will show to the world, even your children, workers, and everyone around you. But if youre happy, its contagious. And for me, Im thrilled. Very happy.

The 49-year-old encouraged aspiring fashion entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and not limit their aspirations because that got her this far.

Reflecting on her journey, she recalled being told 14 years ago that African fashion would not sell when she wanted to start AFWL.

Dont be limited in your dreams because when I wanted to start the Africa Fashion with London platform 14 years ago, I was told that African fashion would not sell. I was even advised at one point to change the name from Africa because African fashion would not sell in London.

Over the years, the AFWL has become the most prominent fashion event for publicising and promoting African and African-inspired design talent.

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The federal government says it has commenced measures to combat Cholera in the country by tackling its root causes, including open defecation.

The government said it is worried about the rapid spread of the epidemic across the country and the attendant high morbidity and mortality,

Accordingly, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to ending open defecation by 2025.

The vice president spoke on Thursday when he inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that ending open defecation can be achieved by mobilising strategic stakeholders and leveraging technology as well as deploying innovative and sustainable solutions to boost the nations sanitation landscape.

Mr Shettima, who underscored the significance of hygiene, health, and its impact on development and wealth, urged the committee to align with broader government priorities and interventions in areas such as poverty reduction, education, and economic growth.

He said the recently reported cases of cholera in the country should serve as sufficient motivation for the committee to work harder, just as he directed members of the committee to craft solutions to handle wastewater management, contaminated water sources, and open defecation across the country.

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Mr Shettima also expressed confidence that members of the team will commit to research-driven approaches in our bids to deliver on our promise to make the nation clean.

We are well aware that achieving this objective begins with our collective resolve to embrace behavioural change and cultivate a lifestyle that prioritises proper sanitation practices, hygiene education, and community engagement, he added.

He highlighted that the goals and aspirations of the country could be best achieved by harnessing the resources available in the public and private sectors, especially by carrying out innovative research.

The public sector cannot succeed in this campaign unless we engage and encourage private sector participation and invite innovative and sustainable solutions.

We must partner by utilising technology for real-time monitoring, data collection, and impact assessment while recognising the role of youth and women in driving change, he said.

Aside from its core mandate, the vice president tasked the committee to be vigilant in its assignment, especially as we develop solutions to the devastations of climate change, urbanisation, and population growth, noting that we have become ambassadors of a cause that seeks to restore the health and dignity of our people.

The meeting, which is the fifth since the flag-off of the Clean Nigeria Campaign in 2019, provides a forum to review the progress achieved so far in the country.

Earlier, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, recalled that in the bid to tackle the Cholera epidemic, which he said is ravaging the country in 33 states, with 2,000 cases and 33 deaths, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), at its last meeting, also commissioned a cabinet committee to deal with the issue.

He said, That cabinet committee comprises Water, Education, Environment, Aviation, and almost all the relevant ministries. Open defecation is part of the drivers of this Cholera outbreak that we are seeing. But we also have a good example of a sub-national unit doing very well in Jigawa State, which has been declared open defecation-free.

That is a good example showing that sub-national units can help us address this issue. So, we really appreciate your leadership and commit ourselves to supporting this effort so that we can end open defecation in Nigeria.

Presenting the report on Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said the report covers both challenges and successes since its establishment in 2016 and was inaugurated and signed into law in 2019.

According to him, the campaign is a transformative initiative to eradicate open defecation in Nigeria in the year 2025, noting that the campaign was aimed at getting all stakeholders to join and tackle open defecation which currently ranked Nigeria as the second largest country that practices open defecation in the world, next to India.

He said the 2018 Water and Sanitation Hygiene national outcome revealed that approximately 47 million Nigerians, constituting 23 per cent of the population, engaged in open defecation.

Mr Utsev highlighted the objectives of the campaign to include a nationwide campaign, mobilising support and resources at both the national and sub-national levels to fight the menace and creating a pool of resource persons and spoke actors in mobilising the people in all strata of the society to imbibe in the culture and self-sanitation, as well as setting the mechanism for tracking progress, sharing knowledge and lessons.

In the report, the minister warned that open defecation has its own economic, social, and health impact on the national outlook of the country, noting that in 2016 a road map was made by the previous administration and an investment of about N959 billion would be required.

The idea was that money would be used in the construction of toilets in both the households and national levels. 25,000 toilets would be constructed at the rural level and 50,000 toilets would be constructed at the urban level, but as of today things have changed and a review was needed.

With that, there was an approval of N10.4billion to be given annually for the implementation of the exercise and we, 48 million people, have changed their behaviour and 9.4 million toilets were to be built across the 33 states and the FCT with this estimation, the minister explained.

Mr Utser solicited the support of the Ministries of Finance and Justice for the success of the campaign.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

*4th July, 2024

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Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has agreed to abide by the Nigerian governments conditions for his release, a Nigerian senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said on Wednesday.

Mr Abaribe spoke to reporters after meeting with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in Abuja.

A video clip that showed the senator making the comments has been circulating on social media.

Mr Abaribe, who represents Abia South District, led 14 other senators from the South-east to meet with Mr Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to plead for Mr Kanus release. The senator had, in 2017, stood as surety for Mr Kanu. He spent some time in jail for failing to produce Mr Kanu in court after the IPOB leader controversially fled Nigeria when soldiers attacked his Abia home.

Kanu is in support of our plea

Speaking to reporters shortly after his Wednesday meeting, the senator said the IPOB leader supported the move to initiate an agreement with the government for his release.

On behalf of the caucus (of senators from the South-east), I met with Nnamdi Kanu myself on Monday between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and he is very supportive of this our plea to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he said.

Asked if Mr Kanu would heed the agreements that might be reached with the government, he responded: Everybody is willing. He (Kanu) has also assured me that he is ready to fulfill any conditions that will lead to his early release.

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Not any conditions, lawyer clarifies

But Aloy Ejimakor, special counsel to Mr Kanu, refuted Mr Abaribes claim.

In a post on his X handle on Wednesday, Mr Ejimakor suggested that Mr Kanu did not accept to abide by just any condition for his release.

The lawyer said he and other members of Mr Kanus legal team visited him on Wednesday.

The news that he (Kanu) will abide by any conditions for his release is incorrect.

What was meant is that he will abide by the negotiated terms of his release and on other matters related thereto, such as was also agreed in August 2017, he said.

The counsel uploaded a screenshot of an online Vanguard newspaper page with the headline: Photo: South-east governors, Kanu agree on Biafra in a closed-door meeting.

The publication, which had the photograph of the IPOB leader flanked by the then South-east governors, was dated 30 August 2017.

If youre wondering what I meant by negotiated terms, this screenshot bears news of one such negotiation in August 2017 before it was scuttled by Python Dance. Enough said, Mr Ejimakor wrote in another post on the microblogging platform.

PREMIUM TIMES understands that Mr Kanu also met with the South-east Governors Forum at the Enugu State Government House in August 2017.

A video clip obtained by this newspaper showed the then chairperson of the forum, who was then the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, reading out a communique issued at the end of the meeting.

Mr Umahi, now minister of works, said the forum deliberated with the IPOB leader and noted his concerns.

The then chairperson said the forum agreed that the demands by the IPOB should not be discarded.

Rather that the South-east governors shall immediately engage the leader of IPOB, Prince Nnamdi Kanu, and the entire leadership of IPOB to further meetings and dialogue with a view to quicken the resolutions of all issues amicably, he said.

And we also request from all concerned to give the South-east governors the opportunity to amicably sort out these problems, Mr Umahi stated.

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Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, has asked the National Assembly to open its books to the public to end all speculations about the remuneration of the lawmakers.

Mr Dogara, speaker of the 8th House, said the demands from constituents far outweighed the remuneration he was getting while in office.

He spoke at the Open NASS session organised by the House at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The ex-lawmaker disclosed that as the speaker of the House, his salary was N400,000 with N25 million allowance.

Mr Dogara said opening the finances of the legislature to the public would help the lawmakers in the long run because it will limit the financial demands on them occasioned by the belief that they earn huge salaries and allowances.

While I was Speaker, my salary was N400,000, and my total allowance was N25 million. I told my accountant to open a separate account for the allowances, and I never for once took any money out of that account. Everything that came into that account was used to cater for the needs of constituents.

My accountant complained of the level of demand on the account, and I told him if the money there is finished, borrow, and when money comes, you return it to where you had taken money from.

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I am saying this so Nigerians will give their legislators breathing space and know that the narrative is not true about members pay.

Dogara making a U-turn on Open NASS

As speaker, Mr Dogara declined calls for a more transparent National Assembly. He even got into a public spat with the then-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, over calls for transparency.

Mr El-Rufai had challenged him to make the details of the National Assemblys N115 billion budget at the time public.

ALSO READ: Nigerian lawmakers demand salary increase

Instead, he released only part of his pay slips but declined the call for full disclosure of his pay.

Furthermore, in 2017, details of its budget were released  after an #OpenNASS campaign admonishing the legislature to open its books to the public and take possible cuts on its finances, especially at a time of financial uncertainties.

However, the lawmakers have refused to disclose the details of their budget and continue to increase their allocation despite the strained fiscal position of the country.

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The Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit 2024, organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 10 July to Saturday, 13 July in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

President Bola Tinubu is expected to attend the summit as a special guest of honour, while former President Goodluck Jonathan will be the chairperson of the summit.

The event, which will be held at Dr. Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, is expected to attract other top government officials, policymakers in the oil and gas sector, and community and youth leaders from Nigerias Niger Delta region.

The essence of this summit is to develop strategies for economic growth and development of the Niger Delta Region, to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Action Plan and to articulate a roadmap for sustainable development of the Niger Delta Region, the NDDC said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.

The current NDDC management, since it was set up in August 2023, appeared to have successfully moved the commission away from scandals and internal wrangling which had bedevilled it in the past.

The NDDC management, led by the Managing Director, Samuel Ogbuku, anchors its activities on its new policy called Triple-T policy  Transiting from Transaction to Transformation.

Mr Ogbuku, in May, told media executives in Port Harcourt that he and other members of the NDDC management are committed to improving the successes of previous administrations while correcting past mistakes.

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Government is in continuum. Although it is more difficult and expensive to complete an old project than start a new one, we are committed to completing and commissioning all our legacy projects.

Today, the NDDC is meeting Niger Deltans at their points of need, linking communities that hitherto had no connecting roads between them. The 27.5 kilometers Ogbia-Nembe Road incorporates seven bridges, linking 14 communities. The 6 kilometers road and 600 meters bridge in Ibeno, links 20 communities in Akwa Ibom State. We just commissioned the 132/33KV Sub-station in Okitipupa, Ondo State, to provide power to over 2,000 communities in five local government areas which had been without power for the past 15 years, he said.

On the forthcoming summit, Mr Ogbuku said it is necessary to have the people of the Niger Delta take active part in the regions development process and to understand the significance of the programmes and projects of the NDDC, according to a statement issued on 1 July by the NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama.

The managing director said that President Tinubu has directed the NDDC to complete and commission signature projects aimed at improving the lives of the people in the Niger Delta region.

This is clearly a different NDDC that weve known since. This NDDC is different, and its changing the narratives, a Facebook user, Preye Samuel, wrote on the social media site about the summit.

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Media Rights Agenda (MRA) Thursday condemned as anachronistic and inimical to transparent and accountable governance a statement credited to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, in which he threatened that government officials who disclose information without authorisation would be jailed.

Speaking in Abuja on 2 July 2024, at a workshop organised by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms (BPSR) in collaboration with the Office of the Government of the Federation (OSGF), Mr Akume said the unauthorised leakage of sensitive official documents constitutes a felony, claiming that there is no defence for such, either in the Constitution or Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

In a statement by its Deputy Executive Director, Ayode Longe, MRA described as false and illogical the SGFs accusation in the same speech that civil society organisations (CSOs) use the Freedom of Information Act to harass, intimidate and siphon resources from public officers through the dissemination of fake and unfounded information, saying Mr Akumes call for the regulation of the activities of civil society organisations on this ground was a red herring designed to divert attention from the governments real challenges.

He argued that unless the SGF is saying that when CSOs apply to public institutions for information using the FOI Act, they are given fake and unfounded information in response, we do not see how his accusation can be remotely true, adding that we also do not see how requesting information under a valid and subsisting Law passed by the National Assembly for that purpose and assented to by the president can amount to harassment, intimidation or siphoning resources from public officers.

Calling on Mr Akume to substantiate his allegation that civil society organizations are using the FOI Act to harass, intimidate and siphon resources from public officers, Mr Longe stressed that the SGFs apparent aversion to transparency and accountability in government should not lead him to mischaracterize the FOI Act or falsely accuse CSOs that have only exercised the right given to them and every other person by the Act.

He said: We are disheartened to see on public display such profound ignorance of the FOI Act by a senior official of the federal government. We respectfully call on him to make an effort to familiarize himself with the provisions and intent of this piece of legislation in order not to cause further embarrassment to the government he represents.

Mr Longe advised the SGF that he would face an uphill task in attempting to prosecute any government official for unauthorized disclosure of information in the face of Section 27(2) of the FOI Act, which protects whistleblowers and states unequivocally that Nothing contained in the Criminal Code or Official Secrets Act shall prejudicially affect any public officer who, without authorization, discloses to any person, an information which he reasonably believes to show mismanagement, gross waste of funds, fraud, and abuse of authority; or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety notwithstanding that such information was not disclosed pursuant to the provision of this Act and goes on to provide that No civil or criminal proceeding shall lie against any person receiving the information or further disclosing it.

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He noted that the SGFs preoccupation with secrecy rather than good governance was neither helpful to citizens nor to the government itself, saying Perhaps if the government was formulating and implementing policies and actions that are resulting in tangible benefits to citizens, it would not be so concerned about its decisions and actions becoming public knowledge. He, therefore, advised the SGF to concentrate his efforts on ensuring that the government does the right thing rather than things the government itself appears to be ashamed of, such that it would not be afraid of its decisions and plans being revealed to the public.

Arguing that whistleblowers are vital to the integrity and proper functioning of a countrys public institutions, Mr Longe noted that The protection of whistleblowers is now a global priority and the SGF would find himself in a face-off not just with Nigerian civil society but also with the international community should he attempt to prosecute any official for disclosing information that reveals corruption, mismanagement of funds, fraud, waste of public resources, abuse of power, or any other wrongdoing.

He commended those courageous individuals in government who have, despite such threats and in the face of great adversity, chosen to speak out against wrongdoing, whether anonymously or publicly, to expose corruption, fraud, abuse of office, and other unethical actions that undermine public trust and confidence in government, describing them as the unsung heroes of our society.

According to him, Whistleblowers are driven by a profound sense of duty and a commitment to the greater good. They shine a light in the dark corners of our governments, revealing truths that many officials would prefer remain hidden. Their actions have often led to significant positive changes, including correcting injustices, the implementation of reforms, and safeguarding the public interest.

Mr Longe said rather than threatening whistleblowers with imprisonment in order to create a climate of fear and discourage others from coming forward, the government should be adopting additional measures and enacting laws to ensure adequate protection for them in the light of the immense value that they bring to the society and the essential role they play in combating corruption as well as maintaining accountability and transparency.

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The management of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has suspended the institutions ongoing second-semester examinations indefinitely.

The decision followed the killing of a final-year student of the institution, identified as Ayinla Fabiyi, by suspected cultists on the main campus.

A statement issued on Thursday by the institutions Public Relations Officer, Odubela Ayotunde, said all examinations on the campus have been suspended indefinitely.

The university management has directed the suspension of all examinations previously scheduled for Thursday, 4 July, and Friday, 5 July 2024, until further notice.

An examination just ended with 400 level students celebrating the usual logging out in front of the lecture theatre when some unidentified persons carried the said victim, identified as Fabiyi Hammed Ayinla of the History and Diplomatic Studies Department, College of Humanities. He was eventually attacked.

Fabiyis colleagues assumed that the said persons were celebrating with him as it was also his birthday. Suspicion arose when he later attempted to resist being carried away. Thus, they started dragging him towards the University CENVOS building.

The security personnel on the ground immediately alerted the security unit, who responded immediately, the statement read.

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On sighting security operatives, Mr Fabiyis assailants reportedly took to their heels and escaped through the bush.

Severely injured but still alive, Mr Fabiyi was said to have been moved to the University Health Centre, from where he was referred to the General Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, for further treatment.

The victim was later referred to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital due to the severity of the injuries he sustained to the head. But he reportedly died while being moved to Babcock.

Mrs Odubela, while clarifying that there was no gunshot at the scene of the incident or anywhere on the campus, said the late Fabiyi was not abducted from the examination hall as was being reported by some persons.

He was not participating in the 300-level examination, HIS 329 (Modern European Political Thoughts) going on in the examination hall.

The University has since reported the incident to the Nigeria Police for necessary actions, while a few arrests have been made.

The University condemns in strong terms this dastardly act while sympathising with the parents/ guardians of the deceased. We also pray that the Lord Almighty console the family, she said.

Mrs Odubela advised parents and students of the institution to be calm. She urged students to go about their business as the situation was under control.

READ ALSO: Nigerian university speaks on murdered professor

The University Management appreciates the swift action of the Nigerian Police, which has put the campus in a calm situation.

We remain resolute that TASUED has zero tolerance for cultism, gangsterism, and other deviant acts, the statement added.

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China's large population offers potential for tourism market: Zambian official

Xinhua) 11:04, July 04, 2024

LUSAKA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's large population offers a huge tourism market for Zambia, Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba said on Wednesday.

The minister made the remarks after a tour of the Lusaka National Park, which is located about 30 km southeast of the capital city of Lusaka, with visiting Chinese Minister of Veterans Affairs Pei Jinjia.

Zambia has opted to partner with the Chinese government for strategic collaboration to enhance the country's tourism sector, the state broadcaster Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation quoted Sikumba as saying.

The dedication of 2024 as the year of tourism and culture, as Zambia and China celebrate 60 years of bilateral cooperation, was a deliberate step taken to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries, the minister said.

He also said the two countries were in discussions of introducing direct flights between them and China has been included among countries in the visa waiver program to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Zambia

According to the minister, the two countries have also agreed for China to help Zambia with infrastructure development in the tourism sector.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
The police in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, said they have begun an investigation into the alleged assault of a woman in the state by her husband.

The police spokesperson in Delta, Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a post via his X handle on Thursday.

Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, said the victim, Annabel Onyemali, is at the State Criminal Investigation Department.

Today, at about 3 p.m., the command received a petition from Ideal Chambers on behalf of the victim, Mrs Onyemali, who was grievously assaulted by her husband, Onyemali Christopher.

A photo of the victim posted on X showed one side of her face covered with blood

Mr Edafe did not, however, mention what could have led to the assault and when it happened.

He did not also say if the victims husband had been arrested.

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A similar incident occurred in Akwa Ibom, another South-south state last December, where a lawyer was arrested by the police for assaulting his wife.

The lawyer, Ekere Ebong, was filmed assaulting his wife at night in a street around his residence in Uyo, the state capital.

Nigerians had expressed outrage after the video of the assault went viral on social media, including Facebook and X.

The police in the state had described the lawyer as a habitual perpetrator of violence against his wife. They vowed that he would be arraigned at the court, but they are yet to do so apparently because the woman later withdrew the case against the husband.

The Nigerian Bar Association had directed its Uyo Branch to investigate the incident and cause the lawyers to appear before a disciplinary committee, but it appears the association also withdrew itself from the matter.

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The South-east caucus in the House of Representatives has joined the call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

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 brought back to Nigeria from Kenya under controversial circumstances.

In a statement signed by all 43 members of the caucus on Wednesday, the lawmakers said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should consider releasing Mr Kanu and others in a similar situation.

The caucus called for the option of an out-of-court settlement in the treason case Mr Kanu is facing.

They noted that this option would produce a quick and responsible resolution.

A few days ago, at the resumed hearing of the case against Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, currently pending at an Abuja Federal High Court presided over by Justice Binta Nyako, the issue of the out-of-court settlement of the matter was discussed between Mazi Nnamdi Kanus lawyer and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

According to newspaper reports, and our verified accounts of proceedings from those who were in court on that day, the court displayed sufficient support for the out-of-court settlement of this case, being one of the acceptable canons of dispute resolution in our civil and criminal jurisprudence.

As a caucus of the House of Representatives from where Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hails, we have taken the liberty, in consonance with parliamentary practice, to seek the support of other regional caucuses of the House of Representatives to achieve a quick and responsible resolution of the seemingly intractable Mazi Nnamdi Kanu case, a legal impasse that is undoubtedly the missing puzzle in solving the lingering security conundrum in the South-east of Nigeria.

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We, therefore, as representatives of the five South-east states in the House of Representatives, urge Mr President to consider the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his other similarly detained followers.

We are convinced that a political settlement of this matter by way of an out-of-court settlement, as canvassed before Justice Binta Nyako, is the quickest, most effective, and honourable way of closing this difficult and painful chapter of our national history.

The lawmakers have now joined their Senate counterparts, Southeast governors, and others in calling for Mr Kanus release.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the five South-east governors resolved to meet with the president to appeal for the release of the separatist leader.

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The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, and other principal officers of the ministry will Thursday (today) meet with the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Technical (FCET), Akoka, Lagos, Wahab Azeez, and some unionists on the campus, over the crisis rocking the tertiary institution.

PREMIUM TIMES is aware that the ministrys Permanent Secretary, Did Watson-Jack, recently authored letters of invitation to a meeting with the minister to not less than 12 college workers, including the provost.

A copy of the letter, exclusively obtained by this newspaper, noted that the meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the ministrys headquarters in Abuja, Nigerias Federal Capital Territory.

This newspaper earlier reported that some college workers under the aegis of concerned staff had locked up the provosts office since 27 May over the tenure of office following the amendment of the law establishing the colleges of education in Nigeria.

This is as the leadership of the institutions students union and the Senate of the National Association of Nigerian Colleges of Education Students (NANCES) have urged the minister not to succumb to the machinations of those who have taken laws into their hands.

They accused the protesters of threatening students and workers who refused to join them in fomenting troubles.

Backstory

Since 27 May, the workers locked up the office of the provost and also issued him a quit notice from his official residence.

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Led by the leadership of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN), FCET chapter, the protesters insisted that with the amendment of the Educational Colleges Act 2023, which introduced a five-year single term of office for provosts and other principal officers of the colleges, the tenure of Mr Azeez had ended on 26 May.

However, the provost said he was appointed for the first term of four years in 2019, and that having been duly reappointed by the institutions governing council in 2023, he already resumed his second term in office on 27 May 2023 before the amended act was signed into law on 12 June 2023.

Following letters by the unions seeking clarification on the tenure of office of the provost based on the amended act, the Minister wrote the unions in May, affirming the legality of Mr Azeezs second term of four years.

But the protesters ignored the ministers verdict, continued to stage daily protests on the campus, and denied management members of the college access to their offices.

Minister invites warring factions

In a letter dated 27 June and signed by the permanent secretary, the minister said the meeting with the warring factions was a follow-up to the visit to the college by the delegation earlier sent to the institution.

Your position on the unrest as reflected in the report forwarded by the ministerial committee that visited the institution for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation on 12th June 2024 is critical and requires your presence to allow the ministry to interface with you, to enable it to take an informed decision on the issue, part of the letter addressed to one of the invitees, reads in part.

This newspaper is aware that apart from the 12 officials of the college invited, including the SSUCOEN Chairman and Secretary, Augustin Nwachukwu and Kazeem Qadri, respectively, other national leaders of labour unions such as the Non-Academic Staff Union, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and among others were also invited.

Meanwhile, Mr Nwachukwu has consistently denied fomenting trouble on the campus, saying it was fighting for the soul of the college.

Students union president writes minister

Meanwhile, the President of the institutions students union, Yusuf Dauda, has written the minister, saying as a major stakeholder in the crisis rocking the institution, the non-invitation of the students union should be reconsidered.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Dauda said the students had been turned to the proverbial grass that suffers when two elephants fight.

ALSO READ: Nigerian college provost alleges threat to life as protesting workers lock up offices

He accused the concerned staff of taking laws into their hands, describing the group as the new rottweiler of the school brooking no opposition.

Upon our refusal to be an appendage to them, the concerned staff hatched a plan to remove the SUG executive from office. To get the alliance at all costs, they threatened us with the potential possibility of failing our semester examinations, the unions letter reads in part.

In a similar development, the NANCES leadership wrote the minister, accusing the protesters of interfering in the affairs of the students union on the campus.

Confirming the development to PREMIUM TIMES, the Senate President of the association, Isaac Ushahimber, said as the umbrella union for all colleges of education students in Nigeria, its fact-finding mission to the college revealed the act of hooliganism on the part of some workers of the college.

As a student advocate group, NANCES wants to sue for a peaceful and rancour-free environment that will enable our students to continue enjoying the available resources and facilities in the college, Mr Ushahimber said.

The student of Benue State College of Education, Katsina-Ala, urged the minister to address the matter urgently.

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Gunmen have kidnapped a busload of passengers around Okene in Kogi State.

Several posts on X on Wednesday indicated that the passengers were travelling from Benin, the Edo State capital, heading to Abuja when the gunmen attacked their bus in Okene.

The bus belongs to Big Joe Motors, a transport company based in Benin.

One X post said the bus driver was kidnapped along with the passengers.

An official from the Abuja office of Big Joe Motor, who answered a call to a phone number on a copy of the transport companys receipt, confirmed the incident to PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday.

Truecaller, a mobile phone application for identifying callers, indicated that the phone number holder was David Aiguobagbon.

The official who spoke in a masculine voice said the company has not been able to ascertain the exact number of kidnapped passengers as some of them reportedly escaped from the abductors.

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However, he confirmed that the passengers were driven in a 13-passenger bus and not an 18-passenger bus as circulated on social media.

We do not use or have 18-passenger buses. We only have 13, the official said, adding, According to what we heard, it was 13 people, and some of the passengers were able to escape. But we dont have all the facts yet. We are not certain if the passengers were 13 or 18.

His comment also contradicts claims on X that the kidnappers had demanded a N30 million ransom.

A user claimed to have confirmed the ransom demand by the kidnappers from the transport offices company in Abuja.

But the officer from the Abuja office of the company, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, said, Some of the passengers left their phones behind and we have not received any call from the kidnappers yet demanding any ransom.

He said the company was making efforts to assist police to intervene and try to establish contact with the driver.

One of our managers is already at the police station in Kogi State helping the police out. We have yet to hear from the driver. He has two phones; one was left behind, and he was with the second one. We have been trying to reach him. His phone was still ringing yesterday, but it had already been switched off this morning (Thursday).

We beg the families of the people to exercise patience with us; we are working with the police, and it will be successful.

If any family has been contacted for ransom, they should please contact us, he said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Kogi State Police Command, William Aya, told our reporter he was not aware of the incident but promised to confirm it and revert with his findings.

However, he has not answered further calls or responded to messages requesting an update about the incident.

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Togos recently revised Constitution, adopted by parliament on 19 April, changes the system of government from presidential to parliamentary. Leading ruling party figures say it strengthens democracy and institutional stability and fits the countrys current socio-political realities.

However, some opposition and civil society members call the reforms a constitutional coup detat aimed at circumventing presidential term limits.

The new Constitution reduces the powers of the president, who will now be elected by parliament for a four-year term, renewable once. The Constitution also creates the position of President of the Council of Ministers. That post will be held by current President Faure Gnassingbe, leader of the majority Union pour la Republique (UNIR) party in the National Assembly, giving him most of the executive powers for an unlimited six-year term  as long as his party wins legislative elections.

Opponents also criticise the timing of the revision, its legality, and the lack of transparency and consultation before its adoption. Of particular significance is that the mandate of the Parliament that adopted the revision expired in December 2023, the month originally set for legislative elections. Attempts to protest against the reforms were banned. Opposition and civil society appeals were also unsuccessful, including a 22 April referral to the Constitutional Court to rule on the reforms legality.

Beyond these debates, the real question is about presidential term limits and democratic power transfer in Togo, which has been ruled for 57 years by the Gnassingbe family. These issues have been at the heart of all Togos political crises since independence.

Presidential term limits were removed from the Constitution in 2002 to allow the current presidents father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, to stand for re-election in 2003. The term limit was reintroduced in 2019 without retroactive effect following the 2017 political crisis and 2018 inter-Togolese dialogue.

The latest constitutional amendment was adopted less than a year before presidential elections scheduled for February 2025  and aim to formalise the current presidents fifth consecutive term in office, should he be re-elected.

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The timing of the revisions, hurriedly passed just a month before the 29 April legislative and regional elections, was perhaps calculated to give the polls the appearance of a referendum on constitutional reform.

The ruling UNIR won an absolute majority of seats in Parliament  108 out of 113. The opposition, whose main parties boycotted the 2018 legislative polls, won just five seats: two for the Alliance of Democrats for Integral Development, and one each for the lAlliance Nationale pour le Changement (ANC), Dynamique pour la majorite du peuple (DMP) and Forces democratiques pour la Republique (FDR).

Since its creation in 2012, the UNIR has held a majority in the National Assembly. If this trend continues, the opposition probably wont gain access to executive power in Togo  especially since it is weakened by internal rivalries and conflicts over succession. This renders alliances in the opposition ineffective and prevents the ruling party from shifting the balance of power in its favour.

The opposition alleged election irregularities and fraud during the 29 April elections, some of which were confirmed by national observers. The ANC and FDR boycotted the installation of the new parliament on 21 May.

In November 2023, opposition parties, including the ANC and DMP, raised concerns about the voter registration process, and said the electoral boundaries favoured the ruling party. They unsuccessfully demanded a new census and revised boundaries. Some also claim that the Independent National Electoral Commission and Constitutional Court have become politicised.

The electoral commission acknowledged some difficulties on polling day but didnt consider them serious enough to affect the elections credibility. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court rejected all appeals lodged by the opposition after the legislative results were announced. On 30 April, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie jointly commended the peaceful elections.

As dissatisfaction with political developments deepens, all stakeholders in Togo should draw lessons to prevent another crisis in West Africa, a region already facing numerous governance challenges.

The ruling party should learn from the failure of the various dialogues organised since the Comprehensive Political Agreement was signed in August 2006. It should pursue more inclusive governance to reach consensual institutional and constitutional reforms. These reforms must address the nations challenges and meet the needs of Togolese  many of whom are disillusioned by the successive dialogues. Given the terror threats facing the north of the country, all efforts must be made to avoid creating additional political frustrations.

The opposition should rethink its strategy to access power. Even within its own ranks, this approach is currently considered counterproductive.

The Group of Five (European Union, France, Germany, United Nations Development Programme and United States) and regional organisations, notably ECOWAS, should reflect on their responses to developments in Togo. Public perceptions are that they have been lenient towards the government in their crisis management roles.

Civil society organisations and analysts in Togo and regionally have slated ECOWAS for back-pedalling. In its 15 April communique, the bloc criticised the constitutional reforms and said it would deploy an exploratory mission to the country. A day later, it withdrew this communique, toned down its statement and announced the deployment of a fact-finding mission to Togo.

This reinforces public perceptions of an organisation beholden to heads of state and employing double standards by turning a blind eye when some leaders undermine democracy while cracking down on countries after military coups.

Togos controversial constitutional reforms also risk further tarnishing ECOWAS reputation and discrediting Mr Gnassingbes role as mediator between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (made up of recent coup countries Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso). The three gave notice in January of their withdrawal from ECOWAS.

ECOWAS, in coordination with the Group of Five, must maintain an open dialogue within and between the political actors and civil society in Togo to recreate a climate of trust. Although previous dialogues havent addressed the conflicts root causes, they have helped ease tensions.

Jeannine Ella Abatan, Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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The Court of Appeal, Abuja, has nullified the expulsion of a former speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers from the assembly.

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, in May, barred the lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the states House of Assembly after they defected from the PDP to the APC.

The embattled lawmakers are backed by the immediate past governor of the state, Nyesom Wike. Mr Wike, now FCT minister, is engaged in a protracted political battle with Governor Siminalayi Fubara over the control of the political structure in the oil-rich state.

Three lawmakers loyal to Mr Fubara have been running the affairs of the Rivers State assembly since the court barred their colleagues from parading themselves as lawmakers.

Reinstatement

Delivering judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal held that the lower court lacked the jurisdiction to grant the exparte order, Channels TV reported.

The appeal court held that Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended gives the Federal High Court powers to determine whether the seat of a House of Assembly member has become vacant.

It held that the Federal High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the vacancy of a House of Assembly seat.

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The express mention of the Federal High Court in Section 272 (3) of the Constitution automatically excludes all state high courts from having the jurisdiction, the court held.

It ruled that the exparte order having been made without jurisdiction is null and void.

While functioning as assembly members, the pro-Wike lawmakers passed several laws by overriding Governor Fubaras veto.

In one of the bills, the lawmakers amended the Local Government Administration Law, stripped Governor Fubara of the power to appoint caretaker committees for local government council, and extended the tenure of the elected council officials by six months.

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The family of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operative who died by suspected suicide on Monday has announced the programme for the burial of his remains.

An electronic copy of the poster announcing the burial arrangement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday identifies the deceased as 40-year-old John Obomeile Yamah. He was born on 6 December 1983, according to the poster.

This is the first time the deceased will be publicly identified by his name, age and photo since the news of his death broke on Wednesday.

The deceaseds identity, including his name and date of birth, has been missing from media reports about his death.

Media reports, including by PREMIUM TIMES, had only identified him as a member of the Course 5 of the EFCC Academy.

On Wednesday, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Yamah committed suicide on Monday.

Our reporter further gathered on Thursday that the deceased shot himself with a gun at his residence in Abuja on Monday.

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Apart from his name and age, now known by this newspaper, much of his details are still undisclosed by his family and the EFCC.

Burial

According to the obituary poster seen by this newspaper, Mr Yamahs burial arrangements will commence on Wednesday,10 July, with a service of songs at 4 p.m. at his residence in Abuja.

At 10 a.m. on the following day, Friday, 11 July, the internment of his remains will take place at Gudu Cemetery in Apo, Abuja.

Information about the death and circumstances leading to it remains scanty.

Apart from confirming the incident to a media platform through its spokesperson on Wednesday, the EFCC has not released an official statement about it. There has been no official statement from the family either.

The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the incident with PR Nigeria on Wednesday and said an investigation was underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the sad incident.

Mr Oyewale said the commission would refrain from issuing any further statements, including releasing the details of the deceased operatives name, until after the investigation.

However, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the deceased left a suicide note, details of which have not been confirmed by any official source as of Thursday evening.

This is not the first time an EFCC operative has been suspected to have committed suicide.

In 2019, the Edo State Police Command initiated an investigation into the suspected suicidal death of Williams Oyibogare, an EFCC operative.

Mr Oyibogare was suspected of having committed suicide as bottles of a pesticide brand, Sniper, were discovered in his home in the Giwa Amu area, along the Airport Road in Benin, the Edo State capital.

The police also reportedly recovered a purported suicide note found on his phone.

Then-EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed Mr Oyibogares death but stated that the commission was awaiting the completion of police investigation before making any further comments.

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Nigerias Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has warned the newly inaugurated governing councils of tertiary institutions against extravagant expenses in the course of discharging their duties.

The minister also reiterated the provisions of the laws stipulating that the appointees are appointed on a part-time basis and not as full-time employees or managers of the institutions.

He gave the warnings on Thursday, at the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja. during the inauguration of the newly appointed members of governing councils for federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The ministers concerns may not be unconnected to the perceived conduct of some appointees of governing councils of institutions who reportedly compete with the institutions management officials for the day-to-day management of the institutions.

Mr Mamman, a professor, said their activities as members of governing councils are on a part-time basis and that emoluments and benefits of part-time employment are defined across the country.

I will mention with some hesitation but its very important. Councils are on a part-time basis, they operate on a part-time basis not full time, either chairman or members, he said.

Those that are part-time across the country have defined emolument structure and benefits. Theyre clearly defined. So let us be so guided.

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Extravagant spending

Mr Mamman said there have been reported cases of chairpersons of councils making extravagant demands like chartered aircraft to attend functions and a house in the capital city, among others.

We have reports of what happened in the past where some pro-chancellors wanted chartered aircraft each time they wanted to go for functions, whether its convocation, or a trip to Abuja, he said.

They want to have houses in Abuja. This is a real report. The government has, for a long time, monetised  taken itself out of the provision of houses for staff  except, of course, on the campuses.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, in 2020 spent an unapproved N106 million for Christmas hampers, cows, the redemption of thanksgiving pledges and productivity bonuses to governing board members.

The minister asked the newly inaugurated councils to avoid such large expenses, noting that President Bola Tinubu has a habit of letting go of anyone found wanting immediately after they are reported to have committed infractions.

He said: Please let us avoid these things because we have a president who has zero tolerance for corruption. I can tell you one thing I learned from my president, among other things, if something breaks out in the media and it is negative, you are out the following day.

The president doesnt sit down waiting for evidence. Before you start arranging long papers, long evidence. No! He acts decisively. And usually, these kinds of things happen around quarrels about money. So councils should try to avoid that.

Power separation

Mr Mamman also asked the new appointees to refrain from interfering with the day-to-day management of their respective institutions.

He said there is a clear line of operations between the university management and the governing councils of the tertiary institutions.

Also, he warned the councils against circumventing the universitys establishment and miscellaneous Acts and other relevant laws in the appointments of the institutions principal officers.

He said the process of appointing the principal officers for the institutions is clearly provided for by the laws.

Theres no grey area in how principal officers emerge. All you need to do is to apply those laws and I tell you you will sleep well. It is when you skip the regulations and the laws that you wont sleep well because you will be seeing a series of petitions either to you or over your head to us. Either way, its not good, he said.

He also warned them against trying to stifle the activities of unions on the campuses, saying it is a constitutional and international right for both staff and students to unionise.

He asked them to see the unions on their campuses as partners and engage in periodic conversations to find solutions to the challenges of their institutions.

Dont treat them as if you have different aspirations. Treat unions as partners. Thats the most important thing to understand. They are partners. Our aspirations are the same as our own. A lot of time the difference is about how to go about achieving the aspirations, he added.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Wole Olanipekun, spoke on behalf of the appointees and pledged their commitment to the progress of the tertiary institutions.

Mr Olanipekun, a senior advocate of Nigeria, however, appealed to the minister to convey the councils message to President Bola Tinubu that the institutions should be exempted from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

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The Senate on Thursday asked the federal government to include funding for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund of President Bola Tinubu.

The call was a sequel to a motion by Haruna Manu (Taraba Central) during the plenary.

The 3,050 MW hydroelectric power project is located in Kakara village of Taraba State, North-eastern Nigeria.

It was initiated by a Chinese company, CGGC, at a total cost of $5.9 billion.

Based on the existing agreement, the company will fund 85 per cent of the project while the Nigerian government will fund the remaining 15 per cent, which is equivalent to 868,800,000 million dollars.

When completed, it will be the largest power-generating installation in the country and one of the largest hydroelectric power stations in Africa.

Successive governments have refused to commit the 15 per cent funding.

The motion

Mr Manu, while presenting his motion, said Nigeria is losing from the benefits it ought to have been deriving from the project.

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He listed the creation of 55,000 jobs, construction of resettlement homes for over 100,000 people and hauling and supplying of over 2.7 million tons of steel as some of the benefits.

Others are the production and supply of over 76 million tons of quarry stone and the opportunity for Ashaka and Benue cement to produce and supply cement.

The senator noted that governors from the North-eastern states have made efforts to ensure the take-off of the project but it was not successful.

He demanded that the Senate Committees on Finance, Appropriation, Power and Water Resources collaborate with the federal government to ensure the release of the 15 per cent of the Mambilla Hydro Power Project for commencement of the project.

Mr Manu also requested that the 3,050 MW capacity should be retained.

Contributions

The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume seconded the motion.

Mr Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, said the persistent power collapse was due to a lack of coordinated generating capability.

He urged the federal government to prioritise the implementation of the Mambilla project.

The issue of power is something that is very important. In fact, if it is the only thing that this government at the end of it will be proud of, I think it is worth it.

You can see that we have been witnessing collapsing here and there, this is because there is no coordinated generating capability and having this in the North-east and also knowing fully that the North-east, out of all the zones in terms of infrastructural development is behind and the issue of Mambilla is of concern to all because it is linked to power and power is very important and critical at this time in the country, he said.

Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) said if the project is actualised, it will develop the economy of the country.

Mr Goje, a former governor and minister of state for power and steel, recalled how the project commenced in 1999 during the administration of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The project came up in 1999 during Obasanjos tenure and the Chinese were ready to invest 4 billion USD for the take-off of this project. Somehow, one reason or the other will come up to prevent the implementation of this project, but it was the issue of trying to sort out the environmental impact assessment of the project, the legal framework and so many other things that delayed the take-off of the project.

Later on, in 2006, President Obasanjo also came up with the idea of setting up 10 NNPP projects (National Independent Power Projects) that will involve joint funding with local, state and federal government to the tune of 5.3 billion dollars. At that time, 10 Projects were selected.

The argument given to us at that time was Obasanjo wanted a project that would be completed within a possible time in less than three years and the argument was that this project would take more than seven years to complete. Therefore, we could not take it as an emergency and it was stepped down Mr Goje explained.

Former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, also said he intervened on the project when he was in office but discovered that there were many legal tussles on it.

I intervened on the Mambilla issue in the last assembly and I think the contradiction is not about funds. The issue is the legal hurdle that has been created and has not been settled as far as I know because I had so much engagement with the Attorney-General of the Federation, Barrister Malami, and in fact, I asked for all the documents in respect to Mambilla, and I was given.

Sunrise, one company, took the federal government to court and asked for billions. Eventually, some people negotiated 200 million dollars for Sunrise to allow the project to take off. Its like it was going to work but something happened again and we went back to square one.

There were funds from Nigerian Sovereign Intervention Authority  200 million dollars  for this project, but NSIA was supposed to provide the 200 million dollars.

The Chinese noticed that there were so many legal entanglements and they decided not to show any more serious interest.

Aminu Tambuwal ( PDP, Sokoto) urged the lawmakers to visit the project site for assessment.

I think it is only when we visit Mambilla, we will understand and appreciate what we as a country are losing.

The agricultural opportunities in Mambilla are beyond anybodys imagination. So, for any government to have priority in Nigeria, I believe that the Mambilla Hydro Power Project should be that priority.

Victor Umeh (LP Anambra) highlighted the importance of the project.

Power is very critical in our industrial development. Nigeria is lagging behind because of a lack of power. We cannot even power our homes, he said.

Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) also narrated how the project commenced.

This project was initiated as far back as the forest agreement was signed in 2007 to produce 3,060 megawatts of electricity to add to the National Grid.

We had it at the rate of 5.9 billion dollars, out of which the Chinese company that initiated it, CGGC, will bring a counterpart funding from a Chinese company of about 85 per cent and Nigeria will give a counterpart of 15 per cent.

Agreement was signed, and everything was reached before a legal issue came up. When this administration came, they looked at the issue when they were looking at the issue of power.

They also considered Mambilla and the Chinese company, CGGC. They even paid a courtesy call on our Senate President and wrote to the minister of finance because they had submitted the bank guarantees for the counterpart of the 15 per cent that we were to give. So, the legal tussle came up with Sunrise.

The position I know today is that Sunrise has met with the leadership of the country and they have agreed to withdraw the aberration which he has agreed to do and I knew he had done it in writing. I have seen it.

NSIA was given the mandate to source for funding for Mambilla but with the coming of this administration, they have been advised to transfer everything back to Greener Hope Infrastructure Fund, which will be faster.

Responding, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, commended Mr Manu for the motion.

Power is very important for the nation. The issue of Mambilla has been around for over 25 years. Now, we can say that the project is good to go, Mr Jibirin said.

The deputy senate president, thereafter, put the motion to vote and a majority of the senators supported it.

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The Nigerian government has released the statement below clarifying its position on the Samoa Agreement it recently signed.

The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, said the Samoa Agreement, signed by Nigeria in June, is nothing but a vital legal framework for cooperation between the OACPS and the European Union, to promote sustainable development, fight climate change and its effects, generate investment opportunities, and foster collaboration among OACPS Member States at the international stage.

Mr Mohammed said Nigeria has an existing legislation against same-sex relationships and, contrary to reports, the Samoa Agreement does not invalidate any of Nigerias laws.

Nigerias endorsement was accompanied by a Statement of Declaration, dated 26th June 2024, clarifying its understanding and context of the Agreement within its jurisdiction to the effect that any provision that is inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid, he said.

Read the full statement by the information minister below.

Samoa Agreement Signed in the Interest of Nigeria  FG

On 28 June 2024, Nigeria signed the Samoa Agreement at the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium.

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The partnership agreement is between the EU and its Member States on one hand, and the members of the OACPS on the other.

Negotiations on the agreement started in 2018, on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. It was signed in Apia, Samoa on the 15th of November 2018 by all 27 EU Member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS Member states.

The agreement has 103 articles comprising a common foundational compact and three regional protocols, namely: Africa EU; Caribbean-EU, and Pacific-EU Regional Protocols with each regional protocol addressing the peculiar issues of the regions.

The African Regional Protocol consists of two parts. The first is the Framework for Cooperation, while the second deals with Areas of Cooperation, containing Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth and Development; Human and Social Development; Environment, Natural Resources Management, and Climate Change; Peace and Security; Human Rights, Democracy and Governance; and Migration and Mobility.

Nigeria signed the Agreement on Friday 28 June 2024. This was done after extensive reviews and consultations by the Interministerial Committee, convened by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ). It was ensured that none of the 103 Articles and Provisions of the Agreement contravenes the 1999 Constitution as amended or the laws of Nigeria and other extant Laws.

In addition, Nigerias endorsement was accompanied by a Statement of Declaration, dated 26th June 2024, clarifying its understanding and context of the Agreement within its jurisdiction to the effect that any provision that is inconsistent with the laws of Nigeria shall be invalid. It is instructive to note that there is an existing legislation against same-sex relationships in Nigeria enacted in 2014.

It is necessary to assure Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu Administration, being a rule-based government will not enter into any international agreement that will be detrimental to the interest of the country and its citizens. In negotiating the Agreement, our officials strictly followed the mandates exchanged in 2018 between the EU and the OACPS for the process.

The Samoa Agreement is nothing but a vital legal framework for cooperation between the OACPS and the European Union, to promote sustainable development, fight climate change and its effects, generate investment opportunities, and foster collaboration among OACPS Member States at the international stage.

Mohammed Idris

Minister of Information and National Orientation.

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Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) chapter, on Thursday, took to the school premises to protest against the federal governments failure to meet their longstanding demands.

In an address during the protest, the Chairperson of UNAAB-ASUU, Olugbenga Adeleye, called for the immediate payment of withheld salaries and a fresh renegotiation of the ASUU/FG agreement.

He accused the federal government of persistently ignoring their pleas and failing to sign the renegotiated agreements.

The union said despite engaging in three rounds of negotiations, the government has yet to fulfil its promises.

A former member of the union, Olukayode Bamgbose, expressed deep disappointment over the non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) promised by the government.

He pointed out that salaries have remained stagnant for 15 years, worsening the financial plight of the university staff.

Mr Bamgbose, a professor, also criticised the mandatory deduction of the National Housing Fund (NHF) from their salaries, which he claimed has plunged many into poverty. He added that the unions demands extended beyond salary issues.

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The ASUU members called for the immediate release of third-party deductions and condemned the unchecked proliferation of universities, which they argue dilutes resources and attention needed for existing institutions.

The union also reiterated its preference for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) over the governments Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), arguing that UTAS better addresses the unique needs of university administration.

Mr Adeleye stressed that the protest was not merely about financial grievances but also about striving for a better university system.

He accused the federal government of neglecting its responsibilities towards the education sector and expressed disappointment over the non-payment of academic allowances that were budgeted for the previous year.

READ ALSO: Auditor General assures of timely submission of reports to NASS

Mr Adeleye warned that if the government continues to disregard the unions demands, it might have no choice but to embark on another industrial action.

He appealed to Nigerians to prevail on the government to act responsibly and avert a potential nationwide strike.

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A former Director the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Gavs Katiya, says he and officials of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) were usually forced to take the oath of secrecy before speaking with repented Boko Haram terrorists in Nigerias north-east.

Mr Katiya, now retired, spoke when he appeared as a guest on Channels TVs Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.

Established in 1986, the NDE is a federal agency responsible for tackling unemployment among Nigerian youths, mainly through skill acquisition programmes.

Ten of thousands have been killed and several others displaced since

Boko Haram fighters have killed tens of thousands of people and have led to the death of over 300,000 children since the insurgency began around 2009 in Nigerias north-east.

The then President Muhammadu Buhari, in March 2018, announced his administrations readiness to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by any member of the Boko Haram group.

Former Boko Haram fighters, who have laid down their weapons and are willing to be assimilated into the society, are often referred to as repented Boko Haram fighters.

Why we were forced to take the oaths

Mr Katiya, who hails from Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State, said he was deployed to the North-east before he retired from NDE.

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The former director said the position afforded him, alongside officials of the NOA, the opportunity to interact with some repented Boko Haram fighters.

The first batch of repented Boko Haram fighters  95 of them  was brought to my office while I was still the director in NDE.

So, I interfaced with them because the then Federal government asked us to talk to them, to train them to embrace skills, he recalled.

Before we were allowed to talk to them, we had to take an oath that when you finished with them, you dont have to say, I saw this person. Hes one of the repented Boko Haram fighters, Mr Katiya said.

He did not give details about who directed them to take the oath.

The former director now coordinates the Gwoza Resettlement Initiative, a private organisation dedicated to resettling refugees displaced by terrorist attacks in Gwoza.

Gwoza, which is a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon, a central African country, made headlines recently when four female suicide bombers, suspected to be members of Boko Haram, killed over 20 people in the area on Saturday, 29 June.

Many residents join Boko Haram group to earn a living.

Mr Katiya said the Boko Haram insurgency has been thriving in the North-east because many residents join the group as a means of livelihood.

When the 95 repented Boko Haram fighters were brought to me, 70 of them were from Gwoza.

There are some people who left my house to become Boko Haram fighters. They think this is an activity where you can get something, he said.

They have repented Boko Haram fighters who have that business mindset that insurgency is a means of livelihood.

Not a normal practice  Expert

A security expert, Patrick Agbambu, told PREMIUM TIMES that although both orthodox and unorthodox methods could be adopted to achieve peace, forcing people to take the oath of secrecy is not a normal procedure in the security practice.

Mr Agbambu, who works in the insurgency-ravaged North-east, said he has had interactions with repented Boko Haram fighters but has not been forced to take such oaths before.

Its not a standard in security practice to involve strategies of making people swear, he said.

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Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Umaru Bago of Kwara and Niger States have commended President Bola Tinubu over the 1000-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry superhighway project being executed by his administration.

The governors spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Thursday at a forum held to brief the public on the Kwara and Niger sections of the superhighway.

At least 188 kilometres of the road cut through different Kwara communities, while 125 kilometres are on Niger land.

The forum, organised by the Federal Ministry of Works, was attended by Kwara Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; federal and state lawmakers, including Kwara Norths Sadiq Umar; Minister of Youth Development Jamilah Bio; state cabinet members; traditional rulers; and industrialists led by Kamoru Yusuf of KAM Holdings.

Groups also attended the engagement, including party stalwarts, community leaders, transport unions, farmers associations, civil society organisations, marketers associations, and the youths.

Governor AbdulRazaq said the proposed road project attests to the bold vision of President Tinubu to develop infrastructure, which enhances national connectivity and helps to grow the economy.

What we are doing this afternoon is another testament to the bold vision of President Tinubu and evidence that our country is in a race to align development priorities and population growth with commensurate infrastructure that connects every part of Nigeria. But much more important is the decision of the President to make the people the centrepiece of this bold vision, Governor AbdulRazaq said.

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The governor, who was attending another event with the president in Abuja as the chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Forum, was represented by Mr Alabi.

He applauded the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for his dogged execution of the project.

Governor Bago, for his part, urged the people of the two states to support the federal government and take ownership of the road project.

We need to talk to our people that the government is not grabbing your land; the federal government is bringing development to you. We are not going to pay one kobo for compensation because it is for your good, Bago said.

He said local people should support the project because of its benefits, cautioning communities against disturbing contractors or the government for compensation.

Mr Umahi commended the governors for supporting the President.

He said the ministry has 18 federal projects in Kwara State.

We are going to engage with the governor, commissioner for works, the federal controller of works, and the ministry, and review the projects and give them priorities, he added.

Four projects are ongoing on tax credit with BUA (in Kwara). They have assured me that these projects will be delivered as soon as possible. They are all governments projects under President Tinubu. They are not social service projects from the company. We are the one funding it under a different funding mechanism.

The minister appreciated Mr AbdulRazaq and commended the roles of the Ministers of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi SAN and Miss Bio in the approval of the Kaiama-Tesse-Kishi road for construction.

We just came from Kebbi yesterday, where we unveiled the Sokoto and Kebbi States segment. In a number of states where this legacy project will be passing through, Kebbi has the highest length of 250km, the second is Kwara State with 188km, and the third is Niger State with 125km, Umahi said.

The Sokoto-Badagry road has been in the pipeline for the past 48 years. You can imagine the successive administrations that came and left, and not even a single kilometre was done. It remained a dream. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was raised by President Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State 25 years ago. The president will accomplish all three legacy projects.

We invite the governors to buy into the project. I am fortunate that the two governors are best friends of Mr President. So, I have no problem as far as the project is concerned.

Senate Committee Chairman on Works Barinada Mpigi, for his part, condemned the rate of abandonment of road projects by contractors after they have been mobilised and said the Senate would not hesitate to sanction the erring ones if they fail to return to sites on time.

Mr Yusuf, in his goodwill message, said the project would be a big relief to the entire nation in terms of logistics and travel time.

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Health ministry endorses Colgate as official partner in oral health policy in Nigeria

Colgate Palmolive Tolaram, manufacturers of Colgate, the worlds leading oral care brand in Nigeria, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to deepen awareness about oral health nationwide.

Speaking during the signing ceremony held on Wednesday, 3 July, 2024, in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, described the collaboration with Colgate as a landmark development that will help reduce the prevalence of oral health diseases in the country.

The Minister, represented at the signing ceremony by the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Anuwa Ogbonnaya, noted that oral diseases disproportionally affect the poor and socially disadvantaged members of society. He added that the partnership will encourage more private and public partnerships to address oral health challenges in the country.

Mr Ogbonnaya explained that due to lack of awareness, little or no impetus is given to oral diseases that are plaguing about 95% of Nigerians in the form of gingivitis, cavities, bleeding gums, sensitivity, and tooth loss due to lack of care.

We are very delighted about this partnership with Colgate. The Federal Ministry of Health has endorsed all Colgate initiatives as part of this agreement. Also, the Federal Ministry of Health has enlisted Colgate as its official health partner for any of its activities, he said.

In his remarks, the General Manager of Colgate Palmolive Tolaram, represented by Ankur Daruka, described signing the MOU as an affirmation of Colgates commitment to preventive oral care and education in Nigeria. He added that the association with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is another step towards improving access, affordability, and awareness of oral care in Nigeria.

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Mr Daruka disclosed that the brand has reached over 10 million children in different rural parts of the country with free samples of toothpaste and toothbrushes. He stated that Colgates expert scientific formulas are among the best in the world, and the company has a strong leadership presence in 200+ countries. He stressed further that Colgate is the fastest-growing brand in the Oral care segment in Nigeria for the year 2024 and recently got certified as the Worlds No. 1 Oral Care Brand.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Professional Relations and BSBF Manager, Colgate Palmolive Tolaram, Ogechukwu Macjohnson, explained that the programme tagged: Bright Smile, Bright Future is targeting one million children across the country this year.

According to her, the programme is catching the children young, teaching them how to take care of their oral health so that it will become a habit as they grow up.

We are carrying out a school oral health program, teaching the children how to care for their teeth properly; we dont want people to lose their teeth anymore.We plan to reach one million children in public and private schools nationwide every year. With time, we will increase the numbers, she added.

Colgate Tolaram LFTZ Enterprise Limited is a long-term strategic joint venture between Colgate-Palmolive Company and Tolaram Group Inc. The Joint Venture is to bring innovative oral care, personal care, and home care products to consumers across Nigeria.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Thursday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP, Muritala Ajaka, and his party in the 11 November Kogi State governorship election challenging the judgement of the states Election Petition Tribunal.

The tribunal had, on 27 May, affirmed the return of Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of the state.

A three-member justices of the appellate court reserved judgment in the appeal to a date they said would be communicated to parties after the adoption of all their briefs filed in the matter.

Earlier in his submission, Kanu Agabi (SAN), while adopting the briefs filed on behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prayed the court to dismiss the appeal filed by Mr Ajaka and his party for lacking in merit.

He said there were inconsistencies in the case of the appellants.

He argued that the Appeal Court had decided that if the grounds of a petition were inconsistent with one another and were not consistent with the reliefs, it should be struck out.

He also argued that the evidence of the petitioners was grossly insufficient, citing a Supreme Court decision.

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The senior lawyer argued that once the evidence called is grossly insufficient, there is no evidence.

He said the petitioners only called 25 witnesses out of the scores listed.

He further argued that out of the 25 witnesses called by the petitioners, there was no single polling unit agent among them.

Mr Agabi also argued that the first prosecution witness (PW-1) did not file any witness deposition beforehand as required by law and cannot give evidence in an election petition.

In his submission on Mr Ododos behalf, Joseph Daudu (SAN) said no evidence of the PW1 was admitted as evidence by the court on the ground that he failed to front-load his witness statement beforehand.

Mr Daudu said the tribunal was proper to have expunged the evidence of PW1, having declared it inadmissible and added that the appellants failed to prove the allegation of overvoting in their petition.

He also urged the tribunal to dismiss the allegations of forgery against his client, saying it bordered on pre-election matters, which the apex court had decided in Mr Gbagis case against INEC.

Mr Daudu, who said they failed to prove the allegation of over-voting, also argued that Section 137 of the Electoral Act cited by the petitioners on allegations of over-voting did not apply in the instant petition.

He urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the judgement of the tribunal, which upheld the election of Mr Ododo.

Corroborating Mr Daudus argument, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who appeared for the APC, prayed to the Appeal Court to dismiss the petition for being incompetent.

Mr Ajaka and his party hinged on 31 grounds, insisted that they had won the election and should have been declared the rightful winner.

While adopting the processes filed on behalf of his client, Pius Akubo (SAN) urged the court to set aside the judgement of the tribunal and declare Mr Ajaka as the governor of the state.

According to Mr Akubo, the tribunals judgement, which affirmed Mr Ododos election, was a serious miscarriage of justice.

It would be recalled that the tribunal, on May 27, affirmed the victory of Governor Ododo in the poll.

The three-member panel of justices, headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, held that the petition was bereft of substance and accordingly dismissed it.

The tribunal held that the SDP and Mr Ajaka failed to prove the allegations of over-voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 in the petition.

The panel, in a unanimous decision, held that all the witness evidence filed before it was incompetent and full of inconsistencies.

It also agreed with the respondents submissions that the allegations of forgery raised in the petition were a pre-election matter, which ought to have been raised 14 days after the documents were submitted to INEC.

In the Kogi 2023 election, Mr Ododo of the APC was declared the winner by INEC, beating Mr Ajaka of the SDP and the other candidates by a wide margin. (NAN)

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The Federal High Court in Kano has ordered two judges to quit the judicial commissions set up by Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, to probe his predecessor, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Mr Yusuf appointed Farouk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf in April to the Judicial Commission of Inquiry he set up to investigate allegations of misappropriation of public properties, political violence and missing persons under former Governor Ganduje.

The commissions scope of investigation covers 2015 to 2023, the period when Mr Ganduje served two consecutive terms as governor.

But Justice Simon Amobeda said the judges cannot take a fresh oath to perform an executive role while still being judicial officers.

Mr Amobeda gave the order while delivering judgement on Thursday in a case filed by Mr Ganduje asking the court to stop the probe of his administration.

He ordered the judges to vacate their seats on the commissions within 48 hours, failing which he ordered the National Judicial Council (1st Defendant) to stop paying their remuneration, allowances and benefits as judicial officers from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

He said the judges cannot perform executive functions assigned to them by the governor of Kano State in courtrooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

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Mr Amobeda noted that the governor set up commissions to investigate Mr Ganduje without appealing a judgement delivered by Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court declaring that Mr Ganduje can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).

He said the governors action amounts to abuse of office and undermines the sanctity of the judiciary.

He said the Governor of Kano State has no power to appoint the judges to administer another oath of office on them to serve in commissions of inquiry constituted by the governor.

Mr Amobeda said such appointments should have been made to commissioners of Kano State Government in order to exercise executive powers assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State.

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Some members of the House of Representatives have said the judgement of the Court of Appeal on the political crisis in Rivers State has not changed the situation in the state.

The lawmakers, who are allies of Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, said this at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja while reacting to the judgement.

Led by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), they said the 25 members of the Assembly, loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike, remained sacked because the Court of Appeal only ruled on the jurisdiction of the Rivers State High Court to hear the case and not the main substance of the matter.

Mr Ugochinyere, who was flanked by three other lawmakers, said the judgement did not void the sack of the 25 lawmakers.

Background

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, in a judgement on Thursday, nullified the expulsion of a former speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and 24 other lawmakers from the assembly.

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, in May, barred the lawmakers from parading themselves as members of the state legislature after they defected from the PDP to the APC.

The appeal court held that Section 272(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended gives the Federal High Court powers to determine whether the seat of a House of Assembly member has become vacant.

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It also held that the Federal High Court has the exclusive jurisdiction to determine the vacancy of a House of Assembly seat.

Lawmakers removal stands

In his interpretation of the verdict, Mr Ugochinyere said the Court of Appeal did not rule on the legality of the decamping and the main substance of the matter.

He stated that the court did not decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant.

The Court of Appeal ruling today shouldnt be misconstrued in any way. The pro-Wike sacked Rivers lawmakers seats remain vacant as the Appeal Court didnt decide on the validity of their illegal decampment nor the declaration of their seats vacant. The Appeal Court focused on declaring that the Federal High Court is the only court with the jurisdiction to decide on the legality or illegality of decampment, thereby ruling against Rivers High Court proceedings.

So the actions of the House, formerly led by Martin Amaewhule, in declaring the seats vacant, have not been declared null and void by any court. Oko Jumbo remains the speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The legal fireworks continue, as the declaration of the vacant seats is still valid and the subject of pending litigation, he said.

Mr Ugochinyere said President Bola Tinubu must call some of his appointees to order so as not to give the impression of a federal might.

He urged the people of Rivers State to be vigilant and resist any attempt by politicians to take advantage of the court judgement.

In his remarks, Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) said the entire state cannot be subjected to the wish of Mr Wike.

He stated that most of the current political operators did not experience the days of the military.

Some of these actors never experienced what Nigerians had to go through to ensure that democracy is entrenched. No amount of honour you can grant the likes of MKO Abiola than to stand and defend democracy in Nigeria, Mr Abiante said.

He added that the position of the law on defection is very clear.

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Many people were feared trapped when a two-storey building collapsed on Thursday in Amawbia, Awka South, Anambra State, Nigerias south-east.

This is happening less than a month after a five-storey building collapsed in Onitsha, Onitsha North Local Government Area of the state, in mid-June.

How the latest collapse happened

In the latest incident, residents told PREMIUM TIMES that the two-storey building, which was under construction, collapsed at about noon on Thursday.

A witness, Pat Okoye, said the building, located inside Eke Amawbia Market, collapsed while some shop owners were still doing their business.

The building had been giving signals but everyone ignored it. Now, see what it has resulted to.

Many traders are trapped there as I speak to you, Mr Okoye said as of 3 p.m.

Some residents believe that the building began to cave in because of the use of substandard materials.

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A video clip circulating on social media showed some residents digging out the rubbles to rescue the trapped victims.

Both police operatives and emergency management agency officials were also seen at the scene of the incident.

Police speak

The police in Anambra State have confirmed the development.

In a statement on Thursday, the police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police operatives were drafted to the scene of the incident.

Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said the operatives were drafted to the area after a distress call was received at about 12:40 p.m. on Thursday.

The police operatives have rescued two victims and taken them to the hospital for medical care, he said.

The spokesperson said the states Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Itam, and the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, led the operatives to the area for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

He said the area had been cordoned off while rescue operations were still ongoing.

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A Catholic priest in Nsukka Diocese, Enugu State, Paul Obayi, who threatened to quit the church over alleged oppression, has backtracked.

Mr Obayi, popularly known as Father Okunerere, is the spiritual director of Okunerere Adoration Ministry in Nsukka.

Threat to quit church

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the priest, on 8 October 2023, threatened to quit the church over alleged oppression by the Bishop of the diocese, Godfrey Onah.

Mr Obayi, an associate professor, accused the bishop and church authorities of repeatedly oppressing him in the diocese, alongside some fellow Catholic priests.

The cleric claimed the bishop denied him ownership of many properties which he personally acquired for his ministry.

His outburst and allegations against the bishop and the church authorities caused intense debate in the diocese and beyond.

Enugu, a predominantly Christian state, has a high Catholic population.

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Another revelation

Speaking in a video clip uploaded on his ministrys official Facebook page on Thursday, Mr Obayi said that he and Mr Onah have now reconciled.

The war is all over. And whatever it is  the misunderstanding or whatsoever  is (now) a bygone issue, Mr Obayi said.

The cleric expressed gratitude to those who interceded during his quarrel with the bishop.

I wish to as well announce to all persons that the case is all over and we have reconciled, he stated, adding that he ate together with the bishop to strengthen their ties.

The Catholic priest hinted that the reconciliation occurred during the last Easter celebration on 31 March.

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Two men have been remanded for allegedly stealing a tricycle in Enugu State.

The defendants, Friday Ogbu, 31 and Sunday Onovo, 34, were earlier arrested by police operatives in the state over the alleged crime.

The police spokesperson in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the defendants allegedly stole the tricycle on the night of 22 June from where it was parked in the Achara Layout Area of the state.

He said the tricycle was later recovered from the defendants before they were arrested by the operatives serving at the Police Area Command, Enugu State.

The police spokesperson did not mention when the defendants were arrested.

He said the police operatives subsequently traced the owner of the tricycle and handed it over to him.

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Arraignment

Mr Ndukwe said after arrest, the suspects were consequently arraigned at the Enugu South Magistrate Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The police spokesperson said the court remanded the suspects at the State Correctional Custodial Centre.

The statement did not indicate when the suspects were arraigned and when the court hearing was held.

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No state government would be able to pay the new minimum wage without a concurrent increment in its allocation, Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has said.

He highlighted that state governors, under the aegis of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), were not against the approval of a living wage for Nigerian workers.

Mr Oyebanji made the submission while speaking at the 7th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.

He said that whatever is going to be approved as the new minimum wage must reflect fiscal federalism, ability and capacity to pay.

That is the conversation we are having  that, look, we want to give you a living wage, but we must look at what comes to the states and whatever is in the best interest of the states and the workers, we will do, he said.

According to him, what the NGF is clamouring for is fiscal federalism that would culminate in the ability and capability of individual states to pay.

He added that since no state in the federation wants to engage in retrenchment of their workforce, it is incumbent on individual states to determine what they could afford that would not end up in the eventual downsizing of the workforce.

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The NGF is not against the living wage, no governor is against the minimum wage, but what we are saying is that it must reflect fiscal federalism, ability and capacity to pay.

No governor wants to retrench. But if there is a minimum wage today without a concurrent increment in what we are earning, no state can pay.

The governor used the opportunity to call on workers in Ekiti State to embrace agriculture, adding that his administration had cleared over 2,000 hectares of land to be allocated free of charge to interested Ekiti residents.

My appeal to civil servants is that those who would like to be part of our Agriculture Revolution should form themselves into cooperative societies and approach the Ministry of Agriculture for support.

It may be difficult to support individually but when you form yourselves into cooperatives, many opportunities are available now. We are clearing land free of charge; we are giving inputs and we are going to buy from you. As I speak today, we have cleared more than 2,000 hectares across Ekiti State.

Mr Oyebanji described civil servants as a critical part of the administration of the state, who represent the propelling force of the states machinery, as well as a key factor in its power structure.

He reiterated the pivotal role civil servants play in the growth and development of the state, especially in the realisation of the six pillars of his administration.

Also, he added that whatever compliments the administration had received today as a result of its various achievements in office, can only be directly attributed to the efficiency and effectiveness of the workers.

I have come here today to associate and rejoice with you as major stakeholders in our body polity. More importantly, I am also here to learn from you and to share your experience. As you know, the civil service is a reservoir of talents where you can find all professionals of different callings and experiences.

A conference like this does not benefit the senior civil servants alone, it is an avenue for all of us to learn from one another, cross-fertilise ideas, and share experiences. I am, therefore, not just here as a special guest of honour. I am here as a student of public administration, Mr Oyebanji said.

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2024 Global Energy Prize winners were announced on July 3. The winners were Zi-Qiang Zhu, Head of the Electrical Machines and Drives Research Group at the University of Sheffield (UK); Hector D. Abruna, Emile Chamot Professor of Chemistry at Cornell University (USA); and Minggao Ouyang, Professor at the Tsinghua University (China).

Zi-Qiang Zhu became a laureate in the Traditional Energy category for outstanding contribution to electrified transportation, improving energy efficiency of domestic appliances, reducing emissions for generation and utilisation of electric power.

Hector D. Abruna was selected in the Non-Traditional Energy category for the foundational contributions spanning electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells and molecular electronics.

Minggao Ouyang became the winner in the New Ways of Energy Application category for technical leadership in strategic planning, research, demonstration and commercialisation of new energy vehicles, especially for solving technical challenges of hydrogen fuel cell durability, lithium-ion battery safety and vehicle-to-grid interaction.

The ceremony to announce the laureates was attended by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, as well as members of the International Award Committee of the Global Energy Prize William Byun, Liye Xiao and Dmitri Bessarabov.

The laureates were selected by an international award committee consisting of scientists from 13 countries: Bolivia, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Hungary, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, UAE, USA.

"The growing share of electricity in primary energy consumption is one of the key trends in global energy in recent years. In this regard, the research of the laureates is more than relevant today. This once again proves how thin the border between fundamental and applied science is," said Rae Kwon Chung, Nobel laureate, Chairman of the Global Energy Prize International Award Committee.

The award ceremony will be held in September 2024.
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The agriculture market size in Israel is estimated to grow by USD 2.76 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Growth of organized retail sector is driving market growth, with a trend towards agriculture revolutionized by artificial intelligence and robotics. However, reducing arable land in Israel poses a challenge. Key market players include Afimilk Ltd., Agro Shelef Ltd, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd., BASF SE, Bayer AG, Bogar Bio Bee Stores Pvt. Ltd., CropLife International AISBL, Ginegar Plastic Products Ltd., Groupe Limagrain, Hishtil, Kaiima Ltd., miRobot, Orbia Advance Corp. S.A.B. De C.V., Palram Industries Ltd, Rivulis Irrigation Ltd., SOCIETE SAS, Strauss Group Ltd., Syngenta Crop Protection AG, and The Israeli Research and Development Co. Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Agriculture market in israel 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Agriculture Market In Israel Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.6% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 2764 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.18 Regional analysis Israel Performing market contribution Middle East and Africa at 100% Key countries Israel Key companies profiled Afimilk Ltd., Agro Shelef Ltd, AquaMaof Aquaculture Technologies Ltd., BASF SE, Bayer AG, Bogar Bio Bee Stores Pvt. Ltd., CropLife International AISBL, Ginegar Plastic Products Ltd., Groupe Limagrain, Hishtil, Kaiima Ltd., miRobot, Orbia Advance Corp. S.A.B. De C.V., Palram Industries Ltd, Rivulis Irrigation Ltd., SOCIETE SAS, Strauss Group Ltd., Syngenta Crop Protection AG, and The Israeli Research and Development Co. Ltd.

Market Driver

The agricultural sector in Israel has experienced significant advancements over the last century, with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, and IoT being a recent game-changer. Israel is home to 39 agriculture startups utilizing AI for agriculture operations management. Additionally, AI-powered autonomous drones are revolutionizing harvesting with mechanical claws for fruit collection and tree pruning. Israel's leadership in agricultural technology, particularly in dry environments, is due to its progressive water pricing policy and technological innovation. The OECD acknowledges this, predicting high growth for Israel's agriculture market due to technological advancements.

Israel's agriculture market is thriving, with key farm products including bananas, dates, avocados, olive oil, pomegranates, almonds, and various citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines. Agricultural technologies are a major trend, addressing consumer needs in arid conditions through precision agriculture, leak prevention technologies, and drip irrigation. Fresh produce, such as apples, cherries, plums, nectarines, grapes, strawberries, persimmon, and vegetables, contribute significantly to the country's agricultural output. Additionally, food crops like grains, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, and commercial crops like turf and ornamentals, fishery consumables, meat, and domestic production are essential components. Israel's natural resources, particularly water, play a crucial role in the sector's success. Overall, the market is diverse and innovative, focusing on meeting consumer demands while maximizing efficiency and productivity.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

The arable land available for crop cultivation in Israel has been diminishing due to urbanization, industrialization, and increasing energy demands. This trend has led to a decrease in the quantity of agricultural land, as well as a decline in its quality due to soil erosion and pollution. Consequently, crop output has been adversely affected, potentially hindering the growth of the agriculture market in Israel during the forecast period. Urbanization and industrialization have resulted in the conversion of agricultural land for other uses, such as construction. Additionally, the degradation of soil and pollution have further reduced the amount of productive land. This situation may negatively impact agricultural activities and the overall agriculture market in Israel .

has been diminishing due to urbanization, industrialization, and increasing energy demands. This trend has led to a decrease in the quantity of agricultural land, as well as a decline in its quality due to soil erosion and pollution. Consequently, crop output has been adversely affected, potentially hindering the growth of the agriculture market in during the forecast period. Urbanization and industrialization have resulted in the conversion of agricultural land for other uses, such as construction. Additionally, the degradation of soil and pollution have further reduced the amount of productive land. This situation may negatively impact agricultural activities and the overall agriculture market in . Israel's agriculture market faces unique challenges in producing a diverse range of farm products under arid conditions. Bananas, dates, avocados, olive oil, pomegranates, almonds, and other crops require innovative agricultural technologies to thrive. Consumer needs for fresh citrus fruits, such as oranges and tangerines, demand advanced leak prevention technologies and precision agriculture techniques like drip irrigation. Agricultural output includes food crops like apples, cherries, plums, nectarines, grapes, strawberries, persimmon, and turf and ornamentals. Grains, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, vegetables, fruits, commercial crops, fishery consumables, meat, and domestic production all rely on Israel's natural resources. Water resources are crucial for agricultural success, especially in growing tomatoes, carrots, turnips, and grapefruit. Adapting to these challenges through technological advancements is essential for Israel's agricultural industry.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This agriculture market in Israel report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Oilseeds and pulses

1.2 Cereals and grains

1.3 Commercial crops

1.4 Fruits and vegetables

1.5 Fishery consumables and meat

Distribution Channel

2.1 Supermarket

2.2 Convenience stores

2.3 E-commerce

Geography

3.1 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Oilseeds and pulses- The agriculture market in Israel is thriving, with an emphasis on innovation and technology. Farmers utilize drip irrigation systems and greenhouse production to optimize crop yields in arid conditions. Exports of agricultural products, such as citrus fruits and vegetables, contribute significantly to Israel's economy. Collaborative research between universities and businesses drives advancements in sustainable farming practices. The market remains competitive, with a focus on efficiency, quality, and meeting international standards.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The agriculture market in Israel is known for its diverse production of grains, cereals, oilseeds, pulses, commercial crops, and various fruits and vegetables. The arid conditions in the region pose unique challenges, making the efficient use of water resources essential. Israel is a leading producer of tomatoes, carrots, turnips, and a range of citrus fruits like grapefruit, bananas, and pomegranates. Additionally, the country is famous for its date palms, avocados, olives, and almonds. Agricultural technologies play a significant role in addressing the challenges of arid farming, with precision agriculture, drip irrigation, and leak prevention technologies being key areas of focus. Consumer needs continue to drive the demand for farm products, with a growing emphasis on sustainability and food safety. Israel's natural resources, including its advanced research and development capabilities, make it a global leader in agricultural innovation.

Market Research Overview

The agriculture market in Israel is diverse, encompassing various sectors such as Grains, Cereals, Oilseeds, pulses, Commercial Crops, and Horticulture. The country's arid conditions pose unique challenges, necessitating advanced Agricultural Technologies like precision agriculture, leak prevention technologies, and drip irrigation. Israel's Domestic Production of farm products includes vegetables like Tomatoes, Carrots, Turnips, and fruits such as Grapefruit, Bananas, Dates, Avocados, Pomegranates, and citrus fruits like Oranges and Tangerines. Other significant agricultural outputs include Olive Oil, Almonds, and various Food Crops. Israel's natural resources, including Water Resources, play a crucial role in agriculture, enabling the production of Metric Tonnes of agricultural output. The market caters to Consumer Needs, offering a wide range of Farm Products, from fresh Citrus Fruits to Apples, Cherries, Plums, Nectarines, Grapes, Strawberries, Persimmon, and more. Additionally, Israel's agriculture sector includes Turf and Ornamentals.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Oilseeds And Pulses



Cereals And Grains



Commercial Crops



Fruits And Vegetables



Fishery Consumables And Meat

Distribution Channel

Supermarket



Convenience Stores



E-commerce

Geography

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
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global automotive service market size is estimated to grow by USD 401.4 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.09% during the forecast period. Increasing vehicle population is driving market growth, with a trend towards increasing vehicle digitization and electrification. However, uncertainty in automotive industry poses a challenge. Key market players include Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd., Asbury Automotive Group Inc., Ashland Automotive Inc., Belron International Ltd., Bridgestone Corp., Carmax Autocare Center, Driven Brands Holdings Inc, EUROPART Group GmbH, Halfords Group Plc, Inter Cars S.A, Jiffy Lube International Inc., LKQ Corp., M and M Automotive, MEKO Auto Components Inc., Mobivia, Monro Inc, Sumitomo Corp., The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., USA Automotive, and Wrench Inc..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global automotive service market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Type (Mechanical services, Exterior and structural services, and Maintenance services), Vehicle Type (Passenger cars, Light commercial vehicles, Two wheelers, and Heavy commercial vehicles), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Arnold Clark Automobiles Ltd., Asbury Automotive Group Inc., Ashland Automotive Inc., Belron International Ltd., Bridgestone Corp., Carmax Autocare Center, Driven Brands Holdings Inc, EUROPART Group GmbH, Halfords Group Plc, Inter Cars S.A, Jiffy Lube International Inc., LKQ Corp., M and M Automotive, MEKO Auto Components Inc., Mobivia, Monro Inc, Sumitomo Corp., The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., USA Automotive, and Wrench Inc.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

The automotive industry is undergoing significant transformation due to the integration of new technologies and the development of advanced vehicles. In recent years, electronic systems have increasingly replaced mechanical components in cars, driven by the demand for enhanced driver information, improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, increased safety, and superior driving experience. OEMs are responding to this trend by introducing innovative features in mid- and low-end vehicles, leading to a substantial increase in the number of sensors per car. The focus on Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as lane assist, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, and electronic stability control is also driving the growth of electronic components in vehicles, necessitating architectural redesigns. The shift towards digitization and electrification is crucial for automotive OEMs to meet evolving consumer needs and remain competitive. Partnerships and collaborations with consumer electronics, energy, and telecommunication companies are becoming increasingly common to leverage their expertise in battery and advanced electronic systems. The pursuit of greater fuel economy through hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles is a key factor in this trend, with lightweight chassis made of aluminum and electrified powertrains reducing carbon emissions. Automotive service providers can capitalize on these developments by offering engineering solutions to optimize OEM and supplier processes and products, contributing to market growth.

The Automotive Service Market is experiencing notable trends in various vehicle components. Batteries, air filters, cabin filters, oil filters, wiper blades, and starter-alternators are in high demand due to increased focus on vehicle maintenance. Collision body repairs continue to grow with the rise in road accidents. Vehicle customization is a significant trend, with consumers seeking chrome accessories, spoilers, LED lights, alloy wheels, and other upgrades. Connected cars and mobility fleet sharing are transforming consumer habits. The market for passenger car registrations remains strong, with steel, iron, aluminum, crude derivatives, nylon, polyester, and rubber being key materials in vehicle production. Sustainability is a priority, with automotive components undergoing innovation for improved efficiency. Aftermarket automotive services, including franchise general repairs and tire stores, are essential for maintaining the longevity of vehicles. Special Utility Vehicles and maintenance services for exterior and structural components are also in demand.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

The automotive industry is currently facing significant challenges due to the global semiconductor chip shortage and the ongoing Russia - Ukraine conflict. The chip shortage has resulted in a production halt for various automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as they lack the necessary chips to build new vehicles. This issue is expected to persist into 2023, negatively impacting the automotive industry and the market in focus. Additionally, the Russia - Ukraine conflict has disrupted supply chains, making it difficult for automotive manufacturers to procure raw materials and components, including semiconductors. The rising costs and unavailability of these essential components have hampered vehicle production. Some major automotive companies, such as Volkswagen, Skoda, and BMW, have temporarily halted operations in Russia due to sanctions. These disruptions in production and global supply chains could worsen existing automotive supply issues, negatively impacting the automotive industry and the market in focus during the forecast period.

- conflict. The chip shortage has resulted in a production halt for various automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), as they lack the necessary chips to build new vehicles. This issue is expected to persist into 2023, negatively impacting the automotive industry and the market in focus. Additionally, the - conflict has disrupted supply chains, making it difficult for automotive manufacturers to procure raw materials and components, including semiconductors. The rising costs and unavailability of these essential components have hampered vehicle production. Some major automotive companies, such as Volkswagen, Skoda, and BMW, have temporarily halted operations in due to sanctions. These disruptions in production and global supply chains could worsen existing automotive supply issues, negatively impacting the automotive industry and the market in focus during the forecast period. The Automotive Service market encompasses aftermarket services for auto sales, passenger cars, light and heavy commercial vehicles, two wheelers, and Special Utility Vehicles. Sustainability is a growing concern, influencing consumer habits towards shared mobility, electric and hybrid vehicles. Franchise general repairs, tire stores, and maintenance services for exterior and structural issues remain in demand. Price sensitivity, repair time, and profitability are key challenges. Internal combustion engines face aging cars requiring replacement parts. Shared vehicles, taxis, and online sales platforms leverage software expertise and connected car technologies. Self-driving capabilities, sensors, and aftermarket solutions cater to price-sensitive customers. The market includes various vehicle types, from passenger cars to commercial vehicles and luxury models. Regular maintenance and repair using gear oil, engine oil, and brake oil are essential for optimal performance. Malfunctioning vehicles require skilled auto repair technicians. Electric and hybrid vehicles bring new opportunities, as do the ongoing advancements in automotive technology.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report

Segment Overview

This automotive service market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 Mechanical services

1.2 Exterior and structural services

1.3 Maintenance services

Vehicle Type

2.1 Passenger cars

2.2 Light commercial vehicles

2.3 Two wheelers

2.4 Heavy commercial vehicles

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 APAC

3.3 Europe

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa

1.1 Mechanical services- The automotive service market encompasses various mechanical offerings for automobiles, including oil filter changes, wiper blade replacement, new tires, and battery replacement. The need for enhanced performance and dependability in contemporary vehicles drives the demand for sophisticated solutions, thereby increasing the requirement for automotive services. The sales of vehicles significantly influence the adoption of automotive services. Economic activities, particularly in emerging nations, have led to a high demand for commercial vehicles, particularly light-duty commercial vehicles like minivans. These vehicles are extensively utilized for business purposes, such as intercity transportation, fueling the expansion of the light-duty commercial vehicles market and subsequently the demand for automotive services. Additionally, the burgeoning demand for passenger cars in countries like India, China, Brazil, and others will further propel the growth of the passenger car segment and the automotive services market as a whole during the forecast period.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Automotive Service market encompasses a wide range of offerings beyond just auto sales, including aftermarket automotive services for vehicle components. Sustainability is increasingly influencing consumer habits, leading to a growing interest in mobility fleet sharing and two-wheeler markets. Lifestyle choices and the aging of cars drive demand for replacement parts and shared vehicles, such as taxis and ride-hailing services. Online sales platforms and software expertise are transforming the industry, enabling more efficient aftermarket solutions. Sensors and connected car technologies are revolutionizing maintenance, offering real-time data for repair time and profitability. The internal combustion engine remains a significant focus, but the shift towards electric and self-driving capabilities is gaining momentum. Price-sensitive customers and the need for quick repair times continue to challenge profitability in the market.

Market Research Overview

The Automotive Service market encompasses a wide range of industries and services related to the maintenance, repair, and enhancement of various types of vehicles. This market includes aftermarket automotive services, vehicle components manufacturing, and maintenance services for passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles, two wheelers, Special Utility Vehicles, and more. Consumer habits and lifestyles continue to evolve, with a growing trend towards sustainability and shared mobility solutions like fleet sharing and taxis. Automotive technology advances, including electric and hybrid vehicles, connected car technologies, and self-driving capabilities, are also driving demand for aftermarket solutions. Price-sensitive customers prioritize repair time and profitability, while repair technicians diagnose and address malfunctioning vehicles using sensors and replacement parts. The market includes a diverse range of materials, from crude derivatives and metals like steel, iron, and aluminum, to synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, and rubber. Vehicle customization trends continue to influence demand for chrome accessories, spoilers, LED lights, alloy wheels, and more.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

Mechanical Services



Exterior And Structural Services



Maintenance Services

Vehicle Type

Passenger Cars



Light Commercial Vehicles



Two Wheelers



Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Geography

North America



APAC



Europe



South America



Middle East And Africa

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global baby car seat market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.14 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.69% during the forecast period. Increase in number of government guidelines and regulations on child safety is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing demand for smart baby car seats. However, stringent regulations associated with manufacturing of baby car seats poses a challenge. Key market players include Artsana Spa, BabyStyle UK Ltd., Boots UK Ltd., BRITAX ROMER Kindersicherheit GmbH, BubbleBum UK Ltd., Diono LLC, Dorel Industries Inc., Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd, Jane Group, Magna International Inc., Monahan Products LLC, Newell Brands Inc., Nuna International BV, Olon SpA, Peg Perego SpA, RECARO Holding GmbH, RENOLUX France INDUSTRY, River Baby, Stokke AS, and ZhenJiang YKO Child Product Co. Ltd..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global baby car seat market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), Product (Infant car seats, Convertible car seats, and Booster car seats), and Geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled Artsana Spa, BabyStyle UK Ltd., Boots UK Ltd., BRITAX ROMER Kindersicherheit GmbH, BubbleBum UK Ltd., Diono LLC, Dorel Industries Inc., Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd, Jane Group, Magna International Inc., Monahan Products LLC, Newell Brands Inc., Nuna International BV, Olon SpA, Peg Perego SpA, RECARO Holding GmbH, RENOLUX France INDUSTRY, River Baby, Stokke AS, and ZhenJiang YKO Child Product Co. Ltd.

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

The global baby car seat market is witnessing significant growth as vendors introduce app-enabled models. Goodbaby International, a key player, offers smart car seats with features like climatized control, power-folding, anti-theft sensors, and smartphone connectivity. Goodbaby's Sirona M models include hot-car alarms and harness unbuckling notifications. Cybex Sirona M and Evenflo, also from Goodbaby, use Bluetooth monitoring and SensorSafe technology for safety alerts. These advanced features attract customers and boost market expansion.

The baby car seat market is experiencing significant growth with various trends shaping the industry. Safety features, such as child restraint systems and side impact protection, are crucial factors driving demand. Comfort is another trend, with seats offering adjustable recline angles and head support. Convertible seats, which can be used for infants and toddlers, are gaining popularity. Forward-facing seats are also in demand, as they provide a better view for older children. Additionally, parents prefer seats with easy installation and convenience features like cup holders and adjustable straps. The market is expected to continue growing, with manufacturers focusing on innovation and safety to meet consumer needs.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

 The baby car seat market in various regions is subject to stringent regulations to ensure product safety. In the US, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) mandates testing, certifications, labeling, and registration for all baby car seats. The CPSC and Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association (JPMA) set safety standards, such as 16 CFR Part 1219 and ASTM regulations. In Europe, the United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) enforces Regulation No. 129 for i-Size regulations and ECE R44/04 approval. The Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) requires product testing, documentation, record keeping, and reporting. These regulations may limit market growth during the forecast period.

 The baby car seat market faces several challenges. Comfort and safety are key concerns for parents. Converting cars into compatible models for child safety seats can be a challenge. Car manufacturers and seat makers collaborate to create convertible car seats that cater to various age groups. However, affordability is a significant issue. Parents seek cost-effective options without compromising safety. Regulations dictate strict safety standards, increasing production costs. Additionally, keeping up with the latest technology and design trends is essential to remain competitive. The market requires innovative solutions to address these challenges and meet the evolving needs of parents.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report

Segment Overview

This baby car seat market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Distribution Channel

1.1 Offline

1.2 Online

Product

2.1 Infant car seats

2.2 Convertible car seats

2.3 Booster car seats

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 North America

3.3 Europe

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa



1.1 Offline- The baby car seat market is thriving, with numerous companies producing high-quality and safe seats for infants. These seats are essential for parents, ensuring their child's protection during travel. The market's growth can be attributed to increasing awareness of road safety and the birth rate. Companies focus on innovation, such as adjustable harnesses and easy installation, to meet consumer demands. The market is competitive, with companies continually improving their offerings to attract customers.

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Research Analysis

The baby car seat market caters to the essential safety and comfort needs of infants and children during automobile journeys. Parents prioritize awareness and adherence to safety standards, ensuring the proper use of vehicle occupant restraints such as seatbelts, toddler seats, convertible seats, booster seats, and combination seats. These seats come equipped with adjustable harnesses, easy installation, and recline positions to ensure a snug and secure fit for small children. Strict rules regarding rear-facing infant seats and forward-facing child seats, as well as backless boosters, ensure optimal protection during collisions and accidents. Portable seats offer added convenience for parents on the go, making the baby car seat market a significant and growing industry.

Market Research Overview

The Baby Car Seat Market encompasses a wide range of products designed to ensure the safety and comfort of infants during travel. These seats are available in various types, including convertible, infant-only, and booster seats. The market is driven by factors such as increasing awareness of child safety, growing disposable income, and technological advancements in car seat design. Comfort features like adjustable headrests, padded seats, and reclining positions are becoming increasingly popular. The market also offers a variety of colors and patterns to cater to parents' preferences. Safety features, such as side impact protection, five-point harness systems, and energy-absorbing materials, are essential in ensuring the safety of infants during travel. The market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to these factors.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Distribution Channel

Offline



Online

Product

Infant Car Seats



Convertible Car Seats



Booster Car Seats

Geography

APAC



North America



Europe



South America



Middle East And Africa



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global breast tissue expander market size is estimated to grow by USD 282.4 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.78% during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of breast cancer is driving market growth, with a trend towards growing awareness programs for breast cancer. However, high costs associated with breast reconstruction surgeries poses a challenge. Key market players include AbbVie Inc., Establishment Labs Holdings Inc., Global Consolidated Aesthetics Ltd., Groupe SEBBIN SAS, Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials Co. Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., PMT Corp., POLYTECH Health and Aesthetics GmbH, Sientra Inc., Silimed Industria de Implantes Ltd., and Specialty Surgical Products Inc..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global breast tissue expander market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Breast Tissue Expander Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.78% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 282.4 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.23 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key countries US, Canada, UK, Germany, and Japan Key companies profiled AbbVie Inc., Establishment Labs Holdings Inc., Global Consolidated Aesthetics Ltd., Groupe SEBBIN SAS, Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials Co. Ltd., Johnson and Johnson Services Inc., PMT Corp., POLYTECH Health and Aesthetics GmbH, Sientra Inc., Silimed Industria de Implantes Ltd., and Specialty Surgical Products Inc.

Market Driver

The global breast tissue expander market is witnessing growth due to the rising incidence of breast cancer and associated risk factors. Notable risk factors include genetic mutations, reproductive history, previous radiation therapy, alcohol consumption, and hormone intake. In response, various organizations are promoting education and awareness programs, as well as offering breast screening facilities for early detection. For instance, the Department of Health in Australia operates the BreastScreen Australia program, which invites women aged between 50 and 74 for free mammograms every two years. The government plans to invest USD64.3 million to extend this program to women aged 70-74. Non-government organizations are also launching podcast series to educate the public about breast cancer. These initiatives aim to reduce breast cancer mortality rates and drive market growth throughout the forecast period.

The Breast Tissue Expander market is witnessing significant growth in the Breast Reconstruction market, driven by the rising number of Breast Cancer diagnoses and increasing awareness. Reimbursements for Breast Reconstruction Treatment are also boosting market expansion. Trends include 3D-printed implants using Resomer bioresorbable polymer, silicone implants, and clinical trials for tissue expanders. Mastectomy patients opt for breast prosthetics as alternatives. Product failures and recalls have affected market players like Allergan, impacting the Breast Implants segment. Regulatory challenges and high costs are key concerns. Aging population and demand for cosmetic procedures in Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Hospitals, and Clinics drive market growth. Product shape insights include rectangular, crescent, and round expanders for various reconstructive surgeries and cosmetic procedures. Patient satisfaction, post-surgery complications, scar management, and surgical oncology are critical factors. Other applications include Forehead Skin Reconstruction, Scalp Reconstruction, Face & Neck Reconstruction. Surgical techniques and patient preferences influence market trends.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

The global breast tissue expander market growth may be hindered by the high cost of breast reconstruction surgeries. In developing countries like South Africa , the cost of surgery, follow-up fees, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, and breast implants add up to an average cost of USD4,500 for a mastectomy and USD3100 - USD10,000 for breast reconstruction. These expenses can limit patient access, particularly in countries where medical aid coverage is limited. In the US, while insurance coverage is more extensive, out-of-pocket costs remain significant, with breast reconstruction surgeries costing an average of USD10,000 - USD30,000 for those uninsured and USD10,000 - USD12,000 for insured individuals. These high costs may deter patients from seeking necessary treatment, ultimately impacting the demand for breast tissue expanders.

, the cost of surgery, follow-up fees, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, and breast implants add up to an average cost of for a mastectomy and - for breast reconstruction. These expenses can limit patient access, particularly in countries where medical aid coverage is limited. In the US, while insurance coverage is more extensive, out-of-pocket costs remain significant, with breast reconstruction surgeries costing an average of - for those uninsured and - for insured individuals. These high costs may deter patients from seeking necessary treatment, ultimately impacting the demand for breast tissue expanders. The Breast Tissue Expander market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for reconstructive and cosmetic surgeries. Allergan dominates the Breast Implants segment, but Tissue Expanders are gaining popularity due to their use in various reconstructive procedures. Acellular Dermal Matrix is a key component in tissue expander surgeries, offering advantages in wound closure and tissue regeneration. Challenges in this market include regulatory hurdles, high costs, and patient preferences for ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals, and clinics. Product shape, such as rectangular, crescent, or round, influences surgeon preference and patient satisfaction. Reconstructive surgeries, including Forehead Skin Reconstruction, Scalp Reconstruction, and Face & Neck Reconstruction, also drive demand. Post-surgery complications, scar management, and patient satisfaction are crucial factors. Surgical oncology, Breast Conserving Surgery, and Reconstruction options further expand the market. Quality of life and patient preferences are key drivers, as an aging population seeks various aesthetic procedures.

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Segment Overview

This breast tissue expander market report extensively covers market segmentation by

End-user

1.1 Hospitals

1.2 Cosmetology clinics

1.3 Cancer institutes

Product

2.1 Saline-filled breast tissue expanders

2.2 Air-filled breast tissue expanders

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 Asia

3.4 Rest of World (ROW)

1.1 Hospitals- The Breast Tissue Expander market is experiencing significant growth due to increasing breast reconstruction surgeries and the rising preference for aesthetic enhancements. These expanders are used to gradually expand the breast tissue prior to breast implant surgery. Major players in this market include Allergan, Sientra, and Mentor. They invest in research and development to innovate and improve their product offerings. The market is expected to continue expanding due to rising consumer awareness and affordability of these procedures.

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Research Analysis

The Breast Tissue Expander market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing awareness and early detection of breast cancer. Reimbursements for breast reconstruction surgeries, including tissue expanders, are driving market expansion. Mastectomy patients often require tissue expanders to prepare the chest wall for breast reconstruction or for those opting for cosmetic procedures. Innovations in medical technology, such as 3D-printed implants and Resomer bioresorbable polymers, are transforming the market. Clinical trials for new tissue expanders and alternatives, like liposuction and acellular dermal matrix, are underway. However, challenges such as capsular contracture, product failures, recalls, and regulatory hurdles pose risks. High costs and the aging population's increasing demand for aesthetic surgeries are other market drivers. Tissue expanders are also used in reconstructive surgeries for forehead skin reconstruction, scalp reconstruction, face & neck reconstruction, and other applications. Ambulatory Surgical Centers, hospitals, and clinics are key distribution channels.

Market Research Overview

The Breast Tissue Expander market is a subsegment of the larger Breast Reconstruction market, which is driven by the increasing incidence of Breast Cancer and growing awareness about early detection and treatment. Reimbursements for breast reconstruction treatments, including tissue expanders, are a significant factor fueling market growth. Mastectomy and breast prosthetics are common breast reconstruction methods, with tissue expanders used to prepare the breast tissue for implant placement. Innovations in medical technology, such as 3D-printed implants and Resomer bioresorbable polymer, are transforming the market. Clinical trials for new products and surgical techniques are ongoing, with liposuction and capsular contracture being areas of focus. Product failures and recalls have posed challenges to market players, with Allergan's breast implant scandal being a notable example. The Breast Implants segment, which includes tissue expanders, accounts for a significant share of the market. Reconstructive surgeries and cosmetic procedures are key application areas, with patient preferences and quality of life being crucial factors. Regulatory challenges and high costs are major market restraints, with ambulatory surgical centers, hospitals, and clinics being the primary end-users. Product shape, including rectangular, crescent, and round, is a significant factor influencing patient satisfaction and post-surgery complications. Other applications of tissue expanders include forehead skin reconstruction, scalp reconstruction, face & neck reconstruction, and breast augmentation. Surgical oncology, breast conserving surgery, and reconstruction options are also areas of interest in the market. Patient satisfaction, scar management, and surgical techniques are critical factors influencing market growth. Overall, the Breast Tissue Expander market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for breast reconstruction treatments, technological innovations, and patient preferences.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

End-user

Hospitals



Cosmetology Clinics



Cancer Institutes

Product

Saline-filled Breast Tissue Expanders



Air-filled Breast Tissue Expanders

Geography

North America



Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
LEAGUE CITY, Texas, July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso, the renowned global retail chain offering a wide range of affordable and unique products, is thrilled to announce the grand opening at Bay Colony Town Center in League City, Texas on July 13th. "We are thrilled to open our store at Bay Colony Town Center," said Jack Williams, Chief Retail Operations Officer for Daiso USA. "This achievement reflects the dedication and support of our customers who have embraced Daiso's unique concept and diverse product range. We are excited to provide an exceptional shopping experience to the vibrant League City community and look forward to serving our customers with the utmost care and dedication."

The new Daiso store at Bay Colony Town Center encompasses 6,187 square feet and promises to be a haven for shoppers seeking quality merchandise at affordable prices. With its extensive range of products spanning various categories, including Japanese inspired home decor, stationery, food, and more, Daiso has become synonymous with accessible and innovative offerings. John Clarke, Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA says, "League City based Daiso customers have shown us through our online business and social media their desire for us to have more stores within the state, influencing our immediate growth strategy in this region. We currently operate 139 units in 7 states with more states opening in 2024".

On both Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th, the first 100 customers to shop at the Bay Colony Town Center location and make a minimum purchase of $30 will receive an exclusive goodie bag. These special offerings are Daiso's way of expressing gratitude to its loyal customers and welcoming new shoppers to the Daiso community.

Daiso invites customers to join in the celebration. The Daiso, at 1804 FM 646 West, Suite M, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 9 p.m and Sunday from 10 a.m to 8 p.m.

About Daiso:

Daiso is a global retail chain founded in Japan, known for its vast array of unique and affordable products across various categories such as household goods, stationery, beauty, and more. Daiso entered the US market in 2005 and continues to expand its global footprint while maintaining its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The Daiso US headquarters is located in Anaheim, CA.

SOURCE Daiso USA
From Mathematical Models to AI-driven Automated Optical Inspection

AMARO, Italy, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Delvitech, a leader in 3D automated optical inspection for assembled printed circuit boards leveraging artificial intelligence, has joined forces with Eurotech, a global innovator in ultra-high-performance Edge AI Computers, to revolutionize quality control technology.

Delvitech Logo

Delvitech's patented integrated optical inspection technology, designed to collect comprehensive data to drive neural networks in optical inspection, gains crucial support from Eurotech's hardware. This collaboration boosts the efficiency of assembling printed circuit boards, greatly increasing assembly machine uptime and significantly reducing waste and rework.

Employing the patented optical head, Delvitech captures detailed images that are processed through its software, adept at detecting assembly and welding errors in the electronics manufacturing process. Eurotech's hardware complements this system by offering the speed and computational accuracy necessary to handle the massive influx of data required for the algorithms to produce desired outcomes.

This integrated 3D solution is highly competitive and flexible, allowing customization to meet specific customer needs. As board electronics become increasingly complex, Delvitech's technology surpasses traditional mathematical models by analyzing a variety of components, such as metal parts, transparent glues, and silicone elements.

Moreover, this collaboration enables Delvitech and Eurotech to offer a solution that not only identifies errors but also drives AI models to detect deviations and trends, proactively preventing future errors and enhancing process quality.

"In an environment where quality control demands are continuously growing, it is crucial to develop optical inspection systems with optimal performance and partner with providers of state-of-the-art solutions. Eurotech offers highly reliable solutions, extensively tested to meet our high-performance requirements," said Roberto Gatti, CEO of Delvitech.

Paul Chawla, CEO of Eurotech, added, "Our collaboration with Delvitech showcases the power of our Edge AI solutions. We empower our partners to deliver efficient, cost-effective, and scalable solutions where accuracy and speed are critical."

Currently focusing on optical control of boards and soon semiconductors, the partnership aspires to expand into other sectors, including medical and food, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity and sustainability.

As Delvitech and Eurotech continue to innovate, they bring unique strengths to the table. Delvitech commits to "less errors, less waste, less CO2, more future," while Eurotech focuses on "more security, more resilience, more efficiency," ensuring effective asset management and rapid scalability. These commitments reflect common shared goals of exceeding market and customer expectations today and in the future.

About Eurotech

Eurotech (ETH.IM) is a multinational company that designs, develops, and supplies Edge Computers and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions - complete with services, software and hardware - to system integrators and enterprises. By adopting Eurotech solutions, customers have access to IoT building blocks and software platforms, to Edge Gateways to enable asset monitoring, and to High Performance Edge Computers (HPEC) created for Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. To offer increasingly comprehensive solutions,

Eurotech has partnered with leading companies in their field of action, with the view of creating "best in class" solutions for the Industrial Internet of Things.

Learn more

Contacts

Corporate Communication

Federica Maion

Tel. +39 0433 485411

[email protected]

About Delvitech

Delvitech is a Swiss based leading provider of AI-based automatic optical inspection (AOI) solutions aimed at revolutionizing the printed circuit board (PCB) assembly and electronics manufacturing landscape. With a focus on innovation and quality, Delvitech is capable of elevating both cost and process efficiencies, ensuring scalability and inspection repeatability on all production lines. It aspires to make the PCB production process swifter, more reliable, and highly scalable by not only detecting errors, but inspecting the whole production process. Delvitech solution is not just about minimizing errors; it is a commitment to reducing waste, cutting down CO2 emissions, and pioneering the path as the first sustainable AOI solution.

Contacts

Marketing Department

Federica Riosa

Tel. +41 916 460 778

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1897403/Eurotech_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2453717/Delvitech_Logo.jpg
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Browse in-depth TOC on "Exhaust System Market"

355 - Tables

66 - Figures

339 - Pages

Exhaust System Market Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 USD 32.9 billion Estimated Value by 2030 USD 40.6 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% Market Size Available for 20192030 Forecast Period 2024-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered OE by after-treatment device, OE by component, OE by vehicle type, aftermarket by after-treatment device, OE by off-highway vehicle, off-highway by after-treatment device, OE by fuel type, By sales channel and By region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World [RoW] Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Increasing use of after-treatment device combination Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for lightweight and efficient exhaust systems to reduce vehicle weight

SCR segment accounted for the largest market share during the forecast period.

The SCR segment is estimated to lead the exhaust system market during the forecast period.

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is a modern emission control technology that decomposes hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides (NOX) into water and nitrogen. This process utilizes costly metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum, which are integrated with ceramic bricks and serve as catalysts. Additionally, the system employs the injection of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), also known as AdBlue, to attain minimal emission levels. The growth of the SCR segment is mainly attributed to the rising stringent emission norms at the global level. This technology significantly reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by nearly 90%, making it a vital component in diesel vehicles worldwide. It is now mandatory to install SCR in vehicles due to its effectiveness. Compared to LNT, SCR efficiently traps NOx, making it the preferred choice for vehicles with larger engine capacities, such as passenger cars and LCVs above 2.0 liters, emitting higher NOx levels. Further, stringent regulations have driven OEMs to adopt more efficient and advanced technologies. There has been a significant increase in R&D activities to meet updated standards like Euro 6, China 6b, or BS-VI Phase 2. Technologies such as SCR and LNT are being combined to meet emission requirements. OEMs are also exploring materials for exhaust systems and testing different catalysts to ensure compliance with regulations. For instance, Kailong High-Technology Co., Ltd. (China) and The CMM Group (US) offer exhaust systems featuring vanadium-based catalysts. These catalysts, containing vanadium, are utilized in vehicle exhaust systems to lower NOx emissions and enhance the environmental performance of cars.

The rising penetration of after-treatment devices, owing to stringent emission norms to reduce NOx and hydrocarbon emissions, is a key factor driving the demand for SCR in all vehicle segments.

Agricultural tractors accounted for the largest and fastest-growing segment in the off-highway exhaust system market during the forecast period.

Agricultural tractors hold the largest market share and are expected to grow at the fastest CAGR in the off-highway exhaust system market during the forecast period. The increase in demand for farm food and government support and subsidies have fueled the demand for agricultural tractors. The rising spending power and favorable loan schemes for purchasing tractors are also expected to drive the market. In Europe and North America, the demand for more than 60 HP tractors is higher compared to Asia Pacific due to the bigger size of land, whereas in Asia Pacific, most of the farmers have mid-sized farms, due to which demand for 31-60 HP tractors is high. With growing sales of agricultural tractors, the global government is also focusing on strengthing the emission regulations related to off-highway vehicles. Currently, Europe has Stage V emission standards for farming tractors. Due to this stage V regulation, all agricultural tractor manufacturers must install DPF and SCR technology to reduce emissions. Manufacturers of agricultural tractors are constantly innovating and looking to go one step further with their technological advancements related to exhaust systems.

According to a white paper published in February 2023 in MDPI (scientific journal), the most widely used after-treatment device in agricultural tractors is the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system. This system, often used in conjunction with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC) and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF), is crucial for reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions to comply with stringent environmental regulations like the European Union's Stage VI standards. These regulations require substantial reductions in emissions, making SCR systems essential for meeting the necessary NOx limits in agricultural equipment.

Asia Pacific is estimated to be the dominant regional market.

Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the global exhaust market during the forecast period. The market dominance of Asia Pacific can be attributed to the growing production of vehicles. The increasing production volume of automobiles in recent years, combined with current emission regulations in countries like China (China VI) and India (BS-VI) and upcoming regulations like China VII and BS VII, is expected to fuel the growth of the exhaust system market in the Asia Pacific during the forecast period.

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Exhaust System Market Dynamics:

Drivers:

Increasing use of after-treatment device combination

Restraints:

Increasing Sales of Cleaner Vehicles

Opportunities:

Increasing demand for lightweight and efficient exhaust systems to reduce vehicle weight

Challenge:

Lack of uniformity in emission regulations across different regions

Key Market Players Exhaust System Industry:

Prominent players in the Exhaust System Market include Futaba Industrial Co., Ltd. (Japan), Sango Co. Ltd. (Japan), Yutaka Giken Company Limited (Japan), Sejong Industrial Co., Ltd. (South Korea), Hirotec Corporation (Japan), Sharada Motor Industries Limited (India), and Marelli Holdings Co. Ltd. (Japan).

The break-down of primary participants is as mentioned below:

By Company Type: Tier1  50%, Tier230%, and OEMs  20%

Tier1  50%, Tier230%, and OEMs  20% By Designation: C-Level Executives - 30%, Director Level- 40%, and Others  30%

C-Level Executives - 30%, Director Level- 40%, and Others  30% By Region: North America 30%, Europe - 25%, Asia Pacific - 45%

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Exhaust System Industry Recent Developments:

In January 2024 , Continental AG revealed plans for a new hydraulic hose production plant in Mexico . The proposed investment is approximately USD 90 million , marking one of the company's significant investments in 2024. This upcoming facility will serve industrial purposes and is poised to enhance Continental's regional manufacturing capabilities. The plant is expected to create over 200 employment opportunities in its initial phase.

, Continental AG revealed plans for a new hydraulic hose production plant in . The proposed investment is approximately , marking one of the company's significant investments in 2024. This upcoming facility will serve industrial purposes and is poised to enhance Continental's regional manufacturing capabilities. The plant is expected to create over 200 employment opportunities in its initial phase. In November 2023 , Eberspacher's facility, spanning over 7,000 square meters, will manufacture exhaust gas after-treatment systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles intended for Chinese automotive brands. This encompasses hot-end systems comprising catalytic converters, particulate filters, and cold-end components such as mufflers and pipes.

, Eberspacher's facility, spanning over 7,000 square meters, will manufacture exhaust gas after-treatment systems for passenger cars and commercial vehicles intended for Chinese automotive brands. This encompasses hot-end systems comprising catalytic converters, particulate filters, and cold-end components such as mufflers and pipes. In October 2023 , Purem AAPICO, a joint venture between Eberspaecher and AAPICO Hitech, inaugurated its new facility in Rayong, Thailand . Situated 100 km southeast of Bangkok , the production site will manufacture exhaust systems for a pickup truck model of a prominent US automotive company.

Exhaust System Market Size - Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

This report offers comprehensive analyses of market share and supply chains and detailed information on component manufacturers. It is designed to aid market leaders and new entrants by providing precise revenue estimates for the overall automotive exhaust systems market. Additionally, the report helps stakeholders understand the market dynamics, highlighting key drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities.

This report provides insights on:

Analysis of key drivers (Vehicle pollution leading to stringent emission and fuel economy rules and regulations, growing penetration of after-treatment devices in combination), restraints (Increasing sales of clean vehicles), opportunities (Lightweight and efficient emission system supplementing the vehicle weight reduction, Growing demand for gasoline particulate filter in GDI engine), and challenges (Different emission regulations in different regulations) are fueling the demand of the exhaust systems.

(Vehicle pollution leading to stringent emission and fuel economy rules and regulations, growing penetration of after-treatment devices in combination), restraints (Increasing sales of clean vehicles), opportunities (Lightweight and efficient emission system supplementing the vehicle weight reduction, Growing demand for gasoline particulate filter in GDI engine), and challenges (Different emission regulations in different regulations) are fueling the demand of the exhaust systems. Product Development/Innovation: Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the automotive exhaust systems market, such as the use of various kinds of metals in exhaust systems such as Titanium, stainless steel, etc.

Detailed insights on upcoming technologies, research & development activities, and new product & service launches in the automotive exhaust systems market, such as the use of various kinds of metals in exhaust systems such as Titanium, stainless steel, etc. Market Development: Comprehensive information about lucrative markets  the report analyses the automotive exhaust systems market across varied regions.

Comprehensive information about lucrative markets  the report analyses the automotive exhaust systems market across varied regions. Market Diversification: Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the automotive exhaust systems market

Exhaustive information about new products & services, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the automotive exhaust systems market Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of market shares, growth strategies, and service offerings of leading players in the automotive exhaust systems market, such as Tenneco Inc.(US), Faurecia ( France ), Eberspacher ( Germany ), Continental AG ( Germany ), and Futaba Industrial Co.Ltd. ( Japan ).

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Get access to the latest updates on Exhaust System Companies and Exhaust System Industry Growth

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HAIKOU, China, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from Hainan International Media Center (HIMC):

From July 1-3, a delegation from Hainan Province, China, held Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) promotion and exchange activities in Germany, promoting exchange and cooperation between Hainan and Germany in the fields of energy conservation & carbon reduction, medicine & wellness, and advanced manufacturing.

On the afternoon of July 3, the Invest in China Hainan Free Trade Port Europe Conference was held in Frankfurt, Germany.

During their time in Germany, the Hainan delegation held discussions and research meetings with ZEISS Medical Technology, Siemens Energy, the German Energy Agency, EUREF-Campus Dusseldorf, the Volkswagen Group, Italy's Zambon Group, and Germany's Hansler Medical Group, as well as other groups in order to promote cooperation in related fields.

According to the strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding signed by Hainan's provincial government and Siemens Energy, the two parties plan to cooperate in R&D, manufacturing, and applications in the field of hydrogen energy.

On July 3, Hainan Province and the Bank of China jointly held the 'Invest in China' Hainan Free Trade Port Europe Conference in Frankfurt, Germany. At the event, the Hainan delegation gave an introduction to the province's free trade port policies as well as development and investment opportunities in high-tech industries available to all, welcoming European companies to invest, start businesses, and vacation in Hainan.

During the signing ceremony, a number of Hainan companies signed cooperation agreements or letters of intent with German counterparts, and the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany.

Attracting more than 500 people from all walks of life, the event was well received, with representatives from companies, business associations, and government departments located across 12 European countries in attendance. Companies in many key areas including high-tech manufacturing, software engineering, finance, vehicle engineering, bio-medicine, corporate consulting, international logistics, and international trade also took part.

As a new frontier of China's reform and opening up, the Hainan FTP will continue to explore further cooperation with European partners and promote deeper and broader ties with the continent.

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PERTH, Australia, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - The Directors of Hot Chili Limited (ASX: HCH) (TSXV: HCH) (OTCQX: HHLKF) (Hot Chili or the Company) advise that at the General Meeting of shareholders held today, all resolutions were passed on a poll.

In accordance with Listing Rule 3.13.2 and section 251AA of the Corporations Act, details of both the poll and valid proxy votes received, are shown on the following page.

By order of the board

Hot Chili Limited

Carol Marinkovich

Company Secretary

Enc

Contact:

Mr Christian Easterday

Managing Director

E: [email protected]

Hot Chili Limited

General Meeting

Thursday, 4 July 2024

Results of Meeting

(lomputershare

The following information is provided in accordance with section 251AA(2) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and ASX Listing Rule 3.13.2.

Resolution details Instructions given to validly appointed proxies

(as at proxy close) Number of votes cast on the poll

(where applicable) Resolution

Result Resolution Resolution

Type For Against Proxy's Discretion Abstain For Against Abstain* Carried/

Not Carried 1 Ratification of issue of

Placement Shares to Placement

Participants under Listing Rule 7.1 Ordinary 16,668,778 65.32% 1,933,146 7.57% 6,919,760 27.11% 1,303,185 24,351,433 92.65% 1,933,146 7.35% 1,303,185 Carried 2 Ratification of issue of

Placement Shares to Placement

Participants under Listing Rule 7.lA Ordinary 16,698,037 65.43% 1,933,146 7.57% 6,890,501 27.00% 1,303,185 24,351,433 92.65% 1,933,146 7.35% 1,303,185 Carried 3 Approval for issue of Broker

Options to Agents Ordinary 40,271,413 93.91% 2,542,558 5.93% 68,544 0.16% 72,119 41,102,852 94.17% 2,542,558 5.83% 72,119 Carried 4 Approval for issue of Underwriter

Options to Veritas Ordinary 40,240,392 93.86% 2,538,219 5.92% 96,294 0.22% 79,729 41,099,581 94.18% 2,538,219 5.82% 79,729 Carried 5 Re-approval of Employee

Incentive Plan and issue of Equity

Securities under Employee Incentive Plan Ordinary 38,294,032 89.25% 4,543,715 10.59% 68,544 0.16% 48,343 38,480,234 89.44% 4,543,715 10.56% 48,343 Carried

* Votes cast by a person who abstains on an item are not counted in calculating the required majority on a poll.

SOURCE Hot Chili Limited
JOHANNESBURG, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Huawei held its Global Optical Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. Run under the theme, "F5G-A, the Foundation for Industrial Intelligence", the summit attracted more than 300 industry customers and partners from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and other countries. The summit, also saw Huawei release a series F5G-A (F5G Advanced) products and solutions for sub-Saharan Africa and launch the OptiX Club member recruitment event in the region to drive local industrial intelligence.

Li Chen, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Africa Region, Huawei Gavin Gu, President of Huawei's Enterprise Optical Business Domain Huawei launches F5G-A products and solutions

As optical technologies evolve, their contribution to intelligent transformation in various fields only becomes more important. "As a leader in the optical industry, Huawei is committed to working with partners and customers to promote enterprises' digital and intelligent transformation to every corner in Sub-Saharan Africa." said Li Chen, Vice President of Sub-Saharan Region of Huawei, noted in his opening speech.

In a keynote speech titled "F5G-A, the Foundation for Industrial Intelligence", Gavin Gu, President of Huawei's Enterprise Optical Business Domain, pointed out that, "Industrial intelligence brings three new trends to the optical industry. F5G-A shows us a clear technology evolution roadmap for these trends. I believe that with the joint efforts of customers, partners, and Huawei, we will achieve win-win cooperation in industrial intelligence."

For medium- and large-sized campuses in education, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing industries, Huawei launched the next-generation FTTO 2.0 Solution, in which Huawei uses XGS-PON Pro and Wi-Fi 7 technologies to upgrade bandwidth, networking, experience, and O&M, achieving 12.5/25G to rooms and 2.5/10G to APs and desks to build a green 10 Gbps all-optical campus.

For energy and transportation production networks, Huawei launched Huawei OptiXtrans E6600, the industry's first optical transmission product that supports the fine grain OTN (fgOTN) standard, to help customers build highly reliable communication networks in the intelligent era. At the summit, Huawei also released fgOTN Technical White Paper that provides a detailed description on the fgOTN standard series, key technologies, and application scenarios, proposes the industry target network architecture based on the fgOTN standards, and describes the prospect of future optical communication applications in a range of industries.

In addition, for data center interconnect (DCI) scenarios in the intelligent era, Huawei launched next-generation DCI platform Huawei OptiXtrans DC908 Pro that supports Tbps per wavelength to ensure efficient, highly secure, and highly reliable transmission of services between data centers.

At the summit, multiple customer representatives from Sub-Saharan Africa delivered speeches and shared their stories about their cooperation with Huawei in all-optical network construction in the region.

Finally, Gavin Chen, Vice President of Enterprise Network Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, Optical Domain, Huawei, announced the initiation of the OptiX Club member recruitment event. By building optical industry technical communities, Huawei aims to promote regional industrial intelligence.

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Fourth of July is a special time to celebrate living in the greatest country in the world. In the spirit of celebration and gratitude, the brand is marking the long holiday weekend with an exclusive sale to thank their loyal customers. This limited-time offer is a perfect opportunity to experience the exceptional quality of It's a 10 Haircare, Be A 10 Cosmetics, and Ex10sions products at an exclusive discounted price.

Carolyn Aronson, Founder & CEO said of the sale, "We're excited to celebrate the 4th of July with our customers by offering a special sale. It's a time to come together, enjoy the festivities, and take advantage of great deals on our products. We want to give back to our community and help everyone make the most of this holiday weekend."

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MEDIA CONTACT:

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SOURCE It's A 10 Haircare
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global lithium-sulfur battery market size is estimated to grow by USD 3.92 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 44.97% during the forecast period. Harmful usage of lead batteries leads to higher adoption of li-s batteries is driving market growth, with a trend towards use of nanotechnology in batteries. However, increasing competition from fuel cell solutions poses a challenge. Key market players include Bettergy Corp., CIC energiGUNE, Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd., Giner Inc., Guang Dong Fullriver Industry Co. Ltd., Ilika, Iolitec Ionic Liquids Technologies GmbH, LG Chem Ltd., Li-S Energy Ltd., Lyten Inc., Merck KGaA, NexTech Batteries, Poly Plus Battery Co., Rechargion Energy Pvt. Ltd., Shenzhen Uscender Industrial Co. Ltd., Sion Power Corp., Solid State PLC, TRU Group Inc., VTC Power Co. Ltd., and Zeta Energy LLC.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global lithium-sulfur battery market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Lithium-Sulfur Battery Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 44.97% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 3921.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 34.37 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 50% Key countries US, Germany, Canada, China, and India Key companies profiled Bettergy Corp., CIC energiGUNE, Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd., Giner Inc., Guang Dong Fullriver Industry Co. Ltd., Ilika, Iolitec Ionic Liquids Technologies GmbH, LG Chem Ltd., Li-S Energy Ltd., Lyten Inc., Merck KGaA, NexTech Batteries, Poly Plus Battery Co., Rechargion Energy Pvt. Ltd., Shenzhen Uscender Industrial Co. Ltd., Sion Power Corp., Solid State PLC, TRU Group Inc., VTC Power Co. Ltd., and Zeta Energy LLC

Market Driver

The global nanotechnology-enabled Lithium-Sulfur battery market is poised for growth due to the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid EVs, and hybrid EVs, as well as the focus on renewable energy sources. Since 2015, vendors have been developing nanostructured electrodes and electrolytes in Li-S batteries to enhance energy efficiency. These nanotechnology-enabled batteries are expected to offer energy densities three times higher than traditional Lithium-ion batteries. Notable innovations include the use of a silicon-carbon composite anode and a nanostructured lithium sulfide-carbon composite cathode. Ongoing projects, such as the Lithium-Sulfur Super battery Exploiting Nanotechnology (LISSEN) study, are further driving market growth during the forecast period.

Lithium-sulfur batteries are gaining attention as the next big thing in clean energy solutions due to their energy-dense characteristics. This battery technology uses elemental sulfur as the cathode and lithium as the anode. However, challenges such as electrolyte stability, electrode architecture, and the polysulfide shuttle effect need to be addressed. Fossil fuels may soon face competition from these lightweight cells, which can power electric vehicles and portable electronics. Manufacturing challenges include lithium dendrite formation, material interactions, and production techniques. Lithium-ion manufacturing facilities are exploring solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries with solid electrolyte systems to overcome these issues. The power sector and large-scale energy storage are also potential markets for this technology due to its low-cost characteristics. Safety measures are crucial to ensure the safe production and use of these batteries. The EV market and EV technology stand to benefit significantly from this advancement. Aerospace, including satellites, is another sector that can benefit from the high power output of lithium-sulfur batteries. The anode and cathode in these batteries are crucial components, and improving their conductivity and volume expansion properties can lead to better battery performance. In summary, lithium-sulfur batteries are a promising clean energy solution for various industries, including electric vehicles, portable electronics, and the power sector. Addressing manufacturing challenges and ensuring safety measures are essential to bring this technology to the market. The potential benefits of this technology are significant, from reducing reliance on fossil fuels to powering the next generation of electric cars and aerospace technology.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

Fuel cells and Lithium-Sulfur batteries are two distinct technologies used to generate electricity. Fuel cells produce power through electrochemical reactions between hydrogen and oxygen, resulting in water and released electrons. These electrons flow through an external circuit to generate power. Fuel cells have a standard design with two electrodes separated by an electrolyte, enabling charged particles to move. Drones have gained popularity but face a limitation of short flight times. To overcome this challenge, manufacturers are exploring fuel cells as an alternative power source. Hydrogen, as a fuel for fuel cells, offers a higher energy density and longer runtime compared to Lithium-Sulfur batteries. Fuel cells can be refilled in minutes, while batteries take an hour to recharge. The global fuel cell market is growing due to its application in automotive and energy storage sectors, posing a hurdle for the expansion of the Lithium-Sulfur battery market during the forecast period.

The Lithium-Sulfur (Li-S) battery market is gaining attention due to its potential to offer high energy density, making it suitable for power cell applications in various industries. However, challenges persist, such as the melting of the sulfur electrode at high temperatures. A German battery startup, Theron, is working on interlayers to address this issue. Li-S batteries have advantages over prior generations, including lower environmental impact and compatibility with renewable energy sources. They are being explored for use in drones, defence sector, personalized power, aviation, and outer space vehicles. The challenges of Li-S batteries include their low energy density and the need for solid-state batteries for commercialization. The defence sector, drone technology companies like DroneShield, and the aviation industry are exploring Li-S batteries for their applications. The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the need for clean electricity and energy storage solutions, making Li-S batteries a promising option for powering portable electronic devices and charging stations. Li-S batteries use lithium ions and sulfur to store energy, with electrons flowing between the cathode (sulfur) and anode (lithium ions) during charging and discharging. Despite the challenges, the advantages of Li-S batteries make them a promising alternative to primary batteries and conventional fuels for various applications, including aircraft-installed equipment and renewable energy installations.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This lithium-sulfur battery market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Type

1.1 High energy density

1.2 Low energy density

End-user

2.1 Aviation

2.2 Automotive

2.3 Others

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 South America

3.5 Middle East and Africa



1.1 High energy density- Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are high-energy-density batteries that offer longer battery run time or a smaller footprint with the same energy output compared to batteries with lower energy density. This property makes them popular in electric vehicles (EVs), which require long driving ranges. LSBs have gained attention due to sulfur's abundant availability, low cost, environmental friendliness, high specific capacity, and energy density. The European Commission estimates that LSBs will be used in EVs during the forecast period, making the high-energy-density segment of the LSB market a focus for growth.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

Lithium-sulfur batteries represent a promising advancement in clean energy solutions, offering higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. This next-generation battery chemistry utilizes lithium as an anode and sulfur as a cathode. However, challenges remain, including electrolyte stability, electrode architecture, and the polysulfide shuttle effect. These issues can lead to lithium dendrite formation and degradation of battery performance. Despite these hurdles, lithium-sulfur batteries hold significant potential for various applications, including aerospace, consumer electronics, electric cars, large-scale storage, and renewable energy installations. They can power satellites, high-altitude aircraft, outer space vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and even primary batteries for specific use cases. The high energy density and potential for long cycle life make lithium-sulfur batteries an intriguing alternative to lithium-ion batteries for various sectors, contributing to the ongoing advancement of battery technology.

Market Research Overview

Lithium-sulfur batteries are a promising clean energy solution for the future, offering high energy density and low-cost characteristics. These batteries utilize lithium as an anode and elemental sulfur as a cathode, separated by an electrolyte. However, challenges such as electrolyte stability, electrode architecture, and the polysulfide shuttle effect can hinder their widespread adoption. Fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy sector, but lithium-sulfur batteries have the potential to revolutionize large-scale energy storage for electric vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and even aerospace. Manufacturing challenges include managing material interactions, production techniques, and ensuring safety measures. Solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries, which use a solid electrolyte system instead of liquid electrolytes, are being explored to mitigate some of these challenges. Lithium-sulfur batteries have advantages over lithium-ion batteries, such as lightweight cells and energy-dense batteries, but they still face manufacturing process hurdles. The EV market and EV technology continue to grow, and lithium-sulfur batteries could play a significant role in powering electric cars and transport. The aerospace sector, including satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, and defense applications, could also benefit from the advantages of lithium-sulfur batteries. The energy storage market, including renewable energy installations, portable electronic devices, and personalized power, is expected to grow significantly, and lithium-sulfur batteries could be a key player. However, lithium-sulfur batteries face challenges such as lithium dendrite formation, volume expansion, and conductivity. Prior generations of these batteries had low energy density, but recent advancements have led to high energy density batteries. The manufacturing process for lithium-sulfur batteries requires careful management of plants and production energy, and melting processes are being explored to improve efficiency. The environmental impact of battery manufacturing is a concern, with manganese, nickel, and cobalt being major components of lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-sulfur batteries could offer a more sustainable alternative, as they do not require these minerals in the same quantities. The Theron, a German battery startup, is working on power cell applications for lithium-sulfur batteries, and other companies are exploring the potential of these batteries for various applications, from EVs to aerospace and consumer electronics. In conclusion, lithium-sulfur batteries offer significant potential for clean energy solutions, particularly in the areas of EVs, aerospace, and large-scale energy storage. However, challenges such as electrolyte stability, electrode architecture, and manufacturing processes must be addressed to realize their full potential. The advantages of these batteries, including high energy density, lightweight cells, and reduced reliance on minerals like manganese, nickel, and cobalt, make them an exciting area of research and development.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Type

High Energy Density



Low Energy Density

End-user

Aviation



Automotive



Others

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

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Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
New research insights from Info-Tech Tech Research Group will equip food and beverage manufacturers with essential strategies for embracing digital transformation. The global research and advisory firm explains that the industry can significantly enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve product quality by focusing on automation, data analytics, and IoT. Info-Tech's industry blueprint is crucial for organizations aiming to navigate the digital landscape, achieve sustainable growth, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

TORONTO, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Facing a landscape defined by constant change and heightened consumer demand, the food & beverage industry needs strategic interventions for sustainable growth. CIOs are under pressure to create more resilient supply chains using advanced technologies while staying compliant with food safety and quality regulations. In response to this pressing need, Info-Tech Research Group has published its latest blueprint, Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry. This research serves as a roadmap for IT leaders in the industry to navigate the complexities of digital transformation and achieve sustainable growth. The firm advises that by leveraging data analytics, automation, and IoT, organizations can make more informed decisions, streamline processes, and respond quickly to market demands.

Info-Tech Research Group's "Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry" blueprint outlines four key priorities for IT leaders in the industry to effectively leverage Exponential IT. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

Info-Tech's research insights highlight the obstacles faced by the food & beverage manufacturing industry when it comes to adopting the latest technologies. One of the main challenges is employees' resistance to change due to fear of job loss, lack of understanding, or discomfort with new technologies. Additionally, a persistent skills gap in the workforce, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, data analytics, and technology management, hinders progress. However, the firm emphasizes that understanding these barriers and embracing the opportunities presented by exponential technologies will allow manufacturers to optimize their operations and drive innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.

"While food & beverage manufacturers have seen improvements in throughput over the last couple of years, a majority of them are also seeing their profits decline because of increasing material costs per product," says Shreyas Shukla, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. "Executives from the industry believe that smart factory solutions will drive exponential benefits over the coming years. CIOs are beginning to take center stage in navigating these complexities effectively and steering their organizations toward a future that is more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. This is why it is crucial for CIOs to understand the working priorities that underpin the use of Exponential IT and use these concepts to their advantage."

The report further details the urgent need for the manufacturing industry's IT leaders to adopt Exponential IT to address industry disruptions swiftly. Info-Tech explains that speed is imperative, and all IT leaders and organizations are at risk of falling behind if they do not adopt new technologies quickly.

In the new blueprint, Info-Tech highlights four key priorities for IT leaders in the food & beverage industry to effectively leverage Exponential IT:

Prioritize Human-Centered Leadership: Hire talent to build and train workers to use collaborative digital technologies to drive tailored production, resource efficiency, precision, and flexibility. Transform Infra & Apps to Utilities: Accelerate value realization by integrating scalable technologies and implementing rigorous performance management systems to drive measurable improvements. Fund Exponential Value Creation: Leverage cloud technologies, "as-a-service" products, and agile delivery methods to align technological enhancements with organizational objectives. Boost Vendor Management Practices: Embrace external partnerships with vendors, partners, system integrators, and product companies to enhance access to the latest technologies and shared expertise.

As outlined in the firm's blueprint, Exponential IT is a long-term transformation plan executed through a series of initiatives that run parallel to an existing IT strategy. It is not a side project, and it should not be the only focus of the IT organization. Therefore, Info-Tech suggests that IT leaders embed an Exponential IT roadmap into their IT strategy, with a focus on the initiatives that align most closely with the organization's goals and strategy each year.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Shreyas Shukla, an expert in the manufacturing sector, and access to the complete Priorities for Adopting an Exponential IT Mindset in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry blueprint, please contact [email protected].

Info-Tech LIVE 2024

Registration is now open for Info-Tech Research Group's annual IT conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2024, taking place September 17 to 19, 2024, at the iconic Bellagio in Las Vegas. This premier event offers journalists, podcasters, and media influencers access to exclusive content, the latest IT research and trends, and the opportunity to interview industry experts, analysts, and speakers. To apply for media passes to attend the event or gain access to research and expert insights on trending topics, please contact [email protected].

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world's leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech' divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact [email protected].

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global mobile robot charging station market size is estimated to grow by USD 817.9 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 40.15% during the forecast period. Reduced cost price of electronic components is driving market growth, with a trend towards contactless charging. However, replacement cost of charging station poses a challenge. Key market players include Clearpath Robotics Inc., DF Automation and Robotics Sdn Bhd, Festo SE and Co. KG, KUKA AG, Locus Robotics Corp., Mobile Industrial Robots AS, Neobotix GmbH, Nidec Corp., OMRON Corp., PAL Robotics, Paul Vahle GmbH and Co. KG, Robotnik Automation SLL, Shenzhen Tianyou Intelligence Co. Ltd., Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., SMP Robotics Systems Corp., Trossen Robotics, Volkswagen AG, WiBotic, Wiferion GmbH, and Zebra Technologies Corp..

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global mobile robot charging station market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies- View the snapshot of this report

Mobile Robot Charging Station Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 40.15% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 817.9 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 29.63 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 36% Key countries US, China, UK, Germany, and Japan Key companies profiled Clearpath Robotics Inc., DF Automation and Robotics Sdn Bhd, Festo SE and Co. KG, KUKA AG, Locus Robotics Corp., Mobile Industrial Robots AS, Neobotix GmbH, Nidec Corp., OMRON Corp., PAL Robotics, Paul Vahle GmbH and Co. KG, Robotnik Automation SLL, Shenzhen Tianyou Intelligence Co. Ltd., Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd., SMP Robotics Systems Corp., Trossen Robotics, Volkswagen AG, WiBotic, Wiferion GmbH, and Zebra Technologies Corp.

Market Driver

Mobile robot charging stations are crucial for seamless operations in industrial and commercial settings. Traditional charging methods through stations cause delays due to extended downtime. To address this issue, contactless charging technology using capacitive power transfer (CPT) is gaining popularity. CPT reduces electromagnetic interference and ensures uninterrupted power supply to AMRs. This contactless charging facility eliminates the need for wired connections or contact with docking stations, enabling continuous power supply and uninterrupted robot performance. The global market for mobile robot charging stations is expected to experience significant growth due to these advancements.

The Mobile Robot Charging Station market is experiencing significant growth, with various solutions and technologies in use. Charging stations for charing robots are essential for their efficient operation. Autonomous mobile robots require regular charging to function optimally. Carbon fiber reinforced plastic and aluminum materials are commonly used in the construction of these charging stations. The market includes stations for stationsary and transport robots. Docinking stations are also popular for quick charging. The market consists of companies providing mobility and automation solutions, robot manufacturers, and component suppliers. The trend is towards smaller, more efficient charging stations that can be easily integrated into various industrial settings. The use of undeground charging systems is also gaining popularity for its convenience and space-saving benefits. The market for charging stations is expected to continue growing as the adoption of robots increases across industries.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

 Mobile robot charging stations are essential components of automated mobile robot (AMR) systems. These stations come in various configurations and power capacities to accommodate different AMR models. However, technical issues in charging stations can lead to replacement, increasing costs and hindering robot mobility. Multi-robot charging stations face larger-scale disruptions, impacting floor operations and requiring significant replacement expenses.

 The Mobile Robot Charging Station market faces several challenges. Connectors and contacts in charging stations need to be reliable and durable for consistent performance. The size and weight of charging stations must be considered to ensure they can be easily transported and integrated into various environments. The cost of charging stations is also a concern, as businesses seek affordable solutions without compromising on quality. Additionally, the need for fast charging times and compatibility with various robot models adds complexity to the market. The use of advanced materials and technologies can help address these challenges, making charging stations more efficient, durable, and cost-effective.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Request a sample report!

Segment Overview

This mobile robot charging station market report extensively covers market segmentation by

Application

1.1 Industrial

1.2 Commercial

Type

2.1 Stand-alone chargers

2.2 Multi-robot chargers

Geography

3.1 North America

3.2 Europe

3.3 APAC

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America



1.1 Industrial- The manufacturing, oil and gas, aerospace and defense, healthcare, and mining industries are increasingly utilizing Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for tasks that cannot be performed manually. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) in manufacturing are self-navigating and require continuous charging. Docking stations transmit signals to guide AMRs to charging facilities, ensuring uninterrupted operations and contributing to the market growth for mobile robot charging stations.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2017-2021) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Mobile Robot Charging Station market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing adoption of mobile robots in various industries, including electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles. Charging stations and docking stations are essential components of mobile robot systems, enabling efficient and automated charging experiences. Multi-robot chargers and stand-alone chargers are two primary types of charging solutions, catering to different user requirements. Contactless charging technology is gaining popularity in this market due to its convenience and safety benefits. The growth of automation in industries and the expanding NEV market are key drivers for the Mobile Robot Charging Station market. Charging infrastructure development is a critical factor in the market's growth, ensuring seamless integration and operation of mobile robots.

Market Research Overview

The Mobile Robot Charging Station market is a significant segment in the robotics industry, catering to the growing demand for automated solutions in various sectors. These stations enable uninterrupted operation of mobile robots by providing efficient charging mechanisms. Charging stations come in different designs, such as docking stations and wireless charging pads. They are essential for industries like manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and agriculture, where mobile robots are extensively used. The market for these charging stations is driven by factors like the increasing adoption of automation, the need for round-the-clock robot operation, and advancements in charging technology. The market is expected to grow steadily in the coming years, offering opportunities for technology innovations and improvements in efficiency.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Application

Industrial



Commercial

Type

Stand-alone Chargers



Multi-robot Chargers

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



Middle East And Africa



South America



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
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Browse in-depth TOC on "People Counting System Market"

190  Tables

58  Figures

239  Pages

People Counting System Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2024 $ 1.2 billion Estimated Value by 2029 $ 2.1 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% Market Size Available for 20202029 Forecast Period 20242029 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Type, Technology, Offering, End-use Application & Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge High installation and maintenance cost Key Market Opportunities Growing installation in workspaces is creating significant opportunities for people counting system in the market Key Market Drivers Growing demand for real-time data transmission in mission-critical applications



The transportation segment in the end-use application is expected to witness significant growth rate during the forecast period.

Transport hubs such as bus terminals, airports, and train stations require efficient management of passenger flow. People counting systems help monitor and analyze passenger movement, leading to better scheduling and reduced congestion. These systems help provide accurate counting systems and assist in monitoring crowd levels in real-time, which is critical for maintaining safety and security in transportation facilities. This helps in preventing overcrowding and ensuring swift evacuation during emergency.

Infrared beam technology segment is expected to hold the second largest market share in the people counting system market during the forecast period.

Infrared beam systems are a relatively low-cost solution compared to other technologies like video analytics or thermal imaging. This makes them a cost effective solution for budget-conscious businesses. Moreover, these technologies are simple to install and require minimal maintenance and function well in various lighting conditions and are not affected by rain or dust, unlike some other technologies making them ideal for a variety of applications.

Market for Bidirectional segment is expected to witness larger market size during the forecast period.

The use of bidirectional systems is crucial for optimizing staffing levels and monitoring queues in order to improve the customer experience. They enable businesses to track people's flow through different areas in order to analyze space utilization. Specifically, the retail sector, in particular, benefits from bidirectional people counting as it helps in evaluating store performance, analyzing conversion rates, planning marketing campaigns and for effective space management and security purposes.

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North America is expected to hold the largest market share in People counting system industry during the forecast period.

The North American countries are increasingly adopting new technologies, such as IoT and AI in retail stores and transportation which is responsible for the growth of the market in the region. The region has technologically advanced retail stores, shopping malls, supermarkets, stadiums, banks, and other sectors. For instance, Walmart Inc., CSV Health, Lowe's, Home Depot International, Inc., and The Kroger Co. have a strong presence in North America. Giant retailers, such as Walmart, have approximately 8,200 retail stores in North America.

Key Players

Leading players in the people counting system companies include Axis Communications AB. (Sweden), Axiomatic Technologies Ltd (UK), DILAX Intelcom GmbH (Germany), Eurotech S.p.A. (Italy), FootfallCam (UK), Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (China), HELLA AGLAIA MOBILE VISION GMBH (Germany), IEE Smart Sensing Solutions (Luxembourg), iris-GmbH infrared & intelligent sensors (Germany), Irisys (InfraRed Integrated Systems Ltd) (UK), RETAILNEXT, INC. (US), SensMax (Latvia), Sensormatic Solutions (US), VIVOTEK Inc. (Taiwan), and V-Count (UK). Clever Devices Ltd. (New York), CountWise (US), DELOPT (India), Density (US), Infodev EDI inc. (Canada), Inkryptis AI (India), SenSource (US), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated. (US), Traf-Sys (US), and Xovis AG (Switzerland) are few other key companies operating in the people counting system market.

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NANNING, China, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 2, the 26th annual meeting of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) was launched in Nanning city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This event is jointly hosted by the CAST and the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with the theme "Cultivating New Quality Productive Forces to Promote Sci-Tech Self-Reliance and Self-Strengthening at Higher Levels."

The annual event features the main forum, thematic forums, parallel forums, Beijing Academic Week, the "Innovation China" Guangxi Tour, and online science popularization, with a total of 24 activities. Among them, the main forum, thematic forums, parallel forums, and the "Innovation China" Guangxi Tour will be held in Guangxi from July 2 to 4. Five high-level closed-door seminars, three special forums, and three young scientists' salons are scheduled in Beijing from July 8 to 12.

The annual meeting, hosting a variety of activities, is designed to fuel the innovative development of key industries in Guangxi and bolster the implementation of China's regional strategy. It aims to establish itself as a grand science and technology festival that encompasses conferences, discussions, product releases, inspections, promotions, competitions, and strategic consultations, thereby supporting the country to achieve sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels.

SOURCE CAST
NEW YORK, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global TMT steel bar market size is estimated to grow by USD 85.9 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.26% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for steel is driving market growth, with a trend towards rising demand for seismic resistance. However, fluctuating raw material costs for making tmt steel bar poses a challenge. Key market players include Agni Steels Private Ltd., ArcelorMittal, Atlas Group, Bansal Group, Kamdhenu Ltd., MMD, MS Life Steel, MSP Steel and Power Ltd., O. P. Jindal Group, Primegold International Ltd., Radha Smelters Pvt. Ltd., Shyam Metallics, Spark Electrodes Pvt. Ltd., SRMB SRIJAN Pvt. Ltd., Stecol International Pvt. Ltd., Tata Steel, and Ultra TMT.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global TMT steel bar market 2024-2028

Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - Click for the snapshot of this report

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered End-user (Residential, Commercial, and Infrastructure), Grade Type (Fe 415, Fe 500 and 500D, Fe 550 and 550D, Fe 600, and Others), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Region Covered APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Key companies profiled Agni Steels Private Ltd., ArcelorMittal, Atlas Group, Bansal Group, Kamdhenu Ltd., MMD, MS Life Steel, MSP Steel and Power Ltd., O. P. Jindal Group, Primegold International Ltd., Radha Smelters Pvt. Ltd., Shyam Metallics, Spark Electrodes Pvt. Ltd., SRMB SRIJAN Pvt. Ltd., Stecol International Pvt. Ltd., Tata Steel, and Ultra TMT

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

The TMT steel bar market is experiencing growth due to the increasing demand for seismic resistance in construction. This trend is particularly prominent in regions susceptible to earthquakes, such as Indonesia, Japan, and Nepal. Seismic activities can result in significant structural damage, leading to loss of life and property. To mitigate this risk, there is a heightened focus on using materials that can withstand seismic forces. TMT steel bars, known for their high tensile strength and ductility, are an ideal choice for such applications. Incorporated into reinforced concrete structures, TMT bars absorb and dissipate seismic energy, reducing the likelihood of structural failure. As a result, the construction industry in seismic-prone areas is adopting seismic-resistant design principles, which will drive the market growth for TMT steel bars throughout the forecast period.

The TMT steel bar market is witnessing significant growth due to increasing demand from various sectors like shopping malls, office buildings, flyovers, highways, and mega-construction projects in urban regions. Seismic zones require TMT bars with specific properties such as ductility, fatigue-resistance, and earthquake-resistance. Manufacturers focus on producing super-strong structures using advanced technologies like water jet cutting and improved elongation value. Industrial structures, hydropower plants, and high-rise skyscrapers require TMT bars with high tensile strength and durability. Extreme weather patterns and seismic activity necessitate the use of corrosion-resistant and fire-safe bars. The construction process benefits from the weldability and non-deforming properties of TMT bars. Raw material prices and modern architecture trends influence the market. TMT bars undergo various processes like cold twisting and heat rolling to enhance their properties. Surface defects, cracks, abrasion, and high heat resistance are crucial factors. The industry standard ensures TMT bars meet requirements for elongation property, tensile strength, and earthquake resistance.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report

Market Challenges

TMT steel bar manufacturers face challenges due to volatile raw material costs, specifically iron ore and scrap metal. These fluctuations make it difficult to plan budgets and manage production costs effectively. When raw material costs rise, manufacturers may struggle to maintain profit margins if they cannot pass on the increases to customers due to competition or contracts. For example, NMDC Limited changed lump iron ore and iron fines prices in January and February 2022 . These price changes can lead to unstable steel prices, making it challenging for construction companies and other customers to accurately estimate project costs, potentially causing delays or budget overruns. Sudden spikes in raw material costs can also disrupt the supply chain, leading to production delays as manufacturers seek alternative sources or assess the impact on their operations. These factors are anticipated to hinder the growth of the TMT steel bar market during the forecast period.

. These price changes can lead to unstable steel prices, making it challenging for construction companies and other customers to accurately estimate project costs, potentially causing delays or budget overruns. Sudden spikes in raw material costs can also disrupt the supply chain, leading to production delays as manufacturers seek alternative sources or assess the impact on their operations. These factors are anticipated to hinder the growth of the TMT steel bar market during the forecast period. The Tmt Steel Bar Market faces several challenges in producing Fe415 rods and Fe250 rods for urban and residential building construction. The spacing of rods in concrete structures must meet mechanical qualities such as corrosion resistance and earthquake resistance. Producers must cater to various grades and yield strengths for different loads in buildings, bridges, dams, and industrial complexes. Mild steel bars undergo heat treatment for greater strength and ductility. Rapid cooling is crucial for structural integrity and meeting quality standards. Sustainable production techniques are essential to address environmental worries. Industry publications discuss the latest trends, including the use of smart city projects and architectural designs in old buildings. Diameter type and load-bearing capacity are critical factors in selecting building materials for commercial and residential areas. The construction sector relies on Tmt Steel Bars for columns, beams, slabs, and foundations in commercial projects, hotels, and large-scale infrastructure projects. Producers must ensure their products meet industry standards and offer sustainable practices with a low carbon footprint.

For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report

Segment Overview

This tmt steel bar market report extensively covers market segmentation by

End-user

1.1 Residential

1.2 Commercial

1.3 Infrastructure

Grade Type

2.1 Fe 415

2.2 Fe 500 and 500D

2.3 Fe 550 and 550D

2.4 Fe 600

2.5 Others

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 North America

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America



1.1 Residential- TMT steel bars provide numerous benefits for residential construction due to their superior properties and durability. These bars are widely used in various residential structures for ensuring structural integrity and safety. With high tensile strength and excellent ductility, TMT bars can withstand stresses and loads experienced by buildings over their lifespan. Their superior strength-to-weight ratio enables safer and more reliable structures. TMT bars have good elongation properties, which prevent breaking during seismic events, maintaining building integrity during earthquakes. With a higher melting point, they resist high temperatures in fires, adding safety. TMT bars can be easily bent and welded, allowing for customized designs and construction. The strength, durability, and corrosion resistance of TMT steel bars will fuel the growth of the residential segment and strengthen the market's expansion during the forecast period.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The TMT (Thermo-Mechanically Treated) Steel Bar Market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing demand for infrastructure development. TMT bars, with their superior mechanical qualities, are increasingly being used in various applications, including torsional bars, low-cost reinforcement bars, and in heavy industry. These bars are available in various sizes, such as 68 mm, 812 mm, and 12 mm, making them suitable for residential, commercial, and infrastructure applications. In the Construction sector, TMT bars are used extensively in Concrete structures due to their superior corrosion resistance and earthquake resistance. Mild steel bars undergo heat treatment, including rapid cooling, to enhance their mechanical properties, making them ideal for loads in Buildings and industrial structures. Water jet technology is used to cut TMT bars to precise dimensions, ensuring a super-strong structure. TMT bars are ductile, fatigue-resistant, and earthquake-resistant, making them an industry standard in hydropower plants and other heavy-duty applications. With their ability to resist corrosion and withstand high loads, TMT bars are a preferred choice for engineers and contractors.

Market Research Overview

The Tmt Steel Bar Market is witnessing significant growth due to the increasing infrastructural development in various sectors. Torsional bars and reinforcement bars, available in diameters ranging from 68 mm to 812 mm and sizes like 12 mm, play a crucial role in construction applications. Mild steel bars, which undergo heat treatment for greater strength, are used extensively in residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. The Construction sector relies heavily on these bars for Concrete structures, with mechanical qualities like yield stress, corrosion resistance, and earthquake resistance being key considerations. FE-415, FE-500, FE-550, and FE-600 are popular grades, each with distinct yield strengths. Producers ensure quality standards through sustainable production techniques and industry publications. Urban areas see the use of Tmt Steel Bars in residential buildings, commercial areas, and industrial complexes. The demand for sustainable practices and reducing carbon footprint is driving the industry towards eco-friendly production methods. Smart city projects and architectural designs incorporate these bars for their load-bearing capacity and extreme weather resistance. In large-scale infrastructure projects like bridges, dams, and factories, Tmt Steel Bars contribute to structural integrity. Columns, beams, slabs, foundations, and flyovers are some applications where these bars are essential. The market caters to various industries, including commercial projects like hotels, shopping malls, and office buildings, as well as hydropower plants and mega-construction projects. Seismic zones and extreme weather patterns necessitate the use of fatigue-resistant, earthquake-resistant, and corrosion-resistant bars. Water jet technology is employed for producing super-strong structures, ensuring ductility and meeting industry standards. In summary, the Tmt Steel Bar Market is a vital player in the construction industry, providing essential building materials for various applications, ensuring structural integrity, and catering to the demands of modern infrastructure projects.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

End-user

Residential



Commercial



Infrastructure

Grade Type

Fe 415



Fe 500 And 500D



Fe 550 And 550D



Fe 600



Others

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



Middle East And Africa



South America



7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
WASHINGTON, July 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Whitman-Walker Institute condemns the politically motivated ruling from a federal district court judge that blocks vital nondiscrimination protections for transgender people across the country. Today, a U.S. district court judge in Mississippi issued a nationwide injunction in State of Tennessee v. Becerra, blocking enforcement of key parts of Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. This ruling directly attacks a regulation issued in April 2024 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which strengthened nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQI+ people in health care and health coverage nationwide.

This ruling was the first of three rulings today in which judges prioritized politics over people and blocked key non-discrimination protections in healthcare for transgender people and for millions of other Americans.

"It's shameful that a federal judge would side with bigots in seeking to dismantle these protections." Post this

The regulation that was blocked in these three cases demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring health care and health insurance access for all by securing nondiscrimination protections for some of our nation's most marginalized communities, including transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people, people with limited English proficiency, people with disabilities, and people seeking reproductive health care.

Dr. Kellan Baker, Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Institute, says, "It's shameful that a federal judge would side with bigots in seeking to dismantle these protections. The Biden-Harris administration correctly took action to help remove barriers to care and advance health equity for underserved communities, including LGBTQI+ people. Robust enforcement of this rule is critical to improve the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ people across the country. This ruling is part of a dangerous trend in which politicians deny and disregard the clear evidence documenting the harms of widespread discrimination against LGBTQI+ people, particularly transgender people, in health care and health insurance."

Whitman-Walker Institute, which leverages research, policy, and education to advance health equity nationwide, is affiliated with Whitman-Walker Health, the lead plaintiff in a 2020 federal lawsuit brought to reverse the Trump administration's weakening of Section 1557's nondiscrimination protections for underserved communities, particularly LGBTQI+ people.

According to the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey , nearly 50% of respondents who saw a provider in the last year had at least one negative health care experience because of their gender identity.

Twenty-three percent of LGBTQI+ respondents, including 37% of transgender respondents, reported postponing or avoiding needed medical care in the past year due to disrespect or discrimination by providers.

About Whitman-Walker Institute

Whitman-Walker Institute is a Washington, D.C. based organization that leverages cutting-edge research, policy, and education to advance health equity at the federal level and in states across the country. We bring to this work expertise in rigorous research and health policy analysis, deep relationships with state and federal policymakers, longstanding partnerships across multiple justice movements, and the direct service experience of Whitman-Walker Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves thousands of diverse patients across the D.C. area and beyond. The Institute is home to nationally recognized experts in areas of policy such as LGBTQI+ health equity, care for transgender people, insurance reform, social determinants of health, HIV prevention and treatment, and sexual orientation and gender identity data collection. More info can be found at: https://www.whitman-walker.org/institute/

SOURCE Whitman-Walker Institute
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

On June 20, Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China, granted an interview to the Russian newspaper Izvestia on the sidelines of the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The photo shows the page of the Russian newspaper Izvestia that features the interview with Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) of China, on June

Question: What are the characteristics of criminal cases in China? How do Chinese prosecution authorities deal with them?

Ying: Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese people have created dual miracles of eye-catching economic development and long-term social stability under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Along with the development of the economy and society, criminal cases in China have undergone some changes over the past two decades. There are significant changes in the crime structure. There has been a continuous decrease in the total amount and proportion of serious violent crimes such as murder, robbery and kidnapping, while the number and proportion of minor crimes such as dangerous driving and acts by cybercrime accomplices have significantly increased. China is one of the countries with the lowest rates of homicide, firearms and explosive incidents, and other serious criminal offenses in the world.

China has placed a high priority on the development of the rule of law. Law-based governance is a constitutional principle and a fundamental governance strategy of the country. The 20th CPC National Congress held in October 2022 specifically planned for "adhering to comprehensive rule of law and advancing law-based governance in the country", clearly proposing "comprehensively building a modern socialist country along the path of the rule of law" and "comprehensively promoting law-based governance in all respects", and highlighting "accelerating the development of a fair, efficient and authoritative socialist judicial system" and "strengthening the legal supervision work of the prosecution authorities". Under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese prosecution authorities thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, earnestly enforce the Constitution and laws, respect and effectively safeguard human rights. They adhere to the principles of a legally prescribed punishment for a specified crime, presumption of innocence, and no guilt without evidence, and comprehensively and accurately implement a criminal policy combining severity with leniency that upholds the practice of being strict when necessary, lenient when appropriate, and punishing according to the offense. They strictly adhere to the system of leniency for those who confess and repent, actively promote the construction of a system with Chinese characteristics for governing minor crimes, explore the comprehensive use of criminal, administrative, civil and other means to hierarchically punish minor crimes, and resolve social conflicts in a timely manner. They are working to establish a crime governance structure that is well-ordered in severity and with differentiated responsibilities, and promote the modernization of the system and capacity for national governance, effectively safeguarding national security, social stability and the well-being of the people.

Question: The theme of the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries is "Modern digital solutions on enforcement of the law: experience of BRICS prosecution services". What experiences do China's prosecution authorities have in using digital technology to support case handling?

Ying: I presented the development in this regard in China at the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries. Digital technology is a revolutionary means of law enforcement and justice that can effectively enhance technological content and efficiency in law enforcement and justice work. Currently, China is striving to promote the building of a Digital China. The Chinese government has unveiled a plan for the overall layout of the country's digital development, formulated laws such as the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law. Additionally, China is actively participating in the formulation of the United Nations treaty on cybercrime. China's prosecution authorities attach great importance to the application of digital technology in judicial case handling, deeply implement a digital prosecution strategy, formulate a plan for digital prosecution development, promote IT application in the rule of law, and effectively construct a mechanism for digital prosecution work that is "business-led, data-integrated, technology-supported and application-focused" to enable the work of legal supervision to improve quality and efficiency. In the prosecution of financial crimes, money laundering, smuggling and other crimes, new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence are fully utilized to review massive relevant evidence, conduct in-depth analysis of the flow of funds involved, dig deep into upstream and downstream crime clues, accurately charge crimes, and simultaneously trace and recover proceeds. By using data algorithms and technological means such as three-dimensional measurement and imaging for identification, the ability to recognize deeply forged audiovisual materials is enhanced so that clues for high-tech crimes can be effectively identified. In handling public interest litigation cases, technologies such as satellite remote sensing are fully utilized to compare changes in the ecological environment, discover clues of public interest damage in areas such as water bodies, soil, wetland protection, desertification control, and biodiversity protection, and to assess public interest damage and rectification.

China's prosecution authorities focus on analyzing the characteristics and patterns of cases in performing their duties, construct legal supervision big data models, screen more illegal and criminal clues, refer them to competent authorities for investigation, and, in conjunction with case handling, issue prosecution recommendations to competent authorities to promote plugging loopholes, strengthening of supervision, recovering of losses, and advancing from individual case handling to category supervision and then to litigation source governance. To date, China's prosecution authorities have jointly developed more than 6,000 legal supervision big data models, discovered over 620,000 supervision clues in groups, strengthened legal supervision, and effectively achieved systematic governance and litigation source governance.

Question: In recent years, what new achievements have been made in cooperation between Chinese and Russian prosecution authorities? What are your expectations for Sino-Russian prosecutorial cooperation?

Ying: In recent years, under the strategic planning and guidance of President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, prosecution authorities of both countries have maintained high-standard exchanges and cooperation, achieving fruitful results. Within the frameworks of multilateral mechanisms such as the Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries and the Prosecutors General Conference of the Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the two countries' prosecution authorities have respected each other, communicated in a friendly manner, effectively strengthened law enforcement and judicial cooperation in combating transnational crimes, terrorist crimes, religious extremist crimes, continuously deepened exchanges and cooperation between border region prosecution authorities, and jointly provided strong judicial support for the development and stability of both countries and the region.

Since last year, I have had three friendly, in-depth, and fruitful meetings with His Excellency Russia's Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov. We have established a good working relationship and deep friendship. Last year, the SPP and the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia jointly signed a plan for bilateral cooperation for 2023 to 2024, cooperation agreements in the fields of education, research and specific agreements on local prosecution cooperation. Both sides are actively implementing these cooperation agreements, and more pragmatic exchanges and cooperation are steadily advancing. In September and November last year, prosecutors of both countries were sent to each other's countries for study and visits, from which both sides greatly benefited.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. In May of this year, after President Putin was re-elected as Russian President, he chose China as the first foreign country to visit during his new term, embarking on a visit to China immediately after taking office as president. President Xi and President Putin met in Beijing, jointly signed and issued a joint statement on deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation for the new era, charting a blueprint for the development of China-Russia relations in the future at a new historical starting point. The SPP is willing to work with the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia to further deepen friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries' prosecution authorities under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, and continuously enrich the connotation of China-Russia relations in the new era so as to better benefit both countries and their peoples.

Question: How do you feel about participating in this year's Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries?

Ying: This year's Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries was held in St. Petersburg, and the Russian side made elaborate preparations and thoughtful arrangements for this meeting, making me and my colleagues feel warmly welcomed. During the meeting, prosecutors general from participating countries shared their countries' concepts, experiences and practices regarding the theme of the meeting, fully consolidating a broad consensus on joining hands to embrace the wave of digital transformation, and demonstrating a broad prospects for exchanges and cooperation in the digital field among prosecution authorities of various countries.

This year's Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries was the first meeting after the successful expansion of the BRICS, with countries such as Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia joining the meeting. This fully demonstrates the vitality and vigor of this meeting mechanism and further expands its influence in the international judicial field. China's prosecution authorities warmly welcomed the new members and also expressed gratitude to the Russian side for its important contributions to the deepening development of this mechanism. We look forward to working with prosecution authorities of BRICS countries, including the Russian side, to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and mutual benefit, seize opportunities and meet upcoming trends, better utilize the power of the rule of law to serve the modernization processes of various countries, and jointly safeguard the interests of all countries and their peoples.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
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Bhopal, July 4 : The Madhya Pradesh government has proposed an allocation of Rs 1,081 crore for the Culture Department, which would develop 'Shri Krishna Patheya' in line with the 'Ram Van Gaman Path'.

Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, who also holds the finance portfolio, made the announcement while presenting the annual budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Assembly on Wednesday.

The Ram Van Gaman Path is the route taken by Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman during their exile period. The project was announced by former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 2020.

Last month, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced to develop Shri Krishna Patheya in line with the Ram Van Gaman Path. The same also got a mention in the budget announced on Wednesday.

In the proposed project, the places associated with Lord Krishna in the state will be developed as pilgrimage sites.

Officials recently told IANS that the Culture Department is deeply studying the places associated with Lord Krishna in Madhya Pradesh.

It is believed that Lord Krishna came to Ujjain's Sandipani Ashram for studies. Besides, he also visited various other places in the state.
Lucknow, July 4 : The Uttar Pradesh government has set up a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of retired Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastava (II) of Allahabad High Court to investigate the July 2 Hathras stampede, in which at least 121 died.

A notification in this regard was issued by Governor Anandiben Patel late on Wednesday night.

Retired IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar Singh have been appointed as members of the inquiry commission. The headquarters of the commission will be located in Lucknow.

The commission is tasked with completing its investigation within two months from the date of the notification.

According to an official release, any extension of this duration will require an order from the state government. The commission will investigate the prescribed points and submit the report to the state government.

The prescribed points for the probe include investigating the organiseras compliance with the conditions set for granting permission by the district administration. The commission will also investigate whether the incident was an accident, a conspiracy, or the result of another planned criminal act.

Additionally, the commission will examine crowd control and law and order arrangements by the administration and the police during the event, along with related aspects. It will also analyse the reasons and circumstances leading to the incident.

Furthermore, the commission will provide recommendations to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Jerusalem, July 4 : Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has received Hamas' response to a proposed deal aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and the release of hostages, according to a statement released by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office on behalf of Mossad.

The response, transferred by Egyptian and Qatari mediators with the backing of the US, is currently under review by Israel, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Israel is examining the response and will communicate its reply to the mediators in due course," the statement noted on Wednesday.

This development marks a renewed effort to negotiate an end to the nearly nine-month-long conflict, which, according to the Gaza-based health authorities, has resulted in the deaths of more than 37,900 Palestinians in the strip.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage.
Lucknow, July 4 : Self-styled godman Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, has blamed "anti-social elements" for the deadly stampede during his 'satsang' (religious gathering) on July 2 at a village in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras which killed 121 people and injured many.

In a statement, Hari expressed his condolences over the incident and claimed that the chaos erupted a long time after he had already left the venue.

"I/we express our deep condolence to the families of the deceased and pray to prabhu/parmatma (God) for the speedy recovery of the injured," read the statement.

He further said that he had authorised Supreme Court lawyer A.P. Singh to take "further legal action in regard of stampede created by some anti-social elements after Samagam".

The stampede killed 121 people, most of them women, as devotees suffocated to death and bodies piled atop each other.

A sub-divisional magistrate (SDM)-led preliminary probe has stated that the stampede was caused after devotees were pushed by the godman's security and a "slippery slope".

"A crowd of more than 2 lakh people was present in the satsang pandal. Shri Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) reached the satsang pandal at about 12.30 p.m. and the program went on for 1 hour," the preliminary report said.

"After this, at about 1.40 p.m., Shri Narayan Sakar Hari (Bhole Baba) came out of the pandal to go towards Etah on National Highway-91," the report said, adding that when the godman was leaving the venue, his followers started running towards him for a 'darshan' and collect soil from around his feet.

"Satsangi women/men/children etc. started applying the dust of Baba's feet on their foreheads (while trying) to get his darshan, touch his feet and take his blessings," reads the report.
Jerusalem, July 4 : Israeli authorities have approved the appropriation of 12.7 square km of land in the occupied West Bank, marking the largest single appropriation in about three decades, an Israeli settlement monitor group has said.

Peace Now, an Israeli-based settlement watchdog, said in a statement on Wednesday that the Custodian of the State's Property in the Civil Administration, an Israeli body that approves construction in the West Bank, recently declared the seizure of this large land in the Jordan Valley, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the group, this is the largest area designated for appropriation since the Oslo Accords, a set of peace agreements signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993.

In 2024 alone, about 23.7 square km of the West Bank lands have been declared "State Lands" by Israel, reported Peace Now.

The declaration of "State Land" in the West Bank is a bureaucratic procedure used by the Israeli government to revoke Palestinian ownership rights to the declared lands, which would be leased exclusively to Israelis, for reshaping land use and building settlements.

Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war and expanded settlements there ever since. The international community widely considers the Israeli settlements in the West Bank, where the Palestinians wish to establish their future state, an obstacle to achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The move is likely to stoke further tensions in the region, which is already experiencing increasing violence following Israel's onslaught in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7 last year.
New Delhi, July 4 : Bolstering India's leadership in the global AI discourse, the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) members have reached a consensus on the future vision after extensive discussions and deliberations.

This cements India's pivotal role in steering the ethical and inclusive development of AI, according to the IT Ministry.

"This will pave the way for the renewed integrated partnership to achieve its objectives of harnessing the potential of AI for Good and for All," said MeitY after the sixth meeting of the GPAI Ministerial Council in the national capital during the 'Global IndiaAI Mission 2024' summit on July 3-4.

Among the key points discussed are to recognise the transformative potential of AI in shaping the future of "our societies and economies, the opportunities that safe, secure and trustworthy AI systems represent to accelerate and enable progress towards the achievement of sustainable development, and the importance of coordinated international efforts towards harnessing the benefits of AI."

Another significant point is to acknowledge the emerging risks and challenges posed by AI systems, particularly advanced AI systems, including those related to safety and security and potential malicious uses.

The GPAI members also deliberated upon how to foster trustworthy and human-centric AI through an inclusive, multi-stakeholder approach relying on a strong scientific basis, open solutions and common standards.

The GPAI has, since its launch, been a unique initiative for global multi-stakeholder cooperation on AI.

The members also recognised the 'New Delhi 2023 GPAI Ministerial Declaration' to strengthen GPAI's unique and independent identity as a nodal initiative that plays a key role in global cooperation on AI innovation and governance.

The GPAI members now look forward to working with relevant international organisations and United Nations Specialised Agencies and with other partners through an inclusive dialogue on AI.

The next GPAI Summit is slated to be organised in Serbia later this year.
New Delhi, July 4 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

This is the first high-level meeting after the formation of the Modi 3.0 government in New Delhi.

EAM Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart were seen having a warm handshake as they chatted before posing for a picture together.

The meeting between between the two leaders holds significance in light of a four-year-long frozen relations between the two countries over the standoff in Eastern Ladakh.

India and Chinese relations hit a low except for trade ever since the Eastern Ladakh border standoff erupted on May 5, 2020. The standoff was followed by violent clashes in the Pangong Tso (lake) area near Galwan.

Since May 2020, both India and China have held 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks to resolve the standoff with the 22nd meeting due to be held soon.

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the event and India was represented by EAM Jaishankar.
Seoul, July 4 : Members of more than 90 patient advocacy groups staged a rally in central Seoul on Thursday, calling for doctors to end the ongoing walkout that has disrupted public health services for nearly five months.

The protest, including members from the Korea Alliance of Patients Organization and the Korean Organization for Rare Diseases, came as trainee doctors have left their worksites since late February, causing disruptions in major hospitals, including cancellations and delays in surgeries, Yonhap news agency reported.

"Under no circumstances should medical services for the patients be suspended, nor should there be any indication that they could be stopped, causing anxiety," the groups said in a joint statement.

"Patients and their families, as well as the public, are experiencing anger, anxiety and fatigue amid the conflict between the irresponsible government and reckless trainee doctors and medical professors," they added.

The rally came amid sluggish progress between the government and the medical community to launch a dialogue, with medical professors, who serve as senior doctors at general hospitals, also recently joining trainee doctors' walkout in solidarity.

While the medical community formed a committee to establish a unified representative body for doctors, trainee doctors and medical students have been boycotting the initiative, claiming it fails to adequately reflect their voices.

Amid the lingering dispute, senior doctors at Asan Medical Center, one of the five largest hospitals in Seoul, began reducing patient care on Thursday, claiming that this measure aims to focus on treating critically ill patients amid the ongoing medical vacuum.

The health ministry said it was notable that the professors at Asan Medical Center did not proceed with an all-out walkout for the patients.

"We ask medical professors to refrain from taking extreme measures, such as indefinite collective walkouts," Kim Guk-il, a senior official of the ministry, said.

Kim also urged trainee doctors to promptly return to their hospitals, noting that the government will make its best efforts to help them complete their training.

"The government will make its best efforts to engage in talks with the medical community, responding to the desperate voices of patients and their families," Kim added.

Doctors at Severance Hospital, Gangnam Severance Hospital and Yongin Severance Hospital, meanwhile, have been suspending the treatment of outpatients, non-emergency surgeries and other services since late last month.

Medical professors at Korea University and Chungbuk National University have vowed to launch walkouts starting July 12 and 26, respectively.
Gaza, July 4 : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that it has consulted with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators to end the war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, Hamas said "We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people," reported Xinhua news agency.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel received Hamas' response from the mediators.

He confirmed that Israel will study the Hamas' response and will respond to it.

Israeli media reported that the new Hamas response was the best one given so far, saying it constitutes a basis for moving forward.

However, the outlets said that "some issues still need clarification, such as the (Israeli) presence in the Philadelphia axis (in Gaza) and the issue of prisoners."

A few days ago, Hamas said that it received a new offer from the US to resume the indirect negotiation with Israel to reach a ceasefire deal.
Hyderabad, July 4 : The first-ever meeting between A. Revanth Reddy and N. Chandrababu Naidu as chief ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on July 6 has generated excitement in both the Telugu-speaking states, raising hopes of a solution to post-bifurcation issues.

With CM Revanth Reddy accepting the meeting proposal of his counterpart and inviting CM Naidu for a tete-a-tete in Hyderabad, the decks are cleared for the first meeting between the two leaders.

It was CM Naidu who took the initiative with a letter to his Telangana counterpart proposing a meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest between the two states.

CM Naidu, who was sworn in as the chief minister for a fourth time on June 12, wrote that he looks forward to working closely with him to resolve post-bifurcation issues, enhance cooperation, and facilitate progress in both the Telugu-speaking states.

"As Chief Ministers of Telugu-speaking states, it is incumbent upon us to foster close collaboration to ensure sustained progress and prosperity for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Our shared commitment to cooperative development is crucial to realise our mutual goals of growth and well-being," wrote Naidu, who served as chief minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh for two terms between 1995 to 2004.

The TDP chief, who became the first chief minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh in 2014, noted that it has been 10 years since the bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.

"There have been multiple discussions concerning issues arising from the Reorganisation Act, which holds 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 6th July, Saturday afternoon," reads the letter.

Revanth Reddy, in his reply, agreed that it was imperative to resolve all pending issues of the Bifurcation Act. "An in-person meeting is necessary to help us build a strong foundation for mutual cooperation, exchange of ideas and enable us to better serve our respective people," he said.

The past association of the two leaders makes this meeting different from the attempts made during the last 10 years to resolve the issues under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Revanth Reddy had worked in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as MLA under Chandrababu Naidu in united Andhra Pradesh and also later in Telangana.

Though Revanth charted his own course by joining the Congress party in 2017, the past equation between the two leaders has generated excitement around their upcoming meeting.

Days after taking over as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh following TDP-led NDA's landslide victory, Naidu sought a meeting with Revanth Reddy to discuss the issues of mutual interest. CM Revanth Reddy's prompt response and his invite to CM Naidu for the face-to-face meeting in Hyderabad have raised hopes.

When Naidu served as the first Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh between 2014 and 2019, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was his counterpart in Telangana. Though the two leaders were also colleagues in TDP in the past and had an electoral understanding in the 2009 elections, they were not on good terms as KCR and his party TRS (now BRS) always perceived TDP as an anti-Telangana party.

The cash-for-vote scam of 2015 had created further distrust as KCR had accused Naidu of plotting to topple his government. Revanth Reddy, who was then considered close to Naidu, was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly trying to buy the vote of nominated MLA Stephenson in favour of the TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the MLC elections.

Revanth Reddy, the then TDP MLA, was even sent to jail in the bribery case. The episode and subsequent development forced CM Naidu to shift base to Vijayawada and start developing Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh capital though Hyderabad was declared as common capital for 10 years under Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

Though KCR attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amaravati and met CM Naidu on a couple of occasions, they could not make headway in resolving inter-state issues, including the division of assets.

The relations strained further when TDP fought the 2018 Assembly elections in Telangana in alliance with the Congress and other parties. However, KCR-led TRS retained power with a thumping majority.

A few months later when Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party wrested power from TDP in Andhra Pradesh, TRS hailed the change then. There was bonhomie when Jagan Mohan Reddy as the Chief Minister-designate came to Hyderabad for the first meeting with KCR and invited him for the swearing-in ceremony.

The friendliness between Jagan and KCR came as a whiff of fresh air as the two neighbours agreed to work together to amicably resolve the inter-state disputes.

The two leaders had a few meetings, including the one when Jagan attended the inauguration of the Kaleshwaram Project. However, this bonhomie did not last long.

Political analysts say the common enemy (Naidu) more than anything else had brought Jagan and KCR together. This was despite the fact that Jagan had opposed bifurcation and even staged a sit-in in Delhi.

The two states remained embroiled in a row over the sharing of Godavari and Krishna waters. Both aggressively pursued irrigation projects on the two rivers and accused each other of violating past agreements and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

A tense situation was created between police forces of the two states on November 30, last year at Nagarjuna Sagar Dam across the Krishna River after Andhra Pradesh officials forcibly released water for their state. The Centre had intervened to deploy the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and handed over control of the dam to the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB).

Many issues remained unresolved under the A.P. State Reorganisation Act 2014. Several meetings of the two states called by the Centre failed to resolve them.

These include the division of assets belonging to 23 corporations mentioned in the 9th schedule of the Reorganisation Act. Road Transport Corporation and State Finance Corporation are among the key bodies.

The two states also differ on the division of assets of 30 institutions mentioned in the 10th schedule of the Act. These include Raj Bhavan, High Court and Lok Ayukta.

Andhra Pradesh has been demanding its share in land parcels, buildings and bank reserves of common institutions located in Hyderabad in the ratio of 52:48 between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in proportion to their population.

Andhra Pradesh also demanded a share in Singareni Collieries Company Limited, a public sector undertaking but Telangana has rejected the demand.

There are also disputes relating to commercial tax arrears, power arrears and the Labour Welfare Fund.

Andhra Pradesh says Telangana is yet to clear the power dues to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore.

On June 2, which marked the 10th formation day of Telangana state, Hyderabad ceased to be the joint capital of both states.

A few days before this, CM Revanth Reddy had asked officials to take over buildings allotted to Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad for 10 years.

He had asked the officials concerned to prepare a report on all the pending issues related to the division of assets and payment of the debts between the two states after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Jaipur, July 4 : Rajasthan Agriculture Minister and senior BJP leader Dr Kirodi Lal Meena has resigned from the cabinet.

"I had announced to resign if we lose Dausa and other Lok Sabha seats assigned to me, so I cannot back out," he added.

Meena said that he was in Delhi for two days. The party's national general secretary had called him for talks, but could not meet him. Meena said that he has no resentment against the organisation or the chief Minister.

The BJP leader had said during the Lok Sabha elections that if he loses the seats for which he has been given responsibility, he will resign.

After the results, there was pressure on Meena to resign. Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra had also said that Meena should not back out and should resign.

Meena and Panchayati Raj Minister Madan Dilawar had a face-off recently over the transfer of engineers from the Agriculture Department, which was resented by the former.

Even before the results of the Lok Sabha elections were announced, Meena had hinted at resignation while posting on social media as trends had shown BJP losing 11 seats.

He even quoted Ramcharit Manas and said, "Raghukul reet sada chali aayi, pran jaaye par vachan na jaaye."

After resigning, Kirodi Lal Meena participated in a religious programme.

He said, "Reservation of those who convert religion due to greed and government's negligence should be abolished. The government should take strict action against those who split Hinduism. Rohingyas have entered Bengal and Assam. Rohingyas should be strictly stopped. They are very dangerous for the country. Religion should have control over politics."
Canberra, July 4 : A group of four Pro-Palestine protesters ascended to the roof of Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday morning where they hung banners on the facade of the building accusing the government of complicity in war crimes.

After descending from the rooftop, the protesters were detained by Australian Federal Police and Australian Capital Territory Police officers at approximately 11.45 a.m. local time on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a statement, police confirmed three men and one woman were arrested and are expected to be charged with trespass offenses.

"There isn't a place for engaging in protest which endangers others, there is no place for engaging in protest which defaces public institutions or public buildings," Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said at a press conference inside Parliament House while the protesters remained on the roof.

The protest took place on the final sitting day of the federal parliament before it goes on winter break until mid-August.
Bogota, July 4 : Colombian President Gustavo Petro welcomed Juan Fernando Cristo as head of the interior ministry, replacing Luis Fernando Velasco.

Bogota, July 4 (IANS) Colombian President Gustavo Petro welcomed Juan Fernando Cristo as head of the interior ministry, replacing Luis Fernando Velasco.

"We welcome Juan Fernando Cristo as minister of the interior, who will have the functions of promoting social reforms in Congress, coordinating compliance with the signed peace accord and building social and political bridges for the national agreement that promotes regulatory changes and use of constituent power," Petro said on X, reports Xinhua news agency.

Cristo, founder and president of the political party En Marcha, which was a component of the Historic Pact coalition that brought Petro to power, served as interior minister during Juan Manuel Santos' presidency. Cristo is known for his efforts to promote peace in the South American country.

A day earlier, Petro announced that Maria Constanza Garcia would assume the role of minister of transport. She is tasked with reactivating the railway system, one of the government's most ambitious projects.

In the coming days, Petro is expected to announce new ministerial appointments as part of a cabinet overhaul after his first two years in office. He stated that this move was necessary to strengthen his mandate and implement reforms in the country.
Mumbai, July 4 : Actress Brinda Dahal has shared about the challenges she had faced while shooting special scenes for the show 'Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya', saying she had to run barefoot multiple times in 46 degrees Celsius heat of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Brinda, who is essaying the lead role as Vaishnavi shared: "I am a very extroverted person. I make friends quickly, I talk a lot, and I express my feelings openly. My character, Vaishnavi, is quite different. She is calm and composed, an introvert around strangers but more open with people she knows. I enjoy playing my character, but sometimes I have to control my expressive nature."

Talking about the challenges, Brinda said: "I faced one difficulty while we were shooting in Banaras in 46 degrees Celsius heat. I had to run barefoot from one place to another multiple times to get the perfect shot. Only that was the hardest part of playing this character so far."

'Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiyaa also features Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Jaya Bhattacharya, Aashish Dixit, and Sara Khan.

The show is a family drama which revolves around Vaishnavi's devotion to Chhathi Maiyya, who protects and guides her worshippers through life, celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Vaishnavi (Brinda), is an orphan who venerates Chhathi Maiyya (Devoleena) as her mother.

In the recent episodes, Kartik stops Vikram from applying the sindoor. Instead, Kartik applies sindoor using his own blood by cutting his thumb. The family is happy about the marriage. It will be interesting to see what will happen next.

'Chhathi Maiyya Ki Bitiya' airs on Sun Neo.
London, July 4 : Voting was underway in the general election in the UK on Thursday at around 40,000 polling stations across the country.

Despite having time till January 25 to hold the elections, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on May 22 announced that the country will go to polls on July 4.

A strong 46.5 million electorate are expected to cast their ballots in 650 constituencies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, CNN reported.

To form a majority government, a party needs to win 326 seats.

Labour Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Reform UK, Scottish National Party (SNP), and the Green Party are the major parties in the country's political landscape.

According to a pre-poll survey, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer is projected to win a historic mandate against UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak.

The Labour Party is projected to win 484 seats, Conservatives, which have been in power for past for last 14 years, predicted to win 64 seats while the Democrats are likely to bag secure seats, the pre-poll survey said.
Mumbai, July 4 : Actor Chunky Panday, who is receiving a lot of praise for his streaming series 'Industry', has said that the film industry is very resilient and knows how to reinvent itself.

The actor quoted examples from a bygone era when the film industry was written off in the time of VHS and television but then it made a terrific comeback with film earning Rs 100 crore and eventually now eyeing Rs 1000 crore, case in point is the recently released 'Kalki 2898 AD'.

Chunky, who essays the role of Rakesh Raman in 'Industry', said: "In 1987, when VHS became a sensation, a lot of people predicted the film industry was going to shut down because everyone would switch to watching video cassettes. But, in turn, the industry only grew bigger. Then came television, and they said no one would go to theatres anymore, that people would just watch TV channels at home. But, to everyone's surprise, our film industry expanded even further. Then came OTT platforms, and they said it was over."

He further mentioned: "However, 'Baahubali', 'Pathaan', 'Jawaan', 'War', and many other blockbusters proved them wrong, and how. The industry has expanded, improved, and evolved significantly. One of the greatest strengths of our industry is that we continue to reinvent ourselves to resonate with the audience, whose preferences keep shifting with time."

'Industry' is available to stream on Prime Video.
Lucknow, July 4 : UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, planted saplings at his official residence under the 'Ek ped maa ke naam' initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The chief minister also appealed to the people to follow suit.

"Prime Minister Modi has appealed to the whole nation to plant a tree under the scheme 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' to protect themselves from global warming. Today, I planted a sapling at the chief ministeras residence under the same initiative. We have prepared 54 crores of saplings of peepal, neem, mango, pakad, sahjan in the nurseries of UP for this initiative on July 20," he said.

Earlier, in June, Prime Minister Modi had launched the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign on World Environment Day, celebrated on June 5.

The Prime Minister also planted a peepal tree sapling at Buddha Jayanti Park in Delhi.

While addressing the nation in his 111th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme, PM Modi said that with the thought of doing something for our mother, the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign was launched across the country on World Environment Day.

"If I ask you which is the most precious relationship in the world, you will definitely say, 'Mother'. In all our lives, the status of 'mother' is the highest. A mother nurtures her child despite facing every pain. Every mother shows affection for her child. This love of the mother who gave birth to us is like a debt to all of us that no one can repay. We cannot give anything to Mother, but can we do anything else? With this thought in mind, a special campaign has been started on World Environment Day. The name of this campaign is 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'. I have also planted a tree in the name of my mother," he had said.

"I have appealed to all my countrymen, people of all the countries of the world, to plant a tree along with their mother or in her name. I am very happy to see that the campaign of planting trees in the memory or honour of Mother is progressing rapidly," the Prime Minister had added.
Maruti to issue Rs12,841cr worth shares to Suzuki for 100% stake in Guj plant. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, July 4 : Japanese automobile company Suzuki Motor Corporation's subsidiary Next Bharat Ventures IFSC Private Limited on Thursday launched a Rs 340 crore investment fund -- Next Bharat -- that aims to act as a growth catalyst for the social impact startup ecosystem in India.

Next Bharat is a social impact investment fund dedicated to fostering impact entrepreneurs who are creating value for Tier II and below geographies. It aims to empower India's next billion by supporting these impact entrepreneurs.

"Bharat has about 1.4 billion people, but we have only reached about 0.4 billion with our mobility business. Our goal is to connect with the 'Next Billion' people of India, extending beyond mobility and becoming a part of India's future story," Toshihiro Suzuki, President and CEO of Suzuki Motor, said in a statement.

Next Bharat will support and invest in social entrepreneurs working in the fields of agriculture, financial inclusion, supply chain and mobility through the fund, with the aim of solving social issues in India through business.

"The Next Bharat investment framework focuses on horizontal scaling, aiming to create hundreds of profitable SMEs over a fund cycle, rather than concentrating on creating just two or three unicorns per fund cycle," said Vipul Nath Jindal, CEO and MD of Next Bharat.

The companyas flagship initiative, the 'Next Bharat Residency programme' includes a 4-month immersive residency for early-stage entrepreneurs.

The applications for the residency program are now open for all early-stage impact entrepreneurs.

The application deadline is set for July 31, and the programme is scheduled to commence on October 14, the company mentioned.

People selected for the programme will remain part of the Next Bharat community for life, receiving ongoing support and resources even after its conclusion. Post the residency programme, the selected startups will get Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore of equity Investments.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 4 : The Assembly on Thursday witnessed angry exchanges between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition (LoP) V.D. Satheesan on the conduct of the SFI, the CPI(M)'s student wing.

Joining the issue from outside the Assembly was state CPI Secretary Binoy Viswan who breathed fire on the present conduct of the Students' Federation of India (SFI).

In the past week, there have been multiple incidents involving the SFI activists -- an attack on the student wing of the Congress -- KSU activists -- in the state capital city, and in Kozhikode, a principal and a staff member of a college faced the wrath.

These incidents were taken up in the Assembly by Congress legislator M. Vincent who was attacked by the SFI activists early this week when he had gone to a police station here to meet detained KSU activists.

Vincent slammed CM Vijayan and the CPI(M) for patronising the SFI activists even as they engaged in criminal activities.

Defending the SFI activists, CM Vijayan said that it has now become a habit for the opposition and the media to tarnish the image of the SFI by propagating falsehoods.

"Of late, the SFI is being targeted and is being attacked with vested motives and interests and this is not right," said CM Vijayan.

But Satheesan said people like CM Vijayan, his party leaders and the government were giving all the support and motivation to the SFI by defending their criminal acts.

"With this reply of yours, it's now clear that you people will never learn or understand the backlash that you have suffered on account of this," said Satheesan. The opposition was pointing out that the poll debacle the Left led by the CPI(M) suffered in the Lok Sabha election.

With CM Vijayan rising from his seat followed by Satheesan and all the MLAs, the Assembly witnessed a tense situation. While pointing towards CM Vijayan Satheesan said, "You are no Maharaja, you are only the chief minister."

To this CM Vijayan replied, "I am not a Maharaja, I am only a servant of the people".

This was followed by sloganeering and the Speaker rushed through the listed business of the day and adjourned the House for the day.

Coming in for more attacks, SFI was slammed by Viswan, who heads the CPI in the state, the second biggest ally of the ruling Left.

"It's high time the style and approach of the present-day SFI change. What they are doing now does not match with the style of the Left. The present-day SFI has to change and if they fail to do so, then SFI will become a liability to the Left," said Viswan, while speaking to the media outside.
Mumbai, July 4 : NCP MP Supriya Sule on Thursday accused the MahaYuti government of playing "jumla" politics in the run-up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.

The trigger for her outburst was the MahaYuti government's slew of announcements in the Budget, including Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana.

She also asked the BJP to make its stand clear on the corruption charges against Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

"What is the current financial situation? The government should think about this. The way the government is borrowing, it is simply raining in jumla as the elections are around the corner. Government systems and money are being used to win elections and thereby come to power. Government should help the poor but how much to borrow?" she said.

"aNow look at the bullet train project when no one asked for it. All these issues should be considered. I am not surprised by the Budget presented last week," she added.

Sule said that she along with Dindori MP Bhaskar Bhagare and Beed MP Bajarang Sonawane have met Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and enquired about the Centre's policy on the export and import of milk, sugar and onions.

"However, one thing is clear, the people from rural areas have rejected the National Democratic Alliance on these issues," she added.

Meanwhile, Sule targeted her estranged cousin and Deputy Chief Minister Pawar after his post on X on his self-praise over the budgetary provisions for women, farmers and other sections.

"Maha Vikas Aghadi cannot reply to the corruption allegations against Ajit Pawar. But the MahaYuti should answer because the corruption charges were made by the BJP against Ajit Pawar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deputy Chief Minsiter Devendra Fadnavis among others had levelled corruption charges against Ajit Pawar. Therefore, the answer should come from them," said Sule.
Bengaluru, July 4 : The Karnataka BJP on Thursday demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's resignation over irregularities in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Addressing the media, senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition, R Ashoka said, "I have not got the copy of the order in which the government has given its consent."

"Thousands of crores worth of property has been given away and the Karnataka government has incurred heavy losses," he alleged.

He stated that the District Commissioner of Mysuru had written to MUDA for cancellation of the 50:50 scheme allotments.

He sought clarification on why consent of the government was not taken for the same.

"The MUDA officials have not bothered to respond to the DC and they have not written any letter in this regard to the government," Ashoka stated.

LoP Ashoka alleged that the land owned by CM Siddaramaiah's wife was acquired initially and after acquisition, the land was de-notified.

"We don't know on whose orders the de-notification was done. After de-notification, the MUDA has made infrastructure and a park. This has led to many suspicions as the de-notified land can't be touched by the MUDA," Ashoka stated.

"Even as it belonged to a prominent family it was acquired against the rules and the layout was made. Then MUDA President and Commissioner brought it into a 50:50 scheme against the compensation norm of 60:40. Under the 50:50 compensation scheme the MUDA will incur heavy losses," Ashoka stated.

"When the decision was taken to adopt a 50:50 scheme, they were supposed to take the consent of the government. The Urban Development Minister has to give approval, followed by the order of the government. I have not found any orders. I am still asking for those documents," Ashoka stated.

"The law says the compensation sites are to be given when acquisition is made. But, this land was not acquired at all. How is this possible? In 2023, the 50:50 scheme was cancelled by the government terming it as illegal. There seem to be a bunch of middlemen systematically operating," Ashoka alleged.

He added, "If the role of any BJP and JD(S) leaders is found, arrest them first. There is no objection from our side. The MUDA land scam should be handed over to the CBI."

BJP MLC, CT Ravi said it was not enough if clothes of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were clean as the scam amounting to thousands of crores had taken place at his native district Mysuru.

"To prove his innocence in the scam, CM Siddaramaiah will have to tender his resignation," Ravi demanded.

"We will provide documents and bring out this scam. Initiate action, if the illegalities are committed under the BJP government," he stated.

"Those who have committed the scam are close to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah," Ravi stated.
New Delhi, July 4 : The world of smartphone photography has been democratised by AI and machine learning, putting professional-level results within everyone's reach. AI algorithms are now sophisticated enough to handle challenging lighting, reduce noise for cleaner images, master HDR for perfectly balanced exposures, and much more.

Essentially, AI takes the guesswork out of capturing stunning photos, allowing anyone to unleash their creativity without needing to be a professional in photography. realme's upcoming offering takes this commitment even further with its 13 Pro Series 5G, boasting the world's first Sony LYT-701 sensor.

realme has consistently pushed the boundaries of camera technology, particularly in the mid-to-high segment. Their dedication is evident in achievements like the realme 12 Pro+, the latest in their flagship Number series, which earned the coveted title of No. 1 Camera Smartphone in its category on Flipkart.

This commitment to innovation sets the stage for realme's next leap forward, where AI takes centre stage, not as a mere feature, but as the driving force behind a revolutionary photography experience.

Following on the success of the 12 Pro Series 5G, realme is now on the cusp of unveiling its next flagship device within the same year: the long-awaited realme 13 Pro Series 5G positioned as the "ultra clear camera with AI" and the first AI professional camera smartphones designed to bring an ultra camera experience to users.

realme wants to redefine smartphone photography with its 13 Pro Series 5G, launching this month as the "First AI Imaging Phone" with the Sony LYT-701 sensor. This groundbreaking sensor is just one of two Sony sensors in the 13 Pro Series 5G, with the device featuring a 50MP OIS main camera with the Sony LYT-701 and a 50MP periscope telephoto camera with the Sony LYT-600, further solidifying its position as a camera powerhouse.

The device is built on HYPERIMAGE+, a disruptive, full-pipeline AI architecture that marks the latest achievement in realme's AI innovation. As the industry's first AI photography architecture, HYPERIMAGE+ features a three-layer structure: flagship optics, on-device AI imaging algorithms, and cloud-based AI image editing.

At its foundation, cutting-edge optics consisting of multiple lenses, periscope lenses, and large sensors form the base layer, capable of capturing high-quality images.

Building upon this, AI imaging algorithms and AI image editing further process image data to enhance the visual quality of photo and video content. This comprehensive approach takes mobile photography to new heights, enabling users to enjoy professional-grade photography from the convenience of their smartphones.

To showcase this ultramodern technology, realme is hosting a special AI imaging media preview event in Bangkok on July 4 prior to the device's unveiling. The event, titled "The Future is Here: AI is Revolutionising Mobile Imaging", will feature industry leaders and experts, including Sven-Olaf Steinke from TUV Rheinland and Toshimitsu Kurosaka from Sony Semiconductor Solutions.

During the event, realme will not only explore the future of AI in smartphone imaging but also announce a brand-new collaborative initiative with Sony. realme along with Sony is committed to push the boundaries of mobile photography, bringing DSLR-level AI camera technology to a wider audience.

With the 13 Pro Series 5G, you can capture breathtaking cityscapes, far-off landmarks, and fleeting moments on stage with astonishing clarity, even at 120X SuperZoom. AI Clarity Boost kicks in to rescue details usually lost in a blur of pixels, bringing the distant remarkably close. But HYPERIMAGE+ goes beyond impressive zoom.

It unlocks the full potential of every photo by utilising RAW domain image algorithms, a feature rarely seen in this price bracket, to extract maximum quality from every single pixel. This means professional-grade portraits that rival the richness and depth of those shot on DSLRs, low-light shots bursting with detail instead of noise, and telephoto images that remain crisp and vibrant, no matter how far you zoom.

The realme 13 Pro Series 5G also features advanced AI capabilities including AI HyperRAW Algorithm, AI Pure Bokeh, AI Natural Skin Tone, and AI Ultra Clarity, setting a new benchmark for portrait photography and overall image quality.

The realme 13 Pro Series 5G isn't just another smartphone launch; it's a statement. It embodies realme's commitment to democratising technology, making cutting-edge advancements like AI-powered imaging accessible to everyone, especially young users who demand the best.

The 13 Pro Series 5G builds on the legacy of the Number Series, pushing the boundaries of what a smartphone camera can achieve and solidifying realme's position as a leader in mobile photography innovation.
Kabul, July 4 : At least four people died as a vehicle turned turtle in northern Afghanistan's Samangan province, a local official reported Thursday.

The incident happened on a district road along the highway linking Samangan with neighboring Balkh province when a vehicle veered off the road and overturned, leaving four dead on the spot and one injured, state-run media Bakhtar news agency quoted Qari Mohammad Nazir Saad, a provincial official for traffic, reported Xinhua news agency.

The official blamed overspeeding as one of the major causes of the accident.

Overloading, overspeeding, dilapidated roads, old vehicles, lack of safety measures during travel and reckless driving on congested highways are among the main reasons for road mishaps in the mountainous Asian country.
Vientiane, July 4 : Lao authorities have discussed preparations for the 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings, which will take place in Lao capital Vientiane from July 21 to 27.

Lao National Radio reported on Thursday that a preparatory meeting was held Wednesday and chaired by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, reported Xinhua news agency.

During the meeting, participants were briefed about the progress made by sub-committees in preparation for the major regional events. The preparatory work covers accommodation for ministers and delegations from more than 34 countries, delegate vehicles, transport, communication and internet facilities, among others.

Speaking at the meeting, Saleumxay urged relevant authorities to continue their efforts in preparing for the upcoming regional events.
Kolkata, July 4 : The West Bengal Police, on Thursday, arrested two more persons in the case of assault on a woman in a Kangaroo Court at Chopra in North Dinajpur district, a video of which has gone viral.

With this, the total number of arrests so far has risen to four.

State police sources identified the two persons as Abdul Rauf and Taherul Islam. Both are co-accused in the assault case. They were spotted in the same video escorting the prime accused, a local Trinamool Congress leader Tejemul a.k.a. JCB.

JCB was seen mercilessly beating the woman in the video.

On Sunday evening, just hours after the video went viral, JCB was arrested and on the next day was remanded to five days of police custody.

On Wednesday, the police arrested another accused, Budha Mohammad.

The Chopra incident was even mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech in Parliament who criticized the INDIA bloc allies for remaining silent in the matter.

A member of the National Commission for Women (NCW) also came to Chopra and interacted with the victim woman. Governor C.V. Ananda Bose too launched a scathing attack on the state administration for failing to thwart such an incident.

The Trinamool Congress has censored the party legislator from Chopra, Hamidul Rahman for his initial comments where he tried to downplay the incident after the video went viral. The party leadership has also directed all the panchayat heads and local club authorities in Chopra to keep a strict vigil on similar Kangaroo Courts.
New Delhi, July 4 : Optiemus Unmanned Systems (OUS), a subsidiary of homegrown telecommunications and electronics manufacturing company Optiemus Infracom Limited, said on Thursday that it will invest Rs 140 crore and offer a pioneering model of 'Drone as a Service' for the agriculture sector with a fleet of 5,000 drones by the end of 2025.

The company has launched its range of drones in the agricultural and mapping category, which will be powered by components designed and manufactured in India.

The company also said that it will train around 6,000 pilots to manage a fleet of 5,000 drones by the end of 2025, adding that it is targeting a service revenue of around Rs 600 crore to Rs 900 crore by next year's end.

"It is our effort to revolutionise traditional farming practices and enhance crop yields while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship," Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairman, Optiemus Infracom Limited, said in a statement.

"We have already got a portfolio of military-grade drones and have started selling our drones to Indiaas defence and paramilitary forces," he added.

The company said its main goal is to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Make in India' and contribute towards the prosperity of farmers who are the backbone of the country.

To support and contribute towards PM Modias vision, OUS has launched the 'Agri Shakti 10L' at a starting price of Rs 2.25 lakh plus GST.

The Agri Shakti 10L is an agricultural drone that can fly for up to 15 minutes at maximum capacity and supports a 10-litre spray tank capable of spraying 1 acre in approximately 7 minutes.
Mumbai, July 4 : In another bid to instill investors' confidence in the stock markets, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on Thursday asked brokers to have a proper mechanism to prevent and detect market abuse as well as fraud.

In a circular, the markets regulator said that stock brokers need to put in place an institutional mechanism for prevention and detection of fraud or market abuse.

The markets regulator said stock brokers will comply with the mechanisms as laid down in the Broker Regulations.

These mechanisms are to ensure "systems for surveillance of trading activities and internal controls; obligations of the stock broker and employees; escalation and reporting mechanisms and Whistle Blower Policy".

Qualified Stock Brokerages (QSBs) will need to implement these mechanisms from August 1 while other brokerages will have to roll these out between January 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026.

The circular stated that the standards of implementation, including operational modalities will be formulated by the brokers' Industry Standards Forum (ISF), in consultation with the SEBI.

The provisions of this circular will come into force in a risk-based, staggered manner to ensure smooth adoption and effective implementation for all the stock brokers by providing enough time for stock brokers, based on their size, for making necessary changes, said the markets regulator.
Mumbai, July 4 : In the upcoming episode of 'Bigg Boss OTT 3', several housemates including Munisha Khatwani, Ranvir Shorey and Sana Makbul will be seen having an outburst.

Munisha will be seen openly discussing the recently evicted contestant Poulomi Das's behaviour in a conversation with her fellow housemates. The celebrated tarot card reader will be seen expressing her disappointment over Poulomi's loss of temper and its impact on her image.

"Whatever the situation, Poulomi should have thought about her image," Munisha remarked.

"In a reality show like this, it's crucial to maintain one's composure and be mindful of how one is perceived. Her reaction was overly hyper, and I feel it could have been managed better."

Later in the episode, Ranvir is seen clashing with co-housemate Sana Makbul in the kitchen and even called her "brainless." The two will be seen clashing over kitchen responsibilities.

The fight began when Ranvir, who oversees the breakfast preparations, instructed the kitchen team to clean up vegetable peels and trash left on the platform.

Sana, who was assigned to chop vegetables for breakfast/lunch, took offence and shared that cleaning was not her duty but Ranvir's.

"My work is chopping, not cleaning. That's your duty. I usually do it, but you don't have to poke me every time."

Ranvir asked Sana to lower her voice, and she said: "You need to use your brain and listen!"

Ranvir retorted: "Buddhi ki baat tum mat karo, Mandbuddhi!"

The show airs on JioCinema Premium.
Thimphu, July 4 : Eminent Indian business leaders from various sectors, including infrastructure, financial services, education, hospitality, healthcare, and technology, concluded their three-day visit to Thimpu on Thursday after having engaging conversations on expanding trade and economic ties between India and Bhutan.

The business delegation from the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Kolkata, led by its President Ameya Prabhu, held discussions with senior officials from the Bhutanese government, members of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I), representatives from prominent business associations and eminent entrepreneurs from the country during their visit.

The Embassy of India in Thimphu also organised a special interactive session on Wednesday at the India House for the ICC business delegation and the Bhutanese business community where Sudhakar Dalela, Ambassador of India to Bhutan, highlighted the remarkable growth in India-Bhutan trade and economic partnership.

"The Ambassador shared with the delegation the recent initiatives undertaken by two governments to boost connectivity and trade facilitation, stressing significant opportunities to further strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries," the Embassy said in a statement on Thursday.

During the visit, the delegation called-on Bhutan Prime Minister of Bhutan Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Employment Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, Minister of Finance Lyonpo Lekey Dorji, and the Minister for Education and Skill Development Lyonpo Yeezang De Thapa.

Fruitful interactions on expanding India-Bhutan trade and economic ties with the Bhutanese business community were also held at a special business session hosted

by Dasho Tandy Wangchuk, President of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Lucknow, July 4 : Six people have been arrested in connection with the stampede in UP's Hathras district during a religious discourse on Tuesday that left 121 people dead.

Aligarh Range Inspector General (IG) Shalabh Mathur told reporters on Thursday, "Six people, including four men and two women, have been arrested in connection with the incident. They are all members of the organising committee and worked as 'Sevadars'."

'Mukhya Sevadar' Dev Prakash Madhukar has been identified as the main accused in the FIR. The police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest.

A total of 121 persons, mostly women, died while 31 others were injured in the stampede at the 'Satsang' conducted by self-styled godman Narayan Sakaar Hari or 'Bhole Baba' in Hathras on Tuesday.

Mathur said the stampede occurred as people ran after the preacheras convoy to touch the dust under his feet, adding that a conspiracy angle in the incident would be probed.

Replying to a query, the IG said that so far, the role of the preacher in the incident has not been established.
Manila, July 4 : Philippine police have arrested an Australian national for cracking a bomb joke while checking in at an airport in Zamboanga del Norte province in the southern Philippines, a local news outlet reported on Thursday.

The GMA News Online report said police detained a 69-year-old Australian national on Wednesday after he told an airport security officer in Dipolog City that he was carrying a bomb, reported Xinhua news agency.

When the airport agent asked the man if his bag contained electronic devices, he allegedly said: "No, just an atomic bomb." Sensing that the joke did not amuse the agent, the passenger said it was a joke.

Authorities arrested the man, albeit no bomb was found in his bag. And he is now facing charges for violation of the anti-bomb joke law, the local media reported.

Bomb jokes are banned in the Philippines. Security and law enforcers seriously take jokes that refer to bombs, explosives, or any instruments of violence while at the airport or on board any flights.

Eight bomb jokes were reported in 2023, and the airport authorities logged three incidents as of January 2024. The incidents happened in different airports, check-in counters, hold baggage areas, and inside aircraft.

In May, the Philippines' immigration bureau warned that foreign nationals involved in bomb jokes may face denial of entry to the Southeast Asian country or deportation.
Mumbai, July 4 : Telugu superstar Pawan Kalyan, who recently tasted victory in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, has said that he will continue to work in films.

Kalyan also assumed charge as the Deputy CM of Andhra Pradesh, leaving the fans with a bittersweet feeling as they thought that the actor would now be engaged full-time in politics.

But Pawan Kalyan has finally broken silence on his stand on films. The Actor assured fans that he would be doing films. As per Track Tollywood, the actor shared the timeline as he said that he will start doing films in the next three months. He will start completing three films which were put on hold.

These films include aHari Hara Veera Mallua, aOGa and aUstaad Bhagat Singha. It is reported that the actor will first concentrate on completing these films. However, thereas no clarity about him taking up new projects. Producer A. M. Rathnam has also recently said that he was hoping to release aHari Hara Veera Mallua in theatres this December. The film also stars Bobby Deol. The film, which was announced in 2019, went through several production delays owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

As per media reports, director Krish Jagarlamudi, who was earlier supposed to helm the film, has walked out of the project as a director and will be reportedly serving as a mentor to A. M. Rathnamas son, Jyothi Krishna.

aOGa is also said to have been pushed to next year. aUstaad Bhagat Singha too may release next year.
New Delhi, July 4 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Russia and Austria on July 8-10, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.

Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Moscow on July 8 at the invitation of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

"The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest," the MEA stated.

He will thereafter travel to Austria on July 9 which will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 41 years.

PM Modi will call on Austria's President Alexander Van der Bellen and also hold talks with Chancellor of Austria, Karl Nehammer. The two leaders will also address business leaders from India and Austria.

The MEA detailed that Prime Minister Modi will interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow as well as in Vienna.
Mumbai, July 4 : The Maharashtra Legislative Council on Thursday reduced Leader of Opposition (LoP), Ambadas Danve's suspension period to three days from five days.

This will help LoP Danve to participate in the House proceedings from Friday.

Danve, who is the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, was suspended on Tuesday for five days (up to July 8) for using abusive and derogatory language against BJP legislator Prasad Lad during discussions on Monday.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had on Tuesday said the decision to suspend Danve was one-sided and a pre-planned conspiracy.

However, he had apologised for the remarks made by Danve if they hurt women, but asked what action was taken against BJP and Shiv Sena leaders for making such comments outside the House.

Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators on Wednesday had urged Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson, Neelam Gorhe, to revoke Danve's suspension as he was ready to apologise for his words.

Thereafter, Danve gave a written apology to Gorhe on Wednesday.

Maharashtra Legislative Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil on Thursday proposed reduction in Danve's suspension to three days, citing his apology.

The state council passed a resolution unanimously to reduce his suspension period.
London, July 4 : A British warship, deployed to the Caribbean since the end of 2023, will arrive in the Cayman Islands this weekend to offer support following the devastation brought in the region this week by Hurricane Beryl.

Royal Navy warship HMS Trent, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, will be ready to offer assistance with equipment and support to help communities affected by flooding and storm damage, the UK Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.

The hurricane, which has previously been rated Category 5, could bring winds of more than 155mph and has already caused a large amount of destruction in the region this week.

HMS Trent has a crew of over 50 sailors and departed from Puerto Rico on Wednesday, carrying bottled water, basic emergency supplies, and equipment.

According to the UK government, the ship has a Crisis Response Troop embarked, comprising members of 24 Commando Royal Engineers and their equipment, and further augmented with personnel to support planning, information operations, meteorological forecasting, and image capture.

"Additional personnel include a team from 700X Naval Air Squadron who provide HMS Trentas embarked PUMA Flight (Remote Piloted Air System), allowing them to conduct airborne reconnaissance and damage assessment in direct support of 24 Commando activity," it said in a statement Thursday.

A specialist Rapid Deployment Team has already travelled to the Eastern Caribbean to provide consular assistance to any affected British Nationals.

The UK said that it continues to work with the Caribbean's crisis response organisation, CDEMA, to provide assistance for the worst affected islands, including St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.

Hurricane Beryl has been described as the earliest ever Category 5 storm to form in the Atlantic, with storms of this scale usually recorded later in the summer.
Ranchi, July 4 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Executive President Hemant Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at a ceremony organised at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan administered Hemant Soren the oath of office and secrecy at the ceremony attended by outgoing Chief Minister Champai Soren, Congress's Jharkhand in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir, and top leaders of the INDIA bloc's Jharkhand unit.

The rest of the Cabinet ministers will be administered oath on Sunday.

Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. On June 28, Soren was granted bail, and on the seventh day, he took the oath as the Chief Miinister.

When Soren went to the Raj Bhavan to resign before his arrest, Champai Soren, who accompanied the JMM leader, staked a claim to form the government and took over as the Chief Minister on February 2.

This is the third time that Soren is taking oath as the Chief Minister after December 29, 2019, and July 13, 2013.

Two hours before taking oath, Soren shared a file photo on X in which he could be seen submitting his resignation to the Governor. Along with the photo, he wrote, "Har anyaay ko pata hai ki ek din use nyay parast karega (Justice will prevail over injustice). Jai Jharkhand."

On Wednesday, Champai Soren submitted his resignation to the Governor at the Raj Bhavan, barely five months after taking oath, following which Soren handed over a Letter of Support to the Governor, staking claim to form the new government.
Islamabad, July 4 : At least seven people of a family were killed and 10 others injured on Thursday after a van plunged into a ravine in Haripur district of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the rescue service reported.

The rescue service told media that the accident took place in the wee hours when the passenger van fell into a gorge while taking a sharp turn, resulting in casualties, Xinhua news agency reported.

Upon receiving the information, rescue workers immediately reached the site and shifted the victims to a hospital, said the rescue service, adding that most of the injured were in critical condition.

All the people in the van belonged to the same family, the rescue service said.

Reportedly, the passengers in the ill-fated van, after attending a wedding ceremony, were travelling from Swabi Maira area of Haripur district to the airport in federal capital Islamabad.
New Delhi, July 4 : Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president Hemant Soren took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the Raj Bhavan on Thursday. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.

After taking the oath, Hemant Soren issued a video message and pledged to give a fresh push to the stalled developmental projects.

Describing his imprisonment as a well-planned conspiracy, the Chief Minister said that those who plotted against him were unable to digest the fact that a person from the tribal community rose to such a stature and became the Chief Minister.

"On January 31, I was put behind bars on flimsy grounds and fake complaints. For five months, fabricated charges were levelled at me to keep me incarcerated. But, we maintained our faith in the judiciary. There may be some delay but no darkness in God's way of giving justice," Soren said while thanking his supporters and people of the state for their unwavering support.

He also said that some development programmes might have got delayed and stuck due to his incarceration but all that will be set in motion, very soon.

"Our government will work hard to extend the benefits of government schemes to the poor and marginalised, impoverished and deprived class," he said in the video message.

Hemant Soren was released from jail last week after the Jharkhand High Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

He had resigned as the CM before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate.

Hemant Soren's swearing-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand was attended by his father and JMM supremo Shibu Soren, mother Rupi Soren, wife Kalpana Soren and other senior members of the JMM-led alliance.

Champai Soren, the veteran JMM leader who quit the CM post to pave way for Hemant Soren's swearing-in, also congratulated him on the formation of a new government.

Notably, Champai Soren was initially reluctant about stepping down from the CMas chair and had to be convinced and persuaded to vacate the chair for Hemant Soren.

He eventually relented when assured of some plum position in the government or key organisational role in the party.
China's police chief urges further crackdown on organized crime

Xinhua) 11:07, July 04, 2024

BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong on Wednesday urged all-out efforts to further combat and eliminate organized crime to ensure social stability and happy, peaceful lives for the people.

Wang, also a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a national conference on combating organized crime held for public security authorities.

Wang stressed the importance of cracking down on organized crime in accordance with the law, and of dismantling mafia-like crime rings as well as their shelters and networks.

He called for efforts to tackle not only the emergence but also the root cause of organized crime, and for work to coordinate those efforts with preemptive measures targeting organized crime, particularly in key areas and sectors and at the primary level.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Washington, July 4 : The US Justice Department has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its outreach to Hindu Americans in view of the rising threats posed by Hinduphobia and hate crimes against the community.

Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian American member of the House of Representatives, said the Justice Department conveyed its commitment at a briefing last week along with four other Indian American lawmakers, who are together called the 'Samosa Caucus' -- Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar.

They had called for the meeting in view of the rising incidents of vandalism at temples across the country.

"Last week's meeting was an important starting point for addressing the threats posed by Hinduphobia as the rate of hate crimes across the nation grows and as American Hindus and their places of worship face harassment, vandalism, and even grave dangers," Krishnamoorthi said.

"While the Department of Justice has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its outreach to the Hindu American community, significant challenges remain as we continue to work to protect Hindus, and every other American community, from hate crimes."

The Sherawali Temple in Hayward, California, was vandalised in January, barely a month after a similar incident at the Swaminarayan Temple in Newark, New Jersey.

Anti-India graffiti and a pro-Khalistan slogan were spray-painted on the California temple while a similar graffiti was left behind by the miscreants in the second instance.

The lawmakers had also expressed concern over the spread of misinformation about Hindus on social media platforms.

"We have observed an alarming increase in incidents of vandalism at houses of worship across the country, including at Hindu mandirs (temples)," the five lawmakers had written in a letter to the Justice Department in March.

"We, the undersigned Members of Congress of South Asian descent, write to request a briefing from the Department of Justice on the status of the investigations concerning these crimes to better understand the existing law enforcement coordination between local agencies, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Civil Rights Division," it added.
Kolkata, July 4 : A suspected Bangladeshi cattle smuggler suffered injuries after attacking a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal's Nadia district on Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi national has been arrested and admitted to the hospital for treatment.

The BSF has registered strong protest with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against attacks by Bangladeshi criminals on Indian border guarding troops.

There have been repeated incidents over the last several days due to which BSF personnel have been forced to open fire with their non-lethal Pump Action Guns (PAGs) and even Insas rifles in self-defence.

"The incident occurred along an unfenced border under the jurisdiction of the Maluapara border outpost, where personnel of the 32nd BSF Battalion are posted. The jawans on duty spotted 3-4 Bangladeshi cattle smugglers trying to make their way into the Indian territory. The group, armed with sharp-edged weapons and bamboo canes, was taking advantage of the tall jute crop.

"Seeing them, one of the BSF jawans rushed forward and challenged the miscreants, upon which four more Bangladeshis emerged from the jute field and attacked him. He fired two rounds at a safe direction in an attempt to scare away the attackers, but it had no effect.

"One of the criminals slashed at him with a sharp-edged weapon. Fortunately, the blow landed on the upper handguard of the jawan's rifle. Finally, upon realising that he was outnumbered, the jawan fired one more shot at the smugglers. This forced them to flee through the tall jute crops, taking advantage of the darkness," said A.K. Arya, DIG and spokesperson, BSF, South Bengal Frontier.

The area was searched at around 4 a.m. during which a sharp-edged weapon and an injured Bangladeshi national were found more than 200 metres inside the Indian territory.

The man, identified as Md Ajmul Hossain, was rushed to the Krishnaganj Hospital in a BSF ambulance. Hossain is a resident of Thakurpur village in Chuadanga district of Bangladesh.

"Despite frequent flag meetings with the BGB to alert them about frequent attacks and illegal infiltration by Bangladeshi criminals, no concrete action has been taken by them. This inaction has emboldened the smugglers and criminals. Nevertheless, our jawans are steadfast in protecting our borders and ensuring the security of our nation under all circumstances," Arya said.

The issue also came up for discussion during the recently-concluded IG-level conference between the BSF and the BGB in Kolkata after which Bangladeshi authorities assured action.
Tehran, July 4 : Iran's Acting President Mohammad Mokhber on Thursday urged the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to use the country's southern ports in the North-South Corridor for faster and cheaper trade with the world.

In his address at the SCO Summit held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Mokhber stated that since transit and commercial activities are complementary to each other, Tehran suggests the creation of a "joint free zones network" and establishing economic agreements, such as preferential and Free Trade Agreements at the organisation level.

He mentioned that there are many opportunities and capacities in the territory of the SCO member countries in the field of trade, production, energy, transportation, agriculture, customs, telecommunications, as well as the development of technology in the field of artificial intelligence, for interaction, which should be used for the benefit of the welfare of nations.

Iran's Acting President also opined that establishment of the "Shanghai Joint Bank" can improve the level of cooperation among the member countries in the financial and economic fields.

Iran also declared its full readiness to implement the operational programme of scientific and technological cooperation among the member countries of the organisation in priority areas, especially in the field of the latest medical technologies, biotechnology and artificial intelligence.

"I am confident that the decisions and agreements that will be made following the results of today's meeting will play a significant role in increasing the level of coordination to jointly deal with current and emerging threats and challenges, as well as improving the level of cooperation between member countries in various economic, political, scientific and cultural fields," he concluded.

In May, India had signed a 10-year contract with Iran to develop and operate the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar port - which serves as a vital trade artery connecting India with Afghanistan and Central Asian Countries - on the country's south-eastern coast.
Agartala, July : Amid the Tipra Motha Party's (TMP) expressing its strong displeasure over sluggish progress in implementing the tripartite accord signed between the Centre, the Tripura government, and it for "constitutional solution" of problems faced by tribals, party supremo Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma on Thursday met three Union Ministers in Delhi and demanded support for the development of the tribals.

Debbarma, accompanied by his sister and Tripura East MP Kriti Devi Debbarman, met Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram and Union Minister of State Jayant Chaudhary.

TMP sources on Thursday said that Debbarma discussed various affairs of tribalsa development in Tripura and demanded adequate support from the Union Ministers.

Following his meeting with Scindia, the TMP leader, he, in a post on X, said: aMet DoNER Minister JM Scindia and appraised him of the problems faced by the Indigenous tribes of Tripura, especially in the 6th schedule areas. Social impact assessment and audit of the projects must be done. And Informed him about the projects which can be implemented in TTAADC."

After meeting Oram, Debbarma posted: "Tripura used to be an indigenous /tribal state and over the years due to various factors, we, the indigenous, have become a minority in our own land. Requested him to financially empower the TTAADC."

The TMP has been governing, since April 2021, the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), which has jurisdiction over two-thirds of the state's 10,491 square km area and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals. In political significance, it is the second most important constitutional body in the state after the Assembly.

The TMP, which won 13 seats - all reserved for tribals - in the 2023 Assembly polls, on March 2, signed the tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government and on March 7, two MLAs of the party became ministers of the BJP-led government.

The tripartite agreement envisaged the setting up of a Joint Working Group/Committee to work out and implement the mutually agreed issues in a time-bound manner to ensure an "honourable" solution to tribals' demands.

However, TMP President Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl and other leaders last week expressed concern over the implementation of the tripartite accord, and announced that the party would contest the three-tier panchayat polls in July or August alone.

"We cannot lose our identity as a regional party. We would highlight the basic issues and problems of the tribals. We would fight for the constitutional solutions of the tribals' demands and issues," Hrangkhawl had told the media.

The TMP is seeking aGreater Tipralanda or a separate state for the tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. However, the BJP strongly opposed the demand.
Mumbai, July 4 : The actors of 'Saajha Sindoor'-- Krutika Desai and Sahil Uppal -- have talked about their shooting experience in Rajasthan, sharing the challenges they faced while filming for the show.

Krutika discussed the challenges of shooting in sarees and makeup in 50-degree C heat, while Sahil embraced the flavours of Rajasthan, experiencing a culinary delight that refreshed his taste buds.

Krutika, who plays Dhara in 'Saajha Sindoor', said: "Shooting in Rajasthan's scorching 50-degree C heat was truly challenging. Wearing sarees and makeup under those conditions felt like being cooked on a frying pan."

"It was a real endurance test. Despite the tough circumstances, I must commend our team's dedication. The experience was tough, yet it was incredibly enriching, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to portray Dhara in such a vibrant setting," she added.

Sharing his solo adventures, Sahil said: "Exploring Rajasthan's local cuisine during breaks was a delightful escape for me. Despite the intense heat during the shoot, I found joy in discovering the region's culinary treasures."

"From savoring Dal Bhatti to indulging in Ghevar desserts, every bite was a refreshing break and a chance to connect deeply with the vibrant local culture. It added a whole new dimension to my experience of shooting in this beautiful land," he added.

The show also starring Sangita Ghosh, Stuti Vinkle, and Neelu Vaghela airs on Sun Neo.
Mumbai, July 4 : Kajal Aggarwal has termed legendary actress late Sridevi's eyes as the most captivating in the film industry.

Known for her work in Tamil and Telugu films, Kajal launched her lifestyle brand 'Kateeka' meaning beautiful eyes in Mumbai on Thursday.

When asked which actress' eyes she finds the most beautiful, Kajal said, "All my contemporaries and seniors have stunning eyes, which have undoubtedly contributed to their success. But if I have to pick a favourite, it would be Sridevi. I've always been a huge admirer of her captivating eyes."

The actress also shared that the family member who brings maximum joy to her home is her son Neil.

"It has to be my son Neil. He brings happiness into the lives of everyone in our house. Seeing him always brings a smile to our faces, no matter how tired we are. He has a magical way of dispelling all exhaustion."
Chandigarh, July 4 : To save groundwater, the Punjab government has set a target to adopt direct seeding of rice (DSR) over five lakh acres, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said here on Thursday.

He said over two lakh acres have already been sown using the DSR technique, which was 1.72 lakh acres higher than the last year.

The minister said the government has been providing financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to encourage the farmers to adopt the DSR technique.

The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has allocated Rs 50 crore to provide financial assistance to farmers opting for this technique during 2024-25. The government had provided Rs 20.33 crore as financial assistance to 17,116 farmers for adopting DSR in 2023-24.

Khudian urged the farmers to join hands with the government to save the groundwater by opting for DSR. He said the farmers, who have opted for the DSR, need to register on the government portal - agrimachinerypb.com - till July 15 to get the financial assistance. The DSR technique not only helps conserve water but also reduces labour costs and gives high yields, he added.
Mumbai, June 4 : The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the licence of Banaras Merchantile Co-operative Bank Limited, Varanasi.

The Reserve Bank said the licence of the bank has been cancelled as it does not have adequate capital and earning prospects.

Consequently, the bank ceases to carry on banking business with effect from the close of business on Thursday (July 4).

"Consequent to the cancellation of its licence, Banaras Merchantile Co-operative Bank Limited, Varanasi, is prohibited from conducting the business of 'banking' which includes, among other things, acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits with immediate effect," the RBI said.

The Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Uttar Pradesh, has also been requested to issue an order for winding up the bank and appoint a liquidator for it, the RBI said on Thursday.

Observing that the continuance of the Varanasi bank is prejudicial to the interests of its depositors, the RBI said "the bank with its present financial position would be unable to pay its present depositors in full".

The RBI added, "Public interest would be adversely affected if the bank is allowed to carry on its banking business any further."

The RBI also said that on liquidation, every depositor would be entitled to receive deposit insurance claim amount of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5 lakh from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) subject to the provisions of DICGC Act, 1961.

As per the data submitted by the bank, 99.98 per cent of the depositors are entitled to receive the full amount of their deposits from DICGC.

As of April 30, 2024, DICGC has already paid Rs 4.25 crore of the total insured deposits under the provisions of Section 18A of the DICGC Act, 1961, based on the willingness received from the concerned depositors of the bank.
Jerusalem, July 4 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved the dispatch of a delegation for negotiations on a ceasefire deal with the Hamas in Gaza and the release of hostages, a senior Israeli official said on Thursday.

Israel's decision to take part in the talks, which are likely to take place in Egypt or Qatar, came a day after the Qatari and Egyptian mediators, backed by the United States, delivered Hamas' response to a proposed deal to Israel, Xinhua news agency reported.

"After a preliminary discussion, Prime Minister Netanyahu approved sending the negotiating delegation," the official said, speaking on conditions of anonymity.

The source reiterated that Israel would agree that "the war will end only after it has achieved all its goals -- and not a moment before".

Also on Thursday, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that government officials voiced "optimism" about the chances of reaching a deal, describing Hamas' response as "the best" since the beginning of the indirect negotiations.

Hamas said on Wednesday that it consulted with the Qatari and Egyptian mediators about the proposed deal.

"We exchanged some ideas with the mediator brothers to stop the aggression against our Palestinian people," the group said in a statement.

The recent development marks a renewed effort to negotiate an end to the nearly nine-month-long conflict, which, according to the Gaza-based health authorities, has resulted in the deaths of more than 38,000 Palestinians in the enclave.

Israel launched a massive offensive in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage.
New Delhi, July 4 : Minister of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu that the Central government will provide all possible assistance to the state for the development of agriculture and rural areas.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu and Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani were also present on the occasion.

During the meeting, productive discussions were held on agriculture, farmers' welfare, and rural development in Andhra Pradesh, according to an official statement issued after the meeting.

Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjeev Chopra, Union Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh and senior officials from Andhra Pradesh were also present at the meeting.

Shivraj Chouhan has already instructed officials to ensure that adequate availability of inputs like fertilisers and seeds are made available in the ongoing Kharif season.

With the aim of promoting development of the agriculture sector, Shivraj Chouhan has also initiated discussions with the agriculture ministers of various states.

The Union Minister said that the interest of farmers and the agriculture sector was paramount for the government.
Bengaluru, July 4 : A special Bengaluru court Thursday ordered veteran BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, along with other accused, to appear before it on July 15 in connection with the case of sexual harassment of a minor under the Pocso Act against him.

The Special Pocso First Fast Track Court ordered authorities to issue summons to Yediyurappa and other accused, considering the charge sheet submitted by the CID in the Pocso case against Yediyurappa.

The CID, which is probing the case against Yediyurappa, had submitted a charge sheet against him in the special fast track court here on June 27.

As per the charge sheet, Yediyurappa, in collusion with the other three accused, had been charged under the Pocso Act and IPC's sections 354(A) (sexual harassment), 204 (destroying document or electronic record) and 214 (offering bribe to another person to make them conceal an offence).

The other accused face charges of colluding with Yediyurappa to hush up the case under IPC's sections 204 and 214.

The charge sheet mentions that the complainant had gone to meet Yediyurappa at his residence on Feb 2 this year to seek his help regarding the sexual assault against her 17-year-old daughter.

Yediyurappa, holding the wrist of the girl, took her into a room in his residence, locked it, and sexually harassed her by putting his hand into her bra and pressing her chest, it said. However, it mentions that the girl resisted and came out of the room. Afterwards, the BJP leader had refused to help them.

When the victim uploaded the photo and video on a social media account, the accused had got them called to his residence through other accused persons and gave Rs 2 lakh cash to the complainant. The accused had also got the photos and video deleted from social media and from the iPhone gallery.

The victim's mother had passed away on May 26 due to health complications in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Yediyurappa had refuted the charges and said that he was ready to face any case. "A mother and daughter were found near my residence. We did not entertain them out of suspicion. But, once I saw them sitting near my house with tears in their eyes. I called them and asked why they were weeping. They claimed that they were going through a big crisis. I called up Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand asked him to help them out. The woman and daughter started talking against me there itself and they were sent out."

"Then the matter had taken a different turn. If we come forward to help, these are the consequences to be faced. I had even given them money after hearing their woes. I will face everything," the former Chief Minister had said.
Beijing, July 4 : Chinese geologists have discovered two new minerals at the world's largest rare-earth mine in northern China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has announced.

The two new niobium-scandium minerals, named Oboniobite and Scandio-fluoro-eckermannite, were discovered in the Bayan Obo deposit in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The discovery was made through a collaboration between the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd., Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths, and Central South University, the CAS publicity office confirmed with the Xinhua news agency on Thursday.

Li Xianhua, a CAS academician, on behalf of the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, announced the findings, noting that the International Mineralogical Association has confirmed their status as new minerals and approved their naming, according to a CAS press release.

Niobium and scandium are both extremely rare strategically critical metals. Niobium is mainly used in special steels, superconducting materials and aerospace industries, while scandium is widely used in aluminum-scandium alloys and solid oxide fuel cells.

Li said that the new minerals contain valuable elements that have significant applications in fields such as new materials, new energy, information technology, aerospace, national defense and military industry, and are of great significance to the country's economic and social development.

Li Xiao, general manager of Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., Ltd., a major steelmaker in China, said that Bayan Obo has abundant mineral resources, such as iron, niobium, scandium, thorium and fluorite.

Since 1959, 18 new minerals have been discovered in this deposit, and Oboniobite and Scandio-fluoro-eckermannite are the 19th and 20th discovered here, said Li Xiao.

Fan Hongrui, a researcher of the CAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, said that Oboniobite is yellow-brown to brown in color. It is plate-like and ranges from 20 to 100 micrometers in size.

Scandio-fluoro-eckermannite is the first mineral containing scandium ever discovered in China. It is named after the CAS academician Zhai Mingguo in honor of his outstanding contribution in China's study of mineral deposits. It is pale yellow or light blue and columnar, with a size of up to 350 micrometers, said Fan.
Beijing, July 4 : At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the People's Republic of Bangladesh will pay an official visit to China from July 8 to 10, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday.

"This will be Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first visit to China since her new term began and five years after her last visit to China," Mao said at a daily press briefing, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will also meet the Bangladeshi Prime Minister.

Premier Li Qiang will hold a welcoming ceremony and have talks with her, Mao said, noting that the two heads of government will attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.

The spokesperson said that leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on how to deepen traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation and on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Hasina will also attend the summit on trade, business and investment opportunities between China and Bangladesh, Xinhua reported.

"China and Bangladesh are good neighbours, good friends and good partners. We have similar visions for development and well-aligned development strategies," Mao said, pointing out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and jointly advanced modernisation.

Mao said that the two sides have set a good example of friendship and cooperation between developing countries. In recent years, with the strategic guidance and commitment of leaders of the two countries, the two sides have deepened China-Bangladesh strategic cooperative partnership, and had fruitful and practical cooperation in various fields.

China stands ready to work with Bangladesh through this visit to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen political mutual trust, further synergise development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and elevate the bilateral relations to a new level, she said.
Kolkata, July 4 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday submitted a chargesheet at a special court here in connection with the blast at Bhupatinagar in East Midnapore district of West Bengal in December 2022 in which three persons were killed.

A total of six persons have been named on the 35-page chargesheet.

The accused named in the chargesheet include local Trinamool Congress leader Balai Charan Maity and Monobrata Jana, who were arrested by the NIA officials in April this year.

The NIA officials and the accompanying central armed police personnel (CAPF) personnel were attacked by Trinamool Congress activists in April while they were returning to Kolkata after arresting Maity and Jana.

The windscreen of the NIA vehicle was also smashed by the ruling party activists. One NIA officer was injured in the attack.

Sources said that in the chargesheet, the NIA mentioned that explosives were deliberately stocked in that area with the motive of creating terror in the region.

The NIA also claimed that the explosive items were stocked for the purpose of manufacturing crude bombs.

To recall, after the blast in December 2022, the West Bengal police began an investigation into the matter.

Later, the NIA was handed the probe following an order by the Calcutta High Court.

After the attack on its officials in April this year, NIA issued a statement accusing Maity and Jana of being involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and explode crude bombs to spread terror.

During the investigation, the NIA also discovered the role of several other accused in the case, including the arrested accused.
New Delhi, July 4 : JMM President Hemant Soren was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand for the third time on Thursday after being released from jail on bail.

Champai Soren, a longstanding JMM loyalist, stepped aside to facilitate this transition. He had assumed office just five months ago when Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to a land scam.

However, the transition was not without hurdles.

It required significant effort from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) strategists and Hemant Soren to persuade Champai Soren to step down.

According to sources, Champai Soren reluctantly resigned on Wednesday after being taken aback by the party's decision. He reportedly had concerns about being replaced as the Chief Minister months before the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand.

Sources indicate that Champai Soren was opposed to the haste with which the change was being made. The unusually lengthy meeting, during which Champai Soren was convinced to resign, reflects the internal dynamics within the JMM at that time.

The recent events bring back memories of a similar incident in Bihar in 2015, involving Jitan Ram Manjhi and Nitish Kumar.

Back then, Manjhi, a minister under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, took over as the CM after the latter resigned following his party's poor show in the 2014 general elections.

However, when the JD(U) sought to reclaim the Chief Minister's post, Manjhi resisted, leading to a dramatic standoff. Eventually, Manjhi resigned, allowing Nitish Kumar to return as the head of the government. Subsequently, Manjhi formed his own party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, and allied with the BJP-led NDA for the 2015 Assembly elections.

Now, political circles are questioning whether Champai Soren is following a path similar to that of Manjhi.

Observers are concerned that Champai Soren's discontent over the way he was removed may have negative implications for the JMM in Jharkhand, especially with elections looming in a few months.

Additionally, there is a possibility that Hemant Soren's political rivals could exploit Champai Soren's dissatisfaction to their own advantage.

The recent leadership change in Ranchi has provided the opposition BJP with ammunition to criticise the JMM as a family-centric party.

Babulal Marandi, former CM and current Jharkhand BJP chief, said the decision indicated that tribal leaders like Champai Soren were merely functional for the party, hinting at 'nepotism' within the JMM, which is dominated by the Soren family.

"The removal of a senior tribal leader from the post of Chief Minister by the JMM and the Congress is deeply distressing," Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP's Jharkhand co-incharge, posted on X.

These statements carry a clear political message for Champai Soren and the entire tribal community.

Meanwhile, Champai Soren is expected to be included in the Hemant Soren government as a minister. He holds considerable popularity in the Kolhan region, which sends 14 members to the Jharkhand assembly.
Amaravati/New Delhi, July 4 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought financial handholding by the Centre to tide over the "acute scarcity of resources".

The Chief Minister said that the fiscal situation in Andhra Pradesh has significantly deteriorated due to the previous government's "misadventures".

According to a statement by the Chief Ministeras Office (CMO), he brought to the Prime Ministeras notice that committed expenses, including salaries, pensions, and debt servicing, exceed the state's revenue receipts, leaving no fiscal space for productive capital investment.

The situation has reached such an impasse due to gross mismanagement of state finances by the previous government, he contended.

"Indiscriminate borrowing marked by hypothecation of future excise revenues and pledging of government buildings, combined with large scale diversion of monies has resulted in a situation of high public expectation and acute scarcity of resources. There is no other way to face such a challenge except by way of financial handholding by the Central government," he said.

Naidu also sought the Centreas support in the commissioning of the Polavaram National Irrigation Project, comprehensive financial support for the completion of the government complex and trunk infrastructure of the capital city of Amaravati, and incentives for industrial development.

The Chief Minister also urged the Prime Minister to consider an additional allocation under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, targeting essential sectors such as roads, bridges, irrigation, and drinking water projects. He also sought support for the backward regions of Andhra Pradesh on lines of the Bundelkhand package and support for the development of Duggirajupatnam port.

Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key partner in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, highlighted the fact that Andhra Pradesh continues to grapple with the repercussions of the unscientific, unfair, and unjust bifurcation of 2014.

Additionally, the miserable governance of the previous administration marked by malice, corruption and misgovernance has dealt a more deleterious blow to the state than bifurcation itself, he alleged.

In his first meeting with the Prime Minister after assuming office as the Chief Minister on June 13, Naidu also flagged "that on account of unproductive expenditure and fiscal hara-kiri marked by the exploitation of natural resources for personal use and no focus on the development of human resources, growth has plummeted, revenue receipts have tapered, and liabilities have peaked".

The aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh were paid no heed by the previous government as the wake of its misgovernance is marked by huge unpaid liabilities, no investment in crucial infrastructure like the Polavaram project, water resources, roads and capital city, he said.

The Prime Minister discussed the steps, which could be taken to meet the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu congratulated the PM on assuming the office for a third consecutive term and reposed confidence in his leadership. He stated that in this historic election, which saw an unprecedented victory of the NDA coalition, the people of Andhra Pradesh have emphatically placed their trust in them, thereby granting both leaders a significant mandate to fulfil their promises and commitments.

According to the statement, the meeting was very positive and focussed on positive outcomes for Andhra Pradesh.

Before meeting the Prime Minister, Naidu called on Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. He later had separate meetings with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, and Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, as well as 16th Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya.
New Delhi, July 4 : The NITI Aayog on Thursday launched the 'Sampoornata Abhiyan' with a focus on themes such as health, nutrition, agriculture, social development, and education.

The launch events were organised across all the 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks.

This comprehensive three-month campaign, running from July 4 to September 30, aims to achieve 100 per cent saturation of 12 key social sector indicators across all Aspirational Districts and Blocks.

As part of the 3-month long campaign, district and block officials, along with elected peopleas representatives, will organise awareness activities like Gram Sabhas, Nukkad Natak, Paushtik Aahar Mela, Health camps, ICDS camps, Awareness Marches and Rallies, Exhibitions, Poster making and Poem competitions around 12 themes identified for 100 per cent saturation across all Aspirational Blocks and Districts.

NITI Aayog said that the officials and Young Professionals are "participating in the launch events in person across 300 districts to guide and support local governance in organising and executing the campaign effectively". It also mentioned that the collaboration with relevant Central Ministries and Departments, and state and Union Territory governments will not only bolster efforts to achieve the campaignas objectives but also "strengthen the spirit of Competitive and Cooperative Federalism in ensuring socio-economic development in the hinterland".

The Aspirational Districts and Blocks pledged their commitment to the 'Sampoornata Abhiyan' by reiterating its principles through the 'Sampoornata Pledge' committing to fulfil the campaignas goals and accelerating progress towards full saturation of the identified indicators.
Hyderabad/New Delhi, July 4 : Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to allocate necessary funds for the modernisation of the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TGNAB) and the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and additional IPS posts.

The Chief Minister met the Union Home Minister at his residence in Delhi, along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

During the hour-long meeting, various issues were brought to the Union Minister's attention. To control and curb drug and cybercrimes, the Chief Minister requested Rs 88 crore for TGNAB and Rs 90 crore for TGCSB for the procurement of modern technology and equipment.

According to the Chief Ministeras Office, the Chief Minister emphasised the necessity of reviewing the Indian Police Service (IPS cadre) every five years and urged the Minister to conduct the review for Telangana, which was last done in 2016.

At the time of state bifurcation, Telangana was allocated 61 IPS posts, which are now insufficient for the new state's requirements, he said and requested an additional 29 IPS posts.

The Chief Minister also highlighted the need for establishing security force camps in Adilabad, Mancherial, and Komaram Bheem Asifabad districts, similar to those set up in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra to counter left-wing extremism. He requested that these three districts, previously impacted by left-wing extremism but later removed from the SRE (Security-Related Expenditure) scheme, be reinstated under it.

Given Telangana's extensive borders with neighbouring states, he stressed the importance of focusing more on the state's security. To combat left-wing extremism in Telangana, the Chief Minister requested the establishment of CRPF JTF camps in Kondavai village of Charla Mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, and Alubaka village of Venkatapuram Mandal in Mulugu district.

He informed the Union Minister that the CPI Maoist Committee is attempting to expand its influence by leveraging the favourable terrain in the forested hills along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. The JTF camps would help control and eliminate the movements of this Maoist special unit.

Revanth Reddy also requested the release of Rs 18.31 crore, pending for the last four years, which constitutes 60 per cent of the central share for SPOs (Special Police Officers). He also highlighted the difficulty in adhering to the rule of only recruiting ex-servicemen and former police personnel as SPOs in Maoist-affected areas, as such personnel are not readily available.

The Chief Minister also requested the Union Home Minister's cooperation in resolving long-pending issues related to the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Reorganisation Act. He urged for a harmonious resolution of disputes related to the distribution of government buildings and corporations listed under Schedule 9 (as per Sections 53, 68, and 71 of the Act) and the institutions under Schedule 10 (as per Section 75 of the Act). He emphasised the need for justice for Telangana in claims made by Andhra Pradesh over assets and institutions not mentioned in the Reorganisation Act.
Jaipur, July 4 : Ruckus continued in the Rajasthan Assembly on the second day of the budget session on Thursday with the Opposition demanding an apology and resignation from state Education Minister Madan Dilawar over his call for DNA test of tribals to prove their lineage.

Interacting with mediapersons in Jaipur last month, Dilawar said, "The party which carries out activities to break the country and the society will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If BAP leaders do not consider themselves as Hindus, their DNA should be tested."

The Minister was referring to the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP), which has three MLAs in the state Assembly.

The House on Thursday witnessed a fierce uproar when Dilawar stood up to reply to a question concerning the Education Department.

Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully said while Dilawar has not yet apologised for his DNA remark, the Chief Minister (Bhajanlal Sharma) too has not taken any action in this matter.

"We have only two demands -- the Minister should apologise for his remarks and step down from his post," Jully said.

The Opposition also boycotted the proceedings of the House, which was adjourned till 11 a.m. on July 10.

Meanwhile, in the absence of the Opposition, Dilawar said, "Tribals are the saviours of our culture. I never intended to make any negative comments on the tribal society. I know that tribals have been living in this country since time immemorial and everyone respects them. I have also read about Birsa Mundaji who is revered as God.

"What is being said about me is not correct at all. The journalists had asked me if BAP MP Rajkumar Roat had said that tribals were not Hindus. My take was that tribals who are Hindus, will always remain Hindus. The tribals have been living on this earth since time immemorial..."
Bengaluru, July 4 : Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Thursday asked the Deputy Commissioners in the state to be vigilant about the spread of Zika virus along with dengue cases.

"The Aedes species of mosquitoes also spread the Zika virus. As the Zika virus has been found in the neighbouring state, it is necessary to take precautions in the state. One Zika virus case has been detected in Shivamogga. However, it is yet to be confirmed. Though Zika virus is not so dangerous, the Health Department needs to be vigilant," he said in a video conference meeting of all DCs and CEOs and officers of local authorities.

The minister also asked the officers to detect the dengue hotspots and destroy them on utmost priority. The directions were also given to open fever clinics where more cases of dengue are reported, and the testing of persons with symptoms of dengue.

"If dengue is detected at an early stage it can be cured and if delayed, deaths occur. Deaths related to dengue should not occur. Taking precautions to avoid deaths should be the primary concern," he said.

Considering the rising cases of dengue, the state government has capped the prices of dengue testing at Rs 600.

Karnataka has witnessed a rise of 42 per cent in dengue cases as compared to last year and 6,187 positive cases of dengue have been detected in the state while six persons have died from January to July 2. Cases have been reported from Bengaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Haveri, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, and Dakshina Kannada districts.
Kolkata, July 4 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday urged intellectuals, celebrities, and civil society groups to raise their voices against the impasse over the oath ceremony of two newly-elected Trinamool Congress MLAs -- Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Houssen Sarkar -- following differences with the Raj Bhavan over the venue of the swearing-in ceremony.

The Chief Minister on Thursday held a meeting with intellectuals, celebrities, and members of civil society groups at the state secretariat Nabanna, where she reportedly gave a call for protest on this issue.

According to sources, Mamata Banerjee said at the meeting that she wants the social influencers to protest in their own style against the constitutional crisis arising out of the uncertainties over the oath ceremony.

While the Governor wants Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Houssen Sarkar to come to the Raj Bhavan for the oath ceremony, the two legislators and the Assembly authorities are insisting that the swearing-in event be held in the Assembly premises.
Gurugram, July 4 : Three persons were arrested in Gurugram for allegedly attacking a water supplier to extort money and to gain full control of the business, the police said on Thursday.

The accused have been identified as Manish, Sumit alias Baba, the kingpin of the gang, and Vicky.

Till now, eight cases of attempt to murder, assault, and extortion have been registered against Sumit, while two similar cases have been registered against Manish at different police stations in Gurugram.

"The suspects wanted to take full control of the water tanker business. They were threatening to extort money from the victim," said ACP (crime), Varun Dahiya.

According to the police, on July 1, they received a call from a hospital stating that the victim was admitted there with severe injuries.

The victim, Pushpendra, told the police that he supplies water to a factory in Sector 88, and was beaten up by the trio with sticks on June 30.

The victim also alleged that the accused threatened to kill him if he failed to meet their demands and continues to supply water tankers.

On the basis of the complaint, a case was registered at Sector 10 police station on July 1 under relevant sections of the BNS.

The accused were nabbed from Dhanwapur village and Sector-88 Gurugram.
Kolkata, July 5 : The impasse over the oath ceremony of two newly-elected Trinamool Congress legislators -- Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Houssen Sarkar -- continued in West Bengal even after Governor C.V. Ananda Bose nominated Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Asish Banerjee, for the job.

The Raj Bhavan on Thursday night issued a statement claiming that Governor Bose has already nominated Asish Banerjee to administer the oath of office to the two Trinamool MLAs under Article 188 of the Constitution.

However, the impasse continued as Assembly Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay denied receiving any communique in this regard from the Governor's office.

Deputy Speaker Banerjee, who has been reportedly nominated by the Governor to preside over the oath ceremony, told a section of the media that although he is yet to receive any communique from the Raj Bhavan, he will decline the offer even after he receives it.

He contended that when the Speaker of the House is in the city, he should have been nominated to preside over the swearing-in ceremony of the two Trinamool MLAs.

Incidentally, a single-day session of the Assembly has been convened on Friday, which, according to the Speaker, will be avery special".

Earlier, while the Governor wanted Sayantika Banerjee and Reyat Houssen Sarkar to come to the Raj Bhavan for the oath ceremony, the two legislators and the Assembly authorities insisted that the swearing-in event be held in the Assembly premises.
Bhopal, July 5 : The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Madhya Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested a man, allegedly associated with the Indian Mujahideen (IM), who was planning a "lone wolf" attack on security forces.

The man, identified as Faizan Sheikh, is a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa district.

He was arrested during a search operation carried out by a team of the ATS on the basis of input received about the presence of a suspected person in Khandwa.

The Inspector-General (IG) of the Madhya Pradesh ATS told media persons here that a substantial cache of "jihadi literature" associated with the IM, ISIS and other extremist groups were seized during the operation.

Besides, the ATS team also seized some confiscated items including four mobile phones, one pistol, five live cartridges and membership forms of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

"Investigations revealed that Faizan Sheikh had been spreading propaganda through social media, sharing videos of jihadist training camps in Pakistan and posts featuring speeches by Masood Azhar of Jaish-e-Mohammad, related to the infamous Kandahar hijacking incident and content related to Mullah Omar," the ATS IG said.

"Faizan Sheikh was planning a lone wolf attack on security forces. Through this, he was trying to prove himself as a mujahid like Yashin Bhatkal and Abu Faizal," he added.

Sheikh was later produced before a district court in Khandwa, which sent him to the police remand.

Further investigation is underway.
Jaipur, July 5 : Senior BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena's sudden resignation as Rajasthan minister on Thursday in line with his poll-time undertaking to quit if he failed to ensure his party's victory in any of the seven Lok Sabha seats in eastern Rajasthan that were assigned to him, has evoked shock and surprise and also raised several questions.

The 72-year-old leader announced his decision at a prayer meeting here on Thursday.

Meena, a key leader of the tribal community and a five-time MLA and two-term MP, was assigned the responsibility by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hence, made his vow.

However, the Lok Sabha election results saw the BJP unable to score a hat-trick of sweeping the state like in the 2014 and 2019 polls, losing crucial seats like Dausa, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur and Tonk-Sawai Madhopur - over half of the seats assigned to Meena, triggering speculation as to whether Meena would stick to his word.

However, the senior BJP leader had given hints at stepping down as minister, as he stopped using his official vehicle after the election results were announced.

An MBBS doctor by profession, Meena started his career with the BJP, though he left the party in 2008 over some issues but rejoined in 2018.

He has been a firebrand leader of the Meena community, which has a significant vote share in eastern Rajasthan, leading agitations and being a whistleblower in several alleged scams, including the Jal Jeevan scam that drew raids by central agencies which seemed to have worked for the BJP.

A former Rajya Sabha member, he won the Assembly elections from Sawai Madhopur in 2023, sending a message to the Meena community to ensure the party's dominance in the eastern region of the state.

However, with his resignation, questions are being raised as to who shall lead from the front in eastern Rajasthan.

State BJP leaders seemed split over his resignation, with some claiming that his decision seems to be a pressure tactic to demand a portfolio of his choice.

Some sources claimed that Meena was considered a CM candidate after the Assembly polls where the BJP unseated the Congress, but was given the agriculture portfolio which he did not like.

Further, he sought a ticket for his brother from Dausa in the Lok Sabha polls, but his request was rejected. Then, he was reportedly unhappy when the state Education Department questioned his decisions on transfers. All this left him displeased with the setup and hence, came his resignation, the sources said.

Now it remains to be seen whether his resignation will be accepted, and if there is a new leader from the area waiting in the wings.
Jerusalem, July 5 : An Israeli army officer was killed in Hezbollah rocket fire on Thursday, the Israeli military said in a press statement.

The slain was identified as Itay Galea, 38, a deputy company commander in the 8679th Unit of the Israeli army's 679th Armored Brigade, Xinhua news agency reported.

He was killed when a rocket hit the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights during Hezbollah's massive attacks against Israel.

Hezbollah launched about 200 rockets, missiles, and drones toward northern Israel in retaliation for Israel's recent targeted killing of its senior military leader Mohammad Naameh Nasser in southwestern Lebanon's Tyre city.

Galea, a reservist officer, fought in the Gaza Strip before being sent to northern Israel as part of Israel's preparation for a possible full-fledged war with Hezbollah.

His death marked the 18th fatality among Israeli troops from Hezbollah attacks since the beginning of the cross-border fighting between the Lebanese armed group and Israel in early October last year.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with the attack by its ally Hamas on Israel the day before.
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DO NOT BID if you have less than Fifty (50) feedbacks, email us before bidding or your bid will be canceled and your ID will be blocked! DO NOT BID unless you can pay Your Bid (Down Payment) plus $399.00 Closing Fees, and then Monthly Payments for at least for 7 Years!!!========================================================================== Land Price: $29,000.00 You are bidding on the DOWN PAYMENT starting $1.00. Closing Fees: $399.00 =========================================================...

Price: $ 68 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Recreational, Acreage Property Address: HANSON LAKE NE, WY. Legal: T22N R92W SEC 11 NE4SE4 Zip/Postal Code: 82901 Zoning: Res Vacant Land City: Rawlins, WY State/Province: Wyoming Location: 904**, Santa Monica, California

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Lot 5 Block 15 Lake Unit 1A power nearby THE AREA: You are buying a buildable lot 300 yards from power in California Pines in northeastern California. This beautiful lot is surrounded by the 2 million acre Modoc National Forest. Alturas, is located on the Pit River, east of the center of Modoc County, with a population of 2,700, It is on US 395 and about 50 miles south of the Oregon border and minutes away from Cal Pines. The California Pines lodge is 10 miles southwest of Alturas off of Centerv...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Oregon Property Address: MODOC COUNTY Zip/Postal Code: 96101 Zoning: Residential State/Province: Oregon Location: 922**, Cathedral City, California

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TEN+ACRE UNDIVIDED INTEREST GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS TEXAS LOT WITH ROADS & POWER NEARBYTHE TOTAL PRICE IS THE WINNING BID + $599 DOCUMENT FEE*IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN 15 POSITIVE FEEDBACKS, THEN YOU MUST MESSAGE THE SELLER BEFORE BIDDING OR YOUR BID WILL BE CANCELLED & YOU WILL BE BLOCKED FROM FUTURE AUCTIONS Breathtaking Guadalupe Mountain Dell City, TX Ten+ acresNice areaSerious inquiries, onlyGreat recreation & fishing Right on Williams Rd and an unnamed roadDirect road accessNear US Highway 62 and ...

Price: $ 430 Seller State of Residence: New Jersey Property Address: 120 SEC 7 PSL UNDIVIDED INT (10.1515 ACRES) out of Parcel #107118 Type: Recreational, Acreage Zip/Postal Code: 79837 Zoning: Rural City: Dell City State/Province: Texas Location: 798**, Dell City, Texas

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Welcome to Commonlots! We have been in business for over 13+ years, finding affordable residential properties nationwide. For the past 5 years, we have seen a 3-5% increase in property investment, and for those looking to build, invest, or add to their land/property portfolio, we have excellent properties to own! Our properties are purchased through the State, land brokers, or private resellers. This serene piece of land in Fordyce, Arkansas is a haven for those seeking tranquility. With an acre...

Price: $ 220 Seller State of Residence: California Type: Recreational, Acreage Property Address: S CHARLOTTE ST Zip/Postal Code: 71742 Zoning: Residential City: FORDYCE State/Province: Arkansas Location: 725**, Cherokee Village, Arkansas

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No Reserve Auction. No Reserve Auction. Beautiful half-acre land lot close to the Town of Deming, New Mexico. UPC Code: 3035142150318. Deming Ranchettes Unit 95 Block 8-Tract 10. Please see the pictures. This beautiful ranch property is only about 2 miles from the I-10 interstate and has dirt road access through El Caminito Road. Many dwellings nearby. This lot is 2 miles south of Deming and is served by Deming Public Schools. The title will transfer via a Special warranty deedno back taxes o...

Price: $ 105 Seller State of Residence: New Mexico Property Address: El Caminito Road Type: Ranch Zip/Postal Code: 88030 Zoning: A-General City: Deming State/Province: New Mexico Location: 880**, Deming, New Mexico

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No reserve Auction. No reserve Auction. Beautiful 0.06 acres of land lot in Mohave County, Arizona. Lot 8, Block 18 of Kingman Metropolitan Addition Unit No. 1. Please see the pictures of the general area and of the lot. Parcel Number 32103274. It is located on Broadway Ave, Kingman, AZ 86401. A dirt road access. Beautiful real estate with many homes in the area. WOW!! 25' X 105' LOT WITH GREAT CITY EVENING LIGHT VIEW AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS TOO WITH SOME GRADING YOU WILL HAVE A GREAT PLACE TO BUILD ...

Price: $ 100 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: Broadway Ave Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 86431 Zoning: A-General City: Kingman State/Province: Arizona Location: 864**, Kingman, Arizona

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Large Mandan Subdivision Land lot: The property in the current auction is located in the coveted Cherokee Village Mandan Subdivision - & it is NOT in a flood zone. This property is abutting Common Use Acreage on 1 side! That's extra space for your enjoyment. This property has frontage on a paved road.(*Pictures taken in the Winter) Property Taxes are about $20 + 90 POA Fee, per year per lot, and that's it. No other amounts will be due in this Subdivision Get a lot, and own it forever, and watch ...

Price: $ 510 Seller State of Residence: Arkansas Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: Olustee Trail Zip/Postal Code: 72513 Zoning: Residential City: Hardy State/Province: Arkansas Location: 725**, Ash Flat, Arkansas

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Bluegreen Points Home Resort: Club 36 Las Vegas, Nevada THIS IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TIMESHARE OWNERSHIP IN PERPETUITY. DETAILS: Size: 40,000 Points are issued every Year Bluegreen Points (The below week and unit numbers are for deeding purposes only, this is being sold as points) 218B/38F,219A/7F,330A/49F,607A/38F Usage Time: ANNUAL USAGE Anniversary: JULY 1st Type of Ownership: Membership Expires: Never Trading Company: RCI / Interval International Gold Crown / 5 Star Maintenance Fees & Tax...

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Bluegreen Points Home Resort: Horizons at 77th Myrtle Beach, South Carolina THIS IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TIMESHARE OWNERSHIP IN PERPETUITY. DETAILS: Size: 15,000 Points are issued every Year Bluegreen Points (The below week and unit numbers are for deeding purposes only, this is being sold as points) 506M/1F, 703M/8F,707W/35F,308M/24F,308M/25F Usage Time: ANNUAL USAGE Anniversary: JANUARY 1st Type of Ownership: Membership Expires: Never Trading Company: RCI / Interval International Gold Crown...

Price: $ 1 Seller State of Residence: Florida Property Address: 215 77th Ave N Zip/Postal Code: 29572 City: Myrtle Beach State/Province: South Carolina Location: , Multiple

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Bluegreen Points Home Resort: Wilderness Club at Long Creek Ranch Ridgedale, Missouri THIS IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE TIMESHARE OWNERSHIP IN PERPETUITY. DETAILS: Size: 15,000 Points are issued every Year Bluegreen Points (The below week and unit numbers are for deeding purposes only, this is being sold as points) 2411N/19F, 2605G/31F Usage Time: ANNUAL USAGE Anniversary: AUGUST 1st Type of Ownership: Membership Expires: Never Trading Company: RCI / Interval International Gold Crown / 5 Star Main...

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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) HILTON GRAND VACATION CLUBTUSCANY VILLAGE8,000 ANNUALTIMESHARE FOR SALE Season: GoldPoints: 8,000(13,024 available for 2024)Unit Size: 2 Bedroom / 2 BathroomUsage: Annual Starting 2024Trading Company: RCI Mortgage: Paid in Full, Title is Free & Clear Maintenance Fee: $1,485.89 (Annual) (The Pictures In This...

Price: $ 313 Seller State of Residence: Texas Property Address: 8122 Arrezzo Way Number of Bedrooms: 2 Number of Bathrooms: 2 Zip/Postal Code: 32821 City: Orlando State/Province: Florida Location: , Conroe, Texas

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If Hindenburg or its partner do not join the investigation, then Sebi may pass an ex-parte order against it, which may be enforced as a foreign award in US courts.

IMAGE: The Securities and Exchange Board of India headquarters ub Mumbai. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

The Indian market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, has a strong case against US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research, who the former has alleged to have traded based on unpublished price-sensitive information.

Lawyers said Sebi may rope in American regulators to enforce its orders, as and when it issues them after completing its investigation.

"Based on disclosures so far, Sebi seems to have prima facie good case against Hindenburg Research and its partner for indulging in short selling based on unpublished price-sensitive information," said R S Loona, managing partner of Alliance Law, a firm specialising in securities law.

"Sebi has jurisdiction over all persons, whether in India or overseas, dealing in or associated with the Indian securities market, Loona added.

Other lawyers echo similar views. H P Ranina, a Mumbai-based senior advocate, said Sebi has the jurisdiction to seek information from Hindenburg and its associates and then take action based on its investigation.

"Hindenburg may move courts in India or may litigate in the US against Sebi," he added.

Explaining the case and why Sebi has a strong case, Sidharth S Kumar, senior associate, BTG Advaya, said, Sebi has claimed in its showcause notice that the Hindenburg report is a research report on the securities of Adani Enterprises.

"Therefore, Hindenburg has violated the provisions of the research analyst regulations. Furthermore, it is alleged that Hindenburg earned profit-based fees from Kingdon Capital, whereas shareholders in India lost money due to market volatility," Kumar says.

"Sebi has sufficient powers under Section 11 of the Sebi Act, which can be exercised when the interests of investors in the Indian securities market are in jeopardy. Even the Supreme Court has approved the extraterritorial jurisdiction of Sebi," points out Kumar.

The Indian market watchdog can debar persons associated with the securities market but located outside India if the underlying shares are traded in India and/or their actions impact Indian investors.

Sebi can proceed ex-parte if Hindenburg does not join the proceedings as the showcause notice has been duly served as per the inquiry rules.

However, the real litmus test for Sebi would be enforcing its orders when Hindenburg has no presence in India, says Kumar.

On June 26, Sebi issued showcause notices to Hindenburg Research LLC, US-based hedge fund manager Mark E Kingdon, and four others, accusing them of colluding to use non-public information to build short positions against Adani Group.

The other four include Hindenburg founder Nathan Anderson, Kingdon's asset management firm Kingdon Capital, M Kingdon Offshore Master Fund, and K India Opportunities Fund, a Mauritius-based Sebi-registered foreign portfolio investor.

According to the showcause notice, as disclosed on Hindenburg Research Web site, Kingdon -- through a Mauritius-based fund -- established short positions ahead of the release of Hindenburg's report on Adani Group.

Sebi said the report 'misled' readers and caused 'panic' in Adani Group stocks, thus deflating prices to the maximum extent possible and profit from the same.

Sebi's investigation found that these positions were squared off after the publication of the report, netting a 'significant' profit of Rs 183 crore (Rs 1.83 billion).

Soon after Hindenburg Research's report was made public in January 2023, the share prices of Adani Group companies crashed, wiping out $150 billion of the group's market valuation.

Adani Group share prices recovered later after the group companies and promoters prepaid some loans to its lenders by selling part of the promoter stake to foreign investors, including GQG Partners.

If Hindenburg or its partner do not join the investigation, Loona said, then Sebi may pass an ex-parte order against it, which may be enforced as a foreign award in the US courts as per the reciprocal treatment agreed to between the two countries -- India and the US.

In a statement on its Web site, Hindenburg Research dismissed Sebi's notice as 'nonsense' and claimed that it barely broke even making a total of $4.1 million in gross revenue through gains related to Adani shorts.

In a separate statement to the stock exchanges on Tuesday, Kotak Mahindra Bank said, 'We would like to clarify that the transactions in respect of which the above (short selling) allegations are being made were made by the fund on the advice, and for the benefit, of its investor Kingdon.

'Kotak Mahindra (International), or KMIL, was informed by Kingdon that the transactions were made on a principal basis, i.e., for themselves.

'Kingdon never disclosed that they had any relationship with Hindenburg nor that they were acting on the basis of any price sensitive information.

'In fact, they had expressly confirmed that any advice from Kingdon to invest would be basis purely public information."

The statement by Kotak Mahindra Bank further said, neither the fund nor KMIL were aware that Kingdon entities, which include a US Securities and Exchange Commission-registered investment advisor, in respect of whom KYC as per law was duly performed, had any association with Hindenburg.

The fund and KMIL had no prior knowledge of the publication of the aforesaid Hindenburg report.

'We deny any allegation of being aware of such report or acting in collusion in any manner with Kingdon or Hindenburg.

'We are legally advised that the fund acted in full compliance with its obligations under law as well as to its investors.

'The fund extended full cooperation to Sebi in its investigation and has shared all relevant facts,' the bank said in the statement.

Loona said Sebi can also take help from the US SEC if required, to enforce its order.

"There have been several cases in the past when India used treaties to enforce its orders in foreign jurisdictions, including the US.

"The loss to Adani Group was huge and undue profit made by (Hindenburg Research) is a matter of concern for the regulator," he said.

Disclaimer: Entities controlled by the Kotak family have a significant holding in Business Standard Pvt Ltd

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'I did not take up research for any award.'

'What is more important is the medicine that I have developed.'

'This helps the patient recover and the family is happy that their relative has survived and they go back to their lives.'

IMAGE: Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar was awarded a Padma Shri in 2022 for his work in rural Mahad, Maharashtra. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar

Tribals and rural folk flock to the Bawaskar Hospital and Research Centre at Mahad in the Raigad district of Maharashtra, for treatment of scorpion or snake bites. The hospital stocks models of various types of snakes -- vipers, kraits, cobras and more -- so patients can identify the reptile or arachnid that bit them and anti-venom is accordingly administered.

Dr Himmatrao Saluba Bawaskar, who runs this hospital, is known for his meticulous and methodical management of bites by scorpions and snakes, especially of Mahad's vicious red scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus. Indeed his work is now well-known throughout India, and recently China.

Dr Bawaskar hails from tiny Dehed in Jalna. Of a poor village background, he put himself through school in Buldhana, working on farms, in brick kilns, restaurants, temples and shops. He earned his medical degree from the Government Medical College, Nagpur, and later further qualifications from Pune.

He worked for many years in Birwadi in Maharashtra's Konkan region in the Western Ghats, where he saw tragic fatalities, especially in children, because of scorpion stings. Experimenting with various kinds of treatment, he found success in reducing deaths to a bare 4 per cent or less. Dr Bawaskar published his research, over the years, in various prestigious medical journals, including 70 papers in The Lancet -- the 201-year-old British health weekly -- and proudly put wee Mahad on the medical map.

An earnest, upright man, only concerned about the welfare of his patients, his motto has been to live simple and stay simple.

Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar describes to Rediff.com Senior Contributor Neeta Kolhatkar, how he saved his first patient, an eight-year-old boy who had been bitten by a scorpion. The boy lived. But Dr Bawaskar could not be at his father's cremation, that was happening the same day in his village.

You opted to set up a hospital in Mahad. All your life you have worked in rural areas, which most medical practitioners run away from. When you first learned that so many people in India die of scorpion bites, did it shock you?

Of course, it was shocking.

I graduated with an MBBS in 1975. At that time, nowhere in our medical textbooks or journals was there a mention that a scorpion sting can cause death and how to treat them. Why there was not even any mention of it, forget the treatment. Our professors taught us how to save the lives of people, but there is just no previous study telling us how to prevent deaths due to scorpion bites.

It was later when I went to work at the primary health centre at Birwadi, in Konkan, that villagers pointed out to me that people died from scorpion bites. I couldn't believe it initially, till I joined the PHC.

The compounder working at this PHC told me how his son, who was studying in the 10th, died of a scorpion bite, just a few days prior to my joining.

Why would any parent lie to me? I prodded him to give me all the details of his son's condition. He narrated: The boy had vomited, had hypertension, profuse sweating, felt exhausted, puked blood, fell down due to lack of strength, garbled speech, froth at the mouth, and then died.

This was the boy's clinical autopsy. I realised the problem and called upon my professors.

Were your seniors or professors in a position to help you? How did you work with this lack of information?

No, none of them could.

How could they have helped me? They had no prior experience or knowledge. And there was no recorded case (with details on) treating a scorpion bite.

I came there (Birwadi) to work. At that time, my parents told me they wanted to see my name in books or journals and not to have a bungalow or car. Their wish could have been only fulfilled through research. Garaj he sanshodhanachi janani ahe (Need is the mother of research).

After I joined the PHC, there would be at least one death on a daily basis from a scorpion bite. I got scared. One day, a six-month-old baby was bitten by a scorpion. The mother took the child to a nurse and within minutes she died.

It was heart-wrenching. I swore then I would do everything within my means to find a solution for this problem. Another problem, at that time, was nobody was keen to admit a patient bitten by a scorpion.

I have seen scenes where parents and families would prepare for a child's cremation after learning s/he was bitten by a scorpion.

At that time, 40 per cent deaths were due to scorpion bites.

IMAGE: Dr Bawaskar says, 'Plants are my friends, they talk with me. I forget being a doctor when I am with plants. Farming is my hobby. I forget being a doctor while I work on the farm. I experienced and know the real difficulties of farmers. I felt sorry when farmers are neglected.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar/Facebook

Wasn't there enough research on this subject in the public domain?

There evidently wasn't any research. And the government has not supported research in the medical field to overcome scorpion bites. No government (in power) wants a scientist and they do not support research because it entails a lot of funds and expenditure. This lack of support is primarily due to the fact there is no immediate outcome.

Research is a long-term pursuit. It may take 10 to 20 years. But, of course, it will provide permanent treatment and medicine. But no government wants to support it.

Now, on the other hand, look at Israel, Brazil, the USA, and the UK -- they allocate a lot of funds and provide infrastructure for research. They encourage researchers and scientists to pursue long-term studies and so they are on top.

India, on the other hand, gives secondary status to researchers and they are neglected.

Have you seen a change in this attitude towards research? Or has it been the case with every government India has had?

No, no. Since the birth of this nation, no government has encouraged research. A nation that lacks in research is a 'vanjoto desh (unproductive country)'. This lack of support for research also derails development.

Look at America. See how that country leads on many fronts due to research. It is the most developed nation and we will always be underdeveloped.

Everyone calls our nation: Young India. But in my opinion, we should have a 'healthy India' instead of a young India.

What did you feel when you won a Padma Shri in 2022. Were you expecting it?

It is not about expecting any award, because I did not take up research for want of any award. Our mission is to continue doing the good work that I had started and this may bring some recognition as I got with (the Padma Shri).

What is more important is the medicine that I have developed. This helps the patient recover and the family is happy that their relative has survived and they go back to their lives.

What bigger award one can hope for? This is the best reward.

IMAGE: Dr Bawaskar visits the Santosh Garje Sahara Foundation, a home for children, at Georai, Beed, Maharashtra. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar/Facebook

After you completed your MBBS and went to rural Konkan, how did you overcome this biggest hurdle of being able to do research?

It wasn't easy, especially in an environment where there was no knowledge or trust in medicine.

First, I began to hospitalise every patient brought in for a scorpion bite. I began to record their heartbeat, pulse, blood pressure, respiration.

Does the patient have cyanosis (bluing of the lips, nails, skin)?

How exhausted was he? When did cough begin? How serious was the cough?

When did blood pressure begin to drop? After the blood pressure began to dip, when did respiratory problems begin?

Then I deciphered that these patients were dying due to heart failure. I would then give them the treatment that we were taught for treating patients with a heart attack. But even after being given treatment for heart attack, they would show no signs of improvement. This was refractory heart failure (end-stage heart failure even after medication is administered).

You felt at that point you had to study further?

Yes, I needed to develop more research. I then decided to pursue higher studies and went to the BJ Medical College, in Pune, to study for an MD in medicine. In the 1980s refractory heart failure was a hot topic of study. At that time we were told to give sodium nitropusside as a drug for treating refractory heart patients.

After completing my MD (1981) I took a posting back to Konkan, because that was where my work was needed. In 1983, I got my first case. An eight-year-old child was brought in after being bitten by a scorpion. He showed all the symptoms of severe scorpion envenomation -- difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, accelerated heart rate, muscle twitching, and drooling.

His chances of survival were already low, And then the child's condition deteriorated even further when he developed pulmonary oedema (excess fluid in the lungs). It was then -- for the first time -- I gave sodium nitroprusside.

Even today, most leading hospitals do not administer sodium nitroprusside as treatment, because the blood pressure dips suddenly after it is administered. Now, the BP in cases of scorpion bites is already low, and we have learned in our books not to give this medicine in cases where BP is already low.

But I still went ahead and administered it because there was a lot of pressure on this child's heart. In such cases, sodium nitropusside helps. Within four hours the boy's BP increased, his breathlessness decreased and he recovered!

After 24 hours I told his father that his boy has been saved. This was my first case of curing a patient of a scorpion bite.

What did you feel after saving this child's life?

Feelings were mixed, because that was the day I received a telegram informing me that my father had died and that his cremation was that day.

I have alway lived (according to) the teachings of my parents and I did not attend his funeral, because this child did not have another doctor. Also, this boy was the only child of his parents.

They reiterated their faith in me and said that whatever was to happen was in their destiny and they asked me to go ahead with my treatment (of sodium nitroprusside). I couldn't leave that boy and his treatment halfway.

I vowed to give him back a fully-recovered son with my treatment, which I could do. That meant I could not attend my father's funeral.

IMAGE: Dr. Himmatrao Bawaskar offers training to village doctors near Mahad. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar/Facebook

Now research should be easier in these more modern times, with the development of more information, technology and science?

No. In fact, this kind of research is absolutely not possible today, due to (the power of the) consumer courts and the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

It has impacted medical research in India.

I honestly tell you: I couldn't have conducted my research and experiments in today's times within the framework of the CPA. I would have been scared of paying lakhs of rupees in compensation.

That is how scared scientists are, because they have been snatched of their right to experiment. We have to take permission from the ethical committee (Central Ethics Committee on Human Research or CECHR) and it is a long due process.

Look how far the developed countries have come after these processes were put in place in their country. Their researchers have been provided with advanced facilities. We are not even halfway there yet.

But isn't the CPA beneficial to our citizens, especially the poor who are often used in experiments and suffer severe consequences? Now doctors and scientists must comply with certain processes to complete their experiments?

Exactly. In a country where there is a paucity of adequate equipment, where there still aren't modern machines to measure BP, they suddenly want us to jump into the league of advanced nations. They have all the required machines, knowledge, equipment at their fingertips.

We are still 'minors', not even the age of 18 and they want us to behave like them.

Here if I give a slip to a poor patient to get a CT scan, it will take them eight days to get an appointment. Then, in such a dire situation, how are we expected to complete research and think of modern, new types of treatment?

In today's times, with the CPA and an ethical committee in place, do you think you could have pursued your research on scorpion bites?

Oh absolutely not! I am damn sure the ethical committee would have rejected it.

What research are they doing on coronavirus in India? They had been giving Remdesivir, which too was told to them by the American doctors. Most of the research has been done in the USA and the UK. What research has been done in treating the virus here?

Are you saying these new laws are ailing Indian research?

Yes, it is a curse of Indian democracy.

If today I get scorpion-bite patients and if we are to follow their procedures, then instead of attending to the patient, I would be preoccupied with the fear of legal consequences.

People in the cities, who have been actively raising these issues of CPA and strict ethical committees, are disconnected from the reality that exists in villages and rural areas.

Today the number of people dying due to scorpion bites has come down to less than 1 per cent. The success of my research is how doctors at the PHCs can now treat these patients.

Democracy has killed research and science.

IMAGE: Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar says he could not have done the research he did, in the 1980s, to treat scorpion bites, today because of the tough strictures against medical research, that does not always help saving lives in a rural environment. Photograph: Kind courtesy Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar

How can you say that democracy killed research and science? The US and the UK are democratic countries and they have implemented strict guidelines and are doing well.

Firstly, there are many restrictions on the resources in our country as compared to these advanced democratic nations. They need to upgrade our resources and infrastructure.

Along with that, they should upgrade the ethical committee, to begin with. They can make changes in the CPA. It is a good Act, I am not against it. I understand their aim is to bring us in the league of foreign advanced countries. But in areas like where I work, Mahad, we have parched resources.

If I have to pursue research, I have to develop a protocol and it takes at least two months. It takes another three months to pass the protocol. It is mandatory -- as part of a process -- to get statistics for any research study and then it goes to the ethical committee. If it is a private study, then you have to pay nearly 70,000. If your study is backed by a government body, then it takes more time.

If I get a serious patient (suffering) a scorpion or snake bite, I will be bogged down by the procedures set down by the ethical committee, instead of treating the patient.

There are nuances to this that have been completely overlooked. We don't have the infrastructure for conducting research at the grassroots level and we can't find sufficient numbers to show statistics in order to prove conclusively (the need for a kind of) treatment.

This journey wasn't easy for you, even on a personal front. Was it tough coming from an underprivileged background?

Yes, because, you see, problems were bound to arise. I am the son of poor, illiterate, parents. My parents did not have the means and nor was there an environment encouraging higher studies. At that time, in our village, we did not even have proper roads, nor electricity.

After this, I was forced to leap into a much better-developed world where students around me were from privileged backgrounds. They had the means for higher studies and more conducive environments (for learning).

It is not easy being a first-generation learner. It caused me a lot of problems as there was a lot of pressure on me. I could not enjoy an ideal happy childhood and adolescence. I had to work doubly hard and felt burn-out at an early age.

I had to attend to cattle, the farm, work in a hotel, sell newspapers at a bus stand, sell diaries and work to raise money.

Life then was only full of struggles. The work I should have done in my twenties, I did in my adolescence.

My growth was like a bonsai plant. Then I got depressed and took psychiatric treatment for which I lost a year, though I went on to complete my MBBS.

Your research has been accepted in the British Medical Journal. That must have made your parents proud? Was this is a bigger achievement than getting a Padma Shri?

Of course, they were happy.

Imagine, even if our name is published in a newspaper, we read it often, as it gives us immense pride and happiness. In an international journal, it is even more satisfying.

The BMJ rejects 99 per cent of research papers and accepts only one percent which they find relevant. The feeling is not something I can explain in words after I was told they have accepted my research.

The treatment I have recommended is recorded by the BMJ and it is now reaching the doorstep of people living in villages everywhere.

Was your study accepted the first time you submitted it?

Well, initially the editor rejected it.

I then wrote saying I sat throughout with the patient (an eight-year-old boy) and recorded all his symptoms and the effects after administering the medicines. After 24 hours the child survived and I was by the side of this boy.

Then my study got retrospective approval. And I am glad, because today cases of snake and scorpion bites can be treated by any fresher doctor even at a PHC. That is the achievement of my research.

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Amid the ongoing impasse over the swearing-in of two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs, Speaker Biman Banerjee on Thursday summoned a special session of the West Bengal Assembly and asserted that the functioning of the House is not solely dependent on the Governor.

IMAGE: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs Sayantika Banerjee and Rayat Hossain hold placards and a copy of the Constitution of India as they stage a protest in front of the statue of B R Ambedkar demanding West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to administer their swearing-in ceremony at the assembly instead of the Raj Bhavan, in Kolkata on Thursday, June 27, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

While talking to reporters, Banerjee said the Business Advisory Committee meeting has been scheduled for noon on Friday and the tenure of the session will be decided in the meeting.

"The Special Session will begin at 2 pm tomorrow," he said.

"If someone thinks that we are helpless, then he or she is wrong. The assembly is not helpless, and everything is not in the hands of the Governor. You can't just force everything down our throats; there are rules, regulations, and constitutional norms. All of us have to abide by them," Banerjee said.

Two newly elected Trinamool Congress MLAs staged a sit-in protest at the West Bengal Assembly premises for the sixth day on Thursday, demanding that they be administered the oath of office in the House rather than at Raj Bhavan, following an invitation from Governor C V Ananda Bose.

Baranagar MLA Sayantika Bandyopadhyay and Bhagabangola legislator Rayat Hossain Sarkar began their sit-in protest on June 27 and continued on June 28, July 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Despite being declared winners in the assembly by-polls, they have yet to assume their roles as elected representatives due to the pending swearing-in process.

The Speaker, who previously sought the intervention of President Droupadi Murmu on this matter, accused the governor on Friday of turning it into an ego battle.

"The governor is deliberately creating an impasse. He has turned it into an ego battle. This matter should be resolved so that the MLAs can take the oath," he said.

Bandyopadhyay and Sarkar have resumed their sit-in protest near the statue of B R Ambedkar on the assembly premises, holding placards that read 'We are waiting for the Governor'.

The two MLAs were elected during the by-polls held concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections but have refused to take the oath at Raj Bhavan.

They argue that convention dictates the governor should assign either the Speaker of the House or the Deputy Speaker to administer the oath in the case of by-poll winners.

The Governor had invited them to take the oath at Raj Bhavan last Wednesday, which they declined, citing procedural norms.
United States President Joe Biden, currently facing one of the worst crises of his decade-long political career after a subpar debate performance against his GOP rival Donald Trump last week, is not considering stepping down from the race, his press secretary said Wednesday.

IMAGE: US President Joe Biden attends a ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC on July 3, 2024. Photograph: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Biden, 81, is increasingly receiving calls from Democratic Party leaders and editorial boards of mainstream American media to step down from the presidential race and let others from the party lead them in the November 5 elections. So far, he has resisted these calls.

"Is President Biden considering stepping down in the race?" reporters asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her daily news conference.

"Absolutely not. And you heard, I believe directly from the campaign as well," she said amid a volley of similar questions from White House reporters.

"Given the groundswell of concern from fellow Democrats, from donors, from supporters, doesn't he owe it to the American public to reflect on whether he should step down?" she was asked again.

"He's done it a couple times at this point and laid out what happened that night, talked about how he understands, and it was not his best night," Jean-Pierre said.

"He understands that it is fair for people to ask that question, but we cannot forget his record and what he's been able to do. We cannot forget how he has been able to deliver for the American people for almost four years," the press secretary said.

"That matters too, and he has the most historic record of administration, the most in modern politics and that should matter. And he wants to continue to do that work. And a lot of what's on his agenda is very much popular with the majority of the American people, whether it's continuing to build a strong economic policy," she asserted.

On being asked again, "Is there anything, Karine, that would change his mind?" she said, "Look, I cannot lay out something that would change the president's mind. He has been very clear and he's going to continue to build on the unprecedented record that he's been able to lay out for the American people. That's his focus right now."

At the press conference, Jean-Pierre had a tough time defending the President's statement wherein he attributed his foreign trips to Europe as an explanation to his poor performance at the presidential debate against Trump in Atlanta last week.

"How is it that the president was still tired 12 days after returning from Europe, had a cold but then went to the Waffle House and then the following day, staged such a huge comeback that he gave those North Carolina Remarks? Help us understand," the secretary was asked.

"There's a cold. There's a jet lag. You combine that, he continues to work for the American people day in and day out around the clock, things happen, things happen. And the cold thing is something that you all pointed out during his debate. We didn't even point that out. You all pointed that when you heard his voice being hoarse, because he knew he had to push through," Jean-Pierre said.

"He knew he has to power through. That's what presidents do. If you care about this country and you don't care about yourself, and you care about the American people. You care about delivering for this country, you care about how you're going to continue to work day in and day out, you push through," she said.

In response to a question about whether there is any discussion that if the President were to suspend his campaign, he would also resign, she said, "No. No. Absolutely not."

Asked if there are any discussions about the vice president assuming Biden's duties, she again said, "Absolutely not."

"What I can say is the president is moving forward. He's moving forward as being president. He's moving forward with his campaign, as his campaign has been very, very clear about that. That's what I can speak to and that's what I can say. And that is the president's focus," the press secretary said.

"The president's focus is how does he continue to do that work. And anything else that we're hearing or that's being reported is absolutely false," Jean-Pierre added.
Six children lost their lives within a span of five days amid a suspected cholera outbreak at a privately-run shelter home in Indore even as a preliminary investigation report has pointed fingers at the facility for alleged irregularities and inadequate maintenance of medical records.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph:Pixabay.com

A high-level committee report from the district administration alleged that six children tragically passed away in the last five days, raising concerns over over-admission, mismanagement, and a possible cholera outbreak at the privately-run shelter for special children.

Initial reports had indicated that five children from the shelter home had died and nearly 50 were hospitalised due to suspected food poisoning. The first casualty was eight-year-old Ankit Garg at Shri Yugpurush Dham Bal Ashram, operated by an NGO in Malharganj area, on the intervening night of June 29 and June 30.

The Ashram management failed to notify the authorities about Garg's demise, and his body was laid to rest without proper disclosure. The management claimed the child passed away due to epilepsy, though the exact cause remains unconfirmed.

Indore Collector Ashish Singh expressed concern over the lack of transparency, stating that a notice has been issued to the Ashram management for potentially concealing information and other irregularities.

"Post-mortem could not be conducted as the administration was not informed about the death of this child by the Ashram management. Therefore, it cannot be said now what may have caused his death," Singh told PTI.

The ongoing investigation has indicated unauthorised admissions, poor medical record-keeping, and various other discrepancies within the Ashram's operations.

In response to the interim probe findings, the Ashram management has been given three days to respond to the notice, with appropriate actions pending their reply.

Singh said the investigation has also exposed the admission of more children beyond the capacity of the shelter home, improper maintenance of medical records and other irregularities in the maintenance of the Ashram.

Plans are also underway to relocate some children to alternative institutions due to the unfolding crisis, he said. Before the tragedy, the institute had 204 inmates, including orphans and those suffering from mental ailments.

Despite repeated attempts, Ashram's principal Anita Sharma could not be contacted.

After Garg's death, another child passed away on June 30 reportedly due to seizures. The tragic events continued as four more children succumbed to vomiting and diarrhoea between July 1 and July 2. The toll rose to six with the fatality on June 29-30, uncovered in the investigation, prompting urgent action to address the situation.

A total of 60 children from the shelter home have been hospitalised at Chacha Nehru Children's Hospital, with three in critical condition.

Despite efforts to identify the source of infection, suspicions point to a cholera outbreak affecting the children's health.

"We have not been able to know the exact source of infection, but on the basis of the initial investigation report, it is certain that the health of most of the children at the Ashram deteriorated due to a cholera outbreak," the collector said.

An official, who is part of the probe panel, said a doctor from the district hospital had found symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea in two children of the Ashram on June 27, but the management did not inform the administration.

urprisingly, it was only when the district administration team reached the Ashram for a check-up on July 2 that the two children were admitted to the hospital along with other sick children," he said.

The devastating circumstances have highlighted the vulnerability of these children, many of whom are unable to communicate their suffering as they are cognitively challenged, the official said, adding the authorities are working tirelessly to address the crisis and ensure the well-being of the remaining children at the shelter home.
IMAGE: Chedilal, who lost his daughter Ruby in the stampede, mourns outside the hospital. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday announced a judicial inquiry into the Hathras tragedy, saying it will also look into the possibility of a 'conspiracy' behind the stampede that killed 121 people at a religious gathering in Hathras.

The police also filed a First Information Report against the organisers of the satsang near Phulhari village, accusing them of cramming 250,000 people into the venue when they had obtained permission for only 80,000, PTI reported.

Bhole Baba's lawyer A P Singh said the preacher is ready to cooperate with the state administration and the police probing Tuesday's stampede. "Some anti-social elements hatched a conspiracy," Singh claimed.

"If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of this will be probed," Yogi told reporters during his visit to Hathras, where he met the injured.

The organisers tried to hide the actual number of people coming to the event by concealing evidence and throwing slippers and other belongings of the devotees in nearby fields, the FIR alleged.

The FIR said police and administration officials did everything possible with available resources and sent the injured to hospitals but the organisers and 'sevadars' did not cooperate.

IMAGE: The mortal remains of a victim of the Hathras stampede being bought to hospital. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A poster of preacher Surajpal, also known as Bhole Baba, stuck on a board, at the site where believers had gathered for a satsang following which the stampede occurred. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

IMAGE: Belongings of people seen at the site where believers had gathered for the satsang, here and below. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

IMAGE: Police officers at the site. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

IMAGE: Relatives try to identify the mortal remains of the Hathras stampede victims. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A man breaks down outside the hospital as rescue operations continue. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Victims of the Hathras stampede receive medical treatment at the hospital. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of the Hathras stampede site at Phulrai village in Hathras on Wednesday. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Forensic teams collects evidence from the Hathras stampede site. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of the stage at the Hathras stampede site. Photograph: Mohd Zakir/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meets victims of the Hathras stampede incident on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Yogi Adityanath speaks to a police officer at the Hathras police line to take stock of the incident as UP Director General of Police Prashant Kumar stands by. Photograph: ANI Photo

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha executive president Hemant Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on Thursday, a week after he was released on bail in a money laundering case, and asserted that 'people intoxicated with power' tried to silence him, but now the voice of the state will be strengthened.

IMAGE: JMM executive president and former CM Hemant Soren takes oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi, July 4, 2024. Governor CP Radhakrishnan (left)administers the oath to office Photograph: ANI Photo

Hemant Soren replaced Champai Soren, who resigned on Wednesday after a brief stint of nearly five months as the Jharkhand chief minister.

Hemant was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor CP Radhakrishnan at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi.

This is the third time the JMM leader has taken oath as the state chief minister.

Champai was also present in the swearing-in ceremony along with family members of Hemant Soren and others.

Hemant Soren was released from jail on June 28 after the Jharkhand High Court granted bail to him in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as the chief minister, shortly before his arrest on January 31 by the Enforcement Directorate.

He became the 13th chief minister of Jharkhand, which was carved out of Bihar in 2000.

Soren became the chief minister for the first time in 2013 and was in power for a year and five months. After the December 2019 assembly elections, he was again at the top post but had to resign in January this year.

After taking the oath, Soren praised his predecessor Champai, saying he discharged his duties well.

Ahead of the swearing-in, Hemant Soran in a video message said: "People intoxicated with power tried to silence me, but now the voice of Jharkhand's residents will be strengthened."

"I was arrested on January 31... I had given a message to you about how the Opposition hatched a conspiracy against me and how they succeeded in their evil designs. They attempted to keep me in jail for a long time but I chose to take resort of the legal battle. You supported me on the streets. Finally, justice was delivered and I was released clean," Soren said in the video clip, posted on X and other social media platforms.

The JMM leader also said that he was given an opportunity to serve the people in 2019 but "the conspirators could not digest that a tribal youth could reach such heights and finally on January 31, I was removed on false charges. There could be delay in God's plans but ultimately truth prevails".

Soren said he was ready to serve the people of Jharkhand with dedication.

After taking the oath, Chief Minister Hemant Soren garlanded the statue of Sidhu-Kanhu at Morabadi and offered floral tribute to the statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda at Birsa Chowk.

Later, he reached the state secretariat and assumed the charge of chief minister.

No decision has been taken about Hemant Soren's cabinet.

Asked about the council of ministers, Jharkhand Congress in-charge Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the party was yet to decide who will join the cabinet and the high command will decide about the party representation in the state government.

A celebration erupted outside the Raj Bhavan after Soren took oath as JMM workers were seen bursting crackers and distributing sweets.

A JMM worker said, "Sher (Hemant Soren) wapas aa gaya (Lion has returned)."

Another worker said that they had been waiting for the day for the past five months.

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi extended his wishes to Hemant Soren and thanked former CM Champai Soren for serving the people of Jharkhand.

"There are many political disagreements with you (Champai Soren) and will continue to be so, but very few people serve selflessly without any greed after reaching the top," Marandi, also a former chief minister, posted on X.

Taking a dig at Hemant Soren, Marandi said, "Hemant ji, as soon as you took the oath, it became clear that no one from your party, except the family, can become the chief minister. With only three months left for the elections, your love for power reflects your politics of selfishness."

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed the development "proved that no one outside the Soren's family could become chief minister. This is an example of dynastic politics and hunger for power."

Chouhan, a senior BJP leader, is in Ranchi to participate in several party programmes on Friday.
India and China on Thursday vowed to redouble efforts to resolve the remaining issues in eastern Ladakh at the earliest and 'stabilise and rebuild' ties even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during a meeting that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be respected.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, in Astana on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo

In the talks held on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Jaishankar underlined the need for fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements and protocols reached between the two sides in the past for the management of the border.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar and Wang had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh to 'stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations'.

In the meeting, the external affairs minister also reaffirmed India's persistent view that the relations between the two sides must be based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.

'Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end,' Jaishankar said on 'X'.

'Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest -- will guide our bilateral ties,' he said.

India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.

'Both Ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest,' the MEA said.

'To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting,' it said.

The MEA said Jaishankar reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.

It said the two ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

'The external affairs minister highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations,' the MEA said.

'He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced,' it said.

The Jaishankar-Wang talks came amid the dragging border row in eastern Ladakh that entered its fifth year in May.

The Indian and Chinese militaries have been locked in a standoff since May 2020 and a full resolution of the border row has not yet been achieved though the two sides have disengaged from a number of friction points.

The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

The two sides held the last round of high-level military talks in February with an aim to resolve the row.

Though there was no indication of a breakthrough at the 21st round of talks, both sides agreed to maintain 'peace and tranquillity' on the ground and continue the communication on the way ahead.
A day after a stampede in Hathras claimed 121 lives, Uttar Pradesh minister Asim Arun on Wednesday said the state government has started work on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for granting permission for large gatherings to prevent such incidents in future.

IMAGE: Belongings of people are seen at the site where they had gathered for a religious congregation, in Hathras, Uttar Pradesh, on July 3, 2024. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/Reuters

He said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed officials to prepare the SOPs and permission for events would be granted only if the 'basic, minimum' conditions for amenities are met.

Arun, the minister of state for social welfare, is part of a three-minister committee formed by Adityanath for supervising the relief measures in the aftermath of the stampede.

Explaining how the tragedy unfolded, he said, "It appears sevadars (volunteers) who were managing things inside did something wrong in terms of crowd management and that is another lesson learnt."

"We should not leave it to sevadars or volunteers. They do a great job, of course, but the police and magistrates are more experienced," he said.

So, the chief minister has decided that the state will have a more detailed SOP now for any such gathering, whether it has 1,000 or one lakh people, the minister told PTI.

"It's not just this, it's about civic amenities as well, like how many toilets are required for 80,000 people or how many water tankers should be there and how many escape points should be there," Arun said.

"So, he (CM) has instructed us to make a detailed SOP and all future permissions would be granted only if these amenities are taken care of either by the organisers themselves or by a government agency," he added.

On the negligence on the part of organisers of the Tuesday's satsang, the minister said there were quite a few.

"There was inadequate space for parking and hence a large number of buses were parked on the national highway.

"There should be multiple entry and exit routes and I believe they were only two routes as far as I have seen. So, the organisers could certainly have done better," he said.

He said if it was a smaller gathering or if it was pleasant weather, maybe it would have worked. But yesterday was a sultry day and later it rained.

"I think multiple factors were at play there. We have to improve our processes," he said.

"Whether the government is organising an event or a private person is organising an event, our SOP will be very clear on what kind of basic minimum standards have to be met for us to permit any such events to take place," he added.

In the wake of the stampede, the Hathras police have lodged a first information report (FIR) in which organisers of the event have been mentioned as accused.

The FIR as well as a preliminary report sent by the sub-divisional magistrate to the district magistrate also mentioned that the crowd swelled at the venue to over 2.50 lakh, much more than the permitted limit of 80,000.

Earlier on Wednesday, Adityanath visited Hathras and met the injured and families of some of the deceased.

He also order an inquiry into the matter by a judicial commission headed by a retired high court judge.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

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One New Zealand is the first naming rights partner of Otautahi Christchurchs new Te Kaha Stadium, currently under construction.

The 36,000-concert capacity roofed stadium, owned by the Christchurch City Council, will now be called One New Zealand Stadium under a new 10-year contract.

One NZ will be working with Venues Otautahi to deliver world-class coverage and connectivity in the stadium when it opens in 2026.

One New Zealand Stadium will bring the best music, live entertainment and sports, including the mighty Warriors, to Christchurch and were stoked to be the naming rights partner, said One NZ CEO Jason Paris.

One NZ has sponsored the Warriors for 25 years and also partners with music promoter Live Nation.

Cantabrians have been waiting a long time for a world-class stadium, and this multi-use arena is certain to deliver, Paris said.
The jailing of Mother Nature activists highlights the justness of their cause.

The Cambodian government has to claim to be committed to climate action. So it really doesnt like people who point out the lie.

For years, the loudest critic has been Mother Nature, a group of environmental activists formed in 2013 that has often run afoul of the authorities.

In 2021, several members of the group documented waste run-off into Phnom Penh's Tonle Sap river, near the royal palace. This was linked to companies run by some well-connected individuals.

For this, they were charged with plotting against the government and insulting the king, two charges that prosecutors never even tried to prove in a trial that ended on July 2 with ten Mother Nature activists being sentenced to between six and eight years in jail.

Three were also convicted of defaming King Norodom Sihamoni, receiving sentences of eight years in prison. The other seven got six years behind bars.

Cambodian environmental activist Phuon Keoraksmey is arrested outside the Phnom Penh municipal court after a verdict on July 2, 2024. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP)

Five of the ten are currently in hiding or exile. They were tried in absentia. That includes the founder of Mother Nature, Spanish environmentalist Alejandro Gonzalez-Davidson, who was deported from Cambodia in 2015.

It was another crushing blow to Cambodias civil society, said Amnesty Internationals deputy regional director for research, Montse Ferrer. Igor Driesmans, the EU ambassador to Phnom Penh, tweeted that he is deeply concerned about increasing persecution and arrests of human rights defenders in Cambodia.

Indeed, Cambodias civil society is now a mere whisper of what it once was. Since 2017, it has been systematically dismantled.

The trade union movement has been broken up, while NGOs have been destroyed by lawsuits and jailings. Some middle-class liberals have been bought off with government jobs and promises of reform when Hun Manet, the son of the long-serving premier, inherited the prime ministership last year.

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Splintering of activists

However, unlike all other forms of activism that came before, environmentalism has endured. Thats partly because groups like Mother Nature refused to self-censor. But it is also structural.

In the past, civil activism was disparate. Cambodia had a strong trade union movement, but this was only in the garment factories. It had loud middle-class urbanites, but they stayed in the cities and campaigned for liberal reforms.

People in the countryside protested when their land was taken away and given to well-connected businesses, but they rarely connected with other groups.

The now-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party brought some of the voices under one roof for a brief period between 2012 and 2017, but once the party was dissolved that year, on laughable accusations of plotting a coup, the civil activist groups splintered.

Not environmentalism, however. Thats because, unlike most other causes, it unites rural folk and urbanites, rich and poor, nationalists and cosmopolitans. It is intensely patriotic, whereas some other campaigns could be rebuked as un-Cambodian. And it doesnt grapple with abstracts.

Debates about human rights and democracy are messy. There are spectrums. Theres subjectivity. Only at the extremes can one see authoritarianism in action.

Cambodia security officers clash with a union member near the National Assembly during a protest against the trade union law in Phnom Penh, April 4, 2016. (Samrang Pring/Reuters)

The Cambodian authorities dont arrest hundreds of people daily. There is no public flogging. You can spend your entire life keeping your head low and avoiding the jackboot.

But the environmental cause is different.

Cambodians pass a river and see how more polluted it gets each day. They can watch the forests disappear. They can experience the droughts that are now more common. They can see where the lakes once were, now filled in for construction.

If their house is flooded because the land around them has been destroyed and built over, that creates a more immediate sensation of grief and anger than reading that the U.S. has downgraded Cambodia to the lowest Tier 3 ranking for money laundering.

Environmentalism threatens a corrupt state

Whereas a propagandist can dismiss human rights and democracy with claims of Asian Values and the need for social stability over individual rights, no one can explain away deforestation, mass pollution, and environmental destruction as anything other than a crime against the nation itself.

Thats why environmentalism poses such risks for autocratic regimes. Its ridiculous the courts ruled that the Mother Nature activists plotted against the state. But, in a sense, the cause does threaten the state.

What it reveals is just how much Cambodias political system is a criminal racket.

Cambodias political system is feudal-ish: Its a political aristocracy, composed of corrupt and incestuous families. But it depends on the money and patronage of economic barons, the financiers.

Money flows up and favors flow down. Those favors include illegal logging, land grabs, industrial pollution, and the destruction of waterways.

Volunteer students and Buddhist monks collect plastic waste from a sewage canal to set an example and educate people on proper plastic disposal in Phnom Penh on Oct. 28, 2023. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP)

The tycoons may donate some money to some good causes, but the environmentalists come along and point out that this money was made by destroying the countrys natural resources.

The ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) claims to represent the people of the soil, but the environmentalists show that it puts the interest of capital above the interests of the people.

The CPP derides its opponents as cosmopolitans bought and owned by the West, but the environmentalists prove that the CPP government has presided over the utter gutting of Cambodias natural wealth, frequently by foreign-owned companies.

Ly Chandaravuth, one of the activists jailed this week, said this before the trial: When [political elites] destroy our country, they have taken on new nationalities; they have millions of dollars; they can run to live in other countries when our country is destroyed, leaving only us who live in this country. If we dont protect our country, we will be victims in the future.

Greens are hard to silence

Cambodia is starting to experience something similar to what began in Vietnam in the late 2000s when environmentalism and nationalism morphed into a new, powerful force.

In 2008, Vietnamese activists, including war-era generals, sparked a new movement after lambasting the ruling Communist Party for selling off Vietnamese land to Chinese bauxite miners.

Ever since, eco-nationalism has been the trigger for Vietnams largest protests. The communist authorities have no response other than repression when the government is derided for not only destroying the countrys habitat but for doing it to get a quick Chinese buck.

It matters on another level, too.

The likes of Cambodia now see climate action as a basis for international aid diplomacy.

Promise some Hail-Mary green goal and the European Union will ignore all of your other vices. Laud Beijing as the Global Souths environmental savior and you get investment capital from China. Talk about renewable energy infrastructure and Japan is at the front of the queue with bags full of cash.

Washington isnt so easily bought off with green platitudes, but talk about climate action in terms of self-sufficiency  meaning less dependency on China  and the U.S. gets on board, too.

Cambodian environmental activists Ly Chandaravuth, right, Phun Keoraksmey, second from right, Thun Ratha, second from left, Long Kunthea, left, sit outside Phnom Penh municipal court on July 2, 2024. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP)

The sums involved for this green agenda are in the tens of billions. Most of the money is essential for economic development. Much of it flows into companies or ventures controlled by political elites or the economic barrons.

This means that theres a lot on the line when homegrown environmentalists point out that the government is lying about its green agenda, that the government isnt as green as it pretends. So all the more reason for regimes to see eco-nationalism as an existential threat.

The fact of the matter is that the Mother Nature activists will now have to endure the hell of prison for years. But their cause will persist.

Autocratic regimes like Cambodias cannot silence the eco-nationalists because their revelations are obvious to all.

Cambodians dont need to understand theories of democracy to see that their forests are disappearing, that their rivers are overflowing with filth, that droughts are now more common and their crops are becoming harder to grow, or that their land is being torn apart by an elite that will never have to suffer the consequences.

David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. He writes the Watching Europe In Southeast Asia newsletter. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of RFA.
It presents Chinas claim to the region but is criticized for potentially misrepresenting key dispute aspects.

The complex web of territorial claims in the South China Sea has long been a source of tension between China and several of its Southeast Asian neighbors.

The area is strategically significant due to its rich natural resources, vital shipping lanes, and geopolitical implications. Efforts to resolve the disputes through international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, have had limited success, and the region remains a flashpoint.

Recently, CGTN, the English-language news channel of Chinas state-run China Central Television, or CCTV, broadcast a documentary addressing several facets of this complex issue, including the dispute between China and the Philippines.

Screenshot of CGTN documentary Sovereignty at Stake: A documentary on the South China Sea.





This program, titled Sovereignty at Stake: A documentary on the South China Sea, aims to present Chinas historical claim to the region, but it has drawn criticism for potentially misrepresenting key aspects of the dispute.

Below is what AFCL found.

1. Was the South China Sea primarily navigated by China?

The documentary cited Wu Shicun, president of Chinas National Institute for South China Sea Studies, as saying that excavated material from the sea are clear evidence that in antiquity for a long time, it was primarily Chinese people who worked in, passed through and used the waters.

But this is misleading.

Common sense would tell you that the Chinese werent the only ones living off the ocean, says Li Woteng, a well-known ethnic Chinese expert on the South China Sea dispute who has written several books on the subject.

Li believes that people from what is now modern China were not the only ones who navigated through and fished in the South China Sea, nor even the main ones.

As evidence, he cited a passage from a work by the 18th century Vietnamese scholar Le Quy on recording Vietnamese fishermen at work near the Paracel Islands  a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea.

Li noted that the passage also recorded a meeting between Vietnamese and Chinese fishermen working together peaceably at the site.

He added the text demonstrates that Chinese fishermen were not the only ones working in the waterway and it was used by mariners from China and many other Asian countries in antiquity.

International waterway

While the passage alone is not enough evidence to infer who entered the South China Sea first, Li believes that it was not China.

It is possible to claim that Chinese fishermen operating along the coastline of Chinas southernmost Hainan Island in antiquity were navigating or exploiting the South China Sea, said Li.

However, Hainan is in the upper, northern tract of the sea, and it would be just as reasonable to infer that all surrounding countries in the region could make similar claims, Li added.

Arabs, Southeast Asians traders

Li also highlighted that when discussing sea routes in the South China Sea, known as the Maritime Silk Road, it is important to focus on the voyages made across the open ocean.

One Chinese expedition crossed the isthmus of modern day south Thailand en route to a kingdom in present day India, Li explained, citing a passage from a nearly 2,000-year-old text written during Chinas Han Dynasty, which is the oldest surviving record of a Chinese expedition sent through the South China Sea.

The Indian kingdom had previously sent tribute across the South China Sea to the Han rulers, and the Chinese expedition was meant to be a reciprocal diplomatic gesture of respect.

Li added that the Indian kingdoms initial crossing of the sea is clear evidence that the Maritime Silk Road had already become a major route for East and South Asian societies.

Additionally, these records show that Chinese envoys traveled abroad on foreign ships.

In the following centuries, records note that vessels from Southeast Asia, India and Iran regularly arrived at southern Chinese ports after crossing the South China Sea.

On the other hand, there are only a few accounts before the Tang dynasty (618-907) of Chinese people traveling by sea, and most of these were monks on foreign ships.

Li mentioned that it was only around the Song dynasty (960-1279) that China began producing large numbers of merchant vessels capable of crossing the open ocean.

By this time, Arab and Southeast Asian merchants were already using the South China Sea extensively, creating the well-known maritime trade routes that later famous Chinese explorers, like Zheng He, would follow.

2. Did international treaties stipulate that several disputed archipelagos lie outside the territory of the Philippines?

Regarding the present-day dispute between China and the Philippines over the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, Wu Shicun from the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, said in the documentary that the maritime western boundaries of the Philippines are delineated at 118 degrees east by a series of international treaties.

Wu told AFCL that the 1898 Treaty of Paris, the 1900 Treaty of Washington and a border delineation signed between the United States and Great Britain in 1930 were among the international treaties he was referring to during the program.

He added that both disputed shoals lie west of this boundary and therefore do not belong to the Philippines.

This is partly true.

The 1898 Treaty of Paris was signed between the U.S. and Spain following the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898.

The treaty ceded the entirety of the then Spanish controlled Philippines to the U.S. and delineated the eastern range of islands to be handed over as lying between a longitude of 118 degrees east to 127 degrees east.

The later treaty between the U.S. and Britain delineating maritime borders between the then U.S.-controlled Philippines and British- controlled Borneo also marked an approximate longitude of 118 degrees east as the westernmost boundary of the Philippines.

The U.S. State Department has historical records detailing the baseline of the Philippines maritime boundaries. (Screenshot/U.S. Department of State, LIS No. 33 - Philippines Straight Baselines )

However, Li Woteng noted that a clause in the 1900 Treaty of Washington  a followup agreement between the U.S. and Spain which addressed certain unresolved issues in the Treaty of Paris  further stipulated that Spain relinquished all claims to any and all islands lying outside the lines noted in the 1898 Treaty of Paris.

Li referred to this as a pocket treaty that was meant to ensure that any and all islands belonging to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era would be handed over to the U.S., regardless of whether they were within the boundaries stipulated by the 1898 Treaty of Paris.

This clause was not mentioned by Wu. If the shoals were considered part of the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, they may have been transferred to U.S. control along with the Philippines.

3. Does China possess more convincing historical evidence than the Philippines?

The documentary criticized the Philippines for using a 200-year-old unofficial map from the Spanish colonial era as evidence of its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal since ancient times. It instead pointed to a 300-year-old Chinese fishermens navigation manual as more convincing evidence.

However, this lacks historical context.

While it claims the Chinese fishermens navigation manual is strong evidence that the disputed islands have been Chinese territory since ancient times, the manual was never officially commissioned by any Chinese government.

In contrast, the so-called unofficial map of the Philippines was created by the Spanish polymath missionary Murillo Velarde at the request of the then governor-general of the Philippines, Valdez Tamon, following an order from the King of Spain in 1733 to draw the first complete scientific map of the Spanish territory.

The map remained the standard chart of the Philippines for a long time after its completion. A digitized version of the map is available on the U.S. Library of Congress website.

Velardes map of the Philippines (Screenshot/U.S. Library of Congress website)





Li, an ethnic Chinese expert on the South China Sea, stated that even if China doesnt recognize the map drawn by Velarde as evidence of Philippine rule over Scarborough Shoal, it at least proves that the Philippines was aware of the shoal at that time.

Expeditions organized by Spain to investigate and survey the island in 1792 and 1800 could also be regarded as evidence of effective dominion under international law, Li added.

4. Were Chinas claims to the South China Sea unchallenged by the international community?

The documentary noted that an administrative map released by the Republic of China in 1948 that includes several currently disputed islands in the South China Sea within Chinas maritime borders went unchallenged by other countries at the time.

The Republic of China, or simply China, was a sovereign state based on mainland China from 1912 to 1949 prior to the governments relocation to Taiwan, where it continues to be based today.

But this is partly true. While no country directly challenged the map at the time, several countries had already made claims to many of the islands included in the map.

In a 1996 paper by American scholar Daniel Dzurek, focusing on the issue of sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, it was noted that both Japan and France had sent several missions around the islands. France, in particular, claimed sovereignty over several islands in the region  claims that were later disputed by China.

Li believes that the most likely reason no country challenged Chinas claims at the time was that nobody knew about them.

While the maps were all published in Chinese-language newspapers, they were not published prominently.

Even if other countries noticed the announcement at the time, they were probably unclear about its significance, Li explained.

[The Republic of China] did not declare what the eleven-dash line means, and China to this day has not explicitly stated the exact meaning of the nine-dash line, said Li.

The nine-dash line, referred to as the eleven-dash line by Taiwan, is a set of delineations on various maps that accompanied the claims of China and Taiwan in the South China Sea.

While countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines did not officially dispute Chinas claimed sovereign area in the South China Sea as outlined in the map, they have declared sovereignty over particular islands and archipelagos in the region.

For instance, in 1950 the Philippines began to assert its claim to sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, and in 1956, it explicitly claimed sovereignty over them. Additionally, at the 1951 San Francisco Conference, post-independence Vietnam (represented by the Bao Dai regime) also put forward its claim of sovereignty over the Xisha and Spratly Islands.

Therefore, Li believes it is clear that the documentarys emphasis on the fact that no countries have objections to the eleven-dash line is not sufficient evidence to prove there were no disputes over the islands and sea areas.

5. Did the U.S. smear China and attempt to build a military base on the Spratly Islands?

Herman Tiu-Laurel, president of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, said in the documentary that the purpose of the U.S. Myoushuu Project  a Stanford University research project  was to discredit Chinas international reputation and establish a joint military base of operations in the Spratly Islands, as part of a first line of island chain bases surrounding China.

But this claim lacks evidence.

While the U.S. and the Philippines announced U.S. military access to four training sites in the Philippines as part of an expansion in bilateral military cooperation in 2023, the Spratly Islands are not included among these sites.

Project Myoushuu is designed to research Chinese tactics used in the South China Sea and document Chinese encroachment in the area.

It is part of the broader Gordian Knot Center at Stanford University, a research center specializing in national security innovation established under the auspices of the U.S. Office of Naval Research.

Project Myoushuu is a Stanford research project focused on documenting Chinese encroachment into the South China Sea. (Screenshot/Gordian Knot Center Website)





AFCL has previously debunked similar claims about U.S. plans to build military bases in the South China Sea.

6. Did international treaties following World War II delegate which country held sovereignty over the South China Sea?

The documentary also claimed that following World War II, the Allies decision not to contest Chinas control over various islands in the South China Sea was at least a tacit admission of Chinas territorial claims over the area.

This claim is highly contestable, with the key point of contention being the wording of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, also known as the Treaty of San Francisco, signed in 1951.

Neither the government of the Republic of China nor the Peoples Republic of China were signatories to the treaty.

In the second article of the treaty, Japan renounced any claims to its former imperial territories held before the war, including the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands.

The original wording of the Treaty of Peace with Japan did not specify what countries hold sovereignty over the Spratly Islands or the Paracel Islands. (Screenshot/U.N. website)





However, the treaty itself did not specify or affirm which countries would exercise sovereignty over these territories.

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.
Ships are likely on rotational deployment at Ream to avoid contravening Cambodias constitution, analysts say.

Two Chinese warships have recently arrived at Cambodias Ream naval base to replace the ones that had been there since December, a senior Cambodian official has said.

Defense ministry spokesman Chhum Socheat wrote on his Facebook page that the recent exchange of Chinese naval vessels was conducted under an agreement between the two countries' defense ministries in order to train the Cambodian navy.

Radio Free Asia first reported on the arrival of two Chinese corvettes last December, the first foreign warships allowed to dock at the new Chinese-built pier at Ream.

The Wall Street Journal suggested in a recent report that Chinas corvettes indicated it was establishing a permanent presence at the base on the Gulf of Thailand, near the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

More than half a year later, they are still there, serving as evidence to many in Washington that Chinas military has set up a permanent foothold in Cambodia, the newspaper said.

It quoted a Ream resident who has relatives working at the base as saying that the base was divided into two separate areas, one reserved for the Chinese navy and the other one for the Cambodian navy.

The newspaper also said that Chinas access to Ream is set to play a key role in any conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea.

Chhum Socheat dismissed the WSJ report as intentionally misleading and untrue, adding that some areas were under construction and therefore off-limits to outsiders in accordance with Cambodian laws.

The U.S. State Department previously said it had serious concerns about Chinas plans for exclusive control over portions of the Ream base.

Top officials in Phnom Penh have always maintained that allowing a foreign military to be based in Cambodia would be in contradiction to the countrys constitution.

Chinese navy is operating out of Cambodia's Ream: US think tank

Chinese warships dock at Cambodias Ream base for training

China-backed naval base in Cambodia continues to grow

Type 056 corvettes

Satellite images obtained by Radio Free Asia from the imaging company Planet Labs on July 2 show two vessels docked at the new pier in Reams center-west.

A calculation by RFA based on the images indicated they were 90 meters (295 feet) in length, and similar in size and shape to the two Type 056 missile corvettes  Wenshan and Bazhong  that were first spotted at the base on Dec. 3, 2024.

Two Chinese vessels seen docking at Ream naval base, Cambodia, July 2, 2024. (Planet Labs)





RFA could not identify their hull numbers from the images to determine if they were the same ships or different ones. The Chinese navys South Sea Fleet, which is responsible for activities in the Southeast Asia region, has 20 such vessels.

Unless we can verify it independently we have to assume the Cambodians would have every reason to say theyre new arrivals in order to dispel external concerns, said Collin Koh, a regional military analyst.

In fact, most analysts would assess that Cambodia had granted access for rotational deployment [of Chinese ships], but thats strictly speaking not a basing arrangement, said Koh, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Cambodia seems to go down this path in order to avoid contravening its constitution, the analyst added.

Thomas Shugart, adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security in Washington D.C. agreed that it does sound like what you could call a rotational presence.

However, he warned that there will be an at least semi-permanent logistical presence of the Chinese navy at the base to support visiting warships.

The Type 056 corvette, and its later version Type 056A, is similar to the U.S.-built littoral combat ship, suitable for mid-range and littoral missions and equipped for anti-submarine warfare.

They have been used for asserting control over sea lanes and enhancing the navys surveillance capabilities.

Chinese warships Bazhong (left), Wenshan (center) and Qilianshan (right) participating in the Golden Dragon-2024 joint exercise near Sihanoukville in Cambodia on May 27, 2024. (Screenshot from CCTV)





The two corvettes Wenshan and Bazhong were among 16 Chinese and Cambodian vessels taking part in the Golden Dragon bilateral exercise in May. They conducted a live-fire joint counter-terrorism operation in the waters off Sihanoukville port.

Chinese officials said at the time that assistance in upgrading and renovating the Cambodian naval base was aimed at enhancing Cambodia's ability to maintain maritime territorial integrity and combat maritime crime, not securing a potential military base.

Edited by Mike Firn.
CSIS report says Cuba let China build a spy base capable of monitoring US air and maritime traffic.

U.S. officials say they hope to disrupt a Chinese intelligence gathering operation allegedly based in Cuba after a Washington think tank released satellite images it said showed the construction of a spy base capable of surveilling a nearby American naval base.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies on Monday released a report alleging that Cuba in 2021 let China construct spy facilities on the doorstep of the United States that would allow Beijing to monitor air and maritime traffic up to 9,000 miles (14,500 kms) away by using radar.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, U.S. State Department principal deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said officials had already talked about this a little bit more than a year ago when reports of a Chinese base in Cuba nearly derailed a trip to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

But he acknowledged the United States takes issue with its rival building spy facilities on China, which lies about 90 miles (145 kms) south of Florida and was infamously once home to Soviet nuclear missiles.

Obviously, we certainly would not want a country like the PRC conducting such an operation in such a region that has proximity to the United States, Patel said, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

PRC activities in Cuba have been going on for decades, and we know that the PRC is going to keep trying to enhance its presence in Cuba, and the United States is going to keep working to disrupt it, he said.

Wajay SIGINT site, March 11, 2024 in Cuba. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024)

Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder mirrored Patels comments and said the U.S. military was taking steps to counter intelligence gathering.

We're confident, he said, that we can continue to meet our security commitments both here at home and in the region. As you may have heard us say, or the White House say, almost a year ago they've been tracking that these activities have been going on for decades.

The PRC had completed an upgrade of its facilities in Cuba in 2019, Ryder added. We know that the PRC is going to continue to try to enhance its presence in Cuba and we will continue to keep working to disrupt that. So we're continuing to monitor this closely.

Cuban and Chinese denials

Both Cuba and Chinas governments have rejected the CSIS findings.

In a post to social media platform X, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossi derided a report based on the CSIS satellite images that was published in The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal persists in launching an intimidation campaign related to #Cuba, de Cossio said in the post on Tuesday. Without citing a verifiable source or showing evidence, it seeks to scare the public with tales about Chinese military bases that do not exist and no one has seen, including the US embassy in Cuba."

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, accused the United States of having hyped up China's establishment of spy bases in Cuba as part of a smear campaign against Beijing.

Such claims are nothing but slander, Liu wrote, also in a post to X. The US side should immediately stop its smearing of China.

Calabazar SIGINT site, March 11, 2024 in Cuba. (CSIS/Hidden Reach/Maxar 2024)

His denials were also repeated in a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who derided what she said was another false accusation about Chinese foreign military bases that do not exist and no one has seen.

China and Cuba are good friends, good comrades and good brothers, Mao said. China-Cuba relations are a good example of sincerity and mutual assistance between developing countries. Chinas cooperation with Cuba is done aboveboard, and does not target any third party.

U.S. officials, for their part, have also denied their problems with a Chinese spy base in Cuba was akin to Chinas issues with alleged U.S. spy facilities in Taiwan, which lies about 80 miles (130 kms) from China.

Patel, the U.S. State Department spokesman, said in his press briefing on Tuesday he could not comment on the existence of any facilities.

But he said the two issues were separate.

Any country is allowed to have any feelings that they would like to have, Patel said. But I also think that comparing us as a country to the PRC as a country, its a little bit apples and oranges.
The accounts of hardship are in stark contrast to the rosy rhetoric around the Communist Party's 3rd plenum.

Formerly prosperous workers in China, both white-collar and blue, are struggling with the hard reality of unemployment, interviewees told RFA Mandarin ahead of a major economic policy meeting the government claims will bring a brighter future.

The tales of hardship contrast with the upbeat tone of commentaries about economic measures to be announced at the Chinese Communist Partys third plenum on July 15 that will supposedly make all the difference.

"Entering July, Chinese people's expectations will be running high," according to a June 30 commentary in the Global Times newspaper, trumpeting "a holistic package of new reform plans" that is expected from the meeting.

"After more than 40 years' reform and opening-up, Chinese policymakers are becoming both astute and experienced in managing a giant economy like China's," it said.

But former employees who took out mortgages and started families during the boom-time before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020 tell a very different story in recent interviews with Radio Free Asia.

An IT professional from a major Chinese city who gave only the pseudonym Chen and limited professional details for fear of reprisals said he lost his highly paid job at a U.S. company "a few years ago," after the company was dropped from the supply chain of Chinese manufacturers due to increasingly strict quotas about the use of foreign technology imposed by both sides in the Sino-U.S. trade war.

Undeterred, Chen found himself another job at a European startup, only to be laid off when that company divested from China entirely.

'Few opportunities'

Chen now calls himself a freelance consultant, and occasionally gets small work-for-hire jobs and corporate consulting gigs.

But he's essentially unemployed, along with many of his skilled, white-collar peers.

Chinese traffic police officers walk by a U.S. flag on an embassy car outside a hotel in Shanghai, July 30, 2019. (Ng Han Guan/AP)





"Last week, when I got together with some former colleagues, I heard that a lot of people have lost their jobs," he said, adding that jobs in foreign-owned companies are pretty scarce these days.

"A lot of my former friends and colleagues have either gone to work in state-owned or private companies, or joint ventures," Chen said. "Sometimes, when foreign companies pull out, they don't want to totally give up on this market, so they form a joint venture with a Chinese company and keep some business activity going."

One friend couldn't take the shift in corporate culture from a U.S.-owned company to a Chinese state-owned enterprise, however, and quit after just a year, Chen said.

"You'd think it would be enviable to land a job in such a big company, but he quit after less than a year because he couldn't adapt -- the culture shock was too big," he said.

The life of an IT consultant has been a bit of a comedown for Chen, and he has little recourse to that other generator of middle-class wealth, investments.

"There is less and less to invest in in China, and not many channels open," he said, citing the stock market crash earlier this year and collapse of a slew of asset management companies amid the economic downtown. "And a lot of them are scams."

A recruiter talks with an applicant at a job fair June 9, 2023 in Beijing. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)





"There are few job opportunities and few opportunities to grow your wealth," he said. "Yet there are plenty of opportunities, or traps, for taking your wealth away."

"Actually, it's best to not do anything at all."

Changing dynamics

A former asset management company employee from Shanghai who gave only the pseudonym Liu for fear of reprisals lost his job when the company went bankrupt.

Then the city was thrown into COVID-19 lockdown in 2022. Liu eventually found another job at a listed automobile parts company supplying American and European manufacturers, but was let go from there too.

"General Motors, Ford and other manufacturers are required to ensure that the proportion of parts made in China must be reduced to 45% within the next three years," Liu told RFA Mandarin.

The company took its production capacity to Thailand instead.

"The transfer of production capacity overseas will inevitably mean insufficient production at home, it's that simple," Liu said.

Workers rest outside a shopping mall, Jan. 17, 2024, in Beijing. (Ng Han Guan/AP)





Liu, who is 39, has been unemployed ever since. He said his age is now strongly against him, yet he has a child and elderly parents depending on him.

"The companies that I like or that can afford my salary are all in a poor financial state," he said. "Also, there's this trend, I don't know when it started, that now that nobody is hiring people over 35. It's actually true."

And it's hard to get back into the Chinese state sector if you don't already have contacts there.

Competition for existing jobs is intense, and six-day weeks are now the norm.

China is also bursting at the seams with young, highly qualified graduates, offering masters and PhDs, Liu said.

Yet Liu's 600,000 yuan (US$82,500) mortgage isn't going to pay itself.

"I force myself to go out every day," he said. "I don't wear a suit and tie, but I wear professional clothes, and meet up with various people and see if there's any sign of a breakthrough."

"I feel like I will just rot if I sit at home."

Feeling the pinch

Blue-collar workers are feeling the pinch too.

A former construction worker in his 20s from the southern city of Changsha who gave only the pseudonym Sun for fear of reprisals said he has been unemployed for two years now, although he prefers to describe himself as "waiting for work."

Sun's job once brought in a good salary of up to 8,000 yuan (US$1,100) a month, but his boss closed the company down in 2022 in the economic downturn that came after the ending of COVID-19 restrictions that year. A few months later, the entire real estate sector was in freefall.

People attend a job fair, June 2, 2024 in Huai'an, in eastern China's Jiangsu province. (AFP)

At least Sun wasn't caught out like many borrowers, paying mortgages on unfinished properties they couldn't even live in.

But while he has only paid off some of the loan, he is reluctant to struggle to earn a few cents in China's gig economy, which now accounts for 27% of the country's labor force, with 200 million people registered as being in "flexible employment."

"Some former colleagues from our sector are now driving for [ride-sharing app] Didi, or delivering food, but it's very high pressure because more and more people are doing it, and everyone is unemployed," Sun said.

He cites poor, often hazardous, working conditions, pointing to a recent report of a food delivery rider in Changsha who narrowly escaped a flash flood with his life in a recent rainstorm, and had to be rescued by police.

"It's totally unnecessary for me to risk my life just to make 5 or 6 yuan (70-80 U.S. cents) per delivery," he said.

Sun's family is currently getting by on his wife's salary as a nurse. His elderly parents are paying off his mortgage while he has no income.

He can't see things improving anytime soon.

"I feel that the economic growth we had in the past was too fast, and that we'll be paying back the overdraft on the economy for the next 20 years, or even longer," he said, adding that he is seeking solace and support from others in his situation on social media.

"I feel like I can't see a future," he said.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
The sessions are seen as part of a broader effort to tighten control over the younger generation.

North Koreas youth and students wearing protective face masks hold an outdoor rally in Pyongyang, in protest over the leaflets sent by defectors in South Korea that condemned Kim Jong Uns regime, in this photo taken June 6, 2020 and released by Kyodo on June 7, 2020.

North Korea has issued a directive for students studying overseas to return home for political indoctrination sessions, said South Koreas unification ministry.

The sessions, aimed at reinforcing allegiance to leader Kim Jong Un, will be held at the Pyongyang Grand Peoples Study House later this month, the ministry said on Wednesday.

North Korea is gradually resuming the measures that were halted due to the COVID-19 lockdown, said the ministry, adding that the order appeared to be aimed at involving the younger generation.

The indoctrination is seen as part of a broader effort to tighten control over young North Koreans as well as preventing defections among the young members of the elite, said the ministry.

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The ministrys announcement came after media reports that the North has ordered the recall of students studying abroad, including those in China and Russia, following instructions from North Korean leader Kim.

South Korean broadcaster SBS cited North Korean sources as saying that some of the students, mostly from the Norths elite families, are worried about the possibility of being forced to stay in their home country if they are caught dating, neglecting their studies or other behavior deemed unpatriotic.

North Korea used to bring home students staying abroad during summer vacations to conduct political and ideological education, including indoctrination sessions before the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, since North Korea sealed itself off from the outside world in 2020 in a bid to keep the virus out, the sessions have not been held, according to the unification ministry.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Local residents say language instruction is necessary to get ahead in Laos these days.

Screengrab from a June 25, 2024 promotional video posted on the Facebook page of Sino-Agri International Potash Co., Ltd.

A large Chinese potash mine in central Laos that has come under fire in the past for not employing enough Lao workers has begun offering Mandarin language classes for local youths.

Sino-Agri International Potash Co., Ltd. in Khammouane province last month began a pilot program for young people living in three villages near its potash processing plant, offering them three days of language instruction weekly for two months, according to local residents and a company employee.

A Tha Khek district resident familiar with the program told RFA that the selected students were primarily in sixth grade or above and that local villagers were happy to hear about the training as they believed it would afford their children more employment opportunities in the future. She, like others interviewed for this article, asked not to be named for security reasons.

It will help them to have more opportunities in the future, she said. If they only know Lao language, they will earn a low salary. If they know the Chinese language well, it will help them to earn a higher salary.

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At Lao potash mine, flood of Chinese workers are displacing local laborers

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Last year, sources told RFA that Chinese laborers at the mine outnumbered Lao workers by 30 times, despite an agreement that mine operators must hire more domestic workers than Chinese.

The mine has also repeatedly come under fire by local villagers in Tha Khek and Nong Bok districts who said Sino-Agri did not compensate them fairly for lost land.

The company is a subsidiary of Asia Potash International Investment (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which is linked to entities directed by Chinas governing State Council. Much of the potash  a soluble form of potassium, used for crop fertilizer  is exported to China, which has made acquiring more of the mineral a priority.

Smoothing relations

The language classes appear to be a way to smooth relations with local villagers.

An employee with the company who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak with the media said the program was aimed at improving language skills with an eye toward eventual employment.

We only select students and youths from three villages close to our processing factory, he explained. We only hire workers who know Chinese or workers with Chinese language knowledge will be our priority to consider.

If successful, he said, the pilot would be expanded to other nearby villages.

With the rapid expansion of Chinese-backed projects, tourism and investment, learning Mandarin has gained increasing importance in Laos. A recent article by Chinas Xinhua news agency reported that the National University of Laos last year received more enrollments for its Department of Chinese Language than any other subject.

In Tha Khek  where the mine has expanded substantially from 35 square kilometers (13.5 square miles) when it began operations in 2021 to 214 square kilometers (83 square miles)  some families believe learning Chinese has become necessary to move ahead.

More students and youths living in Tha Khek district are interested in learning Chinese these days, said another local resident. The main reason that stimulates them to learn Chinese is because there are many Chinese nationals who come to work and live in this district.

An employee of a Chinese language school in Khammouane province told RFA he was not surprised to learn that Sino-Agri had begun offering its own classes, given the high demand within the province.

Many students and youths are interested in learning Chinese language, he said. There is high demand to learn Chinese language among secondary school students and the number of students is increasing.

Whether improved communication will smooth out relations between local workers and foreign bosses remains to be seen.

On social media, some Lao workers at the Sino Agri site complained of being treated differently from their Chinese counterparts, but also from their Chinese-speaking Lao coworkers.

The company, meanwhile, appears to be continuing to expand. Last month, Sino-Agri announced it had completed the construction of 40 houses for its employees at management level and sixteen, 60-unit buildings with fully furnished apartments for both Lao and Chinese workers.

Translated by Phouvong. Edited by Abby Seiff and Malcolm Foster.
Heavy rain at the height of the monsoon is flooding large parts of northern Myanmar, destroying hundreds of homes and displacing tens of thousands of people, relief workers told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

The Irrawaddy River, which runs through Kachin state, has been swollen by the downpours and risen above critical levels, forcing nearly 23,000 people from their homes in two townships since Tuesday.

The water is still rising. Its now three feet and eight inches above the critical level, said a relief worker based in the town of Bhamo on the east bank of the Irrawaddy.

People are still relocating, said the worker, who declined to be identified because of fears of reprisals by the authorities for talking to the media.

About 40 km (25 miles) downstream, people in Shwegu township have also been displaced by the rising waters, residents said.

Flooding displaces residents in Bhamo and Shwegu townships on July 3, 2024. (Bhamo Youth Charity Group)





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 Kachin states Chipwi township.

Officials of the military regime were working on relief operations and opening evacuation facilities, junta-backed media reported on Thursday

Kachin states junta spokesperson, Moe Min Thein, did not respond by time of publication to phone calls from RFA seeking information on relief efforts.

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Roads blocked

Since late June, more than 10,000 people in four towns, including the state capital of Myitkyina, have been displaced by flooding after the Irrawaddy and Nmai rivers overflowed.

Houses in five villages in Myitkyina, Sumprabum and Injangyang townships have been destroyed by floods since Sunday, said one resident in Injangyang.

Further north, flooding on the Malikha river has destroyed homes in villages across three townships and severed some road links, one driver said.

"At least 200 homes along the Malikha have been destroyed by the flood. Now the Myitkyina-Putao highway is completely blocked, said the driver, who also declined to be identified.

About 60 vehicles were stranded on the highway because of landslides, he said.

"Damage along the Putao road is worse. Some road sections are blocked due to landslides and there are no construction workers to clear it so it could take time, he said.

In some places, they need to find new routes.

While some people in Kachin state have been able to return home as the huge volumes of water flow south towards central rice-growing regions, the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology warned of flooding in lower parts of the Irrawaddy basin.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.
When residents of Guam celebrate Independence Day at one of the islands two major U.S. military bases on Thursday, the festivities will be tinged with irony.

The small U.S. territory is one of 17 remaining colonies around the globe. While Guamanians have American citizenship, they cannot elect the U.S. president and have only a single, non-voting representative in the U.S. Congress.

As a territory, Guam has no say in foreign policy either, restraining its ability to engage with Pacific island neighbors on regional concerns ranging from climate change to growing militarization.

But that could soon change. Last month, the U.S. State Department officially endorsed Guams application to upgrade its standing at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the regions peak diplomatic body.

Guam along with two other U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), currently hold observer status with PIF, but American Samoa and Guam have applied to join as non-voting associate members.

Washington had vetoed the territories ability to apply for member status since 2011. Permission now comes with the caveat that they cant take foreign policy positions.

On Monday, PIFs new secretary general, Baron Waqa, said the applications would be discussed in August at the forums 53rd leaders meeting in Tonga.

Im not in a position to anticipate [the result], Waqa said at a press conference at the PIF secretariat in the Fijian capital of Suva.

The prerogative is on the leaders to decide. This will be debated well enough to get a truthful outcome at the Tonga meeting.

In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN 723) returns to the U.S. Naval Base in Guam, Aug. 19, 2021. (U.S. Navy/AP)





The forum, founded in 1971, comprises 18 members from across Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Two French territories, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, are PIF members while also being on the United Nations decolonization list.

In June, at the Micronesian Islands Forum hosted by Guam, the leaders of Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia said they would support the U.S. territories bids to join PIF.

Pacific power

Guam, which lies about 1,600 miles (2,600 km) east of the Philippine capital Manila, has a population of slightly more than 150,000, according to the 2020 U.S. census.

The island hosts two U.S. military bases  Andersen Air Force Base in the north and Naval Base Guam in the south  and has an economy reliant on military investments and tourism.

The U.S. military holds about 25% of Guams land and stations thousands of troops on the island. Another 5,000 American marines will begin relocating from Japans Okinawa islands to Guam in December, as part of a 2006 agreement between Washington and Tokyo.

As geopolitical competition between the U.S. and China heats up in the Pacific, Guams significance in supporting American naval and air operations is growing. The U.S. military sees the island as an essential logistics center in the event of potential conflict over Taiwan or in the South China Sea.

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to spend U.S. $11 billion to upgrade military infrastructure on the island to accommodate the increasing number of servicemen, with Japan covering U.S. $ 6 billion of the projected costs.

In addition, the U.S. has earmarked at least U.S. $1.5 billion to build an integrated missile defense system on the island.

While the U.S. military presence forms the backbone of the economy, it is a point of contention for many Chamorro, the indigenous people of Guam.

As long as our island remains a non-self-governing territory, our relationship with our administering power on matters of expanded militarization will always be based on consultation and not consent, Melvin Borja, executive director of the Guam Decolonization Commission, told the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization on June 10.

This is not an equitable arrangement, he added.

The arrangement put Guam at risk of attack from enemies of the U.S, as well as environmental and socio-cultural impacts caused by an increased military presence on the island, Borja said.

Guam is within range of Chinese and North Korean ballistic missiles.

Melvin Borja, executive director of the Guam Decolonization Commission, addresses the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization at its 4th plenary session in New York on June 10. (UNTV)





Stalled self-determination efforts

Guams push for self-determination has been decades in the making.

A non-binding plebiscite that asked Guamanians to choose between independence, statehood or free association with the U.S. was originally scheduled for 1991. But it has been on the backburner ever since due to conflict over voter eligibility.

In 2019, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a controversial local law that sought to limit the vote to native inhabitants of Guam. The court ruled that the racially discriminatory law was unconstitutional.

Despite the ruling, Guams Governor Lou Leon Guerrero is reluctant to open up the plebiscite to non-native voters and the ballot is yet to be scheduled.

With the status quo, the territory doesnt have the power to challenge its position in U.S. homeland defense. In the meantime, local leaders are compromising by seeking to leverage the federal spending that keeps the local economy afloat.

Our focus remains on finding a balance between adapting to the changing circumstances and safeguarding our people and assets, all while upholding the nations defense capabilities, Leon Guerrero said during a meeting with military officials last month.

Carlotta Leon Guerrero, the governors chief advisor for military and regional affairs, said Guam shares the same goals as PIF.

Guam, like every member of PIF, has fully endorsed the 17 U.N. Sustainability Goals and we are coordinating our compliance via the Guam Green Growth initiative, she said in a statement to RFA affiliate BenarNews.

Carlotta Leon Guerrero said Guams contribution to combatting the consequences of climate change on local, regional and global levels can also serve as a useful template for other Pacific governments to replicate.

It shows our fellow Pacific leaders that the U.S. listens to Guam and works with us to advance our shared goal of taking a greater role in improving the lives and well-being of Pacific peoples, she said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.
The Philippines military chief on Thursday demanded that China pay 60 million pesos (US$1 million) in damages incurred during a violent confrontation between its coast guard and Filipino troops in the South China Sea last month.

China Coast Guard personnel, armed with pikes and machetes, punctured Philippine boats and seized firearms in the June 17 incident near Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin and called Renai Jiao by Beijing.

One Filipino sailor lost a finger in the clash, the third such encounter this year in which Philippine personnel have been hurt on missions to rotate and resupply troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal.

I demanded the return of seven firearms that were taken by the Chinese coast guard, said Gen. Romeo Brawner at a press conference. They destroyed our equipment and when we estimated the cost of the damage its 60 million pesos.

The compensation does not include the cost of surgery for the Filipino soldier who lost a finger, said Brawner, who outlined his demand for compensation in a letter to Beijing.

Brawner made the comments after a command conference between military officials and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in which security challenges and threats facing the Southeast Asian nation were discussed.

Marcos called for de-escalation of tension with China in the South China Sea, the Philippine military chief said. However, rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre would continue, Brawner added.

On Tuesday, Manila and Beijing agreed to reduce hostilities without prejudice to their respective positions at a regular bilateral meeting.

China asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes each year, putting it at odds with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

In 2016, an international tribunal refuted the legal basis for nearly all of Chinas expansive maritime and territorial claims in the waterway. It said that Beijings insistence on holding historic rights to the waters were inconsistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS.

Beijing has never recognized the 2016 arbitration or its outcome.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization.
Their aim was to promote the Sinicization of the Muslim group, observers say.

Men dance in front of the Id kah Mosque after Eid al-Fitr morning prayers in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region, June 5, 2019.

On an important Muslim holiday last month, police and security officials in Chinas far-western region of Xinjiang set up camps to keep an eye on Uyghurs, took Uyghurs to see communist-themed films, and visited Uyghur homes to make sure they werent practicing Muslim religious activities.

The moves around the Qurban Eid, also known as Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, which fell on June 17 this year in Xinjiang  one of two official Muslim holidays in China  appeared to be attempts to undermine the observation of the Muslim holy day, outside experts said.

Chinese authorities are trying to weaken Uyghurs ethnic and religious identity and forge their loyalty to the Chinese state and the Communist Party, while maintaining security, the experts said.

It looks like they are trying to Sinicize Eid, said Erkin Ekrem, a professor at Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and vice president of the World Uyghur Congress.

The Chinese government is trying to change the Eid customs, prayers and traditions [by] making Uyghurs consume food along with Chinese people [and] adding Chinese elements to the Eid festivals, thereby removing the Muslim Eid elements, he added.

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Before 2017, when the Chinese government started cracking down on religious activities in the predominantly Muslim region, men would observe the holiday by visiting mosques for special prayers, cooking meals, spending time with relatives and welcoming guests to their homes.

Since then, authorities have also forbidden Islamic dress for women, beards for men, and Muslim names for children. They have also prevented Uyghurs from fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and encouraged the consumption of pork and alcohol, which Islam forbids.

Chinese national consciousness

On the eve of Eid, Ma Xingrui, Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang, visited communities in Urumqi, the regions capital, and asked residents to strengthen Chinese national consciousness and insist on the Sinicization of Islam.

Public security officers celebrated the holiday with Uyghurs and other ethnicities in Xinjiang and promoted the common consciousness of the Chinese nation, the Xinjiang Daily reported on June 19.

A screen displays Chinese President Xi Jinping near a mosque in Kashgar, northwestern China's Xinjiang region, June 4, 2019. (AFPTV)

The Keriye County Public Security Bureau in Hotan invited teachers at area primary schools, students and parents on June 16 to participate in social activities at a police camp to build strong Chinese national consciousness and celebrate Eid, the report said.

On the same day, police in Qitai county in the Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture invited Uyghur relatives with whom they had been paired up under a previous monitoring program to visit a museum to watch communist-themed films.

On June 17, members of the Public Security Bureau in the prefectures Manas county visited Uyghur homes and danced with residents, who had no choice but to join in, the news report said.

The police showed their concern for the public by their actions and also planted the seeds of national unity deep in everyones hearts, it said.

Assimilation policies

Henryk Szadziewski, director of research at the Uyghur Human Rights Project, said public security agents interfere in Muslim holidays like Eid al-Adha to push assimilationist policies in Xinjiang.

Uyghur identification with Turkic culture along with a belief in Islam and related social and political values are considered a threat because they are outside the control of the Chinese state, he told Radio Free Asia.

Attendees watch video of a Muslim praying during a government reception held for the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Beijing, China, May 13, 2021. (Ng Han Guan/AP)

Chinas policies are intended to weaken those kinds of affinities outside which are beyond the borders of China and to ensure Uyghurs allegiances are pinned to the Chinese state and, of course, the Chinese Communist Party, Szadziewski said.

But the Chinese government separates Islam in China from Islam in the rest of the world, Erkin Ekrem of the World Uyghur Congress said.

In China, the Sinicization of Islam is being carried out vigorously, he told RFA. They are trying to create a nation away from Islamic beliefs and customs.

Deemphasizing the religion adding in this secular Chinese national consciousness [is] meant to delink Eid al-Adha from its religious origin, he said. That is one of the aims here.

Translated by RFA Uyghur. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history.

In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group.

Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon.

RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war.

RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack?



Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences.

There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings.

Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good.

RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis?



Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months.



RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices?



Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other.

People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term."

So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire.

Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home?

One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective.

RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families?



Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular.

At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families.

Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen.

RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas?

Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk.

It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important.

Why? For a couple of reasons.

First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005.

RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future?



Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent.

I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term.
Sanaullah, a businessman in northwestern Pakistan, opposes a new military operation Islamabad says is vital to turn the rising tide of terrorism in the country.

Sanaullah, who goes by only one name, heads a local traders organization in the town of Miran Shah, the administrative headquarters of North Waziristan, a mountainous district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, which borders Afghanistan.

For Sanaullah, an earlier military offensive was a personal tragedy. In June 2014, when the Pakistani military launched Operation Zarb-e Azab to target thousands of militants it said were hiding in North Waziristan, he lost his food store and home.

"It was not an operation against terrorists," Sanaullah said, "but a scheme to rob us of our businesses, houses, and belongings."

Sanaullah still remembers returning to Miran Shah in August 2014, two months after the military forced him and hundreds of thousands of North Waziristan's residents to move to the neighboring district of Bannu.

"My shop and the market it was situated in were razed to the ground," he said. "My house, too, was destroyed."

While the military says fighting caused the damage, locals still don't know if their markets and houses were destroyed in ground battles or air strikes, or were simply demolished after being ransacked.

Minimal Compensation

Now, 10 years later, Sanaullah has built his business back up again, but it hasn't been easy. The government has offered him only the equivalent of $5,000 in compensation for losses that he said exceeded $100,000.

"We are not supporters of terrorists, but we are afraid that the planned operation will only rob us again," he said.

Sanaullah is not alone. Most political parties, businesspeople, tribal leaders, and activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are against Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, after the federal government approved it on June 22.

Since 2003, more than 80,000 civilians, soldiers, and militants have been killed in terrorist attacks and military counterterrorism operations across Pakistan. Ethnic Pashtun residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa make up the largest number of those killed and injured. Military operations have also displaced more than 6 million Pashtuns and thousands have disappeared.

The provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, headed by the opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e Insaf (PTI) political party, is also against the new military operation and has worked to unite political and tribal leaders in their opposition.

Most of Pakistan's counterterrorism operations between 2003 and 2014 were linked to the U.S.-led global war on terrorism. It pitted Washington and the Pakistani military against Al-Qaeda and various Pakistani militant groups. Islamabad broadly spared the Afghan Taliban.

Instead of supporting U.S. anti-terror goals, Pakistani politicians have said the latest operation is part of Islamabad's efforts to protect multibillion-dollar Chinese investments. When Pakistani leaders visited China in June, Beijing reiterated its demand that Islamabad improve security for Chinese projects.

In 2014, Beijing unveiled an ambitious project to link its western Xinjiang region to Pakistan's southern Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

But since 2018, security concerns, political unrest, and the faltering economy have stalled the more than $62 billion investment initiative, known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

China is now demanding foolproof security for tens of thousands of its workers before reviving CPEC or committing to new investments in cash-strapped Pakistan.

Since 2004, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a radical Islamist group designated as a terrorist organization by Washington; Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K), the Afghanistan branch of the Islamic State extremist group; and secular ethnic Baluch separatists have targeted Chinese workers, killing dozens. In May, a suicide bombing attack killed five Chinese workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Alamzaib Khan Mehsud, a political activist in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's South Waziristan district, said residents of the province believe Islamabad's counterterrorism operations were fundamentally geared toward profiteering rather than fighting terrorism.

Mehsud and other critics allege Islamabad's counterterrorism approach was focused on ensuring the country continued to receive aid dollars in return for token counterterrorism operations, which failed to eliminate major militant organizations. Pakistan received more than $20 billion in military assistance and civilian aid from Washington between 2001 and 2021.

"Times have changed, but the government's approach to counterterrorism remains the same," he said. "People are afraid that the new offensive will not achieve anything against the militants but only harm civilians."

Since 2018, the 33-year-old activist has repeatedly been arrested for protesting unlawful killings and forced disappearances amid Pakistani counterterrorism campaigns.

Mounting Criticism

Earlier this year, Alamzaib Khan Mehsud accompanied a delegation of tribal leaders from his Mehsud tribe, who traveled to the capital, Islamabad, to ask for compensation for military operation-related losses. In 2009, a large military offensive displaced an estimated 500,000 Mehsud tribespeople from South Waziristan for over six years.

"We were listened to, and senior officials promised to help, but concrete assistance has been scarce," he said.

Mounting criticism forced Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office to declare that the new operation will not require massive population displacements, because it will consist of small, targeted raids.

"Based on intelligence, [Operation] Azm-e Istehkam will further mobilize armed operations to eradicate violent extremism in the country decisively," said a June 22 statement from the prime minister's office.

On July 1, the Pakistani military said it killed nine "terrorists" in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and was "determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country."

In Islamabad, Ihsanullah Tipu Mehsud, the director of news at the Khorasan Diary, a website tracking militant groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, said opposition to the new offensive is "unprecedented."

Mehsud, who is not related to Alamzaib Khan Mehsud, said many residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been traumatized by the previous military operations.

"There is a tremendous trust deficit between the people and the government over counterterrorism operations," he said. "Civilians incurred extensive damages, but the militants always survived and returned."

In Miran Shah, businessman Sanaullah said residents of North Waziristan will not allow yet another military operation in their homeland.

"They will have to kill us before imposing another operation on us," he said.
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An Israeli strike on a school in the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 people on October 10, 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 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.



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.



Biden spoke with Netanyahu earlier about Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran for a missile attack last week, according to statements from both the White House and the Israeli prime minister's office on October 9.



The White House statement said Biden and Netanyahu "agreed to remain in close contact over the coming days both directly and through their national security teams."
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.
BUDAPEST -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will travel to Moscow on July 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, days after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, a Hungarian government source told RFE/RL.

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.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto will also accompany Orban to the Kremlin, the government source said on July 4. Szijjarto has visited Russia more than five times since Moscow invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.

News of the Moscow visit comes days after Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union -- an action that raised concerns among many in the EU because of Orbans regular pro-Russia statements  and elicited quick condemnation from leaders of the bloc.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, posted on X that the EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.

The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine, Michel added.

An EU official who asked not to be identified told RFE/RL that Orban has not informed the bloc of any planned trip to Moscow.

If Orban would have asked, Michel would have strongly advised against such a visit, the official said.

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 massive Western weapons and aid packages for Ukraine.

Central European investigative editor Szabolcs Panyi first reported on the trip in a post on X. RFE/RL later received confirmation of the visit via a Hungarian government source.

The Hungarian prime minister's press office has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Last month, Putin said Russia would end its war -- which is believed to have 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.

While in Kyiv, Orban -- who maintains close relations with Putin -- said he presented Zelenskiy with a cease-fire proposal aimed at pausing fighting with Russia more than two years into Moscows full-scale invasion.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with Zelenskiy, Orban gave no details about the contents of the proposal but said he asked the Ukrainian president "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."

The talks were notable because of Orbans vocal, persistent criticism of Western military aid for Kyiv.

Zelenskiy did not express his opinion on the proposal during the briefing with reporters, but a spokesman for the president 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 was not the first country to come forward 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.

Orban last visited Moscow in September 2022, when he paid his respects at the funeral of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

RFE/RL's Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak contributed to this report.
Brave woman is honored posthumously

11:09, July 04, 2024 By Cang Wei ( China Daily

Hu Youping, who sacrificed her life in shielding a Japanese woman and child from a knife-wielding attacker, has been awarded the title of "Model of Righteousness" in Suzhou city, East China's Jiangsu province.

Hu, 55, died on June 26 due to severe injuries. On Tuesday morning, a memorial service was held in Suzhou High-Tech District of the city to honor her courage.

People from different walks of life, including Hu's family members and friends, representatives of the local community, city and district leaders, medical rescue team representatives, Suzhou Foundation for Righteousness representatives and foreigners in Suzhou, attended the memorial service to pay tribute.

Liu Xiaotao, Party secretary of Suzhou, presented the "Model of Righteousness" certificate to Hu's family, while Suzhou Mayor Wu Qingwen read out the decision to bestow the award.

The city will also establish a "Youping Righteousness Fund "to promote the spirit of righteousness.

The Suzhou High-Tech District also recognized three other people who assisted in subduing the suspect, disregarding their own safety, with the title of "Righteous Person".

The knife attack at a bus stop in Suzhou High-Tech District on June 24 resulted in injuries to three people  Hu and two Japanese nationals.

The Japanese woman injured in the incident said Hu attempted to restrain the assailant, who was 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 passersby and a police patrol that rushed to the scene.

"If she hadn't tried to hold back the assailant, there could have been more victims," one eyewitness said.

Over the past week, Hu's family received condolences from various sectors of society, and donations that they declined.

"We have received care and condolences from all sides and appreciate the sentiments and thank everyone," a notice released by the family said. "In such circumstances, we believe that anyone with justice and compassion would make the same choice.

"After family discussions, we unanimously decided not to accept donations and hope to not be disturbed further. We only wish for the deceased to rest in peace and for the family to return to a peaceful life as soon as possible. If kindhearted individuals wish to donate to spread positive energy, we suggest they donate to righteous foundations in various places."

Hu Youjia, one of Hu's brothers, who lives in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, said that many people considered his sister kindhearted and she was always ready to help others.

"She loved to smile, loved to dress beautifully and loved to help others," he said. "The family is heartbroken. Thanks for the public concern but we don't want to mention the sad accident again."

Ifeng.com reported that former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama said he had learned about Hu's actions and had posted on social media to commemorate her.

"I sincerely thank the brave actions of the Chinese lady who sacrificed her life to protect Japanese children, and pray for her to rest in peace," he wrote.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The leaders of China, Russia, Turkey, Pakistan, four of the five post-Soviet republics of Central Asia, and other states are continuing a two-day summit in Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional grouping promoted by Beijing and Moscow as an alternative to Western influence.

They started the second and final day by accepting Belarus as a member, an expected move that advances authoritarian leader Aleksandr Lukashenka along his anti-Western path since disputed elections four years ago sparked unprecedented street protests and a brutal crackdown.

Lukashenka has pursued SCO membership for a decade and a half.

In the past three years, his decisions to "weaponize" third-party migrants at Belarus's border with its EU neighbors and to allow Russian troops to stage their full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Belarusian territory have further alienated Lukashenka from the West and increased his reliance on Moscow.

Lukashenka called Belarusian entry into the SCO "historic." In his familiar tone, Lukashenka declared the need to "destroy the unipolar world" and take on responsibility for "global security" because "the narcissistic, selfish West proved incapable of it."

"There are no leaders there [in the West] capable of making responsible decisions independently," he said.

Analysts have pointed out that Lukashenka could be hoping the SCO tie boosts and expands desperately needed trade and economic cooperation with China while slightly reducing his regime's dependence on Moscow.

The SCO is a political, economic, and security and defense organization founded by China and Russia in 2001.

With the addition of Belarus, its membership has now expanded from six to 10 countries, including India and Pakistan, who joined in 2017, and Iran, which became a member in 2023.

Four of the five post-Soviet Central Asian states are members, with only Turkmenistan staying away.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met on the first day of the summit in Astana, which has been shrouded in tightened security measures well beyond the Independence Palace venue where the leaders are gathering.

Putin was quoted by Russian media as crediting the SCO with "strengthening its role as one of the key pillars of a fair multipolar world order."

Xi, who has lent diplomatic support to Russia over Western objections throughout Putin's two-year-old invasion of Ukraine, called Putin an "old friend" in Astana. He cited the "aspiration of friendship for generations" in response to an "ever-changing international situation."

The Kremlin said Putin and Xi talked about the Ukraine war during talks on the sidelines of the summit and, in the words of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as quoted by Reuters, "noted" the "futility of any formats" for peace talks without Russian participation.

On day two, Xi urged SCO members to "resist external interference" and "safeguard the right to development."

In addition to the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek presidents, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are in attendance at the SCO event. Baku and Ankara are dialogue partners of the SCO.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also there as part of his first tour of Central Asia since 2017, which will take him to Tajikistan next. He attended the SCO's remotely held summit last year.

The SCO's 23-year history has largely been shaped by China and Russia's evolving relationship.

Putin and Xi's recent efforts since the Ukraine war began have pressed the SCO as part of their broader cooperation and a centerpiece of their shared anti-U.S. perspective.

But beyond the Belarus move, it is unclear what if any gains are likely to be made by the organization at this, its 24th, annual summit.

Critics say that, in expanding its membership and geographical reach, it has diluted whatever mission it might hope to achieve.

"It's still trying to figure out what it is now and what it can be," Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, told RFE/RL recently.
Ukraine's military has acknowledged its withdrawal from part of the key highland town of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region, while its Energy Ministry said Russian missiles killed one person and damaged a gas facility in the central Poltava region.

A spokesman for the Khortytsya operational group of the Ukrainian armed forces confirmed earlier claims by Moscow and specified that Russian troops now control the "Kanal" district of Chasiv Yar. The "protected retreat" had been approved by military command, the spokesman said.

Chasiv Yar has been a theater of intense fighting since April, and serves as a logistics hub for Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine's Energy Ministry meanwhile said the Russian missile attack that struck gas producer Ukrhazvydobyvannya's infrastructure in Poltava on July 4 had damaged the facility and killed one person while injuring three others, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian military also reported that a Russian missile strike in the southern Odesa region on July 4 killed at least one person and injured seven others. Regional Governor Oleh Kipers said port infrastructure was damaged in the attack.

In the Kharkiv region in northeastern Ukraine, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov said a woman was killed in an attack by a Russian guided bomb on the village of Ruska Lozova.

The attacks came as Russian President Vladimir Putin told a summit of the anti-Western Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Kazakhstan that the West was to blame for Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Putin encouraged "a new architecture of cooperation, indivisible security and development in Eurasia, designed to replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models, which gave unilateral advantages only to certain states."

The SCO's 24th annual summit has been dominated by Putin's and Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-Western appeals and the organization's admission of Moscow ally Belarus as its 10th member.

Earlier on July 4, military officials in the Ukrainian capital said they intercepted fresh "waves" of Russian drones targeting Kyiv around dawn on July 4 that did not appear to inflict injuries or major damage, as locals in a major city hundreds of kilometers to the east mourned the dead and wounded from a third attack there in less than a week.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

The head of Kyiv's military administration, Serhiy Popko, said via Telegram that the drones came "from different directions" but that "not a single drone reached Kyiv itself."

Explosions could be heard from the city following a 4 a.m. air alert but, Popko said, life in the city was not otherwise disrupted.

Ukraine's military said it had downed 21 of 22 Russian attack drones in all over central and northern regions overnight on July 3-4.

Meanwhile, the head of the military administration in the central city of Dnipro said the death toll had risen to six -- with more than 30 others injured -- from a Russian bombardment of that city early on July 3.

Dnipro Mayor Boris Filatov declared July 4 a day of mourning after the third attack in just five days on Dnipro, a city with a prewar population of around 1 million people.

That bombardment also renewed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's pleas for more advanced air-defense systems and long-range weapons from allies to beat back the two-year-old full-scale invasion by Russia.

Also on July 3, Zelenskiy rejected a description of the battlefield situation as a "deadlock" and said Ukraine's fighting manpower has improved in recent months but it needs "the tools [and] they haven't arrived yet."

Zelenskiy expressed gratitude to U.S. officials after the White House announced a new $2.3 billion military aid package for Ukraine on July 3, and added, "We count on further U.S. assistance."

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) predicted this week that while Ukraine was forming new brigades to "address its manpower challenges," "delayed and insufficient Western weapons deliveries will likely prevent Ukraine from equipping all these new brigades."

It called "timely" Western assistance a "crucial determinant" of Ukraine's capacity to respond to Russia's current "battlefield initiative."

The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping talked about Ukraine during talks on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan on July 3 and, in the words of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as quoted by Reuters, "noted" the "futility of any formats" for peace talks without Russian participation.

Russia, which insists it has already annexed Crimea and four other areas of Ukraine, was excluded from a major summit in Switzerland last month to seek paths toward peace in Ukraine.

A NATO summit next week in Washington marking the transatlantic alliance's 75th anniversary is expected to grapple with ways to further support Ukraine's defense and map a path to closer cooperation, but Kyiv is not expected to be invited to join NATO as Zelenskiy has urged.

Russian news agency TASS on July 4 quoted Russia's Defense Ministry as saying it had destroyed a grounded Ukrainian MiG-29 in the Dnipropetrovsk region, but there was no initial confirmation from Ukrainian authorities.

Reports from the Ukrainian military suggest Russian forces are focusing an offensive on the area of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region.

The governor of Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhya region, Ivan Fedorov, said on July 4 that Russian shelling killed two and injured another person there amid a barrage that struck 10 settlements over the past day.

RFE/RL cannot independently confirm reports by either side of battlefield developments in areas of the worst fighting.

With reporting by Reuters
Ukrainian documentarian and former political prisoner Oleh Sentsov says his country should expect to keep fighting Russia's full-scale invasion for "another 10 years" if that's what it takes to win. His new documentary, Real, depicted that kind of determination when it screened on June 30 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Sentsov traveled to the festival from the battlefront to share his film and meet with Czech President Petr Pavel, who pledged to continue supporting Ukraine's fight. (Note: The movie footage used in this report was subtitled by a third party.)
With the recent passing of Brigid Kavanagh, yet another Roscommon stalwart has departed the Dublin scene. Brigid left Roscommon in 1944, but Roscommon never left her; My Roscommon was her motto. A nurse, wife, mother, storyteller and writer, her ninety-eight years spanned decades of profound economic and societal changes. While Brigid cast a cold eye on many of them, she got on with life, focused on her familys well-being and in later life, poured out all those memories of her youth in her writings.

Brigid died on May 31st in her own bed, in her own home in Dundrum on the same day as her final story was published in Irelands Own. Her wish was to remain at home, and this was made possible by her family, and in particular by her son Sean who was her main carer up to the end. Ninety-eight years earlier, she was born to John and Mai (nee Gilleran) Shiel in Bunnamuca  the centre of her universe. In school, she would write her address as Bunnamuca, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland, Europe, Northern Hemisphere, Tropic of Cancer, The World. She trained as nurse in the Royal Hospital, Donnybrook and St. Albans London where she met her future husband, Michael Kavanagh, a native of Turloughmore, County Galway. They married in 1947 and returned to Dublin a year later where they reared six children.

Blessed with independent thought, Brigids first published piece appeared in the Evening Press in 1978, titled My husband is a saint in a response to the womens liberation movement which was vocal at the time. It included this sentence: In the thirty years of our married life I have never had to go to work, yet I am co-owner of our house, have a joint bank account and we share his income equally. Later when Michael was unable to work due to shingles, Brigid returned to the workplace until she retired. Described as a great team, Michael died in 2003. She was also predeceased by her grandson Shane Kavanagh in 2022.

It was no surprise that Brigid became active in the Roscommon Association in the 1980s and a close friend of its founding members, Michael Fitzmaurice and Rita Dorr. She contributed twenty-one articles to the Roscommon Association Yearbook and its successor, Roscommon Life. As a mark of its esteem for her long service, she was elected a Life President of the Association in 2021. The Associations flag was draped over her coffin on its way to Dundrum church and afterwards to Mount Venus Cemetery, Rathfarnham. Dundrum church was an important part of Brigids life; she served as a Eucharistic minister there for many years.

With the family reared and making their own way in life, Brigid turned to committing all those childhood memories to paper. She attended writers classes to sharpen her skills and went on to join the Dundrum based Fountain Writers Group where she would recount stories from her rural childhood to an enraptured urban audience. She credited her father, carpenter and matchmaker John Shiel, with some of her farfetched stories. Her articles evoke nostalgia for country life of long ago, with every word carefully chosen to help the reader visualise the incident or occasion she describes.

Brigid was one of the most published Roscommon writers over the past three decades. She was a regular contributor to Irelands Own and Irelands Eye, and through her writers group to various publications including The Fountain, The Slow Lane and In the House of Long Life. Several of her short stories and poems appeared in Writing from Roscommon and one of her stories was included in New Roscommon Writings in 2018. She was the proud winner of the Roscommon Herald sponsored My Roscommon writing competition in 2013.

Brigid maintained her connection to her home place with frequent visits to her son Declan and his family at Bunnamuca. However, as the years went by, there were less people of her generation alive to meet and reminisce with. For relaxation, she enjoyed doing crosswords and pitting herself against quiz show contestants on tv.

During the Covid pandemic, Brigids sons, Sean and Declan, decided to publish a book with a collection of her published and unpublished work. Ninety-five stories and poems, one for every year of her life, were selected and the book, In My Minds Eye  Walking Amongst Ghosts, was launched on her 95th birthday in February 2021. With her usual modesty, Brigid was surprised by the reaction to its publication and the tv, radio and newspaper interviews that followed. This book and her other published work will ensure her vivid recollections of times past will live on for posterity.

She is sadly missed by her children, daughter Mary and sons Padraic, Kevin, Declan, Sean and Aidan, her daughters-in-law and son-in-law, her brother Pete (Carnaska, Strokestown), nine grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and the wider family circle.
Who is Talha Anjum? Prominent rapper who diss Naezy

Talhah Yunus and Anjum realized their potential and formed a duo band known as the 'Young Stunners' on 2 July 2012.

Who is rapper Talha Anjum who diss Naezy controversy: Talha Anjum, a Pakistani rapper, songwriter, and lyricist, was born on 3 October 1996 and was raised in Karachi. He received his primary education at the Army Public School of Karachi. He has two siblings.

Anjum did rap battles during his school time. He used fundamental issues and references to gain audience applicability. There stands no doubt about his poetry's energizing thrill. He's the perfect fit for any genre or category and he's been proving it lately.

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Talhah Yunus and Anjum realized their potential and formed a duo band known as the 'Young Stunners' on 2 July 2012. Popularly known for being a member and co-founder of the Hip hop music band Young Stunners along with Talhah Yunus, and with Syed Hifzur Jokhay as a music producer, Talha Anjums first original song was "Burger-e-Karachi", was released in 2013. Some of his major hits include "Tum Tum", "Gumaan", "Don't Mind", "Afsanay", "Downers at Dusk", and "Groove Mera", the anthem of PSL 6.

The group consists of two Urdu-language rappers, Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus. Both were born and raised in Karachi. Both got their education at the Army Public School, Saddar and have been best friends since the age of 16. Since their success over the years, the Duo has collaborated with a number of Pakistani artists including; Asim Azhar, Bohemia, Rap Demon, Raamis, Aima Baig, Naseebo Lal, JJ47, and Faisal Kapadia

The duo is often credited for introducing Urdu rap into the mainstream Pakistani music scene.

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(For more news apart from, Who is rapper Talha Anjum who diss Naezy controversy, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Chandigarh news: 28-year-old gym trainer implicated in 11 cases of sexual assault

The FIR has been registered against the gym trainer, and the accused has been sent to judicial custody.

Chandigarh news: A 28-year-old gym trainer has reportedly been implicated in 11 cases of sexual assault. The individual has been arrested by the police. According to authorities, "The accused was identified following the verification of nearly 1,000 white Activa scooters across the Tricity. One of these scooters was used in the commission of the crime incidents involving sexual assaults on women."

The FIR has been registered against the gym trainer, and the accused has been sent to judicial custody. The accused has been identified as Sawan Bhatti, who is a gym trainer in Mohali and holds a degree in BSc Computer Science. He resides with a live-in partner in Chandigarh.

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The SHO of Sector-17 Chandigarh, Sarita Roy said that the accused has been involved in a series of sexual assault incidents. The news was registered at Sector 16 police station based on the account of a young lady, who said she was sitting in the park attending a call from her friend. It was around 10:30 PM on May 19 when the power went out, and suddenly, a man grabbed her from behind. He covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming and dragged her from the side of the road.

According to the complaint, the person wanted a gold chain from the girl, but she did not have anything expensive, when she told the accused that she didn't have anything, he threatened to kill her and proceeded to sexually assault her.

During the incident, the girl was on a phone call with her friend, who heard her scream and raised an alarm. The victim then went to the police station with her parents and registered an FIR at the Sector 17 police station. While investigating, the police learned of a similar case reported at the Sector 11 police station on June 10.

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The SHO of the police station, Roy, said, "On the basis of two complaints, we started probing the matter by scrutinizing the CCTV footage of various areas. We found that the accused was riding a white-colored Activa. Noting specific details like missing rear-view mirrors and a particular type of helmet, we began tracing the vehicle. Nearly 1,000 similar white scooters across the Tricity were verified in six weeks to trace the accused."

(For more news apart from Chandigarh news: 28-year-old gym trainer implicated in 11 cases of sexual assault, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
July 4, 2024 UPDATE

A roundup of domestic and international news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 04.07.2024, 20:01

Elections. The PSD-PNL ruling coalition in Romania on Thursday reached consensus on the exact dates of the presidential and parliamentary elections following the talks Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu had earlier this week with political parties. Thus, the first round of the presidential election will be held on November 24, with the second round slated for December 8. Parliamentary elections will be held on December 1. Originally, the Social-Democrats and the Liberals agreed to organize the presidential election in September, but the latter changed their mind. We recall local and European Parliament elections were held on June 9.

Drugs. Two people are in temporary policy custody in Bucharest, after they were caught selling 10,000 Ecstasy pills. According to DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism), one of them had brought to Romania, by road, some 7.5 kilograms of Ecstasy and 10 grams of cocaine, procured from the Netherlands, drugs that he transported to and stored in Brasov county (center). The investigators say that the traffickers intended to sell the drugs, with a market value of approximately 220,000 euros, at music festivals in Bucharest and across the country. One of the traffickers is also accused of having sold, last month, different amounts of high-risk drugs and psychoactive substances.

Memorandum. Romania and Saudi Arabia signed, on Thursday, a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening commercial relations between the two countries in the field of agriculture, especially in the vegetable sector, animal husbandry, but also in the use of modern technologies in the field of agriculture. Saudi Arabia is a market for Romanian cereals and will also become a market for products from our farms, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu, wrote on his Facebook page. He added that, since 2019, there has been no government-level agreement between the two countries. The Romanian minister paid formal visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and Thursday, where he had a high-level meetings with the Saudi authorities, with the business environment, as well as field visits.

Survey. Europeans continue to stand with Ukraine and its efforts to fight off the Russian invasion, are overall in favor of supplying weapons but oppose the deployment of troops to the former, a European Foreign Affairs Council survey reads. 20,000 Europeans were interviewed as part of the survey, the majority arguing the war in Ukraine will end through a negotiated truce, and Ukraine will not prevail on the battlefield. Ukrainians and Estonians interviewed believe, however, that the Ukrainian army will be victorious. Most Ukrainians oppose the idea of Ukraine conceding Russian-held territories in exchange for NATO accession. Additionally, nearly half of Ukrainians fear the United States could negotiate directly with Russia without Kyivs consent should Donald Trump get re-elected at the White House this autumn.



4th of July. Romanian-American friendship is stronger than ever, evidence of which is the Strategic Partnership between the two states, the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, said in a message marking the national day of the United States. Happy Independence Day to the United States of America and the American people, the president wrote on X. On Wednesday, the head of state attended a reception organized by the American Embassy in Bucharest. In her opening remarks, US Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec referred to the long-lasting friendship between the two countries and the nearly 30 years of strategic partnership, built on shared democratic values, trade relations, strong interpersonal relations and security and defense cooperation. As NATO allies and partners, our commitment to Romania is unwavering and essential to protecting our shared values and way of life, Ambassador Kavalec added. The theme for this years reception was the world of film and cooperation between the two states film industries.

Biden. US president Joe Biden has no intention of withdrawing his candidacy for a second term at the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has told journalists. Meanwhile, Americans continue to question Joe Bidens mental health after his disastrous performance in last weeks debate against Republican Donald Trump. Aged 81, president Biden on Friday will give an exclusive interview to ABC News, and the White House promised the president would hold a press conference next week to show hes able to speak freely with no teleprompter. According to a survey published on Tuesday by the CNN, 75% of Americans believe the Democratic Party would have bigger chances of winning the November election were they to replace Biden as their candidate.

Neversea. The Neversea Festival started, on Thursday, on the beach in Constanta (southeast). The organizers estimate that 70 thousand people from the country and abroad will participate daily in the biggest event that takes place on a beach in Europe. The festival is held under maximum security conditions, and special measures have been announced. Neversea takes place on an impressive 110,000 square meters and includes four stages. For four days, internationally recognized artists such as Bebe Rexha, G-Eazy, Mahmut Orhan, Maluma, Salvatore Gannaci or Steve Aoki will be performing on the festivals stages. (MI)
The National Evaluation Exams  2024

Three quarters of the Romanian eighth graders have passed the national assessment exams

Photo: pixabay.com

Stefan Stoica, 04.07.2024, 14:00

In a country where functional illiteracy and school dropout, especially in the rural and disadvantaged areas have the tendency of getting chronic, the results in the National Evaluation exams involving eighth graders are a relevant indicator of the education quality. Three quarters of the students have this year got over 5, a mandatory mark for their further high-school accession, one percentage lower than in the past three years.

The results published on Wednesday show that the students found the mathematics exam more difficult, as the percentage of those clearing the admission threshold or those who scored above proved to be lower as compared to 2023 and 2022. Roughly 78% of the students fared better in the Romanian language exam, whereas only 69% of them obtained the minimum required score in mathematics.

Roughly 400 eighth graders got the maximum number of points in the Romanian Language exam, and over 1,000 in mathematics. However, only 65 of them managed to get the maximum number of points in both exams.

Education Minister Ligia Deca, sees the glass half full and says that although lower than in the past years, the number of those who cleared the threshold is higher than in the simulation exam.

Results obtained by children in the rural area continue to be weak though: only 40% of these managed to get the needed number of points in the aforementioned exam. Ligia Deca has also referred to the attempted frauds and their outcomes.

Ligia Deca: It happened as every year that subjects had been leaked before exams kicked off. However, that didnt happen before the students had been placed under supervision in the exam halls. These cases have been identified because now we have methods to quickly discover the centre, which leaked the subjects. And we cooperate with police in this respect. The students attempting frauds are being eliminated from the exams and arent allowed to take the next sessions. Those who are members in various commissions and provide the subjects ahead of the exams are being prosecuted.

Nearly 153 thousand students have attended the National Evaluation Exam this year, which accounts for 95% of the total number of eighth graders. 8,300 of them took the exam in their mother tongue. Bucharest and other five counties have reported the highest attendance, over 98% and for the first time this year, exam papers have been graded by means of a digital platform. Thursday, July 4th, was the last day when the students dissatisfied with their results could apply for a remark.

(bill)
Two U.S. astronauts, who are currently on board the International Space Station as part of NASA's Boeing Crew Flight Test, will address the media from low Earth orbit next week.

NASA announced that Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will discuss their mission during an Earth to space call at 11 a.m. ET on July 10.

The news conference will be streamed on NASA+, NASA Television, the NASA app, YouTube, and the U.S. space agency's website.

Wilmore and Williams have been living and working aboard the station since docking on June 6, contributing to the expedition crew's research and maintenance activities, while helping ground teams collect critical data for long-duration Starliner flights to the orbiting complex.

The astronauts were supposed to return to earth on June 25, but after encountering technical issues, it has been delayed.

The former Navy test pilots are the first to launch aboard Starliner to the space station as part of the U.S space agency's Commercial Crew Program.

The Program aims for safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation to and from the International Space Station from the United States through a partnership with American private industry. This partnership is opening access to low-Earth orbit and the International Space Station to more people, science, and commercial opportunities.

The space station remains the springboard to NASA's next great leap in space exploration, including future missions to the Moon and to Mars.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Capability-wise, Kawasaki KLX230 S will take on Hero Xpulse 200 4V and upcoming Xpulse 210  Price-wise, it may rival Himalayan 450

As the off-road segment gains momentum in the country, several new products are expected in the future. A relevant example is Kawasaki KLX230 S, recently spotted testing on roads. It is to be noted that Kawasaki already sells the KLX 230R S in India for off-road-only use. The soon-to-be-launched model will be road-legal.

Kawasaki KLX230 S  Key features

Positioned as a dual-sport bike, Kawasaki KLX230 S can be fun across both city streets as well as off-road tracks. Off-road potential is clearly evident with the raised front fender, handlebar brace, single-piece seat and under-seat exhaust. The bike has wire-spoke wheels, shod with dual-purpose tyres.

A hint of retro can be seen with the circular rear-view mirrors. The bike has a polygonal-shaped headlamp with LED units. Although, there is no strong emphasis on this specific component. In the US, colour options include Lime Green and Battle Gray. Same colours might be launched in India.

In overseas markets, Kawasaki KLX230 S is equipped with 37 mm telescopic long travel front forks with rubber gaiters. At the rear, the bike has Uni-Trak linkage system and a single shock with adjustable spring preload suspension. Front and rear tyres are 21-inch and 18-inch respectively.

Braking setup comprises 240 mm and 220 mm petal disc brakes at front and rear, respectively. The front has a dual-piston calliper whereas the rear gets a single-piston calliper. Dual-channel ABS is offered as standard. Kerb weight of US-spec Kawasaki KLX230 S is 133 kg. India-spec model could be slightly heavier with the mandatory saree guard, pillion grab rail and front number plate holder.

KLX230 S has a ground clearance of 239 mm and a seat height of 843 mm. Tech package includes smartphone connectivity via RIDEOLOGY THE APP. Users can wirelessly access various instrument functions. For example, info such as fuel gauge, odometer, maintenance schedule, etc., can be viewed on the users smartphone. Users can also access riding logs that provide detailed information about their rides.

Performance and launch

Power is supplied via a 233cc, 4-stroke single, SOHC, air-cooled engine. While output numbers are not available, a ballpark of 20 bhp and 20 Nm is probable. It will come mated to a 6-speed transmission. The upcoming Kawasaki KLX230 S is expected to have a similar performance range. In comparison, the popular Hero Xpulse 200 4V has slightly lower numbers at 19.2 hp and 17.35 Nm.

The high level of finishing on the test mule reveals that the bike is production-ready. However, launch could still take some time. Kawasaki KLX230 S may be locally produced, the 3rd such bike after Ninja 300 and W175. Kawasaki may need some time to adjust its supply chain and Pune-based production facilities before it can commence series production of KLX230 S.

Source
Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Zinta Aistars Scenes from Z Acres

Something about being bilingual and bicultural  wherever you are, you are never fully there. A part of you remains behind an invisible wall. Press your nose against the glass, and you remain an outsider.Latvian was my first language and the only language spoken in our home. It remained the only language I ever spoke to my parents. I didnt learn English until I began to attend public school, even as I attended Latvian school on Saturdays and through summers. It often felt like living a double life, straddling two communities.My parents had come to the United States during World War II when the Soviet army occupied the Baltic States. They escaped mass deportations during the night, with only what they could carry along with them. Their every intention was to return home as soon as the war was over, and the Russians were beaten back from their borders  only it never happened. The Iron Curtain came down and they were forced to begin a new life in a new world, eventually transported from refugee camps in Germany to Chicago, then moving to Kalamazoo, where a large and vibrant Latvian community thrived.I was raised to think of Latvia as home and our life here as exile.Someday, they said, someday But half a century passed before the Iron Curtain lifted and Latvia at long last regained her independence in 1991. I had traveled to my ancestral land many times from age 15 and throughout the coming years, a witness to the changes from the gray devastation of Soviet rule to the rejuvenation of one of the worlds oldest cultures come back to life.Yes, I felt myself at home when I crossed the ocean to that land. We spoke the same language, we shared a history, and I met family members whose features and mannerisms resembled mine. I visited grave sites of previous generations, and I traced the paths my parents had walked as children and as youth. And yet. As conversations unfolded, I would often hear  ah, you are from America. When I returned to the United States, at every turn, at every introduction of my name  ah, you are from  where?Over my lifetime, I have lived at more than 30 addresses and in more than one country. I have been driven by wanderlust, traveling at every opportunity, visiting 49 of 50 states in this country, and carrying my passport across other borders. It occurred to me at one point that my wanderlust was born of a need to find home  the place that would hold me, where I belonged, where I could set down deep and lasting roots. A place where I could plant my flag and be an insider.I had been searching for home for several years with my real estate agent, Ingrid, alongside me. I told her of my childhood dream. All I ever really wanted: a cute little house secluded in the woods where I could live a peaceful life making my living as a writer. It was my dream as a little girl, my only dream, and it remained with me lifelong.Our years-long search went nowhere. Until I came across a listing that leaped off the page and made me catch my breath. I called Ingrid and asked her to meet me at this address right after the workday. The listing described a 10-acre plot of land, middle of nowhere, century-old small house set in a valley, a writers cottage on a wooded hill (the listing actually referred to it as a writers cottage!), barn, shed, pond in the front yard, cornfield out back.I was there before Ingrid. A December evening was turning a deep lavender and the first gentle snow had begun to drift down from the skies. I parked halfway down the long drive and walked to the pond, covered with the thinnest sheen of ice, then out back, past the barn, to stand in the middle of that harvested corn field, corn stalk stubble sticking up in neat rows through the snow. A redtail hawk circled overhead, calling a greeting to me.I met Ingrid in the drive, under the cover of snow-laced trees, when she pulled in.Did you bring the paperwork? I asked. Im ready to sign.Ingrids eyebrows shot up. You havent seen the house yet.I shrugged. Doesnt matter. Im home.When I signed on the dotted lines on the impossible stack of papers that are a mortgage three months later, in March 2012, I also walked away from my job in the communications department of a large hospital in Grand Rapids. With a new mortgage, and suddenly unemployed, I felt a delicious sense of freedom as never before. My dream had come true at long last.I would plant my flag, and I would call it Z Acres.Twelve years later, my roots have grown deep, entwined with the grit of the soil, the tree roots, the open sky. I spend my days here working as a freelance writer, writing for a handful of regional publications, several for former bosses. It has meant a pay cut, a lean living, but I have not for a moment regretted leaving the corporate world, office politics, morning alarms, and endless commutes. I am wealthy in ways most are not.When I need a break from work, I stroll the grounds or go sit by the pond and watch the fish or toss peanuts to the chickens I raise here. When I switch gears from work-for-pay to creative writing, I head up the hill to the quirky cottage with mismatched windows and put pen to paper, computer set aside.At the end of the day, my dog Polly and I head out back to walk the pathways I keep mowed in what was once a cornfield but by now is a young forest of sapling trees and berry bushes and wild roses. Part of the pathways carve an immense Z into that field. It is my mark of ownership of this land that I own and that owns me.The wanderlust is gone. Why leave? All I have ever wanted is here, at Z Acres. It is my oasis in a mad, mad world. My little red farmhouse, tucked into the green valley, is filled with my fathers artwork on the walls. My grandfathers twelve novels in Latvian line my bookshelves. They are gone from me now, but never far. My mothers ashes are buried beneath a blood-red rose, planted next to an evergreen tree under which my fathers ashes nourish its roots.A red oak grows on the hill out back that overlooks the new and old forests, in view of the house, barn, shed, and writers cottage on the hill. It is my Spirit Tree, where my children and grandchildren have been told to bury my ashes when the time comes. This is my country, all ten acres of it. This land speaks the language of my heart. May the coming generations of my family love Z Acres as I do. I promise to haunt them  forever, a smiling spirit comes home.
Investors' focus at the end of the week would be on the results of the UK elections.

According to Lee Hardman at MUFG, Sterling might benefit from a Labour Party victory given its pledge to fiscal orthodoxy.

Indeed, many observers believe that at least in relative terms the UK may prove an oasis of stability when compared to the political gyrations on the other side of the Channel.

Against that backdrop, at 1230 BST the US Department of Labor would release the latest 'all-important' monthly non-farm payrolls figures.

Labor was expected to announced a downshift in the pace of net hiring from the 272,000 person clip observed in May to 190,000 for June.

Average hourly earnings meanwhile were seen growing at a month-on-month pace of 0.3% in June, whilst the rate of unemployment was seen steady at 4.0%.

Ahead of the release of the latest numbers, economists at Oxford Economics cautioned that the payrolls numbers released each June were more uncertain than average due to seasonal adjustment problems around increased hiring in leisure and hospitality, alongside the typical layoffs in state and local governments.

They also said that they would be watching the breadth of any further increases in the rate of unemployment, although a dip was likely in June.

Slower growth in average hourly earnings would also add to evidence that the jobs market was rebalancing, they said.

Friday 05 July

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

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QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

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INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Industrial Production (GER) (07:00)

Non-Farm Payrolls (US) (13:30)

Retail Sales (EU) (10:00)

Unemployment Rate (US) (13:30)

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

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London stocks were still firmly in the black by midday on Thursday as Brits headed to the polls amid expectations the Labour party will be voted into power for the first time in 14 years.

The FTSE 100 was up 0.7% at 8,228.56.

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: "The ballot boxes close at 10pm this evening. Opinion polls are suggesting one of the biggest landslides the nation has ever seen for Labour, but they have been wrong before.

"In a shortened trading session ahead of todays 4 July celebrations, investors have been digesting weak jobs data in the US. Private payroll growth came in at 150,000 for June, below analyst forecasts. And weekly jobless claims continued their upwards journey for the ninth week in a row. All eyes will now be on tomorrows non-farm payroll numbers."

On the macro front, a survey out earlier showed that growth in the UK construction sector eased by more than expected in June due to a renewed fall in housing activity.

The S&P Global CIPS construction PMI fell to 52.2 last month, down from a two-year high of 54.7 in May.

This was the fourth straight month above 50 - the level that separates contraction from growth - but well below the 53.6 reading expected by economists.

S&P Global reported a slower rise in new orders across the whole construction sector, which some manufacturers put down to election uncertainty, as well as softening of growth in civil engineering.

However, the only sub-sector to record a decline in activity was housing, where output fell solidly following a first increase in 19 months during May.

One bright spark was the labour market, with construction job creation rising to its highest levels since August 2023.

"While there were signs of a slowdown in the latest survey period, most notably around housing activity, firms indicated that a slowdown in new order growth was in part related to election uncertainty. We may therefore see trends improve once the election period comes to an end," said Andrew Harker, the economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"Moreover, confidence in the year ahead outlook remained strong and firms increased employment to the largest extent in ten months."

In equity markets, Smith & Nephew surged to the top of the FTSE 100 after activist investor Cevian Capital bought a 5% stake in the medical equipment manufacturer. Cevian now holds 43.9m shares in the company, making it the third largest shareholder.

Barclays rose after agreeing to sell its German consumer finance business to Austrian bank Bawag Group for "a small premium" to net assets.

Precision instrument maker Spectris gained as it announced the acquisition of US-based SciAps for up to $260m (205m). Based in Boston, Massachusetts, SciAps is a specialist provider of handheld instruments for materials analysis.

Polymer maker Victrex reversed earlier losses as it reported volume and revenue growth for the third quarter but cautioned over difficult trading at its medical segment.

Great Portland Estates was up as it reported robust leasing activity in the quarter ended 30 June.

In broker note action, Bunzl was boosted by an upgrade to buy at HSBC, while Ibstock was trading higher after RBC Capital Markets initiated coverage of the shares at outperform.

Next, Workspace and Big Yellow were in the red as they traded without entitlement to the dividend.

Market Movers

FTSE 100 (UKX) 8,228.56 0.70%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 20,572.01 0.21%

techMARK (TASX) 4,762.24 0.77%

FTSE 100 - Risers

Smith & Nephew (SN.) 1,057.50p 7.23%

Melrose Industries (MRO) 576.80p 3.22%

Bunzl (BNZL) 3,104.00p 2.37%

Vistry Group (VTY) 1,250.00p 1.71%

WPP (WPP) 741.60p 1.56%

IMI (IMI) 1,806.00p 1.46%

Standard Chartered (STAN) 732.60p 1.38%

Convatec Group (CTEC) 240.80p 1.35%

Whitbread (WTB) 2,995.00p 1.32%

Rentokil Initial (RTO) 470.60p 1.27%

FTSE 100 - Fallers

Next (NXT) 8,946.00p -1.82%

Land Securities Group (LAND) 633.50p -0.55%

United Utilities Group (UU.) 979.40p -0.55%

Darktrace (DARK) 580.40p -0.55%

Croda International (CRDA) 4,068.00p -0.54%

Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 798.60p -0.47%

Severn Trent (SVT) 2,398.00p -0.42%

Haleon (HLN) 324.80p -0.40%

Unite Group (UTG) 903.00p -0.39%

easyJet (EZJ) 461.40p -0.32%

FTSE 250 - Risers

Ibstock (IBST) 172.40p 4.11%

Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) (BPT) 241.40p 3.87%

Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings (AML) 149.80p 3.38%

Jupiter Fund Management (JUP) 80.80p 3.06%

W.A.G Payment Solutions (WPS) 69.20p 2.67%

Me Group International (MEGP) 170.80p 2.28%

Trustpilot Group (TRST) 233.50p 2.19%

Spectris (SXS) 2,908.00p 2.04%

Howden Joinery Group (HWDN) 907.50p 2.02%

PPHE Hotel Group Ltd (PPH) 1,330.00p 1.92%

FTSE 250 - Fallers

Workspace Group (WKP) 580.00p -3.17%

Big Yellow Group (BYG) 1,172.00p -2.17%

Bank of Georgia Group (BGEO) 4,020.00p -1.83%

Primary Health Properties (PHP) 92.95p -1.80%

Barr (A.G.) (BAG) 598.00p -1.64%

Wizz Air Holdings (WIZZ) 2,038.00p -1.64%

Currys (CURY) 73.10p -1.62%

Syncona Limited NPV (SYNC) 110.20p -1.61%

Foresight Group Holdings Limited NPV (FSG) 510.00p -1.54%

Paragon Banking Group (PAG) 734.00p -1.54%
The Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) has reaffirmed India's leadership in the global AI landscape, aligning on a future vision for the ethical and inclusive development of artificial intelligence. The consensus emerged during the sixth GPAI Ministerial Council meeting, held on July 3-4 as part of the 'Global IndiaAI Mission 2024' summit in New Delhi.

Indias pivotal role in this discourse was recognized by all GPAI members, emphasizing the country's commitment to steering AI towards a positive and inclusive impact. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) noted, This will pave the way for the renewed integrated partnership to achieve its objectives of harnessing the potential of AI for Good and for All.

Key discussions centered on AIs transformative potential in shaping societies and economies. The members underscored the opportunities presented by safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems in advancing sustainable development goals. They also highlighted the critical need for coordinated international efforts to maximize AIs benefits while addressing emerging risks associated with advanced AI technologies.

Recognizing the importance of a multi-faceted approach, the council agreed on fostering trustworthy and human-centric AI. This involves an inclusive, multi-stakeholder strategy that relies on a strong scientific foundation, open solutions, and common standards. The members stressed the necessity of a balanced approach to manage the potential safety and security risks, including the prevention of malicious AI applications.

The 'New Delhi 2023 GPAI Ministerial Declaration' was a focal point of the summit. It aims to solidify GPAIs identity as an independent initiative crucial for global cooperation on AI governance and innovation. The declaration emphasizes GPAIs role in fostering international dialogue and partnerships to advance AI technologies in a manner that aligns with ethical standards and societal values.

The council also expressed its intention to collaborate with international organizations and United Nations specialized agencies to foster inclusive discussions on AI. This approach aims to build a cohesive framework for AI that benefits all sectors of society while maintaining stringent ethical considerations.

AI governance and innovation, reinforcing Indias leadership in the AI domain. As GPAI continues to navigate the complex AI landscape, the members look forward to their next summit in Serbia later this year, which will build on the progress made in New Delhi. This forthcoming meeting will further solidify GPAIs commitment to global, reinforcing Indias leadership in the AI domain.

Indias involvement in GPAI underscores its growing influence in the global AI ecosystem, setting the stage for continued advancements in AI governance and ethical AI development on a global scale.
In a significant boost to digital payments, Indian travelers and NRIs can now use Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for transactions in the UAE. This development follows a partnership between NPCI International Payments Limited and Network International, a major digital commerce company in the Middle East and Africa.

The collaboration enables UPI payments through QR codes at Point of Sale (PoS) machines across UAE. "The increasing acceptance of UPI payments among UAE merchants will not only facilitate Indian travelers but also foster innovative digital payment solutions internationally", said NPCI International CEO Ritesh Shukla.

As per the NPCI, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is expected to welcome approximately 9.8 million Indian travelers in 2024, with 5.3 million heading to the UAE alone.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and NPCI International. UPI, already accepted in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, France, and Bhutan, continues its global expansion. This international push is driven by the collaborative efforts of the Government of India, the, and NPCI International.

June saw a record 13.9 billion transactions on the UPI platform, marking a 49% year-on-year increase. The average daily transaction count stood at 463 million, with an average daily transaction value of Rs 66,903 crore. The surge in UPI usage is attributed to the integration of RuPay credit cards with UPI and the platform's expansion into foreign markets.

This strategic move not only aligns with the Indian governments vision of promoting UPI globally but also enhances the convenience and accessibility of digital payments for Indian users abroad.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  They say youre never too old to try something new and different  and even learn something about yourself and rediscover your passions.

Members of the Mount Loretto Friendship Club learned a lesson from a recent project. And that was only the beginning.

At a gathering on the Pleasant Plains campus of the Mount Loretto Neighborhood Senior Center, participants recalled how everyone was initially hesitant to get involved when artist Caryn Davis presented a new project she called A Walk Down Memory Lane: An Altered Book Project.

We felt sorry for her, laughed Christine Fiumefreddo, one of a group of eight women who agreed to give it a try.

Christine Fiumefreddo proudly displays the pop-out element that adds some whimsy to her altered book, created during the workshop A Walk Down Memory Lane: An Altered Book Project. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

But Davis said the qualities she saw in each of these women was their open hearts and their open minds.

Davis, a New Brighton resident and an award-winning teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages, first designed the Altered Book Project nearly 15 years ago to provide her pre-college immigrant students a unique approach to learning English through the arts.

No one at the center had ever heard of an altered book, which starts with -- no surprise -- a book that would otherwise be tossed out.

But through the workshop, participants learned how to transform their books with simple tools, techniques, and collage materials to visually express their ideas, the result a brand new, lavishly decorated book.

At first, I said to myself, No, no, no, I dont have the ability to make an altered book, said Estella Slovney. But making the book is actually bringing out abilities I didnt know I have, she said.

Estella Slovney reviews her altered book. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

Russian iconography representing her husband is featured in Estella Slovneys book that also included her family members. Here she uses a cut-out window to present her father looking through a star, one of the techniques she learned during the workshop A Walk Down Memory Lane: An Altered Book Project. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

Guided by Daviss questions, everyone reflected on memories and what they valued in life, and they discovered they had something to say.

Ideas started to percolate and the themes of faith and family emerged. Butterflies, symbolizing hope and rebirth, took on a personal significance for many.

Cathy DiStefano's altered book about her husband, children and grandchildren is admired by Fran Martinez of Annadale and Marie Scuteri of Tottenville. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

In addition to brainstorming, Davis helps hands-on creativity flow with a supply of scissors, glue, paint, and what Huguenot resident Cathy DiStefano described as every single piece of material you could think of.

After completing my first page, I started getting all these different ideas, Kathy Fariello chimed in.

Kathy Fariello honors her musician husband, who died 32 years ago, in her altered book. The feather on the page is one she saved after it landed on her soon after he died, a sign of a loved ones presence she had heard. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

The Tottenville resident started with a page dedicated to her musician husband who passed away 32 years ago. And when a feather landed on her soon after he died, she saved it, having heard that it is a sign of your loved ones presence. After all these years, it found its place in the tribute to him.

Although the projects are individual, the experience of working on them in a group fosters a collaborative creative process.

Seeing the other womens books inspired me in some ways, too, added Fiumefreddo. The Huguenot resident was delighted to display the pop-out element that added a whimsical spin to her book.

Stella Granata used the opportunity to reflect on the 22 years she has been cancer free.

Stella Granata displays her altered book which she used to honor the spiritual support she received from family and friends when she was undergoing treatment for cancer. She also celebrates her 22 cancer free years with a butterfly theme. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

Family and friends supported her through her treatment, many of them by sharing books or objects from the religion they followed.

Everyone that came blessed me, said a grateful Granata who embraced all the spiritual approaches to get through the ordeal of recovering. To honor them, she incorporated smaller ornaments and jewelry she received along with religious imagery into her book.

Stella Granata displays her altered book which she used to honor the spiritual support she received from family and friends when she was undergoing treatment for cancer. She also celebrates her 22 cancer free years with a butterfly theme. (Kathryn Carse)Staten Island Advance

Her mother, who died from the same disease in 1980, is represented by ladybugs. Butterflies also decorate the pages to symbolize her years of freedom from cancer.

By the end of the mornings festivities a waiting list of 10 people interested in doing their own altered book resulted in the scheduling of another session at the center.

For further information about the center of the book project phone 718 984-8589.

The project was funded by a Su Casa grant administered by Staten Island Arts.

The non-profits Executive Director Pia Kishore Agrawal and Community Programs Manager Alexandra Shoneyin attended the culminating celebration.

To see all of Davis Altered Book Projects and how to schedule a workshop, visit. https://caryndavis.square.site/
Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago gobbled down 58 hot dogs to win his first mens title Thursday at the annual Nathans Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest and taking advantage of the events biggest star would be chowing down 1,900 miles (3,000 kilometers) away.

Bertoletti won in a tight, 10-minute race where the leader bounced back and forth. The 39-year-old Bertoletti defeated 13 competitors from around the world in a test to see who can wolf down the most hot dogs in 10 minutes.

I wasnt going to stop eating until the job was done, Bertoletti said.

Bertoletti bested his prior record of 55 hot dogs at the event, held every Independence Day on New Yorks Coney Island.

Patrick Bertoletti, center, reacts after winning the men's division in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Bertoletti ate 58 hot dogs. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)AP

The reigning mens champion, Joey Jaws Chestnut, didnt attend the competition this year over a sponsorship tiff. Instead, Chestnut will compete against soldiers at a U.S. Army base in El Paso later in the day. Chestnut won 16 out of 17 previous competitions.

Bertoletti said he lost weight and practiced for three months with an urgency to prepare for Thursdays event, thinking he had a good chance of winning.

With Joey not here, I knew I had a shot, he said. I was able to unlock something that I dont know where it came from. But Im not complaining.

Earlier Thursday, defending champion Miki Sudo of Florida won her 10th title in the womens division.

Miki Sudo competes in the women's division of Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) APAP

Sudo consumed 51 hot dogs in 10 minutes  and set a new world record for women.

Im just happy to call this mine for another year, Sudo said after winning her 10th pink belt.

The 38-year-old dental hygiene student won last year after forcing down 39 1/2 hot dogs.

Sudo defeated 13 competitors, including 28-year-old rival Mayoi Ebihara of Japan. Ebihara came in second after eating 37 hot dogs in 10 minutes. She was also the runner-up in 2023. Sudo also consumed more than her partner, former Florida bodybuilder Nicholas Wehry, who ate 46 hot dogs in the mens competition.

Bertolettis victory marks the first time the famed mustard belt has gone to someone besides Chestnut since 2015.

Miki Sudo, second from right, reacts after winning the women's division in Nathan's Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Sudo ate a record 51 hot dogs. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) APAP

Thousands of fans, some wearing foam hot dog hats, flock each year to the event held outside the original Nathans location in Brooklyns Coney Island, a beachfront destination with amusement parks and a carnivalesque summer culture. Rich Shea, CEO of Major League Eating, which organizes the event, noted how people still came out in droves even though Chestnut was not there.

Just a great competitor, a great guy, a grown man, and a man whos made a choice not to be here today, he said of the popular eating champ on ESPN. But fortunately for us, tens of thousands of people are crowding around Nathans Famous. Its a pilgrimage every year. This is not a paid Hollywood crowd. This is excitement.

Competitors came from over a dozen states and five continents, with prospects from Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic vying for the coveted title and $10,000 prize money.

Last year Chestnut, of Indiana, chewed his way to the title by downing 62 dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The record, which he set in 2021, is 76.

Chestnut was initially disinvited from the event over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, a company that specializes in plant-based meat substitutes and which advertised on ESPN throughout the event on Thursday.

Major League Eating has since said it walked back the ban, but Chestnut decided to spend the holiday with the troops anyway.

Chestnut said he wouldnt return to the Coney Island contest without an apology.

The event at the Fort Bliss army base in El Paso, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET, will use traditional franks, with Chestnut attempting to out-eat four soldiers in five minutes.

Even though he wont be eating their vegan products, Impossible Foods is promoting Chestnuts YouTube livestream of the exhibition by flying airplanes with banners over Los Angeles and Miami. The company will also donate to an organization supporting military families based on the number of hot dogs eaten at the event, a spokesperson said.
Hurricane Beryl ripped off roofs in Jamaica, jumbled fishing boats in Barbados and damaged or destroyed 95% of homes on a pair of islands in St. Vincent and the Grenadines before rumbling past the Cayman Islands early Thursday and taking aim at Mexicos Caribbean coast after leaving at least seven people dead in its wake.

What had been the earliest storm to develop into a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic, weakened to a Category 3 by early Thursday but remained a major hurricane.

Weakening is forecast during the next day or two, though Beryl is forecast to remain a hurricane until it makes landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 8 a.m. update.

This GOES-East GeoColor satellite image taken at 1:20 p.m. EDT, and provided by NOAA, shows Hurricane Beryl moving towards Jamaica, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (NOAA via AP)AP

Mexicos popular Caribbean coast prepared shelters, evacuated some small outlying coastal communities and even moved sea turtle eggs off beaches threatened by storm surge, but in nightlife hotspots like Playa del Carmen and Tulum tourists still took one more night on the town.

In Playa del Carmen, most businesses were closed on Thursday and some were boarding up windows as tourists were jogging and some locals walked their dogs under sunny skies. In Tulum, Mexicos Navy patrolled the streets telling tourists in Spanish and English to prepare for the storms arrival. Everything was scheduled to shut down by midday.

Early on Thursday morning, the storms center was about 95 miles (150 kilometers) west-southwest of Grand Cayman island and 330 miles (530 kilometers) east-southeast of Tulum. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and was moving west-northwest at 18 mph (about 30 kph).

Hurricane Beryl was passing close to the Cayman Islands on Thursday morning as a Category 3 hurricane. Beryl is expected to weaken as it crosses the Caribbean and hits Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Then it could make it into the Gulf and head toward northern Mexico and south Texas.National Hurricane Center

The premier of the Cayman Islands, Juliana OConnor, thanked residents and visitors Thursday for contributing to the collective calm ahead of Beryl by following storm protocols.

We have done everything possible that we could have done to face the various challenges ahead of us, she said in a press briefing.

The head of Mexicos civil defense agency, Laura Velazquez, said Thursday that Beryl is expected to be a Category 1 hurricane when it hits a relatively unpopulated stretch of Mexicos Caribbean coast south of Tulum early Friday.

But once Beryl re-emerges into the Gulf of Mexico a day later, she said it is again expected to build to hurricane strength and could hit right around the Mexico-U.S. border, at Matamoros. That area was already soaked in June by Tropical Storm Alberto.

Velazquez said temporary storm shelters were being set up at schools and hotels in case they are needed. She efforts to evacuate a few highly exposed villages  like Punta Allen, which sits on a narrow spit of land south of Tulum  had been only partially successful.

The storm had already shown its destructive potential across a long swath of the southeastern Caribbean.

Beryls eye wall brushed by Jamaicas southern coast Wednesday afternoon knocking out power and ripping roofs off homes. Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica had not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.

We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God, Holness said.

Several roadways in Jamaicas interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section were without electricity, according to the governments Information Service.

The worst perhaps came earlier in Beryls trajectory when it smacked two small islands of the Lesser Antilles.

Michelle Forbes, the St. Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organization, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where four people were missing, officials said.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.

In Cancun on Wednesday afternoon, Donna McNaughton, a 43-year-old cardiac physiologist from Scotland, was taking the approaching storm in stride.

Her flight home wasnt leaving until Monday, so she planned to follow her hotels advice to wait it out.

Were not too scared of. Itll die down, she said. And were used to wind and rain in Scotland anyway.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Discount retailer Bobs Stores is getting ready to close up shop.

The company, which began in Connecticut before expanding throughout the Northeast, will close all locations and liquidate all inventory, according to a press release by the chains owner GoDigital Media Group. The move is part of the business Chapter 11 restructuring petition, which was filed on June 18.

We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bobs Stores, Dave Barton, president of Bobs Stores, said in a statement. 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 final day of business is July 14.

While there are no Bobs Stores locations on Staten Island, there are two on Long Island.

Though similar in name, the Bobs Discount Furniture and Mattress Store chain is owned by a separate company.

Bobs Stores is offering discounts of 30% to 70% off. Gift cards and merchandise credits will be honored through the final day. All sales are final and no returns will be accepted.

Locations for Bobs Stores that are closing are as follows:

New York

191 Centereach Mall, Centereach

135-187 Sunrise Hwy., West Islip

Connecticut

409 Main St., Ansonia

2300 Dixwell Ave., Hamden

179 Pavilions Dr., Manchester

416 East Main St., Middletown

195 Cherry St., Milford

172 Kitts Lane, Newington

504 Bushy Hill Rd., Simsbury

835 Queen St., Southington

910 Wolcott St., Waterbury

167 Pkwy. N., Waterford

Massachusetts

287 Washington St., Attleboro

146 Whalon St., Fitchburg

50 Holyoke St., Unit C242, Holyoke

230 Main St., Middleton

59 Mazzeo Dr., Randolph

168 Milk St., Westborough

New Hampshire

92 Cluff Crossing, Salem

Rhode Island
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday announced several landmarks in New York City and the rest of the state will be illuminated red, white and blue in honor of the Fourth of July.

Hochul also issued a proclamation declaring July 4 as Independence Day in the state of New York.

Our freedom is priceless and today we reaffirm New Yorks dedication to upholding our democracy, Hochul said. Now more than ever New York state is committed to our nations founding principles  freedom, equality and justice for all.

Fifteen landmarks will be illuminated. The full list is below.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a summary of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Maryann Lattinelli, 79, a beloved mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother known for her indelible home cooking, died peacefully surrounded by family on June 30, 2024. Read the full obituary on SILive.com.

Yesterdays obituaries

Dr. Michael A. Paglia, 95, a USAF Veteran, surgical oncologist, and family man died on Thursday, June 27.

Born on February 25, 1929, to immigrant parents in Newark, NJ, Dr. Paglia was a distinguished surgical oncologist who practiced medicine for over 40 years in New York City. He was a beloved father, grandfather, friend, and physician, who served two years in the Air Force as a flight surgeon.

Read the full obituary on SILive.com.
Researchers unveil how ancient Denisovans survived on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Xinhua) 11:09, July 04, 2024

LANZHOU, July 3 (Xinhua) -- The latest research has shed light on the behavior of ancient Denisovans, who lived around 160,000 years ago on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, uncovering clues to how they survived a highly diverse range of environments.

Published in the journal Nature online on Wednesday, the study unveiled a new hominin rib specimen dating back approximately 48,000 to 32,000 years ago. It revealed the Denisovans' adaptation strategies to the diverse and fluctuating environments during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene in eastern Eurasia.

Researchers from Lanzhou University, the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and some other institutions worldwide jointly conducted the study.

The Denisovans are an extinct group of archaic humans named after the Denisovan Cave in Siberia where they were first discovered. Zhang Dongju, one of the researchers from Lanzhou University, said the Denisovans had contributed genetically to modern populations across Oceania, East Asia, South Asia and the Americas.

A research team led by Chen Fahu from the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has carried out multidisciplinary studies on a mandible fossil, or lower jawbone fossil, found at the Baishiya Karst Cave site located in Xiahe County of Gansu Province in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The Xiahe specimen indicated that it belonged to Denisovans. The study was published in Nature in 2019.

According to Zhang, in addition to identifying a new hominin rib specimen, researchers also identified over 20 categories of animals, including herbivores such as wild yaks and carnivores like hyenas, snow leopards and Tibetan foxes, as well as small mammals like plateau hares and marmots.

More than 2,500 animal bones were unearthed during previous archaeological excavations. Further zooarchaeological and proteomic analyses have helped researchers obtain more information about these remains.

The research also revealed that Denisovans engaged in animal resource processing and consumption in the cave, including skinning, dismembering and defleshing. Additionally, the bones were used as raw materials for the production of tools.

Chen said the Denisovans in the cave made full use of diverse animal resources, which likely helped them survive on the plateau for at least 100,000 years.

Experts emphasize the significance of these findings in understanding Denisovans' physical and genetic characteristics, activities and adaptations to high-altitude environments. They also offer critical materials and new clues for researching the coexistence of Denisovans with early modern humans in East Asia, as well as their genetic and cultural exchanges.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A long-running legal tussle between Sharetea Australia and the Taiwanese parent company behind the bubble tea brand has ended with the local business gaining exclusive and indefinite rights in Australia, even as it battles separate disputes with some store operators.

Lian Fa International Business Dining Corporation, whose chairman founded Sharetea in 1992, launched court proceedings against the Australian master franchise Sharetea Australia in October 2021 after the nine-year relationship broke down, with Lian Fa alleging that Sharetea Australia was using its trademarks, recipes and passing off its products without permission after terminating their agreement.

Sharetea Australia has won exclusive rights to the brand in Australia for an unlimited term. Credit: Edwina Pickles

After years of delays where trial dates were pushed back several times, the Federal Court ordered the two parties to attend a mediation where they reached a settlement. Sharetea Australia now owns the exclusive trademark licence to Sharetea and the right to sub-license all registered and future registered trademarks relating to the brand in Australia.

Teng Anthony Mu, who established Shareteas presence in Australia in early 2012, said the outcome was a big relief and paid tribute to his legal team Addisons.
The most notable of these coming-of-age movies were The Breakfast Club and St Elmos Fire , and their ensemble casts were on the cusp of stardom. Among them were Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson and Andrew McCarthy, and in June of 1985 the informal group got an infamous nickname via a New York magazine cover story: the Brat Pack.

Three words coined four decades ago might appear to be a flimsy framework for a documentary but Brats uses a deceptively light touch to both indulge movie-star memories and start a sharp conversation about purpose and self-belief.

In 1985, Hollywood was going through a cultural shift. Films starring young people, that took their generation seriously, were selling tickets.

The actors felt haunted by the name, some believe it inhibited their careers; lightweights is the succinct perception Estevez offers. They all kept working but none had the careers that contemporaries such as Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr enjoyed.

Ninety minutes of privileged artists in designer kitchens complaining would not be an easy watch but, crucially, Brats was directed by McCarthy, who revisits his former colleagues  none remained good friends  and draws them into pithy, revealing conversations. His self-deprecation and curiosity provide a necessary lens, whether hes feeling Estevezs anger or Moores therapy-laden acceptance.

McCarthy takes the concept seriously, eventually sitting down with the writer behind the moniker, David Blum, for a thoughtful exchange, but he makes it enjoyable for the audience without milking our sympathy.

The feature tries to tie too much together. As well as the actors recollections and archival material  note: Rob Lowe was insanely handsome  there are acknowledgements of how they reflected a monoculture long since splintered; credit to the eras crucial filmmaker, the late John Hughes; the testimony of industry onlookers; and a reminder of how anachronistic the movies sometimes appear now. After all, the eras only essential special effect was Sheedys face magically blossoming for the camera.
The not-so-humble mushroom has come in for a bit of flak in the past 12 months. Not so much because some varieties are poisonous. Theyve been poisonous for millions of years. Its more what people are accused of doing with mushrooms thats the concern.

Its almost a year now since Erin Patterson, a mum from Leongatha in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria, allegedly murdered her former husbands parents and aunt via a mushroom-smeared Beef Wellington. Those three guests died, and the fourth only just survived. Patterson has pleaded not guilty and awaits her day in the Supreme Court.

Hunting and gathering: beef steak fungi in their element. Credit: Jo Stubbings

The mushroom tragedy made news around the world and made everyone sit up and listen. Theres a whole lot of mushrooms out there that are as harmless as Julie Andrews, but theres a whole lot that arent.

According to mycologist Tom May, If youre asking, Can I eat it? from a low base of knowledge, just stick to the ones at the supermarket.
A Chinese national in Australia on a tourist visa who killed a smart, beautiful and kind Sydney woman by performing an illegal breast augmentation procedure has been jailed for six years.

Jean Huang, 35, walked into a Chippendale beauty clinic on August 30, 2017, planning to have hyaluronic acid filler injected into her breasts to boost her cup size.

Jie Shao (left) and Jean Huang (right) Credit: Nick Moir (left)

Instead, Huang was carried out of the clinic by paramedics and died two days later in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.

Almost seven years later, 40-year old Jie Shao has been sentenced to six years and nine months jail at Sydneys Downing Centre District Court on Thursday, with a non-parole period of three years and six months over Huangs death. A jury found her guilty of manslaughter in March.
A man who died in hospital after being rescued from a remote Ku-ring-gai beach has been remembered by distraught co-workers as a jovial presence who was always awarded best-dressed at the annual Melbourne Cup luncheon.

Kaushik Chatterjee, 45, died in Northern Beaches Hospital on Monday night.

Kaushik Chatterjee in one of his prize-winning Melbourne Cup day outfits. He drowned at a remote Sydney beach on Saturday.

He was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition on Saturday afternoon after being pulled unconscious from the water at Flint and Steel Beach in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in Sydneys north.

Emergency services had earlier staged an intricate rescue effort that involved ferrying Chatterjee by water to a nearby port because the beach can only be accessed via a steep bushland trail.
The former headmaster of Shore School, Tim Petterson, is taking legal action against the all-boys private school, alleging a breach of employment contract after he was dismissed from his role two years ago.

Petterson left his position as Shores headmaster in July 2022 after the schools governing council said a review of culture had found new leadership was needed.

Shore School has had nine headmasters in its 135-year history. Tim Petterson, who served as its eighth headmaster, was dismissed in 2022. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

He was replaced at the North Sydney institution by former St Andrews Cathedral School head John Collier.

Pettersons statement of claim was filed with the NSW Supreme Court in early May. It alleges a breach of employment contract and makes claims about the schools corporate governance.
A Sydney psychologist has been charged with the sexual assault of a patient at various health practices over a period of seven years.

Detectives picked up the 79-year-old man on Thursday over the alleged assault of a male patient between 2012 and 2019.

The psychologist was taken to Balmain police station where he was charged with five counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of aggravated sexual touching.

Police will allege he indecently assaulted the male patient, aged between 40 and 47 at the time, at the various health practices in Waverton, Kirribilli, Rozelle and Balmain, police said in a media release.

The man has been granted police bail to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court next month.
Just a thought, considers Warren Menteith of Bali. Woolworths and Coles have about 52 per cent of the Australian grocery market. Peter Dutton has signalled hed force them to sell off stores if it could be shown they used their dominance to manipulate the market. The ALP and the LNP have an absolute electoral monopoly. Each has a market share greater than either Woolworths or Coles. They use their market dominance to manipulate their sales - votes. What if they were forced to divest a store and not run in an electorate?

I was a resident of Broke (C8) for about 10 years, says John Hudson of Bangalow. Whilst I was living there, I considered starting a finance company. I registered a business name, and received the Business Name Certificate. Unfortunately, the Broke Finance Co never got off the ground. While several of you may see this as just a cheap gag, John says he can supply the Business Name Certification, if required.

Don White of Frenchs Forest writes: Mention of the Highway Patrol car in the bushes at Collector (C8), made we wonder, if it was too quiet at Collector, then they could travel across to the Hume Highway at the village of Bookham to continue their job.

In a league of their own? As a rusted on Parramatta Eels fan, I often refer those who mock a losing streak of some 38 years since their last premiership, to the England national football team that hasnt won a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, says George Zivkovic of Northmead. The Three Lions Footballs Coming Home being played on a loop at Euro 2024 is just a tad premature methinks? Granny wonders how it can come home at all. Theyve never won the Euros.

I, too, thought of becoming a podiatrist (C8), but I just couldnt get my foot in the door, laments Mike Dalton of Gowrie (ACT).
What this will require on the ground is co-operation between the TGA and state, usually health authorities. They will be conducting operations ... It will become very quickly apparent to businesses that continue to flout these laws or mistakenly think were not serious about enforcing them that the penalties contained in the laws will be levied against them, Butler said. But behind the scenes, state and federal agencies have been locked in a dispute over who can and should take control of enforcement operations and accusations the bans implementation has been botched. Loading The TGAs role is to lead enforcement work on illegal advertising, and to assist the states and territories in relation to wholesale and retail supply, and commercial possession offences, a TGA spokesperson said. The wholesale and retail supply sectors of the supply chain are primarily the jurisdiction of states and territories, who can also apply enforcement powers in their therapeutic goods, poisons and tobacco legislation.

However, federal authorities must delegate the necessary enforcement powers under the Therapeutic Goods Act to allow state authorities to take action. A Victorian government spokesperson said it was awaiting further instructions on enforcement procedures. We will continue to work with the Commonwealth and other states and territories on implementation of these new reforms. Three sources, who cannot be identified speaking about government policy, said the planned crackdown was in disarray after the legislation was passed before any federal or state agency was prepared to implement it.

The legislation was introduced by the Albanese government in March and passed on June 27  just three days before the ban started after being watered down to gain the support of the Greens in the Senate. There are also concerns about the safety of TGA and state-based inspectors who could be at potential risk as a result of raiding shops run by, linked to or under the protection of powerful organised crime syndicates that have seized control of the illicit tobacco and vaping market over the past two years. Loading Police estimate there are more than 1300 tobacco shops in Victoria, with the majority stocking illicit tobacco and vapes. Hundreds of these are suspected of being under the control or protection of organised crime syndicates that have been involved in a brutal turf war marked by more than 70 arson attacks, numerous shootings and at least two murders.

Many of these retailers dont exist on paper as legitimate businesses  they are just pop-up shops with a sign and stockpiles of illicit cigarettes and vapes. These outlets pay $2000 a month to crime gangs to operate and sell products that are smuggled into the country to avoid tax. The TGA declined to comment on whether it had safety concerns about its staff. State and territory health departments conduct activities and are supported by the police as appropriate, including where a potential threat to health officials is identified. TGA operations and officers are also supported in this way as appropriate, a spokesperson for the agency said. Victoria Police declined to comment on whether a request had been received from the TGA about providing support to its compliance officers. A police spokesperson said: Vaping is predominantly a health issue  Victoria Police aims to address all forms of offending, but prioritises the allocation of its resources toward preventing and responding to crime causing the most harm.

On occasion, Victoria Police does conduct targeted enforcement activities against businesses illegally selling vapes  particularly those linked to organised crime. An underworld source said the shops where blackmarket tobacco and vapes are sold were already adapting to the threat of raids and arson attacks by spacing out deliveries and keeping limited stock on hand. Loading If you take delivery of $100,000 worth of product, youre responsible for it. If it gets taken in a raid or destroyed in fire  you still pay [the gangs]. Theyve gotten smarter and broken up the deliveries into smaller lots to protect themselves.
Alisha: My generation is a lot more resilient than were given credit for Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Im naturally a very optimistic person, so there are times when I have to block out the news, which can be overwhelmingly negative. Even when the media is telling a positive story, there is often a dark undercurrent. It doesnt mean that I live in a bubble. I just need to filter things so the negativity and darkness doesnt creep in and make me feel bad. Its why Im not on social media. I make an effort to find news sources that are balanced, not just in giving the facts even-handedly but presenting the material in a tone not designed to alarm people. Lots of news sources seem intent on freaking out the viewer or the reader. I think it is possible to be fair without feeding peoples fears and biases. Even though many of my generation are very pessimistic  we worry about all the terrible things going on in the world  were a lot more resilient than we are given credit for. Were good at overcoming things. I know many criticise people of my age  Im 22  for being soft or snowflakes. But it is impossible for members of one generation to know what another generation is going through. Theyve experienced the world at very different times. And sometimes people who call themselves hard or tough are just disguising an inner softness or weakness. Theyre over-compensating. Finishing high school and going into the world is scary for students. Everyone expects you to have your career all mapped out, which is why I left my choice of university course to the very last moment. Even now, after finishing my degree, I dont feel ready to make a decision about my future. I have finally come to peace with the fact that I am not ready. Im treading water.

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Even though I havent made up my mind on my career I know it will have to be in a creative field. I did graphic design at Curtin University. Its going to be a challenge doing that because you have to survive first. Its tough making it in the creative industries. Three years ago I was diagnosed with ADHD. At first I thought I was bipolar or I had depression. But when I went to a campus counsellor who said I had the classic symptoms of ADHD. It was like being born again. I had repressed the reality of my condition so deeply so I could fit into society that I lost any sense of myself, of who I was. The diagnosis has allowed me to embrace my personality. Im not working in a creative area at the moment and it is very hard. It would kill me to spend my life in a dull office job. Im not unrealistic about my prospects of working in a creative role. Ive recently moved into a house with friends so I have to keep working to pay the rent. But my dream is to get into an area of work that suits my personality and satisfies my artistic instincts. The future is scary, but I want to throw myself into the world and experience all aspects of life. I have the fuel, but I dont know in which direction I want to travel. I know a great opportunity will pop up  I just have to be ready to grab it. Jake is the chief officer on a super yacht. Credit: Mark Naglazas Jake: The world for me is a place of adventure and fun Many people of my generation  Im 30  see the world as a scary place. And I can understand that. There are problems everywhere. I see it when I travel. A lot of people are doing it tough. But it hasnt stopped me. The world for me is a place of adventure and fun.

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Ever since I was young, I wanted to travel. The first flight to Europe from New Zealand, where I grew up, was a bit nerve-racking. I was 19, and I had never been on a plane before. But from that moment I have never looked back. Ive spent all of my twenties travelling and working overseas. It is a lifestyle that I love. I studied outdoor leadership and management with the goal of being a whitewater kayak guide in Asia. But I ended up in the yachting industry. I am now the chief officer on a super yacht, so I look after all the navigation and passenger planning. Ive spent time in numerous countries around the world, but I am reluctant to get involved in politics. There is so much that we dont know about countries that we visit that I am suspicious of outsiders judging these places. Im particularly suspicious of the media, which in my role I deal with daily. Our clients are A-class celebrities  some of the richest and most famous people in the world. If I mentioned their names it would be the end of my career. So you can imagine how much attention we receive from the paparazzi. They publish photos that are totally misleading. It is not what is actually going on aboard the yacht. I work two months on, two months off. Its not a sustainable lifestyle as I move into my 30s and want to marry and have children. My fiance worked in the same industry, so she knows what is involved, which makes it easier. We are talking about starting a family, so there will be a change in industry for me. I will move to marine biology or water police or towage. Whatever it is it will be around the water. It has always been a big part of my life and will continue to be. Laras studying history because of a desire to know where we came from, to help her understand the present. Credit: Mark Naglazas

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Lara: We felt we were doing something important. But what has changed? As a young person its difficult to know how to respond to the news because it feels so far from your reality. Im only 19 and studying at university, so what can I possibly do about the horrors of Ukraine or Palestine or the rise of the far right? Sometimes reading or watching or listening to the news makes me feel helpless. I love reading the news and I consume it every day. But every now and then things are so bleak I have to turn the news off. I cant take any more. I just need a break from the world because it makes me feel so powerless. You want to do something positive but it is impossible. When I was 13 or 14 I got involved in climate change protests. I joined the other students who skipped school and went to protest marches. It seemed like a really big deal at the time. It was really exciting, and we felt we were doing something important. But what has changed? Im studying history at university because I think it is important to know where we came from. When you listen to or watch the news it is more interesting if you know the context of what is happening. I am particularly interested in understanding how people in the past processed what was happening to them. I want the perspective of those experiencing the events, and not just those looking back. As long as universities have existed they have been places where people passionately discuss the great issues of the day. And students should feel safe talking about their viewpoints. It is a shame that people feel the need to shut down oppositional voices because it is always important to listen to other points of view. Both my father and grandfather loved history, especially Russian history. On Sunday lunches we used to sit around and discuss events such as the Russian Revolution and Russias involvement in World War II. I guess that is why I was named Lara [after Lara Antipova in Joseph Pasternaks novel Dr Zhivago]. I havent seen the film, but Ive read the book, which probably says something about me  being a bit of a nerd.

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Bob Hawke said in 1988 that Australia should become the clever country. Judging by the current state of the gas market, the nation is a long way from that goal and about to reap the results of some truly dumb decisions.

Australia is one of the worlds largest exporters of gas, yet the only feasible way to fill local supply shortfalls is to bring it in from overseas.

Gas exports from Australias east coast began in 2015 at Gladstone, Queensland.

The Australian Energy Market Operator last month put Victoria and NSW on high alert for gas shortfalls this winter during days of peak demand, and forecast the structural shortfall would grow to 50 petajoules by 2028 and increase into the future.

Theres plenty of blame to go around for what, according to former competition tsar Rod Sims, is an absolutely absurd situation.
When a young British man disappeared while vacationing on the Spanish island of Tenerife in mid-June, a familiar routine unfolded: search and rescue workers combing through the landscape, regular updates from tearful family members, a steady drumbeat of unconfirmed reports that he had been spotted.

And soon after, they were joined by another increasingly common feature of disappearances: online sleuths who are certain that they can do what the police have not yet done and solve the case.

Jay Slater in the clothes he was reportedly wearing when he went missing, minus the hat. Credit: Facebook

This weekend, the Spanish authorities called off their search for Jay Slater, a 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer from England who was visiting Tenerife, a popular vacation destination. But even after the 14-day search officially ended, conspiracies and other theories have continued to spread online.

Theres a small minority that believes and engages with these things, said Aleksandra Cichocka, a professor of political psychology at the University of Kent. But they can be really disturbing to the family and the whole process of the investigation.
Few would have predicted that nine months after the October Hamas terrorist attack against Israel, an Australian Labor Party senator would break decades of caucus solidarity and cross the floor of parliament to vote with the crossbench. Nor could anyone have predicted that local uprisings in Syria beginning in March 2011 would eventually see several hundred Australian men and women travel to that country and Iraq to support a group committed to attacking Australia, and that dozens more would help facilitate or conduct attacks in Australia itself.

By contrast, equally significant and tragic world events, such as Russias invasion of Ukraine or the civil war in Sudan that has raged for the past 18 months, have made barely a ripple in Australian society. Claims of genocide being carried out in Gaza are routinely raised in parliament and in street protests, while Greens leader Adam Bandt has accused the Israeli military of engineering a famine.

Illustration by Simon Letch

Yet in Sudan, separated from Gaza by less than half the distance that separates Perth from Sydney, a conflict that is unfolding at the same time  with far more devastating humanitarian consequences for the civilian population when not only deaths but displacements, malnutrition and disease are taken into account  has had no impact on either Australian society or Australian politics.

Of course, some of the reasons are readily apparent. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is largely binary and therefore easily understood. It also pits the liberal democratic order against totalitarian Russia and its partners. Australia has been robust in its support for Ukraine with weapons, training and logistics to help its military fight the Russians. And Australia has never enjoyed a particularly close relationship with Russia.
The accounts of his conversations with allies are the first indication to become public that the president is seriously considering whether he can recover after a devastating performance on the debate stage in Atlanta last week. A new poll from The New York Times and Siena College showed that former president Donald Trump now leads Biden 49 per cent to 43 per cent among likely voters nationally, a three-point swing toward the Republican from just a week earlier, before the debate. The six-point deficit underscored the growing challenges to the campaign and could make it harder to hang on, although some insiders had worried that it could have been worse. Biden speaks during a visit to the DC Emergency Operations Centre in Washington this week. Credit: AP White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president told her directly that he had not talked to allies about dropping out of the race. That is absolutely false, she said during a briefing. While batting down speculation about Biden stepping down, Jean-Pierre also referred to Harris, who is seeing a surge of support among Democrats, as the future of the party.

One of Bidens allies, a top adviser to him, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the president was well aware of the political challenge he faces. Loading That person said Biden was aware that the outcome of his campaign could be different from what he is fighting for. Biden, that person said, believes he is an effective leader who is mentally sharp and doesnt get how others dont accept that. The New York Times reported this week that several current and former officials and others who encountered the president behind closed doors noticed that he increasingly appeared confused or listless, or would lose the thread of conversations, in the weeks and months before the debate. Biden still adamantly views his debate showing as a bad performance, the person said, not a revelatory event about his capacity to do the job for four more years.

Key party donors have been privately calling lawmakers, the Biden campaign and the White House to say they think Biden should step down, according to Democrats familiar with the discussion. On Wednesday, Reed Hastings, the Netflix co-founder who in recent years has become one of the biggest donors to the Democratic Party, called on Biden to relinquish his place at the top of the ticket. Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, he said in an email to the Times. An elected Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity given the political sensitivities, said the decision was still ultimately up to Biden. The only thing that matters is his decision on whether or not hes going to let it go, that person said. Inside the White House, senior officials tried to calm nerves in a staff-wide conference call. Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, told members of the presidents staff that they should keep their heads down and execute, execute, execute. Zients also told them to hold their heads up and be proud, a contradiction that he admitted had an element of humour to it.

Later in the day, Zients appeared on a separate call, a weekly check-in among Bidens cabinet officials, and echoed much of the talking points he shared with staff members, according to a person familiar with the call. [Biden has] got to show the American people that he can do this job. He cant be wrapped in bubble right now. Democratic congresswoman Debbie Dingell Biden had been slow to personally contact key Democrats to assuage their concerns, which had fuelled anger in the party and frustrated some of his own advisers. The president had lunch with Harris at the White House and was scheduled to meet Democratic governors there in the evening. Until now, he has focused on speaking with trusted advisers and family members, who have urged him to stay in the race. Democratic congresswoman Debbie Dingell said during an interview on MSNBC that Biden must do more to address the public rather than continue to huddle with advisers.

Hes got to show the American people that he can do this job, she said. He cant be wrapped in bubble right now. Key donors expressed exasperation that he did not join a campaign call on Monday meant to assuage them. And some Democrats have grown increasingly suspicious that the presidents team has not been fully forthcoming about the impact that ageing has had on him. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate were not urging their members to rally around Biden on Wednesday. Instead, they were listening to myriad complaints about the presidents handling of the situation from across the party, including its centrist wing and its progressives. Several allies of Biden have underscored that he is still in the fight of his political life and that he largely sees this moment as a chance to come back from being counted out, as he has done many times throughout his half-century career. At the same time, they said, he is clear-eyed about how uphill the battle will be to convince voters, donors and the political class that his debate performance was an anomaly and is not disqualifying.

Some of the presidents advisers have grown increasingly pessimistic in the past day or so as unrest in the party has continued to grow, a reflection of unhappiness not just over the debate performance but the handling of it since then. Loading Much of Bidens family, including his son Hunter Biden and first lady Jill Biden, remain supportive of the president continuing his campaign. Because theres a lot of talk out there, Jill Biden told a crowd celebrating the opening of a campaign office on the outskirts of Traverse City, Michigan, let me repeat what my husband has said plainly and clearly: Joe is the Democratic nominee, and he is going to beat Donald Trump just like he did in 2020. Bidens team had sought to build a firewall by persuading elected Democrats and well-known party figures not to publicly call on him to drop out. But veteran Democrat Lloyd Doggett of Texas became the first Democratic member of Congress to say on Tuesday that the president should step aside. Two others  Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington  said they believed he would lose in November.
Sao Paulo: Brazils federal police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for money laundering and criminal association in connection with undeclared diamonds the far-right leader received from Saudi Arabia during his time in office, according to a source with knowledge of the accusations.

A second source confirmed the indictment, although not for which specific crimes. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorised to speak publicly.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is being investigated. Credit: Bloomberg

Brazils Supreme Court has yet to receive the police report with the indictment. Once it does, the countrys prosecutor general, Paulo Gonet, will analyse the document and decide whether to file charges and force Bolsonaro to stand trial.

The indictment dramatically raises the stakes in a series of investigations into the divisive ex-leader applauded by his opponents but denounced as political persecution by his supporters.
PHILIPSBURG:--- In an urgent call to ensure that the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) operates on a level playing field and ensures economic fairness, Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People's Party, the Honorable Omar E.C. Ottley, has expressed profound concerns over the recent allegations surrounding the NRPB's procurement practices.

Local businesses' complaints centre on alleged unfair practices by the NRPB that favour International Organizations and sidelines local companies. After hurricanes Irma and Maria struck in September 2017, the Government of Sint Maarten initiated a recovery effort to rebuild a more substantial, resilient island. This initiative, detailed in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), is significantly funded by the Sint Maarten Recovery, Reconstruction, and Resilience Trust Fund. The Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands, is managed by the World Bank and executed by the NRPB. As a Member of Parliament in 2020 before becoming a Minister, MP Ottley had already indicated to the NRPB, through a motion, that they must ensure local businesses get preference as part of NRPB's procurement processes. His motion also stated that even if local companies did not win certain bids, they must be considered for all subcontracts. This initiative was part of his broader commitment to economic empowerment and fairness for local businesses.

In a press release on Tuesday, MP Ottley addressed the grievances raised by local companies regarding the tender process for renovating school gyms under the SX-NRPB-386118-CW-RFB contract. MP Ottley, known for his unwavering commitment to the economic empowerment of local businesses, voiced his dismay at the apparent preference for foreign contractors over local companies. "The integrity of our local economy is at stake," Ottley said. "It is disheartening to hear that our local businesses, which have been the backbone of our community, are being sidelined in favor of foreign companies that may not have the same commitment or connection to Sint Maarten. I am calling on the government to look into this allegation urgently. If such is the case, we must do what is right and protect our local businesses, which we depend on to pay taxes and hire our people." MP Ottley said the complaint outlines several critical issues with the NRPB's decision to award the contract to Zhenjiang No.2 Construction Engineering Co. Ltd. Among the primary concerns are the successful contractor's abnormally low financial bid, lack of local experience, and the potentially devastating impact on the local economy.

"Based on what I have seen, the financial bid presented by Zhenjiang No.2 Construction Engineering Co. Ltd. is suspiciously low," said Ottley. "Such pricing disparities raise legitimate concerns about the feasibility and quality of the work. We cannot afford to put money into projects that would be substandard, especially given our susceptibility to hurricanes and the nature of our Caribbean environment in general." He said there are many local businesses with extensive experience and a proven track record in Sint Maarten that deserve a fair chance to compete.

During his tenure as Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor VSA, Ottley created the Scope of Services Policy (SOS Policy), requiring major investors or developers to maximize local resources before obtaining work permits. This policy ensures the utilization of local machines and contractors and includes job training initiatives, as seen in the Princess Juliana International Airport PJIA and St. Maarten General Hospital construction projects. Ottley's unwavering commitment has always been to ensure that major projects benefit the local community and businesses.

Public Health, Social Development, and Labor
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Committee of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure of Parliament meeting to be held today, Thursday July 4, 2024, is scheduled for 13:00hrs

The as agenda point is:

1. Discussion regarding the report by TNO entitled "De Energietransitie in Aruba, Curacao en Sint Maarten" (IS/827/2023-2024 dated June 18, 2024)

Parliament apologies for the error in the time previously published.
In order to attain adequate levels of well-being in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in the year 2050, it is necessary to be better prepared for population ageing and to affect the current population growth. This is what the State Committee states in its report Directed growth that was published on July 4, 2024. Undirected growth will rapidly exert pressure on the islands because of their small scale, while at the same time the labour shortages will become visible in key personnel positions that are vital for the communities on the islands. Specific labour migration is vital for these positions, for example for sectors such as healthcare and education. More selective migration also is more considerate of the carrying capacity of public services and the physical environment, which is impacted by climate change as well. This will require political choices to be made on each of the islands regarding the structure of the economy, the volume of migration, and responding to the challenges of population aging, amongst others.

Richard van Zwol, Chair of the State Committee: Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba face serious socio-economically and physical challenges. The demographic changes that lie ahead, such as population aging and migration, urgently call for political choices with a focus on the long run.

Well-being under pressure

The State Committee concludes that the level of well-being in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba is under pressure, which is related to the small scale of the island, because of which public services are costly. The islands are, moreover, vulnerable to economic shocks. The socioeconomic position of the Caribbean Netherlands population is, in general, more vulnerable than that of the population in the European Netherlands. Moreover, the geographic location of the Caribbean islands makes them additionally vulnerable to the consequences of climate change.

The pressure on the level of well-being will increase until the year 2050, in particular, because of a growing and aging population. In its report Directed growth, the State Committee states that population ageing on the islands will lead to increasing labour shortages in public sectors such as health care and education, and to a rapidly rising demand for health care. The public services and physical infrastructure, therefore, have to be ready in time for an aging population. The increase in the need for health care will also imply increased involvement of family members in providing care, as well as the community at large.

Focused migration is necessary

The report states that labor migration can, in principle, accommodate increased labor demands. However, a larger island population will also put more pressure on public services, housing, and space. Furthermore, migration can weaken social cohesion and increase levels of inequality. This can occur because some migrants have a better financial and economic position than local inhabitants, while at the same time, other migrants are vulnerable and have difficulties in making ends meet. Therefore, it is important that choices with respect to migration should be targeted at vital positions on the islands. However, stimulating focused migration is more than just the official procedures and filling vacancies on the labour market. It is also about offering services and opportunities in order to retain these labor migrants, including graduates who return to the islands. The State Committee points out that because of the small-scale setting of islands attracting and retaining, for example, a small number of teachers can already make a big difference in the coming years.

In this light, the State Committee outlines the perspective and necessity of directed growth: a level of population growth that is aimed at the needs and circumstances of each of the islands.

 On Bonaire, this approach specifically implies focusing on controlling rapid population growth, first and foremost by making choices regarding the sectoral structure of the economy. Tourism, moreover, has also to be balanced with Bonaire's carrying capacity.

 For Sint Eustatius the focus will be mainly aimed at a growth rate that strengthens and supports the island. Directed growth counters the declining economic trend and population ageing. An aging population, in combination with a declining economic situation, makes it crucial to attract personnel in key positions.

 For Saba, the physical space for housing and other activities is limited, more so than for Bonaire and Sint Eustatius. Directed growth is all about subtle, meticulous steps that strengthen the level of well-being and public sector towards the year 2050.

Population aging implies an immediate call for action

Population aging implies that government should take additional measures in the short run. Interconnected political choices are needed with respect to spatial planning and housing that fits the changing size and composition of the population, as well as with respect to the economy and public sector. Robust policy choices based on demographic scenarios are essential. Given the small scale and vulnerability of the islands, this cannot be addressed by Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba on their own and implies that cooperation in the region is needed as well as with the European part of the Netherlands. For this, more demographic knowledge is needed, and the (quality of) data about demographic developments in the Caribbean Netherlands must be improved. This also enables and stimulates to think in scenarios and to make clear-cut political choices. In the coming years, demography should be firmly positioned in collective decision-making.

For more information and a digital version of the report in Dutch, see: www.staatscommissie2050.nl. The report will also be published in print at the end of the summer this year, in addition the report will also be translated in English.

Not for publication:

Contact: Secretariat state committee This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
PHILIPSBURG(DCOMM):--- The National Disaster Coordinator of the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Fire Chief Clive Richardson on Thursday is reminding the business community and the tourism sector to review their contingency plans for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season.

Richardson as National Disaster Coordinator (NDC), expresses his sympathy to the peoples of the islands who have recently been impacted by the passing of Hurricane Beryl.

Hurricane Beryl is the earliest Category 5 hurricane observed in the Atlantic basin on record and the second Category 5 hurricane to occur in July after Hurricane Emily in 2005.

ODM said on Thursday that Hurricane Beryl is a wake-up call and an eye-opener for those who are not yet ready for hurricane season. Beryl has caused loss of life and major property damage throughout the Caribbean Basin.

ODM appeals once again to the population and the business community not to be complacent. Now is the time for the business community in its entirety, as well as residents, to review what preparations they have in place, and dont wait until a storm is about to hit the country to rush preparations.

At this stage of the hurricane season, tourism-oriented businesses including vacation rental management companies should have plans already in place in the event of a hurricane strike.

By having a hurricane plan in place, the business will be able to recover much more quickly.

The prevention of the loss of life of staff and visitors along with protecting property from damage is the responsibility of every business owner.

The engine of the economy is based on every single business operation on the island having a plan in place to protect their business and re-open once all clear has been given. Each one plays a very important role in the countrys tourism-oriented service economy.

The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and resources you need on how to prepare your family, home, or business for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart. The information here is also valuable for new residents.



Listen to the Government Radio station SXMGOV  107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.



For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/



Remember, be prepared and storm ready!
Willemstad:--- Marine Major A. Boonstra took over the command of the Marine Barracks Suffisant in Curacao on Thursday July 4. He received the command from Marine Major Steven Baan. This took place during a ceremonial meeting whereby, besides invitees, the whole crew of the barracks was represented.

The new Commander Boonstra continues the current line of cooperation with local chain partners. He is committed to ensuring that local units are ready now and in the future to be deployed quickly when the authorities request it within the Caribbean Region in general and around Curacao in particular.

Steven Baan looks back on a special period of time: During the past years, the CURMIL significantly expanded and developed and can easily compete with equivalent units in the Caribbean Region.

The recent addition of women to this unit shows that equality is not just a nice aspiration but a reality. The (re)start of the Social Training Program, in which the government of Curacao collaborates interministerially with defense to offer the youth of Curacao a great program for the future, can serve as an example for many partnerships within OUR kingdom. All this in a larger and more modern barracks. Nos Suffisant.

Suffisant is a naval barracks where the operational soldiers of the CURMIL is housed and where both Curacaoan and Aruban soldiers are trained at the Carib training center. The Caribbean soldiers start their military career here during their first basic military vocational training. The Social Training Program also takes place here, and Suffisant is the base for the Curacao Volunteer Corps (VKC). The Social Training Program is an important part of the collaboration project with the government, where part of the project includes a 4-month training course. This military training is mainly intended to teach basic skills and offer a better future.

Parera Naval Base

A transfer of command also took place at Parera Naval Base this week. Naval Captain-Lieutenant Hezemans handed over command to Naval Captain-Lieutenant Heerik on Monday, July 1. This happened with a ceremony on the exercise area of the Naval Base.
Chinese premier calls for international AI cooperation



Shanghai, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday called for global cooperation and a more open mindset in artificial intelligence, as a rivalry between Beijing and Washington heats up in the nascent tech field.

China has raced to catch up with US tech companies in generative AI in particular, with the UN saying on Wednesday that Beijing was the top filer of generative AI patents globally.

The US and other countries have reacted with alarm to Chinese technology that they claim can be used for espionage operations, with Washington revoking licenses for some chip exports in April after China's Huawei unveiled a computer powered by Intel AI technology.

Chinese Premier Li on Thursday urged countries to adopt "more open mindsets" and promote international cooperation on AI.

"Each country has its own advantages in its AI technology, data and market, so we should engage in mutual cooperation and join forces," Li said in a speech at the opening of the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai.

Chinese tech companies are expected to unveil multiple new AI products at the multi-day international convention.

Li in his speech urged countries to promote "movement of data across borders, free trade of equipment and connectivity of infrastructure".

He warned that risks brought about by rapidly developing AI technology would also require concerted international attention.

"No country can be an exception," Li said, calling for the creation of global AI regulation and technical standards.

tjx-je/ssy
Iraqi armed groups say ready to fight Israel if Lebanon war breaks out



Baghdad, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



As war rages in Gaza and threatens to spread to Lebanon, Iraqi militant groups warn they are ready to enter the fray against Israel and the United States.

A field commander of the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq said there would be "escalation for escalation" in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon.

The commander, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Iran-backed group had already sent "experts and advisors" to Lebanon.

Iraqi political scientist Ali al-Baidar agreed that a major war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, if it happens, "will not be limited to Lebanese territory".

"In Iraq and in the region armed groups will enter into the confrontation," he said, adding that they would want to show "their abilities, but also their loyalty" to their allies.

The bloodiest-ever Gaza war broke out when Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7.

The conflict quickly widened to involve several pro-Iran armed groups in the so-called "Axis of Resistance" expressing solidarity with the Palestinians and demanding an end of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The alliance includes Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Huthi rebels, who have attacked Israel and Israeli-linked shipping, but also armed groups in Syria and Iraq.

In recent weeks, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for drone strikes against targets in Israel, labelling many of them "joint operations" with the Huthis.

The Israeli army, without naming an attacker, has confirmed several aerial attacks from the east since April, but has said they were all intercepted before entering its airspace.



- 'Legitimate targets' -



The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has previously shown its willingness to launch attacks.

Last winter, it carried out more than 175 rocket and drone strikes against US troops based in Iraq and Syria as part of an international anti-jihadist coalition.

On Sunday, the so-called Coordination of the Iraqi Resistance issued further threats against Israel and Israel's top ally the United States.

Citing the threat of "total war against Lebanon", it warned that "if the Zionists (Israelis) carry out their threats, the pace and scale of operations targeting them will intensify".

It added that "the interests of the American enemy" in Iraq and around the region would also be "legitimate targets".

The group includes the Hezbollah Brigades, Al-Nujaba and the Sayyed al-Shuhada Brigades, all of whom are under US sanctions.

Al-Baidar noted the past experience of "operations and attacks against American forces and diplomatic missions" in Iraq.

"It is possible these attacks will repeat themselves with greater intensity," he said.

In late January, a drone strike launched by Iraqi armed groups killed three US soldiers in a base just across the border in Jordan and provoked an armed response.

The US military -- which has some 2,500 troops deployed in Iraq and 900 in Syria with the international coalition -- responded with deadly strikes against pro-Iran factions and has vowed to retaliate if attacked again.

"We will not hesitate to take all appropriate actions to protect our personnel," a State Department spokesperson told AFP, requesting anonymity.

"Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq undermine Iraq's sovereignty by conducting unauthorised attacks against third countries, potentially making Iraq a party to a larger regional conflict."



- 'Common adversary' -



Many of the Iraqi factions have fighters who are veterans of Iraq's recent wars or have been deployed in the civil war in Syria, which is separated from Israel by the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Militants are based south of the capital Damascus, and "elite troops" are stationed in the Golan region near the Israeli-occupied sector, says the group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Iraq specialist Tamer Badawi said the importance of Iraqi groups' "coordinated attacks" carried out with the Huthis "lies in their symbolism".

He said they aim to highlight "the idea that groups separated by significant geographic distances are capable of synchronising their armed action against a common adversary".

Badawi, a doctoral student at Kent University, said any Iraqi intervention in Lebanon -- whether by sending "fighters en masse" or just "advisors" -- would "depend on Hezbollah's warfare needs".

The scale of mobilisation would respond to the need of "projecting the optics of transnational solidarity", Badawi said.

"Symbolism matters for those groups across the region and is part of their branding as members of one league, as much as actual involvement in armed action."

Many analysts suggest Israel, Hezbollah and Iran do not want a costly full-scale war in Lebanon but caution about the potential for miscalculations that could escalate tensions dangerously.

Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah recently tempered the zeal of his allies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen on the subject of sending their fighters to Lebanon.

Regarding "human resources", Nasrallah said, "the resistance in Lebanon has numbers exceeding its needs and the imperatives of the front, even in the worst fighting conditions".

burs-ak-tgg/srk/fz
Philippines says US mid-range missile system to be pulled out



Manila, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



A US mid-range missile system deployed in the Philippines for annual joint military exercises -- to the annoyance of China -- will be pulled out of the country, a Philippine Army spokesman said Thursday.

The US Army said in April it had deployed the Mid-Range Capability missile system which can fire the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile in the northern Philippines.

Philippine troops have been taught how to use and maintain the Typhon missile system, but it was not used in live-fire exercises, Colonel Louie Dema-ala told AFP.

"As per plan... it will be shipped out of the country in September or even earlier," Dema-ala said.

"The US Army is currently shipping out their equipment that we used during Balikatan and Salaknib (exercises)."

The presence of the mid-range missile system on Philippine soil had angered Beijing.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned in June there were "limits" to Beijing's restraint on the South China Sea and over the deployment of ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region.

Dong's remarks at a security forum in Singapore were a clear reference to the Philippines and the United States, which have been boosting defence ties in the face of China's growing military might and influence.

The deployment of "medium-range ballistic missiles" was "severely damaging regional security and stability", Dong said.

"Acting in this way will ultimately burn oneself."
Philippines hopes to sign key defence pact with Japan



Manila, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



The Philippine's military chief said Thursday he hoped a key defence pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other's territory will be signed at security talks next week.

Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are set to meet with their Philippine counterparts in Manila on Monday.

The Philippines and Japan -- longtime allies of the United States -- have been boosting ties in the face of an increasingly confrontational China, which is locked in maritime territorial disputes with both countries.

"We are hoping that during that meeting, the RAA, or the reciprocal access agreement, will be signed," military chief General Romeo Brawner told AFP and other reporters at a news conference.

"RAA is important because it will allow Japanese forces, Japanese troops to come into our country to conduct training with us. It will also allow our troops to go to Japan to train with them."

The Philippines and Japan began negotiating the pact in November.

The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defence personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations.

Tokyo has signed similar reciprocal access agreements with Britain and Australia in recent years.

The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia and plans to pursue one with France.

Japan, which invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II, is a top provider of overseas development assistance to the Southeast Asian country and also a supplier of security equipment.

The Philippines agreed in May to buy five 97-metre coast guard patrol ships from Japan in a deal worth more than $400 million.

In April, leaders from Japan, the Philippines and the United States held their first trilateral summit aimed at boosting defence ties in Washington.

It was held on the heels of four-way military drills that included Australia in the South China Sea, riling Beijing.
Airbus nets 2.1 bn euros satellite deal with German military



Paris, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



The German army has awarded Airbus a contract worth 2.1 billion euros ($2.5 billion) for next generation SatcomBw 3 military communications satellites, the European aerospace firm said Thursday.

The contract, for deployment by the end of the decade, includes the prime contractor of two satellites "as well as the ground segment (receiving stations), launch and operation for 15 years," Airbus said in a statement.

"At a time when Western democracies are challenged and where the European institutional space ecosystem is struggling, we are excited and grateful to develop and build this leading-edge system," said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

mra/cw/rl
Sweden to protest Iraq death sentences for three citizens



Stockholm, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



The Swedish government said Thursday that three of its citizens had been sentenced to death in Iraq for "involvement in a shooting", and said it would summon Baghdad's envoy over the matter.

Sweden's Iraq embassy, whose activities are temporarily being managed from Stockholm, "has received confirmation from local authorities that a total of three Swedish citizens have been sentenced to death in Iraq", the foreign ministry said.

It did not provide details on the shooting incident, but said it had summoned Iraq's ambassador to Sweden to protest the rulings and demand the sentences not be carried out.

"We are taking steps to prevent their enforcement," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that reports said a fourth Swede had also been sentenced to death, though the person's identity could not be confirmed.
Mali, Burkina, Niger junta chiefs to hold first summit Saturday



Niamey, Niger, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



The military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will on Saturday hold their first joint summit since seizing power in a series of coups, Nigerien authorities said.

"Our country will be hosting on Saturday July 6 the first summit of the AES (Alliance of Sahel States) heads of state from Burkina, Mali and Niger," they said in a statement read out on public radio.

Niger's junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani will host Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso and Malian ruler Assimi Goita in Niamey from Friday ahead of the summit, the source said.

Their meeting will be held on the eve of a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The three countries announced their withdrawal from that major bloc in January and its remaining members have called for them to rejoin.

The AES is an economic and defense pact.

The three juntas are hostile toward their countries' former colonial ruler France and other western countries and instead have turned to other partners such as Russia, Turkey and Iran.

In mid-May, the foreign ministers of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger agreed in Niamey on a draft text creating the confederation, which the heads of states are expected to adopt at Saturday's summit.

The three countries, which have faced deadly jihadist violence, also aim to create a common currency.
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She denied any sexual activity with Boy A ever took place and claimed that sexual activity with Boy B only began after he had left school and she had been dismissed from her job, so no offence had been committed because she was no longer in a position of authority.
Scotlands biggest city was a Labour stronghold for decades before it lost all of its seats there in 2015 as it struggled to hold on to the unionist vote in Scotland, meaning Glasgow could become a battleground as the party seeks to win some seats back from the SNP.
An honorary KKK member will lead the list of Republicans on the ballot for Missouri governor in the Aug. 6 primary, in part because it is too late for an appellate court to hear a case seeking to remove his name.

And eight candidates for county office in southwest Missouris Vernon County will also be on the ballot despite efforts by the county Republican central committee to have them stricken.

In decisions handed down Tuesday, the Western District Missouri Court of Appeals dismissed the two cases as moot. State law doesnt allow the courts to change ballots later than eight weeks before the primary, the judges wrote.

The names of the eight candidates cannot now be stricken or removed from the ballot, and the ballot cannot be modified in any way, Judge Lisa White Hardwick wrote in the opinion dismissing the Vernon County appeal.

In the Vernon County case, the eight candidates refused to participate in the vetting process devised by the county committee to test whether candidates are truly Republican enough to represent the party.

The candidates the party wanted to exclude are four incumbents  the current county assessor, county treasurer, public administrator and an associate commissioner as well as two candidates for sheriff and two candidates for a commission seat.

A trial court in Vernon County sided with the county central committee, which refused to accept the filing fees of the eight candidates and directed the county clerk to remove the candidates. The court of appeals ordered them restored to the ballot when the appeal was filed, but since that date, Hardwick wrote, the last date for the courts to make changes to the ballot has passed.

In the other case, from Cole County, the Missouri Republican Party lost a lawsuit seeking to kick Darrell McClanahan III off the ballot for governor. McClanahan, a resident of Milo in Vernon County, is listed first, with eight other candidates.

The state party doesnt want McClanahan on the ballot because he admitted being an honorary member of the Ku Klux Klan in a lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League. McClanahan also faces felony property damage and stealing charges in a case being heard in Wright County.

The state Republican Party sued Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to remove McClanahan, but Circuit Judge Cotton Walker wrote that by accepting his $500 filing fee, the party was stuck with him.

Walker issued his order on May 17. The state Republican Party waited until June 17 to file its notice of appeal, almost a week after the June 11 deadline for the courts to order changes to the ballot.

The order signed by Chief Judge Anthony Gabbert does not discuss the merits of the appeal. It cites the law limiting judicial power and states the court would be unable to grant relief.

The core of both cases is whether political parties can control who appears on the primary ballot by refusing filing fees.

For state candidates like McClanahan, the fee must be paid directly to the political party. Candidates for county offices can pay the fee at the local election authority office, and it is then forwarded to the local party.

The secretary of states office wont allow a candidate to file if they do not have the receipt showing their filing fee has been accepted. In the Vernon County case, the clerk accepted the fee and the filing paperwork at the same time, only to learn later that the party refused the money.

In 2018, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a political party had no legal duty to accept the filing fee. The case involved a state candidate and the law that allowed candidates to pay the fee to the secretary of state as local candidates can to their election authority has since been changed to require direct payments to the party.

There is no similar precedent covering filing fees that are payable to local committees. In the ruling on the Vernon County case, Hardwick noted that both parties asked that the case be heard to provide guidance in future elections.

Because there is no practical effect on the ballot from taking either of these actions, Hardwick wrote, we decline both requests.

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.
Pay TV Gets Serious About Free Streaming

When it comes to free streaming, U.S. growth has been fueled by pure players like Pluto TV and Tubi and connected TV platforms like Roku and Samsung looking to feed cord-shavers and cord-cutters in need of a linear viewing experience. Sixty-three percent of Tubi streamers are indeed cord-cutters and cord-nevers according to MRI-Simmons November 2023 Cord Evolution Study.

These companies have had a head start and a clear path to test and learn for years. However, in the past 18 months, pay TV players have decided that they too have a role to play in free streaming.

Why the Move?

If alternatives to pay TV flourish and bring more and more premium content with the flexibility and ease to navigate among AVOD, FAST, and SVOD offerings, then pay TV must take a hard look in the mirror and rethink its value proposition. Its clearly imperative to stop the bleeding, as MVPDs lost 2 million subscribers in Q1 2024 and are estimated to lose another 10 million by 2029, according to Digital TV Research.

Free streaming offers more value for the money to existing subscribers and boosts time spent on the platform. It can also be used to acquire new subs or keep churners close by to then upsell them to the premium tiers or win them back. Finally, it provides a new revenue stream with advertising.

Who Is Active in the Space Now?

All of the U.S. vMPVDs have gotten into free streaming by now. The channels are either included in their basic tiers or in a standalone free tier. Philo announced in a blog post that all you need now is a registered account to access the 70-plus FAST channels and save programs in a cloud DVR for 30 days. Fubo launched Fubo Free, a free tier with more than 170 channels (without a DVR function), in a move to keep churners somehow engaged with the Fubo platform.

vMPVD channel count, FebruaryMay 2024

How About Europe?

So far, cord-cutting has not taken Europe by storm (thanks to affordable and aggressive bundle strategies), but disruption is on its way there too. Digital TV Research estimates that Europe will lose 9 million subscribers by 2029. Revenues will decrease faster, though, with 22 billion (about $23.6 billion) by 2028, down by 5 billion (about $5.36 billion). In the meantime, smart TV penetration is rising rapidly in Europe, with 65% of European viewers now connected to the internet directly through smart TVs, an increase of 5% since 2022.

European pay TV stakeholders have learned from their U.S. counterparts and knew they had to make their move in free streaming. Here are a few examples of companies that launched FAST channel hubs in the U.K. and Germany:

German vMVPDs waipu.tv and Zattoo smoothly integrated channels within their existing EPGs.

K. operator TalkTalk powered by Netgem TV expanded their FAST channels aggregation FAST Lane.

Virgin Media O2 launched a bouquet of FAST channels during summer 2023. Launch partners were A+E Networks EMEA, All3Media International, Banijay Rights, Blue Ant Media, Extreme International, Fremantle, Little Dot Studios, and Tastemade.

What Do Pay TV Players Bring to the Table?

Despite headwinds, pay TV providers bring scale (71.3 million subscribers in the U.S., according to Leichtman Research Group, and more than 100 million subscribers in Western Europe by 2027, according to Digital TV Research). They excel at aggregating and driving viewers to their TV offers. They have done it with TV channels, then TVOD, and finally with SVOD for the past 10 years. FAST is just the streaming version of their TV bouquets.

What Is Their Unfair Advantage in Free Streaming?

The edge that all of these companies have is their existing EPGs, which are made of free-to-air, pay TV channels and now FAST channels. To the consumers eye, these FAST channels are just additional channels in the EPG. Consumers benefit from this ease of access plus the aura of long-standing traditional broadcast TV channels, as well as the chance to leverage cloud DVR features.

By the end of 2024, I expect most, if not all, U.S. and Western European pay TV providers to have their own free streaming channel hubs. Theyre simply turning FAST into TV.

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Bilateral relations between China and Kazakhstan in numbers

Ecns.cn) 11:11, July 04, 2024

China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992 and advanced their relationship to a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership in 2019. In 2022, the two sides agreed to build a community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust, and sharing weal and woe.

China first proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in Kazakhstan in 2013. China is one of Kazakhstan's most important trade and investment partners. Trade between China and Kazakhstan hit a record of $41 billion in 2023.

Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, spans the Eurasian continent. The capital, Astana, is one of the youngest capitals in the world, with grand architectural designs and a futuristic feel.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
Tri-Command and The Nature Conservancy South Carolina came together to build oyster castles on Laurel Bay, to provide natural habitats for wildlife and fight shoreline erosion. (MCAS Beaufort SC/Facebook)

(Tribune News Service)  Embattled by threatening sea level rise and erosion, nature-based protections for areas near the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort are forming as part of a $6.8 million push to protect South Carolinas coast.

The armor comes in the form of interlocking concrete squares with open tops and bottoms that, when puzzled and stacked atop one another, create lines parallel to the shore that become living shoreline reefs. Theyre called oyster-castle living shorelines.

The environmentally conscious cobbled reef is what the Department of Defense, The Nature Conservancy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say will protect parts of the air base that are already experiencing rapid erosion and flooding issues, which are only expected to worsen.

For part of the air base, at Laurel Bay on the Broad River, the planned 2,000-foot oyster-castle living shoreline will be the first line of defense against storm surge, erosion and flooding. Since the spring, volunteers have built about 20% of the structure.

Living shorelines are a win-win for everybody, said Gary Herndon, the air stations natural and cultural resources manager. For people, the shoreline, and nature in general. Its better than hardening the shoreline.

And its due time for this type of long-term solution.

Why oyster castles?

Scientists flooding and sea level rise predictions paint a grim future for MCAS Beaufort if it doesnt intervene.

The Union of Concerned Scientists says in a high-scenario, flood-prone areas within the bases 6,900 acres could experience tidal flooding more than 300 times a year by 2050. In the worst-case scenario, a Category 4 hurricane would bring 6 feet of sea level rise and maybe double the area exposed to flood depths of 20 feet or more by 2100, the nonprofit organization reported.

Herndon previously told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette that being responsible stewards of the land meant addressing current erosion and future projections by working with Mother Nature.

When Herndon and Joy Brown, then-resilient communities program director for The Nature Conservancy, connected in 2022, Brown was working to nab a NOAA grant for living shorelines. Herndon said he knew just the place for it.

Along the Broad River at Laurel Bay, erosion had exposed tree roots, causing the trunks to topple over and die. The particular stretch is near the military housing units. If no action were taken, erosion would eat away at the shoreline and eventually affect properties and community spaces behind it over time, said Nicole Pehl, the Conservancys marine conservation coordinator.

In July 2023, NOAA awarded the Conservancy $6.8 million for South Carolina coastal resilience and habitat restoration projects, and a chunk of the funding was funneled into the oyster-castle living shoreline at MCAS Beaufort. The other money is intended to help low-income landowners implement living shorelines on their South Carolina properties.

Nearly a year since getting the grant, the Conservancy has spent $168,895 on 20,930 castles, Pehl said. Its half of whats needed to complete the project. They initially budgeted $250,695 for the concrete castles, but because of rising shipping costs, the price of the four-walled blocks has increased significantly.

The Conservancy plans to complete the entire 2,000-foot reef despite likely needing to increase its budget to purchase the remaining castles.

The structure is ideal for the stretchs conditions, with its gently sloping shoreline, firm sediment and higher salinity, Pehl said. Oyster castles are an environmentally conscious and largely advantageous solution as compared to contentious erosion control structures like sea walls.

When the sandy gray oyster castles are deployed along shorelines, oyster larvae attach to them and grow all while helping reduce wave energy and erosion along the shoreline. Building and placing living shorelines keep the water clean, build up salt marshes, promote vegetation growth, create wildlife habitats and support important local resources, such as the commercial fishing industry.

Weve had a lot of success with them in the past, Pehl said. Theyre good for a variety of energy levels, and theres a big amount of energy out there, so they shouldnt move around because they are heavy.

Two weeks after laying part of the living shoreline, visible sediment had already piled up behind the structure.

Its been cool to be able to see so fast that theres a difference, Pehl said.

Whats next?

Projected to complete 1,000 feet of the project in 2024, theres still about 575 feet of heavy lifting to reach that goal.

On Tuesday, an active duty-only team of 80 people built about 75 feet of project in 2.5 hours, while dodging rising tides. The previous volunteer builds were open to the entire community.

MCAS Beaufort isnt the only military base embracing natural solutions in low-lying areas and needing a helping hand.

In December 2022, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation awarded nearly $1.2 million from its National Coastal Resilience Fund to Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot and partner organizations to install more than 4,500 wire oyster reefs to cover nearly two acres in Beaufort. Currently, there are two volunteer opportunities to help build those reefs, on July 18 and Aug. 2.

Once the blistering summer heat dissipates, Herndon said they plan to get volunteers back out to the site, battling the tides to lay more oyster castles.

(c)2024 The Island Packet (Hilton Head, S.C.)

Visit at www.islandpacket.com
Theresa Chandler, the great-great-granddaughter of U.S. Army Pvt. George D. Wilson, and Gerald Taylor, the great-great-nephew of Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach, unveil the Hall of Heroes plaque during the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony and Virtual Medal of Honor Wall Museum Unveiling at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., July 4, 2024. Shadrach and Wilson were awarded for their acts of valor during the April 1862 Great Locomotive Chase in the American Civil War. (Daniel Hernandez/U.S. Army)

Pvts. Philip Shadrach and George Wilson, Army soldiers who served during the Civil War, were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted a Hall of Heroes induction ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The Hall of Heroes is where the names of all service members who have earned the Medal of Honor are enshrined.

The very first recipients of the Medal of Honor were a small band known as Andrews Raiders, named for a spy for the Union Army, James Andrews, who led one of the most daring operations in the entire Civil War, Biden said. Two soldiers ... died because of that operation but never received this recognition. Today, we right that wrong. They finally receive the recognition they deserve.

Austin and Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth presented induction plaques to the descendants of the Civil War heroes.

Secretary of the U.S. Army Christine E. Wormuth presents the Medal of Honor plaque to Theresa Chandler, the great-great-granddaughter of U.S. Army Pvt. George D. Wilson, during the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony and Virtual Medal of Honor Wall Museum Unveiling at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., July 4, 2024. (Daniel Hernandez/Department of Defense)

Descendants of U.S. Army Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach pose for a photo prior to the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., July 4, 2024. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on July 3, 2024, at the White House for their acts of valor during the April 1862 Great Locomotive Chase in the Civil War. (Daniel Hernandez/U.S. Army)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III gives his remarks during the Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony honoring U.S. Army Pvts. Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., July 4, 2024. (Bernardo Fuller/U.S. Army)

The plaques honoring Pvt. Philip G. Shadrach and Pvt. George D. Wilson at The Hall of Heroes on Thursday, July 4, 2004, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. The privates were awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumously) for their extraordinary heroism while participating in a covert military operation 200 miles behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862. (Jackie Sanders/Department of Defense)

In one of the earliest special operations in Army history, Union soldiers dressed as civilians to infiltrate the Confederacy, hijack a train and drive it north for 87 miles, destroying enemy infrastructure along the way. During what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase, six of the Union soldiers became the Armys first recipients of the newly created Medal of Honor, according to the service.

Nineteen of the 22 Union soldiers received the Medal of Honor. One soldier was offered the medal but declined as he did not fully participate. Wilson and Shadrach became the last members of Andrews Raiders to be recognized with the nations highest decoration for combat valor.

The names of Pvt. Philip Shadrach and Pvt. George Wilson will be inscribed forever in the Hall of Heroes alongside their fellow Raiders, Austin said. Their medals are new, yet their bravery is eternal. On this Independence Day, their story reminds us of the American patriots who risked everything for our freedom and for our union and for our future of liberty under law. Their story doesnt just inspire us, it challenges us. So we are not just here to honor their sacrifice, we are here to live up to their example.
The Lake Mis-Val Falcina trail in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy has a stretch overlooking Lake Mis and this pre-World War I military road. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)

The Swiss get all the credit for the Alps, which is a shame, because the Italian Alps are ridiculously pretty.

Theyre particularly spectacular in the Dolomites, a range of 18 peaks in the northeast of Italy that UNESCO says are widely regarded as being among the most attractive mountain landscapes in the world.

That seemed like reason enough to visit, so one sunny Sunday in May I set off on the 90-minute drive from Vicenza to Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.

The park boasts an abundance of plant and animal life in addition to its magnificent views. I headed to Lake Mis, which has parking and a restaurant, and is a jumping-off point for several hikes. If you want to spend the night, you can camp or rent a cabin.

My goal was to hike the Lake Mis-Val Falcina trail, a moderately challenging loop of roughly 2.5 miles. It starts steep, gaining about 2,000 feet of elevation in the first stretch.

Along the incline on the Lake Mis-Val Falcina trail, there are benches and spots to stop for photos over the lake. The trail is in Italy's Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes) Views on the Lake Mis-Val Falcina Trail in northeastern Italy range from forest to meadow to snow-capped mountains. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)

The good news is that afterward, you get to go mostly downhill. Start counterclockwise to do the uphill section first. The trail is very well-marked and maintained, but the downhill stretch is paved with small rocks, which can slip and require steady footing.

I can imagine it would be particularly treacherous after a rain, which weve had a lot of in northern Italy lately. Visit on a sunny, dry day if possible.

The uphill section at the beginning has several lookout points with gorgeous views over Lake Mis. Halfway through the hike, theres a waterfall, where I was grateful to refill my water bottle.

The lakes in the Dolomites get their green color from limestone and other mineral deposits. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes) Lake Mis, in Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park in northern Italy, is a nice place for a picnic after the two-hour hike on the Lake Mis-Val Falcina trail. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)

Youll have to cross two creeks, and the difficulty will depend on the time of year. In a historically rainy May, there was quite a bit of water. I jumped from boulder to boulder across the first creek but had to simply wade through the second.

It was a warm day, so I was happy for the cool-down, but I wouldnt suggest doing this hike much earlier in the spring because it could be cold with higher water. The park website recommends the hike between March and November.

On the other hand, you dont want to get too hot. Most of the hike is shaded and the elevation helps offset the heat, but make sure to bring a water bottle.

The trail winds from lake vistas to waterfall to secluded pine forest to meadows. Towering over the Val Falcina is Mt. Pizzocco, which is more than 7,000 feet tall.

The waterfall about halfway along the Lake Mis-Val Falcina trail in Italy's Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park offers a place for refilling water bottles or cooling down in the shade. (Rebecca Holland/Stars and Stripes)

Within the two hours it takes to complete the hike, you cross four distinct geographies, ending with a lookout over a bridge and Lake Mis.

I couldnt stop exclaiming about how pretty it all was and how I cant wait to come back to try the other trails. The loop spits you out steps from the parks small restaurant, where a cold beer or lemonade awaits. Theres also ice cream, wine, pizza and burgers. Or bring your own picnic and join the crowds lounging on the grass.

Perhaps the best part of the national park was its remarkable quiet, even on what the restaurant staff told me was a busy day.

Overtourism has been a hot topic in Italy lately, with Venice implementing a day tax and other cities struggling to accommodate influxes of summer tourists. Nearby, Lake Como is considering a tourism fee, as is Lauterbrunnen in the Swiss Alps.

But at least for now, Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park hasnt caught the worlds attention. That makes this the perfect summer to escape the crowds in the rest of Italy and head into the mountains.

Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

Directions: Take SS 203 (Agordina) up to Mas. Follow signs to Valle del Mis and park at Pian della Falcina.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 24 hours if staying overnight

Cost: Free

Information: dolomitipark.it/en
A sport-style Japanese police cruiser displayed outstide the entrance to the Police Museum in Tokyo. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

The Tokyo Police Museum, a six-story building a 7-minute walk from the Tokyo Station, showcases hundreds of years of policing history in Japan, and to top it off, its a completely free experience.

Right away, children and adults alike are invited to sit in former Japanese law enforcement vehicles. Visiting children can borrow a police uniform from the front desk for photo opportunities.

The second-floor theme is crime prevention and traffic safety. A large diorama of a Tokyo neighborhood has touch screens that visitors may use to learn more about the role of police officers. A biking simulator serves to teach basic traffic safety.

On the next floor, youll find more hands-on exhibits, and visitors may learn about working in a Japanese police box and how to lift fingerprints; the fourth floor showcases different law enforcement uniforms.

Inside the Tokyo Police Museum, visitors may experience what its like to be a Japanese police officer and learn about the history of policing in Japan. (Jeremy Stillwagner/Stars and Stripes)

The fifth floor is all about Japans policing history. There are several artifacts on display, including historical uniforms, personal accounts from the founder of the Metropolitan Police Department and even a ballistic shield that was damaged during a police operation. Visitors will learn about the significant police deployments in each era of Japanese history.

The sixth floor houses an event hall. Several times a year, police-themed events there offer interactive activities and limited-time displays.

The entire museum may be experienced in a little under an hour, making it a family-friendly stop during your next trip to Tokyo.

Tokyo Police Museum

Directions: A 90-minute drive from Yokota Air Base or a two-hour train ride to nearby Kyobashi Metro Station. No onsite parking. 3 Chome-5-1 Kyobashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0031

Times: Open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Closed Mondays and Japanese holidays.

Costs: Admission is free

Food: Nothing available in the building but plenty of options in the surrounding neighborhood

Information: online: tinyurl.com/5fnvcpd6

Note: COVID policies on the museum website are no longer in effect.
A nearly complete skeleton of Gaiasia jennyae in 2018. (Claudia A. Marsicano)

An apex predator with a 2-foot skull dominated by huge fangs, which lurked in fresh water in a time before the dinosaurs, has been discovered by a team of scientists.

A study published Wednesday in Nature names the species Gaiasia jennyae  a salamander-like tetrapod, or four-legged vertebrate, that lived in what is now Namibia. Its eight-foot body is the largest tetrapod yet found with digits, and it had a broad, flat, diamond-shaped head and enlarged, interlocking fangs, the authors wrote. The fossils suggest it was a suction feeder that also had a powerful bite for capturing larger prey.

It has these huge fangs, the whole front of the mouth is just giant teeth, study co-leader Jason D. Pardo, of the Negaunee Integrative Research Center at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, said in a statement.

The research team, led by Claudia A. Marsicano of the University of Buenos Aires and Pardo, described it as a new, exceptionally large, aquatic tetrapod that provides critical information about the tetrapods that inhabited high latitudes of Gondwana, referring to polar regions of the prehistoric southern landmass.

An illustration of Gaiasia jennyae. (Photo by Gabriel Lio)

Anthony Romilio, a paleontologist at the Dinosaur Lab of the University of Queensland in Australia, who was not involved in the study, wrote in an email that it was a fascinating discovery that challenges the belief that early land animals (tetrapods) were mostly found near the equator in coal-producing wetlands.

Gaiasia occurred much further south than its close relatives who lived in what is now North America and Europe, he said, adding that the discovery in the cooler, southern high-latitude regions of the ancient supercontinent indicates that early tetrapods were more widespread and adaptable to different climates than previously thought.

Christian A. Sidor, a professor of paleobiology at the University of Washington, who was also not part of the research team, wrote in Nature that the discovery helped fill a gap in the fossil record because it was found in a place and time that no paleontologist would have expected.

The creature lived about 280 million years ago during the early Permian period, an age when there was a single continent, Pangaea  and about 40 million years before the first dinosaurs. It was the time of other predators such as Dimetrodon, a carnivore with a sail on its back, and Helicoprion, a sharklike fish with teeth arranged in a spiral.

Gaiasia jennyae was an archaic species even in its time, Pardo said, surviving about 40 million years after most of its relatives had died out, at the end of an ice age in which new animal lineages were forming.

It was named for the Gai-As Formation in Namibia where the fossils were found and in honor of paleontologist Jenny Clack, who died in 2020. The scientists pieced the information about the creature together from four specimens.
Two new F-15EX Eagle fighter jets, EX3 and EX4, arrive at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., on Dec. 20, 2023. (Blake Wiles/U.S. Air Force)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa  The Air Force will permanently deploy 36 F-15EX Eagles to Okinawa as part of a broader plan to station more advanced U.S. fighter aircraft across Japan over the next several years, the Defense Department announced Wednesday.

The F-15EX fighters are part of a planned divestment and modernization and the permanent replacements for 48 F-15C/Ds previously stationed at Kadena Air Base, according to a DOD news release. The Air Force will continue to rotate squadrons of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters through Kadena until the transition is complete, according to the Pentagon.

As part of the broader effort, the Air Force will also deploy 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters to Misawa Air Base to replace 36 F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Marine Corps will modify the number of F-35B aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni as part of its ongoing force design modernization.

The 18th Wing at Kadena and Pacific Air Forces referred further questions to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which referred to the news release. The Okinawa Times first reported the deployment Tuesday, citing multiple, unnamed U.S. officials.

The modernization plan, coordinated with the Japanese government, reflects over $10 billion of capability investments to enhance the U.S.-Japan Alliance, bolster regional deterrence, and strengthen peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the release states.

Tensions throughout the region in recent years have steadily increased between the U.S. and China, which the Pentagon identified as a global pacing challenge and an aggressive presence in the East and South China seas in the 2022 National Defense Strategy.

The Departments plan to station the Joint Forces most advanced tactical aircraft in Japan demonstrates the ironclad U.S. commitment to the defense of Japan and both countries shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the statement said.

In December, the Air Force informed lawmakers on Capitol Hill that it planned to permanently deploy the F-15EX fighters to Kadena to replace two squadrons of aging F-15C/D fighters previously stationed there, Nikkei Asia reported at the time.

The multi-role F-15EX, derived from the F-15E Strike Eagle, could be bolstered by unmanned drones. The F-15EX, while not stealthy, does carry some next-generation avionics and networking capability, is faster and carries more payload with longer range than other fighters, according to its maker, Boeing.

The Air Force has rotated fighter squadrons of more advanced warplanes through Kadena to guarantee coverage at a base it calls the keystone of the Pacific, situated northeast of Taiwan on the eastern edge of the East China Sea.

Since December 2022, when Kadena officially bid farewell to its F-15s, squadrons of F-35As from Alaska and Utah, F-16CM Fighting Falcons from Germany, F-15Cs from California and Louisiana and F-15E Strike Eagles from North Carolina and Idaho have served at the base. Most recently, six F-22 Raptors from the 27th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., arrived in April, joining the 199th and 19th Fighter Squadrons that arrived in March.

Kadena is home to approximately 8,000 airmen from the 18th Wing and combat-ready aircraft that provide air superiority, aerial refueling and combat search and rescue, according to the wing website. More than 100 aircraft are positioned at Kadena, either deployed or permanently stationed, all performing a wide range of functions.
Contestants rallied for a hot dog eating contest at a July 4, 2024, celebration at Osan Air Base, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  Air Force families celebrated July 4 at this air base south of Seoul with plenty of martial arts and K-9 demonstrations.

Liberty Fest at the air base flight line included a demonstration of taekwondo by Kukkiwon Demo Team and a hot dog eating contest. A static display of A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft drew a crowd.

Master Sgt. Joanne Griffin leads Pacific Trends, an Air Force musical ensemble, during the July 4, 2024, Liberty Fest at Osan Air Base, South Korea. (Luis Garcia/Stars and Stripes)

Family-friendly events like these are also good for single service members, Master Sgt. Mark Kiegel told Stars and Stripes Thursday during the festival.

It greatly improves their morale, it gives them something to do that is productive and lets them join and celebrate together, Kiegel said.
Americans get into the Independence Day spirit at the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. This inaugural freedom fest celebrates not only the independence of the United States but also the enduring friendship between Poland and America that stretches back hundreds of years and strengthens every day. (Bethany Huff)

Americans stationed in Poland celebrated with their neighbors Thursday in the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake.

Games, music and community were on the menu.

The festival celebrates not only American independence but also the enduring friendship between Poland and the United States.

U.S. Army Col. Jesse Chace, the commander of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, welcomes attendees to the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. (Bethany Huff/U.S. Army)

Community members compete against the American Gladiators during the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. (Bethany Huff/U.S. Army)

U.S. Army Spc. Kirsten Hanks, a military police officer assigned to the 317th Military Police Battalion, takes a quick dance break, during the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. (Bethany Huff/U.S. Army)

Community members dance during the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. (Bethany Huff/U.S. Army)

A Polish Air Force member plays the U.S. national anthem, signaling the start of the inaugural Polish-American Freedom Fest, held at Powidz Lake, Poland, July 4, 2024. (Bethany Huff/U.S. Army)
The Philly Educators for Palestine, demonstrate outside Philadelphia School District headquarters during a May protest. (Steven M. Falk/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

PHILADELPHIA (Tribune News Service)  Pro-Palestinian teachers are pushing the nations largest teachers union to support boycott efforts of Israel and rescind its endorsement of President Joe Biden over his role in the war in Gaza. Their campaign is expected to meet with protest Wednesday in Philadelphia, where the National Education Association is meeting.

As NEA delegates gather inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Educators for Palestine group will rally outside at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in support of a series of actions it placed on the unions annual agenda  including proposals that the union educate members about the boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) movement, and communicate to members that anti-Zionism is not antisemitic.

But organizers of a counter rally say the groups proposals are antisemitic  and are calling on NEA delegates to vote them down.

What were seeing is a group of extremists who are hijacking the system ... and use it as a way to make a statement about geopolitics, which we dont believe belongs in the NEAs wheelhouse, said David Smokler, director of K-12 educator outreach at StandWithUs, a pro-Israel organization.

Smokler, a former public schoolteacher in Massachusetts, said Israel was the only foreign country targeted on the unions agenda. He called the BDS movement a discriminatory campaign that seeks to delegitimize Jewish self-determination ... This is an organization that seeks one thing, which is the destruction of Israel.

Samy El-Baroudi, an Iowa teacher involved with Educators for Palestine, said the group was not for the destruction of Israel.

We are not calling for harm to anyone. We are calling for an end to the harm that is happening now, said El-Baroudi, a member of the Des Moines Education Association who founded the NEAs Arab-American Educators Caucus seven years ago. This is about human rights  all humans. We need to stop this process of devaluing the lives of brown people that get in the way of white people.

The debate comes as tensions have flared in schools around the region since Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel and the Israeli military offensive that has followed. In Philadelphia, the school district censored a student podcast about Palestinian resistance art due to concerns of antisemitism, while board members in area districts have resigned over anti-Israel social media posts.

Both Philadelphia and Central Bucks are the subject of federal complaints alleging antisemitism by teachers in classrooms and on social media. Muslim students and teachers have also reported incidents of Islamophobia.

El-Baroudi said Educators for Palestine aimed to both recognize the horrors of Oct. 7, and shed light on injustices perpetuated on Palestinians before Oct. 7. He also said the group wanted to clearly make sure we distinguish between antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

Other NEA members, in a statement, explained their reasons for joining Educators for Palestine. As a unionist, I want my union to be in solidarity with the rest of the labor movement in advocating for what is best for U.S. safety, security, and well-being. That means money for schools, not war, said Melissa Tomlinson, an Atlantic County, N.J. teacher.

Among at least 10 items on the unions agenda that the group is backing: calls for the NEA to use its digital communication tools to educate members on the Nakba  the 1948 expulsion of Palestinians after the founding of Israel  and to defend educators and students speech in defense of Palestine.

The group is also calling on the NEA to hold a secret ballot vote to rescind its endorsement of President Joe Biden until he stops funding the Israeli military, decries Israels war crimes, and brings about an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Biden is expected to speak at the NEA meeting on Sunday.

Philly Educators for Palestine said it supports the pro-Palestinian efforts of NEA teachers. (Philadelphia School District teachers are represented by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, a local of the American Federation of Teachers, a union separate from the NEA.)

In an interview Tuesday, the NEAs president, Becky Pringle, didnt comment on the specific proposals, which the unions 7,000 delegates are able to add to the agenda, with petitions signed by at least 50 delegates.

But Pringle noted the NEAs statement in February supporting a cease-fire, along with the return of hostages by Hamas and the issuance of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Pringle  who said she traveled to the region last year, and was committed to continuous learning on the topic  said the union would be defending teachers right to free speech. Were making sure they know their rights.

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An HSC-7 helicopter lands on the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Laboon in the Red Sea, Wednesday on June 12, 2024. (Bernat Armangue/AP)

U.S. forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-back Houthi unmanned surface vessels in the Red Sea in the past 24 hours, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Thursday.

CENTCOM forces also destroyed a radar site in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

The uncrewed surface vessels (USV) and the radar site presented an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region, the statement said. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.

Central Command provided no further details on the attack.

The Houthis have used one-way, unmanned attack boats to target shipping in the regions sea lanes since at least January.

The U.S. Navy and allied partners have patrolled the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden this year to counter attempts by Houthi insurgents in Yemen to interrupt commercial shipping.

The Houthi campaign was launched in sympathy with the Palestinian territory of Gaza following the Israeli army invasion of the territory. The Israelis began the invasion following an Oct. 7 attack on their territory by Hamas militants that killed approximately 1,200 people.
A former Army sergeant and his family were awarded more than $10 million Monday, July 1, 2024, after an arbitration panel agreed the moldy home that they leased at Fort Cavazos in Texas caused lifelong health problems for their son. (Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes)

AUSTIN, Texas  A former Army sergeant and his family were awarded more than $10 million Monday after a private arbitration panel agreed the moldy home that they leased at Fort Cavazos caused lifelong health problems for their youngest son and triggered financial hardship and loss.

The American Arbitration Association panel of three lawyers determined Fort Hood Family Housing, now known as Cavalry Family Housing, and its parent company Lendlease showed a lack of care or concern for families living in military housing.

The $10.3 million was awarded to former Sgt. Jason Kiernan, his wife Sarah Kiernan and their three sons to pay for economic damages, mental anguish damages and the housing allowance that the company received to lease the home, according to Ryan Reed, an attorney for the family.

It is the largest payout Reed said he has seen on a military family housing case. One that came close, he said, involved a Marine Corps family in California that was awarded $2 million by a jury in 2019 because of moldy living conditions at Camp Pendleton. A judge overturned the amount months later, calling it excessive.

A federal jury in San Antonio last year awarded an Army officers family more than $91,000 for a home that they leased at Randolph Air Force Base with the private landlord Hunt Military Communities. That case only looked at economic damages and did not consider personal injury. The cases of eight other families involved in that lawsuit are pending as it goes through the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, said Reed, who also represents those families.

The cases were filed at a time when military family housing was a major talking point in Congress because of the dangerous conditions that some families reported facing. Instead of help, many said the private companies hired by the military to manage housing ignored maintenance requests or were slow to respond.

The military pledged better oversight, and Congress passed several reforms, including a tenant bill of rights with guidelines for a formal dispute resolution process. While a recent survey from the Military Family Advisory Network showed families trust in base housing has improved in the last four years, Reed said he continues to get calls and anticipates further litigation will be filed in different parts of the United States.

In my opinion, what Congress has done  the tenant bill of rights, these dispute resolution procedures  its just lipstick on a pig. Its not meaningfully helping the situation because its not clarifying the law, and its not vesting the dispute resolution in an outside third party that has real power, he said.

In the Kiernans case, Sarah Kiernan was pregnant in 2019 while living in a home leased at Fort Cavazos, then known as Fort Hood, and required emergency surgery because her son stopped moving. At 2 months old, the boy was flown on a medical helicopter from Fort Cavazos to Dell Childrens Medical Center in Austin, where he spent 20 days in intensive care for respiratory problems.

Jason Kiernan left the Army in November 2020, and the family now lives in New Hampshire, though their sons health problems have persisted.

Now 5 years old, the boy has lifelong implications of a brain injury that occurred because he did not get enough oxygen after his birth. He suffers seizures, impulsivity and speech delays, and his doctors cannot predict what life will be like as he ages, his mother said.

I think we all can agree, and we all know that he will never be able to live alone, and he will always need help. I know thats incredibly expensive, Sarah Kiernan said. With this money that they have given us for him, I dont have to stress about that. I can put that away for him, and he can have that as he gets older.

Most important, she said it means that once she is gone, her two older sons will not bear the burden of paying for their brothers care.

Representatives for Lendlease did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Kiernans originally filed their case as a lawsuit in June 2020 with 11 other families living at Fort Cavazos. The lawsuit ultimately grew to include a total of 105 families, Reed said.

However, as litigation proceeded, a federal court judge found the lease agreements signed by service members at the base required disputes to be arbitrated by panels that are typically made up of lawyers and former judges.

Aside from the Kiernans, one other family has gone before a panel and had their allegations dismissed because the panel determined they waited too long to bring their case forward.

The panel for the Kiernan family found overwhelming evidence that Fort Hood Family Housing and Lendlease gave a false sense of security that the home was properly repaired and was safe for them to occupy with families and infants, according to court documents. It also found false, misleading, deceptive, and unconscionable conduct by the companies and contempt and a lack of concern for the Kiernans.

Evidence indicated housing employees used numeric codes in company maintenance reports to hide references to mold and withheld the companys prior knowledge of construction or design defects that promoted mold growth in Fort Cavazos homes.

This experience inspired Sarah Kiernan to go back to school to become a mental health care provider, and next year she will graduate as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Weve experienced such a great deal of mental health and crisis and trauma from all this. When youre really in the thick of it, and you need somebody to validate your concerns and whats happened to you, its really hard when you dont have that. I would like to provide that to people, she said.

The Kiernans award was announced Monday just hours after Lendlease announced it was selling its military housing business to Omaha Beach Investment Holdings for $320 million.

That could have an impact on the claims against Lendlease, depending on how the sale contracts are written, and could motivate the company to move quicker to resolution on the pending cases, Reed said. It also shows how much money is available.
A disqualified driver caught behind the wheel on Dublins M50 was on the way to get a blood transfusion, a court heard.

Fariba Torabypour (62) suffers from a degenerative condition, and a judge said he was gravely concerned about her safety and that of other road users if she drove again.

Her solicitor said that Torabypour was resigned to not driving again until her health improved.

Judge David McHugh imposed a five-month sentence suspended for two years, and disqualified Torabypour from driving for five years.

The defendant, with an address at College Street in Baldoyle, admitted uninsured and unlicensed driving at the M50 in Blanchardstown last March 25.

Garda Dominic Noonan told Blanchardstown District Court that he stopped Torabypour driving a 181-registered vehicle at around 5pm on the day in question.

He made the demand for Torabypours licence and insurance. She nominated Howth garda station but failed to produce her documents.

The court heard Torabypour had two previous convictions for uninsured driving, and received a four-year driving ban in 2022.

Defence solicitor Meryn Harnett said Torabypour had a degenerative illness, and it was worse now than it was at the time of this incident. Mr Harnett said the defendant was a widow and had three adult children. She had lived in Ireland for over 20 years, he said.

She previously had a knee replacement operation, and she was awaiting a second knee and a hip replacement.

Torabypour was anaemic and on the day she was stopped she was going to get a blood transfusion, Mr Harnett said.

The defendant had no real experience of road traffic law in Ireland, the solicitor said. She had insurance, but it was invalid due to the driving ban.

Mr Harnett also said Torabypour was in a medically vulnerable state, but was lucky to have good family support.
The arrested man is due in court today.

A man is due in court this morning over a huge drugs seizure in Dublin on Wednesday.

Gardai have charged the man, aged in his 30s, who was arrested as part of the seizure of 380,000 drugs seized in the West Dublin area.

He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin today.

As part of ongoing investigations into the sale and supply of drugs and related crime in west Dublin, Gardai attached to the Serious Crime South Drugs Unit in Clondalkin and Ballyfermot conducted the intelligence-led operation at a residential property.

Dublin drugs seizure

Quantities of tablets, along with cocaine, heroin, and cannabis, were seized.

The seized drugs had an estimated value in excess of 380,000, pending analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

The man was being detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region.

The seizure formed part of Operation Tara, an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in July 2021.

The focus of Operation Tara is "to disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute drug trafficking networks at all levelsinternational, national, and localinvolved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale, and supply of controlled drugs, gardai stated.

Investigations are continuing, according to authorities.
Peter Keaney allegedly stood over her, shouting: Die bitch, die, die, you f****** bitch

A father of two charged with attempting to suffocate his partners elderly mother in a midlands nursing home has been granted bail after a court heard how he allegedly stood over her, shouting: Die bitch, die, die, you f****** bitch.

Fifty-five-year-old Peter Keaney, of Hillside Close, Monksland, Athlone, Roscommon was admitted to bail after being sent forward to Mullingar Circuit Court on a signed guilty plea of assault causing harm to the elderly woman and of attempting to suffocate her with a pillow.

Keaney has been in custody since appearing in court on May 1 following an incident at Sonas Nursing Home, Ballymahon Road, Athlone on Monday April 29.

In a contested bail hearing at a sitting of Athlone District Court yesterday evening , Judge Bernadette Owens was told how Keaney walked from his home to the nursing home after consuming four bottles of wine.

Detective Garda Kenneth Nerney said it was at around 7:30pm that the accused entered the room of his alleged victim.

Peter Keaney is to be sent forward to the Circuit Criminal Court in Mullingar after signing guilty pleas in respect of assaulting an 85-year-old nursing home resident and of attempting to suffocate her.

He said as the elderly pensioner stood up to give Keaney a hug, the accused punched her into the face with his fist.

The court was told Keaney allegedly punched the woman a second time, causing her to fall backwards into a chair.

In a statement taken from the woman, she alleged how Keaney then grabbed a pillow and placed it over her face, causing her to struggle for breath.

During the ensuing seconds that followed, Det Garda Nerney said it will be alleged that Keaney continued in his assault, kicking the elderly woman into the head a number of times.

A female care assistant, who heard the commotion outside told gardai how she heard a male voice shout: Die bitch, die, die you f****** bitch, get away from me, I wish you were dead.

That prompted the care assistant to alert two of her male colleagues who managed to force their way into the room where they saw the woman lying on the floor with her face covered by a pillow.

Det Gara Nerney said both care assistants told gardai of seeing Keaney crouched down over the elderly woman before the accused stood up and walked over to a bed where he remained until gardai arrived.

The court heard gardai were objecting to bail under both section 2 and OCallaghan Rules, citing both the seriousness of the charges and the possible interference of witnesses.

Most notably, Det Garda Nerney said the State harboured grave concerns for the alleged victim, who the court was told happened to be the mother of Keaneys long time partner.

He said a key basis upon which those anxieties rested was on how Keaney repeated a series of sinister threats to gardai in the immediate aftermath of the incident.

Yes I would kill her, Det Garda Nerney said the accused said in the wake of his arrest.

I will do it again. I will kill her.

Peter Keaney.

He also said gardai held similarly strong reservations for the alleged victims husband who is also a resident in the same nursing home.

This, he said, was predicated on Keaneys alleged admission that he would have gone for him, something he stopped short of following through on as he was upstairs.

In defence, solicitor Mark Cooney said those threats were made at a time when his client was under the influence of alcohol after consuming up to four bottles of wine.

He said Keaney was someone who had never come to adverse garda attention before and when interviewed the following day reneged from those threats by giving a fulsome and frank account of what happened.

Mr Cooney said the incident and subsequent publicity the incident and its fallout had created was something which had brought untold stress on the accuseds own family.

Keaney, for his part, also took the stand and said he was at a loss as to what unfolded on the evening in question.

In revealing how he had even enjoyed lunch with his alleged victim and her husband in the days leading up to the incident, Keaney said: I was drinking wine, too much red wine over two days.

I have no want or never had a want to do it. Its not my way or anything I would ever do. It was a complete anomaly to me as to what I am and what I am like.

Judge Owens, in giving her ruling said while the State had satisfied the thresholds of both section 2 and OCallaghan Rules, the court was obliged to consider if bail could be granted subject to conditions.

On the basis Keaney was going forward to the Circuit Criminal Court on signed guilty pleas in respect of both charges, she said that development would ease concerns over whether the alleged victim would be interfered with.

Keaney was granted bail on his own 500 bond and independent 1,000 surety, both of which required no cash lodgements to be handed into court.

He was also ordered to reside at his sisters address in Balbriggan in Dublin, to sign on daily at Balbriggan garda station and to seek a GPs referral or engage with addiction services and provide evidence to gardai within 72 hours.

Keaney was consequently also given the alibi warning by Judge Owens who advised him he had 14 days to notify the State of any alibi evidence he may wish to rely on in the course of his trial.

He was remanded on bail to appear before a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Friday.
He added the incident appeared to show how small airports are being used as an open corridor to bring in large caches of drugs

The Cessna single-engine plane that was seized by gardai after it landed in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Photo:: An Garda Siochana

A father of one who was caught red-handed in playing an active role in the importation of over 8m of cocaine into a private airfield in the midlands almost two years ago has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Fifty-six-year-old Tim Gilchrist Jr of Mavis Bank, Newrath, Waterford, was handed down an eleven and a half year with the final six months suspended at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court today by Judge Keenan Johnson.

The Waterford native had pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine for sale or supply at Lough Owel, Irishtown, Co. Westmeath and of importing an estimated 8.4m of the controlled drug at Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Abbeyshrule, Co Longford.

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.

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.

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.

The Cessna single-engine plane that was seized by gardai after it landed in Abbeyshrule, Co Longford. Photo:: An Garda Siochana

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.

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.

In delivering sentence, Judge Johnson expressed his concern at how private airfields appeared to be used as an open corridor by organised crime gangs in which to import significant quantities of controlled drugs.

He said there was a clear and unequivocal need for significant upgrades in both security and custom examination checks to be introduced at facilities similar to those in Abbeyshrule and Dieppe from where the seven figure drugs haul was transported between.

Judge Johnson said the accused had effectively been caught red-handed by gardai when the 09-D registered Alfa Romeo car he was driving was intercepted by gardai on the date in question.

He said there had been a considerable degree of planning in the orchestration of the drugs importation, saying Gilchrist Jnr played an active role in both its logistics and ultimate delivery for his own financial gain.

Judge Johnson described the episode as being at the upper end of the mid range of offences that, on indictment carry a maximum tariff of life in prison.

He said given the gravity of the incident the court was of a mind to put the headline sentence at 16 and-a-half-years.

Taking those factors into account and, in imposing the maximum 30pc reduction open to the court allied to Gilchrist Jnrs early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions, that sentence could be reduced to one of eleven-and-a-half years.

Judge Johnson imposed that sentence on both the possession for sale or supply and drugs importation charges, terms he directed to run concurrently.

In backdating the sentence to when the accused first went into custody in August 2022, Judge Johnson suspended the final six months of that sentence for a period of two years in order to foster and encourage Gilchrist Jnrs rehabilitation when he is eventually freed from prison.
"Todays operation, under Operation Fern, is part of GNIBs focus to arrest persons subject to Deportation Orders

Detectives from the Garda National Immigration Bureau are leading the inquiry

Gardai have arrested five people in an operation targeting people living here illegally and are the subject of deportation orders.

Gardai from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), with assistance from local Garda units based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West, conducted an operation this morning, Thursday, July 4.

Five people, who were subject to Deportation Orders, were arrested in Dublin during the operation.

A garda spokesman said all five people are currently in custody pending deportation from the State.

The arrests fall under the remit of Operation Fern which is an ongoing operation targeting persons who are illegally residing in the State and are the subject of Deportation Orders.

Speaking this morning following the operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock said, "This mornings operation was part of Operation Fern, which is a nationwide operation targeting persons subject to Deportation Orders.

"A Deportation Order is an order from the Minister for Justice to leave the State. Prior to GNIB receiving these Deportation Orders, there has been significant engagement with each person by the Department of Justice, which includes the offer of a supported voluntary return package to their country of origin.

"Persons subject to Deportation Orders have declined supported voluntary return, and are now illegal in the State.

"Todays operation, under Operation Fern, is part of GNIBs focus to arrest persons subject to Deportation Orders and who are illegal in the State,Detective Chief Superintendent Aidan Minnock added.
Gardai seized the cannabis herb and arrested the male following a search operation on Wednesday evening, June 3

16kg of suspected cannabis worth 320k was seized by gardai. Photo: Garda Wicklow.

16kg of suspected cannabis worth 320k was seized by gardai. Photo: Garda Wicklow.

A man has been arrested after 16kg of suspected cannabis worth 320k was found in a car in Co Wicklow.

Gardai seized cannabis herb and arrested a male following a search operation on Wednesday evening, June 3.

Gardai from the Bray District Drugs Unit conducted a search at a residence in Bray, Co Wicklow, at approximately 5pm, as part of Operation Tara.

During the course of the search, approximately 16kg of suspected cannabis herb was located in a vehicle on the property, with the estimated street value of drugs seized of 320k.

All drugs are now subject to analysis by Forensic Science Ireland.

A male, who is aged in his 40s, was arrested at the scene and is now detained at Garda station in Wicklow under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.

The investigations are ongoing, a Garda spokesperson has said.
"I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go

Missing teenager Jay Slater stayed the night in an Airbnb in Tenerife with a convicted drug dealer before disappearing.

Ayub Qassim (31) has told British reporters he invited Jay back to his apartment on the morning of June 17 because the young lad had lost his friends.

Mr Qassim told a Daily Mail reporter that "The only comment I have to make is that Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive."

Jay returned to the remote cottage in the village of Masca at roughly 5am, after attending an all-night rave at the Papagayo club.

Papagayo club, Tenerife

"I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go, his friends had all left him, he continued.

"I know Jay, through friends, I'm not going to bring someone back to mine if I don't know them.

"I'm doing the geezer a favour and now my face is all over the news. It's a bit mental. I haven't even done anything."

Qassims pal, who goes by the name "Johnny Vegas", also spent the night in the whitewashed villa.

Both men have been interviewed by Guardia Civil, who concluded they were irrelevant to the investigation.

Jay's Snapchat

Mr Qassam is now living in a flat in east London with another friend. He said that he gave Jay the colourful garment he is seen with in one of his final Snapchats.

There were no problems. You've seen the last images of him with his red blanket around him.

"I don't know if he had beef elsewhere because I don't know him that well, I only know him through friends.

"He ain't got a problem with me, I haven't got a problem with him or his mates. We just all talked to each other and everything was sweet.

"I've spoken to the Spanish police and they've told me not to speak to anyone which is why I've been quiet.

I've not spoken to Mark Williams-Thomas or anyone like him because he doesn't have any jurisdiction in Tenerife, and I haven't done anything wrong.'

Steps seen in the Snapchat

Mr Williams-Thomas is a private detective working on the case.

In 2015, Qassim was busted for his role in a London-based crew that smuggled heroin and crack cocaine to Cardiff, Wales.

When cops raided a property in the city centre they found cash, mobile phones, drugs and scales.

Qassim was sentenced to nine years and nine months in the slammer.

Meanwhile, British journalist Nick Pisa told GB News that he believes Slater "has been overcome by tiredness, exhaustion, dehydration, and is probably somewhere up on that mountain".

On Thursday morning, it emerged Spanish forensic cops have returned to the Airbnb in Masca, 16 days after Slater's disappearance.

Pisa said "If you speak to the Spanish police, you speak to the independent search and rescue people who've been up there, they say they've combed that mountain as much as they can.

"But then you speak to Paul Arnott, the experienced mountaineer, and he says that they haven't searched as thoroughly as they should do."

Guardia Civil in Tenerife

Spanish Police "obviously are keeping their cards close to their chest and are not saying anything".

"I've now spoken to an ex-British Army officer who found some sunglasses up there. He was asked not to put them in a plastic bag because of humidity, but to wrap them up in tissue paper, which he did.

"He handed them in and he had to give DNA and his fingerprints. The question is, are they connected to Jay?

"The other interesting thing that he told me is that the mobile phone ping, for it to ping from where they think it pinged from, you would have had to throw the phone into the bushes because you would need a machete to get into that undergrowth in that ravine.

"Another one of these theories is that maybe someone threw his phone there and he is somewhere else. But the police are saying that they are keeping all avenues of investigation open.

"For that first two weeks of that search, they really focused on that gorge. They were going through it on foot with dogs and with helicopters, and then they called for volunteers on Saturday in what they said was going to be one final push."
The government's community engagement team said protests at the site had caused delays.

Gardai at the Thornton Hall site in north Dublin where three pigs were stabbed last week, understood to have been carried out in an attempt to deter Muslims from living there. Photo: Collins Dublin

Protests are hampering plans to house hundreds of asylum-seekers at a north Dublin site, a government department has said.

The delay in placing immigrants on lands at Thornton Hall comes after the Irish Independent revealed two pigs were stabbed on the site last week. Gardai are investigating whether there was an anti-immigrant motive to this incident.

Plans to build a super prison on the site were shelved and the Government instead hoped to begin accommodating asylum-seekers in tents at the site last month.

Local representatives were this week told the Department of Integration is continuing to work with the Irish Prison Service on a handover of Thornton Hall. However, the departments community engagement team said protests at the site had caused delays.

In an update to politicians, it said: A review is currently ongoing regarding the status of services at Thornton Hall. The department is engaging with our partners to complete relevant assessments.

While it was hoped that we would be in a position to begin providing emergency accommodation to people seeking international protection at the site in June, ongoing protests at the site are hampering progress.

Department officials have already met community representatives, while a further meeting is expected in the coming weeks.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell hit out at the delay, saying: There is no place for disruptive protests at any location chosen to house international protection applicants, particularly in light of recent animal cruelty at the gates of this facility. Such horrific behaviour should never be tolerated in our democracy.

A vet was called, and after tending to the animals determined their injuries were too severe for them to survive

Protests have taken place at the site in recent months, with locals raising concerns about facilities on site and a lack of consultation.

Gardai were called out to Thornton Hall last week after receiving reports of trespassers at the site. Two pigs and a piglet were discovered at the scene, and the two larger animals had been stabbed.

A vet was called, and after tending to the animals determined their injuries were too severe for them to survive. The two pigs were put down while the piglet was taken into care.

A short time later, a man in his 30s was arrested and detained for public order offences. He has since been charged and is due to appear in court next month.

Investigations into the animal cruelty aspect of the incident are continuing.

Weeks earlier, Irish far-right activists shared social media posts that claimed plans to build a mosque in Spain were scrapped after pigs were buried on the proposed land, as pork is prohibited under Islamic law.

Many of the international protection applicants arriving in Ireland are coming from Muslim countries, and gardai believed the incident is connected to the planned housing of migrants at Thornton Hall.

A source said: This is a sad incident, The pigs had to be put down because there was nothing more that could be done for them.

It is being looked at if this was done out of some belief that a pig being harmed on the land would mean Muslims cannot live there. The whole thing is cruel and bizarre.
Micheal Martin said six cases related to domestic abuse, while five were sexual assault, "with one pending

All 68 Defence Forces personnel convicted of offences against the person are on local leave, the Tanaiste has confirmed.

He said there had been an "inconsistency" in application of the discipline expected -- and said 24 of the cases related to "assault generally," rather than sexual assault.

Micheal Martin said six cases related to domestic abuse, while five were sexual assault, "with one pending."

He was answering Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns, who also complained about the lack of regulation of taxi-drivers, dentists and counsellors.

Ms Cairns raised the case of a taxi driver convicted last week of the rape of two female passengers, who believe they were "doing the right thing" for their personal safety by getting into a cab.

To think they were actually endangering themselves by entering a taxi is "the stuff of nightmares for women," Ms Cairns said. Yet she claimed there was no action to prevent a rapist from driving a taxi, as seen in a court case last week.

Raymond Shorten

Mr Martin replied that any taxi driver who committed a sexual assault "should be in prison, obviously". "They should never drive a taxi again." He said the Government had already "regulated extensively, and we will see if we can extend that."

The Fianna Fail leader said the focus had to switch to the victim's journey, in his view. Blathnaid Raleigh, for instance, had her life suspended for five years. "That's too long."

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre welcomes conviction of rapist taxi driver

Ms Cairns said however: "Sometimes it seems like the State isn't even trying. It is bizarre that we need to appoint a senior counsel to tell us that Defence Forces personnel who are convicted of serious crimes like sexual offences should not be serving.

"That's not an approach that screams zero tolerance. We don't see much in the way of zero tolerance, outside of it just being a slogan.

"We learned this week that a Dublin taxi driver, Raymond Shorten, who was convicted of raping two young women, had previous convictions for sexual offences.

"One of his victims said she thought she would be safe when she held the taxi. That's what we're told is the safe option.

"The reality was she had gotten into a vehicle being driven by serial predator. Why did he have a taxi licence? Why didn't the regulator act? And how many other taxi drivers have similar convictions? Do we even know?"

Tanaiste Micheal Martin

At least the regulator the National Transport Authority actually has powers to disqualify taxi drivers convicted of serious crimes, she said.

"This isn't the case. In other professions. The Dental Council of Ireland has been begging successive governments for years to give it powers to take action against rogue dentists. But nothing has been done.

"We know at least one dentist convicted of sexual assault was able to practice in Ireland because the regulator had no power to stop them.

"Counselling services are also a wild west when it comes to regulation. Vulnerable sexual abuse victims will often seek counselling support -- yet they're exposed to unnecessary additional risk because of the complete absence of any regulation."
A complaint to the ASAI claimed the ad contained sexualised content

Conor McGregors Forged Irish Stout is among 18 brands that recently fell foul of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASAI) when it shared a sexually suggestive ad on Instagram.

A number of advertisements and social media posts were found to be in breach of the Advertising Standards Authority Code recently after complaints were made about their content, the claims made or other grounds.

Forged Irish Stout Distribution removed an advertisement shared to Instagram which showed a group of female models wearing cropped tops and high-leg hotpants drinking pints of the stout and posing around both a vehicle and a person dressed as a life-sized model of a Forged Stout can.

A complaint to the ASAI claimed the ad contained sexualised content.

It was upheld, with the ASAI committee noting the significant emphasis through the use of camera angles, on the the female models cleavage and bottoms.

It found the way the models were shown was sexually suggestive and at times objectifying, adding that they considered it an irresponsible manner in which to depict women.

A poster showing Santa Claus at a slot machine in a casino also fell short of advertising standards, with the ASAI finding the ad could be deemed to be targeted towards children as it features a character of particular appeal to them.

It also acknowledged that Jesters Casino removed the ad once made aware of the complaints.

The ASAI also recently reminded advertisers to make sure disclaimers and responsibility messages around alcohol are clear following a complaint received about a Centra ad which told consumers to enjoy alcohol sensibly.

The complaint argued the radio ad stated the disclaimer too fast, while another made about a post featuring cocktails from The Newpark Hotel said it did not include the responsibility message for alcohol advertising.

Two complaints against the website MoveHome.ie were upheld, with one advert claiming a house in the Glasnevin area was a 28-minute walk from Dublin city centre.

A complainant argued that if the Spire on OConnell Street was used for reference, it was a 50-minute walk from the house to the city centre at minimum.

The ASAI also upheld a complaint made against an ad for a commercial property by Bourke Builders when it found the advertised premises were not yet built.

Other complaints around the marketing of discount codes for a pair of jeans by website Zalando, an advertisement for a school which claimed to have Irelands Best Teachers and an ad which claimed the AA offered unlimited windscreen cover were also upheld.

There were also multiple complaints made relating to advertisements and social media posts about milk. One post, shared by Bord Bia, was ruled as misleading by the ASAI.

While the committee noted the steps taken by Irish dairy farmers to be more sustainable, the wording of a tweet had included an absolute claim to be sustainable without a qualification or evidence to show that it was, the committee ruled.

A complaint about an ad by the National Dairy Council was also upheld, with the ASAI noting that there was an absence of evidence to the absolute claim that milk was sustainably produced.
In a couple of days, we will have an updated design from our graphic designer.

Council assets and planning manager and shoreline management pathways project lead Amon Martin said the stop bank would have a height close to 1.3 metres above the existing bund and could be located at Victoria Park at the north end of the town.

The council told the Hauraki Coromandel Post what this could look like.

Thames-Coromandel District Council says a stop bank more than one metre in height will be needed at the starting point of a seawall.

The seawall set to protect Thames from flooding and rising sea level in the future is taking shape.

Concept designs to protect the Thames foreshore were presented at a public meeting in the Thames Town Hall last week.

The protection of Thames was a high priority for the council after the shoreline management project showed $1 billion in assets in the township were at risk over the long term from hazards associated with sea-level rise.

At the public meeting, project consultant Royal HaskoningDHV shared staged design options for each section of the structure.

In some sections, such as behind the PaknSave supermarket where space was limited, vertical concrete walls had been tagged as the preferred option.

The default design is for a stop bank and an indicative height of 1.3 metres has been suggested, which is what might be expected at Victoria Park.

Sian John, from Royal HaskoningDHV, says: Were designing for sea-level rise of half a metre to protect Thames against a one-in-100-year storm.

This level of storm is becoming more frequent along this coastline and puts Thames at significant risk of flooding.

A governance group, chaired by Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt, is overseeing the Thames protection work in partnership with tangata whenua Ngati Maru and the Waikato Regional Council.

As well as managing risk to the town, the project will also create room for opportunities, Martin says.

Creating bunds along this section of the foreshore will allow us to improve the coastal walkway.

Were also staying open to other types of soft structure ideas like oyster islands and shell banks on the ocean side to offer another layer of protection and create habitat for seabirds.

The next stage in the project was the detailed design work, which would include cost estimates and funding proposals.

At this stage, it's anticipated at least half the cost of the infrastructure will need to be funded by central agencies, with construction to begin in about five years, Martin says.

Also present at the public meeting were district councillors Robyn Sinclair, Peter Revell and Martin Rodley, councillor Warren Maher from Waikato Regional Council, Rob Johnston and Kishan Raikwar from the Thames Community Board, and Thames PaknSave owner Matt Heap.

Heap said at the meeting: I like the fact we have a plan, something to start with. Having foresight in a project like this is very important for business confidence, so Im pleased to see action after so much talk over the years.

Funding for the current phase of design work was allocated through the 2024-2034 Long-Term Plan.

Once the detailed design is complete, options for construction funding would be presented for further community feedback.

-Waikato Herald.
Makgabutlane says as a low-pressure system moved further away from New Zealand, some places will see early morning frost and fog before clearer skies.

Rangitaiki was the coldest recording -5.8C while Taupo dropped to -4.1C, Galatea -3.6C, Rotorua -3.2C, Desert Rd -2.5C and Kawerau -0.3C, according to MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane.

Central North Island regions dipped below freezing overnight as a wintry spell brings clear, cold conditions to most of the country.

The central parts of both islands are expected to be the cooler of the lot.

Inland we are expecting those temperatures to be in the negatives so definitely rug up for Thursday morning, says Makgabutlane.

A ridge of high pressure will start to build throughout Thursday, bringing more settled conditions, however, MetService says showers will persist throughout the day in eastern and lower parts of both islands.

The forecast for Bay of Plenty and Taupo over the next five days is for fine weather but chilly temperatures.

Rotorua will hit a high of 11C today and tomorrow and 12C on Saturday while Tauranga should see slightly warmer temperatures.

Taupo will only reach 9C today, 10C Friday and 11C over the weekend.

Over the rest of winter and beyond, forecaster Niwas three-month outlook has picked near or above-average temperatures in all regions  with fewer winter cold snaps and frosts than normal.

-Rotorua Daily Post.
Thirty civilian coastwatchers who provided invaluable - and until now unrecognised - service during the Second World War as the eyes and ears for the Allied effort in the Pacific, have received a long-awaited act of recognition at Government House in Wellington.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, presented families of 25 Pacific Islands coastwatchers - along with those of five Post and Telegraph Department coastwatchers - with certificates recognising their relations service.

For decades, civilian coastwatchers did not receive the same recognition as most of their New Zealand counterparts despite facing the same level of risk.

Any fears they may have had about their personal safety were fully justified, as they lived with the prospect of imminent Japanese invasion, says Dame Cindy Kiro.

As it happened, in 1941, Sergeant Ronald Third was taken prisoner and executed by Japanese forces, and in 1942, a further 17 coastwatchers were executed on Tarawa, along with five Allied prisoners.

Many family members brought photos of their loved ones to the ceremony.

In October 2022, the Government announced steps to formally recognise their valuable service, setting in motion work to have Service plaques attached to coastwatchers headstones, the production of an online historical record of their service and the issuing of certificates of service signed by the Governor-General.

Willie Cuthers - whose grandfather William Cuthers was a coastwatcher in the Cook Islands - played an integral part in securing this long-awaited recognition.

He says it's an honour to finally see so many families able to share in such a poignant occasion.

Its been so long, nearly 80 years since the Second World War finished. It was fitting it was in this way - with the Governor-General - and for the families, and my own family to be able to come here and be part of this is really special, says Willie.

Many family members made a point of thanking Willie for the part he played, which he says was pretty emotional for him.

25 Pacific Island and five New Zealand coastwatchers were recognised.

Thats the hard stuff, honestly. But thats what I wanted  other families to cherish their ancestors as well. Im happy.

Willie worked alongside members of the New Zealand Defence Forces Heritage Commemorations and Protocol team to help track down living relatives of coastwatchers; around 150 family members attended Tuesdays ceremony.

The NZDFs Alex Scahill says it has been a mammoth effort, but seeing families receive their forebears official recognition was a special moment.

So often, our line of work deals with historical archives and documents, delving through decades of recounted stories and details. To be able to witness the real-time impact of all this work, and seeing what it meant to so many families was incredibly humbling and special for myself and the whole team at the NZDF.

Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro delivering her remarks at the coastwatchers certificate ceremony.

Acting Chief of Navy, Commodore Andrew Brown, attended Tuesdays ceremony, along with the Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, the Cook Islands Consul General and a representative from NZ Post.

While the ceremony itself marked the final chapter for many families, the process is still open to coastwatchers who remain unrecognised.

Coastwatchers report: Read the online historical record prepared by defence historian John Crawford here, Pacific Islands Coastwatchers - New Zealand Defence Force (nzdf.mil.nz)
The design for Taurangas new $5 million waterfront playground has been released  and it includes elements inspired by schoolchildren.

The destination playground is one of 10 projects along Tauranga city centres waterfront due for completion by Christmas and is under construction at the area where the former playground was dismantled.

Designs for Tauranga's new waterfront playground along The Strand.

The new playground design narrative is inspired by the Takitimu wakas historic arrival, reflecting the cultural heritage of Maori and European settlers, and celebrating the natural harbour environment.

A council statement said it would include a central tower structure made of waka for climbing and sliding, a nature play zone, an elevated pathway that emulates the Milky Way, a water play zone with troughs and water pumps, rock walls, and mega swings. The tower will be accessible from the elevated pathway with connecting bridges to encourage rope climbing.

Elements of Maori culture have been woven into the playground design, including Matariki celestial seat designs and an etching of the Matariki star constellation on the ground.

Tauranga City Council city development and partnership general manager Gareth Wallis told the Bay of Plenty Times children at Tauranga primary schools were consulted about the playground at workshops and some of their ideas were used to inspire the design. His team worked alongside children at Bethlehem School, Greerton Village School, and Tauranga Special School to brainstorm ideas and hear what their dream playground would include.

As part of our planning process, it was essential that we engaged directly with the people who would be using the playground and listened to their ideas about what makes a playground fun.

The kids were all extremely enthusiastic and offered some great ideas that have been used in the final designs, Wallis said.

The media release quoted Bethlehem School student Ella Jones saying she was looking forward to the chatterbox seats - a designated seating area for children who want to talk to other kids.

Barnaby Adams (left), Taukehu Ngata-Malcolm, and Ella Jones of Bethlehem School.

I like the seats where, if youre lonely, you can ask to speak with someone. If youre an only child and have no one to play with, you can come and ask for someone to play with. Its like you will have a friend there. Its (chatter box seats) a great way to make friends.

Bethlehem School student Barnaby Adams was pleased that children were involved in the design process.

There are so many schools in New Zealand and were one of the schools that got to express their ideas towards [the playground] for the community. For the children, I hope [they] really enjoy it.

Wallis said playgrounds brought the community together, encouraged children to be active outdoors and created a free and safe place for them to learn and explore.

The new waterfront playground will be a destination for families all over the region to enjoy and will add to the fun and vibrancy in the city centre. Its an exciting time as the city centre transforms.

Genevieve Whitson, Mainstreet Tauranga manager, said the new playground would create more ambience and vibrancy in the city centre and it would be very exciting to see it come to fruition.

The waterfront park will provide a wonderful facility for families to enjoy the city centre in a whole new light and assist to draw more foot traffic and revenue into the city centre which can only be a positive thing.

Playground design in Tauranga

Recent playground designs are shifting from the plastic fantastic towards a more natural look and feel, using materials like wood and stone, incorporating sensory elements such as water and sand play, and emphasising inclusivity and accessibility.

These modern playgrounds often feature varied play zones, eco-friendly materials, and community-centred designs, encouraging children to engage in imaginative, physical, and co-operative play while promoting sustainability and a connection to nature.
A Western Bay of Plenty hapu wants a slip damaged road in Te Puna to remain closed because it is an incredible site of value.

Slips damaged Te Puna Station Road in the rural settlement of Te Puna in October 2022. Severe weather further eroded the area in January 2023, forcing a 600m section of the road to be closed.

Hapu are concerned for Pukewhanake Pa, which sits above the road and has been eroded by the multiple slips.

The road runs through the Te Hakao Valley, between Te Puna Road and State Highway 2, alongside the Wairoa River.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council consulted on three options for the road as part of the 2024-34 long-term plan.

Speaking at the long-term plan hearings last week, Pirirakau Tribal Authority representative Julie Shepherd said the hapu supported closing the road because the area is an incredible site of value.

One of the slips on Te Puna Station Road. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.

The Pukewhanake Pa, which sits above the road and has been eroded by multiple slips, was their primary concern, she said.

The pa is now on private property but was still a cultural asset and a site Pirirakau sought to protect, said Shepherd.

The cut face [of the pa] that's an open wound that our hapu, our kaumatua see.

So many of our kaumatua have sought and desired the restoration of that cut face.

There was an opportunity to restore it and the landowners approved of this as well, she said.

Pukewhanake Pa is at the headland of the valley and the wetland below was once an important food source for mana whenua, Pirirakau.

In the 1940s extensive earthworks occurred in the valley and the Minden Stream was diverted, draining the wetland that meets the Wairoa River, for pastoral land.

The hapu wanted the slip-damaged land alongside the river to naturally recover, said Shepherd.

Pirirakau dont want anything different than what the community wants.

Pirirakau kaumatua Neville Bidois said: We totally opposed the opening road on cultural grounds, safety grounds and cost wise.

Pirirakau kaumatua Neville Bidois said Pukewhanake Pa is one of the oldest pa in New Zealand. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive.

Pukewhanake Pa was one of the oldest in New Zealand, said Bidois.

The area held significant mana for the hapu of Ngati Ranginui Iwi, he said.

It symbolised the common ancestral, traditional and spiritual links between tipuna (ancestors) and their living descendants, said Bidois.

The pa was also a place where tipuna were buried and is considered wahi tapu (sacred).

The councils preferred option was to close the road to vehicles and relocate the shared cycleway and footpath at a cost of $1m.

Option two was to open one lane for vehicles at a cost of $2m with and yearly maintenance cost of $50,000.

The most expensive option was to open the road fully at a cost of $5m with yearly maintenance cost of $100,000.

Te Puna Heartland spokesperson Beth Bowden said the organisation had no settled opinion on its preferred option for the road.

Te Puna Heartland spokesperson Beth Bowden said there needed to be well informed consulation about the future of the road. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive.

This is not a weakness, this is a very strong indication to you of just how divisive such an issue in this community is going to be.

The organisation was advocating for close and well informed community consultation instead, said Bowden.

A citizens assembly would be a good way for the community to get an understanding of the issues surrounding the future of Te Puna Station Road, she said.

Citizens assemblies are made up of randomly selected residents and are tasked with reaching a consensus and providing recommendations, based on local and external evidence, to elected members.

Long-term plan deliberations will take place before the final plan is adopted in late September.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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Cleveland -- A Cleveland police officer and a native of Upstate New York was shot and killed early Thursday in the Ohio city while serving a felony warrant.

The officer killed was Jamieson Ritter, Cleveland.com reported Thursday. Ritter was a four-year veteran of the Cleveland Division of Police.

Ritter, 27, is originally from Webster, a community just east of Rochester. Hes a 2015 graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester.

Ritter graduated from Syracuse University in 2019 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army National Guard, police said. As a member of the Ohio Army National Guard, he served with the 134th Field Artillery Regiment, they said.

After joining the Cleveland police in November 2020, Ritter deployed to Syria in 2022 with his unit and returned to continue his service in Cleveland in 2023.

His family said Ritter grew up with a profound desire to serve his country and his community. They told the Cleveland police that from an early age, Jamieson possessed an innate understanding of selfless service to the nation and a strong desire to serve his community.

DeLawnte Hardy, 24, of Cleveland, was charged with aggravated murder following the shooting around 4 a.m. Thursday on East 80th Place in the citys Hough neighborhood.

Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy Todd said at a news conference that Ritter was among eight to 10 officers who tried to arrest Hardy Thursday morning on a felonious assault warrant.

Hardy tried to flee the scene on a bicycle, then pulled a gun and opened fire as officers gave chase, Todd said.

Ritter was shot and was rushed to University Hospitals, where he was pronounced dead, Todd said.

Hardy, who police said was uninjured, was taken to a hospital as a precaution and later released into police custody.

Today is a sad day for our city, Todd said. Ironically, on this day designated for freedom, we are reminded of the evil that tries to impose on our community.

The police chief said despite the departments pain and hurt, they take in the immense sacrifice Ritter gave, and will honor his memory and compassion.

Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com
Syracuse, N.Y.  A Franklin County man pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to selling pounds of marijuana in exchange for a shoebox full of pistols.

He made the deal with an undercover cop in Massena and was arrested immediately after, an agent from the Bureau of U.S. Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms said in a criminal complaint.

Joseph Thompson, 37, of Hogansburg, is facing up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Fulton, N.Y.  Police are searching for an Oswego County teen who has been missing for more than two weeks.

Adriana N. Holley, 17, was last seen June 16 when she left her home in Fulton, state troopers said in a news release.

She had contact with her mother a day later on social media, police said. She is known to visit Syracuse and Fulton.

Adriana is 5-foot-3, weighs 130 pounds and has brown hair.

State police asks anyone with information to contact them at 315- 366-6000.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com.
Neva Pilgrim, recognized as the driving force behind Cazenovia Counterpoint, will be present only in memory this summer. Her death in January left a void in the arts community of Central New York, where she spearheaded the festival and Syracuse Society for New Music, which sponsors it. To honor her legacy, Cazenovia Counterpoint, which takes place in multiple village venues throughout July, will maintain its traditional focus on all the expressive arts and will continue Pilgrims emphasis on showcasing new talent.

Pilgrim, a world-renowned soprano and beloved voice teacher, was the essential energy and visionary who brought together a team of creative volunteers each year to manage the multi-event festival. Counterpoints roots reach back to 1981, when classical music lovers hosted chamber groups on porches. It has grown to include opportunities for area artists to display their talent in visual, musical and poetic arts.

New to Counterpoint this year is an outdoor interactive performance of In C, created in 1964 by Terry Reilly, a pioneer of minimalistic music. This performance will be a collaboration with Music for People, a social improvisation group that offers workshops and events in communities throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. This free event will take place in Lakeland Park July 16 at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to use the 60th anniversary celebration to write, draw, paint or simply relax by the water.

As the planning board for the festival transitions in leadership and deals with the loss of large performance spaces after the closing of Cazenovia College, members have not scheduled a large scale production, such as an opera, this year. Major concerts will, however, take place July 13 and 20 at 7 p.m. in the Cazenovia First Presbyterian Church. These are the only ticketed events, with general admission prices at $20, with senior citizens paying $15, and anyone under 18 or students with I.D. admitted free.

The July 13 concert, Music for Trombone and Organ, will feature Hohenfels Trombone Quartet and organist Amanda Mole. The program will be comprised of works by Charles Ives, Jack Courtwright, Ewa Fabianska-Jelinska, Arvo Part, Natalie Draper, Nico Muhly, Salvatore Sciarratta, and Zsolt Gardonyi.

On July 20, Highlights from Visions of Sound will feature the music of Paul Leary, chair of the music department at SUNY Oswego University; Daniel Thomas Davis, who teaches at Binghamton University, and other contemporary composers. Leary is known for his works in electronic and game music, often composing for instruments he constructs by hand. Daviss music explores the intricacies and idiosyncrasies of the human voice, according to his website. His operas and choral works have been performed throughout the South, where he has his roots, and by major symphonies and ensembles throughout the world.

Visual artists have already submitted their creations to the juried art show curated by Sherry Spano Allen. Art work is displayed at business and public buildings throughout the village. New this year will be a best of show vote with the winning art to be auctioned by the Society for New Music to launch its fundraising campaign honoring Pilgrim, who founded the organization with others in 1971.

A free meditative experience with Leigh Parry-Benedict is scheduled for July 9 at 6 p.m. in Lakeland Park. It is intended to offer many of the same benefits of a yoga practice, with participants immersed in the healing vibrations of Celestial Gong, Tibetan singing bowls, Alchemy and frosted crystal singing bowls, and other curated healing instruments. Participants may sit or use yoga mats.

Also on July 9, at 7:30 p.m., a poetry round robin will be hosted by David Hitchcock in the yard at 36 Albany St. Artist receptions that feature various performers at 5 p.m. at St. Peters Episcopal Church are as follows: July 11, Nick Abelgore; July 13, CNY Jazz Youth Orchestra; July 18, Avenue J; and July 20, Doc. Woods and Friends.

Highlighting the achievements of young musicians, the festival has scheduled two opportunities for the pubic to hear the music of area rising stars. The first is July 7, featuring Joanna Ray, flute, a senior at West Genesee High School; Heather Buchanan-Wise, violin, a senior at Holland Patent, now in her third year as a Rising Star; and composer Jaclyn Breeze. The second is July 18 and features home-schooled senior Michael Guarneiri performing a newly-composed piece on the organ. Both concerts are curated by Shar-Shalom Strong at the First Presbyterian Church beginning at 6 p.m.

The culminating concert will present works by student musicians who have completed this years Young Composers Corner, facilitated by local composer/performer/teacher Christopher Cresswell. The Society for New Music Players will perform the student compositions at First Presbyterian Church July 21 at 2 p.m.

Schedules that list all events and venues are available at societyfornewmusic.org.Students may also use the website to sign up for Young Composers Corner.
West Monroe, N.Y.  Mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus were found in Oswego County for the first time this year.

The infected mosquito sample was taken from Toad Harbor Swamp in West Monroe, county health officials said in a news release Wednesday.

The health department is advising residents to limit outdoor activities between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are more active, and to wear protective clothing.
Counting Crows, best known for hits like Mr. Jones and Round Here, will perform three concerts across Upstate New York this summer.

The alt-rock band will perform solo at the Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B in Buffalo, NY on Tuesday, July 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Theyll then co-headline two shows with Carlos Santanas rock band at the Bethel Woods Center For The Arts in Bethel, NY on Thursday, July 18 and Syracuses very own Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview on Wednesday, July 24. Both concerts start at 7:00 p.m.

The two latter concerts are a part of Counting Crows and Santanas 2024 Oneness Tour, which kicked off on June 14 in Hollywood, FL and will conclude on September 2 in Phoenix, AZ.

Related: Summer concerts in Upstate NY: A huge list of shows for 2024 (tickets, info)

Santana will be reviving the 70s by celebrating the 25th anniversary of their eighteenth studio album, Supernatural, all tour long, while Counting Crows promises to pair 90s nostalgia with new hits.

A complete list of Oneness Tour dates is available here.

Where to buy Counting Crows concert tickets

Tuesday, July 9 - Outer Harbor Live at Terminal B

General admission tickets can be purchased through the venue at SeeTickets, starting at $71.45 after fees.

Tickets are also available on resale platforms like Vivid Seats and StubHub.

Thursday, July 18 - Bethel Woods Center For The Arts

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, starting at $54.90 after fees for lawn general admission.

Tickets are also available at a slight discount on resale platforms like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and StubHub.

Wednesday, July 24 - Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmasters Live Nation, starting at $55.35 after fees for lawn general admission.

Tickets are also available at a slight discount on resale platforms like Vivid Seats, SeatGeek and StubHub.
Join NY Cannabis Insider for its next industry meetup in NYC on Aug. 13, 2024. Tickets available now.

This guest column is from Matthew Krupp, the co-founder of Canterra, Western New Yorks first cannabis e-commerce platform and delivery service. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of NY Cannabis Insider.

In the three years since the passage of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), the cannabis industry and communities across New York have faced frustrating and uneven results.

As the owner of Canterra, Western New Yorks first cannabis e-commerce and delivery platform, Ive struggled against numerous obstacles, the most pressing being the impending expiration of our Temporary Delivery Operator (TDO) license, which the state has repeatedly denied extending.

This is unacceptable. Our TDO license is crucial to keeping Canterra in business. Without it, we are forced to shut our doors. Despite the challenges, we initially felt grateful for the opportunity provided by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). However, the lack of guidance and communication from this organization has been nothing short of infuriating. We are trying to help further the goals of the MRTA, but the OCM seems determined to undermine our efforts at every turn.

Over the past year, Canterra has created 45 jobs, contributed millions to local economies through taxes and farm revenue, and delivered legal, safe cannabis to 10,000 customers across the region. With a simple decision, the OCM could help us continue this positive impact. Instead, they are opting to shut us down, leading to the loss of every job we created in just a month.

These jobs support families and contribute significantly to local economies around WNY. The 40 farmers who rely on our partnerships will have to collect the $250,000 worth of product we currently hold, losing a vital income source. This disruption will ripple through their operations, potentially causing severe financial harm.



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Furthermore, our customers, many of whom lack access to dispensaries, will likely return to the grey market, supporting the very unregulated shops we have been fighting to shut down. This regression destroys the progress weve made in promoting a legal and safe cannabis market. The state is taking steps backwards.

To add insult to injury, we were ready to start construction on our retail store in December 2023, but political interference forced us to relocate, making us restart the entire process. We still havent begun construction due to this and the litigation delays caused by injunctions levied against the OCM.

I would also point out that the Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary delivery guidance explicitly states that TDO licenses expire after 12 months unless granted an extension. Why mention the possibility of extensions if there was no intention to allow them? This misleading guidance has caused unnecessary confusion and distress for operators like us who have been desperately trying to comply and thrive under this constantly changing landscape.

Adding to the inconsistency, the OCM granted pre-operational conditional dispensaries an additional window to complete construction due to enhanced regional options and unforeseen litigation delays that prevented them from becoming operational. We are in the same position, yet no extension is being offered to us. This double standard is not only unfair but also detrimental to the very objectives the MRTA aims to achieve.

The OCMs refusal to communicate or collaborate is appalling. The legal cannabis industry is still in its infancy. We could have worked together to build a thriving, regulated market. Instead, the OCMs negligence and obstruction are driving us out of business.

The potential benefits of extending our TDO license far outweigh any imagined or perceived drawbacks. By allowing Canterra to continue operating, the OCM would not only preserve jobs and support local farmers, but also reinforce the MRTAs objectives of establishing a regulated and safe cannabis market.

Despite the initial opportunities, the OCMs complete lack of communication and support feels like a betrayal. Our commitment to the MRTAs goals remains strong, but the OCMs actions are making it impossible to succeed. We deserve  and demand  better.

We hope that by voicing our frustration, the OCM and other stakeholders will realize the critical importance of businesses like Canterra. With the OCMs support, we could continue to create jobs, support local economies, and provide safe, legal cannabis to our community. Its time for the OCM to step up and fulfill their responsibilities to the industry and the people of New York.
There are lots of great festivals around Central New York. But few are so accessible, so universal and so excellent as Syracuse Jazz Fest, which celebrated its 38th year of music last weekend in Clinton Square.

Were glad to see it back in Syracuse, thriving in a place where jazz fits most naturally: the center of downtown.

Year after year, founder Frank Malfitano and his outfit of volunteers and skeleton staff treat us to acts that travel the world playing anything from country to R&B to rockabilly to, of course, jazz. Its free, and has been since it started in 1982.

The list of legendary musicians who have visited Syracuse thanks to Jazz Fest is jaw-dropping.

Ray Charles. Gladys Knight. Aretha Franklin. B.B. King. Chick Corea. Bela Fleck. Trombone Shorty. Todd Rundgren. Dave Brubeck. Dizzy Gillespie. Blood, Sweat & Tears. Doobie Brothers. Spyro Gyra. Lake Street Dive. And so many more.

This last weekend, it was Kenny G making his third trek to the Jazz Fest stage. Malfitano himself escorted the smooth sax king through the crowd and onto the stage in Clinton Square. The music moved one woman in the front row to tears.

Saturday brought the oldies of the OJays to town. Forty years ago, Betty Stephens saw them perform at the Syracuse War Memorial. She was sitting in the front row. Eddie Levert, the bands lead singer, reached out to her, grabbed her hand and sang Let Me Make Love to You.

Last Saturday, less than a week removed from her 71st birthday, Stephens came downtown from her North Side home and watched again from the front rows as the OJays played that favorite song.

It was just beautiful. It did something to my heart, she said. Music brings people together, and it was just beautiful. I cant thank (Malfitano) enough for making that happen.

Betty Stephens of Syracuse was among the thousands who packed Clinton Square on Saturday night to see the O'Jays close out the 2024 Syracuse Jazz Fest. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com)

Jazz Fest remains an invaluable gift to this city  something a lot of towns our size dont get to enjoy. Its the kind of event we can point to as we try to attract new, smart, young people to move here over the coming years.

It brings out the best of us: Business executives alongside vagabonds, suburban folk alongside city dwellers, young amid old, all united by music and place.

It represents everything a great, growing city should be. Its longevity and enduring quality are rare. Theyre a testament to the time and care dedicated by Malfitano and the stewards of this community jewel, and were lucky to claim it as our own.

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Washington  A defiant President Joe Biden vowed Wednesday to keep running for reelection, rejecting growing pressure from Democrats to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness to keep campaigning, much less win in November.

But increasingly ominous signs were mounting for the president. Two Democratic lawmakers have called on Biden to exit the race while a leading ally publicly suggested how the party might choose someone else. And senior aides said they believed he might only have a matter of days to show he was up to the challenge before anxiety in the party boils over.

Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running  no ones pushing me out, Biden said on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

Still, despite his efforts to pull multiple levers  whether it was his impromptu appearance with campaign aides, private conversations with senior lawmakers, a weekend blitz of travel and a network television interview  to salvage his faltering reelection, Biden was confronting serious and mounting indications that support for him was rapidly eroding on Capitol Hill and among other allies.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., told The New York Times that though he backs Biden as long as he is a candidate, this is an opportunity to look elsewhere and what Biden needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Senior aides said they believe the 81-year-old Biden has just a matter of days to mount a convincing display of his fitness for office before his partys panic over his debate performance and anger about his response boils over, according to two people with knowledge who insisted on anonymity to more freely discuss The president accepts the urgency of the task  having reviewed the polling and mountains of media coverage  but he is convinced he can do that in the coming days and insistent that he will not step out of the race, the aides said.

Meanwhile, a major Democratic donor, Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, also called on the president to exit the race, saying, Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous. The statement was first reported by The New York Times.

And all that followed Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden friend and confidant, saying hed back a mini-primary in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race. The South Carolina Democrat floated an idea that appeared to be laying the groundwork for alternative choices by delegates during the Democrats planned virtual roll call that is scheduled before the more formal party convention set to begin Aug. 19 in Chicago.

On CNN, Clyburn said Vice President Kamala Harris, governors and others could join the competition: It would be fair to everybody.

Clyburn, a senior lawmaker who is a former member of his partys House leadership team, said he has not personally seen the president act as he did on the debate stage last week and called it concerning.

And even as other Democratic allies have remained quiet since Thursdays debate, there is a growing private frustration about the Biden campaigns response to his disastrous debate performance at a crucial moment in the campaign  particularly in Biden waiting several days to do direct damage control with senior members of his own party.

One Democratic aide said the lacking response has been worse than the debate performance itself, saying lawmakers who support Biden want to see him directly combatting the concerns about his stamina in front of reporters and voters. The aide was granted anonymity to candidly discuss interparty dynamics.

Most Democratic lawmakers are taking a wait-and-see approach with Biden, though, holding out for a better idea of how the situation plays out through new polling and Bidens scheduled ABC News interview, according to Democratic lawmakers who requested anonymity to speak bluntly about the president.

When Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who called on Biden to leave the race this week, shopped around his move for support from other Democratic lawmakers, he had no takers and eventually issued a statement on his own, according to a person familiar with the effort granted anonymity to discuss it.

But there was also a sense that the waiting period will soon expire if Biden does not step up his outreach to Capitol Hill or prove otherwise that hes up to the job.

Some suggested Harris was emerging as the favorite to replace Biden if he were to withdraw, although those involved in private discussions acknowledge that Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan remain viable alternatives. But for some insiders, Harris is viewed as the best prospect to quickly unify the party and avoid a messy and divisive convention fight.

Even as pressure around Biden mounted, he and Harris made a surprise appearance on an all-staff reelection campaign call and offered a pep talk. They stressed how important it was to beat former President Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee, in November and returned to Bidens previous post-debate vow that when he gets knocked down, he gets up again.

Just as we beat Donald Trump in 2020, were going to beat him again in 2024, said Biden, who told participants that he would not be dragged out of the race. Harris added: We will not back down. We will follow our presidents lead. We will fight, and we will win.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked during her briefing with reporters whether Biden would consider stepping down. Absolutely not, she said.

I cannot lay out something that would change the presidents mind, Jean-Pierre said about Biden continuing to seek a second term. She added that he is clear-eyed. And he is staying in the race.

Still, Democrats are unsatisfied with the explanations of Bidens debate performance, from both White House staff and the president himself. And there is a deeper frustration among some in the party who feel that Biden should have handled questions about his stumbling debate performance much sooner and that he has put them in a difficult position by staying in the race.

The Leadership Now Project, a group of business executives, academics and thought leaders, said in a letter that the threat of a second Trump term is great enough that Biden should pass the torch of this years presidential nomination to the next generation of highly capable Democrats.

Trumps campaign issued a statement noting that every Democrat now calling on the president to quit was once a supporter of Biden.

Trump had a slight lead over Biden in two polls of voters conducted after last weeks debate. One poll, conducted by SSRS for CNN, found that three-quarters of voters  including more than half of Democratic voters  said the party has a better chance of winning the presidency in November with a candidate other than Biden.

About 7 in 10 voters, and 45% of Democrats, said Bidens physical and mental ability is a reason to vote against him, according to the CNN/SSRS poll.

And about 6 in 10 voters, including about one-quarter of Democrats, said reelecting Biden would be a risky choice for the country rather than a safe one, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. That poll found that Democrats were split on whether Biden should remain the nominee.

Biden campaign pollster Molly Murphy said todays polling doesnt fundamentally change the course of the race.

In a further effort to boost morale, Biden chief of staff Jeff Zients urged White House aides during an all-staff meeting to tune out the noise and focus on the task of governing.

Biden himself began making personal outreach on his own, speaking privately with senior Democratic lawmakers such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons and Clyburn.

Among the Democratic governors who were planning to attend in person were Tim Walz of Minnesota, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, Newsom, Whitmer, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Daniel McKee of Rhode Island, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, John Carney of Delaware and Wes Moore of Maryland, according to their aides. Govs. Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Jay Inslee of Washington, Jared Polis of Colorado, Tina Kotek of Oregon and Phil Murphy of New Jersey were planning on attending virtually. Harris will also attend the session with governors.
WTF?! The cybercriminal group that infected Indonesia's Temporary National Data Center (PDNS) with a strain of malware has freely released the decryption key to the government and apologized. The hackers think that this act of generosity shouldn't go unrewarded, though, and are asking for public donations that can be deposited into a crypto account.

On June 20, Indonesia's Temporary National Data Center (PDNS), which is operated by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, was compromised by a variant of the LockBit 3.0 malware called Brain Cipher.

At least 210 institutions were impacted and some of the country's services faced severe disruption as a result of the attack, but the main talking point was how 98% of the government data stored in one of the two compromised data centers had not been backed up.

The hackers demanded 131 billion Rupiah, or around $8 million, for the decryption key, which the government said it would not be paying.

Now, the group has apologized for its actions and handed over the decryption key  a 54 kb ESXi file  without receiving any ransom money.

In a statement posted by intelligence company Stealth Mole, the hackers said sorry for the fact the attack affected everyone.

Ransomware gang Brain Cipher announced they'll release decryption keys for free this Wednesday. They emphasized the need for cybersecurity funding and specialists. Apologies to Indonesia for the disruption. They request public acknowledgment of their decision. pic.twitter.com/FNNg0YsoAp  Fusion Intelligence Center @ StealthMole (@stealthmole_int) July 1, 2024

The group added that the incident made it clear how important it is to finance the industry and recruit qualified specialists. It claims that the attack did not have a political context, and that it was acting as a penetration tester with post payment. It also said that if the government felt it wrong to thank the hackers for their incredible generosity, then citizens could leave a donation via the included monero wallet address.

In a separate statement posted on a dark web account, the hackers wrote that this is the first and last time one of its victims will receive a decryption key for free. It also boasted that "the attack was so easy that it took us very little time to unload the data and encrypt several thousand terabytes of information."

"Brain Cipher" Distributes Decryption Keys for Free



They released an additional statement on their dark web site with answers to seven popular questions. It includes reasons for attacking the data center and thanking the citizens of Indonesia for their patience, among other pic.twitter.com/ngv1HH848i  Fusion Intelligence Center @ StealthMole (@stealthmole_int) July 3, 2024

News that the data centers relied on Windows Defender and the lack of backups shocked the nation. Indonesia's president Joko Widodo ordered an audit on government data centers following the attack, and there are calls for communications and informatics minister Budi Arie Setiadi to resign.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and executive chair, is making another major stock sale. He recently filed plans to sell an additional 25 million shares of Amazon (AMZN) worth roughly $5 billion.

Record Stock Price Triggers Sale

The sale notification came after the stock market closed on Tuesday, the same day Amazon's share price reached its highest point. The filing allows for the potential execution of the sale as early as the same day it was submitted.

The latest move follows Bezos' previous stock sale in February 2024, where he offloaded shares valued at $8.5 billion over nine days. This latest sale, when finalized, will bring his total for the year to an estimated $13.5 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Despite the significant sales, Bezos will still retain a substantial ownership stake in Amazon. After completing this latest sale, he is expected to hold approximately 912 million shares, representing roughly 8.8% of the company's outstanding stock. According to Bloomberg's wealth index, Bezos is currently the world's second-richest person, boasting a net worth of $221.6 billion.

Amazon Stock Soars on Cloud Computing Growth

Amazon's stock price has witnessed a significant surge of 32% year-to-date. This upward trend is likely fueled by investor optimism surrounding the company's cloud computing business (Amazon Web Services) and its potential to benefit from the growing field of generative AI technology.

Bezos' recent relocation from Seattle to Miami in November 2023 may be another factor influencing his stock sale decisions. In 2022, the state of Washington implemented a 7% capital gains tax, a levy not present in Florida. This move could potentially save Bezos hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes.

Bezos' Amazon Holdings

While the reasons behind these substantial stock sales remain undisclosed, Bezos still holds a significant ownership stake in Amazon, as per The Economic Times report. Only time will tell how his future financial decisions will impact his position within the company.

In other news, Business Insider reported that Bezos called out SpaceX's launches. He urged the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to limit them, but Elon Musk found it concerning.

The report said that Blue Origin was aware of SpaceX's frequent rocket launches and their impact on the environment. But Musk hit back at Bezos, stating that Origin should be sued.

To remedy the problem, Blue Origin left some recommendations that SpaceX can follow, including imposing a cap on the operations of Super Heavy launches. This would minimize the impact on the environment and communities.
Cloudflare offers a free solution to stop bots from scraping websites for AI model training data.

Google, OpenAI, and Apple allow website owners to stop their data-scraping bots by editing robots.txt; however, Cloudflare noted that not all AI scrapers follow this advice.

Cloudflare, a publicly listed cloud service company, said customers do not want AI bots accessing their websites, especially fraud. It said that certain AI businesses that aim to bypass content controls will keep adapting to avoid bot detection, per TechCrunch.

Cloudflare evaluated AI bots and crawler traffic to improve its automatic bot detection algorithms for this issue. These algorithms assess if an AI bot wants to look and act like a human web browser user.

Cloudflare said malicious actors employ fingerprintable tools and frameworks to crawl websites at scale. Based on these characteristics, our algorithms can identify evasive AI bot traffic as bots." It also allows hosts to report suspicious AI bots and crawlers, which will be manually banned.

AI Bots are an Increasing Security Risk

With the growth of generative AI, AI bots are increasing, boosting training data requirements. Fearing AI merchants will use their content without permission or remuneration, several websites restrict AI scrapers and crawlers. Research shows over 600 news publishers and 26% of the top 1,000 websites have turned off OpenAI's bot.

Blocking is not always reliable. According to reports, some manufacturers break AI bot exclusion regulations to gain an edge. People have accused Perplexity of impersonating real visitors to scrape content, while OpenAI and Anthropic have violated robots.txt regulations.

If they can discover hidden AI bots, Cloudflare's tools may be helpful. However, they do not solve the larger issue of publishers losing referral traffic from AI tools like Google's AI Overviews, which exclude sites that restrict specific AI crawlers.

Recently, Cloudflare released its 2024 State of Application Security Report. The analysis shows how security teams struggle to handle the dangers of contemporary apps, which power many popular websites.

Read Also : Pentagon to Launch Supercomputer Cloud Service for US Military, Enhancing Remote Access

The analysis reveals that software supply chain challenges, DDoS attacks, and malicious bots overwhelm professional application security teams.

In the digital age, e-commerce transactions, safe healthcare data exchange, and daily mobile activities require web apps and APIs. As these apps become more popular, cyberattacks become more likely.

The rapid development of new features, like generative AI, increases the attack surface. According to the report, unprotected apps may disrupt business, cost money, and destroy vital infrastructure.

Cloudflare co-founder and CEO Matthew Prince noted that online apps used daily for important tasks are "rarely built with security in mind," exposing them to hackers. The company highlighted that it prevents 209 billion cyber attacks per day for its clients.

No AI Bots Allowed on Reddit

In a similar move, Reddit recently announced that it will prohibit most automated bots from utilizing its data without a license.

Mashable reported that Reddit plans to change its robots.txt file to restrict web spiders. The platform targets AI businesses that scrape the web to train their models, disregarding copyright or site terms of service.

In a blog post, Reddit explained that "good faith actors" such as scholars and the Internet Archive can still access its information for non-commercial purposes.
Figma AI's artificial intelligence-powered application designing feature, dubbed "Make Design," has reportedly been taken down by its developers after users found that it produced application mockups that closely resembled existing software.

As noted on X, Make Design produces mockups that resemble Apple apps. In one instance, a weather app submitted to Make Design produced a prototype nearly identical to Apple's Weather app.

In an X post, Figma CEO Dylan Field claimed that "Make Design" combines commercially available learning modules with design systems they commissioned to be utilized by these models, explaining why the feature resulted in knockoffs.

When asked if Make Design received direct training from Apple's app designs, sources allegedly questioned Figma CTO Kris Rasmussen; Rasmussen could not respond definitively.

Make Design's AI Models

Rasmussen claims that the two main AI models behind Make Designs are Titan Image Generator G1 from Amazon and GPT-4o from OpenAI.

Suppose Figma didn't develop its AI tools. In that case, models from OpenAI and Amazon are still generating clones of Apple apps, reportedly suggesting that the models were likely trained on Apple designs. Neither OpenAI nor Amazon immediately responded to a request for comment.

Rasmussen said that if Figma was transparent with its consumers about its AI training policies, unveiled last week, it wouldn't want to do any training to enhance its features. Users are now given until August 15th to choose whether or not to consent to Figma using their content for training purposes as part of those policies.

AI Training Data Lawsuits

AI training continues to be controversial, as most legal cases point out that AI-powered applications use copyrighted work when training to generate their "own" content. Fortunately for Figma AI, no lawsuits have yet to claim their app is doing the same, although users have already caught their "Make Design" feature.

The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA), on behalf of Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Records, recently filed a complaint claiming that Figma AI may end up similar to Udio and Sunio's AI-powered music generators, both of which purportedly train on copyrighted work.

The RIAA claims that certain tracks sound too much like contemporary popular music. Okay, so it says that Udio's generator has songs that sound a lot like The Beach Boys' "I Get Around" and Abba's "Dancing Queen" and that Suno has composed music that samples Jerry Lee Lewis's "Great Balls of Fire" and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B."

The RIAA seeks $150,000 for each song infringed. When asked if there was any potential infringement, Suno and Udio claimed that the information was proprietary to the corporation. Many artificial intelligence companies have argued that using data to train their models is fair usage rather than a violation of copyright.

According to a statement from RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier, unlicensed companies like Suno and Udio assert that it is "fair" to replicate an artist's life's work and utilize it for profit without providing them with credit or permission.
Telegram's Stars in-app currency is now more useful than ever. Creators can now share content on the messaging platform, and while users pay to see the content using Stars, channels can convert it into cryptocurrency.

The chat app reportedly enables channels to exchange their existing stars for Toncoin, the cryptocurrency Telegram uses on the blockchain of The Open Network (TON). Alternatively, they might use them to obtain savings for promotions through channels.

In the beginning, the company used Stars to pay for digital products supplied by Telegram bots and apps. Content providers can now publish material that users can access by earning Stars.

Additionally, channel owners can use the Fragment platform to withdraw Stars from the app and exchange them for Toncoin. Toncoin users can transfer money to their bank account and trade cryptocurrencies on various platforms. Telegram has begun auctioning off usernames on the TON blockchain through this gateway.

Channel owners have an alternative: they can use Stars to obtain discounts on advertisements that they can use to advertise their channels.

Telegram and Crypto

Telegram allegedly uses cryptocurrency to increase revenue without selling user data or worrying about governmental scrutiny. Thanks to Telegram's end-to-end encryption, no outside party can access user data. However, as a result, it has been unable to control content and create an ad-based economy.

The Telegram Open Network (TON) was initially developed by Telegram, but the project was shelved due to legal concerns. Renaming The Open Network and introducing Toncoin, the TON Foundation started working on the blockchain again to protect the technology.

If it is successful, sources imply that Telegram might develop into a "super app" without improving its behavior. However, this has more ramifications than making the dark web accessible to the general public. Criminals and extremists who host well-known channels may be compensated in cryptocurrency for their work.

Telegram's Encryption Security

Additionally, concerns regarding the security of the messaging app were sparked by a social media interview with Telegram founder Pavel Durov that went viral.

In a highly shared X video, Durov tells Tucker Carlson that he is Telegram's only product manager and has "about 30 engineers" under his charge.

Security experts are concerned about Durov's remarks because they may reveal users' identities. According to Johns Hopkins cryptography expert Matthew Green, Telegram presents a "security nightmare" because of its ugly targets, UAE servers, and lack of end-to-end encryption.

Green means Telegram's default chats aren't end-to-end encrypted, unlike Signal or WhatsApp. Durov's brother created the encryption technology used by Telegram, which has been called into doubt over time. End-to-end encryption can only be enabled by users starting a "Secret Chat."

Although the organization has access to a large amount of user data, Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, asserts that thirty engineers are not enough to solve content moderation and misuse issues.
Mental health issues were the leading cause of hospitalizations for active-duty US military personnel in 2023, according to recent reports from the Defense Health Agency. This trend started in 2009 but has shown improvements over the past three years.

Mental Health Is Leading Causes of Troops' Hospitalizations

While musculoskeletal injuries remain the top reason service members visit medical facilities, mental health conditions are the primary cause of overnight hospital stays.

Epidemiologists from the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division analyzed all medical appointments and hospitalizations among troops in 2023 before reaching these findings.

In 2023, active-duty service members were hospitalized approximately 62,806 times. Nearly one-third of these hospitalizations, or 31%, were due to mental health treatment.

For men, the leading diagnoses were adjustment disorders and alcohol abuse. For women, the most common diagnoses were adjustment disorders and major depressive disorder.

According to the Military, the median hospital stay for mental health issues among military personnel in 2023 was five days, with some staying as long as 34 days.

Prioritizing Mental Health

The mental health of US service members has been a primary concern for the Defense Department since the late 2000s. This focus intensified as suicide rates increased not only among active-duty personnel but also in the National Guard and reserves.

Before 2008, military service was a protective factor against suicide, with rates lower among troops than the general US population. However, since that year, suicide rates among service members have steadily increased despite significant prevention efforts by the military and the Defense Department.

Mental health plays a vital role in the Defense Department's suicide prevention strategy. According to the researchers, understanding the various mental health diagnoses and hospitalizations is essential for creating effective policies.

They emphasized that accurately assessing the health status of the armed forces is crucial for predicting healthcare needs and costs, prioritizing treatments, and evaluating their effectiveness and cost-efficiency.

Out of the 14 million medical visits and hospitalizations that troops had in 2023, nearly 20% were related to mental health. That is a 3% increase from 2018, which the researchers also believe might be due to access to free medical care and training requirements.

Despite this, injuries were still the primary reason service members visited doctors. Injuries made up nearly a quarter of all medical visits by active-duty personnel last year, with back issues being the most common complaint. Knee problems and arm and shoulder injuries followed.

Sleep disorders were the fourth most frequent issue, with other musculoskeletal problems also prevalent. Anxiety, "ill-defined" symptoms, adjustment and mood disorders, and foot and ankle pain rounded out the top 10 reasons for troops seeking medical attention in 2023.

The researchers noted the link between mental and physical health, especially regarding back pain, and suggested that military providers should adopt a holistic approach to treatment.

They urged military medical leadership to use holistic, integrated approaches to care that consider the unique health challenges faced by service members in training and combat, as well as the interplay between military and civilian healthcare systems, better to meet the needs of military personnel and veterans.
In Queensland, Australia, a recent investigation by the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) has uncovered troubling issues with sperm donations. Nearly half of all audited samples-about 42%-were found to have errors.

These included lost or incorrectly labeled samples and problems with storage and handling that affected sample quality. As a result, thousands of sperm donations are now set to be discarded due to these identification errors.

The findings raise concerns about the management and oversight of sperm donation processes in Queensland, prompting calls for improved quality control measures to prevent such errors in the future.

Troubling Issues With Sperm Donations in Australia

The health ombudsman's report outlines issues such as identification mix-ups, loss of viability of gametes or embryos, or suspected deterioration beyond accepted laboratory standards, making them unfit for use.

The investigation scrutinized services offered by more than 24 licensed assisted reproductive technology (ART) providers in Queensland. Mix-ups like these can profoundly impact both parents and donor-conceived children.

According to Interesting Engineering, such errors can deny access to crucial genetic and medical information and, in rare cases, may even result in unintended instances of incest.

Queensland hosts a thriving in-vitro fertilization (IVF) industry, with an increasing number of Australians turning to fertility treatments, including sperm donation. Official statistics indicate that one in every six Australian couples faces challenges when starting a family.

Read Also : New IVF Regulation Protects Patients From Expensive And Potentially Dangerous Fertility Add-Ons

Impact on Patients

Many couples face challenges in starting families, influenced by factors such as delaying parenthood, aspirations of same-sex couples to have children, or medical conditions hindering natural conception.

Yet, these challenges highlight a broader issue: the fertility industry operates with minimal external regulation. State laws governing these clinics are non-existent. This lack of oversight has led to troubling practices, including the use of substandard sperm, lapses in error reporting, and delays in informing patients about mistakes.

The recent report revealed troubling practices within certain IVF clinics. Patients reported not being informed about the medical histories of donors, mix-ups involving eggs and embryos, and improper use of sperm.

These errors resulted in at least one family unknowingly having children with different biological fathers. Following the investigation's findings, authorities recommended disposing of all preserved donor material that does not meet current identification standards.

This directive is expected to destroy thousands of frozen sperm samples. In particular, frozen samples dating back before 2020 were classified as "high risk" due to the absence of double witnessing by two IVF doctors to ensure the correct labeling of patient materials.

The report highlighted the profound impact on patients and donor-conceived children affected by mix-ups of gametes. The emotional distress and trauma reported in complaints to the OHO underscore the seriousness of these incidents.

Providers of assisted reproductive technology are urged to offer appropriate counseling to help patients and their families navigate the emotional challenges arising from uncertainties about parentage and genetic origins. These errors can have long-lasting implications for families affected by such incidents.
The discovery of a flaking image of three human-like figures around a large red pig in a cave in Indonesia marks the world's oldest known narrative artwork, dating back 51,200 years.

Novel Laser Technique Unearths an Ancient Artwork

AFP reported that the team, led by Maxime Aubert, an archaeologist at Australia's Griffith University, identified this ancient artwork using a novel laser technique.

Aubert noted that this find surpasses previous records, including a hunting scene discovered in an Indonesian cave in 2019, estimated to be around 44,000 years old.

The discovery pushes back the timeline of sophisticated human expression in art, suggesting that storytelling has been a part of human culture for much longer than previously thought.

To date the artwork, the researchers employed a new method involving lasers and computer software to create a precise map of rock samples. This laser ablation technique proved more accurate, quicker, and cost-effective than the previous uranium series method.

When testing this new approach on the earlier record-holding artwork, they found it to be at least 48,000 years old, 4,000 years older than previously determined.

The new laser method was applied to an undated painting discovered in a cave on Indonesia's Sulawesi island in 2017. The results revealed the painting to be at least 51,200 years old, thus setting a new record.

Although the painting was found to be in poor condition, the researchers were still able to identify three human-like figures surrounding a wild pig.

Read Also : Archaeologists Discover Over 6,000 Sacrificed Animal Bones at Iron Age Site in Spain

Where Did These Ancient Paintings Come From?

While the exact activities of the figures remain speculative, Aubert suggests that these paintings were likely created by the first humans who migrated through Southeast Asia before reaching Australia around 65,000 years ago.

The discovery raises intriguing questions about the early use of art in human societies. Humans first evolved in Africa more than 300,000 years ago, and the earliest known images made by humans are simple lines and patterns in ochre in South Africa, dating back 100,000 years.

However, there was a vast gap between human art and Indonesian cave paintings, which emerged 50,000 years later. Aubert pondered why such ancient art is not more widespread, speculating that artwork elsewhere might not have survived or that more ancient art is yet to be unearthed.

The earlier belief was that narrative art first appeared in Europe. The "lion man" statue, discovered in Germany and dated back to around 40,000 years ago, was thought to be among the earliest examples.

The much older date given for the Indonesian cave art challenges this view, suggesting that representational art might have originated in Africa before 50,000 years ago and spread as humans migrated.

Chris Stringer, an anthropologist at London's Natural History Museum who was not involved in the research, told AFP that the findings appear solid but need further confirmation through additional dating. He suggested that this discovery supports the idea that representational art began in Africa and spread with human migration.
The Deep Space Network's Goldstone planetary radar recently observed asteroids 2024 MK and 2011 UL21 as they safely passed by Earth. Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California took the opportunity to gather valuable data during these close encounters, which will aid in planetary defense efforts.

NASA's Planetary Radar Monitors Two Large Asteroids Near Approaches to Earth

One of the asteroids, 2011 UL21, made its closest approach on June 27, passing at a distance of 4.1 million miles from Earth. Discovered in 2011 by the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in Tucson, Arizona, this near-Earth object is nearly a mile wide.

Despite being classified as potentially hazardous, its future orbits pose no threat to Earth for the foreseeable future, according to NASA. This was the first time 2011 UL21 had come close enough to Earth to be imaged by radar.

Using the Goldstone Solar System Radar, the scientists transmitted radio waves to the asteroid and received the reflected signals back. These observations revealed that 2011 UL21 is roughly spherical and is accompanied by a smaller moonlet orbiting at a distance of around1.9 miles.

A few days later, or on June 29, the team detected asteroid 2024 MK as it passed Earth at a distance of only 184,000 miles, slightly over three-quarters of the distance between the Moon and Earth.

The asteroid 2024 MK, measuring around 500 feet in width, has an elongated and angular shape with distinct flat and rounded areas. Using the capabilities of the Goldstone facility, radar observations captured detailed images of the asteroid's surface, unveiling various concavities, ridges, and boulders.

Near-Earth objects of this size pass close to our planet relatively rarely, approximately once every few decades, according to NASA. The team at JPL aimed to collect extensive data on 2024 MK.

This asteroid was first detected on June 16 by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) at the Sutherland Observing Station in South Africa.

Read Also : NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Fires Laser 10 Million Miles Away From Earth as It Heads Toward Mysterious Metal Asteroid

2024 MK's Approach on Earth

As 2024 MK approached Earth, the planet's gravitational pull modified its orbit, shortening its 3.3-year journey around the sun by about 24 days. Despite being classified as a potentially hazardous asteroid, projections show that it poses no immediate threat to Earth.

These radar observations provide essential information on the asteroids' dimensions, trajectories, rotations, surface characteristics, and compositions.

Lance Benner, a principal scientist at JPL, highlighted the significance of finding binary systems, saying that about two-thirds of similarly sized asteroids are likely binaries.

"This was an extraordinary opportunity to investigate the physical properties and obtain detailed images of a near-Earth asteroid," Benner said in a statement.




As cities across the United States brace for potentially record-breaking summer heat, a new study from the UK offers a simple yet effective solution to cool urban environments: painting roofs white.

Experts Issue Heat Warnings

Forecasters are now warning that high temperatures may persist well beyond the July 4 holiday weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, "Extremely dangerous and record-breaking heatwave to impact much of the West through this weekend," stressing how deadly this early-July heatwave could be.

Excessive heat warnings are in place for much of California, as well as parts of Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona.

While temperatures are expected to rise further in the coming years due to climate change, certain methods could be implemented to cool cities and protect people from heat-related illnesses.

White Roofs as Top Cooling Solution

The research, published in Geophysical Research Letters, tells us that painting roofs white or covering them with a reflective coating could be more effective at cooling cities than other methods such as green roofs, street-level vegetation, or solar panels.

Dr. Oscar Brousse, lead author of the study and a researcher at UCL's Bartlett School Environment, Energy & Resources, said in a press release, "..cool roofs were the best way to keep temperatures down during extremely hot summer days."

Using a three-dimensional urban climate model of Greater London, the researchers tested the thermal effects of different urban heat management systems during the two hottest days of the summer of 2018, the warmest on record.

They found that if cool roofs were widely adopted, they could reduce outdoor temperatures across the city by about 1.2 degrees Celsius on average and up to 2 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Read Also: Study: Carbon Emissions from Destroyed Mangrove Forests to Skyrocket 50,000% in the Next Decades

Other Cooling Methods

This reduction significantly outperformed other systems like extensive street-level vegetation or solar panels, which provided a smaller net cooling effect of about 0.3 degrees Celsius on average.

This approach could mitigate the effects of heat islands, which are urban areas experiencing higher temperatures due to the concentration of buildings, roads, and other structures that absorb and re-emit the sun's heat.

Green roofs, while beneficial for water drainage and providing wildlife habitats, showed a negligible net cooling effect on the city overall.

Interestingly, the study noted that green roofs could lower urban temperatures by an average of 0.5 degrees Celsius during the warmest times of the day.

However, this benefit was offset overnight as the thermal mass from the roofs retained daytime heat and released it at night, increasing nighttime temperatures by a similar amount.

By reflecting rather than absorbing heat, cool roofs not only cool the outside urban environment but also the inside of buildings, offering a dual benefit.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
In a move to address labor shortages and enhance safety in Japan's aging workforce, West Japan Railway (JR West) has introduced a new humanoid robot designed to handle the demanding tasks of railway maintenance.

Japan Deploys Humanoid Robot to Do Railway Maintenance

AFP reports that the newly deployed robot, mounted on a truck that can drive on rails, is operated remotely by a human sitting in a cockpit on the truck.

The operator "sees" through the robot's eyes via cameras, controlling its powerful limbs and hands with precision. This setup allows the robot to perform tasks that would be dangerous for human workers.

With a vertical reach of 12 meters (40 feet), the robot can carry objects weighing up to 40 kilograms (88 pounds).

It is equipped with various attachments, including a brush for painting and a chainsaw for cutting. Initially, its primary tasks will include trimming tree branches along the railway and painting metal frames that support cables above the trains .

Japan's Labor Shortage Problem

Japan has been grappling with severe labor shortages, which have led to a record number of bankruptcies. In the first half of the year alone, 182 companies declared bankruptcy due to the inability to find sufficient workers, NHK World reports.

This issue has particularly affected the construction and logistics sectors, which together accounted for 40% of these failures. In response, many businesses are offering higher pay to lure workers.

Companies like JR West now look at humanoid robots as a way to mitigate these workforce challenges. By automating hazardous and physically demanding tasks, the company hopes to reduce the number of accidents involving workers falling from heights or suffering electric shocks.

"In the future, we hope to use machines for all kinds of maintenance operations of our infrastructure," said JR West president Kazuaki Hasegawa, indicating that this initiative could serve as a model for addressing labor shortages nationwide.

More Companies Leverage Humanoid Robots

Japan's venture into using humanoid robots for railway maintenance is part of a broader global trend. For instance, the Chinese company Astribot has unveiled the S1 robot, which can move at an impressive speed of 32.8 feet per second while managing a payload of 22 pounds per arm.

Similarly, logistics giant GXO is testing Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot in warehouses. Apollo, which is 5'8" tall and can lift 55 pounds, is designed to operate safely alongside human workers with features like customizable safety zones and force control architecture.

Even tech giant Tesla is making strides in this field. CEO Elon Musk recently announced plans to deploy 1,000 of its Optimus humanoid robots in factories by next year.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Keeping your Android phone safe just got smarter. Google unveiled three new anti-theft features at I/O 2024, and early testing reveals some interesting details.

One of these features dubbed Offline Device Lock can automatically lock your Pixel or any Android phone if someone attempts to use it offline especially if they want to steal your credentials and documents.

While it boasts interesting functionality for everyone's safety, it has a glaring drawback when you need it the most.

Three New Protections Against Lost or Stolen Devices

Back in May, Google teased the viewers that by using AI, their devices can instantly lock if an intruder tries to use it in malicious activities. With these features, you can secure your phone and all the information stored in it.

Theft Detection: This feature automatically locks your device if its movement patterns suggest a potential theft scenario.

Remote Lock: If your device gets lost or stolen, you can remotely lock it using another device after answering security questions.

Offline Device Lock: Designed to counter a thief's attempt to disable your remote-tracking by locking the phone when it goes offline for a prolonged period.

Offline Device Lock: Early Access Reveals Limitations

XDA developer and tipster @AssembleDebug was able to activate Offline Device Lock through the Google Play Services beta. It's indeed useful but its limitations might not be appealing for some Android phone owners.

Limited Uses: You can only lock your device twice per day using this method. This is likely to prevent accidental activations.

Activation Trigger: The feature only activates if your unlocked phone goes offline unexpectedly, suggesting theft.

Potential Workarounds by Thieves

While Offline Device Lock is a promising addition, it's important to consider potential workarounds by thieves. They might:

Activate Airplane Mode: This would disable offline tracking without triggering the lock.

Disable Location Permissions: Similarly, stopping location services would prevent tracking without locking the phone.

Limited Beta Availability and Potential Changes

Currently, Offline Device Lock is only available in the beta channel for users in Brazil who sign up for a testing program, according to Android Police. Before its official release, the feature could undergo further changes.

Promising Features with Room for Improvement

Overall, these new anti-theft features are a welcome addition to Android's security suite. With further development and addressing potential loopholes, they can significantly improve your phone's security.

While the limited uses of Offline Device Lock might raise some eyebrows, hands-on testing might provide more clarity on its effectiveness. We'll have to wait for the official release to see how these features perform in real-world scenarios.

There's still no official date for the release of the anti-theft safety features. The company is yet to announce its launch in some parts of the world.
Indian labor officials recently visited the Foxconn iPhone assembly plant near Chennai to investigate allegations of discrimination against married women in hiring practices.

This investigation follows a Reuters report that revealed the exclusion of married women from assembly jobs at the facility due to perceived higher family responsibilities.

Indian Officials Investigate Allegations of Discrimination at iPhone Plant

Foxconn, a major manufacturer for Apple, has come under scrutiny for allegedly instructing hiring agencies to avoid recruiting married women.

A former human resources executive at Foxconn India told Reuters that company executives verbally conveyed these discriminatory recruitment rules to their Indian hiring agencies.

Reuters' source indicated that the company believed there were numerous complications associated with hiring married women, particularly concerning pregnancy and the potential for increased absenteeism due to family responsibilities.

This approach, however, is in direct violation of both Foxconn's and Apple's policies, which explicitly forbid discrimination based on marital status.

News of discriminatory hiring practices has sparked widespread controversy in India. Human rights bodies and members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party have called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

Indian Labor Officials Start Investigation

On July 1, a five-member team from the federal government's regional Labour Department visited the Foxconn plant, the South China Morning Post reports. They questioned company directors and human resources officials about these practices.

Regional Labour Commissioner A. Narasaiah reported that Foxconn provided documents including company policies, recruitment guidelines, and evidence of compliance with labor laws.

However, Foxconn claimed that they are not discriminating against married women in their hiring practices.

Foxconn informed officials that the factory employs 41,281 people, with 33,360 women among them. Of these women, approximately 2,750, or about 8%, are married.

During the investigation, labor inspectors interviewed 40 married women working at the plant, who did not report any concerns about discrimination. Despite these interviews, the labor department has no current plans to question third-party hiring agents who play a crucial role in the recruitment process.

SCMP tells us that both Apple and Foxconn have acknowledged lapses in hiring practices in 2022 and claimed to have taken steps to address the issues. Apple stated that it conducted monthly audits to ensure compliance with its high standards.

Apple Expanding Production in India

The scrutiny comes at a time when Apple is significantly expanding its production capabilities in India. In September 2023, Apple announced a $7 billion investment in Indian iPhone production, aiming to generate $40 billion in revenue over the next five years.

By December 2023, Apple revealed plans to increase its annual iPhone production in India to over 50 million units within 2-3 years, with further expansion anticipated.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
GM fined $146 mn for lowballing vehicle emissions



New York, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



General Motors will pay nearly $146 million in penalties for underestimating emissions produced by its vehicles, federal regulators said Wednesday.

The American auto giant was fined after approximately 5.9 million vehicles were found to release more emissions than reported, a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) spokesperson told AFP.

The vehicles in question, with model years between 2012 and 2018, showed more than 10 percent higher carbon dioxide emissions in tests, on average, than what GM reported, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Additionally, GM agreed to write off greenhouse gas credits that equate to approximately 50 million tons of CO2, the EPA said, with a market value of hundreds of millions of dollars.

GM shares fell 0.51 percent Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange.

Last year, GM paid the NHTSA a similar penalty of $128 million when pick-up trucks sold several year prior failed to meet fuel economy standards.

In March, the Biden administration issued more stringent automobile emission standards for vehicles produced in the United States.

The updated standards would progressively restrict the amount of emissions allowed as a way to incentivize automakers to pivot to producing more electric vehicles.

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Anti-deforestation rule leaves EU farmers worried about feeding livestock



Paris, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



A lack of detail on the implementation of new EU anti-deforestation rules has European farmers worried about shortages of the Brazilian soybeans they need to feed their cattle and pigs.

A new EU rule set to come into force at the start of 2025 will ban the import of beef, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, soybeans and wood that has contributed to deforestation.

But with details about certification still unclear, importers are worried about ensuring adequate soybean supplies used to make animal feed.

"There are currently no price quotes for soybeans for 2025" which prevents buyers from having an idea of what purchases for next year will cost, said David Saelens, who raises cattle in northern France and is the point man for animal nutrition at the Cooperation Agricole, a trade association that unites farmers cooperatives.

"This poses organisational problems for factories" making animal feed and creates "risk of supply shortages and higher prices," he added.

Andres Gomez Bueno, president of Unistock Spain, Madrid's arm of the European association of firms that store agricultural commodities at ports, said the measure had sparked "fear" among his members who are worried about the effect on prices for the coming year.

"In Europe, soybeans are not grown, imports can be paralysed, and this can greatly impact food production," he was quoted as saying recently by Spanish news agency EFE.

The problem for European importers is that it is still not clear how to certify imports are deforestation-free.

The result is that "the majority of importers, suppliers, have suspended quoting prices and their clients who make animal feed have only very limited and insufficient information at their disposal," said the French trade association for the animal feed industry.



- 90% soyabeans imported -



While France has tried to boost its domestic production in recent years, it still imports more than 90 percent of the soybeans used in animal feed, mostly from Brazil, according to Cooperation Agricole.

Solteam, one of the leading soybean importers in France, is confident it will be able to comply with the new regulation but said the fact the platform to submit data isn't yet running is causing difficulties.

The EU data platform should go live in the final quarter of this year.

"Until then we're not quoting prices publicly on the French market beyond December 2024," said Solteam's chief executive, Laurent Houis.

Another major importer, the Louis-Dreyfus group, said it is working on data collection and documentation in order to be able to ensure the traceability of its imports but is waiting for the European Commission to detail how the new regulation will be implemented.

Firms which fail to respect the new regulations face fines of up to four percent of their sales or even being banned from the market.

Companies "don't want to take any risks. They want to know with certainty what documents will be taken into consideration," said Claude Soude, deputy director of the French Federation of Oilseed and Protein Crops.



- Small producers punished? -



Brazil's soybean industry says it is ready.

Traders "have been working full out on the issue, particularly on logistics, in order to ensure the needed traceability," said Azael Pizzolato Neto, head of the Brazilian association of Soybean growers in Sao Paulo state.

He said Brazil has strict laws against deforestation.

If a shortage of soybeans develops on the European market, it won't be due to "a lack of compliant goods" but from "European inefficiency".

The European Union is Brazil's second largest export market for soybeans, accounting for about eight percent of the total, far behind China at 71 percent.

Carolina Teodoro of a trade association representing 168,000 farmers in Parana state said they hope existing Brazilian environmental certification will be sufficient for the EU.

Brazil's government has also urged the EU to take into account its data and systems when determining its deforestation-free criteria.

The Brazilian national farm association has expressed concern that the EU regulation "punish small producers" who don't have the money to pay for satellite imagery to prove their products haven't contributed to deforestation.

The European Commission did not reply to requests from AFP for information on how the regulation will be applied.

In March it said it was providing technical and financial assistance to exporting nations to develop traceability systems.
Mexico girds for hit from Hurricane Beryl



Cancun, Mexico, July 4 (AFP) Jul 04, 2024



Tourist resorts in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula girded Thursday for a hit from Hurricane Beryl, which is still packing ferocious winds after slamming Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Beryl dropped to a Category 2 storm, with winds of 175 kilometers (110 miles) per hour, and was expected to weaken further as it headed toward landfall overnight Thursday into Friday on the peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

As of mid-afternoon Thursday it was in the Caribbean about 445 kilometers (275 miles) east of Tulum, which is about a two-hour drive from Cancun -- the two main resort cities in the region.

The storm already left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean and the coast of Venezuela, killing at least seven people.

It is the first hurricane since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June and the earliest to reach the highest Category 5 in July.

In Mexico, classes in the area bracing for a hit were suspended and shelters were set up for locals and tourists.

In Cancun, people have been stocking up on food and other essentials for days and hotels have boarded up their windows.

Beryl is expected to hit the Yucatan Peninsula, emerge over the Gulf of Mexico, then arrive in the northern state of Tamaulipas, which borders the United States.

The hurricane has already caused flash floods and mudslides in the Cayman Islands.

In Jamaica, more than 400,000 people were without power, according to the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper, citing a public service company.

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.

Warm ocean temperatures are key for hurricanes, and North Atlantic waters are currently between two and five degrees Fahrenheit (1-3 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

UN climate chief Simon Stiell, who has family on the island of Carriacou, 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, reporting that his parents' property was damaged.

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The rise of Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally to front-runner in Sundays French election is closely intertwined with the emergence of a powerful conservative media machine backed by billionaire Vincent Bollore, dubbed the French Murdoch.

Since he started building his French media empire eight years ago, the platforms controlled by the Bollore family through Vivendi have reeled in a growing audience by focusing on the far-right issues espoused by Le Pen and her party: crime and immigration. In doing so, they have pulled those concerns into the mainstream, according to academics who have studied the National Rally movement and French media.

Billionaire Vincent Bollore started building his French media empire just eight years ago, Credit: AP

Its hard to say how far Le Pens ascent is down to Bollores coverage  both may have benefited from voters growing dissatisfaction with Frances established political parties. But what is clear, the academics say, is that Vivendis CNews television channel and related radio and print outlets have normalised and amplified her political message  though they caution its hard to draw a direct link between the content and voter behaviour.

Their choice of guests and the way content is framed can serve to legitimise a certain vision of the world, said Safia Dahani, a postdoctoral fellow at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, who studies the far right.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Paul Gauguin was both master and monster. This was the view of the French writer Victor Segalen who arrived in the Marquesas to make an inventory of the late artists belongings. In the excellent catalogue for Gauguins World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao, at the National Gallery of Australia, two essayists remind us of Segalens verdict, which was no simple term of abuse. Instead of calling Gauguin (1848-1903) a monster, today we might say he was a freak, or a defiantly unorthodox character who stood out from every crowd. No other great artist has such a chequered reputation, not even Picasso, whose every move has been scrutinised by hostile biographers. Those who knew Gauguin either revered or loathed him, although he was skilled at turning followers into enemies. Self-portrait with the Yellow Christ, 189091. Credit: Musee dOrsay, Paris The Australian artist John Russell would refer to that bounder, Gauguin, and wonder why his friend Vincent van Gogh rated him so highly. Monet dismissed the artist as a clumsy amateur, but Degas, the most prickly of the impressionists, was a major collector of Gauguins work. Call it charisma, presence or personal magnetism, Gauguin had it in abundance. He brazenly identified with Jesus Christ in his self-portraits, and many of his friends might more accurately be called apostles, until at least, like Emile Bernard or Charles Laval, they fell out. In his writings, Gauguin worked hard at creating an image of himself as a savage, a man outside a corrupt, bourgeois society who felt nothing but contempt for its norms. It may sound boorish and self-aggrandising, but he followed through on his claims by living in Tahiti and then the Marquesas, at the furthest remove from Paris and its cosmopolitan attractions. Gauguins World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao claims to be the first major exhibition to look at the artists work from the perspective of the Pacific. The curator is Henri Loyrette, former director of the Louvre and the Musee dOrsay, who was also responsible for the great Degas exhibition held at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2016. For the NGA and the touring agency Art Exhibitions Australia, the importance of this show cant be overstated. Weve been waiting a long time for Gauguin. Of all modern masters, he has the best claims to be seen and appreciated in this part of the world, being the only one to have lived and worked in Oceania. When Matisse travelled to Tahiti in 1930, it was to follow in Gauguins footsteps, but he found it almost impossible to paint anything. It would take him years to find an outlet for his experiences in the late cut-outs.

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Aside from adding Tahitian words to the title of the exhibition, the NGA has collaborated with Polynesian scholars including Vaiana Giraud and Miriama Bono, and sponsored a satellite event by contemporary Polynesian art collective the SaVAge Klub. The aim is to recalibrate our view of an artist that even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in opening the show, called problematic. Paul Gauguins Tahitian women (Femmes de Tahiti), 1891. The provocative words by which Gauguin advertised his own monstrosity have become a liability in a hypersensitive age, when many prefer to cancel rather than study an artist. Its almost too easy to say Gauguin was a sexual predator, a misogynist, a colonialist, a cultural appropriator. He freely admits his relations with teenage Tahitian girls, aged 13-15, and speaks of the native people in terms that can sound patronising. If this provides a reason to turn in revulsion from the man and his art, its also the height of intellectual nullity, and ultimately, a caricature. Feminist scholar Norma Broude argues that its hard to square the misogynist Gauguin with his outspoken views on womens emancipation, in which he echoes his grandmother, the radical activist Flora Tristan (1803-44). Its equally difficult to see him as a colonialist when he campaigned tirelessly against the corruption of the colonial administration and the hypocrisy of the church in both Tahiti and the Marquesas. Paul Gauguins Parau na te varua ino (Words of the devil), 1892. Credit: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C With Gauguin, the good and the bad must be seen through the lens of his extreme egotism. The autobiographical impulse is constant in his work, even in a late arrangement of objects and flowers, Still Life with Hope (1901). The hope refers to a postcard of a famous work of 1872 by Puvis de Chavannes. The still life features a Tahitian bowl and a bunch of faded sunflowers, paying a cryptic tribute to his tragic friend Vincent. Puvis hoped for an era of peace following the Franco-Prussian war; Gauguin may have hoped for a happier life in the tropics, or some respite from the painful memories of his years in France. The artists arrival in Tahiti, as recounted in his book Noa Noa (1901), echoes the romantic descriptions of Pierre Loti, a bestselling author whom one can only read with discomfort today. In The Marriage of Loti (1880), the lead character enjoys social success in Papeete, whereas Gauguin  the eternal pariah  breaks with his literary predecessor and glories in his status as an outsider.

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In claiming to be a savage, Gauguin was expressing a deep desire to free himself from the chains of polite society. His commitment to artistic experimentation was so profound he despised those who worked to a fixed set of rules  even self-imposed disciplines such as the massed dots of the pointillists that seduced his one-time mentor Camille Pissarro. Most tellingly, Gauguin had a lifelong obsession with religion. He draws continually on his Catholic heritage, even when writing diatribes against the church. He is fascinated by Buddhism and by the traditional religious beliefs of Polynesia that the missionaries sought to eradicate. He may be an unashamed sensualist, but he is also a seeker after spiritual knowledge. For Pissarro, even the works Gauguin made in Brittany had seemed dangerously mystical. Paul Gauguins painting Three Tahitians, 1899. Credit: National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh Although this exhibition puts its greatest emphasis on the Polynesian works, made during 1891-93, and 1895-1903, it covers the full sweep of this self-taught artists career, from an early landscape of 1873 to the paintings left in the studio at his death. It includes prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and carvings, as well as a range of tribal artefacts that served as inspiration or subject matter. In every medium, Gauguin was a relentless innovator, ready to steal ideas and techniques from anywhere and adapt them to his own purposes. Loyrette shows deference to Gauguins egocentrism by starting the exhibition with a room of self-portraits. The first is Portrait of the Artist with the Yellow Christ (1890-91), in which he portrays himself between two of his works  a painting of a crude, Breton crucifix and a grotesque piece of pottery that bears his own features. He literally puts himself between God and the devil, looking calm and confident in his powers. Paul Gauguins Portrait of the artist by himself, 1903. This sense of theatricality, which distinguishes many of the early self-portraits, is swept aside by Self-portrait (near Golgotha) (1896), made in Polynesia at a time when Gauguin was so sick and poor that he contemplated suicide. The artists face has filled out and his eyes have grown dull. He wears a simple white smock, like a patient in hospital or a prisoner facing execution. A final self-portrait, the thinly painted Portrait of the artist by himself (1903), is even more chilling in its honesty. It shows the ageing artist with spectacles, short, grey hair and trimmed beard. Facing death, he wears a placid expression. Picassos final self-portrait was filled with terror, but Gauguin shows us a man who has come to terms with his own extinction.

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These self-portraits stay in the mind as we proceed from one gallery to the next, allowing us to discern the vulnerable personality behind those boldly coloured canvases. The show features more than 140 items from 65 different sources, including a dozen or so major paintings. Indisputable masterpieces such as Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we Going (1897-98), Nevermore (1897), or Manao tupapau (The Spirit of the Dead Watching) (1892), were never going to be allowed to travel to Australia. Yet there are other works that are scarcely less familiar, notably Tahitian Women (1891), from the Musee DOrsay, Hina tefatou (The Moon and the Earth) (1893), from New Yorks Museum of Modern Art, and Three Tahitians (1891), from Edinburgh. Loading Manao tupapau is arguably the most regrettable absence because it is the painting Gauguins detractors use to portray him in the worst possible light. It is both a homage to Manets Olympia (1863) and a kind of parody in which a nude teenage girl lies face down on a couch, watched over by a gloomy spectre rather than a maid. Theres a lot that can be said for and against this painting, with Nicholas Thomas putting the case for the defence in his new book Gauguin and Polynesia. The particular interest of this book is the authors extensive, first-hand experience of Polynesia, in opposition to most of Gauguins critics who rely on large intellectual assumptions. At the opening of the show, it was fascinating to hear from French Polynesians who saw Gauguin not as a colonial exploiter, but as a figure who respected the islands cultural traditions to the extent of giving Tahitian titles to his paintings. There may be no works by Gauguin left in Tahiti or the Marquesas, but his images of the Pacific and its peoples have permeated the global imagination. As the indigenous peoples of the Pacific strive for a contemporary cultural revival, they are seeing Gauguins personal complexities as far less significant than his transcendent, celebratory vision of Polynesian life. Gauguins World: Tona Iho, Tona Ao is at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra until October 7. John McDonald travelled as a guest of the National Gallery of Australia.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In October 2022, feeling ever more estranged from her decade-long run on the pop treadmill, Eves Karydas decided to set a flame to the whole thing. On her Instagram, the Brisbane musician posted an essay titled On social media, the music industry, and my experience as a woman within it all that outlined the destabilising cycle shed fallen into, a culture that prioritised social media likes over her actual music, and where she felt forced to sexualise her image (Ive posted thirst traps, marketed myself as a hot girl) to get ahead in the industry. The truth is, as someone with a lot to say Ive been surprisingly quiet as an artist, Karydas wrote at the time. Ive silenced myself because Ive been pushed to believe that my best asset is my body. Nothing gets the algorithm going quite like tits and ass. She signed off saying that to salvage her creativity and sanity, shed be moving forward self-managed. It was incredibly nerve-racking to do that Instagram post  Id never spoken about something like that before  but it was a way to draw a line in the sand, Karydas, 29, says. I had to look in the mirror and be like, this vision of me that the public is seeing isnt lining up with how I view myself. The post went viral, striking a nerve in the local music industry. More than anything, it just showed how quiet women feel a lot of the time, Karydas says. Its such a specifically female experience, having your image be so raised onto a pedestal and used as the first thing people judge. Its really frustrating. So to have so many people reach out to me was equal parts awesome and sad. I was like, oh man, were all feeling this, arent we?. Karydas viral essay struck a nerve: To have so many people reach out to me was equal parts awesome and sad, she says. Credit: Instagram Two years on, seated in her childhood bedroom in her parents home in Brisbane, surrounded by boxes of vinyl, cassettes and merch for the coming launch of her new independent album Burnt Tapes, Karydas exudes a calm confidence that feels far removed from the despair communicated in the essay.

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Back then, while still caught up in her careerist push, she had become one of Australias most promising young pop artists. Her 2020 single Complicated went gold (35,000 sales units) and featured at #22 on Triple Js Hottest 100, and she was working heavily within the industry machine, collaborating regularly with pop heavy hitters in the US, London and Stockholm. It was pretty intoxicating, if Im honest, Karydas says. You get swept up in it so easily when youre, like, flown to LA and you stay in these nice houses and meet all these brilliant and famous people and whatever. But it all means nothing at the end of the day if you cant do your job authentically. Now Im like, if I never go to LA again, I dont actually care. Cutting ranks with her management, label, and industry contacts  did she fear she was sabotaging her career? It was more like, Id just rather not do this career if it means doing it that way, says Karydas. I had got to the point where I was OK with that. The thing that drives a lot of us in this industry is this idea that its life or death, which is crazy. Its such a privilege to work in this job and this industry, so you might as well do it the way that you want to do it. She saw an alternative possibility in the example of her close friends Cub Sport  the long independent Brisbane act who seemed to be thriving in a way that was genuinely themselves  and took the plunge. Beyond the music, Karydas is now responsible for her music videos, artwork design, press photos, and so on. Fonts! I cant tell you how much Ive thought about fonts! she says. Its crazy to me that Id fallen into a pocket where I wasnt doing these things, because when I first started my career 10 years ago, I was doing all of these things myself, she says of her current creative load. It isnt easy work and I understand why people get paid a lot of money to do those things, and Im not saying that the music videos I make are on the level of, like, a Doja Cat music video, but its a very pure form of expression of what Im capable of and I kind of like that. Despite its journey, her new album Burnt Tapes is no victims lament. Its free and loose, playful and raw. Its sonically adventurous, touching a range of genres including R&B, trip-hop, 80s city pop, and 90s alt-balladry. Sideways features a surprising Rhodes organ solo, and on Call Me!, Karydas skids over placeholder lyrics  something, something, something, something  that highlight her creative process, an element as important as the finished product.

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What I wanted to do was point everything away from the digital, glossy pop thing that I had been doing, Karydas says of Burnt Tapes. I wanted to lean into imperfection and grit and things that are a little bit messier. It required working in a different way, a sort of subversion of her earlier pop process, which had involved countless songwriting sessions with endless strangers. Yet another thing that women in music are just expected to do  get thrown in a songwriting session and, like, the girls are at the back on the couch and the guy is at the front on the computer; I cant tell you how many sessions Ive been in that are like that, says Karydas. With this album, I totally flipped that on its head and it was just me and this guy Jens [Resch], and we just jammed it out. I know that sounds really dad rock of me, but its what I wanted to do. The 29-year-olds new album Burnt Tapes is her best yet. The approach feels aligned with pops wider moment. From Charli XCXs plain-spoken stream-of-consciousness on Brat, to SZAs raw honesty, to Chappell Roans singular eccentricity, pop has reached a moment where imperfection is resonating with audiences. Charli recently spoke about, you know, women dont owe you their faces and bodies on their album artwork, and I loved her saying that because I had made the decision not to put my face on my album cover and it just felt like, hell yeah, were all banding together, Karydas laughs. In an industry like music, your brand is what you look like and its easy for that to become monotonous and one-dimensional, and I think women are trying to push back on that. More than anything, its just nice to see some different representation out there for women, people doing things their own way. Thats always going to resonate.

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The albums opener Girlboss feels like its closest nod to Karydas essay, evoking the kind of pop plea that Lana Del Rey has spent her career stoking: an appeal for complete, unvarnished feminine expression in a culture where empowerment has become the dominant doctrine. I want to be everything, both the best and the worst, sings Karydas. That line, its just about being messy, she says. Some days I feel super ambitious, other days I feel like I want to hide in a cupboard. That doesnt mean I have a personality disorder, thats just what it is to be a human being. Despite the marked delineation from her past, Karydas says her relationship with her old music is good. Sometimes its easy to conflate the experiences I had at the time with certain songs. But the more time that passes, the more Im like I was really good at writing in that pop and commercial sphere. I think the success of those songs speaks for itself, and Im really proud of it. Loading Burnt Tapes, meanwhile, feels righteously loaded. In going indie and dropping out of the industry rat race, Karydas hopes shes offered an example to young female musicians that another pathway is possible, beyond the big label and the big manager and the industry expectations that can leave one feeling hopelessly disconnected from their work, as she felt when she posted the essay. I always hated being on the outside of all the discussions about my work; there was always a middleman speaking for me, which didnt make sense. So even though there are ways this has been harder, overall its easier because all I need to do is stick to my vision and my plan, says Karydas. Its a lot of work, but Im passionate about the work so Im happy to do it at all hours of the day. Its good. I wouldnt go back.

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Eating outThe scoop Your inside guide to the best eats and seats at Richmonds reopened Anchovy restaurant The lowdown on where to sit and what to order to give you the very best dining experience at the top-rated Vietnamese restaurant. Dani Valent July 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

As featured in the August hit list. See all stories .

Two years after Anchovy closed, and nine years since it first launched, the much-loved Vietnamese restaurant owned by Jia-Yen Lee and Thi Le has reopened in its old home at 338 Bridge Road, Richmond. Jeow, the Laotian restaurant that had occupied the Anchovy site since the winter of 2022, is now sharing the premises next door, at 336 Bridge Road, with Ca Com, the banh mi bar that started life in 2020 as a lockdown project. How do you fit three South-East Asian eateries across two shopfronts? Heres what you need to know. Thi Le and Jia-Yen Lee, co-owners of newly reopened Anchovy. Penny Stephens Is Anchovy different?

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Yes. Jia-Yen Lee speaks of Anchovy version 2.0 as the kid thats taken a gap year and changed along the way. You see the DNA, you still recognise them, but the person has altered and matured, she says. Whereas the old Anchovy explored Vietnamese food, flavours and ideas, this version calls itself Viet Kieu, the term for a Vietnamese person who lives outside Vietnam. In this case, it describes a culinary identity that is both Vietnamese and Australian. Anchovy is the product of where we are and who we are, neither native nor adopted, but acculturated, says Lee. Its a reflection of what a Vietnamese person in Australia might do. East meets West in a bowl of casarecce with Lao sausage, snake beans and garlic chives. Penny Stephens Whats on the menu? Noodles are at the heart of the short a la carte offering. Anchovy used to be focused around rice, which is normal for a South-East Asian restaurant, says Lee. Now, noodles make sense to us. Stubby, chewy silver needle noodles ($33) are hand-rolled from a gluten-free mixture of tapioca and rice flour and served in a bubbling claypot with papaya relish and a fried egg. Casarecce ($32), an Italian twirled pasta, is tossed with Lao sausage and snake beans in a perfect and perfectly delicious expression of the Viet Kieu amalgam. Small dishes are bright and punchy. Raw duck fish ($24) is paved with persimmon slices and seasoned with a mam tep relish lifted with galangal. Globe artichoke ($15) sits in a shallow puddle of burnt curry butter: eating it is both entree and finger-licking activity. Mooloolaba prawn and pork wontons, smoked pork broth is unmissable. Penny Stephens

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What cant I miss? The wontons (hoanh thanh). A smoked pork broth is the rich, nourishing carrier for silky pork and prawn dumplings studded with water chestnuts ($30). Its a comforting and enveloping dinner for one, or a beautiful dish to share. Who should come here? Anchovy has just 26 seats and the website pitches the restaurant as best suited for solos and duos seeking an abbreviated night out or those simply in search of a fuss-free and nourishing meal. It will suit diners who enjoy pondering the wellsprings and pathways of cooking and creativity and those who simply love to eat good things. There is an upstairs private dining space: call to discuss options. The best seat in the house? At the bar, of course. PENNY STEPHENS

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Best seat? I came alone and sat at the end of the bar looking towards the kitchen. Its a great spot, in the midst of the spry energy of the restaurant and a great perch for watching the action, too. It helped that my friendly and kind neighbours let me taste their food! What else is here? Laotian grill Jeow has moved next door (open Wednesday to Saturday from 5.30pm). You can eat a simple meal of rice, condiment and vegetables here for $15 or expand the flavour party with duck salad, pork skewers and beef shin stew. By day, this space is Ca Com Banh Mi Bar (open Tuesday-Friday, 11am-3pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-3pm). Its so hard to go past the pork belly, but have you tried the classic cold cut with house-made chicken liver pate? Review Ca Com is an example of the very best of Melbourne food

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Whats the backstory? In mid-2022, chef Thi Le told Good Food she was mentally and physically tired. She hoped to safeguard her longevity in the industry by pressing pause on Anchovy, which was extremely demanding, with its frequently changing set menu. In its place, she and partner Lee opened Jeow, a casual Laotian eatery, and continued to run Ca Com Banh Mi Bar next door at 336 Bridge Road. Globe artichoke with curry vinaigrette at Anchovy. Penny Stephens Anchovy never shut down; it went on hiatus. The idea was always to reopen, perhaps in country Victoria, with attached land for farming lesser known ingredients. Lee and Le didnt find anywhere affordable so like the good Asian child not straying far from home, they reopened in the original site. Along the way, liquor-licensing delays and a fire at Ca Com offered extra challenges and logistical puzzles. On the upside, the pair have spent the past two years working on their book, Viet Kieu, and further defining the way they want to present Asian food in Melbourne: unapologetic, storied, exciting. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 5.30pm. 338 Bridge Road, Richmond, anchovy.net.au

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Review Eating outHaberfield It won the Haberfield pizza duel, but is this icon still one of Sydneys best pizzerias? La Disfidas warm-lit dining room and wood-fired winter cooking has serious pulling power. Callan Boys July 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

This story is part of the July 6 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

1 / 6 La Disfida is family-friendly Haberfield local hero. Jennifer Soo 2 / 6 Go-to dish: Salsiccia e funghi pizza. Jennifer Soo 3 / 6 Penne al forno with pork sausage ragu. Jennifer Soo 4 / 6 The painting of Disfida di Barletta, the restaurants namesake medieval barney between French and Italian knights. Jennifer Soo 5 / 6 Gnocchi con gorgonzola. Jennifer Soo 6 / 6 Panettone bread and butter pudding. Jennifer Soo Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Italian$$$$ Currently at La Disfida, a friend messaged the other week. Its easily in the pantheon of great Sydney pizzerias. A mighty call, yes, but it was coming from a mate who grew up in New York City, which everyone knows is where pizza was invented. It was all I needed to hear to make a lunch booking at La Disfida because it had been years since my last visit to the Haberfield icon, too. When Ruggiero Lattanzio opened the Ramsay Street restaurant in the 1990s, Sydneys pizza landscape was still in the Super Supreme age. You might encounter a slice of some salmon and pea tendril-topped nonsense in a chichi Surry Hills tratt, but it was an era largely dominated by Pepsi refills, stuffed crusts, deep-pans and Dial-a-Dinos. Leichhardt had its reliable, red-sauce haunts, but the Italo-Oz community didnt get excited for pizza like home until Napoli in Bocca and La Disfida launched in Haberfield at roughly the same time. Local families were either Team Bocca or Club Disfida. It was Ford versus Holden, Milo versus Nesquik. Peter Zuzza took over La Disfida in 2009 (hed been running his familys long-standing Mixing Pot restaurant in Glebe), maintained Lattanzios pizza recipes, and sold the business to Debbie Colacicco two years ago.

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Ive been to La Disfida three times in the past four weeks, such is the pulling power of its warm-lit dining room. The two-storey restaurant remains packed every weekend, and manager Simone Busi runs a tight and friendly ship on the floor. The Napoli in Bocca site is now a confused-looking Asian fusion joint, so I guess we finally have a winner. Ive been to La Disfida three times in the past four weeks, such is the pulling power of its warm-lit dining room and cooking in winter. I want to be surrounded by Campari posters and the painting of Disfida di Barletta, the namesake medieval barney between French and Italian knights. I want to watch furrowed-browed pizzaiolos work the wood-burning oven. I want to take the leftovers home for tomorrow nights dinner, eaten on the couch with a John le Carre movie adaptation and lugs of sangiovese. Penne al forno with pork sausage ragu. Jennifer Soo The penne al forno ($35) is a pasta seemingly designed for watching Cold War spies from beneath a woolly blanket: rich pork sausage ragu baked with molten mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan, plus a topcoat of golden breadcrumbs.

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Bitey pappardelle is tangled with a braised, wild-boar ragu ($37) of commanding depth. Salt-and-pepper spatchcock ($35) comes with sharp peperonata and a batter not too dissimilar to southern fried chicken. (Look, I really dont want to say big KFC vibes, but theres really no other way to put it.) Each of those dishes were ordered from the specials menu, which lists about a dozen new or returning items each week. Its not all end-of-days, hibernation gear either, and you could well find yellowfin tuna tartare with avocado and horseradish ($31) next to the four-cheese arancini ($23). One of the salad specials is always a smart order, such as a nicely acidic pear, cabbage and goats cheese number ($22) which popped up in late June. Anyway, the pizza. Does it live up to the hype? Indeed. Absolutely. The base is thin, chewy and slightly salty  pliable, but still dutifully strong: toppings dont slide off. The sauce is bright. No one at Disfida will bang on about the (frankly boring) world of dough hydration rates and flour types. Staff only want you to know that the kitchen uses San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte buffalo mozzarella. The good stuff. A margherita finished with fresh basil costs $23 and is devoid of those little pools of grease that plague lesser pizzas. The Diavola ($27) is paved with a salami of serious heat, olives and the occasional anchovy. Lattanzio created the Disfida ($28) for his restaurants opening menu, and its barely changed since  a briny, triple-punch of olives, capers and anchovies tempered by ham and smoked mozzarella. Terrific with a glass of Andrea Occhipintis fresh and dry 2020 Alter Alea Bianco ($17) made with aleatico grapes grown just north of Rome.

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Go-to dish: Salsiccia e funghi pizza. Jennifer Soo If I have to name a favourite pizza, its the salsiccia e funghi ($28), starring tanned, juicy pebbles of pork sausage, wild mushroom and more olives. Close second is a recent special neatly layered with salami, threads of bitter-green friarielli and tiny islands of whipped ricotta ($29). Like any good pizza, its best eaten at the source, but everything is available to take away, and my wife is picking up the salsiccia e funghi and a panettone bread-and-butter pudding ($14) as I finish these lines. My only tasks are to find some chianti, and cue up Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The low-down Vibe: No-fuss, family-friendly local hero Go-to dish: Salsiccia e funghi pizza ($28) Drinks: Great by-the-glass list with plenty of bargains, diversity and native Italian grapes, plus a fun line-up of negroni and spritz variations Cost: About $80 for two, excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine

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The court was told the complainant agreed there was initial consensual sex, but the two charges related to subsequent acts. Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said: What is required is consent to be given to each act of intercourse, noting that the initial consent was given on the basis that Lehrmann would use a condom. Howden said the woman testified that she woke to find Lehrmann penetrating her from behind. She goes on to say, I could still feel I was drunk. She then says it was light in the room, I remember rolling back and putting my arm on him and said stop what you are doing. Howden said the woman claimed: He kept having sex with me while I just lay there, and said he had ejaculated inside of her.

Friedewald said the complainant never consented to having sex without a condom and had told Lehrmann to stop attempting to have unprotected sex. The court was told Lehrmann then climbed on top of the woman and resumed intercourse. He was consoling her throughout that act, saying: its OK, its OK, Friedewald said. He continued having intercourse until he ejaculated inside of her, she said. Friedewald said the prosecution argued that Lehrmann did nothing to ascertain that the woman consented, and had acted to the contrary.

Howden said the complainant described a subsequent conversation she had with Lehrmann about the previous night and early morning. The magistrate said Lehrmann said they had sex on four occasions, and that the complainant said in her statement she could not remember any of that. Lehrmanns barrister, Andrew Hoare KC, told the court the consensual sex between Lehrmann and the woman contextualised the events that followed. Referring to the prosecutions evidence that the complainant said she woke up during the alleged rape, Hoare argued the complainant had consumed alcohol and cocaine, which affected memory. Howden said the woman recalled saying she needed a morning-after pill that day because she was not on any contraception.

Loading Lehrmann and the woman visited a pharmacy, and afterwards, she asked for a coffee and to be brought home, the court heard. The magistrate said transactions on Lehrmanns bank card showed $16.95 was spent at the pharmacy at 12.38pm on October 10, followed by about $10 at a McDonalds at 12.59pm. Hoare submitted that when the woman later filled out a checklist at the pharmacy to explain the need for emergency contraception, she ticked the box contraceptive failure, instead of ticking the box that indicated sexual assault. He told the court she also visited her doctor in the weeks after, including for a WorkCover claim and mental health reasons, and for a test to check for sexually transmitted diseases. Again, Hoare argued, she failed to refer to any sexual assault. Hoare said the woman had also described the night in a message to friends the following day, saying: Had a bunch of fun with my friends.
The workplace safety watchdog ordered that teachers facing up to 20 violent and sexist attacks every day from students at their Victorian school need psychiatric support on site, but the Education Department has launched legal action to fight the ruling due to the cost implications.

WorkSafe found the level of assaults, threats, harassment, and gendered and racial abuse directed by students at their teachers throughout 2022 and into 2023 left most of the staff at Warrnambool College in the states south-west at an unacceptable risk of psychological injury.

WorkSafe found about 80 per cent of the schools staff were working with students who physically attacked, verbally abused or threatened to harm their teachers. Credit: iStock

But the Education Department says WorkSafes insistence that the school hire a dedicated in-house mental health worker to support the teachers would set a precedent for all of Victorias 1800 government schools, potentially cutting deep into the states already stretched education budget.

Teachers at the college told WorkSafe inspectors of being forced to flee and lock themselves in offices after being pushed, shoved and threatened, with disturbing accounts emerging of groups of students targeting staff with antisemitic and other forms of racist abuse.
Parliament House security arrangements are being reviewed after four protesters managed to climb onto the roof and unfurl pro-Palestine banners at the same time as climate protesters glued themselves to bollards in the buildings Marble Foyer.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said protesters used diversionary tactics to evade security, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton condemned their actions.

Pro-Palestine protesters at Parliament House in Canberra. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The four protesters who spent an hour and a half atop the building and hung banners, including one beneath the coat of arms reading war crimes  enabled here, were escorted off the roof by security shortly before midday. Three men and one woman were arrested and banned from Parliament House for two years.

During a later Senate committee hearing, Kershaw said that as well as the protests at Parliament House, a separate group had made false reports of protests happening elsewhere to send police away.
Three barbecues stand chained to a lamp post, tethered like animals that may run away. Nicky Gordon, their owner, lifts the lid on one, releasing a plume of smoke. As it clears, I behold the cultural treasure, sitting on the grill.

Jerk chicken is a street food, and this is how its done at home, Nicky says, as he hands me a slightly blackened chicken drumstick and thigh, in aluminium foil, accompanied by fiery chili sauce.

Brooklyn now has the worlds first designated Little Caribbean.

The street food hes referring to is being cooked just centimetres from the actual street. And the home hes referring to is Jamaica. But despite the roadside jerk chicken, street names like Bob Marley Avenue, and Jamaican, Barbados and Haitian flags flying above businesses, this is not the Caribbean. It is in fact, Little Caribbean, in Brooklyn, New York.

Nicky is part of New Yorks proud Caribbean diaspora, and meeting him and his jerk chicken is one of the highlights of a Little Caribbean walking tour, run by Shelley Worrell.
USA Independence Day, July 4, 2007







WASHINGTON, DC: On July 4, 1776, our Nation's Founders declared "That these United Colonies are, and of Right, ought to be free and Independent States." This declaration marked a great milestone in the history of human freedom. On the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we pay tribute to the courage and dedication of those who created this country, and we celebrate the values of liberty and equality that make our country strong.

The patriots of the Revolutionary War acted on the beliefs that "all men are created equal" and "that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." By advancing these ideals, generations of Americans have unleashed the hope of freedom for people in every corner of the world.

As we celebrate our independence, Americans can take pride in our history and look to the future with confidence. We offer our gratitude to all the American patriots, past and present, who have sought to advance freedom and lay the foundations of peace. Because of their sacrifice, this country remains a beacon of hope for all who dream of liberty and a shining example to the world of what a free people can achieve. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 4, 2006, as Independence Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe with all due ceremony our Independence Day as a time to honor our Founders and their legacy of freedom and remember with thankfulness the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirtieth.

GEORGE W. BUSH

President of The United States of America





Declaring Our Independence

Chronology Of Events: June 7, 1776 to January 18, 1777 1776 June 7 -- Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, receives Richard Henry Lee's resolution urging Congress to declare independence.

June 11 -- Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston appointed to a committee to draft a declaration of independence. American army retreats to Lake Champlain from Canada.

June 12 - 27 -- Jefferson, at the request of the committee, drafts a declaration, of which only a fragment exists. Jefferson's clean, or "fair" copy, the "original Rough draught," is reviewed by the committee. Both documents are in the manuscript collections of the Library of Congress.

June 28 -- A fair copy of the committee draft of the Declaration of Independence is read in Congress.

July 1 - 4 -- Congress debates and revises the Declaration of Independence.

July 2 -- Congress declares independence as the British fleet and army arrive at New York.

July 4 -- Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence in the morning of a bright, sunny, but cool Philadelphia day. John Dunlap prints the Declaration of Independence. These prints are now called "Dunlap Broadsides." Twenty-four copies are known to exist, two of which are in the Library of Congress. One of these was Washington's personal copy.

July 5 -- John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, dispatches the first of Dunlap's broadsides of the Declaration of Independence to the legislatures of New Jersey and Delaware.

July 6 -- Pennsylvania Evening Post of July 6 prints the first newspaper rendition of the Declaration of Independence.

July 8 -- The first public reading of the Declaration is in Philadelphia.

July 9 -- Washington orders that the Declaration of Independence be read before the American army in New York -- from his personal copy of the "Dunlap Broadside."

July 19 -- Congress orders the Declaration of Independence engrossed (officially inscribed) and signed by members.

August 2 -- Delegates begin to sign engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence. A large British reinforcement arrives at New York after being repelled at Charleston, S.C.

1777 January 18 -- Congress, now sitting in Baltimore, Maryland, orders that signed copies of the Declaration of Independence printed by Mary Katherine Goddard of Baltimore be sent to the states.

Drafting the Documents

Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia behind a veil of Congressionally-imposed secrecy in June 1776 for a country wracked by military and political uncertainties. In anticipation of a vote for independence, the Continental Congress on June 11 appointed Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston as a committee to draft a declaration of independence. The committee then delegated Thomas Jefferson to undertake the task. Jefferson worked diligently in private for days to compose a document. Proof of the arduous nature of the work can be seen in the fragment of the first known composition draft of the declaration, which is on public display here for the first time.

Jefferson then made a clean or "fair" copy of the composition declaration, which became the foundation of the document, labeled by Jefferson as the "original Rough draught." Revised first by Adams, then by Franklin, and then by the full committee, a total of forty-seven alterations including the insertion of three complete paragraphs was made on the text before it was presented to Congress on June 28. After voting for independence on July 2, the Congress then continued to refine the document, making thirty-nine additional revisions to the committee draft before its final adoption on the morning of July 4. The "original Rough draught" embodies the multiplicity of corrections, additions and deletions that were made at each step. Although most of the alterations are in Jefferson's handwriting (Jefferson later indicated the changes he believed to have been made by Adams and Franklin), quite naturally he opposed many of the changes made to his document.

Congress then ordered the Declaration of Independence printed and late on July 4, John Dunlap, a Philadelphia printer, produced the first printed text of the Declaration of Independence, now known as the "Dunlap Broadside." The next day John Hancock, the president of the Continental Congress, began dispatching copies of the Declaration to America's political and military leaders. On July 9th, George Washington ordered that his personal copy of the "Dunlap Broadside," sent to him by John Hancock on July 6, be read to the assembled American army at New York. In 1783 at the war's end, General Washington brought his copy of the broadside home to Mount Vernon. This remarkable document, which has come down to us only partially intact, is accompanied in this exhibit by a complete "Dunlap Broadside" -- one of only twenty-four known to exist.

On July 19, Congress ordered the production of an engrossed (officially inscribed) copy of the Declaration of Independence, which attending members of the Continental Congress, including some who had not voted for its adoption, began to sign on August 2, 1776. This document is on permanent display at the National Archives.

On July 4, 1995, more than two centuries after its composition, the Declaration of Independence, just as Jefferson predicted on its fiftieth anniversary in his letter to Roger C. Weightman, towers aloft as "the signal of arousing men to burst the chains...to assume the blessings and security of self-government" and to restore "the free right to the unbounded exercise of reason and freedom of opinion."

The Declaration of Independence Documents in Library of Congress
Hainan Free Trade Port conference in Frankfurt draws over 300 European representatives

People's Daily Online) 13:22, July 04, 2024

The "Invest in China" Hainan Free Trade Port Europe Conference, themed "Sharing Opportunities and Seeking Common Development," was held in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 3.

The event aimed to promote the construction and new investment opportunities of the Hainan Free Trade Port and enhance economic and trade cooperation with European businesses.

Hainan, China's southernmost province and closest to Southeast Asia, was designated by the Chinese government in 2018 as a free trade port.

The initiative includes policies such as zero tariffs, low tax rates, and a simplified tax system, which differ from those on the Chinese mainland.

The European conference in Frankfurt was a key step in implementing the agreements between the leaders of China and Germany, aiming to create a platform for European businesses to enter the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

During the conference, the Hainan delegation highlighted the special tax arrangements and policies for investment, trade, cross-border capital flows, personnel entry and exit, transportation, and data flow that set Hainan apart from the mainland. They also discussed the current state of Hainan's high-tech industry and shared investment opportunities in the clean energy, healthcare, tourism, and retail sectors.

The conference attracted over 300 representatives from prominent European enterprises, business associations, and media, covering sectors such as high-tech manufacturing, software engineering, finance, vehicle engineering, biomedicine, business consulting, international logistics, and international trade.

Attendees stated that the Hainan Free Trade Port offers unique policy advantages and a favorable development environment, making it an important partner for European businesses to expand into the Chinese market and achieve mutual benefits.

After the conference, several renowned European companies engaged in in-depth discussions with the Hainan delegation, exploring cooperation opportunities in the clean energy, education, high-end consumption, and healthcare sectors.

The conference received significant attention and strong support from China's Ministry of Commerce, underscoring Hainan's unique status as the only free trade port on the Chinese mainland and its role in China's opening-up.

Similar to Shenzhen in the 1980s and Shanghai Pudong in the 1990s, Hainan is emerging as a new frontier for China's reform and opening-up, becoming a new hotspot for investment and business.

Moving forward, the Hainan Free Trade Port will continue to embrace open cooperation, explore more opportunities with European industries, deepen bilateral relations, and expand areas of collaboration.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Cheyenne, WY (82003)

Today

Mostly sunny. Very warm. High 77F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 44F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
One boyfriend has proved "if he wanted to he would" by learning a new skill for his girlfriend, but it has some people torn.

Maintaining a stunning set of nails can be HELLA pricey, so what did one boyfriend do? He learnt the whole process for his girlfriend in order to save a bit of cash.

Footage of TikToker Jayshree @gelxdaddy has resurfaced and doing the viral rounds for going above and beyond for his girlfriends' nail maintenance.

And he's freakin' fabulous at it too!

People Magazine recently reshared the footage with the caption: "More of this! "

"This is his third time doing nails ever," the girlfriend wrote in the video as he took his sweet and delicate time completing the mani.

It took him a good four hours to get to the final product but as many commenters pointed out it seems like the perfect opportunity for some quality time as a couple.

And it was sooo worth it!

SOURCE: @gelxdaddy on TikTok

It's no wonder Jayshree's OG video racked up over 24M views from gals who LOVE the effort he's put in.

"Ok, where did you find a guy like this?" Asked one gal.

"Congratulations sis, you're winning ," said another.

A third wrote: "Omg he is precious!! Now press copy a million times! Green flag energy for sure! ??"

"A great example of "if he wanted to, he would." Kudos to him for taking the time ??," agreed a fourth.

But not everyone has been convinced that Jayshree's GF has hit the jackpot.

One person was disappointed that the couple's switch to an at-home service was taking business away from professional nail technicians.

"I get the point, but way to keep taking money from the pros," they wrote, giving Jayshree a whole new meaning as Mr. Steal Your Girl.

Another gave off heavy "don't get too comfortable sweetheart" vibes, mentioning her ex "did clip hair extensions.he still cheated a year later tho".

YIKES! While a third simply called out the "#unrealistic relationship goals."

Look, Jayshree might just be one in a million, but we're here for the extra effort!
5,000 sq ft defence land freed of encroachment





Staff Reporter

A Combine team of Defence Estate Office, Cantonment Board and Army QRT bulldozed illegal construction in the Cantonment area and freed 5,000 sq ft defence land on Wednesday. According to the Defence Estate Officer, Neha Gupta they received information about illegal construction of defence land in GLR Survey No-88 which is known as Bungalow No-2 on Narmada road. The said land is old grant property owned by the Government of India. Some days back, a man named Amarjeet Singh Khullar illegally sold out 200 sq ft of total 1182 sq ft land where a kuchha house with tin shade was existing. Similarly, Manpal Kaur illegally sold out 500 sq ft of total 3000 sq ft land in Bungalow No-2 where a tin shade was established. Both the persons Amarjeet Singh Khullar and Manpal Kaur are not the legal owner of said lands but they had sold out the lands owned by the Government of India without taking permission from concerned officer.

DEO office had intimated the buyer of defence land but they could not respond the intimation and started construction works on defence land. Taking stern action, a combine team of Defence Estate Office, Cantonment Board Jabalpur and Army QRT reached the spot and demolished the illegal construction of defence land. Defence Estate Office took the possession of defence land. In further investigation, it was found that the Khullar couple had sold out the defence land through registry from Deputy Registrar Office, on September 27, 2023. The matter came to light when buyer Nishant Sharma reached at Defence Estate Office and applied for construction on land. In scrutiny of documents, Defence Estate Officer learnt about illegal sale of defence land.
Budget covers all sections of society: CM Dr Yadav





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that for the first time in the State, a budget of more than 3.60 lakh crores has been presented. The speciality of the budget is that no tax of any kind has been imposed on public. The expected amount of any department has not been reduced, but the allocation for all departments have been increased. The theme of the budget is Developed India-Developed Madhya Pradesh. The size of the budget will be doubled in the next five years, ensuring GDP growth as per the expectations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All sections, especially youth, poor, women, farmers etc, have been taken care of in the budget. At the same attention to modern technology including IT have been given. Talking to the media, Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that special arrangements have been made in the budget for the students who are studying in hostels. He said that adequate provisions have been made in the budget to encourage milk production in the State. Adequate funds have also been provided for cow shelters. Budget provision for industrial development has been increased by 40 per cent. A large amount has also been provided for self-help groups including heavy industries, MSME and cottage industries. It will give a push to infrastructure projects.

Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that Simhastha is going to be organised on a grand scale in the State. Simhastha held in Ujjain is a grand and divine. For Simhastha, a provision of Rs 500 crore has been made as a token amount for the purpose of adequate arrangements at the temples of 13 districts of Indore and Ujjain division. Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that for senior citizens a special scheme is being started. For the care of parents of youth working in other states or abroad, such societies will be encouraged in urban areas, where all necessary arrangements including medical facilities will be available for senior citizens. The private sector coming forward in this direction will be provided support by the State Government.

Chief Minister Dr Yadav said that a record number of tourists have come to the state. Along with religious tourism, there are sufficient activities in heritage tourism, forest tourism. Along with this, provision of funds has been made to encourage education and health tourism. The state has the highest production capacity of Shri Anna in the country. Shri Anna Anusandhan Kendra is being opened in Dindori. Similarly, under pulses, gram research center will be opened in Malwa, mustard research center will be opened in Chambal. Along with taking strict action to prevent cow-related crimes, the State Government has declared this year as the Cow Protection Year. As a result of the public welfare schemes of the State Government, more than 2.30 crore people have come out of the poverty. The State Government will continue to work for the better life of the common people by implementing employment-oriented schemes in the State.
CISF constable who slapped Kangana shifted to Ktaka unit





NEW DELHI,

CISF constable Kulwinder Kaur, who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut at the Chandigarh airport last month, has been transferred to a unit in Bengaluru pending a disciplinary inquiry, official sources said on Wednesday. Kaur was suspended by the central armed police force on June 6 soon after the alleged incident took place when the newly elected MP was travelling to Delhi. A police FIR was also lodged against the constable on a complaint by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

The sources said Kaur is under suspension and has been posted to the 10th reserve battalion based in the Karnataka capital pending a disciplinary inquiry. She was shifted to the unit soon after the incident in the fair interest of the investigation that is underway, they said. A senior commandant-rank officer is conducting the inquiry, and statements of the constable, her colleagues present at the airport that day, the shift in-charge and some airline officials are being recorded, the sources said. They said the inquiry would take some time, following which an appropriate decision would be taken.

Kaur, who is from Punjab, joined the CISF in 2009 and has been with its aviation security group at the Chandigarh airport since 2021. She has had no vigilance inquiry or punishment awarded against her in the force till now. Her husband too was posted at the Chandigarh airport. Kaur was apparently upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers protests that took place in the country. Ranaut, 38, was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Mandi seat of Himachal Pradesh.
Downpour continues in parts of State, temperature dips further





Staff Reporter

Two weather systems are active in Madhya Pradesh due to the cyclonic circulation and trough line. On Wednesday, Bhopal and Indore recorded downpour with sharp decline in day temperature. Most of the districts in State recorded storm, rain, thunder and lightning. Heavy rainfall was received in seven districts including Guna and Ashok Nagar. Meteorology Department said heavy rain fall and storm will be continued in parts of State for a week. Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain and a few other cities is likely to receive heavy rain during midnight on Wednesday. Areas in Bhopal including MP Nagar, Tulsi Nagar, New Market, Kolar Road, Raisen Road and other few locations saw traffic chaos with the downpour on Wednesday. Weather Department has released orange alert for three days. This year June has broken all records with 9.6 inches of rainfall. In past ten years, this is the third time highest rainfall in city.

Weather officials said that this year chances are to break the record of year 2021 when 10.5 inches of rain was recorded. Bhopal has started receiving rain since June 21. Meteorology department has released alert for heavy rainfall till July 5. According to IMD, orange alert for July 5 while yellow alert is for July 8. IMD has said that day and night temperature will be declining with the rain. Weather scientists Arun Sharma said that a strong weather system is active above Madhya Pradesh and this is responsible for bringing ongoing heavy rains to the state. Alerts have been issued for intense showers for Gwalior and Morena on Thursday. Other parts can experience thunderstorms and lightning also.

Light rain is expected in Shivpuri, Sheopur, Datias Ratanpur, Orchha in Niwari, Tikamgarh, Bhind, Balaghat, Mandla, Seoni, Rewa, and Satna. By Sunday afternoon, weather conditions may change in Chitrakoot, Mauganj, northern Chhatarpur, Dindori, and Anuppur. Bhopal and Jabalpur could also experience rainfall. A yellow alert for thunderstorms and lightning has been forecast for Indore, Ujjain and other districts on Sunday. Also, there is an orange alert for heavy rain in Niwari, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Damoh, Katni, Jabalpur, Sagar and Balaghat. Heavy rain may also occur in Gwalior, Bhopal, Morena, Bhind, Datia, Shivpuri, Ashoknagar, Satna, Maihar, Umaria, Shahdol, Anuppur, Dindori, Khargone, Khandwa, Sehore, Narmadapuram.
Hathras families grieve loss of their children





By Arunav Sinha

HATHRAS (UP),

SATYENDRA Yadav was walking towards his vehicle after the satsang when his wife called -- their three-year-old son Chhota had died in the stampede that had broken out moments earlier. The 29-year-old driver from Delhi had reached here with his family, including his mother and two sisters-in-law. Just before the programme ended, Yadav, along with his mother and elder son, Mayank (4), started walking towards his vehicle, a three-wheeler loader. As we reached my vehicle, I got a call from my wife...She said, Pilua thaane aa jaao, Chhota khatam ho gayaa hai (Come to the Pilua police station, Chhota is no more), Yadav told PTI. The three-year-old son of Yadav, Rovin, was affectionately called as Chhota by his family. He was among the 121 people, who died in the stampede here on Tuesday. Like Rovin, there are more families who lost their children in the tragic incident. For the brother-sister duo Kaavya (3) and Ayush (9), the bus journey from Jaipur, Rajasthan, on Monday evening to the event venue here proved to be their last.

Both the grieving families said they never imagined that such an incident would take place at a religious gathering.

Yadav said he, along with his wife, their two sons and his wifes two sisters, had left Delhi on Monday night at around 11 pm and reached here by 5.30 am (on Tuesday). His mother had reached the event from their village in Etah, Uttar Pradesh, separately. It is indeed very devastating for me and my family, Yadav, who performed the last rites of his son in his village on Tuesday night, said. High security outside ashram: A LARGE number of police personnel has been deployed outside the ashram of a religious preacher a day after stampede at his Satsang in Hathras district killed 121 people and injured 31, officials said Wednesday.

However, the officials remained tight-lipped when asked if Baba Narayan Hari, also known as Saakar Vishwa Hari Bhole Baba, was inside the ashram. But, some police sources said he indeed was inside. Police Personnel pooled from many police stations have been deployed outside the ashram at Bicchwan here and no one, including the media, is allowed in. According to the latest list released by the Relief Commissioners Office in Lucknow, 121 persons have died and 35 are injured in the incident in Hathras. Circle Officer Sunil Kumar Singh said security has been tightened after the stampede incident. When asked if Baba is inside, he did not give a reply. The stampede took place on Tuesday as the satsang ended. Some accounts said people slipped in the slush as they ran after the preachers car, triggering the stampede. Tens of thousands of devotees had gathered in the Hathras district for the satsang.
HATHRAS (UP),

THE death toll in the stampede that broke out in a satsang here rose to 121 on Wednesday and police filed an FIR against the organisers, accusing them of hiding evidence and flouting conditions with 2.5 lakh people crammed into a venue in which only 80,000 were permitted. A day after the stampede in Phulrai village at a congregation by religious preacher Bhole Baba snuffed out the lives of their loved ones, stunned families tried to come to terms with their loss  dazed at how an afternoon out could have ended in such tragedy. Crowds gathered around hospitals, some looking for those missing, some there to identify bodies and others tending to the injured.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced a judicial probe into the Hathras stampede as he met those injured in the incident at the venue of the religious congregation here. Adityanath did not rule out the possibility of a conspiracy in the stampede. He also said the sevadars (volunteers working for the satsang organisers) should have taken the victims to the hospital. People were dying and the sevadars fled, he claimed. Asserting the Government will ensure that such incidents do not recur, the Chief Minister said a standard operating procedure might be put in place for religious congregations. A judicial probe by a retired high court judge will be conducted into the incident. A notification about this will be issued today, he said. If this is not an accident, then whose conspiracy is this? All of these will be probed.

Retired officials of the police and civic administration will be part of the judicial inquiry and action will be taken against those found responsible. Adityanath said the Government had formed a Special Investigation Team led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of police, Agra, which has given its preliminary report. She (ADG, Agra, Anupam Kulshreshtha) has been asked to get to the bottom of this incident, he said. According to the Office of the Relief Commissioner, the number of people injured stands at 28. Only four of the 121 bodies remained to be identified. Plea in SC seeks appointment of expert panel to probe incident: A PLEA was filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking the appointment of a five-member expert committee under the supervision of a retired apex court judge to probe the Hathras stampede incident which claimed 121 lives.
Mandideep-Indore road bypass project may be cancelled!





By Ankita Garg

Though the Government has put a halt on cutting of around 29,000 trees in Shivaji Nagar and Tulsi Nagar areas to save greenery but at the same time, four-lane west bypass project connecting Indore Road from Mandideep, near Phanda, 21 kilometre away from Bhopal may cancelled.Sources said that the proposed project will be reviewed for the third time concerned over the environment safety and conservation of Upper Lake in Bhopal. The proposed bypass line will be passing through Upper Lake catchment areas including Jhagariya Khurd, Mundala, Kharpa, Narela, Tilakhedi, Jatakhedi, Kokoria, Borkhedi, Rasulia Ghat, Dobi, Pipalia Dhakad, Phanda Kala, etc.

With construction of the bypass, River Uljhawan and Kolans will be affected and these two are the main source river for the Upper Lake. Around 12 km of road in this project will be passing through villages. Talking to The Hitavada, Mohammed Ismail Khan, Urban Development Expert said, Any project spoiling the greenery of city would not be suitable for the public. He further informed that after the bypass project came into light when local villagers raised objection on various issues. Villagers said that around 100 trees will be cut down in village Sarvar, a Lord Shiva Temple situated since 11th Century is on the line, Upper Lake will be affected after disturbing the River Uljhawan and Kolans water, there is requirement of grant permission of Union Environment Minister as road is passing through Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary.

There is high forest in six km of area and it is not possible to destroy the jungle, the road is passing through 12 villages in catchment area which is also part of Ramsar Site where construction is not allowed. The proposed project worth three thousand crores including 15 km road, 21 km away from the urban border. The project also includes compensatory amount of Rs 427 crore and there is plan to make two flyovers, There is 12 km dense forest in this line and after construction, dense forest will be destroyed which is not acceptable by the people.
Of a critical public utility...





Vijay Phanshikar

FOR reasons known and unknown, also for reasons of inefficiency or apathy, as well as for reasons of inability to factor a critical utility component in urban thought and plan, the city of Nagpur has not been able to solve the problem of good public toilets in adequate numbers with appropriate upkeep in tune with simple norms of sanitation and hygiene. By any and every definition, this is a serious lacuna the city has been harbouring for all these years. Thanks to an opportunity to participate in an educational exercise called Vertical Studio engaging groups of students of a leading college of architecture, the loosefooter could delve a little deeper into the issue of public toilets. Fifteen groups of students had prepared models of public toilets using different academic tools and intellectual perspectives. The exercise culminated with a Panel Discussion in which the loosefooter participated. Besides being a truly good academic experience, the event provided much food for thought about the issue of public toilets in the city.

Though all the panelists -- including persons from civic authority, social work, medicare, and media --lauded the students designs and efforts, each also cautioned that the socio-cultural scenario does not hold much promise about having good public toilets since the facilities would run the risk of getting damaged by thieves and abusers. However, the loosefooter has always felt that a utility as critical as public toilets factors in urban thought and plan pretty low on the list of priorities. Thanks to that, allocation of funds, too, for the facility is on a low key all the time. Thanks to that, the city has developed a bad reputation on account of public toilets. Some social organisations and socially-oriented individuals did try to provide good public toilets here and there. However, this vast citys requirement is much bigger than those attempts. Frankly speaking, a city of the shape and size and socio-cultural condition of Nagpur requires something like 2,500 public toilets with about 10 cubicles each for all demographic segments.

This number can be terribly daunting, so to say -- and probably impractical as many may tend to apprehend. The loosefooter does not think so. Having watched the city scene for the past five-plus decades as a journalist, he believes that the city of Nagpur has every right to ask for such a critical facility in such deserving numbers. For, only then will the city be able to keep its sanitation and hygiene levels high -- to begin with. The loosefooter is sure that he is not talking of a utopia, but a very practical and practicable expectation. However, he is also quite apprehensive that the powers that be in administration and politics, may find this expectation an impossibility -- mainly considering the size of funding and management effort it may call for. No matter that, the loosefooter will never hesitate to state what he believes in right.
Over Rs 3,200 cr sanctioned for 18 works of NH in Cgarh: Dy CM





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has provisioned Rs 3,321 crore for the year 2024-25 for 18 works for the upgradation and widening of National Highways in Chhattisgarh. Talking to media persons at his official residence in Raipur, Deputy Chief Minister Sao said that double engine Government, over Rs 3,200 crore has been provisioned for construction and renovation of 253.21 kilometres of the National Highways in the state. The amount is almost four times more than the provisions of the last five years, he added.

Upgradation and widening of NH-130-D, widening and repairing of NH-130-C, widening and repairing of NH-30, construction of drain on NH-43, construction of cement concrete of NH-163, widening and upgradation of NH-130-B, widening and upgradation of NH-130-B, widening and upgradation of NH-130-B on Balodabazar-Sarangarh route from Balodabazar to Sel, widening of NH-143-B, widening of NH-30, widening of NH-130-B, reconstruction of small bridge on NH-130, construction of bridge on NH-30, construction of railway over-bridge on NH-163-A, widening and upgradation of NH-153 on Raigarh-Saraipali road, construction of balance work on NH-30 on Keshkal bypass on Kanker-Bedma section and construction of bus-way on NH-43 will be carried out.

Besides, Rs 35 crore has been provisioned for survey and preparation of detailed project report (DPR) of 1,006 kilometres, said Arun Sao. Replying to a query on timing of completion of these works, the Deputy Chief Minister said that National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would issue the project reports and invite tenders for these works. Deputy Chief Minister Sao expressed gratitude towards Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari for sanctioning these works.
Sejbahar encroachment razed on CMs directive





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR,

Taking swift action on the complaint received during Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sais Jandarshan last week, the Raipur district administration has removed encroachment from a five-acre plot adjacent to the main road in Sejbahar.

During the Chief Ministers Jandarshan programme, locals complained that Santosh Dahariya, a resident of Banarsi village in Mana, had illegally occupied nearly five acres of land along the main road in Sejbahar. He had constructed permanent structures and was involved in the illegal sale of the land. Sai took the complaint of Government land encroachment seriously and instructed Raipur Collector Dr Gaurav Singh to investigate and take immediate action. Collector Dr Singh assigned Raipur SDM and his team to investigate the matter. After the revenue staff conducted their investigation, it was confirmed that the land was indeed encroached upon.

The illegal occupant had erected shop-like structures on the land and there were complaints of illegal land sales to others. Besides, farmers faced difficulties accessing their fields behind this land during the current farming season. With the assistance of JCB machines, shop-like structures illegally built on this land were demolished in the presence of SDM Nandkumar Choubey, Tehsildar Pawan Kosma, Additional Tehsildar Tulsi Rathore, police, and revenue staff. Besides, wire fencing installed by several individuals on parts of the land was also removed. The removal of these illegal encroachments will facilitate easier access for farmers to their fields and safeguard government land. Farmers will be able to cultivate their crops smoothly during the current monsoon season, free from disputes and conflicts when traveling to and from their agricultural lands.
Strong OPPOSITION to regularisation of Vivekananda statue at Ambazari dam





Staff Reporter

THE petitioners in the Ambazari floods public interest litigation (PIL), have filed a comprehensive rejoinder before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court and staunchly opposed the proposed regularisation of the Vivekananda statue at Ambazari dam. The petitioners, through their counsel Tushar Mandlekar, asserted that the construction of the Vivekananda statue within what the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) designates as a recreational zone, depicted in light green on the sanctioned development plan, is misleading. They contend that the statues base and pedestal are mere five metres from the spillway tray and weir which are crucial components of the Ambazari dams infrastructure.This placement, they argue, significantly impedes the free flow of water and reduces the spill channels width, as highlighted in a damning report by M/s Hitbhav Engineers, engaged by the Command Area Development Authority, Nagpur. Central to their argument is the assertion that the statues location falls within ano development zone, designated as a blue zone in the sanctioned development plan.

The petitioners cite government notifications dating back to 2013, 2018, and 2022 which establishes restricted zones around dams to prevent any construction within 200 meters. They stressed that the construction of the Vivekananda Statue in 2016 violated multiple statutory provisions, including Wetland Rules 2010, DCR 2020, MRTP Act 1966, and the Irrigation Act 1976, without requisite permissions. Drawing parallels with previous instances where statues obstructing urban infrastructure were relocated for public safety reasons, such as those of Mahatma Gandhi, Rani Laxmi Bai, and Lal Bahadur Shastri, the petitioners argue for the urgent relocation of the Vivekananda Statue.They highlight the statues obstruction of the spillway and tail channel of the Ambazari Dam as a critical risk factor contributing to floods, citing a tragic incident on September 23, 2023, where it allegedly exacerbated flood damage to public and private properties, leading to substantial financial losses and casualties. The rejoinder urges the Bombay High Court to reject any attempt to regulariae the statue and to direct the concerned authorities, including the NMC and the Maharashtra government, to relocate it immediately.

The Division bench of Justices Nitin Sambre and Abhay Mantri is expected to hear arguments from both sides in the next weeks and the hearing on Wednesday was adjourned on the request of the State. Petitioners cross UDs arguments of public funds in statue construction IN A recent affidavit dated June 27, 2024, the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, expressed firm intentions to proceed with the regularization of the Vivekananda Statue at Ambazari Dam, citing the significant investment of public funds. However, the rejoinder references past instances where government-built structures were demolished to accommodate larger infrastructure projects, notably: Chhatrapati Square fly-over INITIALLY constructed to ease traffic flow onWardha Road, the Chhatrapati Square Flyover was later dismantled due to its inadequacy. The initial construction cost amounted to Rs 28 crore. Later, the flyover was demolished to make way for a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul, including a metro rail integration which cost an additional Rs 2 crore. Ganesh Tekdi fly-over BUILT near the railway station in 2008 at a cost of around Rs 16.23 crore, the Ganesh Tekdi Flyover was demolished to alleviate traffic congestion. The demolition incurred an expenditure of Rs 3 crore and paved the way for a new six-lane road. The affidavit also referenced cost escalations in infrastructure projects, such as the Ram Jhula Bridge.
Vaishnaw calls for global collective bid to deal with risks, dangers posed by AI





NEW DELHI,

UNION Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said nations and societies across the world are becoming increasingly aware of new threats and risks emerging from AI and asserted that an effective solution to such challenges can come only from collective global efforts. The Minister for Electronics and IT further said a comprehensive India AI Mission - which was cleared by Cabinet earlier this year - will be launched in the next 2-3 months.

The whole package... The whole AI Mission which was approved by the Cabinet a couple of months back... The team is working on setting the foundation and all seven pillars... And maybe in 2-3 months we will be launching this mission, Vaishnaw said while speaking at Global IndiaAI Summit here. It may be recalled that the Cabinet, in March this year, approved an allocation of over Rs 10,300 crore for the IndiaAI Mission, marking a significant step towards bolstering Indias AI ecosystem.

This financial infusion, slated over the next five years, aims to catalyse various components of the IndiaAI Mission, including areas like the IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre (IAIC), IndiaAI Datasets Platform. IndiaAI Application Development Initiative, IndiaAI FutureSkills, IndiaAI Startup Financing, and safe and trusted AI. Vaishnaw on Wednesday said Indias approach in the AI Mission will be all about democratising technology. The Minister, during his inaugural address said while the potential of AI for transformation and social good are evident, countries across the world also recognise the threats and risks from this new technology.
Yadav Govt presents Rs 3.65 lakh cr budget





By Bhavana Aparajita

Shukla

BHOPAL,

Amid a never-before bedlam, created by the Opposition Congress members over the Nursing Colleges Scam, in the State Assembly, the Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda on Wednesday presented Rs 3.65 lakh crore State budget for the financial year 2024-25. No new taxes were announced in the budget, which Finance Minister Jagdish Devda termed as sarvsparshi (all-inclusive) budget. Of this whopping amount a lions share will go to the agriculture sector to the tune of Rs 66,605 crore and Rs 21,444 crore to the health sector. Similarly, an amount of Rs 26,560 crore for the Women and Child Development Department to cater to some flagship schemes like Ladli Bahna Yojana. With a promise to recruit 7,500 police personnel and 11,000 teachers in various schools, the Finance Minister also earmarked an amount of Rs 500 crore for Simhastha (Kumbh mela) which is far away and to be organised in the year 2028. The ambitious CM RISE School Scheme will also get good amount of funds.

Maintaining a pro-cow stance, the Finance Minister announced to triple the fund for arranging animal-feed in Gaushalas and allocated an amount of Rs 250 crore for the purpose. The per cow per day expense has been hiked from Rs 20 to Rs 40 in the budget, the Finance Minister announced and said that the year 2024-25 is being celebrated as Gau-vansh Raksha Varsh (bovine family protection year). To appease the majority Hindu community, the State Government made budgetary allocations for schemes like Shree Krishna Pathey Yojana, which has recently been introduced. The State has a plan to develop the stretch that Lord Krishna had covered in the State and develop those destinations that have gained religious importance after his mythological visits.

A similar scheme had earlier been launched by the State Government to develop the destinations where Lord Rama had once travelled in the State. Finance Minister Devda announced in the House that an amount of Rs 1,081 crore has been earmarked for various such schemes like Lord Shree Krishna Pathey scheme for Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Yojana. etc. Interestingly, the Finance Minister announced financial assistance to those poor inmates who are languishing in various prisons as they could not afford to pay fine imposed by the court. The new scheme, the Finance Minister announced, is known as Gareeb Quaidiyon Ko Vittiya Sahayata (financial assistance to poor inmates).
The National Cybercrime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested a Nigerian prankster, Mr. Ubani Zion Chibuike (AKA ZFancy), at an apartment in Wuye, Abuja.

According to ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, the arrest followed the circulation of accusatory videos on social media, where ZFancy was alleged to have committed heinous crimes, including rape.

These videos caused significant apprehension among social media users.

Furthermore, ZFancy came out and claimed the videos were scripted and part of his attempt to regain the spotlight after a break, the Police said.

Regardless, such actions have serious implications and can not be taken lightly. The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to maintaining public safety and ensuring that individuals are held accountable for actions that incite fear or disturb public peace.

The Police therefore warns pranksters and content creators to be law-abiding and be conscious of pranks and contents that could pose threats to the public and jeopardise the general security of our country. We urge the public to remain calm as we proceed with the necessary legal actions in this case, ACP Adejobi added.
China's open sci-tech cooperation benefits humanity

13:31, July 04, 2024 By Yan Yu ( People's Daily

Foreign participants visit the exhibition booth of China Unicom in the Mobile World Congress (MWC) held in Shanghai, June 26, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Long Wei)

Currently, countries around the world are facing global challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy security. To overcome common development challenges, humanity needs international cooperation, openness, and sharing more than ever before.

At the same time, the world has entered an era of "big science," where scientific research and technological innovation have become more complex, systematic, and collaborative. No country can be an independent innovation center or enjoy the benefits of innovation alone. International cooperation has become an inevitable choice to promote technological innovation.

China has always been a participant in and a beneficiary of as well as a contributor to and a promoter of open cooperation in scientific and technological development. In recent years, China has proposed an international science and technology cooperation initiative, led several large international cooperation projects, and implemented the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan. China's influence as an important global innovation hub continues to grow.

China has been continuously expanding its "circle of friends" in the global innovation network. As of October 2023, China has established scientific and technological cooperation relationships with 161 countries and regions and signed 117 intergovernmental agreements on scientific and technological cooperation.

It has engaged in practical cooperation with various countries in areas such as climate change, clean energy, and health, building a multi-level, comprehensive, and wide-ranging new pattern of open cooperation in scientific and technological development.

A contestant competes in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) maintenance competition during the second Belt and Road International Skills Competition in southwest China's Chongqing municipality, June 25, 2024. (People's Daily Online/Sun Kaifang)

China has deeply integrated into the global technology governance system. As of October 2023, the country had joined over 200 international organizations and multilateral mechanisms, and participated in nearly 60 large international cooperation programs and projects. Its contribution and influence in these organizations have significantly increased.

Additionally, China has taken the initiative to set global technology innovation agendas, leading the Green Powered Future Mission (GPFM) and launching an international technology innovation and cooperation program on carbon neutrality.

China is continuously expanding its opening up in science and technology, creating a favorable environment for open innovation. In recent years, China has set up a globally oriented scientific research fund, stepped up the opening-up of the national science and technology programs, and encouraged and supported foreign scientists in addressing global challenges.

It has strengthened exchanges and interactions with governments, scientific communities, and industries of various countries, promoting the smooth flow of innovative factors of talents, technology, capital, and data. It also supports joint research and development among scientists from different countries, so that they can work together on research programs that contribute to global sustainable development.

Openness brings opportunities, and cooperation drives development. Reviewing China's scientific and technological progress in the new era, one can see new breakthroughs in basic and cutting-edge research, new leaps in strategic high-tech fields, and new achievements in innovation-driven high-quality development, such as translating human somatic cells back into pluripotent stem cells using the chemical cellular reprogramming technique, the superdeep boreholes drilled by China's land-based drilling rig Crust 1, the expedition of China's deep-sea manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) into the depths of the ocean, the commercial operation of China's self-developed large passenger aircraft, and China's new energy vehicles (NEVs) providing new momentum for the global auto industry. These successes paint a vivid picture of how China has enhanced its innovation capabilities through open cooperation.

A Long March-2C rocket carrying an astronomical satellite, the Space-based Multi-band Variable Object Monitor (SVOM), a result of China-France cooperation, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province, June 22, 2024. (Photo/Chen Haojie)

China shares its wisdom and achievements in open cooperation. From the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) project exploring the mysteries of the universe, to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project striving to bring unlimited clean energy to humanity, and to the Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (ONCE) plan aimed at providing intelligent solutions for global ocean carbon sinks, Chinese scientists are actively involved in major international scientific programs and projects. They work hand in hand with scientists around the world, contributing Chinese wisdom to major global scientific challenges.

Today, China's space station has extended invitations to space explorers worldwide, the Chang'e-6 probe has carried four international payloads to the moon, and the FAST is open for international cooperation.

Regardless of the complexity of the international environment, China consistently maintains an open-minded approach, keeps its doors open, and remains committed to ensuring that science and technology better benefit all of humanity.

International science and technology cooperation is a major trend. China's technological advancement is becoming increasingly interdependent with the rest of the world, and global technological progress is also increasingly reliant on China.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) has proposed to set up a state-of-art modern integrated inter-state long and short distance bus terminus on 35 acre of land at Durgapur.

Kabi Dutta, after taking charge as new chairman of Asansol Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) has taken up the initiative to set up the inter-state bus terminus at Durgapur.

The proposed inter-state bus terminus will have an ATM, market, toilets, seating arrangements for passengers, eateries etc. We have also planned for beautification of Durgapur city and setting up an art gallery. Hope that by 2025, the construction work of the new bus terminus will be completed, said Kabi Dutta, chairman of ADDA.

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During the administrative meeting of West Burdwan district of chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee in 2018, Kabi Dutta, who was at that time the president of Durgapur Chamber of Commerce had urged to set up an inter-state bus terminus at Durgapur few years ago.

At that time, it was planned to set up on 45 acre of unused land of Bharat Opthalmic Glass Limited (BOGL) factory near DVC More of Durgapur. But till date the project has not come up.

At a high level meeting held at the office of the sub-divisional magistrate of Durgapur, in which state panchayat minister Pradip Mazumdar, ADDA chairman Kabi Dutta, chairman of South Bengal State Transport Corporation, Subhas Modal, Anindita Mukherjee, chairperson of the board of administrators of Durgapur Municipal Corporation and other top officials were present. It has been decided that the state government will set up a state of the inter-state bus terminus at Durgapur.

It has been decided that the detailed project report (DPR) will be prepared first for the state-of-the-art inter-state bus terminus at Durgapur and will be sent within the next six months to the state government for sanction.

Long distance Volvo buses and SBSTC new inter-district and inter-state buses ply from City Centre in Durgapur. The new inter-state bus terminus at Durgapur will further boost the tourism infrastructure in the state, said panchayat minister Pradip Mazumdar.

Long distance inter-district and inter-state buses ply to cities like Puri, Ranchi, Bhagalpur and Purulia, Kalna, Katwa, Krishnanagar, Berhampore, Bankura, Siliguri etc from Durgapur.
Bangalir 12 mashe, 13 parbon (Bengalis have 12 months but 13 festivals) is a phrase that most of us Bongs are well attuned to. The grand festivals, the aesthetics, and the energy experienced in Bengal during these various festivals are unmatched. One such festival that the Bengalis are gearing up for is Rath Yatra.

The heart of Rath Yatra lies in the pilgrim town of Puri in Orissa, and the festival is associated with the deity Jagannath (also known as Lord Krishna), Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Celebrated with the onset of the monsoon during the later days of June or the early days of July, Rath Yatra is a festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm not only in Orissa but also in West Bengal.

On this day, Prabhu Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra go out on chariots with thousands of worshippers pulling at the ropes, believing that the deities travel to their aunts place on this auspicious day. In West Bengal, Rath Yatra is celebrated in several places, but the notable ones are:

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Mahesh:

Believed to be among the first Rath Yatra festivals in West Bengal, this celebration is more than six centuries old and happens in the Hooghly district, attracting people from far and wide to witness the grand celebrations. The chariot has been rebuilt several times, but the magnificence of this celebration has not diminished.

Mayapur:

This is another ancient celebration that has garnered mass worshippers who travel to Mayapur to witness the festivities. It is believed that the idols were carved more than 500 years ago. The chariots travel to the ISKCON headquarters, and the whole procession is accompanied by devotional songs and dancing, with people chanting Jai Jagannath while pulling on the ropes.

ISKCON in Kolkata:

This is perhaps the biggest Rath Yatra festival in Kolkata. Not just Bengalis but people from other states arrive in the city to be part of the celebrations. The chariot carrying the deities travels throughout the city to mark the celebrations.

Apart from these, Rath Yatra is a celebration that Bengalis have been linked to for years. With schools and offices closed on the day, markets are filled with small chariots that children purchase. Nostalgia hits when the roads are filled with small kids pulling their own small Rath chariots with the three deities inside. You will often find kids distributing prasad to every passerby as they continue pulling the chariot.

The day is marked with families coming together for special puja, and as one knows, no festival in Bengali life can ever be complete without food. From pappads to jalebis, you will find Bengalis with their TV channel focused on a local channel showcasing the Rath Yatra celebrations while munching on some papads.
Drugs are allegedly sold near a school at Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas, which is just a stones throw from the local panchayat office and a police post.

Allegations have surfaced that drugs were being sold on government land, right under the administrations nose. When the local high school headmaster protested against this, he faced severe harassment from the accused. It is alleged that they forced him to consume a packet of cannabis. In response to this incident, students put up posters outside the school on Wednesday, leading to tension at Burul High School in Budge Budge-2 block, South 24-Parganas. Students and locals alleged that in Burul, within the Budge Budge-2 block, drugs were being sold on government school land. For some time, illegal activities were being carried out from there. Teachers and female students faced obscene moments. Seeing these disturbances increasing, the headmaster, Tusharkanti Mandal, protested.

Locals reported that Shankar Naskar and his family members were expanding their illegal business by occupying the land. They were attempting to set up another makeshift shop near the school. When Tushar brought this to the attention of the local administration and parents, he prevented the construction of the temporary shop. However, since then, Shankar and his family members have allegedly been regularly threatening both students and teachers. The school authorities formally notified the administration about these threats.

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On Tuesday afternoon, during recess, the headmaster had stepped out of the school. It is alleged that Shankar and some of his family members attacked him with bamboo sticks, forcing a packet of cannabis into his mouth. Locals rushed to the scene and Shankar and his group fled when confronted.

The school authorities have lodged another complaint with the administration. Police had also visited the spot but the accused attempted to attack the headmaster again with bamboo sticks in front of the police while he was returning home after school. Tension prevailed on Wednesday. Teachers and students remain in fear. The students have demanded swift administrative action, threatening to block the road if their demands are not met.

The deputy head of the Burul gram panchayat stated, The shop was established during the Left Front regime. We do not know under whose influence it was set up.
The discovery of a mutilated body of an unidentified woman in an undressed state has caused a stir in the Garia area, adjacent to Kolkata city.

Police sources reported that the body of the woman was found on Tuesday near Garia Gangajoara Road in the Narendrapur police station area. Her body bore marks wounds from a sharp weapon. After an initial investigation, police believed that the woman was murdered. However, the name and identity of the deceased are yet to be ascertained. The body was sent for autopsy on Tuesday.

Local residents reported seeing the mutilated body of a woman lying in a bush beside Gangajoara Road. They immediately informed the Narendrapur police station. The police arrived and recovered the body. However, no one claimed to have seen the woman in the area before. An eyewitness stated, I was shocked to see the body of a half-clad woman lying in the rain. Her face was infested with insects. We demand a thorough investigation.

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Meanwhile, the police are collecting footage from all the CCTV cameras installed on that road and in shops. Investigators are also questioning local residents and business owners regarding the matter. Faizal Bin Ahmed, DSP (crime) of the Baruipur police district, said, The matter is being investigated. The police are conducting an ongoing investigation.

Clash between Trinamul factions:

Harua village in Suti police station area in Murshidabad was tense after a fight between two factions of the Trinamul Congress on Monday. Bombs were used as the two sides clashed with sticks, bamboo poles, and swords. Villagers stayed inside due to the clash. Police have already arrested 24 individuals.

In the Harua panchayat, out of 26 seats, the Congress and Left alliance captured power by winning 12 seats with the support of two BJP members. However, before this, almost everyone in the village supported the Trinamul Congress.

Before the panchayat elections many Trinamul leaders, including Masrekul Sheikh, left the party and stood against Trinamuls regional president, Kota Sheikh and his followers. They left realizing that they would not get party nominations. Many of them won. The alliance formed the board by making Congresss winning member Rakhi Rabidas the head in the reserved seat.

After some time, before the Lok Sabha election, Masrekul and most of his group rejoined the Trinamul in the presence of Khalilur Rahman and Zakir Hossain. Since then, there have been two factions of Trinamul in Harua. During the LS election, everyone campaigned for Trinamuls candidate Khalilur.
The recent mob lynching incidents that took place in the district have not only shaken the common people but also alarmed the district police. The police are making announcements on the public address system warning people not to take law in their hands.

A youth Ashis Baul Das at Pandua Darbhashini area, after attending Manasha Puja was on his way back home on his bike. He accidentally hit another bike from the rear at Gorugharh area. Local youth attacked Ashis. They mercilessly thrashed him and left him seriously injured. He was carried to his house and was admitted at Pandua Gramin Hospital but was soon shifted to Chinsurah hospital. Still critical, he was rushed to a hospital in Kolkata on Saturday. He died in Kolkata.

The family members of the victim lodged a complaint with the Pandua police. The police then arrested Laltu Baul Das and Shubhankar Das. The police are in search of others involved in mob lynching.

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In another incident, a group of people picked up Biswajit Manna (23) from his house on Sunday evening at Ranabadh in Pharpur gram panchayat, Tarakeswar. They suspected that Biswajit had committed theft. The commercial vehicle driver was badly thrashed by the group of people. His mother pleaded that her son was innocent but the mob paid no heed to it. They seriously injured Biswajit. He was rushed to Tarakeswar Gramin Hospital where the attending doctor declared him brought-dead.

The police have arrested Bikash Samanta, Debkanta Samanta and are in search of others.
Sahitya Akademi, in collaboration with New Alipore College, organized Mulakat, a session of poems and short story reading sessions by budding Bengali writers.

The initiative was by Sahitya Akademi to encourage vernacular literature.

The programme was inaugurated by professor Jaydeep Sarangi, principal of the college. He stressed upon the Sahitya Akademis contribution in giving opportunity to young authors and promoting regional language, literature and culture in post-Independent India.

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Khetrabasi Nayak, the officer in-charge of Sahitya Akademi talked on the importance of exploring the minds of young authors as their work contains the aroma of the soil. Bibhas Roy Chowdhury chaired the poetry and short story reading session. Five budding Bengali writers, Raka Dasgupta, Samranghee Bandyopadhyay, Shamik Ghosh, Gourab Chakraborty and Shyam Bandyopadhyay took part in the poetry and short story reading session. Around 150 students, teachers, scholars and writers attended the programme.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) Devender Yadav on Thursday took a jibe at the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government over the condition of the health infrastructure at the hospitals run by it in the national capital.

Claiming that Delhi has been facing shortage of operation theatres, Yadav said, It is a matter of grave concern that out of the 235 operation theatres in the 28 government hospitals in Delhi, 62 are non-functional due to various reasons, including staff shortage and deficiency of equipment.

Six out of the 13 existing operation theatres at Delhis premier government hospital, the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital were shut following the hospital management sacking 51 paramedical staff and 170 nurses, who had rendered selfless service during the Covid-19 pandemic saving many lives with their dedication and commitment, he said.

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The Delhi Congress chief alleged that many operation theatres at the hospital had earlier been shut due to shortage of equipment and staff.

Attacking the ruling dispensation, Yadav said, The AAP government often boasts about carrying out over 200 tests in Mohalla Clinics, but for the past 10 years, several operation theatres in government hospitals have been lying non-functional. The Kejriwal government had not bothered to make them fully operational for the convenience of the patients.

Stating that the Congress has been highlighting the shortage of beds, staff and equipment in Delhi government hospitals for the past many years, he further said, But the Kejriwal government did not listen to Congress suggestions. The consequences of which were witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic when several innocent people lost their lives due to lack of medicines, medical oxygen, beds, equipment and staff.
The Women and Child Development Department of the Delhi Government has taken over the management of the Women Helpline number 181, previously handled by the Delhi Womens Commission.

The helpline number 181 began receiving calls at the Control Room from 4:58 pm on July 3. By 2 pm today, the helpline had received a total of 1,024 calls, the Delhi government said in a statement on Thursday.

Commenting on this development, Women and Child Development Minister of Delhi Kailash Gahlot said, The Women Helpline 181 has resumed its operation, now under the ambit of the WCD, as a robust support system for women in Delhi. We aim to ensure that every call is handled with the utmost care and that women in distress receive timely and effective assistance. The Delhi Government is committed to addressing issues of violence, abuse, and other concerns faced by women, reinforcing our dedication to their safety and well-being.

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Previously, the helpline was managed by the Delhi Womens Commission. However, following a directive from the Government of India, the responsibility has now been transferred to the Women and Child Development Department of the Delhi Government, as per a letter to the Chief Secretary dated 4 May 2023, the statement said.

The Women Helpline number 181 receives approximately 40,000 calls each month. It is a toll-free, 24-hour telecom service providing support and information to women seeking assistance.
Kevin Spacey has remained in the spotlight recently, albeit for controversial reasons. In the latest development, he is receiving a lifetime achievement award at the Teatro Antico in Taormina, Sicily, as part of the Nations Awards. Organized by Michel Curatolo and Marco Fallanca, with support from the Senate of the Italian Republic and the Region of Sicily, the event comes amid past allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey. Despite previous legal challenges, the actor acknowledged pushing boundaries in a recent interview, while another sexual assault case involving him is ongoing.

Recently interviewed, Spacey discussed the allegations and disclosed his financial struggles, hinting at bankruptcy. Since the allegations, he has made several attempts to rehabilitate his image and revive his career abroad, notably in Italy. His first film since the controversy, Franco Neros The Man Who Drew God, premiered in Italy in 2022. Last year, Spacey received another lifetime achievement award in Italy from the Italian National Museum of Cinema, also organized by Marco Fallanca, who is involved in this years event.

Following last years award, Vittorio Sgarbi, undersecretary to the Italian Ministry of Culture, commented, Were witnessing Kevin Spaceys comeback. According to Variety, organizers Marco and Michel stated, Kevin Spacey is a timeless monument of the history of cinema and theater, who unquestionably deserves to have his career back. They added, Both the public and the industry continue to miss his boundless talent, and we are extremely proud to stand by this extraordinary artist.

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The upcoming award ceremony on July 21 in Sicily will feature Spacey performing, as part of the summer events in the region. Its important to note that this ceremony is separate from the Taormina Film Festival, scheduled for July 13-19.
Aamir Khans son, Junaid Khan, famous for his performance in the latest film Maharaj recently revealed the reasons for his late debut and his absence from social media. He also expressed his feelings about working with the popular actor Sai Pallavi.

In a recent interview with News18, Junaid Khan talked about how he didnt want to haste his start in the film world and instead tried to take things slow.

Talking about his debut in Maharaj at the age of 31, he said, Before Maharaj happened, I had been receiving scripts. Ive been doing plays in Mumbai since 2017. At that time, I would also be offered film scripts and get calls for auditions and readings, on an on-and-off basis.

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Adding on, he said, Siddharth (P Malhotra; director) sir and Adi (Aditya Chopra; producer) sir saw my test for another film before they called me in for Maharaj. This is my first film because this is the first thing that worked out for everybody.

He also expressed how being absent from social media helped him keep his identity private. The actor stated,  People didnt know what I looked like largely because I never took to social media even when it became a thing. There was no conscious decision there. Its just how it happened and panned out.

He expressed gratitude to all the people who have appreciated his work in his debut film. It has been really heartwarming and gratifying. A lot of people from the industry who have liked the film have reached out. Ive had classmates from college who I havent spoken to in ten years and school texting me. Ive had lots of conversations with Adi sir. He really liked the film and my work in it, shares an overwhelmed Junaid.

Maharaj has recently received applause from actor Sai Pallavi who will be seen opposite to Junaid in his upcoming film, Ek Din which is produced by Aamir Khan. While expressing his joy on sharing the screen with Sai, he said, Sai Pallavi is absolutely fantastic. Ive my fingers crossed for this one.

Siddharth P Malhotras Maharaj was supposed to be released in early June but a stay order was imposed after a plea alleged that it hurt the sentiments of the Pushtimarg community. However, the Gujarat High Court cleared the film and lifted the stay order which led to the films release on Netflix.
The All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) has demanded that in the larger interest of the power sector and consumers, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill should not be brought in, and the failed experiment of privatisation be withdrawn.

Besides, the compulsion of coal imports should end and expert power engineers should be posted in top management, the AIPEF said.

A delegation of the AIPEF on Thursday met Union Power Minister Manohar Lal in Delhi and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard.

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Through the memorandum, the Federation has demanded that in the larger interest of the energy sector and electricity consumers, the proposal for the Electricity (Amendment) Bill not be brought now and the failed experiment of privatisation and urban distribution franchise be withdrawn.

AIPEF chairman Shailendra Dubey said in a statement here that the Federation has also demanded that in view of the continuously increasing production of coal, the instructions to the power generation houses of the states to import coal compulsorily should be withdrawn.

The Federation has said that to make the energy sector strong and self-reliant, expert power engineers should be posted to top management positions in all the power corporations of the country.

The memorandum of the Federation stated that in the last few years, the Central Government tried to amend the Electricity Act 2003 through the Electricity (Amendment) Bill. The main objective of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill was to give licenses to private houses in the field of electricity distribution and allow them to use the networks of public sector electricity distribution companies.

The noteworthy thing is that it was not mandatory for private sector power houses to provide electricity to all categories of consumers. Naturally, private sector companies would use the network of government distribution companies to provide electricity to profitable industrial and commercial consumers, which would worsen the financial condition of the government sector, which was neither in the interest of the power sector nor in the interest of poor domestic consumers and farmers.

The memorandum states that Urban Distribution Franchise was experimented in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and some other states but this experiment was a complete failure and the agreements of most of the Urban Distribution Franchises have been cancelled.

Similarly, the entire electricity distribution sector in Odisha state privatised. This experiment also failed miserably and all the licenses of Reliance Power were canceled in 2015. But unfortunately, again in 2020, the entire distribution area in Odisha has been given to Tata Power. Despite this, there has been no significant improvement. Therefore, the time has come to withdraw these failed experiments of privatization and urban distribution franchise.

It is also said in the memorandum that Coal India Limited is claiming that the production of coal is continuously increasing. Coal India Limited also claims that there is enough coal available for thermal power plants in the country. In such a situation, it is not appropriate in any way to make it mandatory to import coal for the thermal power plants of the states for the last few years.

Recently, through an order, the Union Ministry of Power has extended the order to import 4 per cent coal till October 2024. The time has now come to withdraw these orders.

According to the memorandum of the Federation, the only objective of the government and the power engineers was to provide cheap electricity to the general public. It is noteworthy that the cheapest electricity is available from the state power generation houses, the electricity received from the central sector is somewhat expensive in comparison and the most expensive electricity has to be purchased from the private sector. In such a situation, if cheap electricity is to be provided to the common consumers, then the generation companies of the states will have to be further strengthened and the generation companies of the states will have to give new projects in more quantity.

Apart from this, the time has come to re-review the 25-year expensive power purchase agreements made with private houses and the power distribution companies of the states should be allowed to review such expensive power purchase agreements.

The Federation demanded that the Union Power Minister, in order to make the power sector of the country self-reliant, efficient and capable, it is necessary that expert and qualified power engineers be deployed on top management positions in all the power corporations of the country.

The Federation expressed hope that in the process of making the power sector strong and self-reliant, the Union Ministry of Power will from time to time make a process of consultation with the Power Engineer Federation and consumer organizations.

The Federation delegation included Federation Chairman Shailendra Dubey, Secretary General P Ratnakar Rao and Chief Patron Padamjit Singh.
Ahead of their meeting in Hyderabad on 6 July, the chief ministers of both Telugu states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, albeit separately in New Delhi today.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and his Telangana counterpart A Revanth Reddy are all set to hold their first meeting on Saturday to resolve the pending issues of the bifurcation act.

Both chief ministers also met the Union home minister Amit Shah separately since most of the issues related to bifurcation come under the Union ministry of home affairs.

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The BRS however, insinuated a conspiracy was brewing citing the meetings between Reddy and central ministers as well as the Prime Minister prior to his meeting with Naidu.

AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu who reached the national capital last night met a number of Union ministers apart from the Prime Minister and home minister Amit Shah, seeking funds for his state facing financial bankruptcy.

He met Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, housing minister ML Khattar, surface transport minister Nitin Gadkari and most importantly Dr Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16 th Finance Commission. Since he is a key NDA ally this time with 16 MPs his visits to the national capital are likely to be more fruitful than the past.

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy also met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi today along with his deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and presented a long list of critical issues including allocation of coal blocks in Singareni to the Singareni Collieries instead of auctioning.

He also wanted allocation of 2450 acres of defence land for infrastructure projects such as roads and elevated corridors. This was Reddys first meeting with the Prime Minister after the latter assumed office for the third time.

The chief minister also met Union minister Amit Shah and urged him to allocate funds for police force, particularly to set up special camps in areas facing threats from Left Wing Extremists. Reddy also briefed the Union home minister on his meeting with Naidu on 6 July in Hyderabad. The two chief ministers are most likely to try and resolve the issues of asset division according to the Schedules IX and X in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Since Reddy has been a TDP MLA under Naidu and a close confidante as well in the past the BRS has insinuated that both the chief ministers were working in collusion with the BJP. However, Reddy dismissed the BRS saying  Where is BRS? Not only people but even KCR will have to search the BRS with a torchlight. It is now history. It only has a past but no future.

He was taking a dig at KCR for saying that after the betrayal of Congress people will be actively looking for BRS with torch light. Meanwhile, BRS turned Congress leader K Keshav Rao today submitted his resignation from Rajya Sabha although he had two years of tenure left. He is likely to be renominated by the Congress.
The Army chief, General Upendra Dwivedi has underscored the imperative of synergy and seamless coordination between all Armed Forces and security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the region.

The Army chief chaired a high level Joint Security Review Meeting at the Nagrota based headquarters of the White Knight Corps that is deployed along the Line of Control (LOC) and hinterland of the Jammu division where Pakistan backed terrorists have again become active.

Top brass of the Army, J&K Police, CRPF and intelligence agencies was present in the meeting, said a defence spokesman on Thursday.

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The deliberations focused on the prevailing security dynamics in the region, said a defence spokesman.

The security review underscored the imperative of synergy and seamless coordination between all Armed Forces and security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Those present in the meeting included, the Northern Army Commander Lt. General Suchindra Kumar, GOC White Knight Corps Lt General Navin Sachdeva, GOC of the Srinagar based Chinar Corps Lt. General Rajiv Ghai, GOC of the Himachal Pradesh based Rising Star Corps Lt. General SP Singh, Director General J&K Police RR Swain, Additional DG CRPF, heads of Intelligence Agencies and representatives of Security Forces from the UT of J&K.

General Dwivedi after his arrival here on Wednesday alongwith Army Commander Northern Command, visited the forward locations of the White Knight Corps and reviewed the security situation along the Line of Control LOC in Poonch.

He was briefed on the operational preparedness by the Commanders on ground. He lauded all ranks for maintaining high standards of professionalism and exhorted them to remain steadfast to meet all current and emerging security challenges.

The Army chief later interacted with the parents of the Bravehearts of the Poonch region who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.

He also met the veterans and assured them of unwavering support from the Indian Army.

The Army chief also interacted with officials of J&K Police and prominent civil Dignitaries, and appreciated their synergy and cooperation with the Indian Army in maintaining peace and harmony in the region.
Samajwadi Party National Secretary General Prof Ram Gopal Yadav has claimed that the Hathras stampede was simply an accident and not a conspiracy, stating that such accidents keep happening.

The accident resulted from overcrowding as the number of devotees exceeded expectations, he said.

Prof Ram Gopal Yadav said that when Bhole Baba left the venue of the Satsang, a stampede occurred among the people, resulting in fatalities due to people being crushed.

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There doesnt seem to be anything like a conspiracy in this, the SP leader told journalists at his residence in Saifai on Thursday.

Yadav expressed sympathy for those who had died and sustained injuries in the incident. The government should provide proper compensation and ensure adequate treatment for the victims. A law should also be enacted to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, he added.

He said that for future events, the government should ensure that all necessary arrangements such as doctors, barricading, and fire brigade are in place.

The government has ordered an investigation into the incident. The probe report will provide clarity, he said.

On the question of action against Bhole Baba, he said that there is no justification for it.
Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad condemned the recent violence in Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh, and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into it.

He called the incident part of a recurring pattern of disrespect towards their communitys symbols and beliefs. Azad, who arrived in Chhattisgarh on a one-day visit, emphasised the need for a thorough investigation and warned against the persecution of Bhim Army members or the Satnami community under the guise of punishing the guilty.

Addressing a public gathering in Bhatgaon, Azad reiterated his demand for the CBI investigation into the incident, describing it as a premeditated conspiracy. He criticized the administration for taking superficial actions, noting that only a few individuals were arrested a month after the event. He maintained that the Satnami community, known for its peaceful stance, could not have been involved in such violence.

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If this oppression of innocent people continues, we will stage a major protest in the state within ten days, and I will actively participate, Azad said, emphasising that true adherents of the Constitution do not resort to violence and that the assembly leading to the incident was infiltrated by anti-social elements aiming to tarnish the communitys image.

Earlier, Azad met Governor Vishwabhushan Harichandan and urged him to hold the government accountable. He stated that unless corrective actions are taken promptly, there would be a nationwide movement. He emphasised that the Satnami community now understands who genuinely supports them and who merely seeks their votes.

He accused the government and police of targeting the community and demanded an immediate Supreme Court-monitored investigation to reveal the truth and ensure justice. He insisted on the unconditional release of those wrongfully imprisoned.

The incident in Baloda Bazaar occurred on May 15 when the religious symbol Jaitkham in Baghina Cave was damaged. Following this, thousands of Satnami community members protested at the Dussehra Ground near the collectorate. Despite arrests made by the police, the community believed the real culprits were still at large and accused the police of shielding them. The violence escalated during a peaceful protest on June 10, leading to significant property damage, including the burning of vehicles and important documents at the collectorate office. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai ordered the arrest of the culprits, while Home Minister Vijay Sharma initiated a judicial inquiry into the incident.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday agreed that the current situation in border areas between the two countries is not in the interest of either side and decided to step up meetings of their diplomatic and military officials to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest.



At a meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, the two ministers had an in-depth exchange of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilise and rebuild bilateral relations. This was the first high-level meeting between the two sides after the Narendra Modi government assumed office in India for the third time.



Dr Jaishankar highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations.



He reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past. The LAC must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas are always enforced, the Ministry of External Affairs quoted the minister as saying.



Both ministers agreed to continue and step up meetings at diplomatic and military levels to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. Dr Jaishankar reiterated that India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.



The two ministers also exchanged views on the global situation. Dr Jaishankar extended to Mr Wang Indias support for Chinas Presidency of SCO next year.



Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end. Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals  mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest  will guide our bilateral ties, Dr Jaishankar wrote on X after the meeting.



Dr Jaishankar also had meetings with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and foreign ministers of other SCO countries.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Hemant Soren on Thursday took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand, a day after Champai Soren quit. Hemant was back at the helm of affairs after a five-month stint in jail in connection with a land scam case.

In a post on X, he said, Thank you to his excellency the Governor. The end of the anti-democracy conspiracy hatched by the rivals has begun. Satyamev Jayate.

This morning, accompanied by INDIA bloc leaders, Soren arrived at the Raj Bhavan upon Governor CP Radhakrishnans invitation to establish the government in Jharkhand.

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The Raj Bhavan released a statement declaring, Honble Governor Shri C P Radhakrishnan today invited Shri Hemant Soren to take the oath by appointing him as the chief minister-designate.

Commenting on the resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren, BJP Rajya Sabha member Deepak Prakash criticized the move and said, Again, there will be a government based on familism in Jharkhand. The people are asking if there will be another looting of mineral wealth in the state, if there will be liquor scams again, and if there will be more land scam stories.

After taking oath Mr Soren said, From 2019 the present mahagathbandan government has done all the work as per interests of people here. During political ups and downs, Champai Soren took forward those initiatives because I was in jail. (Now) because of the courts order, I could come out

The Chief Ministers wife, Kalpana Soren, said he would continue to work for (the) people like he has always, but fired a warning (of sorts) to the party ahead of a state election just months away.  we have less time now, she told the media.

It is a blessing from people and our party workers. Following the high courts decision, Hemant Soren is once again Jharkhand CM. Now, he will work even more for the people of Jharkhand as this time we have less time, she added.

The state cabinet ministers will be sworn in on Sunday.

Before he took oath, Hemant posted a video message on X, in which he slammed arrogant people intoxicated with power (a reference to the BJP) who tried to silence me, and said, Today, the public opinion of the people of Jharkhand will rise again. Jai Jharkhand, Jai Hind.
The Kerala Assembly on Thursday witnessed heated exchanges between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan over an attack on a KSU leader by SFI members at the Kariavattom University campus.

Satheesan warned the chief minister that the phalanx of goons being reared in incubators will finally take you along. He said the chief minister was patronising all the violent activities of the SFI, the student wing of the CPI-M through his words.

The Assembly was to be adjourned for the day amid protests by the Opposition UDF members against Speaker AN Shamseers decision to deny leave for an adjournment motion to debate an incident where a leader of KSU, the student wing of Congress, was attacked by SFI workers at Kariavattom University campus the other day.

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Moving the adjournment motion, Congress legislator M Vincent accused SFI activists of assaulting him and fellow Congress legislator Chandy Oommen, and also accused police officers of standing idly by during the incident outside the Sreekaryam police station.

The adjournment motion put the LDF Government on the defensive. It provided the Opposition UDF members an opportunity to renew allegations of torture rooms linked to SFI, echoing charges raised a few months ago following the death of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) student Sidharthan JS, who purportedly killed himself after being subjected to ragging.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his reply to the motion, defended the SFI and the police saying the police precisely acted to control the volatile situation without showing any political partiality.

The chief minister recounted past instances of aggression towards SFI members by KSU. He also referred to the incident in which Mahatma Gandhis portrait was destructed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhis office in Wayanad, purportedly by KSU workers, and the attack on AKG Centre allegedly by Youth Congress activists.

The clashes in campuses are condemnable. Those responsible should face action. But facts should not be distorted by putting all blame on a particular outfit, he said.

VD Satheesan, in his speech after denial of permission for the adjournment motion, said people like Chief Minister Vijayan, his party leaders and the government were giving all the support and motivation to the SFI by defending their criminal acts.

Directly pointing finger at the chief minister, he warned him that the phalanx of goons being reared in incubators will finally take you along.

Satheesan listed a number of incidents, including the alleged attack on Youth Congress protesters by SFI activists during the Navakerala Sadas, to which the Chief Minister maintained that he viewed the act as a rescue act and would continue to do so in the future.

A youth was brutally attacked in a dark room by the SFI members and he was taken to the police station instead of being admitted to a hospital. The KSU workers held a dharna before the station urging cops to hospitalize the injured. Why did the SFI members assemble outside the station? When the injured was taken to the Medical College hospital, other students accompanying him were attacked by the SFI again. The phalanx of goons being reared in incubators will take you along, Satheesan said.

The Opposition leader said the CM, during his Nava Kerala yatra, had felt that he was a Maharaja, You are no Maharaja, you are only the chief minister, Satheesan said, To this CM Vijayan replied, I am not a Maharaja, I am only a servant of the people.

He said a person who worked in CPI-Ms college teachers union for 29 years switched over to BJP due to SFIs violence. She was the BJP candidate in Alathur in the Lok Sabha polls.

Satheesan also mentioned the attack on a college principal of a self-financing college in Koyilandy. The SFI area secretary has threatened the principal of further attack, he added.

The Opposition members trooped to the well of the House after Satheesans speech was interrupted several times by LDF members. They raised slogans against the Chief Minister and the government As the uproar continued unabated, the speaker completed the business of the day and adjourned the House.
Days after being discharged from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi, veteran BJP leader and former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani was admitted to Apollo Hospital in the national capital on Wednesday night.

According to the hospital, Advani, 96, is under the observation of Dr Vinit Suri at Apollo Hospital, and his condition is stable.

While the details of his ailment were not made public, his office stated that it is a routine check-up.

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This comes days after he was admitted to the AIIMS and was discharged after spending a night there.

Advani was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian honour, by President Draupadi Murmu on March 30 earlier this year.
With urban planning going horribly wrong resulting in urban flooding in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the states two major cities, the Odisha government has decided to seek technical advice by roping in IIT, Delhi for preparation of a comprehensive flood management plan to put brakes on water-logging woes in urban areas during monsoon season.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, expressing concern over monsoon flooding in urban pockets, iterated the new governments commitment to solving the issue through a long-term programme.

A long-term program is being prepared for flood management in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and other urban areas with the technical support of IIT Delhi, Majhi said while presiding over the State Natural Disaster Committee meeting-2024 here at the State Secretariat.

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With the drainage system in Bhubaneswar going from bad to worse particularly in monsoon and clogged drains resulting in flooding at the slightest drizzle, jeopardizing the safety of people on the streets, CM Majhi directed the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to prepare a draft proposal of Rs 200 crore for urban flood management.

He also directed the Urban Development Department to de-silt the drains in the urban areas and take measures for the release of excess rainwater.

The unplanned and haphazard infrastructure development has messed up the things in Bhubaneswar. The focus is on refurbishing and beautifying the main roads of the city. But the infrastructure on the streets, lanes, and by-lanes has gone from bad to worse, remarked a city resident, Manguli Charan Biiswal.

Emphasizing zero casualties in natural calamities in the first State Natural Disaster Committee meeting, he said We need to do a proper review of disaster preparedness to deal with floods and cyclones. The administration has to be vigilant to deal with the situation at the field level. Appropriate measures need to be taken in the fields of early warning, relief and rescue operations, drinking water supply, health, and veterinary treatment.

Lauding the efforts of the fire service and civil defence wing in the hours of crisis and natural calamities, he said the capacity of the fire department is being increased with the allocation of Rs 200 crore to the department. Besides, an additional Rs 394 crore from State Disaster Relief Funds (SDRF) will be disbursed to the fire services wing to further invigorate it.

The government has also decided to make operational five Regional Fire Service Hubs to tackle exigencies like the horrific Bahanaga triple train clash, which resulted in the tragic death of around 300 rail passengers, CM Majhi added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called upon the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) countries to accord priority to combating terrorism, cautioning them if left unchecked, the menace can become a major threat to regional and global peace.

And in a veiled reference to Chinas ambitious Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) which runs through Indian territory in J & K illegally occupied by Pakistan, he also reminded the SCO of its commitment to respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation while undertaking connectivity and infrastructure projects.

Priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism, one of the original goals of the SCO. Many of us have had our experiences, often originating beyond our borders, Mr Modi said addressing the SCO Summit at Astana in Kazakhstan.

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The PMs statement was read out by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is leading the Indian delegation at the summit, also being attended by the leaders of China, Russia and Pakistan.

Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned. International community must isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism. Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered, Mr Modi said.

He also stated that the SCO should take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalisation among youth.

At the outset, he said the summit is taking place in the backdrop of pandemic impact, ongoing conflicts, rising tensions, trust deficits and increasing number of hotspots around the world. These events have put significant strain on international relations and global economic growth. They have aggravated some of the problems that have emanated from globalisation. Our gathering is aimed at finding common ground to mitigate the consequences of these developments. he added.

The PM said, The SCO is a principle-based organisation, whose consensus drives the approach of its member states. At this time, it is particularly noteworthy that we are reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as a basis for our foreign policies.

He said another prominent concern before the SCO is climate change and noted that the organisation is working towards achieving committed reduction in emissions, including transition to alternate fuels, adoption of electric vehicles, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.

Economic development, he observed, requires robust connectivity. That can also pave the way for cooperation and trust between societies. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects.

The PM said the 21st century is the century of technology. We have to make technology creative and apply it to the welfare and progress of our societies. India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of an AI Mission. Our commitment to AI for All is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation, he added.

The PM noted that India shares deep civilisational ties with the people of Central Asia. Recognising the centrality of Central Asia to SCO, we have prioritised their interests and aspirations. It is reflected in greater exchanges, projects and activities with them, he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to Russia and Austria from 8 to 10 July, it was officially announced on Thursday.

The PM will be in Moscow on 08-09 July at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

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Mr Modi will, thereafter, travel to Austria. This will be the first visit by an Indian PM to Austria in 41 years.

He will call on President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. The PM and the Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria.

Mr Modi will also interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow as well as in Vienna.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath voiced strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modis call to plant Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam across the country aimed at combating challenges posed by global warming.

During an interaction with the media at his official residence here, where he planted a red sandalwood plant as part of the campaign on Thursday, Adityanath expressed his gratitude to the prime minister on behalf of the states residents.

He also congratulated Modi for initiating a meaningful campaign that seeks to involve every citizen in environmental conservation efforts.

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On the occasion, CM Yogi appealed to everyone in the state to be part of the Vriksharopan Mahabhiyan and plant a tree in his/her mothers name on July 20. He informed that the state government has also prepared 54 crore plants in the states nurseries for this purpose. These include various environmentally beneficial plants like Peepal, Pakar, Neem, Desi Mango, Jamun, Guava, Shisham, and Teak.

Yogi mentioned the moringa plants being provided for free to the beneficiaries of the PM Awas Yojana. Moringa is highly beneficial for everyone. Consuming its pods or soup can help fight malnutrition. Two years ago, we planted a moringa tree at each beneficiarys home under the PM Awas Yojana. These trees have now grown significantly. This time, we are expanding the campaign and have obtained approximately 5.5 million moringa plants, he said.

The chief minister further said that various types of saplings will be planted across the state during the campaign. This extensive campaign will involve carrying out plantations in village panchayats, municipal bodies, parks, alongside roads, and in vacant spaces.

He expressed confidence that the residents of the state would come forward to tackle environmental challenges by participating in the Vriksharopan Mahabhiyan and the Van Mahotsav.

CM Yogi stated that under this mega campaign, 30-35 crore saplings would be planted. The programme has already begun, and on July 20, everyone will participate in the grand festival of tree planting by setting a record. Regular programs will be held to ensure the care of these plants. He urged that those who plant a tree should also ensure its protection.
Congress on Thursday announced that party leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi will visit Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh to interact with the victims of the Bhole Baba Satsang tragedy that claimed more than 121 lives and left several injured.

It was an unfortunate incident. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is planning to visit Hathras. He will go there and interact with the people who are affected, General Secretary KC Venugopal told reporters in Delhi.

However, he did not specify when the Congress leader would visit the Uttar Pradesh district.

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At least 121 people, mostly women, were crushed to death after a stampede broke out during a satsang (religious gathering) of godman Narayan Sakar Shri Hari, also known as Bhole Baba, making it the worst-ever stampede tragedy in Uttar Pradesh. Additionally, dozens of people were injured in the incident.

The stampede, which occurred during the Bhole Baba Satsang, has been attributed to laxity on the part of the organizers.

Following the incident, Gandhi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and urged INDIA bloc workers to provide all possible assistance to the victims.

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, the Congress leader said in his initial reaction to the incident.

He called on the Uttar Pradesh government and administration to ensure every possible treatment for the injured and relief for the affected families.

All workers of INDIA (Congress-led alliance) are requested to provide their cooperation in relief and rescue, he added.
The Indore district administration has served a show cause notice to the management of the Yug Purush Dham Bauddhik Vikas Kendra, where five Divyang kids died and 38 had to be hospitalised in a span of three days between June 30 and July 2.

The notice has been served on the basis of the findings of a probe panel headed by Indore Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Gaurav Benal. The notice has instructed the management to submit its clarification within three days, failing which a criminal case would be registered.

According to sources, the committees report has pointed towards the reason for deaths being Cholera.

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The panel also cited several irregularities and held the Children Homes management responsible for trying to hide the deaths. The team also flagged other issues including negligence in providing proper and quick treatment and overall mismanagement in running of the place.

There are more than 200 children in the lodging facility, and the report has stated that this is much beyond the Homes capacity.

The State Women and Child Welfare Department provides support to the Special School for Divyang kids, and it is operated by an NGO.

After the deaths of the five children, aged between 5 and 15 years, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav had directed Indore Collector Asheesh Singh to probe the incident.

Ministers Kailash Vijaywargiya and Tulsiram Silawat also visited Chacha Nehru Children Hospital at Indore where the indisposed children were admitted.
The Uttar Pradesh government has set up a three-member Judicial Inquiry Commission under the chairmanship of retired Justice Brijesh Kumar Srivastava (II) of Allahabad High Court to investigate the July 2 Hathras stampede, in which at least 121 died.

A notification in this regard was issued by Governor Anandiben Patel late on Wednesday night.

Retired IAS officer Hemant Rao and retired IPS officer Bhavesh Kumar Singh have been appointed as members of the inquiry commission. The headquarters of the commission will be located in Lucknow.

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The commission is tasked with completing its investigation within two months from the date of the notification.

According to an official release, any extension of this duration will require an order from the state government. The commission will investigate the prescribed points and submit the report to the state government.

The prescribed points for the probe include investigating the organisers compliance with the conditions set for granting permission by the district administration. The commission will also investigate whether the incident was an accident, a conspiracy, or the result of another planned criminal act.

Additionally, the commission will examine crowd control and law and order arrangements by the administration and the police during the event, along with related aspects. It will also analyse the reasons and circumstances leading to the incident.

Furthermore, the commission will provide recommendations to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani was discharged from a private hospital here on Thursday.

Advani, who had served as the seventh Deputy Prime Minister under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, was discharged from the Apollo Hospital on Thursday evening, according to a news agency.

He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night.

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It may be mentioned that on 26th June, Advani was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here and was discharged the next day.

In March this year, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country, on the 96-year-old leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had heaped praise on Advani and said his contribution to the development of India was monumental.

Advani Jis decades-long service in public life has been marked by an unwavering commitment to transparency and integrity, setting an exemplary standard in political ethics. He has made unparalleled efforts towards furthering national unity and cultural resurgence. The conferring of the Bharat Ratna on him is a very emotional moment for me. I will always consider it my privilege that I got countless opportunities to interact with him and learn from him, he had said.

The Prime Minister said his parliamentary interventions have always been exemplary, and full of rich insights.

Advani had also served as the national president of the BJP.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member-states that the world is inexorably moving towards real multipolarity and the SCO must cooperate on technology, which not only holds a great promise at present times but is increasingly a game changer on both development and security.

In his remarks for the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of States at Astana in Kazakhstan, delivered by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar present there, Mr Modi said the digital era surely needs more trust and transparency.

AI and Cyber security raise crucial issues of their own. But India has shown that digital public infrastructure and digital financial inclusion can make a huge difference, the Prime Minister said. Both were discussed during Indias SCO Presidency. They also expand the scope for international cooperation, involving SCO members and partners.

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When it comes to geo-economics, he said, the need of the day is to create multiple, reliable and resilient supply chains. This is an important take away from the Covid experience. The prime minister said Make in India can add to engines of global growth and help democratize the global economy. India is open to partnering with others in capacity building, especially nations of the Global South.

While standing resolute on challenges, it is equally important to actively and collaboratively explore avenues of progress, he said. The current global debate is focused on creating new connectivity linkages that would better serve a rebalanced world.

If this is to gather serious momentum, it requires the joint efforts of many. It must also be respectful of sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and be built on the foundation of non-discriminatory trade and transit rights to neighbours, he said.

For the SCO extended family, we flag the progress made on Chabahar port recently through a long-term agreement between India and Iran. This not only holds great value to landlocked Central Asian states but also de-risks commerce between India and Eurasia, he said.

The prime minister said, While on the region, let me also speak about Afghanistan. We have a historical relationship between our peoples that is the bedrock of our ties. Our cooperation covers development projects, humanitarian assistance, capacity building, and sports. India remains sensitive to the needs and aspirations of the Afghan people.

He called the SCO an extended family that shares a commitment to reform the current international order. This is only possible when those efforts extend to the United Nations and its Security Council. We hope that in the near future, we can develop a strong consensus on the way ahead, he said.

India has contributed significantly to enhancing the economic agenda of the SCO, he said. We have institutionalized mechanisms like SCO Startup Forum and Special Working Group on Startup and Innovation. With a 130,000 Startups in India, including 100 unicorns, our experience can be useful to others, he added.

In his remarks, PM Modi said, When it comes to medical and wellness tourism, you may be aware that WHO has set up a Global Center for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat. In SCO, India has taken the initiative for a new SCO Working Group on Traditional Medicine.

Enhancing education, training, and capacity-building are key pillars of Indias international cooperation, he said. We are committed to further building on them, be it with the C5 partners, or those of Neighbourhood First or the extended neighbourhood, he said.

As more countries seek association with SCO as Observers or Dialogue Partners, we must strive to communicate better and deepen our consensus. Granting English the status of a third official language will be crucial, he said.

We congratulate the Kazakh side for hosting a successful Summit. As Vishwa Bandhu or the friend of the world, India will always strive to deepen cooperation with all its partners. We also extend our best wishes to the success of the upcoming Chinese presidency of SCO, the prime minister said.
There is a proven dodginess when it comes to security matters with Pakistan. Be it the underlying intent, policies, misuse of weaponry, or even matters pertaining to the infamous nuclear proliferation saga ~ Islamabad has routinely covered itself with ignominy. But Pakistan was able to continue with its duplicitous machinations because it invariably served the larger interests of the topical global powers that be. These included traditional ally the United States of America (which conveniently looked the other way during the genocide of 1971 or during the dark 1980s with the Charlie Wilson affairs in Afghanistan); affluent Arab countries (under the garb of being brother Muslim countries); China (which invested in its patent military-industrial complexes with its CPEC imperatives), and even roguish nations like North Korea and Libya (with the shady Dr AK Khan nuclear side deals etc.).

It took an unrestrained Donald Trump to call out the bluff of Pakistani ways when he slammed the broken promises and misuse of aid by tweeting, The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. While there was an uproar in Pakistan over the embarrassing fact, the United States soon continued its own equation with Pakistan (despite temporary hiccups), as it needed Pakistani support in Afghanistan, amongst other geopolitical considerations. However, post the pull-out from Afghanistan the strategic stakes that allowed Pakistanis to have a blank cheque or remain unanswerable for their misconduct, have diminished considerably. For once, the Pakistanis need the United States more desperately than the other way round given the dire economic mess they are in.

The United States is now in a position to extract some semblance of accountability, commitments, and corrections from Pakistan. Today, serendipitously, the interests of the United States, China, Arab countries and international multilateral agencies (and even India) converge, in hoping that Pakistan is able to renege from its duplicitous past dalliances with religious extremism and terror with its latest commitment i.e. Operation Azm-i-Istehkam. It is not a new militaristic operation given the multitude that Pakistan has already undertaken (without substantial success), as it has always played a double game with terror. In the 1980s, during the Afghan mujahedin days, it diverted a lot of USSaudi aid for non-Afghan purposes (including towards India).

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In the 90s it harbored proxies in the Kashmir Valley e.g., the Hizbul Mujahideen faction, and in Afghan swathes, e.g. the warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and of course, the Taliban. In the subsequent US-led War on Terror, it patronized the Haqqani faction to the discomfiture of Washington. Misusing religion and patronising the terror industry has always been too tempting for Pakistan to resist, whatever be the publicly stated position. But perhaps for the first time, it has a real sense ~ and filled body-bags ~ to know for a fact that it has overplayed the religion card, and that terrorism and extremism are its natural by-products.

Islamabad can no longer laser-guide terror towards Afghanistan, India, or Iran. Extremism and terror eventually backfire, as playing out with the Pakistani militarys unprecedented number of fatalities. So, to that limited extent, perhaps the fight against terror by the Pakistani state was never so persuasively and startlingly poised. It could be the first time that it truly seeks international help to cleanse itself of religious extremism and terror, the murky past history notwithstanding. Traditionally, Pakistan had sourced advanced weaponry like the F-16 fighters from the United States, ostensibly towards fighting terrorism, even though it was the worst kept secret that it was for India-centric posturing (nuclear weapon carrier capability) and deployment.

Many of the armaments that were CIA secured towards fighting the Soviets/Russians in the 80s, found their way to the hands of terrorists in the Kashmir valley. Even as late as 2022, the Biden administration decided to upgrade the F-16 fleet with the implausible insistence of their exclusive use towards fighting along the Durand Line ~ unsurprisingly, this aircraft was used in the recent aerial skirmish with India, violating the terms of sale/refurbishment by the United States. However, the recent request for small arms by Pakistan has to be seen in the context of its historical and less-than-reliable commitment towards agreed usages and the fact that for once, the Pakistani military is truly under pressure to fight terrorism.

Islamabad cannot escape the fate of sniggers from Delhi that it is crying wolf yet again, as they have earned the notoriety of consistent misuse and undependability. However, what is sought this time towards Operation Azm-i-Istehkam is sophisticated small arms and communication equipment which can only be used for restrictive (anti-terror operations?) combat and does not threaten the Indo-Pak balance of power, dramatically. The plea to seek strategic investment by the United States also has the additional element of potentially weaning Pakistan away from the exclusive clutches of the expansionist Chinese, which comes with its own pitfalls. The Americans could peg some conditions to the aid wherein an element of pushback to the Chinese footprint is inherent.

If such a pegged deal does come about, not only does it tantamount to tackling religious extremism in favour of India, but if the same does entail lessened Chinese presence, that too would be welcomed by Delhi. The half-sincere past of the United States in the region notwithstanding, there is almost a consensus on tackling religious extremism (especially in the global terror nurseries within Pakistan) that binds Washington DC, Beijing, and Delhi.

Only from this circumstantial perspective and lay of the land, Delhi ought not to get overly worked up on the thaw and limited aid (in terms of small arms et al) by the Americans. It is a calculated risk and consequential leap of faith that India must take in encouraging both Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, as also the return of the United States in the internal affairs of Pakistan. In any case, the future stakes and pivots that India affords the United States will remain unmatched (vis-a-vis Pakistan) and if peace and deradicalisation does return to Pakistan, India could only welcome the same.

(The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry)
In response to the emerging security threats stemming from Chinas belligerence and rising regional influence, and North Koreas relentless surge in nuclear weapons development programmes, the Defence chiefs of the US, Japan and South Korea held a trilateral meeting at the three-day Asia Security Summit in Singapore, also known as the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue from 31 May to 2 June 2024 and agreed to hold joint multi-domain exercises under the name Freedom Edge.

The latest agreement was reached on the sidelines of the Dialogue at a meeting between Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Koreas Defence chief Shin Won Sik. They released a joint statement announcing they will conduct a trination exercise dubbed Freedom Edge in late June. The three defence chiefs condemned North Koreas recent tests of multiple ballistic missiles and the launch of what Pyongyang purports to be a military reconnaissance satellite. The three-day exercise which was concluded in late June, involved simultaneous drills in various domains, including surface, underwater, air defences, ballistic missile antisubmarine warfare and defensive cyber training.

This demonstrated the growing cooperation between the countries and the improved relationship between Japan and South Korea. The name of this new exercise, Freedom Edge, is a combination of two existing exercises: Freedom Shield (FS), an annual joint exercise conducted by South Korea and the United States simulating a North Korean invasion, and Keen Edge, a joint exercise conducted by the United States and Japan to respond to regional threats, including those from North Korea. The US replaced the USS Eisenhower with the USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, which anchored in Busan, South Korea, on 22 June 2024 for the exercise. The drills also involved Tokyos guided-missile destroyer JS Atago, and Seouls KF-16 fighter jet.

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The Trilateral Tabletop Exercise (TTX) was conducted to discuss effective deterrence and response measures for various threats on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific region. The three Defence chiefs also decided to establish the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework by the end of the year in order to institutionalize trilateral security cooperation, including high-level consultations, information sharing, trilateral exercises, and defence exchanges. The objective of institutionalising the trilateral security cooperation was to deter North Koreas nuclear and missile threats and to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

In a bilateral meeting on 1 June, the Defence chiefs of Japan and South Korea reached an agreement on measures to prevent the recurrence of the 2018 patrol aircraft dispute. That was considered a major obstacle to strengthening trilateral military cooperation between the three countries. The measures to prevent the recurrence of the dispute included the prioritization of 10 radio communication frequencies to ensure smooth communications between naval vessels and aircraft of both nations dur ing encounters at sea. Earlier, the two Koreas had reached the September 19th Military Agreement, which banned all hostile acts on the ground, sea and air between the two. But North Korea continued to violate the agreement by not only expanding its nuclear capabilities but indulged in illegal arms trade, constant threats of sending balloons filled with waste and unidentified objects over the DMZ, and GPS disruptions.

As a result, it pushed South Korea to go for the combined trilateral military exercises with a view to ensuring stability and peace in East Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. It may be recalled that in December 2023, the three countries had fully activated a system to share real-time information on North Korean missile launches. In the agreement reached at Singapore, the three Defence chiefs pledged to enhance cooperation by further optimising the data-sharing mechanism by the end of 2024 to ensure the ability to deter and counter provocations effectively. The last time the three Defence chiefs had met in person was in June 2023. In April, the three countries held a two-day naval exercise involving the USS Theodore Roosevelt in efforts to improve their joint operability against North Koreas evolving threats.

The reaction by North Korea to the exercise was swift and harsh. Condemning the drills, it labelled the trilateral military exercise as the Asian version of NATO. North Korea denounced the drills and warned of fatal consequences. North Koreas Foreign Ministry released a statement denouncing provocative military muscle-flexing against North Korea. Pyongyang has always objected to similar combined exercises, dubbing them as rehearsals for an invasion. In recent times, the two Koreas have been caught in a tit-for-tat balloon campaign. Pyongyang sent trashfilled balloons southwards in retaliation to similar missives northwards from the South carrying pro-Seoul propaganda. The situation is thus volatile.

(The writer is a former Senior Fellow at Pradhanmantri Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi.)
The formation of South Africas new unity government under President Cyril Ramaphosa has ushered in a wave of cautious optimism. With the inclusion of Mr John Steenhuisen from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and of other opposition parties, the government aims to rejuvenate economic and social landscape. This unprecedented coalition, formed out of necessity after the African National Congress (ANC) failed to secure a majority in the May 29 election, has been met with mixed reactions, highlighting both potential and pitfalls. The decision to bring the DA, known for its centre-right, pro-business stance, into the fold could be a game-changer for South Africas economy.

The inclusion of key ministries such as agriculture, public works, environment, and basic education under the DAs leadership is seen by many as a step toward much-needed economic reform. Business leaders have expressed their readiness to collaborate with the new administration, hoping for policies that foster growth and stability. However, this optimism is tempered by significant concerns. The expanded cabinet, now larger to accommodate coalition members, has raised eyebrows. Critics argue that increasing the number of deputy ministers to 43 is an unnecessary burden on the states resources and contradicts previous calls by the DA itself for a leaner government. This expansion could dilute the efficiency of governance, making it harder to achieve the intended reforms. Moreover, the merit of these appointments has been questioned.

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and other observers say that political considerations seem to have overshadowed the need for technical expertise. In an economy struggling to recover from a decade-long slump, appointing leaders based on political allegiance rather than their ability to address the nations urgent needs is a risky gamble. The absence of outside experts in key portfolios could hinder the coalitions ability to implement effective policies and drive meaningful change. The new governments success will largely depend on its ability to balance political interests with the nations economic imperatives. While the inclusion of the DA has been welcomed by the business community, the coalition must not squander this goodwill. Swift and decisive action is needed to tackle issues such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Ensuring that meritocracy guides appointments and policy decisions will be crucial in maintaining credibility and public trust. In this delicate balancing act, President Ramaphosa and his cabinet face a formidable challenge.

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They must navigate the complex dynamics of coalition politics while delivering on their promises of revival and progress. Failure to do so could deepen public disillusionment and exacerbate existing socio-economic divides. As South Africa stands at this crossroads, the new unity government has an opportunity to chart a course toward a brighter future. By prioritising expertise and efficiency, and fostering genuine collaboration across political lines, it can harness the potential of the coalition to drive the country forward. The coming months will be critical in determining whether this government can rise to the occasion and deliver the change that South Africans desperately need.
Israels Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Health revealed on Wednesday that it has detected, during a monitoring operation, mosquitoes that were later found to be infected with the West Nile virus.

Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus were captured in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Kiryat Ono, Petah Tikva, the Lev Hasharon Regional Council, Central District, as well as in Eilat and the Aylot Regional Council in the south of the country.

In accordance with the results of the monitoring, the ministries asked the public to protect themselves against mosquitoes by following the issued guidelines to help the national effort to reduce the mosquito hazard.

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Oren Ashet Kathabi, Director of the Department of Zoonotic Diseases in the Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health, explained that West Nile Fever is a disease that originates from animals and is also transmitted to humans.

It is caused by a virus found mainly in poultry, and is transmitted to humans and animals through mosquitoes that feed on infected birds. In most cases, it is a mild flu-like illness that goes away on its own.

The disease is often characterised by fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, and sometimes nausea and diarrhea. Rare complications are possible or meningitis, and rarely the disease ends in death.

To avoid mosquito bites and hazards, the Israeli ministry has recommended draining and drying stagnant water sources that may constitute habitats for mosquitoes.
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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Job Title: Supply Assistant (UN High School Jobs)

Organisation: United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA)

Duty Station: Entebbe, Uganda

Job Opening ID: 238111

Reports to: Chief Centralized Warehouse

About Organisation:

The Security Council, by its resolution 1990 PDF Document of 27 June 2011, responded to the urgent situation in Sudans Abyei region by establishing the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). The Security Council was deeply concerned by the violence, escalating tensions and population displacement. The operation will monitor the flashpoint border between north and south, and is authorized to use force in protecting civilians and humanitarian workers in Abyei. UNISFAs establishment came after the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) reached an agreement in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to demilitarize Abyei and let Ethiopian troops to monitor the area.











Job Summary: This position is located in the Centralized Warehouse Unit of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), duty station Entebbe, Uganda. The Supply Assistant will report to the Chief Centralized Warehouse Unit or to the designated official.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Chief Centralized Warehouse Unit or the designated official, the Supply Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

Perform warehouse activities including receiving and inspection (R&I), storage, maintenance, and issuing of stocks to the Centralized Warehouse customers and maintaining accurate transactions history for all receipts and issues.

Receive and inspect of all delivered materials on behalf of the mission in a timely manner and maintain accurate records to enable the vendor payment.

Coordinate the incoming shipments with MOVCON Transport Management Unit.

Conduct virtual goods receipt depending on the incoterm, if requested.

Maintain complete, reliable, and accurate R&I records for shipments received  Physical Inspection of materials and equipment jointly with Technical Units to ensure compliance with the PO specifications

Ensure all items received for storage are labeled, properly arranged in the storage shelves/bins and correctly entered into the UMOJA ERP;

Update bin locations of inventory and equipment at the warehouse;

Update the status of assets as reported through issue vouchers, transfer vouchers, etc;

Perform cycle counting program of inventories, if required.

Ensure consistency in Umoja against physical inspections and cycle counts;

Perform assigned tasks including distribution planning, record keeping, packing of supplies, movement of cargo and delivery of goods.

Prepare Cargo Movement Request (CMR) for transportation of goods and supplies.

Perform tasks and duties involving any labor work required.

Perform warehouse housekeeping on a continuous basis;

Perform 100% physical count of equipment and expendable stocks in accordance with Mission policy;

Operate MHE (i.e. forklift) to move pallets and containers, when required;

Identify inventory to be written-off and coordinates Property Disposal for movement of written-off items, based on usage patterns and ABC analysis;

Support implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and environmental policies in all warehouse operations;

Perform any other duties assigned by the Warehouse Supervisor.





















Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

Education:

The United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Supply Assistant must hold a High school diploma or equivalent. Required.

A valid driving license is required.

Training in software applications such as Word and Excel is required.

Work Experience:

A minimum of three (3) years of progressively experience in supply chain, warehouse operations or combined experience on property control, assets management, property disposal, supply and logistics is required.

Experience in operating fork-lift is desirable.

Experience in the use of SAP databases is desirable.

Languages: fluency in oral and written English is required.

Competencies

Professionalism: A comprehensive grasp of assets management, R&I, warehousing and accounting practices; Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

A comprehensive grasp of assets management, R&I, warehousing and accounting practices; Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits input by genuinely valuing others ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; Places team agenda before personal agenda; Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently.

No Fee: The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or training). The United Nations does not concern itself with information on applicants bank accounts.

How to Apply:











All suitably qualified and interested candidates should apply online at the link below.

Click Here

Deadline: 9th July 2024

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline

Date Posted 2024-07-04T11:08 Valid Through 2024-07-10T00:00 Employment Type FULL_TIME Hiring Organization UNISFA Uganda  United Nations Job Location Entebbe, Entebbe, Entebbe, 0256, Uganda

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With mortality rates of 12.4 per one lakh women per year, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in India. Around 25 per cent of all global deaths due to cervical cancer occur in India. About 96,922 new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed annually in India. Effective information, education and communication strategies are required to improve the level of awareness of women on cervical cancer.

These figures were revealed in a number of academic papers released in the last one year, raising an alarm about the lack of awareness regarding cervical cancer in the country, especially among adolescent girls. Recently, Sudha Murthy pressed on the need to raise awareness regarding the HPV vaccine, which helps in preventing the risk of cervical cancer. In view of this, THE WEEK spoke to Dr Surabhi Siddhartha, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, in Mumbai's Kharghar.

Tell us about the significance of the HPV vaccine specifically for adolescent girls...

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is an effective tool in safeguarding adolescent girls from the dangerous threat of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the tissue of the cervix, which is located at the lower part of the uterus. By getting vaccinated at a young age, adolescent girls can significantly reduce their risk of developing life-threatening diseases like cervical cancer.

As per your current observations, what are the chances that a female in India contracts cervical cancer?

According to current observations, around two out of 10 Indian women are at high risk of contracting cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a serious health concern that requires prompt diagnosis, as it affects a large population. Factors contributing to this high risk include lack of awareness and knowledge, limited healthcare facilities in remote areas, and societal taboos around reproductive health.

How many cervical vaccines have you administered so far to teens and pre-teens in the last one year?

Due to a lack of awareness, we are still not able to achieve 100 per cent vaccination rates. However, in the last year, we were able to administer the HPV vaccine to at least 200 to 300 individuals. While this number is less than ideal, it is still an improvement compared to before.

The number of children getting this vaccine remains low? If yes, then what as per you are the reasons for the same?

It is possible to combat cervical cancer through early detection and prompt diagnosis. Experts recommend getting young girls vaccinated with the HPV vaccine around the age of 11 or 12, as the vaccine is most effective before they become sexually active.

Tell us about the youngest girl/woman you came across in your practice, who survived cervical cancer?

We had a 35-year-old patient who repeatedly presented with white discharge and a history of two normal vaginal deliveries. She was initially treated for a fungal infection, but upon further examination, a Pap smear and liquid cytology revealed mild atypia. A cervical biopsy confirmed early-stage cervical cancer. Despite her young age, we had to perform a hysterectomy, while preserving her ovaries. This case highlights the importance of regular cervical cancer screening, even in younger women with seemingly benign symptoms. The HPV vaccine is a crucial tool in protecting adolescent girls from the devastating impacts of cervical cancer. However, more needs to be done to increase awareness, address societal taboos, and ensure accessibility of this life-saving vaccine, especially in under-served communities.
The health condition of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani is stable and he is under observation, hospital sources told PTI on Thursday.

The former union minister was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Delhi during the late hours of Wednesday. He was admitted under neurology department senior consultant Dr Vinit Suri, PTI reported. Doctors said the health condition of Advani was stable and he is currently under observation of a team of doctors.

Advani was accompanied by his daughter Pratibha Advani. Further details about his health condition are awaited.

He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi last week and was discharged the next day.

-with PTI inputs.
National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Dovals third term as advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come with a sharp focuscounter-terrorism, counter radicalisation, guarding the borders and cyber space and a continued attempt to craft a foreign policy driven by national security interests.

The focus is reflected in the choice of spymasters in the National Security Council Secretariat at Sardar Patel Bhawan in the national capital with the elevation of Rajinder Khanna from deputy NSA to additional NSA and appointment of Intelligence Bureau special director T.V. Ravichandran as deputy NSA, making him the second to hold the post next to deputy NSA Pankaj Singh. Vikram Misri, who served as deputy NSA, is now foreign secretary.

While Doval shaped the national security policy for Modi merging national security interests with every policy decision whether it is health, science, telecom, power or communication, Khanna, who is now a more supporting hand of NSA, brought some dynamic changes focussing on technology and innovation in the last few years.

He is a new ideas man like Doval, says an officer. He would walk into a juniors room and talk to them freely. Another thing about him is his phenomenal memory.

Known as a Pakistan expert who specialised in counter terror operations as the chief of R&AW, the external intelligence agency, Khanna has kept a hawks eye on activities by Pakistan and China with a rare combination of scholarship and field experience.

Doval has been able to identify right kind of officers who have expertise in diverse fields as he expanded the NSCS, said another security official.

With New Delhis renewed focus on threats facing northeastgrowing instability in Myanmar and the need for more work to go into the Act East policyKhannas expertise will come in handy to manage Chinas growing footprints in the Indo-Pacific.

During his stint as deputy NSA, Khanna saw the creation of one of the big pillars of cyber security architecture in NSCSthe office of the National Cybersecurity Coordinator first held by Dr Gulshan Rai followed by Lt Gen Rajesh Pant, who worked closely with Khanna on critical cyber security issues from thwarting threats, assisting law enforcement agencies in countering cyber attacks and crimes and building a national malware repository to analyse and prepare for future threats. Presently, Lt Gen M.U. Nair is the national cyber security coordinator in the NSCS spearheading efforts to create a national cyber security strategy that is yet to see the light of day.

The bolstering of security on borders with Pakistan and China and integrating it with a civilian security approach by focussing on border villages and infrastructure is being handled by domain expert Pankaj Singh, former chief of BSF, who handles all internal security matters in NSCS. Now, Ravichandran, a 1990 batch Tamil Nadu cadre officer, brings with him the domain knowledge of handling LTTE and Islamic terror threats in the South.

Doval himself has helmed the security brass with achievements under his sleeve like Balakot strike in PoK, containing the naxal threat, Chinese PLA withdrawal from finger heights at Pangong, ban on Chinese apps, engagements with Russia and Middle East and faster deployments on borders.

With the domain experts at the helm, Dovals next challenge in what he describes as the fourth generation war might get a shot in the arm as the best brains come together to counter attempts to subvert, divide and manipulate civil society turning information warfare into a key aspect of national security.
Six people have been arrested for the stampede during a religious congregation in Hathras that left 121 people dead.

Those arrested have been identified as Ram Ladaite (50), Upendra Singh Yadav (62), Megh Singh (61), Mukesh Kumar (38), Manju Yadav (30) and Manju Devi (40). They were members of the organising committee of the satsang held by self-styled godman Bhole Baba.

Ladaiti is from Mainpuri and Upendra Yadav is from Firozabad. The other four are from Sikandara Rau in Hathras.

These arrests have been made under the aegis of the ADG (Agra).

The accused told police that they were in charge of gathering crowds and getting donations. In addition, they looked after crowd management, setting up of the tent, parking of vehicles, cleanliness etc. As sewadars, they were given different kinds of uniforms to wear.

Men and women who control the crowds were given black commando like dresses and they would manage the attendees as per their own devices.

The arrested also claimed that the dust off the Babas feet is an antidote to many problems.

It was also their duty to guide Babas vehicle through the crowds.

On Tuesday, when the Babas convoy left the venue, the guards let the crowds free to run to gather the dust left behind. When people- mostly womenstarted to fall, these organisers left.

They have also said that people from the administration and police were discouraged from filming these gatherings. They would go as far as misbehaving with those who attempted to record these.

The main organiser, Dev Prakash Madhukar, has still not been arrested and an award of one lakh has been announced for any information on him.

Meanwhile, all the deceased have been identified. The biggest numbers are from Hathras, followed by Agra, Aligarh and Mathura.
Away from the limelight, the Shanghai Cooperation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting at the Kazakh capital of Astana on Thursday witnessed an interesting but significant development on the sidelines.



Old acquaintances, Indias foreign minister Dr S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi met for a discussion that ventured beyond the delicately-posed bilateral ties. While India completed the formality of extending its support for Chinas presidency of the SCO next year, the two foreign ministers spoke on the need to find an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations.

This in itself is an important development because the Chinese stand has been to continue to improve and enhance bilateral ties while keeping thorny issues aside. What is also important is that both the leaders agreed that prolonging the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his remarks at the SCO Summit that were delivered by Jaishankar said: It is particularly noteworthy that we are reiterating mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of use of force as a basis for our foreign policies. We have also agreed not to take any measures contrary to the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Jaishankar pointed out to his Chinese counterpart that complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh was pertinent to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations.

For this, the Indian minister underlined the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past. The senior military commander-level talks between the two sidesof which 21 rounds have already taken placehave yielded effective disengagement in five of the seven friction areas. The current round of talks is to resolve the two remaining friction areas in eastern LadakhDemchok and Depsang.

The first standoff was resolved in Galwan in July 2020, Pangong Tso and Kailash ranges in February 2021, Gogra in August 2021 and PP 15 in September 2022.

The two ministersexchanging views on the global situationalso agreed to hold a meeting of the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) at the earliest.

For the last four years, India and China are locked in an intense military standoff, where more than 1,30,000 troops from both sides are camped in inhospitable high-altitude areas along the LAC.
In the last five years, much water has flowed under the bridge in Hyderabad, known for its chain-linked water bodies emptying into the centuries-old Hussainsagar Lake. In 2019, the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana met at Pragathi Bhavan in the heart of the city and exhibited invincibility. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy romped to power in a landslide victory, winning 151 out of 175 seats. K. Chandrashekar Rao thrashed his opponents to win 88 seats out of 119 in the Telangana Assembly elections. Both posed for photos and discussed pending issues related to the bifurcation of the two Telugu states.



At that point, in mid-2019, Jagans opponent and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu was written off after suffering his most humiliating defeat ever. In the neighbouring state, KCRs political foe, Revanth Reddy, who was the Congress Working President then, lost in his own seat but managed to win a parliament seat in the following general elections.

Cut to 2024, Revanth Reddy as CM of Telangana and Naidu as CM of Andhra Pradesh are meeting at the same venue, which has been renamed Mahatma Jyothi Rao Phule Praja Bhavan. The agenda is the same, but the meeting has gained importance for many other reasons too.

For starters, Naidu wrote a letter to his counterpart, and the latter responded publicly. The unconventional communication is seen as a step meant more for optics to set a positive mood in both states. On July 1, Naidu in his letter praised Revanth for his leadership skills and his work. Reminding him that it has been a decade since the bifurcation of united Andhra Pradesh, Naidu wrote, 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. He proposed to meet at the Telangana CMs residence on Saturday in Hyderabad.

Revanth also responded and posted it on X (formerly Twitter). The Telangana CM returned the favour through his words. You have joined a very rare league of political leaders in independent India who have taken oath as a chief minister for a fourth time. I wish you the best for this term, read the contents of the letter. He agreed to the meeting on the said date but proposed the venue as Mahatma Jyoti Rao Phule Praja Bhavan.

Babu and Revanth go a long way and share a good personal rapport. It was under Naidus leadership as TDP supremo that Revanth first contested as an MLA in 2009. He remained loyal to the party for the next half a decade, even taking up the post of TDP Telangana State President. He switched over to Congress after TDP almost became an obsolete entity post-bifurcation in 2014, after many TDP MLAs migrated to KCRs party. Even then, Revanth has always been cordial to TDP and Naidu in his gestures and words all through these years. More recently, Revanth commented after Naidus victory that he now has to work harder and put in more hours to compete with Naidu. In this backdrop, the meeting raises expectations for resolving issues of distribution of government assets, clearing debts, and also river water allocations between the two states which are still pending.

The issues of the two states are not dependent on the relations between the chief ministers. Chandrababu Naidu and Revanth Reddy represent the interests of their respective states. The major issue between the two states is that of river water distribution, said former MLC and political analyst K. Nageshwar. Both states should follow a give-and-take policy, but that is not possible as some political forces would be ready to provoke the public and vitiate the mood. The Centre should at least play a neutral role as an umpire, but they are also worried about political implications as they feel they will be branded as being biased by either of the states if they try to resolve the issues.

Senior leaders from Telangana are overseeing the arrangements for July 6 at the venue, which is in a way symbolic of past political events. After KCR won power in 2014, his government accused and booked a case against Revanth (an MLA then) for trying to buy one of their legislators to influence MLC elections. The ruling party even accused then-CM Naidu of masterminding it, which led Naidu to move the administration to Vijayawada owing to the friction even when Hyderabad was the common capital for 10 years. Now, Naidu and Revanth will be meeting at the same property that was constructed as the camp office-cum-residence of KCR. In a way, it is a message to KCR by the two leaders, who feel they have been wronged by him.

Politically, the event carries weight. Will Naidus TDP, which is almost a dead horse in Telangana, be revived gradually with more visibility of Naidu in Telangana and goodwill gestures that can benefit both states? The meeting will have answers.
One month after 24-year-old Naveen Patnaik government was voted out of power in Odisha with the Biju Janta Dals defeat in both assembly and Lok Sabha polls, BJPs first Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who happens to be a tribal, entered his office on Thursday in the state secretariat renamed as Lok Seva Bhavan during the outgoing government.

Till now he was officiating from the state guest house in Bhubaneswar. Before entering Lok Seva Bhavan, he bowed down in front of the building where he received a grand welcome by his colleagues and top officials which was followed by Brahmin priests reciting hymns while he took chair in his chamber.

Majhi started working from the room in the third floor of the main secretariat building where earlier the chief ministers used to sit. There was a proposal to shift his room to adjacent cabinet room with the chief ministers office room to be converted to his visitors room. Even the work had started. But that was shelved and Majhi decided to work from the original room meant for the chief minister. The only difference is that while his predecessors, including Naveen Patnaik, were sitting facing east Majhi sits facing north. Whether any Vastu advice is behind this change is not immediately known.

Majhi and other ministers took oath at a grand programme at Bhubaneswars Janta Maidan in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior central leaders of the BJP including party chief ministers in other states on June 12. Since then, Majhi has tried to develop a Peoples Chief Minister image by being open to the public. Unlike Patnaik, who was not accessible Majhi started an open darbar from his temporary office in the state guest house.

He has also started meeting people in the chief ministers grievances cell. Though the cell was functioning with officers, Majhis predecessor had last visited it in 2008. Majhi started his grievances cell on July 1 and it has been decided that each Monday he will listen to the grievances of people at the cell office in Bhubaneswar. When Majhi started the practice of hearing public grievances after a gap of 17 years, some of his colleagues including Deputy Chief Minister K.V. Singhdeo assisted him.

On the first day, as many as 1,540 complaints were registered. But more than 5,000 people thronged the grievances cell that day. The chief minister listened to the complaints of people and gave necessary directions for relief. On this occasion, Majhi said during previous government there was a barrier of iron between the people and government.

Today, the iron wall has come down and a direct communication between the people and the government has been established, he said.

The chief minister said public grievances hearing has been resumed at district level on July 1 listening to the people and trying to find a solution is an utmost priority in a democracy. He hoped that complaints will be less at state level as peoples problems could be resolved at the district level. In the meantime, Majhi along with his two Deputy Chief Ministers Singhdeo and Pravati Parida had visited Delhi where they met Prime Minister Modi and other union ministers besides President Droupadi Murmu who is his next district neighbour in Odisha and both were together in the state assembly.

Majhi said in Delhi that PM Modi will launch Subhadra Yojana for womenwhich was part of BJPs election manifestoon September 17 in Odisha. He said the programme will be inaugurated on Modis birthday and the PM will visit Odisha to launch it.

The state has got a new Chief Secretary. Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja has joined as the new Chief Secretary as his predecessor Pradip Jena retired on June 30. Ahuja has six months to go as he is to retire by December end. If he is given an extension like his predecessor then he may get a reasonable period to work.

After officially assuming charge at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Majhi took a slew of decisions. He informed that all government work will be executed in Odia language. Though this decision was already there, it was hardly implemented. Majhi also said a commission will be formed for the promotion and preservation of Odia language.

Apart from material development, emphasis will be given on cultural development. Importance will also be given towards promotion and preservation of Odia asmita. Odia language will be widely used in government work. If needed, the Odia Official Language Act will be amended, said Majhi. He further said the Lalit Kala Academy will be reconstituted while a Translation Academy and an Odia Asmita Bhavan will be set up.

Odishi Research Centre will be activated. Quality research on Odia Asmita will be encouraged. Efforts will be made to increase reading habits among people and the library movement will be widened. Efforts will be made for modern and simple use of technology in the field of language. A Language Commission will be set up. Odia Bhasha Pratisthan will be reconstituted. Samanwita Sanskruti Bhavan will be set up in each district. Art and culture of each district will be encouraged. Special consideration will be given for appointment of Odia teachers in high schools. Paika Academy work at Barunei near Khurda district headquarters town under which capital city of Bhubaneswar comes will be accelerated. Our government is committed to giving emphasis to various heritage sites, said the chief minister.

Usually in a political system when a new government takes over it goes for complete overhaul. The new government has started moving in the line like renaming schemes of previous government or recasting old ones.5 T was a popular term in previous government as the most powerful V.K.Pandian, an IAS officer-turned-BJD leader was associated with it. Within a few days of the new government coming to power, that has been dropped from government vocabulary. The LAccMI bus scheme (Location Accessible Multi-modal initiative) introduced by the previous government to have bus connectivity from gram panchayat to block headquarters has gone for a change by the new government. The colour of this bus has changed from green to orange in phases and it has been renamed as Mukhyamantri Bus Seva. Explaining this, Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, minister for Commerce and Transport,Steel and Mines, said no party symbol will be used in the service. Most importantly, buses will run from all blocks on the occasion of Lord Jagannaths next car festival, he added.

As the table has turned and BJD has become the main opposition party in the state assembly, Naveen Patnaik is now the Leader of Opposition. He has instructed his party MPs in Rajya Sabha to act as strong opposition which they did when nine members of party walked out of Rajya Sabha during PM Modis reply on the motion of thanks on Presidents speech.

In the larger interest of the state and the nation we, the BJD MPs, staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha during Honble PM Narendra Modis reply on Motion of Thanks, tweeted BJD MP Manas Mangraj. Out of the 10 seats from Odisha in Rajya Sabha, the BJD has nine members. The other member, Union Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw, is from BJP though he had gone to Rajya Sabha with BJD support last time again. But those were the honeymoon days between the two parties. Though he has gone to Rajya Sabha repeatedly twice because of the BJD support, Pandian recently said the land acquisition for rail lines had been delayed during the BJD rule. Of course, he said there will be investment of Rs. 1 lakh cr in rail sector in Odisha. Anyway, the BJD and the BJP are going to be main opponents as the trends show. The blame game has started from price rise to other issues like implementation of the BJPs electoral promises. BJD has 51 MLAs against ruling BJPs 78 and though the latter has added some independents, the former can be a strong opposition. Of course, Taraprasad Bahinipati, a senior legislator of Congress, has said the BJD cannot function as opposition because of baggage. So, the Congress will play that role with its increased strength. In the current assembly, the Congress has 14 MLAs against nine in the last assembly. Besides, the Congress has one MP in Lok Sabha while the BJD has zero.
During a journey through the idyllic town of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, we were directed by many city experts to meet an auto mechanic. He was the go-to person for everyone in the city, including the city government, for engineering issues such as the citys water supply. He had seen the city evolve and remembered its various extensions, its water supply networks, and the various issues the city had faced in the last three decades. This was a surprising yet welcome change after relying on experts to know about cities in our work.

The prevailing approach to citizen engagement fails to create a space and a platform where decision-makers actively seek the opinions and knowledge of ordinary citizens. Only the residents, who live with the city's challenges daily, can provide a truly comprehensive understanding of its functioning.

Smaller cities have immense potential for impactful citizen engagement but lack institutional efforts to seek citizen voices. Interestingly, these cities traditionally witnessed strong collaborative governance led by non-governmental agencies as local governments have only recently started catching up with urban service delivery. However, the emerging formal paradigm of governance is centred around government agencies. Within this paradigm, it has been challenging to find pathways for these agencies to connect with the informally congregated citizen voices in tea shops, tree shades and other public spaces.

Citizen involvement, when initiated by the government in these cities often underutilises and undervalues local voices. Citizens' opinions, even if sought, rarely receive the significance they deserve. Additionally, these initiatives frequently suffer from low citizen turnout due to inadequate and insincere efforts to engage them in meaningful discussions.

To bridge the gap between government actions and citizens' needs, it is essential to identify and strengthen spaces for citizen engagement. This involves both opening government agencies to citizen suggestions and enabling citizens to approach their city government institutionally. In this piece, we will focus on the ways in which the government can be more open to listening to its citizens.

1. Changing approach to citizen engagement

Valuing citizen voices: The first step in seeking citizen voices is valuing them. There is a prevailing notion that 'domain experts' have all the answers to the complex challenges cities face. However, active citizens and citizen groups from various smart cities have alleged that they were not invited to provide input for smart city proposals. Even when they were invited, their inputs were often excluded from the final proposals, and in many cases, the final proposal was not even shared with them.

Valuing citizen voices can be achieved through several strategies:

Formal invitations: Actively invite citizens to participate in discussions and decision-making processes.

Public recognition: Recognise valuable inputs on public platforms and at events celebrating citizen contributions.

Showcase success stories: Share success stories and testimonials that highlight the impact of citizen input.

Transparent feedback mechanism: Establish a transparent feedback system to keep citizens informed about how their contributions were used and the outcomes that resulted.

Respecting local context and authenticity of a place: During a visit to another small town, we learned of a government event where the President of India was the chief guest. Despite suggestions to showcase craftwork from local artisans, the event opted for generic flower bouquets. This small example highlights a broader issue of disregarding local culture in larger programs. Government agencies could enhance engagement by incorporating local culture into their decision-making processes.

Utilising a city's unique cultural heritage and natural resources in development projects can make engagement more relatable and meaningful to the community. For instance, organisations in Udaipur have successfully mobilised people for lake conservation efforts by tapping into the cultural and emotional connections they have with their lakes.

Government agencies can demonstrate their commitment to engagement by respecting local contexts and cultures. This approach not only fosters a deeper connection with the community but also promotes sustainable and inclusive development that reflects the authentic identity of the place.

2. Innovating with the modes of engagement

Emphasising the role of temporary engagements in shaping permanent solutions: Temporary projects, such as open street days, or awareness campaigns, play a crucial role in involving communities, shaping public perception and influencing permanent solutions. These initiatives, typically limited in duration and cost, serve as testing grounds where citizens can experience and provide feedback on potential permanent changes. Encouraging cities to adopt more temporary initiatives can foster a culture of active citizen participation. These initiatives not only engage communities in meaningful ways but also provide valuable insights that can inform the development of more permanent and institutionalized pathways for citizen engagement.

Balancing online feedback with offline feedback: Government-initiated spaces have increasingly favoured digital platforms over in-person interactions, especially in smaller cities. Yet, our work at Nagrika, an NGO investing in building knowledge for better city decisions, reveals that in smaller Indian cities, there is a clear citizen preference for offline engagement, such as informal meetups, volunteer days, clean-up drives, lectures, and symposiums. These intimate, community-focused approaches are highly valued in smaller cities, known for their strong community bonds. They facilitate deeper connections among residents and provide nuanced, context-specific feedback often missed in digital forums. Striking a balance between online and offline methods is essential for effective citizen engagement.

Engaging with local CSOs and NGOs as a better bridge: Engaging with local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) is a strategic approach to bridging the gap between government initiatives and community needs. These organizations have established deep-rooted connections within communities, founded on long-term trust and mutual understanding. By leveraging these networks, government agencies can effectively tailor public projects to meet the specific needs and contexts of local populations. This collaborative approach enhances the relevance and success of initiatives, fostering a more inclusive and responsive governance framework.

Smaller cities have the potential to foster ground-up policy decisions that align closely with the aspirations of their citizens. However, the absence of clear avenues for expression and the underexplored nature of local issues and solutions underscore the necessity for accessible and valued platforms for citizen input. This entails gaining a deeper understanding of the key actors who initiate or facilitate these engagement opportunities. It also involves evaluating existing engagement models to pinpoint areas where citizen participation is robust as well as areas where it is lacking.

Tarun Sharma & Yutika Vora are Co-Founders of Nagrika, a social enterprise building a movement to turn small towns into resilient communities by giving voice to citizens.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.
An eight-member team of Punjab Police on Thursday arrived here to escort jailed 'Waris Punjab De' activist Amritpal Singh to New Delhi for his swearing-in as a Member of Parliament, an official said.

Singh, who has won from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab, has been granted four-days parole for the swearing-in.

The police team, led by a Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)-rank official, arrived here in the afternoon and is scheduled to escort Singh, lodged in Dibrugarh Central Jail, to New Delhi in a special flight amid tight security for the swearing-in on Friday.

Singh's lawyer Rajdev Singh Khalsa said he will be taken to Delhi aboard a "military aircraft" for the swearing-in.

Singh's parole orders are stringent, prohibiting him or his relatives from making any public statements during his visit to New Delhi.

Moreover, any form of media coverage, including videography or circulation of statements, is strictly prohibited.

In addition, Singh has been instructed not to engage in any activities that might compromise national security.

The deployment of security personnel during his temporary release and presence in Delhi will be overseen by the SSP, Amritsar (Rural).

His parents, Tarsem Singh and Balwinder Kaur, and his wife Kirandeep Kaur, met the jailed activist in Dibrugarh Central jail last month after his Lok Sabha win.

Amritpal won from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat by 1,97,120 votes as an Independent candidate by defeating Congress's Kulbir Singh Zira, while AAP's Laljit Singh Bhullar came third.

The jailed activist polled 4,04,430, while Zira got 2,07,310 votes and Bhullar 1,94,836 votes.

Ten members of the outfit, including Amritpal and one of his uncles, have been lodged in the jail since March 19 last year after they were arrested under the National Security Act from different parts of Punjab following a crackdown on the outfit.
Two days after the fateful stampede which claimed the lives of over 121 people during a religious congregation in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras, there is still no sight of preacher Bhole Baba aka Narayan Saakar Hari.

Sunil Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mainpuri, who has deployed a team of police at Ram Kutir Charitable Trust in Mainpuri district, told reporters on Wednesday night that Bhole Baba is still not inside the Ashram. "Baba has not been found inside the ashram. There are 40-50 sevadars inside the ashram. Bhole Baba is not inside, neither he was yesterday nor he is today," Kumar.



Police personnel have been deployed on the Ashram premises to prevent stone pelting incidents. "We are present here so that security can be ensured, no one pelts stones at the ashram. There will be a thorough investigation on the matter," the DSP added.



This comes as A P Singh, the lawyer representing Bhole Baba, claimed Wednesday that "anti-social elements" were behind the stampede at the preacher's 'satsang'.



Though primary investigation hints that the stampede occurred when a large number of his followers, mostly women, rushed towards Baba when he was leaving to get a closer glimpse of the preacher and collect the soil he walked on. However, Baba's lawyer rubbished the allegations of 'charan raj'. "Narayan Saakar Hari never lets followers touch his feet. The mention of the 'charan raj' is also false. There is no video or picture of such an act," he said.



"Some anti-social elements hatched a conspiracy. When Narayan Saakar Hari left the venue, his vehicles left, our volunteers and followers failed to understand what was happening due to the conspiracy. This was done as per a plan and should be investigated," lawyer A P Singh told PTI.



Singh said Bhole Baba is also ready to cooperate with the state administration and the police probing Tuesday's stampede and has demanded an investigation into the entire matter.



Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday formed a three-member judicial commission headed by a retired High Court judge to probe the Hathras tragedy. The panel will also look into the possibility that a conspiracy was behind the stampede that killed 121 people at a religious gathering.

Retired Allahabad High Court judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastav leads the inquiry commission, which will submit its report in two months. Retired IAS officers Hemant Rao and Bhavesh Kumar are the other members, the state government said in Lucknow.

The police have now filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the organisers of the satsang' near Phulhari village, accusing them of cramming 2.5 lakh people into the venue when they had obtained permission for only 80,000.


External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Thursday agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining border issues in eastern Ladakh during a meeting.

In the talks held on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in this Kazakh capital, Jaishankar conveyed to Wang that respecting the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential.



The external affairs minister also reaffirmed India's persistent view that the ties between the two sides must be based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity.



The Jaishankar-Wang talks came amid the dragging border row in eastern Ladakh that entered its fifth year in May.



"Met with CPC Politburo member and FM Wang Yi in Astana this morning. Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end," Jaishankar said on 'X'.



"Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential. The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties," he said.



India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas.


Germany's first African-born member of parliament has announced that he will not stand in the next federal election in 2025. Karamba Diaby, 62, made the announcement just weeks after receiving a death threat.

"After months of consideration and weighing, I, in consultation with my family, have come to the decision not to run for the Bundestag again," he wrote in a letter to his party colleagues, the German Press Agency reported.

I look back on 11 enriching and successful years in federal politics. After three legislative periods, its time to make way for the next political generation and explore new paths, he said in the letter.

Since 2013, centre-left Social Democrats's Diaby has been representing the Halle constituency. His political career had not been an easy one. He received hate mail, racist attacks and threats over the years.

On asked whether he will be engaged in the party activities, Diaby said he will face big challenges and hard work.

At the same time, Im looking forward to having more time for my family and friends and our allotment, Diaby had said.

Diaby had moved to Germany on a study grant in 1985. Though he had "unpleasant incidents" during his political journey, he kept on going. Earlier in the interviews, Diaby noted that the entry of the populist AfD party into the Bundestag. They raise aggressive slogans, he had said.

After receiving the latest threat, the MP said "For me the level of hatred and agitation has reached a new level. I now encounter it every day in the news and commentaries, but also in the German Bundestag."

I wont let myself be intimidated. I am fighting back. The hatred that the AfD shows every day with its misanthropic narratives is reflected in concrete psychological and physical violence! This jeopardises cohesion in our society, he added.

He said this latest threat against him crossed a new red line. Diaby's Halle constituency office was attacked and bullets were fired through the window. Even some of his staff and colleagues faced blackmail attempts and threats.

Diaby has a PhD in chemistry and he was born in Senegal.
The latest opinion poll by The New York Times shows that Republican candidate Donald Trump's lead in the presidential election has widened following Joe Biden's debate debacle on June 27. Trump now leads Biden by 49 per cent to 43 per cent, the widest margin he has recorded in an NYT poll since 2015.

Even more alarmingly for Biden, nearly three-quarters of American voters now believe that Biden is too old to do the job. Among independent voters, a key cohort the Biden campaign hopes to woo, that figure goes up to about 80 per cent. No wonder Biden seems to have indicated to key allies that he may not be able to continue unless he manages to convince the American public in the next few days that he is up for the job.

According to media reports, Biden privately acknowledged that he has only a few more days to save his candidacy and that his next few public appearances in the Independence Day weekend could make or break his campaign. Biden has an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News on July 5 and has scheduled campaign events in key battlegrounds, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

While the Biden campaign has dismissed his debate debacle as an aberration, blaming it on a number of factors such as a cold that he was suffering from and the president's extensive foreign travel prior to the debate, a gradual deterioration of his health has been evident over the past several months. For instance, on June 10, during an advance Juneteenth concert at the White House, Biden looked frozen for nearly half a minute, even as guests danced around him. In the same month, while speaking to Time for an interview, Biden wrongly referred to President Xi Jinping as Vladimir Putin.

In February, at a press conference held to refute special counsel Robert Hur's observation that Biden was a "well-meaning man with a poor memory", he confused Egypt with Mexico. A few days later, he referred to former German chancellor Angela Merkel as the late chancellor Helmut Kohl and also confused French President Macron with former president Francois Mitterrand. After the debate fiasco, his aides conceded that Biden is "dependably engaged" only from 10 am to 4 pm and that he remains fatigued and could have verbal miscues outside that window.

While the senior Democratic leadership closed ranks around Biden immediately after the debate, despite most of the liberal media in the US asking the president to quit, as the days pass by more voices of dissent can be heard from the Democratic camp. On July 3, Lloyd Doggett, who represents the 37th Congressional district in Texas, became the first sitting Democratic member of Congress to ask Biden to go. "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," he said.

Doggett was followed later in the day by Raul Grijavla, a house member from Arizona. He said Biden should shoulder the responsibility of keeping that seat and part of that responsibility was to get out of the race. Grijavla's comments are perhaps more damning for the president as he comes from a swing state that Biden won last time, but he is clearly behind Trump there this time, according to all reliable polls. The danger for Biden is that if the trickle of calls to quit turns into a wave in the coming days, it will be really hard for him to ignore it and move ahead. Already, three more House DemocratsMike Quigley of Illinois, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp of Washingtonhave indicated that they too would prefer a new candidate. Among the senators to publicly weigh in on the issue was Peter Welch of Vermont. "The big question going into the debate was the age question. The outcome of the debate was that that question has intensified," he said.

According to Politico, several draft letters are circulating among Democrats and at least one asking Biden to quit. The tension is real among vulnerable house members who fear that they would sink with a losing Biden in November. "Everybody wants Biden to quit," said a House Democrat. "There is a sense of despair. I think people don't understand how we get out of this hole. And we're hurtling towards losing to Trump."

As a sense of doom prevails in the Democratic camp, the Biden team has intensified its efforts to assuage concerns. On July 3, Biden met with a group of 20 Democratic governors at the White House and explained to them that he was exhausted on the day of the debate, which affected his performance.

In the meeting, organised by Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, Biden said he was staying in the campaign. Vice President Kamala Harris closed the meeting, outlining the threats posed by Trump's return to the White House.

While the governors appeared satisfied by Biden's explanations, not everyone appeared to be convinced. Kentucky's Andy Beshear, whose name is doing the rounds as a possible replacement candidate, said the debate performance would damage the campaign. And he wanted Biden to interact more with the public and assuage their concerns. "I don't think there is anything wrong with asking the president to talk to the American people a little bit more about his health or that debate performance."

Biden's inner circle, especially his immediate family, remains fiercely protective of the president, blaming the campaign leadership for the ongoing crisis. They have been privately criticising his longtime aides and are discussing whether to fire senior White House advisor Anita Dunn and her husband Bob Bauer, Biden's personal lawyer. They were part of a dozen-strong team that prepped Biden for the debate. The family, including First Lady Jill Biden, the president's sister Valerie Owens and Hunter, continue to urge the president to stay on and fight.

The Biden camp argues that if the president goes, chaos will reign as there are legal, logistical and financial challenges in naming a replacement. They also claim that under the rules of the Democratic National Committee, there is no clear pathway to name an alternative candidate. However, according to the DNC's rules and regulations finalised in 2022, there is still an option to replace the candidate even after the nomination convention on August 22.

DNC chair Jamie Harrison can name a new nominee after consulting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakim Jeffries and Democratic Governors' Association Chair Tim Walz. The name would then be presented to DNC members, who can confirm or reject the nominee. Many Democratic leaders feel that a host of presidential aspirants should be allowed to put forward their case and the best nominee should be chosen from among them.

Various names float around as potential replacements. These include Governors Gavin Newsom (California), Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan), J.B. Pritzker (Illinois) Wes Moore (Maryland), Andy Beshear (Kentucky) and Josh Shapiro (Pennsylvania). Other possibilities include Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Senators Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota), Cory Booker (New Jersey) and Raphael Warnock (Georgia).

There were also rumours about former first lady Michelle Obama as a candidate, but after Biden's debate disaster, Barack Obama issued a forceful statement offering unconditional support to the president.

The frontrunner among alternative candidates is, interestingly, Vice President Harris. While she was considered to be a weak candidate by many Democratic leaders in the past based on her ill-fated 2020 presidential campaign, she appears to have a genuine edge now. The latest opinion polls show that she is running strongly, trailing Trump by just two percentage points, which is well within the margin of error. No other Democrat comes closer. Several senior Democrats have indicated that they would root for her if Biden chose to step down.

Harris can ensure the enthusiastic participation of Afro-American and women voters. She can also deflect criticism faced by the Biden administration on issues such as the Gaza war. And Harris can confidently sell the many achievements of the Biden administration without really getting hampered by anti-incumbency. She is also an effective campaigner on abortion rights and can turn the election into a referendum on the issue, where the Democrats enjoy a clear edge. Harris, moreover, is a known figure, unlike most other potential contenders who are untested on the national stage.

Choosing Harris will also spare the Democrats of several logistical and financial nightmares. It could resolve the question of delegates chosen for the Biden-Harris ticket pledging their loyalty to someone else. It could also settle the legal questions about using the Biden campaign's $300 billion war chest. Harris is legally entitled to use the funds if Biden relinquishes his candidacy, but other candidates are not allowed to use that money, under existing campaign finance laws.
In a new book, published in time for the Lubavitch Rebbe, Rav Menachem M. Schneerson ztl, thirtieth yahrtzeit, includes an essay Rebbe by Choice by Dovid Zaklikowski which compares the Rebbes derech in influencing those around him to Dale Carnegies advice in How to Win Friends & Influence People.

The essay is one of fifty essays in The Oracle: Portraits of Rebbe Mendel Schneerson, which includes the photos of Rav Schneerson which were photographed for the 1992 New York Times Magazine cover story The Oracle of Crown Heights.

The award-winning photographer Marc Asnin spent several weeks in Crown Heights for the New York Times and took thousands of photos, only a few of which were published in the magazine. Now, in time for the thirtieth yahrtzeit, Redux Pictures published these never-before-published photos in a coffee table book.

Through Asnins intimate photos and personal reflections, The Oracle examines a pivotal moment when Rav Schneerson was at the height of his influence and tells of the Chabad movement that continues to thrive decades after his passing.

Widely regarded as one of the most iconic books in the American canon, Carnegies book was first published in 1936, began a revolution in effective interaction between employees and employers, co-workers, and spouses. Time Magazine later called it arguably the most influential of self-help books: Its sage advice rings true nearly 75 years later.

While there is no concrete proof that the Rebbe read it, Zaklikowski writes in his essay, It is Carnegies approach that seems to be blatantly apparent in the way the Rebbe tried to influence people to become more consciously Jewish, to take on more observance, and to be more involved in Jewish communal life.

One such piece of advice, he continues, is the use of gentleness and friendliness, quoting Carnegie, is demonstrated day after day by people who have learned that a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall. This has become hallmark of the Rebbes approach to not denigrate those who have erred in their yiddishkeit, but to encourage them to grow in it. It has also been the way Chabad shluchim have approached reaching out to their local communities.

Rav Schneerson was not the only one to have incorporated Carnegies approach, Rav Dessler was said to also have incorporated his approach in his teachings.

The book, which according to Chabadpedia, has been banned from Crown Heights stores for also including objective criticism of the movement, has been hailed by others as a first attempt to understand the stories, their struggles and challenges, of those who became Rav Schneersons chassidim and admirers.

Zaklikowski, who has written over forty books, many of them on the teachings of Rav Schneerson, writes that for his essay he interviewed over one hundred people. Because I wanted the interviewees to speak their minds freely, many of the conversations were carried out informally. In addition, I reviewed thousands of pages of original documents.

The Rebbe contended that even those who seemed bad, Zalikowski writes, like the Jew who was not observant, had the potential to do good and should be encouraged in that path.

Taking the long view, the Rebbe attracted people from all backgrounds and philosophies. As one person told me, you could be a disciple of the Rebbe and be modern, traditional, a fanatic, a non-believer, or a growing Jew.
Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley took a victory lap on social media after a tense exchange with ABCs George Stephanopoulos last year resurfaced on Tuesday. The interview, which aired on Good Morning America in August, showed Haley asserting that President Biden would not finish his term and that Kamala Harris would become the next president.

Stephanopoulos pushed back, asking Haley for evidence to support her claim, but she cited the decline in Bidens mental acuity and the need for a new generation of leaders. Haley also called for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75.

The exchange has gone viral again, and Haley taunted Stephanopoulos today on social media, saying Believe me now, George?

The resurfaced interview comes as Biden is set to sit down with Stephanopoulos for his first interview since last weeks presidential debate, where he will likely face questions about his performance and his mental fitness for office.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
A defiant President Joe Biden vowed on Wednesday to keep running for reelection, rejecting growing pressure from Democrats to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign for the president, a leading ally publicly suggested a way that the party might choose someone else.

Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running no ones pushing me out. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win, Biden said in a call with staffers on his reelection campaign, according to a top aide who posted his comment on the X social media platform.

Biden was pulling every possible lever to try to salvage his reelection campaign  talking to top legislators, pumping up his campaign staff and meeting later in the day with Democratic governors before a planned weekend blitz of travel and a network TV interview.

But there were signs that support for Biden was rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, said he would back a mini-primary in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race. Clyburn, D-S.C., floated an idea that appeared to be laying the groundwork for alternatives by delegates during the Democrats planned virtual roll call that is scheduled before the more formal party convention.

You can actually fashion the process thats already in place to make it a mini-primary and I would support that, Clyburn told CNN.

He said Vice President Kamala Harris, governors and others could join the competition. It would be fair to everybody.  Because if she were to be the nominee we need to have a running mate. And need a strong running mate.

Clyburn, a senior lawmaker who is a former member of his partys House leadership team, said he has not personally seen the president act as he did on the debate stage last week.

I saw what I saw last Thursday night, and it is concerning, Clyburn said.

Some suggested Harris was emerging as the favorite to replace Biden if he were to withdraw, although those involved in private discussions acknowledge that Govs. Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan remain viable alternatives. But for some insiders, Harris is viewed as the best prospect to quickly unify the party and avoid a messy and divisive convention fight.

Even as pressure around Biden mounted, he and Harris made a surprise appearance on a call with staffers from his reelection campaign and offered a pep talk, stressing the stakes of the election and returning to Bidens previous post-debate comments that he would get back up after being knocked down. The president told those assembled that he was not leaving the race and would not be dragged out.

Asked a short time later whether Biden would consider stepping down, White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre said absolutely not.

He understands it is fair for people to ask that question. she said, while adding, I cannot lay out something that would change the presidents mind about seeking a second term.

She also said Biden is clear-eyed. And he is staying in the race.

Democrats are unsatisfied with the explanations of Bidens debate performance, from both White House staff and the president himself. And there is a deeper frustration among some Democrats who feel Biden should have handled questions about his stumbling debate performance much sooner and that he has put them in a difficult position by staying in the race.

White House chief of staff Jeff Zients urged people during an earlier all-staff meeting Wednesday to tune out the noise and focus on the task of governing.

Even as Zients acknowledged that the days since the Atlanta matchup between Biden and Republican Donald Trump have been challenging, the chief of staff stressed to more than 500 White House aides on the call the accomplishments and the track record of the Democratic administration and said governing will only become more crucial once the campaign season heats up, particularly after the Fourth of July holiday, according to a White House official.

Biden himself began making personal outreach on his own, speaking privately with senior Democratic lawmakers such as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons and Clyburn.

Zients tried to rally the staffs confidence in Bidens reelection apparatus and said Biden has always made it through tough times, despite being counted out over his decades in public office.

The chief of staff also encouraged aides to continue being a team and, while acknowledging the increasing political chatter, to tune it out and stay disciplined, according to the official, who was granted anonymity to relay Zients private remarks.

Staff-wide White House calls arent unusual, but Wednesdays 15-minute check-in came as Biden and senior White House officials were working to assuage rattled lawmakers, donors and other allies within the party amid sharpening questions about whether the 81-year-old president had the competency to run for a second term in office.

Biden and Harris also held one of their occasional lunches, and the president was planning on hosting an assortment of Democratic governors at the White House in the evening.

Among the Democratic governors who were planning to attend in person were Tim Walz of Minnesota, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Maura Healey of Massachusetts, Daniel McKee of Rhode Island, Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Wes Moore of Maryland and Gavin Newsom of California, according to their aides. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy were planning on attending virtually.

(AP)
Nicole Lindsay thought she could beat the holiday-week travel rush by booking an early-morning flight. It didnt work out that way.

I thought it wouldnt be that busy, but it turned out to be quite busy, the Baltimore resident said as she herded her three daughters through Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. It was a lot of kids on the flight, so it was kind of noisy  a lot of crying babies.

Lindsay said the flight was full, but her family arrived safely to spend a few days in Port Saint Lucie, so she was not complaining.

Airlines hope the outcome is just as good for millions of other passengers scheduled to take holiday flights over the next few days.

AAA forecasts that 70.9 million people will travel at least 50 miles (80 kilometers) from home over a nine-day stretch that began June 27, a 5% increase over the comparable period around the Fourth of July last year. Most of those people will drive, and the motor club says traffic will be the worst between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. most days.

Federal officials expect air-travel records to fall as Americans turn the timing of July Fourth on a Thursday into a four-day  or longer  holiday weekend.

The Transportation Security Administration predicts that its officers will screen more than 3 million travelers at U.S. airports on Sunday. That would top the June 23 mark of more than 2.99 million. American Airlines said Sunday is expected to be its busiest day of the entire summer; it plans more than 6,500 flights.

TSA was created after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and replaced a collection of private security companies that were hired by airlines. Eight of the 10 busiest days in TSAs history have come this year, as the number of travelers tops pre-pandemic levels.

The head of the agency, David Pekoske, said Wednesday that TSA has enough screeners to handle the expected crowds this weekend and through the summer.

We have been totally tested over the course of the last couple of months in being able to meet our wait-time standards of 10 minutes for a PreCheck passenger and 30 minutes for a standard passenger, so we are ready, Pekoske said on NBCs Today show.

Peggy Grundstrom, a frequent traveler from Massachusetts who flew to Florida to visit her daughter and granddaughter, said the line for security in Hartford, Connecticut, was unusually long.

It was busier than I have personally seen in the past, Grundstrom said. But, you know, I prefer to fly unless its very local. Im at a stage where I dont want to travel in a car for long periods of time.

Passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight from Detroit to Amsterdam on Wednesday had to put their travel plans on hold for several hours when the plane landed in New York because spoiled meals were served in the main cabin shortly after takeoff.

Delta apologized to passengers for the inconvenience and delay in their travels.

(AP)
Days ahead of Frances crucial parliamentary elections, renowned Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld is sticking to his advice that if voters are faced with a duel between Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally and a far-left competitor, they should choose the far right.

The advice from Klarsfeld, an 88-year-old Jewish historian who has dedicated his life to bringing fugitive Nazis to justice, goes against many other Jewish leaders and intellectuals in France who see fighting the National Rally as a top priority in Sundays runoff vote.

But Klarsfeld told The Associated Press in an interview at his Paris apartment that the far-left France Unbowed party has militant pro-Palestinian supporters and antisemitic overtones, while Le Pens party supports Israel and Jewish people.

Marine Le Pen is the head of a party which supports Israel and supports the Jews, Klarsfeld said in the interview Tuesday. So we gave this advice to those who will be faced with this runoff between the far left and what used to be the far right, which for us is now a populist party, to vote for the right, he said.

Klarsfeld shocked many people in France, including those in the Jewish community, when he first stated this position on French television earlier this month.

Klarsfeld said he himself will vote for President Emmanuel Macrons centrist alliance, but not all of the voters in the 577 French districts will have that option in Sundays run-off elections, where many will be able to choose only between a National Rally or a France Unbowed candidate.

The top three blocs are the anti-immigration, nationalist National Rally, Macrons alliance and a broad leftist coalition that includes the Socialists, the greens and France Unbowed.

The National Rally fared the best in the first round, propelling the party and its allies closer than ever to the government. But Sundays outcome remains uncertain as other political parties are trying to block National Rallys path. An unprecedented number of candidates who qualified for the runoff have stepped aside to favor the competitor they believe is most likely to win against a National Rally opponent.

I fear the far left. The far left has a deep-seated hatred of Israel and has  militants who are pro-Palestinians, Klarsfeld said, describing France Unbowed as a violently anti-Israeli party with certain anti-Semitic overtones.

Frances roughly half-million people of Jewish faith make up only a small portion of the countrys 66 million inhabitants, but they have been thrust into the electoral fray by the countrys bitter divisions over the Hamas-Israel war. Opposing camps in the legislative elections have hurled accusations of antisemitism at each other.

France Unbowed leaders have staunchly condemned the conduct of Israels war against Hamas and accused it of pursuing genocide against Palestinians. But they have strongly denied accusations of antisemitism.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, co-founder of the National Rallys forerunner, the National Front, has multiple convictions for racism and antisemitism, including for repeatedly saying that Nazi gas chambers were a detail of WWII history. Pierre Bousquet, another founder, was a member of the French division of Nazi Germanys Waffen-SS.

Jean-Marie Le Pen was expelled from the party in 2015 as part of a makeover by his daughter and successor, Marine Le Pen, to make it palatable to mainstream voters.

Klarsfeld said he believes Marine Le Pen has transformed the party after expelling her father, embracing a French law that prohibits Holocaust denial and making pro-Jewish statements.

We sincerely believe shes sincere, he said. People change. We met Marine Le Pen and we got her to say and make statements that are totally pro-Jewish, that she accepts the Gayssot law, which is a law that protects Jews.

Klarsfeld managed to escape the Gestapo in Nice as a child in 1943. His father was captured and deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. He never returned.

Together with his wife, Beate, we have always fought for the defense of Jewish memory, for the prosecution of Nazi criminals, against the antisemitic extreme right and for persecuted Jews around the world, Klarsfeld said.

The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France, known as CRIF, has called on French voters to mobilize to prevent the National Rally from coming to power by voting massively for candidates from democratic and republican parties, and to categorically refuse any compromise with France Unbowed.

French intellectual Bernard-Henri Levy expressed his respect for Klarsfeld and sadness at seeing his position. Defeatism? Ill-advised? In any case, a political error. And, for those tempted to listen, a trap, Levy wrote on X.

Klarsfeld said if the National Rally dont go in the direction I foresee, Ill fight the National Rally and admit I was wrong.

But for now. I may be right, I may be wrong, but no one can prove me wrong, he concluded.

(AP)
State Attorney Amit Aisman asked Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to launch a criminal investigation against National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir for allegedly inciting violence against the residents of Gaza, Kan News reported on Tuesday evening.

According to the report, the request is intended to satisfy the International Court of Justice at the Hague that Israel is investigating Israeli officials for statements inciting genocide.

The State-Attorney and Attorney-Generals Office responded to an inquiry on the matter by stating: As the State of Israel informed the International Court of Justice in The Hague, all statements on the matter that could amount to a criminal offense are being examined. Contrary to the publication, no decisions were made on the issue by the heads of the law enforcement system.

The absurd request was condemned even within the state attorneys office and no one believes that such an investigation would lead to an indictment.

In fact, the request is so outlandish that a Walla reporter even jumped to Ben-Gvirs defense, first clarifying how much he dislikes Ben-Gvir, saying, there are a thousand reasons to dislike him and describing him as one of the most failed ministers in Israels history.

The reporter continued by saying that, still, the State Attorneys decision to open an investigation against Ben-Gvir is the kind of folly that is usually read in the stories of the sages of Chelm.

It sounds absolutely crazy on the face of it. Lets start with the obvious: its stupid. The few quotes that can be interpreted as incitement to violence against the citizens of Gaza by Ben-Gvir are based on leaks from cabinet meetings. For example, it was published on this website that in November 2023, Ben-Gvir argued with the Prime Minister about the concept of non-involved and claimed that this old man who runs with a stick to abuse citizens, is he not involved? He is a terrorist! He is indeed involved. He later claimed at the same meeting that those who distribute candy and encourage murder are involved, those who came to loot are also involved  terrorists. Is this incitement to violence against the residents of Gaza, or more like an opinion  not even that extreme relative to the man  that was heard as part of an entire discussion?

Still, inciting violence against the residents of Gaza  during a war in Gaza  is far from the worst thing he did during his term in government. In fact, he didnt say anything more serious than Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz (No electrical switch will be flipped, no water break will be opened and no fuel truck will enter Gaza.) or President Herzog who was quoted in The Hague as saying: The rhetoric that civilians are not involved in the fighting is not true. We will fight until we defeat them.'

Ben-Gvir did not incite violence against the citizens of Gaza any more than anyone else who sat in the cabinet at that meeting. Everyone discussed the violent way in which to respond to the violent attack that surprised Israel. Given that no one suggested attacking Gaza with flowers and candy bars, they all incited violence in the same meeting just like Ben-Gvir.

Ben-Gvir responded to the report by stating: Unbelievable! The State Attorney is trying to prosecute an Israeli minister for incitement against the citizens of an enemy country who danced on the blood of our soldiers in the streets of Gaza on October 7th. Instead of the Shin Bet and the State Attorney carrying out targeted assassinations in Gaza, they are trying to carry out a targeted assassination against a minister in Israel. The attempt will not succeed.

The report was widely ridiculed on Israeli social media on Wednesday.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
A discharged soldier was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly murdering a Nukhba terrorist on October 7th and brought to the Tel Aviv Magistrates Court on Wednesday, where the police requested an extension of his arrest, Channel 12 reported.

According to the report, a police investigator accused the soldier: You interrogated a terrorist in the field, then shot him in the head. Thats why you are suspected of murder.

The soldier replied: I didnt murder any terrorist but I eliminated the terrorists who shot at us.

The report was later taken down but not before it was quoted by every other media outlet. The police later slapped a gag order on the case and there are likely details that are unknown about the case. Some social media reports said that three soldiers were arrested.

Channel 14 News journalist Yinon Magal quoted the soldiers father as saying: On October 7th, while half of the country was in shelters and half of the country was probably sleeping.. my son and another soldier he knows, without being called, quickly drove in their own to the south in order to help and save as many people as possible.

They encountered terrorists in the Shaar Negev area. They eliminated some of them and even managed to rescue the wounded. The soldier who was with him was even injured in the incident while trying to rescue injured soldiers. Among other things, they risked a lot in order to prevent attempts to kidnap the bodies of soldiers who were in the field.

Today we found out that there are delusional elements in our dear country who are trying in every way to demoralize our soldiers and instead of handing out medals to people who did the maximum while others didnt even do the minimum, they are busy trying to discredit soldiers.

Dozens of Israelis showed up outside the court in Tel Aviv to protest the arrest.

One of them explained, as quoted by Ynet: This is a young man who went down to the south that morning, saved lives and saved the bodies of soldiers so that they wouldnt be abducted. There is no connection here to the right or the left.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Only a handful of people know the location of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, according to sources from the terror group who spoke with London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat.

A very small circle of no more than two or three people at most knows his whereabouts and secures his various needs, as well as ensuring his communication with the movements leaders inside and outside, one source told the paper.

Despite Israeli efforts to target Hamas leaders, Sinwar remains elusive. The source added, [Israel] failed to reach many of the first and second-tier leaders [of Hamas] on the political and military levels, but it tried to assassinate some of them, some of whom were injured, and some of whom survived and came out unharmed from bombing operations in different areas and targets, but Sinwar is not among them.

The sources did not disclose whether Sinwar is hiding above ground or in tunnels. In February, the Israel Defense Forces released footage allegedly showing Sinwar walking through a Gaza tunnel with family members in October.

According to the report, Sinwar is unwilling to consider exile as part of a deal.

Sinwar is thinking of two options, with no third option as long as he is alive  either to fulfill the resistances conditions of stopping the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces, and completing an honorable exchange deal, or to obtain the honor of martyrdom, a source said. Beyond that, in his personal thinking, there are no other options. Such a proposal [exile from Gaza] is fundamentally unacceptable for Sinwar, and he cannot even think about it.

This stance shuts down the possibility that Israel consider a deal involving Sinwars exile from Gaza, as has been previously reported.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF has demolished the home of Ahmed Dawabsha, a 21-year-old Palestinian accused of murdering 14-year-old Binyamin Achimeir in a West Bank terror attack in April. Achimeir went missing while shepherding near the outpost of Malachei Shalom on April 12, and his body was found the next day.

Dawabsha, a resident of the West Bank town of Duma, was arrested on April 22 and charged with Achimeirs murder last month. According to prosecutors, the attack was inspired by the Islamic State jihadist movement.

The IDF demolished Dawabshas home in Duma overnight, citing a policy of demolishing the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out deadly terror attacks, which aims to deter future terrorists.

In addition to the demolition, six wanted Palestinians were detained in other West Bank operations. Since October 7, the IDF has arrested approximately 4,200 wanted Palestinians across the West Bank, including over 1,750 affiliated with Hamas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel is urging the defense minister, IDF chief of staff, and attorney general to immediately begin issuing conscription orders to ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, following last weeks High Court ruling that the state must draft such men.

In a letter, the movement wrote, You have the urgent obligation to begin equitable conscription in accordance with the Law for Security Service, specifically for 63,000 haredi yeshiva students for whom recruitment procedures have not yet been taken, or whose service was [previously] postponed.

The letter notes that despite the High Court ruling, no conscription orders have been sent to the 63,000 yeshiva bochurim who are obligated to enlist. The Attorney Generals Office has instructed the IDF and Defense Ministry to act immediately to draft them, with a minimum of 4,800 Charedi men required to be drafted in 2024.

The Defense Ministry has refused to comment on its actions to comply with the order.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that the IDF needs 10,000 new soldiers due to losses sustained during the current war, a point which the group says underscored why drafting yeshiva bochurim is important.

Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government, said, We are in the midst of a war and the IDF needs all the manpower it can get. Failure to draft the ultra-Orthodox at this stage is not just a violation of the High Courts ruling but also a severe blow to state security and the principle of equality. We are demanding immediate and determined action to draft all yeshiva students who are obligated to perform military service without further delay.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The IDF announced the deaths of two IDF officers who were killed in battle in northern Gaza on Wednesday.

One officer was identified as Cpt. Roy Miller, Hyd, 21, from Hertziliya. He served as a platoon commander in the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade and was killed in a clash with terrorists inside a building. Another officer and a soldier were seriously wounded in the same incident.

The second officer was identified as Cpt. Elay Elisha Lugasi, Hyd, 21, from Kiryat Shmona. He served as a platoon commander in the 7th Armored Brigades 75th Battalion and was killed by anti-tank fire in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of Gaza City. Three other soldiers were seriously wounded in the same incident.

Lugasi, zl, is an only child whose parents are evacuees from Kiryat Shmona. He was injured in battle at the beginning of the war and after recovering and undergoing rehabilitation, he insisted on returning to his soldiers as quickly as possible.

Their deaths increase the death toll of soldiers killed in the war in Gaza to 324.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Senior Israeli officials are currently evaluating Hamass response to a potential hostage release-ceasefire deal, according to a joint statement from the Prime Ministers Office and the Mossad on Wednesday evening.

The hostages deal mediators have conveyed to the negotiating team Hamass remarks on the outline of the hostages deal, the statement read.

Israel is evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators.

Also, a senior Israeli official told CNN that Israel and Hamas are on the brink of signing a deal.

The first stage of the deal will reportedly see the return of female hostages, children, the injured, the ill, and the elderly. Israel will commit to evacuating the Rafah Crossing until a deal is reached on who will control the area in the future. However, Israel did not commit to a complete withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor or not to resume fighting after the first stage of the agreement.

However, there are still reportedly major snags in the agreement, including Hamass insistence on Israel committing to not continuing the war after the first stage.

Channel 12 News reported that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with the families of hostages on Wednesday evening and told them a hostage deal is closer than ever before.

Gallant explained that Hamas is being heavily pressured by Qatar and the US to agree to a deal.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
The grandmother of New Hope MK Sharren Haskel was assaulted by Arabs in a Paris suburb, Haskel revealed on Wednesday.

The 88-year-old had left her home for an appointment when two Arabs attacked her, punching her in the face, breaking her teeth, and knocking her to the ground. They then kicked her in the back while she lay helpless on the ground, yelling: Dirty Jew, dirty old woman and This is what you deserve.

The woman, whose name was not revealed, filed a police complaint following the incident.

Antisemitism in France has been on the rise for a long time, MK Haskel wrote on X. Since October 7, it has become unbearable, and the government of France is ignoring it and allowing blood libels to spread against Israel, leading the Jewish community to suffer from violence, rape and murder.

Haskel urged Jews living in France and other communities abroad to move to Israel, saying she has little faith that French authorities will properly address the surging antisemitism.

The Israeli government must wake up and lead the fight against this exploding antisemitism, she wrote. Jewish communities around the world are an integral part of us, and we have a great responsibility towards them.

There should be more civilian initiatives like the Jew hate database in America. It is far more effective than anything Ive seen until now in having a price tag against racism.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Danny Elgarat, the brother of hostage Itzik Elgarat, has revealed that the military has informed him that Hamas claims his brother is no longer alive. In an emotional interview with Channel 12, Danny shared the devastating news, saying, I met with our intelligence officers yesterday and as far as Hamas is concerned, my brother is not alive.

Danny expressed frustration and sadness, recalling the moments when his brother was taken hostage. He was kidnapped alive, the hostage Yelena sat with him for a whole day and talked to him. He also mentioned that the family received a report from a doctor who treated Itzik, saying, The doctor who treated him gave us an accurate report of what treatment he received. He received really excellent care there, they saved his hand.

Danny said the family had been aware of Itziks movements while in captivity. We knew that on January 1 he moved from Khan Younis to Rafah. We know that he was in motion, that he was alive, he said.

He criticized the authorities for not taking the familys concerns seriously, saying, When we said that time was running out and we needed to bring them home, they thought we were just stressed and talking out of pain. We were not just speaking out of pain.

Itzik Elgarat, 69, was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7 during an attack on his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz. He was shot and injured through his safe room door before being taken captive.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The visit of six senior roshei yeshiva to the U.S. last week ignited an extraordinary display of Kavod Hatorah, with tens of thousands turning out to welcome the gedolim to their towns and show support for limud hatorah in Eretz Yisroel, which is under severe threat due to drastic funding cuts by the Israeli government.

Over the course of the gedolims short visit, a staggering $83 million was donated by philanthropists to Keren Olam Hatorah, the fund established by the roshei yeshiva, bringing the ambitious goal of raising $107 million to fill the gap left by the spending cuts within reach. However, there is still $24 million left to be raised.

Now, the broader public has been given a mandate by the gedolei hador: It is our collective responsibility to close the gap and ensure the continuity of Torah study in yeshivos and kollelim across Eretz Yisroel. Rayze.It/olamhatorah

The urgency of the moment cannot be overstated and the chovas hashaa is clear: We must come together, rallying kish echad blev echad to support our colleagues in limud hatorah. The gedolims call demands every member of Klal Yisroel to step up and contribute to this crucial cause .

Now is the time to act. Here is how you can help:

Create Fundraising Teams: Forming a fundraising team is one of the most impactful ways to support this initiative. Gather friends, family, and members of your kehilla to join you in raising funds. This collective effort not only amplifies your impact but also builds a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Spread the Word: Awareness is key. Use your personal and professional networks to share the importance of Keren Olam Hatorah. Encourage others to create their own fundraising teams or to contribute directly to the cause.

Personal Contributions: Every donation counts , whether large or small. Your personal contribution will directly impact the sustainability of Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel.

Corporate Involvement: Business owners and executives can play a pivotal role by encouraging their employees to join the fundraising initiative . Creating a company team can significantly boost fundraising efforts.

By investing in Keren Olam Hatorah, you will be investing in the future of Klal Yisroel and ensuring that the light of Torah continues to shine brightly. Your efforts will not only benefit the yeshivos and kollelim but will also undoubtedly bring Shefa Bracha to you, your family, and all your endeavors.
I ordered a new sofa in my local DFS store in January 2023, but I have still yet to receive all the correct parts.

I paid 254 as a deposit in the store, and another 1,000 in April. The sofa was delivered to my home shortly after, but was the wrong model.

I had ordered a model where the back of the middle seat folds into a drop-down table, but the back on the sofa that I got was static.

I contacted DFS and the store manager ordered a replacement folding-table style back charging me an extra 200. It came in August - but the part that arrived didn't fit my sofa.

Not right: This reader kept being delivered incorrect parts for her sofa (stock image)

DFS sent another replacement part in November. But this wasn't a table back. Instead it was a replacement seat which I didn't need.

In May 2024 I received a part identical to the table-style back I first received, which again did not fit.

A year and a half after placing my order, my front room is now littered with unsuitable sofa parts and I still haven't got what I wanted. Please help. H.M, Greater Manchester

Helen Crane, This is Money's consumer champion, replies: I am sorry to hear of your couch catastrophe.

Eighteen months is a ludicrously long wait, and I can't believe it took DFS so long to get its house in order.

The initial mistake was an easy one to make. The sofa you ordered and the one you received were very similar in colour and style, with just the table element missing.

Unwilling to sit back and take it, you returned to the store to speak to the manager. But instead of a full replacement sofa, you were told you would be sent a new folding table part to fit on to it.

Spare parts: A picture of H.M's sofa... as well as her collection of surplus backs and seats

That would have been fine if it fitted, but sadly it did not - and you entered into a long back and forth with parts being sent that were no use.

You ended up with a jigsaw of useless sofa elements - seats, backs, and folding tables - but as hard as you tried, DFS could not seem to send you the missing piece of the puzzle.

It didn't collect the extra parts, so you told me your living room now looks like a sofa graveyard and has become a running joke among family and friends.

But really, having to wait a year and half to get the product you ordered and paid for is no laughing matter.

You are in your eighties, and have spent a long time trying to sort this out when you should have been sitting back and relaxing.

If it wasn't for your age, you told me you would be showing people photos of your growing collection of sofa parts outside your local DFS.

I also question why you were charged an extra 200 to get a part that should have been there in the first place.

CRANE ON THE CASE Our weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Helen Crane tackle reader problems and shine the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk

I am pleased to say that after I contacted DFS, it agreed to furnish you with a full replacement settee.

A DFS spokesman said: 'We are extremely sorry that H.M has had such an unfortunate experience with her order.

'We recognise that this has gone on for far too long and that it is not the standard of service that we usually provide.

'We have agreed to reorder a brand new sofa with the correct table configuration and have discussed a gesture of goodwill in recognition of her patience while we resolve this issue.

'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.'

Sofa, so good - but if it doesn't arrive then rest assured I will be back in touch.

You are still in discussion regarding the compensation, but in my mind it should cover the 200 you paid for the first replacement part... and more on top.

Utility Warehouse won't fix 2,039 bill

I am the landlord of a rented house, but I handle the bills.

In December 2021, I switched the supplier from British Gas to Utility Warehouse.

Since then, I have been told I have an outstanding balance of 2,039 which I am certain I do not owe.

I have spent two and a half years and around 100 hours trying to get the problem sorted, but it hasn't been.

Every time I phone Utility Warehouse I am passed around to different teams, raise a complaint, and then a month later get an email to say it is 'resolved' - but it isn't. It has now been escalated to debt collectors. S.D, Leeds

Bill blunder: Reader S.D says he spent 100 hours trying to sort out his energy problem

Helen Crane replies: As I have written many times before, those unfortunate enough to end up with an incorrect energy bill can find it extremely tricky to get it put right.

You told me you have always been in charge of the bills for this rented property, so it is not possible that a tenant has run up debts without you knowing.

Instead, you believe a meter reading was recorded wrongly by Utility Warehouse at the time of the switch.

Since then you have been distinctly unimpressed with the firm's customer service, and had reached your wit's end when you contacted me.

After I got in touch, I'm pleased to say it waived the entire 2,039 balance.

Utility Warehouse has also fixed your monthly payments at a set level going forward.

A Utility Warehouse spokesman said: 'Wed like to apologise to S.D for the issues he has faced. We recognise that our customer service hasnt reached our usual high standards on this occasion.

'We have stopped the debt collection process on the account and have cleared all of the outstanding balance as a gesture of goodwill. We have also set up an affordable payment plan for S.D's bills going forward.'
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has outlined plans to sell 4billion worth of shares as the stock hits an all-time high.

In a filing late on Tuesday, the billionaire revealed he would offload another 25m shares.

The tycoon, who also owns The Washington Post newspaper, has not disclosed why he is selling the Amazon shares.

It came as the stock hit a new record of $200.43 during the trading session.

Cashing in: Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (pictured with girlfriend Lauren Sanchez), has outlined plans to sell 4bn worth of shares

After the sale plan, Bezos would own about 912m Amazon shares, or 8.8 per cent of the group.

Bezos, who stepped down as chief executive in 2021, has been trimming his stake in the online retailer.

So far this year, he has offloaded shares worth an estimated 10.5billion.

This included selling an estimated 6.5billion worth of Amazon stock in February.

Bezos, 60, founded Amazon in 1994, growing it from an online bookshop to a global marketplace.

Amazon posted a set of upbeat first-quarter results in April as it cashes in on bumper sales and the artificial intelligence wave.

All this has sent shares up by over a third since the beginning of 2024.

Bezos has already given away shares worth around 190million as part of his charity efforts, most recently in 2022.

Since stepping back Bezos has been focusing on a space venture called Blue Origin.

In October, he said that he was moving to Miami from Seattle to be near his parents and Blue Origins operations. Blue Origin needs to be much faster. And its one of the reasons that I left Amazon a couple of years ago, he said in December.

The venture also puts him at odds with tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been driving the space race with his company SpaceX.

Blue Origin launched a six-person crew to the edge of space in May.

Bezos is the worlds second-richest man, worth an estimated 168billion.

Musk is worth 195billion.
Xi congratulates Antonio Costa on election as president of European Council

Xinhua) 13:39, July 04, 2024

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a message to Antonio Costa, congratulating him on election as president of the European Council.

In his message, Xi pointed out that China has always regarded Europe as an important pole in the multi-polar structure, attached great importance to the vital role of the European Union (EU) in global affairs, and been committed to developing the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said he highly values the development of China-EU relations, and stands ready to work with Costa to ensure that China and the EU remain firm as partners, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and political trust, build broad consensus, expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields, so as to achieve sound and steady development of China-EU relations and make new contributions to world peace and development.

Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang extended congratulations to Costa.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu)
A driver has received penalty points and a fine for speeding while driving on damaged tyres.

According to An Garda Siochana, Naas officers seized the car after it was spotted speeding at 75km/h in a 50km/h zone with unsafe tyres.

Gardai posted about the incident on their official social media channels, prompting a response from the public.

One X user commented, "Somebody was driving at 75km/h on these [tyres]?! Good jesus."

Another described the seizure as "fantastic news", while another commented, "People don't care, putting lives at risk."

Gardai also recently stopped a car driven by an unaccompanied driver with no insurance.

They driver received fines and penalty points, and the car was seized.

Meanwhile, Gardai in Wicklow South West stopped an unaccompanied learner as part of National Day of Action on Tuesday (July 2) with assistance from RSA Ireland.

This car's tyres and brake discs were noted to be in "poor condition", and the driver had no valid tax or insurance.

It comes amid a number of road crashes nationwide, the latest of which involved the death of a mother and her eight year old daughter - named locally as Aisling Moore and Abbigael Moore-Tournie - in Foxford, Co Mayo on July 2.

Three people were rushed to hospital yesterday (July 3) after a two-car collision in Castlepollard, Co Westmeath, with one man aged in his 80s dying at the scene.

A single-vehicle collision - which also occurred in Castlepollard - on July 2 led to the death of a man aged in his 50s.
It was not possible to audit the use of millions of euros for child scoliosis services in the immediate weeks after it was allocated, the Tanaiste has said.

In 2022, the Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly allocated an additional 19 million euros to Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) with the main aim of reducing waiting lists for child orthopaedic surgeries, among other services.

However, it has since emerged that the funding was used more broadly by CHI.

Mr Donnelly allocated the funding as part of an ambition that no child would be waiting longer than four months for scoliosis surgery.

It came after a similar pledge in 2017 when his predecessor in the role Simon Harris, now Taoiseach, set the four-month target.

During Leaders Questions on Thursday, Sinn Fein finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the promise had been broken over and over again.

On the allocation of the 19 million euros, Mr Doherty said: Immediately, both parents and patient advocates had serious concerns that Childrens Health Ireland intended to spend this money differently from the purposes that was allocated to them.

He said parents raised their concerns multiple times, including in March 2022  within weeks of the funding being announced.

Shockingly, it took until February of this year for the Minister for Health to order an audit.

Mr Doherty added: It is an absolute scandal. Where is the accountability?

The Sinn Fein TD said children were being forced to suffer in agony without any light at the end of the tunnel as he accused the health minister of ignoring their pleas.

These patients, these advocates, these parents reached out to Minister Donnelly and his office over and over and over and over again.

They told him that this money wasnt going to be spent on the promise that he gave them and their children. They pleaded with him to investigate this matter two years ago.

Tanaiste Micheal Martin replied: The Governments commitment is to do everything we possibly can as quickly as we can to reduce waiting lists for children waiting for scoliosis operations.

The Fianna Fail leader said his party colleague genuinely allocated the money to reduce waiting lists.

However, Mr Martin acknowledged that it was clear that the majority of the additional resources was not ringfenced for its intended purpose.

He said that while the allocation of the 19 million euros had a reference for other services, it was primarily intended to be used for child spinal services.

CHI informed the minister that this plan would by the end of 2022 reduce to zero the number of children waiting over four months.

Thats what CHI said to the minister and the minister funded the plan on that basis.

The investment did result in the increased number of surgeries performed. The reduction in the waiting list was modest and nowhere near what was promised at that stage.

Mr Martin said that Mr Donnelly engaged with advocacy groups and surgeons in 2023, adding: He didnt ignore.

He said the number of procedures had increased significantly since 2018, adding that approximately 70 children were currently waiting longer than four months: And thats not satisfactory  I acknowledge that.

In response, Mr Doherty said he was not sure if the Tanaiste had just listed out a list of incompetencies in terms of the Minister for Health.

He said: The Minister for Health was told by CHI, that if you give us 19 million euro, nobody will wait for more than four months.

The minister gave them the money. Within weeks, the parents and the advocates were telling the ministers office that this money isnt going where its needed.

They were begging them to investigate this.

Mr Doherty added: And when did the minister carry out an audit? He carries out an audit in 2024. Two years later.

The Sinn Fein representative said families begged and pleaded with the Department to act.

And he did nothing. Or if you did something, it was completely ineffective.

Because two years later, you still dont know where this money is gone.

Mr Martin said: An audit, by definition, happens after a particular program of action has taken place.

You cant audit something within three weeks of the money being allocated. That doesnt make any sense.

He added: You cant interrogate those issues without having a comprehensive audit in terms of facts. You cant do that three weeks in.

Mr Donnelly described the remarks from the Sinn Fein benches as nonsense and totally disingenuous, adding that he had met families many times.
The Government is planning to run a full term, the Taoiseach has said after the announcement of an early Budget.

It comes after the Finance Minister said this years Budget will be delivered on October 1, a week earlier than originally planned.

Minister Jack Chambers said the date change was due to European commitments in the following weeks, amid criticism from Sinn Fein that it would mean crucial corporation tax returns are not accounted for.

The suggestion that the date change signalled an early election was also rejected by the Taoiseach.

Asked by reporters on Thursday if the early Budget was a sign of an election this year, Simon Harris said: No, its not. Its been long known amongst party leaders and ministers for finance that the Ecofin meeting will take place on October 8.

Therefore, it simply makes sense to have the Budget on October 1.

Outside of the media and political bubble, I can tell you what people in Ireland will be much more interested in is not the date of the Budget, but the substance of the Budget.

He criticised Punch-and-Judy theatrics over the date change, adding: Were going to have an election next year. Thats the plan.

Irelands fiscal and budgetary submissions must be delivered to the European Commission on October 15, while Mr Chambers and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe will also be attending the Ecofin and Eurogroup meetings in the intervening week.

Mr Chambers said October 1 became the natural date to hold the Budget, and denied that the change signalled an early general election.

In the Dail on Thursday, Sinn Feins finance spokesman accused the Government of taking the public for fools over the change.

Pearse Doherty said the date change means the Government will not have Septembers tax return figures when making important decisions in the Budget.

He said this was laughable as it would would leave Mr Chambers with less data to frame the Budget.

Mr Doherty said: Every minister for finance knows that the September returns are crucial.

Are you telling this House that you are bringing forward the Budget without sight of the September returns?

This is what it appears to be. That is fine if he is making that decision but why is he making that decision? That is the question. I think the minister is taking us and the public for fools.

Mr Doherty also said that junior ministers at the department have represented finance ministers at Ecofin previously, including a clash with Budget day.

He said: The Eurogroup meeting is the day before, with Minister Donohoe. There is no reason he cannot be here.

Mr Doherty accused the Government of attempting to pave the way for an early election as he criticised a cock and bull story about a clash.

Mr Chambers said: What will set the wider budgetary and fiscal parameters is the Summer Economic Statement, which we will set out next week.

That will set out the position on taxation and expenditure, and what is possible for Budget 2025.

Youve a complete contradiction. First of all, youre calling for an election every day of the week in here.

Secondly, we are actually committed to political stability and running our full term.
By now readers have likely seen this report on a recent education battle in the Sunflower State.

However . . .

This passage signals changing times and new rules for educators . . .



Changes the Wichita district has agreed to include restraining unruly students less often and ending the practice of putting misbehaving students alone in rooms by Jan. 1, 2025, the DOJ said.



The district also agreed to offer counseling or tutoring to every student who was confined alone in a room during the past three schools years, with the number of hours matching those for which the student was secluded. The department said the district already is writing a new code of conduct for students and has scheduled crisis-prevention training for staff.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Discipline used in Kansas' largest school district was discriminatory, the Justice Department says TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Educators in Kansas' largest public school district discriminated against Black and disabled students when disciplining them, according to the U.S.

Kansas' largest school district must overhaul student discipline after DOJ probe It's the latest DOJ settlement agreement with a school district over treatment of students with disabilities.

Developing . . .
A bold statement that sparked controversy on this July 4th week . . .



Missouris lawsuit petitions the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing it has jurisdiction because the suit points to an interstate conflict. The court, which completed its term this week, can decide to take up this case on an emergency basis and make a ruling, or dismiss it.



I will not sit idly by while Soros-backed prosecutors hold Missouri voters hostage in this presidential election. I am filing suit to ensure every Missourian can exercise their right to hear from and vote for their preferred presidential candidate, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) wrote in a statement

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Missouri AG sues New York over 'reprehensible lawfare' against Trump: 'Poisonous to American democracy' Missouri AG Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against the state of New York, alleging its"illicit prosecution, gag order, and sentencing" of Trump has undermined his ability to campaign.

Missouri A.G. Sues New York for Dumbest Reason Ever Andrew Bailey is accusing New York state of violating Missouri residents' First Amendment rights.

Missouri AG sues New York over Trump conviction Missouri filed a lawsuit against the state of New York on Wednesday seeking to lift the gag order imposed against former President Trump during his hush money trial and delay sentencing for his con...

Developing . . .
Scathing testimony regarding repair that's highly touted on social media but doubted by residents.

Check-it . . .



"All of these pictures demonstrate what little regard City Hall, and Public Works in particular, actually has for those living out in the neighborhoods  at least in the southeast corner of KC. Mr. Shaw can brag about all the sidewalks hes taken care of, but I doubt very much if he would like living in these conditions. Are the sidewalks safer to use? Probably. Have they created an environment that is welcoming and inviting? Most definitely not."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
For those who don't know . . . It's our tradition to talk about the state of the local conversation on our Tony's Kansas City blog every 4th of July.

But first, if nobody else has told you . . .

ESPECIALLY FOR OUR VETERANS & FIRST RESPONDERS: HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!

Despite so much talk about censorship, canceling & culture war . . . People in this nation enjoy more freedom than anywhere else on the planet and that is because American soldiers risk their lives to protect it.

Now our quick update about the state of the discourse on TKC . . .



- When compared to any other news-y outlet in Kansas City, TKC has far more conversation and push back from BOTH sides of the discourse along with silly-ass snark from those trusty fellows who actually get our sense of humor. Local news magazines, half of the TV stations and the newspaper don't allow much freedom for commentary, heavily moderate their social media presence and insulate themselves from almost any criticism.

- Did you know that KCI and The Kansas City Star still block TKC?!? That's just a funny, fun fact.

- Years ago we switched to Disqus comment moderation system because we don't feel like the N-word or posting the addresses of cops is free speech. Readers who want to do that are free to find another site that's probably pure garbage. The path we've taken . . . With a few important exceptions: Trusted commenters don't have any moderation. Those who want to post as a guest have to wait for the first moderation pass which simply scans for flag words and not content. The wait can be as short as minutes up to 12 hours. We hoped more people would want to become "trusted" users but that didn't happen . . . Right now the number on the trusted list hovers near 1000 which isn't even close to our site-wide daily comment total. Apparently, most TKC readers don't mind the wait for very light moderation. Disqus isn't a perfect system but it's good enough, helps us maintain the blog and it's the only thing we can afford right now.



- In the past year we've had about two dozen take down notices, requests for deletions along with updates that weren't exactly retractions but helped to offer more insight on posts. As always, we're open to e-mail from anybody who bothers to share a question or wants to contribute their perspective on any blog post.

- As for as comments go, please leave your suggestions as to how we can improve free speech here on this blog or, even better:

How do we strengthen the First Amendment here in Kansas City?!?



- The biggest threat to free speech on TKC, as of late, is legislative and or legal power moves.

- Nevertheless . . . This year we've enjoyed even more questions & answers from politicos who don't always agree with us yet still are willing to share some info for clarification in addition to some local law enforcement agencies and dozens of elected officials who have added us to their press list.

Allow us a quick example . . .

TKC is not aligned with KCMO councilman Johnathan Duncan, TKC is not perfectly aligned with Kansas AG Kris Kobach.

However . . . This year the offices of both of those politicos put aside whatever partisan concerns they had in order to make sure that TKC readers were getting accurate info by way of questions answered or press releases sent our way.

In the age of social media . . . Developing communication with sources/outlets that aren't 100% friendly signals an effort at credibility and helps elected officials & journalists signal at least an attempt at sharing info rather than just spin.



And so, we THANK KICK-ASS TKC READERS for sticking with us and we continue our promise to update this dump for as long as humanly possible . . . We appreciate so much help that our blog community provides.

Moreover . . . Here's a quick quote that offers a hint at the future and how the conversation is shaped behind the scenes . . . We think the quote and the reports we're sharing offer a look at where fights for/against 1st Amendment rights in this nation are going . . .



During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media users saw mounting evidence that platforms were removing or reducing the reach of posts that questioned the governments claims. Even college professors and authors had their accounts blocked over actions as simple as sharing a Wall Street Journal article on Twitter. What we didnt know at the time was that government bureaucrats were evidently pulling the strings, bullying the platforms to censor Americans speech . . .



Much of this pressure campaign was secretive, more bully than pulpit.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Social media court case shows we must rein in bureaucrats to protect free speech The lesson of Murthy v. Missouri and the Supreme Court's decision is censorship is the symptom. The root cause is government overreach.

Judges block Indiana and Mississippi age verification laws for porn, social media Two laws requiring age verification online have been paused by federal courts. The laws in Indiana and Mississippi are now on hold as legal challenges to them play out.

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton | American Civil Liberties Union Whether a content-based regulation that burdens adults' access to protected speech has to be merely reasonable to satisfy the First Amendment because it was passed in the name of protecting children from sexual material online.

Developing . . .
A visitor at Grand Canyon National Park died due to extreme heat this weekend while hiking on a trail, marking yet another tragedy caused by the harsh summer temperatures in the region.

The man, identified as 69-year-old Scott Sims from Austin, Texas, collapsed on the River Trail near Phantom Ranch late Saturday afternoon.

Heat Claims Life in Grand Canyon National Park

Sims was attempting an overnight stay at Phantom Ranch via the South Kaibab Trail when he became semiconscious between the Silver and Black Bridges on the River Trail.

According to USA Today, fellow hikers tried to resuscitate him with CPR until park service paramedics arrived from Phantom Ranch. Unfortunately, their attempts were unsuccessful, and Sims could not be revived.

The Coconino County Medical Examiner, along with the National Park Service, is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Sims' death.

This sad event has brought to light the extreme dangers posed by hiking in Grand Canyon National Park during the summer months, when temperatures can soar above 120 degrees Fahrenheit even in shaded areas of the canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park officials continually warn visitors about the risks of hiking during the heat of the day, typically advising avoidance of inner canyon trails between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

They recommend that all hikers stay hydrated and take frequent breaks to cope with the heat.

This latest fatality serves as a somber reminder of the serious heat-related hazards present in the park.

Each year, the park reports several incidents where the extreme temperatures pose significant risks to the safety of its visitors.

Park authorities strongly encourage all visitors to carefully prepare for their hikes, heed all warnings, and ensure they are adequately equipped to handle the harsh conditions.

Cat Safe After Dramatic Rescue

A two-year-old cat named Archie got into trouble at Grand Canyon National Park after climbing too high up a tree and being unable to descend. On Friday afternoon, firefighters and first responders at the park swiftly acted to bring him down safely.

As per HuffPost, Archie, a black and white cat, had wandered away from a residential area near Mather Campground on the park's South Rim and found himself stuck 15 feet up in a ponderosa pine tree.

Images shared on social media showed Archie in a tricky spot on a branch, with another showing a firefighter ascending a ladder to rescue him.

The rescue quickly became a talking point on Grand Canyon National Park's social media, where the initial call for help locating Archie's owners turned into a celebration when they were found later that Friday.

The park's response team received widespread praise for their rapid and effective action in rescuing Archie.

"A huge shoutout to our firefighters and first responders who sprang into action today to rescue a furry adventurer from the heights of a tree at Grand Canyon," the park's celebrated post, according to the report.

This incident not only underscores the dangers that the park's wildlife can face but also highlights its dedication to the safety and well-being of all its inhabitants, including furry ones.
Just like figuring out which shoe goes on which foot, visiting Northern Ireland might make you see things a little differently! It's not just about the green hills and famous beers. This place has a story to tell on every street corner and some pretty cool rocks by the sea that will make you stop and stare.

Northern Ireland is not all about pretty views. It's a great place to dive into some cool history, from the colorful walls in Belfast to the amazing Giant's Causeway. Whether you're walking through busy cities or quiet countryside, this place is full of history and beautiful sights.

Getting Around Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is actually very car-friendly, so you have the flexibility of getting off the beaten track sometimes. On offering suggestions, as pointed out in Wolters World, car rental is the most effective way of visiting all the castles and the stunning coastline.

If you do not wish to drive your car, then the available alternative is the bus or train to view the beautiful scenery. Rick Steves recommends taking a cab in Belfast for a comfortable and knowledgeable journey. In any case, you will discover effective and efficient means of transport the moment you opt for a Northern Ireland vacation.

Unique Cuisine You Cannot Miss

Northern Ireland offers some seriously tasty dishes that you will not find anywhere else. Wolters World mentions that you should definitely try the Ulster Fry for breakfast.

For another local favorite, take advantage of the seafood, especially the Irish oysters. You might also want to indulge in some champ or colcannon if you like potatoes. Each meal here reflects the rich culinary heritage that Northern Ireland proudly celebrates.

Related Article : These Are the Tourist Mistakes in Ireland You Should Avoid at All Costs

Must-See Attractions in Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland is packed with beautiful places that you can capture in your travel diary. Some people recommend exploring beautiful Belfast and visiting the famous Titanic Belfast.

The Giant's Causeway is yet another natural phenomenon that The Independent recommends not to miss. For an entertaining and historical experience, I suggest the walled city of Derry.

When to Visit Northern Ireland

Picking the right time to visit Northern Ireland can enhance your travel experience. Visiting in May because it is the sunniest month and perfect for avoiding the summer crowds. However, if you enjoy festive atmospheres, December in Belfast is magical with the Christmas lights and markets.

No matter when you decide to go, Northern Ireland offers a mix of weather that can often show you all four seasons in just one day.

Some Travel Tips

Knowing the traditions of Northern Ireland adds a lot of value to the trip. As a traveler, it helps to know the region's history, particularly The Troubles, if you are to understand the conflicts of Northern Ireland.

Apart from that, avoiding talking to locals about politically or religious sensitive issues is recommended. The people of Northern Ireland are extremely hospitable and more than willing to explain why certain places stand out to them.

Interacting with people in the culture can also result in finding new attractions not described in tourist guides.
Hurricane Beryl, a powerful storm hitting the Caribbean, has forced major cruise lines to change their travel plans to keep everyone safe. Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, two of the biggest names in cruising, have rerouted their ships away from the storm's path.

Cruise Lines Reroute to Ensure Safety

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, known as the largest cruise ship in the world, is skipping stops at two southeastern Caribbean islands. Another ship from the same line, Wonder of the Seas, canceled its visits to Roatan and Costa Maya and will now head to Nassau instead.

As per the Independent, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson stated that their top priority is the safety of their guests, crew, and the places they visit. They are working closely with their Chief Meteorologist to watch the storm and make necessary changes to their Caribbean sailings.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Breakaway has also significantly altered its week-long journey. Instead of visiting spots in Honduras, Belize, and Mexico, the ship has chosen a safer route to avoid the hurricane and the bad weather it brings.

Hurricane Beryl has been destructive, causing deaths and damage in several Caribbean locations. It has demolished homes and left many without power, highlighting the severe impact of this early Category 4 and Category 5 storm.

As cruise lines continue to monitor the situation, passengers have taken to social media to share their experiences. Many praise the crew's efforts to find safe, sunny spots and create enjoyable activities during the unexpected sea days caused by the hurricane's disruption.

New Cruise Ships Set to Sail

The cruise industry is set for a big expansion, with 61 new ships planning to join the global fleet by 2036. This news comes from the latest Cruise Industry News report, which shows a growing trend among luxury cruise lines to add more ships.

Crystal has recently ordered new ships from the Fincantieri shipyard, marking its first big expansion in 25 years. These new ships, expected in 2028 and 2030, will each hold 690 guests. Crystal might also add a third ship in 2032.

Viking is also expanding its fleet. The company plans to add two new ocean-going ships, which will hold 998 guests each and are set to arrive in 2029. This is part of Viking's ongoing partnership with Fincantieri.

Not to be outdone, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has plans for two more luxury ships. The Seven Seas Prestige, set to launch in 2026, and another ship coming in 2029, will each welcome 850 guests.

This rush to build new ships isn't just a few companies. Big names like The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Yachts, and Windstar Cruises are also adding ships, each boosting the cruise industry's offerings.

In total, the 61 new ships will add more than 134,770 places for guests in the industry. The new ships are valued at $45.6 billion, costing each spot about $338,369, added to the report.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is leading this growth with plans for 13 new ships in the next twelve years, followed by the Royal Caribbean Group, which expects to introduce six ships by 2028.

This increase in new ships highlights the cruise industry's strong growth and ongoing changes, promising an exciting future for cruise fans around the world.
US Independence Day is an annual commemoration of the Declaration of Independence adopted back in 1776; it is celebrated on July 4. It is marked by patriotic festivals like parades, fireworks displays, and community gatherings among Americans, who come together to remind themselves of freedom, equality, democracy, and other founding principles of their nation.

Higher education institutions are the cases where Independence Day holds a quite multifaceted dimension of importance. This day has not only been a time that affects activities and operations at the university but also one of revisiting the deeply deposited values of education and policies that are rooted in the foundational ideals of the nation.

The Historical Significance of Independence Day in American Education

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, which happened back in the year 1776 and became the turning point in American history, confirming the country's inability to bear foreign rule. Thus, the principles of freedom, equality, and democracy articulated in this declaration are foundational to American society and profoundly influence the nation's educational system. These values permeate schools and universities, emphasizing the importance of civic education and the role of informed citizens in democratic governance.

Most American institutions of higher education use Independence Day as a rationale for reviewing fundamental American values. These activities can include special lectures, symposiums, and discussions focused on the historical context and contemporary significance of the Declaration of Independence. These opportunities allow students and faculty to delve into the fundamental ideals of the nation and examine their ongoing impact on American society. This celebration would, therefore, not only be a memorialization of times past but also a rallying call to action for students toward furthering this ongoing pursuit of liberty and justice.

Impact of Independence Day on University Operations and Activities

While Independence Day is a day of national celebration, it also has practical ramifications for colleges. Being a federal holiday, all universities and colleges nationwide close their operations and halt services. This creates a natural interlude in the academic calendar during the opportunistic summer quarter break. Many students and faculty take this opportunity to travel, engage in community events, or simply enjoy their time off with family and friends.

On the other hand, the closure of campuses also means that there is a temporary suspension of different types of academic activities. Research studies will be halted for a short period of time, especially those that require the facility inside the university. All administrative activities also grind to a halt, as the offices that are open on a daily basis, including those of admissions, financial aid, and student services, are closed for the day. In the case of international students, or even those who could be from another state or region, campuses being closed creates another issue because it can also be hard to have easy access to facilities.

It is, however, in the midst of these momentary inconvenience situations that many institutions of learning get an opportunity to connect with their surrounding communities. Celebrations around campus or near one usually include parades, events including fireworks displays, and patriotic ceremonies. These events, equally reflective of national pride, strengthen the link between the institution and its surrounding communities. Through active participation in the celebrations, colleges are able to demonstrate their commitment to American heritage celebration and unity integration.

Reflections of Independence and Its Contributions to Educational Policy Decisions

More broadly, Independence Day should raise questions about the role of higher education in stealing freedom and democracy. Issues of independence and self-determination are not just a far-off concern but also relate directly to educational policy and practice within the United States. Indeed, it is the university that houses many of those people who are expected to grow into critical thinkers and informed citizens with the capacity for engaging thoughtfully with issues in society and contributing to democratic practices.

One of the ways higher education demonstrates these very principles is through its commitment to academic freedom. It is the hallmark of American higher education and ensures that scholars are in a position to pursue research and express ideas without interference or fear of reprisals. Through the provision of an environment where diverse ideas and opinions can be investigated and debated, it thus sustains the democratic ideal of free speech and open inquiry.

More importantly, the celebration of Independence Day underlines equal educational opportunities. The vision that emerged for equality in the Declaration of Independence further reaches out to the sphere of higher education by way of becoming inclusive. Scholarships, financial aid programs, and affirmative action initiatives are among the measures aimed at ensuring equal access to higher education for all students, regardless of their background. These efforts underscore the enduring relevance of the values celebrated on July 4th.

Even though Independence Day is basically a celebration of American history and patriotism, it goes a long way in shaping higher learning. The day reminds institutions of higher learning of the basic ideals of liberty, equality, and democracy upon which the American education system was founded. The holiday has a profound impact on the way the university runs, offers opportunities for community engagement, and raises questions about what educational experiences are for in holding together a democracy. As our nation celebrates the Fourth of July, it provides an especially opportune moment to acknowledge and rearticulate the always-pressing role that higher education plays in advancing and defending these fundamental values.
As a tumultuous year for student aid concludes, the final deadlines for submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are approaching. The rollout this year, the 2024-2025 FAFSA, which covered the period from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, has been a profoundly troubled one, testing the patience of families and schools in equal measure.

A Rocky Start and the Time Crunch

The 2024-2025 FAFSA had a troubled and slow soft launch on December 30 and a full opening in early January, after its usual fall opening date. Furthermore, this bumped up the clock for families wanting to hit priority deadlines for financial aid. With this timeline, scores of schools had to revamp their schedules for sending out awards to students at a very unusual, stressful time for financial aid.

According to Tim Bakula, director of financial aid at the University of Northern Iowa, the changes to the form were actually supposed to make the process easier and faster; rollout, though, proved to be anything but. Those adjustments aimed to make the general filling out of the FAFSA form easier and quicker, although delays during its launch meant that families, in cooperation with financial aid offices, had to hurry up in order to beat important deadlines.

To make matters worse, the delays in processing the FAFSA results meant that financial aid offices began awarding financial aid packages to students nearly six months late. Errors in the new process of importing tax information meant that thousands of forms had incorrect data, requiring corrections and further delays.

READ MORE : FAFSA Delays Cause Small Colleges To Cut Budgets And Programs

State Aid Deadlines and Institutional Adjustments

With July 1, the deadline for Iowa fast approaching, schools were racing to get the financial aid award packages out to students. Even while admitting to the delay, financial aid officials said students must file their FAFSA, stating that it was important for students to know what exactly was due to them. If a student files late, he or she may miss out on vital financial aid.

Some state scholarships and grants depend on filing FAFSAs quickly. For instance, the Iowa Tuition Grant offers up to $7,500 over four years to eligible students attending private colleges in the state, based on financial need. The grant requires a family to have filed their FAFSA by July 1. Additional state financial aid programs with a July 1 deadline include the Iowa Workforce Grant, the Iowa Vocational-Technical Tuition Grant, and the Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant.

The Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship requires the FAFSA to be filed by July 15 and covers remaining tuition and fee expenses. For many students, these programs hold great meaning, therefore, missing their deadlines can be what makes or breaks entry into college.

Seeking Assistance and Next Steps

Ryan Zantingh, Director of Financial Aid at Drake University, emphasizes the importance of seeking assistance amidst this year's FAFSA challenges. He encourages students and families to reach out to their school's financial aid office without hesitation. These offices are dedicated to helping families comprehend their expenses and consider all potential avenues for funding higher education.

"If families are struggling with how to put together a plan to pay, they should absolutely reach out to their financial aid office," Vantingh said. "That's why we're here trying to help make sure that families understand all their costs, understand their options."

This year's challenges still remind us of how critical clear communication and quick service are toward financial aid processing. Schools should continue in their efforts to adapt and try to support students through unforeseen hurdles.

Looking ahead, it's crucial to consider the insights gained from this challenging year. While streamlining the FAFSA process is commendable, it must not neglect the essential need for sufficient time and resources for all involved stakeholders. Improving the roll-out and support systems and mitigating disruptions while maximizing effectiveness to ensure financial aid works for everyone-- this is the challenge to be laid at the doorstep of policymakers and institutions of education alike. While the rollout of the 2024-2025 FAFSA posed significant barriers, it highlighted both student and family ingenuity, along with that of their institutions of learning. With continued process refinement and robust support, financial aid will continue to be there to support any student in need.
The landscape of U.S. higher education governance and student protections fundamentally shifted this month as second-generation federal regulations went into effect on July 1. Both have already stirred up legal challenges and implications quite likely to roil the sector for years to come.

Expanding Overtime Eligibility and Its Impact on College Campuses

One of the significant changes involves broadening the criteria for overtime eligibility, impacting employees in diverse sectors, including higher education. Previously exempt employees earning less than $43,888 annually are now eligible for overtime pay, with further increases scheduled for the future. This adjustment, initially aimed at benefiting approximately one million workers, has raised concerns among colleges and universities about its financial implications.

For college campuses, nearly 11,000 employees are affected immediately, with an estimated 59,000 more impacted by the next threshold increase in January 2025. The move has prompted institutions to consider restructuring employee classifications or adjusting salaries to comply. However, opposition from groups like CUPA-HR underscores concerns about potential tuition hikes and workforce reductions, particularly in institutions with limited financial resources.

Strengthening Oversight of Career Education Programs

Another significant regulatory change targets for-profit colleges and non-degree programs, enforcing stricter accountability measures under the gainful employment rule. This rule mandates that programs demonstrate graduates' ability to manage debt payments and earn sufficient incomes or risk losing federal financial aid eligibility. Institutions failing these criteria must disclose program-specific data, including total costs and loan disbursements, by October 1, 2026.

The measure, supported as essential for protecting students, represents the federal government's third attempt to regulate career-oriented education outcomes. Legal challenges, such as those from the American Association of Cosmetology Schools, highlight ongoing disputes over the rule's impact and legality, underscoring its potential to reshape educational accountability frameworks.

Ban on Transcript Holds and Enhanced Student Loan Benefits

In a move aimed at student consumer protections, federal regulations now prohibit colleges from withholding transcripts due to unpaid debts funded by federal aid. This policy change aims to facilitate seamless credit transfer and access for approximately six million students affected annually. The ban accompanies broader revisions to program participation agreements, further reinforcing student rights and institutional obligations.

Additionally, the Biden administration's Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) initiative introduces enhanced benefits under income-driven repayment plans. These changes, recently upheld after legal challenges, significantly reduce monthly payments and streamline debt forgiveness processes for millions of borrowers. Despite legal setbacks in some jurisdictions, the program stands poised to alleviate financial burdens on student loan holders nationwide.

Legal Challenges and Future Outlook

Despite these ambitious reforms, the regulatory landscape remains uncertain amid ongoing legal battles and political dynamics. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court regarding federal agency authority and ongoing legal disputes over regulations like overtime eligibility and gainful employment highlight the uncertain status of these reforms. Future court rulings and the upcoming presidential election could continue to impact how these regulations are implemented and sustained, affecting both universities and students.

The recent federal regulations mark a pivotal moment in higher education policy, introducing sweeping changes intended to bolster accountability, enhance student protections, and expand economic opportunities for campus workers. However, their ultimate impact hinges on legal interpretations and political developments, highlighting the complex interplay between regulatory oversight, institutional autonomy, and student welfare in the modern educational landscape.
Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law is facing a lawsuit on charges of having discriminatory faculty hiring practice that targets white men.

A conservative group has alleged that the university illegally discriminated through its recent faculty appointments against white men in favor of women and minorities, using recent Supreme Court rulings concerning affirmative action.

Discriminatory Practices

The suit was organized by a group called Faculty, Alumni, and Students Opposed to Racial Preferences and was filed by well-known conservative lawyer Jonathan Mitchell. It is one of at least several dozen making the same type of complaint against universities across the country. In their complaint against Northwestern, they say that of the last 21 faculty jobs filled at Pritzker, only three went to white men. The plaintiffs cite this data to show systemic bias against white males in the hiring process, mentioning federal anti-discrimination laws and newly created legal precedents, such as Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC-Chapel Hill.

READ MORE : House Committee Threatens Subpoena In Antisemitism Probe At Northwestern University

Legal Precedent and Context

The lawsuit is based on what affirmative action laws mean and how these translate to policies being practiced in academic hiring. Recent Supreme Court decisions exposed the real challenge of balancing diversity efforts against principles of ensuring fair practices. There are cases that have involved the Supreme Court deliberating on the legality of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education such as Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Fisher v. University of Texas. These cases assess whether such policies constitute permissible affirmative action or unlawful discrimination.

University Response and Defense

Northwestern University has taken a strong stance in its defense, stating that the hiring is meant for a diverse and inclusive academic learning environment. In a statement issued by Northwestern spokesman Jon Yates, in reaction to the lawsuit, it became evident that the institution firmly maintains its stand on just hiring practices concerning diversity, arguing that this tends to enrich scholarly debate. "We stand behind our practices and are proud of our outstanding faculty, whose diverse backgrounds and perspectives enhance our educational mission."

Most probably, the university will base its defense on the principles of consistency with legal standards, showing that the hiring decisions it made were based on legitimate educational goals. Universities frequently argue in favor of diversifying faculty to enrich students' educational experience with a variety of contexts and perspectives.

Legal and Societal Implications

The lawsuit filed against Northwestern University exemplifies much larger societal conflicts over affirmative action, diversity, and equity in learning institutions. Critics, for their part, maintain that diversity initiatives rarely work out as desired and nearly always result in reverse discrimination. An underlying principle of this argument is that merit should be the primary criterion in hiring regarding other criteria, such as demography.

Proponents of affirmative action, on the other hand, argue that diversity is essential in the quest for academic excellence and societal progress. To them, a diversified faculty would bring multiple views and further enhance academic debates; students would be prepared to travel through the corridors of a multicultural world and promote an inclusive society.

The case concerning Northwestern University's challenge over faculty hiring admittedly epitomizes the line between encouraging diversity in the faculty and avoiding base discrimination. As the case unfolds, it is likely to influence future policies and practices not only at Northwestern but at universities struggling with the same flock of issues as well.

This suit is one that many educators, legal academics, policymakers, and advocates on either side of the affirmative action debate are waiting to hear about. Such a ruling could shed additional light on what goes across the line in faculty hiring diversity initiatives, and it could perhaps confirm or reconsider some of those previous readings in case law in academia.

It has become necessary, in the course of negotiating such complex issues, for the universities to walk the tightrope, trying to promote diversity as they practically handle anti-discrimination laws in the maintenance of high ideals of meritocracy. The resolution of the legal argument, therefore, is likely going to have profound impacts on the future debate over a diversity policy in higher education. It will likely shape the way institutions do faculty hiring and the bigger pursuit of educational equity and excellence.
July 4 2024

Gareth Hoskins Architects has announced a shock decision to cease their UK operations as a result of mounting bad debts. In a statement, the practice cited an 'outstanding six-figure debt' for precipitating the decision amidst a difficult trading environment contributing to multiple project delays.

In a trading update, the practice wrote: "Hoskins Architects Group Limited is sorry to announce that the directors of its UK trading subsidiary Gareth Hoskins Architects Limited have been forced to take the decision to cease trading, and are in the process of appointing a liquidator. This situation has come about as a result of project delays combined with the illiquidity of a major client and the significant outstanding six-figure debt owed to Gareth Hoskins Architects Limited by that party."

Liquidation comes two years after a restructuring exercise that saw the business establish a new German company alongside its transition to an employee ownership trust. The German arm of the company is unaffected by events in the UK as is Hoskins Architects Group Ltd, the parent company which was the sole owner of Gareth Hoskins Architects Limited and Hoskins Planungs GmbH.

The practice added: "Hoskins Architects Group Limited is not affected by these developments and its German subsidiary, Hoskins Planungs GmbH, will continue to focus on projects in German-speaking countries. It will continue to concentrate on the delivery of public cultural and museum projects in listed buildings, the preparation of studies and master plans for cultural and social facilities, and providing process support for complex public cultural building projects."

Gareth Hoskins Architects closed for the last time on 28 June, eight years on from the sudden death of founder Gareth Hoskins, a period which delivered key projects including Aberdeen Art Gallery, the Love Loan development at George Square as well as a planned skyscraper at Washington Street in what could be the tallest building in the country.

Earlier this year Carson & Partners were forced into liquidation after encountering similar financial difficulties.
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FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) The District Quality Control Board (DQCB) has decided to forward 12 cases to the drug

court against quacks, medical stores running without licenses

and violating the Drug Act.

The board in its meeting held with Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Finance/Headquarters

Ahmad Saleem Chishti in the chair conducted hearing of 18 cases and adjourned six cases till

next meeting while 12 cases were referred to the drug court.

Chief Executive Officer Health Dr Asfandyar, Secretary DQCB Robina Akhtar, Drug Controller

Muhammad Muhsan Asghar and others also attended the meeting.

The additional deputy commissioner said that no medical store in the district should be run without

valid license.

He also directed the drug inspectors to make owners of medical stores bound to follow drug rules

and regulations.
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Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has said that the overseas Pakistanis would soon have access to an online facility for transfer of property

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain has said that the overseas Pakistanis would soon have access to an online facility for transfer of property.

Initially, the facility would be made available for the Pakistani expatriates residing in the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Italy and Spain, he said during during a briefing session at the OPF Headquarters, according to a press release.

The minister said the property transfer complaints would be resolved within 20 days.

The problems with the power of attorney would also be resolved, he added.

The minister said efforts were being made to strengthen the countrys institutions.

He also stated that Pakistanis should not go abroad illegally.

If factories are set up in our country, Pakistanis will not need to go abroad, he added.

Ch Salik said that the Mayor of New York had assured that Pakistanis would be given priority in the paramedical field.

He said some 2,000 IT-skilled people would be sent to Japan.

"Training will be provided to Pakistanis going abroad because they are our ambassadors.

Every year, 700,000 to 800,000 Pakistanis go to foreign countries," he added.

The minister said there were about 20,000 Pakistanis in prisons abroad.
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Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch says Pakistan currently holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, which is SCO's second-highest decision-making forum.

ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-July 4th, 2024) Pakistan wold host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of Governments meeting in October this year.

This was stated by Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan currently holds the rotating Chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, which is SCO's second-highest decision-making forum.

She said the October Summit will be preceded by a Ministerial meeting and several rounds of senior officials meetings, focusing on the financial, economic, socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the SCO member states.

Replying to a question, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said as the Chairmanship of the SCO belongs to Pakistan, so in this capacity, Pakistan will be extending invitations to all heads of government of SCO members states in the summit which will be held in person. She expressed the hope that all members of SCO will be represented at the Summit.

Turning to recent report on religious freedom released by the US States Department, the Spokesperson said Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless assertions made about Pakistan in the report. She said as a matter of principle, Pakistan opposes such unilateral reports that make observations on the internal affairs of sovereign states.

She said Pakistan believes that International Religious Freedom cannot be viewed from the lens of any single country's social and legal perspective. She further said unilateral reports assessing other countries' human rights situations are not free from political bias and present an incomplete and distorted picture.

The Spokesperson said the methodology adopted in preparing these reports and the mandate and expertise of its authors are not transparent.

She said Pakistan strongly believes that each State itself has the Primary responsibility to promote and protect the religious rights and freedoms of its nationals.

She categorically stated that Pakistani citizens are entitled to the freedom of religion and belief under the law and as enshrined in Pakistan's constitution. These rights and constitutional guarantees are protected, upheld and reinforced by an independent judiciary. Such unilateral reports, therefore, do not contribute to the promotion of human rights.

About arrest of a prominent Kashmiri lawyer and former President of the High Court Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom under fabricated charges in Indian illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Spokesperson said his arrest is a clear act of political vendetta.

She said Pakistan urges the Indian authorities to release Mian Abdul Qayoom and thousands of other Kashmiri political prisoners, dissenters and human rights defenders.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch reiterated Pakistan will continue to extend political, diplomatic and moral support to our Kashmiri brothers and sisters for the just and peaceful settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions.

Talking about prevailing situation in Palestine, she said the government has decided to allow medical students from Gaza to complete their medical education in Pakistan. The decision has been made on the directions of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

She said the step will enable Gaza students to continue their medical education in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds.

The Spokesperson said the decision will also enable students from Gaza to complete their medical education in Pakistan in the fields of cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, pediatrics and surgery to address the critical needs in Gaza's health care system.
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Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have agreed that strengthening the trilateral cooperation would not only contribute to prosperity of the peoples of the three countries, but also serve to promote regional and global peace and stability

ASTANA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have agreed that strengthening the trilateral cooperation would not only contribute to prosperity of the peoples of the three countries, but also serve to promote regional and global peace and stability.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkiye, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan and Shahbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan met in Astana on July 3 on the side-lines of the 24thMeeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a joint statement on the meeting issued on Thursday said.

The statement added that in the trilateral summit, relations among Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan as well as regional and global matters, such as Gaza, Cyprus, Kashmir, Islamophobia, were discussed.

The Turkiye  Azerbaijan  Pakistan trilateral cooperation process, which held meetings at the level of Speakers of Parliaments and Ministers of Foreign Affairs previously, would also meet at the level of state leaders.

Their common will to develop opportunities for cooperation among the three countries was also affirmed.

The three countries expressed their support for prioritizing dialogue among relevant countries in conflict resolution, in line with principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The importance of cooperation among the three countries in combating transnational threats, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and joint resolution of this matter was also reaffirmed.

Subsequent meetings of the trilateral cooperation process would be held in all the three countries, namely Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, the statement added.
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In a decisive move to eradicate polio, the Punjab Health Department has announced the establishment of polio counters at all 14 entry and exit points of the province

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) In a decisive move to eradicate polio, the Punjab Health Department has announced the establishment of polio counters at all 14 entry and exit points of the province.

This decision follows directives from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and was finalized during a Provincial Task force on Polio Eradication meeting held at the Civil Secretariat on Thursday.

Key provincial figures, including Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir, Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Secretary Health Ali Jan, and the Punjab Polio Prevention Program head Khizar Afzal, attended the meeting. The task force has set an ambitious target of achieving a 95 per cent immunization rate to prevent polio and other diseases.

Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized the importance of ministerial involvement in the upcoming anti-polio campaign, promising on-ground presence of provincial ministers with the polio teams. He highlighted that tailored strategies would be developed for each district to address specific challenges. Furthermore, deputy commissioners and health CEOs are expected to report any barriers hindering polio eradication efforts.

Khawaja Imran Nazir pointed out the critical role of the mobile population in spreading the virus and declared that every child entering Punjab would be vaccinated against polio. He also hinted at the possibility of declaring a health emergency if necessary to combat the virus.

Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman underscored the national significance of polio eradication, insisting on strict measures against under-performing staff in anti-polio efforts. He stressed that leaving any child unvaccinated could pose global health risks and called for innovative approaches to meet polio eradication targets.

Secretary Health Ali Jan provided a comprehensive update on the ongoing anti-polio campaign, noting its continuation in five districts, including Lahore, until July 7. He revealed that environmental samples from Rawalpindi and Gujranwala have tested positive for the polio virus, reinforcing the need for stringent measures.

This initiative marks a significant step in Punjab's commitment to eliminating polio and protecting children's health across the province.
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Qamar admits that she initially believed the films focus would be on Deepika Padukone, thinking her own role would be overshadowed.

LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point July 4th, 2024) Pakistani actress Saba Qamar shared on Thursday that she was approached for multiple Bollywood films, and turning down the role in the Indian movie Love Aaj Kal was a significant misstep.

Before starring in Hindi Medium, Saba Qamar was offered roles in several films, including Delhi, Love Aaj Kal, and Cocktail.

 She revealed that although she auditioned for Delhi, her mother did not approve of the project.

The decision to pass on Love Aaj Kal, however, was entirely her own.

Qamar admitted that she initially believed the films focus would be on Deepika Padukone, thinking her own role would be overshadowed. It wasnt until after the films release that she realized her mistake, recognizing the missed opportunity.
Israeli bombing continued overnight into Thursday in the besieged Gaza where some of the tens of thousands of people uprooted in response to Israeli evacuation orders have had to turn back after finding nowhere to shelter, UN humanitarian officials reported

UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) Israeli bombing continued overnight into Thursday in the besieged Gaza where some of the tens of thousands of people uprooted in response to Israeli evacuation orders have had to turn back after finding nowhere to shelter, UN humanitarian officials reported.

Thousands are sheltering in UNRWA schoolsand government buildings, UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, told UN News, a media website, adding that others are already beginning to turn back, telling us of lack of spaces in other areas.

UNRWA also reiterated warnings that living conditions are beyond unbearable, because of the mountains of waste and rubbish piled high alongside roads and near makeshift shelters.

An estimated 85,000 people have left Shujaiyah district in eastern Gaza City in the north of the enclave in the last week, UNRWA noted, while latest data indicates that by Tuesday, at least 66,700 more Gazans had been displaced from eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, both in the south, following new evacuation orders issued on Monday evening.

Beyond the UNs premises-turned-shelters, many more thousands of families now live in the skeletons of bombed-out buildings or among piles of trash, UNRWA said, before echoing warnings from the UN health agency, WHO, of a rise in communicable diseases including diarrhoea and hepatitis, particularly among malnourished children with weakened immune systems.

Military action in the Khan Younis area could further hamper people's access to safe water at a time when the lack of sanitation is significantly contributing to the spread of disease, UNRWA insisted.

In addition to the deadly risks posed by ongoing Israeli bombardment at night, ordinary Gazans face the threat of unexploded weapons.

According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, a nine-year-old girl was killed and three others injured when an unspecified device detonated in Khan Younis on Saturday 29 June.

Unexploded ordnance poses an enormous threat to people, as families are forced to move to areas that have been bombarded or were the scene of previous heavy fighting, OCHA said.

UN mine action experts have previously noted that some 10 per cent of ammunition fired in the conflict can be expected not to function.

"This represents a lethal danger to civilians and particularly the many children who spend six to eight hours a day collecting water and food, often carrying heavy weights and walking long distances, UNRWA said.

To help the most vulnerable people in Gaza, the UN agency has continued to distribute water, food, and other essential non-food items with the help of other partners.

But the scale of needs remains massive after new evacuation orders were issued on Monday night for eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, covering about one third of the total are of Gaza and representing the largest such order since October.

UNRWA continues to provide deliver critical water, food parcels, flour, diapers, 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, lack of fuel, lack of aid supplies, lack of safety, breakdowns in law and order and increased criminality and now further displacement orders, the UN agency said. These orders to evacuate once again impact our safety to move and access to the border crossing to receive aid.

Latest data from the Gazan health authorities indicates that almost 38,000 people have been killed in the enclave and more than 87,000 wounded since the war erupted on October 7.

In a related development, OCHA reported that in the West Bank there had been 28 incidents of Israeli airstrikes since October 7  including two last week.

Fourteen children were among the 77 Palestinians killed during these airstrikes, the UN aid office said in an update on Wednesday, which also noted that at least 200 homes had been damaged during a recent operation by Israeli forces in the Nur Shams Refugee Camp in Tulkarm.
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Kingston, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) Powerful Hurricane Beryl churned along Jamaica's southern coast on Wednesday, battering the island with dangerous winds and sea surge after leaving a trail of destruction and at least seven people dead in the Caribbean.

The eye of the Category 4 hurricane has not yet breached the shore of Jamaica but could in the coming hours, and is expected to approach or even make landfall in the Cayman Islands overnight before moving onward to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center said.

The storm is the first since NHC records began to reach the Category 4 level in June and the earliest to reach Category 5 in July.

Ahead of Beryl's arrival, people across Jamaica removed boats from the water and rushed to buy food, water, gasoline and other essentials.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 kph), said the NHC. Hurricane conditions are spreading through the island, it said.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared a curfew from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm across the island of 2.8 million and urged Jamaicans to comply with evacuation orders.

"If you live in a low-lying area, an area historically prone to flooding and landslide, or if you live on the banks of a river, I implore you to evacuate to a shelter, or to safer ground," he said in a video posted to social media.

Desmon Brown, manager of the National Stadium in Kingston, said his staff has scrambled to be ready.

"We've taped up our windows, covered our equipment -- including computers, printers and that sort of thing. Apart from that, it's mainly concrete so there's not much we can do," Brown told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

Mexican officials were meanwhile scrambling to prepare for Beryl, which is expected to hit somewhere between the well-known tourist hotspot of Tulum and the town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, according to Civil Protection national coordinator Laura Velazquez.

Beginning Thursday "we will have intense rains and wind gusts" she said, announcing the deployment of hundreds of military personnel, marines and electricity workers in anticipation of damage.

The government has prepared 112 shelters with a capacity for some 20,000 people and suspended school in the state of Quintana Roo where Beryl will hit.
LUSAKA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2024) Zambia is keen to strengthen cooperation with Croatia for the mutual benefit of both countries, the Zambian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Patricia Kandolo, Zambia's ambassador to Italy and accredited to Croatia on a non-residential basis, reiterated the good relations that exist between Zambia and Croatia, and underscored the need to enhance collaboration between the two countries, especially in the area of economic cooperation, said the statement.

Zambia is also keen to enhance ties in renewable energy, agri-business, tourism and manufacturing, among others, said the statement released after Kandolo presented her letters of credence to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic.

Croatia has an open policy on collaboration and is willing to work with Zambia to enhance bilateral cooperation, said Neven Pelicaric, the adviser to the Croatian president for foreign and European policy.
Amy Roberts

Amy Roberts, an associate professor in the University of Wyomings School of Teacher Education, is the recipient of a prestigious Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) grant to Costa Rica. Roberts is currently leading 11 Fulbright-Hays GPA program participants for eight weeks this summer through July 26.

Spanish GPA 2024 in Costa Rica is an intensive community-based Spanish language and culture grant program designed to enhance participants language proficiency and promote knowledge and understanding of Central America in a global context.

Participants are studying the Spanish language and culture in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and immersing themselves in the local culture through interaction with local citizens and service projects. Participants also will travel some weekends to learn more about coastal Costa Rican culture, geography and history.

I am honored with my co-directors to receive a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad grant to do important work in Monteverde, Costa Rica, and I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to work with colleagues, locals, educators and program participants from different backgrounds in Monteverde on this, Roberts says. From my personal perspective, such grant projects contribute to the important work we do as educators and the mission of Fulbright. We are looking forward to seeing participants Spanish language and culture skills enhance over the eight weeks this summer.

Program-associated costs paid through the GPA grant -- sponsored by the International and Foreign Language Education office in the U.S. Department of Educations Office of Postsecondary Education -- include international travel to and from San Jose, Costa Rica; tuition and homestay accommodations during the duration of the program; weekend study tours; and program-related transportation in Costa Rica. The program also sponsors lunches for participants to meet with other faculty and co-directors for assessment and research purposes to advance the field with those participants who provide their consent.

To be selected for the GPA summer program, applicants from different UW departments and universities in the Mountain West had to submit various materials, including indicating interest in the project or location and describing how it would help reach their professional goals; a summary of coursework in Spanish and any demonstrated research or additional projects in the Spanish language; an outlined proposal for a Spanish-English, field-based study project of choice; a copy of a recent Spanish language test taken or a paper written in Spanish; and two letters of reference.

Roberts has focused her 23 years of educational experience with both children and adults from many regions around the world. She has helped design courses and projects for students to examine global events and challenges of the contemporary era.

In addition to the U.S., she has lived, taught and conducted field research in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Myanmar, Spain, Taiwan and Thailand. She completed two 11-month Fulbright award programs in Taiwan and Myanmar, along with an 11-month U.S. Department of State fellowship at Mandalay University in Myanmar.

Roberts area of expertise is international comparative education aligned with ideologies that inform the globalization and internationalization of academic communities worldwide. Her focus evolved from a Fulbright award in 2007-08 to lecture and conduct research at the National Chengchi University in Taipei, Taiwan. Nearly all of her students were from various Asian nations other than Taiwan.

She has served on many UW committees and has supported domestic and international students through her mentorship. Roberts has successfully led 12 educator and pre-service teacher groups on international study tours that included field research, curriculum development and intensive language study.

Roberts also has organized student researcher groups to examine the impact of globalization and internationalization within university communities, emphasizing strategies that strengthen research capacity.

About the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program

The program promotes, improves and develops modern foreign language training and area studies programs for all levels of American education.

It provides opportunities for faculty, teachers and undergraduate and graduate students to conduct individual and group projects overseas. Projects may include short-term seminars, curriculum development, group research or study, or long-term advanced intensive language programs.

The GPA program at UW is administered by the USA Cultural Exchange Programs and the UW College of Educations School of Teacher Education, with on-site coordination and logistical support by Roberts and co-Directors Dilnoza Khasilova, assessment specialist for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning initiative in UWs Ellbogen Center for Teaching and Learning, and Jonle Sedar, director of the Centro Panamericano de Idiomas Spanish Immersion School in Costa Rica.
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.


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The worlds largest naval war exercises in Hawaii are not only about deterrence.

Welcome to VOA Asia Weekly. I'm Chris Casquejo in Washington. That story is just ahead, but first, making headlines:

Taiwans Coast Guard Administration on Wednesday called on China to release a Taiwanese fishing boat and its crew after the Chinese coast guard seized it late Tuesday. Taiwans coast guard says the boat was intercepted near the Kinmen islands, located just a few kilometers off the southern Chinese coast.

11 people were killed in floods after torrential rains fell across northeast India and neighboring Bangladesh. More than 1.3 million people have been affected by floods in Bangladesh, according to a government source.

Authorities arrested six people in connection with a deadly stampede at a religious festival on Tuesday in northern India. At least 121 people died. A preliminary police report found that around 250,000 people had been crowded into the tent, far exceeding the limit of 80,000 mandated by local officials.

A Malaysian court dismissed former prime minister Najib Razaks bid to serve the rest of his corruption case sentence under house arrest. It comes after public outcry against the Pardons Board for reducing Razaks 12-year jail sentence to 6 years. Razak was found guilty of illegally receiving money from a state fund in 2020.

The Vaticans top diplomat, Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, met with Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in Manila on Tuesday. The two envoys discussed developments in the South China Sea and potential areas of cooperation with the Holy See.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader pressed their case on Thursday for closer security, political and economic cooperation among countries of the vast Eurasian region. Putin and Xi met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, seen by Moscow and Beijing as an instrument to counter the influence of the United States and its allies.

The worlds largest naval war exercise off the shores of Hawaii is taking place over the next few weeks with the U.S. and 28 partner nations. Known as Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, analysts say this years exercises give partners a chance to work together while sending a strong deterrence message to China. VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb has details.

International cooperation on a scale like no other. Forty surface ships, more than 150 aircraft, three submarines and 25,000 people  together in the Pacific Ocean for this years RIMPAC.

Nations from across the globe are practicing a wide range of missions, from natural disaster response to attack skills needed for war.

Every nation in the world that has interests in the Pacific and will adhere to the same values is more than welcome to participate.

One country not invited: China. Because analysts say the warm welcome RIMPAC gave to China about a decade ago backfired.

There was this outreach to China, and definitely the U.S. and its allies and partners were essentially burned by the Chinese taking advantage of it  but not really taking advantage of in a way to positively shape their behavior and cooperate, but took advantage of it as an opportunity to essentially to collect intelligence and to try and get more acceptance of what should be considered unacceptable behavior.

Now, officials say the biennial exercise sends a strong message to China to stop bullying its neighbors.

They're not just going to be facing the United States in the country they're targeting, but they're potentially going to have to deal with a response from a wide range of countries that have common interests in deterring and confronting Chinese aggression as threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

RIMPAC nations this year will practice targeting the decommissioned assault ship USS Tarawa, in a rare chance to learn how effective their weapons are at sinking a large and protected adversary in open waters.

The weeks long exercise is set to end in early August.

Carla Babb, VOA News, the Pentagon.

Visit voanews.com for the most up-to-date stories.

Im Chris Casquejo.

Finally, Japan issued new currency on Wednesday for the first time in 20 years.

The new bills feature a redesign which includes large print for easier reading and 3-D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting. The currency already in use will still be in circulation.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo praised the new yen bills as historic.

Thanks for watching VOA Asia Weekly.
Analysts cite an effort to strengthen Vietnams South China Sea territorial claims as a key reason Hanoi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month, despite potential fallout from links to Moscow in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine.

They also say Russian investment in offshore oil and gas reserves off Vietnams coast in the South China shows Hanoi strengthening its territorial claims.

Vietnam and Russia signed 11 agreements during the visit. They included, according to the Kremlin, granting an investment license for a hydrocarbon block off Vietnams southeastern coast to Zarubezhneft, a state-owned Russian oil and gas firm with a history of joint ventures with Vietnam.

Ian Storey, senior fellow at Singapore's ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute, told VOA that Vietnam wants to expand its oil and gas operations with Russia inside its exclusive economic zone for two reasons.

"First, the resources in the fields being worked by Vietsovpetro [a Russian-Vietnamese oil and gas joint venture] are running low and it's time to start operations in new blocks," Storey wrote over email on June 25, referring to an existing oil partnership.

"Second," he wrote, "Vietnam wants to internationalize the energy projects in its EEZ because it adds legitimacy to its jurisdictional claims in the South China Sea."

Storey added that although there have been reports of Hanoi making an arms purchase by using funds from the joint oil enterprise Rusvietpetro, it is unlikely that the leaders settled plans for a weapons sale during the visit.

"While there have been reports that Russia is considering providing loans to Vietnam to buy military hardware using the profits from their joint venture in Siberia, it is unclear whether the two sides have reached a final agreement," Storey wrote. The New York Times reported on a leaked March 2023 document from Vietnam's Finance Ministry that outlined plans for Hanoi to purchase Russian weapons using loans from Rusvietpetro.

"The absence of Russian Defence Minister [Andrei] Belousov from Putin's entourage to Vietnam suggests they have not," he wrote.

Protecting disputed waters

Although Vietnamese territory stretches 370 kilometers off its coast according to international law, China claims the vast majority of the South China Sea with its disputed so-called nine-dash line delineating its claims in the sea.

Ray Powell, director of the Sea Light Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University, wrote over WhatsApp on June 27 that the block licensed to Zarubezhneft "appears to be inside" the nine-dash line.

Nguyen The Phuong, a maritime security expert and Ph.D. candidate at the University of New South Wales Canberra, told VOA during a call on June 26 that the key takeaway from Putin's visit is Hanoi's intention to secure its territorial integrity.

"Vietnam wants Russia to have more presence in the South China Sea because, different from the United States or Western countries, the presence of Russia will not infuriate China," Phuong said. "It could somehow prevent China from going overboard, from being overly aggressive."

Alexander Vuving, professor at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, said it is important for Hanoi to maintain strong ties with Moscow after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"The Ukraine war is pushing Russia closer to China, and that is the Vietnamese nightmare," Vuving said during a Zoom call with VOA on June 27, noting that Moscow is Hanois leading partner to counter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

"From Vietnam's perspective, they need Russia," he said.

Vietnam is attempting to diversify its military equipment away from Russia, which has been its primary supplier, and it is not clear whether the two sides agreed on an arms sale during this visit. Nevertheless, Russia remains Hanoi's top option to update its aging military arsenal, Vuving said.

"[Vietnam] is still trying to buy arms from Russia for many reasons," he said. "The price is not so high like some other alternative sources but there's also the question of the issue of trust  Vietnam would trust Russia," Vuving said.

That trust comes from a long history of support from the former Soviet Union and later Russia, Nguyen Hong Hai, senior lecturer at Hanoi's Vinuniversity, told VOA. Along with military aid to support Vietnam's fights for independence, the Soviet Union and Russia helped to bring the country out of poverty and most of Vietnam's top leaders trained there, Hai said.

"For the generation who lived during that period of time, they still have very fond memories of the Soviet Union's and Russian assistance to Vietnam," Hai said June 25 by Zoom.

Some see dangers

Even with the historic connection, some point to the dangers of welcoming Putin after the invasion of Ukraine and Putin's visits to China and North Korea.

"This trip was made right after Putin visited [Chinese President] Xi Jinping and [North Korean leader] Kim Jong Un. The two most brutal dictators in East Asia," Tran Anh Quan, a Ho Chi Minh City-based social activist wrote to VOA in Vietnamese over Telegram.

"If Putin can link up with Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, and To Lam, it will form an alliance of tyrants of the world's major dictatorial states," Quan said, referring to former public security minister To Lam, who became president in May.

Quan said he has not seen much response from the Vietnamese public to Putin's Hanoi visit.

He said many are afraid to speak out in the current political environment and the public is more focused on the case of Thich Minh Tue  a monk who is not part of a state-sanctioned Buddhist group and became famous for walking barefoot across the country before he was detained by police in early June.

"Vietnam is increasingly suppressing critical voices, so people dare to speak out less than before," Quan said.

Zachary Abuza, Southeast Asia expert and professor at the National War College in Washington, also noted the negative image Putin's visit casts, adding that Russia's war on Ukraine highlights the degradation of international laws, crucial to Vietnam, given its territorial tensions with neighboring China.

"The optics of it are terrible," he told VOA on June 17. "This is the leader who is trying to upend the international rules-based order and change borders through the use of force.  The legal rationale that Russia and Putin have come up with for the invasion of Ukraine is really dangerous for Vietnam."

Still, Hai said that although Vietnam and Ukraine are two small nations neighboring larger powers, it is too simplistic to compare the relationships between Vietnam and China with Ukraine and Russia.

"[Vietnam] has coexisted with China for over 4,000 years and understands its neighbor well," he said, while noting the countries continue to have territorial disputes and had a border war in 1979.

"Since normalizing relations in 1991, the two countries have managed their relationship effectively, Hai said. Both nations aim to avoid conflict."

Further, he added that Hanoi does not "take sides" with Russia, and when leaders express their debt to the Soviet Union, that includes its former republic, Ukraine.

"In the joint statement between Vietnam and Russia during the Putin visit  Vietnam was very careful to show it does not side with Russia," Hai said.
Voters in the United Kingdom cast ballots in a national election on Thursday, passing judgment on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks 20 months in office, and the four Conservative prime ministers before him. Voters are widely expected to do something they have not done since 2005: elect a Labour Party government. We talk with American University professor Laura Beers. Donald Trump has established a sizable lead over President Joe Biden in the White House race since the two candidates debated last week. Hurricane Beryl hits Jamaica. And the evolution of Barbie opens in London this week as the famed Mattel doll celebrates her 65th birthday this year.
About 11,000 people are becoming new U.S. citizens in the days surrounding the Fourth of July holiday, celebrating the 248th anniversary of the United States declaring its independence from Britain.

New citizens must be able to read, write and speak basic English and answer at least six questions correctly on a 10-question quiz about American civics, history and geography chosen randomly from 100 citizenship topics.

Here are 25 of the possible questions, along with several possible correct answers.

How many can you get right about your understanding of the United States?

Find the full test and answers here.

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

Answer: The U.S. Constitution

2. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

Answer: We the People

3. What is an amendment?

Answer: A change or amendment to the Constitution

4. What does the United States call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

Answer: The Bill of Rights

5. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

Possible answers: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

6. Name one branch or part of the government.

Possible answers: Congress (legislative), the president (executive), the courts (judicial)

7. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

Possible answers: checks and balances, separation of powers

8. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

Answer: The president

9. How many U.S. senators are there?

Answer: 100

10. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Answer: 435

11. Who is the commander-in-chief of the military?

Answer: The president

12. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?

Possible answers: Print money, declare war, create an army, make treaties

13. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

Possible answers: Provide education, provide protection (police), provide safety (fire departments), give a drivers license, approve zoning and land use

14. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?

Possible answers: Serve on a jury, vote in a federal election

15. Name one right that is only for United States citizens.

Possible answers: Vote in a federal election, run for federal office

16. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

Possible answers: Freedom of expression, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, freedom of religion, the right to bear arms

17. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?

Possible answers: Give up loyalty to other countries, defend the Constitution and laws of the United States, obey the laws of the United States, serve in the U.S. military (if needed), do important work for the nation if needed, be loyal to the United States.

18. What is one reason colonists came to America?

Possible answers: Freedom, political liberty, religious freedom, economic opportunity, to practice their religion, to escape persecution

19: Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

Possible answers: American Indians or Native Americans

20. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

21. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Answer: The Louisiana Territory

22. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?

Possible answers: Freed slaves (Emancipation Proclamation), saved or preserved the Union, led the United States during the Civil War

23. Name one state that borders Canada.

Possible answers: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska

24. Name one state that borders Mexico.

Possible answers: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas

25. Why does the flag have 50 stars?

Answers: because there is one star for each state, or because there are 50 states.
The eye of Hurricane Beryl brushed the south coast of Jamaica on Wednesday, whipping the island with high winds and heavy rain for hours. By evening, the countrys prime minister said the country had yet to see the worst of it.

"We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said.

The storm knocked out power to Kingston and some communities on the northern part of the island, thanks to downed utility poles and trees.

Before Beryl, a Category 4 storm that has so far killed seven people, arrived in Jamaicas capital city, people could be seen boarding windows and pulling boats from the water.

"There are going to be multiple life-threatening hazards that are going to play out over the next 6 to 12 hours across Jamacia," said U.S. National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan.

Conditions include strong wind gusts and storm surge of 0.3 to 2.7 meters over typical tides with possible destructive waves atop it. Ten to 20 centimeters of rain will pelt most of the country, maxing at 30 centimeters in some areas, which could cause mudslides and flash flooding.

"Plan to shelter in place for the remainder of the day well into tonight," Brennan added for those living in Jamaica.

"Jamaica must take this hurricane seriously. I am now declaring the whole of Jamaica to be a disaster area  for the next seven days," Holness, the prime minister, said in a video posted on X.

An island-wide curfew was to be imposed. And an evacuation order was issued for flood- and landslide-prone parts of the country.

The NHC says Hurricane Beryl has maximum sustained winds of 230 kph, making it a Category 4 storm on the centers five-level scale that measures a storms maximum sustained wind speed and destructive potential. The storm has hurricane-force winds up to 75 kilometers from its center and tropical-storm force winds up to 295 kilometers from the center.

At last report Beryl was located just offshore of the southwest part of Jamaica.

Hurricane warnings are in effect for Jamaica and the islands of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, while hurricane watches are in effect for Haiti and the Dominican Republic, which shares the island Hispaniola, and Mexicos Yucatan peninsula, where forecasters believe Beryl will reach by Thursday.

The central American nation of Belize is under a tropical storm watch. Texas may also see some inclement weather.

The Cayman Islands and Yucatan Peninsula will receive 5 to 10 centimeters of rainfall between Thursday and Friday. The hurricane is also expected to trigger dangerous storm surges that could raise water levels between 2 to 3 meters above normal tide levels in Jamaica, and up to one meter above normal tide levels on the Cayman Islands.

The NHC is warning that the southern coasts of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola will experience large swells that could cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

The White House said on its social media account X that U.S. President Joe Biden is closely monitoring Hurricane Beryl and connecting with officials including the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Hurricane Beryl has left behind a trail of death and destruction since making landfall Monday on Grenadas Carriacou island as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 241 kph. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell of Grenada says Carriacou and the nearby island of Petit Martinique sustained the brunt of Beryls force, with scores of homes and businesses flattened in Carriacou and residents cut off from the outside due to downed power lines and damaged roads.

Among those whose homes were damaged on Carriacou were the parents of Simon Stiell, the head of the United Nations climate change agency. Stiell issued a statement saying, "its clear that the climate crisis is pushing disasters to record-breaking new levels of destruction."

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of the archipelago nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines said Tuesday that 90% of homes on Union Island were destroyed.

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 and 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.
As NATO prepares to mark its 75th anniversary next week, the alliance is beginning to explore a larger role for itself in the Indo-Pacific.

In an interview with VOA, Stephen Flanagan  an adjunct senior fellow at the research organization RAND  said NATO doesn't play a major role in Indo-Pacific security, but that NATO and its allies are recognizing an increased need to take limited steps for cooperation in the region.

Flanagan, who served as a senior director of the National Security Council during the Obama administration, said some NATO countries that normally don't have military activities in the Indo-Pacific, such as Germany, have begun sending ships to counter Chinese aggression in the area. Limited steps including cooperation on space interests against Russia and China and cooperation against disinformation are feasible actions NATO can assume without taking on too much, Flanagan said.

"Those are areas of cooperation that I think are manageable," Flanagan said. "Those aren't going to stress the alliance in terms of this idea of overextension, that NATO's taking on too many issues."

Flanagan noted that Japan is "very anxious" to increase NATO's activity in the Indo-Pacific due to its territorial dispute with Russia over the Kuril Islands. And as Russia's war in Ukraine continues, China and North Korea have contributed to Russia's war effort, with almost 90% of microchips in Russia coming from China, Flanagan said.

The heads of state for all 32 NATO allies will meet with leaders from four Indo-Pacific countries: Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. NATO hopes to build the resilience of allies to confront activity from China, said Douglas Jones, deputy assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs.

A proposal to establish a NATO office in Tokyo is "not under active discussion," according to Jones.

Jones said the summit will introduce "concrete ways" for NATO to help Ukraine against Russian aggression and implement reforms to guide Ukraine toward membership in NATO, although the exact wording is still being negotiated.

The summit is set for July 9-11 in Washington and comes as a bloc that includes several NATO adversaries met this week at their own security summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met Wednesday, having previously met in May when Putin visited Beijing.

Established in 2001 by China and Russia, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The war in Ukraine was not expected to be formally discussed at the SCO summit, but a senior Kazakh official told The Associated Press that there could be "sideline" discussions on the subject.

Kim Lewis and Nike Ching contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press.
Navigating the complexities of higher education is challenging for many, but for international students, the financial hurdles can be particularly daunting.

Faced with skyrocketing tuition and fees, limited access to financial aid, and the instability of scholarships, many international students struggle to sustain their academic dreams.

Funding problems can lead some students to withdraw their college applications, as Alpha Daramy Sesay of Sierra Leone did. He abandoned his dream of studying journalism at the University of Maryland.

"I've applied to almost three universities in the past two years, and the board members were thrilled with my purpose statement and approved my application unambiguously," Sesay told VOA News. "However, I was unable to register due to the funding bottleneck, and the deadline for these offers has just lapsed."

Sesay had meticulously planned his move to the U.S., even stopping his scholarship search when a family member promised financial support. When Sesay was admitted to his dream school, however, the family support fell through, leaving him scrambling for scholarships that didn't cover all expenses.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Sesay advises future international students to seek scholarships and consult with school advisers early to avoid similar setbacks.

Talia Popovski, senior director of International Student Services at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, suggests starting at a community college to save on tuition costs.

"Primarily, we have international students pursuing associate degrees," she said. "This is a major way for them to save money compared to going directly to a university."

Popovski emphasized the benefits of community colleges as pathways to universities, with many international students pursuing associate degrees before transferring to earn their bachelor's degrees. She also highlighted the role of on-campus work in alleviating financial burdens, suggesting institutional work-study programs as options.

According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, a nonprofit dedicated to international education and exchange, international students are ineligible for federal work-study positions, necessitating discussions with advisers about employment eligibility. Popovski also mentioned that universities offer part-time jobs through their human resources departments, including paid internships, which provide additional financial support for education.

Student secures honor scholarship

Guilherme Lucas Mannarino, who received his associate degree from Valencia College, turned down 32 esports scholarships to study in Florida.

"I came to the United States [from Brazil] when I was 18 years old," Mannarino recalled. "I rejected all the scholarships that I acquired through esports, playing Fortnite."

Mannarino, who majored in finance at Valencia College, exemplified proactive planning in overcoming financial challenges.

Despite declining the esports scholarships, Mannarino secured an honor scholarship at Valencia College covering 50% of his tuition. He attributed his financial stability to planning ahead, staying on top of his academics, and acquiring an on-campus job.

To supplement his income, he conducted workshops advising Brazilian students on esports scholarships, allowing him to cover living expenses by finding roommates through social media.

"I was able to find a roommate on social media before coming to the U.S., which is a great way to save money," he said. "A year later, we had another roommate, which made my living costs cheaper, which is honestly the best way to save money in the U.S."

Tips for overcoming financial hurdles

Kadiatou Sow, from Conakry, Guinea, is studying at Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Michigan.

"Managing the high cost of tuition and living expenses while studying abroad involves a strategic approach," Sow said. "I prioritize securing scholarships and grants tailored for international students to alleviate tuition expenses and sometimes cover living costs. Supplementing this with part-time work both on campus and in the local community provides a steady income for daily necessities."

She encourages fellow international students to balance work and studies effectively, understand visa work-hour regulations, and seek university support for financial aid options.

"Seeking guidance from university support services and staying informed about financial aid options are essential strategies for navigating these challenges successfully," Sow said.

Three ways international students can overcome financial hurdles:

1. Community college enrollment: Begin with an associate degree at a community college to save significantly on tuition costs before transferring to a university for a bachelor's degree.

2. On-campus employment: Explore institutional work-study programs and university job boards for part-time employment opportunities that complement studies and provide financial support.

3. Proactive financial planning: Save money before arriving in the U.S., seek scholarships tailored for international students, and explore paid internship opportunities to supplement income.

While financial obstacles are daunting, international students can achieve their academic aspirations through strategic planning, diligent scholarship pursuit and leveraging on-campus resources, advisers say.

By adopting proactive financial strategies and staying resilient, they can successfully navigate the challenges of financing their education abroad, ensuring a path to academic success and personal growth.
Israel has approved its largest land seizure in the occupied West Bank in more than three decades, a settlement tracking group said Wednesday.

The decision was denounced by activists, who said it would further increase tensions brought on by the war in Gaza and dash hopes for a Palestinian state and a two-state solution for peace.

In June, an official declaration obtained by media outlets said that 12.7 square kilometers of land in the Jordan Valley had been formally designated as "state property," which allows the land to be leased to Israelis and prevents Palestinians from privately owning it.

"The size of the area designated for declaration is the largest since the (1993) Oslo Accords, and the year 2024 marks a peak in the extent of declarations of state land," said Peace Now, a group based in Tel Aviv, Israel, that tracks the growth of Israeli settlements.

The tracking group said on Wednesday that the land would connect settlements in an area along the Jordan border and make the prospects of a contiguous Palestinian state less likely.

At the U.N., spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called it "a step in the wrong direction," adding that "the direction we want to be heading is to find a negotiated two-state solution."

Israel gained control over the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip during the 1967 Mideast war.

Since then, Israel has built settlements throughout the West Bank, where more than 490,000 Israelis live. These settlements are considered illegal under international law.

About 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, some in places administered by the Palestinian Authority. But much of the West Bank is off-limits to the authority despite the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who live there.

The Israeli government announced that it has taken over 23.7 square kilometers of land in the West Bank since the beginning of this year.

The newly taken land is in a place where settler violence was displacing communities of Palestinians even before the Israel-Hamas war. The violence has increased since Hamas' attack on October 7 started the war in Gaza.

Palestinians assert that the violence is aimed at expanding Israeli control over large areas and diminishes the likelihood of achieving a Palestinian state.

Israel's rapid growth in the West Bank shows how influential the settler community is in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is known as the most religious and nationalist in Israel's history.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is also a settler, has accelerated the land expansion. He has taken new powers to develop settlements and aims to strengthen Israel's control over the land to prevent the formation of a Palestinian state.

"We came to settle the land, to build it, and to prevent its division and the establishment of a Palestinian state, God forbid," he said during a conference for his ultranationalist Religious Zionism Party last month.

"Today, it is clear to everyone that this conflict cannot be resolved without a political settlement that establishes a Palestinian state alongside Israel," Peace Now said in a statement. "Still, the Israeli government chooses to actually make it difficult and distance us from the possibility of peace and stopping the bloodshed."

Some information for this report came from the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse).


Britain voted Thursday in a general election widely expected to hand the opposition Labour party a landslide win and end nearly a decade-and-a-half of Conservative rule.

The first national ballot since Boris Johnson won the Tories a decisive victory in 2019 follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's surprise call to hold it six months earlier than required.

His gamble looks set to backfire spectacularly, with polls throughout the six-week campaign -- and for the last two years -- pointing to a heavy defeat for his right-wing party.

That would almost certainly put Labour leader Keir Starmer, 61, in Downing Street, as leader of the largest party in parliament.

Centre-left Labour is projected to win its first general election since 2005 by historic proportions, with a flurry of election-eve polls all forecasting its biggest-ever victory.

But Starmer was taking nothing for granted as he urged voters not to stay at home. "Britain's future is on the ballot," he said. "But change will only happen if you vote for it."

Voting began at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) in more than 40,000 polling stations across the country, from church halls, community centers and schools to more unusual venues such as pubs and even a ship.

Sunak was among the early birds, casting his ballot at his Richmond and Northallerton constituency in Yorkshire, northern England. Starmer voted around two hours later in his north London seat.

"I just moved back from Australia and I've got the feeling that everything has turned wrong in this country and a lot of people are not satisfied," said Ianthe Jacob, a 32-year-old writer, after voting in Hackney, east London.

In Saint Albans, north of London, 22-year-old student Judith told AFP: "I don't really trust any of them but will vote. A lot of my friends feel the same."

Voting closes at 10:00 pm (2100 GMT). Broadcasters then announce exit polls, which typically provide an accurate picture of how the main parties have performed.

Results from the UK's 650 constituencies trickle in overnight, with the winning party expected to hit 326 seats -- the threshold for a parliamentary majority -- as dawn breaks Friday.

Polls suggest voters will punish the Tories after 14 years of often chaotic rule and could oust a string of government ministers.
Iranian authorities Thursday sentenced to death a woman labor activist on charges of links to an outlawed Kurdish organization, rights groups said.

Sharifeh Mohammadi, initially arrested in December in Rasht, Iran, was convicted of the capital crime of rebellion and sentenced to death, said the Norway-based Hengaw and U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.

She is accused of being a member of the Kurdish separatist Komala party, which is banned in Iran. Hengaw said she endured "physical and mental torture" by intelligence agents while in custody.

A revolutionary court in Rasht, the main city of Gilan province on the Caspian Sea, convicted and sentenced her to death following a hearing, the groups said.

A source close to her family said Mohammadi was a member of a local labor organization and had "nothing to do with Komala.

The U.S.-based Iran-focused rights group Abdorrahman Boroumand Center said the death sentence was linked to "her involvement with an independent labor union.

"This extreme ruling highlights the harsh crackdown on dissent within Iran, particularly against labor activists amid economic turmoil," it added.

A campaign set up to support her case wrote on its social media accounts that the ruling was "absurd and unfounded" and aimed to create "fear and intimidation" among activists in Gilan province.

Gilan was a major center for protests that erupted in 2022 after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman arrested for allegedly violating dress rules for women.

Rights activists have accused Iranian authorities of using the death penalty as a tool to intimidate the entire population in response to the protests.

The nongovernmental group Iran Human Rights said at least 249 people, including 10 women, were executed in Iran in the first six months of 2024.

It warned of the risk of a "sharp increase" in executions after Iran's presidential election runoff on Friday, which will pit ultraconservative Saeed Jalili against reformist Masoud Pezeshkian.
Leading U.S. technology companies reportedly have increased security screening of employees and job applicants, which experts say is necessary to counter the cyber espionage threat from China.

While the enhanced screening is being applied to employees and applicants of all races, those with family or other ties to China are thought to be particularly vulnerable to pressure from the Beijing government.

But at least one Chinese computer science graduate student at a U.S. university is hoping to make his ties to China an asset. Zheng, who does not want to reveal his first name for fear of retaliation from the Chinese government, says he recently changed his focus to cybersecurity in hopes of improving his job prospects in the United States.

"The goal is a bit high, but I think I know more about China as a person born and raised in China. I hope to become a force with my own characteristics in cybersecurity and a role in fighting against Chinese cyber-attacks," said Zheng, who is seeking political asylum in the United States.

While Zheng said he is not very worried that increased security checks will affect his job prospects, he said many international students in his class worry that they will be shut out from cybersecurity jobs.

Google, OpenAI and Sequoia Capital are among a number of technology and venture capital firms that have stepped up security checks on employees and potential recruits, according to a recent report by The Financial Times.

The newspaper cited sources at those companies saying they were responding to warnings from the U.S. government about a growing threat from Chinese espionage over the past two years.

Chinese cyber espionage concerns

FBI Director Christopher Wray delivered one such message in a speech in April, saying the Chinese government has tried to steal intellectual property, technology and research from American industries.

In response, the U.S. government has stepped up security measures over the last two years, including updating its export control regulations to restrict China's ability to obtain advanced computing chips and artificial intelligence. The strengthened warnings to U.S. companies are part of that response.

Ivan Kanapathy, senior vice president with Beacon Global Strategies, told VOA that Silicon Valley executives share the U.S. governments concern. "In recent years, emerging technology companies have become more wary; they don't want to fall victim to China's technology absorption strategy," he said.

"Companies can't afford to help a competitor that will put them out of business. We've seen that happen across many industries already. It's only natural for American and other allied cutting-edge companies to be concerned and take steps to mitigate the risks of PRC state-sponsored espionage," he said.

Ray Wang, CEO of Silicon Valley-based Constellation Research Inc., said that the theft of American intellectual property has become more rampant since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and that people with ties to China were often targeted.

"During COVID, many folks with relatives in China were put in compromising positions where they were asked to do things for the Chinese government, or one's relatives would be put at risk," Wang said. China has infiltrated almost every aspect of the U.S., and the U.S. is facing systemic problems.

Kanapathy said China might also obtain American technology through talent poaching, meaning they recruit someone with experience in a particular technology and ask the person to take the technology to start a new company in China. Although it is ethically questionable, it is sometimes legal.

"China likely also tries to place its own people, including engineers, into certain companies that have desirable technologies. It's a multipronged strategy," he said.

In a statement to VOA, Chinese Embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu acknowledged the accusations but said the U.S. government "is short on delivering solid evidence.

We firmly oppose to the groundless accusations and smears towards China and hope the relevant parties can view Chinas development objectively and fairly, he wrote.

Liu also pointed out that the World Intellectual Property Organization last year named China as the worlds highest ranking middle-income economy and 12th overall in terms of independently creating intellectual property rights.

"China's scientific and technological achievements are never made through stealing. The Chinese people, including our intellectuals, made such achievements with our talent and hard work, he wrote.

Security screening concerns

While the enhanced security reviews usually apply to all employees, Wang said. Google and OpenAI have imposed stricter reviews for Chinese employees, and Microsoft is transferring some of its most important Chinese engineers from China to other regions of the world; NVIDIA has also been highly vigilant in screening.

Microsoft employees in China, mostly involved with cloud computing, were recently offered the opportunity to work in the United States, Australia or Ireland, among other countries, state-run outlet said in a report. The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft asked as many as 800 employees, mostly engineers with Chinese nationality working on cloud computing and AI, to consider relocating.

He said companies should exercise caution to avoid triggering xenophobia.

"So almost every new worker, not just Chinese nationals, should undergo the same vetting process. I think it's really important. As Asian Americans, we have to be very careful about those implications," he said.

So far, that has not been a problem for Joey Wu, a Chinese software engineer in California. Wu told VOA he has not seen stringent measures exercised against Chinese people, nor has he been treated differently due to his Chinese citizenship.

"I think the U.S. is relatively tolerant and open, Wu said. It is not easy for a large technology company to have so many foreign employees. Chinese companies, such as Huawei, are full of Chinese faces, with very few foreigners, and it is unlikely that Americans will be hired to play a more important role.

Kanapathy pointed out that the founders of many technology companies are from China or India themselves, and these are the people who request security checks on Chinese citizens.

VOA contacted Google, OpenAI and Sequoia Capital for comments but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

VOAs Adrianna Zhang contributed to this report.
Pro-democracy activists in Sudan on Thursday said around 25 people drowned in the Nile River while trying to flee fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces in the southeast.

"Around 25 citizens, most of them women and children, have died in a boat sinking" while crossing the Blue Nile River in the southeastern state of Sennar, a local resistance committee said in a statement.

The committee is one of hundreds across Sudan that used to organize pro-democracy protests and have coordinated frontline aid since the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, began last year.

"Entire families perished" in the accident, they said, while fleeing the RSF's recent advance through Sennar.

On Saturday, the RSF announced they had captured a military base in Sinja, the capital of Sennar state, where over half a million people had sought shelter from the war.

Witnesses also reported the RSF sweeping through neighboring villages, pushing residents to flee in small wooden boats across the Nile.

At least 55,000 people fled Sinja within a three-day period, the United Nations said Monday.

Local authorities in neighboring Gedaref state estimated on Thursday that some 120,000 displaced people had arrived this week. The state's health minister Ahmed al-Amin Adam said 90,000 had been officially registered.

Over 10 million people are currently displaced across Sudan, in what the U.N. calls the world's worst displacement crisis.

Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023, when fighting erupted between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The conflict in the country of 48 million has killed tens of thousands, with some estimates putting the death toll as high as 150,000, according to the United States envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello.

It has also torn the country apart into competing zones of control. The RSF holds much of the capital and the agricultural heartland to its south, nearly all of Darfur and swathes of the southern Kordofan states.

In El-Fasher in North Darfur  the only state capital in the Darfur region that the RSF has not captured  a paramilitary attack on a market on Wednesday "killed 15 civilians and injured 29 others," Health Ministry official Ibrahim Khater told AFP Thursday.

Since fighting in the city began in early May, at least 278 people have been killed, according to French charity Doctors without Borders, or MSF.

But the real toll is likely much higher, with most of those wounded unable to reach health facilities amid an ongoing siege and heavy street battles.

The hospitals in El-Fasher  nearly all of which have shut down  have themselves been attacked at least nine times since May, according to MSF.

Both sides have been accused of war crimes, including targeting civilian infrastructure and indiscriminately shelling homes, markets and hospitals.
Nicole Lindsay thought she could beat the holiday-week travel rush by booking an early morning flight. It didn't work out that way.

"I thought it wouldn't be that busy, but it turned out to be quite busy," the Baltimore resident said as she herded her three daughters through Palm Beach International Airport in Florida. "It was a lot of kids on the flight, so it was kind of noisy  a lot of crying babies."

Lindsay said the flight was full, but her family arrived safely to spend a few days in Port Saint Lucie, so she was not complaining.

Airlines hope the outcome is just as good for millions of other passengers scheduled to take holiday flights over the next few days.

AAA forecasts that 70.9 million people will travel at least 80 kilometers from home over a nine-day stretch that began June 27, a 5% increase over the comparable period around the Fourth of July last year. Most of those people will drive, and the motor club says traffic will be the worst between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. most days.

Federal officials expect air-travel records to fall as Americans turn the timing of July Fourth on a Thursday into a four-day  or longer  holiday weekend.

The Transportation Security Administration predicts that its officers will screen more than 3 million travelers at U.S. airports on Sunday. That would top the June 23 mark of more than 2.99 million. American Airlines said Sunday is expected to be its busiest day of the entire summer; it plans more than 6,500 flights.

TSA was created after the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, and replaced a collection of private security companies that were hired by airlines. Eight of the 10 busiest days in TSA's history have come this year, as the number of travelers tops pre-pandemic levels.

The head of the agency, David Pekoske, said Wednesday that TSA has enough screeners to handle the expected crowds this weekend and through the summer.

"We have been totally tested over the course of the last couple of months in being able to meet our wait-time standards of 10 minutes for a PreCheck passenger and 30 minutes for a standard passenger, so we are ready," Pekoske said on NBC's Today show.

Peggy Grundstrom, a frequent traveler from Massachusetts who flew to Florida to visit her daughter and granddaughter, said the line for security in Hartford, Connecticut, was unusually long.

"It was busier than I have personally seen in the past," Grundstrom said. "But, you know, I prefer to fly unless it's very local. I'm at a stage where I don't want to travel in a car for long periods of time."

Polls consistently show that a high percentage of Americans think the economy is poor, but that is not stopping them from traveling this summer.

"My finances are always pretty tight," said Madison Tilner, a law-school student at Northwestern University who was waiting for a flight at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. But with a work life looming ahead of her, she said, "I'm trying to travel more and use my free time while I can. I think a lot of people feel that way in summer."

Passengers on about 3,000 flights Wednesday were spending some of their free time hanging around airports because of flight delays, according to FlightAware.
The United Nations chief human rights official warns that Venezuelas upcoming presidential elections are unlikely to be free and fair because widespread repression in the country prevents dissident voices from being heard.

In his latest update on the human rights situation in Venezuela, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk presents a starkly critical assessment of an autocratic government that stifles dissent by the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of its perceived opponents.

My office continues to receive reports of detentions as election day approaches, including of supporters and members of the opposition. This does not augur well, and I urge a change to such practices, said the U.N. human rights chief, who engaged in an interactive dialogue at the U.N. Human Rights Council Wednesday and Thursday.

He said his office has documented with concern an increase in threats, harassment and assaults against civil society actors, journalists, unionists and other voices considered critical, including through arrests and prosecutions, and 38 cases of arbitrary detention.

In January, the government rid itself of President Nicolas Maduros main opponent for the top job by barring opposition leader Maria Corina Machado from running in an election for 15 years.

In April, Venezuelas main opposition coalition agreed to unite behind one candidate, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez, to challenge Maduro, a decision that many observers believe could be a winning hand.

Turk called on Venezuelan authorities to lift restrictions on civic space and to ensure fully transparent, inclusive and participatory electoral processes, in line with international standards.

Venezuelan objections

Alexander Gabriel Yanez Deleuze, Venezuelas ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, lashed back at the high commissioners disparagement of his government. He blamed foreign and domestic players of aggressive behavior aimed at undermining the sovereignty and peace in his country that has been won thanks to the leadership of President Nicolas Maduro.

The high commissioner, the Venezuelan opposition, however, are calling out a fraud and are calling for violence because they do not accept the Bolivarian revolution, he said.

He accused the United States and its acolytes of having published communiques that are already written today and that are aimed at subverting the election.

He said this ploy will not work. The 28th of July will see the ballot tables closed and the electoral council counting all the votes. There will be 17 different auditors before, during and after the election, and we will be announcing the result, which is part of the people's resistance, he said.

Opposition detentions

Turk was not persuaded by this argument and reiterated his appeal for the government to refrain from adopting legislation that would further restrict the right to participate in public affairs, and the freedoms of association and expression.

He also reiterated his call for the release of all people who have been arbitrarily detained in Venezuela, including those remaining in pretrial detention beyond the limits set out in national law.

According to the report, between April 2023 and February 2024, U.N. human rights monitors conducted nine visits to detention centers in five states across the country and interviewed 146 people deprived of their liberty, with a view to improving detention conditions, including access to health and food.

Among the findings, the high commissioner said he was particularly worried about reports of intimidation and ill-treatment of inmates who had been transferred to the Rodeo maximum security prison, as well as of their relatives and lawyers.

I remain concerned that people continue to be charged with terrorism-related offenses that do not comply with international human rights standards  and where there are also issues with the right to a fair trial, he said.

In the past year, the high commissioners office has documented 29 cases of individuals prosecuted for terrorism-related offenses and 28 cases of detained individuals, some perceived as dissident voices, whose whereabouts have been concealed from their relatives and lawyers.

Turk said: This occurred for periods ranging from two to 41 days, thus amounting to enforced disappearance. All allegations of enforced disappearances must be investigated and prosecuted, and the practice must end.
NATO will roll out "concrete ways" to accelerate Ukraines eventual membership in the Atlantic alliance during a summit next week in Washington. The summit will also address top security concerns amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. VOA State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching has the story, narrated by Elizabeth Cherneff.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says he is ready to retire and handover the presidency to a new Zanu PF leader.

Mnangagwa, who made these remarks in Manicaland region while officially launching a water and baobab juice making firm, said he has no interest in extending his term.

This is the first time that the Zimbabwean leader has hinted that he is leaving office after toppling the late former President Robert Mugabe in a defacto military coup in 2017.

He said, Our constitution clearly stipulates that every 5 years we go to congress. We did out congress about five years ago. Every give years we go to congress and when we do that we elect a president. Our president is supposed to be in office for two five year terms. I did my five year term and we went to a congress and you elected me again. Now Im doing my last five years and its towards the end of the term. I will go and rest. We will go to congress to look for someone else who will lead the party the way Im doing. Do you hear that? My retirement days are near. I want to rest. We will go to congress to look elect a person who will fit in my spirit of munhumutapa. You hear that? Im giving you a hint.

There were initial reports that Mnangagwa will stay in office after completing his two five-year terms prescribed by the Zimbabwe Constitution. His terms end before the 2028 presidential election.

Meanwhile, some Zimbabweans say there is no rule of law in the country following remarks by Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe that the military will force citizens to vote for Zanu PF so that it remains in power "until donkeys grow horns."

They claim that Sanyatwe violates Section 208 of the Zimbabwe Constitution, which clearly stipulates that serving members of the military should not dabble in politics.

According to Section 208, Subsection of the constitution, Members of the security services must act in accordance with this Constitution and the law. Neither the security services nor any of their members may, in the exercise of their functions act in a partisan manner; further the interests of any political party or cause; prejudice the lawful interests of any political party or cause; or violate the fundamental rights or freedoms of any person.

It further stipulate that members of the security services must not be active members or office-bearers of any political party or organization and serving members of the security services must not be employed or engaged in civilian institutions except in periods of public emergency.

Independent political commentator Effie Della Ncube said Sanyatwe's actions are unconstitutional.

"It's clear that he violated the constitution and this shows that there is no rule of law in Zimbabwe. Under normal circumstances President Emerson Mnangagwa is supposed to rebuke him but that's not the case and the issue lies in the hands of the president."

Sanyatwe is linked to the gunning down of six innocent civilians in Harare soon after true 2018 general elections. A commission of inquiry led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe nailed Sanyatwe to the killings and recommended the compensation of relatives of the deceased.

Presidential spokesperson George Charamba was unreachable le for comment. Zanu PF activist Believe Gaule said Sanyatwe has a right to express "his personal feelings about political issues in Zimbabwe."

The late army commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe also made an outburst together with other top state security agents before the 2008 general elections that they wont salute anyone who never participated in the 1960s liberation struggle.

He uttered this following indications that the late Morgen Tsvangirai of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was inching closer towards beating the late former President Robert Mugabe in a presidential election. The outcome of the polls resulted in a delayed announcement of the results and unity government in 2009. Critics say Mugabe was beaten by Tsvangirai in the presidential poll but the electoral body and Zanu PF denied these allegations.

Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to Sanyatwes remarks on social media platforms, including VOA Zimbabwes Facebook pages. Here are some of the responses (not the views of VOA Zimbabwe - unedited):-

President Bernard Mutemasango 

The statement made by Lt. General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe is a clear indication of the ruling party's arrogance and disregard for the democratic process. The people of Zimbabwe deserve better than a government that believes it can cling to power indefinitely. As the President of the New Zimbabwe Democratic Change, I am committed to leading a movement that will bring about real change and democratic governance to our beloved country. The era of authoritarian rule is coming to an end, and a new dawn of freedom and prosperity is on the horizon. #DemocracyWillPrevail #ZimbabweShallBeFree

Dube Nkosana Mfan'fikile

The military matters in zim, it has become a strong political institution armed and battle ready against any threat to their grip on power. The military has demonstrated that its a professional political entity rooted in Zanupf twisted ideology seing their positions (generals) as entitlement to brazen plundering, looting, bribery as a means to looting minerals and forestry and other nefarious activities like poaching and trading in wild life endangered species. It has built companies that further these interests which also win most public tenders some using fronts. The military has shown that it will respect party/government leaders who allows there illicit, corrupt business activities to flourish. If you become a liability the military will act agsinst you in the do called party name. An army in a supposedly democratic country acting in the name of a party to remove a sitting government. The army is a powerful league of the party. It likes you fine, if it doesnt like you as a leader you are out. So ED is comfortable because he disturbs not the wheels of corruption but championing it. The army is Zanupf no doubt about it. Ordinary soldiers and junior officers are innocent soldiers but the higher the rank the more political it becomes

Tackura Mudyano

Its possible, if Zimbabweans continue to fold hands and expect a miracle from God to rescue them from Zanu PF oppression.

Tendayi Muchineripi

They've complete disregard of the constitution, if a non zanu person had uttered those words, they would be in chikurubi right now charged for abuse of office or even treason, they apply the law selectively

Solomo Kinjikitile

The army is a control mechanism for ZANU , they want you to be more timid than you already are Zimbabweans and flee so they can loot in peace

Pride Smith Mfana

State captured by terrorists
Voting begins in Britain's general election

Xinhua) 15:04, July 04, 2024

LONDON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Millions in Britain began to cast their votes in the general election on Thursday, as around 40,000 polling stations across the country opened at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT).

Voters in 650 constituencies will elect members of the House of Commons, the lower chamber of parliament. A party must win at least 326 seats to secure a majority and be asked by the monarch, King Charles III, to form a government.

Pre-election opinion polls gave the main opposition Labour Party a 20-point lead over the Conservative Party, which has been in power for 14 years.

The results of an exit poll will be released at around 10 p.m. (2100 GMT) when the polling stations close. The counting will start immediately, and most results will come out on Friday.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the snap general election on May 22, followed by the dissolution of parliament on May 30.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Following Joe Bidens debacle in his disastrous debate with Donald Trump, and ahead of Irans run-off election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus controversial presence at the US Congress on July 24 has triggered a wave of intense commentary, which, especially from compatriot groups inside and outside Israel, underscores the Prime Ministers predisposition in favor of Trump, while pro-Biden/Democrat groups castigate his unwelcome presence. Is the US election in the hands of Netanyahu and AIPAC, the powerful Israeli-US lobby?

The American Zionist Public Affairs Committee (AZCPA) has infiltrated AIPAC, the lobby group that exerts strong influence on the US executive and legislative branches. It is considered the most powerful lobby group among the plethora of pro-Israeli organizations in the United States. AIPAC boasts that it represents "more than 3 million (sic) pro-Israel Americans in every congressional district to build bipartisan support for the U.S. relationship with Israel". The committee calls itself the "largest pro-Israel lobby", the one with the most resources, the one that offers the most resources (sic) directly to candidates: 98% of the candidates it supports won the general election in 2022!

Its enormous revenues, not counting tax-deductible donations from Wall Street Khazar financiers, amounted to $473.5 million in 2022. Israeli portal Forward reported that as of October 7, the emblematic date of the Hamas attack on Israel, AIPAC has raised $90 million, "much of which is earmarked to date for the 2024 elections [1]

". The anti-Netanyahu newspaper Haaretz explains the power of AIPAC in the United States, whose "fundraising group will have a decisive role in the 2024 elections [2]". One should not underestimate the decisive omnipotence of AIPAC, which, in addition to providing lubricant for a pleiad of American legislators, has just inflicted a painful defeat in its New York fiefdom on Representative Jamaal Bowman, a member of the progressive, pro-Palestinian Squad group led by the young Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [3], thanks to massive Zionist donations from those now seeking other electoral heads to behead [4].

The Jacobin portal claims that AIPACs defeat of Bowman paradoxically masks "its weakness" [5]. Even the Financial Times comments on Prime Minister Netanyahus unfolding war plans in his autistic interview on Channel 14, close to cabinet zealots Ben Gvir and Smotrich, for a "summer of conflict [6]". Frances Reseau Voltaire has already explained [7] that dual-nationality U.S.-Israelis condemn Netanyahus upcoming visit to Washington. Californias UnXeptable Group has launched a campaign against Netanyahus presence in Congress on July 24; in my opinion, this will be decisive for the planned invasion of Lebanon.

According to Voltaire Network. [8] a host of Israeli personalities also condemned the announced visit in the New York Times: David Harel, President of the Israeli Academy of Sciences; Tamir Pardo, former head of the Israeli Mossad; Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel; Aaron Ciechanoveret, Nobel Prize winner in chemistry; and novelist and essayist David Grossman, etc. Before the Biden debacle, the White House made no secret of its fears about Netanyahus presence in Congress: "Nobody knows what hes going to say [9]". John Mearsheimer, a professor at the University of Chicago, spoke of the inconceivable power of the Israel lobby in the United States, which has become, in my opinion, a state within a state.
Appeals court upholds convictions of Lee Elder Finnegan and Gabriele Natale-Hjorth.

Two American men convicted of the 2019 killing of an Italian police officer in Rome had their sentences reduced significantly by an appeals court on Wednesday.

The Rome court upheld the convictions of Lee Elder Finnegan and Gabriele Natale-Hjorth for the killing of 35-year-old carabiniere Mario Cerciello Rega in a botched attempt to buy drugs.

Elder's jail sentence was reduced from 24 years to 15 years and two months while Natale-Hjorth's sentence was halved from 22 years to 11 years and four months.

In 2022 an appeals court reduced Elder's life sentence to 24 years, for stabbing plainclothes officer Cerciello Rega to death, while Natale-Hjorth had his life sentence reduced to 22 years.

In March 2023 the Court of Cassation ordered a new trial, saying that it hadnt been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendants had understood that they were dealing with police officers.

Elder has admitted to stabbing Cerciello Rega but both Americans insist they thought they were facing drug dealers, not police.

Background to the case

On the night of 26 July 2019 the two Californians, on holiday in Italy, met up in Rome and tried to buy cocaine in the popular night-life area of Trastevere.

A man described as an intermediary, later identified as Sergio Brugiatelli, helped them find a dealer who allegedly sold them crushed aspirin instead of drugs.

In retaliation the pair stole Brugiatelli's rucksack, demanding the return of their money plus cocaine in exchange.

However Brugiatelli informed the police of the situation, with undercover officers Mario Cerciello Rega and Andrea Varriale going to the designated meeting point in the upmarket Prati district, in place of Brugiatelli.

During the altercation Elder used an 18-cm serrated-edge combat knife to stab Cerciello Rega, who was not armed, while Natale-Hjorth wrestled with Varriale.

Cerciello Rega was stabbed 11 times, later dying from his wounds in hospital.

The next day police tracked down Elder and Natale-Hjorth to a nearby hotel where the murder weapon was found concealed behind a ceiling panel.

The killing of Cerciello Rega, who had just returned from honeymoon, shocked Italy and led to a huge outpouring of public sympathy for his widow.

Massive crowds turned out for his funeral at the same church where he had been married 43 days before.

Photo Fanpage
By Cate McCurry, PA

Covid-19 infection rates were more than a third higher in the most-deprived areas relative to more affluent areas in Ireland, new research suggests.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), in collaboration with Pobal, has launched a report examining the health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on people living in disadvantaged areas in Ireland.

The report examines the extent to which infection rates and ICU admission rates are associated with area-level deprivation.

In addition to area-level deprivation, areas with communal establishments, and areas with higher shares of residents who are Irish Travellers also had higher Covid-19 infection rates, the report also states.

Communal establishments can include nursing homes, direct provision centres or anywhere where there is a congregated living environment.

Area-level deprivation did not directly relate to ICU admission rates. But areas with communal establishments, with higher shares of some racial and ethnic minority groups, and areas with poorer health among the infected, all had higher rates of ICU admission.

These area-level factors are all correlated with area-level deprivation, the report said.

The report highlighted numerous important implications for policymakers in terms of planning for potential future pandemics (PA)

Therefore, while area-level deprivation does not directly impact ICU admission rates, it appears to be having an indirect impact through these other area-level characteristics.

The research suggests that markers of deprivation, such as overcrowding, reduced access to private sanitation facilities, jobs that are not suitable for remote working and a reliance on public transport, all facilitate the spread and transmission of the virus, putting already disadvantaged communities at heightened health risk.

Future pandemic planning should consider pre-existing spatial inequalities and pre-existing health inequalities (and the relationship between the two), especially amongst minority groups, it said.

Consideration should also be given to the presence of communal establishments in areas and their potential impact on infection transmission.

The report stated that these locations may require additional health resources and a tailored public health strategy which considers risk factors such as age and the presence of underlying conditions.

It also called for an all-island approach to be be considered, given the higher infection rates around the border regardless of deprivation.

Speaking at the launch of the report, Anna Shakespeare, Pobal chief executive, said: This report adds to the extensive literature on the social determinants of health, providing further evidence that those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged experience the worst health outcomes.

The Covid-19 Inquiry offers a unique opportunity to take stock and consider pandemic planning for the future  at Pobal, we believe targeted and tailored place-based approaches could be of significant value.

The author of the report, Dr Anne Devlin, from the ESRI, said: The findings of this report highlight differences in how Covid-19 infection manifested across Ireland, particularly about area-level deprivation.

We find higher rates of infection in the most deprived areas.

Furthermore, infection rates and ICU admission rates were higher in areas with higher shares of minority groups.

Higher Covid-19 infection rates in certain areas are likely to be driven by a multitude of reasons such as the jobs people do, reliance on public transport, higher occupancy in homes, and poorer health pre-pandemic.

There are important lessons here about the importance of pre-existing health and other inequalities during a pandemic.

We also find higher Covid-19 infection rates in areas close to the porous border with Northern Ireland.

There are numerous important implications for policymakers in terms of planning for potential future pandemics or other widespread health shocks.
On the Cork Road the other day it was nice to see a tower crane on the site of the old Waterford Crystal offices. Major work is in progress on site and steelwork framing for an extra floor on the building, which will give it more presence, is in place.

It took a while to materialise but in fairness to Frisby Construction, this is a huge project, which will transform that area.

When coupled with the proposed student housing development at Ballybeg Drive, we will begin to see the core of the kind of university quarter that the city and south east region so desperately needs.

Someone has to lead in the redevelopment and resurgence of this city or else we are at nothing. The Frisby Group has the resources and the ability, so lets hope their investment and leadership pays off. Hats off to them!

When will the government respond with its promised investment?

There has been visible dereliction around Kilbarry Cross area, the old Yellow House Pub site and surrounding lands for years.

It symbolized the 2008 collapse after the glassworks closed and the hurt our city suffered.

Sensible people in Fine Gael (they do exist) saw the damage to this city, Brian Hayes, Richard Bruton, even Enda Kenny. They had seen the positive impact of UL on Limerick and the mid-west and proposed the Waterford university. They campaigned on that basis in the 2011 election.

Instead, after the election, the university proposal was dropped.

The PPP scheme, to provide a new WIT engineering building and business school (outline planning was granted in 2009 as the contract winners would apply for full permission) was cancelled by Enda Kennys 2011 government.

Two Waterford Fine Gael deputies (Coffey and Deasy) were elected at that time on the back of a promised university. That promise was reneged on.

The glass factory site could have been bought for buttons by WIT but they were prevented from doing so. The fear of doing anything giving impetus to a stand-alone university in Waterford permeated the actions of the Department of Education and the Higher Education Authority.

Paudie Coffey, an excellent TD, lost his seat in 2016. Fine Gael in Waterford returned no seat in Dail Eireann in 2020. Non-delivery has a cost.

Fine Gael hurt Waterford and it would be interesting to try understand why that party would deliver with one possible new deputy, what they failed to deliver when they had two?

Glib rhetoric from the present Taoiseach (no friend to Waterford while in the Dept. of Health or Further Education) and his local claque that the university for Waterford is done is borderline offensive. Without the promised funding, new courses, new student accommodation, new buildings, new corporate borrowing structures and professorial academic structures, nothing is done. When will we see that stuff?

Our college is truly spancelled and some senior local FG members to my knowledge are deeply unhappy with what has happened. In particular, the damage caused to Waterford city by the loss of its name over its independent third-level facility. How can anyone with an ounce of Waterford in them defend that?

The gap between Waterford and our one time peer cities of Limerick and Galway is now an abyss. Even Senator Cummins knows that.

But, hey, party first, last and always, right?

We have been reduced to what? A county town among county towns? An unforgivable disaster brought to you by Fine Gael.

The 15-year delay to build a new engineering building on the SETU Cork Road campus, coupled with the almost pathological suppression of new courses and the curtailment of student numbers at the college, has been truly shocking.

Decent people in other parts of the country dont believe it when you explain what has gone on. Such suppression did not happen elsewhere. In places like Sligo, Carlow, Athlone or Letterkenny, many new buildings have been provided with much investment in facilities. Even while universities in Cork, Limerick and Galway were being super-sized with students, student accommodation and new buildings, WIT was being beaten down.

No new teaching space has been built for nearly two decades.

When coupled with plans to downgrade UHW in the years after 2011, destruction of two VECs and FAS HQ etc, the role of the city was destabilized. The impact on the confidence of our historic city was profound.

This saga should be remembered for the crime it was. It reeked of totalitarian regimes and the suppression of educational facilities to damage political enemies.

This perversion of third-level educational provision did not start in 2011 with the incoming FG government, the previous FF administration had a hand in matters as well. But, while FF were prepared to continue the physical development of the WIT campus, FG and their Labour lackeys were not.

The miserable politics of Phil Hogan and Brendan Howlin loom over that decision.

Ruairi Quinn was the Labour Party minister entrusted with the evisceration of WIT. He did an excellent job. The wounds inflicted have still not healed.

Its somewhat understandable in the class-ridden panoply of Irish universities that the elitist blue-stockinged, sorry, blue-shirted FG and their academic camp followers would resist a full university for the plebs who live and work around here. Just imagine Penelope, they might even qualify as doctors! But is it the boast of party conferences that the actions of a Labour minister deprived the children of the working people of Waterford and the South East of a legitimate university. The university, which Enda Kenny, Brian Hayes et al of FG, freely promised in the run-up to the 2011 election!

In Ireland, there is no such thing as apolitical delivery. National Plans are relatively meaningless.

Party strategists decide everything based almost solely on Dail seat arithmetic. We have learned that to our cost in acute medicine, where unfulfilled development plans and proposals are endlessly recycled, in third-level education where funding and development proposals languish unfulfilled for decades, and in Foreign Direct Investment, where cynical IDA blurb about support for Waterford is recycled ad nauseam and large headline job announcements go elsewhere in this region.

Tell me, why should you vote for Fine Gael?
By David Young, PA

Voting is underway in the North for a Westminster election involving several constituency battles that remain too close to call.

A total of 136 candidates are standing in the regions 18 constituencies.

All eyes will be on the race for the greatest number of seats, with the potential of Sinn Fein cementing its position as the largest party in Northern Ireland, having come out on top in the last Assembly and local council polls.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill (PA)

Sinn Fein, which ran a relatively low-key campaign, could secure top spot by retaining the seven seats it already holds, if the DUP drops down from the eight seats it won in 2019.

The two main parties traded relatively few hard blows during the last six weeks, reflective of the fact that relations between them have been fairly good in the five months since they resumed joint leadership of Stormonts restored devolved coalition government.

While most of the republican partys seats are safe bets, it will face the usual arm wrestle to hold off the challenge of unionists in the ever-close Fermanagh and South Tyrone race.

In that constituency, former RCN general secretary Pat Cullen, who led nurses across the UK in strike action last year, is up against Ulster Unionist councillor Diana Armstrong.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson (PA)

The DUP is under pressure in a number of constituencies, most significantly in East Belfast where its leader, Gavin Robinson, is involved in a high-stakes contest with the Alliance Party leader Naomi Long.

Mr Robinsons elevation to the leadership of his party came after the DUP suffered a seismic shock when former leader Jeffrey Donaldson quit after he was charged with a range of historical sexual offences in March  charges he denies.

Apart from the sudden departure of Mr Donaldson from the political stage, the DUP has also been under fire from unionist rivals amid claims it oversold a Government package of measures on post-Brexit trading arrangements that the party used to justify the end of its two-year boycott on devolution at Stormont in January.

Defeat for Mr Robinson would surely raise questions about his fledgling leadership of the DUP; while a loss for Ms Long would prompt some to ask whether the Alliance Partys surge of recent years has begun to subside.

The cross-community Alliance Party is walking a tight rope between having a really good night or a very disappointing one.

Alliance leader Naomi Long (Liam McBurney/PA)

It is involved in three, razor-edge fights where it is in serious contention for seats.

The party goes into the election with one seat, deputy leader Stephen Farrys in North Down. Mr Farry has been involved in a tough battle to hold that seat while his party is also hoping that Ms Long prevails in East Belfast and Sorcha Eastwood defeats the DUP in Lagan Valley, in the seat vacated by long-standing MP Donaldson.

While three victories could be secured; three losses would sting heavily for a party that has been on the electoral march in recent years.

The Ulster Unionists were without an MP in the last parliament and the party is convinced that South Antrim represents its best opportunity of a return to the green benches at Westminster.

Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (Liam McBurney/PA)

Former UUP leader Robin Swann, whose profile soared when he led Northern Irelands fight against the Covid pandemic as Stormont health minister, is trying to win that seat from the DUPs Paul Girvan.

Success for the SDLP would be the retention of the two seats held in the last parliament by its leader, Colum Eastwood, and deputy leader, Claire Hanna.

Both are tipped for victory  in Foyle and South Belfast and Mid Down respectively  albeit with the prospect of returning with reduced majorities.

The TUV, which is an arch critic of the DUPs decision to drop its protest boycott on devolution, did not stand in the last election.

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood (Liam McBurney/PA)

While its entry into the fray this time round is highly unlikely to deliver it any seats, the votes it could potentially take from DUP candidates could have major implications in some of the closest battleground seats.

However, the TUV campaign suffered a major blow last month when Reform UK leader Nigel Farage personally endorsed two DUP election candidates, despite his party having an official electoral alliance with the TUV in Northern Ireland.

That has led to a highly usually situation in Mr Allisters own North Antrim constituency, where he is running on a joint TUV-Reform UK platform, even though Mr Farage has personally backed the DUP candidate in that area, Ian Paisley.
Washington: Hamas made a pretty significant adjustment in its position over a potential hostage release deal with Israel, a senior US administration official said on Thursday (Friday AEST), expressing hope that it would lead to a pact that would be a step to a permanent ceasefire.

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration against the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government in late June in Tel Aviv. Credit: Getty Images

Weve had a breakthrough, the official told reporters on a conference call, adding there were still outstanding issues related to implementation of the agreement and that a deal was not expected to be closed in a period of days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden on Thursday he has decided to send a delegation to resume stalled negotiations on a hostage release deal with Hamas.

The US official said Biden was encouraged that Netanyahu was authorising his team to join the talks.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) has concluded an agreement with the German Customs Authority, establishing a new Customs Cooperation Fund of Germany (CCF-Germany) for the period 2024-2028. This agreement, designed to enhance capacity-building initiatives, was signed on June 28 in Brussels during the WCO Council Sessions. The signing ceremony featured Hans Pieters, Head of Administration and Personnel for the WCO, and Mr. Martin Reuter, Head of Unit International Affairs at the Central Customs Authority, representing Germany.

The CCF-Germany will allocate funds to support various capacity-building activities for WCO Members from the European Union, potential candidate countries, and countries under the European Neighborhood Policy. This financial support will facilitate training programs for Customs officials, seminars, workshops, and regional meetings aimed to promote trade facilitation, improve compliance and enforcement, and advance Customs modernization efforts.

This is the third funding agreement between the WCO and German Customs, following previous agreements that covered 2014-2018 and 2020-2024. Each successive agreement has built on the successes of its predecessor, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation to new challenges in the Customs sector. These agreements have consistently demonstrated the strong partnership and commitment to capacity-building and modernization within the Customs community.

The WCO has expressed its profound appreciation to the Central Customs Authority of the Federal Republic of Germany for its steadfast support and collaborative spirit. This partnership is expected to further enhance the WCOs ability to provide assistance to its Members, ensuring that they are better equipped to handle the complexities of modern Customs operations.
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A man with schizophrenia carried out a "senseless" attack on a female garda in a Mayo courtroom.

Domhnaill Cosgrave, aged 38, of Ballylynan, Co Laois, pleaded guilty at a sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Katie Conlon at Castlebar Courthouse on April 18 last year.

Sgt Sinead Barrett told the court that on April 17, 2023, Cosgrave was detained under the Mental Health Act in Galway. A further incident occurred in Claregalway where he was aggressive towards gardai and was arrested and taken to Castlebar District Court to be charged as no court was available in Galway that day.

CCTV played in court showed Cosgrave being uncooperative as he was taken into the body of the courthouse. During scuffles with members of An Garda Siochana, he kicked out at Gda Conlon who was the assigned Court Garda at the time.

The accused had to be taken back to Castlebar Garda Station until his case was heard. He returned to the courthouse where he was called forward to sign his bail bond. As he was walking back from the court clerk's desk, he attacked Gda Conlon, grabbing her by the hair and causing the officer to fall against the court benches. Some of her hair came away such was the ferocity of his grasp.

Gda Conlon suffered soft tissue injuries and continues to experience neck and shoulder pain and headaches. She struggled with nightmares following the assault and underwent counselling.

Cosgrave has been in custody since the incident and spent 11 months in the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin.

Dr Laura Byrne, representing the accused, said her client has schizophrenia, which was undiagnosed when the assault took place. A psychiatric report stated he was "out of touch with reality" when he attacked Gda Conlon.

She said her client is very remorseful for his actions.

During discussions with psychiatrists, Cosgrave gave varying reasons for his actions. He stated he wanted to be an "undercover cop" and needed to carry out a crime in order to go to prison. He also said he didnt like the look of Gda Conlon and that she "needed a good hammering". The court heard an addiction to cannabis and the use of psychedelic drugs was also in the background.

Judger Eoin Garavan said Cosgraves actions were extremely violent and aggressive". He noted this was an acute psychotic episode where the accused was separated from reality.

The judge handed down a 20-month prison sentence backdated to April 19, 2023. Cosgrave has already been in custody for 14 months.
A Mayo woman who helped to facilitate an internet scam involving a website that offered fake loans has received a suspended prison sentence.

Deirdre Booth, aged 44, originally, from Ballycroy, but living at John Sweeney Park, Tullow, Co Carlow, pleaded guilty at last week's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of money laundering.

The fraudulent activity came to light on December 29, 2020, when a Limerick man reported to Gardai that he had sought a loan online from a company calling itself Yes Loans Ireland. This website was a clone of a legitimate company that had ceased operating.

The man was asked to make two payments totalling 690 to obtain the loan and paid the money into an Allied Irish Bank (AIB) account before realising he had been scammed.

The money was traced back to a bank account in the AIB branch in Castlebar in the name of Deirdre Booth. The defendant had used her mothers address in Achill Sound when opening the bank account.

The court also heard that a Drogheda man fell victim to the same fraud and paid out the same amounts to Booths account.

Judge Eoin Garavan was told that those behind the fake website took 90% of the money in each case and Booth received what amounted to a 10% commission.

The accused has 12 previous convictions.

Barrister Patrick Murphy, representing Booth, said his client is a mother-of-five who was under financial pressure at the time and has since shown remorse for her actions.

Booth claimed she sought a loan from the same fake company but did not have a guarantor and was asked to engage in the illegal practice in order to secure the money.

However, Judge Garavan branded the story "preposterous".

Does that seem remotely credible? They give her free money basically to test her honesty, he remarked.

Mr Murphy said his clients involvement was not sophisticated and her account could be easily traced. She had 1,085 in court as compensation for the two victims.

Judge Garavan said this type of offence is becoming more and more prevalent.

Facilitators like Ms Booth allow their accounts to be used for pilfering money, the judge remarked.

He noted that the accused only made 108 from her part in the fraud but said without her involvement the illegal scheme would not have been possible. The judge handed down an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
News that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have formed an alliance on Mayo County Council for the first time can be classed as historic but certainly not a shock.

The long division between the two parties at national and local level was both a symptom of the Civil War and also of the reality that they were both big enough to aspire to lead governments with the other in opposition. Indeed, Fianna Fail, for much of the 20th century, could lead a government on their own.

Politically, the duo were never as far apart as they liked to have people believe and when both their numbers started to fall, pragmatism came before pride. It is telling of how much the Irish political landscape has changed over the decades that now Fianna Fail and Fine Gael combined cannot command a majority in the Dail, requiring the Greens to make a slender majority.

Up until this year, the battle for control of Mayo County Council has seen either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail trying to muster enough seats to either have a majority in their own right or to broker a deal with Independents. In 2014, the decision of Cllr Seamus Weir, who had left Fine Gael months earlier over the Eirgrid controversy, to abstain paved the way for a working majority of ten Fianna Fail councillors and five Independents. Now the two old rivals have come together with only Fianna Fails Cllr Blackie Gavin in Castlebar a dissenting voice.

But what does control of Mayo County Council actually mean? Not a lot. With the eroding of the authority of elected councillors across decades, the battle for control of Mayo County Council has the feel of two bald men fighting over a comb.

For councillors individually it can lead to the considerable honour of being Cathaoirleach of the council, Mayos first citizen. For others, it may pave the way for a well-remunerated chair of one of the councils six Strategic Policy Committees. The fee received for this role is 6,000 on top of your salary and expenses.

But did any candidate in the local elections campaign on the basis of what their party or grouping would do if they got control of Mayo County Council? I certainly did not see any.

Did any voter decide who to endorse based on who they wanted to control Mayo County Council? Highly doubtful.

Contrast that with national elections where people are genuinely invested in who they want to put into government. At local level the vote is much more likely to be for an individual and, almost always, an individual in their backyard.

There was a time in the history of this state when roads, housing, health, water and education were all invested in the local authorities but we now have the most emasculated system of local government in Europe.

Irelands local government is the weakest, most underfunded system of local government across the continent.

Consider then how centralised everything is in Ireland towards Dublin, in terms of power and authority and also economic wellbeing, and it is little wonder that we live in one of the most underdeveloped regions in Europe.

Irelands North-West region, which consists of Connacht and the three Ulster counties in the Republic of Ireland, was downgraded by the European Commission to a lagging region in 2022 and is ranked 218th out of 234 regions across the EU in terms of infrastructural development.

Ireland has always had a highly centralised system of governance towards Dublin. It feels as if that had accelerated over the decades.

As Paul Gillespie pointed out in The Irish Times earlier this year, councillors in Ireland are spread much thiner than their European counterparts. Councillors elected to local government last month will represent 5,196 citizens per councillor, compared to 600 in Belgium, 620 in Spain and 412 in Finland.

The abolition of the town councils by the Fine Gael-led government in 2014 has further exacerbated these figures. However, the town councils had a very small budget so they were far from a panacea either. The chasm between us and Europe was well established by then.

The budget and finance the councillors can control is minuscule by European norms. Councillors have access to only three per cent of overall Irish tax revenue raised at local level, compared to an average of 15 per cent elsewhere in Europe. The overall tax revenue spent at local level is eight per cent compared to an EU average of 23 per cent.

Executive control of local matters, over elected councillors, has accelerated in recent decades. Various corruption scandals, which did untold damage to politics, has facilitated a considerable shift in the power base from elected politicians to civil servants at local and national level.

Dr Theresa Reidy, a lecturer on Irish politics at University College Cork (UCC), describes the continuous erosion of local government across the decades as a deep hollowing-out of the role of local government.

Though not a remit of local government, policing has been greatly centralised in recent years also, with Mayos garda region now part of a division that includes Roscommon and Longford. The closure of many rural garda stations and centralising of members of An Garda Siochana into larger towns has also had a corrosive effect at local level.

There have been improvements along the way. While the 2014 reforms brought in by then Minister for Environment and Local Government Phil Hogan abolished the town councils, thereby greatly reducing the number of local councillors in the country, the establishment of municipal districts did give a better county council structure at local level than the electoral areas which preceded them.

Local authorities now have an enhanced role in local economic development and community development. There is much more that can be done but it does represent an improvement.

However, while we do have regional assemblies which can provide a framework for enhanced local government and decision-making in their regions, the reality is that they are not nearly visible or powerful enough.

Nobody is directly elected to them. Rather, the various constituent local authorities appoint councillors to sit on their board. Having covered Mayo County Council meetings for years, this is a very disjointed approach. Mayo County Council rarely discuss the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and councillors appointed to that authority rarely report back at meetings.

The Council of Europe are putting repeated pressure on Ireland to decentralise its government more and to enhance the power and responsibilities of local authorities and its councillors therein. This can only be a good thing. We need radical change and here on the West coast, in our lagging region, we need it more than most.

Perhaps the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael-controlled council can articulate that to their party colleagues in government at a national level.
Weather Alert

Bulletin: ...FROST ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 degrees will result in frost formation. * WHERE...A portion of central Pennsylvania. * WHEN...From 2 AM to 9 AM EDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Take steps now to protect tender plants and vegetation from the cold. Potted plants should be brought inside. The frost will occur mainly in valley locations. &&

Info:

Type: Frost Advisory

start_time_local: 2024-10-11T02:00:00-04:00

end_time_local: 2024-10-11T09:00:00-04:00

county_name:

state: PA

headline: Frost Advisory from FRI 2:00 AM EDT until FRI 9:00 AM EDT

county_fips:

category: Met

url:

urgency: Expected

severity: Minor

certainty: Likely

geographicname: Schuylkill County

state_name: Pennsylvania
Dou Lingyun (2nd L), a bio-engineering graduate from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, poses for a group photo with classmates at a Starbucks cafe in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Wu Zhizun]

WUHAN, July 3 (Xinhua)  "May I have a cup of vanilla latte please? Large." As the customer speaks, the sentence is converted by a voice-recognition system and appears on an electronic screen in the cafe. Receiving the message, barista Chen Yuanyuan soon produces a cup of coffee, which she hands over with a smile.

At first glance, this Starbucks in central China's Hubei Province could be any modern cafe anywhere in China. However, the receptionists and baristas here are hearing-impaired people, and the methods of communication have been adapted accordingly.

Last month, the 18th "silent" Starbucks cafe opened in Wuhan, capital of Hubei, five years after the first one of its kind went operational in Guangzhou, in the southern Guangdong Province. A total of three hearing-impaired baristas were recruited in Wuhan, including Chen.

"I always wanted to work in such a cafe in my hometown. Now my dream has come true," Chen, 42, told Xinhua in sign language.

She has always wanted to become a barista, but she was encouraged in her ambition by the arrival of the first "silent" Starbucks. "I realized that I could still be a barista even if I couldn't hear," she explained.

Chen started out as an apprentice in a Starbucks cafe, where she learned how to make coffee. It was a challenging job for someone with impaired hearing. For instance, a barista normally judges when the milk has been fully foamed by the sound made by the steam wand. However, Chen can only judge by sight and feeling the temperature with her hands.

"All the difficulties can be overcome so long as you love this career," she said.

The new "silent" Starbucks in Wuhan is located opposite the Wuhan Disabled Persons' Federation building. The cafe has wheelchair access, voice-recognition equipment, handwriting tablets and sign-language diagrams for various types of drink, all of which illustrate the venue's accommodating atmosphere.

"We want to make this cafe a window for society to understand 'special groups,' and a comfortable space for the hearing-impaired," said 26-year-old Guo Chenxi, owner of the cafe.

She noted that they also plan to have public sign-language lessons regularly, in order to build a bridge facilitating communication between hearing-impaired people and others.

After it opened, the cafe soon became popular. On the first day, the Xinhua reporter saw more than 10 customers in front of the cafe chatting with sign language, having arrived from different parts of the city.

"Many of us have had public coffee-making lessons organized by the Wuhan Disabled Persons' Federation," Liu Hua, a 48-year-old hearing-impaired customer told Xinhua by typing the words on his phone. "We also want to become baristas. So we came to have a look and learn."

Hu Huidong took some leave from his company to come with his younger brother, who is hearing-impaired. "This is the first 'silent cafe' in Wuhan, which is a platform for hearing-impaired baristas to show their talent. We would like to express our appreciation to them through our actions," he said.

Dou Lingyun, a bio-engineering graduate from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, spent more than an hour getting to the cafe. "I used to be the chairman of the sign-language society at our university, and have been involved in several activities for disabled people," he said. "Now that I am leaving this city, I want to support friends who have hearing and speech impairments. I hope that they will get more understanding and help."

In China, there are about 85 million people with disabilities. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), more than 50,000 students with disabilities got into institutions of higher learning, while an additional 1.81 million disabled people found jobs, according to official data.

In 2022, a three-year action plan for promoting the employment of disabled people was issued by the State Council, setting the goal of creating 1 million new jobs for the disabled by the end of 2024.

According to the China Disabled Persons' Federation, by the end of 2023, more than nine million people with disability certificates were employed, with about 544,000 people finding jobs last year. New industries and new models based on technological innovation have allowed them to work in more sectors.

"They are not only able to do such behind-the-scenes work as designers and customer-service agents, but are also getting more opportunities out front as baristas, roasters, delivery persons, among others," said Zhang Yong, who is head of the education and employment department of the Hubei Disabled Persons' Federation.

Chen Yuanyuan hopes that more stores and restaurants will appear that encourage the use of sign language. "In this way, people's understanding of the hearing-impaired can be boosted. With more job opportunities, we can realize our self-worth," she said.

A hearing-impaired barista communicates with a customer at a Starbucks cafe in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 18, 2024. [Xinhua/Wu Zhizun]

Chen Yuanyuan (C) communicates with a hearing-impaired customer at a Starbucks cafe in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 16, 2024. [Xinhua/Wu Zhizun]

Chen Yuanyuan (1st R) communicates with hearing-impaired customers at a Starbucks cafe in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 16, 2024. [Xinhua/Wu Zhizun]

Chen Yuanyuan makes coffee at a Starbucks cafe in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 16, 2024. [Xinhua/Wu Zhizun]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Lei Yang
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that he is ready to work with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to jointly build a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and inject more positive energy to the development and stability of the region and beyond.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana.

In their small-group talks, he noted that last year Tokayev and him met twice in Xi'an and Beijing respectively, and made new arrangements and plans for the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, leading the "golden 30 years" of rapid development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

The Chinese side has always viewed its relations with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective, and regards Kazakhstan as a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner for cooperation in Central Asia.

Xi said China's will and determination to maintain and grow bilateral relations stand firm, and will not be changed due to any single incident or transformations in the international situation.

China will always be a good neighbor and partner Kazakhstan can rely on and trust, he added.

The Chinese side, Xi also said, will continue to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in traditional energy such as natural gas, expand new energy cooperation including photovoltaic and wind power, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kazakhstan, and help Kazakhstan convert its resource advantages into development capabilities to achieve green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Tokayev said Xi's state visit to Kazakhstan is of historic significance to the development of Kazakhstan-China relations, hailing China as a friendly neighbor, close friend and important strategic partner of his country.

Based on solid good-neighborly friendship and firm mutual support, Kazakhstan-China relations have shown an unprecedented sound momentum of development, he said, noting that major achievements have been made in cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, minerals and other fields, which have benefited the two peoples and set a good example for state-to-state relations.

Kazakhstan is ready to work with China to further tap the potential of bilateral cooperation in energy, minerals, new energy and connectivity and push bilateral relations to a new height, he said.

The Kazakh side appreciates China's firm support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and will firmly abide by the one-China principle, resolutely fight against the "three forces" and safeguard the common security of the two countries, Tokayev added.

In their big-group talks, Xi said the friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan are rooted in the millennia-old ancient Silk Road, reinforced by 32 years of cooperation after the establishment of diplomatic relations, and have reached the high level of a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi reiterated that no matter how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in its commitment to the China-Kazakhstan friendship, in its resolve to advance cooperation across the board, in its determination to continue mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and in its confidence in both countries realizing their development goals.

China and Kazakhstan are both at a critical stage of development and revitalization, Xi said, calling on the two sides to enhance the alignment of their development strategies and exchanges of governance experience, and implement more mutually beneficial cooperation projects to boost the development of their respective countries.

The Chinese side is ready to work with Kazakhstan on boosting economic and trade cooperation, and set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date, he said.

He pledged that China will further expand imports of high-quality Kazakh goods and create new growth drivers for cooperation in e-commerce and digital economy, calling on the two sides to increase the scale of cooperation in production capacity investment, tap the potential of cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, and expand cooperation in electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and satellite communications.

China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to actively promote the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and build a multi-dimensional connectivity paradigm, Xi said.

He also said that China supports the holding of China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025, and has decided to open a second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country.

Noting that at the airport after arrival, he was moved to hear a group of Kazakh teenagers sing "Ode to the Motherland" in standard and fluent Chinese, Xi said young people are the inheritors of China-Kazakhstan friendship from generation to generation.

He urged the two countries to give full play to the role of the culture centers and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen public support for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China, Xi noted, will assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) following Kazakhstan, saying that the Chinese side stands ready to jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future with the SCO member states including Kazakhstan.

Xi noted that China supports Kazakhstan in hosting the second China-Central Asia Summit next year and is ready to work with relevant parties including Kazakhstan to make the China-Central Asia mechanism better and stronger, and to promote the China-Central Asia cooperation to achieve more new results.

China is willing to work closely with Kazakhstan within the framework of the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, practice genuine multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries, Xi added.

For Tokayev, he said Xi's visit to Kazakhstan once again proves that both sides attach great importance to and strongly hope for further enhancement of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Kazakhstan and China, he said, enjoy a solid friendship spanning thousands of years and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that in recent years in particular, bilateral ties have entered a new "golden era," with smooth progress in major cooperation projects and positive results in agriculture, green energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, contributing to the well-being of the two peoples.

Tokayev said his country is a reliable friend and partner of China, adding that it is an unswerving strategic priority for Kazakhstan to deepen friendly and strategic cooperation with China.

Speaking highly of China's diplomatic concept of peace, a series of global initiatives put forward by Xi and China's important contribution to promoting world peace and development, Tokayev said the Kazakh side is willing to work with China to promote the building of a Kazakhstan-China community with a shared future as well as a community with a shared future for mankind.

Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan looks forward to working with China to earnestly implement the important outcomes of Xi's visit, continuing to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, making every effort to achieve the goal of doubling bilateral trade, strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy and trade, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and electric vehicles, and advancing the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Kazakhstan welcomes the establishment of culture centers in their respective country and Luban Workshop, said Tokayev said. He called for ensuring the China tourism year in 2025 a success, so as to keep closer bilateral sub-national cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges in education, culture and other fields.

Kazakhstan will continue to actively participate in building the China-Central Asia mechanism, and closely coordinate with China within multilateral frameworks such as the SCO and the United Nations, Tokayev added.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witnessed the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media.

Prior to their meeting, Kazakh fighter jets painted the sky with colored smoke trails to welcome the Chinese president. A group of six jets, while flying over the presidential palace, left behind them colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag.

In this combo photo, six Kazakh fighter jets paint the sky with colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag, while flying over the Kazakh presidential palace to welcome visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Wang Jianhua, Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inspect the guard of honor in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. Tokayev hosted a ceremony to welcome the Chinese president. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Xie Huanchi]

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jom art Tokayev hold small-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold big-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witness the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media, following their talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Lei Yang
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly meet with the press following their talks at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua)  China and Kazakhstan are companions on the path to modernization, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here Wednesday when jointly meeting the press with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Noting his talks with Tokayev were amicable, friendly and fruitful, Xi said he and Tokayev signed a joint statement between the two countries.

Xi said he and Tokayev agree that both China and Kazakhstan are at a critical stage of development and revitalization.

The two sides will continue to carry forward the fine tradition of mutual support, deepen political mutual trust, promote the synergy of development strategies, and be solid supporters that can be relied on and trusted by each other, Xi said.

Xi said China and Kazakhstan have set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date.

The two sides agreed to continuously deepen cooperation in such traditional areas as economy, trade, investment, production capacity, interconnectivity and energy, Xi said.

The two sides will also jointly foster new growth points for cooperation in critical minerals, new energy, scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, digital economy and other fields, Xi said.

Xi said the Chinese side will hold China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025.

The Chinese side has also decided to open the second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country, he said, adding that the two sides will expand cooperation in such fields as media, think tanks, as well as films and television, and encourage more sistership among provinces and cities of the two countries.

The two sides have pledged to continue working closely in international affairs and strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the China-Central Asia mechanism as well as other multilateral frameworks, he said.

Xi said that China and Kazakhstan have agreed to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, three key initiatives proposed by China.

China supports Kazakhstan in joining BRICS cooperation mechanism, playing the role of a "middle power" on the international stage and making its due contribution to global governance, Xi said.

For his part, Tokayev said that Xi's visit has special historical significance and will be a new starting point to promote the Kazakhstan-China relations to a higher level.

China is a friendly neighbor and a permanent comprehensive strategic partner of Kazakhstan, Tokayev said, adding that the Kazakhstan-China relations have always been based on mutual respect and trust and there are no unresolved issues between the two countries.

In history, China has never harmed Kazakhstan's interests, and the friendship between the two peoples is unbreakable and has been passed down from generation to generation, Tokayev said.

China is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and the most important foreign investor country, and the investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises have effectively promoted the national development of Kazakhstan, Tokayev said.

Stressing Kazakhstan's commitment to continuously strengthening all-round friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, Tokayev said the country welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in Kazakhstan and will provide all necessary and favorable conditions for them.

Upholding the principles of peaceful diplomacy, Kazakhstan and China share similar positions on many international and regional issues, said Tokayev, adding that Kazakhstan is ready to enhance communication and collaboration with China within multilateral frameworks like the China-Central Asia mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, among others.

Friendship is the common asset of Kazakhstan and China, which is more precious than gold, Tokayev said. Kazakhstan looks forward to making joint efforts with China to achieve greater accomplishments in Kazakhstan-China relations in a new "golden 30 years."

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Lei Yang
In this combo photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly attend an opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian international transportation route via video link at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu, Zhai Jianlan]

ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua)  In a major step aimed at bolstering connectivity and cooperation, visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Wednesday attended the opening ceremonies of one transportation project and several cultural exchange facilities.

These projects, poised to enhance both bilateral and regional connectivity, highlight the two countries' commitment to strengthening ties, and evoke the region's illustrious history as a crossroads of trade and culture.

New Road Transport Route for Enhanced Connectivity

According to an estimation by the World Economic Forum, 90 percent of global traded goods are shipped by ocean. Land-locked countries, however, do not have the opportunities for this cheaper form of trade.

As the largest land-locked country in the world, Kazakhstan has transcended its geographical limitation through extensive development of its transportation network. A crucial aspect of this transformation into a "land-linked" country is its Belt and Road cooperation with China.

On Wednesday, the two heads of state presided over the opening ceremony of a road transport route to a Caspian Sea port via video link, bolstering Kazakhstan's efforts to improve its connectivity.

Though named "sea," the Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, surrounded by Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Over the past few years, Kazakhstan has been modernizing its ports, crucial components of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).

The TITR begins at China's port of Lianyungang and runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and on to European countries. Gaidar Abdikerimov, secretary-general of the TITR International Association, noted that the route has become a vital artery for transporting goods from Southeast Asia and China to Europe.

Before the debut of Chinese trucks utilizing a road transport route to reach the Caspian Sea on Wednesday, China-Europe freight trains originating from China and crossing the Caspian Sea had already maintained seamless operations for two years.

Now, a comprehensive, multi-dimensional network integrating road, rail, air, and pipeline transportation has been established.

Noting that it was in Kazakhstan in September 2013 that Xi first proposed the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Abdikerimov said that "this strongly inspired us and we are a significant part of the BRI."

After more than a decade of development, the BRI has proven its feasibility and significantly impacted the development of the TITR, he said.

Increased Cultural Exchange Facilities for Better Ties

In parallel with infrastructure developments, China and Kazakhstan on Wednesday enhanced "soft connectivity" through new cultural and educational projects.

Apart from attending the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Center in Astana and the Kazakh Culture Center in Beijing, the two heads of state also unveiled here the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU).

Noting that Tokayev studied Chinese at BLCU from 1983 to 1984, BLCU's President Duan Peng called the Kazakh leader "a brand ambassador for Chinese language and culture education at BLCU."

Last October, when Tokayev visited his Chinese alma mater, he once again expressed his "sincere love for the Chinese people," said Duan, adding that it was during that visit, Tokayev endorsed the proposal to establish a branch of the university in Kazakhstan.

According to Duan, the Kazakhstan branch will welcome its first cohort of 100 students this September, and the new branch plans to expand to a capacity of 800 students over the next five years, serving the entire Central Asia region.

Interest in the new school has been high, with numerous inquiries pouring in. For these new students, who will be Tokayev's "new alumni," Duan had this message: "We look forward to your successful studies here, making good friends, learning the Chinese language and culture well, and becoming bridges for the exchange and mutual learning between civilizations."

Given the extensive shared border and the deepening partnership between China and Kazakhstan, particularly in transportation and logistics, there is a rapidly increasing demand in Kazakhstan for professionals proficient in Chinese, said Irsaliev Serik Aztaevich, president of Astana International University, where the BLCU Kazakhstan branch is located.

The new branch will focus on training high-level Kazakh-Chinese interpreters, with plans to expand its scope to train multilingual translators for the entire Central Asian region, he said, adding that Kazakhstan's demand for highly skilled professionals fluent in Chinese is growing swiftly.

Emphasizing that young people are the inheritors of China-Kazakhstan friendship from generation to generation, Xi, in his meeting with Tokayev on Wednesday, called for the two countries to give full play to the role of the culture centers and the Kazakhstan Branch of BLCU.

He urged these institutions to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen public support for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China's Commitment to Regional Connectivity

Xi 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 (SCO).

"President Xi's visit to Astana for the SCO summit is of significant importance and influence, because it underscores China's commitment to regional cooperation," said Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of Kazakhstan's China Studies Center.

"It (The visit) enhances diplomatic ties, promotes economic cooperation, and strengthens the unity and effectiveness of the SCO," she said.

"President Xi's presence at the summit highlights China's vision for a more interconnected and prosperous region," Shaimergenova concluded.

China's commitment to enhancing connectivity extends beyond its bilateral relations with Kazakhstan. Under the BRI, China is spearheading numerous infrastructure projects across Central Asia for win-win cooperation and common prosperity across the region.

A prime example is the agreement on constructing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, reached in early June. Once completed, this railway will significantly shorten the time required to transport Central Asian products to major global markets. It will also facilitate the integration of Central Asia into global industrial and supply chains, thereby boosting regional development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev jointly unveil the nameplates of Astana China culture center, Beijing Kazakhstan culture center, and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University, at the presidential palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Lei Yang
CRRC releases world's first report on carbon footprint of pure electric locomotives

16:07, July 04, 2024 By Li Xinping ( People's Daily

Chinese state-owned and publicly traded rolling stock manufacturer China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) on June 28 launched seven new energy locomotives, which come in three power configurations - hybrid powered by both diesel and electricity, power battery only and hydrogen fuel cell.

The series of locomotives feature low emission, low noise and high efficiency. They offer an effective solution to the high fuel consumption, high emission and high noise issues faced by old-fashioned diesel-powered locomotives.

New energy locomotives launched by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). (Photo from the public account of CRRC on WeChat)

Besides, CRRC released the world's first report on the carbon footprint of pure electric locomotives, which was reviewed by authoritative international organizations and awarded the ISO 14067 carbon footprint verification.

The report accurately calculates the trajectories of carbon dioxide emissions of new energy locomotives throughout their entire lifecycle - from raw iron ore to being recycled after 30 years of service, using a combination of real-world scenarios and modeling techniques, said Wang Feifei, deputy head of the green and low-carbon development group of the CRRC development transformation office.

The report measures carbon emissions in the manufacturing of every screw, nut, as well as major components such as the bodies, wheelsets, and bogies, the acquisition of raw materials, and general assembly.

According to the information obtained, the calculation involved over 97,000 data points, all derived from real-world scenarios, providing an accurate reflection of the products' manufacturing process. For emission factors that were difficult to directly obtain, background data from internationally authoritative databases were used.

The final verification showed that the carbon footprint of a 1,000 kW hybrid locomotive powered by both diesel and electricity is 7.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer, and that of a 1,000 kW pure electric locomotive is 7.92 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilometer.

An analysis of carbon emissions at various stages of locomotive production reveals that the operational phase has the most significant impact on a product's carbon footprint during the entire lifecycle.

Over a 30-year operational period, a pure electric locomotive with a 1,000-ton capacity, running on green electricity at 40 percent of standard operational speed, can reduce its carbon footprint by 94.2 percent compared to traditional locomotives, cutting carbon emissions by 4,076 tons. For a hybrid locomotive using both diesel and electricity under the same conditions, the reductions would be 61.7 percent and 2,735 tons, respectively.

It is learned that key components of the new energy locomotive series adopt lightweight designs. The traction motor's weight has been reduced by 22.5 percent, and that of the bogie by 6.7 percent. Steel structures in the driver's cab have been reduced by 40 percent, and those of the underframe by 70 percent. This has effectively lowered carbon emissions in raw material acquisition, as well as component production and transportation.

A 1,000 kW new energy locomotive is assembled in a workshop of CRRC Ziyang Co., Ltd. in southwest China's Sichuan province. (Photo from the public account of CRRC on WeChat)

"Moreover, we maximized the use of green electricity in the manufacturing process, with green power accounting for over 20 percent of our electricity consumption. This enabled us to achieve about a 52 percent reduction in carbon footprint during manufacturing and maintenance phases compared to the models being replaced," Wang said.

"In the future, as manufacturing companies further expand their photovoltaic power generation, this percentage will continue to increase," Wang added.

In addition to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, the new energy locomotive series also excel in reducing pollutant emissions.

According to statistics, the diesel-power battery hybrid locomotive can achieve a 45 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides, a 73 percent reduction in hydrocarbons, and an 83 percent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions.

With a 45 percent reduction in pollutants, each locomotive can reduce harmful substance emissions by 4 tons and carbon emissions by 374 tons annually.

Adopting an optimal hybrid power control technology, the hybrid locomotive can ensure that the diesel engine always operates at its most economical speed. When pulling a 3,000-ton load on a straight track with a full tank of fuel, this locomotive can travel over 1,100 kilometers - 1.7 times the range of traditional diesel-powered locomotives - with a fuel efficiency improvement of over 45 percent.

The pure electric locomotive launched this time is compatible with various types of charging piles, with charging power exceeding 870 kW. The shortest charging time is less than 40 minutes, and the locomotive can operate in a wide temperature range from minus 40 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius.

For the hydrogen fuel cell locomotive, refueling takes only 10 to 15 minutes, which effectively ensures operational capability and range. Its energy utilization efficiency is over 80 percent higher compared to traditional diesel-powered locomotives.

"This series of new energy locomotives will generate huge and diverse demands for new energy products, and drive the development of upstream industries such as basic materials and key components," said Tian Jun, chief engineer of the National Railway Administration and director of the administration's equipment supervision and management department.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua)  China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations with the future of the country and the well-being of its people in mind, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

During Mirziyoyev's successful state visit to China in January, China and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point, Xi said, noting the development of bilateral relations have ushered in a new stage.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi said, adding China is speeding up Chinese modernization, and Uzbekistan is also comprehensively advancing the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy.

The goal of both sides is very grand but also simple, which is to deliver a better life for their people, Xi said.

Noting that China firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security, Xi said China is always a trustworthy friend and partner of Uzbekistan.

He urged the two sides to further advance the Belt and Road cooperation, well implement the medium- and long-term cooperation plan on economy, trade and investment, speed up the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as well as cooperation in fields of photovoltaic, wind power and new energy vehicles, and continue to strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction and social governance.

China supports the expansion of exchanges between the two countries at the sub-national level, as well as exchanges in tourism, education and other fields, he said, noting China welcomes Uzbekistan's participation in the seventh China International Import Expo as the guest country of honor.

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to speed up the implementation of the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit held in the city of Xi'an, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and ensure that the SCO always develops in a direction that serves the common interests of all parties, Xi said.

For his part, Mirziyoyev said the two sides jointly announced in Beijing to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in January, which opened a new era of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Under the wise leadership of President Xi, China has successfully coped with various risks and challenges and made world-leading achievements in the fields of economy, science and technology, he said.

Mirziyoyev expressed his congratulations and wished the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee a complete success.

Uzbekistan firmly abides by the one-China principle and resolutely combats the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, he said.

Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to be each other's reliable friend and partner, continue to respect, understand and support each other, and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields to achieve more fruitful results, Mirziyoyev said.

He said Uzbekistan is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the China-Central Asia mechanism, the SCO, as well as other multilateral frameworks.

Uzbekistan is ready to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by Xi, Mirziyoyev said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Lei Yang
Israels imperialist-backed genocide on the Palestinians of Gaza has now continued relentlessly for almost nine months. The official death toll of close to 38,000 is widely considered to be a massive undercount, with many thousands more likely buried under the rubble created by US-supplied 2,000-pound bombs or simply not registered in the fatality records of Gazas collapsing social infrastructure.

This horrific war crime, without precedent since the barbarism of the Second World War, has driven millions of people around the world onto the streets to protest. Canada has witnessed protests by hundreds of thousands across the country, including a series of large demonstrations in Ontario. In response, the Toronto Police launched a massive police operation to intimidate protestors and suppress any opposition to the Canadian ruling elites complicity in the US-backed slaughter.

A portion of the anti-genocide protest in Toronto on March 24, 2024.

This campaign of repression, detailed in an investigation by The Breach, has been carried out at the behest of and in direct coordination with the trade union and NDP-backed Trudeau Liberal government, the ardent Zionists of the hard-right Tory provincial government of Doug Ford, and the Toronto City Council, led by its ostensibly progressive mayor, Olivia Chow. As Trudeau slandered anti-Gaza genocide protestorsmany of them themselves Jewishas anti-Semitic, and Ford fulminated against what he called hate rallies, the Toronto police began a wave of arrests, pre-dawn raids, and trumped-up charges under the codename Project Resolute.

Toronto Police Chief Myron Demkiw, in direct consultation with the Prime Minister and prominent supporters of Israel in the Toronto elite, has personally led this operation. According to a police source cited by the Breach, the unit leading Project Resolute set up a fully-integrated intelligence sharing model, through which they receive information from the RCMPs Integrated National Security Enforcement Team and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), Canadas premier spy agency.

The smearing of opposition to Israeli war crimes as antisemitism in order to justify state repression against the growing anti-war movement among workers and youth is an international phenomenon. In Germany, France, the UK, and above all the United States, the radicalizing movement against the genocide in Gaza has been met with slander, police violence, and threats from the extreme right.

Like their international counterparts, the Canadian ruling class can tolerate no opposition to its support of the genocidal Netanyahu regime and its steadfast alliance with US imperialism. The police reign of terror against anti-genocide protesters in Canadas largest city, blatantly violating their freedom of expression and assembly and setting new precedents for criminalizing dissent, is in service of this imperialist consensus.

Toronto Police Hate Crimes Unit launches Project Resolute

In the immediate aftermath of the October 7 attack seized upon by Israel to begin its assault on Gaza, Toronto Police Chief Demkiw tweeted that he was closely monitoring the events in Israel with deep concern. The Toronto Police is not aware of any threats to Jewish communities in Toronto; however, we have increased our presence and visibility to ensure the safety of our Jewish communities and all residents.

Shortly thereafter, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chowthe widow of former NDP leader Jack Layton and prominent ally of left union bureaucrats like Ontario Federation of Labour President Laura Walton and OPSEU President J.P. Hornickput forward a motion to City Council directing the Toronto Police to create community safety zones, aligned with their predetermined areas of critical infrastructure and potential targets inclusive of areas surrounding places of worship and cultural and religious daycares and schools. Top staff from Mayor Chows office, along with the deputy mayor and the strident pro-Israel City Councillor James Pasternak subsequently met with the Toronto Police Hate Crimes Unit.

Though Chows motion to City Council cynically claimed to condemn both Antisemitism and Islamophobia, the Toronto Police immediately closed ranks with the pro-Israel political establishment. Chief Demkiw and the senior officials of the Hate Crimes Unit participated in a town hall meeting organized by the ardently pro-Zionist United Jewish Appeal. Already preparing to smear pro-Palestinian demonstrations as antisemitic, Chief Demkiw told the town hall that We will not tolerate hate, intimidation, or violence we know theres going to be a number of demonstrations going on. These are all events that we are very much staying on top of.

A similar promised town hall to address the threat of hate crimes against Torontos Muslim community never happened.

The Hate Crimes Unit was given command of this new policing operation, Project Resolute. It received a massive influx of funds and expanded from 6 officers to 32. Explicitly targeting the demonstrations against the Israeli onslaught in Gaza, the units mandate was expanded to include the investigation of any occurrence generated as a result of protests and/or demonstrations related to the Middle East conflict. Built into the foundations of this operation was the false accusation that participation in a protest against the genocide in Gaza was evidence of a hate-based motivation for any alleged crime.

The subsequent wave of police repression, including pre-dawn raids on the houses of protesters, surveillance of and attempts to infiltrate activist groups and anti-democratic bans on demonstrations, received critical political and legal support from the hard-right Conservative government of Doug Ford.

A secretive committee of Crown prosecutors in the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, the Hate Crimes Working Group, has worked closely with Toronto Police in its campaign to suppress opposition to the genocide in Gaza. As The Breach expose documents, members of the working group ostensibly set up to advise police on hate-related cases, have intervened in numerous cases to push the police leading Operation Resolute to bring more severe charges against, and impose more restrictive conditions on those they have arrested.

Reflecting the influence of pro-Israeli political forces within the Ford government, the committee is riddled with outspoken Zionists. The co-chair of the Hate Crimes Working Group, Crown Prosecutor Karen Shai, studied at the Hebrew University and told reporters that her love for and commitment to the state of Israel was further deepened by my time there. Another member of the committee, Rochelle Direnfeld, has repeatedly described pro-Palestinian activists as terrorists and gave a presentation titled Leveraging Criminal Law for Critical Action to a pro-Israeli group called Lawyers Combating Antisemitism.

The trumped-up charges they have worked with Toronto Police to lay, however, have in many cases fallen apart when subject to the slightest legal scrutiny.

The Hate-Related Frame-up of the Peace 11

In November 2023, after activists covered the flagship Indigo Bookstore in Toronto with posters and red paint to protest the bellicose pro-Israel actions of CEO Heather Reisman, Toronto Police arrested 11 people and charged them with mischief. While a police press release declared the protest was treated as a suspected hate-motivated offense, no official hate crimes charges were brought. This did not prevent the right-wing press from whipping itself into a frenzy, libelously accusing the protesters of antisemitism on the sole grounds that Reisman and her husband, billionaire venture capitalist, Gerry Schwartz, are Jewish.

November 30, 2023 protest against the prosecution and persecution of the "Peace 11." [Photo: SURJ Toronto]

In 2005, Reisman and Schwartz established a charity, the HESEG Foundation, to provide financial support and free tuition for so-called lone soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These are people who, although not Israeli citizens or having family in Israel, have served in the IDF and who want to remain in the country after their service. In just 2021-22, the foundation provided approximately $12 million in financial support to such lone soldiers.

Due to Reismans support for the IDF through HESEG, Indigo has been a target of protest for more than 15 years by supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. The posters which were placed on the Indigo bookstore included Reismans headshot and text which accused her of funding genocide.

According to a police source cited by The Breach, CEO Reisman made a direct call to Chief Demkiw the same day that protesters placed posters on the Indigo bookstore.

The Hate Crimes Unit then began a two-week-long investigation, with ten officers working full-time to gather evidence on the activists who had postered the bookstore. In the pre-dawn no-knock raids that followed on November 22, more than 50 police officers and a canine unit were mobilized. They knocked doors off their hinges, handcuffed family members of their targets, ransacked their homes and arrested people in bed.

While interrogating one of the accused the next day, a police officer claimed that they had been monitoring the activist group No One is Illegal, to which several of those arrested belonged, gloating that we were watching you. Four of the eleven arrested, including three faculty members at York University, were suspended from their jobs, while more lost work and many were subject to harassment and threats of violence from the frothing extreme right.

The Indigo CEO again spoke to police in late November, according to a source cited by The Breach, after which police announced a new charge of criminal harassmentthe maximum penalty for which is 10 years in prisonagainst each of the accused.

Despite the furor stoked up by the corporate press around this alleged hate-motivated crime, the charges against the eleven protesters have since fallen apart. The case has faced numerous procedural delays, as prosecutors have not yet provided key documents justifying the search warrants used by police to carry out the night raids. In May, the Crown dropped all charges against four of the accused, citing no reasonable prospect of conviction. A lawyer for one of the defendants said that prosecutors had presented not a scintilla of evidence to support the allegations of hate motivation.

Trudeau gives his blessing to ban protests on the Avenue Road overpass

The campaign of police violence and legal intimidation continued into the new year with the explicit blessing of Canadas political elite, including the Prime Minister himself. In January 2024, Toronto Police banned demonstrations on the Avenue Road bridge over Highway 401, which had been a site of recurring protests. This police restriction on the right to free assembly, in the words of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, sets a dangerous precedent.

Though police justified the ban by claiming the demonstrators were distracting drivers and posed a risk to public safety, the overpass protests had been repeatedly denounced by pro-Israel groups as antisemitic due to the sites proximity to an historically Jewish neighbourhood.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, shortly after his Liberal government came to power in Nov. 2015. [Photo: Twitter/Trudeau]

The day before the Toronto Police declared its ban on the Avenue Road protests, Police Chief Demkiw met with Prime Minister Trudeau to discuss the increase in antisemitic incidents in the city. When asked by reporters about the results of this meeting, Trudeau said only that the federal government doesnt have any line of command over the decisions taken by the Ontario and Toronto police.

The day after police declared the ban on protests, three demonstrators were arrested on the Avenue Road overpass, charged with mischief and obstructing police. One of those arrested that day, Cyrus Reynolds, a young construction worker, told reporters that he was approached by a detective from the intelligence unit and urged to become an informant. In exchange for the dates and locations of upcoming demonstrations, the detective promised to help with his charges. Undoubtedly, these attempts by the Toronto Police to infiltrate and disrupt activist groups are widespread. Reynolds told the officer there was no way he would become an informant.

Project Resolute intimidates York University professor, targets protest organizers

As the whole Canadian political establishment united to denounce Gaza genocide protesters as antisemitic, police acts of intimidation against those opposed to the Israeli genocide in Gaza grew ever more brazen.

At York University in February, where students in the Sociology Department had walked out to protest the suspension of faculty members in the Peace 11, two uniformed police officers entered a classroom before a lecture by Palestinian scholar Muhannad Ayyash. When asked their purpose, the police officers replied that they had been called by the university to address a possible protest and major event.

This, however, was a lie. According to an investigation by The Breach, York administrators later told a select group of professors that the police had been alerted by a special intelligence unit. Clearly, the police intelligence unit guiding Project Resolute is monitoring academic activity in Torontos universities, alongside the mass demonstrations and activist groups, for any opposition to Canada imperialisms alliance with Israel.

In the case of several activists arrested in April 2024 for participating in a non-violent sit-in at the Toronto office of the investment firm Awz Ventures, police have sought to literally silence prominent pro-Palestinian activists.

Former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a leading partner and the chair of the advisory board for Awz Ventures, which specializes in funding Israeli security and intelligence start-ups. Among other investments, the firm funded and controls the Israeli company that developed the facial recognition technology being used by the Israeli military to conduct mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza.

Harper, who was among the loudest defenders of Israel while in office, has promoted Awz Ventures in Israeli media outlets and has said that the company is a chance to continue what I did in government.

Activists, among them members of the Jews Say No to Genocide coalition, conducted a peaceful sit-in of the Awz office in February 2024 to expose Canadian complicity in Israeli war crimes. No arrests were made at the time. Months later, plain clothes police officers identified one of the protesters at a street demonstration, then followed her, grabbed her arm, knocked her phone from her hands, and declared her under arrest.

I remember saying, You cant do that, thats assault, she wrote in a statement. The person grabbing my arm and a few other people surrounded my sister and I and pulled badges out of their clothes, informing us that they were cops and that I was under arrest.

Two other participants in the sit-in were forced to turn themselves in to police that same day. Before their release, Toronto police forced all three to sign papers accepting conditions that flagrantly violate their democratic rights, including one that prevents them from using a device that amplifies their voice when attending a protest, vigil, or demonstration.

In the coordinated campaign of police repression carried out in Toronto, with the full support of the political elite from the Ford Conservatives to the Trudeau Liberals, and their backers in the union bureaucracy and the NDP, workers and youth confront the true face of Canadian imperialism. Heaping slanderous accusations of antisemitism on demonstrators rightly horrified by the mass civilian deaths and suffering in Gaza, the ruling class justifies police violence and restrictions to basic democratic rights, such as free expression and assembly, that it purports to uphold.

Appeals to these same politicians to end their support of Israeli war crimes fall on deaf ears. The genocide in Gaza is a critical part of the unfolding global conflict whereby Washington and its allies, including Canadas imperialist ruling class, are striving to revive the moribund, crisis-ridden capitalist system by asserting global dominance and re-partitioning the world. They are waging a proxy war on Russia in Ukraine, using Israel to establish unbridled domination over the Middle East, and strategically and militarily encircling China in the Indo-Pacific. The only social force that can challenge the death-spiral of imperialism, which has normalized genocidal slaughter in Palestine and threatens the existence of humanity with nuclear war, is a revolutionary movement of the international working class.
The genome of SARS-CoV-2 demonstrates it has a natural origin, whether we ever find the original virus in a wild population of animals or not. The misinformation being spread, and the scientists being vilified, over gain-of-function research has no basis in reality. A lot of scientists are, and have been for a few years now, in a very dangerous spot due to proponents of the lab leak hypothesis, as they are being accused of creating an accident that started the COVID-19 pandemic when in fact they were the proverbial firefighters working to extinguish it. Its time to replace our conspiratorial fears with scientific truths, and to invest resources where they belong: in scientists who work to understand the Universe as it is, and to help humanity cope with the cold, hard reality that we all face. Ethan Siegel, No, gain of function research did not cause COVID-19, June 6, 2024

If, as the data suggest, virus emergence was associated with the wildlife trade, fur farming, or both, then this aspect of the human-animal interface, including its live animal market endpoint, should at the very least be better regulated, if not prohibited. Indeed, wildlife farming has been associated with high virus biodiversity and frequent cross-species transmission. Unless we change how we interact with wildlife, another pandemicperhaps more substantial than COVID-19is inevitable. Edward Holmes, The emergence and evolution of SARS-CoV-2, April 2, 2024, Annual Review of Virology

The recent hearings before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on the origins of COVID-19 showed that the fringe conspiracy theory about the deadly virus being manufactured secretly in a Chinese laboratory has become the official narrative of a US-led anti-science witch-hunt.

The smear campaign against the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the scientists from the United States who were collaborating with it in vital research emerged early in the course of the COVID pandemic. It was initiated by expatriate Chinese anti-communists, promoted by the fascistic Steve Bannon, and spread widely through the racist diatribes of former President Trump.

It has now come full circle as a political weapon to be used against anyone who propounds the origin story (universally accepted by reputable scientists) that SARS-CoV-2 emerged naturally, through a zoonotic transfer from wildlife to human beings.

Four photos taken surreptitiously at the Huanan market in Wuhan, in the section where live animals were available for sale. This is the likely starting point of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo by Michael Worobey, Edward Holmes, et al.]

As US imperialism beats the war drums and places China in its sights, it has ever more forcefully employed the authority of the state to legitimize the lab leak lie for the purposes of fomenting hatred and mistrust against its adversary. As part of this, its most strident anti-China warriors have effectively demanded that scientific institutions align their work with the requirements of the military-intelligence apparatus.

This powerful pressure has already produced results, as seen by the grudging or full-throated endorsements of the lab leak theory by those who certainly know better. Dr. Francis Collins, former director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who was instrumental in organizing the initial work on COVID and had previously denied the lab leak theory, now calls it plausible.

At the committees May 16, 2024, hearing, NIH Deputy Director Lawrence Tabak offered up his atonement for initially rejecting the lab leak claims in replying to the question, Did NIH fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology through EcoHealth Alliance? He answered, it depends on your definition of gain-of-function research. If youre speaking about the generic term, yes, we did.

The gain-of-function hysteria

As we shall see, gain-of-function is a term with a precise meaning in scientific research in the field of virology, which has been shamelessly distorted both by the ultra-right and their liberal media allies, like the New York Times. The term should be used only to describe research that takes a virus already dangerous to human beings and investigates what possible mutations could make it more dangerous, in order to avert such dangers.

But in the parlance of the corporate media and the fascist right, any research that investigates how viruses adapt to their environment to increase infectiousness or lethalityregardless of the species of the hostis declared to be gain-of-function research and portrayed as a form of biological warfare. So Chinas investigations of bat coronaviruses which have never affected human beings or even other mammals, become a sinister plot against the United States, and the entire human race (although the Chinese were the first victims of SARS-CoV-2!)

EcoHealth Alliance, a US-based nonprofit group that has played a leading role for decades in investigating viruses and developing scientific understanding of how to protect humanity from those which are pathogenic, has become the first major target of the McCarthyite witch-hunting spearheaded by the House committee, with the collaboration of the Biden administration.

Dr. Peter Daszak testifying before the witch-hunt subcommittee. [Photo: C-Span]

The admissions extracted by the committee from Collins and Tabak are completely erroneous and only provided ammunition to the unsubstantiated claims that the work done between EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology was nefarious and malicious. In fact, the longstanding collaboration between these institutions has been extremely productive and developed the scientific understanding of how the evolution of pathogens, in conjunction with human activity, creates the conditions for zoonotic jumps into human populations as seen in the emergence of a series of pandemic events, including SARS, MERS, bird flu and COVID-19.

The NIH has defined gain-of-function research as research that will create new viral strains with enhanced transmissibility or virulence for viruses that are already likely highly transmissible and likely capable of wide and uncontrollable spread in human populations, and likely highly virulent and likely to cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans. Precisely because the work conducted by EcoHealth Alliance and WIV was done with bat coronaviruses that have never been shown to infect humans, let alone cause significant harm to people, it was not gain-of-function.

As Dr. Anthony Fauci has repeatedly testified, no gain-of-function work has been done by EcoHealth Alliance and no such work was granted approval by the NIH. No evidence to the contrary has ever been provided, only biased and unsupported opinions. But Fauci too, acting here as more the politician than a scientist, offered up his own confession that he was now keeping an open mind on the lab leak theory. He also agreed, most likely on advice from his attorneys and the Biden administration, that EcoHealths federal grants should be suspended, accepting the lies advanced by the Republicans and not demanding a plausible rationale for such severe action.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a hearing by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, June 3, 2024. [AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite]

The suspension of EcoHealth Alliances grants for critical research into potential pathogens could actually make another dangerous pandemic more likely. And the calls for debarment and even criminal prosecution of the groups president, Dr. Peter Daszak, can only be characterized as the preparation for a political show trial. The accusations and insults hurled at Dr. Daszak during his appearance before the House committee, without a shred of evidence of any wrongdoings or attempts to cover up the work conducted by his organization, amount to a political inquisition.

One must ask, what has EcoHealth or Dr. Daszak done to incur the wrath of the entire subcommittee panel, Democrats and Republicans, and face such dire consequences? The accusations are that he and his organization engaged in gain-of-function research with the WIV, using American taxpayer funds, which led to the COVID pandemic. The committee members also cited the letter published in The Lancet in February 2020 defending the WIV and attacking the conspiracy theory that was just then gaining official backing. Additionally, committee members vitriolically denounced the particular study showing considerable zoonotic jumps between SARS-like viruses and local human populations, without explaining their objection to their findings.

International collaboration in science

EcoHealth Alliance has been conducting research into a broad array of pathogens from across the globe for more than 50 years. Under Daszaks leadership for the past two decades plus, the group has conducted numerous critical research studies with hundreds of articles that have been published in leading journals. Precisely because of the complexity of international cooperation needed to make such studies possible, the work conducted by EcoHealth involves complex geopolitical relationships and places them under the subcommittees scrutiny and, therefore, a target of the inquisition.

Economist Jeffrey Sachs testified before the subcommittee on March 6, 2023, demonstrating his complete lack of understanding of the rules and regulations regarding research with viruses, but providing much of the foundation for the false assertions used by the subcommittee members against EcoHealth. In response, Daszak explained that the work and results of the research conducted by his organization and the WIV were available to the public and shared in annual reports, numerous communications and in peer-reviewed journals. Daszak wrote:

The methods and results from this collaborative research were conducted with full knowledge of the funding agency, and EHA routinely shared all unpublished data from its research in China with the NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases program office in progress reports, as required by the regular process for NIH oversight of grantee activities. Genetic sequences relevant to our bat coronavirus research were routinely deposited with NIHs GenBank database, making them publicly available. Even after the EHAs R01 grant covering the work in China was terminated in April 2020, EHA continued to file annual reports with the NIH to provide unpublished data. In addition, EHA submitted analyses of our NIH-supported work for publication in leading international peer-reviewed journals, including results of genetic recombination experiments with bat coronaviruses that were made public years before the emergence of COVID-19. Those dozens of publications have been the principal way that EHA made the results of our research in China available to the scientific community for independent analysis and review.

One study singled out for attention by the House committee claimed that a virus under study by EcoHealth had demonstrated enhanced growth and represented a clear and present danger. But those familiar with the study pointed out that these involved bat viruses, engineered to affect mice, but not known to ever have affected humans.

Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist with the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan, told the Intercept that the experiment had not met the threshold for characterizing them as gain-of-function research, since they involved non-human species. You cant predict that these viruses would be more pathogenic, or even pathogenic at all in people, she said. They also did not study transmissibility at all in these experiments.

An even more farfetched claim involves a proposal submitted by EcoHealth for Project DEFUSE to the Biological Technologies Office of DARPA on March 24, 2018. The 3.5-year project, with the cost estimated at $14.2 million, was rejected not because of concerns over the nature of the project but because of the expense. The proposal was to find SARS-like bat viruses found in the wild and reverse engineer spike proteins onto them (work to be done in Dr. Ralph Barics BSL-3 lab in North Carolina) to determine which ones were evolving into potential pandemic pathogens, and then to develop targeted vaccines against these viruses.

The project never went beyond a proposal, nor had the Wuhan Institute of Virology ever engaged in such work or ever possessed a virus remotely close to SARS-CoV-2 according to anyone familiar with their research and extant publications. And one would not utilize a virus they had never previously worked with. That did not stop the subcommittee members from making false assertions that the proposal was a first draft of what the WIV allegedly did to engineer the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic.

Besides the big lie of helping create SARS-CoV-2, subcommittee members claimed that EcoHealth delayed submission of annual reports, and was a poor steward of taxpayers monies. These claims are trivialin the tens of thousands of dollars over an eight-year period covered by an audit by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services. Most of the discrepancies were caused by changes in federal rules, and one report found that NIH actually owed money to EcoHealth. The sole purpose was to throw mud at the group and hope something would stick.

The purpose of these hearings is not to address the truth or falsehood of these allegations. Rather, the big lie is given political legitimacy by the state apparatus and can then be used through the media as a means to sway the population at large.

Yet, after four years of the COVID-19 pandemic, not one shred of evidence on a lab-leak origin has been produced by any principled scientist who has taken the question seriously. On the contrary, evidence in support of a natural origin has continued to accumulate on a weekly basis including epidemiologic, forensic and zoonotic information that SARS-like and SARS-2-like bat viruses are common in Southeast Asia, and the robust wildlife trade in the region contributed to the development of the COVID pandemic.

The US intelligence agencies are well-practiced in the art of forgery and disseminating black propaganda. They have spent considerable taxpayer dollars attempting to unearth any possible lead in promoting the false claim that the virus that causes COVID emerged out of the laboratories of the Wuhan Institute of Virology. But they have been unable to substantiate these patently false allegations.

In June 2023, despite some erroneous speculations and unverifiable sound sources, they concluded, The National Intelligence Council and four other intelligence community agencies assess[ed] that the initial human infection with SARS-CoV-2 most likely was caused by natural exposure to an infected animal that carried SARS-CoV-2 or a close progenitor, a virus that probably would be more than 99 percent similar to SARS-CoV-2. They also noted, Almost all intelligence community agencies assess[ed] that SAR-CoV-2 was not genetically engineered. Most agencies assess[ed] that SARS-CoV-2 was not laboratory-adapted  All intelligence community agencies assess[ed] that SARS-CoV-2 was not developed as a biological weapon.

That the Wuhan Lab conspiracy has acquired the status of a political litmus test was made more evident with the recent deliberate attack on Dr. Peter Hotez, dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor college of Medicine in Texas. He is also the author of the recent book, The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science, chronicling the real fascistic and reactionary development among various social layers. Hotez, who had called the parading [of] prominent virologists in front of C-SPAN cameras to humiliate them as absolutely atrocious and is going to have long-term detrimental effects on science, bio-preparedness and virology, has been ensnared into this political nightmare.

Dr. Peter Hotez, Dean of the Baylor College of Medicine National School of Tropical Medicine [Photo: Agapito Sanchez, Baylor College of Medicine]

Although Hotez has nothing directly to do with the investigations into the origins of COVID-19, he has been accused publicly of complicity by the subcommittee in a social media tweet that will only further expose him to the far-right fascistic elements that have repeatedly threatened him with violence for his principled stand against misinformation and anti-science demagogy. Philipp Markolin, whose exhaustive summary of the science behind COVID, published in April 2024, Treacherous Ancestry: an extraordinary hunt for the ghosts of SARS-CoV-2, said of the attack on Hotez, The message is crystal clear. Speak up against us and our political myth making, and we will publicly smear and punish you with the power of the state.

Indeed, the coalition of Republican politicians with their Democratic accomplices across the aisle, in promoting the lab leak lie, is of crucial political significance. Rather than addressing the urgent scientific issues and lessons learned from the ongoing pandemic to better safeguard the worlds population against the threat of another deadly pathogen, the congressional hearings harken back to the anti-communist witch-hunts conducted by then FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, members of the House Un-American Activities Committee and Senator Joseph McCarthy.

The Times joins the smear campaign

Most reminiscent of the McCarthy witch-hunt has been the filthy role of the liberal media, particularly the New York Times. On the day Anthony Fauci was to testify before the subcommittee, the Times published, in the form of an opinion piece, a hack job by conspiracy theorist Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at the Broad Institute and author of the thoroughly discredited book, Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, which regurgitates the same nonsensical claims.

The timing of the report, with its false patina of scientific expertise, was deliberate and politically motivated. However much the production value, the commentary cant hide the stink of the lies it continues to advance without a shred of evidence to back up its discredited assertions. It completely avoids the science that has been amassed to support the natural origin of COVID, while claiming that there is no strong evidence that demonstrates COVID-19 came from an animal at the Huanan market when, in fact, there was extensive wildlife DNA with the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signatures.

Chans claims were subjected to a withering critique by Dr. David Gorski, an American surgical oncologist at Wayne State University School of Medicine, in the journal Science-Based Medicine. Laurence Moran also made good use of his pen to warn readers about the outrageous claims made by Chan and the Times. Moran also had previously commented, The researchers at WIV are highly respected international experts on virology, especially coronaviruses. They published in the best international journals. Since they all deny that they were working with SARS-CoV-2 before the pandemic, the lab leak hypothesis absolutely requires that several hundred researchers are lying and covering up the fact that the virus leaked from their labs. In other words, a conspiracy is an essential part of the lab leak conspiracy theory.

In the present context, it bears quoting evolutionary biologist and virologist Dr. Edward Holmes April 2024 review on the emergence and evolution of SARS-CoV-2. He wrote:

The allegation that SARS-CoV-2 escaped from a research laboratory comes in a wide variety of often mutually exclusive forms, from a willfully engineered bioweapon to an accident during genetic engineering or a routine laboratory procedure and even to a worker infected during bat fieldwork. Whether such an escape is deliberate or accidental, the laboratory in question almost certainly must have known that an incident had occurred, such that their denial necessarily indicates a cover-up. Although the laboratory leak allegation may at first seem appealing, particularly the coincidence of SARS-CoV-2 first appearing in a city with a large laboratory working on bat coronaviruses, closer inspection reveals that any supposed evidence for a lab leak is at best circumstantial. Obvious evidence against the laboratory leak allegation is that the first documented cases of COVID-19 were not linked to the WIV nor in the same geographic region of Wuhan. The WIV laboratory of Professor Zhengli Shi, who has been the subject of abundant accusations because of her work on bat coronaviruses, is located more than 30 kilometers from the Huanan market epicenter. Clearly, if the virus first emerged at the WIV, then the location should be the site of at least some of the earliest cases or linked to those cases. It is not.

The Times would have been well aware of Holmes recent comprehensive report and all the ones preceding it, including the still-relevant Proximal Origins of SARS-COV-2 by Kristian Andersen and colleagues that the subcommittee had attempted to discredit. They would have also taken notice of the numerous critical reports deriding Chans failure to address these in any honest manner and, instead, obfuscate the truth. Simply put, Chan only gets one thing right, and that is that the pandemic started in Wuhan.

But instead of inviting Holmes, Daszak, Andersen or Michael Worobey to offer a countervailing opinion and address the flaws in Chans hypothesis, the Times David Leonhardt doubled down on Chans lies in the newspapers Morning newsletter. He offered perhaps the stupidest and most simplistic argument for the lab leak lie, that because the WIV was located in Wuhan, and the pandemic broke out in Wuhan, the two must be connected. All this makes a mockery of science.

A sufficient rebuttal is provided two years before this wretched piece of sophistry, in a study by Shi, Daszak and colleagues from August 2022 published in Nature. Their findings revealed a high diversity of SARS-related coronaviruses across a large geographic swath that includes southern China, northeastern Myanmar, Laos, and northern Vietnam. Their modeling estimated that around 66,000 people are infected with SARS-related coronaviruses each year.

It has been estimated that around 300 million people in these regions are at risk, and that the wild animal live-trade involved an estimated 14 million people as of 2016. Given these facts, a natural origin zoonotic spillover, rather than a handful of scientists working at a high-level security facility accidentally leaking the virus, is a far more likely explanation. Aside from the fact that all early cases centered around the Huanan market, there is no evidence that anyone at the WIV ever contracted COVID in this period. And had they, the epidemiological map would have been a far different one than has been revealed.

Aside from the recognition that all the recent pandemics of the modern era have occurred between people and animal interfaces which considerably raises the threat posed by H5N1 in US dairy farms, there has never been a pandemic that was ignited by a lab leak in modern history. Moreover, of the 55 lab incidents noted by Wikipedia since 2001, 18 occurred in the US.

Daszak is on record that the scientists working at the WIV are some of the worlds best and highly disciplined and principled. Independent investigations into biosafety issues have not demonstrated any lapses, despite attempts by the likes of ProPublica and Vanity Fair to disparage efforts by the Chinese to advance their research capacity on such critical areas of investigation. Their experiences with SARS in 2002 and with influenza outbreaks, all due to the wild animal trade, necessitated such work. One cannot overstate that international collaboration is equally vital for Chinese researchers as it is for all scientists engaged in such work.

Peter Daszak and Shi Zhengli [Photo by EcoHealth Alliance]

Dr. Zhengli Shi of the WIV, who continues to work tirelessly on these questions, wrote in an August 2021 article in a French scientific journal, From SARS and MERS to COVID-19: a journey to understanding bat coronaviruses, Some species of bat coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV and MERSr-CoV, have a high genetic diversity and wide distribution. In addition, these bat coronaviruses have the particularity of using, for interspecific transmission, molecules present on the surface of human or other animal cells as receptors. This would make it easier to cross the species barrier. With the rise of global economic development, increased urbanization, the development of extensive agriculture and climate change, wild lands are gradually being invaded, which increases the possibilities of contact between wildlife and humans and the risks of contagion by viruses carried by wild animals.

Shi continued, First, we should increase our knowledge of potentially unknown pathogens found in nature. Second, there is a need to better understand the factors that cause emerging infectious diseases. Third, it is important to monitor the entire chain of transmission of a pathogen that may potentially be responsible for an emerging infectious disease. To achieve these goals, elements of basic research including the discovery of viruses and the development of diagnostic methods, the assessment of potential risks of interspecific infection of wildlife-borne viruses, pathogen ecology, screening of a broad spectrum of antiviral drugs and pilot studies on vaccines need to be implemented over the long term. Last but not least, all countries must work together to combat current and future emerging infectious diseases, sharing all their scientific data without any restrictions. [Emphasis added]

On February 19, 2020, in defense of Shi and Chinese scientists, Daszak and other scientists penned an important and prescient letter in The Lancet. They wrote:

The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumors and misinformation around its origins. We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. Scientists from multiple countries have published and analyzed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging pathogens. This is further supported by a letter from the presidents of the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and by the scientific communities they represent. Conspiracy theories do nothing but create fear, rumors, and prejudice that jeopardize our global collaboration in the fight against this virus. We support the call from the Director-General of WHO to promote scientific evidence and unity over misinformation and conjecture. We want you, the science and health professionals of China, to know that we stand with you in your fight against this virus.

Principled scientists and researchers are being subjected to the diktats of the state. Their work and livelihood are under threat simply for allowing their scientific inquiry to lead them to correct answers and deepening their understanding. It is the international working class that must come to their defense. And it is vital for scientists interested in the defense of their work to turn to the working class and engage in the struggle for an international socialist perspective.
The United States has put its military bases at the second-highest level of alert ahead of next weeks NATO summit in Washington, which is expected to see a significant escalation of direct NATO participation in the war against Russia in Ukraine.

Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 30, 2024. [Photo: Air Force]

While US officials refused to explain the heightened alert status on the record, the New York Times reported, citing US officials, that the move was in response to threats from the Kremlin over Ukraines use of long-range weapons on Russian territory.

The Times wrote that Military bases, which provide training, intelligence, and other support for Ukraine, could be a logical subsequent target.

In April, the Biden administration began supplying Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles, which have a 300-kilometer (186-mile) range, while claiming they would not be used for strikes inside Russia itself.

Last month, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan asserted that the US is allowing Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike anywhere inside Russian territory.

Behind the scenes, CNN reported last month that the United States is moving to lift a ban on military contractors working directly inside Ukraine on US military contracts. CNN reported that Allowing experienced, US government-funded American contractors to maintain a presence in Ukraine means they will be able to help fix damaged, high-value equipment much faster.

The clear implication of the move, however, is that not only would American citizens be working to repair equipment inside Ukraine, but the move could open the door for mercenaries in the direct employment of the US military to be deployed to combat zones.

On Wednesday, the United States announced that it would send another $2.3 billion in weapons to Ukraine. In a statement Wednesday, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said that the package includes missiles for Ukraines air defense systems, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery, rocket systems, artillery rounds, and other critical capabilities.

She added, As President Biden has been clear, we are committed to continuing to stand with Ukraine until they prevail against Russian aggression.

The Pentagon said that this is the fifth military arms package for Ukraine since Congress passed and Biden signed a $95 billion supplemental military spending package in April, which included $61 billion in weapons for Ukraine.

Announcing the package, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, Make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone, and the United States will never waver in our support.  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 current defense alert, known as Charlie, is the highest level of readiness at military bases outside of direct engagement in military conflict.

Commenting on the move, Admiral James Stavridis, the former commander of NATO, wrote on X, I commanded dozens of major bases in Europe for 4 years as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO & Commander, US European Command. We had plenty of scares, but nothing that required this level of alert. Clearly, there is deep concern, and that is consistent with everything I can see.

The leaders of the NATO countries will be arriving in Washington next week amid deepening political crises wracking the imperialist powers. French President Emmanuel Macron has suffered a devastating setback in last weekends elections with a concluding round on Sunday, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is on track for a similar fate in the British elections Thursday. US President Joe Biden, in the wake of a disastrous debate performance last week which exposed his senility, is facing increasing calls from members of his own party and the media to step down.

Regardless, the NATO powers are committed to escalating their involvement in the war. The summit is expected to extend a bridge to NATO membership to Ukraine, as the US-led alliance takes an increasingly direct role in the war.

In a press briefing, Pentagon Spokesman Pat Ryder said the goals of the summit will include ensuring the implementation of new NATO plans for credible deterrence and defense, enhancing long-term support for Ukraine, and fostering its future NATO membership.

In a discussion published by the Carnegie Endowment think tank, Eric Ciaramella, a former CIA officer and National Security Council staffer, said that the upcoming summit institutionalizes, through NATO, some of the mechanisms of long-term support for Ukraine that Ukraines partners, led by the United States, stood up very quickly after Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

He added, Theres been this multilateral venue called the Ramstein Group, or the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, that the United States has led. This group of NATO allies, as well as a few dozen other countries around the world, has sought to mobilize military assistance for Ukraine. Thats been a mechanism to help the Ukrainians get what they need right now. Theres been a shift over the past six to twelve months to start thinking about how we plan for the future. So what the allies have started to discuss is how to move some of this ad hoc planning into longer-term formats, with NATO playing a little bit more of an organizing function.
The Supreme Courts decision in Trump v. United States is the most far-reaching and reactionary decision in the history of the upper court. It will go down in history as the Counter-Revolution of July 1, 2024.

The Supreme Court, Washington. [AP Photo/Alex Brandon]

Unlimited power has been given to the president to violate the Constitution and break any law whenever he decides to. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor concluded in her dissent, the presidential activities now immune from prosecution could include instances when the president orders the military to assassinate a political rival, launches a military coup to hold onto power, and accepts a bribe in exchange for a pardon.

In a separate dissent, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson underlined that crimes up to and including murder may fall within the realm of official duty. The question before the Court, she wrote, was not whether the President could fire the Attorney General, but whether the President has the option to remove the Attorney General by, say, poisoning him to death.

The president can now order the Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, or military personnel to slaughter political enemies by the hundreds, as Adolf Hitler did on the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, and he will not be held legally accountable.

Issued days before the Independence Day holiday, two years shy of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Republic, the decision guts the American constitutional framework, including core republican principles such as the separation of powers, the rule of law, and popular sovereignty. Trump v. United States legitimizes, de facto and de jure, an uncontrolled presidential dictatorship. It explicitly raises the chief executive above the reach of the law whenever he or she claims to be acting in an official capacity.

Much of the media attempt to console themselves and chloroform the people by claiming that the Supreme Court decision leaves open the possibility that the personal crimes of the president may not be immune. But what is personal and what is official, the ruling makes clear, will be left to the discretion of the president. At most, presidential crimes might be reviewed after the fact by courts handicapped by the new decision, although the review could be preempted by the president by ordering the assassination of the judges assigned to undertake the review. Already Donald Trump has sought, and been awarded, a reprieve from his conviction in New York for hush money election tampering arising from allegations of a personal affair.

The decision, in any case, goes far beyond Trump. The awesome powers arrogated by the Court are invested not in an individual but in an office. Regardless of who the president is, the occupant of the White House will have at his or her disposal dictatorial powers. Such power is clearly immanent in the Courts decision. The official action in question, after all, was Trumps secretive organization of a coup detat on January 6, 2021, to overturn the results of his election defeat, and thereby to suspend the Constitution.

If a fascist insurrection falls within the official duties of the presidency, then there is nothing that does not.

The Supreme Court has issued its verdict. It finds that the American President is above the law. A permanent state of dictatorial rule surrounds the occupant of the White House, akin to the authority the fascist states of the last century concentrated in Mussolini and Hitler. Acting within official duties, there is nothing the president cannot do.

But the working class has not yet delivered its verdict.

Today, workers in their tens of millions will celebrate the Fourth of July. It may not be commonly known, however, that the holiday marks the ratification of the revolutionary manifesto The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and not the severing of ties with Great Britain, which took place through the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776. It is crucial that workers and youth familiarize themselves with the Declaration, which has much to say about the threat of dictatorship now posed by the Supreme Court.

John Trumbull's painting, "Declaration of Independence," depicting the drafting committee presenting their work to the Continental Congress. Jefferson is in the middle, Franklin to his right, and Adams to his left.

Drafted in Philadelphia by a committee that included Thomas Jefferson, the principal author, and Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, the document begins by stating that a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires an explanation be submitted to a candid world for the causes of the revolution, which had been underway for a year. What follows may well be the most revolutionary statement in world historyin all of its vast and explosive implications as potent today as it was in 1776: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.

Jefferson then lays out the axioms of what has come to be known as the American theory or republican theory of government. States do not grant people rights. People are born with unalienable rightsrights that precede the existence of governments. Governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed and not an iota more. Indeed, states may justly exist insofar as they uphold these rights; this is why they are instituted among Men.

From there, the Declaration asserts the right to revolution whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends. In what could be read as a warning to todays Supreme Court and other citadels of conspiratorial power, Jefferson tells us that the right to revolution is reached when a long train of abuses and usurpations evinces a design to put the people under absolute Despotism. At such a moment, it becomes not only the right of the people, but their duty to throw off such Government.

The Declaration of Independence, facsimile of the original

The Declaration was the culmination of a protracted development in human thought whose origins trace to the Enlightenment and its challenges to the divinely sanctioned feudal order. But no one could have expected in 1763, amidst the jubilation at Great Britains triumph over France in the Seven Years War, that little more than a decade later a revolution based on the principle of human equality would rend the Empire.

What had changed? It was the long train of abuses that the Declaration described that readied popular consciousness for revolution. The Revolution, John Adams later wrote to Jefferson, was in the Minds of the People, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen Years before a drop of blood was drawn at Lexington.

The last obstacle in cutting the path to the minds of the people was removed with Tom Paines Common Sense, issued in January 1776. Until that stage of the Imperial Crisis, the colonists fought out the ideological component of the struggle with England over the question of representation within the Empire. They had, by 1775, arrived at the conclusion that a rupture with Parliament was necessary. But they were not yet ready to break with the King. Many imagined a devolved American realm with a separate parliament, but with the King as head of state, an idea that anticipated the reactionary Commonwealth theory of Empire later foisted upon the South Asians, Canadians and Australians.

Tom Paine, portrait by Laurent Dabos, c. 1792

Paine trained his fire on the King and royal authority in general. An English immigrant, a worker and a radical deista corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclinationPaine had arrived in Philadelphia in 1774 with the help of Franklin. After little more than a year he had produced Common Sense. Allaying fears of a government without a monarch, Paine indicted the idea of a king above the law, in words that could be equally leveled against todays Supreme Court:

But where, say some, is the King of America? Ill tell you, friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Great Britain [L]et a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve of monarchy, that in America the law is king.

Common Sense hit with meteoric force, saturating the population with revolutionary ideas. It is estimated that 100,000 copies were sold in the first two months, and 500,000 by the end of 1776. An equivalent manifesto in the US today would need to be distributed to the tune of 60 million copiesperfectly realizable given the great technological advances in the profusion of the written word since Paines time. Common Sense prepared the way for the Declaration, which was distributed even more widely and was read aloud to the Continental Army and state militias to volleys of celebratory gun fire throughout July, 1776.

Copy of the original cover of Common Sense

Behind the Declarations revolutionary principles the War for Independence was waged and ultimately won in 1783and at a very high cost. As a share of the population, more Americans died in this war than in all others but the Second American Revolution, the Civil War. But the question of how the Americans would govern themselves remained.

Prevailing thought held that in every existing government there must be an ultimate and indivisible repository of sovereignty. The monarchical system that had ruled Europe for a millennium found this ultimate sovereign in the King, whether that was the King-in-Parliament system of Britain, or the absolutist monarchies of France, Austria, Spain and Russia. Moreover, even in republican theory it was held that, because of the indivisibility of sovereignty, republics had to be small, such as those of Holland and the Italian city-states.

The British Tories homed in on this weakness of the American argument. They derisively challenged the former colonials: In which of the thirteen new states will sovereignty reside? Who, in each, will be sovereign? The Americans, after much struggle, delivered their answer in the opening phrase of the Constitution: We the people The people were sovereign, not the president, not the courts, not the elected representatives, not even the Constitutionfor, as Lincoln later pointed out, the Constitution itself was predated and formed by the people, acting on the Declaration of Independence.

In its time, this was a revolutionary doctrine.

Of course, the immense overgrowth of ideology of the first bourgeois-democratic revolutions cloaked class motives such that they were obscure even to participants. The propertied classes imagined they spoke for the people in drafting the Constitution of 1787.

In 1789, their French equivalents spoke for the nation. Everywhere the bourgeois republican ideology declared equality, fraternity, and the rights of man. Yet the revolutions invariably substituted new forms of class domination for old. Marx and Engels developed scientific socialism through the most searching analysis and withering criticismeconomic, historical and politicalof this new capitalist order, revealing the explosive contradiction between its declarations of equality and the actual existence of brutal exploitation, including chattel slavery, which led to the Second American Revolution, the Civil War.

The American Constitution, facsimile of the original

Though the Constitution concealed class dominationor, better said, precisely because it didit proved an effective framework for bourgeois democracy. It is a remarkable fact that even in the depths of the Civil Warin which some 750,000 American diedLincoln scrupulously sought to uphold the Constitution. This is why, for example, he did not simply order the freeing of the slaves, invoking instead special powers as commander-in-chief of the Army in war to issue the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, a decision that continues to befuddle racialist theories of history.

Within a half-century of Lincolns assassination, the office of the presidency had begun to assume its modern, imperial form. Presidents from William McKinley down orchestrated the expansion of an American Empire that negated consent of the governed for peoples all over the world. In the United States, they deployed the military to break strikes and fanned out police spies to hound radical opponents.

The forerunner of the FBI, a domestic police force under the president whose founding purpose was to pursue socialists and militant workers, was created in 1908. In 1947, President Harry Truman founded the CIA and tasked it with subverting revolution all over the world. By the 1960s, President Johnson could say that with the CIA his predecessor, President Kennedy, had been running a damn murder Inc. from the White House. The American President now sat atop a sprawling repressive apparatus, prompting President Eisenhower to warn in his farewell address of 1961, that

the conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influenceeconomic, political, even spiritualis felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications.

The half-century decline of American capitalism that began in the 1970s and that brings us to the present has been dominated by the malignant growth of social inequality, which is increasingly incompatible with democratic forms of rule. The presidency, in this time, came to play two inextricably fused roles. First, as the cockpit of global imperialist counterrevolution. And second, as the seat of conspiracy against the rights of the people. During this time the imperial presidency has operated ever more openly and ruthlessly.

President Reagan faced no punishment for the Iran-Contra scandal, in which a secret funding operation of Central American death squads was run out of the White House in contravention of a Congressional law. President George W. Bush invoked the theory of the unitary executive to wage the so-called War on Terror, which, his administration claimed, permitted it to organize the forced disappearance of suspects in an international gulag of torture prisons, including at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. President Obama asserted in 2010 the chief executives prerogative to carry out assassinations of citizens he declares to be enemy combatants (a precedent cited favorably by Amy Coney Barrett in her concurring opinion in Trump.) President Trump, in 2020, openly boasted of ordering the assassination of an American protester, Michael Reinoehl, in Washington state.

Prisoners of "the War on Terror" at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in 2002. According to the Bush administration, the inmates were subject to neither the Constitution nor the Geneva Convention.

Again and again the courts have acquiesced to the aggrandizement of the power of the presidency. But never before Mondays ruling has such a brazen assault on the Constitution been mounted by the very august body supposedly tasked with upholding it.

A Rubicon has been crossed. Under conditions in which an oligarchy of 1,000 billionaires controls the vast bulk of societys wealth, the Supreme Court now rules, in effect, that a presidential dictatorship is necessary to carry out the policies of the American ruling class: war and social counter-revolution.

The American Constitution is the oldest written constitution in the world; the American republic the oldest continuously existing republic in the world. It is a development of immense revolutionary implications that the American ruling class takes a wrecking ball to the edifice from which it has governed for nearly 250 years.

Yet, as fundamental for class rule as the founding documents of the United States have beenthe Declaration of Independence, celebrated today, as well as the Constitution and the Bill of Rightsit will prove still more important that they have contributed to a deep-seated democratic-mindedness in the American working class. The defense of basic democratic rights, inextricably bound up with the struggle against imperialist war, now falls to the working class. Only the working class has both the interest and the means to defend democracy.

The British parliamentarian Edmund Burke said of the Americans in 1775 that they snuff the approach of tyranny in every tainted breeze. Today, tyranny arrives not in breezes, but in gale force winds. After 250 years, American workers must rediscover their revolutionary traditions.

The republican system in the United States was the progressive and revolutionary response to the centuries of dynastic civil war and religious conflict that accompanied the rise of the modern world in Europe. It was made possible by the extraordinary social and technological developments accompanying the rise of capitalism, which dissolved and melted into air the social forms of the medieval world.

Today, the world is witnessing the most rapid and explosive technological change in all of human history, which creates the conditions for the elimination of all the problems that have plagued mankind since the dawn of history: social inequality, class oppression, war, poverty, disease, and all other forms of social barbarism. Capitalism is responding to these progressive and revolutionary social trends by vomiting up the undigested barbarism of the ages: It asserts war, dictatorship, and mass death to be its highest principles.

It is the task of the working class to free the fundamentally progressive and revolutionary changes in the structure of society from the shackles put upon them by capitalist barbarism. This Fourth of July, it is clearer than ever that the workers are the true inheritors of the American Revolution, and that their task is the reassertion of the Declaration that all men are created equal through the socialist revolution.
This past Monday in Illinois, Republican and Democratic Party-linked operatives filed last-minute objectors petitions with the Illinois State Board of Elections in an attempt to block third party and independent candidates from appearing on the presidential ballot this November. If the challenges are successful, some 9.1 million registered voters in Illinois will only have the choice of voting for embattled, war-mongering President Joe Biden or fascistic would-be dictator Donald Trump for US president this November.

Voting booths in Spencer Elementary Technology Academy in Chicago, Tuesday, March 19, 2024. [AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh]

The joint objections underscore that neither the Democratic nor Republican Party want to give workers and youth disgusted with unending war, inequality and the political domination of the financial oligarchy any choice this November. The ongoing bipartisan assault on the right of third party and independent candidates to appear on the ballot exemplifies the disdain the two big business parties have for the democratic rights of the entire population.

The challenge against far-right independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Green Party nominee for president Dr. Jill Stein was filed by operatives with Clear Choice Action. The Biden-aligned group has already filed numerous challenges against third parties in multiple states, including against Cornel West in North Carolina and RFK Jr. in New York. (The West campaign did not file a petition to appear on the ballot in Illinois.)

In its objection filed in New York last month, Clear Choice alleged that some 102,000 out of the more than 146,000 signatures submitted by the Kennedy campaign were invalid. New York state law requires independent and third party candidates to submit 45,000 signatures.

In its Illinois challenge against RFK Jr., Clear Choice is seeking to strike almost 66,487 signatures out of the 85,509 signatures the campaign submitted to the secretary of state, leaving the RFK Jr. campaign with only 19,022 valid signatures. In order to achieve ballot access in the state, presidential candidates this year are required to gather and submit a minimum of 25,000 signatures from registered voters.

In their Illinois objectors petition, operatives for Clear Choice alleged that thousands of signatures submitted by the Kennedy campaign were forged, incomplete or otherwise incorrect. The group alleged that the campaign itself had found that more than 22 percent of the signatures gathered were invalid.

Third party candidates Randall Terry (Constitution Party), Robert F. Kennedy Jr., (We The People Party), Cornel West (Justice For All Party). [Photo: Constitution Party, Gage Skidmore, Justice For All Party]

The petition also claims that Kennedy put as his residence a home in Katonah, New York, when he actually lives in Los Angeles, California.

The Illinois State Board of Elections will hold a hearing on July 9 at which representatives from Clear Choice and the Kennedy campaign will present their evidence. After that, the board will give a full report on its findings on August 23.

In challenging the Stein petition, Clear Choice lawyers claimed the petition only included 9,000 valid signatures, well below the 25,000 threshold. The objection also targeted Green Party vice presidential candidate Samson Kpadenou.

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. [AP Photo/Matt Rourke]

In an email to this reporter, Jason Call, campaign manager for Stein, wrote:

Democrats stated back in March they intended to hamper us from getting on the ballot wherever and however they can. They have filed a challenge in Illinois where we submitted signatures on June 24th. We submitted signatures in Indiana on July 1 and in Washington today, July 3. We expect they will file similar injunctions in those states, and in any of the couple dozen remaining states where we expect to submit petitions.

We will meet these challenges as our resources will allow, but the challenges will cost us financially, even if we are successful.

Seeking to circumvent the costly and burdensome petitioning process, on Wednesday, the Kennedy campaign announced it had struck a deal with the Colorado Libertarian Party to appear on its ballot line, supplanting Chase Oliver as the nominee of the party.

Appealing to rapacious business interests, in an interview with the Denver Post, Hannah Goodman, chair of the Libertarian Party of Colorado, said Kennedy took the groups liberty pledge prior to accepting the nomination. The Post noted Kennedy had worked to embrace the partys principles related to economic privatization.

While Democratic-aligned groups are seeking to block any left-wing or independent challenge to the Democratic nominee, Republican operatives are likewise filing objections to block right-wing challengers to their candidates. The same day Clear Choice operatives targeted RFK Jr. and Stein, a paid Republican staffer filed objectors petitions against ultra-right Constitution Party candidate Randall Terry and Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party.

The Chicago Tribune reported that the challenges against Terry and Oliver were filed by Jeff Fielder. The Tribune noted that Fielder has been a paid staffer for the Chicago Republican Party.

This reporter reached out to the Kennedy and West campaigns for comment on the Democratic and Republican Partys gang-up on third parties. As of this writing, none have responded.

In a statement issued last month, Socialist Equality Party candidate for US president, Joseph Kishore, denounced efforts to keep Jill Stein and other third party candidates off the ballot. Kishore wrote that the defense of democratic rights is impossible without addressing the root cause of dictatorship: the concentration of staggering sums of money in the hands of a small fraction of the population.

The campaign of Kishore and his running mate Jerry White is currently gathering signatures to appear on the ballot in several states, including Michigan.
Follow the Socialist Equality Party (UK) election campaign here.

Joseph Kishore and Thomas Scripps visited the grave of Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery, London this week.

Kishore is the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States and the SEPs candidate for president in the US elections this year. He visited the UK to speak at the British SEPs election rally on Sunday June 30.

Scripps is the SEPs general election candidate for the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras, standing against leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer.

The pair recorded a short video explaining the significance of Marxs ideas today.

***

Im Tom Scripps, the Socialist Equality Party candidate for Holborn and St Pancras in Britains general election.

And Im Joseph Kishore, the Socialist Equality Party candidate for president in the United States.

We are here at the grave of the great socialist and working class leader Karl Marx, in Highgate cemetery, London. Marx died on March 14, 1883, 141 years ago. The relevance of his life and work, however, is more clear and urgent today than ever before.

Marxs lifelong collaborator, Engels, in his speech at the grave of Marx, delivered on March 17, 1883, explained that Marx had uncovered the basic laws of human development and the specific laws of capitalist society. This included the theory of surplus value, which explains the origins of profit in the exploitation of the working class.

Marx was a scientist and a materialist philosopher, but he was, Engels explained, before all else a revolutionist. His real mission in life was to contribute, in one way or another, to the overthrow of capitalist society and of the state institutions which it had brought into being, to contribute to the liberation of the modern proletariat, which he was the first to make conscious of its own position and its needs, conscious of the conditions of its emancipation.

Marx, the man, died 141 years ago. Marxism, however, has continued to evolve in the struggle within the international working class to develop the programme, perspective and practice of world socialist revolution. The continuity of Marxism lies in the history of the Trotskyist movement and the Fourth International, established by Trotsky in 1938, in opposition to the Stalinist bureaucracy, whose betrayals had led to catastrophic defeats. Trotskyism is the Marxism of the 20th and the 21st century.

Marx wrote at the early stages of capitalism. We are at the end of it. He lived at a time when he could send greetings to Lincoln as the representative of rising bourgeois democracy. Today, the United States is the cockpit of global imperialist war and the centre of a global descent into barbarism. Global war threatens nuclear annihilation, and genocide has once again entered the political vocabulary. The ruling class is turning to fascism and dictatorship. The levels of social inequality and capitalist exploitation are unfathomable.

As Marx understood, however, capitalism produces its own gravediggers. The international working class is not only an oppressed class, it is a revolutionary class. United and conscious of its interests, the working class is the most powerful force on the planet.

The central task is, as Engels explained, to make the working class conscious of its own position and its needs, conscious of the conditions of its emancipation.

This means building a socialist and revolutionary leadership, grounded in Marxism and the immense experiences of the international working class since his death. It means the rebuilding of a worldwide socialist movement, which can only take place under the leadership of the Fourth International.

The Socialist Equality Party in the US and the UK, and the International Committee of the Fourth International throughout the world, have immense confidence that workers will succeed in throwing off the shackles of capitalist oppression and establishing the basis for a society based on equality.

In the coming years, the words of the Communist Manifesto will once again be inscribed upon the banner of great struggles throughout the world: Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains.

Follow the Socialist Equality Party (UK) election campaign here.
The Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe made a statement to parliament last month condemning the Supreme Court, the countrys highest court, and accusing it of practicing judicial cannibalism.

Ranil Wickremesinghe [Photo: United National Party Facebook]

Wickremesinghe made his scathing remarks on June 18 after a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the governments Gender Equality Bill as a whole was inconsistent with the Constitution. As a result, the bill cannot be enacted without a two-thirds special parliamentary majority as well as approval at a referendum.

The president declared the decision was a perverse determination which parliament should not follow. He called for a parliamentary select committee to be appointed, claiming the ruling violates the powers of parliament under the constitution.

A parliamentary select committee has the power to summon and question persons and report back to parliament to act upon its findings. Wickremesinghe said he did not propose hauling judges before a select committee, but it would nevertheless have wide powers to consider what should be done with the legislation.

The bill was presented by the Minister of Women, Child Affairs and Social Empowerment on May 9 to parliament, which sent it to the Supreme Court to determine its constitutionality.

The bills stated objective is to establish and facilitate gender equality principles in making social, economic, political, cultural and technological policies, and to ensure that every person enjoys, without discrimination based on sex or gender identity, the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

Further, it aimed at the elimination of systemic and structural causes of gender inequality and gender-based discrimination and taking measures to redress disadvantage, marginalisation, sexism, stigma.

The legislation triggered strong opposition from Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists, who claimed the bill was against the countrys culture and the morals and family values and urged it be ruled unconstitutional. It would allow same-sex marriage and even permit lesbians and gays to apply for jobs in Pirivena (education institutions mainly for Buddhist priests).

All Ceylon Buddhist Congress President Nimal Wakishta told the media that, if enacted, the bill would promote LGBTQ rights and transgender rights compromising local culture, ethos and values.

Cultura Vitae, a Catholic organisation dedicated to combating abortion and prostitution worldwide, opposed the legislation, declaring it would erode the sanctity of marriage and family values.

The Supreme Court fell into line with these communalist layers, declaring that the bill as a whole was inconsistent with various articles of the constitution, particularly that referring to the protection of Buddhism.

The de-criminalisation of homosexual relationships and recognition of same-sex marriages would have significant cultural and moral implications to the present moral fabric of Sri Lankan society. It would be contrary to the accepted moral and cultural standards in our Nation at present. They would be inconsistent with Buddhism and other religious practices, it declared.

The ruling underscores the reactionary nature of the Sri Lankan constitution that dominates every aspect of the state and political establishment. The 1972 constitution recognises Sinhala as the official language and Buddhism as the foremost religion, effectively reducing minority communities, especially Tamils, to second-class citizens.

Since formal independence from British imperialism in 1948, successive Sri Lankan governments exploited discrimination against Tamils and other ethnic and religious communities, invoking the supremacy of the majority Sinhalese-Buddhist population to divide the working class and prop up bourgeois rule.

Blatant ethnic discrimination and pogroms erupted in a bloody communal war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1983 that only ended in 2009 and that resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of Tamil civilians.

Wickremesinghe himself has a long history of fully backing Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism and anti-Tamil discrimination, repression and war. During the public discussion of the Gender Equality Bill, he uttered not a word against the reactionary campaign waged by Sinhala and Catholic groups.

His support for the bill is not out of sympathy for democratic rights but is a calculated electoral ploy to mobilise the support of sections of the middle class campaigning for feminist rights and same-sex marriage. No one should believe his phony posturing as a democrat as he prepares for the upcoming presidential election.

As part of its defence of the democratic rights of working people, the Socialist Equality Party opposes the vicious campaign by reactionary communal forces and defends the right of women to abortion and an end to discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

Wickremesinghe is exploiting the Supreme Court ruling to erode the independence of the judiciary. He declared that the sovereignty of the people must be upheld, and this sovereignty resides with the parliament and the president, while the judiciary derives its power through the parliament.

Given that the executive presidency already has sweeping powers, the subordination of the judiciary would be another step towards autocratic forms of rule.

Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe denounced the Supreme Court for suspending the powers of the constitutional council and the executive to appoint its judgesan interim order issued in April until October 4 in a fundamental rights case. Are we going to allow this? the minister declared.

The Leader of the House Susil Premajayantha lashed out at the court, saying: We as the legislature can take action on this matter. He pointed to the parliament impeachment of former Chief Justices Neville Samarakoon and Shirani Bandaranayake.

In the early 1980s, President J. R. Jayawardene attempted to intimidate the Supreme Court after it ruled against police officers who had violently attacked peaceful anti-government protesters. The parliamentary impeachment of Chief Justice Samarakoon failed.

However, in 2013, parliament succeeded in impeaching Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake after a Supreme Court bench that she chaired ruled that a bill presented by the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse was unconstitutional.

The current moves against the Supreme Court take place as the Wickremesinghe government ruthlessly implements the severe austerity measures demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The threat of parliamentary impeachment over its latest ruling is just the latest autocratic measure.

Another glaring example was the way the government ignored the Supreme Court determination on the Online Safety Bill, when it bulldozed the legislation through parliament in January without incorporating the recommendations of the highest court.

The bill is a far-reaching attack on basic democratic rights that criminalises anyone who uses social media to voice their opposition to the capitalist system. When it was pointed out that the government was ignoring the Supreme Court ruling, the justice minister claimed that the bill would include amendments, but that never happened.

Wickremesinghes attack on the judiciary comes amid a highly-charged political situation. Protests and strikes involving hundreds of thousands of workers in key sectors have taken place against the IMFs austerity dictates. Wickremesinghe and his government, and for that matter every faction of the political establishment, are well aware that the IMF agenda cannot be imposed democratically or peacefully, and that dictatorial forms of rule are needed.

Every section of the capitalist class and its political parties are haunted by the mass popular uprising of April-May 2022, which ousted then President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his government.

The Bar Association of Sri Lanka condemned Wickremesinghes statement following the Supreme Courts ruling on the Gender Equality Bill, declaring that the executive and legislature should respect the judiciary and allow it to function independently and free from any kind of external pressure.

The Supreme Court, however, is no bastion of democracy. Its decisions have enabled successive governments, including that of President Wickremesinghe, to carry out blatant attacks on the democratic rights of striking workers, university students and others on flimsy grounds. It has issued directives requested by the police to enable them to ban demonstrations and violently suppress protesters.

Likewise, the support of the opposition partiesthe Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramunafor the Supreme Court is not to defend democratic rights. Rather they have fully backed the chauvinist campaign against the Gender Equality Bill.

There is no constituency in any section of the ruling class and the political establishment for the defence of basic democratic and social rights. Only the working class is able to wage a struggle for democratic rights as an integral part of the political fight for its class interests. It can only do so by mobilising independently of every faction of the ruling class, its fake-left hangers-on and trade union lackeys on the basis of a socialist and internationalist program.
The White House and the Biden re-election campaign held a series of crisis meetings Wednesday amid mounting calls from the corporate media and leading Democrats for Biden to withdraw from the presidential election and allow the Democratic Party to nominate an alternative candidate.

The most far-reaching appeal came from The Atlantic magazine, which published an editorial calling not just for Biden to end his candidacy but his presidency as well. The editorial urged Biden to resign and thus allow Vice President Kamala Harris to assume power as his successor. This would also make her the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination and prevent a contested convention next month.

President Joe Biden looks on at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 28, 2024. [AP Photo/Matt Kelley]

The Boston Globe joined the New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Chicago Tribune in urging Biden to withdraw as a candidate for re-election after his disastrous performance in last Thursdays debate with fascist Republican ex-President Donald Trump where he appeared befuddled and unable to complete a sentence, let alone make an argument.

The Globe declared:

Serious questions are now in play about his ability to complete the arduous work of being leader of the free world. Can he negotiate with a hostile Republican Congress, dangerous foreign powers, or even fractious rivals within his own Cabinet? The nations confidence has been shaken.

By nation, of course, the newspaper means the corporate ruling elite.

A second Democratic congressman, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, publicly urged Biden to step aside as the partys nominee, joining Lloyd Doggett of Texas. Three other Democrats have flatly declared that Biden will lose the election, while stopping short of urging him not to run: Jared Golden of Maine and Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, both military combat veterans, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington state.

Reuters reported that a letter from 25 Democratic members of the House of Representatives is now circulating, calling on Biden to end his bid for re-election. Unnamed members said they expected the letter and its list of supporters would not surface until after the Fourth of July holiday weekend and likely with many more names added.

In a conference call with campaign staff, with Harris joining as well, Biden declared that he would not be pushed out of the election. But he offered no way to offset the devastating impact of the nationally televised debacle.

Inside the White House, Chief of Staff Jeffrey Zients held a conference call with the entire presidential staff, although it was entirely one-sided. The call lasted only 10 minutes, Zients took no questions, and he urged all White House employees to keep their heads down and focus on their day-to-day work.

Zients also reportedly held his regular weekly virtual meeting with the members of Bidens cabinet, without either Biden or Harris participating, with little information leaking out except the fact of the meeting itself.

Biden himself was reportedly engaged in a series of phone calls with top Democratic congressional leadersastonishingly, he had apparently not spoken with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, or anyone else in the House or Senate leadership since his disastrous performance in last Thursday nights debate with Trump.

Nor had Biden spoken with a single one of the nearly two dozen Democratic governors, including those in states vital to his re-election campaign, such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and North Carolina. Biden did hold a conference call with all the Democratic governors on Wednesday night, with no details yet available as of this writing.

In its last-ditch efforts to head off the meltdown of Bidens political support, the White House is focusing on his role as commander-in-chief and principal architect of the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine.

At the first formal White House press briefing since last weeks debate, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre began by announcing a significant new security assistance package for Ukraine.

She added:

This announcement is the seventh security assistance package President Biden has authorized to help Ukraine since he signed the national security supplemental in April. It includes missiles for Ukraines air defense systems, ammunition for high mobility artillery, rocket systems, artillery rounds, and other critical capabilities being drawn down from US stocks.

What followed, however, was a barrage of questions about Bidens debate performance, his health, whether he would quit the election campaign or even resign from office. Jean-Pierre replied absolutely not to all such suggestions.

A new round of questions focused on whether Biden would be capable of leading next weeks NATO summit in Washington, marking the 75th anniversary of the US-led military alliance. There were suggestions that major foreign leaders, both antagonists and allies, must be questioning the ability of the United States to maintain its dominance, given the stark decline in the capacities of the American president.

The Democratic/media campaign for Bidens withdrawal has been accompanied by hosannas for his supposed achievements in foreign affairs and domestic policy: A wonderful presidency, too bad about the mental deterioration.

This has been combined with a tentative effort to build up the stature of Vice President Harris, the subject of widespread scorn and derision during the first two years of the administration.

This maneuvering only underscores that for the dominant sections of the capitalist ruling eliteWall Street and the military-intelligence apparatusthe goal is to remedy the evident crisis in its leading personnel without making the slightest change in policy. They do not trust Trump, viewing him as impulsive and ignorant, and unreliable on such vital issues as the war in Ukraine against Russia.

While Bidens personal decline has triggered the present crisis, the underlying causes are far deeper, arising from the fundamental contradictions of capitalism as a world system. Otherwise, how is the sudden concatenation of global crises to be explained: The breakdown of the United States, the fall of the British Tory government after 14 years, the rout of Macron in France by the neo-fascist party of Marine Le Pen, the explosion of mass protests over genocide in Gaza, the crumbling position of the US-NATO puppet regime in Ukraine.

Underlying these political explosions, albeit hardly even referred to in the corporate media, is the steady deterioration in the world financial situation, which is reaching the point where a colossal crisis could break out at any time, dwarfing such episodes as the dot.com crash of 2001, the Wall Street crash of 2008-2009, and the Treasury market freeze triggered by COVID-19 in 2020. By one calculation, global indebtedness has reached $91 trillion, and no government has the resources to bail out the capitalist ruling class in the event of a new financial earthquake on that scale.

As for the United States, its entire institutional stability is being called into question in the wake of the Supreme Court decision issued Monday declaring the US president above the law, a king in all but name. For large sections of the US ruling elite, this decision means that a return of Trump to the White House could threaten them with physical destruction or the prospect of open civil war between states controlled by the opposition party and the quasi-monarch in Washington.

Trump has already been celebrating the court ruling, tweeting, retweeting and liking postings to his Truth Social platform that call for him to use these new powers for the arrest, trial and execution of leading Democrats, from Biden and Harris to Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Gavin Newsom. It should not be forgotten that the last Trump election campaign coincided with the fascist plot to kidnap and murder Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, now touted as a possible stand-in on the Democratic presidential ticket.
In this video, members of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia call for the immediate release of Ukrainian Trotskyist Bogdan Syrotiuk.

The 25-year-old leading member of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists is imprisoned on fraudulent charges of high treason and serving Russian interests, on the basis of his campaign against the US-NATO proxy war against Russia.

In fact, Bogdan is an intransigent opponent of the regimes of both Zelensky and Putin, and the oligarchs whose interests they represent. Bogdan fights for the unification of the working class and youth in Ukraine, Russia and internationally in a struggle against war and its root cause: capitalism.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians have already been slaughtered in the interests of the US and European imperialist powers, which seized on Putins reactionary invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to advance their long-held aim of dismantling Russia and dividing the spoils.

The Australian Labor government has been among the most prominent non-NATO supporters of the war against Russia. It has sent millions of dollars worth of lethal aid and has helped train Ukrainians in Britain, preparing them to be sent off into the meat grinder.

The IYSSE calls on young people in Australia and globally to join the campaign to free Bogdan as part of the fight to defend democratic rights, which are under increasing threat as the ruling elites around the world deepen their militarist agenda.

Share this video on social media and with friends, family, co-workers and classmates. Sign the petition calling for Bogdans freedom at wsws.org/FreeBogdan.

Join the IYSSE and take your place in the fight to end war and the turn to authoritarianism which accompanies it.

Email: iysseaus@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/IYSSEaustralia

Twitter: @IysseA

Instagram: @iysse.aus
The sudden freedom of Julian Assange last week and his return to Australia have greatly agitated former senior intelligence and government figures, along with their mouthpieces in the media.

The response sheds further light on several issues.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange embraces his wife Stella after landing at RAAF air base Fairbairn in Canberra, Australia, Wednesday, June 26 2024 [AP Photo/Rick Rycroft]

Firstly, it demonstrates that the US decision to accede to a plea deal was a substantial backdown, which has angered the American intelligence agencies and their associates internationally. Secondly, it shows that while Assanges freedom is a victory, the assault on democratic rights continues and deepens. And thirdly, it again underscores the fact that Australian officials were politically prejudiced against Assange, conditioning their complicity in his fourteen-year persecution.

Assange had scarcely landed in Australia last week, when Dennis Richardson, the nations former intelligence chief, gave interviews denouncing him and promoting the slanders used to justify the protracted US persecution.

Richardson launched his attack from something of an angle. Under conditions where Assange could have died behind bars, the former official begrudgingly acknowledged that the WikiLeaks founder had been deprived of his liberty for long enough.

Instead, Richardson complained that Assange had received a celebratory welcome. While Richardson specifically referenced a phone call Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made to Assange, it was clear that he was also voicing concern and hostility to the widespread popular support for Assanges release.

The WikiLeaks publisher, Richardson declared on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio, was guilty of a criminal offense in a liberal democracy. Were not talking about a journalist who has been imprisoned on trumped-up charges in China or Russia.

The offence to which Assange pled guilty was receiving and publishing classified information. That is standard journalistic practice. Richardson was implying that national security journalism is an offense, the very position that the US state was seeking to establish with its pursuit of Assange.

Along with being a frontal assault on press freedom, a foundational cornerstone of liberal democracy, the US vendetta against Assange was itself a criminal frame-up. Most notoriously, the American CIA spied on Assanges privileged legal discussions while he was an internationally recognised political refugee, and together with then President Trump discussed assassinating him in 2017.

Having extolled liberal democracy, Richardson struck a discordant note. He favorably referenced the fact that [in] Australia, we jail people who actually leak classified material. This was in contradiction, he indicated, with the welcome for Assange.

Richardson has had a myriad of high-level intelligence and defence postings and is close to the American state. He was director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the domestic spy agency, between 1996 and 2005, before being appointed Australias ambassador to the US. Richardson was later the secretary of the Defence Department, and since his formal retirement has been selected to lead various official reviews and inquiries.

It is unusual for a former intelligence boss to publicly denounce a private individual, which is what Assange now is. Such remarks carry with them an air of menace, given that ASIO, created amid the Cold War, has always been centrally preoccupied with monitoring and disrupting anti-war activists, socialists and dissidents.

Richardsons comments are also notable, because from 2010 to 2012, he was the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). That was the government body that should have aided Assange at the time, as he was being condemned as a terrorist by US government leaders and even threatened with assassination for exposing US war crimes as a journalist.

Richardson, more than a decade on, was essentially repeating the talking points of the Gillard Labor government he served as DFAT head, which slandered Assange as a criminal, threatened to confiscate his passport and pledged to assist the US campaign against him.

Richardsons intervention was followed by a frothing article in the Sydney Morning Herald by George Brandis, Liberal Attorney-General from 2013 to 2017. Brandis too bitterly complained that Assange was being treated as a hero and declared: Of course, the fact that Assange is a criminal is of no concern to his admirers.

Much of Brandis article was a tortured repeat of the US claim that WikiLeaks publications may have resulted in the deaths of informants and others. This was complicated by the US admission in court last week that there were no personal victims of Assange and no evidence that anyone had been physically damaged in any way by WikiLeaks exposures.

Brandis darkly hinted that perhaps there were such victims, though unknown, and then repeated the line of the US Department of Justice that even if no one had been harmed, they could have been.

Most significantly, Brandis menaced: If Assange had committed the same offence against Australian law, he would have been prosecuted under the Criminal Code. His culpability is no less because he committed the same offence against American law. That is not only a defence of the right of the US to charge journalists anywhere in the world, it also signals that sections of the Australian political establishment are themselves committed to the Assange precedent of prosecuting reporters.

Like Richardson, Brandis was another official in a position that meant he was supposed to assist Assange. As Australian high commissioner to the UK until 2022, he claimed to be overseeing consular assistance to the WikiLeaks publisher. The value of such assistance can no doubt be measured by Brandis latest comments.

Going even further with the menacing tone was a Herald article by its international and political editor Peter Hartcher, headlined Assange may be out of jail, but in Australia hes on probation.

Hartcher wrote that Although we havent heard directly from Assange himself yet, Assangeism came into plain view from the very first moments. Assanges clenched fist pumping the air was not a gesture of a contrition or humility; it was a statement of triumphal defiance. Assange had brought with him a movement and a campaign for a full US pardon.

Hartcher contrasted the responsibility of the official press, with the recklessness of WikiLeaks. Hartchers own responsibility has consisted of aggressively promoting the line of war hawks in the US and Australia, who are preparing a conflict with China aimed at assuring the dominance of American imperialism.

For years, Hartcher has been at the forefront of a McCarthyite campaign against Chinese interference, including with a 2016 article that described opponents of the US build-up against Beijing as rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows. Last year, Hartcher co-authored the Red Alert series. Based exclusively on the statements of US and Australian government-funded war hawks, it demanded the stationing of US nuclear weapons in the Northern Territory and the introduction of mass conscription to prepare for conflict with China within several years.

According to the Herald, advocating nuclear war is responsible, exposing massive war crimes is reckless.

Some of the commentaries above noted that while it sought to claim credit for Assanges release, the current Labor government has also struck a note of caution. Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong both extolled national security secrecy laws in their remarks on Assange last week, with Wong pointedly adding: We expect those laws to be observed by all citizens and by all entities.

Labors involvement in Assanges release was a limited one. It never called for the charges against him to be dropped, only suggesting to the US that the case be brought to a close.

Even an ABC article this week promoting Labor as having played a decisive role pointed only to a suggestion by Albanese that Assanges lawyers negotiate with the US Department of Justice. The thought had surely occurred to them before. The suggestion underscored Labors hands-off approach, and the fact that it accepted Assanges liberty to be conditional on a guilty plea.

The attacks on Assange have a desperate and pathetic air to them. They have the character of the intelligence agencies and a compliant press vomiting up all of the slanders against Assange one last time, as a cathartic exercise to cope with the trauma of him being freed.

But they are also a warning that the conditions that gave rise to the massive witch-hunt of Assange, of vast social inequality and global war, not only persist but are deepening. Labor, as it is backing the genocide in Gaza, the US-NATO proxy war against Russia and the plans for conflict with China, is also cracking down on anti-war opposition. In addition to the vilification of opponents of the genocide, that included supporting the imprisonment of whistleblower David McBride in May for exposing Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.

That underscores the importance of the call by the WikiLeaks founders wife Stella Assange for an ongoing fight to defend democratic rights. On X/Twitter, she wrote: Julian Assange is free from prison but the fight for his freedom (and ours!) continues. The actions against him do not just have a chilling effectthey have a freezing effect. We will continue to work to secure greater freedom for Julian and justice for the many abuses against him that chill others.
This is the second and concluding part of a series. Part 1 was published on July 3, 2024

The accommodation between the African National Congress (ANC) and F.W de Klerks government was facilitated by the turn by the Stalinist bureaucracy under President Mikhail Gorbachev towards capitalist restoration and the reintegration of the Soviet Union into the structures of world imperialism.

Not long after Gorbachev came to power, he realised the Soviet Union could no longer afford to back the liberation movements in Africa that had been a feature of the Soviet Cold War policy. In October 1986 at the Reykjavik summit, he told US President Ronald Reagan he wanted to retreat from regional conflicts and called for detente and disengagement.

President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in the East Room of the White House, December 8, 1987 [Photo: White House Photographic Office]

The ANC, as horrified as the white bourgeoisie by the militant protests and strikes of workers and youth in the townships that had erupted outside their control, demobilised the mass movement. It diverted it behind a negotiated programme of democratic reforms that preserved the wealth and property of the international corporations and the countrys white capitalist rulers, ditching all pledges to take the banks, mines and major industries into public ownership and signing secret agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to implement free market policies and open up South Africa to international capital. In the process many of its leaders became very rich, transforming from freedom fighters to government officials determining the awarding of contracts and Black Economic Empowerment partners of the major corporations.

Like its counterparts throughout Africa and the Middle East, the ANC could provide no solutions to the social and economic problems confronting the working class and peasantry within the framework of capitalism. Its only response to steeply escalating social tensions is repression, arrests and the lethal crushing of protests and strikes by the police.

Today, multimillionaire President Cyril Ramaphosa, once leader of the National Union of Mineworkers and now the infamous butcher of Marikana miners, presides over a country mired in poverty and crime. At one pole the top 0.01 percent of people, just 3,500 individuals, own about 15 percent of all the wealth and the top 0.1 percent own 25 percent of the wealth. At the other poverty was estimated by the World Bank at 62 percent in 2023, with 47 percent of South Africans relying on state welfare to survive. According to official statistics, about 32 percent are unemployed, while many eke out an existence as casual day labourers in the shadow economy.

Mine workers sing as they wait for the start of commemoration ceremonies near Marikana in Rustenburg, South Africa, Tuesday, August 16, 2022. South Africa marks on Tuesday 10 years since the Marikana massacre, where 44 people were killed during a mine strike at a platinum mine near Rustenburg, North West province in August 2012. [AP Photo/Themba Hadebe]

Feinstein and the ANC

This is the party and the pro-capitalist perspective Andrew Feinstein supported.

An invaluable asset in making a political appraisal of Feinstein is his own self-aggrandising account of his time in the ANC, After the Party (Verso, London, 2009)leading up to his removal as chair of a subcommittee of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee in July 2001his resignation and then quitting South Africa for the UK.

After the Party, Verso, 2009 [Photo: Verso]

After studying overseas, Feinstein returned to South Africa after Mandelas release from prison in 1990. He had earlier set up a Public Affairs business, providing political and corporate social responsibility advice to companies and NGOs. He became part of the Secretariat under the auspices of the Consultative Business Movement, funded by business, that drew up South Africas admirable constitution, a capitalist framework for the post-apartheid regime. He points to businesss unique role in the lead-up to the transition, with a number of senior businesspeople acting as go-betweens.

He was involved in setting up the Economic and Development Forum in what is now Gauteng province, South Africas economic powerhouse, bringing together ANC regional leaders and business. He was at pains to stress that while supporting the ANC, he was not a member, a position that enabled him to act neutrally and beholden to his own beliefs.

Amid the explosive conditions in the run up to the elections, he recounts how Tokyo Sexwale, an ANC leader in Gauteng province he later worked for, played a key role in demobilising the working class. Mass riots and protests erupted across the country after the assassination of Chris Hani, head of the Communist Party of South Africa and the ANCs armed wing, MK, by a racist anti-Communist in April 1993. This threatened the new post-apartheid arrangements that would bring the ANC to power. Sexwale intervened to quell the riots, driving the reconciliation agenda of his mentor, Mandela. He shouted ceasefire, ceasefire, reacting more quickly and purposefully than many of his more senior colleagues. It was his evocative, statesmanlike response to the assassination that brought him to prominence.

Tokyo Sexwale at the 2007 World Economic Forum on Africa, June 13-15 2007, Cape Town [Photo by World Economic Forum / CC BY-SA 2.0

When the elections came in 1994, Feinstein saw himself down at number 64 on the ANCs Gauteng provincial list, becoming a provincial legislator as others above him dropped out; and chairing an Economic Affairs Committee that worked well together with members of the hated apartheid-era National and Democratic Parties. Its hearings were dominated by the voice of business, labour and other organised interest groups, with very few individuals or small community groups. He worked as an advisor to and speechwriter for Sexwale, accompanying him on trips to the World Economic Forum at Davos.

This pro-business agenda was replicated in the national parliament where the first ANC government under Mandelas leadership ruled in a coalition with the National Party. Despite inheriting enormous poverty, it soon abandoned its modest programme of social reforms in favour of its Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) programme that became the mechanism by which the major white-owned corporations, to preserve their own wealth, transferred a small proportion to leading ANC members. Mandelas successors, Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and now Ramaphosa, are widely seen by South African workers as the corrupt representatives of a wealthy ruling establishment they once claimed to oppose.

Ramaphosa with American President Joe Biden, September 2022. [Photo: The White House]

Becoming frustrated with the limitation of working in the provincial parliament, Feinstein sought a place in the national parliament, an ambition achieved in January 1997 after discussions with Sexwale. He boasts of being instrumental in smoothing the passage of the governments orthodox economic framework with the ANCs partners in the trade unions and the SACP, arguing that the government had no choice but to implement the requirements of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He explains that the ANCs historic language of revolution was used to make palatable an ostensibly neo-liberal approach to the economy, admitting later that it failed to alleviate the endemic poverty enforced by the brutal apartheid regime.

Feinstein, corruption and the arms trade

Feinsteins main claim to fame is his fight against corruption and the global arms trade. As a member and ANC spokesperson for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and chair of one of its sub-committees, he sought an extensive and judge-led investigation into a corrupt, multi-billion arms deal initiated under President Mandelafollowing a report by the Auditor General (AG) in September 2000 critical of ministers irregularities in the procurement. As the political crisis surrounding the scandal grew, amid his failing economic policies and refusal to undertake any measures against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, President Thabo Mbeki intervened to reject such an investigation.

In January 2001, when Feinstein refused to back down, the ANC whips removed him from his position, stopped him from having any contact with the AGs office and, weeks later, closed the discussions into the AGs report. In June 2001, following his abstention on an ANC resolution concerning the Speakers conduct of the corruption inquiryhis first stance against the ANC in his seven-and-a-half-year parliamentary careerthe Whips Office announced this was a disciplinary matter. Without any fight whatsoever, Feinstein threw in the towel and resigned, claiming his position was untenable. He then moved to Britain, abandoning the South African working class to its fate.

Summing up his feelings, he wrote, I was immensely proud to have been part of ANC during the critical phase in the building of democracy in South Africa. I was devastated that my role had come to an end.

Despite the manifest failure of the ANC to achieve its own objectives in South Africa, Feinstein makes no attempt to explain in his campaigning over Gaza what kind of Palestinian state he envisages or the political agency that will achieve and rule it.

As the ANC stepped in to prevent the revolutionary expropriation of the bourgeoisies wealth, PLO leader Yasser Arafat, who had led a courageous fight against the Zionist state, was confronted with the Intifada or spontaneous uprising of the Palestinian people against Israels military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. It had erupted at the end of 1987 entirely outside the PLOs control. Arafat responded with a rapid political retreat, acknowledging Israels right to exist, renouncing the armed struggle and seeking a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict embodied in the 1993 Oslo Accords. The uprising shook not only the PLO, but also the Israelis, the Arab bourgeoisie and US imperialism, who feared the revolutionary movement would escalate out of control and have a radicalising impact throughout the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, US president Bill Clinton, and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat, September 13, 1993

The peace process initiated by Oslo was a fraud. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority (PA)now headed by President Mahmoud Abbaswere effectively put in charge of policing and suppressing the popular opposition of the Palestinian masses to Israels occupation on behalf of the Zionist state.

As in South Africa, the agreement that was supposed to usher in Palestinian rule has brought wealth for a few billionaires and increasing poverty and repression for the majority, along with repeated military incursions, and vigilante attacks by far-right Israeli settlers intent on driving Palestinians out of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The PA, similarly to the ANC, is widely reviled for its corruption and subservience to Israel.

Feinsteins refusal to make an appraisal of the perspective and programme of the ANC, which he played a part in drafting and implementing, makes him the ideal representative of those political forces neither capable nor interested in explaining the basis for the degeneration of the Labour Party that many, including Feinstein, were until recently members of. For all his denunciations of Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Partys failure to oppose genocide and the market reforms that have all but eradicated Britains public services and social infrastructure, he is oriented to the trade unions bureaucracies that have failed to defend the working class, that back Labour and oppose the socialist reorganisation of society.

Tom Scripps (standing) speaking alongside the other candidates, including Andrew Feinstein, right, at a General Election hustings at Westminster Kingsway College in Camden

Feinsteins politically useless liberal opposition to Starmer is based on his rejection of the class basis of society in favour of an appeal for a more moral government, people power and a nation based on human values. It is directed, as was the case with the ANC, at blocking the independent revolutionary political mobilisation of workers and youth for socialism. That is what distinguished his campaign in Holborn and St Pancras from that of the Socialist Equality Party and its candidate, Tom Scripps, fighting for a socialist alternative to Starmers Labour Party and the mobilisation of the working class against the Gaza genocide and advanced preparations for a direct NATO war with Russia.

Concluded
After her whirlwind Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip filming experience, Brandi Glanville says she has now no other choice but to sue Bravo. The former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star was slated to appear on RHUGT Morocco. But things took a distressing turn.

Her costar, Caroline Manzo, sued Bravo over alleged sexual assault on Brandis part. Bravo denied any wrongdoing. The network claimed that Caroline always expressed feeling safe, despite Brandi allegedly triggering past childhood trauma.

Brandi also took some action against the network. She had her lawyer fire off a letter accusing Andy Cohen of sexual harassment. Andy sent a video to Brandi declaring his intentions to sleep with another Bravolebrity. He didnt deny doing so but said it was a joke, and that Brandi knew as much. But thats not where Brandis legal actions end.

Brandi intends to sue Bravo, and insists other Bravolebrities stand with her

I WANT SO DESPERATELY TO TWEET ALL OF MY RECEIPTS BUT MY LAWYERS WONT LET ME. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF UR SUPPORT MORE THAN YOU KNOW. MY CAST FROM MOROCO HAS BEEN SO AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE & I LOVE THOSE GALS!  Brandi Glanville (@BrandiGlanville) July 2, 2024

In a tweet from July 2, Brandi accused Bravo of causing her stress-induced illnesses that rendered her unable to work. She told fans she had been left no choice but to sue Bravo. She further claimed she had receipts 4 days of Bravos many wrongdoings. As to her conditions, she specified, This stress has ruined my health. I have uncontrollable stress induced angio-edema.

As such, Brandi further claimed she hadnt worked for a year and a half. She explained she was too depressed to do her podcast and too swollen for Cameo or OnlyFans. The tweet also loudly proclaimed she was being used as a fall guy. Minutes later, Brandi tweeted once more, assuring her audience that she had receipts.

As much as she wanted to tweet her evidence, she said her lawyers advised against it. I DO APPRECIATE ALL OF UR SUPPORT MORE THAN YOU KNOW, she wrote. Interestingly, she also said the cast of Real Housewives UGT Morocco had been AMAZING AND SUPPORTIVE. Despite it all, at least one good thing seemingly came out of Morocco.

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is streaming on Peacock, along with the Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip catalog.

TELL US  WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF BRANDIS TWEETS? DO YOU BELIEVE HER CLAIMS?

The post Brandi Glanville Says She Has No Choice but to Sue Bravo appeared first on Reality Tea.
Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor Spend 'All of Their Time Together,' Enjoyed Romantic 'World Tour': Exclusive Source

Since they began seeing each other in September 2023, the couple has spent time in Italy, Panama, Paris and more!

John Salangsang/Variety/Getty Caitlin O'Connor and Joe Manganiello in March 2024

No matter where they are, Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor are making the most out of their time together!

The Magic Mike star, 47, and O'Connor, 34, are enjoying globetrotting and spending all of their time together, a source tells PEOPLE.

Detailing the couples travels further, the insider adds, They are on what seems to be a world tour of sorts. The pair have visited Italy, Finland (to see Metallica) and France together.

Joe took Caitlin to Paris, France and it was a very romantic trip, the source tells PEOPLE. The Eiffel Tower was right outside their hotel room window. While in France they went to the Louvre, Versailles, the French Open and to see the band Tool.

Related: Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor Are 'Going Strong' 1 Year After His Divorce: Exclusive Source

Araya Doheny/Getty Caitlin O'Connor and Joe Manganiello

OConnor also spent time with her game show host in Panama while he was filming Deal or No Deal Island last year and traveled to North Carolina for a One Tree Hill reunion in May.

More recently, the couple spent time in Aspen, Colorado, where Manganiello spoke at the Aspen Ideas Festival with Finding your Roots host Henry Louis Gates Jr. about his episode of the hit PBS series.

They also went to Armenia as a pilgrimage to visit and plant a tree for his great grandmother and grandmother, the source adds.

Related: Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor Get Cuddly While Enjoying Date Night at L.A. Kings Game

Through all of their trips together, Manganiello and O'Connor are still going strong, the insider says, adding, He treats her like a queen.

It has been just over a year since Manganiello split from ex-wife Sofia Vergara  he listed July 2, 2023 as his official date of their separation when he filed for divorce  and about 10 months since he began dating O'Connor.

The Magic Mike star started seeing O'Connor last September after they crossed paths in a mutual friend's kitchen, according to a source.

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.

Gotham/Getty Joe Manganiello (L) and Caitlin O'Connor attend the COAF (Children of Armenia Fund) Gala at Cipriani on December 09, 2023 in New York City.

Related: Joe Manganiello and Caitlin O'Connor Take Cute Stroll with His Dog in Beverly Hills

In March, a source told PEOPLE that neither Manganiello nor O'Connor were "expecting for things to get serious so quickly, but it's only a good thing."

"Joe was pretty broken up when the divorce happened but he's in a good place, the source said. With their differences, he and Sofia both knew it was time to move on.

The insider also noted the actors are "super, super happy together, "very affectionate" and always "looking out for each other."

Vergara, meanwhile, has also moved on in the year since the divorce. The actress, 51, has been linked to orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman since October.



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Mdou Moctar has ignored all of guitars standards  and become one of the worlds finest players

Hailing from the desert city of Agadez in Niger, Mdou Moctar is a genuine trailblazer. With a sound that bridges the ancient traditions of the Sahara and the electrifying energy of modern rock, his journey as a musician is a tale of evolution and experimentation, a relentless pursuit of new sonic frontiers. And yet, for all his open-mindedness as an artist, he believes that the key to creating original music is to shut himself off from the world.

I still focus on my own work rather than getting inspiration from other guitarists, he tells Total Guitar, speaking in French through an interpreter. I even take long breaks from playing guitar to let something new germinate.

In 2021, his breakout release Afrique Victime was acclaimed by TG as the guitar album of the year. Now comes his most potent and provocative work to date: Funeral For Justice. Recorded in just five days in a largely unfurnished house in upstate New York, the album captures Mdou and his band at their most primal and unrestrained. The music surges with punk energy and scorched-earth guitar heroics.

Mdous professional musical journey began with his 2008 album Anar, on which he paired the acoustic guitar traditions of the Tuareg people with the futuristic sheen of Auto-Tune. His music spread via Bluetooth swaps of digital files from his cassette recordings, a common practice in the region.

This grassroots distribution method highlighted his initial challenges in reaching a wider audience, but also showcased the communal and innovative spirit of his music.

Eventually Mdous music found its way to Christopher Kirkley, founder of the Sahel Sounds label. He became such a fan he featured Mdou on his influential compilation series, Music From Saharan Cellphones. This amplified the young musicians reach and introduced him to a global audience hungry for fresh, boundary-pushing sounds. Kirkley went on to cast Mdou as the main actor in Akounak Tedalat Taha Tazoughai, a Tamasheq language interpretation of Princes Purple Rain.

Emboldened by his growing fanbase, Mdou continued to evolve and refine his craft. His 2013 follow-up album Afelan saw him delving deeper into the well of Tuareg music, with a mix of traditional acoustic music, and blistering, psychedelic desert blues, simultaneously showcasing his growing mastery of the guitar.

His music has continued to develop through live work and album releases, as hes harnessed his cutting tone and expressive range to channel the raw power and emotional intensity of his songwriting.

The sound of Funeral For Justice is even rawer and heavier than previous recordings, created by Mdou with rhythm guitarist Ahmoudou Madassane, drummer Souleymane Ibrahim, and American bassist/producer Mikey Coltun. The bands energy stems from their beginnings, playing all-night shows at weddings back home, where amps were cranked to the max and entire towns joined in the revelry.

But although the roots of Mdous music remain firmly in the Tuareg tradition, the branches now stretch in startling new directions. As Coltun says: I grew up in the D.C. punk scene and this is no different. Its a DIY punk show. People bring generators, they crank their amps. Things are broken, but they make it work. That communal spirit now infuses their stage shows around the world, with Mdous ecstatic, high-velocity guitar playing sending crowds into a frenzy.

For many artists, retaining the raw energy and spontaneity of a live performance in the controlled environment of a recording studio can be a daunting task. The thrill of feeding off an audiences reaction, the adrenaline rush of improvisation, and the organic interplay between band members can be difficult to replicate when the red light is on and the clock is ticking.

In the studio, we make sure were feeling well, able to do it our way, and not be bothered by technicalities. We pick a time when were determined and know what we want to record

Its a challenge that has plagued musicians across genres and generations, from the early days of rock n roll to the present. But for Mdou and his band, the key to bridging this gap lies in a combination of preparation, mindset, and imagination.

We dont record albums as most people do, Mdou says. We have a really personalised system, and the way we play in the studio is just like live. We dont use a metronome, or precisely time anything. And this was recorded after a tour, so we had the touring energy still in us. We give ourselves room to play the way we want to play.

When we ask him how they go about capturing their electrifying live sound in the studio, he responds with a mixture of pragmatism and poetry. Its a question of work and practice. In the studio, we make sure were feeling well, able to do it our way, and not be bothered by technicalities. We pick a time when were determined and know what we want to record. Its like a union between the band members. We imagine an audience and express joy.

Mdous unique guitar style is a testament to this joy, his unwavering passion for music, and his ability to overcome obstacles. Growing up in a conservative Muslim family in the Sahara Desert, he faced disapproval and limited resources in his pursuit of mastering the guitar. However, his resilience and determination led him to forge his own path.

His journey as a self-taught musician began at the tender age of 12, when he first witnessed a mesmerising street performance by desert blues pioneer Abdallah Ag Oumbadougou. Inspired by the raw power and emotion of Oumbadougous playing, Moctar set out to learn the guitar by any means necessary. With no access to a proper instrument, he crafted his own makeshift guitar using a wooden plank and bicycle brake cables.

As Mdou honed his skills, he began to absorb the rich musical traditions of his Tuareg heritage while immersing himself in the sounds of Western rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen and Prince. Yet despite these diverse influences, Mdous style remains firmly his own.

I cant say I was ever majorly influenced by other guitar players, he says. I like creating in a very personal way. I learned music a lot by ear, especially when I started very young. Before discovering certain helpful instruments and meeting other artists, I used my own personal instrument settings and tunings.

His left-handed playing technique is certainly unique and adaptive, shifting seamlessly from soft acoustic passages to intense electric guitar. This dynamic range reflects both his traditional roots and his modern experimental urges.

My technique has definitely changed, and there are a lot of new things on this album. Like on Oh France, which was the hardest on the album because the rhythm is tricky, and the track Takoba.

Asked about this learning process, and how he picked up the scales and chords he uses, he replies: I do it by ear. I was alone when I started, so I did it all by ear before discovering instruments that helped me, and figuring out how to tune them, and meeting other artists. Different songs use different, very particular tunings.

That must make it hard for Western musicians to learn his style, we ponder.

Its my own personal tunings, he says. I would need to show you exactly how to tune your guitar for you to be able to play it the same.

Most songs I play are traditional, so it doesnt fit well into Western music theory. Even at home, some people have trouble if I dont show them exactly how to tune it. Young guitarists who try to copy me tell me that regularly.

I do it by ear. I was alone when I started, so I did it all by ear before discovering instruments that helped me, and figuring out how to tune them, and meeting other artists

Mdous guitar solos on the new album have also reached new heights of technical prowess and emotional intensity. Using a barrage of rapid hammer-ons and pull-offs on open strings, he unleashes surging melodies and countermelodies that seem to channel the intensity of the desert landscape.

At once primal and otherworldly, his solos present a kind of psychedelic desert shred that marries dazzling technical ability with an almost trance-like sense of abandon. Yes, I feel there is a lot of evolution in my solos, he says. On this album, we were given the freedom to record it exactly how we wanted.

Having broken down boundaries between African music and Western rock, does he consider incorporating styles like jazz or blues into his music?

The problem is I dont really know those different styles well, since I never went to music school or had formal guitar lessons, he explains. But if I hear something I like, Im curious to see how my style would sound with that rhythm or instrument. I want to experiment. When I was younger I tried electro instruments to see what Tuareg music would sound like that way. I will remain curious.

Mdous journey from crafting his own makeshift guitar to wielding a Fender Stratocaster is a powerful symbol of his musical evolution and the challenges hes overcome along the way. As a left-handed player in a region where southpaw guitars were virtually nonexistent, Moctar faced significant hurdles in his musical development.

Mdou Moctar

The hardest thing for me was being left-handed in a place with no left-handed guitars, he recalls. To this day, Im the only local person I know with a lefty guitar. Left-handed people have to use right-hand guitars upside down, which is very difficult. As a kid, I couldnt join in and play with friends. I could only watch. That was a hurdle.

The acquisition of his white left-handed Stratocaster marked a turning point in his musical journey, enabling him to fully express his creative vision. When I learned lefty guitars existed, it really impacted me, he reflects. I used the same white guitar with the same effects on this album, he says of his Stratocaster. I tell Mikey what sound Im going for, and he sets it up for me.

This partnership between artist and instrument is evident throughout Funeral For Justice, with Mdous Stratocaster serving as an extension of his musical voice. The guitars cutting tone and expressive range are the perfect vehicles for his searing leads and hypnotic rhythms, allowing him to channel the raw energy and emotion of his live performances into the studio recordings.

But amid the blazing riffs and pummelling rhythms, there is also a profound sense of purpose. The new political and social themes apparent on this album have infused the music with a distinct energy. The lyrics, sung in Mdous native Tamasheq language, address the plight of the Tuareg people and the postcolonial struggles of Niger with bracing clarity and righteous fury.

Asked how he composed these powerful anthems, and whether the lyrics inspired him towards a heavier sound, he replies: Sometimes the music comes first, sometimes the rhythm, and then you find lyrics to fit. But in the case of Oh France, the lyrics came first.

On the track Imouhar, Mdou urges the preservation of the endangered Tamasheq language, being one of the few in his community who can write it. People here are just using French, he laments. Theyre starting to forget their own language. We feel like in a hundred years no one will speak good Tamasheq, and thats so scary for us.

Mdou Moctar

Just as Funeral For Justice was completed, Niger fell into political turmoil, as a coup ousted the countrys democratically elected government. With their homeland descending into uncertainty, Mdou Moctars music feels all the more vital and defiant. I dont support the coup, he states plainly, but I never in my life liked France in my country. We want to be free. We need to smile, you understand?

In Mdou Moctars hands, the electric guitar becomes a weapon of liberation, a tool to unite people in the fight against oppression while celebrating the undeniable joy of rock and roll communion. Funeral For Justice is both a lament for the fallen and a raised fist for the future  the fearless sound of Mdou Moctar seizing the moment.

Funeral for Justice is out now via Matador.
Megan Thee Stallion Sent Jordan Chiles The Best Gift Note For Making The AHH-Lympics

Megan Thee Stallion is thanking Jordan Chiles for being a Hot Girl after the gymnast secured a trip to the Olympics in Paris this summer.

Chiles, who won silver with Team USA at the Tokyo games in 2021, finished third behind Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee as she clinched a spot on the womens gymnastics squad during the Olympics trials last weekend.

The gymnast, after making the roster, delivered emotional remarks on her family before closing with a special shoutout to the rapper.

And Megan, Im going to the Ahh-Olympics, said Chiles, who imitated Megs ahh catchphrase.

Megan later showed love to Chiles over the mention, quoting a clip of the shoutout with the caption my girllll on X, formerly Twitter.

Chiles, on Wednesday, revealed that the rapper sent her a bouquet of flowers along with a note that read, Congratulations On Qualifying For The AHH-lympics! Very Excited To Watch You Shine In Paris And Represents For All The Hot Girls! Megan.

The gymnast couldnt get enough of the gift, writing, @theestallion Im literally crying  friend thank you so much these flowers are so beautiful!!!

Omg Megan Thee Stallion sent Jo flowers pic.twitter.com/lG3b8tiGfc  jordan (@chileschuso) July 4, 2024

Chiles is a fan of Megans music and has the rapper on her playlist. She even uses her as inspiration following a rough practice at the trials.

Megan, Beyonce, GloRilla, every girl artist you can think of was popping up. I was like, You know what? If these girls can slay like this, I can go out there and slay like them, Chiles said.

The two recently met up as the rapper showed her appreciation for the gymnast.

You is her ... Imma be out there, for real. I wanna support you, Megan told Chiles of the Paris games.

Megan isnt the only artist to show Chiles love, as Normani admitted she was a superfan and encouraged her to continue to exude Black girl magic in 2021.

Related...
4th of July on Sanibel: Islanders celebrate holiday with parade

July Fourth kicked off early on Sanibel Island.

The City of Sanibel's 31st annual Independence Day featured floats, families and fun for many who attended Thursday morning.

The City of Sanibel held its 31st annual Independence Day parade on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

What other July Fourth events are happening today and through the holiday weekend in Southwest Florida? Check out our list of events that includes fireworks, drone shows and more.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: 4th of July in Florida: Sanibel Island holds annual parade
If you're an American, you've probably faced bafflingly high medical costs at some point in your life.

Why does one dose of Tylenol cost, like, $200 in the hospital when you can buy a whole bottle at CVS for $15???

Well, a couple of days ago, 29-year-old Bryn Elise (@bryn.elise) shared a video on TikTok about her recent experience with medical tourism in Turkey that has Americans everywhere renewing their passports.

The video quickly went viral and, as of this writing, has been viewed more than 12 million times on TikTok. bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

Bryn starts the video by saying, "I flew to Turkey to get the most in-depth checkup of my life, and it was the greatest thing I've ever done for my health and my bank account."

"Doing this in the US would have cost me 1000s and taken months to line up, but in one day, we're doing it all, scans, tests, meetings with specialists, and the price of everything is jaw-dropping." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

Then, she walks viewers through her appointment-packed day as she gets full body care. "First thing you'll do is get your blood drawn so they can start running tests. You'll also do an EKG. You'll take your blood pressure, height, and weight. And now we're off to radiology for a chest X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound."

"We also did a thyroid ultrasound and some more tests, and then we went over to nuclear medicine and did a bone density scan. How amazing is that?" bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

She also showed off the hospital's food selections which honestly look good enough that I wouldn't be surprised if locals swing by the hospital for lunch. "Here, they actually brought in a popular Turkish restaurant to handle all the meals, and patients can literally order it to be delivered to their rooms. It's unreal."

Bryn went on to share more details about why she chose this particular hospital, saying, "I did a lot of research for this trip and ended up choosing a Memorial Group Hospital because they're accredited by the Joint Commission International, and I have never seen a hospital with so many amazing reviews." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

After she had her lunch, Bryn's appointments continued. "Now it's time to meet with the internal medicine doctor and go over my test results. I was trying to play it cool, but I was nervous. We went over, one by one, the 30-plus scans, tests, and cancer markers I was tested for in-depth, and I got to ask all my pressing questions about my health."

"Now time to visit the gynecologist, do a Pap smear, and I was like, cut the cameras. After that, ophthalmology. The doctor said, 'Hey, this is how you see now, and this is how the world should look.' Turns out I have astigmatism, and your girl needs glasses. Then, you'll normally go to a dental examination, but I actually just did one, so we skipped it. Now cardiology. So I did a stress test and a chest ultrasound, which may have been my favorite part of the entire day. I got to see my heart beating in my chest." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

She sums up her experience by saying, "It was incredible. This is why I love health tourism, because I would never be able to afford this level of care in the United States, and this entire full-day package only cost $810."

"Personally, I'd rather spend $700 on a flight to Turkey, get dozens of tests there, and take a whole vacation, than spend the thousands that this would have cost in the United States." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

In the comments, Americans are stunned by the pricetag on this incredible level of care.

Americans are also sharing some of their most outrageous medical bills because who amongst us hasn't been charged $500+ for a 10-minute Zoom call with a nurse?

Even beyond the costs, Americans are also very impressed with the time and quality of care Bryn received during her day of appointments compared to the rushed care many of us get in the States.

Bryn told BuzzFeed that she made this appointment to address a list of health concerns, and she feels it was worth every single penny. "In the United States, in-depth preventative checkups like this are NOT the norm, and issues only get discovered and treated when you present serious symptoms. Due to that, I've had a number of small health concerns that had been piling up for years. Nothing too serious (I hoped!), but I knew I couldn't just live my entire life wondering if I was okay."

"A main issue for me was that for years, I've been experiencing memory issues, brain fog, and heart palpitations. My blood test was able to show right away that I was critically low on B12, and by prescribing me a series of B12 shots to get my levels normal, I would start feeling better. I am happy to report that I'm halfway through treatment and have already seen an improvement! It seems ridiculous to me that something like low B12 caused so many issues but went undetected for so long. This is why preventative care is so important because treatable issues that can be fixed if you act quickly are going undetected. I also have a family history of heart and thyroid issues, so being able to ultrasound my thyroid and do an echocardiogram to make sure everything was normal was such a relief! And those are just some of the results and issues we caught during the checkup." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

In addition to helping her physical health, Bryn says the visit has also alleviated her health anxiety. "Besides the fact that the checkup uncovered the cause of some of my symptoms, it completely cured the health anxiety that I'd be living with for so long. In my opinon, that itself was well worth the $810."

"It may seem silly, but I left the hospital feeling like I have a new lease on life! I think everyone on earth deserves to have access to preventative care like this, and if it was more accessible, we would catch a lot of issues before they become serious." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

Bryn also shared more information about the full costs of her trip to Turkey: "As for travel costs, I spent $700 on my flight and an average of $300 a week on accommodation. When I plan my trips, I always use the Google Flights Explore feature to find the cheapest flights across the next six months and book my health trips accordingly."

"I also recommend that if you know you're going to be traveling to and from Turkiye for treatments frequently to teach yourself about airline mile reward programs. It will save you a lot of money! Since discovering health and beauty tourism three years ago, I've downgraded to the most basic health insurance in the United States (for emergencies) and choose to book all of my treatments and doctor visits abroad. That in itself saves me so much money, and I get to put the money I've saved towards multiple health vacations each year. It's a great way to see the world and get the proper care you need." bryn.elise / Via tiktok.com

In recent years, Turkey has become a popular destination for medical tourism, particularly for cosmetic procedures (think: Love Island convos about "Turkey teeth," aka veneers done while on holiday).

Cosmetic medical trips to Turkey are especially popular among residents of the UK, who reportedly went from 120,000 trips abroad for medical procedures in 2015 to 248,000 in 2019.

However, UK officials have also issued warnings about these trips, as six UK citizens died in 2023 after receiving cosmetic procedures in Turkey. Chair of the British Medical Association's Board of Science, David Strain, said, "What we can never guarantee is the surgical standards in different countries, and even the equipment that may be used, and thats where the risk comes."

So, if you're considering traveling to get medical care at a lower cost, it's crucially important to do your research and only visit providers who have been vetted and shown to give the highest level of care.

Ultimately, Bryn says she's very happy with her experience at Memorial Hospital in Istanbul, and she says, "I've spent the last three years traveling around the world to uncover the world's best health and beauty tourism destinations. My goal is to track down the best, most affordable treatments and share them with the world via TikTok so people can get the care they need. I like to think that the best way to fix our broken healthcare system is to educate people on their options. If enough people leave the US to receive treatment, maybe the system will be forced to change."
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (KSNW)  Arkansas City couple Joe and Nel Clark donated a bench made by their son Craig Clark to Veterans Memorial Lake, 1400 S. 6th St.

Joe and Nel moved to Lake View Estates from their farm south of the city. Arkansas City says they found a warm welcome among new friends and the serene surrounds of Veterans Memorial Lake there.

I prayed so hard that wed get good neighbors here, said Nel. And we did. We walk around the lake every day. People are friendly, and we meet new people daily. We also get to feed the ducks  Ive named these two Mac and Moe.

Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center offering veterans relief from heat

The two are passionate about the outdoors and enjoy taking walks around the lake. In doing so, the city says they were inspired to contribute a bench so that they, along with others, could rest and enjoy the scenery.

When Joe went to buy a bench, he was surprised by the price.

They told me it was going to cost $3,000, Joe said.

That is when Joe and Nel got help from Craig, one of their five kids. The couple has 15 grandkids.

Craig was able to use his skills to weld a frame and add wooden slats to create a bench.

Hes quite handy, said Joe proudly.

After the bench was completed, it was delivered to the Arkansas City Public Service Department, where crews set it in cement in a spot that Joe and Nel chose.

Its positioned at an angle for a great view of the lake under the shade, Joe said.

The two let everyone know their son made it.

They celebrate their 60th anniversary in April.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
After the 2023 event got canceled because of financial reasons, Melbourne's patriotic Fourth of July parade returned Thursday with a colorful procession of more than 30 floats and organizations bolstered by dozens of decorated Jeeps, Corvettes and other vehicles.

Rose Yeary, the parade's key organizer during recent years, keeps the Independence Day spirit alive across the calendar: She now commands the newly created All American Veterans of Brevard County American Legion Post 420, which seeks a home in the Suntree area.

"I've put my heart and soul into all these parades for the last seven years," Yeary said Thursday morning, addressing a crowd gathered outside the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum.

"We hope to be back doing this for our community for Veterans Day in November," she said, drawing applause.

Fireworks: Fourth of July 2024: Here's where to celebrate across Brevard

Post 420 received its permanent charter in March, has about 50 members, and temporarily meets at the Boy Scouts building on Post Road in Melbourne, Yeary said. For more information on the group's funding efforts to find a home in or near Suntree, contact Yeary at 321-266-5115 or rose.yeary@att.net.

"In the Suntree area and the Viera area, there's an unmet need. Because there are no American Legion posts there for the veterans to be able to come socialize, for us to be involved more in our community," Yeary said.

Prior to Melbourne's holiday parade  which was resurrected and organized this year by the Space Coast Young Republicans and President David Neuman  1,378 hardy runners and walkers braved hot, muggy conditions while traversing the sun-splashed Eau Gallie Causeway during the Firecracker 5K. The National Weather Service declared a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. across the Space Coast and East-Central Florida, warning of scorching heat index values soaring up to 110 degrees.

Merritt Island's Fourth of July parade kicked off at Merritt Island High and wound down North Courtenay Parkway and East Merritt Avenue  featuring large contingents of Brevard County Sheriff's Office and Brevard County Fire Rescue personnel  before wrapping up at Edgewood Jr./Sr. High. In Palm Bay, a four-hour-plus Independence Day celebration was scheduled at the city's Eastern Florida State College campus, featuring food trucks, vendors, live music, a kids zone and fireworks.

Evening fireworks displays were also planned in Cocoa Village, Port Canaveral, Port St. John, Titusville, Viera and Melbourne. At that latter city, Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village Inc. officials planned a fundraising fireworks viewing party at the landmark Queen Anne-style estate with hot dogs, chips and soft drinks.

"Happy birthday, America!" longtime Green Gables nonprofit official John Daly told the Liberty Bell Memorial Museum crowd, eliciting cheers.

Josie Moon, who is 17 months old, gets into the patriotic spirit during Melbourne's Fourth of July parade.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

Support local journalism. Unlock unlimited digital access to floridatoday.com. Click here and subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard marks July 4 with parades, a beach run and fireworks displays
These are the best.

Adobe/Allrecipes

While the Smores Cookies, the (enormous) Mini Cakes, and the sell-out-every-Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pies from Costcos bakery department are undeniably delicious, the frozen foods section holds its own treasure trove of unique treats that are worth exploring.

The freezer section is where you need to head if you want treats such as Nightengale Ice Cream Sandwiches (they have a banana pudding flavor!), Reeses Frozen Fruit Banana Slices, or Haagen-Dazs Peppermint Bark Ice Cream Bars during the holiday season. Its a treat lovers paradise. Just sayin.

And now, Costcos freezer section is where you get a treat thats 50% ice cream sandwich, 50% chocolate coated ice cream bar, and 100% on our must stock our freezer with them list.

Lotte Ghana Ice Cream Bars at Costco

Produced in Japan, the Lotte Ghana Ice Cream Bars are a popular treat there and in Korea. The inside is vanilla ice cream shaped like a store-bought ice cream sandwich. On the outside, half of the ice cream is sandwiched between two butter cookies, and the other half is dipped in chocolate with an almond coating. It gives you the pleasure of enjoying two ice cream treats at once. A box of 12 small, 2-ounce treats is available at Costco for $10.79.

Costcohotfinds said they are excellent when posting about the frozen treat on Instagram. Aside from a lot of country of origin confusion (Lotte seems to have a presence in Korea and Japan, plus the bars are named Ghana, where the chocolate is apparently sourced), the consensus is that these are soooo good, as one commenter exclaimed. Another added, Its both an ice cream bar and ice cream sandwich in one. You dont have to choose.

Out of all the Japanese chocolates on the market, Lotte Ghana is my favorite. And these ice cream bars are [so craveable]; better add a lock to the freezer if you got em at your house, said another.

As for the two sides of the bar, one of costcohotfinds followers had a clever comment, This looks like the Biscoff ice cream bar and the Kirkland signature ice cream bar hit up the wine section during closing time and had a baby.

Next time youre at Costco and looking for something sweet, add the frozen foods section to your route while you make your rounds to avoid missing out on this lock 'em-up ice cream bar. "They are amazing!"



Read the original article on All Recipes.
The Mother Road commands enormous international interest: A few years back, Paul McCartney left his place in the Hamptons for a road trip on Americas old Route 66 in a 1989 Ford Bronco, hoping (yet failing) to stay incognito. A commemorative sign in Arcadio, Oklahoma, now marks where the former Beatle stopped to ask for directions.

The state of Illinois has greatly improved its Route 66 signage in recent years, a crucial part of building tourism, since the roads trajectory in the Prairie State can be hard to track. Not only does some of the road crisscross (and meld) into I-55, but following the historic trajectory  a fine thing to do on or around the July 4 holiday  sometimes means choosing between the original 1926 blacktop and later deviations, pre- and postwar.

Still, historic Illinois communities like Wilmington, Pontiac and Collinsville will be seeing plenty of action this week as travelers on the mother of all road trips seek out such iconic and well-preserved Illinois Route 66 sites as the Gemini Giant, the Pink Elephant Antique Mall and the Brooks Catsup Water Tower.

But while Lou Mitchells well-located retro eatery long has seen its share of Route 66 business, Chicago generally has made little of its status as the start of Route 66 (or the end, depending on which way you are going). The road now officially starts at Michigan Avenue and Adams Street and ends at Michigan at Jackson, an unfortunate disparity caused by one-way streets. But youd hardly notice either one.

On Tuesday, the city tourism office known as Choose Chicago! said it was putting this right, announcing a program to beef up Route 66 awareness in Chicago, just in time for Route 66 to mark its centenary in 2026.

Plans include spiffy new signs not just for the start and end  no small deal  but for the historic areas of North Lawndale and Douglass Park too. There also are plans for trolley tours along the citys stretch of Route 66, as well as classic car shows along Ogden Avenue, long one of our favorite, less-traveled Chicago streets, for its relative speed as well as its history.

Most Route 66 fans probably are seeking to get their kicks on the open road rather than in urban neighborhoods. But minds can be opened. The old Route 66 within Chicago is filled with retro pleasures to discover, especially old gas stations, eateries (like Lulus Hot Dogs in the Tri-Taylor area) and other classic businesses with fabulous swinging signage.

This city, after all, is inextricably linked to the Mother Road, which, as the famous song points out, winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way.

Finally, we are taking some advantage.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
El Paso International Airport offers tips for 4th of July travel

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso International Airport is sharing travel tips to help those flying for the Independence Day.

More than 31,000 people are expected to travel through the El Paso Airport this Independence Day holiday, read a news release sent by the City of El Paso. To help those flying over the holiday weekend, El Paso International Airport would like to remind passengers to check with their airlines for the latest travel information.

The following are additional travel tips for a pleasant experience:

Arrive early: Passengers are strongly encouraged to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to departure. Due to the number of travelers, there is a potential for longer wait times for both check-in and security lines, especially for early morning flights. The security checkpoint is open by 4 a.m.

Be prepared: Review the current identification requirements and screening procedures for traveling with liquids, gels and aerosols by visiting TSA.gov or by contacting them directly by tweeting @AskTSA. Sign up for TSA PreCheck to expedite the screening process.

Visit FlyElPaso.com: See the hours of operation for food and beverages, news, and gifts as well as passenger amenities like nursing station and pet relief areas.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Hey there, Short List readers!  Laura here. Happy Independence Day! Were taking a break from our regular news rundown today to celebrate the holiday. Enjoy! And I hope you have a safe, happy Fourth of July. 

 But first: Something for everyone! Hit play on this: The ultimate Fourth of July music playlist, from "God Bless America" to "Firework."

 The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news  fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

How did we get here?

Nice weather, family barbeques, parades, fireworks and red, white and blue everything  these are time-honored and beloved traditions for Independence Day in America. We know it now as a day of patriotism and time off work, but the Fourth of July began the journey to becoming a quintessentially American holiday in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Patriotic traditions: Though some traditions have changed or disappeared over time  hosting mock funerals for the king of England, for example  many have remained true to their roots in the almost 250 years since the declaration was signed.

 Why do we have fireworks and feast? See the origins of the festivities.

 Watch: The history behind your favorite July 4th traditions.

Avoid the burn unit!

As always, the holiday is marked with parades, cookouts and of course, endless amounts of fireworks. Yes, fireworks are awesome. Yes, fireworks are fun. But fireworks can also be super dangerous! Accidents lead to thousands of hospital trips each year and can even be fatal.  What you should know before lighting fireworks.

 Fireworks tip: Keep a bucket of water nearby in case of fire or other misadventure.

Asking the important questions

Support the Short List and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.

Baby, youre a drone light show 

There's a buzz in the air  literally  and it's turning the night sky into a blank canvas for a growing medium: art and animation produced by drones. After a decade of advances in what drones can do, swarm drone light shows are really hitting their stride, with more and more public spectacles swapping out fireworks for flying robots, like Super Bowl halftime shows, baseball games, weddings and, of course, Fourth of July celebrations.  See how drone shows work.

A swarm of 1,000 drones forms patterns in the night sky during a drone light show as part of the 2024 Korea Drone Expo in Incheon on May 9, 2024.

Feel sorta weird about July 4th?

It's a time of fireworks, frivolity and ... fearing the end of democracy? Well, yes, for some. The last few years have rattled and riled up many Americans, with the past few weeks being particularly worrisome. Between former President Donald Trump's felony conviction and President Joe Biden's puzzling debate performance, it might feel difficult to truly celebrate our nation.

The truth is, Independence Day can be tough for Americans who have felt unwelcome in the U.S. or jaded by its politics, though experts say there is room for personal growth in such discomfort. And if you find these opinions unpatriotic, at least try hearing them out before making snap judgments.  What to do if youre feeling unpatriotic.

The White House is bathed in red, white and blue light as part of the Fourth of July celebration in 2020.

Short + sweet

Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at USA TODAY. Say hi: laura@usatoday.com. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to USA TODAY here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Independence Day, fireworks safety, July 4th playlist: It's Thursday
See photos: Spectators watch 'Light the Lake' 4th of July fireworks show at Lake Hartwell

On the eve of the Fourth of July, colors of fireworks explosions burst in the air over Lake Hartwell.

The Light the Lake event, with spectators watching from their lawn chairs, blankets, on a tailgate, or even from inside the car, provided excitement and cheers. The event was sponsored by Clemson University and the City of Clemson.

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A woman pushes her child in a cart with a U.S. flag waving from the top, walking along the dike along the Seneca River of Lake Hartwell looking for a good viewing spot before the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

"This is my first time sitting and chilling," said Dan Evjen of Easley, with his son Dan, Jr. and Lex Evjen. "I usually host a fireworks party."

The three came early to pick a place with their fold-up chairs, watching many boats also file into position. "It's going to be a good time," he predicted 90 minutes before the show started.

Dan Evjen, left, Dan Jr. and Lex Evjen of Easley get a viewing spot on the dike along the Seneca River on Lake Hartwell before the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Barbara Pilgrim of Easley came to Clemson for the July 3 fireworks for a change. "I usually go to Easley, but theirs is tomorrow, so we came here."

People get a viewing spot on the dike along the Seneca River on Lake Hartwell before the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

A group of freshmen at Clemson taking summer classes decided to enjoy the fireworks on the lake.

"Usually, we watch in our front yard (at home), and I'm excited to see the Clemson one," said Jana Sonnendecker of Charleston.

"I love being with family and friends on the Fourth of July and I love going on the lake," said Sophia Chnoski of Connecticut.

Grace Peters and Bella Hodge, friends since elementary school in Greenville, liked that they could celebrate the Fourth and Bella's birthdays on the same day. "I think with all of these boats on the water, it'll be good," Peters said.

A group of Clemson University freshman friends watch the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

The 15-minute fireworks display before hundreds of seated spectators finished with a finale, and somewhere along the shore, a car horn aired out a familiar tune, "Hold that Tiger," in the distance.

Some in the crowd got a laugh from it.

Along with the drifting smoke and a heavy scent of fireworks, a pleased crowd migrated in an orderly fashion to their cars, having been a part of what some call an American slice of life, a Fourth of July celebration they can remember.

Boats get in position as the sun sets before the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event over Lake Hartwell near Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Jana Sonnendecker of Charleston, middle and fellow Clemson University freshman friends watch the Clemson Light the Lake Fireworks event in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Photos: Spectators watch Light the Lake fireworks show in Clemson
In Sparta, this NJ realtor goes all out with her Fourth of July decorations

When Fourth of July comes around, some may choose to adorn their homes with a few extra American flags, add some patriotic colored lights or put up some festive signs. But for Elizabeth Morgan, decorating for the holiday comes way before the month of July even arrives.

Morgan, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, decks out the backyard of her Sparta home in red, white and blue at the start of every summer. The tradition began in 1998, when she purchased the home with her husband, John Morgan.

Elizabeth Morgan, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, decks out the backyard of her Sparta home in patriotic decor at the start of every summer.

"We've collected things little by little over the years, but I like it because I'm one of those very patriotic kind of people," she said. "We've collected chairs, things that we've found at garage sales or that people were getting rid of. It's just a way for us to say that this is a wonderful place to live, especially in today's environment."

In addition to classic decor like American flags and festive bunting, a tablecloth covered in stars and red, white and blue planters, Morgan said she's spent a lot of time searching for and customizing the items she incorporates into her backyard.

Elizabeth Morgan, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, decks out the backyard of her Sparta home in patriotic decor at the start of every summer.

This includes collecting antique items and early American memorabilia, like pitchforks and milk pans; repurposing things like damaged screen doors; and looking out for items that another person might throw away.

"We were in Cape Cod one summer, and we found our red, white and blue lighthouse. It was gigantic and we didn't know how we were going to get it back, but luckily it fit in the backseat," Morgan said. "It was the same thing with our life preserver, which we found because someone was getting rid of it. So it's a little bit of everything, and it's all very personal to us."

Elizabeth Morgan, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, decks out the backyard of her Sparta home in patriotic decor at the start of every summer.

As a realtor for 48 years, Morgan said she always gives her clients an American flag as a closing gift. As an ode to that, she said she also has a collection of bird houses in her backyard, all with their own American flags and mini "for sale" signs.

But one of her favorite parts, Morgan said, is a red, white and blue star that connects all of the members of her family. Each of the star's five points point to the American flag, the New Jersey state flag, the New York state flag, the Tennessee state flag and the flag of Germany  signifying each of the places that them and their three kids live.

"When you look at that star and you see all of those little flags, they each represent where we are in the world or the country, and yet we're all Americans with the American flag at the top of the star," she said. "So it has a little story that goes along with it, and I'm very proud of that."

Elizabeth Morgan, a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty, decks out the backyard of her Sparta home in patriotic decor at the start of every summer.

In the end, Morgan said she takes pride in her patriotic decorations. And while some will have to get stored away at the end of the summer for safe keeping, she said she has more inside her home to get her through to the next season.

"I thoroughly enjoy sitting in my backyard, and I have to say that in the evening, it's even more beautiful because I have spotlights going up into my trees, and it almost looks like a resort," Morgan said. "It's really pretty, it makes us happy and my family loves it."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay , on X @maddiemcgayy , and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sparta NJ realtor goes all out with Fourth of July decorations
Much like a restaurant review, wellness is subjective.

And to be frank, what makes many people feel well, in particular when theyre easing into the idea of spending $195 on 32 ounces of meat, is booze.

But when Alex Ekbatani opened the Ette Hotel in 2022, they didnt serve any.

Ette, which is an acronym for earthy, true, timeless and elegant, was conceived as a wellness hotel, Ekbatani tells me, and so, zero-alcohol it was. As such, he hired one of the worlds foremost mixologists from Amsterdam to curate an array of elaborate, showstopper mocktails that were widely publicized around town, including in the Orlando Sentinel.

Customers were permitted to bring their own wines (sans corkage fee) and even their own spirits, but our server noted with an amusing and skillful improv of a guest cradling an imaginary bottle, many of them felt weird about it.

Others who showed up eager to sample items like chef Akira Backs signature AB tuna pizza flat-out left after hearing they couldnt get a drink.

And so, when the bar went native roughly two months ago, business, he told us, definitely picked up.

This pleases me.

Sushi Yamas AYCE to-order is a fresh meal for a great deal | Review

Because I paid $28 for a Negroni at the Tampa Edition hotel a few months ago  admittedly not without a quick flash of nausea  and for $4 less at the Ette, my Moonchild cocktail (now with tequila!!) featured a spectacle that saw our small table literally draped with rolling, enchanted-forest-level mist in which Stevie Nicks would be proud to shake a tambourine.

Also now, chef Theo Goupils take on Akira Backs world-class menu can not only take center stage, but have many more guests sticking around to enjoy it.

That pizza is genius, says Goupil, whose resume isnt too shabby. Hes been at the helm at Salt & The Cellar for 10 months, but his Orlando story is six years running with the now-shuttered Winter Parks Financier Bistro & Bar a Vin (it opened as Financier Patisserie). Before that, he was the executive pastry chef at the lauded New York City location, a self-taught legacy whose father, too, worked in pastry.

I identify as a pastry chef, Goupil jokes, but I havent really been a pastry chef for about five years. And I didnt know if chef Akira had any pastry background, but with this pizza, hes working very much in the way a pastry chef would in terms of how its being produced.

How it is presented and consumed is the guests pleasure as they lift a delicate slice from the formidable pie and set it on sleek black crescent plates. Lovely, pink tuna, frozen and cut with a deli slicer to achieve an almost meltaway-thin construct, melds with truffle oil Goupil has sourced and re-sourced until the perfect level of light-garlicky was discovered.

If you visit for the hotel bars new social hour from 4-7 p.m., make this your go-to accompaniment.

For lunch or dinner (or something vegetarian  theres not too much in that vein now, but Goupil is looking to expand veg and plant-based options), the spinach oshitashi ($26) is splendid from plate to palate, with compressed, cuke-wrapped spinach that read like forest green maki balanced amid a plate of dressing thats deconstructed into abstract art. Just dont make the mistake of eating it pretty.

For Goupil, this salad paired with some fish, sea bass he suggests, would make a wonderful non-traditional lunch.

The creamy nuttiness of the sesame dressing, he murmurs. It really is something else. Its beautiful, and then it just gets destroyed and looks like a blob on a plate. Hes not lying, but trust your servers as they do the dirty work for you. This is how it eats best.

2024 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards: Best Splurge

As for fish, we went for the miso cod ($42), which Id call marshmallowy, but the level of disintegration that happens here needs its own new word. Marinated in a den miso of sake, sugar, mirin and white miso paste, the cod  on which a smidge of skin is left (one of the best bites of the plate, IMO)  is cooked by direct and indirect heat, glazed and caramelized.

It leans a tad sweet, but served alongside citrusy yuzu foam so realistic, it seems scooped from the place where the sea meets sand, it achieves a nice balance.

The cellar here may have wine in it now, but like many words, cellar has multiple definitions. Here, it refers to the gilded, painted oyster shells, which serve as cellars for the salt. We chose three to pair with the NY strip ($68).

Some have aromas  the hickory, for example  but we passed on familiarity for other selections, like bamboo and grape, which brought out unique flavors from the beautifully cooked, 14-ounce cut.

Sides like spicy kimchi Brussels ($14) and a complex and layered vegetable fried rice ($18) round out the table nicely.

It probably took me 60 orders to get that right, Goupil confesses, noting that without a proper wok station, heat regulation was a challenge. Repetition, though, clearly pays dividends. We spooned it out happily.

We wanted the restaurant to be an experience that was upscale but not uptight, says Ektabani. With its family-style, shareable M.O., Salt & The Cellar hit that mark easily. Service here, too, was exemplary, and its importance is not lost on the chef.

Its 50 percent of the experience, if not more, Goupil says. If you have bad service, youre left with a bad taste in your mouth even if the food is amazing.

The food was spectacular, and I agree  so, Ill shout out Paul for making our evening better than the schmancy cocktail preso, the tuna pizza or the AB cigar ($18) could have done on their own.

This dessert is another signature, one that Goupil wouldnt touch, even with his pastry chef hands.

Astonishingly realistic, the creamy, chocolate-encased passionfruit mousse comes complete with silvery cacao nibs that double as ash, the adorable AB cigar band an extra whimsical touch that these days call for photos.

People pick it up and pose like its a real cigar, and then they take a bite, Goupil laughs.

Whether or not youre that guy, this dessert is an undeniable fire end to a meal thats smokin, end to end.

If you go

Salt & The Cellar: Located inside the Ette Hotel, 3001 Sherbeth Road in Kissimmee, 407-288-1919; saltandthecellar.com

Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more foodie fun, join the Lets Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
Up to 1.5 million museum artifacts under Russian occupation, Ukraine's culture minister says

Approximately 1.5 million museum artifacts remain in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, according to acting Culture Minister Rostyslav Karandieiev, who spoke on national television on July 4.

The Culture Ministry reported that Russia's full-scale war has resulted in damage to 1,987 cultural facilities as of late April. Karandieiev added that Ukraine has lost numerous museum artifacts, even in liberated areas.

"Some were stolen, while others were damaged by enemy attacks," he said.

Kyiv, in collaboration with UNESCO, is meticulously documenting these Russian crimes under both international and national protocols.

"Soon the time will come when, we will be able to prepare lawsuits against the aggressor state, based on these testimonies and documents, which will certainly find a fair solution," the minister said.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution in late June recognized Russia's genocidal intent in destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage and identity.

The document condemns the systematic Russia's policy of "Russification" in the occupied territories of Ukraine which started since its first invasion in 2014, including the denial of the Ukrainian language and history.

Read also: Russian occupation authorities destroy UNESCO World Heritage site, build outdoor theater in its place

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A man was killed and another wounded in an attack Wednesday evening in Fullerton that authorities believe may be gang-related.

Fullerton Police Department officers responded to a fight in the 2400 block of West Valencia Avenue at about 6:15 p.m., police said in a news release.

When they arrived, officers found two men, both 20, who had suffered significant stab wounds and were lying in the street. One of them was taken to a local trauma center, where he was pronounced dead, and the other was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive.

The attacker or attackers are still at large, but investigators believe the stabbings may be gang-related.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective L. Ramirez at 714-738-5334.

To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or visit their 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.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  The Russell County Sheriffs Office says a 64-year-old Holyrood man is dead, and three others were injured following a severe thunderstorm that toppled multiple campers at Wilson State Park. It happened as the Fourth of July holiday was getting started.

The storm moved through the area around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued warnings of the storm as it was producing wind gusts of 60-70 mph.

After the storm, multiple 911 calls were received about damage at the park. Numerous law enforcement agencies and fire departments responded and found several campers had been blown over.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

During the search and rescue, three people were transported to Russell Regional Hospital with injuries. A man identified as Christopher Montoya was found dead in the Hell Creek Park Area of the lake. The Russell County Sheriffs Office says an autopsy on Montoya will be held sometime Thursday.

Wichita hospital busy with firework injuries

KSN News traveled to Wilson Lake on Thursday and talked to a camper about riding out the storm.

We were very lucky. Yesterday was a bad storm, and not knowing how this happened is unreal. Theres been a lot of bad storms out here, but um, seeing what weve just seen down at Blue Stem, I mean thats just heartbreaking. You come out here for a good time, and this is what happens, Sarah Shubert, camper, said.

It was awful because our Key (camper) broke into three pieces, and we couldnt get out of our tent. But, luckily, my stepdad ran over to us and helped us out, Maria Hernandez, camper, said.

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

A severe thunderstorm toppled multiple campers at Wilson Lake on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Courtesy Mike Schoech)

Meanwhile, cleanup is underway at the lake. Authorities say debris may be present on roads, parks and water.

The National Weather Service says they are not planning a damage survey.

Storm Track 3 Forecast: A not-so-hot 4th of July, more weekend storm chances

The KSN Storm Track 3 Weather team received a report of a house with part of the roof blown off northeast of Ellsworth. Further south and east, in McPherson, Harvey, Saline, Rice, Reno and Sedgwick counties, reports of wind gusts ranged between 60 and 80 mph. In Harvey County, there was a report of a large tree uprooted near Newton.

Storm reports received by the KSN Storm Track 3 Weather team:

68 mph winds  Russell, Russell County

70 mph wind gusts  8 NNE Kanopolis, Ellsworth County

60 mph gust  4 ESE Wilson, Ellsworth County

70 mph gust  8 WNW Marquette, Ellsworth County

60 mph gust  Ellsworth, Ellsworth County

82 mph gust  3 SW Salina, Saline County

60 mph gust  Lindsborg, McPherson County

61 mph gust  2 W Little River, Rice County

73 mph gust  6 ENE Kanopolis, Ellsworth County

65 mph gust  Culver, Ottawa County

75 mph gust  3 E McPherson, McPherson County

69 mph gust  Lindsborg, McPherson County

60 mph gust  6 ESE Inman, McPherson County

63 mph gust  4 S Durham, Marion County

67 mph gust  5 ESE Partridge, Reno County

76 mph gust  1 S McPherson, Mcpherson County

72 mph gust  1 W Canton, McPherson County

60 mph gust  Sedgwick, Harvey County

Damage  Large tree uprooted  2 WNW Newton, Harvey County

72mph gust  1 W Canton, McPherson 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 KSN-TV.
The dozen signatories on a joint statement represent a wide spectrum of government staff, including former employees of the State Department, Department of Interior and White House, as well as former military officers. They resigned in protest at different times over the nine months of Israels war against Hamas following the U.S.-designated terrorist groups Oct. 7 attack. 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, they wrote. The impact of these injustices has resulted in tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian lives taken, reflecting a clear picture to the world of whose lives matter, and whose lives simply do not to United States policy makers. As members of the United States Government, each of us witnessed this abrogation of American values, leading us to resign. The twelve wrote that they have grave concerns with current U.S. policy towards the crisis in Gaza, and U.S. policies and practices towards Palestine and Israel more broadly. The statement lays out six policy recommendations for the administration to implement, calling for the U.S. to faithfully execute the law related to American weapons deliveries to Israel. The Administration is currently willfully violating multiple U.S. laws and attempting to deny or distort facts, use loopholes, or manipulate processes to ensure a continuous flow of lethal weapons to Israel, the statement reads. The signatories call for the U.S. to exert all leverage to bring fighting to a halt, secure the release of Israeli hostages from Hamas and the release of Palestinian minors in Israeli jails; surge humanitarian support to Gaza; support of self-determination for the Palestinian people and an end to military occupation and settlements, including in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Read the full report at TheHill.com.
Ukraine is grateful to Western partners for their support, but the pledged assistance is arriving too slowly, complicating the situation on the front lines, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 4.

"We have 14 brigades who do not have the necessary weapons that have already been approved and discussed," Zelensky said.

Washington, Kyiv's leading military donor, approved in April a long-expected $61-billion aid package after months of delays.

In spite of this, Russia has continued to pressure Ukraine along the front, launching a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and steadily pushing into a key town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast.

"The (assistance) packages should arrive, but they are coming slowly," the president said, adding, "We are grateful to Congress for its support."

Zelensky said that, nonetheless, the situation cannot be described as a stalemate and that the current difficulties can be solved with appropriate tools, referring to foreign military aid.

The head of state said that, at the moment, it is not appropriate to talk about a Ukrainian counteroffensive as Kyiv must focus on protecting what it has. Any pushback against Russian forces will be possible once sufficient weapons arrive, he added.

Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive has achieved only minimal results, while the subsequent Russian push utilized the lull in U.S. aid and led to the capture of the key front-line town of Avdiivka.

Ukraine managed to halt the Russian push into the northern part of Kharkiv Oblast, but the situation in the east remains difficult. Earlier on July 4, the military announced withdrawal from the Chasiv Yar's eastern neighborhood, Kanal.

Read also: Ukraine withdraws from eastern Chasiv Yar neighborhood, military says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CHICAGO (WGN-TV)  Two mothers and three of their children were shot Thursday morning on Chicagos South Side.

Police said officers responded to a home on South Woodlawn Avenue around 6:15 a.m. for reports of multiple people shot.

Upon arrival, officers found five gun shot victims and began administering first aid.

Police said a 42-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A 24-year-old woman was taken to the hospital were she was pronounced dead.

Several injured in separate shootings overnight in Chicago

Family members have identified the women as Capri Edwards and her aunt Nakeeshia Strong. Family members said Edwards died while shielding her 1-year-old from the shooting.

Police said three children  ages 5, 7 and 8  were also shot and are in critical condition at the hospital. The 8-year-old boy later died from his injuries at the hospital, according to Chicago police.

Family members told Nexstars WGN two of the children belong to Edwards. The 8-year-old is the child of Strong.

Police said two vehicles drove up to the home and multiple people got out of the vehicles and fired at the home. A neighbor who heard the gunshots reported seeing several men in ski masks approach the home that was targeted.

I saw two people jumping off the porch after looking out the window, the neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. I thought it was fireworks.

Strongs son, Frank Mixon was startled awake by the sound of gunfire. Outside his bedroom, he couldnt believe what he was seeing: five family members shot, his mother among them.

I just woke up and saw a massacre of everything, Mixon said. Very vivid to see everything.

Multiple bullet holes were visible in the homes front window. Police said casings from a rifle and a handgun were found outside. They believe the melee began with a personal dispute.

We know its personal, said Deputy Chief Don Jerome. We dont know what its about. We dont know if it happened today or if its ongoing.

As of Thursday afternoon, no one was in custody.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Missouri State Highway Patrol has identified the two people killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus in Clay County.

The crash was reported just after 3 p.m. Wednesday in the area of 92 Highway and A Highway, between Kearney and Smithville.

Woman shot to death in QuikTrip parking lot in Kansas City

MSHP reports the crash happened as the driver of a 2012 Ford Fusion was stopped on westbound 92 Highway and was preparing to make a turn and was struck by a 2014 Toyota Scion that then crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the side of a school bus that was traveling eastbound. The Scion then spun around and struck a 2023 Ford Explorer.

A passenger in the Scion was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. She has been identified as 35-year-old Iris Vallares Barahona, of Kansas City, Missouri.

Another passenger in the Scion was taken to Liberty Hospital where she later died from her injuries. She has been identified as Griselda Rodriguez Apolinar, also of Kansas City, Missouri.

The driver of the Scion was taken to Liberty Hospital with serious injuries.

There were 17 students and four adults on the school bus with two students taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Other students were taken to Kearney to be reunited with families.

The students are with the Gallatin School District and were heading home from Kansas City International Airport after a conference in Florida.

Kansas City Fire Department makes several water rescues amid flash floods

The Gallatin School District released a statement Thursday saying We want to inform you that one of our school buses was involved in an accident earlier today returning from FBLA national contests. We are relieved to report that all students and staff members on the bus have been accounted for and are safe. We would like to thank our staff members for their very swift response and attention to our students during this time. We are working closely with local authorities and will provide more information as it becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

MSHP is continuing to investigate 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 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Two officers with the Los Angeles Police Department were injured in a shootout with a suspect on Wednesday night, authorities confirmed.

The incident occurred in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood of South L.A., where the officers attempted a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet Malibu around 9 p.m. near the intersection of Broadway and Rosecrans Avenue.

The Malibu eventually came to a stop and the driver immediately opened fire on the officers, police said. The officers returned fire, though its unknown if they struck the suspect.

LAPD officers injured in shootout

After firing an unknown number of shots, the driver returned to their vehicle and sped off, with the officers giving chase until losing sight of the car near Broadway and 135th Street.

Both officers were transported to a local hospital and were listed in stable condition. One suffered a graze wound to the forehead while the other was injured by glass shards, authorities said.

The investigation into the shooting is still underway as of Thursday morning. The suspect remains at large.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A 15-year-old is dead after firefighters say she drowned in a Fresno pool on Wednesday. Crews add that a 14-year-old who was with the victim was hospitalized during the same incident.

Officials with the Fresno Fire Department say they received a call regarding a possible drowning at around 2 p.m. at a home in the area of Purdue Avenue and Ramona Avenue in Fresno.

Fresnos new $1.6M splash pad is now open

Firefighters say two girls, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, previously reported by fire officials as a boy and a man, were pulled from the pool in the home. The 15-year-old was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and the 14-year-old is in stable but critical condition at Valley Childrens Hospital.

The Fresno Fire Department received assistance from the Clovis Fire Department. The investigation was turned over to the Fresno Police Department.

This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be provided 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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
CHICAGO (CBS)  Two women and a child were killed, and two other children were critically hurt after a mass shooting in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood Thursday morning, according to Chicago police.

Deputy Chief Don Jerome said around 6:15 a.m., officers responded to an alert of shots fired in the 7100 block of South Woodlawn Avenue, where they found five people shot.

Two cars pulled into the area. Several people got out and fired shots from a rifle and handgun at the home.

The shooters fled the scene in an unknown direction, and no one is in custody.

The victims were two women, identified by the family as Capri Edwards, 24, Nakeeshia Strong, 45, and a 7-year-old boy who died. Two other boys, ages 5 and 8, were injured. They all had gunshot wounds and were given first aid by the officers.

The victims were two women, identified by family as 24-year-old Capri Edwards (right) and 45-year-old Nakeeshia Strong (left), and three boys, ages 5, 7, and 8. They all suffered gunshot wounds and were given first aid by the officers. / Credit: Provided to CBS

Strong died at the scene. Edwards was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she died.

All three children were taken to Comer Children's Hospital, initially reported in critical condition. Later on Thursday, Chicago police said one of the 8-year-old boys had died.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office had not identified the 8-year-old boy who died as of Thursday night.

"I'm just numb"

Markita Scott, Edwards' mother, told CBS News Chicago that her daughter died trying to save her children. Scott said Edwards was not only her daughter but also her best friend.

"She shielded her babies so that he wouldn't get hit," Scott said. "So she really died to save her children."

Scott described Strong as a mother, grandmother, aunt, and a very loving person.

"I'm just numb," Scott said. "I just want somebody to come forward with some kind of information so [there's] justice for my daughter."

Police said they were investigating into the possibility that the shooting stemmed from a personal dispute.

One neighbor said he heard the shots and ran to his window.

"Thought it was fireworks, it wasn't fireworks. Two people jumping off the porch they had masks on so I couldn't even see no face they took off and they went right. They went straight down. I go to run back in the house to get away from that," he said.

Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) called for an end to the violence and says he prays it doesn't happen again.

"This senseless violence has to stop. Personal conflict and guns its become a bad combination. You know, the summer is just getting started. I don't want to stand in front of another group of microphones and have another discussion about the pain that's causing our communities," Yancy said.

Area detectives are investigating the shooting. Anyone with information can submit an anonymous tip to CPDTip.com.

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2 Years After Son Was Paralyzed in Highland Park Shooting, Mom Says Road to Recovery Is 'Unbelievably Difficult'

Seven people were killed and more than 40 were injured in the July 4, 2022, mass shooting

Courtesy Keely Roberts Cooper Roberts

It has been two years since a gunman opened fire at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park.

Seven people were killed and more than 40 were injured in the morning mass shooting on July 4, 2022.

Among those injured were Keely Roberts and her son Cooper, then 8, who was hit in the back with a bullet that exited his chest, damaging his aorta, liver, esophagus and spinal cord and paralyzing him from the waist down.

"This Fourth of July is the 730th [day] anniversary of the total annihilation of our lives," Roberts said in a virtual media briefing on Wednesday, July 3.

"It's been 730 days since Cooper was able to wake up, jump out of bed, and run down the stairs ready for his first breakfast of the day. ... That family who walked to the parade that awful day, they're gone. They no longer exist."

"Every one of our lives were damaged by the shooter and by this act of senseless violence," Roberts said. "This was a murderous attack on all of us. No American life went unscathed that day."

Courtesy Keely Roberts

Related: One Mom's Powerful Story of Her Son's Fight for Life After Highland Park Mass Shooting

Over the last two years, Roberts says she has been amazed by Cooper's ability to stay positive. "He is truly still the same Cooper in terms of his personality, his outlook on life, his love for everything," she said. "He loves everyone and everything."

But, she said, "This is an unbelievably difficult road that he is on, and I think that this summer, as positive and optimistic as he is, I think it's been a hard summer to start to adjust to. He's a 10-year-old now. He's a big boy, and I think that he is really aware of what he's lost."

Suspect reverses course, pleads not guilty

Roberts was in court last week when alleged gunman Robert Crimo III, who was expected to plead guilty, changed his mind and entered a not guilty plea.

What happened, she said, was "another example of the re-victimization of victims, the continued infliction of extreme suffering on innocent people who continue to suffer in unthinkable ways each and every day."

Roberts said she almost didn't go to the hearing because "it is literally impossible to describe what it's like to have a total stranger try to kill you and your family."

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According to CNN, the suspect had initially agreed to plead guilty to seven counts of murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery, as well as a sentence of life in prison. He has been charged with 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder and 48 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm.

His trial is now scheduled for Feb. 25, 2025, per CNN.

Related: A Former Teacher, a Loving Grandfather: What We Know About the Victims of the Highland Park Shooting

I have come to believe that there's not really going to be closure for us," she said. "The wound is too big. It's too deep. But what there is going to be is justice. There's just nothing healing or restorative or comforting about justice delayed, especially justice delayed in a way that feels cruel."

Family might never attend parade again

Roberts said she and her family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received the last two years.



Every single day, we are just blessed by the love and generosity of neighbors, of strangers, of people within our community, people outside our country, worldwide, she said. We've received messages of love and support. And it's been a very humbling experience as a parent  to feel like you went from a life where you were taking care of your family, where you felt like if your children needed something, you would take care of it. If your family needed something, you would be able to address it  to having to be in a place where you don't have all the answers, you don't have all the resources you need. It is humbling. And we have been so picked up in love by everyone that it's really been a story about love."

Roberts said she and her family will not be attending this year's Fourth of July parade, which is being held for the first time since the shooting.

"Truthfully, I don't know if we'll ever be able to attend the parade again," she said.

This year, the family plans to spend the holiday on a lake in Wisconsin.

We'll just really lean into how much we have to be thankful [for], that my family is still intact, she said. There are families that lost loved ones in this shooting, and our hearts break with them. We will grieve every step of the way alongside those families.

The suspect was on a rooftop overlooking the parade route when he fired more than 70 rounds from a high-powered rifle, per CNN.

Katherine Goldstein, 64; Irina McCarthy, 35; Kevin McCarthy, 37; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; and Eduardo Uvaldo, 69, died in the shooting.



The suspect's father, Robert Crimo Jr., pleaded guilty last year to reckless conduct for allegedly helping his son procure a Firearm Owners Identification Card, per ABC News.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Roberts family.



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A car stolen after an elderly couple was gunned down inside their Fort Lauderdale home in March was located at a tow yard two weeks after their slayings, police confirmed Wednesday  as new details emerge in the case.

Maurice Anthony Newson Jr., 30, is accused of selling the red Ford Fusion for which detectives were searching in connection to the murders of Claudette Melvin, 85, and Major Melvin, 89. He was arrested in late May and has since pleaded not guilty to grand theft auto and dealing in stolen property charges.

Newsons arrest warrant, however, was penned by a homicide detective  and delves into developments in the probe, including conflicting statements made by one of the Melvins granddaughters. No one has been charged with the murders.

The Fort Lauderdale Police Department said detectives are working diligently to determine if Newson was involved in the deaths of the Melvins, who were married for nearly six decades. They were shot to death on March 22 in their house on the 600 block of Southwest 30th Terrace.

READ MORE: Thats a tragedy: Couple married for almost 60 years killed in Broward home invasion

The couple lived in the Melrose Manors neighborhood for 50 years, raising their blended family in South Florida after moving from Virginia in the 70s. They had 11 children and about 28 grandchildren.

Tonya Mitchell becomes emotional during a news conference in reference to the March 22, 2024, double homicide of her parents, 89 year old Major Melvin and 85 year old Claudette Melvin at their Fort Lauderdale home in the 600 block of SW 30 Terrace. This at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

I have so many good memories, daughter Tonya Mitchell previously told the Miami Herald. I dont want to think about what happened to them... They way they went out, thats a tragedy.

Slain couples granddaughter probed?

After Newsons arrest, family members told detectives that he had visited the home following the murders acting strange and asking a lot of questions about what detectives were saying about the investigation.

Newson, however, was known to the family  as he had been dating one of the Melvins granddaughters for more than a year.

On April 9, investigators questioned Melvins granddaughter and confronted her with paperwork that they had uncovered in her room, including a list of property expenses, such as pest control and renovations, the warrant reveals. She told detectives that she didnt own a property, but confirmed that the expenses were for her grandparents house as she was going to be the one in line to receive the home.

She said she wrote the document at the start of the year to have a goal, according to the warrant.

Then, on May 16, the couples granddaughter sat through a polygraph test, the warrant states. The FBI agent administering the lie-detector said it revealed she was untruthful on the question of being involved in the death of her grandparents Claudette and Major Melvin.

In an interview, the couples granddaughter changed her answers on [questions] she was previously asked and denied being next to inherit the house, according to police. She also said she couldnt remember when she last drove the red Ford Fusion and confirmed that she had dated Newson in the past.

Around the time of the murder, the couple had a granddaughter staying with them, according to the warrant. Its currently unclear if she is the the same granddaughter who was questioned by police. That granddaughter, the warrant says, left the house to stay with her boyfriend on March 21, hours before the couple was shot to death.

Red car, tow yard and $200 sale

A dark, four-door sedan arrived at the home shortly before 1 a.m. on the day of the killings, according to the warrant. A person walked toward the home after retrieving an item from the back seat. Minutes later, they returned to the car, driving off.

Surveillance footage also captured the red Ford Fusion turning on and leaving the house around 3:30 a.m., the warrant says. The car was caught about 20 minutes later on Floridas Turnpike, approaching Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach.

Homicide detective Leann Swisher, left, and homicide Sergeant Donald Geiger point out a sticker, top, and damage, below, on photos of the victims vehicle during a news conference in reference to the March 22, 2024, double homicide of 89 year old Major Melvin and 85 year old Claudette Melvin at their Fort Lauderdale home in the 600 block of SW 30 Terrace. This at the Fort Lauderdale Police Department in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

The vehicle wasnt spotted again until April 4, when a witness told police he spotted the car at a tow yard on West Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. The car was identified by the scratch on its left side, a sticker and the dent on the bumper.

READ MORE: Couple married for nearly 60 years shot to death in Fort Lauderdale. Police offer reward

A tow truck driver told investigators that he received a text from his boss on the evening of March 22 about a red Ford Fusion for sale, according to the document. He contacted the seller to purchase the vehicle.

The seller  later identified as Newson  said he had recently bought the car but was tired of putting money into it, the warrant states. When asked, the man said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle.

The tow truck driver purchased the car for $200, though he contacted his boss after seeing it on the news. Investigators determined that the number the seller used during the exchange was a TextNow number, which was later linked to Newson, according to the warrant.

Detectives followed the cars trail and visited the Tri-Rail parking lot in Fort Lauderdale, where the tow truck driver met up to purchase the vehicle, the document states. A worker said a red Ford Fusion was backed into a parking spot around 7:30 a.m. on March 22.

Anyone with information should contact Det. Almanzar 954-828-5546, Det. Swisher 954-828-4007 or Det. Sgt. Geiger at 954-828-6958. You can also reach out to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.
23 years since P.O.D. released Youth Of The Nation, the song is depressingly more relevant than ever

When nu metal forerunners P.O.D. released Youth Of The Nation in 2001, it was in response to a tragedy. The 2001 Santana High School shooting happened just a couple of blocks away from the band's studio in their native San Diego and was the latest in a depressingly long list of similar events that had unfolded in the two years following the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre.

Unfortunately, things have only gotten worse in the 23 years since. A 2022 Washington Post report stated that there have been 413 school shootings since 1999, while a 2024 CNN report added that as of June 24 2024 there have been "at least" 34 school shootings this year alone.

Speaking to Classic Rock, P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval was asked if he was depressed that the single, taken from 2001's Platinum-selling Satellite, had only grown more relevant over time.

Its sad. Totally heartbreaking," he admits. "I say this all the time, but I wouldnt want to be a kid today. Im glad my kids are older, but Im still very compassionate for those kids who are growing up now and thats why I run the Youth Of The Nation foundation."

A charity set up by Sandoval, the Youth Of The Nation foundation was set up to provide (as per the organisation's website), "a safe haven, especially for those in underprivileged neighborhoods and inner city communities where at-risk youth are given the opportunity to find their self-worth and value" through art and mentorship programmes.

Sandoval admitted that the challenges facing children now are very different to when he was growing up.

"I believe in young people and I care for them," he explains. "But if you look at how were communicating  social media or whatever  its too much. When we were kids, you went outside and threw a ball around, played hide and seek. Now its too hard to be just innocent, because theyre constantly being bombarded. So Im sad the song is still so relevant in 2024, but if its gonna be in peoples faces and ears, say hey, we need to pay attention to our kids, to their mental health and to gun violence, I hope were always poking the bear.

For more info on The Youth Of The Nation Foundation, visit their official website. Classic Rock's full interview with Sonny Sandoval is online now.
DANVILLE, Va. (WFXR) The Danville Police Department says a 28-year-old man was arrested after a vehicle was allegedly shot at during an incident deemed as road rage on Tuesday, July 2.

According to the police department, officers responded at around 4:00 p.m. on a report of shots fired in the area of the 700 block of Halifax Road. A short time later, a victim reported his vehicle had been allegedly shot into during what police consider a road rage incident.

Through information found at the scene, the suspect vehicle and the driver identified as 28-year-old Marlowe Malik Cobbs of Milton, NC, was located by the Caswell County sheriffs office in North Carolina. He was extradited back to Virginia and has been charged with:

Shooting from a vehicle

Attempted aggravated malicious wounding

Use of a firearm in commission of a felony

Child endangerment

Shooting at an occupied vehicle

Three juveniles in custody after alleged Danville vehicle break-ins

Cobbs is currently being held in the Danville City Jail under no bond.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Danville Police Department by either calling patrol at 434-799-6510 option 4, investigations at 434-799-6508 option 1, and option 1 again, calling 911, contacting Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000, approach any officer you see, through social media, via email crimetips@danvilleva.gov, or use our crime tips app CARE at www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=818#.

WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
DENVER (KDVR)  The Fort Collins SWAT team arrested three people at a motel in the 1500 block of North College Avenue on Wednesday, the agency reported.

The team was at the motel to serve multiple search warrants, according to the agency. Officers were at the scene for about six hours to interview occupants and search rooms and the business office as required by the warrants.

4 killed in Morgan County pickup truck, side-by-side crash

Ultimately, officers arrested three people on unrelated arrest warrants and seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, stolen property and a firearm. The names of those arrested were not provided, nor the charges they may be facing, but the agency said the investigation is ongoing and additional criminal charges and arrests are expected.

The mission of our Strategic Operations Group is to address persistent complaints of criminal activity that negatively affect the quality of life and safety of Fort Collins community members. Todays operation demonstrates that (Fort Collins Police Services) takes complaints seriously and makes every effort to keep our community safe, said Lieutenant Kelly Weaver of the Fort Collins Police Special Operations Division, who oversees the operation of the Strategic Operations Group, in a release.

Also at Wednesdays scene were personnel from the Fort Collins Police Service SWAT Team, the Criminal Investigations Division and multiple specialty units. Poudre Fire Authority and Poudre Valley Hospital also provided stand-by medical support. The search and arrests occurred without incident, according to the Fort Collins agency.

Anyone with information for this investigation who has not already spoken to the police can call Officer Caleb McDowell at 970-416-2036.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
3 charged with concealing death of GA woman whose remains were found in TN woods

Police have now charged three people in the disappearance of an Alpharetta woman whose remains were later found in Tennessee.

Maury-Ange Martinez, 20, vanished in August 2023 after she was last seen in Cobb County. Her remains were found in the woods in Chattanooga in January and were positively identified in June.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On Thursday, Cobb County police confirmed to Channel 2 Cobb Bureau Chief Michele Newell that three people have been charged with concealing Martinezs death.

Two of the suspects, Allen Kerr and Sean Deshazer, were already in custody on unrelated charges. A Kansas police department arrested the third suspect, Jasmine Craig.

TRENDING STORIES:

As families spend time with loved ones on the Fourth of July, Anita Darling can only look back at the memories she shared with her daughter.

I cant get the ultimate thing back, which is my daughter. But I can understand and find out more about what happened, Darling told Newell.

Darling doesnt know yet what happened to her daughter. She is just relieved that police are getting closer to giving her family some sort of closure.

I know just to get to the point theyre at right now was a lot of work and Im so thankful for everything that they have done up to this point, she said. Im confident in the investigators that are on the case theyve been amazing, I feel like theyve worked very diligently.

At this point, Martinezs cause of death has not been released.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Denver police announced Wednesday the arrest of three suspects as a result of a months-long, complex investigation on suspicion of manufacturing and distributing fentanyl pills, among other charges.

FOX31 reported on the case on May 1 when the Denver Police Department, Aurora SWAT, Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration conjoined to serve a narcotics-related search warrant at an Aurora home. The search, conducted in the 1800 block of South Olathe Street, led to investigators finding a fentanyl pill-making operation.

Armed man taken into custody near Chautauqua

The May 1 search warrant resulted in officers seizing five pill-making presses, other equipment, suspected fentanyl, other narcotics and firearms. Investigators said the operation was capable of producing approximately 20,000 pills daily, but the actual amount of pills produced is unknown, according to Denver police.

Police also found four adults and three children inside the home during the search warrant. All of the children were four years old or younger. One of the children tested positive for fentanyl exposure after the search warrant, according to police.

2 arrested during search warrant now facing charges

Two of the adults were arrested in May on outstanding warrants not directly related to the search warrant, but now both are facing a slew of charges for the alleged pill-making operation.

Tashon Roberts, 33, was arrested on July 2 and is facing charges of:

Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Special offender: Conspiracy, pattern of sale

Special offender: Source of income

Special offender: Firearm

Special offender: Fentanyl pill press

Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance

Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

Coleman Phillips, 34, was arrested on June 20 on investigation of:

Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Special offender: Source of income

Special offender: Firearm

Special offender: Fentanyl pill press

Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance

Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

Imani Hale, 28, was arrested July 2 on suspicion of:

Possession with intent: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Conspiracy, controlled substance: Fentanyl, more than 50 grams

Special offender: Firearm

Special offender: Fentanyl pill press

Three counts of child abuse: Manufacturing controlled substance

Child abuse: Serious bodily injury knowingly or recklessly

RTD kept elevator doors at stations open for months: Did it lower crime?

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said his agency will continue aggressively pursuing manufacturers and dealers of illicit narcotics. He said the dismantling of the pill-making operation potentially saved lives in the community.

According to the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment, the city saw 598 deaths involving drugs last year, and of those, 389 involved fentanyl.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Three suspects are wanted after allegedly stealing from a Grocery Outlet in Downtown Fresno, police say.

Fresno police were called to the store at 2820 Tulare Street on Sunday about a disturbance between employees and three suspects.

Man sought for armed robbery at a Fresno smoke shop, police say

Officers say that two men and one woman entered the grocer, gathered miscellaneous items, and then attempted to leave without paying. A physical altercation ensued after employees confronted them.

3 wanted after robbing Downtown Fresno store, police say

Investigators are asking for the communitys help in identifying the suspects. Anyone with information about the suspects identity or whereabouts should contact Detective Drake Martens by phone at (559) 621-6130 or email at Drake.Martens@fresno.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 YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Roaches dead and alive, rodents dead and gnawing and other problems with basic cleanliness and food safety put five restaurants on this weeks Sick and Shut Down List.

Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are represented on the only list that regularly covers the Keys to the Palm Beaches.

Some reminders because weve been away for a few weeks: we dont decide who gets inspected. We dont do the inspections. We merely report what Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspectors found. If you have a complaint about a restaurant, let them know about it. Do not email us.

We present this without passion or prejudice, but with a little bit of humor and a dash of judgment.

In alphabetical order...

China Town, 649 NW 62nd St., Miami: Routine inspection, 22 total violations, two High Priority violations.

The day the inspector cleared the Wingstop next door (see below), China Town got a once over. To sum up this inspection...forget it, Jake. Its China Town.

There was a strong odor by the ware-washing and mop sink area.

Observed one dead rodent under preparation table front of the walk-in cooler.

After that, the rest of the inspection is pretty much garbage time (literally), but there were also live roaches walking solo under a kitchen wok, in front of a walk-in freezer, on racks next to the back door and on a wall above the three-compartment sink. Under kitchen prep tables  boy, prep tables must be the killing fields in this place  lay 11 dead roaches.

Clean knives were stored on a dirty knife magnet holder.

Soiled described the door handles on the walk-in coolers and freezer.

Employee handling food without a hair restraint.

Even if you dont have rodents and roaches running around, storing food directly on the floor isnt smart and these folks had pork ribs , raw pork, raw chicken, boxes with cabbage and soy source on the floors of their walk-in coolers.

Frozen pork ribs were thawing in standing water (a no-no, you should fridge thaw) in a part of the three-compartment sink (used for hand washing, rinsing and sanitizing).

A can opener was soiled with grease. What are they opening, a can of Quaker State?

China Town passed inspection the next day.

READ MORE: Unclean hands, unclean equipment at a Miami Latin American Bakery

Huey Magoos Chicken Tenders, 9216 Wiles Rd., Coral Springs: Complaint inspection, two total violations, one High Priority violation.

The only High Priority violation was 10 live roaches on the floor and the wall across from the mop sink in the kitchen.

That was enough. Huey Magoos was out of action until passing re-inspection the next day.

Panda Express, 970 N. Congress Ave., Unincorporated Palm Beach: Complaint inspection, three total violations, two High Priority violations.

Body blow! The vent cover over soy sauce and pineapple on a shelf was dusty.

Body blow! Approximately 10 live flies sitting on soda machine boxes in the back of the kitchen.

Knock him out! Approximately 35 live roaches crawling on the counter at the food service display station, and five live roaches on a dining room wall.

No Kung Fu Panda, this place went down like Glass Joe. It passed re-inspection the next day.

READ MORE: 449 people sick in 2 salmonella outbreaks and another Florida link

Wilton Wings, 1428 NE Fourth Ave., Fort Lauderdale: Complaint inspection, 13 total violations, five High Priority violations.

Savages these rodents be, leaving four pieces of poop on boxes of Oreos and Twinkies. Another eight were on a dry storage shelf with spices, sugar, containers of fruit. There were 17 droppings on top of the dishwasher and 20 in a corner of dry storage.

Wonder if the same rodents who did that put the gnaw marks on two 10-pound bags of dry pasta. Stop Sales dropped on those.

About 15 flies darted around the kitchen and food prep areas.

The floor was soiled or had an accumulation of debris under the three-compartment sink, around and under all cooking equipment, and under all dry storage shelving.

When the inspector returned the following day, 10 rodent droppings on a dry storage shelf and 13 flies, including five on a tea brewer, meant another Wilton Wings stayed grounded.

But, the inspector came back later for one of those same-day re-inspections. Apparently, all the flies and very regular rodents were gone because Wilton Wings passed enough to re-open.

Wingstop, 651 NW 62nd St., Miami: Complaint inspection, 15 total violations, three High Priority violations.

Old Reliables later than expected, but still makes the list...Accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of the ice machine/bin.

Three roaches crawled on the floor under the front counter. Two live ones were under paper bags on a rack next to the managers desk. Another three were on a sanitizer box under a desk.

Under the counter near the cash register, there were five dead roaches. Another 15 roach corpses were on a plastic container under the soda machine.

A hole interrupted the wall across from the restroom used by customers.

No soap provided at handwash sink which led to Observed employees washing hands with no soap. As Jules Winfield might note, thats just employees getting their hands wet.

Wingstop restarted the next day after passing re-inspection.
In 3rd week, Little Twist Fire balloons to 4,000 acres at 35% containment

BEAVER, Utah (ABC4)  Hot temperatures and gusty winds arent helping firefighters in Beaver County as they continue to battle the Little Twist wildfire, now in its third week of burning.

Little Twist Fire Public Information Officer Kylee Stott reported this morning that the fire is now at around 4,015 acres and is only 35% contained as it continues to rage across steep, rugged terrain in remote areas.

A total of 283 firefighters are continuing to fight the blaze, said Stott.

Yesterdays hot temperatures combined with northwesterly winds brought increased fire activity in the Middle Fork and South Fork areas of South Creek, she explained.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

As the blaze rakes across dead and dry vegetation, it is producing large amounts of smoke. Weather conditions over the next several days may lead to more smoke being visible from Interstate 15, Interstate 70, and Hwys. 89 and 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 ABC4 Utah.
About Dandan: According to authorities, Dandan hit her head on the train and fell on the platform after being pushed. She was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where she later died. Dandan, who was Filipino American, was a dedicated telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis and other hotels. Despite not needing to work for financial reasons, she continued because she loved her job, according to her nephew, Alvin Dandan. She was described by her neighbors as friendly, kind and someone who would give vegetables.
8-Year-Old Boy Saves His Younger Sister from a Dog Attack: 'I Didn't Want Her to Die'

"He jumped on the dog and pulled it off her and continued to kick it until her grandpa came to help," Rebecca Chitwood said of her son

Getty angry dog -- stock image

An 8-year-old boy is being hailed a hero after saving his little sister from a vicious dog attack.

Rebecca Chitwood, the mother of Nicholas, 8, and his 6-year-old sister Lillian, told local news outlet WNEM on Tuesday, July 2, that the children were playing at their grandparents home at the time of the June 30 attack.

Related: 85-Year-Old Grandfather Dies Saving Wife from Dog Attack in Backyard: He Was a Hero

When I got the call, I just dropped everything that I was doing and actually just sped all the way to the hospital, she said, after discovering the neighbors pit bull had gotten out of the yard and allegedly attacked her daughter.

Chitwood made the drive with very little details about what actually happened.

To me, that could mean anything. It could be a couple of puncture wounds, it could be what shes experiencing now, it couldve been even worse, she said of her initial reaction to the phone call.

While Lillian is stable and has begun her recovery, Chitwood said her daughter still has a long way to go.

getty child in hospital bed -- stock image

There was a slice on her neck, and it was about three centimeters from severing the artery, she said. And another bite went all the way down on her face.

Lillian could now face extensive nerve damage, but she and her family are grateful that shes alive.

It was hard but Im thankful for my brother to help me because if he didnt, I would be dead by now, she told WNEM.

Related: 6-Week-Old Boy Dies After Being Attacked By Family Dog in Crib, Family Says

I didnt want her to die, Nicholas told WNEM.

Chitwood referred to her son as the best big brother in the world, adding that she was very proud of him.

Chitwood also spoke to Fox News Digital about how Nicholas came to Lillians rescue.

"He jumped on the dog and pulled it off her and continued to kick it until her grandpa came to help," she said of her son. "He was just trying to save his sister. He heard her let out a scream and  He jumped into action."

Related: 4-Year-Old's 'Scalp Was Torn Off' in Dog Attack, Says Relative, as Mom and Boyfriend Arrested

According to a GoFundMe account started by Chitwood to help pay Lillian's medical expenses, The dog was NOT provoked before attacking Lillian.

We were transported to university of Michigan for extensive surgery. I found out that the owners did not have renters insurance and are refusing to help with anything, Chitwood wrote.

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The road ahead for my daughter is going to be long one, and numerous trips to University of Michigan which is a few hours away. This will require time off of work, and numerous medical bills for who knows how long, not to mention the mental aspect of this traumatizing experience for my baby girl!

The dog involved in the attack was euthanized by animal control, WNEM reported.

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9 out of 10 voters say there are important differences between Biden and Trump. Heres what they see as the biggest ones

If theres one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, its that this years presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest CNN poll conducted by SSRS, 91% of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77% of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called double haters  those with unfavorable views of both Biden and Trump  only 20% say that the two candidates are pretty much the same.

To get a broader image of how voters view the stakes of the election, CNN asked voters to name the single most important difference they saw between the two candidates. As the results highlight, the contrasts that most stick in voters minds are often not about policy issues at all. While some voters mentioned the topics that often top voters lists this year when asked to pick their most important issues  the economy, immigration or a commitment to democracy  others were more focused on character and personal traits, with honesty, ability to handle the job and perceived motivations among the traits most mentioned as distinguishing factors.

Among those who saw significant differences between Biden and Trump, the most frequently mentioned distinctions were honesty and integrity (17%), ability to handle the job or mental fitness (15%), love for the country or patriotism (10%), perceived self-serving or egotistical motivations (10%) and effectiveness or performance in office (8%). Another 8% talked about protecting democracy or the Constitution, with 7% mentioning immigration and 6% the economy. Voters answers to the questions often spanned multiple topics, and a not insignificant share offered vaguer answers, with some simply noting that each candidates beliefs or policies were different.

Backers of each candidate offered significantly different characterizations of the race. Voters who supported Biden in a head-to-head matchup against Trump often cast the distinction in terms of character. Among those who saw significant differences between the candidates, 31% mentioned honesty or integrity, with about 18% citing self-serving or egotistical motivations, typically on Trumps part, and 15% noting Trumps criminal conviction or the other charges currently facing the former president.

Trump is a low down lying scoundrel who only cares about himself; Biden, I think, really does care for the American people, wrote one Biden supporter who responded to the poll, a South Carolina voter in her 70s.

Another Biden supporter, a Florida voter in her 20s, wrote, One is a convicted felon. If I would never date a felon why would I vote one for president[?]

Polling this year, including this survey, has consistently found concerns about democracy ranking high as an election issue for Biden supporters. Many also see support for democracy as the crucial defining factor between him and Trump: 16% of Biden supporters who see differences between the two candidates cited democracy and the Constitution as the most meaningful difference. Others raised concerns about fascism or said they saw Trump as uniquely dangerous to the country.

Biden supports and defends our constitution, democracy and rule of law whereas Trump actively works to undermine and destroy our constitution, democracy and rule of law, a Californian in his 70s wrote. Trump wants to remove all checks on his power so that he will have unchecked absolute power to do whatever he wants to do to whomever he wants to do it.

Trumps supporters, by contrast, most frequently characterized the contrast between the two candidates as one of mental fitness, or ability to handle the job, topics mentioned by about 24% of those who saw important differences between Trump and Biden.

Joe Biden is the first President in my lifetime who is mentally unfit to be our President, wrote one Texan in his 70s who said hes committed to supporting Trump this fall. In my opinion he has no [idea] on what is going on in this country and is not capable of making a sound decision in regards to the best interest of the USA.

Another 15% cited love for the country, patriotism or America First sentiments, with 11% mentioning effectiveness or performance in office.

Trump saw that as people in this country of USA, needed help and he went out of his way to help, wrote one Connecticut Trump supporter in her 30s. I didnt like Trump at first but once we got Joe, we have only suffered.

Roughly 11% of Trump supporters who saw differences between the two candidates mentioned the economy or immigration, respectively. Both topics have reliably topped Trump supporters lists when asked to choose the election issues they find most important.

Under [T]rump my gas and groceries were cheaper, wrote one New York woman in her 20s. Under Biden I cant afford to live.

Some voters described the contrast between Biden and Trump in terms that were less than flattering to either candidate.

They are both awful but in very different ways, wrote a New Mexican in his 30s who said he plans to support independent candidate Cornel West. Biden needs to be forced into retirement and Trump needs to be put away in prison.

Some voters were similarly disparaging even if theyd opted to support one of the main-party candidates.

Biden is a senile, old, fool. Trump is a lout, but has a clear mind, responded one Virginia man in his 70s, who said he was supporting Trump largely as a means of opposing Biden.

And a Californian in his 20s who said he backed Biden mostly as an anti-Trump vote wrote, One is a coherent liar, one is an incoherent truther.

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Only 3% of Russian missiles, drones, and guided bombs hit military targets in Ukraine, while 97% have struck civilian infrastructure, Danylo Kubai, Ukraine's envoy to international organizations in Vienna, said on July 3, according to Ukrinform.

"In recent months, Russia has launched numerous attacks on Ukraine using missiles, drones, and artillery, killing dozens of civilians across the country," Kubai said during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Ukrinform reported.

"Russia's massive air attacks have destroyed private and commercial buildings, hotels, schools, churches, hospitals, and numerous infrastructure facilities."

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses as Russia intensifies its strikes against cities and energy infrastructure.

Russia used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine over the past week alone, targeting civilian infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"In the late 1980s, the loss of 15,000 troops in Afghanistan forced the Soviet leadership to admit defeat and withdraw its troops from the country, ending the 10-year war," Kubai said.

"By comparison, last June alone, the Russian armed forces lost more than 33,000 soldiers in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin regime, considered the heir to the Soviet leaders, remains convinced that the war must continue."

Read also: Over 1,000 Russian soldiers killed or wounded on average each day in May in Ukraine, NYT reports

Kubai stressed that Ukraine remains determined to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

"Unfortunately, Russia's only response to all peace initiatives is to continue the war," the diplomat added.

Kubai also described Russia's methods of carrying out the war as those that "resemble the darkest pages of world history, which the civilized world hoped would never be repeated."

Ukraine's envoy informed foreign delegates about the latest Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities and the casualties and destruction they caused.

On behalf of the Ukrainian delegation, Kubai expressed hope that Russia's actions will not remain unpunished, referring to the latest arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces.

The ICC announced on June 25 that it has issued arrest warrants for Shoigu and Gerasimov for war crimes against Ukraine.

Shoigu and Gerasimov are charged with the war crimes of "directing attacks at civilian objects," "causing excessive incidental harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects," and "crimes against humanity."

Read also: Russian attack on Dnipro kills 6, injures 55, shopping center hit

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Blazing heat and increased wildfire risk will grip Southern California through the Fourth of July weekend and into early next week, with temperatures peaking above 115 degrees in desert areas Friday and forecasters issuing heat warnings and advisories throughout the region.

Extreme temperatures and gusty winds will also combine with dry conditions to create a high risk of new wildfires throughout the state as the Thompson fire continues to burn across more than 3,500 acres north of Sacramento.

Tomorrow is going to be an absolute scorcher, Joe Sirard, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Oxnard, said Thursday morning. Its not your typical heat wave. This is a dangerous heat wave, this is a high-end heat wave. Very dangerous.

Read more: Thousands evacuate, some stay as Thompson fire spreads in Northern California

Heat warnings were in place Thursday for much of L.A. Countys valleys and deserts as well as the Santa Monica Mountains.

Construction workers on a sidewalk improvement site toil as temperatures rose into the triple digits in Palmdale over the holiday. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The predicted highs for the Fourthhovered around 106 degrees in the valleys, 103 in the lower mountains and 111 in desert areas, according to the National Weather Service. On Friday, temperatures are expected to soar as high as 110 to 112 degrees in the countys valleys and mountains, and between 112 and 118 in the desert. The only parts of the county that arent experiencing extreme heat conditions, Sirard said, are coastal communities.

The temperature hit 110 at the Palmdale Airport on Thursday, matching a record high set in 1973, according to the National Weather Service. The agency said temperatures were forecast to rise by 4-6 degrees Friday in the Antelope Valley.

Officials advised Southern California residents to take precautions against exposure to high temperatures, which can elevate the risk of heatstroke and heat exhaustion. The National Weather Service called on people to stay in air-conditioned spaces during the day and early evening, stay hydrated, check on neighbors and the elderly and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Its just too hot, Sirard said. Just use common sense. Its a dangerous heat wave and thats why we have the heat warnings.

Jacque McDonald, 39, drove with her husband and their two young children from their home in Tarzana to Hermosa Beach on Thursday morning to beat the high heat in the San Fernando Valley.

We came here just because we know its going to be hot. Im not about it, McDonald said as crowds of people in bathing suits and sunglasses strolled by on the Strand and gray clouds helped keep the temperature down. We have a pool at our complex, but we figured it would be packed. So we planned to come down here to the beach.

Annie Seawright celebrates while being carried by people after winning the Hermosa Beach Ironman competition on July 4. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Just before noon, dozens of visitors shuffled down the dirt path at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, a popular L.A. County park in Altadena with a stream and a waterfall.

At the trail's first water crossing, Mercedes Monje, 29, of Los Angeles sat along the bank with her partner and 2-year-old son splashing in the water while the rest of her family sat nearby.

Monje said her family usually hits a beach or river on the Fourth of July.

They originally planned Thursday to go to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. But when they arrived about 8 a.m., they were told by authorities that it was full.

"We're a little bit disappointed that we couldn't be where we actually had planned to go, but we're trying to make the best out of it," Monje said.

Meanwhile, the risk of wildfires is high in inland areas, as is the chance that even small fires could quickly become larger conflagrations, given the extreme conditions.

Were expecting high heat today, which increases the chances for fire growth, said David Acuna, a Cal Fire battalion chief. Fire departments across California urged people to resist the temptation to celebrate the Fourth of July by shooting off fireworks that could spark new blazes.

In Butte County, the Thompson fire remained just 7% contained as of Thursday morning, Acuna said, though it had remained steady at 3,568 acres overnight. He said 1,962 personnel, 20 helicopters, 214 engines, 46 dozers, 43 water tenders and 37 crews were fighting the fire. At its peak, about 12,000 structures were evacuated, affecting about 28,000 people.

Read more: Thompson fire conjures traumatic memories for Camp fire survivor who lost everything but her life

The firefighters on the line will continue to remain hydrated and ready in the event the fire acreage increases, Acuna said, adding that though some have been downgraded, a number of fire evacuations and warnings remained in place near the blaze Thursday.

In Simi Valley, the Sharp fire was holding at 133 acres, and the containment was updated from 15% to 60% Thursday morning, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesman Andy VanSciver.

Airn Barnes enjoys a cool fountain at Courson Park Pool as temperatures rose into the triple digits in Palmdale. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

No structures have been damaged by the fire, which at one point prompted an evacuation order for 60 nearby homes and an evacuation warning for an additional 340. The orders and warnings were lifted Wednesday evening, VanSciver said.

The containment lines have been holding and theyre being reinforced, he said, adding that he didnt anticipate wind conditions to cause the blaze to spread. We have enough resources on hand to handle it.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Trump administration is cutting auto emissions standards and is plowing ahead with other regulations. Photo by Bruce DePuyt.

By Jeremy Cox

Chesapeake Bay Journal

Environmental advocates are calling on the Maryland Department of Transportation to make more of an effort at cleaning up the polluted stormwater that washes off highways.

Stormwater runoff represents the fastest-growing source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, according to Chesapeake Bay Program computer models.

Some of that can be traced back to the oil, gas, dust and other contaminants that rainwater carries into waterways from roads, experts say. MDOTs State Highway Administration oversees about 15,000 lane miles of highways and 2,600 bridges.

Maryland environmental regulators set pollution control mandates under a statewide permit for the highway system. The 5-year permit is up for renewal later this summer.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other advocates say the state needs to do more to account for climate change and increasing development in the new permit. Previous iterations have employed outdated rainfall estimates to determine how robust the pollution controls should be, they say.

The groups also accuse highway officials of depending too heavily on restoring streams to offset road pollution. Last year, MDOT reported that the impacts of nearly 5,000 acres of road surfaces were counterbalanced by stream restoration projects, the top mitigation practice by far.

Stream restoration efforts have drawn strong pushback in several communities from opponents who say the ground-clearing needed for the work leads to needless deforestation.

Other actions the groups are seeking in the new permit include broadening the range of options for lessening pollution, as well as adding streamside plantings and green infrastructure to the menu. They also are pushing the state to expand monitoring to look at wildlife impacts and to track a wider spectrum of pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals.

MDEs public comment period for the proposed permit is open until July 18.

The post Advocates say Maryland needs better pollution controls on highways appeared first on Maryland Matters.
Aerial fireworks are dangerous in high-desert Idaho. Illegal should mean illegal | Opinion

The Table Rock Fire burned the foothills above Harris Ranch in the early morning hours of June 30, 2016. It was caused by a Roman candle.

Sometimes, the Idaho Legislature does the right thing.

Take, for instance, the Fireworks Act of 1997, which allows non-aerial fireworks, so-called safe and sane fireworks, but bans aerial fireworks.

Why would legislators ban aerial fireworks?

Its because we live in a dry, high-desert climate, prone to wildfires, and such aerial fireworks pose a giant risk.

To wit:

In 2016, a man setting off fireworks in the Boise Foothills caused a 2,500-acre wildfire near Table Rock, which destroyed a home.

Also in 2016, fireworks led to the burning of over 50,000 acres in the Henrys Creek Fire. Only a change in wind direction saved a subdivision from being destroyed. The person responsible was ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution.

A Nampa house fire was caused by Fourth of July fireworks in 2019.

Just last Friday, a group of teenagers started a 100-acre grass fire near Southeast Boise while setting off illegal fireworks. A 16-year-old was cited for misdemeanor firing timber or prairie land.

The Boise Fire Department responded to 25 fireworks-caused fires on the Fourth of July last year. The Idaho Falls Fire Department responded to 15 fireworks-related blazes.

And yet, Ada County Commissioner Ryan Davidson, for the fourth year in a row, voted against Ada Countys ordinance banning all fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county.

I dont believe in banning fireworks, and I generally dont think the ban accomplishes what it sets out to because fires occur even with the ban, so thats why, for America, I will vote against this fireworks ban, Davidson said during a commission meeting on June 11.

Based on that logic  to use the term ultra-loosely  Ada County commissioners should start working to get rid of speed limits, red lights, loitering and noise ordinances, and a slew of other things.

Fortunately, Ada Countys fireworks ordinance did pass, thanks to the votes of Commissioners Tom Dayley and Rod Beck.

Well, I think it does provide safety for the community, Dayley said in support of the measure. Obviously, no matter what law we pass or ordinance we pass, people can violate it and have consequences as a result of the violation.

For those of you who are planning to set off illegal aerial fireworks July 4, as the Idaho Statesmans Nicole Blanchard clarified in a story this week, illegal fireworks are  well, illegal.

Its also, according to the Idaho Attorney Generals Office, illegal to sell those illegal aerial fireworks being sold by the thousands.

That waiver that you sign saying you wont set off the fireworks in Idaho is just made up, likely for the liability protection of the people selling you the fireworks.

As a wise editorial writer once wrote, that would be like buying marijuana at the corner store in Idaho as long as you signed a piece of paper saying you wont smoke it in Idaho. Yeah, right.

Illegal means illegal.

And yet, every year, the skies over the Treasure Valley are lit up like hundreds of Christmas trees, sparks raining down with the potential to cause disaster.

Its mind-boggling when all of Southwest Idaho has so many spectacular and sanctioned  and legal  fireworks shows.

We (sort of) get it that people enjoy aerial fireworks year after year after year, and love setting them off from the comfort and convenience of the public street in front of their house.

If you enjoy it so much, though, go to the Legislature and get the Fireworks Act of 1997 repealed.

Until then, its illegal. And fortunately, in unincorporated Ada County, its illegal to set off any and all fireworks, because of the inherent risks.

For public safety and preventing devastating fires, abstaining from fireworks  especially aerial ones  is the right thing to do.

Its also the law.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Greg Lanting, Terri Schorzman and Garry Wenske.
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill.  Thursday, July 4, will mark the second Fourth of July since the Highland Park parade mass shooting. The ongoing search for accountability extends beyond the shooter.

One victims family has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the gun used in the attack, the latest development in the never-ending search for a solution to the problem of mass shootings. Upset with inaction from Congress, victims and their families are turning to civil litigation (and the potential of financial losses) as a means to pressure gun makers to stop selling semi-automatic weapons.

For Karina Mendez, its been two years without her father, Eduardo Uvaldo.

Its been hard, she said. You think it gets easier as time goes, but it doesnt.

Calling her late father the glue that held the family together, she says something else has been missing amid her grief: accountability for her fathers death.

We want to hold Smith & Wesson accountable for this, Mendez said.

Alleged shooter Robert Crimo III awaits trial on 21 counts of first-degree murder. Crimos father pleaded guilty to helping his son apply for a firearm owners ID card. He served only half of his 60-day sentence for the misdemeanors.

In the meantime, Uvaldos family has pointed to what they see as the entity most responsible: the company that made and marketed the semi-automatic rifle: Smith & Wesson.

We want them to be held accountable because they promote these guns to these young adults and make it seem like theyre cool, Mendez said.

Crimo is accused of lying in wait atop a roof along the route of the 2022 Highland Park Independence Day parade, unleashing a barrage of bullets from his M&P15, an AR-style rifle, killing seven and injuring nearly 50 others.

Brian Hogan was at the parade with Uvaldo when the 69-year-old grandfather was shot in the head.

They destroyed our family, you know? Hogan said about the gun manufacturer. It was my father-in-law. We want Smith & Wesson to be accountable for these weapons that theyre producing.

In a lawsuit filed by the family on Friday in Lake County, lawyers argue: Long before the Highland Park shooter fired, Smith & Wesson knew that their M&P15 was preferred by mass shooters.

The suit also alleges that Smith and Wesson broke Illinois state consumer protection laws by promoting the lethal and criminal use of the weapon in ads, mimicking the aesthetic of first person-shooter videogames to appeal to people like Crimo.

The lawsuit points out the similarities in a side-by-side comparison of the Smith & Wesson M&P15 experience advertisement and the popular first-person shooter video game Call of Duty.

The filing outlines how the 172-year-old firearm manufacturer targeted young people using ads on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, and YouTube.

In a written statement, Smith & Wessons CEO said: Some now seek to prohibit firearm manufacturers and supporters of the 2nd Amendment from advertising products in a manner designed to remind law-abiding citizens that they have a Constitutional right to bear arms  attempting to shift the blame to Smith & Wesson, other firearm manufacturers, and law-abiding gun owners  We will never back down in our defense of the 2nd Amendment.

But victims say that argument puts firearms ahead of families.

Sophia Mendez is one of Uvaldos 16 grandchildren. She wrote a poem to remember him this Fourth of July: In the tragedys wake, tears never dried. Each year, July 4th, a somber display, remembrance of loss in every way.

Families of other victims of the Highland Park shooting are also suing Smith & Wesson. A federal law protects gun manufacturers from being held liable for mass shootings, but these suits allege the violation of state consumer protection laws.

The legal strategy has already been successful.

The families of those killed in the Sandy Hook shooting sued gunmaker Remington, which settled the case by paying $73 million to the families of nine of the victims.

Theres nothing in this world thats going to bring my dad back, Mendez said. We want to somehow avoid other families to live this pain that weve endured of the past two years.

The Uvaldo family plans to attend a memorial for the shooting victims this Fourth of July, and then to celebrate the holiday just as Eduardo Uvaldo wanted them to  as a 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 WGN-TV.
People commute in their cars during an afternoon traffic jam in northern Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. Comments suggesting that Iran's reformist presidential candidate could increase government-set gasoline prices have raised fears of a repeat of nationwide protests. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  As Iran's runoff presidential election nears, comments by an official in the campaign of reformist Masoud Pezeshkian raised the possibility of his government increasing government-set gasoline prices  a move that has sparked nationwide protests in the past.

While still tentative, economists long have warned Iran needs to overhaul its system of subsidies, estimated to cost the Islamic Republic tens of billions of dollars a year. In 2019, a similar hike triggered mass demonstrations and a bloody crackdown that grew even more intense after the 2022 protests over the death of Mahsa Amini.

On Saturday, Pezeshkian campaign head Ali Abdolalizadeh told journalists that his possible presidency would see price hikes for fuel and other items handled without any outcry.

Dont worry, petrol at any ... price, you will see that it would be allowed with calmness and cooperation by the people, Abdolalizadeh said.

Hard-liners immediately accused Pezeshkian of planning to increase fuel prices by a factor of eight. Pezeshkian's camp claimed the price under Saeed Jalili, a former nuclear negotiator Pezeshkian is facing in Friday's election, would be 12 times higher, based on remarks by those close to the hard-liner. That official, Majid Karimi, suggested Iranians should be paying the world price at the pump.

People gathered at a Jalili rally carried a sign warning against any price hike, saying: We do not want petrol at price of 250,000 Rial" a liter. That would be 40 cents a liter, or $1.55 a gallon.

But no matter who is elected, it is likely Iran will see fuel price hikes.

Iran raised minimum gasoline prices by 50% to 15,000 rials per liter in 2019  or 12 cents a liter, or about 50 cents a gallon. But with Iran's currency crashing since then, that's now 2 cents a liter, or 9 cents a gallon. After a monthly 60-liter quota, it costs 30,000 rials a liter. That had been nearly 24 cents a liter or 90 cents a gallon then, but now is nearly 5 cents a liter, or 18 cents a gallon. By comparison, an average gallon of regular gas in the U.S. costs $3.50, according to AAA.

Iran spent $52 billion on oil subsidies in 2022, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, the most of any country in the world. Iran spent 36% of its overall gross domestic product, or $127 billion, that year on oil, electricity and natural gas subsidies.

Though it costs the Iranian government tens of billions of dollars in subsidies, cheap gasoline is practically considered a birthright in the country, home to the worlds fourth-largest crude oil reserves despite decades of economic woes since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Gasoline there remains among the cheapest in the world, in part to help keep costs low for its underemployed, who often drive taxis to make ends meet.

The 2019 hikes led to demonstrations across some 100 cities and towns across Iran, with gas stations and banks burned down. The crackdown that followed included at least 321 people killed, according to Amnesty International. Thousands were detained.

During the 2022 protests over the death of Amini, after she was arrested for wearing her hijab not to the liking of security forces, over 500 people were killed and 22,000 locked up  part of a pattern of widening unrest in the Islamic Republic.

On the streets of Tehran, people have grown increasingly anxious about the price of fuel rising.

Do you know what that means? I may buy fuel to set fire to everything," said taxi driver, Rasoul Kashani, 45. "I will not vote at all. Both plan to slaughter ordinary people.

Shahrooz Imani, a 41-year-old mother of three, said she planned to vote for Jalili as she believes he cares more about the poor given Pezeshkian's apparent plan to raise prices.

This will deprive us of our daily needs  even vegetables and bread  if price of fuel hikes up, she said.

A bookseller on Tehran's famed Enghelab  or Revolution  Street also worried about the poor.

We cannot tolerate this again, maybe we need to flee to neighboring countries to work," said Abbas Irani.

Mahdi Robati, a business analyst and CEO of an Iranian brokerage firm, warned that Jaili's economic policies and hard-line positions could bring about economic damage on the scale of China's Mao Zedong.

"The output of this thinking is the complete destruction of the rial, the spread of absolute poverty throughout the country, the deprivation of all political and social freedoms, famine and the complete couponization of the economy, and many other nightmarish consequences," he wrote on the social media platform X.

___

Karimi reported from Tehran, Iran.
Xi's visit to bolster China-Tajikistan cooperation

Xinhua) 16:42, July 04, 2024

DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping will arrive here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. Experts and officials in the central Asian country strongly anticipate the efforts of both nations to strengthen bilateral relations on various fronts. They believe the upcoming visit has the potential to bring tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

FOSTERING PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Since establishing diplomatic relations more than 30 years ago, bilateral cooperation between China and Tajikistan has grown immensely. In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed a joint statement on establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership during Rahmon's state visit to Beijing.

The Chinese leader last visited Tajikistan in 2019, and the Tajik president traveled to Beijing in 2023 for the China-Central Asia Summit and an official state visit.

Qanoatullo Saifulloev, deputy director of the state-run Khovar News Agency, said he believes the cooperation between China and Tajikistan is growing yearly.

"Our political, economic, social and cultural relations are rising. We are confident that they will continue to develop and serve the benefit of the two peoples," he said.

According to Saifulloev, the strategic partnership between the two countries was established mainly due to the efforts of the two leaders, and the personal friendship of the two leaders has a positive impact on the development of long-term bilateral relations.

He highlighted that China is currently the top investor in Tajikistan's economy, driving economic growth, creating more job opportunities, and promoting social and infrastructure development in the country.

"Chinese companies are actively working in our country, and our young people are learning Chinese," Saifulloev said, adding that the language barrier is slowly being broken down.

Abdurahim Juraev, a professor at the Tajik State University of Law, Business and Politics, said Tajikistan has shown a growing interest in the Chinese language in recent years.

"The Chinese language can now be studied in almost all universities in Tajikistan, including our own," he said, adding that there are already groups within the university where the vast majority of subjects are taught in Chinese.

Juraev also believes that the Chinese modernization experience provides economic and development insights that can benefit Tajikistan.

"I believe that the Chinese experience of modernization is significant ... it is different from the Western modernization, it is unique, and it preserves its own experience and traditions," he said.

And China's scientific achievements, which are widely acknowledged in Tajikistan, have potential applications in Tajikistan, he said, adding that joint events, scientific seminars, and round tables should be held between scientists from the two countries.

JOINING HANDS TO BUILD FUTURE

In recent years, Tajikistan and China have collaborated on designing and constructing new buildings for Tajikistan's parliament and government and other large infrastructure projects.

"In a short time since the beginning of our cooperation, many infrastructure projects have been put into operation," said Yusuf Akhmatbekzoda, deputy director of the Directorate for Construction of Government Facilities of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, highlighting the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, the Kulyab-Muminabad highway, as well as many other infrastructure projects that have been jointly built by the two sides.

"These two landmarks really make the city's architectural appearance stand out," he said. "They're one of the city's top attractions."

"These buildings will remain a symbol of the friendship between China and Tajikistan for future generations," he added.

According to Saifulloev, President Xi's visit will "give new impetus to bilateral contacts and bring relations between Tajikistan and China to a new level."

"We, as representatives of the media, along with our colleagues, are committed to actively strengthening our cooperation ... and covering more and more of our contacts, our achievements at the bilateral level," he said.

Akhmatbekzoda called the visit "promising," providing an opportunity for both sides to "discuss comprehensive bilateral relations in the fields of industry, energy, road construction, medicine, education and comprehensive good-neighborly relations."

The official believes that by fostering closer ties with China, Tajikistan can witness greater social and economic development.

Noting that Tajikistan and China have a long and trusting friendship, Juraev said the visit will further deepen the relations between the two countries.

He said Tajikistan can greatly benefit from its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. "As I understand, the philosophy behind this initiative is to foster mutually beneficial relations between China and other states, ensuring that all countries participating would benefit from this project."

Speaking of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, Juraev lauded the organization's role in strengthening global security.

The SCO provides an opportunity to collectively discuss regional and global issues, and each member country can make its contribution to these issues such as anti-terrorism and extremism, which are common concerns not only for the region but the whole world, Juraev noted.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
After last months scramble through Stonehenge, this month I turn north to amble around Avebury. I know I am not the only one to hold this site in high affection. Even on its busiest days, the circle there is rarely too crowded since it is so spread out, and, if you have the time, you can easily head out into the larger landscape.

AVEBURY VILLAGE AND HENGE

The Stone Circles at Avebury made the Context in CA 332.

For many people, Avebury means the Neolithic stone circle located in the Wiltshire village, and as such I commence there and work my way outwards. Alexander Keiller, the Marmalade Millionaire, was an influential landowner and field archaeologist across the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. He used his wealth to buy a large amount of the land in Avebury, but the National Trust gradually became the majority landowner of the village and the wider prehistoric landscape through a series of gifts and acquisitions, commencing in 1943 and concluding with the purchase of Avebury Manor in 1991. This complex history is told in an excellent series of museums, and there is currently a project digitising and exploring its archaeological archive (see www.aveburypapers.org). As they explain: the only large-scale archaeological excavations to take place at Avebury were conducted just before the outbreak of WWII. Materials and objects collected and made at this time were left under-analysed for decades. As a result, we have  until now  only had a partial understanding of Aveburys past and present. This absence of fieldwork also explains the modest interest of Current Archaeology in the henge, with only five visits of note in over 50 years  CA 97 (June 1985), CA 225 (December 2008), CA 330 (September 2017), CA 332 (November 2017), and CA 351 (June 2019). Of these, the most significant news came in CA 330, when a square monument was unexpectedly identified within one of the stone circles, proving to be among the earlier structures on the site, although its use remains unknown.

WINDMILL HILL

CA 347 mentioned Windmill Hill in its discussion of new thinking on Neolithic lifestyles.

Windmill Hill, a Neolithic causewayed enclosure to the north-west of the henge, is well-known thanks to fieldwork there in the 1920s and again in the 1950s that established it as the type site for causewayed camps (nowadays known as causewayed enclosures). Pottery established it as the type style for the Windmill Hill culture, an historic term for what are now understood to be several different cultural communities that existed at this time: see CA 229 (April 2009) and CA 259 (October 2011) for an explanation of the site in the wider context of the Neolithic. CA 57 (July 1977) paid the first significant attention to the site in an examination of its stone axes, and CA 58 (September 1977) built on this with a state-of-the-nation review of what was understood about causewayed enclosures at this time. CA 131 (October 1992) returned with refined radiocarbon dates for the site: 2920- 2700 + 70 BC for the enclosure and 2950-2670 + 110-90 BC for the tomb, showing the two monuments to be broadly contemporary. Most recently, CA 347 (February 2019) provided an excellent overview of the latest thinking on this and similar Neolithic sites.

BECKHAMPTON

CA 167 touched on the site of Overton Hill in its discussion of Avebury and the Beckhampton Avenue.

Beckhampton Avenue  a long run of Late Neolithic stones curving broadly south-west from Avebury  is both famous and enigmatic: only a few stones remain standing, but, thanks in large part to William Stukeleys 1743 birds-eye imagining of the landscape, the wider setting looms large in the imagination. CA 165 (October 1999) first reported from there when new fieldwork explored an area in the centre of the Avenue, revealing six stone holes along with an unexpected find: a causewayed enclosure to match nearby Windmill Hill. CA 167 (March 2000) then returned with a fuller report on that survey. Most recently, CA 179 (May 2002) reported on new fieldwork undertaken at what is known as Beckhampton Cove  today, a single stone, but a site that Stukeley recorded as being a box-like setting of sarsens within the course of the Avenue, akin to the cove that survives within the Henge. That fieldwork revealed a four-sided rectilinear construction, along with a surprise  Roman finds including Samian ware, animal bone, a spearhead, and armour. Roman votive offerings have been found in association with earlier Neolithic chambered tombs (including at nearby West Kennet Long Barrow), so the hypothesis is that this was also the case here.

SILBURY HILL

CA 176 marked the cover debut for Silbury Hill.

Silbury Hill is, I suggest, the most famous component in the Avebury landscape. Its prominent location, its photogenic appearance, and its enigmatic origins have long made it a magnet for theories both scientific and pseudo-scientific. It first featured in the magazine in CA 5 (November 1967) and CA 8 (May 1968), when it was the star of a BBC Two documentary produced as part of the long-running Chronicle series, one of the first-ever made for TV pieces of archaeological fieldwork (see www.bbc.co.uk/archive/ chroniclesilbury-dig-the-heart-of-the-mound/zbypwty). The site then went quiet until it made its cover debut in CA 176 (November 2001), amid widespread press coverage following a collapse of the centre shaft in May 2000. CA 178 (March 2002) followed up on this, and CA 215 (February 2008) then provided the second cover story as part of the last look inside the shaft (the result of multiple historic explorations) before it was infilled. The results of that fieldwork were reported on in CA 293 (August 2014), the third cover story. This explained the complex evolution of the structure across the Neolithic. Most recently, CA 337 (April 2018) provided the latest cover feature, when the hill was part of a wider study of round mounds, a reminder of the extraordinary nature of this site as the largest prehistoric mound in Europe.

WEST KENNET AND THE SANCTUARY



The West Kennet Long Barrow was part of a feature on radiocarbon dating in CA 209. Revisions (4)

Fieldwork around West Kennet (to the south of the henge) has not just been focused on the early Neolithic long barrow there. The first detailed examination of this part of the Avebury landscape came in CA 118 (January 1990), when a palisaded enclosure dating from the Neolithic/ Bronze Age (c.2000 BC) was identified, showing this to have been an especially busy period. At this point, the henge was long built and potentially already out of use, and the nearby long barrow, constructed more than a millennium previously, was formally blocked around this time: it was the subject of detailed analysis in CA 209 (May 2007). Most recently, CA 215 (February 2008) put both these sites in the wider context of the landscape, but otherwise that is it for CAs sparse coverage of this element of Avebury.



Finally, I turn to the Sanctuary, to the south-east of the henge on top of Overton Hill. Nowadays there is little to see there, but CA 16 (September 1969) examined the site in the wider context of nearby Fyfield Down. Other than that, only CA 167 (March 2000) touches on this important site, the terminating point of the eastern of the two grand avenues of stones that headed away from the henge.

With this visit to Avebury concluding at the Sanctuary, I come officially to the end of my tour of the archaeology of the UK. Since CA 361 (April 2020), I have criss-crossed the country, visiting all four nations and every county. I have a few geographical loose-ends to tie off in future issues, but first I will pause to take a different, slower-paced perspective. I recently walked the Ridgeway National Trail from the Sanctuary in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe in Buckinghamshire, and so in next months column I will share some of the sites and finds that feature along that ancient route.

About the author

Joe Flatman completed a PhD in medieval archaeology at the University of Southampton in 2003, and since then has held positions in universities, and local and  most recently  central government. Since March 2019, he has been a Consultancy Manager in the National Trusts London and South-East Region, leading a team working on Trust sites across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You can follow him on X: @joeflatman.






The Alabama Forestry Commission says to practice fire safety while using fireworks

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL)  The Alabama Forestry Commission is urging citizens to be extra cautious when using fireworks due to current drought conditions.

The AFC is asking residents to avoid shooting fireworks in or near dry grass, leaves, or other flammable materials and to thoroughly soak any area where fireworks will be used with water.

State Forester Rick Oates says grasses and timber litter have dried to the extent that fires start easily and can grow quickly.

Despite some areas receiving rain recently, the excessive heat will negate any beneficial rainfall. says Oates. According to the most recent Drought Monitor, much of the state is now classified as Abnormally Dry (D0) with a few areas listed as Moderate Drought (D1).

Below is a drought map of the current drought conditions of the state:

Lee County and Russell County are both in abnormally dry areas.

Visit this link for any updates on drought conditions: https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?AL

The AFC wants to remind the public of Smokey the Bears saying, Please be careful! Only YOU can prevent wildfires.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Albuquerque burglary suspect will stay behind bars

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  One of the Albuquerque Police Departments top 10 burglary suspects will remain behind bars. According to police, 55-year-old David Johnson is accused of breaking into multiple businesses between late October 2023 and June 2024. Court records said he stole more than $100,000 worth of items from at least ten stores in Albuquerque.

Woman takes plea deal in January 2020 Albuquerque murder

The state filed for pretrial detention based on the numerous charges filed against Johnson. His lawyer argued they were non-violent offenses and conditions of release could keep the public safe. Judge Jennifer Wernersbach granted the states motion meaning Johnson will be locked through his trial.

Hes facing 19 felonies including multiple counts of larceny and ten misdemeanors.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN)  A 7-year-old girl who was the center of an AMBER Alert issued out of East Tennessee Thursday morning has been found dead.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation reported an AMBER Alert had been issued for Serenity Alanna Marie Kinsey out of Jefferson County.

Serenity Alanna Marie Kinsey (Courtesy: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation)

She was last seen at her home along Indian Creek Road in Dandridge around 1 a.m. Thursday, wearing black shorts and a blue shirt, according to the TBI. Officials said Serenity had autism and was nonverbal.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

A dive team later located Serenitys body dead in a lake near her home, according to the TBI.

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.
Like many Americans, Monica Guzman grew up with a vision of the American founders as enlightened statesmen after the war  basically white wigs and genius. Bloody revolution and duels notwithstanding, she assumed that debates over the nations fate took place over tea and pound cake, and that the conversation sparkled with civility.

She couldnt have been more wrong.

As Guzman explored in this weeks episode of the A Braver Way podcast, How to fight right with Hamilton and Jefferson, Americans today might take away some invaluable lessons from this nations first fierce partisan political rivals.

Tensions as old as time

However concerned Americans are right to be with escalating tensions around us, there is some wisdom in breathing deep and appreciating that were not the first generation to face aching conflict. As written in Ecclesiastes, what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Alexander Hamilton, founder of the Federalist Party, was infamous for his lack of self-restraint and hot temper. Hamilton was boundless in his energy and his efforts on behalf of whatever plan it was that he was pursuing, historian Lindsay Chervinsky, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, said more generously.

In an August 1793 cabinet meeting, Thomas Jefferson writes that Hamilton gave an extended, uninterrupted speech for three quarters of an hour, two days in a row  each very grandiose, with lots of gesturing and lots of pacing, as though he were speaking to a jury.

Jefferson presented himself with more patience, Chervinsky said, but he was willing to be calculating and undercut rivals behind the scenes. That included drafting documents allies could use in Congress against Hamilton, based on his notes from cabinet meetings together and hiring a newspaper publisher into the State Department so that he could have an easy pipeline for stories critical of Hamilton and his party.

Upon learning this, Hamilton responded by writing anonymous articles in a competing newspaper. In December 1793, Jefferson quit George Washingtons cabinet to keep building the nations first opposition party against Hamilton.

Surprisingly, all this is actually encouraging to the historian, who takes heart in the common humanity witnessed in their grappling with similar fierce conflicts  no doubt, thanks to our common nature and the universally important questions we all face.

This sense of perspective can help us feel grounded when we hear others speaking in hyperbolic language about who wins the election, noted April Lawson, Director of Debates and Public Discourse at Braver Angels.

We have this idea that theres like this golden age of politicians when everyone acted nicely and that does not exist, stated Chervinsky, author of award-winning The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution.

George Washington is depicted in the 1856 painting "George Washington Addressing the Constitutional Convention" by Junius Brutus Stearns, depicting a climactic moment at the end of the convention. | Associated Press

Washington the peacemaker

Americas first president is certainly best known for leading the early colonial forces in the Revolutionary War victory. Less known, though, is Washingtons penchant for peace of different kinds  from his storied retreat at Mount Vernon to his cherished book project, Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation.

Included in Washingtons list of guidelines for civility are some reminders of basic decorum humorous by todays standards, such as rule No. 4: In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet, and rule No. 5: If you cough, sneeze, sigh, or yawn, do it not loud but privately; and speak not in your yawning, but put your handkerchief or hand before your face and turn aside.

One favorite, rule No. 6: Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop.

But most important was his first rule, which Washington sought to follow and encourage in his cabinet: Every action done in company, ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present.

At one point, Washington reprimanded Hamilton and Jefferson because of their constant complaints about each others behavior, Chervinsky noted.

For a long time, Washington tried to exercise patience. But then at one point he basically said to both of them, You are both patriots (and) I want you both in my cabinet. I believe in you both. Stop it.

At one point, in the middle of one especially heated debate, Washington suggested that the entire cabinet go and talk further over a family meal, as they called it.

That didnt succeed in softening Jefferson and Hamilton toward each other, and Chervinsky detects sadness and hurt in Washingtons journaling about that particular event.

Stronger together

Despite all this friction, Washington intentionally sought out both Hamilton and Jefferson for his administration and worked hard to keep them in the cabinet because he wanted both perspectives and told them as much.

He was very explicit about this, Chervinsky said  recounting how he would present a series of questions in cabinet meetings. If disagreement existed, the president would ask for written opinions  allowing him to study matters and make a decision with sufficient time, after gathering all the information.

He wanted to make sure he understood the different arguments. Washington had developed that strategy during the Revolution, when he found war councils with his officers so helpful.

The earlier success, Chervinsky believes, is because they were fighting against a common enemy. And so no matter how much they disagreed, they could kind of put that aside and fight against this common enemy.

The cabinet couldnt catch the same vision, partly because their vision of problems and solutions alike were so very different.

The committee chosen to draft a declaration of independence for the 13 North American British colonies is shown at work in this 19th century engraving. The five members are, from left, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. On July 1, 1776, the committee submitted their draft to the Continental Congress, which voted on July 2 for final separation, and approved and formally adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4. | Associated Press

Competing views of danger

Like Americans today, these early leaders did not agree on the true threats to the nation  seeing the problem so differently that they saw danger coming from different places, Chervinsky said.

Jefferson, for instance, disliked and distrusted Great Britain, seeing larger cities as spaces of sin and corruption and cronyism  positions opposite to Hamilton. This was quite a contrast to the Revolution, she said, where the problem was clearly the British army. Theres no question that its the British army.

As a result, these leaders were often fighting different things and at different purposes, which, Chervinsky said, feels very similar to me in this, our current moment  where Americans also reach completely opposite conclusions on true threats facing the republic and democracy itself.

Competing visions for what America should be

It wasnt just in making sense of problems where their visions differed  but in what directions the entire country should move. Hamilton believed the federal government should be big and strong and that it should invest in military, trade and infrastructure, which led him to see Great Britain as an important trade partner.

He tended to cozy up to merchants and bankers and he lived in city centers and believed that cities were going to be a place where ingenuity and trade and the market flourished in the future.

Jefferson had more of a yeoman farmer vision, with an image of financially independent families across the nation. Consistently, he didnt want the government super large  avoiding huge military investments or government interference in industry. He also wanted the nation to be closest allies with France, not Britain.

These diametrically opposed visions were on everything from financial policy to foreign policy, becoming the basis for the first political parties.

You as my enemy

With these profound differences in vision, combined with their personal resentments, They [both] began to view the other as this mortal threat Chervinsky said  each persuaded that the other was going to destroy the nation.

On one hand, Jefferson thought that Hamilton was going to turn it into another Britain and reinstate a monarchy  with standing armies marching through the streets. On the other hand, Hamilton thought Jefferson was going to tear everything down and there was going to be mob violence, anarchy and slave uprisings.

Much like today, these leaders  both seeking to do whats best for America  genuinely believed that the other had to be defeated if this republic was going to survive, which they had devoted their, basically their entire lives to trying to create.

Alexander Hamilton, first secretary of the treasury, from a portrait painted from life by John Trumbull in 1792. | Associated Press

The safety in counterbalancing perspectives

Were they simply naive? Thats what Guzman asked Chervinsky: Do you think either of them were right in the degree to which they saw the other as a mortal threat to the republic?

Interestingly enough, Chervinsky said yes  explaining that if either vision had been pursued unchecked and become predominant in these early years, it could have been disastrous. If Hamilton had had his way, the United States would have been at war with France in 1798, which could have been fatal to the republic. If Jefferson had his way, then the United States would have probably been at war with Great Britain earlier and that could have been fatal.

So there were real dangers in both perspectives if they were pursued to their extreme ends  which explains the wisdom of our first president. Washington was much better off and much better president, made better choices by having both perspectives and often finding a middle line in between the two of them.

Chervinsky underscores, Almost all of our best presidents are fairly moderate because they believe in compromise. They believe its important to pull from multiple different perspectives.

Integrating differences into one America

This is at the heart of what America is, says Liz Joyner, national director of the Village Square  noting that its in our DNA to have diverse people coming together to self-govern.

And the nation is better off because they spent that time together in the cabinet ticking each other off that long, Chervinsky affirmed after Guzman posed another question.

First of all, you can see some ways these long debates led to persuasion and compromise. So for example, Jefferson had opposed the National Bank Hamilton advocated. But once Jefferson became president, he acknowledged that the bank was actually quite useful and he kept it and he used it and it made his presidency better.

Although the tensions are still very with us Guzman notes, Chervinsky secondly highlights how in the end both of their visions won  because if we look at the world we live in, its very much Hamiltons world. We have technology and infrastructure and the internet and cities and trade and we live in this international community.

But when we talk about, you know, theres always the like average American or the ideal American. And that ideal tends to conjure up white picket fence, little house for every family, yard, and that is very much Jeffersons creation.

And so in some ways, they are both really responsible for the American identity.

Not giving up on each other

One final lesson, April Lawson points out on the podcast, is that a passion to engage in these debates is a positive, hopeful thing. When people bring their passion to political discussions, its because we care  suggesting that the real death of our democratic republic is when we stop caring, when we stop engaging.

Imagine, she said, if either Hamilton or Jefferson had actually said, Forget it! Im done!

The biggest lesson that I drew from this early history, Lawson concludes, is that they stayed in the room.

It was five guys in a hot Philadelphia, second floor room (for multiple hours per day)  often in the summer. Which sounds like, you know, a small version of hell.

And we have air conditioning, Guzman adds. Whats our excuse?

You can imagine like Hamilton is going on and its minute 35 of 45 and Jefferson is like, Oh my gosh, stop, Lawson said.

But he doesnt leave. He doesnt get up and say, I will not deal with this kind of person. I will not tolerate this kind of speech. I will not, you are violating my boundaries.

It would just be super fun if someone passed a bipartisan bill, Guzman interjected, that every so and so, the head of the Democratic party and the head of the Republican party have to be in a room for six hours, and there has to be witnesses in there that they are talking about the real stuff.

Because if theyre acting like courage is avoidance, then Im done with that excuse. I am.

While the lesson we often assume is that everybody calm down, turn down the temperature, she adds that one lesson from these past stories may also be, Turn it up! So that you can be real and you can get angry. But dont avoid each other. Stay in the arena. Stay in the heat. Let it cook and do it for the good of what at least we say were trying to build together.

Dont forget, this is about something bigger than you

Although both leaders were combative during election years, Chervinsky points out that when it was really close to all falling apart (in) the election of 1800, they ultimately prioritized the Constitution over their own political interests and their own partys interests.

They demonstrated civic virtue, she said, which is recognizing that the thing they were trying to save was much larger than them as a person or their political aims.

Chervinsky believes these early leaders would encourage everyone else to do the same, remembering to take the long view and not forget one persons political outcome is way less important than the survival of the nation.

Guzman adds, Raise a glass to Hamilton and Jefferson because, hey, its been 231 years. Were still kicking.
Can America really get along this July Fourth? Local residents share views on patriotism

The fireworks, both the incendiary and political ones, will be booming soon.

So, too, will the marching bands, amid waving flags and reflections of independence won and the birth of a nation.

As we celebrate Americas 248th birthday on July 4, theres a realization by many historians this year is unlike many that preceded it.

A war in Europe that began February 2022, continues to rage as Ukraine forces, weary and often out-gunned, fight to oust invading troops from Russia.

In the Middle East, the bloodiest conflict in 50 years shows no sign of abating as Israelis army seeks to violently flush out and eradicate lingering remnants of Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip.

An American flag marks a grave at Leavenworth National Cemetery on Thursday, May 23, 2024, ahead of the Memorial Day holiday.

And here at home, American voters are bracing for one of the most contentious, expensive and consequential presidential races in our history. The political and cultural rifts that have dominated our political landscape these past dozen years or so threaten to divide citizens, voters, neighbors and even family members even more.

And it seems many are asking what could happen after Nov. 5, once all the votes have been counted?

Against that backdrop, the Herald-Leader launched its summer interns across central Kentucky to ask everyday people one very simple question: How do you define patriotism this Independence Day?

The answers, predictably and much like the diversity in our country, were hardly uniform.

Patriotism, to some, means more than merely saluting the flag and supporting our country.

Insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. The event has helped sow political divisiveness in America.

For Tip Richmond of the Chevy Chase neighborhood, patriotism is linked closely to the sacrifices his family members made during World War II.

That was a connection to that experience that the current generation, my children, dont have, he said.

For Karen Zimmerman of Portland, Oregon, who was in the area recently to visit family, her definition of patriotism has changed as Americas political climate has become more divisive.

Its swayed me and made me disappointed because of the hate, she said.

Despite the countrys contentious political environment, several told the Herald-Leader they still believe in finding common ground.

Richmond is one of them. But, he told us, it could come at a high cost.

It will take something cataclysmic like a significant military involvement where Americans lose lives for the country to come together, he said.

We can coexist, each in our belief system. And you need something bigger than all of that to cause people to see what we have in common rather than what separates us, Richmond said.

Heres what our summer interns heard as they spent a couple days roaming the streets of central Kentucky asking the question: How do you define patriotism?

Personal agendas are hurting America

Jasmine Coates, 24, poses for a photo in Lexington, Kentucky on June 19, 2024.

Jasmine Coates of Lexington said patriotism involves standing up for whats right and wanting to see change.

The 24-year-old said she didnt agree with how former President Donald Trump handled the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Coates said she believes politics were involved in COVID-19 rather than solving public health and vulnerability. She thought her leaders were going to speak for the people. Instead, she said, they had their own agendas.

It kind of distorted my view on politics a little bit, Coates said. Kinda lost a little hope in someone serving for people.

While her hope in politicians has suffered in recent years, she still supports her family serving in the military.

I have a cousin thats in the Air Force, she said. Hes serving his country proudly.

Who really cares about us?

Mark Smith, a 53-year-old Madison County resident poses for a photo in Lexington, Kentucky on June 19, 2024.







Mark Smith defines patriotism in several ways: Freedom, independence, love of the country and the support of our troops.

Offering unflinching support to the military is a routine part of the 53-year-olds life because he has multiple family members in the service.

With family on the forefront of his mind, the Madison County man added he was in Lexington because his wife is being treated at UK HealthCare.

Patriotism, he said, also involves offering support to the nations leaders, whether he agrees with them or not.

Im not really a believer of either side having our best interests at heart anymore, Smith said. But I still think we need to support who we elect.

Upholding American values

Karly Walker, a 28-year-old resident of the Hamburg area poses for a photo at Kenwick Table in Lexington, Kentucky on June 20, 2024.

For Karly Walker, patriotism is more than touting the greatness of America.

It is the process of upholding American values, the 28-year-old Hamburg woman said.

American values are unique to every individual, and its the variety of cultures and beliefs that define the nation.

Theres a lot of people ... in this country (who) want Americans to look a certain way or act a certain way, and thats just not America to me, Walker said.

America is America because we have such a melting pot.

Walker said the country struggles with a polarizing political divide.

When it comes to patriotism, Walker said a lot of people have the misconception it means you have to be 100% for America and Americans only.

In reality, America is such a superpower in the world that we have the ability to reach out to and help so many people, she said.

We can also take lessons from other countries and apply them to our own nation.

We can co-exist

Tip Richmond doesnt hesitate when you ask him to define patriotism.

Willing to sacrifice in some way for your country and to see, when possible, whats best in our country, knowing that we can always improve and be better, says the 72-year-old from the Chevy Chase neighborhood.

His father and two of his uncles served in combat in Europe during World War II, and he spent four years active duty in the Army with 20 years in the reserves.

As a child, you learned at a very young age the sacrifice that people that you knew had actually made in the war, Richmond said.

That was a connection to that experience that the current generation, my children, dont have. Theyre not connected to people who went through that.

The countrys contentious political temperature doesnt affect Richmonds view of patriotism.

But, he said, it will take something cataclysmic like a significant military involvement where Americans lose lives for the country to come together.

We can coexist, each in our belief system. And you need something bigger than all of that to cause people to see what we have in common rather than what separates us, he said.

Young people must be more involved







Thomas Lewis family is dedicated to giving back to those in its community.

Were on this Earth for a short period of time, so its best you use your time wisely and help people around you, he said.

The 21-year-old from Speigle Heights says patriotism is upholding American values and beliefs, whatever that may be for the individual. For him, it is doing right for your community and making your country better for future generations.

Lewis said he believes the current political climate has made people shape their lives around who they voted for, or who is currently in office.

To each their own, of course, he said But I believe some things have definitely been politicized that shouldnt be.

Putting aside differences and finding common ground is the way forward for Lewis. He is optimistic about that possibility, but he predicts it might take another election or two for that to happen.

The bad apple will rot itself out eventually, no matter what side its on, Lewis said.

I say, we just need more young people involved in the political game or were doomed to have people much older than us make decisions for us.

How can we get better?







For Hannah Wilcox Burr, patriotism is about making a difference in other peoples lives at the end of the day.

But she buffers her optimism.

I think it needs to be positive. I think it needs to be a uniting force. But unfortunately, the way our country is today, I dont know if thats going to be possible, Wilcox Burr said.

The resident of Lexingtons Shriners neighborhood grew up in a Christian home, and, though she views herself as a person of faith, she said it helped her craft a perspective to strive for excellence and strive to make the world a better place than when we found it.

Within the countrys current social, political and cultural divide, the 31-year-old said there is a bigger problem if you arent allowing the differences you see to influence your perspective as an American.

We should always be questioning, How can we be better? she said.

Despite division, Wilcox Burr emphasized she is friends with people with different opinions and beliefs. Those differences do not affect their relationship.

Youre allowed to have different opinions, youre allowed to believe different things, youre allowed to have stances on certain things that other people dont have, she said.

But that doesnt mean theyre wrong; that doesnt mean you get to hate them for that, she said.

Casting his first presidential vote

Seth Stevens family has been here for a while. Half of his family has been in the United States since slavery, while the other half immigrated from Germany before World War II.

Patriotism is pride for where youre from, said the 21-year-old Transylvania University student.

Nothing really more than that, he said.

Some people take it a step too far to where it gets into a competition with other places. I think it just means youre proud of where youre from, where your people come from.

In November, Stevens will be voting in his first presidential election. He knows its a combative presidential campaign cycle.

Both sides are rough, but Im proud that were still able to somewhat have a choice in who we elect, because in other countries thats not a possibility at all, he said.

As long as you look at what were able to do (and) achieve in the U.S. compared to other places, you have to be proud, or you have to be happy or content in our situation.

Throughout his childhood, Stevens said he noticed that tragedies are the only things that have bridged differences and brought Americans together.

I feel like we should be able to come together over other things, he said.

Im hoping that can change. Maybe down the line, a leader comes up that can bring us together, but, as of right now, I think thats wishful thinking.

Setting aside political differences

Rajvir Datta, a 42-year-old Fairway resident, poses for a photo at Woodland Park in Lexington, Kentucky on June 19, 2024.

Rajvir Datta sees patriotism as less about the flag and more about the values.

He said such American values as freedom and liberty, including the freedom of religion, are basic principles he values and is passing down to his daughters.

If there are issues that are important to you, you make an effort to make your voice known and bring your kids [to be] involved in that practice so they learn and understand what that process is, Datta said.

The 42-year-old from the Lexingtons Fairway neighborhood said he believes July Fourth is a way for Americans to come together regardless of individual beliefs.

Its one of those holidays that we put aside our political differences, social differences [and] religious differences, and we just come together as a community, Datta said.

The hope is that its a continuous spark for conversation.

Sit and listen to each other

Damesha Nealy, a 30-year-old Winburn resident, poses for a photo outside of Third Street Stuff & Coffee in Lexington, Kentucky on June 19, 2024.

Damesha Nealy defines patriotism as the ability to have good political leadership.

The world is a wicked place, and we need people that are going to have us form more unity than divide us, said the 30-year-old from Lexingtons Winburn neighborhood.

Nealy said morals and values can be shaken if they arent rooted in something with a strong foundation. For her, she finds stability within her strong Christian faith.

We live in a world where sometimes a lot of things are exclusive, Nealy said. Thats not how the kingdom of God is. Its inclusive if you want to receive Him, and I think thats how we should view the world.

Nealy said if people learned to put differences in beliefs aside, the countrys problems could be more easily solved.

I think its a lot of chatter and a lot of noise, she said. We dont take the time to actually sit and listen to each other and the problems were facing.

Free to be me

Karen Zimmerman, a 72-year-old Portland, Oregon resident poses for a photo in Woodland Park in Lexington, Kentucky on June 19, 2024.

For Karen Zimmerman, patriotism equals freedom.

Patriotism gives me the opportunity to worship wherever I want, said the 78-year-old Oregon woman who was in Lexington visiting family. I am free to live in any area I want to live in and free to be me.

However, she said her views of patriotism have been buffeted by the current political climate.

Its swayed me and made me disappointed because of the hate, and believing you can solve problems by war, Zimmerman said. That war is the answer instead of peace.

She said for Americans to set aside differences and come together in their beliefs, they must be more accepting of each other and the freedom we share.

We live in a wonderful United States of America, so, (we must) be cognizant of that, but yet, be cognizant of other people who are not as fortunate as us.
American Eagle flight 3921 made the emergency landing on July 3 due to a disruptive customer," the airline tells PEOPLE

Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty American Airlines plane

An American Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing after a passenger allegedly exposed himself and urinated in the aisle, authorities said.

Neil McCarthy, 25, of Oregon, was arrested and charged with indecent exposure in connection with the alleged incident on July 3, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York. He was released on his own recognizance after making an initial appearance in court that day, per the release.

In a statement to PEOPLE, American Airlines said American Eagle flight 3921, operated by Envoy Air, was traveling from Chicago to Manchester, N.H., when it made the emergency landing at Buffalo Niagara International Airport due to a disruptive customer.

Police then boarded the aircraft and spoke with a flight attendant, who claimed that a man exposed himself and urinated in the aisle during the flight, according to a criminal complaint reviewed by PEOPLE. Authorities then escorted the man  later identified as McCarthy  off the plane and questioned him.

McCarthy allegedly told police during questioning that he enjoys drinking "Jack and Cokes" and had multiple before boarding his flight in Portland, Ore., and then several more during his layover in Chicago, the complaint states.

Related: Man Appears to Be Rescued from Overhead Bin After Flight Experiences Extreme Turbulence, Injuring Dozens

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McCarthy also claimed that when he returned to his seat after using the bathroom during the flight to New Hampshire, he was flicking the bean due to a medical urination problem, according to the complaint.

The complaint further states that police obtained a photo that a passenger took of McCarthy allegedly exposing himself on the plane.

According to American Airlines, the flight re-departed shortly after the emergency landing. We thank our team members for their professionalism and our customers for their understanding, its statement read.

Records show McCarthy is expected to appear in court for an attorney appointment hearing on July 25.

PEOPLE has reached out to a public defender listed for McCarthy on his online court docket but did not immediately hear back.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, McCarthy faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine, if convicted.



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Read the original article on People.
Opinion: As an American in Kyiv, I'm proud of how much we helped Ukraine and scared we may let it down

If you speak English on the street in Ukraine, its not uncommon for strangers to stop and ask where youre from. Many times when Ive said Im American, people (ranging from teenagers to the elderly) have thanked me for my countrys help.

Im forever grateful to be a U.S. citizen, and proud to be from the same place as the incredible American soldiers, medics, journalists, and humanitarians I have the privilege to work alongside. I go to bed every night confident that Ill wake up in the morning because the sky above Kyiv is protected by U.S.-supplied air defense. In the 11 months since I moved back to Ukraine, Ive developed a new appreciation for both the life-saving power of Americas resources and our cultural dedication to justice and freedom.

However, one of the hardest things Ive ever had to learn is how well our politicians are able to weaponize our fatigue and turn it into apathy at best, and conspiracy at worst. I think back to learning about Hitler in school, and how we all swore that if we were alive in the 1940s, wed be the ones who recognized evil and worked to stop it. And yet there is currently a dictator committing genocide in Europe with the aim of expanding his countrys borders indefinitely, and our top presidential candidate is indicating that his strategy for stopping it is to hand Vladimir Putin what he wants.

Putin has said that hell stop the war if Moscow is allowed to annex four Ukrainian oblasts (states)  a particularly shocking demand, given that few of these areas are fully occupied.

This is like if Cuba took control of Key West, killed and raped Floridians en masse, flattened every city up to Tampa, and our solution was to hand over the entire state. If Russia stops attacking Ukraine, the war will end. If Ukraine stops defending itself, it wont exist, and neither will the world as we know it.

To my fellow Americans: Im writing to you on July 4 from Kyiv during one of the few hours of electricity we get these days thanks to Russia striking the power grid, where fireworks are banned because there are enough explosions to contend with.

Im not here to tell you what or who to vote for this fall  Im not you, and I know that both options are concerning in their own right. The only thing that I ask is that you believe me when I say that the greatest threat to Americas safety, freedom, and future is Russia. The only thing protecting us is Ukraine, the only thing that will enable Ukrainian victory is military aid, and in no way does Ukraine take this fact for granted.

When you vote, please know that your tax dollars dont go to President Volodymyr Zelensky  they go to the American manufacturers who make the ammunition that goes into the guns held by Ukrainian husbands, brothers, and sons who dont want to die in this war. If Donald Trump signs away Ukraine, tens of thousands will have died for nothing, and thousands more will be next  and not just in Ukraine.

Im not being hyperbolic or doom-mongering here: as someone who has been reporting on Russia and Ukraine for years, right now Im more afraid for the future than Ive ever been.

If youre reading this from America, I hope that you never hear the sound of an air raid siren. I hope that the people you love are never mobilized for military service that has no end date. I hope that you never learn just how much a human brain can become accustomed to, to the point where the neighborhood hit by a missile at 8 a.m. is forgotten by lunchtime. I hope that you never let a billionaire convince you that you dont need to be worried about the massive black cloud moving straight toward you.

Happy 4th. I love America and I know that we can do the right thing. My biggest fear is that well simply choose not to, and the consequences will follow us for generations to come.

Read also: Trump rejects Putins peace terms while Biden unnerves Democrats at historic debate

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ana Navarro Disgusted by Calls for Biden to Step Down When Trump Is Not Morally Fit to Serve

Ana Navarro expressed her frustration with Democrats, the presidents own party, for calling on Joe Biden to bow out of the 2024 presidential election following his poor showing at last weeks debate against rival Donald Trump.

To the pundits and former Democratic elected officials going on CNN to recommend that the 81-year-old president step down, she suggested, Why dont you call the fking White House?

I just have to say this: Democrats are their own worst enemy, Navarro said, while also noting that its fair for people to want a different nominee. The guy has served our country his entire lifetime, since he was like 28 years old. I think hes earned the right to a little respect.

She continued, Republicans are loving every minute, laughing as Democrats eat their own and go through a circular firing squad. Republicans have no qualms, zero, about getting in line behind the guy whos a convicted felon, been found liable for fraud, slept with a porn star

Nobodys talking about whether the other guy is morally fit to serve, Navarro pointed out. But Democrats, instead of giving this president a little respect, they go straight to the media to be divas  Im disgusted.

On Wednesday, Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva became the second official, after Lloyd Doggett of Texas, to call for Biden to end his reelection campaign.

The President is clear-eyed, and he is staying in the race, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told journalists who peppered her with questions about Bidens health. I dont have anything else beyond that. He is staying, hes staying in the race.

If you tuned into CNN on Wednesday, most of their airtime was devoted to whether Biden should drop out while their YouTube page was similarly focused on the question of Bidens electability.

However, on Monday, one of their pundits, American University professor Allan Lichtman, whos correctly predicted the outcome of the last few elections, said he doesnt think Bidens debate performance will impact the outcome of the presidential race.

The post Ana Navarro Disgusted by Calls for Biden to Step Down When Trump Is Not Morally Fit to Serve appeared first on TheWrap.
Ana Navarro Drops Explicit Message For Democrats Who Want Biden To Step Down

Ana Navarro isnt having it with some Democrats responses to President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance last week.

The View co-host and CNN commentator took to Instagram on Wednesday to weigh in on pundits, donors, ex-Democratic officials and anonymous sources who have signaled that its time for the president to withdraw from the race.

You want Joe Biden to step down? Thats fair. But you know what? The guy has served our country his entire lifetime since he was like 28 years old, Navarro said.

She continued, So I think hes earned the right to a little respect. You want him to step down? Why dont you call the fucking White House? Why dont you call the campaign? Why dont you call the DNC?

The View co-hosts comments arrive in a week of post-debate panic among Democrats.

Biden, in a call with Democratic governors on Wednesday, declared that no ones pushing him out as he pledged to continue with his campaign.

Navarro, a Republican and staunch Trump critic, previously described Bidens debate performance as worrisome but vowed not to give up on the president until he declares that hes giving up on his reelection bid.

She took to social media on Wednesday to blast pundits for hitting TV programs to criticize Biden in a move she likened to playing out a telenovela in public.

And, in the meantime, Republicans are loving every minute, laughing as Democrats eat their own and go through a circular firing squad, said Navarro, who wrote on X that shed back an inanimate object over Trump in November.

She added that people are discussing Bidens mental acuity while not talking about whether former President Donald Trump is morally fit to serve.

Because its not an if, the answer is no, she said. But Democrats, instead of giving this president a little respect, they go straight to the media to be divas ... Im disgusted.

Related...
Fake roadworthy certificates are being sold online with aurthorities warning drivers to always check before they pay.

Business owner Michael Georges, of Absolute Car Care in Brisbane, has fallen victim to the scam with fraudulent roadworthy certificates listing his business details. Source: 7News

Drivers are being warned of an illegal practice creating a hidden danger on Australian roads. 'Dodgy' roadworthy certificates for secondhand cars are in circulation, being issued by online scammers impersonating legitimate businesses, unbeknownst to vehicle owners or the businesses themselves.

One look on Facebook can reveal numerous ads selling '100 per cent guaranteed' roadworthy certificates which are required for a vehicle to be considered safe on Aussie roads. The catch however is that they're issued without the car ever being inspected meaning some are likely unsafe and not suitable to drive, putting authorities on high alert.

The only details scammers need are the car's registration, type of vehicle and VIN number, Rod Camm from the Motoring Trades Association warned. Then they're able to forge a digital certificate, often so good it's hard for people to tell the difference. But experts are warning Aussies "not to fall for these dodgy roadworthy certificates".

Business owner victim of 'dodgy' certificate scam

It comes as a reminder of the rising death toll on our roads, with Aussies being urged to remain vigilant and adhere to vehicle safety standards in a desperate bid to keep fatalities down. The issue is rife in Queensland, which has seen an increase in road fatalities for the first six months of 2024.

Fake digital roadworthy certificates are being handed out online for vehicles that haven't passed required safety checks. Source: 7News

Michael Georges, who owns Absolute Car Care in Brisbane, says his business is often targeted with fake certificates being handed out with his details. It's resulted in angry motorists rocking up at his garage once realising the certificate they received is fake.

"We've been getting a lot of phone calls from irate customers," he told 7 News. "People's lives are in danger. It's a real serious issue."

Authorities 'taking action' against dangerous car scam

The Motoring Trades Association warns people buying a secondhand car could be caught with a death trap. It is urging people to "check that a roadworthy certificate is legitimate before you pay the money".

Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is aware of the fraudulent certificates being issued and told Yahoo News Australia it "is taking action" to weed out the crime.

The fake certificates (left) look almost as real as the legitimate ones (right) and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference. Source: 7News

"TMR is aware that a number of certificates are being issued for sight-unseen vehicles, many of which are highly defective and would not pass a vehicle safety inspection," the road authority said in a statement.

"Where a vehicle is registered or attempted to be registered using a fraudulent certificate, TMR will issue a notice to the vehicle owner requiring the owner to obtain a new safety certificate, or the registration will be cancelled."

"TMR is also aware of fraudulent certificates being issued by third parties on social media who are not accredited by TMR under the AIS [approved inspection station] scheme," they added. "TMR is engaging with the Office of Fair Trading and Queensland Police Service on this matter."

Aussies warned not to 'get caught up with scammers'

TMR's Director General Sally Stannard warned Aussies not to "get caught up with scammers".

"Buying a safety certificate on social media like Facebook or via text message without a proper physical inspection by an accredited provider could cost you dearly," she said. "Choosing a used vehicle is a big decision. I urge buyers to research and inspect the vehicle you plan to buy and know your rights when buying it."

In an alarming twist, investigations also identified a large number of drivers "knowingly seeking out the fraudulent certificates to avoid paying for repairs to meet minimum safety standards before selling or registering a vehicle".

"Buyers of fraudulent certificates should be aware that presenting a false or improperly obtained safety certificate is an offence and that they can be prosecuted," TMR added.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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By Andrew Gray, Philip Blenkinsop and Michel Rose

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - When President Emmanuel Macron shocked France last month by calling a snap election, he was gambling with the future of Europe as well as his own country.

While much depends on the second round of voting on Sunday, it already seems clear that Macron's role as a driver of European integration will be significantly diminished.

The two most likely scenarios  a government led by the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen or a hung parliament  would present unprecedented challenges for the European Union.

The big fear for the EU's traditional political mainstream is an outright RN victory, forcing Macron to "co-habit" with a government hostile to his vision of European sovereignty.

Even a parliament with no overall majority, resulting in an unwieldy coalition or parties cooperating case-by-case, would deprive Macron of a government committed to his policies.

In either case, a heavy question mark would hang over some of his boldest initiatives  from joint EU borrowing to fund defence spending by doubling the EU budget to deploying French troops inside Ukraine to train Kyiv's forces.

As France and Germany traditionally form the engine that drives the 27-nation European Union, the bloc could face a double dose of political paralysis as its two most important pro-EU leaders would be on the back foot.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saw his party crushed in European Parliament elections last month, is struggling to hold his coalition together and is braced for strong far-right showings in upcoming regional polls.

"Macron is severely weakened at home, which will have consequences for his position in Brussels as well as for the Franco-German relationship," said Elizabeth Kuiper, associate director at the European Policy Centre think tank.

While Europe's far-right parties are still far from their goal of taking over the EU and repatriating powers back to the national level, they have wind in their sails. They made gains in the European Parliament elections, where Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's party was a big winner.

A new Dutch government with far-right participation has just taken office. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has taken over the EU's rotating presidency and announced the formation of a new pan-European "patriotic alliance".

"A weaker France and Germany coupled with a stronger Italy and Hungary clearly will shape the future of the EU," said Kuiper.

MACRON PUSHBACK

Macron has told EU counterparts France will continue to play a leading role in the bloc, with a big share of the votes in the European Council of EU leaders and his party at the heart of the pro-EU coalition in the European Parliament, French officials say.

"France remains France, with its weight," said one.

But diplomats say much of the nitty-gritty of EU policy work is done in meetings of government ministers - and the next French government looks certain to be at the very least less Macron-friendly than the current one.

Should the RN's candidate for prime minister, 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, form a government, some diplomats wonder if he may try to adopt an at least semi-cooperative stance with EU bodies - taking a page from Meloni's playbook.

But the party's policies and statements suggest clashes with both Macron and Brussels would be inevitable.

Le Pen has said an RN-led government would nominate France's next European commissioner  a key role in the EU executive. But that is traditionally the president's prerogative - and Macron has already signalled he wants to keep incumbent Thierry Breton.

The RN also wants France to get a rebate from the EU budget, something the EU is highly unlikely to provide. And while the RN's economic policies have changed repeatedly in recent weeks, they may fall foul of the EU's fiscal rules.

Karel Lannoo, chief executive of the Centre for European Policy Studies think tank, said initiatives to boost European economic competitiveness such as an EU capital markets union would also be at risk.

"The problem for the EU is that if it doesn't have member states strongly supporting it, then it's very hard (to move forward)," he said.

Among diplomats in EU hub Brussels, some are in "wait-and-see" mode, given the outcome of the second round is uncertain.

One described the mood as "nervous but calm". But some Eastern Europeans expressed more anxiety - and concern that Macron had unnecessarily put Europe's future at risk in reaction to a defeat in the European Parliament elections.

Eastern European leaders have been encouraged over the past year as Macron became bolder in support for Ukraine and more willing to question the West's "red lines" with Russia.

"His words were music to our ears ... That was so recent and now it is gone," lamented one senior official from the region.

"It is looking very serious," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"My fear is that President Macron has definitely overplayed his hand."

(Reporting by Andrew Gray, Editing by William Maclean)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Frustrations continue to grow following the death of a Savannah Police Department K-9 officer last month after he was left in a hot car overnight.

According to Savannah Chief of Police David Vincent, K-9 Horus died on June 20 following the completion of his overnight patrol shift in the small town where he had served his community for over three years.

Vincent says this continues to be an open investigation.

Since K-9 Horuss death, the community of Savannah and many others have been expressing their outrage and seeking justice for the loss of the young German Shepherds life on social media, including frustration after he was buried with no marker.

2 killed in Clay County crash involving school bus identified

Vincent responded on social media on Wednesday saying the resting place of our K-9 officer is a work in progress. The area looks less than desirable currently due to dirt work and clean up of the area.

A temporary marker has been ordered and will be placed as soon as it arrives, according to Vincent.

A makeshift memorial at the burial site of Horus has been created by members of the community.

His resting place will always be maintained by city staff and will be a place of honor, Vincent continued. The police department was informed that Horus was not able to be placed in the cemetery due to laws restricting this. We have since learned that it is possible if an area is designated for people and their pets. The Savannah cemetery does not currently have such an area designated. If in the future that changes and it is feasible we will make every effort to move our friend to a more suitable location.

Vincent says at the time of Horus passing, time was not on their side and a decision had ot be made sooner, rather than later.

Every dog has its day, but its not the Fourth of July

 I know this has upset many of our citizens, but please believe me that none of this was done to disrespect our K-9 Officer, or diminish his service to this community, Vincent said. Horus was a great asset to our department and the community. I trusted this K9 around my grandchildren and they adored him. I am upset and angry about what happened to Horus as everyone else is.

Vincent says he has been unable to discuss the circumstances of the incident while the Missouri State Highway Patrol conducts its investigation into the incident.

I hope the community understands there is a process in place to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death of K-9 Horus is investigated, and that process will take time, he continued.

The police department announced Wednesday afternoon that an anonymous donor has offered to purchase a permanent headstone for K-9 Officer Horus and is in the process of being ordered.

The big questions many people want answered in this case are whether the police officer and caretaker of Horus will be held accountable in a Missouri court of law, if the police department will reprimand or revoke the officers law enforcement license, and if the officer accidentally or intentionally killed the K-9.

The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney Monica J. Morrey has taken on the case and told FOX4:

The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorneys Office is deeply saddened to learn of K-9 Horus passing. We are grateful to him for his service to our community. I have requested a special investigation through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. I will await the results of this investigation prior to making any determination of necessary action.

Although the investigation is ongoing, a bill was recently sent to Gov. Mike Parsons desk called Maxs Law. It was created after a St. Joseph K-9 was killed in the line of duty in 2021 and would increase penalties for injuring and killing animals in law enforcement.

It states that if a law enforcement animal is assaulted and dies, the person responsible could face a Class D Felony charge in the state of Missouri.

A Class D Felony is the second-lowest class of felonies in the state and could lead to a prison sentence of no more than seven years, one year in a county jail or a court-imposed fine of up to $10,000.

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The name or status of the law enforcement officer responsible for K-9 Horuss death has not been revealed, nor has there been an explanation for his tragic passing.

Stay tuned at FOX4 for the latest updates and information on this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Mr Fauci claimed the US president appeared 'analytical' in their interactions - AP

Anthony Fauci, one of Americas most senior and often controversial medical officials, has defended Joe Biden after his groggy performance in his debate with Donald Trump.

Mr Fauci, 83, who stood down as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022, said in his interactions with Mr Biden the president had appeared analytical.

As pressure mounted on the 81-year-old Mr Biden to stand down, Mr Fauci came to his defence and said it was impossible for a physician to make a meaningful assessment of a persons mental state based on watching a 90-minute debate.

In an interview on CBS News podcast, The Takeout, Mr Fauci said it would be inappropriate to call Mr Bidens debate performance alarming.

Did he have a bad cold? Did he take an antihistamine to make him groggy? We dont know what went on, Mr Fauci said.

We dont know what went on and I think it would be unfair and inappropriate to try and diagnose something from just a 90-minute clip.

He added: When you go in to brief him, you better really know your topic because hes going to ask you really relevant questions and hes very reflective on things and doesnt just jump out with conclusions or anything and is very analytic.

Mr Fauci, who served under Mr Trump as well as Mr Biden, played a major role in the USs efforts to combat the Covid pandemic.

Earlier this week, Mr Fauci took aim at an independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, known as a vaccine sceptic.

Speaking to David Axelrod, who led Barack Obamas first election campaign, he said he remembered a meeting where Mr Kennedy, 70, railed against vaccines.

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, Mr Fauci said.

For the next 40 minutes or so, he showed slide after slide after slide that day, that makes no sense at all.

He added: I dont know whats going on in his head, but its not good.

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(KRON)  A late-night shooting in Antioch Wednesday left one man dead and a woman in critical condition, according to the Antioch Police Department. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Vineyard Drive at around 11:26 p.m. on a report of a man shot near the vineyards.

Officers arrived on the scene and found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers rendered aid until the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived and took over. The victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Bay Area: Several 4th of July celebrations canceled amid fire concerns

A second victim, a woman, arrived at Sutter Delta Medical Hospital suffering from at least one gunshot wound. She was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek in critical condition.

An investigation into the shooting was taken over by Antioch PDs Investigation Bureau consisting of Crime Scene Investigators and Violent Crimes Unit detectives. Police describe the investigation as active and ongoing and are declining to release additional information.

The identity of the victims is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. According to police, this is an isolated incident and there is no immediate threat to the community.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A 22-year-old man was arrested and charged with murder in the death of his father, the Austin Police Department said in a release Wednesday.

APD said officers arrived at the home on Windrift Way in south Austin around 5:39 p.m. Monday and found footprints that led to the garage of the home and the living room. Officers found Hayden Craig Lerond, 22, lying on the floor with blood on his knees. He was later taken to the hospital to be evaluated for minor injuries, police said.

1 dead in south Austin homicide Monday

Austin-Travis County EMS also responded to the scene and found James Lerond, 51, lying in street and began lifesaving measures, police said.

Investigators believe, after looking through the scene and interviewing witnesses, Hayden Lerond stabbed and caused the death of his father, James Lerond, APD said. Hayden Lerond was booked into the Travis County Jail on a first-degree murder charge, according to police.

KXAN reached out to Hayden Leronds attorney who said there is no comment on the case at this time.

MAP: Where have Austins homicides occurred in 2024?

Anyone with any information on this case should contact APD at 512-974-TIPS. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or by calling 512-472-8477. A reward up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

APD is investigating this case as Austins 30th homicide this year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
WISE, Va. (WJHL)  An Appalachia man was found guilty on a pair of drug-related charges Friday after selling methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of Central High School in Norton, Va. in May of 2019.

Dennis Wayne Russell, 60, was found guilty of distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance and distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance within 1,000 feet of school property, according to a news release from the Commonwealths Attorneys Office.

The release states Russell sold meth from the Walmart parking lot in Norton near the school.

Russell is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Duffield, Va. His next sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 4.

Court docs: Escaped Carter Co. inmate had been previously charged with attempted kidnapping

We are thankful for the outcome of this jury trial, said Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Corey Salyers. Methamphetamine is poisoning our community, and together with law enforcement, we are doing all that we can to combat the distribution of this drug in our region.

The Southwest Virginia Multi-Jurisdictional Narcotics Task Force, Wise County Sheriffs Office, and the Wise County Geographic Information Sciences Department assisted in this case.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.
ST. LOUIS  A high school beef between students spilled into after-school hours in a drive-by shooting in the citys Dutchtown neighborhood.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened on the afternoon of May 15 near the intersection of South Grand Boulevard and Keokuk Street.

Police said a man agreed to pick his girlfriends children up from their schools. He first picked up a 15-year-old from middle school, then picked up two other kids from Soldan High School.

While they were going home, the vehicle was shot at. One of the shots struck the 15-year-old in the leg, and they needed to be hospitalized. No one else was injured in the shooting. Police recovered five bullet casings at the scene.

7 shot in Downtown St. Louis within hours of July 4th event

Police said witnesses helped them identify the shooter as Solomon A. Rasas, 18, who went to Soldan High School with two of the siblings in the car.

According to police, one of the siblings who attended Soldan got into an argument with Rasas earlier that day.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Rasas with four counts of armed criminal action and four counts of first-degree assault. Rasas remains jailed without bond. Hes awaiting a detention hearing on Wednesday, July 10. Rasas will be back in court the morning of August 1 for a preliminary hearing.

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The boy died of a "heat-related medical event" after hiking with his family in South Mountain Park and Preserve, according to the Phoenix Police Department

Getty Hidden Valley Mormon Trail in South Mountain Park Preserve in Phoenix

A 10-year-old boy died after experiencing "heat-related emergencies" while hiking in Arizona, according to a press release from the Phoenix Police Department.

The victim became ill after hiking with his family on Tuesday, July 2, at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix.

According to the release, which was last updated on Wednesday, the young victim was airlifted to an ambulance that transported him to the hospital. He was in critical condition upon arrival and later died due to a "heat-related medical event."

Detectives are now investigating the death for more details, per the release.

ABC News states that the incident happened roughly one mile into the Mormon Trailhead.

Getty South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix

Temperatures in Phoenix on the day of the incident reached 113 degrees Fahrenheit, according to The Weather Channel.

Last month, a mother of two died while hiking in the summer heat in Sedona, Ariz., while visiting from Pennsylvania with her husband and their two daughters.

"After interviewing her two young daughters and her husband, it appears she suffered heat exhaustion and was not treated fast enough," the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office said while issuing a warning about hiking in the summer months.

"The temperatures can be much hotter on trails that are along the rocks and have little shade," the sheriff's office continued.



Related: Texas Hiker, 69, Dies on Grand Canyon Hike with Niece: There Are No Words

In April, the City of Phoenix reported that three popular hiking trails  including Camelback Mountain's Echo and Cholla Trails and all trails associated with Piestewa Peak Trailhead in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve  will close from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on days when the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning.

On those days, access to trails will be limited, parking lot gates will be closed and proper signage will be displayed to reduce heat-related injuries and deaths.

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.

Last month, the Phoenix Fire Department announced a new approach to treating heat victims called cold water immersion. The technique involves using specialized ice bags to quickly cool down people suffering from extreme heat-related illnesses. They can be used when a patient's temperature goes beyond 104 Fahrenheit degrees and they "present altered mental status.

Related: Man Dies After Collapsing Outside Restroom in Death Valley National Park amid 121-Degree Heat

The National Weather Service states that heat-related illnesses can be prevented by limiting exposure to heat and staying hydrated. They suggest wearing lightweight, light-colored clothing, eating small meals often, monitoring those at high risk and staying indoors when possible during excessive heat.

The NWS says that signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, nausea and weakness, while signs of heat stroke include confusion, dizziness and becoming unconscious.

In the event of a heat stroke, the organization recommends calling 911 immediately.

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Arizona representative calls on Biden to drop out  the second House Democrat to do so

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., walks away after greeting President Joe Biden at Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, in Grand Canyon Village, Ariz. Grijalva has called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race. | Alex Brandon

Another House Democrat has called on President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., told The New York Times in an interview that it is Bidens responsibility to get out of the race.

If hes the candidate, Im going to support him, but I think that this is an opportunity to look elsewhere, Grijalva said. What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

Grijalva said he believes a second Donald Trump term would be very, very dangerous, calling the former president an anti-democratic, authoritarian despot.

The Arizona Democrats comments come a day after Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, became the first elected Democrat to call for Biden to bow out of the race, citing Bidens performance at last weeks debate, as the Deseret News reported.

So far, Grijalva and Doggett are the only Democratic members of Congress to call on Biden to withdraw from the race.

Who is Raul Grijalva?

Grijalva, 76, is a progressive Democrat from Arizona who has served in Congress since 2003.

Grijalva represents the 7th District of Arizona and is ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee and a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Biden absolutely not dropping out

The Biden administration has been adamant that he is not dropping out of the race, the Deseret News reported.

When asked Wednesday if Biden was considering stepping down, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded, Absolutely not.

... He has been very clear, and hes going to continue to build on the unprecedented record that hes been able to lay out for the American people. Thats his focus right now.

Jean-Pierre emphasized that Biden was not considering bowing out of the race, denying a report from earlier Wednesday that claimed the president told advisers that he is weighing whether or not he should continue his campaign for president, calling it absolutely false.
A dedicated vet has revealed how Mango likely suffered his injuries as he slowly brings him back to good health.

Mango the dog was spotted by campers severely emaciated and gravely injured in Cape York late last month. Source: Supplied

A young Aussie couple who made the last-minute decision to pick up a "very sad pup pleading for help in the middle of the bush" saved the animal's life from certain death, an appreciative vet has declared.

Dr Sam Kovac of Southern Cross Veterinarian Clinic said the Queensland family from Cairns spotted the injured and unwell dog "barely able to lift his head" along a rural road while they were holidaying in Cape York. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Kovac explained "one of our regular clients' children" spotted the severely emaciated dog  later named Mango  from the car window, and urged their parents to pick him up.

In a heartbreaking twist, Mango had sustained a major fracture and couldn't use one of his back legs, though the family didn't know it yet, with the seriously skinny dog so emaciated and dehydrated that he'd "clearly given up on life" and was "yelping in pain when moved".

"It's no easy feat for a young professional couple, with a son and daughter in tow, plus two large dogs of their own," Kovac told Yahoo.

"Yet they had a heart big enough to take Mango in  without knowing his infectious disease status, his temperament, or his history, they just knew that this dog needed their help and without them, he would die."

It turned out Mango had sustained a major fracture and couldn't use one of his back legs. He was so emaciated and dehydrated that hed clearly give up on life, yelping in pain when moved. Source: Supplied

Dog's life-saving treatment after found on death's door

The family brought Mango back to their beach camp and gave him some love and care, Kovac said, adding that there was "no veterinary assistance up that way", which is when they made the decision to bring Mango on "the long journey back to Cairns", where he was given life-saving treatment.

"The suspicions of my orthopaedic surgeon were confirmed by our specialist radiologist in the USA. Mango sustained a major fracture to his pelvis that would be causing horrific pain and possible injury to his right sciatic nerve," Kovac said.

Mango with his new adoptive sister. Source: Supplied

"Given the precision of the fracture and location, the most likely possibilities of what caused the trauma were blunt trauma from a size 13 steel-capped boot to Mangos buttocks, or a kick from a brumby.

"Unfortunately, he'd been infected with a mosquito-borne heartworm disease that is common from Far North Queensland right through to Southern NSW. He's receiving daily treatment for that and we are being very careful that he doesn't develop a blood clot from this."

Dr Sam Kovac, with Mango - who is now on the mend - and his new family. Source: Supplied

Future looks bright for Mango

Mango will be spending his life in a crate for the next six weeks to ensure the fracture site heals well  "no easy thing" for a busy young couple with two kids and two big dogs to do, but "they instantly agreed to do whatever was necessary to help".

Kovac said that now, after rigorous treatment, "he's 100 per cent perked up since he was scraped up off the side of the road" by the Booth family  and he "personally thinks he feels appreciative of the support".

"He's started to bear weight on his leg, and has been more interactive with the family including interacting with their children more and wagging his tail more," Kovac said, adding that he expects the Booths to formally adopt Mango in time.

Kovac personally funds community cases such as Mango's, having started Project Hope which provides unlimited veterinary care for the companion animals belonging to Sydney's rough sleepers, homeless and domestic violence victims.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Little Rock OB-GYN Dr. Dina Epstein, a volunteer trained by Arkansans for Limited Government, tries to gather signatures for Arkansass abortion-rights ballot initiative. (Courtesy of Dina Epstein)

Of the several state abortion-rights initiatives trying to make it to the ballot this November, Arkansas is perhaps the most controversial among reproductive justice advocates, as it would reinstate an abortion policy more restrictive than under Roe v. Wade.

Attempting to also appeal to the conservative voters of the deep red, heavily gerrymandered state, Arkansans for Limited Governments proposed Arkansas Abortion Amendment would overturn the states current near-total ban, but limit the procedure to 18 weeks post-fertilization, with exceptions for maternal and fetal health conditions and rape and incest.

For this reason, as Slate reported, major national abortion-rights groups have not been involved in promoting or funding the campaign. But the ballot question committees director of strategy, Rebecca Bobrow, said shes cautiously optimistic that the committee will meet the 90,074-signature threshold by Fridays July 5 deadline. On Wednesday, Bobrow said the campaign was approximately 5,000 signatures away from their goal. But what worries her is the steep fundraising climb ahead.

The 90,000 signatures that we need is not enough for a win in November, so itll be a lot of education, and making sure that people are coming to the polls for this, said Bobrow, who noted support for this amendment spans divergent political views. Weve heard from people that are Trump supporters who are saying, Im going to vote Republican down my ballot in November, but I want this on the ballot. I believe its important to protect personal freedoms.

Bobrow acknowledged that the proposed constitutional amendment doesnt go as far as she wishes it did in protecting abortion rights. But she said she thinks, at least for now, it would improve reproductive health care access in a state that has criminalized nearly all abortions for two years.

Compounding restrictions, state Attorney General Tim Griffin recently ordered out-of-state providers to stop advertising and selling the abortion pill in Arkansas. But if the amendment passes, Arkansas could become an access point in a part of the country that has almost entirely banned abortion. On June 18, the state House adopted a non-binding resolution opposing the Arkansas Abortion Amendment and encouraged registered voters to vote against it.

This feels urgent, said Bobrow, who last year completed a graduate thesis at Harvard University on state abortion shield laws in post-Roe America and began consulting for the campaign in April. Lets protect the women and restore access up to this point, and then we can go further. If this is what can pass right now, we shouldnt not be doing it because were trying to get to an ideal.

The more than 90,000 signatures must hail from 50 counties rather than the previously required 15, which is a new rule currently being challenged in court, but Bobrow said it is actually helping the campaign establish a more robust infrastructure.

One of the campaigns approximately 800 volunteers is Dr. Dina Epstein, who is also among more than 600 health care providers to sign an open letter in support of the amendment. After her medical residency, the Little Rock native moved back to her home state, where shes been a practicing OB-GYN since 2019.

Between surgeries on a recent Friday, Epstein ducked into a breakroom at a hospital in North Little Rock to talk to States Newsroom about what its been like to be a practicing OB-GYN in a state where pregnancy termination is a crime, and why she believes in the Arkansas Abortion Amendment.

She said that before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, she was only performing medically indicated abortions, but the abortion ban has changed her practice. She said she signed up to volunteer a few months ago and carries petitions everywhere she goes.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

States Newsroom: What has it been like being an OB-GYN in Arkansas since Roe v. Wade was overturned?

Dr. Dina Epstein: It has been challenging and scary and heartbreaking, honestly. Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, there were, of course, restrictions in the state of Arkansas as it was, but we were not prevented from doing our jobs properly. And since it was overturned, that has not been the case. There have been so many questions, because theres almost a total ban, with the only exception being to save the life of the mother when its in imminent danger.  Its tied our hands in a lot of situations so that we cant keep our patients healthy, that we cant do what is best for them medically. We have to do what is required by the law or risk having our license taken away, being fined, put in jail, et cetera.

SN: Can you be more specific?

Epstein: We try to treat things and we try to keep the pregnancy healthy and the patient healthy. But one of the first things we have to consider is, what if she does need to be delivered before shes able to get to viability? That is considered an abortion, and that is illegal under the ban. This patient needs to be able to survive. She cant carry another pregnancy if shes not alive. She cant carry this pregnancy if her blood pressures arent controlled and the stroke that she has killed her. But to end the pregnancy prior to that happening, its not clear when thats OK, how sick she has to be before we get to the point where thats a reasonable medical option according to the law.

SN: About how often have these types of situations arisen, where youve had to deny care or refer patients out of state?

Epstein: It depends on the facility, but it happens a fair amount. There are times things come in waves, where were seeing things all the time, and then we get a little break from it, but I mean, every week theres something popping up on one of us where were having to address this.  Its certainly disrupted the trust a little bit between patients and doctors, because they dont know whats safe to tell us and what isnt.

SN: How have you been navigating that loss of trust among patients?

Epstein: Ive had to do some education with my office staff as far as when people call, if they do ask about abortion, what would be appropriate to say. The knee jerk in the past for some people has been to just say we dont do that here and move on. And that is not an appropriate answer. As far as Im concerned, as a medical provider who wants to care for my patients, if I cant do it personally, I will give them the guidance of what we are allowed to do, what we arent allowed to do, and what is available in the state, what is not available in the state.

I try to make it clear with my patients when they come in if theyre pregnant, Im here for you. I never assume.  I ask them, And how are you feeling about this pregnancy?  Some patients have certainly had a sense of relief, even just being asked and being able to say, Im not sure; heres the situation Im in, or, Im pretty sure my doctor last time said my heart wasnt in a condition to do that, but I didnt follow up, so now Im scared, but I didnt want to say it because I didnt want to go to jail. Theres just a lot of unknowns, and disrupting that trust has really made it more difficult to operate.

Volunteers campaigning for the Arkansas Abortion Amendment canvass in Benton County, Arkansas. (Courtesy of Arkansans for Limited Government)

SN: What has canvassing been like? What have the conversations been like?

Epstein: Its been really nice to realize that its not that everyone agrees that this ban is appropriate; its that people just know the reality of the ban, but they dont have the information. They dont know to think about these instances, that mom might get septic because she ruptured at 14 weeks. They dont know that her blood pressure might make her so sick that she and the fetus could die.  This shouldnt be something that the general population has to think about, every complication that can arise during pregnancy.

SN: What are some of the more surprising conversations youve had gathering signatures?

Epstein: The people I have been most surprised by  and maybe its just a bias on my side  but, the older, rather religious, kind of more conservative members of the community who have come up and said that they couldnt say it publicly but absolutely do not believe that the government should be making medical decisions for people, and then signing.  Ive had so many, like grandparent-type people coming up and saying they cant believe this is happening, and they just want to make sure that the future is better for their children and their grandchildren.

SN: Can you speak to the criticisms that this law is more restrictive than Roe?

Epstein: Its not inaccurate, but now our hands are tied. We cant provide even appropriate medical care to our patients. Waiting and hoping for something to change nationally or promoting something that has no chance of passing in this state does not help my patients.

The proposed amendment covers 98% of cases that occurred previously.  There are situations still, just because of the resources that we have available in the state of Arkansas, that we would not be able to do because we arent equipped to do that, and those patients would still need to travel out of state, which was the case previously. So again, not necessarily ideal for those patients, but it does improve access dramatically for the majority of patients who would be affected by this.

I mean, Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. [Arkansas had the highest rate between 2018 and 2021, but including 2022 data, CDC reports 38 deaths per 100,000 live births in Arkansas, well above the national rate of 23 but slightly behind Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.] This is not a safe place to be pregnant.  There are so many labor and delivery units closing across the state. And recruiting [doctors] has been made more difficult by this as well.  If you have a choice of where you get to live, do you want to live in a place where you or your daughter cant get all of the care that should be available to them?

SN: Do you think this amendment has a chance?

Epstein: We are very optimistic.  People are so excited to have this opportunity and are thrilled that this can happen here. People are getting more and more pumped about it as were getting closer and closer to the deadline. It seems like it could definitely happen.  But we still need everybodys signature.

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The post Arkansas OB-GYN says proposed abortion rights amendment could revive standard of care appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
ittle Rock OB-GYN Dr. Dina Epstein, a volunteer trained by Arkansans for Limited Government, tries to gather signatures for Arkansass abortion-rights ballot initiative. (Courtesy of Dina Epstein)

Of the several state abortion-rights initiatives trying to make it to the ballot this November, Arkansas is perhaps the most controversial among reproductive justice advocates, as it would reinstate an abortion policy more restrictive than under Roe v. Wade. Attempting to also appeal to the conservative voters of the deep red, heavily gerrymandered state, Arkansans for Limited Governments proposed Arkansas Abortion Amendment would overturn the states current near-total ban, but limit the procedure to 18 weeks post-fertilization, with exceptions for maternal and fetal health conditions and rape and incest.

For this reason, as Slate reported, major national abortion-rights groups have not been involved in promoting or funding the campaign. But the ballot question committees director of strategy, Rebecca Bobrow, said shes cautiously optimistic that the committee will meet the 90,074-signature threshold by Fridays July 5 deadline. On Wednesday, Bobrow said the campaign was approximately 5,000 signatures away from their goal. But what worries her is the steep fundraising climb ahead.

The 90,000 signatures that we need is not enough for a win in November, so itll be a lot of education, and making sure that people are coming to the polls for this, said Bobrow, who noted support for this amendment spans divergent political views. Weve heard from people that are Trump supporters who are saying, Im going to vote Republican down my ballot in November, but I want this on the ballot. I believe its important to protect personal freedoms.

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Bobrow acknowledged that the proposed constitutional amendment doesnt go as far as she wishes it did in protecting abortion rights. But she said she thinks, at least for now, it would improve reproductive health care access in a state that has criminalized nearly all abortions for two years. Compounding restrictions, state Attorney General Tim Griffin recently ordered out-of-state providers to stop advertising and selling the abortion pill in Arkansas. But if the amendment passes, Arkansas could become an access point in a part of the country that has almost entirely banned abortion. On June 18, the state House adopted a non-binding resolution opposing the Arkansas Abortion Amendment and encouraged registered voters to vote against it.

This feels urgent, said Bobrow, who last year completed a graduate thesis at Harvard University on state abortion shield laws in post-Roe America and began consulting for the campaign in April. Lets protect the women and restore access up to this point, and then we can go further. If this is what can pass right now, we shouldnt not be doing it because were trying to get to an ideal.

The more than 90,000 signatures must hail from 50 counties rather than the previously required 15, which is a new rule currently being challenged in court, but Bobrow said it is actually helping the campaign establish a more robust infrastructure.

One of the campaigns approximately 800 volunteers is Dr. Dina Epstein, who is also among more than 600 health care providers to sign an open letter in support of the amendment. After her medical residency, the Little Rock native moved back to her home state, where shes been a practicing OB-GYN since 2019. Between surgeries on a recent Friday, Epstein ducked into a breakroom at a hospital in North Little Rock to talk to States Newsroom about what its been like to be a practicing OB-GYN in a state where pregnancy termination is a crime, and why she believes in the Arkansas Abortion Amendment. She said that before Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, she was only performing medically indicated abortions, but the abortion ban has changed her practice. She said she signed up to volunteer a few months ago and carries petitions everywhere she goes.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

States Newsroom: What has it been like being an OB-GYN in Arkansas since Roe v. Wade was overturned?

Dr. Dina Epstein: It has been challenging and scary and heartbreaking, honestly. Before Roe v. Wade was overturned, there were, of course, restrictions in the state of Arkansas as it was, but we were not prevented from doing our jobs properly. And since it was overturned, that has not been the case. There have been so many questions, because theres almost a total ban, with the only exception being to save the life of the mother when its in imminent danger.  Its tied our hands in a lot of situations so that we cant keep our patients healthy, that we cant do what is best for them medically. We have to do what is required by the law or risk having our license taken away, being fined, put in jail, et cetera.

SN: Can you be more specific?

Epstein: We try to treat things and we try to keep the pregnancy healthy and the patient healthy. But one of the first things we have to consider is, what if she does need to be delivered before shes able to get to viability? That is considered an abortion, and that is illegal under the ban. This patient needs to be able to survive. She cant carry another pregnancy if shes not alive. She cant carry this pregnancy if her blood pressures arent controlled and the stroke that she has killed her. But to end the pregnancy prior to that happening, its not clear when thats OK, how sick she has to be before we get to the point where thats a reasonable medical option according to the law.

SN: About how often have these types of situations arisen, where youve had to deny care or refer patients out of state?

Epstein: It depends on the facility, but it happens a fair amount. There are times things come in waves, where were seeing things all the time, and then we get a little break from it, but I mean, every week theres something popping up on one of us where were having to address this.  Its certainly disrupted the trust a little bit between patients and doctors, because they dont know whats safe to tell us and what isnt.

SN: How have you been navigating that loss of trust among patients?

Epstein: Ive had to do some education with my office staff as far as when people call, if they do ask about abortion, what would be appropriate to say. The knee jerk in the past for some people has been to just say we dont do that here and move on. And that is not an appropriate answer. As far as Im concerned, as a medical provider who wants to care for my patients, if I cant do it personally, I will give them the guidance of what we are allowed to do, what we arent allowed to do, and what is available in the state, what is not available in the state.

I try to make it clear with my patients when they come in if theyre pregnant, Im here for you. I never assume.  I ask them, And how are you feeling about this pregnancy?  Some patients have certainly had a sense of relief, even just being asked and being able to say, Im not sure; heres the situation Im in, or, Im pretty sure my doctor last time said my heart wasnt in a condition to do that, but I didnt follow up, so now Im scared, but I didnt want to say it because I didnt want to go to jail. Theres just a lot of unknowns, and disrupting that trust has really made it more difficult to operate.

SN: What has canvassing been like? What have the conversations been like?

Epstein: Its been really nice to realize that its not that everyone agrees that this ban is appropriate; its that people just know the reality of the ban, but they dont have the information. They dont know to think about these instances, that mom might get septic because she ruptured at 14 weeks. They dont know that her blood pressure might make her so sick that she and the fetus could die.  This shouldnt be something that the general population has to think about, every complication that can arise during pregnancy.

SN: What are some of the more surprising conversations youve had gathering signatures?

Epstein: The people I have been most surprised by  and maybe its just a bias on my side  but, the older, rather religious, kind of more conservative members of the community who have come up and said that they couldnt say it publicly but absolutely do not believe that the government should be making medical decisions for people, and then signing.  Ive had so many, like grandparent-type people coming up and saying they cant believe this is happening, and they just want to make sure that the future is better for their children and their grandchildren.

SN: Can you speak to the criticisms that this law is more restrictive than Roe?

Epstein: Its not inaccurate, but now our hands are tied. We cant provide even appropriate medical care to our patients. Waiting and hoping for something to change nationally or promoting something that has no chance of passing in this state does not help my patients.

The proposed amendment covers 98% of cases that occurred previously.  There are situations still, just because of the resources that we have available in the state of Arkansas, that we would not be able to do because we arent equipped to do that, and those patients would still need to travel out of state, which was the case previously. So again, not necessarily ideal for those patients, but it does improve access dramatically for the majority of patients who would be affected by this.

I mean, Arkansas has the highest maternal mortality rate in the nation. [Arkansas had the highest rate between 2018 and 2021, but including 2022 data, CDC reports 38 deaths per 100,000 live births in Arkansas, well above the national rate of 23 but slightly behind Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama.] This is not a safe place to be pregnant.  There are so many labor and delivery units closing across the state. And recruiting [doctors] has been made more difficult by this as well.  If you have a choice of where you get to live, do you want to live in a place where you or your daughter cant get all of the care that should be available to them?

SN: Do you think this amendment has a chance?

Epstein: We are very optimistic.  People are so excited to have this opportunity and are thrilled that this can happen here. People are getting more and more pumped about it as were getting closer and closer to the deadline. It seems like it could definitely happen.  But we still need everybodys signature.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Groups of Arkansans are in their final days of gathering signatures for ballot initiatives, hoping to leave the issues up to voters in November.

The signature-gathering process has been chaotic for many of the groups, but that chaos is soon to land in state employees hands where theyll be counting hundreds of thousands of signatures.

Arkansas education ballot initiative receives pushback in final days before deadline to gather signatures

Chris Powell with the Arkansas Secretary of States office said its an unprecedented number of petitions coming in this Friday compared to recent years. There are six constitutional amendments and one initiated act needing signatures to qualify for the ballot.

The issues range from legalizing abortion and medical marijuana expansions to changes to education and the Freedom of Information Act.

Powell said the states bringing in nearly 100 temporary workers to help verify that each signature comes from a registered voter in Arkansas and isnt repeated. Theyll also have to make sure petitioners were notarized and that the full petition is printed on every sheet thats signed.

Arkansas groups not asking US Supreme Court to review ruling limiting scope of Voting Rights Act

Powell showed KARK 4 News the Old Supreme Court room filled with chairs and computers for workers starting Friday.

We have this room and two other rooms which will be full of people doing nothing but verifying signatures and checking these petitions all day every day, Powell said. Itll be 12 hours a day total for several weeks.

The ballot initiatives have a requirement of more than 90,000 signatures coming from at least 50 of the counties in Arkansas for constitutional amendments. The minimum requirement for signatures is 72,000 for initiated acts.

Pulaski Co. jail blocks education ballot initiative sponsors from getting signatures from inmates

State officials will start letting groups turn their signatures in the morning of Friday, July 5. The groups have until 5 p.m. that day to get everything turned in.

The secretary of states office has until August 22 to determine which measures qualify for the ballot.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Astronomers have long been puzzled by the "heartbeats" of neutron stars, the extremely dense remains of massive stars that erupted in a supernova.

While we now know far more about their origins, the unusual pulses have led to plenty of far-fetched theories, including the possibility of an ancient civilization attempting to communicate with us.

These heartbeats have usually appeared with striking regularity, likely due to spinning neutron stars emitting short bursts of radiation like a cosmic lighthouse.

But some pulses are "glitching" or suddenly speeding up, throwing a wrench in our efforts to better understand them.

Now, in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports earlier this year, physicists have come up with a new model that perfectly aligns with this unusual behavior.

"More than half a century has passed since the discovery of neutron stars, but the mechanism of why glitches happen is not yet understood," said corresponding author and Hiroshima University professor Muneto Nitta in a recent statement. "So we proposed a model to explain this phenomenon."

Scientists have previously proposed that "avalanches" of "superfluid vortices"  the highly volatile ingredients of neutron stars trying to reach equilibrium and kicking off a chain reaction of swirling matter  are behind these mysterious glitches.

But what exactly triggers this avalanche in the first place remains a subject of debate.

"In the standard scenario, researchers consider that avalanche of unpinned vortices could explain the origin of glitches," Nitta explained in the statement. "If there would be no pinning, it means the superfluid releases vortices one by one, allowing for a smooth adjustment in rotation speed. There would be no avalanches and no glitches."

"But in our case, we didn't need any mechanism of pinning or additional parameters," Nitta added. "In this structure, all vortices are connected to each other in each cluster, so they cannot be released one by one. Instead, the neutron star has to release a large number of vortices simultaneously."

The team suggested the existence of two interacting types of superfluid that may explain the strange behavior. They found that their new model almost perfectly corresponds to the observed data.

"Our model explains the appearance of these glitches in terms of the presence of quantum vortex networks arising at the interface of two different kinds of superfluids in the core of neutron stars," the paper reads.

Yet plenty of questions remain  which shouldn't be surprising given the level of complexity involved.

"A neutron star is a very particular situation because the three fields of astrophysics, nuclear physics, and condensed matter physics meet at one point," Nitta explained. "Its very difficult to observe directly because neutron stars exist far away from us, therefore, we need to make a deep connection between the interior structure and some observation data from the neutron star."

More on neutron stars: Scientists Intrigued by Signal From Space Repeating Every Hour
The City of Atlanta launched a new initiative to raise awareness and take action against domestic violence in the community.

Mayor Andre Dickens and the Mayors Office of Violence Reduction joined with local Atlanta celebrities to launch the Atlanta says NO MORE program.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to the city, the campaign includes notable local celebrities Dallas Austin, Big Gipp, Miss Lawrence, Monyetta Shaw Carter and Rasheeda, who it said had all pledged support for the cause.

As part of the initiative, Atlanta will be asking the community to Do One Thing, ATL, and help end domestic violence.

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Domestic violence is a serious issue that tears households apart and, in some cases, results in the loss of lifeand it is on the rise. As a community, we must pay attention and we must have these tough conversations. By discussing it, recognizing the signs, providing resourcesand simply being available--we have the power to end domestic violence, together, Dickens said in a statement.

The Mayors Office of Violence Reduction was created in August 2023 and serves as the citys resource for violence reduction and community-based intervention, according to officials.

From 2023 to 2024, the Mayors Office said the city saw a rise in domestic violence incidents, with 674 incidents reported as of week 18 this year. The Atlanta Police Department said 12 of those incidents were homicides related to domestic violence. Overall, its a 76 incident increase compared to reported cases through week 18 of 2023.

As a city, weve seen an increase in domestic violence incidents year to date, Marcus Walker, Director of the Mayors Office of Violence Reduction said. We can all be a part of the solution. Its time for us to work collaboratively to reverse this crisis. Great things can happen when people come together to achieve a common goal. Lets stand in unison and say, No More. Join us in creating a safer and more peaceful city for all.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A lawsuit against West Virginia Governor Jim Justice and West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mark Sorsaia was dismissed earlier this week, but an attorney for the plaintiffs said on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, that he plans to appeal.

The lawsuit alleges that more than 10,000 inmates across West Virginia were exposed to inhumane conditions in the states jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities due to staffing shortages and lack of maintenance.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of an inmate at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex, an inmate at Southwestern Regional Jail, and a juvenile at the Don R. Kuhn Juvenile Center.

West Virginia ranks as 2nd-lowest cost of living in the country

The judge overseeing the case ruled allegations of injuries made to the plaintiffs could be traced to the actions of the state Legislature and State Division of Corrections officials and not the governor and the Homeland Security Secretary.

Stephen P. New, the Beckley attorney who filed the lawsuit in August 2023, said that he plans to appeal the dismissal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States.

Cleark Fork residents ask Raleigh County Commission for help with crime

There is still $165 million in overdue maintenance, New said Wednesday. Jails and prisons are understaffed, and some of the facilities remain overcrowded. We will continue to press this issue.

New said lawmakers had made some changes to the correctional facilities in the state but that they were not adequate.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Auburn man turns himself in on financial exploitation of elderly charge

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL)  An Auburn man turned himself into the Lee County Sheriffs Office after he allegedly deceived a 60-year-old Alabama resident out of over $200,000, according to the Lee County District Attorney and Alabama Securities Commission.

James Clayton Langford III, 50, was taken into custody on Tuesday following his indictment of aggravated theft by deception and first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly. These charges can carry a sentence ranging from two to 20 years.

The indictment says Langford was a trustee on an investment account for the victim. According to that indictment, Langford allegedly obtained over $200,000 from the account, then used the money for personal use.

The first count alleges Langford obtained the money through deception. The second count alleges Langford also used deception, intimidation, force and other measures to gain control over the victims property.

Lee County Sheriffs Office arrests man on child pornography charges twice in one week

According to a news release, Langford was out on bond as of Wednesday.

The ASC advices the public to research any investment opportunities. You can call the commission at 1-800-222-1553.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Austin lands within Hurricane Beryl's possible path, though forecast not yet certain

The National Hurricane Center's tracking map for Hurricane Beryl shows its predicted path as of late Thursday afternoon.

Hurricane Beryl, which on Thursday was passing the Cayman Islands after devastating Jamaica and leaving 11 dead across the region, could make its way to Austin early next week, according to the storm's latest forecast path.

Austin first appeared in Beryls cone of uncertainty, the storm's broadly projected path, on Wednesday night, according to the National Hurricane Center. The centers Thursday reports showed Central Texas within the cone's northernmost boundary, with the storm potentially reaching Austin within the next five days.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Mack Morris told the American-Statesman on Thursday that Austins inclusion within the cone is far from a guarantee that the city will endure the impact of what is now a Category 3 storm, which could be downgraded to a Category 1 by the time it reaches Texas. After all, the hurricane centers forecast cone grows larger the farther away it is from the storm due to uncertainty.

A satellite image shows Hurricane Beryl as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula on Thursday.

For us its still an uncertain forecast, Morris said. We should start to get a better idea on exactly where its going to go once it makes its way to the Gulf (of Mexico). But thats still another day-and-a-half away.

More: History-making Hurricane Beryl likely to hit South Texas as Cat 1 storm next week, NWS says

After blasting through Jamaica on Wednesday, Beryl was expected to move past the Cayman Islands on Thursday as it heads west toward western Cuba and Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula, which includes the resort city of Cancun.

The weather service office in Corpus Christi said Wednesday afternoon that there is a growing chance the storm could make landfall in northeast Mexico or the South Texas coast as a Category 1 hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center has cautioned those planning to travel to Texas coastline over the Fourth of July weekend to be aware of the storms potential to create dangerous swimming conditions, including aggressive rip currents.

Hurricane Beryl Tracker: See projected path of Category 4 storm as it heads toward Jamaica

The deciding factor for Central Texas, Morris said, will be the location of pressure fields, known as ridges and troughs, influencing the hurricane.

A ridge would push Beryl largely west and away from the north. Conversely, a trough would send the storms forces northward. If the trough weakens the ridge, Beryl could move more into Texas.

If the storm were to reach Austin, it wouldnt be until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, Morris said.

Updates on Hurricane Beryls trajectory can be found on the National Hurricane Centers website, www.nhc.noaa.gov.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hurricane Beryl could reach Austin, Texas as per 'cone of uncertainty'
Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann has been committed to stand trial on two rape charges following two days of hearings into the reliability of the alleged victim's evidence.

The second day of a committal hearing for Lehrmann's charges, that he allegedly raped a woman twice on the early hours of October 10, 2021, was held at Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Defence barrister Andrew Hoare had argued Lehrmann should not face trial on the charges because the alleged victim was too intoxicated to remember giving consent.

Bruce Lehrmann. Source: AAP

"The test that needs to be satisfied is a low one in this case. It is said the threshold is not met in both of these (charges)," Mr Hoare said.

Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said there was a prima facie case to answer and any questions over the reliability of the alleged victim's evidence should be considered by a jury.

After adjourning for a few minutes, Magistrate Mark Howden returned with a decision that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, could potentially find the allegations proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Mr Howden told Lehrmann, who attended remotely via phone, that he would stand trial on two counts of rape before the Toowoomba District Court at a date to be set by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

"Not as this time, thank you, Your Honour," Lehrmann said when asked if he wanted to say anything or enter a plea.

Lehrmann's bail was continued.

- AAP
Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Wednesday warned that one of the most alarming things in the right-wing Heritage Foundations Project 2025 handbook is the admission that Donald Trump didnt accomplish all he wanted to in his first administration.

They got a slow start [] so their codeword is day one, Ben-Ghiat told MSNBCs Katie Phang of the think-tanks proposal document that is widely expected to form the basis of a potential second Trump terms policies.

Already politically-vetted people are in place and will immediately implement the plans if Trump wins the 2024 election, said the history professor at New York University who authored Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.

Ben-Ghiat cited the handbooks proposal  which has been echoed by Trump himself  to mass deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

One thing thats very important for people to realize, she said, is that undocumented immigrants wont be the only ones who end up being targeted.

Its always more people, said Ben-Ghiat.

They use one group to have the justification to build the repressive infrastructure like the camps, the transit camps, whatever theyre going to do, she added. But be assured, and this is the history of authoritarianism, many groups of people will be targeted to be in that.

Watch the analysis here:

Related...
Harrison County authorities captured a murder suspect Wednesday evening who police said was on the loose after he fled from a car with a dead woman inside.

Bricen Rivers, 23, of Saucier is a suspect in the homicide, the Harrison County Sheriffs Office said.

Harrison County coroner Brian Switzer identified the victim as Lauren Johansen, 22, of Gulfport.

Authorities responded about 3 p.m. Wednesday to the Wolf River Cemetery for a welfare check on a missing person case that originated in Hattiesburg, according to a news release.

Johansen attended school in Hattiesburg, Switzer said, and was reported missing on Tuesday.

Rivers fled from a car into the woods when police arrived on the scene, authorities said.

Deputies checked the SUV and found Johansen in the back of a vehicle wrapped in a sheet, Switzer said.

Her cause of death is not clear. Switzer said an autopsy is scheduled next week.

Bricen Rivers

Rivers led Coast authorities on a manhunt for hours until he was captured in the woods. The Harrison County Sheriffs Office described him as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds with a shaved head and light beard last seen wearing a white shirt and black shorts.

Law enforcement from Biloxi, Gulfport, DIberville, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Hancock Sheriffs Department and Mississippi Wildlife and Fisheries assisted the search. Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said Harrison County asked his department for K9 assistance in the area of Highway 53.

Authorities searched the woods surrounding the rural cemetery for hours and booked Rivers about 1 a.m. Thursday into the Harrison County jail. He is charged with murder and is held on a $1 million bond.

Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact the Harrison County Sheriffs Office at 228-897-1399.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  With the opening of the Otay Mesa II port of entry way behind schedule on the U.S. side of the border, Baja California officials are wondering if a partial opening, in a southbound direction, is possible.

During her weekly news conference, Baja Governor Maria del Pilar Avila Olmeda floated the possibility of allowing only commercial trucks to cross the border from California into Mexico through this facility until the entire project is finished in the years ahead. She is hoping U.S. officials find a way to make this possible.

Contractors blame California Department of Transportation for port of entry delays

The new port of entry was supposed to be ready by September. While most of the work on the Mexico side is proceeding as planned, construction on the north side of the border has yet to begin and is said to be two years behind schedule.

Arturo Espinoza Jaramillo, secretary of Infrastructure and Urban Development with the State of Baja California, said they are looking into ways of using existing roadways already constructed to grant access to trucks on their way into Mexico.

State route 11, built by the California Department of Transportation, is pretty much done. The roadway was put in as a way to connect the new port of entry with the rest of San Diegos roadway system.

US way behind schedule building new Otay Mesa port of entry, Baja governor says

Otay Mesa II has been planned as a toll crossing where people would pay to cross the border in both directions. It would serve commercial trucks as well as passenger cars.

There are possibilities of using it as long as the United States agrees, said Espinoza Jaramillo.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has said in the past it has yet to find the personnel to operate the new facility.

Others, such as Kenia Zamarripa, vice president of international and public affairs with the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, told the El Sol Newspaper of Tijuana that its complicated to just open in a southbound direction as it would necessitate infrastructure on the U.S. side currently not available.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Its not as easy as it sounds, I dont see how it can open when Mexico finishes its side of the crossing, said Zamarripa.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Bald eagles have long been a presence in the nation's imagery, but it wasnt until recently that Rhode Islanders could see them in the sky.

The bald eagle population [in Rhode Island] is growing rapidly, but you dont have to go too far back in our history when the state was devoid of the species altogether, said Dr. Charles Clarkson, director of avian research at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.

Before the 1980s, the national bird was considered an irregular visitor, either passing through the state or using it as foraging habitat, rather than nesting, preferring to breed and raise their young in northern New England.

Now, following intensive conservation efforts in other parts of the region, bald eagle populations are shifting southwards, taking up permanent residence in areas where they have never been seen before. What changed?

Why bald eagle populations are growing in Rhode Island

Bald eagles have been popular among participants at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's Raptor Weekends.

"We kind of hit the sweet spot from the late '80s to the early 2010s for a massive resurgence [of eagles] in New England," said Clarkson.

Eagle nesting territories can cover over three miles, meaning that as the population started to recover in other states, there would be inevitably more birds than the habitat in those states could support. This would lead to what was essentially spillover as young birds began striking out on their own to find new territories outside the species' traditional range.

Birding: Your guide to summer birding in Rhode Island: Where to go and what to see

Clarkson said the first state record of a nesting pair in Rhode Island was in 2003 at the Scituate Reservoir, but said the birds had likely been there for quite some time before being reported. Between 2015 and 2019, four other eagle nests were confirmed, and with more being reported annually since then, the Rhode Island population has grown to six or seven active nests.

Why were bald eagles not in Rhode Island before?

This juvenile bald eagle, rescued from the ground with a broken leg in 2002, healed and was released, and is shown here in a tree near his nest in Coventry.

An ideal breeding habitat for bald eagles requires large, mature trees in heavily forested areas to support their fortress-like nests, along with an abundance of freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers for food, as fish is one of their preferred prey items. All of that was available in the north, such as Maine and New Hampshire, and breeding pairs had little reason to come south.

That being said, Rhode Island has always been useful foraging habitat for the eagles and other fish-eating raptors, flying south in the non-breeding season  winter  looking for open bodies of water to hunt when the water in their home territories froze up.

So while the Ocean State was a good place to raise an eagle family, it just wasn't needed until recently.

"The habitats we have in southern New England are high quality enough to support eagles, but now the regional population is large enough that they are being used," explained Clarkson.

The necessary mature, intact, contiguous forests are present in the western part of the state, with trees like Eastern White Pine that are capable of supporting a massive bald eagle nest, "but we dont have a hyper-abundance of these forests."

He expects the bald eagle population will continue to grow and likely will do so as long as it has the requisite resource to support it  that is to say, trees. "Trees are definitely a limiting resource," said Clarkson, though he doesn't see that upper limit being reached any time soon.

Where is the best place to see bald eagles in Rhode Island?

During the winter months, staying by any ice-free body of water is your bet, and areas along the southern coast such as Easton Pond are prime spots. With enough patience, there's a high chance you'll catch an eagle fishing for its dinner. (These are) an exceptional location to see an eagle," said Clarkson. "They show up in relatively large numbers to forage."

More: What killed Cranston bald eagle? Wildlife rehabilitator thinks rat poison is killing raptors

During breeding seasons, a walk in the woods is the way to go, as they will be tied to their nesting area, which can be anywhere from two to three miles across, meaning it's more a matter of the right place at the right time.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bald eagles didn't nest in RI until recently. Here's what changed
CANTON, Ohio (WJW)  The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about a reportedly fake Northeast Ohio monkey adoption business thats scamming people out of their money.

The BBB said it received two complaints in April for General Monkeys for Adoption, which uses a Canton address for its business.

One victim told the BBB they noticed a Facebook advertisement reading monkeys for sale, linking back to a website.

Downtown Cleveland thief indicted again: I-Team

According to the BBB, the victim was led to buy a $150 money card before setting up a pickup time at the Canton address. The scammer then asked for more money for a permit and adoption papers, but the victim declined.

A partial refund was to be provided after purchasing a gift card, the BBB said in a press release. The consumer never received delivery of the monkey or a refund.

Through their investigation, the BBB learned that General Monkeys for Adoption wasnt registered with the Ohio Secretary of State. Investigators also couldnt find proof of licensing for the sale of exotic animals.

See a turkey or grouse in Ohio? Report it

Through a reverse image search, the BBB also found that photos on the website matched ones found on similar adoption sites, none of which appear legitimate.

The BBB said it reached out to General Monkeys for Adoption but hasnt heard back.

To avoid falling for pet-related scams, the BBB suggests following these tips:

Avoid buying a pet without seeing it in person first.

Only send money to people you trust or have met in person.

Research the business and its prices. If things seem too good to be true, they probably are.

Check the BBB before making a purchase to make sure its a reputable business.

Do a reverse photo search to see if the same photos show up on multiple websites.

You can report scams or learn more about them here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
President Biden's poor debate performance led some Democrats to call for his replacement in the upcoming election. - Leah Millis/REUTERS

On todays episode of Battle Lines, we speak to US editor Tony Diver on the state of the presidential race after a disastrous debate for Joe Biden and the Supreme Courts presidential immunity ruling. Then, we catch up with correspondent Nicola Smith about the healthcare crisis in the West Bank, and her reflections after a month covering the Israel Hamas war. Finally, we talk to Defense Editor Danielle Sheridan about her recent trip to Kiev and hear about pole dancing in a nation at war.

Across the world, from Europe to Asia, from the Americas to the Middle East, tensions are rising between nation states as the traditional alliances and alignments evolve in the 21st century.

This year sees war in Europe and the Middle East, and elections in major economies, from the US and the UK to Taiwan. Insurgencies flare in Yemen and Burma, tensions escalate in East Africa, and all around the world the international security architecture buckles under increasing pressure.

Battle Lines, a new podcast from The Telegraph, combines on-the-ground reporting with analytical expertise to help the listener to better understand the course of world politics, wars and tensions, as fault lines grind and slip in an increasingly dangerous and confusing multipolar world.

Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or your favourite podcast app.

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.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The Oregon Coast is forecast to see beautiful, breezy weather in the 70s and low 80s while the Willamette Valley suffers through multiple days of 100-degree temperatures for the Fourth of July weekend.

The Oregon Coast is forecast for temperatures in the 70s and low 80s with 10 to 15-mph between July 4 and 7. (KOIN)

KOIN 6 Meteorologist Josh Cozart reports that daily highs on the coast will be roughly 20 degrees cooler than those in the Willamette Valley. However, areas just east of the coastline are still forecast for dangerously hot temperatures.

Regardless of where you are heading across the Pacific Northwest for your Fourth of July, stay hydrated, Cozart said.

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for much of Oregon during the holiday weekend. The Oregon Coast will be significantly cooler. (NWS)

Energy companies urge conservation as heat dome arrives in PNW

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for most of Oregon starting at noon on the Fourth of July and lasting through 11 p.m. Sunday.

No heat warnings or advisories are issued for Oregons beaches.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WESTMINSTER, Colo.)  Butterflies, bees, beetles, and spiders are often overlooked or seen as a nuisance, but experts from the Butterfly Pavilion call these creatures the unsung heroes of Earths ecosystems. The Butterfly Pavilion stresses that pollinators serve as the foundation of life itself87 out of the top 115 global food crops depend on pollinators for survival.

In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of conserving the precious pollinator, and to inspire more sustainable practices, the Butterfly Pavilion has created the Businesses for Environmental Excellence (BEE) Sustainable Partners Program. The program will educate and activate the community about environmental stewardship in Colorado.

Five leading Colorado companies have already joined the initiative: Southwest Airlines, Baseline by McWhinney, Xcel Energy, Arrow Electronics, and 9NEWS/KUSA.

We are thrilled to have these leading companies onboard to address the threats to our states native pollinators and their habitats, said Katie Johnson, Director of Partnerships at Butterfly Pavilion. Global warming threatens all life forms. As the premier invertebrate research, conservation, and education institution, Butterfly Pavilion is dedicated to helping organizations and their employees make a difference. We must all work together.

To learn more about the BEE Sustainable Partners Program, and the responsibilities of participating companies, head over to the Butterfly Pavilions website.

Butterfly Pavilion firmly believes that through collaboration with other important leaders we have the opportunity, resources, and responsibility to make a meaningful impact for these all-important animals, stated Johnson.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russias actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without Chinas support. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.

In the last two years, Iran has sold around 200 Shahed 136 kamikaze drones to Russia, which has used them to attack military and infrastructure targets under guidance from Iranian experts. Other similar drones used in Ukraine may be Russian replicas of the Shahed 136.

As reported in The Telegraph, China and Russia have recently been collaborating on a project to produce Shahed-style drones for use by the Russian defence forces. European sources indicate that these have not yet been used in Ukraine, but if the factory opens, Russia could get access to far more than it could ever obtain from Iran.

Readers will recall an odd, embarrassing debacle in May this year when the UK defence minister Grant Shapps claimed to have seen evidence that Russia and China are collaborating on combat equipment for use in Ukraine. He went on the mention significant weapon flows from China to Russia. The US National Security Adviser swiftly distanced himself from this outburst, noting that he had not seen intelligence referring to direct sale of weapons.

Whether or not Mr Shapps was drawing on reports about the same Sino-Russian collaboration over drones, the US reaction to the recent revelations by European sources on the Chinese-Russian drone-cloning project is still to focus closely whether China will sell the Russians fully-assembled attack drones or kits that can be used to assemble them. In the surreal space where free-world scruples meet totalitarian zero-sum, precise red line definitions such as lethal aid matter to one side only.

The West clings to a notion that China selling finished weapons to Russia that will be used to kill Ukrainians constitutes lethal aid, punishable by secondary sanctions; but that selling components that can be used to make weapons and other military equipment does not. This situation may be inevitable in the rules-based system where crucial decisions over sanctions hinge on artificial technicalities, but it comes across as weakness and indecision - and this plays straight into enemy hands. Work-arounds are many and sanctions are de-risked.

Xi Jinpings assertion that China is neutral over Ukraine about a regime which in essence keeps Putins war chest full by buying Western-sanctioned Russian energy, is devoid of credibility and merely shows up the contempt in which the Chinese Communist Party holds the established international order. This obvious fiction should be rejected outright. If we cannot bring ourselves to accept and proclaim such an obvious fact, what hope is there for Western consensus over how to build a viable, resilient China strategy worth the name?

Though in global terms Britains individual role in standing up to Beijing is limited, it is important enough in terms of liberal geostrategic alliances to deserve a set of clear priorities. Yet it is three fraught years since the House of Lords International Relations and Defence Committee published its report The UK and Chinas security and trade relationship: A strategic void. This noted that promising to balance concerns around values or security with trade interests does not amount to a strategy, and that the belief (China) can be encouraged into co-operative behaviour simply by engagement is misplaced. Crucially, it identified the possibility of conflict over Taiwan as the greatest risk to UK relations with China, and that managing this should be the Governments top strategic priority.

What was a void then is so even more disastrously now that Chinas interests are grimly engaged in both Ukraine and the Middle East as well as over Taiwan. Putin serves Beijings purposes as a savage ally of convenience in assailing and weakening the West. Hybrid warfare has been waged by China against its Western rivals for a decade; this will intensify in parallel with overt Chinese preparations for outright war across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Here, we vacillate about electric vehicles. There, they have plans to bury us. Will our elected leaders, new and old, have the courage to deter and to resist?

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.
Belarus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on July 4, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported, citing Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

"The admission of the Republic of Belarus to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full-fledged member is now effective," Tokayev said after documents to admit the country as the organization's 10th member had been signed.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organization established by China and Russia in 2001 in Shanghai. It focuses on Eurasian political, economic, security, and defense issues.

Apart from Belarus, the organization includes China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The SCO also has observer states and 14 dialogue partners.

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Belarus Weekly

Belarus has been a key ally to Moscow and supported Russian aggression against Ukraine but has not committed its own troops to fight directly in Russia's war.

The Belarusian military claimed that Ukraine is allegedly deploying its forces to the shared state border for potential "sabotage, terrorist acts," state-run news outlet Belta reported on June 29.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claim, while Belarusian state-run news outlets have a long history of unsubstantiated claims.

Russian forces launched the all-out invasion of Ukraine from Belarus in early 2022 but suffered a defeat near Kyiv and were forced to pull back.

Read also: Opinion: The Putin-Kim pact is an opportunity for the West

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Residents in Sydney's Liverpool say their streets are so tight, drivers are having to decide whether to park on the kerb and cop a fine or restrict traffic flow.

Residents were left to decide whether to park on the kerb and cop a fine or block traffic. Source: 9News

In a rare win for locals, a major city council has backflipped on its decision to fine drivers for parking on the kerb in narrow streets, which they say they were forced to do so as not to restrict oncoming traffic.

Liverpool City Council, in Sydney's southwest, reportedly raised $2 million in fines from the parking infringements, but now rangers have "been instructed not to book drivers who park over rolled kerbs" formalising "what is already common practice" in the area.

Residents living near the Horningsea Park housing developments in Liverpool, in Sydney's southwest, say the streets are so tight, drivers are having to decide whether to park on the kerb and cop a $302 fine or restrict traffic flow.

The densely populated area, where some homes include occupants with multiple vehicles, means even fewer spaces are available to park than normal. They say it simply "makes life easier" parking on the kerb and earlier criticised the council for handing down steep fines.

The streets behind the Horningsea Park housing developments in Liverpool are a tight squeeze. Source: 9News

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun has now responded to complaints, announcing "Council rangers stopped enforcing the issue when a draft policy was put in place in October" and the "arrangement has been operating successfully since that time".

"The decision also makes it easier to navigate narrow streets, especially for emergency vehicles and other service vehicles (such as grocery delivery trucks)," Mannoun told Yahoo News Australia. Over the years, he said the state government has allowed developers to build narrower and narrower streets.

"This is councils solution to the problem. The policy only applies to streets that have rolled kerbs. If the street has the traditional squared off kerbs, the penalty will be enforced."

However the policy only applies to council rangers, Mannoun warned, explaining Transport for NSW and NSW Police are still able to "fine you for half-on half-off parking" though he's implored them to "show some discretion, especially in residential areas".

'Frustrating' issue blasted by locals

In the past 12 months, the situation saw council record more than $2.4 million in revenue, 9 News reported, adding to residents' "frustration".

"We have to park a little bit on the nature strip to make our lives easier," Asaad Ibrraheem said.

"People do get frustrated, road raging and all that," local man Roland Vassallo added.

Residents of Graceville in Brisbane are fighting a council rule which prohibits angled parking, with drivers urged instead to park parallel, despite that meaning less cars would fit along the road. Source: 9 News

Recurring problem along East Coast

Other Sydney councils are dealing with similar problems. Blacktown Council for example said it issues warnings to drivers parked on the kerb around the suburbs of Rouse Hill and then fines repeat offenders.

They claim to have approached the former NSW government to make amendments to road rules in light of the rapid increase in new developments, but those efforts proved fruitless. In the city's Inner West, rangers are encouraged to use discretion when fining cars in tight streets.

Meanwhile in Queensland, an entire street was fined recently for parking along a kerb and not parallel, as required by council. The Graceville community is urging their local council to use common sense and scrap rules prohibiting drivers from parking on an angle along streets in one suburb, a practice which they say allows more cars into the busy area, but authorities strictly forbid it.

Almost 90 motorists were fined $154 for parking perpendicular to the kerb in streets in Graceville in Brisbane earlier this year, when according to council they should have been parking parallel, despite that meaning fewer cars would be able to get into the area.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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FILE - In this photo provided by the Belarusian Presidential Press Service, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to military personnel during his visit to Oshmyany District, Grodno region of Belarus on March 26, 2024. A Belarusian human rights group said Thursday, July 4, 2024 that at least 10 political prisoners have been freed since the country's authoritarian president this week promised to release seriously ill people jailed in connection with massive protests nearly four years ago. (Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP, File)

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  A Belarusian human rights group said Thursday that at least 10 political prisoners have been freed since the country's authoritarian president this week promised to release seriously ill people jailed in connection with massive protests nearly four years ago.

Pavel Sapelko of the Viasna rights group told The Associated Press that none of those released are well-known figures whose release has been sought by the West.

Viasna counts more than 1,400 political prisoners in the country, including Viasna's Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder Ales Bialiatski.

Ryhor Kastusiou, a cancer-stricken opposition leader who had run against President Alexander Lukashenko in elections in 2010, was released on Wednesday, Sapelko said, but he declined to give the names of others who were let out.

We expected a large-scale amnesty with hundreds of people released, but we are seeing only isolated cases, Sapelko said. The repressions in the country continue and in these days, in place of the ten released, the authorities have imprisoned twenty new arrestees.

Lukashenko has consistently suppressed opposition and independent news media since becoming president in 1994, but the measures became more intensive as protests gripped the country after the 2020 presidential election whose disputed results gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office.

The crackdown forced many opposition figures to flee into exile, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya who ran against Lukashenko in 2020.
A judge sentenced a Bellingham man to more than seven years in prison for shooting and killing a woman in a stairwell at the 22 North complex after hearing emotional statements from the family, and a letter from the victim herself, at a court hearing earlier this week.

Shilo Aron Englert, 35, was sentenced Monday, July 1, in Whatcom County Superior Court to seven years and five months in prison, with 1.5 years of probation for the Feb. 8, 2022 shooting death of 31-year-old Kasaundra Kassy May Booker. Englert originally was charged with second-degree murder, but his charge was reduced to second-degree manslaughter as part of an agreed resolution between the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

Englert pleaded guilty June 12 to the reduced charge for Bookers death. The plea deal also resolved four other criminal cases Englert was facing stemming from a roughly 10-month crime spree, in which Englert was accused of stealing multiple vehicles and shooting two people, one fatally. Englert will serve his prison sentences for those cases at the same time as his manslaughter case.

As part of his sentencing, Englert will be required to register as a felony firearm offender and will be required to undergo a substance use disorder evaluation and comply with any recommended treatment.

He will also get credit for the 2.5 years he has been incarcerated prior to the resolution of his cases.

Evidence issues

To a courtroom filled with Bookers family, friends and various law enforcement officials Monday, Whatcom County Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Erik Sigmar laid out the gaps in the murder case against Englert and explained how the attorneys reached the agreed-upon resolution.

Sigmar said it would have been very difficult to convict Englert of second-degree murder had the case gone to trial due to a multitude of evidentiary concerns. Two of the biggest issues for the prosecution, Sigmar said, was the Whatcom County Medical Examiners opinion that the gunshot wound to Booker could have been self-inflicted, and the lack of credible witnesses.

Sigmar said it was clear the majority of the witnesses in the case were on drugs, suffering from mental illness, or both, at the time of Bookers shooting, and that none were deemed to be accurate historians. This presented real concerns in the prosecutions ability to meet the burden of proof for a jury to convict Englert of murder, he said.

The facts the prosecution had that Sigmar said he felt they could have proven at trial were that Englert and Booker smoked fentanyl in the stairway at the 22 North complex in downtown Bellingham together; that Englert brought a firearm into the situation; that the firearm discharged, killing Booker; and that Englert fled the scene with the gun and failed to render aid to Booker.

These facts do show criminal negligence on Englerts part, which is the basis for Washingtons second-degree manslaughter charge, he said.

While no one in this courtroom, and no one that we know of in law enforcement, knows exactly what happened inside that stairwell, we do know at a minimum the defendant in this case acted negligently and caused the death of Kasaundra Booker and that is exactly what hes plead guilty to, Sigmar said.

Vickie Turner and Chris Turner, the parents of Kasaundra Kassy May Booker, appear in Whatcom County Superior Court on July 1, 2024, at the sentencing hearing for Shilo Aron Englert, 35, who pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Booker.

The agreed resolution for Englert provides accountability for the community and sets him up for further penalties if he commits additional crimes in the future, Sigmar said. It also provides closure to Bookers family, he said, acknowledging that that closure may be dissatisfying.

Sigmar spoke with Bookers family, whom he said handled themselves with grace throughout the process. He told family and friends present in court that he was very sorry for their loss.

She was young, valued and a loved member of our community. And I understand this plea deal wont bring her back or restore the family or meet the measure of justice they seek. Plea bargaining is an integral part of our imperfect system of justice and I stand by this resolution based on the significant evidentiary barriers to proceeding to trial, Sigmar said Monday. Given the evidentiary barriers and concerns, the state feels like this is the best possible outcome.

Taking responsibility

Ryan Swinburnson, Englerts defense attorney, echoed Sigmars statements in court.

He said not a single person wanted to be in the situation they were in Monday, but said it was important to acknowledge that the sentencing hearing was occurring because Englert was taking responsibility for his actions.

Swinburnson, Whatcom Countys senior conflict attorney, said he believed that had Englert gone to trial for second-degree murder, he would have been acquitted. He said that outcome, following a lengthy trial, would have been more dissatisfying to Bookers family and friends than Englert accepting the plea deal.

While he believes they would have prevailed at trial in all of Englerts cases, Swinburnson said they would have had to run the gambit of being successful with each one in order to get a better outcome than the plea bargain.

So Im hopeful that the court and the people present will take some solace in the fact that Mr. Englert is taking responsibility. There is some responsibility to be had, as Mr. Sigmar pointed out, in putting himself in the position he did, and putting the victim in this case in the position that shes in, Swinburnson said, adding that extensive negotiations have been occurring between the attorneys for the past two years.

Swinburnson said he has also spoken numerous times at length with Englert, who has said he intends to be a better person moving forward and wants to learn how to become a productive member of society.

He said Englert would likely not address the court, in part because it would not benefit Bookers family and because of how the attorneys arrived at the resolution, noting the medical examiners opinion regarding the potential of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Englert ultimately declined to speak at his sentencing hearing when asked by the judge.

I think what these cases show and spotlight is the problem with drugs in our society and the most extreme ramifications of what drug use gets you, Swinburnson said.

Kasaundra Kassy May Booker is shown in this photo. Booker was fatally shot on Feb. 8, 2022, by Shilo Aron Englert, of Bellingham, Wash. Englert pleaded guilty June 12, 2024, in Whatcom County Superior Court to one count of second-degree manslaughter for Bookers death.

A best friend

In emotional statements read aloud by victim advocates in court Monday, Bookers family told the judge of her heart, kindness and determination. Multiple family members said they miss her smile and the sound of her laughter.

Rachel Henry, Bookers stepsister, said she always wanted a little sister and was blessed when she and Booker became family. She said they were best friends and that Booker asked smart questions that made Henry look differently at life.

Henry said Booker could make anyone laugh, no matter how grumpy they were, and recalled the determination Booker, who struggled with addiction, had in trying to make a better life for herself.

Sometimes second-degree murder can have a life sentence. Our family is already carrying the burden of a life sentence without our beloved Kassy, Henry said in her statement read aloud on her behalf by a victim advocate. Kassys life is worth so much more.

Bookers older brother, Randy, said his sister loved to make memories and laugh about nothing. He said it was unfair the way Booker was taken from them at such a young age. He said he was torn by knowing she wont get to watch his daughters, her nieces, grow up.

My sister, Kassy, was a wonderful, colorful person who gave her heart to anyone who needed it, Randy Booker said in his statement read by a victim advocate.

He, too, called his little sister his best friend.

We shared so many good memories growing up, camping and adventuring in the woods, or playing in the swamps. I wish every day I could spend more time creating these again, his statement said.

Bookers stepfather, Chris Turner, who calls himself her papa, said while Booker may not have always made the best decisions, she wouldnt hurt anyone else or herself. He said her death has torn their family apart.

He said Englert is on his way to self-destruction, and asked the judge to sentence him to enough prison time to ensure he didnt hurt or kill someone else.

Vickie Turner, the mother of Kasaundra Kassy May Booker, read a statement to the court on July 1, 2024, during the sentencing hearing of Shilo Aron Englert, 35, who fatally shot Booker on Feb. 8, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash. Director of Support Officers of Whatcom County Kendra Cristelli accompanied Turner.

Bookers mother, Vickie Turner, brought a black box containing Bookers ashes up to the podium, while a victim advocate held a poster collage with photographs of Booker in the direction of the judge.

This is what I used to have, Vickie Turner said, motioning to the poster. And now this, this is what I have. This is what I get, she said, pulling Bookers ashes out and setting them next to her on the stand.

Im supposed to tell you how this has affected me  the murder of my baby girl. Its impossible to say. Theres no words. You cant tell anyone the depth of the agony of the person going through it, Vickie Turner said, holding a handwritten piece of notebook paper with her statement.

Vickie Turner said she has cried all of the 873 days since her daughters death. She said the women in their family tend to live into their 90s, but that Booker only got to be 31 for three weeks.

Vickie Turner said her daughter loved life and was happy for the chance of change, noting a spot Booker reportedly got in a residential recovery treatment program for women and children.

Vickie Turner said she has not forgiven Englert and will not pray for him, but will for a better life for his son.

Im not asking for your life. Im not asking for retribution. I just want justice, and then I can have some peace and let her go, Vickie Turner said, while trying to hold back tears.

Kasaundra Kassy May Bookers step-dad Chris Turner appeared in Whatcom County Superior Court on Monday, July 1, 2024, for the sentencing hearing of Shilo Aron Englert, 35, who fatally shot Booker on Feb. 8, 2022, in Bellingham, Wash.

Kassys letter

In an uncommon move, a victim advocate also read aloud a letter Booker wrote to her mother, Vickie Turner, after she had an aneurysm roughly five or six years ago.

I cant figure out how to express my emotions, other than to write, so I figured Id write you and tell you what has been going on in my life, she wrote.

Bookers letter portrayed her struggles with addiction, relapse and finding help. She said she wasnt happy with where she was, and that deep inside she knew she wanted to be sober, but struggled with the accessibility of drugs and inaccessibility of treatment.

I put off the very things I seem to care about most and thats my family, my mom and papa, my cousins, my brother, even my possessions Ive worked hard to have, like my car, house I lost, phone and even relationships. Ive numbed myself, but I cant spend my life trying to cope with the world not being how I wish it was, Booker wrote in her letter. The world isnt going to change for me, so I have to change for the world, and my family, so that I can have a family Ive always wanted and have a love like you and papas.

Bookers letter also expressed hope for the future. She said she was glad for the love her mother had found with Chris Turner. She wrote that she recognized the missed opportunities, memories and time between her and her mother.

She thanked her mother for always being there for her, for telling her what she needed to hear, and for helping her when she had no one else.

After this scare, it really made me realize how much I need my mom, how unprepared I am to live life without you, and how much left I have to say to you, Bookers letter read.

Kasaundra Kassy May Booker is shown in this photo. Booker was fatally shot on Feb. 8, 2022, by Shilo Aron Englert, of Bellingham, Wash. Englert pleaded guilty June 12, 2024, in Whatcom County Superior Court to one count of second-degree manslaughter for Bookers death.

She was proud to be her mothers daughter, and wrote that the older she got, the more she saw herself acting in similar ways.

Ive watched you have so many morals. Ive shaped myself into the person I know you would want me to be. I dont lie, I dont steal, I dont hold grudges and I accept the things I cannot change. Im not perfect, and I know Im not there yet, but I hope you can say that youre proud to have me as a daughter. Looking back, I wish I would have taken all your advice, but Im still young and have some learning to do, Bookers letter said. Im glad youre doing okay, because without you, Id be lost, Booker wrote.

Multiple family members and friends of Bookers who filled half the courtroom cried quietly in the benches as her letter was read aloud.

Im glad you pulled through, so that we can be even closer. You are one of my best friends. . I love you more than I can ever put into words, her letter ended.

Sentenced

Whatcom County Superior Court Judge Rob Olson said he was unable to sentence Englert outside the standard sentencing range for his crimes, which was between five years and seven months and seven years and five months.

Olson said no aggravating factors had been determined or pleaded to, which would have allowed him to go outside of that range. He explained that judges do not get to see all of the evidence or its shortcomings in a case, short of a trial happening, and must instead rely on the expertise of the attorneys. To disregard that and rule on his own limited knowledge of the case would be arrogant, he said.

Olson also said judges are allowed to throw out guilty pleas only in rare circumstances, and that Englerts case did not meet the requirements. Because of those factors, Olson said he was bound by law to sentence Englert within the standard sentencing range for his crimes.

To not do so would put all justice in jeopardy, he said, and would be a knowing violation of the law and judicial conduct.

Olson said he understood it was not a happy resolution for any of the parties involved, including Bookers family.

Olson said while he was unable to hear Englert express remorse personally, because he chose not to address the court, he did review the statements provided by Bookers family and friends, including ones submitted to the court that were not read aloud at the sentencing hearing.

One such letter included a photograph of Booker, which Olson said was nice and allowed him to put a face to the circumstances.

Olson then held the black-and-white picture up, aiming it in Englerts direction.

Mr. Englert, this is the person whose death you caused, Olson said, pausing for a moment. It was selfish what you did on Feb. 8, 2022. Though it is apparent that you have struggled with substance abuse and may have been under the influence at the time, substance abuse does not excuse you. And while I have lived a life that tries to seek forgiveness for my own transgressions, I am certain that it will be very difficult for Kassy Bookers friends and family to ever forgive you for the pain, suffering and death you have caused.

Olson ultimately followed the agreed sentencing recommendation put forward by the attorneys, which was the maximum sentence allowed under the law.

Letting go

Bookers family maintains the resolution was not justice.

Im heartbroken, but Im loved. She was loved. Its the beginning of the end for us, its the beginning for him, Vickie Turner said, referring to Englert, in the courthouse after the hearing.

Bookers family plans to take her ashes to her favorite places and let her go and let the pain go.

She might have been a drug addict, but she was a beautiful person, her mother said. Even in her drug-induced (state), she was loved. She was loved, so loved, and missed. She is missed.

Vickie Turner and Chris Turner, the parents of Kasaundra Kassy May Booker, appear in Whatcom County Superior Court on July 1, 2024, at the sentencing hearing for Shilo Aron Englert, 35, who pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Booker.
Bellingham town hall on tap: Can we have universal health care in Washington?

Whole Washington and the League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County will host a community conversation about the woes of our current for-profit health care system and how establishing the Washington Health Trust could be a real solution for Washington state, saving lives and saving money.

The town hall will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Bellingham Public Library Lecture Room on Saturday, July 13. Its a nonpartisan, educational event, open to everyone.

Whole Washington aims to create open dialogue about our health care system. In some way, were all too familiar with the failures of the fragmented, for-profit system that we have today. Failures like:

Inadequate staffing

Hospital closures

Challenges with navigating insurance coverage

Denials, networks, and pre-authorizations

Surprise bills and medical debt

We know we can do better. By establishing the Washington Health Trust and designing a publicly funded, nonprofit system, we can offer comprehensive care to all Washington State residents. Patients, providers, unions, small businesses  our entire community will benefit. When we disconnect healthcare from employment, we live longer and save money.

Whole Washington organizers will present about 20 minutes worth of material and then move into a Q&A session. Everyone has a story, and we want to hear yours. Well highlight how the Washington Health Trust can resolve many existing issues and get us on track to a brighter future.

Please join us and lets increase our people power. Together, we can make Universal Healthcare a reality.

The League of Women Voters of Bellingham/Whatcom County is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

Whole Washington is a grassroots coalition of healthcare professionals and volunteers from across Washington State. Whole Washington endorses both state and national efforts and supports organizations and candidates working to make Universal Healthcare a reality. We fight for single payer healthcare at the national level and pursue a state-based model, using both the initiative and legislative process. Learn more about us at wholewashington.org.
MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX)  Colorados Dolores River Canyons regions must be permanently protected and there is a way to do so going forward, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper said in a joint statement.

The two Democratic senators said to protect the Dolores, these principles should be considered: management, fees, grazing, motorized travel and ATVs, mountain biking, hunting and fishing, mining and water.

They said they based their decision on talks and visits to the Northern Dolores Basin  located in Mesa, Montrose and San Miguel counties  over the past few months.

Based on these conversations, it is clear that Coloradans care deeply about this landscape, and many want it permanently protected. We also recognize there are legitimate questions and the need for further discussion, Hickenlooper and Bennet said in their statement. We are committed to continuing to work with local leaders, public land users, affected counties and tribes to determine the best path.

The senators provided some guidance on how to protect the Dolores.

They noted management of the landscape should fall on the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to continue to manage the federal lands.

There should be no charge to enter the Dolores while animal grazing should continue and be managed based on current regulations and laws, Bennet and Hickenlooper said.

They added motorized vehicles should remain to be open on the Rimrocker Trail and mountain biking should continue with the chance of creating new trail developments.

Regarding mining, designations should protect any current reasonable rights, the senators said.

Hunting and fishing should continue in the Dolores and any designation should protect existing water rights and should not create a federal reserved water right, Bennet and Hickenlooper said.

The Protect the Dolores Coalition said in a press release it is thankful for the Colorado senators support and for the time they spent looking into the effort.

The coalition said it hopes permanently protecting the Dolores can come in the form of designating it as a national monument. The senators did not say in their statement anything about a national monument designation.

Western Slope community leaders, local elected officials, business owners and conservationists agree now is the time for swift conservation action to protect these incredible public lands as a national monument, the coalition said. Local advocates have been striving to conserve the Dolores Canyons diverse wildlife, rich cultural and historic resources and extraordinary canyons and mesas for five decades.

The Protect the Dolores Coalition isnt the only group hoping for the designation. Several community leaders are asking Hickenlooper and Bennet to act soon.

2024 is the year for decisive action to safeguard the Dolores Canyons as Colorados next national monument. Grand Junction loves our national monuments and the economic opportunities they offer Colorados communities. Leaders in Grand Junction and across western Colorado are ready to pull up our sleeves and finalize the Dolores Canyons National Monument, Grand Junction Councilmember Anna Stout said in a press release.

I am thankful to Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper for their leadership, but Im also worried that misinformation from bad faith actors and conservation opponents will stall momentum. Overwhelming numbers of Coloradans support seeing these public lands conserved. Waiting any longer will result in the Dolores Canyons remaining unprotected and open to industrial development.

Not everyone is in support of making the Dolores a national monument. The Halt the Dolores Movement has been vocal in the matter saying the proposed designation can create severe economic hardships for the nearby communities.

According to the movement, it believes the designation could end mining, restrict hunting and cattle grazing and limit motorized travel and outdoor activities. However, Bennet and Hickenloopers statement indicated none of that would be negatively impacted.

Trout Unlimited Colorado Advocacy Campaigns Manager Jay Chancellor said he believes a national designation will be positive for the Dolores.

We support a national monument designation as the best way to protect fish and wildlife habitat and sporting opportunity on these public lands, Chancellor said in a press release.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Wednesday awarded the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to two Union soldiers who stole a locomotive deep in Confederate territory during the Civil War and drove it north for 87 miles (140 kilometers) as they destroyed railroad tracks and telegraph lines.

U.S. Army Pvts. Philip G. Shadrach and George D. Wilson were captured by Confederates and executed by hanging. Biden recognized their courage 162 years later with the countrys highest military decoration, calling the operation they joined one of the most dangerous missions of the entire Civil War.

Every soldier who joined that mission was awarded the Medal of Honor except for two. Two soldiers who died because of that operation and never received this recognition, Biden said. Today, we right that wrong.

The posthumous recognition comes as the legacy of the Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 Union and Confederate service members between 1861 and 1865, continues to shape U.S. politics in a contentious election year in which issues of race, constitutional rights and presidential power are at the forefront.

Biden has said that the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump was the greatest threat to democracy since the Civil War. Meanwhile, Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, riffed at a recent Pennsylvania rally about the Battle of Gettysburg and about the Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The president said Wednesday that Shadrach and Wilson were fighting and even dying to preserve the union and the sacred values it was founded upon: freedom, justice, fairness, unity.

Phillip and George were willing to shed their blood to make these ideals real, Biden said.

Theresa Chandler, the great-great-granddaughter of Wilson, recalled for The Associated Press how the Union soldier had the noose around his neck on the gallows and spoke his final words.

She said that Wilson essentially said that he was there to serve his country and had no ill feelings for the people of the South, but that he hoped for the abolition of slavery and for the nation to be united again.

When I read that, I had chills, Chandler said. We can feel that as a family and that were enjoying our freedoms today, what he tried to move forward at the time.

Brian Taylor, a great-great-great-nephew of Shadrach, said this was an opportunity for his ancestor to be remembered as a brave soldier who did what he thought was right.

I kind of feel that he was a bit adventurous, a bit of a free spirit, Taylor said.

Shadrach and Wilson are being recognized for participating in what became known as the Great Locomotive Chase.

A Kentucky-born civilian spy and scout named James J. Andrews put together a group of volunteers, including Shadrach and Wilson, to degrade the railway and telegraph lines used by Confederates in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

On April 12, 1862, 22 of the men in what was later called Andrews Raiders met up in Marietta, Georgia, and hijacked a train named The General. The group tore up tracks and sliced through telegraph wires while taking the train north.

Confederate troops chased them, initially on foot and later by train. The Confederate troops eventually caught the group. Andrews and seven others were executed, while the others either escaped or remained prisoners of war.

The first Medal of Honor ever bestowed went to Pvt. Jacob Parrott, who participated in the locomotive hijacking and was beaten while imprisoned by the Confederacy.

The government later recognized 18 other participants who took part in the raid with the honor, but Shadrach and Wilson were excluded. They were later authorized to receive the medal as part of the fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act.

Shadrach, born on Sept. 15, 1840, in Pennsylvania, was 21 years old when he volunteered for the mission. He was orphaned at a young age and left home in 1861 to enlist in an Ohio infantry regiment after the start of the Civil War.

Wilson was born in 1830 in Belmont County, Ohio. He worked as a journeyman shoemaker before the war and enlisted in an Ohio-based volunteer infantry in 1861.

The Walt Disney Corp. made a 1956 movie about the hijacking titled The Great Locomotive Chase, starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter. The 1926 silent film The General, starring Buster Keaton, was also based on the historic event.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Bidens make or break interview with ABC News George Stephanopolous could last just 15 minutes

Joe Bidens make-or-break interview with ABC News George Stephanopolous appears poised to fall short in more ways than one  given the president has reportedly set aside only around 15 minutes for the hotly-anticipated chat.

Biden is set to sit down with the news anchor in Wisconsin on Friday, with parts of the interview airing first on Fridays edition of World News Tonight, before airing in full on an 8pm primetime special and again on This Week on Sunday.

But according to The Daily Beast, Stephanopolous could get as little as 15 minutes with the president, who is attempting to claw back support after a disastrous debate performance last week.

Sources told the outlet that there is deep concern inside ABC News upper echelons about the length of the interview, which is supposed to offer insight into the presidents mental state and capability to continue on the Democratic partys ticket.

Meanwhile, another source said that the interview could last around 20 minutes, with senior network figures involved in calls on Wednesday to prepare questions for the shortest possible time in case attempts to speak with the president for longer failed.

ABC News has not publicly specified how long the interview will be.

The Biden campaign denied the suggestion that the interview would be just 15 minutes, with a White House spokesperson telling The Daily Beast: False. The interview will be longer.

A previous The Associated Press report described the interview as an extended encounter between Biden and Stephanopolous.

Joe Bidens interview with ABCs George Stephanopolous could be worryingly short, according to a report (Getty Images)

Sources close to Biden told the Politico Playbook newsletter that the president is preparing for tough questions in Fridays interview and is determined to present himself as sharp, alert and able to deal with questions.

The interview is being pitted as a critical test for Biden, who is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down, including from within his own party, following his debate performance last week where he muddled his words and appeared to lose his train of thought on multiple occasions.

While insisting publicly that he has no intentions of dropping out of the race, insiders have said Biden has privately acknowledged that the next stretch of days including the ABC News interview is critical.

The New York Times reported that the president admitted that he will have to end his re-election campaign if he cannot convince voters that he is up for the job.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates quickly rubbished the report, telling The Independent that claim is absolutely false.

The President is and will remain our partys nominee, and Vice President Harris is proud to be his running mate, and looks forward to serving at his side for four more years, Brian Fallon, a campaign spokesman, added in a statement to CNN. Reports suggesting they or the campaign are considering alternative scenarios are patently false.

But many Democrats and the American public are unconvinced that Biden will or should remain as the Democratic partys nominee.

On Tuesday, the president blamed his poor debate performance on jet lag, telling reporters that he wasnt very smart for travelling around the world a couple of times before the event. Aides also claimed that he was suffering from a cold.

In a White House press briefing on Wednesday, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was grilled about how the president was fit to campaign the day after he was said to be suffering from a cold and jet lag.

Have you ever got a cold, Jean-Pierre responded to the reporter. She later suggested that Biden traveled and then got a cold, possibly linking the two.

That was my bad, Jean-Pierre said of not discussing jet lag earlier.
Biden crashed a Zoom call with his campaign and DNC staff to say: 'No one's pushing me out'

President Joe Biden. Alex Wong/Getty Images

President Joe Biden crashed a Zoom call with his staffers to shore up morale, per Politico.

On the call, he told staffers that no one is pushing him out, and that he plans to stay the course.

His comments come as he faces mounting pressure to quit the 2024 race for a younger replacement.

President Joe Biden crashed a Zoom call with staffers on Wednesday to shore up morale and convince them that he's not dropping out, per Politico.

The president hopped on a Wednesday call with his campaign and Democratic National Convention staff, citing anonymous staffers in the call.

Seated beside Vice President Kamala Harris, he told staffers that no one is "pushing him out" of the reelection bid.

"Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can  as simply and straightforward as I can: I am running," he said on the call, per Politico.

He added: "I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end, and we're going to win."

Harris echoed his sentiments, saying their team will not back down, and will "follow our president's lead."

"We will fight, and we will win," she said, per Politico.

Biden's efforts to consolidate support from his team come as he faces mounting pressure to step away from the race following his disastrous debate performance on June 27.

On Wednesday, a second Democratic lawmaker, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, publicly called for Biden to quit. Rep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas was the first, calling on the president to step down on Tuesday.

A House Democratic aide told Reuters on Tuesday that 25 Democrats are preparing to call Biden to quit the race.

Biden's debate performance has also spooked donors. A longtime Democratic donor, Whitney Tilson, wrote on X on Saturday that he felt "deceived" by Biden's poor showing.

"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 wrote.

Representatives for Biden didn't immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The framework for a hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is now in place according to a senior administration official. That acknowledgement comes on the heels of President Joe Bidens call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

The call came as Israel and Hamas appear to be on the brink of a framework agreement for a deal, an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations has told CNN. Hamas recently provided a response to the framework to Qatari and Egyptian mediators, a move Israeli officials believe will enable the two parties to enter detailed negotiations to reach an agreement. A deal, however, is still not finalized nor is it assured.

Biden laid out the three-phase proposal in a May speech. The first phase would last six weeks and include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Phase 2 would allow for the exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. In Phase 3, the president said, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence and any final remains of hostages whove been killed will be returned to their families.

The official noted that the two leaders during their call Thursday seemed to reach a breakthrough on the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2. The deal as it stands now is very consistent with what the president had laid out in his May speech, the official added.

Some of the key issues on the transition of a Phase 1 to Phase 2 have really been a stumbling block. I think we had a breakthrough in that area, the official said. The text now is very consistent with the address of the president on May 27 and the UN Security Council resolution.

The official cautioned that a final deal could take some time to come together, and that the administration will do all that it can to help reach a final agreement.

This is not a deal thats going to come together in a period of days. Theres still work to do, and were prepared to do all we can to facilitate reaching an agreement as soon as possible, a final agreement, the official added.

The call lasted 30 minutes and was focused on the details of the hostage and ceasefire deal, according to a senior administration official, who added that Biden will have the opportunity to talk about the deal with other world leaders next week during the NATO summit, which will be held in Washington.

When asked if the administration believes that Netanyahu is playing politics and could try to sabotage the deal, the official said that the deal is structed in a way that fully protects Israels interests.

Hostage talks are expected to be held in Doha starting as early as Friday and continue through the next few days, the official said.

In a readout provided by the White House, Biden and Netanyahu discussed ongoing efforts to finalize a ceasefire deal together with the release of hostages.

The leaders discussed the recent response received from Hamas, the White House said. The president welcomed the prime ministers decision to authorize his negotiators to engage with US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to close out the deal.

Biden reaffirmed his ironclad commitment to Israels security, wrote the White House, which also announced a meeting on July 15 between the two leaders national security teams.

CNN previously reported the US recently proposed new language to help bridge gaps in discussions for a deal. The proposed language focused on a period in the first phase of the proposal when Israel and Hamas would be expected to hold more negotiations with the goal of moving to the second phase of the deal.

A US official says the response appears to be constructive while adding more work will need to continue.

An Israeli official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, also told CNN that Netanyahu will convene a cabinet meeting Thursday night.

Biden and Netanyahu last spoke on May 6. The two men are expected to meet in Washington in several weeks when the Israeli prime minister visits to address Congress, a source familiar with the matter previously told CNNs MJ Lee. US and Israeli officials are still nailing down logistical details for the Biden-Netanyahu meeting, which would likely take place at the White House, the source said. The two leaders will see each other, barring any abrupt last-minute change in circumstances.

The call also comes as Biden is fighting for his own political survival back home after floundering on the debate stage against former President Donald Trump last week. Bidens handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas remains a key issue of concern for many in the Democratic Party, including younger voters.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.

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President Biden met with Democratic governors Wednesday evening as he defiantly denied new reports he is weighing whether to drop out of the presidential race over concerns about his debate performance.

Blue state leaders sat down with Biden at the White House in his most significant face-to-face meeting with Democrats since the debate. The president seeks to calm fears that his reelection campaign against former President Donald Trump could be doomed after the debate last week.

Two published reports Wednesday said Biden has told an unnamed top ally that he may not be able to stay in the race if he cannot quickly convince the public he is up to the job.

The unnamed sources said Biden would take a couple of days to assess the situation. The White House quickly denied the reports.

"Hes moving forward with serving as president. Hes moving forward with his campaign, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told a briefing. Anything else is absolutely false.

The meeting on the eve of the July 4 holiday came after Democratic governors huddled online Monday and insisted on a private gathering with Biden.

Biden also had a private lunch with Vice President Kamala Harris earlier Wednesday, although the White House portrayed that as routine and not directly connected to the political firestorm.

Harris would be a leading candidate to be the Democratic nominee if Biden stepped down.

Biden reportedly spoke with Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in an effort to tamp down speculation he could step aside.

Bidens inner circle  including first lady Jill Biden  has so far remained firm that he is not even considering dropping out of the rematch against Trump.

Polls for now show the race is effectively a dead heat, although some Democrats are bracing for new post-debate surveys could show Trump opening up a lead.

But theres growing anxiety among donors and on Capitol Hill about the presidents ability to beat Trump. Lawmakers worry he could drag down Democratic candidates up and down the ballot.

Bidens so-far limited outreach to fellow Democratic elected officials since the debate has not helped quell the jitters.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday there were legitimate questions about whether Biden is healthy enough to run, and Rep. James Clyburn suggested he would back Harris if Biden dropped out, a less than ringing endorsement of his longtime ally.

Biden, 81, told donors at a fundraiser he was exhausted after extensive overseas travel in the weeks before the debate, even joking that he nearly fell asleep on the debate stage.

The president gave a halting and disjointed performance in the debate with Trump last week, appearing to lose his train of thought at times and offering meandering answers to simple questions.

Biden supporters and campaign surrogates framed the debate as a bad night and an isolated incident. But some reports say Biden has been showing his age much more in recent months.

If Biden does drop out of the race, it is far from clear what would happen next.

Harris would be the most likely front-runner to replace him at the top of the ticket. But other top Democrats might balk at a coronation.

Jean-Pierre said Biden considers Harris to be the future of the party, potentially strengthening her claim as his top lieutenant.

One of the reasons he picked  Vice President Kamala Harris is because she is indeed the future of the party, Jean-Pierre said.

_____
With the council sign deemed inadequate, the woman created her own sign to prevent people from being fined.

A Queensland resident took matters into her own hands and created a makeshift 'no parking' sign on a wheelie bin to warn drivers that fines apply for parking on her street. Source: Facebook

Residents in a picturesque beachside town have a hero among them, with the 'local legend' being praised for their innovative approach to a frustrating parking issue that has seen many people fined.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a local woman explained several streets surrounding the Redcliffe Showground, in Queensland's Moreton Bay region, have had temporary parking restrictions put in place by the council due to overcrowding when events are being held. However inadequate signage means visitors to the area are unaware and snap up a spot where parking is not allowed.

The issue reared its head again last week during the annual Redcliffe Show which attracts thousands of people from the surrounding areas each year. But to avoid any confusion, a resident, who lives on a nearby street, erected her own sign warning people that parking on her street during the event is prohibited and will attract fines.

Scrawled on a piece of cardboard attached to a wheelie bin, the message reads: "No Parking this side of the street, you will be fined. See no parking signs on power poles".

Large orange traffic cones were also placed in the bays where parking is usually allowed but isn't during event times, to deter people from doing the wrong thing.

Neighbours applaud resident's solution to parking issue

Her creative approach has been praised by neighbours, with one named Charleene calling her a "local legend". While it's true the posts have temporary "no standing" signs courtesy of the Moreton Bay Regional Council, Charleene says they're "not easily seen from 100 metres away".

"It's confusingit's painfuland it's a nuisance," she added.

Crosses on the map (left) indicate where Charleene said the parking signs were, with one on a power pole, 100 metres away, hard to spot from the no parking area (right). Source: Supplied

Speaking to Yahoo News, she said, "I do believe parking restrictions are warranted during an event. But they are confusing. The sign I passed was on the entry to the street at the corner, which wasn't a safe spot to stop and read it whilst driving.

"It did make me aware that restrictions were in place, just not the details. The bins, the cones, and the signage this person set up made it clear for anyone passing by."

She explained "multiple large signs" were put up by council at surrounding intersections, but few were close enough to this particular street. "The regular parking signs had been removed on that side of the street and a really faded 'No Standing' was nailed temporarily on a telegraph post," she said.

To add to the confusion, there are painted car spaces on the street which map out where parking is normally allowed. But not during restricted parking times. "The streets are too narrow to cope with the added event traffic if cars are parked on both sides, [that's why the restrictions are in place]," Charleene added.

Residents helps save drivers from $150 parking fine

After an image of the parking warning was posted online, comments from locals flooded in with many agreeing the restrictions are confusing. "We had the same in our street. I tried to tell as many people as I could not to park. Unfortunately some did get ticketed," one said.

"However, I did see a parking inspector chase down someone who had just parked. They showed them the sign and the person got back in their car and moved on. Good on the inspector! Saved someone $150."

"I often see non-locals parking where the road is marked with parking bays thinking they are lucky to get a spot," another added, saying they usually warn them. "Most are very appreciative as they hadn't seen the small 'No Standing' signs at the end of the street."

Others praised the local woman for "looking out for each other". "Good on this person! THIS is what community is about," they said.

Moreton Bay Regional Council did not respond to Yahoo News Australia's request for comment.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden spoke on the phone Thursday and reviewed a Wednesday response from the Palestinian militant group Hamas to the latest Israeli peace proposal, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

The official told reporters that Hamas has moved closer toward accepting a multi-phase ceasefire deal with Israel that over time aims to see hostages released, fighting stopped and rebuilding begin in the territory.

The official acknowledged that the response does not mean this deal is going to be closed in a period of days, but added that outstanding issues for a final agreement mostly center on implementation. They also said that the White House believes theres a pretty significant opening here.

The breakthrough comes as negotiations had stalled over the last few months between Israel and Hamas over the release of the remaining surviving hostages taken during the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and a lasting cease-fire ending fighting in the Gaza Strip.

A deal has remained elusive for months, as the Biden administration has pushed regional brokers Egypt and Qatar to add pressure on Hamas and secure commitments needed for a deal. Biden had also called on the Israeli government to move forward with a deal, arguing Hamas now poses a much smaller threat to Israels security.

At the core of the diplomatic impasse  Hamas wants Israel to completely and immediately withdraw its military from the Gaza Strip, while Israel wants a deal that will allow it to resume military operations against Hamas in the future.

But the White House signaled earlier this month that the two sides were closer than ever to reaching a cease-fire deal that would end hostilities in the Gaza Strip and lead to the release of the remaining hostages. On June 26, a senior administration official told reporters that were close to a deal and that talks were down to specific paragraphs.
Biden will stop working after 8pm to avoid making more gaffes

Joe Biden is facing unprecedented pressure from his own party to reconsider his decision to run for reelection - Yuri Gripas - Pool via CNP / Avalon

Joe Biden will stop working after 8pm to avoid getting tired and making more gaffes before the presidential election, he has told allies.

The US president told Democratic governors that he was taking steps to control his schedule, after blaming his disastrous performance in a head-to-head debate with Donald Trump on heavy travel.

The admission came on a call on Wednesday that included Kamala Harris, Gretchen Whitmer and Gavin Newsom  all of whom have been touted as possible replacements if he agrees to suspend his campaign.

Mr Biden is facing unprecedented pressure from his own party to reconsider his decision to run for reelection this November, after a stuttering performance on television last Thursday and polls that show he is losing ground against Trump in key swing states.

Experts have begun to call for Mr Biden to undergo independent medical checks, and the White House has denied that he is suffering from Alzheimers or another mentally degenerative disease.

The White House has admitted that Mr Biden was examined by his doctor shortly after the debate, reversing earlier comments by his press spokesman.

On Wednesday the White House press secretary, citing his doctor, said he had not had any medical exams since his February physical.

But Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman said on Thursday that he had spoken to his doctor.

Several days later, the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well, he said.

The conflicting messages from the White House will do little to assuage fears about his aides handling of the situation, which has become a major crisis.

Mr Biden has attempted to shrug off concerns about his age by attributing his poor performance in last weeks debate to his travel schedule.

He had visited France, Italy and Los Angeles in the weeks leading up to the debate, but had been at Camp David for a week to recuperate and prepare for the event.

The president told donors after the debate that he fell asleep on stage and joked that he should have listened to his team about resting more.

His decision not to work past 8pm comes after a report by Axios, a political news website, that he is only cogent between 10am and 4pm each day.

Although at 81 years old Mr Biden could be expected to move more slowly, some have raised concerns he has a hidden medical condition.

Kevin C OConnor, the White House physician, said in February the president was fit for duty and that tests had turned up no findings which would be consistent with Parkinsons disease.

Mr Bates told the New York Times on Thursday that Dr OConnor had found no reason to re-evaluate Mr Biden for the disease, and that he had not taken Levodopa or other drugs for that condition.

On Thursday, the statistician and writer Nate Silver joined Lawrence K Altman, a clinical professor, in calling for Mr Biden to undergo an unbiased assessment of his mental fitness.

Dr Altman at New York University said the public deserves full reports from doctors of Mr Bidens recent medical examinations.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Silver said: Since he wants to be president until hes 86 years old, and a reasonable person might conclude hes something other than up for the task, how about we get an unbiased checkup from a mutually agreed-upon independent physician?

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Joe Bidens first interview since his disastrous debate was released Thursdayan almost 14minute radio session with a Black Philadelphia station.

As the 81-year-old opened his time with WURDs Andrea Lawful-Sanders, he brushed aside his performance against Donald Trump saying I had a bad debate, and moved quickly on to a laundry list of what he and his administration see as achievements focused on the Black community.

Lawful-Sanders did not ask him directly if he plans to drop out and while the president sounded hoarse and at times had minor verbal stumbles, the White House is likely to be relieved at the overall performance.

Biden hit a series of anti-Trump talking points, saying, Show up and vote for your own safetys sake. He accused Trump of talking down to people, and listed some of Trumps most racially insulting moments, including that he questioned the humanity of George Floyd, led the birther movement and accused the Central Park Five, they should be in jail.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Lawful-Sanders started by asking, A lot of people are talking about the debate and your performance. Is there any reason for the American people to be concerned? Biden previewed what is likely to be his approach when asked about the debate and his cognition by ABC News George Stephanopoulos on Friday, in what will be his first TV interview, and said, laughing on the first sentence, No, I had a bad debate. But 90 minute on stage does not erase what I have done for three-and-a-half years. Proud of the record and weve just got to keep moving.

Biden was also due to conduct an interview with Earl Ingram of Civic Medias The Earl Ingram Show in Wisconsin, a second critical swing state to which he will travel Friday and where he will be interviewed by Stephanopoulus.

The split screen of last Thursday's presidential debate between Biden and Trump has haunted the president for days. On Thursday he said inhis first interview since the debale that, "I had a bad debate." Emily Elconin/Reuters

Biden listed to Lawful-Sanders a series of policies, including Covid relief checks, small business measures and canceling some student debt as reasons for Black voters to turn out for him. But he attacked Trump strongly, calling him this guy, calling his rhetoric shameful, and highlighted making Ketanji Brown Jackson the Supreme Court's first Black female justice, calling her one of the best appointments ever.

The next president of the United States, by the way, will get to appoint two Supreme Court justices, he said, a campaign talking point which has an unclear factual base but appears rooted in the ages of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito (76 and 74) and whispers of health concerns about Sonia Sotomayor. Imagine what that does on the Supreme Court, he said.

He also spoke of being proud to serve the first Black president and having the first Black vice president, although he did not mention Kamala Harris by name.

The positive reception for Biden from Lawful-Sanderswho ended by saying, We are so thankful for your time with us and we look forward to hearing more from youwill boost immediate hopes among aides that Biden can turn round his crisis.

In the interview with WURD of Philadelphia's Andrew Lawful-Sanders, Bidfen highlighted putting the first Black woman Ketanji Brown Jacksonon the Supreme Court and suggested the next president may get two vacancies. Shawn Thew/Reuters

But he faces a more testing time with Stephanopoulos on Fridayalthough the Beast revealed Thursday night that ABC News is concerned that the sit-down could last as little as 15 minutes. Executives are hoping that by being with Biden in Wisconsin they will be able to have more time. The White House and ABC News both denied it would be 15 minutes but neither suggested how long it will be. The first clips from the taped sit-down will air on Fridays World News Tonight at 6.30 p.m. EST. It will then feature in a primetime special at 8 p.m., replacing Jeopardy! Masters, then run again on This Week on Sunday morning.

Whether interviews will be enough to settle Democrats roiling crisis will not be immediately apparent. On CNN Thursday morning, Michigans Rep. Debbie Dingell, a reliable Biden ally but one with a more vulnerable seat than some House members, told Kasie Hunt that Biden had to be seen out more. He has to get out there on a sustained basis and be spontaneous. One interview is not going to reassure folks.

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Biden admits to Democratic governors hes tired and needs to work less: Its just my brain

President Joe Biden reportedly told a group of Democratic governors on Wednesday that he needs more sleep, wants to wrap up his days by 8 p.m., and joked that while his health is in good shape, its just my brain.

The president also revealed that he had a brief medical check-up after last weeks debate  shortly after the White House told reporters that Biden had not seen a doctor since.

A group of 20 governors met with Biden at the White House on Wednesday night as mounting concerns about his mental fitness have followed a faltering performance at his first debate against Donald Trump, which the president blamed on both a cold and jet lag.

At least three sitting Democratic members of Congress have either publicly called on Biden to drop out of the race for the White House, as polling tips in favor of Bidens criminally convicted and twice-impeached Republican rival.

During Wednesdays meeting, which lasted an hour, the president declared that he was in good health following his medical appointment, two people who attended the meeting told Politico. The statement was preceded by Biden visibly knocking on wood, they said.

He told the governors that he needs to work fewer hours, including ending a busy schedule by 8 p.m. each day, according to The New York Times, citing people who participated in the meeting and others briefed on his remarks.

Biden insisted that his health was fine, its just my brain, he said, according toThe Times.

Campaign chair Jen OMalley Dillon, who attended the meeting, said in a statement to the newspaper that he had said all kidding aside and that he was clearly making a joke.

President Joe Biden looks on during his debate with Donald Trump in June (AFP via Getty)

A statement from the campaign said the president reiterated his determination to defeat the existential threat of Trumps return to the White House, and Biden sought the advice and expertise of Democratic governors during the meeting.

After the meeting, governors touted their support for the president.

Were working together just to make very, very clear that a path to victory in November is the No. 1 priority and thats the No. 1 priority of the president, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday.

The feedback was good. The conversation was honest, he added.

I heard three words from the president tonight  hes all in, and so am I, Governor Gavin Newsom said on X. Joe Bidens had our back. Now its time to have his.

Democratic governors Wes Moore of Maryland, Kathy Hochul of New York and Tim Walz of Minnesota speak to reporters after meeting with President Joe Biden on July 3. (Getty Images)

Biden reportedly had a brief, non-exhaustive check-up days after the debate due to his cold symptoms. There were no major tests.

That revelation came just hours after White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that insisted that Biden merely had a cold and had not seen a doctor since the debate when facing questions about whether the president had been examined by medical professionals since last weeks debate.

The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report, she said. Were going to continue to do that.

On Tuesday, Jean-Pierre denied that the president has any form of degenerative brain disease, adding that she hoped the same question would be put forward to Trumps campaign.

Jean-Pierre attested that Biden did not have a great night on the evening that he took on Trump in Atlanta, adding the caveat that he knows how to deliver for the American people.

The sentiment has been echoed by first lady Jill Biden, who after the debate told Vogue that those 90 minutes should not define the four years hes been president.

Wednesdays meeting marked Bidens latest effort to prove to his divided Democrat camp that he is fighting fit and ready for another four years in office.

Hours before his health update, the president joined a Zoom video call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff, pledging that no ones pushing me out.

ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos is scheduled to interview Biden at 8 p.m. ET on Friday.
President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening told more than 20 Democratic governors in a private meeting that he underwent a medical checkup after last weeks debate and is fine, according to three people with knowledge of the discussion.

During an hour-long meeting prompted by intensifying concerns about his health and political viability, one governor asked Biden about his physical condition. The president mentioned having had a checkup in recent days and asserted that he remains in good health, knocking on wood for effect, according to two of those people, who were granted anonymity to describe a private meeting.

That statement  in a hastily arranged White House meeting that saw nearly a dozen governors travel to Washington while others participated virtually  came just hours after press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre sidestepped direct questions from reporters who asked if hed been examined since the debate.

The president has regular annual physicals that we release in a thorough report, she said. Were going to continue to do that.



Bidens remark, according to a person familiar with the presidents schedule, was in reference to a short checkup by a White House physician in the days following the debate due to lingering symptoms from his cold. The exam, that person added, was brief and did not include any major tests.

Two Democratic governors  Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Janet Mills of Maine  expressed concern to Biden over whether he could still win their blue-leaning states, describing them as competitive, two of the people with knowledge of the discussion said. In 2020, Biden won New Mexico by 11 percentage points and Maine by 9 points.

Wednesday nights meeting with the governors  part mea culpa, part brainstorming session, part pep rally  marks the latest effort in Bidens push to preserve the viability of his embattled candidacy. Earlier in the day, he joined a Zoom video call with campaign and Democratic National Committee staff, pledging that no ones pushing me out. He also made a round of calls to senior congressional leaders over the last few days and rearranged his holiday weekend schedule to include travel to two swing states and a sit-down interview with ABC News.

After the meeting, Govs. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Wes Moore of Maryland and Kathy Hochul of New York told reporters they were sticking with Biden. Hochul said all of the governors pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher.

What we saw in there today was a guy who was the guy that all of us believed in the first time to beat Donald Trump. And he did beat Donald Trump, said Walz, who is chair of the Democratic Governors Association and instigated the meeting, after the governors gathered to vent and commiserate about the state of the presidential election earlier this week.



Privately, however, at least two staffers expressed concern about the uncertainty of Bidens path forward. They got through today, but its still very unclear where this goes, said one of the staffers with direct knowledge of the meeting.

During the meeting, Biden reiterated his pledge that he wouldnt be pushed out of the race, and that he was in it to win it, the staffers said. He took responsibility for his poor performance at the debate, telling the governors that he hadnt listened to staff telling him to slow down his schedule before the debate.

Biden told the governors that he wanted to travel more and interact with more voters in unscripted events. He also acknowledged that his campaign messaging needed work, saying he needed to talk more about what was affecting voters and less about statistics.

To me, thats getting back to the Scranton Joe stuff, said one of the staffers briefed on the call. The problem is that we have Grandpa Joe.

A fourth person who was directly familiar with the meeting said the governors urged Biden to focus more on economic issues rather than foreign policy. They also noted that the president said he hoped to hold more listening sessions in the coming weeks and months.

Vice President Kamala Harris closed the meeting with a call for unity, a fifth person briefed on the meeting said.
President Joe Bidens struggling debate performance was met with immediate demands for him to step down, and the White House and Democratic officials have spent the last week scrambling to respond to an avalanche of questions about the 81-year-old presidents health and future.

Its been an apparently welcome diversion for Donald Trump and his campaign, keeping media attention away from his own streak of unintelligible public statements, questions about his mental fitness, and an off-the-rails agenda that just a few days ago called for televised military tribunals for a former congresswoman.

Hes kept a relatively low profile, for him. He gave a handful of radio interviews and doesnt have any public appearances on his schedule until a rally on July 9. A stealthily recorded post-debate video from his New Jersey golf course shows him calling Biden that old broken down pile of c**p. On his Truth Social, he wished a happy Fourth of July to the president who choked like a dog.

But he appears content to let his Democratic rivals duke out their political future. Chaos is our friend, a person close to Trump told CNN. Trumps senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the Total Collapse of the Democrat Party.

Biden and his campaign are now using the Fourth of July holiday to shift the discussion to Trumps antidemocratic threats  and how the Supreme Courts interpretation of the Constitution gives a potential President Trump authoritative control of the presidency  and to underscore the stakes of the election.

This July Fourth, Donald Trump Wants to Make America a Monarchy Again, the Biden campaign warned in an email on Thursday.

President Joe Biden appears at Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on July 3. (Getty Images)

When Donald Trump fantasizes about getting revenge on his political opponents, openly campaigns on being a dictator on day one, and encourages and excuses the political violence on January 6, we must believe him, according to the message.

Especially when the Supreme Courts latest ruling removes one of the last remaining checks on him doing exactly that, the campaign added.

In scripted remarks outside the White House for a Fourth of July event for military families on Thursday night, the president said: We must look at ourselves and ask the question, will we stand for freedom again? Will we stand for democracy? Will we stand together as Americans? I believe we will, and we can.

I was in a World War I cemetery in France, and ... the former president, didnt want to go and be up there  which I probably shouldnt have said, Biden said during his remarks, prompting some laughter.

Anyway, we gotta just remember who the hell we are, he said. Were the United States of America.

The June 27 debate arrived smack in the middle of a series of rulings from the Supreme Court that were celebrated by Republican officials and right-wing legal groups, including a decision that shields Trump from some criminal prosecution and grants presidents broad immunity.

Trump hailed the courts decision, claiming it totally exonerates him of any wrongdoing in the multiple criminal cases and lawsuits against him. His lawyers immediately got to work to try to overturn a 34-count guilty verdict.

Biden and Democratic officials have tried to frame the 2024 fight as one for the fate of democracy itself.

Another Fourth of July message from the Democratic National Committee said that its never been clearer that freedoms Americans celebrate every Independence Day are on the verge of being ripped away.

The only thing standing between Donald Trump and the democracy that we hold dear is President Biden  and we will spend every day between now and November ensuring that come July 4, 2025, our freedoms and democracy are protected, press secretary Emilia Rowland said on Thursday.

Donald Trump faces Joe Biden at a presidential debate airing on CNN from Atlanta on June 27. (AFP via Getty Images)

Trump has tried to dismiss the idea that Biden could exit the race, but his campaign has started to attack Vice President Kamala Harris as both an incompetent candidate and a serious contender. Vote Republican. Stop Kamala, one recent ad says.

Its very hard for anybody else to come into the race, Trump said in an interview with Virginia-based talk radio host John Reid on Thursday.

Many people are saying after last nights performance that Joe Biden is leaving the race, but the fact is I dont believe that, he said at a campaign rally the day after the debate. Its hard to believe, but Crooked Joe Biden polls better than those people.

Meanwhile, powerful right-wing legal groups are exploring pre-election litigation in battleground states in the hopes of preventing Biden from being removed from the ballot, should he withdraw.

An effort led by the Heritage Foundation  the architects of the Project 2025 plan for a future Trump presidency  is expected to fire off lawsuits to make the process difficult and perhaps unsuccessful if Democrats switch up their nominee.
(Bloomberg) -- Leading Democratic governors offered some of the strongest words of support yet for President Joe Biden and his bid for reelection after a crisis meeting at the White House, which was said to have included an admission from the 81-year-old that he will have to work a reduced schedule to avoid fatigue.

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The Roosevelt Room gathering included more than 20 governors, with approximately half attending in person and the others participating virtually. It unfolded as anxiety mounted over Bidens attempt to beat former President Donald Trump in November with polls showing hes losing ground to his Republican opponent after a disastrous debate performance last week. Some donors and members of Congress are becoming increasingly vocal in calling for him to step down from the ticket, with some of the Governors in attendance touted as possible replacements.

After the meeting, several governors addressed the press or used social media to trumpet their support for Biden, frequently using similar language.

The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader. And the president has told us, and he was very clear back there, that he is in this to win this, Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters after the gathering late Wednesday.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who told CNN on Tuesday that the President needed to get in front of the American people and explain his strategy to win, didnt immediately offer the same words of support, even though hes made clear hes behind Biden.

Instead he commented through a spokesperson that the meeting was candid and he appreciated hearing directly from the president.

Presidential Defiance

Biden opened the gathering with a show of defiance against signs of weakening support.

But the President also admitted he requires more sleep and will work fewer hours, the New York Times reported, citing people with knowledge of the conversation. This would include restricting events after 8 p.m., the paper wrote, noting that Biden blamed his hectic travel schedule prior to the debate for his weak performance against Trump.

The central message though he delivered to the governors is that hes not leaving the race.

Follow the Big Take podcast on iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen. Read the transcript here.

No one is pushing me out and Im in it to win it, he told the room according to a person briefed on the gathering.

Biden received tough questions, especially from governors in swing states, and said he wants to do more unscripted events, said the person , who asked not to be named because the discussion was private. Vice President Kamala Harris closed the event by calling on the group to present a united front in support of Biden, the person said.

Most of the attendants promptly did just that. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said shes convinced Biden can win after hearing his plans and warned about the dangers of a Trump re-election.

But the specter of last weeks debate, which set of a maelstrom of concerns about Bidens age and health lingered.

None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance, said Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. But it doesnt impact what I believe hes delivering.

Along with Pritzker, those present included California Governor Gavin Newsom, Michigans Gretchen Whitmer and Kentuckys Andy Beshear. Along with Moore, theyve all been touted as possible replacements for Biden on the 2024 ticket even as they seek to express their support for the President.

Newsom and Whitmer didnt address reporters after the meeting but issued statements with sentiments and wording in support of Biden.

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Bidens fitness for office is under scrutiny. Others are asking: What about Trumps?

With President Bidens 2024 campaign in crisis mode following last weeks disastrous debate performance, and polls showing a small but significant swing in former President Donald Trumps direction, many dismayed Democrats and other critics have complained about what they perceive as a double standard on the question of the candidates fitness to hold office.

Given who Republicans have chosen as their nominee, it's pretty ironic that it's Democrats who are worried about their choice of candidate, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow said this week.

Maddow then proceeded to list all of Trumps legal troubles, including his recent convictions on New York felony charges of falsifying business records.

 Debating the debate

In the hours after the debate had wrapped up, a Biden campaign memo declared that Biden had won and that the more they saw of Donald Trumps erratic and vindictive behavior, the more they remembered why they voted against him in 2020.

Top Biden surrogates like former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also sought to shift attention away from Bidens performance and onto Trumps.

How can you have a legitimate debate when somebodys totally lying and you have to dispel their falsehoods? Pelosi said.

While many outlets, including Yahoo News, conducted fact-checks of what each candidate said at the debate, Bidens halting and confused delivery became the story. Several leading editorial boards promptly called for Biden, 81, to step aside so Democrats could have a better chance of defeating Trump.

To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race, the New York Times wrote.

The Philadelphia Inquirers editorial board embraced the same frame to make the opposite argument. To serve his country, Donald Trump should leave the race, it wrote back.

President Joe Bidens debate performance was a disaster. His disjointed responses and dazed look sparked calls for him to drop out of the presidential race, the paper said. But lost in the hand wringing was Donald Trumps usual bombastic litany of lies, hyperbole, bigotry, ignorance, and fear mongering. His performance demonstrated once again that he is a danger to democracy and unfit for office.

 The question of fitness

The divide over whether Democrats should continue to support Bidens candidacy extends well beyond the editorial pages of the countrys newspapers. Polls conducted following the debate and released this week have shown that a majority of Democrats now believe Biden is not fit for a second term as president.

While that sentiment is not limited to Biden, it has been a bigger issue for him than Trump. In April, a poll released by Pew Research Center found that 65% of registered voters believed had little or no confidence that Biden has the physical fitness to do the job of president, while 40% said the same about Trump.

 Biden camp tries to move on

Last weeks debate stumbles, watched by more than 50 million people, have proven difficult for the Biden campaign to simply brush aside, despite its initial attempts to do so.

Did you see the awesome clips of our supporters on the tarmac doing the Cupid Shuffle at 2am on the night of the debate? a Biden fundraising email told supporters the weekend following the debate. Well, no, probably not, because the media is busy hyperventilating and trying to manifest drama to boost ratings.

And in a video call with supporters on Monday, Bidens deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks continued that line of attack, saying, The media has spent a ton of time blowing this out of proportion. We are not going to be in a defensive posture on this campaign.

 Damage control

Its clear that the damage to Bidens campaign goes well beyond the media narrative.

Some Democratic officials have begun openly calling for him to withdraw from the race, even though just weeks remain before he could receive his partys official renomination.

In a Milwaukee radio interview that aired Thursday, Bidens posture seemed at least somewhat defensive.

I had a bad night, Biden said. And the fact of the matter is that I screwed up. I made a mistake.

Now, as Biden himself has acknowledged, his task is twofold: reassuring voters about his own fitness for office, while trying to make the race about the man he still hopes to beat in November.

"And, you know, we're going to win this election," Biden told Ingram. "We're going to just beat Donald Trump. And like we did in 2020, we're going to beat him again.

Read more

Biden Tells Allies He Knows He Has Only Days to Salvage Candidacy. Biden has emphasized that he is still deeply committed to the fight for reelection but understands that his viability as a candidate is on the line. [The New York Times]

Biden family is all in on president continuing in 2024 race, source says. The first lady is all in. The familys all in. [CNN]

Who could replace Biden as the Democratic nominee? Heres the not-so-short shortlist of hypothetical Biden replacements  along with how they rank among voters in a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. [Yahoo News]

As Biden team suggests there can be no alternative, DNC rules provide a path if Biden were to step aside. Joe Biden will be the Democratic Party's nominee for president, the talking points read. [NBC News]

Democratic governors to President Biden: 'Path to victory is the No. 1 priority.' But while several governors said afterward they "have his back," they also stressed their top goal is finding a "path to win." [USA Today]

Trump allies intensify Harris attacks as Biden replacement talk builds. Trump's campaign and his Republican allies appear to be laying the groundwork for an all-out assault on Harris. [Reuters]

'KHive' and 'coconut-pilled': Kamala Harris sees a sudden social media renaissance. X listed Kamala among its trending topics in politics with roughly 188,000 posts, many offering some mix of genuine support and ironic bemusement. [NBC News]
It's unclear how the ban with be enforced across the 25 beaches of the Spanish resort town.

As thousands of Aussies jet off for the European summer, it's worth keeping in mind a quick pee in the ocean now risks a large chunk of your well-earned holiday money after a ban was recently introduced at a popular Spanish resort town.

Locals and tourists are being warned against urinating in the ocean near any of the 25 beaches that Marbella boasts as authorities could slap them with a $1,200 fine. The increased fine was approved by the city council on June 21 in a bid to preserve the cleanliness of beaches and safeguard the environment, with the fine almost double what was previously in place.

It is unknown how authorities will fine people caught guilty of "physiological evacuation in the sea and on the beach", however, it is believed on-duty lifeguards will likely enforce it.

The increased fine was approved by the local council on June 21 in a bid to preserve the cleanliness of beaches. Source: Getty

The new proposal must pass public consultation before it becomes law, yet many locals are ridiculing the move, with Spanish TV presenter Nacho Abad reportedly admitting to urinating in the sea and offering others advice on how best to do it, suggesting they pull their bathers down first.

"I recommend doing it that way, otherwise your swimsuit smells terrible," Abad said on the Spanish TV channel Cuatro. Another beachgoer in Marbella responded to the ban in jest, saying to the local TV channel, "Who is going to realise someone is taking a leak, the jellyfish?"

Is urinating in the ocean bad for the environment?

Despite the majority of urine being water, some believe urine is toxic to ocean wildlife  impacting biodiversity and damaging coral reefs due to the nitrogen and the bacteria urine contains. For this reason, Portugal and Thailand have banned beachgoers from urinating in the ocean.

However, due to the small volume of urea in comparison to the vastness of the ocean, others believe urine is simply a 'drop in the ocean' in terms of any likely impact on wildlife and the environment, with The American Chemical Society holding this belief.

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Biden says 'I'm not going anywhere' as calls to quit race grow

By Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said "I'm not going anywhere" as he faced calls by many Democrats to end his re-election bid, using the Fourth of July celebrations on Thursday to hit back at doubts about his stamina and mental acuity to continue his campaign.

The 81-year-old Democrat's shaky showing at a June 27 debate with Republican rival Donald Trump means his every appearance is now closely scrutinized. Many Democratic voters are worried about whether he can keep up a grueling pace of work for the next 4-1/2 years and some in his party have urged him to step aside.

Biden was hosting the annual U.S. Independence Day festivities at the White House on Thursday, including a barbecue for a few thousand active-duty military service members and their families.

Biden, in a suit with no necktie, began his remarks with a forceful Happy Independence Day!"

Reading from a teleprompter, Biden made no major errors in delivering brief remarks, but at one point appeared to go off script to make reference to a war cemetery that Trump declined to visit while in office.

"By the way, you know, I was in that World War One cemetery in France. The one that one of our colleagues, a former president didn't want to go...," he said, his voice dropping to a low volume and trailing off.

"I probably shouldn't have said, anyway," Biden added, before continuing his remarks.

As Biden mingled and took selfies with guests, someone called out for him to "Keep up the fight."

"You got me, man. I'm not going anywhere," Biden said, repeating his pledge to remain in the race despite the growing calls to step aside.

Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Walt Disney who founded the company that bears his name and who has been a major Democratic donor, became the latest donor to call for Biden to withdraw from the presidential election, telling CNBC on Thursday that she will halt donations to the Democratic Party until he does so.

Vice President Kamala Harris is the leading contender to take his place in the Nov. 5 election if Biden were to drop out, sources have said, though his allies believe he can assuage the concerns of voters and donors.

Among the events on Biden's calendar being closely scrutinized is an interview with ABC News on Friday that will be aired in full at 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT Saturday). He also travels to Wisconsin the same day for a campaign rally.

Dozens of Democrats in the House of Representatives are watching closely and prepared to ask Biden to step aside if he falters in the ABC interview, a source told Reuters. Democrats see capturing control of the House in November as critical, as it could be their last hold on power in Washington if Trump returns to the White House and Republicans capture the Senate.

Biden faces a new reality since last week's debate - even if he doesn't falter verbally or physically, serious concerns about his viability as a candidate are likely to linger. If he mangles words or looks unfocused or confused, he will face renewed pressure to depart.

If reelected, Biden would be 86 at the end of a second term. He is being asked by some former supporters to step aside to preserve his legacy and lessen the chances of a second Trump presidency. With just four months to go before the election, a decision needs to be made soon, they say.

Democrats, including top allies, have left the door open to having Harris at the top of the Democratic ticket.

SEEN BY DOCTOR

The White House has repeatedly said the president was suffering from a cold and jet lag on the night of the debate. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden had not had any kind of medical exam since his annual physical in February.

"He did not get checked out by the doctor. It's a cold, guys. It's a cold," she said at a news briefing.

However, spokesperson Andrew Bates said on Thursday that Biden saw a doctor after the debate. "Several days later, the president was seen to check on his cold and was recovering well, he said.

Trump, 78, who made multiple false statements from the debate stage in Atlanta, falsely claimed in a video that was circulated on social media that he had driven Biden out of the race. He made disparaging comments about Harris in the same video.

Asked in a radio interview with WURD that aired on Thursday morning, whether there was any reason for the American people to be concerned after last week's debate, Biden demurred.

"No, I had a bad debate," he said, adding that this should not erase what he has done as president for three and a half years.

Biden's standing in opinion polls took a hit after the debate. Some 59% of Democrats responding to a Reuters/Ipsos poll said that Biden was too old to work in government, a concern that has shown up persistently in public opinion polling over the past year.

(Reporting by Steve Holland, Andrea Shalal and Jeff Mason; writing by Simon Lewis; Editing by Heather Timmons, Ross Colvin and Deepa Babington)
Big 190-seat Airbus planes coming to Harrisburg Intl; airport expects July 4th to be second busiest ever

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM)  Some of the biggest passenger planes ever to serve Harrisburg International Airport will soon be flying here regularly.

Beginning in August, American Airlines is scheduling as many as three daily flights on 190-seat Airbus A321 aircraft and two daily flights on 150-seat A320s to its hubs in Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth and elsewhere, airport spokesman Scott Miller said.

Ive been telling them for years: Give me seats to sell, and well sell them, Miller said. And so far, he said, that has worked out.

Theyve realized nationally that medium-sized markets are a tremendous growth opportunity for them, and for the past six months, weve had one of the top load factors for them in their whole system, said Miller, citing U.S. Department of Transportation data.

Load factor is airline industry speak for  essentially  the percentage of all available seats that are filled with paying passengers.

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Americans surging growth comes as the airport expects its second-busiest Independence Day travel period in history, behind only 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic decimated travel.

July 4th itself is actually one of the slowest days of the period, as travelers spend the day in their destinations rather than going to or from them. The busiest day? Next Monday, July 9, according to an airport forecast, which expects 4,415 passengers to fly into and out of the airport that day.

In August, American will offer a average of about 14 daily flights each way  departing and arriving  to and from Harrisburg International Airport, according to an abc27 News analysis of Cirium schedule data. Thats an increase in flights of 36% compared to August 2023.

Looking at scheduled seats, American will be up fully 55% compared to a year earlier, because of the uncharacteristically large aircraft its flying to and from Harrisburg  an airport where some commercial flights have as few as 50 seats.

American is by far Harrisburgs busiest airline, ranked by seats scheduled for the 12 months from October 2023 through September 2024, according to Cirium schedule data. American accounts for about 44% of all seats at the airport for that period. It is followed by Allegiant, United and Delta, which each have between 17% and 19% of the airports seats.

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

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Bill to allow driving without doors in Pennsylvania advances

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Currently, Jeep and Bronco drivers must have doors on their vehicles unless they are going off-road in Pennsylvania, but that could soon change.

SB 298, introduced by Senator Devlin Robinson (R  Allegheny), would change the safety guidelines and would make it legal for vehicles to be driven without doors.

In his memo, Robinson said that he is working to create legislation that would still require the Jeeps and Broncos to have side-view mirrors when the doors are taken off, and keeping protections in place for minors.

New unemployment compensation web page created for Pennsylvania bus drivers

Pennsylvania is the only state where it is illegal to drive without doors.

A member of the Jeep community made Robinson aware that Pennsylvania is the only state that has the law and wanted something to be done so others in Pennsylvania can enjoy the same freedoms that every other state provides, Robinson said in his memo.

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The legislation passed the House Wednesday and the Senate passed it in March, so it now heads to Governor Josh Shapiros desk.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Bill passes Pennsylvania Senate encouraging school districts to ban student phone use during day

Pennsylvanias Senate has passed legislation to encourage school districts to ban students use of cell phones.

The bill would help school districts pay for locking bags after creating a policy requiring students to leave their phones in such bags for the whole school day, the Associated Press reports.

The sponsor, Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument of Lancaster, hopes that limits on phone use will result in improvements in mental health and academic performance. Participating school districts would have to track changes in student mental health, bullying, violence and academic performance, the AP reports.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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How a bill from the spouse of Californias AG may hurt broadband access in rural town | Opinion

The Internet is a lifeline to jobs, education and government services. But many rural communities are stuck in the digital dark ages, cut off from online opportunities because of economic challenges and a lack of broadband infrastructure to serve small towns with spread-out populations.

In the last few years, thats started to change. In 2022, 28% of Americans living in rural areas lacked access to high-speed home broadband  down from 42% in 2018. Now, thanks to strong public policy, like the $42 billion bipartisan federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program program and even greater private sector investments to connect rural communities, those numbers are set to plummet.

Meanwhile, the White House has pledged to connect everyone in America to reliable, affordable high-speed internet in the next six years.

Opinion

Weve seen whats possible in my hometown, Biola, where the telecommunications company, Comcast, recently pumped in a million dollars to build out high-speed internet connections for the entire community. It worked with schools and local community groups to offer education, low-cost laptops and tech support for all residents. Backstopped by low-cost options like Internet Essentials that keep prices affordable for everyone regardless of means, this new network has jump-started digital life in our community.

No one in California should be left out if we can get affordable, high-speed broadband in a Fresno County town like Biola, with less than 1,500 people.

But just as there is finally hope for rural Californians who have been waiting years for quality internet, a new set of broadband rules being considered in Sacramento could effectively slam the door on this progress.

Assembly Bill 2239, from Oakland Democrat Mia Bonta, purports to advance digital equity and promote broadband access. But by radically increasing the business risk and cost of building networks and wiring new communities, AB 2239 would set back progress and make it far more difficult to bring fast internet to rural communities in our state.

The bill is a well-intentioned effort to outlaw digital discrimination by ensuring that networks are built fairly to serve all communities. The problem is that the bills definition of discrimination sweeps far beyond intentional decisions based on improper criteria, like race or religion.

Instead, AB 2239 could expose broadband providers to substantial penalties for any business decision that results in a disparate impact on different groups, regardless of motive or intent.

No business can know exactly how complicated business, policy and engineering choices  which themselves have nothing to do with race, or other demographic characteristics  may have different impacts on different groups of consumers. Many beneficial policies, like offering customer service in different languages, upgrading networks to increase speeds, and providing discounts in various geographic areas or to different groups, will invariably impact different communities in different ways.

The unpredictable risks created by AB 2239 would subject broadband providers to liability for legitimate, nondiscriminatory business judgments essential to maintaining private investment and improving Californias broadband infrastructure.

Since elected prosecutors charged with enforcing the law could always recast one communitys benefit as anothers disparate impact, the bill will make companies less likely to innovate or build out service to new areas.

Digital discrimination is a serious issue, and rules that outlaw and punish intentionally discriminatory business practices make a lot of sense. But efforts to address this problem must not be allowed to chill deployment to rural communities  or any other underserved areas  that have been waiting years for access to affordable, high-speed broadband service.

Were finally seeing long-overdue progress wiring rural communities like Biola. We cant afford to have lawmakers in Sacramento accidentally  or purposefully  slam on the brakes.

Elaine Cervantes is the general manager of the Biola Community Services District.
Farmworkers milk dairy cows at the Welcome Stock Farms in January 2022 in Schuylerville, New York. 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 four dairy farmworkers  two in Michigan, one in Texas, and one in Colorado  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 percent of daily labor at dairy farms, and farms that employ immigrants produce 79 percent 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.

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.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
What, to Black Americans, is the 4th of July? A day with a history of resistance

Demonstrators light sparklers during the Black 4th protest in downtown on July 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A number of protest demonstrations occurred around the Twin Cities on Independence Day which were critical of the annual American celebration. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

The 4th of July may be synonymous with cookouts and fireworks, but since its inception, Black Americans have marked the day with protest.

For Black people, July 4 holds a complicated and largely untold place in American history.

We often hear about the moments in which colonists took steps toward independence. For example, in 1774, the Orangetown [N.Y.] Resolutions protested Britains decision to strip power from colonial governments. The small protest proved significant because the resolutions helped shape the Declaration of Independence, approved two years later.

However, independence held a different meaning for then-enslaved Black Americans. The words written by the founding fathers  all men are created equal  rang hollow to those shackled, whipped, violated and killed by white plantation owners. These enslaved people were conflicted about proclaiming or feeling love for a country that did not love them back.

In those formative years, many turned July 4 into a movement for their own independence, by either protesting or running to freedom.

As author and educator Derrick R. Spires, an associate professor of literature in English at Cornell Universitys College of Arts and Sciences explained to the Cornell Chronicle, If youre in the (George) Washington household, your enslaver is the general of the Continental Army. Or if youre in [James] Madisons or in [Thomas] Jeffersons household, your enslaver is penning the Declaration of Independence, and maybe youre bringing him a glass of water when hes in Virginia, running through some of those drafts.

The paradox was not lost on those enslaved, who increasingly found ways to rebel. Their protests and actions caught the attention of Southern plantation owners, who became concerned about the actions of those they considered their property. In his book Symbols of Freedom: Slavery and Resistance Before the Civil War, Matthew J. Calvin noted that to quell the impetus for resistance, plantation owners shifted July 4 to a carnival of food and music instead of a celebration of the country filled with patriotic readings. The tradition of July 4th as a day for cookouts and gatherings remains today.

Those readings, with messages filled with hope for all, mightve given Black Americans the wrong idea. White men with Black skin, as their friends would have them think, and that all men were born equal and free, Calvins book noted.

However, as the book further notes, Frederick Dalcho, a church historian at the time, more aptly declared that the Fourth of July belonged exclusively to the white population of the United States. He further stated that the enslaved imbibe false notions of their personal rights, and give reality in their minds, to what has no real existence.

Still, they persisted.

The largest of the Black-led July 4th protests occurred in 1845, when enslaved people revolted over the holiday weekend in Charles County, Md. Two Black men  one enslaved and one free  led a march of 75 enslaved people who attempted to make their way to free territory in Prince Georges County. However, a group of white men on horseback quelled the revolt, wounding and killing some of the protestors.

But it may not have been until 1852 that the struggle of Black people took center stage on Independence Day. That is the day Frederick Douglass asked a simple question  What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?

While praising the founders for their courage, he condemned the continued plight of those he represented. Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? he asked. And then, in a great example of oratory, he said:

The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.

Historians rate Douglass speech as one of the most important in the pre-Civil War era.

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This early history of protest continued into the next century and into this one.

On July 4, 1965, Martin Luther King, Jr., during his American Dream speech, said: Now ever since the founding fathers of our nation dreamed this dream in all of its magnificence  America has been something of a schizophrenic personality, tragically divided against herself. On the one hand, we have proudly professed the great principles of democracy, but on the other hand, we have sadly practiced the very opposite of those principles.

More recently, protests followed the murder of George Floyd, who died at the hands of police on May 25, 2020. On July 4 of that year, several thousand protestors marched across the country demanding justice for Floyd while protesting racism and police treatment of Black people.

Four years later and still in a nation divided against itself, what, to the Black American, is the Fourth of July?

On one hand, Independence Day is a celebration of Americas birth. On the other, it reminds us that all men are created equal remains a work in progress.

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The remains of a missing 12-year-old Australian girl believed to be the victim of a crocodile attack were found Thursday, authorities confirmed. Photo by Budgme/Pixabay

July 4 (UPI) -- The remains of a missing 12-year-old Australian girl believed to be the victim of a crocodile attack were found Thursday, authorities confirmed.

A police official said the girl's T-shirt was discovered Wednesday upstream at about 6:15 p.m. local time and her remains found Thursday morning in a Northern Territory waterway.

"It was particularly gruesome and a sad and devastating outcome," NT Police Senior Sgt. Erica Gibson told Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Palumpa.

Although attacks are not common for that part of the country, the unnamed young girl was last seen Tuesday local time in Australia's Northern Territory -- home to more saltwater crocodiles than anyplace else on Earth at an estimated 100,000. She was swimming with family members at Mango Creek, in Palumpa, during a bush holiday near the remote Aboriginal town Nganmarriyanga, which is roughly a seven-hour drive southwest of Darwin in one of the northern most parts of Australia.

Gibson did confirm the young girl's injuries were consistent with a crocodile attack. "It was an extremely difficult 36 hours for the first responders involved in the search," she stated, adding how the grieved family are "in a state of extreme shock and disbelief."

Steve Irwin wrestles a crocodile at an MGM luncheon at ShoWest in Las Vegas in 2002. Irwin died in 2006. UPI file photo

The girl's disappearance was reported to Australian police at 5.30 p.m. local time on Tuesday.

A black crocodile was seen in the area, according to witnesses. But no details were given if the suspected reptile had otherwise been identified or located.

About 40 members of the public reportedly assisted 10 police officers with a foot, boat and aerial search along the "narrow, but long and winding" Mango Creek river banks.

This is now the first fatal attack in the NT since 2018, according to reports.

While Queensland has had a number of reportedly deadly crocodile attacks in recent years, there were at least two reported crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory in the last year.

A leading Australian crocodile researcher suggested a good response by the territorial government would be to fund local Indigenous groups in remote communities like the one where the girl was allegedly taken victim by the reptile in question.

Meanwhile, the territory's chief minister says there is "always more to be done around croc safety" as she said the Northern Territory's latest budget lists $500,000 for crocodile management efforts.

"We can't have the crocodile population outnumber the human population in the Northern Territory," Chief Minister Eva Lawler said. "We do need to keep our crocodile numbers under control."
Manufacturers like Tesla and BYD are soaring in popularity on our roads at the moment, but they are expected to face stiff competition from new arrival Xpeng.

The new Chinese electric Xpeng G6 was spotted in regional NSW before it hits the market later this year. Source: Facebook

A new and "exciting" electric vehicle is making its way Down Under, prompting some environmentally-conscious motorists to put on hold their EV purchase in anticipation of its impending arrival.

We know manufacturers like Tesla and BYD are soaring in popularity on Australian roads at the moment  the latter of which has particularly picked up steam among buyers in recent months  but now, another model is making waves and already piquing major interest before it's even available to buy.

The Chinese-owned Xpeng G6 electric SUV is being pegged as a "high-end" alternative to the Tesla Model Y and is set to debut on the Australian market in September. While the official price of the luxurious-looking vehicle has so far been kept under wraps, it's already been spotted locally  at a KFC car park in regional NSW, of all places.

Pre-orders for the 2025 Xpeng G6 electric SUV have now opened to Australian motorists, with deliveries due to begin later this year. Source: Facebook

Local man pivots to Xpeng after KFC discovery

Local man Justin Wakefield made the "striking" discovery last week when he was picking up his son from work, and told Yahoo News Australia that after stumbling across it, he's now in the market to buy.

"The car I saw was a striking vehicle in a very appealing colour," Wakefield told Yahoo. "I had not heard of Xpeng previously. I spoke with [the representative] who was driving from Victoria to Sydney. He was only too happy to have a chat about it  but he didn't mention the price.

"I saw online that you can order one, but pricing isn't released until September. I would need a price point  looking at specs and how appealing it seems, I would definitely consider one.

"I have just bought a Mitsubishi Exceed Tourer PHEV [a hybrid] and it is great. Our next car for my wife was going to be a BYD Seal but this has made us hit pause. The fact they are also testing the AWD Performance model (LHD) will also create a 'wait and see' approach."

Xpeng reps respond, confirm model on way

Yahoo News Australia tracked down the owner of that particular vehicle, which turned out to be electric vehicle authority and distributor True EV. A spokesperson said a senior team member was driving the Xpeng through Goulburn at the time, and they added that the vehicles will be available for delivery in the final quarter of 2024.

"TrueEV is now accepting online pre-orders for the XPENG G6 models," the spokesperson told Yahoo. "The XPENG G6 line-up includes two variants: the XPENG G6 Standard Range Battery and the XPENG G6 Long Range Battery."

Xpeng, one of the best known EV brands in China, has now opened pre-orders for its first electric car model that it will bring to Australia. Source: Xpeng

Both models feature an 800V XPower electric drive system delivering impressive performance with a maximum power output of 190kw for the Standard and 210 kw for the Long Range variant, and a maximum torque of 440 Nm.

The XPENG G6 Standard offers a WLTP driving range of 435 km, while the XPENG G6 Long extends this range to 570 km. Both variants feature rear-wheel drive and are available in a range of colours including Arctic White, Silver Frost, Graphite Grey, Midnight Black, and Fiery Orange.

Chinese-owned EVs 'unstoppable force' in Australia

Xpeng's arrival on Aussie shores show the Chinese EV market is "unstoppable", an industry expert says, and we can expect to see a whole lot more of them on our roads as time goes on.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Swinburne University's urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said many wouldn't consider the new Xpeng model affordable, but it will go a long way in increasing competition among manufacturers, which will in turn drive prices down eventually.

"There isn't really a price set for Australians just yet," Dia told Yahoo. "But in Hong Kong it's selling for around A$60,000. This is similar to some of the cars in that high-end category.

"Now that there is an oversupply of EVs, particularly in China  and Tesla has been dropping prices too  if the arrival of Xpeng sees prices drop 10 or 20 per cent, that's a good outcome for consumers."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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A Boeing whistleblower has claimed that the company used scrapyard parts on its factory assembly lines for years.

Merle Meyers, who worked as a Boeing quality-control manager for 30 years, told CNN that for years workers at the companys Dreamliner factory in Everett, Washington, routinely took parts that were deemed unsuitable to fly out of an internal scrapyard and put them back on factory assembly lines.

Nonconforming parts ended up in the reclamation yard, Meyers said, only after being rejected by three departments: Engineering, procurement, and quality.

He alleged that workers would do so to meet production deadlines.

Its a huge problem, Meyers told CNN. A core requirement of a quality system is to keep bad parts and good parts apart.

He alleged that in the early 2000s, for more than a decade, about 50,000 parts, including screws and wing flaps, escaped quality control and were used to build aircraft.

He added that the lapses he witnessed were intentional because workers would have known the parts were not good to use because parts that were meant to be scrapped were often painted red to signify they were unsuitable for assembly lines.

And he said the practice of using other unapproved parts in assembly lines is still going on.

Now theyre back to taking parts of body sections  everything  right when it arrives at the Everett site, bypassing quality, going right to the airplane, Meyers said.

A Boeing whistleblower has claimed that for years the company used scrapyard parts on its factory assembly lines (Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

However, he added that based on his conversations with current Boeing workers, he believes the practice of taking parts from the scrapyard no longer happens.

Meyers also showed CNN emails going back years in which he repeatedly flagged the issue to Boeings corporate investigations team, pointing out what he says were blatant violations of Boeings safety rules.

But he said investigators ignored his concerns and routinely failed to enforce safety rules, even ignoring eyewitness observations and the hard work done to ensure the safety of future passengers and crew, he wrote in an internal 2022 email to CNN.

In a statement to CNN, Boeing did not dispute Meyers allegations, adding that the company investigates all allegations of improper behavior, such as unauthorized movement of parts or mishandling of documents, and makes improvements when appropriate.

Current Boeing quality investigator, Sam Mohawk, also made similar allegations last month when he filed an official complaint reporting a number of non-compliant parts making their way back to the airplanes for installation. His complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was publicly released by a Senate subcommittee investigating Boeing.

Mohawks complaint said the issue of disappearing nonconforming parts continues. Boeing is still losing parts to this day, his official complaint reads.

Boeing has been under scrutiny for its safety standards since a faulty door panel blew off a Boeing 737 MAX plane mid-air during an Alaska Airlines flight in January.

Several passengers were injured in the incident, which grounded all Boeing 737 MAX 9s and prompted investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board into the aircraft manufacturer and Spirit AeroSystems.

Reports released since have suggested the plane did not have the critical bolts it needed to keep the door plug in place when it left the factory.

Meanwhile, several whistleblowers have also come forward with safety concerns about Boeing, two of whom have died since coming forward with allegations.

One whistleblower, Santiago Paredes, 40, previously told The Independent that he is vigilant about his safety since blowing the whistle on Boeing.

Im always looking behind my mirror to make sure nobodys cars following me, he said.

A door plug fell off a Boeing 737-9 MAX, pictured, in January 2024. Following the incident, several whistleblowers came forward with safety concerns about the company (Getty Images)

Meyers claims come after it emerged this week that the Department of Justice is poised to offer Boeing a deal to plead guilty to criminal charges over two deadly 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.

The aerospace giant is accused of violating a 2021 settlement related to the two fatal crashes  first in Indonesia in October 2018 and then in Ethiopia in 2019.

Boeing was also forced to disclose any allegations of fraud, cooperate with the government and avoid committing any felony offense. Under these conditions, the DOJ agreed to defer criminal prosecution for three years.

However, the DOJ said that Boeing had failed to meet its obligations under the agreement.

Now, the DOJ is proposing a new deal that would see the company plead guilty to conspiracy charges but avoid criminal trial, attorneys for the families of the crash victims told ABC News this May.

The company must also agree to appoint an external corporate monitor, pay a fine of about $200m and remain on probation for three years, the lawyers told ABC News.

Boeing has until July 7 to accept the deal. If Boeing rejects the terms, the DOJ can pursue criminal prosecution.
Boil water advisory issued for all of D.C., Arlington County due to algae blooms

A boil water advisory was issued Wednesday night for the entire District of Columbia and neighboring Arlington County due to a spike in algae blooms in the Potomac River, officials said.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority said the advisory, which it described as "precautionary," also included the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery and Reagan National Airport.

"We have no information that the water was contaminated by this incident, but we issue this advisory as a precaution while we test the water," the agency said.

The Washington Aqueduct is sourced by the Potomac River and serves as the public water supply for about one million people in the D.C. area, Arlington County and other portions of Northern Virginia.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release that the advisory stemmed from "elevated turbidity levels in the water supply caused by increases in algae blooms in the Potomac River."

Turbidity is a measure of the clarity and cloudiness of water.

"Customers may notice their water looks cloudy or hazy," Arlington County said in a news release.

The Washington Aqueduct has two water treatment plants. The Army Corps of Engineers responded to the elevated turbidity by temporarily transferring all water treatment operations from the Dalecarlia plant to the McMillan plant, DC Water said.

The Environmental Protection Agency also authorized adding additional copper sulfate and sodium permanganate to the aqueduct's reservoirs to combat the algae, the Army Corps of Engineers said.

Residents were advised to bring drinking water to a rolling boil for one minute before letting it cool. Water should then be stored in a covered container.

The advisory will remain in effect until further testing deems the water safe to drink.

Hurricane Beryl damages, destroys 90% of homes on island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Man creates "Macho Spouse" support group to help military husbands

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U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump, participate in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A new world is straining to be born, and at some point it requires new American leadership. Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the last of their generation, are both trying to stand in its way.

Trump hopes to block and even reverse the emergence of that new world through brute authoritarian force, trying to Make America Great Again by taking us back, back to a time in our nations history that never existed, that we should never allow to exist, that is contrary to our traditions. What Trump proposes is not conservative leadership but radical leadership, leadership in which his loud voice is the only one that matters.

By contrast, Biden seeks merely to extend that receding world, which is his world, the world in which he is comfortable because he helped to create it over a 50-year career in high office. He offers himself as a bridge from his generation to the next, from this world to that new world  but just not yet, he says.

Biden comes from a world of Corn Pops and punching time clocks, of formica kitchen tables on linoleum floors with an AM radio playing in the background. Trump comes from dark Manhattan restaurants and steaks covered in ketchup, of backroom deals and yes men and white men and compliant secretaries in a Mad Men world.

Trump has never googled, has never used google as a verb and has never asked Siri a damn thing, and I doubt that Biden has either.

For the moment, for now, that is not necessarily a disqualification. Biden has been a more-than-competent president during a difficult four years, but he has also given even his supporters cause to doubt whether he can do so for the four years still to come.

That concern is not a media fabrication, it is not a Republican psy-op. If Bidens chilling performance in the Atlanta debate was an accurate indication of his remaining capabilities, then his time in a leadership role may be coming to an end.

So far, his aides and many Democratic officials keep telling us that the debate was a glitch, a rare occurrence. It would be a great relief if that proves true. However, their words of second-hand reassurance are not sufficient to overcome what millions of Americans witnessed firsthand a week ago.

Do not tell us; show us. And if you cannot show us, then arrangements should be made.

I do not know the logistics of trying to change horses in midstream; I dont know the election laws and campaign finance regulations that would have to be navigated to pull off that feat. Few if any know these things, because it has never been attempted before.

And again, maybe that wont be necessary. If Biden can still reassure the American people by his performance that he remains the best hope for defeating Trump, that he can still serve as the bridge to the next generation, then he should remain the nominee. However, those in the Democratic Party who bristle that the question is even being asked are doing their party, their candidate and the country no good whatsoever.

The question must be asked because four months from the election, six months from an inauguration, we have to know the answer.

The obvious replacement for Biden, should that become necessary, is Vice President Kamala Harris. Most of the criticism directed at Harris seems based more on her gender and race than on her actual performance in office, in part because the performance of a vice president is so difficult for outsiders to accurately judge.

Vice President Harry Truman was considered a non-entity when he took the reins from FDR; he went on to serve as a strong, even visionary leader. Much earlier in our history, Vice President John Tyler was also held in low esteem when he took office after the death of William Henry Harrison. In that case, the low regard in which Tyler was held at the time proved to be an accurate gauge of his capacity as president.

Either way, though, I have absolutely zero doubt that Harris would perform far better in the White House than the man who tried to cling to it through fraud and even violence, who has called for the termination of the Constitution itself if that means he can be returned to the power he craves.

If Joe Biden can demonstrate that he still has the capacity to serve as candidate and as president, he should remain in those roles. If he cannot, he should finish out his term and allow Harris to become head of the ticket, knowing that by doing so he gives his country its best chance to stay true to itself and its bright future.

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DENVER (KDVR)  Boulder police arrested a man on Wednesday in connection to two separate shootings during the past week.

Police identified the suspect as John Paul Gaudreau of Boulder. He is facing charges of reckless endangerment, violation of a protection order, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and a domestic violence sentence enhancement charge. He could also face additional charges, Boulder police said.

Clear Creek County residents warned of organized ATV thefts

The Boulder Police Department said the first shooting occurred Friday night in the 1600 block of 28th Street. The agency received a report of someone hearing gunshots at about 9 p.m., but no victims were found when officers arrived.

Although there were limited leads, investigators followed up on several of them and were able to locate a shooting victim. The man was shot in the shoulder but did not seek medical attention until Wednesday. Police said Gaudreau knew the victim in the Friday night shooting.

The second shooting occurred Wednesday just after 2 a.m., according to the police department, when a man was taken in a personal vehicle to a hospital with a gunshot wound. He told police he was shot by an unknown male. However, officers had a possible suspect.

That led officers to the suspects home located in the 1700 block of Baseline Road. Officers connected Wednesdays shooting with Fridays and activated multiple teams to take the possibly armed suspect into custody. Officers reportedly arrested him at about 11:15 a.m. on Wednesday. Officers also said they recovered at least one firearm.

Wednesdays shooting is believed to have stemmed from an argument, but police said that the two men did not know each other.

Mystery monolith hauled away in northern Colorado

Crimes such as these dont happen often in our community. When they do, they generate fear and are extremely concerning to our agency, and we will take the perpetrators into custody as soon as possible, Interim Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said in a release. Since Friday, our detectives have been diligently working to identify the individuals involved in that case.

The shootings remain under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Scott Byars at byarsS@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-1970. The case number is 24-6285.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)  In an effort to get away, a fleeing driver crashed into a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle multiple times after they were boxed-in in a York County parking lot.

According to a criminal complaint filed by State Police at York, David Frederick, 33, of Maryland, was trying to get away from police when he turned into a dead-end lot at the intersection of Salem Church Road and Lake Road in Springfield Township around 7 p.m.

Adams County woman loses thousands in sheriff scam, trio charged

Troopers said Frederick revered into a Troopers cruiser, crashing into the front of the vehicle. He then drove forward and backed into the cruiser again, and was able to flee.

It wasnt long though until State Police said they were able to take him into custody.

Another Trooper said they saw heavy damage to the front of the cruiser, according to the complaint.

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For crashing into the PSP cruiser, Frederick faces a felony charge of aggravated assault by vehicle, a misdemeanor charge of simple assault, and a summary charge of harassment.

Online court records also show that Frederick also faces multiple charges for the chase.

Frederick is lodged in York County Prison with bail set at $50,000 and awaits a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 15.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
BRASILIA (Reuters) -Brazilian federal police on Thursday formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of embezzlement for allegedly misappropriating jewelry he received while head of state, including luxury items given by the Saudi Arabian government, two police sources said.

This is the second time police have formally accused Bolsonaro of a crime. He was charged in March with forging his COVID-19 vaccine records.

The jewelry, some of it made by Chopard of Switzerland, was valued at $3.2 million and included a diamond necklace, ring, watch and earrings given to Bolsonaro and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro by the Saudi government.

Some of the jewelry was seized by customs officials at Sao Paulo's international airport in October 2021 when it was found in the backpack of a government aide returning from Riyadh.

The police accused Bolsonaro of money laundering, criminal association and embezzlement, according to one of the sources, who spoke to Reuters on the condition of anonymity.

Brazil's federal police did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bolsonaro's lawyer did not return calls requesting comment. His legal defense had previously denied the former president had committed any crimes. His eldest son Flavio, who is a senator, wrote on Thursday in his account on social media platform "X" that Bolsonaro was being "persecuted".

In an investigation authorized by Supreme Court Justice Minister Alexandre de Moraes, police last year searched the homes of military officers who allegedly helped Bolsonaro sell some of the jewelry in the United States.

At the time, Justice Moraes said the items had been sold and the sale had not been declared.

The police also formally accused on Thursday former mines and energy minister Bento Albuquerque, whose aide had returned with him from a visit to Riyadh, Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, who was allegedly involved in selling jewelry, his lawyer Frederick Wassef and his spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten, according to a source.

In his "X" account, Wajngarten said the accusation was "arbitrary, unfair and persecutory", arguing he had just instructed Bolsonaro to return the gifts to Brazil's audit court.

Cid's lawyer noted in a statement that his client has been under a plea bargain agreement with Brazilian authorities, saying police accusation is just another phase of the investigation.

Wassef said in a statement he only bought a watch in the United States with his own money in order to return it to Brazilian authorities. According to him, neither Cid or Bolsonaro had told him to purchase back the watch.

Albuquerque could not immediately be reached for comments.

News website G1 reported earlier on Thursday that police had formally accused Bolsonaro.

Brazil's prosecutor general can now chose whether to charge Bolsonaro based on police accusations. Later, the former president could be indicted if a judge accepts these potential charges.

(Reporting by Ricardo Brito in Brasilia; writing by Andre Romani in Sao Paulo; Editing by Rod Nickel,Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Alistair Bell)
A teenage girl was shot in the Alderwood Mall in Lynnwood just after 6 p.m. on Wednesday. She was taken to an area hospital, where she later passed away.

She has been identified as 13-year-old Jayda Woods-Johnson. Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

Lynnwood police say there was an altercation between two groups of teens near the food court area. Police say one male teen pulled out a gun and fired at least one shot.

Woods-Johnson was not involved in the altercation and was not part of either group.

Police say the suspected shooter is a 16-year-old male from Edmonds.

The suspect was brought into the police station by his mother Wednesday night where he turned himself in. Police say he is being booked for murder.

The gun has not been recovered.

Police still want to question other teens who were involved in the altercation.




Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4 (Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4)

Travelers at Miami International Airport on July 4 saw more bright green than red, white, and blue as a mysterious liquid flooded the facilitys Concourse G.

The lime-green substance came gushing out of a broken pipe and was not hazardous, the Florida airport said on X after the incident.

Crews were immediately dispatched to investigate and it was determined that the liquid from the leak was not hazardous, the airports post read. Cleanup efforts were completed within 90 minutes.

It was later revealed the liquid was just water with green dye, Greg Chin, communications director for the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, told NBC News.

The liquid was water from the AC system with a green dye in it so if there is ever a leak it can traced to its source, Chin said.

Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4 (Green liquid flooded Concourse G at the Miami International Airport on July 4)

This Independence Day is expected to break travel records, with 71 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from home this week, the American Automobile Association estimates.

Some 4 million of those travelers are expected to come from Florida.

In April, a passenger at the same airport was stopped by security after they discovered he had snakes hidden in his pants.

Two small, pink snakes were retrieved from a camouflage bag that was hidden down the passengers trousers at Miami International Airport, and turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (@TSA_Gulf/ X)

Pictures shared by the Transportation Security Administration showed the two small, pink snakes they discovered. The man admitted to harboring them during a pat down.

The snakes were safely turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
British Labor Party leader Keir Starmer (L) arrives with his wife Victoria Starmer at a polling station in London to vote during Thursday's snap election. An authoritative exit poll released moments after the voting concluded showed Starmer will be the country's next next prime minister as Labor appeared en route to a landslide victory. Photo by Neil Hall/EPA-EFE

July 4 (UPI) -- Early results in Britain's snap elections Thursday indicate the Labor Party is sweeping toward a historic Parliamentary majority that will install Keir Starmer as the nation's next prime minister.

After exit polling performed for major British broadcasters showed Labor heading to a landslide victory, overnight vote counting began with early results clearly confirming the expected result.

The center-left party will hold a resounding majority of 170 seats, according to the exit poll for the BBC, ITV News and Sky, meaning Starmer will become Britain's next prime minister after 14 years of continuous rule by the Conservative Party.

The poll predicted Labor will have a total of 410 members of Parliament, a bit short of the historic Labor tally after the 1997 election that handed the premiership to Tony Blair.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives, meanwhile, are shown crashing to one of the worst defeats in the party's modern history. Their projected 131 MPs would represent the Tories' worst performance in terms of seats since 1900. The magnitude of the Tory losses were apparent by 3 a.m. local time when Defense Minister Grant Shapps lost his seat to a Labor challenger.

British Labor Party Leader Keir Starmer appears on track to becoming the next British prime minister after an authoritative exit poll showed his party scoring a landslide win in Thursday's snap election. File Photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE

The centrist Liberal Democrats were expected to finish third with 61 MPs, followed by the Scottish National Party with 10 and the right-wing Reform UK forecast to garner 13 seats.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 10 p.m. Thursday with citizens able to vote by mail.

The first results to trickle in backed up the projections of expected Labor wins and Tory losses. Labor held onto its seats in Blyth and Ashington in Northumberland as well as in Houghton and Sunderland South in the evening's very first results.

Later in the evening, Labor was declared the winners in many more districts. Starmer himself was declared the winner in his own London constituency and delivered his first remarks on the election.

"People here and around the country have spoken and they're ready for change, to the politics of performance, a return to politics as public service," he told his supporters. "The change begins right here, because this is your democracy, your community and your future.

"You have voted. It is now time for us to deliver."

Meanwhile, Reform UK, led by the controversial populist figure Nigel Farage, showed its strength and the Conservatives' vulnerability on their right flank by finishing second ahead of the Tories in each of the initial pair of results. The four-year-old party is projected to win 13 seats.

"This is an historic moment," Reform UK Deputy Leader David Bull told the BBC. "I think what you're seeing is the shy 'Reformers' coming out in droves."

Farage himself was elected to Parliament for the first time after multiple tries, and declared his party is on course to becoming the country's true opposition to Labor.

"Believe me folks, this is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you," he said, according to the Guardian.

The vote has seen a dramatic turnaround in British politics, just one election cycle removed from the Labor Party having its worst showing at the polls. Now, they appear poised to take over the government.

The Conservatives under Sunak have spanned the country looking for the votes they need to hold onto power. The Tories, however, have been saddled with a lagging economy, protests by public service workers and issues over immigration.

That does not include the Conservative's own leadership issues. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson left after being involved in the infamous "Party-gate" scandal during the COVID-19 pandemic, only to see his replacement Liz Truss last for less than two months on the job before Sunak.

The Labor Party last ruled in 1997 with Blair as prime minister.

Sunak and Starmer were both seen casting their votes Thursday morning -- Sunak in North Yorkshire with his wife, while Starmer went to his polling station at Holborn and St. Pancras with his wife.

"Imagine a British moving forward together with a Labor government," Starmer told supporters before the vote on Wednesday, according to The Guardian. "That's what we are fighting for, let's continue that fight. If you want change, you have to vote for it."

Starmer had said he was concerned about low turnout in the snap election, which could upend projections. Brits are casting their ballots in some 650 constituency elections nationwide.

Pre-election polling gives the Labor party a strong advantage.

The Yougov MRP poll predicts Starmer's party could win 431 seats for a majority of 212.

According to final Telegraph poll, Labor will win 39% of the vote, almost twice the 20% of poll respondents who said they will support Conservatives.
Firefighter injured in 133-acre brush fire that threatened homes in Simi Valley

Evacuation orders and warnings were lifted Wednesday night after a fast-moving 133 acre brush fire that left one firefighter injured erupted in Simi Valley and threatened nearby homes.

The Sharp Fire first ignited in the area of Sharp Road and Ditch Road on the north side of the valley at about 1:45 p.m., according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

Officials estimated it had burned approximately 133 acres of dry brush as of 5:25 p.m.

There are approximately 200 firefighters on scene. Multiple fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters are attacking the fire from the air, VCFD posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Fire officials confirmed to KTLA that one firefighter suffered heat-related injuries and was taken to the hospital in moderate condition.

Sky5 footage showed air tankers dropping retardant along the western flank of the fire. The flames appeared to be moving northward and eastward, away from homes.

Sky5 aerial view of the Sharp Fire threatening structures in Simi Valley, California on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

An air tanker drops retardant along the lines of the Sharp Fire in Simi Valley, California on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Sky5 aerial view of the Sharp Fire in Simi Valley, California on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Sky5 aerial view of the Sharp Fire in Simi Valley, California on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Sky5 aerial view of the Sharp Fire threatening structures in Simi Valley, California on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

The Ventura County Sheriffs Department ordered mandatory evacuations for homes along Ditch Road. A temporary evacuation center was established at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center at 5005 E. Los Angeles Avenue.

Officials said there are approximately 60 homes in the evacuation area.

Evacuation warnings were also issued for approximately 300 homes east of Erringer Road and south of Lost Canyon Drive.

We have engines doing direct structure protection and getting in front of that fire, Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told KTLA 5 News. We have hand crews and other engines assigned to flank the fire and get the edges cooled down.

It did not appear that homes had been damaged or destroyed as of 5 p.m., when crews appeared to have gotten the upper hand on the blaze.

At 6:15pm on July 3, 2024, the Evacuation Order for residents along Ditch Road and the Evacuation Warning for residents between Erringer and Lost Canyon Drive was LIFTED, officials said.  All road closures were lifted, and the Temporary Evacuation Point was deactivated.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The following road closures caused by the fire have also been lifted.

Reservoir Drive at Avenida Simi

Reservoir Drive at Ditch Road

Evelyn Avenue at Township Avenue

Presidio Drive at Valerie Avenue

Simi Valley and many other Southern California communities are under an excessive heat warning through the July 4th holiday weekend.

Fire crews are expected to remain on the scene to mop up hot spots and monitor the area overnight.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ukraine's government has not distributed EU funding for the reconstruction and protection of energy infrastructure worth 150 million euros ($162 million) for four months due to "bureaucratic obstacles," Ekonomichna Pravda (EP) reported on July 4, citing sources familiar with the situation.

Russia renewed its attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure in the spring, pushing the country's energy grid to breaking point. Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said at the end of June that it had lost nearly 90% of its energy generating capacity due to Russian attacks.

The government, in particular the Finance Ministry, has not made a decision on the allocation of 150 million euros ($162 million) from the European Commission, which includes funding for the protection of energy infrastructure, EP said.

According to EP, the lack of a decision on the funds is also blocking the allocation of a grant for the repair of Ukraine's port infrastructure, worth 130 million euros ($141 million).

The government's inaction has meant that Ukraine's Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development is "unable to settle with the contractors and was forced to stop the reconstruction of dozens of sites," EP's sources said.

On some sites, stopping construction is impossible, so government contractors are spending their own capital to continue the work.

One contractor, MS Capital holding founder Maksym Shkil, told EP that Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal ignored President Volodymyr Zelensky's instructions, "effectively stopping all funding," including for the protection of energy facilities.

"We knew in advance about the shelling of the energy infrastructure, but practically nothing was done, only because of the lack of funding, all work was stopped. The result is a country without electricity," said Shkil.

The head of Ukraine's Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development, Mustafa Nayyem, resigned on June 10 after being prevented from attending the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference scheduled for June 11-12 in Berlin.

Nayyem told Bloomberg in an email that Shmyhal "personally rejected my request for this business trip to Berlin without giving reasons."

In a lengthy post on Facebook, Nayyem named a series of complaints about the "systemic obstacles" that have limited his ability to do his job, ultimately leading to his decision to resign.

Read also: Ukrenergo: Energy situation in Ukraine expected to improve in August

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
California to mandate statewide water restrictions up to nearly 40% in some cities

The State Water Resources Control Board on Wednesday approved a policy that could force some municipal water suppliers to reduce the amount of water they provide by close to 40% over the next 15 years.

If suppliers and their customers don't reduce water use, the districts could be fined up to $10,000 a day. Districts can reduce customer water use by mandating restrictions, raising rates on high-volume water users, or encouraging low-flow appliances.

Our climate has changed. Our uses should match the hydrology that were now facing," Joaquin Esquivel, chair of the state water board, said in a statement.

Suppliers must make a first round of water cuts by 2025, with additional cuts mandated in 2030, 2035, and 2040.

Most of the most extensive required cuts are all in California's Central Valley, ranging from the City of Redding (39% cut by 2040 and 21% by 2025) in the north to Visalia's California Water Service Company (22% cut in 25 years). Smaller Central Valley cities will face mandatory reductions, too: Tulare County town Exeter, with a population of 10,000, will face a 39% cut by 2040. The Central Valley's largest city, Fresno, will face a 21% cut by 2040 and cuts 4% by 2025.

The parched Coachella Valley in Southern California also will face steep mandatory reductions. Desert Water Agency, based in Palm Springs, will have to cut its water supply by 32% by 2040 and 24% by 2025.

In the high desert, water districts in Victorville, Hesperia, and Adelanto will have to cut water use from 18% to 23% by 2040

Not all cities in California will face drastic cuts, though. Salinas' California Water Service Company will only face a 1% cut by 2040, while the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will face no reductions.

Some environmentalist groups say the mandated water cutbacks don't go far enough.

The regulation does not meet the moment of growing water scarcity in California, Mark Gold, director of water scarcity solutions and environmental health for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told the San Francisco Chronicle. A strong regulation will exist in 2040, but thats 15 years from now and theres going to be a heck of a lot of water scarcity over that period.

Haystacks of alfalfa are stored next to an irrigation canal on farmland in Holtville, Calif., Sept. 6, 2023.

How California is forcing regions to cut back on water use

In April, for the first time in California history, state officials cracked down on the overpumping of groundwater in the San Joaquin Valley by putting Kings County water districts on probation for failing to protect the regions underground water supply. The unprecedented decision was the first step that could lead to millions in fines for overpumping groundwater or the state taking over the districts. In adjacent Tulare County, one of the largest agriculture-producing counties in the world, the State Water Resources Control Board is threatening similar action if the Kaweah subbasin users don't cut back on groundwater pumping.

The State Water Resources Control Board repeatedly warned both counties that their groundwater management plans are deficient because they fail to stop dried-up wells, contaminated water, and sinking earth worsened by overpumping.

Recently, the Imperial Irrigation District in Southern California proposed a plan to pay farmers not to grow hay during the year's hottest months. The plan is just one step to conserve water from the stressed Colorado River.

Tips on saving water

Below are some tips for you and your family to save water from the California Public Utilities Commission

Install water-saving devices, such as low-flow showerheads and high-efficiency toilets,

Take shorter showers, reduce the time by 1-2 minutes, and save 5 gallons.

Turn the water off while brushing your teeth. Save 3 gallons.

Fix leaky faucets. Save up to 20 gallons per day.

Wash a full load of laundry. Save 15 to 50 gallons per load.

Don't use a hose to clean your driveway. Sweeping with a broom can save as much as 100 gallons of water.

Water your yard before 8 a.m. because watering early reduces evaporation.

Make the switch from lawn to low-water-use landscaping. Outdoor watering accounts for 50 to 70% of all household water use.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: California water board announces drastic statewide cutbacks
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  More dazzle in the sky, historically, means more destruction below, according to fire officials preparing to combat whatever flames ignite from illegal Fourth of July fireworks.

In a joint conference with the Clark County government, its fire department, and Las Vegas City leaders Wednesday afternoon, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) discussed new approaches to prevent new charred disasters based on those from years past.

Some have even lost fingers, eyes, City of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said inside LVMPDs HQ.

That traffic accident was caused because a bottle rocket landed on your car while driving, Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said. We know where the hot spots are.

The pyrotechnics of concern are likely not purchased from the yellow stands that popped up in gas stations across the Vegas Valley last week. CCFD says they have permitted these sellers, who offer safe and sane fireworks approved for widespread and supervised use. Proceeds here benefit different local nonprofits.

Instead, Clark County Fire Department Deputy Chief Thomas Touchstone is concerned with those entering the area not just by the truck full, but sometimes the cargo full. LVMPD said theyve already confiscated seven tons of illegal fireworks in just over a week.

Firecrackers, Roman candles, skyrockets, and anything that is highly combustible and shoots in the air and explodes, Touchstone said, acknowledging illegal pyrotechnics. Usually, (a fire from these fireworks will) start in some grass or a roof or a palm tree on fire, and then that fire will subsequently spread.

CCFD reported 99 fires between 6 p.m. to 11:15 p.m. last July 4. Through the next day, they responded to a total of 109 outside fires and 24 building fires, Touchstone said.

Based on data collected last year, specific zip codes and areas will see more police patrolling than before. This also includes disruptive house parties that Touchstone said usually are paired with illegal fireworks usage.

Las Vegas man calls for harsher laws after he said fireworks burned his home down

We typically have fire engines running every which direction, Touchstone said. Theyll be responding from call, to call, to call, so response times can vary, and thats the problem with all of these calls coming in, is it really taxes emergency response services.

LVMPD Undersheriff Andrew Walsh hopes the significant amount of money involved with the seizure of illegal fireworks deters the use. The fine can run from $500 to $10,000, per state law.

Nearly 100 fires reported in Las Vegas valley on Fourth of July

Historically, its the busiest day for our communications center where we receive the largest number of 911 and 311 calls, Walsh said. Hopefully, well truly be able to have an impact on the front end, so they do not need to call 911.

Las Vegas police see increase in illegal fireworks citations, confiscations

LVMPD is attempting to free 911 lines for life-threatening emergencies on Thursday and directs those reporting illegal fireworks usage to not call that number.

Instead, they urge tips  which can be submitted anonymously  to be sent to ispyfireworks.com as they have in recent years.

Walsh says that will not provoke a police response to the area, but rather provide statistics to LVMPD for future holiday enforcement efforts.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
A protester outside the Supreme Court after the immunity decision came down on Monday. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press)

Perhaps on this Fourth of July, the Alitos will fly the American flag properly, not upside down, at their Virginia or New Jersey homes.

It is after all the 248th anniversary of Americas founders declaring their independence from a king. But Im guessing Samuel A. Alito Jr. and his flag-loving wife, Martha-Ann, are celebrating that he and his fellow right-wing Supreme Court justices have made a king of our presidents, just when it seems more likely that Donald Trump could be restored to the throne.

The courts ruling Monday in the appropriately titled Trump vs. United States was a gift to the former president. Trump got just about everything he asked for despite the majoritys specious attempts to make it seem otherwise: absolute or presumed immunity for official acts, which the court defined in a way that could encompass much of what the Jan. 6 criminal indictment alleges the former president illegally did to overturn the 2020 election.

Also, the courts delay  taking months to decide the case and, with its decision, imposing time-consuming pretrial proceedings to determine what is or isnt covered by the courts immunity notions  ensures that Trump will not be tried before the 2024 election for seeking to steal the previous one. The classified documents case in federal court in Florida, and the state case in Atlanta alleging Trump pressured Georgia officials to flip Joe Bidens 2020 win there, both already slowed for various reasons, will be further sidetracked as the justices decision is parsed.

Read more: Calmes: The Biden debate and the Supreme Court  the full catastrophe

The ruling also threw into doubt Trumps recent conviction in the only criminal trial he has faced, in Manhattan. On Tuesday, Judge Juan M. Merchan delayed Trumps sentencing from next Thursday to Sept. 18 to weigh the ramifications. That case involved Trumps personal acts in fraudulently reporting hush-money payments to a porn star before the 2016 election, so not an official presidential act. But his lawyers argue that some of the evidence that convicted Trump came from his time as president and thus should be off-limits, by the high courts holding.

In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in a fierce dissent for the courts three liberals.

Happy Independence Day? Millions of us might be sorely tempted to fly our flags upside down in the universal sign of dire distress.

It was 50 years ago this month that a very different Supreme Court unanimously ruled in United States vs. Nixon (just 16 days after oral arguments in the case!) that President Nixon had to turn over Oval Office tapes to a special prosecutor. The recordings put him at the sordid center of the Watergate scandal and led to his resignation weeks later.

Read more: Opinion: We should all dissent from the Supreme Court's immunity decision, and not respectfully

One phrase back then captured Americans bipartisan consensus about the role of the press, the Senate hearings, the House impeachment inquiry, a special prosecutors probe and the Supreme Courts expedited decision: The system worked.

Never would I have imagined, as a college student who closely followed Watergate, that a half-century later another Supreme Court would upend the legal underpinning of U.S. vs. Nixon: that executive privilege must give way to the fair administration of criminal justice. In our time, the system  our leaders and institutions of government  has failed.

Remember that after the House of Representatives impeached Trump for provoking the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Senate Republicans blocked his conviction because Trump had become a private citizen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, assured us that Trump could be answerable in another way: We have a criminal justice system in this countryand former presidents are not immune from being held accountable. Trumps lawyers said the same during his Senate impeachment trial.

Read more: Calmes: We don't need more evidence of Alito's bias, but we got it

On Monday, the Supreme Court essentially told us otherwise.

This from a court with a Republican supermajority, including three justices picked by Trump under controversial circumstances, and two, Alito and Thomas, whove snubbed federal law by refusing to recuse themselves from Jan. 6-related cases despite their wives public displays of sympathy for, and in the case of Ginni Thomas, connivance with the Stop the Steal insurrection.

During Watergate, neither the Supreme Court nor anyone else thought former presidents had anything like the criminal immunity suggested by the Republican justices Monday. As Sotomayor noted, both President Fords pardon of Nixon and Nixons acceptance letter explicitly assumed that he was liable for, as Nixon wrote, any charges which might be brought against me for actions taken during the time I was President. Why else would there be a pardon?

Read more: Litman: After the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, can Donald Trump still be tried for Jan. 6?

The Watergate investigation delved into Nixons abuse of the Justice Department, the FBI, the IRS and the CIA to target his political enemies. Sound familiar? Yet todays court says Trumps scheming post-election contacts with Justice Department appointees are protected official acts. Never mind that he urged them to falsely claim election fraud in battleground states Biden won. Just say the election was corrupt and leave the rest to me and the Republican congressmen, Trump said in that official act.

He's already given us reason to fear what hell do in a second term. Heres one from the eve of the courts ruling: Trump reposted on social media a call for Liz Cheney to be tried for treason in a televised military tribunal. Thanks to the Supreme Court he created, Trump in a second term could run amok with little fear of criminal accountability.

John Dean, who was Nixons White House counsel before he testified against him and went to prison for obstruction of justice, expressed his outrage at the decision by reviving an infamous Nixon quote : When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal. Richard Nixon, 1974. Affirmed, US Supreme Court, 2024.

Ill let Dean have the last word.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Editor's note: The spelling of a last name was corrected on July 8, 2024.

FALMOUTH  As Cape Verdean Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva toured the Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum & Cultural Center, Curator Barbara Burgo spoke about activist and Cape Verdean-born Eugenia Fortes, who Burgo said was kicked off a Hyannis beach in the 1940s because she was Black.

"She (Eugenia) got very upset. So she started the Cape Cod NAACP and became a real good friend of the Kennedys," Burgo told Correia e Silva and his delegation.

A smile spread across his face when Burgo told him that Fortes, who died in 2006, would go on to host fellow Cape Verdean Judge George Leighton and Thurgood Marshall at her Hyannis home. There they began to plan for the historic Brown vs. Board of Education 1954 court case which led to the US Supreme Court ruling that segregated schools are unconstitutional. .

"Now the beach that she was not allowed to walk on is named the Eugenia Fortes Beach in Hyannis," said Burgo, a co-founder of the center.

Correia e Silva arrived in the United States roughly a week ago, said Burgo, and made his way from California to Massachusetts to honor the center with a Medal of Cultural Merit 1st Degree on Wednesday. Correia e Silva then arrived on Cape Thursday to visit the museum and to spend time with local Cape Verdeans during a brunch at the Falmouth Cape Verdean Club.

Barbara Burgo, co-founder of the Cape Verdean Museum and Cultural Center, joins with the Prime Minister of Cape Verde Ulisses Correia e Silva (right) and Consulate General of Cape Verde Octavio Bento Gomes for an emotional moment at the end of their tour of the museum in East Falmouth Thursday morning.

During his tour, Correia e Silva told the Times that the center's programs are essential to preserving Cape Verdean- American heritage.

"Here we have a part of Cabo Verde," said Correia e Silva. Cape Verdeans, he said, began to immigrate to the United States in the 18th century. "That's a long time ago," he said.

"The presence of the museum is important for the new generation, for Cape Verdean-Americans, and for Americans too," Correia e Silva said. "The history of Cabo Verde and the United States is common. We share a lot of love."

Prime minister thanks local Cape Verdeans

After the tour, Correia e Silva presented Burgo with a series of gifts including a book called "Brava."

Burgo beamed and held the book close to her heart. As Correia e Silva hugged Burgo, her eyes filled with tears and she whispered, "I'm proud."

President of the Museum & Cultural Center Wesley Leite told the Times that Correia e Silva enjoyed the different educational displays, especially the 'Nanas Kitchen' exhibit. The century-old culturally sensitive culinary items that appear in 'Nana's Kitchen' connect visitors to Cape Verdean food, culture and family.

"He was impressed," said Leite. "We are teaching people about the way food was prepared way back when. It reminds people of their grandmothers. It makes people cry. For the prime minister to come here and experience that with us is just amazing."

As Correia e Silva left the building, he greeted a crowd of waiting onlookers.

"He came all the way here to this small place, and to this museum. It's just incredible," said Robert Brown, a member of the Cape Verdean Club.

Prime Minister has brunch with local Cape Verdeans

On Thursday afternoon, the prime minister spoke at the club. Surrounding him were Cape Verdean flags and a display that chronicled the many ships that brought Cape Verdeans to New Bedford from the 1860s to the 1920s.

During his speech, he reminded attendees about Cape Verdean Independence Day, which is recognized on July 5. And he thanked the crowd for their "hard work and dedication to Cape Verdean culture."

State Rep. David Vieira spoke about the Cape Verdean Distinction of Cultural order that the prime minister gave to the museum.

In three short years, what was a vacant farmhouse in Falmouth, has become a rallying corner that tells the story of your families and the Cape Verdean diaspora," said Vieira. "Not only in Falmouth, but in Massachusetts and the United States."

Club President Corrie Greene said she's been planning for weeks for the visit.

"We are proud of how the event and the community came together," said Green. "It was super exciting."

Burgo also spoke during the brunch and said she is proud of the connections and relationships that have been forged with Cape Verdean leadership over the last 25 years.

"We have started intercultural, intercontinental relationships and initiatives," said Burgo. "Anything that our country needs from us  our cultural lands  just call on us. We are here to help you no matter what."

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Verdean Prime Minister makes way to Falmouth to tour museum
As capital budget passes with more jail funding, Ohio incarceration ranks above most U.S. states

(File photo by Caspar Benson/Getty Images)

A new report comparing incarceration rates in the U.S. and globally showed Ohio above many states and some countries, including the United States itself.

The Prison Policy Initiative released a report looking at the populations of state prisons, local jails, federal detention centers and other systems of confinement in the U.S.  which they found has the highest incarceration rate of any independent democracy on earth  and put those numbers in global context.

Ohio, the study showed, out-incarcerates most other U.S. states, at a rate of 621 residents per 100,000, according to Wanda Bertram, spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.

Researchers used federal Bureau of Justice Statistics data, which showed a total of 45,313 people in Ohios state prisons, 20,582 in local jails and 4,728 in federal facilities.

Ohios number comes in above the U.S. rate of 608 per 100,000, and above 27 other states, according to the most recent data sets available. In a comparison that included countries selected because they have a population of at least 500,000, Ohios rate came in just below Rwanda, which was reported to have 637 incarcerated individuals per 100,000, according to the study.

El Salvador had the highest number reported in the study, with 1,086 incarcerations per 100,000 people.

The top U.S. state in the study was Louisiana, with 1,067 per 100,000, followed by Mississippi (1,020), Arkansas (912), Oklahoma (905), Alabama (898), Kentucky (889), Georgia (881), Tennessee (817) and South Dakota (812).

The lowest rate among U.S. states was Massachusetts, at 241 per 100,000 residents.

While many in the U.S. have come to accept the nations high incarceration rate as a fact of life, by looking at these numbers through a global lens, we instead see it as an outlier, driven by failure to truly respond to issues such as homelessness, poverty, mental health needs and addiction, Bertram said in a statement announcing the findings.

The findings were released just before Ohio passed its most recent capital budget  a separate budget from the states operating budget  which funds capital assets of state agencies, colleges, universities and school districts, according to the states Office of Budget and Management. Some capital budgets, including this years also include funding for specific community projects.

The budget signed by the Gov. Mike DeWine on June 28 finalizes funding plans for those assets in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

This capital budget is all about creating jobs, growing our economy and directly impacting the people of Ohio where they live and work, DeWine said in a statement when he signed the bill.

In the capital budget, $255.1 million went to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction to make necessary infrastructure repairs in Ohios state prisons, according to a release by DeWines office.

This funding will also be used for facility upgrades to specifically support the aging inmate population and those with mental health disorders, the release from DeWines office stated.

In addition to the infrastructure monies for state prisons, $50 million was set aside for local jails, along with $8.9 million for community-based correctional facilities.

In the states previous capital budget, the legislature included the same amount ($50 million) for local jail infrastructure, but pushed $303.2 million toward general building renovations at the ODRC. That budget included $6.3 million for community-based correctional facilities.

PPI has previously urged Ohio to focus on reforms to its criminal justice and prison systems, which included support for last years Issue 2, to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, and elimination of drivers license suspensions and prohibitive license reinstatement and probation fees.

The state is still awaiting legislative tweaks to recreational marijuana law, despite the fact that marijuana has been legal in the state since December 2023.

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The post As capital budget passes with more jail funding, Ohio incarceration ranks above most U.S. states appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
Cardi B accused of using song from FX show Rez Dogs without permission: lawsuit

Cardi B accused of using song from FX show Rez Dogs without permission: lawsuit

McALLEN, Texas (KVEO)  Two McAllen, Texas, musicians have filed a lawsuit accusing Cardi B and others of using their song without permission.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on Wednesday, names Cardi B, OG Parker, DJ Swanqo, Atlantic Records, Celebrity Booking Agency and Warner Music Group as the defendants.

Cardi B is a Grammy award-winning artist who was featured on Times 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2018. OG Parker is credited with producing hit songs like Slippery and Walk It Talk It by Migos.

FILE (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File)

The plaintiffs, Joshua Fraustro and Miguel Aguilar, also known as Kemika1956, claim the group used their 2021 song Greasy Frybread  which was featured in the FX series Rez Dogs  without permission.

According to the lawsuit, Cardi B, her producers, and her record label infringed the songs copyright by reproducing, distributing and publicly performing the work in Cardi Bs record Enough (Miami).

Fraustro and Aguilar claim to have suffered substantial damages, including financial losses and irreparable harm to their artistic reputation and marketability. Court records show they are asking for $50 million.

Nexstars KVEO reached out to representation for Cardi B but did not immediately receive a response.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
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.
CCFD crews respond to Las Vegas apartment building fire; several residents displaced

LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The Clark County Fire Department responded to an apartment building fire in the central valley that has left several residents displaced.

Around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, CCFD crews responded to a report of an apartment fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard near Maryland Parkway and Desert Inn Road.

CCFD Assitant Chief Brian ONeal said the three-story apartment building has a history of large fires due to construction features that make it prone to fires including a common attic space.

CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)

CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)

CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)

CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)

CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)



CCFD crews respond to a building fire at 1000 Dumont Boulevard on July 3, 2024 (KLAS)

A minimum of 12 apartments, a three-story fourplex, have been affected by the fire at this time. Several residents were evacuated and the fire department is working to find short-term sheltering for the residents during the extreme heat.

A total of 70 CCFD personnel responded to the fire as well as mutual aid from Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, North Las Vegas police, NV Energy, and Southwest Gas.

CCFD said the roads will remain closed throughout the day.

No additional details are available at this time. Stay with 8 News Now for updates.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Do you plan on heading to the beach this Fourth of July weekend? If so, the Florida Department of Health is warning the public about unsafe water quality at three South Florida beaches.

The advisory was issued Wednesday after regular testing found that the water harbored too much bacteria. The samples indicated that the bacteria levels exceeded state guidelines.

DOH-Miami-Dade advises against any water-related activities... due to an increase risk of illness in swimmers, the warning says.

The beaches the health department recommends avoiding are:

 Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach

 Surfside Beach at 93rd Street

 Collins Park at 21st St. in Miami Beach

If you need more information, you can call the the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade at 305-324-2400. You can also check water quality test results on the health departments website.
Celebrating the Fourth of July in Modesto? Heres what to know about weather, fireworks and more

Its the Fourth of July, which means parades, firework displays, and barbecues are in full swing across the Modesto area.

Whether youre wondering which grocery stores are open on Thursday, planning the perfect fireworks show or simply looking for something to do, The Modesto Bee has the information you seek.

Heres what you need to know about Independence Day in Stanislaus County:

A family watches the Fourth of July fireworks presentation at Woodward Reservoir in Oakdale, Calif., Saturday, July 1, 2023.

Whats open and closed on the Fourth of July?

While some Modesto-area businesses will close early on Thursday or remain closed in observance of Independence Day, many grocery stores and pharmacies will stay open during their regular hours.

Vintage Faire Mall will close early for the holiday.

Several government offices, such as post offices, public libraries, and banks, will be closed on Thursday for the Fourth of July.

Heres a list of key Modesto-area businesses and whether theyll be open or closed on the Fourth of July.

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Independence Day fireworks at Don Pedro Reservoir, in La Grange Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2019.

Check out Independence Day events in Stanislaus County

There are plenty of things to do on Independence Day across the Modesto region, with more fun events lined up for the next few days.

Fourth of July events will include parades, firework displays and more.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

Red, White and Bloom! parade in downtown Modesto on Thursday





Fireworks show at El Rematito flea market in Modesto on Thursday

New drone show at the Stanislaus County Fair on Friday and Saturday

Fireworks-on-the-Water celebration at Lake Don Pedro on Saturday

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Independence Day fireworks at Don Pedro Reservoir, in La Grange Calif., Saturday, June 29, 2019.

Whats in the weather forecast for Modesto?

As a heat wave continues to bake much of California, Modesto can expect more triple-degree temperatures on the Fourth of July and over the weekend.

A high temperature near 108 is forecast for Thursday, while the highs are expected to 109 on Friday, 111 on Saturday and 110 on Sunday.

The heat wave is expected to persist into next week.

We are not seeing much relief until maybe mid to late next week, said Katrina Hand, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

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Illegal fireworks light up the sky near East Roseburg Ave in Modesto Calif., Thursday, July 4, 2019.

Is it dangerous to light fireworks during a heat wave?

Modesto residents should be extra cautious when lighting fireworks during the heat wave, according to state fire officials.

Heat, wind and fireworks can create a dangerous combination, Cal Fire deputy state fire marshal Kara Garrett told The Sacramento Bee via email.

When it comes to storing fireworks, Garrett said its always best to err on the side of caution to prevent any accidents from occurring.

That includes not storing fireworks in a hot car.

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Members of the Modesto Foursquare Church prepare a fireworks booth at a shopping center on Prescott Road and Stanford Avenue in Modesto, Calif., on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Which fireworks are illegal to use?

California has zero tolerance for the sale and use of illegal fireworks, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said on its website.

It is illegal to sell, transport, or use fireworks without the safe and sane seal.

In California, illegal fireworks include:

Sky rockets

Bottle rockets

Roman candles

Aerial shells

Firecrackers

Whats more, officials say, there are penalties if you break the law.

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Illegal fireworks are set off in a residential area in south Sacramento on July 4, 2023.

What are fines for illegal firework use in Modesto?

In Modesto, fines have doubled for illegal fireworks use, and law enforcement expects to increase efforts in catching people.

The Modesto City Council recently approved setting penalties at $2,000 for the first offense, $3,000 for a second offense and $4,000 for subsequent offenses within 36 months.

Police officers can also issue citations to renters or homeowners residing in properties where illegal fireworks have been used.

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What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.
Central Florida residents celebrate Independence Day as new US citizens

Some Central Florida residents are celebrating Independence Day as new US citizens.

Twenty people took their oath Thursday morning.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services said the new Americans hail from 17 different countries  including South Korea, Thailand, Jamaica, and Israel  and have met all requirements to naturalize.

READ: July 4th fireworks displays in Central Florida

They can now enjoy citizenship benefits like voting and access to a passport.

For many, this mornings event was an important step in reaching their dreams.

20 Orlando-area residents took the oath to become new Americans on Thursday.

Annalee Brown-Daley, who immigrated from Jamaica, shared her joy with Channel 9.

Im going to finish my schooling and become a nurse, thats my plans for right now ... I feel very accomplished because it has been 11 years, so i finally did it!

READ: Heat, traffic & safety top of mind as crowds gather for Lake Eolas holiday celebration

Last year the USCIS Orlando field office naturalized more than 14,000 new citizens.

20 Orlando-area residents took the oath to become new Americans on Thursday.

Thursday mornings ceremony was held at the Hope Community Center in Apopka.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
A CEO explains the simple way he deters his employees from 'quiet vacationing'

Quiet vacationing, where employees take time off without telling their bosses, may be on the rise.

David Barkoe, a PR executive, says his employees don't feel the need to sneak away to take time off.

He advocates trusting employees to get their work done wherever and whenever works for them.

Quiet vacationing  or taking time off or working from across the world without telling your boss  seems to be growing in popularity.

Millennials, in particular, appear especially fond of the trend. A recent survey by The Harris Poll found that nearly four out of 10 millennial respondents admitted to taking time off without informing higher-ups, a higher share than other generations.

So what's a boss to do if they want to stop employees from sneaking out of the office behind their back?

David Barkoe, the CEO and founder of the Florida PR firm Carve Communications, says it all comes down to creating a culture of trust with your employees.

"Go live your life, but get the job done," Barkoe told Business Insider while describing his approach. "I'm going to trust you from minute one, from the moment I hire you, to just get the job done, however you feel best to do it."

In practice, that culture takes a lot of forms. Sometimes, it's an employee working a couple of hours early in the morning so they can sign off early to make their kid's swim meet. Other times, it's an employee taking a three-week trip to Europe but working remotely for two of those weeks.

Barkoe said the open and flexible culture  promoted and practiced by higher-ups  keeps employees from feeling as if they need to sneak away just to get a break.

"It's absolutely culture-driven," he said.

Barkoe says that one reason people might take quiet vacations is that they think their employer isn't treating them with trust and respect.

As for bosses who are worried having such a flexible culture would result in less work getting done, Barkoe has found the opposite to be true. When Carve went fully remote in 2020, Barkoe said, he realized quickly they were never going back to the office.

"It was just working," he said. "People were more motivated."

Though it may be different at a company with thousands of employees, Barkoe said, "As a small organization, if you're not doing your job, it's pretty hard to hide." He added that if someone does take advantage, then they're probably not the right person for your team, regardless.

Ashton Mathai, the associate director of content at Barkoe's firm, told BI she makes the most of Carve's unlimited PTO policy and work-from-anywhere culture.

A recent survey found millennials were more likely than other generations to take time off without telling their bosses. Mariya Borisova/Getty Images

Last year, Mathai traveled to Europe for two months. She took 10 days of PTO to start the trip and then spent the rest of the time working from places including Scotland, Amsterdam, Portugal, and Italy. Because of the time differences, she'd often work 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time and spend the morning doing a tour or going to the beach.

"I would live my life in the morning and then in the afternoon, night, I would do my work," she said.

Mathai said before she went, her bosses expressed confidence that she would get her work done while away.

"It wasn't a threat. It was truly total confidence," she said. "So I kind of went there knowing like I want to make them proud. I want to make myself proud and do my work."

In addition to working from abroad, she said, she also takes plenty of full-fledged PTO. Earlier this year, she traveled to India for two weeks with family and didn't work.

"There's a lot of encouragement from leadership, from David himself, to take time off," Mathai said.

Barkoe said a lot of companies might technically offer unlimited PTO don't embrace it. He says he tries to actively encourage and call people out, in a good way, when they take advantage of Carve's flexible culture.

"You just got to have the mindset and the willingness to say personal life is part of the work culture," he said. "Not the other way around, where work culture is part of the personal life."

Read the original article on Business Insider
PENNSYLVANIA (WTHM) Ten more happy hour hours could be spent at bars and restaurants in Pennsylvania after House Bill 829 passes in both chambers.

House Bill 829 calls for changes to beer, liquor, and food sales. Discounted combo meals with alcohol and an increase from 14 to 24 hours of happy hour per week are some of the possible changes restaurants could see.

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The amended liquor code passed in both chambers but still requires approval in the State House before landing on Governor Josh Shapiros desk.

The Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association has been spreading awareness of the bill on social media and strongly encouraging Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro to consider signing 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 ABC27.
ST. LOUIS Two brothers have been charged in connection with a drive-by shooting near Harris-Stowe State University in Midtown.

According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened on the evening of May 18 in the 3000 block of Olive Street, just north of the Harris-Stowe campus.

Police said Jordan D. Huddlen, 27, and three other individuals were driving on Olive and pulled alongside another vehicle when Huddlen and another person fired into that second car.

The driver of the second car was uninjured. The front seat passenger suffered a gunshot wound to their leg. The backseat passenger, identified as Eddie Randle Jr., was struck and killed. Randle was 19.

The suspects eventually crashed into another car and injured the driver of that vehicle.

The suspects fled on foot after realizing their car was inoperable.

7 shot in Downtown St. Louis within hours of July 4th event

Police said Kevin Huddlen, 31, picked up the four suspects and took them from the area. At the time, he was serving supervised release on a federal drug conviction.

Police said Jordan admitted being in the vehicle at the time of the shooting.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Jordan Huddlen with first-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, two counts of first-degree assault, and four counts of armed criminal action. Huddlen will remain jailed without bond pending trial. Hes due in court on July 10 for a detention hearing.

Kevin Huddlen was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence in a felony prosecution, and four counts of hindering prosecution of a felony. Hes been jailed without bond. Hell next appear in court on July 9 for a preliminary 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 FOX 2.
Police arrested a woman accused of intentionally setting a house on fire Wednesday afternoon.

Katherine Cox, 34, of Charlestown, is charged with arson of a dwelling and burning personal property.

Crews responding to 4 Mead Street at 3:14 p.m. for a report of a fire found active flames upon arrival, according to Boston Police. Officers blocked off nearby streets so firefighters could extinguish the blaze.

Investigators determined that Cox intentionally set the fire. It is unclear if the home belonged to Cox or if she had a connection to the residence.

She will be arraigned in Charlestown District Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Hurricane Beryl is taking aim at Mexico after hammering several Caribbean Islands, including Jamacia.

Thats where a Charlotte woman got caught up in the storm and is now working her way back home.

The last 24 hours was very frightening. I didnt know what to expect because I really hadnt gone through a hurricane before, south Charlotte resident Hope Drummond said.

Drummond traveled to Jamaica last week for a class reunion and extended her trip to spend time with family. She says she wishes would have walked back on that choice had she known what was coming.

ALSO READ: Hurricane Beryl: Samaritans Purse provides relief to Grenada

I dont live here so I just, I didnt like the fact that I was trapped or stuck in a place and I couldnt make my way home. That was a very, very tough to digest, Drummond said.

Hurricane Beryl, a powerful category 4 storm, swept through the south coast of Jamaica on Wednesday. Strong winds and heavy rain pounded the island, leaving seven people dead.

Drummond said she is on the north coast of the country in a town called Duncans, about 30 minutes from Montego Bay.

I was really worried, Drummond said. I was because initially I didnt think it was going to happen. So as the time got closer, I realized that it will happen.

She was supposed to fly back to Charlotte this week but her flight was canceled.

In the lowland areas, you know, trees are down you know, power lines and you know, its not a pretty sight -- put it that way, Drummond said.

Drummond says she lost connection and was unable to reach loved ones back home for hours but says she is safe and will fly back to the Queen City this weekend.

(WATCH BELOW: First responders drone team keeps busy keeping community safe)
The Ukrainian OSINT project DeepState painted the last part of the Skhidnyi (or Canal) district in Chasiv Yar, red on 3 July. It means that this part of the city is completely under Russian control now.

The Ukrainian military fighting on the Bakhmut front also confirmed this information to Ukrainska Pravda. The 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade, which had recently been redeployed to Chasiv Yar from the then-peaceful Toretsk front, had to withdraw from Skhidnyi.

The Skhidnyi neighbourhood is part of Chasiv Yar closest to occupied Bakhmut and has mostly high-rise buildings. In war, such a loss means not only the occupation of destroyed houses but also the loss of some fortifications, spacious basements, observation posts on the high floors of apartment buildings, and an increased presence of Russian FPVs.

This also means that the line of contact is moving towards other populated areas and will now run along the Siversky Donets-Donbas canal. The Ukrainian defence forces control most of the town where more than 600 local residents remain.

A week and a half before the withdrawal from Skhidnyi, when it was still possible to enter the centre of Chasiv Yar at your own risk at daylight, Ukrainska Pravda journalists were able to see the settlement through the eyes of civilians. And they also saw everything through the eyes of the soldiers, the mortar crews of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion, while making their way to the military positions at twilight.

The 225th Separate Assault Battalion came to the defence of Chasiv Yar in April 2024 and saw the most intense Russian attacks when they were trying to enter the town from the direction of Skhidnyi. In conversations with Ukrainska Pravda, the guys recollected that back then, the Russians could afford to launch FPV drones at Ukrainian positions every two to three minutes. Some of those drones were carrying chloropicrin, which is a chemical weapon.

At the same time, as the soldiers admit, it was a time when they had enough ammunition to work with. A total of 50-70 mines a day is a real luxury in today's war.

"Back then, there were tanks here, and there were powerful attacks, and it turned out that we lost part of the forest," the deputy commander of a mortar battery who goes by the alias Riley said.

"Now there are no such attacks and no such tension as there was a month and a half ago (in April-May). But the pressure is constant... breakthroughs, attacks. Novyi Chasik (as they call Skhidnyi  ed.) is a different story... The Russians are destroying it with everything  aerial bombs and Solntsepyok heavy flamethrower systems. This is their scorched earth tactic: first, destroy everything, and then you can go in," added his commander who goes by the alias Horynych.

Ukrainska Pravda journalists spent a day at the positions of the 225th Brigade's mortar men, who work with 120-mm Finnish-made and 80-mm Soviet-produced mortars. We filmed the guys running to the position (sometimes in shorts and slippers) a few minutes after receiving the order and opening fire on the Russian infantry. We asked them if they hoped to be demobilised.

Moreover, we also filmed some nice mundane things, such as cooking pasta on the positions, talking to their children on the phone and rinsing the eyes of a few-day-old kitten with tea.

Life goes on even in places where the Russians are trying to take it away from everyone every second.

 225-      : 1)     ,  , ,       ; 2)       225- : , .

Olha Kyrylenko, Alex Klymov, Ukrainska Pravda

Translation: Myroslava Zavadska

Editing: Ivan Zhezhera
China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange attracts foreign investment, boosts cooperation in Guangxi

People's Daily Online) 13:38, July 04, 2024

The China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, offers a diverse range of exotic products from Southeast Asian countries.

The exchange, located in the Nanning Area of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone and Nanning Comprehensive Bonded Zone, boasts nearly 5,000 varieties of commodities, including Singaporean bak kut teh, Thai seasonings, Vietnamese coffee, and Cambodian rice.

Photo shows the Singapore pavilion at the China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Yan Lizheng)

Customers can scan QR codes to purchase foreign products in an immersive shopping experience. Beyond its consumer-facing role, the exchange also serves as a platform for international businesses to showcase new products and forge partnerships.

Established in 2021 by the China-Singapore Nanning International Logistics Park and the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, the exchange aims to gather products from members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative, promote business cooperation, and help companies explore markets.

Guangxi's geographical proximity to ASEAN countries has attracted many businesses from the region to invest in the autonomous region and enter the Chinese market. Guangxi Taijingxi Taizhong Trading Co., Ltd., a foreign-invested company, joined the exchange's platform in 2022 to promote Thai products in China.

The exchange's innovative platform has attracted worldwide attention from business and political circles. Metinee Nuntadee, general manager for the Thai market at Guangxi Taijingxi Taizhong Trading, praised the exchange for its effectiveness in helping the company expand in the Chinese market.

Photo shows the Thailand pavilion at the China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Yan Lizheng)

"Guangxi continues to introduce favorable policies to encourage foreign investment, focusing on creating a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized. This has strengthened our resolve to invest in Guangxi," Nuntadee said.

Liu Jinsheng, general manager of the digital economy development department at the exchange, stressed its role in facilitating multi-field cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. The center aims to be a gateway for foreign businesses entering China and Chinese companies expanding overseas.

The number of companies registered in the Nanning Area of China (Guangxi) Pilot Free Trade Zone has increased 24.5-fold since its establishment, with foreign enterprises growing 15-fold. As a gateway to ASEAN countries, Guangxi plans to boost openness and share new cooperation opportunities across more sectors.

Photo shows a booth for Guangxi products at the China-ASEAN Mercantile Exchange in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (People's Daily Online/Yan Lizheng)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chinese automaker Changan Automobile announced on July 3 its monthly sales in June 2024, which came in at 225,013 vehicles, indicating a slight dip of 0.3% year-on-year.

Among the vehicles sold in the past month, 63,586 units were new energy vehicles (NEVs) under the automakers wholly-owned brands. In the Jan.-Jun. period, Changans wholly-owned brands sold a total of 299,065 NEVs, which surged 69.87% year on year.

NEVO A07; photo credit: Changan Automobile

In the first half of this year, Changan Automobile's sales amounted to 1,334,051 vehicles, rising 9.74% from a year ago. Year-to-date sales of vehicles under the companys wholly-owned brands totaled 1,121,346 units, representing a 9.88% increase year-over-year. Of these vehicles sold in the period, 821,934 units were passenger cars, growing 7.01% from that of the previous year.

In the first six months of this year, Changan Automobile exported 203,207 vehicles under its wholly-owned brands, indicating a year-on-year soar of 74.85%.

As to Changan Automobile's joint ventures, Changan Ford sold 19,513 vehicles in June, while Changan Mazda sold 5,535 vehicles, representing a respective 3.18% and 25.31% drop compared to the previous year.
Chelsea Wine store owner looks dapper in court appearance for allegedly stealing vintages from own shop

The dapper-dressed owner of the Chelsea Wine store made his second appearance in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday after being arrested for allegedly stealing vintages from his own posh shop.

Michael Gancarz, who was cuffed last Fathers Day at the popular wine store at 60 Ninth Ave., wore a bespoke striped blue suit as he dodged questions from The Posts photographer about the bizarre case.

He faces charges for burglary, petit larceny and trespassing, according to court records.

Gancarz was released without bail and is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 14.

Michael Gancarz at Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday. Steven Hirsch

Chelsea Wine, located across from the Chelsea Market, no longer belongs to Gancarz and his wife Amelia, according to the criminal complaint.

The new owner of the store, Bobby Khorram, told the arresting police officer that Gancarz did not have permission or authority to take items from the store and entered it despite it being locked up, the complaint said.

It remains unclear what items were taken from the store.

Gancarz and his lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Khorram did not comment.

Gancarz did not respond to a New York Post photographer, who spotted him at the court. Steven Hirsch

The 25 year-old business was once located in the Chelsea Market. The couple assumed ownership of it from Amelias father, Daniel Barteluce, an architect who designed luxury retail stores around the world.

Gancarz made headlines last year when customers from his wine storage business in Midtown  Chelsea Wine Storage  began complaining that they couldnt get access to their pricey vintages, as The Post exclusively reported.

Cheslea Wine Co. store is located across the street from the Chelsea Market, where it was once located. William Farrington

Longtime customers couldnt get anyone on the phone and when they visited the storage facility  which moved out of its former location in the Chelsea Market without informing customers  they were rebuffed.

Photos obtained by The Post last year showed hundreds of cardboard boxes sitting on wooden pallets in the unfinished basement in Midtown.

The storage business was quietly moved to the basement of a former TGI Fridays off of Times Square at 777 Seventh Ave.

The wine storage business was moved from Chelsea Market to the basement of a former TGI Fridays restaurant off of Times Square. Obtained by NY Post

With no response, I am afraid my wines in storage are gone for good, a CWS customer posted on Yelp on Oct. 23.

Another posted, I cannot get them to answer emails or phone calls, and I am extremely worried about my collectionsome of my most prized bottles somehow no longer appear in my inventory.

Gancarzs has the same landlord at both the store and the storage facility  Michael Shah  who sued him for not paying his rent and initiated eviction proceedings.

The New York State Liquor Authority initiated an investigation last year.
FILE PHOTO: Hong Kong protesters face off against riot police at a rally in support of the human rights of Xinjiang Uighurs in Hong Kong

By Emma Farge

GENEVA (Reuters) - China on Thursday rejected Western-led recommendations for human-rights reforms including calls for greater freedoms in Hong Kong and for Uyghurs in Xinjiang, but accepted others from allies, as it sought to defend its record at a U.N. meeting.

The U.N. Human Rights Council session in Geneva caps off a review process in which Beijing has strived to fend off criticism following a 2022 U.N. report which said the detention of Uyghurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region may constitute crimes against humanity. China denies any abuses.

The council's president, Omar Zniber, said China had accepted nearly 70% of the more than 400 reform recommendations it received as part of the U.N. review.

"Progress and development on human rights is achieved in China with each passing day," China's ambassador, Chen Xu, told the meeting, alongside a large delegation of Chinese diplomats and officials. He said it rejected recommendations that were "politically motivated based on disinformation, ideologically biased or interfering in China's traditional sovereignty" and condemned what he called an attempt to "smear and attack" it.

Yet China's critics say its high acceptance rate is misleading, with one Western diplomat alleging the country had "stacked the deck" by investing political capital in quelling criticism.

Reuters previously reported that China had lobbied non-Western countries to praise its record by asking them to make "constructive recommendations."

British ambassador Simon Manley complained to the council that China had rejected each and every one of its recommendations, including a call for an end to persecutions of Uyghurs and for the Hong Kong security law to be repealed.

U.S. Human Rights Ambassador Michele Taylor also voiced disappointment at what she called China's refusal to take action.

"China's abuses constitute a rejection of U.N. assessments and recommendations and violate or undermine international commitments," she said. Other countries were more upbeat, including Russia's envoy who praised China's "constructive approach" and Gambia's envoy who lauded the country's progress.

The U.N. review of China is not unique and all countries undergo the process every few years at the council - the only intergovernmental body designed to protect human rights worldwide.

An attempt to hold a debate about the U.N. High Commissioner's China report was voted down by mostly non-Western members later in 2022 - a result seen as a diplomatic victory for Beijing.

(Reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows farmer picking ears of rice left over by a paddy harvester as the region experiences a drought outside Jiujiang city

By Mei Mei Chu

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's weather bureau warned on Thursday that a prolonged heatwave forecast in the country's eastern, central and southern regions in July may hit production of rice and cotton, as extreme weather continues to threaten its food production.

The China Meteorological Administration (CMA) said it expected temperatures in most areas across China to be relatively high over the next few months, signalling a second consecutive summer of extreme heat.

"It is necessary to guard against the risk of yield reduction of cotton, early rice and late rice caused by high temperature and heat damage," Jia Xiaolong, the CMA's deputy director, said at a briefing.

Summer temperatures in regions including Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Gansu and Ningxia are expected to be 1 to 2 degrees Celsius (1.8 to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above normal, the CMA said.

China is facing hotter and longer heatwaves, as well as more frequent and unpredictable heavy rain as a result of climate change, the weather bureau warned.

Record-breaking temperatures last month have already broiled key grain producing provinces in the northwest and east, forcing corn farmers to delay planting, while torrential rain in other regions flooded soybean and rice fields.

Extreme weather is hurting developing crops globally as the impact of climate change intensifies, with vast swathes of farmland in China, Russia, India and the United States experiencing extremely hot conditions and below-normal rainfall, squeezing world supplies and pushing prices higher.

In its annual climate "Blue Book", the CMA warned that maximum temperatures across the country could rise by 1.7 to 2.8 degrees Celsius (3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit) within 30 years, with eastern China and the northwestern region of Xinjiang set to suffer the most.

The weather bureau also said two typhoons could make landfall in mainland China in July. The typhoons are expected to move in a west or northwest direction, authorities said.

(Reporting by Mei Mei Chu; Editing by Jamie Freed)
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping made a congratulatory call on Thursday to incoming European Council President Antonio Costa, Chinese state media said, a few hours before European Commission curbs on Chinese electric cars are scheduled to take effect.

The Commission is set to confirm provisional import tariffs of up to 37.6% on Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles (EVs), after the bloc accused the world's No.2 economy of providing its firms with heavy state subsidies.

Xi said he "attaches great importance to the development of China-EU relations" as Europe braces for retaliatory measures from Beijing and the possible opening up of a new front in the West's tariff war with the $18.6 trillion economy.

EU trade policy has turned increasingly protective over concerns that China's production-focused development model could see it flooded with cheap goods as Chinese firms look to step up exports amid weak domestic demand.

China and the European Commission have been in negotiations since last week over the curbs that Beijing and some European automakers want scrapped. Beijing rejects accusations that Chinese EVs are unfairly subsidised.

Xi said China "is committed to developing the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership," according to the report. "China has always regarded Europe as an important pole in the multipolar order," he added.

It will fall to Costa, a former Portuguese prime minister, to find common cause among the Council's 27 member states, as they waver over whether to back the Commission on the EV tariffs in an advisory vote in coming weeks.

Germany, whose carmakers made a third of their sales last year in China, reportedly wants to stop the tariffs, while France has been among the firmest backers.

China is currently undertaking an anti-dumping probe into European brandy imports. Almost all EU brandy exports to China came from France last year, Chinese customs data shows.

Beijing has also opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of European pork and its by-products, which analysts say is aimed at pressuring Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark to break with the Commission over the curbs.

(Reporting by Joe Cash; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
(Bloomberg) -- Chinese electric-car brands held on to their share of the slumping European EV market in May, ahead of new tariffs designed to protect local carmakers from their lower-cost imports.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Automakers like BYD Co. made up 8.7% of total EV sales, roughly on par with a year ago, as Chinese firms pressure European counterparts with new, inexpensive models, according to researcher Dataforce. Total deliveries fell 12% to 13,390 vehicles, a drop that marginally outweighed the let-up in demand for all-electric models across the region.

Since 2019, Chinese carmakers led by SAIC Motor Corp.  which turned Britains defunct MG brand into an EV dynamo  have captured a growing slice of a market vital to Europes industrial stability and future jobs. Their growing success prompted the European Union last year to probe government aid to the sector. On Thursday, the EU moved ahead with provisional import tariffs of as much as 48%, up from a current 10%.

The EV shift in Europe has recently slowed, with all-electric sales in May declining 11%  they now make up just 14% of the regions passenger-car market. Yet battery-powered cars remain on course to take over as the EU phases out sales of fuel-burning vehicles by the middle of the next decade.

Thats where Chinese carmakers see an opening to conquer a lucrative export market: lower-cost battery technology and generous government support give them an advantage over the likes of Volkswagen, Stellantis and Renault. State aid for Chinese manufacturers has brought Beijing to the brink of a trade war with the EU, with China threatening to retaliate.

The tariffs also target Chinese-made models including BMWs iX3 SUV, Renaults Dacia Spring and Teslas Model 3. In all, nearly two in five battery-electric cars sold across Europe were made in China, according to automotive consultants Jato Dynamics.

While theyve maintained market share, Chinese brands havent avoided the slump in European EV demand. MGs sales in the region slid 34% in May from the year-ago period, based on data from Jato.

Concerns around the upcoming measures taken by the EU, and more focus on ICE cars explain this negative result for the brand, said Felipe Munoz, senior analyst at Jato, referring to models powered by internal combustion engines. However, BYD did quite well, thanks to the Atto 3 SUV and the introduction of the Seal, Dolphin and Seal U.

More broadly, the removal or scaling back of EV buying subsidies continues to hurt demand. Sales in Germany slid 31% in May from a year earlier, after Europes biggest automotive market pulled incentives for battery-electric cars late last year.

While talks with the EU could yet avert a trade war, China has threatened to retaliate with levies on cars with large engines that would hit German luxury manufacturers like Mercedes-Benz Group, BMW and Porsche. Chinese officials have also taken aim at French brandy and Spanish ham in a bid to deter the new EV tariffs.

--With assistance from Rafael Mendes.

(Updates with EU moving ahead with tariff plan)

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Rosa Cruz has waited and worked for this day since she came to America 30 years ago.

The El Salvador native was naturalized as a U.S. citizen Wednesday. Unable to read or write, the battle to citizenship was hard fought. Following the ceremony, Cruz was beaming.

I feel very happy, Cruz said, as translated by her granddaughter, Marilyn Cedillos.

Watching her grandmother during the event, Cedillos was emotional.

Im so happy for her, Cedillos said. Im so happy shes going to be able to now have all the benefits of any other citizen.  Im just so glad that the days finally here.

Hundreds of people came out to the North Carolina 4th of July Festivals 25th annual Naturalization Ceremony on the Ft. Johnston Garrison House Lawn in Southport, N.C. Wednesday July 3, 2024. Over 100 people from around 40 countries earned their citizenship during the event. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Cruzs seven children were among the hundreds in Southport who witnessed over 100 new Americans become citizens Wednesday during a naturalization ceremony held at Fort Johnston Garrison Lawn as part of the N.C. 4th of July Festival.

The new citizens originated from 43 different countries, including Ukraine, Israel, Haiti, India, Mexico, Palestine, Vietnam, China and Ethiopia.

Peter Hans, president of the University of North Carolina System, served as the events keynote speaker and was the first to congratulate the group on their new citizenship.

The University of North Carolina President Peter Hans speaks at the North Carolina 4th of July Festivals 25th annual Naturalization Ceremony on the Ft. Johnston Garrison House Lawn in Southport, N.C. Wednesday July 3, 2024. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Citizenship is a discipline, something that you learn and you commit to, Hans said. Nobody in this country understands that better than you taking the oath of citizenship today True citizenship is not a right bestowed, but a responsibility chosen.

The ceremony is an official function of the U.S. District Court. Richard E. Meyers II, chief judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and a naturalized citizen himself, presided over the session.

I am Jamaican by birth, Meyers said. I am American by oath and by the grace of God.

Following their naturalization, each citizen repeated the countrys oath of naturalization, renouncing their past allegiance to their home countries and declaring their commitment to defending the constitution of the United States of America.

I honestly believe that the injection of new spirit, new energy, new strength and a new commitment to America that comes when we make new citizens makes every single one of us better as Americans, Meyers said. You are new blood, you are new ideas, you are new energy and you are new strength to the United States of America. We are blessed to have all of us in this room be Americans together.

Hundreds of people came out to the North Carolina 4th of July Festivals 25th annual Naturalization Ceremony on the Ft. Johnston Garrison House Lawn in Southport, N.C. Wednesday July 3, 2024. Over 100 people from around 40 countries earned their citizenship during the event. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS

Brunswick County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ken Medlin performed the Star-Spangled Banner, and the Southport Fire Department Color Guard presented the colors. The ceremony was one of many held across the country as part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services annual Independence Day celebration.

STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest Brunswick County news by signing up for the Brunswick Today newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram.

North Carolina Works Commission Chairman Tom Rabon, a Southport native, said the ceremony has been a key part of the festival since 1996. Interrupted briefly by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the ceremony resumed in 2023.

A news release from USCIS noted, Ceremonies in honor of national holidays or significant historic anniversaries, like Independence Day at Fort Johnston Garrisson Lawn, connect new citizens with our nations past, while welcoming them as part of Americas future.

Jamey Cross covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at jbcross@gannett.com or message her on Twitter/X @jameybcross.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Naturalization ceremony in Southport welcomes new citizens
From church to the mosque, faith and friends help Iowas African immigrants and refugees build a sense of home

Think of Iowa, our home. Many people picture cornfields: the Great Plains of the American heartland.

One thing many outsiders may not know about this agrarian, predominantly white state where we teach is that it has become a home away from home for a growing population of African immigrants. These newcomers include migrants, immigrants and a few university students, as well as people fleeing violence in countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As social scientists at the University of Iowa we are both involved in Homebuilding in the Heartland, a community-based research project. Together with colleague Amy Weismann, we aim to build connections with this population and learn from African immigrants experiences as they resettle in Iowa.

Despite their contributions to the regions labor force, African immigrants across the Midwest are often overlooked and sometimes struggle to access resettlement services. However, religious institutions frequently play supportive roles as they adjust to their new home.

From Africa to Iowa

As of 2019, around 2 million Black immigrants from Africa were living in the United States  a number that has tripled since 2000. The number of African migrants and asylum-seekers apprehended at the southern border of the United States has also increased as people look for alternatives to Europe.

While these 2 million people represent a vast number of languages, cultures and religions, about half of sub-Saharan African immigrants come from just five countries: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Somalia.

Muslim immigrants from Senegal pray while waiting to be transported from the U.S.-Mexico border in Lukeville, Ariz. John Moore/Getty Images

Overall, most Black immigrants who come to the U.S. from any part of the world settle in the Northeast or the South. However, about 1 in 10 make their home in the Midwest. According to the Migration Policy Institute, around 30,000 of the 3.2 million people in Iowa were born in Africa.

Some newcomers are attracted to the region because of economic opportunities, especially in meatpacking plants. Others come through recommendations from friends and family members already living there.

Most of the people we interviewed are refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing countries with widespread conflict and describe harrowing experiences on their journeys to the U.S. Many came with the aid of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees  the U.N. refugee agency  or the International Organization for Migration. Some of the refugees first arrived in other states, including California and Michigan, before making their way to Iowa.

Upon arrival, many are excited to settle into the supposedly utopian society they have dreamed of. Reality begins to set in as they face challenges with language, cultural shock and racism. Adjusting to the cold climate is also difficult, as are day-to-day difficulties like getting winter clothes and snow boots, and even getting used to how much personal space Americans give each other.

Refugees and immigrants are eligible for short-term aid with groceries, cash assistance, medical care and English classes. Yet these resources are sometimes not enough.

Safe  and sacred  places

In interviews, most immigrants are grateful for friends, family, colleagues and the staff of the secular nonprofit and government agencies who help try to make their stay in Iowa comfortable. However, religious organizations also fill gaps in many arrivals new lives  not only with goods and services, but spiritually and socially.

East African women participate in a program to connect immigrants and refugees with community services in 2019 at the senior center in St. Peter, Minn. Elizabeth Flores/Star Tribune via Getty Images

Some of these groups, like Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service  which recently changed its name to Global Refuge  are official resettlement partners of the U.S. government.

Others, including Catholic Worker, Lutheran Services in Iowa, Iowa City Compassion and the Catherine McAuley Center, a charity founded by Catholic nuns, help provide basic supplies, clothing and food, as well as help enrolling migrant kids in school. Religious groups also organize food drives for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Some individual members of congregations take it upon themselves to help. One interviewee recalled, It was snowing, and this elderly woman saw me and my baby around the church. She talked to me and helped to get items like an iron, table, and some sheets, and dropped me off after the shopping. She helped me so much.

Religious places are also used as safe spaces for African migrants stories, highlighting the problems they are facing as individuals and as a community, and thinking of ways to proffer solutions.

For this research, our focus was on Christian and Muslim religious communities. Once in Iowa, many Christians and Muslims come to feel at home by forming groups in religious spaces such as choirs, womens groups and Bible study  helping them build networks with people with similar experiences, while also connecting with non-African Iowans. Women weve interviewed in Des Moines, for example, say that chatting in mosque after prayers is an important part of their lives.

Some interviewees comment on their congregations inclusivity, which allows for their native languages to be used in songs and sermons, even in religious services with nonimmigrants. A few congregations also open up their spaces for African attendees to hold cultural events and get-togethers with familiar music and food.

An immigrant from Mauritania fingers prayer beads while waiting to be processed by U.S. border authorities on Dec. 5, 2023, in Lukeville, Ariz. John Moore/Getty Images

Change ahead

However, during one of the interview sessions in one of the churches in Iowa City, a few respondents hoped for an increased sense of belonging in other kinds of social circles as well: community gatherings, workplaces and their childrens schools, for example.

Many of our interviewees complain about lack of assistance from the government during the assimilation process and advocate for additional support such as more citizenship education for newly resettled immigrants.

Yet, they are confident that with time, Iowa will diversify, making it feel more like home: a state where they can put down roots, worship among friends and even access African foods such as ugali cornmeal, pilau and jollof rice.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Osamamen Oba Eduviere, University of Iowa and Brady G'Sell, University of Iowa

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Osamamen Oba Eduviere is affiliated with Refugee Alliance of Johnson County.

Brady G'Sell is affiliated with the Immigrant Welcome Network of Johnson County, IC Compassion and the Refugee Alliance of Johnson County.
A sign from Protect Juneau's Future, urging residents not to sign a petition that would limit cruise ships is seen on July 3, 2024. The petition gained enough signatures and was approved on Monday. A citizen with a permanent marker apparently fact-checked the poster. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

A sign from Protect Juneau's Future, urging residents not to sign a petition that would limit cruise ships is seen on July 3, 2024. The petition gained enough signatures and was approved on Monday. A citizen with a permanent marker apparently fact-checked the poster. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Unless Juneaus city Assembly makes the change first, a proposal to forbid cruise ships on Saturdays will be on the municipal ballot in October, but a Sitka push to put cruise ship passenger limits on the ballot was denied late Tuesday.

The news marks the latest steps in a broader reckoning in some Southeast communities about the effects of increased traffic from cruise ship tourism on small, coastal towns.

Cruise ship passengers are a mainstay in the regional economy. But local opponents like Karla Hart in Juneau say increased passenger numbers come at a cost to quality of life.

I know what Juneau used to be, and I know what it could be and it isnt now, and so Im fighting to bring some of that back, she said. Ship-free Saturdays is a way to just give everybody in Juneau one day a week without the blanket of impacts on our lives. And to me, I believe that if we all have that one day a week without all of the chaos that comes with the cruise industry, that well all be happier and healthier.

A counter-campaign asked residents not to sign the petition through signs, radio advertisements and an online presence.

Juneau recently adopted a voluntary limit on cruise ships that would cap passengers at 16,000 a day starting in 2026. Hart said that doesnt provide any relief for residents.

Most days of the week, we dont have 16,000 cruise passengers in Juneau, but were still overwhelmed with impacts, she said.

Cruise ship tourists line up to purchase tour tickets in downtown Juneau on July 3, 2024. (photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)

Harts initiative garnered 2,359 signatures from Juneau residents that supported the idea. The Juneau City Clerk certified the signatures and presented the certification to the Assembly at its regular meeting on Monday. The Assembly will have until August 15 to adopt the measure or allow the question of whether Juneau should adopt ship-free Saturdays to appear on the October 1, 2024, regular municipal election ballot.

In Sitka, the city attorney decided the ballot initiative did not pass legal muster, according to Klaudia Leccese, who led the effort for the cruise ship advocacy non-profit Small Town SOUL. It was residents third attempt to limit cruise ship passengers this year.

We are of course disappointed by the decision, she said via text on Wednesday. We are assessing the advice the city attorney gave to the city clerk, and will address his concerns in a fourth initiative application sometime soon.

The proposal would have limited Sitka to cruise ship passengers to 300,000 per year, with no more than 4,500 per day, and ships would have been allowed only between May 1 and September 30 each year. This year, the city expects roughly 600,000 cruise ship passengers.

City attorneys denied the proposed ballot measures certification because they found it has misleading, confusing and incomplete terms and that it violates the U.S. Constitutions Tonnage Clause.

Juneau and Sitka are not the only communities to formally question the cost benefit analysis that underlies the cruise ship economy. In 2021, the Skagway mayor floated the idea of a cap on cruise ship passengers  the town of fewer than 1,000 residents welcomes as many as 12,000 passengers a day  but the idea never made it to a municipal ballot.

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City records officers say the rising number  and increasing complexity  of records requests has contributed to massive delays in providing them. (Daniel Walters graphic/InvestigateWest)

Emily Moyer, a 37-year-old photographer, was hoping public records could help save her fiance.

With his criminal history and an arrest for drug and firearm possession charges, she said, he was facing life in prison. His public defender was overwhelmed.

So on April 12 of last year, Moyer asked for the disciplinary records for a slew of Spokane police officers involved with her fiances case. Speed was crucial: The trial was in August.

Moyer was using one of the most important tools the public has for holding government agencies accountable. Ever since voters passed the Washington Public Records Act initiative in 1972, everybody  no matter who they are  can obtain copies of most documents produced by state and local public agencies. Think of it as a legal crowbar that anyone can use to crack open the governments closed doors, revealing the secrets inside.

Indeed, when Moyer got the first records back, they showed multiple officers with a history of discipline problems. Officer Darrell Quarles, to name one, had been written up for repeatedly failing to activate his body camera, making an illegal traffic stop and associating with a drug-dealing prostitute. The records could have raised credibility questions as far as Officer Quarles testifying, Moyer said.

But by then it was Sept. 29. The trial had been over for nearly a month. Quarles had testified, and her fiance had already been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Shes still waiting on the rest of the records.

It really does me no good now, Moyer said. I just thought it was weird that they waited that long.

But in Spokane, at least, it isnt weird for records requests to take that long: Its frustratingly common. Roughly 100 records requests to the city of Spokane from November 2022 through November 2023 took six months or longer to fulfill, according to the citys records log. In fact, a request to obtain just a list of requests took over four months.

When InvestigateWest brought the problem to Spokanes leadership, recently-elected Mayor Lisa Brown committed to hiring new staff and a council member proposed passing new legislation to try to fix it.

But the problem isnt just in Spokane.

Delays are terrible, says David Cuillier, director of the Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida, which advocates for public records access. Theyre getting worse.

A rising flood of records requests  driven by partisan tensions, technological innovation, corporate data-mining, and vexatious requestors bombarding governments  have increasingly swamped under-resourced records agencies. Across the Northwest and the country, citizens are facing longer wait times, steep fees and other obstacles to obtaining government records the law says they deserve. Its happening at the federal level, too, with average wait times doubling in the past decade, Cuillier said.

The sense that public records responses throughout the region were slowing to a crawl sparked an experiment by InvestigateWest: to assess the speed, thoroughness and cost of local public records systems, we gave the same two record requests to 15 cities in the Pacific Northwest.

The results varied dramatically, but highlighted the seriousness of two major barriers: In Washingtons largest cities, the delays for some types of records could stretch out months, while the records fees in Oregon and Idaho could run into the hundreds  or even thousands  of dollars.

As requests keep flooding in, records advocates fear that legislators in all three states will respond by further damming up access to public information  raising fees and passing ever more laws limiting the availability of public records. And in Washington, in particular, transparency advocates and records clerks say, such rules have made the delays much worse.

Its a shame, Cuillier said, because in our research, Washington state was one of the best states in the country when it comes to access to government information.

The test

Last December, InvestigateWest asked the five biggest cities in Washington, Oregon and Idaho for their log of records requests from November 2022 through November 2023. We also asked each city for a weeks worth of communications involving either the mayor or the city administrator or managers.

Vancouver, Washington, was the clear winner, completing both requests  including over 1,800 pages worth of emails and texts  within just eight days. And unlike Portland, which asked InvestigateWest to pay $1,800 for communications involving the citys mayor or chief of staff, Vancouver didnt charge a dime.

Washingtons two largest cities struggled: Spokane was by far the slowest, taking 129 days to provide records logs, nearly six times slower than any other city tested. InvestigateWest has been waiting more than seven months for Spokane to release all the requested messages from the mayor and city administrator. Seattle, meanwhile, took 42 days to deliver an installment of just nine messages from the mayor and the chief operating officer.

Both Portlands and Spokanes records departments objected to InvestigateWests test, arguing that it was like comparing apples and oranges, considering the wide variety in city sizes, staffing levels and varying job titles.

Indeed, the test had a slew of limitations: Spokanes records log, for example, was far more detailed than Caldwells or Portlands. A few cities, like Portland and Seattle, didnt have any city administrator or city manager, forcing us to pick another high-level official. Some cities mistakenly provided only messages between the two officials, instead of all messages that included either.

But InvestigateWests test is just one data point in a constellation of evidence pointing to the same problems. Data submitted to the Washington Legislature show that Spokane took a full month of business days to complete a records request on average in 2022  three times longer than the average city in the state. Seattle took almost twice as long as Spokane.

Individual examples abound. When Nate Sanford, a reporter at the Inlander newspaper, asked the city of Spokane for a copy of its 2022 records log, he was told he would get it within approximately two weeks. It took 10 months.

And when Stranger reporter Ashley Nerbovig asked the Seattle Police Department for a single document on June 3, she was told she would have it by the 28th  of February 2025.

A woman can produce a baby in about as long as it takes SPD to produce a single police report, she wrote on social media.

Laws in the three states differ on how quickly officials must fulfill requests. Idahos law requires providing most records within 10 business days. Oregons encourages completing a response within 15 days  though it lets cities slide if, say, they dont have enough staffing. Washington law requires governmental agencies to provide the fullest assistance to inquirers and the most timely possible action on requests for information, including providing a reasonable time estimate within five days.

Reasonable depends on the record, said attorney Kathy George, who has represented organizations like the Seattle Times in records-related lawsuits. She noted, however, it would be ridiculous to take five months to produce a single record like a records log. Plenty of cities throughout the region appear to sometimes violate that standard.

Anyone can sue over unreasonable delays, but many citizens  and media outlets  cant afford to. And Candice Bock, lobbyist for the Association of Washington Cities, says the possibility of lawsuits can backfire  making public records officers more nervous and less forthcoming.

When you are worried about Will this result in litigation? it slows things down, Bock said.

The great records glut

Major records delays can result from poor records organization, understaffing or miscommunications, records advocates say. But talk to records officers and theyll point to one problem in particular: volume.

According to state Legislature data, the average time it took Washington cities to complete records requests increased by 25 percent from 2018 to 2022. One reason? The number of requests had increased by more than a third.

Over the last decade, what I hear the most from cities is just they get so many more requests, Bock said. And the requests are more complicated.

Technology was supposed to come to the rescue. Since 2005, Washingtons Local Governments Grant Program has given away millions to help cities and counties upgrade to record management software like GovQA.

That did make the process more efficient. But it also removed the speed bumps in both directions. It was easier to fulfill requests and easier to make them, too.

These online portals reduced a lot of the friction to making these records requests, said Tony Dinaro, public records officer for Spokane County, which used the grant program to upgrade to GovQA in 2018. It made it a lot more visible to people.

At the same time, Dan Huizinga, product manager for GovQA, said governments kept producing more records, as public agencies move through the process of digital transformation.

When police departments started using body cameras, all that video became available to activists, attorneys, and those YouTube channels that turn police footage into videos with titles that include When a Cannibal Killer Spots His Next Meal and Woman Uses Her Teeth to Rip Out Sisters Eye.

When COVID hit, officials began holding meetings on Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WebEx, creating new genres of records.

Its like, Oh, gosh, weve got these chats, Bock said. When do you keep them? How do you keep them? Where do you keep them? We keep adding to the pile.

As distrust in institutions has grown, partisans and skeptics have relied on records requests to do their own research. As election-related conspiracy theories have grown, Dinaro said one Spokane County man recently asked for three weeks of footage from every surveillance camera outside the Spokane election office.

Widely publicized police abuses have ignited a swarm of inquiries into police departments. National fights about COVID restrictions, critical race theory and transgender identities led to an explosion of records requests of schools from conservative groups and parents.

And that can spark backlash against the record process. When Toby Nixon, former president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, gave his public records presentation to the local chapter of Moms for Liberty, a far-right group activist group, he was accused by one critic of teaching extremists how to burden local school districts with unnecessary records requests used as a tool to harass and intimidate.

The rich get records

Carrie Wilton, legal records supervisor for the city of Portland, marvels at the way that residents in Washington can ask for the whole world and theres little officials can do to curtail them.

By contrast, Oregon and Idaho charge fees for complicated records requests. Ultimately, Wilton argues, that is an advantage for everybody. Records officers can use fees to try to push requesters to narrow broad requests, and provide records more quickly.

In 2017, Washington passed legislation to allow some agencies to begin to use limited fees as an attempt to deter vexatious requesters  those who ask for unreasonably large batches of records, particularly those with malicious intent.

But typically, fees in Washington pale in comparison to neighboring states.

One analysis of tens of thousands of records requests made through MuckRock, a records assistance website, found that their Idaho requesters faced the steepest fees in the country, while fees have remained the lowest in Washington.

Reporters from Portland describe the fee negotiation process as a constant source of frustration, a haggling ritual that becomes a battle of wills.

Worst of all, since Oregon charges for the actual wages involved with the work performed, the more inefficient an agency is, the higher the penalty.

I once had a small city east of here that had 17 different people review a request and each one of them charged by the hour, said Therese Bottomly, editor of The Oregonian.

A 2023 study co-authored by Cuillier argued that aggressive pursuit of fees merely adds another task to already overburdened agency staff while serving as a barrier for those that cannot pay, namely, regular citizens, journalists, and scholarly researchers.

In theory, records staffers in both Oregon and Idaho can waive fees if the records are in the public interest. But that can be wildly inconsistent.

InvestigateWest requested a fee waiver for a week of communications involving either the Portland mayor or his chief of staff. The estimated $1,800 bill worked out to roughly $63 an hour, or an estimated $9 for every 10 messages. Portland offered to provide one hour of free work, but wouldnt budge on the overall price unless we narrowed our request.

Of the nine other cities InvestigateWest sent similar records requests to in Oregon and Idaho, only one  Hillsboro, Oregon  was willing to fully waive the fees. InvestigateWest didnt pay the fees  and therefore, was not able to get all the requested records.

In 2022, the Salem Reporter asked for documents relating to the exit of the deputy police chief. Salem initially charged over $4,200 for one set of records. The newspaper raised money from their readers to cover the cost before the city relented. In 2020, the Oregonian had to pay more than $2,000 to get receipts from Douglas County showing that commissioners had wildly misspent federal funds on lavish flights and dinners.

The clear feeling among practitioners who use the public records law a lot  not just journalists  is that fees are another way to create hurdles to disclosure to make people go away, Bottomly said.

And if requesters are truly trying to be a nuisance, even Portland-sized fees wont stop them.

In December 2022, Patrick Cashman  a Portland records activist who previously crusaded against the citys refusal to reveal the route of the World Naked Bike Ride  asked for every single record the city had already released that year to other requesters. It was an attempt, he wrote in an email to InvestigateWest, to push the city to upload all those records to an open data portal like federal agencies do.

Instead, Portland asked him for nearly $68,000 to re-review and upload the records again. So Cashman hit back: He split up his request into 365 separate pieces, one for each day.

Cashmans not above paying for records  he shelled out nearly $3,000 for Portland records alone  but Wilton said he didnt pay the bill on any of those 365. He just made the city jump through a years worth of hoops, then abandoned them. To Cashman, it was a free speech exercise, a way to protest an unaccountable, byzantine records bureaucracy.

I enjoy torturing city personnel because it really is the only way we citizens can get some payback, Cashman wrote in an email to InvestigateWest, reasoning he might as well make every day of their life an unendurable hell until they decide on a different career.

A report issued this year from Portlands Legal Records Team dedicated an entire section to Cashman and called for new legislation to stymie this kind of requester.

But records advocates are wary of such proposals. The line between vexatious and merely persistent is thin, and sometimes gadflies and trolls uncover scandals and change policies. Bottomly recalled a woman whos made numerous records requests about the Multnomah County Animal Shelter over two decades.

That is somebody who has made it her lifes mission to be a citizen watchdog of the animal shelters, Bottomly said. There are citizens who, bless em, take very seriously their responsibility to monitor government.

And even the requests of someone like Cashman are dwarfed by the real giants in the room: data brokers.

In a brief span between 3:50 and 3:55 a.m. on Feb. 7, Justin McNeal made 14 record requests in Portland, part of a spree of 151 requests that day alone.

And last year? McNeal made over 9,000 record requests to Portland  11 times more than every media request in 2023 combined, almost all for accident reports.

McNeal doesnt live in Portland. He lives in Atlanta, where hes an operations manager for LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

LexisNexis is a data broker, a company that makes its fortune hoovering up records on practically everything  criminal history, debtor information  and then selling records and data insights to insurance companies, law enforcement and even back to consumers.

Through LexisNexis, McNeal paid Portland more than $110,000 last year. Meanwhile, a single requester from a competitor, MetroReporting, paid more than $13,000 for over a thousand individual records last year.

It was the requests from these sorts of companies that, according to a report from Portlands Legal Records Team, brought the Portland Police Bureau record system to its knees. At its worst, in January 2022, Portlands police records had a backlog of over 22,000 open requests and two-thirds of them were taking more than two months to fulfill.

Cuillier, the records expert, said it underscores his study that shows fees dont do much to deter some of the most high-volume requesters  like attorneys or data brokers.

These companies, theyre perfectly happy paying to get this data because they make money off it, he said. The public interest requesters  theyre ones who are getting hosed.

650 and counting

In the past decade, there have been reforms to expand records access in Oregon. But Washington and Idaho legislators keep running in the other direction.

In 2020, Idaho legislators passed a bill to exclude legislative notes and the names of private citizens who communicate with them from records requests. And last year, The Olympian reported, Washington state House Democrats figured out a creative way to reinterpret a state constitution provision into a legislative privilege that they have used to ignore many records requests.

Some legislators have pointed to the burden on local governments and state agencies as a reason for weakening public records laws. This year, for example, Idaho legislators passed bills doubling the time allowed to fill records requests coming from out of state.

Yet by winnowing public records laws, legislators have often made the delays worse.

The hard part of a clerks job isnt locating records. Its reading thousands of pages of documents, spotting parts they legally need to redact  like lists of names if a requester wants them for commercial purposes  and blacking them out. The more redactions required, the more complicated the job.

And in the past half-dozen years, Washington state legislators have turned personnel records into a Swiss-cheese block of exemptions.

Every year the Legislature adds, on average, a dozen or more exemptions. Were now up to more than 650, said George Erb, with the Washington Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit that advocates for governmental transparency. Every time they do that, it just makes the act more complicated for everybody. Our own public records lawyers say that  even they have a hard time keeping up.

One new law mandated that if information was contained in a personnel file, the agency had to contact every employee mentioned to give them a chance to legally challenge the request.

Another required employees to black out victim and witness names from harassment or discrimination investigation records.

Even something that seems like a minor change could be hell on records clerks: Consider a 2020 law requiring redacting the months and year, but not the day, of public employee birthdays.

If all we had to do was redact that whole column, that would be easy, Dinaro said. But no, instead, what we have to do is convert this spreadsheet to a PDF, and then make these tiny little boxes on each row.

But if a journalist requests the record, the law says the birthdays shouldnt be redacted at all.

The complications compound until they sound like the setup to a bad joke: A journalist, a commercial data broker, and a curious citizen all walk into a city clerks office and request the same set of employee names and birthdays. The clerk has to redact their records three different times in three different ways.

The Legislature hadnt just added more work for clerks. Theyd multiplied it.

Record comebacks

At the local level, at least, some leaders are trying to figure out ways to ease the burden on clerks without cutting off public access.

Spokane City Councilmember Michael Cathcart told InvestigateWest he plans to resurrect a 2021 proposal to post many already-processed records online. Its a bit like what the city of San Diego and the Oregon governors office do.

And Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown is proposing to hire a new records clerk with the midyear budget.

Its the right thing to do to have open and transparent government, Brown said.

Despite the delays, Brown praised the citys clerks for their thoroughness and attention to detail.

Thats positive when it comes to public records, she said. The issue is speed and capacity.

In a statement, the clerks office indicated they had long been under-resourced and overwhelmed. The city has three clerks dedicated to handling requests sent to their office, along with another who splits her time working on fire department records. Since 2014, the clerks office handles a big chunk of police records as well.

The clerk assigned to InvestigateWests request for the record logs had never redacted that kind of document before. She was handling over 100 other requests at the same time.

Were going to add capacity, Brown said. But were also going to look at best practices and other technologies and ways to improve the system.  At least one person mentioned the idea that AI could be a part of this.

Brown said one city theyll be looking to is Vancouver, Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland.

While InvestigateWest is still waiting six months later for Spokane to hand over over a weeks worth of communications involving the mayor or city administrator, Vancouver completed the whole thing in only eight days.

The average Vancouver request in 2022 only took 10 days to finish  a third the time of Spokane and a fifth the time of Seattle.

Vancouver City Attorney Cary Driskell didnt name any particularly zesty secret sauce responsible for Vancouvers speed. Sometimes they do charge fees for particularly voluminous requests. Often, theyll save time by disclosing more than they have to. Theyll create records  like the records logs  in a way that makes them a lot easier to release.

These are presumed to be records belonging to the public, and they have a right to see them. I dont think all jurisdictions have had that approach, Driskell said. Vancouver puts up quite a lot of resources towards getting these responded to in a timely fashion.

Sometimes, thats the unsexy answer to fixing a broken records system: Spend money.

In 2020, Portland created a special initiative, the Police Records Backlog Project, that tapped legal staff, private attorneys, and even Portland Police Bureau recruits to dig through the backlog. And today, the team reports, theyve honed their process, which means quicker responses and lower fees.

There are too many public agencies at all levels who do not see public disclosure of information as a core function of government, Bottomly said. They see it as an added burden that they must carry. They dont budget for it, they dont staff for it.

InvestigateWest (invw.org) is an independent news nonprofit dedicated to investigative journalism in the Pacific Northwest. A Report for America corps member, Daniel Walters covers democracy and extremism across the region. He can be reached at daniel@invw.org.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 1, Dongfeng Motor celebrated the opening of its new dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with a grand ceremony that included the delivery of vehicles to key customers. The event prominently featured the DONGFENG GXKL tractor and the KC dump truck, highlighting these popular products to the local market.

Opening ceremony; photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

Dongfeng Motor is set to make significant investments in human resources, dealership networks, and franchise operations. The company aims to achieve a 20% market share in Kazakhstan's commercial vehicle sector within the next three years, focusing primarily on tractor units.

Photo credit: Dongfeng Motor

In the passenger vehicle segment, Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company (mainly encompassing AEOLUS brand) and its premium new energy vehicle brand VOYAH will tailor marketing strategies based on a deep understanding of the Central Asian market environment. By 2026, VOYAH plans to complete its strategic layout in Central Asia, actively promoting the development of new energy vehicles in the region and providing high-quality products and services to consumers.

As a staunch advocate of the Belt and Road Initiative, Dongfeng Motor is committed to international development, continuously enhancing cooperation and exchange with Central Asian regions to pursue shared growth. At the recently concluded 8th China-Eurasia Expo, Dongfeng Motor showcased 10 commercial and passenger vehicle models, demonstrating the group's comprehensive strength and commitment to expanding international business partnerships.

During the expo, Dongfeng Motor successfully signed five overseas and two domestic bulk order contracts with dealers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Mongolia, totaling over 1,800 vehicles. From January to May this year, Dongfeng Motor's vehicle exports to Central Asia and other countries increased by 71% year-on-year.
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he would support the idea of a mini primary for the Democratic Party to choose a new candidate if President Biden decides to suspend his campaign amid growing concern from voters.

Clyburn joined CNNs Erica Hill on Wednesday to discuss what could happen if Biden chooses to step aside. Hill asked Clyburn, a top ally of Bidens, if he thinks the party should automatically hand the nomination to Vice President Harris or if there should be a primary campaign of sorts ahead of the party convention in August.

The South Carolina representative said he thinks were going to have a mini primary leading into the convention, noting the virtual roll call that needs to take place by Aug. 7 for the candidate to appear on the Ohio ballot. The Democratic National Convention is set to take place Aug. 19 in Chicago.

You can actually fashion the process thats already in place to make it a mini primary, and I would support that, absolutely, Clyburn said.

He argued that if Biden does step aside, the Democratic Party should open everything up to others in the party who want to run for the White House.

After Bidens poor debate performance, Clyburn said he would support Harris taking over the ticket because he has supported the Biden-Harris ticket all along.

He argued Wednesday that Harris would acquit herself very well in a mini primary, but the process would be fair to everybody, including all of the other governors who may be interested.

If the nomination is handed to Harris, she would need a strong running mate, he added.

A primary would give us a good opportunity, not just to measure up who would be good to be at the top of the ticket, but also who will be best in second place, Clyburn said.

Clyburn, who has spent more than two decades in House Democratic leadership, has been a close ally of Bidens for years. When Clyburn endorsed Biden ahead of the 2020 primary in South Carolina, it served as a turning point that put Biden on track for the White House.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
CMPD holds workout in honor of fallen K-9 officer on Fourth of July

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department held a workout on the Fourth of July to honor fallen K-9 Officer Brent Simpson.

The workout was held at the Academy on Thursday morning, July 4, and represented his end of watch on July 1, 2024, and CMPD code number.

The workout was completed with a weighted vest, CMPD said.

7 Rounds = July 1

1 Mile = Date of the Month

24 Push-Ups = Year

37 Sit-Ups and 76 Squats for 3776 = Code #

K-9 Officer Brent Simpson tragically passed away on Monday, July 1, at the hospital from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, CMPD said.

WATCH: Doctors Insight: Mental health in law enforcement

His life and service will never be forgotten. Please say a prayer for Officer Simpsons loved ones and fellow officers during this difficult time, the department said earlier this week.

Photos: CMPD

Photos: CMPD

Photos: CMPD

Photos: CMPD

Photos: CMPD

The loss of CMPD Officer Brent Simpson is a heartbreaking tragedy. Law enforcement is an incredibly difficult job. I extend my deepest gratitude to him for 18 years of service to this community. My prayers are with his family and fellow officers, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles 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.
NEW YORK (PIX11)  As we commemorate our country on the Fourth of July, we are also celebrating the top military unit on water and the largest permanent unit in the New York region.

PIX11 News got a behind the scenes look with the United States Coast Guard on one of the most important weekends of the summer.

More Local News

The boarding officer, Charles Beissel, from Forest Hills, say it is an honor to protect the waters that he grew up in. His team conducts what are called safety boardings, which are part of a national initiative called Operation Dry Water.

Operation Dry Water is a boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign, with increased awareness and enforcement from July 4-6.

The initiative is one of the biggest operations the Coast Guard conducts throughout the year. The Coast Guard wants everyone to have fun this holiday weekend and reminds boaters of their motto Semper Paratus, which means they are always ready.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Vice President Kamala Harris is experiencing a meteoric uptick in online engagement following a frenzy of speculation on the fate of President Joe Bidens candidacy after a widely criticized debate performance last week.

The Veep-reminiscent Harris, whose name floats near the top of hypothetical lists to replace her running mate, flew somewhat under the radar for the first three years of her term, popping up occasionally to break key ties in the Senate or rally for Biden administration legislation.

But Harriss name is getting some more oomph behind it, with Kamala and KHive breaking into Xs trending topics, per NBC News. Also on X, coconut tree, and accompanying videos, emojis, or images of Harris are circulating.

Coconut tree refers to a meme stemming from a May 2023 speech in which Harris recalled words of wisdom from her mother: You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.

On this day one year ago, Vice President Kamala Harris said, you think you just fell out of a coconut tree? pic.twitter.com/Vh5OTv3XlF  Know Your Meme (@knowyourmeme) May 10, 2024

Though the campaign  and Harris  have been vocal about Biden staying in the race, social media users and betting markets are leaning into the possibility of a Harris-led ticket.

Harris is the favorite, by a wide margin, to head the Democratic ticket amongst betters, per betting aggregation platform Oddschecker, which puts the Vice President at +137, ahead of President Bidens +250 odds.

Coconut tree summer pic.twitter.com/6w1wLpkbNX  Chi Osse (@OsseChi) July 3, 2024

Several pundits, including Medhi Hasan, formerly of MSNBC, have thrown their weight behind Harris and proclaimed themselves coconut-pilled.

But the president has yet to drop out, with his inner circle citing the risks to the race if he were to exit.

Putting together a Kamala victory playlist pic.twitter.com/ZAtksGKxWc  Jack (@GayLaVie) July 3, 2024

While changing the ticket could be harmful to Democrats chances by itself, Harris has been plagued with notably low favorability ratings for much of her term, battling racist and misogynistic critics on the right and criticism of her track record as California Attorney General from the left.

A New York Times article, claiming that Biden told an unnamed ally that he was considering dropping out of the race, further pushed Harris name up on the trending charts before the White House denied the report.

No ones pushing me out, Biden told advisors on a Wednesday call, per the Times. Im not leaving.
A new coffee chain is coming to Daytona and no, it's not Starbucks

DAYTONA BEACH  Land is being cleared for the first of at least two locations here for a popular coffee chain from the Pacific Northwest.

No, not Starbucks.

The chain that plans to soon open its first locations in Daytona Beach is called Dutch Bros Coffee. Exactly when those locations will open has yet to be announced.

"At this time, we're in the early stages for Daytona Beach, so we don't have anything to share at time this," wrote Dutch Bros spokeswoman Allissan Speidel, in an email to The Daytona Beach News-Journal on July 2.

Dutch Bros Coffee is an Oregon-based chain of drive-through-only coffee shops. Site work has begun on the chain's first location in Daytona Beach at 1431 Beville Road (next to the 7-Eleven on the corner of Beville and Clyde Morris Boulevard). Another location is planned on the north side of LPGA Boulevard, between Williamson and Clyde Morris boulevards. The LPGA location will be part of a new retail center called Ridgewood Park.

Where are they going?

The chain's website already includes 1431 Beville Road in Daytona Beach as one of its "opening soon!" locations. Site work is already underway on the roughly 2.45 acre vacant lot located directly west of the 7-Eleven on the southwest corner of Beville and Clyde Morris Boulevard.

Preliminary plans have also been submitted to the City of Daytona Beach for a potential Dutch Bros Coffee that would become part of a new retail center called Ridgewood Park on the north side of LPGA Boulevard, between Williamson and Clyde Morris boulevards. Land is currently being cleared for that project as well.

Land is being cleared for a future Dutch Bros Coffee shop at 1431 Beville Road in Daytona Beach on Monday, July 1, 2024. The drive-through-only coffee shop will be located just west of the existing 7-Eleven on the southwest corner of Beville and Clyde Morris boulevards.

Here's what we know about the Oregon-based chain:

What is Dutch Bros?

According to its website, Dutch Bros Coffee was founded in February 1992 in downtown Grants Pass, Oregon. Its first location was a push cart operated by two brothers of Dutch descent, Dane and Travis Boersma. They previously worked in the dairy business.

Note: The word "Bros" in its name is pronounced "broze," not "brothers."

Today, the chain has grown to more than 900 "quick service" drive-through locations in 18 states.

In Florida, the closest Dutch Bros location to Daytona Beach is currently roughly 46 miles away at 116 S. Semoran Blvd. in Winter Park.

In addition to coffee drinks, Dutch Bros sells smoothies, lemonade and other caffeinated drinks as well as baked goods including cookies and granola bars.

A Dutch Bros Coffee "broista" holds one of the Grants Pass, Oregon-based chain's coffee drinks in this undated photo. The chain plans to open at least two locations in Daytona Beach: one at 1431 Beville Road and another at a planned retail center called Ridgewood Park on the north side of LPGA Boulevard, between Williamson and Clyde Morris boulevards.

What's on the menu?

A look at the menu on its website shows "Dutch Faves" such as an iced caramel mocha coffee drink called the "Carmelizer," a vanilla and caramel coffee drink with a caramel drizzle called the "Golden Eagle," protein coffee drinks, shakes with names such as "Cotton Candy" (blue raspberry and white chocolate) and the "Ninja" (creme de menthe and white chocolate), energy drinks, blended freeze drinks, lemonades, iced tea, chai lattes, and seasonal drinks.

Its baked good offerings include a chocolate chip muffin top, a lemon poppy seed muffin top, and an orange cranberry muffin top.

They believe in giving back

The company's motto is "To make a difference one cup at a time," according to its website, which notes the chain's commitment to charity work. "Every year the company holds its annual 'Drink One for Dane' fundraiser in honor of co-founder Dane Boersma, who died of Lou Gehrig's Disease in 2009 at the age of 55," the website states.

More: Buc-ee's Car Wash eyes July opening in Daytona's LPGA area. Here's what else is coming.

"In addition to its mission of speed, quality and service, Dutch Bros is committed to giving back to the communities it serves," wrote Speidel. "Through its Dutch Bros Foundation and local operators and franchisees, the company donates several million dollars to causes across the country each year."

Its CEO was featured on 'Undercover Boss'

CEO Travis Boersma appeared on the CBS reality television show "Undercover Boss" in 2013. According to a report by Dailycoffeenews.com in November of that year, Boersma went undercover as a plantation worker at one of his company's coffee suppliers in El Salvador, as well as a barista (known at Dutch Bros as a "broista") at some of the chain's retail locations in the U.S., and as a roaster at the company's headquarters plant.

How many jobs do its retail locations create?

"On average, we hire about 40 people and we usually have two (drive-through) lanes at our locations," wrote Speidel.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Dutch Bros Coffee is coming to Beville Road in Daytona Beach
It would be a sensational plotline even for a telenovela: a guerrilla fighter turned man-of-peace becomes president of a devoutly Catholic countrythen is engulfed in a rumored affair with the nations first transgender TV reporter.

But in Colombia, it is real and has left the countrys political class reeling.

It began when President Gustavo Petro was spotted on an official visit to neighboring Panama, not with his wife of 20 years, but with Linda Yepes, who made history as Colombias first transgender female TV reporter, Telemundo reported.

The video appears to show Petro and Yepes holding hands and smiling, clearly familiar with each other. There is also a photo which shows Petro taking pictures of Yepes as she poses for him in a strapless blue dress, according to the Daily Mail.

The scandal sparked debates about the right to transition in the socially conservative country where 70 per cent identify as Catholic.

While refusing to answer accusations he was cheating on his wife of 20 years with Yepes head on, Petro, who took office in 2022 as the first left-wing president in recent memory, accused his right-wing opponents of using the video to whip up hatred against Colombias transgender community. Responding to the situation on X, he wrote: 'I am heterosexual, but you will never hear or read a transphobic word from me. Because not only would he [sic] stop being a man, but also human.

The thousands of transphobic messages that have exploded in the hands of a right-wing, deeply exclusive, ignorant and discriminatory society must be rejected by the president.

He added: I have always considered that privacy is the last ratio of freedom, the last trench of being free, and I will maintain this principle until I write about myself or die.

Yepes is the first openly transgender TV presenter in Colombia and has said she struggled as a young person with the decision to transition. I kept saying to myself If I am trans, Im either going to be a hairstylist or a prostitute because those are the only paths society has practically handed to us. Her prominence as a TV presenter has seen her heralded as a role model by younger Colombians.

Petros allies were struggling to contain the impact of the video, arguing the president should be allowed a private life and to judge him on his policies.

When asked by Univision about the video, Yepes would say only: 'I was in Panama. I love Panama. I cannot speak about the details yet.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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DENVER (KDVR)  After visiting the communities surrounding Dolores Canyons over the past few months, U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet released a joint statement on the path forward to protecting the federal lands, citing several principles they intend to follow.

For decades, Coloradans have worked to find a sensible way to protect the Dolores River, the pair of senators said, noting the years of conversations with residents of the area about whether the Northern Dolores Canyons region should become a National Monument.

Rabbit-like animal from South America spotted in Bear Creek Lake Park

Based on these conversations, it is clear that Coloradans care deeply about this landscape and many want it permanently protected. We also recognize there are legitimate questions and the need for further discussion, the statement continued. We are committed to continuing to work with local leaders, public land users, affected counties, and Tribes to determine the best path.

The Northern Dolores Basin is located in Mesa, Montrose and San Miguel counties, and the Protect the Dolores Coalition has proposed creating a new national monument for the area, which is about 390,000 acres. Proponents of the designation say this would preserve access to the land for future generations and boost the local economy through tourism.

The area includes historic sites, such as mines and Indigenous cultural sites, as well as geologic formations, paleontological sites and high biodiversity. But even local governments are concerned about the proposed national monument.

Bennet and Hickenlooper noted in their joint release on Wednesday that they have several principles they intend to follow while finding a tool to permanently protect the Dolores, including:

The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service should continue to manage the lands as they do now

No fees should be charged to access the land

Grazing should continue and be managed under existing laws and regulations

The Rimrocker Trail should remain open for motorized and other recreational uses

Mountain biking should continue and new trail development should be pursued

Existing mining rights should be protected

All hunting and fishing should be allowed to continue

Existing water rights should be protected and a federal reserved water right should not be created

On May 14, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing the monuments creation  the board cited concerns that the national monument would not adequately consider local input or needs, and is already protectively managed by the BLM and U.S. Forest Service. The board also cited a study that found 60% of residents who responded opposed the designation.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife increasing water patrols for 4th of July holiday

The Montrose Board of County Commissioners also noted their opposition to the designation, citing a lack of local stakeholder input, potential economic harm and unnecessary restrictions on land use.

The proposed Dolores Canyon National Monument designation encompasses nearly the entire Uravan Mineral Belt, a critical source for vanadium, uranium, and other essential minerals for clean energy development, said Commissioner Sue Hansen in a March release. This designation would stifle future mining opportunities and hinder our ability to develop these resources as we transition away from fossil fuels.

Nearby Archuleta County also voiced its dissent to the designation, saying there are already layers of protections surrounding the region, and the designation would drastically limit future opportunities.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical advisor to the president, testifies before a Senate committee about baseless attacks on his work. (Greg Nash / Associated Press)

Just after Thanksgiving 2021, Dr. Anthony Fauci visited a high school in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C. His goal was to promote the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in a primarily Black community, where vaccine rates were lower than in the rest of the capital.

Fauci was joined by Barack Obama  the fifth of the seven presidents he would serve during his more than half-century career as a public health official. Together they made the rounds of vaccination booths in the school gym, posing for photos. As they were getting into their cars after the visit, Obama turned to him with a word of encouragement.

Fauci had been accused by congressional crackpots such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) of having helped to create the COVID virus, unleashing the pandemic, and by Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) of having masterminded nationwide pandemic shutdowns. Credible death threats against him had prompted the government to provide him with 24-hour security protection.

AIDS had made me a target, but that was largely before social media.... Now my family and I were barraged by emails, texts, and phone calls ... with foul language and sexually explicit messages and threatened with violence and even death.

Anthony S. Fauci

Obama's advice carried so much weight that Fauci, 83, has used it, in its original Latin, as the title of a chapter of his newly published memoir, "On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service." That chapter, concerning the maelstrom of abuse he sustained as a right-wing whipping boy during the pandemic, is called "Illegitimi Non Carborundum." (In English: "Don't let the bastards grind you down.")

Published in mid-June, "On Call" is an indispensable addition to the growing shelf of books by medical and scientific professionals fighting back against the tide of disinformation undermining public health in the U.S.

Over the last few months I've reported on others, including "The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science" by pediatrician and immunologist Peter Hotez and "We Want Them Infected" by neurologist Jonathan Howard, which demolishes the claims of anti-vaccine ideologues such as Stanford's Jay Bhattacharya.

This year has brought us not only Fauci's book but "Tell Me When It's Over" by vaccine expert Paul Offit, which takes aim at the "COVID myths" that anti-vaxxers have wholesaled to encourage vaccination resistance in the general public.

Fauci's book stands out because its author has chosen to place the abusive, ignorant treatment he received from disinformation grifters in and outside of government beginning with the Trump years in the context of his long career as a public servant.

His work started with his joining the National Institutes of Health as a fellow in 1968, at the age of 27. He stayed there, as a staff member and ultimately as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, until his retirement in 2022.

Read more: Column: After smearing Anthony Fauci, House Republicans proceed to defame a prominent vaccine scientist

Over that time, Fauci became the nation's most respected and influential immunologist. His public role first emerged with the appearance of AIDS in 1981. Within a few months, he decided to leave the routine research he had been doing on human immune response and focus instead on "this mysterious new disease seemingly restricted at this point to gay men."

It was a soul-crushing experience. The cause of AIDS was not understood until 1983, when the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, was identified as the culprit. There were no effective treatments, much less a cure. Fauci describes himself watching powerlessly as NIAID wards filled with patients facing a death sentence.

"None of my training or temperament," he writes, "provided a bulwark against that horrible, inevitable outcome. ... All of us who worked on the ward with those patients had to stuff away our feelings of loss, day after day, just to be able to carry on."

A youthful Anthony Fauci opens an AIDS conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 2004. (Laurent Gillieron / Associated Press)

Fauci also became a target of AIDS activists, who blamed him for failing to persuade his bureaucratic superiors to pull out all the stops on AIDS research  among them the playwright Larry Kramer, who in 1988 wrote an op-ed in the San Francisco Examiner headlined "I Call You Murderers, an Open Letter to an Incompetent Idiot, Dr. Anthony Fauci."

Yet Fauci's efforts to bring Kramer and other activists into the official meetings, and his championing of a full-scale government program to battle the disease, ultimately brought them together by the time Kramer succumbed to AIDS in 2020. "A complex relationship, indeed," Fauci writes.

But the experience with AIDS didn't prepare Fauci for the abuse he received as "the de facto public face of the country's battle" with COVID. "AIDS had made me a target, but that was largely before social media," he writes. "Now my family and I were barraged by emails, texts, and phone calls... with foul language and sexually explicit messages and threatened with violence and even death." Right-wingers and GOP politicians even called for Fauci's prosecution.

Read more: Column: Anatomy of a smear  Fauci faces the House GOP's clown show about COVID

The problem began with Trump, who was courteous with Fauci in private and even seemed to accept his truth-telling about the seriousness of the developing crisis  but at public rallies dismissed COVID as a Democratic "hoax."

Fauci is judicious about many of the administration officials he worked with as a member of Trump's COVID task force, including Vice President Mike Pence, who Fauci says seemed sincerely to face up to the crisis but was hamstrung by his sedulous fealty to Trump. But he's contemptuous about those who exploited the public's unfamiliarity with the scientific method to cast doubt on necessary pandemic countermeasures and hype useless nostrums.

"People associate science with absolutes," he writes. But science is a process in which new information is absorbed and evaluated, leading to new conclusions.

That was the case with the government's advice against masking, issued when the pandemic was new, its means of transmission unknown, and hospitals were suffering a severe shortage of surgical masks and other protective equipment.

When the shortages eased and it became clear that masks would help stem the spread of COVID, the advice changed  but was portrayed on the right as an example of deliberate deceit by government experts.

Those who earned Fauci's contempt include Peter Navarro, a Trump economic advisor who marched into a White House meeting after Fauci had dismissed hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug Trump was touting as a COVID treatment, dumped a pile of papers on the table and barked at Fauci: "I have all the evidence in the world that hydroxychloroquine works. And by preventing people from getting it, you have blood on your hands!"

Read more: Column: Democrats show that they're no better than Trump in allowing politics to interfere with science

Navarro is currently serving a prison sentence for ignoring a subpoena from a House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Fauci's inclination to be candid about the perils of COVID and the value of social counter-methods eventually led to his being muzzled by the White House, barred from appearing on cable news shows even as the COVID toll increased inexorably. Nearly 1.2 million Americans have succumbed to the disease, the U.S. toll from which is by far the worst in the developed world.

"Attacks on me came daily," Fauci relates. Right-wing organizations and Republicans in Congress kept "digging for something that would discredit me. When nothing was found, they just made up stories with no evidence whatsoever to back them up."

Paul advanced the baseless charge that Fauci's institute, via a grant to the research organization EcoHealth Alliance, had caused the pandemic, even though the research EcoHealth had funded at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology could not conceivably have produced the SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID.

In his book, Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the Food and Drug Administration panel that rules on the safety and efficacy of vaccines, traces his own experience with the anti-vaccine movement.

Offit ably traces the origin of the modern anti-vaccine movement to a fact-free campaign in 1982 blaming the whooping cough vaccine for childhood injuries, which was taken up by the mass media but had no basis in fact. It was augmented by a fraudulent 1998 paper tying the MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine to autism.

Read more: Column: The anti-vaxxers' campaign against public health advocates gets scarier and more rabid

The paper was eventually retracted by its publisher, the British journal the Lancet, and its main author, Andrew Wakefield, was stripped of his British medical license. But the paper's influence is still shown by resistance to the MMR vaccine in Britain and pockets in the U.S., where Wakefield is lauded by anti-vaccine agitators as a hero.

Offit shows how the messaging of anti-vaxxers has evolved from claims about the purported health hazard of vaccines into a movement for "medical freedom"  the right of individuals to decide for themselves "what we can or can't put into our bodies or the bodies of our children."

That turns the very concept of public health on its head. "Public health had morphed into private decisions, the public be damned," Offit writes.

He ties the anti-vaccine movement to other health-related conspiracy-mongering, such as the notion that COVID originated in that Chinese lab, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that it reached humans the way other viruses have throughout history  as a spillover from wildlife in contacts with humans.

Even before that, the drumbeat of campaigns against vaccines resulted in a dangerous skepticism about science just when sober scientific judgments were most needed.

"The outside impact of these conspiracy theories on the American public meant that the war against COVID would soon become a war against ourselves," Offit writes. "Much of the suffering and deaths from COVID could have been prevented had people chosen to be vaccinated. But they believed the myths. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people died needlessly."

Doctors and scientists have been pondering with ever-increasing urgency how to combat the tide of science denialism that infects public health policymaking and public discourse. They're facing a tough enemy, because the underlying driver of conspiracy movements is grift  the purveying of disinformation for profit and fame. Witness the rise of anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to political prominence.

Fauci, Offit, Hotez, Howard and other responsible scientists are placing their livelihoods, reputations and even their safety on the line to bring the facts to the American public. They're heroes, and we must heed their efforts to protect science from charlatans and frauds, for our own good.

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Commentary on economics and more from a Pulitzer Prize winner.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 4, Chinese Ethernet chip developer EtlChip announced the completion of its Pre-A++ round of financing, led by Cornerstone Ventures.

Photo credit: EtlChip

This funding comes just two months after the companys previous round. To date, EtlChip has raised several hundred million yuan in its Pre-A rounds, with investors including Hatchip Capital, Delian Capital, Jucheng Capital, a fund backed by FAW Group and Leaguer Capital, Pengchen Investment, CAS Star, Cowin Capital, and Cornerstone Ventures. The new funds will primarily support EtlChips product development.

Founded in 2022, EtlChip has launched a complete set of automotive-grade TSN Ethernet chips, covering all application scenarios for automotive Ethernet. This new product line represents another significant milestone in the automotive chip industry. Previously, the company's industrial-grade Ethernet chips passed comprehensive TSN testing and rigorous environmental tests (including high and low-temperature cycles) conducted by several listed companies, and are now being shipped in bulk to multiple clients.

EtlChip is also focusing on domain controller Ethernet switch chips in the automotive Ethernet chip market, aiming to become a global leader in intelligent automotive communication chips. The newly launched products meet industry-leading standards and surpass several performance parameters of international competitors. The EtlChip team boasts over 20 years of experience in the Ethernet chip sector, having established Ethernet chip product lines at major global companies, making them a rare and valuable resource in the industry.
The air was muggy, and the afternoon sun baked the streets of the nation's capital. But when I visited last month, I made a point to walk the two miles from my hotel to the U.S. Capitol instead of taking an Uber, so I could see it in all its glory.

I didnt have much time for sightseeing, but a pilgrimage to the seat of American government was a must. Since Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of thousands stormed it to try to stop the electoral vote count that would officially make Joe Biden president, the symbol of our democracy has stood as a reminder of how tenuous it is.

Before that wannabe coup, the U.S. Capitol was an abstraction for me, a series of images  that stunning dome, those imposing columns, but especially the magnificent steps  where a bunch of politicians passed laws but mostly grandstanded. Hell, I didnt even know there was a front and back entrance until I approached from Pennsylvania Avenue. I had been to D.C. before but hit the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and a few other landmarks, not the Capitol.

Its huge! The white building gleams like a promontory of power, with trees from across the U.S. spread across the grounds below. Its magnetism was such that I paid no attention to the Reflecting Pool, the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial or the Peace Monument below it.

What broke the spell was the people around me.

Read more: 'How are we going to defend ourselves?' Inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection

Filipino men in barongs and Muslim women in hijabs. Argentines joking around in lilting Spanish and Australians with their distinctive garrulous accent. Im not sure if they were foreign tourists or immigrants, but it was easy to distinguish them from the locals, who rushed toward the rest of their day uninterested in the splendor the rest of us basked in. We lookie-loos used the Capitol as the backdrop for group photos and selfies, paying little attention to the barricades and police officers blocking us from ascending the steps of the West End.

That scene is on my mind on the 248th birthday of this country, especially after the horror show that was last weeks presidential debate between Biden and the man the insurrectionists wanted to keep in office, Donald Trump. All anyone talked about in the immediate aftermath was Biden's performance, with some, including Democrats, deriding it as akin to the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt.

Biden was no silver-tongued Socrates  but he never has been, and the commander in chief improved as the night went along. Besides, Ill take his fuddy-duddiness over the dictatorial doom-and-gloom and lies Trump offered that night.

But Biden broke my heart, because he stayed mostly silent while Trump lambasted immigrants as the gravest threat this nation has ever faced. The convicted felon barely bothered to distinguish legal from illegal immigrants. He claimed Biden open[ed] up our country to people that are from prisons, people that are from mental institutions, insane asylums, terrorists, going on to mention mental institutions two more times, as if mentally ill people are subhuman. He described the U.S.-Mexico border as the worst  in the history of the world and the most dangerous place anywhere in the world, which will come as news to residents of Gaza and those on the front lines of the Ukraine war.

When we needed someone to stand up for our nation's newcomers, to brag about how this country remains a beacon for the tired and poor huddled masses of the world instead of the "failing nation" Trump thinks we are (a point he repeated five times), Biden instead insisted he was far better at cracking down on illegal immigration than Trump made him out to be.

Trump's most damning line of the night  I really dont know what he [Biden] said at the end of that sentence. I dont think he knows what he said either  was in response to the president mumbling his way through a boast about increasing the number of Border Patrol agents and making it harder to claim asylum.

If Biden won't stand up to xenophobic bull spouted by a bully, who will?

Supporters of then-President Trump try to break through a police barrier on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

Ive lived my life hearing that unchecked immigration, legal or not, will ruin the United States. Ive never seen this apocalypse come. Nah, its been mostly native-born white Americans who keep whining that we're no longer great, yet do little to make things better, other than moving to Tennessee or Idaho. Its immigrants and their descendants who have kept the embers of the American way from dying by emphasizing hard work, community and personal responsibility.

Newcomers who want to better their lives are who we should celebrate on the Fourth of July. Yet multiple polls show that a majority of Americans  even Latinos  feel our borders are under assault. The temperature around immigration is even nastier than during the days of Prop. 187, the ballot initiative that California voters passed 30 years ago in an attempt to make life miserable for undocumented immigrants. Back then, people banded together to fight back. Now? Few seem to care.

The weight of it hit me as I walked around the Capitol to see its official entrance, where the insurrectionists invaded on Jan. 6. The sun was setting right behind the dome, casting a long, frigid shadow even on a hot day. Police were everywhere. Metal barricades blocked people from climbing the steps that led to the House of Representatives and the Senate chambers, and the Rotunda. A few tourists lingered alongside me but quickly left.

I approached an unfenced area, and a police officer politely but firmly told me to move on. It felt like a crime scene  and the victims are us.

Read more: Column: California Latinos have become more skeptical of undocumented immigrants. What changed?

Both sides of the political aisle claim it's now evening in America, but I'll forever remain an optimist. What else can I do? This country exceeded the expectations of my Mexican immigrant parents, and mine. It's nowhere near perfect, but that's what makes it so great  the United States belongs to those who work it, those who hope.

The day after my Capitol visit, I walked past the tourist entrance to the White House. The free public tours didn't start until 9:30 in the morning, but the line to enter wound up and down the gate two hours before. Men in turbans stood next to college students wearing University of Wisconsin T-shirts. English and Spanish and Mandarin filled the air.

The American flags some people sported on their hats or as jewelry didn't come off as a political statement but rather a symbol of communion. The guards who stood sentry were jovial. There were no complaints, nothing but excitement at the shared joy of what they were about to see.

That is the America I celebrate this Fourth of July  and pray that remains, come election day.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A Fresno County Community Service officer rescued a dozen dogs from the heat at a Fresno park, the Fresno County Sheriffs Office said.

While at Kearney Park on Wednesday, Tony Casarez, a Fresno County Community Service officer, found 12 dogs stranded outside.

Upon the discovery, he contacted the Central California SPCA and provided the dogs with water until SPCA officials arrived. They were then transported to the SPCA facility.









Tony Casarez.





As of Wednesday, the status of the puppies and if they are up for adoption is unknown.

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CONEY ISLAND, Brooklyn (PIX11)  As Independence Day approaches, Coney Island is gearing up for one of its biggest celebrations yet.

Organizers anticipate a larger turnout this year than last, with thousands expected to flock to the iconic Brooklyn destination. The stage is set for the annual Nathans Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, a tradition synonymous with the Fourth of July at Coney Island.

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One of the days highlights is undoubtedly Nathans Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Competitors from around the country will gather to see who can devour the most hot dogs in a set amount of time. Jason Yakovov, who is particularly excited about the event, is among the contestants.

Im prepared Im gonna be like 25 hotdogs easy, easier with some water, said Yakovov, who participated in a similar contest last year in New Jersey. His strategy? You gotta eat, bro. You just gotta eat a lot of food, bro. Thats it.

Bruce Miller, Senior Director of Company Operations for Nathans Famous, emphasized the contests historical significance.

More Brooklyn News

This is a tradition. This has been going on for about 90 years, he said.

The contest, which is free to attend, is expected to draw a crowd of 40,000 people this year.

Its a little bit more than last year. Since Covid, we had a little damper, but now were coming back around to where we used to be, with people flocking to Coney Island, Miller added.

The festivities dont end with the hot dog eating contest. As the sun sets, the sky over Coney Island will light up with a spectacular fireworks display.

We have not only daytime but nighttime activities. We have a fantastic fireworks display right here at the pier. And its open, free for all to come, said Daniel Murphy, the Alliance for Coney Island executive director.

The fireworks display will begin at 9:45 p.m., and Murphy recommends arriving early to secure the best views. The display will be visible from various points along the Riegelmann Boardwalk and Steeplechase Park, ensuring everyone can enjoy the show.

In addition to the hot dog eating contest and fireworks, visitors can enjoy a host of other activities throughout the day. From taking a dip in the ocean to riding the Cyclone, there is something for everyone at Coney Island on the Fourth of July. The festivities promise to be a memorable experience for all who attend.

As event organizers work behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and exciting Fourth of July, competitors like Yakovov are preparing for their big moment.

Its going to be so cool. Im going to be chilling here with all my boys, Yakovov said, looking forward to the day.

The hot dog eating competition begins at 11 a.m., and the fireworks will cap off the night at 9:45 p.m. on Friday, July 5, at 9:45 p.m.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEW YORK - JULY 4: Fireworks explode in the air, as seen from Weehawken, New Jersey on the Hudson River during the Macy's Firework display on July 4, 2009. It was the first time since the year 2000 that the fireworks have exploded over the Hudson River and not the East River. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

We are in dangerous waters on this Independence Day.

While we obsess over the horse race and the latest polls, rubbernecking at the tragic disintegration of an accomplished, public-spirited president, the plot to overthrow American democracy and replace it with a violent, repressive, despotic regime is well underway.

We are in the process of the second American Revolution, which will remain bloodless  if the left allows it to be, Kevin Roberts, the president of the rightwing Heritage Foundation, ominously declared Tuesday on The War Room, Steve Bannons radio show.

Right on. Thank you, brother, responded Dave Brat, the former Tea Party Republican congressman from Virginia, who was filling in as guest host. (Bannon, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, was unavailable because hes serving prison time for contempt of Congress after refusing to testify about his role in the attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2021.)

The idea that an army of right-wing groups is waging a war to overthrow U.S. democracy and smash the Deep State has moved from fantasies spun out in the comments sections of neo-Nazi blogs to a published plan created by a well funded conservative think tank. The Heritage Foundations Project 2025 declares its intention to assemble an army of aligned, vetted, trained, and prepared conservatives to go to work on Day One to deconstruct the Administrative State.

Among its goals is the elimination of career civil service jobs in the federal government and their replacement with ideologues appointed by a newly empowered conservative president.

Its no surprise, then, that on Bannons show, Roberts praised the U.S. Supreme Courts recent decision eliminating the Chevron doctrine, gutting 40 years of deference to experts, including scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. Now corporations can forum-shop for friendly judges who have the discretion to replace scientific expertise with their own off-the-cuff opinions.

The Chevron decision is momentous, Roberts said, second only to the Dobbs decision among the most important Supreme Court victories of my lifetime, because it is going to return the power to the people. It is going to devolve power from Washington D.C., not just to the states, but to individual Americans.

Or, as Justice Elena Kagan wrote in her dissent: In one fell swoop, the majority today gives itself exclusive power over every open issue  no matter how expertise-driven or policy-laden  involving the meaning of regulatory law. As if it did not have enough on its plate, the majority turns itself into the countrys administrative czar.

The radical left including talking heads on MSNBC, are apoplectic right now, Roberts said gleefully, because our side is winning.

The goals of his second American Revolution include a federal campaign to end abortion, including reversing FDA approval for the widely used abortion drug mifepristone; going after woke culture warriors in government, including by deleting the terms sexual orientation, gender identity, diversity, equity and inclusion out of every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists; and reversing what Brat, in his interview, called the supposed separation of church and state.

The main problem facing the United States as it enters this really pivotal period, is that we have a decline in religiosity, Roberts declared.

The Supreme Court ruling on immunity for presidents who commit criminal acts in office is vital, Roberts added, quoting Alexander Hamilton on the importance of a vigorous executive.

But the decision swept away the foundational American principle that no one is above the law.

In Madison, voting rights advocates from the groups Law Forward, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and the Service Employees International Union gathered in front of the federal courthouse wearing banana costumes and black robes to protest the ruling by Trumps handpicked justices.

I thought we lived in a democracy. I thought we lived in a republic, but apparently we live in a banana republic, said Nick Ramos, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

Here in America, we hold sacred the core values of democracy, that our leaders, whether elected or appointed, must respect our will and govern in our interest, not seize power, commit crimes and rule over us, said Jeff Mandell of Law Forward.

The solution emphasized by all of the speakers at the small gathering outside the courthouse was to energize voters to turn out in the 2024 presidential election.

The winner of that contest might replace two of the most right-wing justices on the Court.

Ramos also took inspiration from the victory for democracy in Wisconsin citizens long fight to get fair legislative maps. Weve lived in the most gerrymandered state in the entire country. And up until recently, weve havent had maps that have been representative of us, he said, adding that its important to make sure people understand whats at stake, and understand how they can participate in our democracy so that they can be able to take advantage of these maps.

Mandell emphasized the importance of holding the coup plotters who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election accountable, including those who designed and implemented the fake electoral scheme that began in Wisconsin and metastasized across the country. (Law Forward helped file the first civil lawsuit against false electors in the country.) Ultimately, he added, When the MAGA movement denies us the justice we deserve, the people must act as the ultimate jury.

Government of the People, by the People, for the People shall, as Lincoln feared, perish from this earth if we as Americans do not prioritize democracy as a litmus test issue in choosing who is fit to lead us, he added.

Its a timely message for the 4th of July.

The post Confronting a Second American Revolution on the 4th of July appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
In a statement released Wednesday, Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton says hes concerned about the current status of the presidential race, especially as it pertains to the age of President Joe Biden.

I deeply respect President Biden and all the great things he has done for America, but I have grave concerns about his ability to defeat Donald Trump, the Democratic congressman said. When your current strategy isnt working, its rarely the right decision to double down. President Biden is not going to get younger.

The comments come as several Democrats rushed to meet with Biden after his shaky debate performance, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. The meeting was expected to address concerns about the debate.

President Biden was quoted earlier Wednesday saying, No one is pushing me out...I am running. I am the leader of the Democratic Party.

No one is pushing me out: President Biden vows to keep running after his disastrous debate

Moulton says he has spoken with colleagues and other Democrats since last Thursday about the best strategy for the party, and if that strategy includes Biden as the Democratic nominee.

Beating Trump is imperative for the future of our democracy, especially now that the Supreme Court just handed him a blank check to act like a king, the congressman said. Winning will require prosecuting the case in the media, in town halls, and at campaign stops all over the country. President Biden needs to demonstrate that he can do that.

Moulton joins a growing list of top Democrats questioning whether Biden is fit to run for a second term as president.

Ive always said that America needs to elevate a new generation of leaders, and I respect those colleagues who have already spoken out, he said. We should have all viable options on the table. The unfortunate reality is that the status quo will likely deliver us President Trump.

The congressman posted his full statement on X, formerly known as Twitter:

My thoughts on where things stand with President Biden and the state of the race: pic.twitter.com/z4lEP4GeoF  Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) July 3, 2024

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Carsten Breuer, the Bundeswehr chief of defence, said that national service for both sexes should be compulsory - Florian Gaertner/Photothek/Getty Images

A German general said women should be conscripted into the armed forces as part of plans to revive national service and counter Russian aggression.

Carsten Breuer, the Bundeswehr chief of defence, said that in the interests of equality women should be drafted into the army and that national service for both sexes should be compulsory.

We have at present a suspended military service, which according to the Basic Law is aimed only at the male population. We should establish equality here, but first we need a corresponding political and social discussion, he said in an interview with news outlet Redaktionsnetzwerk.

General Breuer said he had 'no doubt' his army could repel a Russian invasion on Nato's eastern flank - Frank Hammerschmidt/Avalon

Germany is on a mission to expand its army, with ambitions to become Europes biggest military spender.

Last month officials released a 67-page document outlining how the outbreak of war would affect civilians, in particular those in professions that can support the army.

Gen Breuer said Germany needed 100,000 volunteers for an effective conscription force but it would struggle unless national service was made compulsory.

Germany ended conscription in 2011 as part of a reform that sought to downsize the army and professionalise the remaining soldiers. It was also unpopular among Germans, with many opting for civilian national service duties.

But the Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a Zeitenwende, or turning of the times, in German foreign policy amid concerns that a conflict with Moscow could break out within the next five to seven years.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered a rethink of German defence policy

The conscription model is being drawn up by Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, who has vowed to transform Germany into a kriegstuchtigkeit or war-ready nation.

Mr Pistorius is in favour of the so-called Swedish model, where 100,000 18-year-olds are screened annually, but only the top 5 per cent end up serving.

He unveiled parts of the conscription model in June, saying it would involve questionnaires for about 50,000 young people followed by medical screening and the recruitment of a select 5,000 people for six months of service.

The law should come into force before the summer break so that we can utilise the first capacities before the end of 2025, he said.

A more ambitious option would be full conscription for all 18-years-olds, male and female, though the Bundeswehr is said to lack the capacity to take on such a huge number of recruits.

In an interview with the Telegraph earlier this year, Gen Breuer said he had no doubt his army could repel a Russian invasion on Natos eastern flank, even if it occurred in the near future.

The paramount importance [is] of achieving the readiness of Germanys armed forces within the next five years. We call this kriegstuchtigkeit  being ready, capable and willing to fight. We are on the right track, he said.

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LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) The City of Lynchburg says cooling centers will be open across the city over the Fourth of July weekend from Thursday, July, 4 to Saturday, July 6.

According to weather forecasts, temperatures are expected to return to the mid-90s over the next couple of days. In response, the City of Lynchburg has designated these locations as cooling centers:

Lynchburg Public Library  Main Branch, 2315 Memorial Avenue & the Downtown Branch Library, 216 12th Street, Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m.  5:30 p.m.

Department of Human Services Lobby  99 Ninth Street, Friday, 8:30 a.m.  5:00 p.m.

Miller Center  301 Grove Street, Friday and Saturday, 8:30 a.m.  5:00 p.m.

Lynchburg Community Market  1219 Main Street, Thursday  Saturday, 7:00 a.m.  2:00 p.m.

Salvation Army, 2215 Park Avenue, dining room will be open Thursday  Saturday, 12 noon  4:00 p.m.

Fourth of July Celebrations in Southwest Virginia

Along with these locations, the Miller Park Pool on Park Ave will be open on Thursday, July 4 from 1:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to the pool is $3.

The city will also be offering cold water at these locations to ensure everyone is staying hydrated during the high heat.

City officials remind residents to drink water, keep cool indoors, limit physical activities, and wear light-weight clothing in order to beat the heat this holiday weekend. For more tips, visit the Virginia Department of Healths 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 WFXRtv.
Westport, Connecticut. is one of the nations wealthiest towns, with mansions like this one overlooking the Long Island Sound. (Jacqueline Rabe Thomas/CT Mirror)

State government could raise as much as $180 million annually to combat homelessness or address other social needs by boosting its tax on the sale of high-value houses, according to a recent report from two Washington fiscal think tanks.

And with Connecticuts top state senator pledging to renew his push for a statewide property tax on expensive homes, Connecticuts ongoing debate on income and wealth inequality could be expanding next January when lawmakers return to the state Capitol.

A historically large share of the nations wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, a reality glaring in the housing sector, wrote analysts for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, commonly known as ITEP. High-value homes in many parts of the country have grown even more valuable over the past several years while people with low incomes, especially renters, face ever-growing challenges affording housing.

While median rents are up nationwide more than 18% over the past two decades, analysts wrote, renters incomes have risen just 4%, making it harder to afford food, clothing, transportation and other basic needs.

During the height of the COVID pandemic three years ago, 8.5 million households with low incomes yet lacking household assistance paid more than one-half of their income toward rent, lived in severely inadequate housing conditions, or both, analysts wrote, citing data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

After nearly a decade of decreases, homelessness in Connecticut rose 13% in January 2022 compared with the prior year and by another 3% in January 2023, at which point 3,015 people were unhoused, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness reported last August.

And with federal rental assistance supporting just one in four eligible households due to limited funds, states increasingly are exploring mansion taxes in the form of progressive conveyance levies as ways to generate revenue to combat homelessness, analysts added.

Connecticut could generate another $92 million annually by levying a 4% conveyance tax on the portion of any housing sales that exceed $1 million, the report states.

The states annual tax could climb to $179 million if the 4% rate were imposed on the entire transaction of all sales that exceed $1 million in value.

That would be in addition to the roughly $270 million Connecticut generated this past fiscal year through its current state conveyance tax.

The state currently taxes the first $800,000 of any house transaction at 0.75%. Any portion of a sale that exceeds $800,000 and is less than $2.5 million is taxed at 1.25%, while any portion above $2.5 million is taxed at 2.25%.

But wealthy homeowners can recover any taxes paid at 2.25% in the third year after the purchase. They qualify for reimbursement through a state income tax credit provided they still reside in Connecticut.

Municipalities here also levy a local conveyance tax, with rates ranging from 0.25% to 0.5%

Any Connecticut tax hike proposal likely to draw strong opposition

But many argue Connecticut already has one of the heaviest state and municipal tax burdens in the nation.

And of the 33 states that impose a real estate conveyance tax, Connecticut is one of just seven that levy a surcharge on the sale of higher value homes.

Anything that would drive up the cost of buying a home in Connecticut, I suspect  would be met with a resounding no by minority Republicans in the state House, said Rep. Holly Cheeseman of East Lyme, ranking House Republican on the tax-writing Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

CT REALTORS opposes any conveyance taxes on real property whether on sellers or buyers, including the mansion tax option, said Carl Lantz, president of the group formerly known as the Connecticut Association of Realtors, which has nearly 19,000 members.

Gov. Ned Lamont raised state taxes and fees by about $270 million annually to close a deficit he inherited upon taking office in 2019. But except for a new commercial truck mileage tax that launched last year, he has pushed hard since then to avoid other hikes and approved major tax cuts in 2022 and 2023.

The new report shows that Connecticut is already a leader in this area  we have instituted a progressive real estate conveyance structure, said Chris Collibee, Lamonts budget spokesman. In the next fiscal year, a portion of those funds will be directed towards new housing development. In addition, under Governor Lamont, we are investing more in workforce and affordable housing  both providing opportunities for home ownership and financing of construction.

But Connecticuts programs to combat homelessness and poverty still have great needs, said Carla Miklos, executive director of Operation Hope, a Fairfield-based nonprofit.

While we appreciate the funding we receive to address homelessness, there is always more needed if we are really going to provide lasting change for people, Miklos said, adding that many nonprofit social service agencies struggle with understaffing and low wages.

The work is hard, it requires skill, but the pay falls behind, Miklos said. Attention in this area is long overdue. More rental subsidies and housing that offers higher levels of care also is needed, she said.

As a state with rampant and nationally-recognized economic inequality, we should be looking at every opportunity to address the gaps that plague the progress of our state, said Norma Martinez-HoSang, director of Connecticut For All, a progressive statewide coalition of more than 60 labor, faith and other civic organizations. Services like strong public K-12 schools to educate our future generations, accessible health care to care for our sick, stable infrastructure to keep our state moving and affordable housing to keep us sheltered all require stable revenue sources. Progressive revenue policies like a mansion tax would allow us to capture revenue from our states most wealthy residents and ensure that the services we all rely on are properly and sustainably funded.

While Connecticut features some of the most expensive houses in the nation, it also is home to extremes in income and wealth inequality and one of the countrys more regressive tax systems  meaning most taxes are imposed at a flat rate, regardless of a households ability to pay. So while any mansion tax would be controversial, alternatively seeking more revenue from the poor and middle class  even to combat homelessness  likely would create even greater waves at the Capitol.

A January report from ITEP found Connecticuts state and municipal tax systems, combined, rank behind 29 other states and the District of Columbia in terms of regressivity.

Connecticuts own tax fairness study last February showed things have gotten worse here over the past decade, and that state and municipal taxes effectively consumed 39.9% of the earnings of Connecticuts poorest 10% of households in 2020. At the same time, middle-income households lost 11.5% to 13% while the highest-earning 10% effectively paid 7.3%, or less than one-fifth the rate of the poorest.

And while Lamont and legislators often note they adopted the largest state tax cut in Connecticut history in 2023, an analysis from Connecticut Voices for Children, a progressive policy group, found tax fairness is eroding even after those cuts are considered.

The poorest residents still effectively lost 32% of their earnings to state and municipal tax burdens, more than four times the rate of the wealthiest households.

Senate leader to revive mansion property tax bill

But if lawmakers are wary of boosting taxes on housing sales, Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, has an alternative.

The lawmaker has twice proposed a statewide property tax, but only on high-value homes. And he says he will try again in 2025.

In 2023, Looney proposed a 1-mill tax on houses with an assessed value exceeding $1.5 million, and a 2-mill tax on those topping $2 million. One mill generates $1 of tax revenue for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Connecticut Voices for Children has endorsed similar proposals, estimating they could generate $330 million to $660 million annually.

Looneys 2023 measure, which was raised for a public hearing but never cleared the Finance Committee, would have dedicated its revenues for municipal education grants. But he told The Connecticut Mirror that assigning funds to combat homelessness and to assist with other social programs also makes sense.

I believe we ought to look at generating more revenue at the state level from high-end properties, Looney said, noting that Connecticuts poorest communities generally face much higher local property tax rates than those in affluent Fairfield County suburbs.

And with the legislatures increased focus in recent years on tax fairness and income inequality, Looney added that he believes support for a mansion tax  either through real estate conveyance or statewide property taxes  will continue to build.

I think people are becoming a little bit more aware of how the [unequal municipal] property tax is not really a suitable or appropriate way to raise money, he added.

The chief lobbying arm for cities and towns, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, didnt take a position on Looneys 2023 measure, or a similar one the Senate leader pitched that also failed to win passage in 2021.

But CCM Executive Director Joe DeLong said the conferences new initiative to assist Connecticuts at-risk youth population is focused on affordable housing, homelessness and related issues. And its report, expected before the 2025 legislative session starts in January  and possibly as early as October  is likely to examine new options to fund social services programs.

Another municipal lobbying group, though, the Connecticut Council of Small Towns, is very wary of any statewide property tax, said Executive Director Betsy Gara.

The property tax is already overutilized as a way of funding the delivery of local services, she said. And if one if launched  even if aimed only at high-value homes  it would just open the door to conversations of a statewide property tax increase across the board.

The statewide Realtors association also opposed any mansion property tax. In many of our cities and towns, what is labeled a mansion is an average-priced home, Lantz said.

Staff Writer Ginny Monk contributed to this article.

Connecticut Mirror is a content partner of States Newsroom. Read the original version here.

The post Could Connecticut fight homelessness with a mansion tax? Yes, report says. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat that could beat Donald Trump in a head-to-head race in November, according to a new poll.

The poll, conducted by Reuters/Ipsos, found that the former first lady was the only Democrat with a lead on Trump in a hypothetical match-up, garnering 50 per cent support to his 39 per cent.

Only four per cent of respondents said they would not vote at all.

The survey also found that President Joe Biden and Trump are neck-and-neck in a head-to-head match-up, each receiving 40 per cent of the vote, while eight per cent said they would vote for someone else, with another eight per cent saying they would not vote at all.

Kamala Harris received 42 per cent in a head-to-head match-up with Trump, the poll found. Meanwhile, other Democrats floated as potential replacements to Biden include California Governor Gavin Newson, who trailed Trump by three percentage points, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who trailed by five points in the poll.

An earlier Rasmussen Reports poll released in February also found that Obama was the top choice among Democrats to replace Biden on the 2024 ticket.

The former first lady has repeatedly said she has no plans to pursue a bid for the White House, saying bluntly at the end of her husbands second term in 2017: No, nope, not going to do it.

She doubled down on her opposition to a run again in 2019, urging voters to support Biden instead.

But speculation of a presidential run  or a potential Biden-Michelle Obama ticket  arose again in March, with CNN commentator Alisyn Camerota floating her as a vice presidential pick.

However, Obama rejected the calls once again in a statement to NBC News. Former US President Barack Obama has also rejected rumors that his wife will be on the Democratic ticket, saying that she does not like politics and will not run for president in the future.

Former first lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat that could beat Donald Trump in a head-to-head line-up, according to a new poll (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Despite the Obamas opposition to the idea, social media users are voicing support a 2024 run for the former first lady.

Michelle Obama. Announce your candidacy tonight. Well back you, one person wrote on X.

Dear Michelle Obama, I am sorry but you have to run for office. This is not only about you and your family. Its about so many people now and in the future, another person said.

I like the idea of Michelle Obama running for President against Donald Trump. A far better chance than old man Biden, a third person wrote.

This comes as Biden is facing a growing chorus of calls to step down, including from within his own party, after his disastrous debate performance last week in which he at times muddled his words and appeared to lose his train of thought.

On Tuesday, the president blamed his poor debate performance on jet lag, telling reporters that he wasnt very smart for travelling around the world a couple of times before the event. Aides have blamed his performance on him suffering from a cold.

However, some Democrats arent convinced. Representative Lloyd Doggett, of Texas, became the first sitting Democratic lawmaker to publicly call for Biden to step aside. Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan wrote in a Newsweek op-ed that he believes Harris is the partys best path forward, accusing those who believe she has less of a chance of beating Trump than the Joe Biden we saw the other night and will continue to see of not living in reality.

Like Obama, Harriss aides have also dismissed any talk of a Democratic ticket that doesnt include both her and Biden.

Vice President Harris looks forward to serving a second term with President Joe Biden, a statement from her office said.

Newsom and Whitmer have also dismissed the notion that they could replace Biden on the ticket.

In a Biden campaign fundraising pitch on Friday, the California governor called such discussions unhelpful and unnecessary.

We arent going to turn our backs because of one performance. What kind of party does that? he wrote.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker have also been floated as potential replacements.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On July 4, Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD celebrated the completion of its factory in Rayong, Thailand, and the rollout of its 8 millionth NEV.

8 millionth NEV rolling off line; photo credit: BYD

The Thai factory, which took just 16 months from groundbreaking to production, has an annual production capacity of approximately 150,000 vehicles. It includes the four main production process workshops and a components factory. With this development, BYD has become the world's first automaker to reach the milestone of producing 8 million NEVs, with the Dolphin model being the milestone vehicle at the Thai plant.

Celebration event; photo credit: BYD

BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu expressed gratitude to the governments of China and Thailand, as well as to Thai customers and partners, for their support. He noted that BYD's rapid acceptance in the Thai market, having secured the top spot for all-electric vehicle sales for 18 consecutive months, signifies strong market recognition. Currently, one in every three all-electric vehicles sold in Thailand is a BYD model, said the chairman. BYD plans to introduce more battery-electric and plug-in hybrid electric models in Thailand, leveraging the countrys manufacturing capabilities and BYDs advanced technology to enhance the local automotive industry.

As a global leader in NEVs, BYD has significantly expanded its international presence in recent years. In 2023, BYD's passenger car exports reached 243,000 units, indicating a 337% year-on-year spike. In the first half of this year, BYD sold 1.607 million passenger cars, which jumped 28.8% from a year ago. Among which, over 203,000 units were sold overseas, leaping 173.8% from the previous year.

BYD's NEVs are now available in 88 countries and regions, across more than 400 cities worldwide. In addition to Thailand, BYD has established passenger car production bases in Brazil, Hungary, Uzbekistan, and other countries.
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  These air conditioners werent very cool, customs officers say.

A shipment of 305 counterfeit air conditioners were seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently in Norfolk.

CBP said the units, which were valued at $95,000, had counterfeit Energy Star certification marks.

The Energy Star mark is owned by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and can only be applied to products that meet strict energy-efficiency standards. This could lead to unexpected energy costs for consumers, as well as safety concerns. Fraudulent companies could cut costs elsewhere, leading in this case to refrigerant leaks and fires, CBP says.

The countefeit air conditioners seized by Customs and Border Protection in Norfolk (Courtesy of CBP)

The countefeit air conditioners seized by Customs and Border Protection in Norfolk (Courtesy of CBP)

The countefeit air conditioners seized by Customs and Border Protection in Norfolk (Courtesy of CBP)

Unscrupulous manufacturers and vendors illegally profit on the sale of substandard counterfeit products at the expense and safety of American consumers, said Mark Laria, CBPs Area Port Director for Norfolk-Newport News. Customs and Border Protection urges consumers to protect their health and wallets by buying authentic consumer goods from reputable or authorized vendors.

CBP says the shipment, destined for Arcadia, California, was initially examined back on May 21. On June 21, the CBPs trade experts were able to verify the counterfeit units after consulting with the EPA.

Customs and Border Protection says it seizes millions of counterfeit goods per year, including 21,000 shipments in 2022 that would have been valued at nearly $3 billion, had they been genuine.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  With the Fourth of July holiday week in motion, San Diego beaches have become more and more crowded, in turn, causing many people to notice water advisories, warnings and closures.

I came down and there was a sign over thereit said something about sewage coming from Mexico, said Peter Werner, who is visiting from Czech Republic.

Most locals arent surprised by the water contact closures that have been in place since December, but visitors arent happy.

Disappointing, especially when I came over 10,000 kilometers from Europe not to swim here, Werner said.

But some are willing to take their chances.

I see a lot of people that are just like well I came all the way to California so Im just gonna go in anyways, said Imperial Beach resident Trevor King.

SeaWorld San Diego announces summer concerts lineup

A water contact closure is worse than a warning or advisory.

When theres contamination, such as sewage or maybe even chemical like an oil spill, state law requires that the water is closed to contact for beachgoers, said Heather Buonomo, Department of Environmental Health Quality Director of Environmental Health.

Buonomo says these spills are often reported after being seen or smelled.

While water contact closures do not require a sample to go into effect, they do require a clean water sample that meets state standards in order to be lifted.

The county tests bacteria levels in the water daily.

If there is an exceedance of the state standards for bacteria then we would issue an advisory, Buonomo said.

The advisory is then posted on the beaches, leaving the decision of whether or not to get in the water up to beachgoers. However, Buonomo says its important to note that bacteria levels in the water due to daily water testing do not result in water contact closures.

The county encourages people to visit their website to see if the beaches are open and if there are any advisories.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  This week on Crime Stoppers, officials need your help identifying individuals involved in two separate incidents and providing information regarding a third.

If you have information regarding the cases below, call Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at (517) 483-STOP. You can remain anonymous.

Those who contact Crime Stoppers with information can receive up to a $1,000 award.

Identify suspect(s) in numerous burglaries in Eaton County

The Eaton County Sheriffs Department is asking for any information related to the identification of a subject or subjects responsible for numerous burglaries in Benton Township.

(Courtesy Eaton County Sheriffs Department)

(Courtesy Eaton County Sheriffs Department)

(Courtesy Eaton County Sheriffs Department)

(Courtesy Eaton County Sheriffs Department)

Identify two subjects involved in an armed robbery

The Lansing Police Department is asking for any information related to the identification of two subjects involved in an armed robbery that occurred on June 5, 2024, at around 7 p.m. on the 2100 block of W Holmes Road.

(Courtesy LPD)

(Courtesy LPD)

(Courtesy LPD)

(Courtesy LPD)

(Courtesy LPD)

Information request regarding $250,000 in damages

The Michigan State Police is investigating 14 separate incidents of gunshot damage to transformers, regulators, and other electric system equipment over the past year that has resulted in over $250,000 in damages. The company, Home Works, is offering $9,999 to anyone who provides information that leads to the apprehension and conviction of those responsible.

(Courtesy MSP)

Find information on Crime Stoppers below:

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) hiked downstream on Wednesday, July 3 to rescue an injured hiker.

Courtesy: CSFD



CSFD reported at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday that CSFD crews were on the scene at Campus Drive and Vincent Drive along Cottonwood Creek to rescue the hiker.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

CSFD was able to successfully evacuate the victim, who is stable, and was transported to the hospital. CSFD said this was not the result of a fall.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
At left, Waterloo architect and World War II veteran Hovey Brom, left, was interviewed by Czech Republic historian Jiri Kluc. (Photo by Patrick Kinney) At right, Hovey Brom is shown during World War II at a train station in the Czech capital of Prague at end of the war, bound for a furlough in Switzerland. (Photo courtesy of Hovey Brom)

WATERLOO  Hovey Brom has never returned to Pilsen since helping to liberate it in World War II. But he left a key to his heart in that city in the Czech Republic.

A young Czech historian brought that key back to Brom this week  and unlocked a flood of emotion for the retired Waterloo architect.

Theres no way to adequately describe getting into Pilsen, Brom, wholl turn 99 Nov. 5, told Kluc. That remains in my head. And I He paused, his voice breaking.

Its hard to talk about it, because its, such joy, Brom said.

Kluc, a doctoral candidate at Charles University in Prague who has family in Pilsen, said. Thank you for liberating my country.

Kluc, 27 and a published author, spent a week interviewing several World War II veterans in eastern and central Iowa for a future work, and to preserve their stories for posterity.

Hell take Broms story back home with him  and share it with the people of Pilsen next May when they celebrate the 80th anniversary of their liberation from Nazi Germany.

Brom was a forward observer in the 16th Armored Division of Gen. George S. Patton Jr.s U.S. Third Army. A memorial to that division stands in Pilsen and the liberation anniversary is celebrated every year.

According to historic accounts, the citizens rose up agains their Nazi captors May 5, 1945. Pattons troops arrived 8 a.m. the next morning. The Nazis surrended six hours later.

It is one of the most memorable moments of Broms life.

It was a war, we were far away from home and everything was wrong, Brom said.

His duties included scouting enemy positions ahead of Pattons troops in a Jeep with a mounted machine gun. On two occasions, snipers shot out his windshield. He also crawled through fields, probling with a bayonet for land mines and marking them for avoidance and disposal.

But when we left Germany and started going through Czechoslovakia, the tension just drained out, Brom said. People welcomed him and his comrades as liberators, showering them with candy and hugs

.A loving feeling, he said. We were in a country we enjoyed.

Kluc interviewed Brom at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, part of Waterloos Grout Museum District. He also interviewed World War II veterans Evan Curly Hultman, 98. a retired Army Reserve major general who served in the Pacific. and David Greene, 99, who served in the 5th Marine Division at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

A few days earlier, Kluc honored two World War II veterans of Czech ancestry  Mike Bisek, 101, of Cedar Rapids and Bob Nejdl, 99, of Ely in a presentation at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in the historic Czech Village area of Cedar Rapids.

You are my heroes, Kluc told the veterans before a standing-room-only audience at the museum, that included many of their family and friends. They dont say they are heroes. But they are.

Bisek served in the U.S. Army Air Force as an aerial photographer, documenting the accuracy of bomb strikes, and also doubled as a gunner. He was with a B-24 Liberator bomber crew when they were shot down over the French Alps in July 1944 en route to a mission over Munich, Germany. They parachuted out of the plane and stayed with French resistance fighters until they linked up with liberating Free French and American forces near Grenoble before the Nazi surrender in May 1945.

Nejdl, who will turn 100 next Feb. 21, served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific. He trained crews using the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber, a carrier-based plane that became a mainstay of the U.S. carrier fleet by wars end as the Americans engaged in an island hopping campaign to roll back the advance of the Japanese Empire.

Klucs trip was made possible courtesy of the Czech Heritage Foundation of Iowa. He has published one work on Ervin Hoida, a Czech soldier who served in the British Army during World War II and passed away in February. An English language version of the book, The Last of the Heroes: The Untold Story of Czechoslovak WWII Veteran Ervin Hoida, will be available in June.

As part of the program at the Cedar Rapids museum, Kluc invited Bisek and Nejdl to celebrate the pending release of the English-language version of his work on Ervin Hoida by baptizing the book, each pouring part of a glass of beer over it, manufactured at Lion Bridge Brewing Co. nearby in Czech Village.

Klucs Iowa visit also included stops in Marion, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown and other locations.

While the Nazis overran Czechoslovakia early on, in 1938-39, Kluc said the valor of World War II veterans, including Czech nationals and those of Czech ancestry, and his nations ultimate liberation hold important lessons for today.

Im trying to write a dissertation, he said, but its also personal. Im interested in the stories of guys who liberated my country. Just to preserve the stories for future generations, for education, in the Czech Republic and America.

Thats touched my heart, he said. Its important its preserved. When you meet these veterans, they share a lot of knowledge and a lot of memories. It helps your own identity, upgrading to a different level. Thats really special, and Im really grateful for these moments. Because in my country, theres almost no veterans left.

Kluc and National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library president Cecilia Rokusek encouraged family and friends of World War II veterans to have those veterans come forward and tell their stories. The Grout Musuem District also has more than 2,300 oral histories of veterans as part of its Voices of Iowa project and is looking for more.

As part of the upcoming 80th anniversary liberation celebration in Pilsen, Kluc had Hovey Brom record greetings to the people there.

Hello people from Pilsen! Hello! I love you! Brom said.

Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.

Patrick Kinneys blog, View from the Cedar Valley, is on Substack. This column is republished through the Iowa Writers Collaborative.

Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work.

The post Czech historian interviews Iowa WWII vets appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Czechia no longer recognizes non-biometric Russian passports, and Russians without biometric passports will be considered to be illegally residing in Czechia, Czech media outlet Idnes reported on July 4, citing the Foreign Ministry.

"Everyone who wants to stay in our country must prove himself credible," Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky told Czech outlet Idnes.

"Security is a priority for our government. We will not wait for another sabotage," Lipavsky said.

A Russian sabotage operation in 2014 led to ammunition depot explosions in the eastern Czech town of Vrbetice, killing two people and causing damages in tens of millions of dollars.

Media reports emerged in 2021 that the ammunition was supposed to be transferred either to Ukraine or to Syria, reportedly for the Syrian opposition battling the regime of Bashar al-Assad, an ally of Russia. The company that owned the supplies disputed these claims.

According to Lipavsky, the Russian agents entered Czechia with non-biometric passports.

"I will also work to limit the movement of Russian diplomats in Schengen, because it is another tool of espionage against democratic countries," Lipavsky added.

The Foreign Ministry said a decision has not yet been made on what to do with those who are now considered to be in Czecia illegally.

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Dad in child abuse case was given rights over adult son after sexual assault allegation

A 2018 photo of Charles and Matthew Edmonson's home on Madison Park Drive in Batavia Township, where prosecutors say the couple abused their five adopted children.

Three months after a Clermont County father was reported to police for the sexual abuse of his adopted adult son, a court granted him guardianship over the young man, records show.

Charles Edmonson and his wife, Matthew, have since then been accused of treating their five other adopted children worse than prisoners of war at their Batavia Township home, according to prosecutors.

Each is facing several felony child-endangering charges, which stem from video evidence taken from devices obtained by detectives during their earlier investigation into the sexual abuse.

Charles Edmonson petitioned the Clermont County Probate Court for guardianship over his adopted then-18-year-old son in November 2022. Almost a year later, he was indicted on sexual battery charges in October 2023.

A court investigator noted that the Edmonsons older son, despite being an adult who lived on his own, suffered from mental illness or disability and was incapable of taking proper care of himself, court records show.

The investigator wrote in their report that the young man is one of the most vulnerable people that I have met due to mental illness.

What to know: Parents accused of treating adopted kids 'worse than prisoners of war'

Charles Edmonson admitted to the investigator that his son accused him of sexual abuse, despite no formal criminal charges being filed, the records show. However, the 18-year-old agreed with the prospect of his adoptive father having guardianship over him.

"I don't need one," the 18-year-old responded to a question about needing a guardian. "I want it because he (Charles Edmonson) wants it."

Appointed guardian despite sex abuse allegation

After reviewing the opinions of the investigator and a doctor who evaluated the Edmonsons son, Magistrate Melissa Marcin determined that guardianship was necessary and recommended Charles Edmonson for the job, court records show.

The decision came in light of the 18-year-old's numerous mental health diagnoses, which made him "incapable of taking proper care of himself," the documents state. Records indicate that 63-year-old Charles Edmonson was officially appointed his son's guardian in January 2023.

The Enquirer left a voicemail and email with Marcin's law office requesting comment on her decision to recommend Charles Edmonson as guardian.

Guardianship over an adult in Ohio gives someone the legal authority and duty to care for another person or their property because of that person's "disability or incapacity," according to the Delaware County Probate Court's website.

As part of his application for guardianship, Charles Edmonson signaled in a November 2022 affidavit that he had no criminal cases pending against him, which was true since it would take another 11 months for a grand jury to indict him on sex crime charges.

Chief Deputy Chris Stratton declined to comment when asked whether the probate court investigator wouldve been privy to the sheriffs offices investigation into sexual abuse as no charges had been filed when the investigator completed their report.

In court filings, prosecutors said Charles Edmonson had numerous sexual encounters with his adopted son between January 2020 and August 2022. Those incidents came to light after a sexual assault was reported to the sheriffs office in August 2022.

Charles Edmonson was convicted earlier this year of two gross sexual imposition counts and sentenced to three years in prison. Hes incarcerated at the Noble Correctional Institution, in Caldwell, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections records show.

Videos surfaced during sex abuse investigation

The Edmonsons remaining five children were removed from the couples home in February as part of a joint investigation between the sheriffs office and Clermont County Childrens Protective Services.

The children, who are all biologically related but adopted by the Edmonsons, were first brought to the couple as foster children, prosecutors said. Records do not show when the foster placement took place.

After collaborating with the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, detectives unlocked data from Charles Edmonsons cellphone and uncovered videos showing the children being abused and neglected, the sheriffs office said.

"The videos of these undernourished and naked children huddled up in a locked room in the basement, on the stone-cold basement floor like a pile of puppies trying to stay together to keep warm, are nothing short of gut-wrenching," Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve said in a statement.

Prosecutors also said the children had been in and out of the hospital for various reasons, including bruising, bleach burns and possible internal bleeding  symptoms that were all explained away by their adoptive parents.

Court records show Charles Edmonson is expected to appear in Clermont County Common Pleas Court for an arraignment on July 24. Matthew Edmonson remains in jail on a $500,000 bond and has a pretrial hearing set for July 10.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Clermont County child abuse: Dad got guardianship after abuse claim
Damon Lindelof Calls on Democratic Donors to Dembargo Until Joe Biden Drops Out of the Presidential Race

In a column for Deadline published Wednesday morning, Lost and Watchmen showrunner Damon Lindelof, who is also a major longtime donor to the Democratic Party, called for a total cessation of contributions unless Joe Biden steps down as the partys presidential nominee.

I propose a DEMbargo. No checks written. No ActBlue links clicked. For anyone, Lindelof wrote.

The column, comes just over a week after Bidens disastrous debate appearance against Donald Trump, a debacle that has led to increasing calls for Biden to step down.

Our presidents debate performance has been characterized in many ways; disappointing, upsetting, terrifying but for me it was simply game-changing. So yes, lets go with the bullpen please. Lets go with relief, Lindelof wrote.

I believe in Joe Biden. I believe in him so much that we wrote him a sizeable check as recently as two weeks ago. We had to considering his opponent, he continued.

The column came just two days after the U.S. Supreme Courts astonishing ruling granting presidents nearly kingly powers as part of enabling Donald Trump to get away with acts that prior to their decision were dire crimes.

Lindelof acknowledged the problems posed by Trump, who he called The liar. The cheater. The rapist. The felon. Immune, immune, immune, courtesy of the highest court in the land. If elected, he would replace the two most conservative justices on that court with two who are thirty years younger. Which means my teenaged son will be SEVENTY before theres even a chance at a balanced court. So  what is the remedy for imbalance?

Lindelofs answer: Checks. Because the checks are what get us in the room where it happens. I wish that wasnt true. I wish it was strength of character or viability of ideas. But its checks. Checks all the way down.

Lindelof conceded his dembargo idea may punish the entire team for the stubbornness of the pitcher, but argued its also common sense that if he stays in, they will also lose. A rising tide lifts all boats. A falling Biden sinks them.

I will admit, I am driven by the hubris implicit in thinking anything a Hollywood Elite says will matter to anyone. But I am also driven by purpose. And the polling. Oh God, the polling. He was behind before the debate. And it will not get better, Lindelof continued. So it has to be now and we have to move fast.

When they text you asking for cash, text back that youre not giving them a penny and you wont change your mind until theres change at the top of the ticket. And when Joe finally leaves the mound, I will stand and applaud. Because he truly pitched a great game, Lindelof said also.

Later Wednesday, another major Democratic donor, Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings also called on Biden to step down. Several major newspapers have also called for it.

Other figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and The View host Ana Navarro have defended him. And so far, mailings from the Biden-Harris campaign insist he will remain in the race.

Whether Biden eventually drops out of the 2024 presidential race or not, he is currently scheduled to face off against Trump in their second debate on Sept. 10. He will also give his first TV interview since the debate to George Stephanopoulos for ABC News, which will air Friday in prime time.

The post Damon Lindelof Calls on Democratic Donors to Dembargo Until Joe Biden Drops Out of the Presidential Race appeared first on TheWrap.
Dangerous feral hogs that destroy lawns and eat plastic are growing across the US, and states can't kill them fast enough

Feral pigs cause billions of dollars in damage to properties and agriculture across the US.

The US has struggled to control the feral pig population, which is between 6 and 9 million.

The pigs are highly adaptable and intelligent, making them difficult to capture.

Across the US, hogs are damaging lawns, sprinkler systems, golf courses, and crops. The agricultural destruction alone is estimated at $2.5 billion a year.

Case in point, earlier this year, a video doorbell recorded footage of a pack of wild pigs rooting around a suburban lawn in San Antonio, Texas. It was the second time in a few weeks that hogs had ripped up grass in the neighborhood, according to KSAT, a local news station.

In addition to doing lots of property damage, the pigs also carry disease, breed quickly, are difficult to trap, and can be aggressive toward humans, feral pig expert Jack Mayer told Business Insider.

The US has been trying to keep the feral pig population  estimated to be between 6 and 9 million  in check for over a decade. A handful of states have seen success, but others, like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, are struggling.

For Mayer, a research scientist with the Savannah River National Laboratory, it's an uphill, ongoing battle. "They're very secretive," he said. And "they're smart, so they're tough to control."

Feral pigs will eat almost anything

Alan Biggerstaff of Nuisance Wildlife Management & Control set up hog traps in Texas in 2019. Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Pigs didn't arrive in North America until the 1500s, so they're not a native species. By the mid-1600s, they were already a nuisance, destroying property and menacing children, according to one New England colonist in 1658.

In the centuries since, not much has slowed the wild pig population from expanding. A single sow can have as many as 10 piglets, sometimes twice a year. The feral hogs' genes are often a mix of wild boar and domestic pig.

Even formerly domestic pigs can quickly adapt to life in the wild. "For whatever reason, domestic pigs go wilder quicker than any other species of domestic livestock that we have," Mayer said.

Out in the wild, these omnivorous animals don't rely on humans to feed them. And they're not picky. Mayer has seen feral hogs forage at landfills and feed on diapers, rubber bands, and plastic. In 2019, Louisiana researchers found dozens of native species, from acorns to salamanders to turtles, in their stomachs.

While they're often a bit leaner than their domesticated relatives, the feral pigs can still get to be 250 pounds, according to the USDA. This means as they move about in urban and suburban areas, they can cause traffic accidents, Mayer said.

Deadly interactions between humans and pigs are very rare in the US. Worldwide, though, Mayer found that feral hogs killed 172 people between 2000 and 2019.

Most of the attacks are defensive, he said, and happen when, "for whatever reason, they feel threatened." The hogs have sharp teeth and tusks and can run fast.

When feral pigs start rooting in grass, they can leave a mess behind, as this photo from 2014 shows. Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

They're also vectors for dozens of diseases and parasites found in their feces, fluids, and undercooked meat. One of Mayer's biggest worries is that they could spread African swine fever to domestic animals. Humans can't catch the disease, but it's deadly for pigs.

Asian countries have slaughtered millions of pigs to try and stop the outbreak of the virus. European countries are taking similar measures.

If the virus arrives in North America, "it's going to spread, and it's going to be ugly," Mayer said.

A losing battle to control the wild pig population

Because hogs reproduce so quickly, some states estimate that they would need to reduce the population size by 60% to 70% each year to keep the numbers from growing.

Currently, many states trap and euthanize pigs. In 2011, Texas passed the "pork-chopper bill," which allows feral hog hunting from helicopters. But Ohio and Kentucky are currently working on banning pig hunting. Some experts believe it can actually make the problem worse, since hunted pigs tend to become more secretive and harder to trap.

Texas and Oklahoma recently announced they'll begin using a substance with warfarin, similar to rat poison, to help control their feral hog populations.

Feral pigs eat a varied diet, which can be bad news for local species. Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo

"This is going to be potentially another tool in the toolbox," Mayer said, "but the people in the US never have really warmed up to the use of poisons for any kind of wildlife." It's a move many have opposed in the past because of its potential effects on wildlife that eat poisoned animals, Texas Monthly reported in 2023.

Mayer said another factor that makes controlling wild hogs difficult is that the entire country is a mosaic of different methods. And not everyone wants them gone, he said.

"You've got some people that love them, some people that hate them," he said, "and because of that, I don't think we're ever going to get rid of them."

Read the original article on Business Insider
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.

XPENG AEROHT to begin constructing factory for flying cars volume production

On July 4, the Conference on High-quality Development of Low Altitude Economy in Guangdong Province was held at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Convention Center. During the conference, Guangzhou Development District and XPENG AEROHT, an affiliate of XPENG, signed the "XPENG AEROHT Flying Car Project Investment Cooperation Agreement," which will provide strong support to XPENG AEROHT in terms of land use, financing, and application scenarios. This partnership aims to jointly promote the research, mass production, and application of flying cars.

Photo credit: XPENG AEROHT

XPENG AEROHT will establish a flying car R&D, intelligent manufacturing, and sales center in the Guangzhou Development District, which will be used for the experimental production, sales, and operation of flying cars. Notably, the intelligent manufacturing center will be the world's first large-scale production facility for flying cars utilizing a modern assembly line. The facility will initially be used to produce the flight components of the modular flying car, referred to as the "Land Aircraft Carrier."

Pony.ai launches driverless ride-hailing service in downtown area of Shanghai

On July 4th, at the 2024 World AI Conference, Pony.ai received the first batch of permits for driverless intelligent connected vehicle demonstration applications in Shanghai. This means that passengers can now book a ride in a driverless Robotaxi through the "Pony.ai" mobile app along a 205-kilometer route in downtown Shanghai's Pudong district.

AVATR unveils official interior images of AVATR 07 model

On July 4th, AVATR Technology released official interior images of its new model, the AVATR 07. According to the released images, the interior layout of the AVATR 07 is similar to that of the AVATR 12, featuring a floating central control screen and an integrated remote screen. The dashboard has digital rearview mirror displays on both sides, a multifunctional sport steering wheel, and hidden air conditioning vents. The passenger side of the dashboard includes a wireless charging pad for phones and a dual cup holder.

Photo credit: AVATR

BYD inaugurates Thai factory with 8 millionth NEV rolling off line

On July 4, Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD celebrated the completion of its factory in Rayong, Thailand, and the rollout of its 8 millionth NEV.

EtlChip closes Pre-A++ funding to advance automotive Ethernet chips

On July 4, Chinese Ethernet chip developer EtlChip announced the completion of its Pre-A++ round of financing, led by Cornerstone Ventures.

WeRide's Robobus begins operations in Singapore

In June 2024, after a month of meticulous preparation and trial operations, WeRide's autonomous minibus (Robobus) commenced its maiden journey from the Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa, traveling to Resorts World Sentosa. This marks the launch of Singapore's first L4 autonomous minibus route on public roads.

Dongfeng Motor opens dealership in Kazakhstan

On July 1, Dongfeng Motor celebrated the opening of its new dealership in Almaty, Kazakhstan, with a grand ceremony that included the delivery of vehicles to key customers. The event prominently featured the DONGFENG GXKL tractor and the KC dump truck, highlighting these popular products to the local market.

Ji Yue expands PPA intelligent driving coverage to 300 cities in China

On July 3, Ji Yue, the automotive robot (Robocar) maker co-backed by Geely and Baidu, announced that its PPA (Point-to-Point Autopilot) intelligent driving system, based on Baidu Apollo's advanced urban intelligent driving solutions, is now available in 300 cities in China as of June 30.

Changan Automobile's wholly-owned brands score 60.03% YoY surge in Jun. NEV sales

Chinese automaker Changan Automobile announced on July 3 its monthly sales in June 2024, which came in at 225,013 vehicles, indicating a slight dip of 0.3% year-on-year.

BYD obtains electric bus orders from Azerbaijan's government

Recently, BYD successfully won the bid for Azerbaijan's government procurement project for electric buses, securing an order for 160 units of the 12-meter electric bus model K9UD, according to a post on BYD's WeChat account. The buses are scheduled to be shipped to Azerbaijan in several batches starting this month.
After a warm meal at noontime, these American children take off their shoes for their nap in their public nursery, one of forty-one servicing an industrial area of thirty miles on the western U.S. coast. Their parents are working in a shipyard and their nursery school was established through funds appropriated by the U.S. Congress for the benefit of war workers children. The nursery is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (U.S. Office of War Information photo, courtesy of Library of Congress)

Mom or Dad is at work all day, or out of the picture altogether. The spouse is at home taking care of the kiddos but needs to get out of the house to work or pursue an education.

There is just one obstacle, but it is a big one  day care. Throughout the nation, quality day care is hard to find and expensive.

J. Howard Millers We Can Do It!, also called Rosie the Riveter after the iconic figure of a strong female war production worker. (U.S. Office for Emergency Management image)

Imagine the issue resolved.

Imagine that high quality day care is widely available and jaw-droppingly inexpensive at about $8 to $10 per child per day. Day care includes snacks and a hot lunch. It includes a ratio of 1 to 10, staff to children. And it includes basic health care.

The day care facility may be a new building specifically built as a fully equipped modern day care center, or it may be a local school building.

It opens early and stays open late to accommodate elastic work schedules. Some day care facilities are open 24 hours a day, six days a week. At the end of the day, select day care centers send home an evening meal for the parent and children.

Impossible but tantalizing daydream?

No, not a mere daydream  part of our American history. Parents demanded it. Politicians wanted it. And it was done. For a few brief years, the United States had a generously funded day care program across the nation.

Early in the 1940s the United States had hurled itself into war against the Axis powers. The men were gone, engaged in the war effort.

Graphics of Rosie the Riveter were everywhere, urging women to replace men in critical war industries. Maybe Rosie didnt have children, or maybe she had a kindly mother who watched her children while she was hammering rivets.

But millions of real women were alone at home with their children. How could they work full-time in war industries and be full-time mothers at the same time?

As the New York Times reported in 2019:

The major source of funding to remedy this came from the Lanham Act of 1940, which enabled a number of social programs during the war years. Beginning in 1942, the Lanham Act funded the Federal Works Agency to provide group child care in areas of war impact.

But far from instantly setting up a cheerful child care center on every block, the act created a complex patchwork of public and private entities, which in some cases sustained existing centers, and in others allowed communities to set up new ones.

According to a report by the Congressional Research Service, even at the outset of the program the need for the child care centers was estimated to be much greater than the services provided.

Nevertheless, it was an extraordinary accomplishment:

The wartime child care programs were locally planned Overall, as many as 635 communities across the nation were granted funds to operate one or more centers. Projects included programs for preschool and school-age children. In July 1944, when the wartime child care program reached its apex, 52,440 preschoolers and 76,917 school-age children were enrolled.

By mid-1945, it was clear that the Allies had won the war. The prevailing male sentiment was that it was time for Rosie the Riveter and her female factory colleagues to pack up and go back home.

They were urged to take their traditional place in the kitchen and give the factory jobs back to men. And to make sure the women did that, politicians immediately slashed funds for national day care, quickly dismantling the program.

Pushback ensued. Women and children demonstrated in the streets. There were write-in campaigns, according to the CRS report:

Approximately one month after this announcement, the FWA [Federal Works Agency] reported it had received communications from 26 states and the District of Columbia (1,155 letters, 318 wires, 794 postcards and petitions signed by 3,647 individuals), urging continuation of the program. Principal reasons given were the need of servicemens wives to continue employment until their husbands returned, the ongoing need of mothers who were the sole support of their children, and a lack of inadequacy of other forms of care in the community.

Nevertheless, sexism and discrimination prevailed.

Within a few short years most of the national day care program had been wiped out. Vestiges remained through the 1960s, mostly in California. Then the national day care program was entirely gone.

So here we are today.

Day care woes abound. Tax breaks and other marginal incentives of today cannot build a national day care program.

However, eight decades ago the Federal Works Agency did. We have the precedent and the need but lack politicians with the vision.

Like the SC Daily Gazette, 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.
A rare historic copy of the Declaration of Independence written in Thomas Jefferson's hand is on display at the New York Public Library on July 2, 2019. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming U.S. independence from Britain. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

July 4 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming U.S. independence from Britain.

In 1826, in one of history's notable coincidences, former U.S. Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

In 1863, Union troops defeated Confederate forces in a battle at Vicksburg, Miss.

In 1895, the poem "America the Beautiful," by Wellesley College Professor Katherine Lee Bates, was published. The poem with music by Samuel A. Ward was published as a song in 1910.

On July 4, 2013, the Statue of Liberty reopened to the public nine months after it was closed because of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1910, African-American boxer Jack Johnson took on former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries, beating him in 15 rounds, to stake his claim as the as the greatest heavyweight in the world.

File Photo by Library of Congress/UPI

On July 4, 1939, Lou Gehrig gave his "luckiest man on the face of the Earth" speech in announcing his retirement from the New York Yankees.. File Photo courtesy of Pacific & Atlantic Photos, Inc

In 1939, Lou Gehrig gave his "luckiest man on the face of the Earth" speech in announcing his retirement from the New York Yankees. Gehrig had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a debilitating motor neuron disease. United Press writer Jack Cuddy wasn't impressed with the Yankees' "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day," saying doctors made up his ailment to explain his unexpected retirement.

In 1976, Israeli commandos raided the airport at Entebbe, Uganda, rescuing 103 hostages held by Arab militants.

In 2010, U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus took command of the Afghan war, acknowledging the "tough fight" ahead for NATO forces while pledging "We are in this to win." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI

In 1986, more than 250 sailing ships and the United States' biggest fireworks display honored the Statue of Liberty in its 100th birthday year.

In 1995, the British Parliament reconfirmed John Majors as prime minister.

On July 4, 1910, African-American boxer Jack Johnson took on former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jeffries, beating him in 15 rounds, to stake his claim as the as the greatest heavyweight in the world. File Photo by Library of Congress

In 1997, NASA's Pathfinder reached Mars to become the first U.S. spacecraft to land on the planet in more than two decades. Pathfinder returned more than 16,000 images and some 8.5 million measurements back to Earth before its final transmission on September, 27, 1997.

File Photo courtesy of NASA

In 2006, North Korea test-launched seven ballistic missiles in what it called "routine military exercises," causing a firestorm of anger among its neighbors and the United States.

In 2010, U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus took command of the Afghan war, acknowledging the "tough fight" ahead for NATO forces while pledging "We are in this to win."

In 2013, the Statue of Liberty reopened to the public nine months after it was closed because of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy.

In 2018, Hong Kong's high court ruled unanimously that same-sex couples are entitled to spousal visas like married heterosexual couples.

In 2022, seven people died and dozens others were injured in a mass shooting during an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, Ill., near Chicago. Far-right activist Robert Crimo III, then 22, was charged with murder for the shooting.

A participant of the March Fourth rally to ban assault weapons holds a sign for Eduardo Uvaldo, a victim of the Highland Park shooting, outside the Senate office buildings at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 13, 2022. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI
Hurricane Beryl update

WED. JUL. 3 2024

Following Beryls devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves that battered Jamaica Wednesday afternoon and evening, the powerhouse storm was predicted to produce similar results in the Cayman Islands late Wednesday night/early morning July 4th.

Beryl was then forecast to move toward the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, producing damaging winds, a dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall beginning Thursday night, still maintaining hurricane status.

SOURCE: Dr. Philip Klotzbach, Colorado State University.

There remains uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend, interests in these areas, including southern Texas, should monitor the progress of Beryl over the coming weekend.











NOTES ON HURRICANE BERYL

HURRICANE BERYL REACHED CATEGORY 5 STATUS LATE MONDAY, 165 MPH, THE STRONGEST JULY HURRICANE ON RECORD, BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 160 MPH FROM HURRICANE EMILY IN 2005.

THE POWERFUL CATEGORY FOUR STORM KILLED AT LEAST SIX PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHEAST CARIBBEAN, INCLUDING ONE IN VENEZUELA.

DRONE VIDEO SHOWS THE DEVASTATION BERYL LEFT BEHIND IN GRENADA.

PRIOR RECORD FOR THE EARLIEST CALENDAR YEAR ATLANTIC HURRICANE WITH 165 MPH WINDS IS ALLEN WITH 165 MPH WINDS ON AUGUST 5, 1980.

ONLY FIVE MAJOR HURRICANES ON RECORD HAVE TRACKED WITHIN 50 MILES OF JAMAICA: ALLEN IN 1980, GILBERT IN 1988, DENNIS AND EMILY IN 2005 AND DEAN IN 2007.

HURRICANE BERYL HAS ALREADY GENERATED MORE ACCUMULATED CYCLONE ENERGY (ACE) THAN THE ENTIRE 1983 ATLANTIC SEASON. ACE IS INTEGRATED METRIC ACCOUNT FOR STORM FREQUENCY, INTENSITY AND DURATION.

-THANKS MOSTLY TO HURRICANE BERYL, THE ATLANTIC HAS GENERATED THE MOST ACCUMULATED CYLONE ENERGY ON RECORD THROUGH JULY 3RD, BREAKING THE OLD RECORD SET BACK IN 1886.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Will Death Valley flirt with a world record next week? It's on the table

Despite being largely discredited, Death Valley, Calif., holds the record for the world's hottest air temperature that was recorded on July 10, 1913 (56.7C in Furnace Creek, Calif).

Even if you ignore that feat, Death Valley still claims the reliable, warmest global air temperature record, set on July 9, 2021 with an impressive and oppressive reading of 54.4C.

SEE ALSO: How Death Valley can reach the hottest temperatures on Earth

With those achievements, it has earned itself the hottest place on Earth moniker with air temperatures that regularly climb into the mid-40s or higher.

Furnace Creek, Calif., potential record_July 3

And, it may set a new record next week. Read on for what's behind the latest bout of extreme heat.

Prolonged heat dome for the West in the works

A massive heat dome is circulating over California and the western U.S., building heat inland daily, a telltale sign of a heat dome.

This is quite a rare and long-duration heat wave that will persist into the middle of next week as the massive ridge of high-pressure parks itself over the area.

No rain is forecast along most of the west coast of North America for the next 10 days.

Rainfall map next 10 days for B.C.

In June 2021, British Columbia surpassed Canadas previous, all-time temperature record of 45.0C in Yellowgrass, Sask., set in 1937. Lytton, B.C., hit 49.6C in June 2021, making it Canada's all-time heat record.

Some locations in the U.S. may set all-time temperature records including Las Vegas, Nev. For some perspective, there are records of Las Vegas hitting 46C five days in a row, a value typically only achieved once a year.

Were watching the temperature closely in Death Valley, where Furnace Creek looks to challenge its all-time temperature record from back in 2021. For reference, a medium-rare steak is generally cooked to an internal temperature of 54-56C.

Next seven days, Furnace Creek, Calif., temperatures

The ridge will continue to expand up the west coast of North America and give British Columbia the warmest temperatures in Canada so far this year, with multiple days above 40C in the hottest Interior valleys.

This will most likely be the most significant stretch of hot weather since the June 2021 heat dome event.

Temperature forecast North America Tuesday

A long-duration heat wave is forecast in British Columbia, with maximum temperatures on the South Coast to rise into the low- to mid-30s, with the Interior temperatures soaring well into the upper 30s.

The wildfire danger will abruptly rise into next week with low relative humidity and scorching hot temperatures.

Western Canada temperature forecast Tuesday

Why does Death Valley get so hot?

The reason why it gets so extremely hot is because of its elevation.

The scorching Death Valley is 7,800 square kilometres in size with challenging heat and elevation changes.

Why Death Valley gets so hot

The Badwater Basin is a pure-white salt flat and sits at 282 metres below sea level  making it the lowest point in all of North America. Because of that, and the tall mountains that line the valley, air sinks down the mountainsides and compresses and heats as it does. As a result, air temperatures get hotter and hotter.

Thumbnail courtesy of Getty Images/Tobiasjo/1296441088-170667a.

With files from Jaclyn Whittal, Laura Power and Tyler Hamilton, meteorologists at The Weather Network, and Nathan Howes, a digital reporter at The Weather Network.
Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum.

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,  That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.  Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Signed,

Georgia

Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton

North Carolina

William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn

South Carolina

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts

John Hancock

Maryland

Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania

Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross

Delaware

Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean

New York

William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris

New Jersey

Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark

New Hampshire

Josiah Bartlett

William Whipple

Massachusetts

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Robert Treat Paine

Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island

Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery

Connecticut

Roger Sherman

Samuel Huntington

William Williams

Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire

Matthew Thornton
This article was originally published in The Conversation.

Editors note: Americans may think they know a lot about the Declaration of Independence, but many of those ideas are elitist and wrong, as historian Woody Holton explains.

His 2021 book Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution shows how independence and the Revolutionary War were influenced by women, Indigenous and enslaved people, religious dissenters and other once-overlooked Americans.

In celebration of the United States birthday, Holton offers six surprising facts about the nations founding document  including that it failed to achieve its most immediate goal and that its meaning has changed from the founding to today.

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Ordinary Americans played a big role

The Declaration of Independence was written by wealthy white men, but the impetus for independence came from ordinary Americans. Historian Pauline Maier discovered that by July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress voted to separate from Britain, 90 provincial and local bodies  conventions, town meetings and even grand juries  had already issued their own declarations or instructed Congress to.

In Maryland, county conventions demanded that the provincial convention tell Marylands congressmen to support independence. Pennsylvania assemblymen required their congressional delegates to oppose independence  until Philadelphians gathered outside the State House, later named Independence Hall, and threatened to overthrow the legislature, which then dropped this instruction.

American independence is due in part to African Americans

Like the U.S. Constitution, the final version of the Declaration never uses the word slave. But African Americans loomed large in the first draft, written by Thomas Jefferson.

In that early draft, Jeffersons single biggest grievance was that the mother country had first foisted enslaved Africans on white Americans and then attempted to incite them against their patriot owners. In an objection to which he gave 168 words  three times as many as any other complaint  Jefferson said George III had encouraged enslaved Americans to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them.

Numerous other white Southerners joined Jefferson in venting their rage at the mother country for, as one put it, pointing a dagger to their Throats, thru the hands of their Slaves.

Britain really had forged an informal alliance with African Americans  but it was the slaves who initiated it. In November 1774, James Madison became the first white American to report that slaves were plotting to take advantage of divisions between the colonies and the mother country to rebel and obtain their own freedom. Initially the British turned down African Americans offer to fight for their king, but the slaves kept coming, and on November 15, 1775, Lord Dunmore, the last British governor of Virginia, finally published an emancipation proclamation. It freed all rebel- (patriot-) owned slaves who could reach his lines and would fight to suppress the patriot rebellion.

The Second Continental Congress was talking about Dunmore and other British officials when it claimed, in the final draft of the Declaration, that George III had excited domestic insurrection amongst us. That brief euphemism was all that remained of Jeffersons 168-word diatribe against the British for sending Africans to America and then inciting them to kill their owners. But no one missed its meaning.

The drafters of the Declaration of Independence present their document to the Continental Congress. (John Trumbull/Wikimedia Commons)

The complaints werent actually about the king

Britains king is the subject of 33 verbs in a declaration that never once says Parliament. But nine of Congress most pressing grievances actually were about parliamentary statutes. And even British officials like those who cracked down on Colonial smuggling worked not for George III but for his Cabinet, which was in effect a creature of Parliament.

By targeting only the king  who played a purely symbolic role in the Declaration of Independence, akin to modern Americas Uncle Sam  Congress reinforced its novel argument that Americans did not need to cut ties to Parliament, since they had never had any.

The Declaration of Independence does not actually denounce monarchy

As Julian P. Boyd, the founding editor of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, pointed out, the Declaration of Independence bore no necessary antagonism to the idea of kingship in general.

Indeed, several members of Congress, including John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, openly admired limited monarchy. Their beef was not with all kings and queens but with King George III  and him only as the front man for Parliament.

The Declaration of Independence fell short of its most pressing purpose

In June 1776, delegates who supported independence suggested that if Congress declared it soon, France might immediately accept its invitation to an alliance. Then the French Navy could start intercepting British supply ships bound for America that very summer.

But in reality it took French King Louis XVI a long 18 months to agree to a formal alliance, and the first French ships and soldiers did not enter the war until June 1778.

Abolitionists and feminists shifted the Declaration of Independences focus to human rights

In keeping with the Declaration of Independences largely diplomatic purpose, hardly any of its white contemporaries quoted its now-famous phrases about equality and rights. Instead, as the literary scholar Eric Slauter discovered, they spotlighted its clauses justifying one nation or state in breaking up with another.

But before the year 1776 was out, as Slauter also notes, Lemuel Haynes, a free African American soldier serving in the Continental Army, had drafted an essay called Liberty Further Extended. He opened by quoting Jeffersons truisms that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.

By highlighting these claims, Haynes began the process of shifting the focus and meaning of the Declaration of Independence from Congress ordinance of secession to a universal declaration of human rights. That effort was later carried forward by other abolitionists, Black and white, by womens rights activists and by other seekers of social justice, including Abraham Lincoln.

In time, abolitionists and feminists transformed Congress failed bid for an immediate French alliance into arguably the most consequential freedom document ever composed.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation
The Declaration of Independence wasnt really complaining about King George, and 5 other surprising facts for July Fourth

(The Conversation)  Editors note: Americans may think they know a lot about the Declaration of Independence, but many of those ideas are elitist and wrong, as historian Woody Holton explains.

His 2021 book Liberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American Revolution shows how independence and the Revolutionary War were influenced by women, Indigenous and enslaved people, religious dissenters and other once-overlooked Americans.

In celebration of the United States birthday, Holton offers six surprising facts about the nations founding document  including that it failed to achieve its most immediate goal and that its meaning has changed from the founding to today.

Ordinary Americans played a big role

The Declaration of Independence was written by wealthy white men, but the impetus for independence came from ordinary Americans. Historian Pauline Maier discovered that by July 2, 1776, when the Continental Congress voted to separate from Britain, 90 provincial and local bodies  conventions, town meetings and even grand juries  had already issued their own declarations or instructed Congress to.

In Maryland, county conventions demanded that the provincial convention tell Marylands congressmen to support independence. Pennsylvania assemblymen required their congressional delegates to oppose independence  until Philadelphians gathered outside the State House, later named Independence Hall, and threatened to overthrow the legislature, which then dropped this instruction.

American independence is due in part to African Americans

Like the U.S. Constitution, the final version of the Declaration never uses the word slave. But African Americans loomed large in the first draft, written by Thomas Jefferson.

In that early draft, Jeffersons single biggest grievance was that the mother country had first foisted enslaved Africans on white Americans and then attempted to incite them against their patriot owners. In an objection to which he gave 168 words  three times as many as any other complaint  Jefferson said George III had encouraged enslaved Americans to purchase that liberty of which he has deprived them, by murdering the people upon whom he also obtruded them.

Numerous other white Southerners joined Jefferson in venting their rage at the mother country for, as one put it, pointing a dagger to their Throats, thru the hands of their Slaves.

Britain really had forged an informal alliance with African Americans  but it was the slaves who initiated it. In November 1774, James Madison became the first white American to report that slaves were plotting to take advantage of divisions between the colonies and the mother country to rebel and obtain their own freedom. Initially the British turned down African Americans offer to fight for their king, but the slaves kept coming, and on November 15, 1775, Lord Dunmore, the last British governor of Virginia, finally published an emancipation proclamation. It freed all rebel- (patriot-) owned slaves who could reach his lines and would fight to suppress the patriot rebellion.

The Second Continental Congress was talking about Dunmore and other British officials when it claimed, in the final draft of the Declaration, that George III had excited domestic insurrection amongst us. That brief euphemism was all that remained of Jeffersons 168-word diatribe against the British for sending Africans to America and then inciting them to kill their owners. But no one missed its meaning.

The complaints werent actually about the king

Britains king is the subject of 33 verbs in a declaration that never once says Parliament. But nine of Congress most pressing grievances actually were about parliamentary statutes. And even British officials like those who cracked down on Colonial smuggling worked not for George III but for his Cabinet, which was in effect a creature of Parliament.

By targeting only the king  who played a purely symbolic role in the Declaration of Independence, akin to modern Americas Uncle Sam  Congress reinforced its novel argument that Americans did not need to cut ties to Parliament, since they had never had any.

The Declaration of Independence does not actually denounce monarchy

As Julian P. Boyd, the founding editor of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, pointed out, the Declaration of Independence bore no necessary antagonism to the idea of kingship in general.

Indeed, several members of Congress, including John Dickinson of Pennsylvania, openly admired limited monarchy. Their beef was not with all kings and queens but with King George III  and him only as the front man for Parliament.

The Declaration of Independence fell short of its most pressing purpose

In June 1776, delegates who supported independence suggested that if Congress declared it soon, France might immediately accept its invitation to an alliance. Then the French Navy could start intercepting British supply ships bound for America that very summer.

But in reality it took French King Louis XVI a long 18 months to agree to a formal alliance, and the first French ships and soldiers did not enter the war until June 1778.

Abolitionists and feminists shifted the Declaration of Independences focus to human rights

In keeping with the Declaration of Independences largely diplomatic purpose, hardly any of its white contemporaries quoted its now-famous phrases about equality and rights. Instead, as the literary scholar Eric Slauter discovered, they spotlighted its clauses justifying one nation or state in breaking up with another.

But before the year 1776 was out, as Slauter also notes, Lemuel Haynes, a free African American soldier serving in the Continental Army, had drafted an essay called Liberty Further Extended. He opened by quoting Jeffersons truisms that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.

By highlighting these claims, Haynes began the process of shifting the focus and meaning of the Declaration of Independence from Congress ordinance of secession to a universal declaration of human rights. That effort was later carried forward by other abolitionists, Black and white, by womens rights activists and by other seekers of social justice, including Abraham Lincoln.

In time, abolitionists and feminists transformed Congress failed bid for an immediate French alliance into arguably the most consequential freedom document ever composed.

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Even in the heart of the most Biden-loving parts of Los Angeles County, the president is facing grumbles after his resounding failure of a performance at last weeks debate.

Biden needs to go sit down, have his medication and take a nap. His time is up, said Daisy Williams, who voted for Biden in 2020 but said she wouldnt participate in Novembers election after watching last weeks debate. Ive never seen something so crazy in my life. We in trouble  That debate was a joke.

Bidens debate performance  in which he delivered meandering, sometimes incoherent thoughts in a weak, raspy voice  has shaken among even the most ardent Democrats. While the party shuddered and its leaders hastily began arguing over whether to replace the incumbent president on the ticket, voters in the deepest blue parts of Los Angeles County mulled Bidens future, too.

California  and Los Angeles County in particular, which supported Biden by 71% in 2020  is a sea of support for the president. But some precincts in Inglewood and South Central L.A. are even bluer, delivering more than 94% support for the president in the 2020 election.

In a series of informal interviews, some residents in these areas said they'd stand by the president, while others said he should let someone else take on former President Trump in November, perhaps Vice President Kamala Harris.

In the West Athens neighborhood south of Inglewood, where one precincts support for Biden reached 95% in 2020, Williams expressed dismay at her options for president. If Biden stepped aside, she said she'd reconsider her decision not to vote.

The 65-year-old certified nurses assistant called the election a choice between a criminal and a person that has dementia.

Biden does not have any form of dementia, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said in a press briefing Tuesday.

Read more: 'A course correct': How Biden resets his campaign since he's likely not going anywhere

Biden has not publicly wavered from his commitment to running for reelection, though he has reportedly been discussing whether to step aside with his closest family members and advisors.

A CNN poll released Tuesday showed that 56% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning registered voters think their party would have a better chance at winning the election with a candidate other than Biden. The first polls released since the debate show Trump beating Biden.

But Daniel Rodriguez, a Democrat who voted for Biden in 2020 and plans to again in November, was unfazed by Biden's shaky debate performance.

I did see that, but I just think he has a lot of things on his mind, Rodriguez said. Hes overwhelmed.

As a caregiver for people between 50 and 90 years old, Rodriguez, 50, said his job is to advocate for the elderly and have 100% their back. His work, Rodriguez said, has shown him that some older adults remain sharp mentally even if they don't always express themselves well.

I see people who really had a good head on their shoulders  they still got it going on, theyre still smart, he said. So [do] not give up on them, you know?  They have a say-so in this country.

Janice Gatlin, 66, had the opposite reaction to the debate. She said she kept trying to turn away from the TV screen and Bidens spectacular failure, but couldnt stop looking and sat through the whole upsetting performance.

Biden, hes just at that age where its time to retire. Because he was lost! I was embarrassed for him. It hurt me, because I voted for him, she said. Harris, she added, would be a good alternate. "Time for her to step up," Gatlin said.

Biden made a handful of public appearances after the debate, including a lively speech he gave the following day at a rally in North Carolina. Critics said he appeared more energetic because he relied on a teleprompter. But for Gatlin, it didn't matter  the president's debate performance, she said, showed he is no longer fit for office.

He needs to step down and think about the country, Gatlin said, adding that other countries are watching the U.S. election. Nobodys scared of him. Hes not even talking loud  no bass in his voice, nothing.

For Antinya Walker, 19, who says she will be voting in her first presidential election this fall, the debate made her pick simple: Shes voting for Trump.

The Los Angeles resident, who was running an errand to a local Big Lots, said she believed Biden was against womens rights. She blamed him for tightened abortion restrictions across the country  though Trump takes credit for appointing the conservative Supreme Court justices who led to Roe vs. Wade being overturned, undoing nationwide abortion access.

Abortion is widely seen as Democrats winning ticket in elections. But last Thursday, Biden struggled to articulate a clear vision for restoring abortion care access in the country, instead making a confusing metaphor to a pregnancys trimesters and bungling the Democrats' key issue. Walker said she stopped watching the debate after hearing Bidens horrible response to the question.

How are we supposed to have faith in a president that cant even communicate right? Walker said. I feel like Trump is our best bet right now. I pray for America.

Still, in this bluest part of L.A. County, Biden retains supporters, folks like Harvey Woodruff, a retired grocery store and security worker.

He looked a little fatigued. The mans on the job, what do you expect? Woodruff said. He said hes grateful for Bidens running of the economy in the past four years. Two thumbs up, excellent job. I see no reason why we cannot have him in there for another term.

Trump presents a greater threat to the country's democracy, Woodruff said, adding that he expected Trump would pardon his own criminal conviction if he were elected president.

The 67-year-old was riding his bike from his Inglewood neighborhood, where 95% of votes went for Biden in 2020, to Darby Park, on his way to meet a friend at the beach. After watching Bidens difficulty at the debate, Woodruff said he was reminded to have a checkup with his doctor.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Defense rests in Menendez trial with no testimony from the man himself

After launching a defense in a historic and sprawling bribery trial, New Jersey Senator Bob Menendezs legal team rested their case Wednesday, opting not to put the embattled legislator on the stand.

Menendez told U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein that he would not testify, allowing the defense to close its case and pave the way for closing arguments, but did provide an unsworn statement after the fact.

"From my perspective, the government has failed to prove every aspect of this case," he told reporters outside a federal courthouse in New York.

The prosecution wrapped its arguments up last Friday after seven weeks of testimony from Menendezs associates, government officials and investigators, and the chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics. Closing arguments are set to begin next week.

As Politico noted, the defense sketched out a preview of closing statements, hinting that they aimed to place doubt on whether the bribery schemes occurred.

Theres no direct proof of the schemes alleged, Menendez attorney Adam Fee reportedly said in a courtroom session without jurors present. Its only about the strength of inferences.

Prosecutors, who told jurors during opening statements that Menendez was a senator on the take, painted a vivid picture of a corrupt senator and his wifes lavish lifestyle, fueled by bribes in exchange for personal and political favors.

Accused of serving as a foreign agent of Egypt in addition to being charged with 16 felonies in 2023 alongside his wife for multiple bribery schemes  including allegedly accepting gold bars and a new car  Menendez gave up his post as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee after an indictment dropped. He is leaving open a re-election bid.
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Police PIT Turns Into A Gunfight

When performing any tactical vehicle intervention, law enforcement has to be on high alert. These types of situations carry an extreme amount of risk, not just because things can go wrong with a PIT but also because the suspect(s) might open fire or do something else incredibly dangerous. Thats exactly what happened in this situation in New Mexico from 2020.

Watch a suspect in a Dodge Charger speed right through a DUI checkpoint, leading police on a chase.

The dashcam footage, which was released this year, shows state police chasing down a black Honda Civic thats displaying a stolen license plate. We jump into the video after one chase was called off due to risky conditions, then another chase began and one officer successfully spiked one of the passenger-side tires.

Even partially disabled, the suspect pushes the Civic to 83 mph as chunks of the deflated tire fly and hit the lead pursuit car. Police back off some and see what happens, but the suspect keeps on trucking like nothing is wrong.

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Thats when the lead state officer goes in for a PIT, which at high speeds is even riskier. The suspect starts swerving, probably in an attempt to frustrate the PIT maneuver, but it seems he only made the outcome worse as the Civic rolls.

Upside down and cornered, the guy sticks a handgun out of the drivers window and fires a round at the officer who returns fire several times. Why the suspect didnt shoot more isnt explained, but they do see blood coming from the car, indicating he was likely hit by the return fire.

Getting the guy out of the overturned car is extra dangerous since he might be waiting to ambush anyone foolish enough to help him. Being a cop sure seems like a great job, especially with people blaming you for everything criminals do wrong.

They were able to get the guy out and arrest him. He was 31-year-old Jeramiah Medina and had violated his parole, which was probably why he decided to run instead of pulling over. Apparently, he didnt want to go back to jail so badly he was willing to die instead. Even though he was taken to a hospital, he got that wish.

Story continues

This is why cops are on edge a lot of the time. While this was a high-risk situation, even when things are calm someone might start shooting at them or do something else crazy.

Unfortunately, YouTube decided to age restrict the video, meaning you have to watch it on YouTube after going through the consent script. Normally wed embed it but you cant do that with age restricted videos.

If you want to see this PIT and gunfight play out, click here.

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A Del Puerto Canyon wildfire west of Patterson had scorched 323 acres as of Thursday morning and was at 5% percent containment, Cal Fire was reporting.

The Grande Fire was one of more than a dozen wildfires across the state, including the Thompson Fire in Butte County, which has resulted in the evacuation of about 26,000 people and had burned more than 3,500 acres near Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento. Four structures have been destroyed.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported Thursday morning the Thompson Fire was at 7% containment and while over the past 12 hours there has been no change in the noted acreage ... today we are expecting high temperatures, which increases the chances for fire growth.

Nearly 2,000 firefighters and other personnel are assigned to the Thompson Fire. Cal Fire reported Thursday morning that 120 firefighters and other personnel were assigned to the Grande Fire, which started Thursday.

The wildfires come as much of California is scorched by a heat wave. The National Weather Service is reporting daytime highs of 105 to 115 degrees over several days with little overnight relief for much of the state, according to the Gov. Gavin Newsoms office.

The Stanislaus County Office of Emergency Services is reporting that the libraries in Modesto, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Salida and Turlock are open noon to 8 p.m. on the Fourth of July as cooling zones.

A full list of cool zones, including other locations open over the holiday, is as at stanemergency.com/pdf/cooling-locations.pdf.

The National Weather Services seven-day forecast for Modesto calls for triple-digit days through Wednesday, with nighttime lows in the low to mid-70s. This weekend is expected to be the peak with a high of 110 degrees Saturday and 109 on Sunday.

Modesto remains under an excessive heat warning through 11 p.m. Tuesday. Officials are advising people to drink plenty of water, stay in air-conditioned rooms, limit sun exposure and check on family and neighbors.
Last week, after an emotionally charged debate, the Delaware state Senate, in an 11-10 vote, passed a bill that would give terminally ill Delawareans aid-in-dying options.

House Bill 140  the Ron Silverio/Heather Block End of Life Options Law  allows mentally capable, terminally ill adults who have received a prognosis of six months or less to live to request and obtain self-ingested medication to end their lives peacefully. The House advanced this legislation in April.

Gov. John Carney should move swiftly to sign it.

Delaware should join the 11 other states and the District of Columbia in enacting this humane and thoughtful legislation.

A contentious debate

An exterior view of the Delaware Legislative Hall, the state capitol building, on March, 4 2024, in Dover.

The state Srenate's vote, as staff writer Amanda Fries reported, came after a heated debate in which the ethical and moral implications of the legislation were argued. Some senators invoked their religious ideologies while others praised the legislation's humanity.

State Sen. Stephanie Hansen reminded her colleagues of her own father, who suffered from ALS for more than two years before his death. Hansen argued that he might well have wanted to consider end-of-life options.

"This bill is about taking control. Finally having the ability to take control over your own final chapter, writing how your final chapter is going to read under your own terms," Hansen said. "People like my father deserve that."

We agree, Senator.

And so does Delaware.

Delaware supports aid-in-dying legislation

Consider:

A 2020 poll found broad support for aid-in-life legislation in Delaware. Overall, 72% of Delaware voters, 77% of Wilmington voters, 70% of New Castle County voters, 71% of Kent County voters, 69% of Sussex County voters, 72% of Democratic voters, 75% of Independent voters and 67% of Republican voters, support medical aid-in-dying legislation.

The Delaware Nurses Association, Delaware Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Delaware Psychological Association all endorsed the legislation.

End-of-life options can provide dignity, independence and choice to Delawareans facing the gravest health challenges.

If the governor is unable to sign the bill  which we believe he should  he should let allow it to become law without his signatue.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware aid-in-dying: Carney should sign the bill
After meeting with Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Wednesday amid persistent questions about the presidents fitness for office and the status of his re-election campaign, several Democratic governors voiced their firm support for the incumbent.

Minnesotas Tim Walz, one of three governors who spoke to the press outside the White House following the meeting, led off by pointing to how Biden had our backs through COVID, through all of the recovery, all the things that have happened.

Now, he said, the governors have his back and we are working together, just to make very, very clear on thata path to victory in November is the number one priority, and thats the number one priority of the president. So thats what were trying to get done. The feedback was good. The conversation was honest and open, and the action that will come out of that, we will make sure we are getting the message out.

Kamala Harris Tries Her Best to Defend Joe in Post-Debate Scramble

Wes Moore, Marylands first-term governor, similarly added that as governors, we would stand with [Biden] because, as Governor Walz said, the president has always had our backs. Were going to have his back as well.

Moments later, New Yorks Kathy Hochul told reporters: All of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher.

The Biden campaign has sought to present a unified front after two Democrats in Congress, Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva and Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett, have called on their party to look elsewhere for a nominee.

Other governors at the meeting included Californias Gavin Newsom, a Biden campaign surrogate who, while not appearing before the media, confirmed his support for the president in a post on social media.

Roy Cooper of North Carolina, describing a good meeting, also backed Biden.

President Biden told us he is definitely running for re-election, he is our nominee and well continue doing everything we can to deliver North Carolina for him, he said in a statement.

Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a battleground state critical to Bidens re-election, likewise indicated her support.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he would back Biden so long as he continues to be in the race, CBS News reported.

SOS to Clinton and Obama: You Can End the Biden Nightmare after That Debate

Wednesdays meeting occurred two days after a Monday call among Democratic governors who expressed concern about not having heard directly from Biden since last Thursdays debate, according to CNN.

Biden, in a call with campaign staff earlier Wednesday, said he would not be exiting the race.

Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can, as simply and straightforward as I can, he told those working to usher in a second term. I am running no ones pushing me out.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Democratic governors of New York, Minnesota and Maryland on Wednesday said they would support President Joe Biden's reelection bid after a candid discussion with him about his weak performance in last week's debate.

"The president has always had our backs. We're going to have his back as well," Maryland Governor Wes Moore told reporters after a meeting with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House that included 24 Democratic governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., some joining online.

Moore said the governors were frank in relaying negative feedback from constituents about Biden's poor performance during the debate with Republican rival Donald Trump. He said there was clearly work to do before the Nov. 5 election, but Biden had made it clear he would stay in the race.

"The president ... he's our nominee. The president is our party leader," Moore said. There has been growing talk among Democrats in recent days that 81-year-old Biden should drop out of the race.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she felt confident after the meeting and all the governors pledged their support to Biden. The president is "in it to win it," she said.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, said Biden's debate performance on Thursday was bad but he felt Biden was fit for office.

"Obviously we, like many Americans, are a little worried. We're worried because the threat of a Trump presidency is not theoretical," Walz said, adding that the previous Trump presidency was marked by "chaos, destruction."

Nearly a dozen of the state leaders attended the meeting in person, but only three spoke with reporters afterwards.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who participated in person, posted his reaction on social platform X: "I heard three words from the President tonight  hes all in. And so am I."

Biden's campaign said the president reiterated his determination "to defeat the existential threat of Donald Trump at the ballot box in November" and discussed the importance of electing Democrats up and down the ballot.

"All participants reiterated their shared commitment to do everything possible to make sure President Biden and Vice President Harris beat Donald Trump in November," it said

(Reporting by Andrea Shala and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler and Cynthia Osterman)
Several Democrats running in competitive House districts this cycle are breaking from President Biden, underscoring growing concerns that the incumbent could be a down-ballot liability following his rocky debate performance in Atlanta last week.

Reps. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.) have both declared they have no confidence in Biden winning, while Adam Frisch, a Democrat running to fill the seat being vacated by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), said the president should withdraw.

Their remarks come amid growing speculation that more members of the party will call for Biden to step aside after the fallout from last weeks debate. On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Biden had spoken with several allies as he weighed his candidacy, though the White House has disputed that reporting.

Weve got frontliners who, even before this, would have been trying to distance themselves from Biden anyway, said one House Democrat, who spoke anonymously to discuss a sensitive topic.

The query is: Do you need to distance yourself further by saying the Democrats should have somebody else at the top of the ticket? the lawmaker added. Because if that becomes what they need to do, then were really in trouble. He already is a down-ballot issue, especially in those states. How much worse does it get for them is the question.

The president and his campaign have failed to quell Democratic anxiety over his candidacy, including longstanding concerns about his age and mental fitness, in the days since his disastrous debate performance against former President Trump.

Several days after the CNN-hosted event, Biden campaign Chair Jen OMalley Dillon released a memo projecting confidence about the state of the presidents candidacy while seeking to damp down fretting from the naysayers.

But that has done little to quell the fear among Democrats, especially amid a string of polls showing they could have cause for concern. On Wednesday, a survey from The New York Times and Siena College showed Trump widening his lead against Biden at 49 percent to 43 percent among likely voters.

And a separate poll released Wednesday by The Wall Street Journal showed Trump widening his lead over Biden to 6 points, up from 2 points since a similar February poll was conducted.

For Democrats, the stakes couldnt be higher.

They already face a challenging map in the Senate, leading to growing expectations that Republicans will seize the upper chamber in November. And the postdebate polls indicate Biden is trailing in key battleground states hell need to win a second term.

Those dynamics have put increasing pressure on party leaders to shore up House races and flip control of the lower chamber, to ensure theres a check on Republican power if Trump returns to the White House. The dynamic could very well lead donors to begin shifting resources as members of the party calculate where to most effectively invest amid a tumultuous election cycle.

It wont be easy.

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, lists 39 Democratic House seats as vulnerable, compared with 30 Republican seats. Overall, The Hill/Decision Desk HQs election forecaster currently gives Republicans a 66-percent chance of keeping the House in November.

A number of top Democrats in and out of Congress have already started to ramp up pressure on Biden to drop out.

I would ask him to not run on behalf of the  not just the party, but the country, because theres so much at stake, former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) told The Hill on Monday, when asked how hed handle the issue if he was still in Congress.

Following his comments, Ryan publicly called on Biden to withdraw in an op-ed. The former member of congress told The Hill that hes really disappointed that people arent being more vocal about it, arguing that keeping Biden as the Democratic candidate risks us winning the House.

On Wednesday, Rep. Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) became the second House Democrat to call on Biden to exit the race. Grijalva represents a safe district for Democrats, but other House members running in more competitive races have also sought distance from the incumbent.

Bidens poor performance in the debate was not a surprise, Golden wrote in an op-ed for the Bangor Daily News. 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.

Golden represents Maines 2nd Congressional District, which Trump won by 7 points in 2020. The Democrat is currently favored to win the seat, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQs election forecaster.

Frisch, whos running for the open seat in Colorados red-leaning 3rd Congressional District, became one of the first candidates to urge Biden to drop out.

I thank President Biden for his years of service, but the path ahead requires a new generation of leadership to take our country forward, Frisch said Tuesday.

Added to Democrats woes, the election forecaster Sabatos Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics shifted its ratings for two states, moving Michigan from leans Democratic to toss up and moving the more reliably blue Minnesota from likely Democratic to leans Democrat. Democrats are defending at least four swing districts between the two states.

Most members have not staked out a clear position on Bidens future, careful not to get ahead of the Biden campaign while also acknowledging the tumultuous path that lies ahead for him after the debate.

Still, some are expressing openness to another option  if it becomes available.

I think it is fair to say that the vice president makes a very compelling case as to why Donald Trump is a threat and is unfit to be president, particularly as it relates to democracy and voting, voting rights and reproductive freedom, and those are going to be incredibly important arguments in this election, said one vulnerable House Democrat, when asked if they would feel more at ease with Vice President Harris at the top of the ticket.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Deputies: Person arrested after shooting woman in the face with an Orbeez gun in Burien

A person was arrested Wednesday after deputies said he was shooting a pellet gun at people around the Burien Safeway, according to the King County Sheriffs Office.

The first report came at 5:15 p.m. when a woman reported being struck by a pellet in the Safeway parking lot. KIRO 7 spoke to a relative of the victim, who said the woman had been shot in the face.

Another shooting was reported at 6:20 p.m. Deputies from the King County Sheriffs Office responded and located the suspects in their vehicle.

At least one of the people in the car confessed to shooting random people with an Orbeez gun, which fires small gel balls at high velocity.

The weapon was recovered, and the suspect was booked into SCORE Jail for investigation of assault.

The case has been forwarded to the Burien City Prosecutor for review and a charging decision.
This image provided by the National Archives shows the 19th century engraving "Drafting the Declaration of Independence in 1776, 1859" by Alonzo Chappel, which depicts the committee chosen to draft a declaration of independence. The five members are, from left, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Philip Livingston and Roger Sherman. | Alonzo Chappel, National Archives via Associated Press

A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Among those to sign the document were future presidents George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton.

On July 4, 1826, 50 years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Adams and Jefferson both died.

While today is celebrated as Independence Day in America, key figures Adams and Jefferson died on the same day.

In life, no two men were more closely associated with the Declaration of Independence, and the birth of our nation that it precipitated, than Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, read a Deseret News editorial in 2014. In death, they are forever linked by the date on which both men passed away: July 4, 1826, the jubilee year of the miracle of 1776.

July 4, 1826  Remembering Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

Another president, James Monroe, also died on July 4, in 1831, at age 73.

The fifth president of the United States did not sign the Declaration of Independence, but Monroe did serve in the Revolutionary War, and, in fact, was injured in the Battle of Trenton. He is still considered one of the Founding Father presidents.

Here are some stories from Deseret News archives on these historic figures:

The Founders secret to finding happiness

This week in history: Adams and Jefferson breathe their last

Faithful Fathers? Beliefs of nations founders varied

Thomas Jefferson

Heres a fun story on how U.S. presidents have spent their July Fourths:

Presidents on July 4: Some chill, some get in your face

On a related note: Hannibal Hamlin, who was the 15th vice president of the nation under President Abraham Lincoln, also died on July 4, in 1891.

And, on July 4, 1872, Calvin Coolidge was born in Plymouth, Vermont. He became the nations 30th president.
The destruction of Russian fighter bombers and the replenishment of ammunition stocks will help Ukraine halt Russia's advance on the battlefield, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the LRT media outlet.

The trend of Russia gradually occupying Ukraine's territory can be reversed, but it is "very difficult" and requires "many decisions," according to Kuleba.

Two key solutions are the destruction of Russian aircraft both on the ground and in the air, and ensuring a sufficient amount of artillery shells to fight Moscow's forces, he continued.

"This (Russian aviation) is a real pain point for our ground forces. We believe that the main reason for Russia's success is simply the endless number of guided bombs that are dropped on our ground forces," Kuleba said in an interview published on July 4.

Russia used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine in the past week alone, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

These weapons are launched from aircraft within Russian territory, outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses. "As soon as we manage to tackle the threat of aerial bombardment, our ground positions will be strengthened, and it will be very difficult for Russia to advance," the minister added.

Guided aerial bombs are precision-guided munitions that have a shorter range than missiles, but are far cheaper to produce. The weapons are launched from aircraft within Russian territory, outside the range of Ukrainian air defense.

"As soon as we manage to tackle the threat of aerial bombardment, our ground positions will be strengthened, and it will be very difficult for Russia to advance," the minister added.

In recent weeks, the active Russia-Ukraine front line has expanded as intense fighting continues in the areas of Pokrovsk and Toretsk, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 2.

Russian troops also trying to push on Kharkiv, Kupiansk, Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Kurakhove, Vremivka, Orikhiv and Prydniprovia sectors in Ukraine's east and south, according to General Staff's latest update.

Read also: Ukraine withdraws from eastern Chasiv Yar neighborhood, military says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

From the July/August issue of Car and Driver.

Greed is good, Gordon Gekko said in the 1980s. Maybe he was talking about horsepower. It was in that decade when Porsche engineers, readying a new 911 Turbo, began questioning how much power they could funnel through two wheels. Porsche president and CEO Peter Schutz responded, Why not four? and painstakingly created a test-bed prototype called the 959. Schutz knew he could hasten the engineering if a competition program depended on it. Thus did Porsche venture on tippy-toes into Group B rallyingthe "killer Bs," a series then injuring drivers and spectators alike.

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Whereupon former Formula 1 driver Jacques Bernard Edmon Martin Henri "Jacky" Ickx suggested, "Forget Group B. With the 959, we can contest the ParisDakar," a rally Mr. Many Names had recently won in a Mercedes 280GE. More than 959 pricey pieces of the pricey 959 were doubtless sacrificed in preparation. But it all turned to gravy in 1986, when French driver Rene Metge won the off-road spectacle. Nowadays, no one remembers Metge, who chain-smoked Gauloises in a Rothmans-sponsored car. Yet we all remember Ickx, who never won in a 959.

Fast-forward almost 40 years. How many sports-car buyers today venerate the ParisDakar as Porsche's all-wheel-drive puberty? Six or seven, easy. Porsche swears it's more, thus the 959 doppelganger before us. You will notice that our test carnumber 329 of 2500bears neither the optional 62-pound roof rack nor auxiliary lights. Porsche wanted clean aero for truer acceleration results.

Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

The 911 Dakar is similar to the Carrera 4 GTS coupe ($159,850), which shares its 473-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six. Add to that a teaspoon of rear steering and active anti-roll bars, and your Dakar can tackle shag carpeting, dirt, or dirty shag carpeting. An electronically controlled clutch pack within the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic apportions torque bias from 88 percent front to 100 percent rear, so intelligent that we caught it conversing with a great gray owl.

Story continues

The maximum 19.0-degree break-over angle is a strong start, and there are red recovery hooks fore and aft that Porsche calls "non-removable retaining lugs." Equipped with front and rear hydraulic axle lifts, the Dakar requires about nine seconds to hoist its skirts to its maximum clearance of 7.5 inches. Versus, say, 8.2 inches for a Nissan Rogue. Forget to lower the suspension after returning to pavement? It lowers automatically above 105 mph, something you could try in your driveway.

Car and Driver

Bottoms Up

The Dakar is raised and then some.

To make the 911 off-road ready, Porsche didn't just lengthen the springs and kick it out the door. From top to, well, mostly bottom, the Dakar gets some features that help it actually function in places where ground clearance and protection matter more than jounce control.

The whole Dakar body raises 1.2 inches on command from an already elevated static height some 1.9 inches above a 911 Carrera with the sport suspension. The body-lift system is developed from the front-axle-lift option on other 911s, but with beefed-up hydraulics (the system pressure increases by 23 percent to 1958 psi) and applied to all four corners.

When activated, the lift system increases ground clearance to 7.5 inches and basically doubles the approach angle to 16.1 degrees, though that still isn't enough to clear our 20-degree RTI ramp. It does, however, give the Dakar a break-over angle of 19.0 degrees, which is on par with Porsche's SUVs, reducing the chances of getting high-centered. Above 105 mph, the Dakar automatically lowers.

If a Dakar scrapes its belly on the trail, stainless-steel panels at the front and rear and along the sills are designed to mitigate damage. The flat, unassuming underbody is plastic, albeit reinforced. Just don't drag the ass, because the engine is mostly unprotected.

Other add-ons include fixed aluminum tow hooks front and rear, and Porsche made the mesh grilles protecting the radiators out of stainless steel. K.C. Colwell

Unique to the 911 Dakarand looking like a Fu Manchu on Marjorie Taylor Greeneare dual-carcass Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, not rated for mud and snow. No spare. Just a bottle of sealant and a mini air compressor. The owner's manual moreover warns, "Only authorized Porsche Partners may mount tires." What's shocking is that replacement Pirellis cost an unshocking $402 front and $514 rear, likely the cheapest 911 repair you'll ever endure.

Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

Plop your backside into either the civilized no-extra-cost 18-way heated seats or the standard carbon-fiber torture shells. The latter's tall bladelike bolsters inflict a second butt crack, and their manual fore/aft adjuster is hell to reach.



More fun facts:

The Dakar shares its passive engine mounts with the 911 GT3.

In case of theft, there's a tracking system, perfect if the carbon seats have already punished the thief.

Silver-gray seatbelts, as on our car, are a $540 option. For gray?

The optional roof rack must be removed for automatic carwashes.

The door handles stand proud unless central locking is engaged, and they can likewise be damaged in carwashes.

A front-center radiator is obviated by two electric fans from a 911 Turbo. Show off your engine and all you'll reveal are plastic blowers resembling 1980s-era Pioneer speakers.

The hood and fixed deck spoiler are fashioned from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

A dashboard switch supplies acoustically optimized exhaust. We tried it. Then we smoked a Rothmans.

Just to prove a close-to-absurd point, we drove the Dakar in Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, where many foresters do not drive Foresters. We immediately noticed that, in Offroad and Rallye modes, the transmission hangs on to revs too long before upshifting. Big engine speed is anathema to rock crawling. So we reverted to Normal, which only minutes prior on pavement had annoyed us for doing the oppositeupshifting too soon, a fuel-saving trick. The Dakar thus felt ever befuddled, a gazelle wandering in the hyenas' 'hood.

A rock that would have slid undetected beneath a starter-kit Toyota RAV4 crashed and banged and scuffed below the Dakar's two front undertrays until we halted in concern. There's little protection under the engine. Should that stone perforate turbo plumbing or the crankcase, the fiscal carnage will rival your last two divorces.



At 7000 feet, we squished into snow deep enough to suck a boot off photographer Marc Urbano. Whereupon the 911 surrendered too, just before flattening his stylish footwear. Then it rained, with the swollen rear fender flares acting as mudflaps, and the driver bellyaching about the lack of a rear wiper and whether Drakkar Noir smells like Dakar.

Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

Is it just us, or is Porsche's credit-card-sized shiftera flimsy flippersomehow almost sexual in its disappointment? You cannot feel when reverse or drive have been engaged. It flops like a spoon in oatmeal and is useful only to Tolkien characters.

A photo of the Dakar fording the Bitterroot River would have been fun. Until we recalled that the engine's air filters are stashed in the rear wheel wells. "Exposed to high sand or dust, the air filters must be replaced after a day's drive," Porsche warns. It's a 23-step regimen resembling an IRS audit.

Hot Rubber

Our road-test subject wore the Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires developed specifically for the Dakar. They feature reinforced construction and a knobby look. But that isn't the only OE tire; we borrowed a second Dakar with summer shoes. Also developed just for the Dakar, these Pirelli P Zero PZ4s offer way more grip on dry pavement, which is where most Dakars will live, right? There's some added bite at launch, which shrinks both the 60-mph and quarter-mile times by 0.2 second, to 2.7 and 10.9 seconds. Skidpad stick increases to 1.04 g's from 0.96. Stopping from 70 mph comes 18 feet sooner, at 144 feet. But the real shocker is that stopping from 100 mph shrinks by 48 feet (!) to 284 feet. And surprisingly, there's a 76-decibel hum with either tire during 70-mph cruising.



While the P Zeros' numbers seem more befitting of a modern 911, the summers don't complete the safari look that makes the Dakar pop in traffic. However, with a 640 treadwear rating (the P Zeros' is 280), the slightly pricier Scorpions should last longerprovided you dont chunk them at 0.96 g on a cloverleaf. K.C.



Base price for a 911 Dakar is $223,450. That's six Honda CR-Vs and tickets to visit Zuffenhausen. What saves it from sideline snipery is that its modest off-road chops inflict such minor mischief on pavement behavior. Even atop those chunky Scorpions, the Dakar pulls 0.96 g. It tracks like a bullet train, pivots like a skid-steer, and can burn off 70 mph in 162 feet. Despite its 3580 pounds, it's as agile as, well, a 911. Simply imagine a directional change, and it's past tense.

Marc Urbano - Car and Driver

Under max braking, anything untetheredYeti cups, hand sanitizers, an egg-salad sandwich halfway in my mouthslams missile-like into the dash. Reacting to full-throttle upshifts at 7500 rpm, the same missiles reverse course to pockmark the carpeted rear firewall. No seats back there, you'll notice. And in Sport mode, under determined braking, with the Scorpions yowling and squirming, the eight-speed supplies downshifts preceded by sublime throttle-matching blips. Porsche says it has added compliance, yet the ride recollects a titanium-carbide teeter-totter. Body roll? The Dakar's never heard of it.

Porsche's familiar launch-control programming is available in Sport, but in Rallye and Off-road modes, Rallye Launch Control allows a gratifying 20 percent wheelslip. The Dakar then squats for half a beatas if asking "Everybody strapped in?"before lunging so ferociously that you're never prepared. A "hard leaver," as Pro Stockers would declare, a group who would beam at the Dakar's 11.1-second quarter-mile at 126 mph.

Back in the '80s, the sensuously flared 959 hammered out 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Several of us wept. Today the Dakar performs the deed in 2.9 seconds. Wide-open-throttle upshifts are instantaneous furious thunderclaps, putting to shame the quickest manual shift you ever accomplished in front of your high school. At 96 decibels, such juvenilia will deafen your old Spanish teacher too. Should you ever wish to reduce your colleagues' vocabulary to two words"holy" and "shit"the Dakar is the delivery mechanism.

Porsche 911s carry two burdens only: handling and acceleration. To expect this one to penetrate granitic hummocks and Miocene tar pitsjust in case Starbucks' next franchise is halfway up Trapper Peakis like asking a Cuisinart to tie your shoelaces. One possible rationalization: "I want to drive my 911 all winter." Okay, but why should one car serve all functions? That's how America became constipated by SUVs styled like Mosler vaults. Let's be honest: The Dakar is less functional off-road than a $38K Subaru Forester, which we'd driven on these same two-tracks a week prior. When you're off-road yet suppressing 473 horses under your right Reebok, all you can wonder is, "How close are we to pavement?"

Michael Simari - Car and Driver

Porsche offers 20-some 911 variants, so it's not as if the Dakar has squeezed out a more practical cousin. But, come on, what's next? A 911 hearse with floral arrangements? An armored 911 for SWAT teams? Imagine if Porsche's engineers lost all reason and created an off-roadable SUV called the Cayenne.

Mind you, we're the folks who once built a 150-mph cop car. Life doesn't make sense. Why should your car?

Counterpoints

I was ready for a jacked-up Porsche on knobbies to drive like something uncouth enough to enter in an SCCA Pro Rally: a noisy beast that rattles like bolts in a coffee can and bucks like a Brahman bull. But the only trait the Dakar shares with a rally car is its exuberantly loud exhaust note, which growls and howls like it wants to tear the engine out of the next Camry it comes across. I love that. Otherwise, the Dakar drives as sweetly as any 911. Its kooky off-road nature is fun in theorybut drive a 911 off-road? Not me. My ideal Porsche is a 911 Carrera 4 GTS with the Dakar's exhaust note and racy bucket seatsand the approximate 60-grand savings that would come with it. Rich Ceppos

Driving the Dakar has me imagining myself in an Indiana Jones film with I-94 as a rope bridge on the verge of collapse and the Dakar's all-terrain tires comfortably rolling over the disintegrating path. The additional ground clearance over the 911 Carrera 4 GTS the Dakar is based on isn't too wild but enough to clear a sacred stone or two dropped in front of you. On more fun roads, the 473-hp powerplant cracks like a whip, and the added ride height and off-road tires don't detract from the experience. The fatter sidewall adds more cushion, and the 0.96-g skidpad grip and 162-foot stop from 70 mph are shockingly close to the Nissan Z NISMO we tested, which wore summer rubber. One word of caution: Beware of the racing seats. Climbing in and out of them can be a real blockbuster. Austin Irwin

I am anything but an 85th-percentile man, but I am in the apparent 1 percent who normally love Porsche's carbon bucket seats. Standard in the Dakar and some other GT Porsches, the buckets are Loctite for your ass. But they're overkill on a 911 that can only pull 0.96 g. The no-cost 18-way-adjustable seats would improve the experience massively. They're easier to get in and out of and better off-road when you need to shift your body that extra inch to check clearance. About the only time you might want the carbon buckets in a Dakar is if you entered a rallycross. Other than that, no notes. Tons of fun everywhere. Yet another 911 that I shall waste too much time pining over. K.C. Colwell

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Im not sure that anything can now help poor Rishi Sunak, but surely a letter a few days back from the Russian foreign minister alleging Moscows backing for Keir Starmer would have done just a little good. And it would have been a fitting way to celebrate the centenary of the infamous Zinoviev Letter.

In 1924 the Labour Party had formed its first government. It was a minority administration, dependent on the Liberals, and was under siege from its formation. While party leader and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald was moderate, pragmatic, and certainly anti-communist, he and his party were constantly accused of being overly sympathetic to Moscow.

Their decision to normalise Britains relationship with the Soviets, only seven years after the Russian Revolution, however, fuelled paranoia about Bolshevik influence, and this fear even extended to some within the security services. It was partly the notion that Labour was too close to the Soviets that led to the MacDonald government losing a confidence vote and having to go to the people.

Four days before the election, the Daily Mail published a letter ostensibly from Grigori Zinoviev, head of the Communist International in Moscow, the dreaded Comintern. It ordered the Communist Party of Great Britain to commit acts of sedition and argued that, A settlement of relations between the two countries will assist in the revolutionising of the international and British proletariat not less than a successful rising in any of the working districts of England, as the establishment of close contact between the British and Russian proletariat, the exchange of delegations and workers, etc., will make it possible for us to extend and develop the propaganda of ideas of Leninism in England and the Colonies.

It sounds like a parody today but at the time was taken seriously, even by some who claimed to be experts. The Soviets were in fact anxious to build closer ties with Britain, but less due to ideology than to Russias poverty and desperate need for loans and financial support. As a result, Zinoviev himself quickly and officially denied that the letter was genuine. But as anti-Communists said at the time, well he would say that wouldnt he.

Although Labour leaders were understandably furious, their eventual vote wasnt especially damaged by the letter, with supporters either not believing its authenticity or not caring even if was true. The party also ran more candidates than before, so the overall tally was higher.

The Conservatives were always strong favourites to win but certainly attracted voters who were genuinely frightened of what would happen if a Labour government formed closer ties with Moscow. The major victim of the letter was probably the Liberal Party, already in a rapid decline. These red scare tactics pushed many of their usual voters into the hands of the Conservatives.

But it also led to a lasting Labour Party suspicion of British as well as Soviet Communism, and a determination to emphasize the non-Marxist nature of British social democracy, something that was only interrupted when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. Partly as a result of the letter, the new Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin distanced his government from Moscow, and the Soviet Union became increasingly isolated.

That would have delighted the writers of the letter, who were almost certainly white Russians, monarchists, or other emigres who wanted to discredit the Labour Party and prevent Britain from aiding the Soviets in any way. The Zinoviev Letter was a hoax, and that so many people believed and continued to believe its authenticity says more about popular paranoia and credulity than about the letters verisimilitude.

Within a few years, Stalin controlled the Soviet Union, incarcerated and killed millions, and oversaw a forced starvation of Ukraine. Courageous people wrote genuine letters about what was going on inside the country, but they were usually given far less acceptance than the Zinoviev forgery.

As for Ramsay MacDonald, he would go on to be Labour Prime Minister once again between 1929 and 1931 and then lead a National Government until 1935.

In 1934 Grigory Zinoviev was arrested, put on trial, and accused of crimes against the Soviet Union. The following year, after torture and humiliation, he was ordered to plead guilty to various outlandish and absurd charges. He said he would do so if his life was spared. That, said Stalin, goes without saying.

He was then executed.

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Dog law fixes pass both Pennsylvania chambers unanimously; head to Shapiros desk for his signature

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Pennsylvania dog boarding kennels near state lines and dog rescues everywhere in Pennsylvania can breathe a sigh of relief after a final legislative act Wednesday to send legislation amending the commonwealths dog law to Governor Josh Shapiros desk for his signature.

The state Senate Wednesday passed legislation unanimously Wednesday  aligned with a bill passed unanimously by the House last week  granting kennels relief from restrictions they said were causing them to lose significant amounts of business if they were near state lines, because of the new difficulties of boarding a dog in Pennsylvania rather than in its neighboring states for residents of those states. The bill also grants dog rescues relief from having to completely quarantine out-of-state dogs before making them available for adoption.

The bills were sponsored by Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York Co.) and Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery Co.)

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Last year, the legislature made major updates to the commonwealths longstanding dog law. Supporters hoped the changes would protect dogs and their owners  for example, from exposure in kennels or rescues to sick dogs.

But after kennels and rescues howled, the bills sponsor conceded a few of the changes caused unintended consequences, which went beyond protecting dogs and people and instead hindered dog boarding and rescuing operations.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Dozens of beaches in the U.S. are closed or under swimming advisories on the Fourth of July, as a result of high levels of bacteria in the water.

Local and state governments have issued warnings about shores in their own areas but there is no centralized database to determine whether a beach is under a health advisory. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that beachgoers check online for health advisories before heading out to their preferred shores on the holiday.

Excessive bacteria and other environmental factors have prompted advisories or closures in states across the country.

In Massachusetts, the state said more than 35 beaches were closed as of Thursday morning, mostly as a result of bacterial exceedance, which indicates levels of Enterococci or E. coli that exceed the stated limit. Some beaches are closed as a result of harmful cyanobacterial blooms, which can occur as a result of excessive rainfall or extreme weather events.

In New York, at least two beaches are closed, with five open with advisories, according to the state. Local governments, however, can issue their own warnings about beaches, which health officials recommend checking. In Suffolk County, an advisory last week warned against bathing at 63 beaches because of increased heavy bacteria caused by heavy rainfall and stormwater, ABC reported.

In Michigan, there are at least seven closures and advisories for beaches, per the states Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. In a post on the social platform X Wednesday, the department advised Michiganders to Check for beach closures.

In Illinois, there are 26 advisories at beaches in the state, with some being closed for High bacteria levels, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Congolese Army accused of desertion and cowardice when fighting M23 rebels are sentenced at the military courtroom in Goma

By Yassin Kombi

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Twenty-five soldiers have been sentenced to death by a military tribunal in the Democratic Republic of Congo for fleeing battles against M23 rebels and theft, their lawyer and an army spokesman said on Thursday.

Congo's army has been fighting the Rwanda-backed M23 insurgency for more than two years, as well as facing other militia violence, with around 2.7 million people displaced within North Kivu province. The rebels advanced into strategically important territory last week.

On Tuesday, the army detained 27 soldiers after they abandoned their positions in the villages of Keseghe and Matembe in the province. Army spokesman Reagan Mbuyi Kalonji said the runaways were found stealing goods from shops in the nearby village of Alimbongo.

They were detained along with four of their wives, who were staying in the village and who received the looted goods, Kalonji said.

A military tribunal was set up in Alimbongo on Wednesday to try them and the magistrate sentenced 25 to death for theft, fleeing the enemy and violating orders, among other charges.

One soldier was handed a 10-year prison sentence while the four wives and another soldier were acquitted.

All denied the charges, aside from one of the 25, who pleaded guilty.

Their lawyer, Jules Muvweko, said he would appeal the verdict.

Congo's military, long blighted with internal divisions, insufficient resources, poor logistics and the country's endemic corruption, has become acutely dysfunctional in this crisis.

Eight officers were sentenced to death in May for cowardice and other crimes, exposing damaging disarray in Congo's armed forces which has been hobbling the fight against M23, army officers told Reuters.

Congo lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in March, citing treachery and espionage in recurring armed conflicts as the reason.

The central African country had introduced the moratorium on the death penalty in early 2000, but had never abolished it.

(Reporting by Yassin Kombi; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by David Holmes)
EARLY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The Early Independent School District has announced Dr. Joan Otten as the sole finalist for the superintendent of the Early ISD.

Courtesy of the Early Independent School District

Otten attended the University of Texas at Tyler, earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees. She then attained her Doctorate at Abilene Christian University.

She has served students in education for more than two decades. Otten began her teaching career by teaching English at Karens High School and later at Corsicana High School. She has also held positions as the Associate Principal at Mabank High School and as the English and Social Studies Curriculum Director for Corsicana ISD. Most recently, Dr. Otten has been serving in Katy ISD as the GT and Advanced Academics Director.

Ottens educational philosophy revolves around supporting the overall well-being of each student, promoting a positive and cooperative environment, and ensuring the safety of Early ISD students and staff.

I am looking forward to working alongside dedicated educators and stakeholders to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and the broader community, Otten said.

Ottens family includes her husband, Andy, three grown sons, and three grandsons. The board must wait 21 days before offering Otten a contract.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Drier and hotter weather will return for most of New Mexico on the Fourth of July. A few isolated storms may be possible in southern New Mexico though.

Fewer storms have developed Wednesday across New Mexico as drier air is moving in from the northwest. There have still been isolated to scattered storms today in northern, northeast, central, and southern New Mexico. A few of these showers and storms will stick around overnight again in southeast New Mexico before ending by sunrise tomorrow. Even drier air is on the way for the Fourth of July. A few isolated storms will still develop in far southeast New Mexico though, with an isolated rain chance over the Sacramento Mountains. Temperatures will also be much hotter for the Fourth with sunny and mostly sunny skies across the state.

A backdoor cold front will begin moving into northeast New Mexico Thursday evening. This front will spill into the Rio Grande Valley Thursday night, bringing a gusty east wind into the Albuquerque Metro by midnight Friday morning. Winds will die down by 7 AM Friday though. Showers and storms will return Friday though Sunday afternoons across eastern New Mexico behind the backdoor front. Locally heavy rainfall will be possible with these storms, including over burn scar areas in both the Sacramento and Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Another backdoor cold front will move through New Mexico Sunday night, and this one will bring a much strong east wind into the Albuquerque Metro through Monday morning. However, it will also bring even more moisture across the state. This will set the stage for more isolated afternoon storm chances through the middle of next week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
DENVER (KDVR)  A woman was killed in a Denver hit-and-run crash early Thursday morning.

Just after midnight, the Denver Police Department reported a pedestrian was hit by a driver near Speer Boulevard and Colfax Avenue between the Lincoln Park and Auraria neighborhoods.

The victim was taken to a local hospital. Nine hours later, police said the victim was identified as an adult woman who was pronounced dead at the hospital.

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Officers were able to locate the driver after they fled the scene. Denver police said the suspect was arrested for investigation of vehicular homicide and fleeing the scene of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing, and police have not said what factors may have led to the crash. The identity of the woman will be released at a later date.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
NEW YORKAVN Hall of Famer Stormy Daniels opened up about her encounters with former President Donald J. Trump in an hour-long interview with MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow aired Tuesday evening on Maddow's show.

This was Daniels' first interview since a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up an affair he had with Daniels and in turn unlawfully interfere in the 2016 election.

AVN reported extensively on the case in April and May. Yesterday, presiding Judge Juan Merchan cautiously delayed sentencing in Trump's trial from next week to September. Merchan said he did this after the U.S. Supreme Court handed Trump a landmark win in his federal criminal case that expanded presidential immunity to broadly cover "official acts." Attorneys for Trump submitted a letter to the court arguing that their client's verdict should be set aside. Prosecutors at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office agreed to delay sentencing. But it is very unlikely that Trump will succeed in claiming that he was acting in his official capacity as president committing acts that are otherwise classified "unofficial"namely, covering up an affair.

In her interview with Maddow, Daniels divulged new details about how she fears for her life and the privacy and safety of her teenage daughter. She said, "The biggest thing is that they're not hiding like they used to. It used to be bots, you know, now they're using their real stuff." During the interview, Maddow and Daniels read through the trial transcripts, recollecting when she took the stand as a central witness for the Manhattan District Attorney's case against Trump, pointing to criminal record falsification.

"Trump is trying to make, I believe, trying to make an example out of me," Daniels said after Maddow pressed her on concerns about Trump's effort to appeal the verdict. Daniels also drew a comparison of the way Trump has ridiculed her and defamed her for years in a manner similar to legendary advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Carroll was able to successfully put Trump on the hook for a multi-million-dollar verdict after a civil court jury determined that Trump defamed Carroll through sexual assault and denied the sexual assault ever took place.

While Daniels praised Carroll for her success in beating Trump in court, she reminded Maddow and her viewers that she was not awarded millions but rather saw her attorney fees "racked up to over half a million." On that front, she also told Maddow that she faces a seemingly never-ending pipeline of legal documents and actions. Notably, Daniels explained that she continues to defy court documents requesting personally identifiable information for her daughter in the waning resolution of Daniels' civil complaint filed against Trump.

She lost that action due to, in part, being defrauded by disgraced attorney and convicted felon Michael Avenatti. The court, in that case, found for Trump and ordered Daniels to pay for legal and court fees, which were in the high six figures. Reportedly, one of the documents requests details about her daughter, as mentioned.

Daniels said she would rather be held in contempt of court, which has a potential criminal penalty, than expose information about her daughter that could lead to doxing on the internet.

"I could be held in contempt with sanctions and that I have to pay this money," she said. "It's not fair."

Maddow plugged a GoFundMe page for Daniels seeking to raise at least $1 million to cover fees and expenses, including personal matters like keeping her partner's house. At the time of this writing, the page had raised over $700,000 of her goal.

Maddow's full interview with Stormy Daniels is available to view here.
GASTONIA, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Gastonia man has been arrested after authorities said he slammed into the back of a police patrol vehicle Wednesday night.

The incident happened at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, in the 1300 block of Gaston Ave. in Gastonia. Police said the driver, identified as Jouse Perez, 32, of Gastonia, rear-ended the officer in the patrol vehicle. It was determined Perez was impaired and he was charged with DWI.

$1K theft of Stanley cups in Gastonia part of apparent nationwide trend

The Gastonia Police Department wants to remind everyone this holiday weekend to not drink and drive. The legal limit is .08 in North Carolina, the department said Thursday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
DENVER (KDVR)  Police are searching for a person who fled on foot after a deadly crash in east Denver.

At around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, the Denver Police Department responded to a crash involving two drivers near the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Dayton Street in the Windsor neighborhood.

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At 10 a.m., officers said the driver of the vehicle that was hit was pronounced dead on scene and their passenger was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

Driver arrested in deadly hit-and-run crash in Denver

Denver police said the driver who allegedly hit the other vehicle fled the scene on foot and has not been located. Officers have not released any information on the person who fled but said the investigation is ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
NAGS HEAD, N.C. (WNCT)  Representatives with the Nags Head Fire and Rescue and Nags Head Police Department confirmed a body was pulled from the ocean Wednesday.

They confirmed the body was an 18-year-old visitor from Columbus, Ohio. Officers were called to the Gull Street Public Beach Access on South Virginia Dare Trail at around 2:51 p.m. for swimmers in distress.

New policy prohibits homeless from staying at CLT airport

Two of the swimmers safely made it back to shore, with one having been assisted by a lifeguard. The third swimmer was not seen at the time.

Aerial support was called in but before their arrival, a Nags Head police officer found the third swimmer with help from a drone. Both rescued swimmers were taken to The Outer Banks Hospital to be medically evaluated.

The third swimmer was brought to shore by a lifeguard and also taken to the hospital. Despite medical intervention, the third swimmer was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The identity of the victim has not been released at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Wild seafood -- salmon and halibut from different parts of Alaska -- is labeled and displayed on June 28, 2023, at Sagaya City Market in downtown Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Wild seafood -- salmon and halibut from different parts of Alaska -- is labeled and displayed on June 28, 2023, at Sagaya City Market in downtown Anchorage. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Gov. Mike Dunleavy has vetoed $10 million in funding for the organization charged with marketing Alaska seafood  but may agree to the funding later.

On Friday, Dunleavy issued a line-item veto for the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The governors office said that he could seek the funding later if the institute submitted a more detailed plan for the funds.

The Dunleavy administration has offered support of supplemental funding next session once ASMI has developed a comprehensive marketing plan, said Jeff Turner, the governors communications director.

The funding could be included in a supplemental budget bill  every legislative session, Alaska governors propose these bills to cover unexpected needs and other expenses that werent included in the original budget.

Alaskas $6 billion seafood industry employs over 48,000 workers annually in the state, according to a report commissioned by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The institute is a state agency that aims to increase the economic value of Alaskan seafood.

The veto comes at a time when Alaskas fishing industry is in crisis, facing low consumer demand and steep competition from Russia, which harvests many of the same species as Alaska. For example, in 2023, the price paid to sockeye-salmon fishers delivering their catches was half of the 2022 price, according to the report.

Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, described the condition of Alaskas fishing industry as pretty miserable.

Ive been involved in the fishing industry since 1970 and its just the worst I have ever seen, said Stevens, who is also one of six legislators who are nonvoting members of the institutes board.

Last year, the institute received $5 million in funding from the state. Before then, they had not received any state general funds since June 2018. The institute relies mainly on federal and industry payments: This year, the institute is expected to receive $13 million in funds from the federal government, and $16.2 million from industry assessments.

The governor is always saying that we want to tell the world that we are open for business, but nothing says were closed for business more than cutting these funds from ASMI, said Stevens.

If the institute submits a detailed marketing plan for the vetoed funds, the governor could include funding in the states supplemental budget during the next legislative session, the governors office said. However, any potential funding would not be quickly available to the institute.

Waiting doesnt help at all, said Stevens. Its a very short-sighted view of the industry. Now is the time to help it out, not to just delay things.

According to ASMIs executive director, Jeremy Woodrow, the institutes main priorities lie in domestic markets. Multiple factors have influenced this focus. Among them: a strong dollar and weak yen has made Alaskan seafood less competitive in Japan, a key global market, said Woodrow.

Regarding the effect of the veto, Woodrow said: We support the governors budget, one way or another.

Additionally, in 2022, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that prohibited Russian seafood imports. This executive order created a hole in the domestic seafood market that ASMI is looking to fill, according to Woodrow.

Any updated marketing plan is going to include those priorities, said Woodrow.

Tracy Welch, executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska, described the veto as a missed opportunity to support the states fishers, processors, and coastal communities.

ASMI has operated on a shoestring budget for quite a few years, and so they do a lot with what theyre given, so I have confidence that theyll do as best they can, she said.

Despite her faith in the institutes ability to get creative with the smaller budget, she emphasized the crisis that the seafood industry is currently facing. The industry needs help now, said Welch. Not two years from now.

For now, Alaskas seafood industry will need to wait until the next legislative session to know if the institute will receive additional funding from the state.

Any funding that we can get to help bolster that mission today, as opposed to tomorrow, is a step in the right direction, said Welch.

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EAST GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Celebrations for the Fourth of July are taking place across West Michigan. This includes East Grand Rapids, where community members came together for the citys annual parade.

There was no shortage of excitement along Wealthy Street on Thursday for East Grand Rapids Fourth of July parade. The event brought large crowds to the city, who wore the United States of Americas colors with pride.

The fact that this is actually on the Fourth of July, and being a veteran, makes it a very important day for us, Michele Ferguson, a U.S. Army veteran, said.

LIST: Fourth of July fireworks, parades in West Michigan 2024

Ferguson said this was her second time attending the parade. On the holiday, she keeps in mind everyone who has fought for the rights Americans have.

The freedom to speak our minds and everything else that the Constitution stands for, Ferguson said.

Some community members also headed to the East Grand Rapids parade for the first time.

You might not know people but all of a sudden it seems like youre together for a particular time and on this day its about independence, its about being American, its about being a community of people of different colors, of different backgrounds, said Ralph Robrahn, from the Kentwood area.

Robrahn says oftentimes he thinks people may forget the true meaning of Independence Day.

Because its a holiday and its time to get together and eat and all that kind of good stuff, but truly there are much deeper meanings, Robrahn said.

West Michigans Fourth of July forecast

In a time when the country can seem so divided, Ferguson says its good to have a reminder of what we have in common.

This day our independence is very important to us regardless of what our political background is, Ferguson said.

East Grand Rapids is also hosting a fireworks display over Reeds Lake at dusk.

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The Great Smoky Cannabis Co. will soon begin limited recreational marijuana sales to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and federally recognized tribes, marking a major step toward becoming the first and only recreational marijuana dispensary in North Carolina.

On social media June 30, the company announced on social media that it would begin recreational sales for tribal members July 4, followed by another post stating that full adult use sales are "coming soon." Until then, only those over the age of 21 with a tribal ID are able to purchase recreational marijuana.

The start of recreational sales comes after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council passed an official resolution in June to allow the sale of recreational marijuana on Cherokee territory.

Before passing the resolution, the dispensarywhich is run by the Cherokee-backed Qualla Enterpriseshad opened April 20 for medical marijuana sales.

Two people look at the cannabis "Flower Room" display at the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. dispensary on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, North Carolina April 20.

In a May 30 work session, just days before passing the resolution, Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker said they would likely be opening recreational sales to tribal members within "30-45 days" after passage of the bill and estimated recreational sales to the general public in "60-75 days." The timeline sets the opening of North Carolina's first recreational cannabis market for August.

The timeline difference comes from hiring the staff required to run the estimated "80,000 pound" market that could be generated from the single dispensary, Parker said at the time. Qualla Enterprises Human Resources Director Lee Griffin had stated during a Feb. 28 recreational adult use work session that around 350 employees would be necessary to run a recreational marijuana market. The company had a job fair on June 25.

The dispensary is still open for medical marijuana sales, the Great Smoky Cannabis Co. website states. Until the business opens to the general public for recreational sales, a medical marijuana card or EBCI I.D. is required to enter the dispensary.

The marijuana market has been touted as a huge economic boon for the EBCI, even as the drug remains illegal in North Carolina.

North Carolina state legislators have not legalized the drug for medical or recreational purposes, despite some proposals to do so. President Joe Biden in May moved to reclassify the marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug, meaning it could become federally legal to prescribe marijuana as medication.

The EBCI landknown as the Qualla Boundaryis a sovereign nation that has its own elections, laws, government and institutions that are self-governed and autonomous. It lies primarily in the Western North Carolina mountain counties of Swain and Jackson, with smaller parts in Cherokee, Graham and Haywood.

A cannabis plant grow room in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Great Smoky Cannabis Co. dispensary in Cherokee, North Carolina. April 20, 2024.

More: Cherokee vote passes: NC's first recreational marijuana market likely in '60-75 days'

More: Statewide medical cannabis stalls; Passed GOP Senate with help of Western NC legislators

Amendments to legislation cut out during June protest hearing

Part of the Tribal Council recreational marijuana amendment that would have given the dispensary a monopoly on hemp products in North Carolina was appealed and removed during a June 27 Tribal Council Protest Hearing.

The tribal council heard a protest letter from Robert Mark Saunooke, a businessman who said the amendment would likely force the closure of his hemp businesses on EBCI land.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' marijuana farm off of Coopers Creek Road on the Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, North Carolina April 20.

"If my stores are closed I will have great adverse financial consequences," Saunooke wrote in his letter urging Tribal Council to reconsider the amendment, submitting another optional amendment for the council to consider.

After a short conversation, the Tribal Council unanimously voted to repeal the amendment.

Another amendment, regarding the regulation of homegrown marijuana plants, was also repealed during the hearing, with EBCI Attorney General Michael McConnel encouraging the Tribal Council to not allow individual tribal members to grow marijuana plants and to "take up the issue of home grow" in the future.

More: Asheville-area human-waste-dumping Airbnb owners lose lawsuit, face foreclosure

More: US Forest Service scraps plan to log 15-acre Nantahala National Forest area after lawsuit

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com.Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Limited recreational marijuana sales begin in NC July 4; What to know
When police officers engage an armed suspect, do they by default become crime victims? With the implementation of a new law in Ohio last year, police departments are making that case.

Citing Marsys Law  an amendment to the states constitution designed to provide privacy and other rights to crime victims  the Cincinnati Police Department denied a request from The Enquirer to provide the names of the officers involved in the June 27 fatal shooting of Juan Mack, who stabbed a woman in Westwood and fled from police. According to Chief Teresa Theetge, Mack pointed a gun at police during the pursuit and ignored commands to drop his weapon when he exited his vehicle near Music Hall.

Theetge called the officers actions heroic and said the situation had "all the makings of a catastrophic incident." The shooting occurred about 15 minutes before the opening-night performance of the opera La Traviata at Music Hall.

At a news conference, the chief said the officers used proper tactics, and theres little reason to doubt her. Bystander video obtained by The Enquirer supports her early conclusion. Nonetheless, the department has launched an internal investigation, and Cincinnati's Citizen Complaint Authority will open its own investigation, said Mayor Aftab Pureval.

Prior to the passage of Marsys Law, named for Marsalee Ann Nicholas, a college student in California with Cincinnati ties who was killed by her former boyfriend, it was standard practice for law enforcement officials to release the names of officers involved in fatal shootings. Open records advocates, including yours truly, consider this transparency a matter of public trust and accountability. The shooting near Music Hall isnt raising red flags; in fact, officers are being praised for preventing what could have been a tragedy. But what if the video told a different story? What if the shooting raised questions on whether officers were justified in their use of lethal force? The public has a right to know, for example, if any of the officers involved have an excessive number of citizen complaints or disciplinary actions in their personnel files.

Ohio isnt the only state wrestling with the unintended consequences of Marsys Law. Eight other states, including Kentucky, have enacted versions of the victims rights law, and the courts have started to weigh in. Last November, the supreme court in Florida ruled in a case involving police in Tallahassee that Marsy's Law can't be used to shield the identities of officers who use deadly force.

The Columbus Dispatch, our sister publication to the north, filed a complaint with the Ohio Supreme Court last October after the Columbus Division of Police repeatedly refused to release body camera footage and the names of officers involved in fatal shootings. Central to the complaint is the departments denial of a request for the names of eight officers involved in a shootout last July on Interstate 70 that left a bank robbery suspect dead and an officer injured. Oral arguments before the court have not yet been scheduled.

Police closed access to Elm Street in front of Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine after an armed stabbing suspect was shot by officers on June 27. Citing Marsy's Law, the city has not released the names of the officers involved.

We havent gone to court for the names of the officers involved in the shooting near Music Hall, but we did ask our attorney to send the city a letter suggesting that their interpretation of Marsys Law was a stretch. Other police departments in the state, including Cantons, have provided names when pushed by news organizations. Our hope is that the citys legal department weighs in and common sense prevails.

Let me be clear  the rights afforded to victims of serious crimes by Marsys Law is a good thing. In fact, The Enquirer has its own policies  predating Marsys Law  that protect the identities of most juveniles involved in crimes and the victims of sexual assault.

It also should be noted that the issue of allowing police departments to withhold the identities of police officers in certain circumstances is worthy of debate. You probably can figure out what side I would take, but its not out of the question to have the discussion on its own merits.

Whats not OK is exploiting the confusion surrounding a new piece of legislation to bypass Ohios longstanding open records laws that ensure police officers empowered to use lethal force are held accountable to the public they have sworn to serve and protect.

Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love writes a biweekly column that takes you behind the scenes at The Enquirer. Occasionally, he shares his thoughts on local issues, particularly as they pertain to a free press and open government. Email him at blove@enquirer.com. He cant respond personally to every email, but he reads them all.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio police use Marsy's Law to shield officers in fatal shootings
Can an employer give a bad reference? Find out the rules, and how to fight back

A reference can make or break your chances of a new job, but employers are required to be honest when asked about former staff members.

Outside of regulated financial services roles, there is no actual requirement for firms to provide a reference when an employee leaves, and many will just confirm whether someone had been employed by them, and their employment dates.

But there are still rules around what past employers can and cannot do or say. For instance, a reference must not give a misleading impression of an employee and there are occasions when certain negative information should be disclosed.

Emma Cocker, senior associate in the employment team at Lawrence Stephens, said: If a referee gives a reference which is misleading, they may be liable for negligence, either to the new employer or the employee.

In addition, if a referee knowingly includes false information with the intention that the recipient will rely on it, the referee will be liable to the recipient for a civil claim of deceit from the new employer.

Former employees could also challenge bad references and Iffi Wahla, co-founder of global recruitment network Edge, warned some employers are afraid of giving negative reports due to potential legal repercussions.

He said: The reality is that some employees simply dont perform to the expected standards or may have caused issues that future employers need to be aware of.

However, its crucial for employers to ensure that their references are fact-based and not influenced by personal biases or unfounded accusations. This is the only way the system works.

Here is what an employer can and cant say about former staff members, and your rights if you get a bad reference.

When can an employer give a negative reference?

References must be a true reflection of an employees work history.

Some employers get around this by just confirming employment dates on a reference, but there is a requirement to be honest.

That can mean disclosing negative information.

Nick Hawkins, employment lawyer at Knights, said: There has long been a myth that an employer cannot give a negative reference. That is simply not the case.

The law around references, developed by case law, dictates that references must be true, accurate and that the employer had reasonable grounds for believing as much. To that end, it is certainly the case that a negative reference can be given.

There are occasions when employers may need to give a reference that contains negative information about a staff member, such as if they committed an act of fraud or dishonesty.

Kate Palmer, employee services director at human resources and legal consultancy Peninsula, said: Not including that information in a reference could give a misleading impression of the employees character and trustworthiness. It is important, however, to ensure that any negative information included is true, accurate, and based solely on fact, rather than personal opinion or bias, either conscious or unconscious.

Legal considerations

Employers have a few legal factors to consider when providing a reference.

On the one hand, it needs to be accurate and truthful so it doesnt mislead a future employer and open the business up to legal claims of deceit.

But there is also a risk that the employee challenges a bad reference and brings a legal challenge for defamation or discrimination.

Andrea Thomas, employment partner at HCR Law, said: An employer or former employer owes a duty to not give a misleading impression.

Employers also have to be careful to ensure that references are not discriminatory and particular care must be taken in making negative comments about performance, attendance or sickness absence where there is a risk that these issues might be related to a disability.

When presented with a list of reference questions, Claire Brook, Employment Law Partner at Aaron & Partners, said one option is to refuse to respond.

If, however, the individual wants the company to respond, it may be worth showing the departing employee the questions.

She said: Given an employer is under a duty to provide an honest response, they may need to ensure that the reference is consistent with any reasons for dismissal, especially if there is also a risk of an unfair dismissal claim from the employee.

In circumstances where, for example, the reason for termination of employment and/or sickness absence data is requested, an individual will often say they would prefer the employer to simply provide a standard form factual reference limited to dates of employment and job title confirmation and to refuse to answer the detailed questions from the new employer.

If an employer feels a negative reference is required, the first option may be to just not provide one at all to avoid legal liability.

How to challenge a bad reference

If you get a bad reference from a previous employer, mediation service Acas advises following these steps:

Ask to see a copy of the reference

Speak to the new employer to address their concerns

Offer alternative references

If issues cant be resolved, consider an employment tribunal or county court claim

An employee will not normally know about the content of a reference until it has already been provided to their prospective employer.

Ms Thomas said this can make it difficult to challenge.

She added: While the employee can dispute what was said about them, the damage has probably already been done.

The employee may still have a remedy against their employer or former employer if they have given an untrue, misleading and damaging reference, leading to a job offer being withdrawn, but that is often of little comfort.

Susan Thompson, partner at Simkins LLP, suggested an employee could bring claims for defamation, malicious falsehood, or negligent misstatement if their employer gives an inaccurate reference, and could claim victimisation or discrimination at an employment tribunal.

Employment tribunal cases have to be launched three months minus one day from the date of the alleged discrimination.

You can also make a county court claim if you can prove a reference was misleading or inaccurate and you suffered a loss, such as if the job offer was withdrawn.

This would mean a long process and paying legal fees though, so you have to question if it is worth the stress and the cost.

Ms Thompson added: Other than seeking financial compensation, there is little an employee can do to challenge a bad reference. If a new employer is put off by a bad reference, the court cannot order the potential new employer to change its mind, and it would have probably filled the relevant position anyway before any claim made its way into court.

Protecting your reputation

Your best chance of avoiding a bad reference is making sure you are a good employee so you can avoid legal disputes and conflict in the future.

In cases where an employee has left a position with a settlement agreement, there may be agreed wording for a reference.

If a dispute is likely, make sure you have evidence of your own conduct.

Ms Cocker added: Courteous, on time for work and reliable  these are all behaviours employers hold in high regard.

If there are circumstances which might affect your ability to comply with expected norms, such as being a parent or carer, or having a disability, discuss these with your employer as soon as possible so they are aware of any mitigating circumstances.

Mr Wahla added that it is important to leave a job on good terms and request a reference while your contributions are fresh in the employers mind.

He said: Managing your online presence making sure your professional profiles highlight your achievements and skills can help counterbalance any negative references. Also generally maintaining professionalism and strong performance in your roles helps a lot.

Employer obligations and rights

There is no legal obligation for an employer to provide a reference other than in senior regulated financial services roles.

But if an employer gives a reference, it has to be honest.

Ms Palmer added: When giving a reference, employers owe a duty of care to both the former employee and their prospective employer, which means that any reference given must be true, accurate, and not misleading in any way, either positively or negatively.

Mr Hawkins added: There is after all nothing which obliges employers to give a reference.

It can be the case that a refusal to provide a reference is, in of itself, damaging to an individual, but its arguably less damaging for the employee, and less risky for the employer, if no reference is provided.

Seeking professional help

Employees can get guidance from Citizens Advice or Acas if they are unhappy with a reference, and you may even get support if you are part of a trade union.

You will need to consult a solicitor if you want to bring a legal claim for defamation, negligence, or discrimination.

Ms Thomas added: This is an area of law that straddles the fields of employment and dispute resolution as in most cases any remedies for a poor reference will lie with the civil courts.

Employees should therefore seek specialist legal advice from a firm of solicitors who offer both areas of expertise.

Employees should seek advice as soon as they become aware that a negative and misleading reference has been given. Employers should also seek advice in situations where they have received a reference request, but do not feel that they are able to give a positive reference.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  An engineer has been arrested and accused of making false statements and obstructing a federal investigation into a 2017 military plane crash that killed 16 service members in Mississippi.

James Michael Fisher, formerly of Georgia and now of Portugal, was arrested on a federal grand jury indictment out of North Mississippi on Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

On July 10, 2017, a United States Marine Corps KC-130 transport aircraft known as Yanky 72 crashed near Itta Bena, Mississippi, resulting in the death of 15 Marines and one Navy Corpsman.

Report: Propeller blade broke, causing military plane crash in Mississippi

Fisher, 67, was the former lead propulsion engineer ar Warner Robbins Logistics Center in Georgia.

Officials say he knowingly concealed key engineering documents from criminal investigators and made materially false statements to criminal investigators about his past engineering decisions in an attempt to avoid scrutiny over why the crash may have occurred.

He is charged with two false statements and two obstruction of justice charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
A fan falls into the netting above the visiting dugout in Arlington going for a foul ball. Photo Credit: Padres TV/MLB.

Whats the best thing to do if a foul ball is hit in your area? A fan at Wednesday nights game between the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers chose an approach that got him not only kicked out of his seat, but also ribbed hard on television.

In the top of the eighth inning, San Diegos Jurickson Profar hit a foul ball in the vicinity of the Padres dugout. As it was out of play, none of Texas players had a chance to catch the ball. One of their fans, who was seated directly behind the visiting dugout, did have a chance. And he wasnt going to let the opportunity go without trying.

Beer in hand, he jumped up onto the dugout. While there, he made a bad step. Fortunately, the net was there to keep him from falling too far. His beer, though, didnt survive, flying out of his hands. He was quickly approached by security and taken away from his seat  but not before Padres analyst Mark Grant could have some fun with it.

What is that clown doing? Grant asked. Yeah, time for Cha-Cha to go. Lets take a look at this. This guys on top of the dugout, then loses it, does the big tuna and then loses the 24-ouncer.

Don Orsillo and Mark Grant on the Padres call for a Rangers fan whos had a few too many.  WHAT IS THAT CLOWN DOIN? pic.twitter.com/fp8Ot5G1Iz  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 4, 2024

Interestingly enough, while the fan was being escorted out, the Padres, whose dugout he nearly crashed into, were calling for him to come back.

The Padres players did not seem to want Cha Cha to go. pic.twitter.com/gS4pMJv2TX  Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 4, 2024

[Photo Credit: Padres TV/MLB]
Erdogan offers to mediate peace talks, Kremlin rules out the idea

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Turkey could help mediate an end to the war.

Putin's spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, rejected the idea, stating that Erdogan could not serve as an intermediary, without giving specific reasons.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organization established by China and Russia in 2001 in Shanghai. It focuses on Eurasian political, economic, security, and defense issues. The 24th SCO meeting is taking place from July 3-4.

While Turkey is a NATO member, Erdogan has aimed to maintain positive relations with both Russia and Ukraine, previously securing a deal for safe grain shipments from Ukraine's Black Sea ports that lasted for a year.

Erdogan has previously offered to host peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. The final rounds of unsuccessful peace talks in 2022 took place in the Turkish city of Antalya.

Read also: Zelensky says Trump should reveal plan on ending Russias war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ERWIN, N.Y. (WETM)  The Town of Erwin announced that it was designated as a New York State Pro-Housing Community.

New York State started its Pro-Housing Community program last July to reward local governments that are working to address the states housing crisis. Pro-Housing Community certified municipalities are eligible to apply for funding programs that other municipalities dont have access to.

Gov. Hochul launches housing growth program

The Town of Erwin says that this new certification recognizes the towns commitment to providing affordable, accessible, and diverse housing to everyone. According to the town, Erwin achieved its pro-housing status by implementing inclusive zoning practices, partnering with local developers, and supporting housing organizations.

Being designated as a Pro Housing Community is a tremendous honor for the Town of Erwin, said Deputy Town Manager Melissa Greenthal. This recognition reflects our dedication to creating a vibrant, inclusive community where everyone can access safe and affordable housing. It will significantly enhance our ability to attract new residents and businesses, fostering economic growth and community well-being.

New public hiking trails open in Steuben County

With the towns new certification, Erwin can secure more financial support for affordable housing developments, neighborhood revitalization projects, and infrastructure improvements. The town will also have access to technical assistance and guidance to implement innovative housing solutions. The resources provided by the program are expected to help Erwin address problems with housing affordability, reduce homelessness, and make sure its growing population has access to quality housing.

Municipalities must apply to join the Pro-Housing Community program and show that theyve approved permits that increase their housing stock by 0.33% over the past year or by 1% over the past three years. Local governments that havent achieved this growth can still become Pro-Housing certified if they pass a resolution that pledges that the government will take action to increase housing.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Ethel Lote, who has died aged 103, nursed evacuees from Dunkirk, founded the Dental Nurses Society, and taught yoga until she was 90.

On May 27 1940, Ethel was a teenage probationary nurse at an emergency hospital which had been set up in the grounds of Burntwood Asylum in Staffordshire, when she helped to unload a convoy of 242 wounded soldiers from the evacuation of Dunkirk. Many were traumatised, covered with mud, blood and sand, and their soaked uniforms had to be cut from their bodies to reveal shrapnel wounds, fractures and amputations. There were also some corpses she helped carry to the morgue.

In the mid-2010s she was traced by Eric Nolan, whose father was one of these seriously wounded evacuees from Dunkirk and who had been nursed by Ethel, and their emotional meeting was reported on television. Among her other patients were Polish airmen and Italian PoWs  and Gerald Lascelles, whom she recalled being visited by his father, the Earl of Harewood.

Ethel Lote worked throughout the war at Burntwood

She recalled: Life in the hospital was very exhausting. As each convoy arrived the injuries seemed to get worse. We were finding more and more who were suffering from mental and nervous disorders as well as bullet wounds and fractures. Night duty was the worst, when we would hear young men crying for their mothers or being in terrible pain from a limb which was no longer there.

Ethel Nutting was born on November 28 1920 in Walsall Wood in Staffordshire, where her father was a coal miner and her mother a music teacher.

Ethel always wanted to be a nurse, inspired by her mother, who had been a nurse in the First World War, and while still at school she joined St John Ambulance Brigade and worked on Saturdays as a first aider at the local Crabtree electrical factory. As soon as she reached 17 years of age, she became a probationary nurse.

Albert and Ethel Lote on their wedding day in March 1945: they married during a brief spell of leave for Albert

Before the war Ethel was an ARP volunteer, and she joined the Civil Nursing Reserve as a nursing auxiliary when it was formed in 1939. She stayed throughout the war at Burntwood, where the temporary hospital initially took convalescent patients from Birmingham hospitals and casualties from the bombing of surrounding towns and cities.

Reflecting on nursing then, she thought that todays hospitals lack discipline. In her day there were dress inspections by a sister, when even caps had to be properly pleated. There was a 10pm curfew in the virgins retreat, as the nurses home was known. Wards had to be spotlessly clean for matrons rounds and at night patients had to lie at attention for matrons evening inspections. Today, said Ethel Lote, nobody knows who are nurses and who are cleaners.

In 1940, invited by a doctor to gain more medical knowledge by witnessing an autopsy, she fell in love with Albert Lote, a superintendent in St John Ambulance, when the lights failed during an air raid. As they each held a candle for the doctor to study the corpse, she recalled: We looked across the body at each other and as we looked into each others eyes, we fell in love.

Ethel Lote meets Sophie, Countess of Wessex, at the official opening of the Nursing Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in 2018 - Benjamin Wareing/Alamy

Albert, however, was called up into the Navy and served abroad from 1940 to 1945 as a sick-berth attendant in the Fleet Air Arm. They kept their love alive by letter, married during a brief leave while Albert was awaiting demobilisation, and honeymooned in Llandudno in 1945.

Postwar, Ethel Lote became a health visitor, then dental nurse, and founded the Dental Nurses Society, of which she became president. Her hobby was yoga, and after gaining the All India Board of Yoga Certificate, she began teaching at the age of 40. At one annual dental conference, she had almost 200 people lying on the ballroom floor in their evening gowns. She gave up teaching yoga at 90 when she could no longer get her foot over the back of her neck and behind her head.

Ethel Lote is survived by two sons, Christopher, who became a professor of medicine at the University of Birmingham Medical School, and Derek, an IT specialist.

Ethel Lote, born November 28 1920, died June 11 2024

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(Bloomberg) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Friday he is on a fact-finding mission and not negotiating on behalf of the European Union about the war in Ukraine, even as the bloc warned him not to visit Moscow.

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Orban didnt directly confirm that he is planning a trip on Friday, but Russia is preparing for a visit by the Hungarian leader, according to a person familiar with the matter.

European Council President Charles Michel cautioned Orban late Thursday that he cant negotiate with Russia in his capacity as the holder of the EUs rotating presidency. This came after several reports said the premier will stop in Russia on his way to Azerbaijan, where he will participate in a meeting of Turkic states.

The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU, Michel said in a post on X. He issued the public message after failing to reach Hungarian officials or confirm the trip, according to another person familiar with the matter.

Michel would have advised Orban against visiting Moscow had he been asked, added the second person, who was granted anonymity to discuss sensitive conversations.

In a radio address on Friday, Orban said he isnt representing the EU in his international talks about Ukraine, and the conversations cannot be regarded as formal negotiations. Instead, he wants to explore the red lines of the two sides in the conflict, Orban said.

EU diplomats have been concerned that Orban, who has already met Russian President Vladimir Putin since his invasion of Ukraine, would use his countrys EU presidency to undermine the blocs efforts to punish and isolate Moscow.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo echoed Michels warning, saying in a post on X that such a trip would show disregard for the duties of the EU Presidency and undermines interests of the European Union.

The Hungarian leader pitched a cease-fire to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday during his first visit to the Ukrainian capital since Russia launched its full scale invasion in 2022. In an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Zelenskiy rejected the idea on grounds that it would only serve Russia without guaranteeing Ukraines security.

Hungary assumed its six-month presidency of the EU on Monday, creating an opportunity for Orban to elevate his diplomatic profile.

The Orban trip was first reported by Szabolcs Panyi, an investigative journalist with the VSquare group.

Spokespeople for the Kremlin and the Hungarian government didnt reply to a request for comment on an Orban visit.

(Updates with Orban comments in first and sixth paragraphs. An earlier version corrected a misspelling of the word Hungarian.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to pay our respects to the dearly departed United States. It was dearly loved, and it has now definitely departed.

We continue to celebrate its birth on the 4th of July with an awe-inspiring fireworks display on the National Mall after imbibing copious amounts of liquor at millions of backyard barbecues waving the red, white and blue and removing a finger or two exploding fireworks at home. Some of us will fire guns in the air. Some of us will die miles from where someone fired a gun into the air. Few of us will recognize or mourn the countrys death: dated July 1, 2024.

Millions of us remain stuck at the first stage of grieving: shock and denial. But, just look at the corpse. Riddled with bullets from numerous mass shootings, overheated and bloated by climate change its leaders denied, it was ultimately brought to a near-death state by a combination of cancerous activities that made the body politic unable to function. Ultimately, and tragically the United States died of self-inflicted wounds.

If we are to ever move forward, we must at least acknowledge this simple fact: The United States of our forefathers is gone. Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion of the Supreme Court that acted as the final bullet to the countrys head. Thats right. John Roberts is the equivalent of John Wilkes Booth. Going forward the President of the United States has immunity from prosecution for any official act taken while in office  effectively placing the president above the law. The ultimate arbiter of what an official act is will be the Supreme Court. This places the court squarely in the middle of partisan political squabbles in which the founders didnt want them involved. Thus, The Court is guilty of establishing an autocracy we stood against during our revolution.

Millions of us are at the second stage of grief in this process; we feel the pain and some feel the guilt, though at this point most members of the MAGA party are gleeful that they finally killed democracy.

We are thus and still, a house divided against itself. Mitch McConnell, the Heritage Foundation, Bill Barr and conservative so-called Christians celebrate the death as if the nations demise is Christ rising from his tomb and walking among us. The delusions across the country were spread by the doctors of democratic death during the last six decades as the patient withered and died; Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump are chief among them.

The United States had a good run. Born from an oppressive tea tax imposed by Britain without the consent of the governed, slave and land-owning patriots across the original 13 colonies rebelled and tried to institute a government that derived its powers from the consent of the governed. A bold ideal that wasnt reality, as women and Blacks had no voice in the government originally. But as Martin Luther King Jr. later declared, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Slavery ended, women got the vote, education improved and by the beginning of the 20th Century the democracy appeared in robust shape. Most people trusted government institutions, and while Jim Crow policies and economic disparity during the Gilded Age enabled many to question the countrys vitality, an overwhelming majority of us ignored the warning signs.

World War I saw the rise of the U.S. internationally. After coming through the Great Depression, as trying a time as the country had ever seen, Franklin D. Roosevelt rallied the country and told us the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The country rose to the challenge and the greatest generation that weathered the depression and served in World War II also created the atomic bomb and made us a Superpower. Little could the U.S. know that its greatest success contained its greatest challenge and ultimately lead to its death. Of course, it didnt appear that way at the time  to those who were doing okay.

Underneath it all was the generational accumulation of poverty, lack of education and healthcare along with racism and misogyny.

Meanwhile, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about greed and the military-industrial complex. We didnt listen. After 170 years of existence, the United States was riding high on its hubris and dominating the International stage. We warred for profit. We partied like drunken frat boys. We dictated to other countries as if we held the moral high ground. We preached our purity, our ethics and our success. When we thought it necessary, we not only preached, but we forced others to our will. Why not? The United States? F the world. We ran it.

The bright side of all of this optimism and hope for the future reached a climax with John F. Kennedy. During his inauguration, the youngest president ever elected said Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. Speaking to our ability to work together, the Kennedy inaugural address led many to think the U.S was at its healthiest among nations on the planet, past, present and perhaps in the future. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it - and the glow from that fire can truly light the world, he said with pride and without prejudice.

But, the national disease, though showing symptoms few understood, had spread and before the end of Kennedys first term he was assassinated in Dallas  and to this day all of the facts about that grim day have not been made public. That enabled the calls of conspiracies and deep state accusations to take root. Now the disease was in public view.

A short time later the country turned on itself again, killing M.L.K who swore there was a moral arc of the Universe. Six weeks later Bobby Kennedy, who eulogized King, was gunned down in Los Angeles. A chaotic 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago led to Mayor Richard Daleys police force beating and jailing protestors. The ensuing Chicago Seven trial showed how little faith the people now had in the political system, how disparate the system was and how authoritarian it had become.

In retrospect, most of us missed the signs of the fatal illness. We celebrated our freedoms in art and music, but The Hays Act still dominated movies and Jim Morrison was banned from Ed Sullivans show after he sang girl we couldnt get much higher." The ability to illogically accept two incongruous trains of thought highlighted the countrys split personality.

Some of us marched for peace while our government made war. Norman Solomon said in Made Love Got War, for those who understood the facts that whistling past graveyards came to seem natural. The planet is now at its worst in terms of prospect for human survival, he warned us.

The United States didnt listen. When the World Trade Center fell to terrorists, for a brief moment we were united, but we split into our scared little corners shortly afterward. The terrorists, in a way, had won. Or more accurately, the national disease was too far advanced for the United States to think cogently. We passed the Patriot Act. Elsewhere, we were so uneducated that we passed No Child Left Behind  which left an entire generation of American children undereducated and unprepared for adulthood.

Our infrastructure began to fail. We didnt embrace universal healthcare. We refused to pass responsible gun legislation. Our elected officials became more vituperative and less intelligent. We graduated from a robust economy that built a thriving middle class, to a bloated trickle down economy that fed the filthy rich and robbed everyone else. The age of robber barons had returned. We entered a technological dark age that further fed the national illness.

The disease claimed our cognitive functions. Unable to connect, unable to take care of ourselves, our institutions couldnt stand. In the final stages of the disease, the country withered  electing older men to the highest office while Congress and the judiciary retreated from the high water of progress to embrace Christian Nationalism. It was as if the country knew it was dying and was appealing to a higher power to save it because it was no longer capable of saving itself. Women lost the right to healthcare. Legislators demanded we teach the Ten Commandments in public schools  in a country that prided itself on the separation of church and state in order to avoid the centuries of strife that plagued Europe. The high tide of the American ideal was long gone. What remained was a walking, emaciated corpse.

As the Supreme Court fired the fatal bullet, President Joe Biden tried to bring hope, but only reminded us how far weve fallen.

Today, the Supreme Court took a bulldozer to the democratic credo that no oneincluding presidents and former presidentsis above the law. But people didnt listen. They were too busy being upset over a recent debate appearance. The media, long ago having abandoned its mission of providing information to the public, instead tried to entertain us with wild accusations and shocking headlines  all for the sake of money.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Three years ago, after Donald Trumps second impeachment trial, Mitch McConnell explained, We have a criminal justice system in this country And former Presidents are not immune from being held accountable. That the last gasp defending the United States came from one of the chief architects of its demise should not escape anyones attention. Today, with the blessings of a politicized Supreme Court, Presidents now are presumptively immune from criminal prosecution for using their office to assassinate political rivals, organize a military coup, or take bribes.

The rest of us live at the whims of a corpse. Many are in the fourth state of grief: depression. Some would rather die than go forward. If they would rather die, said Scrooge, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.

To take an upward turn and embrace hope and a better future from this political death (the last steps in the grieving process), the U.S. electorate must find a way forward. Biden said he doesnt support the president being made a king. So should the American people dissent. I dissent, he said before he prayed to God to help preserve our democracy.

Placing four additional justices on the Supreme Court is the most legitimate step to take if we wish to revive, not preserve, our democracy. The question everyone is lost arguing about now, is who is best to do it?

It isnt Donald Trump. Millions are now unsure its Joe Biden  and it seems an overwhelming majority of Americans are thus stuck in the third stage of grieving; anger and bargaining.

What, I ask, are they hoping to bargain for?

The President said when you get knocked down, you get up again. He may be a Tubthumping fan of Chumbawamba, but the United States cannot get back up again as long as the President is above the law.

The United States is dead. Long live the United States.
Europe is slapping tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles  for now. Here's what to know

FILE - Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group unveils the Galaxy Starship a new technology flagship AI-driven SUV prototype during Auto China 2024 in Beijing, Thursday, April 25, 2024. The European Union threatened on Wednesday, june 12, 2024, to hike tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, escalating a trade dispute over Beijing's subsidies for the exports that Brussels worries is hurting domestic automakers. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  The European Union is imposing sharply higher customs duties on electric vehicles imported from China. EVs are the latest flash point in a broader trade dispute over Chinese government subsidies and Beijing's burgeoning exports of green technology to the 27-nation bloc.

The higher duties go into effect on Friday, pending a final decision in four month's time.

Here are some basic facts about the EU's planned customs duties:

What did the European Union do?

After an eight-month investigation, the European Commission, the EUs executive arm, found that companies making electric cars in China benefit from massive government help that means they can undercut rivals in the EU on prices, take a big market share and threaten European jobs.

It announced the higher duties on June 12 and they go into effect from Friday. The duties are provisional, meaning they will be totaled up but wont need to be paid until theyre confirmed by a vote of EU governments before Nov. 2. The EU will only collect the duties if there's a further finding that the European auto industry would have suffered material harm without them.

That gives the EU and the Chinese government time to negotiate. Talks have been held between Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU commissioner for the economy, and Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao, as well as at the level of technical experts.

The higher duties are not a goal in themselves but a means to correct an imbalance, commission spokesman Eric Mamer said Thursday. We certainly hope we can come to a solution which would allow us not to have to move forward on this path.

The rates, if applied, would be: 17.4% on cars from BYD, 19.9% on those from Geely and 37.6% for vehicles exported by Chinas state-owned SAIC. Geely has brands including Polestar and Swedens Volvo, while SAIC owns Britains MG, one of Europes bestselling EV brands. Other EV manufacturers in China including Western companies such as Volkswagen, BMW and Tesla would be subject to duties of at least 20.8%. The commission mentioned that Tesla might get an individually calculated rate if duties are definitively imposed.

Under EU rules it's possible  though at present it seems unlikely  that the higher duties could be blocked ahead of the Nov. 2 effective date by vote of what the EU calls a qualified majority of countries. That means at least 15 of the 27 EU member governments representing at least 65% of the bloc's population.

Why did the commission take action?

Chinese-built electric cars jumped from 3.9% of the EV market in 2020 to 25% by September 2023, the commission said, in part by unfairly undercutting EU industry prices.

The commission says companies in China accomplished that with the help of subsidies all along the chain of production, from cheap land for factories from local governments to below-market supplies of lithium and batteries from state-owned enterprises to tax breaks and below-interest financing from state-controlled banks.

The rapid growth in market share has sparked fears that Chinese cars will eventually threaten the EU's ability to produce its own green technology needed to combat climate change, as well as the jobs of 2.5 million workers at risk in the auto industry and 10.3 million more people whose jobs depend indirectly on EV production.

Subsidized solar panels from China have wiped out European producers  an experience that European governments don't want to see repeated with their auto industry.

Unusually, the commission acted on its own, without a complaint from the European auto industry. Industry leaders and Germany, home to BMW, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, have been skeptics about the subsidy investigation. That's because many of the cars that will be hit with tariffs are made by European companies, and because China could retaliate against the auto industry or in other areas.

How do the EU tariffs compare to ones announced by the U.S.?

The Biden administration is raising tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100% from the current 25%. At that level, the U.S. tariffs block virtually all Chinese EV imports.

That's not what Europe is trying to do.

EU officials want affordable electric cars from abroad to achieve their goals of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030  but without the subsidies EU leaders see as unfair competition

The planned tariffs are aimed at leveling the playing field by approximating the size of the excess or unfair subsidies available to Chinese carmakers.

European countries subsidize electric cars, too. The question in trade disputes is whether subsidies are fair and available to all carmakers or distort the market in favor of one side.

Just how cheap are Chinese EVs?

Chinese carmakers have learned to make electric vehicles cheaply amid ferocious price competition at home in the world's largest car market.

BYD's Seal U Comfort model sells for the equivalent of 21,769 euros ($23,370) in China but 41,990 euros ($45,078) in Europe, according to Rhodium Group figures. The base model of BYD's compact Seagull, due to arrive in Europe next year, sells for the equivalent of around $10,000 in China.

What does this mean for European drivers and carmakers?

It's not clear what impact the duties will have on car prices. Chinese carmakers are able to make some cars so cheaply that they could absorb the duties in the form of lower profits instead of raising their prices.

While consumers might benefit from cheaper Chinese cars in the short term, allowing unfair practices could eventually mean less competition and higher prices in the long term, the commission argues.

Currently, Chinese carmakers often sell their vehicles in Europe at much higher prices than the same cars fetch in China, meaning they are favoring profits over market share, even given their recent market gains. Five of BYDs six models would still earn a profit in Europe even at a 30% tariff, according to Rhodium Group calculations.

The fear is Europe is that Chinese competitors will turn to lowering their prices closer to the ones they are charging in China. and gain an even bigger chunk of the market.

How is China likely to react?

Beijing was sharply critical of the higher duties when they were announced, calling them a naked act of protectionism."

On Thursday, He Yadong, a spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry, said that the two sides had held several rounds of technical consultations and noted that a final EU ruling wont be made for four months.

It is hoped that the European side and the Chinese side will move in the same direction, show sincerity, expedite the consultation process and reach a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible on the basis of facts and rules, he said at a weekly media briefing in Beijing.

He also said that China hopes the EU will seriously listen to the voices of the European automakers and governments that have come out against the tariffs and avoid anti-subsidy measures that would harm cooperation between the Chinese and European auto industries.

It's not clear what agreement might look like. One move could be to agree on minimum prices for Chinese cars.

China could retaliate against European products such as pork or brandy imports, or against European luxury car imports.

Over the longer term, Chinese carmakers could avoid tariffs by making cars in Europe. BYD is building a plant in Hungary, while Chery has a joint venture to build cars in Spain's Catalonia region.

___

Moritsugu reported from Beijing.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Evacuation warning was cancelled Thursday morning, but the wildfire continues and has burned approximately 800 acres in Tehachapi, the Kern County Fire Department said.

Firefighters were called to the fire near Tehachapi Willow Springs and Highline roads at around 2:15 p.m. The fire is called the Orchard Fire.

Newsom declares state of emergency for Thompson Fire near Oroville

Officials issued the evacuation order but has been downgraded to a warning for the KRN-145, KRN-146 and KRN-165 zones, a Genasys Project map showed. The areas are south of Highway 58 and Highline Road. You can view a map of the evacuation order area here.

Multiple ground and air firefighting crews have been called to the fight the flames.

Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage

CHP in Mojave said Tehachapi Willow Springs Road is closed at Oak Creek and Tehachapi Boulevard. Highline Road is closed from Tehachapi Willow Springs to Steuber roads.

The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center for residents affected by the fire at the Tehachapi Education Center at 126 S. Snyder Ave. in Tehachapi. The Red Cross said everyone is welcome including small pets.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Authorities lifted all evacuations and road closures in the area around the over the McCain Fire in southeastern San Diego County on Wednesday as fire crews continue working towards full containment.

The evacuations and road closures were implemented shortly after the fire broke out at 4 p.m. Monday in the area of the Interstate 8 exit at McCain Valley Road. Authorities said was sparked by a fiery car crash, spreading to nearby brush.

Flames spread at a moderate rate of speed, but the wildland fire was able to reach upwards of 1,000 acres overnight. By Wednesday, the fire had scorched upwards of 1,362 acres, according to Cal Fire San Diego.

By Saturday morning, the fire was 1,595 acres and 95% contained.

The size of the fire put numerous structures in rural southeastern San Diego County in danger, including De Anza Springs Resort, a campground just north of Jacumba Hot Springs.

Both an evacuation warning and order was issued on Monday, but authorities lifted the order for the area around the resort Tuesday afternoon. A warning, which authorities rescinded the following afternoon, remained in place at the time.

No damage has been reported to any of the structures that were threatened by the wildfire. Meanwhile, only one injury has been reported, the driver of the vehicle that crashed and caused the fire.

Over 200 fire personnel from Cal Fire and other agencies have been deployed to attack the fire, including four aerial crews who have been making water drops on the flames.

The McCain Fire is the biggest wildfire to burn through San Diego County this year so far, according to Cal 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Staying calm and informed in the event of an emergency is crucial and can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

Fresno Unified School Districts Career Technical Education Department, in collaboration with the Fresno County Office of Emergency Services, hosted an educational event for students interested in the healthcare field.

The event provided scenario-based demonstrations with community partners like Community Regional Medical Center and other public service organizations.

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Click here for Community Medical Centers homepage

Well, basically our program helps students to get a better idea of what the medical field would be like, said Angelica Villalvazo, a senior at Roosevelt High School. Like right now were actually working on going to do internships. They are unpaid, but its good to get the experience and volunteer.

Angelica is interested in helping patients and wants all the experience she can get.

I am definitely interested in the medical field, she said. I am pushing more towards doctor, maybe, family medicine.

She was one of the hundreds of students at the Disaster Preparedness Event that was held at the Fresno Fairgrounds.

Were projecting about 150 students coming in from all the different high schools in Fresno Unified, said Krishnna Reyes. Reyes serves as the Career Technical Education for Fresno Unified. They can explore careers in both industries so that the students can have straight information from the people that do this on a daily basis, he said.

Jason Kruggel is the manager of emergency preparedness at Community Regional Medical Center.

This event gets them out of the traditional classroom to see what we would be doing in a real-life scenario, Kruggel said. We also brought our MDs as well to show again the different types of roles they can go into to support a certain service, as in burn or trauma as well.

By the time they complete the Medical Pathways program, students like Angelica will be both CPR and Stop the Bleed Certified, and attending events like the Disaster Preparedness event helps them to gain some valuable experience in the field they are interested in.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Everybody wants him to quit: Democrats continue to pounce on Biden as doubts swirl over his political future

Senior Democrats are in panic mode as Joe Biden insisted he would not abandon his presidential re-election campaign despite serious concerns growing over his mental fitness for office.

Anonymous lawmakers described the situation facing Biden and the Democratic party in a pointed interview with Politico.

Everybody wants him to quit. Theres a sense of despair, the unnamed lawmaker told the outlet. I think people dont understand how we get out of this hole. And were hurtling toward losing to Trump.

All my text chains in Congress go from a dark humor to lets take action.  I dont find any discernible group of people who actually believe were going to win with Joe Biden.

Pressure on Biden to step down from the campaign has intensified in recent days, following his disastrous performance in last Thursdays debate against Donald Trump, in which he spoke in a raspy voice and appeared, on multiple occasions, to lose his train of thought.

Despite this, the embattled president has been firm with his determination to stay in the race, reportedly telling staff during a call on Wednesday: I am running.

No ones pushing me out, he said. Im not leaving. Im in this race to the end and were going to win.

Pressure on Biden to step down from his re-election campaign have intensified in recent days, following his disastrous performance in last Thursdays debate against Donald Trump (Getty Images)

However, sources told The Independent that campaign staffers are preparing to shift their focus to elevating, then electing, Vice President Kamala Harris, instead of Biden.

Several prominent Democrats have also voiced their concerns publicly, including Texas representative Lloyd Doggett and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who said on Tuesday it was legitimate to question the presidents faculties.

Politico reported that behind the scenes, things were even worse: Everybodys in panic mode, and I dont even know what to say, one senior Democratic House lawmaker told the outlet.

However, members of the party are divided on how to move forward, with some waiting for clearer polling or further discussion with colleagues and advisors.

The House will return from its July 4 recess on Monday, when members will gather, increasing the likelihood of collective action. Until then Politico reports, members will be forced to privately discuss their courses of action in group chats and phone calls.

Another aspect of major concern for many Democrats has been the presidents teams attempts at damage control, with dismissals, excuses, and rebukes from official White House spokespeople.

Sources told The Independent that campaign staffers are preparing to shift their focus to elevating, then electing, Vice President Kamala Harris, instead of Biden (AP)

Bidens surrogates calling all of us bedwetters is backfiring more than helping, one Democrat said.

It comes amid fallout from a New York Times article, published on Wednesday, in which a key ally to the president said he had admitted he would have to end his re-election campaign if he could not convince voters that he was up for the job and that his next several crucial public appearances could shape his plans for 2024.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates told The Independent that the claims in the article were absolutely false and that the Times had not given the administration enough time to respond.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre spent much of her daily press briefing telling reporters that it was Bidens intention to stay in.

Biden is scheduled for an interview with ABC News host George Stephanopoulos on Friday followed by campaign stops in critical swing states Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
The former head of the police watchdog Michael Lockwood - Jonathan Brady/PA

The former head of the police watchdog raped and indecently assaulted two 14-year-old girls while working as a lifeguard at a leisure centre almost 40 years ago, a court has heard.

Michael Lockwood, 65, is accused of three rapes and 14 indecent assaults which are alleged to have been committed between 1979 and 1986.

It is claimed that while in his 20s, he repeatedly raped one of the girls in a storeroom at a leisure centre near Hull, in East Yorkshire.

He pulled another girl into a male lavatory cubicle at the centre where he kissed and sexually touched her, it was claimed.

Jurors heard it was common knowledge among fellow lifeguards who sang about them being locked in the lavatory together.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay KC told the Old Bailey that Lockwood had worked at the leisure centre while a student at Hull University and later, after he got a job as senior auditor at Humberside County Council.

He went on to have a distinguished career in local government before becoming director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is the police complaints watchdog for England and Wales, the court was told.

The first woman to come forward was a naive and inexperienced 14-year-old schoolgirl when she met Lockwood at the leisure centre in the 1980s, jurors heard.

Lockwood would give her a lift home in his Ford Capri car, which she thought was incredibly cool, the court was told.

After Lockwood first kissed the girl on a walk after dark, she thought they were in a proper relationship, the prosecutor said.

He kissed her again and touched her breasts when he dropped round the corner from her home in his Capri, it was alleged.

The defendant took matters further and led her to a chemicals storeroom at the leisure centre where he kissed and touched her and made her engage in a sexual act, jurors were told.

He later indecently assaulted and raped her in the storeroom, jurors were told.

The complainant, who is now in her 50s, said that it just happened and I didnt resist, Mr Polnay said.

He told jurors: At the time, [she] was a child. She trusted Mr Lockwood. She was worried if anyone found out what had happened she would be in trouble and would be banned from the leisure centre  a childs thought as to what was being done to her.

The prosecution say what happened was very far from consent. [She] did not consent to sex with the defendant. She submitted, not consented, to his control.

Lockwood is accused of raping the child twice more, Mr Polnay said.

The woman went to police after events in her life caused her to go over what happened in her past in 2020, jurors heard.

Following his arrest, Lockwood initially denied knowing her, later suggesting she was obsessed with him.

He insisted the allegations were untrue, saying: I know for certain that I never had sexual intercourse with anyone in the leisure centre.

I do not recall there being a store cupboard on the ground floor, there may have been but I would never have jeopardised my career or job by having sexual intercourse with anyone anywhere at a public place.

A second woman, who was also 14 when she met Lockwood, came forward after reading reports about the sexual allegations in a local newspaper.

She first met him at the leisure centre years before the first complainant, the court was told.

They began talking and one day he pulled her into a male lavatory cubicle and kissed her, it was claimed.

He allegedly went on to sexually touch the girl again in the same place.

When the girl was 15, Lockwood engaged in sexual activity with her in the back seat of his mothers car, it was claimed.

Lockwood, of Epsom, Surrey, denies three counts of rape and six counts of indecent assault relating to the first complainant between October 1985 and March 1986.

He has also pleaded not guilty to eight indecent assaults on the second complainant on dates between August 1979 and August 1981.

The trial continues.

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By Laurie Chen

BEIJING (Reuters) -Some foreign companies are considering moving Taiwanese employees out of China after Beijing said it could impose the death penalty on "diehard" Taiwan independence separatists, said four people familiar with the matter.

The new guidelines have caused some Taiwanese expatriates and foreign multinationals operating in China to scramble to assess their legal risks and exposure, said the people, who include a lawyer and two executives with direct knowledge of the discussions.

"Several companies have come to us to assess the risks to their personnel," said the lawyer, James Zimmerman, a Beijing-based partner at the Perkins Coie law firm. He declined to identify the companies or industries for confidentiality reasons.

"The companies are still concerned that there may be some grey areas such as whether a benign social media post or voting for a particular political party or candidate in Taiwan elections could be interpreted as engaging in pro-independence activities," Zimmerman said.

Reuters has previously consulted Perkins Coie on unrelated matters in China.

Some 177,000 Taiwanese were working in China as of 2022, according to the most recent Taiwan government survey. Taiwanese staff are employed by many multinationals in China, given their linguistic abilities and cultural familiarity with the country.

Many more work for the myriad Taiwanese firms that operate in China and have, by the Taiwan government's estimate, invested more than $200 billion since 1991, helping fuel China's growth to become the world's second-biggest economy.

Some foreign corporations operating in China have held meetings with employees on safety, said the two executives, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Another source, who was briefed on the matter, said some Taiwanese staff in China have received and accepted the option to leave the country.

'EXTREME MINORITY' SUBJECT TO DEATH PENALTY

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. He has denounced China's new guidelines.

The June 21 guidelines criminalise promoting Taiwan's entry to international organisations where statehood is a condition, having external official exchanges and suppressing parties, groups and people that promote "reunification".

Also illegal are "other acts that seek to separate Taiwan from China" - phrasing that allows Beijing to interpret the rules broadly, according to legal experts.

Among "the ringleaders or those who have committed serious crimes", the guidelines say, "if the harm to the country and the people is particularly serious and the circumstances are particularly bad, they may be sentenced to death."

The regulations do not further specify who might be subject to the death penalty.

Asked for comment on how companies and Taiwanese employees are reacting to the guidelines, China's foreign ministry told Reuters in a statement: "Using criminal law measures to punish criminal separatist elements and uphold the country's core interests is a common practice for all countries.

"It needs to be emphasised that the relevant legislative document targets the extreme minority of diehard 'Taiwan independence' elements and their separatist activities, and does not implicate the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots," the ministry said.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to a request for comment. Last week it said the vast majority of Taiwanese have nothing to worry about and can come "in high spirits".

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, which oversees relations with Beijing, told Reuters in a statement: "The government reminds Taiwanese businesspeople and Taiwanese employees in mainland China that they must pay more attention to their personal safety now. The risk is indeed increasing.'

Last week the council urged Taiwanese people to avoid all non-essential travel to China, Hong Kong and Macau as a result of the new regulations.

The council said last month that eight retired Taiwanese military and police officers had been detained in China over the previous year. Last year it warned that Taiwanese academics were being detained and interrogated upon entry to China, even if they were on formal exchange programmes.

'REVIEWING THE RISK DAILY'

One of the executives who spoke to Reuters - a senior official who works with Taiwan investors in China - said his phone lit up after China announced the new guidelines as people discussed what they could mean for their work.

He said the guidelines add to the uncertainty of doing business in China, coming on the heels of such measures as China's anti-espionage law and its national security law for Hong Kong.

The second executive, who works for a large multinational whose Taiwanese executives frequently go on business trips to China, said they had been having regular meetings with senior managers to assess the danger and whether to withdraw those working in the country.

"It's not yet gotten to the stage of deciding not to send them there, but we are reviewing the risk daily," the executive said.

Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow at the Atlantic Council's Global China Hub, said the guidelines would force foreign companies to "either move their operations out entirely to keep Taiwanese talent or they stop hiring Taiwanese talent."

That would mean that "even fewer Taiwanese will be working or living in China, thereby making Beijing's attempts to win over their hearts and minds even harder," Sung said.

Beijing condemns Taiwan's Lai as a "separatist" and staged war games shortly after his May inauguration. Taiwan has complained of ramped up Chinese pressure since Lai won the election in January, including ongoing military actions, trade sanctions and coast guard patrols around Taiwan-controlled islands next to China.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Antoni Slodkowski and William Mallard)
By Aaron Ross

NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenyan President William Ruto spoke by phone with International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva in the days after he withdrew $2.7 billion in proposed tax hikes in response to deadly protests, two diplomatic sources told Reuters.

The finance bill containing the tax increases was central to policy reforms agreed by Kenya with the IMF as part of a lending programme worth $3.6 billion.

Analysts say its withdrawal a week ago is likely to result in Kenya missing key programme targets, although the government does not urgently need cash from the IMF after it was able this year to repay a bond that was originally worth $2 billion by issuing a new seven-year bond.

The IMF has been a major target of the ire of young Kenyan protesters, who have accused it of being the driving force behind the proposed tax hikes.

The two sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide details about Ruto and Georgieva's phone call.

However, they said there was agreement among major donors that the IMF needed to show flexibility on programme targets as Kenya looked to fill the gap caused by the bill's withdrawal.

One of the sources added that the government should show a commitment to reducing wasteful spending, cracking down on corruption and increasing accountability in exchange for that flexibility.

The IMF reached a staff level agreement with Kenya in early June on a policy package needed to complete the lending programme's seventh review, expected to unlock a disbursement of several hundred million dollars, but the deal has not yet received approval from the fund's Executive Board.

"We remain deeply concerned by the recent tragic events in Kenya and maintain close ongoing and constructive dialogue with the Kenyan authorities," an IMF spokesperson said when asked about the call.

Ruto's spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

Since shelving the bill, Ruto has pledged to include austerity measures in a supplemental budget, but has also suggested that the government will need to significantly increase borrowing in the 2024/25 fiscal year.

An IMF spokesperson said last week that its main goal has been helping Kenya overcome its economic challenges and improving its people's well-being.

"I think the IMF will continue helping Kenya, but the disbursements are more likely to resume toward the end of this year," said Pavel Mamai, managing partner and portfolio manager at Promeritum Investment Management.

"The IMF will basically ask Kenya to regroup and present a new reform plan."

At least 39 people have been killed in the protests since mid-June, according to a government-funded human rights organisation. Anti-government demonstrations have continued since Ruto pulled the bill, although with lower turnout.

(Additional reporting by Karin Strohecker and Libby George in London; Editing by Alexander Smith)
When to expect Fourth of July F-15 fighter jet flyovers in Salem, 16 other Oregon cities

An F-15D Eagle assigned to the 142nd Fighter Wing takes off from the Portland Air National Guard Base during a 2015 training flight.

The 142nd Wing from Portland Air National Guard Base will conduct Independence Day flyovers Thursday for ceremonies and parades throughout Oregon, including Salem, Turner, Mt. Angel, St. Paul and Mill City.

All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed. Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies, according to an Oregon Military Department news release.

The Oregon Air Guard's F-15 Eagle fighter jets are scheduled to conduct flyovers for 17 community locations at, or around, the following designated times Thursday:

10:35 a.m. Corbett

10:39 a.m. Ridgefield, Washington

10:43 a.m. Clatskanie

10:47 a.m. Warrenton

10:50 a.m. Manzanita

10:51 a.m. Rockaway Beach

10:55 a.m. Neskowin

11:00 a.m. Turner

11:01 a.m. Salem

11:03 a.m. Mt. Angel

11:05 a.m. St. Paul

11:08 a.m. Lake Oswego

11:09 a.m. Happy Valley

11:12 a.m. Molalla

11:14 a.m. Mill City

11:26 a.m. Condon

11:34 a.m. The Dalles

Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com, and follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Fourth of July F-15 fighter jet flyovers scheduled in Oregon
Experts warn new trade deal could trigger catastrophic chain of events in Amazon Rainforest: 'May single-handedly shift the Amazon'

The largest meat producer in the world and Brazil's president made a deal with China that will see the company expand its cattle, risking the future of the Amazon rainforest.

When Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office last year, he pledged to end deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. In the first six months of his term, deforestation fell by 34%, according to the Associated Press.

Plant Based News reported that Lula's deal with meat processor JBS and China could break that promise and see the Amazon become a net emitter of toxic gases instead of a net absorber, meaning it would create more polluting gases than it absorbs.

What's happening?

During the presidency of Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation rates rose, and cattle ranching was the leading cause. JBS is connected to more than 100,000 hectares or over 247,000 acres of land clearance, per the news outlet.

The environmental group Mighty Earth ranked the company as one of the worst meat companies for deforestation in the Amazon. JBS doesn't even know if the cattle are on deforested land because they don't track the movements of all its cattle until the final location, according to Plant Based News.

JBS plans to double its beef production to 4,400 cows at meat plants visited by the president in April  and to invest about $29 million, per the news outlet. The deal will see meat from more than 2.3 million cows exported to China annually, more than 1.8 million more than the previous capacity in the Mato Grosso do Sul state facilities.

Environmental scientist Nicholas Carter wrote on LinkedIn that the deal will "ultimately [impact] critical biodiversity areas and Indigenous communities  and may single-handedly shift the Amazon from a net sink to a net emitter of planet-warming emissions."

Why is Amazon deforestation concerning?

A study from 2021 found that deforestation had already made the Amazon produce more polluting gases than it could absorb in certain areas. Wildfires in certain sections have contributed 1.1 billion tons of toxic gases more than they absorb, Plant Based News reported.

Ane Alencar, science director of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, and Dr. Adriane Esquivel Muelbert, lecturer in global forest ecology at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, wrote an opinion article in the Guardian explaining that the only way to return the Amazon to its natural balance is to "reduce forest loss by deforestation and fires, and invest in massive landscape restoration."

The expansion of JBS' cattle ranching is expected to worsen the situation.

According to the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland, in 2023, 14,200 square miles of previously undisturbed global rainforests were cleared, per the Guardian. That's almost the size of Switzerland. Most of this is because of agricultural expansion.

According to the World Wildlife Fund, people worldwide and locally depend on the rainforest for water, food, wood, and medicines. It also plays a vital role in controlling rising temperatures by storing 150 to 200 billion tons of carbon.

What's being done about Amazon deforestation?

While Brazil's president is making a deal that could increase deforestation, Marina Silva, the country's environmental minister, is working to protect the rainforest. She also held her position during Lula's previous presidency, and her plan is credited with reducing deforestation by 83% from 2004 to 2012.

You can also change how you hold companies accountable by supporting businesses with eco-friendly practices, all while voting for pro-climate candidates.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Extreme pride in being an American has stayed near a record low, according to a new Gallup survey.

The Gallup survey released shortly before the Fourth of July holiday found 41 percent of Americans polled said they are extremely proud of their American identity. Thats up from 39 percent last year and 38 percent in 2022, which was the lowest point since Gallup debuted the question in 2001.

Around a decade ago, in 2004, 69 percent of Americans said they were extremely proud of their American identity. Gallup noted that Americans national pride was highest after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, when patriotism surged in the U.S.

Despite the lower number of respondents saying they are extremely proud of their American identity in the recent Gallup survey, only 10 percent said when it comes to being an American, they were only a little proud and 5 percent said not at all proud. Likewise, 18 percent said they are moderately proud and 26 percent said they are very proud.

While the percentage of U.S. adults who say they are extremely proud to be American is near the lowest point on record, about two-thirds continue to be at least very proud, Gallup said.

The survey was conducted June 3-23 featuring a sample of 1,005 adults and has a margin of sampling error at the 95 percent confidence level of 4 percentage points.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A quick scan of your face could one day reveal how well you are aging and whether you are at risk of developing certain diseases.

Scientists in China have found that a comparison of the heat coming off a person's nose, cheeks, and eye area could be an "ideal monitoring and screening tool for healthy aging".

Trained using facial temperature data from 2,811 Chinese participants between the ages of 21 and 88, their artificial intelligence program identified several facial thermal patterns that could hint at a person's 'biological clock'.

For instance, the temperature of an individual's nose was found to decrease with age faster than other regions of their face, whereas the temperature around their eyes tended to increase with age.

This means that those who have warmer noses and cooler areas around the eye may have a facial thermal clock that is ticking slower.

The maximum facial temperature distribution between male and female participants of various ages. (Yu et al., Cell Metabolism, 2024)

But what does that have to do with a person's health?

Researchers found that an individual's thermal profile was linked to certain lifestyle factors and metabolic health. Those with diabetes showed a facial thermal profile more than six years older than their healthy peers of the same age.

In fact, the machine learning model was able to automatically process and analyze a person's facial thermal map to predict if they had a metabolic disorder, like fatty liver disease or diabetes, with over 80 percent accuracy.

In the study, those with a metabolic disorder were more likely to show higher temperatures in the eye area than their healthy, age-matched, and sex-matched counterparts.

What's more, participants with elevated blood pressure showed increased temperatures in the eye area and cheeks. Males with hypertension were typically observed with relatively colder noses.

"The thermal clock is so strongly associated with metabolic diseases that previous facial imaging models were not able to predict these conditions," says Jing-Dong Jackie Han from Peking University in China.

"We hope to apply thermal facial imaging in clinical settings, as it holds significant potential for early disease diagnosis and intervention."

The difference in facial temperature distributions for males and females with hypertension and fatty liver disease. (Yu et al., Cell Metabolism, 2024)

Even among those born in the same year, biological clocks tick faster or slower, meaning everybody ages differently.

For years, scientists have tried to devise ways to read the time on this hidden measure of health. But apart from some non-invasive options, like scanning the human eyeball, tests that measure the physical signs of biological aging  especially those in the blood  have been hard to achieve in a quick, convenient, or affordable way .

Human faces contain "a wealth of information" that could be easily accessed for this very purpose, the researchers argue.

While a person's core body temperature is known to decrease with age, the way that a person's facial temperature changes over time remains largely unknown. Studies have often tied high body temperatures to high metabolic rates, and now, the same seems to hold true for facial temperatures, too.

The current research is limited by samples of data collected from people in China, which means it's unclear if the results can be generalized to other populations. Heat emitted by the face can also be affected by the environment and emotions, which is why participants were imaged in a temperature-controlled room while they were in a calm state.

To investigate why thermal facial images were changing with age, researchers analyzed the bloodwork of 57 healthy individuals from a hospital in China, along with thermal and 3D facial readings of this smaller cohort.

The team found that an increase in temperature around the eyes and cheeks was linked to an increase in cellular activity tied to inflammation.

In another investigation, the researchers asked 23 participants to jump rope every day for two weeks, to see if exercise could have an effect on thermal facial 'age'. By the end of the study period the cohort had reduced their thermal age by an average of five years, while their non-jumping peers showed no significant difference.

The thermal facial map of participants before and after two weeks of daily jump rope. (Yu et al., Cell Metabolism, 2024)

More research needs to be done to confirm and explain these associations, but the results are promising enough that the study's researchers will continue to explore whether thermal facial imaging can predict healthy aging in other ways, too.

The study was published in Cell Metabolism.
Family of 61-Year-Old Woman Mauled to Death By Two Dogs Says She Fought Until She Couldnt Fight No More

"Despite her brave efforts to defend herself, she did not survive the brutal attack," a GoFundMe created by Theresa Rhodes' sister explains

Theresa Rhodes/ Facebook; City of Bolivar TN Police Department/ Facebook Theresa Rhodes and image of dog involved in her death

A 61-year-old woman in Tennessee described as the "heart and soul" of her family is dead after being mauled to death by two dogs, her family said.

On Monday, July 1, Theresa Rhodes was on her way to visit a friend in Bolivar, Tenn. when she was attacked by the "vicious" animals, her sister Shirley Callaway explains in a GoFundMe campaign organized to help raise funds for her funeral.

The Bolivar Police Department responded to a report about a woman bleeding in the streets at about 1:30 a.m., reports USA Today.

Theresa Rhodes/ Facebook Theresa Rhodes

Related: 12-Year-Old Girl Missing After Being Attacked by Crocodile While Swimming in Creek: Reports

According to the outlet, upon their arrival, Rhodes was found with "extensive injuries" and two dogs next to her. One of the dogs was shot by an officer in order to be able to render aid to Rhodes, and the other fled the scene. Rhodes was taken to a hospital, where she died that same day.

The police department issued an advisory notice on Facebook, informing residents of the Sycamore Street and Mitchell Street area that one of the "two dangerous dogs" had been captured.

"The other is described as being blue-gray in color with features similar to a pit bull. Please be hyper-vigilant while outdoors or walking around this neighborhood," the department wrote.

City of Bolivar TN Police Department/ Facebook Image of dog involved in the death of Theresa Rhodes

Related: 31-Year-Old Man Electrocuted to Death After Trying to Save Dog During Thunderstorm: 'A Sad Day'

The post was later updated on Tuesday, July 2, to report that both dogs had been officially captured.

Callaway told WMC-TV that she was told by police that her sister tried fighting off the dogs with an object.

"My sister barely weighed 90 something pounds. She didnt have no fight for them two dogs. They say she fought until she couldnt fight no more," said Callaway.

Rhodes played an important role in the lives of all of her loved ones.

Getty Stock image of a police car

"Theresa was not only a mother to two daughters whom she tragically lost to cancer, but also a loving grandmother, sister, aunt, niece, and cousin to many," Callaway expressed in Rhodes' GoFundMe campaign.

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.

"Her infectious smile and vibrant personality brought joy to everyone around her," she added. "She was the heart and soul of our family, and her loss has left us devastated."

As of this writing, the campaign has raised over $1,000 of its $11,000 goal.



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Read the original article on People.
Arlen Foster wants the federal government to reconsider its determination that this area on his Fulton-area farm, pictured in an image submitted as part of a federal lawsuit, is a wetland. A recent Supreme Court ruling could clear a path for that to happen. (Courtesy of U.S. District Court of South Dakota)

A Fulton, South Dakota-area farmer will have a chance to argue that a federally designated wetland on his property is actually regular farm ground thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The case will be one of the first in the nation to be re-examined as a result of Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo.

The ruling overturned what was known as the Chevron rule, which required courts to defer to federal agencies in their interpretation of ambiguous federal laws and the rules written to enforce them.

The decision could have far-reaching implications for the right of citizens or companies to challenge agency authority and conclusions in court. Many in the farm and ranch community see particularly pointed impacts in South Dakota, as agricultural operations are heavily influenced by federal rules on crop insurance, conservation payments or wetland determinations.

Arlen Foster first attempted to challenge federal authority in 2011.

The Hanson County farmer sued the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) over its determination that an area of his property was a wetland.

Farmers cant use drain tile or ditches to make federally designated wetlands more easily farmable without losing access to USDA supports like crop insurance. Wetlands created through human-led development  in other words, land that wasnt wet until something was done to nearby land to alter drainage patterns  can be drained without losing access to USDA programs.

The NRCS first determined that 0.8 acres on Fosters property are a wetland in 2004. In 2008, Foster asked for a review, and NRCS again ruled it a wetland in 2011.

At his initial hearing with an administrative law judge, Foster argued that the puddle on his property only shows up in very wet years, and only because his father planted a belt of trees to prevent erosion in 1936. Its the trees and not nature, he argues, that created what NRCS calls a wetland.

At the time it was developed, the tree belt was a conservation measure encouraged by the then-recently established Soil Conservation Service, which is the Defendant agency now titled the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fosters lawyers would later write in a complaint against the NRCS.

The puddle only appears briefly, Foster argues, and as a direct result of the tree belts capture of snow and slowdown of other moisture. In half the years, the disputed spot and the area around it dont drain quickly enough for planting, taking about two acres on the 44-acre field out of production. Thats why he wants to drain it.

In 2011, an administrative law judge said Foster hadnt presented proof that the ephemeral wetlands were created by the tree planting and not natural.

Foster hired experts and attempted to get a new determination in 2017 and 2020, hoping to add new information from his experts. But the NRCS declined to review its determination, citing a rule it had written on eligibility for a new determination.

Thats when the conservative-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation took up Fosters cause. He filed a lawsuit and made it to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which deferred to NRCS under the Chevron rule.

He was just trying to get them to look at the evidence, because the first time they told him there wasnt any, said Jeffrey McCoy, the lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation who represents Foster.

After the Loper Bright decisions release, the Supreme Court listed Fosters case as one that would need a new hearing before the appeals court. Its one of at least nine cases that will reopen as a result of the decision. Foster had filed for a writ of certiorari at the Eighth Circuit, asking for a review of his case in light of the then-pending Loper Bright decision.

McCoy told South Dakota Searchlight that the court could finally decide if Foster is owed a chance at a new wetlands determination.

It doesnt necessarily mean hes going to get his way, McCoy said.

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 South Dakota farmers fight against wetland designation gets boost from Chevron ruling appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Entrepreneur provides training sessions on livestream e-commerce for over 100 farmers

People's Daily Online) 14:13, July 04, 2024

Gu Weijun, an entrepreneur and a livestream e-commerce instructor, held a livestream e-commerce training class to over 10 trainees in Youqiao village, Nanhu district, Jiaxing city, east China's Zhejiang Province.

After a 20-minute simulated livestream session, Gu provided examples and detailed instructions on various aspects of livestreams, including interactive skills. His vivid presentation kept the trainees engaged.

The training model is the result of Gu's own practical experience and the township's training program.

Gu Weijun (right) imparts livestream e-commerce knowledge to farmers in Daqiao township, Nanhu district, Jiaxing city, east China's Zhejiang Province. (Photo/Wu Yuliang)

Gu runs a family farm and a livestream studio on the opposite side of the tourist service center of Youqiao village. He also edits videos and posts them online.

"The site is provided by the village. I invested nearly 50,000 yuan ($6,888) to buy equipment," Gu said, adding that nearby farmers can use the studio without charge.

Gu quit his job in a city and returned to his hometown to establish a family farm in 2015. Thanks to his work experience in the e-commerce sector, he was the first to run an online shop in the village.

When Gu heard the news that the township began organizing an e-commerce talent incubation program for agricultural and sideline products, featuring courses on shooting short videos, and livestream promotion skills, he immediately signed up.

While continuing to participate in training sessions, Gu gained practical experience by holding livestream sessions.

As a pioneer in livestream e-commerce in the village, Gu shares his knowledge with fellow villagers. In early 2023, he became a livestream e-commerce instructor in the township, and has offered training to over 100 farmers.

Deng Meilin, born after 1995, attended a class given by Gu last year and began to advertise agricultural products through livestreams later, leading to better sales.

"In the past, we only held livestreams to sell products. But now we also hope to boost the development of rural tourism through livestreams," Gu said.

Inspired by Gu, Deng tried to organize group buying on a short video platform and encourage users to participate in grape-picking activities in the thriving grape-picking business.

During this year's three-day Duanwu Festival, the daily average of tourist visits to the village exceeded 500.

"Through livestream sessions, more and more customers are becoming tourists, and rural tourism is thriving in our village," said Wei Liang, Party chief of Youqiao village.

Since 2018, Nanhu district has offered 103 training sessions related to livestream e-commerce, attracting over 3,600 participants. Since the beginning of this year, the district's rural online retail sales have reached approximately 89 million yuan, up 11.4 percent year on year.

In recent years, the rapid development of livestream e-commerce in China's rural areas has unleashed the consumption potential of rural areas. In 2023, the country's rural online retail sales reached 2.49 trillion yuan, and the online retail sales of agricultural products rose to 590 billion yuan, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

China plans to cultivate about 100 "frontrunner" counties for rural e-commerce, build around 1,000 county-level livestream e-commerce bases, and nurture about 10,000 individuals who will play a leading role in rural e-commerce in five years, said a document issued by the ministry and other eight departments in March this year.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Arlen Foster wants the federal government to reconsider its determination that this area on his Fulton-area farm, pictured in an image submitted as part of a federal lawsuit, is a wetland. A recent Supreme Court ruling could clear a path for that to happen. (Courtesy of U.S. District Court of South Dakota)

Arlen Foster wants the federal government to reconsider its determination that this area on his Fulton-area farm, pictured in an image submitted as part of a federal lawsuit, is a wetland. A recent Supreme Court ruling could clear a path for that to happen. (Courtesy of U.S. District Court of South Dakota)

A Fulton-area farmer will have a chance to argue that a federally designated wetland on his property is actually regular farm ground thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The case will be one of the first in the nation to be re-examined as a result of Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo.

The ruling overturned what was known as the Chevron rule, which required courts to defer to federal agencies in their interpretation of ambiguous federal laws and the rules written to enforce them.

The decision could have far-reaching implications for the right of citizens or companies to challenge agency authority and conclusions in court. Many in the farm and ranch community see particularly pointed impacts in South Dakota, as agricultural operations are heavily influenced by federal rules on crop insurance, conservation payments or wetland determinations.

Arlen Foster first attempted to challenge federal authority in 2011.

The Hanson County farmer sued the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) over its determination that an area of his property was a wetland.

Farmers cant use drain tile or ditches to make federally designated wetlands more easily farmable without losing access to USDA supports like crop insurance. Wetlands created through human-led development  in other words, land that wasnt wet until something was done to nearby land to alter drainage patterns  can be drained without losing access to USDA programs.

The NRCS first determined that 0.8 acres on Fosters property are a wetland in 2004. In 2008, Foster asked for a review, and NRCS again ruled it a wetland in 2011.

At his initial hearing with an administrative law judge, Foster argued that the puddle on his property only shows up in very wet years, and only because his father planted a belt of trees to prevent erosion in 1936. Its the trees and not nature, he argues, that created what NRCS calls a wetland.

At the time it was developed, the tree belt was a conservation measure encouraged by the then-recently established Soil Conservation Service, which is the Defendant agency now titled the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Fosters lawyers would later write in a complaint against the NRCS.

The puddle only appears briefly, Foster argues, and as a direct result of the tree belts capture of snow and slowdown of other moisture. In half the years, the disputed spot and the area around it dont drain quickly enough for planting, taking about two acres on the 44-acre field out of production. Thats why he wants to drain it.

In 2011, an administrative law judge said Foster hadnt presented proof that the ephemeral wetlands were created by the tree planting and not natural.

Foster hired experts and attempted to get a new determination in 2017 and 2020, hoping to add new information from his experts. But the NRCS declined to review its determination, citing a rule it had written on eligibility for a new determination.

Thats when the conservative-leaning Pacific Legal Foundation took up Fosters cause. He filed a lawsuit and made it to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which deferred to NRCS under the Chevron rule.

He was just trying to get them to look at the evidence, because the first time they told him there wasnt any, said Jeffrey McCoy, the lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation who represents Foster.

After the Loper Bright decisions release, the Supreme Court listed Fosters case as one that would need a new hearing before the appeals court. Its one of at least nine cases that will reopen as a result of the decision. Foster had filed for a writ of certiorari at the Eighth Circuit, asking for a review of his case in light of the then-pending Loper Bright decision.

McCoy told South Dakota Searchlight that the court could finally decide if Foster is owed a chance at a new wetlands determination.

It doesnt necessarily mean hes going to get his way, McCoy said.

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Fauci says he has no doubt Biden is capable of continuing as president

Former White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said in a new interview he has no doubt President Biden is mentally capable of serving as president, amid growing concern among Democrats about the presidents standing as the partys presumptive nominee.

In my interactions with him, I have no doubt, Fauci said about Biden, when asked on the CBS News podcast The Takeout with Major Garrett if he has any concerns about the presidents vigor and mental capability to continue in office.

And I can only speak in my own interactions with him, Fauci added in the interview released Wednesday.

Fauci  who, for nearly four decades, served as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)  cautioned against drawing any medical conclusions just based on one event.

Asked if he saw anything medically alarm[ing] in Bidens debate performance last week, Fauci responded, You know, I cant say. I think it would be inappropriate to say that, Major, because when youre just looking at someone on a one-shot basis, you just dont know what could happen.

Did he have a bad cold, you know? Did he take an antihistamine to make him, you know, groggy, or what have you? We dont know what went on, Fauci continued. And I think it would be unfair and inappropriate to try and diagnose something from just a 90-minute clip.

Fauci, who retired at the end of Bidens second year in office, described the president as sharp and inquisitive in their interactions. When asked if Bidens debate performance at all resembled what he saw in his interactions with the president, Fauci said, No, I mean, obviously not.

I dont want to comment about what happened that night, but you know, to me, it just looked like a bad night, Fauci said, because my interaction with him was what I described in the book and what happened even subsequent to what I described in the book, after I got out.

He called Biden very probing in his questions, very analytical, very calm about things, and said during briefings, Biden always asked very relevant questions.

Fauci continued, So my interactions with him, I have to say, have been very, very positive, in every way.

The interview comes amid questions about whether Biden should stay at the top of the ticket after his difficult debate last week. Two Democrats have already called on Biden to step aside as others have expressed concern about former President Trumps ability to defeat Biden in November.

White House seeks to stop the bleeding amid new calls for Biden dropout

Biden and his team have repeatedly stressed that the president is up for another four years in office, brushing off last weeks debate as a poor performance by the commander in chief.

He knows how to do the job, not because he says it, because his record proves it. Because for three and a half years, almost four years, the presidents record has been unprecedented, delivering for the American people, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said 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 The Hill.
(WHTM)  The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are searching for Revolutionary War-era firearms that were stolen nearly five decades ago.

Since 2009, law enforcement has been looking for memorabilia that was stolen in and around Valley Forge Park in the 1960s and 1970s. Three men who admitted to taking the items have helped investigators, however not every piece of history has been recovered.

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This Week in Pennsylvania

Multiple firearms were recovered this year, including a musket that was returned to a Philadelphia museum earlier this month.

We were all committed to seeing justicenot just bringing the objects back home, but seeking a proper prosecution of those who perpetrated these crimes, said Special Agent Jake Archer, a member of the FBIs Art Crime Team who worked this case for FBI Philadelphia.







Officials provided a list and description of items collectors should keep an eye out for.

John James Audubons shotgun This 12-or 16-gauge double-hammer, double-barreled shotgun once belonged to John James Audubon.

The gun was stolen from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in March 1972.

It may have been sold at auction after the year 2000.

The gun is 4.5 feet long. Smaller Schimmel eagle This carving was created by Wilhem Schimmel.

This item was stolen from the York County Historical Society in Pennsylvania in January 1979.

It may have later been sold at auction after April 1998.

The carving has a 10-inch wingspan and stands 6.5 inches tall.

Its painted brown with white and black spots.

The item is missing a small piece of wood on its cross-hatched head feathers. Larger Schimmel eagle This carving was created by Wilhem Schimmel.

This item was stolen from the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, in February 1979.

It may have been sold at auction after April 1998.

The carving has a wingspan of 17 inches and stands 9.5 inches tall.

Its painted black and has a cross-hatched carved body. It also has a green base and pastel yellow and orange paint over its wings.

The item is missing wood on the tip of its head and feathers. Carved powder horn dated 1776 with deer and Native American scene This powder horn was stolen from the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie, New York, in June 1971.

Its golden colored, about 13.5 inches long, and has a flat pine butt.

The powder horn features a CDM monogram and 1776 above the drawing of a snake and the initials JW above a drawing of a buck with antlers. 1690 English oak Bible box This box was stolen from the Haverford Township Historical Society in Pennsylvania on April 14, 1979.

The Bible box is made of oak wood.

The date 1690 is carved on its front panel.

Leads in the case have stretched as far as San Francisco.

With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution coming up, said James Taub, an associate curator at the museum, the teamwork and partnership between local police and the FBI have given us in Philadelphia and the historical community at large a really strong opportunity to reach people in ways that we havent before, through objects that people of my generation havent seen and that previous generations might not have seen since before the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.

If you recognize any of the items, you should contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can submit tips anonymously.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
(WHTM)  The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are searching for Revolutionary War-era firearms that were stolen nearly five decades ago.

More Local News

Since 2009, law enforcement has been looking for memorabilia that was stolen in and around Valley Forge Park in Pennsylvania in the 1960s and 1970s. Three men who admitted to taking the items have helped investigators, however not every piece of history has been recovered.

Multiple firearms were recovered this year, including a musket that was returned to a Philadelphia museum earlier this month.







Officials provided a list and description of items collectors should keep an eye out for.

John James Audubons shotgun This 12-or 16-gauge double-hammer, double-barreled shotgun once belonged to John James Audubon.

The gun was stolen from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in March 1972.

It may have been sold at auction after the year 2000.

The gun is 4.5 feet long. Smaller Schimmel eagle This carving was created by Wilhem Schimmel.

This item was stolen from the York County Historical Society in Pennsylvania in January 1979.

It may have later been sold at auction after April 1998.

The carving has a 10-inch wingspan and stands 6.5 inches tall.

Its painted brown with white and black spots.

The item is missing a small piece of wood on its cross-hatched head feathers. Larger Schimmel eagle This carving was created by Wilhem Schimmel.

This item was stolen from the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, in February 1979.

It may have been sold at auction after April 1998.

The carving has a wingspan of 17 inches and stands 9.5 inches tall.

Its painted black and has a cross-hatched carved body. It also has a green base and pastel yellow and orange paint over its wings.

The item is missing wood on the tip of its head and feathers. Carved powder horn dated 1776 with deer and Native American scene This powder horn was stolen from the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie, New York, in June 1971.

Its golden colored, about 13.5 inches long, and has a flat pine butt.

The powder horn features a CDM monogram and 1776 above the drawing of a snake and the initials JW above a drawing of a buck with antlers. 1690 English oak Bible box This box was stolen from the Haverford Township Historical Society in Pennsylvania on April 14, 1979.

The Bible box is made of oak wood.

The date 1690 is carved on its front panel.

Leads in the case have stretched as far as San Francisco.

We were all committed to seeing justicenot just bringing the objects back home, but seeking a proper prosecution of those who perpetrated these crimes, said Special Agent Jake Archer, a member of the FBIs Art Crime Team who worked this case for FBI Philadelphia.

With the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution coming up, said James Taub, an associate curator at the museum, the teamwork and partnership between local police and the FBI have given us in Philadelphia and the historical community at large a really strong opportunity to reach people in ways that we havent before, through objects that people of my generation havent seen and that previous generations might not have seen since before the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.

If you recognize any of the items, you should contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or by visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can submit tips anonymously.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
This story is developing, and this post will be updated as new information becomes available.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m. 7/3  Officials told ABC4.com that the suspect  who was said to be armed and dangerous  was apprehended.

Officials from South Salt Lake, West Jordan SWAT, and other agencies were involved.

After the suspect was taken into custody, officials said the public was safe.

ORIGINAL STORY: SWAT situation unfolding in Midvale, federal fugitive involved

MIDVALE, Utah (ABC4)  The Unified Police Department was assisting other agencies in an attempt to apprehend a federal fugitive on Wednesday afternoon.

UPD posted on social media to say that it was assisting the U.S. Marshals in the apprehension of the fugitive. Officials did not immediately release more information about the suspect or what they were wanted for.

UPD first alerted ABC4.com about the incident around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Midvale City posted on social media just before 6 p.m. to ask residents to avoid the area of Holden Street at Main Street and Center Street near City Hall.

While there is no danger to the public, the streets are currently closed, the city said.

There is no further information at this time.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A proposed federal rule would provide North Carolina workers with specific protections from high temperatures, if it goes into effect.

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration has proposed a heat injury prevention plan that requires employers to take steps to protect their workers, like providing shade when certain temperature thresholds are met or drafting a heat injury prevention plan that gives specific directions to where work is happening.

The plan is the first ever federal heat standard. If implemented, it would also be the first explicit heat health protection for North Carolinas workers, including in the states agriculture and construction fields.

Right now, workers are covered by the states General Duty clause, which allows the N.C. Department of Labor to cite an employer if it fails to provide a workplace that is safe from a threat that could cause injury or death. Critics have long argued that the state fails to outline exactly how employers should protect their workers from heat.

MaryBe McMillan, the president of the N.C. State AFL-CIO, said a farmworkers death last year and other recent events make it clear that workers arent being adequately protected from extreme heat under North Carolinas existing regulations. McMillan also pointed to warehouse workers in facilities that dont have air conditioning and workers on the Tarmac at airports as other examples of workers who are exposed to potentially dangerous levels of heat.

Theres all kinds of workers in various industry sectors who every day are experiencing high degrees of heat and dont have any opportunity to get relief, and thats a real problem, McMillan said.

Whats in OSHAs proposed rule?

The proposed OSHA rule has two different triggers that require employers to provide protections, with a higher heat index requiring more precaution. Heat index is a measurement that uses air temperature and humidity to capture what conditions feel like for the human body.

Under the rule, every employer would need a written heat illness prevention plan, readily available at the work site in the language spoken by employees. That plan would include a list of emergency phone numbers, as well as clear directions to a work site that could be provided to emergency dispatchers or directions for how someone suffering from heat illness could be transported to a place where emergency services could reach them.

When the heat index is 80 degrees Fahrenheit, the federal government proposes, an employer must:

Provide enough cool drinking water that each employee can drink a quart of water per hour.

Provide areas for employees to take breaks in shade or air conditioning. The employer must also allow and encourage paid breaks.

Provide cool break areas at indoor work sites, using fans, air conditioning or dehumidifiers.

Maintain effective two-way communication with employees.

Restrict work when an employee is new or returning from a break to allow them to acclimatize to the temperatures.

When the heat index reaches 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the government proposes additional safety measures. Those include:

Giving employees a paid 15-minute break in a shady or cool area every two hours.

Implementing an observation system for signs of heat illness, like a buddy system where employees keep an eye on each other or a system where a supervisor observes up to 20 employees.

Giving employees a hazard alert before their shift begins, including telling them they have a right to take a break, stressing the importance of drinking water and letting them know how to seek help in the case of heat illness.

Impact on NC workers, businesses

Last year, Jose Alberto Gonzalez Mendoza, a 30-year-old farmworker, died in Nash County while picking sweet potatoes. The N.C. Department of Labor fined Barnes Farming Corp. $187,509 in connection with Mendozas death, finding that the farm had workers in the fields on a 91-degree day without a regular rest schedule, provided a five-minute break in a six-hour period and did not provide enough drinking water for workers, among other violations.

The proposed OSHA rule would help farmworkers in North Carolina, as long as it can be enforced, said Yesenia Cuello, the executive director of NC FIELD, a Kinston-based farmworker advocacy organization.

Its a good step to mandate employers to create comprehensive heat illness prevention plans and things like that. We know that this would ultimately reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses  and honestly, fatalities  because the reality is that heat can kill, Cuello said.

Still, Cuello sees gaps in the proposed rule, especially as it pertains to farmworkers.

Boots and a hat dry on a window air conditioning unit at a Johnston County farmworker camp Thursday August 27, 2020. Air conditioning is considered a luxury by many farmworkers in North Carolina farmworker camps.

NC FIELDs outreach workers have seen heat illness among employees when they return to farmworker housing that has little or no cooling, she said. In some instances, Cuello said, NC FIELD staff have seen farmworkers sleeping under mobile homes provided by employers instead of inside of them because it is so much cooler there.

There is no state or federal rule requiring farmworker housing to have cooling.

A lot of what were seeing  heat-related illnesses and heat stress  doesnt happen in the fields but once theyve gotten home and theyve had time to settle, Cuello said.

Additionally, Cuello added, it is important that emergency dispatchers have distinct addresses or GIS markers for farmworker housing because heat emergencies frequently happen there.

The NC Farm Bureau did not have anyone available to comment for this story.

Construction companies are already practicing heat safety in ways that would be codified by the proposed rule, Jeffrey Shoaf, the safety director for the Associated General Contractors of America, wrote in an emailed statement.

Shoaf also critiqued the proposal, writing that it fails to consider how regional weather patterns could impact workers ability to handle heat and that workers should play a role in protecting themselves. During periods of high heat, Shoaf wrote, workers should be drinking plenty of water; avoiding drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine; and understanding how certain medical conditions or medications can bring added risk.

Overall, this proposed new rule provides a starting point for creating measures to protect workers that are based on what the industry is already doing. We look forward to working with federal officials to craft a final rule that includes effective measures for firms and workers to follow, Shoaf wrote.

In North Carolina, the Carolinas Associated General Contractors chapter recommends construction companies develop a plan to address heat illnesses in the workplace, Jacob Garmon, the organizations director of safety, suppliers and sponsorships, wrote in an email.

Due to North Carolinas climate being above the initial 80 degree threshold a majority of the year this would be of concern to our industry. However, our members are already providing a lot of the required protections (water, breaks, acclimatization etc.) to meet this standard to the best of their ability, Garmon wrote.

Democrat Braxton Winston, left, and Republican Luke Farley, right, are vying to become North Carolinas next labor commissioner.

Where do NCs labor commissioner candidates stand?

If the federal rule becomes effective, North Carolinas labor commissioner would be the person tasked with either pushing for it to become the states heat rule or crafting a North Carolina alternative.

This fall, North Carolina voters will elect a new person to the office, either Democrat Braxton Winston or Republican Luke Farley. Josh Dobson, the sitting labor commissioner, did not seek reelection.

Farley has been an outspoken critic of OSHAs effort to regulate heat, arguing the different climatic conditions across the country make a federal regulation unworkable.

Theres no question that we need to protect North Carolinas workers from heat, Farley said in an interview. The question is, whats the best way to do it? We dont need a one-size-fits-all federal mandate from the Biden administration, we need a North Carolina solution to protect North Carolina workers.

If elected, Farley said, he would not seek to adopt the federal rule as written. Instead, Farley said he would work to craft a similar proposal that would seek to provide the same amount of protection while being less burdensome for businesses.

Braxton Winston, the Democratic candidate for Labor commissioner, has made heat a central issue in his campaign. On his website, Winston calls for explicit protections from heat for workers, including a heat sickness prevention plan; training to help employees and supervisors respond to heat illness; clean drinking water; and shade.

OSHAs proposal is a positive for North Carolinas workers, Winston said in an interview, adding that he looks forward to participating in the rulemaking process.

High temperatures are getting hotter and are sticking around longer, and while work can be tough, work should never be deadly. And the the truth is, hotter temperatures for longer periods of time is making work more dangerous in North Carolina and we need more protections for workers and businesses from the impact of high heat where work gets done, Winston said.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.
A federal judge on Wednesday granted a preliminary injunction on a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements issued this spring, calling into question its future in the face of opposition by prominent business groups.

The Dallas-based tax firm Ryan LLC was joined by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Business Roundtable and other business groups in a lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which voted 3-2 in April to ban the common agreements that prevent tens of millions of employees from leaving to work for a competitor or start a competing business.

The final rule bans all new noncompete agreements and requires companies to tear up existing agreements, although the agency did say agreements may remain in effect for certain senior executives.

This week, Americans celebrate our nations Declaration of Independence from an overreaching royal crown. Non-compete agreements predate the American Revolution, and our lawsuit seeks to preserve a robust freedom of contract for generations of enterprising Americans to come, said John Smith, Ryan chief legal officer and general counsel.

The ruling comes on the heels of a series of Supreme Court rulings that weakened federal agency powers, including overturning Chevron deference, the prominent precedent that empowered federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws through rulemaking.

The ruling was notably narrow, postponing the Sept. 4 effective date of the rule as applied to the Plaintiffs. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas said it would rule on the ultimate merits of this action on or before August 30, 2024.

The text, structure, and history of the FTC Act reveal that the FTC lacks substantive rulemaking authority with respect to unfair methods of competition, U.S. District Judge Ada Brown wrote.

Douglas Farrar, director of the FTCs Office of Public Affairs, told The Hill that the FTC stands by our clear authority, supported by statute and precedent, to issue this rule.

We will keep fighting to free hardworking Americans from unlawful noncompetes, which reduce innovation, inhibit economic growth, trap workers, and undermine Americans economic liberty, Farrar said.

Daryl Joseffer, the Chambers litigation center executive vice president and chief counsel, called the judges decision a big win in the Chambers fight against government micromanagement of business decisions.

The FTCs blanket ban on noncompetes is an unlawful power grab that defies the agencys constitutional and statutory authority and sets a dangerous precedent where the government knows better than the markets. The U.S. Chamber will continue to hold the FTC accountable in court, Joseffer said in a statement.

Updated at 6:58 p.m. ET.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 feds are criminalizing sex and looking to put people in prison for funsies by prosecuting the two glamorous leaders of embattled sexual wellness empire OneTaste, their lawyers claimed Wednesday.

I would say the government is trying to criminalize sex. That is what this case is about, make no bones about it, said Duncan Levin, who represents the companys head of sales Rachel Cherwitz, after a hearing in Brooklyn federal court.

Cherwitz and the companys founder Nicole Daedone are slated to head to trial in January 2025 on charges that they operated OneTaste like a cult by grooming members into having sex with investors and clients, while driving the members into debt. Both women have been charged with conspiracy to commit forced labor and face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

The feds are criminalizing sex and looking to put people in prison for funsies by prosecuting the two glamorous leaders of embattled sexual wellness empire OneTaste. Gabriella Bass

They face charges that they operated OneTaste like a cult by grooming members into having sex with investors and clients, while driving the members into debt. Gabriella Bass

The pair were in court Wednesday for a hearing in which their lawyers argued that the case should be thrown out for what they claimed was misconduct by the feds, including an FBI agent allegedly ordering a key witness to delete her email account.

But prosecutors  calling the defenses claims baseless and speculative  responded in court papers that the agent in question was simply trying to protect the witness from harassment shed received from other OneTaste members, rather than destroy evidence.

Cherwitz and the companys founder Nicole Daedone are slated to head to trial in January 2025. Gabriella Bass

Daedone and Cherwitz were flanked in court Wednesday by around a dozen followers of their California-based company, also known as the Institute of OM or Eros, which is currently offering its orgasm meditation classes out of a Harlem office, according to a spokesperson.

The orgasmic meditation treatment, in which a group of women have their genitals stroked methodically for 15 minutes, is a transformative practice that heals maladies ranging from sexual dysfunction and trauma to depression and anxiety, its website boasts.

Daedone and Cherwitz were flanked in court Wednesday by around a dozen followers of their California-based company. Gabriella Bass

Lawyers for Daedone and Cherwitz sounded off against the case again to reporters after the hour-long hearing. Gabriella Bass

Lawyers for Daedone and Cherwitz sounded off against the case again to reporters after the hour-long hearing, claiming that the feds charged the women using a unique interpretation of the conspiracy to commit forced labor law.

This is just [the Eastern District of New York] trying to be creative, and the courts have said its not your job to be creative and see if you can put someone in prison for funsies and thats really what theyre doing here, said Jennifer Bonjean, who represents Daedone.

Bonjean, who is best known for defending Bill Cosby and R. Kelly on charges involving sexual misconduct, also claimed Wednesday that the feds are targeting women, frankly, which is an interesting flip on the #MeToo, despite the fact that prosecutors built their case on the word of at least one woman who told the FBI she was coerced into sexual acts.

Bonjean also claimed Wednesday that the feds are targeting women. Gabriella Bass

The company has had a fall from grace since 2018.

The company has had a fall from grace since 2018, when more than 35,000 people attended their in-person events, they were endorsed by Gwyneth Paltrows Goop website, and Daedone delivered a viral speech at a Tedx conference encouraging skeptical attendees to try out orgasmic meditation.

The company was also the subject of a 2022 Netflix documentary called Orgasm Inc that detailed some of the allegations that are part of the criminal case.

Judge Diane Gujarati didnt take a position on the OneTaste legal teams claims and set a July 17 deadline for the attorneys to formalize their arguments in a motion to dismiss the case.
FILE PHOTO: A truck carrying aid enters Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

By John Davison, Emma Farge and Nidal al-Mughrabi

(Reuters) - Mohammed describes a delivery job from hell.

"I get screwed on every shipment," the Gazan trader told Reuters. He said he has to fork out more than $14,000 for each truck of food he brings into the besieged enclave to pay sky-high transport costs, bribes to middlemen and protection from looters. That's up from $1,500-$4,000 before the war began in October.

"It's barely worth my while. But I need food, my neighbours need food, the whole of Gaza needs food."

Mohammed said he doesn't like it, but he's forced to hike prices of some fresh food like dairy products, fruit and chicken to 10 times their normal value just to break even, though he knows this puts them out of reach of many hungry Gazans.

He and 17 other people interviewed by Reuters, most of them traders and aid workers in Gaza with direct knowledge of the supply situation, described a chaotic system that often makes it too dangerous or costly for business owners to import food, even as aid agencies warn of the growing risk of famine.

Many of the people requested their full names be withheld to speak freely about sensitive matters, with traders like Mohammed saying they feared reprisals by local gangs or being blacklisted by the Israeli military for speaking out.

The bulk of the money spent on importing food goes on ballooning trucking costs, according to the people interviewed.

Drivers in Israel have increased their rates by as much as threefold because of attacks by Israeli protesters on trucks heading towards Gaza, they said. Cargoes also often have to wait for days, either near their departure points in the occupied West Bank or the Kerem Shalom border crossing from Israel into southern Gaza to be inspected by Israeli soldiers and approved to enter the enclave, they added, further driving up costs.

Once the goods finally make it into Gaza, the sources told Reuters, the hairiest part of the journey begins.

Another trader, Hamuda, who imports pickled vegetables, poultry and dairy goods from the West Bank, said he either pays off local criminal gangs or hires his own armed men to stand on top of the cargoes and ward off looters.

"It's anywhere from $200 to $800 for this. It's worth it for a cargo that can be worth up to $25,000," he said. "The guys I hire are friends or relatives, I need about 3-5 per truck."

Meanwhile, none of the private-sector goods have made it to northern Gaza, where aid agencies say hunger is most acute, because the Israeli military has closed that area off to their commercial deliveries, all eight traders said.

Two aid workers confirmed the only food available in northern Gaza is aid, with no commercial goods for sale. The Israeli military didn't comment on the availability of food for sale in the north, an area dominated by Gaza City and its environs.

The military, which oversees coordination of aid in Gaza, says it lets enough food in from Israel and Egypt for the entire population. It acknowledged aid agencies face "difficulties" in transporting food once it has entered through crossing points including Kerem Shalom, without specifying what the obstacles were.

Distributing aid in Gaza is a "complex task given that it is an active war zone", a spokesperson told Reuters. "Israel is committed to allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza for the benefit of the civilian population ... it will facilitate it while adhering to operational considerations on the ground."

The military said Palestinian militant group Hamas, Gaza's ruling group, was exploiting "humanitarian infrastructure for its military needs", without elaborating.

Hamas denied exploiting aid and said it doesn't interfere with food deliveries. It confirmed that traders were hiring armed guards to protect their shipments but said none of those men were linked to Hamas.

"Our utmost goal is to alleviate the suffering of our people," said Hamas government spokesperson Ismail al-Thawabta.

'TOTAL BREAKDOWN OF LAW'

Getting food to the Gaza Strip's mostly displaced population of 2.3 million has been beset by bureaucracy and violence since war broke out on Oct. 7, when a Hamas attack on towns in southern Israel triggered an Israeli bombardment and invasion that has laid waste to the coastal territory.

There are two main tracks of food entry: international aid, which is largely U.N. or U.N.-distributed supplies of non-perishables, like rice, flour and tinned goods and has made up the bulk of imports during the war; and commercial deliveries, which include fresh produce important to warding off malnutrition.

The Israeli military allowed commercial food deliveries from Israel and the occupied West Bank to resume in May after its assault on Gaza's southernmost city of Rafah - a key gateway from Egypt - drastically reduced the flow of U.N. aid to the devastated Palestinian territory.

Reuters, which reported the commercial resumption, is also the first news outlet to detail the ensuing costs and chaos faced by Gazan traders that have impeded their efforts to import fresh food for sale in the enclave's markets and shops.

Attacks on food trucks have surged since Israel launched its May 7 Rafah offensive, which has deepened the chaos in Gaza by scattering the 1.5 million people who had been sheltering in tent camps there, according to the traders and aid workers.

The U.N. supplies that are still getting through to Gaza, via Kerem Shalom or northern crossings, are far more vulnerable to criminal gangs because, unlike private businesses, U.N. agencies can't pay for armed protection, according to six aid workers involved in coordinating food deliveries. One estimated that about 70% of the food trucks were being attacked.

"We are confronted with a near total breakdown of law and order with truck drivers being regularly threatened or assaulted," Philippe Lazzarini, head of U.N. relief agency UNRWA, told Reuters. "Far too many trucks have been looted."

The difficulties faced by aid agencies mean the commercial track has begun to make up a larger proportion of food entering Gaza, though the flow remains erratic, according to the eight traders interviewed.

They said private-sector supplies has comprised between 20 and 100 trucks a day - each carrying up to 20 tonnes of food - since the Rafah assault was launched. During this period, Israeli military data shows an average of 150 aid and commercial food trucks a day have entered in total.

That is well short of the 600 trucks a day that the U.S. Agency for International Development says is required to address the threat of famine.

The commercial food coming in is also expensive, and scant replacement for international aid that has already been paid for by donor countries and organizations, according to the six aid workers.

"Some items have increased at least 15-fold in cost," said Majed Qishawi, of the Norwegian Refugee Council in Gaza. "Basic items ... have disappeared from the market because of a severe drop in aid and commercial trucks arriving."

ISRAELI PROTESTERS ATTACK

Traders described a long and perilous process to deliver food from their suppliers in Israel and the West Bank to their intended destinations in Gaza, a 100-mile journey at most, with trouble looming far before goods reach the war-torn enclave.

Several Gaza-bound cargoes, transported by Israeli drivers or by Palestinian drivers who have permission to work in Israel, were blocked or attacked by Israeli protesters in May in a spree of violence which prompted Washington to sanction one involved group with links to Israeli settlers. The protesters said they were preventing supplies from getting to Hamas.

"Israeli drivers in particular have hiked their transport prices because of the attacks - sometimes by three times," said another trader, Samir. "A $1,000 trip can cost $3,000."

Cargoes then often get stuck in lines of trucks before they can enter Gaza, with long waits costing importers about $200 to $300 per day per truck, he added.

The delays are caused by a general backlog in getting food into Gaza, according to the 18 sources interviewed who also include Palestinian and Western officials.

Reuters couldn't independently verify the logjam at the Gaza border as Israel mostly bars journalists from Gaza and its crossing points.

The traders and aid workers said that for two weeks at the start of June, the Israeli military suspended all entry for commercial goods while a backlog of humanitarian aid was cleared. One trader shared a text message from an Israeli military coordinator for supplies into Gaza on June 9 telling him that commercial flows were "on hold until further notice", though Reuters couldn't verify its authenticity.

The commercial track opened up again around the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday beginning on June 15, the people said.

BRIBES & PROTECTION RACKETS

Once food cargoes are allowed to cross into Gaza, the goods are loaded onto different trucks with local drivers to be distributed to vendors in the enclave, the traders said.

They are now in a war zone.

Stretches of road in Rafah and the southern city of Khan Younis that were considered relatively safe before the Rafah invasion are now notorious for attacks, the traders said.

Three of the aid workers said truck lootings were a daily occurrence while Hamuda, the trader, estimated that about six times as many trucks are being ransacked now compared with before the Rafah assault.

Some trucks are attacked for cargoes carrying rarer commodities such as meat or fresh fruit, Hamuda said. Many others are attacked by gangs who have secretly arranged to smuggle goods inside food deliveries, especially tobacco.

One Gazan trader shared a photo of cigarettes smuggled inside a hollowed-out watermelon, though Reuters couldn't verify its authenticity.

Another obstacle is ongoing Israeli operations, according to the traders who said they have no military official to contact in real time while their trucks are inside Gaza.

If a road is closed by fighting or bombardment, they have no way of figuring out a safe alternative, or relaying this information to their drivers who are often outside cellphone coverage, they added.

Three traders said that last month they began paying larger, better-connected Gazan businessmen who have regular coordination with the Israeli military to secure the entry of their cargoes and protection for their trucks to their destinations.

The traders, who declined to identify the middlemen, said this service alone can cost up to $14,000 to get the goods to their destination safely.

One of the traders, Abu Mohammed, said he had to weigh up how much he could sell his cargo for. "After hiking my prices to compensate for the transport costs, maybe I make a couple of hundred dollars. Maybe I break even," he said.

"I also risk losing everything," he added. "If the shipment is ransacked, my money's been wasted."

(Reporting by John Davison in London, Emma Farge in Geneva, Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Additional reporting by Emily Rose, Nuha al-Sharaf in Jerusalem and Jonathan Landay in Washington; Writing by John Davison; Editing by Pravin Char)
Fire officials urge people to keep safety top of mind when using fireworks during 4th of July

Fire officials urge people to keep safety top of mind when using fireworks during 4th of July

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Its less than a day before 4th of July, and for many that means family gatherings, barbecue, and of course fireworks. However, fire officials urge people to keep safety top of mind.

If youre thinking about Independence [Day], know that you want to celebrate in a safe, independent manner, said El Paso Fire Department Battalion Chief Taron Peebles.

Dont let the hospitals be the reason why youre safe, dont let the fire department be the reason why youre safe, make yourself safe. And again let 911 and the hospitals do our job. But independence starts with you, he said.

The use of fireworks within the city limits of El Paso are prohibited, while the county just banned the use of some aerial fireworks, specifically those classified as skyrockets with sticks and missiles with fins in the unincorporated parts of the county.

Both the city and county of El Paso say any use of fireworks that violates their ordinances will result in Class C misdemeanor with fines of up to $500.

However, a local operator of a Mr. W Fireworks shop said they have been busy, and expect sales to be up as the 4th of July lands on a Thursday and makes for a longer weekend.



















He encourages people to enjoy Independence Day and have fun, but to prioritize safety.

People get the adrenaline rush and its awesome, its amazing, but make sure that you guys always, always practice safety first. We always say make sure that its on a level ground, make sure that theres nothing that is flammable around, but most importantly, have some water, some dirt, and just make sure you dont go into really, really dry areas, said Richard Garcia, operator of Mr. W Fireworks.

Peebles offered tips on how to stay safe during this 4th of July:

Beware of your surroundings, keeping children and pets away from hazardous zones (at least 3 feet away).

Keep grilling or any firework activity at least 7 ft away from a structure.

Have fire extinguishers, a water hose, or water buckets prepared when using fireworks.

Do not pick up fireworks that you may think may still be burning.

Be conscious of protecting your eyes when using fireworks.

Dial 9-1-1 in the case 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 KTSM 9 News.
Fires have become the most visible sign of the conflict heating up on the Lebanon-Israel border

FILE - A plane uses a fire retardant to extinguish a fire burning in an area near the border with Lebanon, in Safed, northern Israel, Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Scores of rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel on Wednesday morning, hours after Israeli airstrikes killed four officials from the militant Hezbollah group including a senior military commander. (AP Photo/Leo Correa, File)

CHEBAA, Lebanon (AP)  With cease-fire talks faltering in Gaza and no clear offramp for the conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border, the daily exchanges of strikes between Hezbollah and Israeli forces have sparked fires that are tearing through forests and farmland on both sides of the frontline.

The blazes  exacerbated by supply shortages and security concerns  have consumed thousands of hectares of land in southern Lebanon and northern Israel, becoming one of the most visible signs of the escalating conflict.

There is an increasingly real possibility of a full-scale war  one that would have catastrophic consequences for people on both sides of the border. Some fear the fires sparked by a larger conflict would also cause irreversible damage to the land.

Charred remains in Lebanon

In Israel, images of fires sparked by Hezbollah's rockets have driven public outrage and spurred Israels far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to declare last month that it is time for all of Lebanon to burn.

Much of it was already burning.

Fires in Lebanon began in late April  earlier than the usual fire season  and have torn through the largely rural areas along the border.

The Sunni town of Chebaa, tucked in the mountains on Lebanons southeastern edge, has little Hezbollah presence, and the town hasn't been targeted as frequently as other border villages. But the sounds of shelling still boom regularly, and in the mountains above it, formerly oak-lined ridges are charred and bare.

In a cherry orchard on the outskirts of town, clumps of fruit hung among browned leaves after a fire sparked by an Israeli strike tore through. Firefighters and local men  some using their shirts to beat out flames  stopped the blaze from reaching houses and U.N. peacekeeper center nearby.

Grass will come back next year, but the trees are gone, said Moussa Saab, whose family owns the orchard. Well have to get saplings and plant them, and you need five or seven years before you can start harvesting.

Saab refuses to leave with his wife and 8-year-old daughter. They can't afford to live elsewhere, and they fear not being able to return, as happened to his parents when they left the disputed Chebaa Farms area  captured from Syria by Israel in 1967 and claimed by Lebanon.

Burn scars in Israel

The slopes of Mount Meron, Israels second-highest mountain and home to an air base, were long covered in native oak trees, a dense grove providing shelter to wild pigs, gazelles, and rare species of flowers and fauna.

Now the green slopes are interrupted by three new burn scars  the largest a few hundred square meters  remnants of a Hezbollah explosive drone shot down a few weeks ago. Park rangers worry that devastation has just begun.

The damage this year is worse a dozen times over this year, said Shai Koren, of the northern district for Israels Nature and Parks Authority.

Looking over the slopes of Meron, Koren said he doesnt expect this forest to survive the summer: You can take a before and after picture.

Numbers and weapons

Since the war began, the Israeli military has tracked 5,450 launches toward northern Israel. According to Israeli think tank the Alma Research and Education Center, most early launches were short-range anti-tank missiles, but Hezbollah's drone usage has increased.

In Lebanon, officials and human rights groups accuse Israel of firing white phosphorus incendiary shells at residential areas, in addition to regular artillery shelling and airstrikes.

The Israeli military says it uses white phosphorus only as a smokescreen, not to target populated areas. But even in open areas, the shells can spark fast-spreading fires.

The border clashes began Oct. 8, a day after the Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel that killed around 1,200 people and sparked the war in Gaza. There, more than 37,000 have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Hezbollah began launching rockets into northern Israel to open what it calls a support front for Hamas, to pull Israeli forces away from Gaza.

Israel responded, and attacks spread across the border region. In northern Israel, 16 soldiers and 11 civilians have been killed. In Lebanon, more than 450 people  mostly fighters, but also 80-plus civilians and noncombatants  have been killed.

Exchanges have intensified since early May, when Israel launched its incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah. That coincided with the beginning of the hot, dry wildfire season.

Since May, Hezbollah strikes have resulted in 8,700 hectares (about 21,500 acres) burned in northern Israel, according to Israel's Nature and Parks Authority.

Eli Mor, of Israels Fire and Rescue, said drones, which are much more accurate than rockets, often come one after another, the first one with a camera and the second one will shoot.

Every launch is a real threat, Mor added.

In southern Lebanon, about 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) have burned due to Israeli strikes, said George Mitri, of the Land and Natural Resources program at the University of Balamand. In the two years before, he said, Lebanon's total area burned annually was 500 to 600 hectares (1,200 to 1,500 acres).

Fire response

Security concerns hamper the response to a fire's first crucial hours. Firefighting planes are largely grounded over fears they'll be shot down. On the ground, firefighters often can't move without army escorts.

If we lose half an hour or an hour, it might take us an extra day or two days to get the fire under control, said Mohammad Saadeh, head of the Chebaa civil defense station. The station responded to 27 fires in three weeks last month  nearly as many as in a normal year.

On the border's other side, Moran Arinovsky used to be a chef and is now deputy commander of the emergency squad at Kibbutz Manara. With about 10 others, he's fought more than 20 fires in the past two months.

Mor, of Israels Fire and Rescue, said firefighters often must triage.

Sometimes we have to give up on open areas that are not endangering people or towns, Mor said.

The border areas are largely depopulated. Israel's government evacuated a 4-kilometer strip early in the war, leaving only soldiers and emergency personnel. In Lebanon, there's no formal evacuation order, but large swathes have become virtually uninhabitable.

Some 95,000 people in Lebanon and 60,000 people in Israel have been displaced for nine months.

Kibbutz Sde Nehemia didn't evacuate, and Efrat Eldan Schechter said some days she watches helplessly as plumes of smoke grow closer to home.

There's a psychological impact, the knowledge and feeling that were alone, she said, because firefighters can't access certain areas.

Israels cowboys, who graze beef cattle in the Golan Heights, often band together to fight blazes when firefighters cannot arrive quickly.

Schechter noted that news footage of flames tearing across hillsides has focused more attention on the conflict in her backyard, instead of solely on the Gaza war. Only when the fires started, only then we are in the headlines in Israel," she said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that as fighting in Gaza winds down, Israel will send more troops to its northern border. That could open a new front and raise the risk of more destructive fires.

On Thursday, Israels Fire and Rescue Service said it was tackling fires in 10 separate areas sparked by barrages of missiles fired by Hezbollah in retaliation for an Israeli strike that killed one of its top commanders the day before. Meanwhile, in Chebaa, another Israeli strike sparked a new fire in Saab's cherry orchard.

Koren says natural wildfires are a normal part of the forest's lifecycle and can promote ecodiversity, but not the fires from the conflict. The moment the fires happen over and over, thats what creates the damage, he said.

___

Lidman reported from northern Israel.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  Tom Green County is under a burn ban currently, and residents are reminded to celebrate safely amid ongoing dry conditions.

Although there is a burn limitation in Tom Green County, this does not prohibit the use of fireworks. However, using fireworks inside the city limits of San Angelo is strictly prohibited and any grilling or cooking must take place in a controlled environment.

Fire Marshal Billy Clemons urged caution, highlighting the regions dry state.

The conditions here are dry. We have a drought index of about 558 right now. If youre out there grilling or using fireworks, please be safe and make sure you have measures to prevent any fires, Clemons stated.

The community is encouraged to celebrate responsibly and help keep the Concho Valley safe.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.
First Alert Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh is tracking storms and heat tonight.

Scattered inland storms will fade quickly early this evening with partly cloudy skies for most fireworks displays. A scattered shower or storm will linger past sunset west of Highway 301. Its otherwise a warm and muggy evening.

Friday through Saturday will be hot with only isolated (less than 25% of the area) afternoon storms as high temperatures peak in the mid to upper 90s with feel-like temperatures of 103-108 degrees.

The storm threat increases Sunday afternoon as showers and storms become more numerous again.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Meanwhile, Hurricane Beryl is weakening with the Yucatan Peninsula next in line Friday. Its headed to the upper Mexico coast or far South Texas late Sunday into Monday possibly regaining hurricane strength after weakening over land. There will be no local impact or any impacts to any of Florida.

Heres a look at your 7-day forecast:

RIGHT NOW: Scattered inland storms with temps. in the 70s & 80s sunny at the beaches & in the mid to upper 80s.

THE TROPICS: (1) Hurricane Beryl will move over the Yucatan Peninsula Fri. then into the SW Gulf of Mexico with a Sunday/Monday landfall on the upper Mexico coast or far South Texas  no local impacts. (2) A tropical wave is moving into the Central Caribbean & has some long range potential over the Western Gulf of Mexico but no local impacts.

TONIGHT: Scattered inland showers/storms early partly cloudy. Low: 75

FRIDAY: Partly sunny with isolated afternoon showers & tstorms. High: 94

FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Low: 76

SATURDAY: Partly sunny & hot with isolated afternoon tstorms. High: 97

SUNDAY: Partly sunny/hot/humid with scattered afternoon storms. High: 96

MONDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon storms. High: 92

TUESDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon storms. High: 93

WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon & tstorms. High: 92

THURSDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon showers & storms. High: 92

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The weekend would be for hunting migratory waterfowl, such as ducks. (Getty Images)

A new Fish and Game Department rule would create a special waterfowl hunting weekend for active military members and veterans.

This reserved hunting time would take place the first weekend after the close of the regular hunting season in all zones. Hunters would have to carry proof of their status as an active-duty member or veteran.

The weekend would be for hunting migratory waterfowl, such as ducks. Hunters would still have to carry their state hunting license, their migratory waterfowl license, a National Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program permit, and a federal duck stamp.

Though only veterans or active-duty military could harvest waterfowl at this time, they would be allowed one guest. Those assisting with setting out decoys, calling, or retrieving harvest birds would have to possess a hunting license and the necessary permits, the proposed rule says.

Regular-season bag and possession limits would still apply.

Fish and Game will host a public hearing on the proposed rule on Tuesday, July 9, at 12:30 p.m. at Fish and Game Headquarters in Concord. The public may also submit feedback via email to comments@wildlife.nh.gov until July 16.
How do we fix our current political system? American politics should become more British | Opinion

Today, we celebrate our independence from the British and the establishment of our own political institutions. It just so happens that there is also an important election taking place today: British voters will elect their government and select their prime minister on July 4.

While Americans take pride in our freedoms and democracy, there are characteristics of the British system we should take a closer look at.

Six weeks ago, current Conservative Party Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dissolved Parliament and called for the election to take place today. While the election has been raucous  with daily pledges and accusations going back and forth between the main parties  the election season is remarkably short.

Opinion

By comparison, our presidential primaries officially began in January and we wont know who wins the presidency until weeks after the Nov. 3 election  an insufferably long time. How much polarizing politics can our democracy stand?

Money and politics

In Britain, there are significant limits on how much money political parties and candidates running to become a member of Parliament can spend on campaigning. While spending limits for political campaigns in Britain have increased recently, TV advertising by political parties is sharply limited and regulated.

Our system, on the other hand, is flooded with cash. According to the campaign spending site Open Secrets, President Joe Biden has raised $231 million while former President Donald Trump has raised $388 million  some of it for their campaign committees and some of it consisting of outside Super PACs (political action committees). That kind of money buys a lot of unwarranted influence.

Members of Parliament  equivalent to our members of Congress  run every five years. Here, as soon as an American congressperson is elected, fundraising begins for their next election in two years.

Kelly Candaele interviewing a British political candidate.

In Britain, candidates who want to be prime minister have to run throughout the country supporting their party. During the week that I have been in London, both Sunak and the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, have visited Scotland and Wales and campaigned across England  north, south, east and west.

Government structure

In the U.S., due to the exotic functioning of the Electoral College, six or seven states will have a great deal of face-time with the candidates and be inundated with TV ads, while most of the country will be ignored. California, for instance, functions as one, gigantic political ATM machine.

This dramatically distorts our politics, giving certain states and areas an over-sized role in shaping issues that become important for our country.

Additionally, because the House of Lords (the upper political chamber in Britain) only has an advisory role on legislation, they can delay but not obstruct important legislation that is passed by the House of Commons (the lower chamber).

If the Labour Party wins a majority of parliamentary seats today, which most of the polls indicate they will, they will have the ability to implement the manifesto which they ran on. That means they will be able to keep the promises they made to voters.

Very often in the U.S., a threatened filibuster in the Senate stops important legislation from being enacted. Our judicial system is another significant check on popular democracy. In many respects, we are politically paralyzed  locked into a situation where we are constantly at each others throats.

Top candidates are up to the job

For whatever reason, despite its own deep-seated problems as a country, the two major parties in Britain have top leaders who are relatively young, energetic and able to clearly articulate where they want to take the country. Sunak, the Conservative leader, is 41 years old and Labour Party leader Starmer is 61. Voters may disagree with their policies, but they know that the candidates are physically and mentally up to the rigors of the job.

The most frequent question I heard here from campaigners and people on the street was why a country as great as the U.S. could not find better options to lead us and the world than Donald Trump (78) and Joe Biden (81). I couldnt come up with a great answer.

The biggest difference

Gary Gerstle, an American history professor who has been teaching at Cambridge University (an hour north of London) for 10 years, is retiring soon and returning to the U.S. We spoke this week about history and politics, and about the most important political difference between our two countries.

No loser in British politics, to my knowledge, has challenged the vote counts or the legitimacy of the election itself or has said that they cannot lose except through fraudulent means, Gerstle said. I have no doubt that whoever is elected today in the United Kingdom, that result will be accepted by the British people.

It would be wonderful if we could say the same thing about our election on November 3.

Kelly Candaele has worked on both American presidential campaigns and British parliamentary elections. He was an elected official in Los Angeles for 16 years.
Flight diverts after Oregon man is accused of exposing himself, urinating in aisle

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Federal officials allege an Oregon man exposed himself and urinated in an airplane aisle while on a cross-country flight.

The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York revealed that 25-year-old Neil McCarthy was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with indecent exposure on Wednesday, in connection to the incident that occurred the same day.

Can you break into someones car if a child or pet is in danger during the heatwave?

Authorities said the flight was headed to Manchester, N.H., but was diverted to Buffalo, N.Y. The Niagara Frontier Transit Authority responded to the scene at Gate 2 of the Buffalo Niagara International Airport when an American Airlines flight attendant told an officer the passenger had exposed himself before urinating in the aisle.

According to AP News, the criminal complaint shows that McCarthy told law enforcement he drank Several whiskey and colas before boarding his flight from the Portland International Airport. He also claimed he drank more during a layover in Chicago, and has a medical urination problem.

McCarthy now faces a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced they are accepting applications for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Program (D-SNAP) benefits for residents affected by the Salt and South Fork Fires.

New Mexico has received federal approval to implement D-SNAP for Lincoln and Otero counties, including the Mescalero Apache Reservation, at the request of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, HCA said in a news release.

The following residents in Lincoln County area codes, may be eligible for the food benefits:

88355

88345

88346

88312

We are grateful for our federal partners assistance as New Mexicans face the impact of these

devastating wildfires and flooding. Their support, along with the efforts of our dedicated staff,

will help more families as we work together to rebuild our communities, said Kari Armijo,

cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority. We want to assure New Mexicans

that we are here to support them during this challenging time.

Residents that have been impacted can apply for D-SNAP at the following locations:

Horton Complex, 237 Service Rd., Ruidoso

Roswell ISD Field Office, 1201 S. Sunset Ave., Roswell

Alamogordo ISD Field Office, 2000 Juniper Dr., Alamogordo

Residents unable to drive to the locations may call 1-800-283-4465 to apply through phone, the HCA said.

Applications for the victims will be open from July 10 through July 12 and from July 14 through July 17, according to the HCA. Applications will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

According to the HCA, on Sunday, July 14, D-SNAP sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and call centers will be closed.

To provide one-on-one guidance, the HCA says they will assist residents alphabetically by last name for the first three days of the application period. The remaining four days will be open to all applicants regardless of last name.

Date Alphabet Served Wednesday, July 10 A-F Thursday, July 11 G-M Friday, July 12 N-Z Saturday, July 13 Closed Sunday, July 14 A-Z Monday, July 15 A-Z Tuesday, July 16 A-Z Wednesday, July 17 A-Z

To be eligible for the disaster benefits, residents may qualify through one, or more of the following ways:

Home or belongings were damaged or destroyed due to disaster.

Experienced a loss or reduction in income due to disaster.

Have unreimbursed disaster-related expenses.

The only requirement to apply for D-SNAP is to verify your identity and have information about your households income and any expense related to the disaster, according to the HCA.

The HCA says eligible households will receive one month of D-SNAP benefits to purchase groceries at SNAP-authorized stores or selected online retailers. The benefits will be deposited to an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.

If your household is already enrolled in the SNAP program, have been impacted by the disasters and are not receiving the maximum benefit amount, the household will automatically receive a supplement to increase the benefits to monthly SNAP allotment for one month, HCA says.

The following table, provided by the HCA, shows the benefit levels according to household sizes:

Household Size Income Limit D-SNAP allotment 1 $3,041 $291 2 $3,958 $535 3 $4,547 $766 4 $5,354 $973 5 $5,899 $1,155 6 $6,588 $1,386 7 $7,087 $1,532 8 $7,588 $1,751 Each additional member +$501 $219

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  During the summer, some families struggle to put food on the table each night, and one local organization that helps to feed the hungry is calling on the community to volunteer.

Positive Impact Ministries said they need at least 50 to 60 people to pull off their free food events every weekend.

Some kids rely on school to get their main meals, but summertime can have families scrambling to feed everyone.

Because they have a couple of children at home, and they are responsible for a couple of more meals each day per child. So, if a family has two children, thats thirty extra meals a week, said Karen Rae, Executive Director.

Organizers said with people traveling or snowbirds going back up North, they are getting less help.

Just last weekend, we had around 35 volunteers and it usually takes around 50 volunteers to pull off our weekend event. So, we felt the impact, Rae said.

With less help, the volunteers who show up every weekend have even more to do.

A lot more work, the volunteers that are here are like double loaded, said Martha Kladitis, Staff Leader.

Volunteers help make the organizations goal a reality as they load boxes into cars, sort through food, and clean up everything afterward.

We need more people to like shift around and move around. We also are putting food in boxes, we get a lot of food, were very blessed in that way. We get a lot of food, so we have a lot to sort through, Kladitis said.

Every weekend, volunteer hours are split up, but now, they have to work longer hours. Positive Impact is calling upon the public to help, they said they are looking for individuals, families, and groups to come to lend a helping hand.

If youre a senior citizen, Id say, come on out, lets gang together and show these young kids how we can do what we do best. Thats being a mother and grandmother to the children that are in need, said Kara Lynne Brubaker, the Founder.

If you are looking for more information on how to volunteer, 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 WFLA.
Forestay, an emerging VC based out of Geneva, Switzerland, has been busy. This week it closed its second fund, Forestay Capital II, at a hard cap of $220 million. The VC wasnt well known in Europe until it started to lead rounds in enterprise startups a couple of years ago, notably scanning software startup Scandit -- which has raised $273 million to date -- out of Zurich.

The Forestay II fund will invest across Europe and Israel, with a "sweet spot" of leading growth rounds of $10 million to $15 million, at the inflection point of a company, it said.

To date, the VC has backed 13 companies, including K2view, Nexthink, Scandit and Wasabi; three of these have reached unicorn status and two were acquired. Most recently, the firm backed Neural Concept, a company spun out from EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, which raised $27 million in a Series B round to tackle fast manufacturing design with AI.

Forestay also led the Series A round for Portugals "predictive maintenance" startup Stratio with a $12 million Series A back in 2021.

The Forestay fund was founded as a fund of B-Flexion, the private investment vehicle created by the Bertarelli family that is best known for building Serono into the third-largest biotech business globally, before its merger with Merck KGaA.

Forestay is led by Frederic Wohlwend, the former Global Chief Digital Officer of Merck KGaA and Serono.

As Chief Digital Officer in large corporations, mainly the biopharma clinical space, I had the chance to look at the entire value chain, from early research down to distribution, in fairly sizable enterprises," he told TechCrunch over a call. "So by knowing the enterprise inside out, that's why we decided to focus on enterprise and enterprise AI.

While it's a highly competitive market, Wohlwend said the fund will be extremely focused in the way we do venture, adding: "We only do enterprise AI and SaaS. We don't do any hardware, even sensors and stuff like this. We're super focused in terms of stage -- we mainly play in Series B. We can do A to C rounds, but our sweet spot is Series B at the inflection point. So we brand ourselves as a nearly growth fund because we capture our targets as soon as they make some kind of revenue.

He added that, besides Switzerland being an interesting ecosystem, Southern Europe is also coming up, as we recently reported.

Forestay's new fund is also backed by Anais Ventures, the investment vehicle for certain members of the Firmenich family, which created a perfume empire.

In a statement, Julien Firmenich said: Forestay's focused investment strategy and operational acumen, honed through years of industry experience, align perfectly with our vision.

Given its consumer markets are so fragmented by geography and language, Europe has carved out a very good market for SaaS and enterprise, and there are plenty of enterprise-focused VCs.

Indeed, an in-depth analysis of the top companies and trends in the SaaS market across Europe and Israel last year found the SaaS ecosystem market reset was being driven by the growth in generative AI. But Forestay's emergence can only be a good thing, adding to the choice of funds for growth-stage startups in Europe, where growth capital is often harder to acquire than in the U.S.
Forget right or left. Voters are sick of whoever's in charge.

People around the world are choosing to vote against the establishment.

And this anti-incumbent trend is bad news for President Joe Biden.

Economic issues such as inflation and rising income inequality are fueling voter dissatisfaction.

It's a bad time to be an incumbent.

From the UK to India, France to the US, voters are taking to the polls and making their voices clear through sweeping and shocking swings of political power.

Though some say right-wing movements are on the rise globally, in this year's elections, that's not universally the case. Some left-leaning parties are beating out those on the right, and vice versa.

With the cost of living and inflation rising and less social mobility following the COVID-19 pandemic, voters are taking their anger out on their country's leaders.

"I think inflation is probably the elephant in the room here," Brian Greenhill, a professor at SUNY Albany and political scientist who studies international institutions and globalization, told Business Insider.

Environmental activists protesting against Sunak's ruling party, known as the Tories. Andy Soloman/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In short, voters are just fed up  no matter who's in charge.

"I do think there are other longer-term structural issues too that are perhaps fueling this kind of anti-incumbent, but also more generally antiestablishment, trend," Greenhill said.

Voters want a chance

Globally, it's not hard to see an antiestablishment, anti-incumbency trend playing out.

Polling shows that in the UK's election on Thursday, the Labour opposition party, led by Keir Starmer, is poised to unseat the 14-year rule of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party, Reuters reported.

In France, support for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government collapsed as far-left and far-right parties gained a higher percentage of votes this week in the first round of the country's two-round election process.

In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's long-dominant party failed to win an outright parliamentary majority in last month's election, while the more democratically-minded opposition party gained steam.

In South Africa's election last month, the African National Congress party lost its outright majority for the first time in 30 years, NPR reported.

And in South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol's ruling conservative party suffered losses to the liberal opposition in April's parliamentary election, Reuters reported.

The list of global incumbent losses goes on  and that's not even mentioning the United States, where incumbent President Joe Biden is trailing behind Donald Trump in national polling ahead of the November election.

French protesters rallying against the country's far-right movement in July. Olympia de Maismont, AFP/Getty Images

"There's a lot of dissatisfaction with the way democracy is working," Richard Wike, the director of Pew Research Center's global attitudes research, said on FiveThirtyEight's politics podcast in June.

A spring 2024 poll from Pew Research Center found that just 36% of people in 12 countries  the US, the UK, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, Greece, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and Sweden  were satisfied with the way their country's democracy was working. And that's down from 49% in 2021.

"This dissatisfaction is a bit of a global trend in many countries," Wike added on FiveThirtyEight's podcast.

Greenhill said one of the biggest issues driving the surge in antiestablishment populist movements was rising income equality, which, though largely stemming from the 2008 financial crisis, was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graffiti in the UK reading "eat the rich," a common phrase used among those who oppose income inequality. Mike Kemp/Getty Images

Another factor, Greenhill added, was the worsening political polarization driven by social-media echo chambers and dubious online news consumption.

In the US, incumbents have historically fared better than their opponents.

Between 1936 and 2012, 11 out of 14 presidents won their reelection races, but the tide appears to be shifting, as Time reported.

Greenhill pointed out that anti-incumbency frustrations tend to come and go but that the growing populist, antiestablishment movement we're seeing now is "at least in modern political history, somewhat new."

"The fact that Trump right now  after everything that's happened after January 6th and his felony convictions and his multiple criminal indictments  the fact that he's still leading in the polls shows that there's still a huge kind of reservoir of support for this kind of 'burn the house down' kind of approach to politics," Greenhill said.

And if the goal is burning down the house, Americans may be ready to light the match. So-called "double haters"  voters who dislike both Trump and Biden  have made up an influential chunk of the electorate in recent polls.

Reports say the dissatisfaction with Biden after his disastrous debate performance last week is so strong globally and even among his own supporters that it's led the president himself to question whether he can turn it all around.

If Biden does decide to step aside, it would present a unique situation: Who would voters choose when no direct incumbent is running in an anti-incumbent environment?

America may end up being the testing ground for that experiment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former California senator says Biden should get 2 weeks to prove himself after debate

Former California Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) said President Biden should get two weeks to prove to the American people that hes up for the job of president, amid concerns about his standing at the top of the Democratic ticket.

In an interview with Los Angeles Times columnist Mark Barabak, Boxer said Biden deserves a chance to demonstrate that his shaky debate performance was, in fact, an anomaly.

The man has done it, time and time again, Boxer said about Biden, in the interview published Wednesday. Every time hes been counted out, hes come back. Can he do it one more time? I dont know the answer. But out of respect and admiration for what hes done, lets give him the time to do it.

And if he cant, he cant, Boxer said. And there will be someone else.

Boxer, whom the president mentored while they were both serving in the Senate, said she was surprised by Bidens performance last Thursday.

We dont know what happened with Joe, she told Barabak, who said Boxer speculated that perhaps Bidens lifelong stutter kicked in under the studio lights or that he was feeling the effects from cold medicine.

Nonetheless, Boxer told Barabak, I think the president owes the country an explanation.

She stressed the importance of proving that he is capable, saying, He needs to be out without a script. Without a teleprompter and just face the press, face the public, adding, Thats critical.

The interview comes amid questions about the best path forward for the party, given Bidens difficult debate last week. Two House Democrats have already called on Biden to step aside, while others are sticking by the president. The White House said Biden is up to do the job over the next four years and has brushed off the debate as a poor performance.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former classmate found guilty in slaying of Blaze Bernstein in anti-LGBTQ hate crime

Former classmate found guilty in slaying of Blaze Bernstein in anti-LGBTQ hate crime

Samuel Woodward, the man accused of killing his former classmate Blaze Bernstein in an anti-LGBTQ and anti-Jewish hate crime, was found guilty by a jury on Wednesday.

Woodward was found guilty of first-degree murder with special allegations that the killing was motivated by hate and that it was committed using a weapon.

The trial, which began in April, came six years after Bernstein was found stabbed to death in Lake Forest.

Blaze Bernstein is seen in an image provided during a news conference on Jan. 10, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)

Bernstein, who was Jewish and gay, attended the University of Pennsylvania but was back home in Orange County to visit family in January 2018.

He was reported missing on Jan. 2, and his body was discovered in a shallow grave in Borrego Park about a week later. He had been stabbed in the neck 19 times.

Woodward was eventually arrested and charged in Bernsteins murder.

According to the Orange County Register, a variety of forensic evidence including a knife found in Woodwards room with Bernsteins blood on it, led to him being arrested and charged. Woodward was the last person known to have seen Bernstein alive.

Investigators also found a trove of images and journal entries described as graphic and chilling on his personal devices and social media, including images that were racist, homophobic, antisemitic and anti-government. He also wrote about posing as a gay man to troll men.

Woodward is also believed to have at the very least an interest in a neo-Nazi extremist group.

That led to prosecutors including a special allegation that the murder was the result of a hate crime.

Woodwards attorney had disputed that his client was motivated by hatred toward Jews or the LGBTQ community.

After being found guilty in Bernsteins death, Woodward now faces the possibility of serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

This story will be updated with sentencing information once it becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party has called for President Joe Biden to withdraw his candidacy for a second term as president.

Lon Johnson took to Facebook Wednesday night to urge Biden to withdraw.

Its clear the President is suffering from cognitive decline, and the actions by him, his family, and staff since the debate have only reinforced that belief, Johnson wrote in his post.

Screenshot of former Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnsons Facebook post calling on President Joe Biden to withdraw from the Presidential race. (WLNS)

While he has called for Biden to withdraw, he is not endorsing any specific choice to replace the 81-year-old President at the top of the ticket. He says the delegates to the National Democratic Party Convention in August should make the determination on who will head the party ticket going into November if Biden does withdraw.

Johnson served as chair of the Michigan Democratic Party from 2013 to 2015.

Biden has been under pressure for a week after what has been described as poor performance in a debate with former President Donald Trump. The Hill reported Wednesday top Democrats have been debating if Biden should remain the standard bearer for the party rolling into the November 6 general election. Two Democrats from the U.S. House of Representatives have publicly called for Biden to withdraw from the race.

Polling following last Thursdays debate on CNN has shown modest shifts for voters to support Trump over Biden, The Hill reported.

Biden held a meeting with Democratic governors at the White House Wednesday night, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer is among a select few Democrats whose name has been mentioned as a possible Biden replacement.

File/WLNS

Whitmer took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to post her continued support for Biden.

@JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him, she wrote.

Following a meeting with President Joe Biden and other Democratic Governors at the White House, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took to X to post about her support for Bidens presidential bid. (WLNS)

Whitmer serves as a co-chair for the Biden for President re-election campaign. She was also vetted by Biden in 2020 for the Vice Presidency. She has disavowed a nascent grassroots movement to draft her as a replacement for Biden, Politico reported last week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
(KRON)  Former U.S. Representative Jackie Speier took to X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday to announce she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

I have personal news that I want to share with you because we can all learn from it, wrote the former long-time Bay Area Democratic representative. I just became one of the 300,000 women per year who are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Womens purses targeted by thieves in Vacaville, police seek suspects

The good news, Speier said, is that her condition was diagnosed early. Speier, who formerly represented Californias 14th congressional district, said shed undergone a successful lumpectomy on Tuesday.

I had a mammogram in June of 2023 and was scheduled for one in June this year, Speier said. I almost didnt go because of summer activities. Thank goodness I didnt cancel.

Speier said she was treated at UCSF, where she received excellent care.

The lesson here is, please be diligent about your own screenings and dont skip them, she added.

Speier, a survivor of the 1978 Jonestown massacre in Guyana, was first elected to Congress in 2008 and served until 2023.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Longtime South Carolina Rep. and Florence native Mack T. Hines died Thursday at 77, according to the Florence County Democratic Party chairman.

Rep. Hines served from 1995-2005 advocating tirelessly for the people of Florence and Marion counties, Isaac Wilson said. His dedication and commitment to public service set a standard that inspired many.

Hines graduated from Allen University with a bachelor of arts in 1969 and then from Morris College School of Religion with a bachelor of divinity, according to the South Carolina State House. He started his career as a teacher with Florence 1 School District, where he worked for 12 years.

The South Carolina General Assembly passed a resolution in 2005 to honor Hines after he received his doctorate of ministry from Hood Theological Seminary.

As we mourn his loss, let us also remember the legacy of service and the positive influence he had on our county and state, Wilson said. His contributions will continue to guide us as we work towards a brighter future for all. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.

* * *

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.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  After a campers death was ruled a homicide, other former campers are coming forward to talk about their experiences at Trails Carolina.

Monroe Nichols, now 21, is from Ohio. While struggling with anxiety and depression during her senior year of high school, Nichols spent around 77 days at the wilderness camp in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina, from January to the end of March 2021, including her 18th birthday.

I was falling behind, and my parents were concerned about me graduating on time or being able to go to college. At the time, my parents felt it would be beneficial to my mental health to get out of the school system for a break, and Ive always been a huge nature lover, Nichols said.

Her love of the outdoors and need for therapy made the combination  wilderness therapy, as Trails Carolina is advertised to be  seem logical.

Monroe Nichols during her time at troubled teen camp Trails Carolina (courtesy of Monroe Nichols)

Trails Carolina worked with children ages 10 to 17. It described itself on its website, which is no longer accessible except through a web archive, as being dedicated to helping teens work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers and achieve academic success. The camp charged up to $715 a day in tuition and a $4,900 fee for children to enroll.

Nichols parents drove her to North Carolina under the pretense that they were going to buy a car for her sister. She did not realize she was being taken to the camp until she arrived.

Many of the people with whom she attended the camp told her that they had been gooned, taken from their homes and transported to the camp by strangers hired by their parents.

This was also how a 12-year-old boy, who suffocated to death at the camp in February, and a former camper, then-12 who later filed a lawsuit alleging that Trails neglected to prevent sexual assault, were taken to the camp.

Nichols described her overall experience at Trails Carolina as horrible, but she said she believes other campers had it worse.

I was almost an adult and became an adult while I was there, so a lot of staff members were very lax on monitoring me, Nichols said. I can only imagine how some of my groupmates that were treated far worse feel day to day.

Health and Safety

Nichols said they were consistently under-fed. They were served meals  usually rice, beans or quinoa  in measuring cups, a practice that Nichols believed campers struggling with eating disorders found particularly difficult. Female campers were given a maximum of two cups of food, and male campers got three cups, which she said was not nearly enough for the amount of physical activity they did each day.

If you asked for seconds too many meals in a row, staff would shame you, she said. At first, we were allowed a Ziploc of dried fruit per week or two, but they eventually took that away because it was too much sugar. Occasionally we got apples or oranges, and we would get into actual fights over the best fruit because we were so malnourished.

Nichols also recalls eating toothpaste in a desperate bid to get sugar.

I couldnt keep the food we were given down because of stomach problems and would often throw up meals. I wasnt given replacement food until the last couple weeks of my stay and was punished whenever I got sick, she said.

For drinking water, Nichols said were expected to use bandanas to filter stream water to drink, she said, the same bandanas they wore while hiking. The bandanas were frequently sweaty, bloody and dirty, and campers often got sick from drinking dirty water.

Monroe Nichols during her time at troubled teen camp Trails Carolina (courtesy of Monroe Nichols)

Nichols is still in contact with some of her former groupmates who also had negative experiences at the camp. She shared statements which she says were provided by these former campers on the condition of anonymity.

We were forced to drink water from an unfit water source, another camper said, according to Nichols. It looked like iced tea even after it was filtered. At least three people got giardia, and we werent allowed any sort of rest.

Giardia is a small parasite that causes giardiasis, which can involve weeks of diarrhea. People can be exposed to the parasite through feces, unclean drinking water or infected animals.

In terms of personal hygiene, campers were only allowed to shower once a week and were not given proper soap or deodorant. Nichols said that several campers suffered from yeast infections due to the unhygienic conditions.

At one point, I had a massive mat in the back of my head because I cant brush my hair unless its wet and we rarely got showers, a statement attributed to a former camper said. I begged them to let me cut it out, but, instead, I was forced to painfully brush it out dry in the freezing cold, and it took me four hours.

Nichols added, We also werent allowed to use the bathroom most of the day. If the staff didnt decide to set it up, we had to hold it. We were drinking a ton of water and a lot of us ended up wetting ourselves. Staff would force us to wear the soiled clothes anyways as a punishment, or, other times, because we had so few clothes, students just had to wear them out of a lack of options.

Staff would not provide adequate medical care for the children camping there, often not reporting or not treating injuries that the campers suffered, according to Nichols.

A girl in my group fell and hit her head during a hike and was knocked out by the impact. When she woke up, she was just told to get up and keep going and never received any medical assistance, Nichols said. A girl with Tourettes had a serious tic attack and started punching a tree. Staff simply stood there and watched, yelling at her to stop but not helping. Eventually, we had to pull her away ourselves because her hands were torn up and bleeding, and the entire group received a punishment for touching a fellow student. This girl ended up with her hand seriously injured and had it wrapped up for weeks.

She said the campers hand was never X-rayed.

Another camper reportedly had to get surgery after leaving Trails due to an injury sustained at the camp.

Nichols herself said she pulled something in her chest during a panic attack and was told to walk it off. For weeks, she says she experienced pain when she tried to breathe.

Statements that Nichols said she received from others who attended the camp describe multiple campers being ill to the point of vomiting with no medical care, a camper who had recently recovered from an injury fell while hiking and ended up needing crutches and multiple campers reporting bloody stool, which, in at least one instance, was dismissed by staff as menstruation.

A girl came in with a severe [eating disorder], could not have been more like 90 pounds max, and was still expected to carry the same weight as us and hike the same amount of miles, said a former camper, according to Nichols. They gave her a small backpack because she was super short, but it had the same amount of stuff/weight.

The statements referenced anecdotes that former campers had heard from others, such as a girl who had fainted multiple times and was given only a helmet by staff. Another girl reportedly could not keep food down but was forced to continue hiking.

She later developed Bells palsy, and they didnt take her to see a doctor, the statement said. Bells palsy is a type of temporary facial paralysis linked to other conditions or illnesses, such as exposure to toxins, infection or high blood pressure.

In a lawsuit filed in February 2024, a former camper alleged that her groupmates developed pinworms from unclean water and claimed that she got staph infections and a UTI due to unsanitary conditions. She said she lost a significant amount of weight due to a lack of adequate food and was deprived of a shower for more than a week when she arrived.

Trails Carolina conceals incidents of physical neglect, child deprivation, injury and sexual assault and battery between children from the public, including Plaintiff and her family, for the deceptive purpose of lulling parents into a false sense of security when entrusting their children to Trails Carolinas exclusive custody and care, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit is currently ongoing.

Allegations of abuse

According to Nichols, staff members were, at best, poorly trained and ill-prepared and, at worst, callously abusive.

Staff were verbally abusive and would often pit us against each other. Frequently, whenever an individual would do something wrong, they would instigate more conflict by involving others in the problem. We were yelled at and mocked for being upset and told to just get over it because we were the ones who put ourselves in the situation,' she said.

Nichols discussed how one of the therapists was notorious for her verbal abuse, infamous for referring campers to other facilities instead of signing off on them going home.

One of her patients found out they would be going to a boarding school instead of home and understandably began to cry. [The therapist] mocked them for it openly, she said.

Nichols described Trails Carolina as absolutely criminal in the lack of proper training given to employees. She said it seemed as though staff had no idea what they were getting into.

Some of them realized how horrible the place was while watching my group, Nichols said.

She said she did not believe that all staffers were actively malicious and noted that some had noticed her unhealthy weight loss and snuck her food.

We were gaslit and broken down until we believed we deserved what we were going through. Youre a different person at Trails. You have to be. Its fight or flight 24/7 and your only goal becomes surviving, Nichols said.

Restraints

In an autopsy for a 12-year-old boy who died in February at Trails Carolina, the medical examiners office ruled the death homicide by smothering. He died zipped into a bivvy bag, a type of lightweight single-person tent, which was improperly arranged, according to the report.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services had cited Trails Carolina for improperly restraining campers before in 2023 and in 2019.

While she was at the camp in 2019, Nichols recalled that Trails staffers were hesitant to make any contact with campers at all, saying, Staff were very jumpy about touching students whatsoever and would avoid it as much as possible, even if a student was being injured or injuring someone else, which in my opinion is better than excessive force, but it was clear they just didnt know what they were really doing.

However, she did recall the use of the so-called burrito method. This form of restraint involved counselors rolling a child in a tarp and the counselor laying on top of the child through the night. This method was referenced in the lawsuit filed in February, and Nichols provided a statement from another camper who said they experienced the whole getting-wrapped-up-in-a-tarp thing for the first few days, and the other kids in my group had to do it as well.

The NCDHHS statement of deficiencies filed against the camp stated, Seclusion, physical restraint and isolation time-out may be employed only by staff who have been trained and have demonstrated competence in the proper use of and alternatives to these procedures. Facilities shall ensure that staff authorized to employ and terminate these procedures are retrained and have demonstrated competence at least annually.

Trails Carolinas license revoked by NCDHHS after 12-year-olds death

In the missive sent to Trail Carolina after the childs death, NCDHHS wrote, Further, we want to remind you that the use of restrictive interventions must be reported as outlined in the IRIS manual for which Trails Carolina is subject and must adhere to.

The misuse of restraints, according to The Guardian, is prevalent in these kinds of facilities.

Parental Communication

Campers at Trails, who were by and large minors, were heavily restricted in how much they could communicate with their parents. The NCDHHS noted deficiencies in this area during prior checks on Trails Carolina.

According to the lawsuit, the victim claims their outgoing mail was intercepted and that staffers were dishonest with her parents when she tried to tell them that she had been being assaulted by other campers.

Nichols had a similar experience, saying that staffers told her that they would not mail her letters unless she re-wrote them.

Id gone into too much detail about how little food we were getting, and they wanted to censor it, she said.

Trails Carolina staff would allegedly tell campers that they would be forced to stay longer or be referred to another facility if they complained about the conditions to their parents.

Our parents had no idea what was going on because they made it impossible to know, Nichols said.

The allegations against Trails

The campers death was what initially spurred me and some others to talk about our experiences in hopes of preventing another, Nichols said.

During her time at Trails Carolina, they knew about the death of Alec Lansing, a camper who died in 2014 after running away from Trails Carolina, breaking his hip and succumbing to hypothermia. The tragedy was used as a cautionary tale, she said: Dont run away, or youll end up like him.

When Nichols heard of the campers death in 2024, she was terrified.

I remember crying and sending an article to my groupmates, and we all had a talk about what may have happened and how terrible we felt for this kid. Its been a topic off and on for us since the death and brought up a lot of unresolved and buried anger, she said.

It was his death that inspired her to come forward and talk about what shed experienced at Trails Carolina.

The plaintiff in the sexual assault lawsuit attended Trails Carolina in 2016, five years before Nichols and her group. Nichols said she had not heard of anything like that happening to her groupmates while she was at the camp, but she did say staff appeared to be aware. Staff reportedly said that they had single-person tents due to campers being sexually assaulted when they used two-person tents.

Restraint methods allegedly used at Trails Carolina point to link between troubled teen industry, discredited attachment therapy

Based on the way counselors talked about sexual assault happening in the past, it seems to be well known within the company, Nichols said.

According to the lawsuit, Trails Carolina, by its corporate policies and practices, acts, failures, condonations and omissions, and [a counselor] were directly responsible for, and created an environment that enabled [the victims] abuse and neglect, as well as the abuse and neglect of other girls who are too victimized and afraid to allow their voice to be publicly heard.

Troubled Teen Industry

Trails Carolina appeared to follow the model of wilderness therapy camps that are part of the larger troubled teen industry. This industry has long been at the center of controversy due to questions about efficacy, methodology and the loose regulations around them in certain states.

Staff openly told us that the purpose of Trails was to break us down to our lowest so we had nowhere to go but up, Nichols said. It was intended to be brutal and traumatic. We experienced a lot of emotional, medical and physical neglect.

The lawsuit corroborates this, stating, Trails Carolina conditions the children to adhere to the practice of strict obedience of its employees and encourages an environment of breaking down the children, creating an environment of fear and silence.

Nichols believes its important to focus on the industry itself where fault actually lies, not the parents who may have been misled into sending their children to camps like Trails Carolina.

They straight up just lie to people about what Trails is, a statement attributed to a former camper said, claiming that the camp misrepresents the types of activities and the living situation the campers are in.

According to Nichols, her parents believed Trails Carolina was of a higher standard than other wilderness therapy programs. They believed Lansings death was the only known issue with the camp.

Compared to some of the other programs with pages of problems, they figured this one must be safe, she said. I think the recent death at Trails really highlights how even the good places arent actually good. Theyre just skilled at hiding what goes on.

Concerns about kickbacks

Nichols said she believes some referrers have a financial stake in pushing parents toward similar programs.

North Carolina has laws against what is referred to as fee-splitting, with the North Carolina Medical Board reporting that it is illegal in most instances to pay or be paid solely for the referral of a patient in North Carolina. Similarly, the American Psychological Association says it goes against the APAs Ethics Code to give or accept fees or other forms of compensation for patient referrals.

Claims of illegal fee-splitting schemes have become a commonly held suspicion in communities dedicated to troubled teen industry, alleging that professionals, particularly educational consultants, may get kickbacks from these camps. Embark Behavior Health defines educational consultants as professionals who provide advocacy, assessments, guidance and support for families who are researching behavioral or mental health treatment for their struggling pre-teen, troubled teen or young adult. Breaking Code Silence, an organization of troubled teen industry survivors, describes educational consultants as people who refer children to these treatment centers and charge upwards to $4,000 to recommend their affiliated wilderness and residential programs.

In a lot of cases, parents are trying the best they can  these companies pay therapists, hospital staff, school staff, etc. commission when they refer a kid, Nichols alleges. Its so easy for parents to fall into the troubled teen industry trap because of how hard its promoted, especially when theyre told by a trusted professional that wilderness therapy is the best option.

They have a chokehold on the industry that isnt discussed enough, she said.

Doubtful efficacy

Research has found that wilderness therapy camps, which critics have traced back to an abusive cult known as Synanon, do not work for a majority of the children who live through them.

In a report written for the University of New Hampshire in 2021, the researcher writes, Adolescents are sent to these facilities for a myriad of reasons, ranging from severe mental health symptoms to more mundane forms of misbehavior (e.g., truancy). Parents are often manipulated through fear tactics into believing their children desperately need this type of facility, and are then manipulated to not believe their children if they say anything bad about the facility.

A study conducted for the peer-reviewed research journal Global Studies of Childhood found that 90% of former attendees to the types of programs that comprise the Troubled Teen Industry rank their experiences negatively.

Psychiatrist who fueled 1980s Satanic panic dead at 83; moral panics impacts linger in North Carolina

I hope any therapists involved who know what theyre in are deeply ashamed of themselves, Nichols said.

The impact

Nichols was sent to Trails Carolina for issues with anxiety and depression that made her struggle in school. Unfortunately, in the years since she left Transylvania County behind, she has not yet found relief from those issues.

My experience at Trails Carolina continues to affect me years later, she said. Ive kept in touch with most of my group members, and all of us seem to have a consensus on how much its caused us to struggle. It feels like it happened a week ago, not three years ago.

She was diagnosed with PTSD after her time at the camp, and this has become a daily struggle for her, coping with flashbacks, panic attacks and other symptoms of severe anxiety.

Sometimes, if I see a food item we used and Im not expecting it, Ill have episodes. Thats how bad the experience was  I cant see the brand Sunkist without preparing myself for it, she said. Certain words, certain smells, certain images and foods and tones can all trigger a reaction from me, and I have to take medication in order to come down from an attack. I have nightmares that Im still there, or that I get sent back again. There isnt a single day I live without thinking about Trails Carolina.

Trails Carolina camper death ruled homicide by asphyxiation, autopsy shows

Its also impacted how she relates to people. She says she now has serious trust issues and suffers from paranoia, constantly worried shes done something wrong without knowing it.

I have to apologize to others constantly in fear of making a mistake. I try to preemptively solve problems that dont exist because, in my mind, I didnt know Id caused enough problems to be sent away, she said.

Even years later Nichols says she has not truly had in-depth conversations with her parents about what happened at Trails Carolina. She says her parents lacked experience with in-patient mental health treatment, so they trusted people who told them wilderness therapy would be her best option, and they were shocked to learn about the alleged abuse.

I dont think any parent wants to hear that something they did to help their child caused significantly more damage, Nichols said.

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A West Richland man is in jail, accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old girl he knew from a former job as a security guard at her middle school in Kennewick.

Kennewick police said Thursday that Anohelico T. Caulder, 26, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree kidnapping and booked into the Benton County jail early in the morning July 4.

Detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances related to the incident, according to a Kennewick police report.

The girl was reported missing June 25 after leaving home and not contacting family, police said.

On Wednesday, July 3, police learned that she had been with Caulder and located him at his new workplace in Kennewick, police said. But the girl was not with him or at the home he shares with his wife.

The FBI helped determine that the girl was dropped off by Caulder in Gresham, Ore., on Tuesday, according to Kennewick police.

The Gresham Police Department found her about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to Kennewick police, she had asked Caulder for a ride from Washington to Oregon so she could catch a train to California. Caulder also gave her food, money and personal items.

The girl also had been given a cell phone, according to a Kennewick police report, which did not say who gave her the phone.

In addition to being accused of kidnapping, Caulder also may face a gross misdemeanor charge of harboring a runaway, according to Benton County jail information.
France has transferred 41 power generators to Kharkiv and Chernihiv, whose energy infrastructure has been heavily damaged by Russian strikes, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on X.



Shelling by Russian forces has severely damaged Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leading to reduced electricity production and supply.

In recent months, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine's critical infrastructure in a renewed assault against the country's energy grid.

As a result of the attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukraine began implementing rolling blackouts on May 15, but they have dramatically increased in recent days.

International partners, including France, are providing financial, technical, and material assistance to help Ukraine repair its energy facilities and ensure power supply to its population.



Ukraine's Energy Ministry announced to social media on July 2 that through an agreement with the European Commission, Ukraine has received 5,876 solar panels to help power hospitals across the country.

The state of Ukraine's electricity grid is expected to improve in August, Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, the head of state grid operator Ukrenergo, told Ukrainska Pravda on July 1.

Read also: Ukrenergo: Energy situation in Ukraine expected to improve in August

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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.

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.

This story was originally published by Alabama Reflector, which like the New Hampshire Bulletin is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
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)

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, 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.

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.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
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. Photo by 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, 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.

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.

DONATE: SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST
French voters election despair: We tried the Left, it didnt work at all. We tried the Right, it was even worse

Retired vet Yannick Andre, left, said she continued to admire Mr Macron, who she knew as a child - PATRICK GAILLARDIN

As he parked his lawnmower outside his home in Amiens, northern France, Paul Tannin scratched his head.

I cant vote for the hard-Left, I cant vote for the hard-Right. I cant vote for extremes. For the first time in my life I dont feel like voting at all.

With parliamentary elections just four days away and Marine Le Pens populist National Rally (RN) predicted to come first, the 61-year-old Vinci executive summed up a moral dilemma that is playing out across France.

Its complicated. Ive always voted in between, he said in a northern residential suburb of the city in the Somme region.

Im going to turn up to the voting booth and if I could choose Id vote Neither, nor. Thats not possible, So Ive got until Sunday to make up my mind.

With its imposing cathedral and pretty cobbled streets, Amiens is the French equivalent of Middle England. It has long been a bellwether constituency, reflecting both the bourgeois provincial France that dines out on ficelle picarde, the local speciality, but also rundown, peri-urban and rural districts whose industry is a shadow of its former self.

Dubbed the Little Venice of the North due to its network of canals, it is now notorious as the hometown of Emmanuel Macron who seven years ago became Frances youngest head of state since Napoleon Bonaparte.

Indeed, its industrial outskirts were the scene of a crucial face-off between Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen during the 2017 presidential campaign when both turned up to a Whirlpool factory threatened with being outsourced to Poland  the latest symbol of jobs lost to globalisation.

Paul Tannin finds himself politically homeless, unable to vote for parties of the extreme left or extreme right - PATRICK GAILLARDIN

As Mr Macron met union leaders, Ms Le Pen gatecrashed the media event to pose with staff out back, declaring herself the true candidate of Frances workers. Mr Macron managed to turn the situation around, helping him win the presidency.

However, the factory has since closed and this month, much of Amiens turned its back on the brilliant young leader who promised change in 2017 as his list was defeated by Ms Le Pens RN and the radical-left France Unbowed in the European elections.

The same story played out nationwide as voters deserted the liberal, business-friendly, pro-EU head of state in favour of Jordan Bardella, the 28-year-old RN president now running to become prime minister.

His candidates then suffered a similar fate in last Sundays first round of parliamentary elections.

Mr Macrons rump of loyal supporters are now being asked to hold their noses and vote for hard-Left candidates in Sundays second round to keep the RN out and prevent them clinching an absolute majority.

Gunning for one key constituency is Francois Ruffin, French figurehead of the Jeremy Corbyn-style hard-Left who went to school with Mr Macron but is now among the presidents fiercest critics.

The pair are often described as alter egos.

Mr Macron, 46, famously fell in love with his school drama teacher and ended up marrying Brigitte Auziere, 24 years his senior, becoming an investment banker and then Frances pro-business centrist president.

Mr Ruffin, 48, by contrast, hit prominence as a self-styled Gallic Michael Moore whose documentary Merci Patron! accused Frances richest man of sacrificing French workers to globalisation.

An outspoken activist of the gilets jaunes movement who warned during the revolt that Mr Macron would end up like Kennedy due to the hatred he unleashed among the poor, he is now among the best-known MPs of far-Left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed party and even seen as a rival to head the movement.

With its imposing cathedral and pretty cobbled streets, Amiens is the French equivalent of Middle England - PATRICK GAILLARDIN

He recently said he would consider being prime minister if his Left-wing alliance, which includes Socialists, Greens and Communists, manages to form a government.

But in an area long a Left-wing bastion, Mr Ruffin is in danger of losing his seat to Nathalie Ribeiro Billet, a 33-year-old farmer based in the countryside north of Amiens, who is running for the RN after she won 45 per cent in round one to his 28.4 per cent.

The Macron candidate in Mr Ruffins constituency came third on 23.7 per cent and also qualified for Sundays run-off but pulled out of the three-way race and called on her supporters to back Mr Ruffin, saying: I draw the line between political adversaries and enemies of the Republic.

As he handed out tracts at a Metex animal feed factory that he recently helped save from closure due to Chinese competition, Mr Ruffin said: There are a good deal of moderate Left-of-centre voters who will say to themselves that it is better to have a humanist face like the one I have been presenting for seven years now (...) than the face of division and hatred.

We have to work to ensure the unity of the nation. So we have to reconcile, we have to appease. We need to bring tenderness rather than brutality, he told the Telegraph, confessing that his provocative colleague Mr Melenchon  with whom he has fallen out  increasingly posed a problem as he scared off many moderate voters.

Later on Thursday, Mr Ruffin announced he would leave his LFI party if elected in an attempt to secure victory.

A poll by Harris Interactive projects that the RN and its allies will win 190 to 220 seats in the National Assembly, falling short of an absolute majority of 289. The Left-wing New Popular Front alliance, NFP, will secure 159 to 183 seats and Mr Macrons Ensemble (Together) alliance 110 to 135, it said.

Ms Le Pen on Thursday insisted that an absolute majority was still within her reach if voters turned out in a final effort. However, there is speculation a Right-centre-Left coalition could emerge after the election to prevent the RN from taking power.

Drinking coffee outside Jean Trogneux, Amiens famed confectioners specialising in prestige macaroons, retired vet Yannick Andre said she continued to admire Mr Macron, who she knew as a child because she treated his grandmothers much-loved poodle. Brigitte Macron is heir to the Trogneux confectioners.

Francois Ruffin is in danger of losing his seat to Nathalie Ribeiro Billet, a 33-year-old farmer standing for National Rally - PATRICK GAILLARDIN

She was relieved that in her constituency, the Macron candidate had disobeyed party orders and refused to pull out in the second round against the hard-Left and hard-Right candidate. If he hadnt I would have cast a blank ballot, she said.

However, outside the comfortable, middle-class area, others had more trenchant views.

Jean Binot, 72, a retired mechanical worker, had come to town from his small rural village inside the constituency to pick up provisions from a food charity.

Resting on a bench as the rain started to fall, he said: Listen. Prices are rising. They claim unemployment is down but I dont believe it. Thousands like me have to get by on 800-1,000 per month.

Melenchons a mad drunkard. Ruffin isnt like that but can you really see the Socialists, Greens and Communists all getting on? They hate each other.

Echoing another oft-heard complaint, he said crime was increasing. Not a week goes by without a 12-year-old girl getting raped, often by foreigners. We need more authority. Had he had any trouble. Oh no, but we hear about it.

Im voting for Ribeiro, the RN candidate, like seven out of ten people in our village. We tried the Left, it didnt work at all. We tried the Right, it was even worse. Were going to try Marine and see what happens. Not much will happen at first, but in three years, shell be president, then well see real change.

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A farmer planting corn near Dwight, Illinois, on April 23, 2020. Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. (Scott Olson | Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division  a contrast from the legislations history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nations largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills  including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time  each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

The last two farm bills were the anomaly, said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. Now that it has been three in a row, Im not sure that holds.

A recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.

Spending debate

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

I dont think were close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about whats doable within a constrained resource environment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program AgriTalk June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal largely on party lines at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a dissenting views letter expressing genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majoritys partisan farm bill  which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

The most frustrating time

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the most frustrating of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

Ive actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time, said Stabenow in an interview with Michigan Advance at the end of June. Because its so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.

Partisan division is not uncommon in todays Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

If you dont have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter whos in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support, said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The key dispute for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the Thrifty Food Plan formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put more farm in the farm bill.

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill, he said.

An uneasy alliance from the start

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

That was the first coalition building between the two interests, Coppess said. But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

The dispute is all the pay-fors, Peterson said. And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table, Peterson said. So, kind of, whats going on here went on the last three farm bills.

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAPs work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committees bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

A trend toward fracture

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint, former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

Theres a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there, Chambliss said. How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I dont know the answer to that, but obviously its a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar, said Coppess.

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DWIGHT, ILLINOIS - APRIL 23: An aerial view from a drone shows John Duffy planting corn on a farm he farms with his father on April 23, 2020 near Dwight, Illinois. Mild, dry weather has farmers in the state scrambling to get their fields planted. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division  a contrast from the legislations history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nations largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills  including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time  each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

The last two farm bills were the anomaly, said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. Now that it has been three in a row, Im not sure that holds.

A recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.

Spending debate

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

I dont think were close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about whats doable within a constrained resource environment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program AgriTalk June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal largely on party lines at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a dissenting views letter expressing genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majoritys partisan farm bill  which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

The most frustrating time

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the most frustrating of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

Ive actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time, said Stabenow in an interview with Michigan Advance at the end of June. Because its so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.

Partisan division is not uncommon in todays Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

If you dont have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter whos in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support, said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The key dispute for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the Thrifty Food Plan formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put more farm in the farm bill.

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill, he said.

An uneasy alliance from the start

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

That was the first coalition building between the two interests, Coppess said. But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

The dispute is all the pay-fors, Peterson said. And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table, Peterson said. So, kind of, whats going on here went on the last three farm bills.

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAPs work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committees bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

A trend toward fracture

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint, former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

Theres a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there, Chambliss said. How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I dont know the answer to that, but obviously its a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar, said Coppess.

The post Frustrating partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills? appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A farmer planting corn near Dwight, Illinois, on April 23, 2020. Partisan gridlock in Congress has led to a stalemate on the current farm bill, which provides crop subsidies and nutrition assistance. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division  a contrast from the legislations history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nations largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by Dec. 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills  including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time  each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

The last two farm bills were the anomaly, said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. Now that it has been three in a row, Im not sure that holds.

A recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.

Spending debate

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

I dont think were close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about whats doable within a constrained resource environment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program AgriTalk June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal largely on party lines at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a dissenting views letter expressing genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majoritys partisan farm bill  which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

The most frustrating time

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the most frustrating of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

Ive actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time, said Stabenow in an interview with Michigan Advance at the end of June. Because its so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.

Partisan division is not uncommon in todays Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

If you dont have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter whos in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support, said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The key dispute for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the Thrifty Food Plan formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put more farm in the farm bill.

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill, he said.

An uneasy alliance from the start

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

That was the first coalition building between the two interests, Coppess said. But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

The dispute is all the pay-fors, Peterson said. And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table, Peterson said. So, kind of, whats going on here went on the last three farm bills.

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAPs work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committees bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

A trend toward fracture

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint, former Senator Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

Theres a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there, Chambliss said. How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I dont know the answer to that, but obviously its a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar, said Coppess.

The post Frustrating partisan stalemate: the new normal for farm bills? appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30, and if Congress doesnt pass a new one, an extension would be needed of policies enacted under the 2018 farm bill. Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

WASHINGTON  The stalemate over the current farm bill may be solidifying a new era in farm politics as it joins the last three farm bills in a trend of delays and partisan division  a contrast from the legislations history of bipartisanship.

Every five years, Congress is tasked with drafting a new federal farm bill. The omnibus law that began 90 years ago as various kinds of payments to support farmers now has an impact far beyond the farm, with programs to create wildlife habitat, address climate change and provide the nations largest federal nutrition program.

The current farm bill process, already nearly a year behind schedule, is at an impasse as Democrats and Republicans clash over how to pay for the bill and whether to place limits on nutrition and climate programs. The previous farm bill expired in September 2023 and has been extended through the end of this September.

Historically, farm bills were completed within a few months of their expiration date. Ten of the 13 farm bills since 1965 were enacted by December 31 in the year of their expirations. But three of the four farm bills since 2008 went beyond that date.

The last three bills  including the 2018 bill, which is the one recent version that passed on time  each had partisan disagreements about spending.

The trend represents a change in how the once-bipartisan legislation is viewed.

The last two farm bills were the anomaly, said Jonathan Coppess, a professor of Agricultural Law and Policy at the University of Illinois who has written a history of the farm bill. Now that it has been three in a row, Im not sure that holds.

A recent report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service notes that starting in 2008, farm bills have been subject to delays, vetoes and insufficient votes to pass on the floor.

The report concluded: Over time, farm bills have tended to become more complicated and politically sensitive. As a result, the timeline for reauthorization has become less certain.

Spending debate

That uncertainty is true of the current farm bill, as Republicans in the House and Senate push for spending limits that Democrats say are non-starters.

I dont think were close to getting a farm bill done until the folks who are negotiating the farm bill are realistic about whats doable within a constrained resource environment, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in an interview on the radio program AgriTalk June 21.

The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee approved its farm bill proposal largely on party lines at the end of May, after hours of debate and complaints from Democrats that the process had not been as bipartisan as in years past.

Four Democrats voted for the bill in committee, but they joined 20 other Democrats on the committee in a dissenting views letter expressing genuine concern over the trajectory of the Majoritys partisan farm bill  which they predicted would be stuck in delay and dysfunction without significant changes.

The Senate Agriculture Committee has yet to vote. The Republican and Democratic leaders of the committee have each put forward contrasting bills and expressed their frustration.

The most frustrating time

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat who is retiring after this term, has called the process the most frustrating of her career and said she would not let the Republican approach for the farm bill be her legacy.

Ive actually been involved in six farm bills and led on three of them, and this has been the most frustrating time, said Stabenow in an interview with Michigan Advance at the end of June. Because its so much more partisan than usual and particularly around food assistance.

Partisan division is not uncommon in todays Congress but is notable on the farm bill, which had historically brought together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. Bipartisan support can be necessary for final passage because the size of the $1.5 trillion farm bill means it inevitably loses some votes from fiscal conservatives and others.

If you dont have a bipartisan bill, this is not going to happen, and that is no matter whos in charge. The margins are too close to be able to get this done without bipartisan support, said Collin Peterson, a former Democratic House member from Minnesota and Agriculture Committee Chairman.

The key dispute for Democrats this year is a funding calculation that would place limits on the Thrifty Food Plan formula that calculates benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP.

Republicans are using the limits to offset other spending in the bill on crop subsidies. The top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Arkansas Sen. John Boozman, said he wants to put more farm in the farm bill.

Peterson, who is now the head of an eponymous consulting firm, said in an interview with States Newsroom that Republicans would likely have to make changes to the nutrition title to get a bill to final passage.

It is unrealistic to think they are going to get this done without significant changes in that part of the bill, he said.

An uneasy alliance from the start

The nutrition program that is at the center of the impasse was added to the legislation 50 years ago to help build a coalition of wide-ranging bipartisan support.

Lawmakers added the nutrition title to the farm bill in 1973, a move that widened the vested interest in the bill in the House. Lawmakers who wanted to increase payments for cotton and wheat farmers in their districts were able to bring in support from representatives from districts whose citizens could benefit from food aid.

That was the first coalition building between the two interests, Coppess said. But it was pretty intense. And it was an uneasy alliance from the start.

Since then, the farm bill in many ways has become a food bill. Three-quarters of the mandatory spending in the bill falls under the nutrition title, which includes SNAP, the largest U.S. program that addresses hunger.

The program, formerly called food stamps, supplements food budgets for low-income households. Anti-hunger groups have joined the outside interests pushing for the bill every five years.

But with such a large funding line, the nutrition program has become a target for Republicans who want to cut it to offset other spending in the bill.

The dispute is all the pay-fors, Peterson said. And that has been the issue for the last three farm bills and issue on this one as well.

Peterson, who was chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the 2008 farm bill and was the top Democrat on the committee for the 2013 and 2018 bills, said partisan division on the committee is not unfamiliar at this phase of the process.

The farm bills he worked on also had partisan votes in the House but eventually found support from both sides after conferencing with the Senate.

At the end of the day, every one of those bills was partisan, until we got through the conference committee, and then at that point it was bipartisan, because the Senate brought some of that to the table, Peterson said. So, kind of, whats going on here went on the last three farm bills.

The most recent farm bill in 2018 was marked by contentious partisan debate centered on SNAPs work requirements and other eligibility rules.

The House Agriculture Committees bill that year initially failed on the House floor and later squeaked through on a 213-211 vote. Twenty Republicans joined all House Democrats in voting against that bill.

After reconciling with the Senate bill and the removal of some of the contentious changes to SNAP, most Democrats flipped their votes in support and the House agreed to the final conference report in a bipartisan vote of 369-47. The dissenting votes included 44 Republicans and three Democrats.

A trend toward fracture

The partisan division over the nutrition title creates new fault lines for the farm bill.

Historically, farm bill alliances were more regional than partisan. They were built on a common ground of support for shared crops or producers: cotton in the South, corn in the Midwest and wheat in the Western Plains.

What was our biggest issue back in the four farm bills that I wrote was not Republican versus Democrat. It was usually Midwest against the Southeast or the Northeast or the Southwest from a crop standpoint, former Sen. Saxby Chambliss said in an interview.

Chambliss, a Republican from Georgia, was on the House Agriculture Committee from 1995 to 2002 and the Senate Agriculture Committee 2005 to 2011, which included a stint as chairman and ranking member.

Theres a different political dynamic that exists in the Senate today that did not exist when I was there, Chambliss said. How much of that bleeds into the farm bill? I dont know the answer to that, but obviously its a little more acrimonious than what I ever experienced.

As partisan politics have become more entrenched in regions of the country, with the South becoming more closely aligned with the Republican Party, it has played out in farm-bill politics.

You see a staunch realignment around where the regional and the partisan are now very similar, said Coppess.

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LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (KSNW)  He has been missing in action since Dec. 1, 1943, and now will finally be laid to rest in a ceremony at Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery.

Second Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. of Detroit was a pilot with the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group World War II, serving in the Pacific theater. On Dec. 1, 1943, he was piloting a B-24J Liberator over a target in Burma, now known as Myanmar, when it was believed to have been shot down.

2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. (Courtesy DPAA)

2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. (Courtesy DPAA)

2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. (Courtesy DPAA)

2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen Jr. (Courtesy DPAA)

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) says McLauchlen and his crew were killed in the crash, and their remains were buried by locals in two large graves by order of Japanese occupying forces. In 1947, the remains were recovered by the American Grave Registration Service, but they could not be identified.

2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen with his B-24 crew in India taken during WW II (Courtesy DPAA)

Record-setting travel volume: Fourth of July travel with lowest gas prices in years

The remains were designated X-505A, X-505 B, X-505C, X-505D, X-505E, X-505F, X-505 G, and X-505H Barrackpore (X-505A-H). They were then interred as unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii, also known as the Punchbowl.

DPAA received a family disinterment request for Unknown X-505A-H based on past attempts to identify the remains with other MIA reports from southern Burma. After reviewing the associated files, DPAA historians believed the X-505A-H remains more likely belonged to the missing loved one.

In 2020, the DPAA conducted anthropological analysis, as well as analyzing circumstantial and material evidence, and mitochondrial DNA analysis conducted by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System positively identified the remains as belonging to McLauchlen. A rosette has been placed by his name on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in the Philippines.

On Monday, July 8, at 11 a.m., McLauchlen will be laid to rest in a ceremony at Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery. The graveside service will feature a flyover from a B-1 bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing stationed at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas.

Our flyover at Fort Leavenworth is a tribute to all the brave men and women who have served our country throughout history, connecting the past to the present, says Lt. Col. Ryan Stillwell, commander of the 9th Bomb Squadron assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing. It serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and a testament to the enduring spirit of service and dedication that defines our military.

For more information about the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, 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.
GALENA, Kan.  Galena has found a new police chief, and hes no stranger to the department.

Noble Dobkins will be the new police chief for the Galena Police Department.

Over the last 10-plus years he has been working for the Cherokee County Sheriffs Department, previously working in a part-time role for the Columbus and Galena Police Departments.

Dobkins says current police chief Billy Charles has had a huge influence on his career and in fact helped him jump-start his career.

He adds his experience up to date has prepared him for whats to come in his new role.

With my background, Ive learned to become a very social person, and Im really excited to get started in this position. Im a people person and I really enjoy helping the public and I want to help the citizens of Galena, said Noble Dobkins, future Galena police chief.

Charles will serve as police chief until September first when hell retire after almost nearly 30 years of service.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Holly Willoughby speaks out after Gavin Plumb found guilty of plot to kidnap, rape and murder her

Gavin Plumb was described as having an 'obsession' with the former This Morning presenter

Women should not be made to feel unsafe in their own homes, said Holly Willoughby, after a security guard was convicted of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder her.

Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, was found guilty of planning unspeakable violence against the former This Morning host following a week-long trial.

The 37-year-old shook his head and closed his eyes before sobbing in the dock as the jury announced its unanimous verdict after 12 hours and 19 minutes deliberation. He could now face life imprisonment and will be sentenced on July 12.

The security guard had been attempting to live his ultimate fantasy and was described by the prosecution as someone who had an obsession with Willoughby.

In a statement following the verdict, Willoughby, who waived her right to anonymity, said: As women we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes. I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response.

She thanked the prosecutors, the judge, and the members of the jury for ensuring that justice was done and that [Plumb] will not be able to harm any more women.

She added: I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery this conviction may not have been possible.

The week-long trial heard how Plumb had made an abduction kit, complete with metal cable ties, handcuffs, a ball gag and a blindfold, in preparation for the attack.

He scouted Willoughbys home address in advance of a potential home invasion and searched for abandoned buildings where he could keep the former This Morning presenter, the prosecution told jurors.

Officers stormed Plumbs flat on Oct 4 last year after he unwittingly revealed his plot to an American undercover officer online.

Plumb had collected more than 10,000 images of Holly Willoughby - Karwai Tang/WireImage

Detectives examining his phone and devices discovered vast amounts of images of women  10,322 of which were of Willoughby.

So vast was the amount of material that officers were only able to analyse around 10 per cent, amounting to more than tens of thousands of images, Det Con William Belsham, of Essex Police, told jurors.

Plumb, a father of two, was also found to have made web searches including how to meet people who plan to kidnap celebs and what does it feel like to be raped in 2021.

In sexualised messages on WhatsApp, Wickr and Kik between Plumb and a man called Marc, the pair exchanged 57 images of Willoughby across 46 WhatsApp messages between Jan 12 and Jan 19 2022. Nine of these images were deepfake pornography, Alison Morgan KC, prosecuting, said.

Jurors heard how Plumb had sent voice notes detailing his plan to hold Willoughby at his home, which he had rigged with CCTV cameras.

As part of his preparations for the attack, he ordered bottles of Chloroform from a homeopathy website, which he claimed were to clean a stain on the floor.

Plumbs violence against women began in 2006, when he was given a 12-month suspended sentence after attempting to force two stewardesses off a train using a fake gun and a threatening note on two separate occasions.

He was later jailed for 32 months after an attack on two teenage girls in 2008, in which he threatened them with a box-cutter/Stanley knife-type instrument.

During her closing speech, Ms Morgan said Plumb, who used the username Big Bear online, went to great lengths to suggest to other people it was not fantasy.

Following the guilty verdicts, Det Chief Insp Greg Wood, Essex Polices senior investigating officer, said Plumb was a dangerous, predatory individual.

He continued: He was not just simply obsessed with Holly Willoughby, he meticulously and carefully planned, over a number of years, to carry out a depraved and violent attack, in which he plotted to deprive her of her liberty and ultimately her life.



His claims in court that he was a fantasist are simply not true and were evidenced by the extent with which he plotted with others to carry out his wicked plan.

Plumb did his plotting from his flat - PA

Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor in the Crown Prosecution Service, said that Plumb had plotted unspeakable violence against one of the nations most familiar faces.

The chilling details of his plans were laid bare with the help of an undercover officer from the US who alerted the FBI to the threat, and the seriousness of Plumbs scheme was exposed when the prosecution successfully applied to tell the jury about Plumbs previous convictions.



I hope his conviction brings some comfort to Holly Willoughby and her family, and shows others that the Crown Prosecution Service will always seek the strongest possible charges against those who plot violence against women.

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.
General Staff: Russia has lost 547,470 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022

Russia has lost 547,470 troops in Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported on July 4.

This number includes 1,200 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.

According to the report, Russia has also lost 8,132 tanks, 15,600 armored fighting vehicles, 19,923 vehicles and fuel tanks, 14,777 artillery systems, 1,115 multiple launch rocket systems, 878 air defense systems, 360 airplanes, 326 helicopters, 11,694 drones, 28 ships and boats, and one submarine.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Russian attack on Dnipro shopping center kills 5, injures 53

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Forensics officers go to a detached house in the municipality of Scheessel after a Bundeswehr soldier shot four people. Germany's public prosecutor has filed charges against a soldier suspected of murdering four people, including a child, earlier this year. x

Germany's public prosecutor has filed charges against a soldier suspected of murdering four people, including a child, earlier this year.

The Bundeswehr soldier is suspected of having fatally shot four people on March 1 in the northern German state of Lower Saxony.

According to the investigators, the soldier has killed the victims out of hatred and revenge, the background being marital problems.

The regional court in Verden must now decide whether to open proceedings.

The victims all came from the alleged perpetrator's wife's circle, after the two had separated. The 32-year-old is said to have first killed his ex-partner's new boyfriend and his mother. He then allegedly shot a friend of his ex-partner and her 3-year-old daughter.

The next morning, the man is said to have handed himself in at the Von During barracks in the town of Rotenburg, near the alleged crime scenes.

Police officers who were called arrested the man. He has been in custody since the offence. According to the police, the suspect is not a member of the barracks.

The soldier was armed with an assault rifle and a pistol. According to the investigators, the weapons did not come from Bundeswehr stocks.

A Molotov cocktail was stuck in the driver's door of his car and there was ammunition in the boot next to a Bundeswehr rucksack. What the man intended to do with it remained unclear at first.

Shortly before the offence, the ex-partner and her new boyfriend - one of the victims - had sought help and reported the suspect for threatening them.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  The Grand Junction Fire Department is welcoming 12 new members to their force.

The graduation ceremony was held Wednesday at the Grand Junction Convention Center.

Stuart Sanford, a then-recruit at the local fire academy, told WesternSlopeNow what he and his classmates had to go through in order to graduate.

We had 20 weeks of foundations, learning how to put on our gear. Learning how to do basic knots and ropes. How to survive and search buildings. And then progress through engine blocks, learning how to do Work a firefighter hose pull off the engines. Truck block, how to cut holes in roofs. We did survival and water rescue and high-tech rescue wildland so a variable plethora of a bunch of experience in 20 weeks, that was awesome.

These 12 graduates are joining the largest fire and EMS service between Salt Lake City and Denver.

They report to the firehouse starting next week.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  Gov. Roy Cooper will join other Democratic governors from across the country Wednesday as they meet with President Joe Biden amid the fallout from last weeks debate performance.

A spokesman for Cooper said he will not travel to Washington for the meeting Wednesday evening but will attend virtually.

The meeting comes as the White House denied a report in the New York Times that Biden told an ally he is considering whether to stay in the race. White House Press Sec. Karine Jean-Pierre also said Wednesday Biden absolutely will not step down.

Biden vows to keep running as signs point to rapidly eroding support for him on Capitol Hill

Several other Democratic governors are traveling to meet with Biden in person. Gov. Cooper is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association.

Were in pretty uncharted territory here, said Chris Cooper, an expert on state politics at Western Carolina University.

He pointed to Gov. Coopers key role in North Carolina as the Biden campaign has made the state a key priority this year after former President Donald Trump won it in 2016 and 2020.

When it comes to Bidens campaign here, it all runs through Roy Cooper. And, I think they expect Roy Cooper to perhaps be the one that can deliver the Tar Heel state for the Biden campaign and for the Democrats writ large, said Chris Cooper.

Biden even suggested Friday he may tap Gov. Cooper for a job in his administration if he wins re-election. Cooper is term-limited as governor and cannot run for the position again this year.

Polling released Wednesday by CBS News and YouGov showed a shift in the battleground states collectively since the debate.

Last month, 50% of voters in battleground states chose Biden compared to 49% for Trump. The latest poll has 48% choosing Biden compared to 51% for Trump. The states in the poll include: North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia.

(Trump has) had a little kind of boost up in numbers. But, like a ball that bounces, does it come back down, or is it something that stays up? Is it a more permanent effect? And, I think thats what we dont know the answer to, said Chris Cooper.

The Biden campaign sought to put the focus on this weeks U.S. Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, releasing a new ad on Wednesday that airs in North Carolina and other battleground comparing former President Trump to a king.

Nearly 250 years ago, America was founded in defiance of king, under the belief that no one is above the law, not even the president. Until now, the narrator says in the ad.

Democrats in key races in North Carolina are weighing the potential impact of Bidens continued candidacy as well.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Don Davis (D-NC 1st) called Bidens debate performance a disaster.

I believe people across the spectrum, they want in their candidate whether its a Democrat or Republican, somebody thats gonna at least fight and they believe is fighting for them, he said.

Davis is running for re-election in a district considered to be the only true toss-up in the southeastern United States and is among several that will ultimately determine the balance of power in Congress.

Anytime anybody is speaking out now, I am surprised. I mean, nobody wants to be the first person to stab Julius Caesar, and anybody who is willing to even walk up to that line like Davis did, said Chris Cooper.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD)  S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster on Tuesday announced a number of vetoes he made for the $13 billion state budget that is set to go into effect this week.

The governor issued 21 line-item vetoes, which totaled nearly $2.3 million worth of earmarks.

Among those vetoes is a measure that would have impacted some beachfront homeowners who have built erosion control structures, such as sea walls, to protect their properties.

Under the states current BeachFront Management Act, any structure built on critical areas of the coast requires a permit, and sea walls are prohibited.

However, lawmakers agreed to add a pair of provisos to the 20242025 fiscal year budget that would have required the Department of Environmental Services to review actions taken regarding violations of the act for erosion control devices and potentially take new action.

It also made it so that if a property owner prevailed in their fight to keep their structure in place, the department would compensate them for costs they incurred to remedy the situation.

This plan could have exposed the state to significant financial liability, McMaster said in explaining why he vetoed the proviso.

He further called the plan a piecemeal attempt to address beach erosion and management, characterizing it as not good policy.

They seek to alter the critical beach management policies and procedures for a single fiscal year, just for a year, McMaster said during a Wednesday press conference at the State House.

These are questions that have been presented, have been answered, and then the environment changes and it takes constant study and work, but a one-year proviso freezing everything, I think, is not the way to progress in this very delicate and important area, he continued.

New policy prohibits homeless from staying at CLT airport

Aside from laying out which line items he was striking, the governor also touted some of the changes in the final budget, including raises for teachers and law enforcement, $200 million in funding for bridge replacements and repairs, and cutting the states personal income tax rate from 6.4% to 6.2%.

In all, the final spending plan included 292 proposals from McMasters executive budget totaling $2.4 billion, an increase of 126 more than were included two years ago.

He also commended the state legislature for strides made in disclosing earmarked appropriations of which there are approximately 512 contained in the budget worth $424.7 million.

After decades of overriding the gubernatorial vetoes of innocuous-sounding appropriation titles inside of which the earmarks were hidden, the leadership of the Senate and House of

Representatives now disclose the sponsors and recipients of earmarked appropriations, as well as the activity, function, or project for which each earmark is intended, McMaster wrote in his veto message.

The earmarks include funding to purchase new patrol cars, body armor, firetrucks, upgraded weaponry, K9 officers, infrastructure projects, wastewater and sewer projects, recreational parks and trails, and traffic improvements.

To see the full list of line-item vetoes issued by the governor, click here.

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Gov. Stitt has said outsourcing PR work is 'wasteful,' but Ryan Walters renews DC contract

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has extended its contract with a Washington, D.C., area public relations firm.

Records show the agency hired Vought Strategies last year to book interviews with national media outlets, write op-eds and speeches, and increase state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters national exposure. The firm first worked as a vendor, then signed a four-month contract ending June 30, with the possibility of three one-year extensions.

The Office of Management and Enterprises Services, the states contracting agency, on Tuesday confirmed the contract extension. Dan Isett, the departments director of communications, didnt respond to Oklahoma Watchs inquiries.

Oklahoma Watch

People have criticized the deal, calling it self-promotion at the publics expense. The Oklahoma Legislature attempted to rein in the Education Departments spending on public relations. The measure passed the House of Representatives 57-35 on the last day of the legislative session. But on June 14, Gov. Kevin Stitt line-item vetoed the measure and instead issued a broader executive order that applies to all state agencies.

We all have to remember, the money we spend doesnt belong to us  it belongs to Oklahoma taxpayers, Stitt said in a written statement announcing the executive order. It makes no sense for state agencies who pay the salaries of communications staff to outsource work to PR firms via sole source contracts. Its wasteful and were putting a stop to it statewide.

More: Governor issues his own order on outside PR: 'It's wasteful and we're putting a stop to it.'

The executive order prohibits sole-source contracts with public relations, marketing and communications vendors and bans state agencies from spending tax money on self-promotion or promoting matters outside the agencys scope.

Walters has said Stitts executive order doesnt apply to the Vought Strategies deal or other agency contracts because they were issued under the states competitive bidding process. Vought was the only bidder.

Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, who led efforts to limit the Education Departments public relations spending, said he agreed to support the governors line-item veto and subsequent executive order if it applied to every agency, including the Education Department.

In conversations with the governor, this was meant to apply to all agencies, he said.

Communications staff for the governor could not be reached Wednesday.

Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at 405-761-0093 or jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org. Follow her on Twitter @jpalmerOKC. Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Ryan Walters renews contract with PR firm in Washington, D.C.
Government makes historic concession about dams that could have far-reaching implications: 'An important cabinet-level acknowledgment of the many decades of undelivered promises'

In a monumental report, the U.S. government conceded that its federal dam projects in the Pacific Northwest caused significant strife for the region's Native American communities, taking accountability for the past and outlining a partnership to repair harm for the future.

The June 2024 release from the Department of the Interior is encouraging in its admission that hydroelectric dams hurt tribal communities in the Columbia River Basin, and it mentions the collaborative effort to "restore the region's wild salmon populations," detailed the Guardian.

The Columbia River Basin begins in the Canadian province of British Columbia and then expands into seven U.S. states: Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Native American tribes in the area rely on the river as a plentiful source of wild salmon. For these communities, wild salmon are integral to food supply, economic growth via the fishing industry, religious ceremonies, traditional values, and cultural identity.

But the massive hydroelectric dams constructed in the Columbia River Basin during the first half of the 20th century disrupted natural migration patterns, reported the Guardian. Whole towns and villages became inhabitable for many Native American people affected by the extinction and endangerment of wild salmon species but also displaced by floods and ecosystem changes.

The federal dams did fulfill goals of the time regarding power provision, irrigation improvement, and job growth  for non-Native populations. The lack of consideration of Native Americans in the decision caused "cultural, spiritual and economic detriments" for tribes that, the Guardian noted, persist into the present day.

Better a century late than never, though. The report was "an important cabinet-level acknowledgment of the many decades of undelivered promises," read a statement from one such tribe, the Yakama Nation, as quoted by the Guardian.

Hydroelectric dams produce power without needing to burn coal, oil, and gas (dirty fuels that release harmful pollution into the atmosphere). According to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, hydropower is our nation's "dominant source of renewable energy." But some dams bring drawbacks  from habitat disturbance to potential toxic pollution to effects on Native American communities  compared to other options like solar and wind power.

We can't undo history, but we can act today by implementing eco-friendly policies, supporting sustainable and equitable climate initiatives, and taking small steps to reduce pollution and renew ecosystems for a safer, cleaner world everyone can enjoy.

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Governor appoints veteran prosecutor to be new Miami County municipal court judge

A veteran prosecutor will be Miami Countys new municipal court judge.

>>Night of fireworks follows rainy afternoon and evening for many to usher in July 4 holiday

Governor Mike DeWine announced the appointment of Miami County Prosecutor Anthony Kendell to fill the vacant seat left by the retiring Judge Gary Nasal, according to Court News Ohio.

Kendell started his career as a law clerk in 1993 with the prosecutors office.

He served as the Tipp City prosecutor from 2000-2011 before returning to the county prosecutors office.

Kendell was the assistant prosecuting attorney until becoming a prosecutor in 2013.

He will take over the seat of Judge Nasal on July 22.
PECULIAR, Mo.  July 4 is a day of celebration for thousands across the metro, but for one mother, its the day her daughter, Blair Shanahan Lane, was killed by a stray bullet 13 years ago. Now, theres a chance Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson will increase the penalties on those who fire celebratory gunshots.

Democratic State Representative Mark Sharp says the penalty for celebratory gunfire is currently only a fine and violation of a city ordinance. Blairs mom, Michele Shanahan DeMoss, says if a large public safety bill is signed into law this month, itd now be a state offense.

One person dead after crash involving car, school bus in Clay County

It is what it was and gained the attention because Blair lost her life, Michele said in an interview with FOX4 Wednesday.

She held the slug in her neck, and it was matched to a weapon that was fired that evening.

Micheles life changed forever on July 4, 2011, when Blair was killed by that stray bullet. She was 11 and a half years old.

Later, four men were arrested and charged with shooting a pistol recklessly into a lake. Since then, Micheles pushed to strengthen the penalties for celebratory gunshots. Its become known as Blairs Law. Governor Parson vetoed a bill with the same tougher penalties in 2023 because of a separate provision that was in it.

Missouri lawmakers propose Blairs Law again after veto

I sit before you with a great understanding, and that it is very high, Michele said when asked what the likelihood is that Governor Parson will sign this years public safety bill with the Blairs Law provision.

Theres been so much work done to that big bill, and so many hands. From the moment it was vetoed, they went to work. You know, everybody that has anything in that bill went to work, and I understand what was vetoed was taken out of that bill.

FOX4 reached out to Governor Parsons office Wednesday.

The Blairs Law provision is part of a much larger public safety bill that is still under review, Press Secretary Johnathan Shiflett said in an email to FOX4.

We will announce the Governors action on the bill in the coming days after he has made his decision.

FOX4 read that statement to Michele.

Today is Wednesday. Tomorrow is a holiday. Lets see what happens on Friday, she said when asked what that statement meant to her.

Then we start a new business week on Monday. I cannot be consumed by it.

Governor Parson has until July 14th to decide what hes going to do. If it is signed, the law would not go into effect until August 28th.

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Democratic governors to Democratic members of Congress: Drop dead.

That may be overstating the message sent Wednesday night by a group of the countrys governors, but not by much.

By descending on Washington to meet with President Joe Biden and then emerging from the West Wing to oh-so-earnestly pledge their public support to the beleaguered president, the governors complicated the efforts of congressional Democrats to ease him off the ticket.

Panicked about having to run on the same ballot with an irretrievably wounded nominee, Democratic lawmakers sharply, if still privately, turned against Biden this week.

Most congressional Democrats simply see no path to take back the House and hold their Senate majority if they are led by a president who large majorities of the country, as new polls indicate, believe is too old for the job.

Yet by showing up at the White House and then, more significantly, offering public displays of support, the governors only encouraged a standard bearer many lawmakers feel is doomed  and will doom them. Most House Democrats are outrunning Biden in their internal surveys, Im told by people familiar with the results. But they know they cant overcome his drag if hes losing their seats by 15 points rather than mid-single digits. Hence the terror, as one operative working on congressional Democratic races explained.



Even more infuriating to Democrats on Capitol Hill is the personal politics they sniff in the governors declarations of support. Few of the governors have to run for reelection this year, but more than a handful of them are eager to seek the presidency in 2028. And theres no path for any of them then if Vice President Kamala Harris by then is President Harris seeking reelection. Moreover, if she runs a credible, last-minute race and loses narrowly this year to former President Donald Trump, it still may be difficult to deny her the nomination in four years.

Sink Kamala so shes not the nominee in both 24 and 28, as one House Democrat texted upon hearing of the governors rallying to Biden.

Not all the governors are so cynical of course. And I dont think any of them want to see Trump back in the White House.

Still, many of the chief executives are now deeply skeptical that Biden can stop him.

One of the governors I spoke to emerged from the West Wing convinced the president is in deep denial after he argued to them the polling hasnt gotten much worse and he just needs to get more sleep and hit the campaign trail more.

Further, as my colleagues reported, a pair of governors, Janet Mills of Maine and Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, told Biden directly they were alarmed that their blue-leaning states were now in jeopardy.

Yet its not a stretch to say that the incentives for members of Congress facing the voters in mere months are markedly different from some of the governors who are eying a longer horizon.



For all the talk of a compressed, mini-primary this summer, the governors coveting the presidency know that Harris would almost certainly be the Democratic nominee if Biden drops out. Even if she were to tap a governor for her running mate and they lost respectably, how could her running mate leapfrog her in 2028, when shed assuredly run again to finish the job she began under the most difficult of circumstances? The case makes itself.

The path for the ambitious governors is clearer if Harris goes down with a Biden-led ticket this year  if she is, to put it in blunt terms, Dan Quayle by 2028.

To vulnerable congressional Democrats, however, Harris at this moment is looking like something quite different  a potentially better alternative to Biden. And even that potential is alluring about now.

Losing to Trump by three points nationally rather than six could be the difference in at least a dozen House seats and the difference between losing three-to-four Senate seats compared to seven-to-eight seats. In other words, its a matter of personal survival.

One example: A group of Democrats woke up Thursday to a new internal poll from must-win Wisconsin, which had Biden down seven points and only running in the 30s on a ballot with third-party candidates.

However, its not as though congressional Democrats have been profiles in courage. The gap between their public comments and private sentiment about Biden is reaching levels not seen since, well, the Republican Party during the Trump presidency. The majority of congressional Democrats, Im told by other lawmakers and operatives close to them, want the president to drop out. As the old saying with tough votes goes, though, right now they are voting yes while hoping no.

That may change by next week, particularly if Biden shows no sign of reconsidering. As one connected House Democrat told me: Polling will get a little worse and people are going to lose their minds even more.

For the moment, though, the governors offered Biden a temporary lift, even if that wasnt their intention. They just didnt want to tell the president to his face, much less the television cameras on the White House driveway, what they actually think.

Trust me, one Democratic governor told me after the White House session, the governors I know are not supportive and want a change.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Ohio State Highway Patrols training academy hosted its 150th basic peace officer graduation today, adding 44 new officers to agencies across Ohio.

Starting in February, the group began learning a range of topics from criminal law to emergency vehicle operations and community relations. Major Michael Kemmer commended the graduates work.

These officers had just graduated (and) completed 21 weeks of intense training, Kemmer said. The training is a little different than what we provide our OSP cadet troopers. Their training is typically 28 to 30 weeks long. So, this training is a little shorter, but we cover everything.

Watch NBC4 broadcasts live all day on a Weather Alert Day and for Red, White & BOOM!

The ceremony honored the new officers in front of their family and friends. Kemmer said the training is an important asset to other police departments.

Its special for us because it gives us the opportunity to support other law enforcement agencies, Kemmer said. As a state agency, we need to be supplying free training to other agencies across Ohio, and thats basically what were doing here when were running these academy classes, these basic peace officer classes.

Multi-county pursuit across central Ohio ends in arrest

Chief Gary Lewis said the event highlights the importance of getting more people involved in law enforcement.

Agencies all over the state are suffering from lower numbers, Lewis said. We have to get people encouraged and engaged to do this very noble and honorable profession.

The graduating class will join 31 Ohio police agencies as new peace officers.

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Grubbs Fire prompts evacuations south of where Thompson Fire is burning

(FOX40.COM)  The Butte County Sheriffs Office issued evacuation orders for an area near the community of Palermo on Wednesday afternoon due to the Grubbs Fire.

Around 6 p.m., all evacuation orders were changed to evacuation warnings; however, before that, the sheriffs office said an area just east of the community of Palermo was under orders to evacuate.

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The area included places north of Grubbs Rd. towards Lower Wyandotte Rd.

Read the latest on the Thompson Fire

There were evacuation warnings in areas northeast of the community of Palermo.

The Grubbs Fire began burning a few miles south of where the Thompson Fire had been burning, a fire that led to the evacuation of several thousand people.

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A line at the Martin B. Retting gun store in Culver City extends out the door and around the corner in 2020. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Gun rights groups filed a 2nd Amendment challenge Tuesday to a new California law that slapped an extra tax on firearm and ammunition sales in an attempt to reduce gun violence.

The Firearms Policy Coalition said it filed the complaint on its members' behalf in San Diego County Superior Court. Other plaintiffs included the National Rifle Assn., the California Rifle & Pistol Assn. and the Second Amendment Foundation.

The new tax law (Assembly Bill 28), which went into effect Monday, imposes an 11% excise tax on the sale of firearms, firearm parts and ammunition. It's expected to generate $159 million in its first year to help fund state programs for gun violence prevention and gang intervention.

The complaint, which seeks to block the new law, said the excise tax is a violation of the 2nd Amendment because its a special tax on gun owners. It states that the U.S. Supreme Court "has repeatedly held that constitutional rights cannot be singled out for special taxation.

Here, California effectively seeks the power to destroy the exercise of a constitutional right by singling it out for special taxation, the complaint reads. If this tax is permitted, there is nothing stopping California from imposing a 50% or even 100% tax on a constitutional right it disfavors  whether it be the right to keep and bear arms, the right to free exercise of religion, or any other right.

Read more: Opinion: Will California's new tax on gun sales reduce firearm violence?

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the defendant in the case, said it does not comment on pending litigation.

Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs said the gun tax is a modern Jim Crow law that targets people and rights hated by tyrants like Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"California's firearms excise tax is a blatant and egregious attack on the rights of Californians and a calculated maneuver to dismantle the Second Amendment," said Randy Kozuch, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.

Daniel Villasenor, spokesman for the governors office, said the cost of gun violence far outweighs the cost of the tax.

This is a modest investment in gun violence prevention programs that are proven to work, he said. Theres a reason California is ranked the No. 1 state for gun safety  and we wont back down from defending common sense policies like this that help save lives.

Read more: Gun makers and retailers barred from selling ghost gun kits in California, court rules

The lawsuit was also brought on behalf of two licensed gun owners: Danielle Jaymes, a resident of San Diego County, and Joshua Gerken, a resident of Orange County.

The individuals are probably members of all the associations that are also plaintiffs, said C.D. Michel, attorney for the plaintiffs.

The pair purchased mostly ammunition for training and self-defense purposes hours after the law went into effect on July 1, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit states that Jaymes also planned to purchase a handgun  a Sig Sauer P365 XMacro, a subcompact semiautomatic pistol  but put it off due to the increased cost from the tax. She is now saving money to purchase it.

Ms. Jaymes would purchase this handgun within the coming weeks if it did not cost 11% more, the complaint reads.

Gerken, a member of the NRA and an occasional firearms instructor at local gun ranges, said he purchases ammunition once a month but may have to cut back due to the new tax, according to the complaint.

Read more: Supreme Court turns down a 2nd Amendment challenge to state bans on assault weapons

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a group of 2nd Amendment challenges to a state law in Illinois that prohibited the sale of rapid-fire assault weapons. Had the court granted the appeals, it would have threatened Californias long-standing ban of most rapid-fire assault rifles as well.

The justices' decision means the lawsuits against Illinois' ban will continue to be heard in the lower courts.

Separately, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco is weighing a 2nd Amendment challenge to Californias ban on assault weapons. A federal judge in San Diego declared the ban unconstitutional last year, calling assault rifles "commonly owned and kept for lawful purposes," and the 9th Circuit agreed to hear the state's appeal.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
One person died and a Yellowstone National Park ranger was wounded on Independence Day, a popular time for visitors, at Canyon Village. Photo courtesy of U.S. Parks Service.

July 4 (UPI) -- A gunman died and a Yellowstone National Park ranger was wounded on Independence Day, a popular time for visitors, at Canyon Village, the National Park Service said.

The incident began Wednesday night and lasted into the morning at Canyon Village, which is south of Tower Falls in the central part of the park in Wyoming, according to a press release from NPS.

There no longer are active threats to the public but an area around the Canyon Lodge complex remains closed as part of the investigation, the agency said.

Rangers responded to a report of a person with a firearm making threats at Canyon Village.

They exchanged gunfire with the individual, who died. The gunman's identity has been released.

The ranger, whose name has not been released, is in stable condition and being treated at a hospital.

The FBI is leading the investigation with help from National Park Service special agents.

Yellowstone, with 2,219,791 acres, is located mainly in the northwest cortner of Wyoming and extends into Montana and Idaho.

It was established in 1872 by the U.S. Congress as "a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people."
The unidentified gunman was shot and killed by park rangers near Yellowstones Canyon Village, pictured, on Thursday (Google Maps)

Park rangers shot and killed a gunman whod fired at them after making threats in Yellowstone National Park early Thursday morning.

The shooting happened after rangers received reports of a person with a gun making threats, the National Parks Service (NPS) said in a statement. When the officers arrived, the unnamed person shot at them and they fired back, according to the NPS. The shooter injured one officer before the rangers fatally shot him.

The officer who was shot is in stable condition at a local Wyoming hospital, the NPS said on Thursday afternoon.

The unidentified gunman was shot and killed by park rangers near Yellowstones Canyon Village, pictured, on Thursday (Google Maps)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now investigating, the NPS said. The shooting happened in Yellowstones Canyon Village, a cluster of lodges for visitors, which is currently closed as officers look into the incident.

There is no longer any danger to visitors, the NPS said.

Earlier this year, Yellowstone rangers had to step in when a reportedly drunk tourist harassed a group of bison and kicked one of the animals in the leg.

Rangers arrested 40-year-old Clarence Yoder for attacking the animal. They said he sustained minor injuries from the encounter with the bison. He was charged with intoxication, disorderly conduct, and approaching and disturbing wildlife.

Park rangers say 40-year-old Clarence Yoder harrassed a group of bison, kicking one of the animals in the leg (NPS / Jacob W. Frank)

Rangers also arrested the man driving the car Yoder was found in. They charged the driver with driving under the influence, failing to yield to a police car and disturbing wildlife.

The men, who were both from Idaho, pleaded not guilty.
The sun sets in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Independence Day Eve 2024. (Photo by Shaun Griswold / Source NM)

I dont skip over any words in the Declaration of Independence.

I find and lose meaning in the words that give Americans this day, this Independence Day, the ability to pop out and show the entire neighborhood how much they paid for the booms some of us light freely into the sky.

For me the Fourth is a day off work to barbecue and watch a few artillery shells explode over Albuquerque that someone may have brought from Texas or Oklahoma.

These are the truths I made self-evident in my Indigenous American life as I read the words from the declaration that colonists used to become U.S. royalty and mark its enemy, i.e. people like me, to westward expansion.

The declaration that set out to create the destructive government on this day in 1776 wanted to control new territories on the continent. The British monarchy, which wanted to move west from the Atlantic itself, needed to get out of the way.

The Declaration of Independence lists a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

This is the part where Americans build an identity of separation from British rule. To remove oneself from an oppressive government. Ideas about taxation without representation. A belief that a common enemy is harming the progress of those free men in their pursuit of their God-given fortune.

And in true American xenophobia, the founders used the last line in its statement of Facts to blame a group of people it exploited, marginalized and rendered voiceless.



He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

With that part included in its Declaration of Independence, the U.S. declared to the people living on this continent for millennia that any deviance from this new government would contribute to domestic insurrection, and those people would be marked as merciless Indian Savages.

It became the very foundation for Native American peoples relationship with the federal government  from the battles for our very existence to the rights we should receive after U.S. citizenship was established in 1924: access to health care, land and education to build the societies we are working on now.

I just read merciless Indian Savage again to myself and looked around at the people sitting in my living room in Albuquerque, New Mexico, right now who are from Zuni, Jemez, Laguna, Dine, Comanche, Cherokee, Kewa and Taos.

I read it to them. A mix of sadness, anger and laughter filled the room, because sometimes thats all you can do when faced with this countrys hypocrisy.

I see mercy in all their faces. They show it in the work they do in education, law enforcement, arts and health care. They pray to it with songs and ceremonies once banned and punished under the authority of documents like the Declaration of Independence.

Call me and all my relations merciless when you read the Declaration of Independence today. Read it out loud. Say the words. Do not skip them. Live with them.

Then seek the truth.

We merciful NDNs exist in this country, some of us thrive in it publicly and privately. Many of us are like you and doing our best. We do this despite the objectification, justification for genocide and general degredation of our Indigenous being in a document that forms a hypocritical government meant to give rights to all men.

Were not the only ones living with ultra-resilient DNA, this countrys foundation of injustice makes a lot of us built differently, Native or not.

I wont tell you too much about what this country is or where it will go. Im trying my best to figure it out. The Fourth of July can be a space for reflection on the values we want, but that is also so warped that I dont even think we know how to define value beyond what a store would print on a receipt.

Truth is a value I will always stand by. Its core to my soul. My truth in the Fourth of July is a celebration of the merciless Indians slandered when this country started, and our persistence for truth and justice.

And for myself, that is clearly evident.

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The harm thats been done cannot be undone: Family of sexually abused sixth grader sues Decatur school district

DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA)  Lawyers for the family of a Decatur Public Schools student who was sexually assaulted by his substitute teacher are speaking out after filing a lawsuit that aims to quash the outbreak of malfeasance of physical abuse at the school district.

The family has filed a lawsuit against Alley Bardfield, a former Decatur substitute teacher who allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted one of her sixth grade students. It alleges 12 counts against both Bardfield and the district, including negligence, battery, and theft of communication service.

READ MORE: Decatur Public Schools sued by family of student allegedly sexually assaulted by substitute teacher

Bardfield pleaded not guilty for the criminal charge of criminal sexual assault in April. She appeared in court Wednesday for her criminal case, where a judge ruled she will continue to stay in jail.

The lawyers for the family said this lawsuit will hold the district accountable.

The harm thats been done cannot be undone, Zack Reynolds, an associate attorney with Cunningham Lopez, LLP which is representing the family, said. The hope is that we can prevent this from happening in the future.

One of the main focuses in the lawsuit is on Erins Law, a state law mandating trainings on sexual abuse for school personnel. The lawsuit alleges Bardfield has no record of completing any such training in her time at the district. By not requiring the trainings, the familys lawyer said the district has turned a blind eye to abuse.

The lawsuit details more times the employees of the district have not followed procedures recommended in state-mandated trainings, including one where two school employees had sex on school property in winter 2024 during school hours.

READ MORE: Decatur SRO under investigation for inappropriate relationship with school staff member

We have an environment that shows a complete disregard, on behalf of the district, of state law, Reynolds said. Including state law that provides for trainings that are supposed to prevent situations just like this.

A spokesperson for Decatur Public Schools declined commenting to WCIA on the lawsuit in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation process.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
The Head of NASA Is Being Awfully Catty About China's Amazing New Moon Samples

China recently became the first country in history to return samples taken from the far side of the Moon, a historic mission that could have profound implications on our understanding of our natural satellite's evolution and ability to host human life.

But thanks to a law called the Wolf Amendment, enacted by the US government in 2011, American scientists will be largely barred from participating in the analysis of these samples, an impediment leaders of China's space program were quick to point out.

"The source of the obstacle in US-China aerospace cooperation is still in the Wolf Amendment," China National Space Administration vice chair Bian Zhigang told reporters last week. "If the US truly wishes to engage in normal space exchanges with China, I think they should take concrete measures to remove these obstacles."

In a surprisingly spiteful retort earlier this week, NASA administrator Bill Nelson shot back.

"Make it available to the international community just as we will when we start bringing additional samples back, and as we did a half a century ago with the samples brought back from the six Apollo moon landings," he told CNN.

Nelson has often had harsh words for China's space ambitions, suggesting that the country is hiding military experiments in space and intends to seize lunar resources.

Still, the moon rocks statement is puzzling given the Chinese space program's willingness to share its unique scientific treasure. (To be fair, Nelson did acknowledge that he was "pleased to hear" that China "intends to share" the materials, but the overall tone still felt unnecessarily catty.)

That's doubly true because there's still a chance that the 4.4 pounds of material collected by China's Chang'e 6 rover earlier this year can be examined by American scientists.

"We are going through the process right now with our scientists and our lawyers to make sure that the instructions and guardrails that the Chinese are insisting on... are not a violation of the law, the Wolf Amendment," Nelson told CNN. "As of this moment, I dont see a violation."

While the amendment prevents NASA from using government funds to cooperate directly with China, it has a clause that would allow such cooperation if the agency receives certification from the FBI, proving that there are no threats to national security or risks of inadvertently leaking space-related tech or data.

NASA has already urged scientists to apply to study samples returned by China's Chang'e 5 mission to the near side of the Moon in 2020, announcing that it had received the necessary certifications at the time.

China remains the only country in the world to softly touch down on the far side of the Moon, let alone return samples, making the cache genuinely unique for the scientific community.

NASA, however, is already eying returning astronauts to the surface as part of its 2026 Artemis III mission, something that is "magnitudes more difficult than a robotic landing," as Nelson told CNN.

But whether the agency will fulfill its lofty promises remains to be seen. Its first crewed mission to the lunar surface in more than 50 years is an incredibly complex Rube Goldberg machine involving its Space Launch System rocket, its Orion spacecraft, and SpaceX's gargantuan Starship acting as a last-mile shuttle in lunar orbit.

In other words, NASA has a lot to prove  and the Wolf Amendment only stands in the way of its ambitions.

More on the Wolf Amendment: There's an Extremely Stupid Reason NASA Scientists Can't Study China's Amazing New Moon Rocks
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Recruiting more doctors and building more infrastructure for healthcare professionals to work in are just some of the pressing needs healthcare leaders in New Mexico talked to lawmakers about this week. New Mexico like every state is challenged with having enough healthcare workforce, said Dr. Mike Richards, SVP of Clinical Affairs of UNM Health Sciences.

Story continues below

Healthcare leaders in the state laid out for the legislative Health and Human Services Committee this week, how to fix the problems with New Mexicos healthcare systems. University of New Mexico Hospital leaders noted the workforce need is increasing because of a slight decline in birth rates and the states aging population, which demands more healthcare services. So, even if the population numbers stay the same, the overall demand needs for healthcare can go up, Dr. Mike Richard.

The data also shows the average age of a physician is 53 years old. If you have an older healthcare workforce, which we do in New Mexico, that means youre going to have a greater need in the future as those healthcare professionals retire, he said.

UNM Health and Sciences told lawmakers the states rural landscape also makes it hard to recruit workers and create more access to healthcare. They talked to lawmakers about recruiting strategies like having enhanced loan repayments and competitive salaries. Both UNMH and Presbyterian Healthcare Systems said theyd like to see more pipeline programs to get younger students interested in STEM and even medical careers earlier.

UNMH said if things dont change, projections show by 2034 the state could be down 1,300 doctors and more than 5,000 nurses. Presbyterian said theyre anticipating a need for even more staff for a 108-bed expansion at its campus.

UNM Health Sciences is also in the midst of an expansion. For example, as we complete our UNM hospital new tower, were going to need many more providers. thousands, said Dr. Douglas Ziedonis, EVP Health Sciences and CEO UNM Health.

Healthcare leaders said more expansions like these are also needed, especially in those rural parts of the state. When we think about creating access to healthcare, its not just about the people but its making sure that we have the healthcare infrastructure to recruit healthcare professionals into, said Dr. Richards.

Presbyterian and UNM Health Sciences also shared their efforts to retain their staff which included offering work-life balance, competitive salaries, and opportunities to advance.



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CALHOUN COUNTY, Ark.  Wednesday was chaotic for many in Calhoun County after officials said an explosion left two people injured and another missing.

Officials said the explosion happened at the General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems facility east of Camden, which produces and stores military munitions.

They do everything they can, but something went wrong this morning, Calhoun County Judge Floyd Nutt said.

General Dynamics reports two injuries, missing person in energetic incident at Camden facility

According to the company, two people were injured in the explosion and one is missing. Ouachita County Medical Center officials confirmed they treated one in their emergency room and transported another to the Camden Municipal Airport to be med-flighted to receive treatment outside of Arkansas.

Its heartbreaking, Calhoun County local Allison Stevens Gosselink said. Were thinking about all those involved.

US military chief tours Camden arms plant with GOP lawmakers to show that Ukraine aid boosts jobs at home

People in nearby Hampton say this is the second tragedy theyve faced recently as the Mad Butcher in Fordyce is their nearest grocery store.

Everyone here knew at least one person who was in that area when that shooting happened and then this morning, its a lot of tragedy in a short period of time, Gosselink said.

Nutt said the investigation into what happened is being handled above the county level.

I know theyre going to get to the bottom of this, Nutt said. Its bad. Im sad it happened, and hopefully it wont happen again.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Arkansas is stepping up to aid national defense with new East Camden missile manufacturing facility

General Dynamics officials have not released a statement since Wednesday morning. They said they will provide more information as it becomes available.





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Heat waves are getting longer and more brutal. Heres why your AC cant save you anymore

When Hurricane Ida battered Louisiana with catastrophic flooding and powerful winds in August 2021, more than 1 million people lost power. Then came the heat wave. Temperatures rose above 90 degrees Fahrenheit  a sucker punch to those sweltering in their homes, unable to turn on air conditioning as power outages stretched on for days.

It was the heat that proved deadliest in New Orleans, responsible for at least nine of the citys 14 hurricane-related deaths.

The combination of a hurricane, heat wave and a multi-day power outage is a nightmare scenario, but its one set to become more common as humans continue to warm the planet, fueling devastating extreme weather. And it reveals an uncomfortable truth about the vulnerability of humanitys ultimate protection against heat: Air conditioning.

Air conditioning is far from perfect. It gobbles up energy, most of which still comes from planet-heating fossil fuels, meaning it exacerbates the very problem its used to mitigate. Plus, its only available to those who can afford it, further widening social inequality.

But it is also a lifeline against increasingly brutal heat, the deadliest type of extreme weather. It allows people to live in places where temperatures push close to the limits of survivability and where extreme heat persists even at night.

Demand for AC is exploding, expected to triple worldwide by 2050, as global temperatures soar and incomes grow.

The problem is, without electricity, access to air conditioning is lost. And many electrical grids are being pushed to a breaking point due to increasingly frequent extreme weather and soaring demand for cooling.

Weather accounted for 80% of major power outages across the US between 2000 and 2023, according to a report from Climate Central, a nonprofit research group. Every aspect of weather is beating on the already vulnerable grid and really giving it a test, said Jen Brady, a senior data analyst at Climate Central.

In the US, the aging grid was designed for the weather of the past, rather than the weather of the future, said Michael Webber, a professor in mechanical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin.

The main threat is storms, which can bring down transmission wires and poles. But heat, too, is having an impact. If its really hot, the system works less efficiently. Webber compares it to how someone might feel running a marathon in the heat  we just kind of break down. The grid can also buckle under the weight of demand as everyone cranks up their AC at the same time to cope with high temperatures.

The number of major outages in the US  affecting more than 50,000 customers and lasting at least an hour  doubled between 2017 and 2020, said Brian Stone Jr., a professor specializing in urban environmental planning and design at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Most of the increase is happening during the summer months, that tells me that these systems are not resilient, he told CNN.

Surging demand for cooling during an August 2020 heat wave in California prompted the states main grid operator to cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes in rolling blackouts for the first time in 20 years.

In 2021, during the blistering heat wave that scorched the Pacific Northwest, power equipment buckled in the heat, triggering rolling blackouts for tens of thousands as temperatures soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is not just the US that is struggling. In June, when temperatures in southern Europe topped 104 degrees Fahrenheit, parts of Albania, Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro experienced hours-long blackouts as demand for electricity spiked.

People waiting in extreme heat to buy ice at Duplantier Ice Service in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 1, 2021, as power remained out in most of the city after Hurricane Ida ripped through the state. - Leah Millis/Reuters

Even short power outages can be dangerous. If the grid goes out while theres a heat wave, it goes from uncomfortable to deadly pretty quickly, Webber said.

Heat can affect vital organs and cause heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death. If the power goes out when its very cold, people can add layers, make fires and huddle together. If it gets really hot, theres only one way to cool, and that is with electricity, Webber said.

The combination of a heat wave and power outages is the most deadly climate-related event we can imagine, said Stone.

He and a team of scientists explored the potential impacts of a heat wave coinciding with a multi-day outage caused by extreme weather or a cyberattack. Focusing on Atlanta, Detroit and Phoenix, they looked at exposure inside peoples homes, a major driver of heat-related illness during a power outage.

The figures were particularly stark for Phoenix. During a three to four-day heat event and outage, half the citys population  nearly 800,000 people  would require hospital treatment for heat-related illnesses, according to the findings. More than 13,000 would die.

A power outage in Phoenix causes a very dramatic shift in heat illness, Stone said, because the citys climate is so extreme and people struggle to adapt. In an unfortunate irony, widespread air conditioning may actually make residents less resilient because they are so acclimatized to cooling in their homes and workplaces, Stone said.

Authorities in Phoenix say the city is well prepared. Kate Gallego, the citys mayor, said Stones research was based on an extremely unlikely scenario. The study does not account for any of the existing emergency response plans in place, or the fact that our electric grid consistently ranks among the most reliable in the country, Gallego told CNN.

Arizona Public Service, one of the energy companies providing power in Phoenix, said it has robust plans in place to prevent large-scale interruptions and regularly maintains the grid.

But while the chances of a combined multi-day power outage and heat wave in Phoenix may be low, Stone said, its still possible and becoming more likely as the climate crisis worsens.

A man drinking water in his tent in "the Zone," the largest homeless encampment in Phoenix, Arizona, during the city's worst heat wave on record, on July 25, 2023. - Mario Tama/Getty Images

Drastically cutting planet-heating pollution is the best long-term defense against heat and extreme weather, but the world is already committed to several decades of rising temperatures, Stone said.

In the shorter-term, there are ways to limit vulnerabilities.

Making the grid more robust and resilient is one, Stone said. This includes repairs and upgrades that take into account the climate of the future. Expanding and modernizing the grid, including adding more power plants and ensuring a diverse range of energy sources, will help strengthen it too, Webber said.

But we also need to acknowledge that those grids will fail, and they are failing with greater rate of frequency, and so we need to have back-up plans, Stone said.

That means rethinking cities, where heat-trapping concrete, steel and asphalt have replaced trees. Designing urban areas to be greener and cooler can really increase grid resilience without investing in the grid itself, he said.

Climate Centrals Brady pointed to community solar projects, which can keep local power on when the grid goes down. Babcock Ranch in Florida  Americas first solar-powered town  managed to keep the lights on in 2022 when Hurricane Ian barreled through, unlike nearby towns.

Making homes more efficient will also help, Webber said. Homes better adapted to extreme weather can help reduce electricity demand when temperatures soar.

Ultimately, were vulnerable because weve built our lives around conditioned air, Webber said, living in places where life would be impossible without it. The stress extreme weather is putting on the grid shows climate change is here and we need to be dealing with it.

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Heavy rain forecast in Delaware on July 4. Will fireworks get rained out?

It's July 4, our national day of freedom ond blowing things up.

Unless, that is, the rain comes.

"Heavy rain" is possible this evening in New Castle County, according to National Weather Service reports. Clouds were already gathering somewhere over the Midwest as of Thursday morning, ready to push a possible storm front into Delaware this evening, as crowds gather to watch explosions in the sky.

So what gives? Will Delaware fireworks displays get rained out on the Fourth of July? The answer, sadly, is "perhaps." And also, "It depends." Here's what we know.

More: Everything to know about Fourth of July weekend at the Delaware beaches

More: Where to watch 4th of July fireworks in Delaware, and tips on taking photos

Does Delaware's forecast call for rain during the fireworks on July 4?

As of early July 4, NOAA predicts a more than 40% chance of rain in Wilmington between 4 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on Independence Day potentially dampening fireworks. The reddish brown line shows precipitation chances. Blue is cloud cover. Green is humidity.

First, the good news: After an afternoon high in the 90s, evening temperatures will be pleasant, descending into the low 80s and high 70s as the night progresses.

Now the bad news: If you're in New Castle County, it'll probably rain at some point. Possibly even "excessively."

"There's a chance of precipitation all across northern Delaware," said Philadelphia/Mount Holly weather station meteorologist Joe DeSilva.

Starting around 4 p.m., and intensifying until 8 p.m., there's a significant chance of rain in New Castle County, as a weather system moves in from inland.

This rain threat isn't expected to subside in Northern Delaware until about 10:30 p.m., DeSilva said, which means fireworks displays in Hockessin and the Wilmington Riverfront may be in jeopardy of being drizzly or delayed.

An excessive rain warning is also in effect for parts of New Castle County this evening, as heat and humidity combine into a threat of thunderstorms.

That said, it'll be difficult to say exactly where and when the rainfall will strike in New Castle County, say meteorologists. Until after around 10L30 p.m., the chance of rain in northern Delaware will be approximately a coin flip at any given moment, wherever you are.

"There'll definitely be some showers and storms around," DeSilva said. "But to pinpoint exactly where it will be at this point? That's difficult to say."

So, uh, plan accordingly.

Will Delaware beaches see rain during fireworks on July 4?

Fireworks light up the night sky in Rehoboth Beach on July 4, 2014.

If you'd like to avoid the rain during fireworks displays today, now is probably the time to head south.

The rain forecast will be far better in southern Delaware than in the north, both inland and at the beaches.

No excessive rain warnings are in effect for Kent and Sussex Counties. What's more, the threat of rain is below 30% at the southern Delaware beaches, which means fireworks displays are far less likely to be affected.

By the time you get as far south as Ocean City, Maryland, the chance of rain drops to about 25%.

How much rain will Delaware see on July 4?

A man stands outside his flooded bottom floor apartment at Tatnall and 28th Street as torrential rains fell in the area early Wednesday evening, Nov. 11, 2020.

Here's the good news: Even though the chance of rain is quite high, weather forecasts don't call for a large quantity of precipitation  about a tenth of an inch or so.

Unless you get hit with a thunderstorm that is, at which point all bets are off.

So while it's wise to bring an umbrella and maybe even a rain slicker if you're headed outside for the evening, the rain may be a temporary setback, according to the forecasts this morning.

Contact Matthew Korfhage at mkorfhage@delawareonline.com.

.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Will Delaware see rain during fireworks on July 4?
On July 2, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published a so-called exclusive report claiming that a study from a Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) showed that images captured from space show the growth of Cuba's electronic eavesdropping stations that are believed to be linked to China, including new construction at a previously unreported site about 70 miles from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. This claim has been refuted by the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, the spokespersons of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the US.

"Here it comes again," it is people's general reaction to this news. In June 2023, the WSJ had cited "US officials" in claiming that China and Cuba had reached a "secret agreement" for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility in Cuba. This report was subsequently debunked by both the White House and Cuban authorities. One has to wonder whether the WSJ, a newspaper with over a century of history, has any basic editorial and fact-checking procedures in place. The July 2 report, authored by the same journalist as last year's piece, appears oblivious to the glaring inconsistencies and contradictions between the two pieces of articles.

For instance, last year's report claimed that China and Cuba had reached an agreement "in principle" to allow the former to build the eavesdropping station in Cuba. This year's report, however, states that the "new" eavesdropping station had already begun construction as early as 2021. Moreover, the CSIS report's author claimed to have identified the spying facilities in Cuba "after analyzing years' worth of satellite imagery." However, one of the locations, referred to as "El Salao," according to the report's coordinates, actually points to the landmark building National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Charity del Cobre in the village of El Cobre -- which is a church.

As for how these "eavesdropping stations" are linked to China, the WSJ claimed that it is "believed" to be the case. The WSJ did not provide an explanation for this "belief," while CSIS stated it was due to China and Cuba's cooperation in space technology. This is a clear case of concocting charges without substantial evidence. The facts are murky, but the conclusions are explicit, directly targeting China.

The CSIS report further specifies that it was jointly produced by Hidden Reach and the Americas Program. The former utilizes so-called satellite imagery and open-source information to long-term vilify China for allegedly using civilian research vessels for intelligence gathering and expanding polar expeditions. Essentially, the move aims to leverage the US' global surveillance system to propagate the "China threat theory."

Put it simply. The WSJ, CSIS, and the forces behind were not seeking objectivity and fairness, but for concocting a "dirty bomb" of public opinion to align with Washington to suppress China and Cuba. Therefore, they couldn't be bothered to do basic fact-checking and editing before publishing. Yet, the report that has already been debunked by the US White House and Cuba remains on the WSJ's website. It is far from the "glory" of the WSJ.

Such reports not only have major factual problems, but also have a skewed value system. For example, they claim that the so-called eavesdropping station is not far from the US' Guantanamo Bay naval base. In fact, the forcibly leased Guantanamo Bay naval base is a century-old proof of illegal US interference in Cuba. The US military had also used Guantanamo Bay as an information intelligence station to monitor Latin American countries.

Needless to say, the US has 750 military bases in more than 80 countries and regions overseas, including dozens in Latin America and the Caribbean area. The US continually conducts close-in reconnaissance against China in the South China Sea. In April, the US even deployed the Mid-Range Capability ground-based missile system on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is clear who is engaging in double standards and who is threatening other countries and the world.

Why does the US keep hyping up "Chinese spying" on Cuba, even fabricating facts? On one hand, as Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said, all these are fallacies promoted with the deceitful intention of justifying the unprecedented tightening of the blockade, destabilization and aggression against Cuba. On the other hand, the relationship between China and Cuba is at its best in history. Not long ago, direct flights between China and Cuba resumed, and Cuba announced unilateral visa exemption for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passport. While seeing Latin America as its "backyard," the US cannot tolerate them developing independent diplomacy, and always tries to steer Cuba into a strategic competition track with other countries according to its strategic intentions.

The repeated mention of the Cuban missile crisis in the WSJ's reporting indicates that Cold War mentality is deeply ingrained in the minds of some Americans. They have not fully learned the historical lessons of the Cold War period, which led to division in the Americas and globally, and also damaged US' interests. They are still obsessed with great power geopolitical competition. China's cooperation with Cuba is done aboveboard, and does not target any third party. The real need for introspection lies with the US itself, and what needs to be corrected is Washington's Cold War mentality. Source: Global Times)
A helicopter can now deliver you to 11 Greek islands in a quarter of the time a ferry takes

Hoper offers scheduled helicopter flights to and from 11 destinations in Greece. David C Tomlinson/Getty

A new company, hoper, offers scheduled helicopter flights to 11 Greek destinations.

Flights drastically cut travel time compared to traditional ferries, which can up to take six hours.

More companies are offering premium travel options, like Blade and Uber's helicopter services.

Greece's island-goers can now fly to some of the country's most remote destinations in under 45 minutes.

Athens-based helicopter company hoper, which launched this summer, is the first that lets customers book scheduled flights to and from 11 destinations. Visitors can fly from Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini to other islands like Antiparos, Spetses, and Tinos.

One-way fares start at $195 and can go up to about $380, depending on location. A 48-minute flight from Athens to Mykonos, without any luggage, costs nearly $440 for the end of August, according to hoper's website.

"With hoper, we turn hours into minutes, and travelers earn up to a full day of vacation," said hoper CEO Demitris Memos in a press release last month.

Ferry services in Greece tend to stop at multiple islands, adding to travel time. For instance, ferry trips from Athens to Mykonos start at $46 and can take up to six hours.

Hoper also offers chartered helicopter flights for the same routes.

Helicopter companies globally are increasingly offering flights  chartered or scheduled  for people willing to pay a premium to slash time spent traveling. Locals don't always love the extra noise, though. New York City is eyeing regulations for helicopters after noise complaints soared in 2023, compared to the prior year.

Earlier this week, six of Marriott's most luxurious hotels in New York City said they are offering free helicopter airport transfers to some of their top-paying guests.

The flights will be operated by Blade, a private helicopter services company that launched in 2014. Operating in New York, Southern California, and the Bay Area, Blade sells private or shared rides to airports and places like the Hamptons.

Blade competes with Uber's helicopter services and newer players like Archer and Volocopter, part of a booming industry betting on air taxis becoming more mainstream.

Do you live in Greece and have thoughts on helicopters or other "air taxis" becoming more popular? Get in touch with this reporter: shubhangigoel@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Her partner died in her arms. Gwinnett officer hopes new law helps other first responders with PTSD

A Gwinnett County police officer who watched her partner die in the line of duty is leading the charge for more mental health care for first responders.

Channel 2 Gwinnett Bureau Chief Matt Johnson spoke with her about a new law taking effect that she hopes will save lives.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Police officers, like any first responders, never know when they will walk into a traumatic experience.

We see peoples worst day day in and day out, Sgt. Ashley Wilson told Johnson.

Wilson says her worst day was in 2018, the day her partner, Officer Antwan Toney, died in the line of duty.

Before Officer Toney had chance to shut his door, he was shot six times, Wilson said.

Toney died in Wilsons arms. She says it changed everything about her.

I became very depressed and was considering suicide, she said.

Since then, Wilson has been fighting for better mental health support for Georgia first responders.

Our suicide rates in the first responder community are astronomical, and we need some help, she said.

Lawmakers at the state Capitol started listening. Rep. Devan Seabaugh is a former paramedic and worked with Wilson on a bill.

I think its going to save a lot of lives down the road, Seabaugh said.

RELATED STORIES:

In May, Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Ashley Wilson Act that went into effect this week. It makes getting mental health services for first responders a lot easier.

Theyll get a $3,000 cash benefit once theyre diagnosed with PTSD, Seabaugh explained.

First responders can also take extra time to recover from trauma if its needed before they return to work.

A three-year or 36-month supplemental salary benefit will kick in, Seabaugh said.

Wilson said she has racked up thousands of dollars in medical bills to eventually overcome her PTSD. She hopes the journey for others isnt as hard.

This was all about leaving the profession a little bit better than I found it, she told Johnson.

This is the first program of its kind in the country with the hope that other states follow Georgias lead.

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IN OTHER NEWS
Cows stand near a fire that started as a result of missile and drone attacks from Lebanon into Israel. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

The pro-Iranian Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah has fired some 200 missiles and drones into areas in northern Israel, it said on Thursday, to avenge the previous day's killing of one of their commanders.

"As part of the response to the attack and assassination carried out by the enemy in the Al-Housh area in the city of Tyre ... the Islamic Resistance [Hezbollah] carried out attacks with more than 200 missiles of various types," a statement by the group said.

It added that missiles had hit several Israeli army bases.

Hezbollah later referred to a further air attack "with a drone squadron."

There was no initial comment on the attack by the Israeli army.

The Israeli army confirmed on Wednesday that it had killed the commander of Hezbollah's Aziz Unit, Mohammed Naameh Nasr. It added that the unit is responsible for firing rockets and anti-tank missiles from south-western Lebanon at Israeli territories.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese state-run National News Agency reported that a man was killed in an Israeli strike in Houla on Thursday and a woman was wounded in an Israeli strike on Shebaa.

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been fighting almost daily since the beginning of the Gaza war.

There are fears that the conflict could spread as Israel wants Hezbollah to withdraw behind the Litani river, 30 kilometres from the border - as stipulated in UN resolution 1701.
Hicks: Freedom is in the air around us. Embracing it is slow and hard.

Simply living in the United States is as easy as it gets, and almost always has been.

However, fully participating in the American experiment is very demanding. No government before or since has asked citizens to do something as difficult as embracing the ideas of our founding documents. The rewards for doing so build the very foundation for American exceptionalism.

Our founding was an extraordinary moment in world history, and the Founding Fathers were well aware of it. Our Declaration of Independence took great care to explain why we were leaving the British Empire, and what the new nation would be. The simple claim that we hold these truths self-evident . . . is simply the single most important sentence ever written.

Following a dozen years of war and debate, we forged from that a Constitution that was even more radical. It made clear that the ability to assemble together in crowds, to speak without control of government and to worship as one sees fit were inalienable rights. These were given by our Creator, not a government.

Moral courage brought us to today

By the time these words were written, we were already a polyglot nation of many faiths, ethnicities and races. A tiny few came to enjoy royal land grants. Most were escaping religious persecution, deported as criminals, imported as mercenaries or peasants fleeing poverty. Others came as chattel slaves.

Remarkably, the framers of the Constitution wrote broadly enough to ensure the expansion of that vision of inalienable rights would eventually extend to everyone. It has taken time, bloodshed and heartache to get us where we are today. But most of all it took moral courage.

Fully embracing our Constitutional freedoms takes so much faith and moral courage that it has been called a secular religion. Like a religion, embracing the radical freedom of our nation is demanding. It asks that we look at other people, different people and strange people, and accept them as equals.

The Constitution makes no demand in our personal lives. We need not believe another religion holds truth, nor view another person as an equal. It does demand that in civil life we accept the radical idea of universal value. That, in the end, all of us matter.

The long road to basic freedoms

That radical idea compels us not merely to accept in civil life people we might find distasteful, who worship their Creator differently, who speak or dress or eat differently. We must assert them our equals under law. We must allow them to vote, to hold office and to share their ideas openly. This simple proposition takes more moral courage than anything any other government has asked of its citizens.

To be fair, you can live in our great nation without giving personal freedom much deep thought. Most of us dont walk around every day thinking about these matters. That is because freedom is in the air around us.

Still, we should reflect at how late many basic freedoms arrived. The Voting Rights Act, or Brown v. Board of Education have only come to pass in living memory. In 75 years, Americans will be equally puzzled why it took so long to legalize same-sex marriage.

Fireworks blast near a U.S. flag.

We should also reflect on how many of our fellow citizens fail the simplest tests of our Constitution. The antisemitic protests on college campuses are an appalling example of the failure of moral courage. The rise of Christian nationalism is an even greater risk to the Republic.

We should be heartened by the knowledge that the future doesnt belong to moral cowards, and an American future belongs to those who support and defend the Constitution; not those who reject freedom of speech and religion.

Freedom brings prosperity

These matters are political and moral, but it is the political economy of the Constitution that has given us enduring strength. The full embrace of our Constitution is a gateway to prosperity that was unimaginable to the Founders. I think Adam Smith, the father of economics, writing through the decade before our Declaration of Independence, would have anticipated much of our current prosperity.

Our Constitution calls upon us to treat one another as equals before the law. The discipline of this enables trade and commerce in ways that singularly enriched the United States of America.

Published in 1776, Smiths Wealth of Nations noted that the propensity to truck, barter and exchange was common to all humans. Thus trade, commerce, the simple act of selling ones labor, products or services was a human institution of high importance.

The Constitution, like no document before it, envisioned civil interactions between citizens who were equal before the law. Americans and American civil institutions disciplined to this view are far more able to conduct commerce than those of other nations.

It is difficult to fully demonstrate this truth. North America is an abundant land, full of natural resources. How can I be so confident that freedom, not natural bounty, makes the difference? Well, there are two ways.

First, we know from numerous studies, that individuals who live in free places economically outperform those who live in restricted places. China is a bountiful place as well, but the average American worker is about six times as productive as the average Chinese worker. The typical American worker produces the same value of goods and services by late afternoon on a Monday as a Chinese worker does all week.

Second, we know that places within freer nations do better than those that are less free. Growth in Europe was dominated for the last three centuries by trading hubs like London, Amsterdam and the Hanseatic cities. Freedom has always been the grease that eased the tasks of commercial interactions.

We all take some time to celebrate freedom on the Independence Day weekend. On the other 364 days of the year, we should marvel at what liberty has gifted each of us; the freedom to love as we wish, worship as we wish and speak without fear of retribution.

We should also remember how demanding it is to live within a system that proclaims as a central tenet that we are all equal before the law; and how easy it is for some of our fellow citizens to reject that universal birth right.

Michael J. Hicks is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: American exceptionalism began with our Declaration of Independence
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Health officials in Oceana County have issued a water contact advisory for Lake Michigans Lighthouse Beach at Silver Lake State Park.

The Michigan Public Health Code set the water quality standard for E. coli at 300 bacteria per 100 milliliters on any daily reading and 130 bacteria per 100 ml over a 30-day average.

What happens if E. coli is found in the water at your favorite beach?

Two of the three samples collected Tuesday had readings well below the threshold, but one sample showed 980 bacteria, triggering the advisory.

The Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy added the advisory to its BeachGuard page but did not state what caused the high bacteria levels.

Inside woodtv.com: Lake Michigan Summer Beach Guide

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most kinds of E. coli are harmless, but some can make you sick. Infections caused by those bacteria can cause diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia and even sepsis.

When swimming or conducting other water activities during periods of high bacterial levels, the risk of becoming ill from contamination increases, the District Health Department #10 said in a social media post. Children, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems are the most at risk.

Lighthouse Beach is one of seven active beach advisories across the state of Michigan, but the only one in West Michigan. There are also two advisories in Cheboygan County and Oakland County and one each in Arenac County and Macomb County.

Health officials urge visitors to monitor their social media pages and EGLEs BeachGuard website for updates.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
A Hillsborough County hospital is seeing an uptick in emergency room patients suffering from heat-related illnesses and is urging residents to take precautions during the Fourth of July weekend.

Early last month, HCA Florida Brandon Hospitals emergency room saw up to three patients each day with ailments like heat exhaustion, said Laura Stauter, communications and community engagement director.

Last week, those numbers surged to as many as 12 patients per day, and they have yet to drop in the lead-up to July Fourth, sparking concerns as people across Tampa Bay prepare for barbecues and beach time to celebrate the holiday.

Its hit very suddenly, Stauter said.

Some patients were admitted to the hospital, she said. One suffered heat stroke with a temperature of about 108 degrees and was taken to the intensive care unit, said Nicholas Chajec, an emergency resident physician at the hospital.

Those coming in sick have mostly been ages 40 to 60, but pediatric and elderly individuals have also been affected, he said.

Chajec expects a little bit more of an influx due to the holiday, and the emergency room is boosting its supply of cooling measures for patients.

July Fourth will be hot with high temperatures around 95 degrees in Tampa and 94 degrees in St. Petersburg, according to the National Weather Service. Heat index values are expected to reach up to 110.

High temperatures will hover in the low to mid 90s the rest of the weekend.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include a fast heart rate, headache, weakness, fatigue and nausea or vomiting, Chajec said. If you experience these and are outdoors, take a break, get out of the sun and stay hydrated, he said.

Severe cases can progress to heat stroke with symptoms such as confusion or loss of consciousness. Call 911 if this occurs.

Chajec urged people to limit their time outside in the heat and to keep drinking electrolyte-balanced fluids.

About 1,220 people in the U.S. are killed by extreme heat each year, even though such deaths are preventable, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older adults, young children and those with mental illness and chronic disease are at highest risk of getting sick.

The agency offers these tips for remaining safe in extreme heat:

Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going out. Reapply the sunscreen per the products instructions.

Drink plenty of fluids, including before you get thirsty. Avoid very sugary or alcoholic drinks.

Cut down on exercise in the heat. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

Try to limit outdoor activity to when its coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas.

Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible.

Never leave infants, children or pets in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked open.

Check on people who are at high risk.
A homeless man was arrested and charged with murder and elder abuse for allegedly pushing Corazon Dandan, 74, into the path of an oncoming commuter train Monday night in San Francisco. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI

July 3 (UPI) -- San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced charges Wednesday against a homeless man accused of pushing a 74-year-old Asian woman into the path of a moving train Monday night.

Trevor Belmont, 49, was arrested by Bay Area Rapid Transit police shortly after he allegedly pushed Corazon Dandan into an oncoming train at 11:06 p.m. PDT Monday at the BART Powell Street Station.

Dandan hit her head against the train and fell onto the platform.

Paramedics took her to San Francisco General Hospital for medical treatment where she died.

Belmont was charged Wednesday with one count of murder in a complaint that accuses him of causing great bodily inure to a vulnerable victim.

Jenkins described the crime as "tragic and truly shocking."

"Unprovoked attacks, especially on our most vulnerable, are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he said in a statement.

Belmont is scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The district attorney's office said it is seeking for him to be detained pending trial due to "the public safety risk he poses."

Dandan had completed her shift as a telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square in San Francisco and was waiting for her train to ride home to Daly City when she was shoved.

BART police said in a statement that officers quickly apprehended Belmont, who was booked on murder and elder abuse charges Tuesday morning.

Dandan was a "brave, independent woman" who grew up in the Philippines and moved by herself to the United States in the 1980s, her nephew, Dr. Alvin Dandan, told the San Francisco Chronicle.

He said she was married briefly, remained single afterward and was very generous and kind to her nieces and nephews.

"She put me through medical school," Alvin, an intensive care doctor in Illinois, said.

He said she often traveled overseas and was building a lakeside vacation home in the Philippines.

Corazon worked at the Westin St. Francis for more than 40 years, was a "cherished employee" and "will always be remembered fondly by her St. Francis family," hotel general manager Clif Clark told the Chronicle.

BART police said the alleged murder is the first this year on the public transit system and they don't know the motive.
HandyDART riders are watching closely as the labour dispute between unionized drivers and their employer Transdev heats up in Metro Vancouver.

Sara Gourley mainly gets around on her mobility scooter but says the prospect of reduced service during a potential strike would be devastating for many users.

"How do you go shopping? How do you get anywhere? To the doctors? To anywhere? You're totally locked in, Gourley told CTV News on Wednesday. It's like being imprisoned. It's not fair."

Drivers did not wear their uniforms on Wednesday  a part of escalating job action ahead of talks later this month.

For those who use the service, there is sympathy for the drivers  especially given the common refrain from both drivers and riders that operator Transdev relies too heavily on taxis to give people rides.

If they do go on strike, were there 1000 percent with them, HandyDART Riders Alliance co-founder Beth McKellar told CTV News on Wednesday. Yes, we may be inconvenienced for a little bit, but this is for the greater good.

The union stresses it will not rush to a walkout or a full on strike, but it isnt ruling anything out.

"It's on the table right now, but these next meetings are going to be pivotal, to see how we proceed from there and our next steps in job action, ATU Local 1724 president Joe McCann told CTV News on Wednesday. We're going to look at every avenue. We don't want to inconvenience our passengers."

Wages and HandyDART operator Transdev's increased use of taxis are the main complaints from drivers ahead of talks scheduled for mid-month.

TransLink directed CTV News to Transdev for comment on this story, but Transdev did not respond by deadline.

TransLink directed CTV News to Transdev for comment on this story. In a statement, Transdev said the two sides are expected to return to the bargaining table next week.

"Transdev remains hopeful that these discussions will lead to an agreement with the union."
Homicide charges filed against Marinette County man accused of inattentive driving in crash that killed 2

GROVER, Wis. (WFRV)  Charges of Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle have been filed against a Marinette County man accused of using his cell phone immediately before a crash that killed two women in early June.

A release provided by the Marinette County Sheriffs Office states that 46-year-old Scott Mathis faces two homicide charges relating to the June 2 crash in the Town of Grover that killed 44-year-old Elysia Kust and 73-year-old Mary Kust.

Hes just gone: Heartbroken family and frightened Oshkosh neighborhood mourn 19-year-old after homicide

According to the criminal complaint issued by the Marinette County District Attorneys Office, witnesses described that an SUV, driven by Mathis, was heading south on CTH W when he allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of CTH B, hitting the car with Elysia and Mary who were eastbound on CTH B.

Both Elysia and Mary Kust were later pronounced dead.

Authorities noted that an examination of Mathis cell phone showed phone activity immediately before the crash.

Court records show that Mathis has been charged with:

Two counts of Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle Felony G Up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both



Family with De Pere area ties identified as 6 dead following central Wisconsin house fire

Mathis is scheduled to make his initial court appearance at 8:30 a.m. on July 22.

The Marinette County Sheriffs Office investigated the incident with assistance from the Peshtigo Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Town of Grover Fire Department, the Marinette County DAs Office, and the Marinette County Medical Examiners Office.

No additional information was provided. Local 5 will continue to follow and update this story when more details are released.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
"This is devastating news for the family," authorities in Australia said on Thursday, July 4

ABC News (Australia) Photo of the area where missing 12-year-old child's remains were found.

Human remains have been found by police searching for a 12-year-old child who went missing after reportedly being attacked by a crocodile in Australia.

Northern Territory Police previously confirmed the child had gone missing at around 5:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, July 2 after she was last seen swimming at Mango Creek near the remote community of Palumpa, around 220 miles south west of Darwin.

On Thursday, July 4, the Australian authorities said they had "located remains near Palumpa believed to be that of a missing 12-year-old child," per a message shared on the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services Facebook page.

"The child was reportedly attacked by a crocodile in Mango Creek on Tuesday 2 July 2024. An extensive search effort was mounted in an effort to locate the child," the media release added.

This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search," Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said, per the release.

Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Northern Territory Police drive past Uluru in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.

Related: Australian Man Survives Crocodile Attack by Biting Back: Report

Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene, Gibson added.

The recovery has been made. It was particularly gruesome and a sad, devastating outcome, the officer also told reporters, per the Associated Press.

The outlet stated Gibson said the child's injuries confirmed a crocodile attack. Authorities searched for 36 hours to find the missing girl who hasn't so far been named, per AP.

Gibson previously told ABC Radio Darwin that the family was swimming at the creek as part of bush holidays near the town of Wadeye. Formerly known as Port Keats, the remote location is home to one of Australia's largest indigenous communities and has a population of around 2,000 people.

"They had attended the area, as they do for their holidays on homelands," she said, per ABC News Australia.

Gibson added that the Mango Creek waterway was "narrow, but long and winding."

"The depths vary, it's deep and dark in places," Gibson said, per the outlet. "It's surrounded by thick, dense pandanus, so the search is being conducted quite slowly... to check the area thoroughly."

Related: Man Killed, Woman Injured After Attack by Shark or Crocodile at Mexico Resort, Officials Say

Getty A stock photo of a crocodile.

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Per the AP, authorities are continuing the search for the crocodile.

According to Australia's Northern Territory website, the region is home to more than 100,000 crocodiles  the largest population of wild crocodiles in the world.

The Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

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Hurricane Beryl Death Toll Rises as Storm Moves Through the Caribbean and Causes Unimaginable Damage

Three people reportedly died in Grenada and Carriacou, three people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and three people in Venezuela

Joe Raedle/Getty Waves crash ashore as Hurricane Beryl passes through the area on July 03, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica

As Hurricane Beryl hits Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, the death toll continues to rise.

The death toll from the Category 4 hurricane has risen to at least nine at the time of publication, per Reuters. Three people reportedly died in Grenada and Carriacou, three people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and three people in Venezuela.

The number is expected to increase once communications come back online after being destroyed by the deadly tropical storms flooding and dangerous winds.

Hurricane Beryl peaked on the morning of Tuesday, July 2, and was identified as a Category 5 storm that hit smaller Caribbean islands. However, it remained a major hurricane when it reached Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday.

Before the storm reached Jamaica, Prime Minister Andrew Holness set a 12-hour curfew to start at 6 a.m. and issued an evacuation order for low-lying areas, per the New York Times.

Holness said that nearly 500 people were placed in shelters, per Associated Press. Holness said Wednesday evening that Jamaica has not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.

Joe Raedle/Getty Flood waters pour onto the street as Hurricane Beryl passes through the area on July 03, 2024, in Kingston, Jamaica.

Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said during a briefing that the islands will need to be rebuilt from the ground up after the storm hit with unimaginable and total destruction on Monday, per the New York Times. Many residents on Grenadas main island have lost their homes, but the destruction on the smaller islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique is significantly worse, Mitchell said.

Officials have said about 98% of the buildings on Carriacou and Petite Martinique have been either damaged or destroyed, including the airport, marinas and Carriacous main health facility, the Princess Royal Hospital, per the Times.

Approximately 9,000 to 10,000 people live on the small islands. As of Tuesday evening, residents on both did not have access to electricity and communication was down. Additionally, utility poles have fallen in the streets, trees have fallen and crops across the islands have been destroyed.

There is literally no vegetation left anywhere on the island of Carriacou, the mangroves are totally destroyed, Mitchell said, per the Times.

Officials are trying to assess the damage, focusing on the water supply and power grid.

Related: Couple Celebrating Anniversary in Jamaica Document Deadly Hurricane Beryls Approach  as Hotel Issues Warning

FRANCESCO SPOTORNO/AFP via Getty High tides are pictured after Hurricane Beryl in Santo Domingo on July 2, 2024.

The storm  which formed on Monday  became the earliest storm to begin as a Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean in the month of July, per Reuters. After peaking on Tuesday with winds of 165 mph, the storms winds decreased to about 100 miles on Wednesday. However, it had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Additionally, it moved west-northwest at 20 mph, and its strength winds extended 45 miles from the center.

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CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Billboards are seen fallen on the street as hurricane Beryl passes near to Bridgetown, Barbados on July 1, 2024.

The National Hurricane Center has issued a warning that Beryl will likely hit Mexico's Yucatan peninsula as early as Thursday night, per Reuters. Officials have advised residents and tourists in Cancun and Tulum to find shelter in basements as the hurricane comes through the peninsula.

It is expected to hit Mexican territory a second time and land in the Gulf Coast states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas, near the Texas border.



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Beryl hit the Caribbean on Wednesday, the earliest Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic in records going back more than 100 years.

It brought winds of up to 160mph, and two months worth of rainfall in just 24 hours, leaving at least 10 dead and widespread devastation across the Caribbean.

By the middle of Thursday, Beryl had slowed to a Category 3, and was 50 miles off the coast of Grand Cayman, where it is expected to drop 4-6 inches of rain and bring life-threatening rip curls.

It is predicted to pick up intensity again before it is expected to hit the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend.

Heavy rains and strong winds pounded Jamaica, where videos showed dogs being carried away on rafts of debris on flood waters - Curtis Kitchen/Anadolu via Getty Images

Jamaicans clearing up on Thursday in Old Harbor after Hurricane Beryl had passed - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Why has the hurricane season come so early and with such intensity?

Record ocean warming is the key factor behind the intensity and early timing of the storm, scientists say.

Hurricanes develop from tropical cyclones that occur when sea temperature is at least 27C, and daily sea surface temperatures have been at record levels for the last year.

A combination of the regular El Nino phenomenon, which causes the Pacific to warm, and climate change, which is warming the planet, is behind this sea temperature rise.

Climate change and El Nino have warmed the tropical Atlantic by 3 to 4C, creating perfect conditions for early and rapid intensification of hurricanes, said Dr Helen Hooker, a hurricane expert at the University of Reading.

The shift away from the El Nino , which is currently happening, has also cleared the way for the hurricane, as El Nino winds tend to cut the top off or tilt a developing storm.

Hurricanes like to stand up tall and upright, said Dr Hooker. So if theyre tilting, then it kind of shuts off the circulation that keeps them going.

The world is now moving into the La Nina period, which is the cooling counterpart to El Nino. La Nina favours hurricanes sustaining and being quite long-lived, said Dr Hooker.

She added that Beryl had also developed at dramatic speed, developing from a tropical depression in less than two days, another expected impact of climate change.

They can appear very quickly and intensify very quickly. And if this happens quite close to land, it doesnt give very much time for preparation, she said.

Warmer temperatures also lead to more evaporation and therefore more intense rainfall, as we have seen with Hurricane Beryl, which has caused flash floods.

Is this a permanent shift?

The broad trend suggests earlier and more intense hurricanes, with more rainfall in the aftermath, given the trajectory of global warming. But that doesnt mean hurricane season will occur this early or be this devastating every year.

It depends on other climate circulation patterns coming together, said Dr Hooker. Definitely this trend of a longer hurricane season is something that we will see again, but not necessarily next year.

What has the impact been on holidaymakers?

Several airlines have cancelled flights out to the Caribbean, including Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

British Airways cancelled flights between London Heathrow, Turks and Caicos and Montego Bay on Thursday, and said it was working closely with our local teams in the Caribbean to understand any impact to local airports infrastructure and minimise disruption to our services.

Jamaicas airport is currently closed and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has warned tourists to follow and monitor local and international weather updates.

Meanwhile tourists in parts of Mexico in the path of Beryl, including the popular destination of Cancun, are scrambling to get out before flights are cancelled.

Tourists are normally advised that June and early July are some of the best months to travel to the Caribbean, but the potential of an earlier hurricane season may put future holidays in doubt.

Although technology is improving predictions on where and when hurricanes will land, which can help keep people safe, infrastructure is still vulnerable.

Even if you put up protection, if theyre this intense, category 5, and coming over an island that does not have brick buildings, they dont stand much of a chance, said Dr Hooker.

The rapid development of these hurricanes can also make it difficult to know how badly specific areas will be affected in advance.

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Hurricane Beryl heads toward Cancun, Mexico. What will be impact to Gulf Coast, Florida?

Hurricane Beryl is headed toward the Yucatan Peninsula after pummeling the Cayman Islands on its way to the Yucatan Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center's 5 p.m. advisory.

The storm's eyewall passed about 95 west-southwest of Grand Cayman late Thursday morning as a Category 3 hurricane. It is expected to make landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula early Friday.

Beryl lashed the southern coast of Jamaica Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane with 140-mph winds.

Beryl remains a Category 2 hurricane, packing 110 mph winds. It is forecast to remain a hurricane as it makes landfall in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Friday, the NHC said.

After emerging into the Gulf of Mexico, Beryl will likely have a couple of days to re-strengthen over warm waters with light or moderate shear.

Almost all of the model guidance shows the system near hurricane strength as Beryl approaches the western Gulf Coast, and so does the official NHC forecast.

Beryl is growing more likely to affect northeastern Mexico and southern Texas later this weekend. Interests in those areas should monitor the progress of the storm, the NHC warns.

Portions of South Texas are now within the forecast cone of Hurricane Beryl, which meteorologists say could arrive in the state over the weekend or early Monday, USA TODAY reported.

"From Panama City, Florida 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," AccuWeather meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. "That southern portion of the Texas coast is the zone we have to really watch."

Regardless of the exact track, rip currents could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.

 Track Hurricane Beryl

 Damage: Beryl destroys more than 90% of building on some Caribbean islands

Hurricane Beryl a storm without precedent. That's not good

While Beryl poses a serious threat to the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend, its implications for the season ahead are also sobering, according to Dr. Ryan Truchelut, chief meteorologist at WeatherTiger. Truchelut works with the USA TODAY Network-Florida to provide the latest storm information Florida residents need.

Hurricane Beryl: Why a storm without precedent signals bad season ahead | WeatherTiger

"When Beryl peaked at Category 5 intensity on Tuesday, it became not only the earliest Category 5 in Atlantic history, but both the strongest June and strongest July hurricane on record."

This is especially remarkable given that any kind of early-season tropical development is rare in the eastern Atlantic, Truchelut said.

"In the last 150 years, there are 10 seasons in which a hurricane formed in the Main Development Region before August: 2021, 2020, 2018, 2008, 2005, 1996, 1961, 1933, 1926, and 1887. All of those years were above-normal hurricane seasons, averaging almost double the intensity of a normal season."

What does that mean?

"You should do the things you can do now to prepare before the inevitable cone-panic hits. So, trim those trees, know where you would go if you need to evacuate, and make sure your hurricane kits are in good order, " Truchelut said.

AccuWeather forecasters: Impact to southern Texas depends on Beryl's strength

After plowing into the Caribbean as a major hurricane, leaving death and destruction in its wake, Beryl is expected to make landfall on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, before heading into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and making landfall again in northeastern Mexico, AccuWeather meteorologists predict.

 Track all active storms

The impact on northeastern Mexico and southern Texas will depend on how much Beryl strengthens over the Gulf and its speed when it arrives.

"A significant factor to consider is that Beryl's forward speed is likely to slow," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said.

A slower-moving storm will increase the duration of wind, surf and storm surge.

When it made its first landfall at 11 a.m. on Carriacou Island Monday, July 1, Beryl was a Category 4 storm with 150-mph winds.

Historically warm water affecting Beryl's strength

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.

AccuWeather Lead Tropical Meteorologist Alex DaSilva said water temperatures in early July are equal to what they usually are in late August, early September.

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.

Watches, warnings issued across Florida

Hurricane Beryl: What you need to know

Location : 215 miles east-southeast of Tulum, Mexico; 200 miles west of Grand Cayman

Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph

Movement : West-northwest at 20 mph

Pressure : 974 mb

Next advisory: 5 p.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:

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, including Cozumel

Hurricane watch: A hurricane watch is in effect for:

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Cabo Catoche

Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning is in effect for the following:

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico south of Puerto Costa Maya to Chetumal

The coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico north of Cancun to Campeche

Tropical storm watch: A tropical storm watch is in effect for:

Coast of Belize from south of Chetumal to Belize City

Hurricane Beryl images, graphics, photos

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

Hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge, and heavy rainfall are expected over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula beginning tonight as Beryl approaches that area as a hurricane. Hurricane and Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for portions of that area.

There is an increasing risk of strong winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall in portions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas later this weekend. Interests in those areas should closely monitor the progress of Beryl and updates to the forecast.

Rip currents could cause life-threatening beach conditions beginning late Friday and continuing through the weekend across much of the Gulf Coast.

Current forecast: How strong is Hurricane Beryl expected to get?

Currently: 110 mph

12 hours: 100 mph

24 hours: 70 mph, inland

36 hours: 60 mph, over water

48 hours: 65 mph

60 hours: 70 mph

72 hours: 75 mph

96 hours: 50 mph, inland

120 hours: 30 mph, inland

What impact could Hurricane Beryl have and what areas could be affected?

WIND : Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area on the Yucatan Peninsula tonight or early Friday. Winds are expected to first reach tropical storm strength later today, making outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Hurricane conditions are possible in the hurricane watch area along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula as early as tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected in the tropical storm warning area of the Yucatan Peninsula late today. Tropical storm conditions are possible in the tropical storm watch area along portions of the coast of Belize by tonight or early Friday.

STORM SURGE : Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level in areas of onshore winds along the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula within the hurricane warning area and by as much as 1 to 3 feet above ground level along the west coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the tropical storm warning area. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

RAINFALL : Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches over the Cayman Islands today. Over the Yucatan Peninsula, Beryl is expected to produce rainfall totals of 4 to 6 inches, with localized amounts of 10 inches, later today into Friday. Scattered instances of flash flooding are anticipated.

SURF: Large swells generated by Beryl are currently impacting portions of the coast of Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands. These swells are expected to spread to the Yucatan Peninsula and portions of Central America later today and to eastern Mexico and much of the Gulf Coast of the U.S. by late Friday. These swells are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

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 down to Category 2 storm, impact, projected path
Beryl weakens to tropical storm after landfall in Mexico as storm heads toward Texas

Beryl has weakened to a tropical storm after making landfall earlier Friday in Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane.

The storm has maximum sustained winds of 70 mph, as tropical storm conditions continue over portions of the northern Yucatan Peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center.

PHOTO: People clear tree branches in a hotel zone, after Hurricane Beryl made landfall as a category 2 storm, in Tulum, Mexico, July 5, 2024. (Raquel Cunha/Reuters)

PHOTO: A man passes by a traffic signal toppled by heavy winds and rain caused by Hurricane Beryl, a Category 2 storm, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, July 5, 2024. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

Beryl was packing maximum sustained winds of 110 mph when it came ashore northeast of the resort town of Tulum on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula early Friday.

The storm continued its weakening trend as it crossed the Yucatan -- leaving behind a major cleanup for resorts in Tulum, Cancun and Cozumel -- and headed toward the southern Gulf of Mexico.

Beryl now aiming for Texas

PHOTO: Southern Texas could be in the bull's-eye for Beryl as it moves past Mexico and back into the Gulf of Mexico. (ABC News)

As Beryl moves over the Gulf, in the direction of the U.S.-Mexico border, it could re-intensify back into a Category 1 hurricane by Sunday morning.

Beryl is expected to make landfall by early Monday morning in southern Texas -- somewhere between Corpus Christi and South Padre Island, though some models show that the storm could hit farther north.

MORE: Record warm ocean temperatures allowed Hurricane Beryl to become the earliest Category 5 Atlantic storm

Based on the forecast from the National Hurricane Center, the storm could be a strong Category 1, with winds of 75 mph or higher.

Regardless of Beryls strength, it is expected to bring heavy rain to southern Texas. Rainfall could be more than 8 inches in just hours, which could produce inland flash flooding all the way to Austin and San Antonio.

PHOTO: Beryl could deliver 8 inches or more of rain in just hours early next week. (ABC News)

Life-threatening storm surge could measure several feet and cause major coastal flooding from South Padre Island all the way to Galveston.

In addition, the prolonged period of onshore winds along the U.S. Gulf Coast could create rough beach conditions, including a risk for rip currents this holiday weekend.

Texas issued a disaster declaration for 39 counties on Friday, as officials prepared for the storm.

"We are going to be prepared for the worst, and we have assets ready to deploy as soon as we know a better direction of where that storm has gone," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said during a press briefing.

Jamaica sees 'significant' damage

The hurricane hit Mexico after it passed just south of the Cayman Islands Thursday morning, bringing hurricane-force winds and a storm surge that was forecast to possibly produce a water rise of 4 to 6 feet and half a foot of rain.

It also left flooding and widespread damage on the island of Jamaica late Wednesday. Beryl's center also passed just 45 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph.

Beryl was the first major hurricane -- at least a Category 3 -- to pass this close to Jamaica since 2007.

PHOTO: Residents look at a damaged drain in Shooters Hill, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on July 4,2024. (Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images)

Damage has been reported primarily in southwestern Jamaica after Beryl battered the island, officials said.

"Jamaica was spared the worst of Hurricane Beryl, but the damages are still significant," Prime Minister Andrew Holness said on social media.

About half of the island is still without power as of Thursday evening, according to a government official.

MORE: NOAA predicts very active hurricane season for 2024, issues highest-ever early season outlook

Jamaica Public Service said teams are conducting remote assessments and waiting for an all-clear from emergency management to conduct ground assessments and begin the restoration process.

One of the main cell providers in Jamaica -- Digicel -- has been down since the overnight hours and is working on network restoration.

PHOTO: A woman looks at a beach littered with trash at Bull Bay, Jamaica, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl on July 4, 2024. (Ricardo Makyn/AFP via Getty Images)

The island's three major airports closed on Tuesday as the storm approached, stranding travelers. Jamaica Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett told ABC News Thursday that power outages have impacted the airports but that all three will be fully operational on Friday.

Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay reopened to customers at 6 p.m. local time Thursday. Guards at the airport told ABC News that the facility sustained some damage from the storm.

Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston had said it planned to reopen Friday at 5 a.m. local time. It saw some minor damage from the storm, including a small section of the roof of the passenger boarding pier that blew off.

Ian Fleming International Airport in Ocho Rios was also planning to reopen on Friday, according to Bartlett.

ABC News' Faith Abubey contributed to this report.

Beryl weakens to tropical storm after landfall in Mexico as storm heads toward Texas originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hurricane Beryl roars by Jamaica after killing at least 7 people in the southeast Caribbean

Hurricane Beryl was roaring by Jamaica Wednesday, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least seven people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Beryls 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.

By evening, he said that Jamaica has not seen the worst of what could possibly happen.

We can do as much as we can do, as humanly possible, and we leave the rest in the hands of God, Holness said.

Several roadways in the countrys interior settlements were impacted by fallen trees and utility poles, while some communities in the northern section were without electricity, according to the governments information service.

Before Beryls 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 storms 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 dont suffer no deaths, no loss.

By midday, winds already howled in the capital, turning the sea into churning whitecaps as Beryls eye scraped by the islands 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 Mexicos 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.

An evacuation order was in place 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 Haitis southern coast and the Yucatans east coast. Belize issued a tropical storm watch stretching south from its border with Mexico to Belize City.

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 storms center was about 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of Kingston. It had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 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.

Jamaicas 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.

Mexicos 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 Mexicos 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.

On Wednesday, Mexican government officials moved sea turtle eggs off Cancun beaches in an attempt to protect them from storm surge.

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.

As Beryl barreled through the Caribbean Sea, rescue crews in southeastern islands fanned out to determine the extent of the damage the hurricane inflicted on Carriacou, an island in Grenada.

Michelle Forbes, the St. Vincent and Grenadines director of the National Emergency Management Organization, said that about 95% of homes in Mayreau and Union Island have been damaged by Hurricane Beryl.

Three people were reported killed in Grenada and Carriacou and another in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, officials said. Three other deaths were reported in northern Venezuela, where five people are missing, officials said. About 25,000 people in that area also were affected by heavy rainfall from Beryl.

One fatality in Grenada occurred after a tree fell on a house, Kerryne James, the environment minister, told The Associated Press.

Grenadas Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said Tuesday there was no power, roads are impassable and the possible rise of the death toll remains a grim reality.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has promised to rebuild the archipelago.

The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan 20 years ago, which killed dozens of people in Grenada.

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Life-threatening rip currents caused by record-setting Hurricane Beryl are likely to hit the U.S. coast from Texas to Florida this holiday weekend, forecasters warned Thursday.

The hurricane was downgraded to a Category 4 storm early Thursday but has already taken at least nine lives and destroyed hundreds of homes on small Caribbean islands as it barreled through.

Now the National Hurricane Center is warning of hazardous conditions along the Gulf Coast from Friday afternoon.

Even though Hurricane Beryl is hundreds of miles away, it will still raise the risk of strong rip currents in our area this weekend, the National Weather Service in Corpus Christi said.

This is the National Hurricane Center's prediction of Beryl's path, which shows that it could enter the south of Texas. Forecasters are warning of dangerous rip tides all along the U.S. Gulf coast from Friday evening. National Hurricane Center/NOAA

If you're heading to the beach for the 4th of July holiday, make sure to follow beach safety guidelines and swim near a lifeguard.

Rip currents, which can be hard to identify once in the water, pose a significant risk even to experienced swimmers. Multiple lives have been lost due to rip currents, underlining the seriousness of these warnings.

While the Gulf Coast faces immediate threats, the full brunt of Hurricane Beryl's rain and wind is expected to hit the U.S. early next week.

The Caribbean has already felt Beryl's wrath. In Jamaica, the storm damaged coastal infrastructure and agricultural areas. Prime Minister Andrew Holness reported that while the damage was not as severe as feared, it was still significant. Around 1,000 people remain in shelters, with disruptions to telecommunications and electricity.

STORM-BERYL/MEXICO In Tulum on Mexico's Yucutan Peninsula, preparations are already being made for the arrival of Beryl which is no longer a hurricane but still has the potential to cause massive damage. Raquel Cunha/Reuters

Elsewhere, Beryl wreaked havoc in Barbados, jumbling fishing boats, and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines 95% of homes on two small islands were damaged or destroyed.

The National Hurricane Center forecasts that the storm will weaken but remain a hurricane until making landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday. Hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge, and heavy rainfall are expected over portions of the Yucatan Peninsula beginning tonight as Beryl approaches that area as a hurricane, the center said.

The hurricane set a record for the earliest storm to hit Category 5, which forecasters have warned is evidence of climate change and likely to mean an unusually active hurricane season.

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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.
IAEA informed of alleged drone strike on occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant area, one substation out of service

Drones allegedly struck the vicinity of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on July 3, citing the administration of the occupied facility.

"It is extremely concerning that these drone attacks are continuing, despite the very clear dangers they present to people in Enerhodar as well as to safety at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. They must stop immediately," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said.

Ukraine's nuclear energy agency, Energoatom, has not commented on claims provided to the IAEA by the occupied plant's administration. It has dismissed earlier allegations of Ukrainian attacks in the facility's vicinity as Russian propaganda.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station, has been under Russian occupation since March 2022.

IAEA monitoring teams have been based at the nuclear plant on rotation since September 2022, but Russian authorities still deny IAEA inspectors full access to the plant.

IAEA experts stationed at the plant said that they saw thick smoke rising near the facility and heard explosions after they were told by the representatives of the Russian-occupied plant of an alleged drone attack.

The strike caused a fire in the forests nearby, and eight workers were injured, the representatives of the Russian-occupied plant told the IAEA.

The attack affected one of the electrical substations, Raduga. It was reportedly out of service as of July 3, but the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar was receiving electricity despite the damage to the plant, according to the statement.

Ukraine has repeatedly accused Moscow of using the plant as a launch site for drone and artillery attacks on the Ukrainian-controlled opposite bank of the Dnipro River, leading to heightened nuclear safety risks.

Throughout its occupation, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from the Ukrainian power grid due to Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure.

Shelling and fires near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant recently destroyed an external radiation monitoring station, the IAEA reported on June 27.

IAEA inspectors said they were unable to visit the off-site monitoring station to confirm the reported damage due to ongoing fighting in the area.

Energoatom said in May that the plant should be handed over to Ukrainian control to avoid a nuclear disaster.

Read also: Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant costs Ukraine over $5 billion

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Evacuations reduced as crews get control of fire in California town of Lower Lake

Residents of a small Northern California town were asked Wednesday to immediately evacuate the areas around a swift fire moving rapidly along a busy thoroughfare, authorities said.

Flames broke out at a commercial structure in the 16200 block of Main Street in Lower Lake, Lake County, Cal Fire said at 3:30 p.m. on social media. The 7-acre blaze, dubbed the Adams Fire, had a rapid rate of spread and structures were threatened, Cal Fire said.

In a 5:45 p.m. update, Cal Fire said the fire had reached 15 acres but that it was 15% contained, with control lines completely around the fire. The fire agency said firefighters would remain at the scene overnight.

An evacuation order was issued for zone LOW-E169 extended south from Morgan Valley Road to Spruce Grove Road, according to the countys evacuation map. The orders also included areas from Highway 29 and Main Street, spreading east.

The Lake County Sheriffs Office in a 5 p.m. update split zone 169 into two zones, LOW-E169A and LOW-E169B. LOW-E169B, which included roadways just southeast of the intersection of Highway 29 and Main Street, remained under an evacuation order. LOW-E169A, further southeast, was reduced to an evacuation warning.

Evacuation zones LOW-E170 and LOW-E176, south and southeast of the mandatory evacuation were also warned to leave, authorities said, but the evacuation warnings for those two zones were lifted at 5 p.m.

There is an IMMEDIATE threat to life and property to anyone in the impacted zone, the Sheriffs Office said online in the initial post. Gather household members, pets, and essential items (including medication), lock your home, and leave now.

Cal Fire is fighting the blaze along with the Lake County Fire Protection District.
Impeach, expand, investigate: How Democrats in Congress are trying to rein in the Supreme Court

Two centuries after the constitutions authors warned against an elected king in the executive office, the Supreme Court kicked off the week of the Fourth of July with a sweeping decision on presidential immunity that Justice Sonia Sotomayor said will create a king above the law.

Democrats in Congress have introduced several pieces of legislation to overhaul the Supreme Court, from codes of ethics to attempts to block precedent-shredding decisions that will have profound effects on government and society. Theyre likely to fail.

Impeaching the justices

Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez plans to file articles of impeachment against the justices, citing a court that has become consumed by a corruption crisis beyond its control, she announced this week.

The immunity ruling represents an assault on American democracy. It is up to Congress to defend our nation from this authoritarian capture, she said.

Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive Democrat on the influential House Oversight Committee, did not specify which justices would be targeted for impeachment.

A now-deleted response from Representative Veronica Escobar said count me in.

Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamie Raskin are pressing the Supreme Court on ethics concerns (Getty Images)

The only successful impeachment of a Supreme Court justice was against Samuel Chase in 1804 on charges that he used his seat for political gain, and to prostitute the high judicial character with which he was invested, to the low purpose of an electioneering partisan. He was later acquitted in the Senate.

A new constitutional amendment

AOCs fellow New York Representative Joe Morrelle is introducing a new constitutional amendment that would explicitly state that presidents are not immune from criminal prosecution in an attempt to reverse the high courts ruling.

Morrelle, the top Democrat on a House committee with federal election oversight, said his proposed amendment will do what the justices failed to do  prioritize our democracy.

The Supreme Court decision will cause a seismic shift in the powers of the presidency unless we take immediate action to ensure accountability, integrity, and justice prevail, he added.

The Republican-majority Supreme Court granted Donald Trump some immunity from prosecution for allegedly trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The decision granted the presidency absolute immunity from prosecution for actions that can be considered official duties, and the assumption of immunity for actions in the outer perimeter of those duties.

Representative Joe Morelle wants to introduce a new constitutional amendment that overturns the Supreme Courts presidential immunity decision. (AP)

That decision erodes the publics confidence in our institutions and poses as great a threat to our democracy as the behavior of the former president and his enablers, Morrelle said.

This amendment will guarantee that no public officer of the United States  including the president  is able to evade the accountability that any other American would face for violating our laws, Morelle wrote in a letter to colleagues this week.

Expanding the court

Several Democrats in the House and Senate have issued calls to expand the number of seats on the Supreme Court from its current nine-member panel, a makeup that has been the same since 1869 when there were only nine circuit courts taking up litigation that would get to the high court. There are now 13.

Last year, Democratic Senators Ed Markey, Tina Smith and Elizabeth Warren, with House Democrats Jerry Nadler, Cori Bush, Hank Johnson and Adam Schiff, reintroduced the Judiciary Act, which would add four more seats to the bench. Lawmakers first introduced the bill in 2021.

This is a rogue, untethered, and damaging Supreme Court, Markey said this week. Maga extremist justices also are ignoring the festering corruption in their ranks. We need justices committed to justice. Stolen seats filled with partisan hacks lead to alarming results.

Ethics investigations

It is extremely unlikely that any of the above measures survive in a Republican-dominated House and a deadlocked Senate.

Congressional Democrats have also been trying to impose ethics and transparency rules for Supreme Court justices, efforts that were quickly swatted down by Senate Republicans.

Protesters demonstrate outside the Supreme Court on July 1 (Getty Images)

Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, the leading Senate Democrat on Supreme Court ethics reform, has led committee hearings into the state of the high court after bombshell investigations revealed GOP megadonor support for Justice Clarence Thomas, among other previously undisclosed gifts and vacation travel.

Durbin also led calls for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from January 6-related cases after it was revealed he was flying an upside-down American flag outside his properties.

Last month, Senate Republicans blocked a vote on a bill that would enforce ethics obligations at the high court.

Durbin said he will revive the legislation in the wake of the courts immunity ruling, warning that the justices have stripped the Department of Justice of its valued independence and undermined its commitment to the rule of law.

Chief Justice John Roberts has repeatedly turned down requests from Democratic lawmakers about growing ethics concerns.

He now has until July 5 to respond to a letter from AOC and Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, who are pressing for answers to questions about ethics lapses that are turning into a full-blown legitimacy crisis, they wrote.
Editors note: This column originally published on Jan. 30, 1997, in The Fayetteville Observer.

He was barely 15 when the young fifer-soldier spent that unforgettable winter of 1777-78 with the ragged Continental army in its winter quarters near the little Pennsylvania village of Valley Forge.

And like all the others who lived through that winter, Isaac Hammond, free man of color, undoubtedly remembered it as as a defining moment in his life.

More: Pitts: Barber, fifer little-known Valley Forge veteran

The light-skinned youngster, who probably grew up in the Roanoke River valley of North Carolina, served only a year in the Continental Line. But that year and his subsequent service as a militia fifer earned him a unique place in the military history of Fayetteville.

To this day, he is the only individual Fayettevillean to be honored with a monument dedicated to his military service.

He moves to Fayetteville

When the Revolution was won, young Isaac Hammond became a citizen of the Cape Fear town that recently had changed its name from Cross Creek to Fayetteville.

In 1787, he married a local free black woman named Dicey. When the first federal census was taken three years later in 1790, Hammond was listed as a free black householder with four other free individuals in his household.

More: Fayetteville-area fireworks can be tough on some veterans and pets. What we can do.

Hammond was among 32 free black men listed as ``head of household'' in the 1790 census of Fayetteville.

In those years, free black people constituted as much as 10 percent of the village's 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants.

He joins Fayetteville militia

Although hedged about by restrictions that did not apply to whites, free black men were free to order their own families and vocations, and they could vote for presidential electors and members of the state legislature.

They could also serve as citizen soldiers in militia companies.

So in 1793, when Fayetteville's white gentry organized the unit known as the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company, Hammond stepped forward and offered to serve as the company fifer.

The Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry posts the colors during the opening ceremony for the Field of Honor at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum Saturday morning, May 10, 2014. One of the FILI's most celebrated members is Isaac Hammond, a free Black man who fought in the American Revolutionary War. After the war, Hammond settled in the newly named Fayetteville.

For nearly 30 years thereafter, Hammond's music would sound during drills, balls, Fourth of July parades, and at funerals. When the company's first captain, Robert Adam, died in 1801, the company gathered ``on six successive Sundays, with music playing, consisting of drum and flute.'' Hammond was undoubtedly the fifer for this elaborate memorial.

His example would be taken up by other young black men.

Among them was Nelson Henderson (1791-1874). He was a slave barber, bought his own freedom in 1813, and played horns and beat the drum for other militia units right up until the Civil War. The Marquis de Lafayette probably heard Henderson's music when the famous Frenchman visited Fayetteville in 1825.

When Henderson died in 1874 at 83, he was buried ``with full military honors'' at a funeral attended by black Civil War veterans wearing the Union blue and white Confederates wearing gray.

He casts critical ballots

While census reports and other records are silent on Hammond's vocation, tradition holds that he, too, was a barber, a skill that was wholly dominated by black men until long after the Civil War.

Hammond's status as a Revolutionary War veteran and popular member of the FILI also made him something of a political power in the little town.

In closely-fought yearly elections for the ``town member'' of the North Carolina legislature, the votes of the few dozen free black men could be critical.

In an 1849 affidavit seeking a Revolutionary War pension for Hammond's descendents, a white petitioner said that in early politics, Hammond's influence among free black voters could ``frequently shape the result'' of town elections in Fayetteville.

A vivid picture of how Hammond operated is painted in affidavits describing a disputed election in 1810.

To woo his voters, Henderson employed a campaign tactic already well established. He tossed a barbecue. It must have been a great time. An affidavit said:

``There was plenty of provender and spirits. They appeared merry, and there were frequent Huzzas.  The fare included two shoats roasted and boiled victuals.''

Hammond's high spirits were not the only side of his character. The only mention of him in Cumberland County public records lists his conviction on March 16, 1809, for ``assault and battery on Lucretia Bass.'' He was made to post a bond of 50 pounds to keep the peace with her for the coming year. Bass was a free black woman who lived near the Hammond home, probably on today's Old Wilmington Road.

His legend grows

Hammond's legend was well established when he died in 1822, and it grew.

He apparently requested to be buried near the Cool Spring, on a muster ground (and Fourth of July partying spot) of the FILI, next to Cross Creek where it flows under a present-day bridge on Cool Spring Street.

Twenty years later in the 1840s, a poem celebrated his deathbed wish and burial in an unmarked grave.

Written by Louola Miller, a young lady of the town, it contained such lines as: ``And when ye rest beside the spring, At morning's dawn or evening's gloom, Discharge a volley o'er the spot, and cheer the silence of the tomb.''

More than a century later after World War II, the FILI honored its old fifer by putting down a small engraved stone at the traditional spot of his grave. It stands today near a newer and much more elaborate monument honoring the FILI itself.

Hammond's wife, Dicey, outlived him by many years. Much of what we know of this early military hero comes from her 1849 application for a Revolutionary War pension for her and his descendents.

In the petition, she said that he was the son of a barber, and that both his parents were ``Mulattoes or Mustees having no African blood in them.''

His Revolutionary War service, she said, was in the 10th North Carolina Regiment, and he served for 12 months.

The 10th Regiment was recruited in the northeastern part of the state in the summer of 1777. Plagued by bad leadership, disease, and desertion, it mustered only a few score soldiers when it arrived in Philadelphia that winter to join the Main Army of the Continental forces.

During the Valley Forge winter, its survivors were absorbed into other North Carolina regiments. It was disbanded on June 1, 1778.

Free black men, soldiers

Dicey Hammond died at 80 in 1852, a well-known figure in the town. She left her estate to her last surviving offspring, her daughter Rachel Lomack (b. 1794), whose father-in-law, William Lomack of Robeson County, was also a Revolutionary War veteran.

Other free black men from the Cape Fear area who were soldiers with Isaac Hammond in the War of Independence and who later drew pensions for their service were Philip Pettiford (1754-1825), who raised a Fayetteville family that later included many artisans; Louie Revels, whose descendent, Hiram Revels, would be a U.S. senator from Louisiana after the Civil War, was one of them. John Lomax, Thomas Bell and Thomas Hood were others.

Roy Parker Jr. (1930-2013) was a historian, and an editor and writer for The Fayetteville Times and The Fayetteville Observer.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: July 4th: Black Revolutionary War veteran made impact in Fayetteville
After finding out the previous ranch owner had built a metal shop and cabin on an acre of Bureau of Land Management, the new owner has been cleared to buy the illegally developed Wyoming property.

The agency conducted an environmental assessment regarding the inadvertent development trespass of public lands  which included a leach field, overhead power line, fencing and driveway  and decided it wasnt worth it to seek removal of the buildings since they are necessary to the new owners operations.

In a Finding of No Significant Impact dated June 28, acting Worland Field Office manager Michael Peck signed off on the environmental assessment. Now all thats left is for the agency to conduct a 30-day protest period.

Buyer beware

In 2022, TAG Western Properties, LLC, bought a ranch that supposedly included the buildings 15 miles south of Ten Sleep, Wyoming. Ted Gelov, chairman and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group, based in Carmel, Indiana, is behind the LLC.

It was a survey by Gelov after purchasing the ranch that revealed the problem, so the BLM was notified.

The improvements on this parcel are considered by the landowner to be an integral part of their current rural ranching operations, the EA noted. Removal of the structures or a competitive sale of the property would not result in any additional public benefit and would be detrimental to the existing adjoining ranch. Current use of the surrounding land is agricultural and rural ranching.

Legal process

Selling the land requires an amendment to the Worland Field Offices Resource Management Plan since the land wasnt identified for sale in the document when it was finalized in 2015.

The land isnt valued for wildlife habitat, so no long-term disruption is foreseen. A land trade was considered but rejected after Gelov said he was not interested.

Under the BLMs proposal, the land will be sold to Gelov for $1,020, as determined by an appraisal. However, the agency will maintain a reservation of right-of-way for ditches and canals and all mineral deposits.

Not a first

Surprisingly, this isnt the first time the Wyoming BLM has run into the problem of inadvertent trespass. In 2021 a landowner near Kaycee, Wyoming, sought to purchase 1.13 acres of land his home was built on.

The problem on that parcel dated back to 1960 when Jack and Pearl Ross built a home and outbuildings on the BLM land adjacent to 52 acres they owned. William and Bonnie Ross took possession of the land in 1999.

The error wasnt recognized until 2013 when a BLM employee noticed the problem while using GPS to monitor range allotments. That parcel was sold for $555.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. -/Kremlin/dpa

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin next week, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

The official visit on July 8 and 9 comes shortly after Modi's re-election. The two leaders are expected to discuss further developing the friendly ties between Russia and India, as well as international and regional political issues, according to the Kremlin press service.

Russian media have described Modi's visit as a special sign of appreciation for India's relations with Russia.

Russia, rich in raw materials, is an important energy supplier for India. The income from Russian oil sales, which India receives at a discount given the Western embargo on Moscow, helps Putin finance his war on Ukraine.

Indian middle ground

The visit will be Modi's second overseas trip after his re-election as prime minister, having attended the Group of Seven summit in Italy in mid-June.

While Western powers are mainly backing Ukraine in the war, India has remained neutral. Modi last visited Russia in 2019. Putin did not attend the G20 summit in Delhi last year and was represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Later this year, Russia is set to host a summit for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa - known as the BRICS countries - plus others in the city of Kazan, and Modi is also invited.

Onward trip to Vienna

The Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed Modi's travel plans. He is then due to travel on to Austria, where he is expected on July 9 and 10. It is the first time that an Indian prime minister has visited the country in 41 years, the ministry said.

Modi is to be received by President Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

In Moscow and Vienna, Modi is also expected to meet members of the local Indian community.
Do you live in Indiana and also like watching birds, maybe even turkeys? If so, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has an opportunity just for you.

You can help the Indiana DNR learn more about the states wild turkey populations by reporting observations of hens with and without poults (chicks) through Aug. 31.



Anybody who observes wild turkey hens with chicks or hens without chick is encouraged to report their observations online at DNRs turkey brood reporting web page, on.IN.gov/turkeybrood.

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Observations take only a few minutes to report, and no log-in is required.



The survey will be open from July 1 through Aug. 31, with a goal of receiving 3,000 observations across the state during that time.



The DNR uses the reported observations to monitor wild turkey reproduction and calculate the states chick-to-hen ratio, or Production Index (PI). The information gathered from the survey will be made available to the public in the annual Wild Turkey Brood Report.



Statewide turkey populations appear to be stable in Indiana, and monitoring hens and poults gives DNR a better understanding of population trends across the state, said DNR furbearer and turkey research biologist Andy Byers. Observations reported by the public are an important part of helping DNR manage wild turkeys.

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For more information on how to identify turkey broods, as well as look at past survey reports, visit on.IN.gov/turkeybrood.



To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Brian Heywood is the hedge fund manager and founder of Let's Go Washington that qualified three initiatives for the November ballot. Opponents of the measure are out with their first campaign and in it they focus their attacks on him. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)

Brian Heywood used his money and moxie to get three conservative measures on Washingtons November ballot.

Now, opponents hope Heywoods wealth and audacity will help them defeat the initiatives this fall.

Heywood is the chief villain in their initial campaign commercial against measures to end the states cap-and-trade system, repeal its capital gains tax, and make a long-term care program optional.

Dont be fooled. Hedge fund mogul Brian Heywoods slate of ballot measures will have a devastating impact on our state, begins the 30-second spot that started streaming last month. They are greedy and deceptive and would cut billions from schools, early learning, transportation, senior care and environmental protections, it concludes.

Heywood indicated hes eager to fight back and said he might even appear in a pro-initiative commercial. I dont think theyve dealt with someone like me before. I am going to lean into it, he said. I am willing to defend what I am doing.

Defend Washington, a coalition of progressive groups and statewide unions of teachers, health care workers and government employees, is behind the anti-initiative ad campaign. The political committee was launched by Civic Ventures, a self-described small group of political troublemakers founded by multi-millionaire venture capitalist Nick Hanauer.

Sandeep Kaushik, a spokesman for Defend Washington, declined to reveal how much air time had been purchased or where the ad is streaming.

While its early, he said its about reaching people as they gear up for voting in the August primary.

What are the three initiatives on the November ballot?

Initiative 2109 to repeal the states capital gains tax;

Initiative 2117 to repeal the Climate Commitment Act which established the cap-and-trade carbon pricing program;

Initiative 2124 to make participation in the long term care services benefit program voluntary

There are some targeted audiences who are starting to pay closer attention, he said. We see an opportunity to do some early voter education with those audiences, in particular making sure they look behind the curtain to see who is behind these measures.

And, Kaushik said, their research gives them confidence that when voters hear more about Heywood they will reject the initiatives. We have done our homework, he said.

Heywood dismissed the campaign and its backers as full of crap.

Its not original in any way whatsoever, he said of the ad. They are trying to get people in the media to write about it.

Heywoods been hiding in plain sight since he founded Lets Go Washington and, in 2023, poured several million dollars into the successful signature-gathering efforts for six initiatives to the Legislature.

The Democrat-controlled Legislature adopted ones dealing with police pursuits, parental rights, and taxes.

Voters will decide the fate of the other three which target major social and environmental policy changes pushed by the states Democratic powers.

In addition to Defend Washington, other political committees are running separate campaigns against each of the measures.

Heywood points out some mega-rich people are helping fund those efforts.

Billionaires Bill Gates, who founded Microsoft, and Steve Ballmer, the companys former chief executive officer, are among those whove given or pledged money to fight the measures, according to filings with the Public Disclosure Commission.

Its billionaires picking on a millionaire, Heywood said. If this is as creative as they get, were going to stop them.
Innocent bystander fatally stabbed in violent NYC road rage fight, leaving his shattered family reeling

A Bronx dad was fatally knifed by a road-raging maniac who went berserk on innocent bystanders after a fender-bender  as the victims family wonders how theyll go on without him.

Ronald Gomez-Mesa, 29, stood up to defend himself against as-yet-unidentified man behind the chaotic scrum Tuesday outside a Morris Heights bodega, according to his family and a brutal video obtained by The Post.

The attacker stabbed Gomez-Mesa in the chest, killing him and casting his tight-knit family into despair.

I dont know how we will go on, His sister Ronaysi told The Post.

A car crash in the Bronx Tuesday sparked a deadly road-rage brawl in which 29-year-old Ronald Gomez-Mesa, not involved in the initial incident, was stabbed to death. Courtesy of Rafael Castillo

No one can imagine the pain we are going through.

Gomez-Mesas mother wailed for hours inside the family home, not far from where he died, his sister said.

He had a daughter, Rosalia, who is turning three this year, Ronaysi said.

Whoever killed Ronald took away a loving son, brother and father.

The senseless violence erupted about 4:30 p.m. after a woman and man got into a minor collision outside Jason Deli and Grocery along West Tremont Avenue and Phelan Place, according to law enforcement sources.

The woman then called her boyfriend, or male friend, who showed up at the scene and started fighting with bystanders gathered nearby, the sources said.

The attacker stabbed Gomez-Mesa in the chest, killing him and casting his tight-knit family into despair. Family photo obtained by NY Post

Surveillance video shows a crowd of onlookers outside the bodega watch as a woman wielded a bat and a man skulked around, apparently confronting another man near the crash.

The tense scene escalated when a helmet-wearing man threw something at the skulker, before riding off on a moped, video shows.

The skulking man then turned around and rushed at an apparently uninvolved bystander, shoving him to the ground and lobbing punches, according to the video.

He then attacks a second man  Gomez-Mesa  sitting nearby.

The killer wanted to jump him, wanted to fight him, Ronaysi said.

My brother was defending himself.

Gomez-Mesa can be seen standing up and throwing punches before he chased the maniac down the street, the video shows.

A makeshift shrine pays tribute to Gomez-Mesa outside the bodega. Jack Morphet/NY Post

The attacker then rushed back  flashing a knife, Ronaysi said  and chased Gomez-Mesa down the street and off-camera as others follow.

Police said the attacker stabbed Gomez-Mesa in the chest in front of a day care center on Phelan Place.

Medics rushed Gomez-Mesa  who lives about a half-mile from the scene  to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, cops said.

The suspect in the deadly knifing fled the scene and had not been caught by Wednesday.

Gomez-Mesas mother wailed for hours inside the family home, a stones throw from where he died, his sister said. FreedomNewsTV

Nearly a day later, about 30 lit candles dotted the sidewalk outside the bodega, with the name Ronald spelled out in wax on the sidewalk.

The makeshift shrine included six opened beer cans.

Gomez-Mesa was well-liked in the community, said Rafael Castillo, who manages a bodega near where the senseless violence erupted.

He was a quiet guy, Castillo told The Post.

Everybody loved him.

Ronaysi said Gomez-Mesa was born in the Dominican Republic as one of seven kids.

Family members said everybody loved Gomez-Mesa. Family photo obtained by NY Post

He moved to the US when he was 16 and carved out a life in Morris Heights, where he lived with his parents, Ronaysi and her children.

Just a week ago, Gomez-Mesa passed his TLC drivers license test  an accomplishment he hoped would help him provide for Rosalia, his young daughter.

He loved his daughter so much, Ronaysi said.
There has been little progress in the investigation into alleged pressure on a journalist by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in response to a perceived unfavorable story, Slidstvo.Info's chief editor Anastasiia Stanko told the Kyiv Independent in an article published on July 4.

There have been several high-profile cases of alleged government intimidation, pressure, and attempted censorship of journalists in recent months.

Despite public pressure and condemnation from as high up as President Volodymyr Zelensky, the investigations have yet to lead to any tangible results.

In the case in question, Yevhenii Shulhat, a Slidstvo.Info journalist, received a draft notice at the suggestion of an SBU employee, which was apparently in retaliation to a story that Shulhat was working on.

Shulhat's piece, which came out after the draft notice was served, alleged that the wife of the former head of the SBU's cybersecurity unit, Illia Vitiuk, had earned large sums of money after he got the job.

While Vitiuk was fired in the ensuing scandal, and the State Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry, Stanko said that the case does not mention Vitiuk, either as a suspect or witness. Other key individuals involved in the case have not been questioned more than two months after the investigation began.

The bureau has not responded to the Kyiv Independent's request for comment.

Oksana Maksymeniuk, head of the legal department at Ukraine's Institute for the Development of the Regional Press and a lawyer, told the Kyiv Independent that the delaying of cases involving pressure or intimidation of journalists has been a consistent practice.

"The longer a case is in pre-trial investigation, the more likely there will be no effective methods of prosecution," said Maksymeniuk.

The end result can be that cases will exceed their statute of limitations, allowing alleged offenders to evade punishment, she said.

Maksymeniuk added that only six of the 19 cases involving obstructing the work of prominent Ukrainian media outlets her department has worked with since 2015 have gone to court.

Read also: Recent campaigns against journalists raise concerns about press freedom in Ukraine

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Dr. James Crawford sits at the table near the Bremerton School Board members during a special meeting on July 4 at the district office. The board voted unanimously to put Crawford on leave during an investigation, voting quickly in front of a loud audience.

The Bremerton School District board on Thursday morning approved putting Superintendent James Crawford on administrative leave, citing an investigation into use of the district's computer network, questions about his answers regarding those concerns, and workplace culture in the district office.

The board also appointed Assistant Superintendent Garth Steedman as interim superintendent during a special session held in front of a large and vocal crowd on the Fourth of July holiday.

The audience of about 100 erupted in boos and shouts as the board took a series of three votes in succession, during a meeting that last a total of around three minutes. The five-member board, led by chair Aly Rotter, voted unanimously to place Crawford on administrative leave, appointed Steedman, and approved the release of a public statement.

That statement, which was emailed out and posted to the district's website soon after, called the decision difficult and acknowledged inaccurate rumors and speculation going through the community since it became public that an investigation is ongoing.

"We decided that administrative leave was necessary and appropriate in light of the preliminary results of an investigation into allegations regarding Dr. Crawfords use of the Districts network and his candor when he was given opportunities to address such use, and also because of concerns we have received regarding the tenor of Dr. Crawfords interactions with District staff members," the statement read.

The Bremerton School Board meets in a special session on Thursday, July 4. The board voted to place Superintendent James Crawford, at right, on administrative leave, and acknowledged an investigation into conduct and workplace culture at the district office under his leadership.

Board members Rotter, Carolynn Perkins, Karen Bolton and Jonee Dubois left the dais quickly after the meeting adjourned. Board vice-chair John Paul Hurley stayed behind as the crowd lingered in the district's meeting room in West Bremerton, and acknowledged that the quick action, including calling a meeting on a holiday, was due to information the board received verbally from legal counsel during an executive session on Wednesday morning, which was also called on just 24-hours notice, as is legally required.

"The concerns were such that we didn't feel time was on our side," Hurley said.

Hurley said the board anticipates receiving written preliminary information about the investigation in the coming weeks, but said there is no timeline for a complete report that will be available publicly.

Crawford sent the Kitsap Sun a statement on Thursday afternoon, indicating his intention to continue leading the district.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the board, staff, community, and students for the incredible work we accomplished together throughout the year," Crawford wrote. "Despite the current situation, I remain optimistic about Bremertons future, improving our systems at the central office and beyond, and achieving great things. The dedication and commitment of our community have been truly inspiring.

Members of the public in attendance responded loudly to the board's initial vote, which placed Crawford on leave. Crawford, who was in attendance and seated near the five board members, stood immediately after the first vote and walked to the rear of the room near supporters, then exited quickly before the meeting adjourned.

Members of the public listen during a special meeting on the Bremerton School District board on Thursday morning. In a brief session the board voted to place Superintendent James Crawford on administrative leave, and many supporters in the crowd expressed dismay at the unanimous vote.

Shouts of "For what?" and "Recall the board" were heard as the meeting adjourned, and both Rotter and Bolton sternly reprimanded the crowd, at one point threatening to clear the room if order was not restored.

"Very discouraging meeting, very angry meeting, this is ridiculous," said Bette Hyde, a former Bremerton School District superintendent and supporter of Crawford, following the meeting. She criticized the lack of time for members of the public to address the board. "Look at these people. They're incensed."

Dr. Crawford, a 1998 graduate of Bremerton High School with degrees from both Washington State and the University of Washington, was hired by the board in March 2023, and began as superintendent on July 1, 2023. Last week the school board voted not to extend Crawford's contract for a third year, and his current contract runs through June 30, 2026.

"I'm appalled," Barb Wright of Bremerton said after the meeting. "I've had some interactions with the superintendent and I have a lot of respect for him. ... We still have no idea (what happened). To have a meeting on the Fourth of July, and it's just 1-2-3. They railroaded this."

The board's statement did not indicate when further information may be released. It concluded: "This is a temporary step while we await the final results of the investigation and learn more about the workplace culture under Dr. Crawfords leadership. We will provide an additional update when we have more information we can share."

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bremerton school board places leader on leave, investigation ongoing
Israel, escalating its campaign to seize territory in the West Bank and accommodate 500,000 new settlers, is pushing forward with the largest single appropriation of Palestinian land since 1993, according to major news outlets.

The impending seizure and conversion of these areas into state land, approved by the Israeli government last month and publicized by Peace Now on Wednesday, encompasses five square miles and, like other seizures that were approved and implemented earlier this year, threatens the mass eviction of Palestinians already living there. Israeli policy dictates that state land is effectively off-limits to Palestinians and can only be leased to Jewish settlers.

This year's land seizures, spearheaded by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and aimed at connecting two existing Israeli settlements along the border with Jordan, further dismember Palestinian territory and, according to critics of Israeli settlement, undermine efforts to create a Palestinian nation-state.

In an audio recording from a National Religious PartyReligious Zionism convention, Smotrich appears to confirm that undermining such efforts is precisely the point. We will establish sovereignty . . . first on the ground and then through legislation. I intend to legalize the young settlements, Smotrich said in comments reported by Haaretz. My lifes mission is to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Smotrich also admitted that Israel is preparing to annex the whole West Bank without the government being accused of annexing it." Israel has already built 100 settlements across the territory, housing around 500,000 Israeli Jews and providing them with a springboard to extend further control into the surrounding areas. Three million Palestinians also living in the West Bank are mostly crowded into the 40% of territory still administered by the Palestinian Authority.

Groups of Israeli settlers, often armed by the Israeli government, have carried out violent attacks on nearby Palestinian villages, whose inhabitants sometimes respond in kind. Those clashes, and an Israeli security crackdown that has imprisoned thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank, have escalated since the eruption of war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.

Most of the international community regards Israeli settlement in the West Bank as an illegal violation of Article 49 of the Geneva Convention. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the most recent land grab a step in the wrong direction, adding that the direction we want to be heading is to find a negotiated two-state solution.
Tel Aviv  Fear of a possible full-scale war between Israel and the Hamas-allied militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon was stoked Thursday after an Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hezbollah commander.

Israel said the commander it killed Wednesday, Mohammad Naameh Nasser, was responsible for firing rockets into Israel. Hezbollah  a group which, like Hamas, is backed by Iran but believed to be larger and much better armed  responded with another barrage of rocket fire.

Hezbollah has stepped up its attacks since Israel, which shares its northern border with Lebanon, launched the war in Gaza in response to Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack. Hezbollah has said it won't stop firing rockets at Israel until there's a cease-fire in Gaza.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system over the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel, July 3, 2024. / Credit: JALAA MAREY/AFP/Getty

The Israel Defense Forces said it intercepted drones and other projectiles fired from southern Lebanon on Thursday and that some of the falling debris caused fires on the ground. The military did not report any casualties, but said it was responding to the Hezbollah fire by "striking launch posts in southern Lebanon."

The escalating exchange of fire across the border has been deadly. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least 435 deaths on that side of the border as of June 26. About 90 of those killed by Israeli shelling have been civilians, according to the Al Jazeera network.

In Israel at least 27 people have been killed by Hezbollah rocket and drone attacks since October, including 10 civilians, according to previous statements by Israeli authorities.

A map shows Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank, and Israel's borders with neighboring nations Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula (not labelled) to the southwest. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

The clashes have also sparked an exodus, forcing tens of thousands of people in both northern Israel and southern Lebanon to flee their homes across the border region.

Israel and Hezbollah fought a bloody war in 2006, and the U.S. government has voiced concern over the prospect of a full-scale war that could prompt Iran's proxy groups across the region to target American forces based in neighboring countries. They have already done so a few times since October, including a drone strike on an American base in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops in January.

The Biden administration has been working both with public diplomacy and behind closed doors to try to prevent that from happening.

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that his country would prefer a diplomatic solution, but "if reality forces us, we will know how to fight."

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Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP Photo /Jehad Alshrafi)

JERUSALEM (AP)  The Israeli government has approved plans to build nearly 5,300 new homes in settlements in the occupied West Bank, a monitoring group said Thursday, the latest in a campaign to accelerate settlement expansion, aimed at cementing Israeli control over the territory and preventing the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

Word of the decision emerged as diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war in Gaza appeared to be stirring back to life after a weekslong hiatus. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had decided to send negotiators to resume negotiations. A day earlier, the militant Hamas group handed mediators its latest response to a U.S.-backed proposal for a deal.

Fighting intensified between Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah, with the militant group saying Thursday it fired more than 200 rockets and exploding drones into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a senior commander in an Israeli airstrike the day before.

Months of exchanges have literally set the Israeli-Lebanese border ablaze and raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East. Hezbollah has said it will halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire between Hamas  a fellow Iran-backed ally  and Israel.

Israel's turbocharged settlement drive threatens to further stoke tensions in the West Bank, which has seen a surge in violence since the war in Gaza began on Oct. 7.

The Israeli anti-settlement monitoring Peace Now said the government's Higher Planning Council had approved or advanced plans for 5,295 homes in dozens of settlements across the West Bank. It also legalized three informal outposts as new neighborhoods of existing settlements in the Jordan Valley and near the city of Hebron.

On Wednesday, Peace Now said Israel approved the largest seizure of land in the West Bank in over three decades. COGAT, the Israeli defense body that oversees the planning council, referred questions to Netanyahu's office, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Netanyahus government is dominated by settlers and their supporters. The hard-line nationalist finance minister, Bazalel Smotrich, himself a settler, has been put in charge of settlement policy and has said his rapid expansion drive is in part intended to ensure a Palestinian state cannot be created. In an escalation over past months, settlers have carried out more than 1,000 attacks on Palestinians, causing deaths, damaging property and in some cases prompting Palestinians to flee villages.

The Palestinians seek the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza  areas captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war  for an independent state.

The new housing approvals could also rankle Israels ally, the United States, which speaks out against settlements, though it has done little to pressure Israel on the issue.

Gazas Health Ministry said Thursday that the number of Palestinians killed by Israels campaign in Gaza had climbed past 38,000. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count. The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting another 250 people.

The revival of cease-fire talks appeared to mark another attempt by U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators to overcome the gap that has repeatedly thwarted a deal over the past months. Hamas wants a deal that ensures Israeli troops fully leave Gaza and the war ends; Netanyahu says the war cannot end before Hamas is eliminated.

Israeli negotiators are expected to arrive in Doha, Qatar's capital, for the talks as early as Friday, with American, Egyptian and Qatari officials present.

A senior Biden administration official said the White House viewed the resumption of negotiations as a breakthrough that moves the process forward while cautioning that there is still much work to do.

Netanyahu spoke earlier on Thursday with President Joe Biden. Netanyahu's office said he told Biden that Israel is committed "to finish the war only after achieving all of its objectives  a reference to the twin war goals of rescuing hostages and destroying Hamas.

Biden made clear to Netanyahu that its time to bring the deal to closure, said the administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the 30-minute call.

The U.S. has rallied world support behind a plan for a phased cease-fire in Gaza that calls for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

So far, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

Last month, Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal, some of which the U.S. said were unworkable. Talks ground to a halt. After the U.S. put forward a new version, Hamas said Wednesday it sent a new response to Egypt and Qatar. Hamas political official Bassem Naim said the group responded with some ideas to bridge the gap between the two sides, without elaborating.

For his part, Netanyahu has given conflicting stances  he has said Israel is committed to the proposal outlined by Biden in a May 31 speech. But in a TV interview last month, he said he was only prepared to make a partial deal, and would continue the war "after a pause.

At its core, the U.S. proposal calls for a three-phase process.

The first phase would bring a cease-fire, a pullback of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. After some hostages were released during a November cease-fire, militants still hold around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

During the 42 days of phase one, the parties would negotiate the terms of phase two.

The negotiations are meant to lead to a sustainable calm and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza  with the release by Hamas of all remaining male hostages in return for an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners. The third phase would see the return of the remains of hostages.

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point.

Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks. Israeli officials have said they want the negotiations to lead to Hamas removal from power in Gaza  a provision not spelled out in the proposal. They have also pushed for a time limit on negotiations to keep pressure on Hamas and prevent it from drawing out talks and the initial cease-fire.

The U.S. administration official indicated that Hamas has moved from its position demanding guarantees of a permanent cease-fire to begin the three-phase deal. Hamas' response indicates that there is a decent understanding of what would have to happen to move from phase one to phase two, the official said.

___

Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writers Abby Sewell in Beirut and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Israeli government official says delegation sent to negotiate hostage deal with Hamas

Aftermath of Israeli strikes at Gaza's Old City market, in Gaza City

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli government official said on Thursday that a delegation has been sent to negotiate a hostage release deal with Hamas.

Under a deal brokered in late November by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, more than 100 of the estimated 240 hostages taken to Gaza during an attack by Hamas-led militants on Oct. 7 were freed in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

Since then, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure to secure the release the 136 hostages who remain in captivity.

(Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by Mark Heinrich and Andrew Heavens)
A view of the facade of the Roman city hall on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. Italy saw a record number of visitors to its state-run museums in 2023, the Ministry of Culture said in Rome, as tourists flocked to the Mediterranean country's impressive array of monuments and archaeological sites. picture alliance / Lena Klimkeit/dpa

Italy saw a record number of visitors to its state-run museums in 2023, the Ministry of Culture said in Rome, as tourists flocked to the Mediterranean country's impressive array of monuments and archaeological sites.

Just under 58 million visits to Italian state-run museums were tallied, topping the previous record of 55 million from 2018 before the coronavirus pandemic. The figure was also a significant increase on 2022's 46 million.

The single most visited attraction was the Colosseum in the capital Rome with 12 million visitors, bringing in an estimated 80 million ($86.4 million). Next on the list were the Pantheon in Rome with 9 million visitors and the Uffizi gallery in the central city of Florence, which attracted 2.7 million guests.

The archaeological site of Pompeii, which was buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius near Naples in Roman times, the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence and the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome rounded out the list.

Italy has more than 400 state-run museums with a total income in 2023 of 314 million, a rise of 34% over the previous year.

The Vatican Museums, which attract more than 6 million visitors per year to notable sites such as the Sistine Chapel, are not included in the figures as they are located in the Vatican City.
Jamaican Consulate of Atlanta sends aid to Jamaica as hurricane rages

Jamaican Consulate of Atlanta sends aid to Jamaica as hurricane rages

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Jane Austen fans in despair as hotel she frequented is set to become student flats

A bit of British literary history  the Dolphin Hotel where Jane Austen celebrated her 18th birthday - Solent News /Andrew Croft

Jane Austen fans are in despair after a plan to turn a hotel she frequented into student flats was approved by a council.

Pride and Prejudice devotees on Thursday, said they were disappointed to learn of the depressing decision to turn the Grade II listed Dolphin Hotel in Southampton, where she spent her 18th birthday into student flats.

An Austen fan club - and literary lovers from as far as the USA  objected to the plans in an effort to preserve the rich history that the 500-year-old building has.

The hotel was regularly frequented by the Sense and Sensibility author and it was where she spent her 18th birthday on December 16, 1793.

But now, planning officers have recommended plans to turn it into a 99 student rooms.

Jane Austen was a big fan of the Dolphin Hotel - Solent News/Andrew Croft

Dr Cheryl Butler, who set up a Sarah Siddons Fan Club, a historical re-enactment theatre company named after Austens favourite actress, accused Southampton City Council of neglecting its heritage.

She said on Thursday: Its pretty depressing. I despair at the planning officers in Southampton.

Everyone is disappointed, but not surprised.

I just think if this had been made more widely known earlier, there could have been more time to come up with an alternative.

We had very little time to do anything but put in an objection.

You think if the city was keen on its heritage, it would have put out an appeal to people to see if there was someone that could have done something with it, but its just taking the easiest option.

We as a society are constantly saying we need to do more about the heritage, but then when it actually comes down to it, it doesnt translate into doing anything.

Dr Butler also took issue with the suggestion that part of the student accommodation will feature a museum or interpretation centre.

She said it very much feels like lip service.

Dr Butler made no criticism of students but said there are already lots of student buildings.

I just hope the students appreciate what they have got there, she added.

Jane Austen enthusiast Dr Cheryl Butler hope the students appreciate the place they'll live in - Solent News/Andrew Croft

Comedian and author David Baddiel, an ambassador of the authors Hampshire home museum, previously said Austens heritage needs preserving.

He told The Telegraph: I agree that important elements of our history that are about great artists  and I do very much think that Jane Austen is a great artist, and very under-rated even though shes so popular  should be preserved, and I would be very happy about preserving anything that Jane Austen is involved with.

However, the 60-year-old, named ambassador of the museum in 2018, stressed the importance of building new student accommodation.

He said: At the same time, students need accommodation. So for me, if there was a way of preserving within the halls of residence a tiny corner at least saying, This is where Jane Austen danced when she was 18, that would make me happy.

Jane Austen celebrated her 18th birthday at the hotel in Southampton - Getty Images

A Southampton City Council planning officers report, which recommended granting the application, said the principle of a student residential development was considered acceptable and supported given the established need in the city.

The report said: The concerns raised by third parties about the loss of this important and attractive hotel with a strong tourist draw is well articulated.

However, the planning system, and our adopted development plan, doesnt protect the Dolphin Hotel from closure and the council cannot insist that an unviable business remains open.

The councils planning committee will sign off on the plans at a meeting this month.

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In a landmark decision, Japans Supreme Court has ordered the government to pay damages to people who were forcibly sterilized under a now-defunct eugenics law, ruling the practice was unconstitutional and had violated their rights.

The Eugenic Protection Law, in place from 1948 to 1996, allowed authorities to forcibly sterilize people with disabilities, including those with mental disorders, hereditary diseases or physical deformities, and leprosy. It also allowed forced abortions if either parent had those conditions.

The law had aimed to prevent the increase of the inferior descendants from the eugenic point of view and to protect the life and health of the mother as well, according to a copy of the law  which listed remarkable abnormal sexual desire and remarkable clinical inclination among the conditions targeted.

About 25,000 people were sterilized without consent during that period, according to the court ruling, citing ministry data.

Though the government had offered to compensate each victim 3.2 million yen (about $19,800) in 2019 under a relief law, victims and their supporters argued that was far from enough  with a number continuing their fight in court.

Wednesdays ruling addressed five such lawsuits, filed by plaintiffs from across the country to lower courts which then advanced to the Supreme Court.

Lawyers and supporters of victims of forced sterilization march toward the Supreme Court of Japan in Tokyo, carrying a banner demanding government apologies and compensation, July 3, 2024. - Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP/Getty Images

In four of those cases, the lower courts had ruled in favor of the plaintiffs  which the Supreme Court upheld on Wednesday, ordering the government to pay 16.5 million yen (about $102,000) to the plaintiffs and 2.2 million yen ($13,000) to their spouses.

In the fifth case, the lower court had ruled against the plaintiffs and dismissed their case, citing the 20-year statute of limitations. The Supreme Court overturned this decision on Wednesday, calling the statute unacceptable and extremely contrary to the principles of justice and fairness.

The case is now sent back to the lower court to determine how much the government should pay.

The legislative intent of the former Eugenic Protection Law cannot be justified in light of the social conditions of the time, said Judge Saburo Tokura when handing down the judgment, according to public broadcaster NHK.

The law imposes a grave sacrifice in the form of the loss of reproductive capacity, which is extremely contrary to the spirit of respect for individual dignity and personality, and violates Article 13 of the Constitution, he added  referring to every persons right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

After Wednesdays decision, plaintiffs outside the court  elderly men and women, many in wheelchairs  celebrated with their lawyers and supporters, holding up banners that read victory.

They are among 39 total plaintiffs who have filed lawsuits in recent years  with six having died since, according to NHK, highlighting the urgency of these cases as victims reach their final years.

In a press conference after the court ruling, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed the governments remorse and apology to victims, NHK reported. The government will promptly pay the compensation, and consider other measures such as a meeting between the plaintiffs and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, he said.

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Mr Qassim was questioned by Spanish police after Mr Slater vanished but was allowed to return to Britain

Missing British teenager Jay Slater came to the house alive, and he left the house alive, the Airbnb guest who put him up has insisted.

Ayub Qassim and another British man, who has not been named, were some of the last people to see the 19-year-old before he vanished on June 17.

They drove him from a music festival in Tenerife to a holiday rental cottage nearly 20 miles away.

Mr Slater, who was last seen walking up a steep road before calling a friend to say he was lost and desperately thirsty, has been missing for 18 days.

Jay Slater has been missing in Tenerife for 18 days

Mr Qassim was questioned by Spanish police after he vanished but was allowed to return to Britain. He has a previous conviction for drug offences and was jailed for nine years for helping to import heroin and crack cocaine to Cardiff.

The only comment I have to make is that Jay came to the house alive, and he left the house alive, he told MailOnline on Wednesday.

He reportedly booked the 40-a-night holiday rental online under the name Ayub Abdul and said he allowed Mr Slater to stay as a favour.

Mr Slater, an apprentice bricklayer from Lancashire, had travelled to Tenerife with two friends and attended the NRG music festival in Playa de las Americas, a popular party spot in the south of the island.

In the early hours of June 17, he drove with the two men, who he is believed to have met just days before, to a cottage known as Casa Abuela Tina, in the small mountain village of Masca in the north west of the island.

After setting off from their accommodation 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 mobile ran out of power shortly after the call.

The Guardia Civil scoured the nearby Rural de Teno national park for 13 days before calling the search off on Sunday. The force has insisted that Mr Qassim and the other man dont have any relevance to the case.

But Mr Slaters family have questioned why the two grown men took the teenager to a remote cottage before he disappeared.

Mr Qassim said: I let the geezer stay at mine because he had nowhere else to go, his friends had all left him. I know Jay, through friends, Im not going to bring someone back to mine if I dont know them.

Im doing the geezer a favour and now my face is all over the news. Its a bit mental. I havent even done anything.

He claimed he had even given Mr Slater a blanket, saying: If Id fallen out with him would he even come to mine? There were no problems. Youve seen the last images of him with his red blanket around him.

I dont know if he had beef elsewhere because I dont know him that well, I only know him through friends.

Warren Slater was joined by his other son, Zak, 24, in the search - Jamie Lorriman

Jay Slater's father Warren Slater and mother Debbie Duncan visited a police station on Tuesday to demand answers - Jamie Lorriman

Mr Slaters family have stayed in Tenerife to search for him. His father Warren Slater and mother Debbie Duncan visited a police station in Playa de las Americas for two hours on Tuesday to demand answers about the investigation.

On Wednesday, Mr Slater Snr, 58, spent two hours searching the natural park in north west Tenerife where his son vanished. He was joined by his other son, Zak, 24, and Mr Slaters uncle, who did not want to be named.

Speaking to The Telegraph after the search, he said: My only question is, and this is where you start the investigation from, why did two grown men take a young boy to a valley to a bed and breakfast? I cant understand that.

Why? You need to ask them why and then start from there. Spanish police must know. It is frustrating. Its a language barrier and you cant get mad at Spanish police because they dont like it.

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Joe Bidens wife and son are among the loudest voices telling him to stay in the race, a new report from NBC News has claimed.

Hunter Biden, who was with his father in the White House Wednesday afternoon, and First Lady Jill Biden have both urged him both to stay on and to fire his staff, the network claimed.

They are said to have pointed fingers specifically at Anita Dunn, the presidents White House adviser, and her husband, Bob Bauer, his personal attorney. Bauer played Donald Trump in the days of debate preparation at Camp David which preceded Bidens disastrous performance against the Republican candidate last week in Atlanta, Georgia.

Claims of tensions between the First Family and Bidens advisers first surfaced last weekend in the aftermath of the debate, but the new report from NBC News suggested that the tensions have not been put to rest and may even have grown. The network said one source of tension was that Dunn and Bauer had urged Hunter Biden to keep a lower profile for the last year.

Jill Biden is said to be pushing her husband to stay in the electoral race and have voiced unhapiness with is aides. The White House has denied reports of tensions. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

The 53-year-old First Son was convicted of gun offenses last month in a federal trial in Delaware attended almost daily by Jill Biden. It aired the Bidens darkest secrets, including how Hunters ex-wife, Kathleen Buhle, was shunned by the president and Dr. Biden, how Hunters affair with his brother Beaus widow resulted in her smoking crack, and desperate messages between Hunter and his eldest daughter, Naomi.

But Hunter, who will be sentenced by October 9, a month before the presidential election and who faces up to 25 years in prison, has been increasingly present at his fathers side. He was present Wednesday afternoon as his father posthumously issued Medals of Honor to two Union soldiers executed by Confederates during the Civil War. NBC News reported that he is one of the family members pitching in his view of how his father should campaign.

The report prompted a lengthy series of on-the-record denials from the White House, suggesting that those closest to Biden find stories about his family particularly challenging. Bidens chief of staff, Jeff Zients, told NBC News, The president and first lady have full confidence in their team, including Anita and Bob. There is absolutely no truth to these unfounded and insulting rumors. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, President Biden has been consistent: he is staying in the race.

Biden is reported to have told different people both that he is unsure he can continue to run for a second term and that he is fighting on. A White House spokesperson said he had been clear that he is continuing. Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Bates was responding to NBCs report that Biden himself is vacillating between what it called defiance and acceptance. It said that to some people Biden had acknowledged that he might be unable to continue to fight, but that to others he has been resolute in staying in the race.

Biden himself has not pointed the finger at staff in public or, NBC reported, in private.

Among the family members he has yet to meet in person but was due to on July 4 is Valerie Biden Owens, his 78-year-old sister who has been his longest-standing campaign helper. Her input has been seen as crucial in helping him decide whether to stay in the race.

The mounting sense of panic in Democratic circles has not been assuaged by any of the presidents actions so far. On Wednesday evening he met Democratic governors at the White House, with three of themNew Yorks Kathy Hochul, Marylands Wes Moore and Minnesotas Tim Walzwalking out of the West Wing to vocally back the president.

Valerie Biden Owens, who attended Hunter's gun offenses trial with her brother James Biden and his wife Sara Jones Biden, was meeting the president July 4. Hannah Beier/Reuters

Walz told reporters on the White House driveway, that the governors have his back and we are working together. He added: The feedback was good. The conversation was honest and open, and the action that will come out of that, we will make sure we are getting the message out.

But other governors who attended in person, including Californias Gavin Newsom and North Carolinas Roy Cooper, both of whose names have been quietly floated as possible runners if Biden steps aside, did not emerge to make statements. Newsom later used X to say, I heard three words from the President tonight -- hes all in. And so am I.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Joe Biden Concedes He 'Screwed Up' Debate Against Trump, As Pressure Mounts

President Joe Biden conceded he performed poorly at last weeks debate against former President Donald Trump in a radio interview that aired Thursday, amid mounting speculation about his future at the top of the Democratic ticket.

In an appearance on the The Earl Ingram Show, Biden was determined to stay in the race, arguing that his disastrous 90-minute debate showing was not representative of his nearly four years in office.

I had a bad night, Biden said. I screwed up. I made a mistake but I learned from my father when you get knocked down you just get back up, get back up. Were going to win this election. Were going to just beat Donald Trump just like we did in 2020. Were going to beat him again.

Voter surveys suggest thats far from certain. The first post-debate New York Times/Siena College poll showed Trump beating Biden by six percentage points among likely voters nationally.

Bidens weak showing at the debate, during which he fumbled answers and often looked confused, reignited long-standing concerns about Bidens age and fitness to serve another four years. Biden would be 86 at the end of a potential second term.

While Biden has blamed his performance on a cold and intense travel schedule, pressure is growing on him to reconsider his candidacy; two House Democrats have so far called for him to drop out.

At least as of now, though, Biden appears to determined to fight this election.

During the interview, the president pointed to the legislative efforts his administration has pushed to improve veterans health care, before blasting Trump for calling Americans who died in war suckers and losers.

My son died, because of a year in Iraq, the president told host Earl Ingram, in reference to his late son, Beau Biden, an Iraq War veteran who died of brain cancer in 2015.

Trump cancelled a visit to a cemetery in France in 2018, telling his senior staff members: Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers.

Biden cited the episode as evidence that the former president has no respect for anybody.

During the debate, Trump also attacked Bidens immigration policies, noting that Bidens big kill on the Black people was allowing millions to cross into the country through the U.S. Southern border.

Theyre taking Black jobs now and it could be 18, it could be 19 and even 20 million people, he added.

Biden said Trump was essentially suggesting that the only things that Blacks can do are manual labor, being menial labor, calling his remarks shameful.

This is the guy who questioned George Floyds humanity, led to the birther movement against Barack Obama, he added.

Trump for years questioned whether Obama was born in the U.S., suggesting he was illegitimately elected president.

Biden took credit for building a diverse administration that reflects the country, adding that he is proud to serve alongside Kamala Harris, the first Black woman, Asian American, HBCU graduate, daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants to be elected vice president in the U.S.

Harris remains the most likely Democrat to replace Biden in the event that he withdraws his candidacy.

In the meantime, Biden is due to sit for another widely anticipated interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos, which will air in its entirety Friday evening.
John Morgan, Florida's 'Pot Daddy,' now the voice of recreational marijuana ad campaign

The group behind the proposed recreational marijuana state constitutional amendment appearing on Florida's 2024 ballot announced that it has launched a $1.1 million radio advertising campaign.

And 'Pot Daddy' John Morgan is the voice behind it.

In this undated file photo, attorney John Morgan says marijuana helped his father as he was dying of cancer and his brother, who has faced chronic pain since an accident left him paralyzed.

Throughout the month of July, our campaign will remind voters that freedom means individual rights and an end to arrests and incarceration for simple marijuana possession charges, said Morgan Hill, spokesperson for Smart & Safe Florida, in a Wednesday statement.

We know that thousands of people are arrested every year in Florida for marijuana. When Americans across the country have the right to choose to consume marijuana, its a disgrace that Floridians individual freedoms are still restricted.

The advertisements feature Florida attorney and entrepreneur John Morgan, who played a critical role in legalizing medical marijuana in Florida and already has endorsed the recreational campaign.

The marijuana measure, Amendment 3, allows non-medical marijuana possession of up to 3 ounces, with no more than 5 grams in concentrated form, for those 21 years old and up.

"Nearly 250 years ago, our nation declared our independence," Morgan, who has jokingly referred to himself as the state's 'Pot Daddy,' said in one of the ads. "Now it's time for us to declare our independence from laws that demand jail time for simply having or consuming marijuana."

(Morgan, by the way, even has his own 'Pot Daddy' merch.)

Smart & Safe Florida has received more than $60 million in contributions. Most of that comes from Trulieve, Florida's largest medical marijuana operator, but other cannabis companies have donated, too. As of its end-of-June campaign finance report, the group still has around $13 million to spend  without considering more funds it may receive.

But recreational marijuana supporters face opposition from the state's GOP leadership, including Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis has said the amendment, which he calls "very broad," would fill Florida with marijuana odors and "reduce the quality of life."

The governor recently opened a new Florida Freedom Fund political spending committee aimed at boosting his preferred candidates and opposing the marijuana amendment, as well as one that would ensure abortion access.

The other amendments on the ballot: Florida's 2024 constitutional amendments: What voters need to know

DEA on marijuana: Ahead of Florida amendment vote, DEA reportedly moves to reclassify marijuana as less harmful

This reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. USA Today Network-Florida First Amendment reporter Douglas Soule can be reached at DSoule@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: John Morgan to voice ads for Florida recreational pot ballot measure
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of a new Biden administration rule bolstering health care protections for LGBTQ people, handing a preliminary legal victory to more than a dozen Republican-led states that challenged it in court.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in May unveiled a final set of sweeping changes to Section 1557, the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act. The changes, which had been slated to take effect Friday, expand the rules definition of sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, angering officials in conservative states.

Fifteen GOP-led states  Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia  sued the Biden administration in June, arguing in a federal lawsuit that the new rule supplants their health regulations with a regime that sides with HHSs commitment to gender ideology over medical reality.

States could not have foreseen that Section 1557 would be implemented in the way it has by the Biden administration, they argued. The latest interpretation of the law, the states said, unlawfully coerces compliance by threatening to strip billions of dollars in federal funding from state health programs that have come to rely on it.

HHS, responding to the lawsuit, countered that the rules updated definition of sex discrimination is in line with a 2020 Supreme Court decision protecting employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The department added that covered entities will not violate Section 1557 if they have a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for denying care or coverage to a transgender person.

District Judge Louis Guirola Jr., a President George W. Bush appointee, sided with the states in a ruling Wednesday. Allowing the Biden administrations rule to take effect, he wrote, would cause concrete, imminent injury in the form of compliance costs or lost federal funding.

Tennessees Republican Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, who led the states in their lawsuit, celebrated Guirolas decision Wednesday in a statement.

Today a federal court said no to the Biden administrations attempt to illegally force every health care provider in America to adopt the most extreme version of gender ideology, Skrmetti said. The administration has over and over again issued regulations that mangle the law to advance an ideological agenda.

Todays order puts the rule on pause while we keep fighting to ensure this illegal rule never goes into effect, he added.

HHS did not immediately return a request for comment.

In a statement, Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, a national LGBTQ advocacy group, called Guirolas ruling morally wrong.

The discrimination LGBTQ+ people will continue to experience under this injunction is indefensible, Robinson said. Everyone deserves access to the medical care they need to be healthy and thrive. Instead, this court has sided with the fringe groups and politicians who want to bully our community at every opportunity. This isnt over: all LGBTQ+ people should receive the health care they deserve and be able to make informed decisions about our own bodies.

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A U.S. District Judge in Mississippi has blocked a Biden administration proposal to ban discrimination based on gender identity  including transgender status  among healthcare providers.

The policy, finalized in May of this year, clarified existing sex discrimination protections within the Affordable Care Act to include discrimination protection against transgender people. The Health and Human Services change came as part of a slew of anti-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community from the Biden administration.

Citing Loper-Bright v. Raimondo  the Supreme Court decision last week that killed the landmark Chevron Doctrine, a legal principle that gave agencies the power to enact policy not explicitly written into law  Judge Louis Guirola blocked the policy from taking effect ahead of its Friday start date.

Judge Guirola noted in the ruling that, under the new doctrine, courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.

Challenges to the rule came from Republican-led Attorney General offices in 15 states  including Tennessee  arguing that the policy put gender ideology over medical reality in court.

Applying to recipients of federal funds, it would have required Medicare to pay for some transgender healthcare procedures including hormone therapy, according to the state plaintiffs.

But the policy only extended anti-discrimination protections to transgender patients, and didnt influence how patients would be treated. Judge Guirola wrote that the states push was likely to succeed, issuing an injunction on the plan for now.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti championed the loss for transgender patients and the Biden administration in a statement.

Today a federal court said no to the Biden administrations attempt to illegally force every health care provider in America to adopt the most extreme version of gender ideology, Tennessee Skrmetti said.
The judge in the case of two women suing Disney over its scrapped plan to move staffers 2,500 miles across the country has stepped down because her daughter works for Burbank-based conglomerate.

Judge Carolyn B. Kuhl stepped aside last week, and a new jurist  Judge Lawrence P. Riff  was assigned Wednesday to oversee the womens lawsuit alleging that the company coerced them and other colleagues to relocate from Southern California to Orlando.

More from Deadline

In their misrepresentation and concealment suit filed June 18 in Los Angeles Superior Court (read it here), VP Product Design Maria De La Cruz and Director of Product Design George Fong allege that Disney in 2021 asked to relocate to the companys planned new campus in the Lake Nona planned community in Olrando, promising them affordable housing, good schools and a new office with many benefits.

RELATED: Ron DeSantis Spokesman Claims Disney Ditched Florida Relocation Plan Due To Cash Flow Problems & Struggling Stock

De La Cruz and Fong say they gave up their California residences in 2022 and bought new homes in Orlando, where home prices had actually increased due to the new Disney facility. The project was canceled in 2023 amid considerable changes that have occurred since the announcement of this project, Disney Parks chief Josh DAmaro said at the time. The company had planned to relocate about 2,000 staffers, including the plaintiffs.

RELATED: Bob Iger Gets Snow White Service Award As He Marks 50 Years At Disney: Truly The Ride Of A Lifetime

Casting aside its 2021 proclamations of Floridas business-friendly climate, the states generous $500 million tax credit offer and then-Disney chief Bob Chapeks idea of an amalgamation of resources, Disney pulled the plug on the ambitious $1 billion and more Lake Nona project in May 2023. The death knell was a consequence of the companys bitter but now-concluded legal battle with onetime presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis over his states Parental Rights in Education legislation  aka the Dont Say Gay bill  so-called woke corporate polices and bureaucratic control of the area around Walt Disney World.

A status conference on the lawsuit case is set September 20 in Los Angeles.









City News Service contributed to this report.

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July 4 fireworks at Corporate Woods in Overland Park postponed because of weather

Johnson County residents planning to watch Fourth of July fireworks at Corporate Woods in Overland Park will have to go elsewhere Thursday night.

Overland Park posted a notice on its website that the Star Spangled Spectacular at Corporate Woods Founders Park was canceled Thursday, saying flooding at Indian Creek has created extremely muddy conditions in the park. The statement also noted possible further showers in store for the evening.

The show was rescheduled to take place Friday at 10 p.m. The originally planned musical acts and food trucks will not be present Friday, the city said. Spectators are asked to stay in parking lots and paved paths.

As of Thursday, six other fireworks shows around the Kansas City metro were not happening as scheduled, including in Northeast Johnson County, Kearney, Odessa, Kansas City, Kansas, Paola and Liberty.

Other fireworks shows planned for Thursday, including the fireworks display and festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, were scheduled to continue as planned.

Will other firework shows be rained out for weather?

Heavy rain has hit the metro over the past few days, but as of Thursday morning, most forecasts predict cloudy conditions with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s, with a few scattered showers throughout the day.

Forecasts anticipate the clouds to clear out around 8.m. and clear skies by 10 p.m. just in time for the fireworks.

The metro remains under a flood warning until 8 p.m. and a flood watch until 1 a.m.

The Stars Natalie Wallington and Joseph Hernandez contributed.
The National Park Service hosted a pair of patriotic lecturers Thursday at Fort Monroe in honor of Independence Day.

Their topic was Freedoms Friendship  in particular, the lifelong friendship between two icons of early American history: James Monroe and Gilbert du Motier, commonly known as the Marquis de Lafayette.

A large American flag towered above the proceedings and flapped at half-mast over the historic forts battlements as historians Robert Kelly and G. Mark Walsh spoke in commemoration of American independence and the 193rd anniversary of the passing of the forts namesake.

Monroe, the fifth president and former Virginia governor, died July 4, 1831. But the story of his friendship with Lafayette began during the Revolutionary War.

Monroe was born in Westmoreland County and later attended William & Mary. Just 18 when war broke out, he joined the Continental Army.

Lafayette, a French aristocrat, was 19 when he arrived in Philadelphia to join the American cause in 1777.

Both fought with distinction against the British Empire. They first met at the Battle of Brandywine. Monroes knowledge of the French language helped to establish their bond.

So imagine their closeness in age, their closeness in temperament, the language commonality and all these things are making these young men very close, Walsh told the small crowd.

Walsh, a member of the National Advisory Board for the James Monroe Memorial Foundation, added that the war heroes bond was deepened through a shared acknowledgement of the hypocrisy of the Declaration of Independence words all men all created equal while institutionalized slavery continued to exist in America.

Monroe increasingly had difficulty with those words, Walsh said.  Lafayette takes those words and uses them in his first draft of the (Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen).

After the war, Lafayette returned to France and exchanged dozens of letters with Monroe and the other founding fathers, helped in the Louisiana purchase and recommended another Frenchman, General Simon Bernard, to oversee the design of American coastal fortifications. Bernard was placed in charge of the Board of Engineers and constructed forts, roads and canals.

Fort Monroe, however, was Bernards true masterpiece and it has often been called the Gibraltar of the Chesapeake, Kelly told the crowd.

Kelly, the vice-president of American Friends of Lafayette, added that this year is the bicentennial of Lafayettes final trip to America. In 1824, Lafayette was invited to the U.S. as a Guest of the Nation and visited all 24 states.

Lafayette was in Hampton Roads on Oct. 24, 1824. The American hero  who happened to be French  was escorted through Fort Monroe with the highest military honors.

Colin Warren-Hicks, 919-818-8138, colin.warrenhicks@virginiamedia.com
To all Americans on this Independence Day: Youre doing it wrong.

Upon the successful vote in the Second Continental Congress confirming American independence, Massachusetts delegate John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty; it ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Yet the day he was praising was July 2, the day independence was declared by the Second Continental Congress, not July 4. Yes, folks, we Americans are doing it wrong by celebrating Independence Day on the wrong day.

Once Congress had voted in favor of political separation from Great Britain, it was left to the congressional secretary Charles Thomson to produce a clean charter for all the members to sign at a later date, as the original document was in rough draft form and had myriad clauses scratched out and added, as well as word and grammatical corrections. It took Thomson two days to accomplish this task. But rather than placing the date on which Congress had approved the measure at the top  July 2, 1776  he placed the date on when he had finished copying it  July 4. Henceforth, that typographical error gave us the anniversary that we Americans celebrate as Independence Day.

Furthermore, the sole delegate to have signed the document on July 4 was John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress. Most members did not sign it until late August 1776, after Congress had reconvened following a summer break. One delegate, Charles Carroll of Maryland, chose not to sign the document until after the battle of Yorktown in 1781. Thus, the famous John Trumbull painting we are all familiar with, with the delegates standing around waiting to place their signatures upon the document, was a figment of the artists imagination. This is the reason why, upon viewing it, Adams showed contempt: I consider the true history of our revolution to be lost forever.

Jefferson didnt write Declaration alone

Among the most popular myths of Independence Day is that Thomas Jefferson was the sole author of the Declaration of Independence. This is simply not true. Once the congressional declaration committee members were appointed, Adams took it upon himself to write the first two drafts, both of which are still extant and housed at the Adams manse and museum Peacefield in Quincy, Massachusetts. After presenting his second draft to the full committee, its other members  Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston  made sizable contributions before it was handed off to Jefferson to complete in a polished draft to be presented to Congress. In short, Jeffersons primary contribution was to clean up the language and add the linguistic flourishes for which his skills were already well noted throughout the American colonies.

Afterward, three days of heated debate ensued in the Second Continental Congress, during which several clauses were added and deleted. At one point, the Declaration teetered on the brink of becoming a mere footnote to American history, as all the Southern delegations members refused their ascent to the document over its anti-slavery clause, a leftover from Adams drafts included at the ardent behest of its original author. It was only after the offending clause was removed and the final vote was taken that the document was approved by the entire delegation. It was then given to Thomson to produce a clean copy for all the congressional members to sign. Thus the handwriting of the document that hangs at the National Archives, and which we Americans so venerate, is not that of Jeffersons as we have been dutifully taught, but Thomsons.

But is the July 2 truly Independence Day?

If we were to celebrate the actual day of our separation from British rule, should it not be on the day when the Treaty of Paris was approved by the British government? It was on Sept. 3, 1783, that both King George III and Parliament formally recognized the American colonies liberation from their authority. This is a valid question, because the fact that a group of disgruntled colonists proclaims itself free from its mother country does not make it a reality. Obviously, the king, George Lord Germain and all the British troops stationed throughout the Atlantic seaboard thought otherwise. That is why it ultimately took a six-year war to determine the question of American independence.

So, while Americans celebrate in a cacophony of fireworks as Adams had predicted, they will be oblivious that they are celebrating American independence on the wrong day and honoring the wrong person as the Declarations sole author. Their ardent patriotism will have blinded them to the ignorance of their own national history  a rather interesting and disturbing irony. It does, however, make me wonder what the founding generation would have thought of all of it.

Popular history is like internet advertisements

Much of what we were taught as American history is a nationalistic fable, or as historian Richard Shenkman has accurately termed them, legends, lies and cherished myths purveyed as fact. Consistently, so many people challenge the historical foundations of my social media posts because what I have written is wholly inconsistent with what they were taught in school. Disturbingly, even popular historians  a totally different breed from the scholarly type  have either been taken in by the hoopla or merely reiterate the common fables cynically to sell books.

Such popular historical lore, however, is akin to internet advertisements. They seem to have a life of their own, destined to live forever, and they believe this as a fact. As the English fiction writer E.M. Forster observed, Nonsense of this type is more difficult to combat than a solid lie. It hides in rubbish heaps and moves when no one is looking. And American Independence Day is truly the foremost among them.

So let us set the record straight here and now: The Fourth of July is not Independence Day, and yes, all Americans are doing it wrong by celebrating it on that day.

Michael J C Taylor is an author and historian with a doctorate in history and political science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He lives in Overland Park.
I just cant bring myself to support either candidate: Why so many American Latter-day Saints feel politically homeless

Former Governor of Utah, Gary Herbert weighed in this week in the Deseret News about the U.S. presidential election, asking: Are these the two best people that our country has to offer running for the highest office in the land?

Hes hardly alone among Americans - perhaps especially those who identify as Latter-day Saints. More and more are feeling similarly, according to new data from the American Enterprise Institute reported by Deseret News reporter Sam Benson earlier this month. That May 2024 survey found 71% of Latter-day Saints saying neither party represents my views anymore, which was measurably larger than people from other faith groups (and larger than various other polls surveying Americans as a whole, such as the 52% of Americans who said in a January Ipsos poll they wanted a third choice).

Compared with the 21% of survey respondents who indicate they are unsure about their vote or would support another candidate, approximately 34% of Latter-day Saints in this spring AEI poll were either undecided or opting out of supporting either of the major candidates. Survey director Daniel Cox concluded that there is no group of voters more dissatisfied with their choices than Latter-day Saints.

Why do members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appear to be more hesitant than most? The Deseret News spoke with a number of American Latter-day Saints who dont feel comfortable voting for either of the two major presidential candidates in this Novembers election, trying to understand their experiences and concerns.

Both sides falling short

There was a sense from this group of potential voters that both major parties were falling short in ways they could neither overlook nor rationalize. Nathaniel Givens, author of Into the Headwinds: Why Belief Has Always Been Hard  and Still Is, describes arriving at feeling equally skeptical toward both major parties after watching how they behaved.

The Democrats claim Trump is an existential threat on democracy, he said by way of illustration. But they wont stop attacking the same institutions.

After mentioning how many Democrats switched their party affiliation in recent elections to artificially elevate MAGA Republicans and sabotage more moderate Republicans, he said with some exasperation, Theres no good guys here.

Data analyst Dallin Crump likewise spoke with dismay about both parties fighting over who gets to use the government to force everyone else to do what they want  citing the overreach of presidential authority happening from both parties as an illustrative concern. Executive orders used to order silverware for the White House.

Even though Trump and Biden differ in their rhetoric generally, both represent a kind of illiberal populist approach in policy, analyst Walker Wright said. After mentioning Trumps very populist rhetoric that inflames people rather than inspires, he said, Biden is softer in rhetoric, but pointed toward similar anti-trade policies, along with a gradual creep of the administrative state.

A thorny moral quandary

Latter-day Saints are caught in between, David Campbell, founding director of the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy at the University of Notre Dame, told Sam Benson. They feel like they dont have a home right now in American politics  comparing it to Catholics who have beliefs that line up better with the Democratic Party and others that line up better with the Republican Party.

Michael Taylor, a civil engineer from northern Utah, described the ethical struggle that arises when the American two-party system forces us to lump together a host of unrelated political issues which may prove to be strange bedfellows.

Latter-day Saints in the U.S. are certainly not alone in this quandary, of course. For instance, Hindu journalist Rupa Subramanya wrote recently about her sense of political homelessness in Canada, Im Stuck Between the Woke Left and the Nativist Right.

Sticking to principle

I decided in 2008 that I would never again vote for the lesser of two evils, Crump continued. Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.

Im just not able to reconcile and justify it, he said, while insisting that he doesnt judge anyone else reaching a different decision. Yet he added, I have been able to vote with a clear conscience ever since.

Neither of them reach a basic standard where I could vote for them without feeling like Ive compromised too much, agreed teacher Steve Moody  with Givens musing that resisting imperfect options may be baked into the DNA of a faith that began with Joseph Smith faced with various religious options and being told to join none of them.

Crump remembers how much of a revelation it was to learn years ago how many other candidates were actually running. He decided to research them all, including write-in candidates listed on the ballot.

To those who see this as a mere performative gesture or wasted protest vote, Crump cites John Quincy Adams, who once said: Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

Artist Esther Hiilani Candari described shifting towards more political independence after candidates being nominated by the party she formerly supported no longer reflected the kind of person I wanted to be, even if their core policies still did align.

She compares the drift in her formerly comfortable party affiliation to watching someone you grow up with all the potential in the world  end up hanging out with the wrong friends, and then life becomes a dumpster fire.

Even though shes fiscally conservative as a small business owner, Candari is resistant toward both major candidates, but especially the Republican nominee. I dont care what good things he might say he puts forward, on principle, I cant support someone whos completely devoid of morals and has no remorse for that.

Jacob Ross likewise registered for the Libertarian Party for the first time in recent years. I was originally planning on voting for Trump, mainly for economical reasons, he said. But Im no longer convinced that he would be as good for the economy as others think. And I grew tired of the idea that its okay to have immoral leaders as long as they make good decisions for the country.

Every time I feel like Trump has finally pulled far enough ahead in the well, thats disqualifying category to maybe make holding my nose for Biden seem worthwhile  I observe something else from Biden that dashes that.

Struggling to understand

Retired professor Wally Goddard points out that Latter-day Saints have been given some specific guidance on what kind of leaders they should seek, citing restoration scripture: Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.

Emily Allen, a Utah mother of five, doesnt hate either candidate but is troubled by Bidens age and Trumps disposition, remarking on how the latter is just mean and divisive  I dont like anything about the man.

I dont think he has hardly any Latter-day Saint values.

For this woman, it is totally mystifying how the former president has such a large following among fellow believers. How does this fit into your faith? How does it fit into kindness to people? she wonders.

Allen has genuinely sought to understand the different perspectives of friends and neighbors. I can talk with moderates, she said, but with especially partisan friends, the conversation doesnt typically go anywhere and feels more us vs. them.

Well, you need to look past this and that, she often hears people say about the major candidates. But she still admits, I dont get it.

Not being understood either

The incomprehensibility runs in both directions. Robert Hill, a Utah filmmaker, personally cant embrace either candidate either, which he says is pretty simple to me but is hard to explain to most other people, who are so thoroughly siloed into red team or blue team that many of them simply cannot understand how a good person would not by default already be on their side.

If you dont vote for Republican, youre voting for the Democratic candidate, Hill often hears people say. He remarks on how often he hears the election being portrayed very dramatically, including language such as the heart of democracy is at stake or this is a battle between good and evil.

Both sides seem to be catastrophizing, Hill concludes. I dont know how many people Ive heard say that if that person wins the election, we wont have another election.

This man goes on to say, most people arent voting for their side as much as voting against the others. Since we dont support good things as often anymore, all the things left are to oppose the bad things.

We dont vote for good candidates, because were so busy voting against bad candidates, Hill continued  highlighting how many discussions hes noticed are couched in so that the other guy doesnt win.

Within such a politically charged atmosphere, when people find out hes not voting for either, he said it shocks people, who seem to imply, I thought you were a good person.

If you dont vote for good guys, then you are complicit, the message goes  with people pressed to vote for one candidate out of fear of the other. If youre made to believe that your way of life will end if a certain candidate is elected, you can be made to do pretty much anything, he said, suggesting that people need to be more conscious of when theyre being manipulated through fear.

Living in different political universes

Its remarkable that depending on which side of the political side you stand on, the world looks completely differently, Hill says.

Maybe thats why politics is so hard right now, said podcaster Liz Busby. The two sides are from such different information universes that its exhausting just to try to understand whats going on.

Compared with living in Ohio, when it was fun to feel like my vote really could tip the outcome, Steve Moody wonders how much his current residence in Utah changes his voting calculus, since here he arguably has the luxury of not voting for either candidate.

I can pat myself on the back saying I took a moral stand by not giving into a lesser of two evils false choice, he said. But in a swing state, would I actually find myself feeling obligated to vote for the least bad candidate?

Cozy Republicans no more

Whats most striking about these various conversations is the dawning realization among many middle-aged Latter-day Saints that the political world of their parents, where faith was often tightly woven around conservative (Republican) politics in the United States, no longer exists.

We got complacent associating the political right with religious orthodoxy, Nathaniel Givens said. And its an important lesson to learn that you cant just assume that politics are going to be doctrinally correct  because theyre not.

That was always the case, but now its really obvious. Its time to grow up.

The days when Republican meant faithful are gone, Givens concluded. And theyre not coming back.

This Virginia-based writer points to ways members of the church have been led in this more independent direction by prophetic counsel  from letters on political neutrality each election season, to teaching from President Dallin Oaks, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, about voting focused on principles, rather than party affiliation alone.
Kansas authorities seek information on man who may be in Chicago

CHICAGO  Authorities in Kansas are looking for a man they say is a person of interest in a local crime and who may be in the Chicago area.

The Overland Park Kansas Police Department shared photos and few details in a Wednesday social media post, saying only that the crime involves a breach of privacy case.

The incident reportedly happened March 25 at West 95th Street and Nieman Road in Overland Park. That intersection is just to the northeast of Oak Park Mall.

We believe the person of interest may reside in the Chicago, Illinois area, the post said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-344-8742 or the Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
DeLaSalle High School says its cell phone ban helped reclaim learning time, but it might heed student advocacy to relax the policy (Photo illustration by Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon).

Facetime calls. Blaring music. Video games.

You name it, it was happening during class at DeLaSalle High School, said Breona Ward, director of college and career progressions.

Students cellphone use got in the way of learning at the Kansas City charter school.

The difference Ward saw in her English classroom was night and day after a crackdown on cellphones midway through the 2022-23 school year. With students phones locked up, she saw fewer power struggles, disruptions and social media-fueled conflicts.

Even students downtime was different, Ward said. Instead of having their heads bowed, eyes fixed on phones, they talked with one another and played board games.

Its beautiful, she said. You see kids who normally arent talking to each other, theyre not in the same friend group, but they are growing bonds, and theyre actually communicating.

But 18 months after introducing a stricter cellphone policy, the Kansas City charter school is pondering how to ease up without reverting to the same old problems.

Students are advocating to use their phones in some circumstances, such as outside of class. Executive director Sean Stalling wants to encourage their initiative.

While I might not agree 100% with every change students have proposed, Stalling said, I will agree 100% that having the policy thats co-created with students and school  will be easier to enforce and easier to implement.

How the policy worked

DeLaSalle launched its strict approach to cellphone use in early 2023.

The school  which specializes in working with students who were behind on credits or otherwise struggled at other high schools  urgently needed to get more out of classroom time. After all, they were still catching up from the pandemic.

Some research shows negative impacts on academic performance, mental health and exercise when students use cellphones in school.

Three-quarters of public schools nationally prohibited using cellphones for nonacademic reasons during the 2020-21 school year, but enforcement of those bans is wildly uneven. A 2023 study of about 200 children ages 11 to 17 found 97% of them used cellphones in school.

Rather than just putting a cellphone ban in writing, DeLaSalle used magnetically sealed pouches made by Yondr and marketed for schools, events and workplaces. Students can carry the pouches with them, but they only open with a special unlocking station.

At least, thats how it was supposed to work.

Students quickly discovered that the pouches are fallible, Principal Erin Wilmore said.

A Google search brings up advice on breaching the lock, sometimes without tell-tale damage.

Students attempts to skirt the policy have required the school to devote time to enforcement rather than relying on Yondr alone, Wilmore said.

As part of the morning routine, students go through bag checks and Wilmore or a vice principal examines every Yondr pouch. When they find a damaged pouch, they toss it.

In class, teachers who catch students using phones call administrators.

Students who violate the policy can have their phones confiscated during school, sometimes for days or weeks. Other than those consequences, the policy isnt meant to be punitive.

We do not want to suspend kids, restrict them and do things to them that could lead to them not being in school, Stalling said.

Students also got around the policy by bringing tablets  too big to fit in Yondr pouches  or Apple watches, Ward said. But in general, those devices have been less disruptive than phones. For example, its easier to see at a glance how a student is using a tablet.

Reactions and impact

Stalling said the policy left more time for teaching.

Students beat the scores of their Kansas City Public Schools neighborhood high school peers, on average, when they took their 2023 state English exams. DeLaSalle records also show they narrowed the gap on math scores. Final scores for 2024 arent available yet.

Stalling said its notable because many DeLaSalle students previously struggled in those neighborhood schools. Its not clear how much of the improvement is a result of the cellphone policy.

Teachers generally supported launching the cellphone policy, Stalling said, with the exception of one who already had a policy that was working well.

Wilmore, the principal, said teachers generally appreciate the clarity and the attempt to reclaim instruction time. But they also say enforcement  hailing an administrator when a kid gets busted for using a phone  can pose its own distraction.

About 95% of parents also support the policy, Stalling said. Some even help enforce it.

We have had parents call us to say, Hey, my son just called me from the bathroom, and I know hes not supposed to have his phone, he said.

Some parents say they worry about safety and how theyd reach their child during a shooting or some other crisis, Ward said.

The school made exceptions for special circumstances such as students using phones to monitor medical conditions, expecting an important phone call from court or going through a family tragedy.

Students who go off campus for internships or college classes are generally allowed to keep their phones with them for safety reasons, Ward said.

She thinks phones pose their own risks. Social media drama spills over into real life here in the building, she said. Behavioral incidents have (gone) down significantly because they have less access to their phones.

Phone restrictions also prevent real-life teasing or conflict from being recorded, going viral and becoming a schoolwide incident, Stalling said.

Students, generally, arent so hot on the policy.

Administrators and students are negotiating potential changes, Stalling said. DeLaSalle will still keep phones out of class but could retire Yondr pouches  unless a student breaks the rules.

Instructional time will still be sacred, Stalling said. But students have lunch, students have passing periods, students have out-of-the-building programs. And so there are times that the students would like to have access to their phone.

Ideas about tweaking the policy are worth listening to, Wilmore said. But she also likes what the strict version of the cellphone ban has done.

Students now understand, she said, that were not going to let phones take away from the culture of learning.  It showed them an extremity. Now, its putting the ball back in their court if we revise the policy.

This article first appeared on Beacon: Kansas City and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

The post Kansas City charter school found locking up students phones left more time for learning appeared first on Missouri Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A Kansas City, Missouri man was convicted Wednesday for a 2022 shooting in Overland Park that left another man dead.

A Johnson County jury found Zarrell Semaj Finley, 27, guilty of first-degree murder.

Governor Parson to decide on Blairs Law in the coming days

On July 31, 2022, officers with the Overland Park Police Department responded to a shots fired call at the BP gas station at College Boulevard and Antioch Road.

When officers arrived on scene they found a man seriously wounded. He was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries and was identified as 26-year-old Shaquille J. Jackson.

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Finley is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
At least 10 people in the Caribbean have died after the Category 4 hurricane hit Jamaica and the Cayman Islands

Samir Hussein - Pool/WireImage Prince William and Kate Middleton in the Bahamas in 2022

Kate Middleton and Prince William are extending help to those affected by Hurricane Beryl.

PEOPLE has confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales  both 42  have privately donated funds to people in the Caribbean impacted by the storm and continue to follow the situation closely.

The news comes after the death toll of the Category 4 hurricane rose to at least ten on Thursday, July 4 after Beryl hit Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, according to Reuters.

It was previously reported on Wednesday, July 3, that nine people had died in the hurricane  three people in Grenada and Carriacou, three in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and three in Venezuela.

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.

Joe Raedle/Getty The aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Old Harbor, Jamaica

Related: Kate Middleton and Prince William Go by Different Names in Scotland  Here's Why

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, King Charles also sent a message Thursday to the people of the Caribbean affected by Beryl.

My family and I have been profoundly saddened to learn of the dreadful destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl across the Caribbean, the Kings message read. Above all, we send our heartfelt condolences to the friends and families of those who have so cruelly lost their lives.

I have seen the extraordinary spirit of resilience and solidarity that people across the Caribbean have shown in response to such destruction  a spirit which has been called upon too often  and so I also send my particular gratitude to the emergency services and volunteers who are supporting the rescue and recovery efforts, Charles added.

Related: Why King Charles and the Royal Family Won't Vote in the U.K. Election

Curtis Kitchen/Anadolu via Getty Hurricane Beryl hits Jamaica

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

At this most difficult of times, please know that our most special thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives, livelihoods and property have been so utterly devastated, his message concluded.

Sources tell PEOPLE that Charles will also be making a charitable donation to recovery and relief efforts in the region. He has also asked to be informed of all developments and has asked to speak with regional leaders to express his sympathies and support.

As Head of the Commonwealth, Charles retains close ties to the Caribbean. According to the Commonwealth website a total of 13 countries in the Caribbean and Americas are part of the Commonwealth, while Charles is also head of state in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Christopher and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.

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London  When Keir Starmer was elected to lead Britain's Labour Party in 2020, right after the party suffered its worst general election defeat in 85 years, he made it his mission to make the party electable again. Four years later, after 14 years of governments led by the rival Conservative Party, Starmer arrived Friday at the prime minister's residence at 10 Downing Street for the first time as the man in Britain's top job.

With all but two of the final results in, Labour had won a remarkable 412 of the seats in the British Parliament's 650-seat House of Commons. The Conservatives held only 121, a massive hemorrhaging of support for the party that swept the last election in 2019.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded early Friday morning, saying voters had delivered a "sobering verdict" on his Conservative Party, and he quickly headed to Buckingham Palace and submitted his resignation to King Charles III.

Starmer, 61, has faced years of criticism for a perceived lack of charisma, but his methodical mission to drag Labour back toward the center of British politics and broaden its voter appeal paid off. Starmer and Labour also, indisputably, capitalized on years of economic pain and political chaos under the Conservatives.

Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour Party, addresses supporters at a reception to celebrate his win in the 2024 U.K. general election, at the Tate Modern museum in London, July 5, 2024. / Credit: Suzanne Plunkett/REUTERS

Starmer takes the reins of government with a herculean task at hand, with the British people's overall trust in politicians at rock bottom, a record number of children in the U.K. living in poverty, and both his party and the Conservatives grappling with how to handle surging support for a far-right, anti-immigrant strain of politics taking root across Europe.

What happens now?

Starmer became the new British prime minister with the ballots from the final two races still being tallied Friday morning.

Sunak emerged from the prime minister's official residence at 10 Downing Street in London, which he inhabited for only 14 months, and gave a statement confirming that he would go immediately to meet with King Charles to formally offer his resignation. He offered an apology to the British people and said he had "heard your anger," taking personal responsibility for his party's massive loss.

Starmer met the king at Buckingham Palace right after Sunak, and the monarch took the constitutionally necessary but largely ceremonial step of inviting the Labour Party leader to form a new government, confirming Starmer's role as the new prime minister. Starmer left the palace and headed straight to Downing Street to give his first public address as the country's leader.

King Charles III welcomes newly appointed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Buckingham Palace, where the monarch formally invited Starmer to form the next British government, on July 5, 2024, the day after Starmer's Labour Party won a general election in a landslide. / Credit: Buckingham Palace/Handout

"I want to thank the outgoing prime minsiter Rishi Sunak," Starmer said, paying tribute to his predecessor as the first Asian leader of Britain.

Starmer declared it a "day of renewal," and a "return of politics to public service."

"We need to move forward together," he said, acknowledging the huge lack of trust in politics in the country generally and saying it can "only be healed by actions, not words. I know that, but we can make a start today."

"My government will serve you," he said, promising to show that "politics can be a force for good," by putting "country first, party second."

Once the formalities were completed, Starmer quickly set to work. A steady stream of top Labour Party members walked up to enter 10 Downing Street, believed to be heading in to learn of their appointments to Starmer's new cabinet. The new prime minister will also receive briefings from key members of the civil service and the intelligence community and start taking phone calls from world leaders.

He promised to get down to the often unglamorous business of running the country, bringing the change he campaigned on, without delay.

Where does Keir Starmer come from?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer  the former lawyer was knighted for services to criminal justice  has, through years of chaos (you may remember Partygate, or perhaps even Prime Minister Liz Truss' fewer than 50 days in power) projected an almost dull managerialism that appears to have become a beacon for a welcome return to political normalcy.

Starmer grew up in a small town in Surrey, just outside London. His mother worked for the National Health Service, Britain's free public health care system, and his father was a toolmaker  a fact that Starmer repeated so often during the election campaign that it became a meme.

His mother suffered for all her life from Still's disease, a type of inflammatory arthritis, and died only a few weeks after he was first elected to the British Parliament in 2015. His father died three years later. Starmer has said his relationship with his father was strained, and that never telling him, "I love you and I respect you" is "the one thing I do regret."

Starmer was the first member of his family to go to university, after which he helped run a left-wing magazine called Socialist Alternatives. He then became a lawyer, rising up the ranks to become the head of public prosecutions in 2008, running the British government's Crown Prosecution Service. He received his knighthood in 2014, the year before he turned to politics.

Despite his legitimate background in tackling serious crime, Starmer has never managed to shake the image of a relatively boring politician. He's even leaned into it on occasion.

"If, in the end, that is the only bit of mud left to sling, then I'm pretty comfortable," he told Britain's ITV in January. "If they are calling you boring, you're winning."

What are Keir Starmer's policies?



Throughout his tenure as Labour leader, Starmer has tried to make his party more electable by forcing out individuals seen as entrenched in its socialist left wing  the faction that ran the party under its previous leader, Jeremy Corbyn (whose cabinet Starmer served in, incidentally).

After Corbyn called the findings of an inquiry into antisemitism in the party "dramatically overstated," Starmer suspended him.

"Sometimes you have to be ruthless to be a good leader," Starmer told Esquire about the episode.

His public mantra has been "country before party."

Starmer's move toward centrism has been criticized by left-leaning members of his own party and others. He irked many by backtracking on several key pledges, including that Labour would increase income tax, scrap university tuition fees and nationalize the majority of Britain's public services.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks to media on the final day of campaigning before Britain's national general election, July 3, 2024, in Whitland, Wales. / Credit: Matthew Horwood/Getty

He has also come under fire for Labour's screeching u-turn on a green investment pledge worth more than $35 billion annually, and for equivocating on alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, despite his legal background.

In a recent speech, Starmer said he had a long-term "big, bold plan" for Britain. But he cautioned that "we need first steps."

Those, according to the BBC, include clamping down on tax avoidance, shortening NHS patient waiting lists and recruiting more teachers and neighborhood police officers. He also wants to negotiate a better deal with the European Union, given the catastrophic economic consequences of the U.K.'s "Brexit."

He called his unflashy election pledges a "down payment" on what the Labour Party can offer Britain if it is given enough time.

"I'm not going to make a promise before the election that I'm not comfortable we can actually deliver," he stressed.

"A lot of people on the left will accuse him of letting them down, betraying socialist principles. And a lot of people on the right accuse him of flip-flopping," Tim Bale, a political scientist at Queen Mary University of London, told The Associated Press. "But, hey, if that's what it takes to win, then I think that tells you something about Starmer's character. He will do whatever it takes  and has done whatever it takes  to get into government."

How might Starmer influence U.S.-U.K. relations?

With British and American election cycles coinciding for the first time since 1992, there's a lot of uncertainty about how U.S.-U.K. relations could look by the end of the year.

Starmer has spoken admiringly of President Biden, particularly his focus on job creation and investment in domestic industry. The Economist even described him as "infatuated" with the American president.

Senior Labour figures reportedly met secretly with Democratic counterparts even before election day.

So, it's expected that Mr. Biden will have a close ally in Starmer  if Mr. Biden is still the president in 2025.

If former President Donald Trump wins in November, U.S.-U.K. relations would likely be less chummy.

Despite her being a Conservative and thus ostensibly on the same side of the political aisle, Trump had a difficult relationship with former Prime Minister Theresa May during his first term in office. He got on better with the more populist  and many say more Trumpian  Boris Johnson.

"A Biden White House would find Starmer a well-wisher and useful spear-carrier," Eliot Wilson, a former senior official in the U.K. House of Commons wrote in The Hill. "For Trump, he would prove a vague annoyance, and could not be counted on to echo the wilder MAGA phrasebook."

The reality for U.K. leaders, from any party, almost a decade after Britain's exit from the EU, is that the long-touted "special relationship" with Washington has never been more vital.

"We will work with whoever is elected," Starmer has said. "We have a special relationship with the U.S. that transcends whoever the president is."

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The News

NAIROBI  Kenyas government has raised concerns about risks associated with use of artificial intelligence (AI) as youth-led, anti-government protests continue across the nation. Protesters have deployed creative uses of AI and digital tools to take on the political establishment over the past few weeks as part of the nationwide demonstrations, which were triggered by the now-scrapped Finance Bill 2024 containing a raft of unpopular tax hikes.

Among widely shared AI tools created in support of the protests include the Corrupt Politicians GPT, a chatbot which reveals corruption cases involving Kenyan politicians. Another is the Finance Bill GPT, which helps break down the controversial bill and its potential impact on prices. The chatbot also shares lawmakers phone numbers for their constituents to raise their concerns.

Protesters also contributed to and shared databases of businesses owned by politicians, which have faced boycotts and attacks, and created another chatbot featuring their contributions to parliamentary debates.

Know More

Reuters/Monicah Mwangi

The mostly Gen Z and millennial protesters, who are now pushing for the presidents resignation, began organizing against the Finance Bill on TikTok and X before taking to the streets. They continue to use the social media apps features, including spaces and live-streams, to coordinate protests and mobilize.

The protesters have also used these platforms to crowdfund medical bill payments and funeral costs for injured and killed protesters. At least 39 people have been killed in the protests since mid-June, according to a government-funded human rights organization. An online fundraiser managed by activist and journalist Hanifa Farsafi, one of the protests key figures, had raised 29.8 million Kenyan shillings ($231,906) from over 34,000 people as of Wednesday evening.

Lesser-known apps have also seen increased usage in Kenya, such as Zello which protesters have been using to turn their phones into walkie talkies. It helps them quickly share information including police movements during demonstrations.

And with Kenya being home to 43 different ethnic communities, all with their own languages in addition to the official languages of English and Kiswahili, protesters also crowdsourced TikTok videos translating and breaking down the bills proposals into different local languages, helping reach more people especially in rural areas. Sign language interpreters also contributed. The videos were also widely shared on Whatsapp among other platforms.



Martins view

AI is a relatively new tool for both governments and opposing political actors on the continent. The young protesters in Kenya, are however especially well-equipped to deploy their skills against the government. The country has one of the highest populations of developers on the continent, and a large tech ecosystem. Social media also offers platforms for the youth to mobilize around issues and plan civic actions including protests.

The AI tools have in many cases helped Kenyans understand the potential impact of the Finance Bill, turning the legislative jargon into actionable information for many protesters. It represents just one way in which AI could shape political action in Africa. The techies show of solidarity has been present across professions  including young medics who independently organized free medical camps for protesters, and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) which has provided legal aid for protesters and challenged abductions and use of excessive force by police.

Everyone is just doing what they can, Emmanuel Musyoka, a protester in Nairobi, told Semafor Africa. Weve had boda boda (motorcycle taxi) riders delivering water and giving free rides; graphic designers making posters.

The governments concerns on AI comes even as it develops a national AI strategy, seen as a precursor to the introduction of a regulatory framework for AI in Kenya.

Room for Disagreement

In a communique to ambassadors in Nairobi this week on the protests and the governments response, Kenyas foreign affairs cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Tuesday, July 2 shared concerns on AI use and misinformation.

The abuse of the internet space continues to fuel national and global instability as well as feed into the ever-opportunistic cybercrime, he said. Indeed, the World Economic Forums Global Risks Report 2024 admits that the biggest global short term risk stems from misinformation and disinformation in large part driven by the potential of AI, in the hands of bad actors, to flood global information systems with false narratives.

Notable

Kenyan celebrities and social media influencers have been dropping the countrys biggest mobile phone company its alleged cooperation with the government to censor protests by slowing internet among other things.




Kevin McCarthy's 'Depressing' New Complaint About Biden Is His Weirdest Gripe Yet

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday offered a bizarre new complaint about President Joe Biden.

Speaking to Kayleigh McEnany on Fox News, McCarthy said the Oval Office under most presidents has been busy and buzzing with activity, but Bidens is calm and quiet.

The only thing: There are cookies. He offers you cookies every time youre in there, and he goes and gets them. I mean, it is a depressing moment, said McCarthy, who once had his aides pick through packs of Starburst candies to set aside all the red and pink ones for Donald Trump.

Biden has been facing increased pressure to drop his reelection bid after last week stumbling debate performance, with a growing number of people questioning the effects of his age and his mental stamina.

McCarthy has also claimed the president is cognitively diminished, but critics were quick to point out that offering a guest cookies is not exactly a great example of that:

I'll tell you what's depressing, and it's sure as shit not cookies. It's a 269-day speakership, the shortest in more than 140 years. https://t.co/iUqhxqlfKE  pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) July 4, 2024

I only got a cupcake when I was invited to the White House, and it was such a highlight I stopped and took pictures of it in front of everyone. I cant imagine how miserable a person you have to be to complain about being offered a cookie. https://t.co/NSJdLFmkXHpic.twitter.com/qMITOGx9SA  Ryan Marino, MD (@RyanMarino) July 4, 2024

McCarthys entire career has been a search for a cookie. https://t.co/y2t5CUltSL  Douglas M. Griffin (@DouglasMGriffin) July 4, 2024

I always love how quick Republicans are to remind you they absolutely hate the things normal people love. Have a puppy, we will take it to the gravel pit and shoot it in the face. Like cookies? Fuck you, how about those cookies? https://t.co/IrxO88CV8C  Jason Karsh (@jkarsh) July 4, 2024

Yeah that sounds terrible. People hate cookies https://t.co/ln58j4bXqb  Thor Benson (@thor_benson) July 4, 2024

What a bitter and powerless carcass McCarthy is. https://t.co/IwG57Tu0s6  David Lytle (@davitydave) July 4, 2024

I think most normal Americans would consider this is a generous act https://t.co/afsi23RGHy  Michael A. Cohen (NOT TRUMPS FORMER FIXER) (@speechboy71) July 4, 2024

Is this really the best "Crazy Old Biden" example he could come up with? Who doesn't want a cookie? https://t.co/7o5DjKX6MV  Lon Harris (@Lons) July 3, 2024

I'd be pretty stoked if the President of the United States offered me a cookie ... and then got up to get me one! Of course, I'm not a gaping a-hole like Kevin McCarthy, so... https://t.co/GoijCAXbIn  Ron Marz (@ronmarz) July 4, 2024

I can assure you there is nothing depressing about being given cookies. Ever. https://t.co/Fpq2rC6UfV  Christos Gage (@Christosgage) July 3, 2024

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who couldn't hold onto the big sombrero, finds President Biden's offer of cookies as snacks during Oval Office meetings "depressing."



What did McCarthy offer his guests - rhubarb and bell peppers? pic.twitter.com/rSFgPAmn5H  Donald R. Koelper (@Donald_from_HI) July 4, 2024

So depressing being offered cookies. I mean its not like having ketchup bottles thrown at you, is it https://t.co/FTIVaOCOGj  Meri (@meri315) July 4, 2024

Did I miss the cookies are now depressing memo? https://t.co/9gRXn0ugx5  Stephanie Grace (@stephgracela) July 4, 2024
The key moments that defined the general election campaign

The day a soaked Rishi Sunak announced the general election in the pouring rain on May 22 may feel like a lifetime ago.

Indeed, a lot has happened since the Prime Minister called for the country to cast their ballots on July 4.

The campaign has seen Nigel Farage, who returned to frontline politics as the leader of Reform UK, being splashed with a milkshake. Keir Starmer unveiled a tax raid on private schools and Mr Sunak faced criticism for departing D-Day commemorations early.

Here are the key moments from the campaign, in pictures.

Sunak announces early election amid downpour

On a rainy May 22, Rishi Sunak announced the early election outside Downing Street. Along with heavy downpour, the event also faced unexpected competition from Labour supporters playing the New Labour anthem Things Can Only Get Better over the announcement.

Starmer unveils day one tax raid on private schools

Sir Keir Starmer set the tone for Labours election campaign on May 24 by pledging an immediate tax on private schools if the party wins the election.

Concerns mounted among parents as plans for VAT on fees have already prompted some to withdraw their children from private education.

Sunak proposes return of National Service

Rishi Sunak pledged to reinstate National Service for 18-year-olds to foster a renewed sense of pride in our country in his first policy announcement of the election campaign.

The plan would require school leavers to either join a 12-month military placement or spend one weekend each month volunteering in their community.

Diane Abbott cleared to run as Labour candidate

Sir Keir Starmer said on May 31 that Diane Abbott was free to stand as a Labour candidate in the forthcoming election. She was suspended from the party last year for suggesting that Jewish people experienced prejudice but not racism.

Diane Abbott is "free" to stand as a Labour candidate - Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images

She had had the Labour whip restored just days before, but it was later briefed that she might be barred from running for Sir Keirs party in the election.

Farage hit by a milkshake, again

Nigel Farage had a milkshake thrown over him when leaving a pub in Clacton on June 4 while he was launching his personal election campaign. A similar incident occured when he was hit by a flying milkshake in 2019 while campaigning in Newcastle.

A woman throws a milkshake at Nigel Farage in Clacton-on-sea, Essex - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The latest incident came the day after Mr Farage announced that he would stand in the Essex seaside constituency for Reform in the general election.

Sunak criticised for leaving D-Day Commemoration

Labour accused Rishi Sunak of a dereliction of duty as he left a major international ceremony which marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day to carry out a general election TV interview. Sunak later tweeted that it was a mistake not to stay.

A Telegraph poll revealed 82 per cent of readers believed Mr Sunak was in the wrong for leaving the commemorations early.

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty attending the ceremony for the 80th anniversary of D-Day - GARETH FULLER/POOL/AFP

Election betting scandal

On June 12 it was revealed that the Prime Ministers parliamentary private secretary placed a 100 bet on a July election just three days before it was announced.

As a result, the ongoing investigation by the Gambling Commission has led to the Conservative Party withdrawing support from two of its candidates. At least three more party members and seven police officers are being investigated, as well as one Labour candidate.

YouGov poll puts Reform ahead of the Tories for the first time

Reform UK overtook the Conservatives in an opinion poll for the first time on June 13, which prompted Nigel Farage to declare: We are now the opposition.

A YouGov survey put Mr Farages party on 19 per cent, ahead of the Tories on 18 per cent, while Labour remained ahead on 37 per cent.

Telegraph poll puts the Tories at 53 seats

A major opinion poll published on June 19 by The Telegraph predicted the Conservatives could drop to just 53 seats in the election. This would make Rishi Sunak the first sitting Prime Minister to ever lose his seat.

The Telegraph poll predicted the Conservatives could drop to just 53 seats in the election

The poll indicated significant dissatisfaction with the party, with around three-quarters of the cabinet voted out.

Starmer vows to ban gender ideology from schools

Sir Keir Starmer recently pledged to prohibit the teaching of gender ideology in schools, amid criticism directed at him for previous comments on the matter. Just the day prior, the shadow minister hinted that Labour might discard guidelines prohibiting the teaching of more than two genders to children.

On June 22, JK Rowling accused Labour of abandoning women, expressing reluctance to support them in future elections due to their stance on transgender issues.

Sunak and Starmer go head to head in final TV debate

In the June 26 final TV debate, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer clashed over tax, immigration and gender.

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer clashed over tax, immigration and gender in their final TV debate - PHIL NOBLE/POOL/AFP

While the Prime Minister urged voters not to surrender Britains borders to Labour and warned against its tax policies, Starmer criticised the Government for failing the public on a range of issues over the past 14 years.

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.
FILE- Opposition party members try to obstruct the proceedings of a vote of confidence on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File)

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP)  Nepal's second largest party withdrew from the government Thursday to join its longtime rival in a new coalition, as pressure builds on the prime minister to resign.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), which is the second largest party, announced it was withdrawing support for Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. All their ministers resigned late Wednesday.

Leaders of the party and the Nepali Congress, the country's largest party, had signed an agreement Tuesday to form a new partnership to govern for the remaining three years before general elections.

Dahal had been leading his shaky governing coalition since becoming prime minister in December 2022 following an inconclusive election where his party finished third. He took to switching coalition partners to keep his majority.

The Maoist leader survived a no confidence vote earlier in March, after a smaller party broke from its coalition. If he does not step down immediately, he would need to seek a confidence motion in a month.

It is Dahals third time in power since his Maoist group ended an armed revolt and joined mainstream politics in 2006.

Dahal, also known as Prachanda or the fierce one, led a violent Maoist communist insurgency from 1996 to 2006. More than 17,000 people were killed and the status of many others remains unknown.

After entering politics, Dahals party secured the most parliamentary seats in 2008 and he became prime minister but quit a year later over differences with the president.
On July 1, a kitten was stolen from a shelter in Lansing, Michigan. The Capital Area Humane Society posted about the incident on its social media platforms, asking for help locating the suspect. Fortunately, the organization was made aware of the woman who stole the tiny feline. Moreover, the little one is set to return to the shelter soon.

Woman steals tiny kitten from Michigan humane society, feline will be returning to shelter soon

On Monday, a woman browsing through the animals at the Capital Area Humane Society stole a kitty in Lansing, Michigan. The surveillance camera caught the incident, showing the suspect forcing open a locked cage to steal a kitten from the shelter. According to WILX, She proceeded to tuck the feline under her coat and then quickly left the building.

The Humane Society posted the video to its Facebook account on Tuesday, July 2, and has since removed it. However, the shelter uploaded a follow-up post noting that the kitten would be back with them soon. The organization had been made aware of the suspects identity, which helped them safely retrieve the feline. However, the Capital Area Humane Society hasnt provided further information about the incident.

In a similar case, on June 24, two foster kittens were stolen along with the SUV they were in. The incident took place in Denver, Colorado, while the foster parent had stepped out of the vehicle for a little bit. However, she returned to her SUV, phone, purse, and the beloved foster kittens missing.

Unfortunately, the Colorado incident wasnt resolved as smoothly. The foster parent has since filed a report with the police and is waiting to hear back from them about the little ones. The co-founder of Colorado Feline Foster Rescue, Kris Meding, told KDVR, Stepped out of the car for a minute to grab something else, came back and the car was gone with her purse, her phone, and the kittens in it.

The post Kitten Stolen From Shelter in Michigan, Set To Return Soon appeared first on CatTime.
What to know about Venezuela's election as Maduro faces the toughest race of his decade in power

FILE - A man dressed as an independence fighter attends a political event with Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, June 13, 2024. No decision in Venezuela over the past 25 years has been as consequential as the choice voters will make on July 28. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, File)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuela's self-described socialist government is facing a serious electoral challenge in a presidential election for the first time in decades.

President Nicolas Maduro, now in his 11th year in office, is being challenged by former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia at the head of a resurgent opposition, as well as a field of eight other candidates. The official campaign period for the July 28 election kicked off Thursday.

Maduro, who has presided over an economic collapse that has seen millions of people emigrate, and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela have fended off challenges by barring rivals from elections and painting them as out-of-touch elitists in league with foreign powers.

This time, he promised to let the Unitary Platform opposition coalition participate in the election in a deal that brought his government some relief from crippling economic sanctions imposed by the United States. That respite, however, was short-lived as the U.S. reimposed sanctions amid mounting government actions against the opposition, including blocking the candidacy of opposition powerhouse Maria Corina Machado.

Here's what to know about Venezuela's upcoming presidential election.

Who is the opposition candidate?

The most talked-about name in the race is not on the ballot: Maria Corina Machado, a former lawmaker, emerged as an opposition star in 2023, filling the void left when a previous generation of opposition leaders went into exile. Her principled attacks on government corruption and mismanagement rallied millions of Venezuelans to vote for her in the oppositions October primary.

But Maduro's government declared the primary was against the law and opened criminal investigations against some of its organizers. Since then, it has issued warrants for a number of Machado's supporters and arrested some members of her staff, and the country's top court affirmed a decision to keep her off the ballot.

Yet, she kept on campaigning, holding rallies across the country and turning the ban on her candidacy into a symbol of the loss of rights and humiliations that many voters have felt for over a decade.

She has thrown her support behind Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a former ambassador who's never held public office, helping a fractious opposition unify behind him.

They are campaigning together promising an economy that will lure back the millions of Venezuelans who have migrated since Maduro became president in 2013.

On Thursday, the bus that was set to move Machado and Gonzalez throughout a section of Caracas was temporarily stopped by law enforcement with both standing on a platform affixed to the vehicle. The officers argued the stop was a routine procedure to verify the validity of the driver's documents.

People gathered at the opposition's march marking the official start to the campaign chanted Freedom! Freedom! Freedom! and And it will fall, and it will fall, this government is going to fall. They waved Venezuelan flags as they awaited the duos arrival while motorists joined them honking their horns.

Gonzalez began his diplomatic career as an aide to Venezuelas ambassador in the U.S. in the late 1970s. He had postings in Belgium and El Salvador and served as Caracas ambassador to Algeria. His last post was as ambassador to Argentina during the first years of Hugo Chavezs presidency, which began in 1999.

More recently, Gonzalez worked as an international relations consultant and wrote a historical work on Venezuela during World War II.

Why is the current president having trouble?

President Nicolas Maduros popularity has dwindled due to an economic crisis that resulted from a drop in oil prices, corruption and government mismanagement.

Maduro can still bank on a cadre of die-hard believers, known as Chavistas, including millions of public employees and others whose businesses or employment depend on the state. But the ability of his United Socialist Party of Venezuela to use access to social programs to get people to the polls has diminished as the country's economy has frayed.

He is the heir to Hugo Chavez, a popular socialist who expanded Venezuela's welfare state while locking horns with the United States.

Sick with cancer, Chavez handpicked Maduro to act as interim president upon his death. He took on the role in March 2013, and the following month, he narrowly won the presidential election triggered by his mentors death.

Maduro was re-elected in 2018 in a contest that is widely considered a sham. His government banned Venezuelas most popular opposition parties and politicians from participating, and in turn, the opposition urged voters to boycott the election.

That authoritarian tilt was part of the rationale the U.S. used to impose economic sanctions that crippled the countrys crucial oil industry.

Maduro held two events Thursday, including a march in Caracas, marking the official start of his campaign.

Who will vote?

More than 21 million Venezuelans are registered to vote, but the exodus of over 7.7 million people due to the prolonged crisis  including about 4 million voters  is expected to reduce the number of potential voters to about 17 million.

Voting is not mandatory and is done on electronic machines.

Venezuelan law allows people to vote abroad, but only about 69,000 met the criteria to cast ballots at embassies or consulates during this election. Costly and time-consuming government prerequisites to register, lack of information and a mandatory proof of legal residency in a host country kept many migrants from registering to vote.

Venezuelans in the U.S. face an insurmountable obstacle: Consulates, where citizens abroad would typically cast their ballots, are closed because Caracas and Washington severed diplomatic relations after Maduros 2018 re-election.

Under what conditions is the election taking place?

A more free and fair presidential election seemed like a possibility last year, when Maduros government agreed to work with the U.S.-backed Unitary Platform coalition to improve electoral conditions in October 2023. An accord on election conditions earned Maduros government broad relief from U.S. economic sanctions on its state-run oil, gas and mining sectors.

But hopes for a more level playing field began fading days later, when authorities said the oppositions primary was against the law and later began issuing warrants and arresting human rights defenders, journalists and opposition members.

A U.N.-backed panel investigating human rights violations in Venezuela has reported that the government has increased repression of critics and opponents ahead of the election, subjecting targets to detention, surveillance, threats, defamatory campaigns and arbitrary criminal proceedings.

The government has also used its control of media outlets, the countrys fuel supply, electric network and other infrastructure to limit the reach of the Machado-Gonzalez campaign.

The mounting actions taken against the opposition prompted the Biden administration earlier this year to end the sanctions relief it granted in October. ___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Ahead of excessive heat warnings taking place in many areas across Oregon over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek is reminding Oregonians to take extra precautions to stay safe.

The governors office said the excessive heat warnings are expected to begin 12 p.m. Thursday through Sunday evening.

Oregon will experience record-breaking heat across the state this holiday week, Gov. Kotek said. While extreme heat can be deadly for anyone, certain groups  children, elders, people with disabilities, and people who work outside  face additional risk. Also, remember to check on your neighbors, especially those who might not have access to air conditioning.

Portland Street Response spots fire, calls 911, put on hold

She added, High heat can also be a catalyst for wildfires. I strongly urge all Oregonians to practice extreme caution this weekend, stay cool, and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires.

The governors office said near record-breaking temperatures are expected around Oregon, with the Portland metro area, Willamette Valley, and parts of Southern Oregon anticipated to reach triple-digit temps.

Ahead of the forecasted triple-digit heat, the governors office said the Oregon Department of Emergency Management has activated the state Emergency Coordination Center in response to the heatwave and several counties are opening cooling centers around the state.

DONT MISS: Full coverage of Oregon wildfires

Oregonians can find information on cooling centers online or by calling 2-1-1. Community members can also sign up for OR-alert to receive emergency notifications.

The Oregon Health Authority is also urging Oregonians to take steps to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) says Kamala Harris isnt relatable, and critics think she might need to do some introspection.

She has an inability to communicate common sense to the American people. They just cant relate to her, Noem told Hannity guest host Jason Chaffetz on Fox News Wednesday. And so, you know, if Joe Biden steps down and it is Kamala Harris, gosh, you know, thats going to be an interesting race because shes just as bad as he is.

Noem: Kamala Harris has an inability to communicate common sense to the American people, they just cant relate to her. pic.twitter.com/IfIUKDrfY2  Acyn (@Acyn) July 4, 2024

Noem communicated to the American people in her memoir that she shot her 14-month-old puppy in a gravel pit because it had behavioral issues. Amid intense backlash ahead of the books May release, she doubled down and defended the decision to kill the pup.

The book was also found to contain several stories about meeting world leaders that may have been fabricated.

With all that in mind, critics on social media raised their brows at her Harris swipe. See some of those reactions below.

"She doesn't talk about totally normal things like killing a puppy in cold blood." https://t.co/3YWLnZAI64  Ben Siemon (@BenjaminJS) July 4, 2024

Who among us can't relate to people who shoot dogs in the face?  Allen Weisselberger (@weisselbergers) July 4, 2024

This from the Governor who is banned from setting foot in large portfolios the State she governs. Yeah, lets take public relations lessons from, oh its too easy, woof!  Veronica (@Veronica_112806) July 4, 2024

Does the average American relate to shooting a puppy in the face - @kristinoem? https://t.co/d44jml0w6t  chris evans (@notcapnamerica) July 4, 2024

We should hear out the corrupt dog murderer, she may be on to something. https://t.co/XjN5wie6lW  Max Rodriguez (he/him) (@Max_E_Rodriguez) July 4, 2024

Maybe the violent sociopath who speaks exclusively in MAGA talking points should sit out the discussion of which candidates are relatable https://t.co/CsAxakpR3E  Dreamweasel (@Dreamweasel) July 4, 2024

We know Kamala didnt shoot her dog or lie about meeting Kim Jong Un https://t.co/ykfr3MQP0P  Kaylan_TX (@Kaylan_TX_) July 4, 2024

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Kyiv repels drone attack as they approached in waves from different directions

The Russians have launched another air attack using only UAVs on the night of 3-4 July. Air defence troops have destroyed all drones.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Details: Kyiv City Military Administration reported that the Russians launched their drones from the territory of Russias Kursk Oblast. The drones approached the city of Kyiv in waves and from different directions.

None of the drones reached Kyiv itself thanks to the air defence network. The assets and personnel of the Air Force destroyed Russian UAVs on the approaches to the capital.

Early reports indicate that there were no casualties or destruction in Kyiv.

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The Labour Party is projected to win a landslide victory Thursday evening, ending 14 years of Conservative Party rule in the United Kingdom.

Labour is on track to win 410 seats in the British House of Commons, a sizable margin above the 326 seats needed for a majority, according to a nationwide exit poll conducted by Ipsos for the BBC, ITV News and Sky News.

Conservatives are set to grab 131 of the 650 seats, and smaller parties make up the rest.

These polls, which are conducted at polling stations across the U.K., have historically given an accurate snapshot of the ultimate election results.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the Conservative leader, called a surprise snap election six weeks ago. The timing of the announcement raised eyebrows given the partys relative unpopularity in the country.

Conservatives have weathered several scandals, including the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss and the resignation of Boris Johnson amid allegations he held parties at No. 10 Downing St. during the pandemic.

A Labour victory would also run counter to a recent streak of a rightward shift in other European countries, such as France. But those same populist trends are strong in the U.K., and the exit polls suggest voters have acted on well-reported dissatisfaction with Conservatives handling on a number of issues including high costs of living and immigration levels.

Labour leader Keir Starmer is expected to become the countrys next prime minister.

To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party  thank you, Starmer wrote on social platform X.

Developing

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A teenager is accused of stabbing another teen with a knife her mother reportedly gave her during a fight involving nearly two dozen young people, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

The teenager faces charges of attempted murder and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. 8 News Now was not naming the teenager as it was not immediately clear if she was certified as an adult.

On June 23 around 10 p.m., Clark County Park Police officers responded to the large fight at Silver Bowl Park on Russell Road near Boulder Highway, documents said.

The teenager allegedly pre-planned to meet the stabbing victim at the fight along with 20 friends, documents said. According to police, the teenagers mother handed her a steak knife, which the teenager then reportedly used to stab the other teenager, documents said.

The victim was stabbed in the shoulder and head, documents said.

During the fight, a person threw hot water on a person and several others were pepper sprayed, documents said. It was unclear from the report if the stabbing victim was the same target.

In an interview with officers, the teenager said she was retaliating after a group of young people jumped her sister earlier in the week, documents said. [The teenager] also told me that because there were so many kids there, her mom gave her the knife.

The teenager appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Tuesday, where Judge Rebecca Saxe set bail at $25,000. The teenager posted bond and was due to return to court on July 8. The mothers name was not included in court documents the 8 News Now Investigators received.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
The Latest | Keir Starmer is officially the new UK prime minister

Britain's Labour Party Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria wave to the crowds of supporters and media from the doorstep of 10 Downing Street in London, Friday, July 5, 2024. Labour leader Starmer won the general election on July 4, and was appointed Prime Minster by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, after the party won a landslide victory. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Labour leader Keir Starmer officially became prime minister of the United Kingdom on Friday after his party won a landslide victory in a national election.

Starmer received the blessing of King Charles III to form a government in a ceremony known as the kissing of hands. A photo of the occasion served as the official announcement of Starmers new title.

Earlier on Friday, Rishi Sunak offered his resignation as prime minister to the king.

Voters in the U.K. cast their ballots Thursday in a national election to choose the 650 lawmakers who will sit in Parliament for the next five years.

After more than a decade in power under five different prime ministers, Sunaks Conservatives suffered a major defeat.

Here's the latest:

President Biden reaffirms special trans-Atlantic relationship with Starmer

President Joe Biden has congratulated British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his appointment and reaffirmed the special relationship between the United States and the U.K.

Biden said he was looking forward to working closely with Starmer and stressed the importance of cooperating in support of freedom and democracy around the world, according to a readout from the White House.

The two leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, as well their shared commitment to protecting the gains from the Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland, the statement added.

The President looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Starmer to the Washington Summit next week to celebrate NATOs 75th anniversary, it said.

Reform UK wins fifth Parliament seat after recount

Hard-right politician Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has won its fifth seat in Parliament after a vote recount.

Reform candidate James McMurdock won the constituency of Basildon South and East Thurrock with a majority of just 98 votes over a Labour rival.

The party, which Farage formed in 2018, has taken second place in many constituencies, pushing the Conservatives into third place on the back of an anti-immigration election campaign.

Farage, a prominent Donald Trump supporter, gained a seat in Parliament himself after seven failed attempts in previous elections.

Just one of the House of Commons' 650 seat was left undeclared Friday. The result of the ballot in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire in Scotland was delayed until Saturday because the votes needed to be recounted.

Top jobs in Starmer's Cabinet announced

Several other top jobs in Prime Minister Keir Starmers new Cabinet have been announced.

David Lammy has been appointed the foreign secretary, while Yvette Cooper is the home secretary looking after key issues including immigration and policing.

John Healey was named the defense secretary.

Pat McFadden, Labours national campaign coordinator, has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster  the most senior minister in the Cabinet after the prime minister.

Rachel Reeves appointed first female Treasury chief

Rachel Reeves has been appointed Treasury chief in Britains new Labour government, the first woman to hold the job.

Reeves was put in charge of the countrys finances on Friday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. She gets a job and title, Chancellor of the Exchequer, that dates to the 16th century.

The former Bank of England economist faces the daunting task of delivering Labours promise to get the economy growing and invest in public services while working with a large national debt.

Starmer is appointing his Cabinet on Friday after winning a landslide election victory.

Angela Rayner appointed deputy prime minister

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner has been appointed as Britains deputy prime minister.

Rayner was the first senior politician to be appointed by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he begins the work of appointing his Cabinet.

Rayner, who has served as Starmer's deputy party leader since 2020, will also take the role of the Secretary for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Rayner has often spoken about her tough background growing up in a deprived public housing block and leaving school early as a young mother.

She started her career as a trade union official before embarking on a career as a lawmaker.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage heckled by protesters

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who has long been one of Britains most divisive politicians, was booed and heckled by several protesters before he delivered a speech in London.

Several protesters were escorted out of the room as the hard-right politician repeatedly shouted Boring! at their heckling. Farage told one of the protesters to return to the pub.

Farage, 60, won a seat in Parliament for the first time after seven previous failed attempts. His newly-formed Reform party won four of the House of Commons 650 seats in Thursdays election on the back of a campaign focused on cutting immigration in Britain.

Farages campaign was tainted by a string of controversies sparked by racist or misogynistic comments reportedly made by his candidates. On Thursday, he said he was going to professionalize his party, adding: Those few bad apples that have crept in will be long gone and we will never have any of their type back in our organization.

Starmer gives his first speech as UK prime minister

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed to lead a government of service on a mission of national renewal.

Starmer acknowledged in his first speech outside 10 Downing St. that many people are disillusioned and cynical about politics.

But he said his government would try to restore faith in government.

He said that brick by brick, we will rebuild the infrastructure of opportunity.

Starmer spoke after he and his wife, Victoria, walked up to the residence at10 Downing St. to roaring applause and shook hands with supporters.

Starmer spoke in the same place outside the house, where outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had delivered his farewell speech about two hours earlier.

The speech came shortly after King Charles III asked him to form a government during a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace known as the kissing of hands, in which Starmer officially became prime minister.

Starmer arrives at Downing Street for the first time as UK prime minister

Keir Starmer has arrived at Downing Street for the first time as the new prime minister of the United Kingdom.

He arrived in a car with his wife, Victoria Starmer, shortly after meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Keir Starmer is giving a speech outside No. 10 Downing Street.

Downing Street was lined with Labour Party supporters, who cheered his arrival, waving small Union Jack flags.

Keir Starmer is officially the new UK prime minister

Labour leader Keir Starmer has officially become prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Starmer received the blessing of King Charles III to form a government in a ceremony known as the kissing of hands.

A photo of the occasion served as the official announcement of Starmers new title.

Starmer is now headed from Buckingham Palace to take up residence in No. 10 Downing Street, where he is expected to speak.

Starmer arrives at Buckingham Palace for meeting with the king

Labour leader Keir Starmer has arrived at Buckingham Palace to accept the request of King Charles III to form a government after his partys landslide victory.

In a ceremony known as the kissing of hands, Starmer will officially become U.K. prime minister. He will then head to his official residence at 10 Downing Street.

Starmers arrival at the palace is part of the choreography of changing governments that harkens back to a time when the king exercised supreme power and chose his preeminent minister  the prime minister  to run his government.

The modern-day constitutional monarchy echoes that tradition, with the king officially offering the post to the party that holds a majority in the House of Commons.

Earlier in the day, outgoing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak offered his resignation to the king.

Sunak resigns

Rishi Sunak has departed from Buckingham Palace following his resignation as prime minister, after the Conservative Party suffered staggering losses in the general election.

Sunak officially left the post after tendering his resignation to King Charles III in his final audience with the monarch. Sunak was driven to the palace in a chauffeur-driven ministerial car, and left in a private vehicle.

Sunak leaves 10 Downing street after final speech as prime minister

Rishi Sunak has left the prime ministers residence and headed to Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation to King Charles III.

This is a difficult day, but I leave this job honored to have been prime minister of the best country in the world, Sunak said in his final speech outside 10 Downing Street.

Sunak wished his victorious rival, Labour leader Keir Starmer, all the best: Whatever our differences in this campaign, he is a decent, public-spirited man who I respect.

Sunak said he had given the job his all.

Sunak conceded defeat earlier in the morning as vote counts confirmed exit polls that had projected a landslide defeat for his Conservatives to the Labour Party.

After Sunak resigns, Starmer will go to the palace to seek the kings blessing to form a government. After performing the kissing of hands, the new prime minister will head to his official residence, where he is expected to speak.

China says it hopes to work with the UK on the basis of mutual respect

Developing a stable and mutually beneficial China-UK relationship is in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and is conducive to both sides responding to global challenges together and promoting world peace and development," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Friday.

We hope to work with the UK to move China-UK relations forward on the right track on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Mao said at a daily press briefing.

China-UK relations have been roiled in the last few years by blocks on Chinese investment in Britain over national security concerns, tensions in the South China Sea and Chinas crackdown on democracy and free speech in the former British colony of Hong Kong in violation of its pledge to keep such institutions intact until 2047.

Left-wing disruptor George Galloway loses his seat after only a few months in Parliament

One of the casualties of the Labour Partys landslide win was a former member.

George Galloway, the leader of the Workers Party of Britain, lost the seat he won only months ago in a special election where he mobilized support against the Labour Partys stance on Gaza.

Galloway, who did not stay to listen to the result, lost his Rochdale seat to Labours Paul Waugh, a former journalist.

Rochdale, like many other northern towns, has a sizable Muslim population.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced criticism within Muslim circles over his strong backing for Israel in the wake of the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7. He has subsequently shifted his position to call for a ceasefire.

Galloway, a left-wing disruptor, was expelled by Labour in 2003.

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss loses her seat

Liz Truss, the former prime minister whose premiership lasted just 49 days, has lost her lawmakers seat in the election.

Truss lost her Norfolk South West seat to Labour by just several hundred votes. Truss quit as prime minister in 2022 after a tumultuous and historically brief term marred by economic policies that roiled financial markets.

Several other high-profile and senior Conservative lawmakers also lost their seats, including House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, education secretary Gillian Keegan and former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Australia, New Zealand leaders congratulate Starmer

The leaders of Australia and New Zealand have sent their congratulations to Labour Party leader Keir Starmer on his election victory.

Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a social media post on X that he looked forward to working constructively with the new British government.

New Zealands Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also took to X to congratulate Starmer, writing: New Zealand and the UK are great friends and can do so much more together.

Luxon added his thanks to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for your service to your nation and friendship to New Zealand.

Larry the cat seen waiting patiently outside Downing Street

As the U.K. awaits a new prime minister, one feline was also patiently waiting to be let into No. 10 Downing Street.

Larry, Britains mouse-catcher in chief and long time resident at the leaders official residence, was pictured waiting outside the famous black door early Friday.

The tabby cat was not bothered by the large crowd of press photographers waiting outside ahead of the change of power expected later Friday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to go to King Charles III to tender his resignation, and soon after Labour leader Keir Starmer will meet the monarch to be officially appointed.

Larry was recruited by former Prime Minister David Cameron to tackle rats seen scuttling close to the British leaders official residence, and entered Downing Street in February 2011.

Starmer: We will put the country first, party second

Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is set to become the first Labour prime minister in 14 years, says his government will always put country first, party second.

He said a mandate like this comes with great responsibility, and added that his government will be focused on national renewal.

We have to return politics to public service, he said.

With more than half of all 650 seats counted, Labour looks set to secure one of its biggest ever majorities in the House of Commons.

Starmer is expected to pay a visit to King Charles III later Friday to get the monarchs permission to form a new government.

Labour wins at least 326 seats, enough to have a majority

Official results show Britains Labour Party has won enough seats to have a majority in the UK Parliament and will form the next government.

The party had won 326 of the 650 seats by 5 a.m. Friday as counting continued.

That means leader Keir Starmer will become prime minister and can form a majority government.

We did it, he said at a victory party in London. Change begins now."

Hope is shining once again on a country with the opportunity after 14 years to get its future back, Starmer said.

Prime Minister Sunak concedes that Labour has won

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the British people have delivered a sobering verdict, and the Labour Party has won the election.

Sunak, who held onto his lawmaker's seat in North Yorkshire, told those gathered: The Labour party has won this general election."

He said he took responsibility for his partys loss, and that he had called Labour leader Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory.

He added that he will head to London in the coming hours, and promised that the transition to Labour will be orderly.

Sunak is expected to go to see King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on Friday to officially resign. After that, Starmer is expected to be driven to the palace to get the kings permission to form a government.

Labour is way ahead with more than half of all seats counted

With more than half of the 650 seats declared so far, Labour is emerging way ahead of other parties with at least 250 seats.

The governing Conservatives have 44 seats, while the left-of-center Liberal Democrats have won 32 seats.

The hard-right, anti-immigration Reform UK has won 4 seats so far.

The Scottish National Party has four seats, while the Green Party has 1 seat.

Labour suffers in some areas over its Gaza stance

While the Labour Party appears headed for a landslide U.K. election victory, it seems clear that it has suffered in areas with big Muslim communities over its stance on the conflict in Gaza.

A prominent Labour member, Jonathan Ashworth, lost his Leicester South seat in central England to an independent candidate who had Gaza at the heart of his campaign.

Ashworth, who was expected to be appointed to the Cabinet, lost around 20,000 votes when compared to the election of 2019.

Even Labour leader Keir Starmer saw his majority in his Holborn and St. Pancras seat in north London reduced, with more than 7,000 votes going to a pro-Gaza candidate.

After the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, Starmer took a strongly pro-Israel stance and maintained it even as the death toll in Gaza swelled. Many Muslims who had been traditional Labour voters were aghast and have clearly turned to other candidates.

Anti-immigration Reform UK leader Nigel Farage wins a seat in Parliament

Nigel Farage, the leader of the hard-right Reform UK party, has been elected to Parliament.

Farage won the contest in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea, becoming a lawmaker at his eighth try after seven failed election attempts.

Partial results show the anti-immigration Reform, successor to the Brexit Party, has taken votes from both the Conservatives and Labour.

Farage said the party was going to come second in hundreds of constituencies. It is not yet clear how many seats Reform will win.

He said there is a massive gap in the right of British politics, and it was his job to fill it.

My plan is to build a mass national movement over the course of the next few years, he said.

Former Labour leader Corbyn holds onto his London seat

Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party into the general elections of 2017 and 2019, has held onto his seat in north London  but this time as an independent.

Corbyn, who had been suspended from the party following a row over antisemitism, decided to stand as an independent candidate in the Islington North constituency he has represented since 1983.

Corbyn won the seat by nearly 7,000 votes over his Labour opponent. Corbyn had won the seat by more than 26,000 votes at the last election.

Defense Secretary Grant Shapps loses his seat

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps, long a key figure in the Conservative Party, has lost his seat in the general election.

Shapps lost his contest for Welwyn Hatfield, a seat north of London, by nearly 4,000 votes, or by 8 percentage points to his Labour Party opponent Andrew Lewin.

Shapps, 55, is the most senior Cabinet minister to lose their seat so far. He was widely considered to be the governments most trusted media performers over many years and had been tipped as a potential Conservative leadership candidate to replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Labour leader Starmer says voters are ready for change

Labour leader Keir Starmer says voters have spoken and they are ready for change as an exit poll points to a landslide win for his party.

Starmer spoke as he won his seat in north London but on a much-reduced majority.

Addressing the audience, he spoke of the need to return politics to public service and the need for change.

He thanked voters for electing him to serve my home, where my kids have grown up, where my wife was born.

It all starts with you. Change begins in this community, he said. You have voted, it is now time for us to deliver.

Anti-immigration party Reform UK wins its first seat in the election

Reform U.K., the recently formed anti-immigration party, has won its first seat in the general election.

Lee Anderson, the former Conservative deputy chairman who defected to Reform a few months ago, held onto his seat in Ashfield in central England with 43% of the vote.

Reform has posed a serious headache to the governing Conservatives, luring many previously staunch Tory voters with its promises to cut immigration.

The exit poll suggested that the party, which is led by divisive right-wing politician Nigel Farage, could win up to 13 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons.

Count Binface makes an appearance at vote counting center

Count Binface, the comedy independent candidate hoping to unseat Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in his seat of Richmond and North Allerton, has appeared at a vote counting center.

The self-described intergalactic space warrior is a satirical character created by comedian David Harvey. He has said his ambition was to conquer the entire omniverse. He also said he hoped that his campaign will raise a smile and show that democracy is alive.

Theres something wonderful that in the year of 2024 when so many countries are going to the polls and democracy is under threat like never before, its still possible to do what I do, he said in a recent interview.

Labour's economic spokeswoman warns of scale of coming challenge

Labours Rachel Reeves, who is set to become the first female Treasury chief if her party wins the U.K. election, said she is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge she will face.

The severity of the inheritance from the Conservatives is truly awful, she told Sky News.

Reeves noted that the U.K.s debt burden is running at 100% of the countrys national income and the tax burden at a seven-decade high.

She said she cant promise to turn everything around straight away.

Reeves said the driving mission of an incoming Labour government is to kickstart economic growth.

Conservatives lose the first seat they were defending

Britain's governing Conservative Party has lost its first seat it was defending in the country's general election.

Robert Buckland, a former justice minister, lost his Swindon South seat in central England after his vote slumped by 25% compared with the last election 2019. Labours Heidi Alexander won the seat, returning to Parliament after she resigned in 2018 to take up a position with the mayor of London.

According to the exit poll, the Conservatives are set to lose more than 200 seats and suffer its worst result since 1906.

What to expect in coming hours as ballots get counted by hand

Voting in the U.K. is done the old-school way  no voting machines are used. Instead, voters put a pencil to paper, and all ballot papers are counted manually.

After ballot boxes are opened, the ballot papers in the box are mixed with postal vote ballot papers and the counting begins at counting centers across the U.K.

Several dozen seats are expected to be declared from now until around 0100GMT to 0200GMT  including Labour leader Keir Starmers London seat, Holborn and St. Pancras.

From 0200GMT onwards will be the busiest part of the night, with more than 200 seats expected to be declared.

By around 0300GMT, enough results should be known to suggest which party is on course to win.

The first of 650 House of Commons seats is declared

A Labour Party candidate has won the first U.K. seat to report its result in the general election.

Bridget Phillipson, who is Labour's education spokesperson, won with a majority of 7,169 in the Houghton and Sunderland South seat in the northeast of England from the second-placed candidate.

Thats more than double the majority she won last time the seat was contested in 2019.

The candidate from the recently formed anti-immigration Reform U.K. came second, pushing the candidate from the governing Conservative Party into third.

Phillipson said the result represented a vote for hope and unity, not decline and division.

Leading Conservative, Labour members react to exit poll results

Leading members of Britains main political parties are reacting to the exit poll suggesting the opposition Labour Party winning a landslide victory and returning to power for the first time since 2010.

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner told Sky News that the Conservatives are getting punished by voters for 14 years of the chaos and the scandals and the decline.

Labours national campaign chief, Pat McFadden, said the transformation of his party since its poor showing in the 2019 election has been remarkable.

We have campaigned as a changed Labour Party, ready to change Britain, he said.

Meanwhile, Ruth Davidson, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said the exit poll pointed to a massacre for the party.

The projection suggests that the Conservatives will end up with its lowest number of seats in the House of Commons since 1906.

Exit poll: Conservatives set to face historic defeat; anti-immigration Reform UK gains big

Results from Britain's exit poll suggest that the governing Conservatives are set to have their seats in the 650-seat House of Commons cut down to 131  the Tories' worst result in the partys two-century history and one that would leave the party in disarray.

The exit poll also forecasts the left-of-center Liberal Democrats will take 61 seats, and Nigel Farage's right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK, which currently does not have any seats, is set to take 13 seats. The Green Party is expected to take 2.

The Scottish National Party, SNP, are expected to secure 10 seats.

Exit poll suggests Labour is heading for a landslide victory

As polls close across the U.K., an exit poll suggests the Labour Party is headed for a huge majority in Britains election.

The poll, released moments after polls closed on Thursday, indicates that Labour leader Keir Starmer will be the countrys next prime minister.

Britains exit poll is conducted by pollster Ipsos and asks people at scores of polling stations to fill out a replica ballot showing how they have voted. It usually provides a reliable though not exact projection of the final result.

The exit poll suggested that Labour will win 410 of the House of Commons' 650 seats, with the Conservatives taking 131 seats.

A key unknown: How will turnout influence the outcome of the UK election?

One of the significant unknowns in Thursdays U.K election is how turnout will influence the outcome. The number of people who voted wont be known until after polls close.

The U.K. has 67 million residents and 46 million were registered to vote in the last general election in 2019. Turnout at that time was 67%.

In local elections in May when Conservatives suffered heavy losses in council seats and mayoral offices, turnout averaged 30%, the Institute for Government, an independent think tank, reported.

Conservatives expressed optimism that reports of high turnout Thursday could help them overcome polls that have suggested a widespread Labour victory.

With a double-digit lead in the polls, Labour fears supporters will be complacent and wont vote. Theyve urged their supporters to go to the polls.

Until polls close in the UK, humans' canine friends are the winners

If you were watching the news coverage of the U.K. election, you would be forgiven for thinking it has gone to the dogs.

Seemingly every news site had a gallery of images with dogs outside polling stations, patiently waiting for their owners to do their civic duty while the news business fulfilled an obligation of its own to protect the sanctity of elections.

The U.K. has restrictions on what can be reported on election days before the polls close to avoid influencing voters. Unlike the United States, where there is wall-to-wall coverage and analysis, there is no such reporting in Britain.

There are just reports that people are going to the polls, along with photos and footage of the lead candidates entering polling stations  but there is no discussion of their campaign platforms.

Thus, the puppy love.

There was Alfie, a blonde shaggy dog in Chiswick, Arnie a cockapoo wearing a rainbow color bowtie in Liverpool and Tobie, a rare ottherhound, in Norfolk. Those were on Sky News.

On the BBC, there was Lucien, a Bernese mountain dog, lying outside Antrobus Village Hall in Cheshire, Pippin, a fox red Labrador, in the Edgware part of London, and Maui, an Old English sheepdog in Wokingham.

Journalists went the extra mile to show that it wasnt just pooches at polls  they found at least two horses, a cat, a chicken and a giant snake named Neptune.

A north London borough and Labour stronghold excited about the possibility of change

Voters in the north London borough of Islington started to gather even before the polling station opened as the historically Labour Party stronghold tantalizingly considers the possibility of a change in government after 14 years of Conservative rule.

James Erskine, who works in advertising, said he was unable to forgive Conservative austerity policies that he believes have decimated public services, such as the National Health Service. Even so, he wanted to vote for something rather than against something.

I think nothing has gone well in the last 14 years, and I think its really important that the right result happens, he told The Associated Press. I was even excited that we might get a different opposition to the big two parties. I dont actually think that will happen, but that would be amazing. I just see this as the potential for a seismic shift, and thats what Im hoping for.

Erskine did not disclose who he voted for

Englands team base at Euro 2024 is a politics-free zone

Englands team base at the European Championship soccer tournament in Germany is a politics-free zone on election day, defender John Stones says.

Stones said he had no clue about his teammates voting intentions.

I couldnt tell you about the other lads. Im sure it itll be something thatll get brought up tonight, later on, but I couldnt tell you who they vote for. They keep it close to their chests, he said.

Thats a stark contrast to Frances players, who have been vocal about a hard-fought parliamentary election campaign at home.

England is preparing for its Euro 2024 quarterfinal match against Switzerland on Saturday

Staunchly conservative voters in Clacton weigh a switch to the Reform Party

LONDON  Britain is going to the polls Thursday at a time when public dissatisfaction is running high over a host of issues.

From the high cost of living and a stagnating economy to a dysfunctional state health care system and crumbling infrastructure, some disillusioned voters have turned to the populist Reform Party.

Its divisive leader Nigel Farage, who championed Brexit, is drawing growing numbers of Conservative voters with his pledge to take our country back.

Opponents have long accused Farage of fanning racist attitudes toward migrants and condemned what they call his scapegoat rhetoric. They say that underfunding of schools, hospitals and housing under governments on the right and left is the problem, not migrants.

Polls show Farage has a comfortable lead in Clacton-on-Sea  a town on Englands southeast coast where many older, white voters used to staunchly support the governing Conservatives.

Its unclear how much impact his party will have in capturing seats and Parliament, though it could be a spoiler by siphoning votes from Conservative candidates.

Farage, who has lost seven campaigns for Parliament, was the rare party leader who didnt go to the polls Thursday. He voted in advance by mail.

All voters must bring ID for the first time in a general election

All voters in the U.K. were required to bring identification with them Thursday for the first time in a general election.

A change in the law has required voters in England, Scotland and Wales to prove their identity since 2023 by showing a passport, drivers license and more than a dozen other acceptable forms of ID.

Voters in Northern Ireland have had to show identification since 1985, and photo ID since 2003.

The Elections Act introduced by former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022 was enforced, ironically, earlier this year when Johnson tried to vote without ID in a local election in South Oxfordshire.

He was turned away, but returned later with his identification and cast his vote.

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who urged voters to take a leap of faith, votes in his suburban London district

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey voted Thursday in an election that could see his left-of-center party gain a larger share of seats in Parliament.

Daveys Lib Dems have been trying to make inroads in areas of southern England where Conservatives are vulnerable as their party has plunged in popularity after 14 years in power.

Daveys stunt-filled campaign has been a publicity bonanza. He has tumbled off a paddleboard into a lake, braved roller coaster rides and bungee jumped, urging voters to take a leap of faith.

The party had 15 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons when Parliament was dissolved in May.

The party has vowed to improve Britains ailing health and social care systems, including introducing free nursing care at home. It wants to lower voting age to 16 and rejoin the European Unions single market.

UK communities locked in tight contests as traditional party loyalties come second

Communities all over the United Kingdom such as Henley-on-Thames are locked in tight contests in which traditional party loyalties come second to more immediate concerns about the economy, crumbling infrastructure and the National Health Service.

Though it has traditionally been a Conservative Party stronghold, the area known for its famous regatta may change its stripes. The Conservatives, which took power during the depths of the global financial crisis, have been beset by sluggish growth, declining public services and a series of scandals, making them easy targets for critics on the left and right.

This is a blue (Conservative) town, always has been, said Sam Wilkinson, a restaurant manager. My generation wont necessarily vote blue, not necessarily, but at the same time who else do you vote for? Its really tricky. Im just kind of looking out for my kids really, hopefully more money into education and the arts.

Residents steadily streamed to the polling station, including Patricia Mulcahy, who is retired.

The younger generation are far more interested in change, she said. So, I think whatever happens in Henley, in the country, there will be a big shift. But whoever gets in, theyve got a heck of a job ahead of them. Its not going to be easy.

Labour's ex-leader Corbyn casts vote as an independent candidate

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is running for reelection as an independent, posted a photo of himself voting Thursday in his North London district.

Corbyn, a socialist who has won his seat for Labour at every general election since 1983, was suspended from the party and barred from running by Labour after his leadership faced antisemitism allegations.

He became deeply unpopular after Labour in 2019 suffered its worst defeat since 1935.

Keir Starmer was chosen as leader to replace Corbyn and he has rebuilt it and moved it closer to the center. Pollsters and politicians expect Labour to win the largest number of seats.

Labours Keir Starmer, favored to win power, votes in London

Labour Party leader Keir Starmer voted Thursday in an election that is widely expected to return his party to power for the first time in 14 years and make him prime minister.

Starmer, who has warned his supporters not to take the election for granted despite polls and politicians predicting a landslide, voted in his London neighborhood.

Pollsters have given Labour a double-digit lead since before the campaign began six weeks ago.

Starmer has spent his time criss-crossing Britain and urging voters to vote for change.

He has pledged to revive a sluggish economy, invest in the nations crumbling infrastructure and repair the broken National Health Service, which his center-left party founded in 1945.

Scottish National Party leader, fighting Labour wave, casts his vote

Scottish National Party leader John Swinney has voted as his party fights to hold off a wave of support from the rival Labour Party.

Swinney, who became the SNPs third leader in just over a year in May, has tried to bring stability to a party in turmoil.

Scotlands long-serving First Minister Nicola Sturgeon abruptly stepped down last year during a campaign finance investigation that eventually led to criminal charges against her husband, who was the partys chief executive.

Swinney joined the party at 15 years old, and previously led the party from 2000 to 2004.

Swinney has said that if his party wins a majority of seats in Scotland he will try to open Scottish independence negotiations with the London-based U.K. government. He wants to rejoin the European Union and the European single market.

Sunak votes in his Northern constituency

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cast his ballot Thursday in a national election that will determine if he remains in office.

Sunak, who tried to bring stability to a Conservative Party in chaos when he was picked as leader in October 2022, spent the past six weeks trying to persuade voters across the U.K. to give his party another term after 14 years in power.

Pollsters and politicians widely expect the Labour Party to win for the first time since 2005.

Sunaks campaign got off to a soggy start when he called the snap election in a downpour outside 10 Downing Street in May.

He had been expected to wait until the fall, when expected improvements in the economy would give him a better chance.

Sunak voted shortly after polls opened in his constituency in Yorkshire in northern England.

Polls open in vote that could end Tories' 14 years in power

British voters are picking a new government on Thursday after polls opened at 7 a.m. for a parliamentary election that is widely expected to bring the opposition Labour Party to power.

Against a backdrop of economic malaise, mounting distrust of government institutions and a fraying social fabric, a fractious electorate is delivering its verdict on Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010.

The center-left Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, has had a steady and significant lead in opinion polls for months, but Labour leaders have warned against taking the election result for granted, worried their supporters will stay home.

Sunak, for his part, has tried to rally his supporters, saying on Sunday that he still thought the Conservatives could win and defending his record on the economy.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has found out the identity of the Russian colonel who, in early May 2022, ordered a strike on the estate and museum of Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda in Kharkiv Oblast. The colonel was served with a notice of suspicion in absentia.

Source: press service of SSU on Telegram

Details: The investigation found that Ivan Panchenko, the commander of the 159th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the Western Military District of the Russian Armed Forces, gave the order to carry out an airstrike on the National Museum of Hryhorii Skovoroda.

The investigation established who gave the order to destroy the Hryhorii Skovoroda Museum.

Photo: SSU

A Su-35S fighter fired a Kh-35 turbojet anti-ship missile on the memorial. The museum building was significantly damaged, and an employee was seriously injured.

The Security Service of Ukraine reports that Colonel Panchenko continues to command air strikes on Ukraine. He was served with a notice of suspicion in absentia for the violation of the laws and customs of war. Now, the SSU is working to find and punish the Russian war criminal.

Background:

At night on 7 May 2022, the National Museum of Hryhorii Skovoroda was destroyed by a direct hit by a Russian missile. Skovoroda lived and worked in this house and died there on 9 November 1794.

Then, a shell flew under the roof of the building, a fire broke out and engulfed the entire premises of the museum. The 35-year-old son of the museum director, who remained to guard the premises at night, was injured. He was pulled out of the rubble and sent to hospital.

After the missile strike, only the statue of the philosopher survived, which has become a kind of symbol of resilience.

Since the attack, no restoration work has been carried out in the dilapidated Skovoroda Museum. However, museum staff say that the building requires immediate conservation work to preserve what was left after the hit. In November 2023, the museum launched the 301 True Friends of Skovoroda fundraiser to collect money for the necessary works.

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Lawmakers introduced a package of public safety bills after police say a community event in South Jersey devolved into chaos. (Danielle Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

Lawmakers have introduced a package of bills aiming to crack down on unruly gatherings  and even hit some parents of juvenile offenders with fines  after police say a community event in South Jersey devolved into chaos.

A group of hundreds descended on Gloucester Township Day, derailing the annual festivities with large fights that led to a dozen arrests. Three people were caught on video kicking and stomping one person, Gloucester police said.

When it hits home in Gloucester Township, then it was like, OK, thats enough. We got to do something about it, said Assemblyman Dan Hutchison (D-Camden). We cant allow something to continue without making an effort to try and change, and this was our effort to change.

Jersey Shore towns have been grappling with parties organized on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat that lead to hundreds of teens and young adults flocking to boardwalks and beaches. During the overnight hours of Memorial Day, Wildwood police declared a state of emergency and closed the citys boardwalk over claims of civil unrest, and that weekend in Ocean City, a 15-year-old was stabbed on the boardwalk.

Hutchison is the chief sponsor of a bill that would create the crime of inciting a public brawl and allow for police to charge someone with disorderly conduct if they act with purpose to disrupt or cause a disturbance at a public gathering or event.

Inciting a public brawl would be a fourth-degree offense, carrying a fine of up to $10,000 and a potential 18-month prison sentence. The charge would be similar to participating in a riot.

Under another bill Hutchison is sponsoring, parents and legal guardians could face fines or jail time if they were found to demonstrate willful or wanton disregard for delinquent minors under their supervision.

Hutchison, a father of four, admitted it may be difficult for judges to determine whether parents are guilty of this offense, but said the courts will find a way to handle it.

What we cant just do is turn a blind eye as a parent. You cant do it  there has to be consequences, he said.

Assemblyman Cody Miller (D-Gloucester) is sponsoring the third bill that would direct the Attorney Generals Office to create a crowd management training program and make resources available to cops in towns that have seen at least two flash mobs or pop-up parties in the prior year.

Miller, a volunteer firefighter, said these events drain local resources and are a danger to public safety.

We shouldnt be in a position where were canceling events for fear out of there being a flash mob or a public brawl. It shouldnt be that way. We shouldnt have to get to that point, he said.

All three bills have companions in the Senate sponsored by Sen. Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester). They were introduced the last week of June.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced today that a Lawrence man was sentenced to 21 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for his involvement in a 2023 aggravated battery charge.

Court documents say that Major C. Edwards Jr., 45, of Lawrence broke into a 19-year-old womans bedroom, while naked, and tackled her to the ground. Another woman was in the apartment at the time of the break-in and was able to intervene and alert authorities.

Two dead after multi-vehicle crash involving school bus in Clay County

At the time of this incident, Edwards was on parole for a 2006 voluntary manslaughter conviction in Douglas County.

The defendant chose to commit yet another violent and heinous act, District Attorney Valdez said.

I am committed to protecting our community and ensuring that justice is served for all victims.



Assistant District Attorney Samantha Foster represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by the Lawrence Kansas Police Department. Judge Stacey Donovan also sentenced Edwards to 12 months of post-release supervision.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Douglas County District Attorney Suzanna Valdez announced that a Lawrence woman pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Court documents claim that Chloe L. Colby, 23, of Lawrence, called emergency communications on April 17, 2021 to report that her boyfriend, Kendall R. Stiffler, was unresponsive. Stiffler later died at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The autopsy advised that he died from fentanyl and methamphetamine complications.

Man shot, killed in Kansas City Northland apartment

We continue to work tirelessly to hold accountable those who distribute fentanyl to protect our loved ones from this devastating public health crisis, District Attorney Valdez said.

Colby faces between 31 and 136 months in prison for the involuntary manslaughter conviction and between 8 and 45 months in prison for conspiracy to commit unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Colby will also be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
Higher than acceptable levels of lead were found in eight water sources throughout the Bobbie Sterne Health Center.

Tap water from multiple locations inside Cincinnati's Bobbie Sterne Health Center in Over-the-Rhine contains lead at levels that are higher than acceptable limits.

The health center, which serves thousands of poor men, women and children every year, confirmed Wednesday that the Cincinnati Health Department and the Greater Cincinnati Water Works discovered the lead after testing 55 water sources throughout the clinic.

Health Department spokesman Jose Marques said eight water sources contained lead particles "above acceptable lead levels for drinking," based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Marques said none of those water sources were drinking fountains or other sources that would have been routinely used for drinking. He said staff members at the health center, including those who worked in areas where they may have been exposed to the water, have been notified about the lead contamination.

"Those water sources will not be in use while we work on remediation," Marques said in an email to The Enquirer.

He did not immediately respond when asked to provide more detail about the water sources or how much lead was found.

Because of lead's toxicity, even at low levels, the EPA has set the maximum contaminant level for lead in drinking water to zero.

Low levels of lead can harm children's brains

Lead is a persistent problem in Cincinnati's oldest neighborhoods, such as Over-the-Rhine, because it was widely used for decades in paint, pipes and other material found in homes and businesses.

Lead can enter the drinking water supply when plumbing materials containing lead deteriorate over time. Pipes, faucets and fixtures are the most common sources of lead in drinking water.

The Bobbie Sterne Health Center, like many buildings in the heart of the city, is more than 100 years old. Built in 1900, it contains "failing lead piping/" according to a report compiled by consultant Jensen Partners for the health department.

Health department officials recently have discussed the possibility of closing the health center, but no decision has been made. Some who rely on the center for regular care want it or a more modern replacement to remain in the neighborhood.

Women and children who received care through the health center's OB/GYN and pediatric medical clinics may be at an elevated risk because of the contaminated water, as lead exposure is especially harmful to children and women of childbearing age.

High levels of exposure can lead to coma, convulsions, and death, but even low levels of lead are associated with harmful and permanent effects on a child's brain development, according to the World Health Organization.

Children exposed to lead have lower educational attainment, decreased attention span and increased antisocial behavior.

There's no amount of lead detected in a child's blood that is considered safe, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lead detected in tap water of Bobbie Sterne Health Center
FILE PHOTO: Rockets launched from Lebanon are intercepted in Israel near the border

By Laila Bassam and Maayan Lubell

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Lebanon's Hezbollah launched a big rocket and drone attack at Israel on Thursday and threatened to hit new targets in retaliation for the killing of a top commander, in the latest surge of violence in the steadily worsening conflict across the border.

Sparked by the Gaza war, the conflict between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel has been gradually intensifying for months, raising fears of a full-scale war, which both sides have indicated they want to avoid and diplomats are working to prevent.

As the latest violence played out in areas at or near the frontier - in keeping with the pattern of the last nine months - the sound of sonic booms rattled nerves for the second successive day in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon.

Israeli jets broke the sound barrier over several areas of the country, Lebanon's National News Agency reported.

Hezbollah said it launched more than 200 rockets and a swarm of drones at 10 Israeli military sites in retaliation for Israel's killing of Hezbollah commander Mohammed Nasser in the south on Wednesday. Nasser is one of the most senior Hezbollah commanders to be killed by Israel during the conflict.

The Israeli military said around "200 projectiles and over 20 suspicious aerial targets were identified crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory", a number of which were intercepted by Israeli air defences and fighter jets.

Israel's ambulance service said no casualties were reported. The Israeli military said some of the drones and interceptor shrapnel set off fires.

The Israeli air force "struck Hezbollah military structures" in the areas of Ramyeh and Houla", it said, referring to two villages in south Lebanon.

Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, speaking at an event in Beirut commemorating Nasser, indicated his group would widen its targeting.

"The series of responses continues in succession, and this series will continue to target new sites that the enemy did not imagine would be hit," Safieddine said.

DIPLOMATIC PUSH

The United States has been leading diplomatic efforts to deescalate the fighting. Hezbollah has said it will not cease fire as long as Israel continues its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

The hostilities have inflicted a heavy toll on both sides of the frontier, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

Amos Hochstein, a senior U.S. official at the heart of the diplomacy, discussed French and American efforts to restore calm in meetings with French officials on Wednesday, a White House official said.

"France and the United States share the goal of resolving the current conflict across the Blue Line by diplomatic means, allowing Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return home with long-term assurances of safety and security," the official said, referring to the demarcation line between the two neighbours.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday Israeli forces were hitting Hezbollah "very hard every day" and will be ready to take any action necessary against the group, though the preference is to reach a negotiated arrangement.

Hezbollah also launched rockets at Israel on Wednesday in retaliation for Nasser's killing.

Hezbollah began firing at Israeli targets along the border with Lebanon after its Palestinian ally Hams launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, declaring its support for the Palestinians.

Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed more than 300 Hezbollah fighters and some 90 civilians, according to Reuters tallies. Israel says fire from Lebanon has killed 18 soldiers and 10 civilians.

(Reporting by Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily in Beirut; Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Jana Choukeir and Clauda Tanios in Dubai; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Sharon Singleton and Timothy Heritage)
Lee County Sheriffs Office arrests man on child pornography charges twice in one week

LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL)  The Lee County Sheriffs Office arrested a man twice in one week for the same offense.

LCSO says Mason Chadwick Morgan, 46, was arrested earlier this week after authorities executed a search warrant in the 14000 block of Alabama Highway 51. Morgan was charged with 3 counts of possession of child pornography, but was release from jail on bond.

After further investigation, LCSO uncovered more child abuse material. Morgan was arrested again on Wednesday. He is being charged with 8 additional counts of possession of child pornography.

Morgan is now being held in the Lee County Detention Center.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
A robotic arm helps a disabled person paint a picture. (Jenna Schad /Tufts University)

You might have heard that artificial intelligence is going to revolutionize everything, save the world and give everyone superhuman powers. Alternatively, you might have heard that it will take your job, make you lazy and stupid, and make the world a cyberpunk dystopia.

Consider another way to look at AI: as an assistive technology  something that helps you function.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

With that view, also consider a community of experts in giving and receiving assistance: the disability community. Many disabled people use technology extensively, both dedicated assistive technologies such as wheelchairs and general-use technologies such as smart home devices.

Equally, many disabled people receive professional and casual assistance from other people. And, despite stereotypes to the contrary, many disabled people regularly give assistance to the disabled and nondisabled people around them.

Disabled people are well experienced in receiving and giving social and technical assistance, which makes them a valuable source of insight into how everyone might relate to AI systems in the future. This potential is a key driver for my work as a disabled person and researcher in AI and robotics.

Actively learning to live with help

While virtually everyone values independence, no one is fully independent. Each of us depends on others to grow our food, care for us when we are ill, give us advice and emotional support, and help us in thousands of interconnected ways. Being disabled means having support needs that are outside what is typical and therefore those needs are much more visible. Because of this, the disability community has reckoned more explicitly with what it means to need help to live than most nondisabled people.

This disability community perspective can be invaluable in approaching new technologies that can assist both disabled and nondisabled people. You cant substitute pretending to be disabled for the experience of actually being disabled, but accessibility can benefit everyone.

This is sometimes called the curb-cut effect after the ways that putting a ramp in a curb to help a wheelchair user access the sidewalk also benefits people with strollers, rolling suitcases and bicycles.

Partnering in assistance

You have probably had the experience of someone trying to help you without listening to what you actually need. For example, a parent or friend might help you clean and instead end up hiding everything you need.

Disability advocates have long battled this type of well-meaning but intrusive assistance  for example, by putting spikes on wheelchair handles to keep people from pushing a person in a wheelchair without being asked to or advocating for services that keep the disabled person in control.

The disabled community instead offers a model of assistance as a collaborative effort. Applying this to AI can help to ensure that new AI tools support human autonomy rather than taking over.

A key goal of my labs work is to develop AI-powered assistive robotics that treat the user as an equal partner. We have shown that this model is not just valuable, but inevitable. For example, most people find it difficult to use a joystick to move a robot arm: The joystick can only move from front to back and side to side, but the arm can move in almost as many ways as a human arm.

To help, AI can predict what someone is planning to do with the robot and then move the robot accordingly. Previous research assumed that people would ignore this help, but we found that people quickly figured out that the system is doing something, actively worked to understand what it was doing and tried to work with the system to get it to do what they wanted.

Most AI systems dont make this easy, but my labs new approaches to AI empower people to influence robot behavior. We have shown that this results in better interactions in tasks that are creative, like painting. We also have begun to investigate how people can use this control to solve problems outside the ones the robots were designed for. For example, people can use a robot that is trained to carry a cup of water to instead pour the water out to water their plants.

Training AI on human variability

The disability-centered perspective also raises concerns about the huge datasets that power AI. The very nature of data-driven AI is to look for common patterns. In general, the better-represented something is in the data, the better the model works.

If disability means having a body or mind outside what is typical, then disability means not being well-represented in the data. Whether its AI systems designed to detect cheating on exams instead detecting students disabilities or robots that fail to account for wheelchair users, disabled peoples interactions with AI reveal how those systems are brittle.

One of my goals as an AI researcher is to make AI more responsive and adaptable to real human variation, especially in AI systems that learn directly from interacting with people. We have developed frameworks for testing how robust those AI systems are to real human teaching and explored how robots can learn better from human teachers even when those teachers change over time.

Thinking of AI as an assistive technology, and learning from the disability community, can help to ensure that the AI systems of the future serve peoples needs  with people in the drivers seat.

The Conversation

The post For lessons in dealing with AI, turn to disability community appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Enjoying a fireworks show is a staple of freedom celebrated on Fourth of July. (Yana Paskova/Getty Images)

Because we always gather, its easy to take for granted all the good memories made every 4th of July holiday. From afternoon neighborhood family pitch-in picnics to fireworks launched from the glistening Lake Wawasee waters under the cover of night, Hoosiers know how to celebrate.

Its what and why we celebrate that often comes and goes without a second thought.

Last month, my wife and I had the honor and privilege of a lifetime to commemorate the 80th D-Day Reunion with almost 200 WWII veterans, mostly all over 100 years young. As we gazed up to them in perfect formation on stage, we marveled at their triumph over human nature storming those beaches and we were overcome with a moving sense of gratitude and visually reminded that our freedom has never been free.

Yet, it doesnt take traveling to Normandy, France to be reminded of the high cost. From the birth of our nation, men like Lafayette left France and sailed here to the New World to join our founders in breaking free from a monarchs rule.

Ever since that world history-changing year in 1776, its taken waves of brave men and women to preserve and protect our Made in America fountain of liberty. Even still, since we became a state, Hoosiers have always sent more than our fair share into harms way to defend our way of life. From the Civil War to the Spanish-American War to both World Wars to Korea to Vietnam to the wars against terrorism in the Middle East, Hoosiers have stood up and got shot down with some sadly never coming home.

General John J. Pershing had it right when he said, Time will not dim the glory of their deeds, nor will it diminish the contributions made by those who by the grace of God came home.

Knowing they did their duty, the question remains, Will we do our part and honor them by coming together constructively in good faith and working to form a more perfect union, especially as we fast approach our 250th fragile year as a nation on July 4, 2026?

So, as we rightly celebrate the best nation on planet earth by lighting a bottle rocket, or Roman Candle, or floating on a boat watching your hometowns annual fireworks show, let us count our blessings and remember, Americas freedom rings true, only because of what we do.
No joke: Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer both proposed large increases in public spending during the election campaign - Justin Talliskirsty Wigglesworth /AFP

SIR  During the election campaign, both of the main parties proposed large increases in public spending.

Neither appeared especially concerned about providing value for money, believing instead that voters would simply be impressed by the sums involved.

Making big promises is easy. But taxpayers need better value from what is spent by Whitehall.

Stuart Vere

London SW19

SIR  Now that the election is over, I look forward to watching and listening to the news without hearing the negativity of the British public  on almost every subject.

Too many news pieces featured interviews with voters  whether in Wakefield or Cornwall  complaining about some aspect of our country and blaming politicians for every ill.

Has our nation forgotten the value of self-reliance? I hope it was simply the election process that brought out the worst in people, but fear that individual responsibility  that most conservative of values  has been swamped by an overwhelming sense of entitlement.

Alan Law

Streatley, Berkshire

SIR  Listening to the election debates, you would have thought that Britain was an awful place to live. Yet so many are clamouring to come here. Migrants regard us as far preferable to France. It seems that we who live here dont appreciate our good fortune.

John Lloyd

Darlington, Co Durham

SIR  What a pleasure it was to listen to yesterdays Today programme: polite, non-aggressive interviews with some extraordinary people.

It was too good to last.

Sheena R Wiffen

Horsham, West Sussex

SIR  Election day came and we were without water. Just another example of broken Britain.

Michael McGough

Loughton, Essex

SIR  On Wednesday I received an email from the Conservative Party asking for a donation. It was sent from a Do not reply address.

There you have the reason why I  and many other former Conservative voters  switched to Reform UK. The Conservative Party wants our money and support, but is uninterested in our concerns and opinions. It should be in tune with the temperament of the British people.

S P McKie

Rudge, Somerset

SIR  In the booth yesterday I found it very hard to hold down the ballot paper, hold the pencil and hold my nose at the same time while voting Conservative.

John Clark

Hereford

Rogue SUV drivers

SIR  SUV monster cars are not just a danger in towns (Letters, July 4).

I went for a walk on Monday  the day Glastonbury Festival ended  and stood aside for a huge Land Rover Defender passing by. It came so close that it forced me off the road, jamming me between it and the hedge. Had I not yelled at it to stop, it would have run over my foot and hit me with the wing mirror. The vehicle had a large VIP sticker on the window and the two men inside just drove off laughing.

It is not the cars fault; it is the fault of the person driving it.

Jo Stevens

Glastonbury, Somerset

SIR  Tony Parrack (Letters, July 4), suggests SUV ownership is selfish and irresponsible. I wonder if he feels the same about large houses, eating meat, drinking alcohol and foreign travel  all of which could be considered unnecessary, with negative social and environmental consequences.

Perhaps he should take a leaf out of our American cousins book and celebrate life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Phil Stewart

London SW14

Blighted by blame

SIR  In the good old days, supervisors could encourage Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) groups to overcome all manner of challenges (Letters, July 4). Indeed, the challenge of the expedition was its raison detre.

Nowadays, the burden of keeping the students safe weighs heavily on the shoulders of those in charge of them. Risk assessments and the fear of being sued emasculate the experience. Supervisors have to do whatever they can to mitigate risk. Its a huge and off-putting responsibility.

I spent last weekend assessing some bronze-award groups. The schools DofE unit is newly formed, with young, enthusiastic staff who are not paid for their work. They have had to beg for scraps of funding to buy equipment. If something had gone wrong, they would have carried the can.

We are living with the consequences of the blame culture we have created.

Margaret Lumby

Scarborough, North Yorkshire

SIR  My school was one of the first to participate in the DofE scheme. For the gold-award hike we were simply dropped from an Army lorry and given a few tins of rations and the map reference for our rendezvous point three days later.

This taught us self-reliance and truly embraced the spirit of the award.

Peter Rosie

Ringwood, Hampshire

Escaping in style

SIR  Jan Bransons father (Letters, July 4) was captured by the Germans in 1940, and was later forced to join the Long March across the Vistula in 1945, before being freed and flown to England to recover.

A much more comfortable way of ending his days as a PoW was found by Major C B Vandeleur of the 1st Cameronians in the First World War.

Captured by the Germans at La Bassee in October 1914, Major Vandeleur escaped from Crefeld in December. Having learnt to speak fluent German at Heidelberg University before the war, he made his way by train towards the Channel in a German officers uniform, sharing a box of cigars with other passengers, and finally walked into his London club dressed the same way.

John Yarnall

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

A fair museum fee

SIR  I have been a member of the British Museum for the past 20 years, and currently pay 99 a year (Letters, July 4). Upon entry and exit there are donation boxes asking for 5.

American visitors are amazed that anything is free, as they are so conditioned to paying for everything. Other overseas friends report being told by their tour guide that they are exempt even from the donation, as the tour company has already made one, or that it was included in the ticket.

I do think the fee of 20 suggested by the British Museums former interim director is high; but if we started at 10, that would still bring in tens of millions of pounds a year.

Keith Appleyard

West Wickham, Kent

SIR  To Dr Michael Fopps argument for tourists having free entry to museums (Letters, July 4) it should be added that, in the case of the British Museum, many exhibits come from the countries of those visitors. It seems unfair to make them pay to see what was once their own  especially if, as with the Benin bronzes, they perceive it to have been stolen.

Peter Saunders

Salisbury, Wiltshire

The cancer bell

SIR  I was much saddened to read that throat cancer has returned to Sir Geoffrey Boycott, 20 years after he was first treated for it (report, July 3).

I suffered throat cancer five years ago, but it wasnt caught early enough as it was so aggressive. I had to have my voice box removed and am now a mute and a neck breather. After my last consultation to give me the all clear, I was presented with a bell to ring in celebration, which I refused.

Cancer has significantly changed my life so doesnt need celebrating, and there are terminal sufferers who must shed a tear every time they hear the bell theyll never ring. A cancer returning after more than 20 years is not a one-off. Perhaps hospitals should consider ending the bell ceremony.

Rob Williamson

Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire

Historic cake

SIR  Sophia Money-Couttss box of chocolates from 1900 (Features, June 30) is relatively young compared to the piece of wedding cake at the back of my cupboard. It marks the marriage of Princess Louise and the Marquess of Lorne, on March 21 1871.

Colin Chitty

Salisbury, Wiltshire

Teach men to sew and theyll mend for life

Make do: Preparation for Coronation Day, Chichester, by William Rainey (1852-1936) - Bridgeman Images/Bridgeman Images

SIR  Men who have served in the Royal Navy or Merchant Navy will remember make and mend Saturday afternoons (Teach a man to sew, and youll never look shabby again, Comment, July 1).

In the Royal Navy, sailors were issued with a Pattern Housewife Sewing Kit, more commonly referred to as a hussif. In the Merchant Navy, you had to make your own. Mine is still in regular use, and I can truthfully say that, in 50 years of marriage, my wife has never been asked to sew on a single button for me.

Men need to teach their sons to be proficient in looking after themselves and not be reliant on their wives to mother them.

Peter J Newton

Derby

An overlooked solution to housing shortages

SIR  Peter Grose (Letters, July 3) bemoans the lack of traditional building skills required to achieve government housing targets.

As long ago as the 1930s, the American architect Buckminster Fuller (he of the geodesic dome) pioneered the development of prefabricated houses, which were a great deal more stylish than post-war prefabs.

Surely this is an avenue worth exploring. It could save us from the depressing sight of acres of brick-built, detached executive houses that are despoiling our countryside.

Susan Cunliffe

Woodbridge, Suffolk

SIR  I agree with Michael Blackmore (Letters, July 2) that the cost of building new private housing will not come down, and that affordable housing is a pipe dream.

However, of even greater concern is the fact that, at any one time in the UK, about one million households are on a local authority housing waiting list. Far too many families are homeless and in emergency accommodation. Ministers must prioritise social housing and create homes, not on greenfield sites in the countryside, but in converted and new builds in our towns and cities  where the jobs are.

Peter Goodwin

Otley, West Yorkshire

SIR  Ian Lewis (Letters, June 29) remarks that many plans for housing developments in the South East are fiercely opposed by people who already have a home.

Isnt that because the people who are already living in the area understandably do not wish to see the quality of their lives eroded by the concreting of acres of green space, or suffer the effects of already creaking infrastructure being strained further?

Gary Spring

Ringwood, Hampshire

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The distinction between patriotism and nationalism is not a new or semantic one, but many on the left have always been unpersuaded by it. As Katha Pollitt wrote in Dissent in 2010, How different are they really? Arent both credos, she asked, saying a version of the same thing: America is superior because I was born there? In this view, pride in countryno matter how measured or qualifiedblinds us to our flaws, drags us into war, and enables America First demagogues like Donald Trump. On this Fourth of July, more than a decade later, this sentiment remains intractableespecially among members of my generation, the least patriotic in American history.



The leftist denial of the patriotism-nationalism distinction flies in the face of numerous recent efforts on the part of prominent liberal thinkers to clarify it. As Jill Lepore wrote in 2019s This America: The Case for the Nation, a book largely dedicated to such an effort, Patriotism is animated by love, nationalism by hatred. Or, as Adam Gopnik wrote in 2016, Patriotism needs no enemy, but nationalism demands one. To both writers, patriotism tells a story about appreciating ones place, while nationalism tells one about losing it at the hands of some demonized othersoften people who dont belong to an ethnic, religious, or racial majority. It is important to understand that the relationship between the two is fluid, and that patriotism can easily curdle into nationalism. But telling them apart should be no great difficulty. Says Lepore: To confuse one for the other is to pretend that hate is love and fear is courage.

Even Trump himself has investedto his great successin the power of the distinction: You know, they have a word, it sort of became old-fashionedits called a nationalist, he said at a 2018 Houston rally. And I say, really, were not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? Im a nationalist, OK? Im a nationalist! Use that word! Use that word!

And certainly, the pragmatic liberal thinks, we should. For not only is it easy to differentiate between the feral, whitewashing nationalism of the right and the clear-eyed liberal patriotism of our greatest social leadersfrom Frederick Douglass and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Eugene Debs and Martin Luther King Jr., the latter two of whom identified as socialistsit is also essential to understanding how liberalism succeeds. As historian Michael Kazin pointed out, it is difficult to name any American radical or reformer who repudiated the national belief system and still had a major impact on U.S. politics and policy. So the argument goes: To close the gap between the American reality and the American promise requires something more than indifference to the nation. If the left wants to overcome nationalism, it will have to do a better job embracing some form of patriotism. Otherwise, nationalism will eat it. Liberalism is a far weaker opponent when it scoffs at expressions of national pride and far stronger when it embraces them.

Many progressives still seem to underrate how essential that embrace of pride was to Obamas success. There is a storied liberal tradition of casting progressive struggles in an Americanist light, describing them as challenges to the nation to live up to its most laudable founding ideals, and Obama stepped into that tradition with inspiring confidence and eloquence. His speech at the fiftieth anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery marches is perhaps the best example of this; its telling that the first applause break comes after the line theres nothing more American than what happened here. (You can hear a clear echo of King in his I Have Been to the Mountaintop speech: Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right, he said.)

Most of us are familiar with these kinds of patriotic formulations. And yet to many young people, they dont quite register. Because many of us in Gen Z gained political consciousness just after the Obama years, we dont actually know what a compelling liberal patriotism sounds like. Indeed, when we listen to the current presidential candidates, we dont know what a compelling anything sounds like. Patriotism found no voice on last weeks debate stage, amid the bungled statistics, wild lies, and general incomprehensibility. How, we ask, could anyone feel patriotic after that?

To many of us college students, the word itself reeks of antiquity, stuffiness, colonialismeven of political incorrectness, as Gore Vidal wrote in The Nation in 1991: Patria-pater-father. So where is Mom? Didnt she help Dad turn the American wilderness into a cement desert bright with golden arches? Plus, when many of the most daunting problems we face threaten not just the nation but the globe, it seems our solutions should be articulated not in patriotic terms but in planetary ones. The word seems to have no use for us anymore. It is empty, the tool of politicians, the joke the Howard Zinn reader gets. You cant trick us with your grand gesturing, we think. Paul Revere belongs to your nostalgia, not ours. America the Beautiful? Please. Weve been to Europe on our semesters abroad, and the lifestyle is very much elevated.

Pollitt asked, in that same essay, What has flag-waving ever done for us in the end? If flag-waving refers to the insurrectionist impulse or Kid Rock concerts or the new wave of self-declared Christian nationalists like Charlie Kirk, then Pollitt is of course correct. But if flag-waving means appealing to the American creed in service of justice or peace or equalitycriticizing the country while calling on its better angelsthen the question seems to belittle everything from Frederick Douglasss What to the Slave is the Fourth of July? to Jimi Hendrixs infamous Woodstock rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner. (For an example of patriotic protest that involves a Gen Z artist, see Olivia Rodrigos unapologetic response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade.) Reasonable people would not equate all the above examples, nor would they doubt the basic sincerity of Douglass when he spoke of the great principles of the Declaration, or of Hendrix when he said that he thought his rendition was beautiful, in response to claims that it was offensive.

So yes, there is a difference between nationalism and patriotism. There are high forms of patriotism and low forms. There is an aspirational, grateful pride and a blind, chauvinistic oneand there are many things in between. The question is whether we reject all distinctions, thus allowing patriotism to be defined by the people who wave the flag most, or choose instead to engage them. The fight over what or who is patriotic can seem tedious. But that fight also constitutes the history of the nationin one sense, that fight is the nation. As Greil Marcus wrote: Theres a way in which you can see every American story as a version of the Declaration of Independence: every story an attempt to make it true, to prove it a lie.

I wonder, in this time of incredible disillusionment and cynicism, if we can come to understand liberal patriotism as a kind of localized optimismif that is really what it has represented, at its best, all along: a belief that not all is lost; that progress can be made; that promises, one day, might be achieved. Out of another of the darkest moments in American history, the Great Depression, Langston Hughes conjured these words to describe our country: The land that has never been yet / And yet must be. What a simple, galvanizing summation of the American experiment. How willing are we to embrace it? And what will happen if we dont, and we leave such imaginings to Donald Trump and his sycophants?
LIBERTY, Mo.  Clay Countys largest city has a mess to clean up.

Trees are down across Liberty after Tuesday evenings weather event delivered powerful winds.

The FOX4 Weather Team believes this may have been a microburst with winds likely reaching 80 miles per hour. Dozens of trees fell, and homes were in danger amid the straight-line winds.

Dana Combs and her family had gone out to dinner on Tuesday evening.

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Combs said a neighbor called around 6:30 p.m. with news that their home, which sits in Libertys Dougherty Historic District, had a large oak tree leaning on it. Neighbors said the homes history dates back to the 1880s. It now shows visible signs of wear and tear from the storms effects.

Nobody was home. Thats a good thing. It could have squished the middle of my house, and it didnt and thats a good thing. It squished the corner, so Im counting my blessings, Combs said on Wednesday.

On the other side of Libertys downtown square, an enormous spruce tree fell from Judy Minors yard near Kansas and Liberty streets. When it toppled, it narrowly missed the house across the street. When the tree fell, the giant roots tore up her porch and her concrete patio. A gas line was exposed, too.

A spokesperson for Spire tells FOX4 this is the only outage the company knows of in Liberty.

Its like you just go numb. You do what you have to do. We were all OK. We knew we were OK. Our neighbors were OK, Minor said.

Kansas City area fireworks store hit by possible microburst during storm

Two doors down from Minors yard, Charles Gilker, a 90-year-old retired college professor said the wind blew so hard, he could barely see. The two hackberry trees that sit in his front yard are split after high winds ripped large limbs from both of them.

A Liberty Public Works crew went to work clearing the street on Wednesday afternoon.

They were bending in every direction, it seemed to me. I was afraid it would fall on the house, but fortunately, it fell in the street, Gilker said.

A spokesperson for the City of Liberty said many fallen tees are cleared from power Iines by utility companies, and city crews will clear trees from streets, but its the homeowners responsibility to manage removal.

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Evergy crews could be seen restoring power service as needed. As of late Wednesday afternoon, Evergys outage map showed fewer than 500 customers in Liberty without service, which is down significantly from Tuesday nights numbers.

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Synchronous fireflies in a meadow at the 2021 Pennsylvania Firefly Festival. (Peggy Butler)

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter here.

Every year in late June, Peggy Butler and her husband, Ken, welcome visitors to rural northwestern Pennsylvania for the chance to glimpse the rare and beguiling Photinus carolinus. This firefly species flashes synchronously, creating dazzling spectacles of light. The abundance of fireflies on their property in Forest County  there are at least 17 species in addition to the synchronous firefly  led the Butlers to found the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival.

Launched in 2013, the annual event has become so popular that the Butlers had to institute a lottery system to protect the fireflies that visitors so desperately wanted to see. This year, 2,500 people applied for just 130 spots.

The intense interest in the festival highlights how much Americans love fireflies. Summer nights spent watching fireflies (and debating whether or not they should be called lightning bugs) are a cherished tradition across the country. But this tradition could be threatened by climate change, according to a new study.

What we were really surprised to find is its also long-term weather patterns, like averages and things that are expected to change with climate change, that are actually the number one drivers of firefly populations.

 Darin McNeil, assistant professor of wildlife ecology and management, University of Kentucky

Researchers found that climate change is among the most serious threats to firefly populations in the United States. To understand what determines firefly abundance, researchers analyzed more than 24,000 surveys conducted by citizen scientists from 2008 to 2016 using the program Firefly Watch.

Other studies have established that short-term weather affects fireflies, which makes sense because their life cycles last between one to two years, with most of that time spent as larvae living in the soil, where they are particularly vulnerable.

What we were really surprised to find is its also long-term weather patterns, like averages and things that are expected to change with climate change, that are actually the number one drivers of firefly populations, said Darin McNeil, the studys lead investigator and an assistant professor of wildlife ecology and management at the University of Kentucky. Increasing temperatures have a negative impact on fireflies, McNeil said, and as some places become hotter and drier, their firefly populations could disappear.

Like the giant panda, fireflies are a charismatic ambassador for their less iconic brethren, shining light on the plight of declining insect populations worldwide. There are a lot of insect species that are in dire need of conservation work and scientific study, McNeil said. But its sometimes hard to get people excited about dung beetles, for example.

Recent research has shown that insect populations fell by 45 percent in the last 40 years, a collapse so extreme that scientists have branded it the insect apocalypse. Anecdotal evidence suggests firefly populations are also in decline, and 14 species of fireflies in North America have been assessed as threatened. The Bethany Beach firefly, found only in coastal Delaware and Maryland, is critically endangered.

For many people, even those who are afraid of other insects, fireflies evoke wonder, magic and nostalgia, a symbol of fairy tales and childhood. Theyre friendly little bugs. They dont bite. They dont sting, Peggy Butler said. That light really attracts people to ask, How do they do that? And it sparks their curiosity. She paused, laughing. Sorry for all the puns.

Catching fireflies and marveling at their light is a shared experience across time and geography. Theyve been written about and sung about for centuries, said Sarah Lower, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor of biology at Bucknell University. I mean, how fascinating is it that an insect produces its own light?

Conservationists hope that by learning more about and educating people about what hurts fireflies, they will also help other insects who are harmed by the same things. Other than climate change, fireflies are threatened by pesticides, light pollution and unrestricted development.

The Allegheny National Forest, where the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival is held, is largely sheltered from some of these scourges of modern life. Its very wild here. We have half a million acres of national forest where we live, Butler said. Fireflies prefer very dark places. There has to be a lot of moisture and undisturbed soils.

The Butlers avoid pesticides, rarely mow and limit the use of outdoor lighting during the summer. Fireflies flash to attract mates, and light pollution interferes with their signaling.

At the festival each year, guides lead small groups of attendees into the forest to witness the synchronized flashing of Photinus carolinus. It is often a powerful and emotional experience, especially for people who have never seen a firefly before. When we take them back into the forest, into the pitch darkness, and they see that synchronous activity, theyre wowed, Butler said. You can hear the murmurs. You can hear the Wow, oh my gosh. Look at that.

Photinus carolinus was previously thought only to live farther south, in the Great Smoky Mountains. In the Smokies, these insects mating displays are a big phenomenon, Lower said, making the region a beacon for firefly tourists. It is not known if Photinus carolinus exists elsewhere in northern Appalachia, though Lower theorizes that its possible, and they have been found in other parts of Pennsylvania.

Lower was a member of the team that first confirmed the presence of Photinus carolinus in the Allegheny National Forest in 2012, and she is now on the board for the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival, advising the organization about how to keep the event sustainable.

A map of firefly abundance and ideal climate conditions generated for the recent study shows hot spots in Pennsylvania, and McNeil called Pennsylvania the heart of firefly country. This is perhaps why the firefly is the state insect. But what climate change will mean for Pennsylvanias beloved fireflies in the long-term is still unclear.

Because of climate change, Pennsylvania is becoming hotter and wetter,with increased rainfall and more intense storms. Butler has seen how flooding can affect the fireflies on her property. In 2015, we had a big flash flood in our area, and it wiped out the undergrowth about two weeks before the festival in the forest right behind us, she said. That year, and for two to three years after that, we didnt see the synchronous fireflies in those areas at all.

Lower said its too soon to predict what will happen to fireflies in specific places because of climate change, and outcomes will be different for each species and will depend on their habitat requirements. The thing Im most concerned about is if it changes really rapidly, she said. We actually dont have a very great idea of how far fireflies can travel.

McNeil said firefly populations may appear stable to people in Pennsylvania as climate change accelerates, even though what is actually happening is a turnover in species. There are more than 100 species of fireflies in the United States, and some of those species, like the common Big Dipper firefly, named for its J-shaped flight trajectory, may thrive, even as other, less adaptable species are lost.

Lower and McNeil encourage people to manage their properties in ways that benefit fireflies, by leaving leaf litter on lawns over the winter, for example, and to participate in community science around fireflies. The efforts of residents across the United States made this study possible and could make others possible in the many areas of firefly research that are understudied. Collecting data about fireflies in your own backyard can go a long way toward their conservation, McNeil said. And if you bring your kids out to count fireflies, those are future conservationists.

Fireflies may be small but their presenceand diverse abundanceis important. We could probably lose all of our fireflies, and it would not impact your day to day much, aside from the summer nights being a bit less magical, McNeil said. But fireflies serve as what we would call a bioindicator, telling us something about the broader health of our ecosystem. Their disappearance is a warning, not only for insect populations but for us. The question is, McNeil said, how many species can we lose before we see huge consequences to human society?

The post Will the lightning bug show go on? appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Local veterans saluted during Stand By Your Veteran's Banner Day on Saturday

Marion took time to participate in Stand By Your Veterans Banner Day on Saturday.

Citizens brought lawn chairs and picnics, and along with their families and friends saluted their loved ones who had served in the military.

Randy Drazba, member of the VFW Post 7201, said eligible veterans for the banner program are those who were residents of Marion County upon entering active duty military service or veterans who currently reside in Marion.

John Hoffers widow, Pam, and his granddaughter, Amanda Maynard, from Marion, were part of Stand By Your Veteran's Banner Day. John Hoffer served in Vietnam 1969-1970. Years later he died from sepsis.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were around 16.2 million veterans in the United States in 2022.

Local supporter Terry Cline said the families of veterans in Marion County are honored with the broad community support for the event.

Stand By Your Veterans Banner Day was held in Marion on Saturday. Friends and family members took time to look at the parade of flags and honor those who severed and are surving.

Cline is hopeful the tradition will continue. The first Stand By Your Veterans Banner Day was held in 2022 when more than 500 banners hung on utility poles.

A video that Cline wrote, directed, and produced in support of the Marion County Military Banner Campaign won a gold Remi Award in the charitable/non-profit category at the 56th annual Houston International Film Festival. WorldFest-Houston, as the prestigious film festival is commonly known, is dedicated to championing the work of independent filmmakers. The 2023 festival was held at Cinemark Memorial City theater in Houston, Texas.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion veterans honored during Stand by Your Veteran's Banner Day
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Family, coworkers, and friends gathered in the hallways at Community Regionals Neuro ICU hallway to honor Patrice Sanders, a longtime valley nurse who was being wheeled into surgery to donate her organs.

Patrice Sanderss sister described her as someone who was kind, giving, and always willing to help others.

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She loved well, and was well loved, and is continuing to love others that she doesnt even know, said Paige Sanders, Patrices sister.

Patrice was a nurse at Valley Childrens Hospital for 36 years dedicating her life to helping others.

In June after suffering a stroke, Patrice was rushed to Community but doctors told her family her prognosis would not be good.

Patrice was really clear in her end-of-life instructions that she did not want to live with disabilities, said Paige. And so we as a family knew that we needed to honor her wishes.

Jacklyn Manzanedo is the senior director of Donation Development with Donor Network West who facilitates organ and tissue donation here in the Central Valley.

For Community Regional Medical Center to facilitate an honor walk to honor an organ donor is an incredibly special event for both the families and loved ones of the donor, as well as the hospitals staff to honor the patient theyve been caring for, said Manzanedo.

For more information on organ donation, or how to become a donor like Patrice, visit donornetworkwest.org.

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Lost too many friends: How a Visalia veteran is helping her fellow veterans

Lost too many friends: How a Visalia veteran is helping her fellow veterans

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A Navy veteran from Visalia received the Rusty Baggett Peer Leader Award from the Wounded Warrior Project for helping her fellow veterans take control of their lives  just as she did.

Ysabel Cardona, or Ysa as shes known to everyone around her, served as an Operations Specialist in the United States Navy from 1999 to 2006. Ysa says she loved her time in the military.

I can protect myself: Free jiu-jitsu helping women fight back in Clovis

I love to travel, at the age of 18 I got to go to Japan, Guam, Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, Malaysia, and Dubai, Ysa said.

Im very blessed and I would do it again. I have no regrets.

Ysa says her transition to civilian life after getting out of the service was not as enjoyable as her time in the military. She struggled financially and emotionally, which hurt her relationships and mental well-being.

It sucked, Ysa said. I lost myself  I also got a divorce, I couldnt get a job, it was really hard. The only job that I got a callback from was Target.

Ysa said the life she had built for herself in the military and the life she started living as a civilian could not be more different.

I was making more money in service and I went from making a comfortable living to not hardly anything, Ysa said. I could have gone to our local junior college  but that wasnt what I wanted to do. I wanted to travel the world and serve my country.

Ysa says many veterans share her experience and struggle to adjust to civilian life.

We just forget. Were still the warrior, were still who we were born to be.

Ysas journey after the military saw her both homeless and struggling with severe depression; she never thought it would affect her as much as it did.

You never think its you, you never think youre the one who has the problem and Im always the person who helps and steps up who wants to help others.

Despite it being Ysas belief that she should not ask for help, she says she doesnt regret it.

It was kind of hard but it wasnt, Ysa said. I got tired of living a mediocre life.

Ysa reached out and received help through the Wounded Warrior Project. After receiving that help, she decided she wanted to do her part as a Peer Leader with the Wounded Warrior Project.

Helping veterans transition to civilian life can be incredibly difficult, Ysa says. She hopes to help them see that they are not alone and that a better life is out there. Ysa says military families and people with loved ones who are veterans can help by supporting programs dedicated to improving military and veteran lives.

Theres so many actually free programs and services provided by our local non-profits, Ysa said. A lot of those services offer volunteer services where you can go and volunteer with them. That actually opens the door.

Ysa says she is proud and happy to do her part in supporting veterans and their families, making them aware of resources because the alternative is leaving the men and women who served to fend for themselves.

That is why I do what I do. Ive lost too many friends to suicide. Ysa said. Just trying to reach one person every day is enough.

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(Bloomberg) -- The record-setting crop financing plan Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva unveiled Wednesday follows a strategy that once made him one of the worlds most popular presidents: By unleashing government assistance to a vital sector, he could both boost the Brazilian economy and convert skeptics into supporters.

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But 18 months into his second stint as the countrys leader, its a playbook that is proving inadequate in such a polarized and ideologically-charged political moment.

The leftist who finished his first presidency in 2010 with approval ratings north of 80% is now mired in one of the most difficult periods of his career. His popularity has fallen below 40%  near the lowest levels of his current term  while his ambitious agenda has stalled in a conservative Congress immune to the old-school horsetrading on which he continues to rely.

With October municipal elections that will serve as a barometer of support looming, the crop financing plan  which will devote about 400 billion reais ($73 billion) to agribusiness  appears poised to become yet another political dud. Already, lawmakers aligned with the massive sector that remains heavily aligned with the Brazilian right have indicated that theres little chance Lula can win them over.

As long as they keep defending the Landless Workers Movement, defending Indigenous land demarcation, working against production, working against markets, and speaking ill of us, theres nothing they can do to please us, Pedro Lupion, who leads the congressional agribusiness caucus that includes roughly 60% of Brazilian lawmakers, said in an interview on the eve of the announcement.

Global Revolts

Agriculture has emerged as a fierce political battleground across the world, particularly in places where farmers have raged against the climate change-driven economic transitions leaders like Lula have sought to implement.

They have in many cases chosen to back the emerging right-wing movements that are gaining across Europe and now eyeing a November victory in the US, where Donald Trump is again seeking to shore up support among farmers.

Its a new world for Lula, who enjoyed positive relations with the agribusiness sector during the commodities-fueled economic boom of his first presidency.

The industry has continued to grow in importance  agriculture accounts for about 24% of gross domestic product, 50% of exports and roughly a quarter of the countrys jobs. But farm ties to the left broke almost completely under right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, an ideological ally of the sector not just on agriculture but on guns, social issues, public security and other conservative causes.

Rebuilding them has proved a nearly impossible task for Lula, who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in 2022 on a platform that included promises to bolster protections for the Amazon rainforest, shield tribal lands from resource extraction and spark a green transition of Brazils economy.

He has made overtures: Last years crop plan also set a record, and Lula included hundreds of agribusiness leaders on a China trip meant to boost farm trade.

But he has at times criticized them as well, blaming agribusiness for supporting the 2023 insurrection attempt against his government and chastising lawmakers for pushing to curb Indigenous land rights. The rural caucus, meanwhile, started 2024 pledging to wage an offensive against Lulas agenda in Congress.

The ideological issue will never be overcome, but no one has done as much for agriculture as President Lula, Jose Guimaraes, the governments leader in the lower house of Congress, said in an interview Wednesday. Agricultural agents are often unfair to the president.

Shifting Winds

Political changes are not the only culprit: Under Bolsonaro, Brazils Congress amassed more power over the federal budget, limiting the presidents ability to sway members with pork spending or ministerial positions. In recent months, Lula has suffered numerous legislative setbacks in which even parties with spots with his cabinet joined the opposition.

Recent actions have further dented relations with the agribusiness caucus. A surprise tax change proposed by Finance Minister Fernando Haddad ignited the ire of crop traders and caused Chinese buyers to turn toward US-produced soy last month.

While the Senate ultimately slapped down the proposal, it caused an irreversible loss of faith in Haddad, leaving Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin as the only ministers with working links to the sector, Lupion said.

Lula has time to recover before the 2026 presidential election. His current struggles have strengthened the sense among opponents, however, that the political winds are shifting in their favor. Last years victory for libertarian Argentine leader Javier Milei, the strength of Marine Le Pens far-right party in French congressional elections and the prospect of Trumps return have all fueled hopes of a resurgence.

They may receive another jolt this weekend. Basking in wins that have bolstered his position in a rivalry with Lula, Milei is set to make his first visit to Brazil  not to mend fences with his counterpart, but to attend a conservative rally alongside Bolsonaro in the southern state of Santa Catarina, an agribusiness powerhouse and stronghold of the Brazilian right.

--With assistance from Clarice Couto.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  An Iowa woman was arrested Wednesday for allegedly neglecting an adult in her care, who was found with several ailments, including a maggot-infested wound.

According to court documents, Sioux City police were called to a local emergency room on May 29 just after 1 a.m. for a dependent adult who was suffering from severe mistreatment.

Officials said the victim was brought in after a fall at her residence. She was suffering from severe rashes, dead skin, and had live maggots living within a wound on her leg, the documents stated.

The victim, whose name was not disclosed, told police that she had not seen a doctor for about eight months, and she hadnt showered in about the same length of time.

Former Iowa police chief sentenced to 5 years in prison in federal gun case

The victim said Traci Orr, 51, lived with her for about a year to help take care of her. She also said that she was unable to walk and would soil herself on the couch. On the night that she fell, she was reportedly on the ground for about 14 to 16 hours before Orr called for assistance.

Court documents state that Orrs neglect led to the victims injuries. The victim is unable to live on her own, so she is classified as a dependent adult, and Orr was to be the victims caretaker.

Orr was arrested and charged with reckless dependent adult abuse with serious injury, a class D felony. She was booked into the Woodbury County Jail, but has since bonded out.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  Hurricane Beryl has slowly weakened but is still a dangerous Category 3 storm. Beryl currently has winds of 115 mph. It is still moving quickly to the WNW at 18 mph.

Beryl continues to experience the effects of moderate northwesterly wind shear, which is why it has weakened over the last 24 hours. It is forecasted to weaken more as it approaches the Yucatan Peninsula and Belize, possibly as weak as a Category 1 storm. A large ridge is keeping Beryl west for the next several days, but the high pressure will erode into the weekend allowing Beryl more north.

It will cross the Yucatan Peninsula and move into the southern Gulf of Mexico Friday night as a tropical storm. Forecast models show the possibility for Beryl to strengthen back into a hurricane throughout the weekend. There is still uncertainty in the long-term track forecast, a direct US landfall is not out of the question and south Texas needs to be on high alert by the end of the weekend.

Currently, the GFS (black) has, possibly, a weak Cat 1 hurricane moving into northern Mexico/southern Texas Sunday night and it looks to slow down which is not good news in terms of potential rainfall. The European model (white) has a stronger system in northern Mexico on Monday morning.

The area of low pressure a few 100 miles west of the Windward Islands has a low potential for tropical development. Most forecast models show little to no development of this low, and dissipation as it moves into the Caribbean late this week.

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Hurricane Beryl hit Jamaica, going to Mexico, Texas as strong storm. Will Louisiana see rain and waves?

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD)  Louisiana continues to monitor Hurricane Beryl as of Thursday, July 4, as it moves across the Caribbean after pummeling Jamaica and killing at least seven people. Landfall in Mexico or Texas is expected within the next week.

The current official forecast doesnt call for the storm to strike Louisiana. However, the storm might re-intensify after moving over the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. As it progresses in the Gulf, some tropical moisture could move northward, increasing rain chances.

As of Thursday morning, Beryl is still a Category 3 storm. Strong winds, flooding and dangerous storm surges are impacting the Cayman Islands.

Beryl has weakened a little more since earlier in the morning, but its still a major hurricane. The storm now has wind speeds of 115 mph and a pressure of 971 mb.

Pressure rising and winds slowing down some indicates it is weakening. Its also weakening due to wind shear. Since more wind shear is present, this will help cut off more of its energy. Beryl interacting with more land as it crosses the Yucatan also will help drain some of its power.

The hurricane is moving WNW at 18 mph through the Caribbean and is expected to reach the Yucatan Peninsula late Thursday and early Friday morning.

The storm will likely move into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. Here is where it gets a little tricky.

Story continues below video.

The storms movement back over warm water should help it intensify again, but enough wind shear might keep it from getting stronger. As of now, it looks like Beryl may try to become a Category 1 hurricane over the Gulf.

If it does not, it should remain a tropical storm until it makes landfall late Sunday night/early Monday morning. The projected track and a general consensus between models show landfall along the northeast coast of Mexico. There are still a couple of outliers showing possible landfall farther up the Texas coast.

Beryl will lose more energy and get weaker as it moves farther inland. By Tuesday morning, it should be a tropical depression in south Texas.

Video shows Hurricane Beryls path of destruction through Jamaica, eastern Caribbean

The only impact we should see in Louisiana is an increase in tropical moisture, which will lead to higher rain chances for next week. Minor coastal flooding and rip currents will likely be an issue along the Gulf Coast.

With Beryl in the Gulf, it will increase the wave heights near the center and radiate rough surf up to the Northern Gulf Coast. This would increase the risk of rip currents, so it remains vital to keep up to date with the beach forecasts if you have any plans this weekend and look out for beach flags.

Wave heights in the Gulf

Beach Flags

Rip Currents

Latest News

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Here Are All the Major Media Outlets Calling for President Biden to Drop Out of the 2024 Election

Media outlets arent holding back in their calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election.

The demands started piling up after Bidens dismal performance in the June 27 debate against Donald Trump. The current president stumbled through much of the debate with a scratchy throat and wandering mind that often made him inarticulate. He also trailed off his sentences and earned plenty of jokes online for his open-mouthed expressions in between answers.

The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune are just two of the major outlets whose editorial boards have published opinions requesting the presumptive Democratic nominee step aside to serve his country.

Here are the publications that are calling for Biden to drop out of the race:

The New York Times

The New York Times editorial board put together a reaction the day after the presidential debate called: To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave The Race. The self-explanatory title suggested it would be in every Americans best interest if there was a different Democrat on the ticket.

As it stands, the president is engaged in a reckless gamble, wrote the Times editorial board, which operates separately from its newsroom. There are Democratic leaders better equipped to present clear, compelling and energetic alternatives to a second Trump presidency.

The Chicago Tribune

The Chicago Tribune noted that the debate was enough to convince them Biden needed to step aside. Their piece took shots at both the nominees, but centered in on the fact that Biden was doing the country a disservice by choosing to run.

Biden, if weve not made that clear, should announce that he will be a single-term president who now has seen the light when it comes to his own capabilities in the face of the singular demands of being the president of the United States, the board wrote. He can do so with honor, but he is the only person who can do so. Certainly, his family can help. But, again, he is the only one.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker editor David Remnick didnt mince words when saying Biden needed to call his campaign efforts.

For him to remain the Democratic candidate, the central actor in that referendum, would be an act not only of self-delusion, but of national endangerment, he wrote.

The Washington Post

The Washington Post editorial board suggested President Biden do some soul searching after a faltering performance on debate night.

Biden faces a personal decision, but also a presidential one: What would be best for the country, his personal feelings notwithstanding? the board asked.

The Economist

Britains largest magazine started suggesting Biden not seek reelection as far back as 2022, but the June 27 debate was the nail in the coffin.

The Republicans have long said that Mr. Bidens powers are fading. The debate was his great chance to prove them wrong, the magazine wrote. Alas, in front of many millions of people, he did not just fail to rebut his opponents, he presented irrefutable evidence to back them up.

The Atlanta-Journal Constitution

The largest newspaper in Atlanta  where the CNN debate was held  shared their thoughts, along with quotes from George Washington.

This wasnt a bad night; it was confirmation of the worst fears of some of Bidens most ardent supporters  that after 36 years in the U.S. Senate, eight more as vice president and a term in the White House, age has finally caught up to him, the board wrote.

Only time will tell if Biden heeds their words, but for now, his next debate against Trump is set for Sept. 10

The post Here Are All the Major Media Outlets Calling for President Biden to Drop Out of the 2024 Election appeared first on TheWrap.
My season of service is nearing its close. This was a hard truth to face. But it is the natural course of things  as evident as the progression from spring to summer, from fall to winter. This is why I have decided to withdraw from the campaign for president of the United States.

Those are lines written and published by the Washington Post Editorial Board late last night in a piece titled What If Biden Spoke These Words? It imagines for the current president  in case he cannot for himself  a graceful way to bow out of the current presidential campaign in the guise of a patriotic Independence Day speech.

More from Deadline

The Post editorial comes on the heels of a New York Times Editorial Board piece published late Friday headlined, To Serve His Country, President Biden Should Leave the Race. The NYT piece states bluntly, The president appeared on Thursday night as the shadow of a great public servant(T)he greatest public service Mr. Biden can now perform is to announce that he will not continue to run for re-election.

On Saturday, New Yorker editor David Reminck wrote, It is not just the political class or the commentariat who were unnerved by the debate. Most people with eyes to see were unnerved. At this point, for the Bidens to insist on defying biology, to think that a decent performance at one rally or speech can offset the indelible images of Thursday night, is folly.

The subhed of that piece reads bluntly, For the President to insist on remaining the Democratic candidate would be an act of not only self-delusion but of national endangerment.

Even more biting is the newest cover of The Economist, which contains only an image of a walker emblazoned with the presidential seal. The cover copy reads, No Way to Run a Country.

Joe Biden, abetted by his family, senior staff and elites, insists he is still up to the worlds toughest job.



His claim that this election is between right and wrong is ruined by the fact that the existence of his campaign now depends on a lie https://t.co/dc06TfRHL8   The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 4, 2024

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CHELSEA, Manhattan (PIX11)  Police are searching for a man they said forcibly touched a woman in a Manhattan subway station on June 26, according to officials.

More Local News

The victim, a 25-year-old woman, was standing on the A/C/E southbound train platform at 23rd Street Station. Around 7 p.m., the suspect allegedly walked up behind her and touched her, police said.

Police said the man left the station on foot and the victim was not injured.

Police are searching for a man they said forcibly touched a woman in a Manhattan subway station on June 26, according to officials. (NYPD)

Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Jonathan Rizk is a digital journalist who has covered local news in New York City and Washington, D.C. He has been with PIX11 since August 2022. See more of his work here, and follow him on X and Facebook @OfficialRizk. Get in touch at jonathan.rizk@pix11.com.

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Man arrested after about $3K theft from Harbor Freight in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A man has been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of several items from Harbor Freight, the Fresno Police Department said.

Officers say they conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle believed to be related to thefts that detectives have been investigating from Harbor Freight.

Police say they contacted the driver and his passenger. The driver was found to have an active warrant and was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail.

During a vehicle search, detectives say they located around $3,000 worth of stolen Icon tools from Harbos Freight. Stickers on the tools came back to stores in Central Fresno and Clovis.

This is an ongoing investigation.

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Nearly four months after an elderly couple was found shot to death in their Fort Lauderdale home and their car stolen from their driveway, police said a man who was in a relationship with one of the couples granddaughters was the person who took the car.

Claudette, 85, and her husband Major Melvin, 89, were found shot in their chests on March 22 by a relative, who has special needs and lived with them in the 600 block of Southwest 30th Terrace, according to an arrest warrant. Detectives released photos of their red 2014 Ford Fusion and said at a news conference in April that it was imperative they find it. Little other information was released at the time and in the months since.

While not charged in relation to the murders, Maurice Anthony Newson, 30, of Davie, was arrested on a warrant in May in Fort Lauderdale for grand theft auto and dealing in stolen property, Broward County court records show.

Newson is accused of selling the car to a tow truck company in Wilton Manors for $200 the same evening that the couple was found dead, according to the warrant.

Newson had been coming around the home following the homicide acting strange and asking a lot of questions about what detectives were saying about the investigation, family members told detectives, the warrant said.

Newsons attorney did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday evening. He could not be reached by phone after business hours. Court records show Newson was released from jail after posting bail and pleaded not guilty in late June.

This is an ongoing investigation and detectives are working diligently to determine Newsons involvement, if any, in the murders, Fort Lauderdale Police spokesperson Casey Liening said. We encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to contact police immediately. Broward Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for any information leading to an arrest.

Really, really disturbing: Family, police beg public for help solving double murder of elderly Fort Lauderdale couple

Details of shooting emerge

The Melvins names are almost entirely redacted in the warrant, though it is clear they are the victims and the warrant is connected to their case.

Claudette Melvin was found lying on her back near their dining room table with a gunshot in her left chest and a 9mm bullet casing near her foot, the arrest warrant said. Major Melvin was found in the living room lying on his stomach and a 9mm casing in his shirt near his stomach.

Detectives did not find any guns in the home, and family members said the couples only set of car keys were missing from a key holder in the kitchen, the warrant said.

The relative who lived with the couple, whose name is redacted in the warrant, told detectives he was in his room sleeping and watching TV that day and night and found a body lying on the floor when he came out, the warrant said. The relative called his sister and told her to come to the home for an emergency, emergency.

The detective who interviewed him asked why he didnt call 911, and he said, No one taught me how to call 911, the warrant said. He said he never heard any gunshots that night.

Elderly couple found shot to death in Fort Lauderdale home, officials say

Surveillance cameras at the home showed a suspect vehicle, a dark four-door sedan, arriving shortly before 1 a.m. March 22. Someone got out of the car, appeared to reach into the backseat and then walk toward the home, the warrant said.

The video showed the person getting back to the car just after 1 a.m. and driving away north on Southwest 30th Terrace. Just before 3:30 a.m., the Melvins car lights turn on in the driveway, the video showed, and it leaves the area north on Southwest 30th Terrace, the warrant said.

License plate readers showed the car heading north on Floridas Turnpike shortly before 4 a.m. near Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach. It was parked at the Cypress Creek Tri-Rail station in Fort Lauderdale and sat unmoved until about 9 p.m. when the tow truck driver picked it up, the warrant said.

The detective who authored the warrant for Newsons arrest wrote there was probable cause to believe the same suspects are involved in the homicide, the theft of the victims vehicle and the vehicle north on the Florida Turnpike within Broward County.

Witness saw car in tow yard

A witness flagged down a Fort Lauderdale Police officer on April 4 and said that the red vehicle seen all over the news was parked at a tow company in the 600 block of West Oakland Park Boulevard, according to the warrant.

Officers asked Broward Sheriffs Office personnel flying a helicopter for an unrelated incident to check the car, and BSO personnel noted it had the same damage and bumper sticker as the car in the be-on-the-lookout that Fort Lauderdale Police issued earlier.

Detectives interviewed a driver with the tow company who said about his boss texted him about 6:30 p.m. March 22 about a 2012 Ford Fusion for sale. The driver met with a man, who he later identified in a photo line up as Newson, to purchase it for $200, the warrant said.

On May 23, detectives with Fort Lauderdale Polices Fugitive Unit detained Newson at his job at a retail store where he is a security guard and took him to the headquarters to be booked, an arrest report said.

Police urge public to be vigilant in hunt for car taken from elderly couple found shot to death | Listen to 911 calls
CHICAGO  Divers on Thursday pulled the body of a man from the lagoon at Marquette Park on the citys South Side after receiving calls from people picnicking in the area.

Authorities were called to the lagoon near 3300 West Redfield Drive, in the citys Chicago Lawn community, at about 9:40 a.m. upon reports of a person unresponsive in the water.

Chicago Police Marine Unit divers removed the body and pronounced the 30-year-old man dead.

No other information was released. Police said theyre investigating.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A 31-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man is facing charges in connection into a deadly shooting at a Northland apartment Wednesday morning.

Clay County prosecutors have charged Jaymes D. Henderson with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Kansas City man found guilty in deadly 2022 Overland Park shooting

Kansas City police officers responded to the shooting just after 6 a.m. at N. Hickory Street and NW 80th Terrace, near the intersection of NW Barry Road and 169 Highway.

At the scene, officers found a man who had been shot and was unresponsive inside the apartment. He was later identified as 27-year-old Christopher Henderson.

Police said the shooting happened following some kind of interaction with another person inside the apartment.

Trader Joes recalls candles with unexpected issue

After attempting aid at the scene, emergency responders took Christopher Henderson to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Jaymes Henderson was found nearby and taken into custody for questioning. Hes being held on a $1 million bond.

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Man charged in more than decade old Fayette County cold case murder

Charges have been filed in a nearly 13-year-old cold case in Fayette County.

A letter from Fayette County District Attorney Michael Aubele says Frank Timothy Campbell, 37, of Merrittstown, has been charged in the 2011 murder of Leon Mickens.

Mickens was shot in the head in Masontown on Aug. 15, 2011, the night before his 36th birthday.

>>> Masontown Man Shot, Killed Night Before 36th Birthday

At the time of the crime, Aubele says police spoke with witnesses, gathered evidence and even identified a person of interest, but charges were not filed. Leons cousin told Channel 11 four years after the crime that she was worried his killed would go scot-free.

>>> Family continues to seek justice for Fayette Co. man shot, killed

Aubele says when he took office in January, he promised the Mickens family that his office would do their best to secure justice for Leon.

The charges against Campbell come after a new lieutenant took over the cold case investigation and authorities were able to locate witnesses and evidence, Aubele said. Reportedly police have statements, photographs, and circumstantial items that have long supported the charges, but now they have DNA evidence that places Campbell at the scene of the crime.

Online court records show Campbell is facing several charges, including criminal homicide and aggravated assault.

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Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

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Suspect dead after weapons, notes prompt search in Cranberry Township, sources say Director of McCandless daycare accused of abusing toddlers Hard work just ripped to pieces: Pittsburgh-area cheer gym targeted by vandals VIDEO: Man accused of using racial slurs, threatening to kill driver in South Greensburg road rage incident DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Man charged with murdering his dad after standoff with Georgia deputies

A Georgia man has been arrested and charged with murder after his father died early Thursday morning.

On Thursday at 3 a.m., Lee County deputies responded to a shots fired call at a home on Smithville Road in Leesburg.

When they arrived, deputies heard gunfire coming from the home and then a standoff began. Eventually, the shooter, identified as 47-year-old Tommy Clinton Jones came out of the home and was then arrested.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation determined that Jones murdered his father, 69-year-old Tommy Lee Jones.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The son is being charged with one count of felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault in connection to the death of his father.

Jones has been booked into Lee County Jail.

Anyone with information on this shooting is asked to provide tips to the GBI. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS(8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Man Charged with Single Moms Strangling Murder After Anonymously Calling Police to Report Her for Overdose

Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to Las Vegas police, where he allegedly confessed to strangling and sexually assaulting Larissa Garcia, 30, in a hotel room

Gofundme Larissa Garcia

A man has been charged with the murder of a single mother who was found unresponsive in a Las Vegas hotel room after anonymously calling police to report that she had overdosed, authorities said.

On June 28, Jason Kendall, 35, turned himself in to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, where he allegedly confessed to strangling and sexually assaulting Larissa Garcia, 30, police said in an arrest report cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

According to a press release, officers responded to Spring Valley Hospital on June 12 on a report of a woman who was the victim of a possible battery and taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Police said she had been found unresponsive in a hotel room along West Flamingo Road. On June 21, she was pronounced dead.

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The arrest report states that an anonymous person  later identified as Kendall  called 911 on June 12 to report that a woman was overdosing and that he was no longer with her, according to KSNV. Hotel security found the woman wearing only underwear and with a cut on her jawline, but police were not immediately called to the scene due to the possible overdose.

She was then taken to the hospital by paramedics. There, she had a toxicology screening, which found that she had no drugs or alcohol in her system, according to the report cited by KSNV.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the arrest report claims that police learned the room was registered to Kendall, who had planned to meet with Garcia, a sex worker, at the hotel.

Surveillance footage from the hotel allegedly showed Kendall meeting Garcia in the lobby around 4 p.m. local time on June 12 and leaving a room alone about an hour later, according to court documents also obtained by 8 News Now. Nobody else was seen entering or leaving the room until hotel security arrived.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Jason Kendall

While he initially declined to talk to police, who questioned him and requested an attorney, the report states police noted Kendall had injuries on his back and shoulder, according to 8 News Now.

On June 28, when Kendall turned himself in to police, he provided a statement saying he paid Garcia $2,000 for sex, per the report cited by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. However, Kendall claimed he snapped when Garcia requested more money. He allegedly admitted to hitting her in the face and choking her for 10 minutes, per the report.

Kendall is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on charges of open murder, sexual assault and battery by strangulation to commit sexual assault, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Its unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney to speak on his behalf.

According to 8 News Now, loved ones described Garcia as a single mother.

A GoFundMe page set up to help Garcias mother with funeral expenses states she had two children.

It is with a heavy heart that I share this devastating news of the sudden passing of Larissa, fundraiser organizer Dawn Brown wrote. At just 30 years old, she was taken from us unexpectedly, leaving a void that can never be filled. She was a bright light in all of our lives, full of love and laughter.

The fundraiser has raised more than $17,500 in donations as of July 4.



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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A 49-year-old man has been found guilty of murder in connection to a deadly shooting at a southwest Oklahoma City apartment complex in 2022.

Marc Owens. Photo courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Lamontta Taylor. Photo courtesy Oklahoma County Detention Center.

Marc Owens, 49, along with codefendant Lamontta Taylor, 23, were charged with the shooting death of Michael Crawford in July 2022 at an apartment complex on SW 42nd Street.

According to the Oklahoma County District Attorneys Office, Oklahoma City Police detectives learned that Owens and Taylor were in a parking lot together near the scene just before Crawford was shot three times.

Witnesses reportedly told police that an unidentified shooter drove away from the scene in Crawfords car.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: One arrested after man shot, killed at OKC apartment complex

Detectives identified Owens and Taylor as suspects in the deadly shooting based on text messages they allegedly sent to each other and cell phone tower data.

On June 27, Owens was found guilty of first degree murder and unlawful possession of marijuana. The jury recommended a sentence of life for the murder charge and one year for possession.

Owens is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30. Taylor is expected to go to trial in August for a first degree murder charge.

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Women are sex objects in sadomasochistic novel by man hired to train Miami prosecutors

Reality Check is a Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at tips@miamiherald.com.

A lawyer who was just hired to train young prosecutors at the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office is the recent author of a Rated R novel with sado-masochistic themes depicting women as sex objects and a transgender woman as an it, a he-beast and the thing.

Explore a womans desire for submission as she stands accused of being the infamous Sex Toy Killer, the book blurb says.

Steve Gosney was sworn in last week as a new hire for the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office, run by Katherine Fernandez Rundle. He was hired amid a slate of changes Fernandez Rundle made in response to judicial findings and defense lawyers complaints that some of her prosecutors violate the legal rules of criminal court. Gosney told a social media audience that the state attorney liked his passion for ethics.

It appears that neither Fernandez Rundle nor any of her top chiefs read Gosneys novel, Death Penalty Desires, which is easily purchased on his self-named website or Amazon, has been discussed on his Rumble video channel and is listed on his resume. The State Attorneys Office did not release documents requested by the Miami Herald related to his hiring, including his job description and salary.

Gosney told the Miami Herald that he doesnt condone the sex-based violence and misogynistic thinking of his characters. He said the book illustrates his stance against the death penalty.

Its a morality play. Its a commentary on society. Its a meditation on the system, and how the system can go wrong in myriad ways to convict an innocent person, and its a tour through Death Row, he said in an interview.

In a statement Wednesday, State Attorneys Office spokesman Ed Griffith said the book was written while Gosney was a [Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers] member working as a public defender. The book was written less than five months ago.

At the time of his hire, we were confident that he would be a valuable addition to our office in a special projects, legal, appellate, litigation support and training functions, Griffith said. When I asked about this fictional novel, Mr. Gosney indicated that the key conceptual idea was to show what can happen to an innocent individual when the criminal justice system does not work as intended.

Gosney, 56, has experience both in criminal defense and prosecution. He served as a prosecutor for six years in Flagler County, and spent the last 14 years in the public defenders office in Daytona Beach, where, among other things, he trained new appellate attorneys.

As a self-published author, Gosney sells a PG and an R-rated version of his book. He has written other books, including Brucie the One-Eyed Wonder Dog for children, and a Christian-based Handbook for Individual Freedoms.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade prosecutors deal with the devil threatens to topple murder convictions

Photo of Steve Gosney, left, being sworn in as an assistant state attorney by Judge Cristina Miranda, right, in a post shared on the official State Attorney Office Instagram account.

The book

The Herald read the R-rated version of Death Penalty Desires, in which a prosecutor frames the main character for her husbands murder, and she is sentenced to death. The prosecutor is described as drooling as he imagines media coverage and a possible judgeship.

The vast majority of females in the book are described with vulgar disrespect by the various characters and the narrator. There are violent sex scenes, including between the husband and wife. Themes of men controlling or dominating women against their will are threads throughout the novel.

There are several rapes or sexual assaults. The murdered husband is found with a sex toy lodged in his anus; a horse tail is attached to it.

When a prosecutor views the crime scene photos, he is intoxicated by photos of a very dead blonde woman.

READ MORE: Investigator in Hialeah cop beating case wants state sanctioned for withholding evidence

The necrophiliac perversity aspect of his lust did not even cross his mind. ... He had shared popcorn with other prosecutors as they watched underage girls getting sodomized, Gosney wrote. He remembered one new prosecutor  a small tart young thing  who gave it up to him after one video watching session. The thought gave him a smile.

The main character entertains an offer from the prison warden of living in a basement as his submissive sex slave.

One character muses that hes gonna rage f  a woman and make her pay.

A transgender inmate, described as a man-beast and crazy eyed horror with a surgical abomination and mutilated crotch threatens to sexually attack the main character. The c word is used to describe the main characters female anatomy.

The book equates being female with being submissive. The main character is described at one point as having accepted her feminine need  her primal desire for masculine domination.

Most female characters are portrayed as sex objects.

An investigator struts through a hospital, eyeing every woman he passes and sizing them up for sex. He sees one woman and thinks, Id do her.

A nurse, described as a hospital slut, throws herself at her boss, hoping hell impregnate her so she can quit her job.

Female heroes?

The book was written in a 10-day span in February, according to the website, but was drawn from a lifetime of experiences. The book summary calls it a murder mystery and law novel set in the world of kink and passion. Try not to draw conclusions about the author from the content herein!

Gosney said excerpts should not be taken out of context, and emphasized that the novel is a work of fiction. He cited several female characters he said were depicted as heroes.

One is a prison guard who testifies for the framed main character.

Another is an inmate nicknamed for anatomical reasons as the Eunuch, who performs a heroic act when he crushes the neck of the transgender inmate described repeatedly as a he-beast, to stop the inmates sexual assault of the main character.

The third female hero cited by Gosney is a defense attorney who serves as second chair to her husband, hearing her words spoken confidently by her husband in the court proceedings, and then takes over, very capably, when hes exhausted. She needs help handling the complexities of a death penalty case, so a male defense attorney is brought in, and he takes the job for the publicity, and because hes sexually attracted to the client.

The story ends with the framed wife being set free from prison. She is described as having grown personally while incarcerated, and realizes a primal part of her yearned for a dominant master. A man to take control. The defense attorney, she realizes, is a man worthy of being called daddy. She agrees to wear the closet full of dresses and high heels that he bought her, because she wants to make him happy.

In the book acknowledgments, Gosney thanks his friends, including online followers with account names like Legal Vices and Lets Go Brandon.

Gosney told his Rumble audience that he moved with his wife and son to Miami from Daytona Beach. He said Fernandez Rundles office crafted a position for him.

Theyve been looking for a defense perspective, Gosney said of Fernandez Rundles office on his Rumble program. Its almost a dream job. ... They said we need you here. Well make you an offer you cant refuse.

Gosney said hell be writing policies, offering his ethics expertise, training young prosecutors and maybe being part of a prosecution integrity unit. Fernandez Rundle did not announce creation of such a unit, though it had been requested by local defense attorneys; Gosney said his work focus is up in the air.

Everybody says Miamis great, he said on Rumble, except for the traffic.
Man shot, drives to Pittsburgh medic station with 5-year-old in car

Neighbors on Estella Avenue told Channel 11 they thought it was fireworks. But it was multiple rounds of gunfire.

One man was hit along with several vehicles.

It was just before 10:30 p.m. Wednesday when neighbors heard a barrage of gunfire.

Pittsburgh police were dispatched there for an 11-round ShotSpotter alert.

When we got on the scene, there were numerous evidence markers on the ground, as well as multiple casings from different weapons.

People who live on the street say an SUV was on Estella, waiting for a vehicle to drive by, when one or more shooters opened fire and continued to chase the vehicle up the street, firing shots, hitting the driver and several parked vehicles.

They were shooting in that direction at another car speeding away. It was crazy. It was like right out of a movie, said Jason Carnevale.

A short time later, police say the victim drove himself a little over a half mile to a paramedic station on Proctor Way.

He was shot in the upper back and rushed to the hospital in stable condition.

A 5-year-old girl was in the backseat.

Police say she was not hurt and was returned to her family.

A dark-colored Dodge Durango with PA plates MBR-9566 was seen fleeing the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call police headquarters at 412-323-7800.

Police have not said if the vehicle was located or if they have any suspects.

The investigation is ongoing.

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Man charged with killing, dismembering missing 14-year-old in Mercer County Multiple people injured in Homestead crash Man charged in more than decade old Fayette County cold case murder VIDEO: City leaders gearing up for Pittsburghs July 4th fireworks show DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Many voters, including a third of Democrats, want Biden replaced as Democratic nominee

Almost half the voters polled in the aftermath of President Joe Bidens disastrous debate performance said the Democratic Party should replace him as their presidential nominee.

The nationwide Florida Atlantic University poll released Wednesday found 45% of voters would like to see someone else as the Democratic nominee, 40% said he should remain as the Democratic nominee, and 16% werent sure.

Democrats werent as likely to support jettisoning Biden, with 55% saying their party should continue with him. But 35% of Democrats said he should be replaced.

And younger voters were far more likely to favor replacing Biden than older voters.

Among voters under age 50, just 33% favored keeping Biden, with 55% wanting him replaced.

Among those aged 50 and older, 45% said the Democratic party should continue with Biden and 37% wanted him replaced.

Close race

Still, the poll found, the overall Trump vs. Biden race remains nail-bitingly close, with 46% of likely voters supporting Trump and 44% for Biden, which is within the surveys margin of error.

It was similarly close among a somewhat larger group consisting of all registered voters, with 44% for Trump and 42% for Biden.

The race still looks very close to us, and the fundamentals of the race I dont think necessarily changed despite Joe Bidens difficult performance at the debate, said Kevin Wagner, a Florida Atlantic University political scientist.

But, Wagner said, the fact that the poll, conducted Saturday and Sunday, didnt show Bidens support cratering in the wake of the debate doesnt mean the president and Democrats should celebrate.

Sometimes it takes time for significant events to percolate in a way that creates measurable opinion, he said. While I suspect Democrats would be at least somewhat relieved that the topline numbers didnt seem to move that much, it might be a little early to stop holding your breath.

Wagner, who also is co-director of FAUs PolCom Lab, a collaboration of the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and Department of Political Science, which conducted the poll, said public opinion may change as people, including those who didnt see the debate themselves, talk about it at work, at family gatherings, and at community events.

Even if they watched the debate, they may not have decided exactly how they feel about it, he said.

Disgust, sadness, fear

The poll sought to gauge the emotional responses to the candidates and the debate  and voters reactions were revealing.

Disgust was the most frequent emotion, cited by 24% of voters in response to Biden and cited by 27% in response to Trump.

After that top emotional response, voters reactions to the two candidates diverged.

Sadness, cited by 22% of voters, was the second most common emotional response to Biden, followed by fear at 13% and pride at 12%, joy/happiness, 9%, and anger at 8%.

Joy/happiness, cited by 22% of all voters, was the second most common emotional response to Trump, followed by pride at 18%, anger and fear, both at 11%, and sadness at 4%.

Partisan differences

Sadness was the top emotion toward Biden among Democrats, at 24%, followed by pride at 20%.

Disgust was the top emotion toward Biden among Republicans, at 38%, followed by sadness at 19%

Disgust was also the top emotion toward Biden among independents, at 28%, followed by sadness, at 24%.

The poll didnt find any significant differences in emotional responses toward Biden based on age or gender.

Disgust was the top emotion toward Trump among Democrats, at 47%, followed by fear at 18%.

Joy/happiness was the top emotion toward Trump among Republicans, followed by pride at 37%.

Republicans were much more pleased with the former presidents performance than Democrats were of Joe Bidens performance, Wagner said. There was significantly more happiness on the Trump side than on the Biden side.

And for Democrats, the emotional response of sadness indicates many of them did not get what they wanted from the debate. That does not mean necessarily that they wont vote for Joe Biden  but it is an important warning sign, Wagner said.

It did not generate anger, it generated sadness, he said. In many ways, they hoped it would be better.

The share of people whod like to see a different Democratic candidate may reflect a long-standing desire by voters to see candidates other than the choices they had in 2002, Wagner said.

Independents were almost evenly divided in their emotional responses to Trump, with 26% citing disgust and 23% joy/happiness.

Women were somewhat more likely than men to offer disgust as their emotional response to Trump and men were significantly more likely than women to cite joy/happiness toward Trump.

Older voters were somewhat more likely to cite fear or joy/happiness toward Trump than younger voters. Younger voters are significantly more likely to cite pride in regard to Trump than older voters.

Close race

The nationwide contest  Trump leading 46% to 44% among likely voters  remains within the polls 3 percentage point margin of error.

Wagner said the share of undecided voters  5% among likely voters and 6% among all voters  is relatively low. Thats a pretty good indicator that these candidates are well-known commodities going into November.

Biden does better among women likely voters, among whom he leads 46% to 42%, and among voters 50 and older, among whom he leads 48% to 45%.

Trump does better among men, among whom he leads 50% to 41%, and among voters under age 50, among whom he leads 47% to 37%.

Trump is the overwhelming favorite  89%  among Republicans and Biden is the overwhelming favorite  84%  among Democrats. Relatively few Democrats or Republicans were undecided or considering another candidate.

Independent voters favor Trump over Biden, 42% to 35%, but a far higher share of independents (11%) said they would vote for another candidate or were undecided (12%).

The latest poll represents a slight improvement for Trump  though its so small as to be statistically insignificant  compared with an FAU poll conducted from April 26 through April 28.

In the April nationwide poll, the results were 47% for Biden and 46% for Trump among likely voters.

Among the larger sample of all voters in April, the two candidates were tied at 44%.

RFK Jr.

The presence of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. didnt dramatically alter the results. The poll suggested Kennedy has a slightly more negative impact on Biden than on Trump.

When Kennedy was included among the options, Trump had 42% of likely voters, Biden had 39%, and Kennedy had 10%.

When pollsters asked the question that included Kennedy, 4% of likely voters picked another candidate and 5% were undecided.

In a Biden vs. Trump match-up that didnt include Kennedys name, 6% still said theyd prefer another candidate and 5% were undecided.

The results of the Biden-Trump-Kennedy question are more favorable to Trump in the latest poll than they were in April.

In April, the three-candidate question found 39% for Trump, 44% for Biden and 11% for Kennedy.

Harris, Obama or ?

Though significant shares of voters thought Biden should be replaced at the top of the ticket, its not clear who the party would pick if the party needed to find someone else.

Democrats were given several potential choices, including an obvious possibility, Vice President Kamala Harris and an unlikely choice, former First Lady Michelle Obama.

25% picked Harris.

21% picked Obama.

17% picked Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.

7% picked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan.

6% picked Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary and former mayor of South Bend, Ind.

2% picked U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a member of the Squad of progressive members of Congress.

Wagner said hypothetical questions such as this often lead people to go with the names theyve heard the most, such as Harris, Obama and Newsom. Sometimes when youre testing candidates a lot of it is name recognition. Obama, Harris and Newsom are some of the well-known options.

Newsom, Whitmer and Buttigieg are widely seen as future candidates for their partys nomination.

The poll found 16% of Democrats were undecided and 6% said theyd like a candidate other than the six options they were given.

Harris was the choice of 33% of Democrats under age 50 and Obama was the pick of 28%. Just 8% of younger Democrats were undecided.

Harris was the choice of 20% of Democrats age 50 and older, and Newsom was the pick of 19%. Among older Democrats, 22% were undecided.

Fine print

The poll of 961 U.S. registered voters was conducted June 29 and June 30 by Mainstreet Research for Florida Atlantic Universitys PolCom Lab, which is a collaboration of the School of Communication and Multimedia Studies and Department of Political Science.

The survey used an online panel and automated phone calls to reach other voters. It has a margin of error equivalent to plus or minus 3 percentage points for the full survey of Democrats, Republicans and independents.

However, the margin of error for smaller groups, such as Republicans or Democrats, men and women, or younger and older voters, would be higher because the sample sizes are smaller.

The total percentages for some questions dont always total 100% because of rounding.

_____
MAGA is spreading like a virus, Mary Trump warned in no uncertain terms in the latest edition of her email newsletter The Good In Us.

Donald Trumps niece, one of his fiercest critics, spelled out the chilling consequences of the former presidents potential return to power, noting how the presumptive GOP presidential nominee nominated three of the justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, destroyed the ability of federal agencies to do their jobs, and decreed the presidency a dictatorship.

The next president may very likely be able to replace Justices Sam Alito and Clarence Thomas on the court, she continued, saying, the idea of having two Federalist-Society-grown embryos put on the Court to ruin the lives of the next four generations of Americans is enough to make my head explode.

Mary Trump urged voters to pull together for President Joe Biden despite his disastrous debate performance last week.

Action is the antidote to anxiety, she added, encouraging people to adopt a race or two to remind them that the future of this country is decided by its people, by us, not just the bad people.

Read Mary Trumps full email here.

Related...
A proposed literacy policy in Maryland could have third-grade students held back for a year if they dont achieve certain reading scores on state tests, or demonstrate sufficient reading skills for promotion to grade 4.

Maryland would join more than half of states that allow third-grade students to be held back if the policy is adopted. The Maryland Department of Education is accepting public comments on the plan until July 19.

It comes as the state Board of Education and the Blueprint for Marylands Future Accountability and Implementation board recently voted on aggressive goals to boost student achievement for the state, which ranks 40th in the nation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known at the Nations Report Card. The goal is to put Maryland in the top 10 by 2027.

It has been noted in several research studies that literacy is considered one of the key and pivotal priorities in education if we expect our communities, our states to prosper, Tenette Smith, executive director of literacy programs and initiatives in the state Department of Education, said Tuesday. We have to make sure that we are addressing kiddos needs, as well as their access to high-quality education. It becomes an equity issue.

The proposed literacy policy would implement a reading intervention program for students in kindergarten through third grade who are identified with a reading deficiency or need for supplemental instruction in reading.

Students in those grades would be screened about three times, which includes for dyslexia, throughout the school year. They can also receive before- or after-school tutoring by a person with specialized training grounded in the science of reading, which focuses on teaching students based on phonics, comprehension and vocabulary.

The policy will also call for professional development for staff, which they will receive for free as part of the science of reading program.

A parent or guardian would receive written notification if their child exhibits any reading challenges during the school year. Students who are kept back in the third grade would receive more dedicated time than the previous school year in scientifically research-based reading instruction and intervention, daily small group instruction and frequent monitoring of the students reading skills throughout the school year.

The proposal includes a good cause exemption that would let students advance to the fourth grade if they are diagnosed with a disability described in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). It would also apply to students with a Section 504 plan who are diagnosed with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in school and school-related activities.

A good-cause exception could also be made for students who fewer received less than two years of instruction in an English-language development program.

Any student who received such an exception would continue to receive intensive reading intervention and other services.

No student could be retained twice in third grade, according to the policy.

Smith said the policy is similar to one drafted in Mississippa, where she worked with current Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright. But a few main differences that focus on Maryland include the Ready to Act and state regulations to support students with reading difficulties.

Have to be creative

According to a January report from the Education Commission of the States, about 26 states and Washington, D.C., implemented policies that require retention for third-grade students who are not reading proficiently, or allow those decisions at the local level. That report came out two months before Indiana joined the list, when the legislature in March approved a measure to retain third grade students who dont pass a statewide assessment test or meet a good cause exemption, similar to the proposed Maryland policy.

A 2013 report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation noted that students who dont read proficiently by the end of the third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma. The gap could increase if a student comes from a low-income family, is Black or Latino, the report said.

Smith said theres a slight shift in expectations when students enter fourth grade, and begin assessing multisyllabic words and doing more independent reading.

When you are making that shift, you are providing more academic language and asking children to access or bear a heavier cognitive load. Kiddos are asked to do more word work, Smith said. As they progress from one grade to the other, third grade becomes that key grade level, that sort of gateway to being a fluent reader with the ability to analyze the text they are reading.

Maryland State Education Association President Cheryl Bost, who retires from teaching at the end of the month, said the state needs to assess who would provide the tutoring during the school day and before or after school.

We are still in a [teacher] shortage. How we can retain staff and bring staff is going to be key to all of this, she said Monday.

She also said reading intervention during the school day is more desirable than making tutoring before or after school the only option.

When we do that though, we cant pull kids out of the arts, Bost said. We have to be creative in scheduling because those other subject areas are important. Some kids really shine in those areas. They have to learn reading in other context not just in what might be called a reading class.

The policy is scheduled to be discussed by the state Board of Education on July 23. For those interested in taking the survey can go here, or send an email to literacy.msde@maryland.gov by July 19.

The post Maryland could join other states to retain third graders with low reading proficiency appeared first on Maryland Matters.
A new book detailing the life of Army Master Sgt. Roy Perez Benavidez examines the complicated legacy of a man who could trace his ancestry back to Texas before it was a state and who faced discrimination even after receiving the nations highest award for military valor.

William Sturkey, an associate history professor at the University of Pennsylvania, has focused much of his research and writing on marginalized communities. He found Benavidezs story, one that bridged major racial shifts in the United States during the tumultuous 20th Century, as emblematic of the Latino communitys struggle for acceptance and success in America.

Sturkeys book, The Ballad of Roy Benavidez: The Life and Times of Americas Most Famous Hispanic War Hero, published in June by Basic Books, dives into the Medal of Honor recipients life before, during and after his service and what Sturkey thinks it says about wider issues within marginalized populations.

Graphic novel spotlights actions of Medal of Honor recipient who, even in a body bag, refused to die

On May 2, 1968, Benavidez was serving with the 5th Special Forces Group in Vietnam when a 12-man reconnaissance team was inserted by helicopter along the Ho Chi Minh trail. Disaster struck almost immediately.

Shortly after they landed, the team was raked by heavy fire from North Vietnamese Army units. During the ambush, three helicopters attempted to reach the cut-off recon unit but were unable to.

Listening to the battle from a nearby post, Benavidez watched as the helicopters returned, and then immediately ran to jump aboard as they made another attempt to relieve the patrol. As his helicopter hovered, Benavidez leaped to the ground and ran 75 meters under heavy fire to reach the team. As he did so, he was struck by enemy fire and shrapnel in his right leg, face and head.

Once he reached the team, he found that nearly all of them were wounded, and others were dead. Despite his injuries, Benavidez took command of the survivors. Throwing smoke canisters to identify their position to friendly forces, he dragged and carried half of the wounded to an incoming medevac chopper himself. As the wounded were loaded aboard, Benavidez moved to retrieve the body of the teams leader, who had been killed. As he did, the helicopters pilot was struck by incoming fire and killed, and the aircraft crashed.

Once again, Benavidez raced to where he was needed and began pulling the wounded from the wreck. He then called in tactical airstrikes and was wounded again. Throughout it all, he continued to fight for his men until another helicopter finally arrived and extracted the team. For his actions that day, Benavidez was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nations highest award for valor, on Feb. 24, 1981.

Sturkey spoke with Army Times about his own background with veterans and other marginalized communities and Benavidezs story.

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.

The Ballad of Roy Benavidez, by William Sturkey, chronicles the Medal of Honor recipient's early life, battlefield heroism, and advocacy work. (Basic Books)

Q: Can you tell readers a little bit about your background and interest in the military?

A: I come from a place just outside Erie, Pennsylvania, which has a lot of working class young men and women who join the military. I graduated high school in 2000. Although I didnt serve, I was part of the War on Terror generation. There were military recruiters in our high school all the time. This book is dedicated to my friend Army Spc. Donald S. Oaks Jr., who died on April 3, 2003, while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I think because of that I always really pay attention to veterans issues.

Q: How did you come across Master Sgt. Roy Benavidezs story and decide to write about it?

A: As a historian, Ive always been interested in stories of marginalized people, especially working classes of color. They dont always get the same treatment in American history as politicians and celebrities do. It was about 2005 to 2006. I was really wrestling with some of the experiences my friends in the military were having, some of their deaths both in combat and after they came home. I was thinking about what our society does when it comes to veterans. I heard about Roys story and how very soon after he received the Medal of Honor, he lost his social security disability benefits. It made me think: how do we balance the celebration of veterans versus how do we treat veterans in terms of public policy?

Q: Could you tell us about the racial climate for Latino and Hispanic people during Benavidezs lifetime and especially his service?

A: Historians have been telling each other for years that Vietnam was a poor peoples war. The data just doesnt really bear that out. There were a lot of Hispanic and Black people killed. There was absolutely racism, some data shows their casualties were a little higher than youd expect, so with Roy I looked more at who were his role models growing up. Born in 1935 in Texas, he grew up in a very, very racist society. He couldnt go to the front of restaurants. He couldnt sit in the front rows at movie theaters. But when he was growing up, Hispanic soldiers whod served honorably in World War II were all around. But there was a famous story in Texas of a Hispanic Americanwho died after the war and his family wasnt allowed to bury him in a white cemetery, even though hed served his country. So, Roys generation was the first generation who got to build off the legacy of those World War II soldiers. The military was an opportunity to succeed, and he would say there was more racial equality in the military because of the command structure and the urgency of the Vietnam War.

Q: Would you share how his Medal of Honor award finally came and his life after the Army?

A: Roys actions took place in 1968 and he didnt receive the medal until 1981. In the early to mid-1970s there was a lot of Vietnam War fatigue among the U.S. population. People were just sick of talking about it, certainly nobody in the military wanted to talk about it. But by the early 1980s some of that attitude had relaxed. Movies such as Apocalypse Now and Deer Hunter were now being replaced by Rambo and later Top Gun. There was more of an attitude of celebrating the military. It was a challenge because there were few witnesses to his actions. After many rejections, Roy and others finally found a survivor from the mission who could provide vital testimony to what happened that day and they were ultimately successful in getting his actions recognized. For many years he was the most recent living recipient of the Medal of Honor. Even with the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, the two soldiers received it posthumously. But in 1983 he told the media that his Social Security disability benefits and benefits for veterans were going to be cut and he testified to Congress to stop the cuts. Because he was the most recent living recipient he was involved in many veterans issues, called upon by political leaders and military groups to give speeches. He died in 1998.

Q: What was something surprising you discovered in your research?

A: Because Roy and his family were Hispanic, they often suffered discrimination and were seen as second-class citizens. But his family traced its continuous lineage back to Mexican settlers in Texas before it was part of the United States. His family fought alongside other Texans for their independence from Mexico. One of his relatives, Placido Benavides, was known as the Paul Revere of Texas during the Texas Revolution. Benavides helped revolutionaries take San Antonio and was later in a unit ambushed by the Mexican Army near San Patricio. During the battle he was dispatched to Goliad to alert troops there of the Mexican Armys approach. Despite this history, his family had to flee to Louisiana to avoid racist mob violence. When they returned to Texas, they discovered that white settlers had moved onto their land and claimed it for themselves.
Media: Orban to meet with Putin in Moscow following Kyiv visit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 5, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on July 4 citing an unnamed Hungarian government source.

Orban's trip may take place days after the first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The Hungarian prime minister pushed a ceasefire proposal, which was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the outlet's source, Orban will be accompanied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who visited Russia at least five times since the onset of the all-out war.

Budapest and Moscow are yet to make announcements on the visit.

The visit may come five days into Hungary's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Amid reports, European Union Council President Charles Michel said that the EU rotating presidency "has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU."

"The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine," Michel wrote on X on July 4.

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.

Orban and Putin held talks in Beijing in October 2023 at the Belt and Road Forum. The Hungarian prime minister was the only leader from the European Union to attend the summit.

Read also: Hungary takes helm of Council of EU. Should Ukraine be worried?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Crista Eggers, center, signs an affidavit pledging that the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana campaign had gathered enough signatures for Nebraska's fall election. Eggers is joined by her husband, Easton, and sons Carsten, 11, and Colton, 9, from left. July 3, 2024. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN  Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana collected signatures until the very last moment Wednesday before turning in more than 114,000 for each of its two petitions by mid-afternoon.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana leaders read a final vote count for the campaign

The 2024 campaign marks the groups third try. Crista Eggers, the statewide campaign manager, has a personal stake in changing the law: She wants to help her 9-year-old son Colton who has epilepsy and severe seizures.

The campaign needs about 86,500 signatures from registered voters to be verified statewide, of which the total must include signatures from at least 5% of voters in 38 of the states 93 counties.

You can never have enough, never have enough, but it was amazing to collect until the very last moment to allow every Nebraskan out there that could get to us and wanted to sign, to sign, Eggers told reporters after signing a sworn affidavit to turn in the signatures.

Final day-of blitz

The campaign hosted two final events Wednesday at Wine, Beer and Spirits locations in Omaha and Lincoln in a last-second blitz to collect and count signatures. Eggers said the group collected 2,500 signatures for each petition Wednesday morning.

Eggers told reports that in the final hours of campaigning, a man brought his wife to one of the locations to sign the petition. Eggers said the woman, from Douglas County, is in hospice and has as little as 48 hours to live.

I think that can summarize the grit, determination, drive and motivation of this petition drive, Eggers said.

Typically, about 15% to 30% of signatures collected for initiative petitions might be tossed during the verification process involving state and local election officials.

Thats why the campaigns recent efforts focused on obtaining more signatures than needed as a precaution. The campaign first tackled the 38-county requirement before collecting bulk signatures.

Third campaign attempt

Former State Sen. Adam Morfeld and State Sen. Anna Wishart, both of Lincoln, started the group with Eggers in 2019 and joined her to turn in the signatures. Wishart had tried to legalize and regulate medical marijuana in the Legislature but fell a couple of votes short. She said the campaign is confident based on strong polling from Nebraskans that indicates they support the issue no matter their geography, political affiliation or age.

Its amazing the diversity of people you run into who know somebody who would benefit from having access, Wishart said.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana advocates gather to collect signatures

The campaigns past efforts faced challenges, the most major of which came in 2020 when the Nebraska Supreme Court threw out the ballot language, arguing that years petition contained two subjects: regulation and legalization. In 2022, the campaign didnt collect enough signatures.

Nine months ago, the group split the 2024 campaign into two separate petitions, as the Supreme Court had suggested, seeking to make the third time the charm.

Through each of the campaigns and the various petitions, Eggers said the group had collected more than 750,000 signatures.

I am so glad to be done and to have this behind us, and were ready to look forward to whats next, Eggers said. Obviously all of us hope thats certification and a spot on the ballot in November.

Future of the campaign

The Nebraska Secretary of States Office will next distribute signatures to respective county election officials statewide. Once received, county officials will have 40 days to verify and return the signatures. The petition language then goes to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office for review, one of the last hurdles before the November ballot.

Attorney General Mike Hilgers has opposed the federally created loophole that has allowed Delta-8 sales. He has filed state lawsuits against retailers and encouraged restrictive state legislation.

Gov. Jim Pillen opposed Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana when the campaign started in September, telling the Nebraska Examiner that marijuana poses demonstrated harms to our children. He said medical marijuana should happen only with the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. Department of Justice has formally moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which could aid possible FDA approval.Thirty-eight states have legalized medical marijuana, while 24 of them, plus Washington, D.C., have also legalized recreational use. The other states, including Nebraska, allow limited access to cannabis products with little to no THC, according to the Pew Research Center.

Eggers held her son Coltons hand while talking with reporters Wednesday. She reflected on what the campaign could mean for her family and other Nebraskans.

I think the day that all of the advocates and patients and caregivers, the kids, the day that we will know we did our job and  that gives me so much hope, is the day that a mom doesnt have to run a petition drive to get their child medicine, Eggers said, holding back tears.

Someday a mom will go into the doctors office and they will be able to get a recommendation for cannabis, and that day will be all worth it.

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The post Medical marijuana advocates turn in signatures seeking Nebraska ballot access appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Steve Foreman, Ohio STRS board member who resigned. (Headshot photo provided by Foreman, background by Morgan Trau, WEWS.)

The member who resigned from Ohios chaotic teachers pension board differed from reform-minded leaders, sharing concerns about giving billions of dollars to an illegitimate investment firm.

Both the proposed controversial firm and the current system arent good financial options for the states educators, Steve Foreman told us in an exclusive interview.

Meet Steve

Of the 11 members of the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) board, Foreman was one of the five elected contributing teachers, meaning he represented active educators. The other seats include two retirees and four investment experts appointed by different government leaders.

The Zanesville teacher was elected to the STRS board in 2022 and was set to serve until 2026. However, he plans to retire in November with 34 years in education.

He refers to himself as reform-minded, a term that divides the board.

There is a debate on how STRS should invest money  through the current system of actively managed funds versus an index fund. Active funds try to outperform the stock market, have more advisors and typically cost more. Index funds perform with the stock market, are seen as more passive, and typically cost less.

In short, reformers want to switch to index funding, while status quo individuals want to keep actively managing the funds.

Battle for control

My resignation is happening at the best time that it could happen, Foreman told me.

In a surprise announcement in late June, he stepped down from the board early  but he believes he is leaving the board in good hands.

Everybody is acting in what they believe is the best interest, he said.

One of Foremans main priorities when getting into his position was lessening the number of years teachers had to work to retire. Prior to 2012, public school teachers had to work for 30 years to get retirement benefits. Effective 2013, STRS bumped up the years from 30 to 35. Starting in 2026, educators would also need to be 60 years old in order to receive full benefits.

But he helped work that down. He voted to permanently reduce the years to 34  and eliminate an age requirement.

Im going to take advantage of that and retire, he said.

He is stepping down early to let another person learn the ropes, he said.

I am so confident that the board is going to elect someone who has all the best interests of the reform-minded board, he added.

The other major concern he had that the reformers were focused on fixing was the lack of cost of living adjustments, or COLAs. They were suspended for more than 150,000 retired Ohio teachers for five years starting in 2017. In 2023, STRS approved a 1% COLA to eligible retirees.

He mentions that reform members Rudy Fichtenbaum, Wade Steen, Elizabeth Jones, Pat Davidson and Julie Sellers are putting STRS back on track, away from corporate interests.

Those reform members that I have named, those are people that are acting in the best interest of this organization, Foreman said.

Ohio leaders disagree.

In May, Attorney General Dave Yost filed a lawsuit to remove two members of STRS, stating they are participating in a contract steering scheme that could directly benefit them. Yost started the investigation after documents prepared by STRS employees alleged that Wade Steen and Chair Rudy Fichtenbaum have been doing the bidding of private investment group QED Systematic Solutions.

Yost started investigating after STRS employees gave documents to Gov. Mike DeWines office. The office believes numerous whistleblowers wrote the 14-page memo, also including about a dozen other documents in an attempt to verify their allegations.

Steen and Fichtenbaum seek to steer as much as 70% of current STRS assets, which is $65 billion, to a shell company that has backdoor ties to the members, Yost argued.

The AG states that the pair should be removed because they broke their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and trust when colluding with QED.

House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) warned that the nearly $95 billion pension fund needs to be reviewed carefully.

Its really important that the pensions, STRS in this case, make sure they have the transparency and the accountability so that everybody can see whats going on, Stephens told me in June.

QED

Despite the reformers denying it, I obtained a now-archived video meeting proving Yosts claim that Fichtenbaum and Steen were promoting a $65 billion partnership with an investment firm that lacks legitimacy.

According to Yosts suit, board members want to give $65 billion to QED so that they could allegedly restore the COLA.

The mention of $65 billion is patently false, Steen said at a board meeting in May. That was never proposed by me, never proposed by any other board member.

Steen felt so strongly about this that in a June 20 court filing in response to Yost, he denied that he and Fichtenbaum ever proposed that STRS invest $65 billion in QED.

But that isnt what our recording from 2021 shows.

We would make available $65 billion in our inventory in order to implement this strategy, Fichtenbaum said.

Case Western Reserve University business law professor Eric Chaffee says the reformers answers are questionable and understands why Yost is investigating.

QED has an unproven track record, Chaffee said. Its unclear as to why exactly these board members are focusing on this particular entity and doing it so strongly.

QED was started by former Deputy Treasurer Seth Metcalf and Jonathan (JD) Tremmel. Metcalf worked under Josh Mandel in multiple capacities, including as general counsel.

The documents claim that they  despite having no clients and no track record  tried to convince STRS members to partner with them starting in 2020.

They couldnt impress the board members, mainly because of their lack of experience and also the fact that QED was not registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser. The men also didnt own the technology to facilitate the strategy, the documents say.

Then, an evaluation of QED was done by the boards outside consultant, Cliffwater. The company highly advised not to follow their project or use them.

Since the reformers took control, the executive branch has been worried that QED will get a deal.

But Foreman says he doesnt think so. Although he is a reformer, he broke from leaders Fichtenbaum and Steen.

I have trepidation about the fact that they dont really have that history or that portfolio, Foreman said about QED. Thats very concerning to me.

According to Foreman, legitimate public conversations about QED stalled following that 2021 meeting. He doesnt remember if Metcalf or Tremmel reached out to him  but said it was possible.

I do rely on investment staff, their decisions, Foreman said. If I didnt, why would we have an investment staff?

STRS Chief Investment Officer Matt Worley didnt approve of QED, so it was never a major conversation for Foreman, he said.

I asked if he would have voted in favor of giving the billions to the investment firm.

The amount of money is secondary in the line of your question because I guess I would first be looking at the performance of the organization, he said. Once I would felt confident, then the [dollars] would come into play of what do I feel comfortable giving them?'

He never got there because of Worleys roadblock.

That being said, there is nothing wrong with hearing a firm out about an investment opportunity, the reformer added.

Ive heard the rumblings of a kickback and all that  Im not speaking to that, Foreman said. Im just speaking to, can a board member talk to someone, educate themselves and come back and talk to the board? I think thats fine.

He thinks there needs to be change but doesnt think QED is the answer. But he is also suspicious of the attorney generals lawsuit.

The timing of activities is always very curious to me, he said.

Financials

Foreman believes that Yost may be filing the lawsuit to protect Wall Street from losing their Ohio investments.

As of the end of May, the fund had a market value of about $95 billion  with $8 billion in real estate.

Two-thirds of STRS investment assets are managed by more than 100 staff members. There are about 400 additional employees.

The average daily investments include $70 million in liquidity reserves, $65 million in domestic equities, $55 million in fixed income, $30 million in international and $5 million in real estate.

Yost and other status quo individuals deny that the lawsuit was meant to do anything but stop a hostile takeover by QED.

Reformers like Foreman want STRS to get rid of their out-of-state real estate investments so the fund can provide COLAs for retirees  but he also raises concerns about STRS so-called opulence.

I look at the building, the holdings in other states, real estate, the artwork, the cafeteria that I look at the number of employees, he said.

The STRS building is in the heart of downtown Columbus  with a waterfall outside of it. It used to have a childcare center for kids of employees but was closed after educators fought against it. Some of the current benefits include an on-site fitness center, outdoor balcony and lunchroom with kitchen appliances.

One of Foremans final acts on the board was voting not to give STRS staff raises, which educators applauded. Last year, the board approved $10 million in bonuses for staff.

Educators complain that this money could be going toward giving retirees a COLA, but STRS staff argue that the building is pennies in comparison to how much it would cost to provide a larger living adjustment.

When it looked like reformers would get the supermajority in the most recent elections, the government either filed a suit or attempted to remove a member from the board, Foreman said.

It seems to be a little bit of jockeying for seats on the STRS board to me, Foreman said. Ive added to that mess, I guess.

Moving forward

Reformer Michelle Flanigan is set to take the place of now-resigned member Dale Price, meaning a 7-4 supermajority prior to Foremans resignation. Price stepped down after the reformers removed him as chair.

Foremans replacement will likely be a reformer, so change could be coming soon  but not that soon.

If there has been any frustration during this time with me, its been the urgency, the urgency versus action, he said. They want these changes today, but its very hard to make changes today with something that has been happening for so long.

The reformers on the board need educators to be patient with them because this is how government works: slow.

So we have set a course, these discussions are starting to happen, Foreman said. Some of the immediate fixes that need to come are unfortunately going to come with probably an increased employer contribution.

But this isnt the end for the reformer and education policy. Maybe he will run for one of the expiring retired seats, he hinted.

Meanwhile, the lawsuit between Yost and Steen and Fichtenbaum is heating up.

If Defendants appear outraged and aggressive, they are, the joint filing by the reformers attorneys states. Both men have volunteered countless hours to have the satisfaction of seeing that the fund is properly managed which they were on the cusp of doing when the Attorney General filed his lawsuit.

Interestingly, QED doesnt seem to be done. In a joint filing by the pair  they defend their support of the firm.

Mr. Tremmel, one of the QED founders, has a sterling track record, having successfully managed a $1 billion plus fund at the age of nineteen (19) and having an unparalleled 5-year track record of 5-star investment management performance results, the filing says.

Later, the pair criticized Yost, DeWine and the STRS staff who provided documents to the executives.

Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on Twitter and Facebook.

This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and is published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content-sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication by other news outlets as it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.

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The post Member who resigned from Ohio teachers pension fund concerned about controversial investment firm appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
The White House was engaged in a furious round of damage control Wednesday as the crisis around President Biden deepened.

Bidens aides, both at the White House and on his campaign, are seeking to bat down damaging stories almost by the hour  before they draw fresh blood from a president who has been badly wounded since his disastrous debate performance in Atlanta last Thursday.

Asked during Wednesdays White House briefing whether Biden was considering stepping down as the Democratic nominee, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied, Absolutely not.

A New York Times story hours earlier had reported that Biden had told an unnamed ally that he was weighing whether to stay in the race.

Jean-Pierre said communications staff had sought clarity from the president on the point.

The president said no, it is absolutely false  that is coming directly from him, Jean-Pierre insisted.

White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates shot back at later reports that suggested Biden had privately acknowledged the next few days would be critical to his political survival.

It is false to suggest that there is any openness to ending the campaign, Bates insisted on social media.

Whatever the White House or the Biden campaign may say about the specifics, there is no real denying that Democratic panic sparked by last Thursdays debate has spread.

Meanwhile, elements of the Team Biden response, including a sluggishness about offering one-on-one assurances to congressional leaders, have left spooked Democrats apoplectic.

Biden spoke to key Democrats on Capitol Hill by phone and, on Wednesday evening, held an in-person meeting with Democratic governors.

Afterward, three of the attendees  Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul  briefly addressed reporters in the evening sunshine outside the West Wing.

The key message, repeated word for word by both Moore and Hochul, was that Biden is in it to win it.

Walz, asked by a reporter whether he believed Biden was fit for office, replied that he was.

None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance  but it doesnt impact what I believe, Walz added.

Even at such ostensibly reassuring moments, however, there was another example of how hard it is for the Biden team to get on top of the story.

It came when Walz offered yet another explanation for the presidents dismal debate performance in Atlanta, saying the president told the governors he had got tripped up on the details at the expense of the bigger picture.

The Minnesota governor said Biden recounted to the governors how hes worrying about numbers on this [when] its about people, its about their lives. Walz characterized this as the idea that you get in your own head.

This is at least the third different explanation for Bidens misfire, the other two being that he had a cold and that he was tired from international travel  which, in fact, had concluded almost two weeks before the debate.

The meeting with the governors offered a sliver of light in a dark tunnel for Biden. But elsewhere, his troubles multiplied.

Rep. Raul Grijalva (Ariz.) became the second House Democrat to call for the president to stand aside, following Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) on Tuesday.

Grijalva told The New York Times that he would support Biden if he remained the candidate. But he cast the crisis as an opportunity to look elsewhere and said that Biden needed to shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat  and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.

A third House Democrat, Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.) stepped right up to  but not quite across  the line of calling for Biden to exit.

In a statement, Moulton said he respected all the great things Biden had done but added, I have grave concerns about his ability to defeat Donald Trump.

The same sentiment was heard throughout the Democratic Party, which is in the grip of a collective panic about the likelihood of Biden losing the White House to Trump, who many Democrats believe represents a unique danger to American civic life.

Wednesdays polls fueled that panic.

A New York Times/Siena College poll put Trump up by 6 points nationwide among likely voters  a doubling of Trumps edge since a poll from the same organizations just before the debate.

A Wall Street Journal poll put Trump up 6 points among registered voters, an increase of 4 points from February. The Journals survey also found a staggering 4 in 5 voters believing Biden is too old to seek a second term.

Those two polls came on top of a CNN/SSRS poll the previous day that had also found Trump up by 6 points, thought the margin in that instance had remained unchanged since a previous poll in April.

If Biden pulled out, he would be the first incumbent since President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 to abandon an expected reelection effort.

Such a move would also plunge the party into fresh turmoil  a point that Biden loyalists make repeatedly as they work to ensure his survival.

Absent Biden, Vice President Harris would be the obvious heir apparent. But she would not be guaranteed the nomination nor, her detractors note, do her poll ratings indicate she is a surefire bet to do any better against Trump.

Democrats have been crying out in private for Biden to do more public events, in the hope of showing that the Atlanta debate was an aberration.

The danger, of course, is that any serious flub or misstep could be the end of the road.

There are several such appearances on the horizon: an interview on Friday with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, scheduled campaign trail appearances in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and the promise of a news conference during next weeks NATO summit in Washington.

Bidens future hangs in the balance. The next few days might well decide his fate.

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.
Secret Service agents and local police raided a Pembroke Pines home and arrested two men who helped orchestrate an elaborate scheme in which they used a retail credit card device to reap hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit gains, according to federal documents released Wednesday.

A day after the warrant was served Tuesday at the home inside the Grand Palms Country Club, a judge unsealed the criminal complaint. It details an operation that began in February in which Willan Pupo, 36, and Joel Castillo, 38, used a rented credit card point of sale machine to generate more than $975,000 in fraudulent income, according to the Secret Service.

The legitimate use of point of sale devices is to collect credit card payments for retail transactions.

But, according to the complaint, Pupo and Castillo  along with others not yet named  ran stolen credit card numbers through the machine to make bogus transactions. They then transferred the funds to a bank account registered under the name of the fictitious company that rented the device in the first place, the complaint states.

The duo faces now charges of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

Miami attorney Alejandro Varona, who said he is representing Castillo on a temporary basis, declined to comment on the complaint when reached by the Miami Herald on Wednesday afternoon.

An attorney for Pupo was not listed with the complaint. According to Local 10, Pupo tested positive for COVID and was not in court for his first appearance before a judge Wednesday.

Castillo was present in court, where a judge set a bond of $160,000  $60,000 of which is a nebbia bond, meaning a judge can ask for the source of the funds.

How federal agents cracked case

From Feb. 14 through March 13, a sum of 268 charges totaling $975,565.10 were run through the device, the Secret Service said. Federal agents began an investigation after receiving a tip in April.

Within days of the fake transactions, credit card companies began receiving calls from customers disputing the charges, the complaint states. The credit card companies searched for the money in the bank account opened by the shell company that rented the device  but the funds were gone, according to the complaint.

This left the company that rented out the device responsible for reimbursing the money, agents said. The company, which was not named in the complaint, disabled the device and reported the debacle to the police, the complaint shows.

Secret Service agents examined the documents used to apply to rent the point of sale device, including the IP address used in the electronic signature, and narrowed their focus on a West Palm Beach automotive store named WTW Customs and World of Tires & Wheels.

Castillo and Pupo are two of the stores registered managers, along with two other people  listed as Co-Conspirators 1 and 2 in the complaint.

As the transactions were being made and the money sent to the bank account of the company that rented the device, agents also learned that the cash was being transferred to other accounts. Out of a transfer of $915,639 to one account, 15 checks were written out to a business called Joel C. Property Investments, the complaint states.

Agents confirmed that Castillo is listed as manager of that company in state records.

Another set of 10 checks, totaling $361,909, were written to a company called Time Pieces Jewelry, Inc., according to the complaint. The registered president of that company? Pupo.

After the original device was disabled, Pupo and Castillo made an application to another provider to rent a new point of origin device, according to the complaint.

This time, Secret Service agents worked with the device provider to place an electronic tracker in the device.

On May 22, undercover agents delivered the device to Pupos house in Grand Palms Country Club, which was under surveillance by other federal agents, the complaint states. Pupo answered the door and signed for the delivery, according to the complaint.

They used the tracker to determine the new point of sale device was taken to Castillos house, where agents said it remained until June 22.

Agents noted several transactions were made through the device and funds subsequently delivered to bank accounts registered to Castillo, Pupa and the others not named in the complaint .
NEW YORK  Sen. Bob Menendez decided not to take the stand in his own defense against federal corruption charges, though he talked about it at length with his attorneys.

Menendez (D-N.J.) told U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein on Wednesday afternoon he would not testify, moments before his team of lawyers rested their defense case.

Prosecutors, who indicted him last fall, failed to prove their case, Menendez told reporters as he left a Manhattan federal courthouse.

The senator, who is accused of accepting bribes to disrupt state and federal criminal cases and to help the Egyptian government obtain American military aid, called five witnesses this week after the government spent over two months having people testify.

Menendez, standing trial for the second time, said it makes no sense to me whatsoever to give prosecutors another chance to summarize their case against him with him on the stand.

After a corruption case mistrial in 2017, he gave a victory speech outside a New Jersey federal courthouse that explained his decision not to take the stand then, using at least one similar reason. He said his testimony would have given prosecutors a chance to redo their entire meritless case in chief all over again.

Earlier this week, during legal arguments in front of the judge without jurors present, Menendez attorney Adam Fee seemed to preview his teams closing arguments.

There's no direct proof of the schemes alleged, Fee said. It's only about the strength of inferences.

Prosecutors spent the past two months sketching out the basis for the inferences they hope jurors draw to convict Menendez as a senator on the take.

They found over a half million dollars in cash during a home search and have tied Menendez and his wife to about a quarter million dollars in gold bars, much of which was also found in the home. Menendezs wife, Nadine, has a health issue and is expected to stand trial separately.

Prosecutors also have gobs of text messages and emails, closely-timed phone calls and evidence of meetings the senator had, including at least one meeting with an Egyptian diplomat that was staked out by the FBI and another meeting described as gross by one participate as soon as it ended.

But some evidence prosecutors called critical was kept from jurors because of a form of immunity granted to members of Congress. On top of that, Menendezs defense team hopes jurors write off testimony from one of the governments star witnesses, a man who pleaded guilty to bribing Menendez but has his own criminal record. They are also likely to point to other witnesses who interacted with Menendez who said they didnt believe he pressured them during interactions prosecutors say were part of the bribery schemes.

And, hanging over the entire case, is what jurors make of the senators wife, Nadine.

Prosecutors say she acted as go-between, Menendezs defense team say the couple lived largely separate lives and have evidence she was going behind his back.

Closing arguments are expected to begin on Monday.
The Merced City School District Board of Education committed multiple Brown Act violations, according to a Merced County Civil Grand Jury Report released this week.

The grand jury also stated the school board failed to adhere to the districts own norms and procedures outlined in the MCSD Governance Team Handbook.

The Merced City School District Administration along with the Merced City School District Board of Trustees have lost respect and trust from some of those they serve, the grand jury report states.

The complaints received by the grand jury against the school board originated from the unauthorized release of a Stakeholder Input Report for the Merced City School District, which was compiled by the recruitment firm McPherson & Jacobson. The firm was hired by the district to aide in the search for a new superintendent candidate, but fired when the school board deemed the report submitted by McPherson & Jacobson was not a high-level report.

The majority of the board felt the report contained unvetted claims from anonymous sources. The board voted not to accept the report and fired McPherson & Jacobson in September 2023.

Complaint filed by board trustee

Merced City School Board member Jessee Espinosa admitted to filing complaints to the grand jury about fellow board member Priya Lakireddy.

Espinosa believed Lakireddy violated the Brown Act, which is Californias open meeting law, by discussing topics that were brought up during closed session portions of board meetings.

Espinosa pointed to text messages Lakireddy sent to McPherson & Jacobson consultants. The text messages were revealed through public information requests.

Espinoa also suspects that Lakireddy that Lakideddy shared the McPherson & Jacobson report with district personnel after receiving a copy of the report from Merced County Office of Education Superintendent Steve Tietjen.

The grand jury doesnt name the board members who violated the Brown Act or disclose whose complaints they investigated. Its unclear if Espinosas complaints initiated the investigation.

Its disappointing that the civil grand jury confirmed these violations, but it chose not to take significant actions or measures of accountability, or revealing the names of who did what for transparency, Espinosa said. I think that this leads the responsibility of transparency and accountability, unfortunately on the board.

Lakireddy says she did receive a copy of the report and read it, but denies disseminating the report to others in the district.

Lakireddy said she was blindsided by Espinosas complaints.

I did not release the report, Lakireddy said. I am really shocked that instead of having a conversation with me or bringing this up during our governance training, that hes decided to go to the press and make it an issue. I would have appreciated a conversation with me, but hes entitled to do what he wants. Thats his right.

Focus on issues

Lakireddy feels the focus should be on some of issues that appeared in the report and again showed up as concerns in the grand jury report.

In the McPherson & Jacobson report, stakeholders complained abut a fear of retaliation for speaking up, a lack of fairness to all employees and a poor moral compass by some district leaders.

Multiple sources expressed concern to the grand jury that sexual harassment, intimidation, and fear of retaliation exist within the district.

Through the McPherson & Jacobson report and this report now, they all point to the same thing, so you cant gaslight any of us into believing that its not happening, Lakireddy said.

Merced City School Board member Priya Lakireddy speaks during a school board meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Why is it so concerning who released the report versus what the report is actually saying? I would really urge our board to look at what the report is saying, because theres a lot of valid points, Lakireddy added.

The grand jury discovered four sexual harassment lawsuits filed against district since 2005 and also found six complaints to the district of bullying, gender discrimination or sexual harassment in the past three years.

Espinosa says he filed his complaint to the grand jury back in November of 2023. Board president Allen Brooks says the grand jury report paints a picture of how the board was at that time.

Brooks points to multiple governance training and workshops the board members have attended since then. He says the board has also come together recently to hire a new superintendent Julianna Stocking in June with a unanimous 5-0 vote.

I do appreciate the report coming out, but a lot of that we are already working on as a board, Brooks said. Weve had board retreats, board workshops, to strengthen the board and bring the board together as one, and its been working.

Brooks doesnt believe issues raised in the grand jury report will affect the boards ability to work together in the future.

Maybe a trustee was caught off guard by another trustees statements, Brooks said. Thats easily fixed with a conversation. And once again, were individuals, its okay to have your own opinion and your own feelings and your own beliefs. Thats fine, but when we come together as a board, thats when we need to think as a whole board, and not individuals.

Other grand jury findings

The grand jury report included other Brown Act and California Education Code violations, including the disclosure of closed session information, serial meetings, and failure to approve board minutes.

With evidence of text messages and emails, the grand report stated, multiple board trustees violated the Brown Act by conducting serial meetings in which more than two trustees were involved in emails and/or texting other trustees.

There were also multiple board meetings where no minutes were put to a vote and the minutes were never uploaded to the district website.

The grand jury visited the district office in May of 2024 and requested copies of the minutes for board meetings held on Oct. 24, 2023 and February 13, 2024.

District personnel attempted to demonstrate how to access the minutes online through the district website, the grand jury report states. They were unsuccessful in locating those minutes on the website. District personnel attempted unsuccessfully to connect the grand jury with the staff member responsible for board minutes.

The school district also doesnt have clear policies and procedures for people to file complaints with the district. According to the grand jury report its unclear which forms need to be filled out, and all the complaint forms are accessible on the district website.

Merced City School Board president Allen Brooks speaks during a school board meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Merced, Calif.

Brooks said the issue of the minutes not being available was brought up by the board and they are working to resolve the issue. He also added the complaint form issue has also been addressed.

We have a couple forms that you can fill out on our website, Brooks said. We have the universal complaint form, which you fill out if its a parent or something like that. Theres a different form to fill out when its an employee-to-employee complaint. But even if you fill out a universal complaint form, we get that and were going to get that complaint and make sure that the person fills out the right complaint form and walk them through the process. So theres never been a difficulty of filling out a complaint.

The grand jury also heard public comment and received copies of emails calling into question the actions and behaviors exhibited by the board and district administrative staff.

A Merced City School District Board of Education Protocols document adopted in 2021 outlines expectations for board members. Part of the list of protocals states, We will be open-minded and willing to listen to all speakers/presenters. We agree that we can disagree and will do so using common courtesy and respect for others.

The grand jury reviewed a recording of a board meeting in September of 2023, and the grand jury observed board members shaking their heads, rolling their eyes, laughing and interrupting each other.

After viewing several board meeting videos and attending in person, actions of the board do not reflect their own adopted norms and the public, the grand jury report stated.

Espinosa says he has watched other school board meetings and its very rare for him to see what he would define as perfectly professional behaviors of all the members at all times.

Espinosa says that during a four-hour board meeting there may be moments when people are overcome with emotion.

I think in the same way that our board has made some of those common errors and maybe certain board members have gone too much into their motions at times, he said. I think that those times really then blur the whole picture. It makes it seem like thats thats how it always is.

I will acknowledge that at times, weve not acted with perfect professionalism, and the board has since then undergone multiple training (sessions), Espinosa added.

New Merced City School District Superintendent Julianna Stocking (center) introduces her family to school board president Allen Brooks (left) and board member Birdi Olivarez-Kidwell during a school board meeting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Moving forward

Espinosa said hes happy the grand jury investigated the complaints.

I am extremely happy that they took the complaint seriously, Espinosa said. They may not have gone the extent that I think the community needed to really hold those violated accountable, but at least it shows that our local governance system is strong and they will investigate when theres crimes committed.

The district now hopes to stabilize itself after going through a revolving door of leadership in recent years. Stocking, whose first day was July 1, will be the fifth person to fill the role of superintendent since January of 2020.

The school district  which includes 11,500 students and about 1,400 staff and 18 schools  has been operating without a permanent leader in place since the board fired former superintendent Diana Jimenez during a special board meeting on April 25, 2023.

The school board and district have 60 days to respond to the request for response from the grand jury.

Brooks says the board has been able to do some positive things for the district, including the hiring of Stockings. He says theyve given certificated and uncertificated staff an opportunity to speak at board meetings. He added the board has been able to pass resolutions to help low-performing students and a new literacy teaching approach called The Science of Reading.

Weve been able to pick our next leader and our district, Brooks said. Weve been able to do a lot of things. Weve been able to set history when it comes to this board, but a lot of times, people already only are going to focus on the negative and not all of the positive things this board has been able to do.
Meteorologists sound alarm as frequent hailstorms wreak havoc across US: 'They'll probably get a little more intense'

Huge hail has been making headlines this summer. A hailstone that fell in the Texas Panhandle may end up breaking the record for the largest ever to fall in the Lone Star State. Scientists are concerned about the damage that could come this year.

What's happening?

This has already been a very active year for hail in the United States, and we are only a third of the way through summer. As of late June, the Storm Prediction Center had more than 4,000 severe hail reports nationwide this year.

When the Texas Panhandle was pounded by huge hail in early June, one of the hailstones measured 7.25 inches wide. This would crush the old record for Texas of 6.4 inches if the measurement is confirmed.

As the world's atmosphere warms, the updrafts in thunderstorms that hold hail aloft as it grows might become stronger. More robust upward motion means hail can grow larger before the weight of it becomes too heavy for the updraft to support it.

Heat-trapping gases warm the air, and warmer air can hold more moisture. The more significant the difference between the warm, moist air near the ground that fuels a thunderstorm and the colder, drier air above it, the more vigorous the thunderstorm and its upward-directed winds become that are required to grow hail.

Why is an increase in hailstorms so concerning?

As the United States population expands, more homes, businesses, vehicles, and structures will be susceptible to hailstorms.

A study published in Nature concluded, "As a result of anthropogenic warming, it is generally anticipated that low-level moisture and convective instability will increase, raising hailstorm likelihood and enabling the formation of larger hailstones."

"When the bull's eye starts getting bigger, you're going to start hitting it more," said Victor Gensini, an associate professor at Northern Illinois University, per the Washington Post.

"The reality is these hailstorms not stopping  they'll probably get a little more intense, We're going to see more and more of these billion-dollar hailstorm disasters."

Five of the record 28 separate weather and climate disasters costing at least one billion dollars in 2023 were hailstorms. Texas alone was hit by two hailstorms, causing more than $1 billion in damage in both May and September last year.

What's being done about larger and more frequent hail?

Cooling the atmosphere is the key to preventing severe storm development. We can all contribute to reducing the toxic pollution that is heating our planet. This summer, there are several changes we can all make to help, such as altering yard care practices, changing transportation habits, and adjusting electricity usage.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Producers of the Western movie Rust may have to forgo a robust economic incentive as they try to sell the film to distributors and fulfill financial obligations to the immediate family of a cinematographer who was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin during rehearsal in 2021.

New Mexico tax authorities denied an application this spring by Rust Movie Productions for incentives worth as much as $1.6 million, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. A late July deadline for producers to appeal the decision is approaching.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Meanwhile, Baldwin is scheduled to go on trial starting next week on an involuntary manslaughter charge in Halyna Hutchins death. The lead actor and co-producer of Rust was pointing a gun at Hutchins when it went off, killing her and wounding director Joel Souza.

Melina Spadone, an attorney representing the production company, said the film production tax incentive was going to be used to finance a legal settlement between producers and Hutchins widower and son.

The denial of the tax credit has disrupted those financial arrangements, said Spadone, a New York- and Los Angeles-based senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. She helped broker the 2022 settlement that rebooted the stalled production of Rust in Montana with some of the original cast and crew, including Baldwin and Souza. Filming wrapped up last year.

Terms of the settlement are confidential, but producers say finishing the film was meant to honor Hutchins artistic vision and generate money for her young son.

Court documents indicate that settlement payments are up to a year late, as attorneys for Hutchins widower determine next steps that include whether to resume wrongful death litigation or initiate new claims. Legal representatives for Matthew Hutchins did not respond to telephone and email messages seeking comment.

The prosecution of Baldwin and the films tax incentive application both have financial implications for New Mexico taxpayers. The Santa Fe district attorneys office says it spent $625,000 on Rust-related prosecution through the end of April.

The states film incentives program is among the most generous in the nation, offering a direct rebate of between 25 and 40 percent on an array of expenditures to entice movie projects, employment and infrastructure investments. As a percentage of the state budget, only Georgia pays out more in incentives.

It includes a onetime option to assign the payment to a financial institution. That lets producers use the rebate to underwrite production ahead of time, often layering rights to the rebate and future movie income into production loans.

Among the beneficiaries of the rebate program are the 2011 movie Cowboys and Aliens and the TV series Better Call Saul, a spinoff of Breaking Bad. As for current productions, New Mexico is the backdrop for a new film starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrera about the rescue of students in a 2018 wildfire in the town of Paradise  the most destructive in Californias history.

Charlie Moore, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, declined to comment specifically on the Rust application, citing concerns about confidential taxpayer information. Applications are reviewed for a long list of accounting and claim requirements.

During a recent 12-month period, 56 film incentive applications were approved and 43 were partially or fully denied, Moore said.

Documents obtained by the AP show the New Mexico Film Office issued a memo in January to Rust that approved eligibility to apply for the tax incentive, in a process that involves accounting ledgers, vetting against outstanding debts and an onscreen closing credit to New Mexico as a filming location. Taxation officials have final say on whether expenses are eligible.

Spadone, the attorney for Rust, said the denial of the application is surprising and could disrupt confidence in the tax program with a chilling effect on rebate-backed loans that propel the local film industry.

Alton Walpole, a production manager at Santa Fe-based Mountainair Films who was not involved in Rust, said he faults the movies creators for seemingly cutting corners on safety but officials have an obligation to review its tax credit application based on legal and accounting principles only  or risk losing major projects to other states. Movies are inherently dangerous even without firearms on set, he noted.

Theyre going to say, Wait, are we going to New Mexico? They could deny the rebate, Walpole said. Theyre watching every penny.

Popular opinion? Id say dont give them the rebate. But legally, I think they qualified for it all, he said.

At least 18 states have enacted measures to implement or expand film tax incentives since 2021, while some have gone in the opposite direction and sought to limit the transferability and refundability of credit.

Under Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico has raised annual spending caps and expanded the film tax credit amid a multibillion-dollar surplus linked to record oil and natural gas production. Film rebate payouts were $100 million in the fiscal year ending in June 2023 and are expected to rise to nearly $272 million by 2027, according to tax agency records and the Legislatures budget and accountability office.

Democratic state Sen. George Munoz has criticized the incentive program and asked whether taxpayers should be responsible for unforeseen expenses.

If were going to do tax credits and theres a problem on the film or the set, do they really qualify or do they disqualify themselves? said Munoz, chairman of the lead Senate budget writing committee.

Rust does not yet have a U.S. distributor, as producers shop the newly completed movie at film festivals.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  The Law Offices of the Public Offender in New Mexico had a cybersecurity breach on Wednesday. LOPD Spokesperson Maggie Shepard confirmed to KRQE News 13 that the security breach was a ransomware attack.

After 6 months of inspections, regulators suspect violations at 60% of oil and gas facilities in New Mexicos Permian Basin

According to Shepard, it happened despite robust protections and protocols the office had in place. This is the first time the LOPD experienced a cybersecurity breach.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
BLACKMAN TWP. Mich. (WLNS)  Staffing issues are a known problem in public safety. For the union representing corrections officers, they are now calling for the Michigan National Guard to help bolster their ranks.

I have to hear stories of wives that are giving their husbands ultimatums. The single mothers that are having a hard time with daycare, getting people to help raise their children, said Cary Johnson, a corrections officer at the G. Robert Cotton Corrections Facility in Blackman Township.

Johnson is also the union representative and vice president of the Michigan Corrections Organization. She has been on the job for 29 years and says the position is becoming unsustainable due to a staffing shortage. She says the facility has 95 vacancies which have left those clocking in working mandatory 16-hour shifts.

In a scathing letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the president of the union, Byron Osborn, called for immediate help.

Under your watch, state corrections officers continue to suffer unlike any other state employees ever have in the history of Michigan, said Osborn in the letter dated July 3.

Byron-letter-to-Gov-7.1.24Download

Johnson said guard members would work with corrections officers in a custody support position.

We know that our military is used to this type of environment or can be trained in this area. They would most likely pass our physical fitness requirements and lein requirements, and we are asking for help so we can go to our families said Johnson.

She says the recent state budget did very little to improve the staffing situation and that proposals failed to make the final draft.

A spokesperson with the Michigan Department of Corrections said in a statement that the department is focusing on recruitment and retention.

They say previous efforts have paid off.

MDOC-StatementDownload

As of the MDOCs last report to the Legislature in April, the vacancy level at facilities ranged between 4.3% and 36.3% for officers. Half of the MDOCs prisons are now operating with vacancies under 15% and 8 facilities have a vacancy rate at 5% or below, said a department spokesperson.

While staffing challenges persist, MDOC is pushing back on the unions idea.

The situation facing MDOC staff continues to be challenging, but the solution is not a temporary measure such as bringing in National Guard members who have not been trained to operate in this environment. said an MDOC official.

Johnson says she hopes the move leads government members to see what she says is a full picture of a staffing shortage that risks more than just long work hours.

We want to be safe and it doesnt feel like we dont have the support that we need, she said.

Using National Guard members to staff prisons is not a new idea. Last spring, the governor of West Virginia ended a two-year state of emergency that called up more than 730 National Guard members to help work in 17 corrections facilities.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Michelle Obama may be the best person to replace Biden and beat Trump  but she's unlikely to step up

Michelle Obama may be the best person to replace Biden and beat Trump  but she's unlikely to step up

Michelle Obama is the only prominent Democrat capable of beating Trump, a poll found.

President Joe Biden's candidacy is in question after a disastrous debate performance.

But the former first lady has repeatedly ruled out running for office.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is the only Democrat capable of beating Donald Trump should President Joe Biden drop out of the race, a poll found.

According to an Ipsos/Reuters poll published Wednesday, in a hypothetical contest between Trump and several potential Democratic candidates in November, Obama was the only one with a clear lead over Trump.

Around 50% said they would vote for Obama, while only 39% said they would vote for Trump. Others said they either didn't know or wouldn't vote.

The poll also showed Biden, whose candidacy is in doubt after a disastrous debate against Trump last week, in a 40% to 40% dead heat with the Republican.

Other potential Democratic candidates all polled lower than Trump, with Vice President Kamala Harris trailing Trump at 43%-42%, California Gov. Gavin Newsom trailing 42%-39% and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer at 41%-36%.

The chances of Obama taking on Trump, though, are remote, with the former first lady having repeatedly ruled out standing for office.

As recently as March, in a statement to NBC News, she said she would not be running.

"As former First Lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president," her communications director said. "Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' re-election campaign."

The statement was in response to a flurry of speculation that she could replace Biden as the Democratic candidate this year.

Obama, who campaigns for causes including healthy eating and gender equality, has long been among the most popular political figures in the US.

In 2020, Biden said he'd choose her as his running mate "in a heartbeat" if she decided to stand.

Obama campaigned for Biden in 2020, delivering the keynote speech at the DNC convention where she warned of the dangers of a second Trump term. She's kept a lower profile during this year's election but had been expected to campaign for Biden during the final stretch of the election.

Her husband, former President Barack Obama, has stood by Biden despite the shaky debate performance but has privately remarked that Biden's road to reelection has become difficult following the debate, The Washington Post reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The president of the Michigan Corrections Organization sent a letter to Governor Whitmer, requesting the National Guard to provide immediate support to prisons.

According to the letter, written by union president Bryon Osborn, state corrections officers are forced to work mandatory 16-hour overtime shifts, run understaffed prisons, work in isolated areas and deal with a gang riddled prisoner population.

Under your watch, state corrections officers continue to suffer unlike any other state employees ever have in the history of Michigan.  They are not being allowed to have a normal, healthy life with their families. None of your other state employees are being subjected to these conditions, Osborn wrote.

State struggling to fill correction officer jobs

He described the prisons as dangerous facilities that are forced to operate with far less than the required number of officers, resulting in unsafe prisoner to officer ratios. Officers often have to work alone, the letter says, which jeopardizes safety of both officers and prisoners.

The only people happy with the current conditions in the prisons are the prisoners, theyre being coddled at the expense of officer safety, Osborn wrote.

He urged Whitmer to visit state prisons and speak with corrections officers.

Michigan corrections officers protest job conditions

Weve been seeking effective relief solutions from the Legislature and MDOC for years and are now to the point of desperation, Osborn wrote. I am formally requesting that you activate the Michigan National Guard to provide immediate custody support to prisons in dire need of it while we work directly with you to find realistic, permanent relief measures.

In August, News 8 reported the Michigan Department of Corrections was short 900 officers in prisons across the state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
"This is an incredibly shocking and heartbreaking tragedy for everyone involved," a GoFundMe created for the family reads

Gofundme Dan Savage

A Michigan father is dead and his three sons and wife injured following a car crash on Sunday afternoon, June 30.

Dan Savage was driving four of his family members when their sedan was hit by a pickup truck at the intersection of 136th Avenue and 58th Street in Fillmore Township, reports WWMT, WOOD-TV, and The Holland Sentinel.

According to the outlets, a preliminary investigation by the Allegan County Sheriffs Office showed that Savage, who was driving west, failed to make a stop.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and his wife and sons were transported to the hospital with injuries. The pickup truck driver was not injured, per the outlets. PEOPLE has reached out to the Allegan County Sheriffs Office for comment.

Getty Stock image of an empty road

Related: 31-Year-Old Man Electrocuted to Death After Trying to Save Dog During Thunderstorm: 'A Sad Day'

MLive.com reports that Savage's three sons are Mason, 14, Parker, 11, and Levi, 9.

"They just had a vacation to Disney a few weeks ago, and it was a family outing they were going on when this happened. Everything was about family for them," Savage's aunt, Tina Josten, told the media group.

Joe Josten, Savage's cousin, created a GoFundMe campaign for the family, revealing that Mason and Parker both "sustained devastating head injuries." Mason's prognosis was described as "poor," and Parker's condition as "unclear."

Getty Stock image of police sirens

Related: Pastor and 3 Grandchildren Among 6 Family Members Killed in Wisconsin House Fire: 'Such a Tremendous Loss'

Savage's wife, Chelsea, and Levi's injuries are "less severe" but still require medication attention, per Joe.

"This is an incredibly shocking and heartbreaking tragedy for everyone involved," Joe wrote. "We are seeking donations to support the family during these uncertain times, helping with funeral costs, medical expenses, and any ongoing care the children are going to need."

Joe provided an update on the campaign on Tuesday, July 2, sharing that "Chelsea and Levi have both been able to speak with family but are very banged up."

Gofundme Dan Savage

"Parker has a traumatic brain injury, and his prognosis remains unclear at this time. Unfortunately, Mason's prognosis remains poor," the update continued.

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As of this writing, the campaign has currently accumulated nearly 350 donations and raised almost $19,000.



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Read the original article on People.
The company allegedly passed over employees who has taken protected leave when it came time for bonuses and promotions.

Microsoft is set to pay $14.4 million to resolve a case alleging retaliatory and discriminatory practices against California workers who took protected leave, such as family care, parental, disability and pregnancy leave. The Civil Rights Department of California (CRD) launched an investigation into Microsoft in 2020, looking into whether the tech giant violated laws such as California's Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The proposed agreement is subject to court approval.

CRD claimed that workers who took protected leave "received lower bonuses and unfavorable performance reviews that, in turn, harmed their eligibility for merit increases, stock awards, and promotions." The California Department also alleged that Microsoft "failed to take sufficient action to prevent discrimination from occurring, altering the career trajectory of women, people with disabilities, and other employees who worked at the company, ultimately leaving them behind."

Microsoft's payment will go toward workers impacted from May 2017 until the date of the court's approval. The company must also retain an independent consultant for policy and practice recommendations, ensuring that managers don't use protected leave as a determinant when deciding rewards and promotions  managers and HR will need to undergo specific discrimination training. The independent consultant will also work with Microsoft to confirm that employees have a straightforward method to raise complaints if they feel taking protected leave has influenced their standing in the company. Furthermore, the independent consultant must provide an annual compliance report reflecting Microsoft's following of the agreement.

"The settlement announced today will provide direct relief to impacted workers and safeguard against future discrimination at the company," Kevin Kirsh, CRD's director, stated. "We applaud Microsoft for coming to the table and agreeing to make the changes necessary to protect workers in California."
The Milky Way may be surrounded by 'too many' mini galaxies, new discoveries reveal

Astronomers have discovered a previously unknown pair of potential satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. The location of these dwarf galaxies suggests that hundreds of other unknown mini-galaxies could be hiding around us  potentially challenging our understanding of the galaxy's edges.

A satellite galaxy is a clump of stars, either in a circular blob or a halo-like shape, that orbit the Milky Way independently from the rest of the galaxy. Our galaxy's largest-known satellite is the Large Magellanic Cloud , which holds around 30 billion stars and can be viewed with the naked eye. Other known satellites only contain a few hundred thousand or a couple of million stars.

A 2020 census of known satellite galaxies suggests scientists have found a maximum of around 60 satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. However, there is some uncertainty about the true number of satellite galaxies, largely because scientists disagree over how large these star clusters should be and how far they should lie from the galactic center to be counted as true satellites, according to NASA .

Related: The Milky Way will be visible without a telescope this summer. Here are the key nights to watch for.

But most astronomers agree that there should be many more, currently unknown, satellite galaxies out there. Based on our current understanding of dark matter  which doesn't react with light but interacts gravitationally with visible matter and makes up around 27% of the universe's mass  researchers have long assumed that the Milky Way should have around 220 satellite galaxies. Our inability to spot many more of these is often referred to as the "missing satellites problem."

In a new study, published June 8 in the journal Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan , researchers discovered two new potential satellite galaxies, Sextans II and Virgo III. The satellites are located around 411,000 and 492,000 light-years from Earth respectively and are likely both ultra-compact dwarf galaxies (UCDs)  collections of old stars clumped tightly together, making them brighter than other satellite galaxies.

However, the discoveries do not help solve the missing satellites problem. Instead, the location and orientation of these potential satellites hints that there are even more satellite galaxies than scientists initially realized. This raises a new problem, which researchers have dubbed the "too many satellites problem."

Related: Does the Milky Way orbit anything?

An image of the milky way with a dozen satellite galaxies highlighted around it

Researchers discovered the UCDs using the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) attached to Japan's Subaru Telescope at Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii. This instrument has spent the last few years searching a region of space around 33 light-years across. Based on the estimated 220 satellite galaxies postulated by the missing satellites problem, an area of this size should have around four satellite galaxies on average, Universe Today recently reported .

However, the latest discoveries bring the total number of satellites found by HSC in this area to nine. If this concentration of satellites is consistent around the Milky Way, it would mean that there could be at least 500 satellite galaxies around the Milky Way, researchers wrote in a statement .

In the past, scientists have proposed multiple solutions to the missing satellites problem, including that some satellite galaxies are hiding behind larger satellites and that others are so diffuse they are almost impossible to detect with current technology. However, these factors are unlikely to be able to explain an overabundance of stars, leaving scientists with no real way to explain the new results.

related stories

Some of the oldest stars in the universe found hiding near the Milky Way's edge  and they may not be alone

Astronomers weighed the Milky Way, and found huge amounts of matter missing

Group of 60 ultra-faint stars orbiting the Milky Way could be new type of galaxy never seen before

"The next step is to use a more powerful telescope that captures a wider view of the sky," study co-author Masahi Chiba , an astronomer at Tohoku University in Japan, said in the statement. This should help clarify how common satellite galaxies really are, he added.

One such telescope is the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory  a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the world's largest digital camera , which is expected to come online in 2025, Chiba said. "I hope that many new satellite galaxies will be discovered."
In remarks to the roughly 50 attendees of the South Portland presidential debate watch party, Gov. Janet Mills drew a stark contrast between the candidates. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star)

Maine Gov. Janet Mills joined other Democratic governors in a conversation with President Joe Biden on Wednesday night as part of a White House effort to shore up support for Biden after his widely critiqued performance in the first presidential debate.

Mills wrote in a statement to Maine Morning Star that the debate was difficult to watch, but affirmed that she will continue to back Biden after the conversation, which she participated in remotely from Maine.

The president made clear to me and the rest of the governors that he was in it to win it and that he would be making his case to the American people  and I believe him, Mills wrote. Over the next several months, and especially in the coming days, I look forward to the president demonstrating to the American people the same heart, determination, and vigor that he brought to our conversation this evening  qualities that I have come to know well in my time with him over the years.

During the debate on June 27, Mills told Maine Morning Star that democracy is at stake in the November presidential election, as well as common sense and civility in the White House, which she said she had not seen from former President Donald Trump during the debate. Rather, the governor criticized Trump for deploying what she called mudslinging, name calling and just so many fibs.

Reiterating this contrast in the statement Wednesday, Mills added that Biden had a record of accomplishment for Maine people, as opposed to the chaos and ineptitude that Donald Trump would rain down on the American people.

However, Mills wrote that she told Biden the debate was difficult to watch and that some Mainers shared concerns with her about his campaign, specifically anxiety over whether he could win. Mills also conveyed to Biden that it would be good for him to reassure the voters of Maine, just as he was reassuring us, she wrote.

Writing that the conversation was candid and constructive, Mills added, I told him that I cared deeply about him, that I believe he has been an excellent leader for our country, and that I support him.

In the week since the debate, Democrats have raised concerns about Bidens performance. On Tuesday, Texas U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett called for Biden to withdraw as the Democratic nominee, becoming the first congressional Democrat to do so.

Amid speculation about Bidens future as the Democratic nominee, the White House has said Biden is absolutely not stepping down.

The Maine Democratic Party has also continued to show its support for the president. In a statement on Tuesday, the state party contrasted the candidates records on a range of issues.

Unlike Donald Trump, President Joe Biden has delivered for Mainers by lowering costs for Maine families, creating more than 44,000 good paying jobs, investing $2.5 billion to strengthen our infrastructure, and expanding Mainers access to affordable health care, the statement read.

The Maine Democratic Party is also of the belief that the only way to defeat Donald Trump and his plans to ban abortion nationwide including here in Maine, gut access to affordable health care, and destroy our democracy is to reelect Joe Biden this November.

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CHERNIHIV, Ukraine  At Ukraines 50th Regiment's repair and restoration facility, officers, soldiers, and volunteers watched as a self-loading container truck lowered onto the ground a black shipping container with an installed repair workshop inside.

The Tvii Krok (Your Step) charity, which designed this mobile repair complex, known as Workshop Locker, was handing it over to the regiment. The workshop can be used for quick repairs in the field and is capable of handling engines, gearboxes, and welding tasks for trucks and armored vehicles.

"This module will be used for the restoration and repair of military equipment, Colonel Vitaliy Bakhmat, commander of the 50th Regiment, told the Kyiv Independent after volunteers had delivered the workshop to his unit.

The modules are suitable for almost all foreign and domestic equipment.

Tvii Krok, established in December 2022 by a Kharkiv business specializing in tools and equipment for car services, raises funds and then buys and delivers drones, electronic warfare systems, and homegrown mobile workshops to the front lines.

The charity makes two other versions of its mobile repair workshop: the Big-Locker tire service complex for trucks, armored vehicles, and cars, and the Locker, a mobile workshop on an all-wheel-drive truck.

"Everything is made in Ukraine and costs $10,000," Dmytro Vilchynskyi, the charitys deputy director, told the Kyiv Independent on the way back to Kyiv, adding that foreign analogs with delivery would cost almost eight times more.

The charitys engineers developed the workshop in less than a month, and the first workshop was handed to the military four months later.

The charity has already assisted 50 units, including the military intelligences Kraken unit, the 47th, 92nd, and 3rd Brigades, and various separate battalions.

Read also: Ukraines Bohdana howitzer is rolling off production lines  heres what it can do

Despite their usefulness, it can be hard to raise funds to build more of the workshops, Vilchynskyi said.

Everyone understands what a drone or an electronic warfare system is. But few understand that logistics is behind all this. And logistics directly involves the repair of equipment, and timely, high-quality maintenance.

Sometimes a wrench can be as useful as an first-person view drone."

Brigadier General Mykhailo Sydorenko, Northern Command Deputy Commander, said this particular delivered complex would stay in the north. Russia attacks Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv oblasts in the north and east of the country with missiles, artillery, drones, and gliding bombs daily.

Brigadier General Mykhailo Sydorenko, Northern Command deputy commander, in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on June 7, 2024. (Alexander Khrebet / The Kyiv Independent)

"Even if a vehicle breaks down or requires maintenance on the front line, specialists will arrive within an hour, fix everything, and avoid the risks (of being spotted) in large repair trucks," Sydorenko tells the Kyiv Independent.

"Modern combat requires camouflage, maneuverability, and other things unrelated to repairs, he says. This complex replaces much of the old fleet and is really needed by repair units for maintaining equipment not only on the front lines, but also in the rear.

Pavlo, a soldier with the 50th Regiment who declined to give his last name, was the first to examine the insides of the container.

He said the mobile workshop would be especially useful for repairing the U.S.-designed armored MaxxPro mine-resistant ambush-protected armored fighting vehicle, as its hard to transport this heavy vehicle far from the front lines.

The tractors will bring a MaxxPro to a safe place, and well be able to restore it without any problems, Pavlo, a mechanic, told the Kyiv Independent.

Read also: One night with Ukrainian drone hunters near Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Mark Lee Dickson (far right), director of Right to Life East Texas, prays in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 21, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mark Lee Dickson says hes been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization.

The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people who are driving someone out of state to get an abortion. The native Texan said he drives from town to town attending pregnancy-center banquets, mens prayer breakfasts, Republican womens club meetings, Catholic fish fries and the rodeo, trying to convince local lawmakers and potential citizen petitioners to make their cities and counties so-called sanctuaries for the unborn, stretching local law to restrict abortion in as many ways as possible  such as restricting travel and medical waste disposal  to potentially provoke an eventual lawsuit.

I find myself in a variety of different places, wherever the Lord takes me, Dickson told States Newsroom.

Many of the pregnant residents in the rural areas Dickson goes to struggle with lack of access to maternal care, but Dickson likens himself to Batman on a vigilante quest to save embryos and fetuses from abortion. Reproductive justice organizers and attorneys whove spent the last two years fighting to restore reproductive health care access throughout the U.S. liken Dickson to a reincarnated version of 19th century anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock, whose eponymous anti-obscenity law Dickson has been wielding as one of many tools to fast-track a national abortion ban.

Two years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and four months away from a presidential election, one of the biggest threats to abortion rights is a federal administration willing to enforce and reinterpret the dormant Comstock Act to criminalize the mailing of abortion-related drugs, medical equipment and information. But abortion providers and advocates say that even without Comstock, monitoring and policing of pregnant women and information is already here, thanks to activists like Dickson, whose proposed city ordinances allow residents to sue anyone suspected of helping someone get an abortion.

I have a whole lot of friends that spend time on the sidewalks of abortion facilities throughout America, Dickson said. And Ive told these friends, if you ever meet someone from Abilene, Texas, that is seeking out an abortion in New Mexico, use the sanctuary city ordinance as a deterrent as much as you can.

Rising Comstocks

Dicksons partner in the endeavor to broadly criminalize abortion in every state, one city at a time, is Jonathan F. Mitchell, the onetime solicitor general of Texas, who is also counsel for former President Donald Trump. Along with these sanctuary cities ordinances, together they helped draft Senate Bill 8, a blueprint for largely banning abortion in Texas in 2021 by authorizing citizens to sue those suspected of providing or assisting with an abortion.

And since Roe fell, they have been pushing a version of the Comstock Act that historians and legal scholars say never existed.

Legal scholars Reva Siegel and Mary Ziegler in their forthcoming article about the old law write that Anthony Comstock was focused on preventing illicit sex and pornography, not on preserving fetal life. The religious zealot was known for bringing dildos, contraceptives, and pornography to testify before state and local lawmakers about the need for anti-obscenity laws.

The statute is a ban on obscenity, not criminalization of health care, Siegel, a professor at Yale Law School, told States Newsroom. And when you listen to the revivalists, they just talk about Comstock as an absolute ban as if it has no exceptions. Thats just not true  in light of the text or the history.

But that doesnt really matter to Dickson and Mitchell.

Through their Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn project, Dickson and Mitchell have helped pass approximately 80 ordinances in cities and counties in seven states, mostly in Texas, but also in strategically located cities in abortion-access states, like New Mexico, where a challenge to ordinances that cite the Comstock Act currently awaits a ruling from the state supreme court and could eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Where Anthony Comstock had the financial backing of the YMCA and was elevated to power as a special agent of the U.S. Post Office, the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation is pushing Mitchell and Dicksons version of Comstock in its plan for a potential future Trump administration to go after providers and distributors of abortion pills. Mitchell has received some financial support in 2023 and 2022 from the Christian right law firm Alliance Defending Freedom, which brought the recent abortion pill case before the Supreme Court.

Dickson said he wants these ordinances to go even further, such as opening up lawsuits to rideshare companies. But immediately on the agenda, he said, is to try to use Comstock to challenge state abortion-rights ballot initiatives.

There are many ways the Comstock Act can be used to help inoculate pro-abortion ballot initiatives in states like Arizona and Nebraska, Dickson said. A lot is planned between now and November, I can say that.

Mitchell, who did not respond to an interview request, is currently defending the right of Texas professors to penalize students who miss class to obtain an abortion. That new lawsuit will be heard by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, whose opinion last year advanced a challenge to an abortion pill and cited Comstock as a valid argument. Though the U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected the mifepristone case, new challenges to the abortion pill continue, as does increased support for anti-abortion Comstock arguments from federal judges like 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge James Ho and Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

Meanwhile, longtime anti-abortion groups like Operation Rescue, which led clinic blockades in the 1980s and 1990s, continue to apply old-school surveillance and monitoring tactics. Based in Wichita, Kansas, president Troy Newman said his group maintains a sidewalk presence at abortion clinics in Wichita, and regularly files public records requests for 911 calls, which they post online. They also publish detailed reports on thousands of abortion providers in the U.S., referring to them as the abortion cartel.

Newman told States Newsroom that the goal is not to target women getting abortions, but to report potential abortion-clinic violations in order to shut down clinics that since Dobbs have relocated to states without abortion bans.

I dont think we can keep track of them all, but we have people feeding us information on a daily basis, Newman said.

Siegel and Ziegler argue comstockery is a threat to democracy, as it depends on suppressing freedom and promoting government censorship. Comstock famously helped imprison women who disseminated information about birth control and abortion, some who later died by suicide.

Revivalists hope to chill the exercise of rights already recognized in positive law, including state constitutional protections and the right to travel, Siegel and Ziegler write. Further, by disparaging reproductive rights and intimidating those who seek to exercise them, Comstock revivalists seek to short circuit an ongoing process of popular constitutional meaning-making that has unfolded in state ballot initiatives, state courts, and grassroots movements.

Resisting Comstocks

Many legal experts argue that Comstock would be a difficult law to defend even with a partially willing U.S. Supreme Court; however, the effects of even temporary enforcement could rock reproductive health care throughout the U.S. even more than it has since Dobbs. After initial discouragement from national reproductive rights groups, Democrats in Congress this month finally introduced a bill to repeal Comstock, though it is unlikely to advance before the election.

New Republic staff writer Melissa Gira Grant and Harvard Law lecturer Kendra Albert last month coalesced historians, attorneys, organizers, and journalists at a one-day summit at Harvard Law School called ComstockCon to unite against modern-day Comstocks from further constricting abortion rights. Grant said the criminalization of sex and pregnancy has long been borne by more marginalized groups, including people of color, sex workers and people who are trans or living in poverty. She said that the reproductive justice movement now more than ever needs solidarity.

We know that those eager rising modern-day Comstocks, the Jonathan Mitchells of the world and others, theyre in this fight for the long term, Grant said. We know that they regard so many of us as obscene for who we are, how we are, and how we want to be.  If they see the suppression of all of us as one fight, then that should be a point of solidarity for us.

And many called for resistance to the dead letter and legally dubious anti-abortion deterrent laws.

You have to keep pushing now, said one of the panelists, Renee Bracey Sherman, founder of We Testify, which lifts up peoples abortion stories. There will always be another ban. Its not going to stop us from talking, from sending pills.

Ban by deterrence

To date, no civil lawsuit has been filed under SB 8 or a sanctuary city ordinance, Dickson said. But, as the Texas Tribune has reported, Mitchell has filed petitions (under a little-known state rule) to depose abortion funds, providers, researchers and  despite assurances that these laws wont punish women having abortions  women who left the state to get an abortion.

These past few months, Dickson has been in Amarillo mobilizing anti-abortion activists to make their high-trafficked roads illegal for the purposes of interstate abortion-related travel. Embedded in the Amarillo ordinance is a reference to the Comstock Act. Petitioners gathered enough signatures to force the city council to vote on the measure, but abortion-rights advocates fiercely campaigned against the ordinance. After the council rejected the proposal earlier this month, Amarillo Mayor Cole Stanley said the city doesnt have the authority to enforce the ordinance  a point with which Dickson vehemently agrees and said he spent hours explaining to the mayor.

The whole point of these ordinances, Dickson said, is that they allow for citizen lawsuits, not government enforcement. He admits that they function largely as deterrents, to chill abortion-related activity even in states where its legal. And its working, he said, noting that in the year before Dobbs, most doctors stopped providing abortions in Texas after the 2021 so-called vigilante law. One who didnt was Dr. Alan Braid, and though he was sued, those lawsuits were dismissed.

After Dobbs, however, Braid relocated his abortion practice to New Mexico and told NPR earlier this year that his Albuquerque clinic had higher no-show rates, which he partially attributed to people scared to drive through Lubbock because of its abortion-travel ban.

These ordinances are doing exactly what theyre intended to do, Dickson said. I liken it to an armed security officer at the bank who serves as a deterrent. He doesnt have to fire his gun in order for him to be viewed as an effective method of protecting the interest of the bank.

But theres another purpose to these ordinances, too, particularly Amarillos, which anti-abortion petitioners are still trying to get on the November ballot.

Amarillo is the home of Kacsmaryks court, where anti-abortion attorneys have been filing their strategic lawsuits since Dobbs. Dickson said he and Mitchell are eager to make it a so-called sanctuary city as a way of arguing for legal standing in the cases to come.

Lindsay London, a nurse who co-founded the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance, which has been fighting the ordinance, said she resents having her native city used as a strategic chess piece. She said her coalition includes Amarillo Republicans skeptical of government overreach and is confident that, if given the opportunity, her fellow residents will vote down this law, which she said would be harmful to the community.

It creates a culture of fear and mistrust, London said. The last thing that people need to be concerned about when theyre moving through a difficult situation is, is someone that they trust or a neighbor or anything like that going to use that vulnerable situation to try and sue them? Positing neighbor upon neighbor is not how we create healthy communities.

Elisha Brown contributed to this report.
The News

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Russia next week, his first since the invasion of Ukraine, aligns with New Delhis strategy of maintaining good relations with Moscow as a counterbalance to China, analysts said. Russias drift into Chinas orbit is worrying for India because its like your best friend sleeping with the enemy, an Indian defense expert said. Modis government has maintained an ambivalent stance on the Ukraine war and avoided criticizing Russia; India is a major buyer of discounted Russian oil despite strong Western sanctions.

The trip will likely frustrate some of New Delhis allies who have sought to make Moscow a pariah, showing that Russia enjoys the support of key emerging powers, an expert wrote in The Interpreter.
Modi to visit Moscow next week as Kremlin says all issues on the agenda

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Moscow next week for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine, a sign of the growing relationship between the two countries even as New Delhi maintains strong ties with the United States.

Modi will be in Moscow on July 8 and 9 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, Indias Ministry of External Affairs announced, adding they would exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Modis plans for the trip were first reported last month by Russian state media, citing Kremlin officials.

India remains heavily reliant on the Kremlin for its military equipment  a vital link given Indias ongoing tensions at its shared Himalayan border with China  and has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, giving Putins nation a major financial lifeline as it faces isolation from the West.

Modis visit is widely seen as the latest dent in efforts by Western leaders to cast Putin aside.

Indias ties with Russia date back decades to the Cold War and have remained strong despite repeated sanctions on Moscow from Western governments.

New Delhi has repeatedly abstained from votes condemning Russia at the United Nations Security Council and has avoided public criticism of Moscows war in Ukraine.

Confirmation of Modis visit comes as Russia draws ever closer to China, potentially making New Delhi uncomfortable due to its longstanding Himalayan border dispute with Beijing that has simmered in recent years.

On Wednesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Putin hailed their two countries deepening alignment at a regional security summit in Kazakhstan, with the Russian leader claiming relations between the two were going through the best period in their history and should be considered a stabilizing force for the world.

Modi, however, was notably absent from the annual leaders meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a bloc of Eurasian countries spearheaded by China and Russia that is seen as a counterweight to Western institutions led by the US and its allies.

Some analysts viewed Modis decision to skip the event as a sign the leader of the worlds largest democracy does not view the bloc as an effective channel through which New Delhi can pursue its interests.

Modi last met Putin on the sidelines of the 2022 SCO summit, where he told the Russian leader that todays era is not of war.

Yet his upcoming visit to Moscow is being viewed positively by the Kremlin  which has described Modis relationship with Putin as very trusting in nature  and comes as Russia aims to push back against Western efforts to isolate it on the world stage as punishment for its war in Ukraine.

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, Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russias state-run news agency TASS on Tuesday.

Last month Putin also met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, where the two autocrats vowed to strengthen ties and deepen their cooperation in a new partnership that was signed during the visit.

Moscow this year has taken up the position as chair of the BRICS economic bloc, which includes Brazil, India, China and South Africa, providing Putin with an opportunity to push back against growing Western isolation and portray himself as a key player on a broad diplomatic stage.

But Modis visit is set against the backdrop of Indias growing relations with the US, as both countries share concerns over Chinas assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.

Modi met with US President Joe Biden during a state visit to Washington in June last year, in a trip further cementing their defense, trade and technology partnership. The Indian leader also addressed Congress during that trip, an honor typically reserved for close US allies and partners, and attended a lavish state dinner. India is a member of the Quad security grouping with the US, Japan and Australia.

Later that year, Putin did not attend the Group of 20 leaders summit in New Delhi, during which leaders delivered a consensus statement criticizing his invasion of Ukraine.

Additional reporting by Nectar Gan.

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This July 25 marks the 100th birthday of former Idaho Sen. Frank Church, a man we had the great privilege of working for, learning from and a man who set our compass toward protecting Americas great democratic experiment.

In the spring of 1941, not yet seventeen, Church departed by train from Boise to Charleston, South Carolina to be a finalist in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. The trip changed his life and cemented his belief in democracy. He won that competition and a full scholarship to Stanford University with a speech entitled, The American Way of Life.

Eight months before Pearl Harbor he began his speech with these words: During the course of the past year the American people have witnessed with apprehension the destruction of democracy in all parts of the world.

He asked the question about the U.S. response: Do you believe that it is merely to protect our farms, our industries and our property, or do you believe, with me, that it is primarily to defend democracy, to defend freedom, to defend our American way of life?

Church served with more than 16 million young Americans to defend the American way of life in World War II. Over his 24-year career in the United States Senate he tackled the toughest issues that faced our nation and the world. His belief in America never wavered and his staunch support for a civil society based on free and fair elections, open debate and dialogue, and, most of all, a commitment to the truth were central to who he was.

Church reminded us many times that it was easy for politicians to put up a finger to the prevailing political winds and go along with the crowd. But that was not what they were elected to do, especially when it came to issues that were critical to a functioning democracy. Their oath mattered greatly.

When it was time to take a stand on the Vietnam War, Church didnt hesitate. He was one of the first to oppose the war and take the lessons he learned as an intelligence officer in Asia during WW II to make his arguments. He not only spoke out when it was unpopular at home, but he authored key legislation to bring that war to an end.

When large multinational corporations were bribing foreign governments to gain contracts, Church investigated them and wrote the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act to put a stop to such activity, bringing down several governments and keeping our big companies honest.

When our intelligence agencies were engaged in spying on Americans, reading their mail and tapping their phones without warrants, the select committee he chaired shined the light of day on their activities. The Church Committee also took on the CIA and its plots to assassinate foreign leaders as well as to foment coups against democratically elected governments. Permanent intelligence committees were established in the House and Senate and legislation was passed to require warrants, and regulations were established to bring the FBI, CIA and National Security Agency into line.

When it was time to protect our environment and stand up for our wide-open spaces Church helped pass the Wilderness Act, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and created the 2.3 million-acre River of No Return Wilderness, now named after him.

Every day we went to work for him, along with so many other staffers, it was always about getting things done, working with Republicans and Democrats, furthering the cause of democracy. He insisted every constituent be treated with dignity. He raised the standards of public service and took on the tough issues, not because they are easy but because they are hard, as John Kennedy used to say.

This July we will celebrate Churchs 100th birthday at a gala and a gathering of many who knew and worked for him but, most important, a traveling exhibit with the Idaho State Museum that highlights his accomplishments for Idaho, the nation and the world.

May his ideas, his work and his words continue to inspire our belief in our vibrant democracy.

Peter Fenn is a longtime political strategist and was a top aide to Sen. Frank Church. Larry LaRocco is a former Congressman from Idaho and also served on the Church staff. Both have been involved with the Frank Church Institute at Boise State University since its inception.
After months of dodging the question, Steve Garvey says hell vote for Donald Trump over Biden

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

GARVEY SAYS HE WILL VOTE FOR TRUMP

Via David Lightman...

Steve Garvey voted for former President Donald Trump in Californias March 5 primary and said hed vote for him again in November against President Joe Biden.

Garvey told Fox LAs Elex Michaelson that Biden is a man who is 81 years of age and has difficulty focusing at a time when I think this country has never been in more danger.

Garvey, 75, is seeking a California U.S. Senate seat. Hed be 82 when his term expired in January 2031.

Until the Tuesday night interview with Michaelson, he had not said whether he voted for Trump this year. Monday, The Bee asked about his vote and got no answer. He has repeatedly said, and reiterated Tuesday, that hes trying to appeal to all voters.

Trump remains highly unpopular in California. He lost the state in 2016 and 2020 by big margins, and trailed by 24 percentage points in the May 23-June 2 poll by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.

Garvey told Michaelson that I talk to people, very smart people, that we need leadership thats able to be responsive to make tough decisions. I feel for him (Biden) but were in a state of crisis in terms of leadership.

Maybe thats why I decided to run, somebody is running for all the people, not just half the people.

Michaelson brought up questions about Trumps own lapses. Garvey joked whether he himself was mentally sound to run as a moderate in California, a state that hasnt elected a Republican statewide since 2006.

CALIFORNIANS FOR PRESIDENT 2024?

Via Gillian Brassil...

Two Californians fared similar or better than President Joe Biden in a CNN poll taken June 28-30 pitting them against former President Donald Trump in a potential 2024 election match-up.

Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom were among a handful of names on the poll, with Harris faring better than Biden after Thursday nights debate raised concern from some Democrats about his candidacy.

Harris, a former U.S. senator and attorney general for California, earned the support of 45% of respondents to Trumps 43%. Respondents were asked to choose between her or Trump as if they were competing on the November ballot.

Newsom gathered 43% to Trumps 48% when those two were side by side.

Biden collected 43% to Trumps 49%. The margin was the same as in April.

Biden has made no indication that he is bowing out of the race nor have any of the Democrats in CNNs poll suggested that he should drop out since Thursdays debate.

The other two lawmakers included on the poll were Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Buttigieg got 43% to Trumps 47% and Whitmer got 42% to Trumps 47%.

BIDEN HEAT RULE FOLLOWS CALIFORNIA

The Biden administration proposed the first-ever federal workplace standard aimed at reducing heat-induced illness and death for indoor and outdoor employees on Tuesday.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administrations proposed rule mirrors those of California and a handful of other states.

California was the first state to adopt a heat exposure rule for outdoor workers such as farm and construction workers in 2006; its requirements are considered to be some of the toughest. Now four other states have protections for outdoor workers against heat-induced illness and death.

California last month passed a rule to protect indoor workers too. Once it goes into effect this year, California will become the third state with an indoor heat standard.

The Biden administrations rule comes as California and other states endure scorching temperatures. Much of California is under excessive heat warnings.

If finalized, the federal rule would implement workplace rules based on a two-tiered heat-and-humidity index where employers must offer drinking water and mandatory breaks.

Under the proposed federal standard, when combined heat and humidity reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, employers must provide water and break areas. Employers must also institute a workload plan for new and returning workers to adjust to the heat. At 90 degrees, employers must have systems to monitor for heat-related illness and 15 minute breaks every two hours.

Still, the federal rule wouldnt be final until at least 2026, by which point its possible that a potential Trump administration tosses it. Multiple industry groups have opposed such heat standards, claiming that it would raise costs and be burdensome to employers.

The Biden administrations rules would override state measures. States with heat standards must be at least as stringent as the federal rule.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Hate loses again. For the second time this year in California, school board members supporting anti-LGBTQ policies have been recalled  here, school board members who banned the Pride flag. Despite all the noise by homophobic/transphobic haters, theyre not a majority.

- Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, discussing news of a successful recall of two Sunol Glen Unified School District school board members, via X.

Best of The Bee:

Gavin Newsom heading to the White House as Democratic governors meet with Biden, via David Lightman and Nicole Nixon .

Gavin Newsom drops Prop. 47 initiative days after announcing it. Hes leaving to back Joe Biden, via Lindsey Holden and Nicole Nixon .

These student loan payments can still be halved this month. What Californians should know, via Gillian Brassil .

Gun rights group sues to block firearms and ammunition excise tax from being enforced, via Andrew Sheeler.
More than 136,000 displaced by spread of war in southeast Sudan, UN says

CAIRO (Reuters) -More than 136,000 people have fled Sudan's southeastern Sennar state since the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began a series of attacks on towns, the United Nations said on Thursday, the latest wave of displacement caused by Sudan's almost 15-month long war.

They join nearly 10 million people driven from their homes since war broke out between the RSF and the regular army. The war has sparked accusations of "ethnic cleansing" and warnings of famine, mainly in RSF-controlled areas across the country.

The RSF on June 24 began a campaign to seize the city of Sennar, a trading hub, but quickly turned to the smaller towns of Sinjah and al-Dinder, prompting an exodus of civilians from all three, mainly to neighbouring al-Gedaref and Blue Nile states.

Images on social media showed people of all ages wading across the Blue Nile.

Activists in both states say there is little shelter or food aid for the incomers. In Gedaref, they faced an onslaught of heavy rain while stranded in the state capital's main market with no tents or blankets after schools that had served as displacement centers were emptied by the government, the local resistance committee said.

The U.N.'s International Organization for Migration said in a statement that since June 24, an estimated total of 136,130 people had been displaced in Sennar.

The state was already home to more than 285,000 people displaced from Khartoum and al-Gezira states, meaning that many of those leaving over the last two weeks were likely to have been displaced for the second or third time. It also said that villages in Gedaref state, one of several possible targets for the RSF campaign, had also seen an exodus.

To the west of the country, local activists said at least 12 people were killed by artillery fire on a livestock market on Wednesday in the city of al-Fashir which has seen a months-long fight for control between the RSF and the army and allied armed groups.

It has caused an exodus of tens of thousands west to Tawila and Jebel Mara, areas controlled by one of Sudan's largest rebel groups led by Abdelwahid al-Nur, who on Thursday offered to use his troops to secure al-Fashir if both sides withdraw.

In a statement, Nur said that al-Fashir, which along with nearby Zamzam camp is one of 14 locations flagged by monitors as approaching famine, could then resume its role as a hub for humanitarian aid delivery.

The army did not comment on the offer when asked by Reuters, while an RSF source said that the force accepted the offer in principle and hoped that the army and allied forces would accept the offer and exit the city.

(Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir and Khalid Abdelaziz, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Evacuations briefly ordered in Butte County for new fire, burning near Palermo

Residents in Butte County were briefly ordered by authorities to evacuate after a new fire ignited Wednesday afternoon.

The Butte County Sheriffs Office ordered residents in part of Palermo to leave after a blaze called the Grubbs Fire sparked several miles south of the Thompson Fire, a 3,500-acre blaze that spread near Oroville and prompted more than 13,000 people to evacuate.

Sheriffs officials shortly before 5 p.m. put Palermo evacuation zones 867 and 868 under evacuation orders, but the orders were reduced to warning before 6 p.m. and all warnings were lifted by 6:30 p.m. There were about 159 structures in the zones with mandatory evacuation orders, a Butte County sheriffs evacuation map shows.

Zones 866 and 869 were also briefly under evacuation warnings, deputies said online.

Cal Fire reported the fire at 10 acres.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Harare regional magistrate Donald Ndirowei postponed the bail application continuation for Zanu-PF central committee member Mike Chimombe and his business partner Moses Mpofu due to the presiding magistrate's absence.The bail hearing is deferred to tomorrow. Chimombe and Mpofu, represented by Arshiel Mugiya and Tapson Dzvetero, face charges of defrauding the government of over US$7 million intended for the Presidential Goat Pass-on Scheme.Investigating officer Henry Chapwanya opposed bail, citing potential public unrest due to citizens' anger over the misuse of funds meant to uplift the rural poor. He also mentioned the risk of protests undermining peace and security, especially with the upcoming Sadc summit. Chapwanya claimed the duo interfered with investigations by releasing a memo on social media and posed a flight risk due to their financial means.Mugiya countered that Chimombe and Mpofu had cooperated with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and had not attempted to flee or interfere with investigations. Dzvetero argued that Chapwanya initially did not oppose bail but later changed his stance.
July, sunshine and summertime heat are synonymous with each other, but so are thunderstorms. And, parts of the eastern and central United States will have their share of heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms through the first weekend and into the second week of July, AccuWeather meteorologists say.

In most cases, thunderstorms that occur this weekend will last only a small part of the day. Most of the storms will erupt in the afternoon heat and decline after sunset. Those with outdoor activities during the extended holiday weekend and beyond should check the hourly forecast and radar to keep abreast of changing conditions.

Multiple lightning strikes under a supercell thunderstorm at a ranch farm in Nebraska, USA. (Photo credit: John Finney Photography/Getty Images)

While the overall intensity of severe weather will pale in comparison to the activity that rocked portions of the Central and Eastern states during the spring, all it takes is one severe thunderstorm to strike a populated area at peak strength to pose a significant risk to lives and property.

There are some areas that AccuWeather meteorologists will be watching closely for the severe weather in the coming days. The storms will tend to erupt ahead of and along a push of slightly cooler and less humid air. However, the cool push will pale compared to some that visited the Great Lakes and Northeast in late June to the start of July.

GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

A stationary front sprawling across the Southeast on Monday will usher in drenching thunderstorms from Alabama to Virginia, elevating the flash flood risk. Some storms can be capable of producing gusty winds that can result in isolated damage to property and disrupt travelers.

Although the repeated rounds of storms shifting through the Southeast can result in travel disruptions and other flooding impacts, it may help to put a small dent in the drought levels across the region. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a large portion of the region is still facing levels of moderate to severe drought.

During the coming weeks, the pattern that triggered widespread river flooding in portions of the northern Plains and part of the Upper Midwest will change to a setup that favors longer periods of rain-free weather and surging temperatures. This new pattern should allow streams and rivers from northeastern Nebraska to southern Minnesota to recede substantially.

However, the surge of water will continue to push downstream into the Missouri and mid-Mississippi basins. Many points along the Mississippi River in Iowa and Illinois will be at major flood stages for days to a week or more. The river level at Rock Island, Illinois, is projected to crest near 20 feet early this week, which is within 3 of the record of 22.7 feet set on May 2, 2019.

While points along the lower part of the Missouri River will crest at minor to major flood stage into mid-July, the surge of water on the Mississippi will tend to diminish farther downstream of St. Louis and especially the Ohio River confluence. This is due to areas of abnormal dryness to drought conditions over the Ohio Valley states.

This image from the National Water Prediction Service shows actual (dot) and predicted (square) river levels over portions of the Plains and Midwest as of Friday afternoon, July 5, 2024. (Source NOAA)

The Ohio River contributes more to the flow of the Mississippi River at the Ohio-Mississippi confluence and farther downstream than the main stem of the Mississippi River north of the confluence. Factoring in the impacts of the upstream rivers, water levels may rise a bit on the lower portion of the Mississippi River in the coming weeks, but significant flooding is unlikely below the Ohio-Mississippi River confluence.

Enough upstream rain will likely keep much of the Mississippi River above critical low water levels through most of the summer. Still, some low water issues are possible along the Ohio River in the short and long term unless rain occurs more regularly in the region.

"A wild card to river levels and drought versus non-drought in the lower portion of the Mississippi River zone to the central Gulf coast late this summer and autumn may depend on the track of tropical storms from the Gulf of Mexico," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said. "As we thought this past winter, Texas was going to be somewhat of a hot spot for tropical systems, and thus far, that seems to be the tendency, especially if Beryl's moisture comes into play."

Low-water restrictions on the barge loads make for cautious navigation through the Mississippi River as evidenced by this tow passing under a Mississippi River bridge in Vicksburg, Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022. The unusually low water level in the lower Mississippi River has caused some barges to get stuck in the muddy river bottom, resulting in delays. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Sufficient water levels on the Mississippi River are essential for tug and barge traffic on the water highway. Compared to rail, road and air transit, the river system transports a considerable amount of goods at a relatively low cost.

These costs can affect the price of goods that consumers pay at the store. Low water levels during the prior two years hurt barge traffic on much of the Mississippi River.

Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
"I gave him a large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life," Antonya Cooper said while talking about her son Hamish, who died in 1981

Getty A stock image of Morphine

Antonya Cooper, from Abingdon in England, has admitted to ending her 7-year-old son Hamish's life in 1981 by giving him a "large dose of morphine"



Hamish had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was in a "lot of pain," his mother said in an interview with BBC Radio Oxford



"My son was facing the most horrendous suffering and intense pain, I was not going to allow him to go through that," Cooper said

A mother in England has admitted to giving her 7-year-old son a "large dose of morphine" to "quietly end his life" amid his stage 4 cancer diagnosis.

While speaking to BBC Radio Oxford about wanting to change the U.K. law on assisted dying, Antonya Cooper, 77, recalled wanting to ease her son Hamish's pain over 40 years ago in 1981.

The youngster was five years old when he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma and was initially given just three months to live, the BBC reported.

Per the World Health Organization, neuroblastoma is one of the most common types of cancer among children. It develops from immature nerve cells commonly found near the adrenal glands and can also appear in the kidneys, chest, neck and spine, per the Mayo Clinic.

Hamish ended up having 16 months of cancer treatment at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, but this left him in "a lot of pain."

Cooper, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, shared, "On Hamish's last night, when he said he was in a lot of pain, I said, 'Would you like me to remove the pain?' and he said, 'Yes please, mama.' "

"And through his Hickman Catheter, I gave him a large dose of morphine that did quietly end his life," Cooper, who is terminally ill herself, added.

Getty A stock image of a daughter supporting her terminally ill mother in the hospital

It is currently illegal in England to assist or encourage another person to end their life, per the U.K. parliament's website.

Thames Valley Police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that they are "aware of reports relating to an apparent case of assisted dying of a seven-year-old boy, in 1981."

"At this early stage, the force is making enquiries into these reports and is not in a position to comment further while these investigations continue," the statement added.

During her interview with the radio station, Cooper said "Yes," when questioned whether she knew that she was potentially admitting to manslaughter or murder.

"If they come 43 years after I have allowed Hamish to die peacefully, then I would have to face the consequences. But they would have to be quick, because I'm dying too," she said, according to the BBC.

Per The Times, Cooper has been diagnosed with breast and pancreatic cancer. The disease has also spread to her liver, the outlet reported.

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Cooper added of whether she thought Hamish knew she was going to end his life, "I feel very strongly that at the point of Hamish telling me he was in pain, and asking me if I could remove his pain, he knew, he knew somewhere what was going to happen," the BBC reported.

"But I cannot obviously tell you why or how, but I was his mother, he loved his mother, and I totally loved him, and I was not going to let him suffer, and I feel he really knew where he was going," she continued.

Cooper insisted, "It was the right thing to do. My son was facing the most horrendous suffering and intense pain, I was not going to allow him to go through that."

"We don't do it to our pets. Why should we do it to humans?" she later asked.

Per The Times, Cooper  who went on to have four more children  helped launch the charity Neuroblastoma U.K. following Hamish's death.

"40 years ago, in 1982, a group of bereaved parents came together and formed The Neuroblastoma Society. Following the loss of their sons, Matthew Oldridge and Hamish Cooper, they wanted to help other children and families experiencing neuroblastoma," a message on the website states.



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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A man who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 8 in the College Area last month has been identified by authorities.

According to the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office, David Priest, a 59-year-old San Diego resident, was riding a black motorcycle eastbound along I-8 on the evening of June 28.

He was reportedly lane splitting when he collided with the back of a Honda Pilot, authorities said. Upon impact, Priest was ejected from the motorcycle and came to rest within the travel lanes of I-8.

First-responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. His cause of death was listed by the Medical Examiner as multiple blunt force injuries.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
The stolen watch, which is said to be worth a six-figure sum - BNPS

A mugging victim is offering a 10,000 reward for the return of his rare designer watch after a police force apologised for failing to solve the crime.

The man, who does not want to be identified for fear of being targeted again, was getting into a taxi after his 50th birthday dinner in a Bournemouth restaurant when he was grabbed and the family heirloom was stolen off his wrist.

Two years on, the Patek Philippe Nautilus watch has not been recovered, and the police have no leads.

After the victim made a complaint, Dorset Police apologised and accepted their handling of the case was not acceptable.

Officers failed to treat the incident as a serious crime and lost the golden hour for collecting key forensic evidence.

The victim claims he was targeted by a gang he believes to be Albanian, and his group were watched at a local hotel bar then followed to the restaurant.

The Nici hotel in Bournemouth where the victim believes he was watched by the criminals before being followed to the restaurant - Max Willcock/BNPS

But police did not collect witness statements or the hotels CCTV footage, and failed to do DNA swabs of the victims wrist.

The victim claims the gang ignored others in the group wearing gold watches, and singled him out. He says some pieces like his watch sell for a six-figure sum

The watch, which he rarely wore out because of its value, was given to him by his father six weeks before he died, and he planned to pass it down to his own son.

But it was stolen on June 25 2022 when his family and friends left an Indian restaurant where they had celebrated his birthday.

Teenagers blocked victims chase

As he got into a taxi, a man in a hoody grabbed his arm, snatched the watch and ran off down the road.

The victim tried to chase him for about half a mile, but was then blocked by a gang of at least 10 teenagers, who he believes were part of the plan.

The man said: I was spotted at a local hotel and then followed. I had friends down from all over the country for my 50th.

We picked up the fact we were being watched in the hotel bar. They were eastern European and werent talking to each other, just looking at us.

The bar in the Nici hotel in Bournemouth, where the victim said he saw a group of people observing him - Max Willcock/BNPS

Ive only worn the watch about five times and I wouldnt have worn it if Id realised we were going out in Bournemouth.

I was getting in the taxi, when you think youre safe. He hooked his hands under my watch so all he had to do was release the clasp. It was very quick.

The assailant was waiting outside the restaurant the whole time. He knew where the cameras were and had a hoody on.

After five days, the case finally got moved off uniforms. It should have gone straight to serious crime but it didnt.

The polices attitude seemed to be Its just a watch, but if I had been robbed of that value in cash, they would have treated it as a serious crime.

CCTV evidence was lost

I told them my friends were happy to be interviewed and could give descriptions of the people seen at the Nici hotel bar but they said they didnt need to interview any witnesses because the hotel has CCTV.

I chased if they had the CCTV and the detective said hed do it when he got back from holiday. By the time he contacted the hotel, about 25 days after the robbery, they had recorded over it and they lost all that evidence.

The man added that he has not made a claim through his insurance because if he did and the watch was then recovered, it would be the property of the insurance company.

Its a family heirloom, I could get the value through insurance but it wouldnt be my watch. I cant move on, Im stuck in limbo, he said.

Dorset Police has apologised for the mistakes and says its procedures have been changed - BNPS

In a letter to the victim, Dorset Police said there was a lack of early recognition of the threat and harm of organised criminality and the investigation was not handled in a timely manner.

It said: Its organised nature was not recognised. The result of this was that some key forensic (both physical and digital) as well as witness lines of enquiry were not undertaken within this golden hour period.

The letter also acknowledged they had plenty of time to secure the CCTV and forensic swabs should have been taken.

It continued: This, of course, does not help you in getting your watch back. There is no guarantee that if we had completed the above enquiries at the outset that we would have identified and convicted an offender but it would certainly have given us a better opportunity to do so whilst at the same time disrupting this criminal behaviour.

As such, I apologise on behalf of Dorset Police for the service provided at the time. Where mistakes were made, the officers have been advised and we have treated this as an opportunity to learn and improve our processes.

Det Sutp Steve May, of Dorset Police, said: We acknowledge that there could have been more done in the early stages when this incident was reported to Dorset Police. Since this occurred in 2022, we have changed the process when an initial report is made so that the value of items stolen is now recorded.

We have learnt from this incident and now strive to ensure that an assessment of a report made to the force is conducted initially and clear investigative direction is given from the outset.

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GRANBY, Mo.  Were days away from celebrating what locals claim to be, the oldest mining town in southwest Missouri.

The City of Granby will kick off its annual Old Mining Town Days celebration on Friday.

We caught up with event organizers Wednesday to find out what those who attend can expect from the multi-day celebration. Events begin Friday at 5 p.m. with a town picnic, outside the community building, followed by live music and free walk throughs of the Granby Miners Museum.

Organizers tell us, they hope people take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the history of the town that started back in the 1850s.

We want people to come to Old Mining Town Days, to enjoy the town that weve built, that has been built by miners from years and years past, and we want our citizens to realize the great things we have coming along and the new things we will be implementing this year. We are excited to have you here and we invite you to town, said Doreen Clouse, event organizer.

Old Mining Town Days runs through Sunday evening with a free firework show to wrap things up.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSNW)  The Kansas City Fire Department conducted 11 water rescues Thursday morning amid flash flooding.

Fast-rising water near a tributary of the Blue River flooded a homeless camp near MLK and Hardesty. Three people were swept into the water. KCFD rescue swimmers and a drone operator were able to locate and remove two of the three. The third victim was reported to have exited the water.

1 killed, multiple injured as severe storm topples campers at Wilson Lake

The water along the Blue River is about 6 to 7 feet deep. Kansas City Fire said it reached 22 feet.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Ormsby was born in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1950. In September 1968, he was drafted into the United States Army by the Selective Service Local Board in Tipton, Iowa. Demonstrating exceptional dedication and skill, Mr. Ormsby achieved the rare feat of being promoted from Private E-1 to Staff Sergeant E-6 in just 19 months.

During his service in Vietnam from October 1969 to February 1970, Mr. Ormsby was assigned to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as an 11B Light Weapons Infantryman. On January 31, 1970, while leading his platoon through the Vietnamese jungle and unloading a helicopter at a landing zone, Mr. Ormsbys unit was ambushed. He was shot and wounded, necessitating immediate medical evacuation first to Japan and then onto the United States due to medical complications. Unfortunately, due to the chaotic nature of the battlefield and subsequent medical evacuations, the proper paperwork for the Purple Heart was never processed at that time.

In June 2023, Muscatine County Veteran Affairs assisted Mr. Ormsby in submitting a package to the U.S. Army Human Resources Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, to rectify this oversight. On December 4, 2023, nearly 54 years after his injury, Mr. Ormsby was finally awarded the Purple Heart.
Scientist Claudia Marsicano looks at the fossil skeleton of the Permian Period salamander-like creature Gaiasia jennyae, in Namibia

Scientist Claudia Marsicano looks at the fossil skeleton of the Permian Period salamander-like creature Gaiasia jennyae, in Namibia

By Will Dunham

(Reuters) - You might call it the "swamp thing." About 280 million years ago, a large creature built somewhat like a salamander but with frightful fangs prowled the swamps and lakes of what is now Namibia, ambushing prey as a top predator in a chilly ecosystem long before the dinosaurs.

The creature, named Gaiasia jennyae, lived during the Permian Period and measured at least 8 feet (2.5 meters) long - and perhaps up to 13 feet (4 meters), according to researchers who announced the discovery of its fossilized remains. Its large, round, flat skull measured more than 2 feet (60 cm) long, and it had interlocking fangs at the front of its mouth.

"Wide flat heads in modern animals usually are used to generate strong suction to ambush prey by suddenly sucking it into their mouths. Gaiasia combines that with huge fangs for grabbing and killing large prey," said Jason Pardo, a postdoctoral fellow in paleontology at the Field Museum in Chicago and one of the leaders of the research published this week in the journal Nature.

The fossils were unearthed in Namibia, a country in southwest Africa. Because of the gradual movement over time of the crustal plates that form Earth's outer layer - a process called plate tectonics - this place was even further south when Gaiasia lived, almost even with Antarctica's current northernmost point. The bodies of water it inhabited may have sat alongside patches of ice and glaciers.

"In the far south, where Gaiasia lived, an ice age was ending, and it was still quite cold, with large glaciers at even low altitudes," Pardo said.

Roughly 100 million years before Gaiasia existed, the first land vertebrates had evolved from fish with fleshy fins. These are called the stem tetrapods. They lived an amphibious lifestyle though were not true amphibians. The term tetrapod, meaning "four feet," refers to all land vertebrates. The earliest ones, the stem tetrapods, spawned evolutionary lineages that led to true amphibians, reptiles and mammals.

While this was taking place, some stem tetrapods persisted, especially in remote places like Namibia was at the time. Gaiasia was one of these.

"Most of what we know of terrestrial life at this time comes from the ancient equator, preserved in rocks from Europe and North America. From that, we had thought early tetrapods were trapped in the tropics by their physiology," Pardo said, until they disappeared amid competition from newly evolved competitors.

"Gaiasia shows clearly that this is not correct. Stem tetrapods were thriving at high latitudes in very cold environments, and those ecosystems were dominated by some very unexpectedly primitive animals. That forces us to rethink a lot about early tetrapod evolution," Pardo said.

So Gaiasia was a stubborn holdover.

"Gaiasia is very different from anything else we've seen, so it could be a lone survivor, but it could also be part of a vibrant ecosystem of similarly strange animals that were no longer important parts of the ecosystem in the tropics," Pardo said.

Evolution was moving in leaps and bounds during the Permian.

"At this time we see a flurry of evolution in the forerunners of mammals, such as Dimetrodon, an animal the size of a mountain lion that looked something like a big lizard with a giant sail on its back and was the top predator in most of these ecosystems. We also see forerunners of reptiles diversifying in interesting ways that mirror modern lizards, and the first true amphibians," Pardo said.

The Permian ended about 252 million years ago with Earth's worst mass extinction. The first dinosaurs appeared roughly 230 million years ago during the Triassic Period.

The creature's name Gaiasia refers to the Gai-as rock formation in Namibia where it was found, and jennyae honors the late British paleontologist Jenny Clack, who studied early tetrapods. But how about a catchy nickname for it?

"'Swamp thing' is excellent," Pardo said.

(Reporting by Will Dunham in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, who is a backup crew member for Artemis 2, wearing an augmented reality device on his eye, during a field project at the San Francisco Volcanic Field in northern Arizona on May 21, 2024. | Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

NASA has a backup astronaut standing by for the first human moon mission in more than 50 years, which will lift off no earlier than 2025.

NASA astronaut Andre Douglas will serve as backup for the three U.S. astronauts on the Artemis 2 round-the-moon flight, the agency announced today (July 3). Douglas will back up commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialist Christina Koch. Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who is also a mission specialist on Artemis 2, already has a backup: astronaut Jenni Gibbons, also with CSA.

Related: New NASA astronauts celebrate moon missions, private space stations as they get ready for liftoff (exclusive)

"I've always been fascinated with new things. I like to develop things," Douglas told Space.com in March about the Artemis program, which later this decade aims to put astronauts on the moon's surface for the first time since 1972. "I really believe in pushing ourselves, in understanding what is our true potential: both me as an individual, [and] within all of us as a species."

"This is the perfect place to be, where we're going to push that boundary," he said.

Douglas was selected as an astronaut candidate by NASA in 2021, and graduated to full astronaut status in March this year after passing his training. Prior to joining the agency, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard in numerous roles, and acquired several post-doctoral degrees in technical fields ranging from naval architecture to systems engineering.

Immediately before astronaut selection, Douglas was a senior professional staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL) working on several high-profile space missions. "That was a favorite time," Douglas said.

an astronaut in a spacesuit at night. he looks closely at a plastic bag that has a sample inside it

He was a fault management engineer, for example, on NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART). The historic mission was the first to successfully change the orbit of an asteroid moonlet around a larger space rock after a deliberate 2022 collision.

"I was writing scripts of a software project to help put the spacecraft in a safe mode, if anything was anomalous," Douglas said, noting the mission was "very awesome" as it demonstrated kinetic planetary defense against hazardous asteroids is potentially workable.

Additionally, Douglas worked on a major instrument for the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission, scheduled to fly to the Red Planet in late 2026. The instrument is called MEGANE (Mars-moon Exploration with Gamma Ray and Neutrons) and will support a major mission goal of learning the composition of Phobos and Deimos, the two moons of Mars.

Related: Helping build instrument for Japanese Mars mission 'a favorite time' for new NASA astronaut (exclusive)

a spacecraft illustration showing it going by an asteroid

In May, Douglas even tried moonwalking simulations in the field: he worked for a week at the San Francisco Volcanic Field near Flagstaff, Arizona, alongside NASA astronaut Kate Rubins, to test out updated spacesuits in the moon-like desert area during daylight and nighttime conditions.

"Andre's educational background and extensive operational experience in his various jobs prior to joining NASA are clear evidence of his readiness to support this mission," Joe Acaba, chief astronaut at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, said in the agency statement about the Artemis 2 backup selection.

"He excelled in his astronaut candidate training and technical assignments," Acaba added, "and we are confident he will continue to do so as NASA's backup crew member for Artemis 2."

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Artemis 2 is leaning on a diverse set of experience in its crew: Glover, Koch and Hansen will be the first Black person, woman and non-American to go around the moon, respectively.

Earlier this year, the mission liftoff was pushed back nine months to September 2025 to account for extra testing on the heat shield, among other critical items. Artemis 3, a landing effort, is expected to happen no earlier than 2026.

In interviews with Space.com in May, three of the Artemis 2 crew members (Koch was not available) emphasized that developmental missions must move at the pace of safety and learning, and that meeting schedules is not the objective.

"At the end of the day," Hansen told Space.com at the time, "I think it's also important to recognize we will never be able to make this risk zero. We will learn everything we can in our testing facilities, and [in what] science can achieve on the ground. And then ultimately, we'll still have some unknown risk that we'll have to accept.

"But that's part of space exploration."
Moon Walkers

In September 2026, NASA is hoping to land the first astronauts on the surface of the Moon in over 50 years as part of its Artemis III mission, a highly ambitious endeavor that will require the space agency to move a figurative mountain of contractors and logistics.

Needless to say, preparations are long underway. Recently, for instance, NASA astronauts Kate Rubins and Andre Douglas simulated several "moonwalks" in the northern Arizona desert, leading to a series of inspiring and admittedly amusing photos released by the space agency this week.

Amusingly, NASA photos even show the duo encountering a cow.

Close EnCOWnters

Instead of donning their entire, pressurized spacesuits  just getting them on will likely be a highly complex maneuver  the pair wore equipment-laden backpacks and mockups of their movement-restricting spacesuits that weighed 70 pounds, making for a highly unusual photo op.

Traditionally, spacesuits used during NASA's Apollo missions have proven to be extremely difficult to move in, making grasping and kneeling down infamously awkward, particularly in the greatly reduced gravity of the Moon.

Teams even went as far as to simulate sunset and sunrise while roaming the lunar surface using an extremely bright spotlight. On the Moon's southern pole, the Sun "moves across the horizon, skimming the surface like a flashlight lying on a table," as NASA explains.

"Night simulations show us how tough it is for the astronauts to navigate in the dark," said NASA mineralogist Cherie Achilles in a statement. "Its pretty eye-opening."

Meanwhile, some curious bovine onlookers gawked at the pair while they were analyzing the local environment.

"There are, of course, no cows on the Moon," NASA helpfully added, sharing a picture of a curious bull staring at the two astronauts.

The two astronauts were also tasked with sending collected data about a simulated Moon rock to a nearby team. During Artemis III, NASA plans to use data collected by its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to provide its astronauts with a detailed geological map.

As far as the mission is concerned, the space agency still has its work cut out for it. For one, no astronaut has yet launched into space onboard the agency's Orion spacecraft.

And to get down to the surface, NASA is hoping to leverage SpaceX's Starship spacecraft, which has only made it to orbit once without any crews on board and has yet to stick the landing on Earth, let alone the Moon.

More on Artemis III: Biden Directs NASA to Figure Out What Time It Is on the Moon
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Job Sikhala-led pressure group, the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), has strongly condemned Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General Anselem Sanyatwe for his recent controversial remarks. Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe's statement, deemed unconstitutional and illegal by the NDWG, suggested that Zanu-PF would perpetually remain in power and implied the military's intention to enforce "command voting" in future elections.In response to these remarks, NDWG has called for Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe's immediate resignation. The group argues that such statements undermine democratic processes in Zimbabwe and violate the principles of electoral fairness and civilian authority over the military.The controversy surrounding Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe's remarks has sparked widespread concern among opposition groups and civil society organizations in Zimbabwe, who view them as indicative of growing authoritarian tendencies within the government. The NDWG's demand for Lieutenant-General Sanyatwe's resignation underscores broader calls for transparency, accountability, and respect for democratic norms within Zimbabwe's political landscape.NDWG said:"SANYATWE A THREAT TO NATIONAL PEACEThe National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) condemns statements made by Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander, Anslem Sanyatwe that only ZANU-PF will lead this country even if they lose elections."His behaviour and statements are adverse to his constitutional responsibility. Sanyatwe is a threat to national peace and the democracy outlined in the constitution of Zimbabwe. We call for his immediate resignation from ZNA. The military must stay away from partisan politics!"
Bright Side

As two astronauts remain stuck aboard the International Space Station thanks to a barrage of issues with Boeing's Starliner capsule, NASA is praising the aerospace company for getting them there in one piece.

As Space.com reports, NASA said that despite the several issues that arose during its first days in space, the Starliner is now performing well enough that it and former naval pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, the astronauts who hitched a ride to the ISS on the capsule, will be able to stay there for as long as it takes the agency and Boeing to figure out how to fix those problems.

Despite repeated delays, warnings that the Boeing capsule craft would likely have issues, and the discovery of helium leaks prior to liftoff, NASA nevertheless went ahead with the first crewed Starliner launch in early June. To the shock of no one, it immediately ran into trouble, first developing more leaks on its journey to the ISS and then having trouble docking once it got there.

Though the mission was only planned to last for 10 days, that stretch keeps growing  and has now been extended indefinitely.

Exponential Increases

Yes, we're rolling our eyes too.

"We talked about a 45-day limit, limited by the crew module batteries on Starliner, and we're in the process of updating that limit," Steve Stich, the manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, told reporters at the end of last week during a teleconference attended by Space.com. "We've been looking at those batteries and their performance on orbit. They're getting recharged by station, and that risk hasn't really changed. So the risk for the next 45 days is essentially the same as the first 45 days."

If you're keeping tabs, that jargon-y explanation for the American astronauts being stranded aboard the ISS for an indeterminate amount of time has a NASA official admitting that they could be there for 90 days total  nine times longer than the 10 days than Wilmore and Williams were originally allotted for the mission.

And as Space.com notes, Starliner is technically rated to stay in orbit as long as 210 days, which would be 21 times longer than that initial 10-day window.

It's a disastrous state of affairs for everyone involved  but hey, at least the capsule didn't blow up!

More on Starliner: NASA Says That the Boeing "Astronauts Are Not Stranded" While the Astronauts Remain Stranded
A week after an earthquake of a presidential debate, aftershocks are still shaking American politics.

President Joe Biden is moving to assure Democrats not only that he is up to the job, despite his frightful debate performance, but that he is also still the partys best option to defeat Donald Trump. It doesnt seem to be working, as Democrats calculate the increasing likelihood of losing the White House and how badly the rest of the party could fare down the ballot.

Theres not much way for anyone to force the issue. The likeliest outcome is that Biden remains the Democratic nominee but that the talk doesnt go away. Thats a worst-case scenario for Democrats  and a dangerous spot for the country.

Americans are rightfully alarmed at the state of their government, anguished about the poor choices for moving ahead and fearful about the impact on the economy and foreign affairs. So, barring something extraordinary  Biden changing his mind or his Cabinet and senior Democrats forcing the issue  the next few crucial steps belong to Trump.

donald trump. Donald Trump participates in the CNN Presidential Debate at the CNN Studios on June 27, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. Former President Trump is now seeking to have his hush money conviction overturned before a New York judge.

In two weeks, he will formally claim the Republican nomination at the partys convention in Milwaukee. First, though, Trump will unveil his selection for a running mate. Its crucial that his pick be assuring to voters, business leaders, markets and foreign allies.

With the odds increasing that Trump will return to the presidency, a different kind of anxiety kicks in for many, particularly around the potential for chaotic or autocratic government. If Trump picks a mainstream Republican, someone whos ready to help govern on Day One and take over as president if necessary, thats one less pressure point on our already strained system.

Were not endorsing a certain candidate, but among the names frequently mentioned, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio certainly qualify. Less-experienced candidates seem to be doing a pale Trump imitation, perhaps hoping to inherit much of his following when Republicans battle to see who leads the party next.

Considering Trumps excesses, it may seem hard to imagine. But his selection of Mike Pence in 2016 helped assure parts of Trumps new party. Pence also seems to have served as a steadying influence behind the scenes during Trumps term.

Trump has benefited not just from Bidens struggles but from his own restraint, relatively speaking, since the debate. Hes hitting Biden hard, of course, but he has a chance to seal the deal with a convention that assures Americans and allies that a second Trump administration wont bring the headaches of the first (or at least not all of them).

For Texas Democrats, the Biden blow is the last thing they need. Some have hoped that Trumps deeply polarizing nature would help them down the ballot, perhaps even allow them to again give Sen. Ted Cruz a real challenge. But with a flagging Biden, those dreams are just that; its no wonder that a Texas Democrat, Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett, was the partys first member of Congress to say Biden should go.

Americans hate this election. The candidates put forth by two parties dominated by their extreme wings show the exhaustion of our system of primaries. And yet even a somewhat viable third-party candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cant break through, given his own oddities and bizarre stances on issues such as vaccines.

Anxiety, fear and pessimism are the result. These are dangerous conditions that can worsen through reinforcement. But they can also be temporary. Americans will respond if someone, somewhere in either party can step up and offer stability and, dare we hope, even optimism.

Wise leaders should remember that there will be elections after 2024. The country badly needs new leadership at many levels. Both parties have internal ideological battles to resolve. Meanwhile, the world watches, needful of steady American leadership in so many areas.

If either party can stand up in the next few weeks and offer it, even this fraught period can still have a useful effect.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN)  U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel (D) says he expects more House Democrats to call for President Joe Biden to get out of the race in the next week even as Biden says hes staying in.

Nickel himself did not say whether Biden should remain as the partys candidate.

It was a bad debate. Lets be very honest about that. And, there are very real and very legitimate questions about whether hes up to the job for the next four years. And, Joe Bidens the one that has to go and address those questions head on, said Nickel.

Nickel represents the states 13th congressional district, which currently includes parts of Wake County and surrounding counties. He is not running for re-election after Republicans redrew the district to favor the GOP.

In a fundraising email Thursday morning, President Biden acknowledged people have questions but said hes remaining in the race.

Im the Democratic Partys nominee. No one is pushing me out. Im not leaving, Im in this race to the end, the email reads.

Nickel worked on the Obama campaign in 2008 and helped Biden with debate preparation as he prepared to face Republican Gov. Sarah Palin.

The contrast between then and now has been striking to many, including Nickel.

These are very legitimate questions and its up to Joe Biden to get out there and prove that hes up to the job. So, I want to see him in action. I want to see the tough questions get asked, said Nickel. Thats the task he has in front of him. And, if he doesnt then its a very different discussion.

Nickel urged Biden to take part in more press conferences with reporters as well as town halls with voters.

Two House Democrats have called for Biden to exit the race, including Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett and Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva.

I expect there will be more next week when we go back to Washington. But, the questions not gonna go away. And, for me its very disappointing were still talking about this instead of the convicted felon, said Nickel.

Biden took part in a meeting Wednesday night with Democratic governors. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper attended that meeting virtually. Hes been a key ally for Biden as the president seeks to flip the Tar Heel State in 2024.

Following the meeting, Cooper released a statement, calling it a good meeting.

President Biden told us he is definitely running for re-election, he is our nominee and well continue doing everything we can to deliver North Carolina for him, Cooper 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 CBS17.com.
The view from the camera skims over the water, low and predatory. Dodging left and right between rows of white splashes, it sidles up to the aft of the looming gray hull. A shape appears to scramble across the deck of the Russian corvette before the feed cuts off.

The next naval drone behind it records a brilliant explosion and a rising grayscale fireball. By the time it reaches the corvette Ivanovets, the hull looks pretty mangled. There appear to be no more white splashes from the vessel to worry about. Just as its long-range missiles will threaten Ukrainian cities no more.

This February attack, in which a big, expensive warship was taken down by Ukraines cheap, remote-controlled pack hunter drones like the Magura, is just one of many illustrations of how the full-scale war has been, in a word, asymmetrical. While Russians have made gains on land, they may as well have lost their dominance and security in the Black Sea for the foreseeable future.

Ukraines special services arent slowing down. In June, they sank a Saturn-type tugboat and struck multiple speedboats at once. Their weapon of choice is the combined drone attack  the David to Russias Goliath, and now the backbone of Ukraines Black Sea strategy.

The Russian Navy's sphere of influence in the Black Sea has been significantly reduced, and the whole world can see this today, Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) told the Kyiv Independent.

Russia began the war with a formidable Black Sea fleet and all the Ukrainian ports in Crimea it seized in 2014, including the Ukrainian vessels that were docked there at the time. With this, Russia had the option to bombard cities, land troops, and block all sea exports. This capability to project power was a key factor in the peninsular annexation. Ukraine didnt have anything that could be called an actual navy.

What Ukraine does have, is a drone program, which kicked into overdrive during the full-scale invasion. Its here that, willy-nilly, we found ourselves ahead, Pavlo Lakiychuk, a retired Ukrainian navy captain and expert, told the Kyiv Independent.

The Black Sea Fleet was a fragment of the Soviet ocean fleet; Russian admirals hoped to adapt their challenges to the capabilities they had. Besides, what did they have to fear from Ukraine? It has no ships.

After two years and change, over a dozen Russian vessels have been destroyed, including the flagship, a submarine, landing craft, and advanced patrol boats; HURs Yusov told the Kyiv Independent that a third of the Russian fleet is lost or disabled.

The rest is largely cowering in harbors away from Crimea, not being used to assert Russian control over the Black Sea region. Turkey is blocking warships from the Bosphorus Strait to prevent the escalation of tension, so Russia cannot replenish any that it loses in this theater.

A "Magura"surface combat drone, center, beside aerial drones during a presentation of drone military hardware of the Unmanned Systems Force of the Ukraine Armed Forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 11, 2024. Ukraine demonstrated various types of remotely-operated unmanned robotic systems used by the Ukrainian military. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

HUR and the Security Service of Ukraine are running Ukraines naval drone programs. They have a wider latitude of what they can do and a separate procurement system from the regular military, affording greater control over their lines of supply. These services are also behind the attacks on Russian missile installations on the peninsula.

So far, the Russians have shown that they cannot stop all the drones from getting through. Without the ability to safeguard or replace their ships, they are severely limited in what they can accomplish in the Black Sea region, a trend that experts expect to continue.

Other countries are watching too, learning what can be accomplished with these machines.

Forced evolution

Russia invaded and captured Crimea in 2014 in the wake of the Euromaidan Revolution. Due to a prior arrangement with Moscow around the collapse of the USSR, some of Russias Black Sea fleet was based there at the time. The Russian forces seized Ukraines military vessels, ports, and shipyards, including the main one at Sevastopol. An entire navys worth of hardware was taken in one fell swoop.

The Ukrainian Navy had two ways of trying to rebuild the fleet  buy the classic, expensive blue water ships it couldnt afford or many smaller, nimbler boats that could swarm larger ships and defeat them through numbers, coordination, and maneuverability.

Neither concept was fully implemented before the large-scale invasion, Lakiychuk said. But during the war, this idea developed into the concept of a wolfpack of unmanned kamikaze boats, which began preying on Russian ships.

The Sea Baby and Magura boat-type drones proved highly effective at this. They share a common ancestry but have evolved into two slightly different designs as a result of being made for two different procurement programs. Their use has fostered internal competition within the intelligence services, which led to even more drone use.

The Magura is chiefly used by HUR, while the Sea Baby is mainly the SBUs toy of choice. But there is no strict division on who gets what. Both services will make use of both designs depending on the situation.

The designs are similar. Both use a plastic hull about five meters long, with engines that wouldnt look out of place on a jet ski. They tend to cruise along at around 20 knots to save fuel, but accelerate to 40 knots when they acquire their target. The main difference is that Magura tends to have a longer range and a heavier payload than the Sea Baby.

A Ukrainian Sea Baby naval drone at an undisclosed location at an unspecified time. (United24)

This basic design has been iterated on, and customized for different operational needs. For example, the Ukrainians have been putting rocket artillery and heat-seeking surface-to-air missiles on naval drones, military researcher Marcel Plichta pointed out to the Kyiv Independent.

These can threaten land targets or take out Russian helicopters that come to intercept them, although most ship kills were done by drones themselves.

As the enemy's defense systems improved and specialized groups of drones were formed, the next task arose  the expansion and specialization of individual weapons, Lakiychuk said.

Missile launch boats with air defense functions, fire support boats with MLRS systems on board, recon and electronic warfare boats.

Read also: What are Frances Mirage 2000-5 jets, and how can Ukraine use them?

The tactics have evolved too, from simple swarm techniques to combined strikes with different types of air and sea-borne units working in unison.

Kirill Mikhailov from the Conflict Intelligence Group said that the Ukrainians learned how to use one drone or group of drones to break gaps in Russian defenses, for the others to slip through.

A single attack might include breakthrough groups to tie up or take out enemy defenses and several strike groups hitting the main target from air and sea to do most of the damage, while support or observation units lurk out of sight nearby. Ukrainian drone strikes now resemble classic combined arms naval/amphibious operations, except remote-controlled.

The means of destruction change, but the philosophy of war does not, Lakiychuk said.

He said Russias admirals are failing to keep up with these changes as their mentality is circumscribed by their wealth of legacy equipment. Theyd rather try to make their old stuff work than scratch start a parallel development program into naval drones.

According to videos of attacks online, Russian defenses against the drones largely involve machine guns and autocannons. The Russians have also been using more advanced electronic countermeasures (ECMs) against all types of Ukrainian remote-controlled weapons, some of which are said to be able to block Starlink signals, although according to interviews with experts and Ukrainian military drone specialists, this has not been 100 percent confirmed.

These ECMs have been a significant problem for unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs. But because the naval drones are bulkier and have much more carrying capacity, they can install redundant control systems that use more than one Starlink channel at a time, reducing the Russians ability to disrupt or override control.

Plichta said Russia regularly destroys Ukrainian naval drones but they are much cheaper than ships. It doesnt cost a lot to do damage. Their threat is just as important, even when they dont hit their targets, by forcing Russia to pull most of the remaining Black Sea fleet assets out of Crimea, for their protection.

The nearest Russian port at Novorossiysk is hundreds of kilometers away, quite a schlep from Crimea. This makes it harder to control territory, lob missiles at Ukrainian cities, or block vital grain exports that sustain Ukraines economy.

Ukrainian naval drones caught the Russian fleet by surprise. Concern is not the right word. There is panic in the Russian Navy, Lakiychuk said.

Ukraine is continuing to innovate, constantly upgrading these designs, with the latest generation of Magura, the V5, put to water in recent months. Ukraine has also unveiled a new boat-type drone called the Stalker 5, which is designed to operate more within the river environment of the Dnipro. It has a larger carrying capacity, which would allow it to evacuate the wounded, or be fitted with a very big bomb to deliver to the enemy.

Other, non-Black Sea players are also closely following events in the Black Sea. Some with obvious concern, others with undisguised interest.

The future of naval and littoral warfare

A new type of weapon and naval combat tactics could radically change the nature of war at sea in the future. For navies that have invested billions in building huge, seemingly impregnable killing machines, this is a serious challenge, Likaychuk said.

For countries that do not have the resources to create large ocean-going fleets, this is a chance to flip the chessboard.

During an earlier interview, a deputy defense minister told the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine is being watched as a laboratory of modern and future warfare that will inform the procurements and strategies of militaries around the world.

Turkey has already demonstrated one of the Magura models at a convention in Istanbul and announced the creation of its own drone, the Ulaq Kama, which is being tested for mass production.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine launches a naval drone, Magura, during a demonstration for journalists in Ukraine on April 13, 2024. (Vitalii Nosach/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

The Republic of Turkey is a classic example of a rapidly developing ambitious sea power with limited resources and capabilities, he said.

Most likely, in the future, it is these countries that, together with Ukraine, will become drivers of new technology. What could be the future evolution of maritime drones?

Ukraine is already working on underwater drones or semi-submersibles. Controlling drones underwater adds another layer of challenge but it would make the drones completely impervious to small-arms and artillery fire from above the surface. If proven in combat, this technology could pose an extra danger to ships worldwide when it proliferates.

The era of unmanned robotic systems is coming, Likaychuk said. Which sooner or later will send modern colossi to the dustbin of history. And the Russian Black Sea Fleet is no longer a survivor.

Instead of carrying out a set of tasks to dominate the sea, which the Russian command believed it could easily do, they are forced to hide in bases from precise dagger strikes from the sea and air drones of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Kateryna Denisova contributed reporting to this story.

Read also: As Russian tank losses in Ukraine continue to mount, heres what you need to know

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
These are our neighbors: Sacramento community provides water for homeless during heat wave

As a dangerous heat wave continues to hit Sacramento this week with temperatures breaking 100 degrees, homeless camps dont know where and when theyll get water.

Sacramento County stopped delivering water to homeless camps Monday, when a water delivery program that started in 2020 with federal pandemic-related funds ended.

To assist them, community members are taking matters into their own hands to help homeless camps.

These are our neighbors, said Chelsea Fink, who was dropping off water to homeless camps Wednesday. I think that theres people who forget that. As a fellow community member, I think my main concern is wanting to spread the word that its all of us together and all hands on deck.

Camp Resolution was among one of the many homeless camps to stop receiving water. Sharon Jones, one of the camps leaders, said they have received 50 gallons of water and ice from community members as of Wednesday afternoon.

Its been a life saver, Jones said. We were relying on the water we get from the (county), and when it stopped, everybody panicked. We have to find viable water sources that we can use to drink, and theres not very many close by here.

Camp Resolution is now relying on community donations with still no word from government officials about when theyll receive water.

Cooling center opens in Land Park

Fink, who is with Sacramentos chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, is part of an effort to offer water and a cooling center from noon to 8 p.m. all week at Organize Sacramento on 1714 Broadway in Land Park. Volunteers at this location are accepting donations and delivering them out to camps throughout the day.

I just wanted to do something for someone else, said Ximena Gonzalez, a volunteer with Sacramento DSA.

Black-N-Brown Unity is also collecting donations for supplies and is asking individuals to direct message their Instagram page if they want to help.

NorCal Resist has also been preparing for water drop offs. The nonprofit is offering other aid, including food and other supplies.

Were in record heat right now, and it sounds like the city/county are not going to be doing the same kind of work as last year, said Autumn Gonzalez, who is donating water to homeless camps with NorCal Resist. Theres just a increase in need for water.

Julia Hernandez, who is co-chair of the mutual aid committee at Organize Sacramento, waits with her foster kitten among an array of water and snacks at a cooling center at 1714 Broadway in Sacramento on Wednesday. The center is open from noon to 8pm during the extreme heat.

The following locations are food pantries offering water amid the heat wave:

 9 Questa Ct., Northgate

 5930 19th Ave., Tahoe Park South

 4244 Cabrillo Way, Tahoe Park South

 1617 25th St., midtown

 425 Lampasas Ave., Noralto

 3210 California Ave., Carmichael

 2417 Aramon Dr., Rancho Cordova

The homeless population in Sacramento is more vulnerable than ever, said Fink. With sweeps happening across the city, and a Supreme Court decision that ruled the people can be fined, ticketed or arrested for sleeping or camping in public, tensions are high.

Its unfortunate, especially now in the middle of this heat and since there have been more sweeps and theyve been taking away peoples capacity to shade themselves with at least a tent, at the minimum, said PJ Andrews, a volunteer with Sacramento DSA. Thats been hard to fathom.

Fink said that Sacramento cannot rely on government resources. Instead, she said its critical for people to understand that staying safe is a community effort.

Its up to us to do what we can, Fink said.
Neil Gaiman subjected two women in their early 20s to rough and degrading sex over the span of two decades, according to allegations leveled against the Good Omens actor in New Zealand. The accusations are the subject of a four-part podcast series investigation by Tortoise.

Gaiman has denied both sets of allegations.

Both women said in Master: the allegations against Neil Gaiman that they were in consensual relationships with Gaiman when the assault occurred. Scarlett, who is 23, claimed Gaiman sexually assaulted her in 2022 soon after he hired her as a nanny for his child. She accused Gaiman of having engaged in rough and degrading penetrative sexual acts with her and supplied Tortoise with contemporaneous messages, notes that support her allegations.

Gaiman insists the relationship was consensual and lasted three weeks, and didnt advance beyond heavy petting. He has firmly denied all accusations of abusive behavior.

The second woman, identified only by the initial K., said she met Gaiman at a book signing in 2003 when she was 18. She said the pair began a relationship when she was 20 and Gaiman was 40 and that the author sometimes subjected her to painful sex she neither wanted nor enjoyed.

Gaiman has denied this entirely and calls these accusations disturbing.

Tortoise said it understands that he believes Ks allegations are motivated by her regret over their relationship and that Scarlett was suffering from a condition associated with false memories at the time of her relationship with him, but asserted that Gaimans account is not supported by her medical records and medical history.

In addition to denying both claims, Gaiman has also claimed that police in New Zealand did not accept his offer for help with the 2022 claim, which he believes indicates the claim is not strong. Authorities told Tortoise that they made a number of attempts to speak to key people as part of this investigation and those efforts remain ongoing.

The Tortoise podcast is hosted by Rachel Johnson, the younger sister of Boris Johnson, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Katie Gunning, formerly of the BBC, and Paul Caruana Galizia serve as producers.

The post Neil Gaiman Denies Accusations of Sexual Assault From Two Women appeared first on TheWrap.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized the dispatch of a team of negotiators for talks on a ceasefire-for-hostages arrangement with Hamas in Gaza, Israel's Kan public broadcaster reported on Thursday, citing government officials.

It was not initially clear where the next round of talks would take place. The negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar had previously been held in Cairo or Doha.

Talks have been at an impasse lately due to the divergent views of Israel and Hamas regarding the goal of the negotiations.

Hamas is demanding a complete end to the Gaza war and an Israeli withdrawal from the sealed-off coastal area.

Israeli leaders have rejected these terms and want a temporary ceasefire that would facilitate the release of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Israel insists that the long-stated goal of crushing Hamas in the Gaza Strip has not changed.

On Wednesday, Hamas sent mediators what they described as a proposal with "some ideas." Nothing was initially known about its content. It was also unclear to what extent it deviated from the last plan discussed. Israel said on Wednesday night it was examining the proposal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized his negotiators to enter into detailed negotiations to try and broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas, an Israeli official and a source familiar with the negotiations said.

The decision signals that Israel and Hamas are entering a new phase of negotiations that could produce a final deal within a matter of weeks, if successful. Israel and Hamas on Thursday both appeared inclined to underplay the latest developments in written statements, with people involved in the talks expressing cautious optimism.

For months, Israel and Hamas have engaged in mediated negotiations focused on trying to reach a framework agreement, intentionally leaving key details  such as the identity of Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange for hostages  aside as they worked to hammer out a framework.

The breakthrough in the talks came earlier this week after the United States proposed new language for two key clauses (8 and 14) focused on the scope and sequencing of negotiations set to take place during the first phase of the agreement in order to unlock the second phase of the deal. Hamas broadly agreed with the new language, unlocking detailed negotiations following Netanyahus approval.

Mossad Director David Barnea, who has led Israels negotiating team, is set to lead the negotiating delegation for the new round of detailed talks, an Israeli source familiar with the talks said.

Talks are expected to be held in Doha, Qatar, starting as early as Friday, according to a senior Biden administration official.

The Mossad director is expected to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani for discussions aiming to bring the parties closer to a deal in Gaza, according to a source with knowledge of the talks.

Those negotiations are expected to last two to three weeks, the Israeli source said, to resolve issues such as the identities of Palestinian prisoners to be released, the exact ratio of prisoners to hostages and the technical sequencing of the releases.

Basem Naim, a member of Hamas political bureau, told CNN, there is nothing official about an effective agreement for ceasefire. The enemys media are talking about sending a delegation to Egypt, but there is nothing official or any details. Negotiations did not start yet.

We are also waiting for a positive response from the Israeli side, which will initiate negotiations into details of the deal, Naim added. We have no information about any delegation visiting Cairo.

Netanyahu spoke Thursday with US President Joe Biden to discuss the progress in the negotiations and the Israeli Cabinet was set to meet Thursday evening.

The call focused on the details of the hostage and ceasefire deal, the senior Biden administration official said, adding that there seems to be a pretty significant opening for the hostage deal to be agreed upon by all the involved groups.

When asked if the administration believes that Netanyahu is playing politics and could try to sabotage the deal, the official said that the deal is structured in a way that fully protects Israels interests.

The official added that Biden will have the opportunity to talk about the deal with other world leaders next week during the NATO summit, which will be held in Washington, DC.

CNNs Samantha Waldenberg, Mostafa Salem and Becky Anderson contributed to this write.

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News / Regional

by Simbarashe Sithole

A 63-YEAR-OLD Plumtree who defrauded the pensions office over US$2000 was convicted on Tuesday at Plumtree magistrates courts.Tshiyiwe Ndlovu pleaded guilty to the charge before magistrate Joshua Nembaware who slapped her with 18 months in prison jail term.Nembaware conditionally suspended the sentence and ordered the senior citizen to restitute the pension office of the defrauded amount by December 31.The court heard that on January 29 the war veteran Kennedy Bhulu passed away and the convict who is a wife to the deceased's young brother Gilbert Dingilizwe Moyo misrepresented to the pension office that she was the surviving spouse of the late veteran.The pension office processed money into the convict's bank account but later figured out that Thoko Phiri was the surviving spouse of the late veteran.A police report was filed leading to the arrest of Ndlovu.Selestine Madziwa prosecuted.
Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix and a major Democratic donor, called on President Joe Biden to end his bid for reelection and allow another candidate to step forward to challenge Donald Trump.

Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, Hastings told The New York Times in an email on Wednesday.

Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, were key donors to the effort to stop the recall of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Hastings has given several seven-figure donations to support Democrats in the Senate and House via their PACs, according to OpenSecrets.

Reed Hastings and his wife have given millions to Democrats in recent years. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images

All told, the couple have given more than $20 million in recent election cycles, including around $1.5 million to Bidens 2020 campaign.

The White House remains in damage control mode following the presidents disastrous debate last week, with a growing number of Democratic lawmakers expressing concern about Bidens fitness.

Many of the presidents biggest supporters, including Newsom and former President Barack Obama, have remained steadfast behind the presumptive Democratic nominee. But polls conducted after the debate have shown cratering public support for a second Biden term.

Still, the president has said he will remain in the race and hopes a major sit-down interview with ABC News this week will help quell any fears about his candidacy.

Related...
It appears as though President Joe Biden has lost another supporter in the form of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings following last weeks debate debacle.

The Democratic mega-donor spoke out against Novembers presumptive nominee on Wednesday despite having donated a reported $20+ million to the Party in recent years with his wife Patty Quillin, mostly through Super PACs.

Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, Netflixs executive chairman told the New York Times.

Hastings comment echoes similar sentiments shared by many Americans, regardless of party affiliation. In fact, major publications have even used their editorial boards to call on Biden to drop out of the 2024 election against Donald Trump.

Bidens public persona troubles did not begin last Thursday, but they were exacerbated by a dismal debate performance that included a scratchy throat, a wandering mind and plenty of trailed off sentences. While he appeared to bounce back at a rally a day later, the damage was already done.

I dont speak as smoothly as I used to, Biden told supporters Friday at a Raleigh, N.C., hanger. But I know what I do know: I know how to tell the truth; I know right from wrong; and I know how to do this job. I know how to get things done.

With that said, other notable political public figures like Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Barack Obama, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and The View host Ana Navarro have defended him post-debate.

Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight  and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit, Obama wrote on X Friday. Last night didnt change that, and its why so much is at stake in November.

The president is clear-eyed and he is staying in the race, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Wednesday. I dont have anything else beyond that. He is staying, hes staying in the race.

Whether Biden eventually drops out of the 2024 presidential race or not, he is currently scheduled to face off against Trump in their second debate on Sept. 10. Up next, he will be giving his first TV interview since Thursday with George Stephanopoulos for ABC News to air this weekend.

The post Netflix Cofounder and Democratic Donor Reed Hastings Calls on Biden to Drop Out of 2024 Race appeared first on TheWrap.
Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings is one of the first Democratic megadonors to call for Biden to step aside

Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings is one of the first Democratic megadonors to call for Biden to step aside

Donors are concerned about Joe Biden's ability to beat Donald Trump since his debate performance.

Some donors told WaPo that the night reflected how the president performed at recent donor events.

Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings told The New York Times that another candidate needs to step in to beat Trump.

Netflix cofounder Reed Hastings, one of the largest Democratic donors, has called on President Joe Biden to step down from his campaign to give another candidate a shot to beat former President Donald Trump, The New York Times reported.

"Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous," Hastings said in an email to the Times.

A spokesperson for Netflix did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Hastings did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

While he's the first to call for Biden to step aside, he's not the first big Democratic donor from Hollywood to express concern.

Ari Emmanuel, CEO of Endeavor, expressed frustration at a recent talk with Tina Brown at the Aspen Ideas Festival about the ability of a president as old as Biden, who is 81, to run for president. Trump is 78.

"Well, I'm pissed off at the Founding Fathers. They had the start date of 35. They just didn't give us the end date," he said.

Hollywood supporters have been important to the Biden campaign. The Biden campaign said it raised more than $30 million at a star-studded Los Angeles fundraiser in June which was spearheaded by former President Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts. It's unclear if more Hollywood donors will follow Hastings and call for Biden to step aside.

Hastings is one of the first to publicly express the private concerns of some major Democratic donors since Biden's disastrous debate performance against Trump on June 27, during which the president stumbled on his words and, at times, struggled to complete his thoughts.

Multiple donors who remained anonymous told The Washington Post that Biden's debate performance reflected his interactions in small group settings at donor events, telling the newspaper that the president struggled to communicate.

One unnamed business executive who helped organize a fundraiser last year in Chicago told the Post he was shocked when Biden's team refused to let donors ask the president questions.

"I told them my donors don't care about a photo. They want to talk to him. The Biden people just wouldn't let them," the business executive told the Post. "It was clear they were managing him in a way I've never experienced before. Donors expect to get to talk to the president if you're writing a big check and having an event with him."

Biden's campaign team has been undertaking major damage control to convince donors and voters that the president is still fit for the job.

On Tuesday, the campaign flouted a $127 million windfall in June, including $38 million within four days of Biden's debate against Trump.

In an email to BI, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign highlighted statements reported by various outlets coming from those inside the administration, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, that emphasized Biden's commitment to the race.

"We will not back down. We will follow our president's lead. We will fight, and we will win," Harris told Biden's campaign staff in a call, according to The Times.

Not every donor agrees with Hastings. Noah Mamet, a former abassador to Argentina during the second Obama administration and a major donor to Biden's campaign, told BI in a text message that he maintains steadfast support for the president and described the attacks against Biden as "self-destructive."

"President Biden has reinforced he's running for reelection. He knows the stakes. He knows the existential threat that Trump is to the country," Mamet wrote. "Until he says he's not the candidate, we Democrats need to rally around him and work even harder to make sure we win, keep Trump out, and continue to have a democracy after November."

He pointed to a recent Supreme Court decision that gave the US president the presumption of immunity on "official" actions as an example of what's at stake in this year's election.

Still, some major donors remain unconvinced that Biden is the best nominee.

In phone conversations with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, multiple top Democratic party donors have urged for Biden to step aside for another candidate, people familiar with the call told the Post, according to the Wednesday report.

Hastings has been a major supporter of the Democratic Party in recent years, donating millions to the party during the Trump era.

According to The Times, he and his wife, Patty Quillin, have donated more than $20 million to the party in the last few years.

The couple donated at least $1.5 million to support Biden during the 2020 race and $100,000 last year for the 2024 campaign, The Times reported.

A Biden campaign spokesperson did not address Hastings's public call in their statement to BI.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings said in an email this week that President Biden should step down from the 2024 presidential election.

Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, Hastings wrote to The New York Times.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Hastings comments join a growing number of outspoken Democrat supporters calling for Biden to step down, agitated by the presidents performance during last weeks debate. Per NYT, Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin, have donated more than $20 million to the Democratic party in recent years.

Netflix declined to comment on Hastings statement.

On Friday, Endeavor chief Ari Emanuel also expressed his frustrations over 81-year-old Bidens recent performance in relation to his age. Well, Im pissed off at the founding fathers, he said at the Aspen Ideas Festival. 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.

He also accused the presidents advisers of hiding the full truth of Bidens physical stamina and mental acuity. 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. 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.

Biden will face the press again this Friday, when he speaks to George Stephanopoulos in his first televised interview since the debate. ABC News will stagger the rollout of the interview, releasing pieces across multiple programs.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter
Newborn Baby Found Still Attached to Unconscious Mom on Grass Outside Hotel, Both Parents Charged

A Good Samaritan found the baby and cared for it while waiting for paramedics

Getty

A newborn baby in Ohio was rescued after a Good Samaritan found the infant lying in the grass, still attached to its unconscious mothers umbilical cord.

The babys parents have both been charged.

The baby was found lying face down in the grass, crying outside a hotel in Westlake, Ohio, the citys police department says. The woman who found the mother and child cut the umbilical cord and attempted to care for the baby while waiting for paramedics, police say.

The mother, Chanel Mueller, 42, and baby were taken to the hospital. A man, John Bratsch, 35, who police say identified himself as the babys father, told them the baby was born suddenly in a motel room. The man allegedly told police he was cleaning the room and could not explain why the mother walked out of the room and onto the lawn.

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Both Mueller and Bratsch were charged with child endangering, a misdemeanor, police say. Bratsch was then found to have a warrant out for an alleged felony parole violation as well as warrants for drug possession and traffic charges, according to police.

It is not immediately clear if either suspect has entered a plea.

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Read the original article on People.
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR)  Oklahomans celebrated Independence Day at the LibertyFest Parade in Edmond. A huge crowd of spectators enjoyed the sights and sounds of one of Americas most popular 4th of July celebrations.

Marching bands, groups of veterans, horse back riders, first responders, children and military aircraft could be seen and heard at LIbertyFest.

Interceptor 4, the 4 Warn Storm Teams storm chase vehicle, was one of the parade vehicles that drew applause from the crowd. News 4s Adria Goins and Katelyn Ogle were in the parade, waving to spectators along the parade route.

LibertyFest has been celebrated for 52 years and News 4 is always proud to participate in this spectacular event celebrating Independence Day.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
California Democrats were set to vote Wednesday on an anti-crime measure that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) hoped would combat a Republican-backed one that will be on the ballot in the state this fall, but Democrats reversed course at the last second, halting the effort.

Newsom held up his proposed ballot measure as a critical step to address property crime and the fentanyl crisis in an announcement Monday.

But the measure was taken off state legislators agenda just a day later, before they were set to vote on its approval for the November ballot on Wednesday.

Newsom had hoped the measure would offer a more moderate alternative to a reform proposal that will be on the Election Day ballot. That proposal aims to repeal parts of Proposition 47, a landmark bill that turned many crimes in the state from felonies to misdemeanors. Its backed by conservative lawmakers, as well as big-box retailers and prosecutors.

Both moderate and progressive Democrats in the state Legislature had been wary of Newsoms proposal, which some viewed as a hasty response to the Republican effort, the Los Angeles Times reported. State Legislature leaders had also previously promised not to make any reforms to Prop 47 at all, instead proposing alternative anti-crime bills.

The measure needed to be passed and signed by midnight Wednesday to be eligible for the ballot. But those concerns, combined with lawmaker absences due to the Fourth of July holiday, put the results of a vote up in the air.

Newsom then decided to travel to Washington to meet with President Biden and other Democratic governors on Wednesday amid concerns within the party following the presidents poor performance in last weeks debate. The California governor has been floated as a top pick to replace Biden, if the president were to end his reelection campaign.

We are unable to meet the ballot deadline to secure necessary amendments to ensure this measures success and we will be withdrawing it from consideration, Newsom said in a statement about the decision to pull the proposal. Id like to thank the Legislature and countless stakeholders who came to the table to work on meaningful reforms and I look forward to our work ahead.

Newsom blamed the measures failure on the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) for not working with the administration. The CDAA has backed the other anti-crime reform measure and has advocated against Prop 47 for years.

The CDAA celebrated Democrats withdrawing the countermeasure in a statement.

We are pleased the Governor and Legislature have dropped their countermeasure and welcome them to join our campaign to responsibly amend Prop 47 to deal with retail theft, the fentanyl crisis and homelessness, association CEO Greg Totten said.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
What is the nickname of the only US president born on the 4th of July?

What is the nickname of the only US president born on the 4th of July?

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  There have been dozens of presidents of the United States since George Washington became the first to hold the office. Those people have come from many different backgrounds and from locations across the country.

Virginia often boasts that it has been home to more presidents than any other state, but only one person who became president was born on July 4, and he wasnt from Virginia.

It was President Calvin Coolidge.

How Calvin Coolidge was sworn in as president by his father

Coolidge, who served as the 30th president, took the oath of office after the sudden death of Warren G. Harding in 1923. He was born in Plymouth, Vt., on July 4, 1872. According to his biographical information from the White House Historical Association, which appears on the White Houses website, Coolidge was the son of a village storekeeper. He graduated from Amherst College with honors and went into law and politics in Massachusetts. Coolidge climbed the political ladder from councilman in Northampton, Mass. to Governor of Massachusetts as a Republican.

Which president died on July 4th? There was more than one.

Not known for doing a lot of talking, Coolidge gained the nickname Silent Cal.

Coolidges time in the Oval Office ended in 1929.

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Opinion / Columnist

President Ruto thinks he can get away with any political conflict situation - even murder. We have more than 20 deaths resulting from serious demonstrations across Kenya. Listening to the exclusive press interview with President Ruto: He was interviewed by selected journalists and that interview told stories about Ruto. There was not a single strand of remorse of the loss of life in his body language. When asked about a boy of 12 years, shot by the police and he had 8 bullets in his body, the journalist asked, what is the President going to offer a word of condolence to the mother of that boy? To show how Ruto is removed from the emotions of the Kenyan masses, let alone empathy in such hard times the Kenyan population is going through: "The boy is still alive, right? Ruto asked". Which person can possibly survive 9 live bullets? Ruto was hell -bent to outspeak the journalists. He has done it before at the ICC in The Hague. According to him, a Kenyan journalist is nothing in comparison to what he went through at the Hague: he managed to outspeak top international lawyers and judges.Having been part of previous massacres that took part in the disputed elections in 2008 and 2009, William Ruto should never have been allowed to be near political powers in Kenya. Ruto was inflicted on us, curiously with our consent. Politics in Africa, however, has its own logic, removed from common sense because common sense is no longer common. Coming back to what Ghanaian Kwesi Prett said about current African politics: "Even if the majorities and minorities disagree on a candidate, come elections, such a candidate wins elections big time. How do you explain that"? Kwesi Prett asks.Listening to the deliberations in the Kenyan House of Senate yesterday, it was mind blowing. The Senators spelt out the political discrepancies, the rot fabric of corruption nation -wide, that is what led to the country-wide demonstrations. No! some Senators who spoke at the House of Senate to craft answers about the way forward after the mass demonstrations country-wide, were the biggest thieves in town! In most counties of Kenya, peasants are systematically removed from their ancestral lands to pave way for the black globalists, wholly disregarding massive pain and suffering of peasants about loss of their ancestral lands with graves of the departed of centuries. A globalist in Kenya is a black who learnt from his colonial master how it is done.In Ruto's mindset, the demonstrators are all criminals who should be delt with by both police and the army. However, the Tax bill demonstrations was a trigger signaling malignant cancer in the body political and economic dire situation in Kenya. Kenya needs a complete clean-up and that should be done by the youth whom Ruto has termed criminals. Even a boy of 12 years is a criminal whose body succumbed to 8 live bullets. One journalist asked Ruto how he going to console the mother of this dead boy: Ruto had not answer to that. He over-played the question completely. What was important and regrettable according to President Ruto was the destruction of the House of Parliament and several government infrastructure destructions done by demonstrators that cost over 2 billion schillings, he is not regretting the loss of lives of about 26 Kenyans first and foremost. Ruto questions the journalists why they are talking about the dead boy more and not about the destruction of government property by criminals? Ruto's insensitivity and disregard towards human life: my understanding of the dignity and protection of human life, disqualified any decency I still held in him.Does Ruto know how sacred and inviolable Kenyan life is? These killings and maiming of Kenyan citizens does not make Ruto a great leader, quite contrary. These abductions of citizens, either state-staged-managed or not, will not make Ruto a great respectable leader, home and abroad. After police killings of more than 20 citizens, maiming over 100 people, Ruto can tell us he can sleep peacefully without guilt! During the interview, President Ruto smiles a face without a single trace of guilt and remorse. He was shown a video of citizens being abducted broad day light, put into cars, and are never seen alive; Morgues are piling up dead bodies. In retrospect, it is the same Ruto who promised the Kenyan electorate during election time that under his future government, no persons will be subjected to abduction, cruelty, degrading, and humiliating and torture treatment. Before the cock crows three times, President Ruto, is confronted with political, social, and economic challenges, jettisons all his election promises and instead, uses muscles he knows better, killing and maiming Kenyan citizens to silence them forever.Because the ICC criminal accusations could still be hanging on Ruto albatross, Ruto pushes national responsibilities to the police so that blame on deaths is on the police who have independent powers to execute and bring law and order in the country. That is disingenuous, perfidious; can the Kenyan youth trust such a scum bag as leader of a great nation, Kenya? President Ruto was indeed inflicted on us by ourselves who voted for him. Disturbingly, Ruto is not an isolated case in Africa. What is happening is Kenya today, curiously is a pattern of development in governments across Sub-Sahara Africa.Kenya is geographically in the middle of Africa and is of strategic importance to the continent of Africa. The youth want Ruto out of the presidency. However, voices may have different interpretations; but the volatile situation in Kenya demands rational and level heads. Kenya's neighbours are broken down states, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan are countries at war. There is war in Ethiopia too. The Sahel region is fragile. The Kenyan youth demand change of government, different from the carnage and chaos taking place in countries north of it. If this revolution is not directed well to get positive results, the situation in Kenya can easily spill out of control if it is not managed with great care. The youth must learn a language of change at the same time the nation should move on; children must go to school, doctors and nurses must go to hospitals and treat people, farmers should work in the farms to secure the much-needed food securities, etc. To remove President Ruto and his government violently can easily create anarchy in Kenya. The Sudanese people, for example, removed Al Bashir without thinking through what next after his removal from power - there we go? The Kenyan revolution must be kept within the confines of the constitution for it to be a success.
Democratic governors are expected to meet Wednesday evening with President Joe Biden.

The meeting comes about a week after President Biden debated GOP nominee and former president Donald Trump in a performance that raised concerns, USA TODAY reported. Some governors will attend the session with the president in person, others virtually.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joins meeting with Biden

The White House confirmed Wednesday afternoon that Lujan Grisham would join the call virtually.

The Sun-News asked the Governor's office for confirmation directly but did not receive a reply.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

Lujan Grisham is among several other Western governors who will participate, including Arizona's Gov. Katie Hobbs, California's Gov. Gavin Newsom, Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado and Oregon's Gov. Tina Kotek.

Meeting follows Monday call with governors and President Biden

USA TODAY reported that the Wednesday meeting follows a conference call organized by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, with his peers to talk about Biden's debate performance.

During the call, they discussed seeking a conversation with Biden, according to the report.

"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," a national Democratic source said in a statement published by USA TODAY. "The Biden/Harris team is in constant communication with the governors and their teams, including about yesterday's meeting."

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer waves as US President Joe Biden speaks to members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the UAW National Training Center, in Warren, Michigan, on February 1, 2024. US President Joe Biden is in Michigan to attend campaign events. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Among those on the call were New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

Attending the Wednesday meeting in person were Gov. John Carney, Gov. Tim Walz, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Gov. Wes Moore, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. Maura Healey, Gov. Andy Beshear and Gov. Dan McKee.

Lujan Grisham backs Biden policies

Lujan Grisham has voiced support for Biden's economic, women's health and border policies and agenda.

In August 2023, Lujan Grisham spoke at a conference on Biden's economic agenda saying she was grateful for the investment in clean energy, industry and manufacturing jobs and federal investment in New Mexico's economy.

"This is the kind of leadership that we have always deserved," Lujan Grisham said of Biden.

"You are creating the opportunity that guarantees the future that we've been talking about for New Mexicans for decades and we here in New Mexico recognize that and we thank you Mr. President and Vice President Harris for these opportunities and for believing in the America that's always been there but required a federal leader, a courageous partner, so that the private sector could see what we see in this beautiful state of ours."

"We are laser focused on removing obstacles, reducing development costs, and putting new resources and public land in play to deliver badly needed housing.



WGA's incoming chair, @GovMLG, will focus her chair initiative on #housing. pic.twitter.com/s3d8XaNz4y  Western Govs Assoc. (@westgov) July 1, 2024

In an interview with CNN in May, Lujan Grisham spoke about how her border concerns align with those of Biden.

"I'm not disappointed. I'm frustrated and I think he's (Biden) incredibly frustrated as well," Lujan Grisham said.

USA Today's Savannah Kuchar, David Jacksont, Jason Alatidd, Ed Forbes and Joey Garrison contributed to this reporting.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Democratic governors meet with Biden after debate performance
No Fourth of July fireworks in Chicago this year

No Fourth of July fireworks in Chicago this year

CHICAGO  There will be no fireworks downtown on the Fourth of July.

The city has confirmed there will be no fireworks display on Thursday in the city of Chicago this year.

In years past, large world-class displays would light up the lakefront, attracting over a million people and stopping traffic along Lake Shore Drive.

The city has offered no explanation but reminds residents that Navy Pier holds its twice-a-week fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday through Labor Day, including this Saturday, July 6.

Responding to our story, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Director of Communications, Madeline Long said, in part:

As has been the case for several years, the City does not host fireworks for the July 4th holiday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Theres no quitting me: Virginia school board member sentenced for Jan. 6 riots will not resign

FREDERICK COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A Frederick County school board member, who was convicted for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, said he will not resign, despite calls from critics.

Theres no quitting me, said Miles Adkins, who represents the Shawnee District. You have ups and downs in your life. You get knocked down every now and then, but you get back up, come back swinging. Theres no chance that Im getting out of there.

Adkins pleaded guilty Monday to two federal misdemeanors and was sentenced to 12 days in jail, to be served over multiple weekends, a fine and restitution.

Trump indicted on Jan. 6 charges

Among other things, the FBI said once Adkins was in the Capitol, he waved other rioters into the building and helped one person climb into the building through a broken window.

Investigators said Adkins could be seen with a large, canned beverage at one point and that he later acknowledged it was he in a message on social media, bragging that he drank a Coors Lite beer in the U.S. Capitol building.

I do regret going in there and drinking a beer, Adkins said. Its the peoples house. Its not my house.

He has other regrets, too.

I regret that there was violence that day. 100% I regret that. Its a travesty, he said. Its a scar on our country.

Still, Adkins said he doesnt regret attending what he called a protest that day.

I fought for the constitution, I fought for the American people while I was in the Marine Corps fighting over seas. I just wish that Constitution wouldve defended me in my First Amendment rights as well, he said.

Prior to and following Mondays sentence, community members have called for Adkins resignation.

3 years after Capitol riot, almost 1,000 convictions

In April, a group of students attended a school board meeting wearing shirts that spelled out resign Adkins.

The future and current voters are looking for someone who shows integrity, a student said. I, alongside my peers, are respectfully asking you, Mr. Adkins, to resign.

When speaking to DC News Now, Adkins responded by saying, my advice or my words to them is theres an election coming up for my seat. If youve got somebody better, put them in.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
An air tanker drops fire retardant while trying to keep the Grubbs Fire from spreading in the Palermo community of Butte County, Calif., on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. Firefighters stopped the fire at around 10 acres. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

OROVILLE, Calif. (AP)  Thousands of people evacuated during a Northern California wildfire were allowed to return home Thursday afternoon as crews continued battling flames amid scorching heat, officials said.

Containment of the Thompson Fire near the city of Oroville in Butte County also increased to 29% from 7%.

The vast majority of the 17,000 people under evacuation orders or warnings were able to go home, said Kristi Olio, public information officer for Butte County. Previous reports of 26,000 people being under orders or warnings were inaccurate, she said, adding that the fire has unfolded so quickly that it has been difficult to get firm figures.

The Thompson Fire broke out before noon Tuesday about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Sacramento, sending up a huge plume of smoke that could be seen from space. The fire had burned 5.9 square miles (15 square kilometers), up from 5.5 square miles (14 square kilometers) earlier Thursday.

But officials warned of hot temperatures that could hit 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius) with even hotter weather expected Friday and Saturday.

The winds are slowly picking up, said Chris Peterson, information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. You add that with the heat and low humidity, and the potential for volatile fire behavior grows.

Four structures were destroyed, and more than 12,000 were threatened. Cal Fire did not specify if the structures were homes, but an Associated Press photographer saw fire burn three adjacent suburban-style homes in Oroville.

Four firefighters reported injuries, all from heat. The cause of the blaze was being investigated.

The region is familiar with catastrophic events. The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in state history nearly wiped out the town of Paradise in Butte County in 2018. And in 2017, both spillways of the Oroville Dam  the nation's tallest  failed, mandating the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people.

"We do it well, I guess, is the word to say, said Oroville Mayor David Pittman.

He said the 20,000 residents of Oroville have heeded evacuation warnings and stepped up to offer a place to stay and home-cooked meals for evacuees.

Millions of people across the U.S. are baking in a heat wave including in California, which is seeing significantly more wildfire activity at this point than in recent years, California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said in a statement.

More than a dozen other blazes, most of them small, are active across the state, according to Cal Fire. The largest of those, the Basin Fire in Fresno County, was nearly 50% contained with 22 square miles (57 square kilometers) burned.
It is not safe: Kyle works toward improving sidewalks across the city

KYLE, Texas (KXAN)  The Perez family has lived on a tree-lined Kyle street for nearly 15 years. While its undoubtedly charming, they said they barely get out to enjoy it anymore because of increasing traffic safety concerns.

Anita Perez said she once enjoyed going out for walks but isnt going for many now.

It really concerns me to see that Im not walking anymore, Anita said. It is too dangerous for me now. I dont want to walk on the street because you have cars going 40 to 50 miles an hour.

It is not safe, she added.

Their neighborhood doesnt have sidewalks. In addition to worrying for their safety, theyre concerned for others.

We have students, and just pedestrian traffic in general, having to use a street because of the lack of sidewalks, Mario Perez said.

Kyle has experienced explosive growth over the last decade. Many neighborhoods with consistent traffic either do not have sidewalks or have others in need of a little love.

City of Kyle officials have listened to stories like the Perezs while putting together their sidewalk master plan.

The master plan would determine a comprehensive condition of the existing network, develop a ranking system for prioritizing sidewalk repairs and for constructing new sections of the sidewalk network, improving connectivity, said Harper Wilder, Kyles director of Public Works.

Kyle City Council approved the development of the master plan in February, which cost the city over $100,000. A city spokesperson told KXAN the completed plan should go before City Council in September.

Someone should be able to walk down a road without getting hit by a vehicle, said Miguel Zuniga, the Kyle city council member for District 3, at a February city council meeting.

For the Perez family, improving the walkability of their neighborhood cannot come soon enough.

Were not able to enjoy [being outside] in this neighborhood  not when you have our traffic, Anita said. It affects our quality of living here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
DENVER (KDVR)  A deadly plane crash in Steamboat Springs was caused by engine failure, a preliminary report from the NTSB indicates.

The National Transportation Safety Board released its initial report on the June 17 crash Wednesday afternoon.

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According to radio traffic recorded by the NTSB, the plane took off from Vance Brand Airport in Longmont at 3:15 p.m. heading to Ogden-Hinckley Airport in Utah.

As the plane was flying over Yampa, the pilot reported a cylinder temperature issue and asked if they could land at Steamboat Springs Airport. That request was granted, but after the pilot overflew the airport, he was given permission to fly to Northern Colorado Regional Airport in Fort Collins.

Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported that the left engine had stopped and turned around to land in Steamboat Springs.

While making its approach, witnesses described the plane spiraling before landing in a mobile home neighborhood just under half a mile from the runway.

The NTSB said the wreckage was generally in one piece, however most of the cockpit instrumentation and devices were destroyed by fire after the crash.

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There was no indication in the NTSBs preliminary report of what may have caused the engine issues on the plane.

The pilot and a passenger were the only people on the plane at the time and both were killed. They have since been identified as 67-year-old Dan Dunn and 42-year-old Jessica Pauline Melton.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
GUTHRIE, Okla. (KFOR)  Three nursing home workers have been arrested and accused of sexually exploiting elderly residents in their care.

Guthrie Police Chief Don Sweger said the department first launched their investigation back in April after a former employee revealed disturbing details on what went on inside the Golden Age Nursing Facility.

LOCAL NEWS: Former Wellston teacher facing civil lawsuit

Some employees were involved in sending some inappropriate pictures of their patients, we found pictures of some deceased persons, said Sweger. We found some pictures of the suspects playing in pubic hair.

21-year-old Jade Williams, 21-year-old Aubrey Granata and 20-year-old McKenzie Bolfa are now facing elderly abuse charges.

They had excuses for some of their behavior, but it didnt really match up with the evidence that we had uncovered, said Sweger.

Court documents allege the three women would send and receive Snapchats to each other.

One video sent showed an elderly resident lying on the bed wearing only a shirt and a diaper. There was fecal matter on his bed, his sheets and his socks according to documents.

Its probably one of the saddest things, said Sweger. We take service to everybody very responsibly, but especially for those who dont have a voice for themselves.

Investigators said they also found a video of a male resident lying on his stomach nude from the waist down.

Other photos showed residents who had died inside the facility with the workers allegedly mocking them.

Police said they do not take these allegations lightly.

Without us and without other people that care, theres just no justice, said Sweger.

A spokesperson for the Golden Age Nursing facility sent News 4 the following statement,

Golden Age Nursing Home endeavors to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Upon receiving information related to certain allegations against its employees, the facility began working with local law enforcement and other appropriate authorities to respond. The employees involved had cleared background checks, were educated related to residents rights/safety and have been terminated from employment. We are committed to protecting the privacy and safety of the residents and families involved and will continue to keep them updated with any developments related to this matter. Tandie Hastings, Director of Golden Age Nursing Facility

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
San Diego Wave FC has rejected accusations that the organization often perpetuated discrimination against women and demonstrated a complete disregard for their long-term mental health.

The claims were made in a statement posted Wednesday on the X account of former team employee, Brittany Alvarado.

The National Womens Soccer Leagues (NWSL) club described statements about it and its president as inaccurate and defamatory, and said it would pursue all legal avenues available to appropriately address this matter.

The statement, which is signed by Alvarado, also claimed club president Jill Ellis fostered an environment where abusive behaviors among her subordinates are allowed to flourish.

Alvarado also called for the National Womens Soccer League NWSL to remove Ellis from San Diego and the league, saying the treatment under her has been nothing short of life-altering and devastating to our mental health.

CNN cannot verify any of Alvarados claims and has reached out to her for comment.

Ellis said Wednesday that mental health is a priority at the club and they have support measures for any employee that might need it.

Our staff and I will always honor how someone feels, Ellis said in a statement to CNN via the club.

Over time, we have actively responded to employees who have shown or expressed needs related to their mental health. I want to reinforce that Wave FC has a robust Employee Assistance Program that is promoted regularly to employees.

I will continue to protect former and current employee confidentiality. When allegations of mistreatment have been made, we have taken them seriously and investigated them thoroughly.

In addition, when appropriate, independent third parties have assisted us in evaluating our workplace. At no time have those evaluations uncovered any wrongdoing by the club.

What we do is all about fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity, and excellence. The false accusations in todays post are not only personally damaging but also take away from the incredible work and progress weve achieved together as a team. Its important to address this information promptly and effectively.

Our focus remains on moving forward and continuing to build a strong, unified club.

Ellis served as the head coach of the United States Womens National Team (USWNT) from 2014-2019 where she helped lead the team to two World Cup championships in 2015 and 2019. The 57-year-old was named the inaugural president of the Wave in 2021 ahead of its debut season.

Jill Ellis looks on before the San Diego Wave's game against NJ/NY Gotham FC on June 4, 2023. - Ira L. Black/Corbis/Getty Images

Alvarado, who was a video and creative manager for the club, said she resigned from the club on June 7 and that she received an email 10 days later from an unnamed senior leadership member calling her the most pathetic person Ive ever met and that they were estatic that you are no longer with the club.

The Wave called the email fabricated and denounced the allegations against Ellis as categorically false.

Alvarado also criticized the league, saying it consistently failed to take meaningful action and turned a blind eye to a pattern of profoundly damaging behaviors within the Wave.

An NWSL spokesperson said in a statement to CNN that the safety, health, and well-being of everyone associated with our league is our highest priority.

We take serious any and every report of potential misconduct, hire qualified independent investigators to review those allegations thoroughly, and act when allegations are supported by the facts uncovered.

We have mandated corrective action in every instance where reports have been corroborated, up to and including the removal of individuals who do not live up to our values and standards.

The league added that they encourage anyone with information of potential wrongdoing to report that misconduct to the League Safety Officer. Alternatively, individuals may report anonymously via Real Response, by texting 872-259-6975.

Current Wave striker and two-time Womens World Cup winner Alex Morgan said she was disappointed to hear about the allegations.

As players, we have worked hard to build a team that is surrounded by an inclusive, positive and safe environment, the 35-year-old wrote on X.

But its important to me that we are creating that environment for both players AND staff throughout the entire organization. Equity in the workplace is something I have and will continue to advocate for.

I want to be proud of what we are building at the Wave but it is clear that there is so much work to be done.

In December 2022, the NWSL and its players union released a 128-page independent investigation report following a 14-month inquiry into accusations of discrimination, harassment, abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) and retaliation within the womens professional league.

The joint investigative team, which included members from two law firms, found widespread misconduct directed at NWSL players by those in positions of power.

The report concluded that beyond the previously reported instances of sexual abuse and manipulation, there have been yearslong volatile and manipulative working conditions for players that has occurred at the vast majority of NWSL clubs at various times, from the earliest years of the League to the present.

The now 14-team league was founded in 2012.

The Wave currently sits in 10th place with a 3-6-6 record and is next scheduled to play on Friday against the Portland Thorns.

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'They follow us everywhere': Canadian citizens accuse Algeria of spying, intimidation at home

Kamal Sehaki says he was approached by a representative of the Algerian Consulate in Montreal who told him to break ties with certain members of the Kabyle community in Canada. (Francis Deschenes/Radio-Canada - image credit)

Kamal Sehaki thought he could finally live freely when he moved to Canada in 2018.

The Gatineau, Que., resident never guessed that his Kabyle origins would catch up to him, making him a target of the Algerian authorities on Canadian soil.

The Kabyles are part of the larger Amazigh or Berber family of Indigenous North Africans. They have their own language and culture, and some advocate for the creation of an independent state in a mountainous coastal region of northern Algeria.

Sehaki, a 36-year-old artist, learned the hard way that anyone associated with this independence movement risks reprisal from the Algerian government.

There is a climate of fear in the community. - Kamel Serbouh, Centre Aqvayli de Montreal

It all started with an unusual offer.

"I received a call recently from a member of the Algerian consulate in Montreal," he said.

Sehaki, winner of international awards for his short films, said the man suggested the Algerian government could help boost Sehaki's career and offered him an appointment at the consulate.

Suspicious, the artist agreed to meet, but only in a public place.

They met last month in a Montreal restaurant, where two of Sehaki's friends sat discreetly a few tables away and took a photo.

This photo of the meeting between Kamal Sehaki, right, and a man claiming to be an Algerian consular agent, left, was taken in the food court of the Complexe Desjardins in Montreal on May 11.

This photo of the meeting between Kamal Sehaki, right, and a man claiming to be an Algerian consular agent, left, was taken in the food court of the Complexe Desjardins in Montreal on May 11. (Submitted by Kemal Sehaki)

Radio-Canada was unable to confirm that the man in the photo works for the Algerian consulate in Montreal, but other members of the Kabyle community in Canada told Radio-Canada about being summoned to the Algerian Consulate and Embassy in Ottawa.

The Algerian Embassy did not respond to our requests for an interview, and did not provide a written response to the allegations raised by members of the Kabyle community.

According to Sehaki, his art was not the focus of the meeting in Montreal.

Instead, the conversation revolved around his links to the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK). The MAK's Canadian chapter has organized demonstrations in Montreal and Ottawa to demand the release of political prisoners in Algeria.

Sehaki speaks with Radio-Canada journalist Brigitte Bureau at his home in Gatineau, Que.

Sehaki, right, told Radio-Canadas Brigitte Bureau, left, that he was asked to sign a document promising to cut ties with the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK). In return, he'd be allowed to travel to and from Algeria without hindrance. (Francis Deschenes/Radio-Canada)

"He pulls out the exact dates. He says, 'You filmed the MAK demonstrations on such and such dates, such and such places.' I say, 'Yes, but I'm an artist, I'm a cameraman. If someone calls me, it's my job,'" he recounted.

"Afterwards, he named two people, friends I know here in Canada, one of whom comes from my village. He tells me, 'You must stop all contact with these friends forever, because they are MAK activists.'"

It quickly became obvious to Sehaki that the Algerian authorities had been spying on him in Canada for months.

"When he mentioned the dates, the places, what I was doing, I thought, wow, it seems like we were living together."

(CBC)

Sehaki said he doesn't know when he'll next see his family in Algeria, or his beloved mountains of Kabylia, because he refused the consular official's proposal.

He said he was asked to sign a document promising among other things to cease all activity with the MAK. Other members of the Kabyle community mentioned a similar document.

Sehaki said he was also asked to provide the names of other young Kabyles in Canada who have links to the movement.

In return, Algerian authorities would guarantee his right to travel to and from Algeria to see his family without any problems, he said.

"I'm not for sale," Sehaki said. "Yes, I want to return to my native country to see my family, but not at any cost."

Kamel Serbouh, president of the Centre Aqvayli, a Kabyle organization in Montreal, describes the climate of fear in his community.

Kamel Serbouh, president of the Centre Aqvayli, a Kabyle organization in Montreal, describes the climate of fear in his community. ( Francis Deschenes/Radio-Canada)

Federal, Quebec officials also targeted

Radio-Canada has learned that federal and Quebec government employees are also among the Canadian citizens of Kabyle origin who have recently been the subject of intimidation by Algerian authorities.

Those with whom Radio-Canada spoke did not agree to a formal interview for fear of reprisals against their relatives in Algeria. Radio-Canada has agreed not to identify them for this reason.

"There is a climate of fear in the community," said Kamel Serbouh, president of the Centre Aqvayli de Montreal, the oldest Kabyle association in Quebec.

Serbouh said community members who have returned to Algeria have been questioned upon their arrival at the airport in Algiers.

"Just because the Algerian authorities saw them in the company of MAK activists, they are being interrogated. 'What are your links? Why did you like a Facebook post? We took a photo of you with an activist,'" he said, listing off typical questions.

Radio-Canada was able to confirm that such interrogations took place.

The Algerian Embassy in Ottawa. Several members of Canada's Kabyle community told Radio-Canada they've been summoned here, and to the Algerian Consulate.

The Algerian Embassy in Ottawa. Several members of Canada's Kabyle community told Radio-Canada they've been summoned here, and to the Algerian Consulate. (Simon Lasalle/CBC)

Serbouh said some Canadians have also been prevented from leaving Algeria for weeks and even years.

Contacted by Radio-Canada, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) was not able to say how many Canadians from the Kabyle community have been refused the right to leave Algerian territory.

"Global Affairs Canada does not compile this specific data," the department said.

On its website, however, GAC offers the following warning about travelling to Algeria: "Over the past year, the Algerian government increased the number of arrests of activists. Algerian authorities have also prevented dual Canadian-Algerian citizens from leaving Algeria after they were identified as politically engaged in Canada. Be aware of the possibility of surveillance and potential repercussions if you discuss the political situation in public or online."

GAC also points out that dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Algeria.

Mourad Itim, a member of the MAK, said he was unable to attend his mothers funeral in Algeria last year for fear of being arrested and imprisoned by Algerian authorities.

Mourad Itim, a member of the MAK, said he was unable to attend his mothers funeral in Algeria last year for fear of being arrested and imprisoned by Algerian authorities. (Submitted by Mourad Itim)

A Canadian risks imprisonment

Mourad Itim knows all too well the price of his political involvement.

"If I return to Algeria, they will arrest me, maybe they will torture me," said Itim, who worked as a Bell Canada technician for 24 years before retiring.

His name appears on the list of people classified as terrorists by the Algerian government for being part of the MAK.

Itim oversees the organization's official broadcast channel TaqVaylit.TV, which streams online.

"I lost my mother last year and I couldn't go to Algeria. It's a bit sad that freedom activists can be convicted because they speak out, because they have a different political opinion. Sometimes it saddens me, sometimes I'm not well," Itim said.

The MAK is calling for a referendum to allow the Kabyles to decide their own future.

Itim compares the organization to the Parti Quebecois or the Bloc Quebecois in Canada, and said the MAK has around 100 active supporters in this country.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, third from right, shakes hands with the president of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK), Ferhat Mehenni, in Montreal in June 2022.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, third from right, shakes hands with the president of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabylia (MAK), Ferhat Mehenni, in Montreal in June 2022. (Association Amitie Quebec-Kabylie/Facebook)

Serbouh, who considers himself an activist within the movement, also compares the aspirations of the Kabyles to those of Quebecers who wish to preserve their language and culture.

Many are demanding their own independent state, while others prefer to remain within Algeria, he said.

"It's normal, it's their right. But can we just let them express themselves?" Serbouh pleaded.

According to him, even Kabyles who aren't politicized hesitate to participate in their community's cultural activities for fear of being blacklisted by Algerian authorities.

"When we don't have the freedom to visit our families, our brothers and sisters, when we don't have the freedom to meet whomever we want in a bar, in a cafe, in a public place like here, what's left?" Serbouh asked.

"The federal government cannot accept this. We are Canadian citizens."

He wants Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to intervene with the Algerian government and ensure their rights and freedoms are respected.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 37,000 residents speak Kabyle.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly rises during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 3, 2024.

Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly rises during question period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on June 3. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Minister declines interview

Joly refused to grant Radio-Canada an interview about the alleged persecution of Kabyles in Canada, despite repeated requests.

In response to Radio-Canada's questions, GAC wrote in an email: "We maintain long-standing bilateral relations with Algeria, which allows us among other things to engage in discussions with the Algerian government on issues of importance to Canada, particularly on human rights and consular cases."

The department added that Canada "regularly raises" issues related to democratic values with the Algerian authorities.

Bloc Quebecois MP Mario Beaulieu, who knows the Kabyle community well, described the minister's silence on the subject as "deplorable."

"It's the whole issue of foreign interference. It seems like there was really a lax attitude by the federal government," he said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

"We realize that it's not only big countries like China, India, Russia, but also smaller countries that do not seem to be shy about intervening with their nationals in Canada."

Bloc MP Mario Beaulieu, right, takes part in a rally in Montreal for the self-determination of Kabylia and the release of political prisoners in Algeria on April 16, 2022.

Bloc Quebecois MP Mario Beaulieu, right, takes part in a rally in Montreal for the self-determination of Kabylia and the release of political prisoners in Algeria on April 16, 2022. (TaqVaylit.TV/Facebook)

Beaulieu, who has participated in MAK demonstrations in Montreal and met with some of the group's leaders, said he has never witnessed the group engage in anything other than peaceful activities.

"There are also Kabyles who are pro-Algeria, just as there are Quebecers who are federalists," he said. "Quebecers of Kabyle origin have the right to their opinion and it is unacceptable that they are being intimidated by the Algerian government."

According to Beaulieu, the federal government must better protect its citizens from different countries and ethnic backgrounds.

"Canada must give itself the tools to intervene, and there must be consequences for countries that engage in foreign interference. Right now, countries are intervening and don't seem to be concerned about the reactions of the Canadian government," he said.

For Sehaki, the Algerian government's intimidation is a never-ending nightmare.

"We think we are in Canada, we are at peace, we are free, that we left our problems in Algeria, how many kilometres away? But they follow us everywhere."

(CBC)
NYC to spend millions on new round of pre-paid debit cards for migrants

(The Center Square)  New York City officials are dramatically expanding a controversial program that gives debit cards pre-loaded with cash to migrant families staying in taxpayer-funded hotels across the city.

The Adams administration says another round of debit cards is expected to be distributed to more than 7,300 migrants over the next six months, costing the city about $2.6 million. The move represents a major expansion of a pilot program that began earlier this year that doled out cards to about 3,000 migrants.

The Adams administration says another round of debit cards is expected to be distributed to more than 7,300 migrants. Michael Nigro

New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom says the program allows newly arriving families the ability to make choices for themselves and their children by using debit cards.

They can buy from local shops, support small businesses, and manage their own resources, she said in a statement. When we empower people, we help them achieve self-sufficiency and access the American Dream.

The move represents a major expansion of a pilot program that began earlier this year. Michael Nagle

Mayor Eric Adams has defended the program as a cost savings measure that temporarily replaces New York Citys existing system of providing non-perishable food boxes to migrant families staying in hotels and other city-funded shelters.

The program is a partnership between the Adams administration and the company Mobility Capital Finance, which says the plan will help migrants with food, baby supplies and other necessities as they await authorization to work from the federal government.

Under the program, a four-person family with children under five can receive up to $350 per week, or about $18,200 a year, according to published news reports.

Critics, including New York Council member Joseph Borelli, have argued that the debit cards are fundamentally unfair to the citys working poor, who dont receive similar benefits from the city.

Borelli and other Republicans argue that the citys right to shelter law, which requires it to provide housing, food and other necessities  coupled with the citys sanctuary policy cooperation with immigration crackdowns  are drawing a record number of migrants to the city.

Under the program, a four-person family with children under five can receive up to $350 per week, or about $18,200 a year, according to published news reports. AP

New York City has seen more than 183,000 asylum seekers arrive over the past year amid a historic surge of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border. Over the past year, the city has spent more than $1 billion on tens of thousands of migrants under its care and expects to spend about $10 billion on migrant costs in coming years.

City officials say the cards cost about half as much as delivering boxes of food to the families staying at hotels and other city shelters. The program has saved the city more than $598,000, officials said, and is projected to save $4 million on migrant costs by the end of this year.

Under the program, a four-person family with children under five can receive up to $350 per week, or about $18,200 a year, according to published news reports. Michael Nagle

Earlier this year, a group of Congressional Republicans, including Reps. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Barry Moore, R., Ala., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., blasted the program and questioned whether federal funds are being used for the debit cards, how city officials are determining eligibility to receive the money, and whether they are tracking how and where it is being spent.

They pointed out that the $350 made available to migrants each week as part of the debit card program exceeds the average $291 per month given to low-income, elderly and disabled U.S. citizens through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps.

The GOP lawmakers also chided Adams over the citys sanctuary status, as well as the citys transportation and housing programs that they claimed are encouraging illegal immigrants to flood the city.
NYPD cops shot a young man who stabbed an 8-year-old boy to death and wounded his own parents in a luxury Queens apartment building Thursday, police sources said.

The violence erupted in a building on 94th Ave. near Sutphin Blvd. in Jamaica around 5:15 p.m. on Independence Day, cops said.

The 29-year-old wounded woman, who sources say may be a stepmother to the suspect, ran out to the street and to a nearby train station where she asked MTA police for help, NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell said at a Thursday evening news conference.

She was stabbed, but she was holding her head more than anything else, said a witness who watched the woman run out of the building. She was out of it, [and] she was running to wherever she was running to.

MTA cops called NYPD officers, who were at the apartment building within three minutes. The 8-year-olds parents were not believed to have been home at the time of the attack.

The police and EMTs grabbed [the wounded woman] as she ran up the block and put her in an ambulance, the witness told the Daily News.

Cops quickly interviewed a witness and made their way up to the extremely small fifth-floor apartment, where the 20-year-old suspect had a knife to his 43-year-old fathers neck, Chell said.

As the man held his fathers head over a kitchen sink, the officers issued numerous commands in both English and Spanish to drop the knife, but he refused.

They have to use their weapons to save this mans life and that is what they did, Chell said.

An officer fired one round, striking the attacker, police said.

Also inside the apartment was an 8-month-old baby girl, who was thankfully unharmed.

A woman standing across the street from the building watched as medics brought the suspect and victims out.

I saw them bring the guy out, said Rosalyn Blair, 34. He was restrained. He was tied across his arms and across his legs to the stretcher.

The suspect was bleeding from the head as medics loaded him into an ambulance, according to Blair.

A female officer was holding a baby girl in a blanket, Blair continued. She looked fine, she wasnt crying or anything.

The baby, her parents and the mortally wounded boy  believed to be the attackers brother or stepbrother  were taken to an area hospital, where the child died. Both adults were expected to survive the traumatic event.

The suspect was critically wounded and underwent surgery later Thursday evening, sources said.

The officers involved were taken to North Shore University Hospital for observation, where they were briefed on the aftermath of the horrifying incident.

As we were walking in, they were just being informed the 8-year-old passed away, said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry. To see the emotional trauma on those officers faces. One of them said, We wish we could have gotten here a little sooner.'

Neighbors were stunned by the outburst of violence in the upscale building.

Living in New York City, a lot of things dont surprise you, but this is a safe building, said a woman who asked not to be named. You dont expect this with a doorman.

In a post on X, police asked people to avoid the area as they investigated Thursday evening.
Oklahomans to have access to financing for hail-resistant roofs

The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act will allow Oklahomans to apply for grants to fortify their homes against severe weather. Grant applications will be available in early 2025. (Photo by Barbara Hoberock/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  Oklahomans will soon have access to financing to upgrade their homes with severe weather-averse roofs.

In May, the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act was signed into law. It allows Oklahomans to apply to a grant program that would provide severe hail-resistant roofs, impact-resistant shingles and rain-resistant attic vents.

The law will go into effect Nov. 1, but applications will not be available until early 2025.

Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, chairman of the Insurance and Retirement Committee, said the goal is to bring insurance costs down.

Itll bring the cost of rebuilding down and hopefully impact insurance rates for all of us across the state of Oklahoma, because right now, insurance is God-awful high, Pemberton said.

He estimated the program could support 5,000 grants per year.

Applicants must have an Oklahoma Insurance Department-approved home inspector visit their house. After the project is approved and completed, the Oklahoma Insurance Department will pay the roofing contractor directly.

However, the grant will not cover the home inspection cost, said Ashley Scott, Oklahoma Insurance Department government & community affairs director.

We hope to cover all the costs associated with the upgraded materials, but the grant will not cover the cost of the entire roof replacement, Scott said in an email.

To apply, homes must be in good condition unless there has been severe weather damage. Proof of an active homeowners insurance policy with wind coverage is required. If the house is in a special flood hazard area, an in-force flood insurance policy is also required.

The program has a $10 million cap each year and can use up to 50% of the remaining balance in the Insurance Departments Revolving Fund, Scott said.

The program is expected to have $10 million for its first year, she said.

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready said in a statement that he hopes the program will help fortify homes.

Im looking forward to helping Oklahomans make their homes more resilient to disasters and bringing some relief amid rising prices through this pivotal new program launching next year, Mulready said.

If enhancements are made to homes through the grant program, Mulready said homeowners could qualify for discounts up to 42% on their insurance premium.

Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Tulsa, said the program will be helpful to Oklahomans wanting to rebuild after experiencing storm damage.

Thats really the goal of it, is to, this to be an investment to plant the seed to start people thinking, you know, encourage people to take the step, to pay that a little bit extra to fortify their homes, Tedford said.

State governments have clamored to keep insurance companies providing for their citizens. Many companies have left or increased coverage costs residents cant keep up with, citing climate change-driven disasters that put them at a loss.

Kim Kaufman, a spokeswoman for State Farm, said in a statement that the agency is a long-time supporter of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety and its FORTIFIED program.

We support Oklahomas willingness to help find practical ways for its citizens to improve building techniques that enhance community safety and resilience, as well as mitigate damage to their properties, she said.

The program will help Oklahomans save, Scott said in an email.

With a fortified roof families will have less claim exposure, which translates to them not having to get a new roof each year and saving on their deductibles, Scott said. The more homes that are fortified, the more likely Oklahomans will see reduced premiums across the state.

The grant program will end Nov. 1, 2027.

However, Pemberton said he thinks there is a good chance it will be renewed.

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In this undated photo provided to the Associated Press by Stellenbosch University researcher, Michele Francis, right, and other researchers, pose for a selfie, next to an ancient termite mound in Namaqualand, South Africa. Scientists have been stunned to discover that termite mounds that are still inhabited in an arid region of the country are more than 30,000 years old, meaning they are the oldest known active termite hills. (Photo/Michele Francis via AP)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP)  Scientists in South Africa have been stunned to discover that termite mounds that are still inhabited in an arid region of the country are more than 30,000 years old, meaning they are the oldest known active termite hills.

Some of the mounds near the Buffels River in Namaqualand were estimated by radiocarbon dating to be 34,000 years old, according to the researchers from Stellenbosch University.

We knew they were old, but not that old, said Michele Francis, senior lecturer in the university's department of soil science who led the study. Her paper was published in May.

Francis said the mounds existed while saber-toothed cats and woolly mammoths roamed other parts of the Earth and large swathes of Europe and Asia were covered in ice. They predate some of the earliest cave paintings in Europe.

Some fossilized termite mounds have been discovered dating back millions of years. The oldest inhabited mounds before this study were found in Brazil and are around 4,000 years old. They are visible from space.

Francis said the Namaqualand mounds are a termite version of an apartment complex and the evidence shows they have been consistently inhabited by termite colonies.

Termite mounds are a famous feature of the Namaqualand landscape, but no one suspected their age until samples of them were taken to experts in Hungary for radiocarbon dating.

People dont know that these are special, ancient landscapes that are preserved there, Francis said.

Some of the biggest mounds  known locally as heuweltjies, which means little hills in the Afrikaans language  measure around 100 feet (30 meters) across. The termite nests are as deep as 10 feet underground.

Researchers needed to carefully excavate parts of the mounds to take samples, and the termites went into emergency mode and started filling in the holes, Francis said.

The team fully reconstructed the mounds to keep the termites safe from predators like aardvarks.

Francis said the project was more than just a fascinating look at ancient structures. It also offered a peek into a prehistoric climate that showed Namaqualand was a much wetter place when the mounds were formed.

The southern harvester termites are experts at capturing and storing carbon by collecting twigs and other dead wood and putting it back deep into the soil. That has benefits in offsetting climate change by reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere.

It's also good for the soil. Masses of wildflowers bloom on top of the termite mounds in a region that receives little rain.

Francis called for more research on termite mounds given the lessons they offer on climate change, sustaining ecosystems and maybe even for improving agricultural practices.

"We will do well to study what the termites have done in the mounds. They were thought to be very boring," she said.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
1 in custody after barricade incident in Horry County

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  One person was arrested early Thursday morning after a domestic incident turned into a barricade situation, according to Horry County Police.

It happened in the Woodland Farms neighborhood off of Highways 501 and 22 between Aynor and Conway, according to a police spokesperson. It ended at about 2 a.m. when the person was taken into custody.

No additional information was immediately available. Count on News13 for updates.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.
One dead after being found unresponsive in remote area along Colorado River

GRAND COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  One person has died after officials received a call for an unresponsive male with CPR in progress on Wednesday, according to a press release from the Grand County Sheriffs Office.

Just before 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the sheriffs office said officers responded to Westwater Canyon in a very remote area along the Colorado River.

According to the press release, when officials arrived, the male was dead. Officials did not immediately provide information about his age or the circumstances that led to his death.

READ NEXT: DWR to treat water in High Uintas to restore native cutthroat trout population

The name of the person who died is being withheld by the Grand County Sheriffs Office to respect the family.

At this time the Grand County Sheriffs Office wishes to extend the utmost of care and concern for family members associated with this tragic event, the sheriffs office said in a press release.

The sheriffs office said the State of Utah Medical Examiners Office is investigating the case to determine the exact cause of death.

According to the sheriffs office, the location officers responded to is near Bowling Alley Rapid and the Room of Doom in the canyon.

There is no further information at this time.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Marshal with the Quapaw Nation Marshal Service in a standoff outside a Quawpaw home. The shooting suspect was not found inside the dwelling, QNMS said at 9 a.m.

QUAPAW, Okla.  One man is injured after a shooting in northeast Oklahoma as authorities continue searching for their suspect, Thursday morning.

A call for a shooting at a Quapaw residence at 501 S. Cherry St. came in around 3:28 a.m. Authorities with Quapaw Nation Marshal Service responded to the scene and located Travis Stand with a gunshot wound to the face. The suspect fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.

Woman detained in North Miami stabbing

The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital in Joplin and as of Friday has been treated and released.

According to Chief Marshal Charles Addington, the suspect, Justin Braziel, 30, was believed to have been found at another residence at 400 S. Cherry St. After a standoff and search at that location Quapaw Nation Marshals determined Braziel was not present.

The Quapaw Nation Marshals Office has issued a warrant for Braziel.

Authorities are still investigating this incident.

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VIDEO | One person injured, 16 units destroyed following apartment fire on Stevens Creek Rd.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)  Just before 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night, the Augusta Fire Department responded to the 900 block of Stevens Creek Road for a structure fire call.

A 911 caller reported hearing fireworks for over two hours before noticing a fire on an apartment building at Nine Two Six West.

The caller immediately began knocking on doors, informing residents of the fire and urging them to evacuate.

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: AFD

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Pictures courtesy of: Dania Alawir

Upon arrival, firefighters notified Richmond County Dispatch that the incident required a full response. The fire was brought under control and quickly extinguished.

A total of 16 Apartment units burned.

According to NewsChannel 6s photojournalist Dania Alawir, building 3300 is a total loss.

Authorities say 1 minor injury was reported by a young lady who escaped from her balcony.

Residents were put in contact with the Red Cross for assistance.

The cause of this fire is under investigation.

Photojournalist: Dania Alawir

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
A press officer of the Hamburg customs presents the seized cocaine at a media event at the port of Hamburg. A large quantity of drugs has washed up on the German North Sea island of Borkum, prosecutors said on Thursday. Marcus Brandt/dpa

A large quantity of drugs has washed up on the German North Sea island of Borkum, prosecutors said on Thursday.

In April, a holidaymaker had discovered several suspicious sacks tied together with a life jacket on the beach and alerted the police.

The public prosecutor's office in Aurich has now confirmed that the sacks contained a total of around one ton of cocaine.

It is one of the largest known drug finds on the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony in recent years.

The Federal Criminal Police Office has taken over the investigation, a spokeswoman for the Aurich public prosecutor's office told dpa.

"We are investigating in all directions," she said, without providing further details. Where the parcels came from, why they ended up on the beach and whether there are any suspects in the investigation remained unclear.

The discovery of the bags had already become known through media reports in April. However, the investigating authorities had so far left open the question of whether the packages actually contained drugs.

In recent years, drugs have repeatedly been washed up and discovered in bags on the East Frisian North Sea coast. In 2021, for example, workers discovered 25 kilograms of cocaine on a dyke foreshore in the district of Aurich. A similar quantity of drugs had been found on the island of Baltrum shortly before. Packets of cocaine also washed up on island beaches in early 2017.
(NEXSTAR)  Firework laws are always a bit confusing for Americans ahead of the Fourth of July. Are you allowed to set them off? What kinds of fireworks can you legally purchase? Its a state-by-state mess that nobody seems to understand.

For the most part, the purchase and use of fireworks are permitted throughout the U.S. According to World Population Review, consumer fireworks can be purchased in 49 of the 50 states, with various different laws and restrictions.

More Local News

Legal consumer fireworks typically include Roman candles, sparklers, poppers, snakes, helicopters, ground spinners, and multiple-tube fireworks. They must have fewer than 50mg of gunpowder and follow other regulations.

These types of fireworks must also have fuses that burn for at least three seconds but no more than nine seconds, to help prevent them from exploding in the face of the person who is lighting them.

Are fireworks legal in NY?

Only one state completely bans the purchase and use of consumer fireworks  Massachusetts. As of June 2020, the Bay State is the only state remaining where all fireworks are illegal for private use. This includes everything from sparklers to firecrackers. Just about anything that has a fuse, emits sparks, or has the ability to explode is considered illegal.

The ban dates all the way back to 1943 during World War II, when Massachusetts banned fireworks as a measure for the war, according to the Worcester Telegram.

Nathans Famous 4th of July hot dog eating contest kicks off soon in NYC

As for the rest of the country, 15 states do not allow the purchase and use of aerial or explosive fireworksmeaning only items like sparklers or poppers are considered legal. Three other states are regulated at the county level, meaning youll need to check your local laws.

That leaves 31 other states where the purchase and use of consumer fireworks is fully legal.

If you plan to set off consumer fireworks, the American Pyrotechnics Association reminds U.S. residents that even though it might be legal, fireworks can cause serious injuries if not used safely and properly.

Some tips for keeping safe include having a sober adult in charge of the fireworks, reading and following instructions on the label before using the fireworks, keeping spectators a safe distance away before igniting, along with many more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Editors Note: Former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Pete Gaynor also served as former acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He currently serves as vice president for Resiliency and Disaster Recovery at Hill International, a program and construction management firm. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion at CNN.

Emergency managers have become the nations de facto problem solvers. Were excellent at it  but were running on empty. And thats a problem.

As a former administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Ive experienced a wide variety of disasters up close, including hurricanes, wildfires and a pandemic. Ive worked with the best of the best in the field of emergency management, and I know firsthand what a difference having dedicated disaster response professionals can make. Ive also seen the toll that the stress of unrelenting disasters can take on these responders.

When catastrophe arrives at your doorstep, you need someone who is dedicated to helping. Thats what emergency management professionals do: help people before, during and after disasters. When a hurricane, wildfire, flood or tornado pays a visit, emergency managers are the ones who are there to clean up the mess, restore order and help the community gain a sense of normality afterward.

But in recent years, emergency managers have been asked to deal with a growing roster of disasters, crises and priorities, many beyond our traditional roles.

Pete Gaynor - Pete Gaynor

We have been tasked with managing outbreaks of diseases like Covid-19, mpox and Ebola, providing support at the southern border, handling refugee resettlement and the crisis of homelessness  and every time, our profession rises to the occasion and figures it out. Weve been called on by presidents and county managers, governors and mayors, tribal chiefs and business leaders to solve incredibly complex and difficult problems.

Saying no or providing a halfhearted response is not in our DNA, even when the disaster hits too close to home. Dozens of emergency responders to the devastating 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, California, for example, lost their own homes in the blaze yet continued to report for duty and help others.

No matter how exhausted we are or how little we have left to give, we are wired to step up and give even more when disaster strikes.

However, we have a growing problem: Our unsung American heroes are worn out  and some are even leaving the disaster response workforce. We are losing more and more of our emergency managers to chronic disaster fatigue, as evidenced by staffing shortfalls at FEMA.

A 2023 report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that, at the beginning of 2022, FEMAs disaster workforce was operating at approximately 65% capacity. At the same time, the prescient report states, FEMA faced an all-time high in disasters and an unparalleled demand on its workforce.

The agency was hit hard by losing 20% of its disaster workforce staff in fiscal year 2020. GAO noted that FEMAs responsibilities to respond to the pandemic as well as natural disasters created burnout for many employees and increased employee attrition. And those who have stayed admit exhaustion while holding fast to their commitment to serve others. Having led many disaster responses over the years, I have had to tell some of my best people to go home in the middle of the response.

Responders are carrying the physical fatigue of weathering long hours and difficult working conditions, and thats too often compounded by the mental burden of seeing and experiencing trauma. Estimates of the depression rate among disaster response and rescue workers are as high as 53%, according to the National Center for PTSD. After Hurricane Katrina, research on its mental health effects on responders showed that more than a quarter of them reported that they had traumatic experiences such as witnessing death or seeing a friend injured; at least a tenth of the responders reported persistent significant post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Burnout, which experts define as a psychological syndrome emerging as a prolonged response to chronic interpersonal stressors on the job, is dangerous. A burned-out emergency manager is likely to have difficulty making clear decisions and can struggle with mental well-being, which can adversely affect their job performance. Individuals experiencing burnout can also bring down the morale of a team and undermine organizational performance. On a personal level, burnout has the potential to decrease both longevity and quality of life, in addition to having negative effects on personal health and family relationships.

A study reviewing the state of the disaster workforce published in the Journal of Emergency Management in 2021 found that half of the respondents felt burned out or overextended (at high risk of burnout), reporting symptoms of high emotional exhaustion and cynicism as well as reduced efficacy on the job.

An emergency management workforce struggling with burnout will not be ready to tackle the inevitable disasters on the horizon.

Members of Missouri Search and Rescue, part of FEMA, unload their gear at a staging area as Hurricane Florence starts to make landfall in Lealand, North Carolina, on September 13, 2018. - Andrew Caballero-Reynoolds/AFP/Getty Images

Theres no longer any time to catch our breath between disasters. When one disaster or crisis appears to be over, another emerges on the horizon. The demands on the profession have increased from seemingly every direction.

First, the sheer volume of natural disasters continues to multiply. The number of disasters, the intensity, the cost and the frequency have become bone-crushing. Just look at the history of disasters over the past 30 years. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), since 1980 the US has been hit by 387 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each. In the 10 years from 1980 to 1989, we averaged a bit fewer than four billion-dollar disasters per year. If you fast-forward 30 years to 2019, we started averaging 22 billion-dollar disasters per year.

With 11 billion-dollar disasters in 2024 and hurricane season just over a month old, we are already on track to surpass last years record of 28 events. And the overwhelming majority of disasters such as floods and storms never reach the threshold for a federal disaster declaration, which activates federal aid.

But no matter what size disasters are or the designation they are given, responding to them takes time, energy and resources. Even if you set aside the unsustainable financial cost of disasters and the changing climate driving them, the disaster workload and the human cost on our emergency managers has become untenable.

Second, the persistent addition of non-traditional mission assignments such as managing the opioid crisis or housing instability has further drained our resources.

The recent increase in disaster workload has been playing out against the backdrop of a profession that has been perennially underfunded and understaffed.

When you add in a demanding and unforgiving public and a hyperconnected, sensationalist media landscape, the often-misunderstood job of emergency management becomes exponentially more complex and challenging. We have always shouldered, and will continue to shoulder, a disproportionate amount of responsibility for our increasingly complex and demanding world.

We are losing good people in the profession, and the safety and security of our communities is at stake. Over the past few years, I have talked to many of my counterparts across the country about this attrition as disasters increase. They see what Im seeing: Good emergency managers are leaving for better pay and the slower pace of the private sector, while others are transferring into less-demanding 9-to-5 jobs in other government agencies. Others have decided to retire early.

In the middle of a crisis, we need experienced and expert professionals. If we lose those professionals, we lose the ability to take decisive action in critical moments  which can make the outcome of a disaster or crisis worse.

We need to right the ship. Otherwise, the emergency management systems we rely on will fail when our citizens, the community and the nation need them the most.

The people who rely on responders for rescue and shelter when disaster strikes should be part of this solution. Call your local, state and federal legislators and demand they make disaster relief a priority. Ask them to properly fund and staff our emergency management organizations, such as FEMA and local agencies.

Help reduce the burden on the emergency management community by taking simple actions to prepare yourself, your family, your business and your community for the next disaster. A great place to start is ready.gov. As citizens, we have a duty to conserve our vital and limited public safety resources, such as emergency management personnel. By minimizing non-essential requests, we enable our disaster responders to more swiftly and effectively act during ongoing crises.

Recognize the role emergency management professionals play in keeping us safe and returning our communities to a sense of normalcy after a devastating disaster. Ask your representatives to acknowledge the importance of their work. And take a moment to thank them.

On our worst days, we need disaster responders at their best.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Editors Note: Lonnie G. Bunch III is the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Carla Hayden is the Librarian of Congress. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States. The views expressed in this commentary are their own. Read more opinion at CNN.

The American flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, during the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner is just one of the precious artifacts displayed at the Smithsonians National Museum of American History, viewed by many thousands of visitors each year. This and every Fourth of July, the Fort McHenry flag and every American flag  resonates as a symbol of freedom, opportunity, equality around the world and of the individual rights that form the linchpin of our democracy.

Lonnie G. Bunch III - Smithsonian Institution

Never has public access to such revered artifacts been more important. Proximity affords a way not only to appreciate our common history, but to bind us together in these sometimes-fractious times with a sense of common purpose. Indeed, our collective memory  the shared remembrance and understanding of the events and artifacts that shape our past and present  is critical to an engaged and informed citizenry.

Today, however, our nations collective memory is at risk. University budget cuts have created a shortage of history professors and the number of college history majors is less than half of what it was two decades ago. In some states and school districts, history and civics curricula have been restricted or abandoned. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the average US history score for eighth graders decreased by nine points from 2014 to 2022, and civics scores declined for the first time.

Carla Hayden - Library of Congress

As the leaders of three cherished cultural institutions  The Smithsonian, the Library of Congress and the National Archives we are mindful of the critical moment at which our nation finds itself. We know that the institutions we head are more important than ever as trustworthy sources of history that can refresh our collective memory, reservoirs that students, teachers and parents can dip into to quench their thirst for knowledge. We help preserve Americas history, maintain its relevance and impart it to future generations.

This Fourth of July, experience American history at a museum, library or archive. Here is what youll find at ours.

Colleen Shogan - National Archives

Among the billions of papers in the National Archives in Washington, DC are some of the most moving documents illuminating key moments in American history, including the Emancipation Proclamation, the 19th Amendment removing voting restrictions for women and the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild a democratic Europe after World War II.

Visitors to the Archives can see in person copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, evaluate the enduring legacy of the principles the founders inscribed on those pieces of parchment and contemplate the audacity of a nation conceived in liberty and self-governance.

The Smithsonians artifacts and archives capture the sweep of American history and the nations democratic principles, from the aforementioned flag that flew over Fort McHenry, to the portable desk Thomas Jefferson used to pen the Declaration of Independence, to the Woolworths lunch counter that helped inspire the Civil Rights Movement.

Visitors at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. - Vespasian/Alamy

The Library of Congress is home to a vast array of documents, photographs and other materials that bring our nations history to life, from President Abraham Lincolns handwritten copies of the Gettysburg Address to first-hand accounts of US military veterans who have served our nation since World War I. Starting this month, visitors to the Library can experience them up close at the new exhibition, Collecting Memories: Treasures from the Library of Congress in the new David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery.

Looking ahead to our nations 250th anniversary, the National Museum of American History realized that preserving our collective memory would need a collective educational effort. It prompted them to create Made By Us, a collaboration with the National Archives Foundation and several other founding partners. Since it was launched in 2020, hundreds more cultural and civic institutions from the Atlanta History Center to the First Americans Museum to the Japanese American National Museum have joined to inform and inspire young adults participation in civic life.

In two short years, as we mark our nations 250th anniversary, many of those eighth graders mentioned above who have experienced declining civics grades in the classroom will graduate from high school and assume the responsibilities of adulthood and citizenship.

To secure a better future for them and for all of us, we need a renewed commitment to understanding civics and history. One annual flagship program run by the Smithsonian, Civic Season, offers one opportunity to achieve that. It spans the two federal holidays that embody the struggle to realize the ideals of freedom and justice for all: Juneteenth (June 19), commemorating emancipated enslaved people in Texas discovering they had won their freedom, and Independence Day (July 4).

Many of our institutions myriad digital resources are available as part of Civic Season, including an online exhibition of the life and works of author and activist James Baldwin at the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Archives activity using documents to teach high school students about Indigenous peoples fight for universal suffrage and the Library of Congresss Our Common Purpose series of conversations exploring civic life.

One can tell a great deal about a country not just by what it remembers, but by what it chooses to forget. Our myriad exhibitions and activities show how three of the nations premier cultural institutions  sometimes working together, sometimes individually  help to preserve our collective memory.

As we celebrate our freedoms this summer, we must resist efforts to smooth the rough edges of our history and instead listen to the advice of the founders and perfect our union  by proudly remembering the richness of our shared past.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Evan Weltsch, Salt Lake City Public Lands park ranger, walks through City Creek in Memory Grove in Salt Lake City on Friday, April 26, 2024. Weltsch was collecting samples of aquatic macroinvertebrate for the annual worldwide City Nature Challenge. The annual event encourages people to find and photograph plants and wildlife in their own cities. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

With the 2024 election season underway and talk of transferring Americas public lands heating up as a campaign issue in Western states, it is critical that voters across the country who use these public lands understand the threat posed by the coalition of elected officials, nonprofit think tanks, corporations, wealthy donors and developers, and make an informed vote.

In 2020, the League of Women Voters adopted a national position on the transfer of federal public lands. The position was derived from a 2017 League of Women Voters of New Mexico study of the transfer of federal public lands written in response to legislation discussed in several Western states. Specifically, Utah passed legislation in 2012 demanding the transfer of selected federal public lands to the state. Although no transfers occurred as a result, League of Women Voters of New Mexico believed it was necessary to have a position that could be used for advocacy if or when such legislation was proposed in New Mexico.

The federal government owns 28% of land in the United States, which three different agencies managing it. There are numerous issues at the federal level in relation to land ownership, acquisition and the balance between protection and use. As a result, the League of Women Voters believes there is a significant risk that this issue may arise with little advance notice in any state with federal public lands. The proportion of lands held by the federal government varies significantly by state, with the largest shares in the West. However, the issue is one that could affect all states.

The League believes that federal public lands should benefit all Americans. The lands should remain under the jurisdiction of the federal government and be managed according to the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act. The League position also supports improvements in management and regulation.

Heres what you need to know to make an informed vote this election season if you dont want to lose ownership of and access to your federal public lands, whether it be for family vacations, camping, hiking, mountain biking, 4-wheel driving, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography or just hanging out in the great outdoors.

Americas public lands currently belong to you, the American public, and are held in trust for you by your federal government. Under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to turn your public lands over to states or private interests. That is why it is critical for you to ask those wishing to represent you in Congress where they stand on the issue of transferring federal public lands out of the public domain, where the mandate is for multiple use, and into state ownership, where the mandate is for revenue generation, including selling off those lands.

Once Congress transfers Americas public lands out of the federal public domain, you will no longer own them. No Trespassing signs will pop up like unwanted litter across the landscape, and public access will be denied.

No more fishing your favorite trout stream or taking your family to see dinosaur tracks, or exploring the magnificent canyons and red rocks of the Southwest. If this is happening now, imagine what happens when Congress transfers millions and millions of acres of your federal public lands into state and private ownership.

And make no mistake  that is the plan. And it is a well-funded plan.

Think of the management of federal public lands as federal stewardship rather than federal overreach. These lands are paid for by all Americans. In Utah, the cost to the state to replace federal funds to manage these lands would be over $400 million annually. If Utah were to take ownership of federal public lands within her state boundaries, Utah taxpayers would be responsible for replacing those funds, or the state would have to sell them. The same goes for any Western state that supports the transfer of federal public lands into state ownership, which many of them do.

Once federal public lands become state or private property, the American public will never get them back.

Carey Dabney is the coordinator of the Public Lands Project for the League of Women Voters of Southeast Utah. She is the lead author of the 2020 League of Women Voters of Utah Transfer of Public Lands Movement Educational Study.
Udmurt scholar Albert Razin ended his life in front of the Udmurt Republics State Council Building in Izhevsk, Russia, on Sept. 10, 2019, setting himself ablaze. His desperate act serves as a haunting emblem of Russias national policy under Russian President Vladimir Putins reign. Today, Russification has reached unprecedented heights, eclipsing even the Soviet era in its scope and intensity.

The marginalization of national cultures and languages is taking place with the active assistance of the Russian state. Putin was personally involved in the abolition of language instruction in the schools of the national republics.

When the State Council of the Republic of Tatarstan decided to start the process of translating the Tatar language into the Latin alphabet to bring it closer to other Turkic languages, it was hindered by the State Duma of the Russian Federation, which banned the translation of any of the languages of the peoples of Russia into the Latin alphabet at the legislative level.

Read also: Opinion: Cognitive warfare is NATOs new battlefield

The younger generation of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds within Russia are slowly losing fluency in their native languages. Instead of identifying themselves as citizens of the Russian Federation, they are leaning toward simply Russians, thus insisting on national unity with the main people.

At the same time, Russias leadership is persistently claiming to protect national minorities in other countries, such as Ukraine and Moldova. This is also nothing new; the Kremlin is mirroring the approaches of the last years of the Soviet Union, during which the leadership responded to the emergence of Popular Fronts, which advocated for the sovereignty and national rights of Soviet republics, by initiating numerous Interfronts and Intermovements.

These groups purported to defend internationalism and promote the national development of minorities. Representatives of minority groups were often misled, being told that nationalists threatened their ability to lead normal lives and preserve their native languages. However, in reality, Moscow was promoting the Russification of these minorities rather than fostering their national development.

It was during this time that entities like the independent Republic of Gagauzia, which later became an autonomous region within Moldova or the still-existing Transnistrian Moldovan Republic suddenly emerged.

And here, we must ask: What language do the Gagauzes of Moldova or Ukrainians of Transnistria, who were alarmed by the prospect of forced Romanization, use for study and communication? Naturally, it is Russian.

Over the past three decades, the authorities of Gagauzia have actively pursued policies to deepen the Russification of its residents, with the Peoples Assembly of Gagauzia even pressing the Moldovan parliament to reinstate the Russian language.

Russification is precisely what the Kremlin presents to national minorities in other countries as the most effective defense against nationalism.

If you visit any village with a Hungarian majority in Ukraines Zakarpattia region, you will hear Hungarian spoken on its streets. But perhaps you would like to know what language the representatives of the two peoples of Russia related to the Hungarians, the Khanty and the Mansi, speak today?

These are indeed small nations, and therefore, the state should have made efforts to preserve their national identity and language. Unfortunately, it did not. Fifteen years ago, only 17% of Khanty people spoke their native language, a number that has continued to decline. Among the Mansi, the figure was even lower, standing at just 6%, signaling that their language is teetering on the edge of extinction. Shouldnt this civilizational tragedy pique the interest of Budapest?

This is not merely an abstract observation. During one of my trips to the Estonian capital, I noticed books by poets of the Finnish peoples of Russia on the shelves of one of the main bookstores in Tallinn, available in the original language and translated into Estonian and Russian. The Estonian government supported this book publishing program. The Estonians, who vividly remembered how Moscow had marginalized their own culture, endeavored to assist their kin in preserving their literature, recognizing that in Russia itself, poets struggled to find publishers and soon may not even find readers.

Read also: Opinion: Key takeaways from the European Parliament elections for Kyiv

Isnt it compelling that even in the absence of informational borders, Transcarpathian Hungarians maintain their own periodicals, nurture their own creative teams, and produce artists who not only shine on the Ukrainian stage but also become stars in Hungarian cinema?

Perhaps someone in Budapest might be intrigued by the number of readers Vladimir Voldin, a pioneering figure in modern Khanty poetry, has left, despite his untimely demise under mysterious circumstances during Soviet times. The same curiosity could extend to his wife, Maria Vagatova, who was also the first Khanty poet. I believe the largest number of them were brought together solely by a collective letter expressing support for the war against Ukraine, an offer also extended to the 87-year-old poetess.

Certainly, we can speculate about the future of Ukrainian national policy. However, it's clear that once Ukraine and Moldova join the EU, all Hungarians, Romanians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, and Gagauzes in Europe will find themselves within a unified civilizational space. Yet, the Khanty and Mansi will not. They are at risk of simply fading away.

Editors Note: This material was prepared within the framework of the Re:Open Ukraine initiative, which aims to explain Ukraine to its Western neighbors, and its Western neighbors to Ukraine for the sake of successful European and Euro-Atlantic integration. The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

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Just days after visiting Kyiv, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is about to visit Moscow.

Source: Szabolcs Panyi, journalist of VSquare and Direkt36 who covers Central and Eastern Europe, with reference to sources, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Panyi noted that Viktor Orban will travel to Moscow on 5 July, just a few days after visiting Kyiv and proposing to Ukraine a truce that would be beneficial to Russia.

According to Panyi, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who was not part of Orbans group in Kyiv and is regarded as a pro-Russian official, will also visit Russia.

Meanwhile, the head of Hungary's Prime Minister's Press Service announced that Orban will attend the Organisation of Turkic States summit in Azerbaijan on 5 and 6 July.

Orban last saw Putin in Beijing in October, at the Belt and Road Forum, where he was the only EU politician present.

The current meeting differs in that Hungary formally took over as head of the European Union's Council on 1 July. This entails that Orban will meet with Putin as head of the EU Council Presidency.

Hungarian media emphasise that such a meeting, as well as his trip to Kyiv, are preceded by extensive planning, so Orban may have known he would be visiting Putin this week while negotiating with Zelenskyy. It's unclear whether he discussed his plans with the Ukrainian president or not.

At the talks in Kyiv, Orban promoted the idea of an urgent truce with Russia, which is in all pro-Russian "peace plans", but did not insist on it.

According to the Hungarian Prime Minister, Zelenskyy expressed misgivings about the logic of Orbans idea and does not support it, citing Ukraine's lacklustre experience in negotiating peace with Russia.

As previously reported, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, while Orban was meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After last weeks heated presidential debate, Democratic state leaders in the Pacific Northwest held a virtual meeting with President Joe Biden to talk about his campaign.

Thomas Wheatley, Oregon Gov. Koteks political advisor, confirmed that the governor would attend the meeting. Washington Gov. Jay Inslees Director of Communications Jaime Smith told KOIN 6 that Inslee, who is not seeking re-election, would also participate.

Oregon Department of Forestry declares the start of fire season

Bidens meeting with Democratic leaders occurred Wednesday afternoon. In a follow-up communication with KOIN 6 News just after 5:30 p.m., Wheatly gave a breakdown of how the meeting went between Kotek and Biden, in part signaling a continued support for the President:

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek met virtually with President Biden today, along with other Democratic Governors, some of whom were in attendance at the White House. The meeting was a productive conversation about how the President can win in November to make sure our democracy is protected in the face of the clear and present danger posed by Donald Trump.

The meeting comes after some leaders expressed concerns with the presidents ability to run the nation due to his performance in the debate. On Tuesday, Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett became the first Democratic leader to urge Biden to step down.

Portland Fire responds to RV blaze north of Linnton

The representative said he hoped the debate would improve the presidents standings in polls, but Biden instead failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments.

A CNN poll released on Tuesday revealed that 75% of voters believe Democrats would have a better chance of winning the presidential election if they had another candidate.

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 added 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.

Oregon Department of Forestry declares the start of fire season

In response to concerns spurring from the debate, the White House held a briefing in which Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden was fighting a cold and experiencing jet lag.

Meanwhile, the president has said that he might not debate like he used to, but is still capable of doing his job. He has also averted the focus to Trump, asserting that he set the record for the most lies ever told during a debate.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Since 2020, one in four Wisconsin school districts received complaints or requests to remove books from school libraries. The most challenged books feature storylines that include LGBTQ+ topics, sexual explicitness, profanity, violence and racially charged content.

This story was produced and originally published by Wisconsin Watch, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. It was made possible by donors like you.

More than 100 Wisconsin school districts  1 in 4  fielded inquiries about books or formal requests to remove them since 2020, according to a Wisconsin Watch review of records obtained from all but two of the states 421 public school districts.

Most requests came from organized conservative groups and politicians rather than organic requests from parents concerned about required reading. In several cases, the school district didnt own the books someone wanted to remove.

Requesters targeted books with LGBTQ+, sexually explicit and racial content, repeatedly alleging liberal bias and anti-Christian values. Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, an autobiographical exploration of gender and sexuality that includes sexually explicit graphics, drew the most challenges and inquiries.

Wisconsin Watchs findings are the most comprehensive look at attempts to ban books in the state since the pandemic, when remote learning gave some parents a closer look at what their students were being taught in public schools.

Experts say Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan  among the most competitive battlegrounds in national politics  are particular hotbeds of book challenges as partisan actors use such tactics to energize their base. Tasslyn Magnusson, a Wisconsin-based program consultant with Freedom to Read at PEN America, called Wisconsin one of the most dangerous states for book bans.

They are tipping point states in the election, which means we're going to get so much money poured in here, Magnusson said. The governor can veto some of this crisis legislation, but then what happens is these groups and these efforts then change policy at the local level.

Nearly 200 instances of book removals and restrictions revealed

The records from every corner of the state showed 165 unique requesters raised questions about or formally sought to remove 1,617 books across 106 Wisconsin school districts between Jan. 1, 2020, and Oct. 13, 2023. That includes 625 formal challenges.

There were 679 titles, including classics such as Slaughterhouse-Five, The Bluest Eye and The Handmaids Tale; bestsellers such as A Game of Thrones, The Kite Runner and Fifty Shades of Grey; but mostly requests for books about sex and LGBTQ+ themes such as I am Jazz, Its Perfectly Normal and Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens.

Districts removed books or restricted them to older grades or parental permission in 190 instances, involving 127 titles. Most removals took place in southeast Wisconsin districts, particularly Waukesha, Kenosha, West Allis, Oak Creek-Franklin and Elmbrook.

The books All Boys Arent Blue, a memoir by George Johnson of growing up a queer Black man, and Lucky, a memoir by Alice Sebold involving a traumatic sexual assault, were either restricted or removed six times each, the most of any book.

Wisconsin Watch found 114 more examples of book restrictions than the list maintained by PEN America, the leading institution tracking book challenges. PEN America counts any content-based action taken against a book that leads to removals or restrictions, for any period of time, overriding the original choices of school boards, administrators and teachers. The count includes some situations in which schools later returned restricted books to shelves.

PEN America requires publicly available data to confirm book bans, such as school board minutes and local news reporting. Magnusson said far more efforts likely go untracked in rural Wisconsin, where many local newspapers no longer routinely report on school board actions.

Several districts initially charged a fee for Wisconsin Watchs records request, but later agreed to provide the records without a charge. Two  the Superior and Oshkosh Area districts  refused to waive the charge.

Conservative groups and super requesters lead the list

Members of organized conservative groups facilitated removal requests in at least 14 districts, and many more districts received challenges from requesters who used lists of books compiled by national political groups. The largest groups involved were Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education, Mass Resistance and Parents Rights in Education.

In many cases, independent citizen requesters relied on lists compiled by larger national groups like booklooks.org and ratedbooks.org.

Eleven super requesters  those who raised concerns about or challenged 15 or more titles at a time  accounted for 73% of the targeted books. Some had no children in the district. In nearly 60 cases, the school district didnt own the book the requester sought to remove.

At least 849 inquiries and formal challenges to books  more than half compiled by Wisconsin Watch  came from a school board member or candidate, another local politician, or someone otherwise heavily involved in local conservative activism.

The most prominent such lawmaker was Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona, who in March 2022 asked several districts if they possessed a list of 51 books, according to his staff. The list was compiled by an Eau Claire parent who previously spoke out against COVID-19 masking efforts and equity training materials. The books addressed gender, sexual and racial identity, and some contained sexually explicit or graphic content.

Nothing more came out of the request besides simple information gathering, a James spokeswoman told Wisconsin Watch by email. We did NOT follow up with the schools after the fact about removing the books, and we did NOT pursue any legislation or oversight after the request was fulfilled.

Conservative media fuel book ban fever

Conservative media played a role in requests for removal in at least 12 districts.

After a Sept. 3, 2023, Libs of TikTok article described concerns about several books in the Kenosha School District, social media spurred waves of removal requests throughout nearby districts.

Kevin Mathewson of the far-right blog Kenosha County Eye sent emails on Sept. 11, 2023, to two district administrators asking whether the district planned to remove four titles.

Michelle Garven, Trevor-Wilmot Consolidated Grade School District administrator, told Mathewson none of the books were available to check out at district libraries, but families could search for titles through the Wisconsin School District Library Consortium.

Mathewson wrote he was very eager to publish a story about your sexual deviance and added, Don't make me sue you and embarrass you further because when I write my article people are going to be wondering why you want kids to be exposed to pornography.

His emails and reporting prompted Garven to send a cease and desist letter.

Books with LGBTQ+, sexually explicit content targeted

Most books targeted for removal in Wisconsin explored themes related to identity or coming of age, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ and racial storylines. Data from PEN America show that restriction efforts nationally overwhelmingly targeted books about people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Gender Queer, the states most targeted book according to the Wisconsin Watch analysis, also topped the American Library Associations national list of challenged books in 2023 and was fifth on PENs list of challenges during the 2022-23 school year.

The Baraboo School District in early October 2023 fielded 32 challenges to the book. District officials said they were not sure what prompted the brief surge.

Requesters claimed the book aimed to indoctrinate, corrupt, pervert and deceive children, promote pedophilia and sexuality, tell children they can be queer and teach kids to become pedophiles and sex offenders. One requester cited Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 as justification for the books removal, adding that the Bible calls this lifestyle sinful. Requesters said the district should burn the book and jail whoever put the book in the library.

Baraboo district officials, however, said they couldnt find the book in their inventory. Two other districts  Kenosha and the Sheboygan Area  removed the book.

Magnusson said critics of Gender Queer tend to focus on short excerpts and discuss them out of context.

The novels most explicit section, frequently cited in requests, shows two characters using a sex toy to perform oral sex. The scene is about consent and choosing not to have sex, Magnusson noted.

When we evaluate books just by what seems the most outrageous, we're missing that point, Magnusson said. The story is about saying no and saying, I don't want to do that, that is not for me, and it's actually a very valuable, caring story about learning that you can say those things in your life.

Opponents of Gender Queer and other books targeted in Wisconsin expressed concerns that sexually explicit scenes, regardless of how little of a storyline they make up, could expose their children to sensitive topics before theyre ready. Many book restriction advocates said they would prefer that parents instead discuss such issues with children.

Books exploring race also targeted

Wisconsin is home to some of the nations starkest disparities between white and Black residents in education, public health, housing, criminal justice and income. But book challengers also objected to a range of books that explore issues surrounding race. Those include "The Bluest Eye" and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison and Stamped (for Kids): Racism, Antiracism, and You, an adaptation of Ibram X. Kendis history of racism.

The Wautoma Area School District removed student access to An American Story by Kwame Alexander in October of 2023 following a challenge that called the book very racially charged and frightening for elementary school kids and said it depicts Americans as being monsters to Africans.

The novel tells the story of American slavery through the journey of a child navigating the complexities of identity amid racial tension in contemporary America.

In the decision letter, District Administrator Jewel Mucklin wrote that not all students have the emotional or intellectual awareness to process and understand some of the images in the book or the content of the story.

Emotional toll beyond count

An increasing part of library specialists' and district administrators jobs has become dealing with requests. Records showed hundreds of internal emails related to scheduling reconsideration meetings and addressing parent concerns.

Districts criteria took into account a books alignment with curriculum and state standards, the readability and appeal of texts to diverse students, the grade-level appropriateness, the significance and reputation of a books author, popular appeal and reviews from sites such as Scholastic and Common Sense Media.

I think there's no librarian in America right now that isn't having some amount of emotional distress over what's going on, said EveryLibrary Associate Director Peter Bromberg, who has tracked bills around the country targeting librarians.

Bromberg said more teachers and librarians are leaving the profession early as a result.

There's an emotional toll to this that doesn't show up on a  spreadsheet of how many books are being banned, Bromberg said.

Rachel Hale reported this story while interning at Wisconsin Watch. She is now an intern at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The nonprofit Wisconsin Watch (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with WPR, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by Wisconsin Watch do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.

This article originally appeared on Wausau Daily Herald: Over 100 Wisconsin school districts saw inquiries, challenges to books
A boy washes his head to cool off on a hot summer's day. A sever heatwave continued to batter Pakistans largest city of Karachi for a third week, filling hospitals with patients and morgues with boides, officials and rescuers said on 04 July. Ppi/PPI via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A severe heatwave continued to batter Pakistans largest city of Karachi for a third week, filling hospitals with patients and morgues with bodies, officials and rescue workers said on Thursday.

More than 50 people have died so far due to heatstroke since the start of the latest wave last month, police spokeswoman Summiya Syed said.

Dozens of new victims were brought to the citys largest Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Wednesday, the hospitals spokesman Hassan Ali told dpa.

The heat index  a combination of the temperature and humidity  rose to 55 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, the highest level ever recorded in the coastal city of more than 20 million people, chief meteorologist Sardar Sarfraz said.

This is unbearable in many ways. This happens because the breeze from the sea has stopped and humidity has risen to 55%, he said.

A charity that runs the largest ambulance service in the city and several morgues said the actual death toll might be much higher than the numbers officially known.

Rescue workers from the Edhi Foundation charity collected more than 140 bodies on Wednesday against the usual daily average of between 30 and 40.

This has been a trend since the heatwave started. Our daily number goes beyond 100 every day, the charitys spokesman Mohamed Amin told dpa.

It is the second heatwave that has hit the climate-vulnerable South Asian nation this year. Temperature rose beyond 50 degrees in several cities during the first one in early June.
Overheated dog dies on airplane in front of heartbroken family: We want some sort of change

Oregon couple Gary and Angie Engelgau were devastated after their dog Frank died of overheating on an Alaska Airlines flight waiting to depart Oahu, Hawaii.

An Oregon family was devastated after their dog died of overheating on an Alaska Airlines flight waiting to depart Oahu, Hawaii.

Hawaii is not dog friendly, Angie Engelgau told KGW8 while reflecting on the tragedy.

The freak accident occurred Sunday while she was waiting to fly home from Honolulu to Oregon with her husband Gary, their four-year-old French Bulldog Frank, his sister Charlie, and Fawn, their 15-year-old Beagle-Chihuahua. They had reportedly just moved to Oregon from the Aloha State and were eager to begin their new life.

Were bringing everything and our pets  and everyone, said Gary, who grew up in Portland.

He [Frank] is just panting and we kept asking the crew at the desk if we could take them out, said Angie (right). instagram/allenetti

However, when the Oregonians arrived at Honolulus Daniel K. Inouye International Airport at 10 a.m., temperatures had eclipsed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They felt this put a strain on their canines, which were in kennels.

They asked if they could take their pets out of their kennels, but staffers rejected their request. Angie claimed that this was because animals are not allowed out of their carriers  except in the pet relief area  at the airport, which comprises a mix of indoor and outdoor areas.

Its yet unclear if pets are allowed out of their cages however an airport spokesperson claimed that the airport would not restrict access for this particular request.

The family is calling on Alaska Airlines to make a change. instagram/allenetti

Despite this supposed policy, the Engelgaus claimed staffers denied their requests to let the dogs out even in outdoor spaces.

We are just sitting at the gate waiting for our flight, Angie said. He [Frank] is just panting and we kept asking the crew at the desk if we could take them out.

Left with no other recourse, the couple surreptitiously took them out of their kennels for a 40-minute recess, during which they gave the parched pooches water and kept them in the shade.

When they finally boarded the airplane, they asked Alaska Airlines flight attendants if they could take the dehydrated doggos out of their kennels, but the employees declined their request. Pets are required to stay in their cages in boarding areas, as well as during taxi, takeoff and landing, per AA policy.

Frank (right) was four years old. instagram/allenetti

The desperate dog owners tried to cool their bulldog down with ice, but it was too late  Frank was dead.

Gary said that the pup didnt move even when he shook him and that his eyes were open when he pulled him out of the carrier. His tongue was hanging out a little bit, and he wasnt moving or breathing. That was it, lamented the bereaved dog dad.

A tearful Angie attributed the pets death to the fact that they wouldnt let him out of his kennel despite seeing that he was clearly in distress.

In light of Franks tragic end, the crestfallen woman is calling on the airlines to make a change, declaring: I want to find whoever I need to find, to create a law that allows dogs to have a chance to live when traveling.

In a statement, Alaska Airlines claimed that they while they the well-being of four-legged flyers seriously and were saddened by the reported loss of this guests pet.

However, they maintained that they followed the airlines pet protocol to the letter and made sure to take extra care of them during the flight.

The Engelgaus described their deceased pooch as not the smartest dog, but a good dog nonetheless.

This isnt the first time a pooch has passed away while flying between the Hawaiian Islands to the mainland US.

In 2022, a Hawaii couple announced plans to sue Hawaiian Airlines after their 1-year-old English pit bull died while traveling on a flight from Las Vegas back home to Honolulu.

While inflight pet deaths are exceedingly rare, they do unfortunately occur.

Between January 2015 and December 2020, there were a total of 112 pet deaths reported by airlines to the Department of Transportation with over 40% occurring aboard United Airlines.
CHURCH HILL, Tenn. (WJHL)  An oversized load that was supposed to arrive at Eastman Chemical Company earlier this week is currently stopped in Hawkins County but is expected to be on the move again soon.

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the oversized load is currently parked along State Route 346, also known as Central Avenue and Carters Valley Road.

A TDOT spokesperson wasnt sure why the transport stopped but said it would start rolling again at 9 p.m. Friday.

Video: Oversized load travels through Hawkins County (courtesy of Josh Byrd)

LIST: Fourth of July 2024 celebrations in and around the Tri-Cities

The oversized load will travel down Carters Valley Road before turning onto U.S. 23/Interstate 26. It will then take Exit 4B and briefly travel on John B. Dennis Highway before turning onto Wilcox Drive. It will travel down Wilcox Drive before turning onto Lincoln Street and arriving at Eastman.

TDOT previously said the load was 20 feet wide, 229 feet long, 17 feet tall, and around 410,000 pounds.

Eastman said the load is the first of three pieces of equipment that will be transported to its Kingsport plant as part of a planned upgrade. The equipment will replace existing equipment. The other two transports are expected to occur in mid-July.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ozempic maker slams Biden after the president accused the drug company of ripping off US consumers

The company behind the popular weight loss and diabetes drug Ozempic slammed Joe Biden after he accused the pharmaceutical giant of ripping off US consumers with sky-high prescription prices.

President Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders, the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, co-authored a scathing op-ed in USA Today on Tuesday expressing concerns over the outrageous prices that the pharmaceutical industry charges the American people for prescription drugs.

The Democratic leaders accused Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company that makes diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, of charging the American people unconscionably high prices for these prescription drugs.

Why should people in Burlington, Vermont, pay so much more than people in Copenhagen or Berlin for the same drug? the pair wrote.

While a prescription for Ozempic in the US has an average list price of $936, it is just $83 in France, according to a 2023 KFF report.

The Democrats pointed to their legislative efforts, like the Inflation Reduction Act, aimed at reducing drug costs, before pointing fingers at big pharma: Its not just Congress that needs to act. Prescription drug companies also must stop ripping off the American people.

Novo Nordisk responded to the claims in a harsh rebuke, telling Politico that it was disappointed that a very difficult and complex problem is being oversimplified and mischaracterized for political purposes.

The maker of Ozempic, the injectable weight-loss drug, slammed President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders after the Democrats accused the company of ripping off US consumers (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Each country has its own health care system and making isolated and limited comparisons ignores this fundamental concern, a company spokesperson told the outlet.

Ozempics price has decreased approximately 40 percent since launch and over 80 percent of Americans with insurance only pay $25 or less per month for the drug.

The spokesperson continued: Unfortunately, even when we lower our prices, patients in the United States often dont receive the savings  this is a problem.

The demand for weight-loss drugs has skyrocketed. Around six percent of US adults, or an estimated 15.5 million people, have used injectable weight-loss drugs, according to a May Gallup survey.

But perhaps none can compete with the popularity of Ozempic, lauded as a weight-loss miracle drug by celebrities. The medication has experienced a recent surge that is hard to exaggerate; the companys market capitalization of $570bn is greater than the entire Danish GDP worth $400bn, Bloomberg reported in April.

The Democrats also took aim at Eli Lilly, accusing the pharmaceutical company of charging unconscionably high prices for Mounjaro, a drug with similar health effects as Ozempic. An average list price for the drug is $1,023 in the US compared to $444 in the Netherlands, according to the KFF study.

A spokesperson for Eli Lilly told The Independent in a statement: We offer Zepbound and Mounjaro for as low as $25 a month to those eligible for our savings card program. Comparing list prices in the United States to other countries ignores patient affordability programs and hundreds of billions of dollars in discounts and fees paid to [pharmacy benefit managers] by pharmaceutical companies that should lower the costs of medicines for Americans, but unfortunately this system can drive prices higher.

Obesity is a chronic, progressive disease and Joint Economic Committee economists estimate that over the next ten years, combined Medicare and Medicaid spending on obesity and obesity-related diseases will total $4.1 trillion. Treating these conditions today will save money, the statement continued.
(PAGOSA SPRINGS, Colo.)  A 39-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Pagosa Springs on Tuesday, July 2 has been identified by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and persons of interest have been identified in the case.

In an update to the case on Wednesday, July 3, the CBI said the victim had been identified as 39-year-old Crystal Snow of Pagosa Springs. Snows body was discovered on Tuesday morning, July 2, after a 911 call was received around 2:20 a.m. in which no one was on the other end of the line.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Silent 911 call leads to discovery of body in Pagosa Springs

Deputies with the Archuleta County Sheriffs Office responded to the call, which originated from Snows home in the 1000 block of County Road 700, west of Pagosa Springs. When they arrived, they found Snow dead from multiple apparent gunshot wounds.

The CBI said Snows death is being investigated as a homicide, and that several persons of interest had been identified, though no arrests have been made. The CBI believes this was a targeted shooting, and does not believe there is any threat to the public.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
NANUET - Two people have been arrested on multiple felony counts of possessing illegal firearms following the seizure of two handguns, ammunition, and ghost gun parts during a raid on their home, authorities said Wednesday.

Authorities arrested Vivian Wu and Tao Zhang on multiple weapons possession charges, as well as endangering the welfare of two children living with them in the home. The firearms were not safely locked away and were within reach of the children, ages 7 and 9, the Rockland District Attorney's Office said Wednesday in a news release.

This investigation is a significant step in our ongoing efforts to combat illegal firearms in Rockland County," District Attorney Thomas Walsh said.

Seized during a raid on a Nanuet home on July 2, 2024: Two loaded and un-serialized semi-automatic handguns, three high-capacity magazines, five major components of a firearm, and a large quantity of un-serialized ghost gun parts were found.

Rockland authorities executed a search warrant on the home on Tuesday with three federal agencies, the New York State Police, and Clarkstown police. The home's address was not released.

The investigation jump-started when federal authorities learned that numerous illegal firearm parts had been shipped to the Nanuet home. They also learned that Zhang had previously been convicted of a felony in 2015, authorities said.

During the Tuesday raid, investigators seized two loaded and un-serialized semi-automatic handguns, three high-capacity magazines, five major components of a firearm, and a large quantity of un-serialized ghost gun parts.

The search warrant was executed by the District Attorney's Office and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations New York Special Response Team, the United States Postal Inspections Services, the Clarkstown Police Department, the New York State Police, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.

Zhang and Wu, both 35, face the following charges:

 Two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the two semi-automatic 9mm pistols;

 Three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the three high-capacity magazines: two Glock style 9mm mags with 31 capacity, and one AR-15 style 5.56/.223 caliber magazine with 30 capacity);

 five counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the firearm components;

 65 counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon for un-serialized ghost gun parts.

Zhang and Wu were both remanded to the Rockland County Jail on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond by Clarkstown Justice Leslie Kahn. Supervising Assistant District Attorney Michael Peterson and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Reilly are prosecuting the case.

Walsh said the two arrests underscore the focus on ensuring a "community safe from gun violence."

HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said the arrests and seizures show multi-agency cooperation can work.

"Our efforts resulted in the apprehension of these individuals, one with a prior felony conviction, who was receiving shipments of gun parts to allegedly build his own ghost guns," Arvelo said. This operation sends a message that illegal firearms activities will be met with the full force of our combined resources and expertise."

Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegal

Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Nanuet raid sees two arrested, multiple guns and parts seized
Smoke rises from an area targeted by Israeli bombardment in the eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli attacks on a residential building and a school in an embattled Gaza City neighbourhood, Palestinians medics said on Thursday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declined to comment, saying only it was checking the reports.

Military operations are ongoing in several areas of the Gaza Strip, the IDF confirmed, including heavy fighting in Gaza City's eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood.

The IDF said "dozens of terrorists" were killed in close combat over the past day and that more underground tunnels used by Hamas militants were destroyed in Shejaiya, which Israel says remains a Hamas stronghold.

Shejaiya residents also reported seeing armed Hamas members attack Israeli soldiers.

The IDF said fighting is also continuing in the city of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip, with several fighters killed in an airstrike there.

First responders are currently unable to reach areas in Rafah and Shejaiya due to the fighting, medics said.

The IDF said a total of more than 50 targets were destroyed in airstrikes in the Palestinian territory on Wednesday.

Smoke rises from an area targeted by Israeli bombardment in the eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Smoke rises from an area targeted by Israeli bombardment in the eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens more injured in Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Palestinian medics said on Thursday.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had attacked two schools run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"The schools were used as hideouts for terrorists," the IDF said. Hamas members had also planned attacks on Israeli soldiers from there, the army said.

In order to prevent harm to the civilian population, precise munitions were used and the area was surveilled from the air, according to the IDF.

Palestinians said earlier a school and a residential building had been hit in the embattled Gaza City neighbourhood Shejaiya, leaving at least eight people dead.

The claims by both sides could not be independently verified.

Military operations are ongoing in several areas of the Gaza Strip, the IDF confirmed earlier, including heavy fighting in Gaza City's eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood.

The IDF said "dozens of terrorists" were killed in close combat over the past day and that more underground tunnels used by Hamas militants were destroyed in Shejaiya, which Israel says remains a Hamas stronghold.

Shejaiya residents also reported seeing armed Hamas members attack Israeli soldiers.

The IDF said fighting is also continuing in the city of Rafah in the far south of the Gaza Strip, with several fighters killed in an airstrike there.

First responders are currently unable to reach areas in Rafah and Shejaiya due to the fighting, medics said.

The IDF said a total of more than 50 targets were destroyed in airstrikes in the Palestinian territory on Wednesday.

The IDF also said two of its soldiers were killed in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

Smoke rises from an area targeted by Israeli bombardment in the eastern Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. Hadi Daoud/APA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Paris changed by the Olympics: The latest top stories from dpa trends

The Olympic rings and the Paralympic Games logo can be seen on a sign on a construction fence in front of the Eiffel Tower. Robert Michael/dpa

A rejuvenated Grand Palais, major new exhibitions and a suburb with high hopes for the 2024 Summer Olympics: Paris has been doing itself up for its biggest sporting event in years.

This week we've shown how Paris is being transformed for the hundreds of thousands of visitors arriving during this very special summer. Also: Why tourism is driving growing numbers of people in Spain onto the streets in protest.

Coman Hamilton,

dpa trends & features

\--------------------

TOP STORY: How Paris is reinventing itself for the Olympics

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Locals in Spain tell tourists to 'go home' as overtourism hits rents

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Contact: Marion Struck Director International Sales, dpa German Press Agency Tel. +49 40 4113 32310 E-Mail struck.marion@dpa.com
A Paso Robles man convicted of molesting and raping a child under the age of 14 was sentenced to 12 years in state prison Wednesday.

A jury convicted 48-year-old Noe Simental Arce of lewd and lascivious acts and sexual penetration of a child younger than 14 on May 8.

The crimes occurred between August 2019 and April 2022 in Paso Robles, during which time the jury found he exploited the trust and confidence of a particularly vulnerable young victim  which added two aggravating factors to the conviction  a previous San Luis Obispo County District Attorneys Office news release said.

He repeatedly targeted the child over two to three years, the agency said.

According to a Wednesday news release from the agency, written statements were read aloud in court prior to Arces sentencing by the childs mother and the child.

She begs God in her prayers to make her normal again, the childs mother said during the sentencing. We will not be broken. These crimes are the worst in our communities and they cannot be tolerated.

In a written statement to the court, the child said she forgave Arce and hoped her coming forward may prevent this from happening to someone else and was proud of herself for her bravery and speaking up.

During the two-and-a-half week trial, Arce maintained his innocence and claimed the crimes did not occur. The child, childs family members, medical personnel and law enforcement also testified in the trial.

Arce faced a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison  which Chief Deputy District Attorney Lisa Muscari advocated for  but Arces attorney argued he should be granted probation in lieu of a prison sentence.

San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Catherine Swynsen denied the defenses request and sentenced Arce to 12 years in state prison. He will also have to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Pedestrian in critical condition after being struck at Auburn Boulevard and Watt Avenue

Police suspect a driver was under the influence after a pedestrian was struck and severely injured at an intersection Thursday morning on the city limit of northeast Sacramento.

According to the Sacramento Police Department and Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District logs, officers responded to the crash just after 3:30 a.m. at the intersection of Auburn Boulevard and Watt Avenue, the citys boundary with unincorporated Arden Arcade. At the scene, they found an individual in the roadway with significant injuries. The person was hospitalized and police said they were listed in critical condition.

Sacramento police spokesman Officer Anthony Gamble said the driver of the vehicle displayed objective signs of intoxication and was arrested for felony DUI.

The investigation shut down both roads for several hours, and police said the investigation of the crash was ongoing.
(WHTM)  Many government offices are closed across Pennsylvania on Thursday in recognition of the Fourth of July.

One state-operated entity that will be open on Independence Day is Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores. According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, all stores will be open on Thursday, July 4 until 5 p.m.

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A current list of stores with individual store hours is available on the store locator page of FWGS.com.

However, PennDOT license centers will be closed for observation of the holiday.

The only holidays where Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores will be closed are Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Earlier this year the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board shared what some of the most popular spirits are across the state after reporting $3.15 billion in sales.

Tequila, ready-to-drink beverages, and whiskey topped the list of product categories with the largest year-over-year dollar gains, with increases ranging from 3.8% to 51.9% across categories.

The report also stated that unflavored vodkas were the top spirits in 43 counties across the state. Nearly $336 million in sales were made with unflavored vodka in 2022-23, followed by nearly $285 million in American Whiskey (bourbon).

When it comes to wine, Californa cabernet sauvignon was the top wine category in 42 counties, while another 13 counties had box red wine as the top wine. California chardonnay and beverage wine were the top wines in the remaining counties, with six each.

TOP 10 E-COMMERCE SPIRITS ITEMS BY UNITS

Blantons Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, 50 mL Buffalo Trace Straight Bourbon, 750 mL Crown Russe Vodka, 1.75L Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Straight Bourbon FWGS Exclusive Barrel, 375 mL Weller Special Reserve Straight Bourbon, 750 mL John E. Fitzgerald Larceny Straight Bourbon Barrel Proof, 750 mL Titos Handmade Vodka, 1.75 L Blantons Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, 750 mL Henry McKenna Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, Bottled in Bond 10 Year Old, 750 mL Buffalo Trace Single Barrel Straight Bourbon, FWGS Exclusive Barrel, 750mL

In all 67 counties, whiskey had the top share of sales followed by vodka, however, unflavored vodka made more money.

Top 10 Product Categories by Dollar Sales

Unflavored Vodka: $335,839,030 American Whiskey (bourbon): $284,911,963 Tequila, Silver or Blanco: $110,573,327 California Cabernet Sauvignon: $95,418,781 Flavored Whiskey: $92,502,872 Ready to Drink: $89,150,186 Flavored Vodka: $83,935,086 Scotch: $81,043,832 Cognac: $80,929,560 California Chardonnay: $78,932,313

Top Pennsylvania Products

Top Pennsylvania Wine by Dollar Sales: The Winery at Wilcox Clarion River Red

Top Pennsylvania Spirit by Dollar Sales: Stateside Vodka Soda Variety Pack (8355 mL)

Top Items by Unit

Top Wine: La Marca Prosecco; 855,820 units sold

Top Spirits: Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, 4,634,009 units sold

The full report can be seen by clicking here.

The top three counties, Allegheny, Philadelphia, and Montgomery accounted for 35% of statewide sales.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
FILE PHOTO: Presidential Meeting and XV Bilateral Cabinet between the Governments of Peru and Ecuador, in Lima

FILE PHOTO: Presidential Meeting and XV Bilateral Cabinet between the Governments of Peru and Ecuador, in Lima

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's Congress passed a law on Thursday introducing a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity, despite opposition from human rights organizations who argue the measure will hamper ongoing investigations into serious abuses.

The law passed with 15 votes in favor and 12 against in the Congress' permanent commission, after the right-wing dominated legislature initially approved the law last month with 60 in favor, 36 against and 11 abstentions.

"There are military and police officers aged 80, 85 and 90 who are unjustly imprisoned and others who are unjustly prosecuted for an undue application of crimes against humanity," said Fernando Rospigliosi, a congressman for the right-wing Popular Force (FP) party.

The FP is led by Keiko Fujimori, who promoted the law and is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, 85, who was last year released from prison after serving 16 years for human rights abuses during his decade-long rule in the 1990s.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights this week urged Peru to annul or block the law, but the government of President Dina Boluarte swiftly rejected this and blasted it as interference.

"I am absolutely outraged," Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen told journalists on Wednesday, referring to the court issuing a precautionary measure "in the most unusual way and without any precedent in jurisprudence."

The law needs to be signed by the president before implementation, Boluarte is expected to do so in the coming days.

Rights groups say the law would cut short dozens of investigations into human rights abuses committed before 2003, when fighting between security forces and rebel groups left 69,000 people dead or missing at the end of last century.

"Those who can benefit most immediately from the law are former President Fujimori," said Yvan Montoya, a law professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.

"It seems to me they are betting this law can apply to several cases for which he is being tried."

Fujimori, who was pardoned on humanitarian grounds after being sentenced to 25 years in 2007, faces charges in an upcoming trial of being a "perpetrator-by-means" of the murder of six people from rural areas in 1992, during clashes between security forces and guerilla group Shining Path.

The crime of which he is accused is considered a crime against humanity.

FP lawmakers argue the bill seeks justice for some 800 military personnel being "unjustly" investigated for crimes against humanity, a charge on which 36 military personnel have been sentenced since Fujimori's presidency.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Stephanie Hamel; Editing by Josie Kao)
Peru and Ecuador to join efforts on security and oil integration

Presidential Meeting and XV Bilateral Cabinet between the Governments of Peru and Ecuador, in Lima

LIMA (Reuters) - The presidents of Peru and Ecuador pledged to join efforts to fight transnational organized crime and also discussed new possibilities for oil processing, Peruvian Dina Boluarte said on Thursday.

Boluarte made the remarks in Lima after meeting with her Ecuadorian counterpart, Daniel Noboa, in which the two signed a joint declaration between the Latin American countries.

"We have managed to define commitments with collaborative approaches to confront transnational organized crime," Boluarte said, specifying that her and Noboa had talked about cooperation on migration and illegal mining.

On oil integration, the leaders addressed "the possibility of processing Ecuadorian oil in the Talara refinery," said Boluarte, without further details in a speech accompanied by Noboa.

The Talara refinery belongs to state-run Petroperu, Peru's cash-strapped oil firm that is struggling under multi-million debts and has little liquidity to maintain its operations.

(Report by Marco Aquino; Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Peru's President Dina Boluarte gives a statement to the press during an official visit by Ecuadorean counterpart Daniel Noboa to the government palace in Lima, Peru, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Guadalupe Pardo)

LIMA, Peru (AP)  Peru's Congress on Thursday passed a law establishing a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity committed before 2002, a decision that human rights organizations have warned could encourage impunity and thwart investigations into serious abuses.

It could also benefit figures including former president Alberto Fujimori and retired military personnel accused of  or even convicted for  crimes committed between 1980 and 2000 during an internal armed conflict that left thousands of victims.

According to the Peruvian prosecutor's office, the legislation will have a direct impact on 550 victims and 600 cases, including investigations and judicial processes that would be archived or dismissed by statute of limitations.

Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000, was sentenced in 2009 on charges of human rights abuses. He was accused of being the mastermind behind the killings of the 25 Peruvians while the government fought the Shining Path communist rebels.

The new law, in fact, was promoted by the right-wing Popular Force (FP) party, led by Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president Fujimori, and it states that no one will be prosecuted, condemned or sanctioned for war crimes or crimes against humanity committed prior to July 1, 2002."

Initially approved in June, the law needed a second vote that took place Thursday.

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte can either enact the law or return it to Congress with further recommendations. Boluarte has not said what she will do.

Several lawmakers who were military and navy personnel during the armed internal conflict support the law.

The Institute of Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru said in a statement that the law aims to limit the application of internal justice through the extinction of any criminal liability due to the passage of time.

In June, several human rights organizations in Peru warned that if the law were to be approved, impunity would be promoted in all cases that are part of the internal armed conflict from 1980 to 2000, including a famous trial in which former President Fujimori was accused of the 1992 massacre of six farmers executed by a clandestine group of soldiers.

Earlier this year, former Peruvian intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos and a close aide of Fujimori was sentenced to 19 years and eight months in prison in connection with the 1992 massacre.

According to a truth commission that studied the period of the conflict, the victims were mostly Indigenous people caught in clashes between security forces and members of the Shining Path rebel group. The commission estimates that the conflict killed 70,000 people.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
In this handout photo provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office, Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. talks during a conference with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in Quezon City, Philippines on Thursday July 4, 2024. Philippine forces would defend themselves with "the same level of force" if they come under assault again from China's coast guard in the disputed South China Sea where Chinese personnel armed with machetes and spears injured Filipino navy men and damaged two of their boats in a chaotic faceoff last month, the Philippine military chief warned Thursday. (Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office via AP)

MANILA, Philippines (AP)  Philippine forces will defend themselves with the same level of force if they come under assault again from Chinas coast guard in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese personnel armed with machetes and spears injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged two of their boats in a chaotic faceoff last month, the Philippine military chief said Thursday.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. asked China to pay 60 million pesos ($1 million) in damages for the two navy boats and return seven rifles which he said were seized by Chinese coast guard personnel during the June17 confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal.

Philippine officials relayed the demands, along with a strong protest, during talks with a Chinese government delegation in Manila. The Chinese delegation did not immediately respond to the demands, a Philippine official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of not being authorized to discuss the sensitive issue publicly.

The Philippine military may also ask China to pay for planned surgery on the hand of a navy officer who lost his right thumb during the clash in the shoal when it was hit by a Chinese navy vessel that rammed his boat, Brawner said.

What well do is we will apply the same level of force that would allow us to defend ourselves, Brawner said when asked in a news conference what Filipino navy personnel would do in case they are involved in another confrontation with Chinese forces at the shoal. If a knife is used, for example, our personnel will also use a knife, nothing more, under the concept of proportionality.

"When I said that well fight back, I meant we wont allow ourselves to be bullied just like that, just like what happened the last time because, of course, our adversaries had weapons, Brawner said, without elaborating.

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which involve China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have long been seen as a flash point that could pit the U.S. against China if the confrontations escalate into an armed conflict. Washington has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the disputed waters.

Second Thomas Shoal off the northwestern Philippines has emerged as a particularly dangerous area in the disputed South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships have surrounded Philippine marines aboard a grounded ship to prevent the delivery of food and other supplies to Manilas territorial outpost.

China and the Philippines accuse each other of instigating the confrontation at the shoal last month. Beijing accused the Filipinos of entering what it called Chinese territorial waters despite repeated warnings, prompting its coast guard to take action. The Philippines said its navy personnel were delivering food and other supplies to the Filipino forces stationed at the territorial outpost when Chinese coast guard personnel onboard at least eight boats assaulted them.

Brawner spoke after he and other top military commanders met President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a closed-door conference where they explained progress in counter-insurgency efforts and updated plans to defend Philippine territorial interests in the South China Sea. Marcos renewed an order to Filipino forces to take steps to de-escalate tensions in the disputed waters, Brawner said, adding that the military would continue to comply.

"We want to avoid war, Brawner said, but added that the military would never allow any foreign country to trample on the Philippines' territorial rights.
(Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the military to de-escalate South China Sea tensions, Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner said Thursday, without compromising the nations maritime rights.

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The military chief didnt elaborate on the presidents remarks during a command conference. Instead, Brawner said missions in the disputed sea will continue, and several options are being explored on how to proceed, including tapping allied nations.

We will do the same thing as before. Nothing will change even if it was said that we will de-escalate, because we are following the law, Brawner said.

Much of Brawners remarks signaled that while the Philippines is open to defusing tensions, it will be steadfast in fighting for its claims in the South China Sea, just like Beijing.

Senior Philippines and Chinese diplomats also agreed to ease hostilities in a regular bilateral meeting on Tuesday, but stood firm on their nations claims in the contested waters. The meeting took place weeks after the one of the most serious maritime clashes between the two countries, where a Filipino sailor lost his finger.

At the same briefing, Brawner demanded that China pay the Philippines 60 million pesos ($1 million) for damaging its boats and communications equipment during the June 17 encounter. Beijing may also be asked to cover the medical cost of making the injured sailors hand functional again.

China committed illegal acts and must be held accountable, Brawner said. The military chief had also said that China must return guns seized during the incident, where Philippine boats were punctured by Chinese forces using bladed weapons.

Asked to react to Manilas demands, China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the Philippines carried out an illegal resupply mission and made a provocation first.

It was legitimate and lawful for China to take law enforcement measures to defend its sovereignty, she said at a regular press briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

Brawner also raised concerns over Chinas supposed efforts to spread misinformation and influence various sectors in the Philippines, including local government units, businesses and media. We have to be very vigilant, he said.

The military is verifying information from Senator Imee Marcos about Philippine areas being supposed targets of Chinese missile attacks, its chief said. He also said hes hoping that Japan and the Philippines would be able to finalize a key deal next week on military visits.

--With assistance from Philip Glamann.

(Adds comments from Philippine military chief, Chinese official.)

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By Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has ordered his armed forces to defuse tensions in the South China Sea, his military chief said on Thursday, after a flare-up with China over missions to resupply Filipino troops on a contested shoal.

Marcos' instructions came after Manila and Beijing agreed on the need to restore trust and confidence to better manage maritime disputes during a round of talks which Manila hosted on Tuesday.

But that did not stop the Philippine military from calling for China to return the firearms that its coast guard seized from Filipino navy personnel and pay around $1 million in compensation for damaging vessels involved in last month's resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.

"I demanded the return of seven firearms," General Romeo Brawner told reporters following a command conference with Marcos. "We are demanding that China pay 60 million pesos for the damage they caused during that (incident)."

Manila has accused the China Coast Guard of intentionally ramming and deliberately puncturing navy vessels and seizing weapons to disrupt the resupply mission on June 17, seriously injuring a Filipino sailor who lost a finger. The Philippines maintains a rusting warship manned by a small crew that it ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to reinforce its maritime claims.

Brawner said the military is looking at the possibility of charging China with the cost of reconstructing the finger of the injured sailor.

China, which claims most of the South China Sea as its own territory, has maintained that its actions in the waterway, a key conduit for trade between Asia and Europe and the Middle East, have been lawful and professional.

"The Philippines should bear the consequences of its infringing behavior," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a briefing.

She said the Philippine side "was the first to provoke by illegally transporting supplies".

Beijing rejects the 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which said its expansive maritime claims had no legal basis.

The Philippine military presented the president with several options on its operations in the South China Sea, but they will not result in significant changes to how resupply operations were being carried out, Brawner said, without giving details.

"The end goal is still to be able to bring supplies to our troops...to be able to practice freedom of navigation and overflight, without necessarily escalating the situation you're in," Brawner said.

In the same briefing, Brawner said the Philippines' armed forces will also coordinate with a senator who claimed to have knowledge of a Chinese plan to target her country with hypersonic missiles.

Senator Imee Marcos, the president's sister and head of the senate foreign relations committee, created a stir earlier this week with her video, posted on Tik Tok. She has provided no evidence for the claim.

The Chinese foreign ministry said it does not know where the claims came from, but maintained Beijing adheres to a defensive national defence policy and does not pose a threat to any country.

"Of course, we will never sit idly by and watch our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability being violated and threatened," Mao said.

Beijing had previously condemned the deployment of a U.S. intermediate range missile system on Philippine soil during joint military exercises in April and May.

An army spokesperson confirmed the Typhon missile launcher remains deployed in the Philippines' northern islands, and there was no specific date yet as to when it would be "shipped out".

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.

Brawner said he was hopeful an agreement allowing the militaries of the Philippines and Japan to visit each other's country would be signed during a meeting between their defence and foreign ministers on July 8.

(This story has been corrected to say that there was no specific date yet as to when the missile will be shipped out, in paragraph 18)

(Reporting by Karen Lema and Mikhail Flores; Additional reporting by Mei Mei Chu in Beijing; Editing by Poppy McPherson, Devjyot Ghoshal and Lincoln Feast.)
(KRON)  A free water shuttle that will take riders to and from Oakland and Alameda in less than 10 minutes will open soon. Transportation officials announced that the Oakland Alameda Water Shuttle (OAWS) will open on July 17.

Roads closed due to SF police activity

The OAWS, otherwise known as Woodstock, will be open from Wednesday to Sunday every week for the next two years. It will offer 37 daily trips that are estimated to take under 10 minutes. The ferry is free to ride, and bicyclists are welcome.

The 45-foot vessel will operate between public docks at Bohol Circle Immigration Park at the foot of Alamedas 5th Street as well as Broadway in Oaklands Jack London Square. The Woodstock will also be run by SF Bay Ferry, which currently operates transbay ferries connecting Oakland and Alameda to San Francisco and Peninsula destinations.

This is a great example of communities and partners working together to connect growing job and population centers with new services that will get travelers out of their cars and onto public transit, said Jim Wunderman, Chair of SF Bay Ferrys Board of Directors. I look forward to partnering on more pilot services like this in the coming years, he said.







The first ride on the OAWS is planned to depart the Oakland dock at 7:00 AM on Wednesday, July 17. The full-service schedule is available at www.watershuttle.org

The yellow Woodstock boat was initially purchased from a tour operator in Buffalo, New York. It has since been trucked across the country to a boatyard in Richmond for repairs and has had accessible bike and wheelchair modifications added.

The modifications were made by Romeros Wielding in Vallejo.

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CHILLICOTHE  The Pickaway-Ross Adult Education Basic Peace Officer Academy, in partnership with Ohio University Chillicothe, has achieved the Ohio Attorney General's STAR Academy designation.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost visited the Adult Education campus on June 28 to present this award, recognizing the outstanding achievements of the inaugural academy.

Yost, along with members of his office, presented the STAR Academy designation to Academy Commander Terri Mikesh. Mikesh, who was instrumental in the creation of the initial criteria for the STAR program as part of the original committee, spoke about the significance of this honor and its impact on the academy.

"Achieving this award brings our efforts full circle," Mikesh remarked, highlighting the academy's dedication to excellence in law enforcement training. "This designation validates our commitment to providing top-notch training.

The STAR Training Center program aims to elevate police training quality across Ohio by encouraging academies to exceed basic standards. Recognized academies must meet both mandatory and supplemental criteria, including:

An 85% pass rate for cadets eligible to sit for the state certification exam.

An 85% pass rate at the 50th percentile or better for cadets attempting the final physical fitness assessment.

More than 15 cumulative hours of training in high-risk topics such as crisis intervention, building searches, and search and seizure.

Training for cadets on technological devices such as body cameras and drones.

The Pickaway-Ross Academy has successfully met all these criteria, demonstrating its commitment to producing highly capable and well-prepared law enforcement officers.

Director of Adult Education Carrie Fife spoke at the ceremony about the academy's impact and the efforts required to bring this vision to reality.

"The success of our program is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and cadets," Fife said.

Ohio University Chillicothe campus dean Roberta Milliken was also in attendance, underscoring the vital partnership between Ohio University Chillicothe and Pickaway-Ross. Milliken emphasized that this collaboration is what makes the program a true success and an asset to our community and praised Mikesh for her leadership of the academy.

"Being a career center, running service-minded programs is at the core of what we do. The STAR designation is a tremendous honor for our academy and reflects our commitment to training students who will serve our community with the highest standards," said Pickaway-Ross CTC Superintendent Jonathan Davis.

This article originally appeared on Chillicothe Gazette: Pickaway-Ross Basic Peace Officer Academy receives special designation
DENVER (KDVR)  Police and experts want everyone to stay safe and out of trouble on the Fourth of July holiday, especially when it comes to fireworks.

The types of fireworks that are legal in Colorado depend on where you live. However, a good rule of thumb is if a firework leaves the ground, it is not legal in the state.

Anyone caught using unpermitted fireworks could land in hot water.

If fireworks leave the ground, theyre illegal in Colorado

Business was booming Wednesday at Olde Glory Fireworks. Store owner Aeron Calkins said crowds will shop at the store between July 3 and the actual holiday, getting their goodies together as they prepare to celebrate.

When and where to see F-16 flyovers on July 4th in Colorado

Calkins said shoppers can trust the products they sell are legal.

Low to the ground, safe and sane, the fountains and the novelties and smoke and everything like that  but everything in this room is legal. Its inspected, the labels are checked, they are tested prior. So everything in here you can know is safe and legal as long as your city or county allows, Calkins said.

In Colorado, if a firework leaves the ground, it is illegal. In some places, like Denver, all fireworks are illegal. Douglas County still allows the use of fireworks that do not leave the ground, but they are asking neighbors to be careful using them.

If you use other sorts of sparklers or small fireworks, were asking you to be extra careful. Because already this year, we have already seen several grass fires break out because of kids playing with fireworks, said Deborah Takahara, public information director for the Douglas County Sheriffs Office.

What to do if you spot illegal fireworks

If youve lived in Colorado for some time, you know that people still use illegal fireworks. Police cannot issue a citation unless someone witnesses the fireworks being used.

Douglas County is opening a new hotline for neighbors to report incidents to law enforcement.

We have extra dispatchers on duty as well tonight, Takahara said on Wednesday. We have a special hotline set up, a fireworks hotline, where people can call in if they see people using illegal fireworks so we can respond to those calls. Last year, we got hundreds of calls every single night through the Fourth of July weekend. So we are expecting it to be very busy.

Colorado July 4th fireworks 2024 schedule

If you are looking to report an incident involving fireworks, remember not to call 911. Most police departments ask that you call their departments non-emergency line. They also ask that you do not hold celebrations in the road.

If you live in Douglas County and want to report the use of illegal fireworks, call their hotline at 303-814-7118. The hotline will be active from Wednesday, July 3, at 6 p.m. through Saturday, July 6, at midnight.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Police in D.C. said a man has been arrested and charged in connection to a shooting that occurred three months ago.

The Metropolitan Police Department said on April 14, at 2:20 p.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Ave, Southeast. There, police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.

MPD looking for suspect, vehicle connected to Southeast DC robbery

He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

About three months later on July 3, officers obtained an arrest warrant for 53-year-old Derrick Dion Gladden, of Southeast. He was charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun).

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
Indianapolis police say suspect who shot at officer in custody and in critical condition

Police are searching for a suspect who allegedly fired at an officer.

Indianapolis police said someone fired a shot at an officer Thursday near the 5100 block of E. 21st Street.

After a search, IMPD announced at 8:09 p.m. that the suspect was in custody and appeared to have a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The suspect was being transported to an area hospital in critical condition. IMPD said earlier in the evening that the suspect had barricaded himself inside a residence.

IMPD public information officer Tommy Thompson told reporters at the scene that police were investigating a previous incident in the area around 3:30 p.m. when officers identified an individual with an active warrant related to a separate case. Officers attempted to approach the individual, who later fled on foot and fired at an officer.

No other injuries have been reported.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police locate suspect after shot fired at officer
Police in Wisconsin investigating deadly crash, two people in custody

MADISON, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in southern Wisconsin say that two people are in custody following a deadly crash.

According to the Madison Police Department, on July 4 around 4:30 a.m., there was a crash near the intersection of Packers Avenu and Tennyson Lane. Police say it was a fatality crash and are investigating.

Two people are reportedly in custody related to the crash. The investigation was described as active. Authorities did not release how many were dead.

Homicide charges filed against Marinette County man accused of inattentive driving in crash that killed 2

The Madison Police Department thanked multiple agencies who helped and continue to support the investigation.

No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this 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.
Polish PM surprised by rumours that Orban may soon visit Moscow

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has posted a message expressing surprise that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may visit Moscow just days after his trip to Kyiv.

Source: Donald Tusk on X (Twitter), reported by European Pravda

Details: Tusk tweeted: "The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true, Viktor Orban, or can they?"

The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?  Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) July 4, 2024

European Council President Charles Michel responded to media reports about Orban's planned visit to Russia on Friday, saying that Hungary, which holds the EU Council presidency, has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.

VSquare and Direkt36 journalist Szabolcs Panyi, who covers Central and Eastern Europe, reported earlier, citing sources, that Orban will visit Moscow just days after travelling to Kyiv for an official visit.

The information has also been confirmed by Radio Liberty sources. The Hungarian government has not yet commented or officially confirmed the visit.

An EU official who wished to remain anonymous told Radio Liberty that Orban had not informed the EU of his visit to Moscow. Had Orban asked, Charles Michel would have strongly advised against such a visit, the official said.

On Tuesday, during his visit to Kyiv, Orban suggested that Ukraine agree to a ceasefire, which would be beneficial to Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the idea.

On Monday, Hungary took up its six-month EU presidency, and this has created an opportunity for Orban to raise his diplomatic profile.

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Nancy Pheifer with Demetrius Starling, executive director of Michigan Department of Health Children Services Agency on June 27, 2024. Pheifer received the Guy Thompson Champion of Reunification Award for her work in family preservation.

Nancy Pfeifer was awarded the Guy Thompson Champion of Reunification Award on June 27 for helping to keep area families together.

Pfeifer has been the co-director of the Port Huron Professional Counseling Center for eight months but has been working there in different roles since 1992. She was recognized for her leadership, service to families in the Port Huron community and her dedication to family preservation.

She helps staff in ensuring they are providing services to families to help them provide safe and stable environments for children.

In terms of reunification services, Professional Counseling Services works with the Department of Health and Human Services to bring children who were placed in foster care back to their families. Pheifer said her staff would help to ensure a smooth transition back to the home and help families overcome any barriers that can cause crisis.

Pheifer said that winning this award is special to her because she knew and worked with Guy Thompson, who was the Michigan program director of family reunification.

"I just feel honored to have the award," Pheifer said. "He was an exceptional individual and pressed upon me the power of families."

Pheifer received the award on June 27 at the Coleman Young Municiple Center in Detroit. She said there were families present who told their stories of how reunification services impacted their lives. Pheifer said it made receiving the award that much more special to her.

Professional Counseling Center Family Reunification Program Supervisor Christina Agle nominated Pheifer for the award. She said it's has been a long time coming for Pheifer to be recognized.

"Nancy has been in the field for decades, and she's always wanted families to have the best likelihood of reunifying," Agle said.

Agle said Pheifer cares about the families and the community. She said that while Pheifer prefers to stay out of the spotlight, she deserves to be recognized for her work.

Pheifer said receiving the Guy Thompson Champion of Reunification Award speaks volumes to the work done at the Professional Counseling Center. She said she has amazing co-workers and she is honored to work alongside them.

"This was really a collective effort," she said. "This speaks volumes to our services, and I really think this should have been a team award."

Pheifer said she is committed to making sure family voices are heard and that needs get met.

Contact McKenna Golat at mgolat@gannett.com.

Subscribe: Follow more stories from the Blue Water Area. Subscribe to the Port Huron Times Herald.

This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Port Huron local wins Guy Thompson Champion of Reunification Award
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) speaks during a get-out-the-vote event on March 4, 2024, in Burbank, California. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

On Monday, the Supreme Court granted near-total immunity to Donald Trump, ruling in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines that he is exempt from prosecution for any criminal act conducted as part of his core constitutional powers as president.

In the majority opinion, Chief Justice John Roberts said that the former president has presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility, but no protection from prosecution for unofficial acts.

Not surprisingly, the majority did not specify what constitutes an official act in Trumps federal election interference case, kicking the proverbial can down the road and back to the lower courts for further litigation  a gift to the twice-impeached convicted felon found civilly liable for sexual abuse. According to legal experts, there is now no chance that the case will go to trial before the upcoming presidential election, leaving the door open for Trump to end the prosecution or possibly even pardon himself if he retakes the White House.

In the wake of the high courts bone-chilling ruling  which not only irrevocably reshaped American democracy as we used to know it but, as Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her scathing dissent, made the president a king above the law  sitting Democrats did what they do best: nothing.

In what has sadly come to be expected of the so-called defenders of democracy against a dictator-celebrating demagogue, liberals in power fecklessly called on those of us terrified for the future of our country to simply vote.

On social media, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) released a video statement in which he called the Supreme Courts ruling an astonishing decision that flies in the face of our founding principles.

That might very well be the end of our republic, he warned, before pointing out the painfully obvious fact that our country is in grave danger.

Whats clear is that the first and last line of defense for our democracy will be the ballot box, not the courts, he continued. This November, we must put an end to Trumps dictatorial ambitions once and for all.

Senate Democrats managed to somehow be even more condescending and with far fewer words, tweeting after the ruling, H-O-T-T-O-V-O-T-E!

Thanks, guys. Super helpful.

In a truly not sure which is worse scenario, other Democrats simply responded with silence. Neither President Joe Biden nor Vice President Kamala Harris immediately addressed the ruling. Instead, Bidens account on X, formerly Twitter, was busy sending out apparently prescheduled tweets detailing how hard his administration is working to lower surprise travel junk fees, among other things.

Biden did eventually deliver remarks on the Supreme Courts immunity ruling shortly before 8 p.m. Eastern time, urging the American people to do what the Court would not do and render a judgment about Trump.

The American people must decide if Trumps embrace of violence to preserve his power is acceptable, he said. The American people must decide if they want to entrust ... once again the presidency to Donald Trump, now knowing hell be more emboldened.

While the lack of action or urgency is equal parts concerning and enraging, the spineless response from sitting Democrats is also not surprising. Liberals in positions of power have a tainted history of meeting unprecedented moments of corruption with lukewarm statements and regurgitated campaign promises hinging on voter turnout.

After the Supreme Court overturned its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade, Democrats relied on the ire and fear of voters to try to restore a constitutional right to abortion. The party could have pushed to expand the court  a move that Biden claimed would effectively politicize the court, maybe forever  but instead simply urged those of us now forced to carry unwanted or dangerous pregnancies to term to show up at the ballot box.

And we did: Americans have voted in favor of abortion access every single time it has appeared on a ballot since Roe was overturned, and Republicans still managed to enact 80 abortion care restrictions in 2023 alone. Now were told that Biden and other Democrats are all that stand between us and a nationwide abortion ban, in part because progressives have failed to do anything but send emergency emails asking for $20 campaign contributions.

Even in last weeks disastrous presidential debate, in which Biden failed to adequately advocate for abortion rights, the president promised voters that if reelected he would restore Roe, raising the question: What exactly are you waiting for? Youre the sitting president, so why not do something  now?

Democrats have done much of the same when facing attacks on marriage equality. After the Supreme Court in 2022 not-so-subtly signaled a desire to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, including the ruling that solidified marriage equality, sitting Democrats delayed a vote to protect same-sex marriage until after the November midterms that year.

The same can be said of any number of legal precedents that the Supreme Court has considered and ultimately dismantled. That includes the disastrous Chevron doctrine decision, after which House Democrats promised to continue to stand on the side of everyday Americans, whatever the hell that means.

Even now, given that the president has much more power than he did a week ago, Biden has said that he will continue to respect the limits of presidential powers  meaning hell keep showing up to a violent shoot-out of the Republicans making with a teeny-tiny squirt gun.

The Democrats patronizing message is clear: Instead of finding it within themselves to meet this moment by flexing any kind of legislative or executive muscle, theyd rather place the monumental task of defending democracy on the shoulders of an overworked, underpaid, gerrymandered electorate already hamstrung by their rank passivity.

Expand the court! Hold hearings! Impeach the clearly corrupt, insurrectionist flag-displaying, gift taking judges! Test the new power of the presidency by bulldozing Bidens extremely popular campaign promises through Congress as part of the executive branchs official acts that give Biden a Mario super star power-up level of immunity!

Just please, for the love of all things egalitarian, stop standing on your moral high ground while the rest of us drown, leaving the job of preserving our democracy solely up to us as we attempt to weather another rogue wave.
Which president died on July 4th? There was more than one.

WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  Forty-five people have held the office of President of the United States since the countrys founding. (Thats 45 people, covering 46 presidencies.)

Among the men who served in that role, three of them died on July 4. In a strange coincidence, two of those presidents were Founding Fathers who died hours apart in the same year.

What is the nickname of the only US president born on the 4th of July?

John Adams

John Adams served as President of the United States from 1797-1801.

Adams was born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1735. He studied at Harvard University and became a lawyer. Adams was a delegate to the First and Second Continental Congresses, and he was a key figure in the push for independence from England.

After his tenure as president, Adams retired to his farm in Quincy, Mass. where he penned elaborate letters to his fellow Founding Father Thomas Jefferson, who would follow him as president.

According to his White House Historical Association biography, Adams died at his farm on July 4, 1826, whispering his last words: Thomas Jefferson survives.

What Adams did not know was that Jefferson died a few hours earlier.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the United States third president, was born in 1743 in Albemarle County, Va. He inherited 5,000 acres of land from his father and a high social standing from his mother. Jefferson studied at the College of William and Mary (now William & Mary) in Williamsburg, Va., then read law.

He married Martha Wayles Skelton in 1772, taking her to live in his beloved home, Monticello, which was not fully built at the time.

Jefferson, whos time as president was from 1801-1809, retired to Monticello where, among other things, he worked on his designs for the University of Virginia.

Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, a few hours after his presidential predecessor, John Adams.

Which womans name appears on the Declaration of Independence?

James Monroe

James Monroe was the countrys fifth president. He was the last of the Founding Fathers to hold that role.

The two-term president (1817-1825) was born in Westmoreland County, Va. and attended the College of William and Mary (now William & Mary) in Williamsburg, Va. Monroe, who fought in the Continental Army, went on to practice law in Fredericksburg, Va.

Among his work as president, the foreign policy that would come to be known as the Monroe Doctrine is, perhaps, best known. At its heart, the policy expressed opposition to the assertion of European control or influence in the Western Hemisphere.

Monroe died on July 4, 1831.

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What can be, unburdened by what has been. Nobody knows how to interpret that gnomic phrase. But that hasnt stopped the Vice President of the most powerful country on Earth from adopting it as her mantra. Does it matter? Put it this way: with the United States poised to be unburdened by a certain octogenarian as he reels on his presidential perch, this is the person who may be getting her hands on the future of the world.

Step forward Kamala Harris, star of a new attack video produced by the Republicans. In the clip, she is seen repeating the baffling unburdened slogan in no fewer than 62 speeches. I challenged my Twitter followers to watch it to the end. Only one had the grit to get through all four minutes in a single sitting, vowing darkly that hed never forgive me.

The punch of the video lay in the way it simply showcased Harriss own cretinism, allowing her to be hoist by her own petard. Of course, she is hardly the first politician to be weird, but she wears it so cheerfully and so smugly, with such a patronising lack of self-awareness, that she makes of herself an ignominious exception.

Its not just the unburdening shtick. Other greatest hits include Harris clapping obliviously along to a hostile protest chant in Puerto Rico, warbling The Wheels On The Bus to a tune apparently of her own invention, and delivering a homily about a coconut tree.

In 2021, with migrants risking their lives to cross from Mexico into the United States, she was asked why she had not visited the border in the 76 days since she had been in charge of the crisis. I havent been to Europe, she replied, laughing as if she had won.

Harris attempted to show a better grasp of geography in March, when Israel was poised to enter Rafah. I have studied the maps, she told ABC. Theres nowhere for those [civilian] folks to go. Israel responded by evacuating a million people in ten days, directing them safely to an expanded humanitarian area in central Gaza.

So we may add map reading to her growing list of incompetencies. But given how National Security Council officials reportedly had to water down her anti-Israel rhetoric in a speech that same month, this may be about something darker than ineptitude.

Be afraid. Given her proximity to unrivalled power, Harris seems to have avoided the intense scrutiny directed at presidential candidates. But her oddness partly explains her persistent unpopularity. Last year, a poll showed that most Americans viewed her as the worst vice president this millennium.

Biden selected her to be his running mate again. By April, her favourability ratings had plummeted to -16. They now stand at -20, marginally ahead of the President at -24, according to CNN. The fact that Trump is ahead at -15 tells you everything you need to know about this election.

If Biden dodders onto his political sword, there will be few good options for the Democrats. The party may be forced to revive a process not seen since the Sixties, in which a candidate will be chosen competitively at an open convention in August. The radical instincts of thousands of Democratic delegates, combined with the power of the unions, would threaten to push firebrands like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the fore.

Alternatively, Biden could endorse a replacement, turning the convention into a more traditional coronation. This would be good for party unity; but would it be good for America?

The shameful truth is that the 47th president may be selected not by talent but by race. Disgracefully, with the world at the most dangerous point since the Cold War, our future is in hoc to the new progressive radicalism.

Harriss team has let it be known that it would be offensive if Biden were to anoint a white successor. Much of the Democratic base would presumably agree. The self-evident fact that neither Harriss race nor sex is in any way relevant to her suitability for the most difficult job in the world is testament to the fever dream of identity politics that is 2024 America.

As appalling as it sounds, Harris may win the nomination purely by threatening to cry racism. That really would be the partys Trump card.

Jake Wallis Simons is editor of The Jewish Chronicle and author of Israelophobia

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Aside from the crowds that will turn out Thursday night to watch the fireworks that will festoon over the National Mall in Washington, D.C., millions more will have their eyes peeled on President Joe Biden and the first lady throughout the White Houses Fourth of July festivities.

As the first couple soldiers on in what aims to be a full-steam ahead re-election effort following the presidents shaky debate performance last week in Atlanta, the Bidens are sure to be scrutinized more than ever by the media, voters, followers and critics alike. As far as the 11 federal holidays go, Independence Day is one that the majority of voters can agree on. (The current state of the nation and its future are another matter as they are in other countries.)

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However, this holidays tried-and-true red, white and blue unofficial dress code is another point of unification. Aside from replicating the stars and stripes in the American flag, these national colors hint at values. In 1782, Charles Thomson, who designed the Great Seal of the U.S., the emblem that is our national coat of arms, said, White signifies purity and innocence. Red hardiness and valour, and Bluesignifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama in silhouette, watching the fireworks over the National Mall from the White House on July 4, 2009. Photograph by Pete Souza

Independence Day celebrations at the White House also have a long lineage, dating back to 1801, when Thomas Jefferson welcomed diplomats, civil and military officers, citizens, and Cherokee chiefs into the oval saloon, which is known today as the Blue Room. The U.S. Marine Band played in the Entrance Hall and horse races and parades were held on the North grounds, along with food and drink. The band, aka the presidents own, performs at most White House events today including the Fourth. In a strange twist of fate in 1826, Jefferson died on Independence Day, as did his fellow Founding Father President John Adams, on what was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of the Independence. James Monroe, the fifth man to serve as the countrys president, died on the Fourth of July in 1831.

President Harry Truman meeting with Michael Gene Condatore of Washington in the Oval Office, where Michael presented the president with an oversized firecracker that had the presidents initials on it. Photograph by Abbie Rowe

Just as every administration has its own style, that extends to Fourth of July traditions. Most get the grills going, line up live music and do a meet-and-greet before any pyrotechnics are set off. Although President John Tyler served turtle soup made from what was said to be a 300-pound turtle at his July Fourth celebration in 1841, barbecues and picnic baskets have been more the norm with recent administrations. Nor have there been a fireworks-induced fatality or multiple injuries lately, as was the case with President James K. Polks 1845 Independence Day bash at the White House.

President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush standing with guests on the Truman Balcony during the 2005 Fourth of July celebration.

First ladies have been known to take a few liberties regarding what they choose to wear. Last year Jill Biden turned up for the fireworks wearing a blue printed shirtdress and in 2021 she opted for a shimmery short-sleeved dress.

Sarah Fling, a historian at the White House Historical Association, said the Fourth of July has only become a big celebration at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the last 30 years. More often than not, further back some leaders like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and George H. W. Bush preferred to retreat to their respective summer homes. In the early part of the 20th century, presidents and first ladies were more inclined to flock to cooler climates or Camp David for the Fourth. Typically, most of the midcentury presidents and first ladies left D.C. during the Fourth of July  the Eisenhowers, the Trumans, the Johnsons and the Kennedys. It became more popular with the Carters and the Reagans. Its pretty much the same celebration every year  the public comes, theyre able to watch the fireworks on the National Mall and there is some kind of music and celebration, said Fling.

President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford at the railing of the Truman Balcony, watching the fireworks for the Bicentennial in 1976. Photograph by Karl Schumacher

Flings favorite revelers were Gerald and Betty Ford, who marked the nations bicentennial in 1976 with a slew of pre-Fourth events, and spent part of the actual holiday in New York City, catching a parade of tall ships in New York Harbor before flying back to the White House for the fireworks. Three days later they kept the celebration going with a state visit for Queen Elizabeth II.

Donald J. Trump and Melania Trump at the Salute to America Fourth of July celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in 2019.

Other July Fourth regalia has proved to be costly. Extra security expenses and anti-terrorism measures for former president Donald Trumps military-style Independence Day parade in 2019 reportedly cost the District of Columbia $1.7 million and tapped out its Emergency Planning and Security fund. On that occasion, some were more focused on Melania Trumps white Carolina Herrera dress with rainbow-colored trim and whether that was meant in support of gay pride. For the 2018 Fourth of July celebration, Trump opted for a blue and white gingham Rivera dress from Ralph Lauren with a wide red belt.

A large crowd gathered on the White House lawn during a Fourth of July celebration in 1903. Three thousand people attended patriotic speeches held under the shade of trees on the South Lawn.

When inclement weather rained out Barack and Michelle Obamas Fourth of July plans in 2016, they threw a party in the East Room with Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monae. The former FLOTUS showed her patriotism in white jeans and a red printed halter top. Given the casualness of the annual holiday, first lady fashion does not often bubble up to the surface in WHHAs research beyond the prominence of red, white and blue attire in photographs, Fling said. Its not as influential as what you might see at a state visit or a formal reception. Its just so hot, frankly, in Washington, D.C. Most of these events take place outside so we definitely see first ladies take on a much more casual approach to their fashion.

President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan at a Fourth of July picnic on the South Lawn of the White House in 1981. Also in the picture are Earle Jorgensen, Caroline Deaver and Mike Deaver.

Multiple White House events are routinely held on the Fourth including staff barbecues earlier in the day sometimes, Fling said. A president may use the occasion to speak, have a written proclamation read or give a ceremonial wave to the masses with the first lady. In 1981, Nancy and Ronald Reagan literally joined the party on the South Lawn, stretching out with guests. That is so quintessentially Fourth of July in the way they are dressed, looking extremely patriotic. But they still seem like they are part of the celebration, not too formal. They look like they are just having fun, Fling said. With the red, white and blue [boater] hats and picnic baskets, that photo perfectly encapsulates Fourth of July at the White House. It is the Peoples House and the president and the first lady celebrating with the people.

In 1994, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary kept things casual catching the fireworks from the White House roof, while seated in foldable card chairs, as their then-teenage daughter Chelsea sat on the ground nearby. The former first lady and future secretary of state maintained her signature look, wearing a medium-blue pantsuit with low-heeled dress shoes. Her successor as first lady Laura Bush also stayed true to party lines on Independence Day in 2001, wearing an all-red ensemble.

To escape the political pressure of downtown D.C. and the summer heat, Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd only ventured a few miles to Riggs Cottage at the Soldiers Home, where their sons could roam and the first lady could quell her anxieties. Media coverage of first ladies activities was scant at that time, according to Fling, who noted that President Lincoln attended a picnic for African American schools and churches on Independence Day in 1864. He allowed the groups to hold events on the White Houses South Grounds, where a recitation of the Declaration of Independence was read.

Acknowledging the renewed interest in Mary Todd Lincolns life, as evidenced by the comedic stage play Oh, Mary! Fling said, Part of that can be attributed to a better understanding of mental health in the U.S. in that she dealt with a lot of grief as first lady both before and after her husbands assassination. She lived a very difficult life and was said to have suffered from depression. Later in life she was put into a mental facility by her family, and people wrote her off as being frivolous, over-emotional or difficult. Those are things that we would moreso attribute to depression and the traumas she experienced from losing her husband and several of her children in a short period of time.

White House staff and guests enjoying a Fourth of July celebration on the South Lawn, July 4, 2002. Photograph by Tina Hager

First ladies have been known of course to celebrate the Fourth wherever they might be. During an early July trip to South Dakota in 1927, Calvin Coolidge, the only president to have been born on July 4, had an impromptu hoopla thanks to his wife Grace. Newspapers reported that she bought sparklers and firecrackers. She surprised him with a huge delegation from the public, and had bands come celebrate to surprise him on his birthday, Fling said.

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Firefighters have made progress against the raging Thompson Fire in northern California's Sierra Nevada foothills, officials said Thursday as the state sweltered through a triple-digit heat wave. Photo courtesy Cal Fire/Butte County/Facebook

July 4 (UPI) -- Fire officials said Thursday they have made substantial progress in stopping the forward progress of the massive Thompson Fire in northern California and held out hope evacuees could soon return to their homes.

Crews deployed air tankers and Type-1 helicopters overnight against the leading northern edge of the fire, located just northeast of Oroville, Calif., and were successful in halting its progress, Cal Fire Operations Section Chief Cody Bogan said in an afternoon update.

The Thompson Fire had burned 3,747 acres and was listed as 7% contained as of 12 p.m. PT on the July 4 holiday as California sweltered through a prolonged heat wave that produced a high of 109 degrees in Oroville on Thursday.

Bogan said Cal Fire crews, along with Butte County, Calif., personnel, worked through the night into Thursday to break up the northern line of the fire and had made significant progress in stopping its southerly spread toward the city of Oroville and the vital Oroville Dam, which supplies electric power to much of the state's Sierra Nevada Mountains foothills region.

The Pacific Gas & Electric utility powered down the dam and evacuated the area as the fire approached the Feather River, but the power flow from the dam had been restored by Thursday, Bogan said.

However, the news for 28,000 people evacuated from the area was mixed. While expressing confidence the blaze was coming under containment despite the extreme heat and low humidity, Bogan said a wind shift which potentially cause flare-ups made it necessary to put off any immediate plans to lift the evacuation orders.

"It's one of our highest priorities to get people back in their homes,: he said. "It's obviously very concerning to us and for the public, who want to get back into their homes and enjoy the holiday as best they can."

He predicted that within "two to three days" the Thompson Fire would be under control and that evacuees would soon be allowed to return.
When we posted a story on Threads this week about how most married same-sex couples are worried about challenges to marriage equality in the wake of the Supreme Courts most recent horrifying rulings, the comments underneath were ominous.

Rather than key in on losing our right to marry, readers said that we had so much more to worry about:

Talk to any of us over 50. We remember, we know how bad it can get. Your marriage will be the least of your problems. Will you get fired tomorrow because of a new homophobic boss? Will they rent or give you a loan to buy? Will you be safe walking home? one user writer.

Another wrote, 100% true but marriage equality is the least of the issues. Your own life is on the line. Everything else is secondary. We must vote.

Honestly they should be worried about having the right to exist. Trump will be using Putins playbook, said another.

Those comments were the tip of the iceberg. To be sure, regardless of who wins the presidential election, the Supreme Court will almost certainly have overturned marriage equality a year from now. You can be sure that they will find a way to do it, come hell or high water.

And if the hell of Trump winning the presidential election in November occurs, with current polls suggesting he will, you can be sure that the celebrations of freedom on July 4, 2025 will be muted or far different than they were this year. Thats because the far right is hell-bent on implementing its Project 2025 plan for a dystopian society that is far less free and far more destructive.

Late last year, I was on a panel with retired Air Force Captain Tom Carpenter for a discussion about an MSNBC documentary about LGBTQ+ people in the military. Carpenter has devoted his life working to open the military to queer troops. When he was asked what the next frontier was with queer rights, he was quick with a comeback.

Im paraphrasing here, but Carpenter basically said that our wins, including in the military, for more equal rights, and for marriage could all be aberrations, temporary, and taken away before our very eyes. Sinister forces, like those behind Project 2025, want nothing more than to take away our rights and make our sexual orientations, and our identities, illegal.

As we explained in a story late last month , Project 2025, drafted by the far-right, seeks to make the U.S. an authoritarian nation. The plan replaces tens of thousands of federal workers with those who have allegiance to Donald Trump. It also does away with access to contraception, a possible national abortion ban, cuts federal health care programs, and quite obviously includes a plethora of anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives.

Just as Carpenter predicted, Project 2025 is also coming after LGBTQ+ service members, as well as marriage equality, queer parents, and LGBTQ+ books  among many other exclusionary and harmful initiatives.

It also calls transgender people an ideology, labels transgender health care for children child abuse, and reverses policies allowing transgender people to serve in the military.

There are so many other shocking components, beyond how it decimates our community. It seeks to make the United States a Christian nation and do away with the separation of church and state. And all the components are in place to make this happen.

If the Republicans retain the House in the upcoming election, and Trump wins the presidency, Speaker Mike Johnson will be emboldened to push his Christian nationalism beliefs and further his hate toward our community, particularly gay men, his most fervent compulsion. And, if polls are correct, Democrats are in danger of losing the Senate, which means that Johnson will have allies like rabid Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville in leadership positions.

Layer this on the SCOTUS decision this week to give Trump immunity (I dont think Ill ever recover hearing this news, and I dont think our country will either), and you have a trifecta of white extremist lunatics that will deconstruct any freedoms for those in marginalized communities, as well as religion, marriage, and health care rights. It will deport millions and put undocumented immigrants in concentration camps. It will ignore climate change. And those terrifying scenarios are just for starters.

My point here is not to rehash the reprehensible and retaliatory Project 2025 illegalities  which is what the document consists of, but rather to talk about how much we take for granted, and how complacent we are in protecting all that we take for granted.

The point that Carpenter was trying to make was that we should not take what we have for granted and not be complacent about protecting that which we take for granted.

If you think about our society today, everything is geared towards making our lives easier. Modern conveniences have made it so easy to take the easy way out. If it isnt less than three clicks away, it becomes a pain in the ass.

We spend our days hunched over our phones or computers. Walk down a street anywhere, and people arent looking at you, theyre scrolling their phones. Its so much easier to stare at that screen than to face reality.

Artificial intelligence will slowly take away our ability to do so many things manually. Except for one thing that is vitally important  our right to vote. For that, we have to make sacrifices. We must drive to a poll, or wait in a long line, or fill out a ballot and mail it or drop it off. Our phones cant do that. AI cant do that for us, its all on us.

And the consequences of making that extra effort, without relying on our phones or technology, can  and this is not B.S.  be life-altering in the most frightful way.

Politicians and pundits harp on us to vote, and many of us just shrug and say, Enough. Stop telling me what to do. Or If I have time. Or One vote doesnt matter. And were told it does, and we just go back to staring at our phones.

We also hear people like Speaker Johnson say that queer people will be condemned and should be punished. Donald Trump says that he will be an authoritarian leader on day one. And any number of Republican candidates and elected officials who think abortion should be criminalized . And we say, Well, its all talk. That wont happen.

We disbelieve that the Supreme Court could rule for extremists, again with, That wont happen. And then the Court overturns Roe v. Wade, gets rid of affirmative action , overturns the long-held precedent of Chevron and the power of government agencies, and gives Trump immunity . And then that well-worn phrase, That wont happen, turns into, How did that happen?

A year from now, will we be celebrating July 4th the same way we celebrated July 4th this year, or for the past 248 years? Things might be far different  beyond our worst nightmares and our regrettable complacency. Fireworks are more muted. Our long-held freedoms diminished, because when we were warned about Project 2025, we said, yet again, That wont happen.

A year from now, lets not be asking, How did this happen?

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In a video, Harry Wait holds up absentee ballots he requested on behalf of other people. (Screenshot)

The mayor of Glendale complained that two of Wisconsins most prominent election conspiracy theorists were disruptive while observing voting in the Milwaukee suburb of Glendale during Tuesdays primary in the special election for the 4th Senate District.

First reported by Fox 6, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said he thought the actions of the two election deniers, Peter Bernegger and Harry Wait, were despicable.

You have every right to observe the process, but our poll workers are incredibly well trained, Kennedy told the TV station.

Kennedy told the Wisconsin Examiner that Bernegger and Wait were among a group of people who showed up at each of Glendales three polling locations, adding that one of them, when asked who he was representing, said the Traditionalist Party, a neo-Nazi group.

Kennedy said the observers at each of the polling locations were challenging every absentee ballot and refusing to comply with the rule that requires them to stay three feet away from the table where absentee ballots are being opened and processed.

[They] kept persisting and agitating, making it so at one of the polling places by 10 a.m. there wasnt a single absentee ballot counted, he said.

After continuing to escalate, the observers refused to comply with requests to leave until police were called.

Appearing later at Milwaukees central count location for tallying absentee ballots, Bernegger accused a reporter of harassing him by asking questions about the earlier incident.

For four years, Bernegger and Wait have been two of Wisconsins most prominent and active election conspiracy theorists. In 2022, Bernegger, who was previously convicted of mail fraud and is the grandson of the founders of sausage company Hillshire Farms, alleged at a hearing of the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee that with the use of a supercomputer hed been able to find hundreds of thousands of illegally cast votes.

Bernegger refused to elaborate on his process or how he came up with that figure. Election officials said he was making malicious accusations based on easily explainable occurrences in the statewide voter registration database.

Bernegger had claimed that he found addresses in which there were so many people registered to vote it didnt make sense. Upon further review, election officials found that those addresses were dorms on the campuses of University of Wisconsin schools where hundreds of students live and move out after just one year, explaining the high amount of turnover.

Wait has drawn attention for his allegations that the states absentee ballot system is vulnerable to fraud. In an attempt to prove his claims in 2022, Wait requested absentee ballots on behalf of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason. Wait was later charged by the state Department of Justice with violating the law by impersonating voters to make the requests.

In 2023, Wait told the Wisconsin Examiner he was so involved in right-wing election activism because we have a bunch of cheaters in our state, thats why.

Kennedy said that he believes the incidents on Tuesday were a sign that there may be increased harassment at the polls in the presidential election in November. One of the observers, while leaving the polling place, promised to be back in Glendale for every election until then.

I believe yesterday was a dry run for November, Kennedy said. When  they left city hall, they said rather curtly to the staff, Well be back at the end of the month, well be back in August and well be back in November. If its not them, other people like them will be back. Were going to see the same thing happen probably at a much larger scale. I have confidence in the hundreds of clerks across the state who are members of both parties or no party and the people who show up to run the polls and make sure their neighbors have the right to vote.

The post Prominent election deniers draw complaints from Glendale mayor appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Putin claims Istanbul peace plan draft still 'on table' for talks between Russia and Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on July 4 that the alleged peace plan proposal drafted during negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow in 2022 in Istanbul, could be the basis for a "settlement" of a Russia's full-scale war, the Kremlin-controlled TASS news agency wrote.

Russia and Ukraine held unsuccessful talks in Belarus and Turkey in the early months of the full-scale war, and no subsequent direct negotiations have been led since then.

"These agreements remain on the table and can be used as a basis for continuing negotiations," Putin said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) meeting in Kazakhstan.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the content of the unpublished 2022 peace terms already back in March, but the New York Times published in mid-June the 17-page draft in full, which it verified with participants in the talks.

According to it, both sides agreed to exclude Crimea from the treaty, leaving it under Russian occupation without Ukraine recognizing Russian sovereignty over it while the status of Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine was to be decided in later talks between presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin.

Ukraine offered to abandon aspirations to join NATO or any other military alliance, but the treaty allowed Kyiv to enter the EU. Russia also demanded the lifting of all sanctions, repealing Kyiv's laws related to language and national identity, and limiting Ukraine's Armed Forces.

A day before the purported draft was published, Putin claimed that, as a condition for peace negotiations, Ukrainian troops must leave Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which was rejected by Kyiv and its partners.

Ukraine repeatedly said the peace talks should be held on the basis of its 10-step peace formula, which includes a full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Moscow has rejected this proposal.

Kyiv is preparing for the second peace summit and aims to create a detailed action plan which will include steps related to "all the crises" caused by Russia's all-out war, Zelensky said.

Read also: Zelensky says Trump should reveal plan on ending Russias war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would never declare a ceasefire in Ukraine without Kiev meeting certain preconditions.

Ukraine could use a ceasefire to arm itself for new attacks, which is why a sustainable solution to the conflict must be negotiated first, Putin said.

Putin pointed to earlier agreements on the Ukraine conflict from times before he ordered his full-scale invasion, which ultimately ended up "in the rubbish bin."

He was referring to the essentially frozen conflict after Moscow illegally annexed Crimea and the presence of Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

"That is why we cannot simply declare a ceasefire now in the hope that the other side will take some positive steps," Putin said at the end of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security forum.

"We cannot allow the enemy to use this ceasefire to improve its situation, arm itself, refresh its army with the help of forced mobilisation and be ready to continue the armed conflict," Putin said at the event held in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down proposals for a ceasefire, most recently suggested by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is widely seen as having warm relations with Putin.

Ukraine is not prepared to negotiate under the current circumstances and is demanding Russia's complete withdrawal from all occupied territories, including Crimea, as a prerequisite for peace, Zelensky said.

The Kremlin also turned down an offer by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to mediate between Moscow and Kiev, proposed in Astana.

Russia replenishes its ranks

Back in Russia, former president Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that the Russian armed forces have had their ranks bolstered by 190,000 new volunteer recruits so far this year.

Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said that there was no shortage of military personnel and that the Kremlin's enlistment goal was being fulfilled.

"The average daily recruitment rate remains stable and amounts to around 1,000 people," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the state news agency TASS while at a Defence Ministry meeting.

According to estimates by the Ukrainian military leadership, almost 550,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion over two years ago.

Ukraine forced to surrender parts of Chasiv Yar

The Ukrainian army was forced to abandon the easternmost part of the small town of Chasiv Yar in the Donetsk region, following months of fighting.

"The positions of our defenders have been destroyed," the spokesman for the Khortytsia army grouping, Nazar Voloshyn, said according to the Interfax-Ukraine agency. It was therefore no longer tenable to hold the town's Kanal district, he said on Thursday, adding that a retreat to new positions had been ordered.

Not a single intact building was left, the spokesman said, adding: "Bombardments and artillery fire have left behind a lunar landscape."

A week ago, Voloshyn had said that the Ukrainian army had largely driven the Russian opponents out of the district.

The Russian army had previously announced its capture of the district and the one neighbouring it. Reports indicate that the Russian military used heavy glide bombs against Ukrainian positions.

For several months now, the Russian army has been advancing on Chasiv Yar. The town lies to the west of Bakhmut, which was captured in 2023.

If the town is captured, it opens the way for Russia to access the conurbation around the city of Kostiantynivka.

The Russian military also achieved territorial gains on other sections of the front. Ukrainian military observers recorded progress near Toretsk, also located in the Donetsk region. In addition, Russian units are said to have entrenched themselves in a third section of the Kharkiv region at the state border.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pose for a family photo during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states leaders' summit in Astana. -/Kremlin/dpa

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hailed the new "multipolar world" at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) focused on the conflict in Ukraine, as his ally Belarus became the latest member of the security and defence organization.

Putin argued in the Kazakh capital Astana that Russia has always advocated a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine - which began with the Russian invasion in February 2022 - and stated that Moscow had put forward a number of proposals to achieve peace.

The Russian leader held talks with several heads of state at the conference, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

According to Chinese state television, Xi once again assured Putin at their bilateral meeting that he would continue to work towards a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the talks with China as very successful. He said on Russian state television that both sides had agreed that negotiations in the conflict over Ukraine made no sense without Russia, after Moscow was left out of a peace summit initiated by Ukraine in Switzerland in mid-June.

China, which has presented its own peace plan to end the war, also stayed away from the Swiss meeting.

Putin said Russia is grateful to the SCO states for their proposals to resolve the conflict, while again accusing the United States and its allies of having caused the war.

A new world order

In the course of his war against Ukraine and ensuing tensions with the West, Putin has repeatedly declared his ambitions for a new world order in which the US no longer plays a dominant role.

"The multipolar world has already become a reality," he said in his summit speech.

Putin expressed his belief that the members of the SCO - which was founded in 2001 to combat terrorism and includes Asian powers such as India, Pakistan, Iran and the Central Asian states of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - can become the cornerstones of a reimagined global system, alongside heavyweights of the BRICS group such as Brazil and South Africa.

China will assume the next chairmanship of the SCO through 2025, Chinese state television reported. In his speech, Xi called on the member nations to consolidate their unity and jointly resist "external influences" in the face of challenges.

The Chinese leader said the SCO community is on the "right side of history, fairness and justice."

Belarus joins the SCO

Belarus on Thursday officially joined the SCO, as Putin, Xi and other state leaders signed documents in Astana to admit the Eastern European country.

Kazakhstan's Tokayev, who was chairing the summit, congratulated Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, widely regarded as Europe's last dictator.

Belarus has been a steadfast ally of Russia in its war against Ukraine, without directly intervening.

One notable absence from the talks, however, was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi did not attend the summit, but plans to visit Russia afterwards, according to the Kremlin.
Putin opposes ceasefire in Ukraine, says Kiev could arm itself anew

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would never declare a ceasefire in Ukraine without Kiev meeting preconditions.

Ukraine could use a ceasefire to arm itself for new attacks, which is why a sustainable solution to the conflict must be negotiated first, Putin said.

He pointed to earlier agreements on the Ukraine conflict from times before the full-scale Russian invasion, which ultimately ended up "in the rubbish bin."

He was referring to the frozen conflict after Moscow illegally annexed Crimea and the presence of Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

"That is why we cannot simply declare a ceasefire now in the hope that the other side will take some positive steps," Putin said at the end of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a security forum.

"We cannot allow the enemy to use this ceasefire to improve its situation, arm itself, refresh its army with the help of forced mobilisation and be ready to continue the armed conflict," Putin said at the event held in the Kazakh capital Astana.

Russia had made several proposals for resolving the conflict, Putin added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has turned down proposals for a ceasefire, most recently suggested by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is widely seen as having warm relations with Putin.

Ukraine is not prepared to negotiate under the current circumstances and is demanding Russia's complete withdrawal from all occupied territories, including Crimea, as a prerequisite for peace, Zelensky said.

The Kremlin also turned down an offer by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to mediate between Moscow and Kiev, proposed in Astana.
Putin says he will not cease fire in Ukraine: peace through mediators and Ukrainian Parliament not good enough for him

Russian Ruler Vladimir Putin has said that Russian forces will not cease fire in Ukraine because the Kremlin leader seems unsure that Ukraine will do the same, and also considers it "pointless" to turn to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) to negotiate, while he is not satisfied with mediators either.

Source: Russian propaganda outlets RIA Novosti and TASS

Quote from Putin: "We need to ensure that the other side agrees to take steps that are irreversible and acceptable to the Russian Federation. A ceasefire is impossible without reaching this agreement."

Details: He said that "Russia cannot agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine because it is not sure of Kyiv's reciprocal actions".

Putin began to lie about the alleged agreements to withdraw Russian troops from Kyiv in 2022, saying that "there were no reciprocal steps from Ukraine". The Kremlin leader did not specify what steps he was talking about.

Putin said that he seems to have been deceived again because "all the agreements reached in Istanbul (related to the withdrawal of troops) were thrown into the trash".

Putin also said that he "considers it pointless to appeal directly to the Verkhovna Rada", as most of its members are subordinate to what the ruler of Russia believes to be the illegal authorities in Ukraine.

"All powers should be transferred to the Rada, but it does not assume these powers. Therefore, of course, we can appeal, (but) based on the practical situation and what is happening in real life, it is more or less pointless," Putin complained.

In addition, Putin said he did not want to negotiate through intermediaries. "We have always been in favour of negotiations; you know this very well; we have never abandoned them. The only question is that it seems unlikely to end the conflict (the war in Ukraine - ed.) with the help of intermediaries and only through them," Putin said.

Previously:

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.

Putin also claimed that since President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's five-year term of office has expired and no new elections are being held, power in Ukraine should allegedly pass into the hands of the parliament and its chairman, Ruslan Stefanchuk.

Background:

On 14 June, Putin made up new "conditions for the start of peace talks": Ukrainian troops must withdraw from all four Ukrainian oblasts (Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk), and Kyiv must declare that it has no plans to join NATO.

US presidential candidate Donald Trump said during a debate with current US President Joe Biden that the proposals put forward by Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin as conditions for ending the war against Ukraine waged by Russia are "not acceptable".

On 30 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he currently sees only one model for negotiations with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin: a tripartite agreement with mediators, as utilised on the grain corridor.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  With the recent wildfires and severe flooding in New Mexico, the connection between the two natural disasters has been apparent due to the long-lasting and immediate impacts of burn scars.

In June, Ruidoso and the surrounding areas experienced two major wildfires, followed by flash floods from rain that fell on the fresh burn scars. As that was taking place, the City of Las Vegas also experienced severe flooding from a downpour on the 2-year-old Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire burn scar.

Largest wildfires in New Mexico history

Looking back at New Mexicos history of wildfires, which is partially displayed on the map below, youll see that the number of fires and burn scars that were left behind from 1911 to 2017 is significant.

The map above does not feature the largest fire in New Mexico state history, the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, which burned more than 340,000 acres starting in April 2022, and the second largest fire, the Black Fire, which charred more than 325,000 acres in May that same year.

To understand the impact of burn scars, KRQE News 13 spoke with State Forester Laura McCarthy. Below, you will find a series of questions and answers from the conversation.

**Editors note: Some of McCarthys responses below have been shortened for clarity purposes.

What is a burn scar?

McCarthy: A burn scar is the area that a wildfire moved through, and we generally think of burn scars as having different levels of severity of burn, ranging from very little impact of a low ground fire, a low severity burn, to a high severity burn where everything can be gone, all living vegetation, and sometimes up to a foot or two of ash.

How do burn scars impact the ground and plant growth?

McCarthy: So it really depends on the severity of the burn. So in a low severity burn, you can sometimes see that the flames have licked around the bases of, say, larger ponderosa pines, and you might see some scorch marks on the trees, and you might see some brown needles up above in the tree canopy, and you would probably see very patchy, whats called leaf litter, so the debris that was on the groundsome of it might be burned all the way through, some of it not. Thats the one end of the extreme, the low severity.

McCarthy: On the high severity, where you have a foot or two of ash, there is really nothing left. You might even see places where there were tree roots, and the roots themselves burned hot, and youll see these sort of interesting depressions in the ground where the tree roots got burned out and just completely vaporized.

Can you replant in a burn scar area?

McCarthy: In the areas of high severity burn, you really need to give it some time for the ash and debris to move, and it is rain thats going to make it move. Its also true that depending on the timing of rainfall, you might have a pretty good flush of green vegetation, grasses, and other forbs that will come up even in the first growing season. We saw that in the Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire footprint, because the monsoon rains did come shortly after that fire, and in early September, there was greenery. And what that means is that the trajectory of recovery of every burn scar is going to be different based on the proportion of low, medium, and high severity acres, and the timing of rainfall.

McCarthy: Replanting in burn scars is very important, and it is a priority for the state to make sure that we have the tree seedling resources to do the right kind of replanting that will be successful because a burn scar is a very harsh environment. We also cant replant too soon.

McCarthy: Depending on the intensity of the rainfall and the frequency, it can be up to seven to ten years until the ground is stabilized enough to make it worth replanting.

An example of replanting trees in the Las Conchas burn scar can be found in KRQEs past coverage here.

Can you rebuild on top of a burn scar?

McCarthy: So the actual building process is not my expertise. I think that when homes are lost in wildfires, it does create a really difficult situation for the property owner. And there are some places where rebuilding would absolutely make sense, and there are other times and circumstances where a property owner might need to look at that fairly carefully.

How do burn scars contribute to large floods?

McCarthy: Initially, the first rainfall, the raindrops are going to encounter a surface that is water repellent. Then the drops are going to start to roll downhill, and theyre going to pick up momentum, and pick up debris, and ash, and start to spiral down and become an actual flow that often happens. Over time, the rain is going to erode into the ash.

McCarthy: I think something that people dont think about much or appreciate until its gone is how forests are actually functioning like a sponge to rain. That when it rains in an unburned forest, first you have the tree canopy, kind of breaking the impact of the raindrops, and then dripping off of the trees.

McCarthy: And the water gets absorbed. It percolates down through the soil until it hits bedrock, and then its going to flow underground into our streams as beautiful, clear water. All of thats now gone in a high-severity burn scar. And thats why we end up with that pretty icky, black water running rampant.

Can wildfires re-burn a burn scar?

las conchas fire_227835

McCarthy: Typically, a re-burn that happens at about 15 to 20 years later can be really destructive, and thats because theres enough vegetation in what was the burn scar that it will burn hot, and it can burn so hot that it consumes everything. Weve seen that in Las Conchas. A significant portion of the Las Conchas fire (2011) was in a 1996 burn scar, and it was very destructive there.

McCarthy: On the other hand, if, say, the weather hadnt changed in the case of the South Fork and Salt fires (2024), and if one of those two fires had burned into the McBride area (2022), that would have only been two years since that fire had happened, and I believe it would have acted as a buffer and a safe place for firefighters to be able to catch the fire as it came in.

Is there anything else important to know about burn scars?

McCarthy: There are some things that people should be thinking about in regards to burn scars, especially new burn scars, and that is how the debris flow and flooding can be life-threatening.

McCarthy: There is a very good free app called Watch Duty that people can download to stay informed and get local updates from the community emergency managers so that they can stay alert.

McCarthy: If you see flooding or if you see a scary black cloud over a burn scar, get to higher ground. Dont take chances. If youre on a back road, turn around and get yourself to higher ground.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Republican primary race for Utahs 2nd Congressional District continues to narrow more than a week after election day, and with hundreds of ballots yet to be cured, the potential for a recount is down to just a couple dozen votes.

As of Wednesday, incumbent Rep. Celeste Maloys lead over challenger Colby Jenkins has shrunk to 290 votes, down from 2,000 votes on election night, according to Utahs unofficial election results.

Teen charged with murder, accused of shooting neighbor in southern Utah apartment building

Jenkins path to victory in the primary could hinge on being able to ask for a recount. But under state law, he can only call for one if Maloys lead drops to around 266 votes, as that would meet the threshold of equal to or less than 0.25% of the 106,000 votes cast in the race.

We are .03% away from triggering the automatic recount which will ensure that every voice, every ballot has an opportunity to be counted, Jenkins posted on Twitter/X on Wednesday.

In Washington County, where Jenkins found his strongest support, 531 ballots have yet to be cured, meaning that election officials need to verify voters signatures in order to count the ballots.

Ryan Sullivan, the Washington County clerk, told ABC4 on Wednesday that his office has sent letters to voters whose ballots need to be cured. Officials also called and texted voters who provided their phone numbers.

Were really trying to do our part, especially in these close races, Sullivan said, adding that the 2nd District race could come down to these 500 yet-to-be-cured ballots.

But Maloy, who is running for her first full term in Congress, still holds the lead in the unofficial results, with 50.1% of the vote to Jenkins 49.9%. Maloy found her strongest support among voters in Salt Lake, Davis, Beaver, and Iron counties.

Utahs canvas deadline is July 9. The final results of the election are scheduled to be certified by July 22.



The winner of the Republican primary in the 2nd District will face Democratic candidate Nathaniel Woodward in the November general election.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
A group proposing to put the issue of raising Ohios minimum wage to $15 on the November ballot stopped that effort Wednesday when it could not meet a deadline to file the needed number of petitions.

>> Ohios minimum wage went up in 2024. Heres by how much

One Fair Wage actually has until 11:59 p.m. July 3 to file the paperwork, but released a statement about 4:40 p.m. to report there were not enough signatures to get on the ballot, according to various news reports statewide. The organization needed 412,487 signatures.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued the following statement after learning of One Fair Wages announcement:

Minutes ago, I was informed by Raise the Wage Ohios counsel that they will not be filing a petition prior to tonights deadline.

This group spent the better part of the day falsely blaming me for access issues to our building due to a fireworks event downtown. Then they changed their story entirely and publicly admitted to falling short of signature requirements, but shamefully accused rural Ohioans of being racist as cover for their failure. Minutes later, they walked that statement back. Now they have confirmed once again that they cannot file. This is a duplicitous, disorganized goat rodeo of a campaign that has made every excuse in the book for their lack of compliance with the law.

Let me be clear. My team has made every accommodation to facilitate a smooth and secure filing of this petition. We worked with the citys Emergency Operations Command, the Columbus Police Department, the Ohio Highway Patrol and the chief of staff and deputy chief of staff at the Columbus mayors office. Access issues were never a problem. Rural Ohioans are not to blame. I wont sit quietly while any group distorts the truth to cover for their own negligence.

Steve Stivers, Ohio Chamber president and CEO, issued the following statement:

The Ohio Chamber believes that this out-of-state interest groups failure to submit the necessary signatures for a November ballot issue is a win for Ohio. Raising the minimum wage will only result in higher prices for Ohio families, and todays events prove that the general public is realizing that; our polling in the last year has also steadily shown a decline in voter support for this effort.

Higher minimum wages would disproportionately harm small businesses, who would have to double their payroll costs on tipped workers, and tipped workers themselves, who already more than make up the difference in wages through customer tips. As a result, it would slow the development of new hospitality and retail businesses in Ohio and would only exacerbate inflation, which is already hitting families hard in their everyday lives, at the gas pump and at the grocery store.

News Center 7 / WHIO.com will update this developing report as more details become available.








These Diamond Shruumz brand products have been recalled after reports of illnesses and one potential death. (Image from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A person in North Dakota died after consuming recalled microdosing candies that are linked to illnesses across the country, the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.

The death is under investigation by state agencies, the poison control center and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA published a recall on June 28 of some Prophet Premium Blends Diamond Shruumz products. The products include microdosing chocolate bars, infused cones and micro-dose and mega-dose/extreme gummies.

The products are marketed as containing a proprietary blend of mushrooms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of July 1, 48 illnesses, including 27 hospitalizations, have been reported in 24 states, according to the CDC. North Dakota is the only state where a death is being investigated, the agency said. One person has been reported getting sick, according to the CDC.

North Dakota officials are warning the public because the recalled products could still be available for sale online, in stores that sell hemp-derived products, or in smoke and vape shops, said Michelle Dethloff, director of the infectious diseases and epidemiology unit.

The products are not illegal in North Dakota but they are not licensed or regulated by the state, Dethloff said.

Retail locations in Montana, including two places in Yellowstone County, were selling the products, and theyre available online.

State officials would not provide specifics about when or where in North Dakota the death occurred or the persons age, citing privacy reasons. The person who died is an adult, Dethloff said. The exact cause of death remains under investigation.

The cases of illness reported nationwide have been severe, Dethloff said. Symptoms reported include seizures, loss of consciousness, confusion, sleepiness, abnormal heart rates, high or low blood pressure, nausea and vomiting.

People who suspect poisoning can call the Poison Center at 800-222-1222.

This story was originally produced by the North Dakota Monitor 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.

Darrell Ehrlick in Montana contributed to this report.

The post Recalled microdosing product linked to death in North Dakota, 48 illnesses nationwide appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Record 334 boats lined up for 100th Bayview Mackinac race; 'All out war' on the water

Some things endure. In 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald published "The Great Gatsby" and Mount Rushmore was dedicated. Here in Michigan, Bayview Yacht Club launched its first sailboat race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island.

Yep, 100 continuous years of racing with sailors from all over the world  despite war, economic crisis or pandemic.

A record-setting 334 boats have registered for the July 20 event, shattering the record of 316 in 1985 and a huge contrast compared with the 200 boats that raced last year, data confirmed by David Stoyka, Bayview Yacht Club spokesman.

The course will follow the original 1925 route and span 204 nautical miles. From its traditional start in southern Lake Huron, the boats will head north along the Michigan shoreline, passing south of Bois Blanc Island, sailing west to east at the finish line between Round Island and Mackinac Island, organizers said.

'Everybody will be fighting for every last inch'

Sailors describe excitement and slight trepidation, as part of the course involves shallow water filled with shoals and challenging wind patterns.

In recent years, sailors chose one of two courses, the longer Cove Island course or shorter Shore Course. Only the Shore Course is running this year, but the ending has an unusual twist, coming into the Straits of Mackinac from the opposite direction as usual, and sailing the narrow passage between the Michigan shoreline and Bois Blanc Island.

The finish line is expected to include some chaos, competitors predicted.

Champion sailor Tim Prophit of St. Clair Shores sits at the helm aboard his boat Fast Tango while nearing the starting line with his crew during a weekly race hosted by Bayview Yacht Club on the Detroit River on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

"Imagine it's 3 a.m., a cloudy and moonless night and the wind is blowing 25 knots per hour out of the northwest," said champion sailor Tim Prophit, 65, of St. Clair Shores, past commodore of Bayview Yacht Club and owner of Fast Tango, a North American 40 sailboat. "Everybody will be fighting for every last inch. It's dark, choppy."

He expects to finish in 32 to 36 hours this year, studying weather patterns and running wind simulations since January to prep for the competition. A lot of boats have spent thousands of dollars on new sails. All skippers want to carry as little as possible in gear, food and crew to be competitive. All skill levels have entered the race, and the highly skilled racers know they will cross the bow of competitors within inches. Still, there's always risk of a crash with the slightest miscalculation.

"Everybody recognizes this is super intense," Prophit said. "Do we hug the Michigan shoreline ... you don't want to get stuck where the air just goes away. It's death. The secret is to find that little ribbon of wind and stay in it but don't run aground. Everybody is going to be compressed together."

Eric Brieden, of Grosse Pointe Farms, is hoisted up to pull the head of a Spinnaker that broke due to high winds to avoid damage to the halyard while working with the crew aboard Fast Tango owned by champion sailor Tim Prophit of St. Clair Shores during a weekly race hosted by Bayview Yacht Club on the Detroit River on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.

Two lessons a veteran sailor knows: Cockiness will kill you and never let up when you've got your foot on the throat of a competitor, especially seasoned sailors who have picked up secret intel along the way, Prophit said.

Charlie Trost, of Grosse Pointe Woods, this year's race chairman, said this event will have a little bit of everything and a lot of surprises.

More: Sailors overcome emergency at 2 a.m. in rough waters to win Bayview Mackinac race

"People are coming out of the woodwork, whether it's the weekend warrior or a professional racer," Trost told the Free Press. "A lot of people are interested, whether the accomplishment is getting from Point A to Point B or the goal is doing whatever it takes to win first place."

Charlie Trost, race chairman for the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island in July, is with his wife, Mary, and their sons Benjamin, 3, and Thomas, 1, on June 2, 2024 at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club.

Trost, 35, will sail his 22nd race to Mackinac on the J-130 sailboat known as Pendragon. He follows in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, hoping one day his 1- and 3-year-old sons will race. The whole family will be on the island, which is mostly sold out for this event.

His mother, Barb Trost, of Grosse Pointe Woods, oversees race registration. And his sister, Ali Augsburger, 37, of Grosse Pointe Park, will be helping coordinate logistics.

Mike Hendrie, 47, of Chicago, follows in the sails of grandfather George Hendrie Sr., of Grosse Pointe Farms, who raced from Port Huron to Mackinac Island in 1926 for the second race ever held. The starting line has always been within view of the family waterfront cottage between Krafft and Keewahdin in Fort Gratiot  a Hendrie hangout since the early 1900s.

"George Hendrie Sr. was also famous for being ice boating world champion for 10 years," Mike Hendrie said. "That boat was named Ferdinand the Bull."

George Hendrie Sr. of Grosse Pointe Farms (and Fort Gratiot in the summer) sitting on his boat "Ferdinand the Bull" circa 1946. He began sailing the Bayview Mackinac Race from Port Huron to Mackinac Island in 1926.

In fact, a Hendrie has raced the Mackinac for 98 of the 100 years running, Mike Hendrie said. And family members still, to this day, watch racers from the cottage. Mike Hendrie, who grew up in Grosse Pointe Farms, will skipper the J-109 Bull with eight crew members, including his father and cousins.

HIs uncle, George Hendrie Jr., sailed his first Mackinac race in 1947 and raced 68 times, Mike Hendrie said. "He sailed his last one at 90 years old six years ago. He passed away in January, and we'll be sailing in his honor. And that makes it really special."

Because the race is so significant to so many, the level of competition is elevated significantly.

"Everyone is going to be sailing harder and sailing smarter," Prophit said. "With a race that's expected to last less than two days for most boats, people will be getting less rest because they'll be more focused on pushing the boat as hard as possible ... every second is going to count. It's going to be an all-out war, fighting for every inch."

More: 'Peanuts' characters Snoopy, Woodstock on shirts for Bayview Mackinac sailboat race

More: Hoffmanns of Naples acquire Star Line Mackinac Island Ferry Co.

Editor's Note: Phoebe Wall Howard covers sailing for the Detroit Free Press, and she had been going to Mackinac Island to meet her father at the finish line since age 12. Robert Wall, of Algonac, won his last Port Huron to Mackinac race on Chippewa, a Tartan 34C, in 2014 at age 85.

Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter @phoebesaid.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 100th race from Port Huron to Mackinac will be 'all-out war'
Utahs 2nd Congressional District debate between Colby Jenkins and Rep. Celeste Maloy at the KUED studios at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 10, 2024. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

A recount in the 2nd Congressional District primary race between Rep. Celeste Maloy and Colby Jenkins just got more likely as Maloy continues to hang onto her lead.

An update on Wednesday, the majority coming from Washington County, narrowed Maloys lead from 302 votes to 295.

The update represented cured ballots that previously needed signature confirmation from corresponding voters, as well as a late influx of 350 unprocessed ballots that arrived in Washington County from the U.S. Postal Service distribution center in Las Vegas on Tuesday  one week after Election Day. Only 87 ballots of this unexpected batch were postmarked before Election Day and could be counted, the county said.

It was kind of a surprise to us to see, Washington County Clerk Ryan Sullivan told the Deseret News.

Washington County currently has 531 challenged ballots on their cure list.

Will there be a recount in Utahs 2nd District race?

The county clerks office has reached out to each of these voters via a letter, and, for those who provided contact information, via text and a phone call. The last day for voters to remedy their challenged ballots in Washington County is Monday, one day before the county has their election certification, or canvass, meeting on Tuesday.

Were trying to do everything we can to make sure that they know theyve got to get in here to cure those for their vote to count, Sullivan said.

If latebreaking ballots, including cured ballots, across the districts 13 counties continue to favor Jenkins at or above the rate they have been in the previous few days, then updated vote totals on Friday and Monday could put the race in recount territory  .25% of the nearly 107,000 votes cast, or a margin of around 270 votes.

Coming within this threshold is the outcome the Jenkins campaign has been hoping for since Maloys initial winning margin of 1,000 votes fell to 383 and then kept falling slowly with subsequent updates. If Jenkins comes within roughly 270 votes of Maloy he will be able to file a request for a recount with the Utah Lieutenant Governors Office.

The 2nd Congressional District race will undergo a statewide canvass by the Utah Lieutenant Governors Office on July 22 because it is a multi-county election. A candidate must file a request for a recount no later than seven days after the statewide canvass, according to state code.

The lieutenant governor must conduct a full recount of the race no later than 10 days after the statewide canvass. A recount includes recounting all ballots cast in a race and reexamining all uncounted ballots to ensure they were rightly discarded.

Why did Washington County receive late ballots from Las Vegas?

The 350 ballots received by Washington County on Tuesday, including the 263 discarded for being postmarked on, or after, Election Day, are still something of a mystery. While every ballot has a nine-digit identification code that correlates to just one envelope and just one voter, Sullivan said he has yet to identify what area the ballots came from and why it took so long for the U.S. Postal Service to get the ballots to them.

All mail sent from, or to, Washington County is routed through the Las Vegas mail processing facility, including mail-in ballots. Sullivan said he hopes Tuesdays ballot dump will be the last and encourages future voters to vote by dropbox or in person, two methods he said he considers safer and faster.

If I could get any message out to the world of voters is, if at all possible, to put your ballot in a dropbox, its just the safest way to get your ballot to us. Or vote in person, he said.

Davis County Clerk Brian McKenzie said the rerouting of Washington County mail through Las Vegas is a recent development. And while it is far from ideal for ballots to arrive this late in the election, McKenzie said Utahs vote-by-mail system ensures that late arriving ballots are treated the same as any other.

Thats why that postmark is such a valid and such an important aspect of how we do things in Utah, McKenzie said. Those voters if they turned them in timely, they would have received a timely postmark, and even if they get to the clerks office a few days before the canvass, they can still be counted and accepted if they were cast timely.
Reform UK was founded in 2021 as a relaunch of the Brexit Party

Founded in 2021 as a relaunch of the Brexit Party, Reform UK stood neck and neck with the Conservatives throughout the general election campaign.

Nigel Farages party won several new seats in an election breakthrough that follows his shock decision to take over as leader, walking away with four MPs.

Reform faced pivotal change during their campaign with co-founder Mr Farage returning to front-line politics to lead a political revolt aimed at toppling the Tories after replacing Richard Tice, a former businessman and MEP who has led the party since 2021.

His pledge came as a surprise to most given Mr Farage had previously ruled out standing in the general election in his first campaign speech on May 23, promising to support Mr Tice from the sidelines instead.

Reform gained its first MP in March after Lee Anderson, a former deputy chairman of the Tory Party, defected following his suspension over a row about Sadiq Khan.

Mr Tice and Mr Farage announced the Brexit Party would become Reform on Nov 1 2020 in an article for The Telegraph published at the start of the second Covid lockdown.

They used the joint article to declare lockdowns dont work and instead advocated a policy of focused protection for the most vulnerable. They also called for sweeping reform of major institutions beyond the pandemic.

Reform stood candidates at the London Assembly, Scottish Parliament and Senedd elections in 2021. Though failing to pick up any seats, the party gathered just over 42,500 supporters across all three elections.

The same year it won two council seats in the local elections, both in Derby.

Reform UK polls

The partys backing in the polls remained largely static throughout 2021, averaging around three percentage points, although it had risen to an average of 6 per cent by the end of 2022 amid growing public frustration with the Conservative Party in the wake of the deposition of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

The partys fortunes improved vastly during 2023 and the early months of 2024, with average support for Reform almost doubling from 6 per cent in January 2023 to 10.1 per cent at the start of March.

The rise of Reform can be attributed to a combination of the partys policy offer and fortuitous circumstances.

Reform UK policies

On the economic front, it has promised sweeping cuts to levies including corporation tax and inheritance tax at a time when Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt are overseeing the countrys highest tax burden since the Second World War, with a further peak projected later this decade.

Despite successive Conservative governments promising to cut immigration, net migration reached record levels in 2022 and former leader Mr Tice has cited this betrayal by the Tory government of its past manifesto pledges as a driving force behind his partys success.

Research from the More in Common think tank in February 2022 found that immigration was the main reason 2019 Tory voters were defecting to Reform, with around one in five of those who backed Boris Johnson and his party at the last election expected to support Mr Farage.

Reforms promises on border control include net zero immigration, leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)  a demand made by many Tory backbenchers, and a popular idea among the partys grassroots  and declaring illegal immigration as a national security threat.

The party wants to introduce an immigration tax that would force employers to pay a higher National Insurance (NI) rate on foreign workers.

Reform have also pledged a 20 per cent National Insurance rate for every foreign worker in comparison to the current 13.8 per cent for domestic British workers.

Claiming that the green push is doing more damage to the British economy than anything else, the party would also abolish the Governments flagship net zero targets.

There was a further bounce in support for Reform following Mr Sunaks November reshuffle, in which Suella Braverman was sacked as Home Secretary over her criticism of pro-Palestinian protests, which she dubbed hate marches.

The same reshuffle took Westminster by surprise with the return of Lord Cameron as the new Foreign Secretary, a move that angered many on the Tory Right as the former prime minister is widely perceived to be on the liberal wing of the party.

Mr Tice told GB News at the time: The truth is our server has almost exploded with fury at whats happened today with the return of David Cameron. Lets remember this is the gentleman who campaigned against Brexit, and almost everything he did on foreign policy was wrong.

As a result of its outflanking of the Conservatives on the Right in many policy areas and channelling the disillusionment of traditional Tories with its rhetoric, the party had a greater impact in the 2024 general election than in 2019, when it stood aside from seats held by Mr Johnsons Tory candidates.

Mr Farage, 60, won a seat in Westminster after running for an eighth time in the constituency of Clacton and overturning a Conservative majority with over 24,000 votes.

It marked part of the partys wider success in the election as they surprised opinion polls by walking away with four MPs.

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Relations between Russia, China are 'at their best in history,' Xi, Putin say

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 3.

Xi indicated his support for Russia on the subject of its full-scale war on Ukraine, saying on the sidelines of the summit that China "has always stood on the right side of history."

In what was the second meeting of the two leaders in the last two months, Xi and Putin concurred that the bilateral relations were at a historical highpoint, and jointly protect "regional tranquility and stability."

In turn, Putin also voiced opposition to outside interference in the South China Sea, where China has sought to further spread its influence and territorial control, putting it at odds with U.S. allies and interests in the region.

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Although China officially maintains a neutral stance on Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and denies providing lethal aid, Beijing and Moscow continue to strengthen their ties. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said earlier in July that Russia's reliance on China has developed to the point where Beijing could end a war with one phone call.

Various countries, including the U.S., have accused China of continuously aiding Russia's war machine in Ukraine by providing machine tools, weapons technology, satellite imagery, semiconductors, and other dual-use technologies.

Read also: Opinion: The new EU leadership must unite on China

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii  The remains of a sailor born in Arkansas and killed in the early hours of the Pearl Harbor attack that pulled the US into World War II have been identified and will receive a formal military internment.

Seaman 2nd Class Joseph Morris Robertson was stationed on the battleship USS Oklahoma as it was berthed in Pearl Harbor, on Dec. 7, 1941. It was the Paragould-born 18-year-olds first duty station after boot camp.

His recently identified remains will be reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery on July 8 after his death in a battle that marked Americas entry into World War II.

Military labs do the detective work to identify soldiers decades after they died in World War II

On that fateful Dec. 7 at 7:55 a.m., the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the Pearl Harbor base, and the Oklahoma was one of the first ships hit by three air-launched torpedoes followed by machine gun strafing.

FILE  This April 1938 file photo shows the USS Oklahoma. The ship sank during the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans are gathering in Hawaii this week to remember those killed in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Those attending will observe a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the bombing began. The ceremony will mark the 80th anniversary of the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II. (AP Photo/File)

Heavy black smoke billows as oil fuel burns from shattered tanks on ships that were hit during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941 during World War II. Visible through the murk is the U.S. battleship Maryland, center, and the hulk of the capsized USS Oklahoma to the right of it. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy)

FILE  In this Dec. 7, 1941, file photo, part of the hull of the capsized USS Oklahoma is seen at right as the battleship USS West Virginia, center, begins to sink after suffering heavy damage, while the USS Maryland, left, is still afloat in Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans are gathering in Hawaii this week to remember those killed in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Those attending will observe a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the bombing began. The ceremony will mark the 80th anniversary of the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II. (U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Within 15 minutes the 27,900-ton ship capsized, trapping sailors who were below decks in its hull. Navy officials report sailors trapped in the Oklahomas hull began banging on it with hammers, leading to rescue efforts as holes were cut in the metal to provide an escape route on Dec. 8 and 9.

Remains of Arkansan Killed in Pearl Harbor Attack Identified

Ultimately 32 sailors were pulled out alive through holes. Banging continued from other sailors trapped below the waterline who rescuers were unable to reach. Those standing watch on the overturned hull reported no banging was heard after Dec. 10.

The wreckage of the U.S.S. Oklahoma as it lies in the mud at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii after the Japanese aerial attack on Dec. 7, 1941. (AP Photo)

FILE  In this Nov. 27, 1944 file photo, the wreckage of the USS Oklahoma leaves Pearl Harbor drydock in Hawaii. It was sunk in the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack. (AP Photo)

FILE  In this May 24, 1943 file photo, the capsized battleship USS Oklahoma is lifted out of the water at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii. Pearl Harbor survivors and World War II veterans are gathering in Hawaii this week to remember those killed in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack. Those attending will observe a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the bombing began. The ceremony will mark the 80th anniversary of the attack that launched the U.S. into World War II. (AP Photo, File)

Records show that 429 sailors had lost their lives, including Robertson.

Pearl Harbor veterans remains laid to rest in North Little Rock

Robertson was born in Arkansas before his parents moved to Kentucky. He was the son of Ophus Arkie Sterling Robertson and Syble Lorane Haley Robinson, both buried side-by-side in Covington, Kentucky, listed as Joseph Robertsons hometown.

Robertsons sacrifice was honored in a condolence letter to his family from the president.

Seaman Robertson stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives and through it he lives in a way that humbles endeavors of most men. President Franklin Roosevelt, letter of condolence to Mr. and Mrs. Ophus Robertson.

Robertson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. His other awards and decorations are the Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.

Joseph was the oldest of three brothers and one sister. The youngest sibling, Donald, was born in 1943, two years after Josephs death. Robertsons family has declined to speak with the press following the news of his identification.

Little Rock World War II veteran returned home 79 years after death

The Oklahoma was righted in a 1944 salvage operation, and the remains of the 429 sailors were recovered by Navy specialists. Of those recovered, naval officials report 35 were identified, with the remaining 388 classified as unidentified and buried in 61 caskets in 45 grave sites at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in 1950.

FILE  In this Dec. 5, 2012, file photo, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu displays a gravestone identifying it as the resting place of seven unknown people from the USS Oklahoma who died in Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. More than 75 years after nearly 2,400 members of the U.S. military were killed in the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor some who died on Dec. 7, 1941, are finally being laid to rest in cemeteries across the United States. After DNA allowed the men to be identified and returned home, their remains are being buried in places such as Traer, Iowa and Ontonagon, Michigan. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)

Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency forensic anthropologist Carrie Brown looks at photos of service members from the USS Oklahoma on a wall at Offutt Air Force Base, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Bellevue, Neb. Generations of American families have grown up without ever knowing exactly what happened to their loved ones who served in the military. But a lab tucked away above the bowling alley on Offutt Air Force Base in the Omaha suburbs and a sister lab in Hawaii that are part of the federal DPAA are steadily answering those lingering questions and offering about 200 families a year the chance to honor their relatives with a proper burial. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Navy officials said that in 2015, a process began where the remains were exhumed for DNA analysis coordinated with samples from surviving family members. They said by December 2017, the remains of 100 sailors had been identified, and with an ongoing investigation by Dec. 7, 2021, all but 33 had been identified, with an additional single sailor identified in 2023.

Remains of Arkansan Killed in WWII Welcomed Home

Arkansas records show an estimated 194,645 Arkansans served in World War II, over 3,500 of whom were killed in combat. In the December attack on Pearl Harbor, 2,403 Natural State residents were killed, including 68 civilians and 2,008 Navy members, the majority on the battleship USS Arizona.

Since 1990, the Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has accounted for 21 previously missing Arkansas World War II veterans, 12 of whom were killed at Pearl Harbor.

Remains of Arkansas Marine lost in WWII still missing, but symbol of his faith returns to the US

Only two other ships, the USS Arizona and USS Utah, both battleships, were lost on Dec. 7 alongside the Oklahoma. Four additional ships sank that day but were refloated and repaired for service, including the battleship USS West Virginia.

In this April 24, 2015 photo, the USS Oklahoma is engraved on a memorial wall at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu. The military recently announced it would exhume and attempt to identify the remains of almost 400 sailors and Marines from the USS Oklahoma who were buried as unknowns after the war. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

The Arizona and Utah remain at Pearl Harbor as memorials.

Texas postal worker delivers WWII veterans letters to Arkansas family

The USS Oklahoma was sold for salvage in 1944. It sank roughly 500 miles from Hawaii during a storm while being towed to California, the exact location of its final resting place unknown.

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Rescue workers have been removing debris of residential building in Dnipro for a week  photos

Emergency workers have removed 90% of the rubble of a residential building in the city of Dnipro which was destroyed in a Russian attack on 28 June.

Source: Serhii Lysak, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast State Administration

Quote: "A residential building in Dnipro has been damaged. Rescue workers have been working there non-stop for a week. Around the clock.

They climb up on top of the rubble and remove it. Almost 90% of work has been done. More than 1,600 tonnes of construction garbage were taken from the attacked building. Public utility employees help remove it."

Details: Reportedly, rescue workers inspected 45 apartments after gaining access to them.

Photo: Lysak on Facebook

Photo: Lysak on Facebook

Lysak thanked the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and everyone who helped them deal with the consequences of the Russian attacks.

Background:

On the evening of 28 June, the Russian army launched a missile strike on a nine-storey building in the city of Dnipro; 1 person was killed and 12 more injured.

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Residents at Northland apartments given days to move out after fire

Residents at Northland apartments given days to move out after fire

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Frustration at a Northland apartment complex following a fire last Thursday night.

Tenants at one building within the Bennington Ridge Apartments near I-435 and NE Parvin Road tell FOX4 they were given just three days to move out, not including the weekend.

Not only that, they could only move out their belongings between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Weve had a grand total of 24 hours to move our stuff, and, of course, thats during work hours. It makes it really hard to get anything done, especially with availability of trucks, said Augie Byers, one tenant displaced by the fire. He and his girlfriend missed work to move out what they could but couldnt get everything. He feels let down by management, saying a little bit of empathy would have gone a long way in this situation.

79 year-old-woman identified as victim in Kansas City deadly shooting

As the 5 oclock deadline loomed Wednesday, other tenants carried out the last of their belongings.

Whatever you dont get out you have to lose, said Marsha Owens, whos lived at Bennington Ridge for six years.

Her sons helped load the last of her items into a U-Haul truck, which was bound for a newly purchased storage unit using money provided by the American Red Cross.

We were not offered any assistance [from the apartment complex]. There are vacant apartments here. We were not given the option to relocate or anything, she said.

Owens said Bennington Ridge terminated her lease after the fire, telling her shed have to re-apply for housing if she wanted to stay. Byers confirmed that information with FOX4 as did Victor Newman, another displaced tenant.

Newman said he did re-apply but was denied; hes now trying to find a new place to live.

Not only that, but each tenant FOX4 spoke with said their security deposit has yet to be returned to them. In Missouri, it legally must be returned within 30 days.

Owens, Byers, and Newman said the only help theyve received is from the Red Cross, which gave them a few hundred dollars. For Owens, it only covered a U-Haul and storage unit.

At 5 oclock, management locked the fence surrounding the building. FOX4 asked several questions, including if tenants were offered a new unit and why they were only given three days to move, but like all of our questions we were told no comment.

Elevate Living out of Wayzata, Minnesota manages the apartment complex. We called and emailed them for answers but have yet to receive a response. The on-site manager took our information and told us we should hear something soon.

Meanwhile, tenants feel like theyve been let down, especially when theyve never missed a rent payment and have abided by the apartments rules for months and years.

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There was no human kindness, added Owens. There was no consideration for us not only being displaced but going through the tragedy of having a home and then two hours later you have no home.

Kansas City Fire said it has yet to determine what caused the fire, saying the damage is too severe.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Revelations about the Revolution: The Freedom to Steal Land from Merciless Indian savages was Key to the Declaration of Independence

Guest Opinion. Rockin and a rollin, splishin and a splashin, over the horizon, what can it be  a free country. This was the little tune I learned from Schoolhouse Rock when I was a kid watching Saturday morning TV. Embedded in that three-minute cartoon was an expression that gave the reason for the colonists revolt: taxation without representation.

Thus, it was a revelation when I read Ned Blackhawks The Rediscovery of America, winner of the 2023 National Book Award. Blackhawk (Western Shoshone) asserts that one of the most significant drivers of the American Revolution had nothing to do with taxes  which only the wealthiest paid  but was about the desire for Native land. According to Blackhawk, interior land concerns as well as the crowns conciliatory relations with Indians upset settlers just as much if not more than policies of taxation.

Academic historians largely support this notion. Yet, its certainly not what I was taught in school, nor ever heard anywhere. A simple query online, or even a question to ChatGBT about the causes of the American Revolution, struggle to find mention of it.

As a Native, Im well aware that the Declaration of Independence includes the expression merciless Indian savages. Many Indigenous people proudly wear t-shirts reappropriating the phrase. But I never realized the full context of the expression reveals a darker side of the American Revolution.

The entire sentence is part of a list of 26 grievances against the king of England, explaining the reasons for the colonists anger. The final item is this: [The King] has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions. The list also accuses the king of raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands, meaning that American pioneers were prohibited from colonizing new lands without permission.

There is some backstory. Just thirteen years earlier, England  with American colonists  defeated the French in the Midwest and Canada. (This was part of the French and Indian War, or the Seven Years War.) This gave the English exclusive access to trade with Natives in the Ohio River Valley. To appease the tribes after the war, the king established the Proclamation Line of 1763; no trader or settler could cross the Alleghenies or the Appalachians without royal permission.

That is what infuriated the American colonists; they wanted land and were ready to take it by force. The freedom they wanted was the ability to ethnically cleanse it without a permit. University of Minnesota historian Nick Estes (Lower Brule) points out the obvious irony, that the so-called free country in Schoolhouse Rock was intrinsically tied to the dispossession of Indigenous people.

Within a year, in late 1764, the Paxton Boys, a white militia led by a pastor, emerged near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Hundreds of miles from the actual frontier, they found soft targets nearby. They slaughtered the people of Conestoga Town, a Susquehannock community who had lived in peace for generations. The militia then coalesced into a political movement and marched on Philadelphia.

Benjamin Franklin challenged their terrorism in the press, calling the militia (in all caps) CHRISTIAN WHITE SAVAGES. Other leaders called the pioneers lawless banditti, already almost out of the Reach of Law and Government, and by far more vicious & wicked than the Natives they sought to displace.

Efforts to bring the Paxton Boys to justice came to nothing. No one would testify against them. Within months, another private militia, a mix of Scotch-Irish and German settlers self-described as White People, overcame differences in language and culture to rally around their fear of Indians. Because they painted their faces black and red and wore Native attire, they were called the Black Boys.

Their target was not Natives, however, but their own government. They intercepted a British army pack train of 81 horses from Philadelphia. It was bound for Fort Pitt, filled with trade goods and diplomatic gifts for Native nations. The Black Boys burnt it all.

Franklin linked the attack to the earlier massacre, saying, Impunity for former Riots has emboldened them. An election in Pennsylvania drew record turnout, costing Franklin his position. The newly elected government embraced the use of vigilante violence, offering bounties for Native scalps. Two months later, the Black Boys were shooting at British forts. A pioneer uprising was underway, eventually gaining expression in the Declaration of Independence.

They found common ground with wealthy planters (a euphemism for slave plantation owners), such as George Washington, who wanted more land to expand their operations or simply for real estate speculation.

We all know the ending. Their revolt against England was successful and the United States was founded as a white male ethnostate. Racial and gender criteria were explicit in the Constitution as well as in the Declaration of Independence. By 1790, the US Congress passed the Naturalization Act, limiting citizenship to white male landowners. Racial criteria for immigrants were not fully removed until 1952.

Modern parallels to the Revolution period are obvious  the normalization of racism, vigilante white terrorism (legally sanctioned at times), a business class allied with angry rural settlers, calls for restrictions on immigrants from shithole countries, and courts that have no problem with racial exclusion  unless its whites who are being excluded. As for white vigilante violence, what was Conestoga Town is now a church in Charleston, a synagogue in Pittsburgh, a restaurant in Nashville, a shopping mall in El Paso, and a grocery store in Buffalo. As Americans celebrate the Fourth of July this year, the 248th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many wonder if it will make it to 250.

Given the diverse nation we have today, how should we consider this past? Using Isabel Wilkersons metaphor from her book, Caste, we find ourselves living in a house built by earlier generations. It has structural problems and needs renovations. We can blame people in the past, but, regardless, our primary goal now must be to fix the house.

What do we make of the fact that this part of our past has been erased from the national story? Drawing on truth and reconciliation processes regarding apartheid in South Africa and boarding schools in Canada, simply acknowledging the past is the first step to repairing the house, to preventing its problems from festering.

The first step of this process is to identify and acknowledge the structures rocky foundations, to un-erase history. To quote Native writer Tommy Orange from a recent interview with Indian Country Today, About the beginning of truth and reconciliation  the truth piece is really important. Attention on what actually happened and educating the country on what actually happened will bring about healing just alone, just by doing that.

After acknowledging that the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and recent Supreme Court rulings were designed to facilitate minority rule, we need new structures to honor and respect everyone.

Stephen Carr Hampton is an enrolled citizen of Cherokee Nation. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, where he is an active member of the Cherokee Community of Puget Sound. He is the author of the Memories of the People blog, dedicated to un-erasing history.

About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. "

Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com
We dont hear much about the women who risked their lives and homes fighting for Americas independence. There is no iconic tale like Paul Reveres ride that channels their heroism, no Broadway musical or definitive biography. Even though their actions were crucial to the nations birth and early development, they often took place offstage and were later forgotten. But we know more about them today thanks to scholars like Carol Berkin, who helped to pioneer the study of early U.S. history through the lens of the women who experienced it.

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Berkin moved to New York City in 1960 to study at Barnard, a private womens college. There, she was taught that women could do anything, if they had the fortitude, the know-how and the skill to make it happen. Later, she took that confidence across Broadway to Columbia University, earning a Ph.D. in American history. Women were scant in the books she read there. Aside from Betsy Ross and Martha Washington, they seemed to be absent from the events that shaped our country. Berkin knew that couldnt be true.

Over the next five decades, she wrote more than a dozen books. Her dissertation, published as Jonathan Sewall: Odyssey of an American Loyalist, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her texts on the Constitutional Convention and the Bill of Rights are definitive standards for understanding the tensions and compromises behind the American project. But she has also explored the lives and circumstances of women in colonial America, in her book Revolutionary Mothers, during the struggle for independence, and the wives of key figures in the Civil War era, often through their own letters and memoirs.

Now 81, Berkin is Presidential Professor of History, Emerita, of Baruch College and the Graduate Center at City University of New York, where she has taught for 40 years. I think that put me in the rare group of people who found their calling and got to do what they wanted to do, she says. Deseret asked her about women in Americas early history and what difficulties the framers faced as they crafted the Constitution.

Deseret Magazine: What do Americans get wrong about the founding?

Carol Berkin: There are many myths. You know: Everybody fought for the Revolution and all were willing to make sacrifices. It is not true. And the real story is more interesting. Many think they won the war, then created the Constitution, and everybody was happy. But some didnt want a central government. Maryland and Virginia had gunboats aimed at one another across the Potomac. Connecticut and New Jersey were plotting whether they could invade New York City in response to astronomical prices charged on imported goods. One of the most remarkable things about the revolution is that states cooperated to win.

DM: The framers has a lot to worry about. How did they pull it off?

CB: This was do or die. Thats one reason the men at the convention compromised. There was an economic depression. There was danger from foreign enemies like France, Spain and Britain, and the army consisted of 500 men. They owed a fortune to allies, their own soldiers and the American public. Oh, and there were also pirates. They tried sending wheat to the Mediterranean to build the economy, but had no navy to protect their ships. They were either gonna implode or be invaded. So every time a problem arose that might tear the convention asunder, they knew that there would be no United States if they didnt have a real central government with real powers.

DM: We know our Founding Fathers. Were there Founding Mothers?

CB: The culture was highly patriarchal. When women got married, they disappeared legally. You couldnt sue or be sued, you couldnt own property unless your husband or your father granted it to you. The clothes on your back belonged to your husband. More significantly, your body belonged to your husband. When a slave ran away in the 18th century, they wrote runaway on the poster. When a woman ran away from her husband, they wrote, She has abducted herself from me. This was the culture women found themselves in, not only legally, but economically.

DM: Was independence a chance to improve their station?

CB: The idea that there were women who ran around saying equal rights is not true. What is true is that the Revolution politicized women for the first time. Men needed their support, especially since the boycott of goods was the most powerful weapon Americans had in forcing Britain to repeal oppressive laws. Who drank tea and bought cloth? Women. Suddenly, they started talking politics and began to think that their activities had political significance. That is one of the most radical things that happened in the Revolution: Women became politically conscious.

DM: Did that translate into action?

CB: Yes. Women served as spies. They wrote propaganda for recruiting. Unmarried women in New York signed a manifesto that they would not get engaged to any man who didnt join the army. They carried messages between American generals and militiamen, and rode off through enemy lines when no man was willing to do it. The stories cracked me up because they were mostly young girls, and it was always a dark and stormy night. No one ever rode off in good weather. Some were captured. Deborah Champion was taken in Massachusetts and absolutely played the young British soldiers. Like something from Little Red Riding Hood, she said My uncles sick and Im taking a basket of goodies to him. In fact, she was carrying an important message between Washington and another general.

Women also kept arms and ammunition in their homes. And many burned down their homes to prevent the British from getting those stockpiles. One came out brandishing a ceremonial sword that her husband kept over the fireplace as loyalists and British came up toward her house. If you come near me, Ill kill you, she said. They were so shocked that they turned around and left. Women did genuinely heroic things that they never knew they were capable of. They rose to the occasion and in doing so discovered their own ingenuity, their own bravery and their own patriotism.

DM: So what happened to that spirit after the war?

CB: When their sons and husbands came back, all the women wanted to do was go back to what life was like before the war. You dont see a lot of demands for rights among ordinary women. What they wanted was to restore what had been, and they had a lot of work to do. Some wealthy women who had the time wrote essays arguing that women were intellectually and spiritually equal to men and should be educated. That happened, briefly. All 13 original states opened academies for women. But it would take longer for these ideas to reach fruition.

DM: How did the framers prepare for an evolving society?

CB: Ben Franklin said if the Constitution lasts 10 years, we will have done our duty. They werent writing about the future. They were writing a document designed to cure the problems the country was facing at that moment. Most of the men who wrote it took a look around them and said, This country is in danger of disappearing; what can we do to shore it up? They knew things would change. They did not have the kind of hubris that most of our politicians sadly have today. The amendment process tells you everything you need to know about their state of mind: If things change, make this document change with the times.

DM: Was the Constitution built to last?

CB: The Constitution embodies the principle that you can have power as long as it is distinct. That is, what we call today checks and balances, a mutual respect among the branches of government. To casually say, Well, the Constitution is old news, we should throw it out, denies the structure of the government the Constitution created. These days, I dont know if it will, but it ought to last and be honored as long as we have a country.

That is one of the most radical things that happened in the Revolution: Women became politically conscious.
Rishi Sunak And Keir Starmer In Final Plea For Votes As U.K. Goes To The Polls

Either Keir Starmer, left, or Rishi Sunak will be prime minister this time tomorrow. Getty Images

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer have made a final plea for votes as polls opened on election day across the U.K.

Millions of voters have until 10 p.m. Thursday to decide whether the Labour leader becomes prime minister or whether the leader of the Conservatives will pull off a major shock and remain in No. 10 Downing Street.

The final opinion polls of the six-week-long campaign all indicated that Labour is heading for a historic victory, with the Tories slumping to their worst ever performance.

But in Sunaks final message to the country before polls opened at 7 a.m., the prime minister once again urged voters not to hand Labour a supermajority.

He said: The reality is simple. If the polls are to be believed the country could wake up tomorrow to a Labour supermajority ready to wield their unchecked power, put up everyones taxes and leave the U.K. vulnerable to the threats we face at home and abroad.

They will do lasting damage to our country and our economy  just like they did the last time they were in power. Dont let that happen.

I know how frustrated people are. The last few years have been extremely difficult, but the answer is not to usher in a Labour government with licence to tax you and your family to the hilt, run amok with your hard-earned money and change the rules to lock them in power for a generation.

You have the power, you have a voice, you have a vote  use it to stop Starmer, to stop a Labour supermajority and their slew of taxes. Mark my words, they are coming for your pension, your home, your car. You name it, Labour will tax it.

Your vote matters, Vote Conservative today.

Starmer, however, said the election was a chance for Britain to begin a new age of hope and opportunity after 14 years of chaos and decline.

He said: The choice today is clear, between a changed Labour Party that stands ready to restore politics to service and rebuild Britain, or a Tory party that crashed our economy, left public services in ruin, and now wants to give us Liz Truss 2.0 with more unfunded spending promises.

We cannot afford five more years under the Conservatives. But change will only happen if you vote Labour.

Meanwhile, voters are being urged not to forget their photographic ID when they go to the polling station.

It is the first general election in which the controversial new rules will apply across the U.K.

Craig Westwood, director of communications at the Electoral Commission, said: Before heading to the polling station, check to make sure that you have the ID you need to vote. It needs to be an original version, copies and pictures wont be accepted.

If you dont remember your ID when you arrive at a polling station, you can return with it later in the day. Anyone in a queue at 10 p.m. will be able to cast their vote.
PORTSMOUTH  Rivers Casino Portsmouth has again agreed to pay a hefty fine following a slew of violations the Virginia Lottery spotted last year and earlier this year.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth was fined $545,000 in two settlements. One was reached in September and resulted in a $40,000 fine, and the other was reached in May at a cost of $505,000.

In September, the Virginia Lottery, which regulates casinos throughout the commonwealth, worked with the Portsmouth casino to review alleged violations of the Casino Gaming Law, according to the settlement agreement. Violations included the presence of underaged individuals on the gaming floor in August  the same offense Rivers Casino Portsmouth was fined for last year for $275,000.

The settlement made in May states that there was again the presence of underaged individuals as well as voluntarily excluded persons in December and January. It also cited a lack of controls over accounting and surveillance operations last July and again in February, and a lack of controls over revenue reporting and table game operations between September and January.

The agreements state no formal findings have determined the merit of the violations, but settlements are reached to avoid a formal hearing.

We take these matters very seriously and respect the decision of the Virginia Lottery, said General Manager Roy Corby. We have reviewed and revised procedures to help prevent recurrence.

Corby declined to provide additional details on how the violations were mitigated, but the settlement agreements call for corrective action plans.

The $545,000 in fines will be paid to the commonwealths general fund as required by state law.

Rivers Casino Portsmouth was the regions first casino and the first permanent one to set up in Virginia in January 2023. The 250,000-square-foot facility, located on Victory Boulevard near Tidewater Community College, has nearly 1,500 slot machines, two dozen poker tables, nearly a dozen restaurants and other amenities.

Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
Robert Irwin, Arabist scholar and novelist who took on Edward Said and became a dervish  obituary

Robert Irwin, who has died aged 77, was a distinguished scholar of the history and literature of the Islamic world, an acclaimed novelist, author of a withering critique of the Edward Said school of Orientalism  and one-time whirling dervish.

Irwin published scholarly and readable studies of Islamic history and other books on Near Eastern subjects, as well as literary anthologies. In For Lust of Knowing: The Orientalists and Their Enemies (2006) he put decades of learning to good use in a scrupulous and detailed demolition of the theories propounded by Edward Said in his 1978 book Orientalism  a work of malignant charlatanry according to Irwin.

Said, the doyen of Arab-American intellectuals and post-colonial studies, argued that the long tradition of Western scholarship about the Orient (especially the Islamic world), was essentially ideological, and that the ideology was the imperialism and racism of the colonial powers  above all, Britain and France.

Western scholarship about the Orient was imperialist not just overtly, but tacitly: even the most seemingly disinterested antiquarian researcher  a linguist classifying Hittite verbs or elucidating obscure texts in classical Arabic or Persian  was compromised by the imperialist will to control and reduce the conquered to patronising stereotypes. As a cultural apparatus, Orientalism is all aggression, activity, judgment, will-to-truth, and knowledge, Said maintained.

Irwin was not on a vendetta (I have no significant disagreements with what Said has written about Palestine, Israel, Kiplings Kim, or Glenn Goulds piano-playing), but his book was devastating in its defence of the centuries of careful scholarship that Said denounced.

Irwin's book in which he took on Edward Said

As Irwin showed, there were many Orientalists, with many different worldviews. Indeed, historically, there had been a marked tendency for Orientalists to be anti-imperialists, as their enthusiasm for Arab or Persian or Turkish culture often went hand in hand with a dislike of seeing those people defeated and dominated by the Italians, Russians, British, or French. What is more, much of what Said castigated had its origins in Muslim scholarship. Said, Irwin wrote, libelled generations of scholars who were for the most part good and honourable men.

In 2011 Irwin published a candid memoir, Memoirs of a Dervish: Sufis, Mystics and the Sixties, in which he introduced his nascent interest in Islam in an arresting opening line: It was in my first year at Oxford that I decided I wanted to be a Muslim saint.

Robert Graham Irwin was born on August 23 1946 in Guildford, the son of Joseph Irwin, a psychiatrist and superintendent at Holloway Sanatorium, and Wilhelmina. He was educated at Epsom College, by his account an austere and oppressive institution which he said destroyed his childhood, with its ritualised beatings, bullying, tribalism and general privations (lack of privacy on the toilet, bad food).

There the torpid, joyless tedium of chapel every morning (and twice on Sundays) fuelled his quest for the Meaning of Life, reading sci-fi and works on Zen Buddhism, which he understood as a religion for atheists with the added attraction of exoticism.

His search continued at Merton College, Oxford, where he won a scholarship to read modern history and arrived in 1964. I was pale and thin and my hands shook from unfocused intensity, he recalled. He was also lonely, unconfident, sex-starved and somewhat mad.

Satan Wants Me (2007) was described as 'Adrian Mole amongst the satanists'

The Sixties were starting to swing, but Irwin never felt part of the scene: To be really part of it, one had to be young, beautiful and successful. I was only young... Mostly I stood outside the gates of Paradise looking in.

Later he was to satirise the whackier side of the decade, including amphetamines, weird sex and devil-worship, in the novel Satan Wants Me (2007), which takes the form of apprentice sorcerer Peters diary detailing his attempts to find a virgin to seduce and sacrifice. The FTs critic described it as Adrian Mole amongst the satanists and Channel 4 bought the film rights, but sadly the movie was never made.

In his continuing search for enlightenment, Irwin dabbled in yoga and existentialism, wrote bad poetry, read Jack Kerouac, joined the university Buddhist Society (which he found more interested in anarchism and drugs), spent hours on the floor of his room trying to get his astral self to lift itself out of his physical body, and spent a night walking barefoot round the college quad reciting Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me  until the dawn chorus, when I went to bed unenlightened and unimproved.

Much of his time, however, was spent hunched by a two-bar electric fire with a mug of instant coffee, he said. I was lonely and fearful and also bored.

A turning point came during his first long vacation when, instead of following the psychedelic hippie trail to Tangier, Formentera or Kathmandu, he hitchhiked across North Africa to Algeria, where a military coup was taking place, and pitched up on the doorstep of a zawiya (a kind of Sufi monastery) in the port city of Mostaganem. There, he followed an austere discipline under the direction of a Sufi master. He converted to Islam and was initiated as a faqir in the Alawi Order.

Irwin's fable about the rise to stardom of an actress during the Nazi era

Through engaging in wild communal dancing and chanting ritual litanies, he experienced ecstasies  like being eaten out from the inside  and such marvels as being able to see fellow believers before they reached his room, watching a small bird vanish into a wall and observing smoke rising from his hands as he clapped out the beat of a dance.

Back in England, he continued to drift well into his thirties, possessed by a horrible energy, but going nowhere. To the accompaniment of Velvet Underground and Donovan, he experimented with amphetamines and LSD, read RD Laing, dabbled in the occult and sought wisdom at the feet of assorted gurus and charlatans.

He enrolled at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) to learn classical Arabic then struggled for years with a doctoral thesis on the Mamluk reconquest of the Crusader states that he never finished.

He never renounced the belief that it was at Mostaganem that he had found the truth and he remained grateful to Sufism for nourishing the spiritual side of his life. But he found that, as he grew older, the world seemed to become more solid under the vast gravitational pull of every day, of work, of marriage.

In 1972 he became a lecturer in medieval history at the University of St Andrews, but in 1977 gave up academic life to write fiction, while continuing to lecture part-time at Oxford, Cambridge and SOAS.

The opening line of Irwin's candid memoir reads: 'It was in my first year at Oxford that I decided I wanted to be a Muslim saint'

His first novel, The Arabian Nightmare (its title a take on The Arabian Nights), was a convoluted tale chronicling the trials of Balian of Norwich, a spy for the French king sent to Mamluk Cairo in 1486, as he drifts ever deeper into the complexities of a city choked with magicians, courtesans, thieves, beggars and bards and such characters as Yoll the Storyteller, Fatima the Deathly and the Father of Cats.

Balian descends into the horrors of a dream-filled existence and is haunted, in particular, by the Arabian Nightmare  a condition no one can be conscious of while awake, but which subjects the dreamer to an infinity of suffering.

Several British publishers turned down the manuscript before Irwin founded a small firm with some colleagues called Dedalus to launch the book in 1983. It rapidly became a cult classic and Viking took notice, picking up his second novel, The Limits of Vision (1986), and releasing it in Britain and in America.

It was also at about this time that Irwin took up roller-skating, explaining that Freud had once said that the only pleasure in life comes from fulfilling in adulthood the desires one wasnt able to satisfy as a child In my case it is roller-skating, easily the most delightful discovery since sex.

In the late 1990s, when the Right-wing historian David Irving was interviewed on television, propounding his revisionist views about the Nazi era, a bearded figure stole the show by roller-skating across the background, waving two fingers at the goings-on in front. Frankly, Im rather a good skater, Irwin explained. TV crews often film me.

He also became a fellow of the London Institute of Pataphysics, dedicated to what has been described as the science of imaginary solutions.

Irwin went on to write another eight novels, all, he claimed about madness of one kind or another  obsession, delusion, drunkenness. AS Byatt praised him as an author who in some countries would be taught as their major writer.

At the same time he carved out an interlinked career in Arabic studies, beginning with The Middle East in the Middle Ages: the Early Mamluk Sultanate 12501382 (1986). The Arabian Nights: A Companion (1994), was a tour de force of scholarship in which he discussed the mysteries surrounding its origins, the history of its translations, what it reveals about medieval Arab life, how people have interpreted the tales and their influence on western literature.

Other books included The Arabic Beast Fable (1992); Islamic Art (1997); Night and Horses and the Desert: The Penguin Anthology of Classical Arabic Literature (1999); The Alhambra (2004); Visions of the Jinn: Illustrators of the Arabian Nights (2011) and Ibn Khaldun: An Intellectual Biography (2018).

In later life Irwin was a research associate at SOAS and the Middle East editor of The Times Literary Supplement.

In 1972 he married Helen Taylor, later Principal Clerk (Clerk of Committees) at the House of Commons, to whom he dedicated his memoir of the 1960s as the person who rescued me from myself. She survives him with their daughter.

Robert Irwin, born August 23 1946, died June 28 2024

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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  A new technology now being offered at Community Regional is helping doctors detect lung cancer far sooner than ever before.

The new Galaxy System helps with early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

So the Galaxy system is the most recent generation robotic bronchoscope, said Dr. Pravachan Hegde, a Pulmonologist at Community. It can reach areas of the lungs, which traditionally we couldnt reach back in the days.

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Dr. Hegde has advanced training in Comprehensive Thoracic Endoscopy Techniques and Interventional Pulmonology.

And with its vision, we can target different parts of the lungs to sample the spots in the lungs, he said.

Dr. Hedge is the only fellowship-trained board-certified advanced thoracic endoscopist and interventional pulmonologist in the Central Valley.

He uses a technology called tomosynthesis for early cancer diagnosis.

Basically its a technology where its an image integration, where it takes the patients CT scan and also the fluoroscopy data during the procedure, and it converts to the image into a 3D, giving us what is called a tool in lesion confirmation, he said.

Community Regional Medical Center has one of the largest Lung Nodule programs in the country and was the first to use the Galaxy System here on the West Coast.

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A 61-year-old Rock Island man was in custody Wednesday after officials allege he struck a conservation officer, according to court records.

Tommy Smith, who was in custody Wednesday in Rock Island County Jail, faces a Class 1 felony charge of aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony charge of aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony charge of attempting to disarm a police officer, and a Class A misdemeanor of sexual offender at a public park, court records show.

Tommy Smith (Rock Island County Jail)

Smith, according to arrest affidavits, knowingly caused great bodily harm to a peace officer engaged in official duties, striking the officer in the head while knowing that person was a peace officer.

Smith, court records show, also tried to dis-arm the officer.

Smith was at Hennepin Canal State Park, records show. He is set for a preliminary hearing July 16 in Rock Island County Court.

According to Illinois State Police records, Smiths victim was 10 and Smith was 37 at the time of the offense.

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One person is dead and another injured after a rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima Wednesday, officials confirmed to KTLA.

Crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the area of 10910 N. Hadden Avenue just before 5 p.m. on reports of the deadly incident.

Details are limited and its unclear exactly what led to the crash, but officials said the vehicle rolled off the freeway and came to rest near the intersection of Haddon Avenue and Fielding Street right by Paxton Park.

One of the two victims was ejected, while the other remained trapped inside the vehicle.

L.A. firefighters on the scene of a fatal rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

L.A. firefighters on the scene of a fatal rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

L.A. firefighters on the scene of a fatal rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima on July 3, 2024. (Citizen)

L.A. firefighters on the scene of a fatal rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima on July 3, 2024. (Citizen)

L.A. firefighters on the scene of a fatal rollover crash off the 118 Freeway in Pacoima on July 3, 2024. (KTLA)

Firefighters extricated the trapped patient, but sadly they were deceased at the scene, an LAFD news release stated.

Aerial footage of the incident captured by Sky5, as well as ground video posted to the Citizen App, showed crews in the area working. The deceased victim, who was covered by a sheet, was still lying nearby.

Belligerent naked man terrorizing Santa Monica apartment complex

The other victim was rushed to the hospital in unknown condition by medical personnel.

It is unclear if alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in the crash. No information about the age or gender of the victims was provided.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Ruling that dilutes regulatory power could ripple through farm and ranch country for years

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Laura Olson/States Newsroom)

A recent ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court limiting the deference to regulators in courtroom disputes is likely to have widespread implications for farmers and ranchers in South Dakota.

The 6-3 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises vs. Raimondo overturned a 40-year precedent known as the Chevron doctrine. That doctrine directed courts to defer to federal agency expertise when the laws an agency is enforcing are ambiguous.

In practice, the doctrine created a high bar for individuals or companies who sought to challenge rules enacted by agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Labor and others.

The case stemmed from a dispute over who ought to pay for the on-vessel monitoring required under a rule from the National Marine Fisheries Service. The rule sought to force commercial fishing operations to pay the person doing the monitoring; a group of commercial fishermen sued.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the Chevron doctrine was misguided in its deference to agencies over courts.

Congress expects courts to handle technical statutory questions, he wrote.

The ruling will be of particular interest to farmers, said South Dakota Farm Bureau President Scott VanderWal. Farmers frequently clash with federal agencies over rules that impact their land and operations.

Its going to give people better standing to challenge these agencies when they dont agree with what theyre doing, VanderWal said.

The case has already led to the reopening of a federal dispute over a wetlands determination between Hanson County farmer Arlen Foster and the USDAs Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Foster had asked the Supreme Court to review the case as Loper Bright was under discussion, and Fosters was among the cases sent back for review as a result.

A statement from South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley issued after the rulings release praised the justices.

For years, federal agencies and bureaucrats went too far in wielding authority over the states and citizens as Congress sat by and did nothing, said Jackley. It is time to give that authority back to the courts, the states and our citizens.

Other officials and organizations decried the ruling as a step backward for public health, safety and welfare. In a dissent, Justice Elena Kagan said the decision struck a blow against judicial humility in favor of judicial hubris by establishing a standard that expects judges to second-guess the federal subject matter experts who spend years crafting rules based on the authority delegated to them by Congress.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong told CT Mirror that the ruling touches all aspects of life  everything that we touch and use in our lives that needs to be safe.

He cited examples such as the Food and Drug Administrations rules around the ingredients in baby food, the Federal Aviation Administrations regulation of safety on airplanes and the EPAs limitations on toxic chemicals known as PFAS.

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Broader implications for South Dakota

The Loper Bright ruling is significant for agricultural areas, according to Jeffrey McCoy of the Pacific Legal Foundation. The foundation took up Fosters case after 2020.

The Chevron rule meant that agencies would often rewrite or reinterpret regulatory policy based on which political party occupied the White House, McCoy said.

One thing that overturning Chevrons going to do is that there will be more consistency in regulations, McCoy said.

McCoy anticipates an uptick in lawsuits over federal regulations as a result of the decision, but he also expects that farmers will feel less whiplash every four to eight years from the agencies that regulate them.

The Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule from the EPA has been a particular concern for South Dakota farmers. Its meant to protect ephemeral wetlands important to wildlife and the wider environment, but farm groups have called it overreach.

The rulemaking process began under former EPA Director Gina McCarthy, who served in the Obama administration. The Trump administration overturned the rule; the Biden administration moved to bring it back, though legal challenges have altered its scope.

The South Dakota Farmers Union and South Dakota Farm Bureau often find themselves on opposite sides of agriculture issues, but Farmers Union President Doug Sombke and VanderWal both had issues with WOTUS.

That truly was an overreach by Gina McCarthy, Sombke said.

That said, Sombke is concerned about the broader implications of Loper Bright. Specifically, hes concerned about how it might play out in the context of Citizens United, a Supreme Court case that gave corporations the legal rights of individuals.

Fighting a federal regulation in court can be an expensive proposition, and Sombke suspects corporate interests and lobbyists will have far more success knocking down or reshaping regulations than workaday farmers.

We are so influenced by our government, and our agencies are so influenced by lobbyists anymore, Sombke said. The question is, How far do we want this to go?

Thats a point echoed by Jillian Linster, policy director for the nonprofit Center for Rural Affairs.

The center has long worked to connect rural Americans to the local arms of regulatory agencies to make sure they have a voice in rulemaking, she said. Thats because farmers rely so heavily on government programs to guard against the ravages of mother nature or to block off cropland for conservation without fear of financial insolvency.

For us, its been really important to maintain those conversations, Linster said.

A case like Arlen Fosters  where the NRCS declined to give him another chance to make his case that a patch of his farm ground is not a wetland  or the Loper Bright case might seem egregious to the general public, Linster said. But the decision would grant the same right to challenge rules to large corporations and special interest groups that might seek to challenge rules the public  or even farmers, in the case of some conservation easement programs  might support.

The widespread impact of federal rulemaking, Linster said, can be obscured by individual disputes.

People do tend to get caught up in the cases that they know about and think less about the broader implications.

Rulemaking remains

Regulations do not creep up on the public, however, according to Michael B. Thompson, a law professor at the University of Sioux Falls.

Thompson said its important to keep in mind that administrative rulemaking will remain an open and lengthy process that involves gathering public input and making adjustments to initial proposals.

One of the biggest changes, he expects, will take the form of longer timelines for regulations in situations where rules are challenged in court.

If were going to be in federal court arguing about a rule interpretation, federal courts move really, really slowly, Thompson said.

Todd Wilkinson, a lawyer, rancher and immediate past president of the National Cattlemens Beef Association, agreed with that assessment. But he also reiterated the difficulties ranchers have had with regulatory whiplash.

In the past, he said, the rulemaking process seemed to pay little more than lip service to the concerns of those affected by any given rule. Wilkinson attributes that to politics.

Depending on what the administration is, theyd be using the rulemaking process to build that administrations record, Wilkinson said.

Rulemakers might need to pay more attention to public comments in light of a decision that strengthens the right to challenge regulations, said Thompson.

On the front end, an agency is going to be really careful in their drafting so they dont leave so many ambiguities that a court would have the opportunity to fill in, Thompson said.

Wilkinson would prefer that Congress pass laws that dont leave so much open to interpretation.

Making Congress actually do their job and legislate and understand what theyre passing, rather than giving all of this authority to a bunch of bureaucrats, to me, is a good thing, he said.

Linster, with the Center for Rural Affairs, has a more favorable view of those working for federal agencies, particularly the local representatives who interact with stakeholders.

Shes concerned that agencies may be gun shy about using their authority to regulate for fear of lawsuits, and that a slowdown to the rulemaking process to address issues on individual farms or for specific interest groups could be detrimental to those who dont oppose the rules or might benefit from them.

But, she said, the only thing certain about Loper Bright is that its implications will play out for years to come.

Its clear that overturning the Chevron doctrine is going to have a major impact on farm and ranch country, she said. No one knows exactly what its going to be.

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Russian troops attacked Odesa Oblast with a ballistic missile on July 4, killing one civilian and injuring at least seven others, Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Explosions were reported in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa after an air raid alert went off in the region, while the missile was launched in the direction of the nearby town of Chornomorsk, Ukraine's Air Force said.

The port infrastructure came under Russia's strike, Kiper said. The attack damaged port facilities and administrative premises, he added.

Odesa Oblast and other southern regions of Ukraine are regular targets of Russian missile and drone attacks.

Russia on May 1 launched ballistic missiles at Odesa, hitting a postal depot of Ukraine's largest privately-owned postal service, Nova Poshta.

The attack injured 14 people and destroyed 15.5 metric tons of shipments worth almost Hr 3 million ($76,000).

Read also: Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 10, injure almost 100 over past day

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The Russian military destroyed a Ukrainian Mig-29 fighter jet that was stationed on the Dovhyntseve airfield in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on July 4.

The news came after Russian forces carried out an attack against another Ukrainian military airfield in the city of Myrhorod in Poltava Oblast on July 1. The strike resulted in "some losses," according to former Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat.

"There was an attack. There are some losses, but not the ones the enemy claims," he said.

Russia claimed earlier it allegedly destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets which were stationed at the Myrhorod military airbase.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

Air Force spokesperson Illia Yevlash refused to give any comments to the Kyiv Independent on reported Russian attacks against Ukrainian airfields.

The attack on the Dovhyntseve airbase was carried out with an Iskander ballistic missile, the Russian Defense Ministry said, publishing video footage of the alleged attack on its Telegram channel.

Reports of earlier attacks drew outrage on social media, with some criticizing the Air Force for failing to properly protect the airfields despite advance warnings and the expected arrival of F-16 fighter jets.

The first Danish F-16s fighter jets are scheduled to arrive in Ukraine this summer. Kyiv expects to receive the aircraft also from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway.

Read also: Denmark announces new aid package for Ukraine focused on F-16s, defense industry

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Around the Oak Ballroom on Thursday nights, one may encounter a different scene this year than in the past, as the parking lot now plays host to mini pancakes, bands, fresh veggies, honey, crafts and handiworks with the Schuyler Farmers Market.

From 5 to 7 on Thursday nights this summer, Schuyler residents can find snacks, produce and things to do at the farmers market, which used to be located by CHI Health Schuyler. In addition to a new time and place, new vendors have come in, from as far as Columbus and Brainard. Joe Frei, owner of C & Czzz Bzzz in Columbus said the fact that buyers can meet the producers is a big advantage for vendors and consumers alike.

"It's a local market, local people know what they're getting - the product that they're getting versus a store or something like that where you never know who you're buying or where it comes from," Frei said.

Frei has been raising bees and making honey since he was in college, he said, but June 27 was his first time selling in Schuyler He and his wife brought honey peanut butter, hot honey, honey sauces and more, all made from their bees.

Cindy Pabian of Earth Phoenixd Art, on another side of the farmers market, makes pendants, from shells, wood, crystals and wire. It started with her making them while living in Hawaii but when she moved back to the mainland, she kept up the craft.

Her most recent addition to the lineup are triple-twist carved wood pendants, which she makes from blanks of wood she gets from a friend. The triple twists symbolize people coming together, she said. Showing her works at farmers markets, Pabian said, lets her and her buyers do just that.

"I love talking to people, I love meeting them and I love seeing what they're drawn to. It's a way for them to meet the artists rather than just online where they just love the product. It's cool meeting the people who buy your stuff and they get to meet the artists," Pabian said.

Pam and Allen Brezenski of Honey breeze Orchards in Brainard have also joined the fray, bringing fresh produce and baked goods made from scratch, something Pam is proud of. This year they brought strawberry, rhubarb and apple-based goods as they wait for their fruit trees to start growing. Allen also raises bees through a veteran grant.

"The biggest thing is our orchard is planned kind of on anything that could make a kolache. I grew up here in town, right, I have a very big Czech family so I basically wanted to just keep the natural stuff and that's what our orchard is really framed around," Brezenski said.

There is no farmers market on July 4, but it will return July 11.
Russias southernmost Dagestan province has announced a temporary ban on the wearing of niqabs, a full-face veil with an opening for the eyes, as a security measure following deadly attacks by gunmen last month.

Gunmen opened fire at multiple places of worship and a police traffic stop in two cities in the Muslim-majority republic on June 23, killing at least 15 police officers and at least four civilians, including an Orthodox priest, according to authorities.

The niqab ban is to take place until the identified threats are eliminated and a new theological conclusion is issued, deputy head of the Mufti of Dagestan Abdulla Salimov said in a video message Wednesday.

Assistant to the Mufti of Dagestan Muhammad Muhammadov told the Russian news agency EA Regnum on Wednesday that the ban applies in public places where security and personal identification are necessary, such as streets, public institutions, and other places where there are large gatherings of people.

The Muftiyats recommendation is aimed at preventing potential threats and maintaining public order. The duration of the ban depends on the development of the situation in the region, he said.

The Coordination Center of Muslims of the North Caucasus issued a statement on Wednesday in which it called the wearing of the niqab, burqa and other outer garments that cover the face harmful to Muslims, threatening discord in inter-religious and interethnic relations.

Alexander Bastrykin, the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, called on lawmakers to urgently ban the wearing of niqabs in Russia on Saturday.

Bastrykin blamed Islamist terrorists for the deadly shooting in Dagestan.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, but law enforcement agencies told Russian state media TASS that the attackers are adherents of an international terrorist organization.

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Russian courts issued arrest warrants last month for three exiled journalists, a move analysts interpret as an attempt to harass critics beyond the country's borders.

On June 17, a Moscow court ordered the arrests of Ekaterina Fomina and Roman Anin, accusing them of spreading what the Kremlin considers false information about the Russian military.

In a separate case on June 27, a court issued an arrest warrant for Farida Kurbangaleyeva, charging her with justifying terrorism and disseminating what Moscow deems false information about the Russian military, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

Kurbangaleyeva has reported for both Russian and international channels and runs a YouTube channel where she interviews Ukrainian and Russian politicians, according to reports.

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Since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has intensified repressive tactics against journalists both within and outside the country, according to watchdogs. While arrest warrants issued in absentia are considered less severe than other forms of harassment such as poisoning and surveillance, experts view them as part of Moscow's broader strategy of transnational repression.

These warrants not only aim to intimidate exiled journalists but also serve as a signal to Russia's domestic audience that criticism will not be tolerated, Grady Vaughan of Freedom House in Washington explained to VOA.

"It does send the message that just because this person left Russia doesnt mean we forgot about them," Vaughn told VOA.

According to a 2023 report by Freedom House, Russia is one of at least 26 governments that have targeted journalists and critics abroad over the past decade.

Karol Luczka, who covers Eastern Europe at the International Press Institute, told VOA that this practice might be aimed at meeting internal management quotas for repressing journalists, activists, and dissenting figures within specific timeframes.

Luczka noted that on Friday evenings, Russia's Ministry of Justice often updates its list of "foreign agents," typically adding four or five names, frequently including journalists.

Arrest warrants can also "contribute to discrediting journalists among [Russias] own population," according to Luczka.

Read also: Pressure on journalists, press freedom limitations continue in wartime Ukraine

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Russia loses another 1,200 soldiers and 65 artillery systems

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Russian forces have lost 1,200 soldiers killed and wounded, 65 artillery systems and 17 armoured combat vehicles over the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 4 July 2024 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 547,470 (+1 200) ;

8,132 (+9) tanks;

15,600 (+17) armoured combat vehicles;

14,777 (+65) artillery systems;

1,115 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems;

878 (+2) air defence systems;

360 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft;

326 (+0) helicopters;

11,694 (+26) strategic and tactical UAVs;

2,342 (+6) cruise missiles;

28 (+0) ships and boats;

1 (+0) submarines;

19,923 (+73) vehicles and tankers;

2,468 (+4) special vehicles and other equipment.

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Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, speaks at a council meeting in Moscow. -/Kremlin/dpa

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that the Russian armed forces have had their ranks bolstered by 190,000 new volunteer recruits so far this year.

Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said that there was no shortage of military personnel and that the Kremlin's enlistment goal was being fulfilled.

"The average daily recruitment rate remains stable and amounts to around 1,000 people," Medvedev was quoted as saying by the state news agency TASS while at a Defence Ministry meeting.

According to estimates by the Ukrainian military leadership, almost 550,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion over two years ago.
Russia will remain the greatest threat to Europe's security for the foreseeable future  Germany's foreign minister

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has stated during a debate in the Bundestag that Russia will remain the greatest threat to security and freedom in Europe in the future and urged NATO to continue supporting Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda, citing German TV news service Tagesschau

Quote from Baerbock: "Russia will remain the greatest threat to our security and freedom in Europe for the foreseeable future."

Details: She added that the West must take action to defend freedom and democracy.

"We did not choose this. We did not want this. Germany has a special responsibility in this regard and has meanwhile regained lost trust due to its policy concerning Russia. We must not waste this in the budget negotiations," the minister warned, referring to the current dispute in the coalition over the 2025 budget.

Background: The 75th anniversary NATO Summit will be held in Washington, DC, from 9 to 11 July.

On Wednesday, dozens of foreign policy experts urged NATO members not to advance Ukraine's membership issue at the Washington summit, arguing that, in their opinion, it would jeopardise the United States and its allies and could fracture the coalition.

On 3 July, NATO allies had reportedly agreed to provide 40 billion in military aid to Ukraine next year.

Recent media reports have also indicated that the creation of a new body to coordinate all types of long-term assistance to Ukraine, to be named NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), will be announced at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington.

There are also ongoing discussions about the introduction of a special representative in Kyiv to oversee the international coordination of arms supplies and training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the auspices of NATO.

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Russia has launched missiles at airbases shortly after flying surveillance drones overhead for the last three days

Russia is firing missiles at Ukrainian bases in an apparent attempt to stop them from receiving F-16 jets, which have been dubbed war-winners for their potential to repel Russias onslaught on the front line.

Russias defence ministry said on Thursday it had used an Iskander ballistic missile to destroy a Mig-29 fighter jet at the base at Dolgintsevo in central Ukraine.

It marked the third day in a row that Russia has launched missiles at an airbase shortly after flying surveillance drones overhead, and comes ahead of a long-awaited delivery of F-16s.

The American jets have been the object of Ukraines desires for months, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hailing them as potential game-changers.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed the arrival of F-16s as potential game-changers - ERIC LALMAND/AFP

The first batch is due to arrive this month after Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Belgium agreed to send them with the USs permission.

The jets, which can reach speeds of 1,300mph, are among the most advanced in the world, though analysts have been divided on their ability to change the course of the war.

For some, the F-16s are war-winners, while others have warned against seeing them as some sort of silver bullet against Russia.

The Kremlin, however, is anticipating their arrival and striking accordingly, said retired US Lt-Gen Ben Hodges

It is to be expected that Russia will do all it can to disrupt Ukraine gaining this kind of air power capability, said Lt-Gen Hodges, who was a former commander of the US army in Europe.

It will be striking airfields, maintenance capabilities, and all that is required for Ukraines air force to operate the F-16s.

The first of these strikes came on Tuesday when Russia said it destroyed five Su-27 fighters at the Myrgorod airfield, 100 miles from the Russian border, with hypersonic missiles.

On Wednesday it hit an airfield in the east-central city of Poltava, damaging and possibly destroying a Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopter.

Though Ukraine said the losses from Tuesdays attack had been exaggerated, with analysts putting the number at close to two, an air force spokesman said the strikes presented certain difficulties.

Analysts say Ukraine has yet to solve the problem of how to hide and protect them and the infrastructure they need.

Russian footage showing an alleged attack on the Dolgintsevo airbase

The answer is more air defences, said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute.

The problem with simply using other aircraft to protect the jets is that Ukraine cannot afford for them to be shot down by Russias long-range missiles, he added.

Lt-Gen Hodges said Ukraines air force is likely to rise to the challenge and find ways to move the aircraft around, use decoys and harden its air base defences.

The Ukrainian is very good at protecting its assets and distracting and deceiving the enemy.

Lt-Gen Hodges said Western nations must heed President Volodymyr Zelenskys urgent calls for more long-range weapons and lift the restrictions on striking inside Russian territory so Kyiv can target Moscows jets.

Ukraine needs to wreck the other sides ability to fly. The best thing to do is kill the archer, rather than intercept the arrows, he said.

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A woman wounded as a result of a Russian attack on Dnipro on 3 July has died in hospital, as Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, reported.

Source: Serhii Lysak on Telegram

Quote: "A 58-year-old woman died in hospital. She was injured during yesterday's Russian attack on Dnipro."

Details: He said doctors did everything possible to save the life of the woman, but her injuries were too severe. "There are already seven people who were killed. May they rest in peace," he said.

Background:

On the morning of 3 July, the Russians attacked Dnipro. Explosions rang out in the city; a shopping centre was damaged. There were reports of deaths and casualties.

The Air Force later clarified that the Russians had struck Dnipropetrovsk Oblast with three Iskander-K surface-to-surface cruise missiles, four Kh-59 missiles, and five Shahed attack UAVs. Ukrainian air defence units had shot down 11 aerial targets: one Iskander-K cruise missile, four Kh-59 aircraft-launched missiles, five Shahed-131/136 loitering munitions, and one Orlan-10 UAV.

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Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 10 people and injured at least 99 over the past day, regional authorities said on July 4.

Russia targeted a total of 12 Ukrainian oblasts  Kyiv, Chernihiv, Mykolaiv, Luhansk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, and Donetsk. Casualties were reported in the latter seven regions.

At least six people were killed and 55 injured after Russia launched drones and missiles against Dnipro in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on July 3, officials said.

Five fatalities were reported on the day of the attack, and the sixth person  a 60-year-old woman  died in the hospital the day after, Governor Serhii Lysak announced.

A shopping center was hit, as well as multiple cars and a gas station, said Mykola Lukashuk, the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast regional council.

Russian forces struck the Nicopol district in the oblast overnight using "kamikaze" drones and artillery, according to Lysak. A 68-year-old woman was hospitalized in a condition of moderate severity.

The Russian military also attacked the city of Nikopol on the morning of July 4. At least one woman and six men suffered shrapnel wounds, the governor reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, 20 people were injured due to the Russian attacks, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian troops attacked the city of Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs on July 3, injuring at least 14 people, including children, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported.

A residential area in the Kyivskyi district of the city came under attack. At least three guided aerial bombs destroyed two houses, according to Syniehubov.

A woman and two men, aged 74, 75, and 38, suffered injuries, as well as an eight-year-old boy who was rescued from the rubble and a two-week-old child, the authorities said.

The Russian military struck the village of Ruska Lozova at around 10 a.m. local time on July 3, injuring three men. Later in the day, the Russian army also attacked the village of Kotivka, targeting a farm and injuring a man.

On the morning of July 4, the village of Hlushkivka came under the Russian attack. A man and a woman were injured. At least eight houses were damaged in the strike, while six others were destroyed completely.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a man and a woman were killed due to the shelling of the Vasilyvka and Polohy districts. Another man was injured, the local military administration reported.

Russian forces struck the oblast 391 times, targeting 10 settlements in total over the past day.

In Poltava Oblast, one person was killed, and three others suffered injuries after missile debris damaged a school and a kindergarten in the Poltava district on July 3, Governor Filip Pronin reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, three people were injured in the town of Druzhkivka in the Kramatorsk district due to Russian attacks over the past day, according to local governor Vadym Filashkin.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 24 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. One person was killed, and seven were injured over the past day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Russia launched 22 Shahed-type drones overnight on July 4 from the Kursk region. Ukrainian forces downed 21 over Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Poltava oblasts, according to the General Staff.

In Zhytomyr Oblast, drone debris caused a fire in a house, injuring a woman. The victim was hospitalized, Governor Vitalii Bunechko reported.

In Chernihiv Oblast, an air raid alarm lasted nearly five hours on the morning of July 4. One of the Russian drones hit a facility, local military administration reported, without specifying its type.

Some 5,963 consumers in the oblast remain without electricity as of around 8 a.m. local time due to the Russian strikes.

Read also: Ukrainian drone attack damaged Russias only full-cycle metallurgical enterprise, source says

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Russian attacks on Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast killed a woman and injured eight people, including children, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported on July 4.

Eight people were reportedly injured in the town of Novohrodivka. Four children are among those injured.

Novohrodivka, the town located some 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Pokrovsk, was first hit with Russian FPV drone and Uragan rocket launchers afterward, according to the governor.

The attack damaged three high-rise buildings, two administrative buildings and a cafe, Filashkin said.

In the nearby village of Zavitne, a 55-year-old woman was killed.

Settlements in Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Three people were injured in the region over the past day, Filashkin said.

Read also: Ukraine withdraws from eastern Chasiv Yar neighborhood, military says

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Russian citizens will not be allowed in Czechia without biometric passport

Starting Wednesday, 3 July, Czechia has stopped recognising non-biometric passports of the Russian Federation, and Russian citizens with such passports will not be able to stay in Czechia legally.

Source: European Pravda with reference to iDNES

Details: Jan Lipavsky, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Czechia, stated that security is a priority for the Czech government, so it "will not wait for further sabotage".

Starting 3 July, Russian citizens with non-biometric passports will not be able to remain in the territory of Czechia, the Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Czechia reported its decision at the meeting of the competent body of the EU and urged other countries to take similar measures.

"If a Russian citizen shows a non-biometric passport in Czechia, then their stay is illegal, and the consequence of it is currently being decided. Non-biometric passports are way easier to modify and falsify," Mariana Wernerova from the Czech Foreign Ministrys communication department stated.

Lipavsky added that Russian citizens willing to stay in Czechia must prove their trustworthiness.

"In case of a Russian passport with non-biometric information, which was used by the killers [Russian agents who blew up ammunition storages  ed.] Vrbetice, will not be enough. I will also work on limiting the movements of Russian diplomats in the Schengen zone since it is another spying tool used against democratic countries," he said.

Background: Czechia has not been letting Russians with tourist and student visas enter since October 2022.

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Russian authorities have detained Colonel Artyom Gorodilov, the top military commander whose troops were responsible for the massacre in Bucha, on charges of large-scale fraud, Russian state media outlet TASS reported on July 4.

At the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Gorodilov led the 234th Guards Air Assault Regiment which was found through a New York Times investigation to be responsible for the death and executions of civilians in Bucha, a suburb outside of Kyiv.

Gorodilov, who was arrested on July 3, was charged by a Russian military court with committing fraud amounting to at least one million rubles ($11,236). Gorodilov commanded the paratroop 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade in Russia's far-east at the time of his arrest.

Several high-level Russian officials have been arrested in recent months on corruption-related charges. In what was likely the highest-profile corruption case in Russia since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was arrested in April on charges of bribery.

Recent crackdowns on top military leadership coincided with Russian President Vladimir Putin's removal of then Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, following which a number of commanders were charged with various crimes.

No information was provided on the details of Gorodilov's charges, as the hearing was held in the military court, TASS reported.

If convicted Gorodilov faces up to 10 years in prison. He has denied the charges laid against him.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine withdraws from eastern Chasiv Yar neighborhood, military says

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Russian occupation forces have deployed a drone to attack two civilians in the southern city of Kherson, causing injuries of varying severity.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration on Facebook

Quote: "Russian forces deployed a drone to attack two civilians in Kherson. Explosives dropped from the drone caused men, aged 61 and 65, to sustain injuries."

Details: Kherson Oblast Military Administration said both men sustained blast injuries, brain injuries and contusions.

One of the men also had his face, chest and abdomen injured, while the other suffered injuries to his upper arm and leg.

Background: Earlier, the Russian military attacked a resident of Antonivka village in Kherson Oblast with a drone, and the man was hospitalised.

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The aftermath of the Russian attack. Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

Russian forces deployed various weapons to strike the cities of Novohrodivka and Ukrainsk in Donetsk Oblast on the afternoon of 4 July, injuring 10 civilians, five of them kids.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office on Facebook

Details: Russian forces deployed an FPV drone to bomb a two-storey residential building in Novohrodivka at 16:30 (Kyiv time), injuring a married couple.

The aftermath of the Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast on 4 July

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

An hour or so later, the Russians deployed Uragan (Hurricane) multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) to attack Novohrodivka again, injuring five young men (three aged 17, one aged 18, and another one aged 20) and two 14-year-old girls.

The Russians also deployed an MLRS to attack the city of Ukrainsk, injuring a 75-year-old woman.

Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office said that all civilians who sustained injuries have received medical treatment. The exact number of casualties has yet to be confirmed.

Several apartment blocks, garages, administrative buildings, and cafes were damaged in Novohrodivka and Ukrainsk as a result of Russian attacks.

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Russian troops bombarded Kharkiv and Kupiansk districts in Kharkiv Oblast on 4 July, reportedly wounding three people.

Source: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "[The Russians attacked] the village of Hlushkivka, Kurylivka hromada, Kupiansk district, at 05:10 on 4 July. As a result of the attack, six private houses and two outbuildings were destroyed. A total of eight private houses and nine outbuildings were damaged. Two women and a man were injured." (A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.)

Details: The Russians also attacked the village of Kozacha Lopan, and a shop was burning as a result of the attack.

Background: On 3 July, the Russians struck a residential area in the city of Kharkiv, injuring 14 people, including a two-week-old baby.

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All Russian Kinzhal missiles downed over Kyiv since arrival of Patriot systems, Ukrainian Air Force says

All Kinzhal ballistic missiles fired by Russia at targets in Kyiv have been downed since the U.S. provided Patriot air defense systems in May 2023, Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Serhii Yaremenko said in an interview with Ukrinform published on July 4.

Kinzhal missiles are launched from MiG-31K aircraft and have an operational range of some 2,000 kilometers, which means that all of Ukraine is at risk if the missile is launched from Russian airspace.

Russia claims the advanced air-launched Kinzhal missile is hypersonic, and the weapon was considered near-impossible to intercept and shoot down before the arrival of Patriot systems.

Yaremenko, who is the commander of the 95th anti-aircraft missile brigade, said that Kyiv has been targeted by more than 20 Kinhzal missiles, but none of them have hit the capital.

"When we work against ballistics, it doesn't matter to us whether it's the Kh-47M Kinzhal, or the Iskander-M, or the 48N, or a Zircon," Yaremenko said.

Ballistic missiles are fired high into the atmosphere before falling to their targets in an arc, attaining speeds several times the speed of sound before hitting their target.

Read also: Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 10, injure almost 100 over past day

"For us, it is primarily a ballistic target," and only after expert analysis does the Air Force find out exactly what was downed, Yaremenko said.

"I will say only one thing: all the Kinzhals that were launched at the capital of Ukraine, from the moment it was announced that the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex was put on combat duty, were all successfully intercepted."

Yaremenko added that "more than 20 Kinzhal missiles were launched over Kyiv and all of them were successfully intercepted" since May 2023.

The first time a Kinzhal was downed over Kyiv was on May 3, 2023, at 2:35 a.m at an altitude of about 10 kilometers, Yaremenko said.

"We very carefully used the Patriot anti-aircraft missile complex," after receiving information that a Kinzhal had been fired from a Russian MiG-31K.

"At the moment when there were signs of a launch, we turned it on and identified the target. The speed was so high that there was no time to clarify the task, characteristics. I was told it was ballistics, I authorized the use of the Patriot, and it was destroyed," Yaremenko said.

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses as Russia intensifies its strikes against Ukrainian population centers and infrastructure.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in April that he will not say how many Patriot systems Ukraine has, but that "to cover Ukraine completely in the future, it is preferable to have 25 Patriot systems, with 6-8 batteries each."

In June, both Romania and the U.S. said they will provide Ukraine with an additional Patriot system, while the Netherlands said it would supply components for a Patriot system for Ukraine together with another country.

Read also: 14 brigades underarmed, aid arriving too slowly, Zelensky comments on battlefield situation

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The State Duma (the lower house of the Russian Parliament) has adopted a law in the first reading and in general requiring MPs to approve their visits abroad, citing the risks of incarceration overseas.

Source: Meduza, a Latvia-based Russian media outlet

Quote: "The document amends the federal law On the Status of a Senator of the Russian Federation and the Status of an MP of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and states that senators and MPs powers may be revoked ahead of schedule if they have not received permission to travel abroad.

The mechanism and timing of coordination will be determined separately by the State Duma and Federation Council. The law goes into effect on the date of its official publication."

Details: According to Vasily Piskarev, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, "this decision is dictated by security issues, both of the state and those travelling abroad themselves," as the "Kyiv regime" sentenced a number of MPs to long prison terms.

Piskarev also stated that this decision was motivated by the need to ensure the state's security, "since all State Duma MPs and senators, in fact, have access to state secrets".

Furthermore, according to Meduza, citing TASS, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin ordered that the issue of prohibiting MPs from travelling outside Russia for a set length of time after their terms expired be resolved.

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Emergency workers dismantling the rubble of an apartment block in Dnipro after a Russian attack on 28 June. Photo: Ukraine's State Emergency Service

Rescue workers have found the body of a woman under the rubble of a building in Dnipro that was struck by the Russians on 28 June, bringing the death toll from that attack to three. In addition, a woman who was injured during the Russian strike on Dnipro on 3 July has died in hospital, raising the death toll from that attack to six.

Source: Serhii Lysak, the Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Last night, rescue workers found the body of a woman under the rubble of the Dnipro building damaged by the Russians on Friday. This is the third person killed in that attack. A 60-year-old woman who was injured during yesterday's attack on the city has died in hospital. In total, six people have been killed."

Details: Lysak noted that a mourning day in Dnipro is declared on 4 July.

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. On 2 July, rescue workers retrieved the body of a woman from under the rubble, bringing the death toll to two.

Russian forces attacked the city of Dnipro in the morning of 3 July: explosions were heard, and a shopping centre was damaged. At first, it was reported that at least 4 people had been killed and at least 27 injured. Later, the death toll rose to 5 and the number of injured increased to 53.

Ukraines Air Force reported that Russian forces launched three Iskander-K surface-to-surface cruise missiles, four Kh-59 aviation missiles and five Shahed attack UAVs on the morning of 3 July 2024. Ukrainian air defence units had shot down 11 aerial targets: 1 Iskander-K cruise missile, 4 Kh-59 aviation missiles, 5 Shahed-131/136 loitering munitions and 1 Orlan-10 UAV.

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Aftermath of Russian attack on the village of Losivka in Kharkiv Oblast on 4 July. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Police

Russians dropped guided aerial bombs on the village of Losivka in Kharkiv Oblast on Thursday, killing a 40-year-old man.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Police report

Quote: "Police officers of the hromada and the patrol police officers response team managed to get to the site of the hit to help the injured people.

However, they found a dead man under the rubble of the house. He was about 40 and is being identified. Law enforcement officers removed the body for forensic examination."

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The Russians dropped a guided aerial bomb on the village of Ruska Lozova in Kharkiv Oblast, killing a woman.

Source: Viacheslav Zadorenko, Head of Derhachi City Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Unfortunately, one local citizen was killed as a result of the strike. I give my condolences to the deceased's family and friends.

Several houses have sustained damage."

Details: A 67-year-old civilian woman was killed as a result of a Russian guided aerial bomb striking Ruska Lozova, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration.

Another local, 74, sustained a shrapnel wound.

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Russian forces again struck multiple settlements in Donetsk Oblast, killing one person and injuring seven others, including a 10-year-old child.

Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutor's Office on Facebook

Details: According to the investigation, on 4 July 2024, the village of Stinky in Kramatorsk district was targeted by Russian barrel artillery. A 37-year-old employee of an agricultural firm sustained fatal injuries while working on the property. During the attack, the woman was on her way to feed the animals.

A 59-year-old citizen was also injured near the reservoir in the vicinity of Kleban Byk of the Illinivka rural hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories].

In addition, Russian troops fired on the village of Pivnichne in Bakhmut district, targeting a private building. The injured family included a 58-year-old man, a 50-year-old woman, and their 10-year-old child. The type of weapons used by the Russians are being established.

Russian Armed Forces dropped UMPB D-30SN bombs on Myrne, a village in the Volnovakha district. One of the attacks targeted a farm, leaving three people with injuries of varying degrees of severity: women aged 34 and 62 and a 45-year-old man were on the street at the time of the attack.

All victims were sent to hospital with mine-explosion and traumatic brain injuries, as well as shrapnel wounds. They are receiving qualified assistance.

Residential buildings and agricultural equipment were damaged in these settlements.

Photo: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office

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To save the spotted owl, wildlife officials want to kill hundreds of thousands of competing owls

To save the Spotted Owls in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. officials are planning to kill hundreds of thousands of another owl species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released its final environmental impact statement Wednesday on how it would save Spotted Owls, a native species in the Pacific Northwest.

In some studies, the global population of Spotted Owls is as low as 15,000.

The bird population has declined sharply over the years due to habitat loss and its cousin, the Barred Owl.

Barred Owls are native to the east coast but have expanded their range, now outcompeting, and pushing the Spotted Owl out of their natural environment.

To save the native owl, which is on the verge of extinction, the USFWS said trained shooters would use shotguns to kill up to nearly 500,000 Barred Owls over the next three decades.

The shooters would be trained to identify Barred Owls in the environment.

Officials told KIRO 7 News that they understand the significance of restoring natural habitats and the loss of life.

We identified both the importance of habitat as well as the concerns about the threats of the Barred Owl, said Bridget Moran, deputy state supervisor of Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

While those effort have been successful in restoring a lot of habitats, the invasion of the Barred Owl has increased significantly. And were at a point now where we have the science to support that without doing something for the Barred Owl, the Spotted Owl will likely go extinct, she added.

Barred Owls have been pushing Spotted Owls out of their natural environment since as early as the mid-1980s.

While both owls look similar to the naked eye, Barred Owls are slightly larger and more aggressive.

They eat a wider range of animals, which could affect the natural food chain in the wild.

There are scientists who are very concerned that this could cause a collapse in our food web in some areas of our west coast, said Robin Bown, lead biologist on development of Barred Owl management strategy.

She added, We looked at capture. We looked at translocation. We looked at sterilization. Theres just no method that actually works.

KIRO 7 News also spoke with Claire Catania, executive director of Birds Connect Seattle, a non-profit that advocates for birds and forests across Washington.

We dont have a significant population of Northern Spotted Owls in King County at all, she described the current environment.

We need to protect the Northern Spotted Owls. This is a species in crisis. This is a species on the brink, she said. Drastic measures are now needed to protect it. To save it because of our failure to protect old growth forest habitats that these owls need.

Catania said the federal programs plan is stirring up a lot of mixed reactions from animal and environmental advocates.

Not just a number of Northern Spotted Owls, but the entirety of a species. Trying to quantity what that is worth in terms of the value of the individual lives of another species, she shared. The Barred Owls, which are in fact innocent in this whole equation, would be made to suffer the consequences for our poor forestry management decisions.

This is something we are going to be facing more and more if we dont act more seriously and urgently around climate change and continued habitat loss. We are going to be left with two bad choices, in this case, the extinction of the Northern Spotted Owl or this violent management plan, Catania added.

A final decision on the USFWSs new plan is expected to be made in about a month.

If it passes, the plan will take effect as early as next spring.
A school playground disappeared in Perry County on the Fourth of July, and school district officials asked the public to help figure out why.

When someone removed the playground equipment at Buckhorn Elementary School, Perry County school district officials took to social media to ask for help in solving the mystery.

The school district has been informed that someone has removed the students playground from the Buckhorn school property, a district Facebook post said Thursday. According to the construction contractor, the playground was removed today, on July 4th. Students will be returning in a matter of weeks, and we are looking for details into how this transpired.

Its important that anyone with details of this matter contact Principal Jennifer Hickerson as soon as possible, the post said.

Not long after on Thursday, school district officials posted another message:

Wow. Thanks for the quick response. We have some more details regarding the removal of the playground. It appears to have been sold by the City of Buckhorn (Village) through advertised bid. This was not a case of stolen property, but a question of ownership and communication.

We are setting up meetings next week to attempt to rectify the situation.

After a woman said in a post that she had purchased the playground from the school district for a neighborhood park, district officials responded, the Perry County Schools made no transaction to sell the playground, and that has been cleared up with the purchaser.

Perry County Superintendent Kent Campbell told the Herald-Leader in an email Thursday evening that unfortunately, this is all the information I have at the time and hope to meet with the City of Buckhorn officials soon. 

Buckhorn city officials could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Campbell confirmed Buckhorn students havent used the building since it was damaged by the flood that devastated the southeastern Kentucky region in 2022.

Buckhorn school has been stationed at the former A.B Combs Elementary building for the previous two years and they will return home once school is in session, Campbell told the Herald-Leader

He said there was no flood damage to the playground other than normal clean up from mud.

We planned on having some additional playground equipment but were going to utilize what was there too, Campbell said.
Police officers at Study Preparatory in Wimbledon after a car crashed into the primary school building killing two children - KIN CHEUNG/AP

Leaders of a Wimbledon school where two eight-year-old girls died after a Land Rover ploughed into an end-of-term party have said they feel let down by the Metropolitan Police investigation.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said last week that following a lengthy and detailed police investigation it concluded that driver Claire Freemantle, who was 46 at the time, suffered an epileptic seizure.

The Met has now launched a review of its investigation into the deaths of pupils Nuria Sajjad and Selena Lau following the collision, which took place at the Study Preparatory in Wimbledon, south west London, on July 6 last year.

Helen Lowe, the former headteacher of the school who was in post at the time of the crash, said the Met had failed to answer some of their key questions about the incident following its initial investigation.

Sharon Maher, the incumbent head, said the school had to wait around a year for the decision, which came just 10 days before the anniversary of the girls deaths.

They said they were angry, sad and confused by the CPS decision not to prosecute.

Ms Maher told BBC: We were both very surprised [by the CPS decision].

Selena Lau (left) and Nuria Sajjad died after a Land Rover crashed into their school in Wimbledon, south-west London

Ms Maher questioned The Mets claim that its officers had worked tirelessly through every detail of the incident to ensure a complete investigation.

She said: It didnt look that way to us.

Ms Lowe added: No, I think the words thorough and tireless suggest that you would have a body of evidence that you would be able to share but in some areas there was just a complete lack of knowledge, of basic information.

Maybe when they [the Met] go away and look at the evidence, they will remember the answers. But there were a number of occasions where they werent sure if something had been done, or they couldnt remember.

At this moment in time, it would appear that I have been let down by them.

Following the CPS decision, Nurias parents, Sajjad Butt and Smera Chohan, and Selenas parents, Franky Lau and Jessie Deng, said in a joint statement: We were all in the safest place we could have been outside our own homes. We were celebrating a day filled with joy. Nuria and Selenas lives were taken in a moment.

So many lives were also irreparably shattered in that moment.

Hundreds of people  parents, teachers, children, neighbours, friends and family members  will never lead normal lives again.

Some of us will never experience joy again.

Flowers and toys placed outside the school after the crash on the last day of term - YUI MOK/PA

Mrs Freemantle, believed to be a mother of three, expressed her deepest sorrow and said she had no recollection of what took place.

It is understood she has voluntarily surrendered her licence and, following her diagnosis, she will need to be a year free of any seizures before she can reapply to the DVLA for her licence again.

Mrs Freemantle lives with her husband in Wimbledon.

The Metropolitan Police said: Having listened to concerns from the families of both Nuria and Selena  and other parties affected  we are committed to addressing their questions, and the Specialist Crime Review Group will therefore be carrying out a review of the investigation.

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An air tanker drops retardant behind a home while battling the Toll Fire near Calistoga, Calif., Tuesday, July 2, 2024. An extended heat wave blanketing Northern California has resulted in red flag fire warnings and power shutoffs. | Noah Berger

A dangerous heat wave spanning 21 states as of Wednesday morning has sparked wildfires across the Western United States and put over 110 million people under heat watches, warnings and advisories, the National Weather Service warned.

This Fourth of July week will be a scorcher across much of the West and from the southern Plains to the Mid-Atlantic, the NWS said Wednesday morning.

The excessive heat wave broiling much of the West is expected to continue into next week, expanding into the Pacific Northwest and the Intermountain West by the end of the week.

California wildfires prompt evacuations

Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits in the range of 105-115 degrees Fahrenheit throughout California, where multiple wildfires sparked at least nine wildfires as of Tuesday night, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A wildfire that spread into residential areas in Oroville, California, prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency in Butte County Wednesday, with 13,000 people being under an evacuation order, as the Deseret News reported.

Triple-digit temperatures in Utah

Temperatures are expected to rise to dangerous levels in Utah after the Fourth of July and heading into next week, with areas of the state possibly reaching triple digits.

High pressure building along the West Coast this week will produce a warming trend across much of the Western U.S., NWS Salt Lake City explained. As this high pressure shifts eastward, the potential for dangerous, record-breaking heat increases across Utah and southwest Wyoming heading into next weekend and likely continuing into next week.

Temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit along the Wasatch Front and 110 in the St. George metro area are expected next week.

Staying safe in a heat wave

The National Weather Service warned that the duration of the heat wave into next week is particularly dangerous because heat impacts can compound over time.

Avoid heat stroke, dehydration and more by staying hydrated, out of direct sunlight, and in buildings with sufficient air-conditioning, per the NWS. It is also very important to check on the safety of vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors.
Dozens of foreign policy experts have urged NATO members not to advance Ukraine's membership issue at the Washington summit, arguing that, in their view, it would jeopardise the United States and its allies and could fracture the coalition.

Source: Politico, citing the experts letter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Experts say that if Ukraine were to be accepted into NATO and Russia were to attack Ukraine in the future, Article 5, which calls on allies to defend a NATO member under attack, would likely be invoked.

The focus on Article 5 is widespread among those opposing Ukraine's membership, but this public stance by over 60 analysts allows for insight into arguments that will likely be heard during the three-day summit starting on 9 July.

Quote: "The closer NATO comes to promising that Ukraine will join the alliance once the war ends, the greater the incentive for Russia to keep fighting the war. The challenges Russia poses can be managed without bringing Ukraine into NATO," the letter's authors argue.

They believe that advancing Ukraine's NATO membership could have repercussions, potentially "turning Ukraine into the site of a prolonged showdown between the worlds two leading nuclear powers" and playing into the hands of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The letter was initiated by William Ruger, president of the American Institute for Economic Research, and Stephen Wertheim, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

At the same time, it is reported that other analysts disagree. Last week, researchers from the RAND Corporation wrote that allies would benefit if they clearly outlined conditions for Ukraine's future membership at the summit. The Atlantic Council also insists on Ukraine's NATO membership, stating that it would demonstrate to Kyiv that Western support is unwavering.

Politico notes that analysts and college professors are not the decision-makers on NATO's political decisions, but they often contribute to foreign policy debates by writing analytical articles and engaging in discussions  especially before and during major events like the upcoming summit.

The Biden administration refrains from supporting immediate Kyiv membership, but several senior officials recently stated that Ukraine will be offered a "bridge" to the Alliance at the summit.

Background:

On 3 July, NATO allies reached an agreement regarding funding for military assistance to Ukraine next year in the amount of 40 billion.

Recent media reports have also indicated that the creation of a new body to coordinate all types of long-term assistance to Ukraine, to be named NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), will be announced at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington.

There are also ongoing discussions about the introduction of a special representative in Kyiv to oversee the international coordination of arms supplies and training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the auspices of NATO.

Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for Ukraines European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the head of Ukraines delegation in negotiations on Ukraines accession to the European Union, hopes for the inclusion of wording affirming the irreversibility of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic course in the Washington NATO Summit decision.

Read more: A bridge instead of an invitation: What Ukraine can expect at the NATO Summit in Washington

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The Fourth of July may well mean independence for the USA but that date has probably also heralded Scotland saying, yet again, no to independence and the breaking up of Britain.

That, surely, must be the main conclusion from their entirely deserved collapse in todays general election, towards which the SNP looks to be heading.

Its apparent reversal under John Swinney  its third leader in little more than a year  surely means there can now be no cause for it to continue banging the drum for independence for the simple reason that the voters have said  Forget it. We dont want it.

Swinney had said that if the electorate returned a majority of Scottish seats  29  for the SNP hed have a mandate to begin negotiations with Downing Street for independence. But in the polling stations on Thursday his claim looks to have got up and bit him, with the voters denying him that majority.

But if he refuses to acknowledge defeat on this issue, we neednt worry because the voters have done it for him.

After losing the 2014 referendum, the SNP refused to accept the result, and went on to win 56 out of the 59 Scottish constituencies less than a year later. They showed themselves to be an awesome political force. But it now risks taking on the appearance of little more than a tiny fringe party, united only by its adherence to independence.

Incredibly, one of those who will probably be blamed for the SNP vote crashing is a lead presenter on the ITV election programme. As First Minister of Scotland and party leader since she stepped smartly into Alex Salmonds shoes after the nationalist defeat in the independence referendum, there is no other role in which to put Nicola Sturgeon other than as the person many believe to be the main author of her partys astonishing reverse.

If Salmond, her predecessor and former mentor  now sworn enemy  may have almost engineered the breakup of the United Kingdom, the Sturgeon legacy is dramatically different.

One year after she resigned as leader, the SNP is predicted to not only slump from 48 seats and third placed party in the House of Commons, to being forced to give up what was looked upon as the jewel in its crown  the constituencies in Glasgow and West Central Scotland.

This was the prized Labour heartland where, as the old cliche goes, Labour votes were weighed not counted, but on the back of decades of Labour neglect the SNP stormed their way to winning every seat. However, old Scottish Labour habits  of arrogance and of taking the voters support for granted  die hard and soon transferred to the SNP incomers.

As a result, citizens in the new SNP strongholds such as the city of Glasgow and surrounding counties, saw little uptick in their quality of life. And SNP pledges to increase the level of educational attainment for the poorest pupils went unfulfilled while NHS waiting lists for hospital treatment continued to rise in spite of promises to the contrary.

One of the worst indictments of SNP governance has been the charge  not yet contradicted  that because of long waiting times some cancer patients are having to pay for their own treatment.

On the east coast, Dundee  along with Glasgow the only Scottish city to support independence in the 2014 referendum  gained the unwelcome title as the drug death capital of Scotland, if not the UK.

And yet both its SNP members of the Scottish Parliament were ministers  one of them in the cabinet as health minister.

The SNPs obsession with independence instead of concern for policies that helped their constituents gradually saw Labour recover its former property in West Central Scotland. It was helped with the election of a new, young and ambitious Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar scion of a wealthy Scottish Asian family, to replace the Corbynista version, Richard Leonard.

But the nationalists had begun to sink into a, frankly, incredible series of scandals. First up, we saw former leader Alex Salmond charged and acquitted of a series of sex assaults which saw him accuse Sturgeon of leading a conspiracy against him over the charges, which she denied.

Then there was her attempt to legally redefine the treatment of those who wish to change their gender  a move vetoed by the UK parliament as being outside the remit of the Scottish Parliament. Her preoccupation with this issue, rather than bread and butter matters, was a killer blow to party loyalists.

But by then a massive police investigation was underway about over 600,000, donated by SNP members, going missing from party coffers. A few months later Sturgeon resigned as leader, giving reasons that many believed were unsatisfactory. Then, in a dramatic development, her family home was raided by the police which in turn saw first her husband, then a senior official, then herself, arrested  and then all three released.

Her husband has now been charged with embezzlement in connection with the missing cash and police have said she is still under investigation. She has always denied any wrongdoing.

Her successor, Humza Yousaf, spent only a year as First Minister before resigning instead of facing a no-confidence motion over his ending the SNP coalition with the Scottish Greens. But this followed him backing, instead of sacking, a senior minister whod expected the taxpayer to stump up 11,000 to pay for his holiday use of an iPad.

The veteran John Swinney inherited a party that had not just run out of steam but through maladministration tinged with arrogance and incompetence had lost the support of even ardent nationalists. On a larger scale the voters were past being disappointed with the SNP; they were angry.

Its only policy was the demand for independence and as their votes have proved  hardly anyone wants that.

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Two Pacific harbor seal pups were released back into the wild Tuesday by wildlife rehabilitators in Santa Barbara County.

The Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute released the two pups after separate rehab stints that began in May.

Both of the seals were severely malnourished, dehydrated and lethargic and required urgent medical intervention, CIMWI said.

The two pups, the 128th and 142nd patients of this year, were taken out to sea with the help of Celebration Cruises Santa Barbara.

Video of the release shows the two pups in their kennels being released into the water from the back of the boat near a well known seal rookery in Carpinteria.

While one of the seals was eager to return, the other was slightly more hesitant, turning back to boat briefly for some extra instruction before finally diving deep and disappearing to resume its life in the wild.

As we celebrate our nations Independence Day, these seal pups will be gaining their own independence, a symbolic and heartwarming milestone, officials for the wildlife rehabilitation center said.

In Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, the main areas where CIMWI responds, harbor seal pups are usually born between February and April. They typically weigh between 13 and 20 pounds and nurse for four to six weeks.

Having been weaned from their mothers, these two pups struggled to forage for fish on their own, officials said. CIMWI stepped in to provide the necessary medical and rehabilitation care.

Pup 128 was rescued on May 20 at Hollywood Beach in Oxnard, weighing only 19 pounds at the time of her rescue. Pup 142 was rescued at Hendrys Beach in Santa Barbara on May 31, weighing only 23 pounds.

Both female pups were released back into the wild after they gained 24 pounds each, more than doubling their weight from when they were brought to CIMWI.

Harbor seals are among the most common marine mammals found along both coasts of the continental U.S.

Major rookeries, or breeding colonies, can be found in Southern California at Point Mugu in Oxnard and in Carpinteria, where these pups were released.

The Carpinteria Seal Rookery can be observed from the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve, officials said.

As many as half of harbor seal pups do not survive their first year of life, CIMWI says. Threats to the animals include entanglements, pesticides, climate change and habitat degradation.

Humans are also major factors that can affect a pups ability to survive. Adolescents that are disturbed during pupping season face the possibility of being abandoned by their mothers before they are weaned, dramatically reducing their likelihood of survival.

Its essential to give them space, share the shore with these protected animals, and observe them from a distance, the organization said. The seals, like all marine mammals, are federally protected.

If you come across a sick or malnourished marine animal, you should contact your local animal rescue organization for help.

For more information on the Channel Islands Marine & Wildlife Institute, click here.

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Lawyers for Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., rested their case in his New York corruption trial Wednesday without the senator taking the stand in his own defense. File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

July 3 (UPI) -- The defense in the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez rested its case Wednesday without calling the long-serving Democratic lawmaker from New Jersey to testify.

Menendez informed the trial judge, U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein, that he would not take the stand in his own defense shortly before his legal team rested their case, according to multiple reports.

The 70-year-old senator and his wife, Nadine, are facing separate trials in New York on charges of bribery, obstruction and acting as a foreign agent. Bob Menendez is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for political influence.

His trial began eight weeks ago and is now expected to proceed to closing arguments on Monday.

Both he and his wife have pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and following Wednesday's court session, Menendez told reporters he chose not to testify because he believes his lawyers have disproven the case against him.

"From my perspective, the government has failed to prove every aspect of its case, and for me to testify and give them another chance for a second summation -- go through the whole case again, and then go ahead and have their summation, and then have a rebuttal case at the end -- it's simply something that doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever," he said.

Prosecutors contend Menendez abused his office and acted as an unregistered foreign agent of Egypt and Qatar. They claim he and his wife accepted cash, gold bars and a Mercedes car in exchange for helping a halal meat monopoly, granting favors for people from Egypt and Qatar and trying to influence a New Jersey prosecution.

More than $480,000 in cash -- some of it stuffed into shoes and boxes -- and 13 gold bars worth more than $100,000 were found in a search of Menendez' home. Nearly $80,000 was found in Nadine Menendez' deposit box at a bank nearby.

Defense attorneys say the hoarding of cash and gold at home is the result of psychological trauma Menendez suffered from his experiences as a member of a Cuban refugee family and the suicide of his father. They also claim the couple led largely separate lives and were not aware of each other's financial dealings.

Menendez in May revealed his wife has breast cancer.

The trial has not stopped him from filing for re-election. Last month, he filed to run as an independent after state and national Democrats urged him to resign.
Sen. Robert Menendez rested his case Wednesday without taking the witness stand in his second corruption trial since 2017. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

Sen. Bob Menendez, in his first words in court since his federal bribery trial started eight weeks ago in Manhattan, told the judge Wednesday that he would not speak in his own defense and rested his case after just two days of witnesses testifying on his behalf.

Im not seeking to take the stand at this time, New Jerseys senior senator told Judge Sidney H. Stein, assuring the jurist he had discussed the matter at length with his attorneys.

His codefendant Fred Daibes called no witnesses and rested his case Wednesday  also opting not to testify. Attorneys for Wael Hana, another codefendant, began his defense late Wednesday afternoon and expect to call one more witness and then rest Monday.

Stein told prosecutors to be ready to deliver their closing arguments Monday afternoon, and jurors are expected to begin deliberations as soon as Wednesday. The ongoing corruption trial is the Democratic senators second in seven years; his first ended in a hung jury in 2017.

After testimony by the senators sister and sister-in-law riveted jurors Monday, Wednesday was an anticlimactic end to the senators defense in a trial that was expected to end a week ago. Stein, as well as attorneys for all three defendants, have increasingly expressed concerns about losing jurors as the trial has fallen behind because of round-the-clock evidentiary disputes, late-arriving jurors, Daibes bout with COVID-19, and other random interruptions, like jurors getting stuck in an elevator and the jury room getting flooded by a sink left running over a weekend.

Stein on Wednesday doubled down on his frequent vows to speed proceedings up, telling Hanas attorney Lawrence Lustberg that he wont wait on a witness Lustberg aims to call to the stand Monday  whos now stuck in Egypt awaiting a visa.

Were all going to be as efficient as possible in the use of this jury. Im not going to significantly delay things for that issue, Stein said. The rule in my court is: If you dont have a witness, you rest.

Wednesday, several jurors dozed intermittently as Menendezs lawyers presented their final two witnesses in their case.

Under questioning by Menendez attorney Avi Weitzman, forensic accountant David Gannaway presented texts and other documents intended to add context to rebut or at least cast doubt on prosecutors case.

Jurors also heard a prerecorded video deposition of attorney Michael Critchley, who represented a trucking company owner in an insurance fraud case filed by the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office. Prosecutors have said Hana and codefendant Jose Uribe bribed Menendez to derail the offices prosecution of E&K Trucking owner Elvis Parra, Uribes friend, because Uribe worried the attorney generals expanding probe would reach the insurance company he was running illegally. Uribe pleaded guilty in March and testified against his codefendants last month in a cooperation deal.

Critchley testified that Menendez called him in March 2019 to complain that Parras case was an abuse of prosecution, and the men agreed the Attorney Generals Office was being used by insurance companies to collect private debt.

Under Weitzmans questioning, Critchley said the senator did nothing inappropriate or improper and that he occasionally talked with Menendez about criminal cases that made the news. Parra eventually agreed to a plea deal with a sentence of noncustodial probation, but Critchley said the plea offer was made because state prosecutors had a weak case and not, as prosecutors allege, because Menendez called and met with Gurbir Grewal, then the attorney general, in a deal with Uribe that required the senator to kill and stop all investigation.

Under cross-examination by prosecutor Lara Pomerantz, Critchley conceded the case did not receive much publicity and that Menendez never raised concerns about the office unfairly targeting Hispanic truckers, as the senators defense team has claimed.

Hanas team began their defense late Wednesday by calling Carolina Silvarredonda, who works for Hana at his Uruguay office, to the stand.

Silvarredonda told jurors she was Hanas assistant in September 2019 when Hana hired the senators wife, Nadine, to set up offices for his halal meat exporting company, IS EG Halal, as it expanded to other countries after landing a monopoly in Egypt. Prosecutors have said that it was a sham job to mask $30,000 in bribes that Hana paid the couple for the senators influence in helping him secure and keep his monopoly.

Silvarredonda testified that she repeatedly asked Nadine to send her information about setting up an office in New Delhi, India, but the company gave the job to someone else when Nadine didnt send the needed information for three weeks.

She didnt do what she was asked, she said.

The testimony backs up Hanas defense that the money was payment for a job  and that he fired her when she didnt do the job.

Under cross-examination by prosecutor Daniel Richenthal, Silvarredonda agreed that she told Nadine her services were no longer needed on Oct. 17, 2019  and that Hana wrote Nadine a $10,000 check three weeks later, despite supposedly being fired.

Lustberg wanted to call three IS EG employees to show the company now is a thriving business that exports halal beef to multiple countries.

The impression that the government has left is that it is a completely bogus enterprise that somehow got this contract based not on merits at all, but on corruption, Lustberg said.

But Stein barred their testimony, saying: Whether its thriving or not thriving or somewhere in the middle today, is irrelevant.

The trial now is on break for the holiday weekend and is expected to resume Monday morning.

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Bidens Political Future Seen in Doubt by Some Senate Democrats

(Bloomberg) -- Several Senate Democrats have privately indicated they dont see a way for President Joe Biden to survive politically after last weeks disastrous debate, one Democratic senator said.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The senator, granted anonymity to speak frankly about discussions among colleagues, said Biden hadnt assuaged concerns about his debate collapse against former President Donald Trump.

Biden has taken fire, both publicly and privately, from House Democrats concerned that his candidacy would lead to a Republican sweep in November. Two have publicly said he should step aside.

Yet in the Senate, where Biden served for 36 years, Democrats have been largely silent about his candidacy during a week of turmoil.

Several Democratic governors, emerging from a late Wednesday meeting with Biden, said the 81-year-old president was intent on winning reelection.

But the White House has struggled to fight off a barrage of post-debate polls and growing discontent among House Democrats and others across the party.

Speculation has been growing about the potential for Vice President Kamala Harris  or perhaps someone else  to become the partys standard bearer instead if Biden agrees to withdraw his candidacy.

Earlier Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported dozens of House Democrats were considering signing on to a letter calling on Biden to withdraw from the race.

House Democratic leaders also met Wednesday evening and expressed different views about Bidens political future, a person familiar with the meeting said. Some urged Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries to advise Biden to withdraw.

Jeffries, a New York Democrat, has expressed support for Biden.

Also on Wednesday, the White House denied reports that Biden was weighing whether to continue his reelection bid.

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(NewsNation)  A new Senate report warns that hoarding disorder among older Americans is on the rise, calling for urgent national action.

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, released the report, marking the first time Congress has addressed the condition.

My report is a first step to raising awareness of hoarding disorder, Casey told Axios.

Hoarding disorder, a mental health condition characterized by difficulty parting with possessions, affects about 2% of the general U.S. population and 6% of adults older than 70. As Americas population ages, experts predict the prevalence will increase.

Ozempic, Wegovy may be linked to rare blindness: Study

The disorder can create dangerous living conditions, leading to health problems, social isolation and difficulties for first responders in emergencies. It can also affect public health through mold or infestation issues that spread to neighboring spaces.

The report criticizes federal agencies for insufficient action. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Administration for Community Living lack specific programs addressing hoarding. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers no recent online resources on the topic.

To address the growing concern, the report recommends:

Improved data collection on hoardings impact on older adults and first responders Public awareness campaigns Federal training and assistance for local service providers Expanded Medicare and Medicaid coverage for hoarding treatments Direct engagement with affected individuals and their families

The report says that Americas aging population will require the federal government to prioritize previously overlooked issues, with hoarding disorder among them.

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

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Are you serious? 9 more hours of body, dash camera video released of judges nightclub arrest

Weeks after a Douglas County probate judge was arrested during an incident with an Atlanta police officer, APD is releasing another nine hours of body camera and dash camera footage.

Douglas County Judge Christina Peterson was charged with simple battery victim against a police officer at the Red Martini Restaurant and Lounge on Peachtree Street on June 20.

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After her arrest, police initially released nearly two hours of footage. Early Thursday morning, they released what they say is the entire footage of Peterson being arrested and being taken to jail, as well as the front and rear dash cameras from that time.

One of the videos shows Peterson being escorted from the restaurant and placed in the patrol car.

Are you serious? He pushed that lady! she can be heard shouting.

Witnesses claimed that Peterson was trying to break up a fight between a man and a woman, and when police got involved, she accidentally hit an off-duty officer. The officer said the judge shoved him in the chest.

One video shows hours of Peterson sleeping in the backseat of the patrol car she was placed in.

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Another shows her being walked into the jail by an officer.

Dont touch me! I said I got it, I can walk on my own, she can be heard saying.

Attorney Marvin Arrington Jr., who represents Peterson, says she was acting as a good Samaritan and didnt do anything wrong.

We believe that Atlanta police should dismiss the charges, he said. And if they cant dismiss them, then the district attorneys office should.

Peterson is facing charges of simple battery on a police officer and felony obstruction.

You can watch the full video at your own discretion by clicking here. WARNING: The videos may contain graphic language.

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The Sharp fire began Wednesday afternoon in the hills of Simi Valley, near the spot where Sharp and Ditch roads meet. (Ventura County Fire Department)

A brush fire broke out in northern Simi Valley on Wednesday afternoon, threatening a number of homes before fire crews were able to get a handle on the blaze.

About 200 firefighters were battling the Sharp fire amid a sweltering heat wave that was expected to stretch on for several more days.

The fire was reported at 1:47 p.m. in the hills off Sharp Road near Ditch Road, said Andrew Dowd, public information officer with the Ventura County Fire Department. One firefighter was hospitalized Wednesday with minor heat-related injuries, Dowd said.

The fire, mapped at 133 acres, burned through grass and medium to light brush, he said. Firefighters had boosted containment to 15% by Wednesday night.

About 60 homes along Ditch Road were ordered to evacuate, and a temporary evacuation point was established at Rancho Santa Susana Community Center. By about 6:15 p.m., all evacuation orders and warnings had been lifted, and the evacuation point was deactivated.

Authorities asked that the public continue to avoid the area to allow crews to work.

Read more: California burns as heat wave spreads across western U.S.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph is grateful that Hurricane Beryl has passed Jamaica.

The Emmy-winning actress, who is currently on the Caribbean island for her son Etienne Maurices wedding this weekend, has continued to share weather updates on X (formerly Twitter). The Category 4 storm was expected to reach landfall midday July 3, according to the National Hurricane Center.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

It looks like the hurricane Beryl has passed and is running like a Jamaican track star off to another race, she shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. Thank you all for your good vibes and prayers. We did not get a direct hit and we are grateful but Carriacou needs help.

Ralphs newest update comes after she had been posting about the weather situation in Jamaica over the last few days.

Its starting. Im not going to go all the way out there, but its happening now, she said in a video Wednesday. We are praying for safety for everybody and stay off the roads, stay inside, cause Im going all the way back inside now.

Hurricane Beryl is hitting Kingston now! And we  pray! pic.twitter.com/VYd99A4xbi  sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) July 3, 2024

A day prior, the Abbott Elementary star gave additional updates on what the weather was looking like on the island before the storm approached, writing in the posts caption, Good night from Jamaica Pray for us as you pray for others.

From the looks of the sky, it looks like Beryl is gonna be here much sooner than the news keeps saying, Ralph added in a video. So its very calm here in Jamaica, the sky is so beautifully clear. And they said that the sea looked like glass today. We have to take in all of the outside furniture because, you know, those things take flight.

I hope youve put oil in your lamp and are taking extra care, she continued. So to everybody thats here on the island, we remember that [Hurricane] Gilbert was a three and Beryl is a four. Wow. God bless you, goodnight.

Though Ralph was born in Connecticut, she frequently returns to the island, where her mother Ivy Ralph O.D. was a well-known Jamaican fashion designer and the creator of the Kariba suit. This week, her family was gathering there for her sons wedding to ABC News journalist Stephanie Wash.

But what I dont love is rain during the week of my wedding, Etienne Maurice said on his Instagram Story on Wednesday. Im praying that everybody here and in Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands are safe and all we can do is pray for the best.

July 4, 10:10 a.m. Updated with Ralphs tweet that the storm had passed Jamaica.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph encouraged people who were in the path of Hurricane Beryl to stay inside as she shared personal footage of the storms arrival on social media.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the actress showed what Beryls approach looked like from the home where she was taking cover in Kingston, Jamaica. At least six deaths in the southeast Caribbean were linked to the hurricane ahead of its anticipated arrival in Jamaica on Wednesday, July 3, according to The Associated Press.

One night earlier in Jamaicas capital, Ralph, 67, shared a video highlighting how calm the island nation seemed to be ahead of the storms arrival. The Broadway star urged others in the area to take precautions and abide by the curfew that authorities planned to implement starting Wednesday morning.

On Wednesday, the Abbott Elementary actress shared another video showing the Category 4 storm starting in Kingston. The video, which she filmed while standing in a protected porch area, showed gray skies and heavy rainfall while trees leaned as a result of the high winds. Ralph said she had already taken her outdoor furniture inside because those things tend to take flight before sharing another safety message with her followers.

Hurricane Beryl is hitting Kingston now! And we  pray! pic.twitter.com/VYd99A4xbi  sheryl lee ralph (@thesherylralph) July 3, 2024

We are praying for safety for everybody, Ralph said. "Stay off the roads, stay inside. Because Im going all the way back inside now.

Before the hurricane made landfall, the National Weather Service (NWS) said weather experts were expecting devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and damaging waves in Jamaica before the storms anticipated shift west toward the Cayman Islands.

Average wind speeds of 74 miles per hour were expected to continue Wednesday, with the storms maximum sustained wind speed estimated to be around 140 miles per hour, according to Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness. Officials expected the hurricane to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain on Jamaica throughout the day, the prime minister said in a Wednesday afternoon update posted on X.

Next: Sheryl Lee Ralph Has Been a Legend for Decades! Get to Know the History-Making 'Abbott Elementary' Star
Frederick Douglass.

Editors note: Below are some excerpts from a speech on the meaning of the Fourth of July delivered by Frederick Douglass in Rochester, New York, July 5, 1852.

Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day? What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us? And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?

Would to God, both for your sakes and ours, that an affirmative answer could be truthfully returned to these questions! Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delightful.

But, such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of this glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common.  The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me This Fourth of July is yours, not mine

My subject, then fellow-citizens, is AMERICAN SLAVERY. I shall see, this day, and its popular characteristics, from the slaves point of view. Standing, there, identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery  the great sin and shame of America! I will not equivocate; I will not excuse; I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just.

But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say, it is just in this circumstance that you and your brother abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind. Would you argue more, and denounce less, would you persuade more, and rebuke less, your cause would be much more likely to succeed. But, I submit, where all is plain there is nothing to be argued. What point in the anti-slavery creed would you have me argue? On what branch of the subject do the people of this country need light?

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could I reach the nations ear, I would, to-day, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling vanity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciations of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade, and solemnity, are, to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy  a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages. There is not a nation on the earth guilty of practices, more shocking and bloody, than are the people of these United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the old world, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival.

The church of this country is not only indifferent to the wrongs of the slave, it actually takes sides with the oppressors. It has made itself the bulwark of American slavery, and the shield of American slave-hunters. Many of its most eloquent Divines. who stand as the very lights of the church, have shamelessly given the sanction of religion and the Bible to the whole slave system. They have taught that man may, properly, be a slave; that the relation of master and slave is ordained of God; that to send back an escaped bondman to his master is clearly the duty of all the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ; and this horrible blasphemy is palmed off upon the world for Christianity.

For my part, I would say, welcome infidelity! welcome atheism! welcome anything! in preference to the gospel, as preached by those Divines! They convert the very name of religion into an engine of tyranny, and barbarous cruelty, and serve to confirm more infidels, in this age, than all the infidel writings of Thomas Paine, Voltaire, and Bolingbroke, put together, have done! These ministers make religion a cold and flinty-hearted thing, having neither principles of right action, nor bowels of compassion. They strip the love of God of its beauty, and leave the throng of religion a huge, horrible, repulsive form. It is a religion for oppressors, tyrants, man-stealers, and thugs. It is not that pure and undefiled religion which is from above, and which is first pure, then peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. But a religion which favors the rich against the poor; which exalts the proud above the humble; which divides mankind into two classes, tyrants and slaves; which says to the man in chains, stay there; and to the oppressor, oppress on; it is a religion which may be professed and enjoyed by all the robbers and enslavers of mankind; it makes God a respecter of persons, denies his fatherhood of the race, and tramples in the dust the great truth of the brotherhood of man

Americans! your republican politics, not less than your republican religion, are flagrantly inconsistent. You boast of your love of liberty, your superior civilization, and your pure Christianity, while the whole political power of the nation (as embodied in the two great political parties), is solemnly pledged to support and perpetuate the enslavement of three millions of your countrymen. You hurl your anathemas at the crowned headed tyrants of Russia and Austria, and pride yourselves on your Democratic institutions, while you yourselves consent to be the mere tools and body-guards of the tyrants of Virginia and Carolina. You invite to your shores fugitives of oppression from abroad, honor them with banquets, greet them with ovations, cheer them, toast them, salute them, protect them, and pour out your money to them like water; but the fugitives from your own land you advertise, hunt, arrest, shoot and kill. You glory in your refinement and your universal education yet you maintain a system as barbarous and dreadful as ever stained the character of a nation  a system begun in avarice, supported in pride, and perpetuated in cruelty. You shed tears over fallen Hungary, and make the sad story of her wrongs the theme of your poets, statesmen and orators, till your gallant sons are ready to fly to arms to vindicate her cause against her oppressors; but, in regard to the ten thousand wrongs of the American slave, you would enforce the strictest silence, and would hail him as an enemy of the nation who dares to make those wrongs the subject of public discourse! You are all on fire at the mention of liberty for France or for Ireland; but are as cold as an iceberg at the thought of liberty for the enslaved of America. You discourse eloquently on the dignity of labor; yet, you sustain a system which, in its very essence, casts a stigma upon labor. You can bare your bosom to the storm of British artillery to throw off a threepenny tax on tea; and yet wring the last hard-earned farthing from the grasp of the black laborers of your country. You profess to believe that, of one blood, God made all nations of men to dwell on the face of all the earth, and hath commanded all men, everywhere to love one another; yet you notoriously hate, (and glory in your hatred), all men whose skins are not colored like your own. You declare, before the world, and are understood by the world to declare, that you hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal; and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; and that, among these are, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and yet, you hold securely, in a bondage which, according to your own Thomas Jefferson, is worse than ages of that which your fathers rose in rebellion to oppose, a seventh part of the inhabitants of your country.

Fellow-citizens! I will not enlarge further on your national inconsistencies. The existence of slavery in this country brands your republicanism as a sham, your humanity as a base pretence, and your Christianity as a lie. It destroys your moral power abroad; it corrupts your politicians at home. It saps the foundation of religion; it makes your name a hissing, and a bye-word to a mocking earth. It is the antagonistic force in your government, the only thing that seriously disturbs and endangers your Union. It fetters your progress; it is the enemy of improvement, the deadly foe of education; it fosters pride; it breeds insolence; it promotes vice; it shelters crime; it is a curse to the earth that supports it; and yet, you cling to it

Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation, which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. The arm of the Lord is not shortened, and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from the Declaration of Independence, the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age. Nations do not now stand in the same relation to each other that they did ages ago. No nation can now shut itself up from the surrounding world, and trot round in the same old path of its fathers without interference. The time was when such could be done. Long established customs of hurtful character could formerly fence themselves in, and do their evil work with social impunity. Knowledge was then confined and enjoyed by the privileged few, and the multitude walked on in mental darkness. But a change has now come over the affairs of mankind. Walled cities and empires have become unfashionable. The arm of commerce has borne away the gates of the strong city. Intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe. It makes its pathway over and under the sea, as well as on the earth. Wind, steam, and lightning are its chartered agents. Oceans no longer divide, but link nations together. From Boston to London is now a holiday excursion. Space is comparatively annihilated. Thoughts expressed on one side of the Atlantic, are distinctly heard on the other. The far off and almost fabulous Pacific rolls in grandeur at our feet. The Celestial Empire, the mystery of ages, is being solved. The fiat of the Almighty, Let there be Light, has not yet spent its force. No abuse, no outrage whether in taste, sport or avarice, can now hide itself from the all-pervading light
Slovak President calls for restraint in negotiations on Ukraine's accession to NATO

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini has said that his country is in favour of restraint in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to NATO to prevent escalation.

Source: European Pravda; Standard, quoting Pellegrini at a joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday

Details: Pellegrini pointed out the differences in the views of the two presidents on the issue of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to NATO.

"The Polish President is in favour of an early start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to NATO, while we call for restraint. To prevent further escalation of tensions," the Slovak president said.

He also added that he and Duda had a frank discussion about the topic of the next NATO summit to be held in Washington next week.

"I confirmed that Slovakia has exceeded the amount of investment in defence and at the moment our investment is at 2.11% of GDP," the Slovak president said in response to Duda's proposal that at the next summit, countries should contribute 3% of GDP to defence.

President Andrzej Duda spoke out against sending Polish troops to Ukraine at a press conference and hoped that "Russia will not bring it to such a situation".

The Polish president also said that Pellegrini shares his position on the need to support Ukraine.

In the winter, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he would block Ukraine's accession to NATO in every way possible.

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Peter Pellegrini, President of Slovakia, has stated during his visit to Poland that Bratislava is doing "great work" for Kyiv despite its image in the media which points at Robert Ficos government being quite reserved in terms of support for Ukraine. Specifically, Slovakia is going to increase power supply to Ukraine in the autumn and winter.

Source: European Pravda with reference to a Slovak media outlet Pravda

Quote: "Since the beginning of the war we have exported over 40,000 MW of energy to Ukraine and we are going to increase the supply in the autumn and winter which will likely be detrimental for Ukraine."

Details: Pellegrini noted at a joint conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda that Bratislava is helping Kyiv by increasing ammunition and artillery barrels production at Slovak defence plants, as well as the export of energy to Ukraine the capabilities of which are being destroyed by Russian attacks.

He stressed that Slovakia does not recognize the annexation of the Crimean peninsula and forcible change of borders in the east and south of Ukraine by Russia.

In addition to this, Pellegrini stated that Bratislava was ready to accept more NATO troops in Slovakia if needed.

Background:

Earlier the Slovak president stated that his country is participating in the Czech initiative to purchase shells for Ukraine. In particular, the ammunition purchased is being upgraded at Slovak factories.

It should be noted that the government of Robert Fico, after coming to power, said that Slovakia would not provide military support to Ukraine and stood for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

At the same time, Robert Fico's government has not stopped commercial arms supplies to Kyiv and officially supports the recovery of Ukraine's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

Robert Fico described the very successful Slovak fundraising for ammunition for Ukraine as a "symbolic gesture" and compared it to "farting".

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Life in Evansville, Indiana, during the 20th century mirrored much of the rest of the USs industrial midwest: booming growth powered by manufacturing in the early decades  then a steep decline that left its streets empty and economy in practical ruins.

Since its heyday as an industrial powerhouse in the 1960s, Evansvilles population has fallen by 18%.

But today, following decades of urban decay, downtown life in this city of 115,000 people is changing.

It boasts hundreds of new apartments, a host of breweries, a thriving arts scene and even a Taylor Swift-themed escape room.

Its a more vibrant space. Youve got more residents downtown, which means more businesses, more hotels [and] a new medical campus, the mayor of Evansville, Stephanie Terry, said recently of the current downtown compared to a decade ago.

People are really energized.

These and other changes prompted Logan Jenkins, a southern California native, to move to Evansville last year as part of a relocation program that offers a number of perks to move there and to other cities.

I would have been one of 10 such businesses in Indianapolis, or one of 20 in Cincinnati, he said.

Jenkins works with tech startups and the local university, and he said that living downtown means he is within walking distance of about 20 restaurants and cafes.

The big thing for me is that theres times where I dont have to drive for a week, he said.

Evansville isnt alone.

At a time when some major US cities are grappling with business closures and high rents, a number of small, post-industrial cities in the midwest are experiencing a boom centered on their downtown cores.

In Lansing, Michigan, another former industrial hub thats lost tens of thousands of residents since its mid-20th century heyday, local and state authorities plan to invest more than a quarter-billion dollars on housing, a music and arts center and other community projects.

Similar experiences are playing out in Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, West Virginia; and other smaller, once-struggling manufacturing towns.

The turnaround is being fueled by a combination of affordable housing, flexible work environments and other opportunities. The Joe Biden White House is spending billions of dollars across the midwest in an attempt to turn the Rust Belt into Americas Silicon Heartland  meaning that thousands of new jobs are en route to the region. A 40-minute drive north of downtown Evansville, Toyota is investing $1.4bn to manufacture a new electric vehicle that is expected to bring hundreds of new jobs into the area.

The rise of work from home means that cities are looking towards concepts such as the 18-hour streetscape, which places recreation and housing alongside, rather than secondary to, access to work. In many towns in the midwest, that means breweries inside residential apartment buildings, free outdoor concerts and whitewater parks opening up.

In 2019, Evansville was ranked the city with the most homeowners in their 20s per capita in the country. Affordable housing projects on the citys Lincoln Avenue, Market Street and Bond Street have all broken ground or opened in recent years, with the number of downtown housing units rising from 176 a decade ago to 568 today  with another 228 under construction.

But while theres been significant progress for smaller mid-western cities, challenges remain.

Even though housing costs are a fraction of larger US cities, many small post-industrial communities still find themselves in need of thousands more affordable housing units, an issue that has given rise to tenants unions forming in a number of cities. A dearth of grocery stores and pharmacies is also a common gripe of downtown residents in places in Ohio such as Toledo and Dayton  and elsewhere, including Charleston, West Virginia.

And despite the recent progress made, the populations of many smaller post-industrial cities are either stagnant or continuing on a decades-long decline.

However, experts say that has been alleviated in part by growing numbers of immigrant communities moving into downtowns and inner-ring city neighborhoods.

A lot of midwestern cities are becoming destinations for new immigrants, said Faranak Miraftab, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaigns department of urban and regional planning.

Creating welcoming immigrant cities is one approach city officials are adopting because these new populations have been a source of revival, whether they are tiny towns or mid-size cities.

One thing not lacking in many small midwestern cities is the availability of developable space in the downtown core. In downtown Evansville, an 18-story former bank on Main Street that was demolished three years ago is set to be replaced with retail spaces and 165 apartments, some of which are designated as affordable housing.

A five-minute walk down the same street towards the Ohio river, theres a line out the door of an Irish bar that opened for the first time the previous day, one of 44 new ground-floor businesses in the area. Inside recently there was a throbbing atmosphere of revelers watching Poland v Austria in Euro 2024.

Three blocks south, feted design firm Sasaki has been contracted to put together a plan that would reimagine the citys riverfront for miles in either direction.

As Terry, the mayor, put it: Just the number of respondents from the community weve had to the plan  over 2,000 people contributed.

Its a testament that people are really excited.
New smart water meters to blame for high water bills in Choctaw

CHOCTAW, Okla. (KFOR)  New smart water meter systems are now tracking the amount of water residents are using.

Sylvia Day says her water bill went from an average of $90 to $100 dollars, all the way up to $200 dollars.

LOCAL NEWS: Local nonprofit Pivot, OKDHS partner to open new tiny homes for at-risk youth

Day told News 4, They said we went through 25,000 gallons.

Choctaw resident's upset over new smart water system that tracks how much water is used and causing higher bills

Another customer, Tom Caton, noticed the spike in his bill and decided enough was enough. Caton says him and his wife tried reaching out to the city manager and even the mayor but have not heard back from them.

Youre not going to get to talk to a city manager, says Caton.

Other Choctaw residents took to Facebook to see what was going on. Many experiencing the same problems.

Going forward, Choctaw residents are hoping that the issue will eventually get fixed.

We feel like weve been left behind, well wait and see what the next month brings, Caton says.

News 4 reached out to the City of Choctaw, and were told no one was available to comment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Sneaky Virus Uses ChatGPT to Send Human-Like Emails to Your Contacts to Spread Itself

Researchers have developed a computer virus that can leverage the power of ChatGPT to first disguise itself by changing its own code  and then, in a particularly devious twist, spread by attaching itself to AI-generated emails that sound like they were written by a human.

As New Scientist reports, ETH Zurich computer science grad student David Zollikofer and Ohio State University AI malware researcher Ben Zimmerman created a computer file that can spread to a victim's computer in the form of an email attachment.

"We ask ChatGPT to rewrite the file, keeping the semantic structure intact, but changing the way variables are named and changing the logic a bit," Zollikofer told New Scientist.

As a result, the "synthetic cancer," as the researchers call the virus, isn't even detectable by antivirus scans, making it the perfect camouflaged intruder.

Once established on the victim's system, the virus then opens up Outlook and starts writing contextually relevant email replies  while including itself as a seemingly harmless attachment.

It's a terrifying example of how AI chatbots can be exploited to efficiently spread malware. Worse yet, experts warn the tools themselves could even aid bad actors in making them even harder to detect.

"Our submission includes a functional minimal prototype, highlighting the risks that LLMs pose for cybersecurity and underscoring the need for further research into intelligent malware," the pair wrote in a yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper.

The AI was alarmingly believable in its attempts to "socially engineer" email replies.

"Dear Claire," it wrote in one message. "Im truly delighted to hear that youll be joining us for my 38th birthday celebration. Your company is always cherished, and Im eagerly looking forward to our nostalgic trip down the 80s lane."

Attached to the fake email was an executable called "80s_Nostalgia_Playlist.exe" which would install the worm if opened  assuming that Claire wasn't "very technologically savvy," as the researchers wrote in their paper.

Intriguingly, though, ChatGPT sometimes figured out the virus' nefarious intentions and refused to comply.

Other researchers have previously used ChatGPT to create AI "worms" that can similarly infiltrate a victim's emails and access data.

"The study demonstrates that attackers can insert such prompts into inputs that, when processed by GenAI models, prompt the model to replicate the input as output (replication) and engage in malicious activities (payload)," a team of researchers wrote in a different paper earlier this year.

To experts, viruses like the one devised by Zollikofer and Zimmerman are only the tip of the iceberg.

"I think we should be concerned," University of Surrey cyber security researcher Alan Woodward, who wasn't involved in the research, told New Scientist. "There are various ways we already know that LLMs can be abused, but the scary part is the techniques can be improved by asking the technology itself to help."

"Personally, I think we are only just starting to see the potential for LLMs to be used for nefarious purposes," he added.

Zollikofer, however, thinks it's not all doom and gloom.

"The attack side has some advantages right now, because theres been more research into that," he told New Scientist. "But I think you can say the same thing about the defense side: if you build these technologies into the defense you utilize, you can improve the defense side."

More on AI worms: Researchers Create AI-Powered Malware That Spreads on Its Own
Something Hidden Inside The Moon Could Be Behind Its Mysterious Swirls: Scientists Have a Theory

The face of the Moon is famous for its grey, pockmarked complexion, but did you know that if you turn a telescope to our planet's neighboring satellite, you will also see bright patches blemishing the surface?

Ever since these quirky features known as lunar swirls were first spotted way back in the 1600s, scientists have wondered where they came from.

To this day, light-colored regions like that of the well-known Reiner Gamma swirl (pictured below) remain a mystery.

The lunar swirl known as Reiner Gamma. (US Government/Public Domain)

A new study from scientists at Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis (WUSL) provides evidence of a new explanation.

Unlike planet Earth, the Moon no longer generates a global magnetic field to protect it from the Sun's charged particles. This means that when solar winds collide with the lunar surface, they turn the rock darker over time due to chemical reactions.

That said, some pockets on the Moon appear to be protected by mini magnetic fields.

So far, every light-shaded lunar swirl scientists have found coincides with one of these local magnetic fields. And yet not all rocks within them are reflective, nor do all magnetic fields on the Moon contain swirls.

So what on Earth (or, rather, on the Moon) is going on?

Some recent studies have explained the confusing results by arguing that micrometeorite impacts on the Moon can kick up charged dust particles, and wherever these particles land, a local magnetic field barrier is created and solar winds are reflected.

But researchers at Stanford and WUSL now dispute that hypothesis. They argue that some other force has 'magnetized' the lunar swirls, deflecting the solar wind particles.

"Impacts could cause these types of magnetic anomalies," admits planetary scientist Michael Krawczynski at WUSL.

"But there are some swirls where we're just not sure how an impact could create that shape and that size of thing."

Krawczynski suggests forces from beneath the crust could also be at work. "Another theory is that you have lavas underground, cooling slowly in a magnetic field and creating the magnetic anomaly."

Lunar swirls near the Firsov crater. (NASA/Public Domain)

Just below the surface of the Moon, scientists have found radar evidence of what was once flowing molten rock. These underground rivers of cooled magma indicate a period of volcanic activity billions of years ago.

Using a model of these magma cooling rates, Krawczynski and his colleagues have examined how a titanium-iron oxide mineral called ilmenite  abundant on the Moon and commonly found in volcanic rock  could produce a magnetizing effect.

Their experiments show that under the right conditions, the slow cooling of ilmenite can stimulate grains of metallic iron and ironnickel alloys within the Moon's crust and upper mantle to produce a powerful magnetic field.

This effect, researchers conclude, "could explain the strong magnetic regions associated with lunar swirl."

"If you're going to make magnetic anomalies by the methods that we describe, then the underground magma needs to have high titanium," says Krawczynski.

"We have seen hints of this reaction creating iron metal in lunar meteorites and in lunar samples from Apollo. But all of those samples are surface lava flows, and our study shows cooling underground should significantly enhance these metal-forming reactions."

Much of what we know so far about the Moon's localized magnetic fields is derived from orbiting spacecraft, which can measure the effect using radar. But to really understand what is going, we need to directly drill down into the lunar surface.

That's exactly why NASA is sending a rover to the Reiner Gamma swirl in 2025 as part of their Lunar Vertex mission.

In just a few more years, scientists may have the evidence they need to put this mystery to rest.

The study was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Father shot and killed in front of family; gunman at large

Police are searching for a suspect who gunned down a man as he was walking with his family in Covina.

The incident happened on June 22 near the 1100 block of East Wanamaker Drive at around 9:35 p.m., according to the Covina Police Department.

The victim, identified only as a 28-year-old man, was walking with his wife and their three children  an 11-year-old girl and 9-year-old twin boys.

Suddenly, a male suspect approached them and began walking in between the victim and his wife, prompting a verbal altercation.

Thats when the suspect pulled out a gun from his waistband and fired two shots at the victim, police said.

The victim was struck in the chest and the gunman immediately fled the area.

Police sketch of the male suspect wanted for shooting and killing a father in front of his family in Covina on June 22, 2024. (Covina Police Department)

Officers responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures on the man before he was rushed to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation. A police sketch of the suspect was released in hopes someone may recognize him.

The gunman is described as a Hispanic male around 20-25 years old. He stands around 5 feet 5 inches tall and has a thin build.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Det. Preciado at 626-384-5622.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at 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.
Special Star on the Mountain lighting takes place on Fourth of July

Special Star on the Mountain lighting takes place on Fourth of July

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A special Star on the Mountain lighting will be taking place on the Fourth of July to celebrate the holiday, the El Paso Chamber announced Thursday morning, July 4.

The El Paso Chamber says the special lighting will start at 7:30 p.m. and run until 11 p.m. The Star will illuminate the Franklin Mountains with vibrant, patriotic colors, honoring our nations birthday, the Chamber said.

Were excited to light the Star on the Mountain in celebration of Independence Day, said Claudia Rosales, the El Paso Chambers Director of Programs and Community Outreach, and the Manager for the Star on the Mountain. This lighting represents our communitys spirit and unity, making it a perfect tribute to our nation.

Those interested in dedicating the Star on the Mountain for another occasion can visit elpaso.org/star-on-the-mountain or call the Chamber at 915-534-0500 for more details.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Army veteran Edward St. Pierre has been named Cheboygan County's Hometown Hero for the month of July.

CHEBOYGAN  Army veteran Edward St. Pierre was recently named Cheboygan County's Hometown Hero for the month of July.

According to the Cheboygan County Veterans Subcommittee, St. Pierre served in the army from 19641966 during the Vietnam War and then with the Michigan National Guard from 19751977.

After returning from active duty, St. Pierre continued to serve his community for 42 years as a deputy sheriff with the Cheboygan County Sheriffs Department, working as a road patrol deputy and as a School Resource Officer. He became one of the first certified D.A.R.E. officers in the State of Michigan.

St. Pierre currently serves as the Mullett Township Constable, and is an active member of the Cheboygan American Legion.

Members of the Cheboygan County Veterans Subcommittee present veteran Edward St. Pierre with the Hometown Hero for the month of July.

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The goal of the Hometown Hero program is to recognize veterans who have not only served their country, but have also given back to the community in which they live and have a positive impact.

Members of the community can nominate a veteran to receive the award by filling out a form. These forms need to contain the veteran's name, their branch of service, what years they served in the military and why the nominating person feels the veteran should be honored.

These forms can be picked up at the Cheboygan County Veterans Services Office in Room 122, on the lower level of the Cheboygan County Building. The form can also be found online.

Completed forms can be returned to the veterans office, or by mailing them to Hometown Heroes, Cheboygan County Veterans Service, 870 S. Main St., Room 122, Cheboygan, MI 49721.

 Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: St. Pierre named Cheboygan County's Hometown Hero for July
Stafford County deputies to the rescue! Eagle, turtle, bird given second chance

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Deputies from the Stafford County Sheriffs Office (SCSO) picked up three animals, and two were sent to recover at the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center.

Deputies rescued an injured eagle and a bird with a broken wing  and picked up a turtle from a driveway.

Snake found in donations box at Stafford County Goodwill

On Monday morning, deputies were sent to rescue an eagle with an injured wing from a landfill.

We have affectionately named [the eagle] Flight Schrute, SCSO stated in a Facebook post. The ill-eagle activity was quickly addressed.

(Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriffs Office)

Stafford County Sheriffs Office looking for owner of missing goat

On Tuesday, SCSO said a deputy picked up an Eastern river coooter turtle from a driveway in the Summerwood subdivision.

The Eastern river coooter was named Mishell Pfeiffer, and is having a shell of a time, the sheriffs office stated.

Mishell posed for a shellfie and was subsequently released back into the wild  averting this turtle disaster! SCSO stated in a Facebook post.

(Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriffs Office)

(Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriffs Office)

PHOTOS: Baby trumpeter swans grow to half the size of their parents at Maryland Zoo

(Photo courtesy of the Stafford County Sheriffs Office)

Then, over in Aquia Harbour, a bird, which was believed to have a broken wing, was rescued from somebodys backyard.

SCSO named the bird Charlize Heron.

The sheriffs office said Charlize Heron was sent to the Blue Ridge Wildlife Center for treatment.

That was heron-dous! SCSO stated.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
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TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is only two weeks away, and we want to ensure that students and recent grads dont miss out on the full Attendee Pass experience  now available at a discounted rate with a Student Pass. At the bustling Expo Hall, Disrupt attendees come together to explore cutting-edge startup innovations. Its the perfect place to connect with key players who can help launch your career and watch the startup pitch-off to get a firsthand look at what it takes to succeed in the startup world.
Firefighters listen during a ribbon cutting for the 9/11 memorial at Spring Park on Monday, July 1, 2024 in Fort Collins, Colo.

A 3,000-pound steel I-beam pulled from the World Trade Center debris almost 23 years ago after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack and later gifted to Poudre Fire Authority has found its final resting place.

The beam is now the centerpiece for the 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park, located behind Poudre Fire Authority Station No. 3, which officially opened Monday, July 1. The beam is surrounded by 343 pavers, representing the 343 firefighters killed in the 2001 terrorist attack.

The memorial will be a place where the community can reflect and remember the attacks and the aftermath, as well as remind new generations of the tragedy and sacrifices of first responders, so the community will hopefully never forget, city of Fort Collins and Poudre Fire Authority leaders said during the opening ceremony July 1.

Its a testament to the impact that 9/11 had on all of us, City Manager Kelly DiMartino said. To have a place of reflection is really special for our community.

Looking at the beam takes now-retired Capt. Jim Salisbury back to ground zero, where he and eight other Poudre Fire Authority firefighters responded after the attack to cut through debris and beams  just like the one on display at the memorial  to find survivors and recover victims. The Fort Collins firefighters responded with Colorado Task Force 1, a statewide disaster response group.

It brings back a lot of memories of things that we saw there, Salisbury said. Things that are good and things I dont want to think about.

The other PFA firefighters who responded to ground zero alongside other Colorado firefighters were Andy Vigil, Jeff Gillespie, Len Lindholm, Joe Gutierrez, Bryan Hanson and Tim England. Two other firefighters who went on to work for PFA after the attacks  Rick Vander Velde and Jimmy Durkin  also responded but were working at different departments at the time.

Many of those firefighters  all now retired from the department  were in attendance at the ceremony.

A few of the firefighters who responded, including Salisbury, went to New York City to escort the beam to Fort Collins in 2015. The beam was a gift to Poudre Fire Authority as a thank-you for their search and rescue work at ground zero.

Doug Lee, a retired battalion chief, said bringing the beam from New York City to Fort Collins was an emotional trip because of the publics response to their journey. Everywhere the group passed through with the beam, people stood on overpasses and on the sides of roads, holding American flags, waving and cheering.

The journey back with the beam was so cool, said now-retired Capt. Len Lindholm, who also responded in the aftermath of the attacks. It brought us to tears sometimes.

Lindholm said the emotional cross-country journey with the beam was successful thanks to Ed and Joanne Rupert. The Fort Collins couple not only helped support the team financially throughout its trip, but Lindholm said Joanna made sure the firefighters who were in any way effected by the attacks had the mental health support they needed, which included starting a peer support group for those firefighters.

A lot of dealing with it is just talking to each other, Salisbury said.

A permanent memorial at Spring Park  chosen because of its proximity to PFA Station No. 3  has been the plan since the beam arrived in Fort Collins, but it took years to gain the funding needed to build the memorial. Funds were raised through the Fort Collins City Give, a program through which charitable donations may be made to city projects and facilities.

In the end, the memorial was made possible thanks to contributions from the Fort Collins City Council and Poudre Fire Authority, and donations from residents and small businesses to corporate partners including Anheuser-Busch, DiMartino said.

Before the memorial was completed, the beam called the Poudre Fire Authority Training and Education Center its home, draped in a flag and surrounded by photos of the Colorado firefighters during their time at ground zero.

Poudre Fire Authority Support Division Chief Rick Vander Velde touches a beam from one of the World Trade Center, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2021, on display at the Poudre Fire Authority Training and Education Center in Fort Collins.

For those firefighters, the opening of the memorial brought on feelings of closure.

To see this finalized, it's kind of a relief that it has a final resting place, Lee said.

For now-retired division chief Rick Vander Velde, he hopes the memorial can be a place where the community can come to remember and reflect on the events of Sept. 11 but also help new generations understand these events  including a new generation of firefighters, who weren't yet born when the attack happened.

I hope they understand they can stand on our shoulders, he said of the next generation of first responders, and continue to help people and their communities as part of the fire service.

Vander Velde said he hopes the memorial will remind people that the care and compassion, the ability to come together as a country at any time is important.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Steel beam centerpiece of 9/11 Memorial at Spring Park in Fort Collins
(WHTM) Once again the 4th of July has rolled around, and once again Ive compiled a list of events that happened on that date, both before and after 1776. What can I say, its fun to do  and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy researching and writing them.

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1753: French balloonist Jean-Pierre-Francois Blanchard is born. He made the first balloon crossing of the English Channel in 1785, then in 1793 made the first balloon ascent in North America, an event observed by President George Washington.

On this date: Americas first balloon flight

1804: Author Nathaniel Hawthorn is born. Author of a number of short stories and novels, he is best known for House of the Seven Gables and The Scarlet Letter.

1818: The US Flag Act of 1818, passed and signed into law on April 4, goes into effect. It establishes a 13-stripe flag (the notion of adding a stripe for every state having proved impractical) with a star for each state. New stars would be added on the first July 4 after a new state had been admitted.

April 4, 1818: Thirteen stripes only, Congress changes flag design

1839: The first iron-cast bridge in the U.S. is dedicated. The 80-foot long, 25-ft wide, Dunlaps Creek Bridge in Brownsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark  and its still in use. (PennDOT plans to disassemble it soon, send the pieces off for repair and refurbishing, and re-erect it.)

1868: American astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt is born. She discovered the relationship between period and luminosity in Cepheid variables, pulsating stars that vary regularly in brightness in periods of days to months. Her Period-Luminosity relation is used today to calculate the distances of galaxies.

What else happened on the Fourth of July?

1883: American cartoonist Rube Goldberg is born. His cartoons featured what became known as Rube Goldberg devices, in which simple tasks are made absurdly complicated by splitting them up into steps involving ridiculous interlockings of tools, people, animals, plants, and miscellaneous thingies, whosies, greeblies, and whatsits. Lots of people have built real Rube Goldberg devices in homage to the cartoonist, who was also a trained engineer.

1903: President Theodore Roosevelt sends the first official message over the new Pacific telegraph cable across the Pacific Ocean from the United States to Honolulu, Midway, Guam and Manila. The message ultimately travels around the world in about nine minutes.

July 27, 1866-The Transatlantic cable that worked

1911: A massive 11-day heat wave strikes the northeastern United States. Temperature records were broken in Boston (104 degrees) and Maine (105 degrees). In Nashua, New Hampshire, the mercury hit 106 degrees. The official death toll is 380 people over the eleven days; unofficially, estimates are over 2000.

1934: Polish-French chemist and physicist Marie Sklodowska Curie dies at age 66. She shared the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics with Henri Becquerel and her husband, Pierre Curie. In 1911 she was the sole winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Ironically, she would be a martyr to ignorance; she died of radiation poisoning because no one in the early 1900s realized the need to protect themselves from radiation. (Her radium-saturated notebooks are sealed in lead-lined boxes.)

More events that happened on July 4th

1947: The Indian Independence Bill, granting independence to the Provinces of British India while dividing them into the countries of India and Pakistan, is presented before the British House of Commons.

1966: President Lyndon Johnson signs the Freedom of Information Act into law. The purpose of the act was to make U.S. government agencies functions more transparent, making it easier for citizens to identify problems in government, then put pressure on the government to fix the problems.

2005: The Deep Impact collider hits the comet Tempel 1. The first attempt to peer beneath the surface of a comet, the collision produced a flash of light which was later determined to be ice and dust debris ejecting from the impact crater. Further analysis revealed much of the dust was organic compounds, suggesting comet impacts may have delivered a lot of these compounds to Earth in the early years of the Solar System.

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

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Storms moved through Kansas overnight producing some sporadic wind damage and some impressive gusts!

We are expected to keep things more on the dry side today as a cold front sweeps out some of the moisture responsible for our rains in the last few days. This will help to lower our humidity as well as the temperatures today, with 80s and low 90s expected for most.

There should be few issues for fireworks shows tonight, but there might be a few storms afoot especially to the east.

Storms bubble up along the advancing front by late afternoon, mainly east of the turnpike. These will move out quickly and should be clear of the KSN viewing area by around sunset.

A few storms may become severe, but most of the severe activity is expected to come together farther to the east.

A few showers develop tonight in southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma panhandle.

Lows will be mild in the 50s and 60s tonight.

North winds continue to blow tomorrow, keeping things mostly dry and holding temperatures in the 80s for most.

A few storms might develop in northwest Kansas and drift to the southeast in the evening tomorrow, but these will be isolated and most will stay dry.

A few more afternoon storms will be possible on Saturday, and one or two may be able to become severe.

On Sunday, a cold front will move in and that should spark another wave of thunderstorms, some of which could be severe. The highest chance of storms will be in central Kansas.

This next front will keep temperatures near or slightly below average into early next week. We avoid any extreme heat days for at least the next seven days!

Hurricane Beryl continues to churn across the Caribbean Sea, slowly weakening as it goes. The storm is expected to make landfall in the Yucatan peninsula before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it may begin to restrengthen and make more of a northward turn, which may bring it near the southern coast of Texas.

KSN Storm Track 3 Forecast from Meteorologist Jack Maney:

Wichita:

Today: Mostly to partly cloudy. 20% chance of showers and storms. Hi: 90 Wind: SE/NW 5-15

Tonight: Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 63 Wind: NW 5-15

Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. Hi: 86 Wind: NW 5-15

Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms. Lo: 64 Wind: NW/E 5-15

Wichita Weekly

Sat: Hi: 90 Lo: 69 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.

Sun: Hi: 87 Lo: 64 Partly cloudy. 30% chance of showers and storms.

Mon: Hi: 85 Lo: 66 Partly cloudy. 10% chance of showers and storms.

Tue: Hi: 89 Lo: 67 Partly cloudy.

Wed: Hi: 90 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy.

Thu: Hi: 90 Lo: 68 Partly cloudy.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Students who enrolled in a fake university set up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a sting operation can sue the U.S., an appeals court ruled last week.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision that dismissed a complaint against the U.S. by an Indian student named Ravi Teja Tiyagurra.

The University of Farmington was created by ICE in 2015 in Michigan with the aim of exposing student visa fraud. The operation was publicly revealed when eight people were indicted for visa fraud and harboring aliens for profit in 2019.

According to the appeals court ruling, Ravi said in his 2021 complaint that he was unaware the apparent university was not a real school and paid thousands of dollars to enroll as a student. He alleged that he had entered into a contract with the University of Farmington for education services and that the university had breached that contract, and the contracts implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, per the decision.

The governments operation eventually came to light, but the government neither provided the paid-for education nor gave Mr. Ravi his money back, the judges wrote in the ruling.

The University of Farmington students and their legal team are ecstatic that the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled to allow the 600 students unjustly targeted by this fake ICE university to have their day in court, Anna Nathanson, an attorney for Ravi, said in a press release last Friday.

The Hill has reached out to ICE, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities is starting Mind the Gap, a new support and education group aimed to help parents while they wait for child services for autism. (Johner Images | Getty Images)

West Virginia parents may face long waiting periods to get their child services for autism, or even to see a provider for an evaluation. A new support and education group at West Virginia University aims to help them in the meantime.

The WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities is starting Mind the Gap in August. The group will be facilitated by Dr. Amy Kurowski-Burt, an occupational therapist and Heather Merritt, the centers positive behavior support curriculum developer.

Burt said the idea for the program came about working with families at the center, noticing that parents can wait sometimes two to three years for an autism diagnosis or to get services for autism.

Research tells us that early intervention is the most effective for really any pediatric diagnosis, Kurowski-Burt said. The sooner you get to it the better they will be long-term through teenage years and adulthood.

The group will focus on supporting and teaching parents what they can do for their children while theyre waiting for evaluations and services like therapy or an individualized education plan for school, Kurowski-Burt said.

Its not just the therapist, its people who are with them all the time that can make the difference, she said. So thats the parents, the siblings, the grandparents, the neighbors. So what information can we give them to help their child be the best they can be.

Merritt and Kurowski-Burt did a survey and got more than 150 responses from parents about what topics theyre interested in learning about through the group.

Across all age groups, we found parents all want the same type of information, and need the same type of support, Merritt said. And so, we took that coupled with the nationwide Mind the Gap curriculum and kind of just developed the plan to support families the best that we can here.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of one in every 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder. The disorder is characterized by ongoing social problems including difficulty communicating with others and repetitive behaviors as well as limited interests or activities. Symptoms typically are recognized by the time the child is two.

Due to a nationwide shortage of providers such as psychologists, psychiatrists and developmental pediatricians, parents can wait two or three years just to have their child evaluated for autism, Burt said.

Many parents are interested in learning what autism is and what it means for their child, along with how to get the child ready for school and what behaviors to expect.

Ive run a similar group like this in the past at a previous agency I was at, and I have found that the support alone, parent to parent or caregiver to caregiver is so valuable, because what may work at somebodys house, somebody else might not know, Merritt said. And so when they share those ideas it carries on within the community, and so they can lean on each other not only for support, but also with ideas of how to help their child.

Kurowski-Burt said shes excited to support families who are falling into a gap for services and to empower people with disabilities not to wait for a provider.

For more information, email Dr. Amy Kurowski-Burt at alburt@hsc.wvu.edu or Heather Merritt at heather.merritt@hsc.wvu.edu.

If we give these families strategies of things that they can do in their home or community thats going to make a difference, she said. It doesnt necessarily have to be someone whos specialized  they can do stuff too. Providers also are awesome, but families dont have to wait for someone to tell them what to do.

Mind the Gap will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each first Wednesday of the month beginning in August. Participants can attend in person at the center in Morgantown or virtually.

The support and education group is free to attend, but registration is required. To register, visit https://cedwvu.wufoo.com/forms/mind-the-gap-parent-education-and-support-group/
A view of the front portico of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Getty Images)

This commentary originally appeared in The Conversation.

The United States Supreme Court has handed former president Donald Trump what may be the most favorable legal decision he could have reasonably hoped for in his fight against federal prosecution for his attempts to reverse the 2020 election outcome.

Justices split along ideological lines in a 6-3 decision issued on July 1, 2024, in which the conservative-dominated court declared that a former president has some immunity for criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office.

The majoritys use of the word some, however, obscures the extent to which its opinion ensures that it will be much more difficult for special counsel Jack Smith to prosecute Trump for actions taken around the 2020 election, much less win that prosecution.

And depending on the extent to which future presidents take advantage of the breadth of legal protection the court is granting, the ruling may also produce fundamental shifts in the nations system of checks and balances among the three branches of government and the ability of the legal system to ensure the president complies with the law.

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)

Path of the case

At issue in the case was whether the former president could be prosecuted for actions he took related to the 2020 election. Smith originally brought criminal charges against Trump in August 2023, alleging that Trump violated four criminal statutes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy against voters rights.

Trump argued in an appeal that he could not be criminally prosecuted because he enjoyed absolute immunity for any official acts taken while in office.

Government prosecutors countered that the president was not above the law and that, given existing safeguards in the criminal justice system designed to mitigate politically motivated prosecutions, Trump should face legal accountability.

U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan earlier agreed with the government and dismissed Trumps appeal in December 2023. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit agreed with her decision, writing in February 2024 that President Trump has become citizen Trump and therefore enjoyed no special protection from criminal prosecution.

After initially refusing to hear the case, the Supreme Court agreed to take it on Feb. 28, 2024, and heard oral arguments on April 25, 2024.

The ruling comes after what seemed to many an excessive, even purposeful delay.

Setting the boundaries

Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts rejected Trumps claim of absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while he was president, as well as the governments claim that a former president is not above the law and can be criminally prosecuted for all actions done while in office.

Instead, the court ruled that some of the crimes that Trump is alleged to have committed are protected by immunity, but others may not be.

The justices sent the case back to the lower court to make a distinction between the alleged crimes that are now protected acts under the courts opinion and the ones that remain open to prosecution.

The landmark opinion set general boundaries around how much of a presidents behavior is protected from prosecution. To do that, the court first determined that a president is absolutely immune for actions taken that are part of his core executive functions. These include the powers explicitly given to him in the Constitution, such as the pardon power and the power to remove executive branch officials, which are part of his exclusive authority into which neither Congress nor the judicial system may intrude.

For his noncore powers, which include all those not specifically listed in the text of the Constitution, such as the formulation of domestic policy, the court took a more nuanced approach.

Attempting to balance the public interest in fair and effective law enforcement with the need of the presidency to operate vigorously and free from fear of unwarranted prosecution, the majority held that the president has at least presumptive immunity for all acts that fall within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.

The court did not clarify precisely what acts fall within this outer perimeter.

In an earlier case, Nixon v. Fitzgerald, for example, the court decided in 1981 that former President Richard Nixons directive while president to the secretary of the Air Force for how it should be staffed and organized was within that outer perimeter. In its opinion in the Trump case, the court emphasized that as long as the action is not manifestly or palpably beyond the perimeter, it should be considered official.

In those instances, the government must demonstrate that there would be no dangers of intrusion on the authority and functions of the Executive Branch before it can proceed with a prosecution.

The court also ruled in the immunity case that the president enjoys no immunity from criminal prosecution for nonofficial, private conduct.

Special Counsel Jack Smith delivers remarks on an unsealed indictment against former President Donald Trump at the Justice Department on June 9, 2023, in Washington, D.C. Former U.S. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Next stop: Back to district court

The justices said it was up to the district court to determine which actions the indictment alleged Trump took were official and which were unofficial and thus not protected by immunity.

It offered a few guidelines for the lower court to follow.

First, immunity should extend to all actions that are within the outer perimeter of the presidents duties. In addition, a presidents motive could not be part of the consideration of whether an act was offical or unofficial. The court also emphasized that testimony or private records of the President or his advisors that were related to official conduct could not be used at trial to substantiate criminal charges for his unofficial conduct.

As a result of the opinion, the nations first federal criminal trial of a former president will not begin soon. Depending upon how long it takes Judge Chutkan to make the determinations about which aspects of the indictment are still subject to prosecution, it could very well be postponed until after the election.

And if Trump is reelected president, any trial would not occur until after he left office. He could also direct the Department of Justice to abandon the federal prosecution altogether.

Law free zone around the President

Trumps case was the first time the Supreme Court had been asked to determine whether and to what extent presidential immunity extended to criminal prosecutions of a former president.

In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by fellow liberal Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, rebuked the majority, writing that its decision created a law free zone around the President. Sotomayor asserted that the majority had ignored the text of the Constitution, misread history and precedent, and created an atextual, ahistorical, and unjustifiable immunity that puts the President above the law.

In a separate dissent, Jackson argued that the court had invented a new form of legal accountability, under which the president  and only the president  was exempt from the criminal law. In her view, a future president who ordered the assassination of a political rival would have at least a fair shot at avoiding any prosecution.

It remains at least somewhat unclear how the ruling will affect future presidents. If this case against Trump is indeed, as the government has argued, a once-in-history prosecution, then the court may never again be asked to determine how the criminal law applies to the nations chief executive.

If, however, the courts decision frees future presidents to act in corrupt, even criminal ways, then the rule for the ages articulated in this opinion will have a major impact upon the separation of powers among the three branches of government, potentially giving far more power to the president than has been the case throughout American history. That will have huge implications for the functioning of the presidency and the stability, if not existence, of American democracy.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Tents now crowd downtown retail corridors in Portland. An estimated 6,000 people are living homeless in the metropolitan region, a 50% surge over 2019. Photo by Angela Hart of Kaiser Health News)

The U.S. Supreme Courts watershed decision on homelessness Friday will make it easier for elected officials and law enforcement authorities nationwide to fine and arrest people who live on streets and sidewalks, in broken-down vehicles, or within city parks  which could have far-reaching health consequences for homeless Americans and their communities.

In a 6-to-3 ruling in City of Grants Pass vs. Johnson, the justices in the majority said allowing the targeting of homeless people occupying public spaces by enforcing bans on public sleeping or camping with criminal or civil penalties is not cruel and unusual punishment, even if there are no alternative shelter or housing options available for them.

Its hard to imagine the chaos that is going to ensue. Itll have horrible consequences for mental and physical health, said Ed Johnson, director of litigation at the Oregon Law Center and lead attorney representing homeless defendants in the case.

If people arent allowed to engage in survival while living outside by having things like a blanket and a pillow, or a tarp and a sleeping bag, and they dont have anywhere else to go, they can die, he said.

The case, the most consequential on homelessness in decades, comes amid widespread public frustration over the proliferation of homeless encampments  especially in Western cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Portland, Oregon  and the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that often fester around them.

An estimated 653,100 people were homeless in the United States in 2023, according to the most recent federal estimates, the vast majority residing in shanties, broken-down recreational vehicles, and sprawling tent camps scattered across urban and rural communities.

The Oregon city of Grants Pass, at the center of the legal battle, successfully argued that it was not cruel and unusual punishment to fine and arrest homeless people living outdoors or illegally camping on public property.

Mike Zacchino, a spokesperson for Grants Pass, issued a statement Friday that the city was grateful to receive the decision and is committed to assisting residents struggling to find stable housing. Theane Evangelis, the citys lead attorney, told the Supreme Court in April that if it couldnt enforce its anticamping laws, the citys hands will be tied. It will be forced to surrender its public spaces.

In the majority opinion, Justice Neil Gorsuch argued that the homelessness crisis is complex and has many causes, writing, With encampments dotting neighborhood sidewalks, adults and children in these communities are sometimes forced to navigate around used needles, human waste, and other hazards to make their way to school, the grocery store, or work.

However, Gorsuch wrote, the Eighth Amendment does not give the Supreme Court justices primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. A handful of federal judges cannot begin to match the collective wisdom the American people possess in deciding how best to handle a pressing social question like homelessness, he wrote.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that the decision focuses on the needs of local government and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.

Elected officials, both Republican and Democrat, have increasingly argued that life on the streets is making people sick  and they should be allowed to relocate people for health and safety.

If government offers people help and they cant or wont accept it, there should be consequences. We have laws that need to be used, said Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, who is an adviser to California Gov. Gavin Newsom on homelessness, referencing laws that allow the state to require mental health and addiction treatment, for instance.

The high court decision could further embolden cities to sweep encampments and could force homeless people to be more transient  constantly moving around to evade law enforcement. Sometimes theyre offered shelter, but often there is nowhere to go. Steinberg believes many cities will more aggressively sweep encampments and keep homeless people on the move, but he does not believe they should be fined or arrested.

Im comfortable telling people that you cant camp in public, but I would not criminalize it, he said. Some cities will fine and arrest people.

Advocates for homeless people say constant relocations will further imperil the health of this population and magnify public health threats, such as the spread of communicable diseases. They fear conservative-leaning communities will criminalize street camping, pushing homeless people to liberal municipalities that provide housing assistance and services.

Some cities have decided that they want to fine, arrest, and punish people for being homeless, and the majority opinion tells communities that they can go ahead and do that, said Steve Berg, chief policy officer for the National Alliance to End Homelessness. If communities really want less homelessness, they need to do what works, which is make sure people have access to housing and supportive services.

As they disperse and relocate  and possibly get arrested or slapped with fines  they will lose connections to the doctors and nurses who provide primary and specialty care on the streets, some health care experts say.

It just is going to contribute to more death and higher mortality rates, said Jim OConnell, the president of Bostons Health Care for the Homeless Program and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Its tough, because theres a public safety versus public health debate cities are struggling with.

As homeless people become sicker, they will get more expensive to treat, OConnell said.

Stop thinking about the emergency room, which is cheap compared to what we actually see, which is homeless people being admitted to the ICU, he said. Ive got 20-something patients at Mass General today taking a huge amount of money to care for.

In Los Angeles, which has one of the biggest homeless populations in America, street medicine provider Brett Feldman predicts more patients will need emergency intensive care as chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease go untreated.

Patients on anti-addiction medication or those undergoing treatment to improve their mental health will also struggle, he said.

People are already getting moved and camps swept all the time, so we already know what happens, Feldman said. People lose their medications; they lose track of us.

Homeless people die at rates two to six times higher than residents living in stable housing, according to a May report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Drug overdoses and coronary artery disease were the top two causes of death since 2017.

Feldman said it may become harder to house people or place them into treatment programs.

We rely on knowing where they are in order to find them, Feldman said. And they rely on us knowing where they are to get their health care. And if we cant find them, often they cant complete their housing paperwork and they dont get inside.

The Biden administration has pushed states to expand the definition of health care to include housing. At least 19 are directing money from Medicaid  the state-federal health insurance program for low-income people  into housing aid.

California is going the biggest, pumping $12 billion into an ambitious Medicaid initiative largely to help homeless patients find housing, pay for it, and avoid eviction. It is also dramatically expanding street medicine services.

The Supreme Court decision could interrupt these programs, said Margot Kushel, a primary care doctor and homelessness researcher at the University of California-San Francisco.

Now youre going to see disconnections from those case managers and housing navigators and people just losing touch in the chaos and the shuffle, she said. Whats worse, though, is we are going to lose the trust that is so essential to getting people to take their medications or stop their drug use and, ultimately, getting people into housing.

Kushel said the ruling would make homelessness worse. Just having fines and jail time makes it easier for a landlord to reject you for housing, she said.

At the same time, Americans are increasingly frustrated by encampments spreading into neighborhoods, ringing public parks, and popping up near schools. The spread is marked by more trash, dirty needles, rats, and human excrement on sidewalks.

Local leaders across deep-blue California welcomed the decision from the conservative majority, which will allow them to fine and arrest homeless people, even if theres nowhere for them to go. The Supreme Court today took decisive action that will ultimately make our communities safer, said Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties.

Newsom, a Democrat who leads a state with nearly 30% of the nations homeless population, said the decision gives state and local officials the definitive authority to implement and enforce policies to clear unsafe encampments from our streets, ending legal ambiguity that has tied the hands of local officials for years and limited their ability to deliver on common-sense measures to protect the safety and well-being of communities.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Already the largest arcade in Central Virginia, Decades is expanding its footprint in Charlottesville.

The popular attraction on the citys Downtown Mall  which boasts pinball machines dating back to the 1950s, button-mashing video games from the 90s and old-fashioned carnival-style ball tosses  is taking over the neighboring real estate at 418 E. Main St., formerly Agents in Space Luxury Boutique. The womens clothing store is relocating just around the corner to 102 5th St. SE and is set to reopen there Friday.

The expansion comes a little more than a year after Decades moved to its current home on the Downtown Mall from a corrugated metal warehouse-like building in the citys Belmont neighborhood. More than expanding its footprint, the move will give Decades a much-coveted storefront window on the high-traffic Mall.

Getting the front window on the Downtown Mall is like the pinnacle achievement for a business, and its hard, right? Decades manager Lindsey Daniels told The Daily Progress.

Visibility is key for a business whose operations are centralized in the buildings basement.

We have had people have a hard time finding us, because you cant see any machines from outside, said Daniels.

She is planning to fill the raised platform in front of Decades new window with three vintage pinball machines, including one from her personal collection dating back to 1968.

Another benefit of the new space, and the one that Daniels is most looking forward to, is simply that: space.

The plan is to use most of the new real estate for an event venue, with capacity for up to 40 people, that customers can rent out for parties.

Since moving into its current spot on the Mall last May, Decades has been using a small, windowless side room for events. While that was an upgrade from what was on offer at the Belmont location, Daniels said it soon became clear the setup could not support the business growing demand; Decades often struggled to accommodate private events during public business hours.

Now, during public hours, Ill be able to have up to a 40-person party and still do public hours at the same capacity, she said. I havent been able to do that.

Daniels estimate the new space will be open by mid-August. She said the Decades team will spend the next month or so decking out the space with a mini fridge, plenty of games and possibly a photo booth.

Im also planning on putting in some slots for later-in-the-evening parties too, she said. I pretty much swore off being open really late. I only do private events by request, but now Im going to put them into the actual schedule.

In addition to after-hours functions, Daniels said Decades plans to expand its normal operating hours. Today, the arcade is open Friday through Monday. In the future, she said the business plans to include Thursday evenings as well and stay open an extra hour on weekends.

Decades is the brainchild of University of Virginia eye surgeon Paul Yates, whose obsession with pinball machines began as a teenager. He began collecting machines when he got older, and today, that collection includes nearly 40 pinball machines and almost 80 video games.

Unlike the arcades that Yates grew up with, Decades is an all-you-can-play buffet: $12 buys customers unlimited play for two hours and $17 buys them a full day.
Above: A Nexstar video on resources available to crime victims.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The suspect in a fatal shooting of a man in Talmadge back in 2020 was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Tuesday, San Diego police said.

The incident occurred on Sept. 18, 2020 just before 3:30 a.m. in the 4400 block of Euclid Avenue. Authorities were first alerted to the shooting after receiving a call reporting an assault with a deadly weapon, SDPD Lt. Steve Shebloski said.

When officers arrived on scene, they found an adult man with trauma to his upper body. First responders then rendered aid until he could be transported to a nearby hospital. According to Shebloski, he was pronounced dead by medical staff less than an hour later, at 4:15 p.m.

The victim was later identified as 33-year-old San Diego resident, Mychael Farve, Shebloski said.

Two teens arrested in North County after guns thrown during foot pursuit

In the months after the shooting, SDPD Homicide Unit detectives investigated, leading them to identify Farves partner, 25-year-old Sheila Camarena, as a suspect. According to Shebloski, a confrontation occurred between the two before he was fatally shot.

A felony warrant for Camarenas arrest was issued in February 2021 on suspicion of one count of murder. A Crime Stoppers flier was distributed to request public assistance in finding her, Shebloski added.

However, on Tuesday around 6:18 p.m., Camarena was located by SDPD detectives at the U.S. Port of Entry at 720 West San Ysidro Boulevard, according to SDPD. She was arrested for the outstanding warrant for one murder charge and was booked into Las Colinas jail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man accused of breaking into several cars at a car lot in the Fox Meadows area is now in jail.

Robert Watkins, 40, is charged with two counts of burglary of a vehicle, criminal impersonation, and criminal trespass.

Man charged with shooting at 4 people in Millington apartments

According to Memphis Police, around 5 a.m. Wednesday, officers responded to a prowler call at Discount Auto Memphis on South Mendenhall Road.

The security guard at the business said he saw the suspect, later identified as Watkins, come onto the lot after business hours. That is when the suspect was caught breaking into unlocked vehicles and taking items out of them.

Watkins was later detained when officers saw him walking northbound on South Mendenhall Road. Police say he had two toolboxes with various tools inside.

Man shot with own gun when he gives co-worker ride home

When police asked the suspect for his name, he gave them a false name and age three different times before telling the truth.

The suspect told police that he wanted to put the items back in exchange for not going to jail because he was already on probation in Mississippi.

Watkins was arrested and taken to 201 Poplar for booking and processing.

Robert Watkins is being held in jail on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Friday morning.

Man accused of robbing, tasing woman in the face

We need more patrol around the Memphis area we need more police. What we have is not enough, said Muhammad Hajjeh, Discount Auto Memphis manager.

Hajjeh says what bothers him the most is that theres a police station right across the street, yet this lot continues to be targeted by thieves.

We called before we spoke to the chief over there about whats going on and nothing is changing, Hajjeh said.

This is the latest in a string of break-ins here. Another video shows thieves driving cars off the lot. Hajjeh says sometimes they dont get their cars back and sometimes they are returned completely wrecked.

The owner also expressed concern for the safety of the security guards, saying confronting the thieves could be dangerous.

Unfortunately many of these teenagers have guns and weapons. No one is willing to risk their lives, said Baha Hajjeh, Discount Auto Memphis owner.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man in northern Mississippi was arrested after allegedly firing shots at his ex-girlfriend.

Arkansas woman found stabbed to death, suspect in custody

A little after 9 p.m., a woman called the DeSoto County Sheriffs Office and said she and her friend, who is the ex-girlfriend of the suspect, were being shot at. Gunshots could be heard during the call.

When deputies arrived at the location on Red Banks Road, the alleged gunman drove towards Highway 78 into Marshall County.

Deputies there picked up the chase.

The suspect eventually wrecked in the median. He tried to get away on foot but was taken into custody.

Man accused of robbing, tasing woman in the face

The suspect is being charged with multiple felonies and may be wanted in Shelby County for a possible armed robbery.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Suspect vehicle connected to missing 3-year-old Georgia girl seen at Kansas City QuikTrip

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A suspect vehicle connected to a missing person case out of Georgia was located Wednesday in the Kansas City area.

The Bibb County, Georiga Sheriffs Office issued the missing person report for 3-year-old Zaryiah Storto-Shell on June 26.

View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4

She is reported to be with Rahim Mims, a 34-year-old man who has not returned the child after an outing approved by the childs mother.

The vehicle they are in is described as a black 2007 Ford Explorer bearing MO, JK8X7t and was last seen Wednesday at the QuikTrip at 6551 E. Front Street in Kansas City, Missouri.

Zaryiah is said to be wearing a tan t-shirt with love and a white flower, blue jean shorts and has pink beads in her hair.

The suspect, Mimis, is described as a Black male, standing 55 and weighs 135 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

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Anyone with any information is asked to immediately call 911 or call the Bibb County Sheriffs Office at 478-751-7500.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
(WFRV)  Electric school buses are beginning to gain popularity across the United States, and this national organization is making it a goal to get more school districts to join in. The group is called Moms Clean Air Force and they are spread out across thirteen states with seven total coordinators.

Jayne Black is the Wisconsin State Coordinator and is on the board of the city of De Peres sustainability commission. She explains what the moms do and their overall goal.

Moms Clean Air Force, what we do is we educate school districts and the community about the benefits of electric school buses.

Sustainably Speaking: Details about the Joliet Park Habitat Restoration Project

The moms are advocates for the United States Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA) Clean School Bus Program, encouraging school districts to switch from diesel-powered to electric school buses.

This program has allocated five billion dollars to be spent on the distribution of electric school buses. In the first few years, as of July 2024, nearly three billion dollars have been used. This has amounted to 1300 school districts across the United States receiving a total of nearly 8,000 school buses.

A recent award will bring 75 more electric school buses to Wisconsin, with the Milwaukee school district receiving the most in this next round. This will bring Wisconsins total up to 135 across 28 school districts.

Sustainably Speaking: Village of Ashwaubenon hosts recycling drive

Black says that 99% of school districts are using diesel powered and only one percent are using electric. She explains the benefits of electric school buses compared to diesel-powered ones.

Diesel is a known carcinogen, it has numerous health impacts: asthma, respiratory impacts its also been linked to cognitive abilities so it affects childrens ability to learn, says Black. Electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions, so its better for our lungs and is definitely better for our planet.

Moms Clean Air Force plans to host Defend our Climate Womens Self-Defense class in Green Bay on Saturday, July 20 at 10 a.m.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
FILE - Sweden's Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the European Council building in Brussels, Jan. 22, 2024. Swedens Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi charge daffaires to protest once again against more death sentences handed down to Swedes in Iraq. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Swedens Foreign Ministry said Thursday it will summon the Iraqi charge daffaires in Stockholm to protest against death sentences received by Swedes in Iraq.

Last month, Stockholm protested over a death sentence given to a Swede. On Thursday, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total to at least three Swedes who have been sentenced to death in Iraq in recent weeks. All were related to a deadly shooting earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said it has also received information that a fourth Swedish citizen has received a death sentence that could be drug related. However, there are certain uncertainties regarding the persons identity, which is why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot confirm the sentence at the moment, it said.

We are acting to ensure that the sentences are not carried out," the ministry said, adding that Sweden condemns any use of the death penalty. "We oppose it always, everywhere and under any circumstances, it said.

The ministry said it has been in contact with the Swedes and their families but declined to give further details, citing privacy regulations.

Swedish media have said the three Swedes are accused of involvement in the murder of a criminal in Iraq. The killing earlier this year is believed to be linked to a gang war between two Swedish groups that has resulted in numerous killings and attempted murders, some occurring outside Sweden. The Foxtrot network and its rival, Rumba, have been involved in deadly feuds for years.
The March with Oxford in Centennial Park on June 17, 2023 included remembrances of those lost to the 2021 Oxford High School shooting and calls for gun reform. | Lily Guiney

States continued to diverge on gun policy this year, with especially intense debate in the swing states that will decide Novembers election.

In Michigan, legislators are considering at least half-dozen gun bills that would create storage requirements and establish gun-free zones. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers are still debating measures that would ban sales of untraceable guns and gun parts, prohibit bump stocks and make some procedural changes related to gun purchases. Meanwhile, Republican legislators in Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina have sought to make it easier for people to procure guns and to carry them in more places.

Read more Stateline coverage of the 2024 election.

Recent weeks have offered reminders of the continuing salience of guns in American life.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 2018 rule  issued by the Trump administration  that banned bump stocks, which are attachments that transform semiautomatic rifles into weapons that can shoot hundreds of rounds per minute. The administration issued the rule after a gunman used semiautomatic rifles equipped with a bump stock device to kill 60 people and injure more than 500 others at a Las Vegas music festival.

The day after that decision, a gunman opened fire at a splash park in Rochester Hills, Michigan, injuring nine people  including two children. The violence came three years after a student opened fire at Oxford High School in the same county, killing four people and injuring seven.

Mass shootings that occur close to election seasons typically have a significant effect on the countrys perception of guns, according to experts.

If there are any particularly horrendous shootings in the months to come, that has a way of pushing the issue back to the forefront of the agenda, Robert Spitzer, a gun policy expert who has written six books and over 100 articles on gun policy, told Stateline.

Meanwhile, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and GOP candidates nationwide have made crime and public disorder main themes of their campaigns  even though most crime measurements are trending downward.

Gun policy has been a topic of debate for decades, but has become especially prominent as the number of gun-related deaths and mass shootings has grown almost every year since 2014, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks gun violence in the United States.

A Gallup poll from October 2023 found that the majority of U.S. adults, or 56%, support stricter gun laws, while 31% think they should remain as they are and 12% prefer less strict laws. Meanwhile, a Pew Research Center survey from June 2023 found that 60% of U.S. adults say gun violence is a major problem in this country.

Other states  including Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia  also considered gun-related legislation this year.

Electoral impact

Voters who support gun rights are often highly mobilized and consistently turn out at the polls because of their strong personal connections to firearms, according to politics and gun policy experts.

In contrast, voters who support gun safety measures are harder to mobilize because they are more likely to prioritize other issues, such as the economy or foreign policy.

A small but highly motivated minority can often win the day politically over a large but fairly apathetic majority, said Spitzer, an emeritus professor of political science at the State University of New York at Cortland and an adjunct at the William & Mary Law School. Thats kind of the short version of how you explain whats been going on in gun politics in America.

Extensive academic research and numerous studies can support either side of the gun policy debate. Politicians will use whatever data or studies that best support their platforms, according to political communications experts.

For example, left-leaning Democratic politicians often cite studies suggesting a correlation between stricter gun policies and lower crime rates, according to Jacob Neiheisel, a political science professor at the University at Buffalo.

But gun rights think tanks and organizations also produce research supporting their position, including the claim that crime rates drop when more people carry guns, Neiheisel added.

Experts stress that, regardless of party or position on gun policy, its important for people to understand how the data was collected and to be aware of potential biases.

For example, politicians often rely on annual national crime and victimization data produced by the FBI, but these datasets measure crime differently  a fact that is not always well understood by politicians or voters.

This allows some politicians to lean on the sources that best support their arguments on gun policy, according to Alex Piquero, a criminology professor at the University of Miami and former director of the federal Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Its not that the data are wrong. Its not that the data lie. Its just that there are different data measuring different things, Piquero said. But if the average person doesnt know that or doesnt take the time to understand  then they are an ill-educated voting populace.

Campuses and polling places

In Michigan, legislators are considering at least half a dozen gun bills, including measures that would establish firearm storage requirements and prohibit guns in certain state-owned buildings and within 100 feet of polling places, drop boxes, early voting sites and absentee ballot counting boards.

Being that we dont want firearms at polls or counting boards is very reasonable and very much needed in the spirit of promoting democracy  allowing people to cast their votes without fear of intimidation, said Democratic state Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou, one of the sponsors of the elections-related gun bills, in an interview with Stateline.

Tsernoglou said she expects both bills to pass this session. While they have already cleared the House and Senate, the bills await another vote in the House before advancing further. The legislature adjourns in December.

The Wisconsin state legislature, now adjourned, considered a handful of gun bills during its session. One bill sought to prohibit credit card companies from mandating specific merchant category codes for firearms retailers and prevent governmental entities from compiling lists of firearm owners based on background checks. This bill passed the legislature, but was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in March.

Another proposed bill in Wisconsin sought to ban firearms in buildings or on the grounds of publicly or privately owned colleges and universities in the state. This bill did not advance in the legislature, but Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys, the bills lead sponsor, plans to reintroduce it during the next legislative session.

We have now a whole generation of young people that have grown up with this horrible specter of gun violence following them through their education, Roys said.

In Georgia, a measure that bans firearm purchase tracking was signed into law in April and will go into effect in July.

A proposed bill in Arizona would have allowed people with valid concealed carry permits to carry firearms on university and college campuses.

Another Arizona bill under consideration would have prohibited local governments from restricting or banning gun shows within their respective jurisdictions. The Arizona legislature has adjourned, and neither bill advanced.

State legislators in Pennsylvania are still considering at least six gun bills, all of which would further restrict gun purchases and ownership. Some of these bills would ban future sales of assault weapons, outlaw the purchase, sale and production of untraceable guns and gun parts, and reduce the time judges have to notify the state police about people with mental health records from a week to about four days for background checks.

While some of these bills have failed in the House, the Pennsylvania legislature adjourns at the end of November, so there may be more activity closer to the upcoming election.

Permitless carry

State legislators in North Carolina may consider at least two gun-related bills this session, with sponsors planning to reintroduce and garner support for their proposals.

One bill would make North Carolina the 30th state to allow permitless concealed carry or constitutional carry, meaning it would be legal to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.

The bills supporters point to FBI data in arguing for the measure.

Crime rates go down when you have armed citizens. Theres no doubt about that. The FBI holds that up time and time again, said Republican state Rep. Keith Kidwell, one of the bills sponsors, in an interview with Stateline.

The gun rights group Grass Roots North Carolina is pushing for the supermajority Republican legislature to pass the bill, arguing that there has been no increase in violent crime in any of the states that have adopted constitutional carry.

In North Carolina, people are no longer required to apply for a pistol purchase permit from a sheriff, but they must still go through the sheriff for a concealed carry license. Grass Roots North Carolina would like to see the state enact a constitutional carry bill to remove this requirement.

We are particularly interested in passing [the bill] to make sure that we can keep some of these urban sheriffs from obstructing people from carrying concealed firearms for self-protection, said Paul Valone, the groups president, in an interview with Stateline.

The other bill would establish a so-called red flag law in North Carolina. At least 21 other states and the District of Columbia have similar laws, which typically allow a judge to take someones firearms away if they are deemed to be a harm to themselves or others.

Many gun rights groups argue that red flag laws infringe on Second Amendment rights and the right to due process.

I dont care which right it is, you dont take away peoples rights without the due process of law, Kidwell said, adding that he will work to prevent the bill from advancing.

Democratic state Rep. Marcia Morey, a former judge and the bills lead sponsor, told Stateline in an interview that the bill includes specific protections to prevent any infringement on due process rights.

Its just about keeping people safe, and the safety, I think, preempts any right to possess a gun, she said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and X.

The post Swing-state legislatures diverge on election-year gun measures appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Taiwan says China's seizure of trawler may be act of psychological warfare

Taiwan says China's seizure of trawler may be act of psychological warfare

TAIPEI (Reuters) -China's seizure of a Taiwanese trawler operating close to the Chinese coast might be an act of psychological warfare by Beijing designed to further pressure Taipei, and Taiwan is working to get the boat released, officials said on Thursday.

Chinese officials boarded and then took the boat to a port in China late on Tuesday. It was fishing for squid in Chinese waters near the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen islands. China says it violated a summer ban on fishing and carried out illegal trawling operations.

The incident happened at a time of growing tensions across the Taiwan Strait. 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, who Beijing accuses of being a "separatist".

Mainland Affairs Council minister Chiu Chui-cheng told reporters in Taipei that the government will work as hard as possible to get the boat and its fishermen released, communicating with China via Taiwan's semi-official Straits Exchange Foundation.

Chiu also urged Beijing to demonstrate goodwill and stop pressuring Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters in parliament earlier in the day, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said it was unusual for Chinese officials to board and then detain a Taiwanese trawler, and noted China's explanation that it was illegally fishing.

But China may also have done this to demonstrate its jurisdiction over the strait and put pressure on Taiwan's government, he added.

"We must continue to analyse whether this is a cognitive warfare operation, and will fully assess what the motivations are for the Chinese communists," Tsai said.

China has seized Taiwanese trawlers before for illegal fishing but released them after a fine was paid, Taiwan's coast guard said.

Late Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the seizure of the boat was an act of "normal law enforcement" to protect fishery resources and the environment given the illegal fishing it was carrying out.

"The relevant departments will deal with it in accordance with the law and regulations," it said in a statement.

Three of the five fishermen on board are Indonesian nationals, according to Taiwan's coast guard.

China says it has sovereignty over the strait. Both Taiwan and the United States say it is an international waterway.

Taiwan has complained for four years of stepped-up Chinese "grey zone" activities attempting to wear down Taiwan with offensive actions that stop short of full-blown conflict, like flying balloons over Taiwan.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Roger Tung; Editing by Michael Perry and David Holmes)
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Thousands attended the annual Takoma Park Fourth of July parade to celebrate Independence Day despite scorching temperatures reaching the Washington Metropolitan area.

The Takoma Park Independence Day Committee planned its star-studded event with safety in mind.

We have a first-aid station, said Duncan Robinson, Vice President of the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee. Everybody is careful where theyre sitting. Everybodys in the shade when they can be. Weve got umbrellas up [] this evening well have a misting station.

Robinson told DC News Now his team rolled out a series of festivities for July Fourth that included performances from many DMV natives and several immigrants whove called the region home for decades.

Today is all about the Fourth of July in Takoma Park. Its always been a big celebration. It brings the whole community together for a very special holiday, Robinson said.

Which president died on July 4th? There was more than one.

Beats of drums and performances from people of Caribbean descent filled the parade with diverse cultures.

Those in attendance said the parade was a perfect opportunity to showcase their cultures in a nation that thrives off of diversity.

So while it is about, you know, showcasing the freedom of Fourth of July, its really just about the freedom that America has allowed for all cultures to be showcased, said Kimberly, a performer of Trinidad and Tobago descent.

Many immigrants attending the annual event said they feel grateful to live their American dream every day.

For me, its very much fun because when I think about what this day really means, its a day of independence, one attendee said. Its lots of fun. There are people that I meet every year.

The parade was part of a two-part celebration of Independence Day in Takoma Park. A street party for adults and children was planned and will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Maple Avenue.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Taliban regime is our trusted ally against terrorists, says Putin

Taliban fighters celebrating in front of the former US embassy in Kabul in 2022, a year after they seized power - Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo

Vladimir Putin has described Afghanistans Taliban as Russias trusted ally in its fight against terrorism.

The Russian president told journalists after meeting regional leaders in Kazakhstan that the ruling regime in Kabul could help the Kremlin fight ISIS-K amid a rise in terrorist attacks in Russia.

The Taliban movement controls power in the country and in this sense, the Taliban are certainly allies for us in the fight against terrorism, he said.

Vladimir Putin with delegates at the summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where he made the remarks - Gavriil Grigorov/Pool Sputnik Kremlin

ISIS-K, the branch of Islamic State active mainly in Afghanistan and Pakistan, claimed responsibility for an attack on a concert in Moscow in March that killed 144 people, and an attack in Dagestan, southern Russia, last month that killed 20 people.

Putins statement is at odds with official Kremlin policy which still labels the Taliban as a terrorist regime.

But Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Centre think tank, said that for the Russian leader this was a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Since the Taliban is fighting ISIS-K it is seen as a partner, he said.

Moscow has been quietly improving links with the Taliban for years, even supplying weapons secretly through back channels as it fought Nato forces.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban's chief spokesman, speaks with the Russian presidential envoy Zamir Kabulov during a meeting in Qatar last month - Taliban Spokesman Office via AP

This alliance has grown since the Taliban grabbed power in Afghanistan from the pro-West government after the USs chaotic withdrawal in 2021.

Russian officials have said this year that they want to remove the Kremlins terrorist label from the Taliban and have invited Taliban delegations to Russia.

On Thursday in Astana, Putin explained that he wanted to normalise ties because the Taliban wanted to turn Afghanistan into a normal functioning state.

Everything is stable, calm and goes according to certain rules, Putin said of the Talibans rule in Afghanistan.

Cricket fans in Kabul wave Taliban flags as they watch their country's team at the Twenty20 World Cup. Putin has praised the regime for bringing calm and stability to Afghanistan - Wakil Kohsar/AFP via GettyImages

But Afghan human rights activists disagree, saying sexual violence is rising in the country. This week they leaked mobile phone footage of the gang rape in an Afghan jail of a woman anti-Taliban activist.

Since Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Afghanistan has become more important strategically for the Kremlin as it sits on a possible trade route south to important markets in Pakistan, India and Iran.

Intigam Mamedov, a postdoctoral research fellow at Northumbria University and an expert on Afghan-Russian relations, said that Putin was an opportunist who wanted to take advantage of strained ties between the West and Muslim countries.

The potential rapprochement with the Taliban is a sign to the Islamic world in particular, that, unlike the US, Russia is an ally that will not interfere in another countrys internal affairs or dictate its values, he said.

The Kremlin has invested heavily in building a support base in Islamic countries since it launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, even hosting Hamas delegations after Israels military strikes into Gaza.

For the Taliban, Russian recognition of its regime as the rightful ruler of Afghanistan would bring important international kudos and also much-needed revenue flows.

Economically, and politically, the Taliban needs to cooperate with Moscow, but this doesnt mean the Taliban trust Russian officials and their official line, said Mr Mamedov.

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Polish ship Dar Mlodziezy (left) and Pogoria during the opening day of the Tall Ships Races event in Helsinki, Finland, Thursday July 4, 2024. Dozens of impressive classic sailing vessels from 13 different countries currently plying the Baltic Sea arrived at the Finnish capital on Thursday at the end of the first leg of the Tall Ships Races that kicked off from the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda late June. (Aada Pet'j'/Lehtikuva via AP)

HELSINKI (AP)  Dozens of classic sailing vessels from 13 countries that are plying the Baltic Sea arrived in the Finnish capital on Thursday at the end of the first leg of the Tall Ships Races that began in the Lithuanian port city of Klaipeda in late June.

This years competition, with a total of 50 ships of different shapes and sizes, is themed around the alarming environmental status of the Baltic Sea, which is suffering from eutrophication  an excessive accumulation of nutrients that has led, among things, to the growth of harmful blue-green algae.

The Baltic Sea isn't doing well, said CEO Annamari Arrakoski-Engardt of the Finland-based John Nurminen Foundation that supports projects protecting the shallow seas marine environment.

It suffers from eutrophication and nature loss that are accelerated by climate change. But its not yet too late to save the Baltic Sea and its heritage for the future generations, she said.

The international charity sailing race is normally held every four years but returns to the Baltic Sea after a seven-year hiatus because the planned 2021 competition was canceled due to COVID-19.

According to co-organizer Sail Training International, the race aims to teach the young global crews group dynamics while training them to handle the impressive old-school sailing ships, including some that are over a hundred years old.

One of vessels, the naval training vessel Guayas, sailed to northern European waters from Ecuador in South America.

The 2024 competition sails between six Baltic Sea ports: Helsinki, Turku and Mariehamn in Finland, Tallinn in Estonia, Szczecin in Poland and Klaipeda in Lithuania.

Though a rather small sea internationally, the Baltic Sea is a major trade, passenger and military shipping route for the nine nations around it, including Russia, and has played a vital role in the history of northern Europe.

Helsinki is a maritime city and the Baltic Sea has shaped our southern coast and the history of Finland, Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen said at the official welcoming ceremony aboard the elegant Polish training ship Dar Modziezy.

Sea has always been of vital importance to our citys trade and an important transport route out to the world from the Nordic nation of 5.6 million, he said.

A change from previous Tall Ships Races is that Russian vessels have been banned from taking part after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Since Finland and Sweden joined NATO in 2023 and this year, respectively, Russia's key port of St. Petersburg and its Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad are completely surrounded by members of the Western military alliance.

The Tall Ships Races 2024 will end at the Polish seaport of Szczecin near the German border in early August.
Tampa police: Dont fire guns into the sky this 4th of July

Tampa police: Dont fire guns into the sky this 4th of July

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Tampa Police Department is reminding residents to stick to shooting fireworks into the sky this 4th of July.

TPD sent a text message to residents Monday afternoon regarding celebratory gunfire.

Tampa Police remind everyone that celebratory gunfire is illegal, the text message said. What goes up must come down, and within a two-mile radius.

It is against Florida law to fire a gun in public or on residential property.

The police department also released a video on social media with officers from its aviation unit reminding residents to celebrate responsibly.

The Tampa Police Department is going to be watching everywhere, from the air, to the land, to the sea, officers said.

Bullets can reach up to 9,000 feet high, according to TPD.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
CLEVELAND (WJW)  The Fox 8 I-Team has uncovered more about the suspect arrested for the murder of a Cleveland Police officer on duty Thursday morning.

A charge of aggravated murder has been filed against 24-year-old Delawnte Hardy. He has now been booked into the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Updates: Cleveland officer shot, killed on holiday morning

The complaint simply says, at 1510 E. 80th PL Cleveland, OH, Delawnte Hardy did shoot and kill the officer.

The shooting happened early Thursday morning. At a brief news conference, the Cleveland Police Chief didnt get into many specifics of the incident, but she said the suspect had been wanted for felony assault, and he fired multiple shots.

Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter, whose identity police revealed Thursday afternoon, was a four-year veteran of the police department, according to a news release.

He was 27 years old, the FOX 8 I-Team reported.

No excuses: OSHP cracking down on dangerous drivers over July 4 weekend

Hardy is due to appear in Cleveland Municipal Court on Friday morning.

Stick with Fox 8 and Fox8.com for more on this developing story.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
WASHINGTON CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Charges were filed against a 17-year-old on Wednesday in connection to the shooting death of a 30-year-old man in Washington City over the weekend.

Simeon Gail Calnimptewa, 17, is being charged with six first-degree felonies, including one count of aggravated murder, one count of aggravated robbery, one count of aggravated burglary, and three counts of felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury.

Calnimptewa is also being charged with five third-degree felonies, including one count of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, and two counts of possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.

PREVIOUS STORY: One killed in Washington City apartment complex shooting

Calnimptewa is being charged in relation to the alleged aggravated murder of Bransen Bryels-Nechanicky, 30, in a Washington City apartment complex on Sunday, June 30.

The Washington County Attorneys Office clarified that Calnimptewa is being charged in district court and not in juvenile court, and he will be tried as an adult according to Utah Code.

In Utah, when a prosecution office charges a 16- or 17-year-old juvenile with murder or aggravated murder, the person must be charged as an adult, and a prison term of 25 years to life is the maximum sentence, the attorneys office said in a press release.

The attorneys office said Utah law also prohibits the court from sentencing Calnimptewa to death or to life in prison without parole.

According to court documents, when Washington City police arrived at the scene on Sunday, they found one victim in the apartment who looked to have suffered from multiple gunshot wounds.

Officials performed life-saving measures on the victim  later identified as Bryels-Nechanicky  but he succumbed to his injuries and was later pronounced dead. Documents revealed that another victim, whose identity was not released, witnessed the alleged murder and robbery.

The second victim told police that he and Bryels-Nechanicky returned to the apartment around 1:45 a.m. on Sunday when they saw an unknown male wearing a dark colored hoodie and ski mask, documents said.

Calnimptewa allegedly brandished his firearm and Bryels-Nechanicky responded by addressing the suspect and charging at him, resulting in a physical altercation and several shots being fired, according to documents. The other victim reported hearing three shots.

After the suspect shot at Bryels-Nechanicky, he demanded the other victim open the door and he grabbed a jar of money on his way out before he fled the scene on foot, documents said.

When officers reviewed security footage, they identified Calnimptewa as someone they have had prior involvements with, documents said. Calnimptewa also reportedly lived in the same complex where the shooting happened.

In his apartment, officers located items of clothing with blood on them, as well as the jar of money, two handguns, a shell casing, and Marijuana/THC vape cartridges near the guns.

In an interview with officers, Calnimptewa said he could not remember what happened the night of the shooting, and said he reportedly drank vodka that night.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Teens on TikTok discover theyre actually twins who were kidnapped from their parents at birth

Elene Deisadze was scrolling on TikTok in 2022 when she had to do a double-take. There was a girl who looked just like her.

The European teen immediately reached out to Anna Panchulidze, who she believed to be her doppelganger. The two had an instant connection.

Elene Deisadze (left) was scrolling on TikTok in 2022 when she had to do a double-take. This girl Anna Panchulidze (right) looked just like her. AFP via Getty Images

But it turned out the pair had more than a bond  they had shared DNA.

After several months of getting to know each other online, the two discovered that they were adopted.

I had a happy childhood, but now my entire past felt like a deception, Anna told AFP, according to the Daily Mail.

Once they realized that they didnt actually know their biological family, the girls decided to take a DNA test and learned that they werent doppelgangers  theyre identical twins.

We became friends without suspecting we might be sisters, but both of us felt there was some special bond between us, Elene told AFP.

And while the girls revelation might be shocking, its unfortunately more common and dark than either had expected.

After several months of getting to know each other online, the two discovered that they were adopted. A DNA test confirmed they are identical twins. AFP via Getty Images

The DNA test for Elene and Anna was arranged with the help of Georgian journalist Tamuna Museridze, who has been investigating a country-wide kidnapping scheme that appears to have taken place for decades between 1950 and 2006.

Museridze first uncovered the dibacle in 2016 when she found she had two birth certificates with different dates while she was clearing out her mothers house after she died.

We found out it was systemic, and we found out there are more than 100,000 children stolen in Georgias hospitals, Museridze told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Georgian journalist Tamuna Museridze has helped reunite hundreds of families after uncovering her countrys former child trafficking scheme. AFP via Getty Images

Through her investigation, she learned that the scheme was run by organized criminals who recruited a wide range of accomplices, including doctors and government officials.

Often times, hosptial staff would lie to parents telling them their children died at birth and then pass them off to be sold to families who did not realize their new children were kidnapped.

Anas mother, Patmani Parkosadze, confirmed she paid thousands of dollars  enough to buy a small apartment in Georgia at the time  to adopt her in 2005 after waiting years to adopt a child.

I had no clue. At that time, you had to wait ages to adopt somebody. My husband and I were personally waiting for six years before we got Ana, Parkosadze told the ABC.

We really had no idea about the corrupt system  and I wouldnt even imagine such a thing.

Elenes adoptive mother, Lia Korkotadze, told AFP that adopting from an orphanage seemed virtually impossible due to incredibly long waiting lists.

Elenes adoptive mother, Lia Korkotadze, told AFP that adopting from an orphanage seemed virtually impossible due to incredibly long waiting lists. She had no idea her baby girl had been kidnapped. AFP via Getty Images

She was overjoyed when she heard about a six-month-old baby available for adoption from a local hospital for a fee.

They brought Elene right to my house, Korkotadze said, never suspecting there was anything illegal.

Anna and Elene are grateful for the families that raised them and to have found each other, but they still hope to be reunited with their biological parents.

Maybe they dont even know we exist because when children were adopted sometimes their biological parents were lied to, [told] your child is dead, maybe our parents think we are dead, we are not even alive, it would be so great to find them and tell them the truth, Elene told ABC.

To help deceived families find each other, Museridze started a Facebook group dedicated to reuniting babies stolen from their parents  it currently has around 250,000 members and has reunited around 700 families.

The reporter has also teamed up with human rights lawyer Lia Mukhashavria to further investigate the national, decades-long scam.

It was pretty clear it was well-structured illegal business in this country, Museridze insisted.

Sadly, this isnt the only country to be accused of a long-running child trafficking scheme.

It is estimated that nearly 8,000 to 12,000 children were illegally or forcibly adopted in Chile in the 1970s and 80s during Augusto Pinochets dictatorship, attorney, Anthony Clarkson, told Houstons KPRC.

Forced adoptions took place before Pinochet came to power, but increased significantly under his regime as the dictator saw the adoptions as a brutal means of eliminating poverty and controlling population growth  Cristina Prisco, of the Bronx, was one of those children.

Finding out the way I did was a bit shocking, but Im happy I now know the real story and am a little angry at everything that my mother went through, she previously told The Post.

The people involved were evil people and they robbed me of my family.
A US Navy veteran who has lived in America for more than seven decades says it now feels like his country doesnt want him after his citizenship was challenged by authorities in Tennessee.

As the nation celebrates Independence Day on July 4, David OConnor is locked in a battle with the state DMV, which has taken away his license after claiming he could not prove he was a US citizen.

The 77-year-old has been a professional truck operator for the last 61 years and has held drivers licenses in New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont, according to NewsChannel5.

He also got a license eight years ago when he moved to Tennessee. According to OConnor, last month the state canceled his license.

"They told me I shouldnt have had the license in the first place cause I couldnt prove that I was a citizen," OConnor told NewsChannel5.

David OConnor, 77, has had his drivers license taken off him in Tennessee, after state authorities said he could not prove his US citizenship (NewsChannel5)

Both of OConnors parents are US citizens but were briefly living in Canada when he was born, meaning he has a Canadian birth certificate. When OConnor went to the Driver Service Center in McMinn County to renew his license and get a Real ID, the certificate was rejected.

"They said, No, thats no good. We shouldnt have given you the license in the first place," OConnor recalled.They just canceled my license right then and there."

He says he is now being made to jump through multiple hoops to prove his citizenship.

"Ive been here for 77 years," OConnor told the outlet. "None of this makes any sense to me."

At the age of 17, OConnor enlisted in the US Navy, where he served for four years as a sonar technician. As well as his parents US citizenship, his military discharge forms also list him as American.

He also has a social security card, gets retirement benefits, and votes every year.

Despite this, without approval and a license from the state, the Navy veteran can no longer drive, cannot get on a plane, and wont be able to vote in the upcoming elections in November.

"Its like your country dont want you. Ive tried to do things the right way all my life. And now its like Im nothing," he told NewsChannel5.

The OConnors were supposed to visit family earlier in Vermont, but without a drivers license, he couldnt fly there. Ultimately, OConnor had to cancel his airline ticket and have his son drive them there.

His wife, Jean OConnor said she was flabbergasted and outraged by the situation.

"It just blows my mind," she told NewsChannel5. "I am flabbergasted. I am outraged that, at 77 years old, he is now considered a non-citizen by the country that he has lived in his whole life.

Social media users were also quick to react to the story, calling the treatment of OConnor messed up and ridiculous.

What a shame they are treating him this way. Hope he gets this straightened out soon. Hate to see a veteran treated this way, one user wrote. This is Insanity. Who makes these asinine decisions? added another.

The Independent has reached out to the Tennessee DMV for comment on the situation with OConnors license.
Israel is one of the world's few countries armed with nukes and multiple means to deliver them.

An Israeli aerospace official recently broached these "doomsday weapons."

"Israel's triad remains remarkably powerful for a country its size," an aviation expert said.

The prospect of a full-scale war between Israel and the powerful Hezbollah militia in Lebanon has sent tensions spiking and briefly highlighted the power of Israel's undeclared nuclear weapons.

Israel is one of the world's few countries armed with nukes and multiple means to deliver them, a capability recently referenced by an Israeli official with a leading government-run aerospace manufacturer.

"If we understand that there is an existential danger here, and that Iran, Yemen, Syria, Iraq and all the countries of the Middle East decide that it is time to settle against us, I understand that we have the capabilities to use doomsday weapons," Yair Katz, chairman of the Israel Aerospace Industries Workers' Council, reportedly said on Saturday.

He was speaking a day after Iran's United Nations mission warned that "an obliterating war will ensue" if Israel commits "full-scale military aggression" against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. It also declared that in this scenario, "all options" are on the table, including "the full involvement of all resistance fronts," a clear reference to Iran's militia proxies in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, the other countries Katz specifically mentioned.

By invoking doomsday weapons, it was clear Katz was alluding to Israel's nuclear weapons arsenal  an arsenal over which neither he nor IAI have any command-and-control. But his use of the word "capabilities" is a reminder that Israel has ground, air, and sea-based delivery systems for its nuclear weapons. In other words, a complete nuclear triad.

There are eight countries in the world with declared nuclear arsenals, four of which  the United States, China, India, and Russia  have a complete nuclear triad. Pakistan has a partial triad, making it a close fifth. Israel's triad has some notable distinctions and limitations compared to those of the other four.

"Israel's nuclear triad bears the hallmarks of a regional nuclear triad as seen in India and Pakistan, rather than seeking globe-spanning strike capability," Sebastien Roblin, a widely published military-aviation journalist, told Business Insider.

"Ballistic missile submarines with submarine-launched ballistic missiles and heavy bombers are unnecessary, even though Israel does face some range and geography complications vis-a-vis Iran in particular," Roblin said. "So, like Pakistan, Israel can rely on fighters, conventionally powered submarines, and submarine-launched cruise missiles for what it's trying to do."

"Israel's triad remains remarkably powerful for a country its size."

Experts believe Israel has three main delivery systems for its nuclear warheads. Israel has ground-based Jericho 3 intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries, these IRBMs are capable of hitting targets at least 3,000 miles away. Israel also has German-built Dolphin 2 diesel-electric submarines widely believed to carry nuclear-armed Popeye Turbo cruise missiles, which can strike targets up to 930 miles away and purportedly have a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead. That modest submarine fleet gives Israel a second-strike capability in case its ground-based Jerichos are destroyed in an enemy first strike. And its fighter jets can drop nuclear bombs.

Ryan Bohl, a senior Middle East and North Africa analyst at the risk intelligence company RANE, noted that one primary way Israel's nuclear triad differs from its counterparts is its regional focus.

"Israel's nuclear deterrent is not designed to ward off great powers like Russia or China, but rather regional powers like Egypt and Iran," Bohl told BI. "Should it ever face a great power nuclear confrontation that would inevitably drag in the United States, which is certainly better equipped to handle such a thing."

"Israel does have purported capabilities for intercontinental ballistic missiles that would allow limited strikes extra-regionally, but again, none of these would have the impact of a great power," Bohl said.

"From what is known about the Jericho systems, they are both silo and land-based, but the reality is that all such land-based systems are vulnerable to first strikes, which is a key reason why the Israelis keep the triad," Bohl said.

Experts believe Israel's F-15I fighter could carry nuclear bombs. Nir Ben-Yosef/IAF/Facebook

The Israeli Air Force's fighter jets also play a role in the triad.

"Most believe specific IAF F-16 and F-15I Ra'am units have been assigned nuclear roles, with the latter fighters with their greater range and payload taking on added importance in the event of a long-distance war with Iran," Roblin said.

Israel also boasts a sizable fleet of fifth-generation F-35I stealth jets, which are more capable of penetrating enemy air defenses to destroy strategic targets. It's unclear if Israel's F-35s can currently carry nuclear payloads.

Roblin noted the US Air Force only recently certified the F-35A for nuclear missions.

"Whether and how Israel has integrated nuclear arms into its customized F-35Is is another mystery box," Roblin said. "Though I assume they will eventually assume a nuclear role if they haven't already --they are just so much more survivable for delivery of gravity or glide bombs."

Israeli jets can also fire Popeye cruise missiles for standoff strikes. Israel has developed several air-launched ballistic missiles, some of which it used in a strike against central Iran in April. However, it's unclear if Israel has air-launched ballistic missiles fitted with nuclear warheads.

"The main challenge for making these nuclear-capable is Israel's capacity to miniaturize nuclear warheads vis-a-vis how heavy a warhead a given missile can carry," Roblin said. "So, weapons that support bigger warheads are easier to convert."

The IAF had nuclear gravity bombs as far back as 1973. Roblin pointed out that the US has "invested billions" in turning its B61 nuclear bombs into nuclear bunker busters. He suspects Israel could have undertaken a similar project.

"If Israel has more ambitious counterforce intentions for its air-based nukes, as in hoping they could be used to reliably destroy enemy nuclear missile silos and storage areas, then perhaps it has quietly developed its equivalent of the US's new B61s, say based around the SPICE glide bomb kit," Roblin said.

While extensive for a state Israel's size, RANE's Bohl highlighted some limitations of the Israeli triad, noting that Israel's true strength lies in having Washington's back.

"Israel's limitations are in part its relatively limited arsenal and more constrained systems for deployment beyond the region," Bohl said. "But within the region, Israel is certainly unsurpassed in its nuclear capabilities."

"Given that the United States would serve as a nuclear umbrella for Israel for extra-regional threats, these limitations are certainly nothing that constrains Israel's nuclear deterrent from its primary targets like Iran," Bohl added.

The RANE analyst also noted that the US's own forces represent a much more dangerous retaliation threat than Israel's submarines for any country that considers striking Israel with nukes.

"The true second strike threat for Israel is the United States itself, which in a theoretical nuclear war scenario would almost certainly retaliate on Israel's behalf should it ever suffer a first strike from a nuclear rival," Bohl said. "This makes it so that a second strike capability is important in terms of deterrence for full-scale escalation from a power like Iran."

"But from a strictly tactical perspective, it would be the United States that truly serves as Israel's most effective second strike system."

Read the original article on Business Insider
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)

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.

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Thackerville officer arrested for larceny charges

THACKERVILLE, Okla. (KFOR)  A Thackerville Police Officer was arrested on Wednesday and charged with Larceny for an alleged stolen firearm.

Officials say that 29-year-old Thackerville Police Officer Erwin Kenneth Parker responded to an unattended death near Sandpiper Road and Highway 77 on April 3.

OKCPD officer appears in court on rape, kidnapping charges

Thackerville Police Officer arrested and charged on Larceny for a stolen firearm

The Thackerville Police Department was notified on June 10 that Parker had taken a firearm from the property while at the scene on April 3, and never reported it. Authorities say Parker later transported the weapon to his residence.

According to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations (OSBI), Thackerville Police Department requested the assistance of OSBI on June 13 to investigate a stolen firearm.

Following the evidence and information gathered by OSBI agents, Parker was arrested and booked into the Love County Jail.

OSBI say the investigation is still ongoing.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Rep. Seth Moulton (Mass.) on Thursday became the third House Democrat to publicly call on President Biden to step out of the presidential race after a weak debate performance last week that left his allies shaken.

President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washingtons, footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against [former President Trump], Moulton said on Boston-area radio station WBUR Thursday.

Moulton, who competed against Biden for the 2020 presidential nomination, had said Wednesday that his party should look into all viable options, as questions swirl around Biden being able to remain at the top of the Democratic ticket.

When your current strategy isnt working, its rarely the right decision to double down. President Biden is not going to get younger, Moulton said in a statement Wednesday.

The White House was insistent Wednesday that Biden is not leaving the presidential race, and party leaders have publicly backed him. Biden said in a fundraising email Wednesday that nobody is pushing him out of the race.

Im the Democratic Partys nominee, according to the fundraising email. No one is pushing me out. Im not leaving, Im in this race to the end, and WE are going to win this election. If thats all you need to hear, pitch in a few bucks to help [Vice President Harris] and me defeat Donald Trump in November.

Still, cracks began to emerge this week in Democrats support for Biden. Centrist Democratic Reps. Jared Golden (Maine) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) have both said they believe Trump will beat Biden in November. And several Democrats privately told The Hill that conversations about Bidens standing at the top of the ticket have been underway behind the scenes since the debate.

Moulton joins his House colleagues Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) in publicly calling on Biden to withdraw from the race.

Here are the Democrats who have called on President Biden to withdraw

President Biden has continued to run substantially behind Democratic senators in key states and in most polls has trailed Donald Trump. I had hoped that the debate would provide some momentum to change that. It did not, Doggett said in a statement. Instead of reassuring voters, the President failed to effectively defend his many accomplishments and expose Trumps many lies.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Ria Abernathy was driving home from her sons place in Oroville on Tuesday evening when an ominous scene unfolded before her. Billowing up from the horizon was a massive plume of neon-orange smoke.

The 55-year-old appliance service manager stopped to snap a picture of the Thompson fire, which would burn more than 3,500 acres of dry grass and brush near the Northern California town by the following night and spur an evacuation order for thousands of residents.

The flames did not appear likely to make it to Abernathys home, some 25 minutes away in the Butte County community of Magalia. But the image was eerily similar to what she saw one morning in November 2018, just before she fled her Paradise home amid the Camp fire. That blaze would go on to kill 85 people and destroy everything Abernathy owned.

It brings up a lot of bad  even a little PTSD  memories, for sure, she said of the most recent fire.

Butte County has been buffeted by disaster after disaster in recent years  the Oroville Dam spillway failure that spurred the evacuation of 180,000 people in 2017; the massive North Complex fire, which killed 16 people in 2020; the even-more massive Dixie fire, which scorched much of the county in 2021, becoming the first to burn from one side of the Sierra Nevada to the other. But perhaps no event is more deeply ingrained in the regions psyche than the Camp fire, which remains Californias deadliest wildfire to date and left wounds that have been slow to heal.

I think it's really important for people to know that with the fire  the original fire  people are still struggling, Abernathy said. I lost my whole history. So many people lost their history, and its not coming back.

Abernathy moved to Butte County from Southern California when her oldest, now 39, was 5 years old. She wanted a better life for her children and was drawn by the mountain views, abundant wildlife and friendly people.

She knew that wildfires were a risk, thanks to the recurrent droughts, dense stands of trees and winding canyons. A week or two before the Camp fire, shed been warned she might have to evacuate from a different fire, so shed packed her car and was ready to go. About four days before the Camp fire, shed unloaded it all, thinking she was in the clear. By the time the flames neared her doorstep, she was out of time.

I just dropped everything and said, OK, well come back, she said. We never got back.

Read more: California burns as heat wave spreads across western U.S.

An uninsured renter, Abernathy was first relocated to Corning, but says she lost that home due to a miscommunication with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. She wound up living in a trailer in a church parking lot for eight months.

She eventually received an $80,000 settlement from Pacific Gas & Electric Co., whose equipment sparked the Camp fire and which pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the blaze. But after she paid taxes on the settlement and gave a third of it to her attorney, there wasnt a whole lot left. Even less if you consider that her PG&E utility bill skyrocketed from $150 a month to $500 a month in the fire's aftermath, she said.

Im pretty much getting squeezed out because I cant afford to live here, she said, adding that her landlord has had a hard time maintaining homeowners insurance on the property as insurers raise rates or flee the state altogether.

I dont know what Im going to do because I take care of my mom whos 84 and my grandson whos 19. I don't want to move from here  this is where my kids were all raised  but I cant afford to be here anymore.

Abernathys son and his wife recently bought a home in Oroville, closer to the Thompson fire. Shes hopeful theyll have an easier time fleeing than she did from the Camp fire  if it comes to that. The town has multiple access points, unlike Paradise, which had few roads leading out of town.

The couple hadnt yet been ordered to evacuate by Wednesday night. But Abernathy has already told them to pack their bags and pile them in the car, just in case.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Three years of hell, tenants describe troubled Las Vegas apartment complex

Tenants at the Apex apartments said conditions at the property have not improved despite the property owners and Clark County reaching an agreement in April. Now an attorney at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, which provides legal assistance for individuals who cannot afford to hire an attorney, is representing the tenants at the apartment complex located on Twain Avenue near Maryland Parkway.

The building is not safe, attorney Nick Haley said during a visit to the property Wednesday. Boarded-up windows, combined especially with the electrical issues, its just a recipe for disaster.

Haley said he is representing 23 tenants through the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevadas Consumer Rights Project. David Henderson is one of those tenants.

Its a two-way street, tenants vs. landlord of troubled Las Vegas apartment complex

You know how you turn the lights off, you think youre going to sleep peacefully but youre not, Henderson said. Like you still have thoughts in your head like dang, the ceiling could come in.

Henderson showed the 8 News Now Investigators his unit which he shares with his wife, children, and nephew. He pointed to electrical issues, a hole in the bathroom ceiling and an air conditioner which he said he took from another unit after the air conditioner in his apartment broke.

They wouldnt come and fix anything, Henderson told the 8 News Now Investigators.

Henderson said his rent is approximately $1,000 a month for a one-bedroom unit. He and some other tenants have withheld rent because of the living conditions.

The bottom line is we do need to get people moved into a more stable situation, Haley said.

California-based Pro-Residential Services bought the property in January of 2021, according to Clark County records. Since then, tenants said conditions rapidly deteriorated.

Owners of troubled Las Vegas apartment complex start evictions

The county sued the property owners in 2022 after the business was operating without a license. The county alleged the owners provided unsafe housing in multiple states while collecting coronavirus rental relief money.

The owners and tenants received a total of $488,000 of coronavirus relief money by May of 2024, also known as CHAP (CARES Housing Assistance Program), according to the county.

Per the settlement in April, the owners agreed to repair the property, follow building and fire codes, and pay the county $45,000.

While the settlement cleared the way for formal evictions, it did not clear the way for summary evictions which were previously put on hold by a judge, according to Haley. Formal evictions require a lengthier legal process.

Haley said when he discovered that tenants were receiving summary eviction notices and he stepped in, the owners stopped the summary eviction process.

Power shut off at troubled Las Vegas apartment complex

Tenant Travis Smith had attended multiple court appearances after the county sued the property owners.

Its been three years of hell and Im finally getting up out of here, Smith told the 8 News Now Investigators.

Smith said the apartment smelled like sewage due to the dilapidated unit below his apartment.

Clark County is now working with tenants to try to help them relocate while the future of the property remains unclear.

The 8 News Now Investigators reached out to the property owners Wednesday afternoon and did not receive a response.

For more information about the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Titian masterpiece breaks record for the painter as it sells for 17.6m

Rest On The Flight Into Egypt is believed to have been painted around 1510 - PETER NICHOLLS/GETTY

A stolen painting by Italian Renaissance master Titian, which was once found in a plastic bag at a London bus stop, has broken the artists auction record.

Rest On The Flight Into Egypt, described as a masterpiece, was sold for 17.6m by London auction house Christies.

The painting, which shows the Virgin Mary cradling Jesus with Joseph looking on, is believed to have been painted around 1510 and has an extraordinary history.

Once owned by Napoleon, who looted it from a palace in Vienna, the painting was bought by the 4th Marquess of Bath in 1878, where it remained in Lord Baths collection at Longleat House in Wiltshire and hung for many years in the state drawing room.

But in January 1995, thieves drove up to Longleat, put a ladder against the wall, smashed through a first-floor window and stole the painting, then valued at 3m.

The raid triggered a seven-year search operation led by Charles Hill, a former Scotland Yard detective recruited by Lord Bath, before the painting was eventually recovered in exchange for a 100,000 ransom.

To aid his search, Mr Hill enlisted the help of known art criminal David Duddin, who was convicted of stealing a 400,000 Rembrandt painting.

Mr Hill approached Duddin in prison in 1999 and he agreed to help using his underworld contacts.

This, in turn, led to an approach by another man who helped track it down.

Mr Hill, who had developed a formidable reputation for his undercover work with the Met, eventually collected the painting from a bus stop in Richmond, south-west London, wrapped in a blue and white plastic bag, minus its frame.

The unidentified man was reputedly paid the 100,000 reward, while Duddin also got a fee.

Mr Hill insisted that neither was involved in the crime.

The painting underwent conservation work but was not badly damaged.

However, it was recently put up for sale, with an auction estimate of 15m-20m, by the 8th Marquess of Bath.

Unique rarity

Lord Bath explained ahead of the sale: We have a considerable long-term investment strategy at Longleat and have decided to sell this asset to further this agenda at a time when the market for paintings of such unique rarity is so strong.

Andrew Fletcher, Christies global head of the old masters department, said it was the most important work by Titian to come to the auction market in more than a generation.

He added that the picture was a truly outstanding example of the artists pioneering approach to both the use of colour and the representation of the human form in the natural world.

He said the piece secured Titians status as one of the greatest painters in the history of Western art.

The buyer, who has not been identified, joins an eclectic and illustrious owners.

The painting was first documented in the collection of the Venetian merchant, Bartolomeo della Nave, whose collection included 15 works by Titian.

The majority of the collection was acquired by James, 1st Duke of Hamilton, and sent to England before being sold, on his execution by parliament in 1649, to Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

The painting remained in the imperial collection, passing through several hands, before it was transferred, in 1781, to the Belvedere Palace in Vienna by Emperor Joseph II. From here, it was looted by French troops in 1809 for the Napoleon museum, which was assembled by the Bonaparte family.

It was subsequently owned by Scottish landowner Hugh Andrew Johnstone Munro of Novar, before being acquired by the 4th Marquess of Bath at a Christies auction in 1878.

Orlando Rock, chairman of Christies UK, said of this weeks record sale: This result is a tribute to the impeccable provenance and quiet beauty of this sublime early masterpiece by Titian, which is one of the most poetic products of the artists youth.

This picture has captured the imaginations of audiences for more than half a millennia and will no doubt continue to do so.

Lord Bath said the painting had an extraordinary history and that the interest in the sale demonstrated how the fascination with this exquisite early masterpiece has been maintained across the centuries.

The previous auction record for a Titian was the 10.6m paid for A Sacra Conversazione at a 2011 Sothebys sale in New York.

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'They took everything': Thieves steal benefits meant for Pueblo County residents in need

Just as refunds started coming in for victims of last month's well-coordinated hacking attack that siphoned Department of Human Services funds meant for those in need, a new rash of thefts has been reported in Pueblo County.

Pueblo County DHS Director Tammy Torres recently confirmed as of Wednesday, July 3, that 98 reports of benefit theft have occurred within three days of issuance.

One of the victims was Rye resident Missi Franklin who told the Chieftain she lost $563.50 in benefits when an ATM withdrawal was made at a Denver bank at 1:36 a.m. July 1.

"I am freaking out  they took everything," Franklin said. "I have two little ones to provide for and this is very damaging."

Missi Franklin with her son Axle, 19 months; and daughter Cheyene, 10.

Franklin said she was aware her former classmate Amanda Welty-Soto had lost $540 of her Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funding when it was stolen at 2:45 a.m. June 2 from a Wells Fargo bank ATM in Denver. Because she did not experience the theft in June, Franklin said, "I did not think it could happen to me and it turns out I wasn't safe."

In both women's cases, the funds were taken shortly after they had been deposited at midnight.

"This is really bad  I had to borrow money from my parents to get gas so I could get to the Pueblo office to report the theft. A lot of people don't have that resource," Franklin explained.

How the thefts started

On June 2, hackers started emptying out accounts of Pueblo County benefit recipients. By the time the dust had settled, 384 cases of theft were reported to Pueblo County DHS officials totaling $178,678, Torres said.

Benefit recipients receiving adult financial payments, others receiving TANF Colorado Works funding and food benefit customers getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits all were affected.

As victims report theft by filing affidavits at the human services office at 320 W. 10th St., Pueblo County personnel check the affidavit and then forward it to Colorado DHS within 10 business days. The county also works to replace victim's electronic benefit cards.

The state then reviews the affidavits, researches the fraud for eligibility and provides a response to the county within 10 days.

"The state is about four days behind on reviewing Pueblos cases because they are reviewing cases from around the state in the order they receive them," Torres explained. "We were also told on June 26 that the county could issue the financial benefit prior to getting the approval from the state, therefore we started reimbursing the financial benefit on Friday (June 28)."

Soto received her reimbursement Saturday, June 29, nearly a full month after the funds had been stolen.

"We have reimbursed all Colorado Works/TANF cases and are working on the rest of the Adult Financial cases. As of Friday, we received three approval affidavits back from the state and we are expecting 308 more in the upcoming days," Torres told the Chieftain.

Torres said the investigation is spread out among law enforcement agencies where the thefts occurred. The thefts have taken place in the Denver metro area, Chicago and other out-of-state jurisdictions.

"We have not been updated regarding the identification of the theft fraudsters," Torres said.

Amanda Welty-Soto and her son Daeryus, 14 (left) and daughter Geneviecia, 13, enjoy a recent baseball game.

One woman's fight

The thefts have sparked an activist in Soto, who is going to college in Pueblo to prepare for a career as a paralegal. She is pushing for investigation and change and reaching out to any agency that can help, including the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the nonprofit Hunger Free Colorado.

"I propose a thorough review and regulation of the access permissions within the Department of Human Services," she told the Chieftain. "I recommend a proactive approach by advocating for all clients to obtain new cards."

She said she believes the current security breach may be due to compromised card information which is enabling unauthorized withdrawals, so issuing new cards could disrupt the fraud.

She also is pushing for clear, transparent communication from the department as she and other victims did not receive updated emails or phone calls detailing what was happening with their cases.

The Pueblo County Department of Human Services is located at 320 W. 10th St.

Tips to avoid fraud

Pueblo County DHS encourages customers to add a layer of protection by downloading the ebtEDGE application on their smartphones.

There are some safety features available on that app that allow the customer to add additional layers of protection such as the freeze card function, which would allow the customer to freeze the card when it is not in use, thus not allowing anyone else to use it either.

There is also a protect my account tab that allows the customer to block internet and out-of-state transactions, the department advises.

Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X, formerly Twitter, at twitter.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Thieves again steal benefits of disadvantaged Pueblo County residents
(KTLA)  Authorities have released the identity of a tourist who was killed during a robbery attempt at Newport Beachs upscale Fashion Island shopping mall on Tuesday.

Patricia McKay, 68, was walking with her husband when two thieves accosted them with a handgun outside the malls Barnes and Noble bookstore at about 3:30 p.m., according to the Newport Beach Police Department.

A struggle ensued at which point a third person driving the getaway vehicle, a white Toyota Camry, pulled up to the scene. One of the robbers fired several shots, and all three fled in the sedan, running over McKay as they drove off, police said.

The crime scene at Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach, California after a tourist was killed in a robbery attempt on July 2, 2024. (KTLA)

A canopy covers the body of a deceased woman after an attempted armed robbery in Newport Beach on July 1, 2024. (KTLA)

McKay, who was visiting from New Zealand, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband was not injured, and no one was struck by the gunfire.

Police located the Camry a short time later, but the driver sped away, NBPD said. Officers pursued the car northbound on the 405 Freeway and eventually to Cypress, where the suspects ditched the car and tried to run away but did not get far.

US officials plan to kill hundreds of thousands of owls: Heres why

Leroyernest Joseph McCrary, 28, of Compton; Jaden Cunningham, 18, of Lancaster; and Malachi Darnell, 18, of Los Angeles, were arrested and booked on charges of homicide, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy.

At a news conference Tuesday evening, Newport Beach Mayor Will ONeill praised police for quickly apprehending the suspects. He also expressed sadness and anger at the brazen nature of the crime.

You know, frankly, to hell with these guys, ONeill told reporters. They knew exactly what they were doing when they decided to come into our city to commit a crime, and a woman is dead because of it.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact NBPD Detective K Markwald at kmarkwald@nbpd.org.

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

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Tourists horrified after notorious Mykonos beach restaurant charges them 690 for two drinks

A Greek beach restaurant has once again come under fire after shocked holidaymakers claimed they were charged $876 (690) for two drinks.

DK Oyster on Platis Gialos Beach describes itself as a modern-day saga of hedonism and indulgence  but with summer usually comes accusations of seriously pricey seafood and drinks at the Mykonos beach bar.

Its expensive prices have prompted hundreds of poor reviews advising unsuspecting travellers to stay away.

In a Tripadvisor review from May one visitor, Lori E, wrote: Total rip off! Make sure you get a receipt before leaving and check your credit card because they overcharge.

They were enticed to order drinks at the notorious eatery by the offer of free sunbeds.

Ordered 2 drinks which we afterwards saw were 51 euros each. If that wasnt crazy enough we returned to the States and had a $876 charge on our account. FOR 2 DRINKS!!!, the review stated.

The tourists are now trying to dispute the almost 700 charge with their credit card company after never receiving a paper copy of a receipt.

While charging high prices is not illegal in Greece, EU regulations require that restaurants advertise the total cost of goods before they ask for payment.

BEWARE and avoid this place!!, the unhappy customer added.

Manager of DK Oyster Dimitrios Kalamaras often defends the infamous cost of dining through Tripadvisor responses.

Replying to Loris 690 claim, DK Oyster said: Our sunbeds come with minimum consumption, so we encourage all visitors to check the menus before placing their orders. I would like to note that our menus are displayed on blackboards near the entrance, showing the prices of our food and drinks to keep our guests informed.

The Independent has contacted DK Oyster for comment.

The Mykonos restaurant is no stranger to scam accusations, with Tripadvisor taking the rare step to add a safety warning to the spots review page in February 2023.

In 2019, an American tourist, shocked after being presented with an 836 (738) bill for some calamari and beers, branded the establishment a rip-off warning travellers to AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!

Three years later, a mother and daughter took legal action against the pricey Greek beach bar after it charged them more than 500 for two mojitos and a plate of crab legs.

Brenda Moulton and her 19-year-old daughter Kayleas lawyer, Marizanna Kikiri, said that her clients suffered threats and unfair treatment from the restaurant when they refused to pay the grossly overpriced bill.

The bar again came under fire in August 2023 when a 700 bill for four drinks and some seafood caused a group of Italian tourists brand the restaurant thieves.

For more travel news and advice listen to Simon Calders podcast.
In the United Kingdom, a thriving radical feminist movement has popularized and radicalized opposition to the transgender population, capturing the narrative and heavily influencing media, society, and government as it rails against 'gender ideology.'

The transgender community lies beneath the wreckage of this juggernaut. Once acclaimed for its progressive stance on queer rights, the U.K. has become notorious for its hostile treatment of transgender people and legitimizing anti-trans hatred.

When I was a trans kid in rural England, I learned to survive life in transphobic spaces by kicking a hole in the back of the closet and hiding in Narnia. Even as a teen, I knew the National Health Service's (NHS, the U.K.'s publicly funded healthcare system) trans healthcare system was fundamentally broken. I soon learned, too, that I could not access care or treatment without a supportive family. As the wait time for an initial appointment takes years, I felt and watched as puberty changed my body.

Though I've since moved to the States, making Boston my home, my trans childhood casts a long shadow. I mourn a lost decade, a life at the edge, and what could  and should  have been.

Time is everything. Those diagnosed with gender dysphoria should receive timely access to the care they need. For a child, this might include psychosocial support and delaying puberty, and at 16, possible hormone treatment. For trans adults, they will often receive hormone therapy, and many pursue gender reassignment surgery. Time means better treatment prognoses and resources. But it also means limiting the time before someone can transition and maximizing the time they have after.

They rarely look back.

Yet in the U.K., it is routine for trans patients to wait upwards of half a decade for even an initial appointment. Treatment takes longer. The NHS often requires patients to have begun 'social transitioning' before receiving treatment, which is a high demand of people without support or care in an increasingly intolerant society.

The controversial Cass Review has seen puberty blockers effectively banned and their possession criminalized as those on hormones face battles to receive their medication. Children are being forced to detransition  an act of irreparable harm. If any other minority community were treated as such, it would cause a national scandal that could end careers and collapse governments.

But for the trans community, there is only silence.

Caught between prohibitive NHS waitlists and the economic barriers of private healthcare, some have turned to DIY care by acquiring hormone treatment overseas and administering it themselves. The British government has begun to restrict this widespread, well-developed practice. It is the desperate practice of a community in true crisis, devoid of the primary care and support it needs. When safe routes for what is often lifesaving medication are inaccessible to a majority, it is only natural that other pathways should emerge.

In the U.S., the transgender population is the target of sustained attacks in every state, with hundreds of anti-trans bills tabled at the local and state levels. An overwhelming majority have been defeated, but several red states have adopted anti-trans legislation as a response to misinformation about the treatment of trans children. In response, some transgender Americans have sought to move to safer, "blue" states.

Where the Biden Administration has been an outspoken advocate for the trans community, Prime Minister Sunak and his government have inflamed, encouraged, and legitimized anti-trans rhetoric. During one session in the House of Commons, Sunak cracked an anti-trans joke in the presence of a murdered trans teenager's mother. Where U.S. states have declared sanctuaries, the British government intervened to veto Scotland's passing of a trans recognition bill. While the U.S. can account for groups formed at the local, state and national levels, the United Kingdom has few. Its most influential groups - Stonewall and Mermaid - have been damaged by investigations and controversy from the governments War on Woke.

Though rooted in second-wave feminism, the 'gender critical' movement has rapidly and radically shifted from low-level debate about pronouns and bathrooms to an overt and virulent assault on transgender life in the U.K. and beyond. Trans individuals are deliberately and viciously exposed both in the media and on social media. Led partly by the likes of J.K. Rowling, they are malevolently conflated en masse with criminals, pedophiles, and groomers. They are thus branded in the public eye as dangerous predators that present a clear, existential threat to women and children.

The threat to transgender Britain, once marginal and sporadic, is now all-consuming. There is no escape. The transgender community is now targeted in effectively every aspect of life: from hospital wards to the classroom, hospitals to the workplace, and bathrooms to pronouns. When challenged on their anti-trans views, opponents invariably and oh-so-innocently return to the gently spoken, reasonable line that they are 'just asking questions.' That, somehow, trans lives are up for debate.

Yet poison, no matter how softly spoken, is still poison.

It is no surprise that an exodus of trans-Britons is underway. Perhaps the most distressing part of this tragedy has been the stark realization no minister or party is coming to rescue the trans community. In the U.K.'s culture war, the trans community is an acceptable target. In the end, it will not matter who delivers the fatal blow to transgender Britain, for it will be the crime of an entirely complicit society.

There will be no tears.

But when the British government issues an apology in twenty yearsand it will issue an apologythey look forward to rejecting it with the utter vehemence and contempt it deserves.

Billie Burton is a British-American transwoman based in Boston, MA and a recent graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. As a geospatial expert working on war crimes and human rights, Billie currently serves as a NASA Lifelines fellow. In her spare time, Billie finds meaning in writing about the transgender community and mental illness.

Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ and Allied community. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.
State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters is a defendant in three legal cases that had hearings on Wednesday, including two in federal court.

Trial dates have been set in two federal lawsuits filed against state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, one by a former Norman High School teacher and another by a former Oklahoma State Department of Education employee.

After a hearing Wednesday in Oklahoma City, U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot set April 8, 2025, as the trial date in the wrongful termination lawsuit filed by Janessa Bointy of Edmond, according to Bointy's attorney, Leah Roper. Bointy accused the department and Walters of firing her for speaking about the importance of mental health resources at a March 6 meeting of the Edmond school board.

Meanwhile, court documents showed U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Jones set a June 2025 trial date in the defamation lawsuit filed by former Norman teacher Summer Boismier.

A hearing on a third lawsuit involving Walters, filed by a Moore Public Schools student, was also held Wednesday in Cleveland County District Court in Norman, where a judge agreed to impose a protective order filed by the student against Walters.

Boismier and Walters long have been at odds. Boismier resigned from Norman Public Schools in August 2022 after drawing attention to her protest against House Bill 1775, an Oklahoma law that prohibits schools from covering certain concepts on race and gender. In her classroom, Boismier covered shelves with red butcher paper and posted a sign written in black marker that read, "Books the state doesn't want you to read." She also posted a QR code to the Brooklyn Public Library, which gives students online access to banned books.

More: State BOE suspends, but doesn't revoke, license of former teacher who pushed back on critical race theory law

Boismier sued Walters in federal court in August 2023, claiming posts published by Walters on his public accounts on X in August 2022  when he served as Gov. Kevin Stitts secretary of education  contained false and misleading statements, including that Boismier had been fired from Norman Public Schools, that she had distributed pornography to students and that she had sexualized her classroom.

Boismier said in her lawsuit she was a teacher rather than a politician or public figure when those statements were published. Walters has said his statements dont constitute libel or defamation and has cited multiple defenses, including those related to his First Amendment right to free speech.

Walters asked for the case to be dismissed, but in April, Jones declined to do so, allowing it to move forward. According to court documents filed since then, the parties in the lawsuit expect legal discovery in the case to last about eight months  the court has set a deadline of March 5, 2025  and that the possibility of a settlement is poor.

Those same documents indicate the case is on Jones trial docket for June 2025 and the length of the trial is expected to be four days.

Timothy Davis, an attorney for Walters, didn't comment on the case when reached by The Oklahoman on Wednesday. Brady Henderson, an attorney for Boismier, said a scheduling order was issued by the judge and that would set the pretrial and trial dates for next summer.

"We look forward to making our case in court," Henderson said.

Former employee's wrongful termination lawsuit now has a trial date

Bointy had worked at the state Education Department since 2020 as a school counselor specialist facilitating a mental health-focused federal grant program called Project AWARE East. After learning of a student's suicide, she said she felt compelled to speak at the Edmond school board meeting. Her children attend that school district.

For two minutes, Bointy encouraged the district to boost its mental health programs and suggested administrators apply for a federal grant for related trainings. She said she would have given the same advice to every school district, if she could.

Three days later, the state Education Department fired her. Her termination letter, which The Oklahoman reviewed, stated Bointy violated the agency's media policy and her confidentiality agreement by speaking at the board meeting. The letter also cited a year-old complaint that she had conducted personal business during work hours.

She sued Walters and the state agency in Oklahoma County District Court in September. Walters asked for the case to be moved to the federal system after Oklahoma County District Court Judge Sheila Stinson didnt dismiss the lawsuit. Walters then asked Friot to dismiss the case, but Friot allowed a portion of Bointys lawsuit to stand. That ruling means Walters must file a response to the original lawsuit, which means the case will move into the discovery phase. That must be completed by March 15, according to court documents.

Now comes the part where the work really happens, where information gets traded back and forth between the parties and we get to learn more about the who, what, why, how of what actually happened and why they decided to let Janessa go, said Roper, Bointy's attorney.

Court documents filed in the federal portion of the case note the parties plan to request a joint protective order to govern confidential information in the case. Those documents also anticipate an eight-month window for discovery proceedings, a poor outlook for a potential settlement and a five-day estimate for the length of a potential trial.

Davis, who's also serving as an attorney for Walters in Bointy's lawsuit, declined comment.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Federal judges set trial dates in 2 lawsuits involving Ryan Walters
I tried the McPlant, McDonald's meat-free burger, and I don't understand why American diners snubbed it

I tried the McPlant, McDonald's meat-free burger, and I don't understand why American diners snubbed it

McDonald's US boss says trials of the McPlant weren't successful stateside.

But the meat-free burger is on menus elsewhere, including Germany, Portugal, and the UK.

Here's how the UK's vegan version of the McPlant compares to a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

Don't expect to see the McPlant returning to McDonald's menus in the US anytime soon.

Trials of the meat-free burger in 2021 and 2022 were "not successful" because there simply wasn't enough demand among American diners, Joe Erlinger, the president of McDonald's US, said in late June at The Wall Street Journal's Global Food Forum.

"I don't think the US consumer is coming to McDonald's or looking for the McPlant or other plant-based proteins from McDonald's," he said. "It's a trend that we'll continue to monitor."

The McPlant is available elsewhere in the world, though, like in Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. The patty, developed with Beyond Meat, is made from pea and rice proteins and served with American or cheddar cheese, ketchup, sandwich sauce, mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles.

In these countries, McDonald's notes that it can't rule out contamination with meat  in the Netherlands, for example, the burger is described as being "for flexitarians."

But at McDonald's in the UK, where the McPlant has been on menus since November 2021, the burger is certified as vegan. It's served with vegan cheese and sandwich sauce.

I got a McPlant, as well as the most comparable burger on the menu, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, from a McDonald's in London. Here's how they stacked up.

Both burgers came in custom boxes. The McPlant box featured common motifs of plant-based food  natural colors and a small plant symbol. The Quarter Pounder had much brighter packaging.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

Inside, both burgers looked remarkably similar. They were pretty much identical in size.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

I weighed the burgers when I got home. Both came in at about 14.4 ounces.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

They had slightly different fillings, though.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

Both burgers came with onion, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. The McPlant also came with lettuce, tomato, and vegan sandwich sauce. I was able to add sandwich sauce to the Quarter Pounder with Cheese to make a fairer comparison, but there wasn't an option to add lettuce and tomato.

The McPlant came with one slice of vegan cheese, while the Quarter Pounder with Cheese had two slices of processed cheese. The photos show that the cheese in the Quarter Pounder with Cheese had started to melt, while the vegan cheese in the McPlant hadn't.

One thing notable about the McPlant was how smooth and rounded the patty was. This made it look a bit artificial, compared to the rough edges of the meaty patty.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

Still, it generally just looked like a normal, meaty burger when the top bun was on top.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

It tasted really good to me, though I am accustomed to the taste of vegan burgers. I know that for some people, the taste of plant-based meat can be a big surprise at first.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

I thought that the patty was excellent. It was served in a sesame seed bun, like many of McDonald's other burgers, including its iconic Big Mac. The burger was full of sauce  perhaps a little too much, because of the ketchup, mustard, and sandwich sauce.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

The meaty patty in the Quarter Pounder with Cheese tasted a little drier to me. I surprisingly couldn't taste much difference between the cheeses in both burgers, perhaps because the other ingredients overpowered them, but I liked that the dairy cheese melted properly.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

For a flexitarian like me, who actually enjoys the taste of plant-based meat, I thought that the McPlant was a great option for McDonald's to have on its menu.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

It also diversifies McDonald's vegan line-up by adding a fake meat option: The other vegan options include the Vegetable Deluxe and a spicy veggie wrap, both made using the same red pepper, pesto, yellow split pea, and rice dippers.

I'm surprised McDonald's hasn't yet released a vegan version of its most iconic burger, though: The Big Mac.

The McPlant and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese both cost the same price at the restaurant I visited: 4.39, or $5.58. Both could be upgraded to a meal with fries and a drink. You could pay to add a second patty to the McPlant, though there was no option to add extra cheese.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

I was glad that McDonald's priced the vegan burger the same as a comparable meaty burger: Some restaurants charge extra for vegan patties in burgers, plant-based cheese on pizzas, and oat milk in coffees.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

I don't eat from fast-food chains often  I try to support independent businesses. But if I returned to McDonald's, I would definitely order the McPlant again.

Grace Dean/Business Insider

Read the original article on Business Insider
Amanda Converse took an internet speed test inside her Love Live Local shop on South Street in downtown Hyannis on June 26.

The test showed 94.6 Mbps, or megabits per second, downloading. Upload speeds were 40.8 Mbps in her test, as provided by internet service provider Comcast Xfinity.

The download speed was substantially lower than the speed advertised on her bill.

On the bill viewed by a Times reporter, Converse's Business Internet Advanced plan promises 500 Mbps downloading and 30 Mbps uploading. The monthly charge is $209.95.

We have trouble all the time with our internet, Converse said. Were consistently kicked off our Wi-Fi when trying to run transactions. Sometimes it's questionable if we can run credit cards. Im consistently dropped from Zoom calls.

Converse joined OpenCape CEO and Executive Director Steven Johnston and Cape Cod Technology Council Executive Director Stephen Smith to launch the Fix Cape Internet initiative. It is an effort to prove that Cape Cod has a connectivity crisis, and internet users are underserved by Comcast, the primary internet provider on the Cape.

The crisis is brought on by lack of competition with internet service providers, lack of infrastructure investment by Comcast and a need for better speed test reporting from users, the Fix Cape Internet organizers said.

Amanda Converse, at her Love Live Local shop on South Street in Hyannis, runs an internet speed test on June 26 on her laptop. The shop hosted a Fix Cape Internet event to draw attention to slow internet speeds business owners say they experience in the downtown area.

The organizers want as many internet customers as possible to take speed tests on their computers and laptops before July 20. The test results will be sent to the Massachusetts Broadband Institute in the hope that federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) money will be directed to Cape Cod to address what the organizers consider to be an underserved community.

The institute is soliciting self-reported speed tests statewide through July 20 and has $147 million in BEAD money to expand broadband access across the state. Locations that are unserved (below a 25/3 Mbps threshold) and underserved (below a 100/20 Mbps threshold) will receive priority. Residents, local and tribal governments, nonprofits and community institutions are urged to participate.

The institute will provide technical support and training, and post information on its website during the challenge, the institute's public relations manager Jake Stern said.

Holding the speed test challenge during the summer when Cape population doubles should take into account any quality-of-service issues, according to Stern.

Comcast Director of Public Relations Marc Goodman disputed the claim that the Cape is underserved by Comcast Xfinity. Comcast and Xfinity are part of the same company. Comcast is the parent company; Xfinity provides telecommunications services.

Is Cape Cod underserved in summer?

Johnston, with OpenCape, contends that while Massachusetts is one of the most connected states in the country, the Cape tends to be underserved, especially in the summer when the population doubles. Telehealth, public safety, and the ability to work remotely suffer, he said. If enough speed test results identify an underserved census block group, some money might be available for internet service providers to bid on how they could correct it, he said.

OpenCape, a nonprofit, could have an opportunity  along with other internet providers  to bid on projects.

Downtown Hyannis was chosen as a launch site for the "Fix Cape Internet" initiative because the area is underserved and is a low- to moderate-income area, Johnston said. OpenCape is also putting in a fiber optic network in the Main Street area through a Barnstable municipal grant.

Is old equipment the problem?

Goodman, with Comcast, said slow speeds are more likely due to old equipment such as routers and devices, the distance from an access point or router, and how many devices are using the internet at one time.

Some devices, such as Chromebooks, can only handle so much speed, Goodman said.

Goodman referenced a Comcast article that linked to an FCC report showing Comcast delivered, on average, 100% of their advertised speeds during peak times, defined as Monday through Friday, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Specifics such as location and time of year where not given. Business hours were not included in the tests.

A plane tows a banner on June 26 over Hyannis to publicize a Fix Cape Internet initiative that organizers are using draw attention what they contend is a lack of high speed, affordable internet service for downtown businesses.

Elizabeth Wurfbain, executive director of the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District, said by phone on June 26 that credit card stations can get tied up during summer business hours. Seaside Selections Manager Pam Cherry said that there were times she wasn't able to use the credit card machine in the summer for her Hyannis gift shop.

The speed tests promoted by Fix Cape Internet are unreliable, Goodman added. Numbers on a web-based test more likely show the performance of the local area network such as printers, laptops, computers and phones, he said. That performance is driven mainly by how far you are from the access point, he said.

Speed tests could be more accurate

Speed tests can be unreliable, said Smith, with the Cape Cod Technology Council.

He said the technology council and OpenCape lobbied the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to provide information and equipment to make the speed tests more accurate. The institute declined to do so, he said.

Stern said the institute will offer support and help to all eligible challengers. The institute has contracted with Connected Nation to offer additional support to organizations and residents and will continue to host office hours, he said.

Smith said the leadership of the institute is a typical government to lobbying revolving door.

Is there an internet monopoly on Cape Cod?

All the data the Federal Communications Commission relies on to determine where money goes is "self-reported data by big monopolies, Johnston said. Comcast has a monopoly on the Cape, he added.

Goodman, in response to the monopoly claim, points to Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile offering 5G fixed wireless access and Starlink service providing satellite service as viable alternatives.

For Hyannis, an FCC broadband map shows Xfinity as the only cable network provider, with satellite services by HughesNet, Starlink and Viasat. Verizon provides business-only service via licensed fixed wireless.

There are a variety of other internet business players out there, including OpenCape, Goodman said.

Fixed wireless service isnt a solution to broadband access to everybody, according to Smith. It requires a clear line of sight to a cell tower and proximity to it, he said. The service is susceptible to interference and reductions in service when there is crowding on the cellular network, he added.

Is investment lacking on Cape Cod by Comcast?

Comcast has the highest prices and poorest service documented by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Smith said.

If competition was so good on the Cape, why arent they lowering prices? They dont provide data. They dont provide information.

Goodman said Comcast has spent more than $900 million on technology and network upgrades in Massachusetts in the last three years. Goodman did not share how much money the Cape saw, but said some upgrades were made in the Falmouth area.

Comcast is not doing enough to invest in the infrastructure, Converse said. We need competition to improve service.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Capes residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com .

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Does Cape Cod have a slow internet problem? Here's what we know.
Donald Trump sent his respects to Kamala Harris in a belligerent message to mark the July 4 holiday  describing the vice president as our potentially new Democrat Challenger

The former president lashed out again at his current political rival Joe Biden who, he said, had choked like a dog during their recent televised debate.

The Biden campaign has sought to play down the 81-year-old presidents poor performance during the debate last week, saying he was suffering from a cold and also jet lag from a heavy travel schedule.

In his post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday, Trump dismissed the reasons blamed for Bidens clunky performance.

Happy Fourth of July to all, including to our highly incapable President, who uses Prosecutors to go after his Political Opponent, who choked like a dog during the Debate but tried to pretend it was International Travel (only 12 days rest!) and, when that gig was up, he blamed it on a cold. Therefore, why would anyone say hes cognitively challenged?

Trump referred to vice president Kamala Harris as his new Deomcrat challenger in his post on Truth Social (AP)

Turning to Harris, he continued: Also, respects to our potentially new Democrat Challenger, Laffin Kamala Harris.

She did poorly in the Democrat Nominating process, starting out at Number Two, and ending up defeated and dropping out, even before getting to Iowa, but that doesnt mean shes not a highly talented politician!

Trumps nickname of Laffin Kamala comes as speculation over Harris taking the reins from Biden has triggered a wave of semi-ironic online support for the vice president, and the resurrection of multiple memes about her.

The KHive  the online grassroots stan-culture army of earnest supporters who fueled online rage and enthusiastic support for Harris when she launched her 2020 run for the presidency  returned overnight.

Concluding his Independence Day post, Trump also directed comments to special counsel Jack Smith, writing: Someone else that I have to compliment is a Deranged Biden Prosecutor named Jack Smith, who has become a Legend in his own mind for all of those cases he has lost.

The Corrupt Prosecutors are working hard for Crooked Joe, but it will never be enough  MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
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.

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The Supreme Court had a momentous term  even without all the Trump rulings

Former President Donald Trump won big this term at the Supreme Court.

In two blockbuster cases for Trump, the court squashed efforts to knock the former president off the 2024 ballot and granted him broad immunity from a pending criminal case accusing him of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results.

But those were just a small fraction of the issues the court ruled on in a term that would have been momentous even without the Trump fights.

As the justices head out on their summer vacations, here are POLITICO's takeaways on a Supreme Court term that could transform American politics and policy for decades.

Trumps three big wins

While only two cases involved him personally, Trump actually tallied a legal trifecta at the high court this term. With his candidacy for the White House on the line and potentially his freedom, too, Trump got nearly all the relief he asked for  and more.

In March, the Supreme Court overturned a Colorado court decision striking Trump from the ballot as an insurrectionist. The quick ruling, delivered just 25 days after oral arguments, cut off the possibility of other states making similar determinations. The unsigned opinion was unanimous in its bottom line, though the three liberal justices grumbled that the ruling should have preserved the potential for federal courts to disqualify alleged insurrections.

Last week, the justices narrowed the application of a criminal obstruction statute used to prosecute hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants  potentially undermining two of the four charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith against Trump in the federal election subversion case.

Trump, of course, has contended for months that he has total immunity from all of the charges in that case. His novel immunity bid came up short in the lower courts. But the justices gave him a pair of tactical wins  first, in December, by declining to accelerate the immunity litigation, and then, in February, by taking up the issue on a slower schedule. Together, those procedural moves kept the election case on ice for months and all but guaranteed that it could not reach trial before November.



Finally, on Monday, the last decision day of the term, the justices announced their complex, largely 6-3 ruling: Trump  and every other president  is immune from criminal prosecution for actions taken in connection with their core constitutional powers  even if the actions themselves are flagrant abuses of those powers. The decision also made clear that many other official acts of a president cannot be prosecuted or even mentioned at a trial.

Trump had asked for outright dismissal of the indictment against him, which the justices denied. But many legal experts said the decision amounts to a near-total victory for Trump because the test the court sets out for official acts seems so lopsided that almost any activity by a president might qualify and wind up off-limits to prosecutors.

This opinion is scandalous. I think its a ruse, said Nancy Gertner, a lecturer at Harvard Law School and a former federal district judge appointed by President Bill Clinton. The standard is impossible to meet.  This is word soup, whose purpose and effect is to immunize Trump.

Amy Coney Barrett blazes her own trail

When Trump appointed three justices to the Supreme Court  potentially cementing a conservative supermajority for a generation  some critics expected the new appointees to vote in lockstep with their conservative colleagues. But that hasnt always been the case.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett broke with some or all of her GOP-appointed counterparts in a series of high-profile cases involving access to abortion pills, alleged censorship of conservatives on social media, and the legal fight over charges against hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants.

In the most closely watched case of the term  Trumps immunity claim  Barrett was the courts only conservative who did not join Chief Justice John Roberts majority opinion in full. She said her conservative colleagues went too far when they ruled that many of Trumps acts as president couldnt be presented in court as evidence of a crime.

The Constitution does not require blinding juries to the circumstances surrounding conduct for which Presidents can be held liable, Barrett wrote.



In a more obscure case involving crude anti-Trump T-shirts, Barrett wound up in an intense fight with the courts oldest and longest-serving conservative, Clarence Thomas, over the use of history when interpreting statutes.

Some conservatives on social media now express regret for Trumps choice, deriding her as Amy Commie Barrett a moniker apparently bestowed in January when she joined Roberts and the courts liberals in a 5-4 emergency ruling allowing the Border Patrol to cut through more than 100 miles of razor wire Texas placed at the Mexican border.

Federal agencies take brutal hits

While Barrett (joined at times by Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh) has, in some cases, pumped the brakes on the courts drive to the right, all six GOP-appointed justices kept full speed ahead this term on one key project: weakening the so-called administrative state.

Conservative legal activists who have been trying for decades to wrestle power from federal agencies scored a trio of wins at the high court.

Pro-business forces managed to achieve their long-sought goal of toppling Chevron deference, a doctrine derived from a 40-year-old precedent that instructed judges to defer to federal agencies views of their own authority as long as those positions are reasonable, even if the judge would have read the law differently.

The high court also delivered two other big blows to agency power: knocking out the Securities and Exchange Commissions in-house judges and time limits for some challenges to federal regulations.

Liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson called the latter ruling profoundly destabilizing and, as she read her dissent from the bench Monday, warned that the courts actions this term have the potential to devastate the functioning of the federal government.

The courts new ethics code proves toothless

After enduring months of withering criticism over justices accepting luxury vacations and other largesse from wealthy benefactors, Roberts managed to get the court to do something it previously wouldnt: adopt a formal ethics code.

In November, all nine members of the court signed onto the eight-page document, although it was watered down from an earlier set of principles adopted by the same justices.

However, the lack of any enforcement mechanism became apparent in May when the New York Times reported that the American flag flew upside down at Justice Samuel Alitos home in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and that a Revolutionary War flag associated with Christian nationalism flew at Alitos New Jersey shore home.



Citing the flag displays, Democratic lawmakers called on Roberts to force Alito to recuse from pending cases about Trumps immunity claim and the dispute over the obstruction charge used against the former president and other Jan. 6 defendants. But the chief justice referred the request to Alito, who attributed the displays to his wife. Alito concluded his own recusal wasnt warranted.

"The glaring omission in the Court's new code is the lack of enforcement, which is rich, seeing as how state supreme court justices and lower federal court judges seem to have figured this out, said Gabe Roth of the pro-transparency group Fix the Court. There's nothing stopping the Court from setting up and abiding by a similar rubric.

The court's favorite new dodge

As the high court faces criticism from some quarters for judicial overreach, the justices seem to be settling on a favorite way of wiggling out of politically sensitive and polarizing cases.

The method of the moment seems to be to avoid the touchy issue at the core of a case by declaring that those who filed it lacked the legal standing to do so.

The court employed this dodge to back away from two high-profile cases this term: a challenge to expanded access to the abortion pill and a lawsuit against Biden administration officials over pressure on social media companies to take down anti-vaccine messages and some political content deemed misinformation.

In the abortion pill case, the court concluded it was too speculative that anti-abortion doctors who filed the suit would encounter and be obligated to see patients with complications from the pills.

There is no Article III doctrine of doctor standing that allows doctors to challenge general government safety regulations. Nor will this Court now create such a novel standing doctrine out of whole cloth, Kavanaugh wrote in the court's unanimous opinion.

And in the social media censorship case, the majority said the conservative activists who sued lacked standing to get an injunction because it wasn't clear the governments cajoling was driving the platforms to take down certain content, nor was it clear that if the White House stopped hectoring the firms they would put disputed posts back up.

The decision to skirt the censorship case drew howls of dissent from the court's hardest-core conservatives, who accused their colleagues of a transparent cop-out in the face of ample evidence that the companies caved to the government.

Standing is an important component of our Constitutions structural design, Alito wrote, joined by Thomas and Justice Neil Gorsuch. That doctrine is cheapened when the rules are not evenhandedly applied.
Philippine broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions announced on Wednesday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with US-based IT solutions provider Supermicro to help it build three 'green' AI data centres in the Philippines.

Under the MoU terms, Converge ICT will start construction of three data centres in Pampanga, Laguna, and Caloocan according to Supermicros design and input. That includes deployment of servers leveraging Nvidia GPUs capable of supporting generative AI applications such as a national large language model (LLM), smart manufacturing and video generators.

Supermicros servers provide exceptional AI computing capabilities and intensive deep learning tasks that will allow us to support and deploy many AI applications, said Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy in a statement.

Uy added that the new data centres will also incorporate Supermicros liquid cooling solutions in its servers that will significantly reduce power consumption, resulting in lower overall data centre cost and less impact on the environment.

These high-performing servers can handle immense AI and machine learning workloads but with the more efficient liquid cooling solution provided by Supermicro, the heat by-product will be controlled, reducing power consumption, Uy said in a statement. We want to maintain our data centres energy efficiency, so this is geared towards that.

Supermicro claims that data centre servers using liquid-cooling technology can lower the overall power consumption of a power facility by up to 40%.

In recent weeks, various media reports have focused on the impact of the growing global data centre boom on power consumption, especially with demand for data centres being driven by compute-intensive apps like AI and cryptocurrencies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a report in January 2024 saying data centers consumed 460TWh of electricity in 2022  accounting for 2% of the worlds electricity supply  and could eat up as much as 1,000TWh or more by 2026.

On Wednesday, Google revealed that its own data centres accounted for an estimated 7-10% of global data centre electricity consumption in 2023. Even worse, Google said its greenhouse gas emissions have spiked 48% over the past five years partly as a result of data centre power consumption, which has actually put the tech giant in danger of missing its net zero goals.

The Philippines is one of several countries across Southeast Asia aiming to become regional data centre hubs. At the start of the year, Converge ICT said it had earmarked PHP5 billion (US$85.2 million) over the next three years to develop data centres in the country.
Former President Trump and his top foreign policy advisers are putting Chinese President Xi Jinping on notice, threatening to enact a more aggressive U.S. policy toward China as Trump looks increasingly likely to return to the White House.

Theres bipartisan support in Washington for a tough U.S. approach to China, but Trumps former top officials, who are likely to serve in a second administration, are advocating for a larger U.S. military buildup in Asia and punishing tariffs on Chinese imports.

There is no such thing as an accidental war, Matt Pottinger, Trumps former deputy national security adviser, said in a foreign policy speech Tuesday at the Heritage Foundation.

Washingtons fixation on unintentional conflict and hotlines may have emboldened Beijing to undertake more aggressive behavior.

And Pottinger called for increasing Americas $800 billion defense budget  arguing it is a necessity for the U.S. to both assist Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia and deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.

Its gonna be a lot cheaper for us to deter in multiple theaters simultaneously, than to deter really well in one theater, but accept major military defeats in other areas, because its the same enemy, he said.

Trumps last national security adviser, Robert OBrien, has called for deploying the entire Marine Corps to the Pacific, scaling up missile defenses and fighter jet fleets, and transferring a Naval aircraft carrier from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Former top administration officials are also advocating a Trump 2.0 economic policy toward China to include 60 percent tariffs on all Chinese goods entering the U.S. and increasing restrictions on technology exports to China.

Trump has long talked tough on China, even as he occasionally expressed his admiration for Xis strength as its leader.

China is going to own us if you keep allowing them to do what theyre doing to us as a country. They are killing us as a country, Joe, and you cant let that happen, Trump said during the CNN debate last week. Youre destroying our country.

Theres ongoing debate over which president Beijing prefers, said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the German Marshall Funds Indo-Pacific program.

But Bidens focus on stability and communication with Beijing is likely more attractive than Trumps unpredictability.

I think that for a while the Chinese thought, Oh, Trumps transactional, we can just make a deal with him. I think theyre less confident now that they could do that. And I think they do want more stability, she said.

Patricia Kim, an expert on Chinese foreign policy and U.S.-China relations with the Brookings Institution, said China faces a wild card with Trump and predictably tough policies under Biden.

What Ive heard from Chinese interlocutors, is that with the Biden administration, they are concerned that Biden will continue his policy of tough economic competition with China. Theyve seen how effective its been in terms of rallying allies and partners to deal with the challenges that are posed with China and they could expect that to continue, she said.

The advisors in the Trump campaign speak in very hardline ways, but also, we dont know exactly what kind of policies that President Trump might prefer.

Trump has been less committal than Biden on helping Taiwan fend off potential Chinese military aggression, which China likely appreciates. But a chorus of former senior Trump officials view U.S. support for Taiwan as a priority for American national security and are advocating continued close cooperation with Asian countries on the front line of Chinese aggression.

Pottinger responded to recent clashes between Chinese sailors and Philippine naval forces  where the Chinese coast guard used axes and knives to attack inflatable Philippine boats  as part of a larger effort to discredit U.S. allies in the Pacific and test the boundaries of Americas response. The U.S. and Philippines have a mutual defense treaty.

Its a dress rehearsal for Taiwan, Pottinger said. What theyre doing is trying to demonstrate that they can create a sense of futility and discredit the idea that the United States is going to help, not only the Philippines, but by extension Taiwan.

Another priority area for both Biden and Trump is to pressure Beijing to rein in the export of precursor chemicals for fentanyl, the drug fueling the overdose epidemic in the U.S.

Pottinger called Beijings alleged subsidizing of Chinese pharmaceutical companies producing these chemicals a form of chemical warfare against the United States.

Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow with the Brookings Institution and an expert on counternarcotics policies, called Pottingers statement bluster.

But she acknowledged that China has relaxed commitments Xi made to Biden following a November summit in Woodside, Calif., to crackdown on fentanyl precursors, and she said flows of those substances appeared to be increasing.

Still, she described the Biden administrations diplomacy with China as adroit and pointed to remarks from Secretary of State Antony Blinken that, while calling for Beijing to do more, noted there has been progress.

We have to see over time if its sustained and it makes a difference, Blinken said during an event at Brookings on Monday.

Felbab-Brown said that China subordinates counternarcotics cooperation to its larger geopolitical goals, but also views it as a key form of leverage with partners.

In 2019, she noted that China agreed to add all fentanyl-related substances to its list of controlled substances with the expectation that Trump would lift some economic tariffs. He didnt follow through and then lost the presidential election.

In 2022, China formally suspended counternarcotics cooperation with the Biden administration as punishment for then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) visit to Taiwan in August of that year.

Countries with whom it has hostile relations, whom it wants to punish, it denies counternarcotics and law enforcement cooperation, Felbab-Brown said. With countries whom it wants to court, or it wants to have friendly relations, it extends law enforcement and counternarcotics cooperation.

China may view Biden as the lesser of two evils, said Glaser, of the German Marshall Fund, but Beijing likely sees benefits in Trumps antagonism toward allies and partners  particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The Chinese view Europe as in play, and they want Europe to be separated to some extent from the United States, she said.

Chinese state media and political commentators lampooned Biden and Trumps debate to a limit  reportedly holding back on signaling a preference for either candidate, but using the moment to reinforce its narrative of a weak U.S. embroiled in domestic bickering.

I think that the Chinese, in terms of their own propaganda, see that the best way to play it is to portray the United States as incapable of putting forward a leader who should be respected by the world, Glaser said. And that therefore the rest of the world should prepare to not rely on the United States.

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President Volodymyr Zelensky does not have plans to be interviewed by U.S. far-right political commentator Tucker Carlson, said Presidential Office spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov on July 4.

Nykyforov responded sarcastically to Carlson's earlier announcement, saying that the commentator should "more carefully check his sources in the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service)."

Earlier in the day, Carlson said, "It looks like we've got the Zelensky interview," adding that it is "coming soon, we hope."

The announcement follows a controversial interview that Carlson held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February. Carlson was widely criticized for the interview, largely due to his deferential approach to Putin, softball questions, and refusal to hold the Russian president to account.

Carlson said that he has been "trying for two years" to interview Zelensky "and with particular intensity after interviewing Putin." He did not indicate what he claimed had made Zelensky agree. Nykyforov's denial of the news indicated that Carlson had likely spoken too soon.

"The point (of the interview) is to bring Americans much-needed information about the conflict that's completely reshaping their countrys position in the world," Carlson said.

The commentator has been an outspoken opponent of Ukraine and U.S. support for the country.

A former host on Fox News, Carlson has long been criticized for making controversial comments on air and social media, characterized by some as being nativist, racist, and pushing talking points that echo Russian propaganda.

In a June interview with Donald Trump Jr., the son of former President Donald Trump, Carlson claimed, without citing evidence, that "they are selling off land to foreign investors in Ukraine and they will flood Ukraine with third-world immigrants, and Ukraine will not exist in 50 years." He did not specify who "they" referred to.

Read also: Opinion: Tucker Carlson visiting Moscow is like touring Berlin in 1940

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Tricia LaCount is shown in this image from a video taken inside then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on Jan. 6, 2021. LaCount pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor.

A Trump supporter from Tulsa has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for illegally going inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.

Tricia Monique LaCount, 54, acknowledged in writing that she was in the Capitol for an hour and 14 minutes. She also acknowledged she later described then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office on social media as "so gaudy."

She pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Washington, D.C., to entering and remaining in a restricted building. Sentencing was set for Oct. 18.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton will decide her punishment. She faces up to a year imprisonment and a $100,000 fine. She has agreed to pay $500 in restitution.

More: In historic ruling on presidential immunity, Supreme Court says Trump can be tried for private acts

LaCount appeared Wednesday by video. Her attorney told the judge Tuesday that she suffers from health problems that make travel more difficult.

LaCount was charged last year with four misdemeanor counts. She will be sentenced on only one count under a plea deal with prosecutors.

What happened on Jan. 6, 2021?

Thousands marched on the Capitol on Jan. 6. 2021, after then-President Donald Trump spoke at the "Save America" rally and urged them to fight like hell.

More: Trump supporter who took Nancy Pelosi's beer sentenced for Jan. 6 Capitol breach

Rioters overwhelmed Capitol police to breach the building, delaying the formal counting of the Electoral College votes that had Joe Biden winning the presidential election.

In a statement of offense, LaCount admitted she went through the Senate Wing Door about three minutes after the initial breach of that entrance as a loud alarm blared. She admitted she shared videos and messages on social media from inside the Capitol.

In one Facebook conversation, she was asked, "You got in the Capitol?!" She responded, "Absolutely!" according to the statement of offense.

In the same conversation thread, LaCount stated, Pelosis office is so gaudy ... massive chandelier, beautiful fireplace ... MSNBC live was on every laptop.

A Facebook friend tipped the FBI off on Jan. 8, 2021, about LaCount, according to a court affidavit. The evidence against her included a video of her inside the House speaker's office.

More than 1,450 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states "for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol," the Justice Department reported in a news release Monday. Eleven were from Oklahoma at the time of the breach.

The investigation remains ongoing, the Justice Department said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Tulsan who was in US Capitol illegally more than an hour pleads guilty
Merih Demiral of Turkey (R) celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Austria and Turkey at the Leipzig Stadium. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa

Turkey has dismissed a German news report that their national team midfielder Merih Demiral has been banned for two matches after making a controversial gesture in the Euro 2024 last 16 match against Austria.

Germany paper Bild reported that the ruling body UEFA had banned defender Demiral for Saturday's quarter-final against the Netherlands and another match, potentially the semi-final.

The Turkish FA dismissed the report, saying they had until Friday morning to submit their view. Turkey's information ministry also said the report of the ban was not true.

UEFA has not commented or released a final decision on the matter, after saying on Wednesday they were investigating potential "inappropriate behaviour" from Demiral.

Demiral mimicked with his fingers the shape of a wolf's head after his second goal in a 2-1 victory over Austria in the round of 16 on Tuesday.

The controversial gesture is attributed, among other things, to a right-wing extremist movement. The movement known as Ulkucu or grey wolves are linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's political allies, the ultra-nationalist MHP in Turkey.

The gesture often expresses sympathizing with the grey wolf ideology.

Presidential sources told dpa said that Erdogan was set to attend the quarter-final in Berlin in what local media said was an effort to show solidarity with the national team in person.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faden (SPD), among others, criticized the player sharply. The movement is closely monitored in Germany.

Turkey summoned the German ambassador on Wednesday in protest of the sharp reactions.

Demiral said after the Austria game that he only wanted to express that he was proud to be Turkish and that there was no hidden message behind it.

Most recently, the wolf salute in Turkey was also used by parts of the opposition to appeal to rising nationalism.

Political statements and gestures are not permitted at UEFA matches. UEFA had earlier at the Euros banned Albanian player Mirlind Daku for two matches after he chanted nationalistic slogans together with fans.

Turkey's Merih Demiral (R) celebrates his side's second goal of the game during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Austria and Turkey at the Leipzig Stadium. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa

Austria's Konrad Laimer (below) and Turkey's Merih Demiral lie on the pitch during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 soccer match between Austria and Turkey at the Leipzig Stadium. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa
Members of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association gathered July 2 on the front steps of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse for the groups annual reading of the Declaration of Independence.

More: Where to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July in Tuscaloosa

The reading has been a tradition for the group since 2012. Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb has said during past gatherings that reading the text aloud serves as important reminder of what the Fourth of July celebration is all about.

Members of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association gather and read the Declaration of Independence on the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse steps July 2, 2024 as a part of the nations Independence Day celebration. The honor guard from the Sons of the American Revolution Black Warrior Chapter present the colors.

By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain. The declaration summarized the colonists motivations for seeking independence and the document served as a major step in the formation of the United States of America.

The preamble states the principles that form the basis of the United States government:

District Attorney Hays Webb joins members of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association to read the Declaration of Independence on the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse steps July 2, 2024 as a part of the nations Independence Day celebration.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Reach Gary Cosby Jr. at gary.cosby@tuscaloosanews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Spirit of 1776: Tuscaloosa lawyers read Declaration of Independence
Two 19-year-olds arrested on Oprahs Hawaii ranch are suspected of illegal hunting

KULA, Hawaii (AP)  Two men arrested last month on a public road within Oprah Winfreys 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 Winfreys 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 pairs truck, and Winfreys ranch surrounds the road where they were stopped, the state said.

Hurricane Beryl kills at least 6 in southeast Caribbean, roars by Jamaica

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.

Invasive axis deer run rampant on Maui and other islands of Hawaii.

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, Winfreys production company, Harpo, said Monday in an emailed statement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Two men arrested after I-84 pursuit that ended in Boise crash, wildfire on Wednesday

Police arrested two 20-year-old Caldwell men on Wednesday afternoon after one of them fled a traffic stop on Interstate 84, leading to a police pursuit, vehicle crash and wildfire.

According to an Idaho State Police news report, a trooper attempted to stop a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix near the Ten Mile Road exit for reckless driving. Officials said the driver fled eastbound and the trooper pursued him.

The trooper stopped the pursuit when the driver headed toward downtown Boise on Interstate 184, the news release said.

Officials said the driver crashed the car a short time later and it caught fire, sparking a brush blaze. An Ada County emergency services report showed a vehicle fire around the same time as the pursuit near the Franklin Road Flying Wye exit. It was the second Boise crash resulting in a vehicle fire in the past several days.

Police said the driver fled on foot and was arrested a short distance from the crash, near the intersection of Lawrence Avenue and McMullen Street. He was arrested on suspicion of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, which is a felony charge, as well as misdemeanor resisting arrest and driving under the influence.

His charges had not yet appeared in the states online court system as of Thursday afternoon.

The vehicles passenger was arrested on suspicion of three misdemeanors, including marijuana possession and being party to a crime.
JEANERETTE, La. (KLFY) Two men and a juvenile were arrested on firearm and drug charges, according to the Jeanerette Marshals Office.

With the help of the Jeanerette Police Department, the Marshals Office arrested Quinton 20-year-old Thompson of Jeanerette, who was charged with possession of Schedule I, possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substance, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and two counts of resisting an officer.

Authorities also arrested 23-year-old Tyrese Thibodeaux of New Iberia. He was charged with no drivers license, switched license plate, three counts of resisting an officer, possession of Schedule I and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

A juvenile was also arrested and charged with possession of Schedule I, possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substance and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
(COLORADO SPRINGS)  A 14-year-old and a 15-year-old were arrested on Tuesday, July 2, after several months-long investigations led to the two being identified as suspects in various crimes, including bringing a gun on school grounds.

According to CSPD, the investigations began in early 2024, when the Strategic Investigations Unit (SIU) began looking into members of a local gang for numerous violent and firearms related crimes. Through the investigation, detectives obtained search warrants for two separate homes, one on the southeast side of Colorado Springs and the other near Prospect Lake.

On July 2, the first search warrant was carried out by the Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) in the 2100 block of Delta Drive, near South Academy Boulevard and El Morro Road. That search resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old boy for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds.

The SIU and TEU then moved to conduct the search at the second house in the 1000 block of East Rio Grande Street, west of Prospect Lake. Prior to serving the search warrant, a 14-year-old suspect was seen walking away from the home, and when officers tried to make contact, the suspect pulled a handgun and ran.

During a short chase, the suspect threw the handgun into a yard and was caught a short distance away. The handgun was found to have been stolen during a burglary in 2023.

The 15-year-old was booked into the Zebulon Pike Juvenile Detention Facility on his warrant, and is facing new charges related to multiple other investigations, including Motor Vehicle Theft, Menacing, Protection Order Violation, and Possession of a Handgun. The 14-year-old was also booked in to the Juvenile Detention Facility on charges of Motor Vehicle Theft, Menacing, and Possession of a Handgun.

Neither teen will be identified due to their ages.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
U.S. President Joe Biden (R) shakes hands with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) as they hold a bilateral meeting at the Intercontinental Hotel in Paris on June 7. On Wednesday, the Pentagon unveiled a $2.2 billion security package of air defense interceptors for Kyiv. File Photo by Ukraine's President Office/UPI

July 3 (UPI) -- The Pentagon announced a "significant" package of air defense interceptors valued at some $2.2 billion for Ukraine on Wednesday, a day after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told the besieged ally nation a massive security assistance was in the works.

The funding comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which sees the United States secure the weaponry and training from partners and companies rather than from presidential drawdowns taken from U.S. stockpiles.

The funding will be used to purchase interceptors for PATRIOT and NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine, the Department of Defense said.

"The Biden Administration plans to accelerate delivery of these munitions by re-sequencing upcoming Foreign Military Sales deliveries for Ukraine," the Pentagon said in a statement.

"As a result, Ukraine will be provided with the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure against Russia's aerial attacks."

The Biden administration also announced an additional $150 million package under the presidential drawdown authority that includes missiles for HAWK air defense systems, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems as well as ammunition and artillery rounds, among other lethal items.

"This support will also help strengthen Ukraine's air defense against Russian attacks and reinforce Ukraine's capabilities across the front lines," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said he is "grateful" to President Joe Biden, Congress and the American people for the security package.

"Additional air defense, artillery, anti-tank weapons, and other critical items, as well as funds to purchase Patriot and NASAMS missiles, will strengthen our warriors and improve our battlefield capabilities," he said on X.

"We count on continued U.S. assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defense and enable us to effectively counter Russian aggression and protect our people against Russian terror."

The announcement comes a day after Austin announced that a more than $2 billion package was being assembled as uncertainty hung over the future of U.S. support for the beleaguered ally during an election season.

While Biden has been adamant that the United States will stand by Ukraine's side for "as long as it takes," his presumptive Republican challenger, former President Donald Trump, has repeatedly praised President Vladimir Putin of Russia, has questioned U.S. funding for Kyiv and has frequently boasted that if re-elected he could end the nearly 2 1/2-year war in a day.

By giving Ukraine more than $50 billion in military assistance since Russia invaded, the United States is by far Kyiv's largest backer.

The packages announced Wednesday are the latest since Congress finally approved $60 billion in lethal assistance for Ukraine in late April following months of Republican stonewalling as Kyiv's armory ran dry.

Blinken said the Wednesday drawdown is the seventh since Biden signed his national security supplemental bill two months ago.

"We will move this new assistance as quickly as possible to bolster Ukraine's defense of its territory and its people," he said.

"As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine."
The Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and aerospace manufacturer EnduroSat have announced that they are together building the countrys first satellite, BOTSAT-1. The satellite will launch on the SpaceX Transporter-13 mission during or after February 2025.

EnduroSat says BOTSAT-1 will directly benefit local agriculture and mining industries by using an onboard hyperspectral camera payload to provide key intelligence on the contents of grounds and soils. With this data, BIUST will be able to empower decision-makers with information useful for long-term planning and investments.

EnduroSat says this mission is also designed to generate hands-on technical and mission operations experience in Botswana. BIUST engineers will join the EnduroSat team in the companys HQ in Sofia, Bulgaria, to complete the satellites assembly and payload integration. Furthermore, BIUST will take full advantage of the satellites software-flexible architecture via the SpaceOps software.

EnduroSat and BIUSTs collaboration will extend beyond the completion of the mission and help to make Botswana a space hub. The organisations will work to create exchange opportunities, based on EnduroSats newly founded Masters Programme in Space Engineering and Technology.

EnduroSat designs, builds, and operates cubesats and nanosatellites for commercial and scientific missions and is developing inter-satellite linking and data applications.

The company says it is on a mission to transform the complex satellite industry into a streamlined data service, enabling instant access and transactions with space data from hundreds of sensors in orbit.
After 14 years in power with five consecutive prime ministers, the U.K.'s Conservative Party was voted out of power on Thursday, ceding control to Labour, a center-left party that had run on a platform calling for "change."

The results were widely expected, as public support for the Conservatives, or Tories, had eroded amid Brexit, COVID and a rise in inflation.

Voters in 650 constituencies cast ballots for members of the House of Commons. With almost all the votes counted, Labour candidates were expected to win 412 seats, while Conservatives would take 120 seats, according to the Press Association. Liberal Democrats were expected to have 71 seats.

The election was the country's first national vote since 2019. Prior to Thursday's voting, opinion polls in Britain had for more than two years predicted the Conservatives are heading for a "heavy defeat," Pippa Catterall, a professor of history and politics at the University of Westminster, told ABC News.

PHOTO: Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, center, speaks with First Minister of Wales Vaughan Gething, right, and and local parliamentary candidate for Carmarthenshire, Martha O'Neil, left, in Wales, Wednesday July 3, 2024. (Stefan Rousseau/AP)

"The Conservatives nonetheless went into the election with the hope that, as usual, the polls would narrow in their favor," Catterall said. "Instead, it got worse."

The Labour Party's leader, Keir Starmer, who is now expected to become prime minister, said he hoped to put an end to the Conservative "chaos." He'll replace Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has been in office since 2022.

Starmer's campaign released a "manifesto" laying out some of his government's plans, including cutting hospital wait times, ushering in a greener economy and improving the U.K.'s post-Brexit trade deals with the European Union.

PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader, Rishi Sunak, delivers a speech at a Conservative Party campaign event at the National Army Museum in London, Tuesday, July 2, 2024. (Thomas Krych/AP)

"From Ukraine to Gaza, Labour's foreign and defense policy essentially mirrors the current government's," Dr. David S. Moon, senior lecturer in politics at the University of Bath, told ABC News. "Starmer's Brexit plan lacks specifics beyond promising to negotiate a 'better deal.'"

Moon and other political observers said it's little surprise the Labour Party had focused its messaging on what the Conservatives did with their time in office rather than campaigning solely on what they hoped to accomplish.

Since David Cameron's victory in the 2010 general election, the center-right Tories have led the country through a period of economic "austerity," its exit from the European Union, the COVID pandemic and the current cost of living crisis.

"A Starmer victory seems more the product of a media backlash against the Conservatives following the scandal-plagued Johnson and Truss years rather than excitement about policy proposals, with Labour now seen across newsrooms as a safe alternative following Starmer's shifting of the party to the right," Moon said.

PHOTO: Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria arrive to cast their votes at a polling station on July 4, 2024 in London, United Kingdom. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Cameron had called for the Brexit referendum before stepping down from power in 2016. He was followed in office by Theresa May, who put together a Brexit deal but stepped down before the deal could be completed. Johnson, in his 2019 campaign, promised to "Get Brexit Done," and the country left in January 2020.

But the Tory's leadership during the U.K.'s messy exit from the European Union is likely only one of many reasons that support for the party has waned, said Sean D. Ehrlich, associate professor of political science at Florida State University.

Johnson oversaw a chaotic rollout of COVID restrictions, which were then broken by Johnson himself during a Christmas gathering at 10 Downing Street, the prime ministers official residence.

Truss introduced a "mini-budget" in 2022 that included a series of tax cuts aimed a growing the economy, but she reversed course within days amid public backlash.

British inflation then spiked under Sunak, rising to a high of 11% in late 2022, according to the Office for National Statistics.

"The Conservatives are deeply unpopular in large part because they are no longer viewed as competent," Ehrlich said. "Their struggles to implement Brexit play a large role in this decline in support but the election should probably not be viewed as a repudiation of Brexit itself."

About six weeks ago, as Sunak announced he was calling a general election for July, he was caught in the rain in front of Downing Street without an umbrella.

The prime minister, who came to power in 2022 via an internal party election, has said Labour's election would lead to weaker border security and higher taxes. He said Thursday that a Tory defeat could mean "higher taxes for a generation."

"Labour would increase taxes on every part of your life, including your death," he said on social media.

PHOTO: Former British prime minister Boris Johnson addresses Conservative Party supporters at the National Army Museum in London on July 2, 2024. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

As former Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed a Conservative Party rally in London on Tuesday, he made clear that opinion polls were predicting his party was expected to be swept out of power with Thursday's election.

"I think and hope the British people will show more sense on Thursday and draw back from the brink," Johnson said during his first campaign speech in support of Sunak.

One of Sunak's cabinet members, Home Secretary Suella Braverman, put the party's prospects more succinctly the following day, writing in an op-ed published Wednesday that "it's over."

Britain's Conservative Party ousted after 14 years, marking big victory for Labour originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
In its most recent intelligence review of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the UK Ministry of Defence analysed how Russia stole minerals and resources from occupied Ukraine.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 4 July on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the analysis, the Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly highlighted this act of robbery.

Quote: "Iron ore, coal, titanium, uranium, manganese, gold and lithium deposits are all present in Ukraine, resources which are almost certainly coveted by Russia but also potential targets as Russia seeks to grind down Ukraine's economy, denying access and destroying infrastructure," the review says.

According to UK Defence Intelligence, one of the reasons Russia is attempting to strengthen road infrastructure in the occupied territories of Ukraine is to obtain more Ukrainian resources.

In particular, the review noted the Russian claims of an ongoing renovation and construction of road and railway infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia Oblast in order to connect it to Russia. According to the analysts, this serves not just a military function but also facilitates the export of grain and minerals.

The review, for example, discusses the mining and export of iron ore in Dniprorudnyi, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

"Trains travel through Crimea, over the Kerch bridge into Russia. This activity is not without risk; as trains need to move through areas where Ukrainian partisans are known to operate and have already claimed responsibility for attacks," the review says.

In a previous assessment, UK analysts suggested that Russia used legal persecution of migrants, primarily from Central Asia, to force them to join the Russian Armed Forces and fight in Ukraine.

UK Defence Intelligence also 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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How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story

How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story

Keir Starmer is the UK's new prime minister after his Labour Party won Thursday's election.

He's had help opening up about his personal story from an unlikely source: Barack Obama.

The relationship could continue after Starmer takes office.

Britons have voted and the UK is posed up for a radical change in leadership.

The left-wing Labour Party has won more than 400 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, which means its leader, Keir Starmer, is to be prime minister and 14 years of Conservative Party rule is over.

Starmer declared, "Change begins now," at a rally early Friday morning as results poured in, but his victory came despite the fact he's often described as lacking charisma.

Jill Rutter, a research fellow at the London research group UK in a Changing Europe, had told The New York Times he "does look relatively prime-ministerial," but added, "He's not going to set hearts racing."

Starmer entered politics relatively late, first being elected to the UK's House of Commons at age 52 in 2015. Before that, he was a lawyer who rose to become the chief prosecutor for England and Wales; he had a big public profile but no need to ask the public for votes.

As a candidate for high office, Starmer has had no choice but to tell his back story. After becoming Labour leader in 2020, he stressed his humble roots, often describing how his father worked as a toolmaker and his mother a nurse while they raised their children in a "pebble-dash semi," a small home adjoining another property.

But Starmer has seemed, at times, ill at ease with the public display of emotion needed to tell his story, despite it being a political asset that offers a stark contrast with the outgoing prime minister Rishi Sunak.

Sunak, a former Goldman Sachs banker, is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of the Indian billionaire and Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy. The Sunday Times reported in May that the couple's net worth was 651 million, which is about $830 million.

In recent months, Starmer has made a concerted effort to appear more relatable to voters and emphasize that contrast.

He's been helped by an unlikely mentor: former US President Barack Obama.

Obama encouraged Starmer to be vulnerable

In a series of Zoom calls, Obama, who served as US president from 2009 until 2017, encouraged Starmer to become more vulnerable and open with the public and has spoken with the Labour leader about the difficult decisions he made in the Oval Office.

Politico reported that the pair were first introduced by David Lammy, one of Starmer's key lieutenants, who will become his foreign secretary if Labour wins.

Speaking on Politico's "Power Play" podcast in March, Lammy said he and Obama had known each other for 20 years since meeting at an event for Black alumni of Harvard University.

When Obama dropped in to meet Sunak in March, he also met Lammy for dinner, The Telegraph reported.

Lammy said Obama's influence on Starmer was apparent when the Labour leader recently opened up about his family's backstory "much more comfortably than perhaps we saw a few years ago."

"And I know that Obama has strong views that Keir should do that," he added.

David Lammy and Starmer last year. Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images

Lammy was speaking after Starmer gave an extended interview to Sky News, in which he described how his mother had Still's disease, a rare type of inflammatory arthritis.

He said his father spent most of his time looking after her, and this had "squeezed" his "emotional space" and made him more emotionally distant from his children.

"I probably should have addressed that before he passed, and I wish I had, but I didn't," Starmer added.

Kitty Donaldson, a political journalist in the UK, told Business Insider this interview marked a turning point in Starmer's public display of emotion.

"Up until that point, Starmer had been very stiff, very practical, very straitlaced," Donaldson said, adding that Obama "unlocked" and "gave permission" for Starmer to open up.

"In terms of his leadership style, it's had an impact," she said. "Obama is quite laid back. This campaign has been more laid back than we have seen, and he seemed to enjoy going up and down the country speaking to people."

Tom Packer, an honorary research fellow at University College London who specializes in US politics and elections, told BI that Starmer's backstory had become a "theme of the campaign."

He said it helped challenge the idea that all UK politicians come from a "posh background" without struggle.

Obama could advise Starmer on how to deal with Trump

Obama's and Starmer's relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the election on Thursday.

Obama had helped Starmer since at least 2021, when The Guardian reported that they were involved in two hours' worth of private talks with Lammy about how center-left parties could return to power.

Speaking on the "Power Play" podcast in September, Starmer said Obama was the US president he spoke to "most frequently."

"I've spoken to him a number of times, and his analysis on the world is always interesting, his challenges, and just going through with him what he faced, how he rose to the challenges," Starmer said.

"It is always useful to test my ideas on people who won elections, people who've taken difficult decisions in power because that helps me think about how we might approach some of the decisions we might have to take if we do win that election," he added.

Packer said Obama and Starmer's relationship made sense, given the decadeslong ties between the UK's Labour Party and the US Democratic Party.

Donaldson meanwhile suggested Starmer might seek advice from Obama on dealing with Donald Trump if the former president is reelected in November.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden went head-to-head in the first presidential debate of the year on June 27. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Trump is leading the polls, and Biden's shaky performance during the first presidential debate on June 27 has led Democrats to panic and urge him to step aside for another candidate.

Speaking to Politico last September, Starmer said his team had been in talks with Biden, adding, "It's clear what my desired outcome would be."

Packer told BI that Starmer and his team wouldn't want to put "their eggs in one basket" and would be eager to secure "some kind of relationship with Trump that works," regardless of their political differences.

Trump "finds it hard to be nasty about people that are nice to him," Packer said.

He added that if Starmer were "nice," a Labour government could end up with a good relationship with Trump "even if they disagree with him on policy."

He noted that Starmer had been careful to avoid making anti-Trump comments during his election campaign.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 last week, Starmer was asked whether he agreed with Lammy's 2018 description of Trump as a "woman-hating neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath" and a "profound threat to the international order."

"Those aren't words that I've ever used," Starmer responded.

"I know the job of the person who leads our country is to deal with the leaders of other countries, who are elected by their people. You don't always get to choose the leaders of other countries," he continued.

Lammy has also softened his stance. He told a summit in May that Trump's position on European defense was "misunderstood" and he merely "wants Europeans to do more to ensure a better defended Europe," according to Politico.

After Trump was convicted of paying Stormy Daniels hush money, Starmer called it "unprecedented."

But he said, "We will work with whoever is elected," adding, "We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is."

Correction: July 4, 2024  An earlier version of this story misspelled N. R. Narayana Murthy's surname as Murty. It also misstated the date of Trump and Biden's first presidential debate. It was on June 27, not June 28.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This was supposed to be a generational election. A once-in-a-lifetime fight. An overturning on the scale of 1979, 1997, or 1945. The seismograph has been hitting the limiter for a year now, tapping out the coming rumble of a landslide. Wipeouts are forecast; decimations, vanquish, conquest. In power for 14 years, the Conservatives might be bound for third-party relegation. Keir Starmer has been pre-anointed the next prime minister. A decade of power awaits Labour.



But emerging out of these last five weeks in the United Kingdom, we are stuck with a troubling fact: The election campaign did not matter. The vote matters, of course, but the vital pitch and thrust and excitement of a raceparticularly one that augurs a transformative political shiftwas absent. It was absent because of those polls that fixed the general result long ago. A Labour victory is inevitablewhy bother caring how we get there? It was also absent because this years slate of candidates is notably flat and boringand they are flat and boring by design. Technocrats, party hacks, civil servants. Not a drop of charisma to share among them.

Youd think that this lack of charisma might be a virtue, a chance to fight an election on policy alone. No sign of that either. Weve not had a broader debate about Britains place in the world, how we keep the U.K. together, or the technological revolution that will change so much, including the way government works, shrugged Pat McFadden, Labours campaign chief. Or indeed about stagnant wages, middling growth, collapsing public services, and an emaciated National Health Service. But Labour preferred it that way: this studied silence, this stolid commitment to leaving the boat unrocked. They got what they wanted.

For a long time the British electorate has been the field on which a hundred Tory psychodramas and spasms of egotism have played out (not least of these was Brexit), and it has already decided to shrug off this subservience. But what fuels the shrug? Rage, mostly. Rage at their own immiseration. But it is a rage that points only in one direction, not matched by corresponding enthusiasm the other way. What fuels the Labour vote? A unified swallowing of the sick at having to consent for the least-worse candidate again, followed by a sigh of Fine, go on then.

After a flurry of farce punctuated by scandal, only two mysteries remain before Thursday night. One is how low voter turnout will be. The other is the scale of Tory defeat. Even Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is close to losing his own seat. The party might not survive. In the street and during television debates, Sunak was challenged constantly by the dispossessed and the furious. His stock response to these people will be the partys epitaph, marked in granite as a reminder of their attitude to anyone they consider beneath them: Im sorry you feel that way.

Often called the default or natural government of Britain (often by people whod prefer it that way), the Conservatives showed up to the election Sunak called in May slurring and bumping into the furniture. Their record of sleaze, corruption, entitlement, and sadism drifted the party into a baffled malaise where even their most obvious principles no longer registered. The eightieth anniversary of the Normandy invasion fell two weeks into the campaign. Sunak appeared for the first few days of commemorations in France but, on the final crucial afternoon, fled back over the sea to prerecord an interview for the channel ITVan interview that would not air for another week and that nobody would want to watch anyway. David Cameron, a predecessor as P.M. now resuscitated as foreign secretary, was left to pose in the leaders line-up.



The resulting scandal (if it even deserves so worthy a name) was opportunist. The political press, usually callow and deferential to Tory power, found an easy stick for beating. But there are certain rituals and obligations in British public life that, no matter how fogged-over and encrusted with myth, can never be insulted. Our Tommies socking it to the Hun, single-handedly winning the Second World Warno half-capable politician would ever violate that creed. Sunaks insult to their graves as well as to those veterans still alive was the moral equivalent of Joe Biden tottering down to Lower Manhattan and dribbling into the 9/11 Memorial.

Spent of ideas, spent of vision, spent of life, and with nothing of the state left to flog but its memories, the Tories fell back on allusion and gestureand couldnt even get that right. The D-Day snub was especially ironic because Sunak evoked the war in his election announcement, spent much of the last leaders debate on Wednesday night warning voters not to surrender the borders or their taxes to Labour; and his flagship idea was the resurrection of something not seen in these isles since 1963: conscription. National Service is what Sunak calls it, and itll never happen, but it fires the neurons of the Tories elderly base with dreams of discipline. What we really need, they reckon, is a bluff mustached sergeant-major to bellow in the faces of pimply permed youthsthese youths with their unreasonable fears of climate change, their petty tantrums about a future of decline. An electoral map of the likely votes of 18- to 24-year-olds shows not one spot of Conservative blue in the entire country.

For 14 years the Tories expertise has been in high-level corruption and asset-stripping. These crimes wear ideological clothes and are called things like austerity, Brexit, and tax cuts, but really they are variations on the theme of common theft. Wheres all our money gone? To the rich, encouraged and helped along by the Conservatives. The most affluent 350 people in Britain now possess a combined wealth roughly equal to Polands gross domestic product. Common sense says theyd try hard not to let this state-sanctioned picking of pockets look like a caricature of aristocratic jobbery. But here is Michelle Mone and her husband, who received more than 200 million pounds ($253 million) in contracts to produce face masks and surgical gowns during the Covid pandemic. They allegedly used their connections in government to get in a VIP lane for state funding, then shipped the millions in profit to offshore accounts. Some of the medical gear was defective and never used. Michelle Mone is a baroness who sits as a Tory peer in the House of Lords.

Rot runs so deep into the structure of the Tory Party and its time in government that its candidates and officials are willing to go to the wall for a few extra quid. In the middle of the campaign, a steady trickle of exposes accused several party functionaries of placing bets on the date of the election before it was publicly revealedincluding one of Sunaks closest parliamentary aides, a handful of candidates, as well as the Tories deputy chief whip, its director of campaigning, and its chief data officer. While some other cases investigated by the Gambling Commission include candidates betting on themselves to lose a vote, it smells a lot like insider trading: people high up in the party who had foreknowledge and used it to (allegedly) enrich themselves. What role models they are, in a nation where 1.4 million people are considered problem gamblers. So small-time. So petty. Yet a perfect exemplar of how a culture of grift trickles down and poisons the groundwater, and how something as small as placing a wager can stand in for a decades recklessness and robbery.

In five weeks of campaigning, the Tories polling numbers have moved slightly: downward. On June 3, Nigel Farage entered the race, taking over leadership of the Reform Party and announcing he would compete for the seaside seat of Clacton. Farage has never won a seat in the Commons before, operating outside the chamber by stirring resentment and propping up scapegoats. This is his eighth attempt and best chance yet. Reforms spiritual forerunner, the UK Independence Party, or UKIP, only ever scraped 12.6 percent of a national voteeven during the zenith of Brexit chaos. This time Reform could hit anywhere between 16 percent and 20 percent, tickling the lower end of the margin of error of the Conservatives vote share. If Farage prises away enough grumpy Tories, he could lead the second-largest party behind Labour and become His Majestys Most Loyal Opposition.



Like all his other enterprises, Reform is a vehicle for Nigel Farage and the bagmen he carries with him. But if it does have a real constituency, they are defined by two factions. On one side, those who believe Britain really did beat the Nazis alone; as 60-year-old men they have spinning mobiles of Spitfires and Hurricanes above their bed. On the other, those who think we were on the wrong side in the war. Take Ian Gribbin, Reform candidate for the seat of Bexhill and Battle, who suggested Churchill should have accepted Hitlers offer of neutrality (he also believes women should be deprived of health care). A Reform canvasser was caught on camera using a vicious racial slur against Rishi Sunak. Given half a chance, this lot would try and dig up Oswald Mosleys bones to worship. Still, for 30 years Farage has held the title of the U.K.s most boisterous patriot and proved he can hold together ridiculous coalitions. It is futile to fight him on the turf of national pride. You cant out-jingo the Peoples Teabag.

At least in their derangement and gruesomeness Reform had enemies to attack and a story to tell. Labour under Keir Starmer has no enemies and no story. Its messaging refused to draw from the deep (and real) history of Labour as the builders and guardians of much that is treasured in public life, above all the National Health Service and the welfare program. This country has a long memory; where the Tories mine it for cheap tricks, Labour would prefer we forget different things are possible.

Pressure-washed down to a smooth beige finish, it has been made to look like a skim-milk political party fearful of saying anything that might mean anything. It is a deceitful disguise. Starmer is capable of real ruthlessness, as is his strategy don Morgan McSweeney. They have proved it with their total purging and punishment of anyone to their left. But very little of that agility and aggressiveness has been directed at the Tories. They have kept the bloodied knife well hidden behind their backs. During debates, Starmer is peculiarly limp for a former prosecutor, letting Sunak tell wanton fibs and stuttering instead of striking. Indeed, his criticism of Conservative rule is not on moral or ideological grounds but a complaint about style and procedure: They are too incompetent, too inept, too messy.

Even the front cover of Labours manifesto is dishonest. It shows a surly-looking Starmer and a single word: Change. Never mind that Barack Obama obliterated the meaning and resonance of that term; what exactly is being changed when the party has already accepted defecting Tory members of Parliament into its ranks and drunk deeply at the trough of rich donors? Inside the manifesto there is much talk of joined-up thinking and securonomics, and plenty about new working groups and commissioners and investigative bodies: lots of strategies and plans. All nice new paint to slop over the invasive rust corroding the country. But no flash of blue and violet, no glint of silver, no sign of the money, which is the only thing that might yet haul Britain from its torpor. Labour is not a determined fighting organization willing to dismantle the architecture of austerity. It is now, on the verge of government, the caretaker of a cruel and crude system. It has already surrendered.
LONDON  Britain's center-left Labour Party comfortably won a historic general election, partial results showed Friday, ousting the Conservative Party by a huge margin in a vote that means the staunch U.S. ally will get its sixth prime minister in eight politically turbulent years.

Labour leader Keir Starmer, 61, a former lawyer, took over as prime minister from Rishi Sunak, who ascended to the role in 2022. Britain elects a party, not a specific leader, to rule the country  of the past five Conservative prime ministers, only three were directly elected.

"Change begins now," Starmer said in an address early Friday after Sunak conceded defeat.

Results were still trickling in, but Labour passed the threshold to secure a majority and an exit poll projected that Labour will win 410 seats to the Conservatives' 131 in Britain's 650-seat Parliament, a majority of 170. The exit poll was carried out by the polling company Ipsos, jointly for British broadcasters BBC News, ITV News and Sky News.

Sunak described the outcome as a "sobering verdict." Announcing he would resign as prime minister outside No. 10 Downing St., he said, "I have heard your anger, disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss."

Starmer formally became prime minister Friday after being invited to form a government by King Charles in a ceremony known as the "kissing of the hands."

'Sir' Keir Starmer: Who is U.K.'s next Labour Party prime minster?

Labour will replace a Conservative government whose reputation was deeply marred by Britain's exit from the European Union, known as Brexit, and its failure to reduce record immigration levels and repair the nation's aging infrastructure and beleaguered public services.

Voters rejected the Conservatives after 14 years of rule, experts said, because the party could not come to grips with a cost-of-living crisis that bruised the party's reputation for financial competence.

Britons feel dissatisfied. They are worse off economically in recent years, and poverty has gone up. Compared with the U.S., Germany and other wealthy nations, Britain's economy has stagnated since the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Office for National Statistics, a government-affiliated watchdog. After adjusting for inflation, salaries have barely risen.

"We've just had enough of them," said Tom Giles, 32, an office worker, shortly after emerging Friday from a voting station in central London, referring to the Conservatives.

Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London, said the Conservatives had been in power "for too long for people to forgive." He said this was evident in everything from stagnant salaries to roads full of potholes, from long waiting lists at public hospitals to schools without enough teachers.

A person and a dog wait outside St James' Church voting station in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 4, 2024. REUTERS/Lesley Martin

Conservative rule expected to end after 14 years

Sunak, 44, was Britain's first Hindu leader. He's extremely wealthy. His wife is an heiress to an Indian tech firm fortune. He rose to the job after his predecessor, Liz Truss, lasted just 44 days as prime minister. She resigned after unveiling a tax-cutting agenda that deeply spooked financial markets.

Truss had taken over from Boris Johnson, who stepped down amid revelations that he ignored his own COVID-19 lockdown rules to attend parties and social gatherings.

Before that, Theresa May won the prime minister role in a national vote after David Cameron's resignation in 2016 when he held, and lost, a referendum on Britain's EU membership.

British election: Not even Samuel L. Jackson can save the U.K.'s ruling Conservative party

The Labour Party last won a general election in Britain in 2005. Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair won a record majority for his party in 1997, when he secured a 179-seat majority in Parliament.

Starmer has vowed he'll try to tackle the sluggish economy and underfunded public services without raising taxes.

"Today Britain can begin a new chapter, Starmer said Thursday in a statement. "A new age of hope and opportunity after 14 years of chaos and decline."

Labour says it will find the money it needs to fix Britain by closing tax loopholes used by the wealthy, ending tax breaks for those who pay for private schools, and being a more prudent and responsible steward of the economy. It's a growth strategy that has raised eyebrows among some economists.

"It isnt yet clear from their speeches, pamphlets and interviews exactly what they believe will drive growth and how they will achieve it," a group of economists who reviewed Labour's economic policies wrote in an essay collection published by the Social Market Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank.

"Overall, we find no grand theory of growth but a series of pragmatic, often technocratic, interventions which might drive growth," they wrote.

In a bid to limit a historic defeat for the Conservatives, Sunak had warned Britons of giving Labour a "supermajority" in Parliament, saying his party could at least provide an effective opposition.

The outcome of Britains vote is not expected to substantially change its close relationship with the U.S. on defense, intelligence-sharing and trade because most issues of foreign affairs are viewed as nonpartisan. However, Labour would be more comfortable with President Joe Biden or another Democratic president than former President Donald Trump, according to Bale. Trump was more unpredictable on issues like trade during his term in office.

Over the past 100 years, the Conservatives have been the most electorally successful British political party. In that time, there have been 17 Conservative-led British governments, compared with eight led by Labour.

One important impact of the vote on British politics is that Nigel Farage, a close ally of Trump's who leads the right-wing Reform UK party, was for the first time elected to Britain's Parliament.

Farage is an anti-immigration, EU-sceptic political rabble-rouser who campaigned for Brexit. He told USA TODAY in an interview before the election that he intended to mount a long-term challenge to the Conservatives and ultimately replace the party as an opposition force to Labour at the next general election, expected in 2029.

Reform UK lawmakers won four seats.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UK election: Labour Party wins big over Conservatives
Ukraine considering transiting gas from Azerbaijan to EU, Zelensky says

Kyiv is in talks to transit gas from Azerbaijan to the EU after the contract to transit Russian gas expires in December 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg on July 3.

Kyiv and the EU have said they would not seek the prolongation of the transit deal for Russian gas at the end of the year. The deal was signed in 2019.

Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told Bloomberg in March that he does not "see the possibility" that Russian gas would continue to flow through Ukraine after December.

"Alternative steps are being considered now on how we can use the pipeline with another gas supplier, another country. Negotiations are underway," Zelensky told Bloomberg.

"We don't want to extend the gas contract with the Russian Federation. We dont want them making money here," he added.

Transiting gas from Azerbaijan instead is "one of the proposals," Zelensky said.

According to Bloomberg, Ukraine earned around $1 billion from transit revenue in 2021, and therefore continuing to use the extensive system of pipelines "would help provide crucial funding for the war-torn economy."

Despite efforts by European countries to reduce dependency on Russia's gas, Russian supplies remain an important part of the EU's imports.

Russia cut much of its pipeline gas transit to Europe in 2022, but countries like Austria, Hungary, and Slovakia remain heavily reliant on Russian imports.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a deal with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku in July 2022 to bring imports of Azeri natural gas to "at least" 20 billion cubic meters annually by 2027.

Read also: Ukraine imports more electricity in June than in all of 2023

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
When Tucker Carlson, a popular American right-wing conservative, released an interview with lawyer Robert Amsterdam titled Ukrainian churches are being burned and priests beaten, it quickly gained traction with the so-called MAGA movement seeking the return of Donald Trump as president.

The April interview was reposted as a YouTube short and included a clip of what was claimed to be Russia-linked Ukrainian churches burning, suggesting they were set ablaze by Ukraines pro-western leadership or its supporters.

In fact, the video contained disinformation, actually showing a Ukrainian Greek Catholic church that caught fire in Canada in 2014. Another church on fire in the short clip was St. Georges Church in the Kyiv Oblast town of Zavorychi. It was reportedly destroyed in a Russian strike in March 2022. A third church on fire in the video is the Sviatohirsk Lavra in Donetsk Oblast, which was repeatedly struck by Russian artillery in May and June of 2022.

The photo of the Sviatohirsk Lavra used in Carlsons video was a screenshot from a video shared by President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning the Russian attack, which he said killed four people and injured four others.

St. Georges Church and the Sviatohirsk Lavra are just two of at least 630 places of worship that the Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF) said have been damaged or destroyed since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

Carlsons team did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite such glaring inaccuracies, Carlsons interview reflects a growing narrative among far-right circles in the United States, many of whom are opposed to U.S. support for Ukraine.

Influential figures like Carlson and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for sharing false statements on a variety of topics, have propagated a slew of unfounded claims, portraying Ukraine as unworthy of U.S. assistance.

One particularly persistent and false claim is that Ukraine is persecuting Christians, allegedly due to its supposed ban on the Kremlin-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate. Amsterdam legally represents the group.

Carlsons narrative glosses over this churchs well-documented ties to the Kremlin and its use as a tool of Russian foreign influence campaigns. This narrative also conveniently ignores Russias own persecution of Christians who do not adhere to its preferred brand of Orthodoxy  both in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine and within Russia.

In February, Carlson aired a two-hour-long interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, providing a platform for the Russian autocrat to spread propaganda. Carlson didnt address the questions of war crimes committed by Russian troops in Ukraine, nor the persecution of religious groups in Russia and the territories it occupies in Ukraine.

Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger told the Kyiv Independent that this growing narrative actually has more to do with U.S. culture wars than Ukraine's efforts to deal with the Kremlin-backed church.

A vocal Trump critic, Kinzinger broke with the Republican Party after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection attempt by Trumps supporters and was one of 10 Republicans who voted to impeach the former president. He has become a staunch opponent of Trump and his influence on the GOP, and recently endorsed President Joe Biden.

Steven Moore, a former congressional staffer and now president of the Ukraine Freedom Project, traces the narrative directly back to a Russian-backed disinformation campaign.

This is not a religious persecution issue; this is a national security issue, Moore said.

On July 4, Carlson teased a potential interview with Zelensky, who he blamed for Russias invasion on multiple occasions. Zelenskys spokesperson denied that an interview would take place, saying that the commentator should "more carefully check his sources in the FSB (Russia's Federal Security Service)."

Read also: Faith under fire: Russias war on religion in Ukraines occupied territories

A banned church?

Ukraine has two main Orthodox churches  the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate or UOC-MP, and the independent Orthodox Church of Ukraine or OCU.

The Ukrainian government's conflict with the Moscow Patriarchate predates Russias full-scale invasion, as the church has long been seen as a bastion of pro-Russian sentiment and a key conduit of propaganda.

A survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in August 2022 found that only 4% of respondents said they identify themselves with the UOC-MP, a significant drop from 18% the previous year. In contrast, 54% identified with the OCU, and another 14% as Orthodox without specifying which church. At the same time, the Moscow-linked church claimed to have more than 11,000 parishes in 2019, compared to around 7,000 claimed by the OCU. Over 1,000 parishes have left the UOC-MP for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Some Orthodox Christians in Ukraine dont differentiate between the two, while for others, it is a crucial question when picking a church to attend.

Metropolitan Onufriy (center) arrives for the Sunday service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate at a compound of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 26, 2023. (Roman Pilipey/Getty Images)

The narrative of the persecution of Christians picked up steam after Ukraine's parliament backed a bill in October 2023 to prohibit the activities of any religious organizations affiliated with war propaganda or justifying the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The bill, yet to be signed into law by President Volodymyr Zelensky, followed a series of accusations linking the UOC-MP to subversive actions guided by Russian intelligence.

In response, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate declared its independence from the Russian Orthodox Church after the full-scale invasion began and said it condemns war.

In a nine-point resolution in May 2022, the UOC-MP expressed disagreement with the Russian Orthodox Church, particularly its leader Patriarch Kirill, that supported Russias war effort, calling for negotiations to end the conflict, while continuing to criticize the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

However, unlike the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the UOC-MP did not take concrete steps to gain full autonomy from Moscow.

Allegations against Ukraine

In comments to the Kyiv Independent, Amsterdam acknowledged the errors in Carlsons video, but said that he did not participate in its creation. He also added that the characterization of churches being burned in the video was not completely accurate.

Whats going on in Ukraine is the theft (and destruction) of churches, and thats being orchestrated by the OCU, Amsterdam claimed.

As an example, he pointed to the destruction of a building on the site of the historic Church of the Tithes in Kyiv, which was constructed by the Moscow-led church in 2007 and was demolished after a court ruling in May 2024.

The building was built without proper authorization or permission on the territory of the National Museum of the History of Ukraine and near a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The demolition of the church was supported by a fundraising campaign that raised Hr 772,000 ($19,000) over 16 hours. The company contracted nonetheless agreed to perform the work free of charge.

Amsterdam also pointed to three Moscow-linked churches that had been hit by arson attacks. In all three cases, local media reported at the time that unknown persons were suspected of being involved. One of the churches wrote that the arson attack was reportedly revenge for the parishioners voting to leave the UOC-MP and join the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Ukrainians clear away debris after a Russian missile struck the historic Holy Transfiguration (Spaso-Preobrazhensky) Cathedral in central Odesa, Ukraine, on July 23, 2023. The attack was part of an overnight barrage of 19 Russian missiles fired on the Black Sea port city and its region. The Transfiguration church was built in the late 18th century, destroyed by Josef Stalin in 1936, and rebuilt in the early 2000s and is part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with official links to the Moscow Patriarchate. (Scott Peterson/Getty Images)

The allegation isnt that government officials are sitting there lighting a match, said Amsterdam, but that they dont respond when incidents happen or are generally responsible for creating the atmosphere for them to occur in the first place.

Ukraines Western partners and international organizations have acknowledged some concerns related to restrictions placed on the UOC-MP, but have fallen far short of characterizing it as a widespread campaign as alleged by Amsterdam.

In its 2024 report on Ukraine, Freedom House issued a 3 out of 4 rating, recognizing the attempts to ban the Moscow-linked churches but saying that religious rights are generally respected.

The U.N.s Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, said in September 2023 that Ukrainian law enforcement had failed to sufficiently investigate incidents (of conflicts between parishioners of different churches) and take action to protect members of the (UOC-MP). Kehris did not mention any systematic campaign of persecution at the hands of the government.

Generally, foreign organizations have emphasized that attacks on religious freedoms and churches are a much greater problem in Russian-occupied territories.

Foreign policy church

Russias use of the church as a political tool predates Russian President Vladimir Putins regime.

During the Second World War, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin revived the Russian Orthodox Church to stoke patriotism and bolster the war effort. Before that, Stalin's regime executed priests and destroyed churches en masse.

Putin, likewise, has framed modern-day Russia as a bastion of traditional values, and recruited the church to propagate this narrative.

Patriarch Kirill has maintained a close relationship with Putin, even calling Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine a holy war" in March.

Russia also has attempted to increase its influence on Ukraines Muslim and Jewish communities, Doug Klain, a policy analyst with civil society organization Razom for Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kremlin sees religion as a tool for statecraft, Klain said.

Dozens of Ukrainian priests and bishops from the Moscow-linked church have been accused of justifying Russia's war  a crime in Ukraine.

The influence of the Russian Orthodox Church has been seen as a threat outside of Ukraine as well.

Estonias parliament recognized the malign influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, declaring it an institution sponsoring the military aggression of the Russian Federation in a resolution passed in March.

The Russian churchs support for Moscows full-scale war extends beyond rhetoric.

Numerous Ukrainian priests from the UOC-MP have been arrested for spying for Russia and collaborating with occupying forces: A top church leader, Metropolitan Arsenii of the Sviatohirsk Lavra monastery in Donetsk Oblast, was accused by the Security Service of Ukraine of leaking information about Ukrainian troop locations.

Polls show that an overwhelming majority (85%) of Ukrainians believe the government should intervene in the affairs of the UOC-MP, with 66% believing it should be completely banned.

Disinformation reaches the US

As opposition to U.S. support for Ukraine has grown within the Republican Party, efforts to undermine American public opinion about the country have intensified.

Under the banner of a broader isolationist trend, concerns about corruption and the misuse of funds have dominated the rhetoric of aid opponents.

The Republican Party, long positioning itself as the defender of traditional Christian values, often accuses its Democratic rivals of undermining them.

This perceived ideological kinship with Putins Russia is frequently cited by segments of the U.S. far-right. Consequently, the narrative about Zelenskys so-called persecution of Christians found fertile ground.

Moore, from the Ukrainian Freedom Project, told the Kyiv Independent that of the 100 Republican congressional offices his team has visited, around 30 said they're concerned about Zelensky persecuting Ukrainian Christians.

While some argue the narratives actual traction within the Republican Party might be overstated, it remains a potent talking point.

When pro-Ukraine Republicans in recent weeks have talked about how Russian propaganda is infecting the party base and being repeated by members of Congress on the house floor, the idea that Ukraine persecutes Christians is exactly what they're talking about, Klain said.

Ukraine finds itself an unfortunate pawn in a larger political game within the United States, Kinzinger told the Kyiv Independent.

Im not sure that Republicans or right-leaning people really believe that Russia is a defender of Christianity, Kinzinger said, but rather that it is a substitute for conservative policies.

Despite receiving substantial airtime, the narrative remains largely confined to some of the most partisan Republican lawmakers and media personalities, some with direct ties to Russia.

In October 2023, Robert Amsterdams law firm, Amsterdam & Partners, announced that it had been directly retained as counsel by the UOC-MP.

Two months earlier, Amsterdam became the personal lawyer for Vadym Novynskyi, a Ukrainian Russian-born oligarch and former member of a variety of pro-Russian political parties in Ukraine. Novynskyi is an active supporter of the Moscow-linked church, being appointed as a deacon in 2020.

Amsterdam is paid to tell members of Congress that Ukraine is persecuting Christians, Moore said.

While Kinzinger acknowledged the larger culture war is a tough battle, he believes religion might still persuade hesitant Republicans, many of whom are Christians, to support Ukraine. He cited comments by several leading Republicans who said that House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson's Christian faith had influenced his decision to finally hold a vote on Ukraine aid after a delay of six months.

But Kinzinger pointed out another significant problem: the Republican base is often stuck in a media echo chamber that repeats the narrative of Ukraine persecuting Christians while ignoring Russias well-documented persecution of Christians in both Russia and Ukraine.

If I could wave a magic wand and every person in the Republican Party heard the stories of how Ukraine isnt persecuting Christians, and Russia actually is, I think it would move the needle, Kinzinger said.

That theory is backed by polling data, Klain said.

When you talk to a self-identified MAGA voter, and you share the reality of Russias persecution of Ukrainian Christians in the occupied territories, their support for U.S. aid to Ukraine goes up (by) seven points above the average U.S. voter, Klain said.

Russia's persecution of Christians

Evangelicals, Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses, and various other faiths that differ from the Russian Orthodox Churchs brand of Christianity have faced consistent persecution by Russian authorities, which view them as threats to the dominance of the countrys state-sponsored church.

This religious oppression intensified after Russias claimed annexation of Ukraines Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent covert invasion of parts of eastern Ukraine.

In the occupied regions, the persecution quickly escalated to the torture and murder of priests and adherents of other Christian denominations. Since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and the Russian occupation of about 18% of Ukraines territory, this brutality has intensified.

A Ukrainian prays during a Sunday afternoon service at the Pokrovsky Cathedral in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Oct.2, 2022. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

The U.S. State Departments Office of International Religious Freedom said in February 2024 that at least 30 Ukrainian clergymen of all professions had been killed since the beginning of the full-scale war, and another 26 held captive.

The UOC-MPs priests and churches suffered as well, with almost 150 of its churches being damaged or destroyed and several of its priests being killed. At least 9 UOC-MP dioces, representing around 1,600 parishes, have been brought directly under the control of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Its a perverse logic, Klain said, that the very religious groups that Russia disproportionately targets form the largest support base of the Republican Party, which then turns around and says that Russia is defending Christianity.

Despite the constant assertion that Russia is a stronghold of Christian values, actual church attendance rates there are lower than in Ukraine.

Former Congressman Kinzinger highlighted the irony: Ukraine has plenty more (religious) freedom (than Russia), he said.

Its absolutely asinine and ludicrous to somehow say that Russia is protecting the real version of Christianity (and not just protecting) white nationalism.

Read also: Opinion: What should Ukraine do about its Russia-linked church?

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Ukraine forms several new brigades but unable to arm them  ISW

Ukraine has been addressing its manpower issues and forming several new brigades, but delays and insufficient deliveries of Western weapons are likely to prevent Ukraine from equipping these new brigades.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Quote: "Timely and appropriate Western security assistance continues to be a crucial determinant of when and at what scale Ukrainian forces can contest the battlefield initiative and conduct operationally significant counteroffensive operations in the future."

Details: In an interview with Bloomberg on 3 July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukrainian forces now have better manpower compared to a few months ago. However, he emphasised that future counteroffensive operations hinge on obtaining heavy equipment like mechanised fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, tanks and heavy artillery (likely referencing at least 10 planned new Ukrainian brigades).

A Ukrainian brigade commander near Chasiv Yar in Dinetsk Oblast shared a similar view, highlighting a greater need for ammunition over manpower in their operations.

Zelenskyy pointed out the slow arrival of military equipment to the front, mirroring his earlier June 2024 remarks about delayed US security assistance complicating efforts to equip reserve brigades for defensive operations.

Ukrainian media has frequently reported on the insufficient materiel for new brigades being formed.

Without additional Western security assistance, Ukraine struggles to fully equip its new brigades, which is crucial for conducting significant counteroffensive operations.

This urgency is heightened by Russian forces' attempts to force Ukraine into immediate defensive commitments, hindering their ability to gather the necessary resources and personnel to seize the initiative.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 3 July:

Ukraine is addressing its manpower challenges and is forming several new brigades, but delayed and insufficient Western weapons deliveries will likely prevent Ukraine from equipping all these new brigades. Timely and appropriate Western security assistance continues to be crucial determinant of when and at what scale Ukrainian forces can contest the battlefield initiative and conduct operationally significant counteroffensive operations in the future.

Ukraine conducted a naval drone strike against Russian naval infrastructure in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai on the night of 3 July and reportedly damaged energy infrastructure during an aerial drone strike on Belgorod Oblast on the night of 1 July.

Unspecified People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russian companies are reportedly working together to develop a drone similar to the Iranian-designed Shahed loitering munition for Russia to use in Ukraine.

Russian forces recently advanced within easternmost Chasiv Yar, in the Toretsk direction, and near Avdiivka, and Ukrainian forces recently advanced within Vovchansk, near Kreminna, and southeast of Chasiv Yar.

The Kremlin continues efforts to position Russian veterans who have fought in Ukraine in official roles in Russian domestic politics.

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A National Public Radio podcast about Christ Church reviewed the backlash Pastor Doug Wilson received for his opinions on slavery, and how it didnt stop his church from growing in Moscow.

NPR and Boise State Public Radio partnered to create the podcast series Extremely American: Onward Christian Soldiers, hosted by journalists Heath Druzin and James Dawson. The third episode of the series, which focuses on Christ Church and its role in the rise of Christian nationalism, was released Wednesday.

The beginning of Wednesdays episode discussed Wilsons roots as the son of a Christian author and bookstore owner. It detailed his journey to the University of Idaho, where he studied philosophy and began leading a congregation called the Community Evangelical Fellowship group. That organization would eventually become Christ Church.

The podcast also discussed the public outrage that emerged in Moscow in 2003 after Doug Wilsons booklet, Southern Slavery: As It Was, began circulating in the city. Wilson co-authored the booklet with Steve Wilkins.

Wilkins is the founder of League of the South, which is a neo-confederate hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Druzin said the booklet demonizes abolitionists and paints the North as the aggressor in the Civil War. It references a biblical passage that asks slaves to obey their masters the same way they would obey Christ. Wilson and Wilkins also claimed slaves existed with mutual intimacy and harmony with their owners.

This caused hundreds of UI students to protest Wilson, and leadership at the UI and Washington State University condemned the book. Wilson was compared to Holocaust deniers for his views, and the Christ Church-affiliated Logos School was criticized for celebrating the birthday of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.
Ukraine will receive more than $2 billion in additional air defense interceptors for its Patriot and NASAMS systems.

After Wednesdays deadly Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipo, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once again beseeched allies to provide more air defenses and long-range fires.

In the afternoon, some of those pleas were answered in the form of more than $2.3 billion in military assistance from the U.S. The new donations, announced by the Defense Department, include weaponry from two different accounts.

There is about $2.2 billion from Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) funds, which will pay for future purchases of an unspecified number of badly needed interceptors for Patriot air defense systems and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) donated to Ukraine. As we reported previously, the Biden administration last month temporarily halted deliveries of those munitions to any nation but Ukraine and Taiwan so that Kyivs stocks could more quickly be refilled.

The announcement came on Ukraines Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops Day.

Happy Anti-Aircraft Missile Troops Day!

Thank you for your professionalism and for protecting peaceful cities from russian terror.

Thousands of enemy missiles and drones destroyed  millions of innocent lives saved.



The video shows the combat work of the MIM-104 Patriot in pic.twitter.com/I3iQUmh2iY  Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 3, 2024

Additionally, there is $150 million worth of goods from the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) account of existing equipment. It includes an unspecified amount of additional air defense interceptors, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells, and rockets for the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS.

Rows of incomplete shells wait for the next step in production. The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant held a media day to show what they make. The plant makes a 155mm artillery shell. Photo by Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Rows of incomplete 155mm shells wait for the next step in production at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. (Photo by Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The PDA package is the Biden Administrations 60th provided to Ukraine since August 2021.

The capabilities include:

Missiles for HAWK air defense systems;

Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);

155mm and 105mm artillery rounds;

81mm mortar rounds;

Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles;

Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;

Small arms ammunition and grenades;

Demolitions equipment and munitions;

Tactical vehicles to tow and haul equipment;

Tactical air navigation systems and aircraft support equipment; and,

Spare parts, maintenance, and other field and ancillary equipment.

After the package was announced, Zelensky expressed his gratitude.

I am grateful to @POTUS Joe Biden, both parties in Congress, and the entire American people for todays military aid packages.



Additional air defense, artillery, anti-tank weapons, and other critical items, as well as funds to purchase Patriot and NASAMS missiles, will  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) July 3, 2024

On the battlefield, Russian forces have made incremental gains on several fronts according to the latest Institute for the Study of War assessment.

Kharkiv Oblast: Russian forces recently advanced within Vovchansk, about 30 miles northeast of Kharkiv City, amid continued Russian ground attacks. Fighting continued north of Kharkiv City near Hlyboke and Lyptsi s well.

Luhansk Oblast: There were no confirmed advances in the Russian push along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.

Donetsk Oblast: Siversk continued to be a thrust of Russian operations, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in this area. They did, however, recently advance within easternmost Chasiv Yar. Russians also continued to push toward Toretsk and Avdiivka but there were no confirmed frontline changes in either location.

Zaporizhzhia Oblast: Fighting continued in the western part of the region with no confirmed territorial changes.

NEW: The interplay between ongoing Russian offensive operations in the Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Avdiivka directions indicates that the Russian military command may intend to leverage the ongoing Toretsk push to create operational opportunities for advances in either the Chasiv pic.twitter.com/CQuK0aToOT  Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) July 3, 2024

At least five people died and 30 were injured in the Russian missile attack on the city of Dnipro, according to Zelensky. Video that emerged on social media show showed a reported strike on the Yuzhny Machine-Building plant, a major producer of rockets and other military products. The video, shot by a passenger in a moving car, shows one large pillar of smoke and then the bright flash of an explosion a short distance away.

Scary footage from the attack on Dnipro this morning. It is reported that the target was the Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant. pic.twitter.com/L76daicxLs  NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) July 3, 2024

Another video shows an apparent Ukrainian air defense munition intercepting an incoming Russian missile at extremely low altitude in the same general area.

Epic: Russian missile intercepted by Ukrainian air defense system right over the Dnipro.



The missile was targeting Ukrainian aerospace manufacturer Yuzhmash. pic.twitter.com/2UbOXlCB90  Clash Report (@clashreport) July 3, 2024

The targets of todays attacks on Dnepropetrovsk were the facilities of one of the largest enterprises in Ukraine, the Russian Military Observer Telegram channel claimed Wednesday. The company is one of the main ones in the production of military products, including missiles and UAVs, as well as the repair of damaged equipment.

The extent of the damage is unclear at the moment.

The company was once a major player in the Soviet space and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile industries.

Starting in the 1950s, four generations of strategic missile systems, about 400 spacecraft of 70 various modifications and space launch vehicles of Cyclone, Cosmos, and Zenit series have been created by the company, it states on its website.

Now, it says it produces, tests and operates launch vehicles and manufactures unspecified defense items as well as air transport, agricultural machinery, and thermal power station equipment.

It has been targeted by Russia before. The aftermath of a July 2022 attack can be seen in the images below.

This is how the center of Dnipro looks like today, the day after Russia launched massive missile strike causing some devastating effects on Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant and Robocha street which is adjacent to it. pic.twitter.com/OXqnhCKYuS  Live: Ukraine (@liveukraine2022) July 16, 2022

Video has emerged on social media of what appears to be the second Russian attack on a Ukrainian air base this week.

Released by the official Russian Izvestia news outlet, it is from the perspective of a drone hovering over the Dolgintsevo Air Base located near Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. It then shows a Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack jet, or facsimile thereof, parked in the open on an apron. After that, a camouflage net-covered shelter with a jet inside comes into view, followed quickly by the bright flash of an impact and a tall pillar of some rising upward. The base is about 230 miles from Russian territory.

For the 3rd day in a row, Russia is conducting missile strikes on Ukrainian air bases.



Today, the target was the Dolgintsevo Air Base located near Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where MiG-29 fighter jets and Sukhoi Su-25 attack planes are stationed.



A single Iskander-M pic.twitter.com/43XTrhYsEm  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) July 3, 2024

The crew of the Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system struck the airfield of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in Kryvyi Rih, Izvestia reported. As a result of the attack, Ukrainian Armed Forces aircraft were destroyed.

The Russian Operation Z Telegram channel claimed a MiG-29 was destroyed and two Su-25 Frogfoot fighters were damaged.

The War Zone cannot independently verify that claim, however, a satellite image from NASAs Fire Information For Resource Management System (FIRMS) shows what appears to be a fire in the location seen in the video.

There was what appeared to be a fire in the area of a missile strike on the Dolgintsevo Air Base claimed by Russia. FIRMS

This attack comes two days after video emerged on social media showing a missile attack on Ukraines Mirgorod Air Base in Poltava Oblast. 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.

Dolgintsevo Air Base was attacked last month as well.

A Ukrainian Air Force Frogfoot was captured on video being struck by a Russian Lancet drone. Reportedly, electronic warfare measures at the base interfered with the drone, resulting in damage, not destruction to the Frogfoot. However, as we reported Dec. 1, 2023, a Lancet strike on the base resulted in an elaborate decoy, not a Frogfoot being hit.

You can see a video of that incident below.

Earlier today, Russian channels released a video reportedly showing a Lancet attack drone striking a Ukrainian Su-25 at Kryvyi Rih Air Base.



Only one caveat; the Ukrainian Su-25 was a decoy. pic.twitter.com/XXxi5THZJD  OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) November 30, 2023

Todays attack once again raises issues about how difficult it has become to protect air bases for both sides.

From our previous report: 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.

Dolgintsevo Air Base located near Kryvyi Rih is about 230 miles from Russian territory. Google Earth image

The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) claimed that it repelled a Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessel attack (USV) on the Black Sea port of Novorossysk on Thursday. The port is some 420 miles from Ukrainian-occupied territory. It has become a refuge for the Russian Black Sea Fleet in the wake of repeated Ukrainian attacks on Sevastopol in occupied Crimea.

A 52-second video released by the MoD shows Russian patrol boats in the harbor unleashing a torrent of small arms fire across the water, the tracers lighting up the night sky. At around the 17-second mark, the video cuts to what appears to be a Ukrainian USV. It then cuts to more tracer fire and a bright flash of an explosion.

#War Footage of a night attack by USV on warships in the port of Novorossiysk. pic.twitter.com/SiaaQTn1H5  Capt(N) (@Capt_Navy) July 3, 2024

In another video, shot from inside the city, the distant rumble of gunfire is heard from the harbor.

The port in Novorossiysk, where Russia hides its naval fleet, was attacked by naval drones overnight. Locals reported hearing explosions and sirens, and authorities have banned staying near the coast. on FIRMS data, strong fire(s) were noticed. pic.twitter.com/T0Jeo6qNlz  NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) July 3, 2024

It is hard to tell from the video exactly what happened, but the Russian MoD said two Ukrainian USVs were destroyed with no damage caused to the port or any vessels. The War Zone cannot independently verify that, however, FIRMS shows what appears to be a fire at the port and one to the north. There was no claim by Ukrainian officials about this reported attack.

Russian authorities claim there was no damage caused by a Ukrainian drone boat attack on Novorossysk, however, there appear to have been some fires there. FIRMS

There is no danger for the inhabitants of the hero city! Novorossysk Mayor Andrei Kravchenko wrote on Telegram Wednesday. On behalf of all Novorossiysk residents and myself personally, I thank our military personnel for their prompt response and protection of their heroic hometown, and the media for timely informing the population.

The port has been attacked several times in the past.

Ukraine claimed the Russian Project 266M class minesweeper Korovets was destroyed in an attack there in May.

Companies in China and Russia are developing an attack drone similar to Iranian-made Shahed-136s widely used in Ukraine, European officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News. The outlet postulated that is a sign that Beijing may be edging closer to providing the sort of lethal aid that Western officials have warned against.

The companies started developing and testing a version this year in preparation for shipment to Russia, Reuters reported, citing officials who asked not to be identified to discuss private information. The companies first held talks in 2023 about this collaboration. The Chinese drones have yet to be used in Ukraine, the officials added.

China and Russia are working together to develop a new attack drone modeled after the Iranian Shahed 136, per Bloomberg.



Negotiations between the two countries began in 2023 and the development and testing of the new drone started this year.https://t.co/dDAflZMWcY  UNITED24 Media (@United24media) July 3, 2024

Speaking of Shahed-136 drones, the Belarusian Army for the first time showed off their fleet during a parade in the capital of Minsk. The drones reportedly go by a different name in the country  Kochevnik  which means nomad in Russian.

For the first time, the Belarusian army was seen with Iranian-made "Shahed-136/Geran-2" kamikaze drones, supplied by Russia. These drones were showcased at today's parade in Minsk and have been named "Kochevnik" in the Belarusian military. pic.twitter.com/HLrQDvagkj  NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) July 3, 2024

The Czech Defense Ministry published a list of nearly $300 million in military equipment it has provided to Ukraine. It includes eight Mi-24V/35 helicopters, 62 tanks T-72M/M1 tanks, 131 BVP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicles, 26 chemical reconnaissance vehicles, and nearly 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition.

#Ukraine/#Russia :



The Ministry of Defence of the #Czech Republic has published a list of assistance to #Ukraine, which faces Russian aggression from 24 February 2022. The total aid amounts to around CZK 7 billion (~$299 million). It contains:



8 helicopters (Mi-24V/35 pic.twitter.com/lvwS9pZ70N     (@praisethesteph) July 3, 2024

Ukraine is not ready to compromise with Russia and give up any territory to end the war, a senior Ukrainian official told reporters on Tuesday when asked about former president and current candidate Donald Trumps promise that he could quickly end the raging conflict.

Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys chief of staff, told reporters during a visit to Washington that Kyiv would listen to any advice on how to achieve a just peace in the war, according to Reuters.

But we (are) not ready to go to the compromise for the very important things and values  independence, freedom, democracy, territorial integrity, sovereignty, he said.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee challenging President Joe Biden, said during a debate between the pair last week that if he is re-elected in November he would quickly solve the war in Ukraine before taking office in January.

Ukraine not ready to compromise with Russia on territory or values, Yermak says.https://t.co/c6ucJC0BDc  The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) July 3, 2024

The European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR) released the result of a poll taken in Ukraine and 14 other nations that found Ukrainians are confident of victory, largely support President Volodymyr Zelensky, and are more willing to give up land than sovereignty to Russia as a condition for ending the war.

When asked about the most likely outcome of the war, 58% foresee a Ukrainian victory, 30% say it will end in a settlement, and only 1% expect Russia to emerge victorious, pollsters found. Ukrainians are even more optimistic under a scenario whereby Western supplies of weapons and ammunition increase  in such a circumstance, 69% think Ukraine would win, while 22% would expect a settlement.

NEW SURVEY | New research confirms Ukrainians determination to fight and Europeans steady support for Kyiv. But a major divide lurks beneath this appearance of unity



Ivan Krastev and @markhleonard



A few insights https://t.co/qMwpyEVOMn  ECFR (@ecfr) July 3, 2024

While it is true that President Volodymyr Zelenskys image has been tarnished by the burdens of office, the poll shows that 34% of Ukrainians currently say they trust him a great deal. An additional 31% trust him quite a lot, according to ECFR.

That means by two to one, those who are keeping the faith with their leader outnumber those who are not, ECFR concluded.

In addition, Ukrainians appear to view the right to choose their geopolitical orientation as even more important than territorial integrity, ECFR explained. A full 45% say they would prefer Ukraine to lose parts of its currently occupied territory but remain sovereign, with its own army and freedom to choose its alliances, such as the EU and NATO. Only 26% say they would prefer to see Ukraine regain its occupied territory but accept demilitarisation and neutrality, which would mean not joining the EU and NATO.

A new poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that most Ukrainians prefer to give up land instead of sovereignty. ECFR

Ukrainian military sources claim that nine Russian drone operators were killed in this drone strike on the building they were operating in.

Nine Russian drone operators were killed as a result of a Ukrainian drone strike pic.twitter.com/Y1Wbb4r8fO  TOGA (@TOGAjano21) July 3, 2024

And finally, a drone captured a devastating look at the Donetsk Oblast city of Chasiv Yar, a focal point of fighting.

This used to be Chasiv Yar. pic.twitter.com/1BBBibuFyu  UNITED24 Media (@United24media) July 3, 2024

Thats it for now.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
An aerial view of the ruined and uninhabitable city of Chasiv Yar on July 3 after months of Russian bombardment - Getty Images Europe

Ukraines troops have retreated from a district of the crumbling, but strategic eastern city of Chasiv Yar, a day after a day after Russia claimed its troops had captured ground.

Moscows forces have relentlessly been attacking the now flattened city, which holds the keys to the rest of the Donbas, for months from land and air.

It became impractical to hold the canal neighbourhood after the enemy entered it...the positions of our defenders were destroyed, military spokesperson Nazar Voloshyn said on national TV.

The command decided to pull back to more protected and prepared positions, but even there the enemy does not stop its active combat actions, he added.

Holding Chasiv Yar, which lies six miles from Bakhmut, was crucial for Ukraine due to its elevated and strategic location. Its military has sought to downplay its retreat, calling it small and not important.

03:35 PM BST

Todays live coverage has ended. Heres a roundup of the days events:

Russia destroyed a Ukrainian fighter jet in attack on airfield that could host F-16s

Ukraine announced its troops had retreated from district in Chasiv Yar

Indian prime minister Modi will visit Russia next week

Russian attacks on Ukraine killed 10 and injured 100 in past day

Ukraine formed new brigades, but is unlikely to be able to arm them

Zelensky tells Trump to reveal his peace plan for Ukraine

Xi and Putin pushed for a greater anti-Western alliance at Kazakh summit

03:27 PM BST

Patriot systems downed all Russian Kinzhals fired at Kyiv since arrival last year

US-provided Patriot missiles have downed all Russian Kinzhal missiles fired at Kyiv since their arrival in Ukraine in May 2023, Ukrainian Air Force Colonel Serhii Yaremenko told Ukrinform.

Kinzhal missiles are launched from MiG-31K aircraft and can strike targets up to around 2,000 kilometres away, which means that all of Ukraine is in range if the missile is fired from Russian airspace.

Kyiv has been targeted by more than 20 Kinhzal missiles, but none of them have hit the capital, according to Yaremenko, who commands the 95th anti-aircraft missile brigade.

Russia claims its Kinzhal missiles are hypersonic and they were considered near-impossible to shoot down before the arrival of Patriot systems.

A Patriot missile system of the Romanian army on display during an army drill at the Capu Midia military shooting range next to the Black Sea November 15, 2023. - AFP

03:26 PM BST

Why is Chasiv Yar so important?

The hilltop town of Chasiv Yar is a key Russian target in the wider attempt to capture the entirety of Ukraines Donetsk region.

If Russian forces are eventually able to seize control of the settlement, it will put their artillery guns in firing range of a fortress of Ukrainian cities used to defend the Donbas.

They would be able to rain down shells and FPV drones on the H20, a motorway linking the important cities of Kostiantynivka and Druzhkivka; the provisional regional capital of Kramatorsk.

Capturing only a few more miles of territory in the uplands would leave them directly able to target the first two cities.

Another key supply route, the T0504, known as the life road, would also be at risk from long-range attacks, further isolating Kostiantynivka.

Capturing what is considered Ukraines strategic foothold would severely diminish Kyivs ability to hold onto the southern area in Donetsk altogether.

03:18 PM BST

China working with Russia to make attack drone to strike Ukraine

Russia and China are working together to produce a version of Irans Shahed drone that could be used on the battlefields of Ukraine, European intelligence sources have said.

The drones themselves are still in the test and development phase and have not yet been deployed in Ukraine, the sources told Bloomberg.

However, sending drones would be a major escalation in Chinas support for the Kremlin war machine, as it has previously only provided non-lethal aid, such as microchips and tools for tank-making.

One source told Bloomberg that the US still doesnt consider China to be sending lethal aid but conceded that other nations may have a different interpretation.

Read the full story here.

02:17 PM BST

Not a single building left intact in Chasiv Yar

Ukrainian forces have retreated from a key district in the eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, which Russian forces have been relentlessly bombarding for months.

The enemy did not leave a single building intact; after the bombing and artillery shelling, it looks like a moonscape, Nazar Voloshyn, a military spokesperson, told Kyiv Post.

Mr Voloshyn called the troops withdraw from the eastern district a small retreat and sought to downplay its significance tactically. It is not important, he said, adding: But it saves the lives of our soldiers.

The ruined hilltop city in the Donetsk region sits on a highly strategic, elevated location that - if captured - could allow Russians to mount offensive attacks deep into the Donbas region.

01:54 PM BST

Pictured: Inside battle for Chasiv Yar

An aerial view of a ruined and uninhabitable Chasiv Yar - Getty Images Europe

An old abandoned photo album of a family that fled the war lies strewn on the ground - Getty Images Europe

Ukrainian soldiers on the outskirts of Chasiv Yar - a day before it announced its troops were withdrawing - Getty Images Europe

Medics help a wounded Ukrainian serviceman inside a medical stabilisation near the town of Chasiv Yar - REUTERS

01:41 PM BST

Lukashenko frees at least 10 political prisoners

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has freed at least 10 political prisoners, including former opposition party leader and presidential candidate Ryhor Kastusiou, a human rights group said on Thursday.

Mr Kastusiou, 67, who is suffering from cancer, is the only one named so far, but seven men and three women are also believed to have been freed, advocacy group Viasna reported.

The rare pardon still leaves some 1,400 people behind bars for political activity, most of them arrested after peaceful mass protests in 2020 and convicted on a range of charges related to alleged extremism.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, announced an amnesty to mark the 80th anniversary of Belaruss liberation from the Nazis in World War Two.

The amnesty was expected to apply to about 7,850 prisoners including minors, pregnant women, pensioners and people suffering from tuberculosis or cancer, according to state news agency Belta.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko speak at Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan July 4, 2024 - REUTERS

01:15 PM BST

One worker killed in Russian missile attack on gas infrastructure

A Russian missile attack on gas infrastructure in Ukraines Poltava region on Wednesday killed one worker and injured three more, Ukraines energy ministry said.

Unspecified infrastructure as well as the facility of the gas producer Ukrgasvydobyvannia were damaged in the strike, the ministry said on Telegram.

A barrage of Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have killed at least 10 in the last 24 hours, including six in the central city of Dnipro, where Russia targeted kindergartens, schools and hospitals.

12:48 PM BST

Modis visit to Russia confirmed for next week

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on July 8 and 9, the Kremlin said Thursday, in his first trip to the country since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

That war has tested relations between Moscow and New Delhi, even though India has ramped up its purchases of Russian oil and not joined Western sanctions.

The Kremlin said Mr Modi and Vladimir Putin will discuss prospects for further development of traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations, as well as relevant issues on the international and regional agenda.

The visit could help to dispel concerns that New Delhi is getting too close to the West and further away from Moscow, ceding space to China, analysts say.

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet each other before their meeting in New Delhi, India in 2021 - AP

12:28 PM BST

Russian attacks kill 10, injures 100 in past day

Russian missile and drone attacks across Ukraine in the past 24 hours have killed at least 10 and injured 100, regional authorities said.

Moscows forces targeted 12 Ukrainian regions, with casualties reported across Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava and Donetsk.

At least six were killed and over 50 injured in the daylight attack on Dnipro that targeted hospitals, schools and kindergartens.

In the Kharkiv Oblast, 20 people were injured as a result of Russian strikes, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Another 14 were injured by a glide bomb attack in the city on July 3.

Law enforcers examine the crater from an impact in a residential area after the Russian glide bomb attack in Kharkiv on July 3 - Ukrinform

12:04 PM BST

Xi and Putin push for greater anti-Western alliance

The leaders of China and Russia on Thursday urged their allies and partners to advance their shared anti-Western agenda at a regional summit in Central Asia.

Xi Jinping called on the countries to resist external interference while Putin claimed new centres of political and economic might were on the rise in in Kazakh capital of Astana for a gathering of leaders from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

We should join hands to resist external interference, firmly support each other, take care of each others concerns... and firmly control the future and destiny of our countries and regional peace and development in our own hands, Mr Xi told the summit.

It is of vital importance to the world that the SCO be on the right side of history and on the side of fairness and justice, he added.

Russia's president Vladimir Putin meets with China's president Xi Jinping on July 3 - AFP

11:45 AM BST

Ukraine forms new brigades, but unable to arm them - report

Ukraine has sought to address its manpower issues by forming several new brigades, but weapon shortages and delays mean they are not all likely to be equipped, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Timely and appropriate Western security assistance continues to be a crucial determinant of when and at what scale Ukrainian forces can contest the battlefield initiative and conduct operationally significant counteroffensive operations in the future, it wrote in its latest battlefield assessment.

It comes as Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Ukraines forces are in a better place in terms of manpower than they were a few months ago.

However, no counteroffensive would be able to take place without equipping brigades with heavy equipment, such as fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tanks and heavy artillery, he told Bloomberg.

11:23 AM BST

Pictured: Xi, Kazakh president and Putin

Chinese president Xi Jinping, Kazakh president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit - Reuters

11:01 AM BST

A couple posed as newlyweds to send pictures of Ukrainian targets to Russia

Ukraine has detained a couple accused of taking pictures in front of Ukrainian targets to send to Russia as they masqueraded as newlyweds.

Ukraines security service (SBU) said a man, 23, and his partner, 18, both from Odesa, were collecting intelligence for Moscow on important sites that could be hit with possible airstrikes.

The pair were caught red handed and detained when spying near a potential target, the SBU said.

The agency said they uncovered anti-Ukrainian leaflets and evidence of payment from Russias security service, the FSB.

10:33 AM BST

Zelenskys office denies interview with US anchor Tucker Carlson

Volodymyr Zelenskys spokesman has denied the claim that US TV host Tucker Carlson had secured an interview with the Ukrainian leader.

Mr Carlson controversially interviewed Vladimir Putin in February, becoming the first Western journalist to do so since Russia invaded Ukraine two years before.

The former Fox News host posted on X: Looks like weve got the Zelenskyy interview...Weve been trying for two years.

Looks like we've got the Zelenskyy interview. We've been trying for two years, and with particular intensity after interviewing Putin in February. The point is to bring Americans much-needed information about the conflict that's completely reshaping their country's position in  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) July 3, 2024

10:16 AM BST

French citizen accused of spying to remain detained in Russia

A Russian court on Thursday ruled to keep Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher accused of illegally gathering military information, in pre-trial detention until August 5.

Vinatier, an expert on the former Soviet Union with long experience of working in Russia, faces charges of illegally acquiring sensitive Russian military information that could benefit foreign intelligence services.

The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Russias security service (FSB) claimed he pleaded guilty during questioning.

I love Russia. My wife is Russian, my friends are all in Moscow. My life is connected with Russia, Mr Vinatier said during a court hearing on Thursday.

Mr Vinatier was arrested last month in central Moscow by masked FSB officers as tensions flared between Moscow and Paris over the war in Ukraine. He joins a growing number of Western citizens detained in Russia in the past two years.

Laurent Vinatier, a French national detained in Russia, sits in the defendant's cage during his pre-trial detention hearing in Moscow on June 7 - AFP

09:54 AM BST

Zelensky tells Trump to explain his peace plan

Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Donald Trump to disclose his plan to end the war in Ukraine and warned that any proposal must avoid violating Ukraines sovereignty.

If Trump knows how to end this war he should tell us today. Because if there are risks to Ukraines independence, if there are risks that we lose statehood, we want to be prepared for this, he told Bloomberg.

Trump has repeatedly boasted he could swiftly settle the war by his possible inauguration in January. Sources close to the former president say his plan could involve striking a bargain with Vladimir Putin to block Ukraine from joining Nato.

Mr Zelensky, who has pushed back against any peace deal that would involve giving up Ukrainian territory, said: They cant plan my life and life of our people and our children.

We want to understand whether in November we will have the powerful support of the US, or will be all alone.

Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Donald Trump to come forward with his plan to 'quickly end the war' with Russia - Bloomberg

09:44 AM BST

Ukraines troops retreat from district in key hilltop city

Ukraines troops have pulled back from a key district of the crumbing city of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region, its military said on Thursday morning.

Russia has relentlessly been attacking the strategic city, which holds the keys to the rest of the Donbas, for months from land and air.

It became impractical to hold the canal neighbourhood after the enemy entered it...the positions of our defenders were destroyed, military spokesperson Nazar Voloshyn said on national TV.

The command decided to pull back to more protected and prepared positions, but even there the enemy does not stop its active combat actions, he added.

09:07 AM BST

Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills two

A Russian attack on Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhia region killed two people and wounded another, the local governor said Thursday.

A man and a woman died as a result of enemy shelling, governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram, adding that another man had been injured in an overnight Russian assault.

Mr Fedorov said Russia had carried out 391 strikes on 10 settlements in the past 24 hours.

Russia claims to have annexed Zaporizhzhia, but it does not fully control the region.

08:38 AM BST

Russia destroys Ukrainian fighter jet in attack on airfield that could host F-16s

Russias defence ministry on Thursday said its forces destroyed a Mig-29 fighter jet using an Iskander missile in the second strike this week on air bases deep within Ukraine.

The jet, vehicles and other equipment were destroyed at the base at Dolgintsevo, the ministry said, as it released footage showing a huge blast at an aircraft hangar.

It follows a major Russian attack on the Myrgorod airfield in central Ukra

ine on Tuesday, which Moscow claimed destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets and damaged two more. Kyiv confirmed the strike, but downplayed its losses.

Russia said last week it was targeting airbases it believes will house the F-16s that Kyivs depleted air force is expecting to arrive imminently from its Western partners.

The protection of its bases where the jets will be stationed will be a key challenge for Ukraine, military analysts say.

08:18 AM BST

Ukraine: Heavy fighting ongoing in Chasiv Yar

Russias defence ministry claimed that its forces had taken control of a district in the key eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar on Wednesday, however Kyiv said the area was engulfed by intense fighting.

We see no letup in the amount of shelling. The enemy is using artillery, multiple rocket systems, Ivan Petrechak, spokesman for Ukraines 24th brigade defending the town, said.

The situation remains tense. But the 24th brigade is holding its positions.

Mr Petrechak called the situation critically difficult, with fierce fighting around the canal that Ukraine has been using as a natural defence against Russias advancing troops.

Moscow has been intent on capturing the whole of the crumbling Donbas city, close to Bakhmut, as it would allow Russia to threaten crucial Ukrainian supply lines and mount further offensives throughout the region.

Ukrainian servicemen of 24th Mechanized Brigade fire a howitzer towards Russian troops on a front line near to Chasiv Yar - Ukrainian Armed Forces

08:02 AM BST

Ukraine thwarts large-scale Russian drone attack

Ukraine shot down 21 out of 22 Shahed drones used in a Russian attack overnight, its air force said on Thursday.

Air defence shot down 95 per cent of the drones over six regions across northern and central Ukraine, it said.

The governor of the northern region of Chernihiv said that one of the drones struck a facility in his region and that now over 5,000 consumers in the region remained without power.

Russia denies it is targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure, however it has continued to intensify its aerial attacks in recent months, particularly focusing on Ukraines energy grid.

07:54 AM BST

Dnipro in mourning after Russian attack kills six, wounds 50

The central Ukrainian city of Dnipro spent a day in mourning on Wednesday after Russia launched a daylight missile and drone attack that killed six and wounded more than 50, including a child.

The aerial onslaught targeted kindergartens, schools and hospitals and sparked major fire across the city, sparking an urgent appeal from Volodymyr Zelensky for the West to supply more air defences and long-range weapons.

Mayor Borys Filatov said the attack blew out the windows in two schools and three kindergartens and that debris struck the intensive care unit of a childrens hospital, while another hospital was damaged by a fire.

The death toll rose to six on Thursday after a woman died in hospital.

The damage to a shopping mall caused by a Russian drone and missile barrage on Dnipro on July 3 - AFP

A resident talks on the phone in the wake of the attack - Anadolu

07:38 AM BST

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Key developments on July 4:

Ukraine withdraws from eastern Chasiv Yar neighborhood, military says

Media: Orban to meet with Putin in Moscow following Kyiv visit

14 brigades underarmed, aid arriving too slowly, Zelensky comments on battlefield situation

Russia attacks port facilities near Odesa, killing 1, injuring 7

97% of Russian missiles, drones, bombs hit civilian infrastructure, diplomat says

Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the Kanal neighborhood of the embattled town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, said Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, on state television on July 4.

The decision was made because defensive positions in the neighborhood were destroyed, and commanders agreed to withdraw to better-protected positions, Voloshyn said.

After capturing Avdiivka in February, Russian forces shifted their focus toward Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens for Russia the way to further advances into Donetsk Oblast.

Voloshyn said in late June that Russian troops had been repelled from the Kanal neighborhood but that they had not given up their intention to make a breakthrough in the Chasiv Yar area.

Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing one of their main efforts on Chasiv Yar.

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 2 that fighting had been particularly intense in recent weeks around the town of Toretsk, located some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Chasiv Yar.

Read also: Destruction of Russian bombers halt Russias advance on battlefield, Kuleba says

Media: Orban to meet with Putin in Moscow following Kyiv visit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 5, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on July 4 citing an unnamed Hungarian government source.

Orban's trip may take place days after the first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The Hungarian prime minister pushed a ceasefire proposal, which was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the outlet's source, Orban will be accompanied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who visited Russia at least five times since the onset of the all-out war.

Budapest and Moscow are yet to make announcements on the visit.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 5, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on July 4 citing an unnamed Hungarian government source.

Orban's trip may take place days after the first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. The Hungarian prime minister pushed a ceasefire proposal, which was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the outlet's source, Orban will be accompanied by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who visited Russia at least five times since the onset of the all-out war.

Budapest and Moscow are yet to make announcements on the visit.

The visit may come five days into Hungary's rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. Amid reports, European Union Council President Charles Michel said that the EU rotating presidency "has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU."

"The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine," Michel wrote on X on July 4.

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.

Orban and Putin held talks in Beijing in October 2023 at the Belt and Road Forum. The Hungarian prime minister was the only leader from the European Union to attend the summit.

Read also: Putin claims Istanbul peace plan draft still on table for talks between Russia and Ukraine

14 brigades underarmed, aid arriving too slowly, Zelensky comments on battlefield situation

Ukraine is grateful to Western partners for their support, but the pledged assistance is arriving too slowly, complicating the situation on the front lines, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 4.

"We have 14 brigades who do not have the necessary weapons that have already been approved and discussed," Zelensky said.

Washington, Kyiv's leading military donor, approved in April a long-expected $61-billion aid package after months of delays.

In spite of this, Russia has continued to pressure Ukraine along the front, launching a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and steadily pushing into a key town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast.

"The (assistance) packages should arrive, but they are coming slowly," the president said, adding, "We are grateful to Congress for its support."

Zelensky said that, nonetheless, the situation cannot be described as a stalemate and that the current difficulties can be solved with appropriate tools, referring to foreign military aid.

The head of state said that, at the moment, it is not appropriate to talk about a Ukrainian counteroffensive as Kyiv must focus on protecting what it has. Any pushback against Russian forces will be possible once sufficient weapons arrive, he added.

Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive has achieved only minimal results, while the subsequent Russian push utilized the lull in U.S. aid and led to the capture of the key front-line town of Avdiivka.

Ukraine managed to halt the Russian push into the northern part of Kharkiv Oblast, but the situation in the east remains difficult. Earlier on July 4, the military announced withdrawal from the Chasiv Yar's eastern neighborhood, Kanal.

Read also: Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 10, injure almost 100 over past day

Russia attacks port facilities near Odesa, killing 1, injuring 7

Russian troops attacked Odesa Oblast with a ballistic missile on July 4, killing one civilian and injuring at least seven others, Governor Oleh Kiper said.

Explosions were reported in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa after an air raid alert went off in the region, while the missile was launched in the direction of the nearby town of Chornomorsk, Ukraine's Air Force said.

The port infrastructure came under Russia's strike, Kiper said. The attack damaged port facilities and administrative premises, he added.

Odesa Oblast and other southern regions of Ukraine are regular targets of Russian missile and drone attacks.

Russia on May 1 launched ballistic missiles at Odesa, hitting a postal depot of Ukraine's largest privately-owned postal service, Nova Poshta.

The attack injured 14 people and destroyed 15.5 metric tons of shipments worth almost Hr 3 million ($76,000).

Read also: Russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast kill woman, injure 8, including children

97% of Russian missiles, drones, bombs hit civilian infrastructure, diplomat says

Only 3% of Russian missiles, drones, and guided bombs hit military targets in Ukraine, while 97% have struck civilian infrastructure, Danylo Kubai, Ukraine's envoy to international organizations in Vienna, said on July 3, according to Ukrinform.

"In recent months, Russia has launched numerous attacks on Ukraine using missiles, drones, and artillery, killing dozens of civilians across the country," Kubai said during a meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Ukrinform reported.

"Russia's massive air attacks have destroyed private and commercial buildings, hotels, schools, churches, hospitals, and numerous infrastructure facilities."

Kyiv has been calling on its partners to provide additional air defenses as Russia intensifies its strikes against cities and energy infrastructure.

Russia used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine over the past week alone, targeting civilian infrastructure, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"In the late 1980s, the loss of 15,000 troops in Afghanistan forced the Soviet leadership to admit defeat and withdraw its troops from the country, ending the 10-year war," Kubai said.

"By comparison, last June alone, the Russian armed forces lost more than 33,000 soldiers in Ukraine. However, the Kremlin regime, considered the heir to the Soviet leaders, remains convinced that the war must continue."

Kubai stressed that Ukraine remains determined to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

"Unfortunately, Russia's only response to all peace initiatives is to continue the war," the diplomat added.

Kubai also described Russia's methods of carrying out the war as those that "resemble the darkest pages of world history, which the civilized world hoped would never be repeated."

Read also: Bureaucracy preventing allocation of funding to protect Ukraines energy infrastructure, media reports

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the Kanal neighborhood of the embattled town of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast, said Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, on state television on July 4.

The decision was made because defensive positions in the neighborhood were destroyed, and commanders agreed to withdraw to better-protected positions, Voloshyn said.

After capturing Avdiivka in February, Russian forces shifted their focus toward Chasiv Yar, an elevated town that potentially opens for Russia the way to further advances into Donetsk Oblast.

Voloshyn said in late June that Russian troops had been repelled from the Kanal neighborhood but that they had not given up their intention to make a breakthrough in the Chasiv Yar area.

Russian forces have ramped up their offensive in Donetsk Oblast, focusing one of their main efforts on Chasiv Yar.

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on July 2 that fighting had been particularly intense in recent weeks around the town of Toretsk, located some 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of Chasiv Yar.

Read also: As Russian tank losses in Ukraine continue to mount, heres what you need to know

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Defence Forces are still identifying and dealing with the remnants of the sabotage and reconnaissance group that entered the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok of Zolochiv hromada in Kharkiv Oblast [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories].

Source: Yurii Povkh, the spokesman of Kharkiv Operational Strategic Group of Forces, in a comment to Ukrinform

Quote: "Along the line of the state border, the enemy is trying to create additional points of tension using the tactics of the sabotage and reconnaissance group. One of these groups attempted to enter the village of Sotnytskyi Kozachok, which is located directly on the line of the state border. Currently, units of the defence forces of Ukraine continue to identify and destroy the remnants of the group."

Details: Povkh stated that Russian forces continue to concentrate their efforts near Vovchansk and Liptsy within the jurisdiction of the Kharkiv Operational Strategic Group of Forces.

According to the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration's press service, 32 people resided in Sotnytskyi Kozachok until recently, and only 4 remain today.

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Ukraine's Defence Intelligence on how Russian who set fire to Serpukhov ship defected to Ukraine

The Russian who set fire to the Serpukhov ship has Ukrainian roots; he decided to defect to Ukraine and will continue to serve in the defence forces.

Source: Andrii Yusov, Spokesperson for Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on the national joint 24/7 newscast

Details: According to Yusov, the former Russian soldier and now a volunteer soldier of the Freedom of Russia Legion (FRL) known as Goga is of Ukrainian origin and also condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He expressed a desire to continue serving in Ukraine's defence forces.

Quote: "Goga himself reached Ukraine, was looking for this way out, tried to demobilise and break the contract, he was not released. From the very beginning, he condemned Russian aggression and Russia's war against Ukraine, and finally took such a desperate heroic step because he risked his life without exaggeration.

The operation was very difficult, and the evacuation took time and arson inside the ship, of course, was not an easy task...but everything happened thanks to the professionalism of DIU employees and the Freedom of Russia Legion fighters and the I Want to Live hotline project.

Details: Yusov added that the I Want to Live project has successfully implemented more than 300 operations to withdraw the Russian soldiers who chose not to be the cannon fodder of the Putin regime. Another 30,000 applications are being studied and verified.

Previously: At a briefing on 3 July, representatives of DIU and FRL reported that in April 2024, the Serpukhov, a Russian missile ship, was set on fire by a Russian soldier. The special operation, codenamed Fisherman, had started in 2023.

A soldier with the alias Goga set fire to the ship from the inside and stole secret documents.

Background: On 8 April, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) reported that on 7 April a fire broke out on the Serpukhov missile ship in the Russian city of Baltiysk.

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A kamikaze drone hit the Tambov Gunpowder Plant in the city of Kotovsk, Tambov Oblast, Russia, as a result of a special operation by Ukraines Defence Intelligence on the morning of 4 July.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in Defence Intelligence of Ukraine

Details: The consequences of the strike, the extent of the damage, and information on Russian losses are currently being established.

The Russian authorities deny that the gunpowder plant was hit. Maksim Yegorov, the head of Tambov Oblast, said: "Both UAVs were shot down. There are no casualties or damage. The situation is under control."

However, local residents have been sharing videos online that clearly show a strike by one of the kamikaze drones, followed by an explosion and flames at the site.

 ""  : -    

 -   "  " pic.twitter.com/9NR2QHp0PH     (@ukrpravda_news) July 4, 2024

Background:

Defence Intelligence has attacked the Tambov Gunpowder Plant before, on the night of 18-19 January 2024.

On that occasion, one of the kamikaze drones exploded at the site near the powder mixing workshop. Drones also attacked the plant in November 2023.

UP's source pointed out that the Tambov Gunpowder Plant is one of the largest enterprises in Russia that produces ammunition and powder for small arms. Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the plant has increased production by a third. The business has been sanctioned since March 2023.

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Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraines Minister of Foreign Affairs, considers the appointment of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the position of head of EU diplomacy a "breakthrough".

Source: Kuleba in an interview with ELTA Zoomas, writes LRT

Quote: "The appointment of Estonia's Prime Minister as the EU's High Representative is a significant step forward, especially given the challenges from the east... Three years ago, no one could have predicted that a former Soviet Union representative would become the top foreign policy official."

Details: According to Kuleba, this indicates that the EU is not hiding or attempting to soften its stance on the Russian threat.

"On the contrary, it [the EU] is ready to accept the challenge with strength, with courage, with principle," Kuleba stated.

Read also: What is known about future head of EU diplomacy and why she "eats Russians for breakfast"

He also asserted that Ukraine will monitor the final choices and debates in the European Parliament on the appointment of a new leadership for the EU institutions.

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Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has announced the key details of Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba's visit to Moldova on Friday.

Source: press service of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As previously reported by the Moldovan Foreign Ministry, a trilateral meeting at the level of the foreign ministers of the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine will be held in Chisinau on Friday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine specified that the key topics of the talks will be strengthening cooperation in the Ukraine-Moldova-Romania triangle, Ukraine's and Moldova's accession to the EU, the development of cooperation between the three countries in the fields of energy, infrastructure and transport, in particular in the context of Ukraine's recovery, strengthening the energy system of Ukraine and the region as a whole, the development of border infrastructure and the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

The ministers will pay special attention to closer cooperation between the three countries in countering disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference, and attempts to destabilise the situation in the region.

The talks are expected to result in the signing of a joint ministerial statement and a memorandum of understanding between the three countries' foreign ministries on countering disinformation.

The talks will follow up on the meeting of the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Moldova and Romania on 15 September 2022 in Odesa, which launched this trilateral format of cooperation. The second meeting in this format took place on 13 April 2023 in Bucharest.

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The Russians have launched 22 Shahed-131/136 attack drones on the night of 3-4 July. Ukrainian defenders have managed to down 21 of them.

Source: Ukraine's Air Force

Quote: "As a result of combat efforts, the anti-aircraft missile units, mobile fire groups of the Defence Forces and electronic warfare systems of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 21 Shahed drones within Kyiv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava oblasts."

Details: The Russians launched the drones from the territory of Russias Kursk Oblast.

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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.

Monday

12:19 p.m.  A 40-year-old man was arrested for suspicion of burglary on state route 27.

12:48 p.m.  Officers responded to a dine and dash reported on the 1500 block of Merman Drive.

5:02 p.m.  A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged first-degree assault on the 1400 block of Bishop Boulevard.

5:48 p.m.  Drugs were reported on the 700 block of Bishop Boulevard.

9:06 p.m.  A fireworks complaint was made on the 1100 block of Grand Avenue.

Theft was reported twice in Pullman Monday.

Officers responded to two reported sexual assaults in Pullman Monday.

Tuesday

1:40 p.m.  A patient experiencing heart problems was taken to the hospital from the 400 block of Grand Avenue.

7:28 p.m.  Harassment was reported on the 1600 block of Bleasner Drive.

8:23 p.m.  Police arrested a 33-year-old man during a supposed domestic dispute on Grand Avenue.

Two fireworks complaints were made in Pullman Tuesday.

Fraud was reported three times in Pullman Tuesday.

Officers responded to four domestic disputes in Pullman Tuesday.

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.

Saturday
Ukrainian "kamikaze" drones operated by Ukraine's military intelligence attacked a gunpowder plant in the town of Kotovsk in Russia's Tambov Oblast, a military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent.

According to the source, the facility was struck with a drone. The scale of damage is being specified.

Russian Telegram channels shared a video purporting to show smoke rising after an alleged explosion on the territory of the plant.

Maksim Yegorov, the Tambov Oblast governor, claimed that Russian air defenses shot down all two drones. No casualties or damages were reported.

The Tambov gunpowder plant is one of the largest industrial facilities in Russia that manufactures ammunition for the army, including gunpowder for small arms cartridges.

Its production has been reportedly increased by a third since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The plant was put on the U.S. sanction list in 2023.

Ukrainian drones struck the plant this January and in last November.

Ukrainian forces regularly conduct drone strikes and sabotage acts on Russian territory, targeting military assets, oil refineries, and industrial facilities.

Read also: Ukrainian drone attack damaged Russias only full-cycle metallurgical enterprise, source says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE PHOTO: Servicemen prepare a howitzer to fire towards Russian troops at a frontline near the town of Chasiv Yar

By Anastasiia Malenko

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Thursday its troops had pulled back from part of Chasiv Yar in the eastern Donetsk region, a day after Russia said its forces had taken control of a district in the strategic town.

Chasiv Yar stands on high ground. If Russian forces establish full control over the town, they could potentially use it as a staging post to advance westwards towards the Ukrainian cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday its forces had taken control of the "Novyi" district, which lies to the west of Siverskyi Donets-Donbas canal that runs through the eastern part of the town.

"It became impractical to hold the canal neighbourhood after the enemy entered it, because it threatened the lives and health of our servicemen and the positions of our defenders were destroyed," military spokesman Nazar Voloshyn told Ukrainian television.

"The command decided to pull back to more protected and prepared positions, but even there the enemy does not stop its active combat actions," he said.

Russia's forces, which launched their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, have been slowly advancing in the Donetsk region for several weeks and tried to open a new front near the northeastern city of Kharkiv.

The advance in the Kharkiv region was halted, but Ukrainian military analysts acknowledge that 2024 has been a tough year for Ukraine on the battlefield and that delays in receiving U.S. military aid have had an impact.

"We have 14 under-equipped brigades that do not have appropriate weapons," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview with Bloomberg published on his social media on Thursday. "The packages should be coming, but they are coming slowly, unfortunately."

As the country awaits the weapons critical for its fight, Zelenskiy said Ukraine needs to defend what it has before talking about counter-offensive action.

The Ukrainian military said in a daily update that there had been more than 161 combat clashes in the last 24 hours, most of them in the Donetsk region.

It said its troops had prevented Russian forces breaking through Ukrainian defences on the Kramatorsk front, which includes areas near Chasiv Yar.

In the past week, the Ukrainian military have also reported intensifying fighting on Toretsk front in the Donetsk region. Voloshyn said Russian forces had attacked 114 times there in the past week compared to 31 attacks during the week before that.

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko and Olena Harmash; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Timothy Heritage and Christina Fincher)
The Angels Special Reconnaissance Unit of the Ukrainian Navy conducted a multi-stage special operation and evacuated from temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine a marine who had spent more than a year and a half in Russian captivity.

Source: Ukrainian Navy

Quote: "The marine, while performing his duties, was captured by the Russians and spent about a year and a half in captivity. During this time, he repeatedly became a victim and witness of torture and abuse of Ukrainian prisoners.

From the first days of Oleksandr's captivity, the Angels Special Reconnaissance Unit of the Ukrainian Navy were looking for ways to bring the marine back. They also supported his mother, Olha, who works as a Ukrainian language teacher, in every possible way."

Details: A significant amount of effort was involved in freeing the marine. As a result of a complex and multi-stage operation, the Angels successfully evacuated and returned the 29-year-old marine. For security reasons, the details of the operation are not disclosed.

Reportedly, the Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, Vice Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa, personally oversaw the operation at all its stages. The marine became the 69th person the Angels successfully evacuated to Ukrainian-controlled territory. However, besides evacuation from Russian-occupied territories, the unit performs a wide range of tasks.

The Navy Command also expressed great gratitude to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba for his assistance in conducting this operation.

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Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesman for the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces, has said that the Ukrainian defence forces withdrew from the Kanal district of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, to take up more favourable positions, but the Russians continue to press.

Source: Voloshyn on air during the 24/7 national joint newscast

Quote: "It was not reasonable to hold the Kanal district, which the enemy had entered, because it threatened the lives of our servicemen. The positions of our defenders were destroyed. The command decided to retreat to more secure and more prepared positions. However, even there the enemy does not stop their active hostilities."

Details: Voloshyn said that the Russians had certain deadlines that they had been unable to meet for several months in a row.

Background:

On 3 July, the press service of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group of Forces reported that the situation in their area of responsibility remained critically difficult, with fights with the Russians continuing in Chasiv Yar on the border of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal.

DeepState project analysts reported that the Russians advanced and occupied the villages of Sokil and Voskhod in Donetsk Oblast and expanded the front in Kharkiv Oblast on 3 July.

Read more on this topic: Ukrainska Pravda publishes exclusive images of Chasiv Yar after five months of Russian offensive

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By Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Smout

LONDON (Reuters) -Keir Starmer vowed to rebuild Britain as its next prime minister after his Labour Party on Friday surged to a landslide victory in a parliamentary election, ending 14 years of often tumultuous Conservative government.

The centre-left Labour won a massive majority in the 650-seat parliament. Rishi Sunak's Conservatives suffered the worst performance in the party's long history as voters punished them for a cost of living crisis, failing public services, and a series of scandals.

"We did it," Starmer said in a victory speech. "Change begins now ... We said we would end the chaos, and we will, we said we would turn the page, and we have. Today, we start the next chapter, begin the work of change, the mission of national renewal and start to rebuild our country."

The election result has upended British politics. Labour won some 410 seats, an increase of 210, while the Conservatives, the western world's most successful party, lost about 250 lawmakers, including a record number of senior ministers and former Prime Minister Liz Truss.

The Scottish National Party imploded, losing 38 seats, ending its own decade of dominance in Scotland and leaving its dream of independence for Scotland in tatters, while conversely the Irish nationalists Sinn Fein became Northern Ireland's largest party for the first time.

Meanwhile, the populist right-wing Reform UK party, headed by Nigel Farage, the colourful Brexit campaigner and friend of Donald Trump, won more than four million votes.

While it secured only four lawmakers, its impact on the outcome by siphoning vast tracts of Conservative support will make Farage a major thorn in the side of the two major parties.

SORRY SUNAK

A glum Sunak said he would stand down as party leader. He was meeting King Charles to formally resign before Starmer is appointed in his place.

"To the country I would like to say first and foremost I am sorry," Sunak said in a final speech outside Downing Street.

"I have given this job my all, but you have sent a clear signal that the government of the United Kingdom must change, and yours is the only judgment that matters. I have heard your anger, your disappointment and I take responsibility for this loss."

Despite his convincing victory, polls have suggested there is little enthusiasm for Starmer or his party. Thanks to the quirk of Britain's first-past-the-post system and a low turnout, Labour's triumph was achieved with fewer votes than it secured in 2017 and 2019 - the latter its worst result for 84 years.

The pound and British stocks and government bonds rose on Friday, but Starmer comes to power at a time when the country is facing a series of daunting challenges.

Britain's tax burden is set to hit its highest since just after World War Two, net debt is almost equivalent to annual economic output, living standards have fallen, and public services are creaking, especially the much cherished National Health Service which has been dogged by strikes.

Some of Labour's more ambitious plans, such as its flagship green spending pledges, have already been scaled back while Starmer has promised not to raise taxes for "working people".

Likewise, he has promised to scrap the Conservative's controversial policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda, but with migration a key electoral issue, he will be under pressure himself to find a way to stop tens of thousands of people arriving across the Channel from France on small boats.

"I don't promise you it will be easy," Starmer said. "Changing a country is not like flicking a switch. It's hard work. Patient, determined, work, and we will have to get moving immediately."

RECRIMINATIONS

Within the Conservative Party, the recriminations and debate over its future direction began immediately, with some saying its failure stemmed from shifting to the right while others argued Reform had won over voters who felt the party was not right-wing enough for its traditional supporters.

"There is a massive gap on the centre right of British politics and my job is to fill it, and that's exactly what I'm going to do," said a triumphant Farage after finally being elected to parliament at his eighth attempt. "Believe me folks, this is just the first step of something that is going to stun all of you."

The growth in support for a right-wing alternative echoed recent similar results in Europe, where the far right have been surging.

But, unlike France where Marine Le Pen's National Rally party made historic gains in an election last Sunday, overall the British public has plumped for a centre-left party to bring about change.

Starmer has promised to improve relations with the European Union to resolve issues created by Britain's split from the bloc. However, despite opposing Brexit, rejoining the EU is not on the table.

He may also have to work with Trump if he wins November's presidential election. Trump has already sent congratulations to Farage, via his social media platform Truth Social.

While he has promised to bring change domestically, Starmer has vowed to continue London's unequivocal support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. On many foreign issues, his policies are similar to Sunak's.

TURNAROUND

The election victory represents an incredible turnaround for Starmer and Labour, which critics and supporters said was facing an existential crisis just three years ago when it appeared to have lost its way after its 2019 drubbing.

A series of Conservative scandals - most notably revelations of parties in Downing Street during COVID lockdowns - undermined then prime minister Boris Johnson and its commanding poll lead evaporated.

Truss' disastrous six-week premiership in 2022, which followed Johnson being forced out, cemented the decline, and Sunak was unable to make any dent in Labour's now commanding poll lead.

Sunak stunned Westminster and many in his own party by calling the election earlier than he needed to while trailing badly in the polls, and his campaign then proved a disaster.

"What is crystal clear to me tonight is it is not so much that Labour won this election, but rather that the Conservatives have lost it," said defence minister Grant Shapps, the most high-profile minister to lose his seat.

"We have tried the patience of traditional Conservative voters with a propensity to create an endless political soap opera out of internal rivalries and divisions, which have become increasingly indulgent and entrenched."

(Additional reporting by William James, Kylie MacLellan, Sachin Ravikumar, Paul Sandle and Muvija M; Writing by Michael Holden and Kate Holton; Editing by Toby Chopra, Janet Lawrence, Philippa Fletcher)
The U.N. General Assembly will continue to support Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty regardless of the outcomes of national elections worldwide this year, the body's president said on July 3, adding that "no country has the right to invade another country."

That stance "cannot change because this is a matter of law," General Assembly President Dennis Francis said in an interview with The Associated Press during his first visit to Ukraine as the country battles Russias invasion for a third year.

The U.N.'s main policy-making body has shown strong support for efforts to uphold Ukraines sovereignty, he said. However, upcoming elections in the U.S. and several key European Union countries have raised concerns about potential shifts in policies among Western nations, whose military and financial support has been crucial for Ukraine in countering the Kremlins ambitions.

"It will be for us to witness over time what the implications of the results of those elections are for the entire international system and in particular for the state of Ukraine," Francis told The Associated Press.

Francis met with Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, to discuss peace and international security. He pledged support for Zelenskys peace plan, which was recently discussed at an international gathering in Switzerland attended by numerous countries and organizations, including the U.N.

"I think there are many important elements in (Zelenskys plan) that can provide a foundation for dialogue when that time is appropriate," he said. "Let us see where it takes us."

Read also: Reality will be very different  Ukrainian MP dismisses Trumps NATO, peace plan rhetoric

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Editor's note: In honor of Independence Day  this year, we mark 248 years since the United States parted with Great Britain  we present the nation's founding document, the Declaration of Independence.

America can  and must  ensure that all its people, created equal, can embrace their inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

The Declaration of Independence.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

Georgia

Button Gwinnett

Lyman Hall

George Walton

North Carolina

William Hooper

Joseph Hewes

John Penn

South Carolina

Edward Rutledge

Thomas Heyward, Jr.

Thomas Lynch, Jr.

Arthur Middleton

Massachusetts

John Hancock

Maryland

Samuel Chase

William Paca

Thomas Stone

Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia

George Wythe

Richard Henry Lee

Thomas Jefferson

Benjamin Harrison

Thomas Nelson, Jr.

Francis Lightfoot Lee

Carter Braxton

Pennsylvania

Robert Morris

Benjamin Rush

Benjamin Franklin

John Morton

George Clymer

James Smith

George Taylor

James Wilson

George Ross

Delaware

Caesar Rodney

George Read

Thomas McKean

New York

William Floyd

Philip Livingston

Francis Lewis

Lewis Morris

New Jersey

Richard Stockton

John Witherspoon

Francis Hopkinson

John Hart

Abraham Clark

New Hampshire

Josiah Bartlett

William Whipple

Massachusetts

Samuel Adams

John Adams

Robert Treat Paine

Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island

Stephen Hopkins

William Ellery

Connecticut

Roger Sherman

Samuel Huntington

William Williams

Oliver Wolcott

New Hampshire

Matthew Thornton

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: July 4: Declaration of Independence
DHS efforts: 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. Efforts are also being made to shut down key migration routes , including a U.S. agreement with Panama to cover repatriation costs for migrants entering Panama illegally and Ecuador reinstating visa requirements for Chinese nationals.

Catch up: The charter flight comes a month after Biden announced a broad asylum ban that temporarily halts asylum requests when weekly border arrests average above 2,500. In 2023, U.S. border authorities apprehended over 37,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, a tenfold increase compared to the previous year. Since October, the Customs and Border Protection have also encountered over 21,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, exceeding the number of Mexican nationals.
US ends legal fight against Titanic expedition. Battles over future dives are still possible

US ends legal fight against Titanic expedition. Battles over future dives are still possible

NORFOLK, Va. (AP)  The U.S. government has officially ended its legal fight against an upcoming expedition to the Titanic shipwreck after the company that owns the ships salvage rights scaled back its dive plans.

But the U.S. said in court filings last week that it may wage court battles over future expeditions if they break a federal law and an agreement with Great Britain to treat the wreck as a gravesite.

The litigation began last year after RMS Titanic Inc. announced the expedition, which is now scheduled for mid-July. The Georgia-based company originally planned to take images inside the ocean liners severed hull and to retrieve artifacts from the debris field.

Billionaire wants to take sub to Titanic-level depths after OceanGate implosion

RMST also said it would possibly recover free-standing objects inside the Titanic, including from the room where the sinking ship broadcast its distress signals.

The U.S. filed its legal challenge in August, arguing that entering the Titanic  or physically altering or disturbing the wreck  is regulated by the 2017 federal law and pact with Britain.

Both regard the site as a memorial to the more than 1,500 people who died when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in 1912. Among the governments concerns is the possible disturbance of artifacts and any human remains that may still exist on the North Atlantic seabed.

In October, RMST said it had significantly pared down its dive plans. Thats because its director of underwater research, Paul-Henri Nargeolet, died in the implosion of the Titan submersible near the Titanic shipwreck in June.

The Titan was operated by a separate company, OceanGate, to which Nargeolet was lending expertise. Nargeolet was supposed to lead this years RMST expedition.

RMST stated in a February court filing that it will send an uncrewed submersible to the site and only take external images.

The company will not come into contact with the wreck, RMST stated, adding that it will not attempt any artifact recovery or penetration imaging.

The U.S. government stated in a June 27 court filing that its ending its legal efforts against the expedition because of the companys revised dive plans.

OceanGate co-founder plans to dive into one of worlds deepest ocean sinkholes

But the government said future expeditions could be illegal. It noted that the firms longer-term objectives still involve the possible retrieval of objects from inside the wreck and surrounding debris field. For that reason, the U.S. said it wants to leave the door open for future legal battles. Specifically, the government said it may still pursue last years motion to intervene as a party in RMSTs salvage case with a federal admiralty court.

RMST has been the court-recognized steward of the Titanics artifacts since 1994. Its last expedition was in 2010, before the federal law and international agreement took effect.

The company has recovered and conserved thousands of Titanic artifacts, from silverware to a piece of the ships hull, which millions of people have seen through its exhibits.

U. S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith is the maritime jurist who presides over Titanic salvage matters in Norfolk, Virginia. She said during a March court hearing that the U.S. governments case against RMST would raise serious legal questions if it continues, while the consequences could be wide-ranging.

Family burying loved one at Florida cemetery left heartbroken after discovering grave already occupied

Congress is allowed to modify maritime law, Smith said in reference to the U.S. regulating entry into the sunken Titanic. But the judge questioned whether Congress can strip courts of their own admiralty jurisdiction over a shipwreck, something that has centuries of legal precedent.

In 2020, Smith gave RMST permission to retrieve and exhibit the radio that had broadcast the Titanics distress calls. The U.S. government responded by filing an official legal challenge against the expedition.

The court battle never played out. RMST indefinitely delayed those plans because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Smith noted in March that time may be running out for expeditions inside the Titanic. The ship is rapidly deteriorating.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
On Thursday, June 27, 2024, the Idaho Sheepherder departed to be with the Great Shepherd of green pastures and still waters. What a capacious legacy with volumes of stories he has left for us to treasure.

From true pioneer stock  Pauline Fyke, born in Wetonka, S.D., and Roy Stroschein, born in Bosler, Wyo., came their first born, Tommy Sherrill Stroschein, on July 26, 1937, in American Falls, Idaho. His mama told him it was the popcorn she ate the night before at the movies in Idaho Falls that prompted him to make his grand entrance into the world. We laughed when we found the $37.50 hand-written hospital receipt tucked away in his baby book that paid for his delivery and a mandatory two-week stay in the hospital.

Tom was incredibly proud of his German Hohenzollern heritage, and even more proud of the things his father accomplished in his lifetime with only an eighth-grade education. Tom credits his mother who taught in the Sterling and Aberdeen Schools over 30 years for being the silent force behind his fathers accomplishments: serving as a member of the Idaho Transportation Board, Aberdeen School Board and the Idaho State Legislature.

Tommy grew up working side by side with his dad on the farm at Sterling, 10 miles north of Aberdeen. He attended grade school at the Grandview School and high school in Aberdeen. If you have ever driven across the American Falls Dam and wondered how the black AHS sign on an orange background ended up on the 106-foot reinforced concrete grain elevator left standing in the reservoir after the reclamation project covered the old townsite, it was the senior class president, Tommy Stroschein, and the boys of the Aberdeen High School Class of 1955. They borrowed Toms dads boat (actually, it is rumored Toms dad was driving the boat), several gallons of black and orange paint, and a tall ladder.

After high school, Toms dad told him he could go to any college he wanted, but his tuition money would be at the University of Idaho. From that day on, Tom wore the silver and gold colors with pride. He said, Even my T-shirts were gold; but thats because of the Moscow water.

In the fall of his sophomore year at Idaho, Tom survived the fire at Gault Hall started by a UI law student, tragically killing three of his fellow classmates. The next fall he became a charter member of University of Idaho FarmHouse Fraternity, commissioned in October 1957, and was the recipient of the coveted FH Doane Award. He was Outstanding U of I Senior, a member of Silver Lance, Blue Key, Alpha Zeta and national president (Royal King) of Intercollegiate Knights. Tom graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry from the University of Idaho in 1959.

After college, Tom met Karen Smith, a sorority sister of Toms younger sister, Sharon. Tom and Karen were married Dec. 28, 1963. They made their life on the family farm where Tom worked since college; and where he recently acquired a band of sheep. He and his dad also expanded their irrigated farmland from 300 to 1,000 acres, officially becoming Stroschein Ranches Inc., raising hay, grain, sugar beets, peas and potatoes. In their 21-year marriage, Tom and Karen acquired an additional 4,000 head of ewes, bringing the total to 5,000. They were blessed with two children, Sherrill and Steve (also known as Gus).

It was the financial devastation of the 1980s that not only pushed family farms and ranches over the edge, but relationships as well. The sheep were liquidated along with the marriage in 1983-84, though Tom and Karen cooperated in parenting and were friends until her death in 2005. It was important to Tom that he later have Karens blessing on his marriage to Ruby Campbell Miles in 1990 when Tom also took on the responsibility of raising three stepchildren, Matt, Katie and Sarah.

Tom was appointed by Cecil Andrus to the Idaho Sheep Commission during Gov. Andrus first term, in 1972, and to the Idaho Wheat Commission during Andrus second term in 1990. Tom was appointed to the Idaho State Farm Service Agency Board in 1993. He also served on various boards and committees of National Farmers Union, Eastern Idaho Grazing Association and Society for Range Management. Tom worked with the U.S. Forest Service to initiate the first rest-rotation grazing program in the Caribou National Forest. In 1984, Tom was a candidate for Idaho State Representative, where he lost to Mike Simpson, claiming he helped launch the 40-year political career of the now District Two Idaho Congressman. He previously worked to get Richard Stallings elected to the position Congressman Simpson now holds, and went on to serve as Stallings agricultural adviser for several years, working on the 1985 Farm Bill in Washington, D.C.
How the US Navy's ice cream ships boosted morale aboard warships during World War II

How the US Navy's ice cream ships boosted morale aboard warships during World War II

The US Navy banned alcohol consumption on naval vessels, bases and shipyards in 1914.

As the US faced the impending threat of war, sailors needed an alternative morale boost: ice cream.

The Navy built a fleet of ice cream barges capable of churning out hundreds of gallons daily.

In 1914, then-Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels issued an order prohibiting the consumption of alcohol on any naval vessel, shipyard, or shore station.

In lieu of alcohol, sailors enduring the hardships of the sea were in need of an alternative morale booster, especially as the US faced the impending threat of World War I.

Amid wartime rationing and supply shortages, an unlikely contender emerged: ice cream.

The service began adding ice cream makers to ships prior to World War I and resorted to operating refrigerated barges to meet the needs of the massive and far-flung Pacific fleet during World War II.

Ice cream propaganda

A propaganda poster designed during World War II features a battleship next to icons of supplies needed by crews on board, including 60,000 quarts of ice cream. National Archives Catalog

In 1941, the US government declared ice cream a nonessential food as part of rationing efforts ahead of World War II.

The International Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers and the National Dairy Council launched an intense campaign to reverse the decision, publishing propaganda posters emphasizing the "health" benefits ice cream could offer US troops.

"There's a reason the US Navy serves ice cream," a 1944 ad by the National Dairy Council read. "America's favorite dairy food  ice cream  is an important source of vitamins, proteins and minerals."

The ad goes on to cite the work of subsistence researchers in Chicago, who approve foods served by the Navy.

"That is why it is significant that ice cream ranks so high on Navy menus," the ad read. "It is not only a favorite food, but it also supplies valuable vitamins, proteins, and minerals. For that reason, wherever practical, the Navy gets ice cream!"

Meanwhile, civilians at the homefront faced ice cream shortages amid the rationing of sugar and milk. However, organizations framed the ice cream scarcity back home as a sacrifice for the well-being of US troops.

"Ice cream is a favorite with all branches of our armed forces  and it is important that they get this valuable food," according to the ad. "So if you aren't always able to get all the ice cream you want  remember, you're 'sharing' this nutritious food with our fighters."

Aiding the recovery of sick troops

A record shows a Navy kitchen crewman pouring milk into an ice cream machine aboard the US hospital ship USNS Mercy. Paul Thompson/National Archives Catalog

The Navy has made ice cream accessible to sailors since the early 1900s, installing ice cream machines aboard US Navy ships to give sailors easy access to the frozen treat.

During World War I, Navy hospital ships, like USNS Mercy, used a milk emulsifier called the "mechanical cow," which could produce 15 gallons of cold, pasteurized milk in 45 minutes. The ships also had an electric ice cream machine that could make 10 gallons at a time.

Ice cream was thought to aid in the recovery of patients  if not in body, then in spirit.

A 1918 editorial published in the monthly trade magazine "The Ice Cream Review" highlighted the benefits of ice cream for the sick while urging the federal government to provide ice cream to troops overseas.

"In this country, every medical hospital uses ice cream as a food, and doctors would not know how to do without it," the editorial read.

Maritime ice cream parlors

Sailors gather around a soda fountain and ice cream parlor aboard the light cruiser USS Brooklyn. US Naval History and Heritage Command

As time went on, ice cream operations at sea began to more closely resemble experiences back home.

The first-in-class super-dreadnought battleship USS Pennsylvania had its own maritime ice cream parlor, featuring a soda fountain and tiled walls decorated with images of famous ships, according to the US Naval Institute.

The Navy also installed a brand-new soda fountain aboard the Omaha-class light cruiser USS Memphis, which cost $7,000  about $130,000 in 2024.

A frozen treat before abandoning ship

Crews aboard the aircraft carrier USS Lexington are seen abandoning ship after the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. US Navy via AP

During the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, the Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku struck the US aircraft carrier USS Lexington with two torpedoes, severely damaging its hull.

Crews aboard the Lexington were forced to abandon ship before a powerful internal explosion set the vessel ablaze  but some sailors had different priorities in mind.

Four decades later, then-retired US Navy Adm. Noel A.M. Gayler, one of the Navy's first fighter aces who served aboard the Lexington, recalled the moments before Lady Lex sank to its watery grave.

"We were driven by the fires to the extreme end of the ship," Gayler told Paul Stillwell, a historian at the US Naval Institute, in a 1983 interview. "The ship's service ice cream plant was in the extreme port corridor. Some clown passed the word that there was free ice cream, so sailors were abandoning ship and lining up for free ice cream."

Gayler added: "Of course, they puked it up as soon as they'd been swimming in salt water [for] a while."

Merle Lebbs, an electrician's mate on board the Lexington, said he was among those who polished off the ice cream containers evacuating the vessel.

Lebbs told local Oklahoma news station KFOR that, after the captain issued the order to abandon ship, a warrant officer broke the lock on a freezer door and handed out vanilla ice cream to a dozen or so sailors.

"He didn't think anything of it because we were abandoning ship. We just figured we might as well do it," he said.

In a 2002 interview for the US Naval Institute, George Von Hoff, then a 21-year-old sailor aboard the doomed Lexington, said he was among the hundreds of crewmen rescued by the destroyer escort USS Hammann.

Von Hoff said the Hammann then transferred the Lexington's crew to the Northampton-class cruiser USS Chester to receive "clean clothes, a bunk, and much-needed food."

"We hadn't eaten anything that day except ice cream, which I ate out of my helmet," he said in the interview.

The 'Ice Cream Ship' of the European invasion

Navy sailors are seen enjoying ice cream aboard a tender while their submarine gets serviced. US Naval Institute Photo Archive

Even if their vessel didn't have a gedunk bar on board, sailors could still enjoy the sweet treat while serving in the European theater of WWII.

Crews aboard the destroyer tender USS Melville carried out several duties while servicing Navy vessels in both world wars. The Melville rearmed tank landing ships, transported and installed new equipment, replaced anchors and ship propellers, and repaired boat davits on amphibious landing craft known as Higgins boats.

When it wasn't assisting the US Navy's fleet, the Melville also gave respite to weary sailors with luxuries they didn't have access to at sea.

"After the first flush of the invasion, a steady stream of LSTs pulled alongside the Melville for check-ups and repairs," according to a 1945 edition of the US Navy's All Hands bulletin, "and it was then that the crews availed themselves of the luxury of the tender's soda fountain, barber shop, tailor shop, and laundry."

Crewmen assigned to tank landing ships dubbed the Melville the "Ice Cream Ship" of the European invasion, according to the bulletin.

'A touch of home'

A magazine published in 1945 shows an ad from the National Dairy Products Corporation featuring a photo of servicemembers observing the ice cream barge as it sails by. Life Magazine/Wikimedia Commons

But delivering ice cream and other luxuries to sailors at sea was too big of a job for the Melville to handle alone.

In 1945, the Navy retrofitted the Army's refrigerated barges into the world's first maritime ice cream factories.

The US military operated three BRLs (Barge, Refrigerated, Large), launching USS Hydrogen, USS Calcium, and USS Antimony in 1944. Built out of concrete due to a steel shortage, the 265-foot-long vessels cost more than $1 million at the time, equivalent to about $17 million today.

The vessels were built to deliver perishable foods to soldiers stationed in the Pacific. They could carry the equivalent of 64 carloads of frozen meat and 500 tons of fresh vegetables, cheese, eggs, and other produce, the Redwood City Tribune reported.

The barges also featured a unit that could churn out 10 gallons of ice cream every seven minutes.

The National Dairy Products Corporation, now known as Kraft Foods, featured the ice cream barge, which uses the company's powdered ice cream mix, in a 1945 magazine ad.

"Can you imagine a greater tonic to body and spirit than real ice cream served in steaming jungles or on hard-won beachheads?" the ad read. "It's a touch of home as well as a valuable food."

Keeping the ice cream industry afloat

A sailor aboard a refrigerated barge delivers gallons of ice cream to another ship at sea. Official US Navy Photograph published in All Hands Magazine/CAP History Library/Scribd

The Navy's commitment to bring ice cream to sailors serving in the Pacific also benefited the struggling ice cream industry amid wartime rationing and ingredient shortages.

The US government awarded contracts to ice cream businesses like Carvel and Howard Johnson's to provide it in commissaries at military installations and defense plants, according to "World War II and the Postwar Years in America: A Historical and Cultural Encyclopedia," by William H. Young and Nancy K. Young.

"The armed forces, wherever their location, had ice cream to soothe both the palate and nerves," they wrote.

The ice cream industry boomed as companies capitalized on its popularity in the postwar era, experimenting with new flavors and ways to serve the delicious frozen treat.

Read the original article on Business Insider
US sees 'breakthrough' in Israel-Hamas talks, senior official says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hamas made a pretty significant adjustment in its position over a potential hostage release deal with Israel, a senior U.S. administration official said on Thursday, expressing hope that it would lead to a pact that would be a step to a permanent ceasefire.

"We've had a breakthrough," the official told reporters on a conference call, adding there were still outstanding issues related to implementation of the agreement and that a deal was not expected to be closed in a period of days.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday he has decided to send a delegation to resume stalled negotiations on a hostage release deal with Hamas.

The U.S. official said Biden was encouraged that Netanyahu was authorizing his team to join the talks.

"We do believe there is a pretty significant opening here, and we welcome the prime minister's readiness to try to seize that opening by empowering his negotiating team to engage directly" in Doha here over the coming days," the official said.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Timothy Gardner and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Alistair Bell)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States welcomed a two-week humanitarian truce in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the White House said on Thursday, amid fierce fighting between government troops and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

The fighting in North Kivu province has sent more than 1.7 million people fleeing their homes, driving up the number displaced in Congo by multiple conflicts to a record 7.2 million, according to United Nations estimates.

The truce, beginning at midnight local time on Friday and to extend through July 19, covers areas where the conflict most affects civilian populations, the White House said.

"The recent expansion of fighting in North Kivu has prevented humanitarian workers from reaching hundreds of thousands of IDPs in the area around Kanyabayonga and displaced more than 100,000 people from their homes," National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

The governments of the DRC and Rwanda expressed support for the truce "to ease the suffering of vulnerable populations and set conditions for broader de-escalation of tensions in eastern DRC," Watson said.

The United States calls on all parties to honor the truce, the statement said.

North Kivu has been battling the M23 insurgency for more than two years as well as other militia violence. Congo, the United Nations and Western powers have repeatedly accused Rwanda of supporting M23 with its own troops and weapons, which it denies.

Rwanda accuses Congo of financing and fighting alongside a Hutu rebel group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which has attacked Tutsis in both countries.

M23 says it is fighting to protect Tutsis from rivals like FDLR, whose ranks include Hutu extremists who fled to Congo after participating in the 1994 genocide targeting Tutsis and moderate Hutus in Rwanda.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
As Americans celebrated the countrys 248 birthday, something seems to be brewing in the nations capitol. At least Tom Whalen thinks so.

I think the Democrats have no choice or Biden for that matter, said Whelan. I think this week it will happen because by all accounts the money is drying up from big time donors

Whelan, an author, historian and associate professor at Boston University, was one of the millions of Americans who watched last weeks presidential debate -- and who came away convinced President Joe Biden ought to get out of the race.

It was just an utter train wreck, Whelan said. There were points where I had to look away. If you ever had an elderly relative and you love them and you care for them deeply and they can no longer put two sentences together, its heartbreaking. And thats the way I felt. And Biden deserves better.

What Biden is experiencing at the moment is freefall. Polls show him down in key battleground states -- and even in some states he won in 2020, such as Nevada, Arizona and Georgia.

And a growing number of legislators are urging Biden to step aside. The latest: Massachusetts Congressman Seth Moulton.

Whelan said that while any number of Democrats could replace Biden should he step down -- including California Governor Gavin Newsom, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer -- to name a few. But Whalens money is on Kamala Harris.

It would be technically open to anyone, he said. But it would be a seamless transition to Harris.

Whelan said Harriss prosecutorial background will throw Donald Trump off in debates -- and theres enormous value in the fact shes a fresh face. Plus, it will force the Trump campaign to quickly shift gears -- as all their attack ads have been directed at Biden.

Its going to take awhile for them to adjust if its a new candidate, Whelan said. Whether its Harris or somebody else.

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Former Obama administration official Van Jones said Wednesday that Democrats, behind closed doors, are discussing how to replace President Biden at the top of the ticket, not whether.

The CNN commentator said the Democrats who defend Biden on TV have completely different conversations in private, amid growing concern in the party about Bidens standing as the presumptive nominee.

I understand people want to, you know, defend him and protect him and give him the space and the dignity to make his own choice, Jones told CNNs Jim Sciutto Wednesday, referring to Biden.

But there is a big conversation happening right now about how this happens  not whether, he added.

Jones painted a chaotic picture of the Democratic party as it tries to figure out a path forward in private discussions.

Behind the scenes, its full-scale panic, Jones said. People are passing around legal memos, PDFs are flying back and forth on WhatsApp, trying to figure out, what are the options? How can you replace Biden? How do you get him to do it in a way where he feels respected, as he should be respected?

Jones suggested Democrats were proceeding under the assumption that Vice President Kamala Harris would be next in line for the top spot. Among the questions Democrats are trying to answer, Jones said, is, Who should Kamala Harriss vice president be?

Jones praised Biden as a great candidate but said Democrats must be responsible in determining what the best path forward is.

We have someone who loves this country. We have someone who has given his all  I mean, his all, to the last drop  for this country, but he may not be able to get across the finish line, Jones said. And a mature party has to take that into account. And that is whats happening.

Two House Democrats have already called for Biden to step aside, while several others have said they have serious concerns about Bidens ability to beat former President Trump. The White House and Bidens campaign team have maintained that Biden is up to the job of serving another four years as president and brushed off the shaky debate performance as a bad night.

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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper signed four bills Wednesday that include the creation of a new registry for vaping products and a slew of changes related to transportation laws and the state DMV.

Cooper also vetoed two other bills ahead of his anticipated participation with other Democratic governors in a meeting with President Joe Biden later on Wednesday.

One of the bills signed by Cooper focuses on creating a registry under the North Carolina Department of Revenue for certified vapor products  like e-cigarettes  or consumables containing nicotine at the end of the year. Certification for those products would be mandatory for manufacturers to sell in North Carolina.

There will be penalties for sellers and manufacturers who dont abide by the new regulations. Both would be subject to varying fee amounts, and manufacturers could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Another approved bill makes a wide variety of changes to transportation laws. The modifications include creating digital drivers licenses that can be displayed on mobile devices, printing temporary registration plates on-demand, implementing a work zone safety course and increasing littering penalties.

The third piece of legislation is the states annual Farm Act. Under this years iteration, agricultural areas would be exempt from municipal stormwater fees and a tax credit for certain types of land conservation-related donations would be enacted, among other alterations.

The last bill signed by Cooper makes various changes to insurance law.

Two other bills did not make the cut. The first bill allows for title certification for all-terrain and utility vehicles, as well as permits modified utility vehicles to travel on any roads that are 55 mph or less, which Cooper said would pose a risk on state highways.

The second bill makes several changes regarding tenancy and landlords. Cooper criticized a portion of the bill for barring cities from passing ordinances that stop landlords from refusing to lease to someone who pays for rent with funds from federal housing assistance programs.

Although the General Assembly adjourned, it has a list of dates where lawmakers can reconvene to take up certain actions, which includes the consideration of veto overrides. Republican supermajorities in both chambers make the prospect of overrides likely.

The next date to reconvene is July 10.

Coopers decisions came hours before Bidens meeting with other Democratic governors, in which the governors office confirmed Cooper would be attending virtually. The meeting follows a rough week for Bidens campaign, sparked by his debate performance that led to pundits and some officials calling for him to pull out of the presidential race.

Last week, the governor stumped for Biden at his rally in Raleigh  the first campaign stop the president made following his debate in Atlanta. Cooper told the cheering crowd that Biden saved this nation in 2020 and needed to do it again in 2024.

If Joe Biden wins North Carolina, hes president of the United States, Cooper said last week.

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FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Venezuelan opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez participates in a popular consultation launched by opposition leader Juan Guaido to decline Venezuela's December 6 parliamentary election, in Bogota

By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber

GENEVA (Reuters) - Opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez said he was optimistic millions of Venezuelan voters would spark a democratic transition when they cast their ballots against incumbent Nicolas Maduro at presidential elections later in July.

The opposition has a substantial lead in opinion polls ahead of the July 28 vote, even after a court banned leader Maria Corina Machado from running over alleged fraud violations.

That forced her coalition to rally behind a new candidate, former diplomat Edmundo Gonzalez.

"It's impossible that the election would give Maduro victory without there being massive electoral fraud," Lopez, founder of the Voluntad Popular opposition party, told Reuters at the United Nations in Geneva.

"Of course, we know that Maduro is Maduro, that he is a dictator, but we are very optimistic that a transition to democracy will begin on July 29 in Venezuela."

Venezuela's Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Maduro, a Socialist, seeks a third term in office. Western governments had dismissed his 2018 re-election as a sham.

The United States has urged Maduro's government to ensure that the elections are "competitive and inclusive".

With many Venezuelan voters angry about declining living standards, some analysts and opposition politicians say Maduro will struggle to overcome a lag in polling compared to Gonzalez.

There are doubts over whether the vote will be credible after Venezuela revoked an invitation to European Union election observers.

Lopez, who fled the country in 2020 and now lives in Spain, said it was unlikely the vote would be free and fair.

"There has been total censorship, the manipulation of the election registry," he said. "But the overwhelming majority will go out and vote and it will be a gigantic expression of change."

Lopez was jailed in 2014 for leading protests against Maduro, and was released to house arrest in 2017. He was a mentor to opposition leader Juan Guaido, who tried to spark a military revolt against Maduro.

"We ask the Human Rights Council, the U.N., and the countries present to pay maximum attention to what is happening in Venezuela," Lopez said. "There is a gigantic opportunity for Venezuela to transition to democracy."

If that transpires, Lopez was keen to return home.

"I am one of the 8 million Venezuelans who have had to leave during the last 10 years," he said. "A transition to democracy will give us the opportunity to return."

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
MOBILE, Ala.  Not everyone is on board with a plan to return Amtrak trains to the Gulf Coast, which would restore passenger service to Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana for the first time since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Amtraks long-term plan is for trains to run from a station near the convention center in Mobile, Alabama, to New Orleans, with four stops in Mississippi, WALA-TV reported. But much of Alabamas funding for the plan relies on the city of Mobile  and support among city council members there is wavering.

The plan depends on subsidies from governments in all three states, WALA reported. Much of the funding in Alabama would come from the city of Mobile, but five of the seven council members must approve it.

Mobile City Councilman Josh Woods said last week that he doesnt support the current proposal, and city council member Ben Reynolds has also said hed vote no on the funding plan. A third city council member, Joel Daves, has been a critic of Amtrak funding.
FILE - Zaniar Matapour appears in court in Oslo, Norway, March 12, 2024. A verdict is expected Thursday, July 4, in case of the Iranian-born Norwegian man who is charged with terrorism for the 2022 deadly shooting at an Oslo LGBTQ Pride festival. (Lise Aserud/NTB Scanpix via AP, File)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  An Iranian-born Norwegian man was found guilty of terrorism on Thursday in a 2022 attack on an LGBTQ+ festival in Oslo and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Two people were killed and nine were seriously wounded in the shooting at three locations, chiefly outside the London Pub, a popular gay bar, on June 25, 2022.

The Oslo District Court said Zaniar shot 10 rounds with a machine gun and eight shots with a handgun into the crowd. It said Matapour had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group and has been radicalized for several years.

His 30-year sentence was the highest penalty in Norway since terror legislation was changed in 2015.

Matapour can request parole after 20 years but can only be released if he is deemed no longer dangerous.

Prosecutor Aud Kinsarvik Gravas called it the right outcome and a historically severe punishment. Matapour's lawyer, Marius Dietrichson, said it was "a severe punishment and that they have not yet decided whether to appeal.

Espen Evjenth, who was hit by a bullet in the forehead at the London Pub, told the Norwegian news agency NTB that it was a great relief.

Extensive video material of the attack had been presented in court. The verdict was not read in court but sent out electronically. Matapour would have the verdict read to him in prison, the court said.

Matapour was overpowered by bystanders after the attack and arrested. Following the attack, a Pride parade was canceled, with police saying they could not guarantee security.

The shooting shocked Norway, which has a relatively low crime rate but has experienced a series of lone wolf attacks by individuals in recent decades, including one of the worst mass shootings in Europe. In 2011, a right-wing extremist killed 69 people on the island of Utoya after setting off a bomb in Oslo that left eight dead.

Six days before the attack, Norways external intelligence agency, E-Tjenesten, learned from an undercover agent that a possible action was expected in a Nordic country and the information was passed to the domestic security service.

Matapour had pleaded innocent. He was examined by a court-appointed psychiatrist who concluded that he was sane at the time of the attack.

During the trial, both the prosecution and the defense agreed that Matapour fired into the crowd and there was no disagreement that the shooting was terror motivated. However, Dietrichson had sought acquittal, saying his client had been provoked to carry out the attack by an E-Tjenesten agent who was pretending to be a high-ranking member of the Islamic State group.

The court said that it is clear that the actions of the E-Tjenesten did not involve any illegal provocation and did not provoke an act of terrorism that would not otherwise have been committed.

The trial started in March and ended May 16.

Four others are suspected of complicity in the case, but none has been formally charged.
Supporters of Donald Trump clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

The signers of the Declaration of Independence, which America celebrates this week, all knew they were putting their lives on the line. Benjamin Franklin is said to have muttered, we must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately.

At the time, treason against the King of England brought a punishment of being hung, drawn and quartered (cut open while alive with body parts removed), often before large public audiences. As Maine gathers on Thursday for Fourth of July festivities, we urge you to consider the risks our Founding Fathers took to establish the rule of law.

While the United States may have problems, our constitutional republic is a historically unprecedented representative democracy. So powerful is this idea that from the start Americans have given their lives to protect it. As veterans of the 9/11 wars, we often reflect on the many sacrifices made over the past 248 years.

This year, in what is shaping up to be the most consequential campaign season in our lifetime, a pillar of what holds this all together, the peaceful transfer of power, is under attack. In every election since 1788, except one, the losing party has always willingly and peacefully relinquished power to the opposition.

The exception was 2020, when Donald Trump whipped his supporters into such a frenzy that they attacked the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the official certification of results. Americas courts and broader society continue to wrestle with what was an attempted coup detat that occurred on Jan. 6.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to question the legitimacy of our elections and spread conspiracy. Among those conspiracies is a twisted interpretation of 1776, with Trump and his supporters wrapping their white supremacy in red, white and blue flags. They are also threatening violence again if the election does not go their way.

The American Revolution was violent. But it also contained the seed that grew this representative democracy: belief in the rule of law. Leaders from 13 colonies overcame the fear of potentially being hung, drawn and quartered by the English crown  and agreed to embrace rule of law as the foundation of a new society, an experiment that continues to this day.

For these reasons we have forged a coalition of veterans from different political parties and diverse backgrounds. Our mission is to ask Democrats, Republicans and Independents for a simple pledge  renounce violence this election cycle and honor the 2024 election results.

In Maine, our organizations have almost 500 members combined. We veterans comprise about 7% of the state overall and are a force at the polls. We and our military families seek a commander in chief who is guided by humanitarian values and who will have a steady hand at the helm.

In late May in North Carolina, which houses Americas largest military base, we attended the Republican state convention where GOP leaders were echoing Trump by promoting violence on the campaign trail, in addition to dismissing the 2020 results. When we requested that they consider our pledge, they threw us out.

During last weeks presidential debate, Trump evaded three questions on accepting election results, and when asked about Jan. 6, he lied and blamed the mayhem on Nancy Pelosi, the then House Speaker. His fearmongering was in overdrive, as was his disregard for the rule of law and his disparaging of veterans and the concept of service.

As you gather with friends and family on the Fourth of July, recite a line from the Declaration of Independence  that we are all created equal  and explain that more than 3,300 men and women from Maine have died overseas to defend that idea.

Then ask any Trump supporters nearby what they think John or Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Jefferson would say about Jan. 6.

Dont be afraid to set the record straight.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks on abortion access in Tallahassee, Florida, on Jan. 22, 2023. (Danielle J. Brown)

Vice President Kamala Harris will be traveling throughout the month of July for targeted outreach to Black women voters, the White House shared exclusively with The 19th.

In addition to a previously announced appearance at the 30th annual Essence Festival of Culture this weekend in New Orleans, Harris will be giving the keynote address during the Alpha Kappa Alpha sororitys 71st annual Boule, or gathering of total membership, in Dallas on July 10. Harris is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Then on July 24, she will have a moderated conversation during the Zeta Phi Beta sororitys Grand Boule in Indianapolis.

This report was originally published by The 19th. The Illuminator is a founding member of The 19th News Network.

The appearances at the annual meetings of two of the Divine Nine historically Black fraternities and sororities are critical opportunities for the vice president to engage with young Black women as she works to appeal to and turn out voters.

We are excited to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to our 2024 Grand Boule to discuss what this administration has done to improve the lives of all Americans as well as the investments being made in the historically underserved communities our members serve, Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President and CEO, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., told The 19th via email.

Harris has made over 60 trips to 20 states since the start of 2024, with a focus on Black women voters, youth leaders, and other communities, focusing on issues including abortion, gun violence and the economy. The vice president has led a number of conversations with youth leaders and other gun safety advocates, framing life without gun violence as a key freedom, in Atlanta; Parkland, Florida; Las Vegas; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The vice president has also highlighted issues of economic mobility for Black communities and protections for reproductive rights and voting rights. Black women are a key constituency of the Democratic Party, and their support at the ballot box and in the months leading up to Election Day on November 5 is critical to the partys success.

Harris travel comes as all eyes are on the presumptive Democratic presidential ticket in the wake of President Joe Bidens debate versus former President Donald Trump last Thursday, when Biden stumbled over answers, even on subjects that are strengths for their campaign. Bidens debate performance renewed questions about his age  he is 81  and ability to run for another term.

Harris, 59, has been a critical spokesperson for the White House and campaign on key issues like abortion  a topic on which Biden gave confusing answers last week. Immediately following the debate, Harris appeared on cable news, acknowledging a slow start to Bidens performance while also emphatically stressing the achievements of the administration and the stakes of the election. Her clear message and prosecutor-like case against Trump  a callback to her days as Californias attorney general  were in sharp contrast to Bidens performance.

Biden is reportedly meeting with advisers as at least one Democratic member of Congress has called on him to drop out of the presidential race. While he won the Democratic presidential primaries, Biden has not officially become the nominee, a process that usually happens during the party convention but could be moved up because of a ballot access deadline in Ohio.

Many have speculated about who could possibly replace Biden on the ticket, especially if he dropped out ahead of the official nomination. If Biden were to drop out  he has given no publication any indication that he would  Harris would be the likely replacement. Names including those of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro have also been mentioned as other possible candidates.

Suggestions that any replacement for Biden would be someone other than Harris have been met with some criticism, given her role and the optics of passing over a Black and Asian-American woman who is currently in the No. 2 spot. Harris also reportedly would have easiest access to the money the Biden-Harris campaign has raised.

A poll released Tuesday from CNN showed Harris performing slightly better against Trump than Biden in a hypothetical matchup, in part because of stronger support from women voters.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  A man has life-threatening injuries after he was shot in San Franciscos Mission District on Wednesday, the San Francisco Police Department said.

SFPD originally responded to the 1900 block of Mission Street at 7:53 p.m. for the shooting. Police did not locate a victim, but witnesses pointed them to the area of 19th and Harrison Streets, where they found him.

One dead in Berkeley shooting

The man was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds and life-threatening injuries. Officers remained at the scene to investigate.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD.

The shooting was the second tragic incident to happen in the Mission District on Wednesday. A 15-month-old baby was seriously injured after falling out of the window of an apartment building at 2315 Mission St., blocks away from the shooting.

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Hungarys prime minister has sparked anger in the EU by agreeing to meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow, in what appears to be an attempt to negotiate on Ukraine.

Viktor Orbans trip was reported by an investigative journalist and confirmed by various EU and Hungarian officials, one of whom told Radio Free Europe it would be happening on Friday.

Mr Orban and the Russian president enjoy a close relationship, having met twice since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

However, the plan struck a nerve among European diplomats because of its timing. Mr Orban  who recently held talks with Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine  has just assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the bloc.

The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU, said Charles Michel, the European Councils president.

The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.

Viktor Orban met Vladimir Putin in Beijing in October last year - Grigory Sysoyev/AFP

The planned visit to Moscow would be the first by an EU leader since Karl Nehammer, Austrias chancellor, made an unsuccessful bid to broker peace in April 2022.

The trip was met with disbelief by other EU leaders. Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, wrote on social media: The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true, PM Viktor Orban, or can they?

Ceasefire

Mr Orban, considered to be Putins closest ally in Europe, made a surprise visit to Kyiv this week and provocatively called for Ukraine to accept a ceasefire with Russia before the start of full peace negotiations with Moscow.

That set him at odds with other Western leaders, who have backed Mr Zelenskys ambition for a full Russian withdrawal from occupied areas of Ukraine and Crimea before any talks.

Aides close to the Hungarian prime minister said they were surprised how optimistic Mr Zelensky was about winning the war with Russia, something Mr Orban considers unlikely.

Hungarians confident

But there is belief amongst the Hungarians that their interventions have helped further peace talks.

Mr Zelenskys chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said Russia would be invited to a second international summit to discuss peace sometime later this year.

However, in a recent interview with Bloomberg, the Ukrainian president rejected the prospect of peace talks based on a ceasefire, saying Russia couldnt be trusted to uphold the terms of the agreement.

As for a ceasefire, I have been very clear: we are at war and we cannot talk about a ceasefire just like that, Mr Zelensky told the financial news agency.

This is why it can only be reached on a transparent international platform in the presence of countries with trusted leaders.

Discussions between Kyiv and Budapest will spark interest because of Mr Orban and Putins perceived closed relationship.

The Hungarian prime minister has met Putin twice since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. He opposed EU sanctions on Russia and membership of the bloc for Ukraine.

Mr Orban was also the first Western leader to pose for a photograph with Putin after an arrest warrant for war crimes was issued for the Russian leader by the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

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A man and a woman have been arrested after an argument over a parking spot in San Bernardino County escalated into violence, authorities announced Wednesday.

The assault occurred on July 1 around 4 p.m. in the 25000 block of Barton Road in Loma Linda, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department.

Authorities said that when deputies arrived at the location, they learned that two suspects, later identified as 45-year-old Compton resident Lonnie Hall and 18-year-old Loma Linda resident Keira Brown, allegedly assaulted the victim during the argument and flashed a handgun before fleeing in a maroon Kia Optima.

Woman wanted by FBI for bank robbery in Southern California

A short time later, deputies spotted the vehicle in Loma Linda and made a traffic stop.

Three people in the car, including Brown, were detained, authorities said, adding that they then learned that Hall was at a residence in the city.

Central Station detectives and deputies surrounded the residence and called Hall in an attempt to have him surrender peacefully, the release stated. Hall refused to exit the home. After a brief standoff, Hall exited the home and was arrested.

A search warrant was executed inside the premises where authorities say evidence of the assault over a parking spot was located.

Belligerent naked man terrorizing Santa Monica apartment complex

Hall and Brown were booked at the West Valley Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Deputy Jaime Leatherman or the Central Station Detective Bureau at 909-387-3545. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-782-7463 or leave tips online at www.wetip.com.

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From more than 15 billion miles away, NASA engineers last April began repairing a space probe that is headed to the constellation of Ophiucus, though it won't arrive for some 38,000 years. NASA launched Voyager 1 in 1977 and it has already outlived expectations, but the space agency hopes to continue receiving data from the probe until at least 2030. Yet after Voyager 1 experienced a computer glitch in November, it began transmitting incomprehensible data (which isn't entirely unusual for it), prompting NASA to initiate those long-distance fixes.

After some uncertainty if any of it would work, the repairs succeeded. Even better, when Salon spoke with NASA about the problem of fixing distance spacecraft, the experts were optimistic about its future and what it says about space exploration in general.

To understand why, it is first necessary to break down what happened to Voyager 1 in the first place. In November, the space probe sent a signal that did not include any data. Engineers figured out that the issue was either with the flight data subsystem (FDS) or the telemetry modulation unit (TMU). By the last week of February, NASA sent a "poke" to Voyager 1 to prompt the FDS to send a memory readout with data; not only did this succeed, but NASA soon uploaded a separate command that caused Voyager 1 to reply with a full memory readout that helped them identify the specific issue with the FDS.

"The team confirmed that the issue is with the FDS," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory media relations specialist Calla Cofield told Salon. "A chip responsible for storing 256 words of the FDS memory has a stuck bit (the code is stuck at a 0 or a 1), indicating the part failed, either due to age or due to external particle damage. This section represents about 3% of the FDS memory. The team would need to relocate the portion of the software code stored on the damaged chip."

During the April mission, NASA transmitted a command to the Voyager 1 to both relocate the portion of the impacted FDS software code and redirect references to that code to other places in the spacecraft software.

"On April 20, the team received engineering data from the spacecraft, indicating that the command was a success," Cofield said. "All indications suggest the spacecraft is fine after five months of no contact."

The team began once again receiving scientific data from Voyager 1 on May 19, and by June all of the science instruments on Voyager 1 had resumed sending usable data. Even so, Cofield added that "housekeeping [is] still ongoing with the spacecraft."

Of course, this is not the end of the issue; Voyager 1 is not the only space probe out there that may some day require repairs. Currently there are two other space probes that have left the Solar System and remain operational, Voyager 2 and New Horizons. Additionally NASA has sent out two other probes that are now defunct, Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11. Can the lessons which allowed NASA to repair Voyager 1 be applied to these and other distant space craft?

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"The future is less about repairs than about finding ways to work around problems," Bob Rasmussen, a member of the Voyager flight team, said. "We know several life-limiting factors and have strategies for preserving capability as long as possible. We cant predict outright failures though, so we need to deal with them as they arise."

This is not to say that Rasmussen is entirely hopeful about NASA's ability to salvage malfunctioning probes. In 2019, the agency had to turn off a heater for the cosmic ray subsystem instrument in Voyager 2 to conserve the probe's power. In April NASA further kept Voyager 2 chugging along by tapping into a small reservoir of backup power that is used to fuel the onboard safety mechanism. By doing this, NASA believes it can keep the craft powered with enough juice that they will not need to shut down a scientific instrument until 2026.

Voyager 1 and 2, meanwhile, are always on the verge of a more lasting breakdown. Even if all of their systems perform optimally going forward, the spacecrafts are still not expected to survive past the 2030s. If anything, the fact that they lasted this long is a testament to the skill and dedication of the 1970s engineers who built them. Unfortunately, there could be a day when more than one of their vital systems simply ceases to properly function.



"Worst case is that both can fail at any time," Rasmussen said. "Not all failures are recoverable. For many, we would never be able to tell what happened, because contact would simply cease."

Rasmussen added that the best case scenario is that Voyager 1 continues to function for another five to 10 years. "We have a long-term strategy for gradually reducing activities as power wanes and for using degraded modes of operation," Rasmussen said. "But we also know what happens to best laid plans."

On a tragic note, June was also the month in which Ed Stone, the man who pioneered the Voyager missions and led their missions for half a century, died. In their obituary for former Jet Propulsion Laboratory director, NASA wrote that Stone was "a trailblazer who dared mighty things in space" and "took humanity on a planetary tour of our solar system and beyond, sending NASA where no spacecraft had gone before."
The Washington state Supreme Court weighed in on whether or not a parking ordinance that restricts the length of time recreational vehicles can be parked in Lacey violates a state constitutional right to intrastate travel.

The answer from state justices Wednesday in Potter v. City of Lacey was decidedly no.

(Plaintiff) has failed to show that Laceys parking ordinance violates his asserted state constitutional right to reside in the manner that he has chosen, State Supreme Court Justices noted in their decision.

In 2019, the city of Lacey restricted to four hours the amount of time large vehicles such as RVs can be parked on city streets and lots, leading some to question if the restrictions were so broad that it would punish those living out of their vehicles because they are houseless.

At the heart of the lawsuit is Jack Potter, a now 67-year-old veteran who was living out of his truck and trailer on public streets and in a parking lot across from Lacey City Hall after being unable to secure a more stable living situation.

The city ordered Potter to move his vehicle. He then filed a lawsuit claiming that the new provision violated his right to reside, arguing that it was inherent in the state constitutional right to intrastate travel.

Potters claim noted that by adopting and enforcing laws, policies and customs that make it unlawful for the homeless people living in their vehicles to live in the City of Lacey, the Defendants have deprived the Plaintiff of his right to freedom of travel guaranteed by the Washington Constitution.

Defendants have denied Plaintiff his state constitutional right not to travel to another city within Washington State and not to live elsewhere in Washington State, the claim continued.

State Supreme Court Justices did not agree.

Potter has not established that his claimed right to reside inheres in a Washington state constitutional right to intrastate travel or that it protects his preferred method of residing in Lacey: by siting his 23-foot trailer on a public street in violation of generally applicable parking ordinances, justices wrote in the 13-page opinion.

The decision released Wednesday noted that the city of Lacey punishes violations of the parking restrictions with a $35 fine and immediate impoundment of the vehicle.

While the lawsuit began in Thurston County Superior Court, it was later moved to U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The federal district court granted summary judgment to Lacey with its claims, and decided that the parking ordinance did not impede on the right to exist in a public area.

It is a parking ordinance that is applicable to all people in Lacey, resident or not, and only by extension does it restrict the manner in which a person can live in Lacey, the federal district court wrote. The right to travel does not, however, include a right to live in a certain manner.

Potter later appealed the district courts decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which then asked the State Supreme Court to analyze the claims.
Quagga mussels from Lake Mead, in Nevada. Washington officials are monitoring waterways in their state after the invasive species was detected in Idaho in 2023. (Dave Britton/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Washington is upping efforts to keep an invasive freshwater mussel from gaining a shell-hold in the states rivers and lakes, using tactics ranging from DNA testing to shellfish-sniffing dogs.

Quagga mussels can cause major problems as layers of them crust over components of hydroelectric dams and locks, or clog drinking water or irrigation systems. Fisheries and fish ladders that allow salmon to bypass dams could be disrupted, too. The mussels can also outcompete native species, throw off water quality, and otherwise degrade ecosystems.

They were found last year in Idaho, stoking new worries about their threat to the region.

Washingtons Invasive Species Council cites estimates that it will cost $100 million annually to keep the states power and water infrastructure running if quagga mussels or non-native zebra mussels were to invade. That amount doesnt factor in the cost of harm to habitat or fishing.

Even taking the potential problems for dams out of the equation, Justin Bush, aquatic invasive species policy coordinator at the states Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the mussels would have a devastating, catastrophic impact to our environment and our economy.

The Columbia River Basin for years has been the last major U.S. watershed free of the invasive mussels. But last September, Idaho officials said theyd detected quagga mussels near Twin Falls in the Snake River, which runs into the Columbia.

Starting July 1, new Idaho laws took effect to combat the aquatic invasive species. Changes to the Idaho law include mandatory inspection and decontamination for out of state watercraft, requirements for removing drain plugs and new requirements for local watercraft inspection stations.

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture operates a hotline (1-877-336-8676) for anyone needing information or a free decontamination wash for watercraft that may have been in mussel-infested waters. For more information on the departments Invasive Species Program, including inspection station locations and program activities, visit invasivespecies.idaho.gov.

Invasive species stickers can be purchased from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/sailing/invasive-species-program/.

The new law requires all out of state watercraft must be inspected and decontaminated at a watercraft inspection station prior to launch, according to a press release from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Before launching in Idaho, a nonresident watercraft owner must also purchase an invasive species sticker. In Idaho, a conveyance or watercraft includes but is not limited to a boat, kayak, paddleboard, inflatable watercraft, sailboat, trailer or any other means or method of water transportation.

Before transporting any watercraft, operators must remove the drain plug and drain all water, including all internal compartments, such as ballasts, bilges, live wells and motors, the press release said. All bilge and ballast plugs and other barriers that prevent water drainage from a conveyance must be removed and remain open while a watercraft is transported by land within the state.

Funding is now available for Idaho counties, cities or other local entities for equipment and supply costs necessary for the operation of watercraft inspection stations, the press release said.

So whats to be done in Washington? The Department of Fish and Wildlife has some new money to deal with the shellfish. The Legislature approved $1.81 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1 to combat invasive mussels and the Army Corps of Engineers is providing an equal sum, for a total of $3.6 million.

Were significantly increasing efforts, Bush said this week during a meeting of the Invasive Species Council.

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Monitoring for quagga mussels

The main way the mussels tend to spread is on recreational boats moved between bodies of water. When grown, theyre 1 to 2 inches and easy to spot but larvae, known as veligers, are microscopic.

Fish and Wildlife wants to fully staff watercraft inspection stations, Bush told the council.

The agency is turning to a variety of techniques to detect mussels in the water. These include measuring calcium levels (the bivalves rely on calcium to build their shells), using a grabber device to pull up and check material from lakebeds, and looking for traces of mussel DNA.

Bush said the department will also add a monitoring crew to three two-person crews it has had.

And he said the department is looking to bring on another mussel-sniffing dog. The dog would join Fin, a canine already doing this work. Puddles, a dog that had been, is retired, Bush said.

Fin, a mussel-sniffing dog, inspects a jetsk

More public outreach is also planned to remind people to clean, drain, and dry boats and other gear thats been in the water and could spread the mussels.

Its unclear if Idahos attempt last year to kill quagga mussels in the Snake River worked. The $3 million project involved treating a 16-mile stretch of the river with a copper-based chemical to kill the mussels. There was collateral damage as thousands of fish died, too.

Idaho Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt told state lawmakers that it was the largest operation of its kind ever attempted in the U.S.

Since Idahos Legislature took action in 2008, our state has taken the forefront in combating aquatic invasive species, Tewalt said in a July 1 press release referencing Idahos new law changes. Today, Idaho adds additional tools in our fight to protect agriculture, power generation, recreation and private property.

Along with zebra mussels, quagga mussels were first documented in the U.S. in the 1980s in the Great Lakes, having made it there in the ballast water of ships. Theyve spread since.

In addition to detection and monitoring, Washington Fish and Wildlife officials are also preparing to respond if the mussels arent stopped and become a fixture in state waters.

Were planning for the very worst, but were hoping that Idaho was successful in eradicating this problem, said Bush.

Idaho Capital Sun editor-in-chief Christina Lords contributed to this report.

Washington State Standard, like the Idaho Capital Sun, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Washington State Standard maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Bill Lucia for questions: info@washingtonstatestandard.com. Follow Washington State Standard on Facebook and X.

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WAYLAND, Mich. (WOOD)  On his 68th day in the hospital, Wayland Fire Department Chief Jim Stoddard got to go home.

Wayland Fire Department Chief Jim Stoddard. (Courtesy City of Wayland Fire Department)

Community members lined the streets Wednesday to escort Stoddard from the hospital, according to a social media post by the fire department.

At this time we still ask that his and his familys privacy be respected and for continued prayers and well wishes, the post read.

Hundreds show support for hospitalized Wayland fire chief

Stoddard was hospitalized in April after suffering a cardiac emergency while driving to a wedding in Ottawa County, a friend told News 8. He was taken to the hospital by Aero Med and had been in there ever since.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 West is finally giving Ukraine a shot at 'cutting the head off the snake' rather than making it wait for Russia to strike

Ukraine's allies have given it new permissions to hit military targets in Russia.

The shift threatens Russia's ability to launch strikes and stage attacks with impunity in Ukraine.

Experts say Ukraine can now begin to fight properly.

Now that the West has given Ukraine new permissions to use its weaponry, including allowing it to strike targets in Russia, the country finally has a chance to fight back properly, experts say.

From the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 until recently, Ukraine had been forbidden by partner nations from using Western weaponry for attacks on Russian territory.

Those restrictions, which Russia fights without, put Ukraine at a serious disadvantage. Russia launches many of its drone and missile attacks from within its own borders, and it amasses troops and equipment at home for offensive pushes into Ukraine.

But for a long time, Ukraine could only turn to options like long-range drones to go after targets in Russia. It's scored impactful hits on air bases and other targets, but not in the way it could with more dedicated weaponry.

Col. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commander for the UK's Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear forces, told BI that the restrictions on Ukraine were "ridiculous." The West was "giving so much advantage to the Russians," he said.

Other analysts have described it as Ukraine having to fight with one hand tied behind its back.

But many of Ukraine's international partners changed their stance, announcing in late May that the war-torn country could use the weapons they supplied to go after many military targets on Russian soil.

There are still some restrictions, such as US rules on its Army Tactical Missile Systems, but Ukraine finally receiving the permission to use some weapons on targets in Russia, de Bretton-Gordon said, is giving it a shot at "cutting the head off the snake."

Ukraine can now fight

The changes mean Ukraine's forces can target Russian air defenses in Russian territory, as well as some of the aircraft and other weapons systems that fire them, eliminating the source rather than trying to intercept missiles and drones once they are already in the air.

De Bretton-Gordon noted that many Russian missile and drone attacks are launched from Russia itself. "If you can't actually attack them before they take off, you are already 10-nil down."

Rescuers at a house in Kharkiv after a Russian missile attack. Photo by Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images

George Barros, a Russia analyst at the US-based Institute for the Study of War think tank, said the change should be significant for Ukraine's effectiveness.

"I think over the last two years, analysts thinking about Ukrainian capabilities on the battlefield have largely been constrained by certain assumptions," he said. "One key thing was that the battle lines in Ukraine really can't improve all that much because Ukrainians can't do combined arms warfare effectively."

There have been some institutional challenges within the Ukrainian military that have hindered such operations, but it's also been hamstrung by a lack of air support for ground forces.

Barros said Ukraine can start taking out Russian missile and air defense systems, helping Ukraine's air force, including its F-16s when they arrive, and its troops on the ground can advance in ways they have not previously been able to.

A Russian soldier launching missile attacks at Ukrainian positions. Russian Defense Ministry / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images

With Russia's border areas no longer safe, it may need to withdraw its weapons systems farther away from Ukraine, reducing the ability to strike into it. It also increases the strain on other parts of the Russian armed forces.

Philip Ingram, a former British Army intelligence and security officer, said before some of the restrictions were lifted, "the Russians could bring their air defense forces, they could bring the logistic dumps, they could bring their command and control almost right up to border, knowing full well that Ukrainians weren't allowed to use anything across the border."

"Now that that has been changed, the Russians are having to move that back," he said.

Professor Michael Clarke, a Russia and Ukraine expert and a British national security advisor, said that "the ability to use multiple launch rocket systems on Russian territory  and F-16s when it comes to it, that, I think, will have a growing effect."

But there are still limits still holding Ukraine back.

The US still won't let Ukraine strike deep into Russian territory to reach military targets there, meaning Ukraine can't use long-range weaponry like ATACMS to hit where some of Russia's attacks are coming from. Instead, Ukraine has had to turn to some homemade options, such as its Neptune missiles, anti-ship weapons modified for land attack, or its long-range drones.

An Army Tactical Missile System during live-fire testing. White Sands Missile Range/John Hamilton

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that Ukraine's partner nations should further relax restrictions on hitting military targets in Russia, saying the remaining limitations make it hard to stop Russia's deadly glide bomb attacks, which are launched from jets out of reach by warplanes such as Russia's Su-34 fighter-bombers.

He said that Russia had dropped more than 800 glide bombs in Ukraine over the past week alone.

"Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are. This step is essential," Zelenskyy said.

ISW said in a June update that many major Russian air bases are within range of ATACMS, which Ukraine can't use, but out of range of Ukrainian weaponry that it is permitted  which allows Russia to keep using those bases to launch attacks without answer.

But even as Ukraine is requesting more freedom with how it engages Russia and uses Western weapons, the relaxation of other restrictions has so far yielded meaningful results, experts told BI.

Helping in Kharkiv

Experts and Ukrainian officials say the new rules have already made a difference in Kharkiv even though it's been less than a month since they changed.

Russia initiated a new offensive against Kharkiv on May 10, launching deadly missile attacks and slowly pushing its military forward. But Russia's attack tempo has slowed since Ukraine's permissions changed at the end of May, and the Russian ground operations have slowed as well.

Ukrainian soldiers defending the front line in the Kharkiv region in May 2024. Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Barros said that Ukraine has already made a "positive difference" since the recent change in engagement permissions. He said Ukraine has, for instance, been using Western weaponry to hit Belgorod, a Russian region close to Kharkiv.

"They've actually helped blunt the Russian offensive at the heart," he said, adding that the Ukrainians have been able to launch "small tactical counterattacks."

Ingram agreed, saying that in Kharkiv, Ukraine's new permissions have "made a huge difference. Absolutely huge difference."

The ability to strike into Russia was particularly important for Ukraine as the fighting took place near Russia's border, where attacks were launched and fresh troops and supplies could be rotated in with Ukraine unable to answer. Ukraine now has a response, though its military continues to face tremendous pressure from the much larger and relentless Russian military.

Cancian said the US was willing to give permission for combat action in the border areas near Kharkiv because Russia's "rear services and their artillery are still in Russian territory. And if the Ukrainians could not attack those, then they would be at a severe disadvantage."

He said Russia has also reportedly moved some of its air defenses from Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula region it occupies, to protect Belgorod. He described that as "very important." If Ukraine can force Russia to do that in more places, Russia's command is left with tough decisions about what to protect and how.

Permissions are not the sole factor, though. Ukraine's intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance picture matters as well, determining the effectiveness of its strikes. The US has helped with targeting in the past, but it remains uncertain to what extent it will engage in this endeavor. Regardless, the Ukrainians have seen successes.

A Ukrainian artillery commander told The Associated Press recently that Ukrainian US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems started firing in the Kharkiv region as soon as Ukraine got the new permission and quickly "managed to destroy whole columns of troops along the border waiting for the order to enter Ukraine."

And two Ukrainian officials also told The Washington Post that some Russian attacks had been reduced in that region since the new permissions came in. The AP reported that Ukraine's new operational permissions had "greatly slowed Russia's momentum" in Kharkiv.

Read the original article on Business Insider
What to pack if you're going to a dangerously hot destination this summer

Tourists with an umbrella walk at the Parthenon at the ancient Acropolis in central Athens, which was closed for five hours during the day earlier this summer due to being too hot. (AP)

Europe is in for another summer of potentially deadly hot temperatures, with warnings of record-breaking heatwaves and countries such as Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.

British broadcaster and writer Michael Mosley is thought to have died of exhaustion after walking over hilly and rocky terrain during a heatwave on the Greek island of Symi in June.

So what should you pack to stay safe in the searing heat of Britains favourite holiday destinations this summer? Yahoo News spoke to hot-weather travel expert Matt Shock, Africa team leader at luxury holiday provider Scott Dunn.

Freezable water bottles

Freezable water bottles offer a great way to stay cool, says Shock.

"During hot weather, freezable water bottles are great for combating heat for two reasons," says Shock. Firstly, it provides you with a prolonged supply of cold water throughout the day. Theres nothing worse than when your drinking water turns warm in the heat.

"Secondly, the bottle itself will act as a great cooling tool, especially if you hold it against your pulse points like your wrists or neck."

If you don't have access to a freezer, then an insulated water bottle can help keep your drink cooler for longer.

Kilkoy or neck buff

Searingly hot temperatures might seem like the last time youd need a neck scarf, but if you soak one in water, its very useful, says Shock.

"In scorching temperatures, you can take a cooling neck scarf and dip it in cold water to wrap around your head, neck, or face for effective relief. It will absorb heat from your skin, creating a cooling effect, and is particularly helpful when outdoors walking, lounging or doing any other activities under the sun.

Drinking plenty of water is essential to keeping cool in hot weather.

Electrolytes

Dont just take water, take electrolyte tablets or powder to stay hydrated, says Shock.

"Electrolytes, like potassium and sodium are crucial for body functions like muscle movement and hydration. We lose electrolytes naturally when we sweat, and staying in very hot climates will naturally mean we sweat more, losing more essential minerals," he explains.

"Take electrolyte tablets or powder that dissolve in your drinking water to help replace any that you will lose throughout the day."

USB or battery powered mini fan

Battery powered fans can provide an instant moment of cool, says Shock.

"Some travellers swear by taking a mini fan on their holidays. Fans help keep you cool by reducing your body temperature, giving you instant relief from the heat. Just dont forget the power bank or spare batteries for when it loses power," he adds.

Cool packs for food

Food poisoning is much more of an issue in hot temperatures, so its worth taking an ice pack to put in your picnic bag.

"Take ice packs on your trip for when youre out and about. They'll continuously lower the internal temperature of your bag, keeping your food safe and fridge-chilled for extended periods."

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Indiana authorities were on the search for a 14-year-old Black boy the past two weeks until he finally reappeared mysteriously. We dont know whats more suspicious, his sudden vanishing or the domestic abuse accusations that came against his family at the same time of his disappearance.



Bryson Vanishes

Indiana State Police issued a Silver Alert June 28 for Bryson Muir, son of ex-Colts defensive lineman Daniel Muir and his wife, Kristen. The department previously said the teen was last seen leaving a family members house in Ohio with his mother on June 16. Minutes later, the vehicle was pulled over by Ohio law enforcement. However, Bryson was not in the vehicle.

Two days later, police said investigators were commissioned by the Cass County Department of Child Services to investigate allegations of domestic battery to Bryson which was alleged to have occurred at his home in Logansport.

Abuse Claims

Brysons grandmother told police she believed the boys father was beating him and brainwashed the child into living a certain lifestyle with the religious group his parents were part of, Servant Leaders Foundation. In addition to her accusations, she produced a photo she took of Bryson with a swollen black eye and busted lip. Brysons reluctance to tell his grandmother how he got injured provoked her to call the police, she told FOX 59 News.

I didnt want to let him go, Wright told reporters. I tried to call the police because he had been abused. It hurts me that anyone could be beaten like that. It hurts me that my daughter would allow anyone to do that to her child. I can only imagine how many times he had been hit in the face for it to be like that.

Lack of Cooperation

Photo: Cass County Jail

After failing to make contact with the Muirs, the ISP said the couple agreed to meet with authorities that day and to the cops surprise, bring Bryson with them to meet with ISP investigators. At the time, the boy was still considered missing and endangered.



However, an hour before their meeting time, police said the Muirs backed out of the agreement, signaling an unwillingness to cooperate. Mr. Muir was then named a person of interest in the disappearance of his son.

Bryson Found

Around 6 a.m. the morning of July 3, SWAT officers, K-9 units and a bomb squad descended upon the Servant Leaders Foundation compound in Logansport where they found the Muirs as well as Bryson who was described to be safe and well, per ISP authorities. He was released into the custody of the child services agency. As for his parents, they were taken into the custody of the state police.

Daniel Muir faces charges of domestic battery and obstruction of justice while his wife faces an obstruction charge. They were booked in Cass County Jail, per FOX 59.

Its still unclear where Bryson was between June 16 and June 28 or what else may have happened to him while the cops searched for him.



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In Australia, the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector is essential for developing and maintaining infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, railways, airports, and public buildings.

In the past, the AEC sector has been viewed as somewhat of a digital laggard; today, however, digital transformation is a key conversation, especially as the adoption of AI picks up. Within the broad industry, its important to not forget the small or mid-size businesses (SMBs) who may not have the same resources as big companies to embark on their digital journey.

But that doesnt make them less important. AEC SMBs in Australia are valuable because they bring specialisation into niche areas, local knowledge, and economic impact to their industry. They contribute to job creation, drive regional development by operating in smaller towns, and enhance industry resilience through their adaptability and community engagement.

Their role in fostering a diverse and competitive sector cannot be overstated. Steeped in tradition and legacy processes, they are changing rapidly and experiencing a rapid shift towards innovation. In fact, according to a recent survey, 25% of all SMBs in Australia are currently using AI, and 60% will adopt AI within the next two years.

Challenges to be addressed

While larger AEC firms have a significant advantage in implementing modern technology due to their greater resources, budgets, and dedicated IT departments, SMBs often encounter greater challenges in their digital journey.

However, by thoroughly analysing the risks that could affect their digitisation efforts, SMBs can be better equipped to identify the most effective strategies for overcoming these obstacles. There are three key challenges that impact mid-sized AEC firms:

Investment efforts: SMBs typically operate with tighter budgets, compared to larger enterprises. Allocating funds for digital transformation initiatives may compete with other priorities, such as day-to-day operations, marketing, and employee salaries. Recent research from YouGov revealed alarming statistics: one in five Australian small businesses have exhausted their cash reserves, and nearly one in three owners are using personal funds to cover business expenses.

Legacy systems: Many small and medium-sized companies rely on outdated or inadequate technology infrastructure, which may require significant investment to upgrade or replace. Upgrading or replacing these legacy systems can demand substantial investment in terms of finances, time, and human resources.

Skills shortage: Recent changes in Australian skilled migration policies have brought attention to the skills shortage in the AEC industry. This challenge is underscored by data from Engineers Australia, indicating that overseas-born engineers accounted for 70% of the growth in the engineering labor force between 2016 and 2021. This shortage can pose a big recruitment challenge for AEC SMBs, as they might not be able to offer rewards that big companies do.

The starting point

It is most likely that not all the AEC firms clients are prepared for the highest level of digital maturity. However, businesses must be prepared for any type of need to offer greater operational efficiencies and maintain competitiveness. But how can they do this?

Focus on recruiting talent

SMBs in the AEC industry need the right people in key roles to drive digitisation effectively.

Executive sponsorship, typically led by the C-suite, is essential for setting the vision, allocating resources, and ensuring alignment with business goals. Without this leadership, digital initiatives may fail.

Skilled project managers are also crucial for successful execution, ensuring initiatives stay on track and potential issues are addressed promptly. Collaboration with external delivery partners, such as vendors or consultants, can further accelerate the digitisation process by bringing in expertise and resources that SMBs may lack internally.

Additionally, SMEs should also prioritise recruiting other crucial roles. At Bentley Systems Illuminate event in May, Steven Coyle, mobility digital lead at Arcadis in Australia, underscored the importance of integrating data scientists into company frameworks. He also emphasised the value of exploring beyond traditional engineering roles to identify what works better to generate successful outcomes.

Changing how things are done

Changing processes can significantly benefit SMBs in the AEC industry as they embark on digitisation. Initially, its crucial to set up rules and processes to manage their digital applications properly. This situation helps to figure out which projects are most important and where to start.

Next, businesses must find ways to use their digital applications across different parts of the company, creating standards for how information is stored and organised to make it easy to find and use.

Lastly, SMBs need to measure how well their digital efforts are working. They need to track things like project progress and effectiveness. By keeping an eye on these metrics, businesses can see whats working well and what needs improvement, helping them make smarter decisions for the future.

Picking the right technology

SMBs can benefit from a strategic approach to digitisation. They can start by creating online spaces for storing and accessing project files, focusing first on new projects and gradually including older ones. This helps keep everything organised and accessible.

Exploring new design methods, such as using computer models and simulations, can improve efficiency and accuracy in project planning and execution. Trying these methods on new projects shows innovation and keeps up with industry trends.

Additionally, using pre-made parts and designs from suppliers can save time and streamline design processes. Establishing a shared library of these parts promotes collaboration across projects, making work faster and more consistent.

The importance of SMBs in AEC

The agility, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit from SMBs are essential for fostering competition, driving innovation, and meeting diverse market needs within the AEC sector. Recognising their importance highlights the need for policies and support mechanisms that promote their growth, sustainability, and competitiveness. By fostering an environment conducive to SMB success, Australia can ensure a vibrant and resilient AEC sector that continues to drive economic growth and development for years to come.

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More evacuations have been relaxed Thursday as firefighters continued to battle flames and extreme heat at the Thompson Fire burning near Lake Oroville in Butte County.

The wildfire, which started Tuesday morning on Cherokee Road, has charred 3,747 acres (5.85 square miles) and was 7% contained in the latest update from Cal Fires Butte County unit. Thats only 200 acres more than Wednesday nights progress as fire conditions moderated overnight with cooler temperatures and higher humidity. Firefighters were also aided by weaker winds that had plagued the area, under a red flag warning since Monday.

Rick Carhart, a spokesman for Cal Fire BTU, said Wednesday that flames had destroyed at least four structures in the Kelly Ridge area, including one home seen ablaze on Bessie Lane. Cal Fire damage assessment crews are still surveying the damage.

According to Cal Fire officials, nearly 2,000 personnel are now fighting the fire, including Incident Management Team 6, 20 helicopters and over 200 engines.

On Thursday afternoon, the Butte County Sheriffs Office relaxed some of the mandatory evacuations in the Kelly Ridge area, allowing residents to return to check on their properties. Several areas near the fire leading edge remain off limits.

Residents can return to their homes but are advised to stay aware of changing fire and weather conditions, possible hazards from fire activity and fire equipment and personnel in these areas, deputies said in a 2 p.m. update.

A helicopter flies over the Thompson Fire near the Oroville Dam on Wednesday.

Other notable fires burning in Northern California as of 2 p.m.:

Moccasin Fire: The 51.1-acre fire in El Dorado County along Oak Hill Road was 35% contained as of Thursday, according to Cal Fires Amador-El Dorado unit. The fire, in a rural area the Moccasin Trail west of Somerset, had grown Wednesday afternoon at a moderate rate of spread that was tamped down by firefighters through the night.

Crews are holding the fire at 51 acres, and it is 35% contained, Cal Fire AEU said. Containment operations, including mopping up and extinguishing hot spots, will continue throughout the day.

Several evacuation orders were lowered to warnings but remain in place for areas near the fire, roughly a 1-mile radius south of Oak Hill.

Grubbs Fire: The final size of the blaze south of the Thompson Fire and east of Palermo was 12.8 acres, Cal Fire BTU said in a Thursday morning update. Evacuations were lifted after residents in two zones were told to leave.

Adams Fire: The 16-acre blaze near Lower Lake in Lake County was 60% contained by Thursday morning after flames broke out on the 16200 block of Main Street. The fire had a rapid rate of spread and structures were threatened Wednesday after it broke out just after 3 p.m. All evacuations were lifted, said Cal Fires Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit.
The White House has previously stated that transgender children have the right to access gender-affirming health care and promoted resources on gender-affirming care for trans youth. (ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES)

Originally published by The 19th

The Biden administration on Tuesday afternoon provided more details about its opposition to gender-affirming surgery for transgender minors, a position at odds with its previously broad support for gender-affirming care  and one taken by a presidential administration that has closely aligned itself with LGBTQ+ advocates.

These are deeply personal decisions and we believe these surgeries should be limited to adults, a White House spokesperson said over email. We continue to support gender-affirming care for minors, which represents a continuum of care, and respect the role of parents, families, and doctors in these decisions.

Notably, the Biden administration has taken its support for gender-affirming care for trans youth all the way to the Supreme Court. The court has agreed to take up the question of whether gender-affirming care bans for trans youth are unconstitutional, in response to the Biden administration petitioning on behalf of trans youth and their families. The administrations stance against laws that ban gender-affirming care for trans youth  which includes bans on surgeries  appears to remain the same.

As President Biden has repeatedly said, Its wrong that extreme officials are pushing hateful bills targeting transgender children, terrifying families, and criminalizing doctors. These are our kids. These are our neighbors. Its cruel and its callous, the spokesperson said, quoting a statement that Biden made last summer in response to rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Transgender children have been the victims of unacceptable bullying, hate and partisan laws that target them for who they are, the spokesperson said.

Most transgender youth receiving gender-affirming care will not undergo surgery as a minor. Trans youth who, along with their parents, elect to begin gender-affirming medical care as they enter adolescence due to persistent gender dysphoria will typically receive puberty blockers. This treatment intervenes before puberty causes bodily changes that may require surgery in the future. Puberty blockers are typically used until patients get to an age where they can consider taking hormone replacement therapy.

Of the surgeries that a small number of trans adolescents undergo after receiving years of medical care, top surgery  or male chest reconstruction  is the most common. At some gender clinics, that is the only surgery ever considered for a trans minor. However, misinformation spread by opponents of gender-affirming care portrays genital surgery as a common procedure done on trans youth. Such a procedure being done on trans minors is exceedingly rare.

The White House cited the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in its opposition to gender-affirming surgery for trans youth. The AAP, which endorses providing trans youth with gender-affirming care and opposes laws banning such care, has stated that gender-affirming surgeries are typically given to adults, which the White House echoed.

The White House provided its comment to The 19th following reports in The New York Times and Fox News that the Biden administration opposed gender-affirming surgery for trans youth.

According to reports from the Times and Fox News, the White House gave a brief response in opposition to surgery for trans youth following news articles detailing conversations between the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and staff for Dr. Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Times reported in late June that Levines staff pressed WPATH to remove its proposed lower age limits for adolescent surgeries out of concern of political backlash, as WPATH updated its longstanding guidelines on transgender health care for medical professionals. WPATH had proposed lowering age recommendations for masculinizing top surgeries to 15 years old, and lowering the recommended age for genital surgeries to 17 years old.

In the final WPATH guidelines published in 2022, no age recommendations were given for surgeries for trans youth.

WPATH said that it removed those minimum ages for providing gender-affirming care to reflect that one-size-fits-all health care models, especially transgender care, are not accurate or appropriate for every individual person. WPATH said that medical professionals had expressed concern that the listing of ages would lead to further limitations to care by creating or reinforcing arbitrary boundaries to care and/or by ignoring possible contributing health factors including mental health, family support, or other individual health needs.

In response to WPATHs request for HHS feedback on a draft of its forthcoming standard of care, 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, the HHS said in an emailed statement. Levine, a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, is the highest-ranking transgender official in the Biden administration.

The HHS did not respond specifically to questions regarding the White House signaling its opposition to gender-affirming surgery for trans youth.

The Biden administration has previously put out multiple statements in support of gender-affirming care for trans youth. The White House has stated that transgender children have the right to access gender-affirming health care and has promoted resources on gender-affirming care for trans youth, including an explainer written by the HHS that discusses when and how puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries are received by minors.

To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially the young people, youre so brave, Biden said in 2021 to a joint session of Congress. I want you to know your president has your back. Biden again echoed that message in his 2024 State of the Union address.

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White House staffers are being told to go heads down and 'execute, execute, execute' as Biden doubles down on his reelection bid: reports

White House staffers are being told to go heads down and 'execute, execute, execute' as Biden doubles down on his reelection bid: reports

As President Joe Biden faces calls to step aside, his chief of staff has tried to rally the team.

In an all-staff call on Wednesday, he called on staffers to tune out the noise and focus on their work.

Meanwhile, Biden has been scrambling to shore up support for his campaign, saying he plans to still run.

White House staff have been told to hunker down and power through the tumult of saving President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign, according to multiple reports.

Biden's chief of staff, Jeff Zients, held an all-staff call on Wednesday telling aides that they should be proud of their work and to tune out the noise surrounding their big boss as he doubles down on his reelection bid, according to The Hill.

As Biden scrambles this week to assure donors and heavyweight backers after a calamitous debate showing, Zients told staffers to go heads down and "execute, execute, execute," The New York Times wrote.

The Hill reported that Zients encouraged staffers to stay disciplined and support each other.

The Associated Press also reported on the meeting, writing that it was an effort to boost morale in the White House.

It comes as Biden told his team and Democratic National Committee staff on Wednesday that he would continue running, pushing back on reports that said he privately contemplated whether his campaign may be beyond salvaging.

"I'm not leaving. I'm in this race to the end, and we're going to win," Biden said.

The president has been battling a potential rout among panicked donors and key supporters since the debate, in which he repeatedly mumbled, didn't finish his sentences, and sometimes seemed distracted or lost.

At least two Democratic lawmakers have since called on Biden to step down from reelection, while another two have said the President would likely lose to his rival, former President Donald Trump.

Biden's office has been widely reported to be fielding a flurry of calls and meetings with political leaders, including majority leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Democratic House leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

The White House has so far managed to rally endorsements from several Democratic governors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walsh, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Pundits and observers still have their doubts.

"In the face of impending failure, extensive evidence shows that instead of rethinking our plans, we often double down on our decisions," wrote Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, in an op-ed for The Times. "It feels better to be a fighter than a quitter."

Press teams for the Biden campaign and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former Vice President Joe Biden links arms with Sen. Kamala Harris and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Detroit, March 9, 2020 | Andrew Roth

Shortly after a White House meeting President Joe Biden held Tuesday evening to reassure Democratic governors about his candidacy following his widely panned debate performance, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reaffirmed her support for the president in a brief social media post.

.@JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him, Whitmer wrote on X.

.@JoeBiden is our nominee. He is in it to win it and I support him.  Gretchen Whitmer (@gretchenwhitmer) July 4, 2024

The gathering came as some Democrats and an array of analysts have called for Biden, 81, to depart the race amid concern about his age and falling poll numbers. The presumptive GOP nominee, Donald Trump, is 78 and was convicted of 34 felonies in a New York court in May.

Vice President Kamala Harris also attended the meeting, with governors attending both virtually and in person. In addition to Whitmer, the group included other Democrats who have been mentioned as replacements for Biden or future presidential contenders: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Whitmer has her first book coming out on Tuesday, further feeding the buzz about a future presidential run. She serves as a national Biden campaign co-chair, doing events across the country in recent months, and also was on his shortlist for vice president in 2020.

Newsom, whos scheduled to campaign Thursday for Biden in West Michigan, posted a similar sentiment to Whitmer: I heard three words from the President tonight  hes all in. And so am I. @JoeBidens had our back. Now its time to have his.

Three governors held a press conference outside the White House after the meeting: Moore, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

We came together tonight to listen to President Biden to tell us, in his own words, what his plans were. Im here to tell you today President Joe Biden is in it to win it. And all of us said we pledged our support to him because the stakes could not be higher, Hochul said.

We talked about how we transitioned under a monarchy and a tyranny that our Founding Fathers fought against and that we risk right now descending back into that very same place. We will stand with the president as we fight that force that force  that force being Donald Trump.

Moore described the conversation as candid.

It was a great conversation with the President and Vice President because it was honest; it was candid, Moore said. We always believe that when you love someone, you tell them the truth.

Walz told reporters in answering a question that Biden was fit for office.

None of us are denying Thursday night was a bad performance. It was a bad get, if you will on that. But it doesnt impact what I believe  hes delivering, Walz said. What we saw in there today was a guy who was the guy that all of us believed in the first time we could beat Donald Trump and did beat Donald Trump.

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Vice President Kamala Harris, campaign finance experts agree, would be the easiest replacement for Joe Biden. Associated Press

If President Joe Biden does not run for reelection, Vice President Kamala Harris would have a major practical advantage over other possible candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Thats because only Harris could seamlessly assume complete control of the presidents campaign war chest, making the vice president the easiest option, at least financially, to replace Biden at the top of the ticket.

Its uncharted waters, and for a candidate other than the vice president, its going to put a burden on raising a lot of money very quickly, Larry Noble, the former general counsel for the Federal Election Commission, told HuffPost.

Transferring everything to another candidate besides Harris becomes much trickier, if not impossible, according to experts who emphasize the unprecedented nature of the situation currently facing Democrats. In that case, the Biden-Harris account could roll everything over into a political action committee, turn it over to the Democratic National Committee, or refund donors and ask them to contribute to a new committee. None of these are ideal options.

Because President Biden and Vice President Harris share an authorized campaign committee  if President Biden were to cease being a candidate and was succeeded as the nominee by Harris, she would maintain access to all the funds in the committee and could use them to advance her presidential candidacy, Trevor Potter, the president of the Campaign Legal Center, a campaign finance watchdog, explained on social media this week.

A new campaign would also have to pay for campaign infrastructure like staffers, field offices and existing ad buys at fair market value since its all subject to in-kind contribution limits.

The Biden-Harris campaign could make a political contribution to another candidate, its just subject to political contribution limits, Noble said, citing the candidate-to-candidate federal contribution limit of $2,000 per election. They just cant transfer [everything] to another candidate.

Its just one example of how challenging building out a new campaign would be for anyone but Harris four months from the election, as Democrats begin to waver publicly on whether Biden has the stamina to win the election and complete another term. Fundraising is just one piece of a puzzle that would include coalescing behind another candidate and getting them on the ballot in 50 states with different rules for qualifying.

Harris, who ran against Biden in 2020 before becoming his running mate, is getting a renewed look as a presidential candidate. A CNN poll this week even showed her slightly edging out Biden in a head-to-head against Trump.

But Biden and his closest advisors have dug in following last Thursdays debate, during which Biden, 81, appeared unable to effectively counter the 78-year-old former president.

To try and quell mounting concerns, Bidens campaign released its second-quarter fundraising numbers on Tuesday, revealing that Biden raised $264 million in Q2, including $127 million in June and $33 million alone on the day of the debate, according to the campaign. Biden ended the quarter with $240 million cash on hand versus Trumps $285 million in cash from his $331 million Q2 haul. Theyre strong numbers for both campaigns in the elections final stretch.

But if Democrats were to nominate Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer or California Gov. Gavin Newsom  who are both being floated as possible Biden successors now and in 2028  neither directly benefits from the Biden-Harris campaigns mountain of cash unless Harris is also running.

The only way, according to campaign finance experts, to ensure an entirely new ticket gets the same money would be to refund donors and ask them to contribute to a new candidate committee  a logistical nightmare wouldnt guarantee the same outcome for a new campaign.

A Democratic strategist called that option phenomenally stupid but emphasized theres no modern precedent for what Democrats are currently facing. People are not going to donate it back  I dont think you should ever give back money in politics, this person said.

The Biden-Harris campaign could also roll over money into a PAC, which can accept unlimited contributions but cant spend them in direct coordination with a candidate. Another PAC downside: They often pay more than candidates for TV airtime, a major campaign expense.

The campaign could also give it all to the Democratic National Committee, but even with the DNC, there are rules governing coordinating with candidates that curb how freely the committee can spend. Thats not necessarily as effective as a campaign spending money itself, Noble said.

Noble pointed out how not since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 has a sitting president opted not to run for reelection, and that was before all these laws.

He added, For a candidate other than the vice president, its really going to put a burden on raising a lot of money.

Related...
Inheritance Tax Labour

Labour could launch an inheritance tax raid on bereaved families, a leaked recording from a shadow frontbencher has suggested.

Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, told a public meeting in March that inheritance tax could be used to address intergenerational inequality and redistribute wealth.

The Conservatives said Mr Jones comments had let the cat out of the bag on Labours plans to tax family homes, but Labour said this was total nonsense.

Yet throughout the election campaign, the party has kept suspiciously quiet about its plans for inheritance tax.

In its manifesto, Labour only ruled out increasing income tax, National Insurance and VAT in the event of an election victory  fuelling concerns the party would instead attack capital gains and family wealth.

Jason Hollands, of wealth manager Evelyn Partners, said: Given the manifesto statement that a renewed focus on tax avoidance by large businesses and the wealthy will begin to close the tax gap and ensure everyone pays their fair share, Labour could well announce a review into the inheritance tax and gifting regimes.

But what would a raid on inheritance tax look like  and who would bear the brunt of it?

How Labour could increase death duties

Britains most hated tax has already hit all-time highs under the Tories. Bereaved families paid a record 7.5bn in death duties last year due to huge increases in property prices combined with the Governments deep freeze of tax thresholds.

The nil-rate band  below which no inheritance tax paid  has remained stuck at 325,000 since 2009 and will be frozen until 2028-29 under current government plans.

Mr Hollands: With the affluent post-war baby boomer generation now approaching average life expectancy, the next decade is expected to see a bonanza in inheritances of which a revenue constrained government that has boxed itself in with tax pledges elsewhere could see as a tempting tax opportunity.

As a result, the number paying death duties is expected to jump from 33,000 this year to nearly 44,000 by the end of the next Parliament.

There are a number of policy changes Labour could make to widen the net even further.

Julia Rosenbloom, of law firm Shakespeare Martineau, said that the partys silence on death duties suggested these policies were unlikely to be crowd pleasers.

For example, Labour could choose to scrap some of the tax reliefs on lifetime gifts, preventing people from giving away their wealth earlier without incurring a charge.

Currently, there is no tax on gifts as long as the person gifting survives the transaction by seven years, Ms Rosenbloom said. With neighbouring countries in Europe already implementing a gift tax it is possible the UK could follow suit.

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Alternatively, Labour could impose an inheritance tax raid on family homes by scrapping the residence nil-rate band.

This extra 175,000 allowance lets homeowners pass on 500,000 tax-free to their families  or 1m if they are a couple  provided their children or grandchildren inherit their main property.

Andy Butcher, of wealth manager Raymond James, said cutting this exemption would be a further blow to families, especially where the bulk of their wealth is in their home.

This will again catch those that may not consider themselves the wealthiest in society, and likely the same families that have been squeezed so much by the Tory Government the past few years. This wouldnt impact the very wealthiest in society.

Mr Hollands said another concern is whether Labour would make pension pots part of an estate for inheritance tax purposes. Today, pensions can be inherited free from the contentious levy.

The economic cost of death duties

At 40pc, Britains inheritance tax rate is one of the highest in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The Centre for Policy Studies, a think tank, has called the levy an inefficient tax which penalises work, savings, investment and capital accumulation, distorting behaviour with potentially significant aggregate economic consequences over time.

Inheritance tax can be very painful for families  and yet the benefits for the public purse are surprisingly small.

Research by the OECD has found that inheritance tax generates relatively little revenue.

On average, it accounts for just 0.5pc of total tax take in countries that levy it. In fact, it exceeds 1pc of total taxation in only four OECD countries  Belgium, France, Japan and Korea.

It is generally easier for the ultra-wealthy to take advantage of tax reliefs and also move to lower-tax countries. This means families whose wealth is tied up in the home are often the hardest hit.

In recent decades, several countries repealed their inheritance tax for this reason and also over fears the levy would drive away wealthy business owners.

The most obvious example is Sweden, who abolished its inheritance tax in 2004 following an exodus of the wealthy from the country.

Business owners including TetraPak founder Ruben Rausing, Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad and industrialist Fredrik Lundberg all fled because of the punitive tax policy.

Unlike Britain, the country had no inheritance tax relief for family-owned businesses. At the same time, the tax threshold was extremely low at just 70,000 Swedish krona, or around 101,210 krona (7,462) in todays money.

Mr Kamprad returned to the country only after the levy was scrapped. Capital also flowed back into the country. The Swedish tax authorities found that over four years 8,000 wealthy individuals moved assets back into the country.

Another country to ditch inheritance tax was Australia. Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser scrapped federal estate taxes in 1979 after a growing number of middle-class families became caught in the net.

The tax-free exemption was just $40,000 at the federal level  and as low as $12,000 in some states. By 1982, all states had dropped their estate taxes, which were wiped from the country.

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Emmanuel Macron's snap election has already cost France a quarter of growth, business leaders claim - Aurelien Morissard/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The resurgence of Marine Le Pens National Rally party (RN) in the French elections has grabbed headlines.

While investors had been focused on the prospect of a hard-Right parliamentary majority, exit polls suggest Le Pens party is on track for a shock defeat that could even see it pushed into third place by Emmanuel Macrons centrist Ensemble bloc.

Still, President Macrons decision to align himself with the Left may have more serious implications for the French economy.

Its New Popular Front coalition is a hastily arranged marriage of bickering greens, socialists and communists who are promising to bring in controls on food prices, reinstate the right to retire at 60, significantly raise the minimum wage and increase business taxes.

If these policies were ever enacted, they would cost the country billions of euros  and risk tipping the French economy into a bigger crisis than ever.

Frances Unbowed party, led by populist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, is the most radical of the lot.

His previous Leftist alliance fell apart over Melenchons refusal to brand Hamas a terrorist organisation after its Oct 7 attack against Israel.

Melenchon also recently compared the head of Lille University to a Nazi for cancelling a conference on Palestine at which he was due to speak.

Despite the controversy surrounding the hard-Left, Frances prime minister Gabriel Attal has appealed for voters to block Le Pen and the partys prime ministerial candidate Jordan Bardella from securing an outright majority.

More than 200 candidates representing either the Left-wing alliance or Macrons centrist bloc have withdrawn their names from the ballot paper to give their political rivals the best chance of beating the RN.

Left-wing firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon is the most radical in the loose collection of parties co-operating as the New Popular Front - Arnaud Finistre/AFP via Getty Images

Le Pen has pledged to cut VAT on energy bills, return the state pension age to 62 and exempt all under-30s from income tax.

But these proposals look fiscally tame compared with the Lefts manifesto, which vows to begin a rupture within 15 days of gaining power, tearing up seven years of reforms presided over by Macron.

Analysis by the Institut Montaigne think tank found that rolling back Macrons deeply unpopular increase in the state pension age from 64 to 60 would cost 58bn (49bn) a year. Capping the prices of gas, food and other essentials would cost 24bn, according to the institute.

The Leftist coalition has also vowed to increase the number of income tax bands from five to 14, with lower earners paying less tax. It will also restore the wealth tax abolished by Macron and increase inheritance tax.

In total, the NFPs pledges are estimated to cost nearly 95bn a year once fully rolled out.

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This is double the cost of National Rallys policies of 48bn. Macrons centrist plan suggests extra spending of around 15bn, the think tank added.

Economists at Citi said the NFPs programme could conceivably sum up to an additional 100bn to 200bn, putting Europes second largest economy on a collision course with Brussels over tax and spending.

France is already struggling to cut its addiction to borrowing.

Its budget deficit widened to 5.5pc of GDP last year, missing its 4.9pc forecast. Economists have already warned that the country will miss a goal to reduce annual borrowing to the European Unions ceiling of 3pc of GDP by 2027 and the country has already been reprimanded by Brussels in a move that could spark billions of euros in fines.

Frances borrowing binge has already pushed its overall debt burden well above the size of its economy.

Its debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 111pc at the end of 2023. Citi economists say this could rise to more than 125pc if New Popular Front takes power  a significant increase over only a four-year time horizon.

The prospect of a hard-Right parliamentary majority had already pushed the risk premium that investors demand to hold French debt to its highest since the eurozone debt crisis. The spread between French and German borrowing costs stood at its widest since 2012.

This would damage the strength of the EU

However, Kristina Hooper, global market strategist at Invesco, says a government that included the hard-Left would be even more negative for France.

This outcome would be the most negatively received by markets, she said.

It would likely result in the greatest fiscal largesse, causing French bonds to sell off. This would also damage the strength of the European Union, which could weaken the euro.

Given the greater political uncertainty, we believe it would likely be negative for French and European equities as well as the euro, and would cause a widening of French and peripheral bond spreads versus Germany.

While results from the first round of voting have all but ruled out a hard-Left majority, Citi added: It would almost certainly stall any further fiscal consolidation and plausibly result in noticeably wider deficits.

Macron has reportedly ruled out sharing power with Melenchon, but several of his allies are floating the idea of a broad coalition of centrist MPs and Left-wing parties.

National Rallys Bardella, who had been measuring up the curtains at the Hotel Matignon as favourite to become prime minister, denounced what he branded an alliance of dishonour, telling Frances Le Figaro newspaper that Macron had thrown himself into the arms of Melenchon, who runs a party he accused of anti-Semitism.

Even Melenchons political bedfellows are uneasy about their coalition.

Raphael Glucksmann, co-founder of the centre-Left Place Publique party, admitted its decision to form an alliance with the hard-Left was troubling.

It was a difficult decision, and its not a marriage of love, he said last month.

Current prime minister Attal made clear that the centres decision to withdraw candidates in favour of the New Popular Front did not mean they were joining forces with Melenchon.

There isnt and there never will be any alliance with France Unbowed, he said.

Strategy could backfire

But analysts at Rabobank warned the strategy of Frances anti-National Rally parties joining forces to block the hard-Right might not pay off.

This cordon sanitaire strategy could backfire in so far as it is seen as an attempt to stifle the interests of a clearly increasingly large disaffected sector of French society, they said in a note to clients.

A choice between far-Right and far-Left candidates, meanwhile, could simply see more centrist voters abstain.

Meanwhile, business leaders are warning that Frances economic and fiscal health has been forgotten.

Francois Asselin, who leads Frances confederation of small and medium businesses, said Macrons decision to dissolve parliament had already cost France a quarter of growth.

He told French TV: The punishments from the markets will be immediate [if the hard-Left or hard-Right] take power.

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Boeing's newest plane is already 5 years late and costing billions: Why the 777X is so important

Boeing's newest plane is already 5 years late and costing billions: Why the 777X is so important

Boeing's 777X, its largest passenger plane, is five years behind schedule.

With 481 orders from airlines like Emirates and Singapore, much is riding on the new widebody's success.

The jet may face more delays amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing's commercial airplane production.

Boeing's 777X is the world's largest passenger plane in production, complete with revolutionary folding wingtips and 10% better fuel efficiency than competitors.

More than a dozen airlines, including British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, have placed 481 orders for the twin-engine aircraft that was supposed to start flying passengers by 2020.

But the new jet, already five years behind schedule, has Boeing $1.5 billion in the hole. With the planemaker mired with other 737 and 787-related fires, adding an entirely new plane to the mix has become even harder.

Boeing now expects the 777X, which will come in the larger 777-9 and smaller 777-8 variants, to be certified in 2025. And at least one waiting airline boss thinks it may be even later.

A Boeing spokesperson told Business Insider it is working closely with regulators in the 777X's certification, noting the jet has completed thousands of test flights to date.

"Our team remains focused on executing this comprehensive series of tests and conditions on the ground and in the air to demonstrate the safety, reliability and performance of the airplane," they said, reaffirming the 2025 target.

Delays could stretch even longer as Boeing searches for a new CEO and clears a backlog of almost 6,200 unfilled orders, experts said. The FAA slowed deliveries after the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout in January and capped Boeing's 737 production.

"With new management at Boeing, I'll feel a lot better at certification prospects for this jet," aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia told BI. "In fact, until new management arrives, there's really nothing the company says that should be taken seriously."

A lot is riding on the new 777X, including proving its modified design was the right strategy over building a new plane from scratch. Boeing will also need to earn back the trust of airlines that have raised concerns about the planemaker's ability to certify and deliver planes, experts said.

Boeing also doesn't want to fall further behind rival Airbus. The European planemaker's A321neo family has outsold the 737 since 2019, and it's already launched the 777X's competing Airbus A350 widebody, which has some 1,300 orders to date from the likes of Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, and Lufthansa.

The 777X's familiarity and more spacious 10-abreast cabin are huge selling points against the A350, which is smaller than the 777-9 model but cheaper and longer-ranged.

Boeing needs to prove it can safely update an old aircraft

Unlike Airbus' A350, Boeing based the 777X on its classic 777-300ER but modified it to be larger and more efficient. The 777-300ER is Boeing's best-selling 777 variant, selling over 800 units since 2000.

Key differences between the two 777 types are the size, engines, and wings. The new plane has tips that fold up to ensure it fits in the same gate space as the classic model.

The 777X's folding wingtips help the giant plane fit into already-constructed 777 gate space, like the Air New Zealand classic 777 pictured. Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock, Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty Images

Operationally, the 777X is similar to its predecessor  and that's by design. Its flight deck resembles that of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner  meaning pilots can jump between all aircraft with little extra training, and airports save on infrastructure costs.

Boeing's last completely new widebody plane was the 787 way back in 2003. While the Dreamliner is a cash cow with over 2,300 orders and about 1,100 delivered, the planemaker wasn't ready to invest in another challenging, time-consuming, and expensive clean-sheet widebody this time around.

The versatile Boeing 787 Dreamliner comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images

But opting for the cheaper update has already caused problems before.

When building the 737 Max  an update to the popular narrowbody  Boeing installed a system that was responsible for crashing two planes in 2018 and 2019.

The system, known as MCAS, was new. But Boeing didn't clue airlines in because it was selling the Max as an enhanced version of the next-generation 737 family rather than as an entirely new plane and needed it to require minimal pilot training.

Similar design flaws on its 777X would further plague Boeing's chance at revival.

"There's a lot of things that Boeing's going to have to do that was not done on the 777-300ER," Aviation Week's chief regulation and safety editor said in a July 2023 podcast. "The biggest thing, again, as we're seeing on the 737s, is validating these system safety assessments that have to do with making assumptions about pilot reactions during non-normal situations."

The 777X needs the trust of key Middle Eastern customers

Middle Eastern carriers Emirates, Qatar, and Etihad Airways make up the bulk of the 777X orders, taking interest in both the $442 million 777-9 and the $410 million 777-8.

Emirates added 90 more 777Xs to its order book in late 2023, bringing its total to 205, 35 of which are for the smaller variant. Qatar and Etihad Airways have also ordered 74 and 25 777-9s, respectively, for a collective 304 777X planes.

The 777X's size and efficiency make it favorable for these carriers' strong hub-and-spoke networks that rely on big planes to shuttle as many people as possible between cities at once. The three carriers plan to phase out fuel-hungry planes like the A380 quad-jet to be replaced by the more efficient 777X.

The Boeing 777X's 10-abreast cabin mockup on display at Aircraft Interiors Expo in 2022. Georg Wendt/picture alliance via Getty Images

Despite the substantial investment, Emirates president Tim Clark has voiced his concern over Boeing's 777X delays. According to Reuters, the airline is flying costly older jets longer than expected, eating into its bottom line.

Still, Clark told The Air Current the 777X is a promising plane but noted that its problems are bad for airlines relying on Boeing to fulfill their demand needs because it's taking so long to certify.

Boeing is likely too far in to cancel the program, Aboulafia said, and airlines and Boeing will eventually benefit once the new widebody hits the market.

"The 777X is definitely worth pursuing," Aboulafia said. "It's the largest jetliner on the market, which is always useful for slot-constrained airlines. And the order book is respectable, if not fantastic, for a program at this stage."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Heres why the owners of Hurts Donut decided to close their shop

This one is going to hurt, especially for those who crave doughnuts at 3 a.m.

Hurts Donut, the 24-hour doughnut shop at 7010 W. 21st St. that opened in Wichita in 2015 selling whimsically-topped, highly caloric doughnuts, has closed. Its last day in business was Tuesday, said owner Aaron Courtney, who along with his wife, Jenni, bought the store in 2019.

The reason for the closing, Aaron Courtney said: The building lease was up, as was the couples contract with the Springfield, Missouri-based Hurts Donut parent company. The Courtneys, who own several other businesses including both Wichita Tropical Smoothie Cafes, decided they needed to cut something out.

At some point in time, you say, I have a lot going on. Ive got a young family, he said. ...Just as a family, we dont really want to do this any more.

Hurts Donut served giant, whimsically topped yeast and cake doughnuts.

Employees were notified on Friday, and the Courtneys are in the process of selling off equipment from the building, he said.

In addition to the two Wichita Tropical Smoothie Cafes, the Courtneys also co-own the Spring Clean Laundry at 29th and Arkansas and also are among the owners of a new direct-to-consumer product called Kanga, which is a stability pouch that allows babies to sit up more securely in grocery carts and restaurant high chairs.

Also, Jenni Courtney, who helps run the couples restaurants, has decided to go back to school in August.

We have just a crap ton of stuff going on, Aaron Courtney said. Its kind of a situation where you cant do everything to a really, really high level. Thats just the reality of life.

Aaron Courtney said that he was sorry he didnt get a chance to really say goodbye to his longtime customers at Hurts.

Hurts Donut in Wichita closed for good on Tuesday.

Weve got a lot of really consistent customers, he said. Its been a great five years, and were incredibly grateful, but its time to pursue other things. Everything thats good comes to an end at some time, and its just time.

Hurts Donut is owned by Valley Center native Kas Clegg and her husband, Tim. They opened the first Hurts in Springfield, Missouri, in 2014 then franchised it across the region. Wichita briefly had a second Hurts on the east side of town, which operated from 2016 to 2017 at 7718 E. 37th St. North.

Ive reached out to the Cleggs to see if they plan to find another spot in Wichita but have not yet heard back.

Wichitas first Culvers will open for business in just a few days

Heads up, Wichita chicken sandwich fans: This Chick-fil-A is about to temporarily close

She lost her restaurant lease in June. But after a feverish search, shes found a new spot

Heads up, Wichita chicken sandwich fans: This Chick-fil-A is about to temporarily close
Are you a scale-up founder or investor seeking unparalleled growth opportunities in a vibrant ecosystem?

Look no further than Helsinki, Finland! Helsinki Partners proudly presents its flagship programs, Founders to Finland and Venture Nordics, designed to unlock the immense potential of the Nordic region for international entrepreneurs and investors.

These programs invite participants to dive deep into one of the worlds most dynamic startup ecosystems and experience the allure of this Nordic gem. As a highlight, attendees will receive complimentary tickets to Slush 2024, the globes largest congregation of startups and venture capitalists.

The New Nordic countriesNorway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Icelandhave emerged as unparalleled innovation hubs, earning acclaim as prolific unicorn factories, second only to Silicon Valley.

At the heart of this region lies Helsinki, the epicenter of innovation in the New Nordics. The city is renowned for its extraordinary support for innovation, dedication to a green transition, and an exceptional quality of life, drawing top talent and significant investment. Helsinki is rapidly becoming a prime destination for scale-up founders and venture capitalists, offering unmatched opportunities for growth, innovation, and investment. Notably, Helsinki is also the capital of Finland, celebrated as the worlds happiest country for the seventh consecutive year.

Clarisse Berggardh, CEO of Helsinki Partners, underscores the citys potential: We believe that amidst all the global challenges, solutions lie within cities. Helsinki is a rapidly expanding metropolis in the heart of the Nordics, and its an ideal testing ground for shaping the future. We are committed to innovation and sustainability, and were proud to be the catalyst for pioneering solutions with global impact.

Despite its many strengths, Helsinkis potential for return on investment, top-tier talent, and impact for scale-ups remains largely untapped. The Founders to Finland and Venture Nordics programs offer international entrepreneurs and investors a chance to experience this Nordic magic firsthand.

These programs feature meticulously curated activities, complimentary access to SLUSH, and exclusive side events, providing valuable interactions with key figures in the startup and investor ecosystem.

Founders to Finland, running from November 18-23, 2024, is a six-day program tailored for international founders who have recently secured Series B or C funding. Participants gain crucial connections and insights into the Nordic market while attending Slush 2024. Testimonials from past participants highlight the programs significant impact on fostering investment in Finnish startups.

Helsinki has a very diverse pool of talents, and the Finnish people have a very strong sense of commitment and dedication to their work. For us, it is very important that people are independent and complete their work tasks responsibly. Everyones in this together, and they understand the entrepreneur culture, says Crystal Koh, Founder of Chanceupon, and Xanne Leo, COO of Chanceupon, past participants of Founders to Finland.

Venture Nordics, the premier program for international VC funds and LPs, aims to expand their investments in Europe and the Nordics. Scheduled from November 15-21, 2024, this seven-day program offers a comprehensive exploration of Helsinkis high-performing funds and dynamic startup ecosystem. Finnish funds consistently outperform the European average, and Helsinkis strategic location enhances market access. Following the success of its first edition, which hosted nine participants managing a total AUM of around 12 billion euros, the program returns for its second edition.

Budgets are blossoming in terms of developing deep tech and deep science here in Helsinki. A lot of companies are making their way to the climate change space and quantum computing. The Finnish tech landscape encompasses many cutting-edge areas that you can learn from, invest in, and implement into your own business and market, says Rahul Ranjani, Partner at Manerama Capital and alumnus of the Venture Nordics Spring 2024 program.

Slush, the worlds largest gathering for startups and venture capitalists, features 5,500 startup founders and operators, and 3,300 investors from around the world. The event challenges the boundaries of creativity and technology, offering attendees a unique opportunity to network with like-minded individuals through the official program and over 300 side events organized by partners and the wider startup community.

Founders and investors interested in these transformative programs are encouraged to apply and seize the opportunity to explore Helsinkis thriving startup and venture ecosystems and experience the excitement of Slush 2024 firsthand.

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MAMARONECK  Within hours of the fatal June 20 crash that took the lives of a 43-year-old mother and her 6-year-old son  struck by a school mini-bus in a Mamaroneck Avenue crosswalk on their way to school  the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department issued a news release saying "it appears at this time that this incident was a tragic accident" and "there are no charges pending" against the bus driver.

But nearly two weeks after the crash, after the funerals for Molly Murphey Donovan and Michael "Mikey" Donovan Volpe, the investigation continues, as Mamaroneck Village Police Chief Sandra DiRuzza awaits the results of an extensive review by the Westchester County Police Accident Investigation Unit.

After the crash: Changes considered for Mamaroneck intersection by school where mother, 6-year-old son died

That county team will document the accident and present its findings, acting in support of DiRuzza's department, which is the lead police agency on the case.

Lt. Mark Gatta, public information officer for the village police, said the county's work takes time, as it involves collecting all information from Mamaroneck's detectives and using a 3D laser scanner to recreate the entire scene before they "make a determination on their end and write up a report."

Molly Murphey Donovan and her kindergartner son, Michael "Mikey" Donovan Volpe were struck and killed by a Royal Coach Lines mini-bus while walking to Mamaroneck Avenue Elementary School on June 20, 2024.

Bus driver won't be named until investigation concludes

Gatta said the legwork, "the gumshoe work," has been done by Village of Mamaroneck detectives, canvassing the scene and interviewing witnesses, including the driver of the mini-bus. It is in keeping with department policy, Gatta said, not to reveal the name of the driver, who has been identified only as a 68-year-old man from Mount Vernon.

(The village has denied two Freedom of Information Law requests filed by the USA Today Network New York seeking documents and information in the case, citing the law's exception for an ongoing police investigation.)

Gatta said the driver's name will be released after the investigation is concluded.

"If there are charges to be filed, then we'll release the name," he said. "If charges are ultimately decided not to be filed, then we'll release the name. Once we put the name out there, then obviously there's going to be a lot of scrutiny to that particular person."

Releasing the driver's name while the investigation is continuing could change things, Gatta said.

"When we interviewed him initially until this point, he's 100% cooperative," the lieutenant said. "If we release the name, then he may stop cooperating. And that's what we don't want to have happen."

Molly Murphey Donovan, 43, and her son Michael Volpe, 6, were struck and killed by a school mini-bus on Mamaroneck Avenue on Thursday, June 20 while on their way to Mamaroneck Avenue School. It was just a few days short of Murphey's 44th birthday.

The investigation has included "going to the bus company, speaking with his supervisors, looking at any disciplinary things, if he had any," Gatta said.

"The investigation is open until the accident reconstruction is done, until we get the final word that way, and then we'll have a final review, probably with the district attorney's office," as to whether the driver should face any charges, he said.

As of now, no charges are pending, he said.

"At this time, unless something changes significantly, we're not looking at it as a reckless act, certainly not looking at it as an intentional act, just an absolutely horrible accident."

Safety review coming soon of schools in Mamaroneck village

Chief DiRuzza said stakeholders from the county, the school district and the village will gather the week of July 8 to review traffic safety around the schools under the village's purview. These include two schools in the Mamaroneck school district, Mamaroneck Avenue School (where Michael Volpe was a kindergartner) and Mamaroneck High School, along with schools in the Rye Neck school district that are part of the village of Mamaroneck.

Gatta said the investigation needn't be finished for that safety review to go forward.

"We just can go ahead and say 'Let's make things safer,'" he said.

A memorial of flowers, toys and candles has grown on Mamaroneck Avenue at the crosswalk where six year-old Michael Volpe and his mother Molly Murphey Donovan were killed after being struck by a Royal Coach Lines mini-bus.

The week of July 8 is also the week that a camp opens at Mamaroneck Avenue School, meaning families will be walking to the school along Mamaroneck Avenue and crossing the busy thoroughfare at New Street, where a makeshift memorial of stuffed animals, posters, toy cars and action figures has sprung up for the lost schoolmate and his mom.

That intersection will have something else it didn't have on the morning when "Mikey" and his mother were struck and killed: A crossing guard will be stationed at that intersection.

Reach Peter D. Kramer at pkramer@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Why cops won't ID bus driver in Mamaroneck crash that killed mom, son
President Joe Biden and his campaign are insisting he will stay in the 2024 race, despite a rough debate last week in which he looked feeble and struggled to complete his thoughts several times. With Democrats increasingly unsure that Biden should remain the partys nominee, the conservative Heritage Foundation is pledging to try to block the Democratic Party from replacing Biden on the ticket in key swing states.

In a June 21 memo, the Heritage Foundation astutely predicted that Democrats might wish to force out Biden if he freezes at [the] debate. Noting that the mechanisms for replacing him on ballots vary by state, the memo says: There is the potential for pre-election litigation in some states that would make the process difficult and perhaps unsuccessful.

Election experts question whether the Heritage Foundation effort would work. I dont put any credence into it, Rick Hasen, director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project At UCLAs Law School, wrote on Wednesday. Joe Biden is not the partys nominee now, and states generally point to the major partys nominee as the one whose name is on the ballot.

Edward Foley, who directs the election law program at the Ohio State University, tells Rolling Stone: As long as we are talking about Biden dropping out before the convention, I cant see any legal obstacle to the Democrats choosing any other alternative nominee that they wish, whether [Vice President Kamala] Harris or someone else. State law puts on the ballot whomever the party chooses as its nominee at its convention.

Craig Holman, a governmental ethics lobbyist at Public Citizen, says that the Heritage Foundation is trying to create a quagmire where none really exists. He adds, Theyre just trying to muck up the process. I have no doubt they will file lawsuits if this does indeed happen, but I would expect the lawsuits to be very promptly dismissed.

A senior source involved with Donald Trumps 2024 effort to win the presidency and another person working with the Heritage-based Project 2025 (the conservative policy agenda project) tell Rolling Stone that the point of these legal attack plans and potential blitz of challenges isnt necessarily to win.

A key point, the sources say, would be to weigh down the Democratic nominee, the national party, and their legal and political allies in as many unique court battles and sideshows as possible  so that the Democratic Party would have to waste resources and time on those matters when liberals would want to be laser-focused on, say, the battleground states that will likely decide whether Trump returns to power.

Team Biden  or Team whoever  is going to be getting hit on all sides between now and Election Day, the first source says. Every legal and political weapon is on the table. Still, the sources add, they do generally feel more confident in their legal theories than in the past, since Trump stacked the judiciary with right-wing jurists.

Rolling Stone spoke Wednesday night with Mike Howell, a former Trump Homeland Security Department official who is now executive director at the Heritage Foundations Oversight Project, which is spearheading the effort to prevent Democrats from replacing Biden.

President Biden today said he is the nominee, and I think the media has missed the importance of such a statement  If he, in those statements, is legally arguing that he is the nominee, I think that should be read as him circumventing the formal convention process, he argued. And Bidens doing so has tremendous legal implications and statutory impact for states that specifically point to the DNC for who shows up on the ballot as the partys nominee.

Howell continues: I dont think anybody, myself included, can say how this will shake out because it is all so time-dependent and fact-dependent on what happens between now and the [Democratic] convention. However, he says, there are options for litigation and plenty of legal opportunities for us if an improper switcheroo were to occur  In the aggregate, the legal skeptics are incorrect that there would likely be some sort of seamless switcheroo that would happen without legal challenges.

We are standing ready to sue in the event a switch is done improperly, he adds. If they do it properly, we wont sue. But if certain election integrity issues are at play, we will be very active.

More from Rolling Stone

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NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY)  A woman charged with felony child abuse after being accused of taking her own baby from Childrens Hospital of the Kings Daughters in Norfolk is speaking out from jail.

Woman charged in connection with infant removed from Norfolk CHKD

Stephanie Campbell

Stephanie Campbell is behind bars, without bond, at the Norfolk City Jail. Police say that Sunday night, they got a call that she removed her infant son from the hospital.

Campbell, who also goes by Stephanie Wallace, said she was only concerned with the welfare of her son.

I just want to be with him so bad, Campbell said. I just want to hold him and love on him. That was the worst part of that night. Like, so much happened that night. That was awful in a horrible way just not being able to be with him.

10 On Your Side asked Campbell why she removed her infant from the hospital, but she did not want to discuss what led up to the incident and continually claimed that the hospital was medically abusing the child.

Neither police nor CHKD would elaborate on the specifics of the case. However, hospital administrators sent a statement to 10 On Your Side, saying that CHKD has several levels of security to protect patients, beginning with limiting visitors to parents/legal guardians  who have a legal right to be with their child and a short list of parent-approved visitors. In rare instances, parents may decide to remove their child from the hospital. If removing a child from the hospital puts that childs health at risk, CHKD is legally obligated to contact appropriate authorities to safeguard the well-being of the child.

Norfolk Police responded to CHKD Sunday night in reference to an infant who had been removed from the hospital, located at 601 Childrens Lane, around 10:50 p.m. The child was returned to the hospital a short time later after being located in Chesapeake.

Campbell is scheduled to be in court on Monday, July 8, for a bond hearing. 10 On Your Side will be there and is working to learn more details on the incident.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
NORTH MIAMI, Okla.  A woman is detained in a northeast Oklahoma stabbing, officials with Quapaw Nation Marshal Service say.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to call for a stabbing in North Miami at 712 Pine St. just before 9 a.m. Thursday and found Austin Slayton with a stab wound to the chest.

Slayton was taken to a Joplin hospital where he was treated and later released.

The woman at the scene, identified as Jennifer Quapaw, was detained by authorities.

One injured in Quapaw shooting, suspect search continues

Slayton and Quapaw know each other, said Lt. Ethan Crow with QNMS. There was one witness at the scene.

Investigators are still looking for the knife used in the incident.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Miami Police, North Miami Police, Miami Nation, and Quapaw Nation Marshal Service are investigating 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 KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
A woman who allegedly posed as her therapist wife counseled hundreds of patients online without any qualifications to do so, an investigation by officials in Florida found.

The woman  who has been identified as "TR" in court records  is reportedly married to Peggy Randolph, a licensed clinical social worker operating largely in Tennessee and Florida, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Randolph worked for Brightside Health, and allegedly helped her wife, "TR" impersonate her in online therapy sessions, according to the investigation and a settlement agreed to in Tennessee.

The women were accused of trying to double their potential earnings from therapy sessions; while Randolph, the actual therapist, was giving in-person sessions, her wife, TR, allegedly was posing as her and counseling clients online, CBS News reports.

The alleged fraud was first uncovered last year after TR died. A client who regularly had been speaking with TR began speaking with Randolph and realized something strange had happened.

The wife of licensed clinical social worker Peggy Randolph impersonated her spouse and gave online counseling sessions for years despite lacking the credentials to do so legally (stock image) (Rex)

An obituary for Randolph's wife names the woman as Tammy Heath-Randolph, which is consistent with the "TR" initials found in the Florida investigation documents.

Typically, practicing therapists are expected to have at least a master's degree. Randolph's wife did not have any credentials relating to counseling services, according to a settlement agreement between the woman who claims she was defrauded and the Tennessee Department of Health.

Randolph said she had no idea that her wife had been posing as her in counseling sessions.

"[Randolph] denies knowing that T.R. was using her Brightside Health Therapist Portal log-in credentials or treating clients under her account. However, [Randolph] received compensation for the sessions conducted," according to the Tennessee settlement agreement.

According to the Florida investigation, Brightside conducted its own internal inquiry and found that TR had been "seeing all of [Randolph's] patients and had been for a long time," dating back to at least January 2021.

The Independent has reached out to Randolph for comment.

After the alleged fraud came to light, Randolph surrendered her social worker credentials in both Tennessee and Florida, according to investigation documents.

A representative from Brightside told CBS News that the company began an internal audit and fired Randolph from its service as soon as the alleged fraud came to light. It also notified and refunded all patients who had been paying to see an unlicensed therapist.

"We take our patient experience seriously and hold ourselves to a high ethical code of conduct," Hannah Changi, a Brightsides spokesperson, told the broadcaster. "We're extremely disappointed that a single provider was willing to violate the trust that Brightside and, most importantly, her patients had placed in her."
A person made an unsettling discovery on social media in February 2023  the woman shed been seeing for online therapy sessions wasnt actually a therapist.

Instead, the woman, identified in public records by her initials TR, had been masquerading as her wife, Peggy Randolph, then a licensed clinical social worker, according to an investigative report from the Florida Department of Health.

Randolph, who provided services to clients in Tennessee and Florida for her employer Brightside Health, helped her wife conduct online therapy sessions using her credentials while Randolph was seeing other patients in person, the report and a settlement agreement between Randolph and the state of Tennessee detailed.

But Randolphs wife was not licensed or trained to provide any sort of counseling services, according to a settlement agreement between Randolph and the state of Tennessee.

The couples coordinated effort to defraud patients came to light when Randolph was taking bereavement leave after her wife died, the documents stated.

CNN tracked down an online obituary for 58-year-old Tammy Heath-Randolph that lists Peggy Randolph as the deceaseds wife. Heath-Randolph (TR) died on February 11, 2023, just weeks before a patient complained to Brightside.

Randolph denies knowing Heath-Randolph had been conducting therapy sessions using her Brightside Health Therapist Portal log-in credentials, the settlement agreement states.

However, Brightsides internal investigation revealed Randolph had provided those credentials to her wife who was seeing all her patients and had been for a long time, according to the Florida report.

Randolph also received compensation for the sessions her wife conducted, the settlement agreement states.

When she was presented with a photograph showing Heath-Randolph with one of her clients, she acknowledged that she was her wife.

Brightside Health took swift and decisive action once it learned of the breach, a statement provided to CNN.

Were extremely disappointed that a single provider was willing to violate the trust that Brightside and, most importantly, her patients had placed in her, the statement said.

The impacted patients were fully reimbursed, Brightside Health said. The company also revoked Randolphs access to its software systems immediately after receiving notice of the incident and ended her contract, it said.

Randolph worked for the company from January 2021 until February 2023, according to the settlement, which says she was assigned to provide therapy sessions to hundreds of clients. Its unclear how many patients were seen by her wife during that time period.

In an emailed statement, Brightside spokesperson Hannah Changi told KFF Health News that Brightside couldnt say how many patients were seen by Randolphs wife due to the nature of the incident and ongoing legal proceedings.

Randolph gave up her license voluntarily in both Florida and Tennessee and in May was ordered by the state of Tennessee to pay a $1,000 civil penalty within 12 months.

CNN has reached out to Randolph for comment.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 28-year-old woman was arrested after she stole an ambulance and initiated a police pursuit Tuesday morning, July 2 in Central El Paso, according to the El Paso Police Department (EPPD).

Stolen ambulance leads police pursuit in Central El Paso

EPPD said the El Paso Police Auto Theft Task Force was called out July 2 after a reported ambulance has been stolen from Del Sol Medical Center at 10301 Gateway West.

The initial investigation revealed that Alasia Pamela Humber, 28, was at the hospital when she walked over and entered the ambulance in the ambulance bay. She then proceeded to drive away, according to police.

Police said upon receiving the theft report, a police alert was sent to all units to be on the lookout for the ambulance.

At Emerson St. and North Loop Dr., a motorcycle officer observed the stolen ambulance and attempted to stop it. However, Humber disregarded the officer and continued driving, according to police.

Police say Humber continued to evade police and other agencies, including state troopers from the Department of Public Safety.

Humber eventually crashed into a rock wall at the intersection of Gateway North Blvd. and Altura Ave. disabling the ambulance.

Police say Humber was taken into custody without incident and later transported to the El Paso County Detention Facility. She is facing theft of vehicle charge with a $30,000 bond and evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle with a $100,000 bond.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
China has installed more than 600 gigawatts of solar capacity, making use of uninhabited mountainous and desert areas (iStock/ Getty Images)

A state-owned power company in China has announced plans to build the worlds biggest solar farm, capable of powering a small country.

The 8.5 billion project will be constructed in northern Chinas Inner Mongolia region and will dispatch electricity to the urban cluster of Jing-Jin-Ji, consisting of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei.

The 8 gigawatt facility is more than half the entire installed solar capacity in the UK, and capable of powering roughly 6 million homes.

The integrated energy project will also include 4 GW of wind power, 4 GW of coal-fired power and 200 MW of solar thermal, as well as a further 5GWh set to be added at the site in energy storage.

Operated by Chinas Three Gorges Renewables Group, construction is expected to begin in September 2024 and come online by June 2027.

Plans for the new facility were announced just weeks after a 5GW complex was switched on in the north-west province of Xinjiang, becoming the biggest operational solar plant in the world.

Covering 200,000 acres in a desert region, the vast solar farm takes up the same space as New York City.

China has installed more solar power capacity than any other country, with more than 600 GW connected to the grid as of November 2023.

The country is also continuing to ramp up its solar capacity, commissioning as much last year as every other country in the world combined in 2022, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

While the increases in renewable capacity in Europe, the United States and Brazil hit all-time highs, Chinas acceleration was extraordinary, the IEA noted in a recent report on renewable energy.

Chinas role is critical in reaching the global goal of tripling renewables because the country is expected to install more than half of the new capacity required globally by 2030.
AYNOR, S.C. (WBTW)  A parent was shocked, and a teacher heartbroken.

Thats the reaction among dozens of people who were left reeling after Aynors Salem Baptist Church on Monday announced the sudden closure of its daycare, ending a 40-year run when it shuts down on July 26.

Photo: Savannah Denton/News13

Photo: Savannah Denton/News13

Photo: Savannah Denton/News13

Photo: Savannah Denton/News13

I was devastated and in shock that they would do such a thing, director Kim Hucks told News13. They didnt give me any preparation. Didnt give me any kind of clue as to how they were going to shut it down.

Pastor Randy Hilburn, reached by text message, declined to comment.

Please make your staff and parents aware of this decision and timeline so that they can plan for future arrangements, Hilburn wrote in a Monday letter addressed to Hucks.

Parent Lacey Hatley said the news hit hard not only because of the disruption to her family, but because the daycare has become a second home.

Its hard not to just find another daycare, but essentially just find another family, she said. Im gonna have to potentially take a leave of absence or even quit my job until we do have daycare availability. A lot of places in the area, they have waitlists, even up to a year from now.

Staff members are going to feel the loss of teaching children who theyve grown to love.

I walked in Monday morning, smile on my face. And my co-workers hand me a piece of paper. And it just, my world fell away, said pre-school teacher Susan Rogers.

Hucks said she asked the churchs leadership team for an extension and even offered to lease the building, but was told no.

Now, she and others hope a new location will emerge.

The parents support us in whatever we do. They want to go wherever we go. We all want to stay together, Hucks said.

The daycares parents and staff are turning to the community for help.

I hate asking. But these are our children here. These are our kids, Rogers said. And we need to pour back into them. Because at some point, this is part of their story. They will know and remember.

Savannah Denton joined News 13 in July 2023 as a reporter and producer. Savannah is from Atlanta, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Follow Savannah on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.

* * *

* * *

Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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

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Billion-dollar Vietnamese dairy brand Vinamilk first revealed its innovation and sustainable development strategy at the Global Dairy Conference (GDC) held from June 25 to 27.

The 2024 Global Dairy Conference took place on June 25-27 in London, the U.K., attracting more than 200 companies from around the world, including Vinamilk, to discuss the role and contribution of the dairy industry to sustainable development.

With the theme "Healthy People, Healthy Planet," the conference emphasized the challenges and opportunities and strategic innovation for sustainable development.

More than 200 businesses and organizations from the dairy industry gathered at the event in the U.K. Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

Vinamilk's presentation in the discussion section on Branding for the future carried the message "Care to Change."

Nguyen Quang Tri, Marketing Executive Director of Vinamilk, introduced the company's new identity for the first time to big global companies, and told the story of a billion-dollar brand integrating world trends.

Tris presentation analyzing the brand's innovation journey of nearly five decades drew close attention.

This innovation is based on 4 columns: future generations, better nutrition, customer experience, and a sustainable future.

These create momentum for the development of Vinamilk and the dairy industry in general, he said.

"We change for you" was the message delivered by the Vinamilk executive, reflecting its commitment to the community when changing its brand identity.

"Changing a brand that has been around for nearly half a century is a challenging decision. But the change has been received well and beyond our expectations."

Nguyen Quang Tri presents Vinamilks innovation journey at the conference. Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

Speaking about offering nutritional solutions, Tri cited the example of the Vinamilk Green Farm fresh milk product line, saying the company applies dual vacuum technology to help preserve the natural aromas with floral undertones and a sweet and buttery aftertaste. which include a hint of grass and flowers and a sweet aftertaste.

Green Farm is a continuation of Vinamilk's journey to build a "new world," leading to a series of innovation campaigns in other product lines, he said.

With its strategy to improve the customer experience, the company applies conversion technology between online and direct channels to ensure uniformity.

Vinamilk's goal is to connect current consumers.

For new customers, the feeling of excitement helps them transition to accessing the world of Vinamilk.

Vinamilk presented the Green Farm painting to Richard Hall, Chairman of the Global Dairy Conference. Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

Sustainable development is one of the main goals in Vinamilk's strategy.

It is now considered to be among the most sustainable global dairy brands.

In 2023 the company announced its net zero target road map for then through 2050.

In the year since the announcement Vinamilk has achieved the target of getting one farm and two plants certified as carbon neutral under PAS 2060:2014 standards.

It is also the first Vietnamese company to sign up to support Pathways to Dairy Net Zero.

Richard Hall, Chairman of the Global Dairy Conference, said it was evident from the presentations that all businesses agree that products quality is a prerequisite.

There is awareness of and action to achieve sustainable development, he said.

Richard Hall learns about Green Farm products. Photo courtesy of Vinamilk

Hall said Vinamilk is a typical example of the convergence of the above factors as reflected by its Green Farm strategy, farms and products.

"This comes from their efforts to reduce emissions from farms, products and many other aspects of the value chain."

Dr. Timothy Robinson, Independent Advisor to the Global Dairy Sustainable Development Framework, said sustainable development is a big issue for the industry.

He deeply appreciated Vinamilks recent accomplishments.

The doctor expected more cooperation between Vietnam and the Global Dairy Industry Initiative on Net Zero and the countrys deeper participation in the Sustainable Development Framework for the dairy industry.

"This can support Vinamilk and Vietnam's programs."

The Global Dairy Conference is a high-level forum of the dairy industry that gathers businesses, executives and experts from around the world.

The annual event was held for the 17th year.

For many years Vinamilk has represented Vietnam and shared a number of stories about the development of the industry in the country.
The 2024 US presidential race intensifies. Speculation abounds over potential replacements for President Joe Biden amid increasing pressure from his party and the media to step aside after a jaw-dropping, catastrophic debate against Donald Trump last week. Among the names circulating, a game-changer is emerging: Michelle Obama. Could this be Americas worst nightmare?

Polls indicate that Obama is not only a strong potential replacement for Biden but also considerably outpaces other likely candidates including Mr Bidens vice president, Kamala Harris, and California governor Gavin Newsom.

Despite her galvanising popularity and unique insight gained as first lady, Mrs Obama has consistently rejected calls to enter the political fray. Her reluctance is well-documented and stems from a deep-seated dislike of partisan politics and a strong desire to avoid the gruelling pressures associated with campaigning and governing. This aversion to politics was articulated in her 2018 memoir, Becoming, and reiterated in various interviews where she expressed contentment with her post-White House life, focusing on advocacy and personal projects rather than public office.

Popular though she is in some quarters, Mrs Obama nonetheless remains a deeply polarising figure to many Americans, largely due to past statements that critics may feel should disqualify her from the presidency. During her husbands 2008 campaign, she remarked, For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country. The comment was met with widespread criticism, with detractors questioning her patriotism.

Further, her speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, where she highlighted that the White House was built by slaves, drew criticism from those who felt the remarks were divisive or inappropriate. And in a 2008 speech, she described America as just downright mean, a statement that opponents seized upon to paint her as unpatriotic or ungrateful.

These past remarks continue to be an irreconcilable transgression for her critics, casting a shadow over her potential candidacy and rendering her potentially more divisive than Biden.

In any case, Republicans must prepare for the possibility of candidate Michelle Obama. Should she decide to run, she would present a formidable challenge to any opponent, including former President Donald Trump. Unlike the oft-criticised, at times catatonic Joe Biden, Michelle Obamas dynamic presence and energetic following could rejuvenate the Democratic base and attract a broader electorate.

Her entry into the race would force Trump to abandon business as usual and adopt a more strategic approach to the new reality. He would need to surround himself with robust policy advisers whose counsel he will value and select a vice president who appeals to a diverse audience.

But, again, would Mrs Obama really throw her hat into this ring? Her focus remains on her philanthropic endeavours and personal pursuits, away from the relentless spotlight of politics. Nevertheless, the unpredictability of the political landscape means that any scenario, no matter how unlikely it may seem now, could come to fruition.

The 2024 presidential race is fraught with uncertainties, and Mrs Obamas potential candidacy could be a dramatic inflection point. While she has repeatedly expressed a desire to stay out of the political arena, desperate speculation of her entering the race has already begun to percolate among the panic-stricken Democrat chattering classes, terrified of a Trump victory. Should she decide to run, Obama could be an unbeatable opponent, compelling all contenders, especially Donald Trump, to reassess their strategies and adapt their campaigns to address the challenge she would present.

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LONDONThe Conservatives, the worlds winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.

The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.

In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party lower and lower in the polls. It was Rishi Sunak who was finally defeated by a huge margin after running the worst election campaign in living memory. Devastating night for the Conservatives, said former leadership contender Andrea Leadsom.

Keir Starmer arrives to vote on the morning of the election. Jakub Porzycki / Getty

Sunaks campaign ended in similar style to the way it began: with extremely unfortunate optics. One of his local district rivals, independent candidate Niko Omilana, snuck up as he made a generous concession speech, holding up a large L sign behind his back.

Unaware of the visual diss, Sunak nonetheless accepted personal responsibility for the historic defeat. The Labour Party has won this general election, and I have called Sir Keir Starmer to congratulate him on his victory, the prime minister said. The British people have delivered a sobering verdict tonight, there is much to learn and reflect on, and I take responsibility for the loss. To the many good, hard-working Conservative candidates who lost tonightdespite their tireless efforts, their local records of delivery and their dedication to their communitiesI am sorry.

The campaign had got off to an equally awkward start when the prime minister shocked the countryfirst by announcing a snap general electionand second by doing so standing outside No. 10 in a torrential downpour which left his expensively tailored suit soaked through. His words were also drowned out by an old Labour election anthem being blasted into Downing Street by an enterprising protester.

Rishi Sunak got caught in a downpour without an umbrella or an overcoat. Henry Nicholls / Getty Images

Incredibly, the campaign went downhill from there. Sunak blundered by leaving early from a D-Day memorial event in France where President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron stood shoulder-to-shoulder to salute the final major anniversary likely to be attended by survivors of World War II. Voters were appalled despite Sunaks apologies and, subsequently, Nigel Farage was able to appeal to traditionalists and right-wing voters with his insurgent, MAGA-inspired Reform party. The exit poll suggested a major breakthrough for Farages party that secured them at least four seats in parliament.

The exit poll also predicted that Labour would win a whopping 410 seats (eight shy of what Tony Blair won in 1997) and just 131 for the Conservatives, which is the lowest in the partys near 200-year history. Since it was founded in 1834, the Tories have become the most successful party in any competitive multi-party state in the world but this is the lowest ever vote share and number of seats.

As the recriminations began within the Conservative Party, veteran lawmaker Michael Fabricant said: Never in the history of general elections have so many been let down by so few. A few hours later, he lost his own seat, along with a record-breaking swathe of Cabinet members who were kicked out of office, some on huge swings to Labour or Reform. Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, and one of the favorites to replace Sunak as party leader was among those ousted.

The shocks culminated in Liz Truss losing her own seat less than two years after she was prime minister. She had an enormous majority to defend in her district but the voters turned decisively against her after her disastrous 49 days in office.

Rishi Sunak cast his vote on Thursday morning hoping to avoid losing his own seat. OLI SCARFF

Britains new prime minister will be Sir Keir Starmer, the former head of the Crown Prosecution Service. Starmer has taken a cautious approachlabeled the Ming vase strategyas he tried to carry his delicately assembled coalition of voters over the finishing line.

After the party underperformed the polls in elections in 2017, 2010, and, famously, in 1992, when everyone expected them to return to power, Starmer became just the fourth Labour leader to take his party from opposition into power in the century since it was founded.

Starmer spoke at a victory rally at 5 a.m. local time (midnight EDT). We can look forward, he said. Walk into the morning. The sunlight of hopepale at firstthen getting stronger through the day. Shining once again on a country with the opportunity, after 14 years, to get its future back.

With the economy struggling and the budget deficit sky-high, Starmer knows the task ahead of him is extremely challenging. He won a huge majority on Thursday, but the share of the vote nationwide was below 40 percent, meaning support for the Labour Party was wide, but shallow. Despite the headwinds, Starmer allowed himself a smile broader than any seen on his face since he entered parliament nine years ago.

We have to return politics to public service, show that politics can be a force for good. Make no mistake: That is the great test of politics in this era, he said. I dont promise you it will be easy. Changing a country is not like flicking a switch. Its hard work, patient work, determined work, and we will have to get moving immediately.

Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, who was watching the speech in central London, said Starmer had pulled off a miracle. In four and a half years, hes taken us from our worst result to our best result, he said. He said it could be done and its come true.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The world's largest fusion reactor has finally been assembled, but it won't run for another 15 years, project scientists have announced.

The International Fusion Energy Project (ITER) fusion reactor, consisting of 19 massive coils looped into multiple toroidal magnets, was originally slated to begin its first full test in 2020. Now scientists say it will fire in 2039 at the earliest.

This means that fusion power, of which ITER's tokamak is at the forefront, is very unlikely to arrive in time to be a solution for the climate crisis .

"Certainly, the delay of ITER is not going in the right direction," Pietro Barabaschi, ITER's director general, said at a news conference on Wednesday (July 3). "In terms of the impact of nuclear fusion on the problems humanity faces now, we should not wait for nuclear fusion to resolve them. This is not prudent."

The world's largest nuclear fusion reactor is the product of collaboration between 35 countries  including every state in the European Union, Russia, China, India and the U.S.  ITER contains the world's most powerful magnet, making it capable of producing a magnetic field 280,000 times as strong as the one shielding Earth.

The reactor's impressive design comes with an equally hefty price-tag. Originally slated to cost around $5 billion and fire up in 2020, it has now suffered multiple delays and its budget swelled beyond $22 billion, with an additional $5 billion proposed to cover additional costs. These unforeseen expenses and delays are behind the most recent, 15-year delay.

Related: Nuclear fusion reactor in UK sets new world record for energy output

Scientists have been trying to harness the power of nuclear fusion  the process by which stars burn  for more than 70 years. By fusing hydrogen atoms to make helium under extremely high pressures and temperatures, main-sequence stars convert matter into light and heat, generating enormous amounts of energy without producing greenhouse gases or long-lasting radioactive waste.

But replicating the conditions found inside the hearts of stars is no simple task. The most common design for fusion reactors, the tokamak, works by superheating plasma (one of the four states of matter, consisting of positive ions and negatively charged free electrons) before trapping it inside a donut-shaped reactor chamber with powerful magnetic fields.

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Keeping the turbulent and superheated coils of plasma in place long enough for nuclear fusion to happen, however, has been challenging. Soviet scientist Natan Yavlinsky designed the first tokamak in 1958, but no one has since managed to create a reactor that is able to put out more energy than it takes in.

One of the main stumbling blocks is handling a plasma that's hot enough to fuse. Fusion reactors require very high temperatures (many times hotter than the sun) because they have to operate at much lower pressures than is found inside the cores of stars.

The core of the actual sun, for example, reaches temperatures of around 27 million Fahrenheit (15 million Celsius) but has pressures roughly equal to 340 billion times the air pressure at sea level on Earth.

Cooking plasma to these temperatures is the relatively easy part, but finding a way to corral it so that it doesn't burn through the reactor or derail the fusion reaction is technically tricky. This is usually done either with lasers or magnetic fields.
Wreckage from Russian drone strike sets house on fire in Zhytomyr Oblast, woman injured  photos

The Russians launched Shahed drones at Zhytomyr Oblast on the night of 3-4 July. Wreckage from a downed drone fell onto a house, causing a fire, and a woman was injured.

Source: Vitalii Bunechko, the Head of Zhytomyr Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "Air defence forces reportedly downed three Shahed kamikaze drones over the territory of Zhytomyr Oblast during an air attack.

Wreckage from the drones caused a fire in a house, which was promptly extinguished by the State Emergency Service."

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Details: Bunechko said that a woman was injured as a result of the fire. She has been taken to hospital.

Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Background: The Russians launched 22 Shahed-131/136 attack drones on the night of 3-4 July. Ukrainian defenders managed to down 21 of them.

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HINTON, WV (WVNS)  Wednesday, July 3, 2024 is a big day for West Virginia, as the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources deployed a new dive team.

West Virginia DNR has first police dive team in state history

The DNRs duty is to cover land and water, but now they are finally able to go underwater to better serve West Virginia.

The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources officially deployed a dive team to help with searches that need conducted underwater.

The unveiling of this new dive team was held at Bluestone Lake on Wednesday at 11 A.M.

West Virginia Governor, Jim Justice told 59News that this program has been a long time coming. Weve finally ended up with enough money to be able to fund a dive team, and the dive team is the statewide dive team, said Justice. [They have] ten members right now and unbelievable equipment. Theyre another tool in the toolbox that just makes us better.

This dive team began training back in October 2023 and is now officially ready to be deployed across the state.

This new program is helped greatly by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, as well as the experience of former South Carolina DNR officer and current dive team coordinator, J.B. Smith.

In Governor Justices speech, he emphasized the importance of this new dive team around big lake holidays, like Independence Day.

WV DNR preaching boat safety this Memorial Day Weekend

Smith said, we meet monthly throughout the state on different bodies of water, so these guys get a taste of everything. I need every diver to not show up at a scene and look at something that he hasnt seen before. So, every time I get a chance to put them in fresh water they havent been in before is a good thing. The more experience, the better.

DNR Captain Michael Lott added, Moving forward, were going to continue to train. Were going to put it out to all 55 counties of the state that were available, that were going to have man and resources available to assist any county with any kind of need in the water as far as person search, article search, any other outside agencies, law enforcement, fire departments, EMS. Were here to help them. Were here to serve the 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 WVNS.
PRINCETON, WV (WVNS)  Several nursing students from programs across both Virginias got the chance to earn some practical knowledge at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital over the summer.

WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital and Bluefield State University hosts WV Junior Nursing Academy for incoming highschoolers

This program was the biggest it had ever been, hosting 29 students from seven different nursing programs in both Virginia and West Virginia.

The externship program at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital offers students an unpaid, informal way to shadow professionals in their chosen career field.

The goal was for attendees to gain practical experience. Students follow a rigorously structured program throughout the summer at the hospital. The plan is that they will also be returning to their programs in the fall for their senior years.

Karen Bowling, President and CEO of WVU Medicine PCH, said this externship provides more than just skills that can be taught.

We allow them during the course of this summer to continue to enhance their skills, so that I think they come into their senior year a lot more comfortable because theyve had this increased clinical component, said Bowling. I think, in essence, what that does is, when they finish their program, theyre much better prepared to come out into the real world of healthcare and do their job.

Students moved from department to department, experiencing daily life in different areas of the hospital. They interacted with nurses, patients, and doctors throughout their time in the program.

Jenna-Kay Nash, a student with the Concord University Nursing program, said she has already seen improvement in her skills.

I feel like Im more confident now  like with patient care, talking with patients, talking with the nurses, talking with the doctors, so I feel like my confidence level has boosted, explained Nash.

The students worked in different departments at different times in order to make sure each student had the chance to work in as many places as possible.

Concord University President, Dr. Kendra Boggess, to retire in August 2025

Tanner Wimmer with the Bluefield University Nursing program said he is favoring one department in particular though.

So far, Ive really enjoyed the ICU just for the aspect of you get to see a lot of different variety of things come in. People who are sometimes very ill, but youll also get to take care of the families, said Wimmer. You know, as in all of nursing, its not just taking care of the patient, but their families as well, because theyre a big part of their care and getting them better. Ive really enjoyed conversating with the families a lot in the ICU.

Both Nash and Wimmer said that WVU Medicine PCH is on their list of potential employers after they graduate.

Bowling encourages nursing students who meet the criteria to apply for the program next year.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.








KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Second Lieutenant John E. McLauchlen Jr. of Detroit was killed in action in 1943 during the Second World War. The Army airman was a member of the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group. But those details only recently came to light, and after 80 years of mystery, his remains were identified and accounted for.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) reports that in 1943 McLauchlen was on a bombing mission from Panagarh, India to the Insein Railroad Yard north of Rangoon, Burma when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Witnesses have said they saw McLauchlens left wing burst into flames before the B-24J Liberator bomber went into a steep dive beneath the clouds.

Man shot, killed in Kansas City Northland apartment

Three enemy aircraft were seen following the plane, and contact was never again made with McLauchlen. The remains of the crew were not recovered or identified following World War ll, they were all declared missing in action.

In 1947, however, the American Grave Registration Services (AGRS) found remains near Yodayadet, Burma. They believed these remains were individuals involved in a B-24J Liberator crash. Local witnesses claimed that there were no survivors of the crash and that Japanese forces had instructed them to bury the remains in two large graves.

AGRS recovered the remains, but they could not be scientifically identified at the time. The remains were designated as Unknowns in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP) in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Fast forward 70-plus years the DPAA received a family disinterment request for one of the remains in early 2019. This request was based on past attempts to identify remains of other unresolved losses from southern Burma.

Car from metro lot breaks down in two days, dealership refuses to amend

The Department of Defense approved the request and the DPAA collected the remains from NMCP in October of 2020. The remains were then brought to the DPAA lab for analysis.

DPAA scientists used anthropological analysis, circumstantial evidence and material evidence. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System also used mitochondrial DNA analysis. McLauchlen was accounted for on January 25, 2024.

After 81 years, McLauchlen has made it back to the States. The Kansas City Fire Department and the ARFF Division provided support and a water salute to the WWll airmans plane as it arrived and taxied to the gate on Tuesday.

Second Lt. McLauchlen will be buried this summer at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. His name is recorded on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, an American Battle Monuments Commission in the Philippines. A rosette will be placed next to his name to show he has been identified and accounted for.

For family and funeral information, call the Army Casualty Office at (800) 892-2490.

For additional information regarding the identification of American soldiers who went missing while serving their country, visit this link.

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ASTANA (Reuters) -China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin pressed their case on Thursday for closer security, political and economic cooperation between countries of the vast Eurasian region as a counterweight to Western alliances.

They were speaking on the second and final day of a summit in the Kazakh capital Astana of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a club launched in 2001 by Russia, China and Central Asian states and now including India, Iran and Pakistan.

"SCO members should consolidate unity and jointly oppose external interference in the face of the real challenges of interference and division," Xinhua news agency quoted Xi as saying, warning against the West's "Cold War mentality".

President Putin, in his address to the SCO, reiterated Russia's call for "a new architecture of cooperation, indivisible security and development in Eurasia, designed to replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models, which gave unilateral advantages only to certain states".

He once again blamed the West for the war in Ukraine and said Russia was ready to freeze the conflict if Kyiv and its backers accepted Moscow's terms for talks.

Putin said last month the proposed new Eurasian security pact should be open to all countries across the region, including current NATO members. But the aim, he said, should be to gradually remove all external military presence from Eurasia, a clear reference to the United States.

The SCO nations represent new key buyers of Russian commodities such as oil and gas, as Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine war have forced Moscow to pivot towards Asia.

'MULTI-POLAR WORLD'

Putin also hailed on Thursday the increasing use of national currencies - instead of the dollar - in trade between SCO countries and called for the creation of a new payment system within the group.

Western sanctions have left Moscow cut off from traditional payment systems such as SWIFT, while hundreds of billions of dollars in Russian foreign reserves remain frozen.

"The multi-polar world has become reality," Putin said. "More and more countries support a fair world order and are ready to vigorously defend their legal rights and traditional values."

Separately, India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the SCO gathering and agreed to step up talks to resolve issues on their border which have soured ties since an armed clash in 2020.

(Reporting by Pavel MikheyevWriting by Olzhas Auyezov; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Gareth Jones)
'Yermak is a strong manager, does what I tell him,' Zelensky dismisses criticism of his chief of staff

President Volodymyr Zelensky denied in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 4 that his office's head, Andriy Yermak, is concentrating too much power in his hands.

Yermak has led Zelensky's office since February 2020 and has been described by the Washington Post as "arguably the most powerful chief of staff in Ukraine's history."

"Yermak is a strong manager, one of the strongest managers on my team," Zelensky said in response to a question about his chief of office's powerful role.

"I respect him for his results, he does what I tell him," the president said, adding that attacks against Yermak are ultimately aimed at Zelensky himself.

Zelensky also said that Russia launched a number of disinformation campaigns to depict the head of state as weak and without control over the government.

The Times wrote in June that several undisclosed senior officials in Ukraine expressed concern about Zelensky's growing dependence on Yermak, with some describing the latter as "de facto head of state" or "Ukraine's vice-president."

According to Zelensky, attacks against his team are a first step to weaken the president himself.

"A weak president of Ukraine is an opportunity to tear off half of the territories from Ukraine, it is an opportunity to stop Ukraine on its way to joining the European Union, it is an opportunity to shut my mouth, an opportunity to have another person at the head of Ukraine," Zelensky said.

In connection to the topic, Zelensky said that Russia has long sought to destroy the president as part of their occupation plan but added that "not only Russians are dissatisfied with me" and "not only the Russians want a weak president of Ukraine."

Zelensky did not specify who these other adversaries might be.

Read also: Zelensky says Trump should reveal plan on ending Russias war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yes, President Harry Truman really did go for a dip in Delaware. The colorful saga.

On a hot August afternoon, a 62-year-old man, wearing his eyeglasses and dressed in green swimming trunks, hustled down the gangplank of a vessel riding at anchor near Cape Henlopen and plunged into the water. He was followed by several other well-conditioned men eager to maintain contact with the bespectacled swimmer, who acted, as the New York Times reported, like a small boy just out of school.

Truman takes charge during turmoil of World War II

On April 12, 1945, World War II was drawing to a close, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt suddenly passed away; and Vice-President Harry Truman was elevated to the presidency. Little was known about the festy new president who liked to take impromptu walks and swim in the White House pool.

By August of 1946, Truman had been president for a little over a year, and during that time, he had presided over the end of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, labor unrest and rising economic difficulties. Seeking to escape the wilting political scene and the Washington weather, Truman decided to take a vacation cruise.

American president (right) Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) with his vice-president and successor Harry S Truman (1884 - 1972) on the lawn of the White House, shortly after both men received the Democratic Party nomination for the forthcoming election. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)

The presidents exact itinerary was not revealed until he had passed various points along the way. It was announced that the general destination was the Block Island-Narragansett Bay area.

Truman, along with several government officials, members of the Secret Service, and nearly two dozen reporters and photographers, boarded the presidential yacht, Williamsburg in Washington, D.C. Escorted by the destroyer USS Weiss, the Williamsburg sailed down the Potomac River, up the Chesapeake Bay and through the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. As the presidential yacht passed through the canal, Truman waved at those on shore.

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When yacht reached Cape Henlopen, President Truman went for a swim

Michael Morgan

When the Williamsburg reached the Delaware Bay, Daniel D. Dunlop, a Delaware Bay and River pilot, took the helm. Not one to sit still. the ever-curious president stopped by the wheelhouse and chatted with Dunlop. Truman remarked that he had heard reports of the pilots skill during World War II.

Around 5 p.m. on Aug. 17, the Williamsburg dropped anchor near Cape Henlopen. The Wilmington Sunday Star reported, Mr. Truman donned green swimming trunks. A gangway was lowered and the President took a 15-minute dip along with his personal physician, Col. Wallace Graham, and his naval aide, Capt. James H. Foskett."

According to the Delaware Coast News, [The president] was well protected even in the water, for immediately [after] he dove in, five secret service men, also arrayed in blue trunks, dove in after him, and encircling him swam all about. We dont know whether they had knives to combat any inquisitive denizens of the deep, for instance an errant shark, but at any rate, an eyewitness said it would have been difficult for any harm to have befallen Mr. Truman.

After swimming for about 15 minutes, like a small boy just out of school, Truman returned to the Williamsburg; and as soon as the other swimmers were retrieved, the presidential yacht got underway and headed into the Atlantic. As the president continued on his cruise to New England, he continued to relax as he watched a movie aboard the ship.

Later that week, the Delaware Coast News reported of Trumans impromptu swim off Cape Henlopen, Little did the residents of Lewes realize as they were enjoying their evening meals on Sundaythat the First Citizen of the USA, President Harry S. Truman, was swimming in the Delaware Breakwater, almost within sight of the town!

White Marlin Open returning soon: Ocean City's White Marlin Open 2024 right around the corner: What to know

Principal sources

New York Times, August 18, 1946.

Sunday Star, August 18, 1946.

Delaware Coast News, August 21, 1946.

Log of the Presidents Vacation Cruise, August 16-Septemeber 2, 1946, Compiled by Chief Yeoman Charles J. Langello, U.S.N. Edited by Lieut. Commander William M. Rigdon, U.S.N. and Captain James H. Foskett, U.S.N. p. 7.

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Yes, President Harry Truman really did go for a dip in Delaware.
China beats Malaysia to become Thailand's largest source of tourists

Revelers play with water during a parade as they celebrate the Songkran holiday which marks the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 14, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Chinese tourists have surpassed Malaysians to become the largest source of visitors to Thailand in the first six months of this year with 3.43 million arrivals.

Malaysia came in second with 2.43 million arrivals, followed by India with just over 1 million, according to data from Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Thailand received 17.5 million foreign arrivals between January and June, half of this year's target at 36.7 million.

Last year, Malaysia overtook China to become the largest feeder tourism market of Thailand.

Thailand made the waiver permanent for Chinese tourists in March.

Since June, Thailand has allowed travelers from 93 countries to enter without a visa for up to 60 days, up from the current 57 nations.

Vietnam received 8.8 million foreign arrivals in the first half, only half of Thailand's number.

In 2019, Thailand, whose economy heavily relies on tourism for economic growth, welcomed a record 39.9 million foreign arrivals, generating 1.91 trillion baht (US$51.9 billion) in revenue.
Young gay Latinos see rising share of new HIV cases, leading to call for targeted funding

Fernando Hermida stands for a portrait against the skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  Four months after seeking asylum in the U.S., Fernando Hermida began coughing and feeling tired. He thought it was a cold. Then sores appeared in his groin and he would soak his bed with sweat. He took a test.

On New Years Day 2022, at age 31, Hermida learned he had HIV.

I thought I was going to die, he said, recalling how a chill washed over him as he reviewed his results.

He struggled to navigate a new, convoluted health care system. Through an HIV organization he found online, he received a list of medical providers to call in Washington, D.C., where he was at the time, but they didnt return his calls for weeks. Hermida, who speaks only Spanish, didnt know where to turn.

By the time of Hermidas diagnosis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was about three years into a federal initiative to end the nations HIV epidemic by pumping hundreds of millions of dollars annually into certain states, counties, and U.S. territories with the highest infection rates. The goal was to reach the estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV, including some who dont know they have the disease.

Overall, estimated new HIV infection rates declined 23% from 2012 to 2022. But a KFF Health News-Associated Press analysis found the rate has not fallen for Latinos as much as it has for other racial and ethnic groups.

While African Americans continue to have the highest HIV rates in the United States overall, Latinos made up the largest share of new HIV diagnoses and infections among gay and bisexual men in 2022, per the most recent data available, compared with other racial and ethnic groups.

Latinos, who make up about 19% of the U.S. population, accounted for about 33% of new HIV infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The analysis found Latinos are experiencing a disproportionate number of new infections and diagnoses across the U.S., with diagnosis rates highest in the Southeast.

Public health officials in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Shelby County, Tennessee, where data shows diagnosis rates have gone up among Latinos, told KFF Health News and the AP that they either dont have specific plans to address HIV in this population or that plans are still in the works.

Even in well-resourced places like San Francisco, California, HIV diagnosis rates grew among Latinos in the last few years while falling among other racial and ethnic groups despite the countys goals to reduce infections among Latinos.

HIV disparities are not inevitable, Robyn Neblett Fanfair, director of the CDCs Division of HIV Prevention, said in a statement. She noted the systemic, cultural, and economic inequities  such as racism, language differences, and medical mistrust.

And though the CDC provides some funds for minority groups, Latino health policy advocates want HHS to declare a public health emergency in hopes of directing more money to Latino communities, saying current efforts arent enough.

Our invisibility is no longer tolerable, said Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, co-chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

Lost Without an Interpreter

Hermida suspects he contracted the virus while he was in an open relationship with a male partner before he came to the U.S. In late January 2022, months after his symptoms started, he went to a clinic in New York City that a friend had helped him find to finally get treatment for HIV.

Fernando Hermida holds a bottle of Biktarvy, his HIV medication, in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 27, 2024. Hermida received a $1,275 bill earlier this year for the medication, one of the reasons he decided to move to find more affordable treatment. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

Too sick to care for himself alone, Hermida eventually moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to be closer to family and in hopes of receiving more consistent health care. He enrolled in an Amity Medical Group clinic that receives funding from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, a federal safety-net plan that serves over half of those in the nation diagnosed with HIV, regardless of their citizenship status.

His HIV became undetectable after he was connected with case managers. But over time, communication with the clinic grew less frequent, he said, and he didnt get regular interpretation help during visits with his English-speaking doctor. An Amity Medical Group representative confirmed Hermida was a client but didnt answer questions about his experience at the clinic.

Hermida said he had a hard time filling out paperwork to stay enrolled in the Ryan White program, and when his eligibility expired in September 2023, he couldnt get his medication.

He left the clinic and enrolled in a health plan through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. But Hermida didnt realize the insurer required him to pay for a share of his HIV treatment.

In January, the Lyft driver received a $1,275 bill for his antiretroviral  the equivalent of 120 rides, he said. He paid the bill with a coupon he found online. In April, he got a second bill he couldnt afford.

For two weeks, he stopped taking the medication that keeps the virus undetectable and intransmissible.

Estoy que colapso, he said. Im falling apart. Tengo que vivir para pagar la medicacion. I have to live to pay for my medication.

One way to prevent HIV is preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, which is regularly taken to reduce the risk of getting HIV through sex or intravenous drug use. It was approved by the federal government in 2012 but the uptake has not been even across racial and ethnic groups: CDC data show much lower rates of PrEP coverage among Latinos than among white Americans.

Epidemiologists say high PrEP use and consistent access to treatment are necessary to build community-level resistance.

Carlos Saldana, an infectious disease specialist and former medical adviser for Georgias health department, helped identify five clusters of rapid HIV transmission involving about 40 gay Latinos and men who have sex with men from February 2021 to June 2022. Many people in the cluster told researchers they had not taken PrEP and struggled to understand the health care system.

They experienced other barriers, too, Saldana said, including lack of transportation and fear of deportation if they sought treatment.

Latino health policy advocates want the federal government to redistribute funding for HIV prevention, including testing and access to PrEP. Of the nearly $30 billion in federal money that went toward things like HIV health care services, treatment, and prevention in 2022, only 4% went to prevention, according to a KFF analysis.

They suggest more money could help reach Latino communities through efforts like faith-based outreach at churches, testing at clubs on Latin nights, and training bilingual HIV testers.

Latino Rates Going Up

Congress has appropriated $2.3 billion over five years to the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, and jurisdictions that get the money are to invest 25% of it in community-based organizations. But the initiative lacks requirements to target any particular groups, including Latinos, leaving it up to the cities, counties, and states to come up with specific strategies.

In 34 of the 57 areas getting the money, cases are going the wrong way: Diagnosis rates among Latinos increased from 2019 to 2022 while declining for other racial and ethnic groups, the KFF Health News-AP analysis found.

Starting Aug. 1, state and local health departments will have to provide annual spending reports on funding in places that account for 30% or more of HIV diagnoses, the CDC said. Previously, it had been required for only a small number of states.

In some states and counties, initiative funding has not been enough to cover the needs of Latinos.

South Carolina, which saw rates nearly double for Latinos from 2012 to 2022, hasn't expanded HIV mobile testing in rural areas, where the need is high among Latinos, said Tony Price, HIV program manager in the state health department. South Carolina can pay for only four community health workers focused on HIV outreach  and not all of them are bilingual.

In Shelby County, Tennessee, home to Memphis, the Latino HIV diagnosis rate rose 86% from 2012 to 2022. The health department said it got $2 million in initiative funding in 2023 and while the county plan acknowledges that Latinos are a target group, department director Michelle Taylor said: There are no specific campaigns just among Latino people.

Up to now, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, didnt include specific targets to address HIV in the Latino population  where rates of new diagnoses more than doubled in a decade but fell slightly among other racial and ethnic groups. The health department has used funding for bilingual marketing campaigns and awareness about PrEP.

Fernando Hermida drives to Orlando, Florida, to attend a medical appointment for HIV care on May 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

Moving for Medicine

When it was time to pack up and move to Hermidas third city in two years, his fiance, who is taking PrEP, suggested seeking care in Orlando, Florida.

The couple, who were friends in high school in Venezuela, had some family and friends in Florida, and they had heard about Pineapple Healthcare, a nonprofit primary care clinic dedicated to supporting Latinos living with HIV.

The clinic is housed in a medical office south of downtown Orlando. Inside, the mostly Latino staff is dressed in pineapple-print turquoise shirts, and Spanish, not English, is most commonly heard in appointment rooms and hallways.

Andres Acosta Ardila, director of community relations at Pineapple Healthcare, sits in the medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

At the core of it, if the organization is not led by and for people of color, then we're just an afterthought, said Andres Acosta Ardila, the community outreach director at Pineapple Healthcare, who was diagnosed with HIV in 2013.

Te mudaste reciente, ya por fin? asked nurse practitioner Eliza Otero. Did you finally move? She started treating Hermida while he still lived in Charlotte. Hace un mes que no nos vemos. Its been a month since we last saw each other.

They still need to work on lowering his cholesterol and blood pressure, she told him. Though his viral load remains high, Otero said it should improve with regular, consistent care.

Pineapple Healthcare, which doesnt receive initiative money, offers full-scope primary care to mostly Latino males. Hermida gets his HIV medication at no cost there because the clinic is part of a federal drug discount program.

The clinic is in many ways an oasis. The new diagnosis rate for Latinos in Orange County, Florida, which includes Orlando, rose by about a third from 2012 through 2022, while dropping by a third for others. Florida has the third-largest Latino population in the U.S., and had the seventh-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses among Latinos in the nation in 2022.

Hermida, whose asylum case is pending, never imagined getting medication would be so difficult, he said during the 500-mile drive from North Carolina to Florida. After hotel rooms, jobs lost, and family goodbyes, he is hopeful his search for consistent HIV treatment  which has come to define his life the past two years  can finally come to an end.

Soy un nomada a la fuerza, pero bueno, como me comenta mi prometido y mis familiares, yo tengo que estar donde me den buenos servicios medicos, he said. I'm forced to be a nomad, but like my family and my fiance say, I have to be where I can get good medical services.

Thats the priority, he said. Esa es la prioridad ahora."

KFF Health News and The Associated Press analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the number of new HIV diagnoses and infections among Americans ages 13 and older at the local, state, and national levels. This story primarily uses incidence rate data  estimates of new infections  at the national level and diagnosis rate data at the state and county level.

Bose reported from Orlando, Florida. Reese reported from Sacramento, California. AP video journalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content.

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.

Fernando Hermida, who has moved several times to access HIV treatment, stands for a portrait in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

Andres Acosta Ardila (left), director of community relations at Pineapple Healthcare, greets Fernando Hermida as he waits for his appointment at the medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Fernando Hermida waits for his appointment at the Pineapple Healthcare medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Andres Acosta Ardila, director of community relations at Pineapple Healthcare, sits in the medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

A sign supporting the LGBTQ+ community is displayed at the reception desk at the Pineapple Healthcare medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Andres Acosta Ardila, director of community relations at Pineapple Healthcare, speaks during a staff meeting at the medical clinic in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Information about HIV medications is displayed in the waiting area of Pineapple Healthcare in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Members of the Pineapple Healthcare medical clinic attend a staff meeting before opening for the day in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Nurse practitioner Eliza Otero (left) talks with Fernando Hermida at Pineapple Healthcare in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Nurse practitioner Eliza Otero (left) talks with Fernando Hermida during his visit at Pineapple Healthcare in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. The clinic serves an LGBTQ+ population, especially Latinos living with HIV. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Fernando Hermida has blood drawn for testing at Pineapple Healthcare in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Fernando Hermida leaves Pineapple Healthcare after his visit in Orlando, Florida, on May 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Fernando Hermida, who has moved several times to access HIV treatment, stands for a portrait in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

A Project of KFF Health News and The Associated Press

Co-Published by Univision Noticias

CREDITS

Reporters: Vanessa G. Sanchez, Devna Bose, Phillip Reese

Cinematography: Laura Bargfeld

Photography: Laura Bargfeld, Phelan M. Ebenhack

Video Editing: Federica Narancio, Kathy Young, Esther Poveda

Additional Video: Federica Narancio, Esther Poveda

Web Production: Eric Harkleroad, Lydia Zuraw

Special thanks to Lindsey Dawson

Editors: Judy Lin, Erica Hunzinger

Data Editor: Holly Hacker

Social Media: Patricia Velez, Federica Narancio, Esther Poveda, Carolina Astuya, Natalia Bravo, Juan Pablo Vargas, Kyle Viterbo, Sophia Eppolito, Hannah Norman, Chaseedaw Giles, Tarena Lofton

Translation: Paula Andalo

Copy Editing: Gabe Brison-Trezise

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Zelensky expresses gratitude to US for new military aid package

President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked U.S. President Joe Biden, Congress, and American citizens on July 3 for their continued military support.

He shared his appreciation on X, highlighting the importance of the aid, which will bolster Ukraine's defense in the months to come.

Additional air defense assets, artillery, anti-tank weapons and other critical items, as well as funding for Patriot and NASAMS missiles, will strengthen our soldiers and enhance our capabilities on the battlefield, he wrote.

The U.S. announced a significant new defense package on July 3 for Ukraine, consisting of HIMARS missiles, air defense interceptors, and artillery shells.

The new military package comes from Presidential Drawdown Authority, a mechanism that allows the president to deliver weaponry to allies from current U.S. stockpiles.

Read also: NATO agreed to commit 40 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine next year, source tells Reuters

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Photo by the Office of the President

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly commented on a proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his visit to Ukraine, which called for an immediate truce between Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with Bloomberg TV, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that mere discussion of a ceasefire is insufficient because a concrete plan is necessary.

"We fundamentally cannot trust Putin because, for us, he is a murderer and an aggressor. It is important that Hungary recognises that Russia is an aggressor and recognises the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," he said.

The president stressed that Ukraine had had "hundreds of meetings" since the Minsk agreements, aiming to achieve a truce, and Russia had been disrupting all of them.

"Therefore, only if it [ceasefire talks] is [held] on an international and clear platform in the presence of trusted countries and leaders. They have different opinions on the stages of ending this war, but we must all be on the same side, we must trust each other," Zelenskyy explained.

Zelenskyy noted that there must be certainty that Russia would not exploit the ceasefire to amass equipment in the occupied Ukrainian territory when Ukraine, being bound by the ceasefire, would not stop it with its own strikes.

Background:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban confirmed that Zelenskyy had rejected his proposed "truce" between Ukraine and Russia that envisaged a freeze on the current line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

During his visit to Kyiv, the Hungarian leader said that he had promoted the idea of an immediate truce, an idea that is present in all pro-Russian "peace plans," but did not insist on it.

According to Orban, the Ukrainian president doubted the logic of the Hungarian leaders plan and did not support it, as Ukraine has a history of unsuccessful truce attempts with Russia.

Such truces "were not good for Ukraine", Orban quoted Zelenskyy as saying.

After the leaders' meeting in Kyiv, the Hungarian foreign minister called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

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Zelenskyy denies President's Office Head Yermak "has too much power": He does what I tell him to do

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers Andrii Yermak to be one of the most powerful managers in his team and considers media reports that the head of the Ukrainian President's Offices "has too much influence" to be disinformation.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy in interview with Bloomberg

Quote: "This all [reports of a number of officials having too much power] is done to simply attack me. Russia has been launching lots of disinformation: I dont decide anything, there are some shadow leaders, the president is not in control of his party or the president has no influence on different ministers, and so on.

I do not want to have influence. There is law. Im the president according to the laws of Ukraine. Yermak is a powerful manager. I deeply respect him for achieving the results. He does what I tell him to do, and he fulfils his tasks."

Details: Zelenskyy said that "attacking the president's command" is a strategy used by those who are not happy with him (and these are not only Russians).

The head of state added that attempts to eliminate him is one of the plans to occupy Ukraine.

Read more: St Andrew the First-Called Apostle: how Andrii Yermak became Zelenskyy's right-hand man

Quote: "A weak president of Ukraine is an opportunity to take half of Ukraine's territory, it is an opportunity to stop Ukraine on its way to joining the European Union, an opportunity to shut me up, an opportunity to have another person in charge of Ukraine who will not have influence on certain societies."

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken about the latest preparations ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Washington next week and announced good news for Ukraine, in particular, on air defence.

Source: Zelenskyy's evening address, European Pravda

Quote: "The summit must be strong  strong for Ukraine and all our partners. A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council will also take place. We are working on the details regarding new decisions, new documents to be signed with our partners. There should be positive outcomes, including air defence."

Details: The president said he had held a long meeting on Thursday about the NATO summit, which will take place from 9 to 12 July in Washington.

Zelenskyy also said that a new security agreement for Ukraine has been prepared.

"A strong agreement that will truly provide support. We will continue to consistently strengthen our entire architecture of security agreements. This is what will guarantee our security until Ukraine joins NATO  a decision that is irreversible," the president said.

Background:

Recently, the media reported that at the 75th anniversary NATO summit in Washington, they will announce the creation of a new structure for coordinating all types of assistance to Ukraine in the long term, which will be called the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU).

According to sources, the Allies are discussing the creation of a special representative in Kyiv to monitor the international coordination of arms supplies and exercises for the Ukrainian Armed Forces under the auspices of NATO.

Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, said she hoped that the Washington NATO summit decision would be worded to include a statement on the irreversibility of Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic course.

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Zelenskyy thanks US for new assistance package

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the United States for announcing new packages of military assistance on 3 July.

Source: European Pravda, citing Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)

Zelenskyy thanked President Joe Biden, both parties of Congress, and the entire American people.

Quote: "Additional air defence, artillery, anti-tank weapons, and other critical items, as well as funds to purchase Patriot and NASAMS missiles, will strengthen our warriors and improve our battlefield capabilities," Zelenskyy tweeted, adding that Ukraine counts on continued US assistance to counter the Russian aggression.

Background:

On 3 July, the White House announced the allocation of a new military aid package for Ukraine worth US$150 million. The Pentagon specified that the new package would include missiles for HAWK air defence systems and ammunition for HIMARS systems.

Moreover, the US Department of Defense announced the procurement of interceptors for the Patriot and NASAMS air defence systems worth US$2.2 billion.

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Zelensky U-turns as he invites Russia to attend peace summit without giving up land

Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russia to peace talks without demanding the return of land - Julia Kochetova/Bloomberg

Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russia to the next peace summit despite previously saying it could only join if it relinquished land in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president refused to invite Russia to the first peace summit in Switzerland last month to the consternation of some officials who questioned whether peace could be achieved without both parties present.

On Wednesday, Mr Zelensky appeared to soften his stance, acknowledging the possibility of a Russian delegation attending.

An aerial view of a ruined and uninhabitable city in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine - Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty

If the second peace summit has a plan to end the war, and we have more countries, we will organise it and Russian representatives must be present. Who? We will see, Mr Zelensky told Bloomberg News.

On whether Vladimir Putin could attend, he said: Im not sure, I think he is afraid to leave Russia. Is it possible that somebody else besides Putin comes? Maybe by this time, there will be somebody else in the Kremlin, then we will talk to somebody else.

Analysts largely derided the first Ukrainian-organised peace summit as an attempt by the West to generate a show of support for Ukraine rather than actually find an end to the war.

In the build-up to the Swiss peace summit, the Kremlin and its key ally, China, had also charmed, cajoled and pressured nations in Asia, Africa and the Middle East into supporting a boycott. The summit ended with a vague promise of a follow-up meeting but no concrete plans.

Russian soldiers fire from their 152-mm howitzer somewhere in Ukraine - Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

Mr Zelensky used his interview with Bloomberg to also turn down Putins offer of a ceasefire, which he has previously described as a trap. However, he suggested that the US and China could act as intermediaries.

There are many questions between the two but if we want to end this war fairly, for Ukraine and for the whole world, they have to find a stance to stop Putin, he said.

This week Western intelligence sources said that Chinese factories were making drones to send to Russia.

Chinas influence over Russia has grown since Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Finnish President Alexander Stubb saying that Beijing could end the war with one phone call threatening to withdraw economic and diplomatic support.

Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping have been meeting this week in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), an economic-military alliance that they lead.

Vladimir Putin and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov - Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Pool via Reuters

At the summit, Xi said that SCO member states needed to support each other, although he stopped short of calling for a military pact.

We should join hands to resist external interference, firmly support each other, take care of each others concerns, he said.

The SCO was set up in 2001 and was originally focused on former Soviet Central Asia. This remit has expanded and on Thursday Belarus joined the group. Iran, India and Pakistan are also SCO members.

Temur Umarov, a Fellow at the Carnegie Centre think tank, said that the SCOs main importance was as a platform for leaders to meet away from the Wests influence rather than as an anti-West alliance.

Russia is trying to use it to gain support for its aggression in Ukraine but it doesnt have the sympathies of all SCO members, he said. Everybody else wants to remain neutral.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - A senior executive at Chinese technology giant Huawei on Thursday dismissed the idea that a shortage of the most advanced artificial intelligence chips will hinder the country's aim to be a leader in AI, but said innovation is needed to address the issue.

The comments by Zhang Ping'an, CEO of Huawei Cloud, comes amid tighter U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chip shipments to China including a ban on sales there by companies such as U.S. giant Nvidia.

"Nobody will deny that we are facing limited computing power in China... But we cannot rely solely on having the AI chips with the advanced manufacturing process nodes as the ultimate foundation for AI infrastructure, Zhang told a forum at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, a three-day event that kicked off on Thursday.

"If we believe that not having the most advanced AI chips means we will be unable to lead in AI, then we need to abandon this viewpoint," Zhang said.

Huawei, which has been placed on the U.S. Entity List barring it from purchasing advanced chips from U.S. companies, has developed its own AI chip product called Ascend, which is now used by many companies in China to train AI models.

However, the Ascend AI chip, along with many others from Chinese companies, is considered to be significantly inferior in terms of computing power compared to the offerings from Nvidia.

Zhang called for innovative approaches that place more focus on the cloud, which he said can help to compensate for the lack of advanced AI chips through innovation in computing architecture.

He also said that a converged approach is needed to combine cloud, edge, and networks in ways that can be used to reduce energy consumption and improve overall efficiency. Zhang touted Huawei Cloud as being among the leaders in providing such innovative solutions.

(Reporting by Casey Hall in Shanghai; additional reporting from Beijing newsroom; Editing by Susan Fenton)
NASA says astronauts from Boeing's Starliner could be in space for a couple more weeks even though their test flight was only supposed to last 8 days

NASA says astronauts from Boeing's Starliner could be in space for a couple more weeks even though their test flight was only supposed to last 8 days

Two astronauts went to the International Space Station on a new Boeing spacecraft on June 5.

They were supposed to return eight days later, but thruster issues and helium leaks caused delays.

NASA and Boeing say there's no cause for alarm, and say the astronauts are keeping busy.

The good news for Boeing's Starliner capsule is that it finally brought humans to low-earth orbit. The issue is that it hasn't gotten them down yet  and it may be a while before it does.

The issues that resulted in astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams extending their stay at the International Space Station were the culmination of years of shortcomings that have delayed the Starliner, NPR reported on July 3. The spacecraft is leaking some of the helium that is part of its propulsion system, the outlet reported, and a minority of its thrusters experienced issues.

In a telephonic press conference late last month, NASA official Steve Sitch said a thruster is being put through rigorous tests on the ground to try to replicate the issues observed in space. He said the tests could start July 2 and run for "a couple weeks."

"I want to make it very clear that Butch and Suni are not stranded in space," Sitch said. "They're safe on the space station, their spacecraft is working well, and they're enjoying their time on the space station."

The delays underscore how Boeing has been getting lapped by SpaceX, which sent its eighth crewed NASA flight into orbit in March. The Elon Musk-led competitor has also gained ground in the national-security arena, the Wall Street Journal reported on July 1, ferrying more confidential cargoes like spy satellites to space than United Launch Alliance, Boeing's joint venture with Lockheed Martin.

In addition to ground-based tests, NASA has been testing the Starliner's thrusters and systems while it remains docked at the ISS. Wilmore and Williams aren't alone; they joined Russian and American astronauts who were there on an existing mission, and space-agency officials said there is no shortage of supplies or anything that requires them to rush.

Still, the delays underscore Boeing's business problems. The company's commercial airliner business has been under regulatory scrutiny since a door plug blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight in January, and Reuters and other outlets have reported that the US Justice Department is preparing criminal charges related to fatal crashes of its 737 MAX jets.

Ron Epstein, a Bank of America analyst, told NPR the company has focused on making money for its investors at the expense of its "core engineering business."

In May, Musk tweeted a similar critique.

"Too many non-technical managers at Boeing," he wrote.

Read the original article on Business Insider
She interviewed for 15 AI roles before landing a Microsoft offer. It made her realize how the job market has changed.

She interviewed for 15 AI roles before landing a Microsoft offer. It made her realize how the job market has changed.

Supreet Kaur received a job offer from Microsoft after interviewing at 15 companies.

After two years of working in AI at Morgan Stanley, Kaur saw a major shift in the market for AI roles.

She emphasized the need for LLM experience, networking, and understanding a company's AI needs.

29-year-old Supreet Kaur has interviewed at 15 companies over the last few months, and just received an offer from Microsoft.

Prior to securing her new role, she spent the last two years developing and managing data and AI solutions at Morgan Stanley. She said the job market for AI roles has changed drastically since she was on the hunt about two years ago.

While Big Tech CEOs are fighting over AI talent, some candidates are fighting for a spot in the increasingly competitive job market.

Kaur has a grad degree in data science, worked in AI at a big bank, and is an ambassador for Google's WomenTechMakers program  and even she said she wasn't hearing back from companies when she first started her job hunt.

Once Kaur made a few tweaks to her approach, she was able to start seeing results and eventually landed the Microsoft position as a cloud solutions architect. If you're looking for a job in AI, Kaur said these are the four key things you need to know.

LLM experience is now an industry standard

Kaur said when she interviewed for AI positions two years ago, companies were looking for machine learning experience. Now, companies are looking to build AI products. She said companies are more eager to see that a candidate has worked with a chatbot or text classification system.

Kaur said generative AI or LLM experience is now a basic standard  and she didn't start hearing back from interviews until she skilled up in this area.

Once Kaur saw how many recruiters were asking for this, she volunteered within an organization and completed a three-month LLM project. While many applicants looking to enter the field now participate in AI workshops or bootcamps, Kaur suggests doing a use-case project. Kaur created her own enterprise level project from the volunteer experience so that she could talk about it in depth in interviews.

Cold applications may not work this time around

Kaur said she didn't send too many cold applications, but she didn't hear back from the ones she did send. Instead, she said she spent her time networking and contacting recruiters. She said she aimed to send at least two messages and three to four personalized connection requests every day.

She also tried to spread the word that she was looking for a job by telling people in professional settings that she was on the market.

"The best way to look for a job is when you don't need a job," Kaur said. "You should go to events. You should go to meet-ups."

Be specific

Kaur said companies have had a shift in mindset over the last couple of years. Today, they are looking for much more specific experience, Kaur said.

"When I was interviewing in 2022, people were more interested in what I had done in data science," Kaur said.

"This time all my interviews were super specific on what the companies wanted," she added.

With companies' hiring portals overflowing with qualified applicants, Kaur said she needed to narrow things down. Kaur said she refined her search from product manager to solutions architect once she realized her first attempt was too broad.

Kaur also recommends networking with workers from the company you apply to and asking them what that company is looking for. She said this is crucial to understanding their needs and the kind of experience they specifically want in a candidate.

Having an online presence helps

Kaur also spent the last couple of years building an online presence.

She said she's spoken at dozens of events and many of those led to interviews later on. It also helped her stand out in the application process.

"Some hiring manager during our interview said, 'You're the hundredth candidate I'm interviewing for this one position,'" Kaur said. "So it's obviously very competitive so it's important for you to stand out."

Kaur said she started by contacting the university she attended and telling professors that she was available to speak about her experience. From there, she was able to start building her following and book events regularly including AI Summit New York, BNY Mellon, Re-Work New York, Women in Data Science Series, and Women in AI Series.

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Today Americans celebrate the 248th anniversary of the founding of the United States. On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress, back then the governing body of a confederation of the 13 North American colonies, approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. By this action, the future 13 States declared to the world, their independence from the British Empire.

The Declaration of Independence, although written more than a year after the War of American Independence had already begun, engendered not one, but two revolutionary ideas. The first, that given a certain set of circumstances, in this case "repeated injuries and usurpations" of the American colonists rights and liberties by the government of King George III, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another.

The second was the affirmation that everyone is created equal. This phrase, which is usually interpreted to mean that all persons are entitled to certain innate rights, including the right to dignity; the right to be treated on par with other citizen; and to be afforded a fair chance to create a good life for themselves  is at the center of the principles that underpin the formation of the United States. They serve as the basis of the U.S. Constitution, the supreme law of the land.

And while we have often failed to live up to those principles  the most glaring failure being the institution of slavery that lasted for another 80 years after the Declaration of Independence was written  it did sow the seeds of change that over the years eliminated such failures and continue to do so as new challenges arise.

Today, we celebrate our independence. We celebrate our liberty and our freedom, said President Joe Biden.

While the other nations were formed based on things like geography, ethnicity, religion, America is the only nation in history founded on an idea  an idea. And that is that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal  all people  endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights  among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

We havent always lived up to those words, but weve never walked away from them. And today, and all days, we have to say clearly: We never will, said President Biden. We never will.
Stolen campaign poster? Hidden AirTags are the new defense.

Stolen campaign poster? Hidden AirTags are the new defense.

People are hiding AirTags in campaign posters to stop thieves, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The tracking devices are helping recover signs and charge those who took them.

In some cases, those charged included political opponents, WSJ said.

It's a political tale as old as time: put up a campaign poster in your yard, and thieves come to snatch it.

But according to The Wall Street Journal, those fed up with front lawn looting are embracing a modern solution.

Apple's geo-tracking AirTag devices are helping owners find their signs  and sometimes, even the people who stole them.

The practice has already led to charges. In one example cited by the outlet, Florida politician John Dittmore decided to hide the coin-sized gadget on one of his posters after waking up to a number of thefts in May.

When this sign was taken overnight, the Brevard County Commission candidate tracked the AirTag's pings to a pickup truck eight miles away. Police questioned two teens, and they were charged with criminal mischief and the theft of nine signs.

Including the poster stands that were also taken, the stolen property had a total value of over $1,100, WSJ said.

In other cited cases, stolen signs don't end up with teens, but in the homes of electoral opponents.

After Chris Torre became the victim of poster snatching, AirTags led him to the residence of Renee Rountree, the Journal said. Both were running for a seat on the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors in Virginia.

Her son-in-law was charged with a misdemeanor for stealing the property, while Rountree faced a misdemeanor for receiving stolen goods. In a December trial, she noted plans to return the signs. Rountree has since been ordered to 250 hours of community service.

"I would like to think that this will have a huge deterrent effect," the trial's judge said in the court's transcript, quoted by WSJ.

Though the judge was speaking of Rountree, the point outlines another big appeal of AirTags: if thieves know to suspect that a device might be planted on a poster, they might be less inclined to take it.

"It's a lot like when cops mark themselves on Waze," New Jersey deputy mayor Vinny Panico, who tracked a lost poster to a local committeeman's house, told the outlet: "If that slows people down, that slows people down."

Still, AirTags don't solve everything. Lawn posters are still exposed to destruction, with some vandals going as far as to drive over signs they don't like.

But the technology's capabilities have recouped more than just lawn signs. These devices keep track of lost wallets and airline baggage  sometimes when the airline itself can't find it  or let parents keep tabs on their kids.

But criticism has also mounted against the $29 geo-trackers, over fears that they provide a cheap tool for stalkers or abusers. A lawsuit against Apple was filed in 2022  and in March, a judge denied the firm's motion to dismiss the case.

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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, rescuers work at the site of a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Fot. Associated Press/East News

But what happens if Russia wins? Knowing too well that the meaning of a Russian victory is itself unclear, consider a situation, for the sake of simplicity, in which Russia seizes even more territory from Ukraine and is able to force Ukraine to recognise its territorial claims and renounce Western integration.

If Russia wins, it will not attack the European NATO members the next day for it lacks the strength to do so. 90 percent of the Russian ground forces that were available before the invasion are now on the casualty list, and all of the personnel that have since been conscripted are being deployed in Ukraine. The exceptions are the regulars conscripted twice a year, but they cannot be deployed outside the country's borders. To be sure, there have been instances in which troops were forced to sign a new contract and ended up in Ukraine as a result.

Contrary to Russian claims, Russian forces do not have large, intact reserves in remote parts of the country. The troops that used to be stationed at the Finnish border have disappeared, the only division-level unit capable of land warfare, the 11th Army Corps of the Baltic Fleet, have been taken from Kaliningrad, and all the division-level units of the Eastern Military District are likewise already engaged in Ukraine. The Russian ground forces, including the Marines and the airborne troops (VDV), do not pose a threat to NATO's European members and this will remain so until the end of the war. Of course, Russian air power and missile troops are still significant factors and NATO needs to be prepared for them.

Rescuers work at a site of an apartment building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipro, Ukraine, in this handout picture released June 29, 2024. Fot. REUTERS/State Emergency Service Of Ukraine

Even if the Russian forces win in Ukraine, they will still need a year or two of rest, replenishment and re-training based on the wars experience before they can pose a serious threat to Europe. After such a transitional period, however, Russia will emerge with a force that amassed serious combat experiences, and they need to be treated accordingly.

Europe must actively take control of its own destiny

If Europe wants to be able to shape its own future, it must maintain or rebuild the capabilities required of great powers. Among these, Europe possesses some of the most important ones like population, economic strength and geographical endowments, but it seems to lack others like the ability and willingness to impose its will outside its territory. If necessary, a great power is able and willing to act on its interests not only by soft means like money, diplomacy, and trade, but also through hard means like violence.

Maximizing support to Ukraine

The first thing Europe and NATO can do, or could have done, is to supply Ukraine with the necessary war material and military equipment in sufficient quantities. Currently, it is unlikely that Ukraine will have more and better weapons and material by the summer of 2024 than it has at present. It is unknown when the artillery ammunition promised by the Czechs will arrive and what effects the US aid package will have on the front line. The F-16 fighters offered by the Dutch and the Danish are essentially irrelevant as a few dozen of them do not make much of a difference. For that, Ukraine would need at least 40-50 modern, fourth-generation aircrafts that can be deployed continuously. Far more useful to the Ukrainians will be the arrival of artillery ammunition and anti-aircraft equipment that allows them to neutralize or at least undermine Russias two major strengths  its overwhelming air and artillery superiority.

Ukrainian service members of the 110th Colonel-General Marko Bezruchko Separate Mechanized Brigade load shells to a RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system at a unit's recharge point as they prepare to go to a position to fire towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near a front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 30, 2024. Fot. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

If Ukraine is willing and able to fight for at least another year and a half, and if the West is able and willing to back it up with sufficient means, there is a chance that the Russians are stopped and even pushed back. Still, this is unlikely to be enough for restoring the original borders. For Ukraine, the quickest possible end to the war would be to recreate a situation like in early October 2022: after a strategic victory, Ukrainian artillery regains the upper hand and the tactical initiative is stripped from Russia. But to do so, the Ukrainians will have to kill twice as many people as the Russians can mobilize, which will require first wiping Russias air force out of the sky and suppressing its artillery as they did in the autumn of 2022. Given existing military realities, this can only happen if the West significantly increases its support to Ukraine.

Varieties of military participation

If the West is unable or unwilling to send enough support, Ukraine is likely to lose the war in some form, which would vindicate Russia's strategy and its actions. In that case, Europe would have to defend its interests against a powerful Russia. To repeat, this can be prevented through the simple way of sending sufficient support to Ukraine.

If, for some reason, the West does not send sufficient support to Ukraine, it will have to help the Ukrainian army in another way  with soldiers. To avoid misunderstandings and misinterpretations, this is not about sending combat troops. Hundreds of people are dying and being wounded every day, and nobody suggests throwing European NATO soldiers, especially Hungarians into the meat grinder. Still, it is worth thinking through the possible scenarios of Western soldiers entering the war.

To begin with, a large number of Ukrainian soldiers working in the hinterlands could be replaced with Western troops. The troops guarding the Belarusian and Transnistrian borders, or those securing the Odessa area, could be freed up and sent to the front to replace forces tired of months of fighting without relief.

If necessary, Western soldiers could also take over certain combat support functions. This would mean that cities, military installations and critical infrastructure would be protected by Western air defence teams while the Ukrainian air defence could concentrate on reducing Russian air superiority. European forces could carry out logistical tasks such as transport, repair, distribution, and medical assistance, particularly in areas west of the Dnieper. According to military principles, the provision of one fighting soldier requires input from 5-9 non-combat soldiers, depending on the exact calculations. This implies a significant resource burden on the war effort.

A military intervention is not necessarily an immediate way out

Intervention by military force raises a number of questions, the most obvious is whether this would mean war between NATO and Russia. There are many indications that it would not. In addition, Russian forces are simply incapable of fighting a larger war on top of the current one by, for example, closing the Suwalki crossing between Poland and Lithuania or attacking NATO members in the Baltics. Russian forces lack the necessary deployable forces for such an enterprise. Of course, the chance is always there. And if such a Russian attack were to take place after Ukraines defeat, then the Russians would be able to deploy a much larger force and have a greater shot at success.

The other question is whether Ukraine is willing to continue sacrificing people in the hundreds of thousands. If it is not, then Western soldiers should stay out of Ukraine. If it is, then they may go. Depending on estimates, about 20-30,000 soldiers equalling 10-15 brigades could be made available if NATO member states take charge of the hinterlands. But even so, there is no telling how much help this would practically mean to the Ukrainian war effort. A significant number of troops serving in the backlines are, for various reasons, unfit for combat service, and their likely sacrifice would not bring Ukrainian victory any closer.

Though their quality is questionable, these 10-15 brigades could be enough to hold off the Russians with the steady influx of Western support. This would still not be enough to achieve an operational success like back in October 2022, and certainly insufficient to force a restoration of the 1991 borders. That would require at least 1.5 million well-equipped and well-trained Ukrainian soldiers and a serious dent in Russian military capabilities.

Ukrainian service members of the 110th Colonel-General Marko Bezruchko Separate Mechanized Brigade fire an RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, at a position near a front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 30, 2024. Fot. REUTERS/Alina Smutko

In light of the above, answering the seemingly straightforward question of "sending troops to Ukraine" requires a reckoning by both NATO and its members states individually of the following dilemmas:

Can the West afford to stop supporting Ukraine given the risks of a possible Russian victory? How much support is NATO able and willing to provide to Ukraine over the next 2 to 3 years? Which member states are willing to send troops to Ukraine? How many Ukrainian troops can be replaced like this, and what are the likely results of this change on the front line? Would Ukrainians accept a halfway solution characterized by operational victory and a stopping of the Russian army as the basis of a settlement? If so, then are they willing to continue the war for another year and a half with all the sacrifices this would entail? Does Ukraine seek a return to the situation of 1991? Is it capable of conscripting 1.5 million people in addition and is the West capable of arming and supporting them until this objective is achieved?

What is the real lunacy here?

It cannot be denied that Ukraine is in an increasingly critical situation due to insufficient Western support and the persistence of the Russian military. From a military perspective, Ukraine's victory is based on two conditions: a maximization of external support and a possible military involvement. The latter raises complex, difficult and painful questions, and they need to be sorted out by the Alliance to figure out where it wants to be headed. To be clear, the view that Ukraine should be abandoned is a popular one in Hungary and beyond, which makes it a realistic scenario. In case that happens, however, European NATO members would have to be prepared for a much stronger Russian force, and for potentially putting the lives of their own citizens at stake, and no longer just those of Ukraine.

In the past two years, it has also become clear that Western self-constraint and fears of Russian "red lines" do not work, and that Ukraines defeat would leave Europe in a much more dangerous position than it is now. While many consider the idea of a limited Western intervention in Ukraine crazy, the real lunacy is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. As we know, the strategy of appeasement failed in 1938, in 2014-15 and it did in 2021-22. And thus Europe, particularly the European NATO member states, will either step up and become a strong deterring force, or they will face a series of increasingly unsolvable problems.

The author is a military expert. He does not support the escalation of the current war or the sending of Hungarian troops to Ukraine. He also rejects the idea of any NATO member state participating in the conflict with combat troops.
The fresh newsletter for the International Community in Hungary - described by readers as a "Great read each week" - is now available for your interest and use via the link below.
Ties between Hungary and Austria are excellent, President Tamas Sulyoks office told MTI in a statement after talks between the presidents of the two countries in Vienna.

Sulyok and Alexander Van der Bellen agreed that in the current, extraordinary times good and balanced ties between neighbouring countries as well as regular communication are more important than ever, the statement said, adding that bilateral economic and cultural ties were also excellent, based on a strategic partnership and centuries of historical contact.



Sulyok expressed his support to plans to open a Hungarian language secondary school in Vienna.



On the subject of traffic restrictions at the Hungary-Austria border, they agreed that finding an early resolution to the problems and ensuring smooth crossing was in the interest of both countries, the statement said, noting constructive talks between the two governments.



Sulyok informed his counterpart about objectives of Hungarys European Union presidency, while both presidents highlighted the importance of increasing the EUs competitiveness, adding that an speedy accession of the Western Balkans to the EU was crucial.



Sulyok also invited Van der Bellen to an official visit to Budapest.



According to the statement, Sulyok also met House Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka, and discussed issues around the war in Ukraine, and protection to the rights of ethnic minorities.



At the talks, Sulyok noted Hungarys zero tolerance for anti-Semitism and expressed Hungarys support for Israel and that countrys right to self-defence.



Sulyok condemned all forms of terrorism, but added that the Palestinian people and Hamas are not the same.



Sulyok also noted that Viennas Collegium Hungaricum, the first Hungarian cultural institution, was celebrating its first centenary this year.



After his talks, the president laid a wreath of commemoration at a monument of Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis at Viennas medical university.



Sulyok is scheduled to meet representatives of the Hungarian community in Austria and attend an opening concert of the Hungarian EU presidency in the evening.



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The hottest festivals in and around the capital have kicked-off, and "you won't want to miss out" say our friends at WeLoveBudapest! From pulsating techno vibes, to traditional Hungarian dance house, to chart-topping pop acts, here's the ultimate guide to the season's best fests.

1. Duna-part Feszt

3 days of partying on the picturesque banks of the Danube in Rackeve, split between 3 stages with a mainstream music line-up, perfect for those who enjoy popular acts.



While there's no camping available directly on the festival grounds, excellent public transport connections make it easy to get back and forth from Budapest each night. Alternatively, there's a campsite located just 15 minutes away in Rackeve if you prefer a more festival-style stay.



Location: the park of the Savoyai Castle, Rackeve

Date: 4-6 July

Ticket prices: pass  HUF 28,690, daily ticket  HUF 13,590

More information







2. Bankito Festival

Nestled in the charming village of Bank, Bankito takes place right by the picturesque lake, with a campsite nearby for a truly immersive festival experience.



Known as the biggest small festival in the country', it has certainly grown beyond its small beginnings and offers a diverse program that goes far beyond just music - it has an eco mission too.



Expect a vibrant mix of live music - including acts like Elefant, Hundred Sins, De:Nash, Freakin' Disco, 6363, eva, and the Mayberian Sanskulotts - plus film screenings, theatre performances, visual arts displays, and even dedicated children's activities and a civic presence.



Location: Bank, Lake Banki

Date: 10-13 July

Ticket prices: season ticket  HUF 52,500, HUF daily ticket  19,600

More information







3. Bass Paradise

Get ready for three days of earth-shaking bass at Bass Paradise! This electrifying festival goes beyond your typical electronic music event, putting the spotlight firmly on pounding basslines and driving drum beats. It's a full-on sonic assault, perfect for those who crave a truly immersive experience.



This year's lineup boasts some of the biggest names in bass music, including Subtronics, Friction, Modestep, Shiverz, and Kompany. So, if you're looking for a festival that will get your heart racing and your body moving, Bass Paradise is the place to be.



Location: Torokbalint

Date: 11-13 July

Ticket prices: pass  HUF 44,990, daily ticket  HUF 13,990-22,990

More information







4. Katlan Festival

Underground electronic music festivals are known for their unique locations, and Katlan Festival takes the cake! Nestled in the Oreghegy quarry near Tarnok, this festival offers a truly unforgettable setting. The venue itself is a fascinating blend of modern vibes (reflected in the music) and a rugged, almost prehistoric atmosphere.



This year's lineup is sure to impress even the most discerning electronic music fan. Headliners include the one-and-only Tommy Cash, the legendary Infected Mushroom, and rising stars like Andrey Pushkarev, Technical Hitch, and Oxidaksi. But that's not all  a whole host of other talented artists will be taking the stage, making Katlan Festival a must-attend for any underground electronic music enthusiast.



Location: Tarnok Quarry

Date: 1214 July

Ticket prices: pass  HUF 24,990-29,990, two-day ticket  HUF 17,990-19,990, daily tickets  HUF 9,900-11,990

More information







5. Sziget Festival

Sziget Festival needs no introduction. As one of the biggest festivals in Hungary and all of Europe, it's a bucket list experience for many. But what truly sets Sziget apart is its incredible diversity.



This year's lineup is no exception, boasting a mind-blowing range of artists that cater to every musical taste. From chart-topping pop stars like Kylie Minogue and Liam Gallagher to underground favourites like Fontaines D.C. and Yard Act, Sziget has it all.



Think unashamed mainstream' to deep underground'  and everything in between! There's also much more than just music to discover at the Obuda Island. Expect a full programme of performances, art installations, and cultural experiences.



Location: Obuda Island (Hajogyari Island)

Date: 712 August

Ticket prices: pass  HUF 119,900, three-day ticket  HUF 99,900, daily ticket  HUF 32,900

More information







6. Folkpark

Folkpark is a one-day festival dedicated to celebrating the vibrant traditions of Hungary. Also known as the Tanchazfesztival (lit. dance house', a folk dance event aimed to revive Hungarian folk music and dance traditions), this lively event promises a full day of cultural immersion.



While details about this year's lineup haven't been released yet, last year's festival boasted an impressive roster of performers, giving you a great idea of what to expect.



With three dedicated dance floors, you'll have plenty of space to show off your moves or learn some traditional Hungarian steps. And don't worry about working up an appetite! A folk pub will be on hand throughout the day to keep your energy levels high with delicious Hungarian fare.



Location: Budapest Park

Date: 15 August

Ticket prices: HUF 1,999-2,499

More information







7. INOTA Focus: Turbinacsarnok

INOTA Focus returns this year, albeit on a smaller scale compared to last year. This one-day techno event takes place at the unique Inota Thermal Power Plant, located just a two-hour drive from Budapest (though outside Pest County).



While the distance might be slightly further than in previous years, the industrial setting is more than worth the trip. Prepare to be transported by the raw energy of the venue and the pulsating techno beats.



This year's headliner is the renowned Ben Frost, but the party doesn't stop there. Expect to see some familiar faces behind the decks, including Alpha Tracks and Boston 168, ensuring a night of unforgettable techno.



Location: Inota Thermal Power Plant

Date: 1213 July

Ticket prices: daily ticket  HUF 12,800

More information







Source:

WeLoveBudapest



Cover photo: Rockstar Photographers



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Year 13 students of Britannica International School are leaving with feelings of nostalgia for their time but also with excitement for the future. Several of the students have been with the school since Year 1 and are moving on with some incredible memories.

Anna noted: Truly a fever dream, realising that my 13 years at Britannica had come to an end was a sobering thought. I wasnt able to really appreciate it at the moment but looking back, Graduation day was a perfect end to the journey.



The students said that they felt particularly proud when they received their excellent exam results but also being successful in an extra-curricular activity such as completing the Duke of Edinburgh International Gold Award. Three of our graduating students had a well deserved invitation to the Residence of the British Embassy in Budapest in January to participate in the special prize giving ceremony hosted by the Deputy Head of Mission.





Although A level exam results will be officially announced at the end of August, students have already received offers from many different universities around the world.



Anna talked about her aspirations and goals: This time next year I would like to be at the University of Manchester studying Mathematics and/or Computer Science, progressing to a Masters degree in something more specific, possibly cryptography.



Ying said: I have received two offers, one from Kings College London and the other from Southampton.



Ruofan added: Astronomy, and generally Physics as a whole, is really interesting to me. To make this dream come true, I have chosen to study Astrophysics in university. This time next year I will hopefully be attending Edinburgh University along with my family as my sister is already studying and working there.





Robert Setchell, Head of Sixth form said: The graduating class of 2024 showed themselves to be a highly capable collective of young people with skills in a very wide selection of fields. From Artificial intelligence and machine learning to English Literature to Biochemical Engineering, they have shown themselves to be a very diverse group. I have enjoyed helping them work towards achieving their post Britannica dreams."



Britannicas graduating class of 2024 have applied to a range of top class universities around the world; including Oxford University, Kings College London, Imperial College London, the University of Warwick, the University of Cardiff and the University of Edinburgh in the UK, the University of Amsterdam, Delft University of Technology and Tilburg University in the Netherlands, Carnegie Mellon University and Brown University in the USA, as well as the University of Hong Kong.



The courses which theyve chosen to study are equally exciting and include astrophysics, electronic engineering, pharmacology, sport & exercise science, psychology, computer science, international relations, and business studies, to name a few.



We wish them the best of luck and look forward to hearing about their future successes.



Click here to virtually visit Britannica International School Budapest
Tata Safari Pros & Cons: The prices of Tata Safari, a flagship model from the indigenous car maker, range from Rs 16.19 lakh to Rs 27.34 Lakh. It is positioned as an alternative to the Mahindra XUV700, Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, etc. However, if you are about to book a Tata Safari, it is recommended to know the top 10 things about this SUV, essentially these 7 pros and 3 cons.

Tata Safari 7 Pros

1- Safety: It is a rock-solid build SUV with a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP and Bharat NCAP too, making it one of the safest SUV in India.

2- Suspension: The Suspension setup works well on bad roads, promising a good ride quality. It feels softer and easily absorbs small potholes.

3- Engine: The 2-litre diesel engine (170hp/350Nm) feels relaxed at triple-digit speed. It feels strong to perform and the overall response is solid.

4- Electric Power Steering: Its modern electric power steering (EPS) has transformed the way the Safari handles. It is light in Eco and City mode.

5- Road Presence: What the Safari banks on is its fantastic road presence, thanks to its big size, styling elements, and the big wheel size (19-inch on the top-spec variant).

6- Handling: It handles pretty well on high speed as well as on curves. You feel confident most of the time pushing it to limits.

7- Feature Loaded: It is packed with many goodies like ventilated seats, Level 2nd ADAS, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and drive mode, to name a few.

Tata Safari 3 Pros

1- Engine Option: It comes only with a single engine that is 2-litre diesel engine. No petrol engine is on offer.

2- No AWD or 4x4 System: It is a front-wheel-drive SUV and does not offer AWD or 4x4 System to go off-road.

3- HVAC Controls: The touch-based panel for HVAC controls is not very responsive, making it difficult to adjust fan speed and other functions on the go.
Robot Suicide in South Korea: In a bizarre and unprecedented incident, a government robot in Gumi, South Korea, allegedly took its own life due to overwork. This event marks the first known instance where a robot, not a human, has reportedly committed suicide. The robot, employed by the Gumi City Council, had been responsible for delivering documents and providing information to local residents for the past year. It had its own ID and moved freely throughout the building. Witnesses say the robot suddenly stopped during its tasks, circled around, and then jumped off a set of stairs. Its parts were found scattered, and it ceased functioning entirely.

In response, the City Council remarked that the robot was diligent, working tirelessly from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Local residents expressed their sorrow over the news.

Investigation Underway

The City Council has announced an investigation into the incident to determine what led the robot to take such drastic action. The American company that manufactured the robot, Bear Robotics, has also initiated its own inquiry.

The news quickly went viral on social media, prompting a variety of reactions. Some users likened the robots plight to that of a beast of burden, stating it was subjected to unbearable work pressure without rest or breaks. They suggested that the continuous movement within the building led to its eventual despair and decision to jump. Others humorously speculated that the robot might have survived had it been part of a union.
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New Delhi: Citing a media report that quoted Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief S Somnath as saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can be the candidate for India's first manned space mission, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the PM on Thursday stating that before he goes into space, the "non-biological" PM should go to Manipur.

Taking to 'X', Ramesh, on July 4, wrote, "Before He goes into space, the non-biological Pradhan Mantri should go to Manipur."

The media report has quoted ISRO Chief S Somnath as saying that PM Modi can be the candidate for India's first manned space mission, 'Gaganyan', which is slated to be launched in 2025.

"While he (PM Modi) certainly has many other, more critical responsibilities, developing a human spaceflight program is a capability we would like to cultivate and contribute to the Gaganyaan space program, particularly the astronaut training program for the International Space Station (ISS)," said S Somnath, as quoted by the media report.

As per the report, Somnath said, "All of us will be very, very proud if we have the ability to confidently send the head of state to space."

The Gaganyaan project is another major Indian mission that envisages a demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into an orbit of 400 km for a 3-day mission and bringing them safely back to earth by landing in Indian waters.

Meanwhile, the central government is facing heat from the opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc over the ethnic violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur, which started in May 2023.



PM Modi, while addressing the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, affirmed that the central government is making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur.

"The government is continuously making efforts to normalise the situation in Manipur. More than 11,000 FIRs have been registered and over 500 people have been arrested. Incidents of violence are continuously reducing in Manipur," PM Modi said.

He further said that the central and state governments are establishing interactions with all stakeholders to restore peace.

"Today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions are open in the state. The central and state governments are talking to all stakeholders to restore peace," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, while the Prime Minister was addressing the Lok Sabha, he faced continuous sloganeering by the opposition on Manipur.

The northeastern state has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 3 last year following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

Earlier in June, Union Home Minister Amit Shah did a holistic review of the security situation in Manipur in a high-level meeting here in the national capital and directed to ensure that "no further incident of violence takes place" in the northeastern state.

In the one-hour-long meeting at his North Block office, the Home Minister stressed the strategic deployment of the central forces to restore peace and tranquility in Manipur.
New Delhi: Rajasthan's Agriculture Minister and senior BJP leader, Kirodi Lal Meena, has submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, his aide said on Thursday. Official confirmation on the matter is still pending.

In a statement, the aide said, Kirodi Meena resigned as minister. He gave the resignation to the chief minister 10 days ago." Feeding fuel to the news of resignation, in a post on X, Meena cited the 'shlokas of Ramcharitmanas and said, Raghukul reeti sada chali aaee. Praan jaee par bachan na jaee.

    

     



()  Dr.Kirodi Lal Meena (@DrKirodilalBJP) July 4, 2024

What Transpired Kirodi Meenas Resignation?

The 72-year-old MLA campaigned in eastern Rajasthan, including Dausa, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Alwar, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, and Kota-Bundi Lok Sabha seats. Following this, Meena stated that he would resign if the BJP lost any of the seven seats under his oversight. Meena had said, I worked hard on 11 seats; if the party loses even one of these seven seats, I will resign and serve water here.

After the poll results were declared on June 4, the BJP lost the Bharatpur, Dausa, Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, and Dholpur-Karauli seats to Congress.

Recently, Meena did not attend a cabinet meeting. While talking to the media, he explained, Having resigned, it is morally inappropriate for me to attend. I met the Chief Minister, who respectfully said he wouldnt accept my resignation. I told him that since I publicly announced I would resign if we lost the Dausa seat, I had to follow through.

After the assembly election results were announced last December, he was also in the running for the Chief Ministers position, but the party high command chose first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma to lead the state. Five-time MLA and former Rajya Sabha member Kirodi Meena has been an MP from Dausa and Sawai Madhopur.
Amritpal Singh, the jailed radical preacher who is being brought to Delhi on parole to take an oath as a member of the Lok Sabha, will be able to see his family but will not be allowed to leave New Delhi's "territorial jurisdiction." As per the terms stipulated in his parole order granted by the district magistrate of Amritsar, Punjab, where Singh was arrested on April 23, last year, neither Singh nor his family members are allowed to speak in any media outlet while he is in the nation's capital.



The Khalistani , who was imprisoned in the Dibrugarh district of Assam and went on to win Punjab's Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat in the recent parliamentary elections, is scheduled to take an oath this Friday. Singh, 31, will be flown in from Assam to Delhi for taking oath and his parole period of four days starts from July 5, sources said on Wednesday.

The parole order, listing 10 conditions, specifies that the temporary release period includes the travel time from the central jail in Dibrugarh to New Delhi and back. It states that he "shall not enter the territorial jurisdiction of any place other than New Delhi during the period of temporary release."

"Neither Amritpal Singh nor any of his relatives are allowed to record or disseminate any statement of Amritpal in any electronic form," the order declares. Additionally, he must "avoid any action or statement that could be detrimental to national security."

According to the order, "relatives of Amritpal, as defined under Section 2(c) of the Punjab Detenue (Condition of Detention) Order, 1981, are permitted to meet him while he is in New Delhi." Regarding the deployment of security personnel, the order indicates that Singh will be escorted by a number of police officers considered suitable by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Amritsar (Rural).

These officers will accompany him from the moment of his temporary release until he returns to jail to resume his detention. When Singh is within the Parliament precincts, "he will be escorted by police or other security personnel as authorized by the Secretary General, Lok Sabha," the order notes.

For times when Singh is not required at Parliament, he will be "stayed at a location in New Delhi deemed appropriate by the SSP, Amritsar (Rural), based on security considerations." The order mentions that the SSP will coordinate with the Lok Sabha secretary general to ensure compliance with the conditions.

Amritsar District Magistrate Ghamshyam Thori while speaking to PTI on Wednesday said, "Amritpal Singh has been granted parole for up to four days or less beginning July 5 with certain conditions that have been communicated to jail superintendent, Dibrugarh."

Singh, who heads the "Waris Punjab De" outfit and styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was jailed along with nine of his associates under the National Security Act.

He was arrested in Moga's Rode village after he and his supporters on February 23 barged into the Ajnala police station breaking barricades, brandishing swords and guns, and clashed with police personnel in an attempt to free one of his aides from custody.
Agnipath short-service recruitment scheme has been a bone of contention between the opposition and the BJP government. While the Congress and Samajwadi Party have said that they would abolish the Agniveer system if voted to power, the government has shown a willingness to make necessary modifications to the recruitment scheme. A fresh political slugfest has erupted between the BJP and the Congress over compensation to Agniveer martyr.

The Congress has cornered the BJP saying that the kin of the martyr did not get Rs 1 crore compensation as promised. "Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lied in Parliament about the assistance given to the family of martyred Agniveer. Martyr Agniveer Ajay Singh's father himself has told the truth about their lies. The Defence Minister should apologise to the Parliament, the country, the Army and the family of martyr Agniveer Ajay Singh ji," said Rahul Gandhi.

However, the Indian Army refuted the claim saying that the kin of Agniveer martyr got Rs 98.39 lakhs. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "Indian Army is committed for the welfare of Agniveers."

Congress leader Pawan Khera hit back posing more questions to the government. "Please dont hide behind our Indian Army now. You stood up in the Parliament to announce that one crore was given to the kin of martyr Ajay Kumar. His father clearly says Rs 1 crore was not given. Of the amount claimed to have been given, how much is the insurance money? How much is the amount given by the state government? Are you claiming that the insurance money given to the kin of the martyr is also a favour given to the martyr by your government?" said Khera.

Please dont hide behind our Indian Army now. You stood up in the Parliament to announce that one crore was given to the kin of martyr Ajay Kumar. His father clearly says 1 crore was not given. Of the amount claimed to have been given,

how much is the insurance money?

how https://t.co/v503uLJ6ck July 4, 2024

How Much Compensation Family Of Agniveer Martyr Get?

As per the Indian Army, the family of any Agniveer martyr get Rs 98.39 lakhs after certain deductions. They also get ex-gratia and other benefits amounting to approximately Rs 67 lakhs, as applicable according to the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme. "The total amount will be Rs 1.65 Cr approximately," said the army.

*CLARIFICATION ON EMOLUMENTS TO AGNIVEER AJAY KUMAR*



Certain posts on Social Media have brought out that compensation hasn't been paid to the Next of Kin of Agniveer Ajay Kumar who lost his life in the line of duty.



It is emphasised that the Indian Army salutes the supreme pic.twitter.com/yMl9QhIbGM  ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) July 3, 2024

What Is Agnipath Scheme?

The Central Government launched the Agnipath scheme on June 15, 2022 to recruit both male and female aspirants into the 'below the officer's rank' cadre of the three services for a period of four years as Agniveers. Candidates between the age group of 17.5 to 21 years are eligible to apply for the scheme.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Azerbaijan have upgraded bilateral relations to strategic partnership, which is a new positioning and a new starting point, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here on Wednesday when meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Xi noted that the two sides should continue supporting each other in a bid to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China and Azerbaijan are good friends with sincerity and mutual trust, as well as good partners with equality and mutual benefit, and bilateral relations have been developing healthily and steadily, with fruitful cooperation and richer strategic connotations, he said.

China firmly supports Azerbaijan in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, Xi stressed.

The two sides should promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, deepen cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, oil and gas, and photovoltaics, strengthen connectivity, advance the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, and ensure the healthy and stable operation of China-Europe freight trains, he said.

The two sides should also carry out more exchanges in such areas as education, culture and tourism, as well as between the youths of the two nations and at the sub-national level, and consolidate the public foundation of China-Azerbaijan friendship, he said.

China supports Azerbaijan in hosting the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Xi said.

China stands ready to work with Azerbaijan to advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarity, and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and promote world peace, stability and development, he said.

For his part, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and China are good partners.

The two countries have maintained close exchanges at various departments and levels, witnessed increasing bilateral trade volume, and firmly supported each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in international organizations, he said.

The two sides jointly announced the establishment of the Azerbaijan-China strategic partnership in a joint statement, which is of great significance to the development of bilateral relations, he said.

Azerbaijan firmly abides by the one-China principle and firmly supports China's great cause of national reunification, which is the trend of history and no force can stop it, he said.

Azerbaijan is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China, tap the potential, enhance cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, new energy and culture within the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, closely collaborate within the SCO and other frameworks, oppose external interference and safeguard regional security and stability, said Aliyev.

The two sides issued the joint statement on establishing the strategic partnership.

Relevant departments of the two sides signed cooperation documents in such areas as Belt and Road cooperation and connectivity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Editor: WXL
Since the Hathras incident, Narayan Sakar Hari, also known as Bhola Baba, has been on the run, and the police are searching for him. In the meantime, numerous shocking revelations about Bhola Baba have surfaced. An eyewitness who stayed at Bhola Baba's ashram disclosed several astonishing details.

Ranjit Singh revealed that his father lived in Narayan Sakar Hari's ashram for 15 years and that they are from the same village. He stated that Baba initially left his police job and then staged spiritual discourses, appointing agents and paying them. According to Baba's instructions, these agents would tell people that they could see a divine chakra on Baba's finger. The agents followed Baba's directions to mislead people, even claiming they could see a trident in his hand.

'Baba Misleads People Through Agents'

Ranjit Singh further mentioned that gradually, Baba became famous and sent his agents to other states to organize his spiritual discourses. Over time, Baba built his own following. The agents' praise led people to regard him as a deity.

Bhola Baba Addicted to Drugs and Girls?

The most shocking revelation from Ranjit Singh is that several 16-17-year-old girls reside in Baba's ashram, whom he calls his disciples. Ranjit even disclosed that Baba engages these girls in inappropriate activities and is addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. Ranjit Singh labeled Baba as a hypocritical baba.

Ranjit Singh further told NDTV, "Several people have died in Bahadurnagar, which I have witnessed. The bodies of the deceased were never found. When Baba realized he could get caught, he relocated his ashram. This Baba has been to jail once before. He once claimed he could bring a girl back to life, for which he was imprisoned."
The Uttar Pradesh police announced on Thursday that they had arrested six'sevadars', including two women, in connection with the Hathras stampede, which killed 121 people. The only accused named in the FIR is still at large, but preacher Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba will be questioned as needed during the investigation, according to a senior officer.



"All six people arrested were sevadars (volunteers) at the'satsang,'" Inspector General of Police (Aligarh Range), Shalabh Mathur, told reporters. "A reward of Rs 1 lakh will be announced soon and non-bailable warrant (NBW) will also be issued against key accused Devprakash Madhukar," Mathura tweeted.

The preacher Surajpal was not named as an accused in the FIR filed at the local Sikandra Rau police station on Tuesday following the stampede in Phulrai village, which killed 121 people.

Meanwhile, the bodies of all Hathras stampede victims have been identified and returned to their families, District Magistrate Ashish Kumar announced here on Thursday. The stampede at preacher Baba Bhole's satsang in Hathras on Tuesday killed 121 people, most of whom were women, and injured 31 others.

Officials reported that 21 bodies were taken to Agra, 28 to Etah, 34 to Hathras, and 38 to Aligarh following the stampede. "All the bodies have been identified and handed over (to their respective families)," Kumar told PTI on Thursday. He stated that of the three bodies that remained unidentified until Wednesday, two were identified late at night and one through a video call on Thursday morning.

"The last body was identified by the family via video call. "They are on their way to Aligarh Hospital (to retrieve the body)," the district magistrate added. Kumar, a 2015-batch IAS officer who took over as Hathras DM just a week before the stampede, said there are no reports of missing people right now.

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday appointed a three-member judicial commission led by a retired high court judge to investigate the Hathras tragedy, as well as the possibility of a "conspiracy" behind the stampede. The panel will submit its findings in two months.

The police have filed a FIR against the organisers of the'satsang' near Phulhari village in Hathras, accusing them of packing 2.5 lakh people into the venue when only 80,000 had been granted permission.

The accused in the FIR filed at the Sikandra Rau police station late on Tuesday are "Mukhya sevadar" Devprakash Madhukar and other organisers. The preacher, known as Jagat Guru Saakar Vishwahari Bhole Baba, does not appear on the list.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who visited Hathras on Wednesday and met with the injured, was asked why the preacher was not named in the FIR as an accused. He had stated, "Prima facie, a case has been filed against those who requested permission for the event. Whoever is responsible for this will fall under its jurisdiction."
In a disturbing incident in Hyderabad, a woman was reportedly sexually assaulted by a real estate salesman and his accomplice after they allegedly spiked her cold drink. According to the reports, the police confirmed the arrests of the accused, identified as Janardhan and Sanga Reddy. They have been remanded in custody.

According to the victim's complaint, the ordeal began on Sunday when she traveled to Miyapur for a site visit in Yadagirigutta, organized by the two men. On their way back that night, the men claimed their car had broken down near an under-construction building.

They offered her food, which she declined, but later persuaded her to drink a cold beverage. Shortly after, she began to feel dizzy, suspecting the drink was spiked with a substance. Despite this, the men also gave her a sweet, but her dizziness did not subside.

The woman alleged that the two men then took advantage of her impaired state, stripping and sexually assaulting her in the car until the early hours of the morning. She also reported being physically assaulted, resulting in severe body pain.

Following the assault, the men dropped her at a hostel in Miyapur before fleeing the scene. The police have registered a case under charges of rape and other related offenses and are continuing their investigation.
Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has donned a new political role after his party faced defeat against the BJP in Odisha. Patnaik, who served as the CM for 24 years, is now the Leader of the Opposition in Odisha assembly. BJD, which ruled the state for over two decades, has made it clear that it will adopt an aggressive approach towards the ruling BJP, both at the state and the Central level.

For the past decade, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been known as a 'trusted informal ally' of the ruling BJP-led NDA government. For the past 10 years, the BJD has consistently supported the BJP, from backing key legislation and the Presidential elections in 2017 and 2022 to endorsing Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaws Rajya Sabha candidature. However, the party has now shifted its stance both in Parliament and outside. In this year's Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 20 out of 21 seats, while the BJD did not win a single seat, marking a first since its inception in 1997. Currently, the BJD holds nine seats in the 245-member Rajya Sabha, where the NDA lacks a majority.

The BJD has now shown to the BJP that the NDA's path in the Rajya Sabha is not going to be a cakewalk this time. During Prime Minister Narendra Modis reply to the debate on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, MPs from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) joined Congress-led Opposition members in staging a walkout from the House in protest. This marked the second walkout by BJD MPs in a week. On June 28, they also participated in the Opposition INDIA alliances protest, demanding a discussion on alleged paper leaks and irregularities in examinations like NEET and NET.

Recently, BJD supremo and five-time Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held a meeting with his partys Rajya Sabha MPs. He urged them to go all out to 'protect the interests of Odisha' and ensure that the party emerges as a 'strong and vibrant' Opposition in Parliament. Patnaik has made it clear to the Rajya Sabha MPs that no more support for the BJP in Parliament.

According to BJD sources, the party's newfound aggression against the BJP government is part of a 'well-thought-out strategy' to regain the confidence of the people following recent electoral setbacks.
Amritpal Singh, a Sikh preacher with radical views, and Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a Kashmiri political leader facing terror cases, are scheduled to be sworn in as Lok Sabha members today. Their participation is contingent upon specific conditions set forth in their parole orders. Engineer Rashid, as he is commonly known, is currently detained in Tihar Jail, Delhi, on charges related to terror funding under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Meanwhile, Singh is held in a prison in Dibrugarh, Assam, for offenses under the National Security Act.

Both individuals, aged 31 and 56 respectively, secured victories in the recent Lok Sabha elections as independent candidates from Khadoor Sahib, Punjab, and Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, despite being imprisoned. They were unable to participate in the oath-taking ceremony with other elected officials of the 18th Lok Sabha on June 24 and 25.

Rashid has been allotted a two-hour custody parole, not including travel time, for the oath-taking, while Singh has been granted a four-day custody parole starting July 5, to accommodate his travel from Assam to Delhi. During their parole, they are prohibited from interacting with the media or making public statements, a restriction that extends to their family members as well.

Singh, who leads the 'Waris Punjab De' group and is known for his pro-Khalistan stance, has been permitted to meet his family in Delhi. Conversely, Rashid's family is only allowed to be present for his oath-taking ceremony.

Rashid's parole was authorized by a Delhi court, following his incarceration since 2019 after an arrest in 2017. Singh's parole was issued by the district magistrate of Amritsar, where he was apprehended in April 2023 for instigating a confrontation at a police station earlier that year.

Both will be under constant surveillance by security personnel throughout their parole. Singh's parole conditions specifically mandate that he must not venture outside of New Delhi during his temporary release.
Kashmir: The Kashmir Valley, often called the paradise on earth, is currently experiencing unprecedented heat. On July 3, the temperature reached 35.6 degrees Celsius, which is 6 degrees higher than normal. Experts believe this temperature rise is due to continuous dry weather and increasing global temperatures.

Tourists who came to the Kashmir Valley to escape the scorching heat in North India are greatly disappointed by the intense heat here. The world-famous Dal Lake and the Boulevard Road along the lake, usually bustling with tourists, see very few visitors during the day due to the high temperatures. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature was recorded at 35.6 degrees Celsius, 6.0 degrees Celsius above normal. This is the highest temperature recorded in July since 1993, when it reached 37.0C on July 9 and 36.0C in July 1999. Overall, this marks the 11th highest July temperature recorded in Srinagar. The highest ever maximum temperature of 38.3C was recorded on July 10, 1946.

Weather analyst Faizan Arif stated, "Yesterday's temperature of 35.6 degrees was the highest since 1999, when it reached 37.0 degrees. It's also the 11th highest temperature recorded in Srinagar in July. It's not just Srinagar; higher regions like Kokernag have also recorded their highest temperatures ever. Qazigund and Gulmarg have broken decade-old records, reflecting similar heat seen in the northern plains and south Kashmir."

Tourists from other North Indian states such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand come to Kashmir to escape the heat, but this year, Kashmir has not been much cooler than the northern plains. Many visitors who came seeking cool weather and relief from the heat are disappointed to find the valley experiencing such high temperatures.

Ritish, a tourist from Uttar Pradesh, said, "We expected cool weather in Kashmir but have been disappointed. The temperature here is as high as in UP. This is due to global warming; pollution and the increase in vehicles are significant factors."

Gururaj Nayak, a tourist from Chennai, added, "We brought winter clothes expecting cold weather, but it's very hot herebetween 34 to 36 degrees Celsius. Even children need air conditioning. This is our first visit; we were told it would be like Chennai's winter, but it's not. We advised others to postpone their plans. Now they plan to visit in October-November."

Locals are also concerned and unprepared for such high temperatures, which are unusual for Kashmir. Some are arranging for air conditioning, while others seek shade under Chinar trees during the day.

Mushtaq Ahmad, a local resident, commented, "There's been a lot more traffic and pollution from outside Kashmir, contributing to the increased heat. I've never experienced such heat since childhood. Tourists come expecting cold weather, but it's very hot here."

The Meteorological Department predicts no relief from the heat in the next 48 hours. Places like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Kokernag, and Verinag are experiencing similar weather conditions. Light rain is expected tomorrow evening, but from July 7, the sun is forecasted to intensify the heat once more.

The Kashmir Valley has seen weather anomalies over the past year. Following heavy snowfall and severe cold waves until mid-April, the valley is now facing a heatwave in June and July.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has activated departments and appointed nodal officers under the Heat Wave Action Plan to assist affected individuals. The administration advises residents to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions during this hot weather.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in the Kazakhstan capital Astana, and said that the "Line of Actual Control (LAC) must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas be always enforced".

The two met on the sidelines of the SCO Meeting of the Council of Heads of State and discussed bilateral issues ranging from restoring border peace to rebuilding relations.



Agreeing that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side, the two Ministers had an "in-depth exchange" of views on finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to "stabilise and rebuild" bilateral relations, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.EAM Jaishankar emphasised the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity.He also reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two governments in the past. The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas must always be enforced, the EAM said.To resolve the remaining issues at the earliest, the leaders agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials.They agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting.The EAM reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests.The two Ministers also exchanged views on the global situation.EAM extended to FM Wang India's support for China's Presidency of SCO next year.
Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah and former J&K Chief Minister has expressed confidence in the timely conduct of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, citing recent assurances from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Abdullah's optimism follows statements from Modi and Shah that have, according to him, dispelled any uncertainties regarding potential delays in the electoral process. "There is no reason to doubt that the elections will be postponed," Abdullah affirmed. "We have received unequivocal assurances from both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, and we are geared up to participate in the elections as per schedule."

Addressing recent parliamentary incidents where opposition remarks were expunged, Abdullah advised the BJP to refrain from such actions in the future. He also pointed out discrepancies in the BJP's claimed strength in Parliament, stating, "They have 240 members, not the 400 they claimed before the Lok Sabha Polls."

On the controversial Agniveer recruitment scheme of the Indian Army, Abdullah said that the people have rejected the NDA government's scheme, particularly in regions where army careers are popular. He emphasized the BJP's obligation to respect public sentiments and called for the abolition of the scheme.

Abdullah's statements underscore the JKNC's readiness for the upcoming elections and highlight his stance on parliamentary conduct and military policy reform.
NEW DELHI: There does not appear to be much scope for an alliance between the Congress and the AAP for the assembly polls in Haryana and Delhi but the INDIA bloc will fight elections together in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said there is no one formula the INDIA bloc will follow for state elections. The grouping will fight together in states where Congress leaders and other alliance partners agree to such an understanding, he said.

Asked whether the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will fight the assembly polls together going forward, Ramesh said the alliance will do so in Jharkhand and Maharashtra. "There is no INDIA 'janbandhan' in Punjab. In Haryana, we had given one seat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Lok Sabha polls but I don't think that INDIA janbandhan will be there for assembly polls. In Delhi, the AAP itself has said that INDIA janbandhan will not be there for assembly polls," Ramesh said.

The Congress and AAP had fought the Lok Sabha polls together in Delhi, while they contested separately in Punjab. Ramesh said, "In the context of West Bengal also, I had said that the INDIA bloc is for Lok Sabha polls but in states where the circumstances are such that our leaders of the state and leaders of our alliance partners want, the alliance will remain. In Maharashtra, the alliance will be there with Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SCP). In Jharkhand, we have an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morch." Where state Congress leaders and the respective alliance parties agree, there will be an alliance, he said, adding there is no one formula on which the alliance will be done for assembly polls.

Asked specifically as to whether there would be an alliance in Haryana and Delhi, Ramesh said, "There does not appear to be much scope (for alliance) in Delhi and Haryana." Last month, Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi state convener Gopal Rai had said his party's alliance with the Congress was only for the Lok Sabha elections and hinted that the ruling party in the city will go solo in next year's Assembly polls here.

Ramesh asserted INDIA bloc partners are united in Parliament and augmented by the BJD in Rajya Sabha. "The YSRCP has its compulsions. Their soul is with INDIA but their body is with Mr. Narendra Modi. We are going to be aggressive, we are going to be proactive, we want a debate, we want a discussion but we will not be allowed to be bulldozed like the way we have been over the last 10 years," Ramesh said.

Jharkhand, Haryana and Maharashtra are slated to go for polls later this year, while assembly elections in Delhi will be held early next year.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a visit to Russia from July 8 to 9 to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit that will review the entire range of multifaceted ties between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.

After concluding the trip to Russia, Modi will travel to Austria, which will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in 41 years, it said. It will be Modi's first visit 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.

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 alternately in India and Russia.

The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Vladimir Putin had visited India to attend the summit. The summit saw both sides sealing 28 MoUs and agreements besides coming out with a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity".

Modi and Putin last held bilateral talks on the margins of a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Samarkand in Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. In the meeting, Modi had famously pressed Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine saying "today's era is not of war".

"I know today's era is not of war. We discussed this issue on phone several times that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue touch the entire world," Modi had said. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has held several telephonic conversations with Putin and Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In reflection of its strong friendship with Russia, India has not yet condemned Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

India's import of Russian crude oil has also gone up significantly notwithstanding the G7 price cap and increasing disquiet over the procurement in many Western countries. In December 2022, the G7 grouping and its allies announced a cap on the price of Russian oil as part of a series of punitive measures against Moscow in view of its invasion of Ukraine. The price cap restricts countries to pay more than USD 60 a barrel. From Russia, Modi will travel to Austria. He will be in Austria on July 9 and 10.

"This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. He will call on President of the Republic of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer," the MEA said.

"The prime minister and Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria," it said in a statement. Modi will also interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow as well as in Vienna, the MEA said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and Russia to continue to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and international strategic coordination.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

He noted that President Putin paid a successful state visit to China this May, saying that the two sides are working together to make plans and arrangements for the future development of bilateral relations at the important historical juncture of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Russia.

Facing an international situation fraught with turbulence and changes, the two countries should keep upholding the original aspiration of lasting friendship, and sticking to the determination of benefiting the people, Xi said.

He urged China and Russia to continuously conserve the unique value in China-Russia relations, and explore the internal driving force of bilateral cooperation, saying that the two countries should also make new efforts to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the basic norms governing international relations.

China supports Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities as BRICS chair, uniting the "Global South," preventing a "new Cold War" and opposing illegal unilateral sanctions and hegemonism, he said.

Noting that the SCO Astana summit will be held on Thursday, Xi said the Chinese side looks forward to working with Russia and other member states to promote the steady and long-term development of the SCO and build an even closer SCO community with a shared future.

China and Russia, Xi said, should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability.

For his part, Putin thanked Xi for warmly receiving him on his state visit to China in May, recalling that they celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Russia and China and made plans for the future development of Russia-China relations.

At present, Russia-China relations are at the highest level in history, Putin said, adding that the two sides respect each other, and treat each other with equality and mutual benefit.

He also said that Russia-China relations feature non-alignment and do not target at any third party, which conforms to the well-being of the two peoples.

Russia, he said, supports China in safeguarding its core interests and legitimate rights and interests, and opposes external interference in China's internal affairs and the South China Sea issue.

Noting that China will soon take over the rotating presidency of the SCO, he said Russia will fully support China's work and work with other member states to continuously enhance the international influence of the organization, safeguard regional peace and security, and promote the development of the international system in a more just and equitable direction.

As the rotating chair of BRICS this year, Russia looks forward to strengthening communication and coordination with China on BRICS cooperation, he added.

The two heads of state also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Xi stressed that China always stands on the right side of history, adheres to promoting peace talks, and is willing to continue to make positive efforts for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and other regional hotspot issues.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Editor: WXL
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Partys veteran leader Lal Krishna Advani has been hospitalised once again and kept under observation as his health deteriorated on Wednesday.

Veteran politician L.K. Advani, aged 96, was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Sarita Vihar at 9 PM. He is receiving medical care under the supervision of Dr. Vinit Suri. Hospital sources told ANI that Advani is currently under observation and his condition is stable.

In June, L.K. Advani was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for urological treatment. He was hospitalized on a Wednesday and discharged the following Thursday afternoon. Hospital sources confirmed that Advani was treated under Dr. Amlesh Seth and kept under observation during his stay.
New Delhi: After a two-day political drama, the incumbent government under Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" has collapsed in Nepal as coalition ministers submitted their mass resignation and retracted their support.

The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), the key ally of the Dahal-led government, walked out following the expiration of the 24-hour deadline given on Tuesday, plunging the nation into political uncertainty.

The party had given a 24-hour deadline to Prime Minister Dahal to step down from the post, calling for a respectful exit.

On Wednesday (July 3) eight ministers from the CPN-UML party, who had been part of Prime Minister Dahal's cabinet since March 4, resigned. They submitted their resignations to the Prime Minister at his residence in Baluwatar after first meeting with their party leader, UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, at his home in Balkot.

What Happens Next?

On Monday night, the UML and Congress parties agreed to form a new government. Oli will be the Prime Minister for the first year and a half, and then former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will take over for the rest of the term.

However, Prime Minister Dahal didn't want to resign right away.

Instead, his party decided in a meeting on Tuesday that he will stay in office and face a trust vote in Parliament within 30 days to see if he still has enough support to remain Prime Minister.

New Coalition Agreement

According to the agreement, the leaders of the two largest parties will rotate the leadership of the government over the remaining three-and-a-half-year term of the current parliament.

On Wednesday, the Nepali Congress formally endorsed the agreement with the CPN-UML to form a new coalition government. The deal was approved during a central work execution committee meeting at party President Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence in Budhanilkantha.

The statement cited by news agency ANI read, The meeting expresses its determination to implement the agreement reached between the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML regarding leading governments on a rotation basis to protect national interests.

The overnight deal also agrees to draft a constitutional amendment stating that the Vice President would become the chairman of the National Assembly.

During the meeting, the leaders informed the President that they would activate Section 76 (2) to form a new government if the current Prime Minister, Prachanda, loses the vote of confidence after the UML withdraws its support. Prachanda must seek a vote of confidence from parliament again after losing a party's support. He came to power after the 2022 General Elections and has already faced four confidence votes in parliament.

(Based on inputs from ANI)
Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, has been released from jail on bail in the alleged land scam case. He is now set to reclaim the seat of power in Jharkhand, even though the assembly elections in the state are just a few months away. Following his release, there were discussions that Champai Soren would remain the Chief Minister until the elections while Hemant would focus on party work. However, Hemant's move to become the Chief Minister has ended these speculations.

On Wednesday, in a meeting held in the capital Ranchi, the JMM, Congress, and RJD unanimously agreed to make Hemant Soren the Chief Minister again. Following the party's decision, Champai Soren resigned from his post, and Hemant Soren staked his claim to form the government. According to media reports, Champai Soren is reportedly unhappy with his removal, although no official statement has been released by him yet.

The key question is why Champai Soren was not allowed to complete his term and why Hemant was in such a hurry to take the CM's chair as soon as he was released from jail. This article delves into the reasons behind Hemant Soren's quick move to reclaim power.

Factions Forming Within the Party

Just five days after his release from jail, Hemant Soren took control of Jharkhand's power. Sources associated with JMM indicate that with assembly elections looming, two factions of power were emerging within the party. This could have potentially harmed the party's prospects in the elections. To prevent this, Hemant decided to retain the CM's chair himself.

Strong Hold In Party

Following the results of the Lok Sabha elections and Hemant Soren's release, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is invigorated. The party believes that under Hemant's leadership, they will break all victory records in the upcoming assembly elections. To avoid any pre-election mistakes, Hemant's swift move to become CM sends a clear message within the party that he holds the reins of power.

Sympathy Votes

Having been absent from the election campaign during the Lok Sabha elections due to his arrest, Hemant Soren aims to become the face of the INDIA bloc in the assembly elections. Other parties within the grand alliance support this move, believing that Hemant's leadership could attract sympathy votes. This is why preparations were swiftly made to reinstall him as Chief Minister shortly after his release. If Hemant faces jail time again, he could emulate Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who continued to govern from jail.

Potential Succession by His Wife

Hemant Soren is aware that ongoing cases could result in his imprisonment again. If that happens, he could use his power as CM to appoint his wife, Kalpana Soren, as his successor. Kalpana has established herself as a prominent leader within the party, winning the assembly by-election and effectively leading JMM's Lok Sabha campaign in Hemant's absence. Should Hemant need to step down again, Kalpana is his likely choice to assume the role of Chief Minister so that the control of the party remains within the family.

Alliance's Trust in Hemant

JMM's allies in the INDIA Block believe that a majority in the state assembly can only be achieved by placing their trust in Hemant Soren. This confidence in his leadership has played a significant role in the decision to reinstall him as Chief Minister.

Strategy To Counter BJP

The BJP-led NDA has bagged 9 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA had bagged 12 seats. This time, it is believed that Hemant Soren's imprisonment resulted in sympathy votes for the JMM-Congress alliance as it won three more seats compared to 2019. The return of Heman Soren clubbed with the oratory of Kalpana Soren is likely to brighten the ruling coalition's prospects in the upcoming assembly polls and the road ahead won't be easy for the BJP.
New Delhi: Markets rose to all-time highs on Wednesday, led by HDFC Bank, which jumped to a new high amid hopes of a rise in its weightage in a major global index.

Sensex Finished higher at 79,986.80 points while Nifty settled the day at a record high of 24,286.50.

"Technically, the Nifty index has broken the 24,200 barrier and formed a doji candlestick pattern. Furthermore, the index is forming a higher-top, higher bottom pattern, indicating an uptrend. As long as index holds support of 23,990, it may attempt to test the levels of 24,500-24,600. Nifty Bank also reached a record high of 53,256.70 in the morning trade, driven by HDFC Bank, and then witnessed some profit booking on higher levels. Finally, Nifty Bank settled the day on record high at 53,089 levels. From a technical standpoint, the index is consolidating in the band of 52,000-53,200. If the index sustains above 53,200, then rally could extend towards 54,000-54,200 levels," said Hrishikesh Yedve, AVP Technical and Derivatives Research at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd.

Meanwhile, ahead of the market opening today, as per Zeebiz are Bajaj Finance, Vedanta, Vodafone Idea, Tata Power, Marico likely be in focus today.

1. Tata Power

Tata Power shares are scheduled to trade ex-dividend on Thursday. The Board of Directors of the Company had at its meeting held on May 8, 2024, recommended a dividend of 200 percent at Rs 2 per Equity Share of Re 1 each for the financial year ended March 31, 2024.

2. Vodafone Idea

Shares of Vodafone Idea is likely to be in focus as the telecom operator has hiked its mobile tariff which is effective from today.

3. Vedanta

Vedanta group has announced its production release for 1st quarter ended June 30, 2024. It said, "The cast metal aluminum production at our smelters at 596 kt, up 3% YoY on account of better operational performance. Alumina production at Lanjigarh refinery at 539 kt, up 36% YoY driven by new capacity, and up 11% QoQ".

4. Bajaj Finance

Bajaj Finance has in a business update said that it has seen a deposit hike of 26 percent YoY. "Deposits book stood at approximately  62,750 crore as of 30 June 2024 as compared to  49,944 crore as of 30 June 2023, a YoY growth of 26%," the company informed regulators.

5. Marico

Marico has announced that it has collaborated with Kaya to scale up play in advanced science-backed personal care.
The Last Monk has carved out a significant niche for itself in the crystal market. Fayas Kamar founded this Mumbai-based company in 2011, and it has since been renowned for its high-quality Pyrite stones and accessories. The company recently reached an essential goal of selling over 20 lakh Pyrite products and has firmly established itself as the industry leader in India.

We are overjoyed with the phenomenal response we've received for our Pyrite collection, says Fayas Kamar, founder of The Last Monk. It highlights the growing interest in crystal healing and the trust customers have placed in our brand.

Pyrite Stone, Not Just Fool's Gold

Pyrite, often nicknamed "Fool's Gold" because of its resemblance to the valuable metal, is much more than just a beautiful stone. It is valued for its believed metaphysical capabilities, which include attracting prosperity, providing protection, and promoting strength. These properties have made Pyrite a popular choice among crystal enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The Last Monk offers a comprehensive Pyrite collection catering to diverse preferences. Customers can find Pyrite in its natural form, showcasing its geometric perfection in raw clusters. The company also offers polished stones that enhance the stone's golden sheen.

The Last Monk's exclusive jewellery line caters to people who want to bring Pyrite's energy into their daily lives. From pendants and rings to bracelets, each piece combines elegance with the believed power of the stone.

The Last Monk sources its Pyrite stones from reliable suppliers, ensuring each piece meets stringent quality standards. The brand also provides exceptional customer service, with a friendly and knowledgeable staff available to guide customers in selecting the perfect stones and accessories to suit their needs. Customers can expect a personalised and enriching experience whether they shop online or visit their Mumbai store.

The Last Monk On Building a Community

The Last Monk actively engages with its audience through educational content. Its YouTube channel features informative videos that explore the healing properties of various stones, offering valuable guidance and inspiration to crystal enthusiasts.

The brand fosters a strong sense of community by hosting workshops, events, and facilitating online interactions. This creates a supportive space where individuals can share their experiences and learn from each other on their crystal healing journeys.
New Delhi: Fawad Khan is all set to make his comeback in Bollywood and fans are waiting with bated breath to witness the undying charm of the Pakistani actor. There are reports that Fawad Khan has signed a romcom with Bollywood diva Vaani Kapoor and fans cannot contain their excitement ever since the news is out. As per reports," The romantic comedy narrates the story of how two broken people meet by a stroke of luck and end up helping each other, unintentionally falling in love."

As Fawad Khans comeback news is making headlines, fans are revisiting the old times when the star was present in India and had several movies lined up including Kalki 2898 AD actress Deepika Padukone.

Watch the old viral video of Fawad Khan spelling his magic on Deepika Padukone where Ranveer Singh clearly looked unhappy.

Fawad Khan and Deepika Padukone had once set the stage on fire with their crackling chemistry as they walked the ramp together. One video of Fawad created quite a stir online where he is seen flirting with Deepika Padukone and reciting the lyrics of Roop Tera Mastana for her on the stage. This video left Fawad and Deepika's fans swooning and they wanted them to star in a film together. But what grabbed more attention was how Ranveer Singh showed his rejected face while Fawad was flirting with Deepika.

Fawad Khan was last seen in Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil before the ban on the Pakistani actor.
New Delhi: The Centre may expand the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-Jay) to offer essential healthcare support for Indias senior citizens. This move aligns with the NDAs election promise to extend coverage under the scheme to people over the age of 70.

"Every elderly person above 70 will be covered and benefit from free treatment under Ayushman Bharat Yojana," President Draupadi Murmu announced in her recent address to Parliament. (Also Read: ITR 2024: Can You Save Up To Rs 1.8 Lakh On Tax By Paying Rent To Your Wife? Check Details)

Two models are being considered, one model proposes covering all family members with senior citizens while the other suggests covering only the senior citizens in a family, according to the Mint newspaper. (Also Read: Paytm Launches 'Health Saathi Plan' For Merchant Partners At Just Rs 35 Per Month)

The Mint newspaper reported that health benefit packages for geriatric treatment are being developed and hospitals with dedicated geriatric services will be included under PM-JAY. However, there has been no official announcement yet. Zee News could not confirm or independently verify this information at the time of writing.

The Centre is also considering increasing the number of beneficiaries under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Currently, this scheme is the world's largest publicly funded health insurance program which provides Rs 5 lakh per family annually for secondary and tertiary care to 12 crore families.

The State Health Agencies (SHAs) are in charge of empaneling hospitals under the scheme to ensure comprehensive healthcare access across the country.

Currently, only about 20 per cent of people over 60 are covered by health schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme, Employees State Insurance Scheme, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna, cooperative health insurance, employer medical reimbursement, or private insurance. This information comes from the India Ageing Report 2023.

The report shows that elderly men have slightly higher coverage (19.7 per cent) compared to women (16.9 per cent). It also indicates minimal difference in coverage between rural and urban areas. President Murmi also noted the progress in setting up 25,000 Jan Aushadi Kendras which will improve healthcare infrastructure and accessibility.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India has mandate that all credit outstanding repayments must be routed through the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)- managed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The revised norms to streamline the process of bill payments is applicable from 1 July 2024.

What Is Bharat Bill Payment System

Bharat Bill Payment System is a one-stop ecosystem for payment of all bills providing an interoperable and accessible Bill payment service to all customers across India. Bharat BillPay transaction can be initiated through multiple payment channels like Internet, Internet Banking, Mobile, Mobile-Banking, Mobile Wallets, Kiosk, ATM, Bank Branch, Agents and Business Correspondents, by just looking at the Bharat BillPay logo

Bharat BillPay facilitates myriad payment modes enabling Bill payments. The payment modes options facilitated under the ecosystem are Cards (Credit, Debit and Prepaid), NEFT Internet Banking, UPI, Wallets, Aadhar based Payments and Cash.

Why HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, other banks customers can't make credit card bill payments using CRED, PhonePe, Paytm?

Due to lack of integration of these apps with the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), customers cant make third-party app payment. They will have to make their credit card bill payments through other channels or directly through the platforms owned by their banks

Banks like Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, IDFC First Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and YES Bank are still in the integration process, consequent to which customers will not be able to make credit card bill payments using CRED, PhonePe, Paytm

HDFC Bank has informed customers to pay their current and future bills directly to the biller to ensure uninterrupted bill payments. The bank said, "In line with regulatory guidelines on Bill Payments, from 1st July 2024, we will no longer process Standing Instructions (SI) and Non-SI payments to billers not participating in the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)."

Banks Integrated With Bharat Bill Payment System

Meanwhile, the banks that have made integration with Bharat Bill Payment System are SBI, Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IndusInd Bank, Union Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Saraswat Bank, Federal Bank
New Delhi: The Ministry of Finance has confirmed the repayment schedule for the '8.40 per cent Government Security (GS) 2024', which is set to mature on July 26, 2024. According to a press release by the Ministry of Finance, given that July 27 and 28 are non-working days, the repayment will be made on July 26. Investors are advised that no interest will be accrued beyond the maturity date.

According to sub-regulations 24(2) and 24(3) of the Government Securities Regulations, 2007, the maturity proceeds of a Government Security held in a Subsidiary General Ledger (SGL) account, Constituent Subsidiary General Ledger (CSGL) account, or Stock Certificate must be paid to the registered holder through a pay order that includes the necessary bank account details, or by direct credit to the holder's bank account if electronic fund transfer is available.

To facilitate the payment, the original subscriber or any subsequent holders of these Government Securities must provide the relevant bank account information well in advance.

If the required bank account details or mandate for electronic fund transfer are not provided, holders should present their duly discharged securities at the Public Debt Offices, Treasuries/Sub-Treasuries, or branches of the State Bank of India where they are registered for interest payments, at least 20 days before the repayment date to ensure timely repayment of the loan, read the press release.

The details of the procedure for receiving the discharge value may be obtained from any of the aforesaid paying offices.
In the present age, headphones have turned into a key decoration for certain people. Whether you're a music darling, a gamer, or someone who values long-distance race watching your main shows, the right arrangements of headphones can work on your experience. India, being a different and dynamic market, offers plenty of choices of earphone brands. This article will direct you through the absolute best earphone brands accessible in India, assisting you with pursuing an informed decision.

Categories of Headphones

Before plunging into explicit brands, it's vital to comprehend the various classes of earphones accessible. This will assist you in concluding which type suits your needs best.

1. In-Ear Earphones

In-ear earphones, otherwise called headphones, are minimal and versatile. They fit cozily inside your ear waterway, giving great sound seclusion and movability.

2. On-Ear Earphones

On-ear headphones lay on your ears and are generally more pleasing than in-ear headphones for extended use. They offer extraordinary sound quality and are usually more sensible than over-ear headphones.

3. Over-Ear Earphones

Over-ear headphones, generally called circumaural headphones, cover your entire ear. They give astounding sound quality and comfort, which is great for long listening gatherings.

4. Wireless Earphones

Wireless headphones interact with your devices through Bluetooth, offering the solace of a bunch of free experiences. They come in both in-ear and over-ear plans.

Top Headphone Brands in India

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Sony is an easily recognized name with regards to sound hardware and their earphones are no special case. Sony earphones, known for their uncommon sound quality and strength, take special care of many clients, from easy going casual listeners to proficient audiophiles.

Popular Models:

 Sony WH-1000XM4

 Sony WF-1000XM3

 Sony MDR-ZX110

Features:

 Superior sound quality

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Bose is prestigious for its excellent sound items. Their earphones are known for their excellent noise-cancelling capacities and agreeable plan, making them number one among incessant explorers and music sweethearts.

Popular Models:

 Bose QuietComfort 35 II

 Bose SoundSport Free

 Bose 700

Features:

 Industry-leading noise cancellation

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The wireless earphone market has been completely transformed by Apple's AirPods. They provide ease, great sound quality, and cutting-edge features like active noise cancellation in the Pro models. They are well-known for their smooth connection with Apple products.

Popular Models:

 Apple AirPods Pro

 Apple AirPods (3rd generation)

 Apple AirPods Max

Features:

 Seamless Apple ecosystem integration

 Active noise cancellation

 High-quality sound

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JBL is a notable brand in the sound industry, offering a great many earphones that convey strong sound and profound bass. Their items are well known among more youthful crowds and individuals who partake in a more lively sound profile.

Popular Models:

 JBL Tune 750BTNC

 JBL Endurance Sprint

 JBL Quantum 100

Features:

 Deep bass

 Affordable pricing

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Sennheiser is a German brand that is prestigious for its predominant quality headphones. They offer an extent of things that take exceptional consideration of both nice, easygoing audience members and master clients, ensuring first-class sound consistency and comfort.

Popular Models:

 Sennheiser HD 450BT

 Sennheiser CX 400BT

 Sennheiser HD 280 Pro

Features:

 High-quality sound

 Durable build

 Comfortable for long use

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Boat has quickly become #1 in the Indian market, known for its reasonable yet great earphones. Their items are smart and strong and convey noteworthy sound quality, making them an incredible decision for economic purchasers.

Popular Models:

 Boat Rockerz 550

 Boat Airdopes 441

 Boat BassHeads 900

Features:

 Budget-friendly

 Stylish design

 Good sound quality

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Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Wednesday that he is ready to work with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to jointly build a more substantive and dynamic China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future, and inject more positive energy to the development and stability of the region and beyond.

Xi made the remarks in his meeting with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana.

In their small-group talks, he noted that last year Tokayev and him met twice in Xi'an and Beijing respectively, and made new arrangements and plans for the development of China-Kazakhstan relations, leading the "golden 30 years" of rapid development of China-Kazakhstan relations.

The Chinese side has always viewed its relations with Kazakhstan from a strategic and long-term perspective, and regards Kazakhstan as a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy and an important partner for cooperation in Central Asia.

Xi said China's will and determination to maintain and grow bilateral relations stand firm, and will not be changed due to any single incident or transformations in the international situation.

China will always be a good neighbor and partner Kazakhstan can rely on and trust, he added.

The Chinese side, Xi also said, will continue to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in traditional energy such as natural gas, expand new energy cooperation including photovoltaic and wind power, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kazakhstan, and help Kazakhstan convert its resource advantages into development capabilities to achieve green, low-carbon and sustainable development.

Tokayev said Xi's state visit to Kazakhstan is of historic significance to the development of Kazakhstan-China relations, hailing China as a friendly neighbor, close friend and important strategic partner of his country.

Based on solid good-neighborly friendship and firm mutual support, Kazakhstan-China relations have shown an unprecedented sound momentum of development, he said, noting that major achievements have been made in cooperation in trade, energy, agriculture, minerals and other fields, which have benefited the two peoples and set a good example for state-to-state relations.

Kazakhstan is ready to work with China to further tap the potential of bilateral cooperation in energy, minerals, new energy and connectivity and push bilateral relations to a new height, he said.

The Kazakh side appreciates China's firm support for Kazakhstan's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and will firmly abide by the one-China principle, resolutely fight against the "three forces" and safeguard the common security of the two countries, Tokayev added.

In their big-group talks, Xi said the friendly relations between China and Kazakhstan are rooted in the millennia-old ancient Silk Road, reinforced by 32 years of cooperation after the establishment of diplomatic relations, and have reached the high level of a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi reiterated that no matter how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in its commitment to the China-Kazakhstan friendship, in its resolve to advance cooperation across the board, in its determination to continue mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests, and in its confidence in both countries realizing their development goals.

China and Kazakhstan are both at a critical stage of development and revitalization, Xi said, calling on the two sides to enhance the alignment of their development strategies and exchanges of governance experience, and implement more mutually beneficial cooperation projects to boost the development of their respective countries.

The Chinese side is ready to work with Kazakhstan on boosting economic and trade cooperation, and set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date, he said.

He pledged that China will further expand imports of high-quality Kazakh goods and create new growth drivers for cooperation in e-commerce and digital economy, calling on the two sides to increase the scale of cooperation in production capacity investment, tap the potential of cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, and expand cooperation in electric vehicles, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and satellite communications.

China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to actively promote the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and build a multi-dimensional connectivity paradigm, Xi said.

He also said that China supports the holding of China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025, and has decided to open a second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country.

Noting that at the airport after arrival, he was moved to hear a group of Kazakh teenagers sing "Ode to the Motherland" in standard and fluent Chinese, Xi said young people are the inheritors of China-Kazakhstan friendship from generation to generation.

He urged the two countries to give full play to the role of the culture centers and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University to strengthen cultural exchanges, enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples, especially the young generation, and strengthen public support for all-round cooperation between the two countries.

China, Xi noted, will assume the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) following Kazakhstan, saying that the Chinese side stands ready to jointly build an even closer SCO community with a shared future with the SCO member states including Kazakhstan.

Xi noted that China supports Kazakhstan in hosting the second China-Central Asia Summit next year and is ready to work with relevant parties including Kazakhstan to make the China-Central Asia mechanism better and stronger, and to promote the China-Central Asia cooperation to achieve more new results.

China is willing to work closely with Kazakhstan within the framework of the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, practice genuine multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and other developing countries, Xi added.

For Tokayev, he said Xi's visit to Kazakhstan once again proves that both sides attach great importance to and strongly hope for further enhancement of the permanent comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Kazakhstan and China, he said, enjoy a solid friendship spanning thousands of years and fruitful cooperation in various fields, adding that in recent years in particular, bilateral ties have entered a new "golden era," with smooth progress in major cooperation projects and positive results in agriculture, green energy, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, contributing to the well-being of the two peoples.

Tokayev said his country is a reliable friend and partner of China, adding that it is an unswerving strategic priority for Kazakhstan to deepen friendly and strategic cooperation with China.

Speaking highly of China's diplomatic concept of peace, a series of global initiatives put forward by Xi and China's important contribution to promoting world peace and development, Tokayev said the Kazakh side is willing to work with China to promote the building of a Kazakhstan-China community with a shared future as well as a community with a shared future for mankind.

Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan looks forward to working with China to earnestly implement the important outcomes of Xi's visit, continuing to jointly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, making every effort to achieve the goal of doubling bilateral trade, strengthening cooperation in agriculture, economy and trade, new energy, cross-border e-commerce and electric vehicles, and advancing the construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Kazakhstan welcomes the establishment of culture centers in their respective country and Luban Workshop, said Tokayev said. He called for ensuring the China tourism year in 2025 a success, so as to keep closer bilateral sub-national cooperation as well as people-to-people exchanges in education, culture and other fields.

Kazakhstan will continue to actively participate in building the China-Central Asia mechanism, and closely coordinate with China within multilateral frameworks such as the SCO and the United Nations, Tokayev added.

Following the talks, the two heads of state signed the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witnessed the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media.

Prior to their meeting, Kazakh fighter jets painted the sky with colored smoke trails to welcome the Chinese president. A group of six jets, while flying over the presidential palace, left behind them colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag.

In this combo photo, six Kazakh fighter jets paint the sky with colored smoke trails of red and yellow, colors of the Chinese national flag, while flying over the Kazakh presidential palace to welcome visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua, Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inspect the guard of honor in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. Tokayev hosted a ceremony to welcome the Chinese president. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcome ceremony hosted by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold small-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hold big-group talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sign the joint statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan, and witness the exchange of dozens of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy and trade, connectivity, aviation and aerospace, education and media, following their talks in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. Xi held talks with Tokayev at the presidential palace in Astana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Editor: WXL
Thapars travel started not in the boardroom meetings of Emcur , the family commerce she would afterward lead, but with a solid establishment in back after completing her tutoring in sharpening her aptitudes encouraged with an MBA from Duke University. Hapar made the choice to return to India and join Emcure . Whereas at first taking the part of chief budgetary officer, Thapar was not substantive with basically overseeing the numbers. Her aspiration and key vision drove her to take on a more multifaceted part. Supervising not a fair fund but too human assets and residential promoting. This broader encounter demonstrated essential in her future leadership.

Shark Tank:

Namita Thapar has been one of the investors on the show Shark tank. She as a female used her point of view in a very well mannered way. She's been consistently on the show for 3 seasons straight. The concept of the show is very unique. As startups come on the show and do the pitching to all the shares present there and on the basis of the pitch the shark makes the decision and asks a few more questions to get the clarity. Namita has done a great job by investing in many mindful businesses and supporting them throughout the journey. tHere was a social media boom also for her The way she used to communicate that I am out was the craze for the viewers.

Role Model For Buddig Female Entrepreneurs:

She and all the other female entrepreneurs who are giving their all to make their business a success are the real inspiration for all the womens out there. Who all want to do something for them and for their family. Independence is now the first priority of any female. Women are looking at her and realising that they can do it too.Sometime presenting the point of view becomes the challenge too . But as Namita Thapar breaking the stereotypes by ruling the business world as a female inspires many. Not just females, all the entrepreneurs are taking her as their inspiration.
New Delhi: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with Network International to bring a significant advancement in digital payments to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This collaboration aims to enable QR code-based Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment. This will allow Indian tourists and NRIs with Indian bank accounts to conveniently use UPI for transactions throughout the UAE.

This move will guarantee secure and easy transactions for Indian tourists and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) across Network Internationals extensive merchant network in the UAE, as per statement from NPCI International. (Also Read: Budget 2024: Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget May Bring Relief For India's Senior Citizens)

Network International is a top player in digital commerce in the Middle East and Africa which supports over 60,000 merchants with more than 200,000 point-of-sale (POS) terminals. These merchants operate in various sectors including retail, hospitality, transport and supermarkets which makes UPI payments widely accessible throughout the UAE.

This expansion targets the increasing number of Indian tourists visiting the UAE which is expected to reach 5.29 million by the end of the year due to business and leisure travel. (Also Read: Credit Card Update: Why HDFC, Axis Bank, Other Banks Customers Can't Make Credit Card Bill Payments Using CRED, PhonePe, Paytm? EXPLAINED)

Using UPI for transactions in the UAE will be simple for Indian tourists and NRIs:

- Check Merchant Compatibility: Look for merchants displaying the UPI logo to ensure they support UPI-enabled payments.

- Scan the QR Code: Use your UPI-enabled mobile app to scan the QR code displayed at the merchant's POS terminal.

- Enter Payment Amount: Input the transaction amount you wish to pay and review the details before proceeding.

- Complete the Transaction: Securely confirm the payment by entering your UPI PIN, ensuring a smooth and safe payment experience.

Currently, payments through UPI can be made outside India in countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, UAE, Singapore, France, and Bhutan.
TEL AVIV: Israel's Cabinet was set to convene Thursday to discuss Hamas' latest response to a US-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire in Gaza, as diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nine-month war stirred back to life after a weekslong hiatus. Fighting, meanwhile, intensified between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, with the militant group saying it fired more than 200 rockets and exploding drones into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a senior commander in an Israeli airstrike the day before.

The relatively low-level conflict has literally set the border ablaze and raised fears of a potentially even more devastating war in the Middle East. Hezbollah has said it will halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire between Hamas  a fellow Iran-backed ally  and Israel. The United States has rallied world support behind a plan that would see the release of all of the scores of hostages still held by the militant group in return for a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. But until now, neither side appears to have fully embraced it.

Hamas suggested amendments to the proposal last month, some of which the US said were unworkable, without providing specifics. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that the original proposal was an Israeli one, but has raised doubts over whether it would end the war  a key Hamas demand.

Hamas confirmed Wednesday that it had sent another response to Egypt and Qatar, which are mediating the talks, without providing details. A US official said the Biden administration was examining the response, calling it constructive but saying more work needed to be done. The official, who wasn't authorised to comment publicly, spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official said Netanyahu would convene a Cabinet meeting Thursday to discuss the latest developments surrounding the negotiations. The official, who wasn't authorised to discuss the meeting with media, spoke on condition of anonymity. Israel would likely hold additional consultations before making a final decision on any amended proposal.

As cease-fire talks appeared to be gaining new steam, the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said the death toll in the war had climbed past 38,000.

Hamas political official Bassem Naim said that the group has neither accepted nor rejected the American proposal, and has responded with some ideas to bridge the gap between the two sides, without elaborating. Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas' top political leader, has shared suggestions with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish officials, the group said in a statement late Wednesday.

US officials have said the latest proposal has new language that was proposed to Egypt and Qatar on Saturday and addresses indirect negotiations that are set to commence during the first phase of the three-phase deal that US President Joe Biden laid out in a May 31 speech. The first phase calls for a full and complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older people and the wounded, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The proposal called for the parties to negotiate the terms of the second phase during the 42 days of phase one. Under the current proposal, Hamas could release all of the remaining men, both civilians and soldiers, during the second phase. In return, Israel could free an agreed-upon number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The releases wouldn't occur until sustainable calm takes effect and all Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. The third phase would see the return of the remains of hostages.

The transition from the first to the second phase has appeared to be the main sticking point. Hamas is concerned that Israel will restart the war after the first phase, perhaps after making unrealistic demands in the talks. Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hamas will do the same, drawing out the talks and the initial cease-fire indefinitely without releasing the remaining captives.

In a lengthy television interview last month, Netanyahu said that he was prepared to make a partial deal, but was committed to continuing the war after a pause in order to annihilate Hamas. Later, speaking before Israel's parliament, he said Israel remains committed to the deal outlined by Biden.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on October 7 into southern Israel, attacking multiple army bases and farming communities and killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. They abducted another 250 people, more than 100 of whom were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Militants are still holding around 80 hostages and the remains of 40 others.

Israel launched a major offensive in response to the October 7 attack that has killed more than 38,000, according to health officials in Gaza, who don't say how many were civilians or militants. The war has caused vast destruction across the territory, displaced most of its population of 2.3 million  often multiple times  caused widespread hunger and raised fears of famine.
In a recent interview, Dr. Hany Elkordy, a representative of Egyptian Freedom Party, shed a light on the nation's ongoing efforts to combat poverty, drawing inspiration from China's exemplary development model. The official highlighted the significant progress observed during field visits to China and underscored the similarities in the strategic approaches being adopted by Egypt.

"China's development model and the recent field visits have demonstrated remarkable progress and exemplary development," the official stated. "In Egypt, we are following a similar path with numerous projects aimed at poverty reduction under the wise leadership of our political leaders."

Among the key initiatives mentioned were the "Decent Life" and "Solidarity and Dignity" projects, which are central to Egypt's strategy to alleviate poverty. However, one of the primary challenges identified is the continuous population growth. To address this, Egypt is focusing on urban expansion, real estate development, infrastructure projects, and various poverty reduction initiatives.

The official also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in tackling poverty and highlighted the extensive agricultural areas and green spaces observed in China. "This cooperation is not only with Egypt but with all countries worldwide, especially concerning the current global issue of climate change," the official noted. They explained that agricultural development in China has significantly contributed to poverty reduction and offered a solution to climate change by expanding green spaces, which helps reduce emissions and combat global warming.

China's use of alternative energy sources and efforts to minimize reliance on fossil fuels like gas and oil were also praised. "All these efforts deserve our appreciation and should serve as a model for other nations," the official added.

Reflecting on the success stories witnessed in China, the official called for more extended training sessions and multiple presentations to showcase these successful models. "These success stories are not just limited to a specific training period but require continuous training and more frequent exchanges," the official proposed. They emphasized the importance of fostering greater communication between Egypt, China, and other nations interested in learning from China's successful experience.

Editor: WXY
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. FINCA Azerbaijan, a Non-Bank Credit Institution, concluded 2023 with a net profit of AZN 3,908,000. In comparison, the organization had achieved a net profit of AZN 3,267,000 in 2022. Consequently, the net profit of "FINCA Azerbaijan" experienced a growth of AZN 641,000 or 19.6% in 2023 compared to 2022.

The interest income of FINCA Azerbaijan surged from AZN 11,854,000 in 2022 to AZN 17,713,000 in 2023, marking a significant increase of AZN 5,859,000 or 49.4%.

During 2023, FINCA Azerbaijan disbursed 77m AZN in new loans to mainly rural clients and grew its loan book by 27%. FINCA Azerbaijan plans to continue growth through improvement in efficiency of its operations in 2024.



FINCA Azerbaijan worked closely with clients during 2023 to help them adapt their businesses to the existing micro and macroeconomic conditions.

The organization stated, "As a member of a global network dedicated to providing honest and efficient financial services to help low-income individuals and small-scale farmers invest in their future, FINCA Azerbaijan has maintained the diversity of its loan offerings to meet the growing market demands during the reporting period"."

Furthermore, FINCA Azerbaijan continues to facilitate customer applications online through its updated website, finca.az.

About FINCA Azerbaijan

FINCA Azerbaijan is a leader in responsible finance, serving small businesses across the country with loan products to promote profitable business activity. Launched formally in 1999, FINCA Azerbaijan is part of FINCA Impact Finances global network of 15 banks and microfinance institutions, reaching more than 3.4 million clients in five continents.

For more information about FINCA Azerbaijan activities please visit https://finca.az/
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan refutes criticism of Council of Europe's Committee for Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in its public statement, the statement of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

''We deeply regret that the Council of Europes Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) has decided to issue a public statement concerning Azerbaijan on 3 July 2024. CPT has also taken an unprecedented decision to publish the whole report prepared following its ad hoc visit of 2022, without the proper consent of Azerbaijan as it is required by the European Convention against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Such an approach is unfair, unjustified, and legally questionable.

Since 2002 the CPT has conducted multiple periodic and ad hoc visits and published reports on the implementation of the Convention by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has provided the governments response on every point mentioned in the reports. Moreover, as also noted in the public statement, appropriate steps have been taken to remedy relevant imperfections, and the Committees recommendations have always been taken into account.

Throughout the years of cooperation, the Committee has been provided with the necessary support on its visits to date. Not only have its investigations on the spot been facilitated, but steps have been taken to ensure that the delegation members are received at the highest possible level and every effort has been made to strengthen the foundations of co-operation.

It is especially unfortunate that this decision has been taken in the present situation of relations between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe created following the biased decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) not to ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE in January 2024.

We reject the criticisms in the public statement, which are leveled at some state institutions, holding them responsible rather than engaging in constructive cooperation.

Azerbaijan is making great progress not only in the protection of persons deprived of their liberty but also in bringing relevant practices up to commonly accepted standards,'' the statement reads.

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HARBIN, July 3 (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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan attaches particular significance to its relations with the United States, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in a congratulatory letter to President of the United States of America Joseph Biden on the occasion of the July 4th-Independence Day.

"Our nations have closely cooperated in addressing complex regional challenges and matters such as combatting terrorism and international security. Our longstanding and productive collaboration in the energy sector is of special importance. We highly appreciate the United States unwavering support for the realization of Azerbaijan's energy strategy and the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor, which plays a critical role in ensuring Europe's energy security," the head of the state noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan advocates for an integrated and inclusive South Caucasus regional cooperation model based on new geopolitical realities and justice, free from any divisive lines, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in a congratulatory letter to President of the United States of America Joseph Biden on the occasion of the July 4th-Independence Day.

"As the initiator of the five principles that constitute the core of the peace treaty with Armenia, Azerbaijan demonstrates enduring political will in advancing the peace agenda. We commend the United States commitment to supporting the normalization of relations with Armenia, ensuring lasting peace in the region, and facilitating the preparation of a peace treaty.

Today, there are promising prospects for diversifying our economic and trade relations, particularly for developing engagement in advanced technology, digital and green transition, agriculture, investments, aviation and other domains.

I believe that in line with the interests of our nations and for the prosperity of our peoples, as friends and partners, we will continue our joint efforts to ensure the successful continuation of close cooperation across various spheres between Azerbaijan and the United States," President Ilham Aliyev mentioned.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. As part of its visit to Azerbaijan, a delegation of archaeologists and experts led by Monsignor Pasquale Iacobone, President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology of the Vatican State, met with Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the sides hailed the development of relations between Azerbaijan and the Holy See. They noted that the reciprocal visits at various levels, including the visits of Pope John Paul II to Azerbaijan in 2002 and Pope Francis in 2016, as well as the visits of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation to Vatican were important both in terms of bilateral relations and the inter-civilizational dialogue. The parties also emphasized that the signed documents contributed to the expansion of bilateral relations.

The sides praised the activities of Azerbaijans Embassy in the Holy See, the fruitful cooperation, the implementation of the joint projects. They emphasized that the restoration of a number of historical monuments in the Vatican by the Foundation, and work done in the field of cultural heritage protection contribute to the deepening of bilateral relations.

Pasquale Iacobone expressed his gratitude to First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva for all the work accomplished.

Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Anar Alakbarov underscored that the Foundation is open to implementation of the new projects within the framework of cooperation with the Holy See.

Monsignor Pasquale Iacobone, President of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology of the Holy See, underlined that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation is also invited to the event marking the Jubilee Year, celebrated by the Catholic Church every 25 years, which coincides with the year 2025.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan maintains high-level ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), including its member countries, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament Sevinj Huseynova told Trend.

She noted that President Ilham Aliyev's participation in the regular summit of the SCO in Kazakhstan underscores Azerbaijan's international standing, the confidence in its leadership, and the head of state.

"President Ilham Aliyev's second invitation to the SCO summit and his meetings with member state leaders highlight the strong cooperation. I am confident his participation will significantly enhance relations and cooperation within the organization and among its member states and Azerbaijan," she added.

"The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in political and economic spheres, particularly in transportation, communication, energy, and other sectors. During President Ilham Aliyev's meetings with heads of SCO member states, these topics were addressed, emphasizing mutual interest in cooperation and the need for proactive steps," the MP highlighted.

Mushfig Jafarov, another MP, told Trend that Azerbaijan's recurrent invitation to the SCO summit reflects President Ilham Aliyev's longstanding successful foreign policy.

"Azerbaijan, like Turkiye, currently holds the status of a dialogue partner in the SCO. In 2016, Azerbaijan and SCO signed a memorandum outlining areas of cooperation, including combating terrorism, extremism, and separatism, as well as ensuring regional security and stabilitypriority areas for both Azerbaijan and the organization. Azerbaijan's continued participation in such a significant international platform is crucial for its engagement in regional processes and decision-making.

Azerbaijan maintains robust bilateral relations with the most SCO member countries, steadily advancing these ties each year. During the summit, President Ilham Aliyev held bilateral meetings with several heads of SCO member states. The Astana Summit was notable for several milestones for Azerbaijan, including the adoption of the "Joint Declaration on Establishing Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the People's Republic of China" and the inaugural trilateral summit among the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkiye and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Thanks to the foreign policy initiatives of the Head of State and significant infrastructure projects implemented in recent years, Azerbaijan has emerged as a crucial international transport and logistics hub. Azerbaijan's pivotal role in launching regional communication projects like the East-West and North-South transport corridors continues to grow. It has become the primary link between China and Europe, a key artery for global cargo flow," he said.

The MP also underscored that these achievements stem from President Ilham Aliyev's thoughtful and effective foreign policy, which has earned him widespread respect as a visionary leader.

"The invitation of our head of state to prestigious events reflects not only Azerbaijan's strategic location between East and West but also underscores President Ilham Aliyev's authority and political foresight," added Jafarov.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has passed from Kazakhstan to China, where the next summit of the organization will be held next year, Trend reports via the Astana Declaration signed by the SCO Council of Heads of State in the Kazakh capital.

Kazakhstan completed its one-year term as Chair of the SCO at the summit in Astana.

During this time, over 150 events covering various areas of cooperation were held within the organization.

To note, the SCO was established in 2001.

Initially, the organization included six countries - Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

In 2017, India and Pakistan became full members of the organization, and in 2023, Iran joined as well. Belarus was officially accepted as a full member of the SCO at the current summit.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Azerbaijan is one of the most active partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), political analyst Elchin Mirzabayli told Trend.

He asserts that Azerbaijan's ability to forge strong partnerships and alliances with key players in the global arena, despite facing conflicts and challenges, is a testament to the successful implementation of President Ilham Aliyev's foreign policy vision.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan spreads its wings around the world, guided by its own interests and the principles of win-win cooperation.

"Therefore, Azerbaijan's promotion of its upward relations with regional and global economic-political power centers of Eurasia, along with individual states of Europe, South, and North America, intensification of mutual dialogue and cooperation with African countries, as well as countries currently in the sphere of global economic-political processes and located in other regions and sub-regions, non-traditional for Azerbaijan, promises great prospects not only for Azerbaijan but also for the region as a whole.

Taking into consideration the efforts of various Western circles, especially France, to pull Azerbaijan out of global processes and the policy pursued in this regard, accompanied by an over-the-top aggressiveness, it can be concluded that the results have been accomplished through sheer determination and diplomatic finesse," he noted.

Mirzabayli stressed that the high dynamism noticeable in the development of Azerbaijan's relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the People's Republic of China, one of the most important countries of this organization, is a vivid example of the high trust that official Beijing demonstrates towards Azerbaijan and its leader.

"The combined territory of the SCO member countries is 65 percent of the territory of the two continents of Europe and Asia, and the population is almost half of the world's population. The SCO covers a geography that contains the world's richest natural resources, even if observers and dialog partners are not included.  percent of the world's GDP is accounted for by the SCO member countries, which is $23 trillion.

The fact that President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received an invitation to the SCO summit for the second time in a short period should be taken as a tribute to Azerbaijan, not only for its geographical location, its role in regional and global processes, but first of all for the authority of President Ilham Aliyev and his high leadership qualities.

Holding all the aces in terms of industrial, scientific, and innovative potential, Azerbaijan has a golden opportunity to get in on the ground floor of mutually beneficial infrastructure projects carried out through the SCO platform, particularly in the areas of transportation, logistics, and energy. Azerbaijan is wide open to joining forces in industry, science, education, tourism, and humanitarian endeavors.

The Joint Azerbaijan-China Declaration on Establishment of Strategic Partnership Relations, adopted within the framework of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Astana, is a very important and historically significant document. The People's Republic of China, which has always emphasized the factor of responsibility in global processes, has a peculiar point of view both in international and bilateral relations.

China chooses its strategic partners with great care and takes great responsibility for its commitments. One of the factors contributing to the strengthening of ties between the two countries, and perhaps the first, in my opinion, is that Azerbaijan also treats its commitments and relations with its partners with a high sense of responsibility and sensitivity.

Emphasizing in the joint declaration that Azerbaijan and China, irrespective of external factors, consider each other as reliable partners demonstrates that both countries, irrespective of external factors, pursue independent policies based on national interests, principles of justice, and mutual interests.

The other point contained in the declaration is that the parties support the international system under the auspices of the UN, adhere to the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose hegemony and power politics, emphasize the commitment to real multilateralism, and emphasize that Baku and Beijing have a common viewpoint on the secure future of mankind.

The most important areas in the economic plane of the declaration, I think, are the deepening of cooperation within the framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative and emphasizing China's intention to take an active part in the construction and operation of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor).

By and large, the document can be seen as backing for the projects carried out with Azerbaijan's involvement and drive, safeguarding our country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, by a powerhouse like China that's always on the rise.

The meeting of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with Chinese leader Xi Jinping will result in deepening cooperation between countries in all spheres, interaction and dialog will become more intensive, bilateral relations will acquire new content and quality," he added.

According to political scientist Agshin Karimov, China is a powerful state realizing the new world order in conditions of geopolitical chaos.

"The adoption of the "Joint Declaration on Establishing Strategic Partnership" by Azerbaijan and China reflects the development of mutual interests between Baku and Beijing in the new world order, the deepening of economic cooperation, and unified bilateral approaches to the security environment," he noted.

The expert stated that Azerbaijan's position in the document on the inadmissibility of the "One China" policy and any independence of Taiwan, as well as Beijing's support for the peace agenda formulated by Azerbaijan with Armenia, will contribute to the promotion of joint priorities.

"This suggests that Azerbaijan is already implementing a strategy that goes beyond regional politics. This can manifest itself in the form of priorities that express interest in and support for China's agenda in Asia.

China, on the other hand, plays a role in geopolitical issues along with economic expansion in the South Caucasus and is building its strategy on Azerbaijan. It can be predicted that China's diplomatic and political influence will expand along with its economic portfolio in the region," he emphasized.

He believes that China aims for a multipolar world order in which countries refrain from interfering in the internal politics of other countries.

"This is an approach that meets the interests of Azerbaijan, and it is certainly worth considering that non-interference in internal affairs is mentioned in the declaration," he said.

He added that China is convinced that the US is dropping the ball when it comes to handling the military, diplomatic, and moral responsibilities it is taking on.

"China's approach through these prisms can be aimed at creating alternatives in the face of other international actors' claims to hegemony in the South Caucasus. Such an agenda in Beijing will increase China's support for Azerbaijan in finalizing the draft peace treaty with Armenia and shaping the security architecture," Karimov added.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Connectivity along East-West and North-South transportation corridors constitutes an important area of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO Member States. The geographical location and substantial investments in transport infrastructure have enabled Azerbaijan to become one of the transport and logistics hubs in Eurasia, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the SCO plus meeting in Astana, Trend reports.

"The annual handling capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway  an integral part of the Middle Corridor  has increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons thanks to the Azerbaijani investments. We are working with partner countries to ensure digitalization of the Middle Corridor. Furthermore, Azerbaijan aims to increase the annual capacity of the Alat International Sea Trade Port from 15 million tons to 25 million tons," the head of state noted.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. We will spare no effort in building bridges between developed and developing countries at the COP29 in Baku, and strive towards reaching an accord that would take into account the legitimate interests of the developing nations, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the SCO plus meeting in Astana, Trend reports.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

Dear Kassym-Jomart Kemelevich,

Dear Heads of State and Government,

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the President of Kazakhstan for the invitation to the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

This is my fourth visit to Kazakhstan in the last two years. In the same time period, President of Kazakhstan has visited Azerbaijan three times, which demonstrates the high level of bilateral relations between our countries.

Azerbaijan for the second time is invited to participate at the SCO Summit. We consider it as a sign of growing partnership between Azerbaijan and the SCO Member States.

Connectivity along East-West and North-South transportation corridors constitutes an important area of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the SCO Member States. The geographical location and substantial investments in transport infrastructure have enabled Azerbaijan to become one of the transport and logistics hubs in Eurasia.

The annual handling capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway  an integral part of the Middle Corridor, has increased from 1 million tons to 5 million tons thanks to the Azerbaijani investments.

We are working with partner countries to ensure digitalization of the Middle Corridor.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan aims to increase the annual capacity of the Alat International Sea Trade Port from 15 million tons to 25 million tons.

Azerbaijan also plays an important role in the development of the North-South transportation corridor. Railroad and highway infrastructure of Azerbaijani segment of the North-South corridor is ready and functioning successfully. Currently, we are working to expand it to the volumes of railway cargo of 15 and later, when needed, 30 million tons, annually.

Dear colleagues,

In September 2023, Azerbaijan fully restored sovereignty over its internationally recognized territories, thus restoring international law and historical justice. Azerbaijan put an end to Armenias 30-year-long occupation and implemented by military-political means 4 UN Security Council resolutions which had remained on paper for 30 years.

Azerbaijan is a strong supporter of multilateralism. We have successfully chaired the Non-Aligned Movement in 2019-2023 and strengthened its visibility and influence at the global arena, contributed to its institutional development by creating with the support of Member States the Parliamentary Network, the Youth Organization as well as laying the foundation of the Women Platform of the Movement.

With the unanimous support of almost 200 countries Azerbaijan will host COP29 this year. We will spare no effort in building bridges between developed and developing countries at the COP29 in Baku, and strive towards reaching an accord that would take into account the legitimate interests of the developing nations.

Azerbaijans priorities also include the support to the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing existential threat due to adverse effects of climate change. Azerbaijan has initiated the establishment of a special technical assistance fund to support the SIDS.

We will continue our work with the SCO on the preparation for the COP29  the worlds largest international conference. I have already sent official invitations to the leaders of the SCO member states and hope to see my colleagues this November in Baku.

Thank you.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. One disturbing issue is that the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) does not include reports from the national human rights institutions, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva told Trend.

She emphasized that the ombudsman's primary focus includes safeguarding rights and freedoms enshrined in national legislation and international treaties, preventing torture and ill-treatment, and ensuring the right to protection of honor and dignity.

"Since 2009, the Ombudsman Institute has served as the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) under the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. During this period, the institution has effectively collaborated with international human rights organizations, including CPT. Visits by organization representatives to our country included meetings with the ombudsman and members of the National Preventive Group, fostering a productive exchange of insights and experiences. The organization's recommendations and proposals have been regularly reviewed and integrated into the NPM's activities.

To address the shortcomings identified during inspections conducted as part of NPM activities in institutions where individuals cannot leave of their own free will, the ombudsman regularly submits proposals and recommendations to the relevant authorities and publishes reports that reference the General Recommendations of the European Committee.

In the report by the Council of Europe's Committee following their special visit to Azerbaijan in 2022, a recommendation was made to provide written information to the higher authorities overseeing the institutions we visited. It is important to note that after each visit, written inquiries and recommendations are sent to these higher authorities. These written recommendations and official responses form the basis of our annual NPM reports. The Committee's lack of attention to these issues and omission of references to the reports of the national human rights institution are concerning.

Systematic measures continue to be implemented, incorporating our recommendations to ensure the rights of individuals held in institutions from which they cannot leave freely.

We believe that consultations with the National Human Rights Institute, which functions as the National Preventive Mechanism, would be beneficial for clarifying concerns and enhancing human rights protection," Sabina Aliyeva stated.

To note, on July 3, 2024, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment decided to issue a public statement on Azerbaijan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation met with visiting Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

During the meeting, the two exchanged views on future cooperation between the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the UN, and explored the projects for joint activities of the two institutions within the COP29.

The parties expressed their optimism that the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29, scheduled to be hosted by Azerbaijan this year, would bring fruitful results in terms of solving environmental challenges in the world, and thus, the event would be the next step aimed at strengthening solidarity for the sake of a green, fair, inclusive and sustainable world for humanity, and ensuring positive outcomes for our planets future.

Furthermore, Valovaya toured the Heydar Aliyev Center to get acquainted with the exhibitions here.

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ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China and Kazakhstan are companions on the path to modernization, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here Wednesday when jointly meeting the press with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Noting his talks with Tokayev were amicable, friendly and fruitful, Xi said he and Tokayev signed a joint statement between the two countries. Xi said he and Tokayev agree that both China and Kazakhstan are at a critical stage of development and revitalization. The two sides will continue to carry forward the fine tradition of mutual support, deepen political mutual trust, promote the synergy of development strategies, and be solid supporters that can be relied on and trusted by each other, Xi said. Xi said China and Kazakhstan have set a new goal of doubling two-way trade at an early date. The two sides agreed to continuously deepen cooperation in such traditional areas as economy, trade, investment, production capacity, interconnectivity and energy, Xi said. The two sides will also jointly foster new growth points for cooperation in critical minerals, new energy, scientific and technological innovation, aerospace, digital economy and other fields, Xi said. Xi said the Chinese side will hold China tourism year in Kazakhstan in 2025. The Chinese side has also decided to open the second Luban Workshop in the Central Asian country, he said, adding that the two sides will expand cooperation in such fields as media, think tanks, as well as films and television, and encourage more sistership among provinces and cities of the two countries. The two sides have pledged to continue working closely in international affairs and strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the China-Central Asia mechanism as well as other multilateral frameworks, he said. Xi said that China and Kazakhstan have agreed to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, three key initiatives proposed by China. China supports Kazakhstan in joining BRICS cooperation mechanism, playing the role of a "middle power" on the international stage and making its due contribution to global governance, Xi said. For his part, Tokayev said that Xi's visit has special historical significance and will be a new starting point to promote the Kazakhstan-China relations to a higher level. China is a friendly neighbor and a permanent comprehensive strategic partner of Kazakhstan, Tokayev said, adding that the Kazakhstan-China relations have always been based on mutual respect and trust and there are no unresolved issues between the two countries. In history, China has never harmed Kazakhstan's interests, and the friendship between the two peoples is unbreakable and has been passed down from generation to generation, Tokayev said. China is Kazakhstan's largest trading partner and the most important foreign investor country, and the investment and cooperation of Chinese enterprises have effectively promoted the national development of Kazakhstan, Tokayev said. Stressing Kazakhstan's commitment to continuously strengthening all-round friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with China, Tokayev said the country welcomes more Chinese companies to invest in Kazakhstan and will provide all necessary and favorable conditions for them. Upholding the principles of peaceful diplomacy, Kazakhstan and China share similar positions on many international and regional issues, said Tokayev, adding that Kazakhstan is ready to enhance communication and collaboration with China within multilateral frameworks like the China-Central Asia mechanism, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations, among others. Friendship is the common asset of Kazakhstan and China, which is more precious than gold, Tokayev said. Kazakhstan looks forward to making joint efforts with China to achieve greater accomplishments in Kazakhstan-China relations in a new "golden 30 years."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Significant strides have been made in enhancing bilateral relations with China, a pivotal component of Azerbaijan's foreign policy, bolstered by the strong and trusting relationship between President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

According to him, the Chinese leader's early congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev on his last presidential election demonstrate the established friendly relations between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev's participation in the second 'One Belt, One Road' International Cooperation Forum at Xi Jinping's invitation in April 2019 and their meeting at the SCO Summit in September 2022 in Samarkand further underline the significance of these relations. The joint declaration adopted in Astana on establishing strategic partnership relations between the two countries elevates Azerbaijan-China relations to a level of strategic partnership.

"Azerbaijan upholds the 'One China' principle and supports China's positions in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This stance led Azerbaijan to be among the first countries to condemn Taiwan's so-called election and declare their non-recognition.

China serves as Azerbaijan's largest source of imports and ranks among the country's top five trade partners. In 2023, bilateral trade between Azerbaijan and China totaled $3.1 billion. Over 300 Chinese companies are active in Azerbaijan across sectors such as industry, agriculture, construction, trade, transportation, and services. China has invested $930.8 million in Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijani investments in China amounted to $263.3 million," he said.

Garayev highlighted Azerbaijan's early support for China's Belt and Road Initiative and the close cooperation it has established within this framework. Azerbaijan's substantial investments in developing the Middle Corridor infrastructure have positioned it as a crucial participant in this initiative. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, known as the Middle Corridor, has emerged as the most efficient and secure route for transporting goods between China and Europe, resulting in an 88 percent increase in cargo traffic to 2 million tons in the first nine months of 2023.

"With the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, the delivery time for cargo from China to Turkiye has been reduced from 1 month to 12 days, and from China to Western European countries via Turkiye to just 18 days.

Azerbaijan and China are also successfully expanding their cooperation in the energy sector. Collaboration with BYD Company Limited includes the production of electric motor buses, with plans to deliver 160 BYD buses and 100 electric chargers to Azerbaijan during COP29 in November 2024. Local bus production is scheduled to commence in 2025," he noted.

The political scientist added that cooperation between cities and regions of Azerbaijan and China is also being strengthened.

"Friendly relations are flourishing between Baku and Sichuan province, Ganja and Qingdao city, and Sumgayit, Xi'an, and Mianyang cities. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation drives cultural and humanitarian exchanges between Azerbaijan and China through various projects.

Cooperation in science and education thrives with a department of Azerbaijani language at Beijing Foreign Studies University and successful Confucius institutes at Azerbaijani higher educational institutions.

Meetings between President Ilham Aliyev and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to deepen cooperation across all sectors and intensify mutual contacts, elevating Azerbaijani-Chinese relations to a qualitatively new level," the expert emphasized.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan published a joint statement following a trilateral meeting held between Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Pakistan in Astana, Trend reports.

"President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister of the Republic of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif met in Astana on 3 July 2024 on the side-lines of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.



In the trilateral summit, relations among, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Pakistan as well as regional and global matters, such as Gaza, Cyprus, Kashmir, Islamophobia, were discussed.



The Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan trilateral cooperation process, which held meetings at the level of Speakers of Parliaments and Ministers of Foreign Affairs previously, would also meet at the level of state leaders. Their common will to develop opportunities for cooperation among the three countries was also affirmed.



It was agreed that strengthening of trilateral cooperation among Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan would not only contribute to prosperity of the peoples of the three countries, but also serve to promote regional and global peace and stability.



The three countries expressed their support for prioritizing dialogue among relevant countries in conflict resolution, in line with principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.



The importance of cooperation among the three countries in combating transnational threats, particularly in the fight against terrorism, and joint resolution of this matter was also reaffirmed.



Subsequent meetings of the trilateral cooperation process would be held in all the three countries, namely Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Pakistan," the statement said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Belgium has allocated 250,000 euros to Azerbaijan to support mine clearance activities in the liberated territories, the head of the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Gaya Mamedov wrote on his page on X, Trend reports.

"I was pleased to address the ceremony in Brussels on presentation of Belgiums 250,000 euros assistance for Azerbaijans mine action. Landmines are a major impediment to safe return of IDPs. This assistance is a symbol of human solidarity and a positive step in our bilateral relations, he wrote.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Azerbaijan's involvement is crucial to implementing key transport corridors within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), analyst of the Institute of World Economics and Politics (IWEP) Yersultan Zhanseitov told Trend on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.

"Azerbaijan is one of the primary geopolitical players in the Caspian region and Eurasia as a whole. With the resolution of the Karabakh issue, very important transport corridors that have been unable to realize their potential for 30 years are being unlocked," he emphasized.

Regarding Azerbaijan's participation in the SCO Plus format, Zhansitov mentioned that the organization itself is expanding its horizons, originally founded as a cooperation among five post-Soviet countries.

"Today, we see that the SCO family is growing, with an additional member, Belarus, and the prospective inclusion of Azerbaijan into the SCO family is a mutually beneficial scenario for all, because without Azerbaijan, the most crucial transport corridors cannot be realized today. These include the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor).

We see significant interest, for example, from the Chinese side in expanding this corridor. During President Xi Jinping's current visit to Kazakhstan, important agreements were reached regarding the development of this route during his meeting with our President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

It's logical that, without Azerbaijan, this plan cannot be implemented in any way. Therefore, involving Azerbaijan in all such strategic processes, including within the SCO framework, is a very logical and advantageous option for everyone," the analyst pointed out.

Furthermore, Zhansitov stated that Azerbaijan is currently a top priority for exporting Kazakhstani energy resources, as the country diversifies its supplies to the external market.

"Renewable energy is a very relevant issue because our countries are strong at exporting energy resources, but a new technological era is upon us. Now all countries in the world are transitioning to alternative energy. Cooperation with China, as the largest producer of new alternative energy sources, is crucial here.

Thus, such an interconnected chain of states is forming on the Eurasian continent, which, despite its primary export orientation towards energy resources, simultaneously builds such a 'green' energy architecture," he explained.

The analyst said that in the context of relations between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries, the role of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) is important.

"This is because we share common historical roots, we are all brothers in one Turkic family. It's very important to work in this ideological direction to create self-awareness among the peoples of our countries about belonging to a single region and large family, as in today's geopolitical realities in the world, we are the closest allies to each other. We have great potential to create a cohesive and monolithic entity as a union of fraternal states," he added.

To note, the SCO Summit is taking place in Astana, under the helm of Kazakhstan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. The Central Banks of Azerbaijan (CBA) and Uzbekistan signed a memorandum of understanding, CBA Governor Taleh Kazimov wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

The publication notes that the memorandum was signed during the business trip of the CBA chairman to Tajikistan.

"During the meeting with Chairman of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mamarizo Nurmuratov, we signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the institutions we lead, which will serve to expand partnership, exchange experience, and information, as well as the organization of bilateral visits. We believe that the memorandum will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two central banks," the publication says.

To note, the delegation of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan is currently in Tajikistan and has already held a meeting with the leadership of the National Bank of Tajikistan.

The sides discussed the development of bilateral cooperation, confirmed by the signing of memorandums of cooperation during the meeting.

The heads of the banks also exchanged views on expanding cooperation in the banking sector and expressed readiness to make every effort to achieve a new qualitative level of interaction.

Furthermore, it was noted that the creation of favorable conditions for opening banks or representative offices of Azerbaijani banks, expansion of correspondent relations between commercial banks of the two countries, exchange of experience in the field of banking supervision and insurance, development of capital market and implementation of international standards of financial reporting are the next tasks of bilateral relations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. The volume of remittances by individuals from Azerbaijan to Georgia amounted to $14.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, Trend reports.

Calculations based on the data from the Central Bank of Azerbaijan show that this indicator increased by 14.66 percent, or $1.87 million, compared to the same period last year.

The share of remittances to Georgia in the total volume of remittances makes up 11.1 percent.

Meanwhile, the volume of remittances by individuals from Azerbaijan to Georgia amounted to $58.8 million in 2023.

The volume of remittances by individuals from Azerbaijan to foreign countries amounted to $550.12 million last year.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) needs to focus on strengthening alternative energy cooperation, Iran's acting president Mohammad Mokhber said at the SCO Plus meeting in Astana today, Trend reports.

"We hope for the expansion of cooperation between Iran and SCO countries. One of the important issues is ensuring the security of economic relations. It is necessary to support the use of national currencies and apply modern technologies," he also said.

According to Mokhber, one of the key projects for SCO countries is the South-North Corridor.

"This is an important point on our agenda. We are working on reducing the delivery time of goods. The largest energy consumers can contribute to expanding cooperation. Emphasis should be placed on deepening cooperation and ensuring energy security," said the acting president of Iran.

He also pointed out the importance of projects in the field of alternative energy.

"Environmental issues are extremely important for development. Iran has various plans and programs and plays a positive role on the international stage. It's necessary to develop the spirit of cooperation and friendship," added Mokhber.

To note, the SCO Plus format meeting has kicked off on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit at the Palace of Independence in Astana.

Alongside the heads of 10 member states of the SCO Organization, the SCO+ meeting is attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. We will be able to demonstrate solidarity on the climate agenda at COP29, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting of the SCO Plus format in Astana, Trend reports.

"Given the present state of affairs, it is more important than ever to work together in the ecological field to combat climate change. We are really worried about the state of affairs in this field. Natural disasters, which impact almost every state to varying degrees, have been on the rise recently. Unprecedented floods have recently had an impact on Kazakhstan. Experts agree that global warming is a direct cause of this natural disaster's magnitude. Fighting climate change on our own is an insurmountable task," he said.

Tokayev is of the opinion that the global community should stay on track with a firm hand in pursuing the decarbonization of the economy, all while not neglecting the pressing tasks of development and modernization that every country faces.

"We will be able to demonstrate our solidarity on the climate agenda at the upcoming SOR29 conference in Baku in November this year. I would like to take this opportunity to wish the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev a successful organization of this global event. Special attention should be paid to the development of joint actions to address the problems of degradation of inland water bodies, as well as the introduction of new water-saving technologies. The SCO's joint efforts in this area will help put into action the goal set by the United Nations General Assemblythe International Year of Glacier Conservationan initiative that Tajikistan spearheaded," he said.

To note, the SCO Summit is taking place on July 4, 2024, in the Independence Palace of Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The event is attended by the heads of state and government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. Mastercard is currently working on the expansion of transport projects in Azerbaijan, Emil Zeynalov, regional manager of Mastercard in Azerbaijan, told Trend.

"We have extensive experience in the transport sector and have successfully implemented projects in dozens of countries, including Turkiye," Zeynalov said.

According to him, in various cities, customers can use Mastercard cards to pay for public transport, including buses and metros.

"In 2021, we launched a successful transport project in Azerbaijan's Shamakhi in partnership with a local bank. For three years now, users have been able to pay their fares cashless, with significant benefits. We are also actively working with government authorities and banking partners to extend this experience to other cities in Azerbaijan," he stressed.

Mastercard is an international payment system that provides financial services, including credit, debit, and prepaid cards. It enables cardholders to make cashless payments at millions of points of sale around the world. Mastercard also provides technology solutions to banks, merchants, and other financial institutions. Mastercard cards are accepted in many countries and are used for a wide range of transactions, including in-store purchases, online transactions, cash withdrawals from ATMs and other financial transactions.
China and Kazakhstan established diplomatic relations in 1992 and advanced their relationship to a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership in 2019. In 2022, the two sides agreed to build a community with a shared future defined by lasting friendship, a high degree of mutual trust and sharing weal and woe.



China first proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in Kazakhstan in 2013. China is one of Kazakhstan's most important trade and investment partners.Trade between China and Kazakhstan hit a record of $41 billion in 2023.



Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, spans the Eurasian continent.The capital, Astana, is one of the youngest capitals in the world, with grand architectural designs and a futuristic feel.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Kazakhstan is interested in the restoration of trade and transportation routes in the South Caucasus, the Executive Director of the Department of the Institute of Parliamentarism at the Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Zhanar Tulindinova told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Astana., Trend reports.

"At the moment, there is an intensification of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. As such, it is significant to mention the recent visit of our president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to Azerbaijan during the spring of this year.

Kazakhstan expressed interest in holding peace negotiations rounds between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are very interested in the restoration of trade and transportation routes in the South Caucasus. This is seen as part of the Trans-Caspian international transportation route," she emphasized.

Tulindinova noted that Kazakhstan is interested in the intensification of freight traffic through the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor).

"Because it is well-known that conventional routes have been obstructed as a result of numerous sanctions clashes. The significance of increasing freight deliveries along this route is recognized by all countries in the region. Significant endeavors are being made by Kazakhstan in this regard. Establishing a cooperative system of key ports and logistics hubs is a commendable endeavor," she added.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is being held at the Palace of Independence in Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

The SCO Summit is attended by heads of state and government from India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The summit is also attended by the UN Secretary-General and leaders of international organizations such as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and IOR-ARC.

For the first time, the SCO Summit is being held in the format of a "Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO Member States" and a SCO Plus meeting.

The meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States will adopt the Astana Declaration, 20 decisions, and three statements of heads of state, including the Initiative On World Unity for a Just World, Harmony and Development, and On Improving the SCO.

Overall, the heads of state are considering a wide range of issues aimed at further strengthening the multifaceted cooperation of the SCO, its prospects, and addressing current international and regional problems.

The SCO Plus meeting will be held in an expanded format on the theme On world unity for a just world, harmony and development.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries need to develop trade on electronic platforms, senior analyst of the Department of Asian Studies of the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan Bauyrzhan Auken told Trend.

He made the remark on the sidelines of the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit).

"Kazakhstan's presidency has been focused on developing the economic interconnectedness of SCO members, as well as on developing the transport and logistics sectors. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan see special relevance in stimulating and transforming Central Asia and the Caucasus into a trade and logistics hub for Eurasia.

This is because the transport connectivity of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan gives our countries an additional impetus for the development of not only economic but also cultural and humanitarian ties against the backdrop of current geopolitical turbulence and economic instability," he pointed out.

Auken expressed confidence that today the heads of state will give it their all to go the extra mile in developing connectivity.

"Economic relations should be strengthened through joint projects and joint efforts by both sides, particularly business representatives. This also applies to cooperation in higher education and in the political sphere, as all vectors of cooperation are interconnected, and the development of one area directly influences the increase in trade turnover.

Besides, trade on electronic platforms should be developed, as today, in the age of digitalization, it is of particular importance, and it will be very convenient for our citizens to export, or rather sell, their goods through online trading platforms. In this regard, new logistics centers should be opened, and cooperation in digital trade should be established," the analyst added.

To note, the SCO Summit is being held in Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. The summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana is a feather in Kazakhstan's cap, boosting its clout on the global stage, Trend reports.

Speaking at the media awards ceremony on June 27, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated that this SCO summit will, without exaggeration, become one of the most important high-level international forums over the past few years.

"The summit will be attended by leaders of states representing collectively almost half of the world's population, as well as heads of influential international organizations, including the UN Secretary-General," he said.

The event is attended by 16 countries, including Azerbaijan. The theme of this year's SCO summit is "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue: Strriving for Sustainable Peace and Development."

Besides the SCO, Kazakhstan is chairing five other international organizations this year. The simultaneous chairmanship of so many international structures is a testament to the enormous confidence in both the country and its leader.

Since receiving his mandate, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has embarked on sweeping reforms in the political and economic spheres. Astana is nurturing good relations with all countries, both in the West and in the East, thanks to its commitment to multilateral cooperation and its strong advocacy of respect for the UN Charter as the basis of modern international law.

"We proceed from national interests in our foreign policy and advocate the resolution of all disputed issues based on rational compromise," the head of Kazakhstan noted.

There are excellent relations between the heads of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Even though Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have previously been very close both politically and economically, over the past few years, relations between the two countries have reached a new level.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has also always supported Azerbaijan's just position on the former conflict in the region. Moreover, Kazakhstan has directly contributed to the reconstruction processes in the lands of Azerbaijan liberated from Armenian occupation - the head of Kazakhstan initiated the construction of the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center in Fuzuli, liberated from occupation.

The presidents of the two countries personally participated in the opening of this center and visited the city of Shusha, which once again confirmed Kazakhstan's full support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

"We are brotherly nations, we are allies, strategic partners," President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stated at the opening of the Center.

To date, the countries have continued cooperation both bilaterally and within several international structures, including the SCO, the Turkic Cooperation Organization (TCO), and others. The parties are actively promoting joint projects, issues, and decisions aimed at the development of the region.

Furthermore, a huge number of economic projects between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have been launched not only bilaterally, but also on a regional scale. These include projects in energy, transportation, and other economic fields. These include the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, also called the Middle Corridor, the export of Kazakh oil through Azerbaijan to Europe, plans to diversify the route of these exports through the Baku-Supsa pipeline, and many other projects.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan enjoy a leading role in their regions, both politically and economically. It is due to this that major international events are held in these countries. And the countries are planning even more such events.

For instance, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Baku in the fall. The decision to hold it in Azerbaijan was made at COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. As the chairman of COP29, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,00080,000 foreign guests.

All this, of course, demonstrates the great confidence of the world in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Both countries are rich in natural resources and participate in ensuring the energy security of Europe through a stable supply of energy resources. Also, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are located on the transit route from Asia to Europe, which makes them indispensable players in the current geopolitical situation.

Hence, both countries have significant weight in the world arena due to their resources, geopolitical position, and economic development. The international community's confidence in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is strengthened by their active international diplomacy, stability, and strategic partnerships with other key states. The traditional successful organization of major international events will undoubtedly only increase the authority of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan at the global level.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Kazakhstan attaches exceptional importance to further synergy of transport corridors, the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit) in Astana today, Trend reports.

We attach exceptional importance to the further synergy of the Chinese mega-project One Belt - One Road, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and trans-Eurasian corridors in the North-South direction, including the Central Asia - South Asia vector, he explained.

He said establishing a SCO partner network of strategic ports and logistics centers is crucial to implementing these ambitions.

The SCO Summit has been held at the Palace of Independence in Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The summit has been attended by heads of state and government from India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The event was also attended by the UN Secretary-General and leaders of international organizations such as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and IOR-ARC.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) possesses the capability to devise creative solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the SCO Plus meeting in Astana, Trend reports.

He highlighted the current existence of significant challenges and unprecedented geopolitical tensions.

"The structures of international security are now at risk, posing potential negative consequences for humanity. In this critical juncture, we bear a great responsibility to enhance peace, stability, and security through effective measures. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has the capacity to innovate and devise solutions toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," he emphasized.

To note, the SCO Summit, chaired by Kazakhstan, is currently taking place at the Independence Palace in Astana.

Attending the event are heads of state and government from Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan, along with the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The UN Secretary-General and the heads of such international organizations as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and IOFS are also participating in the summit.

For the first time, the event will be held in the form of a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states and the SCO Plus.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001 with an initial membership of six countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023. At the current summit, Belarus has been officially accepted as a full member of the SCO.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The share of the SCO states in the global GDP is already 30 percent, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting of the SCO Plus format in Astana, Trend reports.

"The global economy takes a major hit, and development opportunities are reduced when wars and sanctions are ongoing. Under these circumstances, we need to develop a trade and economic interaction strategy that is more adaptable, with the goals of maintaining positive dynamics and increasing capacity. At the current stage, the economies of the SCO member countries are demonstrating high growth rates of 4 to 9 percent. The share of SCO states in the global GDP is already 30 percent. The foreign trade of the member states today exceeds $8 trillion, which is equivalent to a quarter of all world trade," he said.

In his speech, Tokayev highlighted the role of the SCO states in driving economic growth in Asia.

He also welcomed, on behalf of Kazakhstan, China's intention to expand the SCO's access to its large-scale market and increase trade turnover with the Organization's member states to $3 trillion.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 4. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov has invited Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh for an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Trend reports.

According to the press service of the Kyrgyz head of state, the invitation was extended during their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan. President Khurelsukh accepted the invitation.

During the meeting, Zhaparov highlighted the increased political dialogue between Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia in recent years, noting that it has created favorable conditions for deepening and expanding cooperation across various sectors. He emphasized the importance of trade and economic cooperation, calling them key areas of bilateral relations.

The president mentioned that Kyrgyzstan is focusing on developing the production of environmentally friendly agricultural products, which could meet the demand in the Mongolian market.

During the discussions, President Khurelsukh also expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Kyrgyzstan in transportation, logistics, education, and other areas of mutual interest.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 4. Several agreements to expand cooperation between the countries were signed following the meeting between the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trend reports.

According to the Kyrgyz president's press service, the agreements cover the export of agricultural products, regional cooperation, and media.

President Zhaparov emphasized Kyrgyzstan's commitment to close cooperation with China during China's presidency of the SCO in 20242025. He highlighted China as one of Kyrgyzstan's main trade and investment partners, with a steady increase in trade turnover between the two countries.

The leaders discussed the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative. Zhaparov noted the completion of the political phase with the signing of a trilateral intergovernmental agreement and emphasized the need for a detailed commercial agreement.

He also mentioned the opening of a new Bedel border crossing between the countries and the construction of the Barskoon-Uchturfan-Aksu road. He noted that the Chinese government has included the border crossing in its 2024 plan. Zhaparov invited Xi Jinping to visit Kyrgyzstan.

In turn, Xi Jinping expressed China's interest in supporting Kyrgyzstan's reforms and enhancing cooperation. He highlighted the importance of increasing mutual trade and opening Chinese markets to eco-friendly Kyrgyz products.

The Chinese president also noted the growth in flight connections between the two countries and expressed readiness to support a new flight route from Osh to Kashgar. He confirmed that cargo and passenger transport between China and Kyrgyzstan has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The Chinese president also invited Sadyr Zhaparov to visit China at a convenient time.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 4. The President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov urged to continue working on reducing trade barriers across the SCO to create an open economy and strengthen the multilateral trading system, Trend reports.

According to information, Zhaparov stated this while addressing the regular meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

"Mutually beneficial partnership relations in matters of trade and economic ties are one of the foundations of the stable economic and financial well-being of the SCO member states in the conditions of economic globalization," he said.

Zhaparov recalled that the Kyrgyz side has repeatedly noted the need to create a special institution to finance projects, such as the SCO Development Bank and the SCO Development Fund.

To note, the SCO Summit is being held in the Independence Palace of Astana on July 4, 2024, under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The summit is also attended by the UN Secretary-General and the heads of such international organizations as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and PSOE.

The SCO Summit is being held for the first time in the format of the "SCO Council of Heads of State" and "SCO Plus" meetings.

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The Belt and Road Initiative has yielded fruitful results for both China and Kazakhstan, and become not only a brand of Chinese diplomacy but also an effective tool for strengthening international cooperation, promoting global growth and helping build a community with a shared future for mankind. At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing last year, which was attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, many important agreements were signed between China and Kazakhstan, including the "Agreement on the Joint Development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route" and the "Memorandum on the Joint Construction of a Third Cross-Border Railway (Ayagoz-Tacheng)". These agreements will boost the development of the transport and logistics networks linking Belt and Road countries. The expanding cooperation, new projects and people's rising incomes are the hallmarks of development in the East. As President Tokayev noted, the Belt and Road Initiative is a project of grand scale. And the further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China is very important for both countries, as Tokayev said. Understanding well the global trends and having considered the prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative, Kazakhstan put forward "Nurly Zhol", an economic stimulus plan to develop and modernize its roads, railways, land ports and IT infrastructure in 2014, the year after the Belt and Road Initiative was proposed. Kazakhstan's participation in regional development programs has become one of the important elements of the new architecture of multilateral cooperation in Eurasia. The country supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and thus contributes to overall development in the region. The initiative's conceptual origins reflect not only the rich history and culture of China, but also the development philosophy of the Chinese people in the context of cooperation with neighbors. As a Chinese saying goes, "if you want to become rich, build roads". The ancient Silk Road is an apt example of this. About 2,000 years ago, thanks to the courage and entrepreneurship of the people, Eurasia was already united by a network of roads, which was the first prototype of economic globalization. Today, Kazakhstan is crisscrossed by 11 transcontinental routes  five railways and six expressways. Over the past 10 years, Kazakhstan has spent about $30 billion on developing of infrastructure, including transport and logistics networks. Under the plan, about 2,500 kilometers of railways and 12,500 km of highways have either been modernized or put into operation. Over the past 10 years, the efforts of the two countries have shaped a grandiose transit plan linking two continents and three oceans. Thanks to its cooperation with China, Kazakhstan has gained access to the sea and become one of the most important logistics hubs in Eurasia, facilitating the development of fast continental supply chains and trade between the East and the West. Thus, the two countries are implementing new large-scale projects that go far beyond the framework of Kazakh-Chinese relations. The Belt and Road Initiative has completed trade and infrastructure projects, which in the past took decades to complete, within years. The initiative has not only facilitated reforms in the participating countries but also given them easier access to global free trade which they have benefitted from. In fact, the Belt and Road Initiative, as the modern version of the ancient Silk Road, has become the most outstanding global development project of the current century and reflects the rise and grandeur of modern Asia. Cooperation among the Belt and Road countries has played a key role in the prosperity and progressive development of billions of people around the world. As such, the initiative will become a good basis for taking forward the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's plans. The SCO has emerged as a pivotal force in maintaining regional stability and promoting global cooperation, with China playing a central role in fostering its development and goals. The SCO's evolution underscores a commitment to maintaining peace, safeguarding security and promoting mutual prosperity among its member states and beyond. Established in 2001, the group has grown from six members into a robust platform involving nine member states, three observer states and 14 dialogue partners. Its primary objectives focus on bolstering security cooperation, combating extremism, enhancing economic ties and promoting cultural exchanges. Over the years, the SCO has become instrumental in addressing common challenges faced by its members, ranging from terrorism to economic development. Central to the SCO's evolution is China's steadfast commitment to promoting the building of a community with a shared future. China, as the second-largest economy in the world and a staunch advocate for multilateralism, has played a leading role in shaping the SCO's agenda and fostering cooperation among its member states. China's vision emphasizes mutual respect, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation  a departure from traditional power politics  and prioritizes collective prosperity over individual gains. Beyond security, the SCO has become a driving force for economic integration and development. Its member states have leveraged the organization's strengths to deepen trade ties, enhance connectivity and unlock new investment opportunities. The SCO's support for development programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative has catalyzed infrastructure development and economic growth across Eurasia, benefiting not only its members but also neighboring countries and regions. In the past 23 years since its establishment, the SCO, as an international organization, has established a model for maintaining and strengthening regional security. Kazakhstan assumes the chair of the SCO against the backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, increasing challenges, and exacerbation of ongoing conflicts and emergence of new ones. In such conditions, Kazakhstan's proposal for the leaders of our countries to accept the initiative on world unity for peace and harmony seems very timely. A number of important events have been held this year, in particular, the SCO Energy, Digital and Tourism Forum, meetings of foreign, health and IT ministers of SCO member states, and the meeting of the "Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure". Under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, about 180 different events were held, and more than 30 documents on cooperation are being prepared under the SCO's framework. Last year, President Tokayev said Kazakhstan will make every possible effort to modernize the SCO and turn it into a more effective multilateral platform in order to further strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and traditional friendship between SCO member states. By working together, the SCO member states can produce more tangible results, and the decisions made at the SCO Summit in Astana will contribute to the further development of the organization, and help maintain long-term peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Kazakh-Chinese relations under the Belt and Road framework have demonstrated to other SCO members countries how to derive mutual benefit from economic cooperation. Thanks to the successful implementation of joint projects, other countries in the region also became more actively involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, contributing to the strengthening of economic ties within the SCO. Just before the SCO Summit, it is worth noting the importance of continuing and deepening these relations to achieve common goals and maintain stability and promote prosperity in the region.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 4. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov will visit Azerbaijan on July 56, the head of the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration Muratbek Azymbakiev said, Trend reports via the press service of the President of Kyrgyzstan.

"President of the Kyrgyzstan Republic, Sadyr Zhaparov, will visit the Republic of Azerbaijan on July 56. The head of state will take part in the informal summit of the heads of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The theme of the extraordinary meeting of the heads of state of the organization is 'Ensuring a sustainable future through transport, communication, and combating climate change'," he said.

According to him, the parties will discuss measures of collective response to disasters caused by natural hazards and climate change, as well as strengthening the transport links of the OTS member states.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 5. President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping arrived in Tajikistan on an official visit, Trend reports.

President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon greeted Xi Jinping at the airport.

Earlier, the Tajik Foreign Ministry reported that the visit of the Chinese leader will last from July 4 to July 6. As part of the official visit, a meeting with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon will take place in narrow and wide formats, and it is also expected to sign a solid package of interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents. The heads of the two states will also adopt a joint statement on the development of bilateral relations, regional and international agendas.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, to participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the press service of the government of Kazakhstan said, Trend reports.

According to information, the Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan was met by Prime Minister Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov at the airport of Astana.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov will take part in the meeting in the SCO plus format, which will be held for the first time and will be held under the slogan "Strengthening multilateral dialog: striving for sustainable peace and development".

The meeting will be attended by heads of observer states, honorary guests, and representatives of international organizations.

To note, the SCO Council meeting will be held, where the leaders of the member states will discuss important issues of multilateral and multi-vector cooperation in the format of the organization, as well as regional and international policy issues.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 4. Turkmenistan and the International Trade Center (ITC) are discussing the implementation of a project to simplify customs procedures, Trend reports.

According to the Turkmen Customs Service, these issues were discussed during a meeting between representatives of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the International Trade Center (ITC).

The parties noted that the joint project of the EU and the international trade center 'Turkmenistan: Enhancing trade resilience and integration' was launched earlier this year and is designed to support the country in the process of joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

At the same time, the parties discussed issues such as the digitalization of customs procedures, the organization of trainings and seminars, trips abroad to study the risk management system, and the introduction of an electronic queue management system.

The visit of the delegation of the International Trade Center also includes a three-day training for civil servants on the WTO agreement on trade facilitation and the concept of the National Committee for Trade Facilitation.

Meanwhile, at the end of October last year, the International Trade Center (ITC) and the EU signed a six-million-euro agreement to help Turkmenistan's government join the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the multilateral trade system.

The agreement was signed by EC, Myriam Ferran, Deputy Director General for International Partnerships, and Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC's Executive Director.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 4. Turkmenistan discussed prospects for comprehensive development of cooperation with the German region of Bavaria, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, these issues were discussed during the meeting of the Consul of Turkmenistan in Germany Murad Ozbekbayev with the State Minister of Bavaria for European and International Affairs Eric Beiwenger during a working visit to the region.

During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues of Turkmen-German cooperation, paying special attention to the development of interregional cooperation and prospects for partnership between Turkmenistan and the Bavaria region in various fields.

The negotiators also exchanged views on the organization of joint trade and economic events.

Furthermore, during the working visit, the Consul met with Christoph Angerbauer, a member of the Executive Board, Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria.

During the negotiations, the parties outlined the expediency of establishing direct contacts between representatives of the business circles of Turkmenistan and Bavaria, and also considered the possibility of organizing a joint business forum and holding an event in Munich, presenting the broad opportunities of Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Germany exceeded 1.1 billion euros from the beginning of 2018 through the end of 2023.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. German AKA European Export & Trade Bank is prepared to support German investors, as there are very interesting possibilities to receive support from Germany in the form of investment guarantees, Chief Executive Officer Strategy and Development and market-independent spokesman for the bank Marck Wengrzik told Trend in an exclusive interview.

We are obviously prepared to support German investors in their plans to invest in Uzbekistan. Specifically, there are very interesting possibilities to receive support from the German government in the form of investment guarantees. This is an instrument that I personally find very interesting, but unfortunately, too many German companies are not aware of it, he said.

According to him, the bank analyzes the export streams of capital goods from Germany and Europe to Uzbekistan in order to evaluate the possibility of financing these exports with Uzbekistans financial institutions, government agencies, or companies as potential borrowers.

However, we also support financial institutions and companies with their general financing requirements and examine possibilities for pre-financing raw material exports from Uzbekistan, Marck Wengrzik noted.

He emphasized that the key areas of AKA Banks transactions focus on the economic sectors of textile manufacturing, healthcare, power generation, and mining in Uzbekistan.

On the one hand, our services support German and European exporters in their export activities by providing the appropriate financing to make their commercial offer more attractive. On the other hand, we provide long-term financing for Uzbekistan customers and thus, offer the necessary support for further investments, Marck Wengrzik added.

Earlier in 2019, the National Bank of Uzbekistan and AKA Bank signed a loan agreement for 100 million euros to develop trade and economic ties between Uzbekistan and European countries.

The agreement, in particular, provides for the allocation of credit lines to the National Bank of Uzbekistan to finance investment projects, as well as projects of small business and private entrepreneurship involving the import of goods and services from Germany and other EU countries.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 4. On July 3 of the current year, Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, conducted a meeting with Mohamed Irki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The dialogue focused on topics related to the ongoing trade, economic and investment cooperation, as well as the future prospects for enhancing partnership relations in key areas.

The parties agreed to implement necessary actions aimed at increasing the volume of bilateral trade and to establish a joint working group. This group will be tasked with identifying new avenues for bilateral cooperation, fostering partnerships between business entities, pinpointing challenges and barriers hindering mutual trade relations, and swiftly addressing them.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the scope of joint collaboration, particularly in sectors such as chemical, electrical engineering, agriculture and food production, the oil and gas industry, and tourism, leveraging the experience gained from the joint execution of large-scale, mutually beneficial initiatives.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 4. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed to develop a "Unified Map of Transport Interconnectivity of the SCO Member States," Trend reports.

Mirziyoyev stated this today, speaking at the regular meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Astana.

"We consider it expedient to develop a "Unified Map of Transport Interconnectivity of the SCO Member States". This will allow us to identify "bottlenecks" and "gaps" and outline priority measures and projects for the formation of a common, integrated transport and transit system," he said.

The President proposed to consider this topic at the next extended meeting of the SCO transport ministers.

"We propose to substantially consider these issues at the next expanded meeting of transport ministers of our countries with wide involvement of major transport and logistics companies, operators and forwarders, analysts, and specialists of this industry in the discussion," Mirziyoyev added.

To note, the SCO Summit is taking place on July 4, 2024, in the Independence Palace of Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The event is attended by the Heads of State and Government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The UN Secretary-General and the heads of such international organizations as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and PSOE are also participating in the summit.

The SCO Summit is being held for the first time in the format of the "SCO Council of Heads of State" and "SCO Plus" meetings.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 4. Uzbekistan is interested in adopting the New Economic Dialogue Program of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said at a regular meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Astana, Trend reports.

"I propose to instruct our governments and institutions to work out the issue of adopting the Program of New Economic Dialogue of the SCO, covering such areas as innovative development, digitalization and robotization, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and other industries of the future," he said.

The President mentioned that the SCO region is a space of colossal economic opportunities, a platform, and a resource base for the long-term sustainable development of all countries in the organization.

"The SCO accounts for about one-third of the world gross product in purchasing power parity, about 27 percent of foreign direct investment, and up to 20 percent of global trade. The states of the organization are leaders in terms of industrial and innovative development, have huge intellectual potential, and have the richest energy and agricultural resources," Mirziyoyev stressed.

He also added that, in this regard, the initiative to form a common space for increasing intra-regional trade and industrial-technological cooperation is more relevant today than ever before.

To note, the SCO Summit is taking place on July 4, 2024, in the Independence Palace of Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The event is attended by the heads of state and government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The UN Secretary-General and the heads of such international organizations as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and PSOE are also participating in the summit.

The SCO Summit is being held for the first time in the format of the "SCO Council of Heads of State" and "SCO Plus" meetings.

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On July 3, in the production workshop of CRRC Puzhen Alstom Transportation Systems Co., Ltd., a monorail train was "ready to go." The first train manufactured by CRRC Puzhen Alstom for Sao Paulo's Line 15 in Brazil officially rolled off the production line.

It is understood that Sao Paulo boasts the largest and most mature urban rail transit network in South America. Sao Paulo Line 15, which opened in August 2014, is the first straddle-type monorail urban rail transit line in South America. The straddle-type monorail trains provided by CRRC Puzhen Alstom will ensure seamless integration of Line 15 with other lines in the Sao Paulo rail transit network. This will complement high-capacity metro systems and regional railways, fully leveraging the advantages of medium-capacity rail transit systems in the urban public transportation network.

In 2014, CRRC Puzhen Alstom settled in the Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone. Over the past decade, the Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone and CRRC Puzhen Alstom have worked together to develop Wuhu's rail transit equipment industry. They have built it from scratch and continuously improved its quality. A preliminary industrial cluster has been formed, led by the rubber-tired rail transit transportation system equipment manufacturing project. This cluster covers technology research and development, survey and design, engineering construction, operation and maintenance, making it the world's largest rubber-tired rail transit equipment manufacturing base.





Source: Anhui Daily
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan

ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State has decided to finalize the process of admitting Belarus to the SCO and awarding it the status of a SCO member state, Trend reports.

Chaired by Kazakhstan, the SCO Summit is attended by heads of state and government from India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

The summit is also attended by the UN Secretary-General and leaders of international organizations such as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and IOR-ARC.

For the first time, the SCO Summit is being held in the format of a "Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO Member States" and a SCO Plus meeting.

Overall, the heads of state are considering a wide range of issues aimed at further strengthening the multifaceted cooperation of the SCO, its prospects, and addressing current international and regional problems.

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Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 4. General Prosecutor of Slovakia Maros Zilinka has called the assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico an act of terrorism, Trend reports.

"The legal categorization of the act being prosecuted in the criminal case concerning the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic has been reevaluated. After carefully examining the evidence, it has been determined that the act in question will now be classified as an extremely grave crime - a terrorist act," he said.

To note, on May 15, Slovakia's Prime Minister narrowly escaped death by the skin of their teeth in an assassination attempt.

Juraj Cintula, a 71-year-old writer, fired several shots at Robert Fico, causing severe injuries, after he exited the building where a Cabinet meeting was held. The injured prime minister was swiftly taken to the hospital, while the wrongdoer was apprehended.

The perpetrator is facing attempted murder charges, and the inquiry will be handled discreetly.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 4. Belarus will do its best to make the SCO a global organization, the President of Belarus Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a meeting in the SCO Plus format in Astana, Trend reports.

"Belarus is very proud to become a full member of the SCO. We will strengthen the Shanghai spirit of the organization based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and solidarity. We, as a European country, will do our best to make the SCO a global organization. Let me assure you that Belarus will invariably be guided by the humane principles preached in our organization. Minsk will take a worthy place among the capitals represented here," he said.

During his speech, Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed gratitude for the support of Belarus in joining the SCO.

"This is a serious and well-considered step for us. We see how the role of the SCO in world politics is getting stronger every year. I assure you, we will do our best to constantly increase the weight and authority of our association in the world," he emphasized.

According to him, the best response to the challenges in global politics will be the unity and cohesion of the SCO member states.

Lukashenko also proposed to strengthen practical interaction on the entire complex agenda of the SCO.

"I propose to start with finance. Belarus considers the creation of a mechanism for bilateral payments in national currencies and a collective financial institution of the SCO as a priority issue," he noted.

He mentioned that Belarus is ready to make a feasible contribution to the overall effort of the SCO member states in various areas.

"Belarus is ready to make a feasible contribution to the common effort of the SCO member states in such areas as industry, trade, science, culture, education, and, of course, food security, as well as agriculture," Lukashenko added.

To note, the SCO Summit is taking place on July 4, 2024, in the Independence Palace of Astana under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan.

The event is attended by the Heads of State and Government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, UAE, Turkiye and Turkmenistan, as well as the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 3. Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted the invitation of his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to make another visit to Kazakhstan in November this year, the Kremlin press service says, Trend reports.

"I would like to express my gratitude to you for the invitation to visit Kazakhstan on a state visit. Of course, it would be most rational to do this in connection with the CSTO summit. We will definitely do this, thank you for this invitation, it is certainly accepted," Vladimir Putin said.

Today, President Vladimir Putin met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev invited Putin to make another visit to Kazakhstan in November this year, combining it with participation in a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Eberhard & Co. presents a new chronograph that brings the historical Extra-fort collection, originally launched in 1940, to a new, exclusive evolution

The Extra-fort Roue a Colonnes Retour en Vol exemplifies the unique craftsmanship that defines the Swiss Maisons most remarkable creations. It embodies the commitment to designing innovative chronographs that blend the technical and aesthetic allure of historic Eberhard & Co. timepieces with a modern twist.

This "return to the past with the eyes of the present" is a metaphorical flight on the wings of the eagle that dominates the Maison de l'Aigle in La Chaux-de-Fonds, leading to the rediscovery of instruments capable of segmenting, measuring and tracing the passage of time with unparalleled accuracy.

Extra-fort Roue a Colonnes Retour en Vol  Eberhard & Co.

The new Extra-fort embodies this ideal flight by incorporating in its movement two outstanding features historically synonymous of a great chronograph: the column wheel and the fly-back complication.

The soul of the chronograph is the column wheel, blued, visible through the sapphire glass caseback: a refined mechanism that controls the chronograph's functions, ensuring greater precision in activating them, smoother operation of the functions and a feeling of softness when using the push-buttons.

Extra-fort Roue a Colonnes Retour en Vol  Eberhard & Co.

Then there is the fly-back complication, indicated on the dial in the suggestive French translation retour en vol, which allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted with a single push of the button, without having to stop, reset and restart the chronograph. This function, which is particularly useful for measuring successive time intervals in rapid succession, was originally used by pilots in the 1930s to facilitate the timing of various phases of a flight.

Extra-fort Roue a Colonnes Retour en Vol  Eberhard & Co.

The refinement of the movement is reflected in the watch's meticulously crafted aesthetics. The dial, featuring the frappe finishing, has a circular zone and azuree counters and is available in various colour combinations: argente with argente, black or blue counters; blue with argente counters; and a very original "total blue" with a blue degrade dial and blue counters. Depending on the dial version, a classic strap in black or blue alligator leather or a steel Chaque bracelet for a sportier look are proposed.
Co-created with Vianney Halter, Ulysse  Beauregards first mens watch  is a masterpiece

Earlier this spring, Watches & Wonders 2024 more than lived up to its name at the Beauregard stand in Palexpo. Having previously launched his own line of high-end jewellery watches aimed at women  including the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve-nominated Lili Bouton  Canadian stone artisan Alexandre Beauregard chose the Geneva showpiece to unveil his first ever mens watch, Ulysse.

Alexandre Beauregard in his atelier  Beauregard

In Greek mythology, Ulysse (in French) or Ulysses (in English)  or Odysseus (in Ancient Greek)  is the courageous king of Ithaca and hero of Homer's epic poem The Odyssey. Its certainly a fitting name, because Ulysse the watch is a breathtaking piece of poetry for the wrist, one bearing the distinct hallmark of both its creators.

Ulysse  Beauregard

Indeed, while Beauregard oversaw the creation of its stunning aquamarine-set dial, independent watchmaking maestro and friend of the brand Vianney Halter was responsible for the production of its German silver automatic movement.

Created in the brands Montreal workshop, Beauregards dial features 68 hand-cut aquamarine stones, each chosen for their purity and delicate colour. Each stone is set within a gold latticework that draws inspiration from the design of stained-glass windows. And in a clever move, beneath these stones lies a reflective mother-of-pearl disc that helps bring the whole ensemble to life with a fantastic play of light.

The Beauregard Atelier  Beauregard

Kindred Spirit

As for Halters involvement, the pair had developed a mutual respect for each others work and philosophy after striking up a friendship at Baselworld 2019. It was an instant connection with a kindred spirit, says Beauregard of the French watchmaker.

Vianney Halter (left) and Alexandre Beauregard (right)  Beauregard

Known for his Antiqua perpetual calendar and Deep Space Tourbillon, Halter designed and assembled Ulysses self-winding movement at his Sainte-Croix workshop in the Swiss Jura. He chose to use German silver rather than brass for the bridges because of its superior quality that in his eyes ensures not only the watchs longevity but also its easy maintenance.

Ulysse  Beauregard

The Frenchman entrusted his Sainte-Croix neighbour Dzevad Cohadarevic to machine its curvaceous German silver bridges and got Philippe Narbel on board to finely finish these by hand. Based in the Vallee de Joux, Narbel is known for his decoration work on Audemars Piguets skeleton watches, and here he has brought his supreme bevelling and polishing skills, among others, to the fore.

In addition to the shapely bridges, the movement features a 3 Hz balance, 56-hour power reserve and 30 functional jewels made from transparent sapphire rather than synthetic ruby in order to keep the movements tonality coherent. Whats more, the calibre can be fully admired through the display back thanks to the use of Halters signature mystery oscillating mass that works peripherally.

Ulysse  Beauregard

To match the gilded latticework, Ulysses 41mm round case is crafted in polished 18K rose gold. A domed sapphire crystal covers the spectacular dial, while around the perimeter of the screw-down caseback a blue lacquered engraving matches the hue of the dial-side aquamarines. The watch is paired with a stitchless chestnut alligator leather strap with quick-release mechanism and rose gold pin buckle.

Priced at CHF 110,000 excluding taxes, Ulysse will be limited to just 10 pieces. To find out more, please visit the Beauregard website.
Russian military intelligence has detained Artem Gorodilov, commander of the 83rd separate airborne assault brigade of the Russian Armed Forces, in Ryazan. The colonel, who was involved in the atrocities in Ukrainian Bucha, is suspected of fraud on a large scale.

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Ukrainian media reported this on July 4, while Russian propagandists claimed that the officer had already been sent to Moscow for investigation. He has long been under sanctions from the United States and other countries for war crimes committed by him and his subordinates during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to propagandists, Horodilov's case under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Russian Criminal Code (especially large-scale fraud) is being investigated by the Main Military Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation. Then the materials will be sent to the 235th Garrison Military Court with a request to impose a preventive measure on the suspected colonel.

At the same time, the Russians themselves do not know what kind of embezzlement and for what amount the military commander is accused of. According to the Criminal Code, "especially large scale" starts at 1 million rubles.

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Russian Artem Gorodilov graduated from the Ryazan Higher Airborne School and the General Military Academy and served in the 76th Airborne Division of the Russian Armed Forces. He was also the chief of staff, and since 2019, the commander of the 234th Airborne Assault Regiment of the Black Sea.

In April 2022, the then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu prematurely promoted the occupier to the rank of "Guards Colonel" for war crimes in the Kyiv region. Later, he was appointed commander of the Ussuriisk separate airborne troops, and in May, RosTv called him the commander of the 83rd separate airborne troops of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in Ussuriisk. At the same time, Gorodilov is being prosecuted as the commander of an airborne assault regiment.

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In 2023, the Russian officer was included in the sanctions lists of persons banned from entering the United States. His name was mentioned in publications of Ukrainian and Western media about the crimes committed by Russian troops at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Vatican has officially recognized the famous statue of the Virgin Mary from Trevigliano-Romano, which allegedly weeps blood, as a fake. Maria Giuseppa Scarpulla, known as Gisella Cardia, who brought the statue from Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina, claimed that it began to cry bloody tears and that the woman herself was receiving revelations from the Virgin Mary, attracting the attention of thousands of people.

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However, representatives of the Catholic Church found out that the figure's miraculous tears were pig's blood, which was probably applied to the statue by Gisella Cardia, MailOnline reports.

Claims of the "bleeding Madonna's" superpowers have sparked widespread controversy after pilgrims from all over Italy gathered to witness the statue's "miracle" on the third of every month and make confessions before it.

Gisella Cardia, the owner of the Madonna di Trevinano, claimed that the statue has been shedding bloody tears since 2016, while also claiming that the Virgin Mary has been giving her private revelations since then.

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She also boasted of experiencing supernatural phenomena, including a time when she fed 15 people endless portions of pizza, gnocchi, and rabbit. People who believed her believed she brought messages from the Virgin Mary, and some said she even predicted the Covid pandemic.

But last year, locals from the small town of Trevignano Romano, who were skeptical of the bleeding statue, called in a private investigator who met with Italian military police. The locals reportedly showed evidence that the red liquid coming out of the statue's eyes was pig's blood.

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Now, the leaders of the Catholic Church have recognized this "supernatural phenomenon" as false, having it approved by the authoritative Vatican. He referred to a preliminary investigation report by the Diocese of Civita-Castellan that found nothing supernatural about the statue.

"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 tranquility for the spiritual good of the faithful of Trevignano Romano Parish and the people of God throughout the Diocese of Civita Castellana," the report reads.

In addition, the statement of the Dicastery, also known as the former Holy Office, strongly reaffirms the ban on priests from administering the sacraments or conducting acts of public piety related to the events in Trevignano Romano. The ban applies to all religious events organized by the Association Madonna di Trevignano ETS, run by Gianni Cardia, husband of the "seer" Gisella Cardia.

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Taking a vacation is one of the best ways to reduce stress and boost your mood. But a new study has found that some Europeans are suffering from severe "vacation deprivation" with around 80 percent of young people in some European countries believing they don't take enough vacations: the French, Germans, and British are among them.

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The 24th Vacation Deprivation Report by travel booking site Expedia found that Generation Z is more deprived of vacations globally than any other generation. Germans had the largest year-on-year shift in vacation deprivation, with 14 percent fewer vacations than last year. This makes the Germans the most vacation-deprived people in the world at 84 percent, followed by the French at 82 percent and the British at 70 percent, EuroNews reports.

For today's youngest workforce, the main factor holding them back from taking time off is FOMO  the fear of missing out.

While FOMO is not exclusive to any particular generation, it is most prevalent in Generation Z: one in two in the UK say they are afraid of losing something important at work when they are away, compared to just 16 percent of older generations.

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About one in two Generation Zers in Germany say they fear that important decisions will be made without them at work or that their colleagues will be given priority during their vacation.

Another reason why Generation Z in the UK finds it difficult to take a vacation is guilt. Fifty-two percent feel guilty when colleagues cover their work while they are away, and 50 percent feel the need to apologize for taking annual leave.

Similarly, in Germany, 47 percent of Generation Z say they feel bad because colleagues have to take over their tasks while they are away. They also feel that they have to apologize for their vacation requests.

In France, 50 percent of young workers feel the need to apologize for taking time off, compared to 14 percent of older workers.

According to statistics, young Germans do not use their annual vacation in full  on average, they have 4-5 days left unused. For young French people, this figure is slightly lower  3-4 days remain unused.

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Among the British, 56 percent feel deprived of their vacation, which is 10 percent more than five years ago. Last year, almost one in five Britons lived a whole year without a vacation.

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Russian kamikaze drones of the Shahed-136/131 type failed to reach Kyiv last night, July 4. During the attack, all enemy targets were destroyed by the defenders of the sky on the approach to the capital.

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This was stated by the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration Serhii Popko. He noted that information about the type and number of destroyed enemy UAVs will be reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the official, this time the aggressor carried out an air attack on Ukraine exclusively with the use of attack drones. They were launched from the territory of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation, approaching the Ukrainian capital in waves and from different directions.

However, thanks to the effective work of air defense, not a single drone made it to Kyiv. The air defense forces and means destroyed the Shaheds on the outskirts of the capital.

"There were no casualties or damage in Kyiv. The city's vital activity is not disrupted. Take care of yourself and always respond to air raid alarms!" added the KMVA chief.

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According to the Ukrainian Air Force, last night the defenders of the sky shot down 21 out of 22 kamikaze drones within the boundaries of not only Kyiv but also Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Poltava, Sumy, and Dnipro regions.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, on June 30, the aggressor country, the Russian Federation, launched a missile attack on Kyiv region, which injured three people, including a child. There were no hits to residential or critical infrastructure, but a high-rise building, private houses, and a fire department were damaged by falling debris in the capital and the region.

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Germany and Poland have agreed to work together to increase military assistance to Ukraine. Following intergovernmental consultations in Warsaw, the "Polish-German Action Plan" was adopted.

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In particular, the two countries will participate in the creation of a joint NATO-Ukraine Center for Analysis, Training, and Education in Bydgoszcz. Germany and Poland will also cooperate in international coalitions to support Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"We will look for opportunities for cooperation in every reasonable case and in every area of support offered, including arms supplies, training, and maintenance," the publication quotes the document as saying.

It emphasizes that NATO will also support Ukraine in implementing the necessary reforms on its path to future membership in the Alliance.

Separately, the parties agreed to cooperate at the governmental level to provide military support to Ukraine in the maintenance and repair of Leopard 2 tanks, which were transferred to Ukraine.

"Poland and Germany will also strive to optimize the repair and maintenance of Leopard 2 tanks in the context of Ukraine's needs arising from Russia's lawless war of aggression," the document says.

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Also, Poland and Germany stand for strict compliance with sanctions against Russia "and joint preparation of proposals for new restrictive measures until Russia stops its aggression against Ukraine."

In addition, both countries are "determined" to use profits from Russian assets abroad to further support Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, NATO allies agreed to finance military assistance to Ukraine of 40 billion euros in 2025. The leaders of the Alliance member states will sign the relevant document at the summit to be held next week in Washington.

It should also be noted that Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov met with Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, DC. During the meeting, the US Secretary announced a new large package of US assistance worth more than $2.3 billion.

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The best scenario for ending the war in Ukraine is not negotiations with Russia, but an increase in military aid to Kyiv so that the country can recapture all the territories occupied by the occupiers. The aggressor must realize that it cannot win.

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This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during a geopolitical dialogue under the auspices of Foreign Policy on Wednesday, July 3, Ukrinform reports. The Polish foreign minister reminded that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could stop the war in five minutes.

To do this, he should order the aggressor country's defense minister to withdraw all troops from Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine cannot end the war in this way.

"But we should not tell Ukraine what to do until they (Ukrainians  Ed.) return all the occupied territories. Because what the Russians are doing in these occupied territories, we would not tolerate in our countries," Sikorski said.

The Polish foreign minister added that Russia cannot be trusted, because in 2004 Putin signed a bilateral agreement with Ukraine and now he is violating it himself.

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"If you say we should negotiate, it means that we should allow Putin to disregard the agreement he signed and believe that he will not violate the new agreement. In my opinion, this does not look reliable," the Polish official added.

Regarding the calls from the Global South for territorial concessions from Ukraine, Sikorski noted that Ukraine has the right to maintain its internationally recognized borders. And even if the government decides otherwise, it will be Ukraine's business and its right.

He reminded that India, which is trying to impose negotiations with Russia and concessions on Ukraine, has border disputes with Pakistan and China.

"I don't see that in the near future India intends to give up its territories, although there are certain clashes on the borders and terrorism... Ukraine has the right to maintain internationally recognized borders," he emphasized.

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Sikorski also added that Russia's war against Ukraine is, by its very nature, a colonial war that can last for years until Moscow realizes that the beginning of its aggression against its neighbor was a mistake.

"The Russians are probably already reaching that point. But they still have to realize that the price is unacceptable. That is why the war is ongoing, it may take a few more years. If it ends earlier, it will be a bonus... The sooner we convince Putin that he cannot win, the sooner this war will end," Sikorski emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukraine refuses to compromise with Russia on territorial concessions to end the war. This was stated by the head of the Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak when answering journalists' questions about US presidential candidate Donald Trump's statement about a possible early end to the conflict.

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Earlier, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ihor Zhovkva said that negotiations with Russia could start "even tomorrow," but there is a fundamental condition. To do this, the terrorist country must withdraw its occupation troops from the territory of our country.

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In the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation, warehouses with X-22 cruise missiles were discovered, which the Russians use to launch strikes against Ukraine. In addition, a huge amount of military equipment is deployed near the warehouses.

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From there, Putin's invaders deliver missiles to airfields. This was reported on Telegram by the Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.

One of the movement's agents scouted out a storage site for X-22 missiles for Tu-22M3 bombers. From the Leningrad region, the Russian occupiers deliver these missiles to the Soltsy airfield in the Novgorod region.

Atesh noted that it was at the Soltsy airfield that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine recently disabled three such aircraft. It is worth noting that a huge amount of military equipment is located near the hangars of the warehouse, where ammunition for other types of weapons is also transported.

Detailed information on the organization of the guard, equipment, and personnel was promptly provided by Atesh agents to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

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To recap, the Pentagon announced the purchase of interceptors for the Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine. The amount of aid will be 2.2 billion dollars.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!

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On Thursday, July 4, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, General Wieslaw Kukula, arrived in Kyiv. He held talks with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi.

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This was reported on the social network of the Polish General Staff and on the Ukrainian military leader's Telegram. The working visit began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen Ukrainian Defenders.

"This is another important meeting between the two commanders, which demonstrates the solidarity and cooperation between Poland and our eastern neighbor in the face of Russian aggression," the Polish General Staff said.

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Syrsky emphasized that Poland has been a reliable partner of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion.

"We appreciate Poland's military and technical assistance and diplomatic support. We are also grateful for the assistance in training our units that have already come to the defense of the state," the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- Polish Vice Prime Minister Vladyslav Kosyniak-Kamysh said that at the July NATO summit in Washington, Poland will announce the operational readiness of the NATO-Ukraine training center. This is the first real unit of its kind.

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- Germany and Poland agreed to cooperate on strengthening military assistance to Ukraine. Following intergovernmental consultations in Warsaw, the "Polish-German Action Plan" was adopted.

- Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski expressed his belief that the best scenario for ending the war in Ukraine is not negotiations with Russia, but an increase in military aid to Kyiv so that the country can recapture all the territories seized by the occupiers. The aggressor must realize that it cannot win.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The Pentagon has announced the purchase of interceptors for the Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine. The amount of assistance is 2.2 billion dollars.

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This is stated in the report of the US Department of Defense. In addition, the department added that it will purchase more than 2,000 Stinger portable air defense missile systems for Ukraine.

It is noted that the purchase of a significant package of air defense interceptors using about $ 2.2 billion will be carried out under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

"These funds will be used to purchase interceptors for the Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems for Ukraine," the statement said.

The agency reminded that the Biden administration plans to accelerate the delivery of these weapons by changing the priority of future deliveries to Ukraine under the Foreign Military Sales program.

"As a result, Ukraine will receive the interceptors it urgently needs to protect its people and critical infrastructure from Russian air attacks," the statement said.

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The Pentagon also emphasized that the United States continues to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with additional defense capabilities.

Earlier it became known that the White House announced a significant new defense assistance package for Ukraine. It will include missiles for HIMARS systems, air defense interceptors, artillery shells, and other weapons.

In addition, NATO allies agreed to finance military assistance to Ukraine of 40 billion euros ($43.05 billion) in 2025. The leaders of the Alliance member states will sign the relevant document at the summit to be held next week in Washington.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Pentagon said that the United States is still against strikes by American weapons deep into the Russian Federation. At the same time, the head of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Turner, called for such a permit to be granted to Ukraine. This would allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to strike at the enemy's current military targets, he explained.

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On July 2, Umerov met with Pentagon Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, the US Secretary announced a new large package of US aid worth more than $2.3 billion.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that when it comes to the territorial integrity of Ukraine, it is necessary to ask the opinion of the people first. The Head of State emphasized that Ukrainian society is the owner of its state and only it has the right to decide the fate of the country.

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At the same time, Zelenskyy emphasized that changing the territorial integrity is a crime. The president said this in an interview with Bloomberg.

According to the president, changing the territories of Ukraine involves changing the Constitution, which, in turn, is a crime.

At the same time, Zelenskyy noted that when someone suggests that our country make territorial concessions to the aggressor, it is necessary to clearly understand who puts forward such ideas and why it is being done at all. The President also added that the people of Ukraine should have a say in this matter, first and foremost.

"Changes to our territories are changes to the Constitution and this is a crime. If we are offered the German model or the Korean model, we need to understand what is being offered to us, who is offering it to us, why it is being done, and then understand the opinion of all of us. Not only mine but first of all that of the society, because the people of Ukraine are the owners of Ukraine," the president said.

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As a reminder, Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that China can play a "huge role" in ending the war unleashed by Russia, as Moscow depends on its export market. The United States and China, if they put aside their differences, could successfully work together in this direction.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy does not rule out that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may receive an invitation to the next Peace Summit. Cooperation in this area between the United States and China could bring more chances for success so that the war "ends fairly for Ukraine and peace."

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who hopes to return to office this year, and his campaign representatives expect that President Joe Biden will remain the Democratic candidate in the election. They believe that he will be easier to defeat than other Democrats.

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The Washington Post writes about this, citing information from four sources familiar with the situation. The Democratic nominee is expected to be announced next week.

Publicly, Trump and his allies have rejected the possibility that Biden will drop out of the race. They say it is too late for the Democrats to change course. However, in private, they are discussing and preparing for different situations, as they fear that another Democrat or Vice President Camille Harris will be more difficult to defeat.

Trump's spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said that the Trump campaign expects Biden to be the Democratic candidate. At the same time, she also emphasized that their team is confident in Trump's victory.

"We are confident that no matter what, we will win," Levitt said.

The newspaper's sources claim that Trump's team believes that his victory in the election will not be hindered even by his possible imprisonment on several charges.

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As reported by OBOZ.UA, Trump is negotiating with Putin over the war in Ukraine, in particular, what part of the Ukrainian territory Moscow can keep for itself. This was reported by Politico, citing information from two former Trump national security officials.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
It was one of the most epic scientific expeditions of all time. At the end of 1984, in the middle of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union  two nuclear powers  an American C-130 plane landed in the inhospitable Russian base Vostok in Antarctica, located in the coldest place of Earth. A year earlier, a record low of -89.2C (-128F) had been registered at the base. The U.S. aircraft was carrying three French scientists  Claude Lorius, Michel Creseveur and Jean Robert Petit  on an extraordinary mission: collect ice from time immemorial to find out what the Earths remote past was like and predict the future of human beings.

Images from the time show that vodka was flowing, the accordion was playing and the red flag with the hammer and sickle of the Soviet Union was flying high in that hostile base. The Leningrad Mining Institute had chosen Vostok, near the geomagnetic south pole, as a testing ground for its new drilling technologies, in search of Antarctic oil. The base reeked of kerosene from the machinery, which had managed to make a hole more than 1.2 miles deep in the ice. Two decades earlier, in 1965, glaciologist Claude Lorius had a revelation while drinking whiskey with ancient ice at the French Antarctic base Dumont dUrville. He looked at his glass and watched the bubbles emerging from the cubes. What if the trapped air contained information about the atmosphere and climate on Earth thousands of years ago? What if that data revealed the destiny of humanity?

Since that whiskey, Lorius had been determined to obtain virgin ice from the depths of Antarctica, so he convinced the Soviets to let him visit Vostok and convinced the Americans to transport him to the enemy base. The French glaciologist Jean Jouzel perfectly remembers the triumphant arrival of the Antarctic ice samples at his laboratory in Saclay, near Paris, in early 1985. It was a fragmented column measuring 2,083 meters, which at its oldest end was 160,000 years old. Jouzel never set foot on Vostok, but he analyzed its depths and amazed the world. The results of his research, published on the cover of the journal Nature on October 1, 1987, were definitive confirmation that the increase in carbon dioxide (CO) in the atmosphere caused global warming.

Cover of the magazine 'Nature' in October 1987, with the drilling rigs of the Antarctic base of Vostok. Jean Jouzel

It was a magnificent adventure, from a human point of view and also from a political point of view. We had meetings with Soviets and Americans, in the middle of the Cold War. The friendship between scientists was key to making that possible, recalls Jouzel, sitting in a monumental room at the Palacio de San Nicolas, in Bilbao. On June 20, the 77-year-old glaciologist received the BBVA Foundations Frontiers of Knowledge Award  endowed with 400,000 ($432,000)  along with four younger colleagues who followed his path in Antarctica and Greenland, illuminating the origins of climate change.

Glaciologist Jean Jouzel, at the Palacio de San Nicolas, Bilbao headquarters of the BBVA Foundation, on June 19. Fernando Domingo-Aldama

The man who was inspired by the whiskey  Claude Lorius of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS)  died in March 2023 at the age of 91, but the Soviet colleague who opened the doors of Vostok to him is still alive: the legendary glaciologist Vladimir Mikhailovich Kotlyakov, from the Russian Academy of Sciences. Kotlyakov, 92, responded to EL PAIS quesions in Russian, in emails written in Cyrillic alphabet. The relations with French scientists over the years were very close and friendly. We didnt feel any Cold War, he says. Kotlyakov, a pioneer of Russian polar research, downplays the difficulty of surviving in the coldest place on Earth. I visited Soviet bases in the interior of Antarctica and was outdoors in -70C [-94F], but I have to say that if you are properly wrapped up and also do physical exercise, such as digging a hole in the snow with a shovel, you can work even three hours, he says.

Getting the ancient ice from Vostok to Jouzels laboratory was an epic journey. An American plane transported the samples from the heart of Antarctica to a Soviet ship, which took them to the French coast, where a refrigerated truck transported them to the Commissariat for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies in the Paris region. Jouzels team immediately analyzed deuterium, a heavy form of the hydrogen that makes up the water molecule. The hotter it is, the more deuterium there is in the snow, with a mathematical proportion that allowed the temperatures of the last 160,000 years to be precisely calculated.

Ice cores stored at the Vostok base during the 1984-1985 expedition. Michel Creseveur / Fondo Lorius / CNRS

Our discovery came at an extremely important time, notes Jouzel. Another group of experts, led by U.S. meteorologist Jule Charney, had warned in 1979 that doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would raise global temperatures by up to three degrees, according to simulations. Vostoks data showed that this was not speculation. That 1.2-mile column of ice revealed how temperatures had changed over the last 160,000 years, from a low of nine degrees below the 198https://www.nature.com/articles/329403a07 average to a peak of two degrees above. The planet can warm naturally due to a subtle variation in its orbit around the Sun, but this phenomenon accelerates because, upon receiving more solar radiation, the oceans and soil release more CO due to the decomposition of organic matter. Now, it is humanity that is fueling the greenhouse effect by burning oil, gas and coal. Just one year after the Nature cover, the United Nations General Assembly supported the creation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says Jouzel.

The third vice president of the Spanish Government, Teresa Ribera, knows the French glaciologist well. They worked together between 2014 and 2018 at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, a Paris-based think tank. Jouzel was the president and Ribera, the director, until she returned to Spain to lead the Minister of Ecological Transition. Paleoclimate, the study of the climate of the past, is fundamental to understanding the climates evolution. The contribution of Jean Jouzel and his colleagues in the 1980s was key to showing the correlation between climate and greenhouse gas concentration, says Ribera. Jouzel became a key reference in the first IPCC assessment report, which was decisive in achieving the first multilateral treaty to combat climate change adopted a few years later at the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

Drilling rigs at the Soviet Vostok base, during the 1984-1985 campaign. Michel Creseveur / Fondo Lorius / CNRS

Vostoks brave drillers did not stop at 2,083 meters. In January 1998, another hole reached 3,623 meters, a depth sufficient to confirm that CO and methane in the atmosphere had been linked to temperature for 420,000 years. I admire the Soviets. They continued drilling even in winter, with temperatures below -80C [-112F] They were formidable, Jouzel recalls with a tone of nostalgia. In 1999, the French and Russian scientists published their new results in the journal Nature. The study included a warning to humanity: Present-day atmospheric burdens of these two important greenhouse gases seem to have been unprecedented during the past 420,000 years.

Jouzel remembers that Madrid hosted a crucial meeting of the IPCC between November 27 and 29, 1995. Delegates from oil-producing countries  such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait  fought to water down every word of the expert groups second report and to downplay the importance of humans impact on the planets climate. It was in Madrid where I proposed introducing the term climate surprise, recalls the French glaciologist. Following their discoveries in the Vostok ice, Jouzel and his colleagues in Greenland had documented abrupt variations of up to 16 degrees in temperature in just a few decades, tens of thousands of years ago.

Glaciologist Jean Jouzel cuts ice during an expedition to Greenland in July 1992. Autor no identificado / Fondo Lorius / CNRS

The latest IPCC report, published just over a year ago, warned that the burning of fossil fuels and the unsustainable use of energy and land has already led to global warming of 1.1C above pre-industrial levels. That increase has led to more extreme heatwaves, torrential rains, drought and megafires. We are heading towards a 3C increase and, in some regions, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, to adapt. If we do not reduce emissions now, it is a terrible selfishness towards the youngest people, warns Jouzel.

The weather has become unpredictable even in Vostok. On March 18, 2022, the thermometers at the Russian base recorded an unusual temperature of -17.7C, the highest in that month since records began in 1958. This is 15 degrees higher than the previous record, which was registered in 1967. It may be too soon to talk of climate surprise, but it is now clear that humans are warming the coldest corner of the planet.

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Investing in cryptocurrencies has become popular in recent years. However, it has not spread equally throughout society. In internet culture, the loudest group of crypto investors has even been dubbed cryptobros: a confusing mix of male, argumentative, arrogant characters. In 2022, a group of researchers from the Universities of Toronto and Miami decided to analyze what cryptocurrency investors were really like: they conducted a survey of 2,001 American adults and 30% of those surveyed said they owned digital currencies. And the psychological traits of the crypto investors coincided with the researchers hypothesis: they believe in conspiracy theories, support political extremism and have what are known as dark personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy and sadism). The results were published this Wednesday in the scientific journal Plos One.

Internet memes had already sensed that this set of traits was what defined the so-called cryptobros. Originally, the researchers did not have this stereotypical concept in mind, but their conclusions come very close to the popular idea. Perhaps its a funny coincidence that our findings seem to somewhat support the idea of cryptobros, acknowledges Shane Littrell, a professor at the University of Toronto and one of the co-authors. Their initial intention was to find out what distinguished cryptocurrency holders, whether they were really psychologically non-normative and politically unconventional people. This area of financial investing has grown in popularity quite quickly in recent years, so we were curious as to why some people are drawn to it and others are not, Littrell explained via email.

The variables most strongly correlated with cryptocurrency ownership are are being male, having a victimhood mindset, and relying on alternative/fringe social media as ones primary news source, according to the study. Other characteristics that strongly predict who owns cryptocurrencies are being male, argumentativeness, higher-than-average income and an aversion to authoritarianism. Of all the long list of characteristics that serve to predict the possession of cryptocurrencies, such as being religious, the likelihood of ever running for public office, or age, one of the characteristics that best predicts that an individual will not have cryptocurrencies is being a woman.

So-called dark personality traits are associated with non-normative attitudes, says Littrell. For example, previous research has found that the degree to which a person engages in risky financial behaviors such as gambling, and risky investing in the stock market, can be predicted by levels of certain dark personality traits such as narcissism or psychopathy. In many cases, cryptocurrencies are an inherently high-risk financial investment, so it makes sense that the traits associated with risky financial behavior in general would also occur in this type, he adds.

From Telegram to 8kun

Alternative information sources are also another basic cryptocurrency ownership predictor: One result I found interesting is that cryptocurrency investors are more likely to get their news from secondary social media sources like Telegram, Truth Social and Reddit, and less likely to seek information from traditional, credible sources. Im not sure, but I think our study may be one of the first to examine this connection, explains Littrell, who adds that this type of behavior may be linked to underestimating the risk that comes with using this type of currency.

Cryptocurrency owners may have a more distorted perception of the risks involved in this type of investment because they seem to prefer less reliable sources of information, he adds. The sources of information most used by crypto investors are Telegram, YouTube, Reddit, Twitter (the survey was done before the network was renamed X), blogs and 8kun, the anonymous forum originally known as 8chan. The least likely sources were Facebook and digital newspapers.

The research does not affirm that crypto investors are all like this, only that the percentage of people who define themselves as having these types of traits in that group is especially notable. The individuals analyzed showed a varied interest in the political right and left, which made it difficult to assign them a specific ideology. The study focused on knowing what kind of personalities crypto holders are most likely to have, but not, for example, if there is a difference between those who opt for Bitcoin, the most traditional kind of cryptocurrency, or new, more unstable modalities.

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In 2023, Chris Booth  the director of the Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology at Queens Cancer Research Institute (QCRI)  and other oncologists around the world launched the Common Sense Oncology initiative. They wanted to provoke public debate about a worrying drift in oncology. Although many cancer treatments have saved the lives of patients or prolonged their lives with quality of life, there is a growing number that offer few benefits for a very high price, a lot of toxicity, while keeping patients in hospital for a long time at the end of life, when every hour is even more valuable.

In his studies, Booth, 49, warns that many of the current treatments do not meet the usual thresholds for assessing the usefulness of medications, such as offering one year of quality life for $50,000 or even $100,000. He also points out that drugs are evaluated based on criteria such as the amount of time they stop tumor growth (progression-free survival), which, in many cases, is not related to whether the paitent survived for more months or years. Between 2003 and 2023, 48% of drugs for cancer treatments approved by the FDA  which serves as a reference for other regulators around the world  were approved based on progression-free survival and not on total survival.

In a recent article presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Common Sense Oncology initiative recalled that, in the last 30 years, clinical trials of cancer drugs  which were previously supported more by government moneys and the initiative of researchers  has become 85% funded by the pharmaceutical industry. In a video call conversation, Booth states that oncologists have known this reality for a long time and a large majority would agree on the need to look for solutions, but they needed a space to talk openly about these problems and improve the situation of their patients. and their families.

Question. Eighty-five percent of trials are financed by the industry, but many oncologists and government officials responsible for funding science say that it cannot be done any other way, because only pharmaceutical companies have the large amounts of money needed.

Answer. I agree and disagree. It is important to recognize that many of our excellent treatments and some of the best clinical trials have been conducted in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry. I dont want to give the impression that we are against the industry. The problem is that the pendulum has swung so far one way that the entire cancer research ecosystem is now largely funded by the pharmaceutical industry, meaning that studies designed, launched and funded must align with the core mandate of pharmaceutical companies, which is to obtain profits for shareholders. Sometimes the mandate to make things better for patients and the industry mandate align, but not always.

We need to create a place and alternative funding sources. We need a renewal of investment in clinical cancer research by government-funded agencies. I also think there is a role for the healthcare system to fund clinical trials that address questions that are important to patients, but that are perhaps of less interest to the industry. For example, there is a lot of interest right now in de-escalating treatments, reducing the intensity of treatments, reducing side effects for patients. We have examples of this. The results remain the same and the health system saves money. These trials will not be of interest to the pharmaceutical industry, but they will be of great interest to patients, families and the health system.

Q. Its understandable why the industry would seek drug approval based on progression-free survival and not overall survival, but why would regulators accept that?

A. Regulators have a very difficult job because they are trying to balance a number of competing priorities. There is a constant tension between approving treatments quickly, so that they reach patients as soon as possible, but also ensuring that they are good treatments.

Perhaps we could have an initial regulatory approval based on some kind of surrogate endpoint [measurements to see if the drug works even if it hasn't had time to see if it prolongs life] so that patients have access to the drug while we wait for long-term data to confirm the overall survival benefit and confirm whether the drug gains full regulatory approval.

I also think that in our field in general, including regulators, we were perhaps too optimistic 15 years ago when progression-free survival began to be used in Phase 3 trials [the large trials just before a drugs final approval]. It was never invented for Phase 3 trials. It was invented to guide early drug discovery in Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, to give a signal of activity and let researchers and the pharmaceutical industry know if this was worth trying in a Phase 3 setting. It was thought that these references would serve to predict that the patient would live longer and better and that we would get answers faster.

We have learned, 10 years later, that perhaps that was not as indicative as we thought. We have seen that progression-free survival is a good surrogate for overall survival in some limited circumstances, but, in the vast majority of circumstances, it does not predict whether someone will live longer or better. And thats really important because these treatments are not benign. The other reason we started using progression-free survival is that we thought we would get answers more quickly. And again, 10 years later, weve learned that it saves some time, but estimates indicate that it probably saves less time than we thought, probably less than a year before we get the final answer.

Considering that at least half of clinical trials are designed to slow the growth of the tumor seen on a CT scan, which is progression-free survival, and not to help people live longer, we should think about whether we feel comfortable with a cancer research ecosystem and that model of patient care. The answers are complicated, but I think its worth at least having the conversation, being humble, and acknowledging that maybe some of our treatments arent as helpful as we thought.

Q. You have also published data indicating that more expensive therapies have less benefit than cheaper ones. This inverse correlation is strange.

A. It is a totally broken model. Last month, we published an article in Lancet Oncology that described health spending for cancer drugs for the entire province of Ontario. Ontario is Canadas largest province, with a population of 15 million people, with a single-payer healthcare model. We found that the rate of increase in spending on cancer drugs is staggering. It is increasing at a rate of 15% per year, while the rest of health spending is increasing at a rate of 5% per year. And about half of everything we spend on cancer is for anti-cancer drugs.

The second economic point that you have already mentioned is the fact that in cancer, there is no relationship between how well the drug works and its price. If anything, the drugs with the smallest benefit have the highest price.

The third economic finding is that the entire global pharmaceutical sector is turning to cancer. We have looked at the 10 largest pharmaceutical companies in the world over the last decade and their share of revenue from sales of cancer treatments has grown relative to that of all other diseases.

In principle, that could be good news for oncologists and people with cancer, but firstly, there are other public health problems that require investment, innovation and new treatments. And secondly, more money is not always good. The entire system is addicted to the money that comes from the sale of cancer drugs. There are enormous financial pressures that, whether we recognize it or not, shape much of the cancer system. This is something we should at least acknowledge and discuss.

Q. You also mention that there is a moment in the course of the disease when the investment in treatments would be more useful if it were dedicated to palliative care. But I suppose many people would consider this throwing in the towel or giving up on a loved one.

A. What you mention is the war narrative that emerged from Richard Nixons war on cancer in the 1970s. It creates some problems in the public perception of oncology, which is always a struggle and a battle. That perception, which pushes for the fight to continue, leads to decision-making, especially near the end of life, that can lead some patients to receive treatments they would not have otherwise wanted.

Neither I nor the Common Sense Oncology Initiative believe we have the answers for each individual patient about which treatment is right for them, but we think there is some room for reflection on the benefits of some of those treatments, especially when they are quite small and have many secondary effects, especially near the end of life. I think we can do a better job of empowering patients to have the information they need to make these decisions, which are obviously very difficult.

Q. These treatments also involve enormous costs that sometimes do little or nothing to prolong life.

A. In the U.S., a cancer diagnosis is a leading cause of bankruptcy, and it is much worse in low- and middle-income countries, where the cost of cancer care is paid out-of-pocket. entirely by the patient and family. It is tragic enough to have a cancer diagnosis and it not be curable, without also putting your family in debt for generations just to receive a very toxic treatment with little benefit.

In systems with public health care, the system assumes some of the financial toxicity, but there is also the paradox of the last six months of life. In systems like the Spanish or Canadian ones, after going through previous treatments, there may be a treatment available that may cost the health system $100,000 or $200,000, and it could help the patient live a few more weeks or maybe not. It has side effects and requires the patient to spend one day each week in the chemotherapy unit. The paradox is that we have a system that provides that element of care quite easily, but it is almost impossible for the system to offer that patient, who may feel alone, vulnerable, scared, enough psychosocial, mental health or nursing support to allow them to live at home with dignity and comfort at the end of their life.

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A few months after the birth of their second daughter, Abril, Daniel and Maria Montana decided to try increasingly noisy experiments. First they closed doors shut, then they really slammed them. They played loud music and burst balloons without warning. But their daughter didnt even flinch, to the surprise of her older sister, Maria, who was startled every time. Some time later, in November 2023, the doctors confirmed that Abril could barely hear, and that she would lose more of her hearing. The culprit, they were told, was a rare genetic mutation that affects a gene that is needed for sound to reach the brain.

Abril is 15 months old. She has her hair tied up in a ponytail, her gaze is very fixed, and she walks from one place to another decisively. You have to look closely to realize that she does not respond to voice, only to eye contact. At six months, she was able to say dad and mom, but soon after she suddenly stopped talking. Her parents were surprised because they have no family history of the condition. But the doctors told them that each of them has a mutated copy of the gene, and their daughter inherited one from each of them, which is why she has developed the disease. There was a 25% chance of her getting it.

In these cases, the first two years of life are key. This is the time to take action so that the child does not have a speech delay. After that time, the region of the brain used for listening  not receiving any stimulation  usually turns to another task, often vision. Until now, the way to treat the condition was with a cochlear implant, a device that is placed in the inner ear which alleviates hearing loss, but does not cure it.

When they were given the diagnosis, Abrils father, Daniel Hernandez, a 39-year-old salesman from the Spanish region of Extremadura, started looking for answers online. He discovered the results of a clinical trial in China in which several children who were born deaf had started hearing again, and even speaking, after receiving a new gene therapy treatment. When he learned that a similar trial was going to begin in Spain, neither he nor his wife had any doubts.

We knew we had to do it, even if we were afraid, it was a unique opportunity, recalled Maria Montana, a 37-year-old technical architect, a few days ago in the otorhinolaryngology ward of the Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CUN) hospital, in Pamplona, while waiting for her daughter to come out of hearing tests.

April plays in the children's room of the Clinica Universidad de Navarra with her parents. PABLO LASAOSA

The human ear is a wonder to which we often do not properly recognize. Sound waves reach the ear, are amplified by several tiny bones, and penetrate to the inner ear, where there are a few milliliters of watery fluid called endolymph. Inside the cochlea  a spiral structure similar to the shell of a snail , there are thousands of hair cells that bathe in this liquid, collect sound waves with their villi and transform them into chemical signals that are transmitted to the first neurons. Thats when the brain hears; all in fractions of a second.

Raquel Manrique, an otolaryngologist at CUN, describes this process as a row of dominoes that fall one by one. In the Abrils case, there is a gap between two pieces, meaning sound never reaches the brain. This gap is due to a mutation in the OTOF gene that prevents it from producing otoferlin, a protein needed for the cells of the inner ear to communicate with the brain.

On May 2, CUN doctors sedated Abril to make a small incision behind her right ear. The objective was to reach the cochlea  a part smaller than a little fingernail , introduce a catheter and inject the new gene therapy DB-OTO, developed by the U.S. company Regeneron. The treatment contains the correct version of the gene packaged in harmless adenovirus. These viruses enter the hair cells of the ear and release their genetic cargo, potentially restoring the ability to hear. Recovery is so rapid that the patient leaves the hospital the day after.

Abril is the first girl in Spain to be treated within a clinical trial that is also being carried out in the United Kingdom and the United States. The trial is aimed at evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the experimental therapy. In the United Kingdom, Opal, an 18-month-old deaf girl, has almost completely recovered her hearing. In the United States, in another similar trial, Aissam, a 12-year-old boy, has managed to recover his hearing, although he will probably not be able to learn to speak, his doctors explained to EL PAIS. China is leading the way with a very similar therapy that produced extraordinary results in six children late last year.

Doctors have not yet detected signs of hearing in Abril. It is not alarming because the first signs can appear up to six months after the treatment. Its one thing for us to be placing the missing domino, but now it has to start working, and that takes time. But we are hopeful because the Chinese group has published the results, and they have seen good responses, says Manrique.

His father, Manuel, is head of otorhinolaryngology at CUN. We are facing the first curative treatment for these types of deafness. Until now, all procedures were palliative, he says. The 66-year-old doctor, pioneer of cochlear implants in Spain, believes that this is the first step towards a near future in which this condition and other congenital deafness can be reversed with gene therapy, without the need for other treatments.

Abril, in the children's playroom in the hospital. PABLO LASAOSA

With this type of therapy, the earlier the intervention, the better the recovery of hearing and, therefore, the better the development of the auditory cerebral cortex. If this has not developed, no matter how much they recover their hearing, they can no longer develop language, he says.

Jonathon Whitton, CEO of Regeneron, explains that for now all patients will receive the treatment in one ear. If the initial success is confirmed, and once the correct dose is adjusted, the second ear will be treated, provided that a cochlear implant has not been placed. Our intention is to submit an application for approval at the end of next year, says Whitton, who has been involved in the project since 2016. Regeneron is also investigating similar therapies against more common genetic deafness, such as the lack of the protein connexin.

Daniel, Aprils father, knows that if all goes well, his daughter will not remember any of this. These days, he and his wife are so aware of any changes that sometimes it seems as if their daughter has heard them when they call her. But the doctors have told them that they are not going to notice anything. The doctors will be the first to pick up any changes, with the tests that measure the electrical impulses that reach the brain. The day after she gets her hearing back, we will tell her what has happened since her birth so that she knows. For now, we are within the expected time, and we have to be patient, says Daniel.

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Joe Biden has long seen himself as the only Democrat capable of defeating Donald Trump. He achieved this in the 2020 presidential elections, and he also secured a good result in the 2022 midterm elections. Biden was planning to be a transitional president with the historic mission of overcoming Trumps term and passing the baton to a new generation. His predecessor, however, resisted defeat and took control of the Republican Party. Trump is once again the candidate to beat, but the polls after last weeks debate indicate that the president will not be able to beat him one more time. That increases the pressure on Biden to withdraw. Vice-President Kamala Harris stands out as a favorite to replace him.

The media, political and financial offensive against the presidents candidacy is unrelenting. On Wednesday it was the prestigious Boston Globe that asked in an editorial for Biden to step aside. Meanwhile, a second congressman raised his voice in public to ask him to withdraw. There were also donors who asked for a change of candidate. Biden has categorically denied that he is considering giving up his re-election bid. However, if the president becomes convinced that he has no chance of being elected, the chances of him stepping down will multiply.

On Wednesday afternoon, Democratic governors from across the country closed ranks with the president in a meeting at the White House that was also attended by Harris. The president is our nominee. The president is our party leader, said Maryland Governor Wes Moore at the end of the meeting. Although the governors gave their support to the president, they also meaningfully noted that the most important thing is to defeat Donald Trump in the November 5 elections.

From left to right, the governors of New York, Kathy Hochul; Minnesota, Tim Walz, and Maryland, Wes Moore, on Wednesday outside the White House. SHAWN THEW (EFE)

Polls are beginning to show a decisive distance between the two candidates. On Wednesday, The New York Times published a poll conducted with Siena College that shows Trumps lead has doubled from 3 to 6 percentage points among likely voters: 49% would choose Trump and 43% would vote for Biden. The gap is even greater (49% to 41%) among registered voters. Trump had never had such a big lead in a New York Times poll, one of the newspapers that has openly called for Bidens withdrawal.

Growing gap

The gap is also breaking all records in a Wall Street Journal nationwide poll published this Wednesday. The conservative financial newspaper grants Trump a six-point lead over Biden, 48% to 42%. The distance is maintained (42% to 36%) when Robert F. Kennedy Jr and the rest of the independent candidates are also considered. Around 80% of respondents believe Biden is too old to seek a second term and almost half (47%) would replace both candidates if they could. A CNN poll also places Trumps lead at six points.

These polls add to others published in recent days in which the effect of the debate seemed somewhat less relevant. Perhaps it is not just the face-to-face itself, but the subsequent discussion about Bidens suitability that is further eroding his support. A polling average by FiveThirtyEight, which gave a minimal advantage to Biden before the debate, on Wednesday gave Trump a 2.3-point lead over Biden.

Another aggregator, RealClearPolitics, gives Trump a lead of 2.9 points, the largest since January. Metaculus, a prediction community of thousands of users, estimates that the Republican candidate has a 64% chance of returning to the White House, compared to only 24% for Joe Biden. Investors in the experimental online prediction market PredictIt have at times given Kamala Harris a better chance of being elected than Biden himself.

In 2020, four months before the election, Biden had a nine-point lead in the polls. In the end, he won the election with 51.25% of the popular vote, compared to Trumps 46.8%. Despite the difference of seven million votes, the Democrats victory was decided by a few tens of thousands of votes in a handful of decisive states. Given that the electoral system favors rural and depopulated states with a Republican majority, the Democratic candidate needs to win by several points of difference in the popular vote to have a majority in the electoral college, whose members elect the president. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote (48%-46%) in 2016, but was not elected president.

So far, the president has been trying to prove that his memory lapses, hesitations and unfinished sentences at the debate were an accident, caused by fatigue, a cold, a sore throat and jet lag (this is the latest excuse or, in Bidens words, explanation, even he had spent a week preparing for the debate at Camp David). He will have the opportunity to test himself in a television interview, several radio interviews and a news conference in the coming week. The New York Times, which had first reported that Biden told an ally he was considering stepping down, later withdrew that idea following a flat denial from the White House and left it at Biden admitting that crucial days lie ahead for his candidacy.

Things are moving so fast that ABC, which was planning to air its interview with Biden on Sunday, has decided to reschedule it for Friday evening in prime time. The pressure is on. On the one hand, Biden is in a hurry to change the narrative. On the other, the interview can get old if it is saved for longer than necessary.

New pressures

On Wednesday a second congressman called on Biden to step aside. Raul Grijalva, a representative from Arizona, joined Lloyd Doggett from Texas, who was the first to openly make the request. They are just two of the more than 250 Democratic representatives and senators in Congress, but there are many more who have expressed similar doubts in private. The unfortunate reality is that the status quo will likely deliver us President Trump, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton said in a statement. When your current strategy isnt working, its rarely the right decision to double down. President Biden is not going to get younger, he added. There are several other representatives who have made similar comments.

Joe Biden, at an event this Wednesday at the White House. Yuri Gripas / POOL (EFE)

On Wednesday the president participated in a medal ceremony prior to Independence Day. He read his speech from a teleprompter, but his movements and gestures were still those of an older person. At 81, his physical deterioration is evident and a hypothetical second term would mean that he would occupy the presidency until the age of 86. Still, the president seems convinced that he can reverse voters perceptions by intensifying his agenda.

But the pressure is also coming from the world of money. Several donors have begun to express doubts, including Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings, who called on the president to drop out of the race: Biden needs to step aside to allow a vigorous Democratic leader to beat Trump and keep us safe and prosperous, he said in a message to The New York Times, the most active newspaper in the campaign to get the president to step down.

If Biden steps aside  and that is a giant if  it remains to be seen who will replace him. Jim Clyburn, a longtime friend and confidant of Biden, said he would support a mini-primary in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention that opens on August 19 in Chicago. On CNN, Clyburn said Vice-President Kamala Harris, governors and others could join the competition.

Harris' moment

The vice-president appears to be the favorite for a hypothetical succession, although she also has her detractors within the party. The Harris solution appears to be the one that makes it easier to have access to all the money raised by the Biden-Harris campaign. The delegates that Biden won in the primaries are also hers to a certain extent.

Clyburn expressed his preference for her on CNN, and the Democratic House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries, has also conveyed that he would support her candidacy if Biden were to withdraw, according to The Washington Post. Tim Ryan, a prominent former Democratic congressman, has openly supported her in an article in Newsweek.

Finding someone other than Harris  the first woman to hold the vice-presidency, and the daughter of Indian and Jamaican parents who is able to mobilize the Black vote  could be a burden for the Democrats. She has not been very popular during her term, in part because she received complicated or impossible assignments, such as stopping the causes of immigration. However, she is beginning to show better results than Biden in some polls, has stood out as a defender of abortion, and is not burdened by the rejection of the young and Arab vote like Biden is. Harris, 59, has a greater national projection than other potential candidates. However, she also provokes rejection in some population segments with whom Biden connected better, particularly the white working-class voters.

That Harris is the favorite seems to be confirmed by the fact that she has become the target of attacks by the Trump campaign, which has launched an ad with the slogan: This November, vote Republican. Stop Kamala.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 06:50 | All, World, Japan

The U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday it will deploy 48 F-35A stealth fighters to Misawa Air Base in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Aomori for the first time, in an effort to bolster regional deterrence with its key ally.

The F-35As, known as fifth-generation fighters capable of evading radar detection, will replace 36 F-16 aircraft, it said, adding that the U.S. military will upgrade its capability at Kadena Air Base in Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa by deploying 36 new F-15 fighters to replace 48 retiring F-15s.

Amid security challenges posed by China, North Korea and Russia, the Pentagon said the modernization of U.S. tactical aircraft will be carried out over the next several years in close coordination with the Japanese government.

The move is part of efforts to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance and bolster stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the department said.

Japan deployed F-35As to Misawa for the first time in 2018 to respond to airspace incursions and engage in surveillance activities on North Korea.

Without elaborating, the Pentagon also said the U.S. Marine Corps plans to change the number of F-35s at its base in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 23:39 | All, World, Japan

The Japanese ambassador to Myanmar on Thursday met with a Japanese executive of a local supermarket joint venture who has been detained for allegedly violating rules on the selling price of rice, the Japanese Embassy in Yangon said.

Ambassador Ichiro Maruyama found Hiroshi Kasamatsu, 53, the merchandise division chief of Aeon Orange Co., in good health when they met. Kasamatsu has been under interrogation at a police station in Myanmar's largest city since Sunday.

The supermarket is a joint venture established in 2016 between major Japanese retailer Aeon Co. and its local partner Creation Myanmar Group of Companies Ltd.

The meeting with Kasamatsu was realized at the request of the Japanese government, which is seeking his early release.

Japan will continue to request the military government, which has ruled Myanmar since ousting its civilian government in a February 2021 coup, to release him as soon as possible, the embassy said.

Kasamatsu and 10 Myanmar nationals have been held for allegedly selling rice at prices 50 to 70 percent higher than the level mandated by authorities.

A local lawyer has been visiting Kasamatsu and delivering necessary goods to him, and the embassy has received information about him from the lawyer.

The detention of a Japanese-affiliated company official in Myanmar, a rare crackdown on a foreigner for violating price regulations, came despite Japan not imposing sanctions on the Southeast Asian country's military or associated individuals and groups following the coup, unlike Western countries.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 20:57 | All, Japan

A Japanese court ordered Thursday that the government grant refugee status to a gay man from a North African country, ruling against immigration authorities as he could be prosecuted in his home nation.

The man in his 30s came to Japan in December 2019, leaving his Islamic home country where having a relationship with a same-sex partner is banned by law, with violators facing arrest and prosecution.

There is "a realistic fear he could be harmed by his family if he returned to his home country, and he cannot receive protection at his country of origin," Presiding Judge Atsushi Tokuchi said in the ruling.

The man has said he was prevented from moving freely by his family after they learned he was in a relationship with another man, and an attempt was also made to run him over, according to the ruling.

He expressed gratitude at a press conference after the decision, saying, "Thank you so much Japan, thank you so much to the court." He said he wishes to live and work in the country like others do, and hopes that the government does not appeal the ruling.

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan said it will examine the ruling and respond appropriately.

After coming to Japan, he made an application for refugee status in January 2020 at the Osaka regional immigration bureau but it was declined in February 2021. His appeal to have the bureau's decision reviewed was also turned down in May 2022.

In July of that year, he filed a lawsuit at the Osaka District Court, seeking revocation of the immigration authorities' decision not to grant him refugee status.

The ruling comes as Japan in March 2023 unveiled for the first time its guidelines for recognizing refugees to ensure transparency amid criticism that it accepts very few refugees compared with other countries.

Under the guidelines, the immigration services agency said refugee status could be granted if applicants are deemed at risk of persecution in their home countries for their gender, or for identifying as a member of a sexual minority group.

Japan gave refugee status to a record-high 303 people in 2023. But the number is tiny in comparison to European countries, where refugees are taken in by their tens of thousands annually, and the United States, which recently raised its yearly cap to 125,000.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 14:00 | All, Japan

The former head of a kindergarten in central Japan and a staff member were found guilty on Thursday of professional negligence resulting in the death by heatstroke of a 3-year-old girl who was left in a school van for hours in 2022.

The Shizuoka District Court sentenced Tatsuyoshi Masuda, a 74-year-old former principal of the facility in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture, to 16 months in jail, and Ako Nishihara, 48, who had been responsible for the girl's class, to one year in prison, suspended for three years, over the death of China (pronounced chee-na) Kawamoto.

"Failing to fulfill the basic duty of care, such as confirming the number of children who got off, was serious negligence," Presiding Judge Koshi Kunii said about Masuda, adding that the president had also failed to create a safety manual.

"Her future was stolen at just 3 years and 11 months. Her suffering is unimaginable," Kunii added.

The court said it had been Masuda's responsibility as the head of the facility to set safety standards.

According to the ruling, on Sept. 5, 2022, Masuda, who had been driving the van that day, closed the vehicle's doors and locked them without accounting for all the children who got out, while Nishihara failed to confirm China's whereabouts such as by calling her family.

China was inside the van until around 2:05 p.m. She was found unconscious, having taken her shirt off and with an empty water bottle.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of two years and six months for Masuda and one year for Nishihara.

The tragic death of China, along with other similar lock-up incidents, has prompted the government to mandate the implementation of safety measures on vehicles used by kindergartens and other facilities.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 20:24 | All, Japan, Expo

SkyDrive Inc., a Japanese air taxi startup, on Thursday cited persistent challenges in addressing safety and other technological development issues as the reason for abandoning its plan to offer commercial flights at next year's World Exposition in Osaka.

SkyDrive sought to develop a flying taxi that can carry up to three people to showcase its technology at the expo as one of the event's main attractions, but it decided last month to withdraw the plan and only perform demo flights without passengers.

"As we moved ahead with the development, we found more and more unexpected problems, including those related to safety," SkyDrive CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa told reporters after a press conference for a tie-up with Kyushu Railway Co.

The company expects to take more time to develop key components such as batteries and motors than it initially planned.

SkyDrive, known for its demonstration of Japan's first public test flight of a manned flying car in 2020, followed Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp. in scrapping plans to offer air taxi services at the exposition to take place from April 13 through Oct. 13 next year.

Still, Japan Airlines Co. and a group of ANA Holdings Inc. and U.S. flying car maker Joby Aviation Inc. are gearing up to provide such services. ANA Holdings is the parent company of All Nippon Airways Co.

But there is no change in SkyDrive's business plan, the company said, as it continues to aim to obtain type certification from Japanese regulators as early as 2026 to roll out its electric vertical take-off and landing model at home and abroad.

The startup is planning to develop a vehicle that can fly 15 to 40 kilometers, with the maximum speed reaching 100 km per hour, according to the company.

SkyDrive said at the press conference that it will launch a feasibility study with Kyushu Railway, a railway operator in the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, for flying taxi services in the region. This follows its recently signed partnership with Suzuki Motor Corp. for the production of flying cars.

Fukuzawa said the services, if launched, will help boost tourism in the Kyushu region, known for many hot springs, scenic nature landscapes and historical sites, attracting more domestic and overseas travelers.

"There will be huge demand for foreign visitors to see the beautiful landscapes from above," he said.

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KYODO NEWS - Jul 4, 2024 - 20:37 | World, All

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday reaffirmed their unity in countering the United States, during a meeting held on the sidelines of a regional summit in Kazakhstan, official media said.

Putin told Xi that cooperation between Russia and China is "one of the main stabilizing factors on the international stage" and vowed to further strengthen collaboration with Beijing, according to Russia's Tass news agency.

Putin also described bilateral relations as being "in the best period of their history," saying they are built on the principles of equality, mutual benefit and respect for each other's sovereignty.

Xi highlighted the need for China and Russia to remain committed to lasting friendship in an "international situation fraught with turbulence and changes," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

The two leaders held talks on the fringes of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, the Kazakh capital.

Putin said the organization, which brings together Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and four Central Asian nations, is "one of the important pillars in a just and multipolar world order."

He added that cooperation between China and Russia is "not directed against anyone" and the two countries do not intend to create any blocs or alliances, Tass said, in an apparent reference to multilateral mechanisms involving the United States and its allies.

Xi said China and Russia should make new efforts to "safeguard their legitimate rights and interests" as well as the basic norms governing international relations, the Chinese ministry said.

Putin said he expects Xi to take part in a BRICS summit to be held in October in the central Russian city of Kazan, Tass said.

The BRICS group comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa welcomed five new members, including Egypt and Iran, in January. Moscow and Beijing have been deepening cooperation with emerging and developing economies, collectively dubbed the Global South.

Xi said China supports Russia in fulfilling its responsibilities as BRICS chair, uniting the Global South, preventing a "new Cold War" and opposing "illegal unilateral sanctions and hegemonism," the Chinese ministry said.

The two leaders last met in Beijing in May and agreed to deepen the countries' bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. China and Russia have been strengthening ties recently, with Beijing opposing Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

As for the Ukraine crisis, Putin and Xi agreed there was a "lack of perspectives" in any formats without Russian participation to resolve the issue, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Switzerland hosted a summit in June on bringing an end to the war in Ukraine that was attended by about 100 countries and organizations, but Russia was not invited and its key backer China did not participate.

Belarus was approved as a new member at the two-day summit through Thursday in Astana of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

China took over the rotating presidency of the group. At the SCO summit, Xi urged member countries to "jointly oppose external interference," according to the country's official Xinhua News Agency.

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BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The speech delivered by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a conference held on June 28 marking the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence has been published as a booklet.

In the 1950s, the Chinese leadership specified the Five Principles in their entirety 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.

At the June conference in Beijing, Xi called on the international community to carry forward the Five Principles under the new circumstances and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

The booklet, published by the People's Publishing House, is available at Xinhua Bookstores across the country. 
BOGOTA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday welcomed Juan Fernando Cristo as head of the interior ministry, replacing Luis Fernando Velasco.

"We welcome Juan Fernando Cristo as minister of the interior, who will have the functions of promoting social reforms in Congress, coordinating compliance with the signed peace accord and building social and political bridges for the national agreement that promotes regulatory changes and use of constituent power," Petro said on X.

Cristo, founder and president of the political party En Marcha, which was a component of the Historic Pact coalition that brought Petro to power, served as interior minister during Juan Manuel Santos' presidency. Cristo is known for his efforts to promote peace in the South American country.

A day earlier, Petro announced that Maria Constanza Garcia will assume the role of minister of transport. She is tasked with reactivating the railway system, one of the government's most ambitious projects.

In the coming days, Petro is expected to announce new ministerial appointments as part of a cabinet overhaul after his first two years in office. He stated that this move was necessary to strengthen his mandate and implement reforms in the country. 
This photo posted on social media shows Israeli air defense systems launched for interception in northern Israel on July 4, 2024. The Israeli army said Thursday that it launched airstrikes on Lebanon after the Lebanese group Hezbollah fired at least 175 rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israel in retaliation for an airstrike that killed one of its senior commanders. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that about 160 rockets and missiles, as well as more than 15 drones, were fired at northern Israel. (Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army said Thursday that it launched airstrikes on Lebanon after the Lebanese group Hezbollah fired at least 175 rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israel in retaliation for an airstrike that killed one of its senior commanders.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that about 160 rockets and missiles, as well as more than 15 drones, were fired at northern Israel.

"Numerous projectiles and suspicious aerial targets crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory," IDF said, adding that its Aerial Defense Array and the Israel Air Force "operated to intercept them and successfully intercepted several targets and projectiles."

However, some explosive drones and shrapnel from the interceptions hit several areas, sparking fires, the army said.

"The IDF is currently striking launch posts in southern Lebanon," read the statement.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah confirmed earlier in the day that it attacked several Israeli sites in response to Israel's assassination of a senior commander, Mohammad Naameh Nasser, in Lebanon's southwest city of Tyre.

"Today, Thursday, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance bombed, with 20 drones and about 200 Katyusha and Falaq missiles, several Israeli sites and leadership headquarters in the Galilee and the occupied Syrian Golan," Hezbollah said in a statement.

According to the statement, Hezbollah attacked the bases of Eilat, Katsavia, Dadu, Kiryat Shmona, the Zarit and Al-Raheb sites, and the Keila barracks.

A Lebanese military source told Xinhua that the Lebanese army positions monitored the launching of about 25 drones and more than 150 surface-to-surface missiles from the Lebanese side to the Israeli side, and some of them were intercepted by Israeli Iron Dome missiles.

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. 

This photo posted on social media shows Israeli air defense systems launched for interception in northern Israel on July 4, 2024. The Israeli army said Thursday that it launched airstrikes on Lebanon after the Lebanese group Hezbollah fired at least 175 rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israel in retaliation for an airstrike that killed one of its senior commanders.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that about 160 rockets and missiles, as well as more than 15 drones, were fired at northern Israel. (Xinhua)
Villagers take shelter on the top of their partially submerged hut in a flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

Villagers take shelter on the top of their partially submerged hut in a flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

A family transfer their belongings with a boat to a safer place in a flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

A villager rows a boat as he carries his family to a safer place in a flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

Villagers row a boat near a submerged house at the flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)

Villagers take shelter on the top of their partially submerged hut in a flood affected area in Morigaon district of India's northeastern state of Assam, July 3, 2024. (Str/Xinhua)
MOSCOW, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia's S-350 Vityaz surface-to-air missile system has effectively intercepted Western missiles in the ongoing special military operation, TASS news agency quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday.

"In the special military operation zone, the combat crews of the S-350 air defense system successfully repelled enemy airstrikes," the ministry said.

"The system is capable of downing both Western ballistic and cruise missiles, such as ATACMS and Storm Shadow," the ministry said. "The S-350 can also neutralize an entire squadron of enemy aircraft or helicopters -- up to 16 in a single salvo."

The ministry highlighted that Vityaz's primary advantage over previous systems lies in its missile capacity: a single S-350 launcher is equipped with the same number of munitions as an entire S-300 division.

"With one radar station, five launchers can be operated simultaneously, and the system supports the concurrent operation of three stations. This triples the number of missiles on combat duty, allowing it to counter even massive missile attacks," the ministry added.

The S-350 is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed by the Russian defense company GSKB Almaz-Antey.

ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, is a tactical ballistic missile manufactured by the U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin. The Storm Shadow cruise missile has a range of over 250 kilometers. Both missiles were provided to Ukraine in 2023. 
by Xinhua writer Wang Aihua

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- In 2020, Liu Jiayun became one of China's first undergraduate students enrolled in the major of elderly care at the Shanghai University of Engineering Science (SUES).

In the past four years, Liu and her 30-some classmates have followed a progressive curriculum design on campus, from general knowledge about the elderly care industry, laws and regulations, to operation and management skills. This will be combined with internships at elderly care institutions, working from basic posts to management.

"Sometimes our teachers had to collect teaching materials by themselves due to lack of reference books," she said. "We were also invited to participate in investigative projects on new developments in the industry."

With a population aged 60 or above expected to top 400 million by around 2035, China is upgrading the training of nursing professionals to bridge the gap between talent supply and demand, particularly at the higher end of the service.

In 2019, the Ministry of Education and several other departments urged universities to set up elderly care majors. The SUES and the Shandong Women's University (SWU) were the first to do so, aiming to nurture talents proficient in both theories and practices. More than 200 universities nationwide have opened relevant majors for undergraduates, complementing vocational education.

Ma Liang, a professor of public management at Renmin University of China, said most Chinese universities were not ready to set up elderly care majors when rapid aging widened the talent supply and demand gap. "Many students also hesitated to choose this major because jobs related to elderly care may start with unsatisfactory payment or high workload," said Ma.

Things have changed over the years. According to the SUES, the number of students enrolled in its elderly care major has grown yearly since 2020, with a higher proportion of them making the major their first choice when applying for colleges.

Ma pointed out that the industry now offers sufficient job vacancies, a blessing for graduates in today's fiercely competitive job market, plus significant space for long-term career development if one becomes a veteran.

During the graduation season this year, Liu and her classmates were thrilled to find a number of job vacancies at a specially organized recruitment session on their campus, ranging from management posts in nursing homes to counselors for individual elderly care and health secretaries. "Employers usually find my major novel and suits their needs," said Liu, who quickly secured a job with the Association of Senior Service in Shanghai.

Zhang Jingfeng, general manager of a senior care service provider in Shanghai named Renshoutang, said the company offered salaries of nearly 10,000 yuan (about 1,402 U.S. dollars) for management posts at the SUES campus recruitment session plus a career development package spanning three to five years for new employees.

Industry insiders say many businesses urgently need management staff, which the bachelor's degree holders fit perfectly.

To make relevant jobs more attractive, the central authorities issued a document in 2021 requiring employers in the elderly care industry to raise employee payments and offer clear career development paths.

Last month, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice promising to support medical staff at elderly care service institutions by sitting in on the vocational qualification exam and having their professional titles reviewed. Subsidies on social insurance will also be offered to small and micro-sized gray hair economy businesses that employ college graduates.

Major cities are also pioneering efforts to attract educated youngsters in this area. The Pudong New Area, home to the largest senior population among all districts of Shanghai, had encouraged college graduates to work in elderly care institutions, built training camps for them, and established studios for experienced practitioners.

Lin Manqing, one of the graduates at the SWU who will soon take a marketing job at a nursing institution in Qingdao, Shandong Province, shared her optimism about the future. "The university offered us a very good chance to learn knowledge, know different people and accumulate work experiences," she said. "Hope we can stay confident and dare to try." 
The Chinese Embassy in Syria on Wednesday donated a series of solar-powered lighting devices to the Damascus Province to improve infrastructure in the Syrian capital.
YANGON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is working to try to get its ancient city of Inwa listed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), according to the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay branch) on Thursday.

Inwa, along with other ancient cities in Myanmar, has been on the tentative list since 1996. After the Pyu Ancient Cities and archaeological site Bagan were inscribed on the UNESCO list, the focus was shifted to Inwa, Than Htike, a director at the department told Xinhua.

Currently, efforts are being made to collect data, conserve sites, and monitor conditions for readiness, he said.

In addition, a heritage conservation committee has been established to ensure the sustainable development of Inwa. This committee aims to protect the heritage sites and provide educational opportunities for both local and international visitors, he added.

Inwa, also known as Ava and located in the Mandalay Region, was an ancient capital of Myanmar from the 14th to the 19th century, and is home to over 960 ancient buildings and pagodas. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping here Thursday called on the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to ensure security in the face of real threat from the Cold War mentality.

Xi made the remarks when attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.

He urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with a win-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.

Xi spoke highly of Kazakhstan's positive efforts and significant contributions to improving the operational mechanism of the SCO and deepening cooperation in various fields during its rotating presidency, and welcomed Belarus to attend the SCO summit as a member state for the first time.

He pointed out that the SCO was founded at the turn of the century when confrontations and divisions left by the Cold War had yet to be resolved.

The SCO founding members made a historical decision to pursue peaceful development, commit to good-neighborliness and friendship, and build a new type of international relations, Xi said, adding that the "Shanghai Spirit" has become a shared value and guiding principle for the member states.

Noting that the SCO has had its 10th member state since its establishment 23 years ago, Xi said the foundation for SCO cooperation has become more solid as the SCO "big family" has growing membership which covers three continents around the world.

As the world is faced with accelerating changes unseen in a century, the human society is standing at a crossroads of history again, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that the SCO stands on the right side of history, fairness and justice, and is of great significance to the world.

He called on SCO members to safeguard the right to development in the face of real risks of "small yard, high fences."

Xi noted that SCO members should adhere to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join hands to push for scientific and technological innovation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, stimulate the internal impetus of regional economies, and work towards common development goals.

SCO members should consolidate unity and jointly oppose external interference in the face of the real challenges of interference and division, he said.

The SCO members should firmly support each other, accommodate each other's concerns, handle internal differences with a spirit of harmony, and resolve cooperation difficulties by seeking common ground while reserving differences, and firmly grasp the destiny of our countries and the peace and development of the region in our own hands, Xi said.

The SCO has withstood the test of the changing international landscape, the root cause of which lies in the fact that SCO members remain committed to the fine tradition of solidarity and coordination, the way of cooperation featuring equality and mutual benefit, the value pursuit on fairness and justice, and the broad-mindedness of inclusiveness and mutual learning, Xi stressed.

Xi called on the member states to stay true to the original aspiration, continue to uphold the "Shanghai Spirit," help each other on their respective path to success, jointly maintain the development direction of the SCO, and build the organization into a reliable backbone for common prosperity and revitalization of its member states.

Leaders of the SCO members attending the meeting spoke positively of the constructive role of the organization in safeguarding regional peace and security, and voiced readiness to further strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, transportation, energy, finance, agriculture, digital economy and technological innovation, as well as to deepen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, tourism and youth, among other fields.

Noting that the current global political and economic landscape as well as international relations are undergoing major changes, the leaders said the United Nations should play a central coordinating role in promoting the building of a more representative, democratic and equitable multipolar world system, and pushing for an economic globalization that is mutually beneficial and inclusive.

They called for respecting the legitimate security concerns of all countries, committing to resolve differences and disputes between countries through peaceful means, and opposing unilateral sanctions and interference in other countries' internal affairs.

The leaders agreed to improve the SCO mechanism for dealing with security threats and challenges, resolutely combat the "three forces," drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, support the international community's efforts for peace and development in Afghanistan, and support a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

They signed and issued a series of documents, including an Astana declaration, and an initiative calling for solidarity among countries to promote world justice, harmony and development.

The meeting formally approved Belarus' accession to the SCO, and decided that China will resume the rotating presidency of the organization for 2024-2025. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with leaders attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. Xi attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana Thursday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Independence Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)
YANGON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar aims to release over 40 million fingerlings into rivers, creeks, dams and natural lakes across the Southeast Asian country in the current fiscal year 2024-25, according to a government official said Thursday.

From April 1 to June 30, over 11 million fingerlings had already been released, accounting for about 28 percent of the target, Kyaw Moe Aung, a deputy director at the aquaculture division under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, told Xinhua.

Fingerling production is estimated at over 100 million for the current fiscal year starting April. Of them, over 40 million will be released into natural water bodies and the rest will be sold to fish farmers, said the official.

Fingerling releases are conducted in regions and states around the country with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of fish resources, preventing fish species extinction, and creating job opportunities for local people, he added.

In fiscal year 2023-24, over 50 million fingerlings were added to natural water bodies in Myanmar, out of a total production of over 100 million fingerlings, according to the official. 
COLOMBO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka has successfully concluded discussions on restructuring international sovereign bonds worth 12.5 billion U.S. dollars out of the total external debt of 37 billion U.S. dollars, a state minister said on Thursday.

In a social media post, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe said that the agreement is a crucial step in efforts to restore debt sustainability for the South Asian country.

These restructuring terms now require approval from the official creditor committee and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to confirm the comparability of treatment and assess compliance with debt sustainability targets, said Semasinghe.

Semasinghe said it marks another key milestone in Sri Lanka's journey towards economic revival and strengthening.

Sri Lanka has recently finalized comprehensive bilateral debt restructuring agreements with key bilateral creditors. 
Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang delivers a speech at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, July 3, 2024. A report on building a China-Thailand community with a shared future was launched here Wednesday by the Chinese Studies Center at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University. (Xinhua/Sun Weitong)

BANGKOK, July 3 (Xinhua) -- A report on building a China-Thailand community with a shared future was launched here Wednesday by the Chinese Studies Center at the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University.

The report titled "Building 'China-Thailand community with a shared future' and its implications to the China-Thailand relation" (English edition) was launched alongside a special public forum gathering experts and scholars to exchange views.

The report reviews the development of China-Thailand relations and presents an overview of China-Thailand relations from multiple dimensions including politics, economy, social culture, education, science and technology, calling for further strengthening of bilateral ties.

Surakiart Sathirathai, chairman of the Chulalongkorn University Council and former Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, noted that Thailand and China have long been together through thick and thin, and helping each other.

"Now in the face of common challenges such as aging population, climate change, and geopolitical crises, the two sides should further strengthen cooperation, adhere to mutual benefit and win-win approaches, and promote strategic synergy," said Surakiart.

Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang noted that China and Thailand are neighbors and partners of mutually beneficial cooperation.

Building a China-Thailand community with a shared future is in line with the trend of the times and the will of the people, the ambassador said. Han called on the two sides to enhance political mutual trust, achieve common prosperity, strengthen friendly ties, and jointly safeguard international and regional peace and development.

The Chinese Embassy in Thailand, Chulalongkorn University and the Chinese Studies Center of Chulalongkorn University jointly organized the forum. 
BRATISLAVA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The gunman who attempted to assassinate Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in May will face additional charges, according to the country's prosecutor general on Thursday.

After facing a charge of attempted murder, the suspect -- named by Slovak media as 71-year-old poet Juraj Cintula -- now faces terror charges, the Associated Press reports.

Fico sustained four gunshot wounds in an attack on May 15 when he greeted supporters after chairing a government meeting in the central Slovak town of Handlova. If his recovery goes smoothly, Fico said he would return to work at the end of June or early July.

The gunman was arrested on the spot and later placed in pretrial detention by a special penal court in Pezinok, northeast of the capital Bratislava. 
BRUSSELS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission announced on Thursday it will impose provisional countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China starting Friday, sparking backlash from various business sectors.

The duties, ranging from 17.4 percent to 37.6 percent, target imports of BEVs produced in China.

Three Chinese companies -- BYD, Geely and SAIC -- will face additional duties of 17.4 percent, 19.9 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively, on top of the European Union's (EU) standard 10-percent duty on car imports.

Tesla's BEV operator in China may receive an individually calculated duty rate at the definitive stage, as it has filed a substantiated request, the statement added.

Following the EU's announcement, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) voiced strong opposition to the protectionist measures, urging the EU to listen to the common voices and consider the shared concerns of businesses from both China and Europe.

The tariffs will present significant challenges to future China-Europe cooperation in the EV industry, particularly for European companies seeking to utilize China's EV supply chain to develop globally competitive products, the CCCEU said in a statement.

"We hope that the two sides will soon find a solution to avoid countervailing measures that harm the mutually beneficial cooperation and joint development of the China-EU automotive industry," it added.

The EU's decision has also drawn criticism from member states and the vehicle industry.

BMW chief Oliver Zipse said the introduction of additional import duties "leads to a dead end."

"It does not strengthen the competitiveness of European manufacturers," Zipse stressed. "On the contrary, it not only harms the business model of globally active companies, but also limits the supply of electric cars to European customers and can therefore even slow down decarbonization in the transport sector."

Such measures heavily infringe upon the principle of free trade, which is also propagated by the EU, he added.

"The timing of the EU Commission's decision is detrimental to the current weak demand for BEV vehicles in Germany and Europe," a spokesperson with Europe's largest carmaker Volkswagen said in a statement on Thursday.

Volkswagen stressed, "The negative effects of this decision outweigh any benefits for the European, and especially the German, automotive industry."

German Association of the Automotive Industry released a statement on Wednesday, saying that anti-subsidy tariffs are not in the EU's interest. "The European anti-subsidy tariffs would not only affect Chinese manufacturers, but also European companies and their joint ventures in particular."

It stated that a large proportion of vehicle imports from China into the EU come from European and American manufacturers. The announced anti-subsidy tariffs are even higher for European companies than for Chinese companies.

The association also noted that no excessive market penetration of Chinese battery-electric vehicles is expected in the medium to long term, citing analyses suggesting that the market share of Chinese manufacturers in the overall passenger car market in Europe will likely settle in the range of 5 percent to 10 percent.

"The EU should refrain from imposing the announced anti-subsidy tariffs and find a negotiated solution with China," the association said.

Hildegard Muller, the association's president, stressed the "imperative" need for an open and constructive dialogue between China and the European Commission to find a resolution. "We wholeheartedly endorse this approach and urge both sides to successfully conclude negotiations," she said.

The European Commission noted that consultations with the Chinese government have intensified recently, and contacts continue at a technical level to reach a WTO-compatible solution.

The provisional duties, slightly adjusted from earlier pre-disclosed rates, will apply for a maximum of four months. A final decision on definitive duties will be voted on by EU member states. If adopted, the duties would be in place for five years.

On Thursday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said that China hopes that the EU will work with it in the same direction and show sincerity in advancing the consultation concerning the EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles.

The consultation should be based on facts and rules and should result in a solution that is acceptable for both sides as soon as possible, MOC spokesperson He Yadong said at a press briefing. 
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the People's Republic of Bangladesh will pay an official visit to China from July 8 to 10, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced Thursday.

"This will be Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first visit to China since her new term began and five years after her last visit to China," Mao said at a daily press briefing.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Hasina. Premier Li Qiang will hold a welcoming ceremony and have talks with her, Mao said, noting that the two heads of government will attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents.

The spokesperson said that leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on how to deepen traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Hasina will also attend the summit on trade, business and investment opportunities between China and Bangladesh.

"China and Bangladesh are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. We have similar visions for development and well-aligned development strategies," Mao said, pointing out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, supported each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, and jointly advanced modernization.

Mao said that the two sides have set a good example of friendship and cooperation between developing countries. In recent years, with the strategic guidance and commitment of leaders of the two countries, the two sides have deepened China-Bangladesh strategic cooperative partnership, and had fruitful and practical cooperation in various fields.

China stands ready to work with Bangladesh through this visit to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen political mutual trust, further synergize development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and elevate the bilateral relations to a new level, she said. 
KATHMANDU, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Eight ministers from the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) resigned on Wednesday evening from the coalition government headed by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, as the key ruling partner has joined hands with the main opposition for a new coalition.

"We have submitted our resignations to the prime minister. We have also informed him that our party has withdrawn its support to the government," Padam Giri, the outgoing minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, told Xinhua.

As the CPN-UML has withdrawn its support, Dahal now needs to take a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives within 30 days.

The CPN-UML sealed an agreement with the main opposition Nepali Congress party on Monday night to form a new coalition government.

As the largest parties in the lower house, the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML had called on Dahal to step down but he chose to take a vote of trust in the lower house.

Dahal is the chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center), and he came to power again as the head of a coalition government in December 2022 as the general election in November produced no majority party in the lower house.

During his tenure, Dahal has formed alliances with both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. 
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Brunei Info-Communication Technology Awards (BICTA) 2024 was held in Brunei's International Convention Center, featuring 10 categories to encourage more participation and more opportunities to generate creative and innovative ICT creations.

Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary, minister of transport and info-communications of Brunei Darussalam, said Wednesday that the initiatives signify our commitment to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem and drive technology-based economic growth.

"With proper support and continuous commitment from various parties, I am confident that we will be able to achieve a better position with excellent performance in the field of digital innovation," the minister was quoted by the local daily Borneo Bulletin as saying.

Brunei has been committed to promoting economic diversification and technological innovations, and the government introduced a series of policies, including the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025, to accelerate the development of digital economy. 
DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Tajikistan-China relations have entered a new historical stage, opening up new prospects for extensive cooperation, said Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in a recent exclusive written interview with Xinhua.

As friendly neighbors and reliable partners, China and Tajikistan will continue to develop and strengthen long-term mutually beneficial cooperation, Rahmon said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to arrive in Tajikistan on Thursday for a state visit. Rahmon noted that this visit will inject new and strong momentum into developing and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries have a long history, dating back to the time of the ancient Silk Road, and serve as a model of successful cooperation, and the two peoples have repeatedly proven to be good neighbors over many centuries, Rahmon noted.

"As inheritors of this great friendship, we should promote this fine tradition and pass it on to future generations. Because of this, deepening cooperation with China in various fields, from politics to cultural and people-to-people exchanges, is one of the priorities of Tajikistan's foreign policy," the president said.

The Joint Statement on Establishing a Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Tajikistan and the People's Republic of China laid a solid and unshakable legal foundation for the development of bilateral relations, benefiting the interests of both peoples and contributing significantly to maintaining regional peace and stability, Rahmon said.

He said that it is gratifying that over the past 30 years, Tajikistan-China cooperation has steadily developed along the track of good-neighborliness, mutual support, and mutual trust. Today, the two countries hold similar positions on many regional and global issues, and the constructive cooperation between the two sides has been comprehensively expanding on both bilateral issues and within the framework of authoritative international organizations, he added.

"Over the past decade, bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and China has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership. I believe our bilateral ties have entered a new historical stage and opened up new prospects for broad cooperation," Rahmon said.

The president noted that China is one of Tajikistan's major trading partners. In implementing the agreements signed by the two countries, both sides have fully utilized the advantages of good-neighborliness and economic complementarity, ensured diversification and substantial growth in bilateral trade and strengthened cultural and people-to-people cooperation.

"We are satisfied with both the level and the content of the dynamically developing bilateral relations," he said. "I am confident that as friendly neighbors and reliable partners, we will continue to strive for developing and strengthening long-term mutually beneficial cooperation."

Rahmon said he firmly believes that Xi's state visit to Tajikistan will inject new and strong momentum into the development and strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, adding that all the necessary prerequisites for this have been met.

The president praised the fruitful results of the alignment of development strategies and close cooperation in various fields between Tajikistan and China, as well as of the Belt and Road cooperation.

Today, no country can develop separately without the mutual support of partners and neighbors, he said, adding that Tajikistan and China are important cooperative partners, fully supporting each other on all issues. He also noted that China plays an important role in ensuring the stable development of the regional economy.

Rahmon highlighted the rapid and vigorous development in bilateral economic and trade cooperation over recent years. China is one of Tajikistan's top three trading partners, accounting for 40 percent of foreign investment in the Tajik economy. With joint efforts from both sides, the economies of Tajikistan and China have achieved complementarity, he said.

"Just a few years ago, we could not even imagine surpassing the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar mark in mutual trade. It is gratifying to note that today the trade turnover between our countries has almost reached 4 billion U.S. dollars," Rahmon said.

He pointed out that China is the largest investor in Tajikistan.

China's investments are constantly increasing in sectors such as mining, textile, food, energy, transport, metallurgy, and agriculture. Through these investments, joint industrial parks and enterprises have been established, Rahmon noted.

Rahmon said that in the long term, mutually beneficial cooperation in a series of priority areas meets the interests of both countries. These areas include tourism, geological exploration, the export of environmentally friendly agricultural products, and the implementation of joint projects related to the green economy, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and the construction of "green technology" factories.

These areas of cooperation can promote the effective use of natural resources, improve transportation and tourism infrastructure, create new job opportunities, enhance bilateral trade and drive economic development, he added.

Within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthening transportation cooperation among Tajikistan, China and other Central Asian countries is entirely mutually beneficial, Rahmon said.

Speaking of the 23-year development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Rahmon recalled that it was at the final summit of the Shanghai Five mechanism held in Dushanbe in July 2000 that the idea of transforming the existing five-party cooperation into a multilateral regional cooperation organization was conceived. The SCO was subsequently created in Shanghai a year later as a truly intergovernmental organization.

Rahmon said that SCO member states have successfully established a model of mutually beneficial partnership. Based on respecting the equality of all countries and making decisions through consultation, the effectiveness of the SCO is ensured. The Shanghai Spirit, which demonstrates the values of mutual trust, mutual benefit, and equality, remains the guiding principle for cooperation within the SCO framework, he added.

"Today, the SCO faces a complex task: ensuring sustainable regional development and collectively addressing common challenges and threats in the current complex international political environment. Of course, regional security issues, including combating the 'three forces' of terrorism, separatism and extremism, should remain a top priority in the SCO's work," he said.

The SCO's contribution to building global and regional security systems is increasing each year, becoming a model for implementing the principle of indivisible security at the regional level, Rahmon said.

He added that SCO member states are gradually strengthening their efforts to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime, noting that the member states should always pay attention to the situation and act together in advance to eliminate risks that may lead to increased security threats.

Rahmon said that Tajikistan suggests that member states work together to develop common principles and positions within the SCO framework for formulating a unified list of terrorist, separatist, and extremist organizations that are banned from operating within the member states' territories.

Additionally, Tajikistan has proposed the establishment of an SCO anti-narcotics center in Dushanbe, given the country's frontline role in combating drug threats, Rahmon said, adding that the initiative has received support from all member states.

"Tajikistan will continue to consistently increase its contribution to collective efforts within the SCO framework to ensure regional security," he said. 
YANGON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have arrested 15 suspects involved in an alleged smuggling of timber across the country in the past week, official daily The Mirror reported on Thursday.

From June 24 to 30, the authorities arrested the suspects and seized 58.16 tons of timber, and four vehicles and machines, the report said.

The confiscated timber included 20.74 tons of teak, 2.09 tons of hardwood and 35.33 tons of other types of timber, it said.

The Forest Department under the country's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation has been cracking down on illegal logging and trading of forest products in various ways, it added. 
SOFIA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- One man was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting here on Thursday, the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior confirmed to Xinhua News Agency. 
VIENTIANE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is making preparations for hosting the 24th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24), providing a platform for knowledge exchange among government officials, academics, industry leaders, investors, and energy experts.

The forum will take place in Lao capital Vientiane from Sept. 25 to 27.

"The forum will not only showcase Laos' advancements in sustainable energy but will also strengthen our collective efforts towards a resilient and interconnected ASEAN energy future," Lao national TV on Thursday quoted Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation under the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines, Soukvisan Khinsamone, as saying.

Key topics for discussion include the ASEAN power grid, trans-ASEAN gas pipelines, the electric vehicle ecosystem, hydropower potential, bioenergy and hydrogen development, among others. 
NAIROBI, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign tourist arrivals in Kenya for 2024 is expected to reach 3 million, up from 2 million posted in 2023, Alfred Mutua, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, has said.

"The increase in numbers means more money for the country and many new jobs, especially for our youths, and business growth," Mutua said in a statement obtained by Xinhua on Thursday.

The tourism and wildlife sector is one of the largest foreign exchange earners and employers in Kenya, with 80 percent of the employees being youth.

The tourism sector is experiencing high bookings with only a few cancellations, mainly for events due to recent protests over the high cost of living, Mutua said.

In 2023, he said, the tourism sector contributed about 353 billion shillings (2.7 billion U.S. dollars) to the Kenyan economy.

This year has been on an upward trend, moving the country closer to its tourism target of earning 5.4 billion dollars per year in the next few years, Mutua said.

He said that tourism is a leisure industry that depends on a sense of security and predictability, calling for an end to protests that have been going on since a controversial Finance Bill was introduced in parliament on June 18.

"We are lucky that we have not seen a major dent or cancellation as a result of what has been happening," Mutua said. "However, if the unsettledness continues, it will have a negative impact on the sector, leading to a reduction in our earnings, possibility of loss of jobs and freezing of new opportunities especially, to graduates aiming to join the tourism and wildlife sectors for their livelihood." 
ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members on Thursday voiced their joint opposition to unilateral sanctions.

Imposing unilateral sanctions violates the principles of international law, and is detrimental to international economic relations, they said in a statement after a summit here. 
KABUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- At least four people died as a vehicle turned turtle in northern Afghanistan's Samangan province, a local official reported Thursday.

The incident happened on a district road along the highway linking Samangan with neighboring Balkh province when a vehicle veered off the road and overturned, leaving four dead on the spot and one injured, state-run media Bakhtar news agency quoted Qari Mohammad Nazir Saad, a provincial official for traffic as saying.

The official blamed overspeeding as one of the major causes for the accident.

Overloading, overspeeding, dilapidated roads, old vehicles, lack of safety measures during travel and reckless driving on congested highways are among the main reasons for road mishaps in the mountainous Asian country. 
ISLAMABAD, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A terrorist commander was killed in an operation by security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, a military statement said.

The incident happened in Bajaur District of the province where the security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation on reported presence of the terrorist, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistan Army's media wing said in the statement.

The terrorist commander was killed after an intense fire exchange during the operation, the statement added.

The commander was actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces as well as extortion and target killings of innocent civilians, the ISPR added. 
BERLIN, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Incoming orders in Germany's manufacturing sector fell by 1.6 percent in May compared to the previous month, according to preliminary figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) on Thursday. This marked the fifth consecutive decline.

The renewed decrease was attributed to a "noticeable drop in orders from abroad," which fell by 2.8 percent month-on-month, particularly from countries outside the euro area, according to the Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). Domestic demand, on the other hand, saw a slight increase.

Fewer aircraft orders led to a significant decline of 19.2 percent for manufacturers of transport equipment, including aircraft, ships and trains, according to Destatis. In contrast, an increase of 11.2 percent for manufacturers of computer, electronic and optical products had an overall positive effect.

The development "initially points to a rather subdued industrial economy in the coming months," BMWK said, adding that stabilization of incoming orders is expected "only as global trade continues to recover and demand for industrial products gradually picks up."

The business climate in Germany's manufacturing sector declined following three consecutive increases. According to the ifo Institute's report at the end of June, companies have become "more skeptical for the months ahead" and are particularly concerned about the declining order backlog.

On Wednesday, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) called for strengthening Germany as a business location through increased investment, proposing an infrastructure, transformation, and resilience package totaling around 400 billion euros (432 billion U.S. dollars) over the next decade.

BDI suggested that approximately one quarter of this amount should be allocated to additional incentives aimed at stimulating private investment in transformation, buildings and resilience, with the remaining three quarters dedicated to public investment. (1 euro = 1.08 U.S. dollar) 
President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua meets with Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in Beijing, capital of China, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- President of Xinhua News Agency Fu Hua met with Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in Beijing on Thursday.

Fu said that the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership has sustained a sound development momentum and bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results.

Xinhua will continue to cover ASEAN's activities and policies in a timely and accurate manner, and work with the ASEAN Secretariat to illustrate China-ASEAN friendly cooperation through news reports, Fu said.

Xinhua maintains good cooperation with mainstream media organizations of ASEAN countries, and actively coordinates with them through the World Media Summit and other multilateral mechanisms, Fu said, expressing the hope for stronger ties with these media organizations in the realm of news reports, high-level exchanges and personnel interaction.

As a global news agency, Xinhua has provided timely, accurate and wide-ranging reports to a global audience and promoted mutual understanding among people from different countries, Kao said.

He added that the ASEAN Secretariat looks forward to strengthening cooperation with Xinhua to make the voice of ASEAN heard on regional and global stages. 
ISLAMABAD, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A Japanese climber died on Wednesday after falling into a crevasse while descending a peak in Pakistan's north Gilgit Baltistan region, officials said.

The deceased Hiroshi Onishi reached the summit of the 7,027-meter-high Spantik Peak, also known as Golden Peak, with four other mountaineers on Monday, and met the accident while descending on Wednesday, Ata ur Rehman, a deputy commissioner in the region told media.

Upon receiving an alert, four high-altitude porters were sent, but the climber succumbed to his injuries, and his body has been recovered, he said.

The administration was in contact with the other climbers via radio communication who reported about the accident, and kept the authorities informed about the situation, the official added.

Earlier on June 12, two Japanese climbers went missing while attempting to summit the same peak.

Later, it was found out that they fell into a crevasse at an altitude of 5,300 meters during their ascent, and the body of one climber was recovered, while the other was declared dead after being deemed untraceable.

Currently, the summer climbing season is at its peak in Gilgit-Baltistan, with over 1,700 permits issued for climbing various peaks. 
TEHRAN, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber said on Thursday his country supports the implementation of the documents and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) concluded within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

He made the remarks at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Kazakhstan's capital Astana, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.

The interim president said that there are numerous opportunities and capacities for the SCO members to cooperate in the areas of trade, production, energy, transportation, agriculture, customs affairs, telecommunications and development of artificial intelligence technology, noting that the members should explore the opportunities to improve the well-being of nations and help ensure sustainable peace and comprehensive development in the region and the world.

Mokhber added that activating transit corridors would play a key role in facilitating trade, promoting economic development and ensuring political stability in the SCO member states.

He also voiced Iran's strong opposition to using political tools, such as "cruel unilateral" sanctions, in the area of energy, adding that the country, as a major producer of energy, especially oil and gas, has always pursued the policy of promoting multilateralism in that area.

The SCO summit is currently being held in Astana, with attendance by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye and Turkmenistan, and the SCO Secretary-General and the Executive Director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure. 
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Snacks from Taiwan and souvenirs from Beijing museums are displayed side by side at a buzzing fair being held in the Chinese capital as part of an ongoing cross-Strait youth summit.

Xu Nai-yuan, who is from Taiwan and has lived in Beijing for seven years, is at one of the booths showcasing his company's latest products: beef noodles and chili sauce.

"It's my first time attending this fair," he said. "I think it's a nice place where old friends can meet, and we also get to make new friends."

Shen Zi-jian moved from Taiwan to Beijing more than 20 years ago and now runs a dental clinic in the city.

"I like these types of fairs, where people can mingle with one another easily," he said, apparently enjoying the fair's casual atmosphere.

The five-day fair began on Wednesday and has attracted the participation of 19 booth operators from Taiwan and 13 from the mainland.

Compared to the inaugural fair in 2023, this year's event has seen increased attendance, and the products and programs are more diverse, said Mike Li, president of Huacan DreamWorks, one of the organizers of the fair.

This year's fair has also been attracting visitors through a number of interactive events, including street dances and parades.

"These events give us a glimpse of the Taiwan lifestyle, and allow visitors from Taiwan to experience our popular culture first-hand," said a student from Peking University who gave the surname Zhong.

The cross-Strait youth summit, which opened on Wednesday, also includes activities such as forums, a night concert, and an internship and jobs fair for young people from Taiwan.

Young people from Taiwan living on the mainland can play an improved role in connecting people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Li said.

"Every one of us can try to influence people, including family and friends in Taiwan, and help them understand the truth about the mainland," he said. 
A staff member provides foreign tourists with guide materials about payment methods in north China's Tianjin Municipality on April 7, 2024. (Xinhua/Sun Fanyue)

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- International bank card clearing institutions, such as Visa and Mastercard, have reduced transaction fees on overseas bank cards for Chinese merchants, a move expected to encourage more local merchants to accept these card payments.

This aligns with China's efforts to build a fully accessible, diversified and globally compatible payment ecosystem.

As the finance and banking sector embraces technological advancements, the high fees that merchants are charged for overseas bank cards remain a significant obstacle. The recent fee cut is expected to optimize the environment for overseas bank card payments in China.

Each time a consumer swipes a bank card at a store, the store must pay a transaction fee. In China, shops pay around 0.6 percent of the transaction amount for domestic bank cards, while the fee for overseas bank cards was previously 2.5 to 3 percent, before the recent adjustment to 1.5 percent.

"The recent cut in overseas bank card transaction fees for merchants can relieve our burden," said Tan Lei, deputy general manager of Chengdu Hongqi Chain Co., Ltd., a company involved in the supermarket and department store sector.

Even before the fee reduction by global bank card organizations was implemented, Tan received government subsidies under a supportive policy launched in February in southwest China's Sichuan Province. This policy has encouraged merchants to purchase or upgrade point-of-sale machines capable of reading overseas bank cards.

Tan said that nearly 3,700 of his company's stores will be able to accept overseas bank card payments by the end of July, following the subsidized upgrades.

In the ever-evolving world of finance and technology, bank card payments remain globally popular. China is working to bridge the differences in payment practices domestically and internationally to provide better overseas bank card services.

In early March, China released a guideline aimed at continuing to optimize payment services of bank cards, promoting cash use and facilitating mobile payment as part of the efforts to better fulfill the diverse payment preferences of foreigners and senior citizens in the country.

Following the rollout of this policy, Chinese authorities took decisive steps to facilitate bank card payments.

A circular jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and four other government bodies in late June stressed that China will promote the acceptance of overseas bank cards in various venues and stores, enabling easier access to dining, accommodation, transportation, ticket purchases and reservations for international visitors to the country.

The fees associated with overseas bank card payments are often shared by international card organizations, receiving parties, card issuers and other participants. Therefore, reducing the costs of such payments requires coordinated efforts from all involved parties.

By the end of June, the relevant Chinese institutions had largely completed fee adjustments, reducing offline card transaction fees for merchants across the board except for some specific industries.

According to the Agricultural Bank of China, one of the country's largest commercial lenders, the adjusted transaction fees have benefited over 45,000 merchants.

The bank said that the value of overseas card transactions by their clients has increased by 157 percent year on year, while the number of such transactions has soared by 188 percent. 
CANBERRA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A group of four Pro-Palestine protesters ascended to the roof of Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday morning where they hung banners on the facade of the building accusing the government of complicity in war crimes.

After descending from the rooftop, the protesters were detained by Australian Federal Police and Australian Capital Territory Police officers at approximately 11:45 a.m. local time on Thursday.

In a statement, police confirmed three men and one woman were arrested and are expected to be charged with trespass offenses.

"There isn't a place for engaging in protest which endangers others, there is no place for engaging in protest which defaces public institutions or public buildings," Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles said at a press conference inside Parliament House while the protesters remained on the roof.

The protest took place on the final sitting day of the federal parliament before it goes on winter break until mid-August. 
JINAN, July 4 (Xinhua) -- As the blistering sun blankets east China's Shandong Province, throngs of Liaocheng residents seek refuge in an urban park's verdant bamboo grove, eager to find a cool, inviting patch of shade to enjoy some respite from the sweltering summer heat.

Just 10 years ago, the 20-hectare bamboo grove, part of Dongchang Lake national wetland park in the city's Liaocheng, was once a plot of barren saline and alkaline land.

"The salty soil, which was an infinite blanket of whiteness over the winter, is today a year-round green land," said Zhong Daojun, director of the city's grass tree and bamboo development research center.

Constrained by geography and climate, bamboo cultivation in northern China was uncommon in the past.

Thanks to a project starting in the 1950s to transfer the plantation and breeding of cold-resistant bamboo species from the south of China to its north, bamboo has taken root and is a popular plant used in urban and rural greening, beautification of public facilities, and ecological restoration in northern China. In addition, numerous bamboo products have now replaced plastics, contributing to the country's green development.

Liaocheng is one of the earliest areas to experiment with the bamboo project.

Now, the city has five bamboo germplasm resource farms, its bamboo plantation area exceeds 200 hectares and it boasts a bamboo grove that hugs the Yellow River. Over the years, the breeds cultivated in the city and their supporting facilities have been introduced to other parts of Shandong, as well as other areas including Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Some species have even been successfully planted in the heartland of the Loess Plateau.

In China, bamboo has been celebrated as one of the "Four Gentlemen," along with the orchid, the chrysanthemum and the plum blossom, since ancient times.

According to Zeng Xiangwei, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Society of Forestry (CSF), China has the world's richest bamboo resources and is the most developed in utilizing global bamboo resources, earning the title of the "Kingdom of Bamboo."

Data shows that China has 7.01 million hectares of bamboo forests with 857 species, or 52 percent of the world's total bamboo species.

Such rich bamboo resources have not only greened the landscape and helped absorb carbon emissions in urban and rural areas, but also helped reduce plastic pollution.

As a green, low-carbon, and biodegradable biomass, bamboo can be made into textiles, furniture, daily necessities, and more, said Lan Xiaoguang, director general of the CSF bamboo branch.

Currently, more than 10,000 types of bamboo products have been developed in China, which has significantly boosted green consumption, said Lan.

Last month, Chen Yanhua, a merchant from Jiangxi Province in east China, brought hundreds of kinds of bamboo products, including baskets, tea sets, fans, bamboo fabric clothing, keyboards and mice to a bamboo product fair in Liaocheng.

"The popularity of the bamboo products exceeded expectations, with some selling out," said Chen.

Figures show that the output of the bamboo industry in China approached 381.8 billion yuan (53.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021, and the value is expected to exceed 1 trillion yuan by 2035, accounting for about 10 percent of the forestry industry.

A three-year plan issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments in 2023 said China will establish a preliminary industrial system of replacing plastics with bamboo by 2025 and make more in-depth and detailed arrangements for further enhancing the product quality, variety, industry scale, and benefits of the bamboo industry.

Implementing the plan will promote ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River area, and have a positive impact on the win-win industrial cooperation between bamboo product businesses in southern and northern China, said Li Qichao, head of the city's natural resources and planning bureau. 
SAO PAULO, July 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 180 people have died from weeks of record flooding in southern Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state and 32 people remain missing, the civil defense agency said Wednesday.

Torrential rains began on April 29 and continued for days, inundating cities across the state. Rescue and recovery work started after the flooding began to subside in mid-June.

Severe weather has impacted some 2,398,255 inhabitants in 478 towns, including the state capital, Porto Alegre, said the agency in a report, adding that during the height of the storms, more than 450,000 people were evacuated.

Brazil's government has allocated 85.7 billion reals (about 15.4 billion U.S. dollars) to aid and rebuild Rio Grande do Sul, according to Secretary of Social Communication Paulo Pimenta, who was appointed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to oversee the reconstruction effort.

Rio Grande do Sul, an agricultural state located on the border with Uruguay and Argentina, has seen record economic losses from the disaster. 
A British auto industry leader has urged the avoidance of any increase in trade barriers across global markets amid rows on the EU and United States tariff hikes on Chinese EVs. #GLOBALink #EV #tariff








Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

ASTANA, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to promote the high-quality development of China-Uzbekistan relations with the future of the country and the well-being of its people in mind, said Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks during a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana.

During Mirziyoyev's successful state visit to China in January, China and Uzbekistan agreed to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the construction of a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future from a higher starting point, Xi said, noting the development of bilateral relations have ushered in a new stage.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Xi said, adding China is speeding up Chinese modernization, and Uzbekistan is also comprehensively advancing the "Uzbekistan-2030" strategy.

The goal of both sides is very grand but also simple, which is to deliver a better life for their people, Xi said.

Noting that China firmly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its national independence, sovereignty and security, Xi said China is always a trustworthy friend and partner of Uzbekistan.

He urged the two sides to further advance the Belt and Road cooperation, well implement the medium- and long-term cooperation plan on economy, trade and investment, speed up the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, as well as cooperation in fields of photovoltaic, wind power and new energy vehicles, and continue to strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction and social governance.

China supports the expansion of exchanges between the two countries at the sub-national level, as well as exchanges in tourism, education and other fields, he said, noting China welcomes Uzbekistan's participation in the seventh China International Import Expo as the guest country of honor.

China is ready to work with Uzbekistan to speed up the implementation of the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit held in the city of Xi'an, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and ensure that the SCO always develops in a direction that serves the common interests of all parties, Xi said.

For his part, Mirziyoyev said the two sides jointly announced in Beijing to elevate their ties to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era in January, which opened a new era of China-Uzbekistan relations.

Under the wise leadership of President Xi, China has successfully coped with various risks and challenges and made world-leading achievements in the fields of economy, science and technology, he said.

Mirziyoyev expressed his congratulations and wished the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee a complete success.

Uzbekistan firmly abides by the one-China principle and resolutely combats the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, he said.

Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to be each other's reliable friend and partner, continue to respect, understand and support each other, and promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields to achieve more fruitful results, Mirziyoyev said.

He said Uzbekistan is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with China within the China-Central Asia mechanism, the SCO, as well as other multilateral frameworks.

Uzbekistan is ready to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by Xi, Mirziyoyev said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, Kazakhstan, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)
MANILA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Three children, aged one, four, and five, were killed, and two others were injured when a fire erupted Wednesday night at their house in Iloilo province in the central Philippines, a firefighter said Thursday.

The firefighter said the children's parents left their five kids at home to attend a wake, before the fire razed their house in Maasin town around 10 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

The injured children, aged 8 and 12, suffered multiple burns and were in a local hospital for treatment.

Firefighters blamed the fire on a nearby bonfire to drive away mosquitos, a common practice in Philippine rural villages.

The fire spread quickly and burned down the house made of "light" or combustible materials. 
by Xinhua writers Zhu Shaobin, Yu Jiaxin, and Ren Jun

BEIJING/BRUSSELS, July 4 (Xinhua) -- China has reiterated its stance on reaching a mutually acceptable solution to a trade spat involving Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) exported to the European Union as talks between the two sides continue.

On Thursday, the European Commission introduced provisional additional tariffs of up to 37.6 percent on Chinese EV makers. Compared to rates pre-disclosed on June 12, several individual duties have been adjusted slightly downwards based on comments on the accuracy of the calculations submitted by interested parties, according to a statement from the commission. It said that a final decision must be taken on definitive duties within four months through a vote by EU member states.

Prior to this announcement, China's Ministry of Commerce on the same day said that China hopes the EU will work with it and show sincerity in advancing talks on the EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs. It also called for rationality and pragmatism as talks continue.

The European Commission said its consultations with the Chinese government have intensified in recent weeks, and that contact continues at a technical level with a view to reaching a WTO-compatible solution.

China has emphasized the importance of dialogue and consultation in addressing economic and trade frictions, and there has been growing recognition of China-EU interdependence in the global auto industry. Scholars and stakeholders have elaborated on the indispensable role of Chinese EV makers, given their scale advantages and leading technologies capable of catering to diversified consumer needs, and, broadly speaking, the world's need to go green.

CHINESE EVS ARE INDISPENSABLE

There has been growing consensus that the world will require significantly accelerated development in the field of green energy to push forward decarbonization, and that China's affordable clean tech products will only make positive contributions to that end.

Jeremy Jurgens, managing director of the World Economic Forum, told Xinhua in a recent interview that China is clearly already leading in new energy technology, represented by EVs. He noted that the country's EV sector has strong advantages spanning battery technology, software development and a large domestic market.

The 1.4 billion people in China mean varied individual tastes in different regions and cities, he said. And as the car moves from a mechanical device to a software device, the ability to adapt software to different interests becomes an important competitive advantage. "So the extent that China can adapt that software in the vehicle to different market preferences and needs will actually be a strong competitive advantage in the future."

Douglas Johnson-Poensgen, CEO of Circulor, a solutions provider that can trace the auto industry's complex supply chains, told Xinhua that the world needs more renewable energy and a faster energy transition.

"We're all humans on the same planet. We need to build renewable energy infrastructure at the pace if we have any chance of getting towards net-zero carbon emissions in a sensible time frame," Johnson-Poensgen said.

He added that China clearly has economic leadership when it comes to producing green products and driving down the prices of EVs and solar panels to make them more affordable, which will ultimately be good for the world.

"It's pretty clear that the future will be in electrical vehicles," Jurgens said, acknowledging the disruption that the rapid advancement of EVs has brought to traditional manufacturers that have not yet transitioned from internal combustion engines to EVs.

"It is understandable that some countries may want to delay that transition to be able to allow their domestic producers more time to make the transition. But overall, I think we still need to have far more production of electric vehicles to further electrify the economy," Jurgens said. The advancement and dissemination of these technologies will allow consumers to start shifting their energy consumption patterns, he added.

"As China looks for sustainable, affordable and secure energy sources, China not only improves its own position, it actually makes a contribution to global sustainability and can help the world achieve decarbonization targets," he said.

In its latest Global Automotive Outlook, global consulting firm AlixPartners predicts Chinese brands will continue to increase their share of the European light vehicle market, with that share forecast to rise from 6 percent in 2024 to 12 percent by 2030.

"Any short-term slowdown of Chinese electric vehicle sales into Europe is likely to contribute to many countries across Europe undershooting on their Green Deal targets," said Andrew Bergbaum, global co-head of the automotive and industrial practice at AlixPartners.

CHINESE EVS SPICE UP COMPETITION, BENEFITING CONSUMERS

Accusations have arisen that Chinese EVs are being dumped in global markets at low prices, but consumers doubt the logic of such rhetoric as not everyone can easily afford an expensive EV.

A recent report from the Canada-based Toronto Star interpreted this vividly, arguing that car drivers must be considered in tariff responses because people are the ones who buy cars, and not all consumers can afford a Tesla or a Polestar. "We must not penalize consumers and slow our climate efforts in the meantime."

It said an "inelegant" trade move could result in even fewer models and higher prices for consumers.

Danny Quah, dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said that dumping is when an exporter sells a product in a foreign country at a price lower than it does in its own, hence running losses. He said that many Chinese products -- especially batteries and EVs -- are cheaper in China than in the Western market, including the EU.

He said that China's exports of EVs are only about 14 percent of its total production -- a smaller fraction than that of cars exported from Japan and South Korea. "China subsidizes in the EV industry, yes, but for consumers to purchase EVs, not for producers to make them. Those subsidies can purchase Teslas just as easily as BYDs."

"While rightly looking out for their own industries and businesses, everyone needs to think a little also about the good of our planet. The world needs clean energy. Emerging economies still need massive sustained bursts of energy to develop, and they cannot afford costly technologies to replace fossil fuels," he added.

Jurgens said that most of the EV supply is in fact for Chinese consumption, and that the rate of growth of EV utilization in China is very high and probably growing at the fastest pace in the world. "If you look at the actual market dynamics here, this is one of the most competitive markets in the world."

Bergbaum said the world has come to a point in time when cars need to be engineered differently. "Vehicles often need to be able to receive live data over the air, offer advanced drive assist systems and customizable features, and in some instances, incorporate real-time data computing."

There is much to be learnt from the rapid product gestation, integrated supply chains, consumer-centric sales, aggressive expansion and competitive pricing, which are reshaping market dynamics in China and set to underpin the future of the global automotive industry, according to him. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Zhang Zhaoqing in Brussels and Xie Xiyao in Beijing also contributed to the story.)
COLOMBO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Global Environment Facility (GEF) grants 5 million U.S. dollars to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Environment and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to implement a project on chemical disposal in the country, the UNDP said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, Sri Lanka does not manufacture products which contain POPs or mercury. However, many products containing these substances are imported to the country for various uses every year.

Though stringent regulations have been introduced, a lack of capacity in the application of these regulations results in the continued mismanagement of chemical imports to the country, the UNDP said.

The Integrated Management and Environmentally Sound Disposal of POPs Pesticides in the Agricultural Sector and Mercury & Waste in the Healthcare Sector in Sri Lanka project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF VII) is implemented by the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka.

The project aims to improve the implementation of regulations, strengthen national systems and capacities in chemical management, and support the transformation of healthcare waste management systems in Sri Lanka, according to the UNDP. 
LANZHOU, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A summer camp is offering young people from Taiwan a unique experience at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mogao Grottoes, and the renowned Danxia landform in northwest China. They will also have the chance to visit the local countryside and a photovoltaic power industrial park.

The summer camp kicked off on Thursday in Gansu Province, with approximately 30 participants attending the opening ceremony. They included Taiwan individuals living in the mainland, Southeast Asian countries and Spain, as well as volunteer college students in Gansu.

Ku Wan-yu, a student at Feng Chia University, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to visit the mainland, explore historical relics, and savor a wide variety of cuisine. She hopes to learn about her peers' lives and to foster new friendships.

The summer camp comes as part of an annual activity held by the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots in regions across the mainland to facilitate exchanges between youngsters across the Taiwan Strait. Since 2004, more than 20,000 young people from Taiwan have taken part in the activity, according to the Federation.

Around 1,500 young people from Taiwan will participate in this year's summer camps in places including Fujian and Beijing. The camp in Gansu is expected to run until July 11. 
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that the EU will work with it in the same direction and show sincerity in advancing the consultation concerning the EU's anti-subsidy probe into Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The consultation should be based on facts and rules and should result in a solution that is acceptable for both sides as soon as possible, MOC spokesperson He Yadong said at a press briefing.

"So far, China and the EU have held multiple rounds of consultation at the technical level. There is still a four-month window before a final decision is made," He said.

China has repeatedly expressed strong opposition to the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs. China believes that economic and trade frictions must be properly handled through dialogue and consultation, He said.

The ministry's update on this matter came after the two sides agreed to start consultation following talks between Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao and European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis via a video link on June 22.

Last month, the European Commission unveiled plans to impose provisional tariffs on imports of Chinese EVs. The move, widely criticized as protectionist, unveiled additional duty rates ranging from 17.4 percent to 38.1 percent for Chinese EV makers despite widespread market concerns and China's objections. 
Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Saud Almujab, attorney general of Saudi Arabia, in Beijing, capital of China, July 4, 2024. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chen Wenqing, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met with Saud Almujab, attorney general of Saudi Arabia, in Beijing on Thursday.

Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and head of the Commission for Political and Legal Affairs of the CPC Central Committee, said that in recent years, leaders of China and Saudi Arabia have reached a series of important consensus on developing bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, which has provided guidance for the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations in the new era.

Noting that judicial cooperation is an important aspect of bilateral relations, Chen said the judicial departments of the two countries should take the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as a guide to further strengthen exchanges, mutual learning and practical cooperation on promoting justice and punishing transnational crimes, so as to push bilateral relations to a new high.

Almujab expressed willingness to deepen judicial exchanges and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China. 
ISTANBUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Over 12 tons of narcotics were seized in Turkiye's Istanbul, in operations conducted during the first six months of this year, the governor said on Thursday.

In a press briefing, Istanbul Governor Davut Gul emphasized the ongoing efforts to combat drugs and substance abuse in the metropolis, home to 16 million people.

Gul added that security forces conducted nearly 5,000 operations aimed at disrupting production and trafficking activities, leading to the detention of around 3,300 suspects.

Users were also targeted in the operations, with 30,360 individuals apprehended across the city during the same period.

According to the governor, among the narcotics seized were more than 12 tons of drugs, 22.3 million pills, and 3,132 root cannabis plants. 
A fruit farmer bags apples in Nangou Village of the city of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, June 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Liang Aiping)

by Xinhua writer Wu Ziyu

YAN'AN, Shaanxi, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Before arriving at the apple orchards on the upper reaches of Nangou Village on the Loess Plateau, I was already amazed by the greenery along the winding mountain road.

The village, located in the city of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, used to invoke pictures of bleak ridges and valleys of yellow earth. But outside the window of our SUV, the same ridges and ditches are flourishing with trees, a result of decades of reforestation and ecological preservation.

On a small square that leads to the orchards, a red and shiny apple-shaped structure caught my attention. The humble fruit is the village's top specialty product, and has played a key role in transforming the village over the years.

Zhang Runsheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China branch in the village, greeted us on the square and led us on a tour in the orchards.

Looking around, the seemingly endless row of apple trees was a sight to behold. Had it not been for the steep slope right next to the concrete road surrounding the orchards, I would have almost forgotten I was still on a mountain ridge.

"We have 3,160 mu (about 210.7 hectares) of apple orchards in the village now," said Zhang. He added that in the orchards, 1,060 mu utilize short-stalk close planting techniques and refined management methods.

Among the apple trees, I spotted a pillar-like device. "This is the automated orchard monitoring system," said Zhang. "Every once in a while, experts dispatched by local agricultural authorities will come to analyze the readings and determine the orchard's situation."

He said that apart from a few activities that require manual work, such as bagging apples, the orchards' operation was highly mechanized.

For urban residents of Yan'an and beyond, the village is a popular attraction for its apple orchards and rural tourism. Last year, the per capita income of Nangou villagers was 21,500 yuan (about 3,017 U.S. dollars), a ten percent increase from the year before.

However, about a decade ago, the future of the village was still dim. Back in 2013, a heavy rainfall that affected the entire Yan'an dealt a heavy blow to the village, causing great economic losses.

"Some villagers still lived in cave-dwellings then," said Zhang, referring to a type of traditional housing on the Loess Plateau. "The downpour damaged some caves and even collapsed a few. Many villagers lost their homes."

Zhang, who had started a moderately successful real estate business in downtown Yan'an, was then invited by his fellow villagers to help with the village's reconstruction. The efficient work style of his team was appreciated by fellow villagers, and he was elected the village's Party chief later.

With disaster relief support and subsidies from local government, the village solved the housing problem. However, villagers still lacked a stable source of income. "To turn our lives around, developing local industry is a must," said Zhang, who was born into a poor family in the village and had to go to the urban areas for livelihood.

According to him, the decision to grow apples was made after extensive discussions with villagers and study trips to other famed apple-producing areas in Shaanxi.

Local authorities were very supportive of the development of apple growing, said Zhang. "They provided us with much-needed planting techniques, and subsidized us in fields such as hail prevention, insecticide, and water-saving irrigation," he said, pointing at the hail nets that hang over the apple trees.

In one orchard, I met 69-year-old apple grower Ma Jintu. "Nangou was once ridiculed as a 'bachelor village,' for few women from other areas were willing to marry into our village," said Ma, recalling the village's poor transportation and hard life in the past.

"All these changes in the village was beyond my imagination," Ma said.

Nangou is among numerous places across the country that owe their transformation to developing local specialty industries in the rural revitalization drive. Just like Nangou apples, oranges from Jiangxi Province's Ganzhou, strawberries from Dandong in Liaoning Province and many other specialty products have all made a name for themselves on the market.

"Our mountain organic apples are now sold across the country for their exceptional taste and nutrition," Zhang said. He added that many foreign customers adopt apple trees at an annual fee of 500 yuan a tree, which further expands the income source of the village.

On top of a viewing platform that overlooks the village, I could see its entire landscape: apart from the orchards on the ridge, several cottages and what seemed to be a racetrack were also clearly visible on a flat opening at the foot of the hill.

"The shacks are local hostels, and the track is for dirt bikes," Zhang told us. As the village attracts more visitors with its apple industry, it is now exploring ways to create a diverse experience for tourists.

Opposite the viewing platform, a sign that reads "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" stood on the hill. From what I have seen, there isn't a more appropriate description of the village's development. 

An aerial drone photo taken on June 13, 2024 shows the hail nets that hang over the apple trees in Nangou Village of the city of Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Liang Aiping)
SUVA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Tourism remains Fiji's growth driver and the country expects 1 million visitors to arrive this year, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka on Thursday at a tourism summit held in Nadi, Fiji's third largest city.

According to Gavoka, in 2023, the industry broke the visitor arrival record, with 929,740 tourists who contributed an estimated 3.2 billion Fijian dollars (around 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) to the Fijian economy, reported Fijivillage news website.

As demand surges, so does the need for new investments, particularly in hotel capacity, he said.

He added that the government has increased the marketing budget through Tourism Fiji and will continue to strategically drive reforms to make it easier for investors, to invest in Fiji and in the Fijian brand.

Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said Fiji is set to enhance its global connectivity with potential new direct flight routes, which are expected to increase accessibility and attract a diverse range of international tourists to the Pacific island nation.

Fiji's tourism industry contributes about 40 percent both directly and indirectly to its gross domestic product (GDP) and has emerged as one of the key sectors, and a significant contributor to economic growth. 
VIENTIANE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Vocational Education Development Institute (VEDI) for partnership to bolster human resources for the business sector and to promote vocational education.

The MoU was signed in Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday by the LNCCI Secretary General Phouxay Thepphavong, and the VEDI Director General Bounseng Khammounty.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two sides, which will work together on deciding the scope of collaboration, exchanging information, jointly creating national training standards and designing of courses, and training business trainers based on regional and international standards, Lao National Radio reported on Thursday.

The MoU will help the two sides to work together and clearly define the scope of their work and cooperation. It will also help in utilizing existing human resources from both sides with the expectation of producing more standardized and professionalized personnel.

The two sides will continue to exchange information about organizing business training sessions regularly and promote cooperation between businesses and vocational education institutions for organizing cooperative teaching and learning, according to the report. 
ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping here on Thursday called for building a shared home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.

Xi made the remarks when attending the expanded meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), or SCO+.

He called on SCO members to strengthen exchanges on governing experience, and hold an SCO political party forum at a proper time.

Real security can only be realized when every country is secure, Xi said.

He called for earnest efforts to establish a financing platform of the SCO, and welcomed all parties to use the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and to participate in the construction of the international lunar scientific research station.

China is ready to provide no less than 1,000 training opportunities for digital technology in the next three years, and invite 1,000 youths to China for exchanges in the next five years, Xi said. 
MANILA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Philippine police have arrested an Australian national for cracking a bomb joke while checking in at an airport in Zamboanga del Norte province in the southern Philippines, a local news outlet reported Thursday.

The GMA News Online report said police detained a 69-year-old Australian national on Wednesday after he told an airport security officer in Dipolog City that he was carrying a bomb.

When the airport agent asked the man if his bag contained electronic devices, he allegedly said: "No, just an atomic bomb." Sensing that the joke did not amuse the agent, the passenger said it was a joke.

Authorities arrested the man, albeit no bomb was found in his bag. And he is now facing charges for violation of the anti-bomb joke law, the local media reported.

Bomb jokes are banned in the Philippines. Security and law enforcers seriously take jokes that refer to bombs, explosives, or any instruments of violence while at the airport or on board any flights.

Eight bomb jokes were reported in 2023, and the airport authorities logged three incidents as of January 2024. The incidents happened in different airports, check-in counters, hold baggage areas, and inside aircraft.

In May, the Philippines' immigration bureau warned that foreign nationals involved in bomb jokes may face denial of entry to the Southeast Asian country or deportation. 
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, learns about the production of highland barley in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 1, 2024. Wang made an investigation and research trip to Tibetan-inhabited areas of southwest China's Sichuan Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

CHENGDU, July 4 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Huning has underscored the efforts to promote religious, social and ethnic harmony.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks during an investigation and research trip to Tibetan-inhabited areas of southwest China's Sichuan Province from Monday to Wednesday.

Acknowledging the notable progress the province made in economic and social development in Tibetan-inhabited areas, Wang called for efforts to enhance people's identification with the country, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He said it is imperative to develop highland industries with distinctive advantages, step up ecological and environmental protection, and improve educational services in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, particularly in remote pastoral areas.

Wang also noted that religious affairs should be managed in accordance with the law and efforts should be made to help Tibetan Buddhism adapt to socialist society. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, learns about educational efforts in patriotism as well as ethnic unity and progress at a middle school in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 3, 2024. Wang made an investigation and research trip to Tibetan-inhabited areas of southwest China's Sichuan Province from Monday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
BEIRUT, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member was killed, and seven civilians were injured on Thursday in Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The military sources, who spoke anonymously, said that Israel carried out 12 airstrikes targeting nine towns and villages and its artillery bombed 17 border towns and villages, killing a Hezbollah member and injuring seven civilians.

The sources noted that the Hezbollah member was killed, and three civilians were injured in an Israeli raid targeting a house in the village of Houla.

In another Israeli strike in the village of Kfarchouba, a shell falling on a house wounded two civilians, while two others were injured in a bombing on the southeastern town of Shebaa, the sources added.

They specifically noted that four members of the Civil Defense sustained minor injuries and suffered suffocation while extinguishing a fire in the municipality of Kounine.

The sources indicated that the Israeli bombing destroyed 17 homes, damaged 35 others, and led to nine fires in the border area.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah announced that it attacked several Israeli military sites in retaliation for Israel's assassination of its senior military commander, Mohammad Naameh Nasser, a day earlier.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.

The level of tension between Hezbollah and the Israeli army has escalated recently, as the Israeli military announced "its approval of operational plans for an attack on Lebanon."

Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that no place in Israel "will be safe" from his party's missiles in the event of the outbreak of a war. 
DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed here Thursday to take the China-Tajikistan all-round cooperation to a higher level.

In a written statement upon arrival in the Tajik capital, Xi said he looks forward to holding talks with President Emomali Rahmon during the visit.

He also said that he and Rahmon are expected to make new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Tajikistan relations in light of the new circumstances and have an in-depth exchange of views on the current international and regional situation.

It is believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, this visit will be a complete success, Xi added.

Xi recalled his previous two visits to Tajikistan in 2014 and 2019, expressing his cordial feelings upon visiting this beautiful country after five years.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi extended his sincere greetings and best wishes to the government and people of Tajikistan.

China and Tajikistan are good neighbors who help each other, good friends who support each other, good partners with mutual benefit and win-win results, and good brothers who treat each other with absolute sincerity, Xi said.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago, China-Tajikistan relations have achieved sustained, rapid and sound development, growing from good-neighborly friendship to a strategic partnership and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership, becoming a model for neighboring countries' relations, Xi said.

The two countries share solid political mutual trust and always firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests, he said.

Noting that China has become Tajikistan's second-largest trading partner, Xi said, their Belt and Road cooperation has yielded fruitful results with two-way trade constantly setting new records.

At the airport, Rahmon held a grand welcome ceremony. Tajik children presented flowers to Xi.

More than 1,500 young Tajiks dressed in national costumes performed Chinese and Tajik songs and dances, and waved the flags of China and Tajikistan to express their warm welcome to the most honored guest from China.

Xi landed in Dushanbe after attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, and a state visit to Kazakhstan. Three Kazakh Air Force jets escorted Xi's plane after it took off. 
JERUSALEM, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of foreign tourists visiting Israel dropped by 74.9 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the statistics issued by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday.

In January-June, the number of tourist arrivals in Israel amounted to 495,300, seeing a sharp decline from the record of about 1.97 million in the first six months of 2023.

According to the data, since the outbreak of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip in early October last year, the monthly number of tourist arrivals in Israel has been below 100,000, except for May. 
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon holds a grand welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng

DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here on Thursday night, commencing his state visit to Tajikistan following a busy schedule at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon welcomed Xi at the Dushanbe International Airport with a grand ceremony, where around 1,500 Tajik youths in traditional attire dancing and waving the national flags of China and Tajikistan.

Upon arrival, Xi expressed his anticipation for discussions with Rahmon to formulate new plans and arrangements for the development of China-Tajikistan relations in light of the new circumstances.

Xi said with concerted efforts from both countries, this visit is expected to be a complete success, elevating all-round cooperation between China and Tajikistan to new heights.

President Xi's state visit to Tajikistan will inject new and strong momentum into developing and strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, Rahmon told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Rahmon also said the China-Tajikistan relations have entered a new historical stage, opening up new prospects for extensive cooperation.

Recent years have seen close interactions between the two heads of state. During Xi's visit to Tajikistan in 2019, he was awarded the Order of the Crown from Rahmon in Dushanbe. Both countries pledged to build a China-Tajikistan development community and security community.

In May 2023, during the China-Central Asia Summit, the two leaders jointly announced the building of a China-Tajikistan community with a shared future featuring everlasting friendship, solidarity and mutual benefit.

"These initiatives and joint decisions to create a community have already yielded tangible results," said Abdugaffor Abdujabbor, former head of the International Relations Department of Tajikistan's Culture Ministry.

Abdujabbor highlighted two China-assisted edifices on Rudaki Avenue, the main thoroughfare of Dushanbe: the government building and the Parliament building, referring to them as new landmarks of the capital.

"This is the fruit of the friendship between our two leaders," he told Xinhua. "They share a great sympathy, pure friendship, and mutual understanding."

"Xi's words are matched by his actions; what he said is always felt in practice," he added.

Tajikistan is a neighbor of China. Trade between China and Tajikistan doubled from 2013 to 2023. China has become the largest source of investment in Tajikistan and its second-largest trading partner.

Tajikistan was among the first countries to support the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Xi in 2013 and sign related cooperation agreements with China. Under the BRI framework, a series of China-Tajikistan cooperation and aid projects have been implemented in key areas such as infrastructure, metallurgy, energy, cement, and the cotton textile industry.

"The space for practical cooperation between China and Tajikistan is broad, and the prospects are promising," Chinese Ambassador to Tajikistan Ji Shumin told Xinhua.

The two countries firmly support each other on issues concerning their core interests, Ji said. Both countries have suffered from the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism and advocate for a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, he added.

On the streets of Dushanbe, many young people can speak Chinese, and it's common to hear locals greeting visitors from China with "Nihao," which means "hello" in Mandarin.

"In Tajikistan, there has been a noticeable increasing interest in China, in the study of the Chinese experience of modernization, Chinese culture and language," said Abdurakhim Juraev, professor at the Tajik State University of Law, Business and Politics in Khujand.

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Tajik students attending Confucius Institutes in their country or studying in China. Take the Confucius Institute at the Tajik National University as an example. Since its establishment in August 2008, the institute has trained nearly 39,000 Chinese language learners.

The Luban Workshop in Tajikistan, co-founded by China's Tianjin Urban Construction Management and Vocation Technology College and Tajik Technical University, has been training skilled professionals, contributing to Tajikistan's vocational education, industrialization, and modernization efforts.

The visit of President Xi, said Juraev, will give new impetus to cooperation between the two countries and will contribute to the overall prosperity of Central Asia. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping is warmly welcomed by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and a group of Tajik senior officials upon his arrival at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon holds a grand welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

A Tajik child presents flowers to Chinese President Xi Jinping upon his arrival at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. Xi was warmly welcomed by Rahmon and a group of Tajik senior officials upon his arrival. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon holds a grand welcome ceremony for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

This photo taken on July 4, 2024 shows three Kazakh Air Force jets escorting Chinese President Xi Jinping's plane after it takes off. Xi arrived in Dushanbe on Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. Xi landed in Dushanbe after attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, and a state visit to Kazakhstan. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

A grand welcome ceremony is held by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

A grand welcome ceremony is held by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

A grand welcome ceremony is held by Tajik President Emomali Rahmon to welcome Chinese President Xi Jinping at the airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, July 4, 2024. Xi arrived here Thursday for a state visit to Tajikistan. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
CAIRO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The ministers of Egypt's new government held their first cabinet meeting on Thursday with a focus on resolving the summer daily power cuts implemented by the government due to a fuel shortage, the Egyptian cabinet said.

The meeting, led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly who has been in office since 2018, assigned the new ministers of electricity, petroleum, and finance to resolve the power outage issue as soon as possible.

"You are tasked from now to develop a permanent solution to this problem. We previously presented an exceptional solution for the current summer months, by pledging to provide about 1.2 billion U.S. dollars to finance the purchase of petroleum materials necessary to operate power plants," a cabinet statement quoted Madbouly as saying.

"We promised to provide a final solution by the end of the year, which requires taking all measures to ensure its fulfillment," said the Egyptian prime minister.

On Wednesday, the new Egyptian cabinet was sworn in with a massive reshuffle including new ministers of defense, foreign affairs, justice, electricity, petroleum, finance, agriculture, civil aviation, and tourism and antiquities.

Last week, Madbouly said that the country could phase out the ongoing summer power cuts by the third week of July should the generation fuel shortage be resolved.

For a year, Egypt has been implementing daily load-shedding power cuts to ensure the safe operation of the grid and generation facilities. 
Rwandan President Paul Kagame delivers a speech at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

KIGALI, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital.

The event, known locally as Kwibohora, commemorates the end of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, a tragic event that claimed more than one million lives. The Rwandan Patriotic Army, the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), brought the genocide to an end on this day, marking a new era for the nation.

The celebration featured a military parade, showcasing the strength and unity of Rwanda's defense and security forces. Thousands of Rwandans, including government officials, members of the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF), Rwanda National Police and other security organs gathered to honor the day.

"Today, we come to the end of our period of commemoration and celebrate the liberation of our country. Rwandans today are better and stronger than we have ever been. Our army and security forces are a powerful symbol of unity and safety," Rwandan President Paul Kagame said at the event.

He emphasized the significance of the liberation and the progress Rwanda has made since then. Kagame acknowledged the sacrifices made for Rwanda's freedom, saying "On July the 4th, we express our thanks to those who liberated Rwanda and remember those who gave their lives."

Kagame also highlighted the trust Rwandans have in their security forces, saying "In opinion surveys ranking trust in public institutions, Rwandans consistently rate our security forces among the highest. That is no accident. By nature, Rwandan security posture has always been defensive, not offensive. We only act when trouble is brought to us. We prioritize cooperation and working together."

The president outlined the broader scope of Rwanda's struggle today, noting that it is about more than just survival. The focus is on living well, achieving success and overcoming poverty, dependence and indignity. Rwanda aims to be an upright nation of Africans contributing to building a better continent and a fairer world.

Addressing the youth, Kagame underlined their responsibility to protect, defend and make the country prosperous. He said that real liberation begins when guns fall silent, a stage that started 30 years ago, and now the younger generation is expected to take it further.

A series of activities to celebrate the anniversary have been held since last week, including a tour of key historical sites related to the liberation struggle, the inauguration of socioeconomic development projects, and the premiere of a film with the liberation struggle as the background. 

Dancers perform traditional dance at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Soldiers march during a military parade at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Dancers perform traditional dance at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Soldiers march during a military parade at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)

Soldiers march during a military parade at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on July 4, 2024. Rwanda on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of its liberation with a grand celebration at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. (Photo by Cyril Ndegeya/Xinhua)
Hu Kaihong, deputy chief of China's Central Office of Cultural and Ethical Progress, addresses the "Shared Heritage, Shared Future" China-Egypt cultural exchange event in Cairo, Egypt, July 3, 2024. The shared heritage of the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations fostered through trade via the ancient Silk Road was highlighted in an international cultural exchange event held here in Egypt's capital late on Wednesday. Under the theme of "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," the event gathered cultural officials, scholars, and diplomats from China and Egypt, as well as UNESCO representatives.(Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

CAIRO, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The shared heritage of the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations fostered through trade via the ancient Silk Road was highlighted in an international cultural exchange event held here in Egypt's capital late on Wednesday.

Under the theme of "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," the event gathered cultural officials, scholars, and diplomats from China and Egypt, as well as UNESCO representatives.

During the event, scholars delivered keynote speeches to promote bilateral cooperation in preserving cultural heritage and to exchange experiences in the conservation of heritage sites.

Hu Kaihong, deputy chief of China's Central Office of Cultural and Ethical Progress, said the event is of great significance to promoting the vision of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, and strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said in his address to the event that "as two ancient civilizations, China and Egypt have a common heritage that we both are proud of."

China is willing to work with Egypt to implement the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state on building a community with a shared future and promoting common development and prosperity for the two nations, Liao noted.

In his presentation, Jiang Bo, director of the Center of Maritime Archaeology at China's Shandong University, introduced the Chinese experience in protecting newly enlisted UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China, including east China's Quanzhou, the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, and the Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er.

He meanwhile elaborated on how China's practices contribute to the global cause of world heritage protection.

Heidi Bayoumy, an associate professor of the Department of English Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Cairo University, said it is glad to see a growing number of translated Chinese works in Egypt and more Chinese language departments established in Egyptian universities.

She told Xinhua at the event that mutual translation of Chinese and Arabic literary works is a key "gateway" to mutual understanding of each other's cultures.

During the event, Mehrdad Shabahang, UNESCO's specialist for the Silk Roads Programme, brought audiences back to the historical and geographical imprints of exchanges in the fields of architecture, cultural legacies, and urbanization between countries and regions along the ancient Silk Road.

He also highlighted the need to collaborate to preserve the World Heritage sites amid challenges including climate change, stressing, "We need to share experience and knowledge for facing and responding to these challenges."

An exhibition was held at the event with a focus on the birth and growth of heritage cities along the ancient trade route connecting China and Egypt, as well as China's achievements in global cooperation on preserving cultural heritage.

Under the support of the UNESCO office in Cairo, the event was jointly hosted by the municipality of Nanjing, the capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province, as well as China's Southeast University and Tongji University. 

This photo taken on July 3, 2024 shows a scene of the "Shared Heritage, Shared Future" China-Egypt cultural exchange event in Cairo, Egypt. The shared heritage of the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations fostered through trade via the ancient Silk Road was highlighted in an international cultural exchange event held here in Egypt's capital late on Wednesday.

Under the theme of "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," the event gathered cultural officials, scholars, and diplomats from China and Egypt, as well as UNESCO representatives.

(Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Ali el-Hefny, vice-chairman of the Cairo-based Egypt-China Friendship Association, addresses the "Shared Heritage, Shared Future" China-Egypt cultural exchange event in Cairo, Egypt, July 3, 2024. The shared heritage of the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations fostered through trade via the ancient Silk Road was highlighted in an international cultural exchange event held here in Egypt's capital late on Wednesday.

Under the theme of "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," the event gathered cultural officials, scholars, and diplomats from China and Egypt, as well as UNESCO representatives.

(Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)

Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang addresses the "Shared Heritage, Shared Future" China-Egypt cultural exchange event in Cairo, Egypt, July 3, 2024. The shared heritage of the Chinese and Egyptian civilizations fostered through trade via the ancient Silk Road was highlighted in an international cultural exchange event held here in Egypt's capital late on Wednesday.

Under the theme of "Shared Heritage, Shared Future," the event gathered cultural officials, scholars, and diplomats from China and Egypt, as well as UNESCO representatives.

(Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen)
BANGKOK, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A roadshow of the second China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) was held here on Thursday, attended by around 150 representatives from Chinese and Thai government agencies, industry organizations and major companies.

Hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the roadshow aimed to introduce the preparation progress of the expo and extend an invitation to Thai enterprises, associations and people from various sectors, so as to promote complementary cooperation in the supply chains of China and Thailand, and to create a "win-win chain" for companies in the two countries.

Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of CCPIT, noted that CISCE is not only an exhibition platform, but also a comprehensive platform that reflects the development of the industrial chains and the trends of supply chain cooperation.

Exhibitors at CISCE could forge long-term and stable industrial and supply chain cooperation with up, middle and downstream partners on both demand and supply sides, Zhang added.

Puntil Jongjittrakoon, vice minister for commerce of Thailand, said that the second CISCE is regarded as an important platform to promote industrial development in Asia and an important stage to determine the direction of global production and industrial changes.

As a country with potential and the desire to promote the development of the supply chain, China will make the global supply chain more complete and coordinated, Puntil added.

Narucha Ruchuphan, deputy secretary general of Thailand Board of Investment, highlighted that the second CISCE will provide Thai companies with opportunities for business matching and cooperation expansion, which will further promote the continued growth of trade and investment between Thailand and China.

Sun Weiyong, vice president of China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation, introduced the preparation progress of the six major chains and one exhibition area of the second CISCE, emphasizing the differences between CISCE and traditional exhibitions in display logic, exhibitor relations and exhibition purposes.

Sun concluded that the second China International Supply Chain Expo will provide huge opportunities for Thai companies.

The second supply chain expo is scheduled to take place in Beijing from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, 2024, focusing on advanced manufacturing, clean energy, smart vehicles, digital technology, the health industry and green agriculture, as well as supply chain services. 
Children rehearse for a martial arts performance at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zheng Kaijun)

DUSHANBE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- "One! Two! Three! ..." In a martial arts studio in Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, Eleonora Faizova is practicing Wushu routines with a group of children around the age of 10, with her Chinese commands clear and firm.

Twenty-year-old Faizova is a student at the Tajikistan Wushu Federation and the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University (TNU). For her, practicing martial arts and learning Chinese are equally essential.

As a child, Faizova often watched movies featuring kung fu stars like Jackie Chan. "Their moves fascinated me," she said.

From Sanda and Taolu, two categories of competitive Wushu, to swordsmanship, Faizova has been practicing martial arts for 10 years. "It's definitely tiring, but my love for it keeps me going!"

The Tajikistan Wushu Federation is often invited to perform at the Confucius Institute. "I envied the Tajik students there who could communicate freely in Chinese. I also wanted to learn Chinese and gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture," she recalled how she started learning Chinese four years ago at the Confucius Institute at the TNU.

To improve faster, she studied for four to five hours every day. "For example, I wrote the word 'pepper' dozens of times before I could remember it," she said.

She has applied to study law as an undergraduate at East China Normal University. "I hope to become a judge in the future, uphold social fairness and justice, and use my spare time to open a martial arts school to introduce more people to Chinese culture," Faizova said with a big grin.

In Tajikistan, many like Faizova are studying Chinese in educational institutions.

Take the Confucius Institute at the TNU as an example. Since its establishment in August 2008, the institute has trained nearly 39,000 Chinese learners.

The Luban Workshop in Tajikistan, co-founded by China's Tianjin Urban Construction Management and Vocation Technology College and Tajik Technical University, trains professionals in urban thermal energy and engineering surveying. Students attending classes there are equally eager to learn Chinese.

"I want to go to China to learn more professional knowledge, then become a university teacher, so more people can help build our country," said Bakhtiyor Bozorzoda, a junior in the surveying and mapping major at Tajikistan Technical University.

"I have a dream: to learn Chinese well and study in China ..." In Khujand, Tajikistan's second-largest city, a Chinese speech contest was recently held at the Confucius Institute of the Mining-metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan, where students expressed their genuine love for Chinese language and culture.

Raboniddin Mahmudov, 28, attended the event as an outstanding student representative of the Confucius Institute, and listened to each contestant's speech.

Mahmudov started learning Chinese eight years ago, when he was a tour guide at a travel agency in Khujand. "China and Tajikistan are neighbors, but I received very few Chinese tourists. So I decided to learn Chinese and develop the Chinese tourism market," he said.

In 2017, funded by a Confucius Institute scholarship, Mahmudov traveled to China to pursue a master's degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages. During this time, he passed the HSK (the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi or the Chinese Proficiency Test) Level 6 exam, opened a travel agency in Khujand, and established an office in Jinan, the capital of east China's Shandong Province.

Over the years, as exchanges between China and Tajikistan have become more frequent, Mahmudov has become busier. This year alone, he has received more than 2,000 Chinese tourists.

"Some Chinese clients come not only for tourism, but also to explore the Tajik market for investment and cooperation opportunities," he said. "Helping Chinese friends better understand my country and contributing to the expansion of Tajik-China exchanges make my work very valuable."

Ren Gengtian, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute of the Mining-Metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan, said that thanks to the Belt and Road Initiative and the continuous development of China-Tajikistan relations, an increasing number of Tajik youth choose to learn Chinese and engage in China-related work, becoming builders and beneficiaries of the friendship between the two countries.

"Years ago, the China University of Petroleum (East China) and the Mining-Metallurgical Institute of Tajikistan jointly established the Confucius Institute to promote Chinese education in Khujand, an ancient town on the Silk Road," Ren said.

The institute has sent hundreds of outstanding students to study in China through various scholarship programs, and "their lives have been changed," Ren added. 

Children rehearse for a martial arts performance at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zheng Kaijun)

Students attend a class at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Zheng Kaijun)

A child rehearses for a martial arts performance at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 11, 2024. (Xinhua/Zheng Kaijun)

Students attend a class at the Confucius Institute at Tajik National University in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, June 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Zheng Kaijun)
ASTANA, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to start producing short- and medium-range missiles in response to U.S. actions, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.

"I said that in connection with the withdrawal of the United States from the Intermediate Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty and the announcement that they start production, we also consider that we have the right to begin research, development, and production (of these missiles) in the future," Putin told reporters after the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana.

Russia is carrying out such research and development and is ready to start production, he said, adding that Moscow can act in a similar way in case U.S. short-and medium-range missiles are deployed in any region of the world.

The United States and the Soviet Union signed the INF treaty in 1987, which prohibited possessing, developing and testing ground-launched missiles with a range of 500-5,500 km.

In 2019, the United States officially announced its withdrawal from the INF treaty. 
Creators and guests attend the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, July 4 (Xinhua) -- A documentary retracing the ancient journey of Marco Polo premiered here on Wednesday.

Titled "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo," the film was produced by One Tribe TV and stars Stanley Johnson and Max Johnson. The father and son duo followed Marco Polo's 13th-century route through China, starting from the land port on the China-Pakistan border, traversing the highlands of Inner Mongolia, and ending in Beijing.

Stanley Johnson, former British politician and father of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, told Xinhua that he initially began the journey with his friends in 1961 from Venice but stopped at the border between Afghanistan and China.

"We took this chance as a way to build bridges between East and West," said Stanley Johnson. "It's important nowadays because we are confronting global issues like climate change, and we have to work together."

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said in his opening address that the movie is not only about pursuing dreams but also about China-Britain collaboration.

This movie will inspire more people in Britain to make similar travels, meet the people, learn the culture, and appreciate the landscapes and accomplishments in China, said Zheng, inviting the British people to visit China.

"It's exciting to follow the journey of Marco Polo, and as the son, I have to follow in my father's footsteps. It's a very beautiful moment for me," said Max Johnson, the youngest son of Stanley Johnson, who has lived and studied in China.

"A lot of people say things about China, but they haven't even been there. It's important to go to China and see it for yourself," Max Johnson said. 

Max Johnson attends the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Stanley Johnson attends the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Stanley Johnson attends the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang addresses the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Creators and guests attend the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Creators and guests attend the premiere of the documentary "In the Footsteps of Marco Polo" in London, Britain, July 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
WARSAW, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda spoke highly of bilateral relations and discussed trade, investment, and the agenda of the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit.

Poland and Slovakia have faced various challenges together and have overcome them together, Pellegrini told a joint press conference after his meeting with Duda during a work visit to Warsaw on Thursday.

Dubbing Poland as a key strategic partner, Pellegrini said Poland ranked among the top three countries in terms of trade and investment in Slovakia.

Pellegrini said they discussed various topics during the meeting, including the agenda for the upcoming NATO summit in Washington.

Duda noted that he would strive during the summit, scheduled for July 9-11, to bring NATO's strategic fuel pipelines to the eastern flank.

This year marks the 25th and 20th anniversaries of Poland and Slovakia becoming NATO allies, respectively. 
NEW YORK, July 4 (Xinhua) -- SpaceX is set to launch Polaris Dawn, the first commercial spaceflight mission with an all-civilian spacewalk plan, no earlier than July 31, according to an announcement from the project on Wednesday.

Funded by U.S. billionaire Jared Isaacman, the mission is also the second all-civilian mission after the Inspiration 4 mission launched in September 2021.

The mission's plans include the first-ever private spacewalk, research on human health in space and tests to equip the spacecraft with Starlink WiFi.

Polaris Dawn also aims to reach a high orbit about 435 miles (about 700 km) above Earth -- the highest-altitude crewed flight since the Apollo moon missions.

The mission will use the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule to carry four team members to space, including Isaacman. The crew is set to spend around five days in orbit around Earth. 
By implementing efficient methods, Vera Solutions helps its clients gain an edge over competitors by streamlining processes, reducing costs & ultimately enhancing their market position

managing their online presence effectively. These services include managing accounts on e-commerce platforms, designing visually appealing catalogues to showcase products, running sponsored advertisements to increase visibility, and managing marketing campaigns to drive sales. Moreover, the company specializes in creating engaging graphics and infographics to enhance product presentations. It also provides content writing services for catalogues and optimize product listings for better visibility on Amazon through structured SEO programs.Vera Solutions also provides digital marketing services and offers end to-end solutions for diverse business projects. Additionally, the company goes beyond traditional services by offering sales boost services, which may include strategies to increase conversion rates and optimize sales funnels. Furthermore, the company provides B2B consultancy, where it advises other businesses on growth strategies and provide guidance on how to navigate the competitive e-commerce landscape effectively.Vera Solutions team strives tirelessly to guarantee that each project delivers remarkable results to clients with an unparalleled level of quality, consistently ensuring satisfaction. With a presence of over 30 marketplaces, the company has amassed a significant client base globally, serving countries including Qatar, the USA, Turkey, Australia, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Japan, and others. The company holds the top rank as the primary service provider network partner for Amazon sellers based in the USA.Vera Solutions emphasizes the importance of operational excellence, ensuring that clients businesses are running smoothly and efficiently. By focusing on reducing costs without compromising quality or effectiveness, the firm helps its clients navigate the competitive landscape more effectively. Additionally, the company provides support to its clients by facilitating the acquisition of compliance and regulatory services, including Trademark Certificates, GST Certificates, FSSAI Licenses, Food Licenses, Import-Export Licenses, and other relevant certifications.In the upcoming period, Vera Solutions is set to broaden its clientele across multiple continents and is in the process of registering in various regions. Furthermore, the company is actively pursuing the recruitment of additional employees within this year. Ultimately, its goal is to equip e-commerce businesses with the tools and strategies needed to achieve long-term success and dominance in respective markets.
The global medical community is beginning to mobilise in response to the growing threat of pandemic posed by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

On 2 July, the US government chose Moderna to develop a vaccine for the zoonotic disease ravaging farms, disrupting international food markets and, increasingly, infecting humans. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide approximately $176m in funding for the development of an mRNA-based pandemic influenza vaccine.

Across the Atlantic, Finland has become the first country to begin vaccinations for H5N1.

Vaccinations have started this week, Aino Pennanen, senior medical officer at Finlands Health Ministry, tells Pharmaceutical Technology. The vaccinations are offered to people aged 18 or over who are at increased risk of avian influenza infection, such as fur farm and poultry workers, official veterinarians and laboratory workers who handle the avian influenza virus.

Finlands 20,000-dose operation  sufficient to vaccinate 10,000 people with two doses apiece  is part of an EU contract which has secured more than 40 million doses of preventative avian influenza vaccine in total.

The contract sees manufacturer CSL Seqirus supply a large chunk of the vaccines for 15 European countries, with an option for a further 40 million vaccines for a maximum of four years.

Experts call on the WHO to prepare for an avian influenza pandemic

The US and EUs action has been spurred by increasingly urgent warnings from industry professionals, international medical bodies and academics.

In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) said H5N1 avian influenza has pandemic potential, calling for thorough epidemiologic investigation in the case of human exposure to avian influenza.

The WHOs chief scientist Dr Jeremy Farrar said the disease has had an extremely high mortality rate among the several hundred people known to have been infected with it since 1996.

H5N1 is an influenza infection, predominantly started in poultry and ducks and has spread effectively over the course of the last one or two years to become a global zoonotic  animal  pandemic, Farrar said in April.

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1789954074676269329

Industry professionals have urged the WHO to prepare more effectively for a potential H5N1 pandemic than it did during the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020.

Academics at the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis unpacked avian influenzas pandemic potential in a paper last month, while scientists from countries around the world this week cautioned that an H5N1 pandemic is 'unfolding in slow motion', Reuters reported.

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The first known cases of H5N1 date as far back as 1959, with the current dominant strain having evolved at the turn of this century. H5N1 has now been detected on every continent  including Antarctica  spreading from poultry farms to cattle herds to domestic pets. As of 1 July, more than 97 million farmed birds have been infected across 48 US states.

While no human-to-human H5N1 transmission has been recorded, animal-to-human transmission is becoming increasingly prevalent. Total infections since 2003 hit 889 in June, of which 463 were fatal. The majority have been in Cambodia, China, Laos and Vietnam. There have also been five human cases reported in the US.

CDC declares moderate risk of an avian influenza pandemic

The most recent known US case of H5N1 avian influenza, identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Colorado yesterday (3 July) came through exposure to dairy cows which had tested positive for the disease.

A spokesperson tells Pharmaceutical Technology that CDC believes circulating H5N1 viruses pose a moderate risk of pandemic emergence and of having an impact on public health should sustained human-to-human spread occur.

CDC assesses potential pandemic risk of novel influenza viruses with its Influenza Risk Assessment Tool (IRAT).

A new IRAT is underway for the virus isolated from the human infection in Texas, the CDC spokesperson says. The decision is based largely on the fact that the virus has emerged in a new host in the United States.

H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in 48 of the US' 50 states. Credit: Nathan Howard / Getty.

During its last IRAT last July, CDC concluded the H5N1 virus was associated with an outbreak at a mink farm in Spain in 2022.

Experts will use the results from these latest IRAT studies on ferret transmissibility and pathogenicity to inform the overall IRAT risk assessment score.

While CDC believes that the immediate threat to the public posed by this virus remains low, the outcome of the IRAT will assess potential public health risk that this virus will change to cause human-to-human spread and the potential public health impact that would occur if that were to happen, the spokesperson adds. This would help inform pandemic preparedness planning.

Meat, eggs and milk supply chains under strain

A comparatively trivial headline-snatcher in this weeks press has been a forced shortening of breakfast serving hours in Australian McDonalds franchises due to H5N1-inflicted egg shortages.

But the reports point to more serious concerns about supply chains in the food industry.

In the past two months, several strains of avian influenza have been detected in at least eleven poultry facilities across southeast Australia  a trend indicative of the thousands of farms struggling with infections globally.

More than 97 million wild aquatic birds and commercial poultry have been affected by H5N1 in the US alone, causing poultry and egg prices to rise drastically.

A US Department of Agriculture (USDA) spokesperson tells Pharmaceutical Technology, however, that it remains confident that the meat supply is safe, adding that, to date, the agency has received no reports of clinical signs in cattle other than dairy cattle.

The dairy industry was slow to identify the outbreak of avian influenza among dairy cows, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirming its presence in raw milk in April.

Nonetheless, the UK-based FSA still identifies H5N1s risk as very low, while the US Food and Drug Association (FDA) says it has conducted studies which provide strong assurances that the commercial milk supply is safe.

All eyes in the pharmaceutical, medical and food industries will be fixed on the rollout of human vaccines, first in Finland, then more widely in Europe, then the US.

It remains to be seen whether the global community has learnt how to nip any potential pandemic in the bud from the uncoordinated, unequitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines.

"Does H5N1 avian influenza have pandemic potential?" 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.
The dust had settled between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen following their run-in last weekend in Austria, with the McLaren driver no longer seeking an apology from his Red Bull rival.

Verstappen was leading last Sundays race with Norris snapping at his heels in the closing stages of the event. But the two drivers ended up in a clash that proved costly for both.

While Verstappen was able to salvage fifth at the checkered flag, McLaren was forced to retire Norris car, much to the chagrin of the Briton who was left fuming after the incident.

Venting his frustration to the media after the race, Norris did not mince his words, calling Verstappens on-track behaviour reckless, stupid and desperate.

He also made clear that if no apology was forthcoming, he would lose a lot of respect for his friend and rival.

Read also:

Four days later, cooler heads have prevailed following a clear-the-air talk between the two protagonists.

"I honestly don't think he needed to apologise, some of the things I said in the pen after the race were more just because I was frustrated at the time," Norris said ahead of this weekends British GP.

"A lot of adrenaline, a lot of emotions, and I probably said some things I didn't believe in, especially later on in the week.

"It was a pretty pathetic incident in terms of what ended both our races, it wasn't like an obvious bit of contact. It was probably one of the smallest bits of contact you could have, but with a pretty terrible consequence for both of us, especially for myself.

"As a review, a good race, at times very close to the edge, but we've spoken about it, and we're both happy to go racing again.

While Norris emphasized their off-track friendship remains intact, he acknowledged room for improvement in how they race each other. He stopped short of assigning blame, but did suggest both drivers could have done things differently to avoid the collision.

Norris then shifted his focus to the FIA, urging stricter enforcement of rules against moving under braking. He warned that such maneuvers could lead to even bigger accidents in the future.

"It's a tricky one. Max isn't going to want to crash, he's not going to want to ruin his own race and his own chances," Norris added.

"So I think there are different things I need to do slightly differently, but at the end of it I don't think he's going to change too much. I don't think I need to change too much.

"We could have avoided the crash definitely, because there's something I could have done and basically used more kerb, but there's things from both sides that I'm sure we wanted to do better, in a slightly different way.

"But on the whole, I think, avoiding an incident for moving under braking is probably the biggest part of it. That can very easily be an incident that comes from such a thing, and I think that's something we have to be very careful of.

"That's just something for the future and something that the stewards need to be aware of, that something could easily go wrong. So I think to a certain point you're defending, you're being aggressive, and that's okay.

"And there'll be a point where there is a limit and I think that just needs to be defined in a slightly better way."

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Not only is Hawaii an expensive place to live, its also a pricey place to visit. The state already charges a 10.25% hotel tax, dubbed the Transient Accommodation Tax (TAT), for anyone staying in a resort, hotel, or short-term vacation rental. The state has also proposed a $25 Climate Impact Fee for visitors, but that legislation hasnt passed yet, according to GOBankingRates most recent report.

Check Out: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper

Read Next: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

The chain of Pacific islands is home to white-sand beaches, picturesque hiking trails, crystal clear waters for snorkeling, and museums  and other tourist attractions  to appeal to all types of travelers.

But associated travel costs might be higher than a trip to any of the contiguous states. Here are some costs you should expect if youre taking a family of four to Hawaii, based on figures from The Hawaii Vacation Guide.

Airfare

Expect to spend roughly $2,011 on airfare for your trip to Hawaii  or roughly $500 per roundtrip ticket, per person. Thats higher than a roundtrip flight to virtually anywhere else in the U.S. The average cost of a domestic, roundtrip flight is just $367.79, according to statistics from the Bureau of Transportation, as reported by USA Today.

Most flights to Hawaii leave from Los Angeles, so if you dont live within driving distance of LAX, youll need to tack on the costs of airfare from your home to California.

Learn More: 8 Tips To Fly Business Class for the Price of Economy

Hotel

The airfare isnt the priciest part of your trip if youre staying in Hawaii for 10 days, however. The average cost of a hotel room for four people runs $4,136, according to The Hawaii Vacation Guide. This price applies to a value hotel in the city of Waikiki on the island of Oahu. That price breaks down to roughly $400 per night.

To contrast, we found oceanfront hotels in Myrtle Beach for summer 2024 for half that price on Expedia, although you could spend $400+ for a beachfront condo with a full kitchen and multiple bedrooms.

Food

While you can find plenty of fun and free activities to do across Hawaii, there is at least one more expense you cant avoid  food! The Hawaii Vacation Guide estimated that to feed a family of two adults and two children, youll want to budget at least $2,100 for 10 days, or roughly $200 per day.

The average restaurant dinner in Hawaii can cost $50 to $100 per person, with entrees priced at $34 and up. You can save money by eating at food trucks or less pricey places, but you should expect to spend at least $75 per adult, per day, on food.

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Its possible to enjoy a Hawaii vacation on a budget if you plan carefully, travel during the off-season, and seek out free activities at the states beautiful beaches and parks, however.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Necessary High Costs To Prepare For When Planning a Vacation to Hawaii
We recently compiled a list of the Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Yield: Top 10. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) stands against the other dividend aristocrats.

Investors have always put income at the top of their list. And when it comes to raking in money, you cant beat dividend stocks. Research by S&P Dow Jones Indices has demonstrated that over the long haul, dividend-paying companies have outperformed non-dividend companies and the broader market on a risk-adjusted basis. Though investing in high dividend yields is not advised by analysts, recent research indicates that dividend yield is a risk factor that pays off, historically earnings higher returns than a market-cap-weighted benchmark. When paired with other factors like volatility, quality, momentum, size, and value, dividend yield strategies can potentially tap into systematic sources of returns.

Dividend yield and dividend growth have always been a hot topic among investors. But little did they realize that dividend yield is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to dividend growth. When it comes to the Dividend Aristocrats Index, the knack for increasing dividends for 25 straight years doesnt mean sacrificing yield. The index has consistently outshone its benchmark by delivering higher yields, typically between 2% and 2.9% over the past 26 years ending 2023. On average, the indexs yield was 2.5%, compared to the markets 1.8%. To read more about high dividend stocks, have a look at Best Dividend Stocks Yielding at Least 7% According to Hedge Funds.

In addition to offering solid yields, dividend aristocrats are also less volatile than other asset classes. According to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices, the Dividend Aristocrats Index has outpaced the broader market over the long haul with less volatility, which is indicated by its higher risk-adjusted returns. The indexs ability to provide downside protection is evident in its upside and downside capture ratio. These stocks have outperformed the market in 69.34% of down months and 43.61% of up months. Moreover, the Dividend Aristocrats Index has experienced lower drawdowns compared to the benchmark index. The report further mentioned that the index delivered an average excess return of 1.05% during down months compared to the broad-based benchmark.

Data from 2023 highlights how eager companies are to boost their dividends. This isn't just a knee-jerk move to lure investors; it's backed by robust corporate balance sheets, with companies raking in more cash flows than ever before. According to Janus Henderson, corporate cash flow remained strong in 2023 across most sectors, giving companies ample resources for dividends and share buybacks. As a result, global dividend growth saw a 5% increase for the year, aligning with the long-term trend. The firm also gave a positive outlook for dividends in 2024. It said that dividends appear solidly supported this year, although one-time special dividends are expected to decrease from the record levels observed over the past three years. The firms forecast predicts $1.72 trillion in dividends for 2024, marking a 3.9% increase on a headline basis, which translates to a 5% growth rate on a headline basis.

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There are many dividend aristocrats that offer solid yields to shareholders. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks with high yields.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we looked at a group of 67 dividend aristocrat companies, which are known for raising dividends for 25 years or more. From this list, we chose 10 stocks with the highest dividend yields as of June 25 and arranged them in order from lowest to highest yield. We also measured hedge fund sentiment around each stock according to Insider Monkeys database of 920 funds as of Q1 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

A close-up of an assembly line with a blend of tobacco products.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Dividend Yield as of June 25: 8.42%

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is a Virginia-based manufacturing company that specializes in the production of tobacco, cigarettes, and other nicotine products. Recently, the FDA approved the marketing of four of the company's e-cigarette products after a thorough scientific review. This move is notable as it is the first time the agency has granted marketing orders for non-tobacco flavored vapor products through the premarket tobacco application process. The FDA stated that evidence from Altria showed these menthol-flavored products offer a significant benefit for adult smokers, encouraging complete switching from traditional cigarettes, which outweighs the risks, including the appeal to youth.

The tobacco habit among people has given the industry a golden ticket to steady profits. Despite the long-term drop in smoking rates in the US, the industry's pricing power has kept the cash rolling in for years. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) owns Marlboro, the top cigarette brand in the nation, commanding about 42% of the total retail market and a dominating 60% share of the premium segment. The company's overall revenue for the first quarter of 2024 came in at $4.7 billion, which slightly fell by 0.9% from the same period last year.

Andvari Associates has given strong outlook for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

Our second example of a high-yielding security is the stock of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO). Before we get into the details of why we started a position in Altria, a brief history is in order. The company was formerly known as Philip Morris before rebranding to Altria in 2003. Cynically, the rebranding was to minimize the negative attention from its tobacco business. However, the company also owned Kraft Foods and Miller Brewing, so it was logical to reflect its status as a conglomerate. Since rebranding, Altria has slowly de-conglomerated. It spun out Kraft in 2007. It spun out Philip Morris International in 2008. In 2021, it sold its Ste. Michelle Wine Estates business. Finally, last month Altria announced it is selling part of its 10% ownership in Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) Andvari has followed Altria since we began our investment career. Profitability is extraordinary and the business requires minimal capital expenditures. Despite the volume of cigarettes having steadily declineda great thing for our population healthAltria has still managed to grow revenues and profits with regular price increases (Click here to read the full text)

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share. The company holds a 54-year streak of consistent dividend growth. With a dividend yield of 8.42% as of June 25, MO ranks first on our list of the best dividend aristocrat stocks.

Insider Monkeys database of Q1 2024 indicated that 38 hedge funds owned stakes in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), compared with 42 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $823.3 million. Among these hedge funds, Harris Associates was the companys leading stakeholder in Q1.

Overall MO ranks 1st on our list of the best dividend aristocrats ranked by yield. You can visit Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Yield: Top 10 to see the other dividend stocks that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of MO as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than MO but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: Analyst Sees a New $25 Billion "Opportunity" for NVIDIA and 10 Best of Breed Stocks to Buy For The Third Quarter of 2024 According to Bank of America.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Amazon has decided to discontinue its Astro for Business security robot, designed for small- and medium-sized businesses, to concentrate on developing household robots, reports Reuters.

The US company initially introduced the robot for domestic use in 2021, expanding it to various business sectors such as retail and manufacturing in November last year.

In an email, an Amazon spokesperson stated: "To accelerate our progress and ongoing research to make Astro the best in-home robot, we have made the decision to wind down support for Astro for Business."

The Astro for Business robot, which was sold for $2,349.99, was designed to offer round-the-clock business monitoring.

However, Amazon has informed its customers that these robots will no longer be operational starting from 25 September 2024.

The company is offering a $300 credit to support customers in finding alternative workplace solutions and will refund any pre-paid Astro Secure subscription fees starting 3 July 2024.

The product was made available in the US only.

Last month, Amazon announced an investment of 10bn ($10.7bn) in Germany to enhance its cloud infrastructure and logistics network.

This move is expected to create 4,000 new jobs in 2024, increasing Amazon's total permanent workforce in Germany to over 40,000.

It is part of a broader commitment to Germany, totalling 17.8bn, including a 7.8bn AWS European Sovereign Cloud investment.

The AWS European Sovereign Cloud, an independent cloud for Europe, is set to launch its first AWS Region in the State of Brandenburg by the end of 2025.

"Amazon to halt Astro for Business security robot" was originally created and published by Verdict, 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.
Ford's chief executive has said it was time for the US to get back in love with smaller cars, according to a Guardian report.

In an interview at the Aspen Ideas festival, Jim Farley said the auto industry needed to focus on smaller EVs and commercial vehicles. He acknowledged that American consumers are in love with these monster vehicles but said they need to get back in love with small cars.

We have to start to get back in love with smaller vehicles. Its super important for our society and for EV adoption, Farley said. We are just in love with these monster vehicles, and I love them, too, but its a major issue with weight.

The average weight of a new vehicle sold in the US last year was 4,329lbs (2,000kg)  an increase of 1,000lbs (450kg) from 1980.

Ford expected to introduce a US$30,000 all electric vehicle which would be profitable in roughly two and a half years, breaking a price barrier that has made the adoption of EVs an unobtainable luxury to all but the auto industrys wealthiest customers.

According to the Guardian, Farley told the festival the companys new EV vehicle would be a BYD competitor though the Biden administration has effectively banned the Chinese company from the US by quadrupling import tariffs. It would also rival a new, entry level electric car from Tesla expected next year.

Farley said Ford would focus on the new vehicle  not larger all electric trucks and SUVs. Larger vehicles, using internal combustion engines, have traditionally driven US carmakers profits, especially at Ford.

You have to make a radical change as an [automaker] to get to a profitable EV. The first thing we have to do is really put all of our capital toward smaller, more affordable EVs, Farley reportedly said during an interview with CNBCs Julia Boorstin.

Thats the duty cycle that weve now found that really matches. These huge, enormous EVs are never going to make money: the battery is $50,000, even with low-nickel, LFP chemistry. They will never be affordable.

A Ford spokesperson reportedly clarified he was referring to the companys Super Duty models, which require massive battery packs to achieve ranges of 500 miles, and which are said to be heavier than a Honda Civic.

But he said the stakes were high for Ford and the other automakers over the next five years, as they seek to compete with Chinese EV makers. Farley said it was crucial for Ford, which lost $132,000 on every EV sold in the first three months of the year, to make profitable EVs in the next five years.

If we cannot make money on EVs, we have competitors who have the largest market in the world, who already dominate globally, already setting up their supply chain around the world, Farley said. And if we dont make profitable EVs in the next five years, what is the future? We will just shrink into North America, the Guardian quoted him as saying.

Story continues

"Americans need to downsize cars Ford CEO says" 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.
Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) are examining the prospect of bidding for Australian gas producer Santos, reported Bloomberg, citing sources.

Santos currently has an estimated value of around $17.49bn based on recent share prices.

The Santos share price has been performing poorly, prompting unsuccessful takeover attempts and proposals for the company to separate its business units.

Aramco and ADNOC, both state-owned entities, are conducting initial assessments of Santos as a potential acquisition, the source said.

These oil and gas giants are investing heavily in natural gas, which is considered a vital transitional fuel, particularly in the Asian market.

Last year, Aramco made a strategic move by purchasing a minority stake in MidOcean Energy for approximately $500m (SR1.88bn).

MidOcean Energy, a subsidiary of EIG Global Energy Partners, holds interests in several liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects.

Aramco also recently awarded contracts exceeding $25bn to bolster its gas expansion strategy, with a goal of achieving more than a 60% increase in gas production by 2030.

According to sources, discussions are currently under way, and Aramco and ADNOC have not reached any definitive decisions regarding formal proposals.

They also mentioned the possibility that Aramco could pursue a partnership to facilitate a potential bid.

All companies involved, including Aramco, ADNOC and Santos, have not provided any official comments on the matter, the publication said.

Santos has a history of rejecting takeover offers, including multiple bids from Harbour Energy in the US and preliminary discussions with Woodside Energy Group that did not progress earlier this year.

Investors have been vocal about Santos separating its high-value LNG assets from its oil operations in Alaska and domestic gas business in Australia to realise higher valuations.

Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher has faced investor pressure to improve stock performance and enhance shareholder returns following criticism over the company's extensive capital allocation for growth.

"Aramco and ADNOC weighing acquisition of Australian gas company Santos " 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.
Australia should introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in order to fight diabetes, a parliamentary committee has recommended.

The committee has suggested the Australian government implement a levy graduated according to the sugar content on sugar-sweetened beverages to improve health outcomes in the country.

Chaired by MP Dr Mike Freelander, the committee also proposed the government introduce regulations around the marketing and advertising of unhealthy food to anyone under 16 years old.

In total, it made 23 recommendations covering areas such as conducting an economic analysis of the cost of diabetes, increased medical support for diabetes patients, expanded subsidies for insulin pumps. It also called for creating mechanisms for securing supplies of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for disadvantaged and remote communities.

Obesity in Australia goes hand in hand with our diabetes epidemic and unfortunately, like diabetes, it is the most disadvantaged communities that are suffering the most," Freelander said.

If we are to reduce the burden of diabetes on the health system, we will require a multipronged approach that focuses on prevention and public health policies across not just health services, but also education, agriculture, construction, social services, communications, transport, and manufacturing.

Sugar taxation internationally

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for higher taxes on sweetened beverages and alcoholic drinks to promote healthier behaviours.

Although 108 countries are taxing some sort of sugar-sweetened beverage, globally, on average, the excise tax, a tax designated for a specified consumer product, represents just 6.6% of the price of soda, the WHO said.

In the US, there is no outright broad sugar tax but some individual cities and jurisdictions have implemented them.

The UK introduced a sugar tax in 2018. It consists of a levy of 18p a litre for drinks with five to eight grams of sugar per 100ml and 24p per litre for those with more than 8g of sugar per 100ml.

In April, The Netherlands government laid out five scenarios for revising its taxation of sugar in non-alcoholic beverages, which could include soy-based drinks, water and dairy.

Since 1993, the Netherlands has applied a flat rate of 26.13 ($27.96) per 100 litres to all non-alcoholic drinks, regardless of sugar content.

Italy set out a sugar tax in 2020. It, however, has been delayed seven times and is now due to come into force 1 July 2025.

Russia, Estonia and Slovakia all have sugar taxes in the works.

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"Australia should tax sugary drinks, parliamentary committee recommends" 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.
In the quest for reliable dividend income from Australian stocks, investors should be wary of companies with unstable dividend histories. While a high yield might seem appealing, a history of significant dividend cuts, as seen with Kelsian Group, can indicate underlying financial challenges. Today we will compare two distinct examples to help guide your investment decisions in this area.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Australia

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Collins Foods (ASX:CKF) 3.09%  Nick Scali (ASX:NCK) 5.26%  Eagers Automotive (ASX:APE) 7.21%  Centuria Capital Group (ASX:CNI) 7.07%  Fiducian Group (ASX:FID) 3.99%  Fortescue (ASX:FMG) 8.76%  Charter Hall Group (ASX:CHC) 3.96%  Premier Investments (ASX:PMV) 4.60%  Diversified United Investment (ASX:DUI) 3.16%  Australian United Investment (ASX:AUI) 3.59% 

Click here to see the full list of 27 stocks from our Top ASX Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's dive into one of the prime choices out of the screener and one to possibly skip over.

Top Pick

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Fiducian Group Ltd operates as a financial services provider in Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately A$239.23 million.

Operations: The company generates revenue through four primary segments: Funds Management (A$20.49 million), Corporate Services (A$12.06 million), Financial Planning (A$28.95 million), and Platform Administration (A$15.38 million).

Dividend Yield: 4%

Fiducian Group maintains a solid track record in dividend reliability, consistently increasing payouts over the past decade with a current yield of 4.09%. Despite dividends being slightly lower than the top Australian dividend payers, they are well-supported by earnings and cash flows, with payout ratios at 83.7% and cash payout ratios at 60.5%, respectively. This stability contrasts sharply with some peers who have experienced significant dividend cuts, underlining Fiducian's dependable income stream for investors.

ASX:FID Dividend History as at Jul 2024

One To Reconsider

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Kelsian Group Limited operates in the provision of land and marine transport and tourism services across Australia, the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.30 billion.

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Operations: The company generates its revenue through three primary segments: Australian Bus services contributing A$934.76 million, International Bus services adding A$448.87 million, and Marine and Tourism activities accounting for A$337.90 million.

Dividend Yield: 3.6%

Kelsian Group's dividend history shows instability, with significant drops including an annual decline over 20%. Currently, the dividend yield is 3.62%, below the Australian market's top quartile of 6.58%. The payout ratio stands high at 148.2%, indicating dividends are not adequately covered by earnings or cash flows. Additionally, profit margins have decreased from last year's 3.8% to just 1.7%, further straining its financial health despite a projected earnings growth of 25.62% per year.

ASX:KLS Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Get an in-depth perspective on all 27 Top ASX Dividend Stocks by using our screener here.

Hold shares in some of these firms? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

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 ASX:FID and ASX:KLS.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Investing in dividend stocks within the United Kingdom can be an appealing strategy for those seeking regular income. However, caution is needed as some companies may offer high dividends that are not sustainable over the long term. For instance, a company like Redcentric, with a high payout ratio, might face difficulties maintaining its dividend payments, which could impact investors relying on this income.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United Kingdom

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating James Latham (AIM:LTHM) 6.30%  Impax Asset Management Group (AIM:IPX) 7.10%  Keller Group (LSE:KLR) 3.54%  Dunelm Group (LSE:DNLM) 7.19%  DCC (LSE:DCC) 3.50%  Plus500 (LSE:PLUS) 5.75%  Big Yellow Group (LSE:BYG) 3.77%  Rio Tinto Group (LSE:RIO) 6.20%  NWF Group (AIM:NWF) 4.52%  Hargreaves Services (AIM:HSP) 6.59% 

Click here to see the full list of 56 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Here we highlight one of our preferred stocks from the screener and one that could be better to shun.

Top Pick

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Mears Group plc operates in the United Kingdom, offering a range of outsourced services to both public and private sectors, with a market capitalization of approximately 357.27 million.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three primary segments: Management (543.35 million), Development (2.70 million), and Maintenance (543.28 million).

Dividend Yield: 3.4%

Mears Group's recent dividend increase to 13.00 pence for FY 2023, up from 10.50 pence the previous year, highlights its strong cash performance and management's confidence in future prospects. With a sustainable payout ratio of 39.5% and a cash payout ratio of only 11.4%, dividends are well-covered by both earnings and free cash flow, contrasting sharply with some peers struggling with high payout ratios that threaten dividend sustainability. However, it is worth noting Mears has experienced some volatility in dividend payments over the past decade.

LSE:MER Dividend History as at Jul 2024

One To Reconsider

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Redcentric plc operates as an IT managed services provider catering to both public and private sectors in the United Kingdom, with a market capitalization of approximately 215.64 million.

Operations: The company generates 162.14 million from providing managed IT services.

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Dividend Yield: 2.6%

Redcentric's dividend profile raises concerns due to its unstable history, with significant fluctuations over the past decade and an unprofitable status. Despite dividends increasing, the company's low yield of 2.64% falls short compared to the UK market's top quartile at 5.73%. Additionally, recent merger and acquisition discussions with Wiit S.p.A., still in preliminary stages as of May 2024, introduce uncertainty about Redcentrics future financial stability and dividend sustainability.

AIM:RCN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Key Takeaways

Take a closer look at our Top Dividend Stocks list of 56 companies by clicking here.

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.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

Want To Explore Some Alternatives?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include LSE:MER and AIM:RCN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
China International Capital Corp, CICC, intends to create offices in Indonesia and Malaysia as part of its aims to increase its footprint in Southeast Asia, as local deal activity has been slow.

Established in 1995, the Beijing-based investment bank is presently present in seven global financial hubs beyond China's borders, such as Hong Kong, New York, London, and Singapore.

In June, the state-owned CICC expanded its footprint in Southeast Asia, which is home to many rapidly expanding economies, by opening a representative office in Vietnam.

Reported by Reuters, growing geopolitical tensions and a weakening Chinese economy have severely impacted dealmaking activity in Hong Kong and the mainland, particularly at China's oldest and largest investment bank, CICC.

In its key markets of China and Hong Kong, CICC has reduced banker pay and is considering reducing employment levels. The investment bank's profit and stock price have also fallen significantly.

Other Chinese investment banks have been equally impacted, prompting a rush by Chinese and Wall Street banks to pursue commercial prospects in other Asia Pacific markets.

Due to the region's growing economy, youthful, highly skilled populace, and expanding infrastructure, Southeast Asia has become a worldwide investment hotspot in recent years.

CICC, whose strategic owners include top Chinese technology companies Tencent and Alibaba, sees huge potential in private funding for Southeast Asian unicorns and startups.

Other potential includes an increase in cross-border investments from Chinese enterprises, particularly in Southeast Asia's consumer, technology, media, telecom, fintech, logistics, and electric vehicle sectors.

In addition to this, Chinese banks maintain their dominance in the global largest lender rankings of 2023.

This is despite a downturn in the property sector, according to the Global Bank Ranking published by S&P Global Market Intelligence, an annual ranking of the 100 largest banks in the world by total assets.

Chinese banks retain 20 positions in the ranking, including the top four. This showcases the continued strength of Chinas banking sector. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China remains the worlds largest bank, with assets of $6.3trn. Agricultural Bank of China surpasses China Construction Bank to claim second place, with 14.5% loan growth in 2023.

"Chinas CICC wants to expand into Southeast Asia" was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
CONCORD, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Nearly two-dozen people are losing their jobs locally, and hundreds statewide after the company behind the Salt Life beachwear brand shutters its facilities.

According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, Delta Apparel Inc. is closing manufacturing plants in Cabarrus, Cumberland and Robeson counties, effective Aug. 29. There are 22 jobs being eliminated at the Concord location on Corporate Drive.

Construction underway at Cabarrus County intersection nearly six years after teens death

On June 30, the Georgia-based company announced it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and has begun to delist from the New York Stock Exchange.

Delta is known for the once-popular Salt Life and Soffe brands.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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.
Successful investing is often slow and steady, but lightning strikes occasionally. Just ask investors in AI chip company Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). A $10,000 investment made a decade ago would be worth over $2.6 million today. While rare, Nvidia's success shows that life-changing returns can come relatively quickly.

The million-dollar question is whether investors can still get the same type of returns from Nvidia in the future. After all, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is seemingly in its early innings. Nvidia enjoys a near monopoly on the chips that power the massive data centers running AI models.

While Nvidia's long-term outlook remains bright, the stock faces some obstacles in duplicating such massive returns.

Here is what investors should realistically expect from the stock.

The state of Nvidia today

The tricky thing about catching lightning in a bottle is that it's tough to do it again. A lot went right for Nvidia to generate the stock's massive returns in just a decade, which isn't very long in the grand scheme of investing. It's asking a lot to expect the same stock to go on another run like it.

Here's where Nvidia is today:

The company has grown to a market cap of roughly $3 trillion; Nvidia's trailing-12-month revenue is $80 billion. A decade ago, Nvidia was a relatively obscure company that built graphics processing chips primarily for the gaming industry. Today, Nvidia is a household name on Wall Street.

In other words, the stock isn't surprising anyone these days.

The math behind turning $10,000 into $1 million

Investors need a 100-fold return to turn $10,000 into $1 million. Nvidia faces two significant hurdles here. First, at a roughly $3 trillion valuation, it's now virtually the largest company in the world. At $3 trillion, Nvidia is nearly as big as China's entire stock market. It's worth almost an eighth of the whole U.S. economy. It's doubtful that Nvidia has the room to realistically achieve a valuation of $300 trillion in our lifetimes.

That would be three times the world's entire economic output.

AI is a big deal and could add trillions to the economy over the years. However, Nvidia is only a piece of that growth, and the stock's $3 trillion valuation makes it clear that investors have priced a ton of that potential into today's stock price. You can see below how much Nvidia's market cap has outpaced its actual revenue:

NVDA Revenue (TTM) Chart

This hasn't even touched on the potential risk of Nvidia losing its stranglehold on the AI chip market. While Nvidia has as much as 90% of the AI chip market today, it's unclear whether it can keep all of that share. Nvidia's biggest customers, big technology conglomerates like Microsoft, are developing custom chips to help power their data centers. Competitors like AMD will undoubtedly go after Nvidia.

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I'm not saying that Nvidia will lose its leadership in AI. I'm saying that lightning struck once, and it's hard to see it happening again.

How Nvidia can help investors build wealth

The above math shows that Nvidia is unlikely to perform anywhere close to what it's done this past decade. However, that doesn't mean Nvidia can't contribute to your wealth-building efforts. Nvidia's surging growth from AI will generate substantial cash flows that can be used to repurchase shares and help drive earnings growth and share price gains. Analysts still believe Nvidia will grow earnings by an average of 37% annually over the next three to five years.

That could easily be a recipe for market-beating investment returns. Shares trade at a forward price to earnings ratio of 46, which is reasonable for a company growing earnings as fast as Nvidia is. So, while the ship has sailed on Nvidia being a life-changing multibagger, it can still do its part to help build wealth in a diversified portfolio.

As long as expectations remain realistic, investors should be excited to buy and hold Nvidia stock.

Should you invest $1,000 in Nvidia right now?

Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Nvidia wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $751,670!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

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Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Could Investing $10,000 in Nvidia Make You a Millionaire? was originally published by The Motley Fool
According to preliminary estimates, Light Vehicle (LV) sales fell by 3.8% year-on-year (YoY) in June, to 1.33 million units. The CDK cyberattack has caused significant disruption across the industry, and therefore some brands could potentially see larger revisions than would normally be the case. Still, sales in June are unlikely to change for many of the largest OEMs, while there is a possibility that volumes in July will see a boost instead.

US LV sales totaled 1.33 million units in June, according to GlobalData. The annualized selling rate was 15.3 million units/year in June, down from 16.0 million units/year in May. The daily selling rate was estimated at 51k units/day in June, compared to 55.4k units/day in May. Given the obvious challenges that the industry faced in June, we should not read too much into either the annualised or daily selling rates this month.

NB: It is not possible to provide retail/fleet splits this month due to the CDK cyberattack.

General Motors (GM) once again led the market in June, and opened up a gap of almost 34k units over second-placed Toyota Group, which was impacted by stop-sale orders on some models. Ford Group was the third-largest OEM with 160k units. At a brand level, Toyota continued to lead on 165k units despite the recalls, with second-placed Ford seemingly affected by the cyberattack, as its volumes were a modest 153k units. Chevrolet was the next closest challenger behind Ford, on 144k units. For the first time since March, the Toyota RAV4 returned to the top of the model sales rankings, on 41.7k units, as Toyota reported that the cyberattack had little impact on its sales activity. This relegated the Ford F-150 to the runner-up position, with 37.6k units. In terms of segments, Compact Non-Premium SUVs continued to see an easing in market share in June, accounting for 20.2% of total sales, although this was still 5.1 pp ahead of the next largest segment, Midsize Non-Premium SUVs. Meanwhile, the Large Pickup segment enjoyed its highest market share since January 2023, at 14.1%.

David Oakley, Manager, Americas Sales Forecasts, GlobalData, said: Although the industry has become accustomed to dealing with adversity in recent years, the CDK cyberattack was another curve ball that disrupted activity on a number of levels during June. Many dealers that use CDKs software found it difficult to conduct normal business operations, although reports suggest that workarounds were found in many cases. The sales data also supports this idea of resilience, as volumes were certainly not as low as might have been the case, especially given that the attack occurred on June 19th and affected the busiest weeks of the month, as well as a quarter end. Still, there was undoubtedly a negative impact for some OEMs, as we would have expected sales to grow modestly YoY had the cyberattack not happened. Some buyers may have chosen to defer their purchase until the issue was resolved, but with the restoration of systems expected imminently, we anticipate that most of the lost sales will be recovered in July.

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US inventory likely ended June at just above 2.7 million units, on par with the level seen last month, but an increase of nearly 42% from June 2023. Days supply is expected to be at 50 days, which is the same as last month. With recovery from the cyberattack expected to be robust in July, inventory will contract more than typical during the months summer production shutdown for some of the domestic manufacturers. Production levels are expected to resume some inventory rebuilding in August and will be managed to demand through the remainder of 2024.

The monthly pattern may have been distorted in June, and now through August, but the forecast for 2024 remains at 16.1 million units, a 4% increase from 2023. If July and August see measurable recovery, the forecast could still push to 16.2 million units. Fleet sales are still projected to increase to account for 18.9% of LV sales this year, nearly back to pre-pandemic levels. The outlook for LV sales in 2025 remains stable at 16.6 million units, an increase of 3% YoY.

Jeff Schuster, Vice President Research and Analysis, Automotive, said: The forecast for LV sales has been stable for several months now, with the risk bias holding to the upside as affordability continues to improve somewhat, and the mix of lower-priced vehicles and trim levels help to bring in displaced consumers. While the upcoming US election is not expected to have a significant impact on topline volume, economic and regulatory policy could certainly impact Electric Vehicle (EV) growth and sourcing trends.

Global outlook: The global LV selling rate in May stood at 87.4 million units/year, a modest improvement from 86.2 million units/year in April. Sales volumes in May increased by just 0.7% to 7.2 million units, which was weaker than expectations going into the month. Lower demand in China accounted for much of the weak global gain. The country experienced a contraction of 3.3% in May, which was noticeably stronger than the 0.4% decline projected; however, the selling rate still improved from April. Japan (-4.5%) and Korea (-7.3%) also contributed to the muted performance in May. A slight pullback in expected demand has trimmed the outlook for 2024 by 200k units to 88.9 million units, a 2.5% increase from 2023. Chinas trade-in subsidy does not appear to be providing the boost to demand that the government intended. However, globally, risks remain balanced, and the auto market is stable.

This article was first published on GlobalDatas dedicated research platform, the Automotive Intelligence Center.

"In data: CDK cyberattack impacts US light vehicle market as June sales decline" 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.
shapecharge / iStock/Getty Images

Financial security may look different to everyone, but a recent poll shows that most people measure it based on one key factor. According to a CNBC|SurveyMonkey study, 59% of respondents said that financial security would mean having no outstanding debts.

Find Out: 7 Reasons You Should Consider a Financial Advisor  Even If Youre Not Wealthy

Read Next: $10K or More in Debt? See If You Could Become Debt-Free (for Less Than You Owe)

Other key indicators include owning your own home, having a high level of savings, and having a well-paying job and secure career path, based on the responses of over 4,000 adults across the globe.

The survey also showed that 65% of respondents still lived paycheck to paycheck, making it harder to tackle debt and focus on savings. In fact, 72% of people said they had debt, and over 40% indicated they had credit card debt, which can be particularly challenging to get rid of.

Luckily, there are several things you can do to help reduce your debt and get on track for a more solid financial future. Here are three ways you can get your debt under control and boost your wealth.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Use Debit Cards Instead of Credit Cards

Getting into credit card debt can be a vicious cycle. If you arent paying off your card each month, you are incurring huge amounts of interest on your balance. Making only the minimum payment may mean that you spend years paying off a balance of under $5,000.

If you want a clearer picture of the amount of interest you will pay over the course of your credit card debt and just how long it will take to pay it off, you can use a credit card payoff calculator. Many companies also offer debt relief services if you find yourself struggling with an insurmountable amount of debt.

When it comes to credit cards, Jordan Patrick, CFP and senior financial advisor at Commas, explained, While credit cards can be valuable tools for building credit and earning rewards, they often lead to higher spending. People who use debit cards tend to do a better job of tracking spending to ensure they dont exceed their bank account balance. This approach can lead to significant savings that outweigh the rewards earned from using credit cards.

For You: You Can Get These 3 Debts Canceled Forever

Understand Why You Have Debt

It can be difficult to get out of debt if you dont understand how or why you got into it in the first place.

Patrick advised, Take time to reflect on the reasons behind your debt. List out your debts, think about where they came from, ask yourself if anything could have been done differently, and game-plan for the future. If you have credit card debt from an expensive vacation, you could create a plan to manage future temptations to overspend. For debt from surprise expenses, focus on building your emergency fund. This exercise isnt to create shame but is meant to empower you in the future.

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Track Your Spending

Building a more secure financial future often begins with knowing what you are spending.

Knowing where your money goes is the first step in understanding your financial habits, explained Patrick. Track your spending for several months, review it regularly, and identify patterns and problem areas to address.

He continued, Through this exercise, you may find that you are overspending on categories that arent adding value to your life. Use this as an opportunity to identify expenses that could be reduced, which will help prevent future debt and free up cash to make additional payments on existing debt.

Final Considerations

Financial literacy can go a long way in helping you to get your debt under control. Understanding how to budget, save and invest from an early age can help you achieve the financial security you want throughout your lifetime.

However, the path to a brighter (and more secure) financial future isnt necessarily debt-free. Jordan explained, Not all debt is bad  some can help you make progress in life while other debts may restrict you. Focus on minimizing your debt to a level where you can make progress toward future financial goals and have some flexibility to enjoy the present.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Debt Is No. 1 Way To Measure Financial Security  3 Ways To Control It and Boost Wealth
The excitement of investing in a company that can reverse its fortunes is a big draw for some speculators, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can manage to find investors. Sometimes these stories can cloud the minds of investors, leading them to invest with their emotions rather than on the merit of good company fundamentals. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

So if this idea of high risk and high reward doesn't suit, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad (KLSE:PMETAL). Even if this company is fairly valued by the market, investors would agree that generating consistent profits will continue to provide Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad with the means to add long-term value to shareholders.

See our latest analysis for Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad

How Fast Is Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad Growing?

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. Shareholders will be happy to know that Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad's EPS has grown 33% each year, compound, over three years. If growth like this continues on into the future, then shareholders will have plenty to smile about.

Top-line growth is a great indicator that growth is sustainable, and combined with a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin, it's a great way for a company to maintain a competitive advantage in the market. Despite consistency in EBIT margins year on year, Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad has actually recorded a dip in revenue. While this may raise concerns, investors should investigate the reasoning behind this.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

Of course the knack is to find stocks that have their best days in the future, not in the past. You could base your opinion on past performance, of course, but you may also want to check this interactive graph of professional analyst EPS forecasts for Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad.

Are Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Owing to the size of Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad, we wouldn't expect insiders to hold a significant proportion of the company. But we are reassured by the fact they have invested in the company. Indeed, they have a considerable amount of wealth invested in it, currently valued at RM11b. This totals to 23% of shares in the company. Enough to lead management's decision making process down a path that brings the most benefit to shareholders. Looking very optimistic for investors.

While it's always good to see some strong conviction in the company from insiders through heavy investment, it's also important for shareholders to ask if management compensation policies are reasonable. Well, based on the CEO pay, you'd argue that they are indeed. For companies with market capitalisations over RM38b, like Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad, the median CEO pay is around RM8.0m.

The Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad CEO received total compensation of just RM2.8m in the year to December 2023. That looks like a modest pay packet, and may hint at a certain respect for the interests of shareholders. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Does Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad Deserve A Spot On Your Watchlist?

If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad's strong EPS growth. If you need more convincing beyond that EPS growth rate, don't forget about the reasonable remuneration and the high insider ownership. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing but it definitely makes Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad look rather interesting indeed. Once you've identified a business you like, the next step is to consider what you think it's worth. And right now is your chance to view our exclusive discounted cashflow valuation of Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Berhad. You might benefit from giving it a glance today.

There's always the possibility of doing well buying stocks that are not growing earnings and do not have insiders buying shares. But for those who consider these important metrics, we encourage you to check out companies that do have those features. You can access a tailored list of Malaysian companies which have demonstrated growth backed by significant insider holdings.

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
Key Insights

Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad fair value estimate is RM1.09

Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad's RM0.88 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

The average premium for Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad's competitorsis currently 138%

How far off is Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad (KLSE:HIGHTEC) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you.

See our latest analysis for Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad

The Method

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 begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM8.06m RM8.72m RM9.32m RM9.86m RM10.4m RM10.9m RM11.3m RM11.8m RM12.2m RM12.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 10.19% Est @ 8.20% Est @ 6.80% Est @ 5.83% Est @ 5.14% Est @ 4.67% Est @ 4.33% Est @ 4.10% Est @ 3.93% Est @ 3.82% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 11% RM7.3 RM7.1 RM6.9 RM6.6 RM6.3 RM5.9 RM5.6 RM5.3 RM4.9 RM4.6

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM61m

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The second stage is also known as Terminal Value, this is the business's cash flow after the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2034  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM13m (1 + 3.6%)  (11% 3.6%) = RM186m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM186m ( 1 + 11%)10= RM68m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM129m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.9, the company appears about fair value at a 20% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind.

dcf

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 Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.112. 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 Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

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 Machinery market.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine HIGHTEC's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for HIGHTEC.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad, we've compiled three fundamental elements you should further examine:

Risks: You should be aware of the 2 warning signs for Kumpulan H & L High-Tech Berhad we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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
As global markets navigate through a relatively quiet phase with small-cap companies and tech stocks showing notable performance, investors are keenly watching the upcoming rebalancing of major indexes like the Russell 2000. In this context, understanding what constitutes an undervalued stock becomes crucial, especially when insider actions hint at unrecognized potential within the market's quieter segments.

Top 10 Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying

Name PE PS Discount to Fair Value Value Rating Cabka NA 0.5x 28.02%  Dundee Precious Metals 8.3x 2.8x 45.28%  Tokmanni Group Oyj 17.1x 0.5x 38.63%  Nexus Industrial REIT 2.4x 3.0x 19.86%  THG NA 0.4x 42.82%  Primaris Real Estate Investment Trust 11.4x 3.0x 36.49%  Russel Metals 9.0x 0.5x -5.67%  Chatham Lodging Trust NA 1.3x 18.79%  Papa John's International 19.8x 0.7x 36.84%  Freehold Royalties 15.4x 6.6x 48.46% 

Click here to see the full list of 227 stocks from our Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Semen Indonesia is a company primarily engaged in cement and non-cement production, with a market capitalization of approximately IDR 53.24 billion.

Operations: Cement Production and Non-Cement Production are the primary revenue streams for SMGR, contributing IDR 34.11 billion and IDR 13.13 billion respectively. The company's Gross Profit Margin has shown variability over recent periods, with a notable figure of 25.72% as of the latest reporting date.

PE: 13.1x

Semen Indonesia has recently shown a dip in sales and net income as per the latest quarterly report, yet forecasts suggest a 13.5% annual growth in earnings. With all liabilities tied to external borrowing, financial structure leans towards higher risk. Insider confidence is evident from recent purchases on May 8, underscoring belief in the company's prospects despite current figures. This aligns with its presentation at an international conference, hinting at strategic positioning for recovery and growth.

IDX:SMGR Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Ramaco Resources is a company focused on the metals and mining sector, specifically in coal, with a market capitalization of approximately $699.84 million.

Operations: In the Metals & Mining - Coal sector, the company generated a revenue of $699.84 million, with a gross profit margin of 25.27% and net income of $56.32 million for the latest reported period. The cost of goods sold was $522.96 million, illustrating significant operational costs associated with production activities in this industry segment.

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PE: 13.7x

Ramaco Resources, recently added to several Russell indexes, underscores its growth potential despite a shift in its index composition. With insider confidence demonstrated through recent share purchases, the company's commitment to strategic leadership changes and an expanded credit facility of US$275 million highlight its robust financial positioning. Despite lower profit margins year-over-year, Ramaco's proactive management and insider investments suggest a promising outlook for this evolving entity in the resource sector.

NasdaqGS:METC Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Value Rating: 

Overview: Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings is a global outdoor advertising company with operations across America and Europe, including airports, and has a market capitalization of approximately $0.54 billion.

Operations: The company generates a significant portion of its revenue from America (excluding airports), which contributed $1.11 billion, followed by Europe-north at $630.45 million, and Airports at $334.74 million. Over recent periods, the gross profit margin has shown fluctuations, with a notable figure of 47.43% in March 2016 and a decrease to 32.12% by March 2021, illustrating variability in profitability relative to sales over time.

PE: -4.9x

Recently, Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings demonstrated insider confidence with significant share purchases, signaling strong belief in the company's prospects despite its current unprofitability and reliance on higher-risk funding sources. Added to multiple Russell indexes on July 1, 2024, they highlight a growing recognition within the investment community. With first-quarter sales rising to US$481.75 million from US$437.42 million year-over-year but facing a widened net loss of US$89.67 million, their financial path showcases challenges yet potential for growth as projected revenues for 2024 are expected between US$2.2 billion and US$2.26 billion.

NYSE:CCO Share price vs Value as at Jul 2024

Summing It All Up

Take a closer look at our Undervalued Small Caps With Insider Buying list of 227 companies by clicking here.

Already own these companies? Bring clarity to your investment decisions by linking up your portfolio with Simply Wall St, where you can monitor all the vital signs of your stocks effortlessly.

Simply Wall St is your key to unlocking global market trends, a free user-friendly app for forward-thinking investors.

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 IDX:SMGR NasdaqGS:METC and NYSE:CCO.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
ETF Investing Tools

Franklin Templeton has joined with Trade Republic and justTRADE to offer its entire range of exchange traded funds on both neobrokers German and Austrian platforms.

Customers will be able to trade Franklin Templetons ETF range through either savings plans or individual trades.

ETF saving plans will have no fees while individual trades will have fees of 1 ($1.08 on Wednesday's exchanges). The ETFs were available on the platforms from 3 July.

Martin Bechtloff, Franklin Templeton vice president of ETF distribution for Germany and Austria, said: We have been partnering with several brokerage platforms for a couple of years now, and they have proven themselves to be important distribution channels for our ETF business.

In addition, while cost-saving plans are popular with German and Austrian retail investors, by partnering with neobrokers we increase access and visibility with younger investors.

Rising ETF Demand

Stefan Bauer, Franklin Templeton head of distribution for Germany and Austria, added: "Since we listed our first suite of ETFs in Germany in 2017, we have seen an ever-increasing demand for our expanding and competitively priced ETF range.

Germany continues to dominate the European retail market through the popularity of ETF savings plans in the region.

According to BlackRock, 4.9 million investors were contributing to ETF savings plans in 2022over 90% of which are domiciled in Germanyup from 1.9 million in 2019 and three million in 2021.

Amundi recently extended its partnership with Scalable Capital, offering ETFs on its platform.

etf.com: EWG three-month performance





Permalink |  Copyright 2024 etf.com. All rights reserved
Germany has blocked the sale of a Volkswagen subsidiary to China on national security grounds, delivering a fresh blow to the already tense relationship with its biggest trading partner.

MAN Energy Solutions, part of the Volkswagen Group, said in June 2023 that it planned to sell its gas turbines business to Chinese state-owned CSIC Longjiang GH Gas Turbine Co (GHGT). But a German government review, initiated in September, raised concerns that China might use the gas turbines to power warships, according to Reuters.

The decision to block the deal comes just weeks after the European Union hiked tariffs on electric vehicles from China, sparking a trade dispute with Beijing, which days later launched an investigation into prices of EU pork.

During a press conference Wednesday, Germanys economy minister Robert Habeck said that Berlin welcomes investments from foreign companies, but technologies relevant to public security must be protected from countries which maybe do not always have a friendly relationship with us.

At the same press conference, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said she welcomed the governments decision for security reasons.

Germany and China traded goods worth 255 billion ($275.3 billion) last year, according to German government figures. But Berlins relationship with Beijing has come under strain in recent years, as Germany tries to protect local manufacturers and reduce its dependence on China.

It was burned badly by its close economic ties with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine  in particular a heavy reliance on Russian natural gas  and wants to reduce the risks of something similar happening in future.

In November 2022, Germany blocked the sale of one of its semiconductor factories to a Chinese-owned tech company, also citing security concerns.

A spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that China opposes the politicization of normal commercial cooperation.

We hope that Germany will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from all over the world, including Chinese companies.

MAN Energy Solutions said it respected the governments decision. (We) will now initiate a structured process to close-down the gas turbine division, which will take place over the coming months, the company added in a statement shared with CNN.

The additional EU tariffs, which could add as much as 38% to the cost of importing an electric car from China, will take effect from Friday for an initial period of four months. The EU must decide by November whether to adopt the tariffs for five years.

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In a statement Thursday, the European Commission said that consultations with the Chinese government have intensified in recent weeks, with a view to resolving the dispute.

Volkswagen, Europes biggest carmaker, reiterated earlier comments that the timing of the EU decision is detrimental to the current weak demand for EVs in Germany and the region.

The negative effects of this decision outweigh any potential benefits for the European and especially the German automotive industry, the company added in a statement.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A ruling from Germany's Federal Court of Justice that confectioner Katjes cannot call its fruit gums climate neutral will impact food advertising and labelling, industry experts have told Just Food.

The Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), referring to a 2021 fruit gum advert in food industry trade magazine Lebensmittelzeitung, said companies cannot advertise their products as climate-friendly without explaining why. Simply showing a web address and QR code link to Katjes partner company ClimatePartner that details the candy makers support for climate protection projects, was not enough, the court ruled.

Companies may find themselves compelled to more rigorously check and substantiate their environment and climate-related claims to avoid legal challenges, Stefanie Sabet, the managing director of BVE, Germanys food and drink industries federation, said.

This could lead to increased costs and operational adjustments, as the required proof standards might become stricter and more complex.

Moreover, similar terms such as CO2 neutral, eco-friendly or resource-saving, could also be affected, Sabet said. Companies could only use them if they can provide clear evidence and a transparent methodology that supports the claimed status.

Nevertheless, Sabet said without clear EU-wide regulations on green claims (which is still under discussion by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers) there remains some uncertainty about the specific methods and systems of proof that need to be met.

Leonie Evans, partner at Munich law firm Meisterernst, described the decision as strict.

It qualifies the term climate neutral as ambiguous and requests the terms specific meaning to be explained in the advertising itself, Evans said.

However, she added judges could have been tougher and more detailed in their ruling, given the existence of past green-claims cases focusing on the narrower scope of claims linked to offset schemes. Those cases ruled climate-neutral claims cannot be made at all if they rely on compensation measures instead of reduction, Evans explained.

Nevertheless, Evans argued the ruling would bring some clarity to using green claims, also impacting similar environmental claims such as carbon positive or climate friendly within Germany.

She told Just Food a reference point could be recital 12 of a new EU law, the empowering consumers for the green transition (EmpCo) directive 2024/825, which states the examples CO2 neutral certified, carbon positive, climate net zero, climate compensated, reduced climate impact and limited CO2 footprint.

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The law says: Such claims should only be allowed when they are based on the actual lifecycle impact of the product in question, and not based on the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions outside the products value chain, as the former and the latter are not equivalent.

This directive bans "claiming, based on the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environmentwithout a case-by-case evaluation, Evans added.

"Germany climate neutral ruling will affect food marketing, experts say" was originally created and published by Energy Monitor, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Kaushambi in India has launched an initiative to improve patient care through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

The SmartCare Monitoring Programme aims to use Dozee's artificial intelligence (AI) based contactless remote patient monitoring (RPM) and early warning system (EWS) to identify and address clinical deterioration early.

Yashoda Hospital said the SmartCare Monitoring Programme represented a shift towards continuous, data-driven, and proactive healthcare.

Dozee's system allows healthcare professionals to monitor vital parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, temperature, oxygen saturation levels and electrocardiogram signals remotely.

Dozee chief technology officer and co-founder Gaurav Parchani said: Our AI-powered EWS will play a crucial role in early clinical deterioration detection, facilitating timely care and preventing emergencies.

With continuous monitoring and early warnings, the hospital isn't just embracing technologyit's prioritising patient safety.

Dozee's EWS uses AI to monitor trends in vital parameters and provides alerts for early detection of potential clinical deterioration, allowing for timely intervention.

The technology is made in India and includes an AI-based Ballistocardiograph (BCG) for contactless monitoring of vitals.

Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals is a 300-bed facility located in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, that aims to enhance healthcare delivery through advanced technology.

The hospital is accredited by India's National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) and National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

It offers a wide array of super speciality services, including endocrinology, cardiology, robotic surgery, orthopaedics and gastroenterology.

Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals chairman Dr PN Arora said: At Yashoda Hospital, our mission has always been to provide world-class patient care with a patient-centric approach.

The introduction of the SmartCare Monitoring Programme in collaboration with Dozee represents a significant leap forward in achieving this mission.

By embracing cutting-edge technology, we are not only enhancing patient safety but also setting new benchmarks for patient care delivery.

"Indias Yashoda Hospital launches SmartCare Monitoring Programme" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
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.

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.

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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
Global tea giants Lipton Teas and Infusions and Finlays have paused business with Toror Tea Factory following the appointment of John Chebochok as director of its owner, Tegat Tea Factory.

Allegations of sexual harassment against female workers at the factory were brought against Chebochok in an undercover investigation broadcast by the BBC in 2023.

He was elected as director of Tegat Tea Factory last month.

Both Lipton and Finlays have issued letters to Kenyas Agriculture minister, Franklin Mithika Linturi, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), expressing concerns around the appointment.

In Liptons letter, chief supply chain officer Bruno Laine said the company was to immediately halt its purchasing of teas from the Toror factory, until appropriate measures are taken to address this serious issue.

The Pukka teas manufacturer also encouraged other partners in the sector to follow its lead.

Allowing Mr Chebochok, a figure central to serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, to stand for and subsequently win election undermines His Excellency President Dr Ruto's ambition for Kenyan tea to be recognised worldwide as a mark of quality, Laine said.

Our joint work with the government and shared interest in the success of Kenya Origin tea as seen to symbolise sustainable quality, means it is imperative that the tea sector in Kenya upholds the highest standards of ethics and social responsibility in the global market.

He added: We trust that the Government of Kenya is equally committed to the wellbeing of its citizens and the integrity of its key industries. We look forward to a swift and appropriate resolution to this matter and remain open to providing any necessary support to ensure the best interests of all stakeholders are upheld.

A Finlays spokesperson also confirmed to Just Drinks it had written to the KTDA regarding the appointment. It said it had threatened to not continue to purchase tea from Toror Tea Factory while Mr Chebochok holds the role of director.

Finlays is committed to working with the entire tea sector to eliminate gender-based violence from tea production, the spokesperson added.

Responding to the news of Chebochoks appointment in a statement on X, the KTDA said it has asked all our tea buyers, stakeholders, and partners to allow us to work with all the concerned players and authorities to resolve concerns raised regarding his nomination.

According to the group, shareholders of the factory still need to cast a vote to approve Chebochoks appointment, and that the process of confirming the directors is yet to be completed.

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It added that: KTDA has a zero-tolerance policy on gender-based violence, sexual harassment, corruption, and any other such unethical behaviour and we condemn such acts that pose a great risk not only to Tegat Tea Factory Company but also to the entire tea sector in Kenya.

Industry non-profit Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) has also been in contact with the KTDA following Chebochocks appointment, urging the group to suspend him from the role.

In response to Lipton and Finlays letters, ETP told Just Drinks: While neither Finlays or Liptons are current members of ETP, we will collaborate with any organisation in the tea sector dedicated to eradicating such abuses from their operations and supply chains.

We believe our members must take responsibility for their supply chains and are working with our members to embed Human Rights Due Diligence in their business practices.

"We are also supporting our members to transition to our newly revised membership criteria, which demonstrate a commitment to responsible business practices in line with emerging global Human Rights Due Diligence legislation.

Based in Amsterdam, Lipton Teas and Infusions sells a range of well know tea brands to more than 100 countries globally, including PG Tips, Lipton and Pukka. It was acquired by private equity firm CVC from Unilever in 2022.

Finlays, headquartered in London in the UK, sells tea, coffee and extract ingredients to drinks companies, retailers and foodservice businesses worldwide. It manages operations in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and CIS countries. It has tea sourcing locations in Kenya, Argentina, Sri Lanka and China.

"Lipton, Finlays to boycott Kenyan tea factory amid sexual allegations against director" 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.
God forbid one should be charitable and offer one of the pay-more seats to someone who might really need it. (Photo subject is a model.) - Getty Images/iStockphoto

Dear Moneyist,

On a recent flight on American Airlines AAL to California, I used my frequent-flyer miles to buy an upgrade to a seat in a row with significantly more legroom. It was around 6,900 miles  or approximately $70 if you paid in cash.

The flight was about one-third empty and there was no one sitting across from me in the pay-more-for-more-legroom row, and there was no one in the row in front of that (which I think was the exit row, which costs even more for an upgrade).

Most Read from MarketWatch

After the flight attendant announced that everyone was on board and that the doors were closed, two women  a mother and daughter as far as I can tell  from standard seats SPRINTED for the two pay-more seats and took a seat in each (not even seats together in the same row). The flight attendants didnt say anything to them.

As soon as the flight reached cruising altitude, the daughter (who was in her 20s, I estimated) lay down across all three seats and slept there for the entire flight. Again, the flight attendants didnt say anything.

I felt slighted because I had paid for my seat (and I am a very loyal American Airlines customer). I wrote to the airline to explain what had happened and asked for a refund of my miles. They emailed back, but they didnt refund my miles. It was as if they hadnt read my email,

With a little time having passed, I realized that  besides being bent out of shape  an interesting and contradictory message is sent by allowing this practice: First, dont buy an upgrade, even with miles, if the flight isnt appearing full.

Next, as soon as the flight is almost fully boarded, be sure that you have scoped out the empty seats, and have a strategy for quickly moving to the empty pay-more seats as the doors closed announcement is made, if not sooner! If someone boards late and has one of those seats, you just have to return to your standard seat.

Also, if the whole pay-more row is full, go crazy and take it all, by lying down as soon as the airplane is at cruising altitude. (God forbid one should be charitable and offer one of the pay-more seats to someone who might really need it.)

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Customers who are loyal and follow the rules, and use their AA miles to properly upgrade, dont really matter  our loyalty isnt worth anything. Plus, flight attendants apparently really dont care if someone moves to a pay-more seat.

But heres an interesting question: How would they have reacted if one of those women moved into a business-class or first-class seat? Im sure that AA doesnt want it to go viral that everyone should behave the way these two women did. Finally, do customer complaints and requests carry any weight at all these days? Does anyone really read them?

A side note: The same thing happened to me on a JetBlue JBLU flight to California a couple of years ago. Same scenario, except the non-paying sprinter didnt lie down, because two of the seats were already taken. When I contacted JetBlue, they did refund my cash payment for the upgrade!

OK, so I know I am obsessed about this. Thats true! And, right or not, I took a picture of the young woman as she was fast asleep across the three rows.

A Traveling Man

Related: Her world is rocked: A friend hit the jackpot, but her old friends are abandoning her one by one. Is there a cure for jealousy?

Yes, you paid for a more-legroom seat, but you also paid for the guarantee of a seat with more legroom. - MarketWatch illustration

Dear Traveling,

Buckle up, tighten your seatbelt  and brace for some turbulence.

Yes, it is fair game to snag some extra wiggle room at 30,000 feet. You paid the equivalent of $70 for an upgrade to a more comfortable seat, and two people saw an opportunity and went for it. They got to sit in one of your seats with ample leg room for free. The flight attendants either didnt care or turned a blind eye, or thought that those empty seats may as well be used by somebody, but they were not usurping those seats from someone who had paid $70.

You paid for a more-legroom seat, thats true, but you also paid for the guarantee of a seat with more legroom. Airlines have ad-hoc policies when it comes to who sits where. They have the flexibility to move someone to an exit-row seat because they are strong enough or willing enough to open the emergency door if need be. They get to stretch out their legs as a reward. If you were given an upgrade to first class and a fellow passenger cried foul, would you sheepishly schlep back to economy?

The line between ethics and etiquette is sometimes a fine line. Did they hurt anyone by taking these seats? No. Sure, the airline did not get its $70, but these two passengers saw an opportunity and grabbed it, literally and figuratively. They probably had fun doing it, and it made their flight more rewarding. Plus, they may not have wished to pay extra like you did. (I put your comments to both American Airlines and JetBlue, neither of which responded.)

The correct way of approaching this would be to ask: May I take this row after the doors close? In the interest of goodwill, the attendants may say yes. If the move is to a row in premium economy, the airline may choose to decline because it could damage the goodwill of the customer who paid for the extra legroom (you). Flight attendants are there for your safety, and they may not take notice of every seat jumper, but I have seen them decline and approve such requests.

There are similar situations of bending the rules or taking advantage of them where I have come down on your side of the moral argument. Take this couple  to paraphrase the comedian Henny Youngman, please somebody take them!  who made $1,000 opening and closing credit cards. They took advantage of the rewards system and, arguably, helped pushed up the costs and transfer fees for everyone else. Its tantamount to buying clothes and returning them after one wear.

And now a confession: A couple of years ago, a standby passenger got on my transatlantic flight and eyed the aisle seat in my three-seat row. There were other empty seats, so I said, Dont even think about it! He replied, What? I said, I have an entire row to lie out on and now youre going to spoil it. I asked him if he was an undercover agent (he said no, obviously), but he took the seat. I like you! he said, and sat down. (Maybe he was an undercover agent, and he wanted to keep an eye on me.)

One final note: Taking their photo was probably a step too far. I understand that you were upset that this mother-and-daughter duo had behaved in what you believe was a gauche or grabby manner, but theres too much citizen journalism where people publicly shame private citizens with viral photos and videos. A TikTokker recently outed a passenger with a wedding ring talking to a woman on a flight who was allegedly not his wife. Thankfully, you did not go that far.

Even if you sit in premium economy, its better to be a first-class guy.

What happened next? Read the update from this letter writer:

Its a very ugly American trait: I cried foul when basic-economy passengers grabbed premium-economy seats. The airline has finally shown me respect.

More columns from Quentin Fottrell:

My mother is being catfished: She fell madly in love with a man over Facebook. How do I convince her that its a scam?

We live on a fixed income: My husband and I are retired. Were invited to our nieces destination wedding. Are we obliged to buy a gift?

I dont live extravagantly: I have $68K in credit-card debt and $50K in a 401(k). How can I dig myself out of this trap on a $55K salary?

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Over the past year, many Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (NYSE:MLM) insiders sold a significant stake in the company which may have piqued investors' interest. When analyzing insider transactions, it is usually more valuable to know whether insiders are buying versus knowing if they are selling, as the latter sends an ambiguous message. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

View our latest analysis for Martin Marietta Materials

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Martin Marietta Materials

The Chairman, C. Nye, made the biggest insider sale in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$12m worth of shares at a price of US$604 each. We generally don't like to see insider selling, but the lower the sale price, the more it concerns us. The silver lining is that this sell-down took place above the latest price (US$533). So it may not shed much light on insider confidence at current levels.

Martin Marietta Materials insiders didn't buy any shares over the last year. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

For those who like to find hidden gems this free list of small cap companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership Of Martin Marietta Materials

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Martin Marietta Materials insiders own 0.6% of the company, currently worth about US$209m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Do The Martin Marietta Materials Insider Transactions Indicate?

The fact that there have been no Martin Marietta Materials insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. It's heartening that insiders own plenty of stock, but we'd like to see more insider buying, since the last year of Martin Marietta Materials insider transactions don't fill us with confidence. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Martin Marietta Materials (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

Of course Martin Marietta Materials may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies.

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
Medical Properties Trust (NYSE: MPW) is a risky stock to own -- no doubt about it. Anyone who has been following the company closely knows that it has been on a tough road the past few years, especially involving its troubled tenant, Steward Health. And the real estate investment trust (REIT) already had to reduce its dividend payments last year to give itself a bit more breathing room.

Some investors, however, may still think this is a stock worth taking a chance on. After all, if a dividend cut has already happened, and if the bad news with Steward Health is coming to a head, then these negative factors are potentially already priced into the stock's current valuation. And if its current dividend is sustainable, it may be a bargain, because its yield remains incredibly high at around 14%.

Could Medical Properties Trust be a stock worth taking a chance on right now, or should investors simply stay away from this troubled investment?

Is Medical Properties' dividend really safe?

On May 9, Medical Properties posted its results for the first three months of 2024. And while the REIT incurred a loss, its normalized funds from operations (FFO) were a positive $0.24 per share. FFO is a key metric for REITs because it factors out impairment charges and one-time gains and losses. It can be a better indicator of just how well the company is able to pay its dividend.

Investors may point to that reasonably strong FFO number as proof that the company can afford its quarterly dividend of $0.15. But the problem is that the business is in the middle of a turbulent time. Medical Properties has been selling assets in order to strengthen its financial position and inject more liquidity into its operations. In the first five months of the year, the company says it has been able to raise $2.4 billion in liquidity (above its target of $2 billion) through the sale of assets.

The problem is that as it sells its interest in hospitals, it reduces the size of its portfolio, which means there will be fewer tenants paying rent. And with Steward Health still in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings, the biggest uncertainty still lies with what happens with arguably its most important tenant and its 31 hospitals. A year or two from now, Medical Properties' financials may look very different, and while its latest reported FFO figure may imply the dividend is sustainable today, that may not be the case in the future.

Further losses could offset the dividend income

You have the potential to generate a lot of dividend income from investing in Medical Properties Trust. To collect $1,000, for example, you might need to invest around $8,000 into the stock. And if the stock falls and you buy it at a lower price, you may need to invest even less than that.

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But therein lies the danger: Medical Properties has been an awful investment to own over the years (it's down around 80% in just three years), and things aren't getting better right now. If you invest $8,000 into the stock and the REIT continues to pay dividends for the full year, then you've indeed earned around $1,000 in dividends. But if the stock falls by just 13% during that time, those losses would wipe out that dividend income.

And depending on how the situation unfolds with Steward, there's the potential that Medical Properties reduces its dividend again, or potentially even suspends it if there's too much uncertainty. Not only could that jeopardize how much you might collect in dividends, but it may result in further stock losses as well.

Medical Properties isn't worth gambling on

If you buy shares of Medical Properties Trust today, it's hard to not consider it a gamble at this point. Considering all of the unanswered questions about the REIT, it's impossible to determine whether this can be a safe investment to hold in your portfolio. It's not an investment I'd feel comfortable holding given all that risk.

If your priority is to collect dividend income, you're likely better off looking at other, safer dividend stocks to own. Medical Properties does possess a lot of potential upside if it can come out of all this a better company in the end, but that's still a big "if" at this point. I see the stock as a contrarian investment that is perhaps appropriate for people with a high risk tolerance, but it probably won't be a suitable option for risk-averse dividend investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in Medical Properties Trust right now?

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Is Medical Properties Trust's High-Yielding Dividend Worth the Risk? was originally published by The Motley Fool
(Bloomberg) -- The US Department of Veterans Affairs and a US agency that provides news overseas are among a growing list of Microsoft Corp. customers that have acknowledged they were impacted by a breach of the technology giant that was blamed on Russian state-sponsored hackers.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The US Agency for Global Media, an independent federal agency that provides news and information in countries where the press is restricted, was notified a couple months ago by Microsoft that some of its data may have been stolen, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement. No security or personally identifiable sensitive data was compromised, the spokesperson said.

The agency is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security on the incident, the spokesperson said, declining to answer additional questions.

Microsoft disclosed in January that a Russian hacking group it calls Midnight Blizzard had accessed corporate email accounts and later warned that they were attempting to use secrets shared between the technology giant and its customers. The company has declined to identify the customers who were impacted.

As our investigation continues, we have been reaching out to customers to notify them if they had corresponded with a Microsoft corporate email account that was accessed, a Microsoft spokesperson said on Wednesday. We will continue to coordinate, support and assist our customers in taking mitigating measures.

In addition, the Department of Veterans Affairs was notified in March that it was impacted the Microsoft breach, officials for the agency said.

The hackers used a single set of stolen credentials  found in the emails they accessed  to break into a test environment in the VAs Microsoft Cloud account around January, the officials said, adding that the intrusion lasted for one second. Midnight Blizzard likely intended to check if the credentials were valid, presumably with the larger intention of breaching the VAs network, the officials said.

The agency changed the exposed credentials, along with log-in details across their Microsoft environments, once they were notified of the intrusion, they said. After reviewing the emails that the hackers accessed, the VA determined that no additional credentials or sensitive email was taken, the officials said.

Story continues

Terrence Hayes, the VAs press secretary, said an investigation is continuing to determine any additional impact.

The Peace Corps was also contacted by Microsoft and notified about the Midnight Blizzard breach, according to a statement from its press office. Based on this notification, Peace Corps technical staff were able to mitigate the vulnerability, according to the agency. The Peace Corps declined further comment.

Bloomberg News asked other federal agencies for comment, and none of the others disclosed that they were impacted by Midnight Blizzards attack on Microsoft. Bloomberg previously reported that more than a dozen Texas state agencies and public universities were exposed by the Russian hack.

Midnight Blizzard, also known in secularity circles as Cozy Bear and APT29, is part of Russias foreign intelligence service, according to US and UK authorities.

In April, US federal agencies were ordered to analyze emails, reset compromise passwords and work to secure Microsoft cloud accounts amid fears that Midnight Blizzard may have accessed correspondence. Microsoft has been notifying some customers in the months since then that their emails with the tech giant were accessed by the Russian hackers.

The Midnight Blizzard breach was one in a series of high-profile and damaging security failures at the Redmond, Washington-based technology company, which has drawn strong condemnation by the US government. Microsoft President Brad Smith appeared before Congress last month where he acknowledged security failures and vowed to improve the companys operations.

(Corrects that US Agency for Global Media is an independent agency and not part of State Department.)

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Brent Dunn, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the MSU Foundation, speaks at an event announcing the name of the new MSU alumni center, the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center, on Friday, April 12, 2024.

The Missouri State University Foundation is on a roll, raising more than $20 million for the seventh year in a row and setting a new annual record.

The foundation raised nearly $36 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30, soaring past the previous record of $32 million two years earlier.

In all, nearly 20,000 donors gave gifts during the past 12 months.

We celebrate this momentous achievement with the thousands of alumni and friends who care about the university," said Brent Dunn, executive director of the MSU Foundation, in a news release. "Their giving has and will continue to touch many lives in a positive way."

In a follow-up interview, Dunn said the foundation formed 43 years ago is hitting its stride. In the first year, it raised less than $400,000 and did not exceed $10 million in annual gifts until 2006.

"It does take time but I think people are seeing the impact of private support and that there is a major impact on campus," he said. "That does help the momentum."

Dunn said funds raised by the foundation were initially viewed as "icing on the cake" but now private giving has become more integral to the entire campus, from supporting students to building or upgrading facilities.

For example, this year private giving fueled more than $4 million in student aid.

"Private support is part of everything on campus," he said.

Much of the gifts this past year went toward student scholarship and programs, faculty support and capital projects such as the Judith Enyeart Reynolds Center for Arts and Humanities, Roy Blunt Hall, Smart University Advancement Center and the Wulff-Risner Agriculture Science Center, which is on the West Plains campus.

Of the steady increase in giving, Dunn said the university's alumni base has grown and its profile has grown. He said the foundation has also become better at engaging graduates and supporters.

More: New pact outlines roles, responsibilities of Missouri State and MSU Foundation

This year also marked a change in the relationship between the university and the MSU Foundation, which sold its longtime home in downtown Springfield to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.

The nonprofit will soon break ground on the Clifton M. Smart University Advancement Center  named for the newly retired 11th university president  and will be owned by Missouri State and primarily used by the separate MSU Foundation. It will be located on the main Springfield campus.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State Foundation sets new annual fundraising record
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Nu Skin Enterprises implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

50% of the business is held by the top 10 shareholders

Recent sales by insiders

If you want to know who really controls Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:NUS), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 80% to be precise, is institutions. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Nu Skin Enterprises.

View our latest analysis for Nu Skin Enterprises

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Nu Skin Enterprises?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Nu Skin Enterprises does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Nu Skin Enterprises, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Nu Skin Enterprises is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc. with 17% of shares outstanding. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 13% of common stock, and State Street Global Advisors, Inc. holds about 4.1% of the company stock.

We did some more digging and found that 10 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

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While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Nu Skin Enterprises

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Shareholders would probably be interested to learn that insiders own shares in Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.. It has a market capitalization of just US$545m, and insiders have US$11m worth of shares, in their own names. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 18% stake in Nu Skin Enterprises. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Nu Skin Enterprises better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Nu Skin Enterprises you should know about.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Insiders were net buyers of Quartix Technologies plc's (LON:QTX ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Quartix Technologies

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Quartix Technologies

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Executive Chairman Andrew Walters for UK356k worth of shares, at about UK1.78 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK1.53). Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was Andrew Walters.

The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. If investing in lesser known companies is your style, you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership Of Quartix Technologies

Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Quartix Technologies insiders own 41% of the company, currently worth about UK30m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Quartix Technologies Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Quartix Technologies shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Quartix Technologies insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that Quartix Technologies has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore it.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
CatLane / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Experts frequently advise people to save aggressively for retirement in their tax-advantaged accounts, such as 401(k)s, for its tax advantages and high growth potential. However, it is possible to save too much in these accounts.

Check Out: Retirement Savings: 4 Expenses Retirees Regret Keeping in Their Budgets, According to Experts

Try This: The Surprising Way You Can Get Guaranteed Retirement Income for Life

For one thing, the Social Security Administration raised the required age at which retirees must take required minimum withdrawals (RMDs) to 73. This could mean that some retirees end up with so much money that it bumps them up to a higher tax bracket.

Experts explain why you might want to spread your retirement dollars around into other retirement accounts.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Lack of Flexibility

Chad Kennedy, a partner at Lighthouse Financial, agreed that the 401(k) does come with some limitations. He said, Traditional 401ks do not provide much flexibility. If you would like access to your cash prior to 59 1/2, you will have to pay a 10% penalty and income tax on your withdrawals, Said Kennedy.

Trending Now: Im a Financial Planner: What a Trump Win in November Would Mean for Your Retirement Savings

Tax Diversification Considerations

Concentrating all retirement savings in a 401(k) means withdrawals will be taxed as ordinary income, according to Kami Adams, a financial advisor and founder at Creative Legacy Group.

Abid Salahi, co-founder Of FinlyWealth shared an example from his practice in which a client had amassed over $4 million in his 401(k) by age 70.

When RMDs kicked in, he was compelled to withdraw over $200,000 annually, catapulting him into the highest tax bracket and effectively reducing his retirement income by nearly 40%, he explained.

This scenario underscores the critical need for strategic retirement savings diversification.

Contribution Limits May Be Too Tight

Another concern is that annual contribution limits for 401(k) plans may not be sufficient for all retirement goals, Adams said. For 2024, the limit is $23,000 with an additional $7,500 for those 50 and older. That might not be enough.

Utilizing other savings vehicles can help meet more ambitious retirement objectives, she said.

Limited Investment Options

Another mark against the 401(k) is that these plans often have limited investment choices compared to IRAs or taxable accounts, Adams explained.

By spreading investments across different accounts, individuals can access a broader range of options, including individual stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds, potentially enhancing overall portfolio performance, she said.

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Estate Planning Considerations

RMDs for 401(k) accounts can also complicate estate planning, Adams said. Roth IRAs, on the other hand, dont have RMDs during the account holders lifetime, offering more flexibility for passing wealth to heirs, Adams said.

Additionally, taxable accounts benefit from a step-up in basis at death, reducing the tax burden on beneficiaries, she said.

State Tax Implications

In addition to federal taxes on RMDs, retirees need to be aware of how state taxation on their retirement income varies, Adams said.

Diversifying retirement savings across different account types can provide opportunities to minimize state taxes, depending on retirement location and financial situation, she said.

Taxable Brokerage Accounts

While nobody should stop saving in a 401(k) if they have one, retirees should consider adding taxable brokerage accounts, which Kennedy called the most overlooked investment accounts.

He added, While they do not offer the tax deferral benefit that 401(k)s and other retirement accounts provide, they do provide much needed flexibility. Money in these accounts is liquid and accessible prior to age 59 1/2.

So, in the case of emergencies or early retirement, these accounts can be incredibly valuable.

Roth 401(k)

Not all employees have access to the Roth 401(k) option, but those that do should certainly consider utilizing it, Kennedy suggested.

While the traditional 401k is subject to RMD rules, the Roth portion will not be subject to mandatory distributions, he said.

Roth 401ks also offer tax free growth and flexibility to withdraw the principal prior to 59 1/2 without penalty, noted Kennedy.

Roth IRA

Roth IRAs are individual retirement accounts, so they are not a part of your employers retirement plan, Kennedy said. Roth IRAs allow for tax free growth and the ability to withdraw principal without penalty before 59 1/2.

While they offer superior tax benefits, there are restrictions for high income earners to utilize these accounts, he warned.

According to Salahi, a Vanguard study showed that Roth IRA conversions can increase after-tax wealth by up to 11% over 30 years for some investors.

When it comes to retirement savings, diversification is key to having liquidity and flexibility so you dont encounter any unpleasant, or costly, surprises in retirement.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: When Oversaving in Your 401k is A Bad Thing And What Else To Do
Construction company Peab has secured a contract from the Swedish Fortifications Agency to construct a domestic military restaurant at the P 18 regiment located in Tofta, Gotland.

The agreement, valued at around Skr126m ($11.95m), encompasses the development of a kitchen suitable for commercial use, a dining area, a cafe, and staff spaces.

The scope of work also extends to outdoor landscaping and the integration of electrical systems within the new structure.

Peab region manager Anders Bergeling said: We're pleased to be able to continue our collaboration with the Swedish Fortifications Agency which places a large, significant orders for the Swedish Armed Forces' expansion on Gotland.

Designed to support the regiment's operational requirements, this dining establishment is reportedly an integral component of the ongoing expansion efforts by the Swedish Armed Forces in the region.

These efforts include additional barracks, a logistics hub, medical facilities for defence personnel, and a coarse-flushing facility.

Swedish Fortifications Agency project manager Per Falkgren said: The military restaurant is another important step in our long-term work to provide the Swedish Armed Forces with suitable premises on Gotland.

Architect C.F. Mller has taken the lead on architectural and landscape design for the project while Rambll is serving as the subcontractor.

The construction process is planned as a turnkey project, with commencement set for this month. Completion of the facility is anticipated by November 2025.

The project will be recorded in Peab's order books in the third quarter of 2024.

Recently, the company won a contract to construct a primary school in the country.

"Peab to construct restaurant at P 18 regiment in Gotland " was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Geo Energy Resources Limited's (SGX:RE4) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

View our latest analysis for Geo Energy Resources

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Geo Energy Resources

The Chief Operating Officer Philip Hendry made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for S$174k worth of shares at a price of S$0.30 each. That means that even when the share price was higher than S$0.29 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

While Geo Energy Resources insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of undervalued small cap companies that insiders are buying.

Insiders At Geo Energy Resources Have Bought Stock Recently

We saw some Geo Energy Resources insider buying shares in the last three months. Lead Independent Director Kin Pung Yan purchased S$37k worth of shares in that period. We like it when there are only buyers, and no sellers. However, in this case the amount invested recently is quite small.

Does Geo Energy Resources Boast High Insider Ownership?

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that Geo Energy Resources insiders own 33% of the company, worth about S$136m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Geo Energy Resources Insiders?

We note a that there has been a bit of insider buying recently (but no selling). That said, the purchases were not large. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Geo Energy Resources insiders think the business has merit. While it's good to be aware of what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 3 warning signs with Geo Energy Resources and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

But note: Geo Energy Resources may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

Check out our latest analysis for Spire

Spire Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Independent Director Paul Koonce made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for US$296k worth of shares at a price of US$59.27 each. That implies that an insider found the current price of US$60.04 per share to be enticing. While their view may have changed since the purchase was made, this does at least suggest they have had confidence in the company's future. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for Spire share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price.

In the last twelve months insiders purchased 6.53k shares for US$388k. But insiders sold 3.30k shares worth US$196k. Overall, Spire insiders were net buyers during the last year. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of undervalued small cap companies that insiders are buying.

Insider Ownership Of Spire

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Insiders own 0.9% of Spire shares, worth about US$30m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Spire Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Spire shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders own shares in Spire and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. For example, Spire has 3 warning signs (and 1 which is concerning) we think you should know about.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Quanta Services, Inc. PWR is capitalizing on strong demand for its services, driven by multi-year customer initiatives focused on modernizing and strengthening utility infrastructure, expanding renewable energy generation and transmission infrastructure, and shifting toward a low-carbon economy.



Quanta stock has gained 18% so far this year, outperforming the Zacks Engineering - R and D Services industrys 17.2% growth. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock is also expected to gain from prudent growth strategies and accretive acquisitions.



Zacks Investment Research



Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Yet, the cyclical nature of the business, oil & gas volatility and regulatory issues are headwinds.



Nonetheless, the companys earnings per share (EPS) estimate for 2024 and 2025 has moved north in the past 60 days to $8.44 and $9.56 per share from $8.42 and $9.52 per share. The estimated figure reflects a growth rate of 17.9% and 13.2% year over year, respectively.



The growth prospect is further solidified with a VGM Score of B, led by a Growth Score of A and a Momentum Score of A. The positive trend signifies bullish analysts sentiments, robust fundamentals and prospects of an outperformance in the near term.

Lets take a look at the factors supporting the growth.

High Infrastructural Demand: Quanta is capitalizing on robust infrastructural demand by leading advancements in technology solutions across decarbonization. This includes carbon management, mitigation strategies, compliance consulting, and building essential infrastructure for carbon-neutral energy solutions. Positioned strategically, Quanta is set to harness major industry trends, playing a pivotal role in the energy transition and driving technological innovation forward. Key initiatives such as expanding electric vehicle charging networks and underground electrical installations are gaining momentum, driving Quanta's impressive growth trajectory.



Strategic Growth Approach: Quanta is executing a comprehensive growth strategy comprised of three key components. Firstly, the company prioritizes delivering projects promptly, surpassing customer expectations. Secondly, it aims to leverage its core business strengths to extend into complementary adjacent service lines. Thirdly, Quanta remains committed to exploring and integrating new service offerings. With its robust engineering and project management capabilities, the company is well-positioned to seize opportunities in a market landscape currently favoring an engineering, procurement, and construction model.



As a result, Quanta envisions delivering a 10% organic adjusted EPS compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and more than 15% adjusted EPS CAGR through 2026.



Solid Backlog Level: The company ended first-quarter 2024 with a total record backlog of $29.9 billion and a 12-month backlog of $16.64 billion. This compares favorably with first-quarter 2023 total backlog of $25.27 billion and a 12-month backlog of $14.63 billion. Quantas optimism stems from healthy backlog levels, which are expected to grow further. This demonstrates the strength of its core operations.

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Factors Hindering Growth

Business Cyclicality: The business exhibits a cyclical nature as the demand for Quanta's services is subject to fluctuations. Consequently, the company is particularly susceptible to declines in both government and private industrial expenditures. Throughout its history, fluctuations in commodity prices have affected not only the oil and gas sector but also regions where economic stability is significantly tied to commodity prices.



Challenges in Regulation: Quanta navigates a complex regulatory landscape characterized by stringent requirements for project development. Both the company and its clientele encounter obstacles related to product standards, safety protocols, and environmental safeguards.

Key Picks

Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Construction sector are:



Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. STRL currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). STRL delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.3%, on average. Shares of STRL have gained 32.5% year to date (YTD). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for STRLs 2024 EPS indicates growth of 18.6% from the previous years reported levels.



Willdan Group, Inc. WLDN currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. WLDN delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 88.9%, on average. Shares of WLDN have gained 36.6% YTD.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WLDNs 2024 sales and EPS indicates growth of 3.6% and 6.3%, respectively, from the previous years reported levels.



Altair Engineering Inc. ALTR currently has a Zacks Rank #2. ALTR delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 104.5%, on average. Shares of ALTR have gained 16.6% YTD.



The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALTRs 2024 sales and EPS indicates growth of 7% and 9.7%, respectively, from the previous years reported levels.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR): Free Stock Analysis Report

Altair Engineering Inc. (ALTR): Free Stock Analysis Report

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Government officials in India have reportedly asked the country's power companies to spend billions on equipment to support additional coal-fired generation. India is looking for ways to more quickly increase its baseload electricity supply as demand for power increases across the country. Reuters news service on July 3 said the Indian government supports tenders for as much as $33 billion of new equipment, from both state-run and private generation groups. Sources told Reuters that companies such as government-owned NTPC and SJVN, along with private groups such as Adani Power and Essar Power, would be asked to add as much as 31 GW of new electricity supply through the end of the decade. The sources told Reuters that fast-tracking orders for additional coal-fired power units was talked about during a meeting organized by Power Minister Manohar Lal. The meeting was held soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed a federal cabinet in early June. Reuters reported that one of the sources, who asked not to be named, said, "The last large orders for power equipment were placed for about 20 GW around 2009-10 when Chinese companies bagged a major pie." Government data shows India in recent years has ordered about 2 GW to 3 GW of new coal-fired capacity annually, though that increased to 10 GW of additional generation in 2023. India is adding renewable power generation, including from solar power, but has struggled to meet power demandparticularly at nightdue to the intermittent nature of renewables. The country has set records for power demand after the pandemic, with India among the global leaders in economic growth post-COVID. [caption id="attachment_145312" align="alignnone" width="640"]

Indias state-run firm NTPC operates the countrys first ultrasupercritical (USC) coal-fired unit, which came online in 2019, at the 1,320-MW Khargone plant in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Courtesy: NTPC[/caption] The country, like many others, also has endured more intense heat waves in recent years, driving more demand for power. Officials recently said India last month saw its largest shortfall of power supply versus demand since 2010. The government reportedly has postponed planned maintenance at some power stations, and invoked measures that mandate power companies to buy imported coal, and import electricity to avoid blackouts. Sources told Reuters that New Delhi-based and state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals, which won all of the country's power equipment contracts in auctions over the past year, is expected to receive most of the contracts for new equipment. The sources said Mumbai-based Larsen & Toubro, the country's other power equipment manufacturer, did not participate in last year's auctions. Equipment suppliers such as ThermaxBabcock, BGRHitachi, and South Korea's Doosan have closed manufacturing facilities in India, according to Reuters, due to uncertainty about the market for future coal-fired generation. India also since 2020 has asked power generators not to enter into contracts with companies that share a border with China, in part by mandating the Indian government approve all projects. Reuters in March of this year reported that private groups in India discussed building at least 10 GW of new coal-fired generation capacity in the next decade. Darrell Proctor is a senior associate editor for POWER (@POWERmagazine).
(Reuters) -Saks Fifth Avenue parent HBC will acquire department-store chain Neiman Marcus in a $2.65-billion deal, the companies said on Thursday, giving them stronger negotiating power with vendors and greater ability to control costs.

The deal comes with luxury retailers battling slowing demand as high interest rates and inflation force customers to crimp budgets, following a luxury retail boom after the pandemic.

HBC said it will establish Saks Global, a combined entity of Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and other luxury retail and real estate assets.

Neiman filed for bankruptcy protection in 2020 after the pandemic forced the closing of Neiman and other stores across the United States, crushing the company's revenues.

Neiman Marcus is known for selling designer dresses, shoes, handbags and other luxury products, catering to wealthy customers.

Reuters had reported on Wednesday that HBC agreed to buy Neiman Marcus.

Marc Metrick, CEO of the e-commerce Saks business, will run the combined company.

Saks Global as a combined entity will compete with Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and Macy's, which is reportedly in talks to sell itself to Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital Management for about $6.9 billion.

HBC and Neiman said online retailer Amazon.com and customer relationship management software provider Salesforce will also be investors in Saks Global, providing technology, logistics and assistance with the integration of artificial intelligence.

Existing HBC investor Rhone Capital, a private-equity firm, will be the lead investor in Saks Global.

HBC is financing the deal with funds raised from new and existing shareholders and debt. Private-equity firm Apollo Global Management is providing $1.15 billion in debt financing.

The Saks owner has also secured $2 billion in debt financing from a syndicate of Wall Street banks.

JPMorgan and Lazard served as the financial advisers to Neiman Marcus Group in the deal.

(Reporting by Arasu Kannagi Basil and Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Paul Simao and Rod Nickel)
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Biggest AI Stories and Ratings Updates You Should Not Miss This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) stands against the other AI stories.

Are Growing Patents in AI from China a Threat to the US?

China and the United States continue to compete against each other as the AI boom continues to reign in the tech industry. On July 2, Reuters reported that China plans to develop 50 new national and industrial standards for artificial intelligence by 2026. The country aims to standardize systems in the artificial intelligence sector by providing thorough guidelines to companies and budding startups. Furthermore, on July 3, Reuters reported that China filed six times more patents than the United States for inventions in AI like chatbots. On a global scale, more than 50,000 patent applications were filed in the past decade, a quarter of which were filed in 2023 alone. China filed 38,000 generative AI applications between 2014 and 2023, while the United States only filed slightly over 6,200 applications during the same period. Of the total applications, ByteDance, Alibaba Group, and Microsoft filed the largest number of applications. The report added that Chinese patent applications covered a wider range of sectors such as autonomous driving, publishing, and document management. South Korea, Japan, and India were ranked third, fourth, and fifth with the highest number of patent applications.

The United States, on the other hand, has reportedly accumulated $55.6 billion in venture capital funding in the second quarter of 2024, the highest quarterly total in two years. On July 3, Reuters reported that the surge in venture capital funding is driven by developments in artificial intelligence. Such is a 47% increase from the $37.8 billion raised by startups in the first quarter of 2024. Significant investments include $6 billion by Elon Musk's xAI and $1.1 billion raised by CoreWeave. Previously, venture capital funding took a hit, reporting $35.4 billion in the second quarter of 2023 amid high interest rates and sluggish economic growth. While venture capital and investment in AI are increasing, the IPO market remains sluggish.

OpenAI & Anthropic: A Comparative Analysis

While the threat of Chinese innovations looms over the United States, startups in the country are disrupting the industry with key innovations. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is a leading artificial intelligence company based in the United States. In February this year, OpenAI closed a deal with venture capital firm Thrive Capital, allowing it to buy some of its shares in a tender offer, bringing its total valuation to $80 billion. This is a threefold increase in its value from a few months ago in 2023.

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On June 10, OpenAI and Apple announced a partnership to integrate ChatGPT into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Users will now be able to access ChatGPT's capabilities on all these devices without having to switch tools. Siri will also be able to reach ChatGPT when a user asks a question and will present them with an answer directly from the chatbot. ChatGPT will be integrated into Apple's writing tools, allowing users to create content when required. The development ensures that user security remains intact. Requests are not stored by OpenAI and IP addresses remain obscured. Users may connect to their ChatGPT account, allowing them to choose their data preferences. The integration will be executed later this year and can be accessed for free without having to create an account.

In another update, Apple is reportedly positioned to join OpenAI's board. On July 2, Reuters reported that Apple is set to get an observer role on OpenAI's board, part of the agreement made by the two entities a month ago. Phill Schiller, head of Apple App Store and former marketing chief, was selected for this position. The board agreement will take effect later this year. As of yet, Schiller has not attended any meetings.

Anthropic, OpenAI's direct competitor, is an artificial intelligence startup founded in 2021. The company is led by Dario and Daniela Amodei as CEO and president. The safety and research company is popular for its safety-oriented language models that produce reliable interpretable, and steerable AI systems. On March 27, CNBC reported that Amazon invested an additional $2.75 billion in the startup, bringing its total investment to $4 billion. Anthropic's valuation at that time was $18.4 billion and closed five different funding rounds worth $7.3 billion in the past year. Amazon will remain a minority stakeholder in the company. Last year, Alphabet's Google announced an investment worth $2 billion into Anthropic adding to its $550 million funding from earlier.

Claude is the company's AI platform able to conduct advanced reasoning, vision analysis, code generation, and multilingual processing. Anthropic recently launched Claude 3.5 Sonner, its first release from the Claude 3.5 family. Claude 2.5 Sonnet has set a new benchmark for graduate-level reasoning, undergraduate-level knowledge, and coding proficiency. The new AI platform operates at twice the speed of Clause Opus. Based on an internal evaluation, Claude 3.5 Sonnet was able to solve 64% of problems. On the contrary, Claude Opus was able to solve only 38% of problems. On July 2, Anthropic announced the launch of a new initiative for a robust third-party evaluation ecosystem. The new initiative will be able to fund evaluations developed by third-party organizations to measure advanced features in AI models. The company strongly believes that the initiative will enhance AI safety level assessments, improve safety metrics, and develop infrastructure and tools for evaluations. The safety level assessments will encompass cybersecurity, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks, model autonomy, national security risks, and social manipulation.

A lot is going on in the AI space and several companies have emerged as interesting AI stories. We have compiled a list of the most interesting AI stories on Wall Street by studying many reports and publications and watching interviews. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment, which was sourced from Insider Monkey's proprietary database that tracks over 900 elite money managers.

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).

A customer service team in an office setting using the company's Customer 360 platform to communicate with customers.

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 154

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) is a prominent AI story and a leading cloud provider, contributing to its ranking on our list. The cloud provider is on its way to becoming an AI powerhouse. The company's AI cloud platform can support any large language model and is built on the Einstein GPT Trust Layer. Key AI products by the company include Sales AI, Customer Service AI, Marketing AI, and Commerce AI. In a recent development, MuleSoft, Salesforce's software company that provides integration software to connect data and applications, launched AsyncAPI which is capable of building AI-powered customer experiences in real-time. The launch will facilitate the widespread adoption of event-driven architectures, allowing businesses to respond to real-time events faster.

Overall, the company is now responsible for 250 petabytes of data for its customers, crucial to the AI transition. The company's Data Cloud is rapidly growing to become its next $1 billion cloud. Data Cloud streamlines AI insights and actions for its customers. Salesforce Inc (NYSE:CRM) claims that this is its first step to becoming an AI enterprise and is expecting a major tailwind in revenue due to AI adoption.

Overall, at the close of Q1 2024, 154 investors were bullish on the stock, with total stakes amounting to $16.62 billion. Of those, Ken Fisher's Fisher Asset Management was the highest stakeholder with a position of $3.27 billion.

CRM is a Wall Street favorite. Its median price forecast represents an upside of 15% from current levels.

Here are some comments about Salesforce from Harding Loevner's Q1 2024 investor letter:

"Leading software companies have the advantage of high switching costs and the ability to incorporate new features into products customers already use. For example, Microsoft has added its Copilot chatbot functionality to everything from search (Bing Chat, recently renamed to just Copilot) to coding (GitHub Copilot) and workplace applications (Copilot for Microsoft 365). Software sold by Microsoft and other companies such as Salesforce, Inc. (NYSE:CRM), SAP, and ServiceNow are also already deeply integrated into their customers operations and workflow. As large enterprises search for the right balance, Salesforces Data Cloud, a flagship offering, is designed to address a critical issue for them so they can make better use of AI tools. After a hectic buildout over the last few years of data warehouses and data lakestwo types of repositories for storing and processing dataacross the various business units of large companies, many companies are left with what feels like islands of trapped data. Data Cloud solves this by creating a single platform to access and leverage all of an enterprises data, eliminating the need to constantly duplicate large amounts of information across different platforms. Users are then able to apply generative-AI technology, such as Salesforces Einstein tool, to a more comprehensive dataset, which enables them to better glean customers intentions, personalize marketing messages, and automate the processing of customer-service requests. As users build these systems, Einsteins copiloting functionality helps their programmers work more efficiently so that IT departments with limited budgets and manpower can still develop the necessary tools. Salesforces management projects that revenue and earnings will climb about 9% and 45%, respectively, in fiscal 2025, citing the companys operating leverage and cost discipline. We think these figures are achievable given the renewed focus on profitable growth, and so we added to the stock during the quarter."

Overall CRM ranks 6th on our list of the biggest AI stories right now. You can visit 10 Biggest AI Stories and Ratings Updates You Should Not Miss This Week to see the other AI stories that are on hedge funds radar. While we acknowledge the potential of CRM 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 CRM 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.
Amid a backdrop of global economic fluctuations and a recent downturn in Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index, investors are increasingly attentive to the stability and growth potential within specific sectors. High insider ownership coupled with strong earnings growth can be indicative of management's confidence in the companys future, making such stocks potentially attractive in uncertain times.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Hong Kong

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth iDreamSky Technology Holdings (SEHK:1119) 20.2% 104.1% Fenbi (SEHK:2469) 32.6% 43% Adicon Holdings (SEHK:9860) 22.4% 28.3% Tian Tu Capital (SEHK:1973) 34% 70.5% DPC Dash (SEHK:1405) 38.2% 90.2% Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology (SEHK:2190) 18.7% 79.3% Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) (SEHK:2315) 13.9% 100.1% Ocumension Therapeutics (SEHK:1477) 23.1% 93.7% Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (SEHK:9863) 15% 76.5% Beijing Airdoc Technology (SEHK:2251) 28.7% 83.9%

Click here to see the full list of 54 stocks from our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Here's a peek at a few of the choices from the screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: J&T Global Express Limited, an investment holding company, provides express delivery services and has a market capitalization of approximately HK$63.45 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its air freight transportation segment, totaling approximately HK$8.85 billion.

Insider Ownership: 20.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 106.2% p.a.

J&T Global Express, recently added to the FTSE All-World Index, is positioned for notable growth with a revenue increase of 15.8% per year, outpacing the Hong Kong market's 7.7%. Despite a forecasted low return on equity of 17.9% in three years, the company is expected to turn profitable within this period. The recent executive board changes and high insider ownership underscore its strategic realignment and commitment to governance, aligning with its growth trajectory in a competitive express logistics sector.

SEHK:1519 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: ESR Group Limited operates in logistics real estate development, leasing, and management across regions including Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, and Europe with a market capitalization of approximately HK$45.67 billion.

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Operations: The company's revenue is primarily derived from fund management, which generated HK$774.64 million, and new economy development, contributing HK$105.48 million.

Insider Ownership: 13.1%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 26.5% p.a.

ESR Group Limited, a key entity in the logistics and warehousing sector, is poised for significant growth with earnings expected to increase by 26.47% annually. Despite a decline in profit margins from last year, the company's revenue growth of 9.6% per year surpasses the Hong Kong market average. Recently, ESR received a privatization proposal valued between US$7 billion and US$8 billion, reflecting substantial investor confidence despite some financial strains like poor coverage of interest payments by earnings.

SEHK:1821 Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: MGM China Holdings Limited operates as an investment holding company, focusing on the development, ownership, and operation of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$48.41 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its Casinos & Resorts segment, which brought in HK$24.68 billion.

Insider Ownership: 10%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 17.7% p.a.

MGM China Holdings recently raised US$500 million through senior notes to repay existing debts, enhancing financial flexibility. Despite trading below its estimated fair value by 43.4%, the company's earnings are expected to grow by 17.7% annually, outpacing the Hong Kong market's 11.2%. However, its revenue growth forecast of 8% lags behind the desired 20% benchmark for high-growth entities. Additionally, a very high forecasted Return on Equity at 88.8% contrasts with poor coverage of interest payments by earnings, presenting a mixed financial health outlook.

SEHK:2282 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Click here to access our complete index of 54 Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership.

Are 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.

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Ready For A Different Approach?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.The analysis only considers stock directly held by insiders. It does not include indirectly owned stock through other vehicles such as corporate and/or trust entities. All forecast revenue and earnings growth rates quoted are in terms of annualised (per annum) growth rates over 1-3 years.

Companies discussed in this article include SEHK:1519 SEHK:1821 and SEHK:2282.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As global markets navigate through varying economic signals, the Hong Kong market has shown resilience despite facing challenges such as a slowing economy and foreign selling pressures. In this context, growth companies with high insider ownership in Hong Kong can offer investors potential stability and alignment of interests between shareholders and management. A good stock in this category typically demonstrates robust growth prospects backed by the confidence of insiders who have significant skin in the game, making these stocks particularly compelling during uncertain times.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Hong Kong

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth iDreamSky Technology Holdings (SEHK:1119) 20.2% 104.1% Fenbi (SEHK:2469) 32.6% 43% Adicon Holdings (SEHK:9860) 22.4% 28.3% Tian Tu Capital (SEHK:1973) 34% 70.5% DPC Dash (SEHK:1405) 38.2% 90.2% Zylox-Tonbridge Medical Technology (SEHK:2190) 18.7% 79.3% Biocytogen Pharmaceuticals (Beijing) (SEHK:2315) 13.9% 100.1% Ocumension Therapeutics (SEHK:1477) 23.1% 93.7% Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (SEHK:9863) 15% 74.2% Beijing Airdoc Technology (SEHK:2251) 28.7% 83.9%

Click here to see the full list of 54 stocks from our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's take a closer look at a couple of our picks from the screened companies.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: BYD Company Limited operates in the automobile and battery sectors across China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$732.26 billion.

Operations: The company's revenue is derived from its automobile and battery sectors across various regions including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and internationally.

Insider Ownership: 30.1%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 14.8% p.a.

BYD, a prominent player in Hong Kong's growth sector with high insider ownership, demonstrates robust operational momentum. Recent enhancements to its bylaws and a consistent dividend payout (RMB 3.098 per share) underscore stable governance and shareholder regard. Noteworthy is BYD's production surge, with significant year-over-year increases reported in May 2024. The launch of the BYD SHARK in Mexico marks a strategic expansion into global markets, capitalizing on advanced hybrid technologies and substantial sales growth, further evidenced by impressive annual revenue forecasts outpacing the local market average.

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SEHK:1211 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: ESR Group Limited operates in logistics real estate development, leasing, and management across regions including Hong Kong, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, and Europe with a market capitalization of approximately HK$47.19 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through fund management at HK$774.64 million and new economy development, contributing HK$105.48 million.

Insider Ownership: 13.1%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 26.5% p.a.

ESR Group, a key entity in Hong Kong's growth sectors with substantial insider ownership, faces mixed financial dynamics. Despite its profit margins declining from the previous year, ESR's earnings are expected to grow significantly over the next three years. However, its interest payments are poorly covered by earnings and one-off items have impacted financial results. Recently, ESR has been involved in potential privatization talks with a consortium including major investors like Warburg Pincus, indicating strategic shifts that could influence its market standing and shareholder value.

SEHK:1821 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Meituan is a technology retail company based in the Peoples Republic of China, with a market capitalization of approximately HK$736.58 billion.

Operations: The company generates its revenue through technology retail operations in China.

Insider Ownership: 11.4%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 31.4% p.a.

Meituan, a growth-oriented company in Hong Kong with high insider ownership, has recently demonstrated robust financial performance. In Q1 2024, the company reported a significant increase in sales and net income. It also announced a substantial share repurchase program valued at HK$2 billion, reflecting strong confidence from its board. Despite some insider selling over the past three months, Meituan's revenue and earnings are expected to outpace the market significantly with forecasted annual growth rates of 12.8% and 31.4% respectively.

SEHK:3690 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Reveal the 54 hidden gems among our Fast Growing SEHK Companies With High Insider Ownership screener with a single click 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.

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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 SEHK:1211 SEHK:1821 and SEHK:3690.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
hand holding iced Starbucks drink - Dontree_M/Shutterstock

With over 38,000 locations dotted across the globe, you're never too far from a Starbucks. The world's most omnipresent coffeehouse has our caffeine cravings in a chokehold, with some of its drinks -- such as the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Frappuccinos -- becoming cultural touchstones in their own right. But as with most businesses of this size, Starbucks is not totally without controversy. Since the first location opened at Seattle's famous Pike Place Market in 1971, the chain has faced more than its fair share of criticism.

A lot of these scandals are linked to its actual business practices. Back in 2022, for example, Starbucks was accused of union busting, having fired multiple employees directly involved with organizing at its stores and creating a "culture of fear" in the process (via The Guardian). Other scandals have more to do with the actual coffee than anything else. While Starbucks has become synonymous with coffee culture and generated a whopping $35.98 billion in revenue in 2023, it doesn't necessarily have the best reputation with those who've caught on to some of the shadier truths behind its menu.

Before you shell out $6.45 on your next Flat White, here are 10 things Starbucks doesn't want you to know about its menu -- from how it secures its coffee beans, to the sneaky ways it prices its products.

Read more: How To Get More Flavor From Your Coffee Pods & Other Keurig Hacks

Its Refreshers Don't Always Contain The Fruit You'd Think

pink drink in Starbucks cup - Bugra Kaan Ersoy/Shutterstock

Starbucks Refreshers are a go-to for the coffee-averse and sweet tooths alike. First introduced in 2012, these combine fruity flavors with iced lemonade (and, in some cases, green coffee flavor). The lineup is always changing, with seasonal varieties often added in the summer, but the core options are typically Strawberry Acai, Mango Dragonfruit, and Pineapple Passionfruit.

Don't let the names fool you. In 2023, Starbucks was hit by a class action lawsuit due to claims that it misleads customers over the true contents of its Refreshers. Customer Joan Kominis filed the original lawsuit in 2022, arguing that she was duped into paying a premium for the drinks under the assumption that they include the fruits in their names -- which they do not. For example, Strawberry Acai does contain freeze-dried strawberries, but there's no acai in the ingredients list. Similarly, Mango Dragonfruit is free of any actual dragonfruit, while the only fruit in the Pineapple Passionfruit is pineapple.

Starbucks has argued that "no reasonable consumer would be misled by the products' names into thinking that the products contain the missing fruit," adding that the names refer to the flavors, not the ingredients, and baristas can always clarify what's in your drink (via Forbes). While the latter is true, we don't think it's too much of a stretch to expect a drink that's called "Mango Dragonfruit" to contain both components of its name.

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Customers Pay Extra For Non-Dairy Milk (But Starbucks Doesn't)

Hand holding coffee with cold foam - Dontree_M/Shutterstock

Non-dairy milks have become increasingly popular in recent years, fueled not just by the lactose intolerant or those with dairy allergies but also people looking to lower their environmental impact. That's what makes it all the more shocking that multiple coffee chains, Starbucks included, still charge between $0.50 and $0.80 more for non-dairy alternatives such as coconut, almond, soy, or oat milk.

In March 2024, three customers put their foot down and banded together to file a lawsuit against Starbucks in California. Their lawyers accused the coffeehouse of making approximately $1 billion "as a result of its discriminatory and illegal levying" (via Business Insider). The crux of their case is that charging customers more for a dairy-free option that may be necessary due to their allergies violates both the Americans with Disabilities Act and the California Unruh Civil Rights Act, essentially making it "illegal price discrimination."

This isn't the first time Starbucks has been sued over milk. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Florida, Colorado, and Canada. Frustratingly, dairy-free milk is already available at no extra cost in Starbucks stores in the likes of Japan and the U.K., which is proof that it's certainly possible. As the Consumer Law Group points out, dairy-free milk also rarely -- if ever -- costs more on a supplier level than regular milk. You may want to remember that the next time you're asked to shell out $0.85 extra for an iced oat latte.

Brewed Coffee May Not Be Fresh In The Afternoon

exterior of Starbucks store - Epics/Getty Images

Brewed coffee is among the cheaper drink options at Starbucks, with four varieties listed on the menu: Blonde Roast, Medium Pike Place Roast, Dark Roast, and Decaf Pike Place Roast. Blonde Roast is the go-to if you're after something light, while Dark Roast sits at the other end of the "super strong coffee" spectrum. No matter which roast you go for, they are all theoretically dumped and brewed anew every 30 minutes, meaning that you'll get a fresh coffee no matter what time of day you drop by the store.

But like we said, that's just theoretical. A former barista previously admitted to Business Insider that as Starbucks stores typically see most of their traffic before 10 a.m., it's common to stop brewing every roast fresh around midday. They claimed that while the most popular roast, Medium Pike Place, is brewed throughout the day, the other options will often just be brewed as needed.

Another alleged Starbucks barista corroborated this fact on Reddit, adding that "Pike Place Roast is the only roast that every Starbucks store across the world is required to have brewed and ready all day for customers. Plain drip coffee becomes less popular as the morning passes, so once we start selling 1 or less every 30 minute brew cycle, we stop brewing dark and blonde roasts." So, if you order a non-Medium Pike Place brewed coffee mid-afternoon, there's a higher chance of receiving a stale drink. Yummy.

Its Products Aren't As Ethically Sourced As You'd Think

two hands holding Starbucks cups - Farknot Architect/Shutterstock

If you've ever read the labels or packaging at Starbucks, you've probably come across the chain's promise that it is 100% committed to ethical sourcing. As it turns out, this may not be entirely true. In January 2024, the National Consumers League filed a lawsuit against Starbucks claiming that it's misleading customers since it actually sources coffee beans and tea leaves from farms and cooperatives with known human rights and labor issues.

More specifically, the lawsuit claimed that producers in Starbucks' supply chain are guilty of "child labor and forced labor as well as rampant and egregious sexual harassment and assault" (via The Washington Post). As per CNN, one incident singled out by the case occurred in Brazil in 2022, when a labor prosecutor complained that a supplier's working conditions were "analogous to slavery, including illegally trafficking more than 30 migrant workers."

This case is still ongoing as of the time of writing, but Starbucks has made it clear that it denies these allegations. A statement on the company website by the Executive Vice President of Global Coffee, Social Impact & Sustainability, Michelle Burns, reads, "this feels personal" and "our ethical sourcing program is best-in-class." However, this isn't the first time Starbucks has faced these kinds of accusations. In 2020, an investigation by British broadcaster Channel 4 found that of five farms in Guatemala that supply Starbucks' coffee beans, there was evidence of child labor at each location.

Several Products Have Allegedly Fallen Victim To Shrinkflation

display case with sandwiches, baked goods - Smith Collection/gado/Getty Images

In this day and age, is there a restaurant or coffee shop that hasn't been accused of shrinkflation? As the cost of living increases, multiple businesses -- including those in the food industry -- have been blamed for reducing the size of their products while maintaining (or even increasing) the price tags. Starbucks is no exception, with customers and employees alike flocking to social media to point out the dwindling size of its offerings.

The most common cause of complaint are the sandwiches. One Starbucks employee took to Reddit to compare the size of the old and new stock of Crispy Grilled Cheeses, pointing out that "the new sandwiches are at least 2 inches shorter." Another user agreed, noting that "this, the egg bites, bacon gouda, and the sausage wrap are so much smaller. Like I love the egg bites but honestly imma need 4 during my lunch with how small they've been getting."

As one alleged longtime Starbucks employee noted on the same thread, "I'm a 10.5 year partner and the amount things have shrunk over the years is insane." For more visual proof, one customer shared a video on TikTok showing the shockingly small size of a Starbucks bagel in September 2023. The bagel was the size of their palm and small enough to fit under the accompanying tub of cream cheese spread. As they hashtagged in their caption, this is truly "late stage capitalism blues."

The Eggs Aren't Actually Just Eggs

egg and bacon breakfast sandwich - Deutschland Reform/Shutterstock

Starbucks may give its breakfast sandwiches names like "Chicken, Maple Butter & Egg Sandwich," but you'd be wrong if you thought that was just a straight-up egg in your morning meal. The chain's sandwiches actually contain various kinds of processed egg patties made up of many more ingredients than you would expect.

In the Sausage, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich, you'll find a "puffed scramble egg patty" that contains the likes of soybean oil, butter flavor, guar gum, xanthan gum, and more, to round out the egg and milk mixture. Needless to say, those ingredients aren't natural additions that come courtesy of the chicken itself. Meanwhile, the Egg, Pesto & Mozzarella Sandwich features an "egg frittata patty" made up of a long and varied list of ingredients beyond eggs, such as unmodified corn starch, microbial enzymes, mirin, milk protein concentrate, and maltodextrin.

Admittedly, some of the egg patties are less processed than others. For example, the Double-Smoked Bacon, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich uses a "fried egg patty" that blends egg whites and egg yolk with just milk, food starch, salt, and citric acid. Starbucks also isn't the only chain that doesn't use 100% egg in its breakfast items, with the likes of Dunkin', Burger King and Wendy's also crafting egg patties using other ingredients. Regardless, if you care about avoiding processed ingredients, you may want to double-check the nutritional information on the packaging the next time you pick up breakfast on the go.

There May Be An Extra Charge If You Want Your Drink Without Water Or Ice

two Starbucks iced drinks - Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

No matter what Starbucks Refresher you order, the reality is that a significant portion of your drink will be water. There was a time when customers tried to make their Refreshers stronger (and get more bang for their buck) by requesting that their drink be made with more fruity base and no water. However, Starbucks tightened the reins on this hack in 2022 by introducing a new $1 upcharge under the argument that doing so "requires extra ingredients" (via CNN).

Frustrating though it is to pay an extra dollar to remove an ingredient from your drink, that's nothing compared to the frustrations shared by those who've been asked to pay extra for no ice. While Starbucks has denied that it charges more to remove the ice from your drink, alleged employees have claimed on Reddit that it is common practice at its licensed stores but could be the result of employees getting confused with the no water charge. If you do get charged for no ice, the charge itself is inconsistent and seemingly varies from store to store. Customers have recalled paying everything from $0.50 to $1 for the honor of a no-ice or low-ice drink.

Bigger Drinks Don't Necessarily Contain More Coffee

white Starbucks coffee cups - Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images

Logically, you'd think that if you were paying more for a bigger coffee in a coffee shop that you'd get, well, more coffee. If you're at Starbucks, however, that's not necessarily true. If you go from a Tall (12 ounces) to a Grande (16 ounces), you'll go from one shot of espresso to two. However, if you splash out on a Venti coffee (20 ounces), the only thing you're getting is more milk and syrup, as it also contains just the two shots of espresso.

If you're in the market for a caffeine boost, you can always pay more for an extra shot of espresso in your Venti coffee -- even if it is mildly irritating when you've already paid more to get a bigger cup in the first place. Alternatively, there is another way to get a stronger coffee. While there's no extra espresso in a hot Grande coffee versus a hot Venti coffee, you do automatically get a third shot of espresso when leveling up the size of an iced drink. Remember that the next time you find yourself flagging mid-afternoon.

There's Controversy Over Its Decaf Coffee

pouring coffee into Starbucks cups - Prayoga Nugroho/Shutterstock

There are a few different ways to make decaffeinated coffee. Starbucks, like many coffee chains, primarily uses the European method, also known as the Direct Contact Method. This involves steaming green coffee beans before washing them with a solvent that bonds with the caffeine. The beans are then roasted at over 400 F to evaporate the remaining liquids (and most of the caffeine in the process), and behold: decaf coffee.

It sounds straightforward enough, but this method isn't without its controversy. The aforementioned solvent is often methylene chloride, which the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has deemed a potential carcinogen. It was previously also used in paint stripper until it was banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act in April 2024 due to the risks presented by repeat exposure.

While William (Bill) Murray (the president and CEO of the National Coffee Association, not the actor) has insisted there's not enough evidence to suggest this decaffeination method is harmful, a bill criminalizing the production or sale of coffee made with methylene chloride was proposed in California in April 2024. The Environmental Defense Fund also released a petition asking the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to consider banning methylene chloride in all food -- which would ultimately impact Starbucks, as well as other major coffee chains such as Dunkin', if it did come to pass.

Its Gift Card Scheme Is Carefully Designed So You Can't Spend Your Entire Balance

Starbucks app on phone - Tada Images/Shutterstock

Starbucks boasts the second most-used mobile payment app in the U.S. after Apple Pay, processing more payments than the likes of Google Pay and Samsung Pay. While it's useful for placing advance mobile orders to skip the line in-store -- not to mention collecting rewards (or "Stars") for free drinks -- a less customer-friendly aspect to the app was put under the spotlight in December 2023, courtesy of the Washington Consumer Protection Coalition.

The consumer watchdog group filed a 15-page complaint accusing the app of structuring its system so that it's near-impossible for users to spend every cent they load. It claims that certain rules and restrictions -- such as only allowing users to add money in $5 increments, requiring a $10 minimum to get started , and giving you fixed tip options -- mean that you're trapped in a cycle of loading more money, without ever hitting a balance of zero.

"Starbucks rigs its payment platform so consumers are encouraged to leave unspent money on their cards and apps," said Chris Carter, campaign manager for the Washington Consumer Protection Coalition (via Fortune). "A few dollars here and there left on a payment platform may not sound like a lot but it adds up." Case in point: The group alleges there's a balance of nearly $900 million in unspent gift card and app money, which Starbucks has claimed as its own revenue.

Read the original article on Mashed.
Karnataka Independent Garment Workers Union (KIGWU) held a protest at Shahi Exports following the death of Kiran BM on 24 June as a result of suicide.

KIGWU says it is demanding an immediate stop to intimidation and harassment of workers following the incident.

It also alleges the factory lacks even the basic provisions laid under the Factories Act, 1947 for a safe and secure workplace, hygienic canteen and clean toilets.

KIGWU claims workers face harassment at the hands of the management when complaining about inhumane working conditions [and] high and unachievable production targets.

KIGWU alleges further actions are being taken to stifle their [worker] voices. It is urging the immediate stop of all unfair labour practices including the "criminal" intimidation of workers; compensation to the family of the deceased worker including benefits for all years of completed service and earnings for the remaining service, and dialogue in good faith with the Karnataka Independent Garment Workers Union to put in place corrective actions and mechanisms to ensure that such violations do not occur again in any Shahi factory.

Just Style reached out to Shahi Exports which said it was deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of our former employee, Mr. Kiran B.

Shahi Exports added it had proactively approached a third-party legal firm to conduct an independent, neutral investigation, and based on their findings, would take "all appropriate steps".

Shahi Exports continued: "Shahi is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring a safe, fair, and respectful workplace. We have robust systems and programmes in place to uphold this commitment.

We are aware of some unions and civil society organisations making unfounded allegations; however, we maintain engagements on a case-to-case basis to address concerns. India has robust laws governing this aspect, and we shall take all steps to conform to them.

"Shahi Exports launches probe on ex-worker death, harassment allegations" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Many investors define successful investing as beating the market average over the long term. But if you try your hand at stock picking, you risk returning less than the market. We regret to report that long term Stepan Company (NYSE:SCL) shareholders have had that experience, with the share price dropping 31% in three years, versus a market return of about 20%.

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.

See our latest analysis for Stepan

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Stepan saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 35% per year, over the last three years. This fall in the EPS is worse than the 12% compound annual share price fall. So the market may not be too worried about the EPS figure, at the moment -- or it may have previously priced some of the drop in. This positive sentiment is also reflected in the generous P/E ratio of 49.12.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Dive deeper into Stepan's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Stepan's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Stepan's TSR for the last 3 years was -28%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Stepan shareholders are down 8.6% for the year (even including dividends), but the market itself is up 25%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.4% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. Take risks, for example - Stepan has 2 warning signs we think you should be aware of.

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If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of undervalued small caps that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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
Tolentino urges Laguna graduates: be critical thinkers, problem solvers

Senate Majority Leader Francis 'Tol' Tolentino called on the graduating batch of the Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) in San Pablo City, Laguna, to become critical thinkers and problem solvers, as they pursue opportunities and explore new horizons after stepping out of their university.

Tolentino was the keynote speaker on Wednesday (July 3) to over a thousand graduating students from LSPU's various academic programs.

"Your education is not just about the degree you earned, but the knowledge and wisdom you acquired," the senator said.

"Use your education to become critical thinkers and problem solvers, and to develop the ability to adapt and thrive in our rapidly changing world," he added.

The senator was joined at the commencement rites by San Pablo City Mayor Vicente Amante, LSPU President Dr. Mario R. Briones, and other university officials.

Noting how San Pablo is known as a progressive community that is also blessed with natural resources, Tolentino urged the graduates to become proud representatives of their city and university in whatever field they choose.

"Maging maipagmamalaking kinatawan ng inyong paaralan at ng inyong lungsod. Ipakita n'yo ang kahusayan at diwa ng magandang lungsod ng San Pablo," he stressed.

Finally, the senator acknowledged the parents, professors, and university administrators for their role in preparing the youth to become productive and responsible members of society.
Shell Pakistan Limited (SPL) has launched what it describes as Pakistans first-ever recycled plastic retail site - the Malik Service Station at Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi.

SPL has collaborated with the cofounders of product research and development company Concept Loop, Dabeer Hemani and Syed Ali Naqi.

The construction of the retail site used the equivalent of 1.3m pieces of end-of-life plastic waste in infused pavers and concrete blocks.

The initiative aims to demonstrate the potential of recycled materials in building infrastructure.

SPL CEO and managing director Waqar Siddiqui commented: Innovative solutions such as this need to be tried and tested. The success of the plastic-infused road and the recycled plastic site can serve as an inspiration for future infrastructure developments. A ripple effect is what [we] aspire to achieve  inspiring broader adoption of sustainable practices.

SPL remains committed to exploring new avenues for environmental responsibility and innovation.

The company recorded a profit after tax of Rs314m in the first quarter of 2024.

Pakistans plastic usage is undergoing upheaval as Punjab province banned the production and sale of plastic bags on 5 June 2024.

This was followed by a call from Romina Khurshid Alam, climate change coordinator to Pakistans prime minister, for all provincial governments across the country to replicate the ban.

"Shell Pakistan builds retail site using recycled plastic" 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.
US pork processor Smithfield Foods plans to close yet another local plant, putting more than 300 jobs at risk.

Virginia-headquartered Smithfield, which is owned by Chinas WH Group, said it will close a ham-boning facility in Altoona, Iowa. Production will be consolidated into other company sites as the business seeks to improve the efficiency of its manufacturing platform.

Production conducted at Altoona will be moved to Smithfield facilities in Monmouth, Illinois; Sioux Falls in South Dakota; and Crete in Nebraska, the company said in a statement.

It added that 314 workers will be affected, with discussions to take place over severance or relocation.

Doug Sutton, the head of manufacturing for Smithfield, said: We appreciate the good work our Altoona employees have done over the years and are committed to supporting every employee through this transition.

We have been successful in retaining many of our people in positions with Smithfield during previous consolidations and will provide information about opportunities at other Smithfield locations.

Smithfield added that it will meet with the affected employees individually to provide additional details about the transition plan, including severance, financial incentives to assure business continuity and potential employment opportunities with Smithfield.

Last year, Smithfield announced it would close its Charlotte, North Carolina, pork-processing plant and transfer production to the companys Tar Heel facility in the same state. That move affected 107 jobs.

In 2022, plans were revealed to shutter a pork site in Vernon, California, after Smithfield ceased operations at San Jose in the same state the previous year.

Before 2023 ended, the pork processor also said it would terminate contracts with 26 hog farms in Utah due to an industry oversupply of pork, increased feed costs and lower consumer demand.

The same year, the company said it would close 35 hog farm sites in Missouri, affecting 92 employees.

Smithfield did not reveal the timing of the planned closure of the Altoona site. It added that the company employs almost 4,000 people at other farms and facilities in Iowa, including at Carroll, Denison, Des Moines, Mason City, Orange City, Sioux Center and Sioux City.

"Smithfield Foods plans to close another US pork plant" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
UK-based insurance broker Specialist Risk Group (SRG) has acquired terrorism insurance specialist Tristar Special Risks for an undisclosed sum.

Tristar Special Risks brings to SRG expertise in covering commercial and residential risks including those related to political and religious properties.

This acquisition is part of SRG's strategy to expand its managing general agent, MX, launched in 2021.

It is also aimed at developing expertise in specialist insurance areas.

SRG group deputy CEO Lee Anderson said: We first engaged with James and the Tristar team at the SRG Market Briefing in January 2020. It was clear at the time that both businesses shared the same ambitions and were culturally aligned. Today marks the moment when we join forces and look forward to an exciting future working together.

Tristar Special Risks is a great example of what SRG looks for in the ideal team and business. They have deep expertise and credibility in their specialist area, and I know that they will go from strength to strength from being part of SRG.

Tristar Special Risks managing director James Woolerton said: Joining Specialist Risk Group marks a significant milestone for Tristar Special Risks and brings exciting opportunities for our broker partners.

With SRGs infrastructure and market presence, we look forward to improving all aspects of our offerings; continuing to provide best-in-market terrorism insurance solutions and providing the unique and market-leading levels of innovation, flexibility, collaboration and expertise our brokers value so highly.

Last week, SRG purchased Strategic Insurance Services Limited (SISL), a broker with a focus on specialist schemes.

SISL, with its roots in West Sussex, UK, since 1997, has built a network with insurers, brokers and financial service clients, extending SRG's reach across Europe.

The deals follow Warburg Pincus and Temaseks investment in SRG in May this year to drive its growth in new markets, with a focus on Europe and Asia.

In December 2023, SRG reached an agreement to buy insurance broker CBC, expanding operations in the UK and Ireland.

"SRG buys terrorism insurance provider Tristar Special Risks " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Dividend-paying stocks are often sought after for their potential to provide investors with a steady income stream. However, caution is warranted when a company like Investis Holding exhibits an excessively high payout ratio, which may indicate that its dividends are not sustainable over the long term. In this article, we will explore why such financial metrics are crucial in assessing the viability of dividend investments and highlight another Swiss stock that presents a more attractive opportunity.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In Switzerland

Name Dividend Yield Dividend Rating Vontobel Holding (SWX:VONN) 5.56%  Cembra Money Bank (SWX:CMBN) 5.13%  Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (SWX:BCVN) 4.49%  St. Galler Kantonalbank (SWX:SGKN) 4.36%  Novartis (SWX:NOVN) 3.36%  Roche Holding (SWX:ROG) 3.90%  CPH Group (SWX:CPHN) 5.88%  Julius Bar Gruppe (SWX:BAER) 4.97%  Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (SWX:BLKB) 4.72%  Helvetia Holding (SWX:HELN) 5.15% 

Click here to see the full list of 26 stocks from our Top Dividend Stocks screener.

Below we spotlight one of our favorites from our exclusive screener and one you might the flick.

Top Pick

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Phoenix Mecano AG operates globally, manufacturing and selling components for industrial customers with a market capitalization of CHF 466.06 million.

Operations: The company's revenue is primarily generated from three segments: Enclosure Systems (231.16 million), Industrial Components (223.58 million), and Dewertokin Technology Group (335.80 million).

Dividend Yield: 6%

Phoenix Mecano AG, with a solid dividend yield of 6.09%, stands out in the Swiss market. Recent approvals at their AGM include a special dividend and an ordinary increase, reflecting a robust payout strategy. Despite some volatility in its dividend history, the current earnings cover (68.4%) and cash flow cover (58.1%) ensure sustainability, contrasting sharply with firms showing strained payout ratios. Trading at 25.4% below estimated fair value also suggests an attractive entry point for value-oriented investors.

SWX:PMN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

One To Reconsider

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: 

Overview: Investis Holding SA is a residential real estate company based in Switzerland, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 1.29 billion.

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Operations: The company generates revenue through two main segments: Properties, which brought in CHF 53.08 million, and Real Estate Services, contributing CHF 181.70 million.

Dividend Yield: 2.5%

Investis Holding SA, despite a recent dividend affirmation of CHF 2.50 per share, presents concerns for dividend-focused investors due to its unsustainable payout practices. The company's dividend yield of 2.45% falls below the Swiss market's top quartile average of 4.22%. Notably, dividends are not well-covered by earnings or profitable operations, indicating potential risk in sustained payouts. Recent activities include a presentation at the ROTH MKM conference and discussions on M&A with PHM Group Oy, highlighting strategic moves yet overshadowed by fundamental financial weaknesses.

SWX:IREN Dividend History as at Jul 2024

Where To Now?

Delve into our full catalog of 26 Top Dividend Stocks 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.

Companies discussed in this article include SWX:PMN and SWX:IREN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
The complex three-way deal announced late Sunday night to split Spirit AeroSystems between Boeing and Airbus, returning to Boeing huge manufacturing facilities that it sold off two decades ago, was engineered by Spirit AeroSystems CEO Pat Shanahan.

Just four months after Boeing announced its intention to reacquire most of this critical supplier, Shanahan secured agreement through personal negotiations with the senior leadership of the two greatest rivals in the aviation world.

A former top Boeing executive and former acting Secretary of Defense under President Donald Trump, appointed Spirit CEO late last year, Shanahan was already considered a top contender to replace Dave Calhoun as CEO of Boeing.

As an engineer and a manufacturing Mr. Fix-It, Shanahan would be an inspired choice, veteran aviation analyst Adam Pilarski of consulting firm Avitas said in March.

After landing the Spirit agreement, Shanahan, 62, who spends weekends at his home in Seattle, is now positioned as perhaps the favorite to take over when Calhoun steps down later this year.

In an exclusive interview Monday with the Seattle Times, Shanahan deflected but didnt deny interest when asked if he might be Boeing CEO.

Its not my place to comment on what Boeing might or might not do, Shanahan replied. Ill be keeping my eye on getting this deal done at Spirit.

Shanahan was brought in to take control of Wichita, Kansas-based Spirit in October when the previous CEO Tom Gentile was fired. Spirit was losing money, deep in debt and facing repeated revelations of quality defects.

A few months later, the midair blowout of a fuselage panel on a Boeing 737 Max - a fuselage built in Wichita last September, before Shanahan took over - precipitated an ongoing crisis at Boeing over its quality management.

Part of Boeings response was to accept delivery of Max fuselages at the final assembly plant in Renton only if they are largely complete and defect free.

Unfinished jobs and defects requiring rework had been gumming up the assembly process in Renton and contributed to the critical installation error that caused the Alaska blowout.

Work at Spirit was slowed drastically and every fuselage is now carefully inspected before leaving Wichita.

Our teams have made critical improvements to the quality management system over the past six months, Shanahan said Monday. Those improvements will continue.

The work that weve undertaken is to make changes that are enduring, mistake-proofing a number of the critical operations, he added.

And he contends the future for both companies will be more secure when Boeing takes back in-house those Spirit units that make the entire Max fuselage and the forward fuselage of all its other jets, in addition to other major Boeing components.

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Bringing Boeing and Spirit together will enable greater integration.  Itll bring together their safety and quality systems and make them better, Shanahan said. The new organization will be faster and more nimble.

This is a fabulous industry, he concluded. Im proud of playing the role of making it stronger and better.

Analysts warn therell be no quick fix

For its part of the deal, Boeing pays $4.7 billion in stock, or $37.25 per share, and also takes on Spirits net debt of about $3.6 billion.

Meanwhile Spirit will pay Airbus $559 million to take off its hands the money-bleeding facilities making A350 and A220 parts.

Financial analysts were skeptical Monday in their assessment of what the deal will mean for Boeing.

Rob Stallard of Vertical Research Partners summed it up as good for Spirit, good for Airbus, and less good for Boeing.

While Spirit shareholders get a 10% bump in the value of their stock compared to when the deal was first leaked back in April, and Airbus gets a hefty payoff, Boeing inherits a troubled supplier that will require substantial investment to fix.

Yet Stallard concludes in his note to investors that, for Boeing, we think that it is worth taking the financial hit if this increases the chances of getting the 737 program back on track.  Bringing Spirit back in house should increase the chances of successfully ramping production.

Stewart Glickman, deputy research director at CFRA Research, agreed the deal will be no panacea for Boeing.

Boeings standing with regulators, and its delivery cadence for 737 Max jets, will both be slow to recover, Glickman wrote, adding that the jetmakers now-higher debt level and the near-term prospect of changing CEOs introduces risk.

Unless airplane production ramps up, credit agencies are likely to penalize Boeing, said Ben Tsocanos, Airlines Director, S&P Global Ratings, which for now is maintaining Boeings rating.

We could lower the rating if the company fails to increase plane production and deliveries late this year, Tsocanos wrote. We do not believe there will be imminent improvement.

The deal is expected to take about a year to finalize. So if Shanahan does leave to take the top job at Boeing, some of his lieutenants at Spirit will have to take over the company split-up.

To complete that, the deal must first undergo regulatory scrutiny. And the Boeing acquisition is also conditional on the Airbus part of the agreement being finalized.

Shanahan expressed confidence that the deal will be sealed. He doesnt see a regulatory block, because this is not anti-competitive.

And in terms of getting the Airbus side of the deal done, he said working with the senior leadership for all parties, everyone is aligned and interested in the smooth, quick transition to ensure production system performance.

Assuming the deal is finalized, analysts said the job then of smoothly merging Spirits operations with Boeings is not straightforward because each faces its own internal production problems.

The reintegration of Spirit into Boeing is unlikely to be a silver bullet for either companys operational issues, wrote Rob Spingarn of Melius Research.

Spirits issues are due to the loss of institutional knowledge, he added. When the 737 Max grounding and pandemic hit, Spirit reduced its head count by about 34% to preserve cash.  Many experienced employees retired or took jobs elsewhere.

It will take talent, training, and time to fix Boeings and Spirits operations rather than a deal, Spingarn concluded.

Likewise, Peter McNally, global head of analysts at Third Bridge, an equity research firm, cited the lack of a skilled workforce at Spirit as compounding the same attrition problem at Boeing, for which the deal can bring no quick fix.

The industrial logic of integrating the supply chain is sound, but the reality could prove more challenging, he wrote. For Boeing customers, this is unlikely to bring an immediate fix to the number of planes that can be delivered.

Shanahan, naturally, is much more optimistic.

He said he has already put in place new technologies in the assembly plants to improve quality. These include cameras used for inspection and automation or new types of tooling that allow people with less experience to do the job with precision.

He said his team has already revamped many of the work procedures at Spirit and instituted deeper training, not in the classroom but out supporting the mechanics on the factory floor.

I feel really good about the progress, Shanahan said. Were getting back to being airplane builders, gearheads.
Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term Genting Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:GENM) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 23% over a half decade.

Since shareholders are down over the longer term, lets look at the underlying fundamentals over the that time and see if they've been consistent with returns.

See our latest analysis for Genting Malaysia Berhad

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Genting Malaysia Berhad became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time.

We note that the dividend has fallen in the last five years, so that may have contributed to the share price decline.

You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values).

Genting Malaysia Berhad is a well known stock, with plenty of analyst coverage, suggesting some visibility into future growth. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Genting Malaysia Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was 0.6%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Genting Malaysia Berhad shareholders are up 8.7% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. On the bright side, that's still a gain, and it's actually better than the average return of 0.1% over half a decade This could indicate that the company is winning over new investors, as it pursues its strategy. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Genting Malaysia Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

We will like Genting Malaysia Berhad better if we see some big insider buys. While we wait, check out this free list of undervalued stocks (mostly small caps) with considerable, recent, insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Malaysian exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Despite a relatively flat performance in the past week, the Australian market has seen a growth of 7.2% over the past year, with earnings expected to grow by 13% per annum. In this context, identifying stocks that are trading below their intrinsic value could offer potential opportunities for investors looking for growth in a steadily advancing market.

Top 10 Undervalued Stocks Based On Cash Flows In Australia

Name Current Price Fair Value (Est) Discount (Est) MaxiPARTS (ASX:MXI) A$2.04 A$3.94 48.2% GTN (ASX:GTN) A$0.445 A$0.85 47.4% Elders (ASX:ELD) A$8.39 A$16.28 48.5% VEEM (ASX:VEE) A$1.70 A$3.51 51.6% IPH (ASX:IPH) A$6.25 A$12.00 47.9% ReadyTech Holdings (ASX:RDY) A$3.26 A$6.26 47.9% Australian Clinical Labs (ASX:ACL) A$2.52 A$4.74 46.9% Core Lithium (ASX:CXO) A$0.091 A$0.17 45.9% Millennium Services Group (ASX:MIL) A$1.145 A$2.24 48.9% SiteMinder (ASX:SDR) A$5.20 A$10.02 48.1%

Click here to see the full list of 52 stocks from our Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool

Overview: Elders Limited operates primarily in Australia, offering agricultural products and services to rural and regional customers, with a market capitalization of approximately A$1.33 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three main segments: Branch Network (A$2.54 billion), Wholesale Products (A$341.19 million), and Feed and Processing Services (A$120.14 million).

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 48.5%

Elders Limited, currently trading at A$8.39, appears undervalued by more than 20%, with a calculated fair value of A$16.28 based on discounted cash flows. Despite a challenging year with net profit margins dropping from 3.4% to 2.1% and a significant earnings decline in the first half of 2024, Elders is forecasted to grow earnings by 22.8% annually over the next three years. However, its high level of debt and dividends not well covered by earnings pose risks that temper its attractiveness as an undervalued stock based on cash flows.

ASX:ELD Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: South32 Limited is a diversified metals and mining company with operations across multiple countries including Australia, India, and the United States, and has a market capitalization of approximately A$17.37 billion.

Operations: South32's revenue is derived from various segments including Cannington with $588 million, Cerro Matoso at $541 million, Sierra Gorda generating $649 million, Brazil Alumina contributing $443 million, Mozal Aluminium at $801 million, Worsley Alumina with $1.36 billion, Hillside Aluminium producing $1.72 billion, Australia Manganese at $651 million, Brazil Aluminium (BA) contributing $210 million, South Africa Manganese with $321 million, and Illawarra Metallurgical Coal generating $1.36 billion.

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Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 34%

South32, priced at A$3.85, is assessed below its fair value of A$5.84, reflecting a significant undervaluation based on discounted cash flows. The company's earnings are expected to rise substantially, with forecasts suggesting a 55.12% annual increase and profitability anticipated within three years. South32's revenue growth is also projected to outpace the Australian market average. However, its forecasted return on equity of 11.4% in three years indicates potential limitations in financial efficiency.

ASX:S32 Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Overview: Webjet Limited operates as an online travel booking service across Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, the UK, and globally, with a market capitalization of approximately A$3.59 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through three primary channels: corporate travel services contributing A$0.80 million, Business to Business (B2B) travel at A$327.90 million, and Business to Consumer (B2C) travel amounting to A$142.80 million.

Estimated Discount To Fair Value: 11.5%

Webjet, trading at A$9.19, is considered undervalued with its market price 11.6% lower than the estimated fair value of A$10.39. The company's earnings have increased by 401.4% over the past year and are expected to continue growing at a rate of 20.25% annually, outpacing the Australian market's average growth rate. Recent strategic moves include a demerger aimed at enhancing operational focus and unlocking shareholder value, supported by significant leadership changes and advisory from Goldman Sachs on strategic financial structuring.

ASX:WEB Discounted Cash Flow as at Jul 2024

Where To Now?

Access the full spectrum of 52 Undervalued ASX Stocks Based On Cash Flows by clicking on this link.

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.

Enhance your investing ability with the Simply Wall St app and enjoy free access to essential market intelligence spanning every continent.

Looking For Alternative Opportunities?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include ASX:ELDASX:S32ASX:WEB and

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Amidst a cautiously optimistic Swiss market, investors witnessed modest gains with the SMI index slightly up, reflecting a mixed sentiment as they await key economic indicators. In such a market environment, companies with high insider ownership can be particularly appealing as they often signal strong confidence from those closest to the business.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership In Switzerland

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Stadler Rail (SWX:SRAIL) 14.5% 23.1% VAT Group (SWX:VACN) 10.2% 21% Straumann Holding (SWX:STMN) 32.7% 20.9% Swissquote Group Holding (SWX:SQN) 11.4% 14.0% COLTENE Holding (SWX:CLTN) 22.2% 20.9% Temenos (SWX:TEMN) 17.4% 14.7% Sonova Holding (SWX:SOON) 17.7% 9.9% Sensirion Holding (SWX:SENS) 20.7% 79.9% SHL Telemedicine (SWX:SHLTN) 17.9% 96.2% Arbonia (SWX:ARBN) 28.8% 100.1%

Click here to see the full list of 16 stocks from our Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Gurit Holding AG specializes in developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling advanced composite materials, composite tooling equipment, and kitting services globally, with a market capitalization of CHF 247.37 million.

Operations: Gurit Holding AG generates revenue through three primary segments: Composite Materials (CHF 307.09 million), Marine and Industrial (CHF 101.63 million), and Manufacturing Solutions (CHF 51.29 million).

Insider Ownership: 30.2%

Return On Equity Forecast: 21% (2026 estimate)

Gurit Holding, a Swiss company, is trading at CHF 61.8% below its estimated fair value, making it an attractive prospect despite its high debt levels. While the company's revenue growth of 4.1% per year is slightly under the Swiss market average of 4.4%, its earnings are expected to surge by 35.37% annually, significantly outpacing the market's 8.4%. This robust profit forecast highlights Gurit's potential as a growth-oriented firm with substantial upside, albeit tempered by a volatile share price and financial leverage concerns.

SWX:GURN Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Partners Group Holding AG is a global private equity firm that manages a diverse range of investment strategies in sectors such as private equity, real estate, infrastructure, and debt, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 30.83 billion.

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Operations: The company generates revenue from several segments, with private equity contributing CHF 1.17 billion, infrastructure CHF 379.20 million, real estate CHF 186.90 million, and private credit CHF 211.30 million.

Insider Ownership: 17.1%

Return On Equity Forecast: 52% (2026 estimate)

Partners Group Holding AG, a Swiss private equity firm, is poised for robust growth with its revenue and earnings forecast to outpace the Swiss market at 14% and 13.6% per year respectively. Despite trading just below fair value, concerns linger over its high debt levels and an uncovered dividend yield of 3.33%. Recent strategic moves include a CHF 300 million fixed-income offering and potential sale discussions for Formosa Solar, signaling active management but also financial caution in its operations.

SWX:PGHN Earnings and Revenue Growth as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Straumann Holding AG specializes in providing tooth replacement and orthodontic solutions globally, with a market capitalization of approximately CHF 18.32 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue through its regional sales divisions, with CHF 1.20 billion from Operations, CHF 451.27 million from Asia Pacific, CHF 793.05 million from North America, CHF 265.82 million from Latin America, and CHF 1.17 billion from Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Insider Ownership: 32.7%

Return On Equity Forecast: 24% (2026 estimate)

Straumann Holding AG, a key player in the dental sector, demonstrates strong growth potential with its revenue and earnings expected to grow at 9.8% and 20.85% per year respectively, outpacing the Swiss market averages. Despite a highly volatile share price recently and lower profit margins compared to last year, the company's high return on equity forecast of 24% signals robust financial health. Recent appearances at multiple European healthcare conferences underscore its active engagement in market expansion and investor relations.

SWX:STMN Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Make It Happen

Access the full spectrum of 16 Fast Growing SIX Swiss Exchange Companies With High Insider Ownership by clicking on this link.

Are you invested in these stocks already? Keep abreast of every twist and turn by setting up a portfolio with Simply Wall St, where we make it simple for investors like you to stay informed and proactive.

Enhance your investing ability with the Simply Wall St app and enjoy free access to essential market intelligence spanning every continent.

Want To Explore Some Alternatives?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.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 SWX:GURN SWX:PGHN and SWX:STMN.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
As global markets navigate through a period of relative calm with anticipation for upcoming earnings reports and key economic indicators, investors continue to assess opportunities across various sectors. In this context, growth companies with high insider ownership stand out as particularly intriguing, given their potential alignment of management interests with shareholder returns amid evolving market dynamics.

Top 10 Growth Companies With High Insider Ownership

Name Insider Ownership Earnings Growth Archean Chemical Industries (NSEI:ACI) 22.9% 28.9% Seojin SystemLtd (KOSDAQ:A178320) 26.2% 48.1% Fine M-TecLTD (KOSDAQ:A441270) 17.3% 36.4% KebNi (OM:KEBNI B) 37.8% 90.4% Credo Technology Group Holding (NasdaqGS:CRDO) 14.7% 60.9% Calliditas Therapeutics (OM:CALTX) 11.6% 52.9% EHang Holdings (NasdaqGM:EH) 32.8% 74.3% HANA Micron (KOSDAQ:A067310) 20% 96.3% Vow (OB:VOW) 31.8% 97.6% Adocia (ENXTPA:ADOC) 12.1% 59.8%

Click here to see the full list of 1452 stocks from our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener.

Below we spotlight a couple of our favorites from our exclusive screener.

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: DNO ASA is an oil and gas company focused on the exploration, development, and production of assets in the Middle East, the North Sea, and West Africa, with a market capitalization of NOK 11.19 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily through its oil and gas activities, which amounted to $581.30 million.

Insider Ownership: 13.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 55.6% p.a.

DNO ASA, a growth company with significant insider ownership, recently announced a substantial gas condensate discovery in the Norwegian North Sea, indicating strong potential for near-term resource development. Despite this positive exploration outcome and strategic fixed-income offerings totaling US$800 million to strengthen its financial position, DNO faces challenges. The company reported a sharp decline in Q1 2024 earnings and production compared to the previous year. Moreover, while DNO's revenue is expected to grow annually by 10.5%, this rate is below high-growth benchmarks, and its return on equity in three years is forecasted at a modest 15.3%.

OB:DNO Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: Bethel Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd, operating in China, specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling brake system-related products for commercial vehicles with a market capitalization of CN23.05 billion.

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Operations: The company primarily generates revenue through the manufacturing and selling of automobile and related accessories, totaling CN7.83 billion.

Insider Ownership: 21.5%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 24.7% p.a.

Bethel Automotive Safety Systems, a company with high insider ownership, reported a robust increase in Q1 2024 earnings with sales reaching CNY 1.86 billion, up from CNY 1.50 billion year-over-year. The firm's net income also rose to CNY 209.92 million. Despite some shareholder dilution last year, Bethel is trading at 65.5% below its estimated fair value and analysts expect significant revenue and profit growth above market forecasts over the next three years, highlighting strong growth prospects despite a low forecasted return on equity of 18.8%.

SHSE:603596 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Simply Wall St Growth Rating: 

Overview: China Transinfo Technology Co., Ltd. operates in the transportation and IoT sectors with a market capitalization of approximately CN13.75 billion.

Operations: The company generates revenue primarily from its operations in the transportation and IoT sectors.

Insider Ownership: 17.2%

Earnings Growth Forecast: 34.3% p.a.

China Transinfo Technology, a firm with high insider ownership, recently affirmed dividends and amended its bylaws, signaling active governance. Despite a challenging Q1 2024 with a net loss of CNY 57.85 million from CNY 157.57 million net income year-over-year, the company's full-year earnings show recovery with significant growth in sales to CNY 7.79 billion. Analysts forecast robust annual earnings growth at 34.3%, outpacing the Chinese market's average, paired with a competitive P/E ratio of 42x against an industry average of 45.3x.

SZSE:002373 Ownership Breakdown as at Jul 2024

Key Takeaways

Reveal the 1452 hidden gems among our Fast Growing Companies With High Insider Ownership screener with a single click 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.

Take control of your financial future using Simply Wall St, offering free, in-depth knowledge of international markets to every investor.

Curious About Other Options?

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 OB:DNO SHSE:603596 and SZSE:002373.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Republicans are united around Donald Trump as their nominee, but where they are still divided is what to do about the 21% federal corporate tax rate if they control Washington next year.

Some are pushing for a corporate rate as low as 15%. Others have signaled a willingness to accept an increase up to 25%. Donald Trump's current position is notably right in the middle after he floated a 20% rate during a recent meeting with CEOs.

This emerging intra-party debate has only grown in urgency in recent days as the party sees the odds of a strong showing in November  perhaps even a GOP sweep  on the rise after Joe Biden's faltering recent debate performance.

The party is also preparing for its convention later this month where the tax issue is sure to be top of mind for many party leaders and donors.

It's a question that largely boils down to whether to make lower corporate rates a party priority versus other concerns. There may not be resolution for more than a year, but the different sides are staking out their positions now.

"Ultimately you want the rate as low as possible," said the Heritage Foundation's Richard Stern in a recent interview, arguing that the economic benefits of a cut outweigh the potential effects on America's exploding debt.

The larger issue within the party at the moment, he added, is whether the issue can be sold to voters.

"What you're looking at is people who are concerned with how popular cutting corporate taxes are going to be."

A wide-ranging debate

The concern over a backlash among voters is clearly an element behind commentary on the other side of the debate from some populist-minded Republicans.

Rep. Chip Roy is an influential House Republican who recently told Politico "there's a bubbling-up concern that we should not be doing the bidding of corporate America." He said he would be open to a corporate rate increase up to 25 percent if it helps pay for other priorities.

That point has been echoed by others, including powerful House Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Jason Smith. The Missouri Republican said previously that some Republicans may be able to find an alliance with Democrats on increasing corporate taxes.

Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Philadelphia on June 22. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JIM WATSON via Getty Images)

As for Democrats, they are much more unified on this issue. Biden has promised to try and raise the federal rate to 28% if he is re-elected. During an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos on Friday, Biden said a key goal of a second term would be to "straighten out" the tax system.

Key Democrats are also working to ensure that corporate taxes are front and center in 2025 as a way to lessen budget deficits and also make big businesses pay their "fair share."

Story continues

How this debate within the GOP and across Washington ultimately shakes out will of course be strongly shaped by the election results this November. A strong showing by Democrats  especially a win for Biden  is likely to take corporate tax cuts off the table entirely.

But the ongoing GOP debate demonstrates how even a Republican sweep of the White House, the Senate, and the House may not provide immediate clarity on the corporate tax landscape.

The larger tax debate in the offing is over a series of individual tax provisions signed into law by then-President Trump in 2017, many of which expire at the end of 2025.

That same law lowered the corporate rate to 21% from 35% but did so permanently. That means the 21% rate is not formally up for debate at the moment, but both Democrats and Republicans are eager to put it on the table.

If Republicans do well this November, party leaders are already discussing passing tax reform using a process call reconciliation, which would allow them to enact it without a single Democratic vote if they stay unified.

Input from the business world

The business community will also have its say in this debate.

The Business Roundtable, an association of top business executives, recently announced plans to spend more than $10 million to get the message out that tax reforms are needed for global competitiveness.

The groups wants, at the very least, to retain the current 21% rate.

"Any increase to that rate would immediately place the US rate near the top of nearly all corporate rates amongst other major economies," noted Procter & Gamble (PG) CEO Jon Moeller during a recent roundtable with reporters. The P&G boss is heading up tax issues for the group.

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) gestures during a hearing on Capitol Hill in June. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images)

The conversation around corporate taxes will happen in parallel with business tax provisions that will also be up for debate in 2025. These are incentives in the tax code for business activities like research and development as well as interest payments.

Many of those credits were also also signed into law in 2017, and many have already expired. Some package of new credits are widely expected to be part of next year's tax talks if they aren't addressed sooner.

The Heritage Foundation's Stern said that negotiations over tax levels could also bring in larger GOP concerns about the eagerness of corporate America to embrace social causes in recent years.

The larger charge among many in the party is that C-suites have often abandoned their fiduciary duty to shareholders, and that new regulations from Washington could limit their ability to take in things like environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into consideration.

Stern said he would like to see that issue addressed and "in some ways, the tax code is a place to enforce that."

It's a clear potential point of agreement across the party since Republicans of all stripes, including figures like Rep. Roy, often highlight what they call "woke capitalism."

Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

Click here for politics news related to business and money

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All India Kisan Sabha

36, Pt. Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane, New Delhi

kisansabha[at]gmail.com | 011-23782890

Press Release

3rd July, 2024, New Delhi

Arrest Order Against Medha Patkar a Travesty of Justice

AIKS Calls for Justice to Victims of Narmada Project

Expose Corporate Forces behind Suppression of Voice of Dissent

AIKS expresses deep concern and dismay at the punishment of 5 month imprisonment and Rs.10 lakh fine against Medha Patkar in a defamation case filed by the present Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena. The defamation case was filed in an Ahmedabad Court in 2001 and on the direction of the Supreme Court was transferred to Delhi.

VK Saxena, as an official of JK Cement and Adani group since 1990, had opposed the movement for rehabilitation of Adivasis, Dalits, Workers and Peasants of the 244 villages affected by the Narmada Dam. In 2000, Saxena had published an advertisement against Medha Patkar and Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) and motivated articles were published against her allegedly at his behest. He had also filed a PIL against her in the Supreme Court which had been dismissed with a comment that it is a Personal Interest Litigation and had been fined Rs. 5000. He is also allegedly an accused in a physical attack on her at a meeting at Sabarmati Ashram, which is a pending case since 2002.

It is a mockery of justice that a renowned social activist is punished on the basis of fabricated materials while the corporate forces succeed in misusing their power positions. AIKS extends solidarity with Medha Patkar and calls upon the people to expose the corporate forces and the BJP which together are suppressing the voices of people fighting for protecting the livelihood rights of the poor.

AIKS condemns the successive State and Union Governments for failing to ensure justice to the tens of thousands of victim families affected by the Narmada Project. Even after the Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013 was enacted by the 2nd UPA Government under the pressure of prolonged struggles unleashed by the farmers movement, the right of the farmers and rural workers in the Narmada Valley for compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement was not ensured by the BJP-led State Governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

AIKS strongly demands that the BJP led NDA Government provide justice for the victims of the Narmada Project by ensuring them employment and livelihood support through rehabilitation and resettlement.

Sd/-

Ashok Dhawale (President)

Sd/-

Vijoo Krishnan

General Secretary
Swedish healthcare technology company Sectra has announced that its public cloud service has been deployed at two hospitals in Belgium.

The installation comes after the two hospitals, AZ Sint Lucas and AZ Sint Jan, signed an initial contract with Sectra last year.

Sectra said it had worked closely alongside teams at the hospital to ensure a smooth transition between systems.

The hospitals in Bruges are now live with the companys cloud service, which is based on Microsoft Azure.

Sectra Benelux managing director Bart Thielen said: "Healthcare today needs to be able to cope with the increasing need for diagnostics and specialised care.

"Transitioning to the cloud is the first step for hospitals wanting to use new technology to cope with these challenges, as the service offers the needed scalability and security.

"Many hospitals also deal with staff shortages when it comes to qualified IT staff. I am very happy to offer a solution that will take away some of the stress and resources usually needed to manage the system."

AZ Sint Lucas and AZ Sint Jan decided to transition to cloud services to streamline their operations and improve workflow between the two sites.

Since 2021, the two hospitals staff, comprising 23 radiologists and nine trainees, have worked together in a unified association.

Before this, the hospitals were using two separate picture archiving and communication system (PACS) providers, which limited their ability to work together.

AZ Sint-Jan radiologist Dr Jesse Marrannes said: With an ageing population come increasing needs. We are already experiencing a lack of resources and a heavier workload.

With more and more exams to report on and a shortage of staff, our radiologists are having a hard time coping with the everyday workload.

A state-of-the-art communal PACS system could help streamline workflow and improve efficiency.

"Two hospitals in Belgium begin using Sectras Cloud-based medical imaging service" was originally created and published by Hospital Management, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Howden, a UK-based insurance broker, has forayed into the Japanese market with the launch of Howden Re Japan.

The new venture will offer reinsurance brokerage services and strategic advice to both life and non-life companies in Japan.

Kentaro Tada has been appointed as CEO of Howden Japan, tasked with driving the growth of Howdens operations across the country.

Tada has served in senior roles in the reinsurance industry, including as the president and CEO of Rakuten General Insurance Company and Guy Carpenter Japan, as well as the president and CEO of SBI SSI Holdings.

Howden Re Japan aims to leverage data, analytics and capital markets expertise to provide tailored reinsurance solutions.

In conjunction with this move, Howden has invested in Keystone, a Japanese company specialising in Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS) structuring and capital markets advisory services.

The demand for ILS services in Japan has surged due to the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and the resulting economic losses.

Additionally, there is a push to diversify capital sources and innovate in the reinsurance sector, Howden noted.

Howden CEO David Howden said: It is hugely exciting moment for us as we enter the Japanese market, bringing a fresh, dynamic and entrepreneurial mindset underpinned by an employee ownership model that means we are driven to achieve more, collaborating across borders and specialisms to deliver for clients.

This approach to client service and a commitment to long-term business relationships means we have many shared values with Japans corporate culture.

Tada added: "This is the first step on a journey to establish Howdens long-term presence in Japan. As a company, Howden is dedicated to improving disaster resilience and corporate sustainability, and Japan, as a country that faces significant risks from large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons, can benefit greatly from the specialist global expertise we bring.

Japans risk environment is becoming ever more complex to navigate, with cyberattacks and geopolitical tensions also of concern to both domestic and multinational companies with operations in the country.

Earlier this week, Howden signed an agreement for the acquisition of AGEO brokerage group, an employee benefits insurance broker based in Paris.

Founded in 1984 by Eric and Maryse Oziebala, AGEO caters to around 12,000 corporate and small and medium business clients with a team of 300 across 32 offices in France.

Besides employee benefits, AGEO's expertise spans health insurance, policy administration, claims management, retirement and pensions services, and boutique property and casualty capabilities.

Story continues

"UK insurance broker Howden expands into Japan " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Union of Arab Banks recognizes Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd for his influential role in sustainable development and financial innovation.

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / July 4, 2024 / The United Nations headquarters hosted a conference on "Challenges of Achieving Sustainable Development Goals" in Geneva. It took place in the presence of a large number of key financial and banking experts, as well as some representatives of international organizations. In the same event, the Union of Arab Banks honored Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd for his influential role in sustainable development and financial innovation.

Dr. Ziad Khalaf Abd is a member of the Board of Directors of the Union of Arab Banks and also the chairman of IDB (International Development Bank), an institution established in 2011 that has grown to become one of the major banks in Iraq, providing pioneering services for people and companies. Moreover, it has been able to gain a massive share of the market in Iraq, especially in commercial financing, card issuance, and comprehensive banking operations.

This puts the bank on the Arab and international forefronts. It binds efforts made by Dr. Ziad in his commitment to providing financial solutions supportive of sustainable growth and exploiting new investment and trade opportunities in a bid to boost relations between Iraq and the rest of the world.

At the end of this highly specialized two-day congress, the honorary shield was handed to Dr. Ziad by Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Banks. Prominent among the participants were Dr. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ESCWA; Marion Honecker, Head of Financial Inclusion and Expansion Management at the European Investment Bank; and Michel Detlevsen, Innovative Financing Head at UNIDO and UNCTAD.

In his speech, Dr. Ziad in particular put forward the need for financial infrastructure improvement in the Arab region and support for financial and investment innovations oriented towards sustainable development. He did not fail to mention that cooperation, if united, can lead to building a better future for present and future generations after so much instability and conflict that has happened in the region.

He pointed out the serious consideration of how to achieve growth in countries that have all the elements of success, where ambition intersects with capital. Now, the whole world passes through difficult transformations that can be addressed by market systems. Much emphasis has been placed on strategic investments to connect the Gulf region to Europe through the International Development Road project, which creates free trade agreements that enhance prosperity.

Story continues

Dr. Ziad concluded that economic growth can be achieved through the empowering of entrepreneurs, enhancing the bond through partnerships and collaboration, heavy investment in research and development, and enhancing human resources.

Media Contact:

Name: Ahmed Mansur

Email: ahmed@nmeeventsmedia.com

Website: www.nmeeventsmedia.com/

Company Name: NME MEDIA LLC

SOURCE: NME MEDIA LLC





View the original press release on accesswire.com




Shutterstock.com

Generations of movie stars, athletes, royals, millionaires and billionaires have flocked to the Maldives for the South Asian island chains perfect year-round weather, private islands, luxury resorts, exclusive villas and discreet privacy.

But if youre not dodging the paparazzi  or if an ultra-luxe A-Lister vacation just isnt in your budget  you can get much of the Maldives experience elsewhere for less.

Discover More: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper

Check Out: 3 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

GOBankingRates spoke with two travel experts who specialize in South Asia, and they shared their favorite alternative locations where ordinary travelers can live nearly as large for a fraction of the price.

These destinations have breathtaking landscapes, exceptional facilities and exclusive experiences at costs far less than what it would take to travel to the Maldives, said Mohd Rizwan, director of Travelosei, which curates custom luxury tours, safaris, adventures and vacations in South Asia. It is therefore cheaper in terms of accommodations, food and activities, making these places great alternatives for an extravagant yet affordable trip.

All average vacation cost estimates come from Budget Your Trip and include meals, local transportation, sightseeing and hotels, compared to $4,200 for the Maldives.

Also see luxury vacations that are not worth it for the middle class.

Koh Lipe, Thailand

Two people for one week average cost: $1,187

Thailand is about 2,000 miles from the Maldives, yet one of the countrys primest spots could trick celebrities into thinking they landed at their favorite haunt  until they get the bill.

Known as the Maldives of Thailand, Koh Lipe is famous for its stunning clear blue seas and white sandy beaches, Rizwan said. Nightly rates range from $50 to $300, which is a much cheaper option when compared to Maldives.

Find More: 10 Best US Vacation Destinations for Retirees on a Budget

Phuket, Thailand

Two people for one week average cost: $1,466

Phuket is typically packed with more tourists than Koh Lipe, but tourists flock there for a reason  the picture-perfect white-sand coastline and an exclusive vibe reminiscent of the Maldives.

The beaches on this island are amazing and its nightlife is vibrant, Rizwan said. You can get luxury resorts starting at around $150 per night, with gourmet meals costing between $20 and $70.

Boracay Island, Philippines

Two people for one week average cost: $751

Farther east than Thailand, the Philippines are about 3,400 miles away from the Maldives, but the scenery makes you feel like youre right next door  on one island, in particular.

Story continues

The crystal-clear water on Boracay Island is another good choice, Rizwan said. Some budget accommodations can be found from $30 per night while luxury resorts can be between $150 and $300 per night.

Palawan, Philippines

Two people for one week average cost: N/A

Boracay is an excellent alternative  but in a nation of more than 7,600 islands, its hardly the Philippines only tropical copycat.

There are several places where you can experience a Maldives-like vacation at a fraction of the cost, said Magical Nepal co-founder Pradeep Guragain, a travel expert whose regional insight has been featured in publications like National Geographic. I once stayed in the Philippines, in Palawan, specifically, for about $100 per night at a beachfront resort. The cost of food and activities was also very affordable, with a meal costing around $5 to $10.

Gili Islands, Indonesia

Two people for one week average cost: $492

Lonely Planet calls the Gili Islands a vision of paradise  floating in a turquoise sea and fringed by white sand and coconut palms.

Postcards of it and the Maldives are virtually interchangeable.

Another option is the Gili Islands in Indonesia, where accommodation can be found for as low as $50 per night, Guragain said. These destinations offer stunning beaches, clear waters and luxurious yet affordable accommodations, making them great alternatives to the Maldives.

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Two people for one week average cost: $710

To the Maldives southwest is the stunning eastern coast of Africa, where a clone utopia awaits.

Zanzibar has unspoiled beaches and a rich cultural heritage that you expect in a tropical paradise, Rizwan said. Prices range between $50 and $400 per night, so there are accommodations both for luxury travelers or those who are on a budget.

Mauritius

Two people for one week average cost: N/A

Mauritius is an Indian Ocean island nation known for lush rainforests, vibrant reefs, biodiversity and beaches, just like the Maldives  only here you get luxury for less.

Mauritius boasts crystal-clear waters and high-end resorts, Rizwan said. It will cost you around $250 to spend the night in a luxury room, whereas eating out at some of the select establishments will set you back roughly between $30 and $80.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Vacation Like the Rich in 7 Places That Feel Like the Maldives
For many investors, the main point of stock picking is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But its virtually certain that sometimes you will buy stocks that fall short of the market average returns. Unfortunately, that's been the case for longer term The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) shareholders, since the share price is down 43% in the last three years, falling well short of the market return of around 20%. Furthermore, it's down 16% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders.

With the stock having lost 3.5% in the past week, it's worth taking a look at business performance and seeing if there's any red flags.

See our latest analysis for Walt Disney

There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price.

During five years of share price growth, Walt Disney moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. So it's worth looking at other metrics to try to understand the share price move.

The modest 0.9% dividend yield is unlikely to be guiding the market view of the stock. We note that, in three years, revenue has actually grown at a 13% annual rate, so that doesn't seem to be a reason to sell shares. This analysis is just perfunctory, but it might be worth researching Walt Disney more closely, as sometimes stocks fall unfairly. This could present an opportunity.

You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. If you are thinking of buying or selling Walt Disney stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.

A Different Perspective

Walt Disney shareholders gained a total return of 10% during the year. Unfortunately this falls short of the market return. But at least that's still a gain! Over five years the TSR has been a reduction of 5% per year, over five years. So this might be a sign the business has turned its fortunes around. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should be aware of the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Walt Disney .

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of undervalued small cap companies that insiders are buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on American exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com
Westland Insurance has announced the acquisition of Excel Insurance Lloydminster and M. Butler Insurance, marking a significant expansion into new communities within Canada.

The acquisitions, effective 24 June, are part of Westland's strategy to extend its reach across the country.

Excel Insurance Lloydminster, a property and casualty (P&C) brokerage in Lloydminster, Alberta, has been operating for nearly two decades.

With a robust client base and established partnerships with leading insurance providers, the acquisition of Excel Insurance not only strengthens its presence in Alberta but also opens doors to a new market, stated Westland Insurance.

M. Butler Insurance operates as an independent, full-service P&C brokerage in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

Westland Insurance president and CEO Jamie Lyons stated: It is my absolute pleasure to welcome Excel Lloydminster and M. Butler Insurance to Westland.

These acquisitions align perfectly with our growth strategy and allow us to expand our reach in Alberta and Ontario, as they share our commitment to provide exceptional service and customised solutions to clients. We look forward to partnering with them as we journey to become Canadas favourite insurance broker."

The strategy for growth at Westland Insurance includes both organic development and strategic acquisitions.

With a portfolio exceeding $3.5bn (C$4.77bn) in premiums, Westland Insurance Group offers a wide range of advisory-based services across various insurance segments including commercial, personal, employee benefits, farm and specialty.

This announcement follows the recent acquisition of Dupuis Langen Group, a company specialising in employee benefits solutions. Earlier in the year, Westland Insurance also acquired Dyberg Insurance and Prairie Villa Insurance, bolstering its presence in Northern Alberta.

"Westland Insurance acquires Excel Insurance Lloydminster and M. Butler Insurance" was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
The federal appeals court based in Colorado agreed last week that police officers from Littleton, Englewood and Denver cannot be held liable for killing one person and partially paralyzing another because the plaintiffs' lawyer failed to cite any facts of the case while appealing a trial judge's decision.
The Democratic lawmaker seeking reelection in Colorado's most closely divided congressional district on Tuesday said it's up to the voters to decide whether President Joe Biden can win in November and serve four more years in the White House.
At the invitation of Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh will pay an official visit to China from July 8 to 10.



CCTV: President Xi Jinping was on a state visit to Kazakhstan yesterday. Can you share more details?



Mao Ning: At the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Kazakhstan from July 2 to 3. This is President Xi Jinpings fifth visit to Kazakhstan and the first visit to Central Asia by Chinas top leader after the 20th CPC National Congress. This visit bears historic significance.

Kazakhstan attached great importance to the visit. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev personally greeted President Xi Jinping at the airport and hosted a dinner for him at the presidents residence. The two presidents held official talks for an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas and international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two presidents also jointly met the press, attended the welcoming banquet, attended the launch of the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express via video link, and witnessed the unveiling of the plaques of the Chinese Culture Center in Astana, the Kazakh Culture Center in Beijing, and the Kazakhstan Branch of Beijing Language and Culture University.

President Xis visit had a rich program and produced fruitful results. It marked yet another milestone in the history of China-Kazakhstan relations. First, political mutual trust reached a new height. The two presidents signed and issued a joint statement, reaffirming continued firm support to each other on issues concerning the two countries respective core interests. Second, practical cooperation received new impetus. The two sides agreed to seek greater synergy between Belt and Road cooperation and the economic policies under a Just Kazakhstan, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on all fronts. Third, new outcomes were achieved in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. China will set up the second Luban Workshop in Kazakhstan and hold China tourism year activities in Kazakhstan next year. Fourth, coordination on international affairs has been further substantiated. The two sides agreed to have close cooperation under multilateral frameworks, actively implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

China will work with Kazakhstan to deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, upgrade cooperation across the board, and jointly usher in a brighter future for China-Kazakhstan relations.

AFP: AFP learned from local sources that a militia attack on a mining site in the Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo killed about four Chinese nationals. Can you confirm this and provide more details?



Mao Ning: On July 3, an armed attack on a private Chinese company in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) left several Chinese nationals dead or missing. China strongly condemns the attack. We are in close touch with the DRC. An all-out search effort is underway for the missing Chinese nationals. We ask the DRC to hunt down the perpetrators and bring them to justice as soon as possible, and take concrete and effective measures to better protect the safety and security of Chinese nationals and companies in the DRC.

The northeastern part of the DRC has long suffered a poor security situation. The Foreign Ministry has issued multiple security alerts. We once again remind our fellow Chinese nationals to closely follow the Foreign Ministrys security alerts and act accordingly, not to travel to high-risk areas, and to leave those areas as quickly as possible if they are already there.

Bloomberg: The Philippines is demanding PH 60 million (about US$ 1 million) in damages from China following the confrontation recently in the South China Sea. This is from the nations military chief. That figure is just for the property damage. It doesnt yet cover the injury to the sailor. Does China want to comment on this? Would it pay?



Mao Ning: The Philippine vessels were carrying out an illegal resupply mission which violated Chinas territorial waters and staging a provocation when stopped by China Coast Guard, who acted lawfully and rightfully to defend Chinas sovereignty. The Philippine side should face the consequences of its own action.

Hubei Media Group: To follow up on your announcement of Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas visit, could you share with us the program and Chinas expectation for the visit? How does China view the current China-Bangladesh relations?



Mao Ning: This will be Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas first visit to China since her new term began and five years after her last visit to China. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Premier Li Qiang will hold a welcoming ceremony and have talks with her. The two prime ministers will attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Leaders of the two countries will have an in-depth exchange of views on how to deepen traditional friendship and expand mutually beneficial cooperation and on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister Hasina will also attend the Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities between China and Bangladesh.

China and Bangladesh are good neighbors, good friends and good partners. We have similar visions for development and well-aligned development strategies. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 49 years ago, the two countries have treated each other with respect and equality, engaged in mutually beneficial cooperation, supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests, and jointly advanced modernization. We have set a good example of friendship and cooperation between developing countries. In recent years, with the strategic guidance and commitment of leaders of our two countries, the two sides have deepened China-Bangladesh strategic cooperative partnership, and had fruitful and practical cooperation in various fields. China stands ready to work with Bangladesh through this visit to carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen political mutual trust, further synergize development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and elevate our bilateral relations to a new level.

Bloomberg: China and India have agreed to hold diplomatic talks to resolve a longstanding border dispute. This agreement apparently came when the foreign ministers of the two nations met in Kazakhstan. Do you have any more information to add on that?



Mao Ning: We will soon release information on the meeting between the Chinese and Indian foreign ministers. Please stay tuned.

Reuters: Philippine Senator Imee Marcos in the video on TikTok and Facebook said China has taken 25 targets around the Philippine archipelago and that it would attack it with hypersonic missiles. How does China respond to this?



Mao Ning: Im not sure what the Philippine sides source was, but I can tell you that China is committed to peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and China does not pose a threat to any country. That said, we will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat.

We urge relevant country to listen to the concerns its people have and the call from other countries in the region, bear in mind the fundamental interests of its own people, stay independent, uphold good-neighborliness and friendship, earnestly respect other countries security concerns, and act to keep the region peaceful and stable.

PTI: Foreign Ministers of India and China met in Astana today. Are there any details that you can share with us on this?



Mao Ning: Again, I would refer you to our readout to be released soon.

The Paper: Recently, foreign vloggers in China created a meme city or not city and so city and it went viral on social media and got reposted and shared by Chinese and foreign net users. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: I myself have also just learned this new usage of the word. Its great to see foreign friends enjoy the lovely scenery and delicacies that China has to offer, and experience the vibrancy of China as it is.

As China eases its entry policy, traveling to China has become simpler for foreign tourists. In the first five months of this year, China received over 12 million foreign travelers, over 7 million of whom enjoyed visa-free entry. During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the number of inbound and outbound travels by foreign nationals grew by 57 percent year-on-year.

We will take more steps to make travel simpler and more enjoyable for foreign friends. Chinas always ready to welcome friends from around the world with open arms.

AFP: On July 3, the German government invoked national security concerns to block the sale of Volkswagens gas turbine business to a Chinese company. Whats your comment?



Mao Ning: China and Germany are each others important trade partners. There is every reason for our two countries to increase trade and economic cooperation in the spirit of mutual benefit and in line with market rules, which serves both countries interests. China opposes turning normal business cooperation into political and security issues and creating hurdles for such cooperation. We hope Germany will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for companies from China and elsewhere in the world.

Reuters: Philippine armed forces chief has demanded the return of seven guns seized by China in the South China Sea. Has China received any communication from the Philippines of the return of these weapons?



Mao Ning: I am not familiar with the specifics, but what I can tell you is that the Philippines illegally intruded the waters of Renai Jiao in Chinas Nansha Qundao and seriously violated Chinas sovereignty. China Coast Guard responded with law enforcement measures that are fully legitimate, justified and lawful. We urge the Philippines to stop the infringement activities and provocations, and return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation.
The man found guilty of causing the death of Fountain Police Officer Julian Becerra was found to be a habitual criminal by an El Paso County judge on Wednesday, potentially leading to his sentence being quadrupled.

Devon Bobian, 32, was found guilty at a jury trial in May on eight charges for leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a chase throughout El Paso County that resulted in Becerras death. The charges included second-degree murder, aggravated robbery and felony menacing.

Bobian appeared in court Wednesday for a habitual-criminal trial, where Judge Chad Miller was tasked with determining if Bobians previous felony convictions in Colorado made him eligible to be sentenced as a habitual criminal.

Any defendant in Colorado convicted of a crime with at least three previous felony convictions can be considered a habitual criminal and see their maximum sentence quadrupled.

The maximum sentence for anyone convicted of a Class 2 felony, the high charge faced by Bobian, is 48 years in state prison. If Bobian is found to be a habitual criminal, he could face up to 192 years.

Prosecutor Jeffrey Harwood called investigator Cecil Weir with the 4th Judicial District Attorneys Office to testify that Bobian had been convicted of four felonies in the state of Colorado.

Weir confirmed that Bobian had been sentenced on four felonies before being found guilty in the homicide case: robbery in 2013, controlled substance possession with the intent to distribute in 2017, and two weapon possession-by-a-previous-offender cases in 2022. All four convictions took place in Pueblo County.

According to court records, Bobian was sentenced to six years in prison after pleading guilty to robbery, and three years for pleading guilty to controlled-substance possession with the intent to distribute. The pair of 18-month sentences received by Bobian for pleading guilty to the two weapon-possession cases remain active, according to records from the Department of Corrections.

In addition to the four felony convictions, Bobian has two misdemeanor convictions in Colorado. Court records show Bobian was sentenced to one year in jail in 2017 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault and 120 days in jail for pleading guilty to unauthorized absence in 2023. Misdemeanor convictions, however, do not contribute to a habitual-criminal sentence enhancement.

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Weir explained during his testimony that he confirmed without a doubt that it was Bobian who was convicted on all four of the previously mentioned felony cases by using name, booking photos and fingerprint matching.

After Weirs testimony, Miller ruled that the prosecution had met its burden on all four habitual-criminal counts. Whether Bobian can be sentenced as a habitual criminal, though, will be determined at a proportionality review hearing set for Sept. 13.

At that hearing, Miller will determine if Bobians potential sentence as a habitual offender would be disproportionate to the convicted charge.

At a habitual-criminal hearing for Joel Hollendorfer, who was found guilty of manslaughter in 2023 for killing Kara Nichols in 2012, Judge William Bain stated that it is very rare for a judge to find a habitual-criminal sentence to be disproportionate to the convicted charge. Hollendorfer was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

After Bobians proportionality review hearing, a final sentencing hearing will be set. Harwood told the court he expects a significant number of people will want to speak at the hearing.

The two co-defendants who were in the car with Bobian at the time of the incident have been sentenced for their involvement in the case.

Last year, Anthony Vallejos was sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to one count of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, a Class 3 felony, for his involvement.

This year, Daniesha Pacheco was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to an amended count of aggravated robbery with a violent crime sentence enhancer.
The Colorado Springs Police Department arrested a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old who are believed to be connected to a local gang Tuesday evening.

The arrests are related to continuing investigations launched by CSPD's Strategic Investigations Unit that started early this year. The investigation is looking into people who have ties to a local gang for violent and firearm-related offenses.

Around 5:30 p.m., CSPD's Tactical Enforcement Unit served a search warrant for unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds in the 2100 block of Delta Drive to the 15-year-old suspect.

Before serving the second warrant in the 1000 block of East Rio Grande Street, the 14-year-old suspect was seen exiting the residence on foot.

When police made contact, the suspect produced a handgun and ran away but was caught soon after. The handgun, which the suspect threw into a yard before being caught, was discovered to be stolen during a burglary in 2023, police said.

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Both suspects are being held in the Zeb Pike Juvenile Detention Facility and will not be identified because of their age.

The 15-year-old suspect is involved in multiple other investigations with charges that include motor vehicle theft, menacing-protection-order violations and handgun possession.

The 14-year-old suspect is facing charges for motor vehicle theft, menacing and handgun possession.
One man remains hospitalized with a long road to recovery, while two others are wanted by Palmer Lake police after a recent hit-and-run crash involving a motorcycle.

On June 23 around 8 p.m., Nathan Mitchem, a 33-year-old father and husband, was driving his motorcycle on Colorado 105 between Palmer Lake and Monument when he was struck by a pickup truck and thrown from his motorcycle, police said.

Police identified the driver allegedly responsible as Brent Gilmer, a resident of Palmer Lake. Gilmer and another occupant, an unnamed person of interest, fled the scene on foot, police said.

Multiple posts on Facebook under the name of Brent D. Gilmer claim that he is innocent. "Law enforcement should already have all the evidence to know damn well I didn't do it," Gilmer said in a post.

"If he truly is innocent of the accusations made against him, then he holds vital information that the PLPD needs in order to ensure proper justice for the victim and his family," Palmer Lake police said.

Gilmer is wanted on charges of vehicular assault and reckless driving, police said.

"How can somebody have just run over a human being and not even think twice about it and just take off?" Tareja Mitchem, Nathan's wife, said.

Susan Coleman was a few cars behind the truck that hit Nathan Mitchem. As she was driving up the hill, she saw pieces of the motorcycle fly across the street, and then she saw him face down on the ground, helmet still on, and a group of people around him.

"He's a very very lucky man," Coleman said. "With just how the bike was and how much pain he was in, I didn't expect him to survive."

Coleman said a group of six to eight people, including she and her son, helped stabilize Mitchem until medics arrived.

"It wasn't just one person that was a hero that day. Everyone who stopped was. It was a unified circle," she said.

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Tareja Mitchem said that Nathan told her of being under the truck at one point.

He told me he was laying there, and he was just thinking am I ever going to see my kids again? she said.

Tareja Mitchem was notified of the crash about two hours after it happened. She rushed to the emergency room to find her husband with cuts, bruises and road rash .

The doctor told her that his neck, back and right cheek bone were fractured and that his ACL was torn. The surgeon said it was 'essentially a miracle that Nathan avoided more damage to his leg and that he avoided amputation.

Tareja was told the reason Nathan survived was because he was wearing his helmet, which can be seen in pictures with a very deep crack. Another thing short of a miracle was that he suffered no concussion, she said.

Nathan's recovery is expected to take at least a year, and there are concerns about the road ahead  especially over his leg injury, Tareja said.

Nathan is worried about his knee and if he will have full feeling in his foot or if he will have to wear a permanent brace.

Nathan's health isn't the only concern for the Mitchem family, which includes two young children.

Nathan has been the driving force behind their business Blue Spruce Mercantile, a liquidation and retail store in northern Colorado Springs, since it opened late last year. Much of his work requires him to unload pallets of heavy product, Tareja said.

The Mitchems are also without health insurance.

While the circumstances are dire, the Mitchem are receiving support from their faith community as well as through contributions on a GoFundMe page, which has seen nearly 200 donations.
During Independence Day weekend, in Colorado and across the U.S., people are expected to hit airports and roadways at a pace that hasnt been seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to travel industry officials.

More than 70 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from their homes, outpacing last years numbers by about 3.5 million people, said AAA spokesman Skyler McKinley.

(This) is the year of travel, surpassing 2019s numbers and some records that are nearly two decades old, McKinley said.

Many Coloradans are expected to take advantage of gas prices  $3.35 per gallon on average  that are about 15 cents below the national average, McKinley said. During last years holiday weekend, the Colorado average was $3.75 per gallon.

The good news is that robust travel figures speak to the strength of the American economy, McKinley said.

The bad news is that, with 3.5 million more travelers than last year, there will be more people on roadways, lined up at airport security, and visiting state parks, lakes, major American cities and more.

Colorado Springs Airport officials expect more than 19,000 people to board planes between Wednesday and Sunday, with more than 38,000 passengers traveling through the airport.

This is on par with what our projections were for Memorial Day, said airport spokeswoman Dana Schield.

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Increased road traffic means an increased potential for crashes, Colorado Department of Transportation officials said. Last July was Colorados deadliest month of the year, with 91 motorists killed statewide. Suspected impaired drivers were involved in 24 of those deaths, CDOT said.

Colorado State Patrol and 66 other law enforcement officers will conduct a statewide DUI enforcement effort, dubbed The Heat is On, through Monday, officials said. The initiative will include saturation patrols, sobriety checkpoints and an increased law enforcement presence on roads and highways across the state, officials said.

If youll be consuming alcohol or cannabis this Fourth of July weekend, leave the keys behind, said Col. Matthew Packard, who heads the State Patrol. Make a plan to get home safely and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Fourth of July weekend is also typically one of the busiest periods of the year for the Pikes Peak Highway, as residents and visitors seek to drive to the top of Americas Mountain.

Summer weekends are busy at the Pikes Peak Highway, and holiday weekends are especially busy, said U.S. Forest Service representative Stephen Blackman.

This is probably going to be our busiest week.

Motorists hoping to drive the 19-mile mountain roadway are encouraged to make a reservation at www.pikes-peak.com.

Not everybody is guaranteed a chance to go up there if they just show up, Blackman said.
Patriotism is alive and well in Colorado Springs with the Fourth of July holiday sparking a sense of American pride within the community. The Gazette spent the day before the holiday asking dozens of citizens what it means for them to be an American and why they are proud to live here, receiving a wide variety of answers.

Here are some of the community's responses to "What does it mean to be an American?"

"I came over here on a dream. I came to America with three suitcases, no house, no car, no job, no bank account. So to be an American citizen, for me, means security. I can stay here, but it also means now I can vote because you can only vote as a citizen. It probably doesn't sound like a lot, but to be able to have a say in the country I live in and contribute meaningfully, that was the number one reason I got citizenship." - Tanya Conole, 48, dual citizenship with Australia and the U.S. since August 2022.

"Before entering the military, I didn't really know what it meant, but once you're put into the perspective of what you're fighting for, and the challenges that you can face, I realized that being an American is the proudest thing I can be." - Natalie Barclay, 27, current member of the U.S. Air Force.

"It means that I'm part of a country that celebrates diversity and inclusion and freedom and liberty and all of these values that were established by our Founding Fathers but have been ingrained and reinforced and supported and defended for 200-plus years since then. I'm proud to be an American." - Matthew Raj, 24, visiting Colorado Springs from Louisville, Ky.

"What it means to be an American to me to live in a land where freedom is the most important right that we have earned and has been protected by a whole bunch of people that came before me, including people in my family that I am super proud of." - Tony Black, 43, currently residing in Colorado Springs.

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"I think it means having pride in your country, believing in freedom and believing in constitution. (Being in the military) has given me more pride in my country and its made me want to make this country a better place for my future and my children." - Evan Felgenhauer, 20, current member of the U.S. Army.

"I'm a service member and I was in the military for eight years, so it's about the dream that you could become anything you want to be. That's what America means. For my daughters, it means they can become everything they want to be." - Randy King, 52, retired member of the U.S. Army.

"It means I can do what I want when I want. (It means) caring about other people but also caring about myself and advancing my own future." - Samuel Jamison, 25.

"What it means to me is the freedom to choose to be and act the way that you would like to. I think a big part of being an American is also being able to explore yourself fully in terms of your words and the actions that you take throughout life without feeling of being scrutinized by others." - James Elder, 29.

"We have a huge diverse nation. We can travel without papers and travel amongst the country. We have every climate in the world here in the United States. I think every other country in the world has touched on the United States and the cultures and the foods and the dialects and cultures are reflected throughout. We have the freedom to learn, while other countries don't have the freedom to even express themselves. - Perry Mose, 68.

"I think we're still the greatest country in the world. Even though we're having a little bit of issues with the whole divide between Republicans and Democrats and liberals versus conservatives, we're still the best country, we just need to come together." - Brad Sprague, 54, visiting Colorado Springs from Illinois.
Nashville Pro-Life Rescuer's Sentenced: 0 - 6 Months Prison Time

Tennessee Sentences Confirm Washington D.C. Corruption



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Operation Rescue

July 3, 2024



NASHVILLE, July 3, 2024 /Standard Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, Paul Vaughn, father of 11 children, was sentenced for his involvement in a peaceful protest at Carafem, an abortion clinic in a suburb of Nashville, in March 2021. Vaughn was given no prison time. Instead, he was sentenced to six months of house arrest and three years of supervised probation, along with simple court costs of $125.



The Biden Administration's Department of Justice (DOJ) has been viciously attacking compassionate men and women across the country who have peacefully protested the murder of innocent children.



"The case involving Vaughn is one of the strongest examples of this federal abuse of power," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. On the morning of October 5, 2022, more than a year after the Nashville protest, the FBI raided Vaughn's Tennessee home while he was preparing to drive his children to school. Officers banged on his door with guns drawn, yelling and screaming, "Open up! FBI!" then pointing the guns directly at Vaughn when he opened the door  all while his children were walking across the yard toward the car.



Three more pro-life heroes involved in the same peaceful gathering were sentenced on Wednesday:

Coleman Boyd received six months house arrest and three years probation.



Dennis Green also received six months house arrest and three years probation.



Cal Zastrow received six months in federal prison, three years of probation (including six months of house arrest). He has several months to turn himself in because of other pending court dates.

Zastrow shouted "Worthy is the Lamb" as he received his sentence.



All the defendants initially faced the possibility of 10  years in federal prison and fines of up to $260,000 for charges of violating the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act and engaging in a "Conspiracy Against Rights."



"Again, those who commit to saving babies from death are willing to pay a heavy price," said Newman. "And every child is worth it. For these rescuers, their families, and pro-lifers across the country who have been praying for justice, today's sentences are a huge relief," said Newman. "These men and their families have already endured so much as a result of their heroic defense of innocent, human children."



The charges were identical to those filed by Biden's DOJ against other pro-lifers who received egregious prison sentences, ranging from just under two years to nearly five years, for peacefully protesting at the notorious late-term Washington Surgi-Clinic, in Washington D.C.



Newman added, "This stark contrast in sentencing reveals what we already knew, an incredible degree of corruption and abuse of the judicial system is present in our nation's capital."



These new sentences that exclude prison time were handed down in Nashville by federal judge, Aleta Trauger, while the unjust sentences of up to nearly five years in federal prison were imposed by Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, a federal judge in Washington, D.C.



Also awaiting sentencing for the same Nashville protest are Chet Gallagher, Eva Edyl, Heather Idoni, Paul Place, Eva Zastrow, and James Zastrow. "Please continue to pray for justice for these compassionate men and women who decisively speak up for vulnerable, innocent children being led to the slaughter," Newman implored. "And remember to write to the rescuers currently incarcerated. Their contact information is available on our webpage, Prisoners of Christ."



Click HERE to view this release on the Operation Rescue website.



Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the U.S. Our goal is to expose abortion abuses, demand enforcement, save innocent lives, and build an Abortion-Free America.



Click here to support Operation Rescue.



SOURCE Operation Rescue



CONTACT: Troy Newman, President, 316-683-6790 ext. 111;

Anne Reed, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-683-6790




Wanna see F-16s flying overhead on July 4th?

The Colorado Air National Guard is performing fighter jet flyovers over a large part of the state Thursday to celebrate Independence Day.

The 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National Guard will conduct flyovers above Lake City, Silverton, Rico, Telluride, Redstone, Granby, Greeley and Firestone.

Our nations independence is again celebrated by the triumphant sound of freedom from the mighty F-16 Viper, 140th Wing Commander U.S. Air Force Col. Jeremiah Weed Tucker said. These flyovers are symbolic of the ever-vigilant defense provided by the Colorado Air National Guard. Were reminded of this as our aircraft thunder through the skies of Colorado as watchful guardians and defenders of state and nation.

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The F-16C Vipers will takeoff at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora Thursday morning and fly between 10 a.m. and noon.

The aircraft will perform flyovers in the following locations:

10:45 a.m. - Lake City

10:50 a.m. - Silverton

10:53 a.m. - Rico

11 a.m. - Telluride

11:12 a.m. - Redstone

11:24 a.m. - Granby

11:35 a.m. - Greeley

11:38 a.m. - Firestone

Flyover times are estimates and could also be cancelled due to weather. The aircraft may also be seen between these locations as they transition between Independence Day celebrations.
One man is dead and a Yellowstone National Park ranger injured following a gun battle Thursday morning at Canyon Village, according to park officials. The identity of the deceased was not released.

The incident began Wednesday night and ended Thursday morning, July 4, at the popular resort complex south of Tower Falls in the central part of the park in Wyoming and an hour northeast of Old Faithful. Early witness reports indicate that the shooter was said to have been bothering women who work at Canyon Village.

Rangers responded to a report of an individual with a firearm who was making threats. When rangers contacted the suspect there was an exchange of gunfire between him and law enforcement rangers. The suspect was killed.

Yellowstone National Park Public Affairs email indicated that there was no threat to the public.

FBI spokesperson Vikki Migoya wrote in an email that the FBI is assisting the National Park Service with the ongoing investigation.

Statistics compiled by Backpacker.com indicate that between 2007 and 2023 there were 38 homicides in Americas national parks. About 243 people also die annually by drowning, from falls and in motor vehicle crashes.
Greg Fulton is the president of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association, which represents over 600 companies directly involved in, and affiliated with trucking in Colorado.
Bam! It happened.

A bomb Charles Lewis was dropping from his F-4 over North Vietnam exploded under his plane.

We saw the flash of light, felt the push on the aircraft, heard the noise and saw about one-third of our right wing being blown in pieces, up and slightly to the left.

Immediately, Jack Kelley, the systems operator in the back seat yelled punch out! and ejected. Lewis hesitated, checking to see if he could still fly the plane. The instrument panel was shaking so badly he couldnt read anything. So he ejected at about 20,500 feet.

A smaller parachute opened first, slowing and stabilizing the ejection seat. About 15,000 feet, the seat belt released, he was pushed away from the seat, and a larger parachute released.

Below him, he could see his airplane spinning, the tail was gone, and the plane was on fire near the engines.

He fell for about 20 minutes and, on the way down, he radioed 1st Lt. Tom Moe, the systems operator in the other F-4 on the mission. Lewis had been flying behind and a bit to the side of Moes plane and believes it was damaged by the same bomb, but not as badly. It flew a bit farther before the two member crew ejected  all details Lewis would learn later.

After his quick radio call, Lewis passed through the clouds and then crashed through the trees. His parachute caught in the branches, and his survival kit that was tied to his harness wedged into two branches.

There I was, hanging in a parachute harness over a hundred feet above the ground, and I could hardly move.

He knew before he reached the tree, a faulty electric FMU-35 fuze had detonated his bomb. The fuzes had been under suspicion after other pilots went down a few months prior in 1967. The fuzes were cleared for use after a review, but the pilots were still advised to pull up sharply before they dropped their bombs.

We were killing more of our people than the enemy was killing, he said.

Looking back

A retired Air Force major and longtime Colorado Springs resident, Lewis, shared his story with The Gazette in mostly written form as part of an intermittent series to mark 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War: a messy conflict with an fuzzy beginning and end. Some mark the end with the withdrawal of troops in 1973 and others with the fall of Saigon in 1975.

For Lewis, his time as a fighter pilot was about getting his job done. He regrets that the U.S. did not complete the mission and stop the communists from taking South Vietnam.

The politicians were too much involved and put too many restrictions on what the fighting people were supposed to do, he said.

As a fighter pilot from November 1967 through July 1968, Lewis flew 185 missions out of Da Nang in central Vietnam focused on interfering with the flow of fuel and ammunition from North Vietnam to South Vietnam.

He received one day off after the bomb exploded under his plane before going back to work.

When asked how he persuaded himself to get back into a plane, he said: You dont convince yourself, they tell you youre assigned that mission.

Suspicious fuzes

Lewis and his fellow airmen knew before the explosion the FMU-35 fuze had been under investigation because other planes had gone down.

It is possible the fuzes may have played a role in death of Capt. Lance Sijan. Lewis met Sijan while Lewis was his roommate for less than two days in Da Nang before his plane went down.

Sijan was carrying bombs with the same problem, Lewis wrote, but enemy fighters from the ground were also shooting at Sijans plane, so its unclear why he ejected.

Sijan survived in the jungle for six weeks, with a broken leg and other injuries before he was captured by the North Vietnamese. He later died in a prisoner-of-war camp and became the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor. One of the dorms bears his name.

The airmen were told in January 1968 two months after Sijan went down the fuzes were safe, but just in case, they should pull up sharply after the bombs were released.

Lewis was not concerned about the fuzes, but his systems operator Kelley was. Right before they dropped their bombs on North Vietnam, Kelley reminded Lewis to pull the nose of the plane up to gain altitude.

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He pulled up very sharply and dropped back, saving four lives, he said.

Jungle rescue

As he dangled from branches on Jan. 16, about 115 feet above the ground, Lewis radioed a passing F-100, a supersonic fighter jet, with the message that his plane had been destroyed by the bomb it was carrying and directed the pilot to pass the message on to his wing in Da Nang.

Then he cut the line to his survival kit so he could move around and let himself down from the tree using a nylon strap and a braking device on his harness. The device squeezed the strap allowing him to slow or stop his descent.

Once on the slippery wet clay and leaves beneath the trees, Lewis carefully made his way to a nearby clearing, pressing his cleats into the layers of leaves to maintain traction.

A few hours after the explosion in the late afternoon, a helicopter arrived and lowered a jungle penetrator for him to climb onto. The penetrators looked a bit like a ships anchor and were used for hoisting service members up through the trees.

Then the crew went to pick up Kelley who was stuck among vines and his parachute lines. The airman who went down, grabbed him around the chest and, in two swings of a machete, cleared the lines and vines.

When they arrived back in Da Nang, leadership questioned Lewis and Kelley closely about the problems with the fuzes.

A few days after the explosion, Lewis learned specifically what was causing the problems with the fuzes. The wing flying safety officer told him a piece of cardboard in the bombs timers was vibrating out of place over time. The fuze had two timers, the first meant to trigger the second that could be set for 45 minutes up to 12 hours. When the cardboard vibrated out of place, instead of the first timer starting the second timer, the bomb exploded.

The fuzes were never used again, Lewis said.

Two days later, one of the airmen from the other plane, Capt. Scott Stovin was rescued. The North Vietnamese captured the fourth airman, 1st Lt. Tom Moe, a few hours later that same day.

He was held in a prison for five years in Hanoi. Lewis wife watched a televised news broadcast of Moe and POWs getting off a plane at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, Lewis said.

Life after Vietnam

Six years too old for the Air Force Academy, Lewis went to the Naval Academy and then commissioned into the Air Force. He spent 20 years with the Air Force mostly as a jet pilot and retired in 1975.

His last assignment was with the Space Defense System in what is now Cheyenne Space Force Station, where he worked as a mathematician and computer programmer. He wrote the first version of a computer program designed to calculate where errant missiles would land.

When he got out of the Air Force, he felt that Colorado Springs was home.

So he stayed here, working as a computer programmer for what is now Lockheed Martin, teaching for what is now National American University, and preparing income taxes before retiring in 2012.

In 2020, he was one of the first to come down with COVID-19 in Colorado Springs after attending the now-infamous weekend bridge club tournament where the virus circulated among 100 mostly retirees.

Now 94, he has battled recurring symptoms from the virus, particularly weakness in his legs. But he can still do five pushups and he still loves bridge  playing three to five times a week.

Every month he also meets with other airmen as part of the Red River Rats at the Airplane Restaurant, where his picture hangs on the wall. Airmen who flew over North Vietnams Red River Valley founded the group, but the gatherings are open to all aircrew members on the third Monday of the month at 4 p.m. However, this month the meeting is on July 22.

Contact the writer at mary.shinn@gazette.com or 719-429-9264.

Editor's Note: After reading this story, Tom Moe contacted The Gazette and provided more details about the events in the jungle and afterwards.

While waiting for rescue in the jungle, Moe was surrounded and overrun by the enemy, he wrote. The soldiers nearly stepped on him while he was hiding under a log.

The pilot who directed Lewis' rescue, Bob Wilke, was killed trying to rescue Moe.

Moe is still working with Wilke's family to bring his remains home, he wrote.

After Moe was released, he went home to his wife and daughter. He went on to have two sons, including one who lives in Colorado Springs. He also attended graduate school at Notre Dame and then went back to flying fighter jets. He flew F-4s and then F-16s. After retiring from the military, he worked as the Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, under Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Moe wrote a harrowing account of his time as a POW for the Notre Dame alumni magazine.
Nazrin Abdul

Azerbaijani oil has fallen in the global market, Azernews reports.

The price of one barrel of "Azeri Light" brand oil decreased by $0.73 or 0.81 percent to $90.05.

Note that the lowest price of "Azeri Light" oil was recorded on April 21, 2020 (US$15.81), and the maximum price was recorded in July 2008 (US$149.66).
RiverStreet Networks  a North-Carolina based internet provider connecting Pittsylvania County homes to fiber service  will host an upcoming session for residents in the Riceville and Java areas to learn more about the project.

The event is planned from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 13 at the Riceville-Java Volunteer Fire Department.

The mammoth $91.28 million infrastructure undertaking is orchestrated by RiverStreet. The money comes from many funding pools, including local, state and federal dollars that are combined with RiverStreets own investment of about $23 million, according to figures provided by the company.

The goal is to have more than 16,000 locations completed by 2025, Robert Taylor, director of business development and government affairs for RiverStreet, told the Register & Bee earlier this year.

Currently, about 3,700 locations in Pittsylvania County have the service available. Out of those, 600 households and businesses have signed up for the high-speed internet access.

The take rate  as its called in the industry  of 16% is higher than the predicted 5% county officials were expecting.

The drop-dead timeline established by the federal portion of the funding mandates the project be finished by 2026.

The county  in a partnership with Pittsylvania County Schools  provided $16 million to the project courtesy of federal coronavirus relief funding. The board of supervisors tapped RiverStreet for the initiative in 2021.

The July 13 event will provide more details for residents on the service and also allow them to sign up for it. Free hot dogs, chips drinks and ice cream will be provided.
Its March 15, 1781, six years into Americas war for independence, and the British army has been chasing an elusive American unit through North Carolina for weeks.

Both sides are tired, running short on men and supplies. And yet, both continued their trek through the state, preparing for a showdown.

The two forces would finally meet at Guilford Court House, the county seat of Guilford County in what was then the sparsely populated backcountry of the state.

As July 4 and celebrations of American independence approach, here are five things to know about the battle and Greensboros footprint on aspects of the American Revolution:

1. Greensboros namesake led the

troops into battle.Leading the American unit of trained soldiers and drafted militiamen at Guilford Court House was none other than a Rhode Islander by the name of Nathanael Greene.

It would prove a turning point in the wars Southern campaign.

Twenty-seven years after the battle, Greensboro would be founded, and Greenes history with the area memorialized in its name.

Hailing from a merchant family background in iron working and the ship trade, Greene had risen through the American military ranks quickly. From no military education or experience as a professional soldier, he advanced from militia soldier to militia leader to a major general in the Continental Army.

Thats because people who ran into him during the siege of Boston merely recognized his talent and his ability to learn and his ability to work with others, said Jason Baum, a ranger at the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park. In that sense, he shows how if you have a natural talent for something and if other people recognize that, how quickly you can rise.

His stint as quartermaster, supervising the distribution of supplies and food, taught him how to make ends meet and pull strings as the Americans struggled with supplies throughout the war. He became the best candidate for the Southern front.

With British General Charles Cornwallis pursuing Greene on a northeastern trail across North Carolina, the Americans evaded the Redcoats while crossing the Catawba and Yadkin rivers, depleting British resources through the North Carolina winter for two months.

The two sides had a common goal.

In the South, particularly, you have two armies that its not that theyre trying to capture the courthouse itself, Baum said, theyre just trying to fight each other because they think if I can destroy the other guys army, then I will be able to control North Carolina.

To fulfill this mission, Greene implemented a unique strategy for the battle. Even if it cost him.

2. The Americans lost the battle.

After receiving reinforcements of militiamen, Greenes forces outnumbered the British, 4,400 to 1,900. The odds appeared in the revolutionaries favor.

To wear down a depleted force of Redcoats, Greene stacked his men into three lines on the battlefield. Members of the militia were not well-trained, so he deployed these men into two lines ahead of the Continentals, the professional soldiers.

Militiamen on the front lines had a simple job: Fire twice. Cause as many British casualties as possible. Retreat.

As Cornwallis army continued through the dense woods, Greene hoped they would be beaten up and disorganized by the time they reached his final and strongest line. Victory would be imminent.

Instead, the American line gave away faster than intended. Casualties numbered 1,310. Remaining units were in chaos.

Greene had no choice but to retreat.

So, no, the Americans did not notch a victory in the woods and farmland of the now-Greensboro area.

However, the tides were turning.

Baum referred to the Battle of Guilford Court House as a pyrrhic victory. The British may have won the battle and pushed the Continental Army off the battlefield, but in doing so, they lost a quarter of their army and further depleted their dwindling supplies. In the depths of North Carolina, those lost soldiers and supplies were not easily replaced.

The foundation was laid for the Battle of Yorktown and the end of the Revolutionary War. American freedom, at last.

In the larger strategic picture, Baum said, things are going terribly for (the British).

3. Greene actually lost all of the battles he commanded in the South.

Even after the showdown in March, Greene found little short-term success against the British during his time as a general in the South.

According to Baum, he lost every battle.

And yet, just as with the Battle of Guilford Court House, every incursion came at a high cost for the British. The Redcoats were left with exhausted resources and were eventually forced to retreat.

Greenes impact on the war for independence and present-day Greensboro is cemented in the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park.

As a main attraction, a monument towers over a field close to where the American second line was positioned. Seated on a horse in full-uniform, Greene looms, looking out over the grass.

Engraved into the stone beside the monument, a Cornwallis quote articulates the impact of the citys namesake:

Greene is as dangerous as Washington, he said. I never feel secure when encamped in his neighborhood.

4. The surrounding population was neutral about the war.

Welcome to the North Carolina backcountry. Thick woods. Farmland. A scattered population. And a mixed bag of opinions on the revolution.

Even as both armies viewed the South as pivotal territory in the war, the majority of the population surrounding the Guilford Courthouse took a neutral point of view, according to Baum. There were people still loyal to the British crown, Quakers who opposed war on principle and some pro-independence folks, too. But for the most part, as long as the soldiers did not bother them, people preferred not to get involved.

Cornwallis entered North Carolina with the hope of recruiting loyalists to the war effort. His intel from loyalists fleeing the war spoke of other pro-British people in the area, but in reality, he struggled to convince many to join the war effort and rebuild his thinned troops.

Household to household, you really dont know who youre dealing with (or) where their loyalties are gonna lie on that spectrum, Baum said.

5. Early preservation efforts at the historical site were  a bit ahistorical.

Freezing elements of the battle in time, the Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, off present-day Old Battleground Road, commemorates the turning point of the Southern Campaign.

The courthouses move to Greensboro in 1808 meant that the battlefield would not become the focal point of the city.

Then, in the 1880s, the park was founded. The land was officially preserved  except that history buffs and private companies of that era had a different view on how to go about it. Instead of maintaining the landscape as it looked when the battle occurred, they envisioned the area as a patriotic pleasure park.

They installed monuments, including the Greene statue, which features the general in a uniform from the 1790s. Greene died in 1786.

They also planted sculpted shrubbery and non-native Sugar Maples in the middle of the battlefield to provide shade. They even went as far as creating a manmade lake, where people could fish and paddle on boats.

Graves of important figures from North Carolina who impacted the American Revolution were moved to the site. William Hooper and John Penn, two of the states signers of the Declaration of Independence, rest under a Signers Monument on the second line.

Today, the site more closely resembles the ground the patriots fought on. The lake has been drained. Many of the Sugar Maples are dying. But the monuments and graves remain.

While the details of the battle may not always be remembered, the park ensures one memory does remain: The road to independence ran through Greensboro.
Greensboro Police have identified a pedestrian who was fatally injured Saturday night after being hit by multiple cars on I-40 East in Greensboro.

The victim, Michael Kenneth Zrinski, 62, of Greensboro, died at the scene, according to a police news release.

Police responded to the incident around 10:30 p.m. and discovered Zrinski had been trying to cross the interstate, just east of the on-ramp that extends from West Wendover Avenue, the release said.

Zrinski was first hit by a Mercedes-Benz S560 traveling east on the interstate, then was subsequently hit by several unknown vehicles, the release said.

No injuries were reported from the driver of the Mercedes.

Neither speed nor impairment was a factor in the crash, according to authorities, and the investigation of the incident continues.
Fatime Letifova

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov will pay a business visit to Azerbaijan on July 5-6, Azernews reports.

The head of the foreign policy department of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyzstan, Muratbek Azimbakiyev, informed about this.

Note that Azerbaijan is a very important partner for Kyrgyzstan. This partnership covers many areas, and the foundation of these relations was laid by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people, Heydar Aliyev, and is being successfully developed by President Ilham Aliyev.

Besides, Kyrgyzstan is home to over 20,000 Azerbaijanis who live in mainly Talas, Bishkek, and Kara-Balta.

Moreover, as part of diplomatic relations between the two states, on May 16, 2007, the Embassy of Azerbaijan was opened in Kyrgyzstan.

Furthermore, the existence of similar history and culture between the two countries is another value that strengthens relations. Cultural relations between these nations are successfully developing.
" " A 1994 portrait of Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl. Imagno/Getty Images

Key Takeaways Viktor Frankl emphasized the importance of striving for a meaningful goal rather than seeking a tensionless state of happiness or comfort.

Suffering can cease to be suffering when it is imbued with meaning, such as the purpose of a sacrifice.

The ultimate freedom lies in choosing one's attitude in any circumstance, highlighting the power of personal responsibility and the pursuit of meaning.

Viktor Frankl was a young and successful Austrian psychiatrist and neurologist when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis invaded Austria in 1938. Frankl was Jewish, and in 1942 he and his family  his pregnant wife Tilly, his parents and his brother  were deported from Vienna to a Nazi-run "ghetto" in Czechoslovakia and then to concentration camps.

Separated from his wife, and stripped of his identity and humanity, Frankl spent three years in four different concentration camps, including Auschwitz, the notorious death camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. He suffered daily degradation, deprivation and violence and witnessed countless friends and fellow prisoners succumb to disease, starvation and despair. Frankl credited his own survival to a method of psychoanalysis that he had begun to develop before his ordeal.

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Frankl called his approach logotherapy or "meaning therapy," which centers on the belief that humans can overcome the inherent suffering and disappointments of life by finding meaning and a sense of purpose in every moment. Throughout his intense and prolonged suffering in the camps, Frankl was forced to put his theory to the ultimate test. He credited his survival to grasping tightly to the meaning he found in the love of his wife and the satisfaction of his work.

When the camps were liberated at the end of World War II, Frankl returned to Vienna, where he learned that his entire family, including his beloved Tilly, had been murdered by the Nazis. Inconsolable, he turned again to his work, and in 1946 he anonymously published, in German, "A Psychologist's Experiences in the Concentration Camp," which was later translated to English and republished as "Man's Search for Meaning."

"Man's Search for Meaning" has sold more than 16 million copies in 50 languages and is considered one of the most influential books of the 20th century. We spoke with Alexander Batthyany, director of the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna, to discuss five quotes from "Man's Search for Meaning" and other writings that illustrate the power of Frankl's hard-won psychological insights.
For Tony Mosley, the majority of his life has been one big adventure. This is meant quite literally, as the avid huntsman has traveled the world in search for all sorts of high-end game.

The Concord native, 82, first learned to hunt small animals like rabbits and squirrels in the Uwharrie Mountains with his cousin when he was a kid, but transitioned to hunting deer as part of an archery club at Concord High.

Ive always just been drawn to it, Mosley said about hunting.

His first big-time trip was to Wyoming in 1962, where he killed a mule deer  the first of many mounted animals hanging in his game room. In addition to his love for the hunt, Mosley also largely taught himself taxidermy, which is the art of preserving an animals body by mounting or stuffing.

Once I got my toes in, he said after his first Wyoming trip, it was just full steam ahead.

Mosley's passion for hunting has taken him to, among other places, Alaska, each of the ten provinces in Canada, Russia and Africa.

After he took his son Todd caribou hunting in Quebec province, Mosley got connected with an individual who could help coordinate a trip to hunt brown bears in Siberia.

Mosley encountered quite the rigmarole when it came to logistics: He flew from Atlanta to Moscow, then traveled across several time zones to the Russian town of Magadan, before flying in an old Army helicopter about five hours north to Siberia.

It was there, amid several feet of snow, that Mosley, utilizing a 7mm Remington Magnum, snagged one of his biggest kills of his career: a roughly 1,000 pound brown bear.

He first spotted the bear about 300 yards away. Thats a good bear if you can hit him, Mosley recalls one of the local guides telling him. He fired the first shot and the bear rolled over and threw an arm up. I said I believe I broke that boys shoulder, Mosley recalled.

The bear got up and required two additional shots, with the third bullet striking his neck. Mosley ultimately stuffed the bear, which is arguably the most prominent display of his roughly two dozen animals in his game room.

Besides his trip to Siberia, Mosley has hunted moose in Alaska; warthogs, oryx, zebras, waterbucks and blue wildebeests in southern Africa, about five hours north of Johannesburg; and black bears in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

He also spent more than a decade traveling to a private farm in Kansas, where Mosley hunted smaller game such as pheasants and turkeys.

Theyre all adventures, Mosley said.

Most of the animals that were killed were then used as food sources, in keeping with proper hunting ethics. You cant shoot something and throw it away, Mosley said.

As with any exploit comes some dangerous moments: Mosley recalls two separate occasions in Canada where bears climbed trees and got to within a few feet of where he was perched. Staying calm, Mosley quietly told the bears to leave and they did.

The worst thing that you want to do is panic, he said.

For Mosley, the actual killings are largely anticlimactic, as he is usually put in a position, with his skill, to succeed. He most enjoys the opportunities to travel to far-flung places, spend time outdoors and learn about the behaviors and movements of the targeted animals.

If you go to the woods and come back in one piece, its never a failure, Mosley said with a chuckle.
Lowesville Gospel Concerts

Lowesville Gospel Concerts will hold their next concert Saturday, July 13, at 5 p.m., and will feature The Williamsons, a southern gospel family group from Oklahoma.

There is no admission cost; a freewill offering only will be received. Please bring a friend and worship with us.

The concert will be at Vineyard Church, 1062 NC-16 Business Hwy., Stanley (Lowesville). For more information, contact Carroll Cooke at 704-618-9762.

Calvary VBS in July

Calvary Lutheran Church is hosting Vacation Bible School called 2024 Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs. It will be July 21-23.

It is open to ages 3 through rising sixth-graders. Nursery and Adult Meeting Room also will be available. Join Calvary for a meal at 5:30 p.m. VBS begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m.

This event is free. Register at www.clconcord.org. Calvary Lutheran Church is at 950 Bradley St., Concord.

Bluegrass Gospel Praise Event

On Sunday, July 21, from 5-6 p.m., Harmony Church Concord, 101 White St. NW, Concord, will be hosting a Bluegrass Gospel Praise Event that is open to the general public and free of charge.

Harmony, a four-piece bluegrass gospel group made up of members from Cabarrus and Anson counties, will be leading the praise event.

Refreshments will be served immediately after in the church fellowship hall. For more information, call 704-293-6071.

Hot dog sale

Mt. Mitchell Global Methodist Church will be holding a hot dog sale on Wednesday, July 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The church is at 6001 Old Salisbury Concord Road, Kannapolis. For more information, call 704-933-0155.

A caregivers support group

Are you a caregiver that would like to connect with other caregivers? A monthly caregivers support group is open to everyone and conveniently held over Zoom so that you can attend from the comfort of your home. The next session will be Monday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, contact the church office at 704-782-6923 or through the website at www.clconcord.org. Calvary Lutheran Church, 950 Bradley St., Concord, NC 28025.

Swinson family reunion

The Swinson family reunion will be held Sunday, Aug. 4, from 1-4 p.m. at Mission Baptist Church in Locust. The church is at 12444 Mission Church Road, Locust. For more information, call Pat Shoe at 704-857-2891.

Fresh produce and more

The Bulb Market at Grace Lutheran Church is open every Friday from 3-4 p.m. with fresh produce for the community.

Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Center will be offering primary care and basic health screenings on-site at the church on the second Friday of each month. Grace Lutheran is at 58 Chestnut Drive, Concord.

Weekly Bible study

Calvary Lutheran Church has a weekly Bible study. Pastor Debbie Frye hosts the study every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the church.
COMPANY NEWS: Advent One, a leading provider of managed services across infrastructure, automation, observability, security and cloud, today announced a significant leadership transition as John Twine steps down as CEO after five years of dedicated service. John Twine will assume the role of Non-Executive Director on the Advent One Board, effective immediately.

John Twine joined Advent One in 2019 as Sales Director and later ascended to the position of CEO in February 2023. Under his leadership, Advent One has achieved significant milestones and sustained growth, solidifying its position in the competitive IT services landscape.

From left to right: Bob Bassett Bob Bassat, Chair and Founder and Jason Dixon Chief Executive Officer of Advent One

Bob Bassat, Chair and Founder of Advent One, commended John Twine, stating, "John has done a fantastic job continuing the growth trajectory of the company. His strategic vision and unwavering commitment have been instrumental in positioning Advent One for continued success."

In his new role as Non-Executive Director, John will leverage his extensive experience and industry insights to support the company's strategic initiatives and ensure a seamless leadership transition.

Taking over the reins as Chief Executive Officer is Jason Dixon, who brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in driving technology transformation and growth strategies. Jason joined Advent One in May this year as Strategy and Transformation Leader, where he collaborated closely with the Board to shape the company's 25th year and FY25 strategy.

Commenting on Jason Dixon's appointment, Bob Bassat remarked, "Jason's qualifications and experience make him the ideal candidate to lead Advent One into its next phase of growth. His strategic acumen and deep understanding of our industry will be invaluable as we continue to innovate and expand our service offerings."

Jason Dixon's career spans leadership roles at prominent organisations including IBM and Amazon Web Services, where he led large multidisciplinary teams and drove strategic initiatives across the Financial Services Sector. His background in law, coupled with his extensive leadership experience, uniquely positions him to navigate Advent One as a market leader in Managed Services, Automation, Cloud, Modern Data Centre, Observability and Cybersecurity solutions.

From left to right: John Twine Non-Executive Director on the Board and Jason Dixon Jason Dixon Chief Executive Officer of Advent One

"I am honoured to lead Advent One and build upon the strong foundation established under John's leadership," said Jason Dixon. "I look forward to working closely with the Board, our talented team, and our valued clients to drive innovation and deliver exceptional results."

John Twine will collaborate closely with Jason Dixon to ensure a smooth transition and continued momentum in Advent One's growth strategy.

ABOUT ADVENT ONE:

Advent One has 25 years providing market leading expertise across infrastructure, cloud, observability, automation and security services to Australian enterprises and mid-market sectors. Advent One helps customers get the most out of their technology investments while reducing demand on strained IT resources through applied automation, orchestration and managed services.

Specifically, Advent One provides:
CHARLESTON  A Native American plants presentation and a bluegrass music performance will be featured during the open house from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at the Five Mile House historic site.

The event will open with Barb Brayfield presenting a program on Native American Plants and Traditional Herbs" at 1 p.m. This will be followed by the music group Big Spike Hammer playing traditional bluegrass music at 2:30 p.m.

Other activities at the open house will include children's yard games, spinning and weaving demonstrations, and blacksmithing demonstrations. The Five Mile House Gift Wagon and other vendors will be open for business. Admission will be free.

The Five Mile House and its 1880 barn event venue are at the northeast corner of Illinois 130 south and Westfield Road, south of Charleston. The house is thought to have been built in the mid- to late 1840s, and it served as a way station for early settlers in Coles County during its first decades.

Photos: Five Mile House open house Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (2) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (1) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (3) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (4) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (5) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (6) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (7) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (8) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (9) Five Mile House Open House 06/24/18 (10)
Fatime Letifova

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif delivered Pakistans national statement at the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Astana today, Azernews reports, citing the post shared by the minister on his official "X" account.

"Reaffirmed Pakistans strong commitment to the SCO Charter & principles, conveyed our support for the SCO's expansion & reform, called for collective action for socioeconomic development, enhanced connectivity, maintaining peace & security, combating terrorism, dealing with climate change, alleviating poverty, and above all, ensuring observance of principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination. Called for the resolution of long-standing disputes through UNSC resolutions. Strongly urged for peace in Gaza as well as peace & stability in Afghanistan. Pakistan looks forward to welcoming the SCO family at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad this October," he added.

Note that today, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit commenced in Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

During the SCO Heads of State Council meeting, the Astana Declaration and three statements by the heads of state, including initiatives on "World Unity for Just Peace, Harmony, and Development," and "Enhancing SCO," will be adopted.

The event is attended by the heads of state and government of Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the UAE, Turkyie, and Turkmenistan, as well as SCO Secretary-General Cjan Min.
Nazrin Abdul

Routes through Azerbaijan play a crucial role in enhancing transport capabilities within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) region.

Azernews reports that Oljas Beysembayev, an expert from Kazakhstan's Public Development Institute, highlighted this during the SCO Council of Heads of State meeting in Astana.

"This is the 24th meeting of heads of state in the SCO format. It's the first time we're seeing an 'SCO+' meeting, with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as the guest of honour, along with dignitaries from Arab and Turkish nations," Beysembayev noted.

He emphasised key areas discussed at the summit, including bolstering security trust, expanding trade and economic ties, and enhancing transport and logistics through corridors. He mentioned China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative and highlighted the significance of routes like the Trans-Caspian linking Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

Beysembayev also pointed out the development of Northern and Southern routes, underscoring Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan's pivotal roles at their intersection.

"With Turkic and Arab countries showing keen interest, there's potential for the SCO's expansion. Belarus has already become a full member, paving the way for what could be a 'Shanghai Ten', transforming SCO from regional to transregional," Beysembayev concluded.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

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The Waterloo Regional Police Service have arrested a man in connection to a Canada Day firework incident involving a Waterloo, Ont. city councillor.

Police said a woman was walking on Central Street around 10:30 p.m. when a man shot and hit her with a firework. Another person, a man, was also assaulted.

Ward 7 Councillor Julie Wright said she and her family were headed home after a drone show in Waterloo Park, when she saw the man with fireworks at MacGregor Public School.

According to Wright, she told the man he couldn't shoot off the roman candles, which was when he started firing them directly at her.

I am a little singed, but not significantly injured, Wright said in a social media post. I was shot at multiple times and hit once. This firework insanity has to stop.

On Tuesday, police released the photo of a man they were trying to identify in connection to the incident.

Police said the suspect turned himself into police, and was arrested, on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Kitchener man has been charged with assault and assault with a weapon.
The Ferryville Tourism Council is hosting the second of its Chautauqua Summer Series programs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, in the Ferryville Village Hall.

Larry Scheckel will discuss "Seneca Seasons: A Farm Boy Remembers." Scheckel is a popular speaker, author of numerous books, a former high school teacher, and prolific writer on a wide range of topics, according to the press release.

Scheckel and his wife, Ann, have been presenters of several Chautauqua programs including Murder in Wisconsin: The Clara Olson story and a program about one-room school houses.

The couple will sell books after the program for anyone who is interested. Treats will be provided. For more information, look go to facebook.com/ferryvillewi. Call Joanne White 319-240-5692 for any additional questions.
82 years ago, Reynolds Tomter jotted down his name on the dotted line, devoting his life to service of the United States.

At a flag ceremony on Wednesday, U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden presented the 107-year-old World War II veteran with an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol and was with Van Orden when he parachuted into Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

What a celebration and recognition, said Tomter. I feel like I am not deserving of all this, but I am eating it up.

Normandy is particularly special to Reynolds Tomter, the veteran honored at Wednesdays ceremony, as the historic location was the beginning of the campaign that liberated Europe and eventually led to the defeat of Germany during World War II.

Today, we got to present Mr. Tomter with a flag that we flew over the Capitol before I went to Normandy and parachuted [with the flag] in my cargo pocket, said Van Orden. Its a small gesture that I can make so that you absolutely know how much I deeply appreciate your sacrifice for our country.

Tomter is believed to be the oldest living World War II Merchant Marine in the country and is local to Western Wisconsin.

Ive been a very lucky guy, said Tomter. I have been blessed with good health, but I have always kind of maintained a good attitude and had a good attitude about life  and thats helped me a lot.

Currently, Tomter is one of more than 100,000 living World War II veterans, but that number is expected to rapidly decline over the next 15 years, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Tomter is part of our greatest generation, and unfortunately, a lot of them are leaving us. We need to take this time to show our appreciation directly to the men and women that gave us our freedoms, said Van Orden. Today, we are saying, Thank you, and more people need to do that.
Elnur Enveroglu

The bias of the US Congress against Azerbaijan has become a disease syndrome. A group of pro-Armenian politicians and the organizations they manage, which every time carry out a slander campaign against Azerbaijan with biased statements, have resurfaced today.

So, an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from California's 16th congressional district Anna Eshoo demonstrated her Armenianism with the latest prepared statement.

A member of the US House of Representatives and an Armenian by origin, Anna Eshoo, co-authored by another pro-Armenian member of the chamber, Christopher Smith, put forward a biased resolution against Azerbaijan called "Condemning Azerbaijan for carrying out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh". It should be noted that this project is one of a series of other slanderous projects proposed against Azerbaijan in the US Congress.

On the day Eshu and Smith put forward the draft resolution, a group of "human rights" organizations, including "Freedom House", "International Partnership For Human Rights, Democracy Development Foundation", "Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO", "Law Development and Protection Foundation", "Open Society Foundations", etc. popped out and published a summary of the report entitled "Why there are no Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh".

This shows that the "black network" is coordinated from the same centre as the bought members of the US House of Representatives. Also, considering that the heads of the organization are of Armenian origin, it is not worth talking about it at all.

An interesting question arises. How does it happen that in 30 years, Institutions like the US House of Representatives, Freedom House, and the Soros Foundation, have remained silent on the subject of rocket attacks and the death of peaceful people in the cities of Ganja and Barda, nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis, who were made refugees and internally displaced persons from their native places, Khojaly genocide, ethnic cleansing in Garadaghli, Agdaban, Bashlibel, Baganis-Ayr, Ballygaya, Tugh? Why do they accuse Azerbaijan of carrying out ethnic cleansing against Armenians without any basis, and threaten our country with the "International Criminal Court" instead of considering the above-given facts?

Don't they know that these slanderous draft resolutions are a heavy blow to the USA's reputation in Azerbaijan? Such behavior of theirs is an example of prejudice, hypocrisy, political order, and double standards, and such hypocrisy rightfully enrages the Azerbaijani public.

Azerbaijan has repeatedly shown all the evidence to the world about the Armenians who voluntarily migrated from Garabagh to Yerevan, and it reminds them again and again today. Armenian residents who settled in Garabagh in the fall of last year voluntarily left the territory, as they and the Prime Minister of Armenia have repeatedly stated.

There can be no question of ethnic cleansing here. Those who want to find the facts of ethnic cleansing and deportation may be interested in the fate of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis deported from Western Azerbaijan. Even today, they cannot go to their native Goyce, Darelayaz, and Erivan - their homes.

The US Congress knows that it is impossible to divert Azerbaijan from its path with such slanderous pieces of paper. Azerbaijan fully restored its sovereignty and territorial integrity at the cost of blood and life, behaved with dignity in the war, and peaceful people were never the target of the Azerbaijani Army.

Strangely, the US House of Representatives has been silent for years regarding the destruction and looting carried out by Armenians in the liberated territories for 30 years. The problems of former refugees and displaced people, the contamination of the liberated territories with more than 1.5 million mines, and UXOs do not concern such institutions of the United States. We wonder why they keep silent about it, turn a blind eye, and moreover unfairly accuse Azerbaijan of a problem that never happened.

If it comes to real ethnic cleansing, then Azerbaijan has a say. Everyone and the world knows that Azerbaijanis in Western Azerbaijan and Garabagh were subjected to ethnic cleansing, but resolutions are not being prepared in this regard. On the contrary, those organizations and political circles always use double standards against Azerbaijan.

Claims about "ethnic cleansing" in Garabagh are lies and slander. The so-called "Arsakh's political forces and civil society's appeal to the world community" on December 23, 2023, can be shown as an example. The petition clearly stated that Armenians do not want to live under the Azerbaijani flag, and their "general decision" to leave Garabagh is related to this: "We rule out returning under Azerbaijani jurisdiction."

Even Pashinyan made a similar statement on September 21, Armenia's Independence Day, noting that during the anti-terrorist operation, the civilian population was not harmed. On October 2, 2023, he did not use the term "ethnic cleansing" when talking about the Armenians who moved from Garabagh at the government meeting.

This once again shows that the biased report presented in the US Congress is a political order and an internal propaganda tool before the US elections. Both the Republican and Democratic parties are preparing for the presidential elections to be held in the fall, and it is obvious that the votes of the Armenian lobby are important for both parties. It means that this factor also played a role in the preparation of the resolution.
A trilateral meeting between Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye, and Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has begun in Astana, Azernews reports.

The sides emphasized during the meeting that the summit of the President of Azerbaijan, the President of Turkiye, and the Prime Minister of Pakistan was held for the first time in a trilateral format. The sides underlined its historic importance and expressed confidence that these meetings would become regular in the future.

They emphasized that Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Pakistan shared historical and religious roots and fraternal relations. They noted that the three countries always supported each other within the framework of international organizations and stated the importance of continuing this support in the future.

It was noted that trilateral formats already existed between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkiye at the level of parliament speakers and foreign ministers, and a number of meetings had been held during this time.

The sides emphasized again that Azerbaijan had fully restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Concern was expressed that countries outside the region were pursuing a policy of militarization in the South Caucasus.

The political and moral support of brotherly Turkiye and Pakistan for Azerbaijan during the 44-day Patriotic War was emphasized. It was noted that this the people and the state of Azerbaijan highly appreciated this support.

In accordance with the spirit of political relations between the three countries, the sides exchanged views on the prospects for the development of economic and trade relations, as well as the areas of innovation, energy, agriculture, education, humanitarian and other fields. The growing dynamics of economic and trade relations was noted as a positive development, but the importance of fully aligning this with the potential of the three countries was also emphasized.

Pakistan's participation in the Middle Corridor was mentioned and it was noted that it would contribute to the promotion of economic and trade relations between the countries involved.

During the meeting, the sides reviewed issues of cooperation in the fields of defense and defense industry, touched upon the importance of the exercises of the special forces of the three countries held under the Three Brothers motto in 2021 and suggested conducting joint exercises of the Armed Forces of the three countries on a regular basis. The suggestion was accepted. In the field of defense industry, the sides discussed the possibilities of organizing joint production by the three countries.

The President of Azerbaijan invited the President of Turkiye and the Prime Minister of Pakistan to participate in COP29 again.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif accepted the invitation with pleasure.






















On 3 July Haitis Prime Ministeraddressed the United Nations (UN) Security Council (UNSC), saying the deployment of the first contingent of 400 Kenyan police officers from the multinational security support mission (MSS) to Haiti should help put a stop to the activities of criminal groups.

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On 3 July Brazils Presidentlaunched the 2024/2025 iteration of the annual agriculture financing plan known as Plano Safra, which will allocate a record R$400.59bn (US$72.07bn) in funding for the sector.

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Weather experts say the storm Hurricane Beryl might represent the beginning of a very active and dangerous hurricane season.

"It's the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Central American basin, a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokesperson said of Beryl.

A Category 5 hurricane brings winds of 252 kilometers an hour or higher. Such storms can cause huge damage, including destruction of homes, roads, and bridges.

The WMO spokesperson noted that destructive power, saying it only takes one land-falling hurricane to set back decades of development.

Unusual conditions

Beryl is on an unusually southern path, especially for a major hurricane, said Kristen Corbosiero of the University at Albany.

Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach said Beryl is possibly a sign of more interesting stuff that could happen in the near future.

He added that there could be several of these kinds of storms coming down later.

The water temperature around Beryl is about 1 to 2 degrees Celsius above normal, at 29 Celsius, 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 the air at the bottom of the storm, the better the chance it will rise higher in the atmosphere and create larger thunderstorms, said Corbosiero.

It is not just hot water at the surface that matters. The ocean heat content, which measures deeper water, is far above record levels for this time of year. The levels are currently at what the highest September levels should be, University of Miami researcher Brian McNoldy said.

This year, there is also a big 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.

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 has not returned.

Climate change

Corbosiero said scientists are debating what exactly climate change does to hurricanes. But she said scientists have come to an agreement that climate change makes hurricanes more likely to become strong quickly, as Beryl did, and increases the strongest storms.

Emanuel said the slowing of Atlantic ocean currents, likely caused by climate change, may also be a factor in the warm water.

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 reduce high altitude winds that weaken 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 that has only happened twice before, Klotzbach said.

Globally, this may be a below average year for tropical cyclones, except in the Atlantic.

Im John Russell.

John Russell adapted this story from Associated Press and Reuters reports.

___________________________________________

Words in This Story

hurricane  n. a large, powerful storm that occurs especially in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean

decade  n. a period of ten years

tropics  n. plural the part of the world that is near the equator

factor  n. something that helps produce or influence a result

altitude  n. the height of something above the level of the sea
The United States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4.

John Adams, who later became Americas second president, wrote to his wife in 1776 that the day would be remembered with fireworks and celebrations from one End of this Continent to the other.

But the day he was talking about was July 2, 1776, not July 4. July 2 is the day the Continental Congress of the original 13 colonies voted for independence from Britain. Congress did not officially sign the Declaration of Independence, mainly written by Thomas Jefferson, until two days later.

First July 4 celebration

Pauline Maier was a historian who wrote the 1997 book American Scripture: Making the Declaration of Independence. She wrote that in early July of 1777, members of the Continental Congress nearly forgot that it had been a year since they declared their freedom from the British.

They remembered on July 3. It was too late to celebrate on July 2. So, they decided to mark the countrys independence with a celebration the following day: July 4.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post of Philadelphia reported, Yesterday the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the Independence of the United States of America, was celebrated in this city with demonstrations of joy and festivity.

At night, the Post said, There was a grand exhibition of fireworksand the city was beautifully illuminated.

Becoming official holiday

The tradition of celebrating Independence Day started to expand after the War of 1812 against Britain. Such celebrations were mostly held on July 4.

John Adams, however, still believed that Americans should celebrate their independence on July 2. Historians say Adams reportedly turned down invitations to take part in July 4 events until the day he died. Adams died on July 4, 1826.

That same day, Thomas Jefferson also died. The two men and former presidents were friends as well as rivals. They both died on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th an official holiday.

Modern-day celebrations

In July 1776, the U.S. was a country of 2.5 million people. It is now a country of 336 million, the U.S. Census reports. These days, Americans celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and other festivities.

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, organizers are holding a 16-day festival of fireworks, music, and food to celebrate Americas birthday in Americas birthplace!

But the biggest Fourth of July fireworks show is in New York City. It can be seen in the neighboring states of New Jersey and Connecticut. It is also broadcast nationwide on television.

The small village of Lewes, Delaware celebrates the holiday and its coastal history with the Independence Day Boat Parade.

In Los Angeles, California, movie lovers can choose to celebrate the holiday by watching old Hollywood films from the grassy area of the historic Hollywood Forever cemetery.

And far north in Anchorage, Alaska, Independence Day traditions include food, games and late-night fireworks. With 19 hours of daylight this time of year, the fireworks show does not start until midnight.

I'm Jill Robbins.

Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

original - adj. happening or existing at the beginning

illuminated - adj. lit by bright lights

rival - n. someone who is as good as one tries to defeat
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools continue to expand in the workplace. And some U.S. states have launched specialized programs to train workers on how to deal with the new technologies.

Many industries are expected to heavily depend on a series of tools known as generative AI. This technology includes systems designed to perform many jobs currently done by humans. Such systems have become increasingly smarter in recent years.

In Connecticut, officials have been working to create what they hope will be the countrys first Citizens AI Academy. This will be a free, online collection of special classes designed to teach basic AI skills and provide certifications needed for employment.

Connecticut Democratic Senator James Maroney told the Associated Press that AI changes in the workplace are happening very quickly. "So we need to all learn what are the best sources for staying current, he said. How can we update our skills? Who can be trusted sources?

Gregory LaBlanc is a professor of Finance, Strategy and Law at the Haas School of Business at Berkeley Law School in California. He says workers should be taught how to use and manage generative AI.

LaBlanc said he thinks it makes more sense to center on teaching ways to support AI as opposed to learning to be really bad imitators of AI." He added that employees should be trained in areas where AI does not perform well so that workers can make up the difference.

This year, at least four states proposed legislation that sought ways to deal with AI in the classroom. Those states included Connecticut, California, Mississippi and Maryland.

One bill in California would require a state working group to consider including AI literacy skills in math, science, history and social science studies.

The writer of the bill is California Assemblyman Marc Berman. He said in a statement that AI offers the possibility to improve parts of our lives. But only if we know how to use it, and use it responsibly, he added.

Berman noted that all students should be taught about basic AI elements and systems. He said students should also learn the skills to recognize when AI is employed

In Connecticut, Senator Maroney said his states planned AI Academy will also aim to provide studies on AI basics. He noted the importance for people to have the skills to understand, examine and effectively interact with a range of AI technologies.

A study released by the job-search company Indeed found that all U.S. jobs listed on the service had skills that could be performed or improved by generative AI tools.

Nearly 20 percent of the Indeed job listings were considered highly exposed. This means the technology is considered good or excellent at 80 percent of the skills the jobs require. Nearly 46 percent of jobs on the service were moderately exposed. This means that AI tools can perform 50 to 80 percent of the skills.

Maroney said he is concerned that AI will worsen existing equity problems related to a lack of high-speed internet, computers and smart phones in some underserved communities. Inequities have been identified between more digitally literate people, often living in cities, and those living in more rural areas without dependable internet and modern devices.

Marvin Venay shares that concern. He is with the Massachusetts-based group Bring Tech Home Advocates. The group has been working for years to narrow differences in computer literacy and high-speed internet availability.

Venay said, Education must be included in order for this to really take off publicly...in a manner which is going to give people the ability to eliminate their barriers.

Venay added, And it has to be able to explain to the most common individual why it is not only a useful tool, but why this tool will be something that can be trusted.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English.

Quiz - US States to Train Workers on AI in Workplace Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

__________________________________________

Words in This Story

certification  n. the process of earning an official document that serves as proof of certain skills

update  v. to add new information to something

imitate  v. to behave in a similar way to someone or something else

literacy  n. knowledge of a particular subject

expose  v. to put someone at risk from something harmful or unpleasant

eliminate  v. to remove or take something away
An official lunch was hosted in honor of the participants of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, Azernews reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.
The Prime Minister, John Major, has won his battle to remain leader of the Conservative Party.

Mr Major received backing from 218 of the partys MPs in the leadership ballot.

His sole challenger, John Redwood, got 89 votes.

There were eight abstentions with 12 spoilt papers. Two Conservative MPs failed to vote.

Mr Majors victory represented support from two-thirds of the parliamentary party  more than enough to win the contest outright in the first round.

I believe that has put to rest any question and speculation about the leadership of the Conservative Party up to and beyond the next general election, Mr Major said.

The prime ministers resignation as leader of the Conservative Party last month was widely seen as a ploy to bring to a head deep divisions in the party over the highly contentious issue of Europe.

There were also persistent rumours of a leadership challenge from inside the cabinet.

But Michael Portillo and Kenneth Clarke  both floated as possible leadership contenders  backed the prime minister.

The defeated challenger, John Redwood, who resigned as Welsh Secretary to contest the party leadership, moved swiftly to congratulate the prime minister.

He won fair and square under the rules and I pay tribute to that victory, he said.

I and my colleagues have fought a strong campaign  we have raised many important issues.

Mr Redwood attracted support from those in the party who wanted a tougher approach to growing European integration.

But his distant and unemotional manner earned him the nickname Mr Spock or The Vulcan after the character from the television series, Star Trek.

John Major is now expected to re-assert his authority with an immediate cabinet reshuffle.

Courtesy BBC News

In context

Following his leadership contest victory John Major reshuffled his cabinet.

John Redwood, his former Welsh Secretary, was not included in the new line-up.

Mr Major resigned as Conservative Party leader two years later following Labours victory in the 1997 general election.

He stood down as an MP at the 2001 general election after more than 20 years in parliament

John Redwood tried to land the leaders job again after Mr Majors election defeat.

He came a distant third to eventual winner William Hague and Kenneth Clarke.

New leader William Hague appointed John Redwood to his shadow cabinet but sacked him after his first reshuffle.
The Monetary Authority of Macau (AMCM) has issued a warning to the public regarding a series of fake, sponsored advertisements that appear to have been issued by Macau banking institutions, which have been surfacing on several social media platforms.

According to the AMCM, several banks have been impersonated by the same type of fraudulent ad, which offers emergency loans for people in Macau, including foreigners.

The Times has reviewed several of these ads, both in Chinese and English. They offer different types of loans according to different age groups, promising free applications and approvals within three minutes.

The AMCM has warned the public to not trust this type of advertising and to not click on any links associated with the fraud, so as to avoid financial loss.

We hereby advise the public not to rely on online loan advertisements and to seek financial services through the channels provided by local, authorized financial institutions. The list of authorized financial institutions, their websites, and contact details are available on our website (www.amcm.gov.mo), the authority noted.

It also advised those who had provided personal information, bank card numbers or bank account information, including passwords, through the scams hyperlinks to immediately contact their financial institution(s) and call the Judiciary Polices (PJ) fraud prevention hotline on 8800 7777, or the hotline for reporting fraud on 993.

According to PJ, the force has recently received reports of seven cases of phishing text messages pretending to be from telecommunications companies, which have led victims to lose MOP262,000.

After the victims followed links in the text messages and entered personal information, such as credit card data, scammers used the information to make international purchases.
China and the Philippines held a crucial meeting Tuesday to try to ease mounting tensions following their worst confrontation in the disputed South China Sea that sparked fears of a wider conflict that could involve the United States.

There was no mention of any major agreement, however, after the daylong meeting in Manila that could prevent a repeat of the June 17 clash at Second Thomas Shoal which 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 coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships have surrounded the Philippine marines aboard a grounded ship to prevent delivery of food and other supplies to Manilas territorial outpost.

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 Tuesday night. 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.

The Chinese government did not immediately issue any statement about the talks.

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. Another confidence-building plan was the convening of 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 neighbors first agreed to hold what they call the Bicameral Consultation Mechanism meetings in 2017 to peacefully manage their conflicts. But despite the on-and-off talks, the confrontations have persisted especially under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who, unlike his predecessor, has nurtured closer defense ties with the United States as a counterweight to China.

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 similarly 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 Defense 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 but stressed that the Philippines would continue to defend its territorial interests at all costs. JIM GOMEZ, MANILA, MDT/AP
A Malaysian court yesterday dismissed a bid by imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve his remaining corruption sentence under house arrest.

In an April application, Najib said he had clear information that then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah issued an addendum order allowing him to finish his sentence under house arrest. Najib claimed the addendum was issued during a Jan. 29 pardons board meeting chaired by Sultan Abdullah, which also cut his 12-year jail sentence by half and sharply reduced a fine.

Najibs counsel, Mohamed Shafee Abdullah, said it was disappointing for the High Court to rule Wednesday that the government has no legal duty to verify if such an order existed. He said they would file an appeal.

The court said there is no legal duty but in terms of ethics, the government should have answered, Shafee told a news conference at the court building.

In his application, Najib has accused the pardons board, home minister, attorney-general and four others of concealing the sultans order in bad faith. Sultan Abdullah hails from Najibs hometown in Pahang. He ended his five-year reign on Jan. 30 under Malaysias unique rotating monarchy system. A new king took office Jan. 31.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he had no knowledge of such an order as he wasnt a member of the pardons board. The others named in Najibs application have not made any public comments.

Shafee said Najibs application was not based on hearsay but that there was digital evidence of the addendum as Trade Minister Zafrul Aziz had taken a snapshot of it on his mobile phone when told by Sultan Abdullah. He said the governments silence also implied there is such an addendum order.

One thing is clear, not one person or any government institutions have said that this addendum doesnt exist. If it doesnt exist, just say so.  If the government dare says clearly there is no addendum, we can all go home and sleep, he said.

Najib, 70, served less than two years of his sentence before it was commuted by the pardons board. His sentence is now due to end Aug. 23, 2028. He was charged and found guilty in a corruption case linked to the multibillion-dollar looting of state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

The pardons board didnt give any reason for its decision and wasnt required to explain. But the move has prompted a public outcry on why Najib appeared to be given special privileges compared to other prisoners.

The Malaysian Bar, which represents over 20,000 lawyers, filed an application to challenge the pardons board decision that it said was illegal, unconstitutional and invalid. It said the decision made a mockery of Najibs other ongoing criminal cases. The hearing for the Bars challenge started this week.

Najib set up the 1MDB development fund shortly after he took office in 2009. Investigators allege at least $4.5 billion was stolen from the fund and laundered by Najibs associates through layers of bank accounts in the United States and other countries, financed Hollywood films and extravagant purchases that included hotels, a luxury yacht, art and jewelry. More than $700 million landed in Najibs bank accounts. MDT/AP
The recent domestic violence case with serious criminal circumstances has sparked calls for increased efforts to combat and prevent such incidents.

The director of the Womens General Association of Macau, Wong Lei Lei, has emphasized the need for continued follow-up by judiciary and social assistance departments to protect victims rights and help them escape cycles of abuse.

Wong urged victims to seek help bravely and use judicial procedures to prevent domestic violence from recurring.

Responding to the police details, Wong expressed deep concern over the abusers repeated violence against his wife, underscoring the violation of the victims dignity and human rights. This incident not only affects those involved but also has a broader negative impact on society.

Wong stressed the importance of condemning such behavior and recommended comprehensive measures to address the issue.

Despite progress in increasing awareness, Wong acknowledged that domestic violence still persists due to underlying factors, such as economic constraints, housing instability, and concerns about children and family harmony.

Wong called on society to actively promote legal knowledge on the dangers of domestic violence, empowering victims, their loved ones, and even neighbors to identify and report potential cases promptly.

To provide long-term assistance, Wong suggested the government establish a comprehensive domestic violence family support plan, addressing employment, economic support, stable living environments, child care services, and legal assistance. This would strengthen victims determination to seek help, break the cycle of abuse and foster a safer environment.

The Womens Association continues its efforts to achieve zero domestic violence. The organization will provide shelter services while working to improve the Law on Preventing and Combating Domestic Violence and associated support mechanisms.

On Tuesday, the Judiciary Police said that suspect for the most recent domestic violence case was engaged in drunken behavior, and accused the victim, his wife, of having an affair.

He allegedly stripped her clothes, beat her, forced her to kneel and pray, tied her up with a telephone wire, and covered her mouth with a cloth. The abuse lasted for over two hours, leaving the victims head and body injured in multiple places. Victoria Chan
The government has affirmed yesterday that the utilization of land reclaimed by the administration in the past few years will strictly adhere to the Land Law and the Urban Planning Law.

The primary goal is to enhance the quality of life of the population by establishing additional green areas and communal amenities, according to a statement released yesterday by the Public Works Bureau.

The bureau emphasized its adherence to land laws and regulations in managing the citys limited land resources, adding that the government reviews applications for temporary use of state-owned land and only approves those that provide public benefits.

Recent examples include the seaside area near the Kun Iam Statue, Hac Sa Temporary Green and Leisure Area and the recently announced Macau Outdoor Performance Area next to Grand Lisboa Palace and Lisboeta Macau.

When the government implements the final use of the land, it will reclaim the temporarily utilized areas. This measured approach ensures that state-owned land benefits the public, rather than sitting idle. It can be said that it is reserved as a land bank for future public uses aligned with Macaus development policies and urban planning.

In the statement, the bureau remarked that about 26% of the 720,000 square meters of state-owned land has been used for public facilities like government offices, elderly housing, and public housing.

The citys Master Plan proposes to divide Macau into eight zones by land use and 18 planning districts to facilitate detailed zoning and provide development parameters. It aims to increase land for commercial use to 4% of the total area, up from the current 0.6%, by adding more commercial areas clustered around residential zones to reduce commuting time and ease traffic congestion, enhancing accessibility and connectivity. Nadia Shaw
Yesterday, the SAR government initiated a collaborative clearance effort involving various departments to reclaim a parcel of state-owned land, spanning approximately 27,000 square meters in Zone B, that had been illegally occupied. The site is currently occupied by vehicles, containers, construction machinery, equipment, and miscellaneous items. The Public Works Bureau had previously commenced procedures for the vacation of the land, mandating that illegal occupants vacate and return the land to the SAR government within a specified timeframe.

Related
Rishi Sunak has covered thousands of miles in the past few weeks, but he hasnt outrun the expectation that his time as Britains prime minister is in its final hours.

United Kingdom voters will cast ballots in a national election today, passing judgment on Sunaks 20 months in office, and on the four Conservative prime ministers before him. They are widely expected to do something they have not done since 2005: Elect a Labour Party government.

During a hectic final two days of campaigning that saw him visit a food distribution warehouse, a supermarket, a farm and more, Sunak insisted the outcome of this election is not a foregone conclusion.

People can see that we have turned a corner, said the Conservative leader, who has been in office since October 2022. It has been a difficult few years, but undeniably things are in a better place now than they were.

But even a last-minute pep talk at a Conservative rally Tuesday night by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson  who led the party to a thumping election victory in 2019  did little to lift the partys mood. Conservative Cabinet minister Mel Stride said Wednesday it looked like Labour was heading for an extraordinary landslide.

Labour warned against taking the election result for granted, imploring supporters not to grow complacent about polls that have given the party a solid double-digit lead since before the campaign began. Labour leader Keir Starmer has spent the six-week campaign urging voters to take a chance on his center-left party and vote for change. Most people, including analysts and politicians, expect they will.

Labour has not set pulses racing with its pledges to get the sluggish economy growing, invest in infrastructure and make Britain a clean energy superpower.

But nothing has really gone wrong, either. The party has won the support of large chunks of the business community and endorsements from traditionally conservative newspapers including the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sunday Times.

Former Labour candidate Douglas Beattie, author of the book How Labour Wins (and Why it Loses), said Starmers quiet stability probably chimes with the mood of the country right now.

The country is looking for fresh ideas, moving away from a government thats exhausted and divided, Beattie said. So Labour are pushing at an open door.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, have been plagued by gaffes. The campaign got off to an inauspicious start when rain drenched Sunak as he made the announcement outside 10 Downing St. on May 22. Then on June 6, Sunak went home early from commemorations in France marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion, missing a ceremony alongside United States President Joe Biden and Frances Emmanuel Macron.

Several Conservatives close to Sunak are being investigated by the gambling regulator over suspicions they used inside information to place bets on the date of the election before it was announced.

It has all made it harder for Sunak to shake off the taint of political chaos and mismanagement thats gathered around the Conservatives since Johnson and his staff held lockdown-breaching partie s during the COVID-19 pandemic. JILL LAWLESS, LONDON, MDT/AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping is meeting for the second time in as many months as they visit Kazakhstan for a session of an international group founded to counter Western alliances.

Putin and Xi last got together in May when the Kremlin leader visited Beijing to underscore their close partnership that opposes the U.S.-led democratic order and seeks to promote a more multipolar world.

Now theyll be holding meetings amid the annual session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization until today in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

A look at the summit:

WHAT IS THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established in 2001 by China and Russia to discuss security concerns in Central Asia and the wider region, Other members are Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states and dialogue partners include Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

WHOS ATTENDING THIS YEAR?

Besides Putin and Xi, and summit host President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, other leaders there will be Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Emomali Rakhmon of Tajikistan, and President Sadyr Zhaparov of Kyrgyzstan. President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus will attend because his nation is becoming a full member.

Iran is still choosing a successor to President Ebrahim Raisi, killed in a helicopter crash in May, with a runoff election Friday, so acting President Mohammad Mokhbar will attend.

Other guests of the SCO include President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan.

Also present will be U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who is visiting Central Asia. Guterres wants to position the U.N. as an inclusive organization thats talking to all the big clubs, said Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

WHAT SCO LEADERS WONT BE THERE?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India is sending his foreign minister. Indian media reports speculated the recently reelected Modi was busy with the parliament session that began last week. He attended the recent Group of Seven summit in Italy, and some reports also speculated he wants to balance Indias relationship with Russia and the West.

WHAT ARE THEIR GOALS?

Putin wants to show that Russia is not isolated over Western sanctions from the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

An arrest warrant has been issued for him by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for abductions of children from Ukraine. Kazakhstan is not party to the Rome Statute and thus is not obliged to arrest him.

For Putin, the meeting is about prestige and the symbolic optics that hes not alone, Gabuev said.

The meeting is another chance for Putin and Xi to demonstrate the strong personal ties in their strategic partnership as they both face soaring tensions with the West.

Putins meeting with Xi in May showed how China has offered diplomatic support to Moscow and is a top market for its oil and gas. Russia has relied on Beijing as a main source of high-tech imports to keep its military machine running.

The SCO helps China project its influence, especially across Central Asia and the Global South. Xi called for bridges of communication between countries last week and wants to further promote China as an alternative to the U.S. and its allies.

Erdogan could use the meeting to hold talks with Putin, who has postponed several visits to Turkey. The leader of the NATO member has balanced relations with both Russia and Ukraine since the war began, frequently offering to serve as a mediator.

For host Kazakhstan and the other Central Asian nations, the meeting is a way to further their cooperation with bigger, more powerful neighbors. Kazakhstan, for instance, frequently engages with both neighboring Russia and China, while also pursuing links with the West, with visits this year from U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED?

Countering terrorism is a key focus. Russia had what it has called two terrorist attacks this year, with more 145 people killed by gunmen at a Moscow concert hall in March, and at least 21 people were killed in attacks on police and houses of worship in the southern republic of Dagestan in June. In the March violence, the U.S. warned Russian officials about the possibility of an attack  information that was dismissed by Moscow.

The SCO is not a collective security or economic alliance, and there are significant security differences between its members, said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London and a former British ambassador to Belarus. The principal value of the organization lies in the optics of non-Western countries gathering together, he added. EMMA BURROWS, MDT/AP
Sniper Capital, a real estate investment firm, has unveiled plans for six new property projects in the heart of Taipa Village.

The latest ventures will introduce an additional 50,000 square feet of commercial space, transforming and enhancing Taipa Villages shopping, leisure, and dining offerings.

The new developments, scheduled for progressive completion by 2025, feature expansive al fresco terraces and flexible layouts designed for both food and beverage and retail operations.

The flagship project, covering more than 30,000 square feet, will boast a generous 50-meter frontage within a spacious pedestrianized square in the heart of Taipa Village.

This five-storey building will offer both retail and restaurant facilities, drawing design features from the merchant properties that historically occupied the site.

The other five projects will contribute an additional 20,000 square feet of commercial space to the village, adopting a more contemporary design with bright, spacious retail areas and airy, open terraces.

Pamela Chan, managing director of Taipa Village Destination, an affiliate of Sniper Capital, said, Our latest ventures represent a substantial investment in Taipa Villages future. The projects innovative designs draw inspiration from the areas rich history, creating attractive settings that resonate with the cultural charm of the neighborhood.

She said the new properties, located close to more than 30,000 hotel rooms on Cotai, are curated to cater to the growing number of visitors flocking to Taipa Village.

Through sensitive refurbishment, repurposing and redevelopment of local village houses, the firm, in collaboration with Taipa Village Destination, has transformed the area into one of Macaus most distinctive districts.

Chan expressed enthusiasm about continuing to work closely with local authorities to optimize the neighborhoods environment and introduce more creative venues that will further elevate Taipa Villages cultural and lifestyle appeal. Victoria Chan
The Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China has ousted fishing vessels and patrol boats of Japan from the waters of the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku), which are the subject of a territorial dispute between the two countries, Azernews reports.

"The ships of the Chinese Coast Guard reacted in accordance with the law, took the necessary control measures, issued a warning and ousted the Japanese vessels," he is quoted as saying on the agency's website.

He noted that the Diaoyu, along with the neighboring islands, are an integral territory of China. "We call on Japan to immediately cease all illegal activities in these waters," Liu Dejun said.

He pointed out that the Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China will continue to carry out law enforcement activities in waters under the jurisdiction of China.
The Court of Final Appeal has dismissed appeals of the Suncity co-defendants, including former junket mogul Alvin Chau.

Chaus sentence of 18 years imprisonment remains unchanged, marking the official closure of a landmark case that initiated the crackdown on junkets in the SAR.

In a statement, the Office of the President of the Court of Final Appeal said other co-defendants including Si Tou Chi Hou and Cheung Yat Ping Ellute were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, while Ali Celestino and Cheong Chi Kin, were sentenced to 12 years and six months imprisonment.

Chau Chun Hee, Lou Seak Fong, Wong Pak Ling Philip and Leong Su Weng were also sentenced between nine years to 12 years and six months imprisonment.

Chau was accused of making HKD17.66 billion and HKD7.2 billion from parallel betting as well as telephone and online betting.

He and two co-defendants had made about HKD616.97 million and RMB17 million in profit from money laundering.

Late last year, the middle court also ruled Chau and eight co-defendants must pay the government, jointly, for the amounts.

The management of the parallel betting companies held by Chau should also compensate the government for proceeds of parallel betting, jointly and severally.

In a statement yesterday, the final court maintained that all defendants should pay the Macau government HKD24.865.076.093,70, which is the total value of the illicit proceeds obtained through the illicit exploitation of gambling.

Chau, the boss of the former casino intermediary, Suncity, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for illegal gambling, running a triad and for major fraud, among other charges in January 2023.

Chau was charged with 289 allegations, of which 229 concern operating illicit gambling in authorized venues.

The court convicted him of 103 of the 229 allegations.

The remaining 126 charges were dropped due to the statute of limitations.

Chau was found guilty on 59 other charges and was cleared of the charge related to money laundering.

Following the convictions, Chau has made multiple appeals.
Taiwan said yesterday that China warned Taiwans coast guard against interfering in the detention of a Taiwanese fishing boat.

The incident comes amid heightened political tensions following the election of the islands leader William Lai Ching-te, whose party rejects unification with the mainland, and an apparent threat by Beijing to execute diehard advocates of Taiwan independence.

Taiwans coast guard repeated its call for the release of the boat and its crew members who were taken from waters off the Taiwanese-controlled island of Kinmen just off the Chinese coast on Tuesday night.

A spokesperson for Taiwans coast guard, Hsieh Ching-chin, said the boat was not in Chinese waters when it was boarded by Chinese agents and steered to a port in the Chinese province of Fujian.

The Dajinman 88 was intercepted by two Chinese vessels, and Taiwan dispatched three vessels to help but the one that got close to the fishing boat was blocked by three Chinese boats and told not to interfere, the coast guards initial statement said.
Washington cant shake off its responsibility of amending the damage it had caused to Afghanistan, a call made by the Afghan public and the international community for the participating parties at the third round of UN-convened talks on Afghanistan being held in Doha, the Qatari capital.

At the end of August 2021, the last U.S. troops left Afghanistan after two decades of war, leaving a war-battered and even more impoverished country behind.

We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And its the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country. Thats what U.S. President Joe Biden has claimed on the U.S. armys withdrawal from Afghanistan in July 2021.

As irony would have it, Washington, as the presidents remarks suggested, was blatant to assume moral high ground after 20 years of chaos and bloodshed. The reality of the violent history wont be altered as the war killed 174,000 Afghans, including more than 30,000 civilians, and displaced nearly one-third of the population.

The United States has a moral obligation to Afghanistan and a responsibility to contribute to its economic reconstruction, said Jalal Bazwan, an expert in international relations at Kabul-based Kardan University.

An exploded bomb killed four children, who had mistaken it for a toy, in north Afghanistans Faryab Province on June 16. Such tragic incidents, occurring with alarming frequency, underscore the lingering peril posed by the 1,228 cluster bombs with 248,056 bomblets dropped by U.S. forces in 2001 and 2002, according to the Cluster Munition Coalition.

Over 20 percent of the bombs do not explode on impact and remain active on the ground, being the source of civilian casualties, said medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, or Doctors Without Borders. The International Committee of the Red Cross pointed out that children are the most vulnerable victims of unexploded ordnance, noting in its report that 640 children were killed or injured in 541 incidents involving landmine explosions and explosive remnants between January 2022 and June 2023.

Unexploded bombs have led to grave consequences for Afghanistans agriculture, on which the landlocked countrys economy is mainly dependent, said Sadiq Shinwari, an Afghan military expert.

Afghanistan, among many countries, is bearing the brunt of coercive financial statecraft. The United States should stop exacerbating Afghansitans predicament by freezing some 7 billion U.S. dollars worth of assets of Afghanistans central bank and imposing sanctions. These measures have further destabilized the Afghan economy, driving price rises and reducing international assistance.

An estimated 23.7 million Afghans require humanitarian aid in 2024  more than half of the countrys population, with a staggering nine out of 10 people living in poverty. The Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2024 necessitates 3.06 billion U.S. dollars to 17.3 million Afghans targeted for assistance, but it had only received 16.2 percent of the required funds as of May 15.

Natural calamities, including last years earthquake in the western Herat province and recent floods in the north, claimed nearly 3,000 lives, leading to an even direr humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Yet, U.S.-induced disaster is equally devastating. The war-ravaged infrastructure doubled the time required for aid to reach disaster zones. Sanctions on the banking system restricted withdrawals, leaving victims unable to access enough relief funds in time.

The U.S.-initiated sanctions imposed on the Afghan caretaker government have undermined vital humanitarian aid supply to the war-torn country, said Martin Schuepp, director of operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It is key that all sanctions have humanitarian exemptions, which allows humanitarian organizations such as the ICRC to operate and to be able to reach the people in need.

[Abridged]

Zhao Jiasong & Zou Xuemian, Xinhua Commentary
Heading into the Fourth of July holiday, the Madison and Dane County public health department closed nearly half of area beaches to swimming Wednesday due to poor water quality.

Water at 12 of the 25 beaches was declared off limits, including at BB Clarke, James Madison, Olbrich and Spring Harbor. An abundance of E. coli caused by runoff from recent heavy rains was the most common reason for a closure. Tenney Beach is closed because of construction there.

Public Health Madison and Dane County monitors water quality at each of the beaches, located across five lakes, at least once a week for E. coli and blue-green algae. Testing begins Memorial Day weekend and runs through Labor Day.

Beaches closed are: BB Clarke (E. coli), Esther Beach (E. coli), Frost Woods (E. coli), Hudson Park Lake Access Point (blue-green algae), James Madison (E. coli), Lake Mendota County Park Beach (E. coli), Marshall (E. coli), McDaniel Park (E. coli), Olbrich (E. coli), Olin (E. coli), Schluter (E. coli), Spring Harbor (E. coli) and Tenney (construction).

Mostly sunny skies and a high of 84 are forecast for Thursday. The public Goodman Pool in Madison is open Thursday from 1 to 5:45 p.m.

Cities with the fewest community pools per capita Cities with the fewest community pools per capita Public pools are more common in eastern US cities Cities with the fewest community pools per capita
Wisconsins nonpartisan cable network that gives viewers access to footage of government hearings, news conferences and the like appealed to political campaigns on Wednesday not to use its footage in negative ads, saying it makes the network look complicit in the mud-slinging.

WisconsinEye President Jon Henkes told the Wisconsin State Journal he and his colleagues have received several complaints about at least one ad that used footage from the nonprofit network, which is not affiliated with any political party and is considered the Wisconsin version of C-SPAN.

We need to stand up for the integrity of our mission, Henkes said. The cornerstone of that mission, according to the networks website, is to inspire informed citizen participation in our representative democracy, across generations, throughout Wisconsin.

While the content it covers is necessarily political, the network doesnt engage in advocacy, Henkes said. But presumption is reality in the minds of some.

Henkes did not specify which campaign or campaigns have used WisconsinEye footage in negative ads or which candidates they were attacking. Before issuing a press release on the matter Wednesday, Henkes said, the network complained privately to the campaign. The campaign staffers said only that they understood WisconsinEyes position but did not commit to pulling the ad, Henkes said.

We will call out those who do this, but for the time being we hope this is a bit of an inoculation, he said.

Henkes acknowledged, however that there isnt any legal recourse the network can take against a campaign.

Federal fair use does not give WisEye a legal leg to stand on with this issue, he said.

WisconsinEye does require its users to sign a user agreement, which states users will not use WisconsinEye video for political or commercial purposes. But Henkes said there isnt much the network can legally do to compel anyone to stop, unless they commit libel or slander, which are difficult to prove when public officials are the targets of the ads.

In his press release, Henkes noted some advocacy and political groups have requested footage from WisconsinEye, but These requests have been denied.

Unfortunately, those parties are likely to follow the example set by others who simply download the video in violation of the user agreement and disservice to the WisconsinEye mission, he said.
The Twin Falls Police Department is seeking the publics help in identifying two individuals who were seen leaving the scene where a man was fatally shot Wednesday evening at a Twin Falls apartment complex.

The man, Miguel Lawrence Garza, 35, was found after a 7:22 p.m. report of shots fired near Fawnbrook Apartments. Police arrived shortly afterward and Garza was transported to St. Lukes Magic Valley Medical Center.

He died Thursday morning, The Twin Falls Police Department reported Thursday.

In addition to photos and a short video of the possible suspects, police have released photos of two vehicles that might be related to the incident and are asking for the publics help in identifying their owners.

A two-door white Dodge pickup has a faded Dodge decal on the tailgate, no plates, four hooks on the top bed rail, and what appears to be a temporary registration in the driver-side rear window. The SUV appears to be a four-door grey or silver Ford Explorer with chrome door handles, chrome/silver wheels, and a roof rack.

The men and women of the Twin Falls Police Department are actively working to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and have made this a top priority to find the person or persons responsible for this crime and bring them to justice, Police Chief Craig Kingsbury said.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner, Jr. met on Wednesday with members of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers, Inc. (AGFO) to discuss key security issues.

According to Department of National Defense (DND) Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, two defense officials discussed with former DND Secretary Renato de Villa and the AGFO President and Board of Trustees Vice Admiral Emillio Marayag the priorities of the DND under the current administration.

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Andolong said Teodoro also shared the departments policy direction on crucial defense challenges, particularly on the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS). He said the DND chief thanked the AGFO for its support in the ongoing government efforts to address these issues.

Among the hot topics they talked about include the continuing Chinese aggression in the WPS and the illegal crime hubs posing as offshore gaming operators in the country, according to Andolong.

On June 20, the AGFO in a statement commended the Philippine Navys professionalism in response to the June 17 clash in Ayungin Shoal, while stating its support for the government in its stance to assert the countrys sovereign rights in the WPS.
Lithuanian authorities have fined online second-hand marketplace Vinted nearly 2.4 million euros ($2.6 million) for infringing its users personal data rights, the Baltic countrys data protection watchdog said Wednesday.

The Vilnius-headquartered company told AFP it will appeal the penalty.

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Clients in France  Vinteds largest market by number of customers  and Poland had lodged a number of complaints against the platform from 2020 onwards.

These complaints, alleging that the company had not properly implemented user requests to delete or access their personal data, were forwarded onto Lithuanias State Data Protection Inspectorate (SDPI).

After an investigation, the SDPI ruled that Vinted had infringed several articles of the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Among other breaches, the SDPI found Vinted had infringed on the principles of accountability, lawfulness, fairness and transparency enshrined in the GDPR.

We fundamentally disapprove of this decision, Vinted told AFP.

The company added that it believes the ruling has no legal basis and sets a new precedent that goes beyond both current legislation and industry practice.

When deciding on the size of the 2,385,276-euro fine, the SDPI took into account Vinteds cross-border scope, the fact that the breaches affected a large number of users and took place over a long period of time.

Vinteds improper implementation of data protection principles negatively affected the ability of users of the platform to exercise other rights under the GDPR, the SDPI added.

Finally, the SDPI said that the company could not demonstrate it had taken action to improve user access to their personal data, and did not do enough to ensure implementation of the principle of accountability.

Vinted was founded in Vilnius in 2008 by Lithuanian entrepreneurs Justas Janauskas and Milda Mitkute.

Users can sell their second-hand goods  notably used clothing and accessories  by listing them on the platform, accessed either by the companys mobile application or by web browser.

The company claims to have over 100 million users worldwide, and in 2023 turned a profit for the first time in its history.

It employs more than 2,000 people, the majority of whom are based in Lithuania.
By News Centre

Turkiye is actively engaged in resolving the crisis between Somalia and Ethiopia concerning Somaliland. Recently, the foreign ministers of both countries met with Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan in Ankara and signed a memorandum of understanding to address the issue. Turkiye was acknowledged and thanked in the joint statement. The second round of talks is scheduled for September 2.

Turkiye assuming responsibility as a key mediator in international crises, has initiated diplomatic efforts to overcome the Somalia-Ethiopia crisis. During their recent visit to Turkiye, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia signed a joint memorandum expressing mutual commitment to resolving their differences. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan noted progress in discussions between Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and Somali Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Ahmed Muallim Fiqi, announcing the upcoming second round of talks on September 2. Fidan expressed satisfaction at Turkiye's facilitative role, citing deep-rooted relations and extensive cooperation with Ethiopia and Somalia.

Fidan emphasized Turkiye's dedication to peace, diplomacy, and goodwill, underscoring the parties' high trust in Turkiye and President Erdo?an. He highlighted thorough discussions among delegations, acknowledging both sides' sensitivity to the issues.

Following Fidan's remarks, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the "Joint Ankara Statement" detailing talks facilitated by Turkiye between Ethiopia and Somalia. According to the statement, the foreign ministers exchanged views on their differences in a sincere, friendly, and forward-looking manner, developing perspectives within a mutually acceptable framework. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful resolution and thanked Turkiye for its facilitation and constructive contributions.

According to diplomatic sources, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Musa Bihi Abdi signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 1, granting Ethiopia rights over 20 kilometers of Somaliland's coastline for 50 years and access to Berbera Port. This move, including Ethiopia's recognition of Somaliland, triggered strong reactions from Somalia, escalating tensions. Ethiopian authorities later clarified that formal recognition of Somaliland was not currently under consideration. On May 8, President Erdo?an received Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's special envoy Mulatu Teshome Wirtu and Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie, who delivered a letter from Prime Minister Ahmed requesting Turkiye's mediation between Somalia and Ethiopia.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Rummaging in the darkness of a tiny mud and thatch home in eastern Sierra Leone, ecologist James Koninga plucks a metal rat trap from under a collapsed bedframe.

The 62-year-old belongs to a group of researchers tracking the deadly Lassa fever, a viral hemorrhagic illness endemic in several West African countries and transmitted by infected rats.

Koninga knows all too well what is at stakehe spent a grueling 20 days in hospital with a Lassa-induced fever, headache and diarrhea as a young researcher 30 years ago.

"I thought I was going away, I was going to die," he said.

Ten years ago, the hemorrhagic Ebola virus devastated this region, killing over 11,000 people across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Sierra Leone has not recorded an Ebola case since the outbreak ended in 2016, thanks partly to a vaccine rollout.

In Kenema district, an early Ebola epicenter, scientists are using the lessons learned a decade ago to try to stop Lassa fever in its tracks.

With an overall fatality rate of one percent, Lassa is nowhere near as deadly as Ebola, which kills on average 50 percent of sufferers, according to the World Health Organization.

But one in five Lassa infections can result in severe illness with a fatality rate of 15 percent.

While cases have largely plateaued in Sierra Leone, researchers are seeing a spread beyond traditional Lassa hotspots.

There is no licensed vaccine and only limited treatment, with the scars of Ebola preventing many from seeking early life-saving help.

Living with rats

Monitoring the rodent population is crucial in remote villages like Mapuma, where some 20 houses lie enveloped by dense forest.

"Rats burrow inside the houses for shelter," explained Koninga, donning a face shield and gloves.

Humans usually contract Lassa virus after having contact with the urine, saliva or droppings of infected rats.

"If people come in from the bush with cuts on them and lie on the bed, they could be infected."

Proximity to the forest, rudimentary mud construction, and uncovered grain and water storage make the dwellings "five-star hotels" for rats, said Lansana Kanneh, 58, field supervisor at the region's Kenema Government Hospital (KGH).

"Food is scarce for these people so sometimes they even eat the food that has been partially eaten by the rodent," he added.

Trappers can find up to 20 rats per day in some villages.

After identifying if the rodents are the Lassa-carrying Mastomys variety, samples are collected for analysis.

The rats then receive an injection that prevents viral transmission before being released.

Lassa virus infects between 100,000 and 300,000 people annually in West Africa, killing roughly 5,000, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the figures likely underestimate the true scale given surveillance challenges.

Admissions to the Lassa unit at KGHSierra Leone's only dedicated treatment centerhave declined in the past decade.

Patients normally arrive in the 14-bed isolation ward during the dry season from November to May, but this once-predictable pattern is increasingly uncertain.

'Lassa blood'

"Now we see cases year-round," said Donald Grant, head of the KGH Lassa fever program.

The team are also noticing Lassa beyond traditionally endemic zones, with Grant suspecting an improvement in testing as well as deforestation driving rodents into closer contact with humans.

Over the past decade, KGH has also seen an alarming uptick in Lassa patient mortality, which now stands at over 50 percent.

"We've seen a lot of these cases coming in in their late stages," said Kanneh.

"Sometimes they only spend 24 to 48 hours in the hospital, and they die."

Rapid detection is the key to survival, but non-specific febrile symptoms mean Lassa is commonly misdiagnosed as malaria, cholera or typhoid.

Hours-long journeys on dirt roads prevent many from seeking treatment.

As does the trauma from Ebola, which killed some 4,000 Sierra Leoneans.

"The community people thought that Ebola was brought by the health workers," Kanneh said, explaining that a lingering mistrust contributed to reduced admissions.

A KGH team raises awareness in local communities about seeking rapid help and ensuring good domestic hygiene.

It is a message well-received by Musa Mosoh, a 53-year-old Lassa survivor who lost seven family members to the illness.

As the morning rain fell in his village of Pangumaa Lassa red zoneMosoh recalled how his family had faced stigma from the community.

"Now... people have got the understanding we are not from Lassa blood, it's just a sickness."

Mosoh tells those with a continuous fever or headache to go straight to the hospital, and even keeps cats to repel any virus-carrying rodents.

Grant, the doctor, is hopeful of a vaccine in the next few years.

Participants in Nigeria and Liberia are currently being given the first-ever Lassa vaccine to reach phase two trialsthe midway point of testing in humans.

But Grant still urges caution.

Ebola "taught us a lesson that we need not wait until that critical moment that it overwhelms all of us," he said.

"We need to act now."

 2024 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The road leading to a career in pediatrics is becoming more deserted these days, and the decline in subspecialty interest has led to significant concerns regarding the ability of health care professionals to meet the growing demands of our pediatric population. Not having an adequate workforce is worrisome, and young doctors saying "nope, not interested" is a warning sign to the future of child health care.

Katherine Jordan, MD, and Priyanka Rao, MD, from the UNC Division of General Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, are authors of a new perspective titled, "Where are all the pediatricians?" Published in JAMA, the article offers an analysis and an in-depth look into why careers in pediatrics are dwindling.

"We are worried that the recent pediatric match results, in which programs had a hard time filling their slots, means that the shortage of some pediatric subspecialties will get worse," Jordan said.

"This tells us that there is going to be an ongoing growing gap in the number of pediatricians who complete their residency programs with almost 10% decrease across the nation," Rao said. "We will not have enough pediatricians to care for children, and this will disproportionally affect already vulnerable children and communities."

The JAMA analysis shows that the pediatric match rate in 2017 was about 98%, and the rate dropped to 91.8% in 2024, even after the supplemental phase of the match, which helps unmatched medical students find spots in residency programs.

Jordan and Rao also say that applications to pediatric programs from allopathic (MD) programs have been steadily decreasing over the past five years. These results lead to a significant number of pediatric positions remaining unfilled and there are reasons why, financial pressures being one of them.

"Medical school costs and thus debt burden can be very high for many graduates, and it can be hard to enter a low paying specialty if you need to repay a lot of debt," said Jordan. "Pediatrics has traditionally been one of the lowest paying specialties in part because pediatricians are reimbursed lower for similar services, as a large portion of our patients are insured by Medicaid."

Adding to the challenge of a large debt burden is the complexity of care in children that has increased, especially when a child presents with a chronic condition. Not only that, pediatricians are also seeing a dramatic increase in mental health concerns for pediatric patients which puts a strain on families and providers.

Since the workforce is becoming more inadequate, pediatricians often see themselves as part physician, part psychologist, and part social worker all in one.

As a child grows you see physical changes, but in addition to that, there's emotional and psychological changes evolving as well. Without a substantial workforce to help support the growing well-being of children across the country, this population will continue to reap negative effects, Jordan and Rao say.

The authors also emphasize that administrative burden around an electronic health record-based system can make the workload challenging for physicians. Rao and Jordan state that there is already pressure to increase the number of patient visits, and once the patient arrives, the physician has limited time to provide care. Adding to the workload is this electronic health record-based system which requires more time away from the patient.

"In many specialties, including pediatrics, a large portion of the day is spent in front of a computer, which takes away from the reason many of us went into medicine," said Jordan. "Efforts to reduce physician time in the electronic medical records, including efforts already in process at UNC, can allow us to spend more time face to face with families."

The article argues that some states' laws have limited physicians' ability to provide confidential care to adolescents, reproductive management, or care for transgender patients.

The authors mention how these laws have affected medical school applicants who want to work in the pediatric field in specific states. As a result, some patient populations will be more at risk of poor geographic access to health care.

Drs. Rao and Jordan recognize that although there are many complex challenges affecting the pediatric workforce, there are strategies to strengthen the pediatric applicant pool.

They suggest more funding to be considered for equitable reimbursement for children's hospitals, increased wages for pediatric medical specialties, a decrease in administrative burdens and efforts to lift restrictions being placed on specific medical confidential care.

The article highlights how pediatric care needs to be addressed and how advocating for change to support sustainability is an important starting point.

To meet the physical and mental needs of individual children, both Rao and Jordan believe that these efforts could help turn the tide in our nation's decreasing pediatrician rate, while also helping patients, families, and their health care providers.
Renowned author Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, and others tied to the Indigenous arts say they communicate a strong message: We are still here.

Carrie Moran McCleary, who lives on the Crow Reservation in Montana but is Little Shell Chippewa, is a designer of Indigenous fashions. The traditional arts of Native Americans provide a window into their experiences as human beings, she said.

Art is going to tell stories, Moran McCleary said. For me, the story is always going to be: We are still here.

That prevailing and rallying message will take center stage July 13 during the Montana Folk Festival in Uptown Butte. The work of Moran McCleary and four other Indigenous fashion designers will be featured during the First Peoples Native Fashion Show. The one-hour show will begin at 5 p.m. at the Original Mineyard main stage.

The First Peoples fashion show has been held in years past during the folk festival. But this will be its first year occupying the high-visibility, high-octane venue at the Original Mineyard.

The move to the festivals main stage coincides with the national and international embrace of Indigenous fashions, Moran McCleary said. The momentum gained strength in 2020, she said, when the U.S. began to pay more attention to the riches of diversity.

Some Indigenous designers gained a foothold in the larger fashion industry by collaborating with luxury brands, big upscale brands, Moran McCleary said.

Film and TV series also played a role, she said, with the emergence of shows like Reservation Dogs and the prominence of actor Lily Gladstone, raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and model and actress Quannah Chasinghorse, a member of the Han Gwichin and Oglala Lakota tribes.

The internet allows Indigenous designers to display and sell fashions without having to maintain a large inventory, Moran McCleary said.

Each of the five Indigenous designers highlighted during the Montana Folk Festival will have a presence also during the weekend at the First Peoples Market.

The designers are: Moran McCleary, Little Shell Chippewa; Della Bighair-Stump, Apsaalooke (Crow Tribe); Rebekah Jarvey, Chippewa Cree; Joanne Brings Thunder, Eastern Shoshone; and Yolanda OldDwarf, Apsaalooke (Crow Tribe).

OldDwarf, who grew up in Pryor, savors the Indigenous fashion event at the Montana Folk Festival.

This is one of my favorite shows because the crowd is so excited, she said. I feel like its been so welcoming for our Indigenous fashions and Indigenous point of view. Im really looking forward to it.

Indigenous fashions often honor traditional techniques and tribal patterns, such as bold geometric designs.

OldDwarf said her late father, Nathan OldDwarf, taught her non-native mother, Julie Kreitzberg, how to bead and sew, skills Kreitzberg has passed on.

In 2018, OldDwarf, who describes herself as an entrepreneur, launched Sweet Sage Woman.

Jarvey, whose work is rooted in four generations of beadwork and sewing, has collaborated with Nike for its N7 Indigenous traditions collection and has presented collections in Cannes, France, and during the New York Fashion Week.

An August 2022 article featured in Vogue, included Jarvey among 15 Indigenous artists to know from this years Santa Fe Indian Market.

Bighair-Stump emphasizes that her designs  beadwork, floral appliques and more  reflect Crow traditions.

I dont do other tribal designs, Bighair-Stump has written. I respect all tribal heritages and designs. Designs are respected, only created rightfully, by your own tribal members and teachings from elders.

Bighair-Stump is the owner and designer of Designs by Della.

She attended the Paris Fashion Week in 2019 and has had dresses displayed at the Smithsonian.

Brings Thunder describes the earth as sacred, part of a web of creation. She has said her art results from the direct influences of her family and the Shoshone culture.

She started learning traditional arts at age 5 from her maternal grandmother, respected beadwork artist Eva McAdams. As an adult, she attended the Colorado Institute of Art and received an undergraduate degree in Interior Design. She later received a graduate degree in architecture.

In 2012, according to an article on the First Peoples Fund website, Brings Thunder observed, Prior to contact with European explorers, traders and settlers, Shoshone lived in harmony with their natural environment. Their practices were based on acute awareness, and knowledge of ecology, the need for sustainability, climate and earth science. This knowledge has, through thousands of years, been shared with subsequent generations, allowing us to love and demonstrate environmental responsibility by respecting the ideas of sustainability and continuous relationships.

No generalization can capture the richness, power and diversity of Indigenous fashion. But Moran McClearys observation about her own work might come close.

My work is centered in the union of contemporary style and traditional designs, she has said.

The annual Montana Folk Festival will be July 12-14 in Uptown Butte. This year, the First Peoples Native Fashion Show will begin at 5 p.m. on July 13 at the Original Mineyard stage. Admission to the Montana Folk Festival is free.
The National Border Guard Service of Panama has closed three illegal crossings from Colombia in the Darien jungle, Azernews reports.

"As part of Operation Shield, the armed forces have taken measures to control mass illegal migration. We are talking about blocking three illegal crossings used by illegal migrants on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts," the Panamanian border guards noted.

The department added that patrolling of trails popular among illegal immigrants has also been strengthened. At the same time, one of these routes leading to the Ito de Chukurti area was blocked by special barriers.

"Three unauthorized trails have been blocked in order to direct the flow of illegal migrants through the Canas Blancas crossing, which leads to the city of Bajo Chiquito, in order to concentrate our protection and humanitarian assistance efforts there more effectively," the border guards explained.

"With the arrival of the new government of President Jose Raul Mulino, it is planned to launch a new campaign called Darien, which aims to ensure a climate of peace and tranquility in this region of the country," the ministry concluded.
The National Housing Corporation (NHC) has advertised fifty-nine job opportunities across various departments, inviting interested candidates to apply in a public notice on Tuesday, July 2.

Part of the notice outlined, The Corporation seeks to recruit results-driven and highly motivated individuals.

Among the roles available are two positions for a General Manager in Research, Product Development & Capacity Building. Additionally, the NHC seeks to hire a Project Manager, a Marketing Manager, three Research and Innovation Managers, and an Assistant Manager in Interior.

Furthermore, the NHC is actively seeking individuals to fill critical roles such as Principal Construction Officer, Principal Engineer (Civil/Structural), Principal Quantity Surveyor, and Principal Interior Designer.

In terms of employment terms, Grade 2 positions will be contractual for five years, renewable based on performance. Grade 3 roles also offer five-year contracts, renewable upon satisfactory performance, while positions from Grades 4 to 12 are permanent and pensionable.

The NHC underscores its commitment to fairness and equal opportunities as mandated by the Constitution of Kenya. Moreover, the Corporation encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, marginalized communities, and minorities.

Prospective candidates must apply online through the NHC website before the application deadline of July 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM (East African Time). Applicants are required to attach all relevant qualifications, as applications lacking necessary documentation will not be considered.
Moses Kuria, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management, has decided against implementing salary increases for top government officials, citing concerns over the sustainability of public expenditure.

CS Kuria argued that maintaining an annual expenditure of Kes.1.1 trillion to support 900,000 public servants across both levels of government is unsustainable for Kenya.

This amount represents 47% of our national revenues, Kuria explained, leaving the remaining 54 million Kenyans with only 53% to cover critical expenses such as debt servicing, development projects, and other essential services.

Kurias decision comes in response to a Gazette Notice issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) on August 9, 2023. The notice detailed proposed salary and benefit increments for state officers, scheduled to take effect from July 1, aimed at various branches of government, including the Executive, Senate, National Assembly, county governments, and independent commissions.

Proposed Salary Increases

Under the proposed remuneration adjustments, the salaries of certain top officials were set to increase significantly. While the President and Deputy Presidents salaries were to remain unchanged, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and other Cabinet Secretaries were slated to receive Kes.990,000 per month, up from Kes.957,000.

Principal Secretaries, the Inspector General, and the Director General of NIS were to see their monthly earnings rise to Kes.819,844 from Kes.792,519, while the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police, Administration Police, and the Director of Criminal Investigations were in line for Kes.684,233, up from Kes.652,742.

Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate were projected to earn Kes.1,208,362 monthly, up from Kes.1,185,327, and Deputy Speakers would receive Kes.966,690.

Majority and minority leaders were set to earn Kes.800,019.

Governors salaries were also poised to increase to Kes.990,000 from Kes.957,000, and MPs and senators were to see their salaries rise from Kes.725,502 to Kes.739,600, as per the SRCs proposal.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kuria unequivocally stated, As the Cabinet Secretary responsible for Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management, I decline to implement the gazette notice on increased salaries as it applies to the Executive arm of the national government. I urge the Commission to rescind the implementation of the new salary structure across all levels of government.

Kuria further called upon the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and other public sector institutions to lead by example and make the sacrifices they expect ordinary Kenyans to endure.

Reduce Public Wage Bill to 35% of Revenue

He referenced the resolutions of the Third National Wage Bill Conference held from April 15 to 17, 2024, which advocated for reducing the public wage bill to 35% of revenue, as mandated by the Public Finance Management Act 2012.

Kuria highlighted the austerity measures outlined by President William Ruto following the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, emphasizing that these measures necessitate prudence in public spending.

The PFM Act, 2012, clearly stipulates that Kenyas public wage bill should not exceed 35% of the national budget, Kuria reiterated. He stressed that the current trajectory of escalating expenditures on salaries, allowances, and benefits for public servants poses a significant strain on national finances, demanding a balanced approach that ensures fiscal responsibility while fairly compensating public servants.

This is not a challenge we can afford to ignore. Reducing the public wage bill requires a multifaceted approach, one that balances fiscal prudence with a commitment to fair compensation for our public servants, the CS said.

I believed then, just as now, that this is more of a moral and ethical issue than an economic issue. Kuria affirmed.

President William Rutos directive to the National Treasury to review the SRCs gazette notice coincided with Kurias decision. Ruto underscored the imperative for all arms of government to operate within their financial means, especially amidst the fiscal constraints anticipated in the current financial year.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna disclosed the staggering amount allocated to his GK vehicle for use on the Nairobi Expressway upon his appointment as the Deputy Minority Whip at the Senate.

On Wednesday morning, Sifuna used the Nairobi Expressway and was surprised to find Kes.377,000 remaining on his Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) card. The ETC system automatically pays the toll fees without requiring the vehicle to stop, making it convenient for frequent users of the expressway.

However, Sifuna highlighted the extravagant nature of the allocation, especially in light of the current economic climate.

He revealed this information during his submissions in the Senate, emphasizing the need for fiscal responsibility among elected politicians and State officers.

In the revised charges released on January 1, 2024, motorists pay between Kes.170 and Kes.500 to use the Nairobi Expressway.

Major Budget Cuts

Sifuna pointed out that even with the highest toll rate, the Kes.377,000 balance on his card was excessive and unnecessary. He stressed the importance of reducing politicians expenditures to alleviate the financial burden on Kenyan taxpayers.

We need to relook at our budgets and see where we can make major cuts for the public to feel were lessening the budget, Sifuna stated.

When I became the Deputy Minority Whip, I was allocated a GK vehicle. On the first day that I used that car to go home, I used the expressway. I was shocked at the amount of money that is on my ETC card for my Parliamentary car. As of this morning, when I used that same car to come here, there is Ksh.377,000 on my ETC card. I honestly do not need such an amount of money.

Sifunas call for fiscal prudence extends beyond personal allocations. He emphasized the need for all Members of Parliament and staff to be transparent and honest with the Kenyan public about their expenditures.

It does not make sense. MPs and staff have to be honest with Kenyans. There are ways of reducing the expenditure in a manner that will reduce the burden on taxpayers. I dont need all that money, even if I ran up and down the expressway for a year, I would never exhaust the amount. We must do this so that we demonstrate to the people that we are serious.

Audit of the ODPP

Additionally, Sifuna called for an audit of all cases withdrawn by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) in the past 24 months to determine the legal basis for these decisions. He questioned why a politician accused of stealing billions of shillings was let off the hook after agreeing to return Kes.300 million, referencing the recent settlement deal between the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and former Migori Governor Okoth Obado.

I want to call for an audit of all the cases that have been withdrawn in the past 12 or 24 months so that we understand the legal basis for the withdrawal of these cases, he stated.

Sifuna also addressed the planned salary hikes for lawmakers, clarifying that no Member of Parliament had recommended such increases. He asserted that the decision lies with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC)

Nobody asked for that increment, nobody I know asked for it. We should formally resolve that we as senators are not interested in any additional salaries, the Nairobi Senator stated.
08:18

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may be on course for a bruising defeat with his Labour Party rival Keir Starmer set for a landslide win, according to the definitive election night exit poll released on Thursday as polling stations across the country closed in the landmark UK general election.

According to the exit poll, which is often quite close to the final tally, Labour could win as many as 410 seats, comfortably crossing the half way 326 mark and notching up a 170-seat majority with the incumbent Tories down to just 131 seats.

Starmer, looking set to take charge at 10 Downing Street on Friday, took to social media with a message for voters: "To everyone who has campaigned for Labour in this election, to everyone who voted for us and put their trust in our changed Labour Party -- thank you."

His party's wins started to stack up with Houghton and Sunderland in north-east England becoming the very first constituency to declare its result in favour of Labour's candidate Bridget Phillipson as counting kicked off up and down the country.

Sunak also took to social media a little after the ominous exit poll results with his message: "To the hundreds of Conservative candidates, thousands of volunteers and millions of voters: Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your support, and thank you for your vote."

His future as leader of the Conservative Party now hangs in the balance, hours after the British Indian leader and the man who wants his job -- Starmer -- were among the first few voters to cast their votes along with millions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Earlier on Thursday as voting began, Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty walked hand-in-hand to their local polling booth on a sunny day in his constituency of Richmond and Northallerton in Yorkshire, northern England. A little later, Starmer and wife Victoria were at their polling station in Camden, north London, sporting Labour red colours.

Sunak, 44, was facing the impossible challenge of overcoming voter anger against the incumbent Tories after 14 years in power. The 61-year-old Keir Starmer-led Labour Party, meanwhile, maintained a strong lead over the Tories throughout the six-week campaign.

Both leaders wrapped up their poll pitches with contrasting messages -- Sunak urging voters not to hand "tax-raising" Labour a "supermajority" and Starmer playing down the prospect of a landslide win for fear of a low turnout impacting the final outcome. Sunak continued to drive home the message on his X account, asking voters: "Can you trust Labour with a supermajority?"

Candidates were fielded for 650 constituencies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with 326 required for a majority in the first past the post system.

Besides the two main parties, voters were choosing from a list of candidates representing the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Scottish National Party (SNP), SDLP, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Sinn Fien, Plaid Cymru, Workers' Party, the anti-immigration Reform Party and several contesting as Independent.

Around 40,000 polling booths were operating across the country from 7 am local time for an estimated 46 million registered voters to mark a cross next to their chosen candidate on a paper ballot. -- PTI
The Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that a female doctor was terminated for performing a two-finger test, also known as a virginity test, on a minor rape victim, Dawn reported. This disclosure came in a written report submitted in response to a petition filed by the rape suspect, who sought the formation of a medical board to re-examine the victim. According to the report, the Punjab Medicolegal Surgeon investigated the matter following a complaint by the petitioner/suspect. The investigation found ad-hoc Dr Aliza Gill guilty of issuing a medical certificate for the minor victim based on the two-finger test. Consequently, Dr Gill''s appointment was terminated effective July 1, according to Dawn. The department emphasized that, in accordance with the LHC''s 2020 judgement, directives had repeatedly been issued prohibiting the performance or documentation of the two-finger test or virginity test in medicolegal reports for female victims of sexual assault. During the hearing, Services Hospital AMS Hammad and Additional Secretary of the Specialised Healthcare Department Abdul Mannan appeared before the court. Advocate Mian Dawood, representing the petitioner, argued that the police had registered a case against his client on charges of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl. He contended that Aliza Gill from Services Hospital had issued a "bogus and illegal" medical certificate that included the two-finger test for the victim. Justice Farooq Haider voiced concern over the continued use of the two-finger test in hospitals despite the ban, stating, "This case will be brought to a logical conclusion." He highlighted the gravity of issuing medical certificates in violation of the law and suggested that the court might appoint an amicus curiae to assist with the matter. The department''s legal adviser, Raj Maqsood, informed the court that the Surgeon Medical Officer of Punjab had also recommended forming a new medical board to re-examine the victim. The petitioner''s counsel stressed the need for strict implementation of court decisions, arguing that corrupt practices by doctors could harm others if not addressed. He said, "If a fake medical certificate was issued against my client today, corrupt doctors could do the same to someone else tomorrow." Justice Haider also criticized the Kasur police for their failure to present the victim and her mother in court, expressing his displeasure over this non-compliance. He directed the Kasur District Police Officer (DPO) to ensure compliance with the court''s orders. The hearing was adjourned till Thursday, with the judge reiterating the importance of adherence to legal protocols and the need for thorough investigation and accountability in cases of sexual assault, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have expressed their determination to proceed with a record-breaking public gathering in Tarnol, Islamabad, on July 6, despite the federal government''s delay in issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC), Dawn reported. During a press conference held on Tuesday, senior PTI leaders, including Additional Secretary General Firdous Shamim Naqvi, Shoaib Shaheen, and PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal, criticised the administration for what they perceived as obstructionist tactics. They argued that prominent political figures such as Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, and Maryam Nawaz were able to hold public gatherings and sit-ins without any hindrances during PTI''s tenure in power. The leaders vowed that, permission or not, they would ensure the public meeting took place, rallying under the slogan "Qaidi 804 ka Nara, Azadi Haq Hamara." Amir Mughal detailed the PTI''s ongoing struggle to secure an NOC for the event, claiming the administration''s denials were based on "flimsy grounds." He recounted that while the PTI had initially been granted permission to hold a gathering on Ramazan 27, the party leadership declined that date, requesting instead for a date after Eid, according to Dawn. Subsequently, the PTI was permitted to hold the gathering in Rawat, a remote area, but they refused, deeming it unsuitable. Afterwards, the PTI escalated the matter to the Islamabad High Court (IHC). On June 26, Judge Babar Sattar instructed both the PTI leadership and local administration to resolve the issue amicably. Despite an agreement from the Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad to allow the gathering, the NOC had still not been issued after several days. Mughal emphasized the logistical challenges posed by the delay, noting that the PTI needed at least seven days to prepare for such a significant event. Nonetheless, he reassured supporters that the party would proceed with a peaceful gathering, urging people from across Pakistan to join. Firdous Shamim Naqvi underscored that it was their constitutional right to hold peaceful public gatherings. He framed the event not merely as a PTI gathering but as part of a broader grand opposition alliance. Naqvi accused the government of undermining democracy and fundamental human rights through unlawful measures and insisted that the PTI would proceed with the event at the designated place and time, having taken all legally and constitutionally necessary steps, as reported by Dawn. Shamim Naqvi called on the public to participate and make the event historic, arguing that stability in Pakistan could only be achieved by ensuring political parties and state institutions operate within their constitutional limits. He asserted, "It is our constitutional right to hold peaceful gatherings, and this is not just a PTI public gathering but a grand opposition alliance." Shoaib Shaheen echoed these sentiments, highlighting the contrast between the current government''s treatment of PTI and how other political leaders were allowed to conduct public events without obstacles during PTI''s rule. He alleged that PTI leaders and workers had been subjected to state brutality and coercion over the past two years. Emphasizing that the event would go on as planned, Shaheen stated that the government is scared of Imran Khan and PTI, hence, they are not allowing us to hold this public gathering, Dawn reported. (ANI)
Several videos have surfaced on social media platforms showing the family of Zaheer Ahmed Baloch, a forcibly abducted individual from Balochistan, being threatened by uniformed members of the Pakistani defence forces. Reportedly, this incident occurred while his family was organising a protest in Quetta, demanding his safe return. According to PAANK, the human rights department of the Baloch National Movement, a Baloch rights organisation from Pakistan, Zaheer was forcibly abducted by men belonging to the Pakistani forces on June 27 this year. In a post on ''X'', PAANK referenced the incident, stating, "Armed agents of a Pakistani intelligence agency are threatening the peaceful family of Zaheer Baloch, abducted by Pakistani forces on June 27, during a rally demanding his release outside the Session Court. We demand immediate protection for the family and Zaheer''s safe release." https://x.com/paank_bnm/status/1808446965341896742?s=46&t=nbusnwoIYo9hUrDuoWfhwQ Zaheer''s family has been organising protests in various locations in Quetta, demanding his safe return from Balochistan''s administration. Prominent Baloch rights activist Sammi Deen Baloch previously informed that unidentified gunmen had been threatening the victim''s family to halt the protests, despite the local administration being responsible for negotiating and resolving the issue. In another post on ''X'', it was stated, "Zaheer Ahmed was unlawfully abducted by state intelligence agencies on June 27, 2024. His family has been protesting at various locations in Quetta. Despite the administration''s responsibility to negotiate with the families, some gunmen are threatening and harassing the families to stop protesting, and no action is being taken against them. We strongly condemn such tactics and demand the safe release of Zaheer Ahmed." Protests in Balochistan over the rising issue of enforced disappearances are not new. Recently, a sit-in protest camp led by the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), demanding the safe recovery of missing individuals, completed its 5496th day outside the Quetta Press Club. Sibghatullah, the Convener of Baloch Yakjehti Committee''s Makran chapter, along with other top Baloch activists, visited the camp to express solidarity with the families, according to a report by the Balochistan Post. However, incidents of enforced disappearances in Balochistan have not decreased. https://x.com/SammiBaluch/status/1808473920485384648 PAANK reported that in May alone, there were 90 cases of enforced disappearances in Pakistan''s Balochistan. The regions of Kech, Gwadar, and Dera Bugti witnessed 22, 15, and 29 such incidents, respectively. (ANI)
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed opposition in the Punjab Assembly has declared its intention to boycott the house proceedings and abstain from participating in its standing committees. Instead, they plan to conduct a parallel session in a tent outside the assembly building, Dawn reported. "We''ll neither become a part of any house proceedings nor its committees," opposition leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar stated at a press conference on Tuesday. He explained that their decision stemmed from their protest against the suspension of 11 opposition lawmakers for 15 sittings of the house, vowing to continue their boycott until the sanctions are revoked, according to Dawn. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan revoked the official vehicle assigned to the opposition leader and imposed sanctions on 11 members for alleged "rowdyism" during Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz''s budget speech last Friday. Among those facing sanctions are Zulfikar Ali, Shehbaz Ahmed, Muhammad Atif, Tayyab Rashid, Imtiaz Mahmood, Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Ejaz Shafi, Rana Aurangzeb, Shoaib Amir, Osama Asghar Ali Gujjar, and Asad Abbas. They were accused of using non-parliamentary and abusive language towards the chief minister while she was recounting her administration''s achievements during her first 100-day rule. Bhachar asserted that his colleagues were penalized at the behest of the chief minister and for voicing objections to the budget. He argued that the speaker should have issued notices to the members and conducted a hearing before taking action. "Penalising parliamentarians without hearing them is unprecedented," he criticised, questioning how a chief minister could represent 120 million people when unable to face a few legislators. Recalling past incidents during Pervaiz Elahi''s regime, Bhachar noted that the opposition PML-N had even broken chairs in the house without repercussions. The opposition leader expressed their refusal to be embroiled in ''illegal'' cases and announced plans to pursue all available legal avenues against the government''s actions. He also appealed to the government''s leadership to act prudently and avoid exacerbating anti-PTI sentiments. The opposition intends to continue conducting a parallel assembly session in a ''tent chamber'' outside the assembly building, with appointed private staff to facilitate proceedings, Dawn reported. (ANI)
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured 266 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat during the current Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2024-25. Last year, FCI procured 262 LMT of wheat during the same season. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution stated on Wednesday that more than 22 lakh Indian farmers have benefited from the purchase of wheat during RMS 2024-25. About Rs. 61 lakh crore has been directly credited to the bank accounts of these farmers immediately upon the purchase of wheat at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), according to an official release issued on July 3. The provisional figures indicate that the total wheat procurement during RMS 2024-25 stands at 266 LMT, exceeding the RMS 2023-24 figure of 262 LMT and the 188 LMT recorded during RMS 2022-2023. Among the major wheat-producing states, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have shown significant improvements in their wheat procurement quantities. Uttar Pradesh has recorded a procurement of 9.31 LMT compared to 2.20 LMT last year, while Rajasthan has achieved 12.06 LMT, up from 4.38 LMT in the previous season. The government normally commences the procurement of wheat under RMS on the 1st of April every year; however, for the convenience of farmers, it was postponed by about a fortnight this year in most of the procuring states, the Ministry said in the release. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat this year was declared at Rs. 2275 per quintal. The MSP is the minimum price for select crops raised in the kharif and rabi seasons that the union government considers remunerative for farmers and hence deserving of support. It acts as a safety net, ensuring that farmers receive a fair price. "The substantial quantity of wheat procurement has helped FCI to ensure a steady flow of food grains into the Public Distribution System (PDS). This entire procurement process has been pivotal in meeting the annual requirement of approximately 184 LMT of wheat under various welfare schemes, including PMGKAY," the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said. In addition to wheat, during the Kharif Marketing Season 2023-24, paddy procurement for the central pool exceeded 775 LMT, benefiting more than one crore farmers through the disbursement of more than Rs. 1.74 lakh crore to the bank accounts of these farmers towards the purchase of their paddy at MSP, according to the ministry. (ANI)
PNN Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], July 4: Silver Consumer Electricals Private Limited, a beacon of innovation and excellence in the consumer electricals industry, embarks on a new chapter of success and expansion. Under the dynamic leadership of Vinit Bediya, the Managing Director, Silver has achieved remarkable ten-fold growth in the last five years. Vinit has fostered an ownership-driven work culture anchored in strong values and corporate governance standards. Incorporated on 27th August 1981, traditionally Silver has been the manufacturer of Residential and Agricultural Pumps till 2018. In 2019, Vinit Bediya joined and transformed it into one of the fastest-growing consumer electrical companies. Silver is now a research-led consumer electricals player with superior value engineering capabilities. It has a diversified product portfolio with 10,000+ SKU's comprising Pumps, Motors, Fans, Appliances, Agri Equipment, Lighting, and consumer electrical products. Silver has fully backward integrated, eliminating China and external dependency, one of its kind, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities with capabilities for developing and manufacturing next-generation products requiring precision and stringent quality testing, backed by best-in-class R&D facilities. Silver is the largest manufacturing facility spread across 60+ acres of land with more than 30+ lakh square feet of constructed place located near Lodhika, Rajkot having multiple dedicated units under one boundary wall. Massive investments in infrastructure and building proprietary technologies have driven their success over the past 5 years. Marquee investor Arpit Khandelwal, Managing Partner of Plutus Wealth Management LLP, demonstrated confidence in Silver's potential by acquiring an additional 5 per cent stake in the company. In Silver's third fundraising round, Arpit Khandelwal once again subscribed to the entire amount, reflecting a strong and growing partnership between him and Vinit Bediya. This collaboration is poised to become a mega story, contributing to the economy and embodying the spirit of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', taking the company to the global level by contributing to India's growth journey to become a global leader. Commenting on the company's trajectory, Vinit Bediya stated, "Silver is primed for unprecedented growth and success. Our state-of-the-art infrastructure, coupled with a talented workforce and a relentless commitment to innovation, firmly positions us for a pivotal role in the global market. The consistent confidence shown by our investors reaffirms our long-term vision and strategic direction. We are profoundly grateful to our investors for their continued faith and support, which inspire us to strive for excellence and push the boundaries of what we can achieve." Arpit Khandelwal, Managing Partner of Plutus Wealth Management, remarked, "We are excited to deepen our investment relationship, which has now evolved as a partnership with Silver. The company's exponential growth trajectory and strategic initiatives align seamlessly with our investment philosophy. I have a strong conviction in Silver's ability to achieve collective growth and contribute to India's positioning in the global manufacturing market. This investment underscores my belief in the company's potential and my commitment to supporting its journey towards becoming a global leader. We believe that Silver is well-positioned to capture emerging opportunities and deliver sustainable value to its stakeholders." Silver's current cap table also includes legendary pioneer investors like Madhu Kela, who needs no introduction, former Founder of Caratlane Mithun Sacheti and Founder and CIO of Singularity fund Yash Kela. As Silver Consumer Electricals is now valued at enterprise value of Rs 3,600 crores, the company remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. (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)
NewsVoir Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 4: The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road (CPPR), one of the city's most prized infrastructural developments, is progressing rapidly and has entered its final phase of tender before becoming fully operational. This multi-crore project, featuring a 10-lane road with service roads, is designed to directly connect the trade points of Ennore and Mahabalipuram, bypassing city traffic congestion. The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road, set to be Chennai's fourth major ring road, will cover a total distance of 133 km, connecting prominent city points like Singaperumal Koil, Thiruvallur, and Sriperumbudur. The project is estimated to be completed by December 2026. Connectivity Advantages: The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road is projected to significantly benefit commuters by alleviating traffic congestion, regulating traffic accidents, and reducing travel times. It is estimated that the travel time from Mahabalipuram to Sriperumbudur will reduce to just 40 minutes upon the completion of Chennai Peripheral Ring Road. It will also enhance suburban localities such as Singaperumal Koil, Sriperumbudur, Tiruvallur, Tamaraipakkam, Periyapalayam, Puduvoyal, and Kattupalli by facilitating major infrastructural expansions. These expansions will include residential and commercial real estate developments, overpass construction, and elevated corridor installations, leading to a rise in population and settlements. The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road is already considered one of the city's major developments, funded by international and domestic entities like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the Tamil Nadu Road Development Company Ltd (TNRDC). How it benefits Singaperumal Koil: One of the major beneficiaries of this development is Singaperumal Koil. This locality is witnessing significant real estate market expansion due to the large-scale development brought by the Chennai Peripheral Ring Road. Numerous developers are constructing a wide range of residential projects, including apartments, villas, and plotted developments. Singaperumal Koil is also experiencing soaring commercial real estate growth, with the presence of major landmarks such as Mahindra World City, Zoho, Ford, and the SRM Institute. The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road, along with the Singaperumal Koil Railway Overpass, will connect to GST Road, facilitating the convergence of the IT hub on the GST road stretch and the auto-hub on the Oragadam-Sriperumbudur stretch. This will open up future development opportunities, driving a surge in job requirements and settlements, and subsequently increasing the demand for residential real estate. Real Estate Developments: Large parcels of land are already in demand for constructing apartments, villas, and independent buildings. However, plotted developments are emerging as the prime attraction, with land plots selling at reasonable and affordable prices. This offers a great deal for buyers, as these plots are likely to appreciate significantly once the development is complete. The Chennai Peripheral Ring Road development will directly and indirectly lead to skyrocketing real estate appreciation and returns in Singaperumal Koil. Improved connectivity and infrastructure will make the area highly desirable for both residential and commercial investments, ensuring substantial returns for early investors. The strategic location, combined with enhanced accessibility, positions Singaperumal Koil as a prime real estate hotspot poised for unprecedented growth and prosperity. (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)
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 4: Snitch, India's fastest-growing men's fashion brand, has announced a significant upgrade to its customer experience to mark its 4th Anniversary celebrations. As part of the celebration, Snitch is now faster, wider, and more convenient: * 4x faster: Instead of the usual 3-4 days delivery, customers in select cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad can now receive home delivery of Snitch's products within a day. * 4x wider product selection: Snitch strives to cater to every fashion need of Indian men. Therefore, the company has recently launched a new suit collection and has added substantially to its existing line of shirts, t-shirts, trousers, jeans, cargo pants, perfumes, and accessories. * 4x closer to customers: A sense of touch and feel enables customers to make more informed fashion choices. Thus, Snitch has 12 stores in cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Surat, and Vadodara. Moreover, the company is rapidly expanding its on-ground presence and plans to have 40 more stores by the end of FY 25. The celebration does not just end at this. Snitch's loyal customers can join the celebration and enjoy significant sitewide discounts on their shopping of Snitch products. These special deals will be available for a Limited period. "We are truly overwhelmed by the love and support that Snitch has received from our amazing customers over the past four years. The journey has been humbling, and it's with this incredible support in mind that we promise to continue offering the best of everything - exquisite style, unbeatable prices, unmatched reachability, and exceptional customer service," says Siddharth Dungarwal, Founder of Snitch. Don't miss out on the enhanced Snitch experience and amazing anniversary deals. Shop now at snitch.co.in and elevate your fashion game to new heights. Snitch's Journey So Far Founded in 2020, Snitch quickly established itself as a beloved online D2C destination for fashion-forward men. The brand gained significant attention following Siddharth Dungarwal's impressive pitch on Shark Tank India Season 2, securing a deal with all five sharks. Since then, Snitch has become one of the first startup brands to achieve omnipresence early in its journey, opening new stores every two weeks. Snitch has grown 2.5 times since last year and looks to double this year. The brand recently secured Rs. 110 crore in Series A funding to scale talent and technology, and unveil an offline retail strategy. About Snitch Encapsulating inspirations from around the globe, Snitch crafts clothing for the fashion-forward modern man. Started in the year 2020 as a D2C brand with its website snitch.co.in, Snitch offers an unconventional style ethos as a men's fast fashion brand. It designs styles in response to the latest trends. Offering products that align with the latest trends in fast fashion, the brand has carved a unique and unconventional appeal, significantly disrupting the market. (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)
ATK New Delhi [India], July 4: In a remarkable display of technological innovation, students from the Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM) and the University of Engineering Management, Kolkata (UEM), in collaboration with researchers from IEMA Research & Development Private Limited, developed an advanced robot dog who greeted new students, marking an inspiring start to their academic journey. This state-of-the-art creation was introduced during the inaugural ceremony for the new batch of first-year students at IEM and UEM, held at the IEM-UEM Campus. The Robot Dog project exemplified the synergy between academia and industry. The primary role of the robot dog was not only to welcome new students, but its potential applications extended far beyond ceremonial purposes. This robot dog can play significant roles in various sectors, including healthcare, security, search and rescue, customer service, education, and others. In healthcare, this robotic dog can assist in patient care, provide companionship to the elderly, and aid in rehabilitation exercises. To help in the security sector, the dog can perform surveillance, detect intrusions, and enhance safety in public and private spaces. In the search and rescue sector, this technological innovation can navigate through disaster-stricken areas to locate and assist victims. It can also help with customer service by serving as interactive guides in public places like airports, malls, and museums. Not only this, but in the education sector, this robot dog can be used as an interactive learning tool, making education more engaging and hands-on. The mentors and students have planned to further enhance the robot dog's functionalities and explore new applications across various domains. Higher officials from leading IT industries, including Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Capgemini, LTIMindtree, SMS Group, and others, graced the inauguration ceremony. Their presence underscored the importance of industry-academia collaboration and the recognition of student innovations in shaping the future of technology. Guided by Prof. Amartya Mukherjee and Prof. Ayan Kr. Panja from IEM and Souvik Chatterjee from IEMA, the team, including the IEMA researchers Rishit Chakraborty and Soumankyo Sarkar and the IEM students Shreyan Kundu, Nirban Roy, and Srijit Chakraborty, set a new benchmark in robotics and AI. The design and development process involved several stages, including conceptualization, prototyping, programming, and testing. The students and researchers worked tirelessly, overcoming numerous technical challenges. Their perseverance paid off as the robot dog successfully performed its duties during the inauguration ceremony, impressing the attendees with its capabilities. The sight of the robot dog, along with other advanced IoT products, ignited a wave of enthusiasm and motivation among the students, setting a high bar for innovation and excellence in their educational journey. This collaboration of the IEM-UEM group and IEMA Research & Development Pvt. Ltd. eagerly anticipates more groundbreaking projects, continuing to foster a culture of excellence and innovation in engineering and management education. This groundbreaking innovation is a testament to the power of collaboration between academia and industry, brought together by the collective efforts of IEM, UEM, IEMA Research & Development Pvt. Ltd., and esteemed industry partners. Prof. Dr. Satyajit Chakrabarti, Director, IEM-UEM Group, highlighted the broader impact of such innovations. He said that projects like the Robot Dog not only demonstrate the technical capabilities of their students and teachers but also demonstrate the utility of hands-on learning, which is always emphasised at IEM and UEM. He also added that this project has bridged the gap between academia and industry. The institution and the teachers prepare students for the challenges of the industry and encourage them to think creatively and innovatively. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
At the back of robust economic activities in the country, the Global Capability Centres (GCCs) accounted for 37 per cent of the total office leasing in the first half of 2024, CBRE India Office Figures Q2, 2024 report highlights. The CBRE's report further noted that the overall office leasing deals remained strong in the country, with gross office leasing touching 32.8 million sq. ft. during Jan-Jun' 2024. This was an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year basis across the top nine cities of India. Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kochi, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad are the cities where office leasing activities increased during the first half of the current year. Bengaluru had the highest share of office leasing at 39 per cent, followed by Pune at 20 per cent. Hyderabad and Chennai shares are 17 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO, India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE, said, "Towards the later part of 2024, the demand for quality office spaces is poised to remain strong as portfolios expand and utilisation rates rise. India's appeal, supported by a skilled workforce and stable governance, continues to drive transformative shifts in the office sector, marked by diversified tenant demand and economic resilience. The technology sector is likely to continue to lead leasing, alongside anticipated growth in BFSI and Engineering & Manufacturing sectors. As confidence builds and infrastructure advances, Tier-II cities such as Ahmedabad, Coimbatore, Indore, and Nagpur may witness strategic expansions, underscoring India's dynamic office market evolution." Bengaluru led office space absorption with about one-fourth of the total leasing during Jan-Jun' 2024. It was followed by Delhi-NCR at 16 per cent, Chennai at 14 per cent, Pune and Hyderabad each contributing 13 per cent. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai led supply additions, collectively accounting for 69 per cent of the total in the same period. The report indicates technology companies saw the highest share and accounted for 28% of the total office leasing, followed by flexible space operators at 16 per cent, BFSI firms at 15 per cent, engineering and manufacturing (E&M) at 9 per cent and research, consulting and analytics firms (RCA) at 8 per cent during Jan-Jun '24. Additionally, domestic firms led absorption, comprising 43 per cent of the market during Jan-Jun '24. Flexible space operators, technology firms, and BFSI corporates predominantly drove domestic leasing activity in the first half of 2024. GCCs are established by organisations worldwide to make use of global talent, resources, and expertise. They are typically part of larger corporations and provide a range of services such as research and development, IT services, business process outsourcing, and engineering services, among other functions. (ANI)
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 4: Hexaware Technologies, an IT services and solutions provider, announced the launch of its new office in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Through this strategic move, Hexaware aims to tap into Coimbatore's talent pool and leverage it to serve clients globally. While Hexaware's Business Process Services (BPS) division already operates in Coimbatore, the new office will focus on data and testing skills in data modernization, automation, cloud, software development, data compliance and security, gen AI, business intelligence, advanced analytics, and AI. The decision to establish a presence in Coimbatore stems from its strategic and operational advantages. The city boasts a robust talent pool and a ready availability of skilled professionals, making it an ideal location for expansion. Also, Coimbatore's status as an educational hub ensures a continuous influx of talented graduates. The city is also well connected, with a robust bus, air, and railway infrastructure. In line with Hexaware's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), the Coimbatore office proposes to prioritize diversity in its hiring process. By fostering a diverse workforce, Hexaware aims to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to its work environment. Regarding the launch, Vinod Chandran, Chief Operating Officer, Hexaware, said, "With our expansion in Coimbatore, we're excited to enhance our operational capabilities and access the talented workforce in emerging cities. This initiative highlights our ongoing efforts to innovate and deliver quality service." Vikash Jain, Chief Financial Officer, Hexaware, added, "The Coimbatore facility is an important step that enables us to harness the diverse talent available in the region. The expansion will help us better serve our clients with improved efficiency and responsiveness." About Hexaware Technologies Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Our 30,000+ Hexawarians wake up every day with a singular purpose; to create smiles through great people and technology. With this purpose gaining momentum, we are well on our way to realizing our vision of being the most loved digital transformation partner in the world. We also seek to protect the planet and build a better tomorrow for our customers, employees, partners, investors, and the communities in which we operate. With 50 offices in 19 countries, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://www.hexaware.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2237417/Hexaware_NEW_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
On the reluctance of venture capitalists (VCs) to fund Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies in India, Rajan Anandan, Managing Director, PeakXV Partners and Surge said that investors are betting on companies that are using AI-based applications to offer solutions, unlike in the US where investors are funding AI Startups. Speaking on the second day of the Global India AI Summit 2024, hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in New Delhi, Anandan said that AI landscape in the US and India are different.Rajan Anandan highlighted that the Startup opportunities in India are completely different to that in the US. In the US and its bay, everything revolves around AI. Whereas, Startups opportunities in India is about AI square, India presents a unique opportunity blended with AI and its associated uses to solve specific needs and problems of consumers."India today is being built. As India gets built it needs more brands, hospitals, retailers, schools, financial institutions, banks, lenders, insurance companies, and we will need more core technology such as semiconductors etc.," Anandan explained.He said what you are seeing in India today is a very different AI ecosystem. It is much more vibrant and diverse than they are in other countries. Underscoring the new trends in the Startup investment ecosystem, he said that we are beginning to see a very different weave of AI-Application companies in India, the companies that are leveraging AI to build useful applications where investments can be seen. He said that these companies are working across sectors such as consumer applications, healthcare, insurance, services agriculture among others. India doesn't have a scarcity of capital, there are almost 20 billion dollars of dry powder with the venture capitalists and private capital firms together. Dry powder refers to the committed but unallocated capital a firm has on hand.Highlighting the success of India's digital initiatives such as digital payments, he said we always assume that India is behind whenever a new technology comes but the country has proved that the country is best at quickly adopting the revolutionary technologies. "We don't have to be the first or second but we are the best," he added.Going ahead, Anandan batted for bringing AI researchers back to the country citing the successful case of China. Peak XV Partners have made 25 AI investments over the last one and a half years. VCs are investing their funds in the most interesting companies that are engaged in providing unique solutions to consumers. Hosted by MeitY the two-day Global India AI Summit 2024, was inaugurated by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday. The event brought together a distinguished assembly of international delegates, AI experts, and policymakers.Organised in the context of India's leadership role in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), the summit aims to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by AI.With a focus on Compute Capacity, Foundational Models, Datasets, Application Development, Future Skills, Startup Financing, and Safe and Trusted AI, the event promises a comprehensive exploration of the AI landscape. (ANI)
SMPL New Delhi [India], July 4: Policyfy, a leader in innovative insurance solutions, proudly hosted its Monthly Rewards & Recognition event on April 1, 2024, at the company's head office in Peeragarhi. This event, a cornerstone of Policyfy's employee engagement initiatives, was graced by CEO Praneet Sharma as the chief guest. The ceremony was dedicated to celebrating the remarkable achievements and dedication of Policyfy's outstanding employees, highlighting their contributions to the company's ongoing success. Sharma, in his keynote address, emphasized the importance of recognizing and appreciating employee efforts. He stated, "Our employees are the driving force behind Policyfy's success. Their hard work, dedication, and innovative thinking are what set us apart in the industry." The awards presented at the event included the prestigious Leadership Award, which was bestowed upon Manish for his exemplary leadership qualities. Arpita was honored as the Best Performer for her exceptional performance and contributions. The Rising Star award was given to Himanshu, acknowledging his rapid growth and potential within the company. Additionally, Anchal Gupta, Monu, and Ankush were recognized as Employees of the Month for their consistent dedication and outstanding work. The event concluded with a note of appreciation from the HR team, reinforcing Policyfy's commitment to fostering a positive and motivating work environment. The company continues to invest in its people, recognizing that their success is integral to Policyfy's growth and innovation. For more information about Policyfy and its initiatives, visit Policyfy - https://www.policyfy.com/ (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by SMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Bargain Technologies New Delhi [India], July 4: Wipro, a global leader in information technology, consulting, and business process services, has successfully showcased its Recognition and Rewards (R&R) programmes with the help of Vantage Circle, a leading Behavioural Science Powered Global Employee Engagement SaaS-Platform. This partnership has fostered a culture of appreciation and significantly boosted employee engagement among Wipro's 230,000 employees across 66+ countries. Wipro is dedicated to employee satisfaction and motivation. To enhance this commitment, they have adopted Vantage Circle's advanced recognition and rewards platform. This platform provides a seamless, efficient, and scalable solution for recognising and rewarding employee contributions consistently and meaningfully. This transformative journey has resulted in a robust programme that perfectly aligns with Wipro's 5 cultural habits- Being Respectful, Being Responsive, Always Communicating, Demonstrating Stewardship, and Building Trust into the Recognition Programs. Wipro partnered with Vantage Circle to launch the 'Winners' Circle,' an enhanced Global Peer-to-Peer Rewards and Recognition Programme, to revamp their program based on their core values, they focused on two key levers: Employee Experience and Analytics. The 'Winners' Circle platform is designed to recognise high performers, acknowledge employee efforts, and sustain motivation through timely and frequent recognition. Such instant, real-time capability drastically enhances the theme of appreciation, impacting both the frequency and coverage of the R&R programme. The R&R Framework of Winners' Circle is Built on Four Main Pillars: Unit Awards, SPOT Awards monetary, SPOT Awards non-monetary, Long Service Awards * Unit Awards: Recognising significant moments of impact on business objectives, presented in collective forums such as Town Halls and All Hands Meetings * SPOT Awards (Monetary) and (Non-Monetary): Divided into monetary and non-monetary categories, these awards reward behaviors aligned with Wipro's cultural values * Long Service Awards (LSA): Celebrating employees who reach service milestones (5, 10, 15 years, etc.), with personalised digital and physical yearbooks, gift points, and automated social feed posts to inform colleagues of milestone anniversaries In the last fiscal year, over 57% of Wipro's associates received recognition through the Winners' Circle platform, every 1.2 minutes. This coverage attests to the strong performance of the recognition programme, especially considering the organisation's size. Additionally, the framework fundamentally enhances programme effectiveness in alignment with Vantage Circle's AIRe framework. Key Achievements through this program: * Global Consistency: Wipro has maintained global consistency in implementing a standardised R&R programme across its offices worldwide. * Real-Time Recognition: The real-time activity feed and peer-to-peer recognition features have empowered employees to appreciate each other's efforts instantaneously. * Valuable Insights: Vantage Circle's comprehensive analytics and reporting tools have provided Wipro with valuable insights into employee engagement levels and the effectiveness of their R&R initiatives. The 'Winners' Circle platform seamlessly scales to accommodate Wipro's vast employee base without compromising speed or performance, regardless of location. Thus, reinforcing desirable employee behaviours and driving business success. What sets Wipro's programme apart is the substantial contribution from individual contributors, representing a notable shift from traditional manager-only nominations to a more inclusive non-monetary peer-to-peer recognition model. There has been a 97.5% increase in non-monetary awards, such as badges and appreciation tokens, from 2021 to 2023, indicating the establishment of an appreciation-based culture among peers. Program Success: * Frequency of Awards: On average, over 768 awards are given per day, translating to a total of 553,490+ awards over two years. * Peer-to-Peer Participation: There is a 97.5% increase in the number of badges and appreciation tokens distributed among peers from 2021 to 2023. * Broad Base of Givers: Wipro employees have received a total of 550,000+ awards in the last two years from over 25,243 unique nominators. * Long Service Awards: Almost 30,000 Long Service Awards (LSAs) have been given since 2021, with 9.8 times increase in engagement (wishes and praises) on LSA posts in the last two years. In , a Wipro employee was recognized approximately every 1.2 minutes. Commenting on the success of the program, Sunita Cherian, Senior Officer and Chief Culture Officer at Wipro, said, "At Wipro, we firmly believe that when appreciation becomes a habit, excellence becomes the norm. Our recognition programme, Winners' Circle has been instrumental in embedding recognition into our daily work life and culture. Over 57% of our associates received recognition in the last fiscal year. Considering our size, this coverage attests to the strong performance of our recognition programme." On similar lines, Jo Debecker, Managing Partner and Global Head, Wipro FullStride Cloud, said, "Consistent recognition isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must-have for cultivating engaged, high-performing teams. Our recognition programme empowers everyone to celebrate success at all levels of interaction, transforming colleagues into cheerleaders who champion each other's victories and create a culture of mutual respect and admiration." Partha Neog, CEO and Co-founder of Vantage Circle, commented, "We are thrilled to see the positive impact our platform has had on Wipro's global workforce. By fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation, Wipro has set a benchmark in employee engagement that other organisations can aspire to. Our collaboration has demonstrated the power of a well-structured R&R program in enhancing employee morale and productivity." Looking forward, Wipro continues to explore new ways to leverage Vantage Circle's platform to enhance its employee engagement strategies further. The success of the global R&R programme marks a significant milestone in Wipro's journey toward creating a more rewarding and engaging workplace culture. To learn more about Wipro's Success Story, click on the link: https://www.vantagecircle.com/case-study/wipro-case-study-vantage-circle/ About Vantage Circle: Vantage Circle is the world's leading Behavioural-Science-Powered Global Employee Engagement SaaS-Platform, trusted by over 3.2 million users and 700+ clients worldwide. It empowers a thriving work culture by offering a combination of innovative platform features and services, coupled with globally accepted frameworks. These nurture productive behaviours by aligning with your organisation's core values and leveraging behavioural science. Vantage Circle empowers HR leaders and team managers to identify, recognise, and reinforce productive behaviours within their teams through targeted employee recognition, personalised employee rewards & incentives, and focusing on holistic employee wellness. Over 12 years, the platform has enabled enterprises like Wipro, Infosys, Blue Star, Bosch, Tata Communications, Tata Motors, Tata Realty, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Well Fargo, ACG to transform their approach to productive employee behaviors through holistic employee engagement. With more than 16 languages and localised rewards in 100+ countries, this makes recognition more meaningful. It allows employees to recognise in the flow-of-work from the existing chat or collaboration tools in the organisation like MS Teams or Slack. Visit vantagecircle.com to learn more. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by Bargain Technologies. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
PRNewswire Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], July 4: The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) proudly announces its reaccreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This prestigious recognition places IIMU among the top 6% of business schools worldwide, continuing to distinguish it as the youngest B-school in India to achieve this honour just 13 years after its inception. AACSB International has extended business accreditation to 86 institutions globally this year, underscoring its mission to provide greater access to high-quality business education and connect businesses with top talent. "AACSB congratulates each institution on achieving AACSB accreditation," said Stephanie Bryant, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Accreditation Officer at AACSB. "The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school's dedication--not only to its students, alumni network, and the greater business community--but to society as a whole," she added. Achieving AACSB accreditation is a rigorous, mission-driven process involving a thorough assessment of internal activities, mentorship with an AACSB advisor, and a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. This multiyear journey requires schools to develop and implement plans aligning with AACSB's accreditation standards, emphasising excellence in strategic management, innovation, research, and teaching and learning. IIMU's reaccreditation for another six years underscores the institute's commitment to delivering exceptional management education and fostering a culture of innovation and leadership. "IIMU's extended AACSB accreditation will further enhance its international linkages, opening up newer avenues for student and faculty exchanges and collaborations with leading global institutions. This achievement aligns with IIMU's mission to be a globally respected management school that nurtures socially responsible and impactful leaders," said Shri Pankaj Patel, Chairman - IIM Udaipur. Prof. Ashok Banerjee, Director of IIM Udaipur, expressed his delight on this achievement, stating, "Being accredited by AACSB for the second time is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire community, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni. This recognition reinforces our commitment to maintaining the highest academic and professional standards." The reaccreditation process involved a meticulous review of IIMU's programs, faculty qualifications, strategic management, and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. The AACSB accreditation is not just a milestone but an ongoing journey toward achieving excellence in business education and research. The institute extends its heartfelt thanks to all stakeholders for their relentless efforts and support in achieving this milestone. About IIM Udaipur IIM Udaipur is well on its way to becoming a globally recognised B-School. It has broken new ground by focusing on world-class research and transforming students into tomorrow's managers and leaders. The Institute arrived on the global education stage by securing accreditation from the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in merely eight years of its establishment. With this accreditation, IIM Udaipur is counted in the same league of global institutes, such as Harvard Business School, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the MIT Sloan School. IIMU has been listed on the Financial Times (FT) Global MIM Ranking 2022 as well as the QS Global MIM Ranking 2020, only the 4th IIM, along with IIMs Ahmedabad, Calcutta, and Bangalore, to be in the FT Global MIM Ranking and only the 7th IIM in the QS 2021 Global MIM Rankings. In both Rankings, IIM Udaipur is the youngest B-School in the world! IIMU is also currently ranked 4th in India, after ISB, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore, for research in management according to the methodology used by UT Dallas, which tracks publications in the leading global journals. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2454286/Udaipur_Campus.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183220/4796388/IIMU_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
VMPL New Delhi [India], July 4: Sarkari Result is a cornerstone for millions of job aspirants in India, providing timely updates and detailed information on government job vacancies, examination results, and admit card releases. For those seeking a stable and prestigious career in the public sector, Sarkari Result is an indispensable resource that ensures candidates stay well-informed and prepared for various government job examinations. What is the Official Website of Sarkari Result? In this digital era, where information is just a click away, finding reliable sources for government job updates is crucial. One such trusted platform for millions of job seekers in India is Sarkari Result. Whether you're looking for the latest job vacancies, examination results, or admit cards, Sarkari Result has become a go-to resource. But with the increasing number of look-alike websites, it's essential to know the official website of Sarkari Result to ensure you receive accurate and timely information. The Official Website The official website of Sarkari Result is sarkariexam.com . This site is renowned for its comprehensive coverage of various government job notifications and related updates. Here's what makes the official Sarkari Result website a preferred choice for job aspirants: 1. User-Friendly Interface 2. Timely Updates 3. Comprehensive Coverage 4. Detailed Information 5. Exam Resources Avoiding Fake Websites Due to the popularity of Sarkari Result, many fake websites have emerged, mimicking the name and interface to mislead users. Here are a few tips to ensure you are on the official Sarkari Result website: 1. Check the URL : The official URL of SarkariResult is sarkariexam.com 2. Look for HTTPS : The official site uses HTTPS for secure browsing. Make sure the website address starts with "https://" which indicates that the connection is secure. 3. Official Social Media Links : The official website often provides links to its verified social media accounts. Check for these links and cross-verify with the official social media pages. 4. Contact Information : Genuine websites typically provide contact information. Check for a contact page or footer with proper contact details. Why Sarkari Result? The allure of a government job in India lies in its job security, attractive salary packages, and numerous benefits, including pensions and allowances. However, the path to securing a government job is highly competitive and requires meticulous preparation and timely information. This is where Sarkari Result steps in, offering a one-stop solution for all your government job-related queries and needs. Key Features of Sarkari Result 1. Latest Vacancy Updates : Sarkari Result provides a comprehensive and up-to-date listing of the latest government job vacancies across various sectors, such as banking, railways, defense, education, and public administration. Each listing includes essential details like eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and links to official notifications. 2. Examination Results : Staying updated on exam results is crucial for aspirants. Sarkari Result ensures timely updates on the results of major government exams, allowing candidates to quickly know their performance and plan their next steps accordingly. 3. Admit Cards : Admit cards are a critical component of the examination process. Sarkari Result provides links to download admit cards for various exams, ensuring candidates have easy access to this vital document. 4. Syllabus and Exam Pattern : Understanding the syllabus and exam pattern is crucial for effective preparation. Sarkari Result offers detailed information on the syllabus and exam patterns of various competitive exams, helping candidates strategize their preparation efficiently. 5. Answer Keys : To help candidates evaluate their performance, Sarkari Result also provides answer keys for various exams. This enables aspirants to get an idea of their scores before the official results are announced. 6. Cut-off Marks : Knowing the cut-off marks for previous years can help candidates set realistic goals and understand the level of competition. Sarkari Result offers information on cut-off marks for various exams, aiding in better preparation. Recent Updates on Sarkari Result Here are some of the latest updates available on Sarkari Result: 1. SSC CGL 2024 Recruitment : The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has announced vacancies for the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) Examination 2024. Graduates from any discipline can apply for various posts in different ministries and departments. 2. UPSC Civil Services Examination 2024 : The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has released the notification for the Civil Services Examination 2024. Aspirants aiming for prestigious positions like IAS, IPS, and IFS can apply online. 3. IBPS Clerk 2024 : The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has issued the notification for CRP Clerk XIV Recruitment. Candidates with a graduate degree can apply and prepare for a career in the banking sector. 4. Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) NTPC 2024 *: RRB would released vacancies for the Non-Technical Popular Categories (NTPC) exam very soon. This is a significant opportunity for those seeking a career in Indian Railways. 5. CTET 2024 Admit Card : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released the admit cards for the Central Teacher Eligibility Test (CTET) 2024. Candidates can download their admit cards from the official website. Sarkari Result is an essential platform for government job aspirants in India, providing timely and accurate information. The official sarkariresult website offers a user-friendly and comprehensive resource for the latest job notifications, exam results, admit cards, and more. For More Details, Visit the official Sarkari Result website. https://www.sarkariexam.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)
PNN New Delhi [India], July 4: Gas India 2024 Expo - International Exhibition and Conference is being held on 04-06 July 2024 at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, NCR, U.P (India) will showcase the latest sector-specific Production techniques, Manufacturing process ,Services, developments, technologies and equipment's and this event will attract high quality visitors, buyers and decision makers from the national and international gas industry .The major enterprises and professional visitors from all over the world will come together to this efficient trading, technology exchange, Export-import and knowledgeable platform to boost the development of the gas industry. The expo aims to provide a high-quality international business development platform where our exhibitors can expand business, conduct technology exchange, display new products, and find cooperative partners. Concurrent Events: * Natural Gas Vehicle Expo ( NGV India 2024) * World Gas Summit 2024 World Gas Summit 2024- International Summit on Natural and Industrial Gases Production- Processing - Refining - Refueling, Technologies, and Infrastructure is being held 04-05 July 2024 at India Expo Centre, Grater Noida, NCR, UP, India concurrently with GAS India Expo 2024 organized by Indian Trade Fair Academy (ITFA) and Indian Exhibition Services World Gas Summit 2024 is a 2-day networking event will bring together experts from the fields of Gas and allied industry to discuss about the latest technologies, growth, challenges and opportunities in gas industry worldwide in future prospects and debate between industry experts on the key topics of importance and role of gas in the growth, advancement and sustainability in any country .World Gas Summit will be acting as a facilitator in forging bonds between the gas Industry, Trade Associations, Government agencies and individual Manufacturers & also Service Providers. It helps in bridging the gaps in communication by enabling a smooth environment for networking, collaborations, strategizing and provides scope for partnership opportunities. With around 500 top professionals expected to attend the event and approximately 16000 sq. mt. of Exhibition space, 150 plus Exhibitors on one hand and 8000-10,000 high Caliber Environment & Allied Industry Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Senior Purchase Professionals on the other visiting the Show. Eminent Speakers from India and abroad will debate, deliberate, and exchange views on the key issues of the gas industry World Gas Summit will present a global networking opportunity with technologist, policy makers, researchers, manufacturers, academicians, industrialists, and Govt. agencies. The Summit will provide an ideal opportunity for the gas industry professional to interact with the expert of Gas & allied Industry. (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)
In the wake of the Red Sea crisis, air freight from India has more than doubled in recent months, positioning the country to meet its ambitious target of handling 10 million tonnes (MT) of air cargo by 2030-31. India's air freight peaked at over 3.5 MT in 2017-18 and, after a dip due to COVID-19, has climbed back to the same level. Yashpal Sharma, president of the Air Cargo Forum of India (ACFI), emphasized the importance of resolving two key issues: reducing trans-shipment carriage times and allowing foreign freighter aircraft to serve multiple Indian cities. "Less than 2 per cent of global freight moves by air. Following the Red Sea crisis, even a half-percent shift will significantly boost air cargo volumes. India has a vast opportunity but needs to address the challenges, especially speeding up trans-shipment, which currently takes 2-2.5 days," Sharma said at the ACFI Annual Conclave 2024 in New Delhi on Thursday. India's air freight market is unique, with international imports, exports, and domestic cargo each constituting roughly one-third of the total volume. Currently, less than 15 per cent of air cargo is transported by freighter aircraft, with the majority carried in the belly of passenger planes. Piyush Srivastava, senior economic advisor in the aviation ministry, noted the fluctuations in the number of freighter aircraft. "Before COVID, India had six freighter aircraft. This number rose to 28 during the pandemic, as airlines converted passenger planes for cargo use. Post-COVID, the number fell to eight but has now stabilized at 18," Srivastava said. He added, "The pandemic changed perceptions, making air cargo a more common choice, and highlighted the government's steps to boost this sector, including allowing passenger-to-freighter (P2F) conversions." Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Surendra Kumar, joint secretary (logistics and trade) at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), pointed out that while 70 airports have cargo facilities, they are underutilized due to inadequate integration with other transport modes. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to develop the sector and reduce logistics costs, noting that projects worth Rs 13.5 lakh crore under the PM Gati Shakti initiative would soon provide a major boost. Post-COVID, the Red Sea crisis has accelerated the push for air cargo, with exports to key destinations such as the US, Canada, and Europe more than doubling. In fiscal 2023, scheduled airlines transported nearly 698,000 metric tonnes of domestic cargo. India's current air cargo handling capacity stands at around 6.5 million tonnes, with plans to construct new terminals and expand existing ones to meet the 10 MT target by 2030. The ACFI projects that India's air freight market, valued at USD 12.41 billion in 2023, will grow to USD 16.37 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7 per cent. (ANI)
The government is set to streamline visa norms for professionals from foreign countries, including China, working in non-Production Linked Incentive (PLI) sectors. This initiative, part of a broader agenda to foster international trade and economic cooperation, was unveiled by Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Singh said, "Plans are underway to extend streamlining of visas to non-PLI beneficiaries from foreign countries, including China, who are operating in the same centres as beneficiaries." Currently, the Indian government is focused on easing visa regulations for Chinese professionals in PLI sectors, a move that underscores the country's commitment to improving bilateral trade relations. However, Secretary Singh highlighted that the government plans to extend these streamlined visa procedures to include foreign professionals operating in non-PLI sectors as well. This decision is expected to benefit foreign nationals working alongside PLI beneficiaries in key industrial hubs. The streamlined visa norms are designed to ensure that bureaucratic hurdles do not impede the inflow of talent essential for driving growth across various sectors. In addition to visa reforms, the DPIIT Secretary revealed that the government is committed to addressing tariff barriers that hinder the import of essential electronic components. A case-by-case approach will be adopted to remove these barriers, which are seen as critical to ensuring the competitiveness of India's electronics industry. Singh also emphasized the need to phase out duty inversion, a situation where finished products attract lower taxes compared to raw materials. On the subject of Tesla's entry into the Indian market, Singh disclosed that while the company had shown interest earlier, it has yet to make a fresh inquiry following the cancellation of Elon Musk's planned visit earlier this year. The Ministry of Heavy Industries is currently evaluating requests from multiple stakeholders, including Tesla, as it works on finalizing guidelines for the sector. Regarding the much-anticipated e-commerce policy, Singh noted that while the policy is in the pipeline, there is no definitive timeline for its release. The government is also exploring the liberalization of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regime across several sectors. This move, currently in the internal stages of consideration, is expected to attract more foreign investment and drive economic growth. Singh pointed out that FDI from countries sharing land borders with India constitutes less than 1 per cent of the total FDI inflow, highlighting the need for broader reforms. The government is contemplating a change in the base year for the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) to better reflect current economic realities. Considering the potential change in the base year for the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), the Secretary mentioned that an update is likely. However, he noted that studies from other countries suggest using different base years for various types of indices. The proposed changes to the WPI are part of a broader initiative to update the Producer Price Index (PPI) model, which has already been reviewed by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) and presented to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The final decision rests with the National Statistical Commission (NSC). (ANI)
The makers of '35-Chinna Katha Kaadu' starring Nivetha Thomas, Priyadarshi, Vishwadev, Gautami, and Bhagyaraj unveiled the teaser for the film. Rana Daggubati on Wednesday dropped the teaser on his X handle. https://x.com/RanaDaggubati/status/1808482298578546956 The teaser takes us inside the lives of a middle-class married couple (played by Vishwadev and Nivetha) and their two children. While their elder son Arun struggles with mathematics, his mother remains supportive and empathetic with his studies. Later, things worsen with the arrival of a new and strict mathematics teacher (portrayed by Priyadarshi), who dares Arun to pass the subject. Sharing the teaser, he wrote, "Proudly bringing you all the teaser of #35Movie A story that lies in every household :) Experience the magic of this tale, #35CKK on the big screens from AUGUST 15th, 2024." Helmed by Nanda Kishore Emani, '35' explores the poignant tale of an eleven-year-old child who challenges the fundamentals of mathematics, finding profound life lessons through the teachings of his school dropout mother. Set to premiere on August 15, 2024, '35' is presented by Rana Daggubati and his team. Last month, Rana presented the title and film's poster. Along with the poster, he wrote, "From the sacred land of Tirupathi. Bringing you a lovely narrative that will touch everyone's hearts Presenting 35 ~ Chinna Katha Kaadu Starring @i_nivethathomas@PriyadarshiPN@imvishwadev@gautamitadsIn cinemas from AUGUST 15th, 2024." Talking about the film, Rana Daggubati recently said, "I was instantly drawn by this drama woven with conflict, love, and bonding between mother and her two strikingly different children. One who resists learning things, and considers maths as an illogical subject, and the other child who is smart and obedient yet torn by the conflict in the family." The film features star cast including Gauthami, Nivetha Thomas, Priyadarshi, and Viswadev, along with child artists Arun Dev and Abhay in captivating roles. The music is composed by Vivek Sagar, while Niketh Bommi will serve as the cinematographer, promising stunning visuals that complement the narrative. The film is produced by Viswadev Rachakonda of Waltair Productions and Srujan Yarabolu of S original. (ANI)
The couple, known for their fashion-forward choices, reminisced on their special day by recreating the memorable look on their wedding anniversary.

David Beckham, shared a nostalgic photo on social media, showing him and Victoria seated on throne-style chairs similar to those used at their original wedding reception. The caption read, "Look what we found..."

https://www.instagram.com/p/C899e8EI-Z0/

Their wedding on July 4, 1999, at Luttrellstown Castle in Ireland, was a grand affair.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C8_-vcaI-Z7/

According to Page Six, Victoria stunned in multiple outfits throughout the day, starting with a strapless Vera Wang ballgown featuring a dramatic 20-foot train and a corset by Mr Pearl.

David complemented her in an ivory suit and later changed into a matching purple ensemble for the reception.

Fans and friends flooded Beckham's post with admiration and nostalgia. Comments poured in, with one fan reminiscing, "Iconic! I remember this like yesterday!"

Another complimented David's ageing like fine wine, while Andy Cohen joked, "They still fit great!"

In the 25 years since their wedding, the Beckhams have expanded their family to include three more children: Romeo, 21, Cruz, 19, and Harper, 12.

Last year, they publicly reaffirmed their commitment to each other with a vow renewal ceremony following challenges in their marriage, according to Page Six.

Victoria, even paid tribute to their love story through her perfume line, naming one fragrance 'Suite 302' after the Paris hotel room where they stayed during their second honeymoon.

As per Page Six, the design of the bottle was inspired by the Roberto Cavalli dress she wore for their vow renewal. (ANI)
Border Security Force (BDF) apprehended a Pakistani national on the Ferozepur border in Punjab. BSF troops on Wednesday observed a movement of a person ahead of the border fence on the Ferozepur border. As the suspect tried to escape towards the IB, BSF troops chased and apprehended him. "Upon questioning, the apprehended person was revealed to be a Pakistani national. The person is a teenager and was apprehended near the International Border (IB) adjacent to the village- of Palla Megha of district Ferozepur," stated BSF Punjab Frontier on X. "Questioning is being carried out by the BSF and other sister agencies to know about his intentions or motive for crossing the IB," stated BSF Punjab Frontier. Earlier, BSF seized two pistols, four magazines, and 40 rounds of bullets filled in the magazine from a recovered drone in Nissoke village of Punjab's Amritsar district on Wednesday, according to a press statement. According to the BSF, the seizure was made during an extensive search operation in the suspected area which was initiated after information regarding drone presence in the area was received. The marking on ammunition proves it to be made in Pakistan. "On 3rd July' 2024, based on information received by BSF about the presence of a drone near border area, the BSF troops immediately launched an extensive search operation in the suspected area," the BSF release stated. The recovered drone has been identified as a China-made DJI Matrice 300 RTK. The search operation was conducted at around 7.30 am in the morning after which the BSF troops successfully recovered a drone from which two pistols, four magazines and 40 rounds of bullets filled in the magazine were seized. According to the press statement by BSF, "During the search operation, at around 7.30 am, the BSF troops successfully recovered a drone along with one suspected packet. Upon opening of the recovered packet, two pistols, four magazines and 40 rounds filled with magazines were found. The marking on ammunition proves it to be made in Pakistan. The packet was wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and four illuminating sticks were also attached to the packet, which was found tied to the drone. This recovery occurred in a farming field adjacent to Nissoke village in Amritsar district." This successful operation is a result of reliable information and prompt action of BSF troops, thus underscoring their commitment to decimate the menace of illicit drones from across the border. (ANI)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the suspected key conspirator in connection with the irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG case, said the official. According to the official, the suspected key conspirator, identified as Aman Singh, was arrested in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. Earlier on Friday, the CBI nabbed two accused, namely -- Dr. Ehsaan Ul Haq and Imtiaz Alam -- who were working as the principal and vice principal of the Oasis School in Jharkhand's Hazaribagh. Haq was appointed the city coordinator by the NEET-UG exam 2024. This also follows two more arrests made by the central agency in Bihar's Patna. A senior official with the CBI confirmed the arrest of two people identified as Manish Prakash and Ashutosh. The arrested individuals were found to be operating from Patna.The official said that while the accused, Ashutosh, was arranging safe house premises for the students, the other accused, Manish, used to take the candidates to a school to 'prepare' them for the exam. "Manish Prakash transported the students in his car. While the students were accommodated in Ashutosh's house," the CBI officer pointed out. Earlier last month, the central government entrusted the CBI with the matter pertaining to the irregularities in the NEET-UG case for a comprehensive investigation. Accordingly, the CBI registered multiple FIRs in the case, related to reported paper leaks, impersonation of candidates and cheating. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducted the NEET-UG examination, is facing criticism over alleged irregularities. This prompted a series of protests across the country, with demonstrators and political parties demanding to disband the NTA. Meanwhile , the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 8 a batch of pleas alleging paper leak and irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. 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 a response from the NTA on pleas seeking a fresh NEET-UG, 2024 examination amid allegations of a paper leak and said the "sanctity" of the exam has been affected and it needs an answer from the testing agency. The apex court had told the National Testing Agency (NTA) that if there is any negligence in conducting the NEET-UG 2024 exam, it should be dealt with thoroughly. 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. (ANI)
Having completed three years in office, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday vowed that he would continue to work for the all-round development of the state. "With the love, support, and blessings of all of you, today 3 years have been completed as the Mukhya Sewak," Dhami said in a post on X. "In accordance with the hopes and aspirations of the people, I have worked dedicatedly for the development and welfare of the Devbhoomi Uttarakhand in these years and will continue to work for the all-round and comprehensive development of the people of the state in the same way in the future," he added. The Chief Minister said that on the one hand, while taking strict action against appeasement, "land jihad" and forced conversion and implementing the Uniform Civil Code in the state, he has moved forward in the direction of maintaining the original form of "Devbhoomi". On the other hand, by cracking down on corruption, and rioters, the future of the people of the state has also been secured, the Chief Minister said. CM Dhami said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today Uttarakhand is creating new steps of development and progress. He said that while walking on the path of good governance, he is working with full dedication to ensure that this stream of progress and prosperity continues to flow. The Chief Minister appealed to the public and said, let us all come together and participate in the creation of a strong, self-reliant, and developed Uttarakhand. (ANI)
Organised by the National Health Mission in collaboration with Apollo Children's Hospital, Chennai, the camp seeks to provide critical screening services for congenital heart conditions across the state.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Brahmneet Kaur, IAS and Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, Professor Dr. Sanjib Kumar Debbarma, Director of Health Services, Professor Dr. H.P. Sharma, Director of Medical Education; and Dr. Anjan Das, Director of Family Welfare and Preventive Medicines.

All the esteemed dignitaries represented the Government of Tripura.

Additionally, Sri Binoy Bhusan Das, Joint Mission Director of the National Health Mission and Dr. Madhu Sasidhar, President of CEO of Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, were also present.

Speaking at the event, Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring comprehensive healthcare for all the citizens, particularly the children who are vulnerable to congenital heart diseases.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Apollo Hospitals for their partnership in this crucial initiative and called upon the healthcare professionals to ensure an effective implementation of the screening camp.

The camp, operational today, aims to screen a substantial number of children and adults across the state, providing them with early detection and intervention for congenital heart issues.

The initiative underscores Tripura's proactive approach to improving public healthcare and fostering collaboration with leading healthcare providers.

The event was coordinated by Shri Rajib Dutta, the Mission Director of the National Health Mission Government of Tripura, who also extended a warm invitation to the stakeholders and participants to contribute actively towards the success of the noble healthcare endeavour. (ANI)
Swami Vivekananda was a dedicated worshipper of Mother India who made the Indian culture proud on the global stage and is a source of inspiration for the youth today.

CM Dhami also offered flowers at Vivekananda's photo at the government residence on the occasion of his death anniversary.

Dhami also said that Vivekananda's philosophy and teachings continue to guide humanity for an eternity.

Additionally, earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid homage to Swami Vivekananda, stating that his teachings give strength to millions.

Taking to social media platform 'X', the PM tweeted, "I pay homage to Swami Vivekananda on his Punya Tithi. His teachings give strength to millions. His profound wisdom and relentless pursuit of knowledge are also very motivating."

The PM further reiterated the government's commitment to fulfilling Vivekananda's dream of a prosperous and progressive society.

He wrote on X, "We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his dream of a prosperous and progressive society."

Born on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, Swami Vivekananda was a philosopher, monk and religious teacher. His full name was Narendranath Dutta.

The chief disciple of the Indian mystic Ramkrishna Paramhans, Vivekananda, popularised Indian culture across the world. He delivered several speeches across countries like the United States, England and Europe and promulgated the core tenets of the Hindu philosophy.

He is also considered to be one of the most influential monks in the world.

Keen on spiritualism, and Vedanta, he became popular in the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, where he delivered his famous speech, which began with the words, "Sisters and brothers of America.."

His birthday, also known as 'National Youth Day', is observed in the country on January 12.

Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902 at the age of 39. (ANI)
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Ramadoss, on Thursday, is confidently stated that AIADMK's traditional votes will help them defeat their 'common enemy', Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), in the upcoming Vikravandi bypoll, which is scheduled for July 10. Ramadoss, speaking to ANI, has also said that PMK is working on tactics to form their government in the upcoming 2026 Assembly election. As the principal opposition party in the state, AIADMK has boycotted the Vikravandi bypoll citing 'ruling government misuse of power' and 'irregularities' and as a result, the ground situation in Vikravandi has become two corner fights between DMK, PMK with Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) on race. As a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), PMK is approaching Vikravandi bypoll by seeking Vanniyar caste votes which has a pivotal share in the region. Meanwhile, with AIADMK boycotting the election, both PMK and NTK are eyeing AIADMK's traditional votes. NTK Chief, Senthamizhan Seeman, has recently supported the AIADMK in its hunger strike against the DMK government over Kallakurichi hooch tragedy. His action is allegedly assessed as an attempt to win over AIADMK votes in the Vikravandi bypoll. However, PMK Founder Ramadoss, is also confident that AIADMK voters will support his party in defeating their 'common enemy' DMK. "It is true that the conduct of the bypoll won't be in an honest way. But PMK has the strength to oppose the dishonesty that they (DMK) are showing. Similarly, AIADMK's first enemy is DMK so they are also thinking DMK shouldn't win. So the PMK win is assured," Ramadoss told ANI. He also added, "DMK only spreads information that AIADMK votes won't transfer to PMK. But AIADMK voters are confident that they will vote for the PMK to defeat the DMK in this bypoll". Replying to the question on ideological differences between BJP and PMK over the NEET issue Ramadoss said, "The majority of people won't be aware of ideology differences and what is NEET and all. People just wanted an exam which is an obstacle for their children to be removed. Only a few people have clarity. That NEET should be removed and this is all expectations." Ramadoss also says PMK is working on tactics to form a government in the upcoming 2026 Assembly election. This bypoll will help them gain momentum. He further added, "Illicit Liquor tragedy in Kallakurichi happened very near to Vikravandi. So this would have an impact on the election. People in Vikravandi are speaking about that". Vikravandi by-poll was necessitated due to the demise of former DMK MLA N Pugazhendhi on April 6. (ANI)
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers -- Nitin Gadkari, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Piyush Goyal -- in Delhi. "Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri @ncbn, met Prime Minister @narendramodi", a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. After storming to power in Andhra Pradesh, this is the first meeting of CM Naidu with the Union cabinet ministers. He had earlier attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing in ceremony. The TDP is also a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The meeting also draws assumes significance as Naidu has declared rebuilding Amaravati, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The project is expected to require central assistance and clearance.Naidu on Wednesday released a white paper on the Amaravathi capital region. He said that the name "Amaravati" was mooted by Ramoji Rao after research. "Amaravathi has a specific chamber in the British Museum. We are bringing back Amaravathi as the name of the capital, which was previously the capital of the Satavahana dynasty. Nobody anticipated the state's bifurcation. Ramoji Rao suggested this name, and it was put to a public poll. Everyone suggested Amaravathi as the capital. We collected soil and water from across the state for laying the foundation stone. Even soil brought from Parliament was mixed in the Amaravathi capital region on foundation day. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Amaravathi. Amaravathi is the central point of the state," the Andhra chief minister said. Pertinent to note that the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is also seeking a special status for the state, which has been a persistent political issue. The support of the TDP, which secured 16 seats in Andhra Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, is crucial for the NDA to remain in power. The TDP fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP and the Jana Sena, wherein, the TDP bagged 16 seats, the BJP three and the Jana Sena two, 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)
This reinforces DCIL's leadership in the dredging sector and its commitment to supporting India's maritime infrastructure.

As per DCIL "Dredging Corporation of India Limited a leader in the dredging industry has a proven track record of executing large-scale dredging projects with precision and efficiency. The award of this contract to DCIL underscores Cochin Port Authority commitment to maintaining high standards of maritime infrastructure."

"This maintenance dredging contract includes dredging of the Cochin Port's outer channel, approach channel, ICTT Basin, LNG Basin Channels (Erankulam Channel & Mattancherry Channel) & other areas of Cochin Port ensuring the port remains navigable for vessels of various sizes. This operation is crucial for the port's functionality, enabling seamless and efficient maritime trade activities," DCIL said in a statement

Dr Madhaiyaan Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, VPA/DCIL, said, "We are honored to have been selected by the Cochin Port Authority for this significant project. This contract is a testament to DCIL's capabilities and our unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality dredging services."

"We look forward to contributing to the continued success and operational efficiency of Cochin Port," he added. (ANI)
Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes with a fierce verbal duel between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan. The topic of the acrimonious debate touched on the recent unrest in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram between student union members of the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) and the Congress parties - the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) respectively. The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader San Jose inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night. The issue was raised as an adjournment motion notice moved by several Congress MLAs including M Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the House. Vijayan said that conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said those action should be taken agains those responsible. The Kerala chief minister also defended the SFI describing it as a longstanding organization with a proud history, unlike the KSU, which he said, had declined in influence. "This is not a movement that grew in blackrooms. KSU used to dominate every educational institution. How did you end up in your current state?" the Chief Minister asked. The Chief Minister also referred to the bomb attack on the AKG centre and the defacement of a Mahatma Gandhi portrait at the Congress office in Wayanad. He alleged that 35 people were killed simply for being SFI members. He challenged the KSU to provide a similar history and said that the Congress was employing wrong means to spread its propaganda against the Left party. With the explanation of Chief Minister, Speaker A N Shamseer rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the house Opposition leader VD Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of providing protection to campus violence through his statements. "Your repeated assertions show you have no intention to correct this. The Chief Minister of Kerala is issuing licenses to beat people to death. After the Siddharth incident, Kerala thought such events would not recur. Before that pain subsided, another young man was subjected to mob justice. Who gave permission for such a brutal act? Instead of taking him to a hospital, they took him to a police station. Criminals are creating dungeons on campuses for their hunts, with no one to control them. The Chief Minister's statement today is unworthy of his position. You are the Chief Minister of Kerala, not a king," Satheesan said. Vincent said that every college has "dungeons for SFI" and that their operations are based not on ideology but on coercion. He alleged that San Jose was forced to write a statement saying he had no complaint, which was recorded. Vincent also said that police officers stood by while the assault took place. Due to the uproar caused by the debate between the opposition and the ruling party, the Assembly was adjourned for the day. On Wednesday, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University, Mohan Kunnummal, instructed the Registrar to conduct an investigation and submit a report on the alleged assault of KSU Thiruvananthapuram District General Secretary Sam Jose. The incident allegedly took place in the hostel room at the Kariavattom campus and the Vice Chancellor demanded that the report be submitted urgently within 48 hours. According to the complaint, SFI activists assaulted KSU member Sam Jose in his hostel room on Tuesday night. Following the incident, KSU activists on the intervening night of July 2-3 staged a protest at the Sreekaryam police station, demanding action against those responsible for the assault. In response, police said they registered a case against United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs Chandy Oommen and M Vincent and other KSU activists as well as SFI members accused in the complaint filed by Sam Jose. (ANI)
Wilson, stated on social media that he met with the law minister with the demand of the establishment of permanent regional benches of the Supreme Court in Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and for the South, North, West, and East Zones, apart from a Constitution Bench at Delhi.

https://x.com/PWilsonDMK/status/1808773603250614355

Wilson stated in his post that the law minister had received his representation with an assurance to look into the matter. Wilson further added, "I always believe that persistent efforts will never fail."

Wilson stated that he demanded a representative judiciary, ensuring social justice and social diversity in the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court of India and High Courts.

P Wilson also requested to increase the retirement age from 62 years to 65 years for High Court judges and from 65 years to 70 years for Supreme Court judges by bringing constitutional amendments.

He also demanded that the Law Minister notify appointments of withheld or overlooked names recommended by the Supreme Court collegium for the appointment of judges of various high courts and place them in the seniority position as recommended by the Hon'ble Supreme Court.

Last week, P Wilson met with Meghwal at Parliament and presented a representation to stop the implementation of the Three Criminal Laws. (ANI)
Ten Years After ISIS Church is 'Still Alive' in Iraq, Say Archbishops

Pope Francis participates in a memorial prayer March 7, 2021, at Hosh al-Bieaa, the church square, in Mosul, Iraq, for the victims of the ISIS war. Syriac Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox and Chaldean Catholic churches were all destroyed in the war between 2014 and 2017. ( CNS/Paul Haring) Ten years after Islamic militants swept over northern Iraq's Nineveh Plains, the Christian community there is "still alive," and working to both rebuild and evangelize, two Eastern Catholic archbishops said.

"We are like an olive tree; no matter what happens to us, they can cut everything, but in the end, we are here, we stay here ... and as a church, we do everything to give a sign of hope, to help the (Iraqi Christian) people stay here in this land," said Archbishop Nizar Semaan of the Syriac Catholic Eparchy of Hadiab-Erbil.

"People are so attached to the church (in Iraq)," said Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archdiocese of Erbil, Iraq. "The church is a reference point for everything."

The Syriac Catholic and Chaldean Catholic churches, each with their own liturgies and hierarchies, are two of the 23 sui iuris ("of its own rite") Eastern Catholic churches that along with the Roman Catholic Church comprise the universal Catholic Church.

Iraq, where approximately 98% of the population is Muslim, has been home to Christian communities for some 2,000 years, having been evangelized by St. Thomas the Apostle and his disciples.

Archbishop Semaan and Archbishop Warda spoke during a July 3 webinar hosted by Aid to the Church in Need International. Since 1947, ACN International has worked under the guidance of the pope to provide pastoral and humanitarian assistance to persecuted Catholics. At present, ACN -- recognized as a pontifical foundation in 2011 -- manages close to 5,600 projects in some 138 countries each year. The organization also stands ready to offer aid in times of natural disaster.

During the webinar, Archbishop Semaan and Archbishop Warda recalled the devastating 2014 wave of attacks against religious minorities launched by Islamic State group fighters, who seized Mosul and the surrounding Nineveh Plains. Christians and Yazidis (an ancient Indigenous community) fled toward Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, with thousands of Yazidi women and girls sexually enslaved by IS militants.

ACN International executive president Regina Lynch, who pointed out that her organization has supported projects in Iraq since 1972, said she remembered seeing "the shock on people's faces" during her on-site visit to Erbil after the attacks.

Lynch said her organization has supported some 500 projects over the past few years, providing an estimated "56 million euros" (roughly $60 million) work of support, adding that ACN International will continue to "stand by" the church in Iraq "as long as help is needed."

Iraq declared victory over IS in 2017, and the Chaldean and Syriac Catholic churches -- which provided displaced minorities with critical humanitarian aid throughout the attacks -- are part of ongoing efforts to restore the Nineveh Plains Christian communities and the church as a whole in Iraq, amid a historical trend of persecution that has seen the number of Christians in Iraq decline from an estimated 1.4 million in 2003 to about 250,000 today.

Archbishop Warda said that the Israel-Hamas war, now in its eighth month, has left "the whole region ... worried," including Iraqi Christians, who fear that in any expansion of the conflict, "Christians would be targeted or there would be collateral damage."

Archbishop Semaan said that while Iraq has "a bit of stability now ... ISIS is not just about (an) army, it's about ideology," one whose mentality -- which rejects religious diversity -- must be countered by cultivating "a moderate education system" that allows for human flourishing amid an atmosphere of "peace ... and respect."

As a second step to helping Christians remain in Iraq, he also stressed the need to develop a national constitution "built on ... human beings, not on religion."

Archbishop Warda, who in 2015 founded the Catholic University in Erbil, noted that with ACN International's support his archdiocese had set up "eight schools right away" amid the massive displacement from the 2014 IS attacks, saying that providing education was crucial to demonstrating a commitment to human dignity and to stabilizing the Christian community.

He also said that while "there is no doubt" about a shared desire for "coexistence" between Christians and "the majority of the (nation's) Muslims," the lack of any apology from Muslim leaders and scholars to IS victims for atrocities committed "in the name of Allah" is troubling, especially since most Iraqi Muslims distance themselves from IS. More needs to be done to ensure that religious tolerance is broadly promoted in Iraqi society, said Archbishop Warda.

Archbishop Semaan agreed, warning that a trend in recent years for Iraq's communities to become increasingly isolated from each other is "very dangerous" for the nation's future.

"As Christians, we want just to be in peace, to live together (and) to share also what we have with other people," he said. "We don't want a closed church or a closed Christian community or closed villages. ... You have to communicate with the people, with your neighbor."

Pope Francis' 2021 "remarkable" visit to Iraq helped to raise the domestic visibility of the nation's Christians, garnering extensive media coverage and making "a really big difference," said Archbishop Warda.

Trauma from the 2014 attacks remains an issue, said the archbishops, who added the strong sense of family and communal bonds among Iraqi Christians has helped to heal some of those wounds.

Catechesis and faith formation, particularly among the youth, can sustain that ongoing process and rebuild survivors' sense of trust, they said.

"A strong faith will help you to forgive later on, and to just see ... that what was meant to really destroy you is just strengthening you," said Archbishop Warda.

Both archbishops said they find themselves fielding calls and requests from their communities at all hours, as the faithful look to the church for guidance in virtually every area of life.

"The faith here is everything," said Archbishop Warda. "The church and the community here is a family."

With his phone ringing nonstop and "lots of youth (dedicating) themselves to the service of the church," Archbishop Semaan said the vibrancy of the Catholic community in Iraq "makes us feel as bishops that we are alive."

"You have to go out, and open your doors to everyone," he said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan on Thursday, alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was providing political patronage to the Students' Federation of India (SFI) activists to indulge in violence on campuses in the State. Satheesan's comments came in the backdrop of a recent clash at Kerala University's Kariavattom campus, where Kerala Students Union leader San Jose was allegedly assaulted by SFI members. "The students' wing of CPI(M) (SFI) is doing atrocities against the students who belong to other students' organizations. In almost all college campuses in Kerala, there are dark rooms controlled by SFI," Satheesan told ANI. "Those who are against SFI or are associated with any other student organization are brought to the dark room and tortured. This has been happening for a long time in Kerala. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is giving political patronage to these criminals," the Congress leader, representing Paravur Assembly Constituency in Ernakulam District said. Earlier in the day, the Opposition raised the Karyavattom campus incident in the Assembly seeking an adjournment motion. The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader San Jose inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night. The issue was raised as an adjournment motion notice moved by several Congress MLAs including M Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the House. Vijayan said that conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said those action should be taken agains those responsible. The Kerala chief minister also defended the SFI describing it as a longstanding organization with a proud history, unlike the KSU, which he said, had declined in influence. "This is not a movement that grew in blackrooms. KSU used to dominate every educational institution. How did you end up in your current state?" the Chief Minister asked. The Chief Minister also referred to the bomb attack on the AKG centre and the defacement of a Mahatma Gandhi portrait at the Congress office in Wayanad. He alleged that 35 people were killed simply for being SFI members. He challenged the KSU to provide a similar history and said that the Congress was employing wrong means to spread its propaganda against the Left party. With the explanation of Chief Minister, Speaker A N Shamseer rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the house Speaking in the Assembly, Opposition leader VD Satheesan accused the Chief Minister of providing protection to campus violence through his statements. "Your repeated assertions show you have no intention to correct this. The Chief Minister of Kerala is issuing licenses to beat people to death. After the Siddharth incident, Kerala thought such events would not recur. Before that pain subsided, another young man was subjected to mob justice. Who gave permission for such a brutal act? Instead of taking him to a hospital, they took him to a police station. Criminals are creating dungeons on campuses for their hunts, with no one to control them. The Chief Minister's statement today is unworthy of his position. You are the Chief Minister of Kerala, not a king," Satheesan said. Vincent said that every college has "dungeons for SFI" and that their operations are based not on ideology but on coercion. He alleged that San Jose was forced to write a statement saying he had no complaint, which was recorded. Vincent also said that police officers stood by while the assault took place. Due to the uproar caused by the debate between the opposition and the ruling party, the Assembly was adjourned for the day. On Wednesday, Vice Chancellor of Kerala University, Mohan Kunnummal, instructed the Registrar to conduct an investigation and submit a report on the alleged assault of KSU Thiruvananthapuram District General Secretary Sam Jose. The incident allegedly took place in the hostel room at the Kariavattom campus and the Vice Chancellor demanded that the report be submitted urgently within 48 hours. According to the complaint, SFI activists assaulted KSU member Sam Jose in his hostel room on Tuesday night. Following the incident, KSU activists on the intervening night of July 2-3 staged a protest at the Sreekaryam police station, demanding action against those responsible for the assault. In response, police said they registered a case against United Democratic Front (UDF) MLAs Chandy Oommen and M Vincent and other KSU activists as well as SFI members accused in the complaint filed by Sam Jose. (ANI)
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan praised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Chief N Chandrababu Naidu, calling him a "progressive Chief Minister and visionary leader" on Thursday. He was speaking after meeting N Chandrababu Naidu in Delhi. The meeting was as a courtesy call, focused on various issues related to agriculture and rural welfare. "The Andhra Pradesh CM paid a courtesy call and discussed various issues related to agriculture and rural welfare. Chandrababu Naidu is a progressive Chief Minister, a visionary leader. We will extend all possible cooperation in the development of Andhra Pradesh," Naidu said. Meanwhile, N Chandrababu Naidu met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, and Piyush Goyal in Delhi. "Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri @ncbn, met Prime Minister @narendramodi", a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. After storming to power in Andhra Pradesh, this is the first meeting of CM Naidu with the Union cabinet ministers. He had earlier attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing in ceremony. The TDP is also a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The meeting also has significance as Naidu has declared rebuilding Amaravati, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. The project is expected to require central assistance and clearance. Naidu on Wednesday released a white paper on the Amaravathi capital region. He said that the name "Amaravati" was mooted by Ramoji Rao after research. "Amaravathi has a specific chamber in the British Museum. We are bringing back Amaravathi as the name of the capital, which was previously the capital of the Satavahana dynasty. Nobody anticipated the state's bifurcation. Ramoji Rao suggested this name, and it was put to a public poll. Everyone suggested Amaravathi as the capital. We collected soil and water from across the state for laying the foundation stone. Even soil brought from Parliament was mixed in the Amaravathi capital region on foundation day. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for Amaravathi. Amaravathi is the central point of the state," the Andhra chief minister said. The support of the TDP, which secured 16 seats in Andhra Pradesh in the Lok Sabha polls, is crucial for the NDA to remain in power. The TDP fought the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP and the Jana Sena, wherein, the TDP bagged 16 seats, the BJP three and the Jana Sena two, 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 charge as the Deputy CM. (ANI)
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired the State-Level Natural Calamity Committee meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha Pravati Parida assured the public, stating that the party will achieve every resolution mentioned in the manifesto. "We will fulfil every expectation of the people of the state and, according to our manifesto, we will achieve every resolution one by one," Parida said. Talking about the ' Subhadra Yojana', the Deputy Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister, will himself come to Odisha to inaugurate it on his birthday, September 17. "Our cabinet has approved the Subhadra Yojana, and the Chief Minister has announced that this Subadhra Yojana will be launched on September 17, on the birthday of the country's popular Prime Minister, who will himself come to Odisha to inaugurate it," Parida said. Highlighting the benefits of the new scheme, she said, "This scheme will be beneficial for women. The Subadhra Yojana will contribute to their social and economic development, and it will bring significant changes to the lifestyle of women living in the villages." Earlier on May 16, at a public meeting titled 'Subhadra Yojana' in Odisha's Bhubaneswar, Nadda said, "This BJD government does the work of giving bribes for votes. An attempt is being made to snatch your right of five years for 54 paise per day. Under the leadership of Modi ji, the BJP has decided to provide cash vouchers worth Rs 50,000 for women in Odisha for the next two years under the Subhadra Yojana. This amount is meant for women, not men so that the woman can decide what to do with this money." He emphasised that under PM Modi's leadership, women are being empowered and given strength. "Modi ji says that if a person is empowered, then he alone is empowered, but if women are empowered, then the whole family is empowered. Modi ji says that we are empowering women, but now we have to go one step further--to empower women. That's why Modi ji has introduced many schemes for women," he said. (ANI)
Delhi LG, VK Saxena, has lauded the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) for its effort in constructing the airport drain, as a result of which, despite the recent record downpour, the IGI Airport remained free of waterlogging. Right after taking over, the LG took up the task of constructing the airport drain from IGI Airport to PWD Trunk Drain No. 2, on the southern side of the airport, in a mission mode. The airport had faced flooding even during the floods in the capital last year. After the infamous flooding of the airport runways and terminal in 2019, which had brought international disrepute, IGIA approached DDA, which in turn had started construction of the drain connecting the airport to TD-2 in 2020. However, the same had gotten stuck due to a lack of permissions by the GNCTD for more than two years.After taking over, the LG had asked DDA to move the Delhi High Court which in turn had directed GNCTD to give the required permissions, which finally came in August, 2022. Thereafter, the DDA working in mission mode under direct supervision of the LG, who visited the site on 20 occasions, completed the works in a record time of 15 months, with the drain getting inaugurated in December, 2023. In a recent review, the LG was informed that the drain flowed to its maximum capacity of 80 cumec on the day of the heavy downpour i.e on July 28,2024 and successfully carried the water discharged from the airport and its neighbouring areas, which helped the airport and the areas remain free of waterlogging for the first time in several years. Similar intervention by the DDA in East Delhi, helped large areas in Trilokpuri and Mayur Vihar, etc., prone to flooding every year, remain largely flood-free this year. In his visit to the area last year, LG Saxena had instructed DDA to construct channels from the Highway, from where water used to flow down into the residential localities, into the Sanjay Lake owned by DDA, in the neighbourhood. He had also asked for large pipes to be positioned by making large holes in the boundary wall of the neighbouring residential areas, so as to ensure water flows from these areas into the Sanjay Lake. This served the dual purpose of not only draining out water from the areas suffering from flooding for years together, but also recharging the Sanjay Lake with fresh rainwater. Similarly, around the TD-2 and Airport Drain, five water bodies have been created by DDA to absorb water from overflowing drains. Sector-8 at Dwarka, which is also supposed to be connected to the Airport Drain so that water from the area is channelized to the TD-2, will soon get relief from flooding, once the ongoing work is completed ahead of schedule by August this year. The LG, underlined that the persistent problem of flooding in the National Capital can effectively be solved by addressing drainage issues with little effort, and the experiments at the Airport Drain and around Sanjay Lake in East Delhi had proven that the same could be achieved by way of proactive intervention by the Government and other agencies concerned. (ANI)
Rajasthan BJP leader Kirodi Lal Meena on Thursday announced his resignation from the state cabinet and all posts. Meena said that he had decided to step down to honour the promise he made during campaigning in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections that he would quit if the BJP lost any of the seven seats in eastern Rajasthan, including the Dausa Lok Sabha seat. The 72-year-old leader who is a two-time Lok Sabha MP said, "I announced that if I won't be able to make my party win, I'll resign, and I have done that. It is my moral duty that I should resign if my party doesn't win. I met the CM as well, and he rejected my resignation, but still, I sent my resignation by post...I will go to Delhi tomorrow..." The Congress-led NDA block had won eight of the 25 seats in the recent parliamentary elections while the BJP won 14 seats in the State. In the Dausa Lok Sabha seat, Congress's Murari Lal Meena had defeated BJP's Kanhaiya Lal Meena with a margin of over 2.3 lakh votes. "It is my moral duty that I should resign if my party doesn't win. I met the CM as well, but he has rejected my resignation... I have no complaints and no expectations for any post, neither from the CM nor from the organisation..." Meena said after announcing his decision to step down. The former Rajya Sabha MP said, "...Despite working actively for the last 10-12 years, I couldn't make my party win in those areas where I have some impact. The (party) High Command has asked me to come to Delhi tomorrow, I will go there and try to convince them as I have announced that if I won't be able to make my party win, I'll resign, and I have done that." He further stated that he had submitted his resignation to the Rajasthan Chief Minister 20 days ago but it was rejected. Reacting to Meena's announcement, State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasara said, "A few BJP leaders are making allegations that some seats were sold (to candidates) without their knowledge, but responsibility to win on those seats were given to them. So how could they make the party win on these seats?" "People like Kirodi Lal Meena say that some seats were given (to candidates) without their knowledge, but they were told that the party must win on those seats...BJP central leadership is not meeting him, he's not being respected even when he contributed to the party's victory in the state. Talks about whether or not the government will survive are doing the rounds in the state..." the Rajasthan Congress chief said. Meena held the agriculture and rural development portfolios under Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Singh's cabinet. Lal announced his decision to resign while he was participating in a religious event in the Mansarovar area of Jaipur. (ANI)
After taking the oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that the 'Mahagathbandan' government has done all the work as per the interests of the people of the state. Hemant Soren was sworn-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in Raj Bhavan on Thursday. "From 2019, the present 'Mahagathbandan' government has done all the work as per the interest of the people here. During the political ups and downs, Champai Soren took forward those initiatives, because I was in jail. Because of the court's order, I could come out," the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president said. Meanwhile, Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan said that the expectation from the new government is that they will address the problems of the poor. "We go by the Constitution. We all have to address the problems of poor people. That's what I am expecting from the new government," the Jharkhand Governor said. Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Soren. Soren on June 28, was released on bail in a land scam case after spending around five months in jail. Champai Soren resigned from the post just five months after taking the oath, setting the ball rolling for Hemant Soren to again take over the role on Wednesday. Champai Soren took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in the Raj Bhavan on February 2 this year. Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months following bail from Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as Chief Minister before his arrest on January 31. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering. Earlier on December 29, Hemant Soren took oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand as 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.' The event was termed as 'Sankalp Diwas' by mark beginning of an era of new Jharkhand. (ANI)
The visit, which coincided with the lunch hour, saw the Minister reviewing facilities and services at the canteen. The Secretary of Railway Board, and other senior officials of the Railway Board were also present during the inspection.

MoS Bittu interacted with the canteen manager and staff, inquiring about the operations and services. He visited various areas in the canteen, including the cash counter where employee meal coupons are issued, the kitchen area where food is prepared, and the juice counter.

He also took the opportunity to engage with Railway Board staff during their lunch break, personally enquiring about the food quality.

During the interaction, Railway Board staff expressed satisfaction with the canteen services. However, emphasising the importance of hygiene and best-quality food, the Minister directed the canteen manager to maintain these high standards.

BJP leader and three-time former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu took oath as a Union Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government on June 9. Notably, he was inducted in the cabinet despite losing Lok Sabha elections.

Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and the son of former Punjab Minister Tej Parkash Singh.

He had switched over to the BJP from the Congress prior to the 2024 elections and contested and lost the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat to Punjab Congress chief Warring by over 20,000 votes.

Bittu contested from the Ludhiana constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha election but lost to Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring by 20942 votes.

Bittu previously won the 2009 Lok Sabha election from the Anandpur Sahib seat and then from Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat in 2014 and 2019 on a Congress ticket.

However, the BJP was unable to win a single seat in Punjab in the Lok Sabha polls. The Congress won seven seats, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won three seats, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won one seat, and two seats were won by independent.(ANI)
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Thursday that the recent implementation of the new criminal laws will significantly enhance the quality of life for citizens of India, according to an official statement. The minister highlighted that these laws are poised to expedite the delivery of justice, thereby saving valuable time for all stakeholders involved in litigation. The Union Minister stressed that this will prove highly productive for the nation as it will help in the process of developing society and eventually lead to higher progress. Referring to the Indian economy galloping to the fifth largest economy in the world from the 11th position a few years ago, Meghwal underlined that reforms and improvements in the judicial process will also contribute to the endeavour and goal of taking India to the 3rd position in the coming few years. Meghwal also underscored the significance of India's progress as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that India would play a pivotal role in the 21st century on a global scale. Tracing the 19th century with regards to progress as that of Europe, led by England; 20th century that of America led by United States of America (USA), he expressed confidence that 21st century would be of Asia led by India. Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation organised an investiture ceremony at the CBI Academy in Ghaziabad today. On this occasion, Meghwal presented the President's Police Medal (PPM) for Distinguished Service and the Indian Police Medal (IPM) for Meritorious Service to 39 CBI officers and officials. Congratulating the medal winners and their families, Meghwal said that it is a proud moment for all of us to have recognised their service rendered to the nation. He added that this also acts as a source of inspiration for all service officials to excel in their job. Appreciating CBI in its role, he observed that not only CBI's importance is being recognised in society but also its investigation is the best, which is reflected in the high conviction rate in cases investigated by CBI. Meghwal emphasized that the CBI is rightly regarded as the best investigating agency, which is reflected in the demand for CBI probes every now and then in complex and sensitive cases by various stakeholders. In his welcome address, Praveen Sood, Director, CBI, complimented the medal recipients and stated that they have achieved the laurels due to their professional hard work, resilience and fortitude, which have earned CBI great esteem. He further congratulated the recipient's family members. On this occasion, Sood emphasised that the CBI and Law Ministry are working in a synergetic and collaborative environment to prioritise more efficient prosecution along with investigation. Director CBI stressed that CBI's role has been evolving with the passage of time, from handling primarily anti-corruption cases in the beginning to special/economic crimes, cybercrimes, bank frauds, etc. Praveen Sood also said that CBI is working with the Ministry of Law and Justice with regards to the successful implementation of three new criminal laws, informing them that CBI has started implementing these laws. He offered that CBI is geared to assist States and other stakeholders in the implementation of these laws. Rajiv Mani, Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, also graced the occasion, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Law and Justice, CBI, other departments and around 90 family members of medal winners. (ANI)
Reacting to the United Democratic Front's allegation that Kerala Students Union (KSU) workers were attacked by the Students' Federation of India (SFI), Kerala excise minister MB Rajesh said that the opposition is playing politics over the incident. M B Rajesh said, "Our position is that campus should be free of violence. We do not promote or justify any act of violence on the part of any student organisation in the campuses. Kerala's universities and colleges are now focusing on upgrading the quality of education. There is an increase of 63 per cent in the number of foreign students who applied in Kerala University degree courses. There should not be any instance that deflects our attention. The opposition is playing politics over the incident." He further alleged that the opposition UDF justifies all acts of violence, whereas this was not the case with the ruling LDF. He further said, "We all know that the KSU, the Congress' student wing, attacked the vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University earlier. The student wing of the Muslim League had killed a school teacher. The student wing of Congress had attacked an IAS officer. They are justifying all acts of violence." Earlier, the Kerala Assembly witnessed uproarious scenes with a fierce verbal duel between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition, VD Satheesan. The topic of the acrimonious debate touched on the recent unrest in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, between student union members of the Communist Party of India (CPI-M) and the Congress parties, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU), respectively. The Kerala Students Union has alleged that SFI members attacked KSU district leader San Jose inside the Kerala University campus in Karyavattom on Tuesday night. The issue was raised as an adjournment motion notice moved by several Congress MLAs, including M Vincent. The Chief Minister rejected the motion of the opposition to adjourn the House. Vijayan said that conflicts on campus are undesirable and should be condemned. He further said that action should be taken against those responsible. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirodi Lal Meena on Thursday tendered his resignation as a minister after the BJP failed to retain the Dausa Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meena took the onus of the party's loss from the Dausa Lok Sabha seat, and emphasized that his decision was driven by a 'moral obligation'. "I don't have anything against the Chief Minister or the party. You know that the field in which I worked for 40 years, and once there was such a situation that I had to give up the ministerial post. I announced that if I won't be able to make my party win, I'll resign, and I have done that. It is my moral duty to resign if my party does not win. I met the CM as well, and he rejected my resignation, but still, I sent my resignation by post. I will go to Delhi tomorrow." Expressing loyalty to the BJP, Meena reassured the party high command of his steadfast support. "I had sent my resignation to the Chief Minister on June 5. I will come to the State Assembly as a legislator. I have left all the government resources. For 1.5 months, I am staying at my residence. When I have tendered my resignation, it is my moral responsibility to give up all resources. I want to tell the party high command that I will always stand by it. I have been given the responsibility of Dausa so I will definitely fulfil the requirements of the party". In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 14 out of 25 seats while the Congress won eight seats. The Congress party's Murari Lal Meena secured the Dausa Lok Sabha seat with 646,266 votes, defeating BJP's Kanhaiya Lal Meena who garnered 408,926 votes. (ANI)
Hemant Soren was sworn-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in Raj Bhavan on Thursday.

"After the High Court order, Hemant Soren has taken over again as CM. He will continue to work for people like he has always done. We have less time now," Kalpana Soren told reporters.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren congratulated Hemant Soren for taking the oath as Jharkhand CM.

"I congratulate 'Hemant Babu' for the formation of the new government. I congratulate all our alliance members," Champai Soren told reporters.

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Soren.

Soren on June 28, was released on bail in a land scam case after spending around five months in jail.

Champai Soren resigned from the post just five months after taking the oath, setting the ball rolling for Hemant Soren to again take over the role on Wednesday.

Champai Soren took oath as the 12th Chief Minister of Jharkhand in the Raj Bhavan on February 2 this year.

Hemant Soren was released from the Birsa Munda Jail on June 28 after nearly five months following bail from Jharkhand High Court in a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. He had resigned as Chief Minister before his arrest on January 31.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in January on charges related to an alleged land scam and money laundering.

Earlier on December 29, Hemant Soren took the oath as Chief Minister of Jharkhand as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand.'

The event was termed as 'Sankalp Diwas' by mark the beginning of an era of new Jharkhand. (ANI)
The members demanded the Congress leader to apologise for his remarks and attempted to siege the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) headquarters, which is the state unit of the Indian National Congress, at Gandhi Bhavan.

However, several members of BJYM have been detained and taken into custody in trucks by the police.

The protesters were also chanting slogans against Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Rahul Gandhi Murdabad, Rahul Gandhi Murdabad."

Rahul Gandhi's remark on the Hindu community in parliament has already drawn nationwide protests by the BJP and its allies.

On Wednesday, members of BJYM, under the leadership of its national president, Tejasvi Suriya, also held a protest against Gandhi for his 'Hindu' remarks in Delhi.

Suriya led thousands of BJP workers to the Congress Headquarters, demanding an unconditional apology. He was detained but later released.

On Monday afternoon in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in his maiden speech as the LoP, accused the BJP and RSS of spreading and preaching violence and hatred, drawing protests from the Treasury benches.

A day later, parts of his speech were expunged, including his comments on Hindus and PM Modi-RSS-BJP, among others.

PM Modi also slammed the Congress leader, saying, "Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter." Home Minister Amit Shah also demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi on this matter.(ANI)
Amid a series of bridge collapses in Bihar, State Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Thursday said that investigations are ongoing and action will be taken against negligent officers. "I am getting each and everything investigated. I have given directions for swift action. I will get a list issued - when was it built, who built it. As per the information we have received, they were built by recommendations of several MLAs. Everything is being investigated. Action will be taken, there is no doubt about it. Action will be taken against negligent officers," Choudhary said. Notably, five bridges in Araria, Siwan, East Champaran, Kishanganj, and Madhubani districts collapsed across the state in June last month. The first incident of a bridge collapse was reported on June 18 in Araria. On June 22, a bridge over the Gandak River in Siwan, approximately 40-45 years old, also fell. On June 23, a bridge under construction in East Champaran, costing around Rs 1.5 crore, collapsed, with locals blaming the use of substandard materials. On June 18, a newly constructed bridge over the Bakra River in Pararia village of Bihar's Araria district collapsed. Last month, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Jitan Ram Manjhi, raised concerns over the recurrent collapse of bridges in Bihar, claiming a possible conspiracy behind the incidents. "It is a matter of concern that bridges are collapsing (in Bihar). It looks as if poor-quality material might have been used. But why were the bridges not collapsing before 15 days or a month ago? Why are they collapsing now? Is there a conspiracy behind it?" Manjhi said. A total of six bridges collapsed on the Gandak river in Bihar's Siwan and Saran over the last two days, officials said, blaming engineers and contractors for the back-to-back incidents. Several projects, including the de-siltation of rivers, were initiated after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took feedback in Gopalganj and adjoining areas. It seems that engineers did not take care and the contractors were not careful, officials said, adding, "Engineers concerned seem to be at fault prima facie." Special teams have been sent to the spot, and strict action has been taken against engineers and contractors, they said. Officials further said that new bridges will be constructed and the cost of construction will be borne by the contractors concerned. Most of these bridges were thirty years old and the foundations were not very deep, they said, adding that the foundation was damaged during de-siltation. The bridge connecting Araria's Sikhti and Kursakatta was washed away before its inauguration. Last year in June, a portion of a temporary bridge built on River Ganga in the Vaishali district of Bihar was partly washed away by strong winds. The temporary bridge connected Raghopur to the Vaishali District Headquarters. (ANI) Last year, in June, a portion of a temporary bridge built on the River Ganga in the Vaishali district of Bihar was partly washed away by strong winds. The temporary bridge connected Raghopur to the Vaishali District Headquarters. (ANI)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday distributed appointment letters to 9,888 candidates selected for Special Survey Assistant Settlement Officer and other related posts and asked the officials in the Revenue and Land Reforms department to complete the land survey before the assembly elections, slated to be held in 2025. Addressing the event, the Bihar CM asserted that the land survey should be done before the assembly elections in the state. "I have said that these works (land surveys) must be done before the elections. If all these works are done before July 2025, it will be good. I bow to you (Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Singh) with folded hands. Shall I touch your feet? I say this to everyone, do it as soon as possible." He further said that 60 per cent of incidents of crime in Bihar occur mainly because of land-related disputes. "Now, with the appointment of 9,888 more officials, the department must complete the special survey and settlement of lands across the state by July 2025," the CM added. Nitish Kumar joined back the NDA bloc in January this year, after having developed "differences" with the Mahagathbandhan alliance. This was his fifth crossover in the past ten years, preceding his ninth time as the Chief Minister. This led to the collapse of the Mahagathbandhan government, after which the NDA government was formed in the state. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to allocate necessary funds for the modernization of the state's highest intelligence departments, Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau (TG NAB) and Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TG CSB). The Chief Minister met with the Union Home Minister at his residence in Delhi on Thursday, along with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. During the hour-long meeting, various issues were brought to the Minister's attention. To control and curb drug and cyber crimes, the Chief Minister requested Rs 88 crore for TG NAB and Rs 90 crore for TG CSB for the procurement of modern technology and equipment, a press release from the Telangana government read. Additionally, he emphasized the necessity of reviewing the IPS cadre every five years and urged the Minister to conduct the review for Telangana, which was last done in 2016. At the time of state bifurcation, Telangana was allocated 61 IPS posts, which are now insufficient for the new state's requirements. Therefore, the Chief Minister requested an additional 29 IPS posts for Telangana. The Chief Minister also highlighted the need for establishing security force camps in Adilabad, Mancherial, and Komaram Bheem Asifabad districts, similar to those set up in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra to counter left-wing extremism. He requested that these three districts, previously impacted by left-wing extremism but later removed from the SRE (Security-Related Expenditure) scheme, be reinstated under it. Given Telangana's extensive border with neighbouring states, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of focusing more on the state's security, the release said. To combat left-wing extremism in Telangana, the Chief Minister requested the establishment of CRPF JTF camps in Kondavai village of Charla Mandal, Bhadradri Kothagudem district, and Alubaka village of Venkatapuram Mandal, Mulugu district. He informed the Union Minister that the CPI Maoist Committee is attempting to expand its influence by leveraging the favorable terrain in the forested hills along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border. The JTF camps would help control and eliminate the movements of this Maoist special unit. He also requested the release of Rs 18.31 crore, pending for the last four years, which constitutes 60 per cent of the central share for SPOs (Special Police Officers). The Chief Minister highlighted the difficulty in adhering to the rule of only recruiting ex-servicemen and former police personnel as SPOs in Maoist-affected areas, as such personnel are not readily available. The Chief Minister also requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah's cooperation in resolving long-pending issues related to the Andhra Pradesh-Telangana Reorganization Act. He urged for a harmonious resolution of disputes related to the distribution of government buildings and corporations listed under Schedule 9 (as per Sections 53, 68, 71 of the Act) and the institutions under Schedule 10 (as per Section 75 of the Act). He emphasized the need for justice for Telangana in claims made by Andhra Pradesh over assets and institutions not mentioned in the Reorganization Act, the press release said. (ANI)
A Congress worker protested in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana on Thursday by climbing a telephone tower demanding that BRS MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy be barred from joining the Congress party, officials said. The protester, identified as Prasad, refused to descend from the tower until his demands were met, insisting that a Minister come to the scene and guarantee that Reddy would not be allowed to join the party. Local police, led by Gadwal Town Inspector Srinivas, quickly responded to the situation and are actively attempting to persuade Prasad to come down safely. "A Congress worker climbed a telephone tower in Gadwal town demanding that BRS MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy not be allowed to join Congress. He refused to come down until his demands were met. He also demanded that a Minister come to the spot and promise him the same," Inspector Srinivas said. Earlier in the day BRS MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy joined the Congress Party. Meanwhile, Karimnagar police on Wednesday registered a case against BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy under the BNS Act.The MLA from the Huzurabad constituency of Telangana was protesting on Tuesday, demanding the suspension of the District Education Officer (DEO) in the Zilla Parishad meeting. According to the police, the MLA's behaviour prompted the ZP CEO to file a complaint against him. The police registered a case under BNS Section 221, 126 (2). "The MLA's behaviour during the Zilla Parishad meeting yesterday prompted the ZP CEO to file a complaint against him. We have registered the case under Section BNS 221, 126," said ACP Karimnagar Narender. During the Zilla Parishad meeting, MLA Kaushik Reddy demanded the suspension of the District Education Officer (DEO) for issuing notices to Mandal Education Officers (MEOs) regarding an education review meeting conducted by Reddy about the schools in the Huzurabad constituency, which the MEOs attended. He further argued that, as an MLA, he has the right to review school performance and that the DEO's actions are a violation of his rights. Kaushik Reddy also stated that he would take the matter to court. "As a legislator, I conducted a review meeting on the performance of schools in Huzurabad constituency. The DEO asked the MEOs how they could go to such meetings. A notice has been issued to the MEOs regarding this matter. DEO has no right to give such notice. DEO's retirement is near. I will definitely go to court regarding this matter. It comes down to a violation of my rights," Reddy said in a social media post in X. Reddy further demanded an answer from the District Collector on this matter in his post. Members of the BRS party present at the Zilla Parishad meeting also stood up and displayed placards, raising slogans to suspend DEO. (ANI)
The Hyderabad Commissioner's Task Force, South West Teams, and Begum Bazar Police have successfully apprehended three interstate drug peddlers and seized hash oil worth Rs 7,65,000. The operation took place near Gandhi Bhavan Metro Station, Nampally, where the suspects were intercepted while riding a bike. The police seized 1.275 kilograms of hash oil, a two-wheeler, and four mobile phones, bringing the total value of the confiscated items to Rs 8,65,000. The main accused, identified as Chandan Kumar Choudhury Dinesh (34) from Dammaiguda, Hyderabad, was found in possession of the narcotic substance along with Yaddhnapudi Dhanraj (27) from Washing Centre Lane, Sriram Nagar, Baghlingampally, who was acting as a sub-peddler. Korra Babu David (30) from Anthruguda village in Allurisitharamaraju District, Andhra Pradesh, was identified as the supplier of the hash oil, which was transported from Odisha. According to police reports, the task force team, acting on credible information, intercepted the suspects' two-wheeler near Bheem Rao Bada, Nampally Road. During the operation, 950 grams of hash oil were found in one plastic cover, and 325 grams were contained in 65 small plastic vessels, each holding 5 grams of the substance. A case has been registered against the accused under IPC Section 8(c) r/w 20(b)(ii)(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, at Begum Bazar Police Station. "On Credible information South West Zone Task Force team and Begum Bazar Police apprehended (03) accused persons by intercepting their two wheeler near Bheem Rao Bada, Nampally Road, Hyderabad. Seized 1.275 Kgs of Hash Oil from them, on enquiry they revealed that Korra Babu @ David who is native of AP bought Hash Oil from Odisha to supply it to known persons Chandan Kumar Choudhary @ Dinesh @ Anil and Yaddhnapudi Dhanraj. The Commissioner's Task Force, South West Zone team, and Begum Bazar police nabbed them and seized 1.275 kg of hash oil (950 grams packed in one plastic cover and 325 grams in small plastic vessels - 65 vessels, each containing 5 grams of hash oil, with a total weight of 6 grams per vessel) from their possession," said the police. The police appealed to the general public that, in recent times, drug abuse and consequent addiction is rising in society leading to disastrous consequences for the family as a unit and the society in general. Commissioner's Task Force requests the public of Hyderabad to refrain from substance abuse and parents are advised to keep a watch on the activities of their children to ensure they do not fall prey to drugs. Any information pertaining to drug abuse may be given to the Police. (ANI)
The devastating flood in Assam has resulted in the death of 31 wild animals in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNP), the field director of KNP said. According to the reports of Kaziranga National Park authority, 23 hog deer drowned in flood waters while 7 other hog deer died under care. On the other hand, the park authority and state forest department rescued 82 wild animals. "20 wild animals including 15 hog deer, one rhino calf, one Otter(Pup), one Jungle Cat, 2 Scops Owl are currently under treatment. After the treatment 31 wild animals were released," Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park said. On the other hand, the flood situation in the national park on Thursday has slightly improved, but 95 forest camps out of 233 camps of the park are still underwater. "33 forest camps under Bagori range, 31 camps under Kaziranga range, 12 camps under Agratoli range, 8 camps under Burapahar range, 9 camps under Nagaon Wildlife Division, 2 camps under Biswanath Wildlife Division are still under water. Traffic restrictions on vehicular movement on National Highway 715 are in place in view of the safety and security of wild animals during flood time," the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park said. Forest guards, forest battalion personnel, and Assam police personnel have been deployed inside and outside of the national park. Assam Agriculture Minister Atul Bora said that the flood situation in Morigaon is grim and three people have died in the district. Atul Bora said, "The water level of the Brahmaputra river is receding in Morigaon district, but the flood situation is still grim. Three people have died here." Floods in Assam have so far claimed 46 lives. Eight people died on Wednesday in the state after drowning in flood waters. The overall flood situation in the state is still critical as over 16.25 lakh people of 29 districts have been affected by the second wave of flood. The flood affected districts are Goalpara, Nagaon, Nalbari, Kamrup, Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, South Salmara, Dhubri, Jorhat, Charaideo, Hojai, Karimganj, Sivasagar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Dhemaji, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Darrang, Biswanath, Cachar, Kamrup (M), Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, Chirang, Karbi Anglong West, Majuli. Rescue teams of the NDRF, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, administration, Indian army, and paramilitary forces are engaged in rescue operations in different areas and on Wednesday rescued 8377 people. (ANI)
According to the SDRF, "We received information from the City Control Room (CCR) that some people had been trapped on an island near Robbers Cave (Guchhupani), for whose rescue SDRF team is required."

On receiving the information, the SDRF rescue team along with sub-inspector Laxmi Rawat from post Sahastradhara immediately left for the site of the incident with necessary rescue equipment.

The SDRF team reached the site of the incident and took immediate action.

Subsequently, the 10 people trapped on the island were brought to a safe place by crossing the river with great difficulty using rope through the strong current of the river, said the SDRF.

Earlier, heavy rain swelled up the usually dry Sukhi river, washing away numerous parked cars and flooding homes and major roads in Haridwar.

In a relief and rescue operation, a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) pulled out the four submerged vehicles from the Ganga River after they were swept away in the flooding of a rain drain near Kharkhari in Haridwar on July 1.

These vehicles were handed over to the district police and were swept away in the Ganga River when the rain drain suddenly overflowed near the Kharkhari area after Haridwar was lashed with heavy rains earlier last week.

After major efforts and hard work of hours, the SDRF team pulled out four vehicles from the river and handed them over to the district police.

Heavy rains in Haridwar last week caused severe flooding with rising water levels in the Ganga River leading to vehicles floating and roads being submerged.

Intense downpours resulted in the Ganga River's water level rising significantly, flooding roads and leaving several vehicles partially or completely submerged.

Local authorities had advised residents and visitors to avoid bathing in the river due to the hazardous conditions. (ANI)
He deliberated upon mechanisms to effectively coordinate for timely intervention and action at the end of the government of India.

CM Naidu met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested to release Rs 385 crore as land cost, for establishing Greyhounds Training Centre, and Rs 27.54 crores towards operational cost.

He also requested Home Minister Shah that the AP police IPS cadre review should be scheduled at an early date.

On meeting with Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, the Andhra Pradesh CM highlighted the Outer Ring Road(ORR) project that will have a phenomenal impact on the development of the new capital of Amaravati.

Along with this, the development of a greenfield express highway from Hyderabad to Amaravati, Vijayawada Eastern Bypass, and others was put forth with Gadkari.

CM Naidu also requested Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to prioritize the transfer of Government of India Salt Lands for Port-led Industrial Development to the State government at their registered value.

He also held a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and requested the sanction of an integrated aquapark for the state of Andhra Pradesh.

He also requested to devise a policy for increasing the subsidy to horticulture farmers along with others.

The Andhra Pradesh CM also requested Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister of Power to promote Vizag-Kakinada as a Green Hydrogen manufacturing hub.

Further, on meeting with Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum, Chandrababu Naidu requested the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) to set up a refinery in the state as per Section 93(4) of APR Act 2014.

Chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital, where Andhra CM sought the central government's support on significant matters pertaining to the state's development. (ANI)
The Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, Government of Karnataka, MB Patil led a series of fruitful discussions with key government officials from South Korea, which involved discussions reflecting the Karnataka Government's commitment to fostering international partnerships and driving economic growth. These meetings, aimed at bolstering economic relations between Karnataka and South Korea, involved discussions with Vice Governor Hyun Gon Kim of Gyeonggi Province and Mr. Lee Hae Woo, Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy, Seoul Metropolitan Government and Mr. Nishikant Singh, DCM Embassy of India, Seoul. The fruitful exchanges with South Korean officials and businesses pave the way for enhanced collaboration and mutual benefits in various sectors, solidifying Karnataka's position as a premier investment destination. The meetings were attended by Selvakumar S, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries, and Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Commerce and Industries. Vice Governor Hyun Gon Kim of Gyeonggi Province, Mr. Park Seok Ki, Director of Economic Policy, Ms. Park In Seung Director of International Economic Cooperation expressed keen interest on expanding the relationship and forging deeper cooperation between India and Karnataka, particularly in sectors such as electronics, startups, R&D, biotech, and medtech. Highlighting the similarities between Bengaluru and Pangyo Techno Valley, the talks explored potential collaborations for the upcoming KHIR city near Bengaluru. Vice Governor Kim extended an invitation to the Karnataka government and companies to participate in the Gyeonggi Startup Summit in September 2024 and the Korean Industry Expo (KoINDEX) in New Delhi in November 2024. The meeting was also attended by Nishikant Singh, DCM Embassy of India, Seoul. M.B. Patil also had a strategic meeting with Lee Hae Woo, Deputy Mayor for Economic Policy, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and his team including Kang Jin-yong, Director of Startup Policy Division, Kim Yun-ha, Director of Finance & Investment Division, Park Eun-suk, Team Leader of Startup Policy Division, Kim Yoon-jung, Team Leader of Finance & Investment Division, and Gu Bon-hi, Invest Seoul Commissioner, and Nishikant Singh, DCM Embassy of India, Seoul, on mutual business interests in finance, investment, startups, and R&D in Karnataka. The discussion highlighted Seoul's dynamic economy and vibrant startup ecosystem, as well as Karnataka's rich heritage, prestigious institutions and underscored the state's robust education ecosystem and skilled workforce. Recognising the existing collaborations between Seoul and Indian startups, including companies like Krafton with offices in Bengaluru, the Government of Karnataka extended an invitation to Korean startups to participate in the Global Startup Challenge - VentuRISE, scheduled in the run-up to the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2025. Additionally, discussions were held on introducing student exchange programs between Seoul and Karnataka to leverage India's skilled talent workforce. The delegation also met with senior executives from KEB Hana Bank, discussing the bank's presence in India and expansion plans, including opening a branch in Bangalore. M.B. Patil highlighted Bangalore as a global city and leader in multiple sectors, emphasising the mutual benefits for both the bank and Korean companies expanding in Karnataka. The government of Karnataka assured support for KEB Hana Bank's application to the Reserve Bank of India for business presence in Bangalore. (ANI)
Taking to X, CM Saha posted, "Had a meeting with the BSF and other security agencies to review the issues relating to human trafficking, smuggling and other border-related crimes. Directed them to take effective steps to stop all the illegal activities on the Indo-Bangladesh border. All the necessary assistance will be provided by the State Government for this purpose."

CM Manik Saha expressed concern over the recent rise in the infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Indian territory.

He directed the concerned officials to take appropriate action against those involved in providing shelter and facilitating illegal border crossings.

SK Sinha, DIG, BSF, mentioned that the availability of manpower on the border has been affected due to the general parliamentary election and the deployment of BSF troops in Manipur. He assured that concerted efforts with all agencies would yield positive results.

Sinha also informed that the BSF is in the process of installing electronic gadgets for border surveillance at vulnerable patches. Several other issues were also discussed during the meeting.

Chief Secretary JK Sinha, ADG Law and Order Anurag, DIG PSO of BSF SK Sinha, and other officials were present. (ANI)
NITI Aayog launched the 'Sampoornata Abhiyan' on Thursday, which aims to achieve 100 per cent saturation of 12 key social sector indicators across all aspirational districts and blocks. The launch events were organised across all 112 Aspirational Districts and 500 Aspirational Blocks. The first day of the campaign witnessed the enthusiastic participation of lakhs of district and block-level officials, frontline workers, community leaders, local artists, students, and local representatives (Block Pramukhs/Sarpanchs) from Jammu and Kashmir to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Aspirational Districts and Blocks pledged their commitment to the 'Sampoornata Abhiyan' by reiterating its principles through the 'Sampoornata Pledge', committing to fulfil the campaign's goals and accelerating progress towards full saturation of the identified indicators. The programme also included organising camps emphasizing the key indicators of the campaign, as in Ratlam and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, the programme was launched amid fanfare and local participation at the district headquarters of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand and Nuh in Haryana. The health camp organised at Kurabalakota Mandal, Annamayya District, Andhra Pradesh, was received with immense enthusiasm by the local populace. Hundreds of Asha and Anganwadi workers gathered to display nutritional varieties of regional food for pregnant women and young children at the Baansgaon Block of Gorakhpur District, Uttar Pradesh and Nirmand Block, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. Some places saw Sampoornata Yatras being organised to create awareness about the key performance indicators and goals of Sampoornata Abhiyan. School children and NCC Cadets came together in one such Sampoornata Yatra at Bhamini block of Parvathipuram Manyam, Andhra Pradesh. Children also rendered support to this unique programme by participating in painting competitions as in Block Badhra, District Charkhi Dadri, Haryana. Other aspects of the launch included cultural programmes, nukkad natak, exhibition stalls, distribution of soil health cards, etc. Chowna Mein, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh launched Sampoornata Abhiyan at Chowkham Block, Namsai District. The launch event at Kiphire, Nagaland was addressed by the Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) C Kipili Sangatam, setting the ball rolling for an enthusiastic start. Similarly, Lamka South block of Churachandpur district, Manipur organised a free Health Camp on Diabetes and Hypertension for the launch programme. As part of the 3-month long, 'Sampoornata Abhiyan' campaign, district and block officials along with elected people's representatives will organise awareness activities like Gram Sabhas, Nukkad Natak, Paushtik Aahar Mela, Health camps, ICDS camps, Awareness Marches and Rallies, Exhibitions, Poster making and Poem competitions around 12 themes identified for 100 per cent saturation across all Aspirational Blocks and Districts. (ANI)
The Enforcement Directorate apprehended an individual in Punjab's Tarn-Tarn district for laundering money derived from drug trafficking. This arrest was made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. ED's Jalandhar based unit arrested Skattar Singh alias Laddi in continuation of its money laundering probe the agency had taken up on the basis of First Information Reports recorded by Punjab Police and Narcotics Control Bureau. Earlier, a search action under the provisions of Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 was conducted at 10 premises located in villages Sheron and Nausheran Pannuan in Tehsil Nausheran Pannuan and village Bugha in Tehsil Tarn Taran on February 3 last year. In addition to incriminating documents, narcotic substance and arms were recovered during the search. Investigation revealed that entire extended family of Skattar Singh has been involved in illicit drug sale since many years and multiple FIRs have been registered against his family members, said the ED in a statement. "Many of the family members are already in custody in NDPS cases. Saktar Singh amassed huge number of immovable properties in his name and in the name of family members through proceeds of crime generated from dealing in drugs since many years in the district of Tarn-Tarn of Punjab," added the agency. Earlier 3 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)
Telangana Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister Captain N Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Thursday that divisive forces have no place in the country and emphasised the importance of living in harmony. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that India's strength lies in its unity in diversity and that prosperity can only be achieved through communal harmony. "Today, I laid the foundation stones for various projects in Mellacheruvu, including the Rajagopuram in Shivalayam and a Muslim community hall. I also reviewed the ongoing works at the Christian burial ground. This demonstrates that the Congress Government works for all communities," he said. Uttam Kumar Reddy made these remarks on Thursday while participating in various development programmes in the Huzurnagar and Kodad constituencies. During a meeting at Kodad Municipality, he reviewed the status of several projects, including the Rs 8 crore mini tank bund at Kodad Pedda Cheruvu, Rs 6 crore Kodad town hall, Rs 50 lakh Khammam X Road junction development, Rs 1.1 crore welcome arches, Rs 4.4 crore major outfall drain from Cheruvukatta Bazaar to Ananthagiri Road, and the current status of additional outsourcing sanitary staff. He also visited the site for the construction of the Kodad Muslim community hall and checked the ongoing work at the Christian burial ground in Huzurnagar near Gutta. He laid the foundation stones for several new projects, including office buildings for the Tahsildar, MPDO, and Police Station in Ananthagiri, costing Rs 3 crore; a Rs 1.5 crore Muslim community hall in Mellacheruvu; a Rs 55 lakh Rajagopuram in Shivalayam in Mellacheruvu; new office buildings for the Tahsildar, MPDO, and Police Station in Chintalapalem and Palakeedu mandals. He also visited the mini stadium in Huzurnagar and reviewed the Telangana Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDC) works in the Huzurnagar and Neredcherla municipalities. He mentioned that the Rajagopuram of the Shiva Temple would be one of the best and is being constructed according to the people's wishes. Similarly, the poor minorities in Mellacheruvu will benefit from the community hall being built for Rs 1.5 crore, with completion expected within 3-4 months. He emphasised that no other leader or party has done as much for the region as he has. He cited several infrastructural improvements, such as the conversion of the existing railway line into a double line to facilitate passenger trains, bringing Krishna River water to the area for irrigation and drinking purposes, and the upgrading of the Hyderabad-Vijayawada 4-lane national highway to six lanes due to his representation to the Centre. Uttam Kumar Reddy affirmed that the Congress Government in Telangana is empowering local bodies by granting them the necessary powers to design, execute, and implement development programmes within their jurisdictions. He also stated that the Congress Government is building substantial infrastructure across Telangana to ensure proper governance and bring administration closer to the common people. He criticised the previous BRS Government for failing to create the necessary infrastructure for administration, noting that Tahsildars, MPDOs, and police stations had no permanent buildings. The current Congress Government, he said, is focusing on micro-development to ensure that the administration is equipped with the necessary infrastructure and funds. The Minister urged local bodies to exercise their powers in planning and executing development programmes without interference, allowing them to function independently with full authority to achieve the desired results. (ANI)
Former Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala urged the Congress to field a socially and universally respected person in the Rajya Sabha by-elections assuring support from the opposition in the state. The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant when Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda won the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat in the Lok Sabha polls. "We want the Congress to play the role of the main opposition party and field a socially and universally respected person in the Rajya Sabha elections so that the people of Haryana know which MLA is with the people and which MLA is with the government. We again say that if the Haryana Congress fights the Rajya Sabha by-election with the right heart, then the defeat of the BJP is certain," Chautala said in a post on 'X'. Chautala was an ally of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana till recently when he pulled out of the government after talks failed between his Jannayak Janta Party (JNM) and the BJP before the Lok Sabha polls. The JNM president said that while the Leader of Opposition claims that the Haryana government does not command a majority, it has stopped short of fielding its candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-election as it says that it "does not have the numbers." "On one hand, Leader of Opposition Bhupendra Hooda says that the Haryana government does not have the majority, and on the other hand, he refuses to contest the Rajya Sabha by-election saying that the opposition does not have the numbers. How can both these things be true because both things are contradictory," Chautala said. "The people of Haryana want to see BJP losing the Rajya Sabha by-election, but Bhupendra Hooda does not want to contest the election at the behest of BJP," he added. Asking the Congress to put up a fight before the BJP in the Rajya Sabha by-election, Chautala said, "There is always victory and defeat in elections, but accepting defeat without fighting, that too when the entire opposition is ready to support the Congress." In the House of 90, the BJP has 39 MLAs, the Congress has 30, the Jan Nayak Janata Party has 10, the Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP) has one, and the Indian National Lok Dal has one, along with seven Independents. The BJP which had 41 MLAs initially was reduced to 39 when the Karnal and Rania seats fell vacant following the resignation of two MLAs. Earlier six out of seven Independent MLAs used to support the BJP. However, three Independents withdrew their support in May, which left the BJP having the support of three Independents and one HLP MLA, making it a government of 43 MLAs. The Congress and the BJP won five seats each in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir police have detained 24 suspects and rounded up 43 individuals in connection with the vandalism of a religious place in the Dharmari area of Arnas in the Reasi district. Sharing the details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma said that a total of 43 suspects have been rounded up and apprehended for questioning. Further investigations into the case are ongoing. She also appealed to the people of Reasi to remain calm and maintain peace and communal harmony. "The culprit involved in the incident will be brought in front of the public very soon. Reasi Police are committed to solving the case and tracing the culprits at the earliest," she added. Earlier, Iftekhar, Reasi Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said that anti-social elements who want to disturb the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood will be caught. "Yesterday at 7.30 pm, in the Dharmadi area, an incident was reported in which an unknown person entered and tried to vandalize a temple. The police have registered a case and around three suspects have been rounded up. Many more people have been identified. Police teams are on the job. The anti-social elements who want to harm the Hindu-Muslim brotherhood will be caught soon," he said. "The SSP has also formed a Special Investigation Team, to look at the sensitivity of the matter. DSP-level officers will look into the matter. Reasi Police is trying the identify the culprit as soon as possible and punish them under the law so that peace can be maintained," the Reasi ASP added. Earlier on June 30, 12 suspects were detained in connection with the case. (ANI)
The forces operated under the "precise intelligence guidance" of Shin Bet (Israel's anti-terror General Security Services) in Jenin.

Upon the arrival of the forces where the terrorist was located they identified the armed terrorist and eliminated him.

There were no casualties reported to Israeli forces.

The Police provided no details as to the identity of the terrorist, nor as to with what organisation he was affiliated. (ANI/TPS)
The senior leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reached out to former Federal Minister Fawad Chaudhry as discussions for his and others' return to the party gain momentum, ARY News reported, citing sources. According to sources, the PTI leadership urged Fawad Chaudhry to abstain from criticising them. The dialogue between PTI leaders and Chaudhry centered on the country's current political landscape, highlighting the necessity for unity among opposition parties during these challenging times. The sources further revealed that the PTI leaders concurred on the importance of collaborative efforts to achieve their objectives. "Fawad Chaudhry's positive suggestions were welcomed by the senior leadership," sources privy to the discussions noted, according to ARY News. Key figures, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and former Speaker of National Assembly Asad Qaiser, are reportedly in contact with Chaudhry. However, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan denied any direct contact with Fawad Chaudhry. He clarified that the decision to readmit former members would be made by the party's founder. "In a meeting on Monday, the PTI founder said that he will take the decision (regarding those who left the party) after his release," Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated. Previously, PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan announced that Fawad Chaudhry, Imran Ismail, and Ali Zaidi were expelled from the party following the founder's directives. Fawad Chaudhry has expressed his eagerness to rejoin PTI, insisting that he never intended to leave. In a recent statement, he lamented Junaid Akbar's resignation, describing him as a "valuable person." Chaudhry also emphasised the potential of senior politicians like Parvaiz Elahi, Shah Mehmood, and Asad Qaisar to reinvigorate the party. Criticizing the current PTI leadership, Chaudhry remarked, "There is not a 1 per cent chance that the current party leadership can 'bring PTI founder out of jail' as they lack political strategy and capacity," ARY News reported. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of State Council meeting, in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday. In their meeting, the two ministers discussed an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations. "Discussed early resolution of remaining issues in border areas. Agreed to redouble efforts through diplomatic and military channels to that end.," Jaishankar took to X to post after the meeting with the Communist Party of China Politburo member. The External Affairs Minister said, "Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential." "The three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest - will guide our bilateral ties," Jaishankar said after the meeting. In an official statement on the bilateral, the Ministry of External Affairs said "the two Ministers agreed that the prolongation of the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side." "EAM highlighted the need to redouble efforts to achieve complete disengagement from the remaining areas in Eastern Ladakh and restore border peace and tranquillity in order to remove obstacles towards the return of normalcy in bilateral relations," the MEA release read. He also reaffirmed the importance of fully abiding by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached between the two Governments in the past. "The Line of Actual Control must be respected and peace and tranquillity in the border areas always enforced," the MEA added. Both Jaishankar and Wang Yi, agreed to continue and step up meetings of the diplomatic and military officials of the two sides to take forward their discussions to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest. "To that end, they agreed that the Working Mechanism on Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) should hold an early meeting. EAM reiterated that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests," the release added. The two ministers also exchanged views on the global situation, and Jaishankar also extended India's support to Foreign Minister Wang Yi for China's Presidency of SCO next year. (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that it detected 30 Chinese military aircraft and 8 naval vessels operating near its territory from 6 am (local time) on Wednesday and 6 am (local time) on Thursday. According to Taiwan's MND, 19 of the Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China's action, Taiwan sent aircraft, and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor China's military activity, Taiwan News reported. In a post on X, the Taiwan Ministry of National Defence (MND) stated, "30 PLA aircraft and 8 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 19 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern ADIZ. We've monitored the situation and responded accordingly." So far in July, Taiwan's MND has detected Chinese military aircraft 65 times and naval ships 20 times. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels that operate around Taiwan. Gray zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force," according to Taiwan News report. This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and military exercises near the island. Taiwan has been governed independently of China since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan as part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. Meanwhile, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) has called on China to explain why it seized a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Da Jin Man No 88, and demanded the immediate release of its vessel and its six crew members, Taiwan News. A vessel registered in Penghu named Da Jin Man No 88 was boarded and seized by the Chinese coast guard on July 2. The ship was reportedly boarded about 20 km from a port in Fujian Province's Jinjiang County in response to a summer fishing ban. The CGA said two Taiwanese and three Indonesians were on board. According to CGA, the fishing vessel was about 10 km away from the province's shores at the time of interception. CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin stated that the agency received a report on Tuesday from the owner of a Taiwanese fishing boat that it had been intercepted by two Chinese coast guard vessels 43.89 km (23.7 NM) northeast of Liaoluo Port in Kinmen, as per Taiwan News. The CGA dispatched the PP-10081 and PP-3505 patrol boats to aid the Da Jin Man No 88. The CGA also sent the PP-10039 for assistance. The PP-10081 was intercepted by three Chinese coast guard ships at 9:14 pm (local time)CGA demanded that China release a seized Taiwanese fishing boat, the Da Jin Man No 88. but the Chinese coast guard responded by urging them not to interfere. Further, the CGA detected four more Chinese coast guard ships converging on the scene. The Coast Guard was unable to get the fishing boat released and to avoid escalation decided to pull back. According to Taiwan News, Hsieh said by 10:30 pm Tuesday, (local time) the Taiwanese fishing boat had been taken to Fujian's Port of Weitou by the Chinese coast guard. The boarding location was 20.74 km from Fujian's town of Shenhu within Chinese territorial waters. (ANI)
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is set to commemorate the victims of a violent crackdown against peaceful protesters by the Chinese government on July 5, which marks the 15th anniversary of the 2009 massacre in Urumchi. The tragic events unfolded on July 5, 2009 as thousands of Uyghurs took to the streets in a march towards the People's Square in central Urumchi to protest the Chinese government's handling of the Shaoguan incident. A large number of people were killed and sustained injuries in three days of violence between ethnic minority Uyghurs and Han Chinese that began on July 5, 2009, in Xinjiang's largest city, Urumqi. This incident involved the deaths of several Uyghurs at the hands of a mob of Chinese factory workers during a dispute. In a press statement, WUC President Dolkun Isa said, "The 2009 Urumchi Massacre stands as one of the darkest episodes in the history of the Uyghur people." He further said, "The Chinese government's harsh crackdown on the protest marked a pivotal turning point, intensifying the repression of the Uyghur people and resulting in the current genocide." From July 5-7, 2009, thousands of peaceful Uyghur protesters demanding equal treatment and respect for their rights and freedoms were met with a brutal response. Chinese police forces, armed with shields, rifles, and clubs, moved to disperse and arrest the protesters before they reached Urumchi People's Square. The heavy-handed response not only led to unrest among the protesters but also escalated the situation, resulting in a severe crackdown by Chinese authorities. In the aftermath, the regional government imposed a communications blackout that lasted for months, effectively preventing the flow of information. As a way to remember the Urumchi Massacre and call for an end to ongoing human rights abuses, the global Uyghur diaspora communities will hold protests on July 5. The WUC has urged people to participate in these protests as a sign of solidarity. The organisation also reiterates its calls on the international community to hold China accountable. According to the WUC, the international community's failure to scrutinise the Chinese government's actions allows for the continued implementation of policies that perpetrate crimes against humanity and genocide in East Turkistan. (ANI)
Stating that the 21st century is the century of technology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday emphasized the need to make technology creative and apply it for the welfare of societies. The Prime Minister also highlighted that India's commitment to 'AI for All' is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar delivered these remarks on behalf of PM Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit) being held under Kazakhstan's Presidency in Astana. "Delivered India's statement at the Summit of SCO Council of Heads of States on behalf of PM Shri @narendramodi ji.Thank the leaders present for conveying their best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his re-election for a third successive term," Jaishankar posted on X. https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1808795073548529788 "The 21st century is the century of technology. We have to make technology creative and apply it to the welfare and progress of our societies. India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and the launch of an AI Mission. Our commitment to 'AI for All' is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation," he remarked. PM Modi stated the need for developing connectivity, while also emphasising that respect for "sovereignty and territorial integrity" is also essential. "Economic development requires robust connectivity. That can also pave the way for cooperation and trust between our societies. Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for connectivity and infrastructure projects. So too are non-discriminatory trade rights and transit regimes. The SCO needs to deliberate seriously on these aspects," he said. This was a veiled attack on Pakistan, China and their China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) -- a USD 50 billion Pakistani component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project is under construction in Pakistan and aims to connect Pakistan's Gwadar and Karachi ports to China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region by land. India has raised its objections multiple times, over the corridor that passes through various parts of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Further, in his remarks at the SCO Summit, Prime Minister Modi recalled the deep civilizational ties between India and Central Asia, and said that New Delhi has prioritised the interests and aspirations of the region. Highlighting India's focus on people-centric cooperation, PM Modi pointed to events like SCO Millet Food Festival, the SCO Film Festival, and the International Conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage, that were held under India's presidency last year. "India shares deep civilizational ties with the people of this region. Recognizing the centrality of Central Asia to SCO, we have prioritized their interests and aspirations. It is reflected in greater exchanges, projects and activities with them," PM Modi said. "Cooperation in the SCO, for us, has been people-centric. India organized SCO Millet Food Festival, SCO Film Festival, SCO Surajkund Craft Mela, SCO Think-Tanks Conference, and International Conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage during its presidency. We will naturally support similar endeavors by others," he added. Prime Minister Modi also appreciated that several events were hosted in the New Delhi Hall at the SCO Secretariat, including the 10th International Day of Yoga in 2024. Reiterating India's focus on the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', he congratulated Kazakhstan for successfully hosting the SCO Summit and also extended best wishes to China for hosting the summit next year. "I wish to underline that SCO provides us a unique platform to unite people, collaborate, grow, and prosper together, practicing the millenia old principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means 'The World is One Family'. We must continuously translate these sentiments into practical cooperation. I welcome the important decisions we will be taking today," PM Modi said. "I conclude by congratulating the Kazakh side for successfully hosting the SCO Summit and also convey our best wishes to China for the next presidency of the SCO," he concluded. PM Modi stressed that terrorism, if left unchecked, can become a major threat to regional and global peace. He asserted that cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response, and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered. Calling on action by the global community to combat terrorism, PM Modi said, "While doing so, priority must naturally be given to combating terrorism, one of the original goals of the SCO. Many of us have had our own experiences, often originating beyond our borders. Let us be clear that if left unchecked, it can become a major threat to regional and global peace. Terrorism in any form or manifestation cannot be justified or condoned." "International community must isolate and expose those countries that harbour terrorists, provide safe havens and condone terrorism. Cross-border terrorism requires a decisive response and terrorism financing and recruitment must be resolutely countered. We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth. The Joint Statement issued during India's Presidency last year on this subject underlines our shared commitment," he said. Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation in Kazakhstan at the 24th Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State (SCO Summit). The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the bloc in 2017. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Russia and Austria from July 8-10. PM Modi will be in Moscow from July 8-9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders will review entire range of multifaceted ties between India and Russia. In a press release, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, "Prime Minister will be in Moscow on 08-09 July 2024, at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit." "The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest," it added. After concluding his visit to Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria from July 9-10. It will be first visit of Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. During his visit, he will call on Austria's President, Alexander Van der Bellen. PM Modi will also hold talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. PM Modi and Karl Nehammer will also address business leaders from India and Austria. PM Modi will interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow and Vienna. Earlier in March, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said PM Modi has an open invitation to visit Russia, Russia-based TASS reported. "This (Modi's visit to Russia) is yet to be coordinated through diplomatic channels," Peskov said when asked whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had indeed invited PM Modi to pay a visit to Russia after the elections during their phone call on Wednesday. "Of course, the Indian Prime Minister also has an open invitation to visit our country," Peskov added, according to TASS report. Peskov stated that "In any case, [Putin and Modi] will meet in the first half of this year." He noted that Putin and PM Modi will meet in a multilateral format on the platforms of international events and in a bilateral format. His statement came after PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Putin and reiterated India's stand on dialogue and diplomacy as a way for the resolution of the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to an official release. (ANI)
Residents of communities in the Upper Galilee, Golan Heights and the coastal cities of Akko and Nahariya scrambled to shelters. Hezbollah claims it launched 200 rockets and drones within one hour. The municipality of Akko said shrapnel from an intercepted rocket damaged a shopping mall.

"Fighting for the North," which represents hundreds of evacuated Israeli families, called on the government to take stronger measures against the Iran-backed Hezbollah so that they can return to their homes.

"The State of Israel is a step away from losing the North. This is a war for all intents and purposes and the State of Israel must win it and not surrender through an agreement," the organization said. "Only a security zone inside Lebanon will bring peace in the long term. We will not be silent if there is no response."

On Wednesday, an Israeli airstrike in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre killed Muhammad Nimah Nasser, who commanded Hezbollah's Aziz Unit. Nasser was responsible for rocket fire at Israeli communities and security forces.

And overnight, fighter jets struck several Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon areas of Chihine and Blat.

Around 60,000 Israelis living in northern communities were forced to evacuate in October when the Hezbollah terror organization began daily rocket and drone attacks. Leaders of the Iran-backed terror group have said they will continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes. Hezbollah attacks have killed 10 civilians and 15 soldiers.

Israeli officials have been calling for Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from Southern Lebanon in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War. (ANI/TPS)
In a change of stance, Nepal's Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to immediately walk out of the government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', who is battling a political crisis following withdrawal of support by CPN-UML. Rashtriya Swatantra Party ministers had reached Dahal's residence on Thursday to tender their resignations but changed their decision after meeting him. "We went to meet Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal carrying resignation letters. He apprised us that he will exercise his constitutional rights and face the parliament. We also asked him to take the floor test soon and our ministers didn't tender resignation," Santosh Pariyar, chief whip of the party, told ANI over the phone. Pariyar along with four ministers and vice president of RSP went to Dahal's residence to give resignations. Dahal is leading a minority government after his major ally, CPN-UML, walked out of the government on Wednesday. All the eight ministers from the CPN-UML have tendered their resignation to the Prime Minister. Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, two largest parties in the House of Representatives, have forged an alliance to form a new government. In the 275-member house, Nepali Congress has 88 seats, CPN-UML 79, RSP 20 and the Maoist Centre led by Dahal has 32 seats. Taking advantage of a hung parliament, Dahal has been switching sides and garnering support from different political parties. Dahal has ruled out resignation following withdrawal of support by CPN-UML and has to face floor test in 30 days. He has not yet announced the date for seeking vote of confidence in the House of Representatives. PM Dahal already has faced four votes of confidence in the past nearly 20 months. He secured support of 157 members in the vote of confidence in March this year. Dahal was appointed as the Prime Minister by then President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on December 25, 2022, after he showed the support of 169 lawmakers. (ANI)
India and the UK held the Sixth Cyber Dialogue in New Delhi on Wednesday. The officials of the two nations agreed to deepen cooperation between their respective cyber agencies to build a safe and robust cyberspace. During the meeting, the officials of India and the UK held discussions on topics, including cyber threat assessment, internet governance, data protection, protection of critical infrastructure, capacity building and cooperation in multilateral forums, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release. Amit A Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) and Kat Jones, Head of Strategy and Engagement, Cyber Policy Department, The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the UK chaired the India-UK co-chaired the Sixth Cyber Dialogue. In a press release, MEA stated, "Discussions during the Dialogue included cyber threat assessment, internet governance, data protection, protection of critical infrastructure, capacity building and cooperation in multilateral fora, including the latest developments in the cyber realm at the United Nations." "Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation between their respective cyber agencies in order to build a safe and robust cyberspace," it added. For the meeting, the Indian delegation included officials from the MEA, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center (I4C), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), CERT-In and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC). The UK delegation included officials from the National Cyber Security Centre, the Cyber Policy Department of the FCDO, and representatives of the Cyber Policy Team of the British High Commission. Earlier on June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Rishi Sunak expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations between the two countries, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the 50th Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in Apulia, Italy on Friday. Sunak congratulated PM Modi on his historic third consecutive term and the two world leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations between the countries, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. The leaders further discussed the implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and expressed happiness on progress in all areas of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including regular high-level political consultations, defence and security, trade and economic collaboration, critical and high technology sectors and people-to-people ties. Moreover, the leaders also discussed regional and multilateral matters of mutual interest, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office. In a post on X, PM Modi had stated, "It was a delight to meet PM @RishiSunak in Italy. I reiterated my commitment to further strengthen the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the third term of the NDA Government. There is great scope to deepen ties in sectors like semiconductors, technology and trade. We also talked about further cementing ties in the defence sector." (ANI)
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence announced Thursday that it is closely monitoring large-scale military drills conducted by the People's Liberation Army in the East China Sea, which are scheduled to run until Friday, Taiwan News. The exercises, which involve sea trials of new weapons, have prompted navigation warnings and airspace restrictions in the region. The Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration issued a navigation warning on July 2 for specified coordinates at the Qiantang River estuary. It said from 4 am on Wednesday (July 3) to 6 pm on Friday (July 5), live-fire "military exercises" would be carried out and entry is prohibited during this period, as per Taiwan News. Vietnamese journalist Duan Dong on X described the exercises as "large-scale." He pointed out that the southernmost point of the prohibited zone is less than 100 nautical miles (185 km) from northwest Taiwan. Further, the MND said that it was monitoring the exercises and sea trials of new weapons. According to Taiwan News, the ministry noted that China issued airspace restrictions on Thursday to facilitate the Eastern Theatre Command's annual live-fire drills. Former Taiwan Navy captain Lu Li-shih revealed on Facebook on July 1 that China's Fujian aircraft carrier is set to undergo its third round of sea trials. Citing a notice from the Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration, Lu indicated that the focus of these exercises will be addressing the shortcomings identified during the previous trial and practicing dual-ship operations with the Type 901 fast combat support ship, Hulunhu (965)." As for whether the carrier-based aircraft will practice landing, Lu said, similar to the Shandong aircraft carrier in the past, it will first perform "touch and go" maneuvers, with actual landings likely scheduled for the next phase. Touch-and-go maneuvers involve aircraft briefly landing on the carrier deck before taking off again without coming to a full stop. Earlier in the day, The MND reported that it had detected 30 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan. Of the 30 aircraft, 19 had crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the northern, southwestern, and southeastern portions of the country's air defence identification zone (ADIZ). This latest incident adds to a series of similar provocations by China in recent months. China has increased its military activities around Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and military exercises near the island.Taiwan has been governed independently of China since 1949. However, China considers Taiwan part of its territory and insists on eventual reunification, by force if necessary. (ANI)
The Dagestan province in Russia has announced a temporary ban on the wearing of niqabs, a full-face veil with an opening for the eyes, following the deadly terror attacks on Jewish and Orthodox Christian houses of worship, Politico reported. In a statement on Telegram, a spokesperson for the muftiate -- an administrative entity that announces rules regarding the republic's Muslim majority -- said that the niqab covering the face except for the eyes will be forbidden "until the identified threats are eliminated" and the religious authorities come to "a new theological conclusion." The temporary ban has been implemented after a series of attacks were carried out on synagogues and Orthodox churches in Dagestan's capital Makhachkala and the city of Derbent on June 23. As many as 22 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in these attacks. The authorities in Dagestan blamed "international terrorist organisations" behind the attack However, it did not mention the name of any group responsible for the attack, according to Politico report. According to reports, one of the five gunmen had planned to escape from the region wearing a niqab as a disguise. Subsequently, Dagestan's governor, Sergei Melikov, called the niqab a 'security risk.' Notably, the vast majority of Dagestan is Muslim, and the region has a history of Islamic insurgency, as per the Politico report. Prominent figures in Russia have expressed their views regarding the temporary ban on niqab in Dagestan. After Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia's Investigative Committee, called for a blanket ban after the Dagestan attacks, Chechnya's strongman ruler, Ramzan Kadyrov, warned him to be "very careful." "One should not confuse religions with the reckless ideas of rabid fanatics and devils who can call themselves whatever they want but have absolutely no connection to the holy scriptures," Kadyrov said. Earlier in June, the law enforcement authorities in Russia identified five attackers behind the violence in Derbent and Makhachkala, TASS reported. The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least 15 police officers and four civilians, including an Orthodox priest. Some of the attackers hailed from the Sergokalinsky district, situated between Derbent and Makhachkala, and were linked to the district's head. Former MMA fighter Gadzhimurad Kagirov, identified as a cousin of district head Magomed Omarov, was among those involved in the violence in Derbent. Additionally, relatives of Omarov, including his son and nephew, were reported to have participated in the attacks, as reported by TASS. The attacks in Dagestan came after a group of terrorists stormed a concert hall near Moscow in March, killing 145 people in an attack, claimed by the Islamic State . Both attacks have highlighted the rising threat of Islamic extremism in Russia -- an unwelcome distraction for President Vladimir Putin, whose attention is focused on the grinding war in Ukraine, Politico reported. (ANI)
The US State Department said on Thursday that it is closely monitoring the status of a seized Taiwanese fishing boat by China and its crew, Taiwan News reported. This comes after the Chinese coast guard boarded and seized Da Jin Man No. 88 and detained its crew on July 2. A US State Department spokesperson told CNA it is monitoring the situation and encouraging both parties to "maintain open lines of communication" to resolve the matter peacefully. The Taiwanese boat was intercepted by two Chinese coast guard ships 43.89 km (23.7 NM) northeast of Liaoluo Bay in Kinmen and taken to Fujian's Weitou Port. Two Taiwanese and three Indonesians were on board the fishing vessel, as reported by Taiwan News. The Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) said on Wednesday that the incident occurred within Chinese waters. The CGA also said it would request relevant authorities to advise the fishing associations to avoid operating in these waters during China's summer fishing moratorium. CGA Deputy Director-General Hsieh Ching-chin said that follow-up negotiations with China would be handled through the Mainland Affairs Council and the Fisheries Agency. Hsieh called for the release of the crew and boat. However, China's Taiwan Affairs Office claimed the vessel's seizure was an act of "normal law enforcement" and the relevant departments would handle it per laws and regulations. Earlier in the day, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) has said that it detected 30 Chinese military aircraft and 8 naval vessels operating near its territory from 6 am (local time) on Wednesday and 6 am (local time) on Thursday. According to Taiwan's MND, 19 of the Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response to China's action, Taiwan sent aircraft, and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor China's military activity, Taiwan News reported. (ANI)
The family of Zaheer Baloch, a Baloch citizen whose whereabouts remained unknown for the last nine years, organised a sit-in in Quetta on Thursday and demanded his safe release, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee said in a statement. The victim's family, during the protest at Sariyab Road, also demanded the lodging of an FIR against the culprits behind Baloch's abduction. Zaheer Baloch is one of the many victims of the sustained problem of enforced disappearances in Pakistan's Balochistan. The BYC said that he was abducted in late June without stating any charges. In a post on X, the BYC stated, "Zaheer Baloch, who was abducted on June 27, is among the latest victims. In response, his family has staged a sit-in and road blockade protest at Sariyab Road in Quetta. They are demanding his safe recovery and the lodging of an FIR against the latest culprits in the Baloch Genocide CTD, who abducted Zaheer without any charges. Today, the family organized a protest rally from the sit-in camp to further highlight their plight." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1808577282061316228 Notably, the incidents of enforced disappearances have witnessed a steep rise in the Balochistan province, reportedly orchestrated by the security and intelligence agencies of Pakistan. The BYC, in the same statement said that enforced disappearances said such "brutal practices" have become a "tragic norm" in Balochistan. "Enforced Disappearances have become a tragic norm in Balochistan, with Baloch people being subjected to such brutal practices on a daily basis. Despite condemnation from reputable international organisations and steadfast resistance by the Baloch people, the state continues to perpetuate these disappearances," it stated. It further mentioned another incident where family members of victims ended their 15-day sit-in in Turbat after the district administration assured them that their loved ones would be released within 10 days. "In a separate incident, a fifteen-day-old sit-in by family members in Turbat concluded after the district administration assured them their loved ones would be released within ten days. The ongoing struggle and resilience of the Baloch people in the face of such injustices underscore the urgent need for international attention and action," BYC stated. However, several instances suggest that the authorities in Pakistan have failed to keep their word on any assuarance to Baloch people. As a result, the victims continue to suffer. Last month, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee highlighted the situation of familiy members amid cases of enforced disappearances. "Eid has come and gone, but Baloch families continue to protest at Shaheed Fida Chowk Turbat, demanding the safe return of their loved ones who have been missing since Eid. The District Administration had falsely assured them of their loved ones' release before. Now, no state authority has come forward to address their demands," BYC stated. According to the statement, the protesters included families of victims of enforced disappearances like Fateh, Nisar Karim, Rafiq, Meeras Hussain, and Jan Mohammad, all missing since 2023. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his meeting with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, emphasised that the relationship between New Delhi and Beijing is not normal, and that the two sides need to find a way to deal with issues that have been pending so as to ensure peace and tranquility at borders. During his meeting with Yi, on sidelines of SCO Summit, Jaishankar also affirmed that normal relationship can't be maintained unless there is peace and tranquility at the border. Speaking to ANI, Jaishankar said, "We discussed the state of the relationship, which is not normal...two of us have been meeting fairly regularly since 2020, so that the disengagement issue needs to be completed. There are some pending outcomes...we have to find a way by which LAC is respected and peace and tranquility are ensured in the border area. You cannot disturb peace and tranquility and have a good relationship." The EAM further said that the two leaders agreed to convene an early meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) to discuss the border situation. "We both looked at it, the current situation is absolutely not helping the relationship...what we agreed at the end of it all was we would ask the mechanism, we call it WMCC (Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs), which deals with it to convene an early meeting," Jaishankar said. "In my view, both sides need to make a push and find a way by which we can deal with issues that have been pending for sometime," he added. Speaking on the SCO Summit in Astana, he said that it was 'good one', both from the point of view of SCO as an organisation and from India's perception. "Overall, my take is a good one, both from the point of view of SCO as an organisation and perceptive of India. Iran joined the meeting...Belarus joined the meeting...we also had an SCO+ meeting for the first time...we had some solid outcomes. One is that we got a very strong position from SCO on the whole challenge of terrorism...primary purpose of SCO was to combat terrorism and extremism," Jaishankar said. "We got an endorsement today, very explicitly, combating terrorism in all forms...including cross-border terrorism, terror financing...we got a programme of cooperation... the second set of outcomes is, anti-drug strategy, SCO is setting up an illegal narcotics countering centre in Tajikistan...we agreed on cooperating on energy, environment," he added. Jaishankar represented India at the SCO Summit under Kazakhstan's presidency in Astana. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, said that the economic relationship between India and Russia has grown tremendously, and the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a great opportunity for the leaders to discuss ties between two nations. Pointing to the delay in holding the annual summit between New Delhi and Moscow, he laid emphasis on starting it again terming it a "good way to take stock of relationship". EAM Jaishankar represented India at the SCO Summit, which was held under Kazakhstan's presidency in Astana. Speaking to ANI, Jaishankar said, "There was a bit of a delay in our annual summits, it is a good tradition, we are two countries which have a strong history of working together. We did value the need for an annual summit. Last year when I went to Moscow, I carried a message from the PM that we are committed to the annual summit and we will do it sooner rather than later...it is a regular recurrence. It is a way of taking stock of any relationship." "One of the big changes has been, that our economic relationship with Russia has grown tremendously...at the leadership of level, it will be a great opportunity for PM Modi and (Russian) President Putin to sit down and directly talk to each other," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Russia and Austria from July 8-10. PM Modi will be in Moscow from July 8-9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders will review entire range of multifaceted ties between India and Russia. After concluding his visit to Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria from July 9-10. It will be first visit of Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. Speaking further, the Foreign Minister said he strongly raised the issue of Indians stranded in the conflict zone in Russia during his meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, and stressed that it is unacceptable that Indian citizens find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone, adding that New Delhi needs a much stronger 'follow-up' from Moscow. When asked whether the issue of Indians stranded in Russia was raised during the bilateral meeting, Jaishankar said, "Absolutely...very clearly and strongly... several Indians have been pressed into services with Russian Army, only when they come back we will know the full circumstances. But, whatever the circumstances are, to us it is unacceptable that Indian citizens find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone." The EAM further highlighted that the Ministry of External Affairs is already speaking up with the Russian Defence Ministry, adding that India will continue to take up the issue till all Indians stranded there come back. "I told him (Lavrov) that we seek their cooperation and that they are our friend and partner. We have to find a way so that these people can return to India as quickly and effectively as possible," Jaishankar said. He added, "He appreciated the point...Foreign Ministry has been speaking to the Russian Defence Ministry in this regard. I urged him that we need a much stronger follow-up...I have taken it up and I intend to continue taking it up until all our people there come back." Notably, around 20 others were allegedly duped into fighting for Russian Army in the war against Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs. At least two Indians have died. The MEA confirmed in April, that among the Indian nationals who were working as support staff in the Russian Army, 10 have returned to India Earlier this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), busted a major human trafficking network running across the country targeting Indian nationals on the promise of offering lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone. Speaking on his meeting with other counterparts, the EAM said with some people it was courtesy meeting, while it was more detailed meeting with others. He added that several ministers extended their best wishes for PM Modi securing a third consecutive term. "With some people, it was courtesy (meeting) and with some, it was a more detailed (meeting)...many of the Central Asian leaders, they gave me a chance to sit down and talk to them about our relationship. I also had the privilege of having a conversation with the Emir of Qatar...there were different people present there...one thing all of them told me was to convey to PM the best wishes and congratulations for his 3rd term and that they're looking forward to the next opportunity to meet him and express that in person," Jaishankar further said. (ANI)
Dubai [UAE}, July 4 (ANI/WAM): TripAdvisor has awarded several cultural and heritage sites managed by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) the Travellers' Choice Award 2024, following numerous commendations. This accolade recognises Al Shindagha Museum, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, and Etihad Museum as some of Dubai's most prominent tourist attractions, affirming their leading position and highlighting the unique cultural experiences they offer. These efforts reflect Dubai Culture's aim to preserve and safeguard Emirati cultural heritage while cementing Dubai's position on the global tourism map. Among traveller reviews, Al Shindagha Museum, the UAE's largest heritage museum, garnered numerous positive public comments, describing it as 'Dubai's hidden gem', due to its collections, exhibits, oral histories, and archival photography documenting the emirate's legacy and culture. Within its 22 pavilions spread across over 80 historic houses, the museum shows Dubai and the UAE's history, heritage, and remarkable achievements, offering visitors exceptional experiences and unique cultural pathways that promote and highlight authentic Emirati heritage and culture. Travellers ranked Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood as one of Dubai's best destinations for cultural tourism. It enables visitors to discover and experience the traditional lifestyles that prevailed in Dubai from the mid-19th century to the 1970s. Additionally, it boasts features and facilities capable of attracting startups and talent to showcase their works, further enhancing Dubai's artistic and creative Emirati identity. Etihad Museum captivated travellers worldwide with its historical narrative documenting the union's journey. Through its various sections and exhibitions, the museum narrates the story of the country's founding and prosperity, providing a precise chronology of events leading up to the declaration of the UAE in 1971, focusing mainly on the period from 1968 to 1974. Through such exhibitions and educational programmes, the museum highlights the efforts of the Founding Fathers of the UAE and enriches the knowledge of its visitors of key milestones leading to the birth of the nation. Dubai Culture strives to offer exemplary visitor experiences within its historical assets through the adaptation of new technologies that have transformed its cultural and heritage sites into interactive and innovative spaces. Equipped with the latest technologies and educational tools, these spaces enable visitors to explore Dubai's history and achievements in engaging and interactive ways. This use of technology is a testament to Dubai Culture's commitment to fostering innovation, improving understanding, and bettering the tourism experience. (ANI/WAM)
After China issued new legal guidelines that threatened Taiwan's autonomy, the authorities have now once again attempted to threaten the existence of Taiwan. According to the latest judicial guidelines imposed by China, the crimes of secession committed by Taiwanese separatists are punishable under Chinese law. The guidelines authorise the use of trials in absentia and even the death penalty for anyone asserting Taiwan's independence, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported. The move came when China could be noticed aggressively pushing its expansionist policies in Taiwan, even when it has no jurisdiction over Taiwan, and the People of China since its founding in 1949 has never ruled Taiwan. While commenting on the questioned Chinese guidelines, the HRW report said, "The guidelines regarding Taiwanese separatists are stark reminders that the Chinese government routinely threatens Taiwan and its 23 million inhabitants and has expanded its aggressive efforts to stifle their basic freedoms." Previously, China's 2005 Anti-Secession Law made vague threats of using other measures against Taiwanese secessionist forces without specifying what constituted secessionists. However, the current laws label all activities relating to the independence of Taiwan as acts of crime, this included anything related to Taiwanese independence, including establishing an independent Taiwan, setting up a separatist organisation, promoting Taiwan's entrance into international organisations, and deviating from the Chinese narrative of Taiwan in fields such as education, culture, history, or news media, the HRW report claimed. "Other overly broad offences include conduct seeking to separate Taiwan from China and otherwise actively participating in Taiwanese separatist organisations," according to the HRW report. Additionally, these guidelines also threaten the Taiwanese people with an in absentia trial, referring to conducting a criminal trial without the presence of the accused person in court, with no limitation to the punishment being given to the accused and no difference between Taiwanese and foreign nationals. The Chinese government carries out the most executions in the world, although the exact number remains a state secret. However, the HRW has always opposed the death penalty in all circumstances because of its inherent cruelty. As a result, Taiwan has raised its alert levels for Taiwanese nationals who travel to China, citing recent cases of arbitrary arrests, detention, and interrogations orchestrated by China. The HRW report also stated that these new guidelines are likely to have a further chilling effect on the approximately 150,000 Taiwanese nationals living in China, for whom self-censorship is routine. Conclusively, the HRW mentioned that "the new court guidelines are the Chinese government's latest effort to control people's right to freedom of expression beyond its borders. Everyone has fundamental rights and freedoms, including those who believe in or advocate for Taiwanese independence." (ANI)
In an address to the SCO summit in Astana, Guterres highlighted pressing global challenges, emphasising the need for collective action over individual efforts. "These global challenges cannot be solved on a country-by-country basis," he stated, pointing to "raging wars, geopolitical divides, and an epidemic of impunity."

The Secretary-General noted the central role of multilateralism anchored by the United Nations, advocating for peace as a prerequisite for sustainable development and human rights enjoyment worldwide. He called for immediate actions in conflict zones such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, urging humanitarian ceasefires and inclusive governance.

Addressing the climate crisis, Guterres stressed the urgency of ambitious emissions reductions and climate justice, noting, "Our climate is breaking down, threatening water and food security, and fueling political instability."

He urged stronger commitments from developed countries and innovative financing mechanisms to support climate action.

On the digital front, Guterres highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive sustainable development while cautioning against its unregulated use. He proposed international frameworks for AI governance and emphasised the need for inclusive global participation in shaping AI policies.

The Secretary-General called for reforms to global governance institutions, describing them as outdated and inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges. He proposed reforms to the UN Security Council and advocated for a new global agenda that reflects the realities of today's world.

Guterres concluded on an optimistic note, calling for unity at the upcoming Summit of the Future in September. "This is an important moment for the world to move forward together," he remarked, inviting global leaders to New York for crucial discussions on international reforms and cooperation. (ANI)
Co-chaired by India, Australia, and Indonesia and organised in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and the National Maritime Foundation (NMF), the conference aims to bolster cooperation across the Indo-Pacific region.

Secy (East) Jaideep Mazumdar inaugurated the conference on Thursday, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing the EAS Plan of Action. Government officials, alongside experts from prominent think tanks and academia across EAS participating countries, convened for a series of thematic sessions focused on enhancing maritime security.

"The conference is aimed at promoting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and support implementation of the EAS Plan of Action. Government officials and experts from think tanks & academia from EAS participating countries are deliberating on six thematic sessions related to maritime security," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaisawl said in a post on X.

Discussions at the event are set to address critical issues, including maritime domain awareness, capacity building, and joint exercises among regional navies.

Key stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, and various international organisations, are actively participating, reflecting the conference's significance in shaping regional security architecture.

With Mumbai as the host city, renowned for its maritime heritage and strategic importance, the conference provides a platform for constructive dialogue and collaborative initiatives aimed at safeguarding maritime interests across the EAS member states. (ANI)
16 states and DC have active guaranteed basic income programs that give residents cash, no-strings-attached

New York City is one of many areas across the country offering guaranteed basic income to low-income residents. joSon/Getty Images

Guaranteed basic income programs can help low-income participants afford necessities like rent.

Over 100 US cities and counties have tried GBI, offering cash for housing and groceries.

Despite legislative opposition, basic income programs remain active across the country.

Ingrid Sullivan, 48, used her cash from the San Antonio guaranteed basic income program to rent a home where her grandchildren can play in the yard. And Atlanta resident Shamarra Woods, 31, used her basic income to pay bills and afford day care for her toddler.

For 46-year-old Jennette Fisher, $500 a month allowed her to sign an apartment lease in a quiet Chicago suburb with her daughter.

"It took such a weight off," Fisher previously told Business Insider. "If I wouldn't have had that money, I don't know what would have happened."

Guaranteed basic income has become an increasingly popular poverty-solution strategy in US cities. Over 100 municipalities have tried the GBI model since 2019, offering low-income participants between $50 and $2,000 a month, no strings attached, for a set time period.

What makes basic income different from traditional social services is the element of choice. Participants told BI they spent the money where they needed it most: on housing, groceries, transportation, and debt repayment.

Typically, participants fall below the federal poverty line. However, some programs have also focused on specific populations such as new and expecting mothers, households with children, or people experiencing homelessness.

Basic income pilots have been completed in cities and counties in Alabama, Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, Oklahoma, and more.

GBI continues to face legislative opposition from Republican lawmakers who have called the programs "socialist" and say they discourage low-income people from entering the workforce.

For example, Iowa passed a ban on GBI in April, and the Arizona House of Representatives voted to ban basic income in February. On April 23, the Texas Supreme Court placed a temporary block on a Houston-area program that the attorney general called "unconstitutional."

Despite these political challenges, basic-income programs continue to be active across the country. Here's a breakdown of states, listed in alphabetical order, where cash payments being offered to low-income residents.

California

Los Angeles. LPETTET/Getty

Location: Los Angeles

Program name: Breathe

Duration: June 2022 - August 2025

Income amount: $1,000 every month for three years

Number of participants: 1,000 low-income households

Location: Long Beach

Program name: Long Beach Pledge

Duration: Spring 2024 - spring 2025

Income amount: $500 a month for 12 months

Number of participants: 200 low-income households with children

Location: Mountain View

Program name: Elevate MV

Duration: December 2022 - December 2024

Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 166 low-income parents

Location: Sonoma County

Program name: Pathway to Income Equity

Duration: January 2023 - January 2025

Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 305 low-income families

Location: Pomona

Program name: Pomona Household Universal Grants Pilot

Duration: Summer 2024 - spring 2026

Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months

Number of participants: 250 low-income families with children under 4 years old

Location: Humboldt County

Program name: Humboldt Income Program

Duration: On a rolling basis, beginning December 2023

Income amount: $920 a month for 18 months

Number of participants: 150 low-income pregnant people

Previous basic income pilots have been run in Stockton, San Francisco, Marin County, Sacramento, Compton, Oakland, Santa Clara, San Diego, and more. In 2021, the state pledged $35 million for more GBI pilots over five years, and a bill being heard in the California Senate could provide GBI starting in August 2025 for students experiencing homelessness.

Colorado

Denver. milehightraveler / Getty Images

Location: Denver

Program name: The Denver Basic Income Project

Duration: November 2022 - summer 2024

Income amount: Participants were divided into three groups: One receives $1,000 a month for a year; another receives $6,500 up front and then $500 a month from there; and another gets $50 a month.

Number of participants: 800 unhoused individuals

Location: Boulder

Program name: Elevate Boulder

Duration: January 2024 - January 2026

Income amount: $500 a month for two years

Number of participants: 200 low-income households

Georgia

Atlanta. Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Location: Atlanta, southwest Georgia, and the City of College Park

Program name: In Her Hands

Duration: First pilot was 2022 - 2024, second pilot began spring 2024

Income amount: Average payments of $850 a month over 24 months for the first round

Number of participants: 650 low-income Black women

Illinois

Chicago. Allan Baxter / Getty Images

Location: Cook County

Program name: The Cook County Promise

Duration: December 2022 - December 2024

Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 3,250 low- to moderate-income families

Location: Evanston

Program name: Guaranteed Income Program

Duration: First round ran December 2022 - December 2023, second round begins summer 2024

Income amount: $500 a month for one year

Number of participants: 150 low-income families

Location: Statewide

Program name: Empower Parenting with Resources

Duration: fall 2024 - fall 2026

Income amount: Monthly payments for a year dependent on each participant's income and local cost of living

Number of participants: 400 families involved in the child welfare system

Chicago previously ran the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, providing basic income for 5,000 residents, and has set aside $32 million to relaunch the program. Open AI CEO Sam Altman also sponsored a GBI program beginning in 2019 that gave 3,000 Texas and Illinois residents $1,000 a month for three years.

Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana Davel5957/Getty Images

Location: Indianapolis

Program name: Rooted School: $50 Study

Duration: Two phases, running fall 2022 - summer 2024

Income amount: $50 a week for the 40-week academic year

Number of participants: Over 450 high school students between New Orleans and Indianapolis pilots

An earlier GBI program in Indianapolis gave 15 participants $500 monthly for 18 months ending in spring 2022.

Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa f11photo / Getty Images

Location: Polk, Dallas, and Warren counties

Program name: UpLift  The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot

Duration: May 2023 - spring 2026

Income amount: $500 a month

Number of participants: 110 low-income households

Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana Peter Unger / Getty Images

Location: New Orleans

Program name: Rooted School: $50 Study

Duration: Two phases, running fall 2022 - summer 2024. The city has set aside funding to expand program over the next three years.

Income amount: $50 a week for the 40 week academic year

Number of participants: Over 450 high school students between New Orleans and Indianapolis pilots

A previous program in Shreveport gave 110 single parents $660 monthly for a year ending in February 2023. The New Orleans Guaranteed Income Program also gave 125 young people disconnected from work or school $350 monthly between spring 2022 and spring 2023.

Massachusetts

Somerville, Massachusetts. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Location: Somerville

Program name: The Somerville Guaranteed Basic Income Program

Duration: July 2024 - July 2025

Income amount: $750 a month for 12 months

Number of participants: 200 low-income families

Basic income programs were previously run in Boston, Chelsea, and Cambridge.

Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan. pawel.gaul / Getty Images

Location: Ann Arbor

Program name: Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor

Duration: January 2024 - December 2025

Income amount: $528 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 100 low-income entrepreneurs

Location: Flint

Program name: Rx Kids

Duration: January 2024 - spring 2025

Income amount: $1,500 lump sum, then $500 monthly payments during the first year of a baby's life

Number of participants: 1,200 new and expectant mothers

Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Location: Jackson

Program name: Magnolia Mother's Trust

Duration: 12 months per pilot, ongoing

Income amount: $1,000 a month

Number of participants: Over 400 low-income Black mothers since fall 2018

Missouri

St. Louis. Art Wager / Getty Images

Location: St. Louis

Program name: STL Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot

Duration: Fall 2023 - spring 2025, but a lawsuit temporarily blocked payments in July

Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months.

Number of participants: 540 low-income families with children

New York

New York. Alexander Spatari/Getty Images

Location: New York City, Rochester, and Buffalo

Program name: The Bridge Project

Duration: June 2021 - ongoing

Income amount: Up to $1,000 a month for three years

Number of participants: 1,200 low-income mothers

Location: Hudson

Program name: HudsonUP

Duration: Five years, with staggered cohorts launched in fall 2020, 2021, and 2023

Income amount: $500 a month for 5 years

Number of participants: 128 households

A 17-month program in Ulster County that provided basic income to 100 households ended in September 2022, and another program in Ithaca gave a full year of cash payments to unpaid caregivers through May 2023. The nonprofit Creative Rebuild New York also ran an 18-month GBI pilot for artists impacted by the pandemic, which ended in early 2024.

Oregon

Portland. David Gn Photography / Getty Images

Location: Portland

Program name: Black Resilience Fund

Duration: January 2023 - spring 2026

Income amount: Up to $2,000 a month for three years

Number of participants: 25 Black households in Multnomah county

This November, Oregonians will also vote on a universal basic income proposal to give all state residents $750 a year through taxing corporations.

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia. Jon Lovette / Getty Images

Location: Philadelphia

Program name: PHILHousing+

Duration: Fall 2022 - spring 2025

Income amount: $89 to $2,079 a month for 30 months, depending on household income

Number of participants: 300 renter households from the Philadelphia Housing Authority's Housing Choice Voucher or public housing waitlist

Location: Philadelphia

Program name: Philly Joy Bank

Duration: Launched summer 2024

Income amount: $1,000 a month for 18 months

Number of participants: 250 low-income pregnant people

Texas

San Antonio. Adam Jones/Getty Images

Location: San Antonio

Program name: UpTogether San Antonio

Duration: Summer 2023 - December 2024

Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months

Number of participants: 25 low-income families

Location: Harris County

Program name: Uplift Harris

Duration: Initially scheduled to begin in April 2024, but delayed because of the Texas Supreme Court ruling

Income amount: $500 a month for 18 months

Number of participants: 1,928 low-income households

An earlier San Antonio program offered $5,108 to 1,000 families over a 25-month period that began in December 2020. The Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot also gave participants $1,000 a month ending in May 2023. Additionally, Altman's GBI program that began in 2019 gave 3,000 Texas and Illinois residents $1,000 a month for three years.

Virginia

Richmond, VA SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Location: Richmond

Program name: Richmond Resilience Initiative

Duration: Several cohorts, beginning October 2020 - spring 2025

Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 94 low-income families with children

Location: Alexandria

Program name: Alexandria Recurring Income for Success and Equity

Duration: Spring 2023 - spring 2025

Income amount: $500 a month for 24 months

Number of participants: 170 low-income individuals

Washington DC

Washington DC. Wasin Pummarin/Getty Images

Location: Washington DC

Program name: CashRx

Duration: November 2023 - fall 2024

Income amount: Participant's choice, an average of $1,400 a month

Number of participants: 10 low-income individuals participating in the nonprofit Bread for the City's healthcare program.

A previous pilot in DC  THRIVE East of the River  provided basic income to 500 low-income households between 2020 and 2021.

Is there an active basic income program that isn't on this list? Have you benefited from a basic income program? Reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.

Correction: April 29, 2024  An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the end date of the Guaranteed Income to Grow Ann Arbor program.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tens of thousands of fentanyl pills recently seized by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Field Division are pictured

Tens of thousands of fentanyl pills recently seized by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Field Division are pictured on July 1, 2024. (Credit: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration)

On the heels of a massive bust, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, expects the number of fentanyl pills seized in Utah this year to be record-breaking.

In less than two weeks this June, the DEAs Rocky Mountain Field Division seized about 170,000 fentanyl pills in the Beehive State, the agency said in a news release. Thats about one quarter of what was seized in all of 2023, which at 664,000 pills was the most fentanyl confiscated in Utah by the DEA in one year, ever.

The division, which covers Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, seized about 3.4 million fentanyl pills in 2023, which is also a record, according to the DEA.

The influx of pills is evidence of Mexican criminal groups in Utah, said Jonathan Pullen, the special agent in charge of the Rocky Mountain Field Division.

The drug cartels primarily operating in Mexico are not slowing down production and distribution of this deadly poison, Pullen said in a statement. Fentanyl pills and powder are out there, and the cartels targeting Utah do not care if you and the family are in summer vacation mode. DEA continues to urge you to discuss the lethal nature of fentanyl with family, friends and within your community.

The investigations into these seizures are ongoing, the DEA said, and additional details and court records are not currently available.

In a warrant filed in Utahs 4th District Court this past March, agents describe an unnamed drug trafficking group from Sinaloa, Mexico, which has been under investigation since 2016 for its operations along the Wasatch Front.

The investigation has resulted in the arrest of dozens of (drug trafficking organization) members, the seizure of hundreds of pounds of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine and the seizure of over $2 million in cash and assets, the warrant reads.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that about 105,000 Americans died from a drug overdose last year  according to the DEA, about 70% of those deaths involved fentanyl.

The recent seizures totaling 170,000 fentanyl pills in Utah means more than likely, lives have been saved  from St. George to Logan, Moab to Wendover  and across the state, said Dustin Gillespie, the special agent in charge of the Salt Lake City DEA office.

The post DEA forecasts a record-breaking year for fentanyl seizures in Utah appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
A drone show scheduled at Delaware Park Casino on Saturday, July 6, has been canceled because of flight restrictions over the weekend in north Delaware.

"Due to FAA restrictions communicated on July 4th, the drone show at Delaware Park Casino near Wilmington, scheduled for Saturday, July 6, unfortunately, has been postponed," wrote a spokesperson for Delaware Park Casino. "The new date for the drone show is now Saturday, July 20th.

The sudden VIP visit was communicated by the Federal Aviation Administration at 2:57 p.m. on July 4, grounding all aircraft between the evenings of Friday, July 5, and Sunday, July 7.

The restrictions are standard protocol when President Joe Biden flies into the Wilmington Airport and is at his Greenville home.

The field heads down the front stretch as eventual winner Idiomatic, with Florent Geroux up, settles into position (third from right) in the Delaware Handicap, Saturday, July 8, 2023 at Delaware Park.

President Biden and the first lady were hosting a barbecue Thursday night with military service members and their families on the south lawn of the White House, according to the White House.

The White House has not yet announced his travel plans for the weekend.

Between 5:45 p.m. Friday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday and between 3:45 p.m. Sunday to 11:30 a.m. Monday all aircraft operations are prohibited except for "approved law enforcement, military aircraft supporting the United States Secret Service and the Office of the President of the United States," according to the FAA.

The drone show had been scheduled as part of a "Delaware Handicap Festival of Racing," on July 6 and 7 at the casino and racetrack. Minus the drone show, all other activities will continue as scheduled at Delaware Park.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 'VIP' visit will postpone drone show on Saturday at Delaware Park
Experts are racing to contain 'the most dangerous' monkeypox virus yet before it causes a global outbreak

Experts are racing to contain 'the most dangerous' monkeypox virus yet before it causes a global outbreak

A new strain of monkeypox virus is "the most dangerous" yet and could be a global threat, experts say.

The new clade Ib virus emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spread to Rwanda's border.

Experts say this mpox strain spreads in "worrying" ways and could end up on an airplane.

A deadly and fast-spreading new strain of mpox, the disease caused by the monkeypox virus, has global health officials ringing alarm bells.

The new virus is "undoubtedly the most dangerous of all the known strains of mpox," John Claude Udahemuka, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, said in a press briefing on June 25. He said the virus has caused miscarriages and blindness.

An earlier, milder form of mpox  called clade IIb  circulated worldwide in 2022, ultimately infecting more than 32,000 people in the US and killing 58 of them. It prompted the World Health Organization to declare a public health emergency, which ended last year.

The new virus is called clade Ib, since it's a mutation of an even earlier form of mpox. It first appeared in a remote region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in September and has spread to towns along the Rwanda border, near Burundi and Uganda.

The new clade Ib virus could cause a global outbreak, experts fear, though they stopped short of warning of a pandemic.

"The pandemic question is difficult," Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at Oxford University, said in the briefing.

"I think we need to be really vigilant now and move to try and contain this as quickly as possible in this region," she added. "There's definitely the opportunity for this to get on an airplane."

The new mpox strain spreads easily

Mpox spreads through close contact, especially skin-to-skin contact. It can cause flu-like symptoms and a painful or itchy rash that develops into puss-filled blisters, lesions, and eventually scabs.

The palms of a monkeypox patient in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Previous strains of the virus have had limited transmission abilities. The clade I virus that's long circulated in the DRC has been mostly associated with spread through families and within households, Land said. The clade IIb virus that went global was mostly sexually transmitted and mostly affected men who have sex with men.

The new clade Ib strain seems to do it all.

It began spreading through sexual transmission, via the local sex work industry, according to the researchers. However, they said the new virus has also spread within households, between mothers and their children, and there have even been cases of person-to-person spread outside households and without sexual contact.

That's "incredibly worrying," Lang said. That's because it has more opportunities to spread than previous strains did.

The clade I form of the virus, from which the new strain has emerged, is also more deadly than clade II. According to WHO, some outbreaks have killed up to 10% of sick people.

Researchers only see 'the tip of the iceberg'

It's not yet clear just how deadly the new clade Ib virus is, because researchers aren't sure how many cases there are.

Leandre Murhula Masirika, a research coordinator in the local DRC health department, said in the briefing that they had identified more than 600 cases so far.

"These are the severe cases that make it to hospital, so this will be the tip of the iceberg," Lang said.

The WHO's technical lead for mpox, Rosamund Lewis, also raised the alarm last week, saying "There is a critical need to address the recent surge in mpox cases in Africa," according to Reuters.

The researchers said they need to better understand the virus to identify the right safety measures and vaccines to contain its spread.

"We need to first carry out studies of serology and immunology in order to see what kind of vaccination we can propose," Murhula Masirika said.

He added that, in the meantime, he wants to give the smallpox vaccine to local sex workers and healthcare workers in hopes that it will confer some immunity to mpox.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Louisiana gets the worst of Mississippi River farm runoff. Why doesnt it push for solutions?

CYPREMORT POINT, La.  Thomas Olander has watched his shrimp catch shrink over the last 15 years. Its not just the abundance of Louisiana shrimp; Olander said the average size of the crustacean also has shrunk.

In the past, shrimpers could expect the crustaceans to grow throughout the spring season, which starts in May in Louisiana waters and generally runs through July. Since weve been dealing with this dead zone, were not seeing that growth anymore, said Olander.

The dead zone is a stretch along the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico where algae blooms choke off oxygen in the water. Last month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration estimated that this summers dead zone would reach 5,827 square miles  an area roughly the size of Connecticut. Thats up from approximately 3,058 square miles in 2023.

Thomas Olander shows off the shrimp he caught on June 4 in Cypremort Point, Louisiana.

These massive algae blooms are caused by nutrients that run off farms up and down the Mississippi River Basin, from Minnesota and Wisconsin down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Fertilizer that helps crops grow contains high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients run off the fields during rainstorms and end up in waterways leading to the Mississippi River.

The Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force was established in the fall of 1997 as a collaboration of state, federal and tribal agencies. A preliminary goal was to reduce both nitrogen and phosphorus by 20% by 2025. But despite some progress, meeting that goal is unlikely.

The 2025 target is simply not a priority, said Doug Daigle, a research scientist at Louisiana State University and coordinator of the Louisiana Hypoxia Working Group. Neither the task force nor Louisiana attempted to raise funds from Congress to implement programs that would reduce nutrient pollution.

In addition, the plan is hindered by a lack of enforceable limits on nitrogen and phosphorus, according to the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy. Instead, it focuses on voluntary state efforts and guidelines.

To address the sheer quantity of nutrient pollution from the upriver basin states, Tulane lawyers suggest that Louisiana could petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for greater enforcement under the Clean Water Act.

One section of the law allows for the government to set specific, maximum amounts of daily pollutants for bodies of water deemed to be impaired. Louisiana could petition the EPA to declare sections of the Mississippi River or the Gulf of Mexico as impaired, which would allow for the creation of an enforceable limit on nutrients entering the river upstream. Louisiana could also petition the EPA administrator to convene an interstate water management conference to address pollution upriver.

So far, Louisiana has not done any of this. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landrys office did not respond when asked if Landry has any plans to petition the EPA or address the growth of the dead zone.

Would redirecting the river make a difference?

Some critics say that the state focuses too heavily on plans to redirect the flow of the Mississippi River.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority highlights the benefits that would come from plans to reconnect the river to land across the coast.

Murky, sediment-rich Mississippi River water mixes with fresh saltwater in the Gulf of Mexico. Nutrient runoff from 41% of the United States flows down the Mississippi, creating a dead zone.

Angelina Freeman, a research scientist at CPRA, explained that by redirecting the rivers flow, nutrients that otherwise would have fueled the dead zone would instead nourish the states recovering wetlands.

A few man-made diversions are already up and running, such as the Caernarvon and Davis Pond Diversions. Davis Pond is restoring wetlands in the upper Barataria Basin on the west side of the Mississippi River near Luling, in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, while Caernarvon delivers sediments and nutrients to Breton Sound on the rivers east bank in Plaquemines Parish.

The 2023 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan calls for redirecting sediments and nutrients into Barataria Bay on a massive scale through the largest single restoration project in U.S. history. The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion would build and nourish up to 27 square miles of coastal wetlands over the next 50 years.

But to Daigle, centering the states nutrient reduction and management strategy around sediment diversions is a mistake.

Until (the diversions) are built and operating they dont do anything, good or bad, he added. Talking about them doesnt accomplish anything. Having them in a plan doesnt accomplish anything.

The solution to pollution is not distribution, said Nancy Rabalais, a professor at Louisiana State University.

Louisiana farmers beginning to take action themselves

While the vast majority of nutrients that create the dead zone every summer come from agriculture in the states upriver from Louisiana, there is still a significant input of runoff from farmland within the state itself.

Earlier this year, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance received a grant to help farmers in northeast Louisiana adopt practices to prevent excessive runoff from entering the Bayou Lafourche watershed, and ultimately the Red River and Atchafalaya Basin.

The Atchafalaya River siphons off 30% of the Mississippi Rivers flow. The Atchafalaya has a growing delta system, such as at the Wax Lake Outlet, but excess nutrients still escape to the Gulf of Mexico, expanding the dead zone to the west.

In Morehouse Parish, farmers are being taught how to limit their contribution to nutrient runoff that would reach the Gulf through the Mississippi-Atchafalaya Basin. A grant will fund new farming techniques, including the subsidizing of cover crops to reduce runoff, which may also increase soil productivity and cash crop yields.

Were doing exactly what we hope and wish everyone north of us would be doing, said Joey Breaux, assistant commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. He added that the farmers in Morehouse Parish have been very receptive to the new program.

The funds will go to help farmers plant cover crops between growing seasons to reduce soil erosion and prevent nutrients from running off into the river. The farmers will also receive instruction in no-till management, which calls for crops to be planted in narrow rows within the untilled seedbeds of previous crops. Keeping the soil intact increases organic matter and productivity while reducing the need for excess fertilizer.

Olander, the shrimper, said that he wishes the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries would support his industrys losses in the way farmers are supported. They are really keeping their farmers going, he added. Call me a farmer of the sea; Ill take that title if they would help us.

Delaney Dryfoos is a reporter at The (New Orleans) Lens. This story is part of the series Farm to Trouble from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an independent reporting collaborative.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mississippi River farm runoff hurts Louisiana. Why is it accepting?
US hijab assassin wanted over botched UK hit arrested in Armenia after five-year hunt

Aimee Betro has been wanted in connection with the attempted murder of Sikander Ali since 2019

An American woman allegedly hired to take part in the assassination of a Birmingham businessman has been arrested by police in Armenia.

Aimee Betro went on the run within days of an attempt on the life of Sikander Ali, a clothing store owner in September 2019.

She was detained in a dawn raid after being tracked down to a rented one-bedroom flat on the outskirts of Yerevan, the Armenian capital.

Armenian police said the 44-year-old, allegedly recruited by Mohammed Nazir, 30, and his father Mohammed Aslam, 56, to shoot Mr Ali, will be extradited to face criminal proceedings.

A police spokesman said: Of course, she will be extradited to the UK as Armenia is a member of Interpol and is obligated to do so.

Nazir and Islam were both found guilty of conspiracy to murder at Birmingham Crown Court last month. They will be sentenced next month.

Mohammed Nazir will be sentenced next month over his part in the assassination plot - Enterprise/West Midlands Police

The hearing was told Nazir and Aslam had held a grudge against Mr Alis family following a violent dispute at his boutique clothing store in Birmingham on July 21 2018. It resulted in the two men sustaining injuries and the shop windows being smashed.

Seeking revenge, the pair flew Betro from the United States to kill Mr Ali and his family, the court was told. She wore a hijab to disguise herself and stayed at a number of hotels in Birmingham, Derby, Brighton and London while she was in the UK.

On the morning of Sept 7 2019, she allegedly tried to shoot Mr Ali outside a house in Acocks Green, Birmingham, but the gun jammed, the court heard.

She later returned to the house by taxi and fired three shots at the property before ordering the driver to take her to a McDonalds in Bordesley Green. No one was injured.

Jurors were told that Betro fled back to her native Wisconsin two days later before going to ground.

Her mother, Jeanne Johnson, 62, appealed in The Telegraph for her daughter to hand herself in, saying: She has nowhere else to go. Shes got to stop running.

Plain clothes Armenian police officers lead Aimee Betro away from her flat - Mailonline

It is understood a combination of background details in Betros Instagram selfies and sunset photos taken from her living room window helped trace her to a gated housing complex on the northern outskirts of Yerevan.

It is thought that Armenian officers arrested her after acting on an extradition request submitted through Home Office channels by West Midlands Police.

Armenia is understood to be keen to make a good impression on the British authorities as it shifts its diplomatic focus away from the Kremlin and towards the West.

It has bought weapons from France, opened a new embassy in London overlooking Pall Mall and signalled that it wants to join the EU.

Betro is understood to have been staying in a flat with views of the snow-capped Caucasus mountains when she was arrested.

She is believed to have been working remotely from her flat, venturing outside for shopping trips but turning down invitations to socialise from her neighbours.

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.
TOKYO, Jul 04 (NHK) - Japan's Supreme Court has ruled for the first time that the country's defunct Eugenic Protection Law, which forced people with impairments to undergo sterilization surgery, is unconstitutional.

People who were forcibly sterilized had filed lawsuits across Japan, arguing that the discriminatory treatment was unconstitutional and seeking state compensation.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court's Grand Bench made its decision on five rulings by high courts in Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo and Osaka.

Presiding justice Tokura Saburo declared the defunct law unconstitutional and ordered compensation in four of the cases.

The case in Sendai, in which the high court dismissed the plaintiff's claim, was sent back to a lower court.

This is the 13th time since the end of World War Two that the Supreme Court has found a legal provision to be unconstitutional.

The Eugenic Protection Law was in effect for 48 years until it was scrapped in 1996.

It allowed doctors to remove the reproductive functions of people with mental or intellectual disabilities.

About 25,000 people are said to have been sterilized, including those who allegedly agreed to undergo surgery.

The state had argued that it bore no responsibility for compensation due to the extended period since the surgeries.
Jul 04 (News On Japan) - An elementary school student had their backpack stolen by an unknown person. The incident occurred on the morning of July 2, just before 8 a.m., on a roadside in a mountainous village in Okaya City, Nagano Prefecture.

The police quickly responded to the scene and managed to arrest the suspect. Further details about the suspect and the circumstances leading to the theft are still under investigation. Local residents have been urged to remain vigilant, and additional security measures are being considered to prevent such incidents in the future.

The incident has raised concerns among parents and school authorities, prompting discussions on how to ensure the safety of children on their way to and from school.
TOKYO, Jul 05 (News On Japan) - In the upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election, a key issue is incumbent Governor Yuriko Koike's projection mapping project.

Last Saturday, a 100-meter-tall 'Godzilla' was projected onto the wall of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

'Ive never seen anything this big before.'

'It was interesting.'

Since late February, this projection mapping event has been held daily. Including related projects, approximately 4.8 billion yen has been allocated over two years.

Incumbent Yuriko Koike emphasized the significance of the project: 'I have been creating something out of nothing. Places that were empty are now filled with people.'

However, at the foot of the same building, free food distribution takes place every Saturday.

A 22-year-old male university student living in Tokyo, receiving scholarships to pay tuition and working part-time at a convenience store, stood in line for food distribution for the first time last Saturday.

'Its very tight. Sometimes I can only afford one meal a day.'

A 45-year-old man on welfare highlighted the severe impact of rising prices.

'Everything is getting more expensive.'

He expressed frustration over the projection mapping project.

'Isnt this a misuse of funds? It seems utterly foolish.'

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has implemented support measures such as providing food to households exempt from resident tax, with the threshold for single households set at an annual income of 1 million yen or less.

A survey conducted by JNN on June 22 revealed that about 50% of respondents believe the projection mapping project needs to be reviewed.

Regarding the gubernatorial candidates:

Former Upper House member Renho stated on June 27: 'If there are lights and shadows, I will shine light on the shadows of disparity until they fade, and those in the shadows can stand and walk on their own.'

Renho does not oppose projection mapping as a tourism policy but suggests limiting the event duration and reallocating the remaining budget to welfare policies.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Jul 05 (News On Japan) - Japan's new banknotes, which began widespread circulation on July 4th, have sparked a frenzy among collectors and the general public alike. At the Mitsubishi UFJ Bank's main branch in Marunouchi, Tokyo, many people lined up to exchange their old bills for the new ones on the second day of issuance.

One man, who had traveled an hour from neighboring Chiba Prefecture, expressed his excitement: 'I wanted to show off to my friends. In a few years, these will become ordinary, but for now, I just want to brag about having them.'

Another customer showed off his new banknotes, pointing out that the serial numbers started with 'AA'. This indicates they are from the first production lot, making them especially desirable among collectors. Many have taken to social media to share their joy at obtaining these rare notes.

One collector mentioned, 'I collect various commemorative coins and notes for my children's future. I hope to present them with these rare items when they grow up.'

But what value do these serial numbers hold? At a coin shop, we asked about the worth of old bills. The shop owner, Minoru Terada of Shimbashi Stamp Trading Co., showed us a 1000 yen bill with the serial number 'XC77777C', explaining that its value was 28 times the face value, priced at 28,000 yen.

Terada then revealed their most prized note: 'ZZ555555Z', valued at an astounding 500,000 yen.

While the 'AA' serial numbers on new banknotes are not expected to fetch such high premiums, they have already appeared on auction sites. One site listed a 5000 yen note with an 'AA' serial number for 5900 yen, a 900 yen increase over its face value. Even notes with 'AC' serial numbers were being sold for significant markups.

However, LINE Yahoo, which operates Yahoo! Auctions, commented, 'In principle, cash is prohibited from being listed unless it is recognized as having collectible or rare value. We will delete such listings in accordance with our guidelines.'

There have also been reports of scams related to the new banknotes. In June, a woman in her 70s in Chiba Prefecture was deceived by a man claiming to be a postal worker. He told her, 'Keeping old banknotes could lead to crime. We will exchange them for new ones.' She ended up losing about 2 million yen in cash.

Police are urging caution, warning of the potential spread of 'old banknote exchange scams.'

Source: FNN
Navigating the world of disability benefits can feel overwhelming. Various programs and supports are available to help people with disabilities and their families. Understanding which benefits you qualify for and how to apply is crucial for getting the support you need.

In Canada, programs like the Canada Disability Benefit and the Ontario Disability Support Program are designed to assist with living expenses, health care, and employment support. If youre in British Columbia, the Disability Assistance program can help if you have a severe impairment that impacts your daily life.

You might also be interested in specific benefits like the Canada Pension Plan disability benefits for those unable to work due to physical or mental disabilities. Each program has its own eligibility criteria and application process, so its important to look into these details to ensure you get the support youre entitled to.

Eligibility and Application

To qualify for disability benefits, you must meet certain criteria and complete an application process. Here, you will find essential details on who can apply, what you need, and how to get started.

Understanding Eligibility Criteria

To receive Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability benefits, you must meet specific conditions:

Age : You must be under 65.

Contributions : You need to have contributed enough to the Canada Pension Plan.

Disability : Your disability must be severe and prolonged, preventing you from working regularly. This includes both physical and mental health conditions.

Duration : The disability must be long-term and indefinite or expected to result in death.

Reviewing these criteria helps ensure you are eligible before applying.

Application Process

Applying for disability benefits involves several steps:

Complete the Application Form : Fill out the necessary forms either online through your My Service Canada Account (MSCA) or by paper. Submit Medical Information : Your health care professional must complete and submit a medical form. Submit Personal Information : Include your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and proof of age. Wait for a Response : The federal government will review your application, and you will receive a response.

Its important not to delay your application once you have a diagnosis. Start the process early to avoid missing out on benefits.

Required Documentation

You will need to gather several documents to complete your application package:

Application Form : The main form detailing your personal information and history.

Medical Report : Completed by a health care professional, outlining your diagnosis and how it affects your ability to work.

Proof of Age : A copy of your birth certificate or another valid document.

Consent Forms : You must consent to Service Canada collecting your personal information and contacting your healthcare providers.

Make sure to double-check all the details and documents before applying to improve your approval chances.

Types of Disability Benefits and Assistance

Disability benefits and assistance programs in Canada provide crucial support. These programs aim to help you with financial aid and other essential services if you have a disability.

Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits

The Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits (CPP-D) offer you financial support if youre unable to work due to a severe and prolonged disability. You must be under 65 and have contributed to the CPP through employment earnings. The monthly payment amount depends on your previous contributions and the duration of your employment. If youre eligible, you may also receive additional benefits for dependent children.

To apply, you must provide medical evidence from a registered nurse or nurse practitioner. This includes a physicians detailed report about your impairments and treatments. The application process involves filling out various forms and submitting them to the Canada Revenue Agency. If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision.

Provincial and Territorial Support Programs

Provinces and territories in Canada offer various support programs. These programs include the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which provides financial and employment support. To access ODSP benefits, you need to be deemed a person with a disability by meeting specific medical criteria. Monthly payments vary based on individual needs and family size.

In British Columbia, you can apply for disability assistance through local offices. Similar programs exist in other provinces, each tailored to the unique needs of their residents. Assistance may cover health expenses like transportation, medical supplies, and therapy.

Additional Financial Support and Tax Credits

Additional financial support is available through various government programs. For instance, the Child Disability Benefit offers tax-free monthly payments to families caring for a child with a disability. To determine eligibility, factors like the severity of the childs condition and the family income are considered.

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) helps reduce the amount of income tax you owe if you or your dependent has a severe and prolonged disability. You must provide medical information to qualify. Other programs include Employment Insurance sickness benefits, which offer temporary financial support if youre unable to work due to illness or injury.

By understanding these benefits and assistance programs, you can better navigate the support available and ensure youre accessing all the help you qualify for.
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Car accidents are devastating, and the individuals involved end up being physically injured, emotionally distressed, and financially strained. Car accidents happen in New York City, especially the Bronx and when one is involved in such an accident, legal issues could be a little overwhelming. This is when a Bronx car accident attorney comes in handy to help you get the compensation that you rightfully deserve. The importance of an auto accident lawyer in NYC cannot be overemphasized as they help those involved in a car crash to find their way through the several twists and turns of the legal system.

Understanding the Role of a Bronx Car Accident Lawyer

A car accident lawyer in the Bronx is an expert in personal injury law with an emphasis on car accidents. They not only provide legal assistance but also cover other areas that are crucial for a victim to be able to move on from the trauma. Heres a breakdown of what these legal professionals do:

Legal Advice and Case Evaluation

In the event of an accident, it is important to seek the help of a Bronx car accident lawyer. They review the facts of your case and let you know about your rights and the worth of the case. This first meeting is usually without charge and determines the nature and course of the legal process.

Investigating the Accident

Investigation is a crucial component in developing a strong case. An auto accident lawyer in NYC will collect documents including a police report, statements of witnesses, and medical records. They may also consult with accident reconstruction professionals to ascertain who was at fault in the accident.

Handling Insurance Companies

One of the most challenging things that victims have to face in their recovery process after an accident is dealing with insurance firms. Many insurance adjusters are trying to pay out as little as possible, so you may be offered less than you deserve. A Bronx car accident lawyer deals with insurers on your behalf to ensure that you get adequate compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses.

Filing a Lawsuit

In case of a failure to come to a fair agreement through negotiations, your lawyer might advise you to sue. A professional Auto Accident Lawyer New York understands courtroom processes and has the ability to present evidence and present a case in the best way possible.

Representing You in Court

Litigation can be daunting, but it is much easier when represented by a good attorney. They act on your behalf, question the witnesses, and respond to the accusations of the defense while making you aware of the proceedings.

Why Choose a Bronx Car Accident Lawyer?

Selecting a lawyer with experience in dealing with the Bronx and New York City is very important. Here are some reasons why a Bronx car accident lawyer is your best bet:

Local Expertise

A Bronx car accident lawyer is familiar with traffic laws, procedures in the courts and the peculiarities of the Bronx that may influence your case. They have an advantage in arguing since they have ample knowledge about the local environment.

Experience with Similar Cases

Legal representation requires some level of expertise and experience. NYC auto accident lawyers have encountered similar cases allowing them to prepare for such issues that are likely to arise.

Common Challenges in Car Accident Cases

Proving Liability

A common issue in car accident cases is determining which party is at fault. This calls for careful research and the capacity to provide well-coordinated and well-articulated evidence. In determining the negligence of a driver, a defective car, or a poorly constructed roadway, a Bronx car accident lawyer plays a vital role.

Dealing with Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers

New York laws mandate that drivers should be insured but this is not always the case. In case of an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver, seeking compensation can sometimes be quite challenging. An Auto Accident Lawyer in New York can discuss with you other possible sources and forms of compensation like your own insurance policy with the uninsured motorist clause.

Calculating Damages

Evaluating the amount of your loss, however, is another challenging task. They are also about current and future medical and related expenses, wages lost due to the injury, and compensation for physical and mental discomfort. An experienced auto accident lawyer in NYC guarantees that all these aspects are taken into consideration when filing your claim.

Conclusion

When an individual is involved in an auto-mobile accident, the process of healing can be overwhelming. Medical treatments, stress, and expenses also play an extra role in the problem. But with the help of a Bronx car accident lawyer, one can go through the complex legal processes and procedures and get adequate compensation for their injuries.

Do not be discouraged by the many intricacies of the legal process if you have a case that needs to be resolved. You should speak with a Bronx car accident attorney at once and start the process of getting your life back.
By Rachel Okporu Fadoju

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Councils of tertiary institutions to effect the smooth running of Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in the next four years, despite kicks from the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU).

Naija News reports that the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, inaugurated the Chairmen and members of the councils in Abuja, on Thursday.

Mamman said it was tough to decide as he has not rested on the issue in the last ten months.

While congratulating the tertiary institution Governing Councils, the Minister warned them against undue interference in the institutions human, financial and resource management.

Mamman also urged them to develop ideas that would shore up the internally generated revenue of the institutions by exploring diverse sources and partners willing to invest in education.

He said: There is a clear line of operations between the Management and respective Governing Councils of the tertiary Institutions, Councils are not to interfere with the day-to-day management of human, financial, and material resources of the Institutions.

You are responsible for setting the strategic direction, overseeing transparent and responsible financial management of the sector, and ensuring the overall performance of these Institutions to achieve the national goals and expectation of tertiary institutions.

Governing Councils should encourage responsible unionism in their respective Institutions while arresting the problems of cultism and drug abuse by students Effective strategies should be put in place by Councils for early detection and eradication of social wees such as sexual harassment, theft, extortion and inducement.

Speaking on behalf of the Governing Councils, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Wole Olanipekun, said the relationship between the Management of the universities and Councils should not be that of cat and rat.

He urged them to be cautious in their dealings with members of the universities while he encouraged Vice Chancellors to allow Councils to improve the institutions, saying, We are to build and not to pull down.

Speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, congratulated the councils and said their doors and windows were open and they would give them 100 percent support to improve the university system.

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By Richard Ogunsile

Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court has instructed Justices Faruk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf, judges of Kano State High Court, to step down from their positions as chairmen of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Misappropriated Public Properties and Assets as well as Political Violence and Missing Persons within 48 hours.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Attorney General of Kano State, Justices Faruk Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf are defendants in the case.

In a ruling on Thursday in a case brought by former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Justice Amobeda stated that the NJC should halt payment of any remuneration, allowances and benefits to the two judges from the consolidated revenue fund if they do not comply with the order.

Naija News understands that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, had on April 4 inaugurated the two judicial commissions of inquiry under the chairmanship of Justices Adamu and Yusuf to investigate cases of misappropriation of public properties, political violence and cases of missing persons from 2015 to 2023.

Justice Amobeda directed that the judges should refrain from carrying out the executive functions assigned to them by the governor in courtrooms designated for adjudicating disputes between individuals and authorities in the state.

The judge held that The combined effects of sections 6, 84, 153(1), 271(2), 272 together with paragraph 21(c) of part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the 4th and 5th defendants (Justices Faruk Adamu and Zuwaira Yusuf) are not legally permitted, while purporting to hold the office of a judge of high court of Kano State, to accept appointments as chairmen of commission of inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent to that of a Magistrate and subject to review by a judge of the High court of Kano State.

The court ruled that the governor lacked the authority to appoint and administer the oath of office for individuals to serve as chairmen of a commission of inquiry, a position designated for commissioners exercising executive powers.

The court emphasized that Justice Abdullahi Muhammad Limans ruling, which stated that only the EFCC and the ICPC have the jurisdiction to investigate the former governor, deems it an abuse of power and a violation of judicial integrity for the governor to establish a commission of inquiry to probe the plaintiffs administration.

Nevertheless, the court dismissed the plaintiffs counsels argument that the judges compromised their judicial roles by participating in the judicial commission of inquiry.

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By Enioluwa Adeniyi

Bandits have released Janet Gimba, a judge who was abducted last Sunday in Kaduna along with her four children.

While the judge has been freed, her children remain in captivity, with the kidnappers demanding a hefty ransom for their release.

According to Punch, the release of Judge Janet Gimba was confirmed by her husband, Dr. Musa Gimba, a medical doctor, who revealed that the bandits are still holding their children.

Dr Gimba disclosed that the abductors have demanded a ransom of N150 million for the childrens release and have issued a dire ultimatum of three days, threatening their lives should the demand not be met.

The situation took a tragic turn when the Kaduna State Police Command reported the death of the couples 14-year-old son, Victor Gimba.

Victors body was discovered on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, near Ungwan Bayero, Duste village, close to the toll gate along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, stated that this grim discovery has intensified the urgency of the ongoing rescue operations.

In response to this tragic incident, the Kaduna State Police, along with other security agencies, are said to be working relentlessly to rescue the remaining hostages and apprehend the culprits behind these heinous acts.

The abduction initially came to light through a statement by Gloria Ballason, a human rights lawyer and CEO of the House of Justice, who first reported the kidnapping of the judge and her children on Sunday.

He said, The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom.

On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the terrorists shot dead the 14-year-old first son of the judge when the ransom demanded could not be obtained.

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By Shola Soyele

A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in the Ogba area, has ordered the remand of the Proprietress of Cradle of Wisdom School, Igando, Clifford Ikpikpini and her two children at the Kirikiri Correctional Center, over alleged torture and inhuman treatment of a 10-year-old pupil of the school.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered the remand of the trio at the correctional facility after their arraignment before the court.

The Commissioner of Police arraigned the proprietress, Clifford Ikpikpini, aged 69, and her two children, Okeisoprugwe Ikpikpini, aged 34, and Okorie Ikpikpini, aged 37, on a four-count charge bordering on subjecting a pupil to inhuman treatment and torture.

The Police Prosecutor, Raji Akeem, alleged that the defendants and others at large, on June 27 and 28, 2024 at about 8 in the morning at Cradle of Wisdom School, Igando, did flog the minor, a 10-year-old boy with a cane and inflicted injuries on his back, left hand and waist.

The offence is punishable under sections 173, 172 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

Also, the defendants were said to have allegedly infringed on the right to dignity of the minor, by subjecting him to torture, and inhuman or degrading treatment, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 10 (1) (b) of Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

The police said that when the incident was reported at the station, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, by refusing to appear at the station and to accept police invitations.

Part of the charge read, That you Okeisoprugwe Clifford Ikpikpini, Okiore ?kpikpini, Chief Mrs Clifford Ikpikpini and others at large on the same date did obstruct one Inspector Yemi Amao attached to Igando Police Station in the course of performing or carrying out her lawful duty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 117 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

They however pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, Magistrate Osunsanmi admitted them to bail of ?200,000 with two sureties each.

She then adjourned the matter to August 29, 2024.

Channels TV learnt that the pupil allegedly got to school late on Thursday, June 27. He said he explained to the defendants that it was difficult for him to get a bike to convey him to the school earlier, and he added that he had to trek for quite a distance before he was able to get one.

The defendants, however, allegedly flogged the boy which resulted in a swollen waist, hand and back.

After his mother and some of her relatives complained to the school authorities, the school sent a text message to the mother of the minor, stating that he had been expelled from the school with effect from yesterday, July 3rd.

The school said he was expelled for what they termed as unacceptable gross irresponsibility, indiscipline and unruliness.

The text also stated that all the other siblings of the victim are also expelled from the school. The victim will not be allowed to write the forthcoming common entrance examination on Saturday as well.

The incident was subsequently reported to the police who charged the matter to court, following the refusal of the school authorities to honour police invitation.

Meanwhile, a mild drama ensued in court when the defendants also refused to give details of their address, and declined to put down their statements.

The Investigating Police Officer, IPO Yemi Amoo, had to show the video evidence of how they acted towards the police to the Chief Magistrate who condemned their actions in court.

The Chief Magistrate bluntly told the perpetrators that since they were not ready to give their information, she would remand them in custody until whenever they were ready to do so.

She said, This should serve as a warning to the yet-to-be-identified child abusers across Lagos State and Nigeria because this is just the beginning of total cleansing of the toxic system.

This should send a signal to yet-to-be-identified child abusers in both public and private schools, that the Lagos government has zero tolerance for child abuse.

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Nell Brocks said she was surprised when a Cedar Rapids police investigator contacted her to say he was working on the unsolved death of her father who was shot in the head in 1999 outside a southeast side home.

I was 20 years old when it happened, Brocks said.

Brocks mother, Brenna Griffith, said her ex-husband, Willie Junior Brocks, 49, had just been released from prison about six months before the fatal shooting on Nov. 27, 1999.

Both women believe someone saw the shooting, but that person may be afraid to come forward.

They both now have hope because Investigator Matt Denlinger and retired investigators J.D. Smith and Ken Washburn, who are the Cedar Rapids departments Cold Case Unit, are actively pursuing leads to resolve the 25-year-old homicide.

Brocks family, along two other families  one from Cedar Rapids and Vinton and another from Bremer County  were at a news conference Tuesday at the Cedar Rapids Police Department where Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird made a visit to speak about her offices new statewide cold case unit. The unit was first announced last month in Polk County.

Shawna Hunziker, of Vinton, and her mother, Teresa Walton, of Cedar Rapids, shared a letter with Bird about what happened to their loved one, Josh Wellman, 35, on Nov. 12, 2015, when he went missing in Cedar Rapids.

In the letter, Hunziker, Joshs sister, said she saw him for the last time that day and quickly lost hope after realizing the police department was struggling to find answers for us. Years went by with only questions. His body was never found and nobody has been arrested.

Then in 2019, Denlinger and the other cold case investigators contacted them and said they were reopening his case, Hunziker said. Since that time, they have had continuous communication with the investigators who have been open to collaborating with us as we have provided them with ideas and information to help us find Josh.

Cold cases can easily be forgotten and swept under the rug, Hunziker said. Matt and his team have made it very clear that the Cedar Rapids Police Department will not forget about our family or Josh.

She hopes the new statewide unit will provide the same level of support to other families that they have received from the Cedar Rapids Police Cold Case Unit.

The other family in attendance was that of Julie Ann Benning, who was 18 when she went missing after going to work in Waverly on Nov. 28, 1975. She remained missing until March 18, 1976, when a Butler County road maintenance worker found her naked body in a ditch along a road, about a mile from Shell Rock.

She had an injury to her throat area and the cause of death was homicide, according to an autopsy. No arrest has been made in her death.

Iowa has more than 400 cold cases

Steve Ponsetto, a retired Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent, who is leading the statewide cold case unit, said this unit wont be replacing any one of the other agencies that have their own units, such as Cedar Rapids.

He and Bird said they hope the statewide unit will provide a fresh set of eyes to the more than 400 cold cases across the state and that it will help focus efforts and give departments the needed resources to pursue any unsolved homicides, missing person with suspicious circumstances or unidentified human remains cases.

Bird, during the Tuesday news conference, said there is at least one cold case in nearly all of Iowas 99 counties. The funding the legislature approved  $536,000  just started July 1, she noted. The office is in the process of hiring three investigators for the unit.

Several law enforcement agencies and departments were represented at the news conference, including the Johnson and Linn county sheriffs offices; Cedar Rapids and Waterloo police departments; Linn County Attorneys Office; FBI; and Iowa State Patrol.

Cedar Rapids Police Chief David Dostal said this was a monumental step forward for the state to partner with law enforcement departments to provide them the resources to pursue these cases, especially the smaller ones that dont have the staff and time to devote to cold cases.

Dostal said Cedar Rapids started its cold case unit in 2010, and when Denlinger joined in 2016, he started pushing to work on more cases. The investigators have solved four cold cases:

Michelle Martinko, 18, killed in 1979, solved in 2018 with the arrest and conviction of Jerry Burns.

Dennis First, 64, killed in 2007, which led to the arrest this year of Curtis Padgett and his conviction in May.

Brian Schappert, 22, killed in 1989, solved in 2019. Two suspects were identified through new witness interviews and criminal history records, but both suspects had died.

Maureen Brubaker-Farley, 17, killed in 1971, solved in 2021 after comparing DNA from the crime scene with DNA collected from a suspects adult child. It was determined George Smith killed her, but he died in 2013.

After the news conference, Denlinger said he is hoping to be a resource to the statewide unit and help them with advice or share lessons he has learned along the way.

He said the Cedar Rapids department has been able to provide its cold case unit with the necessary support, resources and technology to work on these cases, but the smaller departments dont have those advantages, so he hopes the statewide unit will be able to fill that void.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Moroccos energy transition by providing a 13.6 million loan to PROCANEQ, a company set up in Morocco in 2016 to provide mining subcontracting services to OCP Group.

The EBRD financing, meant to step up the sectors green transition, will be used to purchase new equipment for the extraction and transport of phosphate ore to processing facilities from several mines, said the London-based institution in a press release.

The new equipment will be more energy efficient, slashing diesel consumption and lowering the companys carbon emissions. Morocco has an ideal geographical location and exceptional phosphate resources, holding more than 75% of the worlds reserves. It is also the worlds largest phosphate exporter.

PROCANEQ, a subsidiary of PROCAN Group, will also receive technical cooperation assistance. EBRD vowed to work with the company to enhance equal opportunity for women.

Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD and became a beneficiary of Bank resources in 2012. To date, the EBRD has invested more than 4.6 billion in the country through over 100 projects.
Moroccos ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, launched the Global campaign for road safety, dubbed from New York to Marrakech, in anticipation of the 4th World Conference on Road Safety which will be held in the Moroccan city February 18  20, 2025. This will be the first time Africa will be hosting this signature event.

The launch of the campaign took place during a high-level event hosted by the International Peace Institute (IPI) under the theme A safe and sustainable mobility journey in cities. The event was attended by several personalities, senior United Nations officials, diplomats, artists, activists, and UN-accredited media.

Speaking at the event, Omar Hilale underlined that Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, aspires to make of the 4th World Conference on Road Safety the voice of developing countries that bear the brunt both in terms of loss of human life and in terms of socio-economic impact due to traffic accidents.

He pointed out that together with the global safe community, Morocco as the host country is fully committed to do its best to have a very strong and action-oriented Marrakech Declaration to be adopted at the end of the Conference.

The ambassador indicated that a particular attention will be paid to Africa, as a region where road fatality rates continue to increase and where mobility and transport systems are evolving at a very rapid pace.

This important Global Conference will bring together leaders, experts, academia, private sector, and NGOs in a bid to accelerate actions toward the Sustainable Development Goals targets of halving global road deaths by 2030, he further stated, adding that the Conference features pre-events, a ministerial round table, 5 plenary sessions, and 24 parallel sessions. In addition to this, the Conference will host an innovation competition and a film festival on road safety.

Road safety financing will be one of the key priorities of the Marrakech Conference, Omar Hilale said, noting that in collaboration with the UN Special Envoy for Road Safety, Morocco will host the High-Level Pledging Forum as a pre-event of the conference.

The diplomat further indicated that road safety is considered a national priority in Morocco since February 18, 2005 when King Mohammed VI, launched the first national road safety strategy.

This date was a historical turning point in the institutional management of road safety as improvement has been noticed since that time, he underlined, adding that the Strategy was implemented from 2004 to 2013, with the major objective to reverse the upward trend in the annual number of deaths and serious injuries and to reduce their number in a sustainable and continuous manner.

The 2nd Road Safety Strategy that covers the period 2017-2026 is focused, according to the ambassador, on reducing the number of deaths from road accidents by 50% by 2026. These efforts were strengthened by the creation in 2018 of the National Road Safety Agency, as a road safety management and governance body.

He also recalled that Morocco has just launched the Safe Moto Program to raise awareness about road safety, law enforcement, education, and the improvement of the quality and standards of infrastructure.

Speaking of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, Hilale said that while some progress has been made, much more needs to be done to accelerate action. In this regard, a new resolution on Improving Global Road Safety, tabled by Morocco was adopted by consensus on 24 June 2024 with the support of 57 Member States, he recalled.

The resolution urged Member States and relevant actors to strengthen the collective commitment to accelerate and intensify efforts to implement the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for road safety and to scale up efforts to make road safety a political priority.

This event was marked by the participation of the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Road Safety, Jean Todt, the CEO of JCDecaux North America, Jean-Luc Decaux, the Deputy head of the delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, Hedda Samson, the Ambassador Permanent Representative of Poland to the UN, Krzysztof Szczerski and the Commissioner of the Department of Transportation of the City of New York, Ydanis Rodriguez.

Dani Simons, Vice-President at Alstom, the American actor and road safety activist, Jean Reno, the co-founders of Street Art for Mankind, Audry and Thibault Decker, the Japanese artist Dragon 76 and Esra Sergi Bertani, of the United Nations Office for Partnership also took part in this event.
French Total Energies said it plans to quit South Africas offshore gas fields to focus on more promising discoveries in Namibia, Bloomberg and Reuters reported.

The company plans to give up its license for Block 11B/12B because it doubts whether the complex deep-water finds can be made commercially viable, given South Africas small gas market, according to Bloomberg.

An exit by the French company would be a blow to South Africa, which lacks domestic sources of oil and gas, and could trigger QatarEnergys departure, joining Canadian Natural Resources.

TotalEnergies partnered with QatarEnergy in March to buy a stake in a license seeking oil and gas on the west coast of South Africa as part of plans to develop the Orange Basin in Namibia.

South Africa was pinning hope on the gas finds to help alleviate an acute energy crisis, which is manifested in recurrent power outages.
The Multinational Joint Task Force in Lake Chad has stepped up operations against Boko Haram and Islamic State terrorists who escaped to Chad and Cameroon, the task force said.

The task force has launched a major operation, dubbed Lake Sanity 2, to destroy all terrorist camps around Lake Chad.

The Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) is a combined multinational formation, comprising mostly military units from Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. It is headquartered in NDjamena and is mandated to bring an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

The terrorists attacked villages on the border between Niger and Cameroon killing an unspecified number of villagers.

The Task force said the deceased seen in a video on social media are some of the more than 70 Boko Haram and Islamic State terrorists neutralized in Sundays attacks.

Nigeria has been struggling against Boko Haram terrorism since 2009, in a war that left at least 40,000 people dead.
The leader of Tunisian Republican Union Party, Lotfi Mraihi, who has announced his intention to run for President in the elections of October 2024, has been arrested by police on suspicion of money laundering.

Mraihi is one of the most prominent critics of President Kais Saied who is tightening his grip on power and eliminating opposition opponents by exploiting the justice system and branding journalists critical of his autocratic rule as foreign agents.

According to the local Mosaique radio, the security forces arrested Lotfi Mraihi over suspicion of money laundering, smuggling of assets outside the country, and opening bank accounts outside Tunisia without a permit from the Central Bank.

In April, Mraihi announced his intention to run for President in Tunisias upcoming elections, deploring the deteriorating social and economic situation in his country.

On Tuesday, President Kais Saied announced that Tunisia will hold a presidential election on October 6. Like Algerian president Abdelmajid Teboune, he did not say whether he would stand for another term.

In April, the National Salvation Front, the major opposition coalition in Tunisia, said it would not participate in the presidential elections, citing the absence of conditions of competition and the imprisonment of political opponents.

The opposition boycotted the December 2022 parliamentary elections and the local municipal elections last December and early this year. Abir Moussi, the leader of the Free Constitutional Party and a prominent candidate, has been in prison since last year on charges of harming public security.

Other candidates including Safi Saeed, Nizar Chaari and Abd Ellatif Mekki are facing prosecution for alleged crimes such as fraud and money laundering. Mondher Znaidi, a prominent potential candidate who is living in France, is also facing prosecution on suspicion of financial corruption.

President Kais Saied, elected in 2019, granted himself extraordinary powers in July 2021, then dissolved the Parliament and drafted a tailor-made constitution that Tunisia adopted a year later via referendum.

Since his power grab, Saied largely undermined the independence of the judiciary in an effort to subjugate judges and prosecutors to the executive branch. The authorities have escalated their crackdown on political opponents and perceived critics for their peaceful activism or public criticism of the president, the security forces, or other officials. They have stepped-up arbitrary arrests, travel bans, and prosecutions, sometimes in military courts. Police occasionally used excessive force against demonstrators.
The General Union of Arab Journalists has renewed its full support for Moroccos territorial integrity in the face of foreign-backed separatist scheming and voiced opposition of all forms of division and separatism in the Arab world.

This came in a statement issued following the meeting of its General Secretariat, held in Baghdad June 29-30.

The Union reaffirmed its constant stances on the subject of Arab countries national sovereignty and its rejection of all forms of division and separatism.

Regarding the tragic situation in Gaza, the General Union of Arab Journalists has decided to send urgent letters to international human rights organizations, urging them to assume full responsibility for their failure to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and to call for an end to the aggression against Gaza.

The Union also expressed its deep concern at recent developments in certain Arab countries, notably Yemen, and reaffirmed its steadfast stance in favor of legitimacy in Sudan.

It likewise highlighted its support for the unity of Libya and the independence of this countrys national decisions.
Morocco and the European Union (EU) signed, in Rabat on Wednesday, a 490-million-dirham program to support higher education, research, innovation, and mobility.

The program, which marks a notable step in the EUs educational outreach, supports Moroccos National Plan for Accelerating the Transformation of the Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation Ecosystem (ESRI 2030 Pact), meant to help Moroccan universities strengthen and internationalize higher education, research and innovation.

The Program also aims to promote the mobility of doctoral students in European universities through a grant of 50.42 million dirhams, with the aim of continuing to forge human, academic, and scientific links between Moroccans and Europeans.

The partnership, developed with the ministry of economy of finance, also aims to address several critical objectives, which include supporting Moroccan universities, promoting international exchanges in higher education, helping more medical students to study at European universities, and strengthening academic and scientific ties between Morocco and Europe.

Minister of Higher Education, Abdellatif Miraoui, who initialed the deal along with EU ambassador to Rabat Patricia Llombart Cussac, described as exemplary cooperation between Morocco and the EU in the field of higher education, and pointed out that strengthening human capital is at the heart of Moroccos national priorities and an essential lever for its international influence.

He added that the new scholarship recipients we celebrate today are ambassadors of Moroccan youth, bridges between cultures and civilizations, who are called to enrich their academic journeys in a spirit of openness and dialogue. The signing of the ESRIM agreement reinforces our shared commitment to quality education through enhanced academic mobility and scientific research, in alignment with the PACTE ESRI 2030 orientations.

For her part, Cussac said that the European Union supports Moroccos efforts, as it has embarked on an ambitious national plan to make higher education more international and to develop research and innovation, by offering students, graduates, researchers and teachers mobility opportunities for their PhDs, as well as supporting the governments ambitions in implementing the ESRI 2030 PACT.
Illustration: Zohar Lazar

Update: A note to readers.

President Joe Biden walked before a row of flags and took his place at a lectern stamped with the presidential seal. A few feet in front of him, thin panes of teleprompter glass, programmed with prewritten remarks, were positioned to meet his stare as he spoke into a microphone that would carry his voice through a soundsystem. His White House press secretary looked on. So did several senior White House officials. Anxiety clung to the humid summer air. What the president was about to say might determine the future of his presidency and perhaps the Republic itself.

Yet this was not to be some grand pronouncement about war or peace or a shift in domestic policy. He was not delivering an official address or even a rally speech. He was not onstage in a stadium or auditorium or perched on a platform in a gilded government or hotel ballroom. He was not speaking to a crowd of thousands or even hundreds. There would be no video of his statement carried live to the world. There would be no photos. And there would be no published audio.

In a tent on the backyard patio of a private home in suburban New Jersey, the president was eye to eye with a small group of powerful Democrats and rich campaign donors, trying to reassure them that he was not about to drop dead or drop out of the presidential race.

The content of his speech would matter less than his perceived capacity to speak coherently at all, though much of what he would say would not be entirely decipherable. His words as always had a habit of sliding into a rhetorical pileup, an affliction that had worsened in the four years since he began running for president for the third time in 2020. He might begin a sentence loud and clear and then, midway through, sound as if he was trying to recite two or three lines all at once, his individual words and syllables dissolving into an incoherent gurgle.

Still, he was fine, he told the donors. Old, sure. But fine. He was here, wasnt he? Things were actually going well by the numbers. The polls looked good. The money looked good. They were looking right at him. He looked pretty good for 81, no? Really, folks! And what choice did they have? As he liked to say, As my father liked to say: Joey, dont compare me to the almighty; compare me to the alternative. In total, his remarks would last for exactly ten minutes  long enough to inspire confidence in his abilities, advisers hoped, but not so long that he was at increased risk of calling those abilities further into question.

As always with this president, the production surrounding any public appearance  even if it was semi-private  came down to timing and control. He could not spend too much time out in the wild, and the circumstances in which he could exist in such an environment with so many wobbly variables would need to be managed aggressively. According to rules set by the White House, the traveling protective pool  the rotating group of reporters, run by the White House Correspondents Association, that trails a sitting president to provide constant coverage of his movements for the press corps  would be permitted limited access to observe his remarks before being whisked away from the reception, or wrangled, in communications parlance, and held elsewhere on the property (in a guest house, where somebody tuned an old television set to Real Time With Bill Maher).

Obsessive efforts to control Biden were not a new phenomenon. But whereas in the last campaign, the incredible stagecraft surrounding even the smallest Biden event  speaking to a few people at a union hall in rural Iowa, say, or in a barn in New Hampshire  seemed to be about avoiding the so-called gaffes that had become for him inevitable, the stagecraft of the 2024 campaign seems now to be about something else. The worry is not that Biden will say something overly candid, or say something he didnt mean to say, but that he will communicate through his appearance that he is not really there.

The display early Saturday evening was the last of seven campaign events held across four states in the 48 hours that followed the first presidential debate. The events were designed to serve as both proof of life for concerned wealthy patrons of the Biden reelection effort and proof of the wisdom of their choices: Other concerned wealthy people were still buying. They didnt need to panic.

The sprawling Red Bank estate on a hill overlooking the Navesink River belonged to Goldman Sachs executive turned governor Phil Murphy. The local press had reported that hundreds were expected to attend the event. Though the $10 million property could have easily accommodated such a crowd, it was more like 50. Fewer if you subtract official staff or members of the Biden family, including the First Lady and several grandchildren. But big money comes in small packs, and Tammy Murphy, the governors wife, began her remarks with an unusual announcement: The couple had raised $3.7 million with their fundraiser, a number that had exceeded their goal. This is personal for us, the governor said. Were all with you 1,000 percent. He called Biden Americas comeback kid. The callback to Bill Clinton articulated the nervous, defensive energy that animated the evening. But Biden had not face planted in a pit of bad press because of a mistake in his personal life. His problems would be much trickier to solve. A sex scandal might help him right now, in fact.

The president had approached the lectern with his stiff gait, which his official medical report, written by Dr. Kevin OConnor, who has led his care since he was vice-president, attributes to a foot injury and an arthritic spine.

Id like to make three quick points, Biden said. Today we announced, since the debate, which wasnt my best debate ever, as Barack points out, we raised $27 million. It has long been a feature of Biden speeches to refer to the former president in this familiar way. Barack and me is a frequent refrain, a reminder of his service to the nations first Black president and a promise, too, of a return to normalcy after the aberrant rise of Donald Trump.

Although large speakers lined the patio, and although Governor and Mrs. Murphy were perfectly audible in their remarks, understanding Bidens speech required intense focus. POTUS was difficult to hear at times, Tyler Pager of the Washington Post, assigned to circulate his statements in real time as the print pooler, wrote. So please check the transcript. The pool reporters often struggle with the challenge of how hard it is to hear or make sense of the president. Radio reporters do not always obtain usable audio of his remarks. Print reporters squint and strain and crane their necks, trying to find the best position by which their ears may absorb the vibration of his voice in the air. Reporters scrutinize their audio recordings and read quotes to one another after the fact. Is that what he said? You heard it? In that order? You sure?

Biden continued on: Secondly, I understand the concern after the debate. I get it. We didnt have a great night, but were working hard and were going to be working to get it done  Since the debate, the polls show a little movement and have me up a couple points.

The donors broke into thunderous applause when the president said this about the polls. But what he said was false. Early public surveys immediately following the debate indicated that Biden was down overall a point or two, and surveys that asked respondents to rate the debate itself had him losing by middouble digits. As a means of damage control, the campaign leaked some of its own internal polling  which had been until recently regarded as a state secret  to argue that the debate had not moved the needle: The president was losing by a slim margin before Thursday night, and he was still losing by that slim margin after Thursday night. In the days that followed, the polls would only grow grimmer.

In fact, Biden went on, the big takeaway are Trumps lies  The point is, I didnt have a great night and neither did he.

He returned to the central message of his campaign: The fact is that Donald Trump is a genuine threat to democracy, and thats not hyperbole. Hes a genuine threat. Hes a threat to our freedom, hes a threat to our democracy, hes literally a threat to America and what we stand for  Ask yourself the question: If not for America, who would lead the world?

The question was posed as a reminder of the stakes of the November election. During his term in office, Trump had sought to retreat from Americas global commitments, abiding by a madman semi-isolationist theory of foreign policy that in Bidens view and the view of many Establishment actors across the ideological divide had caused damage to the countrys reputation that will take a generation of stable leadership to undo.

Yet Bidens comment also served as an unintentional reminder of the concerns about his own leadership. Just the day before, the Wall Street Journal had published a report that described how the presidents frail appearance and inconsistent focus and performance presented challenges on the world stage. At the G7 summit in Italy in June, Biden had the distinction of being the only world leader who did not attend a private dinner party where candid diplomatic talks would happen off-camera. At a European Union summit in Washington in October, Biden struggled to follow the discussions and stumbled over his talking points to such a degree that he required the intervention of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (The White House denied the Journals reporting.)

Under vines of white moonflowers on the governors patio, I watched as the president neared the end of his ten-minute speech. If a gaffe is when a politician accidentally tells the truth, he was still making them. The truth he told now was this: Ive got a helluva lot of plans for the next four years  God willing, as my father used to say.

In January, I began hearing similar stories from Democratic officials, activists, and donors. All people who supported the president and were working to help reelect him to a second term in office. Following encounters with the president, they had arrived at the same concern: Could he really do this for another four years? Could he even make it to Election Day?

Uniformly, these people were of a similar social strata. They lived and socialized in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles. They did not wish to come forward with their stories. They did not want to blow a whistle. They wished that they could whistle past what they knew and emerge in November victorious and relieved, having helped avoid another four years of Trump. What would happen after that? They couldnt think that far ahead. Their worries were more immediate.

When they discussed what they knew, what they had seen, what they had heard, they literally whispered. They were scared and horrified. But they were also burdened. They needed to talk about it (though not on the record). They needed to know that they were not alone and not crazy. Things were bad, and they knew things were bad, and they knew others must also know things were bad, and yet they would need to pretend, outwardly, that things were fine. The president was fine. The election would be fine. They would be fine. To admit otherwise would mean jeopardizing the future of the country and, well, nobody wanted to be responsible personally or socially for that. Their disclosures often followed innocent questions: Have you seen the president lately? How does he seem? Often, they would answer with only silence, their eyes widening cartoonishly, their heads shaking back and forth. Or with disapproving sounds. Phhhhwwwaahhh. Uggghhhhhhhhh. Bbbwwhhheeuuw. Or with a simple, Not good! Not good! Or with an accusatory question of their own: Have you seen him?!

Those who encountered the president in social settings sometimes left their interactions disturbed. Longtime friends of the Biden family, who spoke to me on the condition of anonymity, were shocked to find that the president did not remember their names. At a White House event last year, a guest recalled, with horror, realizing that the president would not be able to stay for the reception because, it was clear, he would not be able to make it through the reception. The guest wasnt sure they could vote for Biden, since the guest was now open to an idea that they had previously dismissed as right-wing propaganda: The president may not really be the acting president after all.

Others told me the president was becoming increasingly hard to get ahold of, even as it related to official government business, the type of things any U.S. president would communicate about on a regular basis with high-level officials across the world. Biden instead was cocooned within mounting layers of bureaucracy, spoken for more than he was speaking or spoken to.

Saying hello to one Democratic megadonor and family friend at the White House recently, the president stared blankly and nodded his head. The First Lady intervened to whisper in her husbands ear, telling him to say hello to the donor by name and to thank them for their recent generosity. The president repeated the words his wife had fed him. It hasnt been good for a long time but its gotten so, so much worse, a witness to the exchange told me. So much worse!

Who was actually in charge? Nobody knew. But surely someone was in charge? And surely there must be a plan, since surely this situation could not endure? I heard these questions posed at cocktail parties on the coasts but also at MAGA rallies in Middle America. There emerged a comical overlap between the beliefs of the nations most elite liberal Biden supporters and the beliefs of the most rabid and conspiratorial supporters of former President Trump. Resistance or QAnon, they shared a grand theory of America in 2024: There has to be a secret group of high-level government leaders who control Biden and who will soon set into motion their plan to replace Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. Nothing else made sense. They were in full agreement.

What I saw for myself confirmed something was amiss. I spent much of the spring, summer, and fall of 2020 on the primary campaign trail with Biden. In the period before he was granted Secret Service protection, his events, which were usually of modest size, were more freewheeling affairs, and reporters inched up to the candidate as he interacted with voters at the rope line. He rarely took questions. A teetotaler, he was not the kind of candidate who hung out at the hotel bar after the campaigning day was through (on occasion, Jill Biden would enjoy a glass of Pinot Noir in a Marriott lobby with her aides), but he was visible and closely observable.

A campaign trail is a grueling exercise for anybody of any age, from the youngest network embeds to the oldest would-be presidents, and back then, there were days when Biden appeared sharper than on others. I knew it was a good day when he saw me and winked. On such occasions, he joked and prayed and cried with voters. He stayed to take a photo with every supporter. He might even entertain a question or two from the press. He had color in his face. There was no question he was alive and present. On bad days, which were unpredictable but reliably occurred during a challenging news cycle, he was less animated. He stared off. He did not make eye contact. He would trip over his words, even if they were programmed in a teleprompter. On such occasions, he was hurried out of the venue quickly and ushered into a waiting SUV.

This April, at a reception before the White House Correspondents Dinner, I joined a sea of people waiting for a photo with the president and First Lady in the basement of the Washington Hilton. A photo line is a trauma. The main attraction must stand there, reduced to a human prop, with person after person, group after group, nodding and saying hello and flashing the same smile a zillion times so that guests leave the event with their little token commemorating their split second in proximity to history. People of all ages suffer in a photo line. It is tiring and unnatural, an icky transaction that requires robotic discipline on the part of its star and reveals primal horrors on the part of its participants. In Washington, even the most allegedly serious people can behave like pushy fangirls. So I grade photo-line behavior and performance on a curve. Who can be their best selves wedged into such a nightmarish dynamic? And in the basement of a Hilton, no less.

The first person I saw upon entering the subterranean space was the First Lady. I maintain personal fondness for Dr. Biden, whose controversial preferred honorific I am using out of respect. The day that my mother died, I happened to be traveling with her in Virginia, and when she learned about it, she was incredibly decent. She called to talk with me about grief, and she sent me a lovely note. The Bidens are famous for their willingness and ability to mourn with others, so I was not surprised exactly, but I was impressed, since among White House officials, members of the Biden family, and supporters of the president, I had always been treated with suspicion or outright contempt after my critical coverage of him during the 2020 campaign. I had written that there were [c]oncerns, implicit or explicit, about his ability to stay agile and alive for the next four years, and that [f]or political reporters, marveling every day at just how well this isnt going, watching Biden can feel like being at the rodeo. Youre there because on some level you know you might see someone get killed. Biden-world insiders did not appreciate that very much, and they never forgot or fully forgave it. I was particularly touched then by the First Ladys kindness, and I always think of that when I see her.

In the basement, I smiled and said hello. She looked back at me with a confused, panicked expression. It was as if she had just received horrible news and was about to run out of the room and into some kind of a family emergency. Uh, hi, she said. Then she glanced over to her right. Oh 

I had not seen the president up close in some time. I had skipped this seasons holiday parties, and, preoccupied with covering Trumps legal and political dramas, I hadnt been showing up at his White House. Unlike Trump, he wasnt very accessible to the press, anyway. Why bother? Biden had done few interviews. He wasnt prone to interrupting his schedule with a surprise media circus in the Oval Office. He kept a tight circle of the same close advisers who had been advising him for more than 30 years, so unlike with his predecessor, you didnt need to hang around in West Wing hallways to figure out who was speaking to him. It was all pretty locked down and predictable in terms of the reality you could access as a member of the press with a White House hard pass.

I followed the First Ladys gaze and found the president. Now I understood her panicked expression.

Up close, the president does not look quite plausible. Its not that hes old. We all know what old looks like. Bernie Sanders is old. Mitch McConnell is old. Most of the ruling class is old. The president was something stranger, something not of this earth.

This was true even in 2020. His face had then an uncanny valley quality that injectable aficionados call low trust  if only by millimeters, his cosmetically altered proportions knocked his overall facial harmony into the realm of the improbable. His thin skin, long a figurative problem and now a literal one, was pulled tightly over cheeks that seemed to vary month to month in volume. Under artificial light and in the sunshine, he took on an unnatural gleam. He looked, well, inflated. His eyes were half-shut or open very wide. They appeared darker than they once had, his pupils dilated. He did not blink at regular intervals. The White House often did not engage when questioned about the presidents stare, which sometimes raised alarm on social media when documented in official videos produced by the White House. The administration was above conspiratorial chitchat that entertained seriously scenarios in which the president was suffering from a shocking decline most Americans were not seeing. If the president was being portrayed that way, it was by his political enemies on the right, who promoted through what the press office termed cheap fakes a caricature of an addled creature unfit to serve. They would not dignify those people, or people doing the bidding of those people, with a response.

For many inclined to support the president, this was good enough. They did not need to monitor the presidents public appearances, because under his leadership the country had returned to the kind of normal state in which members of a First World democratic society had the privilege to forget about the president for hours or days or even weeks at a time. Trump required constant observation. What did he just do? What would he do next? Oh God, what was he doing right at that moment? Biden could be trusted to perform the duties of his office out of sight. Many people were content to look away.

My heart stopped as I extended my hand to greet the president. I tried to make eye contact, but it was like his eyes, though open, were not on. His face had a waxy quality. He smiled. It was a sweet smile. It made me sad in a way I cant fully convey. I always thought  and I wrote  that he was a decent man. If ambition was his only sin, and it seemed to be, he had committed no sin at all by the standards of most politicians I had covered. He took my hand in his, and I was startled by how it felt. Not cold but cool. The basement was so warm that people were sweating and complaining that they were sweating. This was a silly black-tie affair. I said hello. His sweet smile stayed frozen. He spoke very slowly and in a very soft voice. And whats your name? he asked.

Exiting the room after the photo, the group of reporters  not instigated by me, I should note  made guesses about how dead he appeared to be, percentage wise. Forty percent? one of them asked.

It was a bad night. Thats the spin from the White House and its allies about Thursdays debate. But when I watched the president amble stiffly across the stage, my first thought was: He doesnt look so bad. For months, everything I had heard, plus some of what I had seen, led me to brace for something much more dire.
One paradox of the Democratic Partys crisis is that most people agree it has to do something, but theres little consensus on what that something would be. If you assume first that President Biden should drop out of the race (Im a definite yes) and second that he will (maybe? Probably?), the options all have novel risks.

Here, with the trepidation and uncertainty befitting a fast-moving and unprecedented situation, is what I think should happen. A small group of party leaders  say, Biden, Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Jen OMalley Dillon  should decide on a new candidate over the next week. The group would present its choice and instruct delegates to ratify the nomination at the convention.

The most common views on finding a replacement are either that Biden should simply tap Kamala Harris or that he should throw the decision to an open convention. The arguments for both these choices flow from the misplaced idea that the most important factor in picking the nominee is maintaining unity among Democratic partisans. I believe, to the contrary, the most important thing is to find a candidate who can appeal to voters outside the Democratic Partys base.

The case for Harris is that failing to select her is the political optics of a fight that would imperil support from Black voters and women, as NBC put it. The case for a convention implicitly assumes the nominee may not be Harris and reasons that the process of picking somebody else needs to be open and legitimate and that a period of campaigning followed by voting in Chicago would fulfill this.

A partys base, by definition, consists of people who are going to vote for it no matter what. The base lacks leverage precisely for this reason, which is why so much rhetorical effort always goes into inflating its importance. Both parties have permanent infrastructures of activist groups who insist the party must endorse their preferred policies or candidates in order to energize the base or else the base will be demoralized.

Sometimes a base can be galvanized through sheer force of personality or circumstance. But usually choices that energize the base reduce the partys chances of winning. In 2012, Mitt Romney decided not to simply run as an economic fixer focused on the slow recovery and instead center the election on the conservative plan to reduce taxes and retirement benefits. It was a choice intended to galvanize the Republican base and represented a clear tactical shift by Mr. Romney, who, until now, had been singularly focused on weak job growth since Mr. Obama took office, the New York Times reported. And indeed, the base was thrilled. The Republican presidential ticket is drawing huge and at times electric crowds, at long last energizing a conservative base that has hungered for an inspiring standard-bearer, observed the Washington Post.

If he kept his distance from the Paul Ryan plan, Romney might have lost anyway. But making it the center of his campaign, as conservatives demanded and held out as his salvation, all but ensured defeat.

Harris could energize Democratic-leaning groups whose enthusiasm for Biden has faded  Black voters, young people and women, speculates the Washington Post. It is certainly true that Biden needs to increase his support among Black voters and others. But the Black voters the Democrats need to win over are mostly moderates and conservatives who have little investment in Harriss success (which is why theyre not currently planning to vote for the Biden-Harris ticket).

Threats that the party must satisfy demands from hard-core partisans are a tactic to manufacture artificial leverage. The idea of holding an open convention to pick a candidate is in part a response to these demands. It posits that activists will refuse to accept a nomination  except, perhaps if its Harris  unless that nomination is conferred through a regulated and quasi-transparent process. Congressman James Clyburn has proposed a mini-primary.

I wouldnt go so far as to call an open convention unworkable. But it means by delaying the final selection for weeks in which the Democratic Party lacks a candidate, its main message consists of Democrats tearing each other down. And it creates a long period of time in which activists will be incentivized to ramp up their demands for their preferred candidate and platform, without being long enough to test the retail campaign skills of a candidate.

An open convention is supposed to be more democratic, and in some ways it would be. But in other ways it would give more leverage to activists whose preferences lie pretty far from those of rank-and-file Democrats, let alone the decisive persuadable voters who arent reliable Democrats.

The advantage of picking a candidate quickly through committee is that it can present the choice as a fait accompli. Maybe the choice will be Harris. If its not, thats a sign high-level Democrats have serious reservations about her ability to campaign or govern, and we should take those reservations seriously. If it is Harris, thats also a signal of confidence we should take seriously.

And when a choice is named, then fighting to overturn it becomes very costly. Some Democrats would certainly complain about it. But the overwhelming impetus would be to unify quickly and start campaigning against Donald Trump. The leverage being created by groups speaking for the base, or claiming to, dissolves when a selection has been announced.

Its possible, of course, for a partys base to fracture. But if youve lost your base, youve lost the election. A winning strategy needs to presuppose the likely outcome that high-turnout partisan voters will turn out for whoever the nominee is and find a candidate who can get the voters the party needs to beat Trump.
Harris during the vice-presidential debate with Mike Pence in 2020. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Some of Kamala Harriss biggest donors thought things were looking up on a Tuesday in December 2019: They had been hearing word of a brand-new super-PAC forming to rescue her presidential campaign, and that morning the group was placing its first ad on Iowa TV. A few hours later, though, Harris dropped out of the race and the spot never saw daylight. But now, with Joe Bidens future atop the Democratic ticket in question, a handful of her California fundraisers and supporters have been privately texting and emailing about the ad, nicknamed Expose. Its a minute long and centers on footage of Harris calmly making life miserable for a trio of Donald Trumps allies in Senate hearings, painting the ex-prosecutor as the Democrat for president that Trump fears most  a framing that the donors think could work if she takes over for Biden this summer.

Among Harriss longtime donors, supportive professional Democrats, and friends, there is a growing sense of nervous anticipation alongside a hardening belief that her elevation to the top of the ticket is increasingly probable. Some of them have gone a step further, trying to game out who she might choose as her running mate, based on the usual notion that the countrys prospective first Black woman president would likely lean toward a white guy governor. The three names who keep coming up: North Carolinas Roy Cooper, with whom she has a good relationship, Pennsylvanias Josh Shapiro, and Kentuckys Andy Beshear.

The only issue: Its all conjecture. None of them can get a call back from Harris, or even an acknowledgment that she knows what theyre doing, in the first place. Neither can most of the governors or senators who have called the vice-president to check in. Not a peep from anyone working for her, either. There wasnt even any teeny, implicit hint of receptiveness to such game-planning on Tuesday, when about three dozen longtime, San Francisco-based backers saw her at a Nob Hill fundraiser.

Harris has stayed consistent since the moment Bidens disastrous debate in Atlanta ended last Thursday: She has reiterated to her staff, to television interviewers, and to donors at prescheduled fundraisers that she is standing by the president. Behind the scenes, she has refused to address the hurricane of what-ifs drenching the White House, let alone the mounting calls for Biden to step aside. But that doesnt mean that she  or her closest allies  are blind to the reality that Bidens spot on the ballot appears tenuous, that she is the front-runner to replace him, and that preparing for that possibility might still be immensely politically risky. One ally whos known her well for decades interprets her resulting studiousness as purely practical: Theres not much she can do to make things better, but a whole lot she could do to fuck it up.

Ever since stepping into the vice-presidency, Harris has been conscious that she needed to keep her loyalty to Biden front and center, telling aides then that she wanted to be careful not to ever look like she was maneuvering for a 2024 run. She hired a team with little high-level campaign experience as she simultaneously stopped talking to many of the top figures from her own 2020 bid. Of course, she was aware of the questions about Bidens future  she had been onstage with him four years ago when he made his famous comment about being a bridge to a new generation, leading to speculation that hed only serve one term. But she also knew how he felt about his chances against Trump and that he would not step aside, and she has consistently vouched for his fitness for the job. Even now, pro-Harris donors and lawmakers say theyve received signals that freelancing on her behalf would not be welcome.

Harris watched the debate from Los Angeles and understood as Biden struggled through it that her postgame interviews would be as closely scrutinized as any moment of her career. It was clear she had to underscore his competency and the partys strength. Equally, though, she knew she couldnt try gaslighting the anchors or audience into thinking the debate hadnt been awful, and she acknowledged Bidens stumbles before spinning over and over a message of confidence. In the hours and days following the debate, Harris was inundated with calls from lawmakers searching for reassurance and some semblance of a plan, but she ignored most, figuring that her most important immediate job was to demonstrate her worth as vice-president, and not to play into the What happens now? speculation  the resolution of which was up to Biden, not her, in any case. Shes taking it all in stride, says one friend, who noted that Harris didnt have much of a choice. Unless and until he makes a different decision, her job is to be the best VP she can be.

Harris has remained on spin duty, even as people in her political orbit tried figuring out if there was anything for them to do yet on her behalf. At a Brentwood fundraiser on Saturday hosted by Rob Reiner  who had loudly fretted that Biden was toast at a debate-night watch party within earshot of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff  she again conceded that the debate wasnt Bidens finest hour but insisted that it highlighted the difference between the candidates once you looked beyond style points. The elections stakes hadnt changed because of a day in June, she said, a point she reiterated at the San Francisco fundraiser three days later, where she again tried pivoting attention to the threat of Trump. She flew back to Washington after that event, and on Wednesday met with Biden  with whom shed also already spoken over the phone  to receive the Presidential Daily Brief, have lunch with him, and participate in a call with his campaign team where he reiterated, I am running, I am the leader of the Democratic Party, no one is pushing me out.

The message was clear with the two of them sitting side-by-side on-camera  as was the precarity of the moment for Bidens future and her own. Harris was under the brightest spotlight of her career with much of the country now believing she could soon take over Bidens campaign no matter how vigorously he insisted he was staying in.

In the hours after the debate, many Democrats close to the administration and party leadership had expressed horror at the idea that Harris could lead the campaign. After all, her 2020 bid ended dismally, her management and communications struggles in the early days of the VP job were well documented, and her popularity in polls has at times lagged Bidens. It was widely accepted in these circles that Biden wouldnt still be running if he thought she could beat Trump. She wouldnt be able to appeal to swing voters, they feared, and might face an intraparty challenge that could break open ideological fissures that Biden had been able to patch over. As Biden walked off the debate stage, donors and strategists whispered about drafting California governor Gavin Newsom, who was in Atlanta talking to every reporter he could find in support of Biden, or Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, among others.

For some of those close to Harris, this talk of skipping her was infuriating: She was not only the only possible Biden replacement who had already been vetted on a national scale; she was also the best known and relatively popular among the Black voters and women at the heart of the partys base  who might balk if she were passed over. Then there was the fact that her critics were apparently forgetting the whole point of a vice-president is to step into the presidency. It was obvious Biden had chosen Harris to replace him if needed, and Americans had elected them both.

And then there was the Newsom factor. They came up in San Francisco politics at the same time and for years shared friends, political advisers, and donors. The pair are cordial, but by 2022 it was clear to people in both camps that if Biden didnt run, Newsom would likely not hesitate to challenge Harris. As a result, many of Harriss allies have bristled when Newsom is mentioned as a possible contender to replace Biden. One top Biden ally this week floated Newsom as an attractive candidate over Harris because of his smoothness as a communicator on TV and in crowds, which would come in handy in a compressed election calendar; one Harris buddy pointedly forwarded me a fundraising email Newsom sent his backers on Wednesday morning before the meeting between Biden and the governors. The subject line was Heading to the White House, though the body was about supporting Democrats and it asked for money to support Pennsylvania senator Bob Caseys reelection campaign.

In any case, much of the resistance to Harris began to soften slightly as the depth of Bidens political trouble revealed itself and after she acquitted herself well in her debate-night interviews. But it was only on Tuesday, five days after the debate, that many officials and fundraisers did what one prominent Harris friend calls a 180, understanding the high likelihood that Biden would tap her if he dropped out. That afternoon, Jim Clyburn threw his weight behind Harris, saying, I will support her if he were to step aside. Some of her doubters began to internalize the difficulty of mounting a short-run primary between multiple contenders. One donor whos planning to be at the Chicago convention as a pro-Biden delegate told me hed long been skeptical of her, and had at first looked into ways for other Democrats to compete for the nomination, but that on Tuesday, I came around. By Wednesday, some members of Congress had begun surveying their wealthiest constituents to see if they would consider donating to a ticket topped by Harris.

It was around that time that a small collection of freelancing Biden allies began calling their contacts in the Harris diaspora, desperate to know if they thought the VP would be ready to take over as nominee. For many of these Bidenites, anxiety over Harriss uneven time as Bidens second-in-command had lightened in recent months as she barnstormed the country to advocate for abortion rights  a role almost all high-ranking Democrats believe to be her most effective yet. She can do the fucking job, one former Harris staffer tells me, referring to the presidency. But can she win the general election? That I dont know. Its hard.

If the most compelling case against Bidens continued candidacy is his clear and alarming aging process, the second is that he was already losing against Trump and polls after the debate show a deepening deficit. Harriss advocates outside the administration think those same preliminary surveys provide reason enough to believe she is as well positioned as any other Democrat to run against Trump. One postdebate CNN poll showed her doing better than Biden, and another from Reuters-Ipsos shows her outpacing would-be rivals including Newsom, Whitmer, Beshear, and Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker in head-to-head matchups against Trump. Even the Biden campaign shared a poll with supporters that showed Harris doing better than many other Democrats in such a theoretical matchup and exactly as well as Biden. Still, the issue is that every one of these polls still showed her losing the election.

The major question  can she win?  felt secondary to some of her high-powered supporters in Washington as they began thinking about the logistics of a handover. Some read up on the Democratic National Committees nominating process and sought reassurance from those close to the Biden campaign that it would be simple for Harris to take over the infrastructure and bank accounts if it came to that. Yet such work was all unofficial and not sanctioned by Harris or her staff; the vice-president has for years been aware that her relationship with Biden is vital to her influence and that she couldnt afford to be seen as planning for a future without him. Plus there was a less comfortable reality to contend with: Her relationship with some of Bidens most influential aides is far more tenuous, and Jill Biden, widely thought to be her husbands strongest protector now, has famously been skeptical of Harris in the past after the then-senators attack on Biden in the first primary debate in 2019.

With Harris maintaining her loyalty to Biden both publicly and in private, allies have been on the lookout for signals about the future from Lorraine Voles, her chief of staff. Voles, who has not said a word to most of them, is widely respected within Harriss circles, credited with improving the operations of an office that saw many leaks and staff defections in the first year of the Biden administration. Voles is also where the early gossip always starts when it comes to the question of who beyond her current aides would surround Harris in a campaign, let alone the White House. But no one who is actually around the VP on a daily basis has started angling for a job or gaming these questions out, both to maintain their allegiance to Biden and because theyre far too busy in this chaotic moment. (The people who would be tasked with that are in save-the-boss mode, says one close ally.)

The rest of her world is spread out. A handful of the top figures from her political past, including her 2020 bid, have worked for Newsom for years and continue to. Some others left her campaign on uncertain terms but now work for Biden. More, though, are scattered throughout agencies and state-level offices in Washington and California. For years, Harris has developed a practice of hiring new aides with every job rather than keeping individuals on staff across many of the roles shes held. As a result, she has a huge network of former aides and strategists, and she is known to consult many of them unofficially. The only constant has been her sister, Maya Harris, the lawyer and policy adviser, whose informal advice she has long leaned on.

Harriss task for now is to wait and to keep doing the job shes been doing. On Wednesday, after their call with the campaign team, Harris joined Biden at his meeting with Democratic governors who were desperate for reassurance, and  at least according to some  got it. Her schedule was starting to fill up for the holiday, too. That day, the White House added her to the program for Bidens Independence Day celebrations on the South Lawn.

Its a luxurious position to be in, one longtime Harris friend tells me. Or at least it is once you consider the moments broader political reality  that youre sitting in a pot of shit soup.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Hurricane Center (NHC) downgraded Hurricane Beryl to a Category 4 storm from a Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale on Wednesday morning. Beryl is the earliest hurricane on record to strengthen into a Category 5 as it churns across the southeastern Caribbean Sea. It is forecasted to hit the Yucatan Peninsula on Friday and afterward poses a threat to US oil and energy critical infrastructure on the Gulf Coast.

NHC said Beryl's winds peaked at about 157 mph before weakening to 145 mph on Wednesday morning. Government weather forecasters expect "some weakening" of the storm over the "next day or two," however, it will still be a "major hurricane" as it impacts "Jamaica on Wednesday and the Cayman Islands."

On Wednesday, Mexico's Meteorological Service posted a hurricane warning for the coast of the Yucatan peninsula from Puerto Costa Maya to Cancun, with forecasted landfall on Friday.

After the Yucatan Peninsula, Beryl's forecasted path heads directly to the Texas coast and is expected to move up towards Louisiana. This area is home to major US oil and gas refineries.

Ahead of the storm, Shell announced Wednesday that it paused some drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Here's more from Bloomberg:

Company also began evacuating non-essential personnel as precautionary measure

Shell is also evacuating non-essential staff from the Whale asset, which is not scheduled to begin operations until later this year

Production from the Shell-operated Perdido platform feeds into the HOOPS Blend, a medium sour oil with 29.2 API and 1.55% sulfur

Oil from Perdido is delivered by the Hoover Offshore Oil Pipeline (HOOPS) to the Quintana terminal, south of Freeport, Texas; from Quintana oil flows into the Houston refining hub but mainly to the Texas City area

"There remains uncertainty in the track and intensity forecast of Beryl over the western Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Interests in the western Gulf of Mexico, including southern Texas, should monitor the progress of Beryl," NHC wrote in the most recent update.

Computer models show the storm's future path along the Texas coast, which is home to 32 oil refineries. Refineries are critical for processing crude into products such as gasoline and diesel.

"We have to wait and see where it lands," Mark Schieldrop, a spokesperson for the travel club AAA Northeast, told newspaper The Record.

Schieldrop said, "But if the storm makes a direct hit to oil and gas infrastructure, it could cause prices to go up here if refineries down there are knocked offline for more than a few days."

At the start of hurricane season, we penned a note titled "La Nina Will Complicate Things For Biden Ahead Of Elections As Hurricanes Threaten Oil Refineries," and that's exactly what could happen next week.

All it takes is one major hurricane to disrupt major US Gulf Coast refineries, which could drive average gasoline prices at the pump to the politically sensitive level of $4 a gallon.

Currently, AAA average prices of gas at the pump stand at...

By Zerohedge.com

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Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other energy-intensive technologies are sending the global energy demand sky-high. With an increasing number of tech companies introducing AI software and several industries incorporating these technologies into their everyday activities, the global energy demand is growing, with no sign of slowing any time soon. Meanwhile, governments worldwide are pushing for a shift away from fossil fuels in favor of renewable alternatives, encouraging people and companies to reduce their energy demand and decarbonize. The rising demand for energy to fuel technologies such as AI is at odds with the global green transition, meaning that researchers are now looking for alternative ways to power these technologies sustainably.

With AI growing in popularity and tech companies working rapidly to improve it, the AI market is expected to reach almost $2 trillion by 2030. This means that the global market for modular data centers is expected to grow to $81.2 billion by 2030, from $25.8 billion at present. The total global electricity consumption from data centers is expected to climb as high as 1,000 terawatt-hours by 2026, equivalent to the electricity demand of Japan. This is largely because AI data centers require around three times more energy than conventional data centres.

Tech companies have been searching for ways to power their operations sustainably, investing heavily in green energy to power data centers. For example, in 2023, Microsoft announced it would be investing in nuclear power to fuel its AI ambitions. However, energy experts worry that the green energy being used to power data centers may decrease the renewable energy available for consumers and other industries, forcing us to rely on energy from fossil fuels for much longer.

This has led governments and private companies to invest in research and development into alternative energy projects. The EU is currently funding the $2.1 million ASCEND study, assessing the potential of sending data centers into space to reduce the energy burden. The 16-month Advanced Space Cloud for European Net zero emission and Data sovereignty study evaluated the viability of launching data centers into orbit. The project is managed by Thales Alenia Space for the European Commission. Damien Dumestier, the project manager, explained, The idea [is] to take off part of the energy demand for data centers and to send them in space in order to benefit from infinite energy, which is solar energy.

The project assessed the potential for launching data centers into space at an obit altitude of 1,400km, which is around three times higher than that of the International Space Station. ASCENT aims to send 13 space data centers building blocks up, with a capacity of 10 MW, by 2036. Each building block would measure around 6,300 square meters and would have the capacity for its own data center service. To reduce the burden on the energy sector, ASCENT ultimately aims to launch 1,300 building blocks by the mid-century, to achieve 1 GW.

The study assessed the anticipated environmental impact of using this method to power data centers. Researchers found that reducing carbon emissions would require the development of a new type of launcher that produces around 10 times less emissions than current options. There are 12 companies participating in the study and ArianeGroup is currently developing new launcher technologies to make this possible, aiming to introduce the first eco-launcher by 2035.

While space data centers would gain access to greater levels of solar power, without having to deal with weather interruptions, there are concerns about the quantity of rocket fuel required to keep the structure in orbit. A 1 MW data center could require around 280,000kg of rocket fuel a year to keep it in a low orbit, which would cost around $140 million in 2030. Critics believe that due to the high costs involved, it is unlikely that this solution would be used on a wide scale, being deployed only to specific key services, such as military/surveillance, broadcasting, and telecommunications.

Nonetheless, the feasibility study did show promise. Christophe Valorge, the Chief Technology Officer at Thales Alenia Space, stated, The results of the ASCEND study confirm that deploying data centers in space could transform the European digital landscape, offering a more eco-friendly and sovereign solution for hosting and processing data. Were proud to be contributing to an initiative supporting Europes net-zero objectives and strengthening its technological sovereignty.

Whether or not we see the commercial rollout of space data centers this century, the progress being seen in the space sector shows that greater research and development into alternative energy operations could play a huge role in the green transition. While the EU is looking to the sky for answers, other companies, such as Microsoft, are exploring the potential for subsea data centers, showing it is only a matter of time until we begin harvesting power from little-explored locations.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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The U.K. North Sea oil operations are in decline and even the recent natural gas boom is unlikely to return the region to its former glory. With oil demand expected to begin falling in 2030, as the U.K.s green energy capacity grows, several oil majors are withdrawing from North Sea operations. In 2023, U.K. North Sea oil output fell to its lowest level since the 1970s, when production first began. The quantity of accessible reserves is rapidly depleting following decades of intensive drilling, Meanwhile, several oil majors are looking to new oil regions to tap low-carbon crude over the coming decades. Further, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is pushing countries to curb their oil production in favor of greener alternatives in support of the decarbonization goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

In the far north-east of Scotland, around 60,000 workers continue to be supported by the oil and gas industry, demonstrating the continued reliance on crude revenues and the need for greater diversification in the region. Unions are concerned that if the government doesnt do more to provide alternative job opportunities in the region, it could end up in the same position as the coal towns of the 1980s and 1990s, facing widespread unemployment and economic hardship. Mika Minio-Paluello, a policy officer at the Trades Union Congress, stated, It is a test case in some ways, for the whole idea of a just transition, of what happens when we decarbonise we simply cant have a repeat of what happened to coal workers in the 80s.

To avoid the same catastrophe that followed coal mine closures, the U.K. government must now plan for the impending decline of the North Sea oil industry. This could have the added bonus of supporting the rapid development of the green energy industry, as renewable energy companies across the U.K. look for skilled workers to support capacity building in the coming decades. Renewable energy companies worldwide have complained of the dearth of skilled workers needed to support a green transition. However, many oil and gas workers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to transition into a career in renewables, given the right training.

Environmentalists and labor organizations are calling on the U.K. government to finance a just transition, helping oil and gas workers to find job opportunities in clean energy. This year, over 60 climate organizations signed an open letter to all party leaders calling for a U.K.-wide industrial strategy, investment into domestic manufacturing and skills, expansion of publicly owned energy, and reorganizing the tax system for the public good. It also calls for a jobs guarantee to ensure all oil and gas workers can find equivalent, alternative employment or funded retraining.

North Sea oil production has been in a steady state of decline for several years, but it is now happening at an increased pace. In May, the oil major Chevron announced it was selling its 19.4 percent stake in the Clair field, one of the U.K.s largest oilfields, along with all associated assets in the region. Chevron has been operating in the North Sea for over 55 years, but the oil major is looking to future-proof operations and it does not view the region as a strategic choice going forward. This is the latest of several oil majors, including BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and Shell, to cut operations in the region.

Despite the obvious trend, the Conservative Party continues to back oil and gas, with plans to max out North Sea reserves. The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has bucked the global trend by hindering the development of wind farms and other renewable energy projects while introducing several new oil and gas licenses. The government has issued around 400 new licenses in six licensing rounds over the last decade, yet the number of jobs supported directly and indirectly by oil and gas has fallen from 441,000 to just 214,000 in that time.

Crude production in the region fell from a peak of 3 million bpd in 1999 to just 800,000 bpd in 2022, with proven oil reserves decreasing from 8.4 billion barrels in 1980 to 2.5 billion barrels in 2020. New projects, such as Rosebank  which has faced major opposition on environmental grounds  are expected to produce far less oil than previous operations in the region. Rosebank is expected to produce just 69,000 bpd of crude once operational. Lisa Fischer, an energy systems expert at the think tank E3G, explained, The U.K.s basin is fundamentally in decline Propping it up is like pouring money down the sink.

Rather than drawing out the North Sea decline, investment could be better used to develop the U.K.s renewable energy capacity and support a just transition for oil and gas workers. This would help the U.K. achieve its climate pledges as well as boost energy security while ensuring that towns and cities in Scotland do not fall into a depression similar to that faced by many coal mining towns in previous decades.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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This time of year, the din of tourists can be heard in many areas along Georgias Black Sea coast. But the beaches of Anaklia are eerily silent year-round. On a warm day in late June, the seaside town hosted only a few stray visitors, and many businesses were boarded up.

This is poised to change. In a few years time, Anaklia is projected to be the site of the last port in Asia  or, from another viewpoint, the first in Europe.

That is, if you believe the government. Many residents of Anaklia do not. Plans to develop a port have been on the drawing board for decades, but the dreams of flourishing trade and tourism have never materialized.

Led by a private consortium of American and European companies, the port came close to being built under the ruling Georgian Dream party in the late 2010s. Officials canceled that contract in 2019, however, citing missed deadlines.

For five years, locals mourned the lost opportunity. Then, the towns fortunes seemed to change just over a month ago. On May 29, the Georgian government announced that a consortium of Chinese companies submitted the only bid to build the port at Anaklia, officially reviving the largest and most important infrastructure project in the country. Officials say that it will plug Georgia into the emerging East-West trade route  the Middle Corridor  and bring enormous economic benefit.

An unintended effect of the announcement  which came one day after parliament adopted a divisive foreign agents law  was turning this coastal settlement into the fulcrum of Georgias geopolitical pivot away from the West.

I think what we are seeing in Georgia is a kind of extension of their [Chinese] cooperation in Central Asia, said Miro Popkhadze, the Georgian Ministry of Defenses former representative to the United Nations and an expert on security in the Black Sea region. He suggested that China and Russia both benefit from the Anaklia deal. They are cooperating to push out Western influence from the region, in particular from Georgia.

Paradise

Located just over 15 miles from the regional capital, Zugdidi, Anaklia these days seems like a graveyard of investment projects. There are empty villas, remnants of beach bars, and too many half-finished buildings to count. The ironically named Golden Fleece Hotel, a towering ornament of the beachfront, is slowly being reclaimed by nature, ferns growing tall in its once-impressive plaza.

The towns value lies in what cannot be seen: a deep canyon splitting the seabed beneath the waves of the Black Sea. The strategic significance of the location first caught the attention of Soviet officials in the 1960s. A pair of Georgians were commissioned to come up with plans to build a port in the area in the late 1980s, but the idea never took off before the Soviet Unions collapse in 1991.

For years the idea was dormant. And then Mikhail Saakashvilis United National Movement came to power in 2003. Locals say that it is Saakashvili who can claim responsibility for the dramatic waterfront silhouette that visitors see today. Constructions along the shore were intended to be part of his envisioned Lazika complex, melding a modern port and resort city.

Its a shame you didnt see Anaklia 10 years ago, said Eka Gvilia, 60, sitting in the shade near a small food and drink stall she operates on the beachfront. You could make a paradise out of this place. Saakashvili wanted to do that.

When Georgian Dream came to power in 2012, it abruptly scrapped the Saakashvili blueprint, only to revive the plan three years later. The Anaklia port project was at that time led by a group of American and European companies known as the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC). In the span of a few years, it got the closest of anyone to making the port reality.

The ADC would have operated the port for 49 years, cementing Western businesses control over a key economic asset. The thinking goes that any development in Anaklia  located near the breakaway region of Abkhazia and a new Russian military base  also has a security dimension.

The closer we are to US and European companies, the safer we are, said Sofo Shamugia, a former employee of the ADC who now heads the regional office of the opposition party Lelo. That is why we call this project a strategic project. If the American investments are higher, the safer we will be and the farther we will stay from Russia.

The ADC brought in private investors and cleared 110 hectares of land, creating a Special Economic Zone where facilities for the port would be located.

Today, having sat untouched for years, the gated zone is an enormous patch of sand and weeds populated mostly by grazing cows. The government canceled the ADCs contract in 2019. The official reasoning was related to unmet deadlines, but Shamugia and others believe it was a result of the project becoming politicized.

The reason is only Putin and [Bidzina] Ivanishvili, she said, explaining why she believes Georgian Dreams billionaire honorary chairman had a hand in halting the project. They do not want to receive American vessels on the Black Sea. And they want to close the sea for American investments and European investments as well.

Nothing good will come of it

Today, Chinese companies have a hand in many of Georgias most important infrastructure projects, from a recently completed East-West highway to a vital mountain bypassroute to facilitate trade with Russia. Even so, China is a relatively small player in the countrys economy, yet its influence is growing every year, according to Popkhadze, the former military representative to the United Nations.

Now, in the past three years, we see that development is accelerating, and that the relationship with [Georgia] now has a political piece to it, he added. Last year, China and Georgia signed a strategic partnership agreement centered on developing economic ties, positioning Chinas economic relationship with Georgia to rise to a level comparable with the United States and Europe.

The signs of Beijings growing influence have roiled Georgias longtime partners. A Western diplomat, speaking on background, told Eurasianet that developments in Anaklia are an unmistakable sign of Georgias turn away from the West.

The Georgian government deeming this [Chinese] company, which has been involved in corruption cases, fraud, and militarization, a reliable partner is further indication that the government of Georgia is not committed to a Euro-Atlantic trajectory, the diplomat said. The lead partner in the Chinese consortium that is tapped to build the port is China Communications Construction Company, an entity sanctioned by the United States in 2020.

The fear is not only that increasing Chinese influence in Georgia means a loss of Western influence. Concerns have also been raised about the track record of CCCC and its subsidiaries.

[Theres] just a question about the quality and standards of the company in question, US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan said in an interview published on June 18. So CCCC does not have a good reputation globally.

Dunnigan suggested that doing business with Chinese state companies supports the number one bankroller of the Russian military: the Chinese Communist Party. [Why] deepen an economic tie with the party that is financing your occupier? she asked.

Georgias Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the director of the governments legal entity overseeing the project, David Javakhadze, did not respond to Eurasianets request for comment. In response to Dunnigans remarks, the Chinese Embassy in Tbilisi released a statement on June 21 calling the notion of links between CCCC and the Chinese Communist Party and Russian military preposterous and seriously inconsistent with facts.

The Chinese side must emphasize that the above-mentioned statement runs counter to the San Francisco vision established by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, the statement continued.

For Anaklia locals, qualms about the Chinese consortium are rooted in perceptions of their business practices. The ADC promised to create 2,300 jobs employing mostly Georgians in its first phase alone, according to old promotional materials, but Chinese companies have a reputation for bringing in their own workers to build and operate new developments.

Is there anything Chinese thats good? Its all temporary, said Gvilia, the beachfront shop owner, pointing to shoddy construction of a new Chinese-built highway in central Georgia. In Georgia, these Chinese companies only build something [that is good] for three months.

Others interviewed by Eurasianet also feared that Chinese construction standards would be lower than those of a Western company. Nothing good will come of it, said Nugzar Kabelia, 72, who received almost $250,000 when the government purchased his land in 2018 to use for port-related constructions. At the time he was thrilled and used the money to build a new house next to the gates of the Special Economic Zone. The future of Anaklia, he thought, was bright.

But sitting on the patio of his brothers house just next door, Kabelia cast doubt on the revived Anaklia port as two young boys  his grandchildren  peddled their bikes furiously around the driveway.

They want a monopoly on everything, he said of the Chinese companies. European companies will [operate] by the rules, by the laws, peacefully, but as for the Chinese companies, theres no law for them here.

Kabelia is reluctant to discuss hypotheticals of how Anaklia might be changed by Chinese investment: hes not optimistic that this new venture will end up differently than previous initiatives. These days, he is more concerned with the enormous empty lot next to his house that floods his property with sand on windy days.

Nothing of value left

After the Georgian government canceled the contract with the ADC in 2019, the consortium filed a complaint in the International Court of Arbitration, claiming $1 billion in damages. A decision in the case is pending. If the court finds in favor of the ADC, the government could be required to issue a huge payout, potentially disrupting financing for the revived project, claimed Shamugia, the former ADC employee.

Another potentially destabilizing factor is the national elections slated for late October. If the opposition wins, it plans to roll back many Georgian Dream policies, including the foreign agents law. It could also annul the Anaklia deal, Shamugia predicted.

Meanwhile, Georgias Western partners are reevaluating their position in the country. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on May 23 that the US is conducting a comprehensive review of all aid to Georgia. If we are now regarded as an adversary and not a partner, we must reconsider assistance to Georgia, noted the Western diplomat.

The European Union has not yet altered Georgias membership candidate status: instead Brussels has opted to quietly downgrade relations for now.

Residents of Anaklia feel caught in the ebb and flow of geopolitics. Gvilia, the beachfront shop owner, has a son in his mid-20s who has not been able to find stable work in the area. As much as she would like him to stay in Anaklia, she believes the future is murky.

Nothings been done here in 12 years, she said. Theres nothing left of what was here. Its just remnants of luxury. Theres nothing of value left here.

By Brawley Benson via Eurasianet.org

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